The Dispatch

Spain to ban social media access for children under 16

Spain will ban access to social media for minors under 16 and platforms will be required to implement age verification systems, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday as he…

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Italian Government Responds to Violent Turin Protests

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni convened senior cabinet members and police chiefs on Monday to address security concerns after violent protests in Turin over the weekend. During these protests, around 100…

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Rome introduces Trevi Fountain access fee to curb coin-tossing crowds

Tourists keen to follow tradition by tossing a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain will need to dig a little deeper from Monday, as the city introduces a new 2-euro ($2.40)…

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Vatican plans to open bistro at top of St Peter’s

According to Il Messaggero, the Vatican is proceeding discreetly with plans to establish a bistro on the upper terrace of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Rome-based newspaper reports that the venue…

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Spain to grant around half a million undocumented migrants legal status

Spain's Socialist-led government presented a draft decree to expedite legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, in its latest move to integrate migrant workers even as other European…

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Planned U.S. ICE Security Presence at Winter Olympics Draws Scrutiny in Italy

A political controversy is emerging in Italy ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina following reports that agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may be…

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France’s lawmakers vote to ban social media for under-15s

Lawmakers in France's National Assembly on Monday passed a bill that would ban children under 15 years old from usingsocial media. They voted 116 to ⁠23 in favor the bill.…

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Hundreds feared missing or dead trying to cross the Mediterranean

Hundreds of people are feared dead or missing after attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, with reports of multiple shipwrecks in the last ten days following bad weather, the U.N.…

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Italy declares state of emergency after storms in southern regions

Italy's government on Monday declared a state of emergency for southern regions battered by a violent storm last week, pledging swift financial aid to rebuild roads and businesses hit by…

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France probes link between two baby deaths and milk formula

French investigators are examining the deaths of two infants who had consumed baby formula products that were subject to a precautionary recall earlier this month, the French health ministry said.…

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Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace in Ukraine and Beyond

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful, urging them to pray for peace in regions afflicted by conflict. He specifically highlighted Ukraine, the Middle East, and other areas where…

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Unprecedented 16.66-Metre Wave Recorded in Sicily Channel During Cyclone Harry

Cyclone Harry has marked a clear turning point in the history of meteorology and oceanography, not only for Italy but also at an international level. On the afternoon of Tuesday,…

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France seizes suspected Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker

France says it has seized an oil tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's sanction-busting "shadow fleet". French President Emmanuel Macron said the tanker, named the Grinch,…

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Two dead as rainstorm pound Greece

Two people died on Wednesday in Greece after torrential rain flooded homes and businesses in Athens and other parts of the country, authorities said. A woman died after being hit…

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Italy Delays New Security Law as Disputes Focus on Knives and Youth Crime

Italy’s government is taking more time to finalise a new national security decree, as internal disagreements persist over how tough the measures should be, particularly on knife crime and offences…

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Severe Storms Continue to Batter Southern Italy, With Sicily Under Sustained Pressure

Southern Italy is continuing to be battered by a powerful winter storm system, with Sicily facing the most severe and prolonged impact. The island remains under a red weather alert,…

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UPDATED: Hundreds Evacuated, Schools Closed Across Sicily as Civil Protection Activates Crisis Measures

Sicily’s regional Civil Protection authority has urged mayors to issue evacuation orders across several high-risk areas, leading to the displacement of around 190 people as severe weather conditions intensify. In…

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UPDATED: Storm Harry to Bring Heavy Rain and High Winds Across Mediterranean

A deep low-pressure system moving through the Mediterranean is expected to bring severe weather to large parts of southern Europe early this week, while eastern regions of the continent brace…

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Socialist, far-right candidate head for Portugal’s presidential runoff

Moderate Socialist Antonio Jose Seguro came out on top in the first round of Portugal's presidential election on Sunday, followed by the far-right leader Andre Ventura, and the two will…

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UPDATED: Fatal high-speed train crash in Spain

A high-speed train derailed and smashed into another oncoming train in southern Spain on Sunday, pushing the second train off the tracks and down an embankment in a collision that…

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Populists eye Presidency in Portugal according to exit polls

According to the first exit polls, André Ventura, leader of the populist Chega party, could be in second place with 20-24% of the vote. He trails behind the centre-left candidate…

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Portugal presidential race wide open with far-right just ahead, rare runoff vote is likely

Portugal's presidential election on Sunday is all but guaranteed to require a runoff vote for the first time in 40 years amid growing political fragmentation, and the race for a…

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Rome Slows Traffic in Historic Centre as 30 km/h Limit Takes Effect

Rome is easing off the accelerator. From now on, vehicles travelling through the historic centre will not be allowed to exceed 30 kilometres per hour. The Mayor of the capital,…

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Deaths outnumber births in France for first time since World War Two

France recorded more deaths than births in 2025 for the first time since the end of World War Two, a development that erodes its long-held demographic advantage over other European…

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Former Cypriot president George Vassiliou dies aged 94

George Vassiliou, a former president of the Republic of Cyprus and a central figure in the island’s modern political and economic development, died overnight at the age of 94, his…

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Ibiza holiday rentals plunge as Spain cracks down on overtourism

The number of short-term tourist lets on Ibiza almost halved in 2025 from a year earlier as Spain's crackdown on holiday homes and overtourism started ‌to bite. The supply of…

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Italy to hold referendum on judicial reform on March 22-23

Italy will hold a referendum on March 22-23 over a contentious reform of the justice system, sources close to the matter said, setting the date for a key test of…

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Spain to tighten rental rules with room rent caps, seasonal lease curbs

Spain's leftist government will further tighten rental rules and restrict medium-term leases to contain soaring rents and prevent price abuse under a decree to be approved in the coming weeks,…

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Pope Leo meets Venezuelan opposition leader Machado at Vatican

Pope Leo met Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel peace prize winner Maria Corina Machado on Monday, the Vatican said, but did not provide any further details. The meeting, listed among…

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France launches recruitment campaign for new voluntary military service

France said on Monday it was launching a campaign to recruit thousands of young people for a new 10-month voluntary national military service, with the first participants starting their service…

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Cyprus shaken by corruption claims as first lady resigns charity post

Cyprus’ first lady Philippa Karsera said she will step down from the management committee of a charity fund amid corruption allegations tied to a secretly recorded video that authorities say…

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Meloni Urges Europe for Unified Talks with Russia

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Europe to appoint a special envoy to engage Russia in talks amid ongoing efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. She supported French President…

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Pope Leo and Trump head for a clash

The first American pope is on a collision course with U.S. President Donald Trump. The latest fault line between the Vatican and the White House emerged on Sunday. Shortly after…

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Pope to visit Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Canary Islands

Pope Leo XIV is planning to travel to Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands to fulfil Pope Francis’ wish of visiting a key migration…

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34 arrests in Spain during action against the ‘Black Axe’ criminal organisation

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in close cooperation with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt) and with the support of Europol, has conducted an operation against the…

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Italy wants stricter 5% safeguard trigger in Mercosur deal

Italy wants a stricter threshold for the suspension of imports under the planned Mercosur trade agreement, its agriculture minister said in an interview published on Thursday, ahead of an EU…

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Severe Weather in Italy: Aniene River Floods Rome as Snow Brings Motorway Disruption

Rome is grappling with severe weather conditions after the Aniene River burst its banks, flooding roads and prompting closures across parts of the capital, while heavy snowfall caused major disruption…

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Cyprus parties receive €12.7 million in state funding ahead of parliamentary elections

Political parties in Cyprus will this week receive €12.7 million in public funding, providing a significant financial boost ahead of the island’s next parliamentary elections. The funds form part of…

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UPDATED: Severe Snow, Ice and Cold Disrupt Air and Rail Travel Across Western Europe

Freezing weather gripped swathes of Europe on Tuesday, with snow and icy conditions forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the Netherlands and leading to the deaths of five…

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Anna Falcone, sister of anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, dies aged 95

Anna Falcone, the elder sister of renowned anti-Mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, has died at the age of 95, her family announced on Monday. Giovanni Falcone was killed by Cosa Nostra…

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UPDATED: Greece says a radio failure that grounded flights is unlikely to be a cyberattack

Greece’s transport minister said Monday that a major radio communications failure that shut the country’s airspace a day earlier is unlikely to have been a cyberattack, though the cause remains…

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Autostrada tolls in Italy to go up 1.5%

Italy's highway tolls are to go up by 1.5% to track inflation in the New Year, the transport ministry said this week saying it was a move they had tried…

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Italy’s Tajani calls for electoral reform with majority bonus before next national vote

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday the country's electoral law should be reformed to adopt a more proportional system as the ruling bloc seeks to safeguard its majority…

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More than 3,000 migrants died trying to reach Spain in 2025

More than 3,000 people died trying to reach Spain by sea over the past year, a sharp fall from the previous 12 months. However, activists cautioned that the drop reflected…

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Greece, Israel and Cyprus to step up joint exercises in eastern Mediterranean

Greece, Israel and Cyprus will step up joint air and naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean in 2026, deepening their defence cooperation, Greek military officials and a senior source said…

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French cinema legend Brigitte Bardot dies at 91

French movie star and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91, her foundation said Sunday. "The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its…

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Italy’s Charity Associations and Terror Financing Exposed

Charity Associations Used in Terror Financing, Including the President of Palestinian Association in Italy Italian authorities have arrested nine individuals. Among them is Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Association of…

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In first Christmas sermon, Pope Leo decries conditions for Palestinians in Gaza

Pope Leo decried conditions for Palestinians in Gaza in his Christmas sermon on Thursday, in an unusually direct appeal during what is normally a solemn, spiritual service on the day…

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Pope Leo expresses ‘much sadness’ about Russia refusing Christmas ceasefire

Pope Leo said on Tuesday that he feels "much sadness" that Russia did not agree to a Christmas ceasefire in its nearly four-year old war with Ukraine. "Among the things…

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Pope Leo Appeals for Renewed Spirit of Joy in Address to Church Hierarchy

Pope Leo indicated on Monday that he plans to follow the reform agenda of his predecessor Francis, praising the late pontiff's attempts to make the global Catholic Church more inclusive…

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Investigation Advances in Emanuela Orlandi Case as Friend Becomes Subject of Inquiry

A significant development has emerged in the long-running investigation into the disappearance of Vatican citizen Emanuela Orlandi, who vanished in Rome on 22 June 1983 at age 15. Laura Casagrande,…

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Greece rescues 545 migrants off Gavdos as Libya route sees surge in crossings

Greek authorities rescued 545 migrants from a vessel off Gavdos on Friday in one of the largest recent operations, amid a sharp rise in arrivals from Libya to Greece’s southern…

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Pope Leo replaces New York’s Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of US church

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks of Illinois as his successor, the Vatican announced on Thursday. Dolan, a…

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Meloni says Italy will back EU-Mercosur deal, but does not commit to a date

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is prepared to back the EU-Mercosur trade deal but stopped short of committing to a timeline, as divisions persist among EU leaders over…

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French lawmakers in final attempt to get 2026 budget approved

French lawmakers will make what is likely their final attempt this year to approve the country’s 2026 fiscal plans when members of the National Assembly and Senate meet in a…

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Spanish PM rejects calls for early election despite scandals

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected calls for snap elections despite mounting sexual harassment allegations and corruption investigations involving members of his Socialist Party. In his end-of-year address on Monday,…

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Italy’s silence puts EU–Mercosur trade deal on a knife edge

Italy’s reluctance to declare its position on the EU–Mercosur trade agreement is emerging as a decisive factor as the bloc edges closer to a final vote. With France leading opposition…

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