live Ceasefire strains as Israel intensifies attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon killing hundreds - Thursday 9 April
Iran suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace d...
Britain’s Ministry of Defence is reviewing military flight records after files appeared to show that Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet landed at Royal Air Force bases, adding fresh pressure on police who are already examining his movements through several civilian airports.
The Ministry of Defence said it is reviewing flight logs that could contain information relating to Epstein after documents surfaced suggesting the late U.S. sex offender’s aircraft had landed at RAF bases.
Police had already begun assessing whether Epstein trafficked women through two London airports and a third airport in central England, as part of a nationwide effort to examine his links to Britain.
The newly surfaced files have prompted fresh calls for investigators to examine whether RAF Marham in eastern England and RAF Northolt in west London were also used.
Private jets regularly operate at Northolt, but it is far less common for them to land at Marham, which the ministry describes as a key frontline base.
Defence minister John Healey has ordered a formal review.
“The Defence Secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein's crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement late on Thursday (26 February).
The ministry added that it would support any civilian investigations and said its thoughts were with the victims of Epstein’s “vile crimes.”
Nearly seven years after Epstein’s death, the scandal continues to reverberate across the British establishment.
Files released in January led to the brief arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on 20 February. He was held on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations that he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein.
Police said he was released under investigation. U.S. President Donald Trump described the arrest as a “shame.”
Britain may also draft legislation to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles’s brother, from the line of succession after the police probe into his links to Epstein concludes, a UK official said on Friday (20 February).
Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and said he regrets their friendship.
The former British ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released on bail as authorities reviewed material linked to his appointment and contacts referenced in the files.
Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein is at the centre of a British political scandal that has prompted calls for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to step down.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate two-week ceasefire covering all areas, but Israel says the deal excludes Lebanon. Tel Aviv says the U.S. is committed to achieving shared goals in upcoming negotiations.
Recent U.S. complaints about NATO allies and threats to quit the alliance are pushing European countries to seek alternative security arrangements, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday.
Construction has begun on a major new solar power project in Xizang, as China continues to expand its renewable energy capacity and push towards a greener future.
North Korea has tested a new cluster-bomb warhead mounted on a tactical ballistic missile, alongside advanced electromagnetic and infrastructure-targeting weapons, in a significant escalation of its military capabilities.
A barrage of Russian drones targeted and damaged a critical power substation in Ukraine's southern Odesa region on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials confirmed.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 9 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from 1 January 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.
Trade discussions between China and the U.S. are expected to remain virtual for now, with no major investment initiatives planned before a potential meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, according to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment