U.S. and Iran to hold nuclear talks. And, Harvard professor resigns over Epstein ties

[ad_1] Good morning. You are studying the Up First publication. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and pay attention to the Up First podcast for all of the information it's essential begin your day.

At present's high tales Officers from the U.S. and Iran are set to satisfy at this time in Geneva to debate Tehran's nuclear program in what seems to be the final alternative to keep away from conflict. The event comes after President Trump claimed, with out offering proof, in his State of the Union tackle that Iran was creating missiles that might attain the U.S. The U.S. navy buildup within the Center East is presently at its highest stage for the reason that U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4252x2392+0+222/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F61%2F660492f04e528cfc530c243c1e64%2Fgettyimages-2263046518.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4252x2392+0+222/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F30%2F61%2F660492f04e528cfc530c243c1e64%2Fgettyimages-2263046518.jpg" class="img" alt="The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete on Feb. 26. " loading="lazy"/> The U.S. Navy plane service USS Gerald R. Ford departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete on Feb. 26. Costas Metaxakis/AFP by way of Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Costas Metaxakis/AFP by way of Getty Photos 🎧 The U.S.' threats towards Iran and the potential for Iranian retaliation have raised the danger of a wider conflict, placing all the area on excessive alert, NPR's Jane Arraf tells Up First. Forward of the 2 international locations' assembly, Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned that there's a foundation for an settlement with the U.S. on the nuclear concern, however made it clear that ballistic missiles are off the desk. Arraf says no breakthroughs are anticipated at this time; nevertheless, scheduling extra talks would sign progress. In the meantime, a number of international locations within the Center East, comparable to Lebanon, are advising residents to go away whereas they nonetheless can due to the danger of the battle widening if Iran is attacked.

Distinguished Harvard professor and economist Larry Summers introduced his resignation from instructing later this yr. His assertion comes after a brand new revelation about Summers' relationship with the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. Summers is considered one of Harvard's most well-known figures, serving as its president for 5 years beginning in 2001. He was additionally Treasury secretary beneath President Invoice Clinton. Harvard continues to analyze Summers and others for his or her ties to Epstein.

🎧 Summers maintained communication with the late financier even after Epstein's first conviction in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, Suevon Lee from NPR's community station WBUR says. The professor's private correspondence with Epstein continued till 2019, shortly earlier than Epstein's arrest on federal prices of intercourse trafficking minors. Summers hasn't confronted any prison accusations, however the emails show his closeness to Epstein, Lee says. Lee says that some employees members have applauded Harvard's determination to reopen investigations into Epstein's ties to professors for the reason that emails got here to gentle in November. Harvard is just not the one educational establishment with ties to Epstein. Lee says among the many names within the Epstein recordsdata are not less than a handful of professors and one school president. Cuban border troops engaged in a gunfight late Wednesday with a ship registered in Florida, in response to Cuban officers. The federal government says troopers killed 4 folks on board the boat, and 6 others had been injured. Cuba says the boat was carrying "terrorists attempting to infiltrate the island." Officers recovered assault rifles, handguns and Molotov cocktails from the vessel, in response to Cuba's inside ministry.

🎧 The federal government confirms that the boys on the boat had been identified to them. They had been Cubans dwelling within the U.S., and the Cuban authorities had designated a few of them as terrorists, NPR's Eyder Peralta says. Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, who runs Auto Defensa del Pueblo, or the folks's self-defense group, is among the survivors, in response to the Cuban authorities. Gonzalez's good friend Kiki Naranjo informed Peralta that they run the group and have been recruiting Cubans from the island over the previous few years to construct a clandestine society to sabotage the Cuban authorities from the within. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the U.S. would examine the matter, however would not soar to any conclusions. Michael Bustamante, who research Cuba on the College of Miami, tells Peralta that he believes the Trump administration needs to escalate issues with Cuba past a degree, however doing so might result in mass migration or regime change, triggering a U.S. navy intervention that Trump would not need. Immigration and Customs Enforcement brokers is not going to patrol polling places throughout this yr's midterm elections, a Division of Homeland Safety official mentioned yesterday on a name with high state voting officers. Kentucky Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams confirmed the promise in a social media put up. The declaration comes because the president has continued to push false claims of noncitizen voter fraud, as just lately as in Tuesday evening's State of the Union tackle.

Watch this <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/png/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2F75%2Fe8053b434b84b1cdcbcf8c44c3db%2Fthumbnail-me-stitt-promo-1.png" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1920x1080+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F82%2F75%2Fe8053b434b84b1cdcbcf8c44c3db%2Fthumbnail-me-stitt-promo-1.png" class="img" alt="Thumbnail_ME_Stitt_Promo (1).png" loading="lazy"/>

From the most important names of their fields to specialists on probably the most urgent matters of our time, NPR is breaking down the tales that matter by way of our in-depth interviews. Immerse your self in these conversations in your favourite NPR platforms — together with the NPR App and NPR.org.

Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt leads Oklahoma, a state that gave Trump 66% of its vote in 2024. Stitt has publicly diverged from the president a number of occasions this yr. Most elected Republicans keep away from direct criticism of the president, voting for his insurance policies even when they could disagree with them. Stitt has made his disagreements clear, notably difficult Trump's dedication to take away everybody with out authorized standing from the U.S. For his half, Trump has described Stitt as a "wiseguy" on social media, amongst different issues. On the sidelines of the Nationwide Governors Affiliation assembly in Washington, D.C., Stitt mentioned his imaginative and prescient for the Republican occasion's post-Trump future and extra with Morning Version host Steve Inskeep.

Take heed to the interview, learn the article about their dialogue and watch the total video. You too can take a look at the dialog on NPR's YouTube web page, a particular Up First podcast episode and the NPR App.

Image present <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7760x4365+0+350/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8c%2Fd5%2F25a0f2bc4ce995c567d43d8ce9bf%2Fprofound-new-battle-01.JPG" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7760x4365+0+350/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8c%2Fd5%2F25a0f2bc4ce995c567d43d8ce9bf%2Fprofound-new-battle-01.JPG" class="img" alt="Sgt. Misha Varvarych, 28, an 80th Airborne Assault Brigade commander delights in the ocean waters of Daytona Beach FL on January 28, 2023. To live with joy and hope has become a weapon against war. He faces a profound new battle - to walk again. He and his fiancé Ira Botvynska, 19, traveled to the US to receive rehabilitation and state-of-the-art prosthetics with assistance from the nonprofit Revived Soldiers Ukraine. They navigate an altered destiny after he lost both legs fighting during the Russian invasion amid a growing number of war wounded amputees. Their unflinching romance speaks not of life interrupted but rather adapted and embraced. The nonprofit, founded by Irina Vashchuk Discipio has brought soldiers to the US to heal since there is a shortage of specialists in Ukraine and hospitals are also under attack. A few weeks turned into four months at the Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates center." loading="lazy"/> Sgt. Misha Varvarych, 28, an eightieth Airborne Assault Brigade commander delights within the ocean waters of Daytona Seashore FL on January 28, 2023. To reside with pleasure and hope has develop into a weapon towards conflict.

He faces a profound new battle - to stroll once more.

He and his fiancé Ira Botvynska, 19, traveled to the US to obtain rehabilitation and state-of-the-art prosthetics with help from the nonprofit Revived Troopers Ukraine. They navigate an altered future after he misplaced each legs combating through the Russian invasion amid a rising variety of conflict wounded amputees. Their unflinching romance speaks not of life interrupted however somewhat tailored and embraced.

The nonprofit, based by Irina Vashchuk Discipio has introduced troopers to the US to heal since there's a scarcity of specialists in Ukraine and hospitals are additionally beneath assault. A number of weeks was 4 months on the Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates middle. Carol Guzy for NPR conceal caption

toggle caption

Carol Guzy for NPR Very like the rising variety of war-wounded amputees, Sgt. Mykhailo "Misha" Varvarych, a Ukrainian eightieth Airborne Assault Brigade commander, navigates an altered actuality after he misplaced his legs throughout Russia's full-scale invasion. In January 2023, Varvarych and his associate, Iryna "Ira" Botvynska, traveled to Orlando, Fla., to go to Revived Troopers Ukraine, a nonprofit group that helps Ukrainian troopers. There, they acquired rehabilitation and state-of-the-art prosthetics. Collectively, Varvarych and Botvynska's romance showcases a life marked by the adjustments of those years, from prosthetic fittings to a wedding proposal. Their determination to reside with pleasure and hope has develop into a weapon towards conflict. These pictures seize how Varvarych has tackled life head-on.

3 issues to know earlier than you go <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x2813+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F61%2Fb0%2F1bad07b94b3380d0a618e9503ba7%2Fgettyimages-2259499171.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x2813+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F61%2Fb0%2F1bad07b94b3380d0a618e9503ba7%2Fgettyimages-2259499171.jpg" class="img" alt="This year marks Lauryn Hill's first time appearing on the Rock Hall shortlist." loading="lazy"/> This yr marks Lauryn Hill's first time showing on the Rock Corridor shortlist. Kevin Mazur/Getty Photos conceal caption

toggle caption

Kevin Mazur/Getty Photos The Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame yesterday introduced its shortlist for the 2026 class of inductees, together with Melissa Etheridge and the Wu-Tang Clan.The prediction market app Kalshi has suspended an editor who works for YouTube creator MrBeast and reported the editor to federal regulators for insider buying and selling, in response to firm officers.NPR's Jane Arraf recollects a mid-February go to to Jordan's Wadi Rum desert, the otherworldly Star Wars filming location, on this week's Far Flung Postcard. This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.