Legal Translator and University Lecturer based in Messina. Sicily, mafia, Italian justice system. Mafia Chronicles: nicholaswhithorn.substack.com
Perhaps he should win the FIFA Peace Prize.
Ross McKayWe need to take a moment to salute Gianni Infantino for being the first person in history to get 55 European countries to unanimously agree on anything.
Spanish Foreign Minister has summoned the Italian Ambassador after Italian FM Tajani proposed suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain in light of the arrival of thousands of Moroccans in Ceuta, describing it as a "threat to national security". Spanish FM described Tajani's words as "shameful".
«Un messaggio indegno»: la Spagna risponde a Tajani e convoca l’ambasciatore italianoTensione altissima sull'asse Roma-Madrid. Dopo l'ipotesi del vicepremier italiano di chiudere i confini Schengen con la Spagna per la crisi di Ceuta, arriva la durissima reazione del ministro Albareswww.lasicilia.itPretty sure that most members of the Italian government have no idea where Ceuta is.
Invasione di migranti a Ceuta, il governo italiano valuta la chiusura dello spazio Schengen con la SpagnaTajani e Salvini favorevoli all'iniziativa. Le critiche di Palazzo Chigi al governo Sanchez e il pericolo di «sicurezza nazionale»www.open.onlineTrump's taste in interior decoration looks very similar to that of the Casamonica mafia clan in Rome. All of their 8 villas were seized and demolished.
Dom ErvolinaDeputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted this video of the Oval Office and it somehow looks even more embarrassing than I realized
You're already embracing Mediterranean life. If you just give up you'll be embracing Death Valley life.
Roland SmithNighty night.
This happened just a couple of miles along the coast from Salvo Montalbano's house, so I am sure he will be on the case.
Nicholas WhithornThis morning at Marina di Ragusa in Sicily a motor boat ran out of fuel just offshore and, when they realised the Coast Guard was arriving, those on board threw sealed packages containing thousands of banknotes overboard. These washed up on the beach, were collected by bathers & seized by police.
This morning at Marina di Ragusa in Sicily a motor boat ran out of fuel just offshore and, when they realised the Coast Guard was arriving, those on board threw sealed packages containing thousands of banknotes overboard. These washed up on the beach, were collected by bathers & seized by police.
Sicilia, barca in panne al largo: lanciate in mare due borse piene di soldi. Le ipotesiL'incredibile episodio è accaduto questa mattina a Casuzze. Indaga la Guardia Costiera che avrebbe fermato alcune persone. L'analisi di Basciettowww.lasicilia.itThey've been building the ballroom for 10 months. The Italians built a similar edifice, the bunker courthouse in Palermo, able to withstand a missile attack, in 6 months in the 1980s. Personally, I hope Trump's ballroom will serve the same purpose: a secure location for a mass trial of traitors.
Aaron RuparTrump: "I think the arch is gonna be incredible. I think the protected ballroom and military center that we're building at the White House is gonna be unbelievable. It's very important."
In testimony to the Italian Parliamentary Antimafia Commission the Chief Public Prosecutor in Palermo says there is evidence that the Sicilian mafia has acquired mine-laying drones.
Carceri e armi, l'allarme di de Lucia all'Antimafia: «I boss acquistano anche i droni lanciamine»Cosa nostra dopo la cattura di Matteo Messina Denaro: ecco la fotografia scattata dal capo dei pm di Palermowww.lasicilia.itThe 14-week summer holiday is deeply ingrained in Italian society. Proposals to shorten it never get anywhere. Here in Sicily there is grumbling about going back to school in mid-September when it is still "far too hot". In our family, 1st September represents the New Year more than 1st January.
Nicolai von OndarzaFun graph by the EU Commission on the length of summer holidays in the EU. To be frank, as a parent, even the six weeks in Germany feel long. How are parents supposed to bridge 14 weeks of summer holiday?
Yesterday Giuseppe Tornatore visited Messina and remembered how the cinemagoers of the city saved his masterpiece 'Cinema Paradiso' from the risk of oblivion. If you don't know the story read the thread linked below the article.
Tornatore: «Il pubblico di Messina salvò Nuovo Cinema Paradiso»Il regista premio Oscar ha ricordato Ninni Panzera nella serata di apertura della rinata Rassegna Cinematografica Internazionale di Messinawww.tempostretto.itNicholas Whithorn17 November 1988 'Cinema Paradiso' (in Italy 'Nuovo Cinema Paradiso') goes on general release in Italy. It is a total flop everywhere, except in one cinema in Messina and, maybe, it only goes on to win an Oscar due to the determination of Giovanni Parlagreco, owner of that cinema [Thread] >> 1
Today is the anniversary of Mussolini's fall from power in 1943. In Emilia-Romagna it is a custom for people to meet up & eat 'pastasciutta antifascista' in memory of the Cervi family, who instigated this tradition. Read the tragic story of this extraordinary family in the thread linked below.
Pastasciutta antifascista - Wikipediait.wikipedia.orgNicholas WhithornAt dawn on 28 December 1943, the 7 Cervi brothers, Gelindo (42), Antenore (37), Aldo (34), Ferdinando (32), Agostino (27), Ovidio (25) & Ettore (22), are executed by an Italian fascist firing squad in Reggio Emilia for their partisan activities [Thread] >> 1
Italian Justice Minister Nordio has attacked De Lucia for this. It is the usual scenario for right-wing governments: put more people in prison making them overcrowded but leave them understaffed. As De Lucia says, prisons are not exploding only because the situation suits organised crime groups.
Nicholas WhithornChief Public Prosecutor in Palermo says Italian prisons are no longer controlled by the state but by organised crime groups, who are even able to arrange conference calls between inmates in different prisons and people on the outside.
Incredibly, mafia boss Nino Madonia, serving 7 life sentences for murders, including those of Rocco Chinnici & Carlo Alberto dalla Chiesa, managed to get a handwritten threatening letter delivered to a Preliminary Investigation Judge in Palermo despite being held under strict art. 41-bis régime.
Il boss Madonia dal carcere minaccia la Gip del caso Mattarella, rafforzata scortaIl capomafia, detenuto al 41 bis, ha inviato una lettera di tre pagine alla presidente dei Gip di Palermo chiedendone l'astensione nei procedimenti che lo riguardanopalermo.gds.itChief Public Prosecutor in Palermo says Italian prisons are no longer controlled by the state but by organised crime groups, who are even able to arrange conference calls between inmates in different prisons and people on the outside.
De Lucia: «Le carceri non sono più sotto il controllo dello Stato»Il procuratore capo di Palermo denuncia il controllo esercitato dalla criminalità organizzata negli istituti penitenziarigds.itItalian Civil Protection officials say they have found evidence that criminals are using cats to start deliberate wildfires. They tie cloth soaked in flammable liquid to the cats' tails, light it and release the cat in areas of tall dry grass.
Gatti usati come inneschi per appiccare i roghi in Calabria, gli animalisti mettono una "taglia"L'Associazione italiana difesa animali e ambiente annuncia denunce in tutte le Procure calabresi. La ricompensa sarà destinata a chi consentirà di identificare e far condannare i responsabili.calabria.gazzettadelsud.it