The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Italy

  • Libya air raids possible if UN talks fail – Italy

    Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Wednesday, said the protracted failure to install a national unity government in Libya might push the international community to bomb Islamic State strongholds in the country.

    In December 2015, Libyan lawmakers signed a UN-brokered peace agreement, including a unity government, aimed at ending years of instability in the oil-rich country.
    However several politicians and militias have rejected the deal.

    Gentiloni said his country supported the efforts of the national unity government of Fayez Serraj to take up office in Tripoli, but said this must happen within a reasonable amount of time.

    “Otherwise we risk that the approach will prevail of those who argue that stabilising Libya is a pipe-dream and that therefore we need to launch massive air raids against jihadist positions,’’ he added.

    Europe and the U.S. have been concerned for months about the expansion of the IS terrorist group in Libya, which has been in chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of long-time dictator Moamer Gaddafi.

    Italy, a former colonial power in Libya and the biggest buyer of its oil and gas, has a strong interest in pacifying the North African country – and also in stemming the flow of migrants that cross over from there to its shores.

    However, Gentiloni said a military only response to the Libyan crisis risks being counterproductive, pushing 200,000 local militias to join forces with 5,000 IS jihadists against a common Western enemy.

    .A report said that Italy remained opposed to deploying ground troops, but may cave in to pressure from the U.S. and offer small special units and fighter jets for possible operations in Libya.

    It added that the U.S. President Barack Obama may discuss Libya with European allies on the margins of Friday’s Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

     

  • Nigeria, Italy sign pact on security, logistics supply

    Nigeria, Italy sign pact on security, logistics supply

    The Nigerian and Italian government on Monday signed an agreement on intelligence sharing, capacity building and provision of logistics that will enhance the operations of the Nigeria Police.

    The signing of agreement, witnessed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Matteo Renzi, in the State House, Abuja was part of bilateral meeting between the two countries which covered issues on energy, security, agriculture, immigration, human and drug trafficking, infrastructure and education.

    The agreement on enhancing cooperation between the Nigerian and Italian Police, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, was signed by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Italian National Police Chief, Alessandro Pansa.

    Speaking at the bilateral meeting, President Buhari said he was impressed with the relationship between Nigeria and Italy over the years, especially in the areas of security, construction, oil and gas and the exploration of solid minerals.

    He said: ‘‘I am impressed by the resilience and commitment of the Italian business to Nigeria’s development shown by the Italian construction companies and companies in the oil sector.

    ‘‘I am happy to hear that an Italian oil company, Eni ltd, is investing 4 billion U S dollars in the coming three years in the economy spite of the downward spiral of oil prices,’’ the President said.

    In his remarks, the Italian Prime Minister said his country will support Nigeria in the ongoing fight against corruption, terrorism and also encourage Italian companies to invest more in sectors that will enable growth and create jobs for Nigerians like power, agriculture and solid minerals.

  • MTV Breaks creates fun moments for EMA

    MTV Breaks creates fun moments for EMA

    OAP Fade Ogunro captured in the Milan fever

    Ahead of the much anticipated MTV Europe Music Awards, EMA, holding  at the Mediolanum Forum, Parco Agricolo Sud Milano, Italy, the city is abuzz with a buildup of activities that depict the popularity of the award among the governments and people of Europe.
    From indoor showcases via dedicated TV channels to every street corner, the glitz of the show holds sway, increasing the people’s expectations for the awards show which comes up Sunday night.
    Downtown Porto Genova, where the ‘MTV Street’ is located captures some of these scenarios with pomp and circumstance.
    The MTV Breaks is one of the fun activities that have set the people bubbling with excitement and given the city a festive aura –  some sorts of an early Christmas.
    At the pre-event jamboree, so many talents are expressed through graphic designs, merchandises, props, photography, and electronic materials, coming from the young talents that entered for the MTV Breaks challenge. They include digital correspondents, graphic designers, Make-up artists and photographers.
    Interestingly, MTV is wielding so much around music, and every artist, and fan of the arts is finding a place for their creative expressions.
    These designs are bringing extra verve to the EMAs, with test runs that give a perfect feel.
    Nigerian celebrity OAP, Fade Ogunro of Beat FM and her South African counterpart, Thando Thabethe were captured around some of the MTV Street fun moments in Porto Genova.

  • 9,000 migrants seek employment yearly in Italy , says IOM

    Apparently in search of greener pastures, no fewer than 9,000 migrants from Nigeria arrived Italy through the Mediterranean Sea last year, an official of the United Nations International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said.

    A research officer with the organisation, Tara Brian said at a conference on National Migration Policy Thematic Areas, organised by IOM that Nigeria was the fourth top country of origin for people arriving in Italy in last year.

    She said, already, between January and April this year, no fewer than 3,000 Nigerians arrived Italy for jobs.

    In his presentation, a migration expert, Prof Adepoju Aderanti, said Nigerians abroad constitute the population of about seven African countries, adding that it is not surprising considering the country’s population.

    Aderanti however said Nigerians in Diaspora could be potential development tools for the country. He said the remittances of Nigerians abroad is about $25 billion yearly, adding that it overtook direct foreign investment and was second to oil revenue.

    “An average African who migrates ultimately wishes to return home but returning home depends on the situation at home. Some Africans in Diaspora want to come back home but the circumstances at home in many countries are not encouraging,” he said.

    Aderanti called on the Federal Government to make migration a win-win-win situation for the migrants, the origin and destination countries through policies to attract remittance flows such as tax holidays.

    He also called for policies to woo Diaspora engagements like establishing a Diaspora Commission and reviewing bilateral migration agreements with destination countries in favour of Nigeria.

    Aderanti commended Nigeria for being the first country in Africa to adopt a National Policy on Migration.

    A representative of the UN Resident Coordinator, Jean Gough, commended the Federal Government for adopting the National Policy on Migration.

    Gough said Nigeria was a major country of origin, transit and destination within West African sub-region and globally.

    She said having a legal framework for the governance of migration was an important step and a major achievement in managing the multi-faceted challenges of migration and taking hold of the opportunities.

  • Italy’s Monte dei Paschi shares suspended twice

    Trading in shares of Italy’s Monte dei Paschi bank has been suspended twice.

    Monte dei Paschi’s shares dived 17 per cent early on Monday after it emerged as the worst performer in official stress tests. Trading resumed later but was again halted after losses reached 20 per cent.

    In all, 24 of 123 banks failed the European Banking Authority (EBA) tests, designed to find out if they could withstand another financial crisis.

    Share prices in most EU banks are down following publication of the results.

    Lloyds Banking Group shares fell 2.4 per cent after it narrowly passed the tests.

    All UK bank shares – Barclays, RBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered and new joiner TSB – are lower.

    Monte dei Paschi bank was founded in 1472 for the purpose of granting loans to “poor or miserable or needy persons”.

    Austria’s Erste Bank, Raiffeisen and Germany’s Commerzbank were all up five per cent at the start of trading, although Commerzbank fell back to stand one per cent higher.

    The health check by the EBA was based on the banks’ financial health at the end of 2013.

    No UK banks failed the EBA tests. Of the 24 banks that did fail, 10 of them have taken measures to bolster their balance sheets in the meantime.

    There are 14 banks that still need to raise more capital. Four are Italian, two Greek, two Belgian and two more Slovenian.

    Over the weekend, the European Central Bank (ECB) carried out an overlapping survey of 130 eurozone banks.

    The ECB said 25 banks had failed its test, but 12 of those had already taken remedial action.

    The ECB’s total is higher than the EBA’s because of Spain’s Liberbank, which passed the stress test but failed the ECB’s Asset Quality Review.

  • Italy Footwear Design institute graduates five

    Fifteen students sponsored by the Delta State Government for a two-week training on Footwear Design and Technology have graduated from the prestigious Moda Pelle Academy, Milano, Italy.

    The state also has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for the building and equipping of a leatherworks factory in Delta State.

    Under the agreement, UNIDO will, apart from part funding the factory, also help the state develop skills in shoe design to a level that will enable them compete with the best in the world.

    The training and setting up of a leather works factory is part of Project Cooperation Agreements between the Delta State Government and UNIDO under which agro processing capacities will be developed in the state.

    The project aims at improving the quality of life of rural population of Delta State by setting up efficient farmer-owned small scale agro processing units for palm oil milling and fish drying linking them effectively with primary producers and domestic buyers.

    The agreement also seeks to build creative industries for women in rural Delta, especially the traditional Akwaocha fabric to provide technical support for the development of the local fabric.

    Ogeah said it is the next level in the consolidation of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s action plan of building enduring institutional frameworks for the development of requisite skills to boost human capacity, create jobs and boost production and export of quality non-oil products.

    At the graduation were the Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN); Chike C. Ogeah, Commissioner for Information and Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation.

  • Kim Kardashian-Kanye West First Wedding photos

    After much anticipation, first official Italian wedding photos of the most talked about couple in entertainment has finally been released. The photos show Kim’s full length Givenchy dress as well as a very dapper Kanye West after giving their vows in the very beautiful Belvedere Fort in Florence, Italy.

    Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, venue of the West wedding
    Forte di Belvedere in Florence, Italy, venue of the West wedding Photo Courtesy E! News
    Kim and Kanye
    Kim and Kanye kissing next to a wall of white flowers Photo Courtesy E! News
    Kim's Givenchy dress
    Kim showing off her beautiful Givenchy trail Photo Courtesy E! News
    Mr and Mrs West
    Mr and Mrs West walk down the aisle Photo Courtesy E! News

  • Italy pledges to quicken visa issuance for Nigerians

    The new Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Fulvio Rustico, on Monday, said that the government of his country had decided to ease visa processing and issuance for Nigerians.

    Rustico told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the decision was aimed at promoting stronger relations between both countries.

    “As we all know, Italy’s visa system is in line with other countries’ visas requirements.

    “But, we are seriously working hard at making sure that visa processing and issuance for Nigerians becomes easier and much faster.

    “We have realised that more and more Nigerians want to come into Italy. We do not want to see visas as something that should stop Nigerians from visiting Italy,’’ he said.

    The envoy said that his government would continue to welcome more Nigerians due to both countries’ long-lasting relations.

    According to Rustico, there is already a growing population of Nigerians in Italy, just as there are also many Italian investors and entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

    “We believe that Nigerians are the Italians of Africa, just as Italians are the Nigerians of Europe.

    “That is one reason we will be working within 10 days period to make visas available to more Nigerians,’’ he said.

    The Italian envoy said that he was sent to Nigeria by his government to create favourable opportunities for Nigerians.

    He expressed his government’s commitment to promoting mutual relationship with Nigeria in the years ahead.

  • Keshi unleashes Ameobi, Dike on Italy

    Keshi unleashes Ameobi, Dike on Italy

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi will be using a different line up against the Italians in Monday evening’s international friendly at Fulham’s Craven Cottage.

    Newcastle United forward Shola Ameobi and Toronto FC striker Bright Dike  will be starting against the Azzuris  in place of Emmanuel Emenike and Brown Ideye — the duo will partner Liverpool’s Victor Moses in a three-pronged attack.

    The lone midfield change is Brescia’s Nnamdi Oduamadi who will pair up with Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel and Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi.

    Rizespor’s Godfrey Oboabona will be in charge of his position in the defence,  joined by Nigeria Premier League-based trio of Azubuike Egwuekwe of Warri Wolves, Solomon Kwambe of  Sunshine Stars and Benjamin Francis of Heartland.

    Austin Ejide will replace  Vincent Enyeama in the goal as Keshi prepares his team for the World Cup.

    Nigeria will be looking forward to avenging the 2-1 loss to the Italians in the 1994 World Cup —  Roberto Baggio scored two late goals.

    Nigeria XI vs Italy: Ejide; Kwambe, Oboabona, Egwuekwe, Francis; Onazi, Mikel, Oduamadi; Moses, Dike, Ameobi

  • Italian team set for Eagles tie

    Italian team set for Eagles tie