"Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nor-Rom.
Iran's military says it's closed, the straight-up war moves to all maritime traffic, because
“the U.S. has failed to stop Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon, as spelled out in the”
preliminary agreement signed by President Trump to end the war. At least 16 people were killed today by Israeli strikes, and P.R.'s Caricon reports." Iran cited Israel's ongoing killing and displacement in Lebanon as one reason for closing the vital straight along with Israel's refusal to withdraw from Lebanon, where it is fighting Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants.
Israel says it is defending itself. Hezbollah says Israel is trying to sabotage the fragile preliminary peace pack between the U.S. and Iran, which stipulates that hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon must cease. U.S. central command military, however, says the straight is open, and says more than 50 ships
have passed through on Saturday. On Fox News, Vice President J.D. fans said U.S. envoys are in Switzerland ready for talks around foreign ministry, as it is sending a delegation to. Caricon and P.R. News, Tel Aviv. Cuban lawmakers have approved sweeping reforms towards becoming a market economy in a bid
to survive U.S. sanctions. The reforms would privatize a vast swath of the country's socialist economy. The BBC's Wheel Grant reports the U.S. State Department has dismissed the changes. Under the measures, the private sector will play a far greater role in the economy.
“The state will step back from key sectors, including tourism and mining, and invite foreign”
direct investment, including from the Gulf States. On the question of whether Cuban Americans who had had properties and businesses expropriated by the Cuban Revolution could expect to get those assets back, the Deputy Foreign Trade and Investment Minister, Carlos Mendez, added that Cuba was open to reaching an agreement that is acceptable to all sides on the matter.
The BBC's Wheel Grant, the latest NPR PBS news marist poll, finds most Americans are unhappy with President Trump's handling of the economy, and some are holding off on summer travel citing high costs. NPR's Elena Moore reports.
The poll found that a third of Americans believe gas prices are a major strain on their budgets,
plus more than two in ten say steep prices are the reason they won't be taking a summer vacation. Those feelings are less pronounced among Republicans, like Greg Votel, who lives in a popular vacation spot in Minnesota. "My body owns the resorts. He's completely full.
You look at the grocery store up here. You should see the plates in Nebraska. Iowa. The coldest Wisconsin, Illinois. I'd say goodness is good."
“Votel is part of the more than 70% of GOP voters who say they approve of Trump's handling”
of the economy, Elena Moore and Pernus. "This is NPR news." The Ebola virus continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Officials report more than 900 confirmed infections, and at least 234 deaths. But officials say the actual toll may be much higher, as health workers struggle to trace contacts,
and isolates suspected Ebola patients. Many people avoid going to the hospital at all, and the area of the epicenter has suffered after years of conflict in the neglect. This particular strain of Ebola is fast moving and has no approved treatment or vaccine. In men's soccer, two of the FIFA World Cup favorites are back in action this weekend,
so are two of the new combinations to the tournament. NPR's William Jones reports. Four-time World Cup winner Germany will play Ivory Coast after thumping newcomers Kurosau and their opening game, and for Kurosau the Caribbean island nation who played with real tenacity for much of that 71 loss to Germany, they'll be hoping for a change of fortune
as they play Ecuador. On Sunday, European champions Spain will look to build some momentum to their World Cup campaign. They go up against Saudi Arabia. Spain has had to regroup after a surprise tie against World Cup newcomers, Cape Verde, and for Cape Verde who captivated global audiences with that stunning underdog
performance, they'll now play Uruguay who won the first ever World Cup some 96 years ago.
William Jones and PR news. The U.S. men beat Australia to nothing yesterday, winning two consecutive games of the World Cup for the first time since 1930. I'm Laura Rom, NPR News in Washington.
