Continental Breakfast — February 3, 2026
Continental Breakfast
What Europe is reading this morning
Tuesday, February 03, 2026
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 → Sober recap of Mandelson's fall |
| 🇫🇷 | France · Le Monde Affaire Epstein : plusieurs pays européens secoués par les nouvelles publications → 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 → Kompromat angle — Epstein as Russian asset? |
| 🇳🇱 | Netherlands · NRC Epstein mailde aan Yfke Sturm: '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 → '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 → 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 → 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? → 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 ? → Explainer: what actually passed |
| 🇫🇷 | France · Le Figaro «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 |
Also Noted
• Italian Corriere: Epstein's Russian ties and 'honey trap' operations raise FSB questions
• NRC: Dutch reaction as Clintons agree to testify in Epstein investigation
• El País: Victims angry as Epstein files reveal their personal data without consent
Continental Breakfast · Dispatches from Europe
Headlines translated where necessary. Coverage angles reflect editorial interpretation.
