NPR News: 09-12-2026 6AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump has arrived in Ireland for a two-day visit. Air Force Juan touched down a Dublin airport this morning where Trump was greeted by Irish officials. He's meeting with Ireland's President and Prime Minister. Talks are expected to include trade and international issues. Upon landing, Trump was asked about the timeline when it comes to ending the war in Iran. I think Russia, I think it'll be probably right after Trump's been trying to hold out as long as they can to complicate the election, but I think people will want to do it because Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. Trump will later travel to his golf resort in Dumbag, which is hosting the Irish Open. He's expected to attend the tournament this weekend and present the winners trophy on Sunday. Saudi Arabia has shut down a major oil pipeline after it was attacked by drones launched from

1:04inside Iraq. The BBC's Peter Hyatt reports the pipeline of bypasses the Strait of Hormuz by pumping crude oil toward the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia said the drones were launched from Iraqi territory, and Iraq has responded by sacking a military commander from an area where pro-Iranian Shiite militias are known to operate. The pipeline has been moving 4 or 5 percent of global oil supply in recent months. It's part of Saudi Arabia's effort to get round the restrictions on using the Strait of Hormuz. So, closing it now means the flow of oil from the Middle East has been reduced still further, at least until repairs are carried out. Adding to Saudi Arabia's problems, Iran's Houthi allies have seized control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coast. They say they'll ban Saudi shipping in the Barbel Mandep Strait, which they now control. The BBC's Peter Hyatt reporting. A federal judge is temporarily pausing the federal government's use of a question on civil service job applications, and PR's Andrew Issue reports.

2:05The question asked applicants to identify one or two of President Trump's executive orders or policy initiatives that are significant to them and explain how they'd help implement them if hired. According to the lawsuit, it showed up in some 70,000 postings, including for nonpartisan roles like wildland firefighters, air traffic controllers, and accountants. Several unions sued to block the government from asking the question, calling it an unlawful loyalty test. US District Judge George O'Toole issued a stay temporarily halting the government's use of the question, but he stopped short of ordering that agencies not use the answers they've already collected in making hiring decisions. Andrew Issue and PR News. The National average for diesel has jumped 28 cents in just one week to a new record high, a gallon now costs an average of $6.16. This is NPR News. The Federal Reserve will meet next week with financial markets now expecting a quarter-point

3:06interest rate increase. The odds of a rate hike rose sharply after the government released its latest inflation report Friday. The consumer price index rose for a tenth of a percent in August. Prices were up 3.4 percent compared with the year earlier. The CDC says the record cyclose pariahs' outbreak is over. This year's largest ever outbreak began in May and was mostly linked to iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico. NPR's Rachel Carlson has more. Nearly 20,000 people in the US were hit by the diarrhea causing illness this summer. The agency still has a backlog of thousands of possible cases to confirm. Two people in Michigan died after becoming sick with the disease. Over half of all confirmed cases were linked to lettuce from tailor farms, sold at Taco Bells and in some grocery stores. But the CDC said Friday that all affected lettuce from this source, which was recalled in July, has been taken off shelves and removed from restaurants. So you can feel a little safer eating the salads you've been avoiding.

4:09The Food and Drug Administration is still investigating the outbreak, which was concentrated in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. Rachel Carlson and PR News. The authority that oversees Nashville International Airport has voted unanimously to begin the process of renaming it in honor of legendary country singer and actor, Dolly Parton. City officials say the process could take a year or longer to complete. Parton died two weeks ago at the age of 80. This is NPR. This message comes from the Center for US Voters Abroad Foundation. US citizens live, travel and serve all over the world. But wherever they are, they can stay connected to home through voting. All US citizens abroad may request an absentee ballot to vote in the 2026 election and requesting yours is easy. Keep your connection strong no matter how far away you are. Visit registerabroad.com to get started.