Three brothers and two sisters in Sicily allegedly won public sector construction projects with help of Cosa Nostra Italian authorities have seized €1.6bn in assets from a set of siblings in Sicily with suspected links to the Cosa Nostra mafia – one of the largest of such seizures to date allegedly made their riches by winning public sector construction projects with the help of the Cosa Nostra Officials said they were targeting “known entrepreneurs” in the Palermo area who belonged to the Marineo mafia family The court-ordered seizure, made at the behest of an anti-mafia prosecutor, Bernardo Petralia, appears to underline the scale of corruption that is still rife in Italy and how public sector contracts – whether in construction projects or waste management – have often been linked to organised crime Italy passed an anti-mafia law in the 1990s that allowed prosecutors to target the assets of suspected criminals a criminology professor at Oxford University said the law has been a key tool in undermining the mafia in Italy though it had not been without controversy According to the agency that manages the seizures the Italian state currently holds nearly 7,000 assets which include everything from privately run hospitals to apartment blocks In Palermo there is a special court whose sole purpose is assigning new managers for seized assets are generally not sold by the Italian state once they are in the hands of the state they fail,” said Varese “They go from being wealthy but corrupt to clean but bankrupt.” The pattern has provoked criticism of the court and Italy’s management of the assets but Varese said this was sometimes unfair given that the businesses had often been run through intimidation and corruption and were not necessarily designed to thrive in lawful circumstances Police have found the body of an Italian artist and activist who went missing while hitchhiking in Turkey dressed in a wedding gown to appeal for peace was detained late on Friday and charged with murder on Saturday the state-run Anatolia news agency reported The woman was last seen on March 31 in the industrial city of Gebze while hitchhiking to Israel in the wedding dress as part of her “Brides on Tour” project aimed at pleading for peace in conflict areas Police found her naked body hidden in bushes in a forested area near Gebze after questioning the suspect late on Friday was hitchhiking to the Palestinian territories with a friend The two left di Marineo’s hometown of Milan on March 8 and hitchhiked to Turkey They separated in Istanbul shortly before di Marineo went missing Police tracked down the suspect when he switched on di Marineo’s mobile phone The official asked not to be named because he was not authorized to give information on the police investigation The Dogan and Anatolia news agencies said the woman had been strangled The Italian embassy official would not confirm the reports Anatolia identified the suspect as 38-year-old Murat Karatas and said he had previously been convicted for theft who was in Turkey to search for the artist “Her travels were for an artistic performance and to give a message of peace and of trust but not everyone deserves trust,” another sister was quoted as saying in Milan by Italian news agency ANSA “We weren’t particularly worried because she had been hitchhiking for a long time and was therefore capable of avoiding risky situations,” she said “She was a determined person when working for art.” Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker nurses Dhionis and Marineo Llanaj worked on intensive care a global award nomination recognises their contributions “It was difficult,” says Dhionis (Medical Sciences 2022) “We were treating Covid-19 patients when the virus was an unknown entity – we didn’t know what it might do to us.”  When twin brothers Dhionis and Marineo (Medicinal Sciences 2022) emigrated to study at Leeds they did so to further their nursing careers They didn’t anticipate a global pandemic and working on the frontline alongside their studies.  “I worked night shifts to help finance my degree,” says Dhionis but I was glad to be there to look after patients.” Since witnessing nurses and doctors caring for his older brother in hospital in Greece it’s all Dhionis and his twin brother have ever wanted to do.   Now an Education Practitioner at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Dhionis has been nominated as a finalist for the International alumni of the year in the PIEoneer Awards 2023 which honour achievements across the global education industry.  I also need to acknowledge what a wonderful place the NHS is “I’ve always been able to adapt,” says Dhionis “That’s been ingrained since I was young and our circumstances shifted.” When the twins were two years old the family fled civil war in Albania to Greece.  It was there that a road traffic incident set Dhionis and Marineo’s career paths: “Our older brother was involved in a bicycle accident It left him with disabilities and we spent a lot of time in hospitals “It inspired me to save lives and look after people I knew that was what I wanted to become.”  Dhionis shared the dream with his twin brother They went to university and qualified as nurses before deciding to travel to the UK to complement their practical skills with research knowledge.  They studied an International Foundation Year with Study Group at the Leeds International Study Centre which runs in partnership with the University of Leeds before progressing to study a Medical Sciences at Leeds.  the twins delivered critical care in Leeds hospitals for countless patients and families: “The hardest thing was that relatives of patients couldn’t see their loved ones because of Covid restrictions Being with family gives you a hand to hold Dhionis has always been able to rely on his own twin brother to support him through challenges – and even now they remain colleagues with Marineo working at the same trust as an Oncology Research Nurse “We would tell each other we’ve come this far who was fantastic in listening to me and guiding me during that time.  and the NHS and Leeds have been brilliant in welcoming me and the teamwork got us through the pandemic.”  Dhionis has been recognised for his contributions with his nomination at the PIEoneer Awards following a rigorous assessment by a panel of more than 40 esteemed representatives of the higher education sector.   “I was so happy to be nominated,” Dhionis says “I hope my story teaches people to follow their dreams too “All I’ve ever wanted is to look after patients and now I’m an Education Practitioner For further details, email Ed Newbould, Digital Communications Officer, University of Leeds at e.w.newbould@leeds.ac.uk You can read more about the PIEoneer Awards, which will be held in September 2023, on the PIEoneer Awards website. .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a} -- On a recent afternoon before the lunch rush at Marianna's John Sancimino rolled his cutter through crunchy crusts of a salad pie and a saucy-striped Sicilian The proprietor and his crew pulled pizzas hot from the oven and slid them onto metal trays with a "whoosh" of yeasty air it might be John's vodka pie that will draw the healthiest following presented as a round or bejeweled with garlic knots John treats his vodka pies differently than the others After he works the dough into a thick disc John presses its edges into a bowl of sesame seeds These become embedded in the edges of the crust adding a pleasant nuttiness to the dough a roast-y contrast to its cheese and cream-touched toppings -- quite delicious And it's a different kind of pizza experience -- like eating a loaf of seeded Italian bread already dunked in sauce Marianna's Pizzeria takes its name from John's daughter who grew up in the pizza business this parlor tucked into the corner of a strip mall was known as Krispy The shop eventually served as segue for John's career into the pizza business John came to the States in 1975 with seven of his brothers Sicily settled in Brooklyn and John found work in construction he came to Staten Island to visit a friend and he spotted Krispy He asked if the places were related -- yes they were -- and struck up a friendship with the owners who had run the Manor Road store since the late 80s John was injured and couldn't continue in construction so he "got stuck delivering pizzas." It was a feat for him to learn the Castleton Corners neighborhood he became a partner in Krispy and they ran the store until they sold it The next pizzeria closed and the Krispy partnership resumed when the space became available again And that's when he renamed it Marianna's who is studying to be a New York City school teacher will tell you how hard John has worked over the years in the food business family celebrations would start when John came back home to Brooklyn Now Marianna helps in various parts of the business -- paying the bills, answering phones, managing the Instagram account.  “Now that I’m older being able to be involved is fun Marianna's Pizzeria is located at 11 Holden Blvd. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices One of 10 siblings, John came to the States in 1975 with seven of his brothers. The natives of Marineo, Sicily settled in Brooklyn and John found work in construction.  One day, John says, he came to Staten Island to visit a friend and he spotted Krispy, a name he recognized from 13th Avenue. He asked if the places were related -- yes, they were -- and struck up a friendship with the owners who had run the Manor Road store since the late 80s.  (ANS– Kinshasa) – Thanks to the commitment to solidarity of the Marineo Solidale Italian Non-Governmental Organisation and the patronage offered by Poste Italiane, dozens of young people who attend Salesian works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo can now enjoy useful tools for their education, professional growth, human development and leisure. This year Marineo Solidale has decided to come to the aid of young people who attend the Boscolac community in Goma, but who study elsewhere: Marineo has paid their school fees and those of the Maison des Jeunes in Lubumbashi, a work that has also benefited from many pairs of sports uniforms and footballs and volleyballs. In addition, a sum of money was received that allowed the Maison des Jeunes in Ruashi Lubumbashi to buy welding stations, grinders, drills, clamps and many other useful items for professional training courses. Hence today the Salesian communities of BoscoLac and Maison de Jeunes are grateful for the assistance provided by Marineo Solidale to these communities. Both Maison des Jeunes and the BoscoLac communities, in fact, are facilities that host professional training workshops, with sections on carpentry, welding, construction, cutting and sewing, courses for hairdressers and beauticians... The desire of these communities is to further improve the situation of young people, so that thanks to education, they can become upright and truly responsible citizens. “We are aware of this challenge, and we want to do our best by providing maximum assistance to our children!” said Fr Pascal Mumba, Salesian of Don Bosco from the AFC Province. “That is why we can only express our heartfelt thanks to Marineo Solidale for their help and to Poste Italiane, which sponsored this project to carry out these activities. Thank you for supporting the Salesian mission!” ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007. This site also uses third-party cookies to improve user experience and for statistical purposes. By scrolling through this page or by clicking on any of its elements, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more or to opt out, click "Further Information". Family and friends are invited to Pleasant Manor Funeral Home, Inc. 575 Columbus Avenue Thornwood, New York 10594 on Sunday, March 11, 2018 from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 PM for visitation.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Matthew at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Valhalla, New York, officiated by Fr. Philip T. Persico at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 12, 2018. ~ If you plan to attend the funeral mass on Monday, please arrive to Pleasant Manor by 9:00 AM or at Holy Name of Jesus Church by 10:00 AM ~ ~ In lieu of flowers, the Spataro family asks that you please consider a donation to either charity in Matthews memory ~ * please see the links below for your convenience * Italian police have seized thousands of property assets from the mafia. (AFP: Marcello Paternostro) Link copiedShareShare articleItalian authorities say they have seized assets worth more than 1.6 billion euros ($2.4 billion) from a family of five Sicilian pensioners believed to have links to a prominent mafia clan. The huge sweep of businesses, property and bank accounts "represents, in total value, one of the biggest seizures ever made", the anti-mafia department (DIA) said. The haul belonged to Carmelo Virga, 66, his brothers Vincenzo, 78, and Francesco, 71, and their sisters Anna, 76, and Rosa, 68. The operation in Palermo was aimed at "known entrepreneurs from the Palermo area who belong to the Marineo mafia family, linked to the Corleone clan," the DIA said. "Complex investigations have uncovered how the Virgas have benefited from the backing of the Cosa Nostra in the bidding for these works and public tenders in the construction sector," the DIA said. The family "succeeded over time in developing and imposing their group of companies, by using the method known as 'Siino', which consists of organising cartels of entrepreneurs with a view to the 'directed' bidding for public tenders." RaiNews reported that the family were all farm hands in the 1980s before becoming millionaires. Italian newspapers reported that the son of Carmelo Virga, Gaetano, has in recent years been a high-profile opponent of the Sicilian mafia's extortion of companies. With the support of several anti-mafia groups, he strongly criticised the practice and evidence he gave has led to the arrest of several mafia chiefs in the region. Gaetano Virga has told investigators that one of those mafia dons, Stefano Polizzi, came to the construction site where he worked in Marineo in 2010 to demand payment of the mafia tax known as "pizzo", telling him: "Remember that you have children." Gaetano told investigators that the mafia chief went from his office to that of one of his uncles. But there was an altercation and Polizzi left, with the uncles claiming they had not paid a cent. Assets seized from the mafia in Italy include farming land, luxury cars and bank accounts, trucks and chains of hotels. After years of fighting the Cosa Nostra in Sicily, the Camorra in Naples and the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria, the Italian state now controls almost 3,000 companies and 12,000 property assets seized from the mafia. The national agency that manages seized mafia assets also controls more than two billion euros ($3 billion) in bank deposits and other assets. CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Italian performance artist Giuseppina Pasqualino Di Morineo when hitchhiking through the country as part of a world tour for world peace with her friend Silvia Moro and had aimed at reaching Tel Aviv by hitch-hiking The Kocaeli 1st Heavy Penal Court handed down its sentence for suspect Murat Karataş on Thursday (25 June) in addition to 7.5 years for sexual asault 5 years for restricting a person's freedom Feminist women had attempted to join the trial as third party plaintiffs but were rejected at each stage of the trial "The defence lawyer said that his client had stated verbally and in writing that he had not commited the crime and that he demanded that a taxi driver be heard as a witness Bacca's lawyer Mehmet Eke demanded that the trial not be extended When Karataş was sentenced to a life in prison Günaçtı pointed out that the suspect had objected after a forensic medical report had stated the possibility of two or three perpetrators and that he had accepted the crime beforehand The judge has allowed for the possibility of an appeal The last court hearing was attended by the artist's sister Antonia Giuseppina Beatrice Pasgualina Di Marineo the mother and sister had expected a longer sentence but had expressed their satisfaction with a life sentence Günaçtı also stated that the case had to be evaluated from a feminist perspective: "The sentence must not be based on a desire of Turkey to exculpate itself We have to think beyond international relations of the necessity to punish violence against women The Pippa Bacca case is not an issue of nations but a trial of a woman's murder." (EZÖ/AG) Di Marineo and her friend left Milan on March 8 and hitchhiked to Turkey together The police reached the suspect after determining that he had used her mobile phone after di Marineo's disappearance Police tracked down the suspect when he switched on di Marineos mobile phone Police found her naked body hidden amid bushes in a forest area Karatas had previously been convicted for theft DHA said he confessed that he first raped the Italian artist and then killed her  Karatas also said he took her from a gas station near Gebze Di Marineo's body was taken to Istanbul for autopsy after her sister identified the body told reporters on Saturday they are planning to take Bacca's body back to Italy on Monday once the legal procedures completed I don't want to answer the question," she replied when asked about her feelings She also thanked the security officials and the General Consulate of Italy for their efforts to find Bacca after she went missing Di Marineo's mother Elena Manzoni told reporters her daughter was trying to prove that people could be reliable "They ask me why my sister was hitchhiking She was just trying to prove that people are reliable," she was quoted as saying by DHA Turkish people condemned the murder and expressed their feelings in the internet Turkey's leading newspaper Hurriyet said "We are ashamed" in the headline of its internet edition Is it so easy to kill such innocent people?" Huseyin Somer commented in hurriyet.com.tr siyaset gündeminden güncel haberler ve bütün son dakika haberleri için Hürriyet'in internet haber sitesi hurriyet.com.tr; Hurriyet.com.tr haber içerikleri kaynak gösterilmeden alıntı yapılamaz Kanuna aykırı ve izinsiz olarak kopyalanamaz