The Dispatch

Photo Story: Christmas market in Vienna

Photos from the Christmas market at Rathausplatz in central Vienna, Austria, on the evening of Sunday 15th December 2019, on the third Sunday of Advent. Photos: EPA-EFE/ZOLTAN BALOGH Click on…

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Photo Story: Christmas cribs exhibition in Rzeszow, Poland

A series of photos of the Christmas exhibits presented during the exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum in Rzeszow, Poland over the weekend. The exhibition presents items from the collections of…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Nemespatro, Hungary

A photo taken with a drone shows workers wrapping pine trees into nets before transporting them to a Christmas tree market near a local fir nursery in Nemespatro, Hungary. Decorating…

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Photo Story: A Hungarian Gingerbread Village

Photos of a gingerbread village made by residents preparing for Christmas and that is being displayed in the house of culture in Somoskoujfalu, Hungary. Photos: EPA-EFE/Peter Komka Click on photos…

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Germany puts up fences at Polish border to contain swine fever spread

In an attempt to prevent an outbreak of swine fever, Germany's Agriculture Ministry is putting up electric fences to stop wild boars from crossing its border with Poland. No case…

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Poland approves controversial judges’ law

Poland has approved a controversial law which makes it easier to dismiss judges critical of the governing party's judicial reforms. The legislation passed by 233 votes to 205 in the…

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Jasna Gora Monastery in Poland displays it’s Christmas Crib

A Christmas Crib displayed at the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, southern Poland, 20 December 2019. In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene also known as a Christmas Crib is…

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BCR sells historic palace in downtown Bucharest

Romanian lender BCR announced that it completed the sale of the historic Oscar Maugsch Palace in Bucharest’s Universitatii Square to an investment vehicle registered in Luxembourg, Project Regina Elisabeta Bucharest.…

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Trail starts in Slovakia over killing of journalist Jan Kuciak

Four people go on trial in Slovakia on Thursday over last year’s alleged contract killing of an investigative journalist and his fiancee, a crime that shocked the country and prompted…

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Thousands take to the streets in Poland to oppose planned government control over the judiciary

Thousands of protesters gathered in large numbers across Poland on Wednesday evening to denounce proposed new laws that would give the government the power to fire and control judges. Protesters…

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Photo Story: Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets return home

A JAS-39 Gripen fighter jet of the Hungarian air force taxies on the tarmac after returning to its original home air base of Kecskemet, Hungary, 17 December 2019. Partly in…

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Romania’s Klaus Iohannis wins 2020 Charlemagne Prize

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis was named the recipient of the 2020 International Charlemagne Prize on Saturday. The prize's board of directors said the 60-year-old leader had successfully steered Romania down…

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Photo story: Christmas gingerbread railway model in Gliwice, Poland

A Christmas gingerbread railway model drives on its track through a gingerbread village and seasonal gingerbread decoration at a shopping centre in Gliwice, Poland. The sweet set up was built…

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Photo Story: Warsaw lights up for Christmas

Traditional Christmas illumination attracts pedestrians to stroll in the Royal Road in Warsaw, Poland. The decorative seasonal illumination is installed well ahead of the Christmas holidays every year. Click on…

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Polish TV celebrity announces bid for presidency

Szymon Hołownia, a TV presenter and a catholic journalist and author, on Sunday announced he would run as an independent candidate in Poland's presidential election next year. During his campaign…

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Photo Story: Christmas preparations in Bucharest, Romania

Christmas decorations and lights at the Christmas Market in Bucharest, Romania, on the evening of Friday 6th December 2019. On December 6, Romanians celebrate Saint Nicholas, a very popular…

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Photo Story: Five die in gas explosion in Slovakia

A gas explosion at a high-rise apartment building in Slovakia killed at least five people and injured several others on Friday, according to police and the fire brigade. The blast…

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Photo Story: Unveiling of the Christmas Tree in Olsztyn, Poland

Photos of the 'Christmas Tree' in the lobby of the library of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. Every year, before the Christmas holidays, library employees create…

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Photo Story: The Christmas traditional decorating of houses in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria

All kinds of Christmas decoration are illuminated at the so-called 'Christmas House' estate of the Gollnhuber family in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria. The Gollnhuber family since 2010 installs up to a…

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Three-story building collapses in Polish ski resort

A three-story building in the Polish ski resort of Szczyrk in southern Poland collapsed on Wednesday following a gas explosion, a local police spokesman said. Police said it was not…

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Photo Story: The Christmas market in Prague

Scenes from the Christmas market at Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic. Christmas markets, traditionally selling mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, hot mead, chimney cakes and Christmas tree decorations and…

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Investigation against Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis reopened

Reports in the Czech media on Wednesday state Pavel Zeman, high level Czech prosecutor, has ordered the reopening of the probe into fraud allegations against Babis. The case that involves…

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Warsaw wins 2020 Access City Award for making the city more accessible to citizens with disabilities

The 2020 Access City Award goes to the city of Warsaw, in Poland. By involving people with disabilities and accessibility needs in its endeavour to make the city more accessible,…

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Poland to honour London bridge hero

Poland says it will award its highest medal for sacrifice and courage to a Polish national who played a key role in preventing the London Bridge attack from escalating. A…

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Large fire destroys part of world culture heritage city of Hallstatt in Austria

An aerial view made with a drone showing the damage and destruction caused by a fire during the night at the lakeside in the city of Hallstatt, Austria. Authorities say…

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Romania marks 30 years since the 1989 Revolution

Timisoara, the western Romania city where the 1989 Revolution started, is marking 30 years since the event with a program spreading on several weeks. On December 15, a Freedom March…

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Hungary withdraws from Eurovision Song Contest

Hungary has pulled out of next year's Eurovision song contest amid speculation the decision was triggered by a backlash to the competition's LGBT-positive messaging. While no official reason has been…

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Romanian ex-PM Dancila resigns as PSD party leader

Romania's former Prime Minister Viorica Dancila quit as the president of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) late on Tuesday, following her poor showing in the presidential election Sunday. "I understood…

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Cargo ship full of sheep overturns off Romanian coast in the Black Sea

A handout photo made available by the ISU Constanta on 25 November 2019 shows The wreckage of the Queen Hind sheep is seen in the Black Sea waters from the…

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Photo Story: Starlink satellites visible in the sky

Starlink satellites are visible in the sky near Salgotarjan, Hungary, early 25 November 2019. In this long exposure image, the movement of satellites is seen as shining tracks. Each of…

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Photo story: A miniature Appaloosa horse in Lodz, Poland

A miniature Appaloosa horse 'Bombel' during the presentation at the stud farm in Lodz, Poland. Bombel ('Bubble') is the shortest male horse, standing just 56.7 cm from hoof to shoulder…

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President Klaus Iohannis wins Romania presidential elections

Romania's centrist President Klaus Iohannis won a presidential election runoff on Sunday as expected, crushing his socialist challenger with a pledge to resume judicial reforms slowed down by successive Social…

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Poland approves controversial judges to constitutional court

Poland’s parliament elected three ruling party nominees as judges to the constitutional court, including two widely denounced by opposition lawmakers, raising concerns about the court’s independence. Parliament voted the judges…

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House Hitler was born in to become police station

The house where Adolf Hitler was born will be turned into a police station, Austria's interior minister said, after years of debate over how best to prevent it becoming a…

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Bad weather causes mudslides in Austria

Members of the Austrian Armed Forces (Bundesheer) remove mud and trees after a mudslide on the road to the Carinthian village Mallnitz, Austria, Austria. Due to the current weather situation…

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EU court passes judicial independence decision back to Poland

The EU's top court questioned whether a new disciplinary body created by Poland's ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party would undermine judicial independence, but on Tuesday threw the issue back to…

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Photo Story: Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in Prague

First Czechoslovak president Vaclav Havel is displayed on light mapping during a ceremony marking 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, 17 November…

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Photo Story: Christmas preparations in Hungary

Photos of the Christmas installation depicting the reindeer sleigh of Santa Claus is on display in Szerencs, northeastern Hungary, in preparation for the upcoming Christmas celebrations. Photos: EPA-EFE/Janos Vajda …

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Large network smuggling migrants in lorries dismantled in Germany and Romania

The German Federal Police (Bundespolizei) and the Romanian Police (Poliția Română) supported by Europol, concluded their operation into a large criminal network smuggling migrants to western Europe in lorries. Austria,…

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Czech anti-government protesters mark anniversary of Velvet Revolution

At least 200,000 people have protested against the Czech government in the capital, Prague on the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Demonstrators are calling for Prime Minister Andrej Babis…

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Photo Story: The World of Saskia Boddeke & Peter Greenaway exhibition in Torun, Poland

Photos of the artworks by Peter Greenaway and his wife Saskia Boddeke during the World of Saskia Boddeke & Peter Greenaway exhibition at the at the Centre Of Contemporary Art…

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‘Step Border’ exhibition on the 30th anniversary of the pan-European picnic

Visitors attend the opening of the exhibition entitled 'Step Border' on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the pan-European picnic and the beginning of the dismantling of the iron…

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New Polish cabinet announced

Poland's nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party announced its governing cabinet lineup on Friday after winning a parliamentary election last month, setting out plans to consolidate control over state-owned utilities…

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Photo Story: Foggy morning in Przemysl, Poland

People walk on a bridge over San river during foggy morning in Przemysl, south-eastern Poland, 08 November 2019. Meteorologist predict the cloudy weather with temperatures around 11 degrees Celsius to…

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Polish Citizens to Travel Visa-Free to US from Next Week

Polish citizens will be able to travel to the U.S. without a visa from next week, officials said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that including Poland —…

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Half of Romanians believe democracy is under threat

A total of 58% of Romanians think democracy is under threat in the country, a new polling report, published by the Open Society Foundations, showed. Furthermore, the generation born before…

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Photo Story: High-wheel bicyclists gather for Prague Mile race

Participants wearing historical dresses ride on high-wheels during the traditional 'Prague Mile' race, in Prague, Czech Republic, 02 November 2019. The Czech high-wheel bicycles club was founded in 1880 and…

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Kraków chosen as best city break destination in Europe for third year running

Members of leading British consumer association Which? have chosen Kraków as Europe’s best city break destination for the third year in a row. The Polish city finished ahead of Spanish…

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Austria bans smoking in bars and restaurants

Austria banned smoking in bars and restaurants on Friday, bringing the country's laws into line with most other European nations. Smokers who break the ban will have to pay €1,000,…

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EC questions Romania’s latest commissioner nomination

There are "serious doubts that Romania’s nomination [for the position of European Commissioner] was legitimately sent by the interim government,” EC spokesperson Mina Andreeva stated on October 30. It is…

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Photo Story: Commemoration on the anniversary of Romanian nightclub blaze

An elderly Romanian man makes the sign of the cross after burning candle in the memory of the victims of a night-club fire accident in front of the building…

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Photo Story: US Air Force Osprey conducts demonstration flight in Budapest

A CV-22B Osprey type aircraft of the US Air Force conducts a demonstration flight above Budapest, Hungary, 29 October 2019, on the fifth day of a joint operation of Hungarian…

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Austrian Post fined for selling customer data

Austrian Post has been ordered to pay €18 million for collecting and selling mailers' perceived political preferences. The Austrian Data Protection Authority decided on the administrative penalty after finding that…

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Romanian leaders’ squabble over Commission pick

Romania's political leaders are at loggerheads over the country's nominee for the next European Commission, with the president accusing the caretaker prime minister of being "irresponsible" for putting someone forward for…

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Photo Story: Quadruplets born in Hungary

A combo picture shows nurses tending to newborn Hungarian quadruplets Anna Nagy (top L), Panna Nagy (top R), Anita Nagy (bottom L) and Richard Nagy (bottom R) in the prenatal…

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EPA’s Eye in The Sky: Bieszczady Mountains, Poland

An aerial picture taken with a drone shows foggy morning over the Lake Myczkowskie in the Bieszczady Mountains, in Myczkowce, south-eastern Poland. Photo: EPA-EFE/GRZEGORZ MICHALOWSKI

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EU criticises Romania for not tackling corruption

The European Commission released its report on Bulgaria and Romania on Tuesday. The annual studies, done to measure how far the two countries have progressed with required judicial reforms, the…

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