The Dispatch

Germany arrests suspected members of Nigerian dating mafia

German police on Wednesday announced that eleven suspected members of a criminal syndicate from Nigeria, the Black Axe, were arrested during nationwide raids The gang is internationally famous for different criminal activities such…

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British TV station GB News can continue to use politicians as presenters

British TV station GB News can continue to use politicians as presenters, after the media regulator Ofcom concluded the British public does not want to ban the likes of Jacob…

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Runaway horses cause havoc through the streets of London

Horses from the Household Cavalry caused chaos around central London. The animals, with saddles and bridles, were seen running on the road near Aldwych on Wednesday morning. Pictures and…

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Germany to resume cooperation with Palestinian UNRWA agency

The German government plans to resume cooperation with the UN agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in Gaza, the foreign and development ministries said in a joint statement on Wednesday. The decision…

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At least 10 jihadist attacks prevented in Europe in 2023

Western intelligence prevented at least 10 jihadist attacks across Europe last year and the current war between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas has increased the threat of further…

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German police shoot machete-wielding man at the University of Mannheim

Police in Germany shot a man who was allegedly wielding a machete at the University of Mannheim on Tuesday afternoon. The suspect, a 31-year-old German national, later died in hospital. The…

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What is UK’s plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda?

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised on Monday to start sending asylum seekers to Rwanda within 10 to 12 weeks after parliament passed much-delayed legislation to facilitate the deportation of…

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Germany arrests aide to far-right MEP on suspicion of China espionage

German police have arrested an assistant to a European Parliament member on suspicion of “an especially severe case” of espionage for China, prosecutors said on Tuesday, appearing to refer to…

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UK’s Sunak says nothing will stop Rwanda policy; migrants die in channel

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed that nothing would prevent him from sending asylum seekers to Rwanda after parliament finally approved the divisive policy that is designed to deter migrants…

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Germany detains three individuals accused of spying for China

The German Federal Prosecutor's office on Monday said three German nationals were arrested under the strong suspicion of having worked for Chinese secret service. Prosecutors believe the three may have been involved in research projects…

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Wet wipes containing plastic to be banned from sale in UK

Wet wipes containing plastic will be banned from being sold in the UK, with legislation expected to be announced by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay on Monday. The government is planning…

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Germany arrests two for alleged military sabotage plot on behalf of Russia

Two German-Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of plotting sabotage attacks, including on U.S. military facilities, in an effort to undermine military support for Ukraine, prosecutors said…

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Bavaria bans smoking cannabis at Oktoberfest beer festival

Authorities in Germany's southeastern state of Bavaria announced that they will ban smoking cannabis at the popular Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. It comes after Germany's federal government partially legalized marijuana for…

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British MPs back smoking ban for those born after 2009

British MPs have backed a plan to ban anyone born after 2009 from buying cigarettes, effectively ensuring it will become law. The measures, championed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, survived…

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Technical outage crippled Dutch air traffic for hours

Dutch airspace was almost completely closed for nearly three hours late on Monday and early on Tuesday due to a technical outage of air traffic control systems, local authorities said.…

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Britain to equip ships with lasers to take down drones from 2027

Britain's defence ministry on Friday said it would install lasers on warships designed to cheaply shoot down drones from 2027, five years earlier than previously expected, under reforms designed to…

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Germany’s transport minister threatens weekend driving ban over climate law delay

Germany’s transport minister is threatening to ban driving on weekends to meet climate goals if the ruling coalition does not pass the Climate Protection Act by July. “The fact that…

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Lufthansa suspends Tehran flights, Middle East on alert for potential Iran attacks

German airline Lufthansa announced it had suspended flights to Tehran due to the situation in the Middle East, which is on alert for possible Iranian retaliation for a suspected Israeli…

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Germany population growth to remain flat

A study released by the Bertelsmann Foundation on Tuesday showed that Germany is expected to see a slight 0.6% increase in population by 2040.The forecast is based on births, deaths and migration provided by the…

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Harris becomes Ireland’s youngest premier

When Simon Harris made headlines in his local County Wicklow newspaper in 2003 for criticising the government, the future Irish prime minister was described as "a well-known local activist". He…

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Swiss women win landmark climate victory at human rights court

By Gloria Dickie and Kate Abnett The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday in favour of a group of elderly Swiss women who had argued that their…

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Suspect charged with planning ‘coup’ attempt in Germany

Prosecutors in the northern German city of Hamburg filed charges against a 66-year-old man accused of supporting a terrorist organization and aiding and abetting the preparation of a treasonable enterprise…

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Germany’s Lindner plays down coalition breakup fears

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner on Sunday evaded questions on whether his Free Democratic Party (FDP) was prepared to leave the country's ruling coalition over tough budget talks, saying the…

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Train drivers in England begin three-day series of strikes

Rail passengers across England will face significant disruption on Friday as train drivers at five operating companies carry out industrial action. The 24-hour strike will be the first of three…

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Uproar in the UK as MP admits passing colleagues’ numbers to stranger met on dating app

A senior member of Britain's governing Conservative Party has admitted supplying the personal details of fellow lawmakers to someone he met online, saying he had felt compromised after he sent…

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Germany announces military overhaul

Germany's defence minister announced a restructuring of the military on Thursday, including a new central command and a dedicated branch for cyber space, furthering a Bundeswehr overhaul launched in response…

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Food price fears as Brexit import charges revealed

The British government has revealed how much companies will have to pay to import foods from the EU due to Brexit. Small imports of products such as fish, salami, sausage,…

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UPDATED: US Secretary of State Blinken says Ukraine will be NATO member

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that Ukraine will eventually join NATO as support for the country remains "rock solid" among member states. "Ukraine will become a…

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Easing of UK airport security rules on liquids and laptops delayed

A planned relaxation of rules around airline passengers carrying liquids in hand luggage has been delayed by a year. Major UK airports are believed to have been granted an extension…

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German man claims he tipped off Madeleine McCann’s parents about main suspect in 2008

A witness against the main suspect in the Madeleine McCann case claimed he tipped off her parents about him - a year after she vanished in 2007. Helge Busching, a…

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Conservatives set for heavy UK election defeat to opposition Labour, survey shows

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party is set for a heavy defeat at a national election expected this year, according to a seat projection published on Wednesday which showed…

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Illness, scandal and discord leave UK royal family looking depleted

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - King Charles is due to make his first public appearance at a royal event since his cancer diagnosis on Sunday, but the likely absence…

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British Army allows beards as it ends 100-year ban

British Army soldiers and officers will finally be allowed to grow a full beard after King Charles gave his approval, allowing military chiefs to end the more than 100-year ban. Head…

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Mandelson dismisses prospect of UK rejoining EU

Peter Mandelson has dismissed the prospect of an incoming Labour government taking Britain back into the EU, saying “you’ve got to be joking” that Brussels would want to renegotiate the…

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Belgian PM says country will not legalize drugs

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasised that Belgium won't back down in its war on drugs. “People who think that casual drug use is just an individual thing, that it…

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Migrant crossings to UK hit new record

More than 4,600 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats so far in 2024, a record total for the first three months of the year and giving Prime…

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Several dead in coach crash on eastern German motorway

Several people were killed and more injured in a coach crash on a motorway near the eastern German city of Leipzig on Wednesday, police said."Several people were fatally injured in…

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Britain plans to boost nuclear workforce

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will set out plans to boost Britain's nuclear workforce on Monday, as increased submarine building and the growing needs of the nuclear energy industry are forecast…

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Harris pledges ‘reset’ as he becomes Irish PM in waiting

By Graham Fahy and Padraic Halpin Harris set to become youngest ever prime minister Varadkar unexpectedly quit four days ago New leader to focus on law and order, migration, farming…

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Kate’s cancer news should end speculation about her, commentators say

By Michael Holden and Arlene Eiras LONDON, (Reuters) - The announcement by Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, on Friday that she was having treatment for cancer should finally put to…

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German Bundesbank president warns against extremism, euro exit – FUNKE

FRANKFURT, March 23 (Reuters) - Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said right-wing extremists threaten Germany's prosperity, and an exit from the euro would be "an economic catastrophe for all of us",…

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King Charles, Prince Harry, politicians offer support to Kate after cancer announcement

LONDON, (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles, Prince Harry and political leaders offered support to Kate, Princess of Wales, after she said tests following abdominal surgery showed cancer had been present…

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Kate, Princess of Wales, says she has cancer

By Michael Holden LONDON, (Reuters) - Kate, Britain's Princess of Wales, said on Friday she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after tests taken after she had major abdominal surgery in January…

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Who will become Ireland’s next prime minister?

By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN, March 21 (Reuters) - Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday he would step down as Ireland's prime minister and the leader of the governing Fine Gael party,…

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Gloomy youth pull US and western Europe down global happiness ranking

By David Milliken LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Rising unhappiness among younger people has caused the United States and some large western European countries to fall down a global wellbeing…

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London Tube drivers to strike for two days in April and May

LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) - Train drivers on the London Underground will take strike action on April 8 and May 4 in a long-running dispute over working conditions, the ASLEF…

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Ireland’s Varadkar unexpectedly quits as PM

By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN, March 20 (Reuters) - Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday he would step down as Ireland's prime minister and the leader of the governing Fine Gael party,…

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Court orders Dutch state to do more against Schiphol airport noise pollution

AMSTERDAM, March 20 (Reuters) - A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered the government to do more to cut noise pollution from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, potentially limiting traffic at one of…

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Far-right AfD peppers Germany’s top court with complaints, accused of blocking tactics

AfD files more legal challenges, questions than other parties Party's frequent cases burden German courts, ministries AfD says it's challenging violations of its political rights Accused of trying to snarl…

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Germany arrests two over suspected Islamist plot on Swedish parliament

Germany has arrested two suspected Islamic State (IS) members for allegedly planning an attack on the Swedish parliament in retaliation for Koran burnings in the Scandinavian country, the federal prosecutor's…

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UK still aims to begin migrant deportations to Rwanda in the spring, Sunak says

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday he still expects the government to begin deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda in the spring, maintaining the original timeline for the scheme…

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Germany’s Scholz say Rafah assault would make regional peace ‘very difficult’

By Sarah Marsh AQABA, Jordan, March 17 (Reuters) - The large number of civilian casualties that would result from an Israeli assault on the Gaza city of Rafah would make…

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What is Britain’s new extremism definition?

Britain unveiled a new definition of extremism this week to counter a surge in hate crimes, raising some concerns it would inhibit free speech and unfairly target Muslim groups. WHY…

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No recovery in sight for Germany economy, ministry says

BERLIN, March 15 (Reuters) - A tangible recovery in Europe's biggest economy is not yet in sight despite positive trends in industrial production, construction and foreign trade at the start…

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Germany on track to reach 2030 targets, environment agency says

BERLIN, March 15 (Reuters) - Germany's Federal Environment Agency (UBA) confirmed preliminary projections that Europe's biggest economy's greenhouse emissions fell by around 10% year-on-year in 2023, putting the country on…

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UK PM Rishi Sunak rules out holding an election in early May

By Andrew Macaskill and Farouq Suleiman LONDON, March 14 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he would not hold a general election in early May, in the…

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UK redefines extremism after rise in hate crimes against Jews, Muslims

By Michael Holden LONDON, (Reuters) - Britain unveiled a new definition of extremism on Thursday in response to an eruption of hate crimes against Jews and Muslims since the Oct.…

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