Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roman.
Two U.S. Navy warships began removing Iranian mines from the Iranian block-straight of
“Hormoods according to U.S. Central Command, NPR's Franco Ordonius reports.”
Two U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers pass through the straight of Hormoods today.
This would mark the first transit of American warships since the start of the war, which
began six weeks ago. The U.S. says this is the start of the process of reopening the straight to commercial shipping. And again, it comes as American and Iranian teams are meeting in Pakistan for peace talks led by the Vice President, Vance.
They kicked off this morning between the U.S. Iran and Pakistan, which of course is serving as host and intermediary for the talks. Additionally, the U.S. plans to deploy underwater drones to assist in the clearance effort in the coming days. Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky publicly confirmed that Ukrainian teams sent to several
Gulf countries have helped take down Iranian attack drones, and P.R.s. Joanna Kasysus reports from Kiev.
“Zelensky said he had seen video footage from the Gulf of Ukrainian weapons taking down Iranian”
shahed drones, which have struck several sites, including U.S. bases in the Middle East over the last month. He did not say in which Gulf countries the Ukrainian team shot down these drones, citing security reasons. In the last couple of weeks, Zelensky has visited the region, and signed defense deals with
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Russia has been using shahed drones to strike Ukrainian cities nearly every night, so Ukraine has developed ways to destroy them. This includes electronic jamming, as well as small, cheap, and receptor drones that blow up shaheds.
Joanna Kasysus and P.R. News, Kiev. Democratic leaders are calling for congressmen Eric Smallwell to end his bid for the governor of California, following allegations made by a former staffer that he sexually assaulted
“her, and P.R. is not independently verified the allegations, and P.R. Zelensky reports.”
"Swell is denying the sexual assault allegations, saying in a video posted online Friday that they were absolutely false, but he also said this." "I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife, and to her I apologize deeply for putting her in this position." Several women have accused him of sexual misconduct.
California's primary is set for June, and Swellwell was seen as a frontrunner in the race. Now his standing in Congress is also uncertain. In a statement, House Democratic leaders stop short of calling for his resignation, but demanded he end his gubernatorial campaign and that there be a "swift investigation," "alain more," and P.R. News.
"It's NPR."
Voter Sunday and Hungary will cast ballots in a critical national election that could decide
the fate of the country's longtime prime minister and Trump's supporter Viktor Orban. He is being challenged by a one-time supporter opposition candidate, Peter Magar, who split the with Orban in 2024 amid a corruption scandal involving a pardon for a man accused of child abuse. This week, Vice President J.D. Vance went to Hungary and campaign on Orban's behalf.
Round three is underway at the Augusta National Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. The master's. The leader is the defending champion, Northern Ireland's roaring macaroy. He is 12 under, and he begins his round this hour. Steve Futterman reports.
The last year in his 17th try, and after years of agonizing frustration, macaroy won
his first masters, now he's trying to make it to an a row.
Macaroy had a remarkable second round giving him a sixth stroke lead at the midway point, the largest in master's history. I've built up a nice cushion at this point, and I guess my mindset is just trying to keep him well and keep him my foot on the gas during Friday's second round, macaroy got birdies on six of the last seven holes.
If he ends up winning here, he would become just a fourth golfer ever to win back to back masters, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicholas, and Nick Faldo. For MPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Augusta, Georgia. The four Artemis two astronauts are undergoing medical test after Friday's successful splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
I'm Dan Ronan NPR, support for MP. This message comes from 48 hours. In blood is thicker, the ferris wheel, 48 hours correspond in Peter Vansand unravels a twisted web of money, infidelity, and family secrets. Listen to the six episode series wherever you get your podcasts.
