The Dispatch

French government to face no-confidence vote

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to face a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, triggered after he bypassed parliamentary approval to push through a controversial social security budget. Opposition parties…

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French government no-confidence vote set for Wednesday

French members of parliament will vote Wednesday afternoon on at least one motion of no confidence that is likely to topple the French government, according to French media reports confirmed…

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Italian Authorities Crack Down on Keyboxes for Short-Term Rentals Amid Safety Concerns

The Italian government has taken decisive action to regulate the use of keyboxes and automated check-in systems in short-term rental properties, citing safety and compliance concerns. These measures, outlined in…

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What’s next in France’s political and budget crises?

France's minority government is in a precarious position, with the far-right National Rally party promising to force the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet unless it yields to its…

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France’s Barnier makes last-minute concession to far right in bid to avoid being toppled

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier made another significant concession to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) on Monday, shelving planned cuts to medication reimbursements in a last-ditch effort to…

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French far right says government spurned budget talks

France's far-right National Rally (RN) accused the government on Sunday of rejecting its budget demands, increasing the likelihood of a no-confidence vote that could oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier. RN…

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Athens named world’s leading cultural city destination for 2024

Athens has been awarded the title of “World’s Leading Cultural City Destination” for 2024 by the World Travel Awards (WTA), surpassing 14 major global cities, including London, Paris, New York,…

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UPDATED: Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris set to reopen

French President Emmanuel Macron will visit renovation works at Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral on Friday ahead of its reopening on Dec. 7, five and a half years after a devastating fire…

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France arrests 26 for smuggling migrants from Indian sub-continent

A French-led investigation, supported by Europol, has resulted in the dismantling of a large criminal network comprising several small criminal groups involved in migrant smuggling and money laundering. The extensive…

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29

Nov

Cyprus revokes more high-profile ‘golden’ passports

Cyprus has revoked more passports from people who had acquired citizenship through its controversial “golden visa” scheme. The passport-for-cash program, which was suspended in 2020 under mounting pressure, granted foreigners…

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Italy braces for strike on Friday

Italy is bracing for a general strike today proclaimed by the CGIL and UIl unions against the 2025 budget. The strike remains 8 hours or for the entire work shift…

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French government chances of survival weaken

The French Socialist Party confirmed on Wednesday that it plans to vote to topple the government following an hour-long meeting with Barnier. Patrick Kanner, leader of the Socialist group in…

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Messina Bridge to cost 13.5 bn euro

The planned bridge across the Messina strait between Sicily and mainland Italy will have an updated cost of 13.5 billion euro, the head of the project company Stretto di Messina…

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Vatican to consider classifying ‘spiritual abuse’ as new Catholic crime

Pope Francis has asked the Vatican to study whether the Catholic Church should classify "spiritual abuse" as a new crime in order to address cases where priests use purported mystical…

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Massive Crackdown on Illegal Streaming Across Italy and Seven Other Countries

In a groundbreaking operation led by Italian authorities, the "Taken Down" initiative has dismantled the largest transnational criminal network involved in illegal audiovisual streaming. Coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office in…

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Greece calls for increased EU defence role, cooperation with NATO

The European Union needs to boost its defence role and arms industry and improve cooperation with NATO, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday after talks with the military…

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Italy’s 5-Star to rerun vote that ousted co-founder Grillo

Italy's opposition 5-Star Movement plans to re-run a vote that severed its ties with co-founder Beppe Grillo, its leader Giuseppe Conte said late on Monday. The removal of Grillo from…

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Italy’s opposition 5-Star breaks with co-founder Grillo

Italy's 5-Star Movement severed ties on Sunday with its co-founder, the comedian Beppe Grillo, a further step in turning what was once a radical protest movement into a more mainstream…

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One in 10 Italians living in absolute poverty – Caritas

Catholic charity Caritas said in its annual survey on poverty and social exclusion in Italy that nearly 5.7 million people live in absolute poverty, or about one-tenth of the population."Absolute…

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Syriza Loses Main Opposition Status in Greece

Greece’s left-wing Syriza party has lost its position as the country’s main opposition group in parliament during an intensifying leadership battle. Two members of parliament announced Thursday they were quitting…

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Spanish police bust gang that recruited Swedish and Danish minors as hitmen

Spanish police have dismantled a gang based in the eastern city of Alicante that allegedly recruited Swedish and Danish teenagers to carry out murders as hitmen. Police said on Wednesday…

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New rules issued for streamlined funerals for popes

The Vatican has issued new rules for more streamlined funerals for popes. Among the new features introduced in an update to the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis protocol are the certification…

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Italy acts against ‘wild’ e-scooters after rise in accidents

Italy's parliament approved a bill on Wednesday that will require e-scooter riders to wear helmets and be insured, while also introducing tougher fines for rogue parking as part of a…

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Italian Prime Minister Meloni suffers regional vote setback

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suffered a rare electoral setback when her conservative coalition lost control of one region and lost ground in another that was already a centre-left stronghold.…

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Santorini backs strict building limits

Residents of the popular Greek tourist destination of Santorini are calling for stricter building regulations to protect their island’s unique landscape and cultural heritage. At a recent meeting at the…

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Milan Tops Italy’s Quality of Life Rankings for 2024; Caltanissetta Trails Behind

Milan has once again emerged as the city with the best quality of life in Italy, securing the top spot in the annual Italia Oggi and Ital Communications survey in…

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Airbnb urges Barcelona to reconsider crackdown on tourism rentals

Global holiday home rental company Airbnb has urged Barcelona's mayor to rethink a widening crackdown on short-term rentals, arguing that it only benefits the hotel sector while failing to address…

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Foreign-born population grew by 1 mn in 10 years – ISTAT

Households with at least one foreign-born member were over 2.5 million in Italy in 2021, representing 10% of families living in the country - an additional 700,000 family units compared…

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French prosecutor calls for jail term for Marine Le Pen

The Paris prosecutor called for a five-year prison term and a five-year ban from holding public office for far-right leader Marine Le Pen, in a trial where she and 24…

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Flood waters drag cars into sea near Catania, Sicily

Flood waters tossed cars around in Torre Archirafi on Wednesday, dragging some into the sea, after the torrential rain that has hit Sicily turned streets into rivers in the town…

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Rome transport staff to wear bodycams, use panic buttons

Rome transport staff are to wear bodycams and use panic buttons amid a wave of attacks by bus users, officials said. The relevant protocol was signed by Rome Mayor Roberto…

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Mayor of Perugia Apologises for Amanda Knox Series Filming

The mayor of Perugia, where the British student Meredith Kercher was murdered, has apologised for allowing a controversial TV series co-produced by Amanda Knox to be filmed in the Italian…

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Italy plans to restrict nascent ‘cannabis light’ industry

Italy's flourishing "cannabis light" industry risks being uprooted this year when Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pushes a bill through parliament to deflower a crop that is legal across much of…

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New EU sanctions on violent Israeli settlers could happen soon, France says

France's foreign minister said on Monday that a new round of sanctions targeting violent Israeli settlers could happen soon. "We were instrumental in setting up the (EU) sanctions regime that…

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Greece’s Syriza Party Faces Collapse

Greece’s Syriza party cracked up further over the weekend and is about to officially lose its status as the country’s main opposition. The party’s recently deposed leader Stefanos Kasselakis announced…

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Greece arrests two men suspected of MDMA, crystal meth smuggling to Australia

Greece's anti-drug authorities have arrested two Greek men suspected of being part of a transnational crime ring exporting crystal meth and MDMA to Australia, police said. Police seized about 56…

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Mediterranean Sea Warming by Over One Degree in 25 Years, Study Finds

A recent study has revealed a concerning trend in the Mediterranean Sea, its waters have warmed by more than one degree Celsius over the past 25 years. Conducted by Italy’s…

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Nearly 60 arrested in Italy raid against ‘Ndrangheta mafia

Around 60 people have been arrested in a police raid against the 'Ndrangheta mafia in the southern Italian region of Calabria, police said in a statement on Thursday. Police said…

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Protests over Spain flood response interrupt king’s visit to stricken Valencia suburb

Hundreds of residents of a Valencia suburb badly hit by last week's deadly floods protested on Sunday during a visit by Spanish King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro…

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Jubilee: Pope to open Holy Door at Rebibbia on Dec. 26

The day after the official beginning of the Jubilee, on December 26, Pope Francis will be at Rome's Rebibbia prison to open a Holy Door, Monsignor Rino Fisichella revealed this…

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Cremation rates surge in Italy as cultural norms shift

The number of Italians choosing to be cremated at the end of their lives has surged over the last 30 years as cultural changes, cost and a more secular society…

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UPDATED: Death toll in Spain’s floods rises to 205, among Europe’s worst storm disasters

Spanish rescuers opened a temporary morgue in a convention centre and battled to reach areas still cut off on Friday as the death toll from catastrophic floods rose to 205…

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What caused deadly floods in Spain? The impact of DANA explained

Catastrophic flash floods that have killed at least 95 people in Spain are caused by a destructive weather system in which cold and warm air meet and produce powerful rain…

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Italy’s Marina Berlusconi lauds Meloni, voices doubts on Trump

Marina Berlusconi, the daughter of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi whose family are still the main financial backers of his powerful political party, praised the right-wing Italian government but said…

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Italian unions to hold general strike on Nov. 29 against govt budget plans

Italian trade unions CGIL and UIL will hold an eight-hour general strike on Nov. 29 to protest against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni government's budget plans, their leaders said on Wednesday.The…

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UPDATED: Several bodies found in flood-hit areas of southeast Spain

At least 90 people have been killed in flash floods sweeping the eastern Spanish region of Valencia following torrential rain on Tuesday that left roads and towns under water, local…

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Italy’s Meloni secures tight win in Liguria regional election

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her right-wing coalition pulled off another regional election win on Monday, near final results from Liguria in the northwest showed, in a mid-term boost…

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Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi facing trial over ‘stolen painting’

Former culture undersecretary and art critic Vittorio Sgarbi is facing a possible trial over a painting that was allegedly stolen and then allegedly altered to try to disguise its provenance.Prosecutors…

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Italy rocked by hacking scandal where info from state security databases sold to rich clients

Milanese police placed four people under house arrest and are investigating dozens of others in a probe into the alleged illegal access of state security databases by a private investigative…

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Spain’s Malaga to ban new holiday flat permits in 43 neighbourhoods

Malaga will ban new short-term tourism rentals in 43 neighbourhoods of the city, the latest step taken by Spanish authorities to address residents' concerns that they are being priced out…

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Two Key Figures of Notorious Serbian Clan Arrested in Barcelona

The Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), in collaboration with Europol and six other European partners, have arrested two senior members of the notorious Serbian " Clan", dismantling a key faction…

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Venice to double number of days tourists must pay entry fee

Venice is to double the number of days it charges tourists an entrance fee in 2025, following a "successful" trial last year, the city's mayor said. Luigi Brugnaro said the…

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Italy’s 5-Star leader dumps party founder, comedian Grillo

Italy's 5-Star Movement will sever ties with its founder, comedian Beppe Grillo, due to his "acts of sabotage", party leader and former premier Giuseppe Conte said in book excerpts published…

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Pope Francis urges Catholics to abandon ‘mad pursuit’ of money

Pope Francis urged the world's 1.4 billion Catholics to abandon the "mad pursuit" of money and instead devote themselves to their faith in a new encyclical letter, the highest form…

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Majority of French think current democratic system does not work

Most people in France think the Fifth Republic's democratic system does not work, said a survey from a government-advisory body, highlighting the country's lingering malaise following general elections this summer…

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Last Great White Sharks of the Mediterranean Found in Sicilian Channel

Researchers have found the Mediterranean's last white sharks in the Sicilian Channel.The traces of the endangers great predators were found in the area during a number of expeditions led by…

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French police search for a 17-day-old baby abducted from maternity ward

French authorities were hunting Tuesday for a 17-day-old prematurely born baby boy who was abducted from the maternity ward of a Paris-region hospital, with his parents identified as the chief…

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