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Government Shutdown Looms as House Prepares to Vote on Funding Deal; International Tensions Simmer
Washington, D.C. – The partial government shutdown entered its fourth day on Tuesday as the House of Representatives prepared for a procedural vote on a Senate-backed funding compromise, potentially leading to a final passage vote later in the day, according to Fox News. The vote comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson quelled a rebellion by House conservatives who threatened to derail the measure.
Meanwhile, international relations remained tense as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated a willingness to negotiate with the U.S. following requests from "friendly governments in the region," BBC World reported. Pezeshkian stated on X that he instructed Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi to pursue talks "provided that a suitable environment exists - one free from threats and unreasonable expectations." This announcement followed warnings from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that any attack on Iran would spark a regional conflict, and previous threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in Iran over its nuclear ambitions.
In another international development, Colombian President Gustavo Petro was scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House on Tuesday, marking their first in-person meeting after months of escalating tensions, according to BBC World. Issues such as Venezuela, drug trafficking, oil, security, and U.S. strikes on alleged drug vessels were expected to be high on the agenda. While the two leaders had a cordial phone call after a U.S. military operation to seize Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, Petro has repeatedly condemned U.S. foreign policy.
Domestically, the Trump administration's focus on combating fraud continued, with President Trump claiming that the country has been losing over half a trillion dollars to fraud every year, according to The New York Times. He vowed to end this practice, turning his anti-fraud campaign into a tool for targeting political foes, prompting some state officials to question the motivations behind these actions.
In Virginia, the political landscape shifted as Democrat Abigail Spanberger assumed the role of governor. Critics, according to Fox News, have accused Spanberger of enacting a far-left agenda soon after taking office, claiming that the progress made under Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is now under attack.
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