NPR News: 05-11-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary for Episode Released on May 11, 2025

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Release Date: May 11, 2025
Duration: 5 Minutes
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. U.S.-China Trade Talks

Timestamp: [00:25]

Jeanine Herbst opens the episode with an update on the recent trade negotiations between the United States and China. According to Emily Fang from NPR:

• China's Perspective: Chinese Vice Premier He Lifong described the weekend talks in Geneva as "in depth" ([00:41]). He indicated that more details would be released on Monday regarding a new trade consultation mechanism between the two nations.

• Tariff Negotiations: President Trump had suggested reducing the minimum base tariff on Chinese goods from 145% to 80% before the weekend talks. In response, China maintained high tariffs, setting the base at 125% on American goods as retaliation. This elevated tariff level has effectively stalled trade between the world's two largest economies. Notably, there was no mention of lowering these levies during the talks ([00:41]).

Key Quote:

"Weekend talks in Geneva were in depth," – He Lifong, Chinese Vice Premier ([00:41])

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2. Middle East Developments and Ceasefire Efforts

Timestamp: [01:19]

The focus shifts to the volatile situation in the Middle East:

• Prisoner Release: Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Israel to negotiate the release of Eden Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attack. Hamas has stated their intention to release Alexander as part of steps to end the war with Israel and has called for immediate ceasefire talks ([01:19]).

• Diplomatic Movements: President Trump is scheduled for a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to engage in diplomatic efforts.

• Ukrainian Conflict: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to travel to Turkey on May 15th for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, contingent upon a 30-day ceasefire. Zelenskyy emphasized that serious negotiations cannot commence without a truce, reflecting Ukraine's stance that a ceasefire is a prerequisite for ending the war ([02:17]).

Key Quotes:

"I am optimistic that Russia could agree to a ceasefire on Monday." – Volodymyr Zelenskyy ([02:17])

"I'm deeply hurt by what is happening in the Gaza Strip. May a ceasefire immediately come into effect." – Pope Leo ([03:11])

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3. Pope Leo’s Call for Peace

Timestamp: [02:59]

Pope Leo delivered his first Sunday message from St. Peter's Square, where thousands gathered to hear his plea for global leaders to end ongoing conflicts:

• Peace in Ukraine and Gaza: The Pope emphasized the urgent need for "a lasting peace in Ukraine and Gaza," underscoring the human toll of these wars ([02:59]).

Key Quote:

"May a ceasefire immediately come into effect." – Pope Leo ([03:11])

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4. U.S. Immigration Case Highlight

Timestamp: [03:14]

The episode covers the case of Ramesa Ozturk, a doctoral student from Tufts University:

• Detention and Release: Ozturk was detained in Louisiana after immigration officers revoked her visa without prior notice. A federal judge in Vermont ordered her release, and she arrived back in Boston six weeks later. Ozturk is scheduled to appear in federal court later this month to address allegations of unlawful detention, while the government continues its efforts to deport her ([03:14]).

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5. Deep Sea Exploration Milestone

Timestamp: [04:10]

A groundbreaking study reveals that over 99% of the Earth's deep sea floor remains unseen by humans:

• Research Insights: Nell Greenfield Boyce reports that despite sonar mapping advancements, actual visual exploration requires sending probes with cameras and lights into the abyss. Katie Croft Bell from the Ocean Discovery League created a comprehensive database of deep-sea expeditions since the 1950s, concluding that explored areas account for less than the size of Rhode Island and are predominantly near the U.S., Japan, and New Zealand ([04:36]).

Key Quote:

"Less than the size of Rhode Island." – Summary of study findings ([04:36])

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Conclusion

Jeanine Herbst wraps up the episode by summarizing the key points discussed, ensuring listeners are well-informed on critical global issues ranging from international trade tensions and Middle Eastern conflicts to significant developments in immigration law and marine science.

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Notable Exclusions: Advertisements, introductory and concluding segments, and non-essential content have been omitted to focus solely on the newsworthy material.

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For Further Information:

• To listen to the full episode, subscribe via any podcast app or visit npr.org.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. China is calling recently concluded trade talks with the U.S. candid and constructive. But as NPR's Emily Fang reports, the two countries stopped short of announcing a trade deal.

[Emily Fang]

China's vice premier, He Lifong, who led the Chinese side of the negotiations, said the weekend talks in Geneva were, quote, in depth. And he said there would be more details released on Monday about a trade consultation mechanism between the US And China. President Trump suggested dropping a minimum base of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods down to 80% before the weekend talks. China has set base 125% tariffs on American goods in retaliation. That's high enough that trade between the world's two largest economies has effectively been halted. The two countries did not mention lowering levies after their talks. Emily Feng, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Israel tomorrow. Sources tell NPR to work out details of the Hamas prisoner release of Eden Alexander, a dual US Israeli citizen and the last known living American still being held in Gaza. Hamas said today they will release him as part of steps to end the war with Israel, and they say they want the ceasefire talks to start immediately. Alexander has been held since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, kidnapping hundreds. President Trump heads to the Mid east this week on a four day trip to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he'll travel to Turkey Thursday for direct talks proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin if Putin agrees to a 30 day fire tomorrow. Imperialist Joanna Kakis reports Ukraine says there can't be serious negotiations to end the war unless there's a truce first.

[Joanna Kakissis]

In his nightly video address, Zelensky said he was optimistic that Russia could agree to a ceasefire on Monday. I will be in Turkey on May 15th and I will be waiting there for Putin, zelensky said. And I hope this time Putin will not look for reasons why he cannot do something. On Saturday, the Russian leader said he was ready for direct talks with Ukraine but did not address a ceasefire. The same day, the leaders of four major European countries traveled to Kyiv together with Zelenskyy. They proposed an unconditional ceasefire that would last 30 days, starting on Monday. President Trump says he supports the proposal. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Pope Leo delivered his first Sunday message in St. Peter's Square today. Tens of thousands of people gathered, calling on world leaders to end wars and for a lasting peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

[Joanna Kakissis]

I'm deeply hurt by what is happening.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In the Gaza Strip. May a ceasefire immediately come into effect, heard there through an interpreter as he was speaking Italian. This is NPR News. Tufts University doctoral student Ramesa Ozturk arrived back in Boston last night, six weeks after immigration officers took her to a detention center in Louisiana. A federal judge in Vermont ordered her release. Agents arrested her after the government revoked her visa, which she says happened without notice. She's due back in federal court in Vermont later this month for her case alleging she was unlawfully detained. The government is still seeking to deport her. A new study has found that well over 99% of the Earth's deep sea floor remains unseen by human eyes. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports. That's a region of the globe that's cold, dark and difficult to reach.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

More than half of the planet's surface is covered by the deep ocean. Sonar can map the shape of the seafloor, but seeing what's happening there means sending lights and a camera down into the dark. Katie Croft Bell is with a nonprofit called the Ocean Discovery League. She recently made a database of all the expeditions that send any kind of probe down to see how much of the deep sea floor has actually been seen since the 1950s.

[Joanna Kakissis]

It ends up being an area of.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

Less than the size of Rhode Island. In the journal Science Advances, she and her colleagues report that most of the explored areas are with 200 nautical miles of the United States, Japan and New Zealand. So it's a fairly narrow sample of the global seafloor. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Synchrony Bank Representative]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Amazon Music with a Prime membership or.

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Any podcast app by subscribing to npr news now +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.