NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-01-2026 1AM EDT

Episode Date: April 1, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Jail 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 U.S. war effort. Contrary to President Trump's comments on social media, France says it has not closed its airs. based U.S. military flights involved in the war on Iran. And Pierre-Helner Beardsley reports that President Trump criticized France for not being cooperative and said the U.S. would remember. Unlike Spain's total ban on U.S. overflights, France permits U.S. 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 is called the U.S. Israeli attacks reckless and illegal. Italy has denied the use of an airbase in Sicily to U.S. military planes carrying weapons after the U.S. 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 Formuz. Eleanor Beardsley and Pierre News, Paris. The head of the UN Refugee Agency for Palestinians says UNRFACES's questions of viability

and Pierre Zaya Petrawery reports on the remarks he made on his last day on the job. UNR Commissioner General Felipe Latsarini says never in the UN's history has an aid agency come under such attack. He pointed to more than 390 UNR employees killed in Gaza by Israeli forces in the war, the bombing of UNRah 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. Letzarini says Israel's attacks on On Oner's. are aimed at weakening Palestinian refugee rights. 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. He steps down from the agency as it also faces shortfalls from U.S. funding cuts. Aya-A. Batrawi, NPR News, Dubai. 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. is 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. 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 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. So, Gina Shrashar with member station WAMC and Albany has more. 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. 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 child care issues that they have to have. and it's difficult to be able to recruit volunteers. 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 Sajina Shresta in Albany.

Asian financial markets are higher in Wednesday trading. South Korean shares leading the way up more than 7%. Japan's benchmark NICA is up 4.5% after the three main U.S. indexes surge to their best day in almost a year after President Trump said the U.S. could be done attacking Iran within two to three weeks. I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News.