The week's biggest stories and where they stand now, stories you may have missed, and what to watch this week.
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Pope Leo XIV led the Sunday Angelus from the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 18, his first major public appearance since surgery on Oct. 13 removed the lower lobe of his right lung. Tests confirmed adenocarcinoma. He left Gemelli hospital on Oct. 17; his surgeon says there is no clinical reason to cancel his Nov. 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru.
Late Friday, Oct. 16, President Trump signed an order waiving key parts of the Graham Russia sanctions law, including 100% tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas and 500% tariffs on Russian goods, two days before they were to take effect. He called it "a very good decision." Lawmakers in both parties objected; Congress is in recess until after Election Day.
At least 12 ships were attacked in the week ending Oct. 16, according to UKMTO, and October has seen the most ship attacks since the Iran war began Feb. 28. The U.S. says it controls the strait; Iran says ships are hitting mines. On Oct. 18, Iran's foreign minister said Iran's offer to reopen the strait within seven days still stands. Brent crude touched $110 a barrel on Oct. 16.
The Nasdaq fell 4.5% in the week ending Oct. 16, its worst week since June, as chipmakers and other AI stocks sold off. The S&P 500 lost about 2% and the Dow rose 0.7%. September consumer prices rose 3.7% from a year earlier, above forecasts. AAA's national average gas price was $4.33 a gallon, up from $3.06 a year earlier.
Federal authorities seized Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone and issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some relatives, in a probe of possible fraud in immigration paperwork, AP reports, citing a person briefed on it. It follows the Oct. 12 search of her Washington home. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin called it a "strong case." Omar has not been charged, denies wrongdoing and calls the probe political.
The Milwaukee Brewers swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS to reach their first World Series since 1982. The ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians is tied 2-2, with Game 5 on Oct. 18 in Cleveland. World Series Game 1 is Oct. 23 in Milwaukee.
The CDC reported 4,410 confirmed U.S. measles cases this year in its Oct. 16 update. Pennsylvania reports 1,260 cases and five confirmed deaths, and the CDC is sending an Epi-Aid team at the state's request. About 96% of U.S. cases were unvaccinated or of unknown status.
On Oct. 14, Treasury and the IRS proposed rules limiting Affordable Care Act premium tax credits to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and certain lawfully present noncitizens starting in 2027, with new verification requirements. The rules carry out last year's tax-and-spending law. Comments are due Nov. 30.
A study in JAMA Neurology projects new dementia cases worldwide will reach about 24.7 million a year by 2050, up from 11.4 million in 2023, based on 22 studies of nearly 40,000 people in 18 countries. Women and people in low- and middle-income countries face higher risk.
An observational study in The Lancet Psychiatry, published Oct. 14, found people with schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes treated with GLP-1 drugs had a 24% lower risk of psychiatric hospitalization. The authors call the findings preliminary and say randomized trials are needed.
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