The Dispatch

“I came as a boy. I left as a man”. Andres Iniesta

A tribute fitting to a star was held on Sunday at the Barcelona Camp Nou for Andres Iniesta who made his last ever appearance for Barcelona. Iniesta, 34, has announced earlier…

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Investigations on rape accusations against film director Luc Besson

CNN reports that a rape investigation has been launched against one of France's best-known film directors, Luc Besson. CNN quotes the Paris prosecutor's office, saying that the alleged incident happened at…

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Pope Francis announces the appointment of 14 new cardinals, aimed to reflect the universality of the Catholic church

Speaking to pilgrims and visitors gathered in St Peter's Square on Sunday for the recitation of the Regina Caeli prayer, the Pope announced he would create 14 new cardinals at…

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France proposes 2018 elections plan to end Libya political stalemate

France has proposed an initiative to end Libya’s political impasse by holding parliamentary and presidential elections by the end of 2018 as per a United National timeline. “Political solution plus a…

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Pope Paul VI and Bishop Romero to be canonised

Pope Paul VI and Msgr. Oscar Arnulfo Romero will be canonised in St. Peter's Square next October 14, during the Synod of Bishops dedicated to young people. Pope Francis said this…

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No damage or casualties reported in 4.3 earthquake in Piacenza, Italy

An earthquake has been felt by the population in the province of Piacenza, Italy. According to the INGV survey, the earthquake, which occurred at 18:41, had a magnitude of 4.3…

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Platini admits use of tricks to manipulate 1998 World Cup draws

Former Uefa president Michel Platini has claimed "a little trickery" was used in the 1998 World Cup draw to increase the chances of France and Brazil meeting in the final. The former…

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All Chilean Bishops offer resignation to Vatican

All of Chile's 34 Roman Catholic bishops have offered Pope Francis their resignations in the wake of a child sex scandal and cover-up. They asked forgiveness from victims and the…

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Italy – Contract for the Government of Change approved by 94% of 5 Star Movement members

More than 94% of the members of the 5 Star Movement have said yes to the Contract for the Government of Change! There was a great participation throughout the day.…

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We have to make young people ‘land’ in the real world. – Pope Francis

Pope Francis said he is worried that youth are too enmeshed in a virtual world of cell phones and other technology, separated, in particular, from the real human contact experienced…

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If Mattarella needs me, I am available – Silvio Berlusconi

"At the moment no body has the necessary experience to be a Prime Minister. If Mattarella needs me, I am available." Silvio Berlusconi said this earlier on Friday on the margins…

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French Police foil terror attack – French Interior Minister

French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced that the police have foiled a suspected terror attack and arrested two brothers of Egyptian origin, French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said on Friday.…

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Aurora Ramazzotti, daughter of Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti and Michelle Hunziker, shares her experience on living under threat of acid attack

On her way to to University Aurora Ramazzotti, receives phone call from her mother Michell Hunziker to inform her that she had an anonymous call asking or money otherwise they would…

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Gianluigi Buffon ‘Maradona of Goalkeepers’ bids farewell to Juventus

Saturday's game against Hellas Verona will be Gianluigi Buffon's last in a Juventus shirt. A BBC report qualifies Buffon as the last great player of a great Football Italia generation, while citing…

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New Italian Prime Minister to be named ‘in a matter of days’

ANSA reports that the 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said Thursday that he was confident a deal with the League on a programme for a new government will…

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Agreement on the contract for Italy’s new Government. Last hurdle is naming the Prime Minister

After hours of negotiations and discussions on the formation of the new government in Italy, M5s and La Lega has found enough ground to sign an agreement on a plan…

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Pasta is Italy’s best export product

According to research conducted by Aidepo, the Association of Italian sweet and pasta industries 56% of pasta produced in Italy ends up on the foreign markets. This means that Italian pasta factories…

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“Don’t tweet too much” – Vatican says that cloistered nuns should use social media with sobriety and discretion

The Vatican has issued new guidelines for cloistered nuns, reminding them that they’re supposed to live separated from the world and in silence — and therefore shouldn’t be tweeting too…

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Italy : The long obstacle race for government formation is still on

There was no agreement on who will be the next Prime Minister of Italy and both M5s and Lega asked Italian President Mattarella for more time. The Head of State agreed to…

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“We will build a Catalan republic” – Catalonia Leader

Newly appointed regional president Quim Torra declared that the vision for an independent Catalonia is still alive. A close ally of exiled leader Carles Puigdemont, 55-year old lawyer Torra vowed…

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New Italian premier will not be a technocrat, but a politician

"We are ready to report". The call to the Quirinale arrives Sunday evening, after a long day of negotiations marked by a double summit in Milan between M5s and Lega…

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I invite communications professionals to promote a journalism of peace at the service of all people, especially those without a voice. Pope Francis on World Communications Day

The Catholic Church today marks its World Communications Day. The annual day was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 to encourage Catholics to reflect on the opportunities and challenges…

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20-year-old Frenchman born in Chechnya identified as the one who carried knife attack in Paris

Investigators on Sunday researched the background of a 20-year-old Frenchman born in Chechnya who killed one man and wounded four other people during a stabbing spree in central Paris. According…

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Will Italy have a Government tonight?

"You're writing the story and obviously it takes some time, there's a great atmosphere at the table, you're dealing with very important issues." This was stated by the leader M5s…

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37 years ago, the day when the Pope, St. John Paul II was shot at the Vatican.

On Wednesday, May 13, 1981, Mehmet Ali Agca attempted to assassinate the pope, St. John Paul II, by firing a handgun at close range. The pope was shot four times…

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New photo shows Mafia bosses amongst audience in Maurizio Costanzo show, a year before car bomb directed at TV presenter

It's been 25 years ago but new facts emerge on the attack against Italian TV presenter Maurizio Costanzo. The new revelations relate to a photo that there was also Matteo…

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Islamic State group claimed responsibility for Paris knife attack

An investigation has been opened in Saturday night's knife attack in Paris. The case is being treated as a suspected terrorist attack. In a series of tweets, the French president, Emmanuel Macron,…

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Two dead in Paris knife attack

One person was killed in a knife attack in Paris on Saturday and the assailant was shot dead by police, BFM TV said. A person who carried out a knife…

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Berlusconi can stand for election, as court lifts ban

An Italian court has lifted a ban on former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi holding public office. He was barred in 2013 after receiving a four-year sentence for tax fraud, although…

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Politico – How Italy could blow the EU as we know it

Never before in any of the six original EU countries, much less one of its leading powers, have parties deeply skeptical toward the EU grabbed the reins of power. If…

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Two people shot dead in Calabria

ANSA: Two people died and three were hurt in two shootings near Vibo Valentia in Calabria on Friday. The shootings at Limbadi and Nicotera were the work of the same person,…

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Agreement on key issues for government formation in Italy

5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Luigi Di Maio said that a fresh meeting with League chief Matteo Salvini on the formation of a new government went well on Friday. "We are…

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Spain journalists wear black to protest against political interference

For the third Friday in a row, journalists working for Spain’s public broadcaster have worn black on screen to protest against alleged political interference, gender bias and unequal pay. A…

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Italy fines Whatsapp for allegedly obliging users to agree to sharing their personal data

Italy’s Competition and Markets Authority (AGCM) announced it was imposing a €3 million (USD3.6 million) fine on messaging service Whatsapp for allegedly obliging users to agree to sharing their personal…

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Siamese twins, dismissed after progress following operation at Bambino Gesu Hospital

Rayenne and Djihene, Siamese twins joined at the chest and the abdomen, who in October were admitted to the Bambino Gesu Hospital, for their separation, were dismissed and can go home to Algeria . The very delicate…

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Valencia closes in on rooms with a view

Authorities in Valencia are proposing a law to restrain holiday rentals around the city. If the regional government votes in favour of the bill, the Spanish city will be empowered…

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Italy breaks two jihadist cells

Italian police moved in on two jihadist rings accused of raising funding for terrorist attacks. 14 people were arrested in an operation that involved searches in 20 properties in Sardinia…

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Italy: Race to reach government agreement by Sunday

Italy may be edging towards forming a new government after Luigi di Maio and Matteo Salvini indicate “significant steps forward” have been made. Fresh negotiations on Wednesday between Movimento Cinque…

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Could Starbucks make it in the country of espresso?

Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz fuelled speculation that the brand is coming to the land of espresso, Italy. The multinational coffee-house chain grew from 11 stores in 1983 to a…

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Turbulent times for Air France

Air France-KLM, one of the world’s biggest airline groups, is in deep trouble and facing significant turbulent times. Shares in Air France-KLM crashed as much as 14.5% on Monday after…

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Political impasse in Italy sends Government Bond yields rising

Following the unsuccessful final round of coalition talks, Italian president Mattarella declared that the process to form a government had failed. Mattarella’s preferred option remains to install a fixed-mandate technical…

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Pro-independent Catalan politicians want to nominate Puigdemont as head of their regional government

Pro-independence Catalan politicians aim to nominate former leader Carles Puigdemont to head their regional government, in defiance of Spain and despite his self-imposed exile in Germany. They proposed nominating Puigdemont,…

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22nd July the most probable date for new elections in Italy

Italy might have failed to reach the World Cup, but at this stage, the months of June and July seem to be taken up by another kind of contest following…

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Italy – No chance to form ‘Government’

President Sergio Mattarella held a third round of formal political consultations on Monday but there was no sign of a breakthrough to end the gridlock that followed Italy's inconclusive election…

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Major drug haul in Campo De Gibraltar (Spain)

Spanish authorities have seized over five tonnes of cannabis resin and arrested 31 people in two separate major operations targeting drug traffickers in the Campo de Gibraltar (Spain). In one…

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Renzi satisfied that there was no deal between PD and M5s

Former premier and ex Democratic Party (PD) leader Matteo Renzi said that he was pleased he had intervened to scupper the possibility of the centre-left group striking a government deal…

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Di Maio: “Ready to step back, we choose a premier with Salvini” The League “appreciates”

Luigi Di Maio opens to Matteo Salvini in an attempt to give the country a government after more than 60 days. "Ok to a third premier but with commitment on…

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476 migrants saved in the strait of Gibraltar

Spain’s maritime rescue service has said it saved 476 migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean from Africa. The migrants were pulled from 15 small boats on Friday and…

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On health care: What are our limits, who should enforce them?

Rome Reports covers the fourth edition of the Unite To Cure Conference, which joins health care professionals from around the world for discussions on the future of medicine. Throughout the three-day…

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Italy – Bid for a PD-M5s coalition closed chapter – Risk of new elections

A bid to form a government between the centre-left Democratic party (PD) and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) is "over" and there is now the risk of another general election,…

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Pope Francis tells Chilean survivors “I was part of the problem. I apologise”

Three survivors of clerical sex abuse urged Pope Francis to turn his words into action against the "networks of abuse" in the Catholic Church. At a news conference in Rome,…

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Basque Militant Group ETA is being disbanded

In a letter, dated April16, but only published by El Diario newspaper on Wednesday, “ETA announced that it has completely dissolved all its structures and has terminated its political initiative.”…

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Fresh elections in Italy are more than just a probability

Centre-left Democratic Party (PD) caretaker leader Maurizio Martina said Monday it was "impossible to lead the party" after former leader Matteo Renzi on Sunday scotched the idea of a government…

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Italy – Renzi rules out coalition with Di Maio

Matteo Renzi while interviewed on TV programme "Che tempo che fa" said "Those who lost the election can not go to the government. We can not pass the message that…

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Di Maio calls for a German style coalition agreement

There's something fascinating about the Italian way of doing politics. This applies especially to the narrative and the way it is expressed. There are the mass meetings, there are the…

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Libya: General Khalifa Haftar returns to Benghazi

Khalifa Haftar, a veteran general and the most powerful figure in eastern Libya, has returned to the eastern city of Benghazi following an extended absence, including reported treatment in a hospital…

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Macron’s evolution towards becoming a global leader

There was a lot of anticipation for the visit of the French President to the United States. A lot of column inches and words have been said on what was…

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