News Today: Andrew Released After 11-Hour Questioning as Bondi Beach Suspect Appears and Board of Peace Pledges $7bn
News Today brings three fast-moving stories: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released from police custody after more than 11 hours of questioning, a man accused in the Bondi Beach attack has appeared in court video link from prison, and members of the Board of Peace have pledged more than $7bn toward a Gaza relief package.
News Today: Royal arrest, release and political fallout
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation after being questioned for more than 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to revelations in recently released Epstein files. The files, numbering three million pages, were disclosed twenty days ago and included emails from Andrew to Epstein that have revived scrutiny of his past roles and contacts.
The story has prompted a measured public response from senior politicians who have largely observed the long-standing convention of limiting comment on royal matters. That silence has been notable at Downing Street, while one prominent opposition leader urged that anyone with relevant information should come forward to the appropriate authorities. A cabinet minister who spoke publicly described the royal family’s public service and said that Mountbatten-Windsor had brought the family into disrepute, while backing the King's earlier statement that the law should take its course and noting that the police have the support of the government.
Context from the wider record highlights that Andrew was appointed as a trade envoy in September 2001 and stepped down from that role nearly ten years later amid links to Jeffrey Epstein. The renewed attention after the document release has led to unprecedented scrutiny of the royal family in recent weeks.
Bondi Beach suspect appears in court
A man accused of killing 15 people by opening fire at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach has appeared in court video link from prison for the first time. The brief hearing took place remotely, with the accused appearing from custody. The case remains before the courts and the short appearance marks the next procedural step following the deadly attack.
The court appearance is one of the day's urgent criminal developments and follows initial investigations that have drawn widespread attention. Further hearings and legal proceedings are expected as the case progresses.
Board of Peace members pledge more than $7bn for Gaza relief
Members of the Board of Peace announced they have contributed more than $7bn toward a Gaza relief package. The pledge was made as part of a broader plan that envisions a second phase combining a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction efforts. The UN has placed the estimate for damage in Gaza at $70bn, underscoring the scale of reconstruction needed.
Leaders involved in the initiative said work would be carried out in cooperation with the United Nations, with the UN itself committing $2bn for humanitarian assistance and a global football body set to raise $75m for sport-related projects. A senior representative named as high representative for Gaza noted that recruitment for a new transitional Palestinian police force had begun, with 2, 000 applicants coming forward in the first few hours of the drive. Israeli leadership has stated that reconstruction will not begin until Gaza is demilitarised, a condition that remains central to negotiations and to the proposed plan.
These three developments — the royal release after a prolonged police interview, the Bondi Beach suspect’s first court appearance video link, and the multi-billion-dollar Gaza relief pledge by Board of Peace members — are the main stories dominating the day. News Today captures how legal, security and diplomatic threads are unfolding simultaneously, with further updates expected as investigations and political discussions continue.
