Iran vows legal action against Saudi after hajj disaster

Iran vows legal action against Saudi after hajj disaster
Pope comes to Philadelphia, pays tribute women in the church
How Boehner's exit may help avert a government shutdown
VW scandal exposes cozy ties between industry and Berlin
Pope moved by impromptu flight over Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island
Questions raised after shock belt used at Texas murder trial
New England prep schools overhaul sex ed programs after rape trial
Pope Francis crowns New York visit with public Mass
Fiorina backers make dubious abortion video
Pope Francis visits New York City
How John Boehner decided to leave Congress
Nonstop pope makes big impression on New Yorkers

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 07:42 AM PDT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Saturday vowed to take international legal action against Saudi Arabia's rulers over the crush of Muslim pilgrims at this year's hajj, which killed at least 769 people, including 136 Iranians.

Pope comes to Philadelphia, pays tribute women in the church

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 10:20 AM PDT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pope Francis arrived in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday for the final leg of his U.S. visit — a festive weekend devoted to celebrating Catholic families — and immediately called for the church to place greater value on women.

How Boehner's exit may help avert a government shutdown

Posted: 25 Sep 2015 10:41 PM PDT

The House speaker's departure is being considered a victory for the tea party, but the immediate result may be to thwart their hopes of shutting down the government next week.

VW scandal exposes cozy ties between industry and Berlin

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 05:05 AM PDT

Angela Merkel learned early in her political career that taking on the German car industry carries risks. It was the spring of 1995 and the newly appointed environment minister was trying to convince her cabinet colleagues to back a bold new set of anti-smog rules that included tougher speed limits and summer driving bans. Wissmann's argument won the day, reducing Merkel to tears, according to a 2010 biography by Gerd Langguth.

Pope moved by impromptu flight over Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 08:55 AM PDT

By Sebastien Malo and Philip Pullella NEW YORK/PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Pope Francis flew over New York's Statue of Liberty and the former immigration station of Ellis Island aboard a helicopter on Saturday, in an unscheduled detour that gave him nostalgia for his home town Buenos Aires. Flying to JFK International Airport to take a plane to Philadelphia, the pope asked the helicopter pilot to circle the landmarks, New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan said.

Questions raised after shock belt used at Texas murder trial

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:20 AM PDT

A potential death penalty trial in East Texas is set to resume on Monday after it was put on hold when a judge was said by a TV station to have had a shock belt used on the defendant for misbehaving. James Calvert, 45, of Tyler, Texas, is on trial in Smith County, where prosecutors allege he beat and fatally shot his former wife at her home and abducted their 4-year-old son in October 2012. Judge Jack Skeen allowed Calvert to defend himself, over objections from attorneys specializing in the death penalty, at the outset of the trial in August.

New England prep schools overhaul sex ed programs after rape trial

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 04:17 AM PDT

Elite New England private schools are revamping their sex education programs and school policies to help prevent sexual assaults after a high-profile student rape trial in New Hampshire drew scrutiny this summer. The moves by schools like Phillips Exeter Academy, Phillips Academy, and St. Paul's School mirror a broader campaign at American colleges and universities to crack down on rape after several cases that drew national attention.

Pope Francis crowns New York visit with public Mass

Posted: 25 Sep 2015 06:44 PM PDT

It marked his last public engagement in New York City before he leaves for Philadelphia.

Fiorina backers make dubious abortion video

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Pope Francis visits New York City

Posted: 26 Sep 2015 09:24 AM PDT

Pope Francis waves to the hundreds of faithful who came to see him off as he boards his flight from New York en route to Philadelphia from John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 26, 2015. (Photo: John Paraskevas/Getty Images)

How John Boehner decided to leave Congress

Posted:

Nonstop pope makes big impression on New Yorkers

Posted: 25 Sep 2015 07:20 PM PDT

From the United Nations to the Sept. 11 memorial to Central Park to Madison Square Garden — and everywhere in between — there was no escaping Pope Francis this week in New York City. Catholics and non-Catholics alike strained to see the Pontiff, with mixed success. Some got close enough to receive blessings. Many had to settle for catching a glimpse of him tooling around by motorcade in his black Fiat 500. Here's a look at varied impressions made by the nonstop pope on his frantic two-day visit: