The Dispatch

Alarm among Catholics over ‘very sick’ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Pope Francis has visited his predecessor Benedict XVI as the Vatican said that the 95-year-old former pope's health worsened on Wednesday morning. Francis described Benedict as being "very sick" during…

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Italian FM Tajani voices ‘outrage and concern’ over killings of Iranian teens

Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani on Wednesday told Iran's new ambassador to Italy that death sentences against protesters involved in demonstrations sparked by the the mid-September death…

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Italy imposes mandatory Covid tests for travellers from China

By Emilio Parodi MILAN, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Italy has ordered COVID-19 antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers coming from China, where cases are surging, the health minister said on Wednesday.…

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Number of journalists threatened in Italy doubled in 2022

The number of journalists threatened in Italy doubled in 2022 over the previous year, the Ossigeno per l'Informazione (Oxygen for Information) watchdog group said. In the first nine months of…

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Greece island rattled by strong earthquake, felt in Athens

ATHENS, Dec 28 (Reuters) - A 4.9 magnitude earthquake shook the island of Evia in central Greece on Wednesday and was felt in Athens, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute.…

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Portugal’s Treasury chief forced to quit over previous job severance

LISBON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Portugal's newly-appointed head of Treasury has stepped down, the finance ministry said, her resignation following a public backlash over a hefty severance pay she had…

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France’s energy watchdog sees no risk to power supplies until mid-January

PARIS, Dec 28 (Reuters) - There is no risk to power supplies in France until at least mid-January, the head of the country's CRE energy watchdog, Emmanuelle Wargon, said on Wednesday. While…

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FACTBOX: Former Pope Benedict, his papacy and resignation

VATICAN CITY, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, who Pope Francis said on Wednesday was "very sick", resigned in 2013, the first pontiff in 600 years to take such…

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2022 was hottest year ever in Italy

2022 was the hottest year ever in Italy, the National Research Council (CNR) revealed. The year was the hottest since records began in 1800, the CNR said. It was the…

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UPDATED: Former pope Benedict is ‘very sick’, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Former pope Benedict, 95, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to step down, is "very sick," his successor Pope Francis…

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UPDATED: Ryanair, Wizz Air and EasyJet face Italy inquiry over Sicily flight prices

ROME, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust regulator said on Tuesday it opened an inquiry into possible price-fixing for flights in and out of Sicily by airlines including Ryanair, Wizz…

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Italy’s Meloni reaffirms support for Ukraine in call with Zelenskiy

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday reaffirmed her government's "full support" for Ukraine in a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, her office said in a statement. …

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Spain announces $10.6 bln package to ease inflation pain

MADRID, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Spain on Tuesday announced 10 billion euros ($10.65 billion) worth of measures to ease the pain of inflation in the third major package this year, bringing total aid to 45 billion euros since…

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Paris shooting suspect expressed ‘hatred of foreigners’, says prosecutor

A suspect accused of gunning down three Kurdish people in Paris told investigators of his "hatred of foreigners", the Paris prosecutor said on Sunday. The 69-year-old man was arrested on Friday after two men…

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France to deliver letters just three days a week

France is to move to three-days-a-week letter deliveries from the start of next year as ministers in Britain resist pleas from Royal Mail to axe Saturday postal rounds. Letters will…

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Youth in Spain see jobs gain after years of instability

By Belén Carreño MADRID (Reuters) - A revamp of Spain's labour rules has led to a 142% rise in young workers with permanent contracts in a country where rates of…

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Pope Francis renews wish for peace in war-torn world

Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square after praying the Angelus on Monday, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace in the world, especially those suffering from war in…

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UPDATED: Seventh body found in river after bus accident in Spain

MADRID, Dec 26 (Reuters) - A seventh body was found in northwestern Spain after a passenger bus careened off a bridge and plunged into an overflowing river, bringing the accident's…

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UK police asked to help with Gibraltar’s inquiry into alleged government corruption

UK police have been called in to lead an investigation into a data breach in a public inquiry concerning alleged corruption at the top of Gibraltar’s government. The development is…

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Photo Story: A sweet tribute to Picasso and his Guernica

Confectioner Jorge Garrido poses next to a chocolate version of Picasso's 'Guernica' displayed at Galleros Artesanos in Rute, Cordoba, southern Spain. The confectionery is known for their chocolate nativity scenes…

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World is starving for peace, Pope Francis says in Christmas message

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis called for an end to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts in his Christmas message on Sunday, saying the world was suffering from…

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Paris shooting suspect expressed ‘hatred of foreigners’, says prosecutor

PARIS (Reuters) - The suspect detained over the killing of three Kurdish people in Paris told investigators of his "hatred of foreigners", the Paris prosecutor said on Sunday. The 69-year-old…

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Italian former Foreign Minister Frattini dies at 65

ROME (Reuters) - Franco Frattini, who served twice as Italy's foreign minister and held several other cabinet posts, died on Saturday at the age of 65, Italian media reported. Frattini,…

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Remember the war weary and the poor, pope urges on Christmas Eve

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Saturday led the world's Catholics into Christmas, saying in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts that the level…

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Bird flu situation is worsening in France

PARIS (Reuters) - The spread of bird flu has accelerated in the past weeks in France, the European Union's second largest poultry producer, the farm ministry said, raising concern of…

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Photo Story: Christmas Illuminations in Paris

The traditional giant Christmas tree of the Galeries Lafayette department store stands under its great dome in Paris, France. Photo: EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

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Police arrest in Spain one of FBI most wanted fugitives

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish police on Friday said they had arrested one of the U.S. FBI's Ten Most Wanted fugitives, who was staying at a hotel in Madrid under a…

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Italy government faces confidence vote on 2023 budget

ROME (Reuters) -Italy's Chamber of Deputies will hold a confidence vote late on Friday called by the government to speed up approval of its expansionary 2023 budget before a year-end…

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Photo Story: ‘Holy Night’ (Welcome to Europe) by Harry Greb

An installation called 'Holy Night' (Welcome to Europe) created by the street artist known as Harry Greb is placed near St. Peter's Basilica, in Rome, Italy. The artwork, featuring the…

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Italy business and consumer morale rises in December, but manufacturers more downbeat

ROME, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Morale amongst Italian businesses and consumers rose in December, data showed on Friday, although the manufacturing sector was more downbeat. National statistics institute ISTAT's composite…

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French railway strike threat called off for New Year holiday weekend

PARIS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - France's SNCF railway body said that trade unions' threat to call a strike for the forthcoming New Year holiday weekend had been called off after…

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God not on Mafia’s side, Sicilian archbishop says after trial

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian judge has handed down jail sentences totalling 80 years to 39 people for diverting a Good Friday religious procession to the house of a Mafia…

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UPDATED: Paris gunman kills three in attack on Kurdish cafe

PARIS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A gunman opened fire on a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby Kurdish cafe in central Paris on Friday, killing three people and wounding three others,…

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Italy set for warmest Christmas in 50 years

Italy is set for its warmest Christmas in 50 years, a top meteorologist said. The centre and south of he peninsula as well as Sicily and Sardinia may well see…

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Pope thanks Poles for helping Ukrainians

During a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis said: “I would like to wish all Poles a blessed Christmas. According to your tradition, during Christmas Eve, you leave…

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French inflation will be high in coming months before easing in mid-2023 -Le Maire

PARIS, Dec 22 (Reuters) - France will have high inflation levels in the next few months, particularly regarding food items, before it will then likely ease in mid-2023, French Finance…

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Italy eases hunting rules to fight wild boar ‘invasion’

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's ruling right-wing coalition is set to loosen hunting rules to deal with what the country's farming lobby calls an "invasion" of wild boars. The boars are…

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Greece’s 2022 tourism revenues seen at 18 bln euros, PM says

ATHENS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Greece's Prime Minister said on Tuesday that revenues from its all-important tourism industry are seen reaching at least18 billion euros ($19.13 billion) this year, beating the government's…

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Remember Ukraine’s smileless children this Christmas, pope says

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday called on people to remember Ukrainian children suffering in the cold this Christmas. "Let us think of the many children in Ukraine…

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Spain to request over €84 bln in fresh EU funds, mostly loans

By Belén Carreño and Inti Landauro MADRID, Dec 20 (Reuters) - The Spanish government will ask the European Union for loans worth 84 billion euros ($89.1 billion) and a further 7.7 billion…

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Italy delays hearing on EU graft scandal suspect on Belgian jail claim

BRESCIA, Italy (Reuters) - An Italian court on Tuesday postponed until January a hearing on whether to hand over to the Belgian authorities a second woman suspected of involvement in…

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There should not be any ‘crash’ in French and European economy – ECB’s Villeroy

The French and broader European economy should not suffer any "crash" or "hard landing", European Central Bank (ECB) member and Bank of France head Francois Villeroy de Galhau told BFM…

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Youth in Spain see jobs gain after years of instability

A revamp of Spain's labour rules has led to a 142% rise in young workers with permanent contracts in a country where rates of youth unemployment and under-employment have been…

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Italy agrees to transfer suspect in EU graft scandal to Belgium

An Italian court on Monday agreed to hand over to Belgian authorities a woman suspected of involvement in a Qatar graft scandal that has rocked the European Parliament. An appeals court in…

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Jesuit abuse case widens as victim speaks, order seeks witnesses

A case of sexual abuse rattling the Jesuits has widened with a former nun describing how her complaints against a prominent priest were ignored and as the religious order urged…

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Italy stops joint police patrols with China – interior minister

ROME, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Italy will stop letting Chinese police take part in joint patrols with its officers in its territory, the interior minister said in an interview published…

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French train guards to go ahead with Christmas, New Year strike -union

PARIS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Train guards at France's state-owned railway operator SNCF decided on Monday to go ahead with a strike planned for the Christmas and New Year weekends,…

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COVID-19 still Spain’s leading cause of deaths this year

MADRID, Dec 19 (Reuters) - The number of deaths associated with the COVID-19 pandemic fell by almost a third in Spain in the first half of this year from a…

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Pope Francis orders Parthenon marbles held by Vatican be returned to Greece

Pope Francis has decided to return to Greece three 2,500-year-old pieces of the Parthenon that have been in the papal collections of the Vatican Museums for two centuries. The Vatican…

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UPDATED: Italy weakens plan to promote cash payments after EU criticism

Italy drops plan to end fines for refusing small card payments New budget cuts penalties for late tax payments "Citizens' wage" poverty relief scheme being wound down By Giuseppe Fonte…

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Italy mourns the death of veteran actor Lando Buzzanca

Italy is mourning the death of veteran actor Lando Buzzanca who died in Rome on Sunday aged 87. The actor died at Villa Speranza where he had been hospitalized for…

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Pope in 2013 signed resignation letter in case of bad health

ROME (Reuters) -Pope Francis revealed in a new interview published on Sunday that after he was elected in 2013 he signed a letter of resignation to be used if someday…

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Canary Islands wants EU to waive Brexit rules for UK’s ‘digital nomads’

“Digital nomads” from Britain could stay in the Canary Islands without visa restrictions under new plans to get around EU Brexit rules. The Canary Islands has requested exemption from the…

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Photo Story: Christmas preparations in Naples

Little statues of celebrities are on display at the street of San Gregorio Armeno that is famous for its shops selling handcrafted nativity figurines in Naples, Italy. Via EPA-EFE/CESARE ABBATE

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Leaning Tower of Pisa ‘in excellent health’

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is in excellent health, the local heritage protection agency said this week. "Considering it is an 850-year-old patient with a tilt of around five metres…

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Migrant rescue NGO at centre of Italy-France spat running out of cash

ROME (Reuters) - A migrant rescue charity caught up in a diplomatic row between Italy and France last month said on Thursday it urgently needs donations to keep its ship…

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European lawmaker Eva Kaili’s stellar rise hit by Qatar probe

ATHENS (Reuters) - Eva Kaili's career charted a meteoric rise from student activism in Greece to the highest echelons of European lawmaking but now faces an equally precipitous fall after…

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