Speaker 1: Today's biggest news from The Australian. I'm Claire Harvey with
Speaker 1: the Front's afternoon headlines. British police have arrested Lord Peter Mandelsson,
Speaker 1: a high ranking Labour Party figure who was until recently
Speaker 1: Sir Keis Starmer's ambassador in London, over his links to
Speaker 1: Jeffrey Epstein. Mandlsson seventy two was a senior minister in
Speaker 1: the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and served
Speaker 1: as European Commissioner for Trade since twenty ten. He's been
Speaker 1: a lobbyist and close to present Prime Minister Keir Starmer,
Speaker 1: although along the way, Mandelssh's created plenty of headaches, with
Speaker 1: controversies erupting over his lobbying and business connections from time
Speaker 1: to time. Then came the Epstein files, containing indications Mandelssohn
Speaker 1: had remained in close contact with the pedophile financier even
Speaker 1: after Epstein's conviction in two thousand and eight for child
Speaker 1: prostitution offenses. Documents have shown Mandalson apparently calling Epstein his
Speaker 1: quote best powe and having ongoing business dealings with him,
Speaker 1: as well as appearing to assist Epstein with the fallout
Speaker 1: from Epstein's criminal activity. There's no suggestion Peter Mandlsson was
Speaker 1: involved in sex with underage women or Epstein's alleged sex
Speaker 1: trafficking activities. Mandalshon has previously said he quote relied on
Speaker 1: assurances of Epstein's innocence that turned out later to be
Speaker 1: horrendously false. In September, Starmer sacked Mandlsson as ambassador to
Speaker 1: the United States, and on Tuesday morning Australian Time, London's
Speaker 1: Metropolitan Police arrested Mandleson on suspicion of misconduct in public office,
Speaker 1: the same alleged offense that saw Andrew Mountbatten Windsor arrested
Speaker 1: last week. Police have found the body of an eighty
Speaker 1: five year old man who was mistakenly kidnapped in Sydney's
Speaker 1: Underworld War. Chris Bagsarian disappeared from his suburban home in
Speaker 1: what detectives said was a case of mistaken identity. On
Speaker 1: Tuesday morning, the grandfather's body was found, according to police,
Speaker 1: who say they're investigating what led to his death. The
Speaker 1: Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is officially underway,
Speaker 1: with Commissioner and former High Court Justice Virginia Bell saying
Speaker 1: she will visit the site of the Bondai Beach massacre
Speaker 1: later this week. In her opening statement, Belle said she
Speaker 1: would look closely at antisemitism in Australia as well as
Speaker 1: other forms of discrimination. Belle added that her view was
Speaker 1: that criticism of the actions of Israel or its government
Speaker 1: was not necessarily antisemitic. Our coverage of all those stories
Speaker 1: is live right now at the Australian dot Com dot
Speaker 1: u and come back to the front first thing in
Speaker 1: the morning, Chief International Correspondent Cameron Stuart and I are
Speaker 1: going to discuss what we know so far about the
Speaker 1: Royal Commission and what we can glean from the way.
Speaker 1: Belle and her counsel assisting Richard Lancaster sc set out
Speaker 1: their tasks on day one. That's right here. When day
Speaker 1: morning