Chapter 1: What recent military actions have taken place between Israel and Iran?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Israel has launched fresh air strikes against the Iranian capital today, the second straight day of attacks. The strikes come a day after a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation killed Iran's supreme leader, raising questions about what comes next.
Iran has a formal process for selecting a new supreme leader, but with the country now in the middle of an active conflict, that process may be anything but normal. NPR's Greg Myrie reports.
We're in the middle of a conflict now. It may fall quickly to the security forces and the Revolutionary Guards. That's what we're hearing. In fact, Reuters had a report that the CIA did a recent assessment and wasn't really sure what was going to happen, but their best guess or their best thinking was
Chapter 2: How might the U.S. Congress respond to military actions in Iran?
the Revolutionary Guards or some elements of it would take over.
That's NPR's Craig Myrie reporting. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pushing for a vote to block further military action in Iran without the consent of Congress. Scott Mazzioni from member station WYPR reports Democrats and some Republicans are warning the strikes may be illegal and could drag the U.S. into a wider Middle East conflict.
Democrats are calling for Congress to immediately go into session for a war powers resolution vote after the United States and Israel conducted military strikes on Iran. Maryland Representative Johnny Olszewski sits on the Foreign Relations Committee.
I suspect we will be taking up very quickly the war powers resolution on Iran that reinforces the notion that the president has to make an argument to justify military strikes. And he's failed to do that.
A resolution requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of an attack and forbids armed forces from staying in an area longer than 60 days without congressional approval.
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Chapter 3: What impact could the Iran conflict have on global oil markets?
The Trump administration says it did inform top congressional leaders before the strikes. For NPR News, I'm Scott Mascione.
An oil tanker has come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, wounding four people on board. Ships traveling the strait have been threatened since the U.S. and Israel launched their assault on Iran. NPR's Camilla Dominovsky reports the conflict is beginning to rattle global oil markets.
Iran itself still produces and exports oil despite U.S. sanctions. But more significantly, Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and about a fifth of global oil production travels through that choke point. A blockade would push prices up immediately and dramatically.
Chapter 4: How are travelers affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East?
And if the conflict expands, there's the risk of attacks on oil infrastructure across the Gulf, which would also cause prices to spike and be hard to reverse. But those are all risks, not certainties. In some previous conflicts, both sides were careful to avoid disrupting oil flows. Energy markets open for trading on Sunday night. Camilla Dominovsky, NPR News.
This is NPR News in Washington. Hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded across the Middle East following the outbreak of fighting. Israel, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain have all closed their airspace to commercial flights, forcing the shutdown of major hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. More than 1,800 flights having canceled by regional airlines.
It's unclear when service will resume.
Chapter 5: What changes have been made to Colorado's birth certificate regulations?
Health officials in Colorado have changed their rules for obtaining a birth certificate long after a child is born. Colorado Public Radio's Dan Boyce reports the previous requirements were among the country's most restrictive.
The current rules require at least one official government document from the first 10 years of a child's life to get what's called a delayed birth certificate. But if a child's parents didn't register their kids for government documents, that child would never have a way to get a birth certificate or a social security number. New rules were passed unanimously by the health board.
Applications will now allow certain more recent documents. Colorado Legal Services Attorney Casey Sherman.
I cannot overstate what a massive change this will be for our plants. It essentially unlocks all the benefits to American citizenship where that door was previously closed to people. It's huge.
Chapter 6: What recent incidents have occurred in Austin, Texas?
The rules go into effect on March 20th. For NPR News, I'm Dan Boyce in Colorado Springs.
At least three people were killed in a shooting in Austin, Texas overnight. Officials say a shooting broke out at a beer garden in one of the city's busiest entertainment corridors. This is NPR News.