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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Photographs of unmarked police cars and plainclothes officers at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate just after 8am were published on Thursday. A statement from Thames Valley police said: “We have today (19/2) arrested a man in his 60s from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and are carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
“The man remains in police custody at this time.”
Police have been assessing allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with the billionaire child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he was a UK trade envoy.
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What other information has the force shared? Thames Valley police previously said they were reviewing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Andrew, and claims he shared sensitive information with the disgraced financier while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.
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This is a developing story: follow the latest updates.
Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza, files show
The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in southern Gazasprawling more than 350 acres and ringed with watch towers and barbed wired, according to Board of Peace contracting records seen by the Guardian.
The site is envisioned as a military operating base for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. The ISF is part of the newly created Board of Peace, chaired by Donald Trump and led in part by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, which is meant to govern Gaza. It has faced criticism about its funding and governance, and major European allies have declined to join the group.
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What is the ISF? According to the UN, which authorized the creation of a temporary force, the ISF will be tasked with securing Gaza’s border and maintaining peace within the area. It’s also supposed to protect civilians, and train and support “vetted Palestinian police forces”.
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What about in case of renewed war? It’s unclear what the ISF’s rules of engagement would be if there is combat, renewed bombing by Israel, or attacks by Hamas.
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What other news is there from Gaza? A Lancet study has found that the death toll in the Gaza war’s first 16 months was far higher than reported.
US military ready for possible Iran strikes but Trump yet to make decision, reports say
The US military is ready for possible strikes on Iran as soon as this weekend, multiple news outlets reported on Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.
However, the reports said that Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to carry out an attack. Trump has repeatedly demanded Iran cease its nuclear program, and has warned he intends to use force if no deal is reached.
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When might an attack come? According to the New York Times, CBS News and CNN, the US military has assembled sufficient air and naval resources in the Middle East to launch an attack in the coming days. But Reuters gave a different timeline, reporting that top US national security advisers were told that all US military forces deployed to the region should be ready by mid-March.
In other news …
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The Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was questioned in a landmark social media trial over young people’s mental health on Wednesday, with lawyers for the plaintiffs arguing the company designed its platforms to be addictive.
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The former president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for leading an insurrection in South Korea in December 2024, making him the first elected head of state to receive the sentence.
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Bernie Sanders railed against billionaire “greed” as he urged California voters to back a proposed tax on the state’s richest residents in a speech on Wednesday.
Stat of the day: Plastic production has doubled over the last 20 years
In the past 20 years, plastic production has doubled. In her new book Plastic Inc, Beth Gardiner, an environmental journalist from the US, warns that it will double again, perhaps triple, in the near future. “I think what stood out most is the deliberateness and intentionality over the years of pushing plastic into our lives,” she says, noting the oil industry’s pivot towards petrochemicals for plastic as the world moves toward renewable energy.
The Filter: Nine easy DIY remedies for stuck zippers, wobbly chairs and more
We’ve all gotten rid of an item before that could have been saved with a bit of time and, often, minimal effort. Whether it’s mending a wobbly chair, darning a hole in a sweater or fixing a toaster that won’t latch, repair experts share simple tips that will help you save money and extend the life of everyday essentials in minutes.
Don’t miss this: Why young Danes are having more sex than other gen Z’s
Young people in Denmark are having much more sex than their gen Z counterparts across the developed world. At a time when one recent US study found that 24% of adults aged 18 to 29 reported no sexual activity at all in the past year, Zoe Williams headed to Copenhagen to find out what’s different in Denmark – and what role economic security, gender equality and a sex-positive culture play.
Climate check: Study finds global increase in hot, dry days ideal for wildfires
The number of days with hot, dry and windy weather – ideal conditions for sparking extreme wildfires – has nearly tripled in the past 45 years globally, a new study shows. The trend is even more pronounced in the Americas, with South America seeing a severe rise in fire weather days.
Last Thing: The hot new trend for minute-long TV shows
Vertical dramas – series shot for smartphone viewing and usually in episodes lasting around a minute – are growing in popularity. “Every single Hollywood studio you can think of is involved or trialling,” says vertical drama consultant Jen Cooper. “For actors in America, 90% of the jobs on [major casting platform] Actor’s Access are verticals.”
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