President Trump has threatened to unleash hell on Iran in forty- eight hours if its leaders don't make a deal or open up the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has virtually closed off the strait, through which twenty percent of the world's oil is exported. The Iranian military has credited new air defence systems with the reported downing of two American military planes on Friday. A crew member from one of the aircraft is still missing.
Also in the programme: Teachers' union in the UK warns of 'masculinity crisis brewing' in schools; we look at how the war in Iran is making petrol and diesel increasingly expensive in Australia; and we hear from Ed Dwight, the first Black man on the US Space program.
As the U.S. pulls out of providing billions of dollars of aid for programs globally, NPR's reporters find out what that looks like on the ground - and how China is moving in to take America's place.
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This episode was produced by Linah Mohammad. It was edited by Adam Raney and Gisele Grayson. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
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We now know the 48 nations that will be competing in the summer's FIFA World Cup. The final two sides to qualify - Iraq and the DRC - have each waited decades to return to the competition. We hear from jubilant fans of both teams.
Also, a small rural village in South Korea, which is at risk of extinction, is celebrating the birth of a baby for the first time 17 years. A community in Washington DC has come together to rebuild a bookshop that was destroyed in a fire. An ancient abbey in the north of England is experiencing a tourism boost thanks to a Taiwanese pop star. A British schoolgirl has invented a pair of glasses designed to help people with dyslexia. In Japan, people have been taking part in a Grand Prix like no other: an office chair race.
Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.
Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson.
It’s Month 4 of our financial planning challenge, which we’re calling “A Year Well-Planned.” This month, Fools Robert Brokamp and Stephanie Marini discuss the different ways to invest in stocks, bonds, and cash, and the account types to consider.
Topics covered: -The pros and cons of index funds, actively managed funds, and individual stocks -Choosing between cash and bonds for the safer side of your portfolio -Which types of investments should go in taxable brokerage accounts, 401(k)s, IRAs, and Roths -Two questions to ask of each of your investments: 1) If I didn’t own it, would I buy it today, and 2) is it in the right account? Host: Robert Brokamp, CFP®, EA Guest: Stephanie Marini, CFP®, CRPC® Engineer: Bart Shannon
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Quickie with Bob: Transporting Antimatter; News Items: Artemis II Launches, Can AI Predict Science Replication, Smart Drugs, Nuclear Electric Propulsion, Underwater Fairy Circles; Who's That Noisy; Name That Logical Fallacy; Science or Fiction
A U.S. fighter jet went down in Iran and there's been a shakeup of Army leadership. The retirement of a privacy officer at the Department of Justice shines a light on the Trump Administration's interest in voter information. And, the American Heart Association releases its guidance on the pattern of eating that promotes good health and helps fend off disease.
Please help us out by completing a short survey telling us what you like and how we could improve our podcast. You can find it right now at www.npr.org/springsurvey Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.
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US and Iranian forces are searching for a missing American crew member after a US warplane was shot down - verified video shows the US operation. Also on the programme, the Artemis Two mission has passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon; and, how London's police left unattended a bag full of firearms.
(Photo: Israeli F-15 fighter jets fly over central Israel, Undisclosed - 31 Mar 2026. ABIR SULTAN/EPA/Shutterstock)
Did President Trump fall for the myth of surgical warfare? Gen. Stanley McChrystal joins the columnist David French, both veterans of the Iraq War, to discuss what may have been overlooked in the planning of Operation Epic Fury. McChrystal, who retired from the Army in 2010, argues that the United States often overestimates the decisive power of aerial bombing while underestimating the weight of historical grievance. And the general weighs in on the current culture of bravado coming from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
This conversation was recorded on Friday, March 20.
Thoughts? Questions? Email us at theopinions@nytimes.com
This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Derek Arthur and Victoria Chamberlin. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin and Alison Bruzek. Mixing by Isaac Jones and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. The deputy director of Opinion Shows is Alison Bruzek. The director of Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser.
Why are oil prices and oil stocks moving in opposite directions? And are megadeals a recipe for buyer’s remorse? Plus, get ready for one of the biggest IPO of all time. Host Imani Moise discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them.
