NPR News: 05-09-2026 5PM EDT

Israel and Lebanon prepare for peace talks amid ongoing cross-border strikes, while a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship prompts health monitoring, voter registration deadlines loom in several states, the Venice Biennale opens under protest clouds, and baseball manager Bobby Cox has died.

Israel-Hezbollah Clashes Persist Before Washington Talks

Israel continues airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire, with intensified attacks ahead of scheduled Washington talks. The State Department announced that representatives from Israel and Lebanon will meet next week for two days of discussions focused on long-term peace and security agreements. In a recent strike, the Israeli military targeted what it described as a Hezbollah weapons depot in the village of Tura. It claimed precautions to minimize civilian casualties, but the known fatalities were three women, an elderly disabled man, and a girl who were at home; no proof of the depot was provided. Hezbollah has responded with strikes on Israeli military targets. These developments underscore fragile ceasefires and the challenges of advancing diplomacy amid active hostilities.

Limited Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship