The Dispatch

Spain’s potential leftist kingmaker courts voters with shorter workweek pledge

Same pay, fewer working hours is Diaz's key campaign vow Ex-labour lawyer raised base pay, repealed unpopular laws PM's Socialists, Sumar still trail the right wing in polls MADRID, June…

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Deep distrust of EU leaves Italy’s Meloni in a corner over bailout fund

Italy dragging its feet on ESM reform approval Euro scepticism still lurking in the coalition Rome hopes for favourable deal on EU budget rules By Angelo Amante and Giuseppe Fonte…

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Greece’s Tsipras resigns as Syriza party leader

ATHENS, June 29 (Reuters) - Greece's Alexis Tsipras resigned on Thursday as leader of the leftist Syriza party following a heavy defeat in a national election on Sunday, a source…

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UPDATED: France unrest: Riots spread, police officer charged with shooting teenager dead

Officer charged after 17-year-old shot dead in Paris suburb 150 people arrested during second night of unrest Macron holds crisis meeting By Benoit Van Overstraeten PARIS, June 29 (Reuters) -…

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Spain’s 12-month inflation falls to 1.9% in June, lowest since March 2021

June 29 (Reuters) - Spain's consumer prices rose 1.9% year-on-year in June, their slowest increase since March 2021, preliminary data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) showed on Thursday. Spain…

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Italian Police dismantle international migrant smuggling network

Investigators in the northeastern Italian border city of Trieste have dismantled an international migrant smuggling network that reportedly beat migrants to make them walk and gave sleeping tablets to children…

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Spain weathers scorching temperatures as heatwaves become more frequent

MADRID (Reuters) - Areas of southern Spain such as Seville and Cordoba registered scorching temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit) this week as the first heatwave of…

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Italy energy minister sees LNG terminals covering 50% of gas needs

ROME, June 28 (Reuters) - Italy's Environment and Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said on Wednesday that deliveries by ship of liquefied natural gas (LNG) were a reliable source of…

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Pope gives first general audience since surgery

Pope Francis gave a general audience in the Vatican on Wednesday, his first since undergoing abdominal surgery to repair a hernia earlier this month. He last appeared before crowds in…

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3.7 earthquake rattles Siena

A magnitude 3.7 earthquake rattled the Italian province of Siena on Wednesday afternoon. The epicentre, according to Ingv data, was recorded 4 kilometres northeast of Poggibonsi, at a depth of…

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Police in Italy searching for tourist who defaced Colosseum wall

ROME, (Reuters) - Italian authorities are looking for a tourist who scribbled graffiti on a wall of the Colosseum, with Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano calling for exemplary punishment for the…

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Italy to crack down on e-scooters after deaths and accidents

ROME, (Reuters) - The Italian government announced a crackdown on the use of electric scooters on city streets, looking to cut accidents, reduce injuries and prevent pavements from becoming cluttered…

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Italy’s competition watchdog urges banks to boost deposit rates

Italy's competition authority on Tuesday urged banks to better reward depositors when rampant inflation is eroding the value of savings and higher rates are helping to lift profits for the…

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Biden invites Italian PM Meloni to visit White House in July

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Monday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about the brief uprising by Russian mercenaries against the Kremlin and also invited her to visit the…

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Row in Italy over mountain crosses

The Italian Alpine Club (CAI) has caused a row after proposing that crosses should no longer be placed on mountain peaks. Tourism Minister Daniela Santanché said she was "stunned" by…

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Spain’s conservative PP party lead narrows one month ahead of national election -poll

MADRID, June 26 (Reuters) - The lead of Spain's conservative People's Party over the left-wing ruling coalition has narrowed one month ahead of a national election on July 23, a…

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Iranian attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus foiled

JERUSALEM, (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the thwarting of what he said was an Iranian attack against Israeli targets in Cyprus. A statement from Netanyahu's office did…

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UPDATED: Mitsotakis sworn in as Greek PM, promises more jobs and ‘big changes’

By Lefteris Papadimas and Karolina Tagaris ATHENS, June 26 (Reuters) - Kyriakos Mitsotakis promised to rebuild Greece's credit rating, create jobs, raise wages and boost state revenues after he was…

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Greece’s election on Sunday: how the system works

ATHENS (Reuters) - Following is the political backdrop to Greece's parliamentary election on Sunday. Opinion polls show former Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' New Democracy party winning by a wide margin…

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Greek conservatives appear set to win Sunday election tinged by tragedy

Conservatives seen winning June 25 poll Vote tinged by migrant disaster off Greece on June 14 Row over shipwreck overshadows campaign By Angeliki Koutantou ATHENS, (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister…

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The Greek migrant shipwreck is another preventable tragedy at the borders of Europe

The Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy has been described as the “world’s most dangerous maritime crossing”. This was proven once again last week in the tragic shipwreck of a…

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Macron once more irritates Italy by backing Saudi World Expo bid

France has fired anger across Europe by backing Saudi Arabia rather than neighboring Italy to host the glitzy 2030 World Expo, as Emmanuel Macron pushes to boost trade and diplomatic…

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Danone, Kellogg among 75 companies France has asked for price cuts – document

By Richa Naidu and Sybille de La Hamaide LONDON/PARIS, June 23 (Reuters) - Danone and Kellogg are among 75 consumer goods companies that French authorities have asked to cut prices,…

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Italy may grant ‘amnesty’ on surrogacy as stricter ban comes into force

ROME, June 23 (Reuters) - Italy may grant an "amnesty" to people who had children through surrogacy following the passage of a law extending criminal penalties to those who seek…

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Lucia, third of the Fatima children, a step closer to sainthood

Sister Lúcia de Jesus e do Coração Immaculado, born Lúcia dos Santos, the third of the shepherd children of Fatima, has been declared "venerable", the Congregation for the Causes of…

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Rich nations finalise $100 bln climate aid at Paris summit – Macron

Leaders and global organisations meet in Paris Aimed to forge a consensus on debt, climate financing Development banks urged to risk capital to boost lending By John Irish and Leigh…

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Amnesty accuses Spain and Morocco of cover-up over Melilla enclave migrant deaths

By Joan Faus BARCELONA, June 23 (Reuters) - Amnesty International on Friday accused Spain and Morocco of a cover-up for failing to properly investigate events at the border of the…

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Greta Thunberg says France targeting climate activists

PARIS (Reuters) - Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said on Thursday that campaigners were being "systemically targeted with repression" in France, where she attending a finance summit. "We are seeing…

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Italy sees no need for new anti-inflation package as energy prices fall

Energy price spike has largely reversed Italy's Treasury has budget leeway to renew some measures New EU budget rules require fiscal prudence ROME (Reuters) - Italy does not plan to…

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Spain’s far-right Vox party set to run Ibiza, Mallorca parliament

MADRID, June 20 (Reuters) - A far-right lawmaker is set to run the parliament of Spain's Balearic Island region that includes the prime holiday destinations of Ibiza and Mallorca after…

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Vatican says it has promising leads on the disappearance Emanuela Orlandi

The Vatican said Thursday that a new investigation it has opened into the into the case of Emanuela Orlandi, a 15-year-old girl who went missing in 1983, had uncovered some…

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Pope skips speech, blaming breathing difficulties after surgery

VATICAN CITY, June 22 (Reuters) - Pope Francis skipped reading a planned speech at a conference on Thursday, saying he still had breathing problems following a hernia operation this month.…

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At least 209 ‘victims’ from Pakistan in Greece boat tragedy

(Reuters) - There were at least 209 Pakistani "victims" on an overloaded boat that capsized and sank in open seas off Greece, data shared with Reuters by a Pakistani investigative…

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Leaders head to Paris to give impetus for new global finance agenda

Leaders, global organisations, civil society meet in Paris Aim to forge a consensus on debt, climate financing Development banks urged to risk capital to boost lending By Leigh Thomas and…

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New road safety rules in Italy, helmets, license plates and insurance mandatory for e-scooters

New road safety rules that are expected to come before the government on Thursday include lifetime revocation of driving privileges for repeat drink or drug drive offenders involved in fatal…

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More than 30 feared dead as dinghy bound for Spain’s Canary Islands sinks

Spain confirms 2 deaths on dinghy off Western Sahara coast Morocco rescues 24 out of 60 estimated passengers Migration groups say over 30 passengers likely drowned MADRID, (Reuters) - More…

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UPDATED: One person still missing after Paris blast

Blast rips through street near popular Latin Quarter Gas explosion suspected but not confirmed Hundreds of firefighters bring blaze under control Blast shakes buildings PARIS, June 22 (Reuters) - One…

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Heat warning in 13 cities in Italy

A heat warning due to Italy's first heatwave of the summer will be in force in 13 cities Thursday as the 10 cities of Ancona, Bologna, Brescia, Florence, Frosinone, Latina,…

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Vatican document urges talks on welcoming LGBTQ people, women’s role

Roman Catholic bishops should discuss how the Church can be more welcoming to LGBTQ+ people and the divorced, and reflect on how to give women more decision-making power and allowing…

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Macron’s Paris summit seeks new life for global finance agenda

French President Emmanuel Macron hosts a summit on Thursday and Friday to pin down a roadmap for easing the debt burdens of low-income countries while freeing up more funds for climate financing.The…

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Italy says ECB war against inflation will hit growth

Interest rate rises set by the European Central Bank (ECB) to curb inflation will take their toll in terms of lower economic growth, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Monday.…

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Greece boat disaster: 800 were on board, says Pakistan police report

A boat that capsized off the coast of Greece last week was carrying around 800 people, according to an initial investigation by police in Pakistan, which declared a national day…

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France targets 10 bln euros in budget savings – minister

PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - A French government spending review has identified 10 billion euros in budget savings that will be targetted in the coming years, Finance Minister Bruno Le…

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Kerry meets Pope Francis privately, says he’s in great form and spirits

VATICAN CITY, June 19 (Reuters) - U.S. climate envoy John Kerry met Pope Francis on Monday, the first official to have a private audience with him since his discharge from…

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Spain’s conservative PP party widens lead ahead of national election – poll

MADRID, June 19 (Reuters) - Spain's conservative People's Party is set to win the most seats in the lower house of parliament in next month's national election, far ahead of…

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Italy braces for first heatwave of the year

The first heatwave of the year is set to hit Italy on Monday, with temperatures rising to 40 degrees Celsius in Sardinia and reaching 33-37 degrees Celsius in other parts,…

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Italy PM Meloni in Paris next week to support Rome’s Expo 2030 bid

ROME, June 17 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to France next week to show support for Rome's bid to host the Expo 2030, a government source…

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Greece boat disaster: 12 Pakistanis among survivors

KARACHI, Pakistan, June 17 (Reuters) - Twelve Pakistanis were among survivors from a boat packed with migrants that capsized off the coast of Greece this week, the Ministry of Foreign…

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A quarter of Italians at risk of poverty or social exclusion

Just under a quarter of the Italian population, 24.4%, was at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2022, Istat said this week. The national statistics agency said this was…

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Spanish Socialists ahead but lead narrows before election

MADRID, (Reuters) - Spain's ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) is set to win the most votes in next month's general election but its lead over the conservative People's Party (PP)…

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Rare earthquake strikes France

(Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 struck France on Friday evening , the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) said. The earthquake's epicenter was near a commune in the…

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Italy launches ‘Berlusconi’ legal reform to bolster rights of accused

By Emilio Parodi MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's cabinet approved a justice reform aimed at strengthening the rights of defendants, measures long advocated by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who died…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis leaves hospital ‘in better shape than before’

By Philip Pullella ROME, June 16 (Reuters) - Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on Friday morning, nine days after surgery to repair an abdominal hernia, and his doctor said…

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Tajani to be Forza Italia interim leader

Deputy Premier, Foreign Minister and centre-right Forza Italia (FI) national coordinator, Antonio Tajani, is to step up to become interim FI leader after the death of founder and leader Silvio…

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Hopes fading as Greece scours migrant shipwreck site for survivors

KALAMATA, Greece, (Reuters) - Rescuers scoured the seas off Greece on Thursday following a shipwreck that killed at least 78 migrants, as hopes of survivors dwindled and fears grew that…

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Pope Francis orders ex-aide of Pope Benedict to leave Vatican

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has ordered Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, the private secretary and long-time aide of the late Pope Benedict, to return to his native…

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Telecom Italia CEO confident grid sale will go well

Telecom Italia's (TIM) plan to sell its prized landline grid asset to reduce debt "should and can go well", CEO Pietro Labriola said on Thursday, as sources said bids have…

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