NPR News: 03-17-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 17, 2025 – Detailed Summary

Hosted by Dale Willman, NPR News Now delivers the latest updates on global events, economic developments, and significant happenings around the world.

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U.S. Military Actions in Yemen

Timestamp: 00:17

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the United States will continue its military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. This decision is aimed at halting the rebels' attacks on commercial shipping off Yemen’s coast. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Hegseth emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining freedom of navigation in the region.

Notable Quote:

“This is about stopping the shooting at assets in that critical waterway to reopen freedom of navigation, which is a core national interest of the United States. And Iran has been enabling the Houthis for far too long. They better back off Houthi.”
– Pete Hegseth [00:32]

Casualties and Military Response: Health officials reported at least 53 fatalities resulting from recent U.S. attacks. In retaliation, Houthi forces launched 11 drones and a missile targeting U.S. vessels. The Pentagon confirmed that all drones were intercepted and the missile fell into the ocean, preventing damage to U.S. ships.

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Ukraine's Campaign in Russia's Kursk Region

Timestamp: 00:47

Eleanor Beardsley, NPR’s correspondent in Kyiv, reports that Ukrainian forces are now confined to a small portion of the Kursk region in Russia. This marks a significant setback following intense clashes with Russian troops attempting to reclaim the territory.

Key Highlights:

• Strategic Importance: Ukraine aimed to use the capture of Kursk as leverage in ceasefire negotiations.
• Historical Context: The August invasion was the largest assault on Russia since the 1941 Nazi invasion.
• Russian Offensive: President Vladimir Putin deployed North Korean troops in a swift campaign, reducing Ukrainian-controlled land from 500 to approximately 40 square miles.
• Ukrainian Leadership: In his address, President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Putin for disregarding the U.S.-Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, accusing him of prolonging the conflict.

Notable Quote:

“We will do everything to intensify diplomacy, but we must also protect our independence, our state and our...”
– President Volodymyr Zelensky [01:14]

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Federal Reserve’s Upcoming Policy Meeting Amid Economic Turmoil

Timestamp: 02:01

Rafael Nam, NPR’s economic correspondent, discusses the Federal Reserve's scheduled policy meeting amidst volatile market conditions.

Economic Insights:

• Interest Rates: Following three rate cuts last year, the Fed is anticipated to maintain current rates for a second consecutive meeting.
• Inflation Concerns: Persistent inflation remains above the Fed's target, necessitating cautious monetary policy.
• Trade Tensions: The introduction of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum by the U.S. has prompted retaliatory measures from the European Union and Canada. President Trump is considering additional tariffs, which could exacerbate inflationary pressures and complicate the Fed's efforts to control rising prices.

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NASA’s Astronaut Return and Space Station Updates

Timestamp: 02:54

NASA officials announced that the two astronauts who have been stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the past nine months will return home on Tuesday night. Initially slated for a one-week mission, extended stays were necessitated by safety concerns with their Boeing spacecraft.

Mission Developments:

• Replacement Crew: New astronauts arrived at the ISS over the weekend to take over the duties of the returning pair.
• Safety Measures: The extension ensured that mission objectives were met while addressing the technical issues with the original spacecraft.

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Devastating Storms Hit Central United States

Timestamp: 02:54

A series of powerful storms swept through several central U.S. states over the weekend, resulting in significant destruction and loss of life.

Impact Report:

• Casualties: At least 37 people have been killed due to a combination of tornadoes, dust storms, and heavy rainfall.
• Affected Areas: Residents are now assessing the extensive damage in the hardest-hit regions.
• Weather Forecast: Meteorologists warn that the storm system may continue to produce damaging winds in the Carolinas, East Georgia, and northern Florida.

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Pope Francis Seen Praying from Hospital Wardrobe

Timestamp: 03:52

Joe Hernandez, NPR’s religious affairs correspondent, covers a rare public appearance by Pope Francis following his hospitalization.

Details of the Report:

• Visual Evidence: A photograph released by the Vatican shows Pope Francis in a wheelchair within a hospital chapel, dressed in a white robe and purple vestment.
• Medical Condition: The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted to the hospital on February 14th with bronchitis and subsequently developed a polymicrobial infection and pneumonia in both lungs.
• Current Status: Vatican officials report that Pope Francis is stable and responding well to treatment.

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North American Box Office Updates

Timestamp: 04:28

The weekend saw a significant downturn in movie theater revenues across North America, potentially marking the lowest grossing period of the year to date.

Box Office Highlights:

• Top Performer: "Novocaine", an action comedy starring Jack Quaid, led the box office with $8.7 million in ticket sales.
• Second Place Tied:
  • "Mickey 17"
  • "Black Bag", a new spy thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh Both films earned $7.5 million each.
• Fourth Place: "Captain Brave New World" concluded the weekend’s top listings.

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This summary encapsulates the key events and developments reported in the March 17, 2025 episode of NPR News Now. For more detailed information, please refer to the full episode transcript.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen will continue until the rebels stop shooting at commercial ships off their coast. Spotting. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, he also offered a warning to Houthi backer Iran.

[Pete Hegseth]

This is about stopping the shooting at assets in that critical waterway to reopen freedom of navigation, which is a core national interest of the United States. And Iran has been enabling the Houthis for far too long. They better back off Houthi.

[Dale Willman]

Health officials say at least 53 people were killed in the US attacks. Houthi forces, meanwhile, launched 11 drones and a missile at US ships on Sunday. The the Pentagon says the drones were shot down and the missile fell into the sea. Military analysts say Ukrainian troops now hold just a small sliver of land in Russia's Kursk region. That's after fierce clashes with Russian troops trying to dislodge them. As NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, Ukraine's campaign to seize and occupy the Russian region seems to be nearing an end.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Ukraine had wanted to use its Kursk conquest as a bargaining chip in any ceasefire negotiations. Its surprise invasion last August marked the biggest attack on Russia since the Nazi invasion of 1941. President Vladimir Putin used North Korean troops to try to get back the territory in a lightning offensive that has reduced the area under Ukrainian control from 500 to about 40 square miles. In his nightly address Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin had ignored the U. S. Ukrainian ceasefire proposal to, quote, steal another week of war. We will do everything to intensify diplomacy, said Zelenskyy. But we must also protect our independence, our state and our Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Dale Willman]

The Federal Reserve will hold its latest policy meeting this week, and as NPR's Rafael Naam reports, policymakers are gathering at a time of great turmoil in the markets.

[Rafael Nam]

After cutting interest rates three times last year, the Fed is widely expected to keep them on hold for a second consecutive meeting this year. The main reason is still inflation, which is still a little higher than what the Fed would like. And now there are rising concerns about how President Trump's tariffs will impact the economy. Economy the US has introduced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, and the European Union and Canada have said they will retaliate. Trump is threatening to impose more tariffs, which is all but certain to make things more expensive, potentially making it a lot harder for the Fed to bring down inflation. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

NASA officials say the two astronauts who have spent the last nine months at the International Space Station will be heading home Tuesday night. The pair had expected to spend just a week in space, but their Boeing space capsule had safety issues. The replacement astronauts for the two men arrived at the space station this weekend. You're listening to NPR News. Residents of several central US States are now assessing the damage left behind from an unusually powerful storm that passed through the region this weekend. At least 37 people were killed from a mix of tornadoes, dust storms and rain. Forecasters say the storm could now bring damaging winds to the Carolinas, East Georgia and northern Florida. Pope Francis was seen praying in a hospital chapel in a photo released by the Vatican on Sunday. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, it's the first time the pontiff has been seen since he was hospitalized in Rome more than a month ago.

[Joe Hernandez]

The image, published online by the Holy See Press Office, shows Francis sitting in a wheelchair inside the hospital's private chapel. The Vatican says Francis, who was wearing a white robe and purple vestment, was praying after having just finished con celebrating Mass Sunday morning. The 88 year old Pope entered the hospital on February 14th for a case of bronchitis. While there, he developed several other medical issues, including a polymicrobial infection and pneumonia in both lungs. But doctors now say Francis is stable and responding well to his ongoing treatments. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

This weekend may be the lowest grossing of the year so far at North American movie theater. The Jack Quaid action comedy Novocaine took first place with $8.7 million in ticket sales. Mickey 17 and the new Steven Soderbergh spy thriller Black Bag are tied at second with $7.5 million of sales each. And Captain Brave New World finished in fourth. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.

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