Matteo Messina Denaro, an Italian Mafia boss who had been on the run for 30 years, has died in a hospital prison ward. He was convicted of numerous crimes, including the 1992 murders of anti-mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. His death marks the end of an era of organized crime in Italy and is seen as a major victory in the fight against the Mafia.
Posts tagged as “Italian”
Last week, 41 migrants tragically died in a shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea. The boat had departed from Sfax, Tunisia, carrying 45 people, including three children. This tragedy is yet another reminder of the dangers of the Mediterranean Sea, which has become a major route for migrants seeking to reach Europe, and highlights the need for more action to ensure the safety of those attempting the dangerous journey.
Italian police have apprehended a long-time fugitive, who was on Italy's list of 100 most dangerous criminals, after he was spotted in a photo celebrating his hometown team's soccer championship. The man, who has alleged mafia links, was betrayed by his passion for the Napoli team, which gave him away when he was seen holding a scarf in the team's colors. He had been on the run for 11 years, but was finally apprehended on the Greek island of Corfu and is now awaiting extradition back to Italy.
On June 23, a tourist from the UK, Ivan Danailov Dimitrov, was caught on video carving his name into the nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome. He has since issued a heartfelt apology and expressed his willingness to accept any punishment deemed necessary. The incident has sparked a debate about the protection of ancient monuments, and the severity of Dimitrov's punishment is yet to be seen.
Silvio Berlusconi, the longest-serving premier of Italy, has died at the age of 81. He was born in Milan in 1936 and formed the country's largest media company before entering politics, becoming known for his boastful and flamboyant style. Despite his successes, Berlusconi was dogged by scandals and allegations of corruption, and his death marks the end of an era in Italian politics.
Novak Djokovic, a tennis champion, has once again made headlines for his foray into geopolitics. On Tuesday, a NATO-led mission in Kosovo saw more than 30 peacekeepers injured in clashes with ethnic Serbs. Djokovic spoke to reporters about Kosovo after his Round 1 match at the French Open, sparking debate about his involvement in such a sensitive issue. His past comments on controversial topics, such as his father's videos during the Australian Open and his decision not to be vaccinated against COVID-19, have also caused controversy.
German leaders welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Berlin on Sunday for talks about a new package of military aid worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion). The aid includes tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition, and was announced the day before Zelenskyy's arrival. He had previously met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday to seek support for Ukraine's peace plan.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Vatican on Saturday to seek the support of Pope Francis for Ukraine's peace plan to end the war launched by Russia a year ago. During the meeting, Zelenskyy discussed the tens of thousands of deported Ukrainian children and held meetings with Italian officials. This marks Zelenskyy's first trip to Italy since the beginning of the Russian invasion, and the outcome of the meetings is yet to be seen.