I currently feel stuck in a 1990s time warp at the University of Messina. Same scandals, same surnames. At least nobody has been killed this time around.
05.12.2025 10:13 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0@nickwhithorn.bsky.social
Legal Translator and University Lecturer based in Messina. Sicily, mafia, Italian justice system. Mafia Chronicles: nicholaswhithorn.substack.com
I currently feel stuck in a 1990s time warp at the University of Messina. Same scandals, same surnames. At least nobody has been killed this time around.
05.12.2025 10:13 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Sicilian Regional government launches scheme whereby foreign citizens or Italian citizens resident abroad who transfer their residence to Sicily & buy a property will enjoy 50% deduction on their income tax. This increases to 60% if the residence is in a municipality with fewer than 5k residents.
04.12.2025 13:54 โ ๐ 12 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 3 ๐ 0Prosecutors in Milan request documentation from fashion houses Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Gucci, Missoni, Ferragamo, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Pinko, Coccinelle, Adidas, Alexander McQueen Italia & Off-White Operating, as part of an investigation into labour exploitation.
04.12.2025 10:25 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Salvini tweeting on 4 December 2016: "Long live Trump, long live Putin, long live Le Pen and long live Lega!"
04.12.2025 18:05 โ ๐ 14 ๐ 3 ๐ฌ 3 ๐ 0Sicilian Regional government launches scheme whereby foreign citizens or Italian citizens resident abroad who transfer their residence to Sicily & buy a property will enjoy 50% deduction on their income tax. This increases to 60% if the residence is in a municipality with fewer than 5k residents.
04.12.2025 13:54 โ ๐ 12 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 3 ๐ 0Prosecutors in Milan request documentation from fashion houses Dolce&Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Gucci, Missoni, Ferragamo, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Pinko, Coccinelle, Adidas, Alexander McQueen Italia & Off-White Operating, as part of an investigation into labour exploitation.
04.12.2025 10:25 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0The NGO vessel Louise Michel, financed by artist Banksy, comes under fire from the Libyan "Coast Guard". The Libyan boat involved was donated by Italy and built using EU funds.
03.12.2025 22:50 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 0Sicilian politicians currently on trial or under investigation:
Totรฒ Cuffaro (DC)
Gaetano Galvagno (FdI)
Luca Sammartino (Lega)
Elvira Amata (FdI)
Roberto Di Mauro (MpA)
Giuseppe Castiglione (MpA)
Salvo Geraci (Lega)
Carmelo Pace (DC)
Saverio Romano (NM)
Gaspare Vitrano (FI)
Gianfranco Miccichรจ (FI)
Sicilian politicians currently on trial or under investigation:
Totรฒ Cuffaro (DC)
Gaetano Galvagno (FdI)
Luca Sammartino (Lega)
Elvira Amata (FdI)
Roberto Di Mauro (MpA)
Giuseppe Castiglione (MpA)
Salvo Geraci (Lega)
Carmelo Pace (DC)
Saverio Romano (NM)
Gaspare Vitrano (FI)
Gianfranco Miccichรจ (FI)
A Preliminary Investigation Judge in Palermo has ordered house arrest for former Governor of Sicily Totรฒ Cuffaro, accused with 17 others of conspiracy to commit procurement fraud and corruption. Cuffaro has previously served a 7-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting mafiosi.
03.12.2025 09:59 โ ๐ 18 ๐ 6 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Preliminary Investigation Judge applies ban on residing in towns of Trapani & Milazzo for 7 Directors of Sicilian company operating hydrofoils & catamarans, accused of fraud, corruption & embezzlement for hiding safety defects to avoid losing a lucrative contract with Sicilian Regional government.
03.12.2025 11:35 โ ๐ 10 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0A Preliminary Investigation Judge in Palermo has ordered house arrest for former Governor of Sicily Totรฒ Cuffaro, accused with 17 others of conspiracy to commit procurement fraud and corruption. Cuffaro has previously served a 7-year prison sentence for aiding and abetting mafiosi.
03.12.2025 09:59 โ ๐ 18 ๐ 6 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Salvini & partner buy 28-room villa in Rome for โฌ1.35m, little more than half market price for such properties in the area. It previously belonged to family of an associate of Berlusconi's lawyer convicted of corruption. Sale was overseen by same notary who dealt with Messina Strait bridge project.
02.12.2025 22:35 โ ๐ 19 ๐ 4 ๐ฌ 5 ๐ 0Hull is great.
02.12.2025 21:27 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0The founding of a new Sicilian low-cost airline "Etna Sky" has been announced by a former Fratelli d'Italia Member of Parliament. The intention is to launch flights by next summer.
02.12.2025 19:10 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 5 ๐ 0One day he'll die in his seat and they'll just carry on without noticing it.
02.12.2025 19:13 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 4 ๐ฌ 3 ๐ 0The founding of a new Sicilian low-cost airline "Etna Sky" has been announced by a former Fratelli d'Italia Member of Parliament. The intention is to launch flights by next summer.
02.12.2025 19:10 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 5 ๐ 0Italian government to revise Messina Strait bridge project to overcome Court of Auditors' objections and gain approval. But there is one objection they refuse to face up to: the need for new tender process under EU law. It could mean years of delay but without it the whole exercise seems pointless.
02.12.2025 15:26 โ ๐ 10 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Italian government to revise Messina Strait bridge project to overcome Court of Auditors' objections and gain approval. But there is one objection they refuse to face up to: the need for new tender process under EU law. It could mean years of delay but without it the whole exercise seems pointless.
02.12.2025 15:26 โ ๐ 10 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0This is ridiculous. Flying from northern to southern Italy is cheaper if you make a stopover abroad, especially in peak periods such as Christmas.
02.12.2025 09:23 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 0For all fans of Totรฒ Schillaci, here are all his goals for Messina in Serie C2 and Serie C1 from 1982-83 to 1985-86. I was in the crowd for the home games in 1985-86.
01.12.2025 21:19 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0Almost every day now right-wing newspapers in Italy publish stories that give Meloni, Salvini and the rest an excuse to attack the judiciary. It's going to be a long few months leading up to the referendum on Meloni's justice reform in the spring.
30.11.2025 19:06 โ ๐ 22 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Almost every day now right-wing newspapers in Italy publish stories that give Meloni, Salvini and the rest an excuse to attack the judiciary. It's going to be a long few months leading up to the referendum on Meloni's justice reform in the spring.
30.11.2025 19:06 โ ๐ 22 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Of the three major stumbling blocks in the Messina Strait bridge project cited by the Court of Auditors, I think the most problematic one is the tendering process. Salvini rushed to say it will not need to be reopened when it clearly will as the cost has risen by over 50% since the original tender.
30.11.2025 18:39 โ ๐ 12 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0EU Migration Commissioner says despite "alleged" human rights abuses in Libya, EU has "no alternative" to sending funds there. Read: paying militias to imprison, torture & rape migrants, put them into unsafe boats, then send the Libyan "Coast Guard" to shoot at them, kidnap them and ... repeat.
30.11.2025 13:04 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 1Every time I see this guy he seems to have had a smirk surgically attached to his face.
30.11.2025 16:44 โ ๐ 7 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 0EU Migration Commissioner says despite "alleged" human rights abuses in Libya, EU has "no alternative" to sending funds there. Read: paying militias to imprison, torture & rape migrants, put them into unsafe boats, then send the Libyan "Coast Guard" to shoot at them, kidnap them and ... repeat.
30.11.2025 13:04 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 1Just days ago the municipality of Paternรฒ, home town of President of the Italian Senate Ignazio La Russa (Fratelli d'Italia), was dissolved due to mafia infiltration. Now, another FdI Senator introduces a bill to make it more difficult for municipalites to be dissolved for mafia. So brazen.
29.11.2025 10:37 โ ๐ 41 ๐ 16 ๐ฌ 2 ๐ 2Italian Defence Minister Crosetto proposes forming a 10k strong volunteer reserve force for the Italian army.
28.11.2025 22:07 โ ๐ 5 ๐ 3 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0Telling an Eritrean that they are being โsent homeโ is basically a death threat. Some Eritreans deported back to Eritrea donโt even make it past the car park in the Asmara airport
23.11.2025 17:43 โ ๐ 103 ๐ 33 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 1