NPR News: 03-14-2026 9PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President Trump is calling on other countries to help secure the strait of horror moves so that oil can be transported. But Iran's foreign minister says the strait is only close to U.S. and Israeli ships and tankers. And here's Jaina Raf has more. Iran is continuing to demonstrate its control of that strategic waterway, and it's allowing friendly countries' passage and attacking hostile ones. But it doesn't end there, it's not just attacks on ships in the strait. I spoke with the owner of the sea-safe Vishnu, a New Jersey tanker, around this week, while in an Iraqi port, so far from the strait. An Indian crew member was killed in that attack, and the owner, S.V. and Sean told me that unmanned boats with explosives rammed the side of the vessel as it was loading with fuel. So it really serves as a warning to ship owners not to even think about going there. And here's Jaina Raf. Yesterday, the U.S. bombed Iran's Kharkir Island, the primary terminal that handles the country's

1:04oil exports. A group representing Iran-backed militias has issued bounties for U.S. officials. This comes soon after the U.S. issued a reward for information on several prominent Iranian officials. And here's Arzu Razwani has more. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is offering upwards of $100,000 for information on the whereabouts of high-ranking U.S. military and intelligence officials. That's according to a message posted in the group's telegram channel. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is comprised of several Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for recently downing a U.S. military aircraft in Iraq, killing all six crew members. The bounty was announced soon after the U.S. State Department said it would offer a $10 million reward for information on 10 senior Iranian military and intelligence officials, including the newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtab Ahaminayi. Arzu Razwani, NPR News, Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

2:05Big retailers like Costco and Amazon are facing pressure from lawmakers and class-section lawsuits to share their tariff refunds with shoppers after most of President Trump's tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court. Senator Ed Markey, the top Democrat on the Small Business Committee, has now written to some of the largest importers, including UPS, Walmart and Amazon, urging them to commit to refunding their shoppers and small business clients any tariff expenses they pass down. Costco and FedEx also face the prospect of class-action lawsuits from shoppers. When the Supreme Court struck down about half of President Trump's tariffs, it paved the way for importers to get refunded, but didn't say how. Big retailers have argued that they had actually absorbed most of the tariff costs, though some certainly trickle down as higher prices, Aline Seluch and Pierre News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Uganda's main opposition leader says he has fled the East African nation to escape a military

3:07search for him. He went into hiding shortly after the January 15 presidential election, which Bobby Wein says was fake. Michael Kalloki has more from Nairobi. In a social media post, Bobby Wein said that he had left Uganda following a series of raids on his home by the country's military, but did not disclose his current location. Wein, whose real name is Chagulani Santamu, was a popular musician who joined politics nine years ago. He was the main opposition challenger against current president Uyra Musevani during Uganda's presidential elections in January this year. Uyra Musevani, who has been in power since 1986, was declared winner of the polls. Wein rejected the results and went into hiding shortly after the elections. Uganda's army chief Muhorzika in Irugaba initially alleged U.S. authorities helped Wein as he went into hiding, but later retracted his accusations. For NPR News, a Michael Kalloki in Nairobi. The United States flag was raised today over the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, it's the first time since 2019.

4:09The building is undergoing renovations, but it's not clear when it will reopen. This after President Nicholas Maduro and his wife were captured by American forces in January to stand trial in New York. Some residents say they're happy and they hope it brings other countries back to Venezuela. Others are critical of President Trump and his decision to remove Maduro from office, along with growing U.S. influence in the South American country's oil industry. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. With March Madness getting underway, coaches are pushing their players to the limits, but an investigation finds that in some instances, tough coaching can go too far. She would call us idiots, stupid, worthless, low off the low. On the Sunday story, coaches accused of emotional abuse and the players who pushed back. The Sunday story from the Up First podcast, listen now on the NPR app.