NPR News: 05-23-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 23, 2025, 3 PM EDT

The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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U.S.-EU Trade Tensions Escalate

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporters: NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben

President Donald Trump is intensifying trade tensions with the European Union by threatening to impose a 50% tariff on EU goods starting June 1, 2025. This move follows Trump's earlier announcement in April of a 20% tariff on EU products, which was subsequently reduced to 10%. The President stated, "I'm not looking for a deal. I mean, we've set the deal. It's at 50%" (00:34). Additionally, Trump is targeting major smartphone manufacturers, proposing a 25% tariff on companies like Apple and Samsung if they do not produce their devices within the United States. He remarked, "Anyone that makes that product and that will start on, I guess, the end of June, it will come out. I think we have that appropriately done by the end of June" (01:24). Critics argue that these tariffs could lead to significantly higher smartphone prices, making them unaffordable for many consumers.

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Diplomatic Efforts with Iran Under Strain

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: NPR's Michelle Kellerman

The Biden administration continues its fifth round of negotiations with Iran, mediated by Oman, aiming to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Progress remains uncertain amidst heightened tensions, especially with Israel threatening strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran's Foreign Minister emphasized the simplicity of reaching a deal, stating, "Zero nuclear weapons equals we do have a deal. Zero enrichment equals we do not have a deal" (02:08). The U.S. State Department maintains its position that Iran should be prohibited from enriching uranium, warning that failure to reach an agreement could lead to dire consequences for Iran. As negotiations stall, the international community remains watchful of the potential for either a diplomatic resolution or escalation into conflict.

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Violent Incident in Hamburg, Germany

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporters: Local Authorities, Social Media Updates

A mass stabbing occurred at Hamburg's central railway station, resulting in 12 injuries, several of them critical. Authorities have apprehended a suspect, although details about the individual remain sparse. Police updates were disseminated through social media platforms, with authorities confirming the arrest of the suspect after initial reports of the attack (02:43). The incident has raised concerns about public safety in one of Germany's major cities.

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Wall Street Faces Significant Declines

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporters: Financial Market Updates

Major U.S. stock indexes experienced notable declines in midday trading:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Down 145 points to 41,710
• S&P 500: Decreased by 26 points
• Nasdaq Composite: Fell 147 points

Market volatility reflects investor anxiety over escalating trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainties affecting global economic stability (03:02).

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Intensifying Conflict in Gaza and Domestic Protests in Israel

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporters: NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with over 53,000 Palestinians reported killed by health officials. Concurrently, there is increasing dissent within Israel regarding the ongoing military operations. Protests erupted near the Gaza border, where demonstrators voiced opposition to the extended conflict and the continued captivity of more than 50 hostages. One protester stated, "Children are getting dead over there. We want our hostages to be home and all the situation right now is not really contributing to this. To bring them home" (03:56).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated military actions, pledging to occupy Gaza as the death toll rises. The confrontation continues amid calls for a strategic reassessment to prioritize the safety and return of hostages (04:17).

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South Africa Releases Farm Violence Data Contradicting U.S. Claims

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: NPR's Kate Bartlett

In response to allegations from the Trump administration accusing South Africa of genocide against white farmers, the South African government has released new crime statistics. The data reveals that in the first quarter of 2025, six farmers were murdered on farms, with only one being white. South Africa's Police Minister, Senzo Machinu, clarified that historically, the majority of farm murders involve black farmers. "South Africa never breaks down its crime statistics by race. On Friday, after repeated attacks by the US Administration, it did." (04:25). These findings challenge the U.S. narrative and highlight the complexities surrounding race and violence in South Africa. Despite this, the U.S. has continued to grant refugee status to white Afrikaner South Africans, citing claims of persecution (04:55).

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Summary prepared for listeners who seek an in-depth overview of today's significant news events.

Transcript

[Ann Marie Baldonado]

This is FRESH AIR contributor Ann Marie Baldonado. I talked with actor Cole Escola about their hit Broadway play O Mary. Cole plays an unhinged alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln, who's an aspiring cabaret performer. If that makes no sense, that's part of the point. You can find my interview on the FRESH AIR podcast.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[Unknown Reporter]

President Trump's showing no signs of budging.

[Lakshmi Singh]

His threat to raise tariffs on the European Union.

[Donald Trump]

I'm not looking for a deal. I mean, we've set the deal. It's at 50%.

[Unknown Reporter]

Trump speaking at the White House moments.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Ago on his demands on the EU. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more details.

[Unknown Reporter]

President Trump wrote that trade discussions with the EU were going nowhere. He added that therefore, quote, I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union starting on June 1, 2025, as the President has previously imposed tariffs via executive actions. It is unclear what he meant when he said he was recommending new tariff. In early April, Trump announced 20% tariffs on EU goods as part of a wave of higher tariffs on most countries. He later pulled those back, and the EU rate currently stands at 10%.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben.

[Unknown Reporter]

Trump's also threatening a 25% tariff on.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Apple if it does not make its smartphones in the United States.

[Unknown Reporter]

And he says Apple's not alone.

[Donald Trump]

It would be more. It would be also Samsung and anybody that makes that product. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair. So anybody that makes that product and that will start on, I guess, the end of June, it will come out. I think we have that appropriately done by the end of June. So if they make that product now again, when they build their plant here, there's no tariff.

[Unknown Reporter]

Well, critics say the tariffs could cause smartphone prices to be unaffordable for many users.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The administration has held a fifth round of talks with Iran to try to block Iran's pathway to a nuclear bomb on Oman, which is mediating, reported some but not conclusive progress.

[Unknown Reporter]

NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that the diplomacy takes place against the backdrop of Israeli.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Threats to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Iran's foreign minister wrote on social media that a path to a deal is not, quote, rocket science. In his words, zero nuclear weapons equals we do have a deal. Zero enrichment equals we do not have a deal. The State Department says the US Position is that Iran should not be able to enrich uranium. And the White House has been warning Iran that this could end in two ways, a positive diplomatic solution or a very negative situation. For Iran. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Unknown Reporter]

There's been a mass attack in the German city of Hamburg.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Police say a suspect stabbed multiple people at the city's central railway station. They say 12 individuals were injured, several of them critically. No details on the suspect, though. However, police posted on the social media.

[Unknown Reporter]

Platform X that a person has been arrested at last check. On Wall street, the Dow Jones industrial.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Average was down 145 points at 41,710. The S&P is down 26. The Nasdaq is off 147.

[Unknown Reporter]

This is NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

More than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials there.

[Unknown Reporter]

Some in Israel are speaking out, saying.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The war has lost sight of the.

[Unknown Reporter]

Goal of bringing home the more than.

[Lakshmi Singh]

50 hostages still held there.

[Unknown Reporter]

Here's NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

At a protest, a couple of hundred people beat drums and shout anti war slogans. The Gaza border is just across the street and over a tall barrier where the war continues. One of the hostages who was killed in captivity taught solely Abraham's children. He says the war isn't the solution anymore.

[Unknown Protester]

Children are getting dead over there. We want our hostages to be home and all the situation right now is not really contributing to this. To bring them home.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expanded the war last week and has vowed to occupy Gaza. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Otev, southern Israel.

[Lakshmi Singh]

South African governments out with new data.

[Unknown Reporter]

That authorities say contradict the Trump administration's claims of genocide against white farmers. Here's Kate Bartlett.

[Kate Bartlett]

South Africa never breaks down its crime statistics by race. On Friday, after repeated attacks by the US Administration, it did. Six people were murdered on farms in the first quarter of 2025. Police Minister Senzo Machinu said of those, one was white. The minister said the statistics have always shown more black people are murdered on farms. The US Administration has given refugee status to white Afrikaner South Africans it says are fleeing, quote, genocide.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Kate Bartlett reporting. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.

[Unknown Announcer]

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