Italian police arrest man whose ID helped fugitive mobster
January 23, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Italian police in Sicily on Monday arrested the man whose identity was used by a convicted Mafia boss who became Italy’s No. 1 fugitive during 30 years on the run, authorities said.
Carabinieri police said that Andrea Bonafede had been arrested on a warrant issued by judicial authorities in Palermo.
Fugitive’s arrest like a ‘quake,’ but Mafia very resilient
January 18, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Matteo Messina Denaro's long record as a killer — turncoat mobsters said he'd boast of enough murders to fill a cemetery — greatly burnished his credentials among his peers as a major boss in the Sicilian Mafia.
Fugitive’s arrest like a ‘quake,’ but Mafia very resilient
January 17, 2023 GMTROME (AP) — Matteo Messina Denaro's long record as a killer — turncoat mobsters said he'd boast of enough murders to fill a cemetery — greatly burnished his credentials among his peers as a major boss in the Sicilian Mafia.
Last-place Cremonese hires Ballardini as coach
January 15, 2023 GMTCREMONA, Italy (AP) — Last-place Cremonese hired Davide Ballardini on Sunday as its new coach, one day after the Serie A club fired Massimiliano Alvini.
Ballardini, who arrives along with his staff, has been given a contract until June 2024.
Italy: Eritrea fugitive to be prosecuted for human smuggling
October 12, 2022 GMTROME (AP) — An Eritrean fugitive is being extradited to Italy to face human trafficking charges after he was picked up at Ethiopia's airport trying to board a flight for Australia, Italian police said Wednesday.
Begu beats Bronzetti for Palermo Ladies Open title
July 24, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Irina-Camelia Begu beat Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 6-2 to win the Palermo Ladies Open on Sunday and claim her first singles title in five years.
The sixth-seeded Romanian took control from the start on the red clay of the Country Time Club and closed the final out with an ace on her first match point.
Bronzetti reaches first final on tour at Palermo Ladies Open
July 23, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Lucia Bronzetti reached her first final on tour by rallying past fellow Italian Jasmine Paolini 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the Palermo Ladies Open on Saturday.
Paolini double-faulted to hand Bronzetti a 5-3 lead in the third set and a chance to serve it out — which Bronzetti did at love.
Irina-Camelia Begu back in Palermo semifinals a decade later
July 22, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Irina-Camelia Begu is back in the semifinals of the Palermo Ladies Open after a decade.
The sixth-seeded Begu ended the run of 19-year-old Diane Parry by 6-1, 6-3 on Friday on the red clay of the Country Time Club.
French teenager Parry reaches first quarterfinal at Palermo
July 21, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — French teenager Diane Parry beat second-seeded Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to reach her first tour-level quarterfinal at the Palermo Ladies Open.
It was the 19-year-old Parry’s third career win against a top-50 player.
Zhang out with injury, Sorribes Tormo advances in Palermo
July 20, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Another seeded player withdrew from the Palermo Ladies Open on Wednesday when Zhang Shuai pulled out with an unspecified “physical problem.”
The third-seeded Zhang was scheduled to play Jasmine Paolini and the Italian was given a walkover into the quarterfinals where she will face either eighth-seeded Nuria Parrizas Diaz or Julia Grabher.
Trevisan out with injury, Putintseva advances in Palermo
July 19, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Top-seeded Martina Trevisan withdrew from the Palermo Ladies Open on Tuesday because of a back injury, but No. 2 seed Yulia Putintseva advanced after comfortably winning her opening match.
Seeds Zhang, Sorribes Tormo recover from scares in Palermo
July 18, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Third-seeded Zhang Shuai recovered from a scare early in the second set to advance to the second round of the Palermo Ladies Open on Monday.
Zhang was broken twice at the start of the second set before rallying to beat Rebeka Masarova of Spain 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7).
Letizia Battaglia, who shot life and death in Palermo, dies
April 14, 2022 GMTROME (AP) — Letizia Battaglia, an Italian photographer who documented the arrests of Mafia bosses and the bodies of their victims, has died in her native Sicilian city of Palermo. She was 87.
Among the authorities announcing her death was Palermo Mayor Leoluca Orlando, who stood vigil next to her coffin during her wake in city hall on Thursday, a day after her death.
Portugal tops N. Macedonia, Ronaldo makes it to another WCup
March 29, 2022 GMTPORTO, Portugal (AP) — There will be at least one more World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The all-time top scorer in men’s international soccer will get to play in his fifth World Cup after Portugal defeated North Macedonia 2-0 in the European qualifying playoffs on Tuesday.
Italy to miss World Cup again after loss to North Macedonia
March 24, 2022 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — European champion Italy will miss the World Cup. Again.
The unthinkable happened in Palermo on Thursday as the Azzurri were beaten 1-0 by North Macedonia following a last-gasp goal by Aleksandar Trajkovski in their playoff semifinal.
Prior playoff failure on minds as Italy hunts World Cup spot
March 23, 2022 GMTMILAN (AP) — With Italy’s worst soccer moment on many people’s minds, coach Roberto Mancini is not thinking about the unthinkable but about winning the World Cup in Qatar.
De Sciglio replaces injured Di Lorenzo in Italy squad
March 20, 2022 GMTMILAN (AP) — Roberto Mancini called up Juventus defender Mattia De Sciglio on Sunday to replace the injured Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the Italy squad for the World Cup playoffs.
Di Lorenzo, who has been a regular under Mancini and was part of the European Championship-winning team last year, was forced to withdraw from the squad after the Napoli full back sprained his right knee during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Udinese in Serie A.
Balotelli left off Italy’s squad for World Cup playoffs
March 18, 2022 GMTROME (AP) — Mario Balotelli was left off Italy’s squad for the World Cup playoffs, and the European champion was also without midfielder Manuel Locatelli, who tested positive for COVID-19.
Italy faces North Macedonia in Palermo, Sicily, on Thursday.
Greek statue lent to Italy in exchange for Parthenon gesture
February 9, 2022 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece on Wednesday lent Italy an ancient statue of the goddess Athena, to be displayed in a Sicilian museum for four years in return for Italy's long-term loan to Athens of a fragment of the celebrated Parthenon Sculptures.
Harrison Ford reunited with lost credit card in Sicily
October 23, 2021 GMTMILAN (AP) — Harrison Ford lost his credit card during a stay in a beach town near Palermo, Sicily, but got it back thanks to a German tourist, police in Sicily said Saturday.
The tourist found a credit card with Ford’s name emblazoned on it Thursday, and turned it in to the local police station in the beach town of Mondello.
Salvini on trial in Italy over 2019 migrant ship
October 23, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Italy’s right-wing former interior minister, Matteo Salvini, went on trial Saturday charged with kidnapping for refusing in 2019 to allow a Spanish migrant rescue ship to dock in Sicily, keeping the people onboard at sea for days.
Court acquits associate of Italy’s ex-premier of Mafia deal
September 23, 2021 GMTROME (AP) — An appeals court in Palermo, Sicily, acquitted a close associate of former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday of having negotiated with the Mafia during the 1990s.
In 2018, a lower court convicted Marcello Dell’Utri, who had been a senator for Berlusconi's right-wing Forza Italia party, of acting as a liaison between Italian state institutions and Cosa Nostra bosses in Sicily and gave him a 12-year prison sentence.
Collins wins her 1st WTA title, beats Ruse in Palermo final
July 25, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Top-seeded Danielle Collins won her first WTA title on Sunday, beating qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-2 in the Palermo Ladies Open final.
The 44th-ranked Collins was playing in her first career final while her opponent was aiming for her second title in two weeks.
Top seed Collins vs qualifier Ruse in Palermo final
July 24, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Top-seeded Danielle Collins will try to win her first WTA title at the Palermo Ladies Open on Sunday, when Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania will be aiming for her second title in two weeks.
Romania qualifier reaches second straight WTA semifinals
July 23, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania reached her second straight WTA semifinals as a qualifier at the Palermo Ladies Open on Friday.
Ruse came out of qualifying two weeks ago at the Hamburg European Open and won her maiden WTA title.
Top seed Collins advances to Palermo quarterfinals
July 22, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Top-seeded Danielle Collins of the United States remained on track for her first WTA final after reaching the Palermo Ladies Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
Collins beat Maddison Inglis 6-4, 6-1, and will face another Australian, seventh-seeded Astra Sharma on Friday.
Former champ Teichmann withdraws from Palermo Ladies Open
July 21, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Former champion Jil Teichmann was forced to pull out of the Palermo Ladies Open on Wednesday because of injury.
The third-seeded Teichmann, who won the title in 2019, had to withdraw shortly before the start of her second round match against Elena Gabriela Ruse because of a left thigh problem.
American Danielle Collins advances at Palermo Ladies Open
July 21, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Top-seeded Danielle Collins reached the last 16 of the Palermo Ladies Open by beating Katharina Gerlach of Germany 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday.
The American, a semifinalist at the Australian Open in 2019, will next face Maddison Inglis of Australia.
Former champ Teichmann wins opener at Palermo Ladies Open
July 19, 2021 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Swiss player Jil Teichmann made a successful return to the Palermo Ladies Open on Monday two years after she won the title.
The third-seeded Teichmann launched her bid for a third WTA title by defeating Spanish qualifier Marina Bassols Ribera 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round.
World champion Ganna wins opening time trial at Giro
October 3, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Newly crowned world champion Filippo Ganna, competing in his first Grand Tour, stormed to a dominant victory in the opening stage time trial of the rescheduled Giro d’Italia on Saturday in front of his home fans...
Big wedding in fictional home of ‘The Godfather’ fuels virus
September 18, 2020 GMTROME (AP) — The Sicilian town of Corleone, made famous by the fictional Mafia clan in “The Godfather,” has ordered schools closed and a limited lockdown after a spate of coronavirus infections were tied to a big wedding there last week...
Italy: 70 migrants on ship awaiting OK to land jump into sea
September 17, 2020 GMTMILAN (AP) — More than 70 migrants on a rescue ship awaiting permission to dock in southern Italy jumped into the sea in frustration Thursday and were picked up by Italian authorities off Palermo, a Spanish humanitarian group said...
Ferro upsets Kontaveit to win Palermo Open
August 9, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Fiona Ferro of France upset fourth-seeded Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in the Palermo Ladies Open final on Sunday to win the first tour-level tennis title in five months...
Kontaveit and Ferro to meet in Palermo Open final
August 8, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Fourth-seeded Anett Kontaveit will play 53rd-ranked Fiona Ferro on Sunday for the first tour-level tennis title in five months at the Palermo Ladies Open...
Martić and Kontaveit reach Palermo Open semifinals
August 8, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Top-seeded Petra Martić and fourth-seeded Anett Kontaveit advanced to the semifinals of PALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Top-seeded Petra Martić rallied past Russian qualifier Liudmila Samsonova 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the Palermo Ladies Open quarterfinals Thursday in the first tournament following a five-month break due to the coronavirus...Martić, Kontaveit and Giorgi rally for wins in Palermo
August 6, 2020 GMT
Errani showing signs of clay-court revival in Palermo
August 5, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Former French Open finalist Sara Errani showed signs of reviving her clay-court prowess by rallying past Kristýna Plíšková 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 Wednesday to reach the Palermo Ladies Open quarterfinals...
Juvan upsets Vondroušová in 1st round of Palermo Open
August 4, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan upset second-seeded Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 Tuesday in the first round of the Palermo Ladies Open, the first official tennis tournament since March...
Tennis player tests positive for virus at Palermo Open
August 1, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — A tennis player entered for the Palermo Ladies Open tested positive for the coronavirus and has withdrawn from the tournament, organizers announced Saturday...
All virus tests come back negative ahead of Palermo Open
July 31, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — More than 400 coronavirus tests were carried out on tennis players and staff members ahead of the Palermo Ladies Open and all of them came back negative...
Halep withdraws from Palermo Open after quarantine order
July 26, 2020 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Second-ranked Simona Halep withdrew from the Palermo Ladies Open Sunday following a quarantine ordinance issued by Italy’s health ministry...
Rescheduled Giro d’Italia to start with 4 stages in Sicily
July 24, 2020 GMTMILAN (AP) — The rescheduled Giro d’Italia will start with four stages in Sicily.
The race will begin with a 16-kilometer (10-mile) individual time trial from Monreale to Palermo on Oct...
Eritrean soccer players who defected say they live in fear
October 12, 2019 GMTPALERMO, Italy (AP) — Soccer gave Mewal Tesfai Yosief hope in an authoritarian nation, a job in a country of forced military conscription and, possibly, freedom at last...
Police: Upper ranks of Sicilian mob dismantled with arrests
December 4, 2018 GMTROME (AP) — Italian authorities said Tuesday they had dismantled the rebuilt upper echelons of the Mafia in the Sicilian capital by arresting 46 people, including the man presumed to have taken over as provincial kingpin after the death of "boss of bosses" Salvatore "Toto" Riina...
Pope pays tribute in Sicily to priest slain by Mafia
September 15, 2018 GMTPALERMO, Sicily (AP) — Pope Francis appealed to Mafiosi to renounce their quests for power and money as he visited Sicily on Saturday to honor a priest slain by mob henchmen for trying to protect youths from the evil clutches of organized crime...