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Continental Breakfast

What Europe is reading this morning
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Story 1

Iran Declares EU Armies "Terrorist Groups" as Crisis Deepens

Days after the EU designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization, Tehran hit back by classifying European militaries the same way. Meanwhile, Trump hints at talks while an American naval armada approaches, and thousands continue to die in anti-regime protests.

🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
Iran labels European armies "terrorist groups" after Revolutionary Guard sanctions
L'Iran qualifie de « groupes terroristes » les armées européennes qui ont pris des mesures de représailles contre les Gardiens de la révolution
→ Frames as tit-for-tat escalation
🇩🇪
Germany · FAZ
Iran warns US against war as Supreme Leader threatens regional conflict
Iran warnt USA vor Krieg
→ Emphasizes military threat, German security angle
🇬🇧
UK · The Guardian
Calls grow in Iran for independent inquiry into protest death toll
→ Humanitarian focus, civilian casualties
🇬🇧
UK · BBC News
EU adds Iran's Revolutionary Guards to terrorist list
→ Straight news, policy impact
Story 2

Epstein Files Claim European Scalps: Slovakia Adviser Resigns, Starmer Calls for Andrew Testimony

The DOJ's release of millions of Epstein documents is reverberating across Europe. Slovakia's national security adviser quit hours after messages surfaced. The UK PM has publicly called for Prince Andrew to testify — an extraordinary intervention into royal affairs.

🇸🇰
Slovakia · BBC News
Slovakia PM's national security adviser resigns over Epstein links
→ Breaking: Lajčák out after "girls and diplomacy" messages
🇬🇧
UK · The Guardian
Keir Starmer calls on Andrew to testify in US over Jeffrey Epstein links
→ PM breaks with royal deference
🇬🇧
UK · BBC News
Second Epstein victim claims she was sent to UK for sex with Andrew
→ New allegations, Royal Lodge encounter
🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
LA Olympics chief apologizes after name appears in Epstein files
Affaire Epstein : le patron des JO de Los Angeles s'excuse après l'apparition de son nom dans les derniers documents publiés
→ Focus on Wasserman's "salacious emails" with Maxwell
Story 3

Spain Breaks Ranks: Half a Million Undocumented Migrants to Get Legal Status

While most of Europe hardens its stance on migration, Spain's socialist government approved its first mass regularization in 20 years. PM Sánchez calls migrants "wealth and prosperity." The far-right Vox party is taking it to the Supreme Court.

🇬🇧
UK · BBC News
Spain plans to give half a million undocumented migrants legal status
→ Explains 5-month residency requirement
🇪🇸
Spain · El País
Spain approves historic royal decree for mass regularization
España aprueba un decreto histórico de regularización masiva
→ Government-friendly framing, quotes Sánchez
🇩🇪
Germany · DW
Germany: Afghanistan's consulates pose threat to refugees
→ Contrast: Germany debates deportations while Spain regularizes
Story 4

"Stop Outsourcing Defense": Europe Confronts Life Without America

As Trump pushes Ukraine toward concessions and questions NATO commitments, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warns Europe must become self-reliant. But can a continent that's spent decades under the American security umbrella actually defend itself?

🇬🇧
UK · The Guardian
'Keep on dreaming': could Europe really defend itself without the US?
→ Skeptical, quotes defense experts
🇬🇧
UK · BBC News
Europe must act urgently and stop outsourcing defence, says EU's Kallas
→ Straight policy, Kallas quotes
🇩🇪
Germany · Der Spiegel
John Bolton: "We Have Passed Peak Trump"
→ Bolton warns Ukraine on concessions, says Trump manipulated by Putin
🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
Ukraine prepares for talks "next week" after another night of attacks
Kiev dit se préparer à des rencontres « la semaine prochaine » pour faire avancer les négociations avec la Russie
→ Focus on Zelensky timeline, Abu Dhabi talks
Story 5

Trump's Immigration Crackdown Hits European Boardrooms: Capgemini Dumps US Subsidiary

French IT giant Capgemini announced it will immediately sell its subsidiary that contracts with ICE, following parliamentary pressure. It's a concrete example of how American domestic policy is forcing European companies to choose sides.

🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
Capgemini puts up for sale subsidiary working with US immigration police ICE
Capgemini met en vente sa filiale travaillant pour la police de l'immigration américaine, l'ICE
→ Emergency board meeting, parliamentary pressure cited
🇩🇪
Germany · Der Spiegel
A Lone Louisiana Lawyer's Fight against Trump's Deportations
→ Human interest, resistance narrative
🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
How Minneapolis became a political quagmire for Trump by "showing unity"
Comment la ville de Minneapolis, « en faisant preuve d'unité », s'est transformée en bourbier politique pour Donald Trump
→ French admiration for American resistance

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