The information on this page is intended for journalists If you click NO you will come back to Mynewsdesk.com Ancient volcanoes continued to eject carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for millions of years after their eruptions ended A series of tremendous volcanic eruptions in Siberia led to Earth’s most severe mass extinction The Earth's climate took nearly five million years to stabilise after these eruptions according to climate records far longer than expected based on current scientific understanding But now a discovery of ‘cryptic carbon’ emissions has solved this long-standing mystery identifying a hidden source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during times when the Earth has warmed abruptly The findings have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Geoscience including Dr Jack Longman from Northumbria University’s Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences set out on a major study to understand what caused prolonged episodes of warming during turning points in Earth’s climate history The team compiled chemical analyses of the lavas developed computer models simulating melting inside the Earth and compared the results with records of past climate preserved in sedimentary rocks They found evidence that carbon dioxide emissions could last millions of years after most surface eruptions had ended Although eruptions may have stopped on the surface carbon dioxide was still being released from magma deep in the crust and mantle – a phenomenon they called “cryptic degassing” – which led to prolonged climate warming The research team say the findings are significant because they identify a hidden source of atmospheric carbon dioxide and highlight not only an important piece of the puzzle for how Earth’s climate was disrupted Dr Jack Longman an Assistant Professor in Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University worked as part of the team modelling the impact of the volcanic activity on Earth He explained: “Traditionally it has been assumed that during these large volcanic eruptions the climatic warming resulting from them was offset by cooling chemical reactions which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere occur This is a natural climate control system – almost like Earth’s own thermostat – so the extended warming we had seen had left scientists a little baffled “We found that amount of carbon dioxide continuing to be released via what we have called ‘cryptic degassing’ caused an apparent failure of one of the natural thermostats which controls Earth’s climate explaining the extended periods of warmth post enormous volcanic eruptions “Although the chemical reactions to draw down carbon from the atmosphere were occurring we were able to assess why this apparent natural thermostat did not function at times the amount of carbon being drawn down was negligible when compared to the amount still being released from deep inside the volcanos.” If volcanoes kept “turning the temperature up” long after their eruptions were believed to be over it could mean the Earth’s thermostat may work better than scientists thought The team emphasised that ‘cryptic’ carbon from volcanoes cannot explain present-day climate change but that they hope to learn about current and future climate responses from these past eruptions These findings are the beginning of a multi-year effort funded by the National Science Foundation to investigate how cryptic carbon could influence recovery after major disruptions of Earth’s climate The study was led by Rutgers University in New Jersey and involved researchers from the Universities of Oregon Dr Longman is a member of Northumbria University’s Environmental Monitoring and Reconstruction (EnMaR) research group which studies modern and ancient environments and seeks to answer fundamental global questions about climate and the environment The paper Cryptic degassing and protracted greenhouse climates after flood basalt events is now available in Nature Geoscience. Press release adapted with thanks to Rutgers University UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR 2022 (Times Higher Education Awards) Northumbria is a research-intensive university that unlocks potential for all Two thirds of Northumbria's undergraduate students come from the North East region and go into employment in the region when they graduate demonstrating Northumbria's significant contribution to social mobility and levelling up in the North East of England Find out more about us at www.northumbria.ac.uk --- Please contact media.communications@northumbria.ac.uk with any media enquiries or interview requests --- Entrepreneurial ambitions continue to be championed by Northumbria University and showcased by the success of graduate business Burger Drop opening restaurants across the country The SAT-Guard project aims to leverage satellite technology to enhance energy management and restore power following extreme weather events it seeks to improve grid resilience and coordination of distributed energy resources across the UK Enterprise Mobility has pledged additional funding and scholarship support to help existing and aspiring students from all backgrounds join Northumbria - and thrive.Through its Enterprise Mobility Foundation the global vehicle rental company has committed a further £13,500 to Northumbria in the next academic year raising its total funding support for the University since 2021 to £35,000 A team of leading sleep researchers from the British Sleep Society have called for the government to abolish the twice-yearly clock changes in the UK due to the adverse effects on sleep and circadian health Northumbria University is a research-intensive university that unlocks potential for all When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services You can withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account Sicily was still suffering from extreme heat Now it is raining so heavily that cars are being washed into the sea Several cars have been swept into the sea on the Italian Mediterranean island of Sicily as a result of heavy rainfall The vehicles were washed away by the masses of water near the municipality of Riposto on the east coast no people were injured: The cars were parked on the road Sicily has been suffering from persistent rain The fire department had to be called out several times to evacuate people from their homes to safety they managed to get four residents out of a ground-floor apartment that was already flooded just in time 🚨 Catania, Sicily - Italy 🇮🇹A river of water and mud floods streets, homes, and shopsThe population is once again on its kneesBetween volcanic ash and torrential rains, the people of Catania show incredible patience and resilience pic.twitter.com/U1kHth8Kvt the emergency services rescued drivers who were unable to get out of their vehicles without help Amateur videos also showed vehicles almost completely submerged in mud which is home to almost five million inhabitants the water shot through the streets at high speed Catania, Sicily this morning....pic.twitter.com/ho2DoILJsd there have already been several storms in recent months particularly in northern regions such as Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy Antoaneta Roussi is a cybersecurity reporter at POLITICO Italy — Stepping off the airplane in Sicily feels like entering a furnace We land in Trapani, 300 kilometers west of Catania, the original destination of our flight. We were rerouted because of a fire at the airport, an issue which will also occur some days later in Palermo. It's just the start of things to come As the reality sinks in — that our vacation has taken us to the hottest corner of Europe and we've been packed onto a cramped bus and transported across Sicily — the theme of our long-awaited Italian break emerges: Dante’s Inferno The original plan was to stay in a century-old Sicilian villa But since it's 37 degrees Celsius at night we opt for a hotel with air conditioning after our 10-month-old son refuses to sleep The next day we decide to make the best of it and drive to a nearby beach We dip in the sea but floating around us are pieces of ash from nearby wildfires It brings back memories from my time spent reporting in Sudan’s capital Khartoum where all houses have blacked-out windows to stop the oppressive heat from coming in. The Italian meteorological society warns it will be 46 degrees We drive to the villa to check in on my in-laws As we sit around the breakfast table bearing the heat a black plume of smoke appears in the distance We go out onto the terrace to see more clearly and the column is only about a kilometer away The phone belonging to our host Paola starts ringing urgently We stay a little longer but once a palm tree catches fire — a matchstick effect — we pack up my in-laws and leave The 86-year-old grandma whose husband bought the property so many years ago looks on with glazed eyes at the flames. darkening the sky as holidaymakers bathe nervously in the pool my husband helps the lifeguard extinguish a fire that has auto-combusted in the parking lot four adults and a baby packed into a hotel room We decide to drive to the nearest place we can have a walk and be cool: the Conforama mall The wind burns my face as we make our way to the air-conditioned car we realize that everyone has had the same idea A woman is rocking a baby to sleep; a group of old women are fanning themselves on a bench; children are playing with shopping carts a symbol of the Western mass-consumption lifestyle which has spurred climate change is now paradoxically the only refuge we have a group of young boys shout “Hallelujah” as they enter temperatures drop to a still-sweaty 34C thanks to a strong wind blowing Our phones light up in the morning with a warning of “extremely poor” air quality I return to the hotel room and my hair smells of BBQ. What of the livelihoods of my husband's friends and all of the people living around Catania which are so intrinsically linked with the land and with tourism Paola’s neighbors couldn’t save their house; they were 147th in line for the fire engine We step off the boat in Reggio Calabria and are greeted by rain Political rival to Samuel Cogolati reportedly approached by Chinese intelligence Hannah Neumann was targeted in a cyber-espionage operation by an infamous Iranian hacking group earlier this year president has gone on the warpath against DEI and the alliance is falling into line according to three people familiar with the matter Here's where the wave of bad weather that has hit Sicily hard in the next few hours will move 6 min Yesterday a very violent wave of bad weather hit the high coast of Catania, between Acireale, Giarre and Riposto, where over 500 mm of rain fell in less than 6 hours. As we saw in this article, the risk of seeing extreme weather events in Sicily, Italy was high and in recent days a red alert had been activated are added to the 800 mm that fell in the last 6 days while in 10 days the total exceeded 1000 mm even for an area accustomed to extreme weather events Flooding also on the Messina-Catania motorway section between Giarre and Fiumefreddo To understand the extent of this phenomenon it is useful to compare these values with the average annual rainfall of the area an amount of rain has fallen equal to or greater than that which normally accumulates in an entire year An event of this type is exceptional and rare especially for the persistence of the precipitation and its intensity The amount of rain that fell in 10 days exceeded the annual average highlighting the absolute extraordinariness of this meteorological phase such accumulations in such a short period represent a historical anomaly for the area The heavy rainfall has inevitably caused widespread disruption and damage The infrastructure and agricultural activities in the area have suffered significant impacts with repercussions also on local communities it will be important to monitor the meteorological evolution in the coming weeks to avoid further damage and plan emergency interventions the bad weather that hit Giarre and Riposto represents an "exceptional" meteorological event of this autumn 2024 The last residual rains were still affecting the coastal area of Catania yesterday evening near the border with the province of Messina But this was the last trace of bad weather a general improvement in weather conditions was expected with the rotation of the winds on the ground from the south-west which will favour the dissipation of the low cloud cover and the associated rains Today on the Ionian coast of Sicily the sun will shine while on the Tyrrhenian coasts of the island there will be a marked variability with some scattered rain that will then also wet the Tyrrhenian Calabria While over the weekend a phase of stable and sunnier weather will open We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Joseph “Giuseppe” Scordo, 86, of Liverpool, passed away July 15, 2022 at St. Joseph’s Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Riposto Sicily, Italy, son of the late Carmelo and Carmela Scordo and immigrated... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Joseph "Giuseppe" Scordo created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Available by phone 24/7 Bamonte’s per se doesn’t make a cameo but Scorsese sure stresses the power of the perfect red sauce joint in the mob scene – for which Bamonte’s is still bar none A real-deal 4th generation Italian family-run restaurant these old walls are covered in photos of the who’s who of Italian-American royalty going generations back The waiters/ extended family members with Italian-tinged Brooklyn accents are always in their tuxedos and the classic signature Neapolitan menu has not changed since the ’50s who has been a waiter there for nearly half-a-century the 119 year-old joint with arguably the city’s toughest table (They’re mostly reserved for wiseguys will only open his reservation book to newcomers on very rare occasions which sometimes offers a loophole for walk-ins Well-dressed ladies and gentlemen have a better chance of being invited in for a drink at the bar where they might end up sitting next to Frank himself who spends most nights at the restaurant if he isn’t moonlighting as a Hollywood mobster (you may recognise him as the Italian-American racketeer Johnny Dio in Scorsese’s Goodfellas) you can usually find a lunchtime table waiting for you at Emilio’s Ballato – if you can get past Emilio that is; the wise-talking boss who talks like Tony Soprano and occupies the table by the door making nervous newcomers feel like they’ve just interrupted a mob meeting Emilio moved to Little Italy from south of Naples at the age of 9 Black-and- white antique photographs of his family in the old country hang alongside autographed celebrity portraits on the weathered walls Come dinnertime there’s a little more competition for tables and the boss doesn’t take reservations — unless you’re part of the “family” They just don’t make ‘em like Volare anymore but the good old times never left this West Village Italian ristorante and the extended Mediterranean family you never knew you had is waiting here with open arms and homemade cannoli tell Sal or Falco what you like and they’ll make it from scratch They also pour a drink the way a drink should be poured so sit back and settle in at this sub-street-level dining room ready for a Martin Scorsese scene with its history-covered That could indeed be the ghost of Sinatra sitting over in the corner slapping the backs of his rat pack buddies as they tuck into their lasagna pasticciata and pollo alla sorrentina NY 10012; +1 212 777-2849; Open from noon to near midnight Mon-Fri Frank goes to talk business and sweat out his troubles at a spot reading Scorsese is likely referencing the real Russian & Turkish Baths in the East Village which was patronised by so many infamous New York tough guys (including Frank Sinatra) that back in the day an alleged job requirement for masseurs was to be hearing impaired (so as to not overhear mob gossip) Many a New Yorker has heard tales of the Manhattan health club reminiscent of a Soviet-era sanatorium where unwinding entails slapping some mud on your thighs gnawing a sausage and getting expertly beaten with oiled down switches into a new set of skin Bathhouses used to be all over the city in the 19th century and this joint is one of the final hold-outs of a bygone time ranging from pot-bellied old-timers to a younger Shakespearean-level drama of this place: the never-ending rift between co-owners Boris Tuberman and David Shapiro which has had the two characters alternating weeks of operation since the 1980s The reason for the eternal quarrel is unclear but likely has something to do with David’s welcoming millennials while Boris prefers to keep things old school (and the water temperatures hotter) So decide where to declare your allegiances and book a “Boris Week” or “David Week” online sausages and beer on the rooftop deck modeled after a traditional Russian Dacha NY 10009; + 1 212 674-9250; Weekdays 12pm-10pm weekends 9am- 10pm; Russianturkishbaths.com/hours) metaphorical undertones to Jimmy Hoffa’s love for ice cream in the movie but we were most delighted to see our beloved Hildebrandt’s Ice Cream and Soda Fountain making a rather significant cameo in the scene where Hoffa finds out JFK has been assassinated while out for a sweet snack To quote ourselves from the Don’t be a Tourist in New York – “Hildebrandt’s is begging to be discovered by film scouts” She may be a little ways out past Queens on the road to Long Island but boy did this grand old dame make for a beautiful filming location Going “since 1927…because one person tells another” says the menu and coke floats served in the old fashioned soda fountain glasses We also meet Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno a don for the Genovese family – and if you keep your eyes open you’ll see that surname sprinkled all around the traditionally Italian stretches of South Williamsburg “Salerno” has been king of a certain stretch of Lorimer street since 1959 they mount a massive nativity scene and their own street lights Four blocks up Lorimer street is the headquarters of the Brooklyn Giglio Boys Club which plays a huge role in the summertime Italian block party nearby but it’s a trip to walk by and hear the old Brooklyn Italian accents of goodfellas tending its grounds The Boys Club helps provide the men who hand carry a massive shrine during the festival The New York Times called the operation “[an] ambulatory campanile”: You just gotta see it for yourself. Find Giglio Boys Club at 557 Lorimer St NY 1121 and the annual festival a few blocks up by Our Lady of Mt Here’s what you need to know about the movie: the life of hit man Frank Sheeran (DeNiro) forms the narrative arch of the film along with his increasingly divisive friendships with iconic union leader Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino) and a gangster named Russell Bufalino (Pesci) where gangster Crazy Joe Gallo gets killed on his birthday that part of the story is 100% true… kills Gallo in front of his family by nonchalantly walking into the iconic Manhattan restaurant Whether or not not Frank – a very real mob-adjacent figure who died in 2003 – actually killed Gallo is a matter of constant speculation Same goes for his self-proclaimed murder of Jimmy Hoffa which opened its doors just two months prior to Gallo’s murder was indeed founded by the Umberto mobsters and a bonafide gangster hangout until it closed in 1996 it reopened two blocks away in 2000 in Little Italy and the restaurant is still owned by members of the Ianniello family on the nearby corner of Orchard and Broome Street there are still some locals that come to eat at Umberto’s visit the place You can expect the calamari to be perfectly fried and when it comes to the pasta – well everyone deserves a garlic facial once in a while You can find Umberto’s at 132 Mulberry Street (between Grand Street and Hester Street) Ristorante Da Gennaro occupies the original location of Umberto’s Clam House AKA the “Mario Merola Building,” is an Art Deco gem it’s a favourite for production company scouts (ex We get a peek inside when Frank and Jimmy head to court a plain black door with a small plaque reads “Non-Members Welcome.” This was once the home of a Sicilian social club back when the neighborhood was still predominantly Italian where club members would come to sip grappa and play cards After the club folded due to dwindling membership in 2003 it was turned into Brooklyn Social a year later Decorated with mementos of the original Society Riposto back in Sicily the bar has retained a friendly and cozy character Tony’s Park Barbershop in Brooklyn is just the kind of place we can picture Frank getting a haircut quietly sandwiched between a deli and car service shop a cursive mantra reading,” Any Style…You Like,” is fading Yet, when you step inside, the warmth and life of the space is almost tangible thanks to longtime owner Tony Garofalo, who emigrated to Brooklyn in 1964, got a job at this Park Slope barbershop and became the owner a year later when he bought the business for just under $2,000. Discover the barbershop here One of the movie’s most iconic moments occurs when Frank gives a man a serious pounding at a corner grocery that reminds us a bit of Leo’s Latticini 1935 boasting the freshest mozzarella this side of the Atlantic Much of the Lower East Side’s authentic Little Italy has sadly disappeared along with the Italian families who once lived in this pocket of Lower Manhattan this charming cheese shop has been here on the corner of Mulberry and Grand streets since 1892 You’ll hear thick Sicilian accents and Italian spoken in the kitchen at Ferdinando’s Foccaceria which has been serving authentic specialties from the city of Palermo since 1904 Customers have been coming to this time capsule in Carroll Gardens since they were children The lingering joke is that Ferdinando’s looks so much like a mob café from old New York that the framed pictures on the wall might just be concealing bullet holes Scorsese’s also given it his stamp of approval as evidenced by their photographs proudly hanging on the 100-year-old front door One of the few old school bowling joints left is a perfectly retro Bronx treasure (you have to manually track your scores with a pencil) It also hosts one of the movie’s most memorable scenes between Joe Pesci’s character Last Updated on February 6, 2020 by Francky Knapp To disappear in the citrus groves beneath looming Mount Etna Well-mannered Milanese families lead children wrapped in fluffy towels like ducklings to a futuristic pool, cleverly sliced into the volcanic rock as if it was nature’s design. Beyond it, 13 hectares of fruit trees shift in a warm breeze. The main house is a peach, peeling vestige of Sicily a restaurant with impressive vaulted ceilings and bright rooms that blink out towards either Mount Etna or the Ionian Sea Casually dressed couples explore the labyrinthine citrus groves but the rhythm here seems deliciously docile – guests go from Hamam to Aperol Gucci and Versace may appear at the theatrical tasting menus but Zash doesn’t have the suited-and-booted pressure of some Sicilian classics This rose-hued manor house, once a summer retreat for Catania’s nobility was bought by the Maugeri family in the 1930s By the 1960s they had replaced the vineyards with citrus groves and fruit trees to spruce up the manor house while taking care to preserve its bygone romance The goal was to send guests to a time when nature called the shots using contemporary architecture which seems to blend seamlessly into the surrounding gardens It’s a perfect expression of reverential modern design and architecture – from the smoothed lava stone slabs lining the walls in cubic Poolside Villas to the restaurant’s reimagined Palmento Rooms in the main house nod to the building’s noble bones complimenting its sweeping ceilings with airy whites and modern lacquers This is particularly true of the Blend Rooms: subterranean design dens housed in the old cellars where smooth white-washed walls deliberately (and handsomely) jar against the rough The equally minimalist Unique Suites are spread between the main house and a small terracotta-tiled building in the garden but it's the Iconic Rooms and the Pool Villas designed by Iraci Architetti – with smooth lava stone walls low beds and glass walls – that are unapologetically modern televisions seemingly floating somewhere in the wall cavity curtains that expose the cube-like room to the rustling lemon trees Riposto Zash hotel Boutique.Alfio GarozzoFood and drink The dizzying standard of Zash’s food continues in the lunch menu which also rolls out in the cavernous space where the original millstone remains Coiffed Italians order bottles of red from the famous Sicilian estate to go with plates of ravioli and meaty mains Breakfast is a more casual affair on the patio; where fresh smoothies fruit and granola keep the wellness crowd on the straight and narrow – until traditional Sicilian cakes and pastries such as apricot cake lead them astray The designers certainly seized on a volcanic narrative – the dark lava rock remains setting a sultry tone and carving out a serene central pool Steam escapes from a sharply configured sauna and Turkish Hamam while languid figures in towels drift from hemolymphatic massages with Sicilian citrus oils to the relaxation beds where wafts of orange blossom lull them to sleep as are jaunts to the rambling flea markets and splendidly scruffy trattorias of nearby Catania Tap into Zash’s wealth of regional knowledge especially when it comes to the local wine scene and the best vineyards Aside from a formidable restaurant and spa the service sets this hotel apart from other country boutiques in Sicily Despite the lofty food standards and Gucci-clad guests an upbeat team steers clear of any pretentious antics treading the polite-but-personable line with skill The restaurant team wears its impressive training lightly dipping into an encyclopedic knowledge of Sicilian wine and cheering up a grumpy toddler in the same breath Zash Country Boutique HotelAlfio GarozzoFor families While certain areas of Zash feel distinctly grown-up the citrus groves are hide-and-seek heaven the pool is open enough to keep one eye on a brood with the other on a glass of Donna Fugata and a sensible approach to timings makes the restaurant fair game too Cots are provided in the rooms and high chairs in the restaurant It’s worth noting that the compact nature of the hotel doesn’t lend itself well to discretion – young children and honeymooners may not always share the same holiday agendas The hotel peddles a zero-kilometre food philosophy using herbs and citrus fruits from the garden then trawling local markets for fresh ingredients Towels are only washed if left on the floor but one little change to raise the eco standard would be refill bottles for bathroom products Accessibility for those with mobility impairments Hotel address: Zash Country Boutique Hotel, Strada Provinciale 2 I-II N60, 95018, Riposto, Sicily ItalyWebsite: zash.itPhone number: +39 095 782 8932Price from: £158 and lava in a new eruption earlier this week Italian authorities said it posed no danger to any of the surrounding villages and residents did not seem concerned. Scroll down to see spectacular images of the eruption Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe Source: Britannica Mount Etna has erupted frequently in the past 500,000 years Source: Euronews Source: The Telegraph Source: The Independent "I think we would be more worried if all these events didn't happen," Palumbo said Source: Volcano Discovery Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL Magazine Free Daily E-Letter Video Our Experts Testimonials FAQsTopics As if great wine, delicious food, picture-perfect towns brimming with history, and stunning beaches were not enough to make you want to move to Italy now a low tax rate has been added to make the country even more irresistible the Italian government approved a new tax incentive for retired foreigners you can pay only 7% flat tax on foreign income The flat tax applies to any foreigner who receives a pension from a country that has a tax treaty agreement with Italy (such as Tax Information Exchange Agreements or TEIAs) and has resided outside of Italy for the previous five years The new law has some exemptions and is still being tested so you will need a good tax consultant by your side to navigate its application but the advantages of the tax break known as the “Foreign Pensioners’ regime” are tempting The flat-rate tax incentive is available for up to six years you revert to standard Italian tax ranging from 23% to 43% One of the conditions of the new flat tax regime is that you have to move to a town with a population of less than 20,000 inhabitants in the southern regions of Abruzzo as long-term rentals are affordable and your weekly groceries won’t break the bank and enjoy a full meal in a traditional restaurant for less than $20 Small towns are everywhere in southern Italy the whitewashed buildings of Polignano a Mare overlook the Adriatic Sea and the food is typically Mediterranean: plenty of fruit A train station in the town and an international airport 20 minutes’ drive away in Bari means that you are only a hop away from major national and European destinations They like Polignano a Mare and are considering settling down there under the new Italian tax regime and the quality of life are just wonderful We live very well on our retirement income in Puglia two-bedroom apartment with a terrace and sea views.” Vicki says food in Puglia is cheaper than in the U.S and that they can shop daily for fresh produce and fish when in Italy “Puglia is a good place to have a nice retirement and go to concerts or to the opera house in Bari.” Rental prices vary from $560 to $1,120 depending on the distance from the beach With a small population of about 9,000 people the historic town of Guardiagrele oozes character They go to there three or four times a year and stay for a month each time “Every evening folks turn out for the passeggiata stroll before heading home for supper They have warmly welcomed us into their community Often called “the terrace of Abruzzo,” the historic hilltop town retains its medieval character Guardiagrele has everything for comfortable living Eateries range from simple pizzerias where you can grab a slice for less than $2 to a Michelin-star restaurant the whole town comes out to the market on the main square There are shops of all types in the center of town and gourmet food shops line the narrow streets,” says Lauren “The area around Guardiagrele is renowned for its wines with many wineries where we can sample the great wines of Abruzzo,” she adds The Adriatic coast with its beautiful beaches and excellent seafood restaurants is less than 40 minutes away.A fixer-upper in town can be yours for $19,000.When Lauren and Kurt stay in Abruzzo they spend significantly less than back home “The cost of living is much lower than in the U.S Property prices and real estate taxes are very low in comparison The local craftsmanship is excellent and there are many contractors available who speak fluent English,” says Lauren Lauren and Kurt paid $50,000 in 2010 for their 860-square-foot house “It is in the ancient walled part of the town From our rooftop terrace we can see all the way to the sea and the mountains as well as the local old church of San Francesco.” Sitting on the splendid Ionian coast overlooked by Mount Etna the town of Riposto is home to about 15,000 inhabitants the town is not overrun by mass tourism and retains its traditional charm who moved to Riposto from California in 2012 loves the slow-paced life in the town and appreciates the simple pleasures of Sicilian living rent a spacious three-bedroom villa surrounded by citrus and palm trees “You can find a simple apartment for $560 a month but there are also places that lease for thousands of dollars,” says Benjamin “Buying property is a good idea; prices are on the rise two-bedroom seafront apartment is on the market in Riposto for $163,000 Another option is a spacious two-bedroom apartment with panoramic views of Mount Etna and large terrace for sale for $110,000 (both Casa Catania Airport operates national and international flights all within a 30-minute drive,” says Benjamin “Most of the shops in town cater to daily living The big and small streets in town are marked with fish and farmers’ markets “Our monthly living expenses are roughly half of what they were in California,” says Benjamin “Rent and amenities fluctuate with your needs 10 Things To Do In Italy…for that Uniquely Italian Experience An Insider’s Guide: Best Things to Do in Tuscany The Marvels of Traveling in Italy By Stacy Adimando Cannoli have always been a fixture in Angie Rito’s family he worked at a tiny pastry shop in Riposto “Back then, the shop was using a 300-pound marble mortar to keep the dough cold,” says Angie, who co-owns Don Angie restaurant with her husband adding cold dough to hot frying oil helps create the bubbling that makes cannoli shells light and delicate “I’m not entirely sure the science adds up but who am I to change the way he’s always made it?” He also spent hours kneading and rolling out the dough by hand Cannoli are still Santo’s specialty: He bakes them professionally at Rito’s and he’s developed his own recipe from the one he learned growing up,” Angie says and cannoli molds—go a long way toward perfecting this Italian pastry.Though the pastry originated in Palermo in western Sicily and the pistachios used there likely have Arabic origins the version her grandfather was taught had tiny chocolate chips stirred into the filling and adorning the ends “Maybe that is an eastern Sicilian version,” she says Get the recipe for Sicilian Cannoli »Wherever they’re from, Sicilian cannoli almost always use sheep’s-milk ricotta in the filling—which has a tangier flavor than cow’s—and a splash of wine in the dough, be it Marsala, vermouth, or whatever is available. Today, Angie’s grandfather uses lemon juice and white vinegar. Making cannoli requires some effort: You have to roll out the dough (Angie suggests using a pasta machine), deep-fry the shells, and use a piping bag to fill them just before serving. Don’t skip this; the contrast of the shell and creamy filling is critical. And feeling one shatter delicately between your teeth proves it worthwhile. As Angie says, “It’s a dessert that can make you feel so grown up, but also just like a kid again.” Crisp, bubbly, and filled with sweetened ricotta, cannoli are the pride of many Sicilian bakers. Get the recipe for Sicilian Cannoli »Wherever they’re from Sicilian cannoli almost always use sheep’s-milk ricotta in the filling—which has a tangier flavor than cow’s—and a splash of wine in the dough Angie’s grandfather uses lemon juice and white vinegar Making cannoli requires some effort: You have to roll out the dough (Angie suggests using a pasta machine) and use a piping bag to fill them just before serving And feeling one shatter delicately between your teeth proves it worthwhile “It’s a dessert that can make you feel so grown up ADVERTISEMENTADADWant more SAVEUR?Get our favorite recipes Articles may contain affiliate links, which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use. This article was published more than 9 years ago where about 3,200 migrants from North Africa Afghanistan and other countries are staying.ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP / Getty Images with a green steel hull and blue superstructure The boat stopped about 20 kilometres short of Riposto a seaside town in the shadow of Mount Etna On board were 190 migrants and crew members – mostly Egyptian The process of smuggling the migrants onto Italian soil Two smaller boats arrived to take the migrants to shore The boats were owned by the family of Salvatore Greco a top member of the Brunetto Mafia clan in eastern Sicily Greco's smuggling operation was dead in the water the smuggling kingpin Mohamed Badawi Hassan Arfa did not know was that the Sicilian police had been monitoring their cellphone conversations since 2010 Based on the series of arrests and convictions after the smuggling voyage was intercepted Sicilian police and prosecutors are certain the Mafioso and the Egyptian were part of an elaborate smuggling network that included money men in Milan and safe houses for the migrants and that they had arranged five or six boat trips before they were busted and possibly other Italian Mafia groups must consider the Mediterranean refugee crisis manna from heaven there is a multibillion-dollar business – and that of course attracts the Mafia," said Maurizio Scalia who is investigating smuggling networks and sharing his findings with European investigators the Greco family smuggling case has not been replicated elsewhere on the island to the same extent given the lure of shaking down migrants for small fortunes But smuggling was not the Mafia's only honeypot there are no fewer than three official investigations into possible Mafia control of the companies that provide food medicine and other vital services to the refugee camps Prosecutors also say the Mafia is almost certainly providing logistical support to migrants – housing them once they arrive in Italy and arranging their transportation to job-rich northern Europe as drug dealers and pushing them into prostitution The dealers operate openly in the city centres such as the Ballaro market area in Palermo "It is obvious that the dealers work with Mafia permission and give them a percentage of the business," Mr The potential for profiteering from the refugee crisis is staggering according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) the chief prosecutor in the Sicilian city of Siracusa said migrants often pay $3,000 (U.S.) to $6,000 to get from North Africa to Italy So a single boat of 100 migrants can generate at least $300,000 for the smugglers and their accomplices since the money is paid up front and the smugglers don't care if the rickety boats sink since any asylum seekers who avoid the official refugee camps have to pay for lodging and transportation to northern Europe The money would have to be sent to the migrants by their relatives or delivered directly to the Mafia from the smugglers' money men in Italy Italian prosecutors have no idea how much the Mafia might be making by exploiting refugees but they assume it could be billions of dollars A clue came last year from Salvatore Buzzi the convicted murderer who is playing a star role in the vast Rome corruption case known as "Mafia Capitale," in which alleged organized-crime members have been accused of infiltrating public-service contracts "Do you know how much we earn off migrants and the man who led the investigation into the 2011 smuggling case that nailed Salvatore Greco Greco was looking for a fresh income stream which had traditionally stuffed its mattresses with cash earned from illicit drug sales and rigging public contracts had lost some power to rival clans in recent years just before the start of the Syrian and Libyan civil wars that would ignite the refugee crisis a migrant who made it to Siracusa told the Sicilian police that Mr Greco and Egyptian smugglers had a "pact," according to Carlo Parini the chief of the Siracusa immigration police squad that arrested some 360 smugglers and their crews at sea between 2013 and 2015 Greco had made contact with an Egyptian smuggler named Mohamed Shalpy Garpua Fathy who in turn introduced him to the powerful Egyptian smuggler Mr were organizing migrant boat trips to Europe Greco evidently decided to get a piece of the action He would provide the motorboats to take the migrants from the mother ship hide them after they scrambled ashore and buy their train tickets Parini said the logistical angle was confirmed when Mr to demand a down payment of €15,000 to cover costs from Nabil Sorour who was known to police as il cassiere – the cashier – on the Italian end of the Egyptian smuggling network the Egyptian fishing boat reached Sicily and the Italian police swung into action and his son Massimo were arrested a couple of days later "The reason for the kidnappings was to send a message to the families of the migrants who hadn't paid for the logistics provided by the Mafia," Mr we heard Fathy calling the families of the kidnapped migrants so they could hear the children scream." (In May of this year which the police presume was connected to the Mafia.) "We think his collaborators killed him because he wasn't giving them enough of the profits," Mr While the Sicilian police and prosecutors are looking for more recent incidents of collaboration between the Mafia and Egyptian or Libyan smugglers their focus has turned to refugee centres and their possible links to the Mafia the potential for illicit profit is enormous which houses as many as 4,000 asylum seekers and is thought to be the biggest of its kind in Europe The budget for the camps is €30 ($42 Canadian) to €40 a day for each adult The cost of the annual service contracts for Cara Mineo alone is €98-million The prosecutors suspect that the companies providing the services are Mafia-controlled or pay kickbacks to the Mafia "We have information of clear involvement of Mafia families in Agrigento operating in this field," said Calogero Ferrara referring to the city on Sicily's southern coast so does more migrant exploitation by the Mafia and their potential to generate easy profits is too big for the crime families to ignore Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Eric Reguly is the European bureau chief for The Globe and Mail and is based in Rome Eric has spent about half of his time covering economic ranging from the euro zone crisis and the bank bailouts to the rise and fall of Russia's oligarchs and several UN climate summits He also covered the Arab Spring in Tunisia the Athens riots during the financial crisis the 2013 papal conclave and Pope Francis's apology tour to the Indigenous groups in Canada in 2022 the economic and political turmoil in Lebanon the threats to the Egyptian Nile and several NATO summits he has been one of The Globe and Mail reporters covering the Ukraine war he is also a regular guest on Canadian and American radio and TV programs an international clean capitalism magazine Eric wrote the paper's main business and economics column from Toronto; he still writes a weekly column today He has also co-hosted a daily business TV program on BNN and wrote a regular column for Time Canada the Hyman Solomon Award for Excellence in Public Policy Journalism He was co-winner in 2010 of a National Newspaper Award and has twice been an NNA runner-up in the columnist category he won gold in Canada's National Magazine Awards and took silver in 2015 He won gold in Canada for commentary from SABEW (the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing) in 2015 he won another gold for commentary from SABEW and took silver in the long feature category a remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks an essay and photo book on the Alberta oil sands His book Ghosts of War: Chasing My Father’s Legend Through Vietnam was published by Sutherland House Books in 2022 Eric joined The Globe and Mail in late 1997 He has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French Literature and a Masters in Journalism from the University of Western Ontario Previous employers include The Times of London the Financial Post in its New York and London bureaus the Financial Times of Canada and Alberta Report magazine An Italian police officer takes in custody one of the 11 men suspected of helping No 1 Cosa Nostra fugitive Matteo Messina Denaro Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions The Guardian’s picture editors bring you a selection of photo highlights from around the world including a media scrum before Iran elections and a Thai water festival Photograph: Andres Martinez Casares/Reuters Photograph: Marvin Recinos/AFP/Getty Images The hamlet of Santa Maria La Strada represents one of the oldest portions of present-day Giarre Roger I of Sicily fell victim to a Saracen ambush after having conquered Taormina and Aci The count invoked the help of Our Lady and managed to scare off the Arabs he built a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Odigitria (the one who shows the way) and a cistern so that she could give rest to travelers almost nothing remains of the medieval sanctuary and the church is very different from then while the well still reminds us of its ancient origin and primary function in Santa Maria la Strada and specifically in a street whose name today seems a mockery via dei Normanni (‘Normans Street’) Equipped for years with autoclaves and tanks (which in normal conditions are filled only at night due to the low water pressure) people of the neighborhood have often been forced to ask for the intervention of a municipal tanker (which isn’t always operational) the nearby town of Riposto offered to build an additional pipeline while Sicily records some hottest days of the year The only thing that remains for a mayor to do in the face of water problems that concern not just Santa Maria la Strada is to publish notes on the Municipality website in which he invites citizens “in view of the prolongation of the exceptional period of high temperatures to use [water] even more moderately than it is presently being done” The state of the residential area of Santa Maria La Strada with its impassable park and the streets full of holes never cleaned by sanitation is only the tip of the iceberg of a widespread situation in a town that has always been wealthy and but has not managed – like so many other similar places in the hinterland and for this reason it is appropriate to talk about it since there are too many Giarres in Sicily – to look beyond its own nose more than a service hub – as it was advertised until recently that served nearby towns – Giarre presents itself as little more than a dormitory dormant and silent in the absence of a real perspective and sense of self But what is Giarre famous for across the world Through a quick search in the New York Times’ archives we discover that it has been cited on several occasions when the paper ran a story on the eruption of Etna which gave rise to the current Silvestri Craters and caused an earthquake that destroyed the “Sicilian village of Giarre” is an interview from a few years ago: in 2014 journalist Emily Brennan asked the professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University Alastair Bonnett: “What’s an overlooked site in a very looked-over part of the world?” The answer is clear: “Giarre It’s got all of these unfinished mega-structures like a polo stadium and a swimming pool” The unfinished buildings of Giarre are different from what can be seen in many Sicilian and with their rough reinforced concrete pillars represents the face of ʻthe Southern questionʼ – with the houses built at great cost by the old generations and left incomplete waiting for the unlikely return of younger emigrants from the North – the ones from Giarre are the emblem of waste corruption and bad management that grew from the desire of a place aspiring to become something more than a small town “Surgiri in gran città vidu li Giarri sta criscenti città sedi e rizzettu di tanti omini digni!” (“I see Giarre a place of rest for worthy men”) wrote poet Domenico Tempio in a text entitled “ La fiera in cuntrastu ” dated 1813 inspired by the antagonism between the towns of Mascali and Giarre The unfinished buildings of Giarre are therefore mainly big projects: the hospital (unused for almost twenty years and already obsolete when it finally opened deprived of an emergency room and in whose bowels – now abandoned – a few years ago a homeless family found residence) the “charm of the unfinished” has led to the birth of artistic experiments (one above all that of Alterazioni Video displayed at Biennale in Venice) and made an impression on many observers who in the same NYTimes article described it as “quite surreal It reminds you that ruins are not just something produced in antiquity And there was something quite utopian about these structures That’s what a city is — layers of utopian visions Giarre’s search for meaning remains an open question the most recent municipal administrations never tackled seriously a place can’t be considered peripherical based only on its geographical position but on its connections with the rest of the world (in terms of logistics and more importantly of human capital) what are the prospects of a town can no longer dream of being a commercial hub (in hindsight it’s now clear that the opening of a shopping centre in nearby Riposto is only part of the problem) that lacks a significant artistic heritage and whose public services are more lacking every year the town has welcomed and has been the birthplace of many brilliant minds like the historian Rosario Romeo the Dante scholar Nicolò Mineo and journalist Alfio Russo who was editor-in-chief of “Corriere della Sera” Several prominent politicians who later became ministers and members of parliament were also educated in Giarre what seems to be missing is a new perspective the desire to reimagine this town in a different way from the past until this lack of a direction is resolved speaking of good administration will remain an exercise in futility even as other places (such as the tourist port in Riposto) offer a hint especially considering how the world has changed The hope is that anyone who has run or will run for the next (and forthcoming) local elections – new and old faces alike – will have a clear project Whether it is focused on technology and innovation perhaps with a coherent plan for broadband networks and incentives for the creation of co-working spaces on craftmanship (but with a serious vision) or cultural and tourist development ( with high profile events that offer something different from what’s being done nearby) or a project aimed at agriculture or industry what is needed is a clear and defined strategic plan based on a serious analysis of the current state of affairs and deeply rooted in the awareness that our changed world requires a new reading key It is necessary to answer a question that over time has become increasingly urgent and necessary: why would someone chose to live in Giarre in 2021 What would make the city more ‘attractive’ Which more virtuous (but not necessarily Sicilian) examples can inspire us to make a change A TRAVEL specialist has revealed the scary reason why passengers have to stow their hand luggage underneath the seat in front of them on planes It may seem like an unnecessarily over the top demand from the flight attendants that bags be tucked under the chairs but leaving them out in the cabin could prove to be very dangerous Should the aircraft encounter any turbulence or worse the luggage could start to pose an extra threat to the safety of passengers on board Travel writers at Stuff NZ explained exactly how badly people could be affected by luggage that's improperly stored They said: "A lightweight handbag may not seem all that dangerous on its own, but when a plane is plummeting at high speeds, or hitting severe turbulence, it can easily turn into a missile "It can seriously harm you or a fellow passenger if you’re hit with a corner of hardware a loose item or even a buckle or metal-studded strap." FLY EASY EasyJet baggage rules: Hand luggage size and checked bags explainedShould the bag be tossed through the cabin during some particularly severe turbulence it could cause some serious damage to passengers who end up getting in its way It's not just luggage either that could suddenly become a dangerous object during a flight Sun Online Travel's resident flight attendant said people should keep shoes on at all times for the same reason. They said: "The floor is gross and you should never be walking around without shoes on for that reason, but on top of that it's really dangerous. they could easily go flying through the plane and hit someone "The same with your luggage as well as yourself if your items are just loose throughout the plane then it's going to become more of a risk if the plane's shaking around." Several of the plane's seemingly arbitrary rules are in place for safety purposes and could make a huge difference in an emergency Another of those is stowing the tray tables for take off and landing Stuff revealed that 61 per cent of fatal accidents occurred on planes during those two moments Having the tables clipped to the back of the seat in front could be the difference between a passenger escaping from the cabin They continued: "Should a need arise to evacuate the aircraft in an emergency while the plane is climbing or descending the last thing you'll want is pesky obstructions." Meanwhile, this is why you should never wear flip flops for a flight And these are three strict rules about feet on planes that every passenger should know Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 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New York When Matt Dawson heard that Società Riposto was closing he thought the old Sicilian social club would make an ideal hipster watering hole So he gutted the bland card-playing room and installed designer touches He kept every detail he could and even hung photographs of the original members on the walls but there’s one significant add-on: a backyard with a patio Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! tiktok facebook twitter youtube About us Contact us