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Security Council to Discuss Deadly Tanker Attack on Friday

FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Security Council to Discuss Deadly Tanker Attack on Friday

FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Britain will discuss a deadly tanker attack off the coast of Oman during a closed-door United Nations Security Council on Friday, diplomats said, but the 15-member body is not expected to take any action.

Britain told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that it was "highly likely" that Iran used one or more drones to carry out the tanker attack last week, which killed two crew members - a Briton and a Romanian.

Israel's defense minister warned Thursday that his country is prepared to strike Iran after the fatal drone strike on the Mercer Street tanker, which is managed by a firm owned by an Israeli billionaire.

Speaking to the news website Ynet, Benny Gantz responded to whether Israel was prepared to attack Iran with a blunt “yes.”

“We are at a point where we need to take military action against Iran," Gantz said. "The world needs to take action against Iran now.”

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Trump Gives US House Speaker Johnson ‘Complete and Total Endorsement’

US President-elect Donald Trump gestures at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, US, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)
US President-elect Donald Trump gestures at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, US, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)
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Trump Gives US House Speaker Johnson ‘Complete and Total Endorsement’

US President-elect Donald Trump gestures at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, US, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)
US President-elect Donald Trump gestures at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, US, December 22, 2024. (Reuters)

US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threw his support behind House Speaker Mike Johnson, who will stand for reelection to the top job this week with a slim Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

"Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The House is scheduled to elect a speaker on Friday following the swearing-in of the new Congress. The endorsement from Trump was essential to Johnson's hopes of maintaining the leadership position he assumed in October 2023.

The job puts him in a close working relationship with Trump, who returns to the White House on Jan. 20.

Thirty-four Republicans voted against Johnson’s stopgap funding bill in December, raising questions on whether some of them would support Johnson's next bid for the speakership because they argued the legislation favored Democrats.

Republicans hold a 219-215 majority in the House, meaning the vote will be dependent on Republicans maintaining their unity.

Representative Victoria Spartz, a Republican, said on Fox News on Monday that she remained uncommitted, saying Johnson was afraid to bring up votes on fiscal legislation that could hamper Trump's agenda.

“I can give him a chance, but I would like to hear from him how he’s going to be delivering this agenda,” Spartz said. She spoke before Trump posted his endorsement on social media.