- Champions League play-off draw in full
- Teddy Sheringham expresses worry for £74m Man Utd player: ‘It’s tough for him’ | Football
- Ranking Every F1 Circuit on the 2026 Calendar from Least to Most Impressive
- Injury Update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba Before Leeds vs Arsenal
- Border Czar Homan Discusses ICE Operations and Cooperation in Minnesota
- Hampstead Ladies’ Pond Welcomes All – Join Me There | News UK
- White House Plans to Reduce ICE Presence in Minnesota Amid Controversy
- Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Harmed Nearly 100 Children, Shocking Report Reveals
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Champions League play-off draw in full
Here’s the Champions League play-off draw for you to cast your eyes upon in full. There’s a few tasty games in there.
Just a quick reminder, the Champions League fixture draw is for those who finished between 9th and 24th in the league phase.

A repeat of Benfica’s game with Real Madrid after their dramatic 4-2 win at home to Real Madrid in their final league phase game, what a story that would be for Jose Mourinho.
Newcastle United manager made it clear he was “excited for whoever we get”- and there is certainly no danger of his side underestimating Qarabag.
A trip to Azerbaijan for the Toon army and Newcastle and a rematch of the thrilling Benfica v Real Madrid tie that we saw in the league phase. Not too bad, at all.
Champions League play-off draw in full
Silver pathway
- Monaco v Paris St-Germain
- Galatasaray v Juventus
- Benfica v Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund v Atalanta
Blue pathway
- Qarabag v Newcastle United
- Club Brugge v Atletico Madrid
- Bodo/Glimt v Inter Milan
- Olympiakos v Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea don’t find out their opponents until the draw on February 27
Teddy Sheringham expresses worry for £74m Man Utd player: ‘It’s tough for him’ | Football
TL:DR – Teddy Sheringham expresses worry for £74m Man Utd player: ‘It’s tough for him’ | Football
- Teddy Sheringham questions Benjamin Sesko’s confidence as Manchester United’s striker.
- United signed Sesko for £74 million from RB Leipzig, amid interest from Arsenal and Newcastle.
- The 22-year-old has scored five goals in 20 appearances, showing promise with three goals in two starts.
- Sheringham notes the pressure of leading the line at United requires high confidence and experience.
- Sesko aims for a return to the starting lineup against Fulham after being benched in recent matches.
Teddy Sheringham reveals huge concern over £74m Man Utd star: ‘It’s hard for him’ | Football
Premier League” decoding=”sync”/>Sesko has scored five goals this season (Picture: Getty)
Manchester United legend Teddy Sheringham is still to be convinced Benjamin Sesko has the ‘confidence’ to be a star striker at Old Trafford.
Arsenal and Newcastle United were both interested in the Slovenia international last summer but United won the race for his signature, signing him from RB Leipzig for £74million.
Sesko has shown flashes of real promise this season, scoring three goals in his last two starting appearances, but a return of five in 20 appearances has made it an underwhelming start to life in England.
The 22-year-old was named on the bench in Michael Carrick’s first two games in charge as United put in perhaps their best performances of the season against Manchester City and Arsenal.
On both occasions, Bryan Mbeumo started up front ahead of him.
Sesko will hope to return to the side when United host Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Sheringham, who arrived in Manchester from Tottenham in 1997, was part of a squad full of huge personalities and is fully aware of the pressure that comes with leading the line at Old Trafford.
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Carrick has named Sesko on the bench in his first two games (Picture: Getty)
While he has been encouraged by Sesko’s finishing ability, particularly in the recent draw with Burnley where he scored twice, the Treble winner fears he must find an air of confidence to accompany his game in order to be United’s long-term solution up top.
‘I like what he gives,’ Sheringham told UK News. ‘I think he will be a good player. He’s just not a great player at the moment.

Sesko ‘needs confidence,’ according to Sheringham (Picture: Getty)
‘Some of the touches he has had and some of the goals he has scored recently, they have been really nice and really clever goals. But you need the experience and he needs to get his confidence levels up to a real top player.
‘It makes it hard for him to lead the line as a young man at Man United, without a shadow of a doubt.
‘He is a very good player but it takes a certain type of player to lead the line for Man United. The expectation levels are huge.’
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Ranking Every F1 Circuit on the 2026 Calendar from Least to Most Impressive
TL:DR – Ranking Every F1 Circuit on the 2026 Calendar from Least to Most Impressive
- formula 1 will return with 22 drivers racing at 24 circuits in 21 countries across five continents in 2026, from March to December.
- Notable tracks include the controversial Madring in Spain, the often criticized Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, and the dangerous Jeddah circuit.
- Meanwhile, iconic circuits such as Silverstone (2) and Interlagos (1) continue to carry significant prestige in the racing calendar.
Every F1 track on the 2026 calendar ranked from worst to best

F1 will race at 24 tracks in 21 countries across five continents in 2026 (Photo: Getty)
2026 is here and there’s not long to wait before the Formula 1 season gets underway, with Lando Norris set to defend his crown against the likes of Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
There really is nothing quite like the globe-trotting F1 calendar, with 22 drivers racing at 24 circuits in 21 countries across five continents from March to December.
Some of these tracks can lay claim to be the best in the world but which one takes the crown?
24. Madring, Spain
We can’t really judge the new home of the Spanish Grand Prix until it makes its debut in September, but fans weren’t exactly impressed with the video simulation of the Madrid street circuit.
23. Lusail, Qatar
While loved by fans of Moto GP, Lusail has proven to be a rather drab addition to the calendar. Consistent problems regarding the Qatar heat and tyre wear have lead some to question its suitability for F1.
22. Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
No expense was spared on Yas Marina, with a gigantic glowing hotel, marina and Ferrari World built on an artificial island. It’s a pity the architects couldn’t design an entertaining circuit to go with it.

Cars drive through a glowing hotel during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Photo: Getty)
21. Miami, USA
People love to hate the Miami International Autodrome but it’s actually a pretty solid track with plenty of places to overtake. Still, it’s easily the weakest of the North American tracks.
And don’t get me started on that fake marina…
20. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Certainly the most dangerous track of the year, F1 drivers average 158mph around Jeddah’s narrow walls, with car-destroying crashes and red flags a common sight.
It has its fans but will soon be replaced by a new circuit in Qiddiya – which appears to have been inspired by Rainbow Road from Mario Kart.

The fake marina was the source of much mockery when Miami made its debut in 2022 (Photo: Getty)
19. Zandvoort, Netherlands
Brought back in 2021 thanks to Max Verstappen mania, the Dutch Grand Prix will be off the calendar again after 2026. That’s a shame because Zandvoort is a unique location, with multiple banked turns and an undulating middle sector. Overtaking opportunities limited however.
18. Shanghai, China
China has a strong F1 fanbase and Shanghai isn’t bad. But to me, the circuit has always felt like a lesser-imitation of Sepang in Malaysia and I would much rather bring that race back.

F1 will miss Zandvoort’s banked corners (Photo: Getty)
17. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain
2026 will mark the last year of the much maligned Barcelona track but is it really that bad? Well, yes, it does lack character and aside from the first corner, overtaking is pretty tough.
It didn’t help that it was the venue for pre-season testing for many years, allowing drivers and teams to master the circuit in advance.
16. Baku City, Azerbaijan
It’s thanks to the utter chaos that was the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, that F1 green-lit more high-speed, dangerous street circuits (see Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas). Baku has produced some brilliant races but more lately has been desperately dull.
In any case, the castle section is just about the most ridiculous set of corners in the history of the sport.

Baku’s infamous castle section quickly embedded itself in F1 folklore (Photo: Getty)
15. Marina Bay, Singapore
The venue of F1’s first night race is also the most gruelling on the circuit for drivers: High humidity, lots of corners, bumpy tarmac, constant gear changes. As a spectacle for fans, it’s just okay.
14. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico
As far as atmosphere goes, there’s few better than the Mexico City circuit which passes through a baseball stadium. The revamped track isn’t as good as it once was but still stirs up plenty of drama and controversial incidents.

Mexico’s circuit passes through a baseball stadium (Photo: Getty)
13. Monte Carlo, Monaco
Iconic. Out-dated. Thrilling. Boring. F1’s crown jewel. The worst race of the year.
Nothing divides the motor racing community more than the famous Monaco street circuit, so the middle of this list seems appropriate for it.
12. Las Vegas, USA
F1 in Las Vegas shouldn’t work. Heck, it didn’t in the 1980s. And yet, somehow, it does.
For all the gimmicks, the track itself is a fast-paced thrill ride that appears to have won over even the most sceptical of fans – if not all the Sin City locals.

Is Monaco still the crown jewel of the F1 calendar? (Photo: Getty)
11. Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Canada
Named after one of the best drivers to never win the championship, this Montreal track is etched in F1 folklore, thanks in part to the Wall of Champions which has caught out even the sport’s greatest drivers. Just watch out for the groundhogs…
There was a time when few looked forward to heading to Melbourne, but some recent modifications have made the street circuit truly worthy of hosting F1’s curtain raiser – and worth the 4am UK time start.

The F1 season begins in Australia in March (Photo: Getty)
9. Suzuka, Japan
Adored by fans, adored by drivers, Suzuka boasts some of the best corners on the globe like Spoon, 130R and Degner.
So why isn’t it higher up? Sadly, the last few races – aside from when it’s been raining – have been very tedious. Maybe the new 2026 cars will change that.
8. Sakhir, Bahrain
Possibly the most controversial placing on this list, but Sakhir is a great all round circuit with almost every corner providing an overtaking opportunity. Aesthetically, the decision to move the desert race to the night was inspired.

Suzuka is F1’s only figure-of-eight track (Photo: Getty)
7. Hungaroring, Hungary
It maybe an oversized go kart track set in a valley, where overtaking is very tricky but there is something very special about the Hungaroring. Come rain or shine, drama and unexpected results always seem to occur.
6. Spa, Belgium
It is criminal that Spa-Francorchamps will not be a permanent fixture on the calendar in the coming years. There truly is nothing like watching F1 drivers tackle the famous corners in the world: Eau Rouge and Raidillon.

F1 would not be the same without Eau Rouge and Raidillon (Photo: Getty)
5. Circuit of the Americas, USA
F1’s will they, won’t they relationship with the USA was driven by the absence of a track that fans and drivers enjoyed. That all changed in 2012 when parts of the best circuits from around the world were cherry-picked and strung together to form COTA in Austin, Texas. A true, modern classic.
F1 has raced at the Temple of Speed in all but one of its 76 seasons and it’s easy to see why. Steeped in history, speeds of over 220mph are reached on the fastest track on the calendar which is strung together by sweeping turns and tricky chicanes.
Every driver dreams of winning at Monza and thanks to its unique podium design, the post-race celebrations are like nothing else.

Win at Monza and you can celebrate above thousands of Tifosi (Photo: Getty)
3. Red Bull Ring, Austria
Sneaking onto the podium is this the former Osterreichring, which was saved by Red Bull and has not disappointed since returning to the calendar a decade ago.
Located in the picturesque Styrian mountains, drivers not only battle each other but also fight to stay within track limits on the twisty, fast tarmac.
2. Silverstone, UK
Variable weather, huge crowds, high-speeds, countless overtaking opportunities and iconic corners with even more iconic names like Copse, Stowe, Maggots and Becketts.
The very first F1 circuit is as perfect a venue as you can get.

Silverstone hosted the very first F1 race in 1950 and is still going strong (Photo: Getty)
1. Interlagos, Brazil
The Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, better known as Interlagos, has everything Silverstone has – plus huge elevation changes, undulating corners and the best atmosphere from the grandstands.
If there’s one thing all F1 fans can agree on, it’s that Brazil not Abu Dhabi should be the venue for the season finale. But for now, it can celebrate taking the No.1 spot on this list.

Interlagos has barely changed since the 1970s – and all the better for it (Photo: Getty)
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Injury Update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba Before Leeds vs Arsenal
TL:DR – Injury Update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba Before Leeds vs Arsenal
- Mikel Arteta updates on injuries to Jurrien Timber and William Saliba ahead of Arsenal vs. Leeds United.
- Both players missed recent training due to ‘slight niggles’ but are now fully fit.
- Arsenal aims to bounce back after a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, cutting their league lead to four points.
- The team secured a 3-2 victory over Kairat Almaty, finishing the Champions League league phase unbeaten.
- Kai Havertz is also ready to start after his return.
Jurrien Timber and William Saliba injury update ahead of Leeds vs Arsenal | Football

Jurrien Timber and William Saliba missed out in midweek (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has provided an injury update on Jurrien Timber and William Saliba ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Leeds United.
Arsenal are looking to get back to winning ways in the league after their dramatic 3-2 defeat to Manchester United last weekend.
The defeat represented the Gunners’ first at the Emirates this season and saw their lead at the top of the table cut to just four points.
Arteta’s side bounced back in midweek, recording a routine 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty to end the Champions League’s league phase with a perfect record.
But while able to welcome Kai Havertz and Riccardo Calaifori back to the starting lineup, Arsenal were without the aforementioned Timber and Saliba due to injury.
The defensive duo have been pivotal for Arsenal this season but were absent from Tuesday’s training, with Arteta saying the pair had ‘slight niggles’.
However, the Arsenal boss confirmed that the pair are now back in training and fully fit for Saturday’s trip to Elland Road.
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Timber has been a pivotal player for Arsenal this season (Picture: Getty)
‘Yeah, they are okay,’ Arteta said in Friday’s pre-match press conference.
‘They have played a lot of minutes, and were carrying a few niggles, and it was a great opportunity [to rest them].’
Havertz was only given 45 minutes on his return to the side against Kairat, but Arteta said the German is ready to start again at the weekend if needed.
‘He is ready. He started the other day. It has been a long period, but there was no reaction,’ the Spaniard confirmed.
More to follow.
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Border Czar Homan Discusses ICE Operations and Cooperation in Minnesota
- Tom Homan, former Acting Director of ICE, met with Minnesota officials regarding immigration enforcement operations.
- Homan discussed potential administrative changes and resource adjustments.
- Emphasized cooperation with local law enforcement to ensure effective implementation.
- Suggested that resources could be scaled back in Minnesota, depending on cooperation levels.
- Homan aims for significant changes in ICE operations upon his nomination as the agency’s new director.
Border Czar Homan Discusses ICE Operations and Cooperation in Minnesota
In a recent visit to Minnesota, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, suggested significant changes in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, contingent upon local cooperation. This proposal has sparked discussions amid ongoing scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement tactics in the region.

Homan’s discussions centre on compliance with federal directives, increasing the efficacy of law enforcement in immigration matters. He emphasized that a collaborative approach with state and local officials is essential for successful ICE operations, stating,
“Without cooperation, we can’t do our jobs effectively.” However, the heavy handed operation has caused a major backlash for Trump with the State in uproar over the deaths and ‘cover-ups’.
The remarks came during a roundtable meeting held in Minneapolis, where Homan addressed key city officials and law enforcement leaders. This meeting aimed to align local strategies with federal immigration policies, highlighting the pressing nature of immigration enforcement in the area.
Police Chief acknowledges challenges posed by ICE
Local officials present included Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, who acknowledged the challenges posed by ICE. Arradondo remarked, “We need to approach this in a way that considers the safety of our community, balancing enforcement with trust-building.”
As the dialogue unfolds, the potential for revised ICE practices hinges on negotiations between federal and local entities. This cooperation could lead to operational shifts, as Homan indicated, “Massive changes” are possible if there’s mutual understanding.
Local officials are weighing the implications of tighter inter-agency collaboration amid or to blocks ICE, but the heightened public scrutiny in Minnesota is critical as a precedent to how the State reacts. “We want to ensure that our actions resonate positively with the communities we serve,” Homan concluded, underscoring the need for a thoughtful approach moving forward.
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Hampstead Ladies’ Pond Welcomes All – Join Me There | News UK
TL:DR – Hampstead Ladies’ Pond Welcomes All – Join Me There | News UK
- The High Court dismissed a legal challenge by the charity Sex Matters against trans-inclusive rules at Hampstead Heath Ponds.
- The ruling allows trans individuals to use facilities aligned with their gender identity.
- A poll showed 90% support for maintaining trans inclusivity among pond users.
- The Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association reaffirmed its commitment to all women and girls, including trans women.
- The decision counters ongoing exclusionary efforts against trans rights, highlighting a need for evidence-based policies.
Hampstead Ladies pond is trans-inclusive – so I’ll see you there | News UK

Trans people can continue to use the ponds in line with their lived gender (Picture: Sharon Kilgannon)
As a trans person, reading the news today felt like a rare win.
In the UK, a High Court judge has dismissed the legal challenge that gender-critical charity Sex Matters brought forward against the City of London Corporation, over its trans-inclusive rules at Hampstead Heath Ponds.
In December 2025, Sex Matters claimed that the policy of allowing trans women to use the Hampstead Ladies Pond was sex discrimination – since they were using facilities that matched their gender identity, not their biological sex.
So if a trans woman used women’s facilities, Sex Matters claimed it was unsafe for cisgender women.
However, just today Mrs Justice Lieven blocked the charity, stating that the ‘appropriate forum’ for the claim was the county court, not the High Court.
This ruling means trans people can continue to use the ponds in line with their lived gender before a final decision is due from the City of London Corporation.
I felt relief and joy hearing this – the dismissal is very welcomed.

90% of respondents wanted the ponds to remain trans-inclusive (Picture: Newsquest / SWNS)
It reaffirms the right of trans women to use the Ladies Pond and reflects the wishes of the vast majority of pond users.
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A poll conducted by the City of London Corporation showed that around 90% of respondents wanted the ponds to remain trans-inclusive – and they have been for many years, with no reported issues.
But despite this, for years now, so-called ‘gender critical’ groups and protesters have attempted to have trans women barred from the Ladies’ Pond, repeatedly pushing an exclusionary agenda that has so far failed.
Their central argument, that anyone could simply ‘pretend’ to be a woman to access the Ladies’ Pond, is a tired trope.

The fact that trans-inclusive access has existed for so long without any issues speaks for itself (Picture: Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir)
It has long been used to oppose inclusion in a wide range of settings, yet is consistently unsupported by evidence.
However, Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association (KLPA) – a volunteer-led organisation responsible for the interests of Hampstead Heath – issues a statement last year, stating firmly that ‘the Ladies’ Pond is open to all women and girls over the age of eight and, according to the lifeguards, trans women have been swimming there for many years without incident.’
The fact that trans-inclusive access has existed for so long without any issues speaks for itself. It exposes how little substance there is to the claims being made by anti-trans campaigners.
We should offer protections from bad actors – whoever they are.

What we are really seeing here is not a safeguarding concern, but textbook transphobia (Picture: Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir)
If anyone – trans or cis – does anything to make someone feel unsafe, an organisation’s staff need to be empowered to intervene and make judgement calls where necessary, rather than policies being shaped around imagined worst-case scenarios.
Of course when someone does something illegal, the authorities must be alerted, but trans people’s ability to access spaces safely should not be held hostage to hypothetical situations, especially not when a consultation showed such support for the existing arrangements.
Across the UK, countless service providers have operated trans-inclusive policies for decades without issue.
The sudden panic around this, to me, feels entirely manufactured. And any claims about ‘safety’ and ‘risk’ fall apart under scrutiny.

Sex Matters has released a statement saying that ‘the fight for women’s safety, privacy and dignity in single-sex spaces will continue’ (Picture: Nick Edwards/Daily Mail)
With bathrooms, another hobby horse of anti-trans movements, evidence has suggested that trans inclusion does not increase risk.
What we are really seeing here is not a safeguarding concern, but textbook transphobia dressed up as one – and this transphobia has been on the increase since the Supreme Court ruling back in April 2025.
Since today’s dismissal, Sex Matters has released a statement saying that ‘the fight for women’s safety, privacy and dignity in single-sex spaces will continue’.
But I’m tired of feeling targeted by this fight as a trans person.
Decisions must be rooted in evidence, common sense, and dignity.

Trans inclusion is not radical, dangerous, or experimental (Picture: Sharon Kilgannon)
As someone who has used the Ladies’ Pond myself, I am glad that it will remain an inclusive and safe space for all women.
Hampstead Heath standing firm on its inclusive policies matters – and today’s decision sets a precedent worth defending.
That should be the baseline.
Trans inclusion is not radical, dangerous, or experimental — it is established, evidence-based, and in this case, supported by the people who actually use the space.
What is your opinion on the decision to uphold trans-inclusive policies at Hampstead Heath Ponds?
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It’s been the case for years in the UK, and this concentrated effort to push us out of public life is not rooted in anything except bigotry, in my mind.
The continued fixation on excluding trans women says far more about the campaigners than it does about the ponds.
Trans people belong in public life and in public spaces – we shouldn’t have to beg for the tiniest bit of respect and dignity, and Hampstead Heath Ponds have shown what it is to be a true ally in times of backlash against human rights.
I doubt this will be the last we hear about trans inclusion in Hampstead Heath Ponds, but at least for now, it remains a place where everyone is welcome.
I’ll see you at the Ladies’ Pond.
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