BBC News Briefing

2 February, 2026

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Alex Binley

Hello. Documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein suggest that a former UK cabinet minister forwarded internal government information to him. On the eve of the rape trial of the son of Norway's crown princess, Europe digital editor Paul Kirby takes a look at what it means for the country's royal family. And finally, find out why a giant paper-mâché rat was seen floating down Venice's canals.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Mandelson reported to police over Epstein emails

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Lord Mandelson was sacked as the UK's ambassador to Washington in September after further details of his friendship with Epstein were made public. Credit: PA Media

Emails released by the US Department of Justice suggest that the UK's former ambassador in Washington, Peter Mandelson, leaked sensitive government information to Epstein when the politician was business secretary in 2009. Lord Mandelson also appeared to say the boss of JP Morgan should "mildly threaten" the then-chancellor over a bankers' bonus tax, and gave Epstein advance notice of a €500bn (£432bn; $589bn) bailout from the EU to save the Euro. Lord Mandelson has been approached for comment. On Monday, the Metropolitan Police said it had "received a number of reports relating to alleged misconduct in a public office", and will review them to determine if they "meet the criminal threshold for investigation".

GET UP TO SPEED

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Boy, 13, swims for four hours to save stranded family

The teenager swam 4km in rough water after his mother and siblings were swept out to sea off the coast of Western Australia.

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Rome visitors face Trevi Fountain charge

Visitors to the eternal city will now have to pay a €2 (£1.73; $2.36) fee to access the viewing area of its iconic fountain.

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NEWS FROM THE UK

Serial killer: On the day his trial was due to start, Steve Wright pleaded guilty to killing a teenager in 1999. Here's what we know about his six victims.

MP arrested: Dan Norris has been arrested for a second time on suspicion of a string of sexual offences.

Anne Boleyn: Infrared images show that an artist deviated from an approved design in a "rebuttal" of rumours the Tudor queen was a witch.

AT THE SCENE

Oslo, Norway

Rape trial puts Norway's royal family in unwelcome glare of public

A young man with blond hair, blue eyes, small hoop earrings and a bow tie looks on as a woman with blonde hair and wearing a yellow dress claps.

The royal family have made it clear they will not be attending the trial of Høiby. Credit: Lise Aserud/NTB/AFP

Norway's biggest trial in years is set to begin on Tuesday, with the son of the country's crown princess accused of 38 charges, including the rape of four women, assaulting and threatening a girlfriend, and drugs offences. If found guilty, Marius Borg Høiby could face more than 10 years in prison. He has admitted some of the lesser offences but denies the most serious charges against him.

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Paul Kirby, Europe digital editor

When Høiby stands up in court, he will have no moral support from his closest relatives. His mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not be there, nor will the man she married when her son was four - the heir to the Norwegian throne. The palace stresses Høiby is not part of the royal family, nor a public figure. But he is considered a close member of the family.

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"It's a very dangerous moment, because the royal family should be role models," says Ulf Andre Andersen, who broke the story for celebrity-focused magazine Se og Hør. "This is the biggest scandal the Norwegian royals ever had," says current Se og Hør editor-in-chief Niklas Kokkinn-Thoresen. "They've never had to deal with anything of this measure."

Keep reading

New arrest: On Sunday, Høiby was arrested. Police said the allegations against him involved wielding a knife and violating a restraining order.

Royal wedding: In 2024, the king's daughter - who agreed to drop her title of princess for business activities - married a self-styled shaman.

Mette-Marit: Doctors for the crown princess have said she will likely need a lung transplant as her pulmonary fibrosis has worsened.