Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Linda Kenyan.
The war continues between the US and Iran, as tensions remain high over the straight
“of Hormuz, speaking at the White House Friday, President Trump said he believes a deal could”
be forthcoming. "They want to make a deal. I just don't think they're ready yet, but they do want to make a deal. Sometimes they don't want to say they want to make a deal. They want to be the tough guys."
Some of the US-led war against Iran, a dormant, decade-long conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed militants in Yemen, has erupted yet again. NPR's Emily Fang explains, "Sani Arabia's been trading fire with Iran back to Houthis in Yemen starting two weeks ago.
This week the Houthis announced a blockade of the Babel-man-deep straight, which connects
the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and which Saudi Arabia is increasingly using to export its oil internationally.
“There's another waterway, the straighter for Mooz is effectively cut off by Iran.”
All this will further disrupt maritime traffic and global trade. The Houthis fired at two Saudi ships in the Red Sea this week, so Saudi Arabia then struck a port in Yemen and a Yemeni island on Friday. And in further retaliation, the Houthis say they've now aimed strikes at a city in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Emily Fang and Pernus, a Louisiana Democrat, who's losing his house state to redistricting, says he'll run for his former state Senate seat instead of seeking reelection to Congress. His district was redrawn to favor a Republican. Rook Thorington for members stationed in the RKF and Bradden Rouge has more. For Congressman Cleo Fields, this is all too familiar.
He represented the majority black fourth district in the 90s until the Supreme Court ruled it an unconstitutional racial jerry manter.
“In 2025, he returned to Congress in the newly drawn sixth district seat.”
With this year, Louisiana re-drew the map again. Now Field says he's hoping to return to the state Senate where he represented Baton Rouge. The Democrat says he isn't viewing this as a step down. I come back to the state because this is where I feel like I've been most effective. It's hard to get things done in Washington, and particularly when you're not in a majority.
He will finish his congressional term January 3rd for NPR News. I'm Brooke Thorington and Baton Rouge. Democrats in Maine are meeting to pick a candidate to face long-time Republican senators Susan Collins. After Graham Platner dropped out of the race, Democrats have coalesced around former Senate
President and former Lager Troy Jackson from rural northern Maine. The new nominee will be selected at a state party convention in Bangor today. He will have less than four months to campaign. Before Platner dropped out of the race, Jackson campaigned alongside him during a failed bid for governor. He was also the progressive's favorite to replace Platner on the ballot.
Democrats need a main Senate win to take control of the Senate. You're listening to NPR. Security has been tightened for the UK's biggest annual gathering of Muslims. Vicky Barker has a story from London. The Jalta Salana organized by Britain's Ahmadiyya Muslim sect is expected to draw
about 50,000 people from more than 100 countries. Last month, another big Muslim gathering had to close early after police uncovered a possible far-right threat. Several hundred extra security staff have been drafted in for this weekend's convention. Any possible threat, though, might not just come from the far-right, many Orthodox Muslims
consider Ahmadiyya with its pacifist message and belief that its founder was the Messiah to be heretical. The sect is persecuted in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia bars its followers from the Hodge Pilgrimage. For NPR News, I'm Vicky Barker in London. Peanut butter lovers, this one for you, more than 800 pounds of peanut butter, have been spread across a museum floor in the Netherlands. As part of a tribute to Dutch artist Wymati
Shippers, who died last month, Shippers was known for his conceptual art. He first created the peanut butter floor in 1969 as part of a floor covering series. That series included floors covered with glass shards and salt. This exhibit will run for two months. It is not intended to be edible. And those who suffer from peanut allergies are minded to be where. I'm Linda Kenyon, NPR News in Washington.
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