The Dispatch

Chancellor Merz Says Syrians No Longer Qualify for Asylum

Syrians no longer have grounds for asylum in Germany now the civil war in their country is over, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, as his conservatives seek to fend off…

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Germany’s top general says all young men should be considered for the Bundeswehr

Germany's armed forces chief has rejected the idea of a draft lottery in the ongoing debate over reintroducing military service, saying all young men should undergo assessment to determine eligibility.…

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UK police say train stabbings carried out by lone attacker, not terrorism

A 32-year-old British man was the sole suspect accused of a mass stabbing on a train in England, after another man arrested in the case was released on Sunday with…

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Unidentified Drones Raise Espionage Fears at Belgian Airfields

Suspicious drones spotted above Belgian military bases over the weekend are meant to spy on fighter jets and ammunition, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken said Sunday. “They [the drones] come…

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Prince Andrew’s Fall from Grace: The Scandal That Stripped Him of His Royal Privileges

Britain's King Charles stripped younger brother Andrew of his title of prince and ordered him out of his royal home over renewed scrutiny after the release of a posthumous memoir…

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UK targets food delivery and car washes in illegal working crackdown

Britain said this weekit made 63% more arrests for illegal working this year than last, driven by targeted operations in the food delivery, beauty salons and car washes industries aimed…

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Dutch centrist Jetten confident of forming government

Dutch centrist leader Rob Jetten said he was "very confident" of being able to put together a government after his party's strong showing in parliamentary elections that saw Geert Wilders'…

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King Charles strips brother Andrew of titles and his mansion

Britain's King Charles has stripped his younger brother Andrew of his title of prince and forced him out of his Windsor home, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, seeking to distance…

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Dutch centrist D66 party wins big in election as far right loses support

The centrist D66 party made huge gains in Dutch elections, likely giving it the lead in government formation as the party of far-right leader Geert Wilders lost support. With 90%…

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New drone sightings over military base in Belgium

Belgium has opened an investigation after two drone sightings over a military base in the country's south-east, Defence Minister Theo Francken said on Wednesday, the second case in the country…

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Dutch vote in elections in test of European populism’s reach

The Dutch vote in a national election on Wednesday with a choice between doubling down on the anti-immigration nationalism of populist Geert Wilders, who sank the last conservative coalition after…

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Antwerp Judge Decries Belgium’s Slide Toward Narco-State Status

Drug-trafficking is turning Belgium into a narco-state and the rule of law is under threat, an Antwerp judge wrote in an anonymous letter published Monday asking the federal government for…

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Prince Andrew Once More in the Spotlight for All the Wrong Reasons

Fresh revelations have once again thrust Prince Andrew into the headlines, with the BBC disclosing that Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein were hosted at Royal Lodge — the…

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UPDATE: Independent leftwing candidate Catherine Connolly wins Irish presidential elections

Left-wing independent candidate Catherine Connolly will become the 10th president of Ireland after winning elections by a landslide victory. Official results showed strong voter support for Connolly as president, a…

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What to expect from the Dutch election

The Netherlands heads to the polls for the third time in less than five years on October 29. Here is an overview of how the general election works and what…

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Virginia Giuffre memoir goes on sale, heaping fresh scrutiny on Prince Andrew

A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain's Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her as a teenager, went on sale in London, days after the disgraced prince gave up…

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Future King Distances Monarchy from Prince Andrew with Reported Coronation Ban

The Prince of Wales is reportedly "not satisfied with the outcome" after Prince Andrew, after the former Duke of York, relinquished his titles and honours amid continued controversy over his…

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German Civil Protection Office Warns: War Can No Longer Be Considered Unlikely

For the first time in 35 years, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) is warning of war. The agency emphasises that Germany is one of the…

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UK PM slams decision to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending Aston Villa match

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned a decision preventing Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from attending their team’s Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham next month. West Midlands Police (WMP)…

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German cabinet agrees on law to incentivise post-retirement work

Germany's cabinet agreed a draft law on Wednesday to encourage work after retirement by allowing those who do so to earn up to 2,000 euros a month tax-free in an…

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UK ‘Not Ready’ for 2C of Global Warming by 2050, Climate Advisers Warn

The UK must prepare for more extreme weather as global temperatures are expected to rise by at least 2°C by 2050, the government’s independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned.…

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Germany to order over 600 short-range air defence systems

The German government plans to order more than 600 Skyranger 30 short-range air defence systems from Rheinmetall before the end of the year, the Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Friday, citing…

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At least a third of EU citizens in UK report discrimination by public bodies

A significant number of EU citizens living long term in the UK post Brexit are experiencing discrimination in work and in public services, a report by the UK’s statutory Brexit…

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Belgium says it thwarted group planning to attack country’s prime minister

A suspected terrorist cell was dismantled by Belgium's federal prosecutor's office on Thursday, believed to have been planning an attack on Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Local media reported that…

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German parliament votes to get rid of fast-track citizenship

The Bundestag voted to get rid of a fast-track citizenship law put in place under the previous government led by center-left Social Democrat (SPD) Olaf Scholz. The vote passed with…

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Tories in Turmoil: Britain’s Once-Dominant Party Faces Existential Crisis

Once proud of being “the world’s most successful political party,” Britain’s Conservatives are now struggling for survival. After their crushing 2024 election defeat, the Tories have shifted sharply to the…

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Germany to allow police to shoot down drones

Germany will grant police the power to shoot down rogue drones like those that have disrupted airports across Europe and that some European leaders have attributed to a hybrid war…

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Britain not seeking visa deal with India

Britain will not pursue a visa deal with India, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, as he aims to deepen economic ties with the country following this year's trade agreement. Starmer…

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Harrods sets aside more than £60m for abuse compensation

Harrods has set aside more than £60m in its plan to compensate alleged victims of historical abuse. More than 100 employees of the luxury department store are expected to claim…

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Storm Amy Brings Chaos to Europe With Hurricane-Force Winds and Heavy Rain

Storm Amy swept across Europe over the weekend, unleashing strong winds and heavy rain that killed at least three people, damaged infrastructure and left tens of thousands without electricity, authorities…

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Berlin Faces Calls to Let Police Shoot Down Rogue Drones

Drone sightings overnight at Germany's Munich airport led to the cancellation and diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday, leaving nearly 3,000 passengers stranded and…

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Sarah Mullally named as new Archbishop of Canterbury

Dame Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury designate - the first woman to be chosen for the role. A former NHS chief nurse, the 63-year-old…

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Knife Assault Stokes Concern Among UK Jews Over Escalating Antisemitism

The attack on a synagogue in northern England on Thursday sent fear through a Jewish community already dealing with a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, bringing warnings about the need…

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UK’s Prince William opens up about family fears and plans to change monarchy

Prince William has said protecting his family was the most important thing for him when his wife Kate and father King Charles became ill, and revealed that he will seek…

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Munich airport reopens after drone sightings halt flights

Germany's Munich airport reopened on Friday after shutting overnight due to drone sightings that forced the cancellation or diversion of dozens of flights on the eve of a national holiday…

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UPDATED: London police boost patrols near synagogues after deadly Manchester attack

Police said on Thursday it had deployed additional officers around synagogues and Jewish community sites in London on Thursday, following a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester earlier in…

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British PM tells BBC he wants to change how international law used in asylum cases

Sir Keir Starmer wants to change how international law is interpreted, to stop unsuccessful asylum seekers blocking their deportation on the grounds they could be sent to worse prisons or…

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Northern Ireland Weighs Free Public Transit for Disabled and Seniors

Northern Ireland’s government is considering expanding free public transport to people with disabilities and older adults, part of a wider debate over how to make travel more inclusive despite tightening…

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UK plans tougher residency rules based on English skills, civic conduct

Britain plans to tighten the rules over how migrants can settle permanently by making applicants prove their value to society, including being able to speak a "high standard" of English,…

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Britain to introduce compulsory digital ID for workers

Britain on Friday said it would introduce a mandatory digital ID scheme for British citizens and residents starting a new job as a measure to deter illegal immigration. "It will…

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Starmer says Labour shied away from illegal immigration concerns

Sir Keir Starmer has publicly acknowledged "where some on the left went wrong" on immigration, saying that his party needs to tackle "every aspect of the problem". Writing in the…

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Clouds loom on German economy as demand weakens

German business confidence slipped unexpectedly in September, raising fresh doubts about the government’s ability to deliver the promised economic turnaround. The Munich-based Ifo institute reported Wednesday that its closely watched…

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Germany plans for 1,000 wounded troops per day in case of conflict with Russia

Germany's armed forces are planning how to treat a potential 1,000 wounded troops per day should a large-scale conflict between NATO and Russia break out, and amid long-standing warnings by…

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Old Email Emerges of Duchess of York Calling Epstein a ‘Supreme Friend’

Two British newspapers have published an email said to have been sent by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, calling him a "supreme friend" - despite…

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European airports struggle to fix check-in glitch after cyberattack

Some of Europe's biggest airports battled to restore normal operations on Sunday after hackers disrupted automatic check-in systems, with Brussels asking airlines to cancel half of Monday's flight departures due…

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Starmer, Trump hail renewal of ‘special relationship’, skirt difficult issues

Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the renewal of their nations' "special relationship" on Thursday, drawing the U.S leader's unprecedented second state visit to a close with…

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Lead Figure in Madeleine McCann Investigation Set for Release From Prison

The main suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann is due to be released on Wednesday from the German prison where he has been serving a seven-year…

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Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK

Donald Trump is set to fly to the UK today for an unprecedented second state visit. The US president and first lady Melania Trump will be hosted by the King…

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Ex-partner in crime says Brueckner knows truth of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance

A former associate of Christian Brueckner, the German man prosecutors say is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, said he is “100% sure” Brueckner was involved in…

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Labour in Turmoil, Conservatives in Decline as Reform Rises

Britain’s Labour government is reeling from a string of resignations and scandals that have weakened Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authority, just as the opposition Conservative Party faces an unprecedented defection…

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US, Britain to announce more than $10 billion in deals during Trump visit, US officials say

The United States and Britain plan to announce more than $10 billion in economic deals this week as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's state visit, senior U.S. officials said…

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Germany’s army needs to more than double in size, commander says

Germany's army needs to add 100,000 active troops to its existing 62,000 to meet new NATO targets intended to boost preparedness for the growing threat of Russian aggression, its commander…

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Britain sacks Mandelson as US ambassador over Epstein links

Peter Mandelson, Britain's smooth-talking ambassador to the U.S., was sacked on Thursday after his long-term association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became a further distraction for under pressure Prime…

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Britain could cut visas from countries that don’t accept migrant returns

Britain said it could cut the number of visas granted to countries that do not accept the return of migrants with no right to remain, after talks with allies including…

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London’s Tube network shuts as workers begin week of strikes

London's underground rail network came to a standstill on Monday as staff began a week of strikes over pay and working conditions, disrupting travel for commuters and tourists. Almost no…

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UK deputy PM Rayner quits over tax error

British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned on Friday after she admitted underpaying property tax on a new home, in a new blow for her boss, Prime Minister Keir Starmer,…

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UK Deputy PM fights to save her career after admitting underpaying tax

British Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is fighting for her political future after acknowledging she had underpaid property tax owed when she bought an apartment in a southern English seaside…

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