Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton, Israeli Prime Minister B...
since he's ordered his cabinet to open direct negotiations with Lebanon.
“The two countries have no diplomatic relations, and the possibility of them communicating”
comes after the deadliest day in the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon. More than 300 people were killed Wednesday, according to Lebanese authorities and PR's Lauren Freyer reports from Beirut. Israel and Lebanon have fought several wars. They treat each other as enemy states, anyone who's ever set foot in Israel is technically
not allowed to enter Lebanon. So direct negotiations between these two countries would be historic. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says they'll focus on disarming his bala and arranging peaceful relations. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaz Salam has pledged to restrict weapons to quote legitimate forces
only. Netanyahu said he appreciates that.
He's President Joseph Allen says he wants a ceasefire first, followed by direct negotiations.
“A person briefed on the matter, but not authorized to speak publicly tells NPR, the talks”
will take place between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington. Lauren Freyer and PR News Beirut. NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta struck a conciliatory tone during a press conference today after President Trump threatened to withdraw from the alliance. He says allies are not whistling past the graveyard and understand the need for some
changes demanded by Trump. He also said allies were caught off guard because Trump did not notify them about the Iran war in advance. "Well, it's game time to provide the logistical and auto support. The United States needed in Iran.
Some allies were a bit slow to say at least. In fairness, there were also a bit surprised to maintain the elemental surprise for the initial strikes.
“"Listen, Trump opted not to inform allies ahead of time, and I understand it."”
Ruta has been called a Trump whisperer, but he's struggling to keep Trump engaged in NATO. He has praised Trump for successes in the war and for boosting defense spending, but he still insists NATO will not join the war. Across the country, people are trading lower monthly insurance premiums for higher health
costs. Jackie Forty-A with KFF Health News has more. After some financial help from the government ended in January, many found the only affordable care act plans they could swing each month came with steep deductibles. That means higher costs before insurance pays.
Some people are skipping care altogether. Thomas Lehman, a dog walker in Atlanta, saw his deductible jump to $7,500 this year. "I mean, we only use it from maybe emergencies or semi-emergencies." These plans are also becoming more common in the workplace. 2023, 30% of people with employer insurance had a high deductible plan, a from 4% in 2006.
"That's Jackie Forty-A from KFF Health News reporting. US stocks rose today, even though oil prices did too, the S&P 500 and Dow both rose more than half a percent. This is NPR News." The EPA is gutting rules that target coal ash that is waste from burning coal.
These rules had been strengthened under the Biden administration as part of a wider crackdown on the pollution that contaminates ground water and spreads toxins. Environmental groups warn that the overhaul of protections will mean more pollutants in water and expose more people living nearby coal plants to toxic waste.
On this week's Billboard charts, the K-Pop Boy Band BTS does something it's never done
before, NPR's Steven Thompson has more. Last week, BTS's ARIRONG debuted at #1 and became the group's seventh chart topping album. This week, ARIRONG does something no other BTS album has accomplished, it holds at #1 for a second week. The reason?
Sales. Last week, ARIRONG sold more than half a million copies and this week, it adds another 114,000 to its total. Still staying at #1 wasn't easy, three other albums debut in this week's top five. They're by the rapper YET, the singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez, and the controversial
rapper formerly known as Kanye West. Yay, as he's now known, debuted at #2 with Bully, Steven Thompson, and PR News. On NPR's Wildcard podcast, George Saunders says ambition gets a bad rap, but ambition, if he took the name off it, is kind of a love for life, it's kind of a life energy, it's kind of a aspiration to bring out the best in yourself.
Watch or listen to that Wildcard conversation on the NPR app or on YouTube at NPR Wildcard.
