"Li," from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.
Lebanon and Israel held their first direct diplomatic talks in more than 30 years today,
“the meeting in Washington, was designed as a first step toward negotiations to resolve”
Israel's conflict with the Iranian proxy militants, his bullet, and Piers' Daniel Eastern reports from Tel Aviv.
Lebanon and Israel have never had formal relations, making today's talks rare.
They come after more than a month of fighting between the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah has fired at Israel, killing soldiers and civilians. Israel invaded southern Lebanon, destroying tens of thousands of homes according to Lebanese officials and carrying out strikes, killing Hezbollah operatives and civilians. Lebanon wants to negotiate a ceasefire.
Israel wants Lebanon to take steps to disarm Hezbollah first. Israel is preparing for a long-term occupation of southern Lebanon to keep Hezbollah away from Israel's border. Daniel Estrin and PR news, Tel Aviv. Sankham has released a statement saying, "No ships from Iranian ports have gotten through
“the U.S. blockade in the straight-of-arms and that six-murching vessels complied with”
direction from U.S. forces to turn around." Pope Leo is traveled to the ancient birthplace in Algeria of St. Augustin of Hippo, who inspired him to become a priest. As he began his trip to Africa this week, the first American to leave the Roman Catholic Church publicly questioned the Iran War and Trump administration calls for prayers, to support
the U.S. military campaign. U.S. Catholics have been closely following the few between Pope Leo and President Trump among them. Reverend James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author.
The Pope is always open to talking to anyone and he has his papal ambassador, also called
the Nuncio in Washington, who is his representative. The Vatican has relationships with all sorts of leaders that they may not agree with. So, you know, my sense was that the Pope was very open to conversation and a relationship
“with the United States and he's not closing off any doors. He's the one who's, you know,”
keeping the door open. Martin's speaking to NPR as morning edition about the impact on relations between the U.S. and the Vatican. A man who received a pardon from President Trump for assaulting police in the January 6, 2021 capital riot has agreed to plead guilty to new charges of child sexual abuse.
Your sent p. R. Stone Drysbach. David Daniel assaulted police protecting the U.S. capital on January 6th, and he was set to be sentenced when President Trump issued mass pardons to the riot defendants. But that pardon did not cover additional charges against Daniel, for possession of child pornography.
Now Daniel has agreed to plead guilty to illegally inducing two children to engage and sexually explicit conduct. The children were both young girls, according to court filings, and one victim was under 12 years old at the time of the abuse. Daniel is one of dozens of former January 6th defense who have been charged or convicted
of crimes since receiving Trump's pardon. Tom Drysbach and PR news. From Washington, this is NPR. A heat wave is forecast to bring temperatures into the 90s for parts of the Eastern U.S. this week.
NPR's Jeff Brady reports some high temperature records could be broken. The early spring heat wave will feel more like summer weather, a warming climate from humans burning fossil fuels and releasing pollution into the atmosphere is increasing the chance that extreme weather will happen. Christina Doll is a climate researcher and vice president for science at the nonprofit organization
climate central. When we look at an event like the heat wave that's affecting the east coast of the U.S. right now, we can see that many of those temperatures were made about twice as likely because of climate change. Doll says a heat wave and April feels warmer than one in August because people's bodies
haven't adjusted to hot weather yet. She advises taking it easy and drinking plenty of fluids. Jeff Brady and PR news Philadelphia. Well, it's that time of year again when Switzerland showcases the art of the luxury watch.
The watches and wonders international fair is expected to attract about 60,000 visitors to Geneva to scan offerings from high end brands such as Cartier Omega and Rolex whose handcrafted timekeepers can go for tens of thousands of dollars. But the U.S. is real war against Iran remains a cloud over the annual gathering.
The Middle East accounts for roughly 10 percent of all Swiss watch exports.
U.S. stocks are trading higher the sour with the Dow up more than 300 points, so more than half a percent. This is NPR News.
