Summary4 min read

NPR News Now: April 12, 2026 – 9AM EDT

Episode Overview

This concise five-minute news roundup from NPR News Now, hosted by Windsor Johnston, delivers the latest global headlines and developments. Key stories include the breakdown of U.S.-Iran peace talks, escalating Israeli-Lebanese tensions, Orthodox Easter ceasefire violations in Ukraine, an attack on a U.S. military aircraft in Ireland, a unique Picasso raffle in France, and a historic leaderboard change at the Masters golf tournament.

Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. U.S.-Iran Peace Talks Collapse

Timestamps: 00:00–00:44

Vice President J.D. Vance led the U.S. delegation in Islamabad; talks with Iran ended without agreement.
Ceasefire status between the two nations is now uncertain.
Quote (B, 00:21):
“The US needs a commitment from Iran that it will not seek a nuclear weapon nor pursue the tools to quickly build one.”
Iran insists its nuclear program is civilian, asserting its right to uranium enrichment.
Future negotiations remain in doubt.

2. Israel-Lebanon/Hezbollah Tensions and Diplomatic Meeting

Timestamps: 00:44–01:44

Israeli and Lebanese officials scheduled their first direct meeting in decades amidst ongoing violence.
Israeli strikes killed 97 people in southern Lebanon in one day, including emergency workers.
Hezbollah continued attacks into northern Israel.
Over 350 people reportedly killed in Israeli attacks the previous week.
Quote (C, 01:22):
“At a Hezbollah rally in downtown Beirut Saturday, supporters filled the streets for blocks, waving flags and chanting against Negot. Many said that after the Israeli attacks last week…they don’t trust the talks will benefit them.”
Ambassadors to the U.S. will meet in Washington to discuss a ceasefire.
Widespread skepticism about the effectiveness of peace overtures.

3. Ukraine-Russia Orthodox Easter Ceasefire Violations

Timestamps: 01:44–02:39

Ukraine and Russia both accused each other of breaking a temporary truce meant for Orthodox Easter.
Ukraine claims Russia violated the truce over 2,000 times in less than 24 hours, with clashes and civilian shelling occurring.
Russia accused Ukraine of launching drone attacks in Russian regions.
Quote (D, 02:02):
“Ukrainians celebrated their fifth Easter under siege from Russia, which launched a full scale war in 2022.”
The ongoing conflict overshadows religious observances and hopes for peace.

4. Saudi East-West Oil Pipeline Restored After Attack

Timestamps: 02:39–03:00

Saudi Arabia's vital east-west pipeline resumed full operations (7 million barrels/day) after being repaired following an attack.
No further details on attribution or casualties.

5. France’s Picasso Raffle for Alzheimer’s Research

Timestamps: 03:00–03:21

A fundraiser raffle in France offers a chance to win Picasso’s “Tête de Femme” (1941).
Proceeds benefit Alzheimer’s research; ticket sales are capped at 120,000, with the draw at Christie’s, Paris.
Previous similar raffles raised over €10 million for humanitarian causes.

6. Security Incident: U.S. Military Aircraft at Shannon Airport, Ireland

Timestamps: 03:21–04:23

A man was arrested after breaching security at Shannon Airport and damaging a parked U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules with a hammer.
Quote (E, 03:45):
“Irish police say a man in his 40s was arrested after entering an unauthorized area… and allegedly causing damage to a US Military aircraft. Video on social media shows a man climbing onto the wing… and attacking it with a hammer.”
The airport, a longstanding U.S. military transit point, has seen prior protest-driven breaches.
Airport operations resumed; investigation continues.

7. Masters Golf Tournament Update

Timestamps: 04:23–04:42

Rory McIlroy entered the third round at the Masters with a record six-stroke lead.
Cameron Young has since caught up, with both now tied for the lead.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks:
“The US needs a commitment from Iran that it will not seek a nuclear weapon nor pursue the tools to quickly build one.”
— NPR’s Dee Parvez (00:21)
On Lebanese Public Distrust:
“Many said that after the Israeli attacks last week, which killed more than 350 people in a single day, they don’t trust the talks will benefit them.”
— Kat Lahnsdorff, Beirut (01:22)
On Easter in Ukraine:
“Ukrainians celebrated their fifth Easter under siege from Russia, which launched a full scale war in 2022.”
— Joanna Kakissis, Kyiv (02:02)
On U.S. Aircraft Incident in Ireland:
“Video on social media shows a man climbing onto the wing of a US Air Force C130 Hercules transport aircraft and attacking it with a hammer.”
— Fatma Al Kassab, London (03:45)

Episode Structure and Tone

The episode maintains the characteristic clarity and urgency typical of NPR’s news delivery, blending concise reporting with human perspectives. Despite being a short news digest, it provides impactful stories and direct attribution to on-the-ground correspondents, giving listeners a broad yet deep update on world affairs.

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Transcript9 lines

[00:01]
A
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The U.S. delegation led by Vice President J.D. vance is on its way back to the U.S. after peace talks with Iran broke down in Islamabad overnight. NPR's Dee Parvez reports Negotiations followed the start of a fragile ceasefire between the two countries less than a week ago.
[00:21]
B
After the collapse of the talks, Vice President J.D. vance said that the US needs a commitment from Iran that it will not seek a nuclear weapon nor pursue the tools to quickly build one. Iran has repeatedly said that the nuclear program is a civilian one and that it has a right to continue to enrich uranium for that purpose. The status of the two week ceasefire is uncertain at this point, as are the possibilities of further negotiations.
[00:45]
A
That's NPR's Dee Parvez reporting. Israeli and Lebanese diplomats are preparing to hold their first direct meeting between government officials in decades on Tuesday. NPR's Kat Lahnsdorff reports. The meeting comes amid ongoing attacks between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
[01:02]
C
Lebanon's Ministry of Health says 97 people were killed by Israeli strikes, mainly in the south on Saturday alone, including three emergency workers. Meanwhile, Hezbollah says it has continued attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops inside Lebanon. Israel says it struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets over the weekend. Israel and Lebanon's ambassadors to the US Are set to meet in Washington to discuss a ceasefire. But at a Hezbollah rally in downtown Beirut Saturday, supporters filled the streets for blocks, waving flags and chanting against Negot. Many said that after the Israeli attacks last week, which killed more than 350 people in a single day, they don't trust the talks will benefit them. Kat Wansdorf, NPR News, Beirut.
[01:45]
A
Ukraine and Russia are accusing each other of violating a brief ceasefire that was supposed to be in effect this weekend for Orthodox Easter. NPR's Joanna Kakissis reports. Ukraine's military claims Russia has breached the truce more than 2,000 times in less than 24 hours.
[02:03]
D
Ukrainians celebrated their fifth Easter under siege from Russia, which launched a full scale war in 2022. They filled churches to declare Christos Vokres or Christ is risen. The truce to celebrate Orthodox Easter was supposed to start on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday, though, Ukraine's military said it recorded combat clashes on the front line and Russian drone and shelling strikes in civilian areas. Russia is also accusing Ukraine of drone strikes in Russian regions that injured several people. Joanna Kakisis, NPR News, Kyiv.
[02:39]
A
Saudi Arabia says the east west pipeline used to send oil to the Red Sea for transport was repaired after an attack. In a statement today, the Saudi Energy Ministry says it's reached full capacity of about 7 million barrels a day. This is NPR News in Washington. A raffle in France is offering a chance to win a Picasso. The draw for the Tete du Femme, painted in 1941, takes place Tuesday at Christie's auction house in Paris. Previous raffles have raised over 10 million euros for cultural and humanitarian causes. The number of tickets is capped at 120,000 and and the draw will be broadcast online. The proceeds support Alzheimer's research. A man has been arrested after a U.S. military aircraft was attacked at an airport on Ireland's west coast. NPR's Fatma Al Kassab reports. Airport operations were temporarily suspended after the incident, but have since resumed.
[03:46]
E
Irish police say a man in his 40s was arrested after entering an unauthorised area of Ireland's Shannon Airport and allegedly causing damage to a US Military aircraft. Video on social media shows a man climbing onto the wing of a US Air Force C130 Hercules transport aircraft parked on a remote taxiway and attacking it with a hammer. There have been several security breaches in recent years at the airport, which has long been the site of protests over its use as a transit point by the US Military. Police say investigations are ongoing. Fatemir Al Kassab, NPR news, London.
[04:23]
A
Rory McElroy led by six strokes entering round three at the Masters on Saturday, the largest third round lead in tournament history. He's still on top, but now tied with Cameron Young. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.