Newsroom(2026-02-08). Saudi Arabia Uses Investment Package to Cement Influence in New Syria.moderndiplomacy.eu Saudi Arabia has announced a significant investment plan for Syria, focusing on sectors like energy, aviation, real estate, and telecommunications. The investment fund, named Elaf Fund, will allocate 7.5 billion Saudi riyals (about $2 billion) for developing two airports in Aleppo in several phases, as stated by the Saudi investment minister, Khalid al-Falih. In civil …
DPA(2026-02-08). Mandelson Epstein scandal: demands grow for ex-envoy to repay US$75,000 severance.scmp.com The former British ambassador to the United States and former government minister Peter Mandelson is facing demands to hand back the payoff he received after being sacked as US envoy. | The senior Labour Party figure was sacked over his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, but anger in Westminster has intensified after the latest release of documents which indicated he leaked information to his friend while he was a government minister.
al-monitor(2026-02-08). Norwegian diplomat steps down over Epstein ties, in widening scandal.al-monitor.com By Nora BuliOSLO, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Norway's foreign ministry on Sunday said a prominent ambassador, Mona Juul, would step down due to a "serious failure of judgement" over ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, part of a growing scandal in the Nordic country and across Europe.The ministry earlier this week suspended Juul from her position as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq pending an internal inquiry of links to Epstein found in a massive set of files released by the United States government.
Peter Oborne(2026-02-08). The End of Morgan McSweeney: Peter Oborne on Keir Starmer's Departing Chief of Staff.bylinetimes.com Keir Starmer's Chief-of-Staff Morgan McSweeney resigned on Sunday afternoon following the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal. | McSweeney, who was a close ally of Mandelson, had pushed for his appointment as ambassador to the US, despite his close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. | As he prepares to leave Downing Street, we re-publish all of Peter Oborne's reporting on McSweeney, who Oborne identified early on as "the most powerful individual in Britain." | Long before anyone else, Oborne traced how a backroom strategist had succeeded in seizing the levers of power, while pursuing a factional war again…
Willem Moore(2026-02-08). Minister fails to convince when asked if he's done a Mandelson.thecanary.co This week, Labour politicians found themselves tasked with defending the Peter Mandelson Affair. As we've been pointing out for some time, Keir Starmer knew Mandelson was a wrong 'un when he made him the ambassador to the US, but journalists turned a blind eye. Now, the famously slow British media have woken up, and questions […] | By
Keir Starmer's Chief-of-Staff Morgan McSweeney resigned on Sunday afternoon following the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal. | McSweeney, who was a close ally of Mandelson, had pushed for his appointment as ambassador to the US, despite his close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. | As he prepares to leave Downing Street, we re-publish all of Peter Oborne's reporting on McSweeney, who Oborne identified early on as "the most powerful individual in Britain." | Long before anyone else, Oborne traced how a backroom strategist had succeeded in seizing the levers of power, while pursuing a factional war again…
This week, Labour politicians found themselves tasked with defending the Peter Mandelson Affair. As we've been pointing out for some time, Keir Starmer knew Mandelson was a wrong 'un when he made him the ambassador to the US, but journalists turned a blind eye. Now, the famously slow British media have woken up, and questions […] | By