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Giles Snyder
Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is planning to address the nation. The White House says he will deliver an update on the Iran war Wednesday night. His address follows remarks Tuesday that the U.S. could end its attacks within two to three weeks and that Iran did not have to make a deal as a prerequisite. Trump also criticized allies that have not helped the US War effort. Contrary to President Trump's comments on social media, France says it has not closed its airspace to U.S. military fleet flights involved in the war on Iran. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that President Trump criticized France for not being cooperative and said the US Would remember Unlike Spain's
Eleanor Beardsley
total ban on US Overflights, France permits US Support aircraft overflights on a case by case basis with guarantees they're not used in offensive operations. France has deployed an aircraft carrier to the eastern Mediterranean, but says it is strictly for defense measures. Spain is one of the most vocal critics of the war and has called the US Israeli attacks reckless and illegal. Italy has denied the use of an air base in Sicily to US Military planes carrying weapons after the US did not follow the required authorization procedure. French observers say Trump is lashing out because he's furious Europeans will not act to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.
Giles Snyder
The head of the UN Refugee agency for Palestinians says UNWRA faces questions of viability. Pierce Aya Petrawi reports on the remarks he made on his last day on the job.
Felipe Lazzarini
UNRWA Commissioner General Felipe Lazzarini says never in the UN's history has an aid agency come under such attack. He pointed to more than 390 UNRWA employees killed in Gaza by Israeli forces in the war, the bombing of UNRWA schools and Israeli legislation that's closed its clinics and headquarters in Jerusalem. Israel says 12 UNRWA staff out of some 13,000 in Gaza took part in the deadly Hamas led attack on Israel in 2023. Latsarini says Israel's attacks on UNRWA are aimed at weakening Palestinian refugee rights.
Pierce Aya Petrawi
The future of the agency is very much intertwined with the future of what the political solution will be in the coming months or coming years.
Felipe Lazzarini
He steps down from the agency as it also faces shortfalls from US Funding cuts. Aria Baltrawi, NPR News, Dubai.
Giles Snyder
The countdown is proceeding toward NASA's Wednesday evening launch aimed at sending the first astronauts on a moon mission in more than 50 years. NPR is Jeff Spalding.
Jeff Spalding
People are excited and ready to go on this first chapter on our way back to the moon since the 1970s. So we're very excited.
Giles Snyder
NASA officials say the rocket is doing well on its pad at the Kennedy Space center, and the weather is looking promising. Four astronauts make up the Artemis crew. They are to circle the moon without landing and come straight back to Earth. The launch team expected to begin fueling the rocket Wednesday morning. And you're listening to NPR News. A federal judge has agreed to permanently block the Trump administration from implementing an executive order barring federal funding for NPR and pbs. A district court judge cited the First Amendment in his decision. The impact of the ruling is not clear, and the White House could appeal. From housing to health care, the high cost of living is showing up in many ways in New York. The list includes challenges recruiting volunteer firefighters such Nesrastha, with member station WAMC in Albany, has more.
Sagina Shrestha
While cities like New York and Albany employ paid crews, roughly 90% of the new York state firefighters are volunteers. But Eugene Perry, president of the Firefighters association of the State of New York, says recent living cost concerns have prevented people from signing up.
Eugene Perry
It's been very challenging because of the demographics now and the affordability in New York State where people are working two jobs and, you know, they have childcare issues that they have to have, and it's difficult to be able to recruit volunteers.
Sagina Shrestha
The association, whose membership includes the state's 80,000 volunteer firefighters, has launched a recruitment initiative to help fill depleted rosters. For NPR News, I'm Sagina Shrestha in Albany.
Giles Snyder
Asian financial markets are higher in Wednesday trading, South Korean shares leading the way up more than 7%. Japan's benchmark Nikkei is up 4.5% after the three main US indexes surged to their best day in almost a year after President Trump said the US could be done attacking Iran within two to three weeks. I'm Jael Snyder. This is NPR News.
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Host: Giles Snyder
Date: April 1, 2026
Episode Overview:
This five-minute episode provides a concise update on global affairs, including the ongoing Iran war and international response, the future of UNRWA in Gaza, the upcoming Artemis mission to the Moon, a significant judicial ruling on public media funding, New York’s volunteer firefighter shortage, and surging Asian financial markets.
[00:01–01:24]
President Trump’s Upcoming Address:
Allies’ Official Responses:
[01:24–02:15]
UNRWA Commissioner General’s Departure:
Funding and Political Challenges:
[02:21–02:39]
[02:39–03:31]
[03:31–04:16]
[04:16–04:40]
This episode delivers a rapid-fire, fact-rich summary of breaking international news, U.S. policy updates, and social issues affecting daily life.