announces

Big Brother host AJ Odudu announced a huge change to the show’s voting system for Friday’s eviction after housemate George Gilbert was removed from the house earlier today

Earlier today, Big Brother announced that George Gilbert had been removed from the house over “repeated use of unacceptable language and behaviour”. George was one of four housemates facing eviction on Friday, and the public vote has now been halted due to this.

Yesterday, the housemates nominated for the first time, and it was revealed that George, Elsa, Richard and Cameron B would be facing the public vote. George, Elsa and Cameron B received the most amount of votes from their fellow housemates, and Richard was atomically up as he had the cursed eye.

Addressing the situation as she opened Big Brother’s Late and Live tonight, host AJ Odudu said: “George was removed from the Big Brother house today following repeated use of unacceptable language and behaviour.

READ MORE: Big Brother chaos as two housemates warned over offensive language in just two daysREAD MORE: Big Brother fans uncover housemates secret past – including Downton Abbey role

“As he was up for eviction, the vote has been closed for now. So if you’ve voted already, your votes don’t count. But new votes between Cameron B, Elsa and Richard will be opening tomorrow and you’ll have five new votes. So tune in tomorrow to see the housemates reaction to the news.”

In a statement following George’s removal, ITV told The Mirror: “Following repeated use of unacceptable language and behaviour, George has been removed from the Big Brother House with immediate effect and will no longer participate in the programme.”

It was later revealed that George’s comments will not be aired on the show as they are contrary to broadcast standards. Contestants were told the rules regarding language and behaviour ahead of entering the Big Brother house, receiving training in respect, dignity and inclusion.

However, later on in the day, it was reported that George left his co-stars horrified after making offensive comments which could be interpreted as antisemitic. “Everyone was absolutely disgusted,” a source revealed to The Sun. “Nobody could believe what he said – he was clearly out to shock people.”

It’s been reported that he was called into the Diary Room after making the comments, and was immediately ejected from the show.

George received a warning over his behaviour earlier in the week after imitating housemate Sam during a game of Truth or Dare. He was told by Big Brother in the diary room: “At 11:26, during a game of Truth or Dare, when asked about your least favourite qualities of other Housemates, you said the following, ‘Sam, um too…’, you then went on to mimic Sam using both noises that mocked the way Sam talks and body language that included limp wrists.

“Do you understand how both your language and behaviour could be offensive to Sam, your Housemates and the viewing public?” George then said that he had apologised to Sam after making the comments.

However, The Mirror understands that George was given several warnings for unacceptable language which were not broadcast as they were contrary to broadcast standards.

Big Brother airs tonight at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

MOLLY-MAE Hague has announced the release date for series two of Behind It All – and it’s just days away.

After the first series scooped up an NTA for best authored documentary, fans have been early anticipating the next installment of the Love Island star’s show. 

2

Now, Molly has revealed that series two will drop on October 18, as the trailer for the new series was released. 

She penned: “SURPRISE!!!… This is your 11 day countdown🎬 ‘Molly-Mae behind it all’ Series 2, Part 1 is coming to @primevideouk on the 18th of October (my favourite month of the year😭)… 

“I’m so excited for you all to see what’s been going on behind the scenes. Things have been crazy!!!”

The dramatic new trailer starts will Molly climbing onto her private jet, and sees the star juggle a busy working life with her two-year-old Bambi.

Fans and friends of the star flooded to the comments to share their excitement. 

Molly’s sister Zoe Hague wrote: “AHHH S*** HERE WE GO AGAIN” and Molly’s best pal Taylor said: “We go again!!!!!!!” followed by fire and heart emojis.

The first part of the Molly Mae: Behind It All documentary launched on Amazon Video on Friday, 17th January 2025.

Three episodes immediately landed with the new reality show’s arrival, each roughly 30 minutes long.

This was followed by a second batch of three episodes four months later.

NTAs 2025: Lineker’s shock win and Molly-Mae’s tears, backstage with some of this year’s winners

Prime were blown away by the ratings and were particularly thrilled by the huge numbers of young female viewers which Mollie, 26, brought to the streaming service.

A few months ago a TV insider said: “Molly-Mae: Behind it All was the most watched show by females in the UK in the hugely valuable 18 to 35 age group.

“That’s a crucial market for the streamer to tap into.

“Viewers were obviously hooked by the ups and downs of her relationship with Tommy, but also inspired by her juggling her love life with being a mother to their young daughter as well as running a business.

Inside Molly-Mae’s life

Take a look at the influencer, business owner and reality TV star’s journey to fame

“Prime is so keen to get it back on screen that production has already kicked off on the second season which will either drop later this year or early next year.”

NTA win

 This year, Molly-Mae’s show won an NTA – but it was a win that wasn’t without its backlash.

She beat out the likes of Amy Dowden‘s Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me which followed her cancer journey and Boyzone‘s Sky docuseries.

The late Rob Burrow also lost out for his piece, There’s Only One Rob Burrow, which documented his struggle with motor neurone disease.

She issued a statement on social media after a number of viewers complained about the National Television Awards result on social media.

Sharing a picture of herself on the stage, she then wrote: “Last night at the NTAs I shared a category with people whose stories will always be more powerful and inspirational than mine.

“I see that, I believe that and I want to acknowledge it again here.”

She continued: “It was only right to dedicate this award to the late Rob Burrow and his family and to the remarkable people in my category … this win belongs to them.”

However, even though the former reality star acknowledged that other nominees were ‘more powerful and inspirational,’ she thanked her fans for voting for her.

She added: “I’m so grateful for the recognition but even more grateful to have stood alongside such strength and inspiration. [White heart emoji]

“To everyone that voted … I am absolutely blown away. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

At the time of the ITV ceremony broadcast, Fans slammed the ceremony as they thought that ‘more worthy’ nominees should have gotten the gong.

Taking to X, one fan fumed: “Molly Mae winning an NTA over Rob Burrow or Amy Dowden is everything that is wrong with the world.”

A second stated: “If you want to know the state of tv these days… Molly Mae documentary beat Rob Burrow documentary. What wild times we live in.”

“All those wonderfully powerful documentaries and Molly Mae won!?” wrote a third.

While a fourth added: “Molly Mae winning an NTA over Rob Burrow really reminds me how much I hate society today. And the mid-speech dedication felt false and completely inappropriate. His family’s face said it all.”

Molly-Mae: Behind It All Series 2 (Episodes 1–3) launches exclusively on Prime Video on 18th October. Episodes 4-6 episodes will follow in early 2026. 

2

Last month, US President Donald Trump had said he would introduce new tariffs to protect the manufacture of medium- and heavy-duty trucks from outside competition.

United States President Donald Trump has said that all medium- and heavy-duty trucks imported into the country will face a 25 percent tariff rate starting November 1, a significant escalation of his effort to protect US companies from foreign competition.

Trump made the announcement on Monday.

Last month, Trump had said heavy truck imports would face new duties on October 1 on national security grounds, saying the new tariffs were to protect manufacturers from “unfair outside competition” and that the move would benefit companies such as Paccar-owned Peterbilt and Kenworth and Daimler Truck-owned Freightliner.

Under trade deals reached with Japan and the European Union, the US has agreed to 15 percent tariffs on light-duty vehicles, but it is not clear if that rate will be set for larger vehicles.

The Trump administration has also allowed producers to deduct the value of US components from tariffs paid on light-duty vehicles assembled in Canada and Mexico.

Larger vehicles include trucks for delivery, garbage pickup, and public utilities; buses for transit, shuttles, and schools; tractor-trailer trucks; semitrucks; and heavy-duty vocational vehicles.

Impact on allies

The US Chamber of Commerce earlier urged the US Commerce Department not to impose new truck tariffs, noting the top five import sources are Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Finland, “all of which are allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to US national security”.

Mexico is the largest exporter of medium- and heavy-duty trucks to the US. A study released in January said imports of those larger vehicles from Mexico have tripled since 2019 to around 340,000 today, according to government statistics.

Under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade deal, medium- and heavy-duty trucks move free of tariffs if at least 64 percent of a heavy truck’s value originates in North America, via parts like engines and axles, raw materials such as steel, or assembly labour.

Tariffs could also affect Chrysler’s parent company Stellantis, which produces heavy-duty Ram trucks and commercial vans in Mexico. Stellantis had been lobbying the White House not to impose steep tariffs on its Mexican-made trucks.

Sweden’s Volvo Group is building a $700m heavy-truck factory in Monterrey, Mexico, due to start operations in 2026.

Mexico is home to 14 manufacturers and assemblers of buses, trucks, and tractor trucks, and two manufacturers of engines, according to the US International Trade Administration.

Mexico opposed new tariffs, telling the US Commerce Department in May that all Mexican trucks exported to the US have on average 50 percent US content, including diesel engines.

Last year, the US imported almost $128bn in heavy vehicle parts from Mexico, accounting for approximately 28 percent of total US imports, Mexico said.

Sept. 30 (UPI) — Republican Rep. David Schweikert on Tuesday announced his candidacy to become Arizona’s next governor after serving in the House of Representatives since 2010.

Schweikert, 63, will challenge Rep. Andy Biggs and attorney Karrin Taylor Robson for the GOP nomination ahead of Arizona’s Nov. 3, 2026, gubernatorial election.

“We’re going to try to actually demonstrate to voters what a conservative agenda looks like,” Schweikert told an interviewer as reported by The New York Times.

“I don’t believe there’s anyone in the Southwest in the last 25 years who’s run as many competitive races as I have and yet not given an inch on their conservatism,” he added.

Schweikert announced his candidacy in a series of local interviews, during which he cited dysfunction in Washington, including an inability to pass a Fiscal Year 2026 budget bill, according to NBC News.

He said Arizona is poised to become more prosperous and could see at least a decade of wage growth for its working-class residents.

During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Schweikert fended off a strong challenge from former Rep. Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, following redistricting in Arizona for 2012.

He also withstood a 2019 ethics complaint that accused him of illegally using office funds and accepting unlawful campaign contributions but lacked evidence.

Schweikert said the complaint repeated old accusations that were baseless.

Schweikert’s House district includes Scottsdale and suburban areas near Phoenix, and vacating the seat creates an opportunity for the Democratic Party to secure an additional House seat.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is a Democrat and has said she intends to seek re-election.

USC women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins will miss the upcoming college basketball season as she recovers from the serious knee injury she sustained during the NCAA tournament in March.

Watkins said in an announcement on social media that she planned to take the 2025-26 season to “fully focus on continuing to recover so I can come back to the game I love.”

“The last few months have been filled with a lot of healing, rest and reflection,” Watkins said in a statement. “Recovering from this injury hasn’t been easy, and I want to say thank you — your love, support and kind words have truly lifted me up during one of the most challenging times in my life.”

Watkins was in the midst of a stellar sophomore season when her knee buckled on a breakaway during the second round of the NCAA tournament. The injury proved to be a devastating blow to USC’s title hopes, as the Trojans eventually lost in the Elite Eight to Connecticut.

There was a glimmer of hope that Watkins might be able to return for a potential postseason run in March 2026, a full year after her injury. Two orthopedic surgeons told The Times at the time that she’d require upwards of 12 months to recover.

“There’s going to be a lot of differences from person to person in that recovery process,” said Dr. Gabriella Ode, an orthopedic surgeon who serves as the team physician for the New York Liberty. “There’s nothing wrong even with a 12-month recovery. I want to be very explicit about that. There are many people who it takes 12 months.”

Any speculation that Watkins might return sooner than that ended Sunday, more than a month before the start of the women’s college basketball season.

USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb said in a statement that the program would “fully support her decision to focus on recovery this season.”

“While we will certainly miss her impact on the court, she continues to play a vital role in our program as a leader and teammate. The strength and maturity she has shown through this process is a reflection of who she is.”

Her impact won’t be easily replaced. But the arrival of another top prospect, Jazzy Davidson, should help fill some of the void.

“No one is filling JuJu’s shoes,” Gottlieb said earlier this month. “Those are unique shoes. But the fact that Jazzy can step into our program and already just make a really unique and incredible impression on everybody is pretty wild. She’s really, really good.”

In two seasons at USC, Watkins has been nothing short of a phenomenon, both on and off the court.

A Compton native, Watkins arrived at USC in 2023 intent on helping build the program back up, and within one season had helped turn the Trojans into national title contenders. As a sophomore, she won the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, Big Ten Player of the Year and became the first USC player ever named the Associated Press player of the year. She also powered USC to a Big Ten title in its first season in the conference, all while becoming the fastest Trojan ever to 1,000 career points, a mark that she surpassed early in her sophomore year.

Upon her return as a senior, Watkins technically would still have two years of eligibility remaining. But the Trojan superstar is almost certain to declare for the WNBA draft when she’s first eligible in 2027.

The announced 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals, 25% on trucks, and 30% on furniture, due to come into effect on October 1, reopen the US president’s trade war.

United States President Donald Trump has announced steep new tariffs on pharmaceutical products, big-rig trucks, and home renovation fixtures and furniture.

The announcement late on Thursday signalled the harshest trade plans from Trump since last April’s shock unveiling of reciprocal tariffs on virtually every US trading partner across the globe, marking a revival of the Republican president’s trade war.

Starting on October 1, “we will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any branded or patented Pharmaceutical Product, unless a Company IS BUILDING their Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Shares of pharmaceutical companies across Asia with big exposure to the US market fell on Friday, including South Korea’s Samsung Biologics.

Trump’s move was criticised by Australia, which exported pharmaceutical products worth an estimated $1.3bn to the US in 2024, according to the United Nations Comtrade Database.

In a separate post, Trump wrote of a 25 percent tariff on “all ‘Heavy (Big) Trucks’ made in other parts of the world” to support US manufacturers such as “Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack Trucks and others”.

Foreign companies that compete with these manufacturers in the US market include Sweden’s Volvo and Germany’s Daimler. Shares in both companies were sharply lower in after-hours trading in Europe.

Trump said the truck tariffs were “for many reasons, but above all else, for National Security purposes!”

Earlier this year, the Trump administration launched a so-called Section 232 probe into imports of trucks to “determine the effects of national security”, setting the stage for Thursday’s announcement.

Section 232 is a trade law provision that gives the president broad authority to impose tariffs or other restrictions on imports when they are deemed a threat to national security.

Trump also said a 50 percent tariff on home renovation materials and a 30 percent tariff on upholstered furniture would be imposed, as he claimed that such products were swamping the US market from abroad.

According to the US International Trade Commission, in 2022, imports, mainly from Asia, represented 60 percent of all furniture sold, including 86 percent of all wood furniture and 42 percent of all upholstered furniture.

Shares in home furniture retailers Wayfair and Williams Sonoma, which depend on these imported goods, tumbled in after-hours trading.

Trump’s administration has already imposed a baseline 10 percent tariff on all countries, with higher individualised rates on nations where exports to the US far exceed imports.

Trump has also used emergency powers to impose extra tariffs on trade deal partners Canada and Mexico, as well as on China, citing concerns over fentanyl trafficking and undocumented migration.

It was not yet clear how these new tariffs would factor into the existing measures.

Sept. 26 (UPI) — President Donald Trump has announced a slew of tariffs to go into effect at the start of next month impacting pharmaceuticals, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, heavy trucks and other products.

Trump announced the tariffs separately on his Truth Social media platform Thursday night, all to go into effect Oct. 1, with the first being a 25% tariff on all so-called heavy trucks manufactured outside of the United States.

The second statement announced a 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and “associated products,” as well as a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture over “national security and other reasons” to protect U.S. manufacturing from “the large scale ‘FLOODING’ of these products into the United States by other Countries.”

The third, and final, announcement for Thursday night from the American president was a 100% tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical products, which would be waived if the company was “BUILDING their pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America.”

“There will, therefore, be no Tariff on these Pharmaceutical Products if construction has started,” he said.

Trump has long turned to economic tariffs as a bargaining tool, both as a negotiation tactic and as an attempt to spur the domestic manufacturing industry. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has railed against trade deficits, often framing them as examples of trading partners taking advantage of the United States.

He has imposed a series of policies that have increased tariffs on U.S. imports from all global partners, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service. Some countries have responded with retaliatory tariffs, while many of his policies are being challenged in the courts.

Countries have also independently made deals with the United States to reduce the severity of the tariffs.

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, Trump’s tariffs are expected to generate $2.3 trillion over the next decade but cost the United States 0.8% of GDP and 825,000 jobs based on the nonprofits’ modeling.

President Donald Trump announced a new wave of tariffs on Thursday, including a 100% levy on branded or patented drug imports from 1 October, unless a company is building a factory in the US.

Washington will also impose a 25% import tax on all heavy-duty trucks and 50% levies on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, the US president said as he unveiled the industry-focused measures.

“The reason for this is the large scale “FLOODING” of these products into the United States by other outside Countries,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, citing the need to protect US manufacturers.

The announcements come despite calls from US businesses for the White House to not impose further tariffs.

The new tariffs could impact major producers of branded pharmaceuticals – including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

The UK exported more than $6bn (£4.5bn) worth of pharmaceutical products to the US last year, according to the United Nations.

Jane Sydenham, investment director at Rathbones, said speculation over tariffs for pharmaceuticals meant the sector had endured a “rollercoaster ride” over the past few months.

“The pharmaceutical sector in terms of share prices has been under pressure for quite some time both in the UK and the United States and Europe so nobody likes uncertainty and that’s been keeping a cloud over the sector for a while,” she told the BBC’s Today programme.

However, Neil Shearing, chief economist at Capital Economics, said the tariff announcements were “not quite as big a move as it appears at first sight”.

This was due to the exemptions available to generic drugs and to those firms building factories in the US.

“Many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies either already have some production in the US or have announced plans to build production in the near future,” he said.

The tariffs on heavy trucks would protect US manufacturers from “unfair outside competition” and that the duties would help lift American companies such as Peterbilt and Mack Trucks, Trump said.

These firms “will be protected from the onslaught of outside interruptions”, he wrote.

The new levies on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, as well as some other furniture, were in response to high levels of imports, which hurt local manufacturers, the president said.

He added that the US would start charging a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture from next week.

The new duties came as Trump expands his tariff policies, which have been a key feature of his second term in the White House.

Trump’s sweeping tariffs on more than 90 countries came into effect in early August, as part of his policies aimed at boosting jobs and manufacturing in the US, among other political goals.

He previously imposed sector-specific tariffs on steel, copper, aluminium, cars and vehicle components.

Earlier this year, the US Chamber of Commerce urged the White House to not introduce new tariffs, arguing that many parts used in truck production are sourced “overwhelmingly” from countries like Mexico, Canada, Germany, Finland and Japan.

The organisation added that these countries are “allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to US national security.”

Mexico and Canada are among the biggest suppliers of parts for medium and heavy-duty trucks, accounting for more than half of total US imports in the sector last year, said the chamber.

It warned that it was “impractical” to expect many of these parts to be sourced domestically, resulting in higher costs for the industry.

The new tariffs favour domestic producers but are “terrible” for consumers as prices are likely to rise, said trade expert Deborah Elms from research firm Hinrich Foundation.

The levies would cover more products at higher rates than Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, which were aimed at correcting trade imbalances with other countries.

These industry-specific import taxes could serve as a back-up plan to secure revenues as Trump’s sweeping duties on global trading partners are being challenged in court, said Ms Elms.

A HUGE carmaker has issued a UK recall, over fears that the brake pedals could fall off one of it’s vehicle models.

Earlier this year, Stellantis, the parent firm of French car manufacturer Citroen issued a huge recall of its motors fitted with Takata airbags, after they were linked to a number of fatal accidents.

1

The recall left 120,000 motorists unable to drive their vehicles, and now more models are being recalled, for a separate issue.

Citroen has urged anyone with a current C3 model to stop driving their cars, due to an issue with the break pedal.

The carmaker revealed that a problem with the assembly of the brake pedal box could result in the car’s brake pedal falling off, which would stop the mechanical brakes from being applied.

“During our regular quality process checks, an investigation revealed that certain right-hand-drive Citroen C3 and Citroen C3 Aircross could have a pedal box assembly that is not to the correct specification and is at risk of loss of brake capability,” it said.

“If this were to happen, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) and the electronic parking brake would remain fully operational.

“We are initiating a stop-drive action to protect all customers of the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross affected. Customers will be provided a replacement vehicle whilst their car is checked and, if necessary, rectified.”

C3 models affected

All of Citroen’s current C3 range is affected by the recall.

This includes the following models:

• Citroën C3 (2025-present)
• Citroën e-C3 (2024-present)
• Citroën C3 Aircross (2025-present)
• Citroën e-C3 Aircross (2025-present)

Around 1,110 of these cars have so far been delivered to UK drivers, according to Stellantis.

The new Vauxhall Frontera and Vauxhall Frontera Electric models are also affected by the recall, however, these cars have not yet begun to be delivered to UK drivers.

What to do if you’re affected by the recall

If you own one of the affected models, you should stop driving it immediately.

This is because Stellantis has issued a “stop drive” recall, a rare warning that is put in place when the fault caused by the recall is so dangerous.

Courtesy cars will be offered to anyone affected by the recall, whilst their vehicle is checked, and, if required, fixed, by dealerships.

Airbag recall

Earlier this year, Stellantis issued another “stop drive” recall, to owners of the Citroen C3 (2009-2019), DS3 (2009-2019), Citroen C4 (2010-2011), DS4 (2010-2011) and DS5 (2010-2013).

This is due to faulty airbags, with the vehicles all requiring repairs.

The recall was prompted by concerns over airbags supplied by the now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose components have been linked to fatal accidents.

In one recent incident, a driver in France was killed after a minor collision resulted in metal shrapnel from a faulty airbag hitting them – prompting an immediate reaction from the company.

A spokesperson for Stellantis said at the time: “The company’s focus is on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible.

“Working hand in hand with our Citroen retailer network we are working to maximise the number of vehicles we can repair every day.

“To increase our repair capacity further, work is ongoing on introducing additional airbag replacement sites at convenient locations as well as repair at home options.

“It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term.

“However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs.”

Sept. 24 (UPI) — The U.S. Treasury is preparing a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday. He announced the plan after Argentine President Javier Milei met a day earlier with President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly.

Bessent reiterated the United States is “ready to do whatever it takes to support Argentina and the Argentine people” in a message on X in which he also praised Milei’s leadership.

He added that the United States “is prepared” to buy Argentina’s dollar-denominated debt.

“We are also prepared to provide significant backup credit through the Exchange Stabilization Fund, and we have been in active discussions with President Milei’s team to do so,” Bessent said.

The announcement amounts to a prearranged “loan” that would give Argentina’s government dollars in exchange for pesos, with the commitment to repay the funds within a set period at an agreed interest rate. The main goal is to prevent the economic adjustment program led by Milei from failing.

The Argentine president thanked the United States for its support in a post on X, writing, “We deeply value our friendship with the United States and its commitment to strengthen our partnership on the basis of shared values. Together we will build a path of stability, prosperity and freedom. MAGA!”

Argentina is facing a fragile economic situation: Central Bank dollar reserves are running low, the peso is losing value and the risk of recession is growing.

Against that backdrop, the agreement Bessent announced is intended to give Argentina a financial reserve to pay debt, stabilize the exchange rate and reassure investors. Without that support, the government would face greater difficulties slowing the peso’s decline and containing inflation — issues at the center of Milei’s economic policy.

In addition, the World Bank said Tuesday it is “accelerating support for Argentina,” combining public financing, private investment and capital mobilization to “deploy up to $4 billion in the coming months.”

The bank said the package will target “key drivers of competitiveness,” including “unlocking mining and critical minerals; boosting tourism as a source of jobs and local development; expanding access to energy; and strengthening supply chains and financing for small and medium-sized businesses.”

The official statement in Washington said the move “builds on the $12 billion support package announced in April” and “reflects strong confidence in the government’s efforts to modernize the economy, advance structural reforms, attract private investment and create jobs.”

The World Bank added that “all proposed operations will be subject to approval by the Executive Board.”

Economy Minister Luis Caputo welcomed the announcement and thanked the World Bank for its support. He said the financial reinforcement is a sign of backing for the reforms under way. “The World Bank not only provides resources, it also gives confidence in the economic strategy we are carrying out,” Caputo said.

Also Tuesday, the Inter-American Development Bank said in a statement it is “working to significantly expand its operations in Argentina over the next 15 months” to increase support for the country.

The plan combines sovereign financing with private investment. It includes $2.9 billion in five new public-sector operations in 2025, plus $1 billion through IDB Invest directed at strategic sectors.

Following the U.S. financial support announcement, markets reacted with optimism: Argentine bonds posted sharp gains, stocks extended their recovery and the country’s risk index dropped, reflecting improved perceptions of solvency.

At the same time, the peso strengthened against the dollar, a sign that government intervention and expectations of outside assistance helped ease pressure on the exchange rate.

Taken together, the moves showed the announcement was seen as immediate relief for Argentina’s finances and a signal of greater short-term stability.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia’s formally recognition of the State of Palestine, in a coordinated move with the UK and Canada, in an effort to revive a two-state solution. Albanese made the declaration from New York where he’ll be attending the UN General Assembly this week.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced the United Kingdom’s formal recognition of Palestinian statehood, joining Canada and Australia in a move aimed at reviving the push for a two-state solution. The US and Israel have criticised the decision.

The airline has disclosed plans for new routes for airline passengers looking for a holiday

Ryanair has announced four new routes in Portugal. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has unveiled four new routes in Portugal for the winter – including one to an ‘epic hidden gem’.

The airline’s new routes will see flights go from Porto to Gothenburg and Porto to Polish capital Warsaw. It will also see flights run from Faro to Krakow in Poland, and from Funchal to Shannon in Ireland.

Krakow is seen by many as an unheralded but beautiful destination for tourists with stunning castles in the city and surrounding area. It has a medieval Old Town and a rich history.

The Sunshine Seeker travel website describes the city as an ‘epic hidden gem’. In a glowing reference, it says “there’s a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be discovered off the beaten path.”

Charlotte, who runs the site, listed the breathtaking Zakrzówek Park and Lake, St. Joseph’s Church and Tyniec Abbey as all spots well worth a visit. She also named museums, galleries and markets – and drew attention to the city’s many moving landmarks to the Holocaust. At least three million Jewish Poles were killed during the Nazi occupation of Poland.

Ryanair and the move to new routes

The airline is omitting Lisbon from the list for new routes. This is because, according to Ryanair’s CEO, ANA, which operates most of the nation’s airports, admits to having reached maximum capacity in the country’s capital.

However, O’Leary insists that Lisbon airport can accommodate more traffic if it were given the slots for takeoff and landing permits that Portuguese airline TAP does not use. He said Montijo Airport, a new airport infrastructure in Lisbon, would be more viable than Alcochete, because it would be operational more quickly.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has bolstered its Madeira operations this winter by putting a third aircraft in Funchal (FNC) and adding a new route, part of 171 routes across Portugal. The news comes as man air carriers have increased their routes this winter to Spain.

That has happened after Ryanair said it would cut around 600,000 seats to and from the country, as well as about 400,000 seats to and from the Canary Islands. That change is part of a disagreement with another airport operator.

Vueling, Iberia Express, and Binter have added 434,000 extra seats compared to last autumn and winter already. Other airlines, including Volotea and Wizz Air, have also expressed a desire to fill part of this gap.

Ryanair has blamed the Spanish airport operator Aena for the move – and criticised its decision to raise the fees it imposes on airlines. Ryanair has, in addition, shut its two-aircraft base in Santiago, located in northwest Spain, and put a halt to all flights to Vigo and Tenerife North.

Ryanair’s chief executive, Eddie Wilson, said AENA’s decision to ramp up airport charges by 6.62% as “excessive”. The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, said if Ryanair leaves certain airports, other airlines will take on that capacity. “The king is dead, long live the king!” Puente said – attacking the Irish airline’s alleged ‘blackmail’.

AENA’s president, Maurici Lucena, accused Ryanair of distorting the figures. He said the airline was attempting to ‘make more money’ at the expense of taxpayers.

US Vice President JD Vance has announced the identity of the ‘new ABC late night host’ after Jimmy Kimmel was pulled from the air indefinitely following his Charlie Kirk comments in Monday’s opening monologue

US Vice President JD Vance has made a surprising announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter. He revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be stepping in to fill the shoes of Jimmy Kimmel on ABC.

The network has yet to officially confirm this news, but Vance dropped the bombshell on Thursday morning. This comes just a day after the sudden cancellation of the comedian’s long-standing late-night programme, Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy’s show was abruptly axed by the broadcaster following his opening monologue earlier this week, where he mentioned Charlie Kirk.

In an unexpected turn of events, the VP announced, “Everyone please congratulate @marcorubio, the new host of ABC’s late-night show!”.

ABC, which is owned by Disney, pulled the plug on Jimmy Kimmel Live! after his comments about the death of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk. Specifically, his remarks about the suspected killer and his mockery of Trump’s icy response to questions about his associate’s death, according to the Irish Star.

Charlie Kirk, the host of the podcast Turning Point, was attending the first event of The American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University when he was shot in the neck. Officials believe the weapon used was a high-powered rifle.

Kirk did not survive his injuries and has since become a martyr for the Republican Party.

Jimmy declared, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

He continued, “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.

“On Friday, the White House flew the flags at half staff, which drew some criticism, but on a human level, you can see how hard the president is taking this,” he continued, cutting to a clip of Trump being interviewed by the press on the White House lawn talking about the new ballroom when asked about how he was holding up after his friend’s death.

“Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay? And it didn’t just happen once,” Jimmy said, before showing another clip of the president on Fox News talking about the ballroom when asked about how he heard the news of Charlie’s death.

The host went on to ask, “Why are we building a $200 million ballroom in the White House? Is it possible that he’s doing it intentionally so we can be mad about that instead of the Epstein list?” His sudden dismissal has left the country rattled amid fears over freedom of expression.

Marco Rubio, despite having no previous experience as a television host apart from guest appearances on Fox News and other networks, is rumoured to be taking up the Vice President’s post.

However, it remains unconfirmed whether the politician will be hosting his own show on ABC.

In a surprising move, some affiliate stations are planning to broadcast a Charlie Kirk memorial instead of the usual Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Friday during its regular time slot.

Last year, in the middle of a World Series celebration he had spent two decades dreaming about, Clayton Kershaw took the mic at Dodger Stadium and made a declaration.

“I love you guys, thank you!” he shouted to an adoring Chavez Ravine crowd.

“Dodger for life!”

On Thursday, that distinction was cemented.

After 18 seasons, three Cy Young Awards, an MVP, more than 3,000 strikeouts and two World Series titles, Kershaw announced he will retire from Major League Baseball after this season.

Kershaw’s announcement, which came in a press release from the team, preceded what could now be his final Dodger Stadium start scheduled for Friday night.

That game will mark his 246th time taking the bump at the only ballpark he has ever called home. Depending on what happens in October, when Kershaw will make one more run at one more championship, it could be his last.

After 222 wins, more than 2,800 innings, and a career 2.54 ERA, his countdown to Cooperstown will begin this winter.

After serving as the face of the franchise during one of the most successful runs in club history, the book will finally be closing on his illustrious Dodgers career.

Kershaw’s retirement had been a long time coming. Over each of the past four offseasons, he contemplated whether or not to walk away from the game. An 11-time All-Star and five-time ERA champion, he long ago ensured his spot as a future Hall of Fame pitcher. As the franchise’s all-time strikeout leader, his place in club lore had already been enshrined.

Yet, the 37-year-old Kershaw never lost his desire to play.

Despite an elbow injury at the end of the 2021 season, a shoulder surgery after the 2023 campaign, and foot and knee procedures this past offseason, he came back to continue his Dodgers career — never ready to give up another title chase.

This year, he has authored the kind of renaissance season that once felt beyond him. He is 10-2 in 20 starts with a 3.53 ERA, succeeding despite diminished fastball velocity and a decline in overall stuff. He has been an integral member of a first-place Dodgers team. And though one more postseason run lies ahead, with the Dodgers trying to defend last year’s World Series title, he decided his time in baseball was finally up.

“On behalf of the Dodgers, I congratulate Clayton on a fabulous career and thank him for the many moments he gave to Dodger fans and baseball fans everywhere, as well as for all of his profound charitable endeavors,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter said in the team’s release. “His is a truly legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Originally drafted seventh overall by the Dodgers out of Highland Park High School in Texas in 2006, Kershaw has spent the entirety of his professional life in the organization, going from top prospect to young sensation to Cy Young winner to pitcher of his generation.

He made his MLB debut in 2008, and broke out as a star the following year. By 2011, he had earned his first All-Star selection, his first ERA title and his first Cy Young Award. The accolades would keep coming after that — with Kershaw leading the majors in ERA each season from 2011-2014, winning two more Cy Youngs in 2013 and 2014, and becoming only only the 22nd pitcher to ever win MVP honors with his 21-3, 1.77-ERA season in that historic 2014 campaign.

The back half of Kershaw’s career was plagued by injuries, starting with a bad back that sidelined him for part of 2016.

Still, he earned another ERA in 2017, while helping the Dodgers win their first pennant in 29 years. He had a resurgent performance in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, going 6-2 in the regular season with a 2.16 ERA before finally experiencing a World Series title.

Up to that point, the postseason was the only area were Kershaw struggled. In 32 playoff outings from 2008-2019, he was 9-11 with a 4.43 ERA — mediocre numbers underscored by excruciating collapses against the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros and Washington Nationals along the way.

But in 2020, Kershaw vanquished such demons, making five starts and going 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in the Dodgers’ first victorious World Series run since 1998. The title, Kershaw has said since, meant more than even he could have ever imagined.

“I think having that [World Series] definitely started letting me relax a little bit more,” Kershaw said in 2023. “I didn’t realize I had been carrying that weight that much.”

And once he won it once, the notoriously competitive left-hander craved to do it again.

That’s why, even as his body has continued to break down in recent years, Kershaw kept coming back every spring. He believed, when healthy, he could still contribute to a World Series roster. And despite numerous free-agent flirtations with his hometown Texas Rangers, he always saw the Dodgers as the best way to get there.

It made last year’s World Series title a sentimental one for the iconic left-hander. Kershaw was a limited participant, making only seven starts in the regular season before missing the playoffs with his foot and knee problems. But he relished in the celebration, especially the title-winning parade that the 2020 team had been denied by the pandemic.

He knew then that he would be a Dodger for life.

On Thursday, it finally became official.

Sept. 18 (UPI) — Shares of Intel rose 33% Thursday after NVIDIA announced a $5 billion investment in the company to make data center and PC chips.

NVIDIA is investing its stake at a price of $23.28 a share, a press release said. Intel shares jumped 33% to around $33 a share in premarket trading, CNBC reported.

The collaboration deal says that Intel will build custom NVIDIA CPUs for data centers that the company will integrate into its AI infrastructure platforms and sell.

For PCs, Intel will build and sell x86 system-on-chips that integrate NVIDIA RTX GPU chiplets. These new x86 RTX SOCs will power a wide range of PCs, a press release said.

NVIDIA will invest $5 billion in Intel’s common stock at a purchase price of $23.28 per share, which will need regulatory approval.

“At the heart of this reinvention is NVIDIA’s CUDA architecture,” NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang said in a statement. “This historic collaboration tightly couples NVIDIA’s AI and accelerated computing stack with Intel’s CPUs and the vast x86 ecosystem – a fusion of two world-class platforms. Together, we will expand our ecosystems and lay the foundation for the next era of computing.”

Intel, which has struggled recently, last month got a boost from a 10% investment from the federal government. Earlier this year, its shares hit the lowest in more than 10 years.

“Intel’s x86 architecture has been foundational to modern computing for decades, and we are innovating across our portfolio to enable the workloads of the future,” Lip-Bu Tan, CEO of Intel, said in a statement. “Intel’s leading data center and client computing platforms, combined with our process technology, manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities, will complement NVIDIA’s AI and accelerated computing leadership to enable new breakthroughs for the industry.”

Huang and Tan will hold a press conference about the deal at 1 p.m. EDT Thursday.

US President Donald Trump has announced a deal with China to allow the TikTok platform to continue operating in the United States.

Trump said he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday to confirm the details of an agreement to avoid a ban on the popular video-sharing app in the US.

“We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it. And you know, the kids want it so badly,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

“I had parents calling me up. They don’t want it for themselves, they want it for their kids. They say, if I don’t get it done, they are in big trouble with their kids. And I think it’s great. I hate to see value like that thrown out the window,” he said.

Trump signed an executive order later on Tuesday extending until December 16 a deadline for TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest from the platform or face the promised ban.

Trump, who has credited TikTok with helping him win young voters in November’s presidential election, did not provide specific details on the nature of the deal.

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the Chinese ownership stake in TikTok would be reduced to less than 20 percent under the proposed agreement.

China’s People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, hailed the deal as an example of “cooperation for mutual benefit”.

“China’s commitment to safeguarding national interests and the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises remains unwavering,” the newspaper said in a commentary.

“It will lawfully process matters such as technology export approvals and intellectual property licensing rights related to TikTok,” the newspaper added.

Yan Liang, an economics professor at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, said the reported details of the deal raised questions about what China would get in return for divesting.

“After all, Trump has the interest to keep TikTok running for his personal political gain,” Yan told Al Jazeera.

“Trump’s business clientele also has the interest to keep TikTok alive, even if they don’t hold a majority control of this lucrative company,” she said.

“I’d be surprised that China agrees with such a deal without [many] concessions from the US.”

The future of TikTok, which claims more than 170 million users in the US, has been in the balance since lawmakers in Washington last year passed legislation to force the platform to divest from its Chinese ownership.

Democrats and Republicans alike overwhelmingly supported the ban amid concerns the platform could be used by Beijing to spy on Americans and spread Chinese Communist Party propaganda.

Trump himself sought to ban TikTok in his first term as president, before doing a U-turn and pledging to “save” the platform during his re-election campaign.

Critics of the ban have argued that it infringes on US free speech rights and fails to address privacy concerns surrounding social media platforms in general.

“I never thought the United States should shut down TikTok over speculation that China might gather information about, or try to influence, Americans,” Ryan Calo, co-director of the Tech Policy Lab at the University of Washington, told Al Jazeera.

“So, from that perspective, striking a deal to preserve TikTok in the United States is a win,” Calo said.

But Calo said the Trump administration’s creation of its “own timetable” for reaching a deal had flouted the process outlined in the legislation passed by Congress.

“This is a blow to the rule of law, among many,” he said.

Anupam Chander, an expert in law and technology at Georgetown Law, said Trump’s announcement raised questions about potential political influence over TikTok’s content.

“Many Americans have been worried that the change in ownership of CBS might change the politics of the channel,” Chander said, referring to the major US broadcaster.

“I think it’s also fair for TikTok users in the US to wonder if we will see our TikTok content change to reflect the views of TikTok’s new owners, who may have a friendly relationship with the current Administration.”