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The GOP presidential nominee told a newspaper that as president he won't push abortion-restricting legislation. The remarks, which Mitt Romney has since walked back, surprised those on both sides of the abortion debate.

On Oct. 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII opened Vatican II, with a desire to let some fresh air into the Catholic Church. It was a revolution, especially for the nuns who were encouraged to go into the world and help the needy. But now the nuns are being censored, and a generational rift has emerged.

At issue is whether the University of Texas, Austin discriminated against a white applicant when it did not offer her a spot. At Wednesday's argument, a court majority seemed poised to reverse or severely cut back previous decisions related to affirmative action programs in college admissions.

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, which opened the Catholic Church's window onto the modern world. Among other things, it gave a larger role to lay people and updated the liturgy. But the changes provoked a backlash, the effects of which are being felt even today.

After more than 80 years, Emma Thompson's The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit brings Beatrix Potter's beloved character back for a romp around the Scottish countryside — and lots of rule breaking. Thompson says Peter Rabbit's "disrespect for authority" is one of the things she loves about him.

Jim Lehrer was slammed for losing control of last week's presidential debate, and Martha Raddatz is confronting criticism in the lead-up to Thursday's VP battle. But how much control can a moderator exert over ambitious and strong-willed candidates, especially when the stakes are so high?

Mo Yan was one of three writers favored to win. He is perhaps best known in the West as the author of Red Sorghum, which was made into a film. He is only the second Chinese writer to win the Nobel — the other is poet Gao Xingjian, who won in 2000.

In Michigan, voters will decide whether to force the state's utilities get at least 25 percent of their annual retail sales from renewable sources by 2025. There have been many competing claims about costs, jobs and spinoff issues.

In the bottom of the ninth against Baltimore, manager Joe Girardi sat down struggling Alex Rodriguez. He sent in pinch-hitter Raul Ibanez. He hit a home run to tie the game, then hit another home run in extra innings as the Yankees won 3-2.

In 1967, Roy Bates made himself prince of Sealand, an old British fort on a platform off the coast of England. Nevermind it was the size of a McMansion, Prince Roy ruled Sealand for four decades. Roy Bates died this week at 91.