ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Thursday, including conservative American commentator Charlie Kirk being killed during a university event, the Flotilla for Gaza’s departure from Tunisia being postponed to Thursday, and Qatar preparing a regional response to an Israeli attack on Doha.

TOP STORIES

• Conservative American commentator Charlie Kirk killed during university event

Conservative American political commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a university event in the western state of Utah, according to officials and bystander video.

Footage posted on social media appears to depict Kirk sitting under a canopy addressing hundreds of assembled students at Utah Valley University when a sound like a gunshot rings out, Kirk recoils, and students began fleeing en masse.

A separate video taken from close to where Kirk was speaking appears to show a bullet striking Kirk's neck, followed by a sudden, massive blood loss.

• Flotilla for Gaza’s departure from Tunisia postponed to Thursday

The Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza’s departure from Tunisia has been postponed to Thursday, said an organizer.

“It was decided to postpone the departure of the Global Sumud Flotilla from Tunisia to Gaza to Thursday instead of today, Wednesday, due to bad weather and logistical reasons,” Nabil Chennoufi, a member of the steering committee of the Maghreb branch of the flotilla, told Anadolu.

“We will wait until dawn tomorrow to then decide on the departure, taking into account weather conditions and to give an opportunity to address some logistical shortcomings,” he added.

• Qatar preparing regional response to Israeli attack on Doha: Prime minister

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said a collective regional response is being prepared to counter Israel’s attack on Doha, stressing that consultations are underway with Arab and Islamic partners.

“There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under consultation and discussion with other partners in the region,” Al Thani told CNN.

“We are hoping for something meaningful that deters Israel from continuing this bullying,” he said.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• US President Donald Trump condemned the fatal shooting of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, calling it “a dark moment” for the country.
• Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa will participate in the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly and the “High-Level Week,” scheduled from Sept. 22-30 in New York City.
• European Council President Antonio Costa criticized Israel's brutal military campaign in Gaza and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire.
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian that parties to the Iranian nuclear issue must return to the negotiating table and engage in serious and constructive dialogue.
• FBI Director Kash Patel said a suspect taken into custody following the fatal shooting of US conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has been released after being interrogated.
• US President Donald Trump had a heated phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he conveyed his “deep frustration” at being caught by surprise by Israel's strike on Hamas representatives in Qatar, according to The Wall Street Journal.
• The PKK/YPG terrorist organization, operating under the name SDF, targeted civilians in Syria, killing one person and injuring two others from the same family.
• Nearly 200,000 people across France took part in protests as part of the “Block Everything” movement, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced at a press conference.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after Russian drones targeting Ukraine crossed into Polish airspace, marking “a completely different level of escalation.”

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Over 51,000 teachers in Alberta, Canada set to strike Oct. 6

More than 51,000 teachers in Alberta, Canada are preparing to go on strike on Oct. 6 if they fail to reach a deal with the provincial government, according to local reports.

According to public broadcaster CBC, the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) said the strike notice comes after lengthy negotiations broke down.

"We're ready to be at the table, and they've been invited to join us. But let me be clear: Oct. 6 is coming quickly. The choice is theirs -- solve this dispute or face a provincewide teachers strike," Jason Schilling, the group’s head, told a news conference, warning that the education system is under heavy strain.

• US approves $1B sale of air-to-air missiles to Finland

The US announced the approval of the $1.07 billion sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to Finland.

“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland of AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.07 billion,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.​​​​​​​

According to the press release, Finland requested to buy “up to four hundred five (405) AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM); and eight (8) AIM-120D-3 guidance sections, with precise positioning provided by either the Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module or M-Code.”