NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-24-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: March 24, 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 Corva Coleman. President Trump says that any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela will now have to pay a 25 percent tariff to the United States. Writing online, Trump called this a secondary tariff on Venezuela. He alleged without evidence Venezuela is sending tens of thousands of criminals to the U.S. Trump says the sheriff will happen April 2nd. That's the day he is vowing to impose widespread tariffs on all other nations. This afternoon, a federal appeals court will take up President Trump's appeal to block a lower court judge's orders to release information about recent deportation flights. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg wants to know why Trump used a wartime power to deport hundreds of migrants when the U.S. is

not at war. The power is known as the Alien Enemies Act. President Trump's border czar Tom Homan says the administration won't defy the judge's order but will continue to deport migrants. I don't care about that. Judges 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 will abide by the court order as litigated.

He spoke to ABC News' This Week. A federal judge has blocked members of the cost-cutting entity DOJ from getting access to some personal data at three federal agencies. NPR's Stephen Fowler has more. A coalition of labor unions sued the Treasury Department, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Education Department over sweeping access to sensitive data given to DOJ employees. A federal judge in Maryland ruled Monday that the three agencies likely violated a federal privacy law and the Administrative Procedure Act by giving the Doge affiliates access to

personal information that they quote, had no need to know. This preliminary injunction prevents the disclosure of data of the union members in the lawsuit. A different judge last week issued a temporary restraining order blocking all Doge related access to Social Security Administration data. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta. U.S. negotiators are holding another round of talks with Russian officials today in Saudi Arabia. The meetings come as the Trump administration continues to pursue a ceasefire, as NPR's

Charles Maines reports from Moscow. In effect, the U.S. hopes to expand on a 30-day pause on attacks on energy infrastructure that President Trump negotiated with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine in phone calls last week. Even as Moscow and Kiev have accused one another of violating that agreement, the White House says it now seeks a similar maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea to allow free flow of shipping. Meanwhile, President Trump's stated goal of a full ceasefire continues to bump up against Russian demands.

Going into the talks, the Kremlin's chief negotiator said any wider peace hinged on the West ending all military aid to Ukraine and Kiev demobilizing its forces. Moves Ukraine and its allies, say, is akin to surrender. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow. You're listening to NPR News. NPR has learned that Israel is considering a major ground invasion into Gaza. The intent is to fully occupy the Palestinian enclave and establish Israeli military rule. The effort could possibly begin in a few months.

However, NPR has learned it is not clear if the plan would ever be carried out or when it might start. The University of Connecticut will not be repeating as champions of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament this year. As Greg Eklund reports, UConn lost to top seeded Florida yesterday as the Gators moved on to the tournament's Sweet 16. To reach the Sweet 16, UConn would have to knock off a number one seed, the University of Florida, but the Gators prevailed,

77-75, and UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley says he'll be going through what he calls rewiring in the upcoming offseason. Just get caught up in this tidal wave of success that we've had and you know, you just you lose perspective. With Florida moving on to the Sweet 16, the Gators are one of seven SEC teams still alive. The women's defending champion is the University of South Carolina, which advanced to the Sweet 16 after a 64-53 win over Indiana University. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklund.

The genetic testing firm 23andMe says it is filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The CEO has stepped down. The company is trying to bring about a sale as well. 23andMe says that it will continue to operate during a sale process. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.