Headline

Norway Crown Princess’ Son To Stand Trial For Allegedly Raping Four Women

Published

4 months ago

January 30, 2026

Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, will go on trial on Tuesday in what is being described as the biggest scandal in the country’s modern monarchy, facing charges including the alleged rape of four women, drug offenses, and assault.

The 29-year-old crown princess’ son from a relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been charged with a total of 38 counts, some dating back to 2018.

He faces up to 16 years in prison if found guilty by the Oslo District Court. The trial, which is scheduled to run until March 19, is expected to draw intense media attention.

“When it comes to the Norwegian royal family, it is without a doubt the biggest scandal” in its 120-year history, Trond Noren Isaksen, a historian and expert on Norway’s monarchy, told AFP.

“There have been controversies surrounding the choice of spouses, about renovations of the palace and these kinds of things, but never any real scandals involving criminal offences, let alone so many,” he said.

The most serious charges against Hoiby involve four alleged rapes and the physical and psychological abuse of several former girlfriends. He has so far only confessed to some of the lesser charges.

“Hoiby is saving his version of events for the court,” the law firm defending him told AFP.

Hoiby, known for a cultivated “bad boy” appearance, was arrested on Aug. 4, 2024, on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend the previous night.

Days later, he admitted he had acted “under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument,” citing “mental troubles” and a long struggle with substance abuse.

Investigators say that case led to the discovery of several other alleged offenses, including the rape of four women while they were asleep or unconscious from alcohol, some of which were allegedly filmed.

The alleged rapes are said to have taken place in 2018, 2023, and 2024, with the most recent occurring after the police investigation had already begun.

Police last week announced six additional charges, including a “serious narcotics offence” from 2020 involving the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana without financial compensation, a crime Hoiby has confessed to.

The case has also drawn attention to Hoiby’s lifestyle. He holds no royal title, has no official role, and no professional career, and is financially supported by the crown prince and crown princess.

It has caused deep embarrassment for the royal family, particularly Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is battling an incurable lung illness and is said to be torn between her roles as a mother and future queen.

In a statement released Wednesday, Crown Prince Haakon said neither he nor Mette-Marit plans to attend the trial.

“Our thoughts are with everyone who is affected by this case. It has an impact on the individuals, their families, and all those who care about them. We understand that this is a difficult time for many of you, and we sympathise,” the statement said.

“At the same time, it is reassuring to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am confident that those responsible for overseeing the proceedings will ensure that the trial is conducted in as orderly, proper, and just a manner as possible,” it added.

Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo has stressed that the law applies equally to everyone.

“Regardless of their social status, origin or family ties,” he said, adding that this means Hoiby should neither receive leniency nor harsher treatment because of his family background.

Hoiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, but unlike them, he has no public duties.

Haakon reiterated that distinction in his statement, describing Hoiby as “autonomous.”

“Marius Borg Høiby is not a member of the Royal House of Norway and is therefore autonomous. We care about him, and he is an important member of our family. He is a citizen of Norway and, as such, has the same responsibilities as everyone else — as well as the same rights,” he said.

Prosecutors said the most serious offenses carry prison sentences of up to 10 years, which could rise to a maximum of 16 years if Hoiby is convicted on multiple counts.

The scandal, coming after controversy surrounding Princess Martha Louise’s marriage to a self-proclaimed American shaman in 2024, has dented the image of the royal family, though public support remains strong.

An opinion poll published Wednesday by public broadcaster NRK showed that 70% of respondents still support the monarchy, down from 81% in 2017.

“People feel compassion for an aging royal couple, who are obviously completely innocent in this matter,” said Carl-Erik Grimstad, a former palace employee turned author, referring to King Harald and Queen Sonja.

“And in times of geopolitical turbulence, people often rally around the symbols closest to them,” he added.

(CBS News)

Headline

Woman Passes Out After Receiving 100 Strokes Of Cane

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

A woman has passed out after she and her partner were each flogged 100 times in public for engaging in sex outside marriage under strict Sharia laws in Indonesia’s Aceh province.

The woman, whose identity was not disclosed, was later carried away after the punishment was carried out in Banda Aceh, located at the northern tip of Sumatra island on Thursday.

A masked official dressed in brown robes administered the caning before members of the public who gathered to witness the punishment.

Her partner was also seen wincing in pain while receiving the lashes.

The pair were among several individuals punished for violating Sharia regulations in the province.

Authorities from the Banda Aceh Sharia Court and the Prosecutor’s Office handed down punishments ranging from 25 to 100 lashes for offences including extramarital sex allegedly arranged through online applications.

Aceh remains the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia operating under Sharia law, where unmarried couples are prohibited from having sexual relations.

Caning is commonly used in the province as punishment for offences such as gambling, alcohol consumption, same-sex relations and sex outside marriage.

Under Aceh’s Sharia regulations, child rape offenders face some of the harshest penalties, including up to 200 strokes of the cane, a prison sentence of as long as 200 months or fines equivalent to two kilograms of gold.

The punishments are usually carried out publicly as a way of shaming offenders in addition to inflicting physical pain.

Such canings are often conducted outside mosques or in open public spaces, with residents watching and taking photographs during the exercise.

Human rights organisations have continued to condemn the practice, arguing that it causes emotional trauma and violates international human rights standards.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly criticised the punishments, saying they conflict with Indonesia’s constitution and global legal obligations.

Amnesty said in a statement: “Caning contravenes Indonesia’s constitution and is in clear violation of international human rights law and standards.

‘It constitutes a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and can amount to torture in violation of the UN Convention against Torture and other international covenants, to which Indonesia is a State Party.’”

Despite the criticism, local authorities have defended the punishments as part of Aceh’s religious and cultural identity, insisting they serve as a deterrent against immoral behaviour.

Earlier in January, another couple in the province reportedly received 140 lashes each after being found guilty of drinking alcohol and engaging in sex outside marriage.

(Daily Mail)

Headline

Senegal’s President Sacks Prime Minister After Months-long Feud

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has sacked Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and dissolved the government following months of rising political tension between the two former allies.

The decision was announced in a surprise decree read on national television by a presidential aide, stating that Faye had “ended the duties” of Sonko and “consequently those of the ministers and secretaries of state who are members of the government”.

Sonko, who remains a highly influential figure among Senegal’s youth, responded on social media, saying he would “sleep with a light heart”.

The political fallout comes at a time of growing economic strain in the country, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) putting Senegal’s public debt at 132% of its GDP.

His removal followed a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday, where Sonko openly criticised President Faye’s handling of the debt situation.

The development is striking given that Faye’s rise to power was largely tied to Sonko’s popularity and political backing.

Sonko would almost certainly have contested the presidency himself in 2024, but was barred from the race due to a defamation conviction. Instead, he threw his support behind Faye, rallying voters with the slogan “Diomaye is Sonko, Sonko is Diomaye”.

The alliance helped unseat former President Macky Sall in a dramatic electoral victory, despite both men having been released from prison only days before the vote.

Tensions between the two leaders had been building for months, with Faye reportedly accusing Sonko of excessive dominance within the ruling Pastef party, while Sonko accused the president of weak leadership and failing to defend him against critics.

(BBC News)

Headline

Six Nigerians Arrested In Thailand Over AI-Powered Romance Scam

Published

4 days ago

May 24, 2026

Editor

Six Nigerian nationals have been arrested by the Thailand Police Force for allegedly operating an AI-powered deepfake romance scam syndicate from a luxury condominium along the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi Province, following a cocaine trafficking investigation that exposed their activities.

Thai authorities said the operation began after police arrested a Nigerian suspect identified as Patrick and three associates in April over alleged drug trafficking offences. During the raid, officers reportedly seized assets valued at about 2.5 million baht.

Investigators said financial transactions linked to the suspects led them to several foreign nationals living in a high-end riverside condominium near Phra Nangklao Bridge in Nonthaburi. Police discovered that many of the occupants were staying in groups of five or six per apartment under student visas despite not being enrolled in any educational institution or engaged in lawful employment.

According to Thai police, officers executed search warrants on three condominium units on May 22. The suspects allegedly refused to open their doors, forcing authorities to break into the apartments.

Videos circulating on X captured the moment police officers forcefully gained entry into one of the apartments before arresting the suspects.

During the operation, one suspect reportedly attempted to escape by climbing over a balcony, while another was found hiding on the bathroom floor while allegedly sending warning messages to occupants in neighbouring units.

Police recovered 18 mobile phones, three laptop computers and three bank passbooks from the apartments. Authorities said some of the phones were still logged into active conversations with victims at the time of the raid.

Investigators alleged that the syndicate specialised in romance scams targeting older Thai women by using AI-generated faces and manipulated video calls to create fake online identities.

The suspects allegedly posed as pilots, United States military officers, doctors and engineers to gain the trust of victims before requesting money under false pretences.

Police said the fraudsters typically claimed that valuable packages or gifts sent to victims had been withheld by customs officials and required payment of clearance fees before release.

Authorities also said they recovered scripts for sexually explicit conversations allegedly used to emotionally manipulate victims into transferring funds. Investigators claimed the group relied heavily on artificial intelligence technology to generate realistic Western faces for fake video interactions.

Thai police said all six suspects are currently facing preliminary charges bordering on illegal association and immigration overstay, while additional fraud and romance scam charges are expected to follow as investigations continue.