The Dispatch

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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Belgium to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly

Belgium will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly session opening on 9 September, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced. This move places Belgium alongside Australia, France, Canada and…

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German Chancellor Merz ‘mentally preparing’ for war in Ukraine to ‘drag on’

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he is “mentally preparing” for Russia’s war in Ukraine to drag on, warning that Moscow has no real interest in ending the conflict. Speaking to…

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Geert Wilders’ far-right party leads polls two months before Dutch vote

Migration, the economy, housing, and foreign affairs are expected to dominate the upcoming election campaign in the Netherlands. With two months to go before voters head to the polls, the…

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UPDATED: German cabinet passes bill for voluntary military service

Germany's cabinet passed a draft bill on Wednesday that would introduce a voluntary military service as the country seeks to bolster national defences over Russian security concerns. The text also…

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UK’s Farage warns of ‘civil disorder’, unveils plan to deport asylum seekers

Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's anti-migration Reform UK party, announced a plan on Tuesday to repeal human rights laws to allow for mass deportations of asylum seekers, action he said…

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Headphones Only: London Targets Noisy Commuters

A new public awareness campaign is being launched in London to discourage commuters from playing music or videos out loud on trains and buses. Starting this week, posters will appear…

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Flemish Government Launches Major Push to Promote Dutch in Brussels

The Flemish government has approved a sweeping plan to strengthen the role of Dutch in Brussels, marking the most ambitious effort in years to bolster the language in Belgium’s officially…

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Ten years on: Merkel reflects on 2015 refugee decision

It has been ten years since German Chancellor Angela Merkel made her famous "Wir schaffen das" ("We can do this") statement regarding her decision to accept hundreds of thousands of refugees into Germany.…

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Berlin courts tourists as Paris and Barcelona tire of the crowds

As many southern European cities grow tired of tourists, Berlin is pitching itself as an antidote to the crowds, blistering heatwaves and anti-tourism protests causing problems elsewhere. The German capital…

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Closing Chapter: Final Queen Elizabeth II Coins Enter Circulation

The final batch of Queen Elizabeth II's £1 coins is entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced. More than 23 million coins depicting the late monarch are…

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EU citizens awaiting UK residency status have right to travel, Home Office told

EU citizens waiting for the Home Office to decide their pre-Brexit residency status should not be removed from the UK if they make a short return visit abroad for business,…

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Germany Stresses Importance of Security Pledges to Ukraine, Rules Out Troop Presence

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that his country can play an important role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, but that Berlin likely doesn't have the capacity to send…

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Geneva makes public transport temporarily free to combat pollution spike

Public transport will be temporarily free of charge in Geneva, in a first for Switzerland, as part of a series of measures aimed at tackling a spike in pollution in…

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Air conditioner sales up as heat wave hits Germany

A heat wave that has gripped Europe for weeks has now arrived in Germany, with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday and national weather service DWD…

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UK homelessness minister resigns over rent hike claims

Britain's minister for homelessness resigned late on Thursday after claims that she evicted tenants from a property she owns and then increased the rent by hundreds of pounds. Rushanara Ali,…

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Aberdeen to introduce 7% ‘tourist tax’ on visitors

Councillors have given the green light for the introduction of a 7% visitor levy for Aberdeen, Scotland. The "tourist tax" will not come into force until at least April 2027,…

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Cosmetic Crackdown: New Licensing Rules for UK Botox Providers

The government has announced plans to crack down on dodgy cosmetic practitioners who it says are exploiting people and causing harm. Under the new proposals, only qualified health professionals will…

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Switzerland facing 39% US tariff as president leaves Washington empty-handed

Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter left Washington empty-handed on Wednesday after a hastily arranged trip to avert a crippling 39% tariff on the country's exports to the United States, its biggest…

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UK to start implementing migrant returns deal with France

Britain said it will start work within days to implement a deal to return some migrants who arrive on small boats to France, a key part of its plans to…

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BBC Uncovers Global Cat Torture Network With Links to China

A BBC investigation has uncovered a disturbing global network involved in the torture and killing of cats and kittens, with videos of the abuse being shared across international platforms —…

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UK airports disrupted by radar fault in air traffic control system

A radar-related technical issue in Britain's air traffic control system disrupted flights for over four hours at major airports in London and elsewhere on Wednesday, though the issue was later…

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UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel meets conditions

The UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza", Sir Keir Starmer has said. The PM said Israel…

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Starmer tells Trump Gaza Is a “Catastrophe,” Urges More Aid

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told U.S. President Donald Trump that the situation in Gaza is an “absolute catastrophe” and that Britons are “revolted” by what they’re witnessing. The two…

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France and Germany Push Forward on Fighter Jet Deal Amid Industry Disputes

France and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint effort to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2040, despite ongoing disagreements over industrial…

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UK sanctions target people smugglers, small boat dealer in migrant crackdown

Britain announced sanctions on Wednesday on 24 people and one company it said were involved in people smuggling, as part of efforts to cut the number of migrants arriving on…

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Russia says it is monitoring reported positioning of US nuclear weapons in UK

MOSCOW, July 22 (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday that it detected a rise in international tensions and was monitoring developments after Britain's Times and Telegraph newspapers reported that the…

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UK launches review into raising state pension age

Britain on Monday said it would launch a review into raising the state pension age - a key factor for the public finances - at the same time as a…

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People smugglers to have assets frozen and be banned from UK

People smugglers face having their assets frozen and being banned from entering the UK, the foreign secretary has announced. David Lammy said new powers under the Sanctions Act will allow…

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People in Germany are driving more again

In a reversal of a trend, people in Germany are driving more again. According to data from the the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), personal cars registered in Germany covered 594…

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UK Lowers Voting Age in Unprecedented Overhaul of Electoral System

The British government said on Thursday it planned to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country's democratic system.…

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Drug ring taken down in joint sweep across Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK

On 15 July 2025, a coordinated Europol-supported operation involving authorities from Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK) led to the arrest of seven suspects involved in the trafficking…

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Babies made using three people’s DNA are born free of hereditary disease

Eight babies have been born in the UK using genetic material from three people to prevent devastating and often fatal conditions, doctors say. The method, pioneered by UK scientists, combines…

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France and UK agree to joint migration deal

France and the United Kingdom on Thursday reached several deals on migration, nuclear cooperation and support for Ukraine, after a visit from French President Emmanuel Macron to London. The three-day…

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Edinburgh lifts ban on liquids over 100ml

Edinburgh is the latest airport in the UK to lift the hand luggage ban on liquids over 100ml. Travellers will now be able to take two-litre containers through the security…

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Former British PM Rishi Sunak takes job at Goldman Sachs

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has joined Goldman Sachs as a senior advisor. Sunak, who resigned as PM in July 2024, will work part-time advising the bank's clients with his…

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Germany outlines emergency draft plans

A bill to be put forward by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius would allow the Cabinet, with parliamentary agreement, to call up conscripts if a situation arises that requires a rapid…

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Norman Tebbit, key Thatcher ally, dies aged 94

Norman Tebbit, who served as a cabinet minister in Margaret Thatcher's government, has died aged 94. Throughout the 1980s he worked as the chairman of the Conservative Party and led…

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Merz supports not flying rainbow flag on German parliament during Pride

Germany Chancellor Friedrich Merz has supported a move not to fly the rainbow flag — a symbol of the LGBTQI+ community — on the Reichstag building in Berlin during Pride celebrations.…

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Spain and England record hottest June ever

Spain and England have recorded their hottest June ever, as scorching temperatures continue to grip Europe. Spain's weather service Aemet said the "extremely hot" June - with an average temperature…

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Syrian juvenile charged with Taylor Swift concert plot

Germany has charged a Syrian juvenile with supporting a foreign terrorist organization for helping to plan a foiled attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last year, the prosecutor…

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Germany to stop funding migrant rescue ships in Mediterranean

Germany is cutting financial support for charities that rescue migrants at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean, saying it will redirect resources to addressing conditions in source countries that spur…

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UK to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons

The British government said on Tuesday that it would purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of…

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Trump casts doubt on Article 5 commitment

On his way to a summit of NATO leaders, U.S. President Donald Trump undermined the alliance's core collective defense promise — injecting tension into a gathering designed to keep him…

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NATO summit opens in The Hague

Member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are holding a summit in The Hague, starting Tuesday. NATO members are expected to approve a boost in defense spending. Leaders,…

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