British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned Sunday over the controversy surrounding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the U.K. ambassador to the U.S., according to multiple sources. The resignation came after scrutiny of Mandelson's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. McSweeney took responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Mandelson, 72, to the diplomatic post in 2024, as reported by NPR.
The news of McSweeney's resignation broke on February 8, 2026. The furor stemmed from Mandelson's association with Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The appointment of Mandelson to the high-profile position sparked immediate criticism.
The decision to appoint Mandelson was a point of contention, as stated by McSweeney. The resignation highlights the sensitivity surrounding the Epstein case and its continued impact on public figures.
In other news, American alpine skiing superstar Lindsey Vonn crashed in the women's downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on February 8, 2026. This ended her hopes of winning another Olympic medal after coming out of retirement. Vonn crashed just 13 seconds into the race, according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration celebrated a recent statement from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which recommends that doctors delay gender-related surgery until a patient is at least 19 years old. Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O'Neill stated in a press release, "Today marks another victory for biological truth in the Trump administration," as reported by NPR.
Finally, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy feel like home turf for many U.S. Olympic athletes. For example, American athlete Jessie Diggins, the world's top-ranked female cross-country skier, sprinted up a steep slope in Italy's Val di Fiemme in January, according to NPR.
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