NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-23-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: March 23, 2025

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Singapore is one of the busiest cities in the world, but biologist Philip Johns is fascinated by a different inhabitant on the island, otters. At rush hour downtown, the otters would swim toward each other and there are literally tens of thousands of people who are on their way to work. How ideas, emotions, and creatures coexist. That's next time on the TED Radio Hour from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Trump administration boarders are Tom Holman says the White House will not defy

a judge's order blocking the use of the 18th Century Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. But he pledged to continue deportations based on laws currently on the books. Tom Holman I don't care about that, Judge. I think as far as this case, we're going to continue to arrest public safety threats and national security threats. We're going to continue to deport them from the United States. I understand this case is in litigation through the Alien Enemies Act, and we'll abide by the court order as litigated, but my quote was, despite what he thinks, we're going to keep targeting the worst of the worst, which we've been doing since day one, and deporting from the United

States. Coleman speaking on ABC's this week. The Trump administration has been accused of defying a federal judge's temporary ban on deportation flights using the law. Court hearing in the case is scheduled for tomorrow. Pope Francis has been discharged from a hospital after a 38-day stay battling double pneumonia. Before returning to the Vatican today he made his first public appearance in over a month from a balcony of Rome's Gemelli Hospital. MPR's Ruth Sherlock was there.

Pope Francis waved at the crowds from the balcony and then he stopped and smiled in pleasant surprise and pointed, taking the microphone he spoke. I see this woman with the yellow flowers, he said, pointing to a lady holding a bright bouquet. Well done. His hospital discharge is a stunning improvement for the 88-year-old Pontiff whose illness at times placed his life in danger. Doctors say he must now convalesce with rest and rehabilitation for the next two months. He struggles to speak clearly due to the damage to his lungs, but as doctors say, with time his voice will return. Ruth Sherlock, MPI News, Rome.

Ukrainian officials say a massive Russian drone attack on Kyiv has left at least three people dead, including a young child, dozens injured. And here's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Explosions filled the night sky over Kiev for several hours as air defenses battled swarms of incoming drones. Ukrainian state emergency services say firefighters were kept busy overnight battling fires across the city. One fire on the upper floor of a nine-story building spread to the roof.

27 people had to be evacuated and one woman died. Rescuers discovered the body of a child while clearing rubble from another site. Such nightly attacks terrorized the residents of Kiev. So far, Russian President Vladimir Putin has only agreed to stop targeting energy infrastructure in a possible ceasefire, but not Ukraine's cities. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv. Both sides have continued to launch strikes. The Russian defense ministry says it shot down nearly 60 Ukrainian drones overnight. The attacks came ahead of negotiations in Saudi Arabia on a

partial ceasefire. This is NPR News. Wildfires are burning in the Carolinas. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency for the Table Rock fire that started Friday in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fire in western North Carolina led to mandatory evacuations last night. The area was hit hard by Hurricane Helene in September. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is widely expected to announce plans for a snap election today. Carney replaced Justin Trudeau earlier this month, and he has said that Canada's ruling

Liberal Party needs a clear mandate amid President Trump's trade war and his calls for Canada to become the 51st state. What may be the longest-running band in pop music history has announced its retirement. Vicki Barker has more from London. Selling little bottles of Love Potion Number 9. Their 1960s hits Love Potion Number 9, Needles and Pins and Don't Throw Your Love Away helped the searcher sell tens of millions of records on both sides of the Atlantic. But now the band has confirmed that after 68 years on the road, they're giving it all

up. 83-year-old lead guitarist John McNally told The Guardian they still find performing incredibly energizing, but increased traffic on the roads of 21st century Britain has made traveling between gigs just too stressful. The Searchers will play their last ever show at the Glastonbury Festival this June. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Parker in London. And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.

Making time for the news is important, but when you need a break, we've got you covered Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.