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US lawmakers tell BBC Andrew should testify over Epstein files

Following the King’s statement that the Royal Family is prepared to assist law enforcement with their investigation.

US officials and the family of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, are increasing pressure on him to testify in the US regarding his connections to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement to the BBC, Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna expressed concerns that the Royal Family has not been forthcoming with information, while Democrat Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez suggested that King Charles III should instruct his brother to cooperate with US authorities and answer questions.

King Charles III stated earlier on Tuesday that the Royal Family is prepared to assist law enforcement in their investigation, marking a notable development in the case.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any involvement in wrongdoing and reached a settlement with Virginia Giuffre in 2022, which did not include an admission of liability.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace stated that the Royal Family is ready to support the police in their inquiry, should they be approached, and that King Charles III has expressed deep concern over the allegations against his brother.

The King has also extended his sympathies to the victims of abuse, emphasizing the Royal Family's commitment to supporting those affected by such crimes.

Thames Valley Police announced that they are reviewing a complaint filed by the anti-monarchy group Republic, which alleges that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein.

According to recently released documents, it appears that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may have shared sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as a trade envoy in 2010 and 2011.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded to the allegations.

When asked about the possibility of Andrew testifying in the US, Congressman Ro Khanna stated that it would be an appropriate course of action.

Andrew and King Charles talking as they walk. Charles points across Andrew and looks to the side while Andrew looks ahead. They both wear black suits, white shirts and black ties
The King is now facing pressure to tell his brother to go to the US to testify to lawmakers

Khanna, who co-sponsored the legislation that led to the release of the Epstein files, urged the Royal Family to be more transparent and provide a clear account of their knowledge and actions regarding the allegations.

He also suggested that the Royal Family should consider providing compensation to the survivors of abuse, given their significant wealth and resources.

Khanna noted that the Royal Family has finally requested an investigation, but emphasized that the victims of abuse have been denied justice for too long.

This development comes after Khanna previously stated that the British monarchy is currently at its most vulnerable point, and that stripping Andrew of his title is insufficient.

He emphasized that King Charles III must provide answers regarding his knowledge of the allegations against his brother.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has relocated from his Windsor home to Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where he is currently residing while his new permanent home undergoes renovations.

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, a member of the House Oversight Committee, has called for greater transparency from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight, she urged King Charles III to instruct his brother to testify before the Oversight Committee.

Fernandez argued that Andrew cannot claim immunity from liability simply because he is no longer in the US jurisdiction.

She also advocated for an inquiry in England, emphasizing that Andrew has knowledge of the individuals involved in the alleged attacks and the locations where they took place.

Sky Roberts, the brother of Virginia Giuffre, has added to the pressure on Andrew, stating that he should appear before the US Congress to answer questions.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has expressed agreement with this sentiment.

Recently released emails from the US Department of Justice reveal that US authorities have made multiple unsuccessful attempts to secure Andrew's cooperation in the Epstein investigation.

However, Andrew cannot be compelled to testify in the US via a subpoena, which has caused significant frustration.

Last autumn, Democrats in Congress set a deadline for Andrew to provide testimony regarding his knowledge of Epstein, but he failed to respond.

The release of an additional three million documents related to Epstein has increased pressure on Andrew, with allegations that a second woman was sent to the UK for a sexual encounter with him.

Photographs appearing to show Andrew in a compromising position with a female have also been included in the latest batch of released files.

Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and it is essential to note that being named in the Epstein files does not necessarily imply misconduct.

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UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances

The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.

In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.

The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.

Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.

The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.

The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.

Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.

With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.

In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.

Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.

Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.

The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.

Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.

Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.

Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.

After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.

Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.

For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.

In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.

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GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.

For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.

Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.

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Family of Murder Victim Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Trial Scheduling

A 21-year-old woman, Chloe Mitchell, lost her life in June 2023, and a man is set to stand trial, facing a murder charge.

The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

A close-up photo of Chloe Mitchell - a young woman with long, straight, fair hair -  smiling at the camera. She is wearing black-framed sunglasses with blue lenses on her head, which are partially visible.
Chloe Mitchell's remains were found eight days after she went missing in 2023

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.

Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.

Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.

The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.

The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.

The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.

The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.

The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.

Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.

Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.

Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.

The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

A close-up of Brandon Rainey, a man with short, fair hair and stubble, looking at the camera.  He is sitting in a vehicle on a dark, wet night.
Brandon Rainey is accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.

The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.

Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.

Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.

George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.

He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.

However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.

The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.

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