GERMANY
Trigger Happy
Traumatised teenagers shooting their mates has been mostly America’s story. Last week, though, the malaise surfaced in the small German town of Erfurt. Robert Steinhuaser stepped into his school, sporting a mask and holding a gun, and started shooting at his teachers and mates. Death toll: 17. It was an act of vengeance—Robert had been expelled from his school a few months back and banned from taking his high school examination. He chose a day when his classmates were taking their examination. The death toll would have been higher had his history teacher, Reiner Haise, not pushed him into a room, ripped off his mask and said: "Robert, it doesn’t make sense any more. But you can shoot me anyway." The teenager replied: "Yes, that’s enough for today." Robert then shot himself dead. Flags are at half mast in Germany, and its politicians want to make its gun-laws more stringent.
ARGENTINA
The Long Haul
The economic situation in Argentina continues to be grim. But staging demonstrations is no solace for millions who simply have no cash to make their purchases. Beunos Aires saw people barter goods for food. With Argentina getting its sixth economy minister—Roberto Lavagana—in one year, there is no doubt the country is in for a long haul.
