Giles Snyder

Countdown proceeding toward NASA's Wednesday evening launch aimed at sending astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

NASA officials say the rocket is doing well on its Florida pad and the weather is looking promising.

The astronauts are to circle the moon without landing and come straight back to Earth.

The launch team expected to begin fueling the rocket in the morning.

I'm Giles Snyder.

This is NPR News.

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt says talks with Iran are progressing, saying Monday that what Tehran says publicly differs from what it tells U.S.

officials in private.

It says President Trump wants to reach a deal with Iran before the April 6th deadline he set last week after extending an earlier deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

On social media Monday, Trump again threatened Iranian power plants, oil wells, and the other rich Hark Island if the Strait is not opened immediately.

Palestinians can now face a death penalty in Israel and its occupied territories.

That's according to a new law passed by Israeli lawmakers.

It's an initiative from Israel's far-right cabinet ministers that receives support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite condemnation from European countries.

Here's NPR's Daniel Estrin reporting from Tel Aviv.

Lines at major airport security checkpoints starting to shrink.

Transportation Security Administration officers are beginning to receive paychecks after President Trump signed a memo last week ordering the Homeland Security Department to pay them.

Marlon Hyde of member station WABE reports.

And you're listening to NPR News.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau is planning to step down.