This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
Hello and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service with me,
Sean Lay, coming to Live from London.
We begin this hour with our top story.
That is the shooting on Wednesday of Charlie Kirk.
He wasn't a statesman or a soldier, not an astronaut or a film star,
but his death is being marked in a manner usually reserved for luminaries of that kind.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the flags on all public buildings to be flown at half-mast until Sunday evening as a mark of respect for the 31-year-old Conservative campaigner.
He also paid tribute to him as an event commemorating the 9-11 attacks.
Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Eric, and his beautiful children.
Fantastic people they are.
We miss him greatly,
yet I have no doubt that Charlie's voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people,
especially young people, will live on.
I'm pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously the Presidential Metal of freedom.
The date of the ceremony will be announced and I can only guarantee you one thing that we will have a very big crowd.
Very, very big.
The President speaking at the Pentagon a little earlier.
Meanwhile, the hunt for the killer continues earlier this afternoon.
The FBI gave an update on the investigation.