Australia news LIVE: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested over links to Epstein; Trump says decision on bombing Iran to be made within 10 days

US President Donald Trump says he will likely decide whether to launch strikes against Iran within the next 10 days, as he continues the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Trump made the remarks in Washington at the first meeting of the Board of Peace, a new international alliance convened by Trump that has so far been snubbed by a number of major US allies, including Australia.

“Iran is a hotspot right now,” Trump said. “Good talks are being had. It’s proven to be over the years not easy to make a meaningful deal. We have to make a meaningful deal otherwise bad things happen.”

The president referred to his strikes in June on Iran’s major nuclear facilities, which he said had decimated the Islamic Republic’s ability to develop nuclear weapons and cleared the way for a deal to end Israel’s war in Gaza.

“Now we may have to take a step further, or we may not,” Trump said. “Maybe we’re going to make a deal. But you’re going to be finding out over the next probably 10 days.”

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested and taken into custody late last night (AEDT) on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The arrest comes amid probes into his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

No formal charges have been made yet, but he has just been seen leaving police custody.

The offence of misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment in the UK.

Follow our rolling updates on the former royal’s historical arrest here on our dedicated live blog.

Good morning and welcome to our national news live blog for Friday, February 20. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming our coverage this morning. Here’s what is making headlines today.

• Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested and taken into custody late last night (AEDT) on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest comes amid probes into his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. No formal charges have been made yet as police continue questioning him and reviewing evidence.
• US President Donald Trump says he will likely decide whether to launch strikes against Iran within the next 10 days, as he continues the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared he has “contempt” for the Australian women stranded in a camp in Syria as the opposition questions why they were provided with passports to return from the Middle East. As the government prepares for a group of women and children to again attempt to leave the Roj camp in north-east Syria and fly to Australia, Albanese insisted the government would not provide support to help them return home.

• The PM also slammed Pauline Hanson yesterday for her latest anti-Muslim remarks, drawing a direct link between the One Nation leader’s commentary and escalating threats of violence towards minority groups.

Follow along as we bring you rolling updates throughout the day.