Italy's €25 Billion Rail Plan Is a Model for EU Spending
East of Naples near the town of Telese, engineers are cutting into the foothills of the southern Apennine mountains. The straight lines and white gleaming concrete of new high-speed train tunnels and overpasses contrast with the swerving roads and ancient stone walls of the nearby countryside.
When it is completed in 2028, the high-speed rail line will run coast-to-coast between Naples and Bari in just two hours, and connect Italy's underdeveloped south with the wealthier parts of the peninsula and the rest of Europe. The Italian government hopes the new rail links will finally open up opportunities for business, education and tourism in the south. Earlier this week, Ferrovie Dello Stato, the rail company, broke through two key tunnels that will allow part of the line to come into service by the end of the year, cutting more than an hour from the travel time between Italy's Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts.
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USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
DiCosmo's Italian Ice turns 110: The story behind a small business with a big legacy
DiCosmo's Italian Ice turns 110: The story behind a small business with a big legacy Show Caption Hide Caption Caesar salad, invented in Mexico by Italian immigrants, is still pleasing palates after 100 years Caesar salad has something to celebrate: It's turning 100. In the U.S., 35% of U.S. restaurants have Caesar salad on their menus. (Scripps News) Scripps News On Wednesday, June 4, the family celebrated more than a century's worth of success. DiCosmo's Italian Ice will give one small free Italian ice away to one customer for 110 days, until Sept. 22. More than a century ago, southern Italian immigrants Giovanni and Caterina DiCosmo decided to offer a taste of their homeland in their new community of Elizabeth, New Jersey, when they started selling lemon Italian ice, a take on granita, which is a Sicilian frozen treat. They knew it would help their neighbors cool down during the particularly hot summer of 1915. What they didn't know was that 110 years later, their great-granddaughter Eileen DiCosmo O'Connor would keep their legacy alive just south in the city of Metuchen. DiCosmo's Italian Ice opened its seasonal shop five years ago, a sister store to the Elizabeth location. On Wednesday, June 4, the Metuchen store celebrated the brand's storied, 110-year history with $1.10 small cups of Italian ice. It was also the first day that DiCosmo's Italian Ice will give one small free Italian ice away to a different customer each day for 110 days, until Sept. 22. For a chance to win, customers should follow DiCosmo's Italian Ice on Facebook or Instagram, or subscribe to email updates on its website. Each day, the shop will randomly select one of the followers or subscribers. 'I'm surprised that this little seasonal business selling this niche item has endured,' said O'Connor, the fourth-generation co-owner of DiCosmo's Italian Ice. 'I'm really proud. I know we have a great product and we wouldn't be here without our customers. I appreciate that for generations, they keep wanting more.' More summer sweet treats: McDonald's new McFlurry is based on a campfire snack treat. See availability Despite the many decades that have passed since the DiCosmos first created a recipe simply using fresh-squeezed lemon juice, sugar and water, the way that the shop makes the Italian ice today is the same as it was 110 years ago. So are the ingredients. DiCosmo's Italian Ice uses real fruit, including local strawberries, peaches and apples when they're in season. By using real fruit, corn syrup and extra sugar are not needed, so the ice isn't overly sweet. Only five gallons are made at a time, and only eight flavors are offered at any time — always kept at a precise temperature and with minimal exposure to air — so ice never sits for more than 48 hours. 'When ice sits, the ice crystals grow and has a different mouthfeel,' said O'Connor. 'Because it's fresh, the ice crystals stay small and has that melt-in-your-mouth burst in flavor.' The original lemon flavor, as well as the pina colada, mango and cherry flavors, are always available. The other four slots are filled by rotating flavors based on the season. Flavors have included lime mint, dragon fruit pineapple, strawberry guava and lavender haze, in honor of when a Taylor Swift tribute artist performed in the borough. The Metuchen shop is open seasonally based on the weather, which means that it sometimes opens early if there's a warm week in April or stays open through October if it's a hot fall. The Elizabeth shop was recently sold to new owners, although the DiCosmos shared their recipes and methods with them. It will open on a to-be-announced date. After DiCosmo's Italian Ice founders Giovanni and Caterina DiCosmo retired in the 1900s, they passed the business down to their son, Alfred, and his wife Agnes, a talented cook. She developed additional flavors for the shop, while Alfred, a welder, mechanized the hand crank machines to reduce the manufacturing time and increase production. They passed it on to their son, John, and his wife Nancy, who transformed the business from a small seasonal hobby into a modern business with extended hours and modernized manufacturing. O'Connor, their daughter, now co-runs the shop alongside her husband Mike O'Connor. She hopes that one day, the fifth generation of her family will continue the DiCosmo's Italian Ice tradition. 'I hope that one of my kids takes the shop over one day,' O'Connor said. 'There are 14 grandchildren, so if not mine, then maybe some of the cousins.' Go: 20 New St., Metuchen, New Jersey, 732-243-9328, Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey since 2014. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. You can also follow her on Instagram at @seejennaeat and on Twitter at @JIntersimone.
Business Insider
17 hours ago
- Business Insider
Economic anxiety or not, Americans are still prioritizing Euro summer travel
Happy Saturday! Apparently, some people are looking up at the stars for help in deciding where to move. It's called astrocartography, a form of astrology. Would you try it? On the agenda: Cancer doctors say exercise is better at preventing colon cancer recurrence than drugs. Sunglasses are the "it" accessory of the summer. Seven men shared their favorites. The millennial obsession with longevity is making compression socks cool. A top chef shares red flags to watch out for at seafood restaurants. But first: Vive la Europe! If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here. This week's dispatch The American Euro summer dream Despite very real economic anxiety, some American travelers aren't giving up their dreams of climbing the Eiffel Tower, sitting on the Spanish Steps, or sipping an Aperol spritz in the Italian sunlight. "Traveling is very important to me," Jimin Shim, a millennial living in Denver, told BI's senior reporter Kelsey Vlamis. "And because I know that that is a priority for me, it's something that I budget for and am saving up for all year round." Shim plans to travel with her mom to Portugal later this month. She's part of a larger trend of Americans who are still traveling to Europe despite a laundry list of potential issues: an uncertain economy, a weakened US dollar, and a changing perception of America partly due to Trump's tariff policies. In fact, Vlamis reports that Allianz Partners, a travel insurance and assistance company, found that summer travel from the US to Europe is set to increase by 10% this year, according to a recent data analysis. Still, many travelers are waiting longer to book to score the best deals. They're also choosing budget-friendly accommodations once they arrive. Others are swapping their itineraries altogether to save money. Travel content creator Meredith Pierce said she's noticed that travelers who intended to take trips to Italy and Paris are now opting to travel to Albania or Poland, countries with similar climates and vistas. Despite rising costs, Shim said her trip to Portugal is worth it for the reprieve alone. "Traveling and spending quality time with family who loves you is a great way to just take care of your mental and emotional health too," she added. Exercise is actually a drug A randomized controlled trial of exercise as a cancer treatment found brisk walking prevented recurrent colon cancer. Eight years out, 90% of patients in the exercise program were alive compared to 83% in the control group. Results of the study were presented at the biggest annual cancer conference. It shows that exercise is more than just a way to boost quality of life — it's a treatment. . Four grocery store items colon cancer doctors avoid — and three they love I attended the world's biggest cancer conference. Doctors gave standing ovations to two major breakthroughs. Throwing shades Sunglasses are the go-to accessory this summer, more for fashion than functionality. (Want to wear them at night? Go for it.) Seven men shared their favorite pairs with BI, from luxe brands like Cartier and Gentle Monster to the Gen Z-forward Crap Eyewear. Tinted lenses are also trending. Sock it to 'em Millennials can still dictate cool. They're a big reason why compression socks are becoming increasingly popular among young people, including their Gen Z counterparts. Compression socks are designed to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, making them a great fit for millennials' love for products that boost longevity. They can also be a game changer for people who are pregnant or do a lot of exercise. Plus, there are some pretty cute designs. Seafood red flags Aidan Owens is the executive chef at Herb & Sea, a top restaurant in Encinitas, California. His menus exclusively feature ingredients sourced by local farms and independent fishermen, so he knows how to find good seafood. That said, Owens also knows how to spot when a restaurant may not have good seafood. Do the oysters smell like the ocean? Does your server know where the fish came from? If no, it might be a sign the restaurant isn't sourcing its ingredients sustainably. What to watch out for. What we're watching this weekend "Snow White": See what all the fuss is about as the live-action version of Disney's beloved classic is now available on Disney+. "Echo Valley": In this new thriller on Apple TV+, Julianne Moore plays a Pennsylvania farmer whose life turns upside down when her daughter (Sydney Sweeney) comes home in an alarming state. "Titan: The Oceangate Submersible Disaster": This chilling documentary on Netflix delves into what led to the horrific 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible during its voyage to the Titanic wreckage. Deals we love Men's dress shoes: Step up your style game in and out of the office with these expert-approved dress shoes for men that are polished, comfortable, and actually worth the investment. Tangled necklaces? Not on our watch: These travel jewelry cases tested by a pro travel writer will keep your favorite pieces safe, organized, and knot-free. Swimsuits that won't let you down: Supportive, stylish, and made to move — we tested tons of styles to find the swimsuits that actually work for bigger busts (and still look amazing). More of this week's top reads: Danny Boyle made sure "28 Years Later" was worth the wait. The sneaky new friendship divide between millennials and Gen Z. This summer, people aren't just eating hot dogs — they're wearing them. The Labubus got me — and I learned a trick to finally buy one. Millennials who don't want kids explain their choice to be child-free, prioritize travel, and pursue their "dream life." I love weddings, but I leave them early — even if I adore the couple. It's not so wrong, especially if you do it right. A man proposed to his partner with a stunning engagement ring. She returned the favor with his dream Rolex. A 41-year-old longevity doctor says his "biological age" is 24. He takes three supplements daily. Want a baby this year? Brace yourself. How Patrick Schwarzenegger spends his 5 to 9 — from getting 10,000 steps to eating Japanese sweet potatoes. The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Five Modes Boutiques Reopen Under New Italian Company
MILAN — Italian retailer Modes is back in business, under a new, recently formed entity called Garments Milano. The new company has leased some of the existing Modes boutiques and reopened units in Portofino, Porto Cervo and Forte Village in Italy, as well as Saint Moritz in Switzerland. A fifth unit, on Milan's Via Brera, is to reopen this weekend. More from WWD Franz Kraler to Open Luxury Ski-slope Chalet in Cortina d'Ampezzo Summer Books and Authors on Full Display in Air Mail's NYC Store Luxury Retail Still Prevails on Mount Street As reported, Modes was placed under judicial liquidation after failing to carry forward with its business restructuring plan last May. Amid slowing sales and a deteriorated business environment, the company had filed for a 'compositions with creditors' procedures with a Milan court in May 2024. In the final verdict of that procedure, the court deemed Modes no longer eligible for the court-mediated continuity procedure and ruled in favor of a judicial liquidation. The Modes trademark was not part of the procedure, allowing Garments Milano to use it for the new course after leasing the Modes company's retail branch. 'We are hitting the market with five marquee locations, and we will try to communicate our approach to fashion retail,' Aldo Carpinteri, president of Modes, told WWD on Friday. 'Our units are bound to become 'white boxes' in wonderful locations allowing niche and up-and-coming brands, which don't have the means to be in those places to show their identity, storytelling and products. 'We think being a pure retail player can make the difference,' he offered. Carpinteri highlighted consumer fatigue over big brands' offerings and pricing strategies, as well as mounting competition on the latter front by online players. 'People want to get into a boutique and find objects that are timeless and durable,' he said. 'In the second half of 2025, we see a consolidation of the strategy. We are planning to forge ties with brands on dedicated activations,' he explained, sharing that a tie-up with Redemption is lined up at the Porto Cervo boutique. 'We want to do more projects in this vein.' In the year between the filing of the composition with creditors procedure and the final liquidation verdict, Modes had already retooled its business and Carpinteri said that that formula was proven effective, winning in-store customers back. His aim is to build on that going forward. Although falling short of the court expectations as part of the procedures, filings show that in the June to November 2024 period, average monthly revenues at the retailer stood at 900,000 euros, and at 500,000 euros in December 2024 and January 2025. At the peak of its pre-judicial procedure business success, Modes logged yearly sales of 150 million euros and operated 19 stores globally including units in Paris, Forte dei Marmi and Cagliari, Italy, and Gstaad, Switzerland. The Italian company had tapped industry veteran Simon Whitehouse as its chief executive officer in March 2024. Whitehouse left the company last March. Modes was established in 1971 by Carpinteri as a multibrand boutique in Trapani, on Italy's Sicily Island. Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
