Thursday morning news: September 11, 2025

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Charlie Kirk fatally shot » Police in Utah said they had a “person of interest” in custody last night after the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk Wednesday on the campus of Utah Valley University. Authorities did not immediately provide details.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters:

COX:  This is a dark day for our state. It's a tragic day for our nation, and I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination.

. The assassin’s bullet was apparently fired from a high-powered rifle..

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason:

MASON: Potentially from a roof, yes — a longer distance shot from a roof.

President Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on social media, just over a year after a would-be assassin on a rooftop shot and very nearly killed him at a rally in Pennsylvania.

He has ordered flags to fly at half-staff until Sunday evening in honor of Kirk.

The 31-year-old husband and father had become extremely influential, especially on college campuses. And many believe he was instrumental in helping Trump secure the victory in last year’s election.

Much more on this still to come in today’s program.

Russian drones in Poland » NATO allies huddled on Wednesday to discuss how to respond after Russian drones entered Polish airspace during another massive aerial attack against Ukraine.

Polish and other NATO fighter jets were scrambled, shooting down some of the drones.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer:

STARMER:  Mr. Speaker, last night, Russia launched drones into Poland in an unprecedented attack. I've been in touch with the Polish Prime Minister this morning to make clear our support for Poland.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said yesterday’s talks were what are referred to as Article 4 consultations. This article allows NATO members to consult when they feel threatened.

It does not lead to military action like Article 5, which is NATO's collective defense clause.

Professor of Strategy and Security at University of Exeter Jamie Shea said it’s deeply concerning.

SHAE:  It's only a matter of time before you have, uh, one of these missiles or drones landing on a supermarket in Estonia or Romania, or landing on a residential building and potentially, you know, killing dozens and dozens of people.

And that likely would lead to an invocation of Article 5.

Russian ally Belarus says the incursion was a mistake, caused by a malfunction. Polish leaders say they’re not buying it.

Israel Yemen strike » European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans to seek sanctions and a partial trade suspension against Israel. That’s in response to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid Israel’s war with the Hamas terror group.

Meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending a military operation this week in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders.

NETANYAHU:  I say to Qatar and all nations of harbor terrorists, you either expel them or you bring them to justice, because if you don't, we will.

He said Israel  ”went after the terrorist masterminds who committed the October 7th massacre.”

Israeli forces on Wednesday also carried out heavy airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen also designated by the U.S. and Israel as a terrorist organization.

IAEA Iran » Iran this week had reportedly agreed to give UN inspectors access to all Iranian nuclear facilities. But Iran’s foreign minister Wednesday said, not so fast. Abbas Araqchi said Iran signed no agreement, which grants inspectors access to nuclear sites.

ARAQCHI: (Speaking in Farsi)

He added that the Supreme National Security Council had separately granted the UN access to the Bushehr nuclear power plant. but nothing else.

Earlier in the day, Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog agency, said inspectors would have access to everything. He also said that Iran would also be required to report on the whereabouts of material at sites attacked by Israel earlier this year.

Wholesale numbers » Some good news on inflation as wholesale prices unexpectedly dropped in August. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: The Labor Department reports that producer prices fell one-tenth of one percent from July.

The producer price index is closely watched because it captures inflation before it hits consumers. The wholesale inflation dip came after it rose the month before by seven-tenths of a percentage point.

Wholesalers are reportedly showing slimmer profits. And some analysts say that could be a sign that many companies are absorbing the cost of new tariffs.

Compared to a year earlier, so-called core inflation—which excludes volatile sectors like food and energy was also down a tenth of a percent compared to July.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

9/11 item » Another solemn remembrance in Manhattan, marking the 24th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks. Bells chime once again today:

SOUIND: [9/11 ceremony: (bell chime)]

Honoring the victims of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.

SOUND: [9/11 ceremony: Lorraine Grace Bay]

Sounds from last year’s remembrance heard there.

Ceremonies are also taking place today at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Nearly 3000 Americans were killed on this date in 2001.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: more on the life and death of Charlie Kirk.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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