NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-02-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

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Live from NPR news in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Rescue teams are combing through the rubble, searching for survivors after a powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night. At least 900 people were killed and more than 3,000 others were injured. NPR's Omkar Kandikar reports the United Nations is appealing for international assistance. Spokesperson of UN's refugee agency Bapper Baloch said the earthquake came at a time the country was already reeling from a draught and forced expulsion of millions of Afghans from the neighbouring Pakistan and Iran.

He said the scale of the disaster far exceeds the capacity of the local authorities. Since routes are obstructed and mobile networks cut off in many places, aid workers are forced to go on foot to reach victims in remote villages. Afghanistan is vulnerable to earthquakes because of its location at the intersection of two major tectonic planes. An earthquake in the country's west in 2022 killed more than a thousand people. Omkar Kandekar, NPR News, Mumbai. Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Missouri on Monday to protest a Trump administration-backed plan to redraw the state's congressional districts. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum report, some critics see the move as part of an effort to shield the president from accountability.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe called a special session slated to begin on Wednesday. that would convert Democratic Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver's Kansas City-based district into a GOP-leaning seat. Trump has been pressuring Republican-led states to engage in rare mid-decade redistricting ahead of next year's midterm elections. Leslie Hingiard attended a rally outside of St. Louis. She says the redistricting shows that Republicans know they're in trouble next year. Clearly, if you have to do that, it's because the people would like something else and someone else in power. Missouri Democrats don't have the power to stop the GOP-controlled legislature from passing a new map, but they are almost certain to challenge it in court. For NPR News, I'm Jason Rosenbaum in St. Louis.

The Immigration Detentance Center in the Florida Everglades dubbed Alligator Alcatraz is being dismantled. A federal judge last month ruled the site violated federal environmental laws and pose risks to endangered species and tribal lands. Associated Press reporter Kate Payne has been following the story. She says it's unclear how many detainees remain at the facility. It seems that folks are being sent to other facilities within the state, outside of the state, which has been happening all along of detainees being sent to other places where they're ultimately deported. Fencing, floodlights, and surveillance towers are coming down at the facility this week. The center is expected to be fully cleared.

within the next 60 days. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Russia continues to deny accusations that it interfered with the navigation of a plane carrying the head of the European Union. Terry Schultz reports the pilots had to land the jet using paper maps instead of its GPS system. Bulgarian authorities are pointing the finger at Moscow for technical interference experienced by the pilots of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plane as they tried to land in Plovdiv on Sunday. They were reportedly forced to land using paper maps,

Commission spokesperson Ariana Podesta. We are, of course, aware and used to somehow to the threats and intimidations. There are a regular component of Russia's hostile behavior. Vonderlions on a tour of the countries along the EU's eastern border, some of which are rattled over Moscow's full-scale war on Ukraine. Podesta says the incident just underlines the urgency of that mission. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. TikTok has suspended its live streaming service in Indonesia following violent protests across the country.

Local media say six people were killed in demonstrations, sparked by public outrage over perks for lawmakers. TikTok says it made the decision out of caution, citing the escalating violence. The social media site says it's also removing content that violators. community guidelines. The unrest began last week after reports surfaced that members of Indonesia's Parliament were receiving housing allowances far above the country's minimum wage. I'm Windsor Johnston, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.