NPR News: 03-29-2026 11AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rom. An Iranian newspaper closely aligned with the Office of Iran's Supreme Leader is demanding the US withdraw all troops from the Middle East and its mental military bases in the region if it wants the war to end. The US had put forth a 15-point plan last week, which Iran's military command promptly rejected. Meanwhile, the war is causing problems for the White House. NPR's Marlaison has more. Economically, oil prices are climbing. They're going to continue to climb as long as oil can't get through the straight-of-war moves. You have military fallout. The US is moving military assets away from Asia. There's geopolitical fallout. Russia is getting a big gift because Donald Trump has lifted sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil. And of course, the most important fallout is domestic politics. The war is getting less popular. Looks like President Trump's numbers are dropping. Some polls have him under 40 percent approval rating. NPR's Marlaison reporting, Iran says it will allow 20 Pakistani flag ships to pass

1:06through the straight-of-war moves. Betsy Joel's reports from Islamabad. This announcement by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishak Dar comes days after he confirmed that Pakistan was relaying messages between Iran and the United States in an attempt to de-escalate the war between them. Iran started restricting access to the straight-of-war moves shortly after US-Israeli attacks began late last month. In addition to Pakistan, some ships from countries including China, Malaysia, Turkey, and India have passed or gone permission to pass so far. Iran has explicitly banned ships linked to the US, Israel, and their allies. The disruption of shipping through the straight-of-war moves has had a major impact on crude oil prices, which rose to $110 per barrel this past week. For NPR News, I'm Betsy Joel's in Islamabad. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is deploying a new electronic health record system that will begin rolling out in states throughout the next several months. Michigan will be the first state to make the switch.

2:07Emma George Griffin of Member Station, WC-MU, has more in the story. Healthcare for veterans has dramatically changed in recent years with expanded coverage through the PACT Act. That's according to Anthony Cologne, the CEO of the SACNAW VA Healthcare System. Cologne says physical records can make it challenging to utilize new coverage to prove exposure to chemicals from burn pits and agent orange. There are still a significant number of veterans who may not realize that they've earned this benefit due to some exposure. Cologne says the new electronic record system will help keep records in one easily accessible place, but the initial transition may cause delays. For NPR News, I'm Emma George Griffin in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. This is NPR News in Washington. Disaster officials in Afghanistan say at least 17 people died this weekend in extreme weather, including floods, thunderstorms, and a landslide.

3:10They warned that number could rise as rescue crews reach affected areas, 13 of the country's 34 provinces. The storms also damaged homes and destroyed roads and farms. Cologne is vulnerable to extreme weather events, made worse by climate change, poor infrastructure, and decades of conflict. In college basketball, two tickets to the men's final four in Indianapolis have been punched after yesterday's results. Greg Eklund reports Illinois and Arizona both advanced after victories in the South and West regional finals. The fighting and line-eye were on number three C. They had to work their way through Houston instead of nearby Chicago, but they were undeterred in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes and route to a 7159 victory. Keaton Wagler, an unheralded high school senior from Kansas a year ago, scored 25 points and was the region's most outstanding player.

4:15In the West regional Arizona defeated Purdue, 7964, to reach the final four for the first time since 2001. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklund. In the women's tournament, Texas is moving on to the Elite 8 for the third year in a row after beating Kentucky. It will play second-seated Michigan tomorrow night. I'm Nora Rom, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from Charles Schwab. When it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices like full service wealth management and advice when you need it. You can also invest on your own and trade on think or swim. Visit Schwab.com to learn more.