Europe - Mediterranean - CDE News - The Dispatch

Therapy dog cheers Spanish special-needs kids during COVID

Surrounded by parents and teachers, five children with disabilities in a Spanish special-needs school cannot hide their excitement when Soul the therapy dog walks in wagging her tail. “What we…

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Almost a fifth of Spanish firms in danger of insolvency, Bank of Spain says

Up to 18.7% of Spanish companies could be insolvent by the end of the year because of the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, with one in 10 of them…

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France’s COVID-19 hospitalisations below 28,000 for first time since early November

French health authorities said on Tuesday the number of people hospitalised for COVID-19 infections fell by more than 600 to go below the 28,000 threshold for the first time since…

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Use common sense for Christmas shopping, Spanish authorities urge

Spanish political and health authorities have appealed to general public to behave responsibly and use their “common sense” after the streets of main cities across the countries attracted large crowds…

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Pope cancels traditional pre-Christmas ceremony due to COVID-19

Pope Francis has cancelled a ceremony that traditionally begins Rome's Christmas season on Dec. 8 at the Spanish Steps because of coronavirus restrictions, the Vatican said on Monday. The pope…

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Italy reports 672 deaths on Monday

Italy reported 672 coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, against 541 on Sunday, and 16,377 new infections, down from 20,648 the day before, with the fall in cases reflecting the lower number…

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Italy reports 20,648 new coronavirus cases, 541 deaths on Sunday

taly reported 541 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, against 686 the day before, and 20,648 new infections, down from 26,323 on Saturday, the health ministry said. The first Western country hit…

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Spain’s health workers protest against health service cuts

Dancing and banging drums in the street, doctors and nurses protested in Madrid on Sunday against cuts which they say have left them struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.…

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Paris police officers to remain in custody over beating of Black music producer

Three Paris police officers being held over the beating of a Black music producer during an arrest a week ago will remain in custody for now, Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz…

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Photo Story: ‘Sweetest Museum in the World’ opens in Barcelona

Photos from the Sweetest Museum in the World in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition, at Las Arenas mall, is dedicated to candy. This interactive and sensory exhibition is the first pop-up…

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Photo Story: Barcelona lights up for Christmas

Pedestrians walk past city light installations during the opening of the Christmas Lights 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Via EPA-EFE/Enric Fontcuberta

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Photo Story: Christmas tree put up in Milan

Workers erect a Christmas tree in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping mall in Milan, Italy, 29 November 2020. Via EPA-EFE/ANDREA FASANI

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French government ordered to review COVID-19 crowd limits on church attendance

France’s State Council, the country’s highest court, on Sunday ordered the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30. The Council…

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Pope Francis and the new Cardinals concelebrate Mass on the First Sunday of Advent

Celebrating Holy Mass on the First Sunday of Advent together with 11 new Cardinals who received their red hats from him just hours earlier, Pope Francis invited the faithful to…

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Italy reports 686 deaths from Covid-19

Italy reported 686 COVID-19-related deaths on Saturday, against 827 the day before, and 26,323 new infections, down from 28,352 on Friday, the health ministry said. There were 225,940 swabs carried…

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UK, France sign new deal to stop illegal migration across Channel

Britain and France signed a new agreement to try to stop illegal migration across the Channel on Saturday, upping patrols and technology in the hope of closing off a dangerous…

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Deadly flooding hits Sardinia

At least three people have been killed on the Italian island of Sardinia after flooding caused by heavy rains. Italian media say the three who have died there include an…

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Spanish police arrest drugs gang in Mediterranean after high-speed chase

A gang of drugs traffickers has been arrested after a dramatic speedboat chase across over 100 miles of the Mediterranean during which they tried to dump bags of hashish, police…

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One Photo – 13 Cardinals and 2 Popes

Handout pictures provided by the Vatican Media shows Pope Francis (R) and cardinals visit the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI (L), in the chapel of the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, Vatican City,…

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Germany is failing EU leadership test – Greek Foreign Minister

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias accused Germany of failing to live up to its leadership role in the EU by rejecting pleas from Athens to impose an arms embargo on…

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Italy loosens COVID restrictions in five regions, including Lombardy

The Italian government will ease anti-COVID restrictions in five regions from Sunday, including in the country's richest and most populous region Lombardy, the Health Ministry said. Lombardy, Piedmont and Calabria…

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A Natale puoi… The other ‘Christmas’ in Italy

Italy reported 827 COVID 19-related deaths on Friday, against 822 the day before, and 28,352 new infections, down from 29,003 on Thursday, the health ministry said. There were 222,803 swabs…

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The Church still has its roots in the heart of our nation – Cardinal Mario Grech

Message by Cardinal-Elect Mario Grech "I confess to you that I was a little overwhelmed by our nation's reaction to the announcement made by Pope Francis when he said that…

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Macron says images of police beating Black man shameful for France

President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that images showing Paris police beating up a Black music producer were shameful for France, and that government would have to find a way…

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Maradona would still be alive had he played for Juventus rather than Napoli – Cabrini

Diego Maradona would still be alive if he had played for Juventus and not Napoli, Juve great and 1982 World Cup winning defender Antonio Cabrini said Friday. "Maradona would still…

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Case of revenge porn spike in Italy

Italian authorities are currently investigating more than 1,000 alleged cases of revenge porn, which refers to the illegal distribution of sexually explicit imagery or videos. The data was provided by…

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Italian PM’s closest aid says ECB should consider wiping out pandemic debt

The European Central Bank should consider cancelling out or holding forever the government debt it buys during the current crisis to help nations recover and restructure, a top Italian government…

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We’ve been forgotten in COVID-19 easing, say French restaurants

Restaurant owner Jean Avarello is struggling to understand why in the next few weeks the shops and theatres near him in the French city of Marseille will be allowed to…

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Malta joins Med states in calling for mandatory quotas for relocating refugees

Malta together with fellow Mediterannean countries Greece, Italy and Spain insisted that mandatory quotas for sharing out people who qualify for refugee status among the 27 EU countries must be…

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Napoli win emotional first match after Maradona’s death

Napoli overcame Croatian side Rijeka 2-0 on Thursday in their first match since the death of Diego Maradona, the Italian club's greatest and most popular player. On an emotionally-charged evening, the Napoli team took the…

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Remy Cointreau eyes return to like-for-like profit growth in full year

Spirits group Remy Cointreau has achieved better-than-expected first-half profits despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, it said on Thursday, predicting a strong recovery in the second half, driven by China and…

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Time running out to find Brexit agreement on Gibraltar, Spanish foreign minister says

Time is running out to find a Brexit agreement between Spain and Britain over Gibraltar, Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said on Thursday. "Talks between Spain and the United…

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Post-COVID normal life predicted to return to France by autumn 2021

France could return to some sort of post-coronavirus normal in about a year if as many as 80% to 90% of its population are vaccinated against the disease, a government…

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Sicily asks Cuba to send medics to help fight second Covid wave

Authorities in Sicily have asked Cuba’s government to send about 60 healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, to the region as hospitals in the Italian island struggle with a shortage…

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Maradona – Naples weeps death of its hero

News of his death on Wednesday ricocheted around the city’s narrow alleyways, drawing crowds into the streets to mourn the passing of the Argentine star who decades earlier had turned…

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Pope Francis remembers fellow Argentine Maradona affectionately, praying for him

Pope Francis remembers soccer legend and fellow Argentine Diego Maradona with affection and is keeping him in his prayers, the Vatican said on Wednesday. Maradona, who died on Wednesday at his home…

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La Scala opts for TV gala as virus cancels season debut

Milan's La Scala will broadcast a music and dance gala from its empty auditorium next month after it was forced to abandon its traditional December opening with an opera for…

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Spain considers limiting Christmas celebrations to six people

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday that his government was considering limiting Christmas celebrations to six people in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. "This…

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Italy to setup 300 facilities for vaccination

Coronavirus Emergency Commissioner Domenico Arcuri is drafting a list of around 300 facilities in Italy that will get the first 3.4 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, ANSA sources…

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Surge in deaths of Italian ‘health workers’

The Italian federation of doctors guilds (FNOMCEO) head Filippo Anelli said that 27 doctors had died in the last 10 days, almost three a day and called for an end…

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France’s Macron eyes COVID-19 vaccination starting by year-end

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, could start being administered as soon as the end of the…

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Italy seeking EU rules for Christmas skiing to limit COVID-19 risk

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned Italians not to ski during the Christmas holidays to help curb a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000…

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Feliz Navidad? Coronavirus Christmas could limit parties in Spain

The Spanish government is to propose a "different" Christmas and New Year under coronavirus restrictions with just six people at parties, although it hopes the "soul and spirit" of the…

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France’s Macron announces three-step reopening amid ‘glimmer of hope’

France will start easing its COVID-19 lockdown this weekend so that by Christmas, shops, theatres and cinemas will reopen and people will be able to spend the holiday with their…

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Spain’s King Felipe in quarantine after close contact with coronavirus case

Spain's King Felipe VI started 10 days of quarantine on Monday after coming into close contact with someone who later tested positive for the new coronavirus, a Royal House source…

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Pope, for first time, says China’s Uighurs are ‘persecuted’

In a new book, Pope Francis for the first time calls China's Muslim Uighurs a "persecuted" people, something human rights activists have been urging him to do for years. In…

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Pope Francis says anti-maskers incapable of moving outside of their own little world of interests

Pope Francis took to task people protesting against coronavirus restrictions, insisting there was no justification to their demonstrations. He compared such protests to the "healthy indignation" which was shown in…

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Russia to investigate Jehovah’s Witnesses

Russia on Tuesday opened a new criminal case into Jehovah's Witnesses, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Tuesday, adding that the religion's management centre had illegally resumed working. Russian investigators said searches…

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Italy’s Covid-19 death toll surpasses 50,000

Italy reported 630 COVID 19-related deaths on Monday, rising from 562 the day before and taking the official toll since its outbreak began in February to 50,453, according to health ministry…

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French business activity at six-month low after second lockdown – PMI

French business activity contracted this month at the fastest pace since May as the second coronavirus lockdown this year clobbered the dominant services sector, a survey showed on Monday. Data…

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Greek government considers capital injection for Aegean Airlines

The Greek state is considering providing capital support for the country's biggest carrier Aegean Airlines, of around 120 million euros ($142.55 million), a government spokesman said on Monday. Under the…

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Danone restructures business to meet new goals

French food group Danone said on Monday it planned to cut its product range by up to 30% next year and become a more "local-first" organization worldwide, as part of…

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Italian Health Minister plays down chances of free movement at Christmas

Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza has played down talk of full freedom of movement being returned in Italy for Christmas, saying this will only be possible if all of Italy's…

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France’s Credit Agricole offers to buy Italian bank Creval

France's second-biggest listed bank Credit Agricole on Monday offered to buy Italian bank Credito Valtellinese (Creval) for 737 million euros ($875 million) as it pursues plans to boost its footprint…

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Photo Story: Milan prepares for Christmas

A woman takes photos of a winterly decorated shop during a pre-Christmas window-shopping walk-in San Babila square, in Milan, Italy, on Sunday evening. Italy fights with a second wave of…

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Pope says his brush with death helps him relate to Covid victims

Pope Francis says in a new book that he can relate to people in intensive care units who fear dying from coronavirus because of his own experience when part of…

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France plans to jail environmental offenders for 10 years under new laws

France is set to make serious intentional damage to the environment punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as part of a planned "ecocide" law, government ministers said in…

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