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House GOP Majority Shrinks, Trump's Arch Proposed, and Global Unrest Reported
Washington D.C. – The Republican Party's already narrow majority in the House of Representatives is set to shrink further following a special election victory by Democrat Christian Menefee in Texas, Fox News reported. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is advocating for the construction of a large triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., as part of the America 250 celebrations, a plan that has drawn both support and criticism. Internationally, Pakistan's Balochistan province experienced a series of deadly attacks, and Slovakia's national security advisor resigned over links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Menefee, a former attorney for Houston's Harris County, defeated fellow Democrat Amanda Edwards in a runoff election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner last March, according to the Associated Press, as cited by Fox News. Menefee's win reduces the Republican majority to 218-213.
In Washington, D.C., the White House defended Trump's proposal for a triumphal arch, describing it as a central part of his legacy and vision. According to Fox News, the White House stated the monument would become "one of the most iconic landmarks in the world." However, critics warn the structure could visually dominate nearby memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial. U.S. Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley told Fox News that Trump aims to "make D.C. beautiful again" with the arch.
In other news, Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and minority leader, received a phone call from President Trump during a spending showdown, according to the New York Times. "He says, Chuck, I hate shutdowns. I don’t like shutdowns. We’ve got to stop them," Schumer said, recalling his conversation with Trump. Schumer said he responded by telling Trump, "Well, Mr. President, the thing you have to do is rein in ICE." The call led to a rare compromise between the two.
Across the globe, Pakistan's Balochistan province experienced a surge in violence. A series of gun and bomb attacks killed 18 civilians and 15 security service personnel, the BBC reported. The country's military stated that security forces killed at least 92 attackers. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks, asserting that dozens of soldiers were killed. The BBC noted that this escalation represents one of the deadliest days of violence in the province, where the Pakistani government has been battling an ethnic insurgency for decades. Pakistan has accused India of supporting the BLA.
Adding to the international developments, Slovakia's national security advisor, Miroslav Lajčák, resigned after documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice showed he exchanged messages about girls and diplomacy with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the BBC reported. Prime Minister Robert Fico accepted Lajčák's resignation, describing him as "an incredible source of experience in diplomacy and foreign policy," according to the BBC. Lajčák denied any wrongdoing but said he was stepping down to avoid political ramifications. The resignation followed the release of three million files relating to Epstein.
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