Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
NPR has confirmed that the U.S. signed a nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia,
“this from a source not authorized to speak publicly.”
That has U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials worry that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop a weapon. The atomic energy access, significant U.S. cooperation with foreign countries on civilian nuclear power, requires review by Congress. President Trump says preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons was one of the reasons
he started the war in February. Meanwhile Trump is ramping up threats to Iran, saying on social media that the U.S. would destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if Iran shoots at ships in the straight of Hormuz. And here's Deepa Shiveram has more.
Attacking civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime, but Trump says from now
onward if Iran fires missiles, rockets, drones, or any other weapons at ships in the straight of Hormuz, the U.S. would respond by bombing one bridge or power plant.
“He added that those could include ones located in or near Iran's capital city, Tehran.”
The escalation comes as Trump has said he has no interest in meeting with Iranian negotiators. The war has gone on months longer than Trump said it would, and support for Trump's actions abroad and the higher price of goods that have come with it is dropping, even among his base. Deepa Shiveram and PR news.
New 25% U.S. tariffs against some products from Brazil took effect today. Katherine Osborne reports that could be followed by more levies on Brazil in the weeks ahead. The Trump administration is using a new legal pathway for its Brazil tariffs after the one it used last year was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. It's opened multiple probes into Brazilian business practices.
One led to today's new tariffs. They're hitting around a quarter of Brazil's exports to the U.S. and industry group said. The other probe could yield additional 12.5% duties on Brazil and dozens of other countries.
“Brazil's vice president said the tariffs were unjust, but Brazil would not immediately retaliate”
and continue to seek dialogue. He added Brazil will also work to trade more with partners other than the United States. For NPR news, I'm Katherine Osborne in Rio de Janeiro. Tropical storm birth made landfall this afternoon and southeast Louisiana, and while the storm is weakening a bit as it moves to the west, officials are urging people to remain vigilant.
Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry. Today's forecast is encouraging, but it doesn't mean that we should be complacent. Meteorologist Megan Barowski, we don't expect widespread fresh water flooding from birth, but localized pockets of heavy rain could lead to isolated flesh flooding over parts of Louisiana, and the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas Plains over the next few
days. National Hurricane Center says tropical storm warnings are up for parts of the Gulf Coast. You're listening to NPR news from Washington. Israel's prison service says that studying the possible use of crocodiles in the Israeli prison system, something Israel's far-right national security minister has openly advocated
for. And here's Emily Fang has more. The prison service told in PR and a statement that it will not comment on operational matters, but there is, quote, internal planning and preparations regarding the issue.
Far-right minister, Eid Tamar Bengevier first promoted this idea, posting an AI-generated picture
of himself walking a crocodile on a leash with a caption, "Cursed terrorist are you thinking of trying to escape?" Israeli media reports a prison in the negative desert holding many Hamas captives would be the first to use crocodiles. But Israel's nature and parks authority has warned there's a high risk that workers and
prisoners could be injured if crocodiles are used to guard prisons. Nonetheless, Israel's environmental minister has cleared prison use of the reptiles and she visited a large crocodile farm this week. Emily Fang and pure news, Tel Aviv. The trial date has been set for former Venezuelan president, Nicholas Maduro, and his wife
on drug trafficking charges that will happen on June 1. Maduro's lawyers say he will fight the charges on sovereign immunity grounds as lawyers of Jack to the U.S. military action that snatched Maduro from power. He and his wife, who are in a Brooklyn jail, have pleaded not guilty to charges they sided with drug dealers in a multi-decade scheme to ship large quantities of drugs to the
United States. Wall Street, lower by the closing bell, the Dow down 6.9 stacked down 146, you're listening to NPR news from Washington. The last time Antonio May's senior heard from his son, it was in a note, the 16-year-old left in the family's garage, and Antonio Jr. left home to join a protest in Seattle.
A week later, he was shot and killed there.
