NPR News: 04-01-2026 6PM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.

President Trump is expected to address the nation about the Iran War tonight at nine

Eastern.

The conflict launched by the U.S. in Israel is in its fifth week.

Thousands of U.S. troops are stationed in the region.

Trump says the Iranian regime is relenting, but Iran says it isn't.

NPR's Deep Ashivar on reports.

On social media, Trump said Iran's new leader asked the U.S. for a ceasefire.

The president said he would consider it if the straight-of-hormouse, a critical route

for oil, was opened.

Until then, Trump said the U.S. would continue its attacks on Iran.

But Iran's foreign ministry called Trump's comments saying that Iran asked for a ceasefire,

quote, false and baseless.

Trump has said the war, which has gone on for a month, should end in the next two to

three weeks.

Deep Ashivar on NPR News, the White House.

While streets relief rally continued for a second day, as investors hope that President

Trump will soon end the war in Iran, as NPR's Maria Aspen reports, the Dow closed up nearly

half a percent, the S&P 500 rose nearly three-quarters of a percent, and then Aztec jumped

more than one percent.

Some investors are calling it a Hormuz Hope rally after the crucial waterway that handles

a fifth of global oil.

The war has sparked a global energy crisis, sending gas prices soaring and raising investor

fears about wider inflation.

U.S. stocks are still down since the start of the war, but investors are starting April

with more optimism.

U.S. stocks, in particular, have been under pressure, and the tech-heavy NASDAQ has been

leading this week's rebound.

But the prospect of peace in the Middle East didn't reassure all investors, shares

an Exxon mobile, Chevron, and other energy companies sold off, as most of Wall Street

hopes for lower oil prices.

Maria Aspen and NPR News.

Republican-cune congressional leaders say they have a path to fund the Department of Homeland

Security and end the government shutdown of the agency.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in a joint statement

that the solution would move forward in the coming days.

The crew of NASDAQ's Artemis II is suited up, and at the launch pad at the Kennedy Space

Center in Florida, ahead of a mission that will take them around the moon and back.

Central Florida Public Media's Brendan Byrne is there.

It's been a smooth countdown so far.

NASDAQ's massive SLS rocket was fueled up with super cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen

earlier today without any issues.

The team continues to monitor the rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and weather at Kennedy

Space Center.

Once launched, this mission will take the crew of four to Earth orbit, before heading

on a flight path that will take them around the moon and back.

It's the first time the Orion Space Caps was carrying a crew, and the first time humans

will return to the moon in more than 50 years.

The nearly 10-day mission will end with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne at the Kennedy Space Center.

The national average for a gallon of regular gas is $4.06, that's over a dollar more

per gallon than before the Iran War.

This is NPR News from Washington.

The world's most populous nation, India, has begun its national population count, which

could reshape welfare programs and political representation across the country.

The last census was conducted in 2011.

India is now estimated to have more than 1.4 billion people surpassing China in 2023.

Being Charles is set to deliver an address to a joint meeting of Congress later this month.

The last time a British monarch spoke to Congress was Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.

NPR's Claudia Grysalis reports.

Congressional leaders said it will celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck

Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the invitation.

The leaders said the historic visit will also recognize that quote, the American experiment

endures in no small part because of the British experiment from which it's spraying.

They said they hoped his royal highness will share his vision for the future of the U.S.

British alliance.

The address is part of a U.S. state visit that will also include a White House state dinner

with President Trump, Claudia Grysalis, NPR News.

A California company is designing a spacecraft that's set to launch in April 2028 with a mission

to intercept an asteroid as it passes close to Earth.

Long Beach-based X-Labs hopes to reach the asteroid a poffis.

Once there, it'll study the asteroid's composition and origin.

The company hopes this will pave the way for mining asteroids, potentially reducing the

need for Earth-based mining.

The mission is funded by grants and contracts from agencies like NASA and the U.S. Space Force.

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