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Details@capitalone.com live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The White House says it's preparing to send a US Delegation to Pakistan today for another round of peace talks with Iran, but it's still not clear whether negotiations will place. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi arrived in Islamabad overnight, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry says he will not speak directly with the US Betsy Jolz reports from the Pakistani capital.
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In addition to Islamabad, Arakchi said in a post on X that he'll also visit Muscat and Moscow for discussions on, quote, bilateral matters. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Arakchi would hold meetings with its senior leadership. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told Fox News that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would travel to Pakistan on Saturday for talks. Aragchi did not say if he would participate in talks with the US In Pakistan. For NPR News, I'm Betsy Joels in Islamabad.
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Violence is continuing despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, with Israeli strikes and clashes still being reported in the south. Fatih Alama is the chairman of the Lebanese parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. He spoke to the BBC a day after Israeli airstrikes killed six people in the south.
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It's maybe called a slight de escalation of what we have seen. It's almost a full blown war in the south. So you've got ongoing military activities happening, especially within the stretch of 8 km that the Israelis declared as a yellow zone. So where you see destruction, you see demolition of homes and towns.
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The truce brokered earlier this month was meant to pause fighting, but officials say it's been repeatedly tested by ongoing military military activity. With both sides accusing each other of violations. There are growing doubts about how long the ceasefire can actually hold. The police departments in Dallas and Houston are changing their policies on how officers interact with federal immigration agents. The shift comes after pressure from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh reports the changes are already taking effect.
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Police officers in Houston and Dallas were forbidden from detaining people or prolonging traffic stops due to civil immigration warrants. Abbott threatened to revoke public safety grants unless the policies changed. Houston had more than $110 million on the line, while Dallas faced the loss of more than 30 million on top of public safety funding for the FIFA World cup in nearby Arlington. After the threat, both cities gave officers more discretion to hold people for immigration warrants. Civil rights advocates criticized the changes, while Abbott says he expects other cities to follow suit. I'm Dominic Anthony Walsh in Houston.
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This is NPR News in Washington. This weekend marks 40 years since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, the worst in history. The accidental explosion at the Soviet era plant sent radioactive material across much of Europe, forcing mass evacuations and long term health concerns. Recent years, the area has taken on new significance after Russian forces briefly occupied the site during the war in Ukraine. The White House Correspondents Dinner will not be hosted by a comedian as in years past. Instead, mentalist Oz Perlman will appear to read the minds of those in the room, which include President Trump. NPR's Rachel Treisman reports.
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Perlman rose to fame on America's got talent in 2015. He often goes viral on social media, appearing to guess the ATM PIN codes and innermost thoughts of various celebrities. His audience on Saturday is a room full of political journalists, government officials and Trump, who plans to attend the correspondence dinner for the first time. As President Perelman told NPR his job is to bring people together.
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You're gonna leave the room in a better mood than you walked in, and I think as a country, we need
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that at times in such a divisive political moment that may take a magician's touch. Rachel Treisman, NPR News.
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Members of the screenwriters union have approved a new four year contract with Hollywood Studios. Union leaders say it includes gains in health coverage and increases in minimum pay. Actors, though, are still negotiating their own contract. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.
Overview
This episode delivers NPR's signature five-minute concise roundup of leading global and national news stories. The coverage centers on U.S. diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, escalating tensions between Israel and Lebanon, policy changes in Texas impacting local and federal immigration cooperation, Chernobyl's 40th anniversary, a shift in the White House Correspondents' Dinner program, and updates on Hollywood labor negotiations.
Delegation Plans Unclear: The White House is preparing to send a U.S. delegation to Pakistan for potential peace talks with Iran, but it's uncertain whether direct negotiations will occur.
Iranian Diplomacy: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi arrived in Islamabad. He announced plans to also visit Muscat and Moscow for further bilateral discussions.
US Delegation: White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told Fox News that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will travel to Pakistan Saturday for the talks.
Iranian Stance: Arachi has not committed to face-to-face talks with U.S. officials.
Notable Quote:
Ceasefire Under Strain: Despite a brokered truce, violence continues with Israeli airstrikes and border clashes.
Local Perspective: Fatih Alama, chairman of Lebanon's parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, describes the situation as "almost a full blown war."
Destruction Intensifies: The “yellow zone” declared by Israel remains a site of ongoing destruction and instability.
Notable Quote:
Policy Shifts After State Pressure: Dallas and Houston police departments have altered policies to give officers more discretion in holding people for civil immigration warrants.
State Funding at Stake: Governor Greg Abbott threatened to strip public safety grants (totaling over $100M for Houston and $30M for Dallas) to coerce these changes.
Controversy: Civil rights groups criticize the move, warning of potential overreach and harm to immigrant communities.
Precedent: Abbott expects similar policy changes from other Texas cities.
Notable Quote:
Shift from Tradition: This year’s dinner will feature mentalist Oz Perlman instead of a comedian. President Trump is confirmed to attend, his first at the event as president.
Oz Perlman's Role: Known for his mind-reading acts, Perlman aims to foster a sense of unity in a "divisive political moment."
Notable Quotes:
Direct diplomacy skepticism:
"Aragchi did not say if he would participate in talks with the US in Pakistan." — Betsy Joels (01:10)
Reality of Lebanon-Israel conflict:
"It's almost a full blown war in the south... you see destruction, you see demolition of homes and towns." — Fatih Alama (01:37)
On changing police-immigration protocols:
"Houston had more than $110 million on the line, while Dallas faced the loss of more than $30 million..." — Dominic Anthony Walsh (02:44)
White House Correspondents Dinner mood:
"You're gonna leave the room in a better mood than you walked in..." — Oz Perlman (04:23)
This summary encapsulates the full scope of the episode, offering context and key details for listeners needing a quick yet rich understanding of current events as covered by NPR News Now.