A Florence appeals court rejected both the prosecutors’ request to imprison the Francesco Schettino, who is under house arrest, and the request of his lawyer to have him released.

Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin pledged to reduce the number of Russian officials who are allowed to bypass traffic jams by ignoring basic rules of the road.

Swollen rivers in Bulgaria and Greece burst their banks on Tuesday, leaving dozens of homes underwater, as Bulgarian officials declared a day of mourning for eight people confirmed killed after a dam collapsed.