MIRANDOLA, Italy — A powerful earthquake killed at least 15 people and left 200 injured Tuesday as it rocked a swath of northern Italy. Factories, warehouses and churches collapsed, dealing a second blow to a region where thousands are still homeless from another temblor just nine days ago.
PARIS — The day after Francois Hollande rode to power in France on a slogan of “change now,” the conversation in Europe was already different Monday: Austerity had become a dirty word.
ROME (AP) — The first victim from the Costa Concordia disaster was identified Wednesday — a 38-year-old violinist from Hungary who had been working as an entertainer on the stricken cruise ship.
BRUSSELS (AP) — European leaders were wrestling Thursday over how much of their sovereignty they are willing to give up in a desperate attempt to save the ambitious project of continental unity that grew from the ashes of World War II.
BERLIN — European nations were pressed Tuesday by a credit downgrade threat and the U.S. Treasury chief to deliver on markets’ huge hopes for a solution to the 2-year-old financial crisis engulfing the continent. Germany and France downplayed Standard & Poor’s warnings to downgrade 15 eurozone nations and Europe’s bailout fund. But a downgrade of their AAA ratings would complicate their efforts to restore investor confidence in Europe.
PARIS (AP) — Seeking to restore confidence in the euro, the leaders of France and Germany jointly have called for changes to the European Union treaty so that countries using the euro would face automatic penalties if budget deficits ran too high.
ROME (AP) — Under pressure to control its dangerous debt, Italy sped a package of reforms toward approval Friday and prepared to hand its dysfunctional government over to a technocrat who Europe hopes can save the country from going broke. Financial markets around the world rallied in relief.