Efe Ozkan
12 September 2025•Update: 12 September 2025
ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Friday, including the FBI releasing additional photos of a person of interest in the assassination of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro being sentenced to over 27 years in prison for a coup attempt, and Jordan and Palestine saying that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for West Bank settlement expansion undermines the two-state solution.
TOP STORIES
- FBI releases additional photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk’s assassination
The FBI released additional photos of a person of interest tied to the fatal shooting of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
“The FBI continues to work alongside our law enforcement partners to seek justice in the murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. We are releasing additional photos of a person of interest,” the bureau wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.
The four grainy photos appear to depict a college-age male clad in a black long-sleeve t-shirt, jeans, a backpack, a baseball cap and black sunglasses.
- Brazil's Bolsonaro sentenced to over 27 years in prison for coup attempt
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after a Supreme Court panel convicted him of attempting a coup.
Four of the five justices on the court's panel voted to convict Bolsonaro on all five charges in the historic case.
The conviction came when Justices Carmen Lucia and Cristiano Zanin voted to find Bolsonaro guilty of plotting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 election defeat. Their votes created a 4-1 majority, joining their colleagues Alexandre de Moraes and Flavio Dino, who had voted for a conviction earlier in the week. The single dissenting vote came from Justice Luiz Fux on Wednesday, who voted to acquit Bolsonaro of all charges.
- Jordan, Palestine say Netanyahu’s plan for West Bank settlement expansion undermines two-state solution
Jordan and Palestine warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s move to expand West Bank settlements undermines the two-state solution.
Netanyahu signed an agreement to expand settlements near East Jerusalem under the so-called E1 plan aiming to split the occupied West Bank into two parts.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli move as a “flagrant violation of international law and an assault on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome.
- US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Israel’s attack this week on Hamas leaders in Qatar won’t affect negotiations between the Palestinian group and Israel on a hostage deal.
- Utah Gov. Spencer Cox alleged that Russian and Chinese bots are seeking to foment civil strife in the wake of the fatal shooting of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
- Pakistan strongly criticized Israel at the UN Security Council, calling its actions state terrorism and defiance of international law.
- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is currently chaired by Türkiye, urged the UN Security Council to "take firm measures" against Israel following its airstrike in Doha, Qatar.
- Israeli attacks target not only Qatar, but any country working to achieve peace, Qatar’s prime minister told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.
- Investigators are "making big progress" as they seek to identify and apprehend a suspect in the fatal shooting of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump said.
- The US will provide $145 million in assistance to Armenia as part of efforts to expand regional connectivity and economic development, an official announced.
- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit suspended main opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) party leader and First Vice President Riek Machar as well as Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol several hours after the justice minister charged them with various crimes, including treason and murder.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- US budget deficit shrinks in August thanks to tariff revenues
The US federal government's budget deficit fell 9% in August compared to the same month last year to $345 billion, partly due to tariff revenues.
The US Treasury Department released its budget balance report for August. Government revenues rose 12% year-on-year to $344 billion, while spending remained unchanged at $689 billion.
In line with US President Donald Trump's tariff policy, revenue from customs duties in August rose 296% compared to the same period last year to $30 billion.
- US stocks close at historical high points
US stocks closed at record levels as expectations mounted that the US Federal Reserve would cut interest rates next week.
The Dow added 1.36%, or 617.08 points, to close at 46,108 as it climbed above 45,000 for the first time.
The Nasdaq rose 0.72%, or 157.01 points, to close at 22,043.07, while the S&P 500 gained 0.85%, or 55.43 points, to 6,587.47, with both indexes hitting historic highs.
