At least five people have died after a high-speed train hit railway workers in Italy today (August 31, 2023),the BBC website reports.
The workers were replacing part of a track near the town of Turin, Italian news outlet Ansa reported.
In a statement, Italian railway network (RFI) expressed its "deep sorrow" for the incident.
A federal judge has ruled that Rudy Giuliani is liable for defaming two Georgia election workers by repeatedly claiming the women were manipulating 2020 ballots, the NPR website reports today (August 30, 2023).
U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell issued a "default judgment" against Giuliani, writing in an opinion today that he "has refused to comply with his discovery obligations and thwarted plaintiffs Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Moss's procedural rights to obtain any meaningful discovery in this case."
The decision means a trial will begin to decide how much Giuliani must pay Freeman and Moss for "defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil conspiracy, and punitive damage claims."
The Kremlin has welcomed remarks by Pope Francis on Russsia's historical legacy, made on Aug.25 during a speech to young Russian Catholics, the RT website reports today (August 29, 2023).
"It's very good that the pontiff knows Russian history, which is deeply rooted," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists today.
Speaking by video to Russian Catholics, the pope called his audience in St. Pertersburg "heirs of the great Russia...of saints, of kings of Russia, of Peter the Great and Catherine II, of the great Russian Empire, and so much culture and humanity."
Pope Francis has blasted the "backwardness" of some conservatives in the U.S. Catholic Church, saying they have replaced faith with ideology and that correct understanding of Catholic doctrine allows for change over time, the AP website reports today (August 28, 2023).
Francis' acknowledgment of the divisions in the U.S. Catholic Church was sparked by a split between progressives and conservatives, particularly on abortion and same-sex marriage.
Many conservatives have blasted Francis' emphasis instead on social justice issues such as the environment and the poor, while also branding as heretical his opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive the sacraments,
The man who shot and killed three Black people in a racist attack at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Fla. was identified today (August 27, 2023) as Ryan Palmeter, a 21-year-old white man, the NY Daily News website reports.
"The shooter penned multiple manifestos that were full of ractst ramblings," Sheriff T.K. Waters said.
"They were, quite frankly, writings of a mad man," he added. "They included the rather liberal use of the n-word several rimes."
Ukraine and Russia are intensifying operations around the war-ravaged city of Bakhmut, as President Zelensky's forces increase their use of drones, the Euro News website reports today (August 26, 2023).
Russian air defenses have repelled a fresh drone attack on Moscow, which forced a temporary shutdown of all three major airports serving the city.
The Moscow region was repeatedly targeted in recent weeks, although there were no reports of major damage.
A California church is suing county officials for spying on its members during the state's coronavirus shutdown, the Christian Post website reports today (August 25, 2023).
Attorneys with Associates for Faith and Freedom filed the lawsuit in behalf of Calvary Chapel San Jose against Santa Clara County for utilizing a form of geo-tracking wile the church remained open under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
At the height of the pandemic, the church -- now known as Calvary Christian Fellowship (CCF) -- and Pastor Mike McClure defied social distancing orders and reopened the church. Both were later held in contempt of court and fined for violating a temporary restraining order.
