Israel declares Gaza’s largest city a combat zone as death toll surpasses 63,000

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Gaza Health Ministry says the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 63,000 as Palestinians face the start of Israel’s expanded offensive in Gaza City. The count does not distinguish between fighters and civilians killed in the 22-month war between Israel and Hamas. The ministry says five people have died from malnutrition-related causes over the past day, raising the toll to 322, including 121 children, since the war began. A military official says Israel intends to continue helping aid reach Gaza City during the offensive, but a U.N. humanitarian group fears “a horrific impact” on people already deprived of basic needs.

Missouri is next to answer Trump's call for redrawn maps that boost GOP in 2026

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (AP) — Missouri’s Republican governor is calling a special legislative session to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts. The announcement Friday by Gov. Mike Kehoe comes as President Donald Trump has been urging Republican-led states to reshape district lines to give the party a better shot at retaining control of Congress in next year’s elections. It came hours after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a new U.S. House map that gives the GOP a chance at winning five additional seats. Democratic lawmakers in California have countered with a redistricting plan giving Democrats a chance at winning five more seats there. The California plan still needs voter approval.

Court finds Trump's tariffs an illegal use of emergency power, but leaves them in place for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled President Donald Trump illegally used emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs but left them in place for now. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Friday that Trump wasn’t legally allowed to declare national emergencies and impose import taxes on almost every country on earth, largely upholding a May decision by a specialized federal trade court in New York. But the court tossed out a part of that ruling, striking down the tariffs immediately and allowed his administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Boy wounded in Minnesota church shooting asks doctor: ‘Can you say a prayer with me?’

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Stories of bravery and heartache are emerging after the deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church during a Mass celebrating the start of the school year. Friends say one girl was wounded while shielding her buddy as her father, the school’s gym teacher, helped usher kids to safety. The aunt of a 13-year-old boy who is recovering after being shot twice says he asked a doctor to pray with him as he was rushed into surgery. The shooting Wednesday morning left two students dead and 20 people wounded, nearly all of them children. At least five children and one adult remain hospitalized Friday.

US revokes visas of Palestinian president and other officials ahead of UN General Assembly

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials ahead of next month’s annual high-level meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. A State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss visa issues that are normally confidential, disclosed Friday that Abbas and other officials from the Palestinian Authority were among those affected. The Palestinian Authority denounced the visa withdrawals as a violation of U.S. commitments as the host country of the U.N. and urged the State Department to reverse its decision.

Fed governor Cook seeks court order blocking her firing by Trump

A case that could provide the Trump administration with new and expansive power over the traditionally independent Federal Reserve got its first court hearing Friday. Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has requested an emergency injunction to block President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her over allegations that she committed mortgage fraud when she purchased a home and condo in 2021. She was appointed to the Fed’s board by former president Joe Biden in 2022. If her firing is allowed to stand, it would likely erode the Fed’s longstanding independence from day-to-day politics. No president has ever fired a Fed governor in the agency’s 112-year history.

Gym owner says she reported grooming concerns about coach years before arrest in sex abuse case

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Concerns about a banned gymnastics coach arrested amid allegations he abused girls he coached surfaced years before police or sports authorities took action. The Associated Press has learned that a former boss of Sean Gardner brought concerns in 2018 about “grooming” behavior to the agency overseeing U.S. gymnastics. Girls he coached and their parents told AP they sounded alarms about Gardner's inappropriate behavior to coaches at the renowned academy where he worked after that. The parents spoke on condition of anonymity to protect their daughters. Gym's owner Liang “Chow” Qiao kept Gardner on and promoted him. Not until 2022 was Gardner banned from gymnastics. Shortly after, Qiao and others at the gym were sanctioned for failing to report sexual misconduct reports against Gardner.

Trump blocks $4.9B in foreign aid Congress OK'd, using maneuver last seen nearly 50 years ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has told House Speaker Mike Johnson he won't be spending $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch. The Republican president is using what’s known as a pocket rescission — when a president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year, so Congress cannot act on the request in a 45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent as a result. It's the first time in nearly 50 years a president has used one. Trump’s move has drawn backlash in the Senate. The fiscal year draws to a close at the end of September.

Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian officials want to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders next week to discuss recent developments in efforts to end the three-year war with Russia. The proposed meetings appear designed to add momentum to the push for peace. Zelenskyy expressed frustration Friday with what he called Russia’s lack of constructive engagement in the process while it continues to launch devastating aerial attacks on civilian areas. Trump has bristled at Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s stalling on an American proposal for direct peace talks with Zelenskyy. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Zelenskyy's top adviser on Friday in New York.

New Orleans marks 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with solemn memorials, uplifting music

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Residents of New Orleans are marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating landfall on the Gulf Coast. Events from solemn memorial services to uplifting musical performances are being held in the city Friday to honor the dead, the displaced and the determined survivors who helped rebuild. A wreath-laying ceremony kicked off the day at New Orleans' memorial for dozens of unidentified storm victims. Hundreds observed a minute of silence in the Lower Ninth Ward, a majority Black neighborhood where the federal levee system was breached on Aug. 29, 2005. Residents and dignitaries also marked Katrina's anniversary in Mississippi, where hundreds more perished in the storm.