May 11, 2025 World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast

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May 11, 2025  #WorldNewsTonight #DavidMuir #News  The F-A-A taking action to slow flights at Newark airport after yet another equipment failure, Ike Ejiochi has the latest; Jay O’Brien reports on Hamas saying it will release the last remaining American hostage, Edan Alexander; After high-stakes negotiations, Selena Wangs reports on the U.S. and China saying substantial progress has been made; James Longman reports from Vatican City as Pope Leo XIV makes his first Sunday address; America Strong celebrating mothers who make it all happen; and more on tonight’s broadcast of World News Tonight.

Transcript

00:00Tonight, breaking news. The FAA takes action to slow flights in and out of Newark Airport,

00:05disrupting traffic yet again at one of the busiest hubs in the Northeast.

00:09Hamas says it will free the last American hostage still believed to be alive in Gaza.

00:14And the White House claims it has made substantial progress in trade talks with China.

00:18First, for the fourth time in just two weeks, technical issues have disrupted operations at

00:24Newark Airport. The FAA ordering a 45-minute ground stop. What we know about what was behind

00:29the move, what the head of United, whose airline uses Newark as a hub, is saying tonight.

00:34Hamas says it will release 21-year-old Edon Alexander, a New Jersey native and dual Israeli-American

00:40citizen abducted in the October 7th attacks. What we are just learning. The high-stakes trade talks

00:46between the U.S. and China, the agreement the Trump administration says it has reached after two

00:51days of marathon meetings. And a look at President Trump's new floating palace in the sky, a gift

00:57sources say, is from Qatar's royal family. Selina Wang from the White House.

01:01Pope Leo on the world stage his message of peace, calling for an end to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine,

01:07as Presidents Putin and Zelensky are set to meet James Longman from Vatican City.

01:12Here at home, a deadly collision between a packed bus and an SUV forces the closure of a freeway near

01:17Los Angeles. At least one person is dead, dozens more hurt, some critically. What authorities are

01:22saying? The new CDC investigation concerning a listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat foods.

01:28An emotional plea from a Houston Astros all-star and the death threats he received after struggling

01:34on the mound. The new rule about so-called junk fees for concert tickets and lodging that goes into

01:40effect tomorrow. What you should know. And America's strong on this Mother's Day, celebrating the women

01:45in our lives who make it all happen, including one of our own.

01:51From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight.

01:58Good evening and thanks so much for joining us on this busy Sunday. I'm Rachel Scott in for Lindsay

02:03Davis. We will have more on that news from Hamas claiming that it will release the last living

02:08American hostage. But we do begin tonight with the latest problems for travelers at one of the

02:13nation's busiest airports. Another technical issue at Newark Airport today, forcing a 45-minute

02:19ground stop, leading to more delays and cancellations. Officials say the problem was not an outage,

02:24but an equipment failure impacting communications between air traffic controllers and planes in the

02:30air. This is the fourth incident in just two weeks at Newark, which has been plagued by shortages

02:35and technical issues. Just this past Friday, radar screens went black for 90 seconds, leaving air traffic

02:41controllers with no way of seeing where the planes were. Here's ABC's Ike Jachi.

02:46Tonight, a continued dose of disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport after yet another air

02:53traffic control equipment failure, the fourth in the last two weeks. The issue was discovered at the

02:58Philadelphia TRACON facility, which guides aircraft in the airspace around Newark International.

03:03The FAA temporarily reducing takeoffs and landings while backup systems were used. During that time,

03:10the agency issued a ground stop for about 45 minutes. Newark's one of the busiest airports,

03:16but it's probably also becoming, I would say, one of the worst. The agency says there was no outage,

03:22but a telecommunications problem, with reports of popping sounds on some frequencies. By late morning,

03:28operations resumed. This is the latest in a series of technical failures at Newark. On Friday,

03:34a radar and radio outage at the same facility left air traffic controllers unable to communicate with

03:40planes for 90 seconds. A similar incident occurring on April 28th, prompting trauma leave for several

03:46staff and the cancellation of over a thousand flights in recent weeks. The breakdowns from computers that

03:53still use floppy disks to upload data, combined with ongoing construction on its busiest runway and a shortage of

04:00air traffic controllers, making delays and cancellations a daily reality. To limit more

04:05disruptions, the FAA is set to meet with airlines operating at Newark to discuss potential flight

04:10reductions. The fact that people are putting their heads together to find solutions to problems,

04:16while the bigger solution of fixing the ATC infrastructure is being implemented, we applaud

04:22them for doing that. United, which uses Newark as one of its main hubs, has already halted at least

04:2835 daily round-trip flights. Tonight, its CEO saying the airport is safe.

04:33It's absolutely 100% safe, but it is disruptive to customers, and that's why I'm so glad of the

04:39actions that the FAA has taken. While touting the safety record, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

04:45saying what needs to be fixed right now is decades-old equipment and not just in Newark.

04:50I'm concerned about the whole airspace, right? The equipment that we use, much of it, we can't buy

04:55parts for new. We have to go on eBay and buy parts if one part goes down.

05:01And Rachel, back at Newark, those proposed changes to the air traffic control system and vital

05:06communications can't come soon enough as those travel disruptions continue. Rachel?

05:11Lots of passengers waiting for those changes. All right, Ike, thank you. We turn now to that other

05:16breaking news and that announcement from Hamas just before we came on the air saying it would

05:20release American hostage Edan Alexander. Alexander volunteered to serve in the Israeli army. He was

05:26abducted from his base on the first day of the war on October 7th. ABC's Jay O'Brien has been

05:31watching the developments from Washington. Jay, what more are we learning? Yeah, Rachel, a seismic

05:36development tonight. Hamas saying it plans to release Edan Alexander, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who

05:41grew up in New Jersey and the last known living American hostage from the October 7th attack.

05:47Hamas saying it's making the move in hopes of securing a ceasefire deal. And tonight,

05:51the Israeli prime minister's office saying the U.S. informed them of this potential release and

05:56saying they were told that there were no other conditions agreed to here. Now, the last time we

06:01saw Alexander was in an undated Hamas propaganda video released in April, a soldier taken when he was

06:0819 years old. Alexander had his 20th and 21st birthdays in captivity. Hamas initially said

06:16that they were going to release him in March, but that never materialized. And Rachel, all of this

06:20comes right before President Trump's planned Middle East trip. An Israeli official telling ABC News

06:26recently that if a ceasefire and hostage deal is not struck by the end of that trip, that another

06:32military offensive will begin in Gaza. Rachel. All eyes on those talks. Jay, thank you.

06:38We turn now to the high stakes negotiations between the U.S. and China. After two days of

06:43marathon talks, the White House is indicating a trade deal is at least close. What China is saying

06:48tonight and will both sides reduce their tariffs? Here's ABC senior White House correspondent Selina

06:53Wang. Tonight, after high stakes negotiations in Geneva, the White House saying they've reached a

07:00trade deal with China, but so far offering no details and not saying if either country has agreed

07:06to lower their steep tariffs. It's important to understand how quickly we were able to come

07:12to agreement, which reflects that perhaps the differences were not so large as may be thought.

07:17Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stopping short of touting a full deal, saying substantial progress

07:22has been made. We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were productive.

07:32And Beijing not calling this a done deal, also saying the two sides made substantial progress

07:37and have agreed to continue trade talks, but the details still need to be finalized.

07:43Just days ago, the president suggested he'd be open to lowering his 145 percent tariffs on Chinese

07:49imports, writing on social media, 80 percent tariff on China seems right. And it all comes

07:55as President Trump is set to head to the Middle East tomorrow for the first major foreign trip

08:00of his second term, stopping in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. The region has played a critical

08:06role in mediating conflicts around the world, including the war in Ukraine. Sources tell ABC News

08:13the Trump administration is preparing to accept this super luxury jumbo jet known as the floating

08:19palace from the royal family of Qatar. The president touring the plane in February while it was parked

08:25here at the West Palm International Airport. Trump can use the gift as a new Air Force One during his

08:30presidency. Then it will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, the sources say.

08:36The unprecedented arrangement raises questions about whether it's legal for the administration

08:41to accept such a valuable gift from a foreign power. The sources say both the White House and

08:47Justice Department have concluded that because the gift is not conditioned on any official act,

08:53it does not constitute bribery. And back to those negotiations with China, we have no details from

08:59the White House about what this trade deal with China looks like, but officials say there will be a full

09:04briefing tomorrow. As of now, those 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods are in effect, but administration

09:10sources tell us this appears to be a significant step towards lowering those tariffs. Rachel?

09:16It appears to be a change in tone for both sides. All right, Selena Wang, thank you.

09:20We turn now to the Vatican, Pope Leo making his first Sunday address from the balcony overlooking St.

09:25Peter's Square. An estimated 100,000 people gathered, a pope calling for an end to all wars and also

09:32calling for the fighting to stop in Gaza and Ukraine. ABC's chief international correspondent,

09:37James Longman, from Vatican City tonight.

09:40For the first American pope, every day is history-making. And today, Leo XIV did it again

09:46with his first major public address, speaking before an estimated 100,000 people gathered in

09:52St. Peter's Square for his first Sunday blessing.

09:55My più la guerra.

09:58His words in Italian, no more war, greeted with huge applause. He called for an immediate ceasefire

10:04in Gaza and a just peace in Ukraine.

10:06Buona festa!

10:07Leo, with a special message for mothers, wishing all of them, including those in heaven, a happy

10:13Mother's Day. In that crowd, we met three Americans, Dominic and Taylor from New Mexico and Philip

10:19from Chicago. Did you ever imagine he'd have a Chicagoan in the Vatican?

10:24Never. Never. I was very pleasantly surprised when they picked him.

10:29The former cardinal, Robert Francis Prevost, would not have been made pope without his experiences

10:35abroad. He served as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015 to 2023. Several thousand attending

10:42a special Saturday night mass there in his honor. Folk dancing and fireworks outside the cathedral.

10:50Leo is their pope, too. Armat Rivers is there.

10:53So it's not every day that you have a church service outside, and it's certainly not every

10:57day that you get applause during a church service. But then again, it's not every day that the

11:02guy who used to be bishop here is now their pope.

11:06Back in the U.S.

11:07We have a new pope, and he's from Chicago.

11:11Another Leo celebration. The congregation at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, applauding

11:16the news at Sunday mass.

11:18And, Rachel, tomorrow, Leo will speak to the international media for the first time,

11:24and then he'll have a week to continue getting used to his new office before Sunday and his

11:28installation mass, where he'll meet with world leaders for the first time as pope.

11:33Rachel.

11:34All right, James, thank you. Now to the war in Ukraine. President Zelenskyy tonight echoing calls

11:39for a ceasefire, saying Ukraine will attend negotiations proposed by Russia later this week.

11:44And now Zelenskyy challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin to show up, too. Here's ABC's

11:49Lama Hassan.

11:51For the first time in three years, tonight, Russian President Vladimir Putin offering to

11:56come back to the negotiating table.

11:59During a late-night press conference, Putin calling to hold direct talks with Ukraine next

12:04Thursday in Istanbul. President Putin seemingly ignoring the 30-day unconditional ceasefire deal

12:11brokered by EU leaders and the U.S. Despite the leaders from the U.K., France, Germany and

12:17Poland, as well as President Trump, putting pressure on Putin, threatening to impose massive

12:22sanctions if he didn't agree.

12:25Putin responding on his own terms, saying Russia is seeking serious negotiations aimed at moving

12:32towards a lasting and strong peace, but not ruling out that talks could result in a new

12:38truce. President Trump posting on Truth Social, urging Ukraine to, quote, have the meeting

12:43now. In Russia, Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, telling ABC's Martha Raddatz they want

12:49to negotiate without preconditions.

12:51This is what he was proposing for the last couple of weeks. He keeps saying that we are ready

13:00for negotiations, for direct negotiations.

13:02Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy calling Putin's proposal a positive sign that Russia

13:07wants to end the war, saying late today he will be waiting for Putin in Turkey personally.

13:14Rachel, President Zelenskyy's office confirming to ABC News that he will be traveling to Istanbul

13:19next week for these direct talks with Russia. But the question is, will President Putin show up?

13:26Rachel?

13:26That is the question. All right, Lama, thank you. Investigators in Southern California are on the

13:31scene of a fiery bus crash that killed at least one person on a freeway. Authorities say a bus

13:36with dozens of people on board slammed into a disabled SUV that was blocking a lane, the SUV

13:41bursting into flames, trapping one person inside. Dozens of people were hurt. The latest now from

13:47ABC's Melissa Adan.

13:49Tonight, one person is dead and more than 30 injured after a tour bus collided with an SUV

13:55on a Los Angeles area freeway. We have a two-vehicle CC, one vehicle fully involved. The California Highway

14:02Patrol says it appears that SUV became disabled and was blocking a lane on the 60 freeway when the

14:08tour bus struck it. The call coming in just after 5 a.m. When we arrived on scene, the SUV was fully

14:14engulfed in flames. One person trapped inside the SUV did not survive. A bus passenger named

14:20Joe describes being jolted awake by the crash. I was drawn from the backseat. People were begging

14:26for mercy. More than 60 people were on board the bus, 32 taken to the hospital, two in critical

14:32condition. Most of the other injuries minor. Rachel, the 60 freeway is now back open and the CHP is

14:39investigating what led up to this collision. They say that alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a

14:44factor. Rachel. Melissa, thank you. Tonight, the Houston police and Major League Baseball are

14:49investigating death threats made against Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Those threats coming

14:55after he allowed seven runs in the first inning. This was just his second start since the 2022 World

15:00Series after battling a series of injuries. Here's ABC's Alex Brachet. In what was supposed to be a

15:07triumphant return to Major League Baseball tonight, Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers

15:11is instead making a plea for his family's safety. Threatening to find them or

15:16next time they see us in public, they're going to stab my kids to death. Things like that is

15:22tough to hear. Visibly shaken, McCullers says his two young daughters received online death threats

15:28after he allowed seven runs in the first inning of the game against Cincinnati Saturday night.

15:33He has not faced any of the Reds in their lineup today. McCullers was making just his second start

15:39since the 2022 World Series. McCullers is a former All-Star and has spent eight seasons with Houston,

15:44including during both of their World Series titles. Arm issues have sidelined him the last two and a half

15:49years. McCullers coach incensed. After all he's done for this city, for this team, the fact that we have

15:57to talk about that in my office. I got kids too and it really drives me nuts that we have to deal

16:04with this. Rachel, the Reds went on to win that game 13-9. Now Major League Baseball is looking into

16:09these threats. A team spokesperson says that they've notified Houston police and MLB security. Rachel?

16:17Alex, thank you. And still ahead here on World News Tonight, a listeria outbreak from ready-to-eat

16:22sandwiches and snacks. Plus the big change coming when you book a hotel room or buy a ticket for an

16:27event. Next tonight, at least four people have died from a five-alarm fire at a Milwaukee apartment

16:35building. The fire department saying dozens more are hurt, four of them in critical condition.

16:40No one who lives at the 85-unit building can return home tonight. The cause still under investigation.

16:46Officials say there was no working sprinkler system. Overseas now in a bus crash in Sri Lanka,

16:51killing at least 21. The bus skidding off a cliff in the early morning. At least 35 others sent to

16:57the hospital, including the driver. The cause of the crash still under investigation. And when we

17:02come back, what you need to know about the so-called junk fees rule when you buy event tickets or book a

17:07hotel room. To the index now, the CDC is investigating an ongoing listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat

17:15foods. At least 10 people hospitalized. The company Fresh and Ready Foods voluntarily

17:20recalling some sandwiches and snacks. They were sold in four western states. The products have a

17:25use-by date ranging from April 22nd to May 19th. And a new federal rule about pricing for tickets

17:32and lodging going into effect tomorrow. The so-called junk fees rule from the Federal Trade Commission is

17:37meant to eliminate hidden charges. That means when buying tickets for events, including concerts or

17:42reserving a hotel room or vacation rental, fees have to be disclosed before heading to the checkout

17:47screen. When we come back, America's Strong celebrating mothers.

17:53And finally tonight, America's Strong. We're celebrating our super moms that set the bar high,

17:59including one familiar face.

18:02Tonight on this Mother's Day, we're celebrating our fearless moms.

18:06At Grand Valley State University near Grand Rapids, Michigan, one mother and son marking a huge milestone

18:11together. Senior Sam Cooper sharing his graduation with his mom, Christy. And it wasn't Christy's first

18:18time. She just earned her fourth degree. But it's her joy in sharing the moment with her son

18:24that makes this milestone that much more special.

18:27I was choked up for sure. And then I hear, you know, the commencement song, the march. I was like,

18:33you know, just teary eyed, but so, so happy for him. We're also celebrating a milestone for one of

18:40our very own. For years, Lindsay Davis has been chasing a personal dream, lacing up to run a half

18:46marathon in all 50 states. Lindsay's passion for running is no secret, beaming with pride at every

18:52finish line. Her husband, Paul, didn't hesitate to join her on this journey, which was fitting.

18:58Lindsay credits their shared passion for kickstarting their relationship.

19:01It started with the half marathon in California in 2012, then Florida. Fast forward to number 49,

19:08Missouri. And to close it out, number 50 in Hawaii.

19:12Best for last, Hawaii. Aloha from Maui.

19:19Lindsay's family waiting at the finish line, including her mom, Beverly. Beverly works out with

19:25Lindsay, too. These moms, giving us all a little more motivation to chase our dreams,

19:31in that special way that only moms can do. Thanks so much for watching and happy Mother's Day.

19:38I'm Rachel Scott of New York. Good night.

19:41Thank you for making World News Tonight with David Muir, America's most watched newscast.

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