The Dispatch

Far-right parties from around Europe meet in Milan

Italy's Lega leader Matteo Salvini on Monday is holding a meeting in Milan of far-right parties from around Europe in the hope of forging an alliance of nationalists ahead of…

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UPDATED: Italy’s Eni evacuates Italian staff from Libya…US AFRICOM relocates an unspecified contingent of US forces from Libya

US Africa Command said it had relocated an unspecified contingent of US forces, while India said it had evacuated peacekeepers to Tunisia. US Africa Command said it had relocated an…

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Poland’s ‘Most Wanted’ arrested in Spain

Spanish police arrested a man identified only by the initials of M.A.F. and who is believed to be the most-wanted man in Poland. Spanish authorities described the man as a…

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Suspicious package sent to Lavazza HQ in Italy

There has been another incident of a suspect package delivered in the post in Turin. This time the suspicious package was sent to the new head quarters of coffee maker…

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Slideshow: The ‘Panda Connected by Wind’

A series of photos of the new FCA Fiat Panda in collaboration with telephone company Wind during a press conference in Turin, Italy. Italian operator Wind Tre and car…

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Parcel-bomb sent to Lega politician

A parcel-bomb was delivered to Lega member in Turin on Friday. Apparently the explosive device is similar to another sent to Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino this week. The package was…

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‘Sea Eye’ ship heads for Lampedusa

The ship ‘Alan Kurdi’ belonging to German migrant rescue NGO Sea Eye is heading for the Italian island of Lampedusa with its 64 rescued migrants among them a new…

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Marine Le Pen on the warpath with the EU

Ahead of May's European Parliamentary elections, Marine Le Pen, President of France's National Rally, told Euronews she wanted her National Rally party to be "a very large group defending nations…

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Salvini says dispute with France over

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini announced that a dispute with France over migrants and other issues was over. Salvini said his French counterpart Christophe Castaner had recognized that Italy had been…

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Italian footballer ‘kidnapped’ mid-match

There was an unusual scene in an Catanese Third Category game between Viagrande and Nebrodi when a helicopter landed on the pitch and three men, two of which were wearing…

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Polish priest apologizes for burning of ‘Harry Potter’ books

A priest in northern Poland who led a public burning of books that included titles from the "Harry Potter" series and other items has apologized, saying the ritual was not…

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US warns Italy on China, Russia ties

The United States warned Italy on giving China and Russia undue influence in its economic and political activities. Italy has become a special concern after signing a memorandum of understanding…

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Another baby dies in Italy after a home-made circumcision

There was another death of a child in Italy after a home-made circumcision. This latest death occurred in Genoa on Tuesday and the child's Nigerian mother and grandmother have been…

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Bolzano, Trento voted Italy’s best places to live

According to a study by Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire Bolzano is the best place to live in Italy. In second place is another northern city, Trento, according to the study…

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Spanish Catholic Church caught in a controversy over ‘gay conversion’ courses

A Roman Catholic diocese near Madrid is being investigated after a Spanish newspaper reported that it was running courses to "cure" gay men of homosexuality. The deputy head of the…

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Ferrero acquires Kellogg’s snacks and biscuits units

The Italian confectionery giant Ferrero acquired two of US multinational Kellogg's snacks and biscuits units for $1.3 billion. Kellogg’s confirmed its intention of selling Ferrero two of its snacks and…

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Flights diverted from Malpensa airport due to drone sighting

At least four flights had to be diverted from the Italian airport of Malpensa in Milan after a drone was sighted on the airfield. All flights were blocked for around…

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Salvini dismisses government crisis speculation

Deputy Italian Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini dismissed reports that the government is in crisis after a series of rows between his League party and its coalition partner,…

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Berlusconi seeks MEP seat to fight for an EU faithful to the original vision of the founders

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 82, said he is running for the European Parliament in May’s election because he wants to fight for a more united European Union faithful…

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As recovery looms in Greece, Vogue magazine makes comeback

Fashion magazine Vogue hit the news-stands in Greece on Sunday after seven years of absence. Greece’s economic recovery slowly gathers pace following the debt crisis, publishers are hoping that…

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Libya seeks Italian cooperation in educational sector

Italy is exploring a greater role in strengthening the Libyan educational sector with the possibility of including the Italian language in the school curriculum as an optional language. These topics…

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Mussolini’s granddaughter hits out at actor Jim Carrey over drawing

Italian politician Alessandra Mussolini has publicly insulted Jim Carrey after he tweeted a drawing of the hanging of her grandfather, Benito Mussolini, and Claretta Petacci. As the Carrey’s tweet gained…

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The meaning of Malta’s Freedom Day

On the 31st March 1979, Malta saw the very last ship of the British forces leaving our shores. Commonly known as Freedom Day, this day marked the end of the…

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The World Conference of Families in Verona continues to cause controversy

The World Conference of Families in Verona, Italy, continues to cause controversy. The international gathering has been criticised for promoting an anti-gay, anti-abortion and anti-feminism agenda and the controversies around…

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Emergency landing for Ryanair aircraft in Treviso, Italy

A Ryanair Boeing 737 on Saturday had to make an emergency landing at the Antonio Canova Airport in Treviso, Italy, after smoke started coming out from one of the engines.…

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Moderate 5.3 earthquake shakes SW Greece

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 has struck 15 kilometres from Itea in south-west Greece and around 130 km to the west of the capital Athens. Strong tremors were…

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Pope starts 27-hour visit to Morocco

Pope Francis today started a visit to Morocco. A visit as a “servant of hope” to encourage the country’s small Catholic community, the migrants hosted there and all people…

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Madrid adopts rules to shut down over 10,000 holiday apartments and curtail mass tourism

The Madrid city council approved a plan regulating holiday rentals that will lead to the shutting down over 10,000 apartments currently used for short-term tourist stays and is aimed…

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Spitfire pilot finally laid to rest with full military honours after nearly 75 years ‘missing in action’

John Henry Coates is one of the names engraved on the Malta War Memorial, commemorating the 2,298 Commonwealth aircrew who lost their lives around the Mediterranean. But for more than…

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Pope signs law to prevent child abuse in Vatican and its embassies

Pope Francis on Friday made it compulsory in law to report the sexual abuse of children within the Vatican and in its diplomatic missions worldwide. It is the first…

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Bordeaux calls for shutdown amid more ‘yellow vest’ protests for today

The mayor of the French city of Bordeaux, France's fifth-biggest city, called for residents to remain indoors Saturday and for shopowners to shutter their stores as the authorities braced…

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Woman in Portugal gives birth despite being brain-dead for three months

Despite being brain-dead for three months, a woman in Portugal gave birth to a baby boy who was named Salvador. The mother, Catarina Sequeira, was declared brain-dead after having an…

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Lega set to be second party in European Parliament latest projections

La Lega or the League Party of Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is set to win 27 seats in May's European elections, according to new set of projections…

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Papal hand kissing mystery solved

During these last days there has been much speculation and mystery as to why Pope Francis repeatedly withdrew his right hand when people bowed and tried to kiss. The mystery…

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Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to become a mosque

Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Hagia Sophia museum in Istanbul will be controversially turned into a mosque. The Hagia Sophia, known as Ayasofya in Turkey, in the…

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Possible formation of an “anti-illegal immigration axis” between Malta and Italy

Sources close to the Italian Interior Ministry are being quoted as saying that Italy and Malta are to form an "anti-illegals axis" after rescued migrants hijacked a merchant ship and…

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Kidnapping charges in SeaWatch standoff

Rome prosecutors have come to the conclusion that there are elements to proceed with kidnapping charges in the case of the SeaWatch 3 migrant rescue ship The ship had…

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Air France pilot from Entebbe hijacking dies at 95

Captain Michel Bacos, whose flight was hijacked by Palestinian and German terrorists on June 27, 1976 and insisted on staying with Israeli captives in Entebbe, has died aged 95. Bacos…

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Italian Health Ministry orders withdrawal of 9 tattoo inks because of cancerous substances

The Italian Health Ministry has ordered the withdrawal from the Italian market of nine ink pigments that are used in tattoos. The order was issued after it was found…

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Salvini says no change to abortion law

League leader and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said Italy's abortion law would not change amid a row with government partner the 5-Star Movement (M5S) after 40 League MPs filed a…

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‘Igor the Russian’ sentenced to life in jail in Italy

Norbert Feher, a 38-year-old Serbian know as 'Igor the Russian', was senteneced to life in jail for the murder. Feher was found guilty of the murder on 1 and 8…

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Italian PM Conte rules out another term

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that this will be his only term as Prime Minister of Italy and has no plans to serve in any future governments. Conte, who…

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Baby dies in Italy after home circumcision

A 5-month-old baby boy in Italy has died as the result of a circumcision performed by his parents at home in Scandiano in Reggio Emilia. The ANSA news agency reported…

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China’s Xi heads to France

Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to the French Riviera on Sunday for the final leg of his European tour. Xi's trip will begin in the Mediterranean city of Nice and…

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Italy signs memorandum of understanding with China

Italy has signed a memorandum of understanding with China in support of Beijing’s “Belt and Road” initiative, which aims to weave a network of ports, bridges and power plants linking…

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Pope Francis accepts resignation of Chilean cardinal caught up in sex abuse scandal

A Vatican statement on Saturday said Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati, the archbishop of Santiago, Chile, who has been caught up in the country's sex…

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Yellow Vests banned from Champs-Élysées

French police have banned the "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) protesters from the Champs-Élysées in Paris on Saturday after rioters destroyed businesses last week. The government has warned that it intends…

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Spanish police break up Europe’s largest illegal TV streaming service

Spanish Police launched a major operation against an international criminal organization accused of illegally selling access to pay-TV over the internet. Spanish officials calculate that this was Europe’s largest illegal…

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French soldiers with orders to fire if threatened in Yellow Vests protests

General Bruno Leray, military governor of Paris, in a rare public address, said soldiers mobilized for Saturday's planned Yellow Vests protests, the gilets jaunes, will operate under strict instructions, but…

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Italy beefs up checks on driving licences after bus hijack

The Italian Interior Ministry issued a circular letter telling police forces to beef up checks on driving licences after this week's school bus hijacking in northern Italy. The driver of…

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Italian President Mattarella praises Silk Road memorandum

Italian President Sergio Mattarella said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping's State visit was strengthening cooperation between the nations after meeting Xi at the presidential palace in Rome. Mattarella…

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Explosive thrown at Russian consulate in Athens

Security has been stepped up in the Greek capital Athens after attackers on a motorcycle threw an explosive device, possibly a hand grenade, at the Russian consulate in the capital.…

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No evidence of radioactivity in key ‘Ruby’ witness Fadil

Sources in Italy are being quoted as saying that no evidence of radioactivity has been found in the organs of key Ruby witness Imane Fadil, after the results of testing…

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The dramatic phone call from hero school boy who saved hijacked bus

The dramatic phone call has been released that Ramy Shehata, a 13-year-old Egyptian boy, made to the police whilst on board a school bus hijacked and later torched by…

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PHOTO STORY: Pope Francis receives in audience Maltese President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

In her final days before she leaves office, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was received in audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican. The President of Malta, who subsequently met with…

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Suspension of EU’s Operation Sophia not of great concern to Libya

The spokesman for the Libyan Navy, Ayoub Qassim said that the European statements regarding the suspension of Operation Sophia are not of the Libyan state's concern in any means.…

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Italian politician opposed to mandatory vaccines for children gets chicken pox

Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the north-eastern region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and a member of the Lega party, was hospitalised earlier this month with the highly contagious chicken pox infection. In…

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