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- European Commission Seeks G7 Input on Russian Oil Price Cap Changes
- Who is F1 world champion Lando Norris’ model girlfriend Margarida Corceiro?
- Rio Ferdinand urges Man Utd to U-turn on transfer decision after Spurs win
- ILGA Europe reports 25% of EU LGBTQ+ citizens subjected to conversion practices
- Far-Right Activist Tommy Robinson Stalks and Films Transgender Teacher
- Suspected Arson and Sabotage Impact Italy on Winter Olympics Opening Day
- Santi Cazorla told Arsenal team-mate he was ‘disgusting’ for arriving at match smelling of alcohol
- EU calls for fast-tracked trade agreement negotiations with Gulf nations
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European Commission Seeks G7 Input on Russian Oil Price Cap Changes
8:00 pm
TL:DR – European Commission Seeks G7 Input on Russian Oil Price Cap Changes
• The European Commission is consulting G7 partners on the future of the Russian oil price cap before proposing new sanctions against Moscow.
• Finland and Sweden are advocating a full ban on maritime services related to Russian crude oil, which is under consideration.
• The EU’s current price cap on Russian oil was recently adjusted to $44.10 per barrel.
• Brussels aims to approve the 20th package of sanctions by 24 February, the war’s fourth anniversary.
• Additional punitive measures from Washington are “under consideration,” according to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
EU seeks G7 input on price cap before next round of sanctions against Russia
The European Commission is soliciting input from its G7 partners regarding the future of the price cap on Russian oil as it prepares to propose a new round of sanctions against Moscow. Officials indicated that a presentation to ambassadors originally scheduled for Friday has been tentatively postponed to early next week.
The immediate significance of this development stems from the Commission’s consideration of a full ban on maritime services provided by European companies to vessels carrying Russian crude oil or refined petroleum products. This proposal, supported by Finland and Sweden, seeks to enhance the impact of sanctions on Russia’s oil sector.
Proposed Maritime Ban Could Halt Services for Russian Vessels
Currently, the European Union permits such services only if the vessels comply with the G7 price cap, which was last adjusted to $44.10 per barrel. Should the EU implement the complete ban, it would effectively nullify the cap within EU jurisdiction, as companies would be prohibited from servicing all Russian vessels regardless of compliance with the price limit.
Finland and Sweden advocate for the ban, citing potential benefits such as increased costs for Russia’s oil sector and improved enforcement against sanctions evasion. However, the decision poses challenges, as unanimity from all 27 member states is required, particularly if G7 partners do not support the initiative.
Coordination with the United States Amid Ongoing Peace Negotiations
Brussels is working to align its sanctions strategy with the White House, especially after the US sanctioned Russia’s largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. The sanctions have influenced market dynamics, compelling Moscow to sell its Urals crude at significant discounts.
Despite the ongoing negotiations aimed at achieving a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, progress has been limited. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned that additional punitive measures are “under consideration,” highlighting the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape.
Upcoming Sanctions Package Set for Approval by February 24
In addition to the maritime ban, the next round of EU sanctions is anticipated to target “shadow fleet” vessels and entities aiding Moscow, with a focus on China. The European Commission aims to finalise the 20th sanctions package by 24 February, marking the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, along with António Costa, President of the European Council, plan to visit Ukraine on that date to reaffirm the EU’s support.
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Who is F1 world champion Lando Norris’ model girlfriend Margarida Corceiro?
7:00 pm
Who is F1 world champion Lando Norris’ model girlfriend Margarida Corceiro?
Two-minute read
Lando Norris secured his first formula 1 World Championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 7 December 2025, despite finishing behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri. The victory at Yas Marina Circuit marked a significant milestone for McLaren, as Norris celebrated with family and friends after clinching the championship.
Source: Original report
Lando Norris clinched his first Formula 1 World Championship title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday, despite finishing behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. The victory marks a significant milestone in Norris’s career, establishing him as a prominent figure in the sport.
Following his win, the 26-year-old driver celebrated with his parents before rushing to greet his girlfriend, Portuguese model and influencer Margarida Corceiro. The couple’s affectionate moment on the podium has sparked considerable interest among fans, eager to learn more about Corceiro, who has been linked to Norris since early 2024.
Norris’s Championship Victory
Lando Norris’s triumph in Abu Dhabi makes him the latest McLaren driver to secure the championship. His performance throughout the season has solidified his status as a top competitor in Formula 1, showcasing his talent and determination. Despite finishing third in the race, his overall points tally has placed him at the pinnacle of the championship standings.
Relationship with Margarida Corceiro
Margarida Corceiro, who has gained a following for her fashion and lifestyle content, is often seen at races supporting Norris. The 22-year-old has been spotted in the McLaren garage several times this season, a sign of the growing seriousness of their relationship. Although details about how they met remain unclear, they were first spotted together in May 2023.
Next Steps in the Championship
As the 2025 Formula 1 season concludes with Norris’s championship win, attention will soon turn to the upcoming 2026 season. With new regulations and potential driver changes on the horizon, teams will focus on their preparations, while Norris aims to build on his success as the reigning champion.
Rio Ferdinand urges Man Utd to U-turn on transfer decision after Spurs win
5:00 pm
Rio Ferdinand urges Man Utd to U-turn on transfer decision after Spurs win | Football
Two-minute read
Rio Ferdinand urged Manchester United to reconsider allowing Casemiro to leave on a free transfer this summer, advocating for a one-year contract extension. Following United’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, Michael Carrick guided the team to four consecutive Premier League wins, while Casemiro has excelled under his management.
Source: Original report
Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United should offer Casemiro a new one-year deal
Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to reconsider their decision to let Casemiro leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. This statement came after United’s 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday, which marked their fourth consecutive win in the Premier League under interim manager Michael Carrick.
Casemiro has been a key player for Manchester United during this period. Despite this, the club has officially confirmed that the 33-year-old midfielder’s contract will not be renewed once it expires.
Ferdinand expressed his concerns immediately after the match. He stated, “Casemiro… the game left him, he’s meant to leave the game before the game left him. Listen, where’s he going? He needs to sign a new deal. We need to get on to him now, Casemiro, get him another contract and say, ‘you know what, give us another year.’”
Ferdinand also highlighted the challenges the club may face in replacing Casemiro. He noted, “Because we’re going to have to go out and replace that and the way he’s performing at the moment, we’re going to have to spend a lot of money to go and replace Casemiro the way he’s performing under Michael Carrick.”
In addition, Ferdinand commented on Michael Carrick’s potential as United’s permanent manager. He suggested that a final decision on Carrick’s future should wait until the end of the season, acknowledging the progress Carrick has made: “But by god, is he putting a good case forward to go and get the job and get offered that contract, and long may it continue.”
Manchester United will look to build on their recent form and make strategic decisions regarding the squad and management structure as the season progresses.
ILGA Europe reports 25% of EU LGBTQ+ citizens subjected to conversion practices
4:00 pm
TL:DR – ILGA Europe reports 25% of EU LGBTQ+ citizens subjected to conversion practices
• The ILGA Europe report reveals that nearly 25% of EU LGBTQ+ citizens have faced conversion practices.
• Greek respondents report the highest exposure at 38%, while French, Italian, and Dutch respondents cite 18%.
• Trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals experience higher exposure to conversion practices than cisgender respondents.
• The OECD reports that the EU loses up to €89 million annually due to discrimination based on sexual orientation.
• In January 2023, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved a resolution urging a ban on conversion practices.
Conversion therapy: Quarter of EU citizens exposed as Council of Europe urges ban
Almost a quarter of all LGBTQ+ citizens in the European Union have encountered some form of conversion practices, according to the latest report from ILGA Europe. The report highlights Greek respondents as having the highest exposure at 38%, while respondents from France, Italy, and the Netherlands reported the lowest exposure at 18%. Conversion practices, often referred to as conversion therapy, are deemed harmful and ineffective, falsely claiming to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
This information is significant as it underscores the pervasive nature of such harmful practices within the EU. The report is part of the new “Intersections reports” series and draws on data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), included in its 2023 LGBTIQ III Survey.
Responses to Experiences of Conversion Practices
Nearly all participants who experienced conversion practices involving physical, sexual, or verbal abuse reported avoiding certain places due to fears of assault or harassment related to their LGBTQ+ identity. Financial and age-related pressures were also noted as factors influencing consent to conversion therapy. More than a quarter of trans men who faced financial hardship had consented to conversion practices under pressure or threats, while 22% of trans women aged 40 to 54 also reported giving consent.
European Efforts to Combat Conversion Practices
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated that the EU loses up to €89 million in GDP annually due to discrimination based on sexual orientation, linked to reduced workplace productivity and employment barriers. In response, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recently approved a resolution advocating a ban on conversion practices, proposing that such practices be defined in national law and penalised accordingly. Helena Dalli, former European Commissioner for Equality, stated, “These practices are grounded in a lie, the lie that diversity is a defect,” highlighting the systemic stigma that allows these practices to continue.
While the resolution is not legally binding, it serves as political pressure on the Council of Europe’s 46 member states. The European Commission is actively pursuing a strategy to combat discrimination and protect LGBTQ+ rights, with half of EU countries currently having a national strategy for LGBTQ+ equality and at least eight member states having banned conversion practices.
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Far-Right Activist Tommy Robinson Stalks and Films Transgender Teacher
3:00 pm
TL:DR – Far-Right Activist Tommy Robinson Stalks and Films Transgender Teacher
- Tommy Robinson confronted a teacher at their home in South Staffordshire after complaints about the teacher’s request to be addressed as “Mx”.
- Robinson filmed a 12-minute video outside the school and later followed the teacher home.
- He claimed students were punished for misgendering the teacher, a statement the school denied as inaccurate.
- Local MP Gavin Williamson expressed concerns over the situation and allegations regarding student discipline.
- The school is working with police to ensure safety and privacy while denying the claims made online.
Transgender teacher followed home and filmed by far-right activist Tommy Robinson | News UK
A teacher was approached at their home by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson after parents complained about them allegedly requesting to use the gender-neutral title Mx (Picture: Facebook)
The far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson followed home a teacher and filmed them after they had asked to be addressed using a gender-neutral title ‘Mx’.
Anti-immigration activist Robinson released a 12 minute video outside a school in South Staffordshire before classes started.
He later travelled to the teacher’s home to challenge them directly. The teacher has not been identified.
In the video, Robinson said that he had employed a private investigator to monitor the teacher’s movements so he would know when they were leaving for work and could confront them.
He alleged that pupils were being punished for misgendering the teacher and taken out of class to be schooled on the use of pronouns.
‘Mx’ – pronounced ‘mix’ – is a title rather than a set of pronouns and is used instead of the gendered Ms or Mr for trans or non-binary people.
Tommy Robinson (Picture: Facebook)
The school has rejected these claims, stating that allegations that pupils were removed from classes are ‘wholly inaccurate’ and that the ‘scenarios described online do not reflect actual events at our school’.
Footage shows Robinson repeatedly questioning the teacher outside their home about whether it is ‘right’ for students to address them as Mx.
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The teacher consistently declined to engage, repeatedly responding ‘no comment’ and attempting to leave for work.
Robinson continued to follow them along the road, filming throughout, until the teacher eventually returned to their house and closed the door.
In the aftermath of the video’s release, the local MP and former Conservative education secretary Gavin Williamson shared a letter on social media that he had sent to the school’s headteacher, in which he said he ‘express [his] concern’ over the situation.
Williamson repeated the claim that the school had ‘taken steps to remove children from educational classes in order to ‘teach pronouns’.
He said: ‘A vast number of constituents have been in touch to share their anger at this decision.
‘Whilst I understand that it is important to be aware of sensitivities such as this, I strongly believe a school’s main priority should be academic rather than “diversity box ticking” exercises.’
Beneath his Facebook post sharing the letter, Williamson later published what was said to be a statement from the school’s headteacher that had been emailed to parents.
The statement said that following the publication of the video, the headteacher ‘would like to reassure you that we are working closely with the police and the relevant authorities to manage this situation and to ensure the privacy and safety of our staff and students’.
It continued: ‘Thank you for your overwhelmingly positive support to date. I kindly ask that you continue to support us by not viewing, sharing or commenting on these posts.
‘I would also like to be clear that claims made in these posts about disciplinary measures for students are wholly inaccurate.
‘While we cannot comment on individual children or circumstances, we can assure you that any behaviour measures taken are always proportionate, appropriate and in line with our behaviour policy.
‘The scenarios described online do not reflect actual events at our school.
‘The school will continue to operate as normal. Should we receive any information that requires a change in our approach, we will of course notify you immediately.
‘Our school is a community built on mutual respect. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, and we have established support in place for any member of our school community who has been affected.
‘If you or your children have been affected or require support, as always, our safeguarding team is here to help. Details of how to contact the team are on our school website.’
PinkNews has contacted Windsor Academy Trust, the organisation that oversees the school, to request comment.
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Suspected Arson and Sabotage Impact Italy on Winter Olympics Opening Day
1:53 pm
TL:DR – “Suspected Arson and Sabotage Impact Italy on Winter Olympics Opening Day”
- Suspected arson in Bologna caused severe delays for train passengers on the first day of the Winter Olympics.
- Overhead wires on the Bologna-Venice line were damaged, leading to 45-minute suspensions and up to two-hour delays on services to Milan.
- Transport Minister Matteo Salvini labelled the incident an ‘act of criminality’, reflecting concerns over safety during the Olympics.
- No group has claimed responsibility; police are investigating the suspected attack on Italy’s rail network.
Suspected sabotage and arson hit Italy on first day of Winter Olympics | News World
Arsonists Target Overhead Wires in Bologna
Rail passengers are facing severe delays after a suspected arson damaged cables on the Italian network.
Trains were suspended for 45 minutes after a fire damaged a track switch and electrical cables used to measure train speeds in Bologna on the first day of the Olympic Winter Games.
The blaze, which targeted the Bologna-Venice line, has also caused delays of up to two hours on high-speed and intercity services to Milan.
Services to Venice, from where visitors can reach co-host Cortina, have also been disrupted.
Ferroviarie dello Stato, Italy’s state railway infrastructure manager, said it had ruled out a technical fault as a cause of the incident.
A police spokesperson said the incident was being treated as ‘presumably deliberate’ but said no group had claimed responsibility.
They added that transport and anti-terrorist police were at the scene investigating the suspected attack.
A separate fire was also reported on tracks near a station in the coastal town of Pesaro.
Passengers Face Major Disruptions
Italy’s transport minister Matteo Salvini called the fire an ‘act of criminality’ by ‘someone wishing Italy harm’.
Speaking from Bormio, where several Olympic events are taking place, he said: ‘I’m sorry that while I’m here in Bormio and everything is fine, I read news from Bologna where there’s been an attack on the train line that’s slowing everything down.
‘An act of delinquency. If it turns out the interruption to the high-speed train was the result of a premeditated attack, on the first day of the Olympics, let’s just say someone is wishing Italy harm.’
The incidents are an apparent echo of the 2024 Paris summer Olympics, when saboteurs targeted France’s TGV high-speed train network in a series of pre-dawn attacks across the country, causing travel chaos ahead of the opening ceremony.
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