Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston.
Vice President J.D. Vance is in Islamabad today leading a U.S. delegation for high-level
“talks aimed at stabilizing a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.”
The agreement reached this week is already being tested with tensions lingering between the two sides.
Officials say the next two weeks will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire
can hold. The U.S. is pushing for de-escalation, warning that even small violations could quickly spiral. NPR's Lauren Fair reports talks are planned for next week to discuss another front in the Middle East war that's still ongoing in Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Owens has a Lebanese ambassador in Washington had a phone call
Friday with the Israeli ambassador there. It's the first official contact between the two countries since 1983. They consider each other enemy states, anyone who's ever set foot in Israel is technically not allowed to enter Lebanon. Owens says there will be face-to-face talks Tuesday at the State Department, focusing
on a ceasefire.
“President Trump says he asked Israel to scale back its invasion of Lebanon, which is aimed”
at stopping his bullet from firing into Israel. Israeli air strikes are still hitting villages across the country's south, but have not hit Beirut Southern suburbs where his bullet has offices since Wednesday. More than 350 people were killed in Israeli attacks, according to Lebanese officials on the deadliest day here of this war.
Lauren Freyer and PR News, Shotora Lebanon.
A funeral service was held for one of the first American casualties of the war with Iran,
family friends, and fellow service members gathered in Columbus, Ohio on Friday to honor Master Sergeant Tyler Simmons, a national guard member. He was one of six airmen killed when a refueling aircraft supporting the war ever crashed in Iraq last month. Those in attendance reflected on his service and sacrifice as the conflict continues overseas.
Stokes on Wall Street, a sword this week on hopes that a ceasefire in the war with Iran will help stabilize global energy markets, and PR's got horsesley reports, oil traders, were not so confident. Oil prices dipped after President Trump paused his threat to attack bridges and power plants in Iran, but tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has barely budged.
A sharp spike in gasoline prices during the war triggered a surge of inflation last month,
consumer prices in March were up 3.3% from a year ago.
That's the biggest annual increase in 22 months. Stripping out volatile energy and food prices, core inflation was 2.6% high enough to make the Federal Reserve cautious about additional cuts to interest rates. Nevertheless, stocks rallied for the week that arrows 3%, the S&P 500 index climb 3.5% and the Nasdaq jump nearly 4.7%.
It's got horsesley and PR news, Washington. This is NPR news. Defending champion, Rory Mackle Roy, is off to a dominant start at the Master's Golf Tournament in August of Georgia, he birdied six of the final seven holes taking a record six shot lead after two rounds.
Steve Futterman has more. Mackle Roy was on fire on the back nine. He had backed to back birdies on the 12th and 13th holes, then ended with a flourish for straight birdies to wrap up the round, including a remarkable 90-foot chip shot from off the
“green that rolled in, that's how it sounded on ESPN, even Mackle Roy was amazed afterwards.”
You know, I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th to E, but I didn't think I pretty six of the last seven. Mackle Roy's sixth stroke lead is the largest after two rounds in Master's history. He is trying to become just a fourth golfer to win the Master's in back to back years. For MPR news, I'm Steve Futterman in Augusta.
The Trump administration has released plans for a massive arch to be built in Washington, DC. The project is meant to mark the nation's 250th anniversary in July, though details on funding and approval remain unclear. Critics say the proposal would mark a significant departure from house-sitting president
typically approach public memorials. Supporters argue it would serve as a lasting symbol of the administration's legacy. The plan is expected to face scrutiny from Congress and local officials before moving ahead. I'm Windsor-Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Do you love pop culture?
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