The Dispatch

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Amsterdam airport cancels at least 700 flights because of snow and wind

Amsterdam Schiphol airport, one of the largest in Europe, has announced at least 700 flight cancellations because of snow and wind, after days of weather-related travel disruptions. More than 1,000…

Read More Here

Starmer Braces for Parliamentary Clash on Upcoming EU ‘Reset’ Legislation

Keir Starmer is set to face fresh battles over his EU “reset” with his plans to lay a bill that could lead to closer regulatory ties with Brussels. The legislation…

Read More Here

Belgium records sharp rise in UFO sightings in 2025

Belgium’s UFO hotline recorded 237 reports of unidentified flying objects in 2025, according to its annual report published on Monday. The Belgische UFO-meldpunt, which has been analysing unusual aerial phenomena…

Read More Here

Starmer Indicates Readiness for Selective EU Cooperation on National Grounds

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK should move towards closer alignment with EU markets "if it's in our national interest". The prime minister told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg it…

Read More Here

Swiss authotorities initiate criminal investigations into Crans-Montana tragedy

Swiss authorities announced on Saturday that they have initiated a criminal investigation. The investigation targets the two French owners of the Crans-Montana ski resort bar. A tragic fire at this…

Read More Here

Wintry weather prompts travel warnings across UK and Netherlands

Travel disruption is expected across parts of the UK and northern Europe as wintry weather brings snow, ice and strong winds, with conditions likely to persist into the weekend. In…

Read More Here

Swiss Prosecutor Rules Out Attack After Deadly Crans-Montana Blast

Several dozen people were killed and more than 100 injured following a blast and subsequent fire at a New Year’s Eve gathering in the Swiss alpine resort of Crans-Montana, according…

Read More Here

Germany’s Merz tells Europe to assert itself to safeguard peace, prosperity

Europe must assert its interests more strongly to ensure peace and prosperity in 2026 amid challenges from Russian aggression, global protectionism and changing ties with the U.S., German Chancellor Friedrich…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Channel Tunnel power malfunction fixed, but rail delays may linger

The Channel Tunnel’s operator said trains through the undersea link between continental Europe and the United Kingdom were running again Wednesday in both directions after a day of travel chaos…

Read More Here

Eurostar Cancels Multiple London–Paris Services Amid Ongoing Disruption

Eurostar has cancelled a number of upcoming services between London and Paris as disruption in the Channel Tunnel continues to affect operations. According to information published on the Eurostar website,…

Read More Here

Army Chief Concedes Switzerland Lacks Means to Defend Against Major Invasion

Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said. The country is prepared for…

Read More Here

Belgium Tightens New Year Security as Authorities Shift to Preventive Strategy

As Belgium prepares to usher in 2026, authorities in Brussels and across the country are rolling out an extensive security and prevention strategy aimed at avoiding a repeat of the…

Read More Here

UK Living Standards Lag as Malta Wins Praise for Economic Strength, Telegraph Reports

Living standards in the UK are set to fall behind those in Malta, according to an analysis published by the Daily Telegraph, as Britain struggles with rising debt and weak…

Read More Here

Two men found guilty of UK plot to kill hundreds of Jews as IS fears grow

Two men were found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired gun rampage against the Jewish community in England, a planned attack investigators say demonstrates the resurgent…

Read More Here

Starmer Says Closer EU Trade Ties Are a ‘Strategic Necessity’ for UK Firms

Keir Starmer’s government has been told a closer EU trade deal is a “strategic necessity” for companies in Britain as growing numbers of exporters find it tougher to do business…

Read More Here

Netherlands calls for EU ban on powerful fireworks

The EU must introduce a track-and-trace system for powerful fireworks and ban the production of “cobras”, the firework of choice used in a growing number of targeted explosions at private…

Read More Here

E-scooters to be banned in Brussels on New Year’s Eve

Scooters are prohibited in Brussels on New Year's Eve, following a decision by outgoing Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort. The ban applies to both private and shared scooters and will be…

Read More Here

Germany registers over 1,000 suspicious drone flights

Germany has registered over 1,000 suspicious drone flights so far in 2025, the head of Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) told German newspaper Bild in comments published on Sunday.…

Read More Here

UK to transfer €2.8bn of Abramovich’s Chelsea cash to Ukraine fund, PM Starmer says

The UK has authorised the release of €2.8 billion from Roman Abramovich’s sale of Chelsea FC, but only for humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament on…

Read More Here

Belgium says Russian assets plan ‘going backward’ ahead of EU summit

EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels to discuss funding for Ukraine’s war effort, but Belgium has warned that talks are moving backwards. Belgium’s EU ambassador, Peter Moors, told…

Read More Here

Liverpool parade attacker jailed for more than 21 years for ploughing car into fans

A former Royal Marine has been sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for driving into crowds of Liverpool supporters during a victory parade, in an attack described by…

Read More Here

Russia’s ‘export of chaos’ creating new security threats, warns MI6 chief

The new head of Britain’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, has warned that Russia’s strategy of spreading instability abroad is reshaping modern conflict and creating complex security challenges for the UK…

Read More Here

NATO’s Rutte says Europe must prepare for ‘scale of war our grandparents’ endured

NATO Chief Mark Rutte urged member countries to do more to prepare for the possibility of large-scale war, warning that Russia may be ready to attack the alliance within five…

Read More Here

UK hospitals facing ‘worst case scenario’ from super flu, doctors warn

Hospitals in Britain are facing a "worst case scenario" from a wave of super flu, healthcare bosses warned on Thursday, as flu hospitalisations jumped 55% in a week. Health leaders…

Read More Here

British and Danish PM urge European leaders to reform human rights laws to tackle illegal migration

Sir Keir Starmer has urged European leaders to reform human rights laws to make it easier to deport illegal migrants ahead of crucial talks on a potential shake-up of the…

Read More Here

The 10 happiest places to live in the UK

Skipton, a market town in North Yorkshire has been crowned the happiest place to live in 2025, according to an annual study by Rightmove. Home to a medieval castle, a…

Read More Here

Germany votes to bring back voluntary military service programme for 18-year-olds

Germany's parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, in a move aimed at boosting national defences after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It marks a significant shift…

Read More Here

Edinburgh Airport flights resume after ‘IT issue’ halted air traffic

Flights have resumed after all flights were halted at Edinburgh Airport due to an IT issue affecting its air traffic control provider. Edinburgh Airport is the sixth busiest in the…

Read More Here

Main findings from UK Novichok report that blames Russia

A British inquiry delivered its report into the death of a woman who died in 2018 after being poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok, months after a murder attempt on…

Read More Here

3.3-magnitude quake ‘shakes homes and wakes people up’ in North West England

A 3.3-magnitude earthquake has struck Lancashire - with dozens of people saying it shook their homes or woke them up. The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it was "felt across…

Read More Here

Brussels implements mandatory ID checks for all e-scooter users

From now on, anyone using a shared e-scooter in the Brussels-Capital Region will first have to complete a mandatory identity verification check, mobility operators Bolt and Dott announced. The ID…

Read More Here

Reform and Tories deny plans of pre-election pact

Reports suggesting that Reform UK and the Conservatives might merge or form a pre-election pact have been firmly rejected by both parties. The Financial Times cited unnamed sources claiming Nigel…

Read More Here

UK PM: Brexit ‘significantly’ hurt British economy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged the public to acknowledge the compromises required for a closer relationship with the European Union, emphasizing the economic costs of Brexit. Speaking in central…

Read More Here

Germany’s Christmas markets grapple with soaring security costs

Germany's Christmas markets, a major tourist draw for local economies, are grappling with unprecedented security costs following a series of attacks. A nationwide survey by the Federal Association of City…

Read More Here

Britain Weighs Selling of Overseas Diplomatic Assets

tain’s global diplomatic footprint could be significantly scaled back as it tries to work out which embassies and buildings to sell off from a sprawling £2.5 billion overseas estate. U.K. budget…

Read More Here

Berlin Draws Up Secret War Plan as Russia Fears Mount

Germany is developing and implementing a secret plan in case of war with Russia, which involves sending up to 800,000 NATO troops to the front line, according to The Wall…

Read More Here

Ireland tightens immigration rules in bid to slow population growth

Ireland introduced measures to tighten its immigration rules that the justice minister said were aimed at slowing a "worryingly" high rate of population growth amid numbers seeking asylum that were…

Read More Here

British finance minister Rachel Reeves and her Budget speech

British finance minister Rachel Reeves is delivering her annual budget on Wednesday, unveiling billions of pounds in tax increases. Here are some of the main quotes from her speech to…

Read More Here

‘No permission, no travel’: UK to enforce new digital travel permit rules from February 2026

Visitors from 85 countries, who do not currently need a visa, will not be able to travel to the UK without an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 25 February 2026…

Read More Here

Belgium faces nationwide disruption as unions strike

Belgium began a three-day strike on Monday as unions protest the government's planned social and budget reforms. The walkouts are expected to heavily disrupt transport, schools, hospitals and public services,…

Read More Here

Tourist tax expected to be introduced for London

The mayor of London has cautiously welcomed reports that he is to impose a tourist levy on visitors staying overnight in the capital. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give…

Read More Here

UK says ‘military options ready’ as Russian ship uses lasers against RAF pilots

British defence minister John Healey said on Wednesday that "military options" are ready should the Russian spy ship Yantar become a threat, after the vessel directed lasers at British pilots…

Read More Here

Number of Britons leaving the UK significantly higher than previously thought

The number of Britons who left the UK last year is significantly higher than previously thought, revised figures show. The number of British nationals who left the UK in the…

Read More Here

Britain toughens asylum policy in major overhaul as anti-immigration sentiment rises

Britain on Monday said it would make refugee status temporary and speed up the deportation of those who arrive illegally, in a major overhaul aimed at stemming the rise of…

Read More Here

Fast-track deportations to be announced as part of asylum reforms

Plans to fast-track the deportation of illegal migrants as part of sweeping reforms of the UK's asylum policy are to be announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. In a statement…

Read More Here

Amsterdam Targets Foreign Drivers in Crackdown on Unpaid Parking Fees

Amsterdam will begin immobilizing vehicles from countries where parking fines cannot be recovered by mail starting next July, city officials announced Thursday, positioning the move as a corrective measure to…

Read More Here

Belgium to Reshape Global Diplomatic Network Amid Geopolitical Shifts

Belgium plans to overhaul its network of diplomatic posts in response to shifting global pressures, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said, outlining a restructuring that will both streamline and reinforce the…

Read More Here

BBC apologizes to Trump over documentary edit

The BBC has apologized to US President Donald Trump for a misleading edit of a "Panorama" documentary, the British public broadcaster said, but denied the issue is grounds for a…

Read More Here

Germany to introduce voluntary military service

Germany's coalition partners announced a compromise on Thursday over new rules on military service, a key element in a wider drive to rebuild the country's shrunken armed forces. The model…

Read More Here

Dover pushed back EES launch to avoid Christmas travel chaos

The roll-out of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) for tourists at Dover has been delayed until 2026, according to port officials. The digital border system was due to come…

Read More Here

Wild form of polio found in German sewage sample

The wild form of the virus behind polio has been detected in wastewater sampling in Germany, the nation's main public health body told Reuters, in a setback for efforts to…

Read More Here

German man arrested for offering assassination bounty on Merkel and Scholz

German police have arrested a 49-year-old man, identified as Martin S., accused of running a darknet “assassination platform” that targeted former Chancellors Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. Prosecutors said the…

Read More Here

UK deploys anti-drone specialists to Belgium after string of incursions

Britain has pledged to support Belgium in tackling a wave of drone incursions that have disrupted air traffic and raised security concerns. UK Chief of the Defence Staff Richard Knighton…

Read More Here

Belgium to strengthen airspace security following multiple drones incursions

Belgium is set to strengthen its airspace security measures following a series of unauthorised drone incursions near major airports, including Brussels International Airport in Zaventem. Authorities confirmed that several recent…

Read More Here

Germany arrests 18 in international crackdown on online fraud

An internationally coordinated action against alleged online fraud and money laundering networks that included German payment service providers resulted in 18 arrests, German authorities said on Wednesday. Germany's Federal Criminal…

Read More Here