Former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested at Sandringham Estate | First thing

Anand Kumar
By
Anand Kumar
Anand Kumar
Senior Journalist Editor
Anand Kumar is a Senior Journalist at Global India Broadcast News, covering national affairs, education, and digital media. He focuses on fact-based reporting and in-depth analysis...
- Senior Journalist Editor
9 Min Read
#image_title

good morning

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Photographs have been published of unmarked police cars and plainclothes officers at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate just after 8am 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 a public office and are searching addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk. The man is currently in police custody.”

Police are investigating allegations that Mountbatten-Windsor shared sensitive information with billionaire child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when he was UK trade ambassador.

  • What other information did the Force share? Thames Valley Police previously said they were reviewing allegations that Epstein trafficked a woman to the UK to have a sexual encounter with Andrew.

  • This is a developing story: Follow the latest updates.

Trump officials plan to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza

Road with vehicles, piles of rubble to the side
A UN Development Program delegation is on a field visit to Gaza City on February 16. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

According to Board of Peace contracting records seen by the Guardian, the Trump administration plans to build a 5,000-man military base in southern Gaza, on more than 350 acres ringed with watch towers and barbed wire.

The site is envisioned as a military maintenance base for the future International Stabilization Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force with troops pledged by various countries. The ISF is part of the newly created Board of Peace, chaired by Donald Trump and led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is slated to govern Gaza. It has faced criticism over its funding and governance, and major European allies have refused to join the group.

  • What is ISF? According to the UN, which authorized the creation of the interim force, the ISF will be tasked with securing the Gaza border and maintaining peace in the region. It protects civilians and trains and supports “vetted Palestinian police forces”.

  • What if there is another war? It is unclear what the ISF’s rules of engagement would be in the event of war, renewed bombing by Israel, or attacks by Hamas.

  • Any more news from Gaza? A Lancet study found that the death toll in the first 16 months of the war in Gaza was far higher than reported.

US military is ready for Iran strikes but Trump still is Make up your mind, reports say

Donald Trump with American flags behind him
Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The US military is preparing for possible strikes on Iran this weekend, multiple news outlets reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources.

But Trump has not yet made a final decision on whether to launch an attack, reports said. The US president has repeatedly demanded that Iran halt its nuclear program and has said he intends to use force if a deal is not reached.

  • When might the attack come? According to the New York Times, CBS News and CNN, the US military has mobilized enough air and naval resources in the Middle East to launch an offensive in the coming days. But Reuters gave a different timeline, reporting that top US national security advisers had been told that all US military forces deployed to the region should be ready by mid-March.

In other news…

Mark Zuckerberg in a suit surrounded by cameras and people
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg arrives at Los Angeles Superior Court to testify in Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Jill Connelly/Getty Images
  • Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, present A landmark social media inquiry into the mental health of young people questioned Wednesday with lawyers for plaintiffs who argue the company designed its platforms to be addictive.

  • Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been sentenced to life in prison In December 2024, he became the first elected head of state to be sentenced for leading a coup.

  • Bernie Sanders urges California voters against billionaire “greed” Proposed tax return on the state’s wealthiest residents in a speech on Wednesday.

Stats of the day: Plastic production has doubled in the last 20 years

Garbage picker sits on top of Indonesia's Garbage Mountain
A mountain of garbage in Indonesia, which now bans plastic imports. Photograph: Jonas Gratzer/Lightrocket/Getty Images

In the last 20 years, the plastic production was Rs Dintas increased. In her new book Plastic Ink, Beth Gardiner, an environmental reporter from the US, predicts that it will double again, perhaps even triple, in the near future. “I think there’s been a lot of deliberate and deliberate over the years pushing plastic into our lives,” she says, citing the oil industry’s pivot to petrochemicals for plastic as the world moves toward renewable energy.

Filter: Nine easy DIY remedies for stuck zippers, wobbly chairs and more

Hand with thread fixing jeans
You don’t have to be a pro to salvage many common household items. Photograph: Artem Stepanov/Getty Images

We’ve all gotten rid of an item before that could have been saved with some time and often little effort. Whether fixing a wonky chair, patching a hole in a sweater or fixing a toaster that won’t lock, repair experts share simple tips that can help you save money and extend the life of essentials in minutes.

Don’t miss: Why young Danes are having more sex than other Gen Zs

There are two women in the store, one sitting and the other standing
Kathrin Gra (left) and Clara Philippa Andersen, co-owners of adult entertainment store Peach in Copenhagen Photograph: Waldemar Wren/The Guardian

Young people in Denmark have far more sex than their Gen Z counterparts in the developed world. At a time when a recent US study found that 24% of adults aged 18 to 29 had no sexual activity in the past year, Joe Williams traveled to Copenhagen to find out what’s different in Denmark – and what role financial security, gender equality and a sex-positive culture can play.

Climate check: Study finds global increase in hot, dry days ideal for wildfires

Firefighters silhouetted against flames
Firefighters battled the Eaton fire in Pasadena in January of last year. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images

The number of days with hot, dry and windy weather — ideal conditions for fueling wildfires — has nearly tripled in the past 45 years worldwide, a new study shows. This trend is even more pronounced in the Americas, as South America experiences a sharp increase in fire weather days.

One last thing: the hot new trend of minute-long TV shows

Younger and older male actors in Gray West
‘Squid game, squeezed into two hours, done on the cheap’ … vertical drama game of choice. Photograph: Reverse Clock Entertainment

Vertical dramas — series filmed for smartphone viewing and typically in one-minute episodes — are growing in popularity. “Every single Hollywood studio you can think of is involved or has a trial,” says Jen Cooper, a vertical drama consultant. “For actors in America, 90% of the jobs are there [major casting platform] The actor’s entry is vertical.”

Sign up

The first thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every week. If you haven’t already signed up, subscribe now.

contact

If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters, please email newsletters@theguardian.com

Share This Article
Anand Kumar
Senior Journalist Editor
Follow:
Anand Kumar is a Senior Journalist at Global India Broadcast News, covering national affairs, education, and digital media. He focuses on fact-based reporting and in-depth analysis of current events.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *