NPR News: 04-02-2026 12PM EDT
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What are the latest developments regarding the Strait of Hormuz?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. The U.K. has convened an international meeting today to discuss ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a day after President Trump, in his national address, told other countries to go to the Strait and just take the oil. The US was not involved in the talks. NPR's Fatima al-Kassab reports from London.
Britain's foreign secretary hosted the virtual meeting and noted the talks showed, quote, the strength of our international determination to reopen the strait. Speaking to ministers from about 40 countries who joined the video call, Yvette Cooper condemned what she called Iranian recklessness, which she said was hitting global economic security.
We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route,
to hold the global economy hostage. The focus of the meeting was diplomatic and international planning. But Cooper said military planners would meet next week to consider military capabilities once the fighting stops. Fatima al-Kassab, NPR News, London.
Additional U.S. troops are now in the Middle East with more on the way. More than 2,000 Marines arrived over the weekend. Another 2,000 are heading there by ship. NPR's Greg Myrie has more.
This expanding force gives President Trump additional options, but these are still relatively small numbers. They could carry out specific limited operations, but it's not nearly enough for a major sustained ground invasion. And neither Trump nor the Pentagon has hinted at the mission, but clearly the most urgent issue is the Strait of Hormuz. So there's speculation that the troops may be part of an effort to try to open the strait for oil tankers.
NPR's Greg Myhre reporting. Last year, Congress gave ICE $45 billion to expand its detention capacity. Now, the Department of Homeland Security is pausing the purchase of new warehouses intended to house immigrant detainees. NPR's Jasmine Garst reports.
Over the last few months, DHS had been purchasing warehouses across the country to turn into detention centers. That led to intense pushback and lawsuits across the political spectrum. In the mostly conservative town of Williamsport, Maryland, there have been concerns about the environmental impact of a newly announced facility and ethical concerns. The last year has been one of the deadliest on record for immigration and customs enforcement detainees. In recent days, DHS has paused its purchase of new warehouses. In a statement to NPR, a DHS spokesperson said, As with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals. Jasmine Garst, NPR News, New York.
The National Capital Planning Commission is expected to vote today on President Trump's plans for a White House ballroom. Yesterday, a federal judge ordered a halt to construction unless Congress approves the project, which is estimated to cost $400 million. This is NPR News in Washington. The Colorado Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of Trump ally Tina Peters. The former county clerk was convicted of allowing unauthorized access to voting equipment. Peters was sentenced to serve nearly nine years in prison. The appeals court found she had been improperly sentenced in 2024 and sent the case back to a lower court for resentencing. She has echoed President Trump's false claims of election fraud.
The most visited museum in the world last year was, once again, the Louvre in Paris. NPR's Netta Ulpe reports it's been a top museum destination for decades.
Officials at the Louvre these days complain about over-attendance. But that does not stop them from making slick, promotional YouTube videos about its exquisite restorations of old master paintings.
It's a project that is clearly out of date.
Other most popular museums include the Vatican Museum at number two and the National Museum of Korea in Seoul at number three. Major art museums in East Asia have seen a notable spike in attendance, including in Shanghai and Hong Kong. But in the U.S., museum attendance is shakier. For example, wildfires and government shutdowns last year adversely affected attendance at many museums in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
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