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Nigerian author James Emmanuel reflects on his journey, inspiration, and the creation of Echoes of Ambition

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In an exclusive conversation, fast-rising Nigerian author James Emmanuel opens up about his journey as a writer, the creative process behind his critically acclaimed debut novel Echoes of Ambition, and his aspirations to shape the future of African storytelling. Blending traditional themes with modern realism, Emmanuel has quickly established himself as one of the most promising voices in contemporary literature.

Emmanuel traces his passion for writing back to his childhood, deeply influenced by Nigerian literary icons Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Their works, he says, instilled in him a lasting love for narrative and a belief in literature’s power to drive social change.

“Their novels were irresistible,” Emmanuel said. “I began to dream of a time when I could tell compelling stories that inspire change. My desire to make a positive impact on both the young and the old is at the core of my writing.”

Crafting Meaningful Narratives

Emmanuel explained that every story he writes begins with a message or a social issue he hopes to explore. “The central theme drives the plot,” he said. “As the story unfolds, I make adjustments to ensure that the idea remains the story’s backbone. I often use flashbacks to build suspense and keep readers engaged.”

Finding the right title for his debut novel was another challenge. After considering several options, including When the Gods Fall Silent and A Future Forged in Fire, Emmanuel settled on Echoes of Ambition. “It resonated more deeply with both students and adults,” he said. “It captures the essence of the story perfectly.”

Inspiration From Real Life

Much of Emmanuel’s writing draws from real-world experiences and social realities. “Experiences shared by people add authenticity and depth to my characters,” he said. “That’s why Echoes of Ambition explores religion, social vices, leadership, academic excellence, and resilience.”

Writing the book was not without challenges. Emmanuel recalled long nights balancing his creative work with other commitments. “There were times I didn’t know where to stop,” he said. “My reviewers even asked for more chapters, but I knew exactly where the story had to end.”

The novel’s success has already attracted interest from filmmakers seeking to adapt it for the screen — a milestone that Emmanuel views as both exciting and humbling.

A Vision for the Future

While he remains discreet about his next project, Emmanuel confirmed that several ideas are already taking shape. “I prefer not to rush my work,” he said. “I’m taking things one step at a time.”

When asked what distinguishes his style, Emmanuel said his work reflects a balance of emotion and intellect. “My novels explore the complexities of human experience with sensitivity and nuance,” he said. “The blend of tradition and contemporary reality creates a timeless bridge that connects generations.”

Dream Cast and Literary Outlook

If Echoes of Ambition were made into a film, Emmanuel said he would cast Hilda Dokubo as Obidiya and Pete Edochie as Mazi Ogbodo, with Lateef Adedimeji, Stan Nze, Frederick Leonard, and Ibrahim Chatta rounding out the cast. “I admire how Ibrahim Chatta interprets native roles with captivating depth,” he said.

Readers can find Emmanuel’s works through Commune Writers International and connect with him on Instagram (@IAMJEMEDIA), Facebook (James Emmanuel), or by email at ja******************@***il.com.

On Writing and Growth

For Emmanuel, great writing is built on creativity, clarity, precision, and structure. “Creativity gives originality, clarity ensures connection, and organization provides smooth flow,” he said.

He embraces criticism as a catalyst for improvement. “I separate my emotions from critiques,” he said. “Feedback is a tool for growth, not discouragement.”

With Echoes of Ambition, James Emmanuel has announced himself as one of the most authentic voices in Nigerian literature. His reflective storytelling, cultural depth, and social insight mark him as a writer poised to leave a lasting impact on African literature’s next generation.

FirstDaily.ng

 Powerful earthquake strikes Northern Afghanistan, kills 20 and injures 500

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KABUL, Afghanistan (BN24) — A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan before dawn Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 500, officials said, as rescue teams raced to reach the hardest-hit areas.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was about 22 kilometers (14 miles) west-southwest of Khulm in Balkh province, striking around 12:59 a.m. local time at a depth of 28 kilometers (17 miles).

Sharafat Zaman, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health, said 534 injured people and 20 bodies were brought to hospitals in Balkh and neighboring Samangan provinces. “These numbers are expected to rise as rescuers reach remote areas,” Zaman said.

In nearby Badakhshan, officials said roughly 800 houses were partially or completely destroyed in a single village in the Shahr-e-Bozorg district. Limited internet access in the mountainous region has made it difficult to determine casualties.

Yousaf Hammad, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s disaster management agency, said most of the injured suffered minor wounds and were discharged after treatment. The Ministry of Defense announced that emergency teams had reached the affected zones in Balkh and Samangan, transporting the injured and assisting with rescue operations.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the quake caused “casualties and significant financial losses,” and that government agencies were mobilized to deliver aid.

Footage from Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, showed residents rushing into the streets as the ground shook. The city’s historic Blue Mosque, one of Afghanistan’s most revered religious landmarks, sustained visible damage as bricks and tiles fell from one of its minarets, though the main structure remained standing.

The tremor was also felt in Kabul and several other provinces. Authorities said a rockslide temporarily blocked the main highway between Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif but was cleared hours later, allowing trapped motorists to be rescued.

The United Nations in Afghanistan said on X that its emergency teams were assessing damage and delivering relief supplies. “We stand with the affected communities and will provide the necessary support,” the U.N. mission said.

Monday’s disaster comes just weeks after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, killing more than 2,200 people. In October 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake and its aftershocks killed about 4,000 people in western Herat province.

Afghanistan’s ability to respond to natural disasters remains limited, with poorly built homes and fragile infrastructure compounding the destruction. Most rural houses are made from mud bricks and timber, leaving them highly vulnerable to collapse.

Since the Taliban seized control in 2021, the country has faced repeated crises — from earthquakes and drought to economic collapse — as foreign aid, once the backbone of the Afghan economy, has sharply declined.

According to the World Bank, the August 2024 quake caused more than $183 million in damage. The U.N. and humanitarian agencies have warned that hunger and displacement continue to rise across Afghanistan, where millions are still struggling to recover from years of war and disaster.

 Israel receives 3 more hostages’ corpses from Gaza as fragile ceasefire endures

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Israel announced Sunday that it had received the remains of three hostages from Gaza, as forensic experts began examining them amid a fragile ceasefire that has largely held for a month.

Hamas earlier said the remains were discovered in a tunnel in southern Gaza. The handover marks the latest development in a tense and slow-moving exchange under a U.S.-brokered truce that began Oct. 10. Since then, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 17 hostages, with 11 believed to remain in Gaza before Sunday’s transfer.

Israel’s military said official identification of the remains would be made privately with the families. Later Sunday, President Donald Trump confirmed that among those returned was Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli citizen and tank platoon commander in the Israel Defense Forces.

Trump said he had spoken with Neutra’s family, calling the moment both “relieving and heartbreaking.” Israeli officials believe Neutra, a native of Long Island, New York, was killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that triggered the devastating war.

“They were thrilled, in one sense, but in another sense, obviously, it’s not too great,” Trump said.

In recent weeks, militants have handed over one or two bodies at a time. Israeli officials have expressed frustration with the pace of returns, saying some remains provided have not belonged to hostages. Hamas has blamed the delays on Gaza’s massive destruction, which has complicated recovery efforts.

Families of hostages continue to hold weekly rallies urging restraint and renewed diplomacy. At a Saturday night vigil in Jerusalem, Moran Harari, a friend of slain hostage Carmel Gat, pleaded for peace. “This cursed war has taken so many lives of dear people on both sides. This time, we must not fall into it again,” Harari said.

Israel has, in turn, released the remains of 15 Palestinians in exchange for those of one Israeli hostage. Gaza’s Health Ministry said its ability to identify returned bodies has been hindered by a lack of DNA kits. Of the 225 Palestinian bodies handed over since the ceasefire began, only 75 have been positively identified.

The remains exchanges form a central part of the U.S.-mediated 20-point ceasefire plan, which includes an international stabilization force made up of Arab and allied nations. The proposed mission would coordinate with Egypt and Jordan to secure Gaza’s borders and uphold the truce.

Several nations have shown interest in participating but have called for a United Nations Security Council mandate before committing troops. Ongoing questions remain about Hamas’ disarmament, postwar governance of Gaza, and expanding humanitarian aid deliveries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Hamas still maintains a presence in Rafah and Khan Younis, areas under Israeli military control. “They will be eliminated,” he told his Cabinet.

The 2023 Hamas-led assault killed about 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 taken hostage, sparking the bloodiest conflict in the region’s history. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed more than 68,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Israel denies allegations of genocide raised by U.N. investigators and other bodies, disputing the casualty figures but offering no alternative count.

LA LIGA: Marcus Rashford scores as Barcelona bounce back with victory over Elche

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BARCELONA, Spain (BN24)— Marcus Rashford scored the decisive goal as Barcelona bounced back from their El Clásico defeat with a 3-1 La Liga victory over Elche on Sunday. Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres had put Hansi Flick’s side in command before Rafa Mir pulled one back for the visitors.

The England forward’s 61st-minute strike sealed the win, lifting Barcelona to second place in the standings, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Elche appeared to score first, but their effort was ruled out for offside, quelling early celebrations. From that moment, Barcelona asserted control. Yamal opened the scoring in the ninth minute, expertly finishing into the far corner after receiving a pass from Alejandro Balde and cutting onto his left foot.

Two minutes later, Barca doubled their advantage when Fermin Lopez capitalized on a slip by Adria Pedrosa, crossing for Torres to tap into an empty net. Elche responded just before halftime as Mir beat the offside trap and curled a shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Rashford nearly scored early in the second half, but the linesman flagged Fermin for offside in the buildup. The England forward soon made amends, receiving a pass from Fermin and firing powerfully past Inaki Pena to restore Barcelona’s two-goal cushion.

Mir struck the post twice in the second half, but Elche was unable to mount a comeback. The victory extended Barcelona’s unbeaten home record against Elche in La Liga to 25 matches, including 18 wins.

The result allowed Barcelona to rebound confidently from their recent setback in El Clásico, maintaining pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table as the La Liga season progresses.

India clinches historic first Women’s World Cup victory with win over South Africa

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NAVI MUMBAI, India (BN24)— India triumphed over South Africa by 52 runs to claim their first Women’s World Cup, delivering a historic victory in front of a packed, raucous crowd at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday. The final, delayed by two hours due to rain, became a showcase of resilience, skill, and composure under pressure.

Batting first, India posted a competitive 298-7. Opener Shafali Verma led the charge with a dynamic 87 from 78 balls, while Deepti Sharma contributed a steady 58. The total set South Africa a record chase in Women’s One-Day Internationals.

South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt fought back with her second consecutive century, scoring a flawless 101 from 98 balls to keep her side in contention at 211-6. However, her dismissal via a juggling catch from Amanjot Kaur off Deepti Sharma in the 42nd over shifted momentum decisively in India’s favor. South Africa ultimately finished 246 all out, marking their third consecutive final defeat.

Verma, called up late to the tournament after an injury to Pratika Rawal, shone with the ball as well, finishing 2-36, but it was Deepti Sharma, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, who ripped through the South African batting lineup with figures of 5-39. India’s performance capped an incredible turnaround, overcoming three consecutive group-stage defeats to march to glory.

The final was marked by intense moments, including a crucial run-out of Tazmin Brits by Amanjot Kaur and decisive wickets from Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Shree Charani. Despite a valiant effort from Wolvaardt and South Africa, India’s depth, composure, and tactical execution proved decisive.

For India, the triumph was historic not only for breaking the World Cup barrier but also for igniting a new era in women’s cricket. The Women’s Premier League has been instrumental in building the team’s depth and confidence to perform under the spotlight, as evidenced by the enthusiastic support from fans queuing hours before the match.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the victory as a turning point: “After every World Cup, we came together as a team and discussed what we needed to do. This is just the beginning. We have so many big occasions coming up, and we want to make this our habit.” South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt praised India’s performance, acknowledging her team had been outplayed despite a brilliant campaign.

The win establishes India as a rising force in women’s cricket, signaling a potential shift in the sport’s global hierarchy and inspiring a new generation of players in a cricket-loving nation.

9 dead, dozens injured in temple crowd surge in Andhra Pradesh, India

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NEW DELHI (BN24) — A religious gathering at a Hindu temple in southern India turned tragic Saturday when a crowd surge left at least nine people dead and dozens injured, authorities said.

The deadly incident took place at the Swamy Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, where thousands of devotees assembled to mark Ekadashi, one of Hinduism’s most sacred fasting days dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Police said the tragedy began when an iron grille meant to control the line of worshippers collapsed, causing a sudden crush of people near the temple entrance. “The structure broke under pressure, and the crowd surged uncontrollably,” senior officer K. V. Maheswara Reddy told The Associated Press.

Local official Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said initial reports of seven deaths later rose to nine as two victims succumbed to their injuries. Among the dead were eight women and a child, he said. Sixteen devotees remain hospitalized, while another 20 are under observation for shock.

Video clips aired on regional television showed chaotic scenes as worshippers struggled to breathe and others fainted amid the crush. Bystanders were seen fanning and helping those who collapsed on the temple grounds.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Modi described the incident as “heartbreaking,” while Naidu promised strict action against those responsible and ordered a formal inquiry.

Authorities said the temple sits on a 12-acre private property and is not managed by the state’s religious endowment department. The complex, which can accommodate about 3,000 people, was overwhelmed as an estimated 25,000 devotees arrived for the festival.

“Arrangements were not made accordingly, nor was information provided to the government by the concerned individual. This is the reason for the accident,” the Andhra Pradesh Fact Check Unit said on social media.

Crowd surges are a recurring risk during India’s major religious gatherings, where large numbers often exceed local capacity. In July, a similar incident at a northern temple left six dead and several injured.

Deadly U.S. strike in Caribbean kills 3 suspected narco-terrorists

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U.S. military forces launched a deadly strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea late Saturday, killing all three people aboard, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. The Pentagon said the attack was part of the administration’s broader campaign to target narcotics traffickers that U.S. officials have labeled “narco-terrorists.”

Hegseth said in a post on X that U.S. intelligence had long tracked the vessel as part of an illicit smuggling route in the Caribbean. He identified the three men killed as members of a “Designated Terrorist Organization” but provided no evidence to substantiate the claims.

“This vessel — like EVERY OTHER — was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth wrote. “We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.”

No U.S. personnel were injured in the operation, which marked at least the 15th strike since early September on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that the Trump administration has tied to narcotics trafficking. At least 64 people have been killed in those strikes, according to official estimates.

Hegseth described the attack as part of an effort to dismantle criminal networks that he said “poison Americans at home.” He vowed to continue targeting smugglers with the same intensity that U.S. forces once used against al-Qaida.

Last month, the Pentagon redeployed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to bolster U.S. naval operations in the region, according to Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell.

The ongoing campaign, however, has sparked growing scrutiny in Congress. Lawmakers from both parties have demanded greater transparency about the intelligence behind the strikes and how the administration determines the alleged affiliations of those killed.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the administration last week for failing to include Democrats in a classified briefing on the Caribbean operations. “That’s not how two-party accountability is supposed to work,” Warner said.

Hegseth’s latest statement offered no details about the identities or nationalities of the three people killed, nor evidence linking them to any terrorist or criminal organizations. In earlier operations, the administration has released limited background on the targeted vessels and crews.

Fire and explosion at store in Northwestern Mexico leave at least 23 dead and a dozen injured

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HERMOSILLO, Mexico (BN24)— A fire and explosion at a convenience store in northwestern Mexico on Saturday killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others, state authorities said.

The blaze occurred in downtown Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, Sonora Gov. Alfonso Durazo said in a video posted on social media.

Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chávez provided the death toll and said the injured were transported to six hospitals throughout Hermosillo.

Salas Chávez said preliminary investigations showed the deaths were caused by “inhalation of toxic gases.”

“At this time we have no indication that leads us to presume the fire was intentional,” he said, noting authorities had not ruled out any line of investigation.

Images circulating on social media showed a massive fire engulfing the Waldo’s store in the heart of the city. One video showed a burned man collapsing onto the asphalt a few meters from the store entrance, illustrating the severity of the incident.

The tragedy struck the downtown commercial district of Hermosillo, a city of approximately 900,000 people located in northwestern Mexico near the border with the United States. The convenience store fire represents one of the deadliest such incidents in recent Mexican history.

The presence of children among the victims adds to the tragedy, though authorities have not released specific details about the ages of those killed or the circumstances that led to children being in the store at the time of the fire and explosion.

The distribution of injured victims across six separate hospitals in Hermosillo suggests the severity of the injuries sustained and the strain placed on local medical facilities in responding to the emergency. The nature and extent of injuries to the 12 survivors have not been publicly disclosed.

The finding that toxic gas inhalation caused the deaths indicates the fire produced dangerous fumes that proved fatal to those trapped inside or near the store. Such gases can include carbon monoxide and other combustion byproducts that quickly overcome victims in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.

While authorities stated they have no current indication the fire was intentional, the attorney general’s comment that no line of investigation has been ruled out suggests investigators are examining multiple possible causes, including accidental ignition, equipment malfunction or other factors that could have sparked the blaze.

The explosion component of the incident raises questions about what materials or substances may have been present in the store that could have fueled such a violent event. Convenience stores typically stock various products, some of which may be flammable or combustible under certain conditions.

Emergency response teams faced the challenge of battling the massive fire while simultaneously attempting to rescue trapped individuals and provide immediate medical care to survivors. The scale of the response, involving multiple hospitals and emergency personnel, reflects the magnitude of the disaster.

Hermosillo residents and Mexican officials have not yet released information about memorial services or support for families of the victims. The investigation into the cause of the fire and explosion continues as authorities work to determine what sparked the deadly incident and whether any safety violations or other factors contributed to the tragedy.

The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by fires in commercial establishments and the critical importance of fire safety measures, emergency preparedness and rapid evacuation procedures in protecting lives during such emergencies.

Missing 13-year-old girl from Louisiana found in sheet-covered box in basement of Pittsburgh home as man, 26, arrested

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A 13-year-old girl who vanished from Louisiana was discovered days later inside a box covered with a sheet in the basement of a Pittsburgh home, ending a multi-state search that began with a Snapchat message and led to allegations of kidnapping, trafficking and sexual assault.

U.S. Marshals said the girl, who was reported missing from East Baton Rouge Parish in October, was lured across several states before being found, leading to at least two arrests, according to WAFB.

Ki-Shawn Crumity, 26, was arrested Thursday at his home on Davis Avenue after a police SWAT team executed a search warrant and discovered the girl hidden in the basement.

A second man, Ronald Smith, 62, of New Orleans, was arrested in Columbus, Georgia, on charges of simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

The week-long investigation began in Louisiana with the reported disappearance of the girl, who has not been publicly identified.

According to police documents, the girl met Crumity on Snapchat. He allegedly told her he “was to get her adopted by a trusted adult,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by CBS News. Smith and another man reportedly transported the girl from Baton Rouge to Georgia and then placed her on a Greyhound bus to Pittsburgh.

At the bus station in Washington, D.C., she encountered a woman who asked if she needed help. The girl agreed and messaged Crumity, informing him she was bringing a friend to Pittsburgh.

They arrived in Pittsburgh and, police said, the girl, the woman and Crumity all slept in the same bed in the basement of the Davis Avenue home.

The complaint alleges that Crumity provided the girl with edibles and alcohol and sexually assaulted her “at least once or twice a day” during the week she was held there.

She told investigators that Crumity admitted “he knew she was a runaway” and that “he would get in trouble,” according to court documents.

On Thursday, the FBI obtained a search warrant and the home was raided by a police SWAT team after the Pittsburgh Police Special Victims Unit received a report from the U.S. Marshals Service about a juvenile who went missing from Louisiana.

The girl later told authorities that being at the hospital after her rescue was “the safest she ever felt,” according to the criminal complaint.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill praised the investigative efforts that led to the girl’s recovery. “Very proud of my LBI agents in helping to locate this child,” Murrill said. “She was groomed, exploited, and then sexually abused by strangers who found her online. This is just one example of the dangers of social media and of human trafficking.”

Crumity faces an extensive list of charges, including trafficking in individuals, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor. He remains held without bond at the Allegheny County Jail.

Officials said further arrests and additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.

The case highlights growing concerns about online predators using social media platforms to target vulnerable minors. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned parents about the dangers children face on applications like Snapchat, where predators can establish contact with young people and gradually manipulate them through a process known as grooming.

The multi-state nature of the investigation required coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Police Special Victims Unit and local authorities in Georgia. The collaborative effort demonstrated the complexity of cases involving child exploitation and trafficking across state lines.

The discovery of the girl in a covered box in a basement underscores the severity of her captivity and the conditions she endured during her time away from home. Her statement to investigators about feeling safest at the hospital after rescue suggests the trauma she experienced during her ordeal.

Authorities continue to investigate the full scope of the alleged trafficking operation, including the roles of all individuals involved in transporting the girl across multiple states. The involvement of multiple suspects in different locations suggests a network that facilitated the girl’s movement from Louisiana through Georgia and ultimately to Pennsylvania.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities children face online and the sophisticated methods predators employ to exploit them. Law enforcement officials encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity and maintain open communication about online safety.

independent.co

Disgraced ex-Prince Andrew had 40 prostitutes brought to Thailand hotel on taxpayer-funded trip, biographer says

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LONDON (NYPost) — Disgraced Prince Andrew allegedly had 40 prostitutes brought to his five-star hotel during a taxpayer-funded trip to Thailand, according to explosive claims made by his biographer.

Prince Andrew allegedly once had 40 prostitutes brought to his five-star hotel during a taxpayer-funded, “famous trip” to Thailand, his biographer claims.Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Andrew, who was officially stripped of his titles Thursday and evicted from his royal residence in a humiliating fall from grace, engaged with the large group of women over a four-day period, royal historian and author Andrew Lownie alleged.

“There was a famous trip to Thailand — for the birthday celebrations of the King. Andrew is representing his country and insists on staying in a five-star hotel rather than the embassy, which he always did,” Lownie told the Daily Mail’s “Deep Dive: The Fall of the House of York” podcast.

“Andrew had 40 prostitutes brought in the space of four days. This was all enabled by diplomats and others,” the biographer stated.

Lownie said multiple sources, including a member of the Thai royal family, had corroborated the allegation. The trip was allegedly one of numerous excursions Andrew exploited at taxpayer expense when he was serving as a Trade Envoy for the United Kingdom in the early 2000s.

“In 2001, Andrew is 41, he’s having his midlife crisis, and he basically starts chasing lots and lots of women,” Lownie said during the podcast interview.

“He uses the excuse of his role as Trade Envoy, paid for by the taxpayer, to go off on these trips,” the historian continued. “He always puts in two weeks of ‘private time.’ So, we pay for his holiday and then he goes off and does things.”

Lownie argued there exists a “conspiracy of silence” surrounding the since-shunned royal and called on the British government’s National Archives to release its files on Andrew’s tenure as Trade Envoy.

“Andrew was sending a list of people he wanted to meet for his own personal business interests,” Lownie alleged.

“All the files from his time as Trade Envoy between 2001 and 2011 remain closed. They should be in the National Archive,” the historian stated. “They remain closed, and that is part of the conspiracy of silence around Andrew that we need to break.”

Lownie’s remarks were recorded shortly before Buckingham Palace announced its bombshell decision to formally shun Andrew by removing his titles and evicting him from his residence of two decades amid ongoing fallout over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Multiple sources, including a member of the Thai royal family, had backed up the allegations of Andrew’s prostitutes, his biographer claims.AFP via Getty Images

The royal family has faced mounting pressure in recent months after revelations emerged that Andrew had maintained ties with Epstein years after he claimed to have severed communication with the late pedophile.

The controversy intensified following disturbing allegations leveled against the former prince by Epstein’s most prominent accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, in her posthumous memoir. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had long maintained she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was a teenager.

Andrew has repeatedly and categorically denied all allegations against him.

The biographer’s claims add another layer to the mounting allegations surrounding Andrew’s conduct during his years as a working member of the royal family. His tenure as Trade Envoy, which lasted from 2001 to 2011, was meant to promote British business interests abroad but has come under increasing scrutiny.

The allegations about Andrew’s behavior on official trips raise serious questions about oversight of royal engagements and the use of public funds. Lownie’s call for transparency regarding Andrew’s Trade Envoy files suggests there may be additional information about the former prince’s activities during this period that remains hidden from public view.

The timing of these revelations coincides with Andrew’s dramatic removal from royal life, marking one of the most significant downfalls in recent British royal history. His eviction from the royal residence where he lived for 20 years represents a complete severing of his official ties to the monarchy.

The allegations paint a picture of a royal who allegedly abused his position and taxpayer resources for personal pursuits while ostensibly serving his country in an official capacity. The claimed involvement of diplomats in facilitating such activities, if true, would raise further questions about institutional enablement of inappropriate behavior.

As calls grow louder for transparency and accountability, the British government faces pressure to address whether official files should be made public to provide a complete accounting of Andrew’s activities during his years as Trade Envoy.

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