The Dispatch

Salvini’s Lega helps centre-right make a strong showing in local and administrative elections

AP: Italy's LEGA has helped the center-right post a strong showing in local and administrative elections, while its partner at national level, the 5-Star Movement, suffered setbacks. This was confirmed by…

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Palermo’s Mayor says he would allow Aquarius in his city and adds Salvini “is violating international law”

The Guardian: Leoluca Orlando, the mayor of Palermo, said he would allow a rescue boat with 629 on board to dock in the Sicilian capital. Orlando said: “Palermo in ancient…

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334 persons rescued, 4 bodies recovered from Spain’s maritime rescue service

AP: Spain's maritime rescue service has saved 334 migrants and recovered four bodies from boats it intercepted trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The rescue service says its…

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Maltese Prime Minister insists Malta is acting in full conformity with its international obligations. Italy’s Prime Minister accuses Malta of its ‘umpteenth unavailability’.

The Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, and the Prime Minister of Italy, Giuseppe Conte, had a telephone conversation on the developing situation of the vessel Aquarius on Sunday evening.…

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“If a heartless minister lets pregnant women, children, the elderly, human beings die at sea, the port of Naples is ready to welcome them, we are human.” – The mayor of Naples

TGCOM - "If a heartless minister lets pregnant women, children, the elderly, human beings die at sea, the port of Naples is ready to welcome them, We are human, with…

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Malta should stick to its position on immigration – Dr Tonio Borg

The Sunday Times of Malta Migrants should be taken to the closest port of call, even if they were saved in the search and rescue zone of a neighbouring country,…

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Italy closes its ports to migrants, insists Malta should take them despite being rescued closer to Lampedusa

The Malta Independent: The Italian government is insisting that Malta takes in 629 migrants that were rescued near Libya on Sunday morning, saying that its ports were closed. The migrants…

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Pope Francis hopes Singapore summit will lead to Peace

Reuters - Pope Francis said on Sunday he hoped a forthcoming summit in Singapore between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will lead to peace…

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10th June 1981 – Alfredino Rampi disappearance after tragically falling in a well. The day Italian Live News Coverage was born.

It was the evening of June 10, 1981 when the father of little Alfredo, 6, called the police alarmed because his son had not returned home. Then, the tragic discovery:…

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Pope Francis says oil companies should convert to clean fuel

Meeting the energy needs of everyone on Earth, must be done in ways that avoid creating environmental imbalances resulting in deterioration and pollution gravely harmful to our human family, both…

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Summer tourism results in a 40% increase in marine litter in the Mediterranean Sea

Summer tourism is leading to a sharp increase in the amount of plastic ending up in the Mediterranean Sea, new research shows. Analysis for the WWF to mark United Nations World…

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Libyan Navy Force spokesman: Dubious NGOs’ vessels in the middle of the Mediterranean should leave as they are profiting off immigrants’ suffering.

The spokesman of the Libyan Navy Force, Ayoub Qassim, called on the dubious NGOs' vessels at the middle of the Mediterranean to leave, saying they are profiting off immigrants' suffering.…

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€15-20 million worth of cannabis resin seized in the Mediterranean Sea in what the Guardia di Finanza link to a dangerous Maltese criminal organisation

Italian police agents seized over 10 tonnes of cannabis resin worth up to €20 million in a dramatic high-seas operation, police said on Thursday. Italy's Guardia di Finanza (GDF) finance…

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New Spanish Cabinet sworn in

King Felipe VI on Thursday swore in Spain's new cabinet. A lot of of emphasis has been made on the gender of the cabinet members. The reason is the fact…

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Venice issues three-year ban on new takeaways and restrictions for existing ones

In an attempt to remove the “blots on the Venice copybook” noted by UNESCO, which had threatened to include Venice in its “black list” of World Heritage Sites at risk, and…

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Spain’s first astronaut appointed Minister of Science in new Government

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has named Spain's first astronaut, Pedro Duque, as minister of science. Mr Duque last went to space in 2003 as part of an International Space…

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Tunisia fires officials accused of negligence over shipwreck this weekend which killed at least 66 migrants

Tunisia on Wednesday announced the sacking of officials accused of negligence over a shipwreck this weekend that killed at least 66 migrants. AFP reports that the casualties, mostly Tunisians, drowned when…

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Jerusalem Embassy Move Led to People Dying, Didn’t Promote Peace – Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that the relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem led to “people dying” and did not advance peace. At a joint press…

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Podemos not expected to be part of new Spanish government.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will not include ministers in his cabinet from far-left party Podemos despite having helped him oust conservative Mariano Rajoy. Podemos had argued that including other…

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Conte’s first speech in Parliament

Italy's new prime minister vowed to bring radical change to the country, including more generous welfare and a crackdown on immigration, as the two party bosses who hold the keys…

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Italy – 22 year old died after being hit by a funeral car, carrying a corpse, whose driver died of a heart-attack before the impact.

A 22-year-old woman died in Galliate, in the province of Novara, after a freak traffic accident while she was jogging. The woman died after being hit by a funeral-hearse, whose…

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Rajoy quits politics

Mariano Rajoy announced he will quit as head of the conservative Popular Party (PP) and politics. Rajoy was voted-out as Prime Minister last week. "I think the time has come…

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France financial prosecutor probing Macron’s Chief of Staff on allegations of breaching of conflict of interest rules

Reuters report that France’s financial prosecutor opened an inquiry into allegations President Emmanuel Macron’s chief of staff breached conflict of interest rules while working in the state holdings agency and finance…

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Salvini pledges to press EU for asylum law reform

The new Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini pledged on Sunday to press EU officials for asylum law reform that allows stricter controls on illegal immigration. During a visit to one…

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Juncker invites ‘German-speaking’ countries not to repeat the Greek mistake with Italy and avoid giving lessons to Rome

Deutsche Welle and The Guardian reported that since the new Italian government assumed power, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker seems to have taken a position of respectful distance. In a stark warning to 'Germany'…

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Pedro Sanchez sworn in as Spain’s new Prime Minister

Socialist party leader Pedro Sanchez has been sworn in as Spain's new Prime Minister a day after a vote of no-confidence booted his conservative People's Party (PP) rival Mariano Rajoy…

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158 persons (amongst which 9 children, 26 women and 36 unaccompanied minors) rescued in the Mediterranean and taken to Sicily

Almost 160 migrants disembarked a rescue ship Friday evening in Sicily, the NGO SOS Mediterranee said, days before hardline anti-immigrant League leader Matteo Salvini is to visit the island as…

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Donald Tusk emphasises on unity and solidarity in congratulatory letters to Conte and Sanchez

The President of the European Council congratulated Professor Giuseppe Conte on his appointment as President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. "Your appointment comes at a crucial time for…

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Italy’s new Government sworn in, almost 90 days after last election and on the eve the Italian Republic Day holiday.

The Italian President swore in the new Government, almost 90 days since the election held last March on the eve of the nation’s Republic Day holiday, the day in 1946 when…

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France’s Officier de la Légion d’honneur Presented to Joseph Bugeja, Maltese-French Chamber of Commerce President

French President Emanuel Macron has bestowed the very prestigious Officier de la Légion d’honneur to Joseph Bugeja, President of the Maltese French Chamber of Commerce. The honour was presented by the…

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Mariano Rajoy loses no-confidence vote in Spain. He will be replaced by Pedro Sanchez

A historic no-confidence vote in Spain, removed Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from office. Rajoy, 63, refused to step down ahead of the vote, saying he had the trust of the…

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Juncker’s comments on Italy, as reported on the Guardian, stirs controversy and criticism.

"Italians need to work harder and be less corrupt". This is what the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, would have said, according to the Guardian. Juncker's declaration has created a…

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Pope Francis denounces culture of abuse and coverup in the Catholic Church

The Guardian reports that through comments made in a pastoral letter to the Chilean faithful on the eve of another weekend he will spend listening to victims of Chile's 'most…

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Italy: Habemus Premier

After 88 days of negotiations, discussions, false starts, impeachment threats and an institutional crisis Italy's powers announced that "There are all the conditions for a political government". So this marks…

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France won’t allow public screening of World Cup matches

Euronews reports that France has banned the showing of World Cup football matches in public spaces. The only exception will be then where there is adequate security. The country's interior ministry…

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Pope Francis sends Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Father Jordi Bertomeu on a new mission in Chile

Pope Francis is sending his two top sexual abuse investigators back to Chile to gather more information about the crisis that has hit the Catholic Church there, the Vatican said…

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Luca Montezemolo, Mark Ball Cramer and Silvano Cassano under investigation for the bankruptcy of Alitalia

Three former managing directors of Alitalia, Cassano, Montezemolo and Cramer under investigation for bankruptcy. La Stampa and Il Secolo XIX write that the last three CEOs of the flag carrier are investigated in…

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Rajoy set to lose vote of confidence in Spain

According to various Spanish media reports the Basque Nationalist Party party announced that it will vote against Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in a no-confidence motion. It's a move that…

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Possible ‘political’ solution for Italy’s impasse

Italian interim prime minister Cottarelli said politicians, rather than technocrats like himself, might be able to steer the country out of deadlock. This declaration has opened the door for a…

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Elderly woman treated like an animal in hospice residence in Latina (Italy)

Seven domestic arrest warrants were issued after an elderly woman was held in a cage, or in the bed surrounded by bars, her hairs were pulled violently in the hospice…

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Impeachment against Mattarella not on the cards

The impeachment against Mattarella is not on anymore on the cards. M5s Di Maio announced this on Tuesday. He stated that the possibility of impeachment is not being considered anymore…

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Netanyahu to meet Macron and Merkel

The Israeli's Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu will fly to Germany on June 4 to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, before traveling later that day to France for talks with…

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Quo Vadis Italia – Day 2 – Death threats to Mattarella evoke the memories of when his brother was killed in the 80s

Luigi Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, used harsh tones, to call to popular mobilisation against the powers and the Europe of the banks, in defence of the right of Italian…

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Malian ‘Spiderman’ who rescued child from Paris balcony hailed by Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday hailed the young Malian migrant who saved a 4-year-old child hanging from a fourth-floor Paris balcony, saying his act of bravery opened the door…

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Carlo Cottarelli given mandate to form new technocratic government in Italy

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella has appointed former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli as interim prime minster despite demands for him to be impeached. Cottarelli accepted the mandate with reservation…

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Understanding Italy’s current state of affairs

The British have this saying "It never rains. It pours", and that was the case yesterday night as the drama surrounding the appointment of the New Italian government unfolded. The…

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Institutional crisis in Italy. Di Maio announces intention of putting an impeachment motion against President Mattarella amidst accusations of treason

After 85 days of stalemate and unsuccessful attempts to give the country a government, the political impasse transforms itself into an unprecedented institutional clash. The Italian President has refused to accept…

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Quo Vadis Italia?

Italy’s premier-designate has told the president he has been unable to form what would have been western Europe’s first populist government. A presidential palace official told reporters on Sunday night…

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Giuseppe Conte called for a meeting with Italian President

Italy's president summoned Prime Minister-designate Giuseppe Conte to his office on Sunday in a move that could break a long-running political deadlock and open the way for the formation of…

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Di Maio issues ultimatum to Mattarella – Or close discussions within today or elections.

"This government game either closes within the next 24 hours or does not close anymore, we have already waited long enough". This was stated by the political leader of the M5s,…

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Disagreement with Mattarella on the appointment of Minister of Finance lead to tensions and increases the risk of new elections in Italy.

Italy risks to go back to vote. 82 days since the last Italian election, the country is still without a government. Although M5s and Lega have agreed on the appointment…

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Libya exports first natural gas shipment to Italy after four years

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) shipped on Wednesday its first quantity of propane gas from the Zueitina port to Italy, estimated at approximately 61,761 barrels. The NOC said in…

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Spain: 32 years prison sentence for politician for kickbacks-for-contracts scheme that operated during Spain’s decade-long construction boom

The Financial Times report that the Spanish court has handed a series of fines and prison sentences to politicians and businesspeople connected to Spain’s ruling centre-right party, as part of a long-running…

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“I will be the defence lawyer of the Italians” – Giuseppe Conte accepts official mandate to form government

The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella gave Professor Giuseppe Conte the task of forming the new Italian government. The decision was announced by the secretary general of the Quirinale…

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Italy: Truck hits train and derails. One dead, 18 injured

One person died and 16 got injured when a regional train hit a truck, which is used for special transport on the Turin-Ivrea railway line, at Caluso . The regional train 10027 has hit…

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Italian President Mattarella calls Giuseppe Conte for a decisive meeting, an indication that soon, Italy might have a Prime Minister

The Italian President Sergio Mattarella, has called for Giuseppe Conte, the person indicated by both M5S and Lega as the next Prime Minister for a meeting. The meeting is expected to take place today at 1730. According to…

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Universities in New York and Malta have no records showing enrolment or engagement of Giuseppe Conte

Giuseppe Conte's academic credentials credibility have been put in doubt after two mentioned academic institutions denied Conte's claimed links. The New York Times has quoted a New York University spokesperson…

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