NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-23-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: February 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Trump administration this weekend is notifying hundreds of thousands of federal workers that they must explain what they accomplished in their jobs over the previous week or lose them. But as NPR's Shannon Bond reports, the communication is causing confusion. The email sent by the Office of Personnel Management on Saturday told workers to list five things they accomplished in the past week, but not to share any classified information. In a post on X, White House adviser Elon Musk said failure to respond to the email would

be taken as a resignation. But many federal workers were left confused as supervisors gave conflicting advice. Defense Department staff were told to wait for internal guidance before replying. At the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, officials told employees the email was a quote, valid request. The OPM email gives workers until Monday night to respond. Shannon Bond, NPR News. Pope Francis remains in critical condition, his health diminishing on Saturday as he battles double pneumonia. The Vatican says though that he did pass a tranquil night and Piaras Ruth Sherlock has the latest. After more than a week in hospital, Pope Francis's condition has

now worsened. Doctors described his situation as critical. The 88 year old Pontiff needed supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions after a prolonged asthma-like respiratory crisis. Nonetheless, the Vatican says in a short statement that Pope Francis passed a tranquil night and that he was able to rest. At Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Archbishop Reno Fisichella, a senior Vatican official, told the congregation they should make their prayers for Francis stronger and more intense. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome. In Lebanon, a funeral procession is underway in a 50,000-seat sports stadium south of Beirut

for militant Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The event was delayed several months. Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in September, but officials said they could not hold a proper funeral during a war with Israel. And Piaj Jawad Rizkallah has more from Beirut. Officials say they are expecting more than 100,000 people from dozens of countries to attend the funeral of Akih Hezbollah founder. Nasrallah was on the U.S. terrorism list, but for millions of Shia Muslims, he is considered a hero who forced Israel to

withdraw 25 years ago, ending its nearly two-decade occupation of south Lebanon. Officials from Iran and other countries are expected to attend the funeral. Lebanon has said it will close the airport during the event for security reasons. Jawad Rizqallah, NPR News, Beirut. Israel says it's deploying tanks in the occupied West Bank and that the military plans to remain in several refugee camps there. For the next year, Israel's defense minister also said that tens of thousands of Palestinians who fled those areas in recent weeks will not be allowed to return. This is NPR News in Washington.

Michaela Schifrin today created more history in her storied ski career by winning a World Cup slalom in Italy. Schifrin got a record-extending 100th World Cup race win. The event marked Schifrin's return to giant slalom for the first time since suffering severe trauma to her oblique muscles and a deep puncture wound during an event crash in Killington, Vermont in November. The family of Bobby Hull, says the Hall of Fame hockey player, was suffering from a chronic traumatic brain condition when he died in 2023. Steve Futterman reports. CTE is a neurodegenerative brain condition that comes from repeated trauma to the head.

After his death, at his request, Bobby Hull's family donated his brain to Boston University's CTE Center. Tissue analysis revealed Hull was suffering from stage 2 CTE. Hull played for 23 years, mostly in the 1960s and 70s for the Chicago Blackhawks. It was an era when most players didn't wear helmets. Advocacy groups have filed lawsuits against the National Hockey League. There have been some settlements involving millions of dollars. Last year, the Players Union formed an advisory committee to help players better understand CTE. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has given the green light for resumed broadcast by an Afghan

women's radio station, saying the station had made commitments to authorities. The station, Radio Begum, was started months before the Taliban seized power in 2021. I'm Louise Chiavone, NPR News, Washington.