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CNN International: Humanitarian Pause' Underway In Gaza; Desperate Fishermen Risk Their Lives To Get Food In Gaza; Trump To Meet With E.U. Commission President In Coming Hours; Walmart Stabbing In Michigan Leaves 11 Injured; Thai-Cambodian Border Clashes Continue Despite Trump's Ceasefire Call; Passengers Forced To Evacuate American Airlines Flight From Denver Bound For Miami; England And Spain Battle For European Supremacy. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired July 27, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.
Aid is slowly moving into Gaza as Israel agrees to a humanitarian pause. We'll look at what we know about the negotiations still taking place.
Plus, President Trump's tour of Scotland is stirring up some new trade talk. We'll examine who he's set to meet with today. And a face-off between England and Spain as the women's Euros finals kicks off today. We'll take you to Switzerland to gear up for the game.
UNIDENTIFEID MALE: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: It is just after noon right now in Gaza where Israel says a humanitarian pause is underway in parts of the Palestinian territory. It lasts until 8pm local time and will continue daily until further notice. Israel is allowing more aid to flow into Gaza after global outrage over the dire starvation crisis.
Egyptian TV showed dozens of aid trucks moving towards the border with Israel earlier. They were reportedly bound for the Kerem Shalom crossing where the borders of Egypt, Israel and Gaza meet. Trucks are also coming from Jordan.
Israel says they've started dropping aid into Gaza. They've also opened humanitarian corridors for United Nations convoys to make aid deliveries. But the head of the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees called the airdrops a distraction, saying they'll do little to alleviate the suffering.
Israel's far right, national Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed the government's decision to ramp up humanitarian aid. He says it's a surrender to Hamas. Joining us now is Larry Madowo, live from Nairobi, Kenya. Larry, take us through the latest.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kim, aid convoys are now heading to Gaza from the neighboring countries of Egypt and from Jordan. 1,200 trucks of humanitarian aid, mostly food, is coming from Egypt, according to the Egyptian Red Crescent. And we saw some of that video from Egyptian TV this morning.
And the Jordanian news state news agency says a large scale humanitarian convoy is also en route to Gaza after this humanitarian pause that we now have entered the third hour of the still seven hours left of this. The Israeli Defense Forces said it will continue every day until further notice.
And they're also designating secure routes, that's what they're calling them, to allow for the U.N. and other humanitarian agencies to distribute food and medicine throughout Gaza. But people are calling for a full time, a full scale cease fire here.
I want you to listen to one Palestinian reacting to this latest news of this tactical pause in military activity, as the Israelis have called it.
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KHALED RAYYAN, GAZA RESIDENT (through translator): I demand a full and complete ceasefire for everyone so that we can live after the destruction we incurred. My house is gone. My sons were martyred. My livelihood is gone. I had a factory and it is gone. Everything is gone. My livelihood, my health, all gone due to the war. My legs. I ask for a truce. I ask for a truce.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MADOWO: The U.N. says more than 1,000 people have been killed in the past few months trying to access humanitarian aid and many are at risk of starvation, malnutrition. We saw that heartbreaking scene of a five-month-old baby with malnutrition that died in the arms of her mother. That is why Israel is now having to surge aid to the Strip because of the international condemnation and outrage.
It's also carrying out these airdrops that have been criticized by the U.N. Refugee Agency for Palestinians who said that they say this is the most inefficient expense way of delivering aid there and in some cases it can kill starving civilians. They want to stop to the blockade so that as much aid as possible can come in 500 to 600 trucks every single day.
But this humanitarian pause has received some criticism from the Israeli far right as you're mentioning Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, saying this is a total surrender to Hamas. And he says the only way to bring back the hostages is to stop this humanitarian aid to conquer the entire Strip and to encourage voluntary migration, what some people might call as mass displacement. But that is the view on the Israeli far right as a way to bring back the hostages. Kim. BRUNHUBER: All right, thanks so much, Larry Madowo in Nairobi. Israel
is warning Palestinians to stay away from the sea, but some are risking their lives to go fishing, hoping to put food on the table. CNN's Jeremy Diamond has more.
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JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sea once fed Gaza's children shut out from the world under an 18-year Israeli blockade. Now, this is what's left after a lifeline became a kill zone.
FAYZA, GAZA RESIDENT: We have nothing to eat, so we come. I wait for the fishermen to come out of the sea and give me some.
DIAMOND (voice-over): What once provided relief now stokes fear. Israel reissued a warning last week prohibiting anyone from entering the sea. But hunger brings them back. Seen from the water, Gaza's skyline tells its own story. A jagged line of tents and shattered buildings. Destruction is always present, even at a distance.
AWAD AL ALMOUDI, FISHERMAN: It is true that planes come and shoot us. They do everything. But we have to go to the sea. If a day passes without going to the sea, we will die of hunger. I know it is forbidden. But I have to.
ZIYAD ABU AMIRA, FISHERMAN: We don't have any other source of food but this one. If I don't bring it to my children today, I die. I have no other place to get food from. I will not run after trucks.
HUSSAM SAADALLA, GAZA RESIDENT: I'm throwing the net because we want to eat. Me and my friend made this net to catch some fish and eat. This is what we fished. I'm always afraid of the naval boats. If we come a bit deeper, the naval ships shoot.
DIAMOND (voice-over): They have reason to be scared. This video, posted on social media, shows what can happen to those who wade too far out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Israelis took them. They took them.
DIAMOND (voice-over): In this video, filmed by a cameraman working for CNN, shows Israeli projectiles striking close to shore. The Israeli military has not responded to CNN's requests for comment on these incidents.
AL AMOUDI: I have friends who got martyred. Others got injured. Me, as a fisherman -- I'm waiting for my death. But what can I do?
DIAMOND (voice-over): Once a source of life, the sea now full of deadly risk, cut off, patrolled, and punished by blockade. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BRUNHUBER: Protesters and family members of Israeli hostages took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday, renewing their demands to end the war and bring back their loved ones.
The protesters marched to the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv, appealing to President Donald Trump to intervene in negotiations. The demonstrations have become a fixture in Israel since the start of the conflict. Some hostages family members criticized the Israeli government for not doing enough to reach a ceasefire there.
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YOTAM COHEN, BROTHER OF HOSTAGE NIMROD COHEN: Enough is enough. The partial deals doctrine has turned out to be ineffective. One deal, one deal, a comprehensive one to release all hostages and end the war. That is the only so called alternative way to get all our hostages amongst them, my brother home, alive and safe.
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BRUNHUBER: To Scotland now, where President Donald Trump is set to hold trade talks with key European leaders in the coming hours. Early Saturday, he was focused on domestic issues and took to social media to rail against his perceived enemies.
In one post, he called for the cancellation of licenses for unspecified television networks, accusing them of being political pawns for Democrats. In another early morning post, Trump took aim directly at NBC's running ratings and called ABC, quote, fake news.
The third post targeted former Vice President Kamala Harris and some celebrities who campaigned with her. Trump claimed stars like Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey were illegally paid for endorsements, but he cited no evidence of wrongdoing.
CNN's chief U.S. national affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny is in Scotland following Trump's visit. He has more on Sunday's critical trade talks with the president of the European Union Commission.
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JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: President Trump is scheduled to meet on Sunday here in Scotland with Ursula Von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission negotiating E.U. tariffs on behalf of the member countries, hoping to avoid a transatlantic trade war.
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Now, the Trump administration, of course, has used the threat of tariffs throughout its first six months in office, on again, off again. But this new deadline is approaching in August and the Trump administration is threatening a 30 percent across the board tariff rate for all European Union nations. They are desperately and scrambling to lower that with a proposal of 15 percent. A deal could be at hand as President Trump signaled as he arrived in Scotland. DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: In terms of a deal, we're meeting with
the European Union and that would be actually the biggest deal of them all if we make it.
ZELENY: The American president signaling there's a 50-50 chance in his view that there could be a trade deal reached. We shall see how that meeting progresses on Sunday.
Trump also is set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. Of course, the trade deal with the United Kingdom and the United States is largely already inked. But so many other items to discuss. The Gaza humanitarian crisis, no question, the Ukraine war as well.
Again, this golfing weekend for President Trump, also adding some significant work in it as well. He'll return to Washington on Tuesday after dedicating another golf course here in Scotland. Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Edinburgh, Scotland.
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BRUNHUBER: And President Trump's presence bought out protesters across Scotland on Saturday.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's just the worst thing that has happened to your country and to the world and a threat to all of us, threat to democracy.
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BRUNHUBER: Hundreds of people showed up outside the US Consulate in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, as well as in Aberdeen. Trump owns a property near that city. He's set to travel there in the coming days to open a golf course named after his mother who was born and raised in Scotland.
Police say 11 people were injured in a random stabbing attack at a Walmart in Michigan. Officials say it happened near the checkout area on Saturday. They have 42-year-old suspects in custody. The FBI and local law enforcement are investigating.
All right. Still to come. Thailand says it isn't ready for a ceasefire with Cambodia as a deadly border dispute between the two countries drags on. We'll bring you the latest on the conflict.
Plus, England and Spain square off in a rematch of the World cup rivalry while a preview of the women's European Championship football final when we come back. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Russia launched another massive overnight barrage of drones and missiles on Ukraine early Saturday. A drone damaged the regional military administration in the center of Sumy's Independence Square. An official said. There were no casualties, but three people were killed in Dnipro and nearby, according to officials there. Russian forces launched an estimated 235 drones and 27 missiles in the region.
Ukraine's air force said 10 missiles and 25 drones hit residential and commercial buildings, causing fires and damage.
Thai and Cambodian forces are fighting for the fourth straight day in a deadly border dispute. Cambodia says Thailand has hit several locations with drones, tank fire, cluster and aerial bombs. Thai officials accuse Cambodian troops of firing heavy artillery into civilian homes.
On Saturday, Thai and Cambodian officials signaled their readiness for ceasefire negotiations after President Donald Trump called for an end to the conflict.
And Thailand's government has issued a new statement saying it is, quote, currently not ready to cease operations to preserve national sovereignty. At least 32 people have been killed and at least 200,000 civilians displaced so far. CNN's Polo Sandoval brings us the latest.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A Thai town near the border of Cambodia is nearly deserted. Shops are closed. Just a few cars on the roads. Residents say many people have fled to temporary shelters after fierce fighting broke out along the border between Thailand and Cambodia have left.
LOUIS YENDEE, TAHAI MARKET VENDOR (through translator): I'm worried. And it's shaken me a lot. My family evacuated to stay at our cousin's place, but my other siblings and I stayed to guard our houses.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Across the border in Cambodia, similar fears drove people to leave their homes in search of safety. Many people huddling in tents and makeshift shelters hoping to escape the gunfire and artillery that has killed dozens of people in both countries, mostly civilians, and also force more than 150,000 people to flee.
VENG CHIN, CAMBODIAN EVACUEE (through translator): May I ask Thailand and Cambodia to negotiate a settlement as soon as possible so that I can return to my home and work on the farm.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): What started is border skirmishes erupted into heavy combat, with both Thailand and Cambodia accusing each other of starting the conflict, but a possible olive branch on Saturday from U.S. President Donald Trump, who leaned on both countries to quickly negotiate a ceasefire. Posting on social media, Trump said that he spoke to leaders in both countries and warned them that there would be no trade agreements until the fighting stopped.
A threat with enough teeth to get both parties to agree to ceasefire talks. Both countries facing a 36 percent tariff on most of their exports to the United States starting August 1st. Cambodia says it's ready for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and Thailand says it also agrees in principle, but wants to see, quote, "sincere intention" from the Cambodian side.
Polo Sandoval, CNN, New York.
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BRUNHUBER: An apparent tire fire forced nearly 200 people to evacuate a plane in Denver. Have a look here. You can see sliding to safety in this video shot by one of the passengers. The American Airlines Boeing 737 was taxiing and about to take off for Miami. Passengers say they heard a loud bang and the plane started tilting and vibrating.
The airline says the plane had an issue with a tire and was taken out of service. One person was hospitalized with minor injuries.
We are just hours away from the 2025 Women's European Football Championship final in Basel, Switzerland. Now, England won the last title. In 2022, they'll play Spain, who beat them one nil, to capture the Women's World Cup in 2023.
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Now Spain take the Euro title. They'll be the first team, male or female, senior or youth, to win all of UEFA's current national team competitions.
So, for more on the matchup, I'm joined live now from Basel by Rachel O'Sullivan, co-host of "Upfront: A Women's Football Podcast." Thanks so much for being here with us. Really appreciate it. Big fan of the pod.
So, first, just what is the atmosphere there in Switzerland with the two hottest teams facing each other in this rematch?
RACHEL O'SULLIVAN, HOST, "UPFRONT: A WOMEN'S FOOTBALL PODCAST": Well, it's definitely building today. Even just walking up from my hotel to breakfast, the whole place is surrounded by fans everywhere you look. So flags are up. Everyone's absolutely gearing up. But what promises unbelievable game.
BRUNHUBER: All right, so let's talk about the game. England trying to become only the second team to ever successfully defend their European title. What's impressed you most about how they got here?
O'SULLIVAN: I mean, it's got to be their resilience --
BRUNHUBER: We seem to have lost our guest, unfortunately. We'll see if we can get her back. In the meantime, we'll have to move on. That was Rachel o' Sullivan in Basel, Switzerland.
So we'll try and reconnect, but in the meantime, want to give you these pictures of the newest edition at England's Chester Zoo. It's a rare snow leopard cub inside an enclosure with its mother, taking some of its first shaky steps there. It was born on June 10 to first time mom and dad, Nubra and Yashin, who themselves are three years old.
Now, the zoo says they were carefully paired as part of a breeding program. The cup is the first of its kind to be born at the Chester zoo in nearly 100 years. All right, so as promised, we're bringing back Rachel O'Sullivan. Sorry about that. We lost the connection there.
But I am desperate to talk about this because it's such a fascinating matchup between these two. So you were telling me about England and sort of what has impressed you the most about their journey to this point?
O'SULLIVAN: Yes, apologies for that. It's not great here, maybe over in Basel. But yes, I think their resilience and determination, their grit, they're never say die attitude. You know, they have to go to extra time in both the quarterfinals and the semifinals. And you know, leaving it late at times, maybe giving fans a bit of a very stressful viewing of the game.
But I think the fact that they never give up until that final whistle. I think, is really going to galvanize the squad and show them that, you know, that hard work, that, you know, fight for each other is really going to pay off. And I think having not played some of their best football and still getting to the final is pretty impressive.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. Now they will certainly have to work hard against Spain. This is a rematch of the World Cup final. The Spain won, as I mentioned before. So how have both teams change since then? And do you think that results will give Spain a mental edge this time?
O'SULLIVAN: It could do. I think both teams have, you know, revenge on their minds, I guess. England dispatched Spain in Euro 2022 in the quarterfinals. And then Spain, of course, winning that World Cup, as you said, it's developed into a little bit of a rivalry. And they've played each other once in the nation, twice in the Nations League this year, each getting a win over the other.
So it does feel very much like a rivalry now. And they play very different styles of football, I think. And England will have to adapt, I think, to Spain's quick, tactical, technical football, but both know how to beat each other, and I think that's what makes this so much of a chess match.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. I want to widen the lens a little bit when you look at the tournament so far. What player or storyline has really stood out to you?
O'SULLIVAN: I mean, there's a couple. I think the journey that Switzerland went on the host country to get to the knockout stages for the first time ever to make history was very special. You know, I was there when 25,000 fans marched from burn to the stadium, which is incredible to see, and the way they've rallied their fans around them in this tournament.
Italy are another wonderful story getting to the semifinals. They were a lot of people's dark horses and I think they proved that. Absolutely took it to England. England, of course, winning that in extra time and scoring that goal injury time to win it.
So, you know, I think their story, Cristiana Girelli, one of the greats of women's football, her getting the goals, those kind of moments are the ones that stand out in major tournaments and stick you.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. All right. And this tournament, I mean, it smashed attendance records, nearly doubled TV viewership from 2022, so has to be considered a massive success on and off the pitch. I want to not let you go before asking you this. Before the tournament started, you picked Spain to win it. I know you don't do score predictions, but you still think Spain will lift the trophy?
O'SULLIVAN: I think, you know, before knowing what the journeys were going to be. I think even knowing what the journeys are going to be, you might think Spain should win this.
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I do think we maybe underestimate that grit and resilience that England has shown and how that's going to go and how that's going to really bring them together to fight. I have a lot of people around me saying they really think England might do it and I think they're starting to sway me that way. So I think the way I've put it is headset.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. Well, we shall see. Indeed. It's going to be a fascinating matchup between these two amazing teams. Really appreciate having your perspective on this. Rachel O'Sullivan, enjoy the match there in Basel, Switzerland. Thank you so much.
O'SULLIVAN: Thank you.
BRUNHUBER: All right. Well, there is a new version of Man's Best Friend and it debuted at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Saturday. Have a look at this. The Chinese company Deep Robotics showed off an autonomous four legged robot dog named Lynx M20. Lynx can roll, climb, even walk upright. It's designed to endure unforgiving environments as well as perform emergency search and rescue operations. That's pretty amazing.
Astronomers have made a surprising discovery next to one of the brightest stars in the night sky. The red supergiant star Betelgeuse may have a hidden companion star orbiting it. Scientists say this blue dot could be that companion star. Betelgeuse is so bright that objects near it are difficult to spot. Researchers are hoping they can soon confirm that the companion star actually exists.
All right, that wraps CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. Inside Africa is up next. We'll come back in half an hour for CNN this morning.
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