Friday morning news: August 1, 2025

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Witkoff visits Israel, surveys situation in Gaza » White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee are surveying food distribution in Gaza firsthand today.

This comes as the humanitarian situation there worsens. Desperate people in Gaza are fighting over airdropped and truck-delivered food, leading to injuries and deaths.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is no starvation, but President Trump breaks with him on that, saying he’s seen pictures of starving children in Gaza.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT: President Trump is a humanitarian with a big heart, and that’s why he sent Special Envoy Witkoff to the region in an effort to save lives and end this crisis.

The White House says Witkoff and Huckabee will brief the president after they survey the food distribution, and then work to finalize a plan to deliver more aid.

Witkoff and Huckabee discussed the situation with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders Thursday in a meeting the White House calls “very productive.”

Canada to recognize Palestinian state » Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his country is planning to join France and the UK in formally recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.

It is widely seen as a latest push against Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli effort is aimed at eliminating the Hamas terror group.

But Carney said Canada’s recognition comes with conditions, including:

CARNEY: To hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state.

Canada says Palestinians must also recognize Israel and renounce terrorism.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced earlier this month that his country would become the first major Western power to recognize a Palestinian state. The UK followed with a similar announcement this week.

The U.S. says those announcements will only embolden Hamas.

New Trump tariffs taking effect » U.S. trading partners spent Thursday scrambling to make deals and avoid higher tariffs. The White House’s increased tariffs on most countries that haven’t cut a deal are set to take effect in 7 days, under an order the president signed Thursday evening.

The Trump Administration did announce last-minute deals with several countries, and negotiated into the night with Canada. The president says the U.S. is being taken advantage of by its northern neighbor.

TRUMP: They have to pay a fair rate, that’s all. It’s very simple.

One country that won’t be facing higher tariffs yet is Mexico. Its rates stay at 25 percent for now.

Trump had a call with Mexico’s president Thursday, and afterward announced a new 90-day negotiating period between the two countries.

Kyiv strikes kill at least 13 » August 8th. The White House confirms that’s the date President Trump has set for Russia to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine or face increased sanctions.

State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott:

PIGGOTT: We have tried in good faith to approach these discussions to encourage both parties to come to the table. We have seen that happen… But also the fact is, the president said, we need to see action, not words.

Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 13 people in Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv, Thursday, and left more than 130 hurt.

At least 14 of the injured were children. The Associated Press reports that’s the most children injured in a single attack on Kyiv since the start of the war.

Funeral for fallen NYPD officer » It was a sea of blue in New York City, as fellow officers honored the life of NYPD officer Didarul Islam, who died during a gunman’s shooting rampage in a midtown Manhattan skyscraper this week.

During Islam’s funeral in the Bronx, he was promoted to the rank of Detective First Grade. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch:

TISCH: His watch may be over, but his impact will never be. And if there is any grace to be found in this grief, it is knowing that the light that he carried did not go out. It just moved forward, and it shines within the family that he worked so hard to build.

Islam was 36. He was remembered as a shining example of the best of the NYPD and a loving father.

He leaves behind a pregnant wife and two sons.

Kamala Harris book release » Former vice president Kamala Harris is ready to tell the story of her 2024 presidential run. She’ll do that in a new book out September 23rd called 107 Days, the length of her historically short, losing campaign after Joe Biden dropped out.

HARRIS: I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on those days -talking with my team, my family, my friends- and pulling my thoughts together; in essence, writing a journal that is this book.

That’s Harris making the announcement about the new book over social media.

Earlier this week, the former vice president announced she will not be running for California governor next year. She hasn’t commented on the possibility of making another presidential run in 2028.

I'm Mark Mellinger.

Straight ahead: Culture Friday with Katie McCoy. Plus, a review of Dreamworks’ latest animated film about when bad guys turn good.

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