Good Morning!

It's Friday, October 3, and in today’s edition of Rise & Recap, we look at:

• FDA approves another generic abortion pill.

• How much alcohol do Americans drink?

• Getting rid of the ‘dead-butt’ syndrome

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Top headlines

SPILL THE NEWS

Education

White House Writes Letter To Nine Universities

The White House has sent letters to nine US universities, asking them to sign a “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” to align with the Trump administration’s priorities. Schools that agree would gain priority access to federal funding, grants, and other benefits, while those that decline could miss out on preferred opportunities.

The agreement asks universities to freeze tuition for five years, cap international student enrollment at 15%, waive tuition for students pursuing “hard sciences” at wealthier schools, and prohibit the use of race, sex, or gender in admissions. It also calls for reforms to campus governance, including abolishing units that allegedly punish or belittle conservative ideas and creating a “vibrant marketplace of ideas” on campus.

Letters were sent to Brown, Dartmouth, MIT, University of Arizona, University of Pennsylvania, USC, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt. Officials say signing is voluntary, but participation provides a competitive advantage in funding and access to White House discussions. Universities are reviewing the compact and providing feedback by October 20, with a goal of finalizing agreements by November 21. The move is part of a broader effort to reshape higher education in line with administration policies.

Health

FDA Quietly Approves Generic Abortion Pill

The FDA quietly approved a generic version of mifepristone on Tuesday, adding a second option for medication abortions in the U.S. The drug, from Evita Solutions, joins the first generic, approved in 2019 by GenBioPro. Mifepristone, used with misoprostol, accounts for nearly two-thirds of abortions nationwide and works by blocking progesterone, followed by contractions from misoprostol.

Evita Solutions calls its mission “normalizing abortion care” and making it accessible. The FDA determined the tablets are “therapeutically equivalent” to the brand-name version, Mifeprex. The approval comes amid scrutiny from anti-abortion groups and Republican officials, who have urged a review of the drug’s safety. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary have said the agency will continue examining the drug’s real-world outcomes, though peer-reviewed studies show serious complications are rare.

Anti-abortion leaders criticized the decision as “reckless,” while reproductive health advocates praised it as safe, effective, and essential. Evita Solutions expects the generic to be available in January, expanding affordable options. FDA regulations and standards will apply as with other mifepristone products, ensuring the same safety requirements for patients and providers.

World

Two Dead, Three Injured in Manchester Synagogue Terror Attack

Two people were killed and at least three others seriously injured Thursday in a terrorist attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, England. The assailant, identified as 35-year-old British citizen Jihad Al-Shamie of Syrian descent, drove a car into pedestrians before stabbing victims. Police shot and killed him at the scene; he was wearing a vest that appeared to be an explosive device, but authorities later confirmed it was not.

The attack occurred on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, as worshippers gathered for services. Witnesses described chaos as congregants and security guards fought to prevent the attacker from entering the synagogue. Some victims were struck by the vehicle, while others were stabbed. Authorities arrested three additional people, two men and a woman, on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses. Everything you need to know.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the attack as a “vile assault on Jews because they are Jews” and pledged increased security at synagogues nationwide. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Israeli leaders expressed shock and solidarity. The assault comes amid rising antisemitism in the U.K., particularly following global events in Israel and Gaza, and authorities have vowed to protect the Jewish community and bring those responsible to justice.

In the know

DON’T MISS

🇺🇸 Trump says the US is in ‘armed conflicts’ with drug cartels after striking in the Caribbean.

💞 Anxious, secure, avoidant — How to make sense of your relationship attachment style.

✈️ Video: Two Delta Air planes collide at LaGuardia airport leaving one person injured.

🗼 Eiffel Tower shuts amid nationwide strikes in France against spending cuts.

🇮🇱 Israel says all of the (precisely 40) Gaza-bound flotilla activists will be deported.

🍺 How much alcohol do Americans drink?

🗣️ Have you heard ‘6-7’? Well, the kids have a new slang and here’s what it means.

🛌 Do you ever wake up with a sore back or shoulders? We all hate it, try sleeping this way. 

🍝 Eating pasta has never been better. Let’s try these healthiest dried pastas for next date night dinner?

🍑 There’s nothing worse than the ‘dead-butt’ syndrome. But, there might be a way to ease tension!

Health & Wellness

FOR YOUR WELLBEING

🧖 Could sweating with strangers in saunas and ice baths actually help fix our loneliness epidemic?

💇‍♀️ Could the secret to stronger, shinier strands really be as simple as protein power!

💊 Inside Pfizer and Trump’s tense drug-pricing deal, where politics and profit collided in a high-stakes negotiation battle.

🏋️ Strengthening shoulder muscles wouldn’t just help you transform your posture but also improve stability. This is a workout you didn’t know you were missing.

Fashion & Beauty

BEYOND THE MIRROR

👢 This is the effortless boot style that makes every outfit instantly cooler and ready for fall vibes.

🧴 From bathroom essentials to pocket-friendly gems, these treatments tackle annoying acne spots without overcomplicating your skincare routine or stealing your time.

👗 Cone hats, flowing chiffons, and bold textures — Schiaparelli’s latest collection radiates confidence!

💅 Who knew fingertips could steal the spotlight? Studded nails are a fall trend that is bringing in the fun in one glance.

Hollywood

THE FAME FRAME

🎶 Taylor Swift’s new album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is out. People are guessing if this is a diss song on an unexpected artist.

👠 After a dazzling Schiaparelli night, Kylie and Kendall Jenner step out for a sisters night out!

✨ Julia Roberts puts a funky twist on one of her classic 90s red carpet look.

👗 This week’s celebrity style hits, misses, and total fashion WTFs — including Selena Gomez’s wedding looks.

📝 ‘I will never commit a crime again’: Sean “Diddy” Combs asks for leniency in letter to the judge ahead of sentencing.

Interactive

WEIGH IN

A futuristic city built on mountains, neon-lit streets, and elevated trains slicing through skyscrapers — welcome to Chongqing. Once largely unknown internationally, viral videos and social media influencers have turned it into a must-visit destination. Tourists now flock to its cliffside malls, spiraling highways, and glowing food streets. The city is a mix of old apartment blocks and shiny new skyscrapers, offering a real-life cyberpunk vibe that’s drawing attention from both local and global travelers.

“Sometimes falling apart is the only way to become whole again.” 

– Mandy Hale