NPR News Now - NPR News: 09-22-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: September 22, 2025

NPR News: 09-22-2025 3AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, D.C., I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump's Sunday called conservative activist Charlie Cook an American hero. Trump joined tens of thousands of other supporters at a memorial for Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month while speaking in Utah. Kirk's widow, Erica Kirk, said her husband lived his faith. There was no fain. There was no fear. No agony.

One moment Charlie was doing what he loved, arguing. and debating on campus fighting for the gospel the truth in front of a big crowd and then he blinked he blinked and saw his savior in paradise

Charlie Kirk was 31 years old when he was shot and killed while giving a talk to students Canada, Australia, Portugal, and the UK recognized the state of Palestine on Sunday, and France is reportedly ready to do the same when world leaders gather at the UN this week. Vicki Barker has more from London. Back in July, British Prime Minister Kier Starrmer said the UK would recognize Palestine if Israel hadn't honored a ceasefire in Gaza

and agreed to a two-state solution by the next UN General Assembly. Israel didn't, and so two days before the UN General Assembly, Starrmer has. I state clearly, as Prime Minister of this great country, that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine. Starrmer insisted the move is not rewarding Hamas, which would have no role in any independent Palestinian state. For NPR News, I'm Vicky Barker in London. The storm, Gabrielle, has officially become a hurricane as it moves past the island of Bermuda. It now has top winds of up to 75. miles an hour right now. U.S. weather officials say that the storm is expected to undergo rapid

intensification over the next day or so. And as NPR's Matt Bloom reports, parts of the eastern U.S. could feel some impacts from Gabrielle. The National Weather Service says the chances of direct landfall in Bermuda are decreasing, but the island could still see heavy rainfall and winds through the beginning of this week. Gabrielle is not expected to hit the U.S. mainland, but meteorologists say parts of the east coast, including North Carolina and New England, could see swells in dangerous rip currents. Gabrielle is the seventh-named storm of this year's Atlantic season, only two of which have strengthened into hurricanes. While at least one tropical storm has made landfall in the U.S., no hurricane this season has directly struck the mainland. The season lasts

through the end of November. Matt Bloom, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. Israeli strikes overnight have killed more than 40 people. Gaza health officials say 19 women and children were among the dead. Some of the strikes hit a residential block in Gaza City, killing 14 people. Another strike targeted a group of people in front of a clinic at a refugee camp in central Gaza. At least eight Palestinians died in that attack. Puerto Rican music star Bad Bunny finished his concert series in San Juan with a special performance highlighting the music and culture of the island. Kivan Antonio Hedare reports. An encore performance of the Pop Stars concert series was broadcast worldwide and on large screens and plazas across the island. It was also the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, which struck in devastating the island eight years ago. Bobby Olson attended a public screening of the concert on the west side of the island. I feel touched by his work. That was his magic. He brought Puerto Rico together.

The music artist born as Benito Martinez Ocasio, announced his world tour would skip the United States and protest of the immigration raids of the Trump administration. For NPR news, I'm Kevan Antonio Hedari and Madagues, Puerto Rico. The latest college football poll is out, and Ohio State remains in the number one spot. Miami climbed into the number two following a win over unranked Florida on Saturday. Penn State dropped one spot into third following a by week, followed by LSU, while Georgia is in fifth. Oregon is in sixth while Oklahoma climbed into the seventh spot after beating Auburn 24 to 17, Florida, Texas, state, and Texas round out the top 10. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.