Politics
U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control pact expires after half a century – National TenX News
The Kremlin said Thursday it regretted the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States that left no caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century.
Arms control experts say the termination of the New START Treaty could set the stage for an unconstrained nuclear arms race.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last year declared his readiness to stick to the treaty’s limits for another year if Washington followed suit, but U.S. President Donald Trump has been noncommittal about extending it. He has indicated that he wants China to be a part of a new pact — something Beijing has rebuffed.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that Trump has made clear “in order to have true arms control in the 21st century, it’s impossible to do something that doesn’t include China because of their vast and rapidly growing stockpile.”
Putin discussed the pact’s expiration with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday, noting the U.S. failure to respond to his proposal to extend its limits and saying that Russia “will act in a balanced and responsible manner based on thorough analysis of the security situation,” Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow views the treaty’s expiration Thursday “negatively” and regrets it. He said Russia will maintain its “responsible, thorough approach to stability when it comes to nuclear weapons,” adding that “of course, it will be guided primarily by its national interests.”
With the end of the treaty, Moscow “remains ready to take decisive military-technical measures to counter potential additional threats to the national security,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
“At the same time, our country remains open to seeking political-diplomatic ways to comprehensively stabilize the strategic situation on the basis of equal and mutually beneficial dialogue solutions, if the appropriate conditions for such cooperation are shaped,” it said in a statement issued late Wednesday.
New START, signed in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, restricted each side to no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads on no more than 700 missiles and bombers — deployed and ready for use. It was originally supposed to expire in 2021 but was extended for five more years.
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The pact envisioned sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance, although they stopped in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and never resumed.
In February 2023, Putin suspended Moscow’s participation, saying Russia couldn’t allow U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites at a time when Washington and its NATO allies have openly declared Moscow’s defeat in Ukraine as their goal. At the same time, the Kremlin emphasized it wasn’t withdrawing from the pact altogether, pledging to respect its caps on nuclear weapons.
In offering in September to abide by New START’s limits for a year to buy time for both sides to negotiate a successor agreement, Putin said the treaty’s expiration would be destabilizing and could fuel nuclear proliferation.
New START was the last remaining pact in a long series of agreements between Moscow and Washington to limit their nuclear arsenals, starting with the SALT I in 1972.
Trump wants China in a pact
Trump has indicated he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons but wants to involve China in a potential new treaty.
“I actually feel strongly that if we’re going to do it, I think China should be a member of the extension,” Trump told The New York Times last month. “China should be a part of the agreement.”
In his first term, Trump tried and failed to push for a three-way nuclear pact involving China. Beijing has balked at any restrictions on its smaller but growing nuclear arsenal, while urging the U.S. to resume nuclear talks with Russia.
“China’s nuclear forces are not at all on the same scale as those of the U.S. and Russia, and thus China will not participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations at the current stage,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Thursday.
He said China regrets the expiration of New START, calls on the U.S. to resume nuclear dialogue with Russia soon, and respond positively to Moscow’s suggestion that the two sides continue observing the core limits of the treaty for now.
Peskov reaffirmed Thursday that Moscow respects Beijing’s position. He and other Russian officials have repeatedly argued that any attempt to negotiate a broader nuclear pact instead of a U.S.-Russian deal should also involve nuclear arsenals of NATO members France and the U.K.
Arms control advocates bemoaned the end of New START and warned of the imminent threat of a new arms race.
“If the Trump administration continues to stiff-arm nuclear arms control diplomacy with Russia and decides to increase the number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. deployed strategic arsenal, it will only lead Russia to follow suit and encourage China to accelerate its ongoing strategic buildup in an attempt to maintain a strategic nuclear retaliatory strike capability vis-a-vis the United States,” said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association in Washington.
“Such a scenario could lead to a years-long, dangerous three-way nuclear arms buildup.”
© 2026 The Canadian Press
Prime Minister Mark Carney has cancelled his planned trip to Germany for a global security conference in the wake of the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., his office confirmed Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s Office statement also said Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson will be in Tumbler Ridge on Wednesday to lead the federal response to Tuesday’s deadly shooting.
“The Prime Minister is remaining in the National Capital Region at this time, and we can confirm that previously announced travel for the coming days has been cancelled,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement at noon eastern time.
Carney was due to travel to the Munich Security Conference on Wednesday evening after being expected to announce his government’s defence industrial strategy at an event in Halifax.
That announcement has been postponed until a later date, the PMO said.
In the immediate wake of Tuesday’s shooting, Carney’s office had initially said his planned travel abroad had been suspended “for the time being.”
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The Munich Security Conference is a key annual gathering for world leaders to discuss defence issues. Carney was originally due to stay in Munich until Sunday.
The PMO said Wednesday that Defence Minister David McGuinty, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon will travel to Munich on Carney’s behalf while the prime minister remains in Ottawa.
Nine people were killed in the Tumbler Ridge attack, including six people who were found dead inside the town’s secondary school and a seventh victim who died while being airlifted to hospital. Two other victims were found dead in a residence.
The suspected shooter was found dead with a self-inflicted injury, police said.
Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday that flags on federal buildings will be lowered to half-mast for seven days in honour of the victims.
“We will get through this, we will learn from this, but right now it’s a time to come together, as Canadians always do in these situations — these terrible situations — to support each other, to mourn together and to grow together,” he said.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Political leaders from around the world are expressing their condolences following the mass school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., that left nine people dead, as well as the shooter, and 27 injured.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says flags on federal buildings will be flown at half-mast for seven days to honour the victims of the shooting.
“Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, are waking up this morning, without one of their loved ones. It is a difficult time. Canada is grieving, grieving with you,” Carney said in a media scrum outside the Liberal caucus on Wednesday morning.
“We will get through this, we will learn from this, but right now, it’s the time to come together as Canadians always do in these situations.”
The prime minister also said he has heard from numerous world leaders following the tragedy with “solidarity and compassion.”
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra
“Our hearts and prayers are with the community of Tumbler Ridge and all of British Columbia today. My personal prayer is that in these difficult times, they find the peace and comfort that only He can provide,” Hoekstra posted to X.
A statement posted to X on behalf of King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla were profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the attack and expressed their “deepest possible sympathy” to those grieving the loss of their loved ones.
“In such a closely connected town, every child’s name will be known and every family will be a neighbor,” he said.
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“We can only begin to imagine the appalling shadow that has now descended across Tumbler Ridge and our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been shattered by this senseless act of brutal violence.”
The King also thanked the police and staff at the town’s health centre.
President of France Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that “horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the injured, and the entire educational community. France stands alongside the Canadian people,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy posted on X that he is “shocked” by the news.
“We are shocked by the news of the shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. When children are killed, no one should remain indifferent. Such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country in the world. We hope that all those who were injured will recover quickly,” he wrote.
“On behalf of all Ukrainians, I express our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones, to all Canadians, and to Prime Minister Mark Carney.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his condolences in a post on X.
“Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada,” Modi wrote.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he sends “my sincere condolences to all Canadians impacted by this horrific event.”
“I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic attack in Tumbler Ridge secondary school,” his post on X reads.
“Australian hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims and we are all thinking of those injured.”
Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, shared a statement of condolence.
“This morning we received terrible news from Canada. The school shooting, which claimed numerous lives, has deeply shaken us. Our thoughts are with the people of Tumbler Ridge as they mourn their families, friends, and loved ones. I wish those who were injured a swift recovery,” Merz posted on X.
Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said his country extends their support.
Prime Minister of Croatia Andrej Plenkovic
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the news has shaken many.
“We were deeply shaken by the news of the deadly shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, in which several people lost their lives. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, to the Canadian people — especially the residents of British Columbia and Tumbler Ridge — as well as to Prime Minister Mark Carney,” Plenkovic posted to X.
© 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.
Carney cancels trip, sends ministers to B.C. after Tumbler Ridge shooting TenX News
World leaders react to ‘senseless’ Tumbler Ridge shooting: ‘Horror has struck’ TenX News
Woman testifies son of Norway’s crown princess raped her while she slept – National TenX News
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