The Dispatch

House of Commons votes in favour of extending same-sex marriage and lifting of abortion ban in Northern Ireland

MPs have voted to extend same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland, a plan the government has said it will honour despite ministerial doubts. The House of Commons voted 383 to 73…

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Donald Trump ‘will no longer deal’ with British ambassador, blames May for Brexit’s mess

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he "will no longer deal" with the British ambassador to the United States, after a weekend news report that the UK diplomat had…

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Photo Story: The Restoration of the Night Watch

Restorers working on a restoration of the Night Watch behind a glass wall in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 08 July 2019. Rembrandt van Rijn's world-famous masterpiece…

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UK backs stronger protection for Christians worldwide

There needs to be a "sea-change" in how the UK treats worldwide anti-Christian persecution, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. Hunt had ordered a review into the issue. He said…

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Majority of British electorate want neither Johnson nor Hunt as PM

In an exclusive poll for The Independent, most of the British public would choose neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Hunt to be the next prime minister if given the chance.…

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Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan in Ukraine for major multinational maritime exercise

The Type 45 has docked in the Port of Odesa on the Black Sea alongside NATO Allies and partner nations for Exercise Sea Breeze 2019. Alongside forces from 18 other…

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£183 million fine for British Airways

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the U.K. data regulator, has fined British Airways 183 million pounds over a breach that compromised information on half a million customers. The airline, owned…

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Photo Story: Climate activists block Swiss bank Credit Suisse in Basel

A group of climate activists from the Collective Climate Justice organization block the entrance to the Swiss bank Credit Suisse, at the Aeschenplatz, in Basel, Switzerland, 08 July 2019.…

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CDU leader warns against blocking von der Leyen nomination

Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, head of Merkel's Christian Democrat party (CDU), warned her junior coalition partners against blocking the appointment of a German, Ursula von der Leyen, to head the European Commission,…

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Deutsche Bank axes whole teams in Asia-Pacific

Whole teams in Deutsche Bank’s Asian operations were told their positions were gone on Monday, as the lender began axing 18,000 jobs globally in one of the biggest overhauls to…

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UK steps up fight against fake news

The Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, announced a package of £18m over three years to counter disinformation and fake news across Eastern Europe and strengthen independent media in the Western…

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Donald Trump hits back at UK ambassador, British Foreign Office to hold inquiry into leak of memos

Donald Trump has hit out at the UK ambassador to the US after a leak of sensitive memos, saying he "has not served the UK well". Asked about the controversy…

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British Conservative party members receive more than one ballot sheet

Some Conservative members have reportedly been sent more than one ballot paper for the leadership election. More than 1,000 people could have multiple forms in the contest between Boris Johnson…

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Tourist pleasure boat crashed into Westminster Bridge on the River Thames

A pleasure boat full of tourists has crashed into Westminster Bridge on the River Thames. Emergency services have been called out after the City Cruisers boat hit the underside of the central London bridge around 4pm…

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Photo Story: Crop Circle in Switzerland

An aerial view taken with a drone shows a crop circle in a wheat field near Bueren an der Aare, Switzerland, 06 July 2019. According to local reports, the…

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Johnson Set for Crushing Victory

Bloomberg reports that Boris Johnson looks set for a landslide victory over rival Jeremy Hunt in the race to become Britain’s next prime minister. According to a YouGov poll published…

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Murderers in the UK who fail to disclose the whereabouts of a victim’s body may spend longer behind bars

Murderers who refuse to disclose the location of a victim’s body may be denied parole under a new law set out by the Justice Secretary David Gauke. Named after…

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Deutsche Bank braced large layoffs

The Financial Times reports that Deutsche Bank staff are bracing themselves for one of the most severe job culls in banking since Lehman Brothers collapsed a decade ago Indications…

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Royal Baby Archie to be baptized today

The christening of the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will take place today in a private ceremony. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on 6 May,…

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Iran threatens tit-for-tat retaliation after after Royal Marines storm super tanker

Iran has threatened to seize a British tanker after Royal Marines held one of their vessels suspected of taking oil to Syria off the coast of Gibraltar. Mohsen Rezai, a…

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Opposition grows in Germany for Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination for EU President

Only one third of Germans believe their defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, is a good choice to lead the EU Commission, according to a Deutschlandtrend survey, organized by Germany's…

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The Netherlands mulling making it a crime to rescue migrants at sea

Government Coalition party the VVD has proposed to make it a crime to rescue migrants from drowning at sea, despite international treaties making it an obligation. The plan has a…

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Deutsche Telekom launches Germany’s first 5G network

Deutsche Telekom, Germany's largest telecom company has launched the country's first 5G network, but for now it only works in two cities - Bonn and Berlin - and only…

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George Osborne’s ambitions to run IMF

George Osborne is considering putting his name forward to replace Christine Lagarde as the head of the International Monetary Fund, according to reports, a move that would see him become…

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4,500 jobs at risk at William Hill

Gambling firm William Hill has confirmed plans to shut 700 betting shops, placing 4,500 jobs at risk. The bookmaker had threatened such a move before a crackdown to cut stakes…

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An Exhibition Exploring Aviation Over The Next 100 Years At London’s Saatchi Gallery

To celebrate its centenary British Airways is launching BA 2119: Flight of the Future, a first-of-its-kind exhibition looking ahead to the next 100 years of flying and imagining what…

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Political storm in Germany over choice of von der Leyen for European Commission chief

The nomination of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen as new European Commission chief has sparked fresh tensions within Chancellor Angela Merkel's fragile coalition that threatened to split her…

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Fears protests could worsen in Hong Kong as police make arrests

There is concern in Hong Kong that the situation could worsen after police arrested more than a dozen people following protests earlier this week. Weeks of mass protests in the…

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UPDATED: Royal Marines board oil tanker in Gibraltar

Royal Marines have boarded an oil tanker on its way to Syria thought to be breaching EU sanctions. The government of Gibraltar said there was reason to believe the ship,…

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UK: Doctors unwilling to prescribe medical cannabis in the knowledge that there is little evidence to stand up some of the claims – Commons Health and Social Care Committee

Families' hopes were unfairly raised when doctors were allowed to prescribe cannabis, a report has concluded. The public had expected ready access to prescriptions after the law changed in November…

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Plans to overhaul Amsterdam’s red-light district

Femke Halsema, Amsterdam’s new mayor, announced plans to overhaul the city’s red-light district in a bid to protect sex workers. In what would be the most radical revamp of…

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Royal baby Archie to be baptized on Saturday

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie will be christened on Saturday. Archie, who was born on 6 May, is seventh in line to…

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Sea-Watch ship captain moved to secret location after threats

Carola Rackete, the German captain of a rescue charity ship, has received threats and has been moved to a secret location, the German charity Sea-Watch said on Wednesday. An Italian…

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Obesity tops smoking as main cause of cancers in the UK

According to a study that has just been released by Cancer Research UK obesity now causes more cases of four common cancers in the UK than smoking. Despite that,…

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Wales gives all NHS staff access to Microsoft 365 as part of huge tech shake-up

Every public sector health worker in Wales will be given access to Microsoft programs such as Outlook and Teams as part of a country-wide focus on digital transformation. More than…

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The RAF continues to take the fight to Daesh in Syria

Following the liberation by the Syrian Democratic Forces of the last territory held by Daesh or ISIS in Syria, Royal Air Force aircraft have continued to fly daily armed…

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Wife of ruler of Dubai reported to have escaped to the UK

Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, a wife of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, is in hiding in London and said to be in fear for her life…

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Swiss women’s international footballer Florijana Ismaili confirmed dead

Switzerland women’s international Florijana Ismaili has been confirmed dead. Ismaili, a female football player with the Swiss national team, has been declared missing after a swimming accident on Lake Como…

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Johnson and Hunt accused of trying to turn UK into a haven for tax evasion and money laundering

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have been accused of trying to turn the UK into a haven for tax evaders and money launderers after the Tory leadership rivals each backed…

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Prince William greets his mother’s well wishers who held vigil on her birthday

Prince William has stunned well-wishers after he greeted them in person outside Kensington Palace as they held an all-day vigil to mark his late mother's birthday. A small group of…

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UK extremely concerned that Iran breached 2015 nuclear deal

Downing Street says it is "extremely concerning" that Iran has breached the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with major foreign powers. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran…

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Church of England issues first ‘commandments’ for social media use

The Church of England has issued its first set of guidelines for followers who use social media. The digital charter is based on five key principles of truth, kindness, welcome,…

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Swiss stock exchange loses EU access

The Swiss Market Index rose 1pc in early trading on the first day since EU-based traders lost the right to trade equities in the country as a result of a diplomatic…

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Uncertainty for British trucks in the case of ‘no deal’ Brexit

The Daily Telegraph reports that British trucks will not be able to board ships in Dover in a "no deal" Brexit if they do not have the correct customs paperwork, following…

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Swiss footballer Florijana Ismaili missing in Lake Como in Italy

Florijana Ismaili, a female football player with the Swiss national team, has been declared missing after a swimming accident on Lake Como in Italy. Ismaili, 24, has played for the…

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UK sends largest Royal Navy presence to Baltic Sea in over 100 years

Over 4,000 service personnel and 44 ships from seven different countries in the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) are taking part in the mission in Lithuania, close to Moscow’s exclave in…

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Bereaved parents in the UK spared children’s burial and cremation costs

Families grieving the tragic loss of a child will no longer have to meet the costs of their burial or cremation, as a result of a new government scheme set…

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Switzerland-EU partnership deadline looms

The European Union is threatening that from Sunday midnight, to terminate its preferential treatment of Swiss stock exchanges. From July 1, the EU would no longer recognize Swiss stock-exchange regulations…

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UK: Newborn, whose birth was induced after his 8-month pregnant mother was stabbed to death, in critical condition

A boy whose birth was induced after his mother was stabbed to death is in critical condition. Kelly-Mary Fauvrelle, 26, was around eight months pregnant when she was killed in…

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UK’s main parties face ‘political extinction’ without Brexit – Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson, the likely next U.K. prime minister, said if the U.K. doesn't leave the European Union on October 31, the two main British parties will face "political extinction." Speaking…

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Photo Story: Armed Forces Day in the UK

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defence showing the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Aerobatic Team The Red Arrows flyover the Salisbury Cathedral, southern England, 29 June…

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Amsterdam having second thoughts about various festivals in the city

Amsterdam city council is taking a critical look at the effect of festivals on the city and plans to set up a special commission to vet which events can…

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E-voting suffers another setback in Switzerland

The Swiss government has decided to suspend efforts to enshrine electronic voting into the country's law, but it plans to continue trials using improved systems. A consultation among political…

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May’s appeal to the Conservative Party not to abandon traditional values

Theresa May urged the Tory party to stick to its traditional values as she called on her successor to maintain her approach to “co-operation and compromise” on the world…

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Photo Story: The Montreux Jazz Festival

British musician Elton John performs on the stage during his final 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' tour at the 53rd Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF), in Montreux, Switzerland on the evening of…

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Photo Story: Glastonbury Festival Day Three

Abba tribute band Björn Again play The Pyramid Stage on day three of the Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, Britain 28 June 2019. Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts is…

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Microsoft ramps up prepartions for the opening of the flagship Microsoft Store in London

Two people will get the chance to play some of the latest Xbox games with England footballer Raheem Sterling and Star Wars’ John Boyega in the flagship Microsoft Store in…

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