Sechi’s article praised Meloni’s achievements, stating that she had “won the war of the sexes” in Italy and had shattered not only the glass ceiling but dissolved it entirely. The piece emphasized Meloni’s ability to overcome gender stereotypes, reject the arrogance of men, and combat the defeatism of women. It portrayed her as a symbol of strength and divergent thinking in a society plagued by weak ideas.

However, the article faced backlash from Italy’s opposition parties, accusing Meloni of neglecting the protection of women from violence. Elly Schlein, the secretary of the centre-left Democratic Party, expressed her disapproval, denouncing the newspaper’s message that politics and power are exclusively for men. Schein stated that being named “man of the year” should not be an aspiration for a politician, viewing it as surrendering to gender norms.

MP Elisabetta Piccolotti criticized the article as an affirmation of male superiority and called on Prime Minister Meloni to reject the title bestowed upon her. Piccolotti even questioned Meloni’s gender identity, urging her to clarify whether she identifies as a woman, a man, or non-binary in response to the newspaper’s portrayal of her as the “man of the year.”

Contrarily, Gennaro Sangiuliano, the culture minister in Meloni’s government and a former deputy director of Libero, defended the title awarded to Meloni, deeming it well-deserved. Sangiuliano praised her accomplishments and dismissed the critics’ concerns.

As of now, Meloni has not commented on the article published by Libero, leaving her stance on the matter uncertain.

The controversy surrounding the “man of the year” designation brings attention to ongoing debates regarding gender equality and representation in Italian politics. It highlights the differing perspectives on Meloni’s role as a prominent female leader in a traditionally male-dominated field, with some arguing that her recognition further empowers women, while others criticize it as perpetuating gender stereotypes and discrimination.

Acknowledging the surge in demand and aiming to enhance visa accessibility, VFS Global plans to establish temporary centres in smaller Indian cities, providing more convenience to applicants. Prabuddha Sen, COO (South Asia) of VFS Global, stated that this initiative aligns with their vision to cater to the rising demand for UK visas.

The move is part of the new global contract for overseas UK visa and citizenship services recently awarded to VFS Global. As part of this contract, 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) Centres for the UK will be deployed in 142 countries across various regions, including Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Australasia, Europe, China, Taiwan, Asia, and the Asia Pacific in 2024. This effort aims to streamline visa processes and make them more accessible to a wider audience.

With Indians being the largest group of visitors to the UK, these measures aim to provide applicants with easier access to visa services without having to travel to major metropolitan areas. VFS Global’s expansion into tier-II cities reflects a response to the growing demand for UK visas from diverse locations in India.

Despite the relatively higher application fees for UK visas, the outreach to tier-II cities ensures that individuals across the country have access to these services. Notably, the standard visitor visa costs vary depending on the validity period, ranging from Rs 12,615 for a six-month visa to Rs 1,05,639 for a 10-year visa.

The UK, along with Canada, has been one of the preferred destinations for Indian travelers, particularly after these countries expedited visa processing times in the post-COVID-19 era. The UK’s commitment to maintaining processing times and the significant demand from Indian nationals underscore the importance of initiatives like opening visa centres in tier-II cities to facilitate smoother travel procedures.

Indians have secured nearly one-third of all visas issued by the United Kingdom, surpassing other nationalities. The demand for travel to the UK has led VFS Global to announce the opening of temporary visa centres in various tier-II Indian cities, including Prayagraj, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Dehradun, Indore, and Thane.

In the year ending June 2023, the UK granted over 1.8 million visitor visas, marking a substantial increase of 96% compared to the preceding year. According to UK government data, Indian nationals accounted for 30% of the visitor visas granted during this period, with Chinese nationals coming in second at 13%. Other significant contributors included Nigerian nationals (6%) and Turkish nationals (6%).

Acknowledging the surge in demand and aiming to enhance visa accessibility, VFS Global plans to establish temporary centres in smaller Indian cities, providing more convenience to applicants. Prabuddha Sen, COO (South Asia) of VFS Global, stated that this initiative aligns with their vision to cater to the rising demand for UK visas.

The move is part of the new global contract for overseas UK visa and citizenship services recently awarded to VFS Global. As part of this contract, 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) Centres for the UK will be deployed in 142 countries across various regions, including Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Australasia, Europe, China, Taiwan, Asia, and the Asia Pacific in 2024. This effort aims to streamline visa processes and make them more accessible to a wider audience.

With Indians being the largest group of visitors to the UK, these measures aim to provide applicants with easier access to visa services without having to travel to major metropolitan areas. VFS Global’s expansion into tier-II cities reflects a response to the growing demand for UK visas from diverse locations in India.

Despite the relatively higher application fees for UK visas, the outreach to tier-II cities ensures that individuals across the country have access to these services. Notably, the standard visitor visa costs vary depending on the validity period, ranging from Rs 12,615 for a six-month visa to Rs 1,05,639 for a 10-year visa.

The UK, along with Canada, has been one of the preferred destinations for Indian travelers, particularly after these countries expedited visa processing times in the post-COVID-19 era. The UK’s commitment to maintaining processing times and the significant demand from Indian nationals underscore the importance of initiatives like opening visa centres in tier-II cities to facilitate smoother travel procedures.

The upcoming presidential election is expected to have minimal opposition, and Putin is all but certain to win. Despite concerns about his grip on power, evidenced by a short-lived rebellion in June by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin emerged unscathed, reinforcing the perception of his absolute control.

Putin’s popularity took a hit around the time of the constitutional amendments in 2020, with approval ratings around 60%. Some analysts suggest that this dip in popularity could have been a factor driving the costly war in Ukraine that began in February 2022. The conflict, initially envisioned as a quick and victorious war to consolidate support for Putin’s reelection, turned into a protracted and challenging battle, impacting Russia’s rising prosperity and Putin’s popularity.

While Putin had reportedly considered a political transition before 2024 to avoid standing for reelection, challenges in Ukraine compelled him to stay in power. Despite facing speculation about his health in 2022, Putin shows little sign of slowing down.

Putin’s rule has spanned five U.S. presidencies, and he became acting president on New Year’s Eve in 1999. His announcement to run in the 2023 election comes at a critical time, with geopolitical tensions and challenges in Ukraine shaping the political landscape. Putin’s ability to mobilize the population during wartime has been a key aspect of his leadership, and the upcoming election is expected to focus on these dynamics.

The election will likely be marked by a lack of substantial opposition, raising questions about the competitive nature of the political process in Russia. As Putin seeks to extend his rule, the geopolitical landscape and domestic challenges will play a crucial role in shaping the political narrative leading up to the election.