NPR News: 03-15-2026 10AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Iraqi government is raising concerns over the security of ISIS detainees transferred last month by U.S. forces from Syria to Iraq. That's after what it said were six attacks Saturday on the Baghdad airport compound where they're being held. NPR's Jaina Raf reports. The detainees are being held in Camp Cropper, which is a facility set up and used by the U.S. military after it invaded Iraq in 2003 to hold what it called high-value detainees, officials from Saddam Hussein's regime, and from militant groups. U.S. forces had been based around there and had a large base at the airport. They've largely withdrawn, but they are still coming under attack. That's NPR's Jaina Raf reporting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the U.S. military has reached out several times seeking expertise on how to intercept and destroy Iranian-designed attack drones.

1:03NPR's Joanna Geekis reports Ukraine has responded to all these requests. Even as President Trump says he doesn't need the country's help. Zelensky made the comments during a private meeting with media outlets in Kiev, including NPR. He said the leaders of several Middle Eastern countries have also contacted him about drone expertise. The United Nations are using expensive air defense missiles to take down shaheds, which are relatively cheap in comparison. Russia also uses shaheds to attack Ukrainian cities nearly every night, Kiev has developed inexpensive ways to destroy shaheds using jamming and interceptor drones. Zelensky said Ukrainian drone expertise is valuable in an exchange for helping to down Iranian drones, Ukraine is seeking funding and technology to increase its own drone production. Joanna Geekis and PR News, Kiev. To Kiev, U.S. allies in Asia, Japan and South Korea are facing a dilemma after President

2:05Trump caught on them and other nations to protect shipping through the strait of Hormuz. NPR's Anthony Cune has more from Seoul. South Korea's presidential office says it will carefully consider how to respond to President Trump's request without elaborating. Trump's request will likely top the agenda as Japan's Prime Minister Senai Takahichi visits the White House on Thursday. Japan's laws strictly limit overseas military deployments, and Tokyo has suggested that operations in the strait of Hormuz might not pass legal muster. The U.S. has strained its alliances with both Seoul and Tokyo by asking both to help the U.S. counter China. It has also triggered local concerns by reportedly withdrawing marines from Japan and missile defense batteries from South Korea to send to them at least, although neither has been officially confirmed by the U.S. Anthony Cune in PR News Seoul. This is NPR News. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for parts of Southern California

3:05and Arizona. They could see temperatures climb above 100 degrees, along the California coast, cities from San Diego and Los Angeles to San Francisco because the temperatures rise into the 80s and 90s. Meteorologists warned the early season heat could be dangerous because many people aren't yet acclimated to such high temperatures this time of year. The death toll has continued to rise following heavy rains and flooding last week in several parts of Kenya. Michael Koloki reports officials say 62 people have been killed and more than 2,000 families displaced. In a statement posted on social media today, the country's interior ministry said that the highest number of fatalities were recorded in the country's capital Nairobi. Heavy rains were witnessed last week in various parts of the country, including the central western and southern regions. Parts of Kenya are prone to flooding during the country's main rainfall season, which is between the months of March to May. This year authorities have warned of enhanced rainfall over most of the country during the

4:09first half of this month. Last year, hundreds of people were killed after heavy rains caused severe flooding and landslides across Kenya and neighboring Tanzania. For NPR News and Michael Koloki in Nairobi. The Academy Awards will be handed out tonight in Los Angeles. The film One Battle After Another has dominated the award season and is widely expected to win several top honors, comedian Conan O'Brien returns as host for the ceremony. This is NPR News in 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 first podcast, listen now on the NPR app.