The Dispatch

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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Alfie Evans still breathing despite termination of life support.

SKY News reports that the father of Alfie Evans, Tom said doctors were "gobsmacked" his 23-month-old son was still breathing eleven hours after his life support ended. Mr Evans said…

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10 dead, over 17 operations as migrant journeys restart from North Africa

With the good weather and the calm sea, the departures of refugees from North Africa to Italy have resumed. Unfortunately, so did the tragedies and the need for rescue operations.…

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EU Commission opens in-depth investigation into Italian State loan to Alitalia

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Italy's bridge loan to Alitalia totalling €900 million constitutes State aid and whether it complies with EU rules for…

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Roberto Fico (M5s) given the mandate to explore the formation of a government in Italy

Italian President Sergio Mattarella handed Lower House Speaker Roberto Fico an exploratory mandate to explore the possibility of a government-formation deal between his anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the centre-left…

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Alfie Evans granted Italian citizenship

Italy on Monday gave Italian citizenship to terminally ill British toddler Alfie Evans so that he can hopefully be "immediately" moved to Italy from Liverpool, where doctors are set to…

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Italy – Centre right takes lead in Molise

Centre-right governor candidate Donato Toma looks set to win Sunday's regional election in the southern region of Molise, the first major test of voter sentiment since last month's inconclusive general…

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What’s next for Italy after links between politicians and mafia were confirmed in court?

On Friday, a Palermo court found guilty former heads of the ROS security police Mario Mori, Giuseppe De Donno and Antonio Subranni, former Forza Italia Senator and Berlusconi aide Marcello…

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Spain overtakes Italy, and it’s not about football.

Italy and Spain, often end up 'fighting it out' on the football pitch. The past weeks saw Roma and Juventus facing Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively. The matches were the…

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Italy risks new election

Italian News Agency Ansa reports that President Sergio Mattarella has decided to take two days to reflect after Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Casellati reported back to him on Friday following her exploratory…

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Italy – Caselati given mandate to end political deadlock

Ansa: President Sergio Mattarella gave Senate Speaker Elisabetta Alberti Casellati a mandate to see if it is possible to end Italy's post-election political deadlock. Casellati had been given the task of…

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Food and Wine – Parma to host City of Gastronomy Festival

Parma has announced a series of events that will be taking place this year as Italy celebrates “Year of Italian food”. The main event is the City of Gastronomy Festival, an…

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Pope Francis consoles a boy who asked if his non-believing father is in Heaven

Rome Reports: Those participating in the pope's encounter with children from the parish of St. Paul of the Cross in Corviale were undoubtedly moved. One of the children appeared embarrassed and…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Russia to allow OPCW inspectors in Douma

Russia said that chemical weapons inspectors in Syria will be permitted to visit the site of an alleged chemical attack, on Wednesday. A representative of Russia's military said late Monday…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Berlusconi weighs in his view on Italy’s position

In a letter published on Sunday's edition of Il Corriere Della Sera, Silvio Berlusconi said that faced with a complex and dramatic situation such as that which has been determined…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Pope Francis urges common action

In his first comments since the missile attacks on Syria by the United States, Britain and France, Pope Francis said on Sunday, April 15, that he is deeply disturbed by…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Macron’s stance criticised

France 24 reports that Macron drew criticism Saturday from the far-left to the far-right. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen tweeted that the strikes expose France to “unpredictable and potentially dramatic…

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Air Strikes on Syria – New Push in UN to end Syria’s chemical weapons

CNN reports that the United States, the United Kingdom and France are pushing for an "irreversible" end to Syria's chemical weapons program, amid furious recriminations from Russia over the effectiveness…

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No progress registered in Italy

In Italy not much progress has been registered in the feat of forming a government in Italy. The second round of consultations proved inconclusive. President Mattarella warned that the country…

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Air Strikes on Syria – France publishes declassified intelligence report

In a rather unprecedented move, one of the allies which took part in last night's air strikes on Syria, published the intelligence reports on the basis of which decisions were…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Italy’s reaction

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy did not participate in the attack in Syria. According to news agency ANSA, Gentiloni said that the Italian Government insisted and clarified…

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Air Strikes on Syria : Syria’s reaction

Syria’s Foreign Ministry described the joint US, UK and French airstrikes as a "flagrant violation of international law and the principals of UN charter." Syria called on the international community to…

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Air Strikes in Syria – Weapons used (CNN)

CNN provides an analysis of the weapons used by the US, France and the UK in the air strikes on Syria. A US defence official said the US Air Force used…

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Air Strikes on Syria – NATO to meet later on today

CNN reports that following the trilateral airstrikes launched in Syria, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) will be held Saturday afternoon, a NATO official tells CNN. France, the United…

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Air Strikes on Syria. Vladimir Putin’s reaction

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced a strike on Syria launched by the US and its allies as an "act of aggression" that will exacerbate humanitarian catastrophe in Syria. In a statement…

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Air Strikes on Syria – Emanuel Macron’s Statement

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, in Douma, dozens of men, women and children were massacred by chemical weapons, in total violation of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions.…

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Air Strikes on Syria : Pentagon Briefing

U.S., British and French air and naval forces launched attacks against the Syrian government’s chemical weapon arsenal in retaliation for the use of such weapons on civilians, Defense Secretary James…

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