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UK joins Israel in claims that Iran attacked tanker in fatal drone strike

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United Kingdom joined Israel on Sunday in alleging Iran carried out a   fatal drone strike   on an oil tanker off the coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea, putting further pressure on Tehran as it denied being involved in the assault. Calling it a “unlawful and callous attack,” British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said his country and its allies planned a coordinated response over the strike Thursday night on the oil tanker Mercer Street. It marked the first-known fatal attack after years of assaults on commercial shipping in the region linked to tensions with Iran over its tattered nuclear deal. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, Iran and its militia allies have used so-called “suicide” drones in attacks previously, which crash into targets and detonate their explosive payloads. However, Israel, the U.K. and the responding U.S. Navy have yet to show physical evidence from the strike or offer intelligence information on why they blam

Kevin McCarthy under fire for joking about hitting Pelosi with gavel

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House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is facing calls to step down after he joked about having to restrain himself from hitting Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the head if his party takes control of the chamber next year. McCarthy was given an oversized gavel adorned with the words “Fire Pelosi” by members of Tennessee’s Republican congressional delegation during a dinner Saturday in Nashville, according to a report. The Republican leader was bullish about the prospects of the GOP regaining control of the House and him becoming speaker as a result, inviting the attendees of the dinner to come to the Capitol to witness Pelosi turning over the speaker’s gavel to him. “It will be hard not to hit her with it, but I will bang it down,” McCarthy said, according to Washington Post reporter  Michael Scherer. Rep.  Eric Swalwell  (D-Calif.) said McCarthy must go over the comment. “America has suffered enough violence around politics,” Swalwell tweeted. “ @GOPLeader  McCarthy is now a would-be assail