The Dispatch

Pope Leo heading back to Rome after outspoken Africa tour

Pope Leo returns to Rome on Thursday after wrapping up ‌an ambitious four-nation Africa tour in which he forcefully decried the direction of global leadership, denouncing despotism and war, and…

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Cyprus urges EU to prepare joint response plan if member state is attacked

President Nikos Christodoulides called on European Union leaders to begin preparing a coordinated response framework if a member state is attacked, stressing the need for greater readiness and clarity in…

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Report Finds Corruption in Italy Growing More Hidden and Systemic

Corruption in Italy has become “more insidious and evasive,” spreading into “every part of public life,” according to the anti-corruption agency ANAC in its annual report. The report, presented to…

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Iran crisis costs France up to 6 billion euros, says minister

The economic fallout from the crisis in Iran has cost France between 4 ‌billion euros ($4.70 billion) and 6 billion euros, Finance Minister Roland Lescure said on Tuesday, as the…

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19

Apr

A new, forceful Pope Leo steps onto the world stage

Pope Leo has debuted a new, forceful speaking style on his four-nation Africa tour this week, issuing sharp denunciations of war and inequality that have sparked repeated attacks on the…

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Italy urged by IEA chief to rethink nuclear power

Italy should reconsider its rejection of nuclear energy as it seeks greater energy security and economic stability, the head of the International Energy Agency said in an interview published on…

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Diplomatic strain between Washington and Rome deepens amid Iran and NATO row

United States President Donald Trump has sharply criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying their relationship has deteriorated over Rome’s stance on US policy toward Iran. In comments to Fox…

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Portugal rejects separate European army

Portugal is against the creation of a separate European army and instead backs strengthening and modernising its armed forces within the U.S.-led NATO alliance, the country's defence minister said, contrasting…

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Italian PM condemns ally Trump over ‘unacceptable’ Pope criticism

Giorgia Meloni has described Donald Trump’s comments about Pope Leo XIV as “unacceptable”. The US president had accused the pontiff of being “WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy”…

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Mediterranean Sea at centre of Pope’s warning against ‘sea of despair’

Pope Leo XIV has placed the Mediterranean at the heart of a powerful appeal, describing it and the Sahara Desert as crucial geographic and spiritual crossroads that embody both history…

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Trump launches sharp attack on Pope Leo XIV

President Donald Trump launched a sharp and highly unusual attack on Pope Leo XIV, saying the US-born pontiff was “not doing a very good job” and describing him as “very…

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Trump officials deny threatening Vatican over Pope Leo’s criticisms

The Trump administration has sought to contain backlash over reports that it pressured the Vatican’s ambassador to Washington in an attempt to align the Holy See more closely with US…

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From Dubai to Milan: Tax Policy Drives New Wave of Elite Migration

Wealthy British nationals are increasingly reconsidering their ties to Dubai as geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, including recent Iranian threats, raise concerns about long-term stability. The emirate, long known for…

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Meloni Distances Italy from Trump Amid Political and Economic Pressures

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly distanced herself from US President Donald Trump during a parliamentary address on Thursday, following a referendum defeat widely seen as a rebuke to her…

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Italy says EU should consider pausing budget rules if Iran crisis persists

European Union authorities should consider a temporary suspension of budget deficit rules if the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran flares up again, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament on Thursday. Meloni…

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Greece to ban social media for under-15s from 2027

Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age ‌of 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems…

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Jet Fuel Squeeze Spreads Across Italy as Airlines Brace for Disruption

Italy is facing growing pressure on aviation fuel supplies, with several regional airports introducing restrictions that are raising concerns ahead of the peak summer travel season. New aviation notices (NOTAMs)…

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Extreme weather batters Italy’s Adriatic regions, cutting roads and rail lines

Italy has been effectively split along its Adriatic side after nearly 72 hours of severe weather battered central and southern regions, triggering floods, landslides and major transport disruption. A bridge…

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UPDATED: Italy blocks base use, Spain closes airspace, France denies transit over Iran war

Italy, Spain and France have moved to restrict military activity linked to the war in Iran, underscoring divisions among European allies as the conflict continues. Italian authorities denied the United…

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Spain closes airspace to US planes involved in Iran war

Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in attacks on Iran, a step beyond its previous denial of use ‌of jointly-operated military bases, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported…

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Spain’s parliament approves €5 billion package to curb impact of war in Iran

Spain’s parliament has approved a €5 billion package aimed at cushioning the economic fallout from the Iran conflict, with a strong focus on cutting energy costs for households and key…

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Cyprus Seeks to Reassure Tourists Amid Regional Tensions

Cyprus is pushing back against security concerns linked to the Middle East conflict as it looks to safeguard its crucial summer tourism season. Officials stress the island remains far from…

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Italy’s PM Meloni plans closer cooperation with Algeria to boost gas deliveries

Italy, which produces over 40% of its electricity from natural gas according to the International Energy Agency, has been seeking alternative suppliers to replace lost LNG imports from Qatar. During…

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Pope Leo: Life must be defended amid “madness of war”

Pope Leo XIV has said that in a world marked by the “madness of war,” life must be defended from conception to its natural end. Speaking during his Wednesday General…

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European countries losing out on LNG cargoes – reports

Europe is losing out on liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes as Asian buyers outbid European utilities in an increasingly tight global market, with several shipments reportedly being diverted mid-voyage. Ship-tracking…

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Italy Sees First Government Resignations After Referendum Setback

The first political consequences of the referendum defeat are unfolding inside the Italian government, with a wave of resignations and mounting pressure on several senior officials. The crisis follows a…

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Five takeaways from local French elections

France held the runoff of mayoral elections on Sunday, and although the results of local contests do not always offer a reliable preview of national elections, the vote provided a…

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Umberto Bossi, firebrand founder of Italy’s Northern League party, dies at 84

Umberto Bossi, a gravel-voiced populist leader who pushed for independence for northern Italy and shook up national politics, died on Thursday at a hospital in Varese, in the north of…

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Italy Says Iranian Missiles Unlikely to Reach Sicily, Bases Safe

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said there is no immediate threat of Iranian attacks on U.S. military bases in Italy, offering reassurance amid heightened regional tensions. “I see no danger…

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Cyprus records fall in asylum applications according to Eurostat

Eurostat data published this week showed a decrease in asylum applications in Cyprus, with 130 first-time claims and 95 repeat applications in December 2025. This represents a decline from November…

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Greece will ‘support Cyprus’ choices’ over Nato accession

Greece will back whatever decision Cyprus makes on joining NATO, Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said on Tuesday. Speaking alongside Germany’s Johann Wadephul, he said NATO expansion strengthens resilience and solidarity.…

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Pope Leo asks media to show suffering of war, not amplify ‘propaganda’

Pope Leo urged journalists on Monday to highlight the suffering caused by war, cautioning against news reports that risk sliding into propaganda by ‌glorifying conflicts or serving as "a megaphone"…

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Greece wants durable solution to ensure free shipping in Hormuz Strait

Greece does not back any separate deals that would allow ships to enter and exit the Strait ‌of Hormuz but wants a durable solution to safeguard peace in the region,…

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Italy weighs options as damaged Russian LNG tanker drifts in the Mediterranean

Italian authorities are weighing how to deal with a Russian liquefied natural gas tanker left adrift in the Mediterranean ‌after what Moscow described as a Ukrainian drone attack, sources said…

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Spain permanently withdraws ambassador as rift with Israel deepens

Spain has permanently withdrawn its ambassador to Israel, deepening a diplomatic standoff between the two countries over Madrid’s opposition to US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The ambassador had already been recalled…

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Italy will not enter a war, Meloni tells Senate

Italy will not enter a war, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told the Senate on Wednesday, as tensions around Iran continue to escalate. Speaking amid growing international concern over unilateral military…

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European and NATO forces reinforce Mediterranean and Gulf as Iran war escalates

European powers and NATO allies are expanding their military deployments across the Mediterranean, the Gulf and parts of the eastern flank as the conflict involving the United States, Israel and…

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Far-right eyes breakthrough in French municipal elections

France’s far-right National Rally is under pressure to secure a strong showing in municipal elections starting Sunday, widely seen as a key test of the party’s prospects ahead of next…

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12 members of money laundering scheme exploiting Ukrainian women arrested in Spain

An international operation in Spain targeting a money laundering scheme resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects. The disrupted criminal network systematically exploited vulnerable Ukrainian women to open bank accounts,…

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Rome boosts air defence to maximum amid Iran crisis as Meloni rules out any current US request for base use

Italy has raised its air-defence protection to the highest level as tensions escalate across the Middle East, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome has so far received no request…

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Macron asks Netanyahu to ‘refrain from a ground offensive’ in Lebanon

Emmanuel Macron said he asked Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from launching a ground offensive in Lebanon during a phone call between the two leaders. Macron said he also held talks…

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EU Rallies Around Spain After Trump Threatens Trade Embargo

European leaders have moved quickly to support Spain after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a trade embargo on the country, escalating tensions between Washington and the European Union.…

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Spanish PM insists he won’t bow to U.S. commercial pressure

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats would not cow Madrid into supporting the American-Israeli war in Iran. “We are not going to take a position…

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Drones intercepted off Cyprus, EasyJet cancels all UK-Cyprus flights

Two unmanned drones which had been fired in the direction of the United Kingdom’s Akrotiri air force base in Cyprus were “dealt with in a timely manner”, government spokesman Konstantinos…

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France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iran

France is ready to help Gulf countries targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Monday, adding that the Israeli and U.S. initial strikes against Iran should…

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Cyprus on alert after drone strike on UK’s Akrotiri base; Israeli air strikes in Lebanon

A suspected drone strike on the United Kingdom’s RAF Akrotiri has underscored Cyprus’ growing exposure to the escalating Middle East conflict, as military activity intensifies across the region. British authorities…

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Montenegrin Kingpin Arrested in France as Financial Trail Exposes Europe-Wide Cocaine Trafficking Network

An international criminal network laundering cocaine profits for Italian organised crime has been dismantled after investigators followed the money trail across Europe. What began as suspicious financial movements uncovered a…

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Property deals by Russian nationals near RAF Akrotiri raise suspicions

British intelligence is increasingly apprehensive that Russian nationals linked to the Kremlin are acquiring properties near the RAF base at Akrotiri as part of a covert “hybrid warfare” strategy. According…

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Spain’s Sánchez defies Washington as domestic popularity surges

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is walking a fine line between rising popularity at home and growing tension abroad, as his refusal to align with key US positions cements his…

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Macron Urges Political Extremes to ‘Put Their Houses in Order’ After Activist’s Death

French President Emmanuel Macron has called on political extremes to “put their houses in order” following the death of a far-right activist during clashes in Lyon over the weekend. Speaking…

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High-flying Meloni bets big on a referendum

Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is taking a calculated political risk by putting judicial reform to a referendum on 22–23 March, a move that could either strengthen her dominance…

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Vatican says no to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will not join Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”, dealing a blow to the US president’s efforts to assemble a new global…

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Storm Fronts Lash Italy, Spain and Portugal With Snow, Floods and High Winds

Severe weather conditions are continuing to affect several parts of southern Europe, triggering transport disruption, infrastructure damage and safety warnings as authorities brace for further deterioration in conditions. In Italy,…

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Train and airport strikes in Italy to disrupt thousands of travellers this month

Travellers to Italy should prepare for disruption to flights and rail services this month. Nationwide strikes will hit air transport on 16 February, while trains across the country will be…

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Seguro Clinches Portuguese Presidency with Landslide Victory

António José Seguro, representing Portugal’s centre-left Socialist Party, has decisively won the presidential election, securing 66.7% of the vote compared to André Ventura of the far-right Chega party, who garnered…

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Portugal’s Pivotal Presidential Election: Socialist vs. Far-Right

Portugal is voting in a decisive second round of its presidential election, as centre-left Socialist candidate António José Seguro faces off against far-right populist André Ventura. The election, overshadowed by…

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Italian police to get new arrest powers

Italian police will be able to detain suspected troublemakers temporarily before street rallies to prevent them from spreading unrest under a new law-and-order decree adopted on Thursday by Prime Minister…

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