NPR News Now – September 2, 2025, 5AM EDT

Host: Dave Mattingly
Duration: 5 minutes

Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers rapid updates on major global and national stories, including the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan, escalating violence in Gaza, political developments in Ukraine, U.S. foreign policy visits to Latin America, economic news from Wall Street, a significant labor force trend concerning immigration, corporate leadership shakeup at Nestle, and highlights from the sports world.

Key News Stories & Discussion Points

Catastrophic Earthquake in Afghanistan

[00:18–01:14]

• Event: Powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan near Jalalabad, bordering Pakistan.
• Casualties: Over 900 confirmed dead; more than 3,000 injured. The Afghan Red Crescent suggests the actual death toll may be even higher.
• Impact: Entire villages reportedly flattened; ongoing recovery effort to locate more victims.

Notable Quote:
"More bodies are being found in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, where a strong earthquake has killed more than 900 people... Officials say entire villages were flattened."
— Dave Mattingly [00:18]

Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

[00:18–01:14]

• Event: Israeli military offensive intensifies in Gaza City.
• Casualties: Over 30 killed in recent airstrikes, according to Palestinian health officials.

Political Violence in Ukraine

[01:14–01:59]

• Event: Assassination of Andriy Parubi, Ukraine’s former speaker of parliament and a leader of the 2013–2014 Revolution of Dignity.
• Location: Parubi was shot in Lviv; authorities have a suspect in custody and are probing possible Russian involvement.
• Significance: Parubi played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s legislative pivot toward Europe and NATO.

Notable Quotes:
"Andriy Parubi was shot dead in the western city of Lviv. He was one of the leaders of the popular uprising in 2013, 2014, known as the revolution of dignity, and former speaker of Parliament."
— Polina Litnevova [01:14]

"The key laws that distance us from Moscow were related to him, she says. When Parubi was the parliamentary speaker, Ukraine enshrined in its constitution a course towards membership in the EU and NATO."
— Polina Litnevova (quoting Hanna Hopko) [01:37]

U.S. Diplomatic Missions to Mexico and Ecuador

[01:59–02:59]

• Event: Secretary of State Marco Rubio embarks on a trip to Mexico and Ecuador, under the Trump administration.
• Aims: Continued crackdown on illegal immigration, combating drug cartels, and curbing Chinese influence in the region.
• Mexico: President Claudia Sheinbaum stresses a security pact based on sovereignty and mutual respect; U.S. officials downplay expectations for major policy announcements.
• Ecuador: U.S. reportedly assisting President Daniel Naboya with the nation’s significant debts to China.

Notable Quotes:
"Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she expects the US And Mexico to sign a security pact based on sovereignty and mutual respect."
— Michelle Keleman [02:17]

"The US Is trying to help President Daniel Naboya get out from under a giant albatross. That’s how the official described Ecuador’s debts to China."
— Michelle Keleman [02:44]

Economic News: Wall Street and Gold

[02:59–03:27]

• Wall Street: Trading resumes post-Labor Day holiday.
• Gold: Hits record high as investors anticipate a potential Federal Reserve interest rate cut at the upcoming meeting.

U.S. Labor Force Shrinking Due to Immigration Policies

[03:27–04:01]

• Report: New Pew Research data show a significant decline in the U.S. immigrant labor force—over 1.2 million left from January through July 2025.
• Reason: Direct correlation to President Trump’s stricter immigration policies.
• Impact: Includes both documented and undocumented immigrants; corresponding 5% drop in remittances sent to Mexico.

Notable Quote:
"After more than 50 years of rapid growth, that population is now in decline, and that's affecting the Labor Force."
— Vanessa Romo [03:33]

Nestle CEO Dismissal

[04:01–04:20]

• Event: Nestle fires CEO Laurent Ferexe after investigation into an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.
• Context: Ferexe had served less than a year as chief executive.

Sports Highlights

[04:20–04:57]

• Tennis: Naomi Osaka defeats Coco Golf in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
• Football: Bill Belichick’s college coaching debut turns sour as North Carolina is decisively beaten by TCU (48-14). Belichick joined UNC after legendary NFL success.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:18] Afghanistan earthquake devastating update
• [01:14] Ukraine’s Andriy Parubi assassination
• [01:59] U.S. diplomatic activity in Mexico and Ecuador
• [02:59] Wall Street and gold prices
• [03:27] Shrinking U.S. labor force and immigration
• [04:01] Nestle CEO fired
• [04:20] Sports stories: Naomi Osaka, Bill Belichick

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "Entire villages were flattened." — Dave Mattingly [00:24]
• "The key laws that distance us from Moscow were related to him." — Hanna Hopko, via Polina Litnevova [01:37]
• "The US is trying to help President Daniel Naboya get out from under a giant albatross... Ecuador's debts to China." — Michelle Keleman [02:44]
• "After more than 50 years of rapid growth, that population is now in decline, and that's affecting the Labor Force." — Vanessa Romo [03:33]

This episode offers a compact yet comprehensive roundup of breaking international, political, economic, and sports developments, with an urgent and authoritative tone characteristic of NPR’s reporting.