NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-09-2026 2AM EDT

Episode Date: March 9, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Iran is named a successor to its late Supreme Leader, who was killed when the U.S. and Israel began their attack on the country nine days ago. Motaba Kamenei has been named to replace his father. President Trump is calling the selection unacceptable. Fighting in Iran, meanwhile, continues with strikes on a number of key areas on Sunday. Global crude oil prices has surged past $100 a barrel for the first time in almost four years. Brent Crude, the global benchmark, is currently at $108. As NPR's Camilla Dominovsky reports, the last week has caused traders to lose hope

and a quick resolution to the conflicts. The Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the oil trade, remains effectively closed. The U.S. government has offered shipowners' insurance and naval escorts for the passage, but the money available would only cover a fraction of the need, and companies are wary of risking ships and the lives of their crew. Attacks against infrastructure also continue,

including Israel's attacks on oil facilities in Tehran over the weekend. An analyst with the App Gas Buddy says the average price of gasoline in the U.S. is likely to hit $4 this week. It was under $3 before the war began. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News. The European Union's top officials have invited Mideast leaders to a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss the escalating conflict in the region. As Terry Schultz reports, it's the second such call made in the last several days.

European Council President Antonio Costa says he, together with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, decided to call the meeting with Mideast's counterparts, quote, in view of the fast-evolving security situation in the region. The virtual conversation will give the two sides a chance to share their assessments of the broadening conflict in Iran and neighboring countries and how to end it, along with the possibility of more support from the EU. Leaders from individual countries will not be participating. Foreign ministers from the 27 EU governments held a virtual discussion on the situation with their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council last Thursday, with most representatives calling for more dialogue and diplomacy while emphasizing that Gulf states have the right to defend themselves against Iran. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. Travelers in Houston and New Orleans faced long delays at airports on Sunday as lines slowed at TSA security checkpoints. At Houston's Hobby Airport, delays early Sunday evening reached as long as three hours.

Austin Quayar was trying to get home to Chicago after taking a cruise. Probably been here about an hour or two at this point. We were going to try to look at getting earlier flights, but we can't even get up to ask them at this point. And we can't even check our baggage for another, I think, three hours right now. Officials are blaming the delays on the partial government shutdown that has prevented TSA workers from being paid so far. At Hobby Airport, officials are advising passengers. arriving there to get there three or four hours before their scheduled flight. You're listening to NPR News.

Three Palestinians were killed Sunday in a violent clash with settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Israeli military said it responded to reports of Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians east of Ramallah. Two Palestinians were killed by gunfire, and a third was suffocated, possibly by tear gas. The deaths followed several deadly incidents last week that left three. other Palestinians dead. Hundreds of protesters caravan tube and held a rally at Jeffrey Epstein's former Zorro Ranch South of Santa Fe Sunday in honor of International Women's Day. Daniel Montano from member station KUNM in Albuquerque has our report.

U.S. Representative Teresa Ledger Fernandez, whose district includes the ranch, called for justice for victims of gender-based and sexual violence, especially survivors of Epstein's sex trafficking operation. Ledger Fernandez caravand to the ranch with the family of Epstein abuse victim, Virginia Joufrey. Joufrey's brother, Sky Roberts, told the crowd his family is grateful the state reopened its investigation and hopeful justice will be served. I think the people of New Mexico are demanding answers. They're demanding justice. The caravan was the flagship event in a weekend of more than 250 protests in cities around

the country organized by Women's March, a national nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to gender equity. For NPR News, I'm Daniel Montaigneau in Albuquerque. Three people have been arrested following the bombing of a nightclub early Saturday morning in Peru. The number of people injured has risen to 44. At least four remain in serious condition. Three of those who were injured were minors. Officials say the club had been closed for 30 days. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps.

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