NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-01-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

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James Baldwin was an activist, an orator, a style icon, but on NPR's Book of the Day, we'll dissect the thing he was most known for, his writing. That last clause kind of reads like a horror story. Right? There's something deeply, deeply ominous about the way that that opening paragraph closes. Celebrate Black History Month with us as we examine some of his best works on NPR's Book of the Day podcast. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. After a dramatic showdown in the Oval Office, President Trump said he doesn't think Ukraine's president is ready for peace. European leaders, though, are rushing to Ukraine's defense, as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

The meeting started fine, but devolved after Vice President J.D. Vance accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of being disrespectful and not thanking President Trump for pushing for peace. Trump picked up on that line of attack. You have to be thankful. You don't have the cards. I'm thankful. Zelensky called off a public appearance after the showdown, but he's active on social media

writing, thank you for your support as world leaders stand with Ukraine. Germany's soon to be chancellor called it a testing time, adding, quote, we must never confuse aggressor and victim. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, is praising Trump for, in his words, standing up for America. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. A militant Kurdish party that's been at war with Turkey for four decades says it's agreed to a call by its founder to disarm and dissolve the party.

The move potentially ends one of the world's longest running conflicts. NPR's Jane Arraff has our details. The PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, has declared a ceasefire with Turkey after a call by its founder, Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan has been in solitary confinement for 26 years in a Turkish prison. This week he told Turkish politicians it was time for his followers to abandon armed struggle. The PKK is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and the US as guerrilla fighters have battled the Turkish military from mountain bases on the border with Iraq.

The group has come under increasing pressure in Syria where Turkish-backed militias are playing an increasing role since the fall of the Syrian regime. Jane Araf and Pyrrha News, Damascus. The measles outbreak in Texas is now growing with at least 146 cases confirmed along with one death. Until now, all of the cases were clustered in the western part of the state, but this week Austin has reported one case involving an unvaccinated toddler.

The rest of the family has been vaccinated, which is something that Austin Mayor Kirk Watson says everyone should do. I want to emphasize to everyone listening that vaccination remains the best defense against this highly contagious and deadly disease. The affected family had recently traveled internationally. Interstate 40 in western North Carolina will be reopening later today, flooding last September from the remnants of Hurricane Helene collapsed portions of that

highway which links the state with Tennessee. While traffic will be able to move in both directions, large sections will have one narrowed lane with a reduced speed limit. The road will not be entirely fixed until at least late next year. You're listening to NPR News. A new law is now in effect in Wyoming that requires clinics that provide abortions to be licensed as surgical centers. Wyoming's only full-service clinic stopped providing the procedures on Friday after the

bill became law. Officials at the clinic say they're challenging the law in court. In the meantime, they'll remain staff staff but will no longer perform abortions. Egypt is formulating a response to President Trump's idea to displace Palestinians outside Gaza and transform it into a real estate project. Ampere's Ayah Batraoui spoke with Egyptians about the counter proposals being drafted for Gaza's future. One of Egypt's plans looks at how to rebuild Gaza after sustained Israeli airstrikes. Another lays out ideas for a new political landscape without Hamas and the unpopular Palestinian authority.

While another looks at the possibility of peace in the region. But all these ideas are rooted in one thing, Palestinians remaining in Gaza. Egypt's former Foreign Minister Nabeed Fahmy explains. You cannot, by use of force, simply erase the Palestinians. We won't accept that, because then you're applying that standard throughout. Cairo will host Arab leaders in the coming days to discuss Egypt's ideas and the region's rejection

of Palestinian expulsion. Egypt's also a mediator between Hamas and Israel. Negotiators are converging in Cairo this weekend to discuss the current ceasefire. Ayah Batraoui and Peer News, Cairo. No group has yet claimed responsibility for an attack by a suicide bomber on Friday at a mosque at a pro Taliban seminary in Northwestern Pakistan.

The attack killed a senior cleric there and five other worshipers. Many other people were injured by the blast. The attack took place just before the start of the fasting month of Ramadan. I'm Dale Wilman and PR News. Planet money is there from California's most expensive fires ever. fasting month of Ramadan. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.