Vatican signals more tolerance toward gays and divorce
VATICAN CITY — In a marked shift in tone likely to be discussed in parishes around the world, an assembly of Catholic bishops convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican released a preliminary document Monday calling for the church to welcome and accept gay people, unmarried couples and those who have divorced, as well as the children of these less traditional families.
Pleasant weather in store for Columbus Day
The period of seasonable and clear weather that Cambridge experienced this week will briefly come to an end as a low pressure system develops off the New England coast this evening. High clouds will overspread the region this afternoon and gradually thicken as moist air begins to stream northeast. Highs this afternoon should reach the lower 60s°F with winds out of the west. Rain will hold off until early tomorrow morning as an area of precipitation associated with the low rides along a stalled front to our southeast. Scattered showers should continue into the afternoon before clearing begins tomorrow evening. Expect highs tomorrow in upper 50s°F and northerly winds.
Parts of law limiting vote in North Carolina struck down
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a brief, unsigned order reinstating provisions of a North Carolina voting law that bar same-day registration and counting votes cast in the wrong precinct. A federal appeals court had blocked the provisions, saying they disproportionately harmed black voters. In a dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said she would have sustained the appeals court’s determination that the two provisions “risked significantly reducing opportunities for black voters to exercise the franchise.”
Russia seeks to play sanctions tit for tat
MOSCOW — The Russian Parliament on Wednesday took the first major step to authorize the Kremlin to seize foreign assets and use them to compensate individuals and businesses being hurt by Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.
As growth in Germany fades, Merkel hints at shift in policy
As evidence grows that the German economy, the largest in Europe, is beginning to stall, Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed a growing willingness to use government spending to stimulate growth, a possible shift in position that could ripple across the entire eurozone.
Beijing youth see little to cheer in Hong Kong protests
BEIJING — The pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong would seem to have universal appeal, a David and Goliath tale, starring young idealists, polite and considerate in their defiance, standing up to a mighty authoritarian government with a history of mercilessly crushing dissent.
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Patrick Modiano, a French novelist whose works often explore the traumas of the Nazi occupation of France and hinge on the themes of memory, loss and the puzzle of identity, won the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday. In an announcement in Stockholm, the Swedish Academy cited Modiano’s ability to evoke “the most ungraspable human destinies” in his work.
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ISTANBUL — With the United States continuing to pressure Turkey to do more in the fight against the Islamic State, Turkey’s position has hardened around an idea it has pushed for years as a strategy to confront the chaos of the Syrian civil war: a buffer zone along its frontier with Syria.The idea is emerging as a possible way to end the standoff between the United States and Turkey, and U.S. military planners are said to be looking at how to implement such a plan, which would require a no-fly zone and stepped up combat air patrols to take out Syrian air defense systems.
Easier time in health marketplace is promised
WASHINGTON — Obama administration officials said Wednesday that consumers would have a much easier time buying health insurance in the federal marketplace this fall, and although they promised that HealthCare.gov would not crash, they provided few operational details to back up their confidence in the revamped website.
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Another death has been added to the toll from accidents involving General Motors cars with a defective ignition switch.
Promise seen in deals with Iraqi tribes against Islamic state
BAGHDAD — After enduring weeks of abuse by insurgents of the group called Islamic State, members of the Aza tribe struck a secret deal last month with local police and military officials: The authorities would supply weapons to two tribal regiments totaling about 1,150 fighters, and in return the tribe would help government security forces fight Islamic State.
Pope Francis urges open dialogue on family issues
VATICAN CITY — Setting the tone for a two-week meeting of Roman Catholic bishops, Pope Francis on Monday urged participants to speak openly and clearly, without fear of censure. He also called on the participants to listen to each other with humility and to respect differing opinions.
Virginia issues licenses to same-sex couples
ARLINGTON, Va. — Virginia began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court’s surprise decision letting such marriages stand in five states.
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The University of Florida announced Monday that quarterback Treon Harris, a true freshman who came off the bench to lead the Gators to a victory Saturday, had been suspended “from all team activities” after a female student accused him of sexually assaulting her early Sunday morning in a residence hall.
New Wal-Mart program aims to enhance food sustainability
Walmart announced an initiative Monday to reduce the environmental impact of the food it sells and help its customers improve the nutrition in their diets.
Bad news for those sick of rain
Last night, the high pressure system that gave us sunny weather over the past two days slid offshore, taking the clear skies and dry weather with it. The dominant feature over the next two days will be a low pressure system currently spinning over Ontario, trailing a cold front to its south. Rain will be likely tonight and tomorrow morning ahead of this front. Otherwise, today and tomorrow you can expect cloudy skies and a high temperature around 70°F (21°C).
Infected nurse in Spain shows faults in Ebola defense
BARCELONA, Spain — A nurse in Spain has become the first health worker to be infected with the Ebola virus outside of West Africa, raising serious concerns about how prepared Western nations are to safely treat people with the deadly illness.
Rainy Saturday could dampen weekend plans
There is a chance of rain this weekend as a Low in the Great Lakes region sweeps cold air in our direction. The most rain (up to 0.50 in) is likely to hit late in the evening Saturday and pass by Sunday morning, so don’t completely write off your outdoor weekend plans yet. Clear skies and a moderately warm day (mid/upper 60s °F) should follow the wet weather on Sunday. This kind of weather associated with the passing of fronts is likely to be the norm over the coming weeks.
Refiners say they can handle light, sweet crude from US wells
WASHINGTON – Refiners opposed to oil exports said Thursday they have more than enough plants and equipment to process the light, sweet crude flowing out of U.S. wells, countering the chief argument of oil producers hoping for a new era of overseas sales.
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DONETSK, Ukraine — Rocket fire slammed into an elementary school and a city bus here on Wednesday morning, killing nine people, while fighting continued to rage at the Donetsk airport.