NPR News: 05-11-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: May 11, 2025 | 7 PM EDT

US-China Trade Talks Show Substantial Progress

Jeanine Herbst reports from Washington

The recent trade negotiations between the United States and China, held in Switzerland over the weekend, have concluded with promising outcomes. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen announced significant advancements, stating at [00:34] "I'm happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in these very important trade talks." Bessen emphasized that detailed information about the discussions will be made available the following day.

China characterized the talks as "candid and constructive", a positive sign amidst global economic uncertainties exacerbated by President Trump's imposing of 145% tariffs on Chinese goods and China's retaliatory 125% tariffs on all U.S. products. These measures have raised alarms about potential shortages of goods in U.S. stores and increasing costs for American consumers.

President Trump Embarks on Middle East Tour for Business Deals

Continuing his aggressive trade and foreign policy agenda, President Donald Trump is set to visit the Middle East this week. The four-day trip includes stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. The primary focus of the visit will be securing business deals and attracting new investments into the United States from these oil-rich nations, aiming to bolster the U.S. economy and strengthen strategic alliances in the region.

FAA Faces Ongoing Telecommunications Issues at Newark Liberty International Airport

NPR's Joe Hernandez reports from Newark, New Jersey

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has encountered yet another telecommunications setback at Newark Liberty International Airport, marking the third incident in recent weeks. At [01:39], Joe Hernandez explains, "The Federal Aviation Administration says the latest issue occurred in an area that guides planes in and out of Newark Airport's airspace." While operations have since normalized, the FAA previously reported a [92nd] telecommunications outage affecting radar guidance and a significant outage late last month that resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations and delays.

In response to these technical failures, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a nationwide initiative to modernize the aging air traffic control systems. This plan aims to enhance the reliability and safety of air travel across the United States.

White South Africans Granted U.S. Refugee Status Amid International Tensions

Kate Bartlett reports from Johannesburg

Under a February executive order, President Trump extended refugee status to Afrikaners, the white South African descendants of Dutch colonists. This week, approximately 50 Afrikaners are expected to arrive in the U.S., having been swiftly processed for entry. Vincent Mguenya, spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, condemned the move, stating at [02:59], "One has to admit that our sovereignty as a country has been grossly undermined and violated by the United States." Mguenya further asserted that "none of the provisions of international law on the definition of refugees are applicable in this case."

Pope Leo XIV's First Sunday Ignites Hope Among Catholics

Lucio Vasquez reports from Houston

The Catholic community welcomes Pope Leo XIV with optimism on his inaugural Sunday as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. At [03:36], Lucio Vasquez shares sentiments from St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in Houston, where lifelong Catholic Angie Spencer expresses her excitement: "We're real excited about that," in response to the Pope being American. Angie Spencer further adds at [04:01], "I think he's going to have a good love of people that will make a difference in what the church needs as far as leadership and America needs as a nation."

Many congregants hope that Pope Leo XIV will continue the inclusive legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis, fostering unity and renewal within the church.

Sex Trafficking Trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs Enters Critical Phase

Jeanine Herbst reports from Washington

The high-profile sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs is gearing up as opening statements are slated to begin tomorrow in New York. Central to the case is a controversial piece of evidence: a video clip showing Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Despite multiple attempts by Combs' legal team to exclude this footage, it is set to be presented in court. Following the video's release last May, Combs publicly apologized via Instagram.

Cassie Ventura is anticipated to be one of the first three witnesses called to testify, with her account expected to occupy a significant portion of the week's proceedings. The trial has garnered widespread media attention and public interest, spotlighting issues of consent and accountability in high-profile relationships.

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Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Talks between the US And China in Switzerland this weekend over tariff and trade have ended and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen says a great deal of progress was made.

[Scott Bessen]

I'm happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in these very important trade talks.

[Jeanine Herbst]

He says he will release details of the talks tomorrow. China says the talks were candid and constructive. This amid widespread economic uncertainty around the world after President Trump imposed 145% tariffs on Chinese goods and China hit back with 125% tariffs, tariffs on all US products. That sparked concerns of fewer goods on US store shelves and rising prices for US consumers. President Trump heads to the Middle east this week for a four day trip with stops in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. He will focus on business deals and new investments in the US from the oil rich region. The FAA says there's been yet another telecommunications issue delaying flights at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, as NPR's Joe Hernandez airports. It's the third known incident affecting air traffic control at that airport in recent weeks.

[Joe Hernandez]

The Federal Aviation Administration says the latest issue occurred in an area that guides planes in and out of Newark Airport's airspace. The agency says it temporarily slowed air traffic at the airport, but that operations have returned to normal. On Friday, the Faa reported a 92nd telecommunications outage that also impacted radar for guiding aircraft at the airport. And late last month, air traffic controllers briefly lost all ra radar contact and communication with pilots. That led to hundreds of cancellations and delays at the airport just outside New York City. Last week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan to update the aging technology used in air traffic control systems across the country. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Around 50 white South Africans are expected to travel to the US this week after President Trump gave them refugee status. Kate Bartlett has more.

[Kate Bartlett]

The white South Africans are Afrikaners, the descendants of mainly Dutch colonists. In a February executive order, President Trump invited Afrikaners to apply for refugee status. On Thursday, NPR learned several dozen Afrikaners had been quickly processed and would arrive at Dulles Airport on Monday. The South African government is not happy. Here's President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman, Vincent Mguenya.

[Vincent Mguenya]

One has to admit that our sovereignty as a country has been grossly undermined and violated by the United States.

[Kate Bartlett]

He said, quote, none of the provisions of international law on the definition of refugees are applicable in this case. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News. Today is the first Sunday since Pope Leo XIV became the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vasquez visited a church in Houston to see how people are feeling about the future of the religious institution.

[Lucio Vasquez]

It's just before Sunday morning Mass at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in Houston, and lifelong Catholic Angie Spencer says she's thrilled about the new pope. And he's American as well.

[Scott Bessen]

And he's American.

[Angie Spencer]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Lucio Vasquez]

How do you feel about that?

[Angie Spencer]

We're real excited about that.

[Lucio Vasquez]

Miranda Fontenot Bassey agrees and hopes popular Pope Leo carries on the inclusive legacy of Pope Francis, who led the church for over a decade until his death last month.

[Angie Spencer]

I think he's going to have a good love of people that will make a difference in what the church needs as far as leadership and America needs as a nation.

[Lucio Vasquez]

As Mass begins, many here are hopeful that an American pope preaching unity could mark a new chapter for the church. For NPR News, I'm Lucio Vasquez in Houston.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Opening statements are scheduled to start tomorrow in New York in the sex trafficking trial of music mogul Sean Diddy Combs. And despite his lawyers trying several times to have it excluded from evidence, a video of him assaulting his ex girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, is set to be shown tomorrow. When the video was released last May, Combs posted an apology on Instagram. Cassie is expected to be one of the first three witnesses called in the trial, and her testimony is expected to take up most of the this week. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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