NPR News: 03-17-2026 3AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad came under fire again on Monday. This is a U.S. military and Iran-backed militias and Iraq continued to exchange attacks. In Pyarshan, Iraq has details. The Iraqi government said the U.S. Embassy and iconic hotel and an oil field were attacked. The suspected attackers were Iraqi militias that have targeted U.S. facilities in support of Iran. The interior ministry said drone hit Baghdad's Rashid hotel, used by the Iraqi government and foreign delegations. It said there was some damage, but no casualties. The U.S. military Monday launched heavy attacks against Iran-backed militia forces in and around Baghdad and near the Syrian border. One of the militias, Katab, Hezbollah, considered one of the most powerful in Iraq, announced that a senior commander had been killed in a recent strike. Jaina Raf in PyarNews, President Trump has scheduled to visit China at the end of this

1:03month, but at a White House event Monday, Trump told reporters that he's seeking a postponing as long as there is war with Iran. I don't know. We're working on that right now. We're speaking to China. I'd love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here. I feel. And so we've requested that we delay it a month or so. Trump also appealed to other countries to help ensure safe passage through the strait of Hormuz and express frustration that some long-time allies are bulking. The virtual shutdown of the strait is leading to rising energy costs and fears of inflation. Gas prices continue to rise across the country, with the national average now up nearly 80 cents a gallon from a month ago. Here's Camila Dominovsky reports that we could see gas prices rise even more. Crude oil prices have been volatile over the last couple of weeks, rising and falling. But prices at the pump have only gone in one direction, up.

2:03Diesel prices are up even more sharply, rising well over a dollar from before the Iran war began. Higher prices put pressure on households directly, when they buy gasoline, and indirectly, as higher diesel costs, push-up costs for farming, construction, trucking, and all forms of shipping. Meanwhile, the switch to summer gasoline, which cuts down on pollution and warm weather, could also help push prices higher in the coming weeks. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News The federal judge is blocking the Trump administration from overhauling the nation's vaccine policies, including the decision to slash the number of federally-recommended vaccinations for children. The judge in Boston also ruled that health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., violated federal procedures when he revamped a key vaccine advisory committee. The decision is being held by leading health groups as historic and welcome as spokesmen says the administration plans to appeal. This is NPR News Afghanistan is accusing Pakistan of targeting a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul

3:07with an airstrike. Afghanistan's Taliban government says the strike killed at least 400 people with another 250 injured. Pakistan is rejecting the claim as false and misleading the conflict that began last month has seen repeat across border clashes as well as airstrikes inside Afghanistan. A wildfire covering nearly 600,000 acres is burning in western Nebraska with few signs of containment. Nebraska Public Media's Macy Buyers reports Constantly shifting high winds have made it difficult to control the spread of the largest wildfire in Nebraska history. Firefighters from across the state have been pitching in since Thursday to fight it. Volunteer Tyler Bendo worked for 24 hours straight. I have been out here since yesterday, since 1 o'clock, still out here. I got a relief coming in right now to take me out so I can go home and get some rest. When asked about the first thing he'll do when he gets home, Bendo said, take shower and go to sleep. Bendo said he is thankful for the community support of firefighters and people affected.

4:11Federal help has arrived and winds have died down, but the large fire will still take some time to control. For NPR News, I'm Macy Buyers. Extreme weather coast to coast and as to weather service as strong storms packing damaging winds and potential tornadoes remain possible from the coastal Carolinas into the mid-Atlantic. And the potential for snow remains in the forecast across the upper Midwest to the upper great lakes after blizzard conditions Monday and parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. At this year's Oscars, one battle after another took home the award for Best Picture, Michael B. Jordan won for lead actor and the telecast had plenty of jokes at Timothy Shalamay's expense. Listen to a recap on pop culture happy hour via the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.