The Dispatch

French industry’s electricity costs to jump next year under new cap, union says

PARIS (Reuters) - French industry's electricity bills are likely to jump by 3.5 billion euros ($3.68 billion) next year as companies will be required to buy more at market rates…

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Italy’s Catholic Church reintroduces handshakes during Mass

ROME, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Italy's Catholic Church is reintroducing handshakes for the "sign of peace" during Mass as part of a wider relaxation of anti-COVID-19 measures. "It will be…

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Photo story: Pope Francis receives the donors of the Christmas tree and the crib in St. Peter’s square

Pope Francis meets with the donors of the Christmas tree and Nativity scene at the Vatican, Vatican City, 03 December 2022. Pope Francis on Saturday morning received delegations from Sutrio,…

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Britons to be offered huge tax breaks to work from home in Spain

British “digital nomads” are set to be offered huge tax breaks to work from home in Spain. Madrid is planning a new visa programme that will allow people working for…

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Photo Story: World’s biggest Christmas Nativity Scene on display in Alicante

Locals walk by the world's largest Christmas Nativity Scene in Alicante, eastern Spain. This year, the Three Wise Kings, represented by 16, 15 and 11-meter statues, will join Saint Joseph…

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Pope: migrant deaths in the Mediterranean ‘unacceptable and almost always avoidable’

ROME (Reuters) - Migrant deaths in the Mediterranean are "unacceptable and almost always avoidable," Pope Francis said on Friday, renewing a call for policymakers across the region to address the…

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Spanish unemployment falls in Nov as job creation continues

MADRID, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Unemployment fell and net jobs were created in November in Spain, reflecting strength in the labour market despite a slowing economy, official data showed on…

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French motorways’ toll charges to go up by 4.75% on average next year

PARIS, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The toll charges on France's motorways, run by the likes of companies Vinci and Eiffage , will go up by 4.75% on average next year…

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Spain tourism soars in October, approaches pre-pandemic levels

MADRID, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The number of foreign tourists visiting Spain in October soared 39% from the same month last year to 7.18 million, but remained a tad below…

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Evacuations from Ischia amid weather alert

Over 1,000 people are to be evacuated from Ischia amid a weather alert after the landslide that hit the Bay of Naples island Saturday killing 11 people with one still…

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Greek police investigate arson outside Italian deputy ambassador’s home

ATHENS, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Police in Greece are investigating an arson attack on cars in the parking lot of the Italian deputy ambassador's home in Athens, a police official…

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UPDATED: Ukrainian embassies receive ‘bloody packages’ containing animal eyes – Kyiv

KYIV, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Several Ukrainian embassies abroad have received "bloody packages" containing animal eyes, Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Friday, after a series of letter bombs were sent…

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Italy confident to clinch all 2022 targets of EU post-pandemic recovery fund

ROME, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Italy's government is confident of achieving all targets of the EU post-pandemic recovery fund planned by the end of the year, its economy minister said…

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Fresh storm front to hit Italy this weekend

A fresh storm front will hit Italy this weekend after a two-day lull in the rain, www.iLMeteo.it weatherman Andrea Garbinato warned. The northeast and Sardinia will be the first to…

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Vatican website targeted in possible hacking activity

The Vatican said its website experienced a host of continued "anomalous" access attempts and strange activity between Wednesday and Thursday. Vatican.va, the official portal of the Vatican, was "temporarily inaccessible"…

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France may be at risk of ‘some days’ of power cuts this winter -watchdog

PARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - France may face "some days" this winter when insufficient electricity supply could mean power cuts, the head of French energy regulator RTE said on Thursday, as the…

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French baguette makes it onto World Cultural Heritage list

PARIS (Reuters) -The humble baguette, France's staple bread, has made it onto the United Nation's cultural heritage list. Paris-based U.N. heritage body UNESCO on Wednesday voted to include the "artisanal…

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Russia protests Vatican’s criticism of ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine

Russia's envoy has expressed Moscow's strong dissatisfaction to the Vatican following Pope Francis' latest condemnation of the "cruelty" of Russia's actions in Ukraine, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Tuesday. Francis…

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Italy seeks fresh options for TIM as bid for network seen fading

Italy's new government will likely need to seek fresh options for ailing former phone monopoly Telecom Italia, as a planned bid for its landline grid by state lender CDP appears…

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Juventus Chairman Agnelli resigns with entire board

The board of Juventus, chaired by Andrea Agnelli, has resigned "in the best interest of the company," the Italian Serie A soccer team said on Monday. The collective resignation comes after Juventus'…

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Illegal construction partly blamed for landslide deaths on Italian island of Ischia

As rescuers continued to search for five people still missing after a catastrophic landslide in Ischia, anger was growing on the southern Italian island on Sunday over the years of…

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UPDATED: Italy applies 50% windfall tax on energy companies’ extra income

By Giuseppe Fonte ROME, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Italy plans to apply a 50% one-off windfall tax next year on surplus income of energy companies that have benefited from the…

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UPDATED: Landslide kills at least seven on Italy’s Ischia island

CASAMICCIOLA TERME, Italy, (Reuters) - At least seven people, including a newborn baby and two children, were killed on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia after a landslide caused…

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France’s Le Maire: We went too far in use of consulting firms

PARIS, Nov 27 (Reuters) - The French government made excessive use of consultancy firms in the past and is now striving to correct that, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Sunday.…

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Italy PM tasks top aide with broadband strategy as bid for TIM grid falters

By Elvira Pollina and Giuseppe Fonte MILAN, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has given one of her top aides powers to oversee Rome's strategy on ultra-fast broadband networks…

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Landslide hits Italian island of Ischia, one woman dead, 10 missing

MILAN (Reuters) -A woman was found dead and around 10 people were still missing on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia after a landslide engulfed buildings during heavy rain…

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A look at previous investigations involving French leaders

PARIS (Reuters) - France's financial prosecutor has opened a probe into suspected favouritism and alleged illegal financing of President Emmanuel Macron's 2017 campaign, in connection with contracts with McKinsey, Le…

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Migrant politician has rocky start in Italian parliament

ROME, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Italy's only Black lawmaker suspended himself from his left-wing party on Thursday after his family was accused of mismanaging funds and exploiting staff at two…

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Italy’s Meloni and the technocrats – a difficult power balance

Tensions between PM Meloni's party and top ministry officials Powerful Treasury head in cross hairs of Meloni's inner-circle Meloni aide pushed to split economy ministry Government criticises head of state…

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Italy consumer and business morale rise in November, in boost for new government

ROME, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Morale amongst Italian businesses and consumers jumped in November, data showed on Friday, in a boost for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's new right-wing government. National…

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Italy govt to oppose Piombino city appeal against new LNG terminal

ROME, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Italy's government will fight the judicial appeal by the city of Piombino against the plan to install a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in…

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Top Spanish football medic to treat Pope Francis

The head of Atlético Madrid's medical team has been summoned to the Vatican to help treat Pope Francis, who is suffering from an arthritic knee. The 85-year-old Pope has cancelled…

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Almost half of murders in Italy ‘in-family’, most victims women

ISTAT said that 139 people were murdered in the domestic context in Italy last year, accounting for 45.9% of all homicides. The national statistics agency said that women were the…

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Italy cash payments plan breaks spirit of EU accord, expert says

ROME (Reuters) - A proposal in Italy's draft budget is not in line with its previous commitments to incentivise electronic payments as a way to boost tax compliance, according to…

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Italy minister: EU Commission’s gas price cap plan “insufficient”

ROME (Reuters) - The European Commission's proposal to cap gas prices at 275 euros ($285) a megawatt hour (MWh) is insufficient and set too high, Italy's energy and environment minister…

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Italy to press ahead with plans to sell ITA despite MSC snub

Italy's government will press ahead with plans to sell a majority stake in airline ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Tuesday, after shipping group…

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Italy approves 2023 budget with 35 bln euros to lift economy

Italy's new right-wing government signed off on its first budget on Tuesday, a package focusing on curbing sky-high energy bills and cutting taxes from next year for payroll workers and…

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EPA’s Eye In The Sky: Punta Ala, Italy

An aerial view of the sea, gulf and port of Punta Ala, near Grosseto, Tuscany region in central Italy. Photo: EPA-EFE/FABIO MUZZI

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Italy’s bank lobby warns ECB of risk of attending board meetings

FLORENCE, Italy, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The head of Italy's banking lobby urged the European Central Bank (ECB) to consider whether its representatives could find themselves sharing responsibility for lenders’…

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France aims to curb jobless benefits with link to job market strength

Govt wants better incentives to return to work Benefits to run a quarter shorter if job market firm Measure seen saving 4 billion euros By Caroline Pailliez PARIS, Nov 21…

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France needs to start reining in finances next year – IMF

PARIS, Nov 21 (Reuters) - France should begin reining in public finances from next year to ensure that debt does not keep piling up, the International Monetary Fund said on…

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Italy’s Meloni to unveil budget with 30 bln euros to lift economy

Over 21 bln euros for taming energy bills Part of funding comes from taxing energy firms' extra profits Amnesty on tax arrears, cut to retirement age expected By Giuseppe Fonte…

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Italy to extend Ukraine arms supply law for 2023

ROME, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Italy's government will ask parliament to approve a new law on military and civilian supplies to Ukraine throughout 2023, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in…

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MPs in France propose introduction of school uniforms

MPs in France’s ruling party are set to spark a major row by proposing the controversial introduction of uniforms in schools. Seven deputies of Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party submitted a…

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Photo story: The Champs-Elysees lights up for Christmas

Parisians and tourists gather on Sunday evening to attend the symbolically switching on of the Christmas illuminations of the famous Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris, France. Via EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

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Italy to be hit by severe bad weather for 24 hours from Monday evening

Italians are being warned that from Monday evening, starting around 8pm and for the following 24 hours, Italy will be lashed by the passage of a very rapid but strong…

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Strong earthquake rattles Crete, no reports of damage

ATHENS, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake struck off the Greek island of Crete early on Monday but there were no immediate reports of damage. The quake was of…

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Young people can change the world – Pope Francis

Pope Francis told youths that they can change the world, realising 'dreams of peace'. The Pope was speaking while Ending the celebration of Mass on the Solemnity of Christ the…

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Maltese and Cypriot maritime registers see oil tankers leave as a result of sanctions on Russia

A large number of tankers which previously sailed under European Union flags, such as Cyprus’ and Malta’s, are leaving those registers as a result of the sanctions on Russian oil…

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France spends 8.4 bln euro to help companies with energy bills

PARIS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - France will spend 8.4 billion euros ($8.67 billion) to help companies pay their energy bills, in a bid to cushion the impact of rising electricity and gas…

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Pope Francis goes back to his roots in visit to northern Italy town

PORTACOMARO, Italy (Reuters) - Pope Francis went back to his roots on Saturday, visiting the northern area of Italy his ancestors left for Argentina and dropping in on an older…

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Italy govt loses court battle over ID documents for gay parents

ROME (Reuters) - Same-sex parents have the right not to be called "father" and "mother" in the ID papers of their offspring, a court in Italy has ruled, in a…

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Photo story: Festival of Lights at Jardin des Plantes in Paris

Visitors walk at night through the 'Jardin des Plantes' outside the Museum of Natural History during the ‘Illumination Mini Monde’ (Small World Illumination) exhibition in Paris, France. The exhibition runs…

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Extreme weather events in Italy up 27% this year, Sicily worst affected

Italy experienced 254 extreme-weather events in the first 10 months of 2022, which is already 27% more than the number registered in the whole of 2021, environmental association Legambiente said…

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Italy set for more rain in next 10 days than rest of year

Italy is set to get more rain over the next 10 days than it has in the rest of the year so far, Italian meteorological official Lorenzo Tedici warned on…

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Minors from controversial migrant ship flee French refugee centre

PARIS (Reuters) - More than half of the 44 minors that were on board the controversial Ocean Viking refugee rescue ship have fled the French social services who were taking…

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Former Italian PM Berlusconi acquitted in bribery case

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court on Thursday acquitted former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi of bribing a witness in a 2013 underage prostitution case, giving a boost to the veteran…

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