A mass shooting at a crowded bar on an idyllic South Carolina island has left four people dead and at least 20 injured, officials say.

The shooting occurred early Sunday at Willie's Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, officials said. A large crowd was at the scene when sheriff's deputies arrived and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds.

Multiple victims and witnesses ran to the nearby businesses and properties seeking shelter from the gun shots, the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office said in a statement on the social media platform X.

This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones, the statement said.

Four people were found dead at the scene, and at least 20 other people were injured. Among the injured, four were in critical condition at area hospitals.

The victims' identities were not released.

COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN to learn about the devastating shooting in Beaufort County, U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence.

A ceasefire in the war in Gaza was holding for the third day on Sunday as aid agencies worked to rush in more desperately needed aid to the besieged territory under the truce deal. Preparations were also underway for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who pushed to clinch the ceasefire deal, is expected to arrive in Israel Monday morning. He will meet with families of hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israels parliament, according to a schedule released by the White House.

Trump will then continue on to Egypt, where the office of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has said he will co-chair a peace summit on Monday with attendance by regional and international leaders.

RELATED STORY | How the Gaza peace plan came together

Gaza's Hamas-run Interior Ministry has deployed thousands of police in areas the Israeli military withdrew from after the ceasefire took effect.

Armed policemen were seen on Gaza City streets and in southern Gaza on Saturday, providing a sense of security to the local population. The police also provided security for aid trucks driving through areas no controlled by the Israeli military, according to residents.

Heres the latest:

UN aid agency standing ready

The largest humanitarian actor in Gaza, UNRWA, which has the equivalent of 6,000 trucks of aid waiting outside in Egypt and Jordan, said it had no clarity on its role in the new scaling up of relief provided to Gaza.

Spokesperson Jonathan Fowler said the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is standing ready to contribute and has enough food supplies in its warehouses for the entire population of the Gaza Strip for three months.

No US troops in Gaza, says Vance

As Trump prepares to travel to the Middle East, his vice president said he believes we are on the cusp of peace in Gaza for the first time not just in a couple of years, but really in a very long time.

Trump has been able to unite the Israelis with the Gulf Arab states for a common objective, and that is to bring the hostages home, to stop the war and to build the kind of long time settlement that we really do believe can lead to a lasting peace, JD Vance told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday.

He said about 200 troops from U.S. Central Command are already in the region to monitor the terms of the ceasefire and help ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

It's not going to be necessary for American troops to be in Gaza, Vance said.

More aid into Gaza

Associated Press footage showed dozens of trucks crossing the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian Red Crescent said they carried medical supplies, tents, blankets, food and fuel.

The trucks will head to the inspection area in the Kerem Shalom crossing for screening by Israeli troops.

Abeer Etifa, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program, said workers were clearing roads inside Gaza Sunday to facilitate delivery.

The Israeli defense body in charge of humanitarian aid in Gaza, COGAT, said that the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip is expected to increase Sunday to around 600 trucks per day, as stipulated in the agreement.

Egypt said it is sending 400 aid trucks into Gaza Sunday. The trucks will have to be inspected by Israeli forces before being allowed in.

Preparations for release of hostages

A message sent Saturday from Gal Hirsch, Israels coordinator for the hostages and the missing and obtained by the AP, told hostage families to prepare for the release of their loved ones starting Monday morning. One of the families of the hostages confirmed the notes authenticity.

Hirsch said preparations in hospitals and in Reiim camp were complete to receive the live hostages, while the dead will be transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.

Israeli officials believe about 20 of the hostages out of 48 held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza are still alive. All of the living hostages are expected to be released Monday.

Palestinian prisoners to be freed

The timing has not yet been announced for the release of some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel who are to be freed under the deal. They include 250 people serving life sentences in addition to 1,700 people seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge.

Health authorities in Gaza are preparing for the return of 1,900 Palestinian prisoners many of whom are expected to require urgent treatment and dead bodies taken by Israels military from the strip, Dr. Mounir al-Boursh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in the enclave, said in a statement.

He said he hopes that the bodies of medical personnel who died in Israeli detention centers will be among those handed over and called for the release of doctors Hossam Abu Safiya and Marwan al-Hams, who were detained from Gaza during the war.

Satellite photos show Gazans returning home

The photos, taken on Saturday and analyzed by the AP, show a line of vehicles traveling north to Gaza City. The line of vehicles was seen on Al Rashid Street, which runs north-south along the Gaza Strips coastline on the Mediterranean Sea.

Tents along the coast also could be seen near Gaza Citys marina. Many people have been living along the sea to avoid being targeted in Israeli bombardment of the city.

Armed police were seen in Gaza City and southern Gaza patrolling the streets and securing aid trucks driving through areas from which the Israeli military had withdrawn, according to residents. The police force is part of the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

Leaders heading to Egypt

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Egypt to take part in the signing ceremony on the truce agreement for Gaza, according to his spokesperson.

Germany will be committed to implementing the peace plan, initially focusing on maintaining a stable ceasefire and providing humanitarian aid, Stefan Cornelius said in a written statement Sunday, adding that the chancellors trip tomorrow underscores this commitment.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will also be attending the summit in Egypt, as will Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, officials said Sunday.

European Council President Antnio Costa will take part in the ceremony behalf of the 27-nation bloc.

Inflation has risen in three of the last four months and is slightly higher than it was a year ago, when it helped sink then-Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign. Yet you wouldn't know it from listening to President Donald Trump or even some of the inflation fighters at the Federal Reserve.

Trump told the United Nations General Assembly late last month: Grocery prices are down, mortgage rates are down, and inflation has been defeated.

And at a high-profile speech in August, just before the Fed cut its key interest rate for the first time this year, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said: Inflation, though still somewhat elevated, has come down a great deal from its post-pandemic highs. Upside risks to inflation have diminished.

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Yet dismissing or even downplaying inflation while it is still above the Fed's target of 2% poses big risks for the White House and the Federal Reserve. For the Trump administration, it could find itself on the wrong side of a potent issue: Surveys show that many Americans still see high prices as a major burden on their finances.

The Fed may be taking an even bigger gamble: It has cut its key interest rate on the assumption that the Trump administration's tariffs will only cause a temporary bump up in inflation. If that turns out to be wrong if inflation gets worse or remains elevated for longer than expected the Fed's inflation-fighting credibility could take a hit.

That credibility plays a crucial role in the Fed's ability to keep prices stable. If Americans are confident that the central bank can keep inflation in check, they won't take steps such as demanding sharply higher pay when prices rise that can launch an inflationary spiral. Companies often increase prices further to offset higher labor costs.

But Karen Dynan, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said this week that with memories of pandemic-era inflation still fresh and tariffs pushing up the cost of imported goods, consumers and businesses could start to lose confidence that inflation will stay low.

If that proves to be the case, in hindsight it will be that the Fed cuts -- and I do expect several more -- are going to be seen as a mistake, Dynan said.

So far, the Trump administration's tariffs haven't lifted inflation as much as as many economists expected earlier this year. And it remains far below its 9.1% peak three years ago. Still, consumer prices increased 2.9% in August from a year earlier, up from 2.6% at the same time last year and above the Feds 2% target.

The government is scheduled to release the September inflation report on Wednesday, but the data will probably be delayed by the government shutdown.

Tariffs have pushed up the cost of many imported items, including furniture, appliances, and toys. Overall, the cost of long-lasting manufactured goods rose nearly 2% in August from a year earlier. It was a modest gain, but comes after nearly three decades when the cost of such items mostly fell.

The cost of some everyday goods are still rising more quickly than before the pandemic: Grocery prices moved up 2.7% in August from a year ago, the largest gain, outside the pandemic, since 2015. Coffee prices have soared nearly 21% in the past year, partly because Trump has slapped 50% import taxes on Brazil, a leading coffee exporter, and also because climate change-induced droughts have cut into coffee bean harvests.

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Most Fed officials are still concerned that inflation is too high, according the minutes of its Sept. 16-17 meeting. Yet they still chose to cut their key interest rate, because they were more worried about the risk of worsening unemployment than about higher inflation.

But the concern for some economists is that the ongoing rollout of tariffs and the fact that many companies are still implementing price hikes in response could result in more than just a temporary boost to inflation.

It is a big gamble after what weve been going through ... to count on it being transitory, said Jason Furman, an economist at Harvard University and a former top adviser to President Barack Obama. Once upon a time, (3% inflation) would have been considered really high.

Just two weeks ago, Trump slapped new tariffs on a range of products, including 100% on pharmaceuticals, 50% on kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, and 25% on heavy trucks. On Friday, he threatened a massive increase of tariffs on imports from China in response to that country's restrictions on rare earth exports.

Some companies are still raising prices to offset the tariff costs. Duties on steel and aluminum imports have pushed up the cost of the cans used by Campbell Soups, leading the companys CEO to say in September that it will implement surgical pricing initiatives."

Chris Butler, CEO of National Tree Company, the nations largest artificial Christmas tree seller, says his company will raise prices by about 10% this holiday season on its trees, wreaths, and garlands to offset tariff costs. About 45% of its trees are made in China, with the rest from Southeast Asia, Mexico, and other countries. The cost of labor and real estate is too high to make them in the United States, he said.

Butler also expects there will be a reduced supply of artificial trees and decorations this year, which could lift industry-wide prices further, because most production in China shut down when tariffs on that country hit 145% earlier this year. Production resumed after Trump reduced the duties to 30% but at a slower pace.

Butler has pushed his suppliers to absorb some of the cost of the tariffs, but they wont pay all of it.

At the end of the day, we cant absorb the entirety of it and our factories cant absorb the entirety of it, he said. So weve had to pass along some of the increases to consumers.

Many Fed policymakers are aware of the risks. Jeffrey Schmid, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, who votes on interest rate decisions, said Monday that high inflation that results from a loss of confidence in the central bank is harder to fight than other price spikes, such as those that result from supply disruptions.

The Fed must maintain its credibility on inflation, Schmid said. History has shown that while all inflations are universally disliked, not all inflations are equally costly to fight.

Yet some Fed officials say that other trends are offsetting the impact of tariffs. Fed governor Stephen Miran, whom Trump appointed just before the central banks September meeting, said Tuesday that a steady slowdown in rental costs should reduce underlying inflation in the coming months. And the sharp drop in immigration as a result of the administrations clampdown will reduce demand, he said, cooling inflation pressures.

Im more sanguine about the inflation outlook than a lot of other people are, he said.

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has directed the Defense Department to use all available funds to ensure U.S. troops are paid on Wednesday despite the government shutdown.

Trump said in a social media post that he was acting because our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.

The Republican president's action removes one of the pressure points that could have forced Congress into action, likely ensuring that the shutdown -- now in its 11th day and counting extends into a third week and possibly beyond. But no similar action seems forthcoming for federal workers, thousands of whom are now being laid off during the lapse in government operations. The White House budget office started that process on Friday.

Trump blamed Democrats and said he was exercising his authority as commander in chief to direct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. The Republican president added, "We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.

U.S service members were in danger of not receiving their next paycheck on Wednesday after the government shut down on Oct. 1, the start of the federal budget cycle. The U.S. has about 1.3 million active-duty service members, and the prospect of troops going without pay has been a focal point when lawmakers on Capitol Hill have discussed the shutdowns negative impact.

Trump did not say where he's getting the money from, but it likely will be funded by the billions of dollars that were pumped into the Defense Department under Trump's big tax and spending cut bill that he signed in the summer. The Congressional Budget Office said such a move was possible.

RELATED STORY | Trump administration begins 'reduction in force' as government shutdown continues

The Administration also could decide to use mandatory funding provided in the 2025 reconciliation act or other sources of mandatory funding to continue activities financed by those direct appropriations at various agencies, CBO said.

The CBO cited the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Management and Budget as among the departments that received specific funds under the law.

Some of the Pentagon's money "could be used to pay active-duty personnel during a shutdown, thus reducing the number of excepted workers who would receive delayed compensation, CBO wrote in a letter responding to questions raised by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

The White House did not immediately respond to an email request for details on the president's announcement.

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione asked a New York federal judge Saturday to dismiss some criminal charges, including the only count for which he could face the death penalty, from a federal indictment brought against him in the December assassination of UnitedHealthcares chief executive.

In papers filed in Manhattan federal court, the lawyers said prosecutors should also be prevented from using at trial his statements to law enforcement officers and his backpack where a gun and ammunition were found.

They said Mangione was not read his rights before he was questioned by law enforcement officers, who arrested him after Brian Thompson was fatally shot as he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference.

They added that officers did not obtain a warrant before searching Mangione's backpack.

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Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson on Dec. 4 as he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for his companys annual investor conference.

The killing set off a multi-state search after the suspected shooter slipped away from the scene and rode a bike to Central Park, before taking a taxi to a bus depot that offers service to several nearby states.

Five days later, a tip from a McDonalds about 233 miles (375 kilometers) away in Altoona, Pennsylvania, led police to arrest Mangione. He has been held without bail since then.

Last month, lawyers for Mangione asked that his federal charges be dismissed and the death penalty be taken off the table as a result of public comments by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. In April, Bondi directed prosecutors in New York to seek the death penalty, calling the killing of Thompson a premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.

Murder cases are usually tried in state courts, but prosecutors have also charged Mangione under a federal law on murders committed with firearms as part of other crimes of violence. Its the only charge for which Mangione could face the death penalty, since it's not used in New York state.

The papers filed early Saturday morning argued that this charge should be dismissed because prosecutors have failed to identify the other offenses that would be required to convict him, saying that the alleged other crime stalking is not a crime of violence.

The assassination and its aftermath has captured the American imagination, setting off a cascade of resentment and online vitriol toward U.S. health insurers while rattling corporate executives concerned about security.

After the killing, investigators found the words delay, deny and depose, written in permanent marker on ammunition at the scene. The words mimic a phrase used by insurance industry critics.

The Las Vegas Aces won their third WNBA championship in four seasons, beating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 on Friday night for a four-game sweep of the Finals.

The Aces made quick work of the league's first best-of-seven Finals. It was another offensive onslaught from Las Vegas, which scored 54 points in the first half and averaged more than 90 points per game in the series.

Wilson a four-time MVP was in the middle of the action once again even if she didn't have the best shooting night. She finished 7 of 21 from the field, but made 17 of 19 free throws. Gray made four 3-pointers, including two in the fourth quarter to help turn back a final rally by the Mercury.

The Aces led 76-62 going into the fourth quarter, but the Mercury went on an 8-0 run early that cut the deficit to 76-70 with 7:56 left. That was as close as they would get.

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Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points, shooting 12 of 22 from the field. Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts was ejected in the third quarter after receiving two quick technical fouls from official Gina Cross. Tibbetts was arguing a foul call against Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani, and reacted in disbelief as he was escorted off the court.

DeWanna Bonner and Copper also got called for technical fouls in the fourth quarter.

The Aces never trailed in the series clincher, building a 30-21 lead by the end of the first quarter on 55% shooting. Jewell Loyd, Gray and Dana Evans made three straight 3s early in the second quarter to put Las Vegas ahead by 19.

Las Vegas settled for a 54-38 halftime advantage. Wilson had 14 points before the break while Gray added 10.

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The Mercury were without forward Satou Sabally, who suffered a concussion near the end of Game 3. They suffered another injury blow on Friday when Thomas had to leave just before halftime after taking a hard hit to her right shoulder on a screen from Loyd.

Thomas returned for the second half but was hampered by the injury.

The Mercury enjoyed a deep playoff run under Tibbetts, but couldn't find a way to slow down the Aces. Phoenix made it to the finals after beating the defending champion New York Liberty in the opening round and knocking off the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the semifinals.

Phoenix lost in the WNBA Finals for the second time in five years, also falling to the Chicago Sky in 2021. The Mercury have won three championships, with the last coming in 2014.

The U.S. military is moving forward with plans to build a dedicated facility in Idaho to train pilots from Qatar, an important U.S. ally in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday.

Hegseth, who made the announcement during a visit by Qatar's defense minister, said the facility to be built at the Mountain Home Air Force Base would host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase the lethality, interoperability.

The arrangement is not unusual. Pentagon officials noted that similar facilities have been set up for other allies for decades, and the Idaho base already hosts a fighter squadron from Singapore.

But the news drew a sharp rebuke from close Trump ally and right-wing influencer Laura Loomer, who called the plan an abomination and accused the Qataris of being associated with Islamic terror organizations.

No foreign country should have a military base on US soil. Especially Islamic countries, Loomer wrote in one of several social media posts just hours after Hegseth's announcement.

Although Loomer holds no formal position within the Trump administration, her online complaints have a history of achieving results. Her criticisms have led to the firing of officials on the National Security Council, Dr. Vinay Prasad, the Food and Drug Administrations vaccine chief, and Gen. Tim Haugh, the head of the National Security Agency.

Qatar would pay for the construction of the new facility, a defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide information not publicly released. When asked for more details, Hegseths office said it had nothing to offer beyond the secretarys remarks.

The announcement comes just days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order vowing to use all measures, including U.S. military action, to defend Qatar, which hosts the biggest U.S. military base in the Middle East.

Loomer also criticized that decision, writing I dont want to die for Qatar. Do you? on social media. However, she was not alone.

The Wall Street Journals editorial board also questioned the pledge, writing that "this is a decision that can be and should have been debated.

Instead it comes out of the blue an executive order following no public debate, the board wrote.

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The small, gas-rich country played a key role in negotiating the most recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the war in Gaza, as well as in several other key negotiations. Doha, the capital of Qatar, came under surprise attack from Israel last month as members of Hamas were in the city last month to discuss a ceasefire.

Qatar also lavished a $400 million jumbo jet on Trump for use as Air Force One.

However, the Qataris' connection with U.S. military aviation predates these more recent developments.

In 2020, the U.S. Air Force announced it has signed a deal with Qatar for the sale of more than 35 F-15 fighter jets.

An Air Force environmental study, completed two years later, revealed that Mountain Home Air Force Base was proposing building a facility that would house 12 Qatari F-15 jets and about 300 additional Qatari and U.S. Air Force personnel.

While the U.S. military has a long history of training pilots for allied countries, the practice received scrutiny in 2019 following a deadly mass shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station that killed three U.S. service members and wounded several others.

The shooter, Mohammad Saeed Al-Shamrani, was a Saudi Air Force officer who was training at the Pensacola base. The FBI said he was linked to the al-Qaida extremist group and had been in contact with it before the shooting.

In the wake of the shooting, the U.S. sent home 21 other Saudi military students after an investigation revealed each had expressed jihadist or anti-American sentiments on social media pages or had contact with child pornography, including in internet chat rooms, according to officials at the time. However, the U.S. continued to train Saudi pilots.

Loomer referenced the incident in her social media posts on Friday. Why are we trying to train more Muslims how to fly planes on US soil? Didnt we already learn our lesson?, she wrote on social media.

AstraZeneca on Friday became the second major pharmaceutical manufacturer to announce it had agreed to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Medicaid under a deal struck with the Trump administration that avoided its threats of steep tariffs.

President Donald Trump made the announcement in the Oval Office with AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot, who said that during tough negotiations to reach a deal, Trump and his team of officials had really kept me up at night.

Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will charge most-favored-nation pricing to Medicaid, while guaranteeing such pricing on newly launched drugs, Trump said. That involves matching the lowest price offered in other developed nations.

For many years, Americans have paid the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, by far, Trump said, adding that the new deal may cut prices to the lowest price anywhere in the world. Thats what we get.

AstraZeneca's deal follows a similar agreement Pfizer announced late last month. Advocates have generally praised the administrations efforts to cut drug prices, though some have expressed concerns that too much onus is being placed on the manufacturers to lower costs without implementing U.S. policy safeguards to ensure such outcomes.

Both agreements, however, build on an executive order Trump signed in May that set a deadline for drugmakers to electively lower prices or face new limits on what the government will pay. Trump had suggested that a series of deals with drug companies would subsequently be coming.

The tariffs were a big reason he came here, Trump said of Soriot.

RELATED STORY | Pfizer agrees to lower prescription drug costs for Medicaid in a deal with Trump

Cambridge, United Kingdom-based AstraZeneca makes a range of cancer treatments. Its products include the lung cancer drug Tagrisso; Lynparza, an oral treatment for ovarian cancer, and Calquence, which treats chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Those drugs brought in a total of more than $7.5 billion in U.S. sales last year.

AstraZeneca announced Thursday that it would spend $4.5 billion on a new manufacturing plant near Charlottesville, Virginia, and its Republican governor, Glenn Youngkin, spoke during Friday's Oval Office announcement to cheer groundbreaking on the new facility.

The drugmaker said that project was the centerpiece of $50 billion in investments the company plans to make in the U.S. by 2030.

AstraZeneca said it plans to reach $80 billion in total revenue by then, half of which will be generated in the United States.

Trump predicted the investments could lead to 3,600 jobs domestically just to begin with.

One of the AstraZeneca drugs was already subject to price reductions due to a Medicare negotiating strategy implemented under President Biden. Still, Trump insisted that Democrats shouldn't get credit and suggested the party's key leaders may try.

The announcements came months after AstraZeneca said it was scrapping plans to expand a vaccine manufacturing plant in its home country. The company blamed several factors, including reduced government financial support.

The Trump administration has put up a landing page for its new website, TrumpRX.gov, where people will be able to buy drugs directly from manufacturers, according to officials. Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca will offer medications through the site, according to the administration.

The websites landing page features two very large pictures of Trump and a promise that the site is Coming Soon in January 2026.

It says at the bottom of the page that the site was Designed in DC by The National Design Studio, the new government website design hub that Trump created by executive order in August, which is being led by Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia.

Melania Trump announced Friday that eight children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war have been reunited with their families following ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The first lady in August wrote to Putin and had her husband hand-deliver the letter when he held a summit with the Russian president in Alaska. The letter called for peace in Ukraine.

Putins invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has resulted in Russia taking Ukrainian children out of their country so they can be raised as Russian. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lobbied various world leaders for help reuniting children he says were taken by Russia after the invasion began.

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Speaking at the White House, the first lady said that after Putin responded in writing to her letter, they established an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of those children.

Her announcement came as President Donald Trumps own efforts to broker an end to Putins war in Ukraine have stalled, and he repeatedly has expressed frustration over the setback along with what he describes as his disappointment with Russias leader.

Melania Trump said the issue of the children is important to her.

For the past three months, both sides have participated in several back-channel meetings and calls, all in good faith, she said. We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war.

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One of her representatives has been working directly with Putins team to ensure the safe reunification of children with their families." She did not identify the representative.

In fact, eight children have been rejoined with their families during the past 24 hours, she said. Each child has lived in turmoil because of the war in Ukraine.

The Associated Press documented the grabbing of Ukrainian children in 2022, after which the International Criminal Court said it had issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Three of the eight children were separated from their parents and displaced to Russia because of front-line fighting, Melania Trump said. The other five were separated from family members across borders because of the conflict, including a girl who has gone from Ukraine to Russia, she said.

Melania Trump said she also raised concerns about children who were minors at the time they were displaced by the war but have since reached adulthood and currently live in Russia.

She said that their safe return requires coordinated assistance and that Russia has agreed to rejoin individuals who have turned 18 within a short period of time.

Reunification efforts continue, she added, and plans were underway for more children to rejoin their families in the immediate future.

I hope peace will come soon," the first lady said. It will begin with our children.

A monthslong calm on Wall Street shattered Friday, and U.S. stocks tumbled after President Donald Trump threatened to crank tariffs much higher on China.

The S&P 500 sank 2.7% in its worst day since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878 points, or 1.9%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.6%.

Stocks had been heading for a slight gain in the morning, until Trump took to his social media platform and said hes considering a massive increase of tariffs on Chinese imports. Hes upset at restrictions China has placed on exports of its rare earths, which are materials that are critical for the manufacturing of everything from consumer electronics to jet engines.

We have been contacted by other Countries who are extremely angry at this great Trade hostility, which came out of nowhere, Trump wrote on Truth Social. He also said now there seems to be no reason to meet with Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, after earlier agreeing to do so as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea.

The ratchet higher in tensions between the worlds largest economies led to widespread drops across Wall Street, with roughly six out of every seven stocks within the S&P 500 falling. Nearly everything weakened, from Big Tech companies like Nvidia and Apple to stocks of smaller companies looking to get past uncertainty about tariffs and trade.

The market may have been primed for a slide. U.S. stocks were already facing criticism that their prices had shot too high following the S&P 500s nearly relentless 35% run from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its all-time high set earlier in the week.

Critics say the market looks too expensive after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry, where pessimists see echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded. For stocks to look less expensive, either their prices need to fall, or companies profits need to rise.

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Levi Strauss dropped 12.6% for one of the markets larger losses, even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

Its forecast for profit over the full year was also within range of Wall Streets estimates, but the jeans and clothing company could simply be facing the challenge of heightened expectations after a big run. Its stock price came into the day with a surge of nearly 42% for the year so far.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 182.60 points to 6,552.51. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 878.82 to 45,479.60, and the Nasdaq composite sank 820.20 to 22,204.43.

Some of Fridays strongest action was in the oil market, where the price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude sank 4.2% to $58.90.

It fell as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza. An end to the war could remove worries about disruptions to oil supplies, which had kept crudes price higher than it otherwise would have been.

Losses accelerated following Trumps tariff threat, which could gum up global trade and lead the economy to burn less fuel. Brent crude, the international standard, dropped 3.8% to $62.73 per barrel.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury sank to 4.05% from 4.14% late Thursday.

It had already been lower before Trump made his threats, as a report from the University of Michigan suggested that sentiment among U.S. consumers remains in the doldrums.

Pocketbook issues like high prices and weakening job prospects remain at the forefront of consumers minds, according to Joanne Hsu, director of the Surveys of Consumers. At this time, consumers do not expect meaningful improvement in these factors.

The job market has slowed so much that the Federal Reserve cut its main interest rate last month for the first time this year. Fed officials have penciled in more cuts through next year to give the economy additional breathing room. But Chair Jerome Powell has also said they may change course if inflation stays high. Thats because lower interest rates can push inflation even higher.

One potentially encouraging signal from the University of Michigans preliminary survey said consumers expectations for inflation in the coming year edged down to 4.6% from 4.7% the month before. While thats still high, the direction of change could help the Fed and limit upward pressure on inflation.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell across much of Europe and Asia.

Hong Kongs Hang Seng fell 1.7%, and Frances CAC 40 dropped 1.5% for two of the bigger moves. But South Koreas Kospi leaped 1.7% after trading reopened following a holiday.

The superintendent of Iowas largest school district, who was detained last week by immigration agents, was charged Thursday in federal court with possessing firearms while in the U.S. illegally, prosecutors said.

Ian Roberts resigned this week as Des Moines superintendent of schools, just days after he was pulled over and fled from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who ultimately arrested him with the help of officers from the Iowa State Patrol. When he was arrested, federal agents found a handgun that was wrapped in a towel inside the Jeep Cherokee he was driving, according to court papers.

Roberts, who is originally from Guyana, had been jailed in Sioux City, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines, since late Friday afternoon. Officials said he was taken into custody on a federal arrest warrant for the weapons charge and appeared by video before a federal magistrate judge.

Roberts' attorney, Alfredo Parrish, said his client will plead not guilty.

RELATED STORY | ICE detains Des Moines, Iowa, public school leader, school board says

Our position at this time he has a presumption of innocence, Parrish said. He will exercise his right to indicate to the court, if he is indicted, that hes not guilty, Parrish said, adding that there has not been an indictment returned by the grand jury.

Roberts, 54, is alleged to have been in possession of four firearms, according to court documents. Authorities said Roberts had been authorized to work in the U.S. between December 2018 and 2020 but has since not had lawful employment authorization, according to the complaint.

Federal authorities said Roberts had a final removal order that was issued last year, and an immigration judge denied a motion to reopen Roberts' immigration case in April this year. The complaint released Tuesday alleged that Roberts had that final removal order in a different car at his residence.

Roberts had been under the impression from a prior attorney that his immigration case was resolved successfully," his attorney has said.

It has been my pleasure to represent you throughout this process, and I am pleased to report that your case has reached a successful resolution, Texas attorney Jackeline Gonzalez wrote on March 27.

An aide to Gonzalez confirmed to The Associated Press Tuesday that the law firm had represented Roberts but gave no immediate comment.

Gonzalez spoke earlier this week to federal officials and said the letter she sent had informed Roberts that the immigration case with Gonzalez's office was being closed, according to court papers. Roberts had an unpaid legal bill with her office.

Gonzalez added that the letter was not intended to convey that his case with the court had been completed, the court documents said.

Gonzalez declined to tell authorities, however, about her communication with Roberts about the immigration judge's denial of the motion to reopen his case, which was sent to her office.

One firearm, the one found under the driver's seat of his school-issued vehicle when he was arrested, was a pistol believed to have been purchased by Roberts wife, authorities said. The other three a pistol, a rifle and a shotgun were found during a search of Roberts' home, the complaint said, and all were allegedly loaded.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Hamas must agree to a proposed peace deal by Sunday evening, threatening an even greater military onslaught nearly two years into the war sparked by the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Trump appears keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the attack on Tuesday. His peace plan has been accepted by Israel and welcomed internationally, but key mediators Egypt and Qatar, and at least one Hamas official, have said some elements need further negotiation, without elaborating.

An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time, Trump wrote Friday on social media. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

Trump's plan would end the fighting and return hostages

Under the plan, which Trump unveiled earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas would immediately release the remaining 48 hostages around 20 of them believed to be alive. It would also give up power and disarm.

In return, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of the territory, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction. Plans to relocate much of Gaza's population to other countries would be shelved.

RELATED STORY | Trump unveils plan to end war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza

The territory of some 2 million Palestinians would be placed under international governance, with Trump himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing it. The plan provides no path for eventual reunification with the Israeli-occupied West Bank in a future Palestinian state.

A Hamas official told The Associated Press this week that some elements of the plan are unacceptable and need to be amended, without elaborating. Palestinians long for an end to the war, but many view this and previous U.S. proposals as strongly favoring Israel.

US and Israel seek to pressure Hamas

Israel has sought to ramp up pressure on Hamas since ending an earlier ceasefire in March. It sealed the territory off from food, medicine and other goods for 2 1/2 months and has seized, flattened and largely depopulated large areas of the territory.

Experts determined that Gaza City had slid into famine shortly before Israel launched a major offensive aimed at occupying it. An estimated 400,000 people have fled the city in recent weeks, but hundreds of thousands more have stayed behind.

Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office, said she saw several displaced families staying in the parking lot of Shifa Hospital during a visit on Thursday.

They are not able to move south because they just cannot afford it, Cherevko told The Associated Press. One of the families had three children and the woman was pregnant with her fourth. And there were many other vulnerable cases there, including elderly people and people with disabilities.

Trump wrote that most of Hamas' fighters are "surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, GO, for their lives to be quickly extinguished. As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed.

Most of Hamas' top leaders in Gaza and thousands of its fighters have already been killed, but it still has influence in areas not controlled by the Israeli military and launches sporadic attacks that have killed and wounded Israeli soldiers.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Famine declared in Gaza City as Israel escalates fighting

Hamas has held firm to its position that it will only release the remaining hostages its sole bargaining chip and potential human shields in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu has rejected those terms, saying Hamas must surrender and disarm.

Second anniversary approaches

Thousands of Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, attacking army bases, farming communities and an outdoor music festival, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They abducted 251 others, most of them since released in ceasefires or other deals.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. It says women and children make up around half the dead.

The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

The offensive has displaced around 90% of Gaza's population, often multiple times, and left much of the territory uninhabitable.

Both the Biden and Trump administrations have tried to end the fighting and bring back the hostages while providing extensive military and diplomatic support to Israel.

The White House is asking nine major universities to commit to President Donald Trump's political priorities in exchange for more favorable access to federal money.

A document sent to the universities encourages them to adopt the White House's vision for America's campuses, with commitments to accept the government's priorities on admissions, women's sports, free speech, student discipline and college affordability, among other topics.

Signing on would give universities "multiple positive benefits," including "substantial and meaningful federal grants" and "increased overhead payments where feasible," according to a letter sent to universities alongside the compact. The letter calls it a proactive effort as the administration continues to investigate alleged civil rights violations at U.S. campuses.

Called the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," it asks universities to accept the government's definition of gender and apply it to campus bathrooms, locker rooms and women's sports teams. It asks colleges to stop considering race, gender and a wide range of student demographics in the admissions process and to require undergraduate applicants to take the SAT or ACT.

The 10-page proposed agreement was sent Wednesday to some of the most selective public and private universities: Vanderbilt, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, the University of Southern California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas, the University of Arizona, Brown University and the University of Virginia. It was not clear how these schools were selected or why.

The nine universities could become "initial signatories" and are being invited to provide feedback before the language is finalized, according to the letter. It asks for a decision by Nov. 21.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Colleges and universities work to adapt to Trump's education policies

White House takes a new, incentive-based approach

The memo represents a shift in strategy as the administration offers a reward not just punishment as an incentive for adopting Trump's political wish list. Many of the demands mirror those made by his administration as it slashed billions of dollars in federal money for Harvard, Columbia and others accused of liberal bias. A federal judge overturned cuts at Harvard in September, saying the government had overstepped its authority.

Several universities said they were reviewing the compact and had no comment. A statement from the University of Virginia said there was nothing to suggest why it was chosen. The university's interim president assembled a group of administrators on Thursday to review the letter.

Leaders of the Texas system were "honored" that the Austin campus was chosen to be a part of the compact and its "potential funding advantages," according to a statement from Kevin Eltife, chair of the Board of Regents. "Today we welcome the new opportunity presented to us and we look forward to working with the Trump Administration on it," Eltife said.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said if any universities in his state sign the compact, they will lose access to state funding, including Cal Grants, a $2.8 billion student financial aid program. In an all-capital statement, Newsom, a Democrat, said California "will not bankroll schools that sell out their students, professors, researchers, and surrender academic freedom."

Colleges would have restrictions on international enrollment and tuition hikes

Under the compact, international enrollment would have to be capped at 15% of a college's undergraduate student body, and no more than 5% could come from a single country. All the universities invited to the compact appear to be within the 15% threshold, though Dartmouth and USC are close, at 14%, according to federal data. Many universities do not report breakdowns by individual countries.

Most other U.S. universities also fall within the 15% cap, but about 120 exceed it, including Columbia University, Emory University and Boston University, federal data show.

Some of the most sweeping commitments are aimed at promoting conservative viewpoints. Universities would have to ensure their campuses are a "vibrant marketplace of ideas" where no single ideology is dominant, the compact said. They would have to evaluate views among students and faculty to ensure every department reflects a diverse mix of views.

To accomplish that, it says universities must take steps, including "transforming or abolishing institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even spark violence against conservative ideas."

It requires policies meant to counter the kind of protests that roiled U.S. campuses last year amid the Israel-Hamas war. It asks for a commitment to prevent any disruption to classes or campus libraries and to ensure demonstrators don't heckle other students.

Campuses that sign the compact would have to freeze tuition for U.S. students for five years, and those with endowments exceeding $2 million per undergraduate could not charge tuition at all for students pursuing "hard science" programs.

Opponents see a threat to free speech

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, urged universities to reject the deal, saying it violates campus independence and undermines free speech.

"It's not worth the compromises that they would have to make," he said. "This is a Faustian bargain."

The compact also drew criticism from free speech groups, faculty associations and from Larry Summers, a former Treasury secretary and Harvard president. Summers said he believes elite universities have lost their way, but he said the compact is like trying to "fix a watch with a hammer ill conceived and counterproductive."

"The backlash against its crudity will likely set back necessary reform efforts," Summers said.

The terms of the deal would be enforced by the Justice Department, with violators losing access to the compact's benefits for no less than a year. Following violations bump the penalty to two years.

"Institutions of higher education are free to develop models and values other than those below," the compact said, "if the institution elects to forego federal benefits."

The founder of a Texas megachurch who resigned last year after a woman in Oklahoma accused the pastor of sexually abusing her in the 1980s pleaded guilty Thursday to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child, authorities said.

Robert Preston Morris, 64, entered the pleas before a judge in Oklahomas Osage County as part of a plea agreement, according to the state attorney generals office.

The abuse began in 1982 when the victim was 12 and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, with her family, according to the statement by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. The abuse continued over the next four years, the statement said.

Morris was the senior pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Southlake, where he led one of the nation's largest megachurches until his resignation. He was indicted earlier this year by an Oklahoma grand jury. Under the plea agreement, Morris received a 10-year suspended sentence with the first six months to be served in the Osage County Jail.

RELATED STORY | Texas megachurch pastor resigns after woman says he sexually abused her in the 1980s

Morris was handcuffed and wearing a suit as he was escorted out of court on Thursday by two sheriff's deputies.

The victim, Cindy Clemishire, who is now 55, said in a statement that justice has finally been served, and the man who manipulated, groomed and abused me as a 12-year-old innocent girl is finally going to be behind bars. The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Clemishire has done.

My hope is that many victims hear my story, and it can help lift their shame and allow them to speak up, she said. I hope that laws continue to change and new ones are written so children and victims rights are better protected. I hope that people understand the only way to stop child sexual abuse is to speak up when it happens or is suspected.

Morris must register as a sex offender and will be supervised by Texas authorities via interstate compact. He also was ordered to pay his costs of incarceration, including any medical expenses, and restitution to the victim.

One of Morris' attorneys, Bill Mateja, said Morris wanted to accept responsibility for his conduct, and wanted to bring the legal matter to an end for the sake of him and his family and Clemishire and her family.

While he believes that he long since accepted responsibility in the eyes of God and that Gateway Church was a manifestation of that acceptance, he readily accepted responsibility in the eyes of the law, Mateja said.

Mateja said Morris wanted to apologize to Clemishire and her family for his conduct and asked for forgiveness.

When asked about the allegations last year by The Christian Post, Morris said in a statement to the publication that when he was in his early 20s he was involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady in a home where I was staying. He said it was kissing and petting, not intercourse, but it was wrong."

Gateway Church was founded by Morris in 2000. He has been politically active and formerly served on President Donald Trumps evangelical advisory board. The church hosted Trump on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a discussion on race relations and the economy.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Study says child verbal abuse comparable to sexual, physical abuse

Gateway Church declined to comment Thursday.

The pleas were entered before Osage County District Special Judge Cindy Pickerill.

There can be no tolerance for those who sexually prey on children, Drummond said. This case is all the more despicable because the perpetrator was a pastor who exploited his position of trust and authority. The victim in this case has waited far too many years for this day.

One of the two men killed in a car and knife attack on a synagogue in the city of Manchester appears to have been killed by a bullet fired by a police officer as worshippers tried to stop the attacker getting into the building, law enforcement authorities said Friday.

Police said local residents Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, died in the attack on the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue in the Manchester suburb of Crumpsall on Thursday. Three other people are hospitalized in serious condition.

Police shot and killed a suspect seven minutes after he rammed a car into pedestrians outside the synagogue and then attacked them with a knife. He wore what appeared to be an explosives belt, which was found to be fake.

Greater Manchester Police chief Stephen Watson said a forensic examination has provisionally determined that one of those killed had a gunshot wound. He said the attacker did not have a gun, and this injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of police actions.

He said one of the hospitalized victims also appears to have been shot.

RELATED STORY | Anti-Defamation League says anger at Israel is now the driving force behind antisemitism in the US

It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry, Watson said.

The assault took place as people gathered at the Orthodox synagogue on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, the head of Orthodox Judaism in Britain, said the attack was the result of an unrelenting wave of Jew hatred on the streets and online.

This is the day we hoped we would never see, but which deep down, we knew would come, he wrote on social media.

Attacker was not known to police

Police identified the attacker as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent who entered the United Kingdom as a young child and became a citizen in 2006. Al-Shamie translates into English as the Syrian, and authorities are unsure whether that is his birth name.

Police said the crime is being investigated as a terrorist attack. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the attacker was not previously known to police or to Prevent, a national counterterror program that tries to identify people at risk of radicalization.

Mahmood said "its too early to say whether the attacker acted alone or was part of a cell.

Police said they are still probing the attackers motive. Officers arrested three people Thursday on suspicion of the preparation or commission of acts of terrorism. They are two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.

Neighbors of the attacker in the Manchester suburb of Prestwich, a couple of miles (about 3 kilometers) from the synagogue, said Al-Shamie's family had lived in the house for years. Several described seeing Al-Shamie lifting weights and working out in the backyard.

Geoff Halliwell, who lives nearby, said he appeared to be a straightforward, ordinary lad.

Religious leaders condemn the attack

Religious and political leaders condemned the attack and pledged to reassure Britains Jewish community, which numbers about 300,000.

Anglican bishop Sarah Mullally, who was named Friday as the next leader of the Church of England, said the horrific violence was a sign of hatred that rises up through fractures across our communities.

Hatred and racism of any kind cannot be allowed to tear us apart, she said.

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Police said extra officers would be on the streets of Manchester on Friday and through the weekend.

Recorded antisemitic incidents in the U.K. have risen sharply since Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and Israels ensuing war against Hamas in Gaza, according to Community Security Trust, an advocacy group for British Jews. More than 1,500 incidents were reported in the first half of the year, the second-highest six-month total reported since the record set over the same period a year earlier.

Calls for pro-Palestinian protests to be canceled

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria visited the scene of the attack on Friday morning.

Starmer has denounced the vile assailant who attacked Jews because they are Jews. He promised British Jews that he would do everything in my power to guarantee you the security that you deserve.

He said the country would come together "to wrap our arms around your community and show you that Britain is a place where you and your family are safe, secure and belong.

Some politicians and religious leaders claimed pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which have been held regularly since the war in Gaza began, had played a role in spreading hatred of Jews. Some say chants such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free incite violence. Others, including Jews who support the protests, say they want a ceasefire, an end to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Mirvis, the chief rabbi, urged authorities to get a grip on these demonstrations. They are dangerous.

You cannot separate the words on our streets, the actions of people in this way, and what inevitably results, which was yesterdays terrorist attack," he told the BBC.

Mahmood, the home secretary, said 40 people were arrested on Thursday evening at protests that were unrelated to the synagogue attack and were organized in response to the Israeli navy's interception of a flotilla attempting to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.

She said it was dishonorable that the protests had not been canceled after the Manchester attack.

Police in London urged organizers to call off a protest planned for Saturday to oppose the banning of the group Palestine Action. Organizers said they would not cancel the demonstration.

It's time to get a flu vaccine, and pediatricians are urging people to get them after last winter, when the U.S. saw the most flu-related child deaths in 15 years.

October is the ideal month to get protected, experts say, because flu cases typically begin climbing in November.

"The best time is today. If you haven't already had it, get it. I got mine yesterday," said Dr. Laura Riley, of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Don't like shots? This year marks the first time that some people can try vaccinating themselves at home using the nasal spray vaccine FluMist.

RELATED STORY | Want a COVID-19 vaccine? How to get one after ACIP changes recommendations

Here's what to know.

Who needs a yearly flu vaccination?

Just about everyone age 6 months and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and major medical societies. Despite lots of recent misinformation and confusion about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven't changed.

Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children, and people of any age who have chronic health problems including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.

About 71% of seniors roll up their sleeves every year, but less than 50% of other adults do. Last year, just under half of children got a flu vaccine, down from over 60% a few years ago.

Flu vaccines can keep you out of the hospital

Flu vaccines may not block all infections, but they do a really good job of preventing severe illness and hospitalization, said Dr. Sean O'Leary, of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Tens of thousands of Americans die from the flu every winter. But during last year's harsh season, the CDC counted 280 children who died of flu-related complications. Nearly half had no prior health problems and about 90% hadn't been fully vaccinated.

Another concern from last season: The CDC counted more than 100 children who developed a rare flu complication brain inflammation that can lead to seizures, hallucinations, or even death. Very few were vaccinated.

Flu vaccination during pregnancy is two-for-one protection

It's important for mothers-to-be to understand that a bad case of flu can put them in the hospital or cause their baby to be born prematurely, Riley said.

Flu shot protection also carries over to newborns, and infants too young for their own vaccinations are especially vulnerable to flu.

Riley stressed that years of flu vaccinations show that recommendation is safe for mother and baby.

Which flu vaccine to choose?

High-dose shots and those with a special immune booster are designed for people 65 and older, but if they can't find one easily they can choose a regular all-ages flu shot.

For the shot-averse, the nasal spray FluMist is available for ages 2 to 49.

What's that new at-home vaccination?

FluMist has been available for more than 20 years, but the at-home option is newly available for certain adults on the vaccine's website. If they're deemed eligible according to their age and a medical questionnaire, they'll be shipped FluMist timed to arrive on a particular day, with instructions on how to administer it to themselves or their children.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the home administration option last year, too late to roll out for that season. It's currently only available in 34 states, according to manufacturer AstraZeneca, which hopes to expand access.

What do flu vaccines cost?

They're supposed to be free under Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans if people use an in-network provider. Local health departments also can provide free or low-cost flu vaccinations for people who qualify.

As for the at-home FluMist option, the same insurance rules are supposed to apply, but there will be an out-of-pocket delivery fee.

Can you get a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time?

Yes, said Dr. Philip Huang, director of Dallas Health and Human Services. They're safe to give together and "that's a good way to get them taken care of," he said.

However, there still may be difficulty in finding COVID-19 shots especially through a government-funded child vaccination program given confusion after a federal advisory board quit recommending them but said people could decide for themselves.

The federal government is expected to again accept new applications for a program that grants some people without legal immigration status the ability to live and work in the United States.

Lawyers for the federal government and immigrant advocates have presented plans before a federal judge that would open the door again to accepting applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, otherwise known as DACA.

One state Texas, where the case is being heard however, would be exempted from providing work permits.

It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of people could be eligible to be enrolled in DACA, once a federal judge issues an order to formalize plans laid out by the Department of Justice in a legal filing made on Monday. The program, created under the Obama administration, grants people without legal immigration status who were brought into the country by their parents two-year, renewable permits to live and work in the U.S. legally.

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The program has allowed people who were brought to the United States as children to temporarily remain in the country and obtain work permits. It does not confer legal status but provides protection from deportation.

Eligibility requirements include people who entered the country as children before their 16th birthday, were under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012, and have not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three misdemeanors. There would be restrictions related to work permits for those who reside in Texas, which filed a lawsuit against the DACA program in 2018.

Nothing changes yet

DOJ attorneys laid out the proposal before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen on Monday as part of the ongoing Texas lawsuit. It would allow U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to take new and renewal applications for DACA across the country, which it has not done for four years.

In Texas, USCIS would take new and renewal applications for the DACA program but recipients residing in the state will not receive a work permit.

Attorneys representing DACA recipients proposed adding a wind-down period that would allow Texas residents to keep their work authorization for one more renewal period.

These proposals follow an earlier decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowing the program to continue with the work permit carveout in Texas.

The federal government and attorneys for DACA recipients have two more opportunities in October to file responses to the proposals submitted this week. Hanen, based in Houston, will then decide what proposal or combination of proposals to implement in his order.

Caution advised

Immigrant advocates are not celebrating yet but believe thousands may be eligible for the program. Aside from the over 533,000 who are enrolled already in DACA, about 1.1 million people may be eligible across the country, according to a 2023 estimate from the Migration Policy Institute.

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People interested in applying were urged to start preparing. While we are still waiting for an official decision, we believe our communities and families should be prepared and begin gathering the required documents, Michelle Celleri, Legal Rights Director for Alliance San Diego, said in a statement.

Other advocates are cautiously optimistic. Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, a spokesperson for United We Dream, pointed to a section in the government's proposal that could hint at changes. These proposals do not limit DHS from undertaking any future lawful changes to DACA, the governments proposal said in Mondays filing.

We need to be able to look at this in a fuller picture than just this case, because were seeing the administration detain and deport DACA recipients, Macedo do Nascimento said on Wednesday.

An assailant drove a car into people outside a synagogue Thursday in northern England and then began stabbing them, killing two and seriously wounding four in a terrorist attack on the holiest day of the Jewish year, police said.

Officers shot and killed the suspect, Greater Manchester Police said, though it took authorities some time to confirm he was dead because of concerns he had an explosive.

The Metropolitan Police in London, who lead counter-terrorism policing operations, declared the assault a terrorist attack.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said two other suspects were arrested, though he provided no further information on the arrests. He said police believe they know the identity of the suspect but have not confirmed it.

The attack took place as people gathered at an Orthodox synagogue in suburban neighborhood of Manchester on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement and the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. Police said the two people killed were Jewish.

Antisemitic incidents in the U.K. have soared following Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and Israels ensuing military campaign in Gaza, according to Community Security Trust, an advocacy group for British Jews that works to eliminate antisemitism.

More than 1,500 incidents were reported in the first half of the year, the second-highest reported since the record set a year earlier.

This is every rabbis or every Jewish persons worst nightmare, said Rabbi Jonathan Romain, of Maidenhead Synagogue and head of the Rabbinic Court of Great Britain. Not only is this a sacred day, the most sacred in the Jewish calendar, but its also a time of mass gathering.

Witnesses describe a car driving toward the synagogue and then a stabbing attack

In a series of posts on X, Greater Manchester Police said they were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue shortly after 9:30 a.m. shortly after services were set to begin. The caller said he saw a car being driven toward members of the public and that one man had been stabbed.

Chava Lewin, who lives next to the synagogue, said she heard a bang and thought it might be a firework until her husband ran inside their house and said there had been a terrorist attack.

A witness told her that she saw a car driving erratically crash into the gates of the house of worship.

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She thought maybe he had a heart attack, Lewin said. The second he got out of the car, he started stabbing anyone near him. He went for the security guard and tried to break into the synagogue.

Minutes later, police fired shots, saying they believed they had hit the assailant.

Video on social media showed police with guns pointed at a person lying on the ground beneath a blue Star of David on the brick wall of the synagogue.

A bystander could be heard on the video saying the man had a bomb and was trying to detonate it. When the man tried to stand up, a gunshot rang out and he fell to the ground.

Police later detonated an explosion to get into the suspect's car.

Manchester was the site of Britains deadliest attack in recent years, the 2017 suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert that killed 22 people.

Authorities declare an emergency

Immediately after the attack, police declared "Plato, the national code-word used by police and emergency services when responding to a marauding terror attack."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was appalled by the attack and additional police officers would be deployed at synagogues across the U.K.

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He flew back to London early from a summit of European leaders in Copenhagen, Denmark, to chair a meeting of the governments emergency committee.

The fact that this has taken place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, makes it all the more horrific, Starmer said on the X platform.

King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the attack on such a significant day for the Jewish community.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this appalling incident and we greatly appreciate the swift actions of the emergency services, he said on his social media feed.

Two Delta Air Lines regional jets collided while on the taxiway at LaGuardia Airport in New York, injuring at least one person in what the airline described as a low-speed collision.

The wing of an aircraft carrying 32 people getting ready to take off Wednesday night to Roanoke, Virginia, hit the fuselage of an aircraft arriving from Charlotte, North Carolina, with 61 people aboard, according to a statement from Delta.

A flight attendant had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to a statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. There were no reports of passengers injured, the airline said.

Their right wing clipped our nose and the cockpit we have damage to our windscreen and ... some of our screens in here, a pilot said, according to air traffic control audio.

The plane that had landed stopped, jerked, and jumped to the right, passenger William Lusk, told ABC. Everyone went dead silent. And as everyone went dead silent, the pilot calmly came on and said, Hey, we've been in a crash, everyone remain calm.'"

The rest of the airport's operations were not expected to be impacted, according to Delta.

Delta will work with all relevant authorities to review what occurred as safety of our customers and people comes before all else, the statement from Delta said. "We apologize to our customers for the experience.

The Delta Connection aircraft involved in the collision are operated by Endeavor Air.