NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-01-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: May 1, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korova Coleman, the U.S. and Ukraine have signed an agreement that gives the U.S. access to Ukraine's vast mineral deposits. It creates a joint investment fund, and revenue from the fund will come from new licenses for critical raw materials and rare earth minerals. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant says the U.S. will share revenue from that fund with Ukraine. This is a total economic partnership. This isn't just rare earths. It's infrastructure, it's energy.

So there's the opportunity here for both sides to really win. He spoke with Fox Business. However, the deal does not provide Ukraine with explicit security guarantees from the US. The fund can be used to finance new military aid to Ukraine. Harvard University has met a deadline from the Department of Homeland Security. It has handed over information about international students. From member station GBH in Boston, Kirk Carapesza reports the university isn't saying exactly what

was shared. Two weeks ago, the Trump administration demanded detailed records for foreign students' illegal and violent activities. If not, the school would risk losing the ability to enroll international students altogether. In a message to the campus community, Harvard executive VP Meredith Wienich says the university has responded to that request, but doesn't detail what was turned over. Weenick reiterates Harvard's quote, steadfast commitment to international students, urging them to stay focused on academics. The Trump administration accuses Harvard of anti-Semitism, setting pro-Palestinian demonstrations. For NPR News, I'm Kirk Carrapezza in Boston.

Fewer people identify as Southern Baptists and fewer churches belong to that denomination. That's according to recent data released by Lifeway Research. Nevertheless, the church says it is encouraged by some of the positive numbers. From member station WPLN in Nashville, Mariana Bacquiao has more. The Southern Baptist Church baptized more people last year than it has in the past seven. Plus, its congregation saw growth in weekly church attendance and participation in small group Bible studies. But congregants are still leaving the nation's largest Protestant mainline denomination as leadership debates the role of women in ministry. New Spring Mega Church

in South Carolina left the denomination last month after a Southern Baptist committee questioned the leadership role of one of the church's female staffers. The Southern Baptist Church will soon converge for its annual meeting, where church leadership could take up the issue, along with budget discussions. The denomination saw a nearly $470 million loss last year in church giving. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Bacallao in Nashville. On Wall Street, stocks are higher. The Dow is up more than 300 points.

The Nasdaq is up more than 2%. This is NPR. The CEO of automaker General Motors says President Trump's terrace will cost that company between four and five billion dollars this year. Speaking to CNN, Mary Barra said that at this time, GM does not expect to pass higher costs onto consumers. She warned GM will watch the market closely and prices can change every month in the automotive industry.

South Korea's acting president has resigned signaling he may compete in presidential elections in June. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul the elections were triggered by the impeachment of former president Yoon Song-Yul. Prime Minister and acting president Han Dook-Soo told a press briefing that he had thought hard before resigning without explicitly saying he plans to run for president. But South Korean media report Han is assembling his campaign team before announcing his candidacy on Friday. He's expected to seek the nomination of the conservative ruling People Power Party.

Han was appointed prime minister by the impeached ex-president, Yoon Sung-yeol. One recent poll showed Han trailing the leading candidate, opposition leader Lee Jae-myeongong 13 percent to 42 percent. E continues to face legal problems. The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a verdict, acquitting him of charges that he violated election laws. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. A truck driving north of Fort Worth, Texas rolled on its side Tuesday, spilling its cargo on the road. It was a load of eight million separate dimes. Two people in the truck were not seriously hurt. Texas authorities say they ended up using huge vacuum trucks to suck the dimes up off

the road. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.