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US House Passes Spending Package, Iranian Drone Downed Amid Rising Tensions
Washington D.C. – The United States House of Representatives approved a $1.2 trillion spending package on Tuesday to end a partial government shutdown, while in the Arabian Sea, a U.S. fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone, escalating tensions ahead of planned talks.
The bipartisan spending bill, which passed with a vote of 217-214 in the Republican-controlled House, restores funding for key federal programs, including those within the Departments of Labor and Education, according to Al Jazeera. The package funds most government programs through September 30, but only funds the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks.
Meanwhile, in the Arabian Sea, a U.S. F-35C fighter jet launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln downed an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that was flying "aggressively" towards the aircraft carrier, according to Sky News. A U.S. military spokesperson stated that the drone approached the USS Abraham Lincoln with "unclear intent" before it was intercepted. The incident occurred as Washington prepares for talks with Tehran later this week.
In other news, Sudanese military officials reported breaking through a years-long siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group of Kadugli, the South Kordofan capital, Al Jazeera reported. This marks the military's second major advance in the Kordofan region in less than a week.
Separately, in Australia, a 13-year-old boy, Austin Appelbee, swam for approximately four hours to shore to raise the alarm after his family was swept out to sea on Friday, Sky News reported. Appelbee described battling "massive" waves during his swim. The family had been on an inflatable kayak and paddleboards when strong winds picked up.
In Paraguay, President Santiago Peña told Euronews that the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur countries should be implemented without delay. He warned that stalling the agreement would be a "mistake" amid rising geopolitical tensions. "The EU-Mercosur deal 'must be applied without delay'," Peña stated. The free trade pact was signed last month by the EU and Mercosur members Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. However, its full ratification by the EU has been frozen.
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