Banque Havilland, set up by David Rowland for the super-rich, has had its licence revoked. By Michael Bow
The Daily Telegraph – Saturday
10 Aug 2024
Prince Andrews’ favourite financier, David ‘Spotty’ Rowland, fights to win back banking licence after loss of permissions in EU Prince Andrew was in enthusiastic form when he agreed to open a new bank in Luxembourg for his close friend and…
The recent release of emails related to Jeffrey Epstein has shed light on Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s business relationships, particularly concerning David Rowland, a controversial financier. What emerges from these communications is not just a glimpse into royal financial strategies but a troubling narrative about trust, influence, and reputation.
The Emails: A Closer Look
The emails, which have recently surfaced, indicate that Prince Andrew regarded David Rowland as his “trusted money man.” This relationship raises significant questions, especially given the public’s perception of Rowland as a “shady financier.” In these exchanges, we see Andrew promoting Rowland’s financial ventures while simultaneously navigating his role as the UK trade envoy, a position that inherently carries a degree of responsibility and public scrutiny.
“Will finalize F summary for you next week. Can’t now cause she went to Nepal, paying for the first-class flight with her Rowland bank loan.”
The dossier of allegations from the Epstein files that have led to Andrew’s dramatic downfall
Story by Inderdeep Bains, Deputy Chief Reporter
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Follow the latest developments on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest in our Daily Mail live blog
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest for misconduct in public office follows a vast slew of allegations that have tumbled out of the explosive Epstein files.
The then-Prince Andrew was handed the prestigious role of UK’s trade envoy in 2001 in a bid to provide him with a new lease of life after the end of his 22-year Royal Navy career.
For more than a decade, the former duke travelled the world seemingly unfettered – developing questionable friendships and lavishing taxpayers’ money on his luxury overseas sojourns along the way.
His penchant for taking long haul trips – often via desirable destinations including ski slopes and top golfing locations – earned him the nickname Air Miles Andy.
He was eventually forced to step down from his globe-trotting duties in July 2011, following months of public outcry over his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Now mounting claims suggest he may have exploited his position for something far more sinister than mere travel perks.
Here, the Daily Mail examines the dossier at the heart of the King’s brother’s dramatic downfall:
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on his birthday and is in police custody. He can be held for 24 hours without charge
A group of police officers in plain clothes arrive at Wood Farm this morning, where searches began
Windsor: Police officers are seen at the gates of Andrew’s former home in Berkshire, Royal Lodge
February 2010
Andrew appeared to send a confidential Treasury briefing on the financial crisis then gripping Iceland to his banker friend Jonathan Rowland.
The then prince suggested Mr Rowland, son of Tory donor David Rowland who Andrew was close to, read it ‘before you make your move’.
The emails show Andrew had tasked his deputy private secretary Amanda Thirsk to request an update from the Treasury.
At the time, the UK and Iceland were having a diplomatic row over British deposits lost in the 2008 banking crisis.
Ms Thirsk wrote on February 8: ‘The Duke of York….would very much like to receive an update note on the latest position between the UK and Iceland on the matter of the deposits and the deposit scheme.’
When the Treasury official replied with a note, she forwarded it to Andrew. Two hours later, he allegedly sent it to Mr Rowland, whose bank had bought assets from a failed Icelandic lender a year earlier.
Andrew told him: ‘I pass this on to you for comment and a suggestion or solution?
‘The essence is that Amanda is getting signals that we should allow the democratic process [to] happen before you make your move. Interested in your opinion? A.’
Jonathan Rowland and his wife Anya were among the guests seen attending Princess Eugenie’s wedding in 2018
Mr Rowland was the chief executive of Banque Havilland, a bank founded by his father which was connected to a major investigation by Icelandic authorities at the time.
The email was sent days after a raid on the offices of Kaupthing Bank, part of which had just been acquired by Banque Havilland, after the Icelandic bank collapsed.
Andrew’s connections to the Rowland family go back years.
Mr Rowland Snr once gave Sarah Ferguson £40,000 to help clear debts and documents suggest he once paid off a £1.5million bank loan for the former duke.
Mr Rowland Snr was also invited to Balmoral – where he reportedly met the Queen and took tea with the Prince of Wales.
April 2010
After the three-day China trip in March, Andrew’s senior aide Amanda Thirsk apparently forwarded banker Jonathan Rowland a Foreign Office cable that included details of talks between Andrew and leading Chinese politicians.
Documents show the cable was marked ‘sensitive’ and meant for Government officials.
The cable allegedly detailed face-to-face talks during the trade visit with Wang Qishan, China’s vice premier, and Chen Deming, the commerce minister.
July 2010
Andrew allegedly shared an email exchange discussing sensitive information about taxpayer-owned Royal Bank of Scotland and Aston Martin to David Stern.
Mr Stern, a London-based German businessman who acted as an intermediary between Andrew and Epstein, promptly shared it with the disgraced financier.
David Stern (pictured left) features in 7,461 documents in the latest Epstein files, including a photograph of him with the former Duke and Duchess of York
The former duke is believed to have shared details learned from meetings with bank executives in the wake of its £45billion state bailout.
Andrew allegedly revealed sensitive information about RBS shake-up plans and, without foundation, alleged that experts overseeing the bank were privately critical of its chief executive.
He also passed on information about Aston Martin, including claims of internal tensions amid a slump in sales.
The exchange was between Andrew and Terence Allen, an investment banker in the UAE.
Mr Allen said there was ‘clearly’ a ‘bunch of assets for sale’ at RBS, adding: ‘We are looking at some of their distressed real estate for our clients..’
Andrew responded he had been told by an RBS executive that RBS-owned private bank Drummonds would ‘be reviewed’ and become ‘more integrated’ with Royal bankers Coutts.
Andrew also revealed that chief executive Sir Stephen Hester was not thinking of selling a stake in RBS’s ‘subsidiary brands’ because he had ‘more important things to worry about.’
September 2010
Mr Stern was asked to ‘help’ plan the then duke’s taxpayer-funded trip as trade envoy to China while consulting Epstein on potential meetings.
Although Andrew spent 10 days on the official visit, emails reveal he insisted that the first four days of his trip should be ‘private’.
While there, he dined with a glamorous Chinese model and took a bamboo raft with another woman – while Mr Stern sent discreetly taken photos to Epstein.
Andrew is pictured with his private secretary Amanda Thirsk at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2020
Police outside Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where Andrew was held
In one email about the visit, Mr Stern sent Epstein an image of a Chinese actress adding: ‘We have dinner on Sunday in Beijing with this p.’
The ‘p’ was used as code for a derogatory term for women.
After his return, Mr Stern allegedly emailed Epstein to tell him he was planning potential business deals thanks to Andrew’s trip.
Financier Jonathan Rowland was also reported to have been with Andrew on the trip where he was able to use the ex-duke’s access to try to land clients for Banque Havilland.
November 2010
Andrew apparently lobbied for Epstein during an official visit to the UAE with the late Queen where he stayed in a £1m villa as a gift from the nation’s rulers.
Later that month, Andrew appeared to have forwarded Epstein Whitehall reports of his recent visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam – including confidential details of investment opportunities.
A doctor at Jeffrey Epstein’s post mortem said the paedophile was strangled and not hanged
Emails on November 30, show he passed on the material sent by his then-special assistant, Amit Patel, to Epstein, five minutes after receiving them.
At the time, Andrew was staying with Epstein at his New York mansion and had breakfast with the paedophile and businessman Andrew Farkas that morning.
Late 2010
Emails over October and November that year show Andrew appeared to try to facilitate a meeting with the then Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi for Epstein.
Epstein wanted to secure a role managing money for Gaddafi, and tried to meet with him or his associates via the then prince, the emails suggest.
On November 4, Andrew emailed Epstein, saying: ‘I will call you later this evening after I have had my chat with my Libyan contact to see what we can arrange for you in Tripoli.’
Mere hours later, he follows up with this message: ‘Libya fixed. Call me whenever.’
However, the meeting is not believed to have taken place.
December 2010
Andrew sent Epstein a ‘confidential’ briefing on Afghanistan including ‘high value commercial opportunities’ in gold and uranium.
Andrew had claimed in his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview that he had cut off ties with Epstein after his visit to New York where he claimed he ended his friendship with the convicted sex offender.
Police officers walk near the entrance to Royal Lodge on Thursday
However, on Christmas Eve that year, he emailed Epstein a report on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of the war-torn Helmand Province, which was overseen by British armed forces and funded by UK government money.
In the email Andrew asked for ‘ideas as to whom I could also usefully show this to attract some interest’.
The document marked confidential was titled ‘Helmand Investment Opportunities Brief Final.doc’.
February 2011
An email shows Andrew allegedly suggesting that Epstein should invest in a private equity firm which the then-prince had visited the week before.
July 2011
Andrew bows to public pressure over his ties to Epstein and steps down from his role as the UK’s Trade Envoy.
However, he says he intends to serve as a ‘senior working royal’ focusing on boosting British business.
Critics claimed that it was a ploy designed to allow him to continue clocking up miles using the public purse.
Just weeks later, it emerged he had spent up to £150,000 of taxpayers’ money on chartering a private jet to fly to Saudi Arabia and back for a three-day trip to promote British ventures.
2016
Andrew earned commission of £3.83million after acting as a fixer for Greek and Swiss businesses which wanted to build water and sewage networks in Kazakhstan.
It was also later revealed that he had made a secret deal to fly around the world on a £30million luxury jet owned by financier Mr Rowland Snr.
Andrew arranged for the sumptuous 14-seat plane to be used for some of his overseas Royal engagements and continued to fly on it until May 2019.
A significant development has emerged in the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, with federal authorities now reportedly in possession of photographs and names of individuals they believe could be linked to the case.
According to a report by CBS News, investigators have obtained images and identifying details of people who may match the individual captured on surveillance footage outside Nancy Guthrie’s front door. The footage allegedly shows a person standing near the entrance with what appears to be a firearm holstered at their side.
Crypto Crime:
Nancy Guthrie disappearance highlights cryptocurrency’s role in criminal activity
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — The high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has brought new attention to the world of cryptocurrency, with multiple ransom notes sent to media outlets demanding payment in Bitcoin in exchange for Nancy Guthrie or her whereabouts.
What is cryptocurrency?
Cryptocurrency is digital money that only exists online. It operates on a network or blockchain rather than being controlled by a bank. It allows person-to-person transactions and uses a public ledger to record transactions. Crypto is most frequently used for online payments or investments.
Arizona’s Family
Why crypto is the currency of choice for criminals
The high profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has brought new
Current Time 0:01
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Duration 2:09
Crypto expert Robert Hockensmith said every transaction is tracked and verified.
“Any time you buy it, any time you sell it, any time you use it to buy a product or service, any time you connect it or take it to another place, it is identified as you touching it. That’s how it works,” said Hockensmith, who works with AZ Money Guy.
Why criminals use cryptocurrency
Despite the tracking capabilities, criminals use crypto because it’s not that simple to trace. A cybersecurity expert said a lot of criminals have found creative ways to avoid being traced.
They’ll use multiple crypto wallets and addresses to obscure their identity. Funds can be transferred globally almost instantly, and if some IP addresses are hidden, they can be harder to locate. Once a transaction is confirmed, it’s extremely difficult to reverse.
“If you think about, for example, ID theft, cybercriminals might literally steal someone’s identity and that might include their access to something like Coinbase and then use that victim’s Coinbase to receive stolen funds and move it somewhere else, same way they used to do it with wire transfers,” said Eric Foster, cybersecurity and crypto expert and CEO of Tenex.AI.
Another crypto expert said criminals will keep moving their crypto over and over again, making it harder and harder to trace. He calls crypto the modern way of transporting large sums of money and said it has become the currency of choice for criminals.
DHS and ICE thought they could buy a massive warehouse on Hightower Trail in Social Circle, Georgia, and no one would say a word.
They thought they could dump up to 10,000 detainees into a rural town of just 5,000 people with two cops and simply ignore the local officials who warned them that the town’s water and sewer infrastructure would collapse under the weight.
They thought they could build a full-blown concentration camp in America’s backyard, wave a federal supremacy clause to bypass all local zoning laws, and operate with absolute impunity.
They thought wrong.
The Devil went down to Georgia. And the Save America Movement followed.
We plastered the town with the truth about what is happening in their community. From the intersections to the storefronts, these posters are up all over. We are making sure that every single resident, every local official, and every ICE contractor knows exactly what is being built less than a mile from an elementary school.
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What is happening in Georgia is a tragedy, but it is a test run and a blueprint for what they want to do all over the country.
Somehow, even though the funding for DHS is in limbo right now, they’re executing a $38 billion plan to radically expand their detention footprint. We don’t just mean extra beds. We mean actively acquiring massive, 1-million-square-foot warehouses across the country to convert into mega-prisons.
They are targeting communities everywhere:
Surprise, Arizona
Tremont, Pennsylvania
Socorro, Texas
Hagerstown, Maryland
Their strategy relies entirely on speed and on communities being unwilling to fight back. They know that if the American people realize they are retrofitting industrial buildings to hold human beings in shackles by the thousands, the backlash will be catastrophic.
That is why our strategy relies on exposure.
We are not going to wait for these facilities to open their doors before we fight back. We are taking the fight to the construction sites.
In Social Circle, local leaders—in a town that voted overwhelmingly for the current administration—are furious. They have been dodged, ignored, and overruled by the federal government. By putting our posters up, running local ads, and embedding investigative journalists on the ground, we are giving that local outrage a megaphone. We are turning a quiet real estate transaction into a national scandal.
Social Circle is the first location, but our intent is to scale this operation to every single warehouse on ICE’s acquisition list.
We are going to make it impossible for the administration to build these concentration camps without a fight. We are going to ensure that the contractors, the local politicians, and the federal agents are forced to look at the reality of what they are doing every single day.
We will not let “I didn’t know” be an excuse in this country.
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SOCORRO, Texas (AP) — In a Texas town at the edge of the Rio Grande and a tall metal border wall, rumors swirled that federal immigration officials wanted to purchase three hulking warehouses to transform into a detention center.
As local officials scrambled to find out what was happening, a deed was filed showing the Department of Homeland Security had already inked a $122.8 million deal for the 826,000-square-foot (76,738-square-meter) warehouses in Socorro, a bedroom community of 40,000 people outside El Paso.
“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up the phone or even send us any type of correspondence letting us know what’s about to take place,” said Rudy Cruz Jr., the mayor of the predominantly Hispanic town of low-slung ranch homes and trailer parks, where orchards and irrigation ditches share the landscape with strip malls, truck stops, recycling plants and distribution warehouses.
The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff agenda Friday, dealing a seismic blow to the president’s key economic policy after months of chaos with America’s trading partners.
A ruling from the nation’s conservative-majority high court determined that the president’s global levies were unlawfully imposed under the 1977 law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
“The president asserts the extraordinary power to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the breadth, history, and constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in a 6-3 decision.
Conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, both appointed by Trump, joined Roberts as well as liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson in ruling against the president.
The president called the ruling a “disgrace” in the immediate aftermath, The Independent understands.
Donald Trump Jr.’s Private DC Club Has Mysterious Ties to an Ex-Cop With a Controversial Past
The Executive Branch has a reported membership list that includes Trumpworld elites like David Sacks. A WIRED review of corporate filings reveals an under-the-radar player: a notorious former DC police officer.
Photograph: Fayez Nureldine/Getty ImagesSave this story
When the Executive Branch soft-launched in Washington, DC, last spring, the private club’s initial buzz centered on its starry roster of backers and founding members. The president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., is one of the club’s several co-owners, according to previous reporting. Founding members reportedly include Trump administration AI czar David Sacks and his All-In podcast cohost Chamath Palihapitiya, as well as crypto bigwigs Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
Wired
David Sacks, from ‘PayPal mafia’ to Trump’s AI and crypto tsar
Today, 14 years after the 2010 film “The Social Network” catapulted them into the public eye, the Winklevoss twins continue to make headlines.Shutterstock
The Winklevoss twins, Cameron and Tyler, have a story that’s stranger than fiction. It involves a bitter legal battle, a massive financial bet, and a rise to crypto prominence.
In the early 2000s, while studying at Harvard, the twins had a vision for a social network, and co-founded a social network called ConnectU. They were self-taught HTML coders, which they started tinkering around with from age 13.
From Harvard to betrayal
They then enlisted a coding prodigy named Mark Zuckerberg to bring it to life. Facebook soon launched, and the Winklevoss twins felt Zuckerberg stole their idea.
Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss, attend the opening bell ceremony for American Bitcoin at the Nasdaq Market in New York City, U.S., September 16, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
The twin brothers behind the crypto company Gemini Space Station attempted to block a nominee to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a position President Donald Trump had nominated, and now they’ve angered several in that orbit.
Trump’s CFTC nominee, Brian Quintenz, drew the ire of Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss after a behind-the-scenes fight became public, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The company founded by the Winklevoss bros fell under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during President Joe Biden’s administration after they failed to “register a cryptocurrency asset lending program before offering it to retail investors,” Reuters reported earlier this week. They settled the case this week and the company went public last week, then the conversations with Quintenz were exposed.
Chamath Palihapitiya is the Founder and CEO of Social Capital, a technology investment company, and Co-founder and CEO of 8090, an AI company. Under his leadership, Social Capital has incubated and invested in groundbreaking companies across various sectors, including healthcare, artificial intelligence, climate change, and space exploration. Some of Social Capital’s notable investments include Yammer (Microsoft), Slack (Salesforce), Swarm Technologies (SpaceX), Relativity Space, Groq, MrBeast, Palmetto, and 8090. Before founding Social Capital, Chamath was a senior executive at Facebook, where he was the leader of the company’s Growth, Platform, and Mobile teams. Born in Sri Lanka, and raised in Canada, Chamath now resides in Silicon Valley with his wife and five children. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from The University of Waterloo.
Initial reports identified several co-owners, including Trump Jr. and his associates Omeed Malik, Chris Buskirk, and brothers Zach and Alex Witkoff. However, a subsequent investigation by Mother Jones uncovered the involvement of Glenn Gilmore, a real estate developer from the San Francisco Bay Area, whose titles in the club’s corporate documents vary from co-owner to president. Yet another name has surfaced in the club’s corporate filings: Sean LoJacono
A notorious DC cop:
Sean LoJacono, a former police officer with a controversial past, is a beneficial owner of the club.
==========
The Controversial Past of Sean LoJacono
LoJacono, a former Metropolitan Police Department officer, became notorious in 2017 for his role in a contentious stop and frisk incident that led to a lawsuit. During the encounter with a man named M.B. Cottingham, LoJacono was accused of conducting an invasive body search, which was captured on video and went viral. In the recording, Cottingham expressed his shock at the nature of the search, stating, “He stuck his finger in my crack. Stop fingering me, though, bro.” The incident ignited a heated debate about aggressive policing tactics in Washington, DC.
In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against LoJacono on behalf of Cottingham, alleging that the officer had violated his rights during the search. Although the District of Columbia settled the case with Cottingham without admitting any wrongdoing, the fallout from the incident had significant implications for LoJacono’s career. Following an internal investigation, the MPD moved to dismiss him, but he successfully appealed the decision through the police union’s collective bargaining agreement, allowing him to return to the force as of November 2023.
LoJacono’s Role in the Executive Branch
Despite being cleared to return to the MPD, LoJacono has chosen a different path. His LinkedIn profile indicates that he is now the “Director of Security and Facilities Management” at the Executive Branch, a position he has held since June 2025. In the club’s incorporation paperwork filed in March 2025, LoJacono is listed as the “beneficial owner” of the business, raising questions about the extent of his involvement and influence within the club. This designation indicates that he holds a significant stake, if not a controlling interest, in the Executive Branch.
Understanding Beneficial Ownership
The term “beneficial owner” refers to individuals who have a substantial interest in a company, whether through direct ownership or managerial roles. According to Gary Kalman, executive director of Transparency International U.S., beneficial ownership can imply a significant minority stake, although it does not necessarily equate to majority control. The implications of this designation are crucial, as they illuminate the potential influence LoJacono may wield within the club, despite its more high-profile co-owners.
World Liberty Financial is the Trump family’s crypto business.Jonathan Raa / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Key Takeaways
World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto business, in January applied for a national banking license and launched an interface allowing users to borrow and earn points.
It is an “experiment into the convergence of politics, finance, and blockchain technology,” a crypto research firm says.
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The Trump family has a range of business interests—including a crypto company with big financial ambitions.
The company, World Liberty Financial, has a lending market called WLFI Markets. It has applied for a national banking charter through its World Liberty Trust subsidiary. And it bills itself as a DeFi, or “decentralized finance,” ecosystem, which broadly means it seeks to remove middlemen from financial transactions.
World Liberty Financial was founded by President Donald Trump, his sons, the president’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Witkoff’s sons. Its USD1 stablecoin, which aims to stay pegged to the U.S. dollar, is at the center of the Trump family’s crypto venture—as is its token WLFI, which was recently trading around 11 cents, a fraction of its peak around 33 cents since its September launch.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO INVESTORS
World Liberty Financial offers a token and a stablecoin, but it has also signaled efforts to get into broader financial services.
WLFI Markets lets users borrow and lend against digital assets using USD1. The app isn’t available everywhere in the U.S., including New York. But if it gains traction, it could boost the circulating supply of USD1 and, potentially, the interest income generated by the assets that back it.
As a nationally chartered bank, World Liberty Trust would move from the fringes of payments into the central plumbing. Most stablecoin issuers make money from the interest earned on the assets backing the coins, generally including U.S. Treasurys, but if it were to also be a bank it could offer, and charge for, a range of financial services. (Think payments, clearing, asset custody, and the like.)
While the company has obvious political associations, World Liberty Financial, the WLF Protocol and WLFI tokens are “not political,” per the company’s white paper. That document shows that an entity called DT Marks DEFI LLC received 22.5 billion WLFI tokens and a right to receive 75% of the project’s revenue.1 That entity is connected to undisclosed Trump family members and the president through a series of holding companies, according to The Wall Street Journal.2
Outrage after 2-month-old and mother ‘abandoned’ by ICE after he was hospitalized
Juan Nicolas was the youngest detainee inside controversial Dilley detention center
Alex Woodward in New YorkWednesday 18 February 2026 17:45 GMT
A two-month-old boy with bronchitis was deported to Mexico with his mother and sister shortly after he was released from a hospital in Texas, where the family was detained inside a facility holding a growing number of immigrant families.
Juan Nicolas, who was the youngest person detained inside the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, was “rushed” to a hospital Monday night after roughly three weeks at the facility, according to Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro. Juan was “unresponsive” while hospitalized but was discharged hours after he arrived, the congressman said.
On Tuesday night, after an immigration court judge ordered the mother’s removal, the family was deported to Mexico and “abandoned” with only $190 they saved in a commissary account in ICE detention, according to Castro.
“To unnecessarily deport a sick baby and his entire family is heinous,” Castro said. “My staff and I are in contact with Juan’s family. We are laser-focused on tracking them down, holding ICE accountable for this monstrous action, demanding specific details on their whereabouts and wellbeing, and ens
Jeffrey Epstein’s UK Enigma: Fresh Questions Emerge Over York Property and British Associates
20/09/2025 21:46
Jeffrey Epstein’s Secret York Property Revealed in UK
Fresh details have emerged about Jeffrey Epstein’s clandestine British footprint, centring on a mysterious property acquisition in the historic city of York. The disgraced financier, who died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, continues to cast a long shadow, with new questions now focused on his activities and connections within the UK.
The revelations, first reported by The Sun and The Evening Standard, indicate Epstein secured a property in York under a deliberately opaque corporate veil. This strategy of using shell companies to obscure ownership was a hallmark of his real estate transactions globally, making the full extent of his property portfolio notoriously difficult to trace.
The York Enigma: A Deliberately Hidden Holding
The specific location and purpose of the York property remain tightly under wraps, fuelling speculation about its use and the identities of any British associates who may have visited it. This acquisition forms a critical part of the ongoing puzzle to understand the breadth of Epstein’s network beyond his well-documented residences in New York, Florida, and the US Virgin Islands.
Investigative efforts are now laser-focused on unravelling the purpose of this UK holding and identifying the full roster of individuals who had dealings with Epstein on British soil. The use of complex financial structures suggests a concerted effort to avoid scrutiny and keep his movements and associations secret.
Ghislaine Maxwell and the British Connection
These new findings inevitably intensify the spotlight on Epstein’s former associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Currently serving a 20-year sentence in the US for her role in facilitating Epstein’s crimes, Maxwell was a central figure in his inner circle and was instrumental in recruiting and grooming victims.
The discovery of a York property deepens the UK connection to the sprawling scandal, prompting authorities and journalists to re-examine Epstein’s travels and relationships in Britain. It raises urgent questions about who else within his British network might have had knowledge of or involvement in his illegal activities.
For the victims seeking justice and closure, each new revelation underscores the vast, international reach of Epstein’s operation. The identification of this property is not just about bricks and mortar; it’s a potential key to unlocking further truths about the scale of abuse and the powerful figures who enabled it.
As the investigation continues, the pressure mounts on UK authorities to provide a full and transparent account of Epstein’s dealings within the country, ensuring that every stone is turned in the pursuit of justice.
Location & Value – Seven units in a luxury building near the Arc de Triomphe, estimated at €8–9M (~$9M). Current ownership and final valuations are unclear.
Iran, Russia to Conduct Joint Drills in the Sea of Oman
This handout photo released by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)’s official website Sepanews on February 17, 2026, shows boats maneuvering around a tanker vessel during a military exercise by members of the IRGC and navy in the Strait of Hormuz. (Sepahnews / AFP)
10:57-18 February 2026 AD ـ 01 Ramadan 1447 AH
TT
Iran and Russia will conduct naval maneuvers in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, following the latest round of talks between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, Iranian media reported.
On Monday, the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological arm of Iran’s military, also launched exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a challenge to US naval forces deployed in the region.
“The joint naval exercise of Iran and Russia will take place tomorrow (Thursday) in the Sea of Oman and in the northern Indian Ocean,” the ISNA agency reported, citing drill spokesman, Rear Admiral Hassan Maghsoudloo.
“The aim is to strengthen maritime security and to deepen relations between the navies of the two countries,” he said, without specifying the duration of the drill.
The war games come as Iran struck an upbeat tone following the second round of Oman-mediated negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday.
Previous talks between the two foes collapsed following the unprecedented Israeli strike on Iran in June 2025, which sparked a 12-day war that the United States briefly joined.
US President Donald Trump has deployed a significant naval force in the region, which he has described as an “armada.”
Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, particularly during periods of tension with the United States, but it has never been closed.
A key passageway for global shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas, the Strait of Hormuz has been the scene of several incidents in the past and has returned to the spotlight as pressure has ratcheted amid the US-Iran talks.
Iran announced on Tuesday that it would partially close it for a few hours for “security” reasons during its own drills in the strait.
Russia, China, Iran deploy ships for joint exercises in Strait of Hormuz
Russian presidential aide says Moscow building ‘multipolar world order on the oceans’ as respons to Western domination
Kanyshai Butun |17.02.2026 – Update : 17.02.2026
File Photo
ISTANBUL
Russia, China and Iran have deployed naval vessels for joint exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said on Tuesday.
In an interview with the weekly Argumenty i Fakty, Patrushev said Russia is working to build a “multipolar world order on the oceans” in response to what he called Western hegemony.
“We will tap into the potential of BRICS, which should now be given a full-fledged strategic maritime dimension,” he said.
He added that the first BRICS naval exercise, dubbed “Will for Peace 2026,” was held in January in the South Atlantic and involved Russia, China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
According to Patrushev, participating navies practiced coordinating efforts to protect trade routes, which he said are becoming increasingly vulnerable.
“The Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, where Russia, China, and Iran sent their ships, proved to be relevant,” he added.
The Maritime Security Belt is set to be hosted by Iran in mid-February in the Strait of Hormuz, which lies between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, one of the world’s most strategically important choke points, according to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
The joint naval drills were first launched in 2019 at the initiative of Iran’s navy and have been held seven times since then.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has opened formal investigations into X Internet Unlimited Company (XIUC) and X.AI LLC (X.AI) covering their processing of personal data in relation to the Grok artificial intelligence system and its potential to produce harmful sexualised image and video content.
We have taken this step following reports that Grok has been used to generate non‑consensual sexual imagery of individuals, including children. The reported creation and circulation of such content raises serious concerns under UK data protection law and presents a risk of significant potential harm to the public.
These concerns relate to whether personal data has been processed lawfully, fairly and transparently, and whether appropriate safeguards were built into Grok’s design and deployment to prevent the generation of harmful manipulated images using personal data. Where those safeguards fail, individuals lose control of their personal data in ways that expose them to serious harm. Examining these risks is central to the ICO’s role in protecting people’s rights and holding organisations to account as they design and deploy AI technology.
This follows separate investigations from the EU and UK over X deepfakes
Elon Musk’s X platform (previously known as Twitter) and its Grok AI bot are facing fresh scrutiny over non-consensual and sexualized deepfake content, with Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) announcing an inquiry.
As per MarketWatch, the watchdog is investigating whether X has complied with the strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules in the EU, which the Irish regulator is in charge of enforcing on behalf of the 27-nation bloc.
In recent weeks, there has been a storm of criticism leveled at X in response to Grok being used to create and post millions of sexualized and revealing images – often based on real photos (some of whom appear to be minors), and used without consent.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaves church in England on April 20 last year. (AP Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested at his eastern England home, the BBC has reported.
The UK’s Telegraph newspaper said on Thursday that British police had arrived at the residence of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor in eastern England.
It said six unmarked police cars and about eight plain-clothes officers were seen arriving at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate earlier on Thursday.
Thames Valley Police said earlier in February they were looking at allegations that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had passed confidential government documents to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to recently released files.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing and said he regrets his friendship with Epstein, but he has not responded to specific requests for comment after the latest files were published by the US government.
In a statement, Thames Valley police said they had arrested a man in his 60s from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office and were carrying out searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.
“The man remains in police custody at this time,” the statement said.
“We will not be naming the arrested man, as per national guidance.”
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said, following a thorough assessment, UK police have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.
“It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence,” he said.
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