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Continental Breakfast

What Europe is reading this morning
Tuesday, February 03, 2026
Good morning from London. The Epstein files are everywhere — German papers are asking what Berlin knew, Dutch media found a local model in the correspondence, and Italian headlines focus on Putin connections. Spain's El País has been tracking the Norwegian royal scandal. Meanwhile, France finally passed its budget after months of chaos, and Musk is suddenly Ukraine's hero for cutting off Russian Starlink access.
Story 1

Epstein Files: Europe Reckons With Its Own Connections

Three million documents reveal European politicians, royals, and business figures in Epstein's orbit — triggering police inquiries and resignations across the continent.

🇬🇧
UK · The Guardian
How the depth of Peter Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein came to light
→ Labour's 'Dark Lord' finally brought down
🇩🇪
Germany · FAZ
Epstein-Affäre: Britischer Ex-Botschafter in USA verlässt Labour-Partei
Epstein-Affäre: Britischer Ex-Botschafter in USA verlässt Labour-Partei
→ Sober recap of Mandelson's fall
🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
Affaire Epstein : plusieurs pays européens secoués par les nouvelles publications
Affaire Epstein : plusieurs pays européens secoués par les nouvelles publications de documents
→ Pan-European shockwaves, French names surface
🇮🇹
Italy · La Repubblica
Mille volte il nome di Putin: nei file Epstein riemerge l'ombra del ricatto di Mosca
Mille volte il nome di Putin: nei file Epstein riemerge l'ombra del ricatto di Mosca
→ Kompromat angle — Epstein as Russian asset?
🇳🇱
Netherlands · NRC
Epstein mailde aan Yfke Sturm: 'You owe me two girls'
Epstein mailde aan Yfke Sturm, Nederlands oud-model: 'You owe me two girls'
→ Dutch model agency owner in the files
Story 2

Norway's Royal Family in Crisis as Son Faces Trial, Mother Faces Epstein Questions

Marius Borg Høiby goes on trial for 38 charges including rape — while his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, faces questions over her Epstein correspondence.

🇪🇸
Spain · El País
Cientos de mensajes entre Epstein y la princesa Mette-Marit ponen a la casa real en la picota
Cientos de mensajes entre Epstein y la princesa Mette-Marit de Noruega ponen a la casa real en la picota
→ 'Paris is good for adultery' — salacious detail
🇬🇧
UK · The Guardian
Son of Norway's crown princess arrested on new charges before start of rape trial
→ New arrest compounds royal humiliation
🇬🇧
UK · BBC News
Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son arrested for alleged assault before rape trial
→ Remanded for four weeks, trial ongoing
🇩🇪
Germany · Der Spiegel
Affäre um Jeffrey Epstein: Britischer Ex-Botschafter Peter Mandelson tritt aus Labour-Partei aus
Affäre um Jeffrey Epstein: Britischer Ex-Botschafter Peter Mandelson tritt aus Labour-Partei aus
→ German interest in British fallout
Story 3

Musk Cuts Russian Starlink Access After Ukraine Pleads for Help

Ukraine discovered Russian drones using Starlink for precision strikes. SpaceX responded within days, implementing speed limits that disable drone control.

🇳🇱
Netherlands · NRC
Elon Musk blokkeert toegang Rusland tot Starlink
Elon Musk blokkeert toegang Rusland tot Starlink
→ Technical explainer on the block
🇪🇺
EU · Euronews
Musk's SpaceX and Ukraine to block Russia's use of Starlink
→ Kyiv launching terminal whitelist
🇬🇧
UK · BBC News
Ukraine war: Elon Musk praised after restricting Russian Starlink use
→ Fedorov: 'true champion of freedom'
🇵🇱
Poland · Gazeta Wyborcza
Wojna w Ukrainie: Epstein zarządzał majątkiem Putina?
Epstein zarządzał majątkiem Putina — FBI
→ Polish live blog links Epstein to Putin wealth
Story 4

France Finally Passes Budget After Months of Political Chaos

Prime Minister Lecornu used Article 49.3 three times, survived no-confidence votes, and ended a crisis that consumed two predecessors. Deficit lands at 5% of GDP.

🇫🇷
France · Le Monde
Budget 2026 : quelles sont les mesures du texte définitivement adopté ?
Budget 2026 : quelles sont les mesures du texte définitivement adopté après le rejet des motions de censure ?
→ Explainer: what actually passed
🇫🇷
France · Le Figaro
«La France a enfin un budget», se réjouit Sébastien Lecornu
«La France a enfin un budget», se réjouit Sébastien Lecornu
→ PM celebrates, opposition seethes
🇪🇺
EU · Politico EU
France finally passes 2026 budget
→ Brussels view: deficit at 5% of GDP
🇪🇺
EU · Euronews
France adopts 2026 budget after government survives no-confidence votes
→ 49.3 used three times — democratic concerns
Story 5

Trump Strikes India Deal Days After EU's 'Mother of All Deals'

Modi agrees to drop Russian oil for American crude — just a week after signing the EU's historic trade agreement. Europe watches nervously as Washington muscles in.

🇪🇺
EU · Euronews
Europe's 'India bet' is finally real, and it is bigger than trade
→ EU's deal about 'trusted partnerships'
🇬🇧
UK · The Guardian
Trump says he will cut tariffs on India after Modi agrees to stop buying Russian oil
→ Russian oil concession is the key
🇩🇪
Germany · Süddeutsche Zeitung
USA News: Die Clintons wollen nun doch im Epstein-Fall aussagen
→ German live blog tracks US developments

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