NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

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There's been a lot of attention on loneliness lately. 16% of Americans report feeling lonely all or most of the time. The former Surgeon General even declared a loneliness epidemic. On It's Been a Minute, we're launching a new series called All the Lonely People, diving deep into how loneliness shows up in our lives and how our culture shapes it. That's on the It's Been a Minute podcast on NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korva Coleman, Europe is rushing to Ukraine's defense after last Friday's disastrous meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and

President Trump. NPR's Lauren Freyer reports from London. Britain and France say they're working with Ukraine to develop a ceasefire proposal. About 20 global leaders, mostly from Europe, rallied around Zelensky at a summit in London. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told them the continent must step up and fund more of its own defence. We are at a crossroads in history today. This is not a moment for more talk. It's time to act, time to step up and lead.

Starmer has hiked British defence spending and is proposing what he calls a coalition of the willing for Ukraine with the deployment of British peacekeepers. But he says he still wants some security guarantees from the U.S. The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says Schiller unveiled plans later this week to rearm Europe. She says the goal is to turn Ukraine into a, quote, steel porcupine that's indigestible to invaders. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. Israel has blocked supplies and goods from entering Gaza.

Two million people there depend on that for survival. Israel's far-right government is seeking to pressure Hamas into a new ceasefire deal to release more Israeli hostages without ending the war as Hamas demands. NPR's Ea Batraoui reports international relief groups are alarmed over Israel's decision to hold up aid. Everything from medicine and tents for shelter to food and winter supplies are now blocked from Gaza. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which is responsible for bringing in tents to Gaza after more than 90% of all homes were destroyed, says humanitarian aid is a right,

not a privilege. It called on Israel as the occupying power to reverse its decision. The aid agency Oxfam says Israel's blockade is a reckless act of collective punishment prohibited under international law. Doctors Without Borders notes that prices for basic goods and food has already spiked due to the uncertainty. The UN humanitarian relief agency says international law is clear. Israel must ensure life-saving aid reaches people. Ayah Batraoui, Ampere News. In the U.S., federal employees got another email late Friday demanding they list what they did the last week.

It's part of billionaire Elon Musk's push to find and stop what he claims are fraud and inefficiencies. But his math does not add up on the Doge website, and he's offered no evidence that supports his claims. A week ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed Pentagon workers to pause on their responses to the first email demand to discuss their work. He has since changed his mind. Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, Pentagon Worker's Office of Defense

I am now directing each member of the department's civilian workforce, just civilian, to provide those five bullets on what they accomplished in their specific jobs last week to reply to that email and CC their immediate supervisor. It's a simple task. He says not to put classified information in the emails. This is NPR. The independent film, Anura, took home most of the big prizes at the 97th Academy Awards. NPR's Bob Mandello has details. Anura, an R-rated Cinderella story, was nominated for six Oscars and took home five, including Best Picture. Filmmaker Sean Baker ended up making four separate trips to the stage to accept awards for his original screenplay, his editing, his directing, and for Best Picture.

The film also won Best Actress for its star, Mikey Madison, who plays a Brooklyn sex worker whose life gets complicated after she marries the son of a Russian oligarch. I love my husband. You do not know this guy. We are consenting adults. Made for just six million dollars, Inora has so far taken in about forty million dollars worldwide. Other films winning multiple Oscars were The Brutalist with three, including best actor Adrienne Brody and Dune Part II, Wicked and Amelia Perez, each with two. Bob Mandello, NPR News.

The Best Supporting Actress Award went to Zoe Saldana for her role in Amelia Perrest and the Best Supporting Actor Award to Kieran Culkin for a real pain. Wildfires are burning in South and North Carolina. The largest fire is near South Carolina's coastal city Myrtle Beach. Some residents were told to evacuate, but many have been allowed to return. Another fire is burning in North Carolina, near the South Carolina border. Microsoft says it'll shut down calling and messaging apps Skype.

It'll go offline May 5th. Microsoft is telling users to move data to its Teams account. Skype has been overtaken by rivals, such as workplace apps. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News. James Baldwin was an activist, an orator, a style icon, Coleman, NPR News.