Deep Dive
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. French President Emmanuel Macron says he got a call today from his Iranian counterpart and that they agreed to accelerate negotiations between European powers and Iran over its contested nuclear program. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports it's a sign of progress after EU-Iranian talks in Geneva yesterday
went nowhere. Writing on X, after his conversation with Iranian President Massoud Pesachian, Macron said Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, but that it was up to Tehran to prove its intentions are peaceful. I'm convinced there is a way out of the war, said Macron.
But international calls for de-escalation and the European diplomatic push have had little consequence on the air war raging between Israel and Iran. And on Saturday, Iran's foreign minister warned that U.S. involvement in the Israeli attacks would be, quote, extremely dangerous for everyone. Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre News, Paris.
Rhode Island may soon become one of the only states in the country to ban the making and selling of assault weapons. As M.Piers Netta-Uleby reports, last night the state's House of Representatives passed a bill that is now headed to the governor. Rhode Island's Democratic governor said on social media that he intends to sign the bill into law. That will make Rhode Island one of only 11 states that has some sort of ban on semi-automatic rifles.
The bill in Rhode Island applies only to the sale and manufacturing of such rifles rather than possession. Such high-powered weapons were banned nationwide from 1994 to 2004. Now they are largely the weapon of choice in mass shootings. Last year, there were 503 mass shootings across the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive, and more than 160 so far this year. Netta Ulipi, NPR News.
Cities from the Midwest to the East Coast are preparing for extreme temperatures as the first heat wave of the summer bears down this weekend. The Midwest will be blanketed with a heat dome. It's expected to cause oppressive heat and humidity for millions in wide stretches of states, including Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Mayan Silver of member station WUWM has more from Milwaukee. Heat indices across the Midwest are expected to get up to 103 to 109 degrees.
The heat index couples actual air temperature with the humidity, which can make it feel very soupy outside.
Meteorologist Ben Shepard is with the National Weather Service. We are urging people to limit their time spent outdoors and never leave kids or pets unattended in vehicles. And in the event you do need to go outside to stay hydrated and take breaks as often as possible. He says the heat wave will last through Monday. The heat dome will then drift towards the East Coast early next week. For NPR News, I'm Ayaan Silver in Milwaukee.
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