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☆ Italy’s hard-right government set to send sea migrants to Albania in bid to curb arrivals
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

However, the court’s decision is non-binding and Italy and Albania are not prohibited by the ruling from going forward with the plans. That’s all, very normal variations during construction.”A general view of the reception center for migrants in Shengjin, Albania, on June 4, 2024. If they do not qualify for asylum, they will be deported to “safe” countries, according to the agreement between Italy and Albania. The cost comes to around 7.5% of what Italy currently spends on its migrant reception centers, Meloni said in June, speaking alongside Rama. Other listed “safe countries” include Egypt, Tunisia and the Ivory Coast, citizens of which make up a large portion of arrivals.

Persons: Rome, It’s, Gjader –, Matteo Piantedosi, There’s, Florion Goga, Piantedosi, Giorgia, Keir Starmer, “, ” Meloni, Meloni, Starmer, Rama, ” Rama, Giorgia Meloni, Adnan Beci, ’ ”, Alketa Misja, ”, ” Gianfranco Schiavone, Schiavone Organizations: Rome CNN, European Union, Court, Justice, Reuters, CNN, United Nations, Refugees, UNHCR, Interior Ministry, Meloni, Amnesty, Italy's, Albania's, Edi, Getty, AP, Migration, United Nations ’ International Organization for Migration, Union Locations: Albania, Italy, European, Albanian, Shengjin, Gjader, Agrigento, Sicily, Catania, Malta, Greece, Spain, Libya, Tunisia, Meloni’s, Rome, Europe, AFP, Italian, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Afghanistan, Syria, Lezhe, Refoulement, North, Denmark

☆ Feel like GLP-1 weight loss drugs affect your mood? Experts weigh in
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Although originally prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes (Ozempic and Mounjaro), semaglutide and tirzepatide are becoming more and more popular for weight loss. If you are noticing an effect on your mood while using a GLP-1 medication, here’s what might be at play. Antidepressant effectsFor some, using a GLP-1 medication might relieve some anxiety or depression symptoms, Arillotta said. Blood sugarIf you feel like your mood takes a drop while you’re on GLP-1 medications, what and how much you’re eating or drinking might be to blame. “Extremes in blood sugar can impact mood,” said Tara Schmidt, lead dietitian at the Mayo Clinic Diet, an online weight loss program.

Persons: ideation, Thomas Wadden, Davide Arillotta, Arillotta, “, Peter Ueda, Amira Guirguis, ”, Tara Schmidt, ” Schmidt, Guirguis, Giuseppe Floresta, Fabrizio Schifano, ” Guirguis, aren’t, you’ve, Schmidt, “ I’m, Ueda Organizations: Lifeline, CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, FDA, neurosciences, University of Florence, Karolinska Institutet, Diabetes, Swansea University, Mayo Clinic Diet, University of Catania, University of Hertfordshire, American Psychological Association, “ Locations: Italy, Stockholm, Sweden, GLP, Wales, United Kingdom

☆ 'The Traitors' season 3 cast includes Queen Elizabeth's cousin, Zac Efron's brother, Britney Spears' ex-husband, and more — see the full cast
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Caralynn Matassa | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It became the most-watched reality series in the streamer's history and spawned some instantly classic memes, largely courtesy of "Real Housewives" star Phaedra Parks. Britney HaynesBritney Haynes was a houseguest on "Big Brother" season 12, "Big Brother" season 14, and "Big Brother: Reindeer Games." Chanel AyanChanel Ayan stars on "The Real Housewives of Dubai." Bravo/Getty ImagesKnown for: "The Real Housewives of Dubai"Follow her on Instagram here. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty ImagesKnown for: "Down to Earth with Zac Efron" (and being Zac Efron's brother)Follow him on Instagram here.

Persons: —, Peacock, Dan Gheesling, Su, Tom Sandoval, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth, Jeremy Collins, there's, Zac Efron's, Dylan Efron, Britney Spears, Sam Asghari, Phaedra Parks, Bob Harper Bob Barker, Bob, Bob the, Charley Gallay, Britney Haynes Britney Haynes, Sonja Flemming, Carolyn Wiger Carolyn Wiger, Robert Voets, Chanel Ayan Chanel Ayan, Ciara Miller Ciara Miller, ", Danielle Reyes Sonja Flemming, Dolores Catania Dolores Catania, Evan Agostini, Johnny Nunez, Dylan Efron Dylan Efron, Gilbert Flores, Zac Efron, Gabby Windey, Craig Sjodin, Jeremy Collins Jeremy Collins, Ivar Mountbatten Lord Ivar Mountbatten, David M, Nikki Garcia Nikki Bella, Rob Mariano Rob Mariano, Timothy Kuratek, Robyn Dixon Robyn Dixon, Rich Polk, Sam Asghari Britney Spears, Kevin Winter, Tom Sandoval Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix's, Tony Vlachos Tony Vlachos, Wells Adams Wells Adams, Nick Agro Organizations: Service, Business, Getty, CBS, Housewives of, Netflix, Housewives, New, Los Angeles, Variety, ABC, Survivor, Bravo Locations: Housewives of Dubai, Jersey, New York, Cambodia, BravoCon

☆ EU approves Italian aid for $5.4 billion STMicro chip plant
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

STMicroelectronics has committed 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) of investment in what it calls the world's first fully integrated Silicon Carbide (SiC) plant in Italy. The project is backed by 2 billion euros from the Italian state, and is the result of the EU's Chips Act which aims to provide support for Europe's chip industry. The European Commission on Friday approved Italian state aid for STMicroelectronics to build a 5 billion euro ($5.4 billion) microchip plant as Europe battles to reduce reliance on Asian imports for vital manufacturing components. The STMicro plant will produce chips made from silicon carbide, which is more energy-efficient than standard silicon. STMicro is the largest maker of silicon carbide chips, which are more expensive to manufacture than regular silicon chips but favoured by automakers because they are energy-efficient, lightweight and tough.

Persons: STMicroelectronics, Margrethe Vestager, it's, Vestager, STMicro Organizations: Carbide, European, United, European Union, Union, BMW, Renault Locations: Italy, Catania, Sicily, Rome, China, Asia, United States, Catania . U.S, STMicro

☆ Mt. Etna Puffs Perfect Smoke Rings Into Sicilian Sky
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Elisabetta Povoledo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, has been spewing circular, mostly white smoke rings into the skies over Sicily. The rings, known as volcanic vortex rings, appeared earlier this month after a small vent opened on the northwest border of the Southeast crater. In this case, the vent is perfectly circular, making for particularly perfect rings. “It is bellissimo,” said Simona Scollo, another volcanologist at the INGV Etna Observatory in Catania, using the Italian word for beautiful. Ms. Scollo copublished a study on the dynamics of volcanic vortex rings last year in the journal Scientific Reports.

Persons: It’s, it’s, Etna, Boris Behncke, ”, Simona Scollo, Scollo Organizations: National Institute of Geophysics, Volcanology Locations: Mt, Etna, Sicily, Catania

☆ An Arms Smugger, a Daring Heist, and the Birth of Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( David Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +35 min

Joining the Haganah, Schwimmer discovered, wasn't as easy as just strolling through the door. "He felt he had to do his part in creating a Jewish state, so this could never happen again," Schwimmer recalled. Rather than melt down the surplus weapons for scrap, Liff told Greenspun to take as much as he wanted — free of charge. "It went against the grain to buck the same government we had fought to preserve only a few years before," Hank Greenspun recalled. In 2001, at the urging of Brian Greenspun, Schwimmer received a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton.

Persons: Danny Schwimmer, They'd, Rina, Al —, David Ben, Gurion, Al Schwimmer, Schwimmer, Bugsy Siegel's, Meyer Lansky, Frank Sinatra, Sinatra, —, Boaz Dvir, Israel —, Danny, Al, I've, Hank Greenspun, Greenspun, Brian, Adolph, Dick Tracy, " Schwimmer, Wing Walker, America, Yehuda Arazi, Arazi, they'd, Schwimmer's, Sam Lewis, Leo Gardner, Milton, Milt, Rubenfeld, Paul Reubens, Herman, Reubens, Bugsy Siegel, Siegel, — Schwimmer, Nathan Liff, Liff, PhotoQuest, Bernarr McFadden, Pat, Ptacek, Rafael Trujillo, Teddy Kollek, Erwin Johnson, Bill Gerson, Gerson, Bud King, Gerson's, Ben, Joel Kimmel, Lewis, Lansky, hadn't, Tommy, Messerschmitts, David, Milt Rubenfeld, Israel, Charlie Winters, Winters, weren't, aren't, America's, Joseph McCarthy, John F, Kennedy, Brian Greenspun, Golda Meir, Bill Clinton Organizations: Israeli Air Force, TWA, Haganah, United Nations, Lockheed Air, Los Angeles Examiner, USC, Getty, US Naval, Schwimmer Aviation, FBI, UN, Customs Service, Palestine . Volunteers, Embassy, Israel, Service Airways, State Department, BI, Pepsi, Zionist, Nazi, Star, American, Avia, Messerschmitt, Pennsylvania State University who's, Las, Sun, Israel Aerospace Industries, IAI, they're, Israeli Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Connecticut, Palestine, New York, Copacabana, United States, Hungary, Auschwitz, storages, Arizona, Bridgeport, Rome, Burbank , California, Burbank, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Oahu, Santa Claus, California, Washington, Burbank ., Acapulco, Mexico, it's, Mexico City, Central, South America, Dominican Republic, China, America, Mexican, Panama, Panamanian, Corsica, Oklahoma, Detroit, Suriname, Brazil, Senegal, Casablanca, Sicily, Catania, Europe, Czechoslovakia, Czech, Egypt, Cairo, Los Angeles, American, Gaza, Iran

☆ 'America's greatest gift to Israel'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( David Kushner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +35 min

As the country's founder and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, once declared, "America's greatest gift to Israel was Al Schwimmer." Joining the Haganah, Schwimmer discovered, wasn't as easy as just strolling through the door. "He felt he had to do his part in creating a Jewish state, so this could never happen again," Schwimmer recalled. Rather than melt down the surplus weapons for scrap, Liff told Greenspun to take as much as he wanted — free of charge. In 2001, at the urging of Brian Greenspun, Schwimmer received a presidential pardon from Bill Clinton.

☆ Euro zone inflation cools less than expected to 2.6% in February
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A salesman preparing a bag of sweets for a customer in the Sicilian confectionery shop Mazzone on February 02, 2024 in Catania, Italy. Inflation in the 20-nation euro zone eased to 2.6% in February, flash figures showed on Friday. The headline print previously came in at 2.8% in January, with further easing expected after price rises cooled in Germany, France and Spain. Investors are hunting for clues on when the European Central Bank will start to bring down interest rates, with market pricing pointing to a June cut. Yet many ECB officials still stress that they need spring wage negotiations to conclude before they have a clearer picture of domestic inflationary pressures.

Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank Locations: Catania, Italy, Germany, France, Spain

☆ An alleged gang rape shocks Italy, and provides fodder for an ascendant far right
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Seven men between the ages of 15 and 18 are currently on trial for the alleged rape of a 19-year-old girl in Palermo in August. Last month’s alleged gang rape in Catania has become not only a symbol of violence against women in the country, but a cause célèbre for Italy’s far-right government. CNN approached the suspect’s lawyers for comment. Meanwhile, during a visit to Catania, Meloni expressed her solidarity with the alleged rape victim and her family. This is not the first case of non-EU minors being welcomed into Italian facilities and then engaging in criminal activities.”

Persons: Rome, Weeks, Last month’s, Giorgia Meloni, Villa Bellini, Orietta Scardino, Matteo Salvini, Meloni, ”, Alessandro Fidone, Giulia Cecchettin, ” Elena Biaggioni, Massimo Di Vita, Carlo Umberto Cannella, ” Cannella, Silvio Berlusconi Organizations: Rome CNN —, Catania, CNN, Catania police, European Data Journalism Locations: Rome CNN — Italy, Sicilian, Catania, Palermo, Naples, Sicily, Italy, Italy’s

☆ Italy's Amalfi Coast will get a new airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Julia Buckley | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

That rule is about to get a little less hard and fast as the Amalfi Coast gets its “own” airport. Technically it’s a reopening rather than a new airport built from scratch. ‘An important moment for the region’The Amalfi Coast is stunningly beautiful -- and it is one of the most overtouristed parts of Italy. GI_ELLE/iStock Editorial/Getty ImagesAnd while the Amalfi Coast has struggled with overtourism with authorities introducing major restrictions on cars to ease congestion, locals seem pleased. Fausto Salsano, owner of Vietri Centro B&B in Vietri sul Mare, the first village on the famous coastline, told CNN: “I’m thrilled that we will have an Amalfi Coast airport.

Persons: CNN —, Volotea, “, ” GESAC, Frank Bienewald, Carlos Muñoz, GESAC’s Roberto Barbieri, Fausto Salsano, “ I’m, it’ll, ” Organizations: CNN, Amalfi Coast, Volotea, Aircraft, Nantes, Cagliari, Catania, GESAC, Vietri Centro Locations: Italy, Amalfi, Salerno Costa, Salerno, Airlines, Spanish, France, Sardinia, Verona, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam Schiphol, Kuwait City, Naples, Vietri sul Mare, Amalfi Coast

Even including the sale of Heathrow, this year is the slowest for airport transactions in the past decade, totalling $5.9 billion globally to date, according to Dealogic data. They have hired Mediobanca (MDBI.MI) and Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) to find a buyer for a sale of their 49% stake in the company, the people said. Heathrow's sale valued the airport at 14.3 times EBITDA, according to JP Morgan analysis published on Wednesday. UK's Esken (ESKN.L), owner of regional Southend Airport, said in June it had started a process for the sale of the airport. On Thursday, Hungary's state-owned Corvinus and Vinci Airports notified the European Commission of a proposed joint takeover of Budapest's airport, according to a document posted on the EU website.

Persons: Andras Kranicz, GIP, Australia's Macquarie, Spain's, Ferrovial, Agata Lyznik, Mediobanca, Gianni, Origoni, Nico Torrisi, Morgan, UK's, France's Vinci, Vinci, Corvinus, Emma, Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Elisa Anzolin, Joanna Plucinska, Mathieu Rosemain, Anousha Sakoui, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: LONDON, Heathrow, BNP, Global Infrastructure Partners, AGS Airports, Southampton, Australia's, International, ACI, Airports, Macquarie, Credit Agricole Assurance, 2i, Credit, SAC, Gatwick, Southend Airport, Global Infrastructure Fund, Vinci Airports, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: Edinburgh, Italy, FRANKFURT, Spanish, Europe, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Heathrow, France, Hungary's, Budapest's

Enel, hitherto the world's biggest listed renewables developer, plans 35.8 billion euros ($39 billion) of gross capital expenditure in its plan to 2026, of which nearly 19 billion euros will help to modernise and make its networks more resilient. Shares in the state-controlled power group were down 0.4% at 1530 GMT paring a 1% initial loss on the Milan bourse and underperforming a nearly flat blue-chip index. Rising indebtedness was one of the reasons why the Italian government, which is the single biggest shareholder in Enel, decided to oust the group's previous CEO, Francesco Starace. New CEO Flavio Cattaneo pledged to spend only the cash generated by the business, without increasing the debt pile. The group will devote some 3 billion euros to actively manage its customer portfolio through bundled offers, which will include different commodities and services.

Persons: Antonio Parrinello, Enel, Francesco Starace, Flavio Cattaneo, Cattaneo, Stefano De Angelis, Starace, Francesca Landini, Giancarlo Navach, Keith Weir, Giulia Segreti, Elaine Hardcastle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Milan bourse, Thomson Locations: Catania, Italy, MILAN, Milan, Enel

France, where Ryanair serves cities such as Marseille and Bordeaux, has floated proposals for a minimum ticket price in an effort to reduce pollution from aviation. The French price proposal, which EU officials said has drawn some support from the Netherlands and Belgium, got short shrift from senior Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson. Having established a strong position in large parts of Western Europe, Ryanair is now looking east to countries such as Poland for further growth. Europe's main airlines lobby group expressed relief and called on more European coordination to support the sector. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said a stronger ITA will reinvigorate competition in the Italian market but Ryanair's Wilson is unperturbed, describing ITA as a sideshow.

Persons: Eddie Wilson, Wilson, Andrea Giuricin, Giorgia, Giuseppe Cocuzza, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Carsten Spohr, Ryanair's Wilson, Rome Fiumicino, Sacbo, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir, Joanna Plucinska, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Ryanair, Europe's, European Union, Ryanair DAC, Alitalia, TRA Consulting, European Commission, Airlines for, ITA, Lufthansa, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Thomson Locations: Italy, ROME, France, Marseille, Bordeaux, Sicily, Sardinia, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe, Western Europe, Poland, Rome, Catania, Airlines for Europe, Bergamo, Milan, Malpensa, Brescia, London

☆ Vlad the Impaler, the terrifying ruler and inspiration behind Dracula, may have cried actual tears of blood, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Scientists have analyzed letters written by Vlad the Impaler in the 15th century. Traces of protein on the letters suggest he suffered from hemolacria, which causes blood to be present in tears. There are a wide variety of disorders that can cause blood tears, ranging from blood clotting issues to unusual menstruation. Analysis of the proteins found traces of a bacteria that causes plague, but this disease is not linked to blood tears. "To our reckoning, this is the first time such research has been carried out and has helped to bring to the limelight the health status of Vlad Dracula the Impaler," the authors said in the study.

Persons: Vlad, Dracula, Vlad III, Vlad Drăculea, Pittalá, Maria Gaetana Giovanna Pittalà, Vincenzo Cunsolo, —, Vlad the, Alexandreea Alexandru, Bram Stoker, Stoker, Vlad Dracula Organizations: Service, University of Catania Locations: hemolacria, Wall, Silicon, Italy

☆ Mount Etna: Volcanic cloud closes Sicily’s Catania airport after volcano erupts
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Duerte Mendonca | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A cloud of volcanic ash spewing from Europe’s most active volcano has prompted the closure of one of Sicily’s largest airports, leading to flights being delayed, canceled and diverted. Sicily’s Catania international airport, known as Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, is to remain closed until 8 p.m. local time on Monday following the eruption of nearby Mount Etna, the airport press office said in a statement. Travelers grounded due to the eruption of the Etna volcano and closure of Catania airport. Orietta Scardino/EPA-EFE/ShutterstockThis is “producing a fallout of ash in the southern sector of the volcano and beyond,” it said. As well as being the most active, Mount Etna is Europe’s highest volcano, at about 3,350 meters (almost 11,000 feet) tall.

Persons: Orietta Scardino Organizations: CNN, Sicily’s Catania, Catania – Fontanarossa, Italian National Institute of Geophysics Locations: Catania, Mount Etna, Orietta, Malta, France, Austria, Etna

☆ Mount Etna eruption disrupts Sicily's troubled Catania airport
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, lights up the night sky with eruptions as seen from Rocca Della Valle, Italy, August 13, 2023. Etna Walk/Marco Restivo/ Handout via REUTERSCATANIA, Sicily, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Flights serving the eastern Sicilian city of Catania were halted on Monday after an eruption from nearby Mount Etna, local authorities said, bringing fresh travel woe to the crisis-plagued Italian airport. The 3,330 metre (10,925 ft) high volcano burst into action overnight, firing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island. Flights to and from Catania, a popular tourist destination, would be suspended until 8:00 p.m. (1800 GMT), the airport said on Twitter. The latest cancellations at Catania airport, which attracts more arrivals than the island's capital, Palermo, came a month after a fire at a terminal building led to weeks of disruptions for passengers.

Persons: Rocca Della Valle, Marco Restivo, Enrico Trantino, Crispian Balmer, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Twitter, Catania, Thomson Locations: Etna, Italy, Handout, REUTERS CATANIA, Sicily, Sicilian, Catania, Mount Etna, Palermo

☆ Heatwave caused higher than normal death rate in southern Italy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A homeless woman who did not want to give her name takes shade from the sun with an umbrella as she sits near Termini train station during a heatwave across Italy in Rome, Italy July 21, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File photoROME, Aug 7 (Reuters) - The central and southern regions of Italy recorded 7% more deaths than normal in July after a baking heatwave, health ministry data showed, while firefighters on Monday battled fires on Sardinia and hailstones and floods battered the northeast. In its latest monthly data, Italy's ministry of health noted the effects of extreme temperatures on the country's mortality rate in July compared to the average rate recorded in the same period from 2015 to 2019. The increased mortality rate was particularly evident in southern cities such as Bari, Catania, and Reggio Calabria. On the contrary, the mortality rate in cities in the north of the country, which was less exposed to the heatwave, was lower than expected, down 14% on the past trend.

Persons: Guglielmo Mangiapane, Federica, Keith Weir, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Friuli Venezia Giulia, hailstones, Sunday, Firefighters, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, ROME, Sardinia, hailstones, Europe, Bari, Catania, Reggio Calabria, Nuoro, Cagliari, Friuli, Slovenia

During Greece's peak power demand this year, also on July 24, solar photovoltaics covered 3.5GW of the total 10.35GW demand, grid operator IPTO said. Even in cooler and less sunny western countries such as Belgium, solar energy has covered more than 100% of the extra energy needed during midday spikes in power demand. Analysts say a second factor has helped to keep Europe's energy systems running this summer: overall, power demand has been relatively low. That has been the case since Europe's energy crisis last year, when Russia cut gas deliveries to Europe. "The only reason why this has been bearable is the low power demand environment that we're currently in," Refinitiv's Gerl said.

Persons: Nicolas Economou, Kristian Ruby, Electrica, Nathalie Gerl, IPTO, Spain's, Refinitiv's Gerl, Simone Tagliapietra, Kate Abnett, Susanna Twidale, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Analysts, Energy, European Commission, SolarPower, Thomson Locations: Rhodes, Greece, Europe, BRUSSELS, LONDON, Spain, Ukraine, Catania, Etna, Sicily, Athens, Belgium, Russia

☆ Catania airport in Sicily cleared to reopen main terminal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A screen grab taken from a video shows people waiting outside the Catania Fontanarossa International Airport in Catania, Italy July 26, 2023. REUTERS/Giselda Vagnoni/File PhotoROME, Aug 5 (Reuters) - The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) on Saturday gave its green light to reopen the main terminal at Sicily's Catania airport, a statement said, nearly three weeks after it was shut down due to a fire. "ENAC's order ... allows the airport to return immediately, as of this evening, to normal conditions," Sicilian regional governor Renato Schifani said in the statement published on the airport's website. Following the accident, the airport operated at reduced capacity through a smaller terminal, alongside which tent-like structures were built to help cope with the flows of passengers. The Catania airport is regularly used by tourists heading to places including the resort town of Taormina, which is about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) away, and Siracusa, with its Greek Theatre.

Persons: Giselda, Renato Schifani, Schifani, Angelo Amante, David Holmes Organizations: Catania, REUTERS, Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Saturday, Greek Theatre, Thomson Locations: Catania, Italy, Sicily's Catania, Sicily, Palermo, Mount Etna, Taormina

☆ A Lufthansa pilot traced a 15-mile-long penis shape in the sky after being asked to divert his plane
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Lufthansa pilot created a penis-shaped loop in the sky after being asked to divert the flight. They spent around 16 minutes creating the 15-mile-long shape over Sicily's east coast. A Lufthansa pilot made a 15-mile-long, penis-shaped loop in the sky after being asked to divert their flight. Insider asked Lufthansa about this, but the airline avoided the question in its response. This isn't the first time a pilot has created a phallic flight pattern in the sky.

Organizations: Lufthansa, Fontanarossa, Repubblica, Catania, Armed Forces of Malta, US Air Force, BuzzFeed, Air Force Locations: Frankfurt, Sicily, Malta, Catania, Italian, Syrian, Russia

☆ Wild weather turns up heat on EU debt stragglers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Lisa Jucca | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Meanwhile, record-high temperatures and dryness triggered devastating blazes in Greece, forcing thousands to flee popular summer destinations such as Rhodes. The extreme weather may be limited to southern European countries, but its fiscal repercussions make this a Europe-wide emergency. Reuters GraphicsAgriculture accounts for just 4.4% of GDP in Greece, and less than 3% in Spain and Italy, according to Moody’s. Letting Greece, Italy and Spain deal with such climate nightmares, on top of other economic challenges, risks landing them with a Sisyphean task. As climate risks intensify, the EU will need to consider widening its joint borrowing plans.

Persons: Nicolas Economou CATANIA, Rhodes, heatwaves disproportionally, Francesco Guerrera, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Cogeca, Reuters Graphics, European Environment Agency, Union, Copa Cogeca, Thomson Locations: Rhodes, Greece, Italy, Sicily, Europe, Spain, EU, Corfu

☆ Opinion: Vacations as we know it are over
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Opinion Bill Mcguire | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On the contrary, the extreme weather conditions across southern Europe this summer are a wake-up call — a reminder that not even our vacations are insulated from the growing consequences of global heating. Even northern Europe would see a tripling of extreme heat events, which could be expected once every five years. Climate breakdown is set to become all-pervasive and affect every aspect of our lives and livelihoods, and already extreme weather can happen pretty much anywhere. This can’t go on, nor should it, both for the peace of mind of holiday-makers increasingly worried about growing extreme weather, and for the good of the planet. Holidays abroad need to be decoupled from flying, which means – as far as Europe is concerned – train, car or coach.

Persons: Bill McGuire, Read, Lefteris Damianidis, jetting, staycations, we’ll Organizations: Geophysical, University College London, CNN, Reuters, Greenpeace, scot, Catania, Twitter Locations: Rhodes, Corfu, Evia, Europe, American, Lindos, Greece, Palermo, Sicily

ROME, July 26 (Reuters) - Italy announced measures on Wednesday to help families and businesses hit by extreme climate events, as the country reels from a heatwave in the south and fierce storms in the north. A draft seen by Reuters showed that the decree had a cost of 10 million euros ($11.09 million) for state coffers. The government is ready to earmark some 10 million euros to refund airline tickets and hotel reservations to tourists without insurance coverage, Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci said. The Lombardy region around Milan has already asked the government to declare a state of emergency and has estimated damage of over 40 million euros, Musumeci said. The state of emergency, one approved by the government, removes bureaucratic obstacles and speeds up procedures to provide financial help.

Persons: Giorgia, Marina Calderone, Nello Musumeci, Musumeci Organizations: heatwave, Labour, Reuters, Civil, Thomson Locations: Italy, Sicily, Catania, Etna, Milan, Lombardy

☆ Three dead as Sicily counts losses from 'devastating' fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Another woman in her late 80s died in the Palermo province after an ambulance was unable to reach her home due to fires in the area. In an overnight message on Facebook, Sicilian President Renato Schifani said "scorching heat and unprecedented devastating fires" had turned Tuesday into "one of the most difficult days in decades". Fires were still burning on the hills around Palermo on Wednesday, with Canadair planes back in operation to try to douse the flames. Large areas of the Mediterranean have been sweltering under an intense summer heatwave on Tuesday, causing deadly blazes across the region. "I hope that tourist flows in the areas affected by the fires will not suffer losses," Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci, a Sicilian, told the La Stampa newspaper.

Persons: Renato Schifani, Nello Musumeci, Alvise, Keith Weir Organizations: Facebook, Canadair, La Stampa, Thomson Locations: Sicily, Palermo, Sicilian, Calabria, Catania, Rome, Bari, Puglia

CATANIA, Italy, July 26 (Reuters) - A fire early last week at Sicily's main airport is still causing massive disruption for visitors to the island, laying bare the disorganisation and poor infrastructure that challenge Italy's tourism ambitions. The fire broke out on July 17 at Catania airport, below Mount Etna, which acts as a hub for the east of Sicily and attracts more arrivals than the capital Palermo. Some disruption was inevitable, but visitors describe scenes of utter chaos that jar with the government's jaunty "Welcome to Wonder" advertising campaign, which aims to attract tourists using a computerised "influencer" version of Venus. "We are now told our flight won't leave before 6 p.m. (1600 GMT). "Airport people were shouting the names of the flights to be boarded, but what happens if you don't hear them?," she said.

Persons: Julie, Maria Grazia Salamone, Ugo Zinna, Guglielmino, Alberto Chiumento, Gavin Jones, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: CATANIA, Italy, Sicily's, Catania, Mount Etna, Sicily, Palermo, California, Taormina, Syracuse, Rome, Genoa, Catania's, Belpasso

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