Tourist Bus Crashes in Venice, 21 Dead
A tourist bus carrying 39 people crashed near Venice Tuesday evening, leaving at least 21 dead. The electric bus fell about 50 feet off an elevated road and burst into flames. The bus was running tourists between the Marghera district of Venice and the historical city center when it crashed. Those killed represented a wide variety of nationalities, and at least two were children, although identification of the victims has been difficult so far. Among the survivors, at least five are seriously injured. The cause of the crash is unclear; according to the bus company La Linea, the bus was less than a year old, and the driver — who was also killed — was highly experienced. Among speculations of what could have caused the crash are possible issues with the electric battery or a health problem with the driver. Venice’s mayor Luigi Bruganaro described the accident on social media as “an apocalyptic scene.”
India Cracks Down on Journalists
On Tuesday, police in Delhi raided the homes and offices of journalists tied to NewsClick, a left-leaning, independent news website known for being critical of the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The founder, an editor, and a journalist for the site were also arrested. The raids and arrests were prompted by a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, an anti-terrorism law which has been used at times to suppress dissent in the media. Indian officials are investigating allegations from a New York Times report that NewsClick received illegal funding to spread pro-China propaganda, which the site denies. In response to the raids, journalists and writers held a protest on Wednesday in Delhi. One of the attendees, human rights activist Yogendra Yadav, described it as “an attempt to muzzle voices.”
Catholic Church Meeting will Cover Hot-Button Issues
On Wednesday, Pope Francis opened a three-week, closed-door meeting on the future of the Catholic Church. The meeting, called a synod, will cover the blessing of same-sex couples, the ordination of women as deacons, the inclusion of married men in the priesthood, and other issues within the Church. For the first time in history, Francis invited women and laypeople to the meeting, who will make up less than a quarter of the 365 voting members. Francis acknowledged the ideological rifts over the issues this synod will cover but urged those present “to remember that [the synod] is not a political gathering, but a convocation in the spirit.” On Tuesday, however, a group of conservative Catholics published an exchange of letters between them and the pope in which they urged him not to make reforms to Church doctrine, including blessing same-sex couples.
