Italy

Women have long held a complicated role in Italy's mafia organizations—at once unable to officially join the men-only groups, but often wielding immense power just the same. They are tasked with raising children to grow up outside the law and often take over while their husbands, fathers or brothers are incarcerated. That 42 women are on trial (and a further dozen entered plea agreements) speaks to the seriousness with which the Italian court system is finally taking female organized crime suspects. For decades, women were given a pass in mafia trials, thought to be on the periphery or simply not smart enough to be involved, thus allowing them to fly under the radar. Other defendants include those who go by the monikers, The Uncle, The Wolf, Fatty, Sweetie, Blondie, Little Goat, and The Wringer, allegedly named after his preferred torture method against those who cross him or his family. … [Read more...] about Secret Lives of 42 Mafia Women on Trial in Italy: Murders, Guns and Drugs

According to Save the Children Italy, 34,000 high school students are at risk of dropping out from school due to the hardships they faced in following the remote learning mode. … [Read more...] about Students in Italy Protest as Schools Reopen

Hospitalizations of children for self-cutting and attempted suicide have increased by 30 percent since October, repeating a similar bump last spring during the first wave of the coronavirus, according to Dr. Stefano Vicari, head of the complex operating unit of Childhood and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry of Rome’s Bambino Gesù pediatric hospital. … [Read more...] about Italy Reports ‘Alarming’ Spike in Attempted Suicides Among Youth During Lockdowns

In normal circumstances, by now the Italian government would have had to pay significantly higher interest rates to borrow as investors increasingly came to doubt the country’s ability to service its debts. However, these are not normal circumstances in that the European Central Bank (ECB) has chosen to buy an ever-increasing amount of Italian government bonds to keep Italy’s borrowing costs low. Indeed, as a result of the ECB’s action, the Italian government can now borrow at a zero interest rate despite having public finances that have never looked worse.  … [Read more...] about Italy’s challenge to the global economy

Prosecutors are focusing their efforts primarily on the 'Ndrangheta’s Mancuso family, which controls the Vibo Valentia area of Calabria. The defendants, including Mancuso blood relatives, disgraced politicians, lawyers, businessmen, law enforcement officials and others, are facing a host of crimes dating back decades, including murder, drug trafficking, extortion and money laundering.    … [Read more...] about Testimony Begins Wednesday in Italy’s Largest Organized Crime Trial in Three Decades