A document allegedly sent by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Jeffrey Epstein contains details about investment prospects in Afghanistan, specifically regarding gold and uranium.

UK officials had prepared a briefing for Andrew, then a trade envoy, which he later forwarded to Epstein in December 2010; the document outlines "high value commercial opportunities" in Helmand province.

This revelation follows a BBC report that Andrew had labeled the document "confidential" in an email, as seen in the latest release of Epstein files.

Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to his association with Epstein, and has rejected suggestions that he used his position as trade envoy for personal gain.

Attempts have been made to obtain a comment from Andrew regarding these developments.

Sir Vince Cable, the business secretary at the time, has described Andrew's sharing of the briefing as "appalling behaviour".

Thames Valley Police are currently assessing whether to launch an investigation into the apparent sharing of documents related to Andrew's tenure as trade envoy.

In addition to the Afghan document, emails in the Epstein files suggest that Andrew also sent official reports from his trade envoy visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam to Epstein.

The emails indicate that Andrew may have shared further trade documents with Epstein, including a batch of files labeled "Overseas bids" sent immediately after the reports from his South East Asia visits.

These files are likely "Zip files" containing multiple pieces of compressed information.

The Afghan document, compiled by UK government officials for Andrew, provides an in-depth overview of investment opportunities in Helmand province during a time of significant UK military and political involvement in Afghanistan.

As noted by Andrew in his correspondence with Epstein, the document is a "confidential brief" prepared by the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand Province.

The briefing was prepared for Andrew during the same month he visited Helmand, where he met with UK troops.

It offers an assessment of the local economy and business opportunities, including the presence of "significant high value mineral deposits" and the potential for low-cost extraction.

The document highlights valuable natural resources such as marble, gold, iridium, uranium, and thorium, as well as potential oil and gas deposits, based on information gathered by UK government officials working on the Helmand reconstruction team.

According to official guidelines, trade envoys are expected to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive commercial or political information related to their official visits.

Sir Vince Cable has called for greater transparency regarding Andrew's activities as trade envoy, citing his own unsuccessful attempts to access Andrew's file, which he found to be empty.

Sir Vince, who played a key role in ending Andrew's tenure as trade envoy, has expressed concerns about Andrew's actions during his time in the position.

"I have twice requested to see Andrew's file from his time as trade envoy, but it is empty," Sir Vince stated.

He recalled meeting Andrew once at Buckingham Palace, where Andrew asked him to find a useful role for him, but Sir Vince declined.

Following the first public reports about Andrew's friendship with Epstein in 2011, Sir Vince decided to discontinue Andrew's role as trade envoy.

The primary function of a trade envoy is to promote UK business interests abroad and encourage investment.

A diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, suggested that a trade envoy like Andrew might have shared information with potential investors to support UK business initiatives, potentially including those in Afghanistan.

Andrew's note to Epstein mentions his intention to "offer this elsewhere in my network, including Abu Dhabi".

A former senior trade official noted that while many reports seen by a trade envoy might be routine, some meetings could produce significant commercial opportunities.

"It's possible that the documents contained important commercial information that would have been useful," the former official said.

However, the official emphasized that such documents were not intended for sharing outside of government, particularly not with individuals who might use them for personal gain.

Andrew continues to face scrutiny over his links to Epstein, following the release of new documents by the US government, including photographs of Andrew with a woman.

He is under increasing pressure to testify in the US about his connections to Epstein and has recently relocated from his Windsor home to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated that the King is prepared to support the police as they consider allegations against Andrew.

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Iran's government has staged a display of strength to commemorate the 47th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, following a period of intense repression of anti-government demonstrations.

The BBC has gained access to Tehran for the first time since the authorities' crackdown on protests, which resulted in the deaths of at least 6,490 people, according to estimates by human rights activists.

Lyse Doucet, the BBC's chief international correspondent, observes that the capital's streets, adorned with festive decorations and filled with crowds of supporters, reflect the government's desired image of a unified nation, with Iranians demonstrating their allegiance to the Islamic Republic and its founding revolution.

Over 180 individuals who suffered abuse at the hands of Mohammed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, are presently participating in the company's compensation program, according to the retailer.

To date, more than 50 women have received compensation payments from the luxury department store.

Launched in March of the previous year, the compensation scheme will no longer accept new submissions after March 31.

In October, Harrods allocated over £60 million for its compensation plan, which aims to provide support to victims of alleged historical abuse.

The scheme offers a standard award of £200,000 to eligible claimants; however, those who undergo an assessment by a consultant psychiatrist may be eligible to receive up to £385,000 in compensation, in addition to treatment costs.

Claimants who opt not to undergo a psychiatric assessment will receive lower compensation amounts.

Applications received by the March 31 deadline will continue to be processed thereafter.

Additionally, Harrods will continue to provide counseling support beyond the deadline, including services from the Independent Survivor Advocate.

In 2024, human rights advocate Dame Jasvinder Sanghera was appointed by Harrods to the role of Independent Survivor Advocate, with the goal of meeting with as many survivors as possible and guiding them through the compensation process.

Justice for Harrods Survivors, an organization representing some of the victims, has stated that only a fully independent process can adequately address the needs of survivors.

Mohammed Al Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 to 2010, has been accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women, with 146 individuals coming forward to report crimes to the Met Police as part of their investigation.

The Harrods Group operates several locations, including its flagship store in Knightsbridge, London, as well as smaller stores at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and a chain of beauty stores.

KP Law, which represents over 260 survivors, has expressed criticism of the Redress Scheme, citing concerns that Harrods maintains full control over the process.

Tom Fletcher, a specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, which supports some of the victims, has expressed satisfaction with the settlements secured for some of the firm's clients through the scheme.

According to Tom Fletcher, "Although no amount of compensation can fully compensate for the abuse our clients experienced, the amounts recovered under the scheme acknowledge the severity of the abuse and provide our clients with the necessary funds to access specialized support, enabling them to move forward with their lives."