NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-10-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: March 10, 2025

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NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis. Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone. Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump is dismissing concerns by businesses that his threats over tariffs on a wide range of American trading partners

are causing uncertainty for the economy. Speaking to reporters Sunday on Air Force One, he said tariffs will take back money the U.S. has been giving away for decades. Well, I think the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing we've ever done as a country. It's going to make our country rich again. We have many companies as you know, auto companies, they're opening up plants now. We've had four or five announced already but many more are coming. Trump also did not rule out the possibility of a recession this year caused in part by

those tariffs. Asian stocks meanwhile had a mixed start on Monday as uncertainty over what Trump's tariffs will do, US futures were lower and oil prices also fell. Shares in China led losses in Asia with the Hang Seng Index down more than 2%. Ukraine's military says Russian and North Korean troops are trying to surround Ukrainian soldiers who have occupied part of a western Russian region since last year. As NPR's Joanna Kikissis reports from Kyiv, Ukraine had occupied part of the region to use as leverage in any upcoming peace talks.

When Ukrainian soldiers occupied about 200 square miles of Russia's Kursk region last summer, it was the first time a foreign army had crossed into Russian territory since World War II. The surprise attack embarrassed the Kremlin. Russia has since managed to take back most of that territory with the help of thousands of North Korean soldiers. And now Ukraine's military confirmed to NPR that Russian special forces crept through miles of a gas pipeline to storm Ukrainian positions this weekend. In a statement, Ukraine's military grouping in Kursk said the situation remains quote, difficult but under control of our command. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv.

Selma, Alabama is marking 60 years since a historic voting rights march there. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports that thousands of people turned out on Sunday to symbolically cross Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge, where law enforcement officers attacked peaceful demonstrators in what became known as Bloody Sunday. A far cry from the violence back then, the crowd had police protection as they retraced the footsteps of those who braved Edmund Pettus Bridge 60 years ago. Sheila Bonds made the pilgrimage with the Indianapolis Coalition of 100 Black Women.

This is really important for us to remember, for our youth to take a stand and to make sure as the U.S. government is making huge changes that we are included in the change. Bonds and others say they fear a rollback of gains achieved by voting rights activists in 1965. Debbie Elliott, NPR News, Selma. And you're listening to NPR News. The Vatican says Pope Francis is showing signs of mild improvement as he continues to receive treatment at a Rome hospital.

Francis released a prayer over the weekend thanking hospital staff. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, Francis hasn't appeared publicly for weeks. Francis was admitted to the hospital nearly a month ago for a case of bronchitis. Since then, the 88-year-old has also suffered a polymicrobial infection as well as pneumonia in both lungs. According to the Holy See Press Office, doctors say he's responded well to his treatment, but his prognosis is guarded, which means the outcome of his illness is still uncertain. In the text of his Sunday Angelus prayer released by the Vatican, Francis thanked

health care workers across the globe, including his own care team. He said, quote, during my prolonged hospitalization here, I too experienced the thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care, in particular from the doctors and health care workers whom I thank from the bottom of my heart. Joe Hernandez, NPR News. Joe Hernandez, NPR News A search is underway in the Dominican Republic for a 20 year old university student from the US. Authorities say Sue Dix-Kanaki was last seen on March 6th in the popular tourist town of Punta Cana. She was there on vacation and was staying with several friends. It was a relatively quiet weekend at North American box offices.

The science fiction flick Mickey 17 landed in first on its debut weekend bringing in 19.1 million dollars, the latest in the Captain America franchise meanwhile added eight and a half million dollars to its take during its fourth week in theaters and Last Breath, Monkey and Paddington in Peru rounded out the top five. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.