NPR News: 05-14-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 14, 2025, 6 PM EDT Episode Summary

Released on May 14, 2025

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Immigration Detention Release of Badar Khan Surya Suri

Reporter: Sergio Martinez Beltran
Timestamp: [00:23] - [01:23]

Federal Judge Jack Spear announced the release of Badar Khan Surya Suri from immigration detention after eight weeks of confinement following his March arrest in Virginia. Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, is now returning to Virginia from Texas as his legal challenge against his detention proceeds in court.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Suri of "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media" ([00:44]). DHS further claimed that his father-in-law is a senior advisor to Hamas, though multiple news outlets have referred to him as a "former adviser." Despite having his visa revoked, Suri has not been formally charged with any crime and has consistently denied the allegations. This case marks the latest instance of a scholar being released by a federal judge amid increased scrutiny of pro-Palestinian activists.

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President Trump's Mideast Visit and Syrian Leadership

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [01:23] - [02:13]

During President Donald Trump's recent visit to the Middle East, a significant yet brief moment captured Trump's handshake with Syria's newly appointed president, Ahmed Al Shara. Notably, Al Shara previously served as an al Qaeda fighter in Iraq and was detained by the U.S. military due to his leadership role in a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., with a bounty of $10 million placed on his head.

Following the meeting, President Trump described Al Shara as "a young, attractive guy, albeit one with a very strong past" ([01:23]). In a strategic move, Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions against Syria, aiming to foster relations with the new Syrian government.

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Escalation of Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

Reporter: Daniel Estrin
Timestamp: [02:13] - [03:00]

A series of intensive Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 64 Palestinians in Gaza, according to hospital officials on the ground. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel is open to ceasefire negotiations but remains committed to continuing military operations. In a meeting with Israeli soldiers, Netanyahu asserted that Israel would "complete the course in Gaza and would pause the war if Hamas releases around 10 of the 20 hostages believed to be alive" ([01:23]).

Israel is currently engaged in its second day of ceasefire talks in Qatar, insisting that negotiations can only proceed under active conflict conditions. Meanwhile, airstrikes remain ongoing. The human cost of the conflict is evident, as illustrated by ISRA Maqbil's heartfelt mourning in a Gaza morgue, where she questioned, "Why Trump? Why are you doing this to us?" ([02:13]).

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Potential Strike Threat on New Jersey Transit

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [03:00] - [04:01]

New Jersey Transit engineers are threatening to strike, potentially disrupting services for up to 350,000 commuters in New York and New Jersey. The strike could commence on Friday morning if a labor agreement is not reached, forcing commuters to seek alternative transportation options. This development poses significant challenges for daily travelers and the regional economy.

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Rescinding of U.S. AI Export Limits

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [03:00] - [04:01]

A Biden-era rule that intended to limit the export of computer chips for artificial intelligence (AI) applications is being rescinded. The decision comes after considerable pushback from the tech sector, including major companies like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. These firms argued that the export restrictions could inadvertently drive nations such as China to develop AI technologies using American alternatives, thereby undermining U.S. technological leadership.

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Treasure Hunt in San Francisco Uncovers Buried Loot

Reporter: Chloe Veltman
Timestamp: [04:01] - [04:47]

A group of San Francisco residents embarked on a high-stakes treasure hunt following an enigmatic Reddit post that provided cryptic clues. The search led participants to Sutro Baths, a historic swimming complex by the Pacific Ocean. While Eamonn McLachlan and his friends were unable to locate the treasure, another team comprising Austintario TJ Lee and Eric Barry successfully unearthed a chest. The discovery included valuable items such as a large gold nugget in a corked bottle filled with sand, a Panama Pacific Exposition bronze coin, and rare Barry Bonds baseball cards, all buried beneath a bush near a hiking trail intersection over five miles from Sutro Baths ([04:01]).

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NASA's Perseverance Rover Detects Mars Aurora

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [04:47] - [05:04]

In a groundbreaking observation, NASA's Perseverance rover has detected a Mars aurora, the first of its kind visible to the human eye. European and U.S. scientists reported that the green aurora in the Martian sky was generated by a solar storm, offering new insights into the planet's atmospheric and magnetic interactions. This discovery provides valuable data for future manned missions to Mars, showcasing the dynamic celestial phenomena occurring on the Red Planet.

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Market and Transportation Updates

Reporter: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [03:00] - [04:01]

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 89 points today, reflecting investor concerns amidst ongoing economic uncertainties. Additionally, Amazon Music is highlighted as a podcast sponsor, offering free listening options for subscribers with a Prime membership or through any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now at npr.org.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key news points covered in the May 14, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with detailed insights and notable quotations to keep abreast of current events.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Know that fizzy feeling you get when you read something really good, Watch the movie everyone's been talking about, or catch the show that the Internet can't get over. At the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we chase that feeling four times a week. We'll serve you recommendations and commentary on the buzziest movies, tv, music and more, from lowbrow to highbrow to the stuff in between. Catch the Pop Culture Happy Hour Podcast.

[Jack Spear]

From NPR Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A federal judge has released Badar Khan Surya Suri from immigration detention. The Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University is now returning to Virginia from Texas. While his challenge to his detention plays out in court, Imperial Sario Martinez Beltran has more.

[Sergio Martinez Beltran]

Badar Khan Suri had been in immigration detention for eight weeks following his arrest in Virginia in March. The Department of Homeland Security has accused Souri of, quote, actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti Semitism on social media. According to dhs, his father in law is a senior advisor to Hamas. Multiple news outlets describe the father in law as a former adviser. The federal government revoked Souri's visa, but he has not been charged with a crime. He has denied the accusations against him. Souri is the latest scholar to be released by a federal judge following a crackdown on pro Palestinian activists. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

A striking, though brief, image from President Trump's Mideast visit is likely to be Trump shaking hands with the new president of Syria, making it all the more striking as at one point Syria's new head, Ahmed Al Shrara, was an al Qaeda fighter in Iraq and was detained by the US military as the head of a US designated terror group. He once had a $10 million bounty on his head. But following today's meeting, Trump described Al Shara as, quote, a young, attractive guy, albeit one with a very strong past. Trump this week announced the lifting of US Sanctions against Syria in his hopes to establish relations with the new government. A series of Israeli airstrikes has killed at least 64 Palestinians in Gaza. That's according to Gaza hospital officials. NPR's Daniel Lesterin reports from Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will hold talks for a ceasefire but will not end the war.

[Daniel Estrin]

In a meeting this week with a group of Israeli soldiers, Netanyahu said Israel would, quote, complete the course in Gaza and would pause the war if hamas releases around 10 of the 20 hostages believed to be alive. We'd take the hostages and afterwards we'd enter back in, netanyahu said. There's no way we will stop the war. Israeli officials are in Qatar holding a second day of talks about a Gaza ceasefire. Israel said it would only negotiate under fire. And airstrikes continue. In a Gaza morgue, ISRA Maqbil mourned her brothers who were killed along with their children in a strike on their home. She blamed President Trump, crying, why Trump? Why are you doing this to us? Daniel Estrin, NPR News, tel Aviv, with NPR's Anas Bhabha.

[Jack Spear]

In Gaza, as many as 350,000 commuters in New York and New Jersey who use New Jersey transit to get where they're going could soon need to find another option. That's because of a threatened strike by engineers at the nation's third largest transit system. Engineers said they could walk off the job Friday morning if no deal's reached. On Wall street, the dow is down 89 points today. You're listening to NPR. A Biden error rule that would have put limits on the number of computer chips for AI that could be exported was due to take effect tomor. However, in part due to pushback from the tech sector, it now appears the rule is being rescinded. Companies like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices had pushed back against the AI chip limits, fearing they would push some countries to turn to China instead of the US For AI technology. Some San Franciscans went in search of a chest containing around $10,000 worth of buried treasure yesterday. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The hunt occurred after an anonymous post appeared on Reddit sharing cryptic clues about the location.

[Chloe Veltman]

The clues led a lot of people on Reddit. Sutro Baths, a historic swimming pool complex by the Pacific Ocean. Eamonn McLachlan went there with his friends. He read out the clues, 18 bold letters preserved in a clearing site, a dark room's view of brave surfers reeling from dry ruins. His group didn't find the treasure, but another group did. Austintario TJ Lee and Eric Barry say they located the chest after just over an hour of searching. It contained a big gold nugget in a corked bottle with sand in it, a Panama Pacific Exposition bronze coin and collectible Barry Bonds baseball cards, among other finds, all of it buried under a bush near a hiking trail intersection more than five miles away from Sutro Baths. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

In a preview of what could be viewed by future astronauts on Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover for the first time is seeing a Mars aurora that is visible to the human eye. European and US Scientists reported today the green aurora in the Martian sky was generated by solar storm. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News.

[Podcast Host]

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[Jack Spear]

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