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Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm DOA Lisa Kowtao. US And Israeli warplanes continued attacks on Iran today. It comes hours after Iran shot down an American F15 fighter jet and a second US Air Force combat plane on Friday. One crew member was rescued. Another is still missing. Meanwhile, more US Troops are now in the Middle east, but it is unclear if President Trump will announce a ground invasion. Says NPR's Greg Myhre, it's difficult to
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see the point of sending in ground troops if you expect the war to be over before the end of this month. The troops would face huge risks for any mission and they would be there for very brief and limited operation. The president also says it's up to other countries to open up the strait of Hormuz.
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NPR's Greg Myhre. Oil and gas prices have jumped to record highs since Iran essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz to allies of the United States and Israel. But the key waterway is open to Russia and China, close allies to the Islamic Republic. A federal judge has halted the Trump administration's policy requiring colleges to collect and share data on race in admissions. NPR's Elisa Nadwarni reports. The preliminary injunction follows a lawsuit by 17 Democratic state attorneys general.
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The attorneys generals had argued that new data requested in the Trump order jeopardized student privacy. The federal policy came from concerns that colleges were using personal statements and other proxies to consider race. The judge agreed the federal government government has the authority to collect the data, but called the 120 day rollout, quote, rushed and chaotic. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled against the use of affirmative action in admissions, but said applicants could share information about race in their admissions essay. When the lawsuit was filed in February, a spokesperson from the Department of Education defended the data collection, saying that US Taxpayers deserve transparency into college admissions. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.
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It was a holiday shortened trading week on Wall street with markets closed for Good Friday. NPR's Maria Aspen reports. All of the major indices posted losses.
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The war in Iran and the resulting energy crisis has had investors swinging from panic to relief and back again. Stocks had their best day of 2026 on Wednesday, as investors hoped President Trump would do more to end the war. But then his address to the nation that evening left room for doubt and sparked another, if temporary, sell off. The war has already sent oil prices soaring and damaged some of the refineries and other infrastructure needed to produce more. Consumers are paying more at the gas pump, while companies are paying more for shipping and trucking. The longer the war continues, the longer this oil shock risks fueling inflation.
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This is NPR News from New York. Senegal has imposed travel restrictions on senior government officials in the West African nation following a rise in global oil prices as the war in Iran continues. Michael Kaloki reports.
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Senegal's Prime Minister Osman Sonko has banned government ministers from non essential foreign official travel. The ban also extends to other senior officials, with Sonko adding that he had cancelled a number of his own planned trips. The prime minister warned of, quote, extremely difficult times ahead as the Iran war continues to affect oil costs, noting that current prices are almost double the estimates indicated in Senegal's current budget. Several African countries have put in place measures to try and mitigate the impact of increased oil prices, including reducing fuel taxes and increasing subsidies. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi.
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Despite repeated attempts for a ceasefire during religious Easter celebrations, Russia continued its attacks on Ukraine, hitting a market in Nikopol, killing at least five people and injuring nearly 30. The Kyiv Independent reports drones also hit a residential neighborhood in Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv, injuring another five people there. The attacks come as President Volodymyr Zelensky is on his way to Istanbul for talks with the president there. Trilateral peace talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine have been on hold since the U. S. Israeli war against Iran. I'm Dua Hali Saikowtao, NPR News in New York City.
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NPR News Now — April 4, 2026, 5PM EDT: Detailed Episode Summary
This five-minute NPR News Now update presents the latest global headlines, focusing on escalating military action between the US, Israel, and Iran, the economic fallout from the conflict, a significant judicial ruling affecting US college admissions, international responses to the oil crisis, and continued violence in Ukraine.
This concise, fact-rich episode provides a rapid but comprehensive view of global crisis points and their economic, political, and humanitarian consequences.