Dave Mattingly

It's the first such direct meeting between the two governments in decades.

The talks will take place as the Israeli military surrounds a town in southern Lebanon, which Israel describes as a command point for Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters.

NPR's Kat Lansdorff has more from Beirut.

Crude oil prices are hovering near $100 a barrel as the U.S.

Navy continues its blockade of ships moving in and out of the Strait of Hormuz.

NPR's Kamila Dominovsky has more.

The cost of gasoline and diesel fuel in the U.S.

have stabilized in recent days after weeks of price hikes.

AAA says regular is averaging about $4.12 a gallon.

That's two cents cheaper than a week ago.

Diesel is averaging $5.65 a gallon, the same as it was seven days ago.

White House economists have issued a report concluding the U.S.

has a shortage of 10 million houses.

It says more construction would help to lower prices.

This is NPR News.

Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell of California says he will resign from the House amid allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.

The announcement from the seven-term congressman came on the same day the House Ethics Committee said it was opening an investigation into him.

Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez of Texas says he plans to retire from Congress.

The Ethics Committee had opened an investigation into Gonzalez after he acknowledged having an affair with a former staff member who later took her own life.

Tomorrow is the deadline across the U.S.