NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-10-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: May 10, 2025

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Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me Because the Good Names Were Taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever You Get Your Podcasts. Janine Herbst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. India's foreign minister is accusing Pakistan of breaching a truce between the two countries

negotiated by the U.S., and Pakistan blames India for initiating the ceasefire violation. This is Pakistan's prime minister thanked President Trump on social media for the US's help after the most severe escalation between the two nuclear armed rivals in decades. Betsy Joles has more. In a post on X, the Pakistani Prime Minister Shabash Sharif acknowledged the United States's role in the peace process and said it marked a new beginning. That was after Trump announced an immediate ceasefire between India and Pakistan. They'd been exchanging blows since Wednesday, when India struck Pakistan, saying it was in retaliation for a militant attack that killed 26 people in late April.

But even as Sharif posted his thanks, nearly simultaneously, residents in Indian-held Kashmir reported hearing explosions and gunfire. For NPR News, I'm Betsy Joles in Lahore. NPR has learned that the Trump administration is tightening its control over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, an independent agency that regulates America's nuclear reactors. And some experts worry that the changes to the NRC, created in 1974 by Congress, could put safety at risk. NPR's Jeff Brumfield has more.

It's less about safety and more about independence. The administration really doesn't like independent agencies. It views them as bureaucracy run amok. Now I should say the NRC has a reputation for being high bound and extremely strict. And in fact, Congress passed legislation last year to try to reform its regulatory process But even critics of the agency said they really doubted the White House getting involved would help for one thing It'll just add another layer bureaucracy when trying to deal with new regulations and here's Jeff Bromfield President Trump is expected to sign at least one executive order supporting nuclear power

President Trump is expected to sign at least one executive order supporting nuclear power, calling for staff cuts and a relaxation of some of the radiation standards for workers and the public. Imprisoned former tech executive Elizabeth Holmes is advising her partner on a new blood testing company. And here's Bobbi Allen has more. Elizabeth Holmes partner Billy Evans has raised millions of dollars for a biotech company. It's called hermaphys. It's the Greek phrase for blood flower. It hopes to use AI to detect diseases early. That's according to two sources familiar with

the venture who are not authorized to speak publicly since the company has not yet launched. The startup bears a striking resemblance to Theranos, Holmes's fraudulent blood testing company that led to her 11-year sentence. A source close to the effort told NPR Homes has been providing advice to Evans as he develops the company. As a result of a federal settlement, Homes cannot be an officer of a publicly traded company for a decade, but it does not affect her ability to work with a new private startup, even from prison. Bobbi Allen, NPR News from Washington. The Catholic Church's new pope, Leo XIV, held his first formal audience today signaling

that he intends to follow in his predecessor's footsteps, saying the late Pope Francis left a precious legacy that has to be continued. He also identified artificial intelligence as one of the most critical issues facing the world. Leo is from the U.S. and, as NPR's Jason DeRose reports, on how that might affect the relationship between the American Catholic Church and the rest of Catholicism. American Cardinals who participated in the Conclave this week say they're hoping the fact that Pope Leo is from the U.S. doesn't get in the way of Catholics viewing him as the leader of the whole church. Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, describes the experience of conclave as one

of bringing unity. All sense of those divisions within the world fell away. And I felt we were looking at that moment into the souls of one another. McElroy hopes non-American and American Catholics alike can experience a similar profound sense of reconciliation, especially in a world so marked by war as well as political and religious tribalism. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Rome. The most popular names for boys and girls in 2024, according to the Social Security

Administration, are out with Olivia and Emma, number one and two respectively, for girls, and for the boys, Liam and Noah. For both boys and girls, that's the sixth year in a row. Oliver and Amelia took third place. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington.