NPR News: 06-23-2026 12PM EDT
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What recent developments occurred in Iran's nuclear negotiations?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. Iran says it did not agree to anything new on nuclear site inspections during the Iran-U.S. meeting in Switzerland. That's despite statements from Vice President Vance that international nuclear inspectors could be back in Iran as soon as this week. NPR's Carrie Khan reports.
The spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry told state media there are, quote, no new commitments on nuclear inspectors. and any new engagement would take place according to previous procedures set by Iran. U.N. inspectors have not had access to Iran's nuclear sites since Israel and the U.S. bombed them last summer in the 12-day war.
What are the implications of the primary elections happening today?
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said Iran committed to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and allow inspectors in. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman says no concessions were made and, quote, we only managed to reclaim some of Iran's violated rights from the Americans. Keri Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
It's primary election day in Maryland, New York, and Utah. Voters are deciding on congressional races and other offices. Democrats are trying to flip seats to get back power in Congress. In South Carolina's runoff, the lieutenant governor and state attorney general are vying for the Republican nomination for governor. A plan to make the cost of buying a home more affordable is moving through Congress. The House will take up the bill next.
How is Congress addressing housing affordability issues?
NPR's Stephen Basaja reports it passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
Before passing 85 to 5, the bill's co-sponsor, Republican Senator Tim Scott, said the bill is meant to boost the country's housing supply.
When you put more housing supply on the market, more people have a chance to become a first-time homebuyer.
The bill does not order the construction of new homes. That's up to the private sector. Instead, Scott says the legislation is meant to encourage homebuilders by reforming parts of the permitting process. When you cut red tape, you actually reduce the cost of housing. The bill also bans institutional investors from buying up large numbers of single-family homes. Stephen Passaha, NPR News.
Europe is sweltering.
What impact is the current heat wave having in Europe?
A heat wave has pushed temperatures well over 100 degrees in countries where there isn't a lot of air conditioning. The Eiffel Tower is closed and hundreds of schools have closed their doors across Britain, as NPR's Lauren Freyer reports from London.
I'm on London's equivalent of Fifth Avenue, Oxford Street, a busy shopping thoroughfare. London is where people crave sunshine, and yet everybody's crossed the street to walk on the shady side. Every once in a while, a door opens, and I feel this glorious breeze of air conditioning coming from a department store. AC is rare in offices and schools and homes in Britain, so people are flocking to these stores to just hang out.
Lauren Freyer reporting. This is NPR. Tiny transforming robots have landed on the moon. NPR's Regina Barber reports on these companions to the first successful lunar mission from Japan.
What innovations are being introduced with tiny robots on the moon?
A tiny sphere the size of a baseball and only half a pound in weight cracked down the center to transform into a rover on the moon. In a study published this month in Science Robotics, researchers outlined this unique design and how this robot performed on the moon, the first rover of its kind to do so, taking images of the lander and the lunar terrain.
These are not expensive devices, and if one or two fails, then you still have others.
That's Roger Wiens, a planetary scientist who didn't work on this program. He was thoroughly impressed and said redundancy was a huge benefit. Wiens said in the future we could be seeing these rovers exploring other planets and even asteroids. Regina Barber, NPR News.
In the World Cup's group stage matches, Uzbekistan is taking on Portugal in Houston in about an hour. Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo are looking for redemption after the team's draw in its opening match against the Democratic Republic of Congo that surprised many people. England takes on Ghana this afternoon.
What initiatives are being taken to support women in music?
Later, it's Panama versus Croatia, and then Colombia will play the DRC.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What recent developments occurred in Iran's nuclear negotiations?
0:00–0:42
2
What are the implications of the primary elections happening today?
0:42–1:26
3
How is Congress addressing housing affordability issues?
1:26–2:12
4
What impact is the current heat wave having in Europe?
2:12–3:11
5
What innovations are being introduced with tiny robots on the moon?
3:11–4:11
6
What initiatives are being taken to support women in music?
4:11–5:04