Liechtenstein, the fourth smallest country in Europe, has been an independent nation since 1719. How did that happen? The Generalist Papers explains.
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Billionaire octagenarian, former football team owner, Bunga-Bunga Party host, one-time cruise ship crooner and disgraced 3-time former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, forced out of the Italian Senate over his 2013 tax-fraud conviction, has started serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Madonna Mia!
More:
“Forget the tax fraud and sex scandals. Italy’s Berlusconi is back.” Kevin Sullivan, Washington Post
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World War I, the “Great War,” involved 32 nations and lasted 5 years. When it ended in 1919, it redrew the world map, and many borders in Europe, The collapse of the Russian Empire created Poland, the Baltics, and Finland. The Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved into Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. When the Ottoman Empire collapsed, Turkey was established. The German Empire became Germany, and Germany lost substantial territory outside Europe.
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With Thursday’s referendum looming, it looks like even money that the UK may leave the European Union. Even the tragic murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by a pro-Brexit assassin hasn’t changed that. There’s much at stake, but British nationalism and xenophobia are running high, and it can be hard for those not directly involved in finance or trade to discern the benefits of EU membership and the high costs of Brexit.
And your normal British bloke just doesn’t feel very European. He might like bit of pastry and a cuppa for brekkie, but he can’t even butter a crescent-shaped croissant. The UK’s Tesco supermarkets finally gave up and stopped baking traditional curved croissants and straightened them out for the native-born. Can those even be called “croissants,” “cornettos”, or “cuernos”? Shudder. Could this be a sign of impending Brexit?
More:
“British Retailer’s Straight Croissants Leave Some Bent Out of Shape,” Dan Bilefsky, New York Times
“In a twist: Tesco’s decision to stop selling curved croissants sparks debate,” Damien Gayle, The Guardian
Straightened-Out Croissants and the Decline of Civilization,” Adam Gopniok, The New Yorker
“French mock Tesco over decision to only sell straight croissants because customers cannot spread jam properly,” Caroline Mortimer, The Independent
Thousands of desperate Syrians are fleeing their war-torn homeland for Europe, and Europeans react with grief or fear or shame or sympathy. But while their governments may be slow to help the new arrivals, families and churches are not:
“Germans Open Their Homes To Refugee Roommates,” Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, NPR News
“Why Austrians are opening their homes to refugees,” Maddy French, Aljazeera
“Activist convoy picks up migrants,” BBC News
“Amid unabated refugees crisis, pope calls on parishes to take in families,” Anthony Faiola and Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post
“Migrant crisis: the volunteers stepping in to help,” Joel Gunter, BBC News
“Finnish PM offers his home to asylum seekers,” Umut Uras, Aljazeera
“Bayern Munich donate $1.1 million to help refugees,” Tom McGowan, CNN
“Pope: Vatican will shelter 2 families fleeing war, hunger,” Frances D’Emilio, Associated Press
“Chile mulls plan to take in Syrian refugees,” Reuters via Jerusalem Post
“IOC sets up $2m fund for refugee crisis,” Aljazeera
“City of Sanctuary: Bristol rallies to help refugees as aid network swells,” Alexandra Topping, The Guardian
“Icelandic generosity could potentially help thousands of Syrian refugees,” Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post
“Munich mayor: I don’t think about numbers, only refugees’ safety,” Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian
“Google donates €1 million to help refugees in need,” Mark Wilson, BetaNews
“No ‘upper limit’ on number of refugees Ireland will take,” Sarah Bardon, Irish Times
“Australia ready to take more refugees from Syria, Tony Abbott says,” Sydney Morning Herald
“Some Israelis want to take in Syrian refugees. Netanyahu says no.” Ruth Eglash, Washingtton Post
“Syrian refugees challenge us to be better,” Tim Rogers, Fusion
125 years ago, in Auvers-sur-Oise, France, 37-year-old painter Vincent van Gogh fatally shot himself. Institutions around the world are marking the occasion with marksmanship contests bicycle tours, floral displays, meals, techno poetry, and exhibitions in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.
More:
“Five Places to Celebrate Van Gogh’s Legacy,” Hannah Sheinberg, Beyond the Guidebook
“Europe celebrates Van Gogh,” Deutsche Welle
“50,000-flower display marks 125th anniversary of van Gogh’s death,” Gabby Shacknai, PBS NewsHour
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In Italy, the brave people of Liguria, Piemonte and Lombardia are taking arms against a tough invader. An American invader, Sciurus carolinensis, the gray squirrel. Gray squirrels came to Italy after WWII, and are stealing food and habitat from their smaller European cousins, red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris). Those ruthless, bushy-tailed Yanks have even resorted to germ warfare, carrying diseases lethal to local rodents.
“Basta!” said the Italians, mounting a 2 million Euro defense. Under the leadership of zoologist Andrea Balduzzi they’re trapping and sterilizing squirrels in their parks. And squirrels caught outside park borders? Firing squad. War is Hell.
More:
“Parte la guerra allo scoiattolo grigio,” Alessandra Pieracci, La Stampa
English-language summary:
“Squirrel Wars: Italy Vows To Eliminate Its American Invaders,” Worldcrunch
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