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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Israeli airstrikes rocked the heart of Beirut last night as part of Israel's renewed offensive in Lebanon after the Iranian backed militant group Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel. Israel says it will not stop until Hezbollah is completely defeated. NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi has more from Beirut.
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This was the third Israeli strike to rock the heart of the capital since the war in Iran began. This time it came with the first ever evacuation order for a part of central Beirut. The Israeli military told people within a 300 yard radius of a building in the Bashura neighborhood to leave. An official in the region not authorized to speak publicly and speaking on condition of anonymity, told NPR the Israeli strike in central Beirut was symbolic to send a message that Israel will not tolerate Hezbollah's fire much longer. The Lebanese president has called for direct talks with ISRA Israel. Israel has not responded publicly, the officials said Israel sees positive signs from the Lebanese government to crack down on Hezbollah. Hadil Al Shalji, NPR News, Beirut.
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The Trump administration is suing California's air pollution agency over its strict vehicle emission standards. NPR's Jeff Brady reports that pollution regulations would end the sale of gasoline cars in California by 2035.
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President Trump wants to eliminate California's toughest in the nation car pollution standards, calling them an electric vehicle mand. The federal Transportation Department is suing the California Air Resources Board, arguing it doesn't have authority to set car pollution standards. California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff said the state will push back. He criticized Trump for attacking pollution regulation, saying that hurts consumers and benefits oil companies. The legal fight plays out as the Iran war has pushed up oil prices and prompted more drivers to consider going electric. While the cars are more expensive, the fuel is cheaper. Jeff Brady, NPR News.
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The latest snapshot of how the US economy's fared reveals slower growth in the fourth quarter than initially reported. The quarter encompasses the final three months of 2025, when the US government was shut down longer than at any other time. NPR's Scott Horsley breaks down the newest data on gross domestic product.
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GDP grew at an annual rate of just 7/10 of 1% in the fourth quarter, down from the original tally of 1.4%. The markdown reflects weaker exports, consumer spend and government spending. During a period that included the six week government shutdown for all of last year, the U.S. economy grew 2%. Gasoline prices continue to climb as the war with Iran has pushed oil prices well above $90 a barrel. AAA says the average price of gas nationwide rose to $3.63 a gallon. The average price of diesel fuel jumped to $4.89 a gallon. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
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You're listening to NPR News. A Utah state judge is deciding whether certain documents and proceedings should be open to the public in the case of the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk. Tyler Robinson was back in court today charged with killing the prominent conservative activist last September on a Utah college campus. An April 17 hearing is scheduled to be held on the defense's motion against TV cameras, microphones and photographers in court. New guidelines for managing cholesterol from the American Heart association and the American College of Cardiology call for earlier treatment. NPR's Allison Arbery reports. Recommendations also call for additional screening tests
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to evaluate risks when you get your cholesterol checked. Results include LDL cholesterol, typically known as bad cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol, the good kind. The new guidelines recommend that adults also test lipoprotein A, explaining explains Leslie Cho, a preventive cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic.
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Lipoprotein A is a causal risk factor,
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which means it can greatly increase the risk of heart disease. It's genetic and doesn't change much. So Cho says adults should have it tested once. And if it's elevated, doctors may recommend more aggressive steps to prevent heart disease, such as starting medications early. Overall, the guidelines call for a more aggressive approach to prevention that will lead to more people being treated earlier. Alison Aubrey, NPR News.
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U.S. stocks trading lower this hour. The Nasdaq is down 215 points, or nearly 1%. The S&P has fallen 32 points. The Dow is down 35 points. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.
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This week on Consider this war on Iran and a new front in Lebanon. What is the cost in lives and to Americans at home and in Ukraine? After four years, the war there grinds on. Is that what Russians want? Our reporters are on the ground with first, firsthand reporting from Beirut to Moscow. Listen for their stories on Consider this on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.