Zelenskiy says Ukraine getting ready for new peace talks next week

Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine was waiting for more information from the United ​States about further peace talks and expected new meetings ‌to take place next week.

Zelenskiy's statement during his nightly video address appeared to ‌suggest that a meeting scheduled for Sunday in the United Arab Emirates between representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the United States would not take place. The three sides held a round of talks ⁠a week ago.

"We are ‌in constant communication with the American side and are expecting specific details from them regarding further meetings," ‍Zelenskiy said.

"Ukraine is ready to work in all working formats. It is important that there be results and that the meetings take place. We ​are counting on meetings next week and are preparing for ‌them."

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff led a team of representatives in talks in Florida on Saturday with Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and described the discussions as "productive and constructive."

The U.S. has been spearheading diplomatic efforts to end the war, launched nearly four years ago by ⁠the Kremlin's invasion of its smaller ​neighbour.

Witkoff has singled out the question ​of territory as the key to making progress in the negotiations, with Kyiv rejecting Moscow's demand that it ‍cede all of ⁠the Donbas region, including areas its army has not captured.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said this week that land ⁠was not the sole key issue under discussion but did not identify ‌other unresolved issues.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; editing ‌by Diane Craft, Rod Nickel)

Zelenskiy says Ukraine getting ready for new peace talks next week

Jan 31 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Ukraine was waiting for more information from the ...
From Elon Musk to the former Prince Andrew, a who's who of powerful men are named in Epstein files

NEW YORK (AP) — From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and British royalty, a who's who of powerful men make appearances in the hugetrove of documentsreleased Friday by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations ofJeffrey Epstein.

Many have denied having close ties to the late financier, or at least having anything to do with his alleged sexual abuse of girls and young women that led to his arrest on sex trafficking charges.

None have been charged with a crime connected to the investigation. Epsteinkilled himself in a Manhattan jail cellin 2019. Yet some of them maintained friendships with Epstein, or developed them anew, even after he became known as a predator of young girls and registered sex offender.

Here's a primer on some of the notable names in the Epstein files:

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The man formerly known as Britain'sPrince Andrewhas long been dogged by questions about his relationship with Epstein, including allegations from the lateVirginia Roberts Giuffrethat she was trafficked by Epstein and instructed to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17.

The former prince has repeatedly deniedthat it happened, but his brother, King Charles III, stillstripped him of his royal titleslate last year, including the right to be called a prince and the Duke of York.

Mountbatten-Windsor's name appears at least several hundred times in Friday's document release, including in Epstein's private emails.

Among the correspondence is aninvitation for Epsteinto dine at Buckingham Palace, Epstein's offer to introduce Mountbatten-Windsor to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and photos that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over an unidentified woman lying on the floor.

The billionaireTeslafounder turns up at least a few times in Friday's document release, notably in email exchanges in 2012 and 2013 in which he discussed visiting Epstein's infamous Caribbean island compound.

But it's not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk's companies, Tesla and X, didn't respond to emails seeking comment Friday or Saturday.

Muskhas maintained that he repeatedly turned down the disgraced financier's overtures. "Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED," he posted on X in 2025.

Steven Tisch

The New York Giants co-owner is mentioned more than 400 times in the files released Friday. Correspondence between the two shows Epstein offered to connect Tisch to numerous women over the years.

In one 2013 email exchange with the subject line "Ukrainian girl," Epstein encouraged Tisch to contact a particular woman, whose physical beauty he praised in crude terms.

"Pro or civilian?" Tisch asked in reply.

Tisch, a scion of a powerful New York family that founded the Loews Corporation, has acknowledged knowing Epstein butdenied ever goingto his infamous Caribbean island.

"We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments," said Tisch, who also won anAcademy Awardin 1994 for producing "Forrest Gump." "As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with."

Howard Lutnick

President Donald Trump's commerce secretary visited Epstein's private Caribbean island with his family on at least one occasion, records released Friday show.

That appears to contradict prior statements he's made claiming he cut ties with the disgraced financier, who he's called "gross," decades ago.

But emails show Lutnick and his wife accepted an invitation to Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands in December 2012 and planned to arrive by yacht with their children.

The former chairman of Newmark, a major commercial real estate firm, also had drinks on another occasion in 2011 with Epstein and corresponded with him about the construction of a building across the street from both of their homes.

The Commerce Department, in a statement, said Lutnick had "limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing."

Sergey Brin

The billionaire Google co-founder made plans to meet with Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell at his townhouse in New York years before he was publicly accused of sexually abusing underage girls, emails show.

In one exchange in 2003, Maxwell invited him to join her at a screening of the Renee Zellweger film "Down with Love" in New York.

She followed up a few weeks later to invite him to a "happily casual and relaxed" dinner at Epstein's house. Brin offered to bring along Google's then-CEO Eric Schmidt.

Spokespersons for Google didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.

Steve Bannon

The one-time adviser to Trump exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Epstein, some sent months before his 2019 arrest and jailhouse suicide.

The two discussed politics, travel and a documentary Bannon was said to be planning that would help salvage Epstein's reputation.

One 2018 exchange, for example, focused on Trump's threats at the time to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. In a 2019 message, Bannon asked Epstein if he could supply his plane to pick him up in Rome.

Bannon hasn't responded to emails seeking comment.

Miroslav Lajcak

A national security adviser to the Slovakian prime minister, Lajcak resigned Saturday after his past communications with Epstein appeared in Friday's document release.

Opposition parties and a nationalist partner in Fico's governing coalition had called for him to step down.

Lajcak, a former Slovak foreign minister and a onetime president of the U.N. General Assembly, has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but was photographed meeting with Epstein in the years between his initial release from jail and his subsequent indictment in 2019 on sex trafficking charges.

He said his correspondence with Epstein were part of his diplomatic duties.

Richard Branson

Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Group Limited, invited Epstein to his private island in 2013, telling him in an email: "Any time you're in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!"

Besides discussing Epstein visiting Branson's Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands, the two exchanged messages about philanthropy, Epstein's ideas for a "disruptive" financial system and a "social good currency."

In one email, in 2011, Epstein said he offered Branson's staff the use of his helicopter to transport an accident victim in the Virgin Islands.

In a Sept. 11, 2013 correspondence, Branson suggested Epstein could boost his public image if he could get Bill Gates to say "you've been a brilliant adviser to him, that you slipped up many years ago by sleeping with a 17 1/2 year old woman and were punished for it, that you've more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that's against the law since."

A Branson spokesperson told the British news outlet the Independent that Branson's "harem" comment referred to adult members of Epstein's staff.

Branson later decided to sever ties with Epstein, the spokesperson said, after learning more about the "serious allegations" that had been made against him.

"Had they had the full picture and information, there would have been no contact whatsoever," the spokesperson said.

Associated Press reporters from around the world contributed to this story.

From Elon Musk to the former Prince Andrew, a who’s who of powerful men are named in Epstein files

NEW YORK (AP) — From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and British royalty, a who's who of powerful men make a...
UK's Starmer says ex-Prince Andrew should testify before Congress over Epstein ties

By Andrew MacAskill

Reuters

TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that the former Prince Andrew should testify before a U.S. congressional committee, following new ​revelations about Andrew's links to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

New files related ‌to Epstein published by the U.S. justice department on Friday included emails that showed King Charles's brother maintaining regular contact ‌with Epstein for more than two years after he was found guilty of child sex crimes.

The files also include pictures appearing to show Andrew crouching over and touching the waist of an unidentified woman lying on the floor. Her face was blacked out in the redacted images.

The king stripped his brother ⁠of his title of prince and ‌evicted him from his mansion in the grounds of Windsor Castle in November, in the wake of previous revelations about his links with Epstein.

ANDREW HAD ‍DENIED MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIP AFTER EPSTEIN'S CONVICTION

The former prince, 65, now uses the family name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and had previously denied maintaining ties with the financier after Epstein's 2008 conviction, ​apart from a 2010 visit to New York to end their relationship.

Advertisement

He did not reply ‌to a Reuters request for comment on the latest revelations. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Starmer, speaking to reporters on the plane to Japan after a four-day visit to China, said the former prince should appear before U.S. lawmakers to explain everything he knows about Epstein to help his victims.

"Anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked ⁠to do that," Starmer said. "You can't be victim centred ​if you're not prepared to do that."

In November, members of ​a U.S. congressional committee investigating the Epstein case intensified their calls for Andrew to answer questions.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in a Manhattan jail while ‍awaiting trial on sex trafficking ⁠charges. He was jailed in 2008 for soliciting paid sex from a minor.

The files show Andrew maintained regular contact with Epstein after his conviction, including discussing potential business deals and ⁠social meetings.

In several emails, Epstein and Andrew discuss women that the financier proposes to put in touch with the ‌prince. In one email, Epstein offered to bring three women to Buckingham Palace.

(Reporting by ‌Andrew MacAskillEditing by James Davey and Peter Graff)

UK’s Starmer says ex-Prince Andrew should testify before Congress over Epstein ties

By Andrew MacAskill TOKYO, Jan 31 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday that the fo...
Russian figure skater Valieva competes 4 years on from doping case during Olympics

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva returned to competition on Saturday following her doping ban, making a statement with a quadruple jump nearly four years after disputes over her positive testovershadowedthe Beijing Olympics.

The 19-year-old Valieva was skating in the quarterfinals of the Russian jumping championships in Moscow.

She started with a quadruple toeloop jump to cheers from the crowd and qualified for Sunday's semifinals, as well as placing sixth in a "duets" jump event. The nationally televised event wasn't a typical skating competition, with points only for jumps.

Valieva cannot qualify for the Milan Cortina Olympics, where another Russian skater,Adeliia Petrosian, is a contender for the women's gold medal as an Individual Neutral Athlete.

Then aged 15, Valieva was at the center of a legal battle during the 2022 Beijing Games when a sample she gave two months earlier tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine.

The revelation came after Valieva won team gold with other Russian skaters. She was later disqualified from that event, whichupgraded the United States to gold. Valieva was a contender for the women's gold medal but placed fourth and was criticized rink-side by her coach, Eteri Tutberidze.

Valieva eventually served a ban which expired in December, despitelong-running legal effortsto have it overturned, including at the Swiss supreme court last year.

Since the 2022 Olympics, rules have been changed toraise the minimum agefor skaters to 17 in time for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Also returning to action on Saturday was Alexandra Ignatova, who won the silver medal at the 2022 Olympics under her maiden name of Alexandra Trusova. She was competing for the first time since giving birth last year and didn't reach the semifinals.

AP Winter Olympics athttps://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Russian figure skater Valieva competes 4 years on from doping case during Olympics

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva returned to competition on Saturday following her doping ban, making a statement wit...
No. 1 Arizona beats Arizona State for best start in school history

Koa Peat scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime as top-ranked Arizona pulled away in the second half and maintained its perfect start with an 87-74 victory over host Arizona State on Saturday afternoon in Tempe.

Field Level Media

Arizona (22-0, 9-0 Big 12) surpassed the 2013-14 team featuring All-American Nick Johnson, Aaron Gordon and T.J. McConnell for the best start in school history. The Wildcats also matched the program record for the longest winning streak, equaling the mark set during the 1914-17 seasons.

Arizona also tied the Big 12 record for the longest winning streak to start a season, equaling Kansas in 1996-97.

Peat shot 9-of-16 and finished with at least 20 for the fourth time this season and second time against Arizona State.

Brayden Burries added 17 and seven rebounds as the Wildcats outscored the Sun Devils (11-11, 2-7) 49-36 after halftime. Motiejus Krivas contributed 11 of his 15 points during the evenly-played first half and Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 12 for Arizona.

Jaden Bradley chipped in 10 and Tobe Awaka pulled down 13 rebounds to help Arizona finish with a 47-32 rebounding edge.

Arizona shot 60% in the final 20 minutes and 50.8% overall. The Wildcats also converted 20 layups and dunks as part of a 50-point showing in the paint.

Advertisement

Reserve Noah Meeusen paced Arizona State with 16 points and leading scorer Maurice Odum was held to 15 on 6-of-16 shooting while getting into foul trouble when Arizona surged ahead.

The Sun Devils shot 41.5% and lost for the fifth time in six games.

Arizona scored eight straight points in a little over two minutes for a 25-18 lead on Peat's dunk with 7:05 left in the first half. The Sun Devils countered by outscoring the Wildcats 20-13 the rest of the half and Meeusen's 3 with two seconds left forged a 38-38 deadlock by halftime.

Arizona scored six straight after halftime for a 44-38 lead on a jumper by Krivas a little over two minutes and a 56-47 edge when Burries connected with Peat for a dunk with 13:10 remaining.

Anthony Johnson hit a corner 3 to get the Sun Devils within 56-53 with 11:41 left but the Wildcats scored the next seven for a 63-53 lead on a sweeping layup by Awaka a little over a minute later.

Arizona finished things off by making five of six shots for a 77-64 lead on a drive by Kharchenkov with 3:26 left.

--Field Level Media

No. 1 Arizona beats Arizona State for best start in school history

Koa Peat scored 15 of his 21 points after halftime as top-ranked Arizona pulled away in the second half and maintained...

 

ALPHA MAG © 2015 | Distributed By My Blogger Themes | Designed By Templateism.com