As the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy play out, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is once again insisting that any sport under its flag must remain politically neutral. The Olympic charter grounds this position in its fifth “fundamental principle of Olympism”, which states that sports organisations within the Olympic movement “shall apply political neutrality”.

Yet in recent years, athletes from Russia and Belarus have been excluded or tightly restricted, and calls have also been made to ban Israelis, Americans, and others. This raises the question: what, exactly, does “political neutrality” mean in today’s Olympic Games – and what purpose does it serve?

To start with, it’s obvious to most that the IOC cannot be “neutral” in the everyday sense of never getting involved. In 1992, athletes from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were not allowed to compete as Yugoslavia because of UN sanctions, and those who did compete did so under the Olympic flag as independent Olympic participants.

But the US faced no Olympic-wide ban after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, widely argued to be illegal under international law. If political neutrality means never making political decisions, then the IOC couldn’t work by definition, because deciding which countries are recognised and eligible to compete is inherently political.

The real question is not whether the IOC makes political decisions, but why it keeps insisting it does not take sides in political conflicts when, to many observers, its actions suggest otherwise.

Countries and organisations sometimes claim neutrality on principled grounds. In the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, for example, 65 countries boycotted in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later, the Soviet Union and most of the Eastern bloc retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Los Angeles Games, citing political hostility and security concerns.

In both of these cases, the Games still went ahead. The IOC presidents at the time, Lord Killanin in 1980 and Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1984, appeared willing to bear the costs of lower attendance, prestige and fanfare in order to uphold the organisation’s claim to political neutrality, amongst other things.

Today, political neutrality increasingly serves a different role. Rather than expressing a clear position that the organisation is prepared to defend, neutrality is used to keep decisions deliberately vague. Instead of clear criteria that say what neutrality is, when it is required, and when it should be abandoned, the IOC responds to each crisis case by case, without explaining why similar conflicts produce different outcomes.

Sport and politics in the real world

This vagueness reduces the need to justify decisions, accountability and responsibility, all while arguing that it takes a principled position of neutrality. Ironically, “political neutrality” is so loosely defined that it is flexible enough to take sides in political conflicts, a strategic ambiguity not uncommon in international politics.

Admittedly, this may be a smart strategy from an organisational point of view. In early March 2022, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), within 24 hours of saying Russian and Belarusian athletes would be allowed to compete at Beijing 2022 as neutrals, reversed course after several countries warned they would not compete.

The IPC probably lost some authority, and perhaps even legitimacy, from this reversal. Yet it begs the question where this leaves the concept of political neutrality and values in general, today.

Sport is often seen as a microcosm of society. Whatever happens in sport reflects society at large – and these Winter Olympic Games are no different. In this sense, neutrality in the IOC reflects a broader pattern we see in daily life – one law for the few, and another for the many, with “political neutrality” a convenient mask for taking sides while claiming not to. It appears to be “neutrality” when it benefits the right countries, and “politics” when it does not.

In these Winter Games, the IOC will speak the words of neutrality but think in terms of politics. Neutrality will be invoked to justify restrictions on some delegations or athletes, like Russia and Belarus, while resisting restrictions on others, like Israel and the US, and deflecting responsibility for explaining the difference.

After a week of competition, this double standard is evident. Russian and Belarusian athletes compete only as vetted “individual neutral athletes” without flags or anthems. Meanwhile, athletes from countries facing well-documented accusations of violating international law and human rights, like Iran, Israel, China, the US and others, participate under full national symbols.

The result is that these Winter Games, like many before them, are a stage where political conflict is managed in practice. Political neutrality today does not remove politics from sport; it is simply another way of reinforcing it.

Families on low incomes could be entitled to support

Millions of families on low incomes are being encouraged to check whether they could receive up to £1,200 in free bonus cash from the Government. HMRC has confirmed its Help to Save scheme is now permanent.

From April 2028, up to 1.5 million more families will become eligible under expanded criteria. This means additional support for people on Universal Credit, including those with caring responsibilities, who could see their savings boosted by a substantial 50% Government bonus.

In a social media post, HMRC said: “Help to Save is here to stay – and more families can benefit. The scheme has been made permanent, and from April 2028, up to 1.5 million more families will be eligible thanks to expanded criteria.”

How the scheme works

Help to Save is a Government-backed savings account targeted at working households on low incomes. It pays a bonus of 50p for every £1 saved over four years – effectively a 50% return funded by taxpayers.

Savers can deposit between £1 and £50 a month, up to a maximum of £2,400 over four years. The maximum bonus available is £1,200.

Key limits at a glance.

• Maximum monthly saving £50.
• Maximum total saving (4 years) £2,400.
• Bonus rate 50%.
• Maximum total bonus £1,200.

All savings in the scheme are backed by the Government, meaning deposits are secure.

Who can apply?

You can open a Help to Save account if:

• You are receiving Universal Credit.
• You (or you and your partner) had take-home pay of £1 or more in your last monthly assessment period.
• You live in the UK

Couples claiming Universal Credit can each open their own account, but they must apply individually. Importantly, if you cease claiming benefits after opening the account, you’re still able to continue saving until the four-year term concludes.

Will it impact your benefits?

For numerous households concerned about exceeding savings limits, there’s reassurance. If you or your partner have £6,000 or less in personal savings, this won’t affect the amount of Universal Credit you receive. This includes funds held in Help to Save. The bonuses themselves also don’t influence Universal Credit payments.

The same £6,000 threshold applies to Housing Benefit, and Help to Save bonuses aren’t counted against it.

Warning about withdrawals

Savers are permitted to withdraw money at any time – however, doing so could diminish the bonus they receive. Withdrawing cash makes it more challenging to accumulate the “highest balance” used to calculate the 50% bonus.

If you close the account prematurely, you’ll forfeit your next bonus and won’t be able to open another Help to Save account.

What’s changing in 2028?

From April 2028, eligibility will expand, making up to 1.5 million additional families able to apply. The move makes the scheme permanent, ending previous uncertainty over its long-term future.

For households juggling rising bills, the scheme offers one of the most generous guaranteed returns available anywhere – a Government-backed 50% boost that would be impossible to match in the normal savings market.

Details of the scheme can be found here.

Dogs love sleeping in their owners’ beds for three heartwarming reasons that has left people emotional to learn – and it’s more than just wanting to being comfortable

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Dogs really are a man’s best friend, and you can usually gauge just how much your four-legged companion adores you by the way it behaves around you as its owner. Our dog friends demonstrate affection in numerous ways, from enthusiastic welcomes and physical displays such as leaning against you or licking, to constantly wanting to be near you and presenting you with their favourite toys.

They may also reveal their devotion through sustained eye contact, tail wagging, and even quietly copying your movements like yawning. But there are additional behaviours your furry friend might exhibit that you may not realise stem from how deeply they care for you and crave your company, including their desire to share your sleeping space.

In a TikTok video, one content creator went on to explain what it could signify if your dog demands to sleep in your bed, and it’s more adorable than you might imagine.

“Dogs love sleeping in their owners bed for these three reasons,” a voice can be heard announcing before getting into the list of explanations.

1. It makes them feel secure

“First of all, you need to understand that for a dog, you are much more than just an owner. You are their anchor, their family, their entire world,” the voice detailed.

Due to this profound connection, they frequently feel protected in your presence and yearn to be beside you during their most vulnerable moments, particularly while sleeping at night.

The voice clarified: “Sleeping close to you gives them a deep sense of security and strengthens the emotional bond they feel.

“It’s their way of saying ‘I love you and I feel safe with you’,” they concluded.

2. It helps keep them warm

“Secondly, dogs love warmth,” the video continued.

Similar to humans, dogs enjoy snuggling into a comfortable and cosy bed to maintain warmth during chillier periods. The experience becomes even more appealing when they can sense your body heat beside them.

“Your presence turns the bed into the perfect cocoon for a restful night. To them, you’re like a living blanket – warming and reassuring at the same time,” they explained.

3. They want to protect you

“The third reason goes a bit deeper,” the video said before it went on to reveal the third reason.

“Finally, all dogs have a built in pack protection instinct. Even when they sleep deeply, they remain alert,” they said.

They continued: “By sharing your bed, they feel like they’re guarding you just as much as you’re caring for them. This protective role is deeply rooted in their nature. And it’s yet another way your bond grows stronger.”

The video’s caption added: “Your dog isn’t just your pet – they see you as family and their whole world. Sleeping next to you gives them security, warmth, and a chance to protect their pack.”

Viewers quickly flooded the comments section with their reactions, with numerous people expressing support for allowing their dogs to share their beds.

“Dogs love sleeping in their owners bed for these three reasons,” one person wrote, while another shared: “I end up on the edge of the bed while my dog is stretched out.”

“I don’t know how anyone could reject a dog sleeping on the bed with them,” one individual expressed.

Yet, another viewer countered: “Never let your dog sleep in your bed at night.”

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said that the system for deporting criminals “isn’t as robust as it should be and certainly isn’t transparent”

An Ulster Unionist MLA has hit out at the system in place to deport foreign criminals who are jailed for serious crimes in Northern Ireland.

This comes as Justice Minister Naomi Long revealed that 145 custodial sentences were handed out to 138 foreign prisoners in Northern Ireland in the last five years.

The figures were revealed after Doug Beattie asked the Minister to detail the number of foreign nationals that have received a custodial sentence of one year or more, in the last five years; the number of those who received a custodial sentence of one year or more and were reported by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to the Home Office Foreign National Offenders Returns Command for deportation, on completion of the custodial element of their sentence; and the number that were unable to complete their licence element of their sentence, as monitored by the Probation Board Northern Ireland, because they were deported.

In her response, Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “The Home Office is responsible for any deportation of foreign nationals. The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) is responsible for holding those in their custody as directed under the warrant of committal issued by the sentencing court.

“The NIPS is responsible for informing the Home Office of all sentenced foreign national offenders within ten working days of sentencing: thereafter, the Home Office investigate the case and all decisions pertaining to the individual’s immigration and deportation status are a matter for them.”

In recent weeks, the system for deporting criminals has come under greater scrutiny following the case of murdered Ballymena man Victor Hamilton in July 2022. Two foreign nationals, Mario Menezes and Michael Hanrahan were each sentenced for withholding information relating to the murder.

Michael Hanrahan was released back into the community on license only to be returned to prison on breach of his license, and Mario Menezes was not returned to prison following sentencing due to time served.

Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie, MC MLA, commented: “The case surrounding the murder of Victor Hamilton in Ballymena has raised several concerns. This stems from the sentences handed out to two foreign nationals that should, under Home Office rules, have been deported as they were sentenced to one year or more. In one case, the individual was sentenced to six years for the manslaughter of Victor, served three years, then should have been deported. However, this individual was released into the community on license only to be returned to prison on breach of that license. “A second individual involved in the murder of Victor Hamilton was given a two-year sentence, a year to be served in prison. However, due to time served, he was released on sentence by the judge and released back into the community. At no stage was the family of Victor informed of what was happening with either man by anyone within the criminal justice system. “It is clear that the Home Office, through the Foreign National Offender Returns Command, is responsible for deportation orders of foreign nationals. Yet they must be triggered by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, and it seems the system isn’t as robust as it should be and certainly isn’t transparent. These figures provided by the Justice Department should create a realisation that for every case there is a victim, and these victims need to be kept better informed.”

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Most of the policies it looked at covered personal possessions away from the home with cover limits in the thousands of pounds, rather than hundreds and all included certain gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Most also covered cash, although with lower limits than for other possessions.

Glenn Hoddle slammed Arsenal captain Bukayo Saka’s reaction to the disappointing Premier League draw with Wolves.

Arsenal blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Premier League basement boys Wolves, who had just nine points from 26 games before the game.

Saka, captaining the Gunners in the absence of the injured Martin Odegaard, fired Arsenal ahead inside five minutes with a glancing header from Declan Rice’s cross.

Despite not being anywhere near their best, Arsenal doubled their lead after half-time through Piero Hincapie and looked to be cruising towards another win.

Three points would have taken Arsenal seven clear of second-placed Manchester City but Wolves produced an unlikely comeback.

Hugo Bueno gave the relegation-doomed side hope with a superb strike on the hour mark before Tom Edozie’s injury-time strike earned Wolves just their 10th point of the season.

Saka faced up to the media after Arsenal’s desperately disappointing draw, admitting the Arsenal dressing room was ‘very flat’.

‘It’s very flat,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘I’m very disappointed with the result and especially how we played in the second half, it’s far from the level that we’ve set this season.

‘It’s time for us to reflect on the few performances and just fix the issues immediately so we can get back to winning games and going on a run and build momentum because we’ve lost that a bit right now.’

Asked whether he and his teammates were ‘feeling the pressure’ as Arsenal chase a first Premier League title in 22 years, Saka added: ‘No, I don’t think about all of that.

‘I just think we need to just get back to our level, just do the basics right. And we’ve got more than enough quality in this team to win games, especially the games where we’ve been dropping points recently.

‘We just need to fix that and that’s all our focus is right now.’

Arsenal legend Martin Keown said he ‘couldn’t disagree with anything’ Saka said during his post-match interview.

‘I can’t disagree with anything that he’s saying but what he’s also saying is they’re not giving up,’ Keown said on Premier League Productions.

‘I think he will be giving more in his next performances because they have to stand up.’

But Tottenham legend Hoddle criticised Saka’s interview, saying: ‘That’s interesting, that, because he was the skipper tonight.

‘For me, he was very honest, very honest there saying they need to do better… blah blah blah. But his demeanour for me wasn’t right.

‘Your demeanour needs to be a little bit more up, he was very flat, very flat.’

Discussing the game as a whole and Arsenal’s wobbling title charge, Hoddle added: ‘I look at Arsenal against Brentford and Wolves and I just feel they’re starting to doubt themselves.

‘A few months ago they weren’t doing that, they were authoritative and were saying, “we’re Arsenal and we’re going to win the title”.

‘But they’re doubting themselves and now they’re under pressure and it’s all about the mentality, they need to be strong and together to come again.

‘It’s not a crossroads for Arsenal but they need to start again, go again. They’ve got to go again but there’s a doubt in their minds now, there’s definitely a doubt and they’ve got a huge couple of games ahead for them.

‘Unless they get a result at the weekend they will be in trouble.’

Arsenal’s next assignment is a huge north London derby against Tottenham, who sacked Thomas Frank following their last game.

Speaking after the Wolves draw, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said: ‘Incredibly disappointed that we gave two points away. I think we need to fault ourselves and give credit to Wolves.

‘But what we done in the second half was nowhere near our standards that we have to play in order to win a game in the Premier League.

‘There are certain things, certain basics that today we are very far from our level, and when you don’t perform you can get punished, and we got punished and we have to accept the hits because that can happen when you are on top.

‘Certain basics we have to do we did them so poorly one after the other. And then you have no dominance, no control in the game.’

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The six accessible supported bungalows form a new residential scheme in Ryhope, Sunderland, for people with physical and learning disabilities.

Taking its name from the church that once stood on the site, the development is now known as St Cuthbert’s Close.

The six accessible supported bungalows form a new residential scheme in Sunderland for people with physical and learning disabilities. (Image: Sunderland City Council)

The properties have been built as part of Sunderland City Council’s ongoing efforts to increase supported, accessible housing across the city.

Kevin Johnston, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Business at Sunderland City Council, said: “I’m delighted to see work complete on these six new bungalows, delivering more accessible properties for those who need them in the city and making use of assistive technologies to enhance independence and improve quality of life.

“This is all about enabling our residents to live as independently as possible and supporting them to live in comfortable homes that meet their needs.”

The bungalows are designed to be accessible throughout. (Image: Sunderland City Council)

The scheme is supported by £660,000 in funding from Homes England.

It forms part of a wider council-led strategy to expand specialist accommodation for vulnerable residents, including disabled individuals.

Each unit is equipped with 5G infrastructure to support future assistive technology tailored to residents’ needs.

One of the new kitchens (Image: Sunderland City Council)

St Cuthbert’s Close includes three two-bedroom and three three-bedroom bungalows, following similar developments in Washington and Hylton Road.

Matthew Wright, Manager – Affordable Housing Delivery, at Homes England, said: “As the Government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

“This investment through the Affordable Homes Programme does just that, enabling Sunderland City Council to build much needed new homes the people of Sunderland can be proud of.”

The development has been built by North East based T Manners and Sons

Derek Collinson, Contracts Manager at T Manners and Sons, said: “Delivering these bungalows has required close collaboration and a strong focus on accessibility to ensure every home meets the needs of future residents.”

It will utilise the new virtual production facility Studio Ulster in Belfast

A new film production is getting underway across Northern Ireland.

After another bumper year for the Northern Irish film and TV industry in 2025, things are showing no signs of slowing down as a number of big movies and shows are already filming across the country.

The latest production underway is No Way Off, a new survival thriller starring Hamnet and House Of Guiness star David Wilmot, and Outlander’s Andrew Gower and Academy Award-nominee Maria Bakalova (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm).

READ MORE: TV and movie productions set to film in Northern Ireland in 2026READ MORE: Close to Home: House of Guinness stars to reunite for new Channel 4 drama set in Belfast

Sharing a first look image, Northern Ireland Screen said: “Set over the course of one Christmas Eve night, the film follows exhausted single mother Nadya and her young child who fall asleep on the bus home.

“They wake hours later to find themselves abducted by the driver; and as the bus heads into the wilderness, the ride becomes a fight for survival testing everything Nadya has.”

The film is being shot on location in Northern Ireland and at the new virtual production facility Studio Ulster in Belfast.

Filming marks a return to Northern Ireland for actress Maria Bakalova who recently shot American science fiction survival thriller Override alongside Frank Grillo in Belfast.

No Way Off is written by Gaby Hull, and produced by Matthew James Wilkinson of the UK’s Stigma Films, and Jamie Harvey.

Laura Rister is executive producer through her company Esme Grace, which is financing the film alongside Head Gear Films, Northern Ireland Screen, OnSight and Altitude. Head Gear Films packaged the project, with Phil Hunt, Compton Ross and Charlie Kemball as executive producers.

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On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said “initial inquiries into these specific allegations have begun” regarding protection officers after concerns from one unnamed officer that some turned a “blind eye” to Andrew’s visits to Epstein’s island, Little St James, in the US Virgin Islands.

The tenth season of Cambridgeshire crime drama Grantchester comes to an end tonight

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The tenth series of Grantchester has been captivating ITV audiences in recent weeks, but it’s due to conclude tonight (Thursday, February 19).

The British crime drama first aired in 2014 and centred on Anglican vicar Sidney Chambers (James Norton), who probed a series of enigmatic misdeeds in his quaint Cambridgeshire village. Sidney embarked on his detective escapades alongside Detective Inspector Geordie Keating (Robson Green).

Over the years, Geordie has teamed up with several vicars, including Reverend Will Davenport (Tom Brittney), and most recently, Alphy Kottaram (Rishi Nair).

Geordie and Alphy launched into several new investigations when the show made its return to ITV for its tenth series last month. In addition to cracking cases, there have also been some poignant revelations, including Alphy tearfully reading a letter penned by his mother when she put him up for adoption, reports the Mirror.

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These heart-wrenching scenes moved viewers to tears, with one individual posting on X (formerly Twitter): “What another brilliant, heartbreaking and heartwarming episode of #Grantchester. Top performances from all the cast. I’m absolutely broken.”

Another chimed in: “I’m in absolute bits. Absolutely broke me,” whilst others have lauded the cast’s compelling performances.

One viewer praised: “Once again, Robson Green knocking it out of the park tonight,” whilst another commented: “Honestly #Grantchester is up there with the best on TV with great performances. I have no idea why @ITV @itvstudios @masterpiecepbs are ending it.”

Grantchester has captivated audiences each week and will undoubtedly leave a significant void when the final episode broadcasts at 9pm this evening. Ahead of the last series airing next year, ITV executives have revealed what will replace Grantchester in the Thursday evening slot.

The opening instalment of True Crime Presents’ second series, Murder on a Knife’s Edge, is scheduled to commence at 9pm on Thursday, 26 February.

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It will focus on the case of Wayne Coventry, who pursued romance following 18 years with his childhood sweetheart, but the 37-year-old father-of-three became embroiled in a destructive relationship, and was tragically killed in October 2019.

The debut series of True Crime Presents aired last year, delivering compelling and perceptive contributions from victims and witnesses about a series of devastating murders.

The original ten episodes examined numerous harrowing cases, including the deaths of EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie and 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed.

Since its release, the show has been lauded by fans. One IMDb user commented: “Quite a decent documentary series. Experts and witnesses given an in-depth analysis on five different murders… The stories are all engaging, some you may know quite well, while others may be new to you.”

Murder on a Knife’s Edge: True Crime Presents premieres at 9pm on Thursday, February 26 on ITV1, while Grantchester is available to stream on ITVX

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