NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-21-2025 7PM EDT

Episode Date: September 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. In Glendell, Arizona tonight, thousands of people are gathered remembering slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including President Trump, who denounced the murder, saying Kirk was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God and country, for reason, and common sense. He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason, and for common sense. Kirk's widow, Erica, fought back tears as she gave an emotional speech about her late husband who was killed 11 days ago, but she says

That man, that young man, I forgive him. Erica Kirk is taking over Charlie's post at the organization he created, Turning Point Media. Palestinian officials in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are thanking world leaders for officially recognizing the state of Palestine. Today, Britain, Australia, and Canada said they would formally recognize it ahead of a UN meeting tomorrow

where France and Portugal say they will do the same. And Pierce Kerry Kahn has more. Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Farsan Agabikian applauded the declarations but said to believe there can be peace and security in the region without an independent state of Palestine is, quote, a delusion. It will never happen as long as these rights are violated,

as long as we are not seen as human beings, worthy of living and worthy of our country. There are no public commemorations planned in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Many say with the war in Gaza still raging, and the death toll, surpassing 65,000 there is little to celebrate. Israel's Prime Minister said recognizing Palestinian statehood is a, quote, reward for Hamas' terrorism. Kerry Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Wall Street ended last week, riding the high of lower interest rates, but this week could bring it back to reality. NPR's Maria Aspen has more.

The Federal Reserve has lowered the cost of borrowing for the first time this year, as it wrestles with signs of weakness in the job market. But investors are thrilled. U.S. markets ended the week at record highs. Now Wall Street will be listening closely for more clues about how the economy is doing. On Wednesday, the government will release an update on how many new homes were sold in August, with economists expecting a slight slowdown from a month earlier. And on Thursday, Costco will report its quarterly financial results, which could shed some light on how shoppers are dealing with tariffs and rising grocery prices. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Towers of Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral officially reopened to the public this weekend. Impires Eleanor Beardsley reports

French President Emmanuel Macron climbed the steps to the Belfree nearly six and a half years after much of the church was destroyed in the 2019 fire. The cathedral opened for mass last December, Officials say the Gothic bell towers were perhaps minutes from collapsing in the fire, but they held. Now, climbing to the top of them has been reimagined, the decor, the lighting, and the route between the north and south towers. A new double helix staircase allows visitors to pass each other while climbing the 424 steps to the top, some 226 feet above the ground.

The number of visitors has also been reduced for a more comfortable experience. The largest bell of Notre Dame is located in the South Tower. Emmanuel Le Bourdain was cast in 1883 and weighs 13 tons, including its 1,000-pound clapper. Eleanor Beardsley and Pierre News, Paris. Gabriel is now a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles an hour. The National Hurricane Center says the storm will pass east of Bermuda, and forecasters say it could further strengthen this week into a major storm. Although direct impact to the U.S. are unlikely at this time.

Acqueweather says rough surf and dangerous rip currents will be possible along the East Coast in the coming days. By the end of the week, Hurricane Gabriel will approach Western Europe where it could bring some rain, wind, and rough seas to parts of several countries. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.