The tourist mecca of Venice experienced a dramatic bout of acqua alta — or high water — flooding this Sunday, brought on by heavy rains that led to much of the coastal, historical city of bridges and canals getting swamped
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An Italian Job: Why Silvio Berlusconi Won’t Be Going to Jail Anytime Soon
The media tycoon and former Italian prime minister, sentenced to four years in prison on tax fraud charges, has a knack for slipping through the hands of justice
The Aquila Earthquake Verdict: Where the Guilt May Really Lie
The scientists were gathered by the government in a PR ploy to allay fears—when the probability of a quake were actually going up.
How to Improve a British Royal Scandal? Add Berlusconi
While the U.K. is in uproar over the publication of topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge, the homeland of the paparazzi sees it all a bit differently
In Autumn’s Challenges, a Series of Existential Crises for the Euro
The fate of the euro will be repeatedly tested in coming weeks, as the European Central Bank, markets, legal experts and politicians all weigh in from opposing sides in the struggle to preserve the tormented common currency
French President Hollande Embarks on His Own Mission Impossible
Under fire for not moving faster to mend France’s economy, Socialist President François Hollande is both pushing for further stimulus spending while also trying to slash budgets.
Breaching Fortress Europe: Despite the Downturn, Migrants Brave Fatal Crossing
Though the tide of illegal migration to Europe ebbed in 2012, many seeking work in richer countries are still attempting a dangerous, deadly journey
How France Is a Microcosm for the Euro-Zone Crisis
Renewed urban violence in France and continuing instability of the euro offer reminders that economic disparities and widening divisions can only be remedied through the difficult work of integration
Europe’s Good News: Economic Decline Is Bad, but Could Be Worse
A flurry of new economic data in Europe indicates that the slide of the euro zone toward recession isn’t as rapid as some had expected — though it is still steady enough to represent a major threat to the global economy
Austerity May Begin to Toll for France As Well
A big French carmaker makes painful cuts even as it grows increasingly clear that Hollande may have to inflict austerity on France.
Must-Reads from Around the World, July 10, 2012
Today’s picks: the stormy waters of the South China Sea, India faces the fallout from late monsoon rains and a controversial German writer and economist (not surprisingly) speaks his mind
France Needs $43 Billion to Meet Debt Targets — but Rejects Austérité
French auditors reveal a $43 billion funding shortfall for 2012 and ’13, forcing Socialist President François Hollande to shift his focus from progrowth efforts to measures that look a lot like austerity he criticized elsewhere
Must-Reads from Around the World, July 3, 2012
Today’s picks: Mexico declares emergency over renewed bird flu outbreak, a new report condemns Syria’s “state policy of torture,” and the Burmese parliament prepares to reshape its economy, following half a century of military rule.