UK, French and German leaders press Israel over Gaza aid after Macron backs a Palestinian state

UK, French and German leaders press Israel over Gaza aid after Macron backs a Palestinian state

LONDON (AP) — The leaders of Britain, France and Germany demanded Israel allow unrestricted aid into Gaza to end a "humanitarian catastrophe," afterFrench President Emmanuel Macronannounced that his country will become the first major Western power torecognize a Palestinian state. The joint statement, issued after a calll between Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, called for an an immediate ceasefire and said that "withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable," though it broke no new diplomatic ground. The leaders said they "stand ready to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process that leads to lasting security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region," but did not say what that action might be. France's move exposes European divisions Macron's surprise announcement exposed differences among the European allies, known as the E3, over how to ease the worsening humanitarian crisis and end theIsrael-Hamas war. All three support a Palestinian state in principle, but Germany said it has no immediate plans to follow France's step, which Macron plans to formalize at theUnited Nations General Assemblyin September. Britain has not followed suit either, but Starmer is under mounting pressure to formally recognize Palestinian statehood, both from opposition lawmakers and from members of his own Labour Party government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Tuesday called for an announcement "while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognize." On Friday, 221 of the 650 lawmakers in the House of Commons signed a letter urging Starmer to recognize a Palestinian state. "Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance," said the letter, signed by legislators from several government and opposition parties. After the E3 call on Friday, Starmer condemned "the continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel's disproportionate military escalation in Gaza." He said that "recognition of a Palestinian state" must be one of the steps on a pathway to peace. "I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis," he said. More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state, including a dozen in Europe. But France is the first Group of Seven country and the largest European nation to take that step. Israel and the United States both denounced France's decision. Britain has long supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel, but has said recognition should come as part of a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict. Any such solution appears far off. There had been no substantive Israel-Palestinian negotiations for years even before the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and sparked the current war. Humanitarian crisis alarms Israel's allies The worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, wherehunger is spreadingandchildren have starved to death, has caused alarm even among Israel's closest allies. Germany has traditionally been a particularly staunch ally of Israel in Europe, with relations rooted in the history of the Holocaust. It says recognizing a Palestinian state should be "one of the concluding steps" in negotiating a two-state solution and it "does not plan to recognize a Palestinian state in the short term." But Berlin, too, has sharpened its tone recently, describing the Israeli military's actions in Gaza as unacceptable and pushing for greater humanitarian aid, but still appears to favor trying to influence Israeli officials by direct contact. The German government said in a statement on Friday that it is in a "constant exchange" with the Israeli government and other partners on issues that include a ceasefire in Gaza and the need to drastically improve humanitarian aid. It said it is "prepared to increase the pressure" if there is no progress, but didn't elaborate on how. Britain has halted some arms sales to Israel,suspended free trade talksand sanctionedfar-right government ministersand extremist settlers, but Starmer is under intense pressure to do more. Also weighing on Starmer is his desire to maintain good relations with the U.S. administration, which has strongly criticized France's decision. The British leader is due to meet PresidentDonald Trumpin the next few days while the president isin Scotlandvisiting twogolf courseshe owns there. Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at the international affairs think-tank Chatham House, said Macron's decision to defer finalizing recognition until September "creates some space" for other countries to get on board. "We know that the U.K. is close, but not there," he said. "This might encourage Starmer, who we know is not one to rush such a decision. … This might create some momentum, some dynamic, for the U.K." ___ Associated Press writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this story.

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July 25, 2025

UK, French and German leaders press Israel over Gaza aid after Macron backs a Palestinian state

UK, French and German leaders press Israel over Gaza aid after Macron backs a Palestinian state LONDON (AP) — The leaders of Britain, France...

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A heat dome is peaking in the Northeast today. Here’s how extreme temperatures could get

A heat dome is peaking in the Northeast today. Here's how extreme temperatures could get

Sauna-like conditions on Friday are threatening to break records in major Northeast cities during summer's hottest month afterdangerous heatpeaked Thursday in the central United States. More than 80 million people in the eastern half of the US are under at least a Level 3 of 4 "major" heat risk on Friday, which will be the East Coast's hottest day of the heat dome. High temperatures in the middle to upper 90s are expected from Washington, DC, to Boston and low 90s will reach as far north as southern Maine. These temperatures are up to 10 degrees higher than the typical hottest conditions for this time of year and could challenge the high temperature record for the day in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Portland, Maine. The heat index — how hot it actually feels given the temperature and humidity — will reach or surpass 100 degrees for many: Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia could feel like 105 to 110 degrees Friday afternoon. The stagnant, hot air has also prompted air quality alerts across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. On Thursday the heat index topped out in the 100s from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest while it soared above 110 degrees in parts of the Mississippi Valley. It reached a scorching 115 degrees in Greenville in far western Mississippi on Thursday afternoon. Farther north, Chicago's heat index eclipsed 100 degrees Thursday while Syracuse, New York, set a new record high temperature for the day of 94 degrees, breaking the old record of 93 degrees set in 1941. High temperatures reached into the 90s Thursday afternoon as far north as Burlington, Vermont – located about 30 miles from the Canadian border. Heat remains thedeadliest formof extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becomingmore frequent, more severeand lasting longer as the world warms due to fossil fuel-driven climate change. Heat this severe impacts anyone without access to effective cooling or proper hydration, not just vulnerable populations, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And for those without air conditioning, staying indoors can become deadly during the hottest parts of the day,the agency warns. Dallas County, Texas, reported its first heat-related death of the year on Thursday. The victim was a man in his 60s with "unknown pre-existing medical conditions," according to the Dallas County Health and Human Services. Humid conditions will also prevent temperatures from cooling significantly overnight. It could still be close to 80 degrees in Washington, DC, by sunrise Saturday — nearly 10 degrees higher than a typical low for late July. When overnight temperatures don't cool down enough to offer relief for overheated bodies, people are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change,warming fasterthan daytime highs. Climate change is making this week's heat wave at leastthree times more likelyfor nearly 160 million people, almost half the US population, when compared with a world without fossil fuel emissions, according to an analysis from the climate research nonprofit Climate Central. The heat dome will shrink Saturday, replaced by more typical, though still very toasty, late July conditions parts of the Northeast and Midwest. Sweltering heat will persist through the weekend, mainly in southern parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic on Saturday and in portions of the Southeast Sunday. That general trend of a hotter-than-normal South is expected to continue through next week, according to the latest Climate Prediction Center forecasts. CNN Meteorologist Briana Waxman and CNN's Luke Snyder and Emma Tucker contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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July 25, 2025

A heat dome is peaking in the Northeast today. Here’s how extreme temperatures could get

A heat dome is peaking in the Northeast today. Here's how extreme temperatures could get Sauna-like conditions on Friday are threatening...

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Pastor and father of 3 arrested for overstaying visa a quarter-century ago

Pastor and father of 3 arrested for overstaying visa a quarter-century ago

A Maryland pastor who fled Honduras 24 years ago to escape poverty and violence is waiting to hear when he will face an immigration judge after his arrest this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for overstaying his visa in 2001, his family said. Daniel Fuentes Espinal, a 54-year-old father of three, is expected to request bond during his initial hearing at the Louisiana immigration facility to which he was transferred. His family – especially his wife, whom he has been with since they were 13 – hopes for his release but is struggling with his absence. "We've been on top of her for her to eat, sleep, but when she's about it to eat, she just says, 'I just don't know if your dad ate already,'" his daughter, Clarissa Fuentes Diaz said, crying. The pastor's arrest is the one of the latest in the Trump administration's barrage of immigration cases, targeting not onlyundocumented migrantsbut also people living in the US legally onstudent visasandgreen cards. Espinal picked up a breakfast burrito from McDonald's when he noticed an unmarked vehicle following him, his daughter told CNN. As he made his way back to a construction site with materials he purchased at a nearby Lowe's, Espinal was pulled over by a uniformed officer and detained. ICE confirmed Espinal's arrest in a statement to CNN. "Daniel Omar Fuentes Espinal is an illegal alien from Honduras who was arrested by ICE on July 21, in Easton, Maryland," the statement said. "Fuentes entered the United States on a 6-month visa and never left in 24 years. It is a federal crime to overstay the authorized period of time granted under a visitors visa." CNN has asked ICE for more details on Espinal's arrest and overstayed visa. Espinal was given no explanation for why he was stopped and was only asked for identification before being detained, his daughter said. "My dad was just confused the whole time, and they cuffed him, put him in the back of the car," Fuentes Diaz said. "We don't know everything that people go through, but my dad said he had a different experience than what he's seen on TV. They were nice to him. They put him in the car, and they drove off." However, conditions in the immigration detention facility in Hyattsville, Maryland, were worse, Fuentes Diaz told CNN on Friday morning. "They were treating them worse than dogs," she said. Espinal immigrated to the US in 2001 with his wife and infant daughter and has since been living in the US on his expired visa, Fuentes Diaz said. He has no criminal record, she added. He was held for one day in an office in Salisbury, Maryland, before being moved to a holding room at the Baltimore ICE Field Office, where he slept on a bench without a bed, his daughter said. He was transferred to the Winn Correctional Center in Louisiana on Thursday, his daughter said. Espinal has gotten a lawyer, but the change of location forced two scheduled immigration hearings Friday to be cancelled, she said. Espinal's attorney was still trying to determine Friday morning when his client would next appear in front of a judge. Espinal works in construction to support his family and has spent the last 15 years as a volunteer pastor at Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama, also known as the Church of the Nazarene Jesus Loves You, where he is known within his community for his sermons and generosity. "Pastor Fuentes Espinal is a beloved pillar of the Easton community known across town for providing shelter to those who need a place to sleep, for opening up his home and providing food and clothing to those who are at the most vulnerable point in their lives, and he never expects anything in return," close friend Len Foxwell told CNN. More than $20,000 has been donated to aGoFundMelaunched by Foxwell to raise money for Espinal's legal expenses and provide his family with basic needs until his return. Originally from Santa Rita in Yoro, Honduras, Espinal immigrated to the US in search of a safer and more stable future for his family and to flee the widespread poverty and violence that gripped his hometown, his daughter told CNN. "It's not safe, you're scared walking around town, just looking behind your shoulder, violence, gangs, corruption, it's not an ideal place to raise a family, not ideal to work" Fuentes Diaz said. "There's no jobs that pay enough to … make a living," she said. "He's my hero. He has done so much for me, as his daughter, he sacrificed so much for me to have a better future," she added. Maryland Reps. Sarah Elfreth and Glenn Ivey called for Espinal's releasein a letter condemning his arrestand accusing the Trump administration of "indiscriminately profiling and targeting individuals based on their skin color." "Through his church ministry, Pastor Espinal has dedicated his life to improving the lives of some of his community's most vulnerable members." the lawmakers wrote in the letter. "His arrest and detention by ICE does nothing to further your stated goals of making America safer." "The Trump Administration clearly isn't targeting the most dangerous criminals living in the U.S. illegally – they are snatching up anyone they can find as they pursue their mass deportation agenda and terrorizing our communities in the process," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen in a statement. "My team is engaged with Pastor Espinal's family and I will be monitoring this closely." More than a dozen letters have been written by loved ones and community members, including Foxwell, to support and advocate for his release and will submitted for consideration at future court proceedings. "This is not what President Trump campaigned on, and it's not what the American people asked for. He campaigned on securing the southern border, on ridding our nation of some of its most violent criminals and curtailing gang activity. None of those things have any applicability here," Foxwell said. "This is a this is a family man, a man of faith, a small businessman who was literally just going to work to put in a full day's work to feed his family." CNN's Andy Rose contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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July 25, 2025

Pastor and father of 3 arrested for overstaying visa a quarter-century ago

Pastor and father of 3 arrested for overstaying visa a quarter-century ago A Maryland pastor who fled Honduras 24 years ago to escape povert...

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Influencer Goes Viral After Claiming Chef Had an Aggressive Confrontation with Her. Now, the Restaurant Is Closing

Influencer Goes Viral After Claiming Chef Had an Aggressive Confrontation with Her. Now, the Restaurant Is Closing

Getty Stock Images A Bay Area food influencer recounted an alleged aggressive experience she claims happened during a visit to a local wine bar. In her now-viral video shared on Wednesday, July 23, a TikToker called Karla — known by her handle@itskarlabb— started recording herself after she said she "just left a restaurant collaboration crying." She went on to allege that shortly after her arrival at the Hayes Valley neighborhood food spot, she heard the host and another person talking nearby, and she realized they were talking about her. The host and his co-worker, who later revealed himself to be the chef, allegedly started discussing Karla's profile and prominence on social media. She said the chef opened her TikTok and was displeased by the fact that she only had 15,000 at the time. (@itskarlabb's follower count has since skyrocketed to over 220,000 since she shared the story.) "He is not having it, saying to the host that he shouldn't have invited me and that this was a mistake and that this was bad," Karla continued in her TikTok, noting that they still weren't addressing her, but she believed they knew she could hear, considering the tight space inside the restaurant. Once she finally made an introduction with the chef, Karla alleged that their interaction became hostile immediately, despite her expressed excitement about their collaboration. "He says, 'Did you do any research on this restaurant? Do you know what we do? Do you know who we are?'" Karla recalled. Though the wine bar is still "really new," she told the chef what she was able to find out ahead of the visit. After allegedly accusing Karla of failing to thoroughly research the wine bar, she said he looked her up on TikTok and watched some of her content at "full volume" in the restaurant. She claimed he then told her that her videos are not "at the level at which he wants his restaurant to be represented," Karla said in her recent post. She also said that the man — who she said claimed to be a "James Beard Award recipient or finalist" — told her that her audience and followers "are not the kind of people that are going to be at his restaurant." Getty Despite the fact that Karla never named the restaurant or the man she encountered, TikTok users were quick to figure out the details in the comments. San Francisco's Kis Cafe confirmed suspicions bysharing a statement on Instagramon Thursday, July 24. The post also verified multiple guesses that the chef was two-time James Beard nominee Luke Sung. "Our chef's behavior was unacceptable and he is no longer part of the team as a co-owner, a chef or in any other way. As of this post, he (Luke) has reached out to the creator with a personal apology," Kis Cafe's statement began. "That behavior does not reflect the remainder of our team. We want to create a space that's welcoming and respectful to everyone. In this instance, we failed to do so." The post continued to note that the restaurant would be "closing soon and restructuring after these events." "In the meantime, we hope to still be able to sustain the livelihoods of our team members and their families," the restaurant team concluded. "Lastly, we understand the frustration and anger, but please do not use this lapse in our values as an opportunity to foment racism and hate speech towards us and our loved ones." Kis Cafe did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further comment. The TikTok video — which now has over 13 million views and 1.2 million likes — also caught the attention of some major influencers, who shared words of support for Karla. "I'm so sorry queen. He spoke it into existence tho! We your audience will never ever be dining at Kis Cafe," wroteCall Her DaddyhostAlex Cooper.Tana Mongeauvoiced her shock, commenting, "Oh my god????" Karla shared afollow-up videoto thank her many supporters and express her intention to continue creating Bay Area food content. Her second TikTok caught the attention of even more digital celebrities, likeTrisha Paytas. "Thankful it popped up on my fyp cause ur content is soooo good. Immediate follow 🥰🥰🥰," the new mom wrote. Read the original article onPeople

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July 25, 2025

Influencer Goes Viral After Claiming Chef Had an Aggressive Confrontation with Her. Now, the Restaurant Is Closing

Influencer Goes Viral After Claiming Chef Had an Aggressive Confrontation with Her. Now, the Restaurant Is Closing Getty Stock Images A Bay ...

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“And Just Like That”: Carrie and Aidan Were Never Gonna 'Survive' This Time Around, Producers Reveal

"And Just Like That": Carrie and Aidan Were Never Gonna 'Survive' This Time Around, Producers Reveal

Craig Blankenhorn/Max Warning: This post contains spoilers forAnd Just Like That...season 3. Things are over between Carrie and Aidan — for good. In the July 24 episode ofAnd Just Like That..., Aidan (John Corbett) admitted that he has trust issues with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), which date back toher cheating on him inSex and the Citywith Big (Chris Noth), but have been reignited by her closeness with her neighbor Duncan (Jonathan Cake). It was a total affront in her eyes, particularly given the fact thathe had just made the same mistake and slept with his ex-wife, and the revelation led to their split. Carrie told him she "was 100% in" after having "moved mountains and apartments" for him, and delivered one final blow: "I can't give you any more than I have, and it wasn't enough." "It wasn't a fiery debate in the room. I think it really came down to the way the previous season ended, with Aidan's family proving to be such an obstacle," executive producer Elisa Zuritsky toldTVLineof the thought process behind the split. Craig Blankenhorn/Max There was an effort made specifically to see their relationship "in the real world .... take them out of the fantasy Disney prince and princess happy ending that we were kind of playing with in season 2." "It did feel like too much to ask of those two people, especially with their baggage," she said, and executive producer Julie Rottenberg added, "I think we all knew their problems were systemic enough that they would not survive." They knew that Aidan and Carrie were headed for a split from "pretty early on" in crafting this season, Rottenberg said she "did start to worry" about the choice they'd made as they began to approach filming it. "I think part of it is Sarah Jessica and John Corbett have such an incredible bond and chemistry and relationship as both actors and as the characters," she told the outlet. "I got a little panicky. 'Should we not be doing this? Should we not be breaking them up?'" https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf The actress, 60, toldDeadlineearlier this season that Corbett, 64, is "the easiest person to work with and play opposite, and I sincerely mean that. I'm really fond of him." Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max "He's famously enthusiastic and energetic. He cares a great deal about every single line. He thinks a lot about it the night before. He's really committed and delightful, and has such an ease when the camera rolls," she raved about her costar. "I'm glad that, even though there was some kind of agreement about a sabbatical, they were both incapable of honoring it because it meant that John Corbett was around a lot. For all of us, that meant really good times and happiness," she continued. "I think he's just lovely." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. New episodes ofAnd Just Like That...drop Thursdays on HBO Max. Read the original article onPeople

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July 25, 2025

“And Just Like That”: Carrie and Aidan Were Never Gonna 'Survive' This Time Around, Producers Reveal

"And Just Like That": Carrie and Aidan Were Never Gonna 'Survive' This Time Around, Producers Reveal Craig Blankenhorn/Max...

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Everything Travis Kelce Reveals About His Relationship with Taylor Swift in His Epic Instagram Hard Launch

Everything Travis Kelce Reveals About His Relationship with Taylor Swift in His Epic Instagram Hard Launch

Travis Kelce/Instagram Taylor Swiftmade her debut onTravis Kelce's Instagram on Thursday, July 24, giving fans tons of details to unpack. "Had some adventures this offseason, kept it 💯," the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 35, wrote in thecaption. The NFL star shared a number of rare personal photos with Swift, 35, offering fans a rare glimpse into their relationship. In the first photo, Swift and Kelce coordinated in white outfits, paired with the singer's signature red lip. The pair also sport coordinating baseball caps, with Kelce's reading "captain" and Swift's reading "first mate." In the third, the couple wears matching black looks, and eagle-eyed fans noticed a subtle reveal on Kelce's phone screen in the corner of the photo, which showed him and Swiftas each other's lock screens. In another photo, Swift humorously tries on Kelce's thick-framed black glasses for size, as he grins while sitting next to her. Also featured in the post were several photos of the snowy Montana couples getaway the pair embarked on earlier this year – including a photo of the couple laughing as they sport coordinating black and white fluffy hats. Travis Kelce/Instagram PEOPLEpreviously confirmed that the pair were spotted spending time at the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Mont. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf The couple's mutual friendErin Andrewsand her husbandJarret Stollalso appear in a bundled-up group photo. From the same cozy getaway, Kelce shared a snap of him and the "Fortnight" singer hitting the ice on skates. Travis Kelce/Instagram The Instagram post revealed that Kelce has been spending time among Swift's friends.Este Haimof HAIM was pictured in a group photo featuring the couple enjoying time off from their busy schedules. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The post also featured photos from other recent moments in Kelce's life – including a photo alongside brother Jason Kelce and mom Donna Kelce, and a behind-the-scenes look at his Tight End University program.Swift performed a surprise acoustic performanceat the Tight Ends & Friends Concert in Nashville in June. Read the original article onPeople

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July 25, 2025

Everything Travis Kelce Reveals About His Relationship with Taylor Swift in His Epic Instagram Hard Launch

Everything Travis Kelce Reveals About His Relationship with Taylor Swift in His Epic Instagram Hard Launch Travis Kelce/Instagram Taylor Swi...

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