The IOC are pathetic cowards (btw FIFA are pathetic cowards as well).

On 11 February 2004, Attilio Manca, a 34-year-old urologist from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Sicily), dies in his flat in Viterbo in mysterious circumstances. It is suspected he unknowingly operated mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano and was killed because he may have recognised his patient [Thread] >> 1

Are they going to use it to bomb solar farms?

They really want the World Cup to fail. I don't think it is just the fans that should be worried either. They might even target players or officials from some countries.

And, for the third consecutive year, we are told that work on the Messina Strait bridge will begin this summer.

40 years ago today, 10th February 1986, the largest criminal trial in history opened in the specially-built bunker courthouse in Palermo against 475 members of Cosa Nostra. You can read about as part of my long thread linked below.

Trenitalia announces €2bn of investment for 74 new high-speed Frecciarossa trains. Great news if you live north of Salerno. Pointless if you live further south. Yesterday my Frecciarossa from Rome to Villa San Giovanni was on time as far as Paola, then accumulated 90 minutes delay in 160km.

And, for the third consecutive year, we are told that work on the Messina Strait bridge will begin this summer.

40 years ago today, 10th February 1986, the largest criminal trial in history opened in the specially-built bunker courthouse in Palermo against 475 members of Cosa Nostra. You can read about as part of my long thread linked below.

"Keir, it's a bit late to come asking me for advice on stable government."

"Six nations risks becoming a two-tier competition as Ireland, Scotland and Wales all lose on opening weekend". So, that means Italy are in the top tier along with England and France, right?

"Six nations risks becoming a two-tier competition as Ireland, Scotland and Wales all lose on opening weekend". So, that means Italy are in the top tier along with England and France, right?

9th February 2020, a boat carrying 91 people from Darfur sank off Garabulli in Libya. When the alarm was raised, the Libyan 'coastguard' refused to act as "detention centres were full". Italian and Maltese authorities did absolutely nothing. The 91 people were never found.

All of the 11 Italian athletes who have won medals so far at the Winter Olympics belong to military sports groups, five from the Guardia di Finanza, four from the Carabinieri, one from the Air Force and one from the Army.

I wonder whether Vance noticed that the disciple who most resembles him in Da Vinci's The Last Supper is Judas.

I wonder whether Vance noticed that the disciple who most resembles him in Da Vinci's The Last Supper is Judas.

The centre of Rome is currently full of bedraggled dispirited Scottish rugby supporters.

At least 5 people from northern Italy are under investigation by Public Prosecutors in Milan on suspicion of being "weekend snipers" who paid to act as snipers, shooting and killing people during the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1996 for "recreation".

5 February 1944 - editor, writer, journalist & anti-fascist activist Leone Ginzburg, husband of acclaimed author Natalia Ginzburg, dies in Regina Coeli prison in Rome, as a result of being repeatedly tortured by the SS for participating in the Resistance [Thread] >> 1

On 22-23 March a constitutional referendum will be held in Italy to approve or reject the Meloni government's reform of the justice system. This thread looks at what changes are the subject of the referendum, the arguments for and against and the wider political implications >> 1

My high-speed train is currently travelling at 150km/h & that's the best it'll do until it reaches Salerno, after which the speed will double. It must be part of that "system for the south" the government keeps talking about. Btw, it will still be that way if/when the Messina Strait bridge is built.

Salvini's Deputy, notorious racist misogynist & homophobe former Army General Roberto Vannacci, has abandoned Lega to form his own extreme far right movement. His first new recruit is a former FdI MP expelled from the party after accidentally shooting a man in the buttock at a New Year's Eve party.

Salvini's Deputy, notorious racist misogynist & homophobe former Army General Roberto Vannacci, has abandoned Lega to form his own extreme far right movement. His first new recruit is a former FdI MP expelled from the party after accidentally shooting a man in the buttock at a New Year's Eve party.

I know it is pointless saying this but I will do it anyway. Just imagine the coverage there would be if a ferry or cruise ship had sunk in a storm in the Mediterranean with the loss of a thousand lives and compare it with the attention given to a thousand people in migrant boats drowning in a storm.

I know it is pointless saying this but I will do it anyway. Just imagine the coverage there would be if a ferry or cruise ship had sunk in a storm in the Mediterranean with the loss of a thousand lives and compare it with the attention given to a thousand people in migrant boats drowning in a storm.

It is now thought that a thousand people or more may have perished in the Mediterranean during Storm Harry, while attempting the crossing from Tunisia and Libya to Lampedusa or Sicily.

It is now thought that a thousand people or more may have perished in the Mediterranean during Storm Harry, while attempting the crossing from Tunisia and Libya to Lampedusa or Sicily.

Microcosm of Trump's America. A measles outbreak in a concentration camp.

Microcosm of Trump's America. A measles outbreak in a concentration camp.

Plague spreader general of Florida.

"Fascism is a means, not an end..." Benito Mussolini

"Fascism is a means, not an end..." Benito Mussolini

On a totally unrelated note, Santo Pietro was also the scene of war crimes committed by US troops in July 1943 during the invasion of Sicily. See linked thread: bsky.app/profile/nick...

The Italian government insists it is going ahead with the Messina Strait bridge project saying it is part of a "system for the south". What system for the south? There is no system for the south. All investment for the south has been diverted for the bridge.

The Italian government insists it is going ahead with the Messina Strait bridge project saying it is part of a "system for the south". What system for the south? There is no system for the south. All investment for the south has been diverted for the bridge.

On a totally unrelated note, Santo Pietro was also the scene of war crimes committed by US troops in July 1943 during the invasion of Sicily. See linked thread: bsky.app/profile/nick...

As the landslide in the Sicilian town of Niscemi worsens there is talk of abandoning it and building a new town. One suggested site is Borgo Santo Pietro, 15km away, originally planned by the fascist régime as a Garden City in 1924 to be named "Mussolinia di Sicilia" but never properly developed.

Outrageously, today, the teams of the #OceanViking recovered the body of a woman in the Maltese Search and Rescue Region. At least 380 people are feared to have drowned in the Central Mediterranean last week as Cyclone #Harry struck the region. ⚠️ Sensitive content ⚠️

In Sicily we have a devastated eastern coastline and an entire town sliding into oblivion. Minimum €2bn damage to fix. Salvini refuses to use any of the €13.5bn set aside for the Messina Strait bridge. Tomorrow he is coming to view the devastation. Will be interesting to see the reception he gets.

New opinion poll by IXE concerning the constitutional referendum to be held in Italy on 22-23 March on the Meloni government's reform of the justice system sees virtual parity - YES 50.1% No 49.9%. Previous IXE poll in November saw YES 53%, NO 47%. There is no quorum for constitutional referendums.

New opinion poll by IXE concerning the constitutional referendum to be held in Italy on 22-23 March on the Meloni government's reform of the justice system sees virtual parity - YES 50.1% No 49.9%. Previous IXE poll in November saw YES 53%, NO 47%. There is no quorum for constitutional referendums.

Italian police are investigating the death of a Ukrainian banker, whose body was found in a courtyard in central Milan. The body had fallen from the window of a B&B but it showed signs of violence. The 54-year-old man, resident in Spain, had arrived in Milan the same day, apparently on business.

I see we are already at the "I was only following orders" stage of fascism.

I see we are already at the "I was only following orders" stage of fascism.

27th January 1991, Ignazio Aloisi is murdered by the mafia in Messina. Refusing to be intimidated, he is killed for testifying against a mafioso responsible for an armed robbery [Thread] >> 1

In Sicily, following Storm Harry, virtually the entire east coast of the island has been devastated and the ground below an entire town of 24k inhabitants is collapsing but, hey..., we're still getting the Messina Strait bridge.

In Sicily, following Storm Harry, virtually the entire east coast of the island has been devastated and the ground below an entire town of 24k inhabitants is collapsing but, hey..., we're still getting the Messina Strait bridge.

27th January 1991, Ignazio Aloisi is murdered by the mafia in Messina. Refusing to be intimidated, he is killed for testifying against a mafioso responsible for an armed robbery [Thread] >> 1

Storm Harry devastated the east coast of Sicily last week causing an estimated €1.5bn of damage. The Italian government has sent "initial" aid of €33m.

Italy has not drifted into fascism yet. Policeman who shot dead a man in Milan automatically placed under investigation for murder. The man was allegedly pointing a pistol at the officer (it later proved to be loaded with blanks). N.B. Salvini wants to end automatic investigation of law enforcement.