Latest news with #CosaNostra
See - Sada Elbalad
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Megan Fox, Michele Morrone to Star in Movie to "The Sicilian"
Yara Sameh Voltage Pictures has taken worldwide rights to "The Sicilian", an action thriller led by Transformers' Megan Fox, Another Simple Favor's Michele Morrone, Riff Raff's Emanuela Postacchini and Game of Thrones' Iain Glen. Swedish filmmaker Amir Chamdin directs with filming commencing this September in Sicily, Italy, and Canada. Written by Sandro Lorino, Rich Ronat, and Nate Adams, based on a story by Lorino and Antonio Lorino, "The Sicilian" follows a family man with a shadowy past who becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the first female boss of the Cosa Nostra. Tension builds as personal loyalties clash with underworld codes against the storied Sicilian backdrop of Corleone. Chamdin, whose credits span both television (Partisan) and the music videos 'Satinized' and 'Lachryma' by Ghost, which recently held the No. 1 spot on the U.S. Billboard chart, describes the project as 'a powerful story molded into a tense action thriller in the vein of classic Lumet or Frankenheimer films. It never stops. It never lets you go.' Producer Richard Salvatore (The Big Wedding, The Comeback Trail) produces alongside Sandro Lorino and Norbert Krott of Lorino Pictures and Nate Adams (Vanquish). EPs include Fabio Costabile (Skincare) and Dirk Schweitzer (Operation Napoleon). Fox's other feature credits in addition to the Transformers franchise includes the cult horror title, "Jennifer's Body", as well as the psychological thriller "Till Death" and the recent sci-fi entry "Subservience". Morrone gained international recognition for his breakout role as Massimo Torricelli in the Netflix series 365 Days trilogy. His debut album, "Dark Room", features prominently in the 365 Days soundtracks, including the hit single 'Feel it.' Glen continues to earn praise for his work in "Silo" and his portrayal of Ser Jorah Mormont in HBO's "Game of Thrones". Italian actress Postacchini gained international recognition for her roles in "The Alienist", "Who Is America?", "The Seven Faces of Jane", "Robots", and most recently, the hit ensemble comedy "Riff Raff", alongside Bill Murray and Jennifer Coolidge. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Canada's biggest mafia boss Leonardo Rizzuto and 11 others arrested in Quebec under the most significant crackdown on organized crime in decades
In a coordinated operation involving more than 150 police officers, Quebec authorities arrested 11 suspects on Thursday(June 12), including alleged mafia boss Leonardo Rizzuto , in what officials are calling the largest organized crime takedown in decades. "This is one of the most significant police operations in recent decades," said Benoît Dubé, Director of Criminal Investigations for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). Officers swept across nine cities, including Montreal, Laval, Quebec City, and Rosemère, executing warrants tied to a years-long investigation known as Project Alliance. Targeting Canada's most powerful mafia group Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. All 11 men have pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and conspiracy to murder. Among them is Leonardo Rizzuto, 56, the youngest son of the late Vito Rizzuto, once regarded as Canada's most powerful mob boss. The Rizzuto family, long linked to Sicily's Cosa Nostra, dominated organized crime in Montreal for decades. Live Events The operation targeted members of the traditional Italian mafia, the Hells Angels, and local street gangs. Those arrested are accused of sponsoring or executing multiple murders and attempted murders between 2011 and 2021. Retired officer Pietro Poletti noted a shift in tactics: 'In the past, Italian mafia or bikers wouldn't outsource hits. But this time, a freelance killer was key.' Killer turned informant connected the dots That man is Frederick Silva, a notorious contract killer who turned police informant in 2022. His testimony and cooperation, according to investigators, were pivotal in connecting the dots across different criminal factions. One arrest shocked residents of St-Lazare, where armed officers surrounded a quiet suburban home at sunrise. 'We saw flashing lights and my son started crying,' said Marie Deschamps, a mother of two. 'You never expect this on your street.' Stefano Sollecito from Montreal's underworld The arrests also included Stefano Sollecito, 57, another major figure in Montreal's underworld. Authorities believe the charges carrying potential sentences of 25 years or more will severely weaken the mafia's infrastructure. Future threat Still, police are wary of what comes next. 'Where there's a void, someone will try to fill it,' said Francis Renaud of the Montreal Police Organized Crime Unit. 'We're watching closely to see who steps in.' Five suspects remain at large, and the next court appearance for those arrested is scheduled for September. Meanwhile, police are urging the public to come forward with information by contacting Info-Crime Montréal at 514-393-1133. Quebec's underworld may be shaken, but the long shadow of organized crime still looms.
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- The Guardian
The reinvention of Catania – Sicily's once crime-ridden second city
In 1787, Goethe wrote: 'To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.' I'd go one step further and claim it's impossible to really understand what makes the island tick without visiting Catania. Located on the east coast of the island, Catania is Sicily's second-largest city and has been dubbed the Black City because of how prominently basalt features in its baroque architecture. Until recently this Unesco world heritage city, whose beauty can more than compete with its flashier neighbours, Palermo and Taormina, was blighted by organised crime and bad governance. But this is now changing, and fast. A decades-long crackdown on the Cosa Nostra has borne fruit, and previously no-go areas are now welcoming tourists and new businesses. My father's family hails from San Cristoforo, the city's poorest neighbourhood, and our conversations often centre on how the good times are finally arriving in Catania. But price points haven't yet caught up with the city's new-found buzz, especially in its many restaurants. Affectionately known as Rosanna's by locals, Trattoria del Forestiero has been serving home-style dishes since 1965. My British-born mum was a waitress at the restaurant in the 1990s and one afternoon, after a night of heavy drinking, my dad, to whom she was teaching English at a language school in the city, popped in to cook her something to help with the hangover. He stuffed cotoletta, the breaded veal cutlet loved in Italy, with mozzarella, tomatoes and lots of garlic, and Cotoletta alla Cicco was born (Cicco being the diminutive of my late dad's name, Francesco). It's a must-eat dish, as is pasta alla norma, named after the Bellini opera, which is Catania's signature dish. Rosanna's version is particularly delicious because of its fresh hand-cut pasta, which is made about €10; on Instagram Members of my family have been working on the stalls of this centuries-old fish market for ever. Growing up, I was taught to judge a fish market by its smell, or lack thereof, and so it's a source of great familial pride that La Pescheria smells of the sea. If you're staying in an apartment (there are now many Airbnbs in the city), buy telline, tiny triangle-shaped, colourful clams, and cook them as you would vongole, served with spaghetti. The market is also home to Antica Trattoria La Paglia, which has been feeding visitors and vendors for more than 200 years. The fish restaurant has a longstanding rivalry with Rosanna's – a ringing endorsement in locals' books. Its no-frills interior isn't much to write home about, but the black-and-white photos lining the walls offer nostalgic glimpses of the establishment's storied are about €12; These soft drink stands have been serving the Catanese for decades, and everyone – and their nonna – has an opinion about which is the best. For me, Giammona, founded in 1912, has the upper hand. Run by Francesco Giammona, who took over from his father in the 1980s, the art nouveau kiosk has retained its original marble-clad bar and stained glass windows. Although Giammona's menu has expanded in recent years to accommodate tourists' tastes, Sicilians go-to thirst quencher is seltz al limone: sparkling water, lemon juice and a generous pinch of salt. Please note that although Italians are big on food categories they don't, for some mysterious reason, differentiate between lemons and limes – so say if you want limoni gialli (lemons) or limoni verdi (limes).Drinks start from €1.50 at both kiosks. Giammona is on Instagram. Costa, Piazza Turi Ferro 20 Full disclosure: Il Borgo di Federico is run by my cousin. However, I challenge anyone to find a restaurant in a more scenic setting or one cooking tastier grilled bistecca di cavallo (horse steak). Situated in Piazza Federico di Svevia, its regular diners know to request an outdoor table, where they can look out on to Castello Ursino, a staggeringly imposing Norman castle a few feet away from the restaurant. If you're squeamish about eating horse meat, opt for the polpo all'insalata – octopus salad with parsley, capers and cubed start from €12; Spread across Piazza Federico di Svevia, Gammazita has been serving drinks since 2013, and is named after the legendary Sicilian heroine who leapt into a well in 13th-century Catania 'rather than give in to the violence of the Angevin ruler'. The neighbourhood bar was set up by a cultural association along with other initiatives to 'help the people of the [San Cristoforo] ghetto', and regularly hosts music events and book clubs. Earnest politics aside, my family are regulars because the drinks are cheap and strong. There is a menu, but it's perfunctory – most customers will describe what they're in the mood for, and a bartender will make a drink for them. Cocktails are served in pint Sicilians aren't keen on change, especially the gastronomical kind: my uncle once flatly refused to try stroganoff because 'cream only belongs in desserts'. Unfortunately, this means many are missing out on the island's blossoming Asian food scene. Catania's Bangladeshi population makes up nearly 7% of the city's 13,000 foreign-born residents, and community restaurants are popping up across the city. The unassuming-looking Bangla Spicy Food, which backs on to the historic A Fera O'Luni market on Piazza Carlo Alberto (where my great-nonna once sold fruit and vegetables) is good and cheap: you can order several dishes and get change from a fiver. Don't leave without trying the aromatic dal bhuna and flaky, buttery parathas. Waiters will supply cutlery if asked, but most customers here eat with their start from €1; on Facebook Catanese have been trekking to Alecci, in the suburb of Gravina, since 1978. The original owner is still working behind the bar, wearing the cafe's trademark maroon uniform and serving some of the city's best coffee and snacks. At breakfast, they serve granita with brioche. Legend has it that in the ninth century, when Sicily was under Moorish occupation, Arabs mixed the snow of Mount Etna (Europe's most continually belching volcano) with fruit juices, and granita was born. Whatever its history, Sicilians are inordinately proud of granita and have strict rules when it comes to its flavour combinations. Broadly speaking, chocolate, coffee and nut granitas can be eaten together, as can all fruits. Coffees around €2; granitas start from €5. On Facebook For those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, Marina di Ragusa village has a stunningly beautiful nature reserve with a secluded 6km trail along the Irminio River and lush Mediterranean coastline. It's a popular spot for Sicilian families and birdwatchers (a number of migratory species rest their wings here during their journeys from Africa). In the village, Ristorante Il Delfino is perched on the edge of the Andrea Doria shore and serves traditional Sicilian dishes such as pasta con le sarde (made with sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts and saffron). For a sweet treat, Don Peppinu is the self-proclaimed 'No. 1' gelateria in all of Italy. There are several outlets across the island, but word of mouth says the one in Marina di Ragusa is the best and serves a signature pistachio at Ristorante Il Delfino start at €15. Gelatos at Don Peppinu cost around €4
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Italian mafia use Chinese ‘underground banks' to launder money
Italy's mafia gangs are using Chinese 'underground banks' to launder money from drug trafficking and other crimes, a new report has revealed. Mafia groups are increasingly turning to a system known as Fei Ch'ien – 'flying money' – as a clandestine way of moving vast amounts of cash around the world. An underground banking network that originated in China, it operates through brokers in money exchanges, using encrypted communication systems and minimal record-keeping to make it hard for authorities to track. 'In relation to money laundering, there are links between Italian criminal organisations and Chinese groups who are active in underground banking,' the DIA, Italy's national anti-mafia agency, said in the report, entitled Follow the Money. The clandestine system is now being used extensively by 'big criminal organisations that want to secretly transfer money abroad to finance their criminal activities or to reinvest it', the report said. The DIA said mafia groups such as the Camorra of Naples, Cosa Nostra in Sicily and the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria were becoming increasingly adept at using digital technology to evade detection by the authorities. They employ encrypted communication channels such as EncroChat and Sky ECC, as well as messaging services such as Signal and Telegram. 'There has been a pronounced rise in the adoption of illicit financial instruments which are technologically sophisticated, including artificial intelligence models designed to elude checks,' the report said. Even when mafiosi are arrested, convicted and imprisoned, they are still able to maintain contacts with their criminal empires on the outside. The smuggling of mobile phones into prisons is commonplace and some are delivered by drone, according to the report. Meanwhile, Mafia organisations are increasingly recruiting young men from marginalised backgrounds in cities such as Naples and Rome to act as runners, lookouts and drug dealers. Such groups are known in Italy as 'baby gangs'. These are made up of bands of young delinquents and aspiring mafiosi who, armed with knives and firearms, fight each other for territorial control. Young people from areas with high unemployment are drawn to a life of crime partly by the easy money to be made but also by images that they see on social media, the DIA said. Teenage boys are attracted by 'misleading models of power and wealth' as well as 'ostentation and the promise of affirming their identities,' the report added, saying: 'The glorifying of luxury and violence, through images on social media, contributes to the creation of an image that is warped but very attractive to young people.' The DIA described the rise of 'baby gangs', fuelled by high levels of school absenteeism, unemployment and poverty, as 'particularly worrying'. The report also highlights how Mafia groups are trying to muscle in on the billions of euros swirling around Italy as the country embarks on a number of huge investment projects. They include plans to build a vast suspension bridge from Sicily – the home of Cosa Nostra – to Calabria, the territory of the 'Ndrangheta. Mafia dons have their eyes on the €200 billion of post-pandemic recovery funds that the EU granted to Italy, as well as the billions being spent in Rome to spruce up the city for this year's Jubilee, a special calendar of holy events organised by the Vatican. The crime bosses are also targeting huge amounts of money being spent on preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be hosted by Milan and the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the Dolomites. Italy's different mafia groups are putting aside the bloody feuds of the past and forging collaborative links, the DIA said, with the Cosa Nostra and the Camorra forming alliances at home and abroad. 'Coexistence has fostered synergies that have progressively become structured,' said Michele Carbone, the director of the agency. 'These structures have become 'capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and frictions'. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Italian mafia use Chinese ‘underground banks' to launder money
Italy's mafia gangs are using Chinese 'underground banks' to launder money from drug trafficking and other crimes, a new report has revealed. Mafia groups are increasingly turning to a system known as Fei Ch'ien – 'flying money' – as a clandestine way of moving vast amounts of cash around the world. An underground banking network that originated in China, it operates through brokers in money exchanges, using encrypted communication systems and minimal record-keeping to make it hard for authorities to track. 'In relation to money laundering, there are links between Italian criminal organisations and Chinese groups who are active in underground banking,' the DIA, Italy's national anti-mafia agency, said in the report, entitled Follow the Money. The clandestine system is now being used extensively by 'big criminal organisations that want to secretly transfer money abroad to finance their criminal activities or to reinvest it', the report said. The DIA said mafia groups such as the Camorra of Naples, Cosa Nostra in Sicily and the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria were becoming increasingly adept at using digital technology to evade detection by the authorities. They employ encrypted communication channels such as EncroChat and Sky ECC, as well as messaging services such as Signal and Telegram. 'There has been a pronounced rise in the adoption of illicit financial instruments which are technologically sophisticated, including artificial intelligence models designed to elude checks,' the report said. Even when mafiosi are arrested, convicted and imprisoned, they are still able to maintain contacts with their criminal empires on the outside. The smuggling of mobile phones into prisons is commonplace and some are delivered by drone, according to the report. Rise of the 'baby gangs' Meanwhile, Mafia organisations are increasingly recruiting young men from marginalised backgrounds in cities such as Naples and Rome to act as runners, lookouts and drug dealers. Such groups are known in Italy as 'baby gangs'. These are made up of bands of young delinquents and aspiring mafiosi who, armed with knives and firearms, fight each other for territorial control. Young people from areas with high unemployment are drawn to a life of crime partly by the easy money to be made but also by images that they see on social media, the DIA said. Teenage boys are attracted by 'misleading models of power and wealth' as well as 'ostentation and the promise of affirming their identities,' the report added, saying: 'The glorifying of luxury and violence, through images on social media, contributes to the creation of an image that is warped but very attractive to young people.' The DIA described the rise of 'baby gangs', fuelled by high levels of school absenteeism, unemployment and poverty, as 'particularly worrying'. The report also highlights how Mafia groups are trying to muscle in on the billions of euros swirling around Italy as the country embarks on a number of huge investment projects. They include plans to build a vast suspension bridge from Sicily – the home of Cosa Nostra – to Calabria, the territory of the 'Ndrangheta. Mafia dons have their eyes on the €200 billion of post-pandemic recovery funds that the EU granted to Italy, as well as the billions being spent in Rome to spruce up the city for this year's Jubilee, a special calendar of holy events organised by the Vatican. The crime bosses are also targeting huge amounts of money being spent on preparations for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be hosted by Milan and the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the Dolomites. Italy's different mafia groups are putting aside the bloody feuds of the past and forging collaborative links, the DIA said, with the Cosa Nostra and the Camorra forming alliances at home and abroad. 'Coexistence has fostered synergies that have progressively become structured,' said Michele Carbone, the director of the agency. 'These structures have become 'capable of absorbing overlaps, tensions and frictions'.
