Thousands of Migrants Enter Ceuta From Morocco, Most Later Return
Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, many swimming or wading around the Tarajal border fence and others arriving on foot, overwhelming the tiny North African territory. Local authorities said as many as 60,000 people entered within hours, and the enclave’s leader called on Madrid to declare a national emergency and provide military support. By the following day roughly 48,000 to 49,000 of those who had crossed had returned to Morocco, though the sudden influx left Spain’s pro-immigration government facing a crisis and drew sharp criticism from right-wing parties across Europe.
Spanish authorities reported at least 57 deaths, while The New York Times reported nearly three dozen deaths.
The sudden influx began abruptly, catching Spanish officials off guard and prompting calls for a national emergency and military support.
U.S. Prosecutors Drop Reflecting Pool Vandalism Charges Against Ex-Olympian
Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the felony indictment against David Hearn, a former U.S. Olympic canoeist accused of damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington after a $14 million renovation. In court filings, the Justice Department said the damage was caused by a botched installation, not vandalism, effectively conceding that the government’s earlier accusations were unfounded.
Hearn had repeatedly said he merely touched the water out of curiosity and did not rip any sealant. The case had become a flashpoint after the Trump administration publicly cast the incident as deliberate destruction of federal property.
Trump Pressures Senate as Republican Holdups Stall Blanche Nomination
The Trump administration is escalating pressure on the Senate to confirm Todd Blanche, the president’s former personal lawyer, as U.S. attorney general, even as Republican holdouts threaten to block the nomination. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Blanche “should be immediately approved” and defended a disputed $1.8 billion Justice Department settlement involving Trump allies that critics have called a slush fund and that has become the central obstacle to confirmation.
Two Republican senators are withholding support, and the Senate has delayed a vote amid the dispute over the settlement. Trump has said he may pull the nomination until January, when he believes the political arithmetic in the Senate would be more favorable.
Sheriff's Office Releases Ransom Notes in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office has released both ransom emails it says were sent by the kidnapper of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television news anchor Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for nearly six months. Investigators hope someone will recognize the writer’s style or wording and generate new leads.
One of the messages threatened to kill Nancy Guthrie if a multimillion-dollar ransom was not paid within a week, according to the released material. The sender also claimed she died shortly after being abducted.
Trump Backs Away From Deal to Let Ukraine Build Patriots
President Donald Trump has retreated from a promise to let Ukraine manufacture its own Patriot air-defense interceptors, telling reporters at a Camp David cabinet meeting that handing over the underlying technology was “a hard thing to give away.” Ukraine’s president had warned that the country is running low on Patriot interceptors, the most reliable weapon it has against Russian ballistic missiles, making the reversal a significant blow to Kyiv’s air-defense planning.
FIFA Scraps Controversial World Cup Private Investment Plan
FIFA has abandoned a plan that would have allowed billions of dollars in private commercial investment in the World Cup, shelving the proposal after fierce opposition from member nations. The idea, championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, would have sold off stakes in football’s flagship competitions; its collapse leaves the governing body’s commercial strategy unsettled.
Australian Hiker Found Dead on Wyoming's Continental Divide Trail
Search teams found the body of William Standish, a 28-year-old Australian, on Wednesday morning in the Teton mountains of Wyoming after he lost contact with his family while hiking the Continental Divide Trail between Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. Investigators said a fatal fall was the likely cause of death; the trail, which crosses five states, is considered one of the most challenging landscapes in North America.
CBS Places Tony Romo on Leave After Wisconsin OWI Arrest
CBS Sports has placed Tony Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and lead NFL analyst, on indefinite leave following his arrest last week in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. The network said Romo would remain sidelined “until further notice” and promoted JJ Watt to the lead broadcast booth in his absence.
Welsh Father Dies After Alleged Assault in Turkey
James, a 34-year-old man from Maesteg in south Wales, died in a Turkish hospital on Sunday after an alleged assault earlier in July, his family said. Relatives described him as a “devoted” father whose “kindness and loyalty touched countless lives.”