NPR News: 04-15-2026 8AM EDT

Pakistan’s prime minister is beginning a multi-country tour of the Middle East, a woman has come forward with a sexual assault accusation against former California Congressman Eric Swalwell, and the Justice Department is moving to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. These are among the developments in the Tuesday morning news roundup from NPR News Now.

Pakistan’s Ceasefire Diplomacy and Financial Moves

Pakistan’s Prime Minister is visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey through Saturday to discuss his country’s role in mediating a ceasefire in Iran. NPR’s Ayya Batrawi reports that while Saudi Arabia supports Pakistan’s efforts, not all Gulf countries are on board. The United Arab Emirates has been pushing for a more hawkish deal than the current two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. During the visit to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan announced that the kingdom had committed an additional $3 billion in deposits for the country. This comes as Pakistan is expected to repay a $3.5 billion loan to the UAE. The timing of the tour makes it unlikely that Pakistan will host a second round of US-Iran talks before it concludes. Separately, US Central Command says fighter and surveillance aircraft, along with more than a dozen US warships, are enforcing a presence in the region.