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Isa Soares Tonight

Trump-Putin To Meet In Alaska On Friday For Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks; IDF Kills Al Jazeera Journalist In Gaza; Trump Takes Over Washington D.C. As He Deploys National Guard; Texas House Fails To Establish Quorum Again; CDC Calls Friday Attack Targeted And Deliberate; Netanyahu Defends Planned Military Takeover Of Gaza City; Israeli Strike Kills Multiple Journalists In Gaza; Sweltering Heat Fueling Wildfires. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired August 11, 2025 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[14:00:00]

MAX FOSTER, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Max Foster in for ISA SOARES TONIGHT. Will Ukraine get a seat

at the table as preparations ramp up for a Trump-Putin summit? European leaders hold emergency talks of their own.

And voices of Gaza silenced calls for answers after Palestinian journalists are killed by the IDF. Plus, the National Guard deployed to the U.S.

Capitol, President Trump announces a federal takeover of Washington's police force. We'll have the details. Well, rushing to the finish line,

this week's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Russian President Vladimir Putin faces several logistical and geopolitical hurdles.

Now, officials only have four days to finalize the details for what is expected to be a momentous sit-down in the state of Alaska. It remains

unclear what a potential ceasefire would entail and what role, if any, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will play. Just a short-while ago,

Mr. Trump lowered expectations for the meeting, saying it might not result in any movement, and that it's not up to him to make a deal.

European leaders appear to be increasingly nervous that Ukraine could be asked to make territorial concessions as a result of the summit. Fred

Pleitgen tracking this story for us from Moscow. So, it was President Putin that proposed this meeting, wasn't it? What do we expect to, you know, the

starting point to be then, Fred?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's what President Trump says. The Russian narrative on all of this is a little

bit different. It was quite interesting, though, that press conference by President Trump earlier today, there was a lot of meat in that and a lot of

interesting things that President Trump said, like, for instance, that he called it a feel-out meeting with Vladimir Putin, and that it wasn't up to

him to actually come up with a deal.

Now, there are some things where the narrative of the U.S. and Russia mesh, but others where they don't. For instance, when President Trump said, look,

he'll take a look at what the Russians put on the table, and then will know within a couple of minutes whether or not a deal is actually possible.

But the Russians, when Steve Witkoff; the President's envoy was here in Moscow, said that afterwards that they had been made an offer by the Trump

administration which they found acceptable, Max. The Russians are also saying that they have not changed their fundamental stance on Ukraine,

which is, of course, that they want some territory that they currently hold, but others which the Ukrainians still hold, and also that they do not

want an immediate ceasefire, but rather longer-term peace negotiations that could then lead to a wider peace deal.

At the same time, of course, as you can imagine, this upcoming summit certainly causing a lot of Russians to be quite optimistic about the future

of relations. And of course, one of the sports, Max, where the United States and Russia interject is hockey. I was able to speak to some of the

NHL's top Russian hockey stars this weekend to see what they think about diplomacy and the upcoming summit. Here's what we heard.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): It's game on at the OV Hockey Cup outside Moscow, headlined by Washington Capital's superstar Alexander Ovechkin, and many

other Russian NHL players. The match aims to boost youth hockey, but the Great 8 tells me he hopes hockey can also help thaw U.S.-Russia relations.

ALEXANDER OVECHKIN, RUSSIAN HOCKEY PLAYER, WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Yes, both countries loves hockey, so, I hope it's going to connect well, and we'll

see.

PLEITGEN: Last season, Ovechkin became the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, drawing praise from both U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's

leader Vladimir Putin. The Russians even floating a possible friendly match with American and Russian players to help jumpstart relations.

(on camera): And do you think hockey can help bring America and Russia closer together?

EVGENI MALKIN, RUSSIAN HOCKEY PLAYER, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: People love hockey here, and people love hockey in the U.S., I hope it's a big meeting

I think next week between Trump and Putin, and I hope it's a -- they have good meeting and it's -- everything is done.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): But there's a long way to go with Trump and Putin set to meet in Alaska on Friday, the fighting in Ukraine remains as brutal

as ever. Russia saying its forces are making gains, reluctant to agree to an immediate ceasefire President Trump wants.

[14:05:00]

It's also now clear that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not have a seat at the table. President Trump saying he'll judge whether a

peace agreement is possible.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal

can be made --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How will you know that?

TRUMP: Because that's what I do. I make deals.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

PLEITGEN: But with Trump's threat of punishing sanctions looming, many Russians hope the two leaders reach an agreement and diplomacy will prevail

like it did during and after the cold war when the first Russian players around defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov won the NHL Stanley Cup and brought it

to Moscow's Red Square.

VIACHESLAV FETISOV, RUSSIAN POLITICIAN & FORMER RUSSIAN HOCKEY PLAYER: I was first who came to National Hockey League. It was 1989 and still was a

Cold War. Still it was hate between, you know, say people. But as soon as we start playing, you know, as we start to understand each other, we start

to become friends.

PLEITGEN: Now, the stakes are high once again as President Trump gets ready to face off with Russia's leader in the arctic north.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: So, the stakes are high. Nevertheless, it seems as though the outlook on the summit does seem a little bit different here in Russia than

it might be in the United States. Again, we were hearing from President Trump that he says this is sort of a feel-out meeting. He wants to see

where Vladimir Putin is at for a possible ceasefire.

The Russians, for their part, however, are saying that to them, the summit is not only about trying to solve the conflict in Ukraine, Max. They also

say that they are aiming for a broader reset of U.S.-Russia relations, which of course, down the line could mean sanctions relief, and then also

even business deals between the U.S. and Russia, of course, under President Trump and President Putin, Max.

FOSTER: Fred Pleitgen in Moscow, thank you. We're going to continue this discussion with my next guest, Elina Valtonen, who serves as Finland's

Minister of Foreign Affairs. Thank you so much for joining us, because I know you've just come off a call, haven't you? With various European

leaders who have been in discussions ahead of this big Trump-Putin meeting. What's Europe's latest thinking ahead of that?

ELINA VALTONEN, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FINLAND: Well, thanks for having me. Europe's latest thinking is very similar to what our string,

what our thinking has been over the course of the past three-and-a-half years. So, essentially we want a ceasefire. And of course, we want to have

a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

But the steps towards that and we fully support the U.S.' efforts towards a just peace. There are steps towards that require, full support for Ukraine,

increasing pressure on Russia, and of course, more work which we have started on European defense and deterrence.

FOSTER: What do you think about this concept that President Putin suggested of a land-swap between Ukraine and Russia?

VALTONEN: Well, first of all, it is not the position of the Finnish Foreign Minister to comment on the land of a sovereign country. And that's not

anyone else's business other than the Ukrainians essentially. And as far as I know, we are only talking about land that fully, according to the U.N.

charter, belongs to Ukraine, and which has -- well, some of it has violently been taken and occupied by Russia.

FOSTER: Russia clearly wants parts of Ukraine that it doesn't control currently. But I know the European view is that any discussions need to

start with the frontlines that currently exist. Is that right?

VALTONEN: Precisely. The negotiations would need to start at the point -- at the -- at the present contact line. And that in itself is painful. There

has been three-and-a-half years of full scale invasion, and obviously, Russian aggression has started long before that. And I think in the

European Union, we quite strongly understand, and I would say for -- that the same applies to our closest partners as well, such as the United

Kingdom.

We do see that Russia, unfortunately, seems to understand only power, because we were in the appeasement phase, if you will, even before the

full-scale invasion started. I mean, Europe was building a gas pipeline with Russia, but still it didn't withhold Putin from invading. So,

essentially what we are aiming for now is a full-fledged ceasefire.

Ukraine has declared itself ready for that already months ago, and meaningful negotiations by which also Russia would need to make some

concessions.

[14:10:00]

FOSTER: I mean, how are you viewing this meeting between Putin and Trump? Because at the moment, Zelenskyy isn't part of it. Some talk, he may have a

separate meeting with Trump. But how can you reach a peace deal when one of the main parties isn't even there?

VALTONEN: Well, certainly, you can't be reaching a peace deal if Ukraine were not present. So what is important to understand is that whatever two

statesmen can agree on is the business of their own countries to start off with. Ukraine has very strong agency in itself. Ukraine, actually, as we

speak, has one of the strongest armies with significant battle experience in the world.

I'm not saying that Ukraine has a massively strong hand, but certainly, they do have a lot of cards. Now, it's a situation where nobody can impose

a deal on Ukraine, and certainly, that is not something that friends, partners and allies would do on them. Our duty is simply to, basically help

Ukraine keep the strong hand, make it even stronger, and then push for a ceasefire as soon as possible and some credible peace negotiations.

FOSTER: President Trump had set a deadline for last Friday for some sort of movement from Russia in case, and then if that wasn't the case, there would

be sanctions. That didn't happen. We're now talking about a meeting this week. Do you get the impression that you know, some commentators are right

when they say that President Putin seems to be playing Trump a lot of the time, constantly by, you know, creating more time to allow the war to

continue. This whole strategy from the Kremlin is really just to buy more time all the time.

VALTONEN: Putin certainly is a master in buying time and keeping up false expectations. Now, what has to be said that certainly, the pressure that

the United States has been exerting on Russia and also this threat of of the new sanctions has perhaps pushed Russia to the point where they are

ready for negotiations.

Having said this, from the Russian perspective, having a meeting with the most powerful man in the world, President Trump, that is a victory in

itself. So, I would say that the upcoming negotiations, whatever they are about, I think that is the place where President Trump could really show

that he's the -- he's the leader of the free world. And he is going to stay strong for basically the inviolability of borders and democracy.

FOSTER: OK, Elina Valtonen in Helsinki, really appreciate you joining us after that meeting with your counterparts in other parts of Europe. Thank

you. We're going to turn now, though, to Gaza, where mourners have paid their final respects to a group of journalists killed by Israel in a

targeted strike. Outrage and grief etched on the faces of those in Gaza City who carried their bodies through the streets.

Israel confirmed it targeted the prominent "Al Jazeera" correspondent Anas Al-Sharif after accusing him of leading a Hamas cell, something Al-Sharif

had vehemently denied earlier. My colleague Christine -- Christina Macfarlane spoke with "Al Jazeera's" news director about the extreme risk

that journalists in Gaza face each and every day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SALAH NEGM, DIRECTOR OF NEWS, AL JAZEERA ENGLISH: Every journalist in Gaza is writing his own obituary, because if you're in Gaza, you're not safe

anywhere. Whether you are a journalist or a normal citizen, 60,000 people die. Every morning, you have something like between 50 and 100 people

killed by Israel bullets or drones or whatever. So, yes, we live -- they live in danger all the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Powerful words there from the news director there at "Al Jazeera". Well, this latest attack adds to an already devastating number of

journalists killed in Gaza since October the 7th, 2023, more than 190 people. And according to the committee to protect journalists, at least 184

of those were Palestinians killed by Israel.

They say this has been the deadliest period for journalists since it began recording such data, which was back in 1992. It's important to note that

Israel hasn't allowed international journalists into Gaza since its war with Hamas began. Let's bring in Matthew Chance, who's is in Jerusalem. And

this has really shocked the entire journalism sector, hasn't it, Matthew?

[14:15:00]

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'd say that it's yet another shock to the -- the sort of fraternity of journalists that

cover this region, indeed globally. Because, as you mentioned, the figures are already very high. You know, nearly 180 or more than 180, depending on

which organization you go with, journalists inside Gaza have been killed since the start of the -- you know, the war in Gaza nearly two years ago.

And so, this is yet another sort of tragic example of journalists who are, for the most part, trying to just sort of expose the reality of the

humanitarian crisis and the conflict in Gaza being taken out by the Israeli military. The Israelis, in this -- on this occasion didn't even -- you

know, attempt to hide the fact that they killed this journalist.

They said they targeted him, as you mentioned, because they believed that he was a member of Hamas, the leader of a cell, they said, responsible for

launching rockets at Israeli troops and Israeli civilians. Now, of course, Anas Al-Sharif, the "Al Jazeera" reporter who is very high profile or who

was very high profile and in Gaza for reporting in very emotional terms, the humanitarian suffering there.

When he was alive, he categorically denied that, his organization, "Al Jazeera", as you just heard, have said that's not true as well. This is

just an Israeli attempt to silence voices ahead of a forthcoming Israeli occupation and assault of Gaza City. And also, what's not been mentioned at

all is the fact there were four other employees of "Al Jazeera" in the tent outside the main Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, who were killed alongside

Anas Al-Sharif, and they weren't accused of anything.

And so, you know, that's something that's been obviously picked up on and condemned by international organizations as well. In the meantime, Benjamin

Netanyahu, who is the Israeli Prime Minister, has been defending his actions in the Gaza Strip and defending his very controversial and deeply

unpopular plans to occupy Gaza City, to evacuate it and to assault it, to try and destroy Hamas there.

This is something he announced a few days ago amid wide international condemnation, and indeed, amid street protests inside Israel as well. He

said that strategy is the best way to end the war as quickly as possible, and to get the hostages out. But of course, that's not what the

international community feels for the most part.

And it's not what many Israelis believe as well. They think this is a sort of reckless adventure which could lead to the deaths or jeopardize further

the lives of the Israeli hostages who are still being held inside the Gaza Strip. There are 50 of them, remember, 20 of them are still believed to be

alive.

Their safety could be jeopardized. People in Israel believe, many of them by any further military action. And of course, the plight of Palestinians,

the humanitarian crisis. Yet, if there is going to be a future further military escalation in Gaza, that already dire situation is bound to get

far worse. Max.

FOSTER: OK, Matthew in Jerusalem, thank you for that. We're following an explosion at a steel plant in Pennsylvania. At least, a person has been

killed and another two unaccounted for, according to authorities there. Look at that explosion, it happened a few hours ago at the Clairton Coke

Works plant. The plant processes raw coal into coke needed to make steel. Let's bring in CNN's Jason Carroll, a rescue operation obviously underway

there, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very much so. And just recently, Senator Fetterman, who was there on the ground, Max, just called

the whole situation heartbreaking when he heard word that one person had been killed. Again, two other people at this hour still unaccounted for.

And Max, we can also tell you that dozens of people have also been injured, although we are hearing now from health officials that many of those

injuries are said to not be life threatening. Now, obviously, we want to show you some of the images there that we've been getting from the ground,

from emergency crews who are there still combing through the rubble, trying to see if they -- if there can be any more clarity on those two people who

at this point, again, who are still left unaccounted for.

We are also getting this word from the Allegheny County health officials, health department, they are advising anyone who lives within a mile there

of the explosion site of the plant, they are being advised to remain indoors, close all windows and set their air conditioning units to re-

circulate so they're not getting that air from the outside.

[14:20:00]

Again, just a -- very quickly recap what happened here. This was an explosion that happened at just about 10:51 a.m., one steel worker who was

inside that plant facility said it sounded like two freight trains colliding. Some of those who were in -- who live in the area in Clairton,

one woman who was standing on her front porch said that her house shook by the force of the explosion.

Another man who lives nearby said it felt somewhat like an earthquake. Just to give your viewers some perspective of where this facility is that you're

seeing here. It's located about 20 miles or so from downtown Pittsburgh. That facility is one of the largest of its kind in the country. Again,

you've got a lot of local officials there joining emergency crews.

Senator Fetterman there on the ground, the lieutenant governor on the ground, the governor as well, offering any resources that they can. But

again, at this point, Max, we are hearing one person has been killed, two others at this point still unaccounted for. Max?

FOSTER: Jason, thank you. Thoughts with everyone there at this time. Now, still to come, a federal takeover of the U.S. capital, President Trump's

unprecedented move to take control of Washington D.C.'s police force. And later, family and the football world. Remembering the Palestinian Pele.

Plus, the controversial response to his death.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FOSTER: An unprecedented move. U.S. President Donald Trump announced he's putting the federal government in control of Washington D.C.'s police

force, due to what he's calling a public safety emergency. And he suggested his crackdown could extend to other U.S. cities like Los Angeles and

Chicago, too.

Under the President's plan, which needs congressional approval, the National Guard will be deployed to the nation's capital. Hundreds of

federal agents will also help patrol the city's streets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse. This is Liberation Day in

D.C., and we're going to take our capital back. We're taking it back under the authority vested in me as the President of the United States, I'm

officially invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is?

[14:25:00]

And placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Mr. Trump says crime in Washington is rampant. But those claims don't line up with the actual facts. According to the metropolitan police,

violent crime is down over the last two years, including 26 percent last year. The D.C. mayor and police chief both say they weren't aware of the

President's plans.

District Council members calling the move extreme, outrageous and dangerous. Let's go straight to the White House, and our Kevin Liptak. I

mean, I guess the figures could be coming down. They still could be very bad and the President just isn't happy with them and he needs to take

control.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: I mean, I think the reality is, there is a crime problem in D.C., and there's a violent crime problem, and

it's been that way for quite some time even though those numbers are coming down. What the President is talking about here is trying to resolve what

many district residents say is an issue with street crime in the city.

But at the same time, you know, this dystopian portrait that the President is presenting, saying that there are bloodthirsty criminals running around

the city, that there are roving mobs of wild youth and drugged-out maniacs, that also doesn't necessarily reflect the lived reality of people who are

residents of Washington.

And so, I think what the President is really doing here is kind of exerting his authority over a city, which he does have unusually sweeping powers to

control, because D.C. is not in a state -- is not a state itself, he's allowed to do that. And essentially, using it as a test case. And you hear

him talk about potentially expanding this to other Democrat-run cities around the nation.

He will have a harder time doing that because he doesn't have the same powers there as he does in D.C. But what he's essentially trying to do is

make D.C. a guinea pig as a test case to show that this more sort of extreme level of policing, more focused on confronting criminals, more

aggressive police tactics that, that can have an effect in bringing down crime.

And that is what sort of -- he described today when he talked about potentially changing some of the rules by which the D.C. Police can engage,

saying that they will go after some of these criminals, saying that if -- say, a criminal spits on a police officer, that they will be able to use

overwhelming force to try and tamp down on some of these crimes.

And so, the President really sort of going to extreme lengths to do this. There are some open questions here. One is exactly how long this will last.

You know, the statute that the President evoked, the D.C. Home Rule Act, which is from 1973, requires one that the President notify members of

Congress if this is to extend beyond 48 hours.

You heard the President say today that he had begun the process of doing that. But some members on Capitol Hill say that they haven't received that

notification yet. Beyond that, this can last 30 days before Congress actually has to pass a law allowing this to take hold. And so, how exactly

-- how long exactly this will last, I think remains an open question.

There are detractors, and we heard from the D.C. Attorney General saying that this was unnecessary and unlawful. But the D.C. Police Union has

actually thrown their support behind it. But they do say that it should be a stopgap measure, that it shouldn't be a permanent case kind of thing, and

that at the end of the day, they just need more police officers on the streets and that they need the mayor and the D.C. Council to loosen some of

the restrictions on how they engage with some of these criminals.

And so, how exactly this plays out over the next days and weeks, I think, is the big question here. You know, what is the control and command

structure for the D.C. Police Department? Now, the President has put the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency, currently in charge of the police

force. But how exactly that manifests itself going forward remains an open question.

So, too, with the National Guard troops, the 800 of them that the President says will be activated, what exactly their role is, I think, remains a

little unclear. And of course, as the President says that active duty troops could potentially be called up, quote, "if needed". That also sort

of an open question of how exactly they will engage on the streets of Washington as all of this plays out.

FOSTER: All right, Kevin Liptak, it's a really interesting move, isn't it? Thank you. Back in June, President Trump deployed the National Guard to

another U.S. city, you may remember, Los Angeles. And later -- and today, rather, Mr. Trump's lawyers are facing off against the legal team for

California Governor Gavin Newsom, at issue, whether the President violated a nearly century and a half old rule when he deployed the National Guard to

Los Angeles despite the Democratic Governor's objections.

Mr. Trump sent 4,000 National Guard members to the city amid a string of protests against immigration raids. Governor Newsom's lawyers described the

President's actions as an unprecedented power grab. Now, a short while ago, Texas House Republicans again tried but failed to establish a quorum and

move forward with their plan to redraw the state's electoral map.

[14:30:10]

Dozens of Democrats remain outside Texas successfully stalling that effort so far. The plan backed by the president could give Republicans as many as

five additional seats in the U.S. Congress in next year's critical midterm elections. The current special session ends next week, but Texas Governor

Greg Abbott is threatening to call more special sessions indefinitely.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control remain on edge as leadership calls Friday shooting targeted and deliberate, that we were reporting on.

Authorities, say 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White opened fire from across the street, shooting more than 40 rounds into four buildings at the

agency's Atlanta campus. 33-year-old police officer David Rose was killed after responding to the scene. A law enforcement source says it's believed

the suspect died by suicide after an exchange of gunfire with officers, investigators say he may have blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for health issues

that he was experiencing. For now, CDC staff will be working remotely amid an ongoing security review and an investigation.

Still to come tonight, journalism is not a crime, those are the words of the colleagues of Al Jazeera journalists killed in Gaza City by targeted

Israeli strike. I discussed what it means for press freedom with CNN's Clarissa Ward.

A heat wave passing through Europe while crews are battling wildfires powered by the very high temperatures here. We'll take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:00]

FOSTER: Scenes of loss and devastation earlier in Gaza City as crowds gathered to mourn Palestinian journalists. There were amongst seven people

killed by an Israeli military strike on Sunday. The U.N. describes the attack as a grave breach of humanitarian law. Amongst those killed Al

Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The Israeli military accused al- Sharif of leading a Hamas cell, an allegation he previously denied. Al Jazeera says al-Sharif was one of Gaza's bravest journalists. Another

Palestinian journalist is urging Israel to let foreign media into Gaza.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMAD ABU SALEM, PALESTINIAN JOURNALIST: I, myself, I feel I'm not safe. I could be killed anytime because I'm a journalist or because I'm just a

regular citizen here. But despite that, we have to continue covering and telling the truth. Otherwise, the world will not know what is running here.

If the Israeli occupation forces think that the Palestinian journalists are not accurate or whatever, let the foreign journalists to come to Gaza.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, strike comes as condemnation grows against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for a military takeover of Gaza City.

U.N. officials are warning the move would lead to, quote, "another calamity" in the starving enclave. In a news conference with international

media, Mr. Netanyahu defended the plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER: Well, Israeli hostage families are calling for a nationwide strike next weekend to protest the decision to expand the war. CNN's Clarissa Ward

has reported extensively from the region, joins me live from London. You are one of the few journalists that's been into Gaza as well, aren't you,

Clarissa? And you have been pushing to get better access there.

I was struck by what some of the Al Jazeera colleagues have been talking about today, and that is the idea that Israel is taking out any firsthand

witnesses or, you know, reducing the number of firsthand journalism witnesses in this war.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean, Max, let's just take a look at the numbers here. OK. 192 journalists have been killed

since the start of this round of the conflict since October 7th, and at least 184 of those journalists were Palestinians who were killed by Israel.

176 of them were in Gaza and 11 of them were with Al Jazeera.

You then combine that with the fact that international journalists are totally forbidden from entering the Gaza Strip to report independently. And

you have to ask yourself some serious questions about what is really going on here.

Now, we have seen again and again that Israel will claim that this journalist or that journalist, and certainly in the case of Anas was

involved deeply with Hamas, was a militant. I believe that the claim that was made about Anas al-Sharif was that he was implicated in firing rockets

into civilian areas. If that is the case, if there is, as Israel claims, a refutable evidence of this, then that must be presented in a transparent

manner and in a timely manner.

So, far, we have been given excel sheets that are difficult to decipher and impossible to verify. But again, if we zoom out from the individual basis

and we look at the macro picture, it's very hard to avoid the truth of what is going on here, which is that Israel is systematically killing

Palestinian journalists and is preventing international journalists from coming into Gaza to tell the full story.

And you know, another thing I think is really important to highlight here, Max, is what it is like for these journalists inside Gaza right now who

have not stopped for one day, who have issues with everything from internet connection, running water, lack of food, many of them are living apart from

their families because so many family members of journalists have been killed in these allegedly targeted strikes that they are now afraid to be

near their loved ones, and they are doing this at tremendous risk to their own lives day in and day out.

And I think there comes a point where people have to say, and particularly journalists and news organizations have to say, enough is enough. We need

to stand behind journalists. We need to stand behind our colleagues.

[14:40:00]

And this isn't just one individual group or another, this is a growing chorus. Look at the statement released today by the CPJ where they

literally said, quote, "Israel is murdering the messengers." So, this has now reached a level where at the bare minimum there needs to be a fully

transparent detailed process around the whole thinking that is going in to the targeting of this journalist and there needs to be more action, I

believe, from news organizations in terms of trying to put a stop to it.

FOSTER: I mean, that was the big shift here, wasn't it? The fact that they very clearly admitted this was a targeted attack on a journalist, whereas,

as you were saying in the past, it's always been alleged targeting, which, you know, is very hard to prove.

WARD: That's right. I mean, they came out with the accusations even before Anas was killed. Anas denied those accusations, and then they came out very

quickly after his killing to take credit. And by the way, can we just talk about the fact that Anas was not killed on his own? There were at least

four other journalists who were killed alongside him. And what was their crime? What did they do to deserve a death sentence?

If there was some evidence that the Israelis would like to supply, then they should supply that now. But otherwise, it looks like a war crime, Max.

FOSTER: OK. Clarissa Ward, thank you for that. A big day in journalism and reporting in the Middle East.

Still to come tonight, parts of Europe dealing with wildfires fueled by an extreme heat wave. We'll have a look at the forecast there just ahead.

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FOSTER: Extreme heat fueling wildfires across large parts of Europe. Powerful winds fueling the flames in northern Spain here. Hundreds of

people have been evacuated in the region of Castile and Leon. And here in the U.K., wildfire has burned an extinct volcano near Scotland's capital,

Edinburgh. Police advise the public to avoid what's known as Arthur's Seat and the surrounding area there. Crews in Italy also dealing with a blaze in

Vesuvius National Park. CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam has more.

[14:45:00]

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DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This is what happens after a wet spring is followed by extreme heat and weeks without any rainfall. We've had a

very dry summer across this portion of Spain, and unfortunately, that has led to wildfires that are burning out of control. Look at the thick

billowing smoke.

We had several aerial helicopters coming in to try and combat the blazes. Very challenging situation on the ground for this part of Spain. Located

here, really across the northern tier of the country, especially near the border of France. We've had an intense heat wave that is set up across the

Iberia and Peninsula lately.

What you're looking at right now are all the current wildfire hotspots, not necessarily each one of these representing a wildfire, but satellite

picking up on these potential hotspots across Europe, many of them located across the Balkans.

Now, we talk about the heat adding to this wildfire threat. There are a large portion of Western Europe under heat alerts for the day on Tuesday,

and I want you to draw your attention to France. We have more than half of the country under some sort of heat alert according to media of France. And

some of these areas near the southwestern sections of the country under their highest alert level for the day on Tuesday, you can see the shading

of red. Here across the Adriatic, into Croatia, and southern portions of Spain and into Portugal.

Heat alerts for temperatures in the upper 30s and lower 40s. That's extreme heat. And when we see this for several days at a time, that can be very

dangerous. And unfortunately, that's what we're expecting. Look at the forecast highs for these locations. Upper 30s for Madrid. I wouldn't be

surprised if some of these locations outside of Madrid, top 40 degrees, once again, across Spain.

So, the temperature trend over the next several days will keep the heat across the Mediterranean, the Iberian Peninsula into the western sections

of France. But draw your attention to this area here. There is actually a cold front that's going to drop south, help cool down portions of Europe,

at least Eastern Europe. But the heat will be confined to the Mediterranean once again, as well as the Iberian Peninsula. So, places like Naples,

Italy, we expect the temperature to stay above average. No real relief from this heat wave that is causing the concerns as well as the fire threat for

Western Europe. Back to you.

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FOSTER: Thanks to Derek Van Dam. Now, more than 10 million people across the U.S. Midwest remain under flood alerts meanwhile as heavy rainfall

continues to pummel parts of the region there. In Wisconsin, torrential rainfall triggered flash flooding in Milwaukee County as the Milwaukee

River crested to a record high. A flood warning currently in effect for the area as streams continue to rise, flood waters have swamped roads, stranded

vehicles, and prompted about 65 water rescues by the local fire department.

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CAVALIER JOHNSON, MILWAUKEE MAYOR: We're seeing reports from some parts of the city that have received more than a foot of rain. This flooding event,

it's very significant. It's something that Milwaukee hasn't seen in and perhaps a decade or more. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with

basement flooding that have been dealing with power outages, damage to cars, having trees that were uprooted in and around their properties, and a

list of other things that have happened as well.

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FOSTER: Milwaukee County is under a state of emergency first declared on Sunday. Experts say the State of Wisconsin is on track to break its daily

rainfall record.

Now, it's the face only an owner could love. Still to come tonight, the world's ugliest dog has been crowned. We'll tell you about the winner

there.

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[14:50:00]

FOSTER: In Beijing, the world's first robot run cafe open for business, if you're interested, inside the tiny stall. Galbot handles it all, greeting

customers, taking orders, serving up coffee, bottled drinks as well. The multitasking robot can work around the clock. No other staff needed and

expected to serve thousands every day. More robot cafes could pop up with the creators, hoping to place them at busy intersections and tourist

hotspots across Beijing.

Labubu mania took a criminal turn in California this past week. Mask thieves swiped about $7,000 worth of the collectible toys from a shop east

of Los Angeles. Surveillance video shows the break-in and the robbers hauling away boxes and trashing the store. Labubu dolls have built a cult

following with a huge international fan base. They often resell for more than their retail costs, making them a prime target for thieves. For now,

the Labubus and the thieves remain at large.

Mexico is the home to a very rare giant panda, one born outside Asia that is, living at a facility with no supervision from China. Xin Xin is a

direct descendant of pandas gifted to Mexico by China in the 1970s. Valeria Leon has that story

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VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 35 years old, Xin Xin is already a legend. The oldest panda in the world living outside China, her

home, Mexico City's Chapultepec Park Zoo.

Xin Xin was born to Tohui, Alberto says. Tohui was the first cub born in Chapultepec to reach adulthood.

Xin Xin has outlived her mother by more than double, a remarkable feat. In human years, she'd be over a hundred.

We could be talking about a person over a hundred years old, Alberto tells me. So, obviously, her activity level is no longer the same.

To keep her healthy, her caretakers, known as panderos, adjust her diet of bamboo and apples with specialized nutrition and supplements. The expertise

to care for Xin Xin came from China. But Mexico was the first country to successfully breed pandas outside Asia. Up to 4,000 visitors come to see

her daily.

What could be better than meeting Xin Xin? The only Mexican panda and the last one left. Roberto Vasquez tells me, since Xin's already quite old and

we don't have much time left with her, we have to enjoy her.

Celebrating Xin Xin's life brings generations together.

I like the pattern of her fur, is the reaction of Maria Jose, who at 11 years old met Xin Xin for the first time. For her mother Cecilia, it's a

special return.

A legend lives on. Despite her age, Xin Xin continues to dazzle both young and old alike alike.

Valeria Leon, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER: Volunteers cleaning up after last month's deadly flooding in Texas made a rare discovery under the debris. Take a look at this. Crews stumbled

upon dinosaur tracks preserved in a river bed. A paleontologist told CNN the footprints likely belong to a 35-foot-tall carnivore that roam the area

some 100 million years ago. Each print measures about 20 inches across roughly the size of a large pizza. Now, researchers hope the newly exposed

river banks will reveal even more tracks from these ancient giants.

[14:55:00]

A swarm of jellyfish have shut down one of France's largest nuclear power plants on Sunday. Four reactors at the Gravelines Power Plant were forced

off after the jellyfish clogged its cooling system. Operator EDF says it's likely due to rising temperatures because of global warming, but says the

instant doesn't pose a public safety threat. In recent years, the beaches around the power plant have seen an increase in jellyfish.

A dog contest in California crowns a new winner, not for beauty, but for being the ugliest dog in fact. Meet Petunia. She's a two-year-old hairless

English French Bulldog Mix from Oregon. Quite exotic. Petunia was crowned the world's ugliest dog at the annual competition at the Sonoma County

Fair. The decades old tradition is to promote dog adoption. In addition to the title, Petunia will now be on limited edition cans of Mug Root Beer,

and her owner received a check for $5,000.

Thanks for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. I'll have more with "What We Know" coming up next.

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