Friday morning news: September 19, 2025

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U.K.-U.S. tech agreement » President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a row of cameras and microphones in London on Thursday as they touted a new technology pact between the U.S. and the U.K.

STARMER:  250 billion pounds flowing both ways across the Atlantic. It is the biggest investment package of its kind in British history.

The deal commits both nations to joint work in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and civil nuclear power, with U.S. firms pledging more than $40 billion dollars in investments across Britain.

President Trump told reporters:

TRUMP:   We've done some things that financially are great for both countries, and we work together and it keeps us together, and I think it's an unbreakable bond we have.

Major players include Microsoft and Nvidia, which plan major AI infrastructure projects.

Despite wide investment promises, some sore spots remain — for example, differences over tariffs and foreign policy — though the two leaders kept those mostly behind closed doors.

Trump: U.S. wants base back in Afghanistan » During that joint press conference, President Trump also suggested he's working to reestablish a U.S. presence at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

TRUMP:  We're trying to get it back, by the way. Okay. That could be a little breaking news. We're trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back.

That comes four years after America’s chaotic withdrawal from the country left the base in the Taliban’s hands.

TRUMP:  One of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it's an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.

Trump did not reveal whether his administration has done any planning around returning to the sprawling base, just north of Kabul … which was central to America’s longest war.

Israel » Also during that same news conference, the president reaffirmed America’s support for Israel.

When asked if he would pressure Israel to halt its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, he responded:

TRUMP: People forget about October 7th. I can't forget about it. So I want it to end, but I want the hostages back. I don't want the hostages used as human shields, which is what Hamas is threatening to do.

REPORTER: But as soon as they're back, that's the moment you will tell Netanyahu to stop?

TRUMP: Well, it would certainly help!

The president also condemned remarks by Hamas, after the terror group suggested it would begin using surviving hostages as human shields.

Meanwhile…

SOUND: [Fleeing vehicles]

...thousands of Palestinians continue to flee the Gaza Strip.

REFUGEE: [Speaking In Arabic]

One man says death is everywhere and his family has had to flee from one place to another to escape it. He calls their situation indescribable and says it's not a displacement journey, it's a death journey.

Democrats slam Kimmel suspension » Democrats are blasting ABC’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after remarks he made surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called it an assault on free speech.

SCHUMER: This is an assault on everything this country has stood for since the Constitution’s been signed. One of the great hallmarks of our country is free speech, whether you agree or disagree.

Democrats say pressure from FCC Chair Brendan Carr led ABC to bench Kimmel.

But ABC says its decision came after affiliate groups like Nexstar and Sinclair announced they would no longer carry Jimmy Kimmel Live.

In a recent monologue, Kimmel said, among other things that—his words—the “MAGA gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”

And he later likened President Trump’s response to the assassination as “how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

Jobless numbers » The Labor Department says weekly jobless claims fell sharply this past week. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Unemployment claims fell to 231,000 for the week ending September 13.

That beat expectations and reversed a spike to 264,000 the week before. That earlier number marked a nearly four-year high.

And the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits dipped a bit.

While layoffs are still modest, the labor market is showing signs of softening with weak August job growth and few job openings.

But, taken as a whole, many analysts say the latest numbers ease fears of a steep downturn.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

China's defense minister renews threats to Taiwan » China’s defense minister is renewing threats against Taiwan.

DONG: [Speaking in Mandarin]

As Dong Jun opened a security forum in Beijing Thursday he declared that the“restoration” of Taiwan to China “is an integral part” of the international order.”

DONG: [Speaking in Mandarin]

And he added that Beijing—his words “will never allow any separatist attempt for 'Taiwan independence' to succeed, and it stands ready to thwart any external military interference."

Beijing claims Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy of 23 million people, as a breakaway province, to be retaken by force if necessary.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with John Stonestreet. Plus, a feel good football movie from Angel Studios.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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