Torrential rains October 1 caused the mudslides in the northeast of Sicily, near the coastal city of Messina.

VOA: standard.2009.10.10

The rainstorms that hit Messina in northeast Sicily unleashed rivers of mud.

VOA: standard.2009.10.03

But the credibility of government officials was dented this week when journalists from Saratov, one of Russia's most severely drought stricken regions, recognized their governor in a You Tube video of Russians detained on July 9th on a yacht near Sicily.

VOA: standard.2010.07.23