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US and Israeli forces rescue downed Air Force officer
โUS and Israeli forces have rescued a US. Air Force officer nearly two days after his plane was shot down in a mountainous region of Iran. President Trump celebrated the news and also issued a new threat. NPR's Marlaiasson reports. Trump said the rescued officer sustained injuries, but quote, he will be just fine. This was the first time Iran has shot down a US fighter jet since the war started.โ
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Trump threatens Iranian infrastructure over Strait of Hormuz
โPresident Trump also issued a profane threat to Iran on Easter Sunday morning. He said starting Tuesday, the US will bomb power plants and bridges if Iran doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz. The president has issued a series of contradictory statements on the Strait, saying that it would open naturally when the war ends, or that European countries should open the Strait themselves.โ
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Israel targets Iranian steel and petrochemical manufacturing capabilities
โIsrael is now focusing on targeting Iran's steel and petrochemical industries, which are important for Iran's economy and military. Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a video statement that Israel's military strikes in Iran have destroyed the majority of Iran's capabilities to manufacture steel. And Saturday, Israel said it bombed a petrochemical complex needed for manufacturing missiles.โ
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Energy price spikes push inflation back above three percent
โGasoline prices have jumped sharply since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran. That's expected to push the annual inflation rate back above 3 percent when the price index for March is released on Friday. Core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food prices, is also expected to be higher in March than it was in February.โ
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Strong labor market keeps Federal Reserve interest rates high
โThe Federal Reserve says President Trump's tariffs have contributed to upward pressure on the price of imported goods. Stubborn inflation is making the central bank cautious about cutting interest rates. The Fed's likely to feel less pressure to lower borrowing costs after Friday's jobs report. It showed US employers added 178,000 jobs in March as the unemployment rate dipped to 4.3%.โ
