These are the headlines you Need2Know:
* **Vatican Responds to Allegations of Abuse in Catholic Church:**
The Vatican responded Thursday to a Pennsylvania grand jury report on sex abuse by priests ー and subsequent cover-ups. In a statement, the Vatican said Pope Francis was "on the victims' side," and the Church “must learn hard lessons from its past.” The devastating report released this week concluded that 300 priests may have abused thousands of children over seven decades.
For more, [click here](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vatican-condemns-sex-abuse-described-in-pennsylvania-grand-jury-report-2018-08-16/).
* **Deliberation Continues in Manafort Trial:**
The jury will convene Friday for the second day of deliberation in the trial of President Trump's former campaign chair, Paul Manafort. The jury took a recess after submitting four questions to U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III, including one asking him to define “reasonable doubt." Even if Manafort is acquitted of the charges, he will face another trial later this year. For more, [click here](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/jury-begins-deliberations-in-paul-manaforts-tax--and-bank-fraud-trial/2018/08/16/d2b0f486-a170-11e8-8e87-c869fe70a721_story.html?utm_term=.08842ccc3912).
* **Rest in Peace, Queen of Soul:**
Aretha Franklin died Thursday from pancreatic cancer. The Queen of Soul, a Grammy-award winning singer and civil-rights activist whose most popular hits include “Respect” and “A Natural Woman,” was 76. Read Rolling Stone's obituary for Franklin [here](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/aretha-franklin-queen-of-soul-dead-at-76-119453/).
* **Trump Goes After Big Pharma**
The President called Thursday for the Justice Department to pursue lawsuits against drug companies for deceitful marketing of opioids. The Centers for Disease Control reported on Wednesday that 72,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year ー a 10 percent increase from 2016. For more, [click here](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/16/donald-trump-opioid-makers-could-face-federal-lawsuit/1008957002/).
Cheddar's Jill Wagner gets into the latest.
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President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a long-awaited executive order on cryptocurrencies, striking a careful balance between highlighting the risks of digital assets and touting their potential benefits.
McDonald’s said Tuesday it is temporarily closing all of its 850 restaurants in Russia in response to the country's invasion of Ukraine. The burger giant said it will continue paying its 62,000 employees in Russia.
The price of nickel, one of the key minerals needed to produce stainless steel and lithium-ion batteries, saw an unprecedented surge Tuesday amid fears that Western sanctions could cut off Russian supplies of the crucial commodity.
As Western companies cut ties with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, there's a possibility their Chinese rivals could move in and fill the void. Major corporations such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, and more have halted sales in Russia in hopes of encouraging Putin to back down, but now it seems those sanctions could be presenting a unique opportunity for China. Michael Friedson, Co-founder and Executive Editor of The Media Line News Agency, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss how these Western boycotts are reshaping geopolitical alignments, the global economy, and international trade.
Gas prices have reached their highest level since 2008, topping an average of $4 across the country. The surge comes as Russia's invasion of Ukraine triggers supply concerns in what was already an extremely tight oil market. Jay Hatfield, Chief Investment Officer at ICAP, breaks down why costs at the pump are so high right now, and just how high they could go.
President Joe Biden has announced that the U.S. will ban all Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine.
If confirmed, judge Ketanji Brown Jackson could become the first black woman on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court. Cheddar News speaks with Katie Barlow, Chief Legal Correspondent at Fox 5 to discuss the significance of the nomination.
The European Union is historically divided and slow when it comes to decision-making, but in the recent weeks, the 27 members have agreed upon several sanctions and decisions regarding foreign policy and defense. The EU has cut off Russian banks from the swift payment system, blocked Russian propaganda channels, and closed European skies for air travel to and from Russia. Germany, for example, who has refused to send any deadly weapons to conflict zones, has now agreed to send lethal weapons to Ukraine. Rupert Steiner, London Bureau Chief at Barron's, joins cheddar news to discuss.
Sam Stovall, Chief Investment Strategist at CFRA Research, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell where he dives into the factors contributing to Monday's market plunge and what could be in store when February's CPI data comes out on Tuesday.
Derek Shearer, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland and contributing writer for Washington Monthly, joins Cheddar News to discuss the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
