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Diplomacy & Power April 20, 2026 337 stories in this edition

Starmer admits mistake in appointing Mandelson as US envoy but resists calls to resign

SCMP Asia / Asia / 1m ago / Associated Press
Starmer admits mistake in appointing Mandelson as US envoy but resists calls to resign

Preview Brief

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged Monday that he made the wrong judgment when he appointed Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington but said he would not have done so if he had known Mandelson had failed security checks. Starmer faced a barrage of opposition calls to resign as he tried to explain why Mandelson was given the job despite failing security vetting for the UK’...

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged Monday that he made the wrong judgment when he appointed Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington but said he would not have done so if he h...

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A US Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft prepares to land at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi on April 20, 2026. — AFP

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Iran War Live Updates: Tehran and Washington Plan New Talks in Pakistan

The New York Times World · 1m ago

Iran War Live Updates: Tehran and Washington Plan New Talks in Pakistan

Despite mixed messages in public, several Iranian officials indicated their delegation would travel to Islamabad on Tuesday, when Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to arrive with a team of U.S. negotiators.

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Embattled Starmer says he was not told Mandelson failed vetting process

The Hindu International · 1m ago

Embattled Starmer says he was not told Mandelson failed vetting process

Mr. Starmer has insisted that he and other Ministers were not told until last week that Mr. Mandelson had failed the independent vetting process, which he has branded “unforgivable”

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Japan's Nojima to buy Hitachi's consumer appliances unit for more than $630 million, Nikkei reports

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Sri Lanka’s Tamil parties seek sustained Indian push to realise spirit of Indo-Lanka Accord

The Hindu International · 1m ago

Sri Lanka’s Tamil parties seek sustained Indian push to realise spirit of Indo-Lanka Accord

Vice-President ‘assures’ them that India’s position on devolution stands; provincial polls discussed with Sri Lankan side

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UK's Starmer admits should never have named Mandelson as US envoy

Channel NewsAsia · 1m ago

UK's Starmer admits should never have named Mandelson as US envoy

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took responsibility for appointing Peter Mandelson as US envoy, but said he was unaware at the time that Mandelson had failed security checks and would not have proceeded had he known.

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