The Dispatch

Britain detects two more cases of new mpox variant

Britain has detected two more cases of the new mpox variant clade Ib in household contacts of the first case, the country's health security agency (UKHSA) said, bringing the total…

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Why is Germany’s coalition under strain and could it fall apart?

The parties in Germany's ruling coalition are under pressure to assert themselves after regional election defeats, dismal polling numbers and questions over whether they can form a joint response to…

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Who is Kemi Badenoch, the UK Conservatives’ new leader?

A self-proclaimed straight speaker, Kemi Badenoch will bring a combative right-wing tone to the role of leader of Britain's Conservative Party, vowing a return to "authentic conservatism" to rebuild a…

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Kemi Badenoch becomes first Black woman to lead UK Conservatives

Kemi Badenoch became the Conservatives' new leader and the first Black woman to a head a major British political party on Saturday, after winning a leadership contest on a promise…

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Over 400 alleged victims of ex-Harrods boss Al Fayed come forward

More than 400 alleged victims have so far contacted the legal team working on a case against the late Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, who has been accused of sexual…

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Manhunt under way in Berlin after bag of explosives left at train station

German police are searching for a man who abandoned a bag of explosives at a Berlin train station and ran away after being stopped by federal officers, according to police.…

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Key measures in UK Labour Party’s first budget in nearly 15 years

British finance minister Rachel Reeves presented her first budget statement to parliament on Wednesday, unveiling the biggest tax rises since 1993 and changes to the government's fiscal rules to increase…

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Britain identifies its first case of new mpox variant

Britain has detected its first case of new mpox variant clade Ib, the country's health security agency (UKHSA) said, adding that the risk to the population remained low.The clade Ib…

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UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves raises taxes by most since 1993 in first Labour budget

Britain's new finance minister Rachel Reeves announced the biggest tax increases in three decades in her first budget on Wednesday, saying she had to repair the country's broken public services…

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More than 1 in 3 tree species worldwide at risk of extinction

Just over one in three of the world’s tree species are now at risk of extinction, according to the latest update of IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. For the…

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Volkswagen labour chief sounds alarm on mass layoffs, three German plant closures

Volkswagen plans to shut at least three factories in Germany, lay off tens of thousands of staff and shrink its remaining plants in Europe's biggest economy as it plots a…

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Germany’s Scholz pledges to boost investment, attract more skilled workers

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised this week to boost investment, attract skilled workers and cut red tape to revive growth in Europe's biggest economy, which is on track to contract…

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Netherlands eyes border controls as part of migration clampdown

The Netherlands looks set to introduce border controls as part of a raft of measures aimed at limiting immigration, Dutch broadcaster RTL reported, citing government sources. The border controls would…

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Britain and Germany to bolster defence cooperation with new agreement

Britain and Germany will sign a defence agreement on Wednesday, the first of its kind between Europe's two biggest spenders on defence, which includes a commitment to develop new deep-strike…

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Germany identifies its first case of new mpox variant

The first case of the new mpox variant has been detected in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for public health said on Tuesday, adding that it viewed the risk…

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Belgium’s Charleroi airport cancels all departures for Tuesday

Brussels South Charleroi Airport canceled all flights departing on Tuesday due to a strike by security staff, the airport announced. “All arrivals at Charleroi airport will be maintained,” the airport…

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Germany arrests Libyan suspected of planning terror attack on Israeli embassy

Germany arrested a Libyan citizen suspected of plotting an attack against Israel’s embassy in Berlin, the federal prosecutor’s office said. The authorities identified the man only as Omar A. and…

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The UK’s budget – it’s all about the ‘working people’

Speculation is swirling about what new British finance minister Rachel Reeves might announce in her first tax and spending plan this month, but one thing she seems certain to say…

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MI5 Warns of ISIS and Al Qaeda’s Threats

ISIS and al Qaeda present a “resurgent” threat to the United Kingdom, the head of the country’s domestic security service warned in a rare public intervention earlier this month, as…

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Neutral Switzerland signs declaration to join European Sky Shield initiative

Switzerland has signed up to the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), the government said, a project which seeks to build a unified air and missile defence system across Europe. The…

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Sinn Féin in Crisis: Leadership Challenges Amid Scandals

Sinn Féin, Ireland's leading opposition party, has entered a political tailspin amid a series of scandals that could derail its long-standing ambition to form the next government in Dublin. In…

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Joe Biden visits Germany with US elections looming

US President Joe Biden has arrived in Germany ahead of talks with European leaders about support for Ukraine's war against Russia and the Middle East conflict. Air Force One landed…

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Netherlands explores plan to send rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda

The conservative Dutch government is weighing a plan to send rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda, the country's trade and development minister said late on Wednesday. Reinette Klever unveiled the…

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Ireland ready to go it alone and restrict trade ties with Israel

Ireland won’t wait for the rest of Europe to restrict trade with Israel over the occupation of the Palestinian territories and expects to receive legal advice next week on whether…

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Tube strikes next month

London Underground workers, including drivers, are walking out next month in a row over pay. Finn Brennan, Aslef's full-time organiser on London Underground, said managers had refused to discuss any…

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Germany investigates fires caused by incendiary devices in parcels

Germany is investigating several fires caused by incendiary devices hidden inside parcels at a warehouse in Leipzig earlier this year, the country's prosecutor general said on Tuesday. German authorities warned…

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Relaxation of Apostrophe Rules in German Sparks Debate Over English Influence

Recent changes to the rules governing apostrophe use in the German language have sparked a heated debate, irritating grammar purists and raising concerns about the creeping influence of English. The…

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UK economy returns to growth in boost to Labour before budget

The UK economy returned to growth in August, offering a boost to Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of the autumn budget. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), GDP increased…

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Another 65 women allege abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed

Another 65 women have come forward to the BBC with allegations of abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed, with claims dating back to 1977. Following the airing of the BBC documentary…

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Prosecutors to appeal after Madeleine McCann suspect acquitted in separate rape trial

The main suspect in the disappearance of the British toddler Madeleine McCann is likely to be released from prison next year after he was found not guilty of all charges…

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Geopolitical strife could cost global economy $14.5 trln over 5 years -Lloyd’s of London

The global economy could face losses of $14.5 trillion over a five-year period from a hypothetical geopolitical conflict which hits supply chains, insurance market Lloyd's of London said. The economic…

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Germany’s social democrats name new general secretary

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) named a new top leader on Tuesday who will play a key role in the political campaign ahead of the country’s 2025…

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Labour just a single point clear of ousted Tories, new poll shows

Less than 100 days into his Labour administration, Keir Starmer’s poll lead over the Conservatives he trounced at Britain’s general election has slumped to a single point. That’s the stark…

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Madeleine McCann suspect cleared of unrelated sex attacks

A suspect in the disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann was acquitted of unrelated sexual abuse charges by a court in the German city of Brunswick on Tuesday. Christian Brueckner…

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London insists Falkland Islands and Gibraltar status non-negotiable

Britain's decision to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands does not signal a change in the government's position on other overseas territories, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said. He told…

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46 Unidentified Women: Interpol’s Initiative for Identification

Police in six European countries and Interpol are reopening investigations into 46 women who were murdered or died under suspicious circumstances in an effort to identify their remains, the international…

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Madeleine McCann suspect lawyers seek acquittal in trial over unrelated sexual offences

Lawyers for a man who is also under investigation in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann called on Monday for him to be acquitted in his trial on…

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Ireland is ‘not immune’ to security threats

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris was commenting after a report that Russian intelligence allegedly recruited an Irish politician as an agent. The Sunday Times reported that Russian intelligence used a…

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British leader Starmer’s chief of staff quits over reports about salary

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ‘s chief of staff quit on Sunday, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role “risked becoming a distraction to the government.” Sue Gray’s…

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Boris Johnson’s Memoir ‘Unleashed’ Faces Harsh Criticism Ahead of Release

Boris Johnson's highly anticipated memoir, Unleashed, is set to hit bookstores, but early reactions suggest it might face more controversy than celebration. The former UK prime minister, known for his…

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Marburg Virus Scare at Hamburg Train Station

Two passengers suspected of carrying the lethal and highly contagious Marburg virus set off alarm at Hamburg’s main train station on Wednesday afternoon. Emergency crews in full protective gear boarded…

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No imminent nuclear threat from Russia, says new Nato chief

Mark Rutte, the new secretary general of Nato, said he does not see any imminent threat of nuclear weapons being used by Russia despite "reckless and irresponsible" rhetoric by the…

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Liz Truss doesnt rule out a comeback

Liz Truss packed out a 300-seater auditorium at the Conservative party’s annual conference Monday, while dozens of disappointed activists were turned away. And she isn’t ruling out making a political…

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CERN ends cooperation with Russian scientists

The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) will end cooperation with up to 500 scientists affiliated with Russian institutions, it said on Monday, because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Swiss-based…

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UPDATED: Mark Rutte Becomes NATO Chief Amid Ukraine Crisis

NATO's new chief Mark Rutte voiced strong support for Ukraine on Tuesday and said he was not worried about the upcoming U.S. presidential election as he could work with either…

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Boris Johnson says Queen Elizabeth II had bone cancer

The late Queen Elizabeth II had a form of bone cancer in her final years, Boris Johnson claimed in his memoir. In an extract from “Unleashed,” due for publication next month,…

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UK ex-PM Johnson says he planned raid on Dutch factory to get COVID vaccines

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he ordered military chiefs to plan a raid on a Dutch factory in March 2021 to secure 5 million COVID vaccines that…

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UK police will investigate others over ex-Harrods boss assault allegations

British police called for anyone with allegations against former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to come forward and said it would look to prosecute others after multiple women accused the…

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UK police investigating Islamophobic hack of Wi-Fi at train stations

British police said on Thursday they had launched an investigation into a cyberattack after passengers at the country's major railway stations saw an Islamophobic message when they tried to use…

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UPDATED: Pope Francis lands in Luxembourg, first leg of rare European trip

Pope Francis arrived in Luxembourg on Thursday for a brief visit to one of Europe's smallest countries ahead of a weekend trip to Belgium, where he will highlight the needs…

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German Greens’ leadership quits after coalition’s election blows

The co-leaders of Germany's Greens party, which is part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition, said on Wednesday they would quit after a series of election blows that saw their…

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German Police to Bolster Politician Security Amid Growing Domestic and International Threats

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) announced plans to significantly increase the number of bodyguards assigned to protect Germany's top politicians in the coming years, citing growing dangers both domestically…

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Germany increases ‘Deutschlandticket’ price to €58

German transport authorities will increase the price of the "Deutschlandticket" to €58 ($64.50) starting next year, they announced. From January 2025, the nationwide public transport ticket will cost €9 more…

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UK Labour Party’s first conference in power lacks celebration

A bumpy start, or just rather flat? Regardless, few at Labour's annual conference in the northern English city of Liverpool are enjoying the kind of celebration they expected from the…

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UK faces ‘significant flooding’; football match postponed

Heavy rain is hitting parts of England and Wales, with the Met Office issuing an amber weather warning for much of central and southern England. A month's worth of rainfall…

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Scholz’s SPD fends off far-right in election in Brandenburg, brings Scholz brief respite

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) staved off the far-right in a regional election on Sunday, likely providing him only a brief reprieve from growing criticism of his leadership…

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Scholz’s Future at Stake in Crucial Brandenburg Vote

Weeks after topping a state vote for the first time and nearly winning another, Germany's far-right is taking aim at Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) in another regional election that…

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