‘Mafia' Review: Balkanized Crime on Viaplay
The scenario that unfolds in the six-part 'Mafia' might ring an alarm bell—immigrant gangs from troubled countries importing bank robbery, smuggling and violence into a civilized Western nation. A Kristi Noem PSA? No, Sweden in the '90s.
This Nordic Noir-ish thriller sets itself up well before the breakup of Yugoslavia, when the country was already sending proxies—'agents' might be overdoing it—into democracies like Sweden in search of the money needed to prop up a failing regime. But with Croatia's declaration of independence in 1991, and Eastern European nationalism on the rise, the criminal organizations themselves become balkanized, pun intended, and the opportunities in Stockholm both open and close. The trick is knowing whom to cultivate, and whom to kill.
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If Zohran Mamdani is the future of the Democrats, they're doomed
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And, of course, Los Angeles – similarly battling an inhospitable mix of homelessness, drugs and criminality. But sized a mere 49 square miles (one-tenth that of Los Angeles), San Francisco's blight has felt uniquely acute and everywhere – all at the same time. Back in 2022, fed up voters ousted district attorney Boudin, whose laissez-faire prosecutorial approach directly led to the city's spiralling quality of life. Former San Francisco mayor London Breed attempted, honourably, to steer San Francisco back to sanity. But with a record 806 drug-related deaths in 2023 alone – and San Francisco's abandoned business core dubbed a 'ghost town' by major media – Breed lost to Lurie last November. Despite a lack of formal political experience, Lurie is hardly new to politics. His career has been shaped by public service, mostly leading large non-profits focused on tackling urban ills – often in association with scions of other local family dynasties. Lurie's flagship $500 million Tipping Point Community organisation, for instance, was established alongside the daughter of Financial Services billionaire Charles Schwab. The reliance on – rather than rejection of – the private sector for public good has been a key Lurie manoeuvre and stands in sharp contrast to Mamdani's platform. Indeed, much like former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg a decade ago, Lurie has tapped major corporations and philanthropists to fund ambitious city programs hit hard by San Francisco's $800 million budget deficit. Earlier this month, for instance, he set up an entire department, the San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation, to steer private funding to city projects. Lurie has also heavily leaned into San Francisco's abundance of visionary innovators, most notably – and understandably – in the tech world. OpenAI head Sam Altman helped lead Lurie's transition team after his election last year. Such schemes – and there are many – stand in sharp contrast to the economic expansion plan touted by Mamdani, which mostly relies on added taxes levied on New York's wealthiest residents and corporations. And not just any wealthy residents and corporations: Mamdani's own website describes his strategy as shifting 'the tax burden from overtaxed homeowners in the outer boroughs to more expensive homes in richer and whiter neighbourhoods.' Such taxes would then be used to pay for low cost basic services including housing, transport and child care, even groceries. In other words – DEI meets Socialism. If this is the future of the Democrats, they are doomed. The problem with Mamdani's plans is that they rarely benefit – or are even desired – by those for whom they are designed. How else to explain the mostly white, mostly affluent New Yorkers who voted for Mamdani this week. Poor people don't need cheap housing – they need quality housing. 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He has links to Swales, including Sheerness, as well as Cranbrook and Essex. If you see him, call 999 quoting 46/96678/25. (Image: Kent Police) Patrick O'Brien is wanted on recall to prison. He has links to Thanet and Manchester. If you see him, call 999 quoting 46/67186/24. (Image: Kent Police) James Cranstone is wanted on a court warrant. He has links to Faversham and the Hertfordshire area. If you see him call 999 quoting reference 46/11137/25. (Image: Kent Police) Jake Chambers is wanted on recall to prison. He has links to Thanet and Maidstone. Call 999 quoting 46/43849/25 if you see him. (Image: Kent Police) David Belfield is wanted on suspicion of theft. He has links to Canterbury. If you see him, call 999 quoting 46/79755/25. (Image: Kent Police) Dean Pemble is wanted on recall to prison. He has links to Thanet and Manchester. Call 999 quoting quoting 46/69172/25 if you see him. (Image: Kent Police) Kenny Britcher, Maidstone, Snodland, Aylesford and Rochester, is wanted on a court warrant. If you see him call 999 quoting 46/12662/24. (Image: Kent Police) Jamie Harvey, who has links to Margate and Canterbury, is wanted on recall to prison. Anyone who has seen him should call 999 quoting reference 46/87946/24. (Image: Kent Police) Yikalo Brhane is wanted on recall to prison. He has links to Dover, Folkestone and Ashford. If you see him call 999 quoting reference 46/126619/24. (Image: Kent Police) Aaron Misah, who has links to Medway, Swanley and Gravesend, is wanted on a court warrant. If you see him, call 999 quoting 46/160359/24. (Image: Kent Police) Robert Harden, who has links to Swale, Thanet and London, is wanted on a court warrant. Please call 999 quoting reference 46/10175/24 if you see him or know where he is. (Image: Kent Police) Kornelijius Suchodolskis, who has links to Maidstone and Ashford, is wanted on a court warrant. Anyone who sees him or knows where he is should call 999, quoting reference 46/12022/23. (Image: Kent Police) Stuart Haydock, who has links to Tonbridge, Malling and Chatham, is wanted on a court warrant. If you see him, call 999 quoting 46/12367/24. (Image: Kent Police) Jason Tusting is wanted on recall to prison. He has links to Ramsgate. Anyone who has seen him or knows where he is should call 999 quoting reference 46/224490/23. (Image: Kent Police) Jamie Nicholls, who has links to Tonbridge and Manchester, is wanted on a court warrant. If you see him, call 999 quoting 46/11664/24. (Image: Kent Police) Stephen Anderson has been wanted for over half a decade in connection with incidents of fraud by false representation in Herne Bay. If you know where he is call 101, quoting reference 46/10010/19. (Image: Kent Police) Malek Zafar is wanted in connection with a 2018 sexual assault in Tonbridge. If you know where he is call 999, quoting reference 46/YY/11528/18. 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SWAT investigation in Galt prompts road closures
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