NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-23-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: March 23, 2025

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Shortwave thinks of science as an invisible force, showing up in your everyday life, powering the food you eat, the medicine you use, the tech in your pocket. Science is approachable because it's already part of your life. Come explore these connections on the Shortwave podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. The Israeli government has approved a proposal by the defense minister to create a body to help move Palestinians out of Gaza. This comes as the death toll in Gaza surpassed 50,000 Palestinians since the start of the

war in October 2023. NPR's Hadil El-Shelchi reports. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his plan is the start of the war in October 2023. NPR's Hadil El-Shelchi reports. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said his plan is the start of implementing the quote vision of the US president. President Trump has proposed the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and rebuilding the strip under US ownership. Katz said that the new body would be under the scope of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and will help Palestinians in Gaza who want to leave to other countries in coordination with those countries' governments.

He said this will include establishing pedestrian routes and coordinating travel infrastructure, including by land, sea, and air. Katz also said last week that the military was getting ready to seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas did not release all the hostages. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The US-Canada trade war will dominate as Canadians prepare for a general election.

Dan Karpenshuk reports Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to trigger the process today for a vote that could replace him. The election call won't come as a surprise. Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to win a seat personally and a mandate for his Liberal Party. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had parliamentary procedure suspended while the Liberals chose their new leader and that suspension expires on Sunday. An election call will mean members of Parliament will hit the campaign trails across the country. A top issue will be how to counter US President Donald Trump's tariffs and his rhetoric about

annexing Canada. Carney's Liberals are in a dead heat with the opposition Conservatives, and the choice for most Canadians will be which leader they feel can best deal with Trump. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. Protests against Elon Musk have popped up at Tesla dealerships across the country. Ben Abrams of member station KWGS reports on one in Tulsa. Around 60 protesters who've been gathering on Saturdays voiced their anger at cuts to government by the Musk-led Doge team. About a dozen people sympathetic to the GOP platform looked on, like Trump supporter Chuck

Williams, who spoke to some demonstrators. I'm not coming at none of them wrong. I'm not here to start arguments or anything like that. If I don't understand something, I want to be explained to. You don't have to yell it, push it down my throat, just explain it. That's all I'm looking for." The gathering followed a social media offer from a local man to pay people to support Tesla at the protest.

No one reported being compensated, and the mourning ended peacefully. For NPR News, I'm Ben Abrams in Tulsa. Pope Francis was released from the hospital today, where he'd been treated since February 14th. His doctors say the 88-year-old pontiff has recovered from pneumonia, but will need to rest for at least two months before resuming his duties. This is NPR News in Washington. Russia launched a huge drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kiev overnight.

The mayor says at least three people were killed. Russia has insisted it does not target civilians three years after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Officials from Ukraine and the U.S. are expected to hold talks today in Saudi Arabia on a possible ceasefire. Foreign nationals are being evacuated from South Sudan as another civil war seems to be brewing. Weeks of fighting in the north and political tensions have threatened a fragile peace deal

signed in 2018. Emmanuel Ogunza has more from neighboring Kenya. Local authorities in Apanile State say thousands have fled their homes and are hiding in the bush after days of clashes between the National Army and an ethnic militia. The UN says heavy fighting is ongoing. President Salva Kiir accuses Vice President Riek Machar of backing the White Army militia in the north. The government has arrested several high-ranking military officials and politicians linked

to Machar. He is now under house arrest. The U.S., Germany and other western nations have evacuated non-emergency staff, while the UN wants that the peace agreement is close to collapse. For NPR News, I'm Emanuele Gunza in Nairobi, Kenya. Conan O'Brien is to receive the award for lifetime achievement in comedy at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts tonight. He was named the latest recipient of the honor in January, about three weeks

before President Trump ousted the longtime president and replaced the board of directors, who then named Trump chairman of the traditionally nonpartisan organization. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington. A lot happens in Washington every day, from the White House to Capitol Hill and everywhere in Washington.