NPR News: 05-07-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 7, 2025, 9 AM EDT – Detailed Summary

Host: Korva Coleman

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1. Vatican Conclave Begins Amid Tensions

Timestamp: [00:24]

NPR Host Korva Coleman reports that Roman Catholic cardinals have reconvened at the Sistine Chapel to commence their conclave, signaling the process to elect the next Pope. The cardinals have secluded themselves in St. Peter's Basilica, marking a significant moment for the Catholic Church as it seeks new leadership.

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2. Escalation of Conflict Between India and Pakistan

Timestamp: [00:24 – 01:10]

In international news, fresh hostilities have flared between India and Pakistan. India has launched missile strikes into Pakistani territory in retaliation for a deadly militant attack. Vikram Misri, India’s Foreign Secretary, stated:

“These actions were measured, non-escalatory, proportionate and responsible. They focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India.”
(01:02)

Pakistan, however, denies any connection to the militant attack and claims to have shot down some Indian warplanes, although these claims remain unverified.

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3. Memphis Police Trial Highlights Racial Tensions in Law Enforcement

Timestamp: [01:10 – 02:19]

A jury continues deliberations in the second-degree manslaughter trial of three former Memphis, Tennessee, police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols. The trial, covered by Katie Riordan from WKNO, revolves around violent arrest footage:

“The police surveillance footage captured officers in January 2023 restraining, kicking, and punching Nichols as they take him into custody following a traffic stop. He died three days later.”
(01:42)

Two of the originally indicted officers, both Black, have agreed to plead guilty. Prosecutor Melanie Headley emphasized the collective responsibility in her closing statements:

“Everyone had a duty to intervene.”
(02:05)

Defense attorneys argue that Nichols resisted arrest and that the officers struggled due to the use of pepper spray and the chaotic nature of the situation.

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4. Health Alert: Carcinogens in Personal Care Products

Timestamp: [02:19 – 03:18]

New research published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Letters reveals significant risks associated with carcinogens in everyday personal care items. Will Stone reports on findings that highlight chemicals releasing formaldehyde, such as DMDM Hydantoin and Diazolidinyl Urea:

“The label may not say formaldehyde, but that lotion or soap might still contain preservatives that release formaldehyde.”
(02:40)

Robin Dodson, a researcher at the Silent Spring Institute, noted:

“Their analysis of an EPA consumer product database shows that 8% of personal care products had formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing chemicals.”
(03:07)

The study found that over half of Black and Latina women surveyed used products containing these harmful chemicals, underscoring the need for greater awareness and regulation.

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5. Economic Shifts: Taiwan Dollar Strengthens Amid US Trade Concerns

Timestamp: [03:18 – 04:27]

On Wall Street, Dow futures are trading higher as premarket activity reflects confidence. In contrast, the Taiwanese dollar (TWD) has dramatically strengthened against the U.S. dollar (USD):

“The historically stable Taiwan dollar has strengthened against the U.S. dollar at its fastest clip in decades.”
(03:43) — Emily Feng, NPR News

This surge is attributed to unease over the U.S. economic stability, influenced by multiple rounds of tariffs imposed by former President Trump, including those affecting Taiwan. Taiwanese insurance companies and pension funds have been selling off USD-backed securities, contributing to an 8% gain in the TWD against the USD.

Taiwan has initiated tariff negotiations with the U.S., aiming to address the trade surplus resulting from its advanced semiconductor exports. Despite suggestions, Taiwan's central bank has denied any intention to intentionally depreciate the USD.

Furthermore, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is scheduled to discuss these tariffs with Chinese economic officials in Switzerland, aiming to de-escalate the trade tensions.

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6. U.S. Military Incidents in the Red Sea

Timestamp: [04:27 – 05:04]

In military news, the USS Harry S. Truman has experienced its second fighter jet incident in just over a week. An F/A-18 Super Hornet failed to land on the carrier's deck due to equipment failure, resulting in the jet tumbling into the Red Sea. Fortunately, the crew ejected safely. Previously, another fighter jet was lost when it fell overboard while being towed onto the Truman.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive overview of significant global and domestic events, ranging from international conflicts and economic developments to critical social justice trials and health research. By presenting these stories with detailed reporting and insightful analysis, listeners are well-informed on the pressing issues of the day.

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Transcript

[Host or Narrator]

Starting in the 1950s, there was a push to get meat onto Americans plates at every meal. So you would have breakfast with maybe perhaps sausage offered. You'd have lunch where it would be deli meat sandwiches, and you'd have dinner that would center over a large cut of meat. The hidden forces behind our everyday decisions. That's on the TED Radio hour from npr.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Roman Catholic cardinals have held a public mass in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. They're returning to the Sistine Chapel to open their conclave. The cardinals will now go into seclusion to choose the next pope. Fresh fighting has erupted between India and Pakistan. India has fired missiles into Pakistan. India says it's retaliating for a deadly militant attack. Last month, India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri says his country targeted nine Pakistani sites he claims are linked to terrorist groups.

[Host or Narrator]

These actions were measured, non escalatory, proportionate and responsible. They focused on dismantling the terrorist infrastructure and disabling terrorists likely to be sent across to India.

[Korva Coleman]

He was heard on the BBC. Pakistan says it had no link to last month's militant attack. Pakistan is claiming it has shot down some Indian warplanes, but this has not been confirmed. A jury is continuing deliberations this Morning in the 2nd degree State murder trial involving three former Memphis, Tennessee, police officers. The men are accused in the beating death of black motorist Tyre Nichols. From member station wkno, Katie Reardon reports. Jurors were repeatedly shown camera footage from the violent arrest.

[Katie Riordan]

The police surveillance footage captured officers in January 2023 restraining kicking and punching Nichols as they take him into custody following a traffic stop. He died three days later. Two of the five men originally indicted who are also black, have agreed to plead guilty. In closing statements Monday, prosecutor Melanie Headley said, everyone had a duty to intervene.

[Korva Coleman]

They're all out there.

[Host or Narrator]

We're all doing it together.

[Katie Riordan]

Attorneys for the defendant say Nichols resisted them and that officer struggled to handcuff him due to the heavy use of pepper spray and chaos of the arrest. For NPR News, I'm Katie Riordan.

[Korva Coleman]

New research is underscoring the risk of carcinogens that are found in commonly used personal care products such as lotions and shampoo. The study has been published today in the journal Environmental Science and technology letters. NPR's Will Stone reports. The study focuses on chemicals that release formaldehyde.

[Robin Dodson]

The label may not say formaldehyde, but that lotion or soap might still contain preservatives that release formaldehyde. In fact, the study found among black and Latina women, more than half were using products with these chemicals. The two most common were dmdm, hydantin and diazolidinol urea. The study's author is Robin Dodson, a researcher at Silent Spring Institute.

[Host or Narrator]

It's important that people know when they're exposed to a carcinogen because really there's no safe level.

[Robin Dodson]

Dodson says their analysis of an EPA consumer product database shows that 8% of personal care products had formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing chemicals. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street and premarket trading, Dow futures are higher. This is NPR. The historically stable Taiwan dollar has strengthened against the U.S. dollar at its fastest clip in decades. This is a sign of uneasiness over concern about the stability of the U.S. economy. NPR's Emily Feng reports. The concern is based on multiple rounds of tariffs imposed by President Trump, including on Taiwan.

[Host or Narrator]

Worries about the US have led Taiwanese insurance companies and pension funds to sell off their US dollar backed securities, leading in part to an 8% gain of the Taiwanese dollar against the US dollar. Taiwan sent a delegation for its first round of tariff negotiations with the US this month. Taiwan buys more and more US Goods, but it does have a trade surplus with the US by so many advanced semiconductor chips made on the Asian island. A weaker US Dollar would actually help make US Exports to Taiwan cheaper that the US Asked the Taiwan government to intentionally depreciate the US Dollar against the Taiwanese currency. Taiwan's central bank explicitly denied this. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant will discuss President Trump's tariffs this weekend with Chinese economic officials in Switzerland. Bessant says the goal is to de escalate the trade situation with China. For the second time in just over a week, a US Fighter jet assigned to the USS Harry S. Truman has been lost in the Red Sea. The F A 18 Super Hornet failed to land on the deck after an equipment failure. The jet tumbled into the water. The crew aboard ejected safely. Last week, another fighter jet was being towed aboard the Truman when it fell overboard. This is npr.

[Host or Narrator]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.