NPR News: 03-21-2026 7AM EDT
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What recent military actions are taking place in the Middle East?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The Pentagon is deploying around 2,500 more Marines to the Middle East. Speaking with reporters yesterday, President Trump said a big challenge remains to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic.
It's a simple military maneuver. It's relatively safe. But you need a lot of help in the sense of you need ships. You need volume. And NATO could help us, but they so far haven't had the courage to do so. And others could help us. But, you know, we don't use it.
How is Israel responding to the conflict in Syria?
You know, at a certain point, it'll open itself.
He posted on social media yesterday that his administration is thinking about winding down military operations soon. Turkey says recent Israeli strikes on its neighbor Syria represent a, quote, dangerous escalation. Israel's military said yesterday it had struck a Syrian command center and weapons depot. NPR's Emily Feng has more.
Deadly fighting broke out once again this week in southern Syria between fighters from Syria's government and the Druze, a minority religious group. Israel says it is acting to protect the Druze minority from the Syrian government. The Israeli military said in a statement it struck government sites in Syria's southern Sueda province, where many Druze live. The strikes add to an Israeli military campaign in Syria that dates back to the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Turkey said the attacks this week were illegal.
What technology is Ukraine sharing to counter drone attacks?
The country has funded militia groups in Syria in the past, including one run by now-Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharra. Emily Fang in Pure News, Van, Turkey.
Ukraine says it has been sharing anti-drone unit technology developed in its ongoing war with Russia. Ukrainian Security Chief Rustam Umarov visited five Middle Eastern countries in the past week to talk about countering drone attacks. On social media, he wrote Ukrainian specialists had been sent to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan to instruct them about the 21st century war technology they've been employing against Russian attack drones. The Board of Immigration Appeals is a part of the Justice Department you may not have heard of. It's where immigrants or the government can appeal decisions made by immigration judges. NPR's Rahul Mukherjee has details on the board as shaped by the Trump White House.
In 2025, the board issued a record number of precedent-setting decisions NPR found. These are decisions that tell immigration judges and the public how immigration law should be interpreted.
What is the role of the Board of Immigration Appeals in the U.S.?
The board issued 70 decisions in one year. That's nearly as many as there were under all four years of former President Joe Biden. Only two of these decisions sided with the immigrant in the case. Immigration lawyers tracking these cases say these decisions have made it easier for the Trump administration to deport people to third countries and has enforced a policy that keeps immigrants in detention. The Justice Department says the board is now recommitted to following the law and fulfilling its core mission. Rahul Mukherjee, NPR News.
This is NPR. Heavy rains continue across Hawaii. The system is expected to linger over the islands through the weekend. Hawaii Public Radio's Bill Dorman has details.
How are heavy rains impacting Hawaii's communities?
Evacuation sirens pierced the usual quiet of the north shore of the island of Oahu Friday. Communities known for surfing spots and tourist stops have been inundated with fast-moving flash floods. The water has lingered. Houses have been knocked off their foundations, cars swept away. Because of earlier storms, some have been without electricity for days. One local concern, an earthen dam dating back to the days of sugar plantations in the early 1900s. The Wahiawa Dam has been teetering on the brink of overflow, threatening some 2,500 residents and forcing the evacuation of the towns of Haleiwa and Waialua. For NPR News, I'm Bill Dorman in Honolulu.
U.S. prosecutors are investigating Colombia's President Gustavo Petro for possible ties to drug traffickers, that is, according to accounts published by The New York Times and other media outlets.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What recent military actions are taking place in the Middle East?
0:01–0:34
2
How is Israel responding to the conflict in Syria?
0:34–1:26
3
What technology is Ukraine sharing to counter drone attacks?
1:26–2:31
4
What is the role of the Board of Immigration Appeals in the U.S.?
2:31–3:11
5
How are heavy rains impacting Hawaii's communities?
3:11–4:06
6
What humanitarian aid is being delivered to Cuba amid the U.S. embargo?
4:06–5:04