NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-07-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

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Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The NPR Politics Podcast makes politics a breeze. Every episode will break down the day's headlines into totally normal language and make sure that you walk away understanding what the day's news might mean for you. Take a deep breath and give politics another chance with the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korova Coleman, Roman Catholic cardinals have gathered at the Vatican to undertake the selection of the next pope. NPR's Jason DeRose reports

on the papal conclave. The order of the day. A morning mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the only event that's public. Then a gathering of the cardinal electors clad in their scarlet and white robes in the Vatican's Pauline Chapel. A procession from there to the Sistine Chapel while singing the Litany of Saints with the refrain, Save us, Lord. Once inside, under Michelangelo's creation fresco, the cardinals sing the ancient hymn Veni creator spiritus. They swear an oath, hands touching the gospels. A master of ceremonies declares extra omnis, sending out those not involved in the election. Cardinals hear one final sermon, then the voting begins. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Rome.

India has fired missiles at several targets in Pakistan. They're the most significant strikes in more than 50 years. India is blaming Pakistan for a militant attack last month that killed 26 Indian tourists. They were in the Indian controlled part of Kashmir province. Pakistan denies responsibility. NPR's Diya Hadid says India is claiming its military response is appropriate. India's army says it struck militant training camps and what they call terror infrastructure. And many of those strikes were in Pakistani-held Kashmir. Kashmir is that Himalayan territory divided between India and Pakistan. It's claimed by both, and it's at the heart of nearly every

conflict between the two countries. But Pakistan says the strikes mostly hit mosques and part of a hydropower dam. And Biers Dia Hadid reporting, Pakistan claims it shot down Indian warplanes, but that has not been confirmed. A US official has confirmed to NPR the Trump administration is planning to fly migrants to Libya. It's another step in its illegal immigration crackdown.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans. Some prior efforts to send migrants to countries they're not from have been repeatedly challenged in courts. The administration has already flown migrants to El Salvador where they're being held in a maximum security prison. Stocks opened higher this morning as the US and China prepare for high-level trade talks. NPR Scott Horsley has more. The US Treasury Secretary and trade representative will meet their Chinese counterparts in Geneva over the weekend.

It's the first such face-to-face meeting since President Trump imposed a triple-digit tax on nearly all Chinese imports. Cargo shipments from China to the U.S. have dropped sharply since those tariffs took effect last month. Containers arriving at the Port of Los Angeles this week are down about 35 percent from this time last year. The Federal Reserve is taking stock of the economic fallout from the trade war as policymakers wrap up their two-day meeting in Washington today. For now, the Fed's expected to hold

interest rates steady, but investors will be listening for any clues about possible interest rate changes in the months to come. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR. Four women have accused R&B singer Smokey Robinson of sexual assault over many years. The unidentified women have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles seeking millions in damages. They say they worked for Robinson as housekeepers in L.A. and in Las Vegas. They also allege that he assaulted them. They accuse Robinson's wife of failing to prevent the attacks. The singer, who is now 85, has not issued a statement.

The world is still emitting too much climate-warming methane, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency. NPR's Jeff Brady reports fossil fuel companies are one of the largest sources of methane pollution. With global temperatures at record highs for two years in a row, reducing methane pollution can limit future global heating. That's because methane is an even more potent climate warmer than carbon dioxide. Tim Gould with the International Energy Agency says fossil fuel companies are making slow progress.

We estimate that only around 5% of global oil and gas production can credibly demonstrate that they meet a near zero methane emissions standard. The IEA projects that even with Trump administration deregulation policies, U.S. methane emissions will decline 35% by the end of the decade because of state and individual company methane reduction goals. Jeff Brady, NPR News. There won't be a Triple Crown winner this year in horse racing.

The trainer for the winner of the Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty, says the horse won't compete in the Preakness next week. But Sovereignty is expected to race in the Belmont Stakes in June. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News.