Key Points
- Andrew Mountbatten Windsor under investigation by police
- US gives Iran 10 days for a deal as White House threatens further strikes
- Young Aussie Indra Brown to compete in the halfpipe finals at Milano Cortina Games
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been released under investigation after British police questioned him for 12 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Thames Valley Police has issued this statement.
"On Thursday we arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrested man has now been released under investigation. We can also confirm that our searches in Norfolk have now concluded. Our searches in Berkshire are still underway. Thames Valley Police will not be making any further statement at this time and will not be holding a press conference or conducting any media interviews in relation to this investigation."
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on the day of his arrest, was seen leaving a Norfolk police station after his detention.
The probe comes as investigators assess claims he sent confidential government trade reports to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2010, following the release of millions of pages of documents linked to a US investigation.
He is the first senior British royal in modern history to be arrested.
The second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and has said he regretted their friendship.
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Australian politicians say the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, marks an extraordinary fall from grace.
The 66-year-old was taken into police custody on Thursday night on suspicion of misconduct in public office before being released 12 hours later.
He remains under investigation.
Despite losing his titles, he remains eighth in line to the British throne.
Health Minister Mark Butler spoke to Channel Seven about the arrest.
"What a fall from grace, a man we knew as for decades, as Prince Andrew, His Royal Highness is now just a man in his 60s from Norfolk. I think all of our thoughts as human beings, not members of government or the opposition, but all of our thoughts as human beings, go to the girls and the women who are caught up in this hideous network of powerful men that Jeffrey Epstein pulled together."
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US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it has roughly 10 days to reach a meaningful nuclear agreement, as a major U-S military build-up in the Middle East raises fears of wider conflict.
Speaking at his Board of Peace meeting in Washington, Mr Trump says negotiations were progressing but insisted Tehran must compromise, claiming earlier US strikes had decimated Iran’s nuclear potential and that further action remained possible.
He urged Iran to change course, warning of consequences if talks fail.
"They cannot continue to threaten the stability of the entire region, and they must make a deal. Or if that doesn't happen, I maybe can understand. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. But bad things will happen if it doesn't.
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Police have executed a warrant at a semi-rural property believed to be linked to the kidnapping of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian.
The 85-year-old was allegedly abducted by three men outside his home before dawn last Friday, 13 February, and is believed to be alive after videos emerged showing him restrained at an unknown location.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Marks with the New South Wales Police says officers raided a derelict property north-west of Sydney.
“We've had a significant progression in the investigation whereby we believe we have found the location where Mr. Baghsarian was kept for some time. That location is in Wildthorn Avenue, Dural. Police yesterday afternoon were able to identify that location, and a quick search of the property did not locate Mr Baghsarian."
Police are appealing to the people of Dural to report any unusual activity they may have noticed to CrimeStoppers.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the bilateral relationship with China is back on track.
Mr Albanese visited China in July last year which marked a further step towards stabilising relations between the two countries.
He told SBS Chinese that China is hosting the APEC summit in November and he's looking forward to returning to the nation.
"They're doing that in Shenzen and I very much look forward to visiting China again later this year. we are good friends and it is important that we have good relations and both sideshave been working to ensure that that is the case."
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Australia’s strong Winter Olympics campaign could end on a medal high after 16-year-old Indra Brown powered into the women’s freeski halfpipe final just weeks after her birthday.
One of the season’s breakout stars and the youngest member of the Australian team, Brown showed no nerves on her Olympic debut in Livigno on Thursday night, qualifying fourth for Saturday’s final.
Canada’s former champion Cassie Sharpe, who sat third, crashed heavily on her second run and was taken away on a snow stretcher.
She waved to the crowd as she left, but her fitness for the final on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) remains in doubt.
