NPR News: 03-12-2026 1AM EDT

0:00Who should win the Oscar for the best original song this year? On the latest all songs considered from NPR music, we rank the nominees. I think Diane Warren should have won two Academy Awards. The problem is very often the lyrics are not much more insightful than you would find on the nearest throw pillow. Here's the NPR music podcast on the NPR app or wherever you get podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. At a campaign style event in Kentucky, President Trump touted Wednesday's decision to release millions of barrels of oil aimed at calming energy markets amid the Iran War. Earlier today, the International Energy Agency agreed to coordinate the release of a record 400 million barrels of oil from various national petroleum reserves around the world, which will substantially reduce the oil prices as we end this threat to America and this threat to the world. Trump speaking at an event in Kentucky in the district of Republican Thomas Massey,

1:00one of his most prominent congressional critics. Oil prices are extending their gains, topping $100 per barrel before settling back as Iran steps up attacks on golf shipping. Officials of Iranian boats appear to have tacked two fuel tankers, setting him on fire and Iraqi waters. Iran is warning that the world should be prepared for oil to reach $200 a barrel. You and Security Council is condemning Iran for launching missiles and drones at Gulf Air of countries. Russia and China argue that the council should also be criticized in the U.S. and Israel for launching the war. This NPR's Michele Kellerman reports. Russia and China abstained, allowing the resolution drafted by Bahrain to pass, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz says it had a record number of co-sponsors, 135 countries, and a sign of just how united the world is against Iranian missile and drone strikes. Iran's strategy of sowing chaos, of trying to hold their neighbors hostage,

2:01has clearly backfired, and that was shown by this vote today. Russia's Ambassador proposed a different text, but that one failed. Facilin Abenzis, as countries didn't muster enough strength to call out those who started this war, the U.S. and Israel, Michele Kellerman and NPR News, the State Department. Now to Capitol Hill, where the former accountant for the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein spoke to lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee Wednesday, and Piers Ava Berger reports. Richard Kahn managed Epstein's finances from 2005 until Epstein's death in 2019. Kahn told lawmakers that he was, quote, not aware of Epstein's crimes when he worked for him. Epstein was convicted in 2008 and Florida on state charges, involving the sexual abuse of a child, and served 13 months on work release. Epstein died in jail awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in 2019. Now, Kahn is a co-executor of Epstein's estate. Kahn's lawyer shared his prepared opening

3:03statement with NPR, and that statement he said that any gifts to women from Epstein do not raise any red flags. He also told lawmakers he regrets that he may have, quote, unknowingly assisted Epstein in any way. Ava Berger and Piers News, Washington. And this is NPR News. F-35 jets have been deployed for a second day to escort Russian fighter aircraft flying near Norwegian airspace. The Russian government has also announced that it will be firing missiles in the area during an ongoing NATO military exercise as Terry Schultz reports. The Norwegian Defense Ministry says in both cases the Russian aircraft were flying with their transponders off, and that while they stayed in international airspace, Norway deployed its F-35s to make sure they didn't stray over Norwegian territory. Sergeant Alexander Haggis says the appearance of the Russian jets during NATO's Arctic exercise cold response was not a surprise. Together with our allies, we know what's going on at land at sea, under the sea,

4:04in the sky, and even in the cyber domain. And it's to be expected that the Russian would want to conduct this kind of activity now. Local newspaper The Barrens Observer reports that Russia's northern fleet has issued a warning, it will be training nearby with live missiles through Friday. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Harstad, Norway. Well, severe storms have moved through Illinois and Indiana Tuesday night killed at least two people. The Newton County Indiana Coroner's Office says an elderly couple died in their home in the community of Lake Village. In Illinois, the Kankiki County Sheriff's Office says a tornado caused extensive damage in the small suburb of Oromo Park, uprooting trees, shattering windows, damaging roofs, and smashing vehicles. Stock markets nationwide losing ground as oil prices rise again to pan-spin-spin-mark NEC down more than one and a half percent in Thursday trading, U.S. futures are down. I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News.