Cruise captain’s conviction upheldFLORENCE, Italy — An Italian appeals court has upheld the conviction and 16-year prison sentence for the Italian captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that capsized off Tuscany in 2012, killing 32 people.Prosecutors had sought 27 years and three months for Capt. Francesco Schettino, but the court kept the original sentence Tuesday, according to the ANSA news agency.Both the prosecution and defense appealed the conviction by a lower court last year. The prosecution sought to toughen the sentence while the defense argued that blame didn’t fall solely on Schettino.He remains free, and has one final appeal to Italy’s highest court.Schettino was convicted of manslaughter and causing the shipwreck by colliding with a reef near tiny Giglio island and of abandoning the capsized vessel with people still aboard.

Seine River floods in Paris, FrancePARIS — The Seine River has overflowed embankments in Paris as floods hit or threaten cities and towns around France.Paris City Hall closed roads along the shore of the Seine from the Left Bank in the east to across to the Eiffel Tower neighborhood in the west as the water level has risen 14 feet higher than usual.City authorities are warning residents and visitors to be vigilant today around the river banks, and said high river levels are expected to last through Friday.Unusually heavy rain in recent days across France has caused exceptional delays at the French Open and forced the evacuation of two prisons and left tourists soaking at sights around Paris.

Canadian residents returning to homesEDMONTON, Alberta — A phased return of more than 80,000 residents of the fire-damaged city of Fort McMurray will begin today as planned, Alberta’s premier announced Tuesday.Rachel Notley said that the wildfire is no longer an imminent threat to the city and critical infrastructure has been repaired. The massive wildfire destroyed about 2,400 structures almost a month ago in Fort McMurray but 90 percent of the city remains intact. Residents of three neighborhoods won’t be able to return because of environmental concerns.A boil water advisory remains in effect and many businesses will not be open.