NPR News: 05-08-2026 1AM EDT

President Trump asserted Thursday that the US-Iran ceasefire holds despite an exchange of fire, describing US strikes as a decisive response to Iranian provocations. Speaking while inspecting renovations to the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool, he downplayed escalation risks, saying he'd notify the public if the truce ended. The US military described its actions as self-defense: intercepting Iranian attacks on three Navy ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and targeting Iranian facilities. Oil markets reacted sharply, with Brent crude rising over $1.50 to above $101 a barrel, reversing three days of declines tied to prior ceasefire progress reports.

Hantavirus Cases Linked to Cruise Ship

Eight hantavirus cases have emerged from a cruise ship off Africa's coast, including five confirmed infections and three passenger deaths. Public health officials are tracing passengers who disembarked and flew to at least 12 countries, such as Turkey, Singapore, Denmark, and the US. Unlike typical hantaviruses spread via rodent urine, feces, or saliva, this strain transmits person-to-person but only through very close contact, like in households or medical settings. World Health Organization expert Maria Van Kirchhoff emphasized it differs from COVID or influenza, posing very low risk to the general public, though no vaccine or specific treatment exists.