live Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran's Supreme Leader pledges revenge for killing of father
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washingto...
The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a stopgap spending bill designed to keep federal agencies funded through September 30, averting a potential partial government shutdown that was set to begin this weekend.
The measure passed along nearly party lines by a 217-213 vote, with one Republican dissenting and one Democrat voting in favor.
The continuing resolution would maintain current funding levels for federal agencies until the end of the fiscal year. It now awaits approval from the Republican-majority Senate and must be signed by President Donald Trump by Friday to prevent a lapse in funding.
The move comes amid intense pressure from Trump, who has been urging House Republicans to unite behind his agenda of dramatically cutting government spending. Vice President JD Vance echoed this call for unity during a closed-door meeting Tuesday morning.
Several hardline Republican lawmakers, who have traditionally opposed stopgap measures, broke ranks this week. Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett, for instance, said he supported the resolution for the first time because it would reduce federal spending. “It’s the first time I’ve been here … that we’ve actually voted to decrease the size of government,” Burchett remarked after speaking with Trump, adding, “Leadership’s never lied to me and Trump’s never lied to me.”
The bill has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats. Representative Rosa DeLauro condemned the measure, stating, “It is not a simple stop-gap that keeps the lights on and the doors open. This is Republican leadership handing over the keys of the government, and a blank check to Elon Musk and to President Trump.” Meanwhile, Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky voted against the measure, while moderate Democrat Jared Golden of Maine broke ranks to vote in its favor.
Senate Republicans face a challenging task ahead, as they will likely need to secure the support of at least seven Democrats to prevent a shutdown. Failure to pass the continuing resolution could disrupt everything from financial oversight to scientific research and force hundreds of thousands of federal workers to miss paychecks—an outcome that adds further urgency to the negotiations.
The measure comes as part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce. So far, nearly 100,000 of the government’s 2.3 million civilian workers have been fired or taken buyouts, and Trump has effectively shuttered agencies responsible for foreign aid and consumer protections. A second round of layoffs has been ordered, with further cuts expected in the coming week.
With the continuing resolution extending funding until September 30, increases in defense, veterans’ care, and border security are expected to be offset by cuts to various domestic programs. As both sides of the aisle prepare for further debates in the Senate, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the government will avoid a shutdown amid an already turbulent fiscal environment.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
Dozens of flights have been cancelled across East Asia as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches China. The typhoon, which has maximum sustained winds of 162 kph (100mph), is nearing a remote chain of Japanese islands, east of Taiwan on Friday.
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered several New York Times journalists to testify before a federal grand jury.
A Miami-based tycoon wanted in Albania for allegedly laundering drug money is suspected of faking the deeds to land where Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner wants to build a controversial multi-billion dollar resort, the country’s organised crime agency said in case files reviewed by Reuters.
A 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murdering British politician Ann Widdecombe has been released and is no longer part of the investigation, UK police have said.
Russia launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s capital early on Saturday, injuring at least 10 people, officials said. The attack came as Kyiv faces a shortage of air defence munitions while awaiting fresh supplies to counter Russian strikes.
The remains of 10 victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide were carried to the Potočari Memorial Cemetery in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday ahead of their burial during the 31st anniversary commemoration.
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