winter

Russia is exploiting Ukraine’s coldest winter yet since it escalated the war four years ago. As negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States continue to stall, will this winter freeze become Ukraine’s breaking point?

In this episode: 

• Oleksiy Sorokin (@mrsorokaa) Deputy Chief Editor, Kyiv Independent

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Chloe K. Li, Marcos Bartolomé, and Melanie Marich, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Maya Hamadeh, Tuleen Barakat, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. 

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Beset by delays, concerns and last-minute building works, the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena finally opened its doors to the Olympics on Thursday.

And while, as the International Olympic Committee admitted, it was not completely ready for its opening game, the arena was in a much better state than it had been when BBC Sport visited five days prior.

The 11,800-capacity stadium was nearly full for the Group B match between Italy and Olympic debutants France, won 4-1 by the host nation.

On the Saturday before the fixture, we found a frantic construction site, with building materials and dust inside and outside the stadium.

Rubbish littered the floor, lifts and toilets were covered in plastic wraps and many areas of the arena, including hospitality boxes as well as food and drink stalls, were unfinished.

Christophe Dubi, the International Olympic Committee’s executive director for the Olympic Games, admitted on Sunday: “Do we have every single space in that venue finished? No. And is everything in that venue needed [for the matches to take place]? No.”

Returning on the morning of the first game – about three hours before face-off – we found the piles of rubble and building materials gone from the concourses inside and out.

Not all the amenities were quite ready, with merchandise stalls being built and posters still to be put up. This is just over three hours before the opening match.

Inside the arena, one side of the stadium was simply a big black wall. This houses temporary stands on top of what will eventually be a stage for concerts, and was supposed to feature large boards with Olympic branding.

In the stands, it was very dusty and dirty. The arena had the feel of a new build, finished in a hurry without much spit and polish.

And around the stadium, it is an actual building site. The arena stands virtually alone in wasteland, 25 minutes’ walk from the nearest metro station and with no amenities, barring a car park, nearby. Bella Italia this is not.

ESCAPING the dreary UK for the paradise of the Caribbean might sound incredibly expensive.

However, on the cheapest island which is the Dominican Republic, you can get an all-inclusive February break from £155.57per night.

The Dominican Republic is one of the best places to travel to this year, and was voted as such in the ‘Best of the Best’ Travellers’ Choice Awards on Tripadvisor.

On what visitors can see there, Tripadvisor said: “Offering a lush interior with a mix of caves, Victorian gingerbread houses and the lore of pirates, plus 900 miles of coastline along its brim.”

“Island highlights include riding a cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres and basking on stunning Saona Island. Oh, and did we mention the D.R. is family-friendly, has just about perfect weather and is affordable?”

Tourists visiting the Dominican Republic will flock to Punta Cana on the eastern side of the island.

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Our pick of the best long haul holidays for short haul prices

This is where you’ll find white sandy beaches with bright waters and all-inclusive resorts – which are incredibly affordable.

On loveholidays you can get a seven-night holiday to the 3-star Bavaro Green hotel (room only).

Flights depart on February 23, 2026 from Manchester Airport.

The apartment-style hotel is in the heart of Pueblo Bávaro – it has an outdoor pool as well as one for kids and a playground.

It’s a five minute walk away from the city centre and Bavaro Beach is a 15-minute drive away.

On loveholidays, all-inclusive packages start from £1,089pp in February – which works out at £155.57pppn.

For this price you get a seven-night stay at the whala!bavaro including TUI flights from Manchester.

The 4-star hotel has 212 rooms which come with air conditioning, flatscreen TVs, private bathrooms and WiFi.

The resort has both an outdoor freshwater pool surrounded by sun loungers, and an indoor freshwater pool.

There are three bars, a buffet restaurant and it’s minutes away from the closest beach.

Compared to other destinations in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is relatively cheap.

The average price of coffee in the Dominican Republic is £1.46 and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant can start from £4.65, according to Wise.

In comparison, a meal in Barbados is around £14.50 and a coffee is around £3.32.

It’s so affordable because of its low labour costs and local production of goods, which keeps operating expenses down for resorts.

February is a great time to travel to the Dominican Republic – it’s an incredible winter sun destination.

During February, there are daily highs of around 28C with minimal rainfall.

When it comes to exploring the island, one must-visit is one of the ‘World’s Best Beaches‘ – Canto de la Playa came in at number six.

Found on Saona Island it’s considered ‘one of the Caribbean‘s best-kept secrets’.

It’s been described as having noticeably soft sand along with calm waters for swimmers with vibrant coral reefs just offshore.

Saona Island is found off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic and forms part of the East National Park.

It’s known for mangroves and coral reefs and of course, its palm-fringed beaches.

In the waters around the island, visitors can expect to see sea turtles, dolphins and even humpback whales.

If you want to get incredible views, head up the Mount Isabel de Torres cable car which in 10-minutes climbs 2,600 feet.

The cable car is in Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the island with views of the city, tropical forest and the coastline.

For more on the Caribbean, Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey checked out one of the least visited islands with zip lines, lobster bars and volcano hiking.

And this is the closest Caribbean island to the UK that has Maldives-like overwater villas.

From Kevin Baxter: Many of the officials supporting the nearly 250 U.S. athletes competing in this month’s Winter Olympics arrived in Italy last weekend to a greeting they may not have expected: Hundreds of demonstrators packed a square in central Milan to protest the reported plan to deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during the Games.

The first events in the 18-day competition, which will be shared by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps, begin Thursday and the opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday. Against that background, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry called the agents’ involvement “distracting” and “sad.”

“This is a militia that kills. They are not welcome in Milan,” Mayor Giuseppe Sala said on local radio ahead of the protests, which took place beneath the neoclassical Porta Garibaldi arch in the Piazza XXV Aprile, named for the date of Italy’s liberation from Nazi fascism in World War II.

Many demonstrators blew whistles and carried signs of the five Olympic rings rendered as handcuffs above the words “No ICE in Milan.” One woman held a handmade poster featuring photos of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, the two Minnesotans killed by federal agents last month, alongside Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy in the blue bunny hat who was taken from his home in Minneapolis to a detention facility in Texas.

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Teamwork makes the dream work

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: Amber Glenn achieved a lifelong goal, sealing her Olympic bid by winning her third consecutive U.S. championship last month. Her first celebration came with her opponents.

“We all deserve it,” Glenn said with her arms wrapped around national silver medalist Alysa Liu and bronze medalist Isabeau Levito.

The spirit of collaboration has brought U.S. figure skating into a new golden age. The 16-athlete team the United States sent to Milan may be the country’s strongest Olympic team in decades. With three reigning world champions and three current Grand Prix final champions, the United States is poised for one of its best Olympic Games ever in figure skating.

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IOC continues to have ‘full trust’ in Casey Wasserman and L.A. Olympic committee

Olympics newsletter

Starting Saturday, you will receive a separate newsletter containing all the Olympics news from our reporters in Italy, including a medal count and TV listings. Sports Report subscribers will automatically get this newsletter, and it should arrive around 3 a.m. in your inbox.

Thursday’s Oly TV/streaming schedule

Thursday’s live TV and streaming broadcasts. All times Pacific.

The first day of full competition begins Saturday.

ALPINE SKIING
2:30 a.m. — Men’s downhill, training | Peacock

CURLING
Mixed doubles (round robin)
1:05 a.m. — Norway vs. U.S. | Peacock
1:05 a.m. — Britain vs. Estonia | Peacock
1:05 a.m. — South Korea vs. Italy | Peacock
1:05 a.m. — Sweden vs. Czechia | Peacock
5:35 a.m. — U.S. vs. Switzerland | USA
5:35 a.m. — Norway vs. Canada | Peacock
10 a.m. — Canada vs. Italy | USA
10:05 a.m. — Czechia vs. Britain | Peacock
10:05 a.m. — Estonia vs. Sweden | Peacock
10 a.m. — Switzerland vs. South Korea | Peacock
2 p.m. — Norway vs. U.S. (delay) | CNBC

HOCKEY
Women (group play)
3:10 a.m. — Sweden vs. Germany | Peacock
5:40 a.m. — Italy vs. France | Peacock
7:40 a.m. — U.S. vs. Czechia | USA
12:45 p.m. — Finland vs. Canada | USA

SNOWBOARDING
10:30 a.m. — Men’s big air, qualifying | USA

Checking in on Dodgers’ commitment

From Bill Shaikin: Not long after Pacific Palisades and Altadena had burned, Gov. Gavin Newsom summoned reporters and television cameras to Dodger Stadium. Newsom stepped behind a podium dropped within a stadium parking lot, with a commanding view of Los Angeles as the backdrop.

He was there to unveil LA Rises, a signature initiative under which the private sector and philanthropists could unite to help Southern California rebuild and recover.

The most valuable player that day: Mark Walter, the Dodgers’ chairman and controlling owner. The big announcement: Walter and two of his associated charities — his family foundation and the Dodgers’ foundation — would contribute up to $100 million as “an initial commitment” to LA Rises.

One year later, Newsom’s initiative has struggled to distinguish itself amid a panoply of wildfire relief efforts. LA Rises has delivered $20 million to date, including $7.8 million from Walter’s family foundation, according to Newsom’s office.

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Dodger Stadium tour guides failed to unionize. Here’s why they’re getting raises anyway

Les Snead has a lot on his plate

From Gary Klein: If he returns for an 18th NFL season, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will almost certainly demand a significant raise. And receiver Puka Nacua is positioned to potentially break the bank with an extension.

Those are just two issues Rams general manager Les Snead will deal with in the coming weeks and months as the franchise retools for the 2026 season.

Snead, who along with coach Sean McVay signed extensions this week, said Wednesday during a videoconference with reporters that the “opportunity to continue shouldering my responsibility” along with McVay and other executives for owner Stan Kroenke was “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

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Angels sign Trey Mancini

Former Baltimore slugger and cancer survivor Trey Mancini is taking another shot at a major league comeback after agreeing to a minor league contract with the Angels that includes an invitation to big league spring training.

The Angels on Wednesday listed the infielder among their 27 non-roster invitees to camp in Tempe, Ariz.

The 33-year-old Mancini has batted .263 with 129 homers and 400 RBIs over parts of seven seasons, but he hasn’t played in the major leagues since 2023. He began his career by playing parts of six seasons with the Orioles, hitting a career-high 29 homers in 2019.

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Jaxson Hayes suspended for one game

From Broderick Turner: Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has been suspended one game without pay for pushing a Washington Wizards mascot during pregame introductions, the NBA announced Wednesday.

The Lakers played the Wizards at Capital One Arena on Friday night.

Hayes will miss the Lakers’ game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.

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Darius Garland discusses joining Clippers

Darius Garland could not have been more in transition than he was Wednesday night on his first day with his new team.

Officially traded earlier in the day from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Clippers for 11-time All-Star James Harden, Garland talked about his upheaval during halftime of Wednesday’s game between his current and former teams, a game the Cavaliers won, 124-91.

“I knew about it. It wasn’t a shock, though,” the two-time All-Star said. “It’s the business of basketball. Cleveland was great to me and my family, and I have respect for all of those guys over there. … Seven years was a really long time, and it was great. I’m glad I’m here now. The next chapter in my book.”

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Clippers box score

NBA standings

UCLA women rout Rutgers by 40

Headlined by first and third quarter dominance, No. 2 UCLA women’s basketball picked up a 86-46 win over Rutgers (9-14, 1-11) at Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday night.

Kiki Rice led the Bruins (22-1, 12-0 Big Ten) with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Gabriela Jaquez got things started, scoring 10 of her 14 points in the first quarter.

Rutgers, playing without its two leading scorers in Nene Ndiaye and Imani Lester, committed 18 turnovers that the Bruins converted into 25 points.

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UCLA box score

Big Ten standings

Kings acquire Artemi Panarin

The Kings acquired high-scoring left wing Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers on Wednesday for a conditional third-round draft pick and prospect Liam Greentree.

The Kings then signed Panarin to a two-year, $22-million contract that will keep the Russian forward in Los Angeles through the 2027-28 season.

The trade ends weeks of uncertainty around the future of the 34-year-old Panarin, who hadn’t played since Jan. 26 while the Rangers held him out in anticipation of trading their top scorer in each of the past seven consecutive seasons. He currently leads New York with 57 points in 52 games.

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Kings lose to Kraken

Shane Wright scored twice to lead the Seattle Kraken to a 4-2 win over the Kings on Wednesday night.

Vince Dunn and Adam Larsson also scored and Chandler Stephenson and Frederick Gaudreau each had two assists for the Kraken, who have won five of their last six games. Joey Daccord made 25 saves.

Andrei Kuzmenko scored both of the Kings’ goals and Darcy Kuemper made 19 saves.

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Kings summary

NHL standings

Super Bowl

Sunday
at Santa Clara
Seattle vs. New England
3:30 p.m. PT, NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, KLAC AM 570
Halftime show: Bad Bunny
National anthem: Charlie Puth
Odds: Seahawks favored by 4.5 points
Over/Under: 45.5 points

This day in sports history

1913 — The New York State Athletic Commission bans boxing matches between fighters of different races.

1919 — Charges against Cincinnati’s Hal Chase of throwing games and betting against his team are dismissed by National League president John Heydler. Two weeks later, Chase is traded to the New York Giants.

1948 — After landing the first double axel in Olympic competition, Dick Button becomes the first American to win the Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Gretchen Fraser becomes the first U.S. woman Olympic slalom champion.

1960 — Bill Russell grabs 51 rebounds in the Boston Celtics’ 124-100 victory over the Syracuse Nationals. Russell is the first player in NBA history to pull in 50 or more rebounds.

1972 — Bob Douglas is the first Black person elected to Basketball Hall of Fame. Known as “The Father of Black Professional Basketball,” Douglas owned and coached the New York Renaissance from 1922 until 1949.

1976 — Austrian Franz Klammer wins the Olympic gold medal in the downhill at Innsbruck, Austria. Bill Koch wins a silver in the 30-kilometer cross-country race to become the first American to win a medal in a Nordic event.

1980 — Gordie Howe plays his 23rd and final All-Star Game. Howe doesn’t score, but sets up the final goal of the game, by Real Cloutier, in the Wales Conference’s 6-3 win against the Campbell Conference at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

1990 — Notre Dame bucks the College Football Association and becomes the first college to sell its home games to a major network, agreeing to a five-year contract with NBC beginning in 1991.

1991 — Dave Taylor of the Kings has two assists in a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers to become the 29th player in NHL history with 1,000 points.

1999 — Patrick Roy, at 33, becomes the youngest goalie in NHL history to earn 400 wins when he makes 26 saves in the Colorado Avalanche’s 3-1 win against the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

2003 — Bode Miller of the United States captures his first major title, winning the gold medal in the combined at the world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

2006 — Pittsburgh wins a record-tying fifth Super Bowl, but its first since 1980 with a 21-10 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

2009 — Tennessee’s Pat Summitt becomes the first Division I basketball coach — man or woman — to win 1,000 games after her Lady Vols beat Georgia 73-43.

2011 — Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia wins the men’s 3,000 at the Boston Indoor Grand Prix, after losing his right shoe at the start of the race. Gebremeskel stays close to the lead throughout the race and takes over on the final lap to finish in 7:35.37. Britain’s Mo Farah finishes second in 7:35.81.

2012 — Eli Manning and the Giants one-up Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute score to beat New England 21-17 for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.

2017 — Tom Brady leads one of the greatest comebacks in sports, let alone Super Bowl history, lifting New England from a 25-point hole to the Patriots’ fifth NFL championship in the game’s first overtime finish. The Patriots score 19 points in the final quarter, including a pair of two-point conversions, then marches relentlessly to James White’s two-yard touchdown run in overtime beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28.

2022 — Six days before his 50th birthday, 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater wins his eighth Pipeline title beating 22-year old Hawaiian Seth Moniz in the final.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Italy has foiled “Russian origin” cyber-attacks targeting the Winter Olympics, says Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

He said websites linked to the Games, hotels in host town Cortina d’Ampezzo and foreign ministry facilities, including an embassy in Washington, were targeted.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of five host clusters for the Olympics, will stage alpine skiing, biathlon, curling, and sliding events.

“We prevented a series of cyber-attacks against foreign ministry sites. These are actions of Russian origin,” said Tajani.

The Games officially begin on Friday, although the first action got under way on Wednesday.

GB started with the hammer, took two in accomplished first end, and looked like they might enjoy a comfortable start to the day in Italy.

Estonia responded by doing the same, though, after a slight Dodds error with her last stone. “Sorry, Bruce,” said the 34-year-old, who was slightly errant again with her opening rock of the third end.

But Dodds, peerless against Norway, righted herself to deliver a magnificent final store and restore GB’s two-point advantage.

The Estonians should have pulled level again, but a Marie Kaldvee mistake ensured they still trailed at the break. “It’s been a bit of back and forth,” was how 2022 Olympic gold medallist Vicky Wright described it.

Kaldvee was slack again upon the resumption and Mouat – fuelled by an interval munch of mango – delivered with GB’s final stone to extend the advantage to 6-3 with three ends remaining.

Estonia – who overcame a four-point deficit in the final end against Switzerland in their opener – employed their powerplay in the sixth and moved back within one after capitalising on a rare Mouat error.

GB played their own powerplay in response and made full use of it, a furious double sweep by both Mouat and Dodds earning a decisive four points after some deliberation with the measuring stick.

That opened up a five-point chasm, which persuaded the Estonians to shake hands and concede defeat with an end to spare.

“That was better from me today. I had a few that slipped up, but I called myself a bad word, and moved on,” Mouat told BBC Sport.

“We’re very happy with how we’re performing and excited to get GB off on the right foot.”

Christophe Dubi, the IOC executive director for the Olympic Games, added: “We make a point to receive those petitions, and we have to recognise climate is a challenge for all of us.

“What we have to do as an organisation is to be at the forefront of sustainability, and our principles are very clear.”

One area the IOC is aiming to make the Olympics more sustainable is having Games take place over a wider area with more pre-existing facilities, and Coventry said Milan-Cortina is an acid test for whether this is a viable future.

Milan-Cortina takes place in three hubs spread across northern Italy – in Milan, Cortina and Livigno – with only two newly built sporting facilities: the Santagiulia ice hockey arena and Cortina Sliding Centre.

The next two Winter Olympics – French Alps 2030 and Utah 2034 – will also have sports spread more widely, while the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane is will have venues across Queensland.

This has caused issues however, with Brisbane organisers saying, external they will go beyond the originally stated budget of $4.9bn (£3.6bn).

“We are really experiencing a spread out Games here for the first time – we are going to learn a lot,” Coventry said.

“We have taken this decision for sustainability reasons, climate and not having to have new venues. We are seeing there is an impact on National Olympic Committees because of the spreadness [sic], also for broadcast and media, making it harder to get around.

“What is really cool is that you get to see iconic venues in beautiful places – but now we have to weigh this up, the balance between a spread games for sustainability reasons but not shifting complexity and sustainability to different areas.”

While the action got underway on Wednesday with the start of the curling events, the 2026 Winter Olympics will officially start with the opening ceremony on Friday.

Coventry said she hoped all nations would be treated with respect by spectators, including the USA team amid criticism from Italian authorities about the presence of ICE agents in Milan.

“I hope the opening ceremony is seen by everyone as a chance to be respectful,” she said.

“For me, when we went to the Olympic village that is the best reminder of how the Games should be. I hope the opening ceremony will do that.”

The pounding music and disco lights lent a sense of occasion to the first action of this year’s Games in the high-end Italian resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The snow which had hammered down all day in the Dolomites had turned to sleet by the time the four matches started in front of a healthy crowd inside the 3,500-capacity arena.

But many of those spectators were cast into darkness for four or five minutes early on until someone put some change in the meter, the scoring screens flickered back into life and play resumed.

“I didn’t mind the lights going off,” said Mouat. “It was a bit of a boogie, a rave… it was like a nightclub.”

When the dancing stopped, Norway’s husband and wife team of Magnus Nedregotten and Kristin Skaslien initially took control before the sides fell into a cagey contest.

Mouat and Dodds seized the initiative in a splendid second end – the final accounting reached after some lengthy deliberation with the measuring stick – and led 4-3 at the break after edging a tight fourth against the 2002 silver medallists.

The interval did check the momentum of the childhood friends a little, as Norway – who also won bronze in 2018 – drew level again.

Nedregotten’s flawless play was keeping Norway in it – wife Skaslien’s struggles threatening a little domestic disharmony – but even his efforts could not prevent Team GB snatching three in the sixth end thanks to a stunning Dodds throw.

That opened a three-shot lead with two ends to play.

And, although the Norwegians invoked the powerplay to cut the deficit to one, Mouat and Dodds did likewise in the last end to close out a statement 8-6 win.

“It took us a bit of time to work out one end was curling more than the other, but once we did we took a step up in performance and took control from there,” Dodds said.

“It’s a good confidence builder to start the week.”

Alpine skiing: Women’s downhill (10:30-12:50)

This race marks the return of legendary American skier Lindsey Vonn, six years after her retirement from the sport.

Downhill is the 41-year-old’s speciality and she’s won a record 45 World Cup races in this event, plus her only Olympic gold medal in 2010.

We will have to see how much of an affect crashing in the final World Cup downhill before the Winter Olympics hinders Vonn’s bid.

Keep an eye out for her superbly-named compatriot Breezy Johnson, who is the 2025 world champion.

The host nation will be hopeful of at least one podium place, although World Cup champion Federica Brignone only returned to action in January, nine months after breaking multiple bones in her left leg and tearing her ACL during a giant slalom crash at the Italian Championships.

Bergamo native Sofia Goggia took downhill silver four years ago despite suffering a knee injury just 23 days before the event.

Cross country skiing: Men’s skiathlon (11:30-12:50)

It’s a fifth Winter Olympics for Britain’s Andrew Musgrave, whose best Olympic result is seventh in the skiathlon in 2018.

In this event, competitors complete 10km using the classical technique before changing skis and doing 10km using the freestyle technique.

Johannes Hosflot Klaebo is the world champion and this could be the first of a bobble-hatful of golds for the Norwegian at these Games.

Snowboard: Women’s big air qualification (18:30-20:45)

Britain’s Mia Brookes has every chance of becoming Britain’s youngest Winter Olympic medallist for 78 years.

The rider from Cheshire has just turned 19 but has already won back-to-back big air World Cup titles and comes to Italy fresh from winning medals in the X Games.

But she will face a stacked field, including Japan’s Kokomo Murase, Reira Iwabuchi and Mari Fukada, who formed a clean sweep of the medals at last year’s World Championships.

Austria’s Anna Gasser is aiming to win the event for the third Games in a row at the age of 34.

Maisie Hill, whose career was almost ended by a horrific training accident three years ago, will be Britain’s other representative.

Figure skating: Team (20:55)

The team figure skating competition concludes with the men’s free skate.

The USA won gold after the Russian team was demoted in Beijing in a protracted saga that delayed the medal ceremony by over two years.

The USA are the reigning World Team Trophy champions and won three of the four individual events at last year’s World Championships but Japan and Georgia will be pushing them hard.

‘We won’t see anything on national territory that resembles what’s been seen in the US,’ Italy’s interior minister says.

Agents from the divisive United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency will have no operational role in the Winter Olympics, Italy’s interior minister has said days before the Milan-Cortina Games open.

ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which is a separate investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the department carrying out the US immigration crackdown, will operate within US diplomatic missions only and “are not operational agents” and “have no executive function”, Matteo Piantedosi told the Italian Parliament on Wednesday.

He said the outrage over the HSI presence, including the Milan mayor’s warning that they were not welcome in the city during the February 6-22 Winter Games, was “completely unfounded”.

“ICE does not and will never be able to carry out operational police activities on our national territory,” Piantedosi said.

The minister aimed to clarify the news of the contentious deployment of ICE agents, which prompted protests in the Italian metropolis.

“Security and public order are ensured exclusively by our police forces,” he said.

“During the Milan-Cortina Games, the members of this agency will be engaged solely in analysis and information exchange with the Italian authorities,” he added.

“The presence of personnel linked to the ICE agency is certainly not a sudden and unilateral initiative to undermine our national sovereignty, as some have portrayed, but rather compliance with a legally binding international agreement entered into by Italy.”

Last week, the US agency said it will support the “Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and host nation to vet and mitigate risks from transnational criminal organisations”.

Following the announcement, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said ICE would not be welcome in his city.

“This is a militia that kills … It’s clear that they are not welcome in Milan. There’s no doubt about it. Can’t we just say no to [US President Donald] Trump for once?” he said in an interview with RTL 102.5 radio.

ICE said its operations in Italy are separate from the immigration crackdown ordered by Trump in the US.

The Italian interior minister confirmed that the agency’s role would be limited.

“We will not see anything on national territory that resembles what has been seen in the media in the United States,” Piantedosi said.

“The concerns that have inspired the controversy of the last few days are therefore completely unfounded, and this information allows me to definitively dispel them.”

“Huge thank you to everyone who reposted, shared and supported,” Sabate said.

“Because of you, Universal Studios reconsidered and officially granted the rights for this one special occasion.

“There are still a couple of things to be tied up with the other two music of the program, but we are so close to accomplishing it! And it’s all thanks to you.

“I’m so happy to see that the Minions hitting Olympic ice is becoming real again!”

The routine in Sabate’s short program – the first of two routines in singles figure skating – has proved a hit in competitions, including in Sheffield at this year’s European Figure Skating Championships, where he finished 18th but became a fan favourite.

Sabate, a six-time Spanish champion set to make his Olympic debut in Milan, said he followed all required procedures and submitted the music through the International Skating Union’s (ISU) ClicknClear system in August.

If he is unable to perform to the Minions mix, he may use music by the Bee Gees for his short program, as this was the routine he performed to in 2024-25.

The men’s event starts in Milan on Tuesday.

“As soon as we have more details on this specific case, we will share them as appropriate,” read an ISU statement.

“Copyright clearances can represent a challenge for all artistic sports.”

“Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie will not head to Milan for NBC’s 2026 Winter Olympics coverage as she deals with the ongoing police investigation into the suspected abduction of her mother.

“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time,” an NBC News representative said Tuesday in a statement. “Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother.”

Guthrie was scheduled to co-host NBC’s telecast of the Friday opening ceremonies for the Milan Cortina Games alongside Terry Gannon of NBC Sports. The network representative said alternative plans will be announced shortly.

June 2023 photo of Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie. (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

(Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

Law enforcement officials believe Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home outside of Tuscon, Ariz. on Saturday night. Police were called after relatives were told she missed the Sunday church service she regularly attends and did not find her at home.

Police found Nancy Guthrie’s cell phone, wallet, car and medication were left behind, indicating she did not leave voluntarily. She has no cognitive issues, but has limited physical mobility and could not walk far on her own, family members have told police.

On Tuesday, Lima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at press briefing that authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will. He also said the department is aware of “reports circulating about possible ransom note(s)” in the case. TMZ reported on the existence of an alleged ransom note Tuesday, but Nanos did not verify the account,

According to law enforcement sources not authorized to speak about the case publicly, there was blood at the scene and someone appeared to have forced their way inside.

Guthrie, a “Today” co-host since 2012, has been off the program since Monday. She was scheduled to head to Milan early this week.

Guthrie’s mother, who lived on her own, has been an occasional on-air guest at “Today.” Her appearances made her a favorite of Guthrie’s co-workers and staff at the program.

Jordan Stolz will be trying to win multiple gold medals in speedskating the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.

(Morry Gash / Associated Press)

Since making his Olympic debut at 17, Stolz has become a star in international speedskating. He was the first man to win three world championships in one year in 2023 and repeated in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters in 2024. He also competes in the team pursuit. U.S. speedskating has several medal contenders, including two-time Olympic bronze medalist Brittany Bowe and gold medalist Erin Jackson, who became the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2022.

The flash sale launches today and offers up to 20% off peak date ski trips for 2026/27

Ski fans and families looking to hit the slopes for the 2026/27 season can get ready to bag some big deals, as Club Med has announced its highly anticipated Winter 2027 sale. Short but sweet: the sale will run from today until February 6, 2026.

The promotional deal offers up to 20% off all Ski Resorts for stays between three and 28 nights. Those looking for a bit of luxury can bag 20% off premium rooms (including deluxe rooms, suites, and villas), while standard superior rooms are discounted by up to 15%.

With a travel window running from November 14, 2026, to May 5, 2027, this three-day flash sale offers plenty of flexibility for shoppers. Crucially for parents, the discounts also apply to peak dates, meaning half-term and Christmas holidays are also included.

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The travel experts at Club Med are promising a “worry-free” winter by locking in all-inclusive prices now. Premium mountain getaways start from £1,085 per person, including several “hidden extras” that usually send ski budgets racing downhill.

Club Med offers families a way to hit the slopes, with children under 4 staying for free and bookings secured with a £150 per person deposit. Their premium all-inclusive packages eliminate hidden costs by covering dining, drinks and a range of sports and activities, and Kids Clubs are included for those aged four to 17, with additional childcare services also available.

Save 20% on deluxe rooms, suites and villas at all Club Med Ski resorts

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Kids under 4 stay free, with bookings secured from £150pp, and guests can enjoy a premium all-inclusive experience with food, drinks, sports, activities and Kids’ Clubs (extra cost for under-4s).

A spokesperson for Club Med said: “With our upcoming Winter 2027 sale, we are offering our best deals of the season across all dates. By booking during this window, guests can secure their dream room and preferred peak dates at a price that simply won’t be beaten later in the year.”

For those looking to hit the French or Italian Alps, several top-tier resorts are expected to be popular next winter. Nestled at 1,460 metres behind spruce trees, Club Med Valmorel features architecture inspired by traditional Beaufortain mansions with stone roofs and colourful facades.

The resort offers plenty of activities ranging from sledding and skiing in the Grand Domaine to snowshoeing through the Aigueblanche valley and relaxing in the indoor pool. Guests can upgrade to the “Le Lodge” Exclusive Collection space to enjoy elegant suites, private ski rooms and luxury perks like champagne service from 6pm.

Elsewhere at Club Med Alpe d’Huez in the Savoie ski area, serious skiers can enjoy direct ski-in/ski-out access to a vast 250km domain featuring Europe’s longest black run. The resort is designed for all generations and abilities though, with the “Happy Lounge” and indoor pool with adult-only sanctuaries such as “La Bulle” and the PAYOT spa.

Guests can enjoy panoramic mountain views from private balconies or take part in unique alpine experiences including dog sledding and vibrant après-ski at the lobby bar. For a real touch of luxury, Club Med Val d’Isère is the only Exclusive Collection Resort in the French mountains, offering a stylish blend of stone and wooden chalets nestled in a legendary alpine valley.

The resort caters to ski enthusiasts and wellness seekers alike with world-class slopes, yoga and a luxury spa, all within a setting designed for privacy and relaxation. A highly regarded resort for upscale skiers who appreciate the finer things in life, guests can enjoy enhanced premium services, including a dedicated concierge to cater to every need and a private shuttle service to the village centre.

Another choice is the Club Med La Rosière, perched 1,900 metres high with 180° south-facing views in the Haute-Tarentaise Valley. Families can explore the Espace San Bernardo – a cross-border ski domain once traversed by Hannibal – or enjoy the village’s famous Saint Bernards and freestyle competitions. For ultimate luxury, the Exclusive Collection space offers premium balconies overlooking the Tarentaise Valley in the shadow of Mont Blanc.

If the Italian slopes are calling, Club Med Pragelato Vialattea is a charming Piedmont resort designed like a traditional Italian hamlet, featuring clusters of cosy chalets set around a village fountain at 1,600 metres. The resort provides direct access to the Olympic slopes of the Via Lattea and Sestriere domains, complemented by alpine activities such as snowshoeing through pine forests and relaxing in a Finnish sauna. Families can experience the authentic Italian mountain lifestyle, pairing days on the slopes with après-ski treats like Genovese focaccia and evenings in the resort’s lounge.

Alternatively, Club Med Saint-Moritz Roi Soleil provides a glamorous Swiss Alps experience at 1,750 metres, just a short distance from the prestigious lake and high-end boutiques of St Moritz. The resort offers access to 350km of slopes that have hosted the Winter Olympics and World Championships, with activities including cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing through the Engadine valley.

Families can enjoy mountain-top lunches, horse-drawn carriage rides, and traditional Swiss fondue dinners, all included alongside premium amenities like a heated indoor pool and sauna. For skiers who are looking to go further afield, Club Med’s first North American mountain resort – Club Med Quebec Charlevoix – offers a unique “sea meets peaks” experience with contemporary Canadian architecture and sweeping views of the St. Lawrence River.

Located in the Charlevoix region, experienced skiers can tackle challenging slopes with direct ski-in/ski-out access, while year-round trails provide diverse opportunities for both winter sports and summer hiking. The resort is designed to immerse guests in an unspoiled natural landscape, blending premium all-inclusive comfort with the raw beauty of a UNESCO-designated biosphere.

Club Med’s ski holidays offer a fully all-inclusive getaway that most ski operators don’t match. But for ski fans looking for something different, TUI offers a range of ski holidays across Europe. Offering a range of hotels and self-catering accommodation, guests can book ski and lift passes, equipment passes and more before they travel.

Alternatively, British Airways has some European deals worth considering, including ski holidays in Bulgaria. As one of Europe’s best value resorts, Sofia is a good choice for skiers on a budget.

Ski fans who have already hit the piste with Club Med have left thousands of glowing reviews on TripAdvisor. One traveller who stayed at Val d’Isère left a five-star review, saying: “Stayed here recently and would certainly recommend.

“Such a good location, with pistes from the door, which is rare in Val d’Isere. Easy walk to town too if you fancy it. Bus stops at the front door too, if you don’t want the walk. Catering was the usual Club Med quality buffet, with loads of choice and variety every day.”

Another who visited Club Med La Rosière, was also delighted, sharing: “Club Med, all included and you don’t want for anything. It makes things very simple. The hotel is beautifully presented, looks very classy and modern, yet still comfortable. It was spotlessly clean and a comfortable temperature throughout. Staff are very friendly and always say hello and are very helpful if you have a query.”

However, a visitor who stayed at the Alpe d’Huez resort was less impressed, noting: “Everything is perfect except the noisy dining room. Lots of people, but the fact that the tables are very close exacerbates the problem.”

While another visitor at the same resort was bowled over, adding: “Of all the rest of the network that I have hosted, in fact, the ClubMed Alpe D’Huez is the best. The offer of services, the party climate and especially the team of ski teachers, plus an amazing piste made – at least for me – the best choice among the hotels of this network for a family looking to enjoy the trip with friends, have fun and even improve their skill in skiing.”

Is there a better sensation for a traveller than when a train speeds out of a tunnel? The sudden flood of light, that howling rush of air. Clearly, it’s not just me who thinks trains are the new (old) planes, with 2025 having seen a 7% rise in UK train travel, and more Europeans than ever looking to hit the rails.

It’s late December, and I’m heading out on a slow-train journey across the historic railways of the Swiss Alps and the Italian lakes. It’s a trip of roughly 1,800 miles (2,900km), crossing five countries, almost entirely by scenic daytime trains.

What is clear from the off is how easy, and slightly disorientating, this type of train travel can be: drifting through stations, across platforms and over borders, it’s hard to believe we’ve hit three countries in less than a day – the UK, France and Switzerland – such is the ease of each passport stop. Gone are the sweaty finger scans of airport border control, replaced by the most polite immigration police I’ve ever encountered. “You’ve travelled a lot,” one says, with a wry smile and a German shepherd, to which I reply “legally”, just to cover my back.

Outside, the French countryside soon blurs into Swiss hills, all behind a thin veil of white, wintry light. The fields, with their clumps of bare trees, seem suspended in mid-freeze, as though bracing for the full blast to come. As we roll into Zurich, we catch our first glimpse of the milky Alpine peaks.

This is the thrill of train trips: the steadily shifting scenes, the rise and fall of the landscape, leavened like fresh bread. Next morning, we’re greeted with crisp blue skies for our mountain ascent via one of Europe’s most historic train routes, the Matterhorn Gotthard railway. The original line opened in 1882 and was the railroad that changed Europe, slicing a path through inhospitable mountains and isolated villages.

We catch one of the historic trains (the IR46) – keen to avoid anything routed through the Gotthard base tunnel, which bypasses the beauty. In summer, a tourist train – with bigger windows and a bigger price tag – takes the exact same route, famously depicted by JMW Turner and described in awed terms by Goethe. “Here,” he wrote, “it is necessary to submit to nature.” Though it’s the cafe car selling Swiss coffee at eye-watering prices that forces me to revise Goethe: here, it is necessary to submit to inflation.

Phones duly on charge (as is slow-train travel etiquette), we sit back and gawp out of the window for three hours, eating Swiss truffles as the tracks snake the mythic Alps via the famous Gotthard “spirals” – corkscrew tracks built inside the mountains for a steady ascent. It’s the stuff of oil paintings all right – vertiginous gorges, frothing rivers and snow-capped peaks.

At Göschenen, we opt for a lunch stop via a short, even steeper rack-and-pinion route high into the former garrison town of Andermatt, now reinvented as a chic ski retreat. Up here, the snow is thick. Between that and the dark Alpine stone, it’s as though we’ve stepped out into a monochrome photograph. A comforting lunch at the excellent Biselli, along with several glasses of Swiss Ticino red (liquid lunch being another perk of slow-train travel) takes the edge off a dense mist that has crept over the rest of the day’s rail route. Thankfully, Italy soon pushes back, with clear skies and terracotta valley towns, and – just like that – another border is crossed, bringing with it a welcome drop in the cost of a cappuccino (from €5 to €2), enjoyed while skimming the edge of the ice-blue Lake Lugano.

By dusk, we’re at Lake Como. Bags dropped, we catch the last of the light with an easy passeggiata (stroll) round the perimeter of the famous lake, mercifully lacking its high-season crowds. Ornate street lamps line the water’s edge like washed-up pearls and, in the distance, the funicular up to the hillside town of Brunate shines with a string of golden lights that dangle down the slope like lost jewellery. It’s hard to imagine Como any other way.

Next morning, having got into the swing of slow-train transience, we pack up in record time and take coffee at the station. For our final stop, we’re heading in the direction of a much-needed metropolis. Ditching Milan – Italy’s least interesting city – we roll into Turin, one of its most underappreciated.

Stepping off the rickety regional train at Torino Porta Susa, what we find is a vibrant, easygoing student city that appears contentedly trapped in some kind of temporal ragu; a place where 1920s art deco neon signs cling to 18th-century baroque buildings that house vintage shops run by students dressed as if they are in the 1990s.

Miraculously, all this gels, and the student cohort rub along just fine with their more conservative elders, united beneath the impressive porticos that run, unbroken, for more than 18km and are lined with boutiques and historic coffee bars. We round out our first night with an aperitivo at the classic art-school haunt Caffè Università, with its frayed edges and charmingly outmoded daily buffet.

Next morning, Turin’s enviable portfolio of museums and galleries beckon, most free to enter with the Torino card. Here, the time-warp vibes continue within the soaring spire of the 19th-century Mole Antonelliana, now housing the superb Museo Nazionale del Cinema – surely, the only neoclassical building that’s home to an xenomorph egg from the film Alien? Likewise, another repurposed building, the Lingotto complex, boasts an even more outlandish upcycle: the famous Fiat test track on its roof has been reimagined as La Pista 500, a panoramic garden walk, where art installations live alongside the historic skidmarks. Proof that Turin is not interested in simply preserving history, but also evolving.

With a chill in the air, we duck in for a perfect meal at the unassuming yet excellent Osteria Rabezzana, part of the Mangébin circuit that promotes Piedmontese cuisine. The brasato al barolo (beef braised in barolo wine) and local agnolotti del plin (beef- and cabbage–stuffed pasta) are excellent. This family-run restaurant and winery opened just after the second world war, and judging by the convivial atmosphere – full of local people on office festive outings – it has served the city well ever since.

Next morning, we are up and out to catch the 7.36 TGV all the way back to Paris. Drifting in and out of sleep, we take in a last glimpse of the Italian Alps. By the time we reach our Parisian pit stop, day is folding in on itself, and soon enough, we’re slumped back on the Eurostar, flanked by bags of clinking wine bottles cushioned by crushed panettone. Homebound and heady, we reluctantly plunge back into the black of the Channel tunnel, leaving all that light behind us.

Transport was provided by Interrail; passes allowing seven days of travel within one month are £255 youths, £339 adults, £305 seniors (under-12s travel free). Return Eurostar from London to Paris starts from £78. Accommodation was provided by The Home Hotel Zurich (from £165B&B), Hilton Lake Como (from €270 B&B), NH Collection Torino Piazza Carlina (from £203 B&B) and 25hours Terminus Nord in Paris (from €179 room-only ).

Men: Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan, Kyle Waddell (alternate)

Women: Rebecca Morrison, Sophie Jackson, Jennifer Dodds, Sophie Sinclair, Fay Henderson (alternate)

Mixed: Mouat and Dodds

In Beijing four years ago, curling was the only sport to return to Britain with medals. Eve Muirhead’s rink took women’s gold and Mouat’s men claimed silver.

Muirhead is no longer playing – instead, she will lead the overall GB team as chef du mission – but her Bejing team-mate Dodds is.

“Jen and the kids” is how the women’s rink this time label themselves and, while their inexperience means they are not among the favourites, they could find themselves in contention for a podium place if things go their way.

Edinburgh duo Dodds and Mouat will be fancied in the mixed, though, having lost the bronze-medal match last time.

And Mouat’s rink are the team to beat in the men’s event. For them, anything less than gold would be a disappointment.

Hundreds of protesters in Italy have denounced plans to bring ICE agents from the US to the Winter Olympics in Milan that begin on Friday. Italy’s interior ministry says ICE will only operate at US diplomatic offices and won’t be patrolling on the ground.

But such optimism comes with a word of caution, given the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

With a target of three to seven medals, Team GB were left to “lick their wounds” after ending the Games with only two curling medals – won on the last two days of competition – to show for a fortnight of upsets and near-misses.

GB Snowsport chief executive Vicky Gosling later told BBC Sport that athletes had flown to China with a “slight arrogance”.

Speaking before the 2026 Games, she said: “We’ve always got it in the back of our minds.

“We can’t bank on anything because literally anything can happen. There’s that sense of jeopardy.”

Team GB chef de mission Eve Muirhead added: “What a great opportunity we have, but we’ve also got to take into account the high risk of winter sport – and that’s why everyone loves it.”

But this time it does feel different.

Take the 2024-25 season, for example. Britain’s winter athletes won nine World Championship medals across the sports.

British skiers and snowboarders achieved 28 major podiums in Olympic disciplines, won three Crystal Globes (overall World Cup titles) and one World Championship title for Atkin.

In skeleton, British athletes won three World Championship medals and 19 on the World Cup circuit – seven of which were gold – while Weston and Wyatt secured a one-two in the overall rankings.

Despite injuries threatening to derail some athletes’ march towards the Olympics, such widespread success has continued into the current season.

At the X Games, in which the world’s best freestyle skiers and snowboarders are invited to compete, Brookes, Atkin and Muir came away with five medals between them – three of them gold – in a statement performance only two weeks before Milan-Cortina.

And in men’s skeleton, Weston won five of the seven World Cup races this season and Wyatt won the other two.

“I’m really excited,” said Gosling. “When you look at the strength in depth of the team that we have, we couldn’t be in a better place.

“We’ve punched way above our weight.”

Over the four-year cycle leading into the Milan-Cortina Games, UK Sport has ploughed £25.5m into winter sports on the Olympic programme, up from £22.2m for the Beijing cycle.

The 2022 figure was almost double the investment for Sochi 2014.

However, Olympic winter sports federations in the US received about £24m for the year of 2022 alone from the US Olympic Committee.

“We’ve gone from a nation happy to be at the start line to a nation that’s truly capable of winning,” said Gosling.

“Not only do we expect to be on the start line, but we expect a medal.

“The Eddie the Eagle days are over.”

Jan. 31 (UPI) — A northeasterly storm has created blizzard conditions in the Carolinas and triggered state of emergency declarations in North and South Carolina and Georgia on Saturday.

The intensifying storm system is centered over the Atlantic Ocean and near the Carolinas and Georgia coastline after its central pressure dropped by up to 40 millibars over the past 24 hours.

Hurricane-force wind gusts of between 60 mph and 80 mph are contributing to blizzard conditions along the Outer Banks coastal plains areas, and more than 10,000 flights have been canceled through the weekend.

The Hampton Roads area of Virginia also is getting pummeled with wintry weather from the storm system, and the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning through 7 p.m. EST on Sunday for the commonwealth’s coastal areas and parts of North Carolina.

The winter storm is delivering the most snow in two decades to areas that rarely see significant amounts of snowfall.

Icy road conditions caused hundreds of collisions as of Saturday afternoon, and wave action from the storm’s strong winds and a high tide is threatening to damage or destroy homes along the coast.

The National Weather Service is forecasting between 5 and 9 inches of snowfall and sustained winds of between 33 and 41 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph, along the coastal areas of the Carolinas and into neighboring areas in Virginia and northern Georgia.

The snowfall likely will end during the overnight hours, but northwest winds will remain strong, with sustained wind speeds of between 28 and 33 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph into Sunday afternoon.

Although windy, the clouds are predicted to clear during the afternoon hours.

Santagiulia is due to host many of the biggest ice hockey fixtures at the Games, including the men’s and women’s gold medal matches.

The first match is due to be held there on Thursday, 5 February, when hosts Italy face France in their first game of the women’s competition.

However, the stadium, less than a week before that game, is far from ready to host matches.

The stadium has been the centre of concerns throughout the build-up to the Games, including resulting in a boycott warning from the National Hockey League (NHL).

The rink in Milan, approved by the International Ice Hockey Federation, is shorter than the minimum requirement in the NHL, leading to suggestions there could be an increase in high-speed collisions. The quality of the ice has also been questioned.

“Obviously, if the players feel that the ice is unsafe, we’re not going to play,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in November. “It’s as simple as that.”

The NHL said it was “pleased” with the test event at the arena in January, although that did not pass without incident. During the event there was a short delay while a small hole in the ice had to be repaired.

Santagiulia is one of two ice hockey venues for the Games, with the Milano Rho Arena staging some group-stage matches.

The Rho Arena, a temporary venue constructed in the Fiera Milano exhibition centre, has a capacity of 5,800 – 6,000 fewer than Santagiulia.

BBC Sport visited all four venues in the Milan Cluster which will host events during the Games, which officially run between 6 and 22 February.

As well as the ice hockey venues, speed skating will take place at a temporary venue in Fiera Milano to the west of the city, while short track and figure skating are at Unipol Forum on the southern outskirts.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been contacted for comment.