CBS News
Italy jails notorious mafia boss’s sister who handled coded messages for mobsters
An Italian court on Thursday sentenced the sister of Sicilian crime boss Matteo Messina Denaro to 14 years in prison for mafia association, Italian media reported. Rosalia Messina Denaro was arrested in 2023 on suspicions that she played a key role in the mob led by her brother.
The 69-year-old, also the wife of jailed mafioso Filippo Guttadauro, unintentionally helped police locate her fugitive brother, thanks to a scribbled note she had hidden in the hollow rail of a chair at her residence. Officers photographed the note, which initially seemed like a jumble of words, signs and letters, and replaced it where it was found, the BBC reported.
The note also revealed key details about his health condition.
Matteo Messina Denaro was one of the most ruthless bosses in Cosa Nostra, the real-life Sicilian crime syndicate depicted in “The Godfather” movies.
Investigators had been combing the Sicilian countryside for the mafia boss for years, searching for hideouts and wiretapping members of his family and his friends.
It was his decision to seek treatment for his cancer that led to his arrest in January 2023, when he visited a health clinic in Palermo.
He died at the inmates’ ward of L’Aquila hospital a few months later.
ALESSANDRO FUCARINI/ANSA/AFP via Getty Images
Rosalia, Denaro’s confidante and “alter-ego,” was the only family member to know about her brother’s cancer diagnosis before he died.
Investigators believed Rosalia played a major operational role in the merciless Cosa Nostra, particularly in the last few years of her brother’s run.
She was suspected of managing the clan’s finances and the so-called pizzini network — coded messages scrawled on pieces of paper to secure communications between the mobster and his gang members.
Rosalia is the mother of Lorenza Guttadauro, a lawyer who defended her mob boss uncle upon his arrest.
“Mafia nobility”
Matteo Messina Denaro was convicted of involvement in the murder of anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in 1992 and in deadly bombings in Rome, Florence and Milan in 1993.
One of his six life sentences was for the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the 12-year-old son of a witness in the Falcone case.
He disappeared in the summer of 1993 and spent the next 30 years on the run as the Italian state cracked down on the Sicilian mob. When he was finally captured, eyewitnesses said that when passers-by realized that security forces had apprehended the notorious crime figure, people cheered and applauded the police.
Italian Gendarmerie (Carabinieri) Press Service/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty
He was considered “Mafia nobility” — the last of three top mafia bosses, the others being the notorious Salvatore “Toto'” Riina and Bernardo Provenzano, both of whom also eluded capture for decades, continuing to live clandestine lives in Sicily.
Riina, the so-called “boss of bosses,” was on the run for 23 years before his arrest in 1993. Provenzano spent 38 years as a fugitive and was finally captured in 2006.
Saatva
Ready to upgrade your sleep experience for fall? Now’s the perfect time. Right now, you can save up to $500 on a Saatva mattress during the company’s Labor Day Early Access sale. With a variety of mattress styles available, you’re sure to find the perfect match to provide the ultimate comfort and support.
Here’s how the Labor Day sale works: The more you spend at Saatva, the more you’ll save. You’ll save $200 when you spend at least $985, with the discount rising to $300 when you spend at least $2,000. The discounts increase all the way up to $500 off when you spend $4,500 or more. And the deal gets even better if you’re looking for a complete bedroom refresh, because you’ll save an extra $100 off an adjustable base plus or upholstered bed frame with a mattress purchase.
Keep reading to shop the Saatva sale. But hurry, the Saatva Labor Day Early Access sale ends Aug. 29, 2024.
Save $300 on the Saatva Classic mattress this Labor Day
Saatva
The Saatva Classic mattress is our pick for the best hybrid mattress of 2024. It’s $300 off for Labor Day.
The Saatva Classic mattress features a 3-inch Euro pillow top, available in three comfort levels for customized pressure relief. Its dual-coil design enhances durability and responsiveness, conforming to your body while promoting airflow and preventing sagging. Patented lumbar zone technology ensures healthy spinal alignment, making it ideal for those with back pain.
It has an organic cotton cover that is breathable and hypoallergenic, providing a cooler sleep surface while the Guardin botanical antimicrobial treatment protects against bacteria, mold and mildew.
Saatva also provides a generous, risk-free trial period of 180 nights so you can sleep on your decision.
Saatva Classic mattress (queen), $1,795 (regularly $2,095)
Not into the Saatva Classic? Try the Saatva Solaire. The highly rated adjustable mattress is on sale for up to $500 off right now, depending on size. The Solaire mattress offers 50 firmness settings on both sides, and claims to have virtually no motion transfer.
Saatva Solaire adjustable mattress (queen), $4,095 (regularly $4,495)
Labor Day 2024 is almost here, which means Labor Day sales are live now. The shopping experts at CBS Essentials have scoured the best Labor Day sales at all your favorite retailers (including Amazon and Walmart) to bring you the best mattress deals, the best luggage deals, the best deals on major appliances, the best patio furniture clearance deals and even the best tire deals to shop this Labor Day.
CBS News
Shark killed 16-year-old high school student who was found dead by fishermen, Jamaica police say
A shark attacked and killed a 16-year-old Jamaican high school student whose body was found in waters just north of the island, authorities said.
Police identified the victim as Jahmari Reid from the northern parish of Trelawny, located just east of the popular tourist town of Montego Bay.
The teen apparently went spearfishing alone early Monday, with fishermen finding his body the following day with injuries consistent with a shark attack, police said in a report late Tuesday.
Since 1749, only three unprovoked shark attacks have been reported in Jamaica, according to the International Shark Attack File, which is administered by the Florida Museum of Natural History and the American Elasmobranch Society.
Shark attacks are rare, with a total of 69 confirmed unprovoked attacks worldwide and 14 fatalities reported last year, according to the file. The report noted that a “disproportionate” amount of people died from shark bites in Australia last year when compared with other countries, and Australia accounted for about 22% of the world’s unprovoked shark attacks in 2023.
In July, a surfer lost his leg after a great white shark attacked him in Australia.
The month before that, surfer Tamayo Perry died after sustaining fatal injuries in a shark attack off the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
In January, a young fisherman diving for scallops was killed by a shark off the Pacific coast of Mexico.
Amazon
Whether you’re in the middle of your fitness journey or just starting out, a scale is one of the most important tools you can use to stay on track. They can help offer a comprehensive look at your health, including your muscle mass, body weight, and fat percentage.
Smart scales are usually very simple to use and set up. Many connect to an app, and all you need to do is step on to get a slew of measurements. Many will also connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to your phone and other smart devices so you can track progress with your Fitbit or smartwatch, whatever you happen to be using. You can swap between users, customize the data you’re presented, and use it to help you make decisions.
Below, find some of our top picks for the best smart scales.
The best smart scales in 2024
Best smart scale: Eufy P2 Pro
Amazon
The Eufy Smart Scale P2 Pro can handle just about anything you need when it comes to your weight, body composition and more. It tracks 16 metrics for multiple users, including pets and babies. It also gives you data on your resting heart rate, protein percentage and body age. The accompanying EufyLife app makes it even more useful by letting you log food intake without having to use a third-party app; set goals, generate reports and analyze trends over your custom time periods.
It’s compatible with third-party apps like Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit as well, so there are several ways to create synergy throughout all the fitness-centric software you may be using. And at less than $100, the Eufy P2 Pro is a worthwhile investment if you want a feature-rich scale that won’t set you back too much. It’s also quite attractive and would look good in any bathroom.
Best app-based smart scale: Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale 2
Amazon
If you want to learn as much about your body as possible without going and having a checkup, this smart scale is your best bet. It’s full of data about your muscle mass, BMI, estimated basal metabolic rate and much more. Plus, all of that information syncs with your smartwatch and health-tracking apps so you can keep track of and share it. It’s all in one place, and provides good info that you can use to help inform future plans and doctor visits.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale 2 is how easy it is to use. While it can be used as a standalone device to check your weight, it also lets up to six users create individual profiles with detailed statistics. Plus, its minimalist design is nice and clean, with a bright and readable display that only appears when in use. And if you’re worried about its glass construction, it’s non-slip, so you won’t go careening into your shower stall.
Best budget smart scale: Wyze X
Amazon
You don’t absolutely need to spend above your budget for a smart scale — not when the cheaper ones are as good as this option. The Wyze X is an affordable smart scale that comes with a very comprehensive set of features. It can measure 13 different metrics, including body fat, muscle mass and body water. Like many other pricier scales, it also has options for pregnancy, babies and pets.
While its app isn’t as sleek or put-together as some of the more expensive smart scales, it’s still a good compromise if you need something fast, easy, and under $50. It’s sleek, compact, and reliable — and if you’re trying to track your weight loss or gain (or how your body is doing overall), this is a solid choice that won’t have you hung up on things you don’t need.
Best premium smart scale: Withings Body Scan
Amazon
On the other hand, if you do want to shell out some cash, this Withings smart scale has a comprehensive set of features. In addition to basic info like basal metabolic rate and body fat, it can offer more details like vascular age and pulse wave velocity. You can use it to set up eight user profiles, each with access to more advanced metrics like segmental body composition analysis, which covers six separate areas, including muscle mass and water mass.
The accompanying Withings Health Mate app is useful for acquiring and retaining information as well, with great guides that explain your measurements. It will also track changes in your stats so you know whether you’re on track or not. It’s all very in-depth and user-friendly. Plus, the scale itself looks great and feels very luxe. You’ll be paying a pretty penny, but it’s your health, so investing may not be a bad idea.
Best fitness-tracking smart scale: Withings Body Cardio Scan Smart Scale
Amazon
Are you a beast at the gym? Want to know more about your workouts? The Withings Body Cardio is a fitness-tracking scale that excels at keeping an eye on your exercises, muscle mass, body fat and other key metrics.
What sets this scale apart is its ability to check your overall cardiovascular health by measuring standing heart rate and pulse wave velocity. A lower heart rate generally indicates better fitness, while pulse wave velocity can give you an idea of your arteries’ flexibility. If they’re too stiff, it can affect how your blood pumps around your body.
You can use the included Withings Health Mate app to learn more about all the tidbits the scale tracks. And although the Body Cardio is a bit heavy, its two-layer design without feet means you can put it just about anywhere in your home, so no more stepping on the cold bathroom tile dreading your next weigh-in. Do it somewhere warm and comfortable and see what your hard work has wrought.
