- Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor, Johnston.
The White House is pushing back against claims that the U.S. is seeking an extension of the ceasefire with Iran.
“Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says the next steps will come from the administration”
directly. - I saw some reporting again, bad reporting this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the ceasefire. That is not true at this moment. We remain very much engaged in these negotiations in these talks.
You heard from the Vice President directly and the President this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing. And that's where we are right now. I've also seen some reporting about the potentiality for in-person discussions again. Those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from us here
at the White House. - The U.S. delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance held talks with Iranian negotiators in Islamabad last weekend, but the two sides left without a deal. New York Governor Kathy Hockel says she wants a new tax on second homes in New York City valued at more than $5 million.
“NPR's Brian Man reports the move comes as the city is scrambling to close a massive budget”
deficit. - New York City's mayors are unmundoney, his slowed and scaled back some of his progressive proposals because of a budget deficit next fiscal year estimated it more than $5 billion. - Mundoney has asked for help from state officials and one of his goals has been raising taxes on the wealthy.
Now, Hockel is proposing a state surcharge tax on high-end second homes.
If you can afford a multi-million dollar second home in New York City, Hockel said in
a statement, "You can afford to join its residents in supporting the greatest city in the world." Mundoney praised the proposal on X saying, "We will be taxing the ultra wealthy and global elites." Details of the plan are still being hashed out with state lawmakers as part of New York State
budget, Brian Man and PR News, New York. - 7/11 says it's planning to close hundreds of locations across the U.S. in the coming months.
“It's part of a big overhaul by its parent company, based in Japan, as the retailer”
is trying to figure out how to stay profitable in North America. NPR's Alina Seljuk reports. - 7/11 parent company called 7 and Die Holdings says it's plans are to close 645 locations in North America over the next year. It's about 5%.
7/11 is the world's largest convenience chain and it actually began in Texas, but it's been losing money in the U.S. Part of it is because people are buying a lot fewer cigarettes than the U.S. to, lately, shoppers are also generally scaling back on discretionary spending, and the chain's big bet now is to refresh its reputation.
Many of its locations are converting to gas stations only, and others, 7/11 is revamping them to add more fresh food and snacks, more like it's very popular stores in Japan, Alina Seljuk and Beer News. - You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The owner of the social media platform SnapChat says it's cutting about 16% of its global
workforce. Snap Incorporated says about 1,000 jobs will be eliminated and moved to further streamline operations and to put more focus on its highest priorities. The company CEO says another 300 open positions won't be filled.
The Walt Disney Company has also begun laying off about 1,000 employees through the first
job cuts at Disney since 2022. Former NPR CEO, Kevin Close, has died at the age of 85 from complications of Alzheimer's. NPR's Matic Executive helped to propel NPR into the ranks of the nation's top news organizations. NPR's David Folk and flick has this tribute.
Close arrived at NPR in 1998 with a keen understanding of the importance of journalism. He had been a foreign correspondent and senior editor at The Washington Post and President of Rate of Free Europe where you liberty, the International Broadcaster, funded by the U.S. Government. At NPR, he pushed to stabilize the network.
He connected with the late philanthropist Joan Crock, the widow of McDonald's Magnet Ray Crock, over a shared love of foreign news.
Her request in 2003 was valued at more than $200 million.
It paid for new reporting jobs expanded foreign coverage as second-oh-head quarters in Los Angeles area and an endowment that helped NPR weather financial crises and political storms. Throughout his tenure, close delighted in specific stories, stopping reporters in the networks hallways and firing off emails of praise, a journalist to the last.
David Folk and Flick and PR news. This is NPR. What really happened? What really mattered? What happened next?
At NPR, we stand for your right to be curious and to follow the facts. Follow our first wherever you get your podcasts and start your day knowing what matters
