The Dispatch

UK Government Report Calls for Tigher Rules on Overseas Funding of Political Parties

A review commissioned by the British Government has recommended a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, alongside tighter rules on overseas funding, in an effort to strengthen transparency…

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Belgium to Deploy Soldiers in Streets for Security Patrols

Belgium will begin deploying soldiers on its streets from Monday, Defence Minister Theo Francken announced Thursday during a plenary session of the Chamber of Representatives. Up to 200 soldiers will…

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Netherlands Supports European Rules to Safely Reuse Returned Medication

The Netherlands has signalled support for forthcoming European legislation that would allow patients to return unused medication to pharmacies for safe redistribution, in a move aimed at reducing waste, lowering…

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UK ends centuries-old hereditary seats in House of Lords

Hereditary peers are set to lose their automatic right to sit and vote in the House of Lords, a major reform expected to take effect before the next King’s Speech.…

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British Airways cancels Abu Dhabi service ‘until later this year’

British Airways said it had cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv “until later this month”, while services to and from Abu Dhabi have…

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Six killed in Swiss bus blaze, police probe reports of passenger starting fire

At least six people were killed and three others injured after a bus caught fire in western Switzerland in what police believe may have been a deliberate act. Reports suggest…

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UK Parliament rejects proposal to ban social media use for under-16s

Lawmakers in the United Kingdom have rejected a proposal to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, following a vote in the House of Commons…

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Synagogue in Belgian city of Liege damaged in explosion

A synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege ‌was damaged by an explosion early on Monday, Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF reported, citing local police. No injuries were reported. ⁠The…

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Al Fayed abuse should be investigated as human trafficking, says former senior Met officer

A former senior Metropolitan Police officer has urged investigators to widen their probe into allegations of rape and sexual abuse by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to include human…

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Britain to bar study visas for four nations, halt Afghan work visas

Britain said on Tuesday it would block study visas ‌for nationals from four countries and halt work visas for Afghans, using what it called an "emergency brake" to curb rising…

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Rían, Lily most popular baby names in Ireland last year

Rían was the most popular name in Ireland for boys, while Lily was the most popular girls' name last year, according to statistics from the Irish CSO. The top five…

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Embarrassing defeat for UK’s Starmer as Greens seize Labour stronghold

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour suffered an embarrassing election defeat to the left-wing Green Party on Friday in an area of Manchester it had dominated for almost a century, a…

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Gibraltar must follow EU rules

Gibraltar will remain British but must follow EU rules under its new Brexit deal, the full legal text of the agreement has revealed. Madrid deems the British Overseas Territory as…

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UK and French Vessels to Support Ireland in Policing Its Waters

Ireland is to deepen naval co-operation with France and Britain, including allowing their vessels to patrol Irish-controlled waters and offer protection during the EU presidency. The move towards deeper co-operation…

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German drone deal faces scrutiny over Thiel stake

A multibillion euro German military drone contract is facing political scrutiny over billionaire investor Peter Thiel’s stake in a Berlin defence tech firm, according to a report by investigative portal…

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UK Government to Release Papers on Prince Andrew’s Trade Envoy Role

The British government will publish confidential documents linked to Prince Andrew’s tenure as trade envoy following mounting parliamentary pressure. Britihs MPs on Tuesday approved a motion demanding the release of…

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Mandelson’s lawyers say his arrest followed ‘baseless suggestion’ he planned to leave UK

Lawyers for Peter Mandelson said he was arrested at his London home on Monday because police considered him a potential flight risk, a claim they insist is “baseless”. The former…

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New Dutch PM Jetten faces uphill task as minority government installed

Rob Jetten became the youngest prime minister in Dutch history on Monday when his minority government was formally confirmed in power by King Willem-Alexander. Jetten, 38, propelled his progressive, pro-EU…

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Police search at Royal Lodge continues as Andrew released under investigation

Police have released Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after arresting him earlier on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince was photographed returning to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk shortly after leaving…

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York and brother of King Charles III, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, according to Thames Valley Police. In a statement,…

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Germany plans to give spies vast new powers in rollback of postwar restraints

Germany is preparing to significantly strengthen its foreign intelligence service amid growing concern that the United States could scale back intelligence sharing with Europe, according to a report by Politico.…

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EU, UK close on agreement on Gibraltar

The European Commission has adopted proposals for the signing, provisional application and conclusion of a new EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar, completing the legal framework governing relations over the territory. Gibraltar…

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NATO will become more European-led, NATO Chief Rutte says

The NATO alliance will become more European-led, with a continuing strong presence of the United States, as European allies significantly increase military spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on…

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The Netherlands is in the grip of a winter flu epidemic

The Netherlands is officially in the grip of a flu epidemic, as the number of people who visited their family doctor with flu-like symptoms rises for two weeks in a…

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UK Finance Minister Urges EU to Admit Britain to ‘Made in Europe’ Framework

Britain should be part of any “Made in Europe” club giving preference to European goods, the U.K.’s finance chief has said. Rachel Reeves said she was in favor of the…

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German government pushes Syrians to return to their homeland

Last year, 5,976 Syrians applied for voluntary repatriation to Syria, which was funded by the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), submitting all the necessary documents. Of these,…

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UK Labour veteran tells MPs removing Starmer would be a bad idea

Veteran Labour minister Jacqui Smith backed Keir Starmer on Monday, warning MPs and Cabinet colleagues against plotting to remove him as prime minister. Smith, who served under Tony Blair and…

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Prince Andrew’s Epstein Fallout: Latest Revelations Explained

The 65-year-old second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew, is once again under the spotlight following new revelations from the recently released Epstein files. Despite consistently denying any…

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William and Catherine say they are ‘deeply concerned’ in first statement on Epstein revelations

The Prince and Princess of Wales have said they are “deeply concerned” by the latest revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, marking their first public statement on the ongoing scandal. A Kensington…

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Starmer’s Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Mandelson Controversy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is facing turmoil after the resignation of Downing Street chief of staff Morgan McSweeney over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.…

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Rules of War Under Severe Strain, New Study Warns

An authoritative survey of 23 armed conflicts over the last 18 months has concluded that international law seeking to limit the effects of war is at breaking point, with more…

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Police Inquiry into Lord Mandelson: Details on Confidential Information

The Metropolitan Police has begun a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson. He is a former Labour minister and ex-UK ambassador to the US. This follows allegations of misconduct in public…

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Keir Starmer Chairs Meeting Amid Mandelson Controversy

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to chair a cabinet meeting today. Meanwhile, police are investigating claims that former US ambassador Lord Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to disgraced…

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Sarah’s Trust to Shutdown following Epstein Leaks

Sarah Ferguson’s charity, Sarah’s Trust, will close “for the foreseeable future.” This decision follows renewed scrutiny over the former Duchess of York’s connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.…

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Drone incidents at UK military bases doubled last year

Britain's military bases experienced a doubling of drone incidents last year, highlighting the changing nature of warfare and prompting the government to hand more powers to its forces to protect…

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Lord Mandelson Resigns from Labour Party Amid Epstein Controversy

Lord Mandelson has announced his decision to resign as a member of the Labour Party, stating that he wishes to avoid "causing further embarrassment" due to his associations with the…

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Keir Starmer’s Plan for U.K.-EU Market Engagement

Keir Starmer is seeking deeper engagement between the U.K. and the EU single market, aiming to align more closely where it benefits the country. Last year, Starmer agreed to follow…

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Human trafficker who tortured migrants in Libya jailed for 20 years in Netherlands

An Eritrean people trafficker who tortured African refugees and migrants in camps in Libya was jailed for 20 years on by a Dutch court, with a judge saying he had…

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Dutch parties agree on rare minority government

Leaders of political parties in the Netherlands have agreed to form a rare minority government. The centrist pro-EU D66 party, which won the election last October, will team up with…

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Suella Braverman joins Nigel Farage’s populist Reform UK

British lawmaker Suella Braverman, an ex-interior minister, became the latest prominent Conservative to join Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK on Monday, using her unveiling at a rally to accuse her…

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Labour NEC Blocks Burnham’s By-Election Candidacy

Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has been prevented from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election after the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted 8-1 against allowing him to…

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Heathrow’s new scanners end dreaded rummage for liquids and laptops

Passengers will no longer be forced to dig around in their hand luggage to extract shampoos, water bottles and laptops when travelling through security at Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, thanks…

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New trade map takes shape in Davos as world adjusts to Trump tariffs

President Donald Trump's use of tariffs as a foreign policy tool added fresh impetus in Davos this week to efforts to boost global trade beyond the U.S., with frustration palpable…

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Germany’s Merz: Europe must not rush to write off transatlantic ties

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump's shift in rhetoric on Greenland and urged Europeans not to be too quick to write off the transatlantic partnership.…

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Trump launches Board of Peace that some fear rivals UN

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday launched his Board of Peace, initially focused on cementing Gaza's ceasefire but which he said could take a wider role that may worry other…

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Greenland turmoil is eclipsing Ukraine at Davos

As a real war rages on Europe’s eastern edge, the continent’s leaders are distracted by a phony one on its western flank. With European leaders scrambling here at Davos to…

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UK mulls Australia-style ban on social media for children

Britain is considering a range of measures to better protect children online, including an Australian-style ban on social media for those below a certain age and tougher guidance for use…

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UK Starmer calls for ‘calm discussion’ to avert trade war with US over Greenland

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Monday for calm discussion to avert a possible trade war with the United States over Greenland, appealing to President Donald Trump to respect…

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Britain’s surging Reform party draws big-name defector Jenrick

Britain's former Conservative Party leadership candidate Robert Jenrick became the biggest-name defector to Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK on Thursday, saying the nation was broken and its two mainstream political…

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UK has no plan for defending nation in event of war

The UK has no plan to defend the nation in the event of war, including how to mobilise the National Health Service to deal with mass casualties, the head of…

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Former UK government minister Zahawi defects to Farage’s Reform

Former British finance minister Nadhim Zahawi defected to Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK party from the Conservative Party on Monday, saying the country was broken and needed Farage as prime…

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Tory Plans for Safer Social Media: A Game Changer?

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch announced plans to raise the "age of consent" for social media to protect children from harmful online content. This measure exceeds previous proposals like banning smartphones…

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New Year’s Eve tragic Swiss bar’s service door was locked from inside

The charges against bar owner Jacques Moretti may become more complex. This could happen if the public prosecutor determines he bears partial responsibility for the locked fire exit. Moretti states…

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Berlin Blackout: Deliberate Sabotage Exposes Fragile Critical Infrastructure

Berlin experienced a major power outage in early January 2026 after an arson attack on high-voltage power cables in the city’s southwest. German authorities have said the fire was deliberately…

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Severe Winds and Snow Disrupt Travel Across France and Britain

Storm Goretti brought severe weather to parts of northern Europe on Friday, causing widespread disruption in France and the United Kingdom, including power outages, transport suspensions and school closures. https://twitter.com/Top_Disaster/status/2009572228229419180…

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German president says US is destroying world order

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has strongly criticised the U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump and urged the world not to let the world order disintegrate into a "den of…

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Belgium braces for more bad weather

A storm coming in from the English Channel will create dangerous weather conditions in large parts of Belgium from Thursday and into the weekend, the Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI) has…

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