Politics
Amid rising political tensions, will there be controversy at the Olympics? – National TenX News
The 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics come at a time when political tensions are rising across the world and while the Games usually see athletes avoid protests, it’s not clear if that will remain the case this year.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the mission of the Olympic Games is “to take action to strengthen the unity of the Olympic Movement, to protect its independence, to maintain and promote its political neutrality and to preserve the autonomy of sport.”
But with the world in the midst of what Prime Minister Mark Carney called a global “rupture,” with multiple recent crises across finance, health, energy and geopolitics, could this be the year that norm of neutrality at the Olympics gets tossed aside?
“It is an interesting scenario and one that can go either way,” Julie Stevens, professor in the department of sport management at Brock University, said in a written statement.
“Will the norms of the Olympic institution hold well enough to maintain decorum and respect by all, or will the geopolitical pressures generate a climate where unrestrained self-expression spills over among fans in the venues, those on social media, and the media at large?”
Hundreds of fans have already taken to the streets of Italy this past weekend to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony.
Italian Lawmaker Riccardo Magi, centre, shows a placard demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents not be allowed at the Milan Cortina Olympics during a protest staged by centre-left party +Europa outside the U.S. Embassy in Rome, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026.
(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
At the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, large sections of the crowd at the U.S. and Finland game booed the American national anthem after the announcer “asked fans to respect both the United States and Finland.”
Fans have also booed the American national anthem at home games for the Toronto Raptors, Canada’s sole NBA franchise.
“The fans, people who love sports by and large will go because they love sports and they accept the culture,” said Bruce Kidd, a professor emeritus in sport and public policy at the University of Toronto.
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“You don’t go to the Olympics to yell about the Russians or Americans or maybe the Canadians, but it’s an unpreceded time.”
Kidd represented Canada at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games as a distance runner.
What happens if athletes take a stand?
At the Olympic opening ceremony, two athletes, one coach and two judges from each country take the Olympic oath on behalf of the entire team.
Part of the oath requires everyone to state that they “promise to take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules and in the spirit of fair play, inclusion and equality.”
Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted at Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
The IOC states that this rule is in place since “the focus at the Olympic Games must remain on athletes’ performances, sport and the international unity and harmony that the Olympic Games seek to advance.”
The rule also states that while athletes are allowed to express their views before competitions, they are not allowed to do so during medal ceremonies or on the podium.
Stevens says the Olympic oath “can be seen as more symbolic than actual.”
“The IOC espouses unity and peace, but does the organization carry enough legitimacy, and clout, to enact these values and ensure the various stakeholders adhere to respectful and civil behaviour?” she questioned.
However, there are past incidents where emotions have boiled over.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, U.S. shot putter Raven Saunders was investigated by the IOC after raising her arms in an ‘X’ position above her head on the podium, later quoted as saying the message is “the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet.”
As Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia crossed the finish line during the men’s marathon at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, he threw his arms over his head, making an “X,” in a show of support for members of his Oromo tribe. He later stated that if he returned to Ethiopia after the Games, “the government will kill me.” He returned to his home country in October 2018 after being encouraged by Prime Minister Abyi Ahmed.
Silver medal Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa, crosses his arms as he celebrates on the podium after the men’s marathon at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
U.S. women’s socccer goalkeeper Hope Solo called the Swedish team “a bunch of cowards” for focusing on defence rather than attacking the three-time defending champion U.S. team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. She was later suspended for six months by U.S. Soccer.
Swiss soccer player Michel Morganella was expelled from the 2012 London Olympic Games following a series of threatening tweets directed at the South Korean team following a loss. Morganella was the second athlete to be expelled from those Games following offensive social media posts.
“Athletes and coaches are unlikely to boo other anthems; they are reps of the nation and have been advised of what is appropriate and expected behavior,” Christine Dallaire, professor in the faculty of health sciences at the University of Ottawa, said in a written statement.
Kidd says signs of protest and advocacy differ now from years prior because “it’s not been so much against other competitors, but really declarations of affirmation of who they are.”
Despite this, there is now a stronger feeling of national pride among many competitors and fans.
“I expect the tensions will play out in matches and competitions that will take on a new intensified meaning. It’s not just about beating the U.S., it’ll be about winning against [U.S. President] Donald Trump and showing our might – at least on the ice,” Dallaire said.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Politics
Woman testifies son of Norway’s crown princess raped her while she slept – National TenX News
A second woman has testified at a court in Oslo, accusing the son of Norway’s crown princess of raping her while she slept.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. Høiby has no royal title or official duties.
He is on trial for multiple alleged offences with 38 counts against him, including four charges of rape, sexual assault, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner and acts of violence against another, as well as transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, breaking a restraining order and aggravated assault. Others include making death threats and traffic violations.
Høiby stood while prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø read out the 38 counts against him in the Oslo district court on Feb. 3, asking him if he pleaded guilty. He replied “no” to the most serious charges, including the four counts of rape.
Prosecutors have said that Høiby could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted in the trial, which is scheduled to last until March 19. Seven accusers are expected to testify.
Second woman testifies
On Tuesday, during the second week of the trial, the woman testified about an alleged rape that the prosecution said took place on Oct. 3, 2023, following an after-party in an apartment, Agence France-Presse reports.
After consensual sex, the woman said she woke up after Høiby had resumed sexual relations with her, which she said were not consensual.
“I remember waking up when he was already underway. I thought, ‘I don’t understand how someone can have sex with someone who’s sleeping,’” she told the court.
“Then, I mostly had the feeling I was dissociating, leaving my own body,” she said. “It was painful. My body wasn’t ready for it.”
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“That’s always been my worst nightmare,” she said, adding that she closed her eyes “so I wouldn’t have to take part in my own assault.”
The prosecution submitted video evidence that was filmed with Høiby’s phone to prove that the sex that took place happened when the woman was not in a state to say no.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbro said the five-second video, discovered on Høiby’s phone by police, showed the woman asleep at the time of the alleged assault. They also shared data from the woman’s fitness watch to show that she was asleep at the time.
The woman told the court that the footage captured by Høiby was taken without her knowledge.
Høiby told the court that the woman “was awake when I had sex with her,” before correcting himself and saying, “When we had sex together.”
“I don’t have sex with women who are asleep,” Høiby added.
“I don’t understand: if we had sex three or four times before, and I woke her up each time, why the hell would I have had sex with her without waking her the last time?”
A court sketch of Marius Borg Hoiby during the second day of the trial against him, which is taking place in room 250 of the Oslo District Court, Norway, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.
Ane Hem/NTB Scanpix via AP, Pool
First woman’s testimony
Last week, the court heard testimony from another woman who claimed that Høiby raped her at an after-party in the basement of his parents’ estate outside Oslo in December 2018.
The woman told the court that she “100 per cent” believes that she had been drugged during the after-party, the BBC reports.
The woman said she felt “betrayal and shock” after police showed her videos of Høiby allegedly sexually assaulting her.
She said she had no memory of what happened and referred to her memory as a “black hole.”
When asked about the alleged rape in 2018, Høiby told the court that he did not remember taking videos and denied that he had raped the woman. He said they had consensual sex after other people at the after-party had gone to bed.
When asked by the prosecutor if the woman was awake when they had sex, Høiby said, “I don’t sleep with women who aren’t awake.”
Høiby has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 amid allegations of rape and on preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage.
The royal palace said it was up to the courts to handle the case and reach a decision.
Royal problems
The royals are generally popular in Norway, but the Høiby case has been a problem for the family’s image.
The trial opened at a particularly sensitive moment. Mette-Marit faces renewed scrutiny over her past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 in a New York jail cell as he faced sex trafficking charges, following the release of a new batch of documents from the Epstein files.
They contained several hundred mentions of the crown princess, who already said in 2019 that she regretted having had contact with Epstein, Norwegian media reported. The documents, which include email exchanges, showed that Mette-Marit borrowed an Epstein-owned property in Palm Beach, Fla., for several days in 2013. Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported that the stay was arranged through a mutual friend, which was later confirmed by the royal household.
Mette-Marit said in a statement that she “must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was.” She added: “I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing.”
— With files from The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Politics
Canadians wait for flights out of Cuba, aid struggling to get in amid U.S. energy blockade TenX News
While Canadians in Cuba are waiting for flights home as an energy crisis worsens in the nation amid a U.S. oil blockade, those who send aid are struggling to do so.
Cuba warned international airlines on Feb. 9 that aviation fuel would no longer be available on the island, beginning Feb. 10, in the latest sign of fast-worsening conditions as the United States moves to cut off the communist-run nation’s oil supply.
Major Canadian airlines, including Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat, have already suspended service to Cuba. All three airlines have confirmed they plan to bring travellers back home to Canada.
Calgary-based WestJet says its decision to wind down winter operations will affect WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, WestJet Vacations, and Vacances WestJet Quebec.
Air Canada has said its decision to cancel service to Cuba comes after “following advisories issued by governments regarding the unreliability of the aviation fuel supply at Cuban airports.”
Jennifer Raymer, director of Together for Cuba, hugging a woman on the communist island nation.
Supplied by Jennifer Raymer
Venezuela has historically been a major supplier of oil to Cuba but in early 2026, ceased those oil exports as a result of recent geopolitical turmoil after it was taken over by the United States.
The Trump administration is cutting Cuba off from using its traditional fuel sources in an effort to put pressure on the island nation off the coast of Florida, which has been under strict economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. government for decades.
Amid the efforts to get Canadians out, those who provide charitable aid say they are now struggling to send that in.
“The Cuban people are devastated,” said Jennifer Raymer, the director of Together for Cuba. “They rely on tourists coming down there, obviously, for employment and taxi services and hotels and food and, you know, Canadians are known to bring aid.”
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The Ontario-based aid agency sends 600 large duffle bags, weighing about 14,000 kg, full of medicine, surgical supplies and other medical aid to Cuba each year.
Jennifer Raymer, director of Together for Cuba, with a volunteer delivering duffel bags of aid to the Caribbean nation.
Supplied by Jennifer Raymer
“I knew that as soon as this all came down — that all the airlines would stop — we would be stuck here in Canada without being able to get the aid in. I haven’t slept since yesterday.”
Halting shipments will make life even more difficult in the impoverished island nation.
“The Cuban people are going to have an even harder struggle. A lot of our medical bags include prescription medication for heart and diabetes and different things, and as well as surgical bags. These bags are life-saving,” Raymer said.
A sick woman grateful to be receiving aid from Canadian humanitarian group “Together for Cuba.”
Supplied by Jennifer Raymer
As the airlines wind down their operations to Cuba, Raymer was hoping one of them would agree to take the medical supplies on one of the empty flights being sent to Cuba to evacuate the more than 7,000 stranded Canadian tourists.
So far, none have stepped up.
“It means that people can’t have surgeries or get the medications that they need. There are surgical packs in there that people are waiting for, and now they’re sitting in London, Ont.,” Raymer said.
“We’re struggling to find a way to get them out.”
A sick man receiving aid from Canadian humanitarian group “Together for Cuba.”
Supplied by Jennifer Raymer
NDP interim leader Don Davies said Tuesday that Canada must provide immediate support to Cuba in the face of “escalating aggression” from the Trump administration.
“Recent U.S. actions are provoking a severe humanitarian crisis and disrupting travel across the region, leaving Canadians stranded as airlines suspend flights,” Davies said in a statement.
“By threatening tariffs on any third country that transports fuel to the island, the Trump administration is expanding U.S. economic coercion in dangerous new ways.”
Davies argued that Prime Minister Mark Carney has remained “silent” in the face of Trump’s aggression towards Cuba.
“Canada must stand with the Cuban people and resist the Trump administration’s aggression clearly and directly. This is a defining test of principle and we must not fail it,” he said.
Together for Cuba volunteers at a medical clinic on the Caribbean nation.
Supplied by Jennifer Raymer
–with files from The Canadian Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Politics
Olympic medallist wins bronze, confesses on live tv to cheating on girlfriend – National TenX News
Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid admitted live on television to cheating on his now ex-girlfriend, shortly after winning a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics, in the hopes of regaining her affection.
The 28-year-old said an affair he had three months ago was his “biggest mistake.”
He said it had been the worst week of his life since telling his ex-girlfriend, who he dated for six months about his infidelity, and that he hoped admitting to his mistake on television would show her how sorry he is.
“There’s someone I wanted to share it with who might not be watching,” he told Norway’s state broadcaster, NRK.
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“Six months ago, I met the love of my life — the most beautiful and kindest person in the world. Three months ago, I made my biggest mistake and cheated on her,” he said.
“I had the gold medal in life, and I am sure there are many people who will see things differently, but I only have eyes for her,” he continued.
“Sport has come second these last few days. Yes, I wish I could share this with her,” Laegreid added.
Sturla Holm Laegreid, of Norway, gets the bronze medal for the men’s 20-kilometer individual biathlon race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.
AP Photo/Andrew Medichini
In a later interview, he told Norwegian newspaper VG that the “only way to solve it is to tell everything and put everything on the table, and hope that she can still love me.”
“I’ve done that for her, and now for the whole world. I have nothing to lose,” he said. “I want to be a good role model, but I have to admit when I make mistakes.”
Laegreid is a seven-time world champion biathlete, a sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. His bronze medal win follows a gold in the relay at the 2022 Games.
During a press conference after his admission, he told reporters he hoped he hadn’t ruined fellow teammate and gold medallist Johan-Olav Botn’s day.
“I don’t know if it was the right choice or not, but it was the choice I made,” he said.
“I made the choice to tell the world what I did so maybe there’s a chance she will see what she really means to me — maybe not, but I don’t want to think I didn’t try everything to get her back,” he told reporters.
“I don’t want to steal the show. I hope this is just like a day-or-two thing. Then you are an Olympic gold medallist forever.”
Five-time Olympic champion Johannes Thingnes Bøe, a former teammate of Laegreid and now an expert correspondent at NRK, questioned the timing of Laegreid’s admission.
“It came as a complete surprise. His action was wrong — we saw a repentant lad standing there. Unfortunately, the time, place and timing are all wrong,” Boe said.
It’s unclear if Laegreid’s ex-girlfriend heard his on-screen mea culpa.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Woman testifies son of Norway’s crown princess raped her while she slept – National TenX News
Canadians wait for flights out of Cuba, aid struggling to get in amid U.S. energy blockade TenX News
Olympic medallist wins bronze, confesses on live tv to cheating on girlfriend – National TenX News
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