Latest news for 5 February 2026

UNITED KINGDOM

Another Epstein casualty?

Prime Minister Starmer is facing growing anger from his own party over attempts to withhold information about his appointment of Peter Mandelson as (ex) ambassador to the US. Mandelson, a close friend of Jeffrey Epstein, is now facing serious allegations he leaked sensitive information to Epstein. (Guardian)

Comment: This has really escalated for Starmer, with his own parliamentarians now briefing the UK’s famously rabid tabloids that his days might be numbered. But the question is who’s capable of replacing him, given one obvious name (his own former deputy, Angela Rayner) is still grappling with a possible tax scandal.

FRANCE

AirBnSpy.

Paris authorities have arrested two citizens of China on suspicions they tried using a Starlink connection — plus their own big satellite dish — to intercept sensitive military and government data from their AirBnB near Bordeaux. (Politico)

CHINA

Busy phones.

President Xi has used his latest video-call with Russia’s Putin to propose work on a “grand plan” to deepen their vaunted no-limits partnership. The same day, Xi held a call with President Trump covering Taiwan, Ukraine, Iran, and trade. (Reuters)

Comment: The DC and Beijing read-outs each had their own familiar angle on the Trump-Xi call, but they both set a pretty constructive tone ahead of their planned April summit in China.

CUBA

Interesting plane you’ve got there…

A sanctioned Russian cargo plane that previously delivered air defence systems to Venezuela has now landed in Cuba, though it’s unclear what might be onboard this time. Cuba and Russia signed a military cooperation agreement last March, facilitating the possible supply of specialists and equipment. (DefenceNews)

Comment: Russia’s cargo delivery last October did little (if anything) to help Maduro, and it’s hard to see it making any meaningful difference for Cuba either. It looks like further evidence, however, that a common link seeking to thwart so many of Trump’s foreign priorities (Venezuela, Cuba, China, Iran, North Korea) is… Putin.

TAIWAN

Counter budget.

President Lai has warned that if Taiwan’s more Beijing-friendly opposition continues to block a planned US arms package, it “could lead the international community to misunderstand Taiwan’s determination to defend itself.” In response to US senate concerns, the opposition argues it supports strengthening Taiwan’s defence, but won’t sign blank checks, and wants more funding for soldier pay. (Taipei Times)

NIGERIA

Another massacre.

Authorities have blamed an ISIS-linked group for a massacre in western Nigeria’s Kwara state that’s left ~170 (!) predominantly-Muslim villagers dead. (DW)

Comment: That’s the same state where the US hit ISIS targets at Nigeria’s request around Christmas. Meanwhile, the US has confirmed it’s now deployed a small military team (intel, training) to support Nigeria’s anti-terrorism efforts.