These are the headlines you Need 2 Know. * **Trump Changes Stance on Missing Journalist:** President Trump said Thursday it appears that missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead. In a significant reversal, Trump warned of “very severe” consequences if Saudi Arabia is responsible for the dissident's abduction and murder. Trump’s remarks come after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo returned from his trip to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin became the most high-profile government official to pull out of an upcoming Saudi investment conference. Hours later, Fox Business pulled its sponsorship from the event, becoming the final U.S. media partner to do so. Read more [here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/turkish-investigators-expand-search-for-missing-journalist-to-forest-farm-outside-istanbul/2018/10/18/55328548-d243-11e8-a4db-184311d27129_story.html?utm_term=.0bf6a238d8b8). * **Church Sex Abuse:** The Justice Department opened an investigation into several Pennsylvania dioceses after a recent report detailed decades of alleged child sex abuse in the Catholic Church. The report, released months ago, charged that bishops and other church leaders had covered up the abuse of over 1,000 people over more than 70 years. This is believed to be the first statewide investigation by the federal government into the church’s sex abuse, and Attorney Mitchell Garabedian (made famous in the movie “Spotlight”) said it’s the first time he’s heard of any federal investigation into child sex abuse in a Catholic diocese or church. Read more [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/18/us/church-sex-abuse-investigation-pennsylvania.html). * **Pope to Pyongyang?** Pope Francis is reportedly seriously considering an offer from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Pyongyang. A senior Vatican official said, "The Pope expressed his willingness” but “some conditions will have to be met.” No pope has ever visited North Korea. Read more [here](https://www.yahoo.com/news/pope-trip-north-korea-serious-possibility-under-conditions-104438258.html). * **'Brief Answers to Big Questions':** Stephen Hawking’s final book was published posthumously this week. In the collection of essays, the late physicist wrote that there is no God, and “there is no possibility of a creator because there is no time for a creator to have existed in.” Hawking also said in his work that the possibility of nuclear war and the severity of climate change are putting humans in grave danger. Read more [here](https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/stephen-hawking-claims-no-possibility-god-last-book-ncna921806). * **USA Gymnastics Arrest:** The former head of USA Gymnastics, Steve Penny, was arrested Wednesday and accused of concealing documents linked to the Larry Nassar case. This comes nearly three weeks after he was indicted by a grand jury for tampering with evidence. Read more [here](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/18/us/usa-gymnastics-former-president-steve-penny-arrest/index.html). * **Another Apple Event:** The tech giant sent out media invitations for a product event that will take place on Oct. 30 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The company is widely expected to unveil new iPads and updated versions of its Mac and MacBook. Watch on [Cheddar](https://www.cheddar.com/videos/new-ipads-macs-expected-at-oct-30-apple-event). * **MLB Playoffs:** The Boston Red Sox secured their tickets to the World Series in a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday. The Red Sox, who have been dominant so far this postseason, will play either the Milwaukee Brewers or the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park on Tuesday. Read more [here](https://nesn.com/2018/10/red-sox-notes-david-price-silences-all-doubters-by-spinning-game-5-gem/). * **No More 'Mansize':** Kleenex is renaming its “Mansize” tissues, which have been sold for 60 years in the UK, to “Kleenex Extra Large.” Parent company Kimberly-Clark announced the rebrand after mounting criticism and accusations of sexism. Read more [here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2018/10/18/kleenex-renaming-mansize-tissues-after-complaints-sexism/1682981002/). * **Royal Baby Bump:** Meghan Markle was photographed revealing a small baby bump in Australia while on a 16-day royal tour with her husband, Prince Harry. See the photos [here](https://www.today.com/style/pregnant-meghan-markle-thrills-baby-bump-watchers-new-pics-t140043). * **Nebraska Is Not For Everyone:** The state of Nebraska’s new tourism marketing campaign has an unusual slogan: “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” The self-deprecating campaign includes a print ad with the headline, “Lucky for you, there’s nothing to do here.” Another says, “Famous for our flat, boring landscape.” The state’s tourism director says to get people to listen, they had to “shake people up. Read more [here](https://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/nebraska-s-new-tourism-pitch-honestly-it-s-not-for/article_4e7a5320-fe58-544a-b8ac-078e075fb3f8.html). Cheddar's Hena Doba gets into the latest. Subscribe to the Need 2 Know newsletter [here](https://theneed2know.com).
