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☆ Opinion: In Gaza, fear of ‘the war after the war’
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Opinion Arwa Damon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Without rule of law, without a peacekeeping force, without humanitarian aid, Gaza will combust and descend into civil chaos. This route is used by both commercial and aid trucks, as well as convoys like the one I am in, transporting aid workers. Palestinians storm trucks loaded with humanitarian aid brought in through a new US-built pier in central Gaza on May 18. They are waiting to ambush aid trucks, but they smile and wave at our far less tempting UN-marked jeeps. A fear of “the war after the war.” Some believe it has started already.

Persons: Arwa Damon, Arwa Damon CNN, Kerem Shalom, Karam Abu Salem, “, Karam Abu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abdel Kareem Hana, David Satterfield, Menahem Kahana, ”, I’ve Organizations: CNN, International Network for Aid, Relief, Gazans, ”, Israel’s, KS, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, Coordination Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, Karam Abu Salem, Middle East, Kerem, AFP, Israeli, Territories, COGAT, shrugging, Baghdad

☆ How 9 Gangs and Mafias Actually Work, From the Crips to Hells Angels
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( David Ibekwe | Ju Shardlow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pellerano discusses gang life in New Orleans, where the gang spread from its home base in Chicago. He speaks with BI about tattooing, rules and codes, media perception, and the political language used to depict the gang. Mike Moy says he was a gang member in New York City's Chinatown, having been recruited in the 1970s. He later founded the YouTube channel Chinatown Gang Stories, where he speaks with former gang members about their lives. He speaks with BI about the ways the yakuza makes money, such as extortion and protection rackets.

Persons: Tyrone White, White, Andy, Pellerano, Alex Sanchez, Omar Sharif, John Pennisi, Gambino, John Gotti Jr, Lucchese, Pennisi, Jay Dobyns, general's, Jimmy Tsui, Mike Moy, Moy, Yuyama Shinya, Andy Pellerano www.oneaccordministries.net, Alex Sanchez www.homiesunidos.org Omar Sharif www.omarinspires.com John Pennisi, Jay Dobyns www.jaydobyns.com Organizations: Menlo, South Central, Bloods, Business, Hells Angels, ATF's National Academy, Dobyns, United, Valor, ATF, National Association of Police, New York City Police Department, YouTube Locations: South, South Central Los Angeles, New Orleans, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, United States, Tung, New York, Chinatown, Hong Kong, Japan

☆ Ángel Di María: Three people arrested for threatening Argentine footballer
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Hugo Manu Correa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Three people were arrested in Argentina on Wednesday for threatening Argentine footballer Ángel Di María and his family, Minister of Security Patricia Bullrich said. One of the suspects, who was under investigation for drug trafficking when he was arrested, confessed that he and two accomplices had made the threats against Di María’s family. The attack happened after Di María, currently under contract with Portuguese club Benfica until June, said he would like to finish his professional career at Rosario Central, where he started his career. In 2022, the homicide rate was 22 for each 100,000 residents, according to official numbers from the government of Santa Fe province. With the support of the central government, the Santa Fe government launched “Plan Bandera” [“Plan Flag”] to fight against “narcoterrorism” at the beginning of this year.

Persons: Ángel Di María, Patricia Bullrich, Di María’s, Di María, ” Rosario, “ narcoterrorism ”, “ We’re, ” Bullrich Organizations: CNN, Portuguese, Benfica, Rosario Central, ”, Mayor’s, Criminal, Santa Fe, “ Locations: Argentina, Argentine, Rosario, Santa Fe, New York City, Santa

The naive pair — unknowns whom Garrone found and cast in Senegal — witness mass death in the Sahara, scams and torture beyond their expectations. Italian Premier Georgia Meloni has called migration the biggest challenge of her first year in office. The film shows the two cousins Seydou and Moussa leaving their home without alerting their parents or knowing what to expect. The film's subject is familiar to those who follow migration news in Europe and North Africa. Garrone said he relied heavily on migrants in Rabat and Casablanca who worked on the film as extras.

Persons: Matteo Garrone, Seydou, Moussa, Garrone, Pope Francis, Georgia Meloni, ”, Mamadou Kouassi, ” Kouassi, hasn't, who've, “ Organizations: United Nations, Georgia, Associated Press, West, Libyan Locations: MARRAKECH, Morocco, Italian, Europe, Marrakech, Dakar, Niger, Libya, Italy, Senegal, Albania, Tunisia, Ivorian, Caserta, Libyan, North Africa, Casablanca, Erfoud, Rabat

☆ Soccer clashes, Taylor Swift fan death tarnish Rio de Janeiro ahead of G20
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Gabriel Stargardter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

TV images showed Rio state cops beating Argentina fans with truncheons as chairs rained down upon them. On Wednesday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Rio's state military police traded blame over arrangements for the mixed seating section of Brazil and Argentina fans where the trouble erupted. Rio's policing of high-profile soccer matches was already under scrutiny after the Copa Libertadores final this month. In October, three doctors enjoying a late-night beer along one of Rio's beaches were brutally murdered after being confused for rival gangsters. A few days later, militias set fire to dozens of Rio buses after police killed one of their bosses in an operation.

Persons: Ricardo Moraes, Taylor, Nilton Santos, Daniel Scioli, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gabriel Stargardter, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Soccer, Estadio Maracana, REUTERS, DE, Police, year's, Olympic Games, Nilton, Argentina, Brazilian Football Confederation, CBF, Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors, Fluminense, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Argentina, Rio de Janeiro, DE JANEIRO, Maracana, Rio, Copacabana, India, Rio's

☆ Lula militarizes Brazil's main ports, airports amid rising crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Lula said soldiers will work with federal police officers to manage security operations at Latin America's largest port and airport: the port of Santos, in Sao Paulo, and its main airport Guarulhos. Soldiers will also be deployed to the port of Itaguai in Rio de Janeiro state and Rio's Galeao airport. Those ports and airports are key logistical hubs for booming cocaine exports to Europe, while also receiving contraband like high-caliber weapons that contribute to street violence. "The situation in Rio de Janeiro has reached a very serious point," Lula said at a ceremony after singing the decree. Then, last week, militias set fire to dozens of Rio buses after police killed one of their bosses in an operation.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Lula, Lisandra Paraguassu, Mark Porter, Josie Kao Organizations: Wednesday, Thomson Locations: BRASILIA, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Paulo, Itaguai, Rio's Galeao, Europe, Rio

Tens of millions of dollars have poured back into Pakistan's interbank and openmarkets, dealers say, since raids on black market operators began on Sept. 6. Ninety percent were going to black market dealers, cutting our supply of foreign exchange," Bostan explained. While a crackdown on the black market was needed to stabilise the rupee, it "is a temporary fix," said Fahad Rauf, Head of Research at Ismail Iqbal Securities. High inflation and chronic external deficits lie at the heart of the currency's problem, and closing off people's access to black market dollars risks storing up pent-up demand. "There is an unprecedented demand for the dollar," Hanifullah Mohmand, a trader in the Peshawar market, said.

Persons: Akhtar Soomro, Asim Munir, Malik Bostan, Bostan, General Munir, Haji Luqman Khan, Sheikh Allauddin, ECAP, Fahad Rauf, Ismail Iqbal, Ariba Shahid, Mushtaq Ali, Gibran Peshimam, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Pakistan, Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, Reuters, Federal Investigation Agency, FIA, Inter, Services Intelligence, ISI, Locals, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Research, Ismail, Ismail Iqbal Securities, Thomson Locations: Karachi, Pakistan, KARACHI, PESHAWAR, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Afghanistan

But as it turns out, I was just not using my imagination, because this year’s Burning Man was an absolute nightmare. casey newtonA bit more of a Drowning Man than a Burning Man, I have to say. kevin rooseYeah, so as someone who’s been to Burning Man, I was fascinated by just the logistics of it all, because it is already a mess to get in and out of Burning Man. kevin rooseSo you are, in addition to a Burning Man escapee this year, you’ve been actually going to Burning Man for a long time. When I say I don’t know what happened, I don’t know what happened to prompt the things that were being directed at us.

Persons: casey newton, kevin roose, I’ve, KEVIN, casey newton It’s, you’ve, it’s, I’ll, casey newton What’s, kevin roose Bluetooth, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, Jonathan Greenblatt, Elon, Kevin, casey newton Oh, casey newton You, “ shay, denfreude, kevin roose Schadenfreude, shay, who’s, It’s — casey newton, casey newton That’s, Smart, casey newton Ugh, kevin roose —, casey newton Right, — casey newton, kevin roose What’s, casey newton Sure, ” casey newton Never, Adrian Aoun, He’s, ” adrian aoun, adrian aoun, Larry Page, Adrian, I’m, casey newton Amen, here’s, you’d, we’ve, you’re, Larry, roose, Max, Harry Potter, adrian aoun I’m, they’re, adrian aoun —, —, Rice Krispie, kevin roose Wow, let’s, adrian aoun Oh, adrian aoun She’s, She’s —, We’re, wrenches, hitchhike, I, Gerlach, kevin roose She’s, Y, It’s, They’re, — you’re, casey newton We’re, it’s Elon Musk, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Donald Trump, West, kevin roose It’s, Casey, casey newton Well, Linda Yaccarino, Jonathan, kevin roose Jonathan, ” jonathan greenblatt, jonathan greenblatt, CHUCKLES, I’d, Linda, kevin roose You, Nick Fuentes, haven’t, Kevin —, that’s, what’s, we’re, casey newton I’ve, jonathan greenblatt I’m, We’ve, — what’s, Here’s, That’s, John, “, ”, CASEY, kevin roose Totally, Hank Green, Hank, ” Hank, hank, It’s Hank, Ben Shapiro, kevin roose Hank, Diana Dionisio, Diana, Snapchat, Jay Hepler, Jay, ” Casey, don’t, casey newton Really, casey newton I’m, Holly Godfrey, Holly, Kevin Scott, Kevin Scott’s, Bing, Rachel Cohn, Jen Poyant, Caitlin Love, Chris Wood, Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, Marion Lozano, Paula Szuchman, Tam, Nell Gallogly, Kate LoPresti, Jeffrey Miranda, CASEY CHUCKLES Organizations: The New York Times, Defamation League, porta, Electric, Google, Labs, Black Rock, casey newton Fair, Burning, Reno, Defamation, Elon, Labor, Twitter, Center, ADL, Nazi, Anti, Twitter’s Trust, Safety, OG, YouTube, Cato Institute, US, Microsoft, Kevins, Davis Locations: Nevada, La Habra , California, Spanish, East, Iraq, Coachella, Bay, Solano County, Toronto, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Hogwarts, playa, Haiti, Dunkirk, ”, Gerlach, LA, New York, Reno, it’s Reno, America, Florida, chemo, Tokyo, That’s, hardfork@nytimes.com

An establishment leftist and a newcomer businessman appeared to capture the top two spots in Ecuador’s presidential election on Sunday in a campaign cycle that has centered on voters’ frustration with the country’s soaring gang and drug cartel violence. Luisa González, who was backed by a former socialist president, and the political outsider Daniel Noboa received the highest percentage of ballots with 84 percent of the vote counted. They will compete in a runoff election on Oct. 15. The economy and security are likely to be the leading issues going into the runoff, as local prison and street gangs, along with foreign drug mafias, have unleashed a wave of violence unlike anything in the country’s recent history, sending homicide rates to record levels and hurting the vital tourism industry. Concerns over the declining security were amplified earlier this month when the presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated on the campaign trail.

Persons: Luisa González, Daniel Noboa, Fernando Villavicencio

☆ Security Is the Main Worry as Ecuador Votes on Sunday. Here’s What to Know.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Genevieve Glatsky | José María León Cabrera | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Presidential elections will be held in Ecuador on Sunday at a tumultuous moment for the country. President Guillermo Lasso called snap elections in May amid impeachment proceedings against him over accusations of embezzlement. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming vote. The impeachment proceedings were permanently halted once Mr. Lasso dissolved congress. The move came amid a moment of extraordinary political turbulence for Ecuador, a country of 18 million on South America’s western edge.

Persons: Guillermo Lasso, Fernando Villavicencio, mafias, Lasso Locations: Ecuador, South

☆ Ecuador votes in historic referendum that could democratize climate policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Hannah Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The people of Ecuador are heading to the polls – but they’re voting for more than just a new president. Among the species found in the Yasuní National Park, is the harpy eagle, the second largest bird of prey in the world. Aerial picture of the Tiputini Processing Center of state-owned Petroecuador in Yasuni National Park, June 21, 2023. A crude oil sample taken from an oil well in Yasuní National Park, where the referendum vote could mean leaving the crude oil in the ground indefinitely. Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images“This referendum presents a huge opportunity for us to create change in a tangible way,” she told CNN.

Persons: Carl De Souza, ”, Pedro Bermo, It’s, Rafael Correa, Correa, Rodrigo Buendia, “, Fernando Santos, Alberto Acosta, Helena Gualinga, Antonia Juhasz Organizations: CNN, Getty, Tiputini Processing, ” Energy, “, Twitter, Ecuadorian Amazon, Human Locations: Ecuador, Ecuadorian, Europe, North America, Ecuador’s, AFP, Yasuní, “

☆ Some former mobsters who were prosecuted by Rudy Giuliani are thrilled that the ex-Trump attorney got hit with RICO charges, mob lawyers say: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rudy Giuliani gained notoriety as a prosecutor for going after New York City mafias in the 1980s. Recently, he was indicted on RICO charges — the same prosecutorial tool he used to take down mafias. A lawyer who represented prominent New York mobsters said his clients are "fucking thrilled." "I don't want to say the language, but they really ripped Rudy a new a------," he told the outlet. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who witnessed Giuliani's political rise in the city, also chimed in and told Politico that the indictment was "more than Shakespearean."

Persons: Rudy Giuliani, Giuliani, Donald Trump, Georgia's, Murray Richman, Genovese, Rudy, Jeffrey Lichtman, Gambino, John Gotti, Lichtman, Ted Goodman, Rudy Giuliani fearlessly, Murray Richmond, John Alite, Alite, Richman, Trump, — Rudy, Bill de Blasio, de Blasio Organizations: New York City mafias, New York mobsters, Service, Racketeer, La, La Cosa Nostra, Trump, Former New York, Politico Locations: New York City, Wall, Silicon, New York, La Cosa, Former New York City, Giuliani

District Attorney Fani Willis brought charges against Trump and 18 other defendants under the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The charges include forgery in the first degree, false statements and writing, and violating the RICO Act. If found guilty under the RICO Act, Trump could face a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years and a fine. She has also used the statute against local gangs and in an ongoing 56-count RICO case against rapper Young Thug and others. The RICO charge would also carry up to a 20-year prison sentence on its own, making it one of the more severe charges.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Georgia's, Georgia Racketeer, Fulton, Trump, Nicholas Cotten, Willis, Brad Raffensperger, Melissa Redmon, Redmon, mafias, Young Thug, R, Kelly, Norm Eisen, Eisen Organizations: Fulton, DA, Service, Attorney's, Trump, University of Georgia School, Law's, The Atlanta, Atlanta, Prosecutors, Brookings Institution Locations: Georgia, Wall, Silicon, Fulton County, Brooklyn, Georgia's

☆ Ecuador election: political violence and insecurity loom large as Ecuadorians get ready to vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Rafael Romo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It has also brought international attention to the powerful criminal organizations driving the violence that has plagued Ecuador. “By the very fact that we’re not controlling our borders, we’re getting an influx of money that is literally corrupting the country,” Topic added. Topic told CNN that while he admires Bukele, he would be more careful when it comes to respecting human rights. Andrea González Náder – who was Villavicencio’s running mate – told CNN that the fight against criminal gangs and corruption was Villavicencio’s main objective when he was alive. Those aims have not changed, she told CNN from a secret location in Ecuador, which police asked CNN not to reveal for her protection.

Persons: Ecuador CNN — Gissella Cecibel Molina doesn’t, Fernando Villavicencio, Fernando, ” Molina, ‘ Fernando Villavicencio, ’, ”, Molina, “, Villavicencio, Juan Zapata, Fernando Villavicencio's assasination, Karen Toro, Pedro Briones, Agustin Intriago, Walker Vera, Pity Guzman, Rodrigo Buendia, Bukele, doesn’t, Andrea González Náder –, –, Martin Bernetti, Luisa González, Rafael Correa, “ I’ve, Gustavo Petro Organizations: Ecuador CNN, National Assembly, CNN, “, Reuters, Manta, Ecuadorian National Police, United Nations Office, Drug, Getty, French Foreign Legion, Electoral Council, Citizen Revolution Movement, European, Colombian, Zetas Locations: Quito, Ecuador, Ecuador’s, “, Esmeraldas province, Muisne, South America, United States, Europe, Colombia, Mexico, Balkans, AFP, Ecuadorian, European Union

☆ Turkey votes in runoff election after candidates double down on nationalism and fear
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

People walk past an election campaign poster for Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 25, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. The country is holding its first presidential runoff election after neither candidate earned more than 50% of the vote in the May 14 election. Still, no candidate surpassed the 50% threshold required to win; and with Erdogan at 49.5% and Kilicdaroglu at 44.7%, a runoff election was set for two weeks after the first vote on May 14. "Kilicdaroglu has adopted a harder line on immigration and security ahead of the run-off … is unlikely to be enough," Kinnear said. Already, though, his anti-refugee rhetoric has angered many of his supporters and prompted resignations from some of his campaign allies.

☆ Europe is producing more startup 'mafias' than ever despite tech rout
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The average time taken for a startup to hit unicorn status in Europe is now just seven years, according to Accel. Of the 353 "unicorn" companies in the region, 221 have spun out 1,171 new tech-enabled startup companies as employees at these firms left to start up their own ventures, Accel said, citing Dealroom data. Startup mafias have existed for decades. These "mafias," which are firms started by employees of other tech firms, have historically led to the creation of some of the largest tech companies known today. The largest cohort of newly established startup mafias comes from fintech, with almost 20% of European startups spun out of unicorns operating in the sector.

Persons: Accel, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Niklas Zennstrom, Taavet Hinrikus, I'd, Harry Nelis, Klarna, Wise Organizations: Accel, Spotify, PayPal, Elon, Ventures, Fund, Shell, Unilever, CNBC, Startup Locations: Europe, Israel, American, Silicon Valley, West Coast, Palo Alto, Netherlands, fintech

☆ From PayPal to Facebook, Silicon Valley has long been obsessed with the idea of company "mafias." Take a look at ex-Square staffers who have created more than $40 billion of startup value.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The idea of Silicon Valley "mafias" first emerged with the Oracle, Facebook, and PayPal mafias. Former Square staffers have gone on to launch startups worth nearly $40 billion cumulatively. Silicon Valley insiders have long been obsessed with the idea of startup "mafias." The "PayPal mafia" was perhaps the most infamous company that spawned the founders of tech giants like YouTube, Yelp, Tesla, and LinkedIn. Facebook and Oracle also have their own mafias of former employees that have produced iconic tech companies like Salesforce, Asana, and GoodRx.

☆ Nearly $40 billion of startup value later, here's what the members of the Square mafia have been up to since leaving the fintech giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Samantha Stokes | Stephanie Palazzolo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Square staffers have gone on to launch startups worth nearly $40 billion cumulatively. Insider tracked 15 members of the "Square mafia" to see what they're up to these days. The "PayPal mafia" was perhaps the most infamous company that spawned the founders of tech giants like YouTube, Yelp, Tesla, and LinkedIn. Facebook and Oracle also have their own mafias of former employees that have produced iconic tech companies like Salesforce, Asana, and GoodRx. Insider tracked 15 ex-Square employees in their current ventures, ranging from launching multibillion-dollar public companies to running high-profile VC firms.

☆ Arrest of 'last godfather' deals new blow to ailing Sicilian mafia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Angelo Amante | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Messina Denaro, 60, was Italy's most wanted mafia boss and had been on the run for three decades. Experts describe Cosa Nostra, its fame amplified by movies such as "The Godfather", as an ailing crime group facing several difficulties, including competition in the highly lucrative drugs market. "Messina Denaro was the last godfather, he represented all the secrets of Cosa Nostra. Sergi said it was not clear who would step in to replace Messina Denaro in what is now a more factionalised mafia. Any revelation from Messina Denaro on the group's activities - including 1993 bomb attacks in Florence, Rome and Milan which killed 10 people - could be a further major development.

George Haj of the bank employees syndicate said the holdups were misguiding anger that should be directed at the Lebanese state, which was most to blame for the crisis, and noted some 6,000 bank employees had lost their jobs since it began. Authorities have condemned the holdups and say they are preparing a security plan for banks. "They are all in cahoots to steal from us and leave us to go hungry and die slowly," she said. To aid her escape, Hafiz posted on Facebook that she was already at the airport and on her way to Istanbul. Abdallah Al-Saii, an acquaintance of Hafiz who held up a bank in January to get some $50,000 of his own savings, said more hold-ups were coming.

☆ Afghanistan is being overrun by crystal meth
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-07 | by ( Ali Latifi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The US is leaving behind a flourishing, violent trade in heroin and crystal meth in Afghanistan. HERAT, Afghanistan — For weeks, Afghan police had been staking out a single-family house they believed was being used as a meth lab. Afghanistan's drug trade generates an estimated $35 million a month for the Taliban and drug gangs. A mysterious grassIn 2017, rumors circulated in western Afghanistan that a mysterious form of grass had been found to contain the key ingredient in crystal meth. "So long as this war continues, the drug trade will continue to grow bigger and bigger.

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