Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor, Johnston.
The White House says it's sending a team of U.S. negotiators to pack a stand for another
“round of peace talks with Iran, but it's still not clear whether negotiations will take”
place. Betsy Joel's reports Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Orachi, arrived in Islamabad overnight, but the Iranian foreign ministry says no meeting is planned. In addition to Islamabad, Aragchi said in a post on ex that he'll also visit Muscat and Moscow.
For discussions on, quote, bilateral matters, Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that Aragchi would hold meetings with its senior leadership. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt told Fox News that Jared Kushner and Steve Whitkov would travel to Pakistan on Saturday for talks. Aragchi did not say if he would participate in talks with the U.S. in Pakistan.
For NPR News, I'm Betsy Joel's in Islamabad. Violence is continuing despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon with ongoing strikes and clashes on both sides. The U.S. back true has been extended for another three weeks in an effort to create space for broader negotiations, but officials mourn the situation remains fragile.
A federal appeals court has ruled the White House ban on asylum at the U.S. other and border is unlawful. It's a blow for the proclamation that President Trump signed
on his first day in office and PR Sergio Martinez Beltran reports.
Back in January 2025, the White House said that suspending asylum at the southern border was meant to prevent immigrants participating in a "invasion" from coming to the U.S.
“But now that this is secret court of appeals has ruled, Trump's "proclamation" circumvents”
the removal procedures crafted by Congress. The court also says that the administration's policy cast aside the federal laws that give people the opportunity to claim asylum. Immigrant rights groups say they're ruling is a victory for those seeking safety and protection at the U.S. Mexico border.
Sergio Martinez Beltran and PR News Wildfires are continuing to burn in South Georgia where fire activity is affected to remain extremely high through the weekend. Officials say dry conditions and gusty winds are feeling the flames and making them harder to contain.
Governor Brian Camp says the fires are under investigation. We believe that one of the fires started when somebody was welding their gate, the sparks fell on the ground, started to fire that could get it put out and just spread from there.
“We believe the other fire was a balloon that landed on a power line.”
The fires have destroyed dozens of structures, including 120 homes, state officials are urging people to avoid outdoor burning or anything that could create sparks, warning that even a small mistake could quickly lead to another wildfire. This is NPR News. Members of the Screenwriters Union have approved a new four-year contract with Hollywood Studios.
The Union leaders say it includes gains in health coverage and increases in minimum pay, actors though are still negotiating their own contract. Another liberal arts college in Massachusetts is closing, unable to overcome mounting financial and enrollment challenges. Anna Maria College in Paxton says it will close this summer.
Kurt Caripesa, a member of Station GBH, has more. The 80-year-old Catholic school was known for catering to future police officers, firefighters, and athletes with its large sports programs. Robert Kelkin, who teaches higher ed policy at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, says that model was no longer viable for the small private school.
The sweaty butts in seat strategy is pretty common. Many small colleges are 30% or more athletes. The Challenges Athletic Programs are often expensive to run, following Hampshire College in Amherst, and Amaria is at least the 11th four-year private college in Massachusetts to merge or close over the past decade.
For NPR News, I'm Kurt Caripesa in Boston. China is sending two giant pandas to the Atlanta Zoo when what's being seen as the latest example of so-called panda diplomacy. The pandas will begin a decade-long conservation partnership under agreement signed with the Zoo. It's not very exactly when the pandas will arrive, but the Zoo says it's upgrading its facilities
to prepare for their new home. I'm Windsor-Johnston NPR News in Washington. You know, every day on up first NPR's Golden Globe-nominated morning news podcast,
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