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London Police Arrest Former Ambassador Peter Mandelson in Epstein Case

Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, is pictured as he leaves his residence in central London on February 21, 2026. (AFP)
Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, is pictured as he leaves his residence in central London on February 21, 2026. (AFP)
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London Police Arrest Former Ambassador Peter Mandelson in Epstein Case

Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, is pictured as he leaves his residence in central London on February 21, 2026. (AFP)
Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, is pictured as he leaves his residence in central London on February 21, 2026. (AFP)

London police on Monday arrested former ambassador Peter Mandelson over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, February 23, and has been taken to a London police station for interview,” the Met added.

The man was not named, in keeping with British police practice.

BBC News and Sky News broadcasted footage of Mandelson leaving his central London home accompanied by plainclothes officers wearing body cameras, before being driven away in a car.

The arrest of Mandelson, a former Labour peer, came only four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles III's younger brother, was detained and released under investigation in a separate misconduct in public office probe also related to the latest Epstein documents.

Mountbatten-Windsor - formerly Prince Andrew, Duke of York - has been investigated for allegedly sharing confidential documents while serving as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment between 2001 and 2011.

Emails between Mandelson and Epstein, released by the US Department of Justice in late January, showed the two men had a closer relationship than had been publicly known, and Mandelson had shared information with the financier when he was a minister in former Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government in 2009.

Mandelson, who this month resigned from Starmer's Labour Party and quit his position in parliament's upper chamber, has previously said he “very deeply” regretted his association with Epstein. But he has not commented publicly or responded to messages seeking comment on the latest revelations.

Mandelson's homes in London and west England were searched by police earlier this month.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced calls to step down over Mandelson's appointment, faces further scrutiny after parliament ordered the release of documents relating to his vetting. A minister said on Monday that the first documents should be published in early March.

The prime minister has apologized to Epstein’s victims for choosing Mandelson. Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, quit earlier this month, saying he took responsibility for advising Starmer to name Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US despite his known links to Epstein.

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World

France Criticizes ‘Demagogic’ Move by Israel to Ban Hard-Left Leader Melenchon

09 November 2026, France, Paris: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaks during a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris. (dpa)
09 November 2026, France, Paris: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaks during a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris. (dpa)
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France Criticizes ‘Demagogic’ Move by Israel to Ban Hard-Left Leader Melenchon

09 November 2026, France, Paris: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaks during a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris. (dpa)
09 November 2026, France, Paris: France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, speaks during a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Paris. (dpa)

France has ‌criticized as "demagogic" a decision by Israel to ban French hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchonand another leading figure in his France Unbowed (La France Insoumise) party from entering the country.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday it would bar Melenchon and Mathilde Panot, the party’s parliamentary group chair, over "the extreme anti-Israel stance of La France Insoumise party and the outrageous statements made by ‌its leaders."

"This demagogic ‌decision, coming from a ‌government ⁠that has repeatedly violated international ⁠law, plays into the hands of those who, like La France Insoumise, thrive on exploiting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X.

"France will continue to work tirelessly toward a two-state solution and the ⁠peaceful coexistence of the Israeli and ‌Palestinian peoples,” he ‌said.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a ‌statement on Thursday that both Melenchon and ‌Panot had made statements spreading "blood libels" against Israel, and that Melenchon had called for French ships to escort illegal flotillas to Gaza.

"Israel will respond ‌firmly to those who seek to harm it and will not allow ⁠individuals ⁠who act against Israel and incite against its citizens to enter the country," it said.

Melenchon told Franceinfo radio: "I am banned from entering a territory I did not ask to enter...I regret that the Israeli government is pursuing me like this."

In a campaign speech last Saturday, Melenchon made clear that, if he were elected president, French vessels would accompany activists hoping to force aid into the Gaza Strip.

World

UN Hails Progress in Ebola Response, Cites Insecurity as Biggest Challenge

Congolese workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walk outside the Ebola Treatment Center at the Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain, in Bunia, Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of Congo, November 2, 2026. (Reuters)
Congolese workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walk outside the Ebola Treatment Center at the Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain, in Bunia, Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of Congo, November 2, 2026. (Reuters)
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UN Hails Progress in Ebola Response, Cites Insecurity as Biggest Challenge

Congolese workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walk outside the Ebola Treatment Center at the Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain, in Bunia, Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of Congo, November 2, 2026. (Reuters)
Congolese workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) walk outside the Ebola Treatment Center at the Bunia General Referral Hospital following a resurgence of Ebola involving the Bundibugyo strain, in Bunia, Ituri province, the Democratic Republic of Congo, November 2, 2026. (Reuters)

UN health officials on Friday hailed progress in the Ebola response six months after the outbreak first prompted global concerns, but cautioned that the disease continues to spread to more remote and dangerous parts of Congo.

With the number of confirmed cases now surpassing 11,000, the outbreak is the second-worst for Ebola on record and ‌has spread to parts ‌of east, central and ‌west ⁠Africa.

Flagged by health ⁠authorities in mid-May, the outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which there are no approved treatments or vaccines.

"We do see encouraging signs," said Chikwe Ihekweazu, head of ⁠the World Health Organization's Health Emergencies Program, ‌citing falling ‌cases in former hotspots like Bunia in eastern Democratic ‌Republic of Congo.

“But what we have ‌seen now is the emergence of cases in more rural and more difficult-to-reach areas ... The biggest challenge the response faces right now ‌is the rising insecurity," he said, citing WHO data showing 80 attacks ⁠on health ⁠sites and workers so far.

French medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières has been more downbeat on the Ebola response, saying that supplies are missing and the virus is still spreading out of control.

Julien Harneis, the UN's special Ebola coordinator, said in response to the criticism: "The area of operation is vast, just unimaginable vast...But 80% of the time, and across this vast area, we're able to operate."

World

Five Facts About APEC with Trump, Putin and Xi Set to Attend

Workers install signage for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2026 summit on the wall of a building in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on November 12, 2026. (AFP)
Workers install signage for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2026 summit on the wall of a building in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on November 12, 2026. (AFP)
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Five Facts About APEC with Trump, Putin and Xi Set to Attend

Workers install signage for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2026 summit on the wall of a building in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on November 12, 2026. (AFP)
Workers install signage for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) China 2026 summit on the wall of a building in Shenzhen, China's Guangdong province on November 12, 2026. (AFP)

Attention will focus next week ‌on a summit of US, Chinese and Russian leaders set for the 21-member gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in China's southern technology hub of Shenzhen.

WHAT IS APEC?

Founded as an informal 12-member dialogue effort in 1989 in the Australian capital of Canberra, it has become the region's premier economic forum to foster ties on advancing growth, trade and investment.

Accounting for about 62% of global GDP and roughly half of global trade, the grouping of "member economies" rather than nations allows participation by Chinese-ruled Hong Kong and democratically governed Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

It does not include India, the world's most populous nation, however.

APEC operates on non-binding commitments reached strictly by consensus, with commitments undertaken on a voluntary basis.

The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is set for November 18 and 19, preceded by an annual summit of CEOs on November 17-18.

WHY SHENZHEN?

China is ‌hosting the summit ‌for the third time, after events in the commercial hub of Shanghai ‌in ⁠2001 and the ⁠capital, Beijing, in 2014.

Both domestic and international reasons govern the choice of Shenzhen, adjacent to the financial center of Hong Kong, said Chim Lee, senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.

As part of China's Greater Bay Area home to Hong Kong and Macau, which Beijing seeks to establish as a global hub for technology and innovation, the city offers a platform to showcase China's vision for development and trade.

It also highlights Shenzhen's resilience to geopolitical turbulence, Lee added.

The city is the base of several leading Chinese auto and tech giants, such as BYD, ⁠Huawei and Tencent .

WHO WILL BE THERE?

China has said President Xi Jinping ‌will chair the leaders' meeting and deliver remarks. US President Donald ‌Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are among those expected.

The leaders of Canada, Australia, Mexico ‌and Indonesia are also due to attend, along with those of Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam among ‌Asia-Pacific nations.

Taiwan has designated Stan Shih, founder of Acer, as its envoy.

WHAT TO WATCH AND KEY STICKING POINTS

Middle East Instability: The economic ripple effects of conflict, such as risks to energy security, trade flows, supply chains and inflation are ‌major concerns expected to figure in talks.

Tripartite Dynamics: All eyes are on the possible meeting of Chinese, Russian and US leaders. China is hesitant to ⁠engage in talks on nuclear ⁠disarmament, as it has fewer such weapons than the other two, analysts said.

The US and Russia will also be keen to discuss the Ukraine war, but not necessarily China, they said.

China-US Relations: A key focus to see if ties can stay stable. Both sides are falling short on commitments to an extended trade truce, analysts said. Rare earth supplies, artificial intelligence and tariffs are also likely to figure on the agenda, with US arms sales to Taiwan closely watched.

China's ties with Japan and the Philippines: Strains in Japan and China ties have persisted since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi angered Beijing in November 2025 by suggesting that Japan could deploy its military if a Chinese move against neighboring Taiwan also threatened its territory.

China-Philippines relations will likewise be closely watched amid continuing tension in the disputed waterway of the South China Sea.

WHO ARE APEC'S MEMBERS?

These are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.