cafebabel.com

Ethnic violence in Skopje: Macedonian magic circle

('Boris Kaeski',) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:46:11 -0000

Attempts to raise inter-ethnic tensions escalated on 16 April when four twentysomething men and an older eyewitness were murdered near the capital, triggering riots. Since the victims are Slavic-speaking Macedonians, the speculation is that the murderers are from another ethnic group - but we don't need this boat to be rocked again

Slovenian journalist: death threats after arms trade trilogy

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:18:09 -0000

In Slovenia, a trilogy published between summer 2011 and spring 2012 has exposed the secrets of the arms trade during the Balkans war and the role of the country's politicians in it. It's been an ache in the sides of those in power and with money and interests whom the book denounces. Co-writer Blaz Zgaga, 38, may be in hiding but he won't stay down

Clean energy, dirty business: mafia interested in green economy

('AZammit',) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:30:00 -0000

Until a few years ago, the only ecological crimes were the illegal disposal of toxic waste and reckless cementification of the territory. Now illicit interests are directed towards areas of the emerging green economy

Three Croatian journalists to remember on world press freedom day

('Josipa Pavli\xc4\x87',) — Mon, 03 May 2010 12:45:35 -0000

When renowned sports journalist Zarko Susic died a natural death aged 95 on 26 April, it was almost a shock that his passing wasn't suspicious. The US-based watchdog Freedom House ranks Croatia 85th in the world for its lack of press freedom

'Milan is the true capital of the ‘Ndrangheta'

('James Friscia',) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:56:31 -0000

21 March is not only the official first day of spring. Since its foundation in 1995 by Father Luigi Ciotti, the Libera association organises an annual national day in Italy for ‘anti-mafia’ protest and the commemoration of mafia victims

Flare network, mapping Europe's mafia connections

('Giacomo Rosso',) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:44:46 -0000

Founded at the European parliament in June 2008, the anti-organised crime network want to rejig European laws and describe how EU money regenerates mafia-seized property. Interview with communications officer Roxana Smil

The 'M' word: breaking the Bulgarian complex

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:27:34 -0000

In January 2009, Sofia’s then-mayor and current PM banned anti-government protests after citizen disillusion with the country’s corruption; Bulgaria is officially the poorest EU state, according to Transparency International. One year on, the remnants of a ‘protest culture’ lie in the urban, cultural and mediatic fragmentation of a society rooted in tradition, the past - and the mafia, to an extent

Claudio Stassi and Giovanni Di Gregorio 'didn't want to show people being killed in Brancaccio'

('Rosh Mahtani',) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:45:05 -0000

The 2006 comic book has been already been translated into French and Spanish. Both the author and scriptwriter are based in Barcelona, having escaped Sicily because 'the mafia culture is gaining strength'

Telejato: family-run, mini-CNN in Partinico, Sicily

('Annika Thornton',) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:07:14 -0000

Pino Maniaci has created a family business through his miniature version of CNN. The ‘longest news programme in the world’, with its 150, 000 viewers, is a mini-broadcaster fighting against the local mafia, the Cosa Nostra

Gomorrah – mafia and southern Italy on Europe’s big screens

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:53:00 -0000

Roberto Saviano’s whistle-blowing book first hit the headlines in 2007. Before its October UK film release, a report from southern Italy, where the underground mafia systems are a firm part of daily life

AddioPizzo - end of protection money for the Mafia

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The Italian committee strikes back against the Sicilian Mafia, but consumers and businessmen are increasingly saying no to the ‘Pizzo’, or the protection money blackmailed from them by the Mafia

Roberto Saviano: Spain in mafia hands

('Erin Woycik',) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0000

From investments in the Costa del Sol to French suburbs – the second part of an interview with the author of ‘Gomorra’

Roberto Saviano on the Italian Camorra

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0000

First part of an exclusive interview with the author of 'Gomorra', investigating the Neapolitan mafia. From Scottish tourism to Spanish drug trade, the Italian empire stretches throughout Europe and the world