Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Luis Skiyavoni. Stock prices rallied and crude oil prices started to retreat by the close of business on Wall Street. Amid indications the U.S. and Iran are working toward resumed talks to avert new hostilities in the U.S. Israel War on Iran. The Dow gained 317 points.

Brent crude fell more than 4 percent to roughly $94 a barrel above the $70 a barrel price pre-war, but below a $119 peak. Lebanon and Israel have held their first

direct diplomatic talks in decades. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration

is happy to facilitate the talks, though he's downplaying expectations for a quick

breakthrough. And PR's Michelle Kellerman has more. Secretary Rubio gathered the ambassadors from

Lebanon and Israel to talk about how to end what he calls 20 to 30 years of Hezbollah's influence in the region.

Israeli ambassador Michael Leiter says the fact that the talks took place at all was a victory

because Hezbollah urged the Lebanese government not to take part.

We are both united in liberating Lebanon from an occupation power dominated by Iran called Hezbollah.

But he was making no promises that Israel will ease up on its military campaign against Hezbollah.

Leiter says the talks will resume in a few weeks.

Michelle Kellerman and PR News, the State Department.

Two members of Congress, one a Democrat,

the other a Republican, are resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives due to allegations

of sexual misconduct. Eric Swalwell has also abandoned his Democratic Party bid for California's

governorship. This as another woman stepped forward today to charge that Swalwell drugged

and raped her eight years ago, which Swalwell denies. Swalwell's letter to the House was read by

clerk, Tiles Ali. I plan to resign my seat in Congress, effective at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on April 14th,

2026. Also leaving Congress early GOP

lawmaker Tony Gonzalez of Texas after he admitted to an affair with a staff member who later

died by suicide. A super typhoon is battering Guam and the northern Mariana Islands. NPR's

Rebecca Hersher reports it's bringing sustained winds of up to 150 miles an hour

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