South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson defeated Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the Republican gubernatorial runoff. He will face Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson in November.
News Mash
Acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte has removed 51 staffers from ODNI roles, with six fired and 45 returned to their home agencies, CBS reported. The cuts follow earlier downsizing under Tulsi Gabbard and have drawn warnings from lawmakers in both parties.
The House approved the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in a 358-32 vote, sending the bipartisan housing affordability package to President Trump. The bill seeks to boost home construction, streamline rules and restrict large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes.
The UN’s International Maritime Organization has begun evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed during the US-Israel war against Iran. The operation follows a US-Iran memorandum of understanding, though disputes remain over inspections and the strait’s future.
A divided federal appeals court allowed the Trump administration to expand expedited removal beyond the border to non-citizens apprehended anywhere in the U.S. who cannot show two years of presence. The ruling overturns a lower court order that found the policy violated due process rights.
Taliban officials met EU representatives and member states in Brussels for the first time to discuss consular services and returns of Afghans from Europe. Rights groups warned the talks could legitimize the Taliban and endanger deported Afghans.
Lebanese authorities said Israeli troops killed two men near a road-clearing vehicle in southern Lebanon, the first reported fatal incident since a fragile ceasefire largely took hold. Israel said its forces fired at Hezbollah members who posed a threat inside a declared security zone.