Rescuers to use air cushions in latest effort to save stranded whale

"Timmy" has been stranded in the Baltic Sea for weeks despite several attempts to free the ailing animal.

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Fisa surveillance vote sparks fierce debate as Congress splits on warrantless monitoring

Donald Trump says he is ‘working very hard’ with House Republicans to extend Section 702 without changes

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A controversial law that grants the US government sweeping powers for warrantless surveillance is set to expire next week. Replacing it has inspired fierce debate within the White House and Congress, including a scheduled vote cancelled the day of.

A coalition of progressive Democrats and far-right Republicans is pushing for reform of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), but they face strong bipartisan opposition from lawmakers advocating for an 18-month renewal with no changes, in line with Donald Trump’s demands. House GOP leaders delayed a procedural vote on a clean extension of Section 702 on Wednesday, after the chamber’s rules committee approved the measure on Tuesday night. Republican leadership was expected to bring the measure to the floor on Wednesday but canceled the scheduled vote, amid dissent from privacy advocates in their own party. Legislative action on the bill could still occur later in the day, as Republicans address their internal disagreements.

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Frank Gardner: What is China's role in the Iran war?

BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner explains how the world's second-largest economy fits into the Gulf conflict.

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House Democrats call for commission led by JD Vance to oust Trump

Measure by Jamie Raskin follows statements by Trump about annihilating Iran and post depicting himself as Jesus

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House Democrats on Tuesday proposed creating a commission that would work with JD Vance to remove Donald Trump from office under the 25th amendment, should they determine he is no longer fit to serve.

The measure, introduced by Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, follows a series of statements from Trump, including his recent warning that Iran’s “whole civilization will die” if it did not capitulate to his demands, and a social media post that depicted him as Jesus Christ.

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Oil price dips below $100 a barrel after Trump claims Iran wants deal

US president’s previous threat to block strait of Hormuz had led to a 6.9% increase in earlier trading

• Explainer: strait of Hormuz blockade

Oil prices have fallen back after briefly rising to above $100 a barrel as Donald Trump claimed Iran had made contact and wanted “very badly” to strike a deal in the face of his blockade of the strait of Hormuz.

The Brent crude international benchmark rose above the key psychological threshold earlier in the day, at one point up 6.9% to $101.70 a barrel on news of the US president’s plan to block the waterway to Iranian marine traffic.

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‘This is not serious leadership’: Donald Trump and Marco Rubio watch UFC in Miami as Iran talks fail

• President has long been a fan of mixed martial arts

• Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr also at event

Donald Trump and US secretary of state Marco Rubio attended a UFC event in Miami night on Saturday night as peace talks with Iran failed on the other side of the world.

Trump entered the Kaseya Center shortly after 9pm alongside several members of his family and UFC chief Dana White, who has been a supporter of the president since his first term. Seated nearby was Rubio as well as the US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, the rapper Vanilla Ice and former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino.

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Move to expel Democrat Eric Swalwell from Congress gains steam

Pressure mounts on Californian, who denies rape claims, and on Texan Tony Gonzales, who had affair with staffer who died by suicide

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A growing number of Congress members from both parties have called for Eric Swalwell, a Democratic US representative and candidate for California governor, to resign his seat this weekend, following reported allegations of inappropriate behavior, sexual assault and rape.

Swalwell has denied the allegations, but he may not get the chance to quit before his colleagues expel him. Polarized Congress members appear to be eyeing an opportunity to rid themselves of both Swalwell and disgraced Republican US representative Tony Gonzales of Texas, who acknowledged having an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by suicide.

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Melania Trump's speech propels Epstein crisis back to forefront

She has now placed herself squarely into the Epstein story and at odds with the administration, which wants to end the investigation.

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Middle East crisis live: Iran peace talks under way as Trump claims US has begun clearing mines in strait of Hormuz

US and Iranian media report peace talks have begun in Islamabad, while Netanyahu says Israel remains committed to fighting Iran

• US and Iran hold talks in Islamabad as Pakistan seeks to broker peace deal

• US officials claim Iran unable to find mines it laid in strait of Hormuz

The UK will host a strait of Hormuz meeting next week, bringing together multiple countries aiming to restore free movement of ships through the strait, which has been blockaded by Iran since the beginning of the war and inflicted heavy damage on the global economy.

A British official told AP that the meeting will oppose the idea of tolls being charged for passage through the waterway, as proposed by Iran as part of ceasefire negotiations.

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Taiwan opposition leader meets Xi Jinping in Beijing

Cheng Li-wun is the Kuomintang's first sitting leader to visit China in a decade.

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