NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-24-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

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Hey, it's a Martinez a lot of short daily news podcasts focus on one story, but sometimes you need Thomas for up first on NPR We bring you the three top world headlines every single day in under 15 minutes because no one story can capture all that's happening It's the mundo tangrande on any given morning. So listen to the up first podcast from NPR day on any given morning. So listen to the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. U.S. and Russian officials are supposed to open fresh talks today in Saudi Arabia about ending Russia's war in Ukraine. A U.S. delegation met Ukrainian officials yesterday. Both Ukraine and Russia have agreed in principle to a partial ceasefire. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley says it's not clear when that might take

effect. Ukrainian President Volody president Vladimir Zelensky wants to broaden the ceasefire to include other infrastructure. He spoke last night here he is. He basically says you know everybody the US Europe the world needs to put more pressure on Russia to stop this terror and Zelensky said after the last meetings in Saudi Arabia where Russian President Vladimir Putin would only agree to stop this terror. And Zelensky said after the last meetings in Saudi Arabia where Russian President Vladimir Putin would only agree to stop targeting energy infrastructure, that it should be clear to everyone that Russia

is the only one who's dragging out this war. And Pierre's Eleanor Beardsley reporting. President Trump continues to say he wants the U.S. to take control of Greenland. The world's largest island does not belong to the U.S. It's a territory of Denmark. And Piers-Dippa-Shibaram reports this week, secondly, that Usha Vance will visit the island joined by National Security Advisor Mike Walz. Usha Vance will travel to Greenland with one of

her children and a U.S. delegation on Thursday to visit historical sites and learn about Greenlandic heritage, according to the White House. They'll also attend Greenland's national dogsled race. Waltz will separately visit a US military base in Greenland this week as well, according to a White House official. The visits come as Trump has continued to say the US will acquire the territory, despite leaders in Denmark and Greenland rejecting that.

The territory is rich in natural resources, and Trump says the US needs it for international security. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today over Louisiana's congressional map, an issue as whether the map was unconstitutionally drawn to create the state's second majority black district. From the Gulf States newsroom, Stephen Bisaha reports. States can consider race as they draw their maps. In fact, federal judges in recent years have ruled it necessary to comply with the

Voting Rights Act and give black voters more power in states like Alabama. That shift in congressional lines is part of the reason why the Republican majority in Congress is as narrow as it is right now. Louisiana's governor approved its new congressional map in 2024 and created a second majority black district to better reflect the state's demographics. But a lower court ruled the consideration of race in drawing the map went too far and declared it unconstitutional and racial gerrymandering. If the Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, that could further weaken the Voting

Rights Act and a new map would have to be drawn in Louisiana. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Basaha. Federal health officials say that tuberculosis cases are on the rise. They say that there was an 8% increase in TB cases last year compared to what was reported in 2023. You're listening to NPR. Pope Francis has been discharged from a Rome hospital and has returned to the Vatican. Francis also made his first public appearance from a hospital balcony this weekend.

There will be a new champion this year in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. That came after two-time defending champion Connecticut fell to the Florida Gators yesterday. Greg Eklund has more on the men's and women's tournaments. To reach the Sweet 16, UConn would have to knock off a number one seed, the University of Florida, but the Gators prevailed 77 to 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 title way of a success that we've had and 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. Former Massachusetts First Lady Kitty Dukakis died over the weekend at 88, according to her family. She was an outspoken advocate for people with mental illness and addiction, and she drew on her own experiences. Kitty Dukakis also gained national prominence when her husband, Massachusetts Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis, ran for and lost the 1988 U.S. presidential election. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

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