5

Number of regions in northern Italy declared last week to be in a state of emergency because of severe drought. The five provinces—Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, and Emilia-Romagna—will get $38 million in immediate relief funds. The Po River (Italy’s largest) is down 30%, with devastating impacts on rice, vegetable, and wheat crops, as well as vineyards.