Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Two killed in Minneapolis school shootingAn assailant fired a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis where students were celebrating their first Mass of the new school year, the police said, killing an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. The attacker also injured 17 people, including 14 children, and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Here’s the latest. Investigators have identified the shooter as Robin Westman, 23, who is believed to have been a former student at the school. The suspect’s mother is a retired school employee, a law enforcement official said. A youth minister at the church said that she had been sitting with children in the pews when bullets flew through the windows and that the shooting had lasted about two minutes. “I was just feet away from this window,” she said in an interview. “The pew saved my life.” The Minneapolis police chief, Brian O’Hara, said that the attacker had been armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, all purchased legally. The suspect’s social media accounts contain videos of diary entries that describe the killing of children and a drawing of the Annunciation Church’s sanctuary. The videos also show weapons, bullets and what appear to be explosive devices scrawled with violent language. Chief O’Hara said that investigators were examining the shooter’s YouTube account, which had been taken offline with the help of the F.B.I. “We don’t have a motive at this time,” he said.
C.D.C. director leaves after tensions with health secretarySusan Monarez, who just weeks ago became director of the C.D.C., abruptly left her job. Monarez, an infectious-disease researcher, had been acting director of the agency since President Trump took office, and she was nominated to the top post after the president withdrew his first choice. People familiar with the matter, who spoke anonymously for fear of retribution, said Monarez appeared to have run afoul of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by objecting to his changes to the panel of experts who advise the agency on vaccine policy.
Trump hits India with steep tariffsTrump has followed through on his threat to impose a 50 percent tariff on nearly all goods arriving from India. The new rate — half of which is punishment for India’s buying Russian oil — could rupture the countries’ economic relationship. The tariff puts India at a disadvantage in the new trading order Trump has set in motion. And it risks undermining a key strategy used by American importers, who have sought to reduce their dependency on Chinese factories by shifting production to India. Related: Trump is not only working to stop a transition away from fossil fuels in the U.S., but also pressuring other countries to relax their pledges to fight climate change.
The F.D.A. approved new Covid shots, with restrictionsThe F.D.A. approved updated Covid vaccines for the fall season, but it also introduced new limits on who can get them. The vaccines were approved for people who are 65 and older. Younger people will be eligible only if they have at least one underlying medical condition that puts them at risk for severe disease. Healthy children under 18 can still receive the shots if a medical provider is consulted. Here’s a guide to who can and can’t get the vaccine now. More top news
The many songs of summer 2025Is there a universally agreed-upon song of the summer? The Times asked 10 cultural figures — including Jeff Goldblum, Zohran Mamdani, Ezra Klein and Questlove — for their picks and got 10 different tunes. Take a listen. (Mine? I’m glad you asked: “Crucified Son” by the country crooner Charley Crockett.)
Taylor and Travis’s picture-perfect announcementTaylor Swift told the world yesterday that she had entered her engagement era. The actual proposal, it turns out, happened two weeks ago, but the couple needed some time to craft the ideal Instagram announcement. That started with outfits — a sundress and a polo shirt — by Ralph Lauren, a designer more than adept at weaving wardrobe dreams of American royalty. They look a little Hyannis Port, a little “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” It’s schmaltzy, but part of Swift’s power is her willingness to acknowledge her own soap operatic dreams. Read Vanessa Friedman, The Times’s chief fashion critic, on their look. Dinner table topics
Cook: Turmeric-butter pasta with tomatoes resembles a summer sunset. Watch: Catch these eight movies and shows before they leave Netflix. Read: “The Second Emancipation” tells the story of decolonization and pan-Africanism through the life of Ghana’s visionary first leader. Drive: The math is about to change on electric vehicles versus gas cars. You can run the numbers here. Exercise: Want to level up your mobility? Use a light dumbbell. Shop: Here are four rules for buying olive oil. Sleep: Check out Wirecutter’s favorite printed sheets. Travel: A language student has a guide to discovering Paris in Arabic. Play: Today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here.
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