Author: Daily Sabah With Reuters
Italian crime bosses and far-right extremists are exploiting the fervent loyalty and lucrative ventures of hardcore “ultra” football supporters across several Italian cities, with mobsters even eyeing control of smaller football clubs, according to Italy’s top anti-mafia prosecutor. An extensive investigation by Milan’s prosecutors, in collaboration with the national anti-mafia office, revealed that ultra fan groups associated with Inter and AC Milan, two of Italy’s football powerhouses, have become deeply intertwined with criminal organizations. Ultra leaders connected to the infamous ‘Ndrangheta mafia are orchestrating ticket scams and protection rackets, targeting food and drink vendors as well as parking operations around…
The Ukrainian air force said on Wednesday that Russia launched 81 drones to attack Ukraine overnight of which 30 “imitator drones” did not reach their targets and 51 were shot down.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Russia will raise the asssassination in Moscow of top Russian general Igor Kirillov by Ukraine at the United Nations Security Council on Dec. 20. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said everyone involved in the killing would be found and punished. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was the chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed in Moscow on Tuesday.
U.S.-China economic and trade cooperation is a win-win, China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday, in response to the U.S. Congress’ upcoming vote on legislation restricting U.S. investments in China. Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press briefing that such moves from the U.S. destabilise global industry and supply chains.
Record 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will partner with former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in doubles at the Brisbane International, the Australian announced. The duo, who have formed a friendship after previously clashing when Kyrgios called Djokovic “boneheaded” and a “tool,” will use the ATP 250 event from Dec. 29 to Jan. 5 as a warm-up for next month’s Australian Open. Djokovic and Kyrgios have met three times on the ATP Tour, with Kyrgios winning their first two encounters in 2017 before Djokovic triumphed in four sets at the 2022 Wimbledon final. In a post on Instagram on Monday,…
Former Brazil striker Ronaldo announced on Monday that he will run for president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The 48-year-old, who won World Cups with Brazil in 1994 and 2002, is set to compete in the 2026 CBF elections to succeed current President Ednaldo Rodrigues. “Among hundreds of things that motivate me to become a candidate for president of the CBF, I want to recover the prestige and respect that the Selecao (Brazil’s national team) always had and that today nobody else has,” he told Globo Esporte. The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid forward also said he…
Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was crowned African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at its awards ceremony on Monday. The 27-year-old dazzled in May, scoring a hat trick to lead Atalanta to a Europa League victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin. Earlier, Lookman played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast, netting three goals during the tournament. Born in London, Lookman has previously played in the Premier League with Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City. Since joining Atalanta in 2022, he scored 17 goals last season and…
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said on Tuesday that the Ukrainian leadership would face imminent revenge for the killing of a top Russian general, RIA news agency reported. “Realising the inevitability of its military defeat, it launches cowardly and despicable strikes in peaceful cities,” he said. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside an apartment building in Moscow along with his assistant, Russia’s Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes, said earlier on Tuesday. A source in the Security Service of Ukraine said it had killed him.
Russia’s parliament passed a law that would allow for the suspension of bans on groups that Moscow has designated as terrorist organisations on Tuesday – paving the way for it to normalise relations with the Afghan Taliban and potentially with the new rulers of Syria. No country currently recognises the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which seized power in August 2021 as U.S.-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal after 20 years of war. But Russia has been gradually building ties with the movement, which President Vladimir Putin said in July was now an ally in fighting terrorism. The leader of Russia’s…
Tottenham Hotspur scored five goals in the opening half of a Premier League game for the first time in their history as they thrashed bottom club Southampton 5-0 away on Sunday. James Maddison scored twice, his first after 36 seconds and his second on the stroke of halftime, while Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr were also on target. As Southampton imploded, many of their fans left well before the interval, although those that stayed at least watched their team recover a modicum of pride in the second half. Victory was a welcome boost for Spurs who had…