Category: 2-DailyNews

As the Winter Olympics get underway in Milan and across the Italian Alps, our correspondent looks back at a bold pledge made by the organizers: that these games would be sustainable. They said they would slash the event’s carbon footprint and protect sensitive mountain ecosystems. Environmental groups say that’s not what is happening.

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Indirect talks between the US and Iran took place in Oman as the US seeks to curb Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. The talks were mainly procedural: was anything achieved? We hear from Iran nuclear expert Professor Sina Azodi, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University.

Also in the programme: a deadly suicide attack on a Shia mosque in the Pakistani capital Islamabad; the EU orders TikTok to redesign its 'addictive' features; and the opening of the 25th Winter Olympics in northern Italy.

(Photo: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visits Oman ahead of Iran-US talks. Credit: OMANI MINISTRY OF INFORMATION/HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)

More than 3500 athletes from 93 countries will be competing for 195 medals at the Milan-Cortina Games. Three countries will be making their Winter Olympic debuts at the 2026 Games, the African nations of Benin and Guinea Bissau along with the United Arab Emirates. But with the established winter sport nations such as Norway, the United States of America, Canada and Germany looking to dominate the medal table once again, how hard is it for new countries to compete on the world stage?

Eight African nations will be represented this time with Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa along with the two debutants taking part. South Africa is sending its largest ever team with five athletes, but over six decades since an African nation made its Winter Olympics debut, the continent's first medal remains elusive.

Matt Smith only took up the sport three years ago and is now going to be South Africa's sole cross-country skier in the upcoming games. He tells Lee James why he hopes his inclusion can inspire generations to come, and why he's been nicknamed the 'Snowbok'. Simidele Adeagbo became the first Nigerian to compete at the Winter Olympics in 2018 and was the first black female Olympian in the sport of Skeleton. She says with a more than a billion people on the African continent it's important its athletes are proportionately represented when it comes to the Winter Olympics.

Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, the Australian Open to the Diamond League, and netball to Formula 1. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Ivory Coast legend Yaya Toure, boxing royalty Cecilia Braekhus and cycling sprint king Harrie Lavreysen, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

P.M. Edition for Feb. 6. Stocks bounced back today from a tech selloff. We hear from WSJ markets reporters David Uberti and Jack Pitcher about how that took the Dow over a historic milestone of 50000 and what that means. Plus, President Trump posts, then deletes, a video depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes. And Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has only been in her role for a few months, but she’s already betting her seat on a snap election this Sunday. WSJ Tokyo bureau chief Jason Douglas joins to discuss how Takaichi hopes to cement her power and move Japan closer to the U.S. Alex Ossola hosts.

Your Money Briefing episode featuring Lauryn Williams: Going for Gold: The Financial Hurdles Facing Olympic Athletes

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This week, SpaceX and xAI, two companies controlled by Elon Musk, merged into a $1.25 trillion company. The deal combines a successful rocket and satellite business with an AI startup. Musk says the goal is to put AI data centers in earth’s orbit. WSJ’s Berber Jin reports on the deal. Jessica Mendoza hosts.

Further Listening:

The Woman Behind SpaceX

Her Client Was Deepfaked. She Says xAI Is to Blame.

Why Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Went Rogue

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One of Russia's top generals has been rushed to hospital after being shot several times by an unknown assailant in an apartment building. The condition of Vladimir Alexeyev is unknown. Also, a Ukrainian soldier believed dead since 2022 comes home from captivity. A major study finds that statins do not cause most of the listed side-effects. Our correspondent is on the road with some of the main contenders in the up-coming election in Thailand. And we hear from an Indian teacher who has created hundreds of learning centres. She's been awarded a million-dollar prize.

President Trump is seeking to curb Tehran's nuclear and missile programme; he has threatened to use military force if Tehran doesn't make big concessions.

Also in the programme: Venezuela's parliament takes the next step towards an amnesty for political prisoners; and how babies can anticipate rhythmic surprises in music composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.

(Photo: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is welcomed by an Omani official upon his arrival in Muscat, Oman, on February 6, 2026. Credit: Iranian Foreign Ministry/WANA via REUTERS)

The UNFPA has warned that world fertility rates are facing an 'unprecedented decline'. In its 2025 report, it said many people are having fewer children than they want, or none at all, because of factors like the cost of living and difficulties finding a suitable partner.

At the same time, a growing number of people are actively choosing a child-free life, and more women are now opting for sterilisation procedures like tubal ligation. Focus on Africa podcast host, Nkechi Ogbonna, spoke to 29-year-old Naisula Sironka, from Kenya, who has chosen to be child-free and underwent tubal ligation in 2024.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Fana Negash and Carolyne Kiambo Technical Producer: David Nzau Senior Producer: Priya Sippy Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla

New plea from Savannah Guthrie's brother. Millions prepare for a dangerously cold weekend. Opening day in Milan and Cortina. CBS News Correspondent Steve Kathan has those stories and more on the World News Roundup podcast.

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