President Emmanuel Macron announced today that France would become the first of the Group of 7 major industrialized nations to recognize a Palestinian state.
Macron made the surprise announcement in a post on social media, in which he said that he would formally introduce the plan at the U.N. General Assembly in September. “Today,” Macron said, “the most urgent thing is that the war in Gaza cease and the civilian population be helped.”
After 21 months of devastating conflict set off by the deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Gaza’s most vulnerable civilians are facing what aid groups have described as impending famine.
Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, who leads the pediatric ward at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, said the number of children dying of malnutrition had risen sharply in recent days. “There is no one in Gaza now outside the scope of famine, not even myself,” Dr. al-Farra said. “I am speaking to you as a health official, but I, too, am searching for flour to feed my family.”
In related news: Israel and the U.S. walked away from truce talks with Hamas. President Trump’s Mideast envoy said that Hamas showed “a lack of desire to reach a cease-fire.”
Justice Dept. to interview Epstein’s longtime associate
Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime associate who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, was expected to sit for an interview today with Trump administration officials.
The interview is part of the administration’s effort to quell criticism that Trump or his aides are concealing details about Epstein, but it is unclear what information Maxwell could provide beyond what is already in the public record.
In related news: The F.B.I. and the Justice Department made an all-out push this spring to scour the Epstein files with a single goal: find anything that could be released to the public to satisfy the mounting clamor.
But after devoting hundreds of employees to the project, officials said this month in a memo that they had little to show for their efforts, including that there was no “client list.” Here’s an inside look at the review.
Trump is armed with a blueprint to pressure universities
Last night, Columbia University announced that it would pay a $200 million fine to settle allegations that it failed to do enough to stop the harassment of Jewish students. In exchange, the government will restore the university’s federal research funding.
The university agreed to meet demands of the Trump administration regarding admissions data, protests, international student enrollment and “all-female sports.” Here are the full terms of the deal.
The deal proved for the second time in a month that the White House’s strategy of pulling a university’s funding was effective. Now, the Trump administration is hoping that other embattled schools, including Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Cornell and Northwestern, will follow Columbia’s lead.
In other Trump administration news:
The president visited the Federal Reserve, as he intensified his attacks against its chairman, Jerome Powell.
The Justice Department sued New York over its sanctuary city policy, saying that it hinders the Trump administration’s enforcement of the law.
Hulk Hogan died at 71
Hulk Hogan, the shirt-shredding superstar who helped transform professional wrestling from a low-budget regional attraction into a multibillion-dollar industry, died today at 71.
Hogan was the face of pro wrestling for decades, with his blond hair and horseshoe mustache, colorful bandannas and massive biceps. Even after his wrestling days were over, he remained in the spotlight; just last year, at the Republican National Convention, he tore off his shirt to reveal a Trump/Vance shirt underneath.
More top news
California: An appeals court blocked the state’s background check requirement to purchase ammunition, deeming the law unconstitutional.
Southeast Asia: A monthslong standoff between Cambodia and Thailand turned into a deadly exchange of fire along their contested border.
Trade: The E.U. is nearing a deal with the U.S., but nearly every member country supports a plan to hit back against Trump’s tariffs if no agreement is reached.
Art: Amy Sherald withdrew her show from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery because she said she was told her painting of a transgender Statue of Liberty could be removed.
Crime: If this year’s trends continue, the U.S. could post a third straight year of record declines in homicides.
Food: In the early 2000s, complaints were piling up about rancid nuts in Peanut M&Ms, leading the world’s largest confectionary company to search for the perfect peanut.
Television: The death of the Food Network star Anne Burrell has been ruled a suicide.
Books: Joe Biden sold his presidential memoir for $10 million.
TIME TO UNWIND
Pucci has become the fashion brand of the summer
Don’t be surprised to see plenty of colorful and swirling sunlight-on-the-Med prints this season. That’s the look of Pucci, a 78-year-old brand that has recently shot up in popularity.
Pucci has managed to thrive while most of the luxury fashion world is going through a downturn. Perhaps, as our critic Vanessa Friedman wrote, that’s because the brand ditched the high fashion model and embraced designs that are far less conceptual, and far more fun.
How many steps do you really need in a day?
Decades of research has shown that walking offers significant health benefits, for the heart and even the brain. But experts we talked to emphasized that there’s no evidence behind the recommendation to take 10,000 steps a day.
The real number, according to a new study, is around 7,000 steps a day (or roughly three miles). It doesn’t hurt to do more, but the overall health benefits quickly level out.
Dinner table topics
Gala for the super-rich: Facing federal funding cuts, the Parrish Art Museum is relying on elaborate parties to lure in the nation’s elites.
Russ & Daughters: A New York herring pairing party offered devoted fish fans a chance to eat like a seal.
Unlikely abode: A former public toilet was transformed into an inviting, new tiny hotel.
Better baguette: Is the bread in Europe healthier than the bread in the U.S.? Maybe. Here’s why it might be, and what to look for stateside.
WHAT TO DO TONIGHT
Cook: The cookbook author Kenji López-Alt shares his four rules for better burgers.
Read: Our critic wants this poem read aloud at his funeral.
Listen: Here’s why Justin Bieber’s new album works so well.
Plan: These European vacation spots make the sizzling heat much more bearable.
Consider: Eight therapists shared the relationship advice they swear by.
Solve: So you stained your shirt? Here’s what to do.
Hunt: Which French home would you buy with a budget of around $450,000?
Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Midi crossword. Find all our games here.
ONE LAST THING
There’s a lot to learn from clipping branches
Topiary, the practice of training plants into defined shapes, might evoke fantastical scenes from “Alice in Wonderland” or the formal gardens of Versailles. But for Michael Gibson, who first started trimming hedges as a child, topiary is also a sort of philosophy.
That’s because you can’t just force a plant to look the way you want it to. Topiary requires time, patience and adaptability, Gibson explains. A design can take years before coming into true focus. And in the end, “it’s a stress reliever,” he said. “It gives you a sense of accomplishment.”
Have a creative evening.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew
Philip Pacheco was our photo editor.
We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.