Looking elsewhere, this edition marks the first time since Sochi 2014 that ice hockey players from the National Hockey League (NHL) will compete on the Olympic stage. Among the favourites are Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland as their teams benefit from the return of the NHL’s talent pool.
Another star to keep an eye on is American snowboarder Chloe Kim who is going in search of a three-peat in the snowboard halfpipe. She rose to stardom in PyeongChang in 2018 when she became the youngest woman to win gold in her discipline, at just 17. She came out on top again four years later in Beijing, becoming the first woman to win two Olympic halfpipe golds. Having struggled with her mental health in the aftermath of the Games, she contemplated retiring. But rather than stepping back, she has rediscovered her motivation and passion and has set her sights on a third straight gold, something no woman has ever achieved in the event.
How to watch
The BBC does not have wall-to-wall coverage of the Games as it has done in previous years. There is TV coverage on BBC One and BBC Two of “all major events from 9am to 10pm each day”, as well as a second stream, Olympics Extra, which is available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sports website and app to show “additional” events from 8am to 11pm.
Advertisement
Highlights go out across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport social media channels as well, with BBC Sport also covering events with live text, day-by-day guides and the medal table.
TV coverage is being led by Claire Balding, Hazel Ervine and Jeannette Kwakye, while Katie Smith and Maz Farookhi deliver daily coverage and interviews on BBC Radio 5 Live.
The full Games is being broadcast on TNT Sport and Discovery+ in the UK for subscribers.
Are Russia and Belarus competing?
Neither Russia nor Belarus are competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, after being banned as a result of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Athletes from both countries competed at the 2022 Games in Beijing, China, with Russian athletes competing under the Russian Olympic Committee after a state-sponsored doping scandal resulted in athletes being unable to compete under the Russian name, flag or anthem.
Advertisement
Athletes from both countries will compete under the Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) banner, after a ruling by the International Skating Union in December 2024 which allowed them to participate in the Games under this condition. The delegation will not march in the parade of nations at the opening ceremony, and will not receive an official ranking in the medal tables, as occurred in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
What happened at the last Winter Olympics?
Norway came out on top overall in 2022, with the most gold medals (16) and the highest medal total (37). Thirty-four of their athletes finished on the podium and two of their biathlon athletes, Marte Olsbu Roeiseland and Johannes Thignes Boe, set a joint-record for winning five medals each at a single Games.
Officers said the crash was captured on CCTV and police provided an image of a woman the force would like to speak to, as it believes she may have information which could assist its enquiries.
Advertisement
A police spokesperson said: “The crash involved a grey Land Rover Defender type vehicle with a private numberplate which collided with a parked green Mini Cooper and then drove off.
“There was significant damage caused to the Mini.
“If you have any information, or you are pictured in the image, or you are the driver of the Land Rover please make contact via 101 asking for PC1223 Colin Irvine or via email colin.irvine@northyorkshire.police.uk quoting reference 12260017153.”
The family of a non-league footballer who was admitted to hospital with a serious brain stem injury tragically missed the chance to say goodbye. A GoFundMe had been launched to get his wife and daughter to the UK quickly before he passed away.
Kings Park Rangers player Saburi Olayinka Adeniji died on Friday, February 6, his club has confirmed. The devastating news was announced by the club on social media on Saturday, February 7, and was later reported by the Daily Star.
Advertisement
Adeniji’s wife and four-year-old daughter travelled from Nigeria to the UK but sadly arrived a day after his death. Kings Park Rangers have since launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring his family to the UK so they can say their final goodbyes.
The club said: “It is with great sadness that we must announce our number 17 Saburi Adeniji ‘Ola’ passed away yesterday morning.
“He fought so hard to still be here for when his family arrived. His wife and daughter unfortunately arrived this morning, a day late.
Advertisement
“He will always be a King. He will always be loved. As a friend, as a dad as a husband, as a brother and as a son. R.I.P Saburi Adeniji.”
Emmerdale actor Ryan Hawley took to his Instagram to celebrate the soap’s latest win
Emmerdale stars were surprised to see Ryan Hawley posting on his Instagram as he celebrated the soap’s major win at the TV Choice Awards.
Advertisement
Actor Ryan Hawley reprised his Emmerdale role as Robert Sugden earlier this year after six years away from the ITV soap. Robert was sentenced in 2019 for the death of Lee Posner, and he swiftly cut off contact with Victoria Sugden and ex-husband Aaron Dingle.
His return came as Aaron was set to marry ex-Army medic John Sugden, and although Robert attempted to get Aaron back his efforts were rejected as Aaron vowed to move on without him.
However, things soon escalated when John was exposed for a long list of harrowing crimes, including the murder of Nate Robinson and holding Mackenzie Boyd hostage in an underground war bunker.
Robert found himself back in prison after John threw himself and Aaron off the edge of a cliff and blamed Robert on the incident. However, soon the truth was exposed and John fled from the country.
Advertisement
Since then, Robert and Aaron have been trying to get things back on track in their relationship and even decided to get married again during the epic Corriedale crossover that also saw John’s demise.
Away from the Dales, Ryan tends to keep his private life just that and isn’t one for sharing much on social media. However, after Emmerdale dominated the TV Choice Awards this year.
As well as the prestigious Best Soap prize, Lewis Barton actor Bradley Riches was named Best Soap Newcomer, and castmate Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) won Best Soap Performance.
Taking to his Instagram, Ryan shared some snaps from the night, as well as him posing next to on-screen partner Danny Miller for the occasion.
He penned: “Congratulations to everybody at @emmerdale for the clean sweep the other night! Especially @brad_riches @laurashaw_or_patbutcher and of course @danny_b_miller. Very well deserved! Proud to be part of the show! X”.
Some of his co-stars rushed to the comments as they mentioned his rare upload to social media. Bradley Riches wrote: “Ryan posting? WTF? Welcome to the dark side THANK YOU DIVA XXX”.
Shebz Miah who plays Kammy Hadiq also had the same train of thought and added: “Pahahahaha man like Ryan posting on the gram u kno”, leading to fans of the ITV soap laughing along with him.
Advertisement
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
Cristian Romero’s red card swung the momentum firmly in United’s favour just before the half-hour mark, and the hosts took the lead shortly after through Bryan Mbeumo.
United dominated after the break, and Bruno Fernandes made the points safe late on to ensure Michael Carrick’s winning start as interim boss continued.
Is Romero more trouble than he’s worth?
Cristian Romero was the subject of 25 questions in Thomas Frank’s pre-match press conference on Thursday, so of course, he was going to be the centre of attention at Old Trafford.
Advertisement
Romero’s Instagram outburst on Monday evening, the second time in a month his social media activity has come in for criticism, stated that it was “disgraceful” that Spurs had 11 senior players available against Manchester City last weekend.
Cristian Romero was sent off for the second time this season
Martin Rickett/PA Wire
His sending-off just before the half-hour mark, while harsh, has done nothing to help his reputation. He crashed into Casemiro, landing studs up on the United midfielder’s ankle.
Romero will now miss games against Newcastle, Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace after his second dismissal of the season, leaving his team in the lurch as they struggle for defensive options.
Advertisement
Thomas Frank stood by his captain, naming him in the starting line-up but, not for the first time this season, was let down by the Argentine.
Romero, who has now been awarded six red cards in his Spurs career, is a polarising figure, and Frank must surely start to wonder whether the 27-year-old is more trouble than he is worth.
Udogie injury underlines transfer failures
It feels like every week Tottenham face new issues in defence.
Advertisement
Romero’s dismissal against United means the centre-back will now miss four league games, and with Udogie coming off injured early in the second half, Frank is desperately short of options at the back.
Djed Spence had been in contention for today’s game, but he was unable to recover in time from a calf injury. Kevin Danso, meanwhile, remains out after innocuously hyper-extending his toe before last weekend’s draw with Manchester City.
Left-back Ben Davies looks set to miss most of the season after undergoing surgery on a fractured ankle, while it is hoped Pedro Porro will be back for the north London derby.
Destiny Udogie make it 11 first-team injuries
Getty Images
Advertisement
Spurs’ injury crisis has been felt most sorely at the back, and while Brazilian left-back Souza showed glimpses off the bench, with some neat driving runs and recovery challenges, Frank will need to reshuffle his backline again when Spurs host Newcastle on Tuesday.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but Frank will be left wondering whether he and the board could have acted to address their defensive injury issues, even if only with a short-term loan.
Anti-board sentiment grows
It was always going to be interesting to note the supporters’ reaction to Romero’s social media outburst earlier in the week.
Advertisement
Romero’s social media post highlighted his own frustrations with the club’s board, and the away end at Old Trafford passionately backed their captain in the opening stages, with chants of “Romero is right, the board are sh**te”.
Brennan Johnson, who left the club during the recent transfer window, was also chanted about.
Supporters were left frustrated with the club’s January business, with Spurs failing to make a senior signing on Deadline Day, and they made their feelings heard not for the first time this season.
Anti-board sentiment has been growing all season, and while Frank has always maintained that the club were never going to make snap decisions in reaction to the club’s mounting injury list, it is not a decision that has proven popular among supporters.
Advertisement
Spurs have put all their trust in executing their plans for the summer transfer window. It is a risky strategy and one that simply has to work if fans are to be convinced of the club’s vision for the future.
Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the Transylvania Open final featuring top seed Emma Raducanu and third seed Sorana Cirstea.
Raducanu is contesting her first final since 2021, when she made that fairytale run to the championship match and US Open title after coming through qualifying.
The British No 1 has played some great tennis this week, coming back from a 5-0 deficit against Kaja Juvan in the second round and making lightwork of Greet Minnen and Maja Chwalinska in between. In her semi-final, Raducanu dropped her first set of the week against Oleksandra Oliynykova, coming through 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.
Advertisement
The British No 1 was pleased with how she fought through in the three-set tussle: “I’m most proud of how I competed, came back in the third set, I don’t know if I could’ve done it without everyone’s support,” she said during her on court interview afterwards. “I really feel like I’m at home here, thank you so much everyone.”
Her opponent Cirstea is a home favourite who Raducanu has met once before – at Wimbledon in 2021 where Raducanu came out on top in straight sets. Cirstea, 35, will be retiring at the end of this season and will be looking to make happy memories at her home tournament.
Over in the Czech Republic, British No 4 Katie Boulter is taking on world No 124 Tamara Korpatsch in the Ostrava Open final.
The west Londoners are in a close-fought battle for the top four at the moment, with rivals Manchester United beating Tottenham in the early Premier League kick-off while Liverpool face title hopefuls Manchester City on Sunday, making a statement win against the division’s bottom side more or less a necessity. Wolves, though, have tightened up at the back under Rob Edwards in recent weeks, managing to frustrate Arsenal and Liverpool in narrow losses before holding United and Newcastle to stalemates.
Two men, both aged 20, suffered stab injuries while a 22-year-old man was slashed in the face at Eghmam railway station in Surrey
Three university students are in hospital after being stabbed at a train station.
Two men, both aged 20, suffered stab injuries while a 22-year-old man was slashed in the face at Eghmam railway station in Surrey.
An 18-year-old was also assaulted.
A man in his 30s has been arrested.
Advertisement
British Transport Police described it as ‘an incredibly serious incident’.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking Newsalerts the moment it happens.
Advertisement
Three of the victims are believed to be students at Royal Holloway University.
None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
BTP Detective Superintendent David Udomhiaye said: ‘We’re aware of concerns from the local community and, while this is of course an incredibly serious incident, I can confirm that thankfully no one has been fatally injured.
British Transport Police at the scene (Picture: X)
‘This is being treated as an isolated incident at the station involving two groups of people who we believe were not known to each other.
‘There will be witnesses who have yet to speak to us, and I’d urge anyone in the area who might have dash or doorbell camera footage to make contact as quickly as possible.’
Advertisement
Royal Holloway University said: ‘We are aware of an incident at Egham train station last night in which three of our students were injured.
‘Police have arrested a suspect and have confirmed there is no ongoing threat.
‘Our teams supported the students involved last night and will continue to offer help.
‘Out of respect for those involved and the ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
Advertisement
‘Our Wellbeing teams are available to support any students should they have concerns, and we would urge people to follow Surrey Police and British Transport Police channels for further updates, as opposed to relying on unverified sources.’
Car bursts into flames on major Welsh road | Wales Online
Need to know
The fire caused long delays as emergency services dealt with the incident
Emergency services were at the scene(Image: Traffic Wales )
Drivers were stuck in traffic after a vehicle burst into flames on a major road in Wales. The fire took place on the main
The eastbound carriageway of the A55 was closed between junction 10 at Bangor and junction 11 at Llandygai due to a vehicle fire. The incident was reported around 1pm on Saturday, February 7.
Emergency services including North Wales Fire And Rescue Service and North Wales Police were at the scene. Police urged drivers to use other routes.
There was heavy congestion along the A55 from the Britannia Bridge to Llandygai. One lane reopened at 1.53pm but delays remained in the area.
A coin released to celebrate what would’ve been the late monarch’s 100th birthday has drawn a flood of criticism, with some saying the portrait “doesn’t even look like her”
A commemorative coin has been released to honour what would’ve been the late Queen Elizabeth’s 100th birthday, with the portrait drawing a wave of criticism for its unfortunate design.
Advertisement
The $5 (£2.56) and 50 cent silver coins, released by the Australian Royal Mint, were created to commemorate the centenary of the Queen’s birth, happening on April 21.
The artwork was created by Alex Stokic and depicts the Queen in her later years, surrounded by floral designs, her royal cypher, as well as horse and corgi motifs. Unlike traditional royal coinage, which has consistently portrayed Elizabeth II in profile throughout her reign, the Australian mint opted for a full frontal portrait.
The design, which was released on Wednesday through a national ballot, quickly went viral online, with many flocking to social media to share their thoughts on the coin with many claiming the portrait looks nothing like the late Queen.
Social media users piled on with their own unflattering comparisons, likening the portrait to Mrs Brown from Mrs Brown’s Boys and Mrs Doubtfire, the fictional housekeeper portrayed by the late Robin Williams. One commenter declared: “That’s got to be the most unpleasant portrait on a coin.” Another simply stated: “The Queen looked nothing like that.”
One royal fan added: “There’s a reason most portraits are from the side. Looks like she just ran into a wall,” while another said: “If I saw that face without the hairdo and pearls, would never guess who it was meant to be.”
Other people were more positive about the design, with one person writing on social media: “Looks awesome! I’m glad they put something out to do with Queen Elizabeth II, she deserves to have recognition in a special way on what would’ve been her 100th birthday.”
The Royal Australian Mint defended the design, noting that photographs “don’t always capture the full detail of the coins once etched in silver”. As well as the queen’s portrait, the coins feature designs “symbolically reflecting the many facets of Queen Elizabeth II’s life and legacy”, the mint said.
These include motifs of a horse and corgi, references to art and theatre to mark “her enduring support for culture”, as well as some of her favourite flowers – roses and lily of the valley. The golden wattle, Australia’s national floral emblem, is also represented.
“The design incorporates Her Majesty’s Royal Cypher, a stylised St Edward’s Crown and the Auxiliary Territorial Service emblem, acknowledging her wartime service and lifelong sense of duty,” the mint added.
Advertisement
Queen Elizabeth II served as Queen of Australia throughout her reign, making the unflattering depiction particularly notable given the nation’s ongoing debates about its constitutional future, and increased calls for Australia to become a republic.
Mr Burton, from Trimdon, was a Labour Party councillor in County Durham and was a member of Sedgefield Borough Council.
He served as Tony Blair’s constituency agent from 1983 and throughout his 24 years as Sedgefield MP, until Mr Blair stood down as Prime Minister in 2007.
John Burton pictured in 2010 (Image: ANDY LAMB)
Mr Burton worked tirelessly as the former prime minister’s agent, helping Mr Blair juggle his job as an MP with the demands of running the country from No. 10.
In 2013, he was awarded an MBE from the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles for his services.
Advertisement
Prime Minister Tony Blair, with his friend and agent John Burton, at Trimdon Village just a few hours before voting began in the 2001 general election (Image: NORTH NEWS)
Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor said he sends his “deepest condolences” to Mr Burton’s family.
Prime minister Tony Blair pictured with his agent John Burton as he arrives at Trimdon Labour Club on 10 May 2007 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
In a statement he said: “John’s death has come as an enormous shock to us all. I send my deepest condolences to his family at this very sad time.
“John leaves a huge legacy. As election agent to Tony Blair, chair of Sedgefield Labour Party and a Sedgefield Borough councillor, John made a major contribution to our area and the Labour movement.
“Thank you John for your public service, your kindness and your wisdom. You’ll be sadly missed.”
