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Tag: Italy

  • FCCPC seals France, Belgium, Italy visa centres over investigation obstruction, suspected unfair practices 

    FCCPC seals France, Belgium, Italy visa centres over investigation obstruction, suspected unfair practices 

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has sealed off France, Belgium and Italy visa centres located at the Mukhtar El-Yakub House, Central Business District, Abuja.

    The office was sealed with the combined efforts of operatives from the FCCPC, Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as staff of the centre resisted the sealing.

    Sealing off the centre on Thursday, Mrs Boladale Adeyinka, the Director, Surveillance and Investigations Department of FCCPC, said the move was due to failure of the centre to receive a letter of the Commission to investigate a consumer complaint.

    Adeyinka said the centre was also sealed due to obstruction of investigation or inquiry and conducting services considered upon reasonable suspicion to be inimical to consumers’ welfare.

    She mandated the company to apper before the Commission on June 20, to testify, make depositions and provide evidence in relation to failure to receive a letter of the Commission to investigate a complaint and obstruction of investigation or inquiry.

    ”This is an enforcement operation against TLS.

    ”As you are aware, they provide visa support services to Nigerian consumers.

    ”On the 25th of March 2025, based on consumer complaint, a letter was served on them to address the consumer complaint as is the process of amicable resolution of consumer complaints at the commission.

    ”The officers of TLS, rather than receive the consumer complaint, proceeded to assault our officers who were conducting the lawful duty of protecting and implementing the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

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    ”Upon receipt of that report, the commission directed that they should be summoned (1:25) to appear before the commission pursuant to Section 33 of the FCCPA.

    ”Rather than receive the summons of the commission, officers of TLS again on June 17, proceeded not only to assault our officers but also assaulted uniformed officers of the police force who were providing lawful security for the operations of the commission.

    ”Section 33 stipulates that any person who without sufficient cause fails or refuses to appear before the commission in compliance with a summons commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or fine not exceeding #20 million or both fine and imprisonment,” she said.

    Adeyinka directed that the Company would be liable for all losses and expenses encountered by visa applicants as a result of the enforcement.

    However, the Management of the Company  refused to comment on the matter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the centre is being managed by TLS Contact, a Teleperformance Company.

    (NAN)

  • Seven car-free cities around the world

    Seven car-free cities around the world

    Several cities around the world have eliminated cars entirely in specific zones or throughout the entire city, creating unique, sustainable, and pedestrian-friendly environments.

    Here’s a list of seven cities around the world where cars are banned or severely restricted you should know:

    1.       Venice, Italy

    Venice, a city in northeastern Italy, famously known for its canals, bridges, and iconic gondolas. Often called the “Floating City,”

    The citizen relies on boats gondolas, and walking as a means of transportation.

    2.       Zermatt, Switzerland

    Zermatt, a town in Switzerland, the city famous for its breathtaking Alpine scenery and its car-free rules. People get around using electric taxis, horse-drawn carriages, or simply by walking, helping to keep the air clean and the environment pristine.

    3.       Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA

    Mackinac Island in Michigan, USA, is famous for being car-free. Cars have been banned there since 1898, and people get around using horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, or walking. This helps keep the island’s historic charm and peaceful atmosphere.

    4.       Fes el-Bali, Morocco

    Fes el-Bali, the oldest part of Fes in Morocco, is famous for its maze-like streets. The area is completely car-free because the pathways are too narrow for vehicles. People get around on foot, and donkeys or handcarts are used to carry goods, helping to keep its historic and cultural charm alive.

    5.       Hydra, Greece

    Hydra, a scenic island in Greece, is famous for being car-free. To protect its traditional charm, the island does not allow cars or motorcycles. People get around by walking, riding donkeys, or traveling by boat, making Hydra a quiet and beautiful place to visit.

    6.       La Cumbrecita, Argentina

    La Cumbrecita, a small village in Argentina, is famous for its quiet, car-free atmosphere. As a pedestrian-only village, it focuses on eco-tourism, giving visitors a chance to walk through its beautiful forests and enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings.

    7.       Lamu, Kenya

    Lamu, a historic town in Kenya, is famous for its car-free streets and rich culture. People travel by walking, riding donkeys, or using boats, which helps keep the town’s traditional way of life and calm environment.

  • Italy prohibits couples from travelling abroad for surrogacy

    Italy prohibits couples from travelling abroad for surrogacy


    Italy has made it illegal for couples to travel abroad for surrogacy. 

    This new law expands an existing ban on surrogacy within the country to include those seeking it in legal jurisdictions like the US and Canada. 

    Violators could face up to two years in prison and fines reaching €1 million (£835,710).

    Critics of the law, proposed by Italy’s far-right governing party, argue that it disproportionately affects LGBT couples, who are already prohibited from adopting or using IVF in Italy.

    Surrogacy involves a woman carrying a pregnancy for another individual or couple, often due to fertility challenges or in cases involving same-sex male couples.

    The law was approved by a vote of 84 to 58 in Italy’s Senate on Wednesday.

    Ahead of the vote, opponents staged a protest, arguing that the legislation complicates the path to parenthood, even as the country’s birth rate continues to decline.

    “If someone has a baby they should be given a medal”, LGBT activist Franco Grillini told the Reuters news agency at the demonstration.

    “Here instead you are sent to jail… if you don’t have children in the traditional way.

    “This is a monstrous law. No country in the world has such a thing.”

    The move aligns with the socially conservative agenda of Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s first female prime minister and leader of the Brothers of Italy party. She has identified as a Christian mother and advocates for children to be raised by a man and a woman.

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    Meloni has publicly opposed surrogacy for LGBT couples, and anti-LGBT rhetoric played a significant role in her election campaign. In a 2022 speech, she stated, “Yes to the natural family, no to the LGBT lobby.”

    In 2023, her government directed Milan’s city council to cease the registration of children with same-sex parents.

    Meloni has referred to surrogacy as “a symbol of an abominable society that confuses desire with rights and substitutes God with money.”

    Her deputy, Matteo Salvini, has labeled the practice an “aberration,” asserting that it reduces women to the status of an “ATM.”

    Carolina Varchi, the MP who drafted Wednesday’s ban, previously stated that it was not intended to harm LGBT individuals, arguing that “most people who use surrogacy are heterosexual.” She emphasized that the law would “protect women and their dignity.”

  • Starmer looks to Italy on how to stop migrant boats

    Starmer looks to Italy on how to stop migrant boats

    Sir Keir Starmer has suggested he will study Italy’s asylum processing deal with Albania as part of a “pragmatic” approach to tackling migrant boats crossing the English Channel.

    Speaking to reporters, the prime minister said he had discussed the “concept” of Italy’s deal during talks in Rome with Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni.

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    Meloni said Sir Keir had shown “great interest” in the planned scheme, under which some migrants rescued in Italian waters will be sent to the Balkan country to have their asylum claims processed.

  • Italy outclass USA to take women’s volleyball gold

    Italy outclass USA to take women’s volleyball gold

    Top-ranked Italy dominated the United States to win the Olympic women’s volleyball final on Sunday, crushing the defending champions in straight sets to claim their first gold medal on the final day of the Games.

    Italy came into the Olympics as the Volleyball Nations League champions and did not lose a match en route to gold, dropping one set in the pool stage and none in the knockouts.

    As Italy sealed a 25-18 25-20 25-17 victory, Paola Egonu was the star of the show after the 25-year-old, one of the top scorers in the tournament in Paris, finished with 22 points and four blocks.

    “I am so happy, so proud, I can’t describe the joy for this group of girls… This year has been very beautiful,” Egonu said.

    The Americans had won a medal at the last five Olympics and the silver was their seventh overall – more than any other country in women’s volleyball – but they were no match for Italy.

    Egonu gave Italy a blistering start, with the 6-foot 5-inch opposite heavily involved in every rally on both defence at the net and in attack, forcing the Americans into an early timeout as they fell behind.

    Although the U.S. staged a comeback, Egonu sealed the opening set with a spike that gave American Chiaka Ogbogu no chance of recovering.

    The second set was neck-and-neck at the start before a kill from Myriam Sylla and monster blocks from Anna Danesi and Sarah Fahr gave Italy a lead to build on.

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    The U.S. fought their way back again, but Egonu made no mistake on set point to make it 2-0, dealing a huge psychological blow to the Americans, who made errors in the third set.

    Italy, meanwhile, continued to impress at the net with 11 blocks in total while the Americans failed to make a single block in the match.

    As Italy celebrated every point, their victory seemed inevitable and the gold medal came when Jordan Thompson’s spike went wide as the Italian substitutes stormed the court and hugged their teammates who fell to their knees.

    Italy’s Sarah Fahr said they did not expect to win in straight sets.

    “In Tokyo we were all so sad when we went out in the quarter-finals. It was something we wanted to achieve… and now being here in Paris, arriving in the finals and winning is crazy,” she said.

    American Avery Skinner was disappointed to lose the gold but said they still had so much to be proud of.

    “At the beginning of the summer we did not think we were going to be here,” she said.

    “I think I spoke to Jordan after the last match and she said we’re on ‘Plan F’ here and we were in the final.”

  • Italy confirm Spalletti as manager after Euros exit

    Italy confirm Spalletti as manager after Euros exit

    Italy will keep Luciano Spalletti as manager until 2026 as planned despite their Euro 2024 campaigning ending in the last 16, Italian Football Federation President Gabriele Gravina has said.

    Spalletti’s side were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland on Saturday, having disappointed in their Euros title defence, but the manager, who replaced Roberto Mancini last August on a contract until 2026, will be given more time.

    “Yesterday there was a long chat with the coach and I think it is unthinkable to solve problems by abandoning a project that is multi-year, you cannot abandon the project after eight or nine months,” Gravina told reporters. “A coach who has been in charge for nine or 10 games is central to the project, and he cannot always have all the players available.

    “(Spalletti) has our confidence. He must work because in 60 days there is already a new challenge.”

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    While confirming the coach, Gravina reflected on the disappointment of Euro 2024, where they were outclassed by Spain and needed a last-minute goal against Croatia to stay in the tournament before the final knockout blow by Switzerland.

    “What unfortunately remains is the disappointment of not having been able to demonstrate to those who followed us everything that has been done,” Gravina said.

    “We have not shown the character to make up for the shortcomings that unfortunately we have. Last night we shared the responsibilities with everyone. We are all responsible.”

    Gravina also expressed his concerns that Serie A clubs do not give enough space to young Italian players, and Spalletti reiterated that need as he intends to freshen up the squad.

    “Yesterday’s game knocks us back to zero and we have to start from there. We need to rejuvenate the squad and recreate a group,” Spalletti said.

    “I haven’t had the answers I was looking for so far and it is necessary to recreate from below, a group that has new strengths.

    “It’s difficult to find another (Giorgio) Chiellini or another (Leonardo) Bonucci, but by giving space to (Riccardo) Calafiori you can find important players again.”

    Spalletti’s first job when taking over was to qualify for the Euros, but he is well aware that they have failed to meet expectations since then and is already looking to the future.

    “In yesterday’s game we took an important step backwards that cannot be accepted,” he said.

  • Zaccagni’s equalizer sends Italy to last 16

    Zaccagni’s equalizer sends Italy to last 16

    Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Luka Modric’s penalty and conceded moments later, but Mattia Zaccagni at the 98th  minute sent Italy into the Round of 16 to break Croatia’s hearts.

    They will face Switzerland in Berlin, the side that prevented them from qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

    The Azzurri needed a point to be sure of finishing runners-up behind Spain after a 1-0 defeat, but surprised with a switch to the 3-5-2 formation as Mateo Retegui, Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Darmian came in, while Federico Dimarco started despite a calf issue. Croatia lost 3-0 to Spain and were held 2-2 by Albania, but kept the veteran midfield trio intact, shifting Josko Gvardiol to left-back, starting Luka Sucic and Atalanta midfielder Mario Pasalic.

    Gianluigi Donnarumma flew to palm a Sucic scorcher out of the far top corner, while Gvardiol got a decisive deflection on the Retegui header from Riccardo Calafiori’s cross to turn it inches wide.

    Dominik Livakovic needed a great reaction save to deny the Alessandro Bastoni free header on Nicolò Barella’s floated ball to the back post.

    Davide Frattesi came on for Lorenzo Pellegrini at half-time, but his immediate impact was to give away a penalty for sticking a hand up to block the Kramaric shot. Luka Modric saw his spot-kick brilliantly parried by Donnarumma, confirming his speciality in these situations.

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    However, Italy were still celebrating when they immediately gave away a goal, as Donnarumma made the desperate one-handed save on an Ante Budimir header, but Modric was quickest to pounce on the rebound.

    Bastoni had another header inches over the bar from a corner and a Raspadori free kick deflected off the wall, while Stanisic did enough to prevent Gianluca Scamacca tapping in the Chiesa ball flashed across the face of goal.

    It was practically over when Italy snatched their equaliser, as Calafiori surged forward through the centre and spread it to the left, where Mattia Zaccagni bent a first-time right-foot curler into the far top corner from the edge of the box. It was very similar to the goal Alessandro Del Piero scored in the 2006 World Cup semi-final against Germany.

  • Two envoys in Italy

    Two envoys in Italy

    Ademola Lookman was the moving spirit of the match. His dribble run and instinct for the killer shot made him the man of the match at the Europa League final. He won our hearts with a hat trick. Bold, imaginative, defiant, he troubled the defence, elated a crowd, subdued a tournament.

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    Europa League bowed, Atalanta Club leapt from his shoulders because he led with his feet, his goals, one, two, three. He, a Nigerian in Italy, held a flower for the Nigerian pride. He was an envoy for a maligned nation as it can be. Before him is the gangling Victor Osimhen. The man, a toast of goals, has shaken the nation each time his shot shook the nets of Italian clubs. Both are men of medals and honour for their country. They are our best ever envoys in that country. They did not need accreditation, just their sweat and sweet feet. Their president saw them in their glory and must show awe at their prowess. That is how to be an ambassador.

  • More than 200 mobsters jailed in one of Italy’s biggest mafia trials

    More than 200 mobsters jailed in one of Italy’s biggest mafia trials

    An Italian court has sentenced more than 200 crime gang members to a total of 2,200 years in prison, following the country’s largest mafia trial in three decades.

     During the trial, which began in January 2021 and took place in a purpose-built bunker in the southern Italian town of Lamezia Terme, more than 400 lawyers represented the defendants and some 900 witnesses provided testimony.

     A panel of three judges, who had been deliberating the fate of the 338 accused since the trial ended on October 16, delivered their verdict  yesterday. It took the court one hour and 40 minutes to hand down its rulings, Italian news outlet Ansa reported.

     Some 207 mobsters were jailed and more than 100 were acquitted. The total jail time includes five life sentences and three 30-year sentences.

     Among those tried were 42 women – a record for a mafia trial – of whom 39 were convicted.

     Many of the defendants had colorful nicknames – including “The Wolf,” “Fatso,” “Sweetie” and “Lamb Thigh” – that were caught on some 24,000 wiretaps, according to the testimonies presented during the trial.

     The convicted include the onetime Forza Italia lawmaker Giancarlo Pittelli; former police chief Giorgio Naselli; former financial police officer Michele Marinaro; ex-mayor Gianluca Callipo; and the former regional councilors Luigi Incarnato and Pietro Giamborino, according to the sentencing document seen by CNN.

    People arrive at a specially constructed bunker for a hearing of a maxi-trial of hundreds of people accused of membership in Italy’s ‘ndrangheta organized crime syndicate, one of the world’s most powerful, extensive and wealthy drug-trafficking groups, in Lamezia Terme, southern Italy,  yesterday, Nov. 20, 2023. Verdicts are expected  yesterday for the trial that started almost three years ago in the southern Calabria region, where the mob organization was originally based. (AP Photo/Valeria Ferraro)

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    The trial took place in a specially-built bunker in Lamezia Temre, southern Italy, amid safety concerns.

    The mobsters were affiliated with Italy’s notorious ’Nrangheta crime group and were convicted of mafia association, extortion, bribery and five murders.

    The trial was referred to as the Rinascita Scott, named after the United States special agent Scott W. Sieben, who was credited with uncovering ties between Colombia’s cartels and the ’Nrangheta.

    Based in the southern Italian region of Calabria, the ‘Ndrangheta is considered to be the most powerful mafia group in the country, and one of the most powerful criminal enterprises in the world, with thousands of members of members and affiliates globally, according to the Italian DIA (Anti-Mafia Directorate). It has a monopoly on European drug trafficking, according to Europol.

    The three judges had been living under police protection during the trial, which lasted two years and 10 months.

  • Italy to empower Nigeria’s youths for climate action

    Italy to empower Nigeria’s youths for climate action

    The Italian Consulate in Lagos, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of Solution 17 for Climate Action, will host the Nigeria-Italy Youth4Climate Conference on September 15, at the Lagos Continental Hotel.

    The conference aims to drive climate action, invest in climate solutions and collaborate on youth-focused initiatives across Nigeria.

    The conference precedes the 2023 global flagship Youth4Climate event, which will hold in Rome, Italy, in October, where high-level international leaders and groups will listen to the voices of 150 young people on solutions to tackle the climate emergency.

    Youth4Climate is a  youth-led global initiative, which aims to raise awareness on climate change and advocate for meaningful action to address environmental issues.

    Co-led by Italy and the UNDP, Youth4Climate amplifies the work of young climate leaders and celebrates the power of the young generation to drive ambitious climate action.

    The first global event dedicated to young people, “Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition”, was held in Milan on the margins of PreC0P26. The second global event, themed “Youth4Climate: Powering Action”, was convened in New York on September 20, 2022, during the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

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    The Italian Consul-General, Ugo Boni, said Nigeria-Italy Youth4Climate will offer young climate activists, entrepreneurs, technologists and innovators the opportunity to share insights, knowledge and innovative climate solutions to solve climate crisis within their local community and beyond.

    “The Italian government is at the forefront of the search for solutions to face the epochal challenge posed by climate change. It also places environmental sustainability at the centre of all its initiatives as evidenced by Rome’s candidacy to host Expo 2030.

    The event’s theme, “Advocate, Innovate, Act: Investing in Youth Climate Solutions’, will provide a platform to inspire and empower young minds to advocate for climate justice, harness their innovative potential, and take concrete steps towards a greener future by 2030,” Boni said.