UK Police Review Misconduct Claims After Mandelson's Leaks to Epstein
London - UK police announced on Monday they are reviewing allegations of misconduct in public office following revelations that former UK ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, leaked confidential government information to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to Al Jazeera. The Metropolitan Police's announcement followed the release of investigative files by US authorities, which revealed Mandelson shared government plans with Epstein while serving as a UK minister.
In other news, Brussels indicated it is open to discussing closer trade ties with the UK, including the possibility of a customs union. European Commissioner for finance, Valdis Dombrovskis, told the BBC that the bloc was "ready to engage" if the UK wanted to explore the move. Dombrovskis spoke after high-level talks with ministers including Chancellor Rachel Reeves. He also said Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between the UK and the bloc.
Meanwhile, Pornhub began restricting access for UK users on February 2, following the implementation of the Online Safety Act in July 2025, according to BBC Technology. The law requires robust age verification measures for adult content websites. Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, claimed the law has driven users to sites not following the law and increased "exposure to" harmful content. Critics of the Online Safety Act argue it can be easily circumvented using a virtual private network (VPN).
In Norway, Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested on Sunday on new criminal allegations ahead of a trial on charges including rape, Sky News reported. Hoiby, who is awaiting trial in Oslo on 38 charges, was detained on suspicion of causing bodily harm, wielding a knife, and violating a restraining order. Police said they would seek permission from a judge to keep Hoiby in custody for the next four weeks.
In Iran, Mehdi Mahmoudian, a screenwriter of the Oscar-nominated film "It Was Just An Accident," was arrested in Tehran on Saturday, days after signing a statement condemning Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his regime's violent crackdown on protesters, according to Sky News. The reason for Mahmoudian's arrest is currently unclear. Mahmoudian and 16 others wrote in the statement: "The mas..." (the statement was cut off in the source).
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