Pope Leo XIV diagnosed with lung cancer after surgery to remove part of right lung
ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and had the lower lobe of his right lung removed. The surgery Tuesday confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. The 71-year-old was in the operating room for about three hours, with the surgery lasting 90 minutes. The Vatican stated the surgery was successful with no complications. Leo returned to his room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital after the procedure. The American pontiff had revealed the discovery of a nodule during his Sunday prayer and announced plans for its removal. Oncologists say his prognosis is excellent since it was removed early.
House Democrats plan a first 100-days agenda if they sweep to power in midterm elections
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are preparing an ambitious 100-days agenda if they win the House majority in the midterm elections. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said the Democrats will be united “right out of the gate” on reinstating Affordable Care Act tax breaks, reversing Medicaid cuts, holding votes against the Iran war and undoing President Donald Trump’s tariffs. They expect to launch the agenda in the first 100 hours, once the new Congress is seated in January. The Republicans fighting to hold the House portray Democrats as beholden to a far-left socialist agenda. They say they'll continue to build on their accomplishments with Trump if they win.
Judge extends order blocking Trump from banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters from White House
A federal judge has extended an order blocking the Trump administration from banning reporters for three news outlets from the White House. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ruled Tuesday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico are likely to succeed in their constitutional free speech and due process claims. Kelly previously ordered the White House to restore the reporters’ “hard pass” press credentials while he weighed their claims. With that temporary order due to expire on Tuesday, the judge issued a preliminary injunction that preserves the status quo while the case is pending. The Justice Department, which is arguing the case on behalf of the administration, did not respond to a request for comment.
Texas prosecutor says ICE agent appeared to intentionally strike man with vehicle in Houston
HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas prosecutor says a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent appeared to use a vehicle to intentionally strike a man who took off running in Houston. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, a Democrat, says his office is weighing criminal charges against the driver. Miguel Parra Hernandez was struck by the car on Saturday and has a fractured leg and needed surgery. That's according to Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL Houston, an immigrant rights group that is helping the man’s family. The encounter has set off new protests over federal immigration enforcement in Houston, where an ICE officer fatally shot a man in his van this summer following a pursuit by unmarked vehicles.
China’s trade surplus hits $938 billion for Jan-Sep as pressure ramps up to rebalance trade
HONG KONG (AP) — China’s customs agency says the country's exports surged 36.3% in September from a year earlier. It comes as pressure ramps up from its trading partners, including the European Union, to rebalance trade. The exports data released Wednesday, which was better than what economists expected, accelerated from the 25% growth in August. High-tech goods such as semiconductors and autos have helped fuel its rising shipments overseas. Imports climbed 31% in September year-on-year, also accelerating from August’s 28.2% rise. That resulted in a $133.5 billion trade surplus for China last month, widening from $119.1 billion in August. China’s trade surplus reached $938 billion for the first nine months, with expectations growing that it could surpass last year’s full-year $1.2 trillion record.
Saudi Ministry of Energy reports limited fire in building at Aramco compound targeted in attack
CAIRO (AP) — The Saudi Ministry of Energy says a limited fire broke out in an administrative building in Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil facilities, that was targeted in the country's Eastern Province. The ministry said no injuries were reported. It comes as the Iranian-backed Houthis and the Saudi coalition exchanged attacks Tuesday night. It marks a fresh escalation in the widening Middle East crisis and came shortly after the Saudi coalition reported a series of alerts for incoming missiles heading for the country’s Eastern Province, a major oil-producing region and the capital Riyadh
Trump went all the way to Alaska in a sign of just how close its Senate race may be
WASILLA, Alaska (AP) — President Donald Trump has made an unusual campaign trip with the midterm elections looming. He went to Alaska to support Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, holding a Tuesday rally in Wasilla. The long journey is a sign of GOP fears about retaining control of the House and Senate after Election Day on Nov. 3. The state hasn't backed a Democrat for Senate in nearly 20 years. Trump promoted Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola and another candidate also named Dan Sullivan. He also stumped for Republican Rep. Nick Begich, who faces a competitive challenge from Bill Hill, an independent. Trump plans to hold rallies in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday.
Trump's ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigns after allegations of improper conduct
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he didn't like what he was reading about Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle before asking for and getting her resignation as she faces allegations she engaged in improper and possibly illegal conduct. Guilfoyle resigned Tuesday but says she’ll “vigorously defend” herself. Trump says Guilfoyle “was doing a good job” in Greece but "will not be there” anymore. The Wall Street Journal has reported questionable conduct by Guilfoyle, including accepting improper gifts and services and offering to use her influence inside the Republican administration in return for the payment of a large credit card bill. Guilfoyle says the allegations are false.
Six Flags closes 9 North American roller coasters after families watch man fall to his death
ATLANTA (AP) — Witnesses watched in horror as a man riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia was ejected from his seat and fell to his death. The nightmarish death prompted Six Flags to temporarily close nine similar coasters across North America. The man was killed Monday while riding Goliath, the park’s tallest roller coaster with a first hill of 200 feet. Authorities are investigating, but questions remain Tuesday about how the man fell out and whether there were problems with his restraints. Police identified him as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a school employee from Atlanta.
Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis gets 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the murder of Tupac Shakur
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for the murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur. Jurors convicted Davis of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon in late August. A Nevada judge handed down the sentence Tuesday. Shakur was struck in a drive-by shooting off the Las Vegas Strip in September 1996. The case went unsolved for decades. It was revived as Davis gave interviews and wrote a tell-all memoir about his role in the shooting. He later denied playing a part in it.
