Trump defended a proposed $1.8 billion Justice Department fund for his supporters as Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general remains stalled. Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are demanding written assurances before backing the nomination.
News Mash
Spain deployed troops and police to Ceuta after tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco, with at least 34 deaths reported. The crisis prompted mass returns, calls for legal changes in Spain and demands for tighter border controls across Europe.
Two men detained during the search for Nancy Guthrie have filed a notice of claim seeking $3.25 million from Pima County officials. The filing alleges wrongful arrest, reputational harm and property damage as the kidnapping investigation passes six months.
TSA officers found five stolen Civil War-era cannonballs wrapped in paper towels inside a checked suitcase at Gulf Shores International Airport. The inert artifacts were returned to Fort Morgan, and the fort declined to press charges, according to CBS News.
The High Court dismissed a residents’ challenge to China’s planned 20,000-square-metre embassy complex at Royal Mint Court in London. Residents say they will appeal, citing security, human rights and fire safety concerns.
Election officials in California, Nevada and Pennsylvania are demanding that DHS explain how it identified alleged noncitizens on voter rolls without access to states’ unredacted voter data. DHS has not publicly detailed its methodology, and New Jersey’s own review found far fewer cases than the federal claim.
Carlos Cordeiro resigned as a senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, calling a proposed private investment plan for World Cup commercial operations “a bad deal for football.” The Asian Football Confederation joined UEFA and CONCACAF in opposing the proposal and urged FIFA to review its governance.
Hamas has accepted a framework for staged disarmament in Gaza, with the process tied to an Israeli withdrawal and international verification. Israel has not publicly agreed to the proposal, and Palestinians in Gaza have responded with cautious hope and deep scepticism.