The Dispatch

Meloni’s first anniversary as Italy PM marred by economy, family split

By Angelo Amante and Giselda Vagnoni ROME (Reuters) - Weak economic growth and high interest on the country's huge debt are the main problems facing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni…

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Biden and Pope Francis discuss Israel and Gaza in a call

By Kanishka Singh and Crispian Balmer WASHINGTON/VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Pope Francis on Sunday and discussed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between…

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Spain pledges 50 million euros for Canary islands migrant surge

By Borja Suarez ARGUINEGUIN, Spain, (Reuters) - Spain is readying a 50 million euro ($52.86 million) aid package to help the Canary Islands cope with an "extraordinary migration flow", Spain's…

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Cyprus on heightened alert after small blast outside Israeli embassy

NICOSIA, Oct 21 (Reuters) - A small blast occurred overnight outside the Israeli embassy in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, police said. No damage or injuries were reported. Police said a…

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Italy signs deal to take in migrant workers from Tunisia

ROME, (Reuters) - Italy signed a deal to take in some 4,000 workers from Tunisia, in line with pledges to help the northern African state stem the pressure from migrants…

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France’s Macron sees hope for hostages in Gaza after Qatari mediation

By John Irish France's President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the release of two American hostages in Gaza, highlighting Qatar's role and saying he hoped similar initiatives would happen in the coming…

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Arrests after wave of bomb threats in France

At least 18 people have been arrested after a wave of bomb threats prompted evacuations across France. The Palace of Versailles, the Louvre as well as schools, airports and hospitals…

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Milan to ban cars from city centre by middle of 2024

The financial capital of Italy, Milan, is set to banish cars from its city centre by the middle of next year, Mayor Giuseppe Sala said. "It is clear that the…

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UPDATED: Italy PM leaves partner after his sexist TV comments

ROME, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she had separated from her television journalist partner Andrea Giambruno, who has drawn criticism in recent weeks…

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Pope Francis may attend global climate talks in Dubai

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Pope Francis may attend the COP28 climate conference starting next month in Dubai, Vatican sources say, to drive home his recent…

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Italy reinstates border controls with Slovenia, cites attack risk

ROME, (Reuters) - Italy reinstated border controls with Slovenia as part of its strategy to improve home security against threats of terrorist attacks in Europe, the government said. "The intensification…

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Italy to earmark 12 billion euros for mega Sicily bridge project

By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte ROME, (Reuters) - Italy's government said it would set aside 12 billion euros ($12.65 billion) to build a giant bridge to connect Sicily to…

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Pope Francis deplores ‘desperate’ situation in Gaza

VATICAN CITY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Pope Francis deplored the "desperate" situation in Gaza on Wednesday as he urged the faithful to take "only one side" in the Israel-Hamas conflict,…

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UPDATED: Several French airports evacuated due to bomb scare; France stepping up border security

Eight French airports faced security alerts on Wednesday and several were evacuated for checks, the DGAC aviation authority said, and the Palace of Versailles closed again due to its third security scare in…

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France’s Palace of Versailles being evacuated for security reasons

France's Palace of Versailles is evacuating its visitors for security reasons and will be closed on Tuesday, the Chateau de Versailles said on social network X.BFM TV, citing police sources, said a bomb squad…

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Italy arrests two people in counter-terrorism operation

Italian authorities carried out a counter-terrorism operation early on Tuesday that led to the arrest of an Egyptian citizen and an Italian citizen of Egyptian origin, police said in a…

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Italy to charge foreigners 2,000 euros a year for health service

Foreigners who live in Italy will be able to use the national health service after paying a 2,000-euro ($2,109) annual fee, the government has announced. The charge, part of the…

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Italy to unveil tax-cutting 2024 budget amid debt worries

Italy's deficit-hiking 2024 budget due to be approved by cabinet on Monday will cut taxes for workers and increase benefits for large families, officials said, amid growing market concerns over…

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Pope Francis calls for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza

VATICAN CITY, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza and again appealed for the release of hostages held…

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Italian Interior minister warns of ‘complicated months ahead’; Boosts security at sensitive sites

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi warned that the coming months will be "complicated" after the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel. "'Difficult, complicated months are certainly ahead of us, which…

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France deploys 7,000 troops for extra security

PARIS, (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron deployed up to 7,000 soldiers for increased security patrols, as bomb alerts forced the evacuation of the Louvre museum after a teacher was…

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Vatican ready for ‘any necessary mediation’ to free hostages held by Hamas

VATICAN CITY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The Vatican's priority is securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and it stands ready for "any necessary mediation", one of its most…

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UPDATED: Fatal attack in school in Arras, France

By Pascal Rossignol ARRAS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - A knifeman fatally stabbed one teacher and wounded another in an attack at a school in the northern France city of Arras…

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Anti-mafia author Saviano fined for calling Italy PM a ‘bastard’

Italian anti-mafia author and human rights campaigner Roberto Saviano was on Thursday convicted of libel and handed a symbolic fine for calling Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a "bastard" over her…

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Russian journalist who protested Putin’s war live on TV may have been poisoned

PARIS, (Reuters) - French prosecutors have opened an investigation into why an exiled Russian journalist who staged a high-profile protest against the war in Ukraine was suddenly taken ill, a…

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Photo Story: Royal family members attend military parade on Spanish National Day

Spain's King Felipe VI (R) and Crown Princess Leonor attend the military parade on the occasion of the Spanish National Day in Madrid, Spain on 12 October 2023. Crown Princess…

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EU rethinks energy state aid to break France-Germany deadlock – document

European Union countries may scale back plans to expand state aid for power plants in an attempt to break a deadlock between France and Germany, a document seen by Reuters…

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Pope urges release of all Hamas hostages, concerned by Gaza siege

Pope Francis on Wednesday called on militant Islamist group Hamas to release all hostages captured during its weekend attack on Israel, while expressing grave concerns about the "total" Israeli siege…

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Italy battles for flexible EU budget rules as bond spreads widen

Italy is lobbying its European Union partners with increasing urgency to approve more flexible budget rules, according to government sources, as bond spreads widen and Rome fears that deviations from its…

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Israel-bound cruise ships divert to Cyprus, flights added

NICOSIA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Cruise ships heading to Israel have been diverted to Cyprus, while additional flights were arranged on Monday to repatriate Israelis or assist people wanting to…

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Portugal to increase civil servants’ wages by average of 3.8% in 2024

By Sergio Goncalves LISBON, (Reuters) - Portugal's government said it would increase the wages of civil servants by an average of 3.8% next year, but unions say that is not…

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Unusual incident in Cyprus concerning Russian journalist

NICOSIA, Oct 7 (Reuters) - A Russian journalist detained in Cyprus for allegedly being a threat to national security has left the island, Cypriot media said on Saturday. The journalist's…

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Former Spanish king hints at return to public life after winning UK harassment case

LONDON, (Reuters) - Spain's former King Juan Carlos hinted at a return to public life after he won a bid to throw out a 126 million pound ($154 million) London…

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Photo Story: Maltese President attends the 18th Arraiolos meeting in Porto

Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (L) receives Maltese President George Vella (R) to the 18th Informal Meeting of the Non-Executive Heads of State of the European Union (EU), also…

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Spain calls for EU solidarity on Canary Islands immigration

By Gabriela Baczynska and Inti Landauro GRANADA, Spain (Reuters) - Spain cannot cope with irregular immigration without help from the European Union, the prime minister said as the bloc seeks…

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Italy plans for possible evacuations from super volcano near Naples

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian government is planning for a possible mass evacuation of tens of thousands of people who live around the Campi Flegrei super volcano near Naples, officials…

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Italy impounds migrant charity ship after multiple rescues

By Angelo Amante ROME, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Italian authorities have impounded a vessel operated by a Spanish charity, the group said on Saturday, after it carried out multiple rescues…

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Thousands evacuated on Spain’s Tenerife as summer wildfire re-ignites

MADRID, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Authorities on the Spanish island of Tenerife evacuated some 3,000 people from their homes overnight as a wildfire sparked by high temperatures and strong winds…

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Italy feels health sector pinch as Europe struggles post COVID-19

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's government has warned that a shortage of doctors and nurses in the national health service represents a "real emergency". To help overcome the crisis, some hospitals…

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UPDATED: Emotional Zelenskiy asks Europe for more help against Russia

GRANADA, Spain, Oct 5 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told more than 40 European leaders gathered in Spain he was confident of America's continued support, and asked for their continued…

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Venice bus crash investigation focuses on possibility driver may have fallen ill

By Claudia Greco VENICE, Italy, (Reuters) - Italian authorities were investigating the cause of the horrific crash of a bus carrying foreign tourists on the outskirts of Venice which killed…

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Italy police take down Chinese shadow network laundering mafia cash

By Emilio Parodi MILAN (Reuters) - Italian police arrested 33 people on Wednesday in a new crackdown on a network of Chinese money brokers who allegedly laundered over 50 million…

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Temperatures in Spain shatter records as October kicks off

MADRID, (Reuters) - The start of October in Spain this year has been the warmest since records began, the country's meteorological agency AEMET said, with nearly 40% of weather stations…

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‘Complex talks’ ahead for Spain’s Sanchez to form government

By David Latona and Belén Carreño MADRID, (Reuters) - Spain's acting Prime Minister predicted "complex talks" with other political parties to form a government, after he was nominated to seek…

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Photo Story: Pope Francis leads opening Mass for Synod

Pope Francis leads a Holy Mass with the new Cardinals and opening of the Synod of Bishops in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, 4 October 2023. Pope Francis on Wednesday…

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UPDATED: Shock in Italy after bus carrying tourists falls from Venice overpass killing 21

VENICE, Italy, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Italian authorities on Wednesday were investigating what caused a horrific bus crash near Venice a day earlier, in which 21 people died including several…

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Florence bans new short-term rentals in historic centre

FLORENCE, Italy, (Reuters) - Florence, one of Italy's most popular tourist destinations, has banned new short-term residential lets on platforms such as Airbnb in its historic centre, in the latest…

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Spanish king nominates Pedro Sanchez for Prime Minister post

Spain's King Felipe on Tuesday nominated acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to face a parliamentary vote for a new mandate after his conservative rival failed in his bid to become…

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France reluctant to delay Brexit tariffs on UK-EU electric cars – sources

France is reluctant to delay post-Brexit tariffs that are set to hit electric vehicles traded between Britain and the European Union, French government sources said, in a move that could hit…

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Italy weighs auto incentive scheme to cut Chinese EV price advantage

By Giuseppe Fonte and Gilles Guillaume ROME, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Italy is considering new incentives for car purchases that would factor in carbon emissions in the manufacturing and distribution…

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UN migration chief voices concern over Mediterranean deaths, pledges new solutions

GENEVA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The new head of the UN migration agency on Monday voiced concern that the deaths of migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean were being "normalised"…

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No more dead or missing in nightclub fire in Spain, authorities say

By Eva Máñez MURCIA, Spain, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Rescuers have not found any more casualties in the wreckage of three nightclubs ravaged by a deadly fire in the southeastern…

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France kicks off bird flu vaccination despite trade backlash risk

PARIS, Oct 2 (Reuters) - France started vaccinating ducks against bird flu on Monday to try and stem the virus that killed millions of birds around the world, a move…

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Climate leaders gather ahead of ‘challenging’ COP 28

By Pietro Lombardi MADRID, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Spain's Energy Minister Teresa Ribera has warned that talks at the COP28 climate summit will be "challenging" as she opened a gathering…

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An entry fee may not be enough to save Venice from 20 million tourists

Venice’s history, art and architecture attract an estimated 20 million visitors every year. The city, a Unesco World Heritage site, is often crammed with tourists in search of special memories.…

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Pope Francis cements legacy, stamps Church future with new cardinals

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday further cemented his legacy, elevating 21 prelates to the high rank of cardinal and significantly raising the percentage of…

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UPDATED: Nightclub fire kills at least 13 in Murcia in Spain

MADRID, Oct 1 (Reuters) - At least 13 people have been killed in a fire in adjoining nightclubs in Murcia in southeast Spain, emergency services said on Sunday, adding that…

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