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EU moves to ban Russian energy imports by 2028

By 2028, the European Union’s member states have agreed to end Russian oil and gas imports, breaking a diplomatic ties Moscow fears will have with Ukraine.

During a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, nearly all EU energy ministers voted in favor of the draft regulation, which applies both to pipeline oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

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It would require EU members to progressively end all new Russian gas import agreements starting in 2026, ending all existing short-term agreements beginning in 2028, and ending all existing long-term agreements beginning in 2028.

The European Parliament must now approve the proposal, which is expected to happen.

In response to repeated requests from US President Donald Trump for European nations to stop “funding the war against themselves,” the plan is a part of a wider EU strategy to reduce Russian energy dependence in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine.

Not yet, though.

Denmark’s energy minister, Lars Aagaard, described the proposal as “crucial” in order to create energy independence.

We have worked hard and pushed for Russian gas and oil to leave Europe in recent years, but we are not there yet, Aagaard said. His nation currently serves as the EU’s rotating president.

Russian gas still accounts for 13% of all gas imports, or 17.5 billion euros ($17.5 billion) annually, despite the EU’s already reduced Russian oil imports to just 3% of its overall share.

However, the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air claims that these purchases account for only a small portion of Russia’s total fossil fuel exports, which are mostly made by China, India, and Turkiye.

Hungary and Slovakia are the EU’s top importers of Russian energy, followed by France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The most recent EU initiative was opposed by Hungary and Slovakia, both of whom are diplomatically closer to Moscow. However, they only needed a majority of 15 states to pass, so they were unable to veto it.

According to the AFP news agency, Budapest’s top diplomat, Peter Szijjarto, was quoted as saying, “Our safe supply of energy in Hungary is going to be killed.”

Hungary and Slovakia were given particular flexibility in the text that was approved on Monday.

The EU is also negotiating a new package of sanctions against Russia that would impose a one-year import ban starting in 2027.

Oasis reveal huge update as Bonehead’s replacement confirmed

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Oasis have signed up guitarist Mike Moore to replace Paul ‘ Bonehead ‘ Arthurs on their upcoming tour dates.

Moore, a good friend of Liam Gallagher and part of his solo touring band, will take over the rhythm guitar from tomorrow night when the band play the Goyang Stadium in Seoul. He was spotted arriving at the airport yesterday by fans and sources close to the band confirmed to the Mirror he is the new band member set to soundcheck and then play for Oasis in the next 24 hours.

Bonehead will miss several legs of the Oasis tour for prostate cancer treatment, which he announced at the start of October. A source close to the band said: “Mike Moore has been playing for Liam since 2017 and so he knows plenty of the Oasis tunes from the solo gigs.

Mike Moore will be joining Oasis on their upcoming tour dates

” It’s not a full time slot in the band and everyone wants Bonehead well and back but it’s a huge privilege for Mike and he’s excited to get on the stage. “Moore is not the only member of Liam’s band in Oasis now, with the line up also featuring Christian Madden on keyboards.

The rest of the band remains the same including Noel Gallagher, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Joey Waronker. The band have finished all their triumphant UK shows but are in South Korea, before heading to Australia and other dates to end the tour including in Chile, Brazil and Argentina.

Oasis will take to the stage in Seoul tomorrow night
Oasis will take to the stage in Seoul tomorrow night (William Lailey / SWNS)

Announcing his cancer news, Bonehead said on social media:” Early this year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The good news is I’m responding really well to treatment, which meant I could be part of this incredible tour. Now, I am having to take a planned break for the next phase of my care, so I’ll be missing the gigs in Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney. I’m really sad to be missing these shows but l’m feeling good and will be back ready to go in time for South America.

“Have an amazing time if you’re going this month and I’ll see you back onstage with the band in November”. Noel Galagher’s daughter Anais wrote under the message: “We love you so much Bonehead”.

Bonehead has taken time out off the Oasis tour to undergo cancer treatment
Bonehead has taken time out off the Oasis tour to undergo cancer treatment (AFP via Getty Images)
The musician previously said he hopes to be on stage in South America
The musician previously said he hopes to be on stage in South America (PA)

Bonehead is credited with helping reunite brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher and the band for the sell out tour they are currently playing. The band played two sensational comeback shows in Cardiff to kickstart the tour, their first gigs for almost 16 years. Rumours had buzzed about who helped mend Noel and Liam Gallagher’s relationship.

But on stage for the second night of the comeback tour, Noel introduced the band, whilst also joking about the high turnover of drummers Oasis had in the past. Noel said: “On drums, our 13th official drummer Joey Waronker”.On guitar, if it wasn’t for him none of this would have f**king happened in the first place, Mr Bonehead. “

Bonehead, revealed in April 2022 he had been diagnosed with tonsil cancer. In September of the same year he wrote on social media the cancer had gone, saying at the time:” I had a full scan 10 days ago and it’s all clear, it’s gone… Into recovery now and see you all soon. “

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Macmillan Cancer Support and Prostate Cancer UK.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTubeandThreads.

How five days of sumo ‘charmed’ Britain

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Why did the sumo wrestler cross the road?

To recreate the iconic cover of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album, of course – just one of the many times the wrestlers, or rikishi, have gone viral over the past week – in between bouts at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

For five days, sumo fever took over Kensington as the Grand Sumo Tournament came to the UK for the first time in more than three decades.

For the devoted, ever-growing community of fans who mostly follow the sport online, the tournament represented a rare opportunity to catch the action in person, since the six annual honbasho eventswhich decide wrestling rankings – seldom take place outside of Japan.

But the rikishi brought plenty of excitement to the uninitiated, too, with former England prop Joe Marler calling it an “incredible spectacle”.

Takanosho Nobuaki and Midorifuji Kazunari in the ringGetty Images

Though rich with detail, the aim of the game is enticingly simple – make your opponent touch the ground with any part of his body which isn’t the sole of his foot, or push him out of the ring, or dohyo, altogether.

Rikishi train intensely from a young age in order to master the precise rituals and 82 different winning techniques, or kimarite, but it was through their adventures outside of the dohyo that they stole the hearts of old and new British fans.

Because the 40 rikishi who travelled to compete in London crammed plenty of quintessentially British traditions into their visit.

Accustomed to taking on board up to 10,000 calories per day in pursuit of their ultimate competition weight, in London they swapped their usual high-protein chankonabe stew for fish and chips and pints of Guinness in between tours of Harrods and photo opportunities outside the Houses of Parliament.

Wrestlers were seen visiting Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross, made famous by the Harry Potter series, and some even made it as far as Stonehenge in Wiltshire.

Shonannoumi Momotaro, Sadanoumi Takashi and Dairaido Taro walk around central LondonGetty Images

But back at the Royal Albert Hall, among the sporting highlights of the unique spectacle were the magnificent kainahineri – a two-handed arm twist down – with which 21-year-old Ukrainian Aonishiki Arata defeated Ura Kazuki, and the pause in play instructed by the referee, or gyoji, who intervened to spare Ura’s blushes in front of a capacity crowd as his loose loincloth threatened to come off altogether.

Accommodating the rikishi hasn’t been straightforward, according to Matthew Todd, the Royal Albert Hall’s director of programming, who told the Guardian that the venue “actually had to source and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight”, as well as reinforce the toilets.

Hoshoryu Tomokatsu is presented with a giant bottle of soy sauceGetty Images

Hiroshi Suzuki, the Japanese ambassador to the UK, said the wrestlers had “charmed the British people”, while Pateman said the Royal Albert Hall was “probably the greatest venue for sumo outside of Japan”.

“It has been the greatest sporting spectacular of the decade without a doubt,” added Pateman, who won a bronze medal at the World Sumo Championships in 1993.

“There’s been a few little problems in Japan, with heckling among the audience, but [grand champion] Onosato [Daiki] was really complimentary about the British. And the real winners here this weekend were the British people and the rikishi.

“They mixed with the public, the people loved them and the rikishi loved the people. What a fabulous five days.”

All 40 rikishi participated in the closing ceremony on Sunday, with the tournament’s final remarks left to Japanese yokozuna Onasato Daiki.

Tournament left fans old and new wanting more – analysis

Sumo’s global appeal has grown a lot in recent years, and for many European fans this was the first time seeing it live and a unique occasion to meet fellow sumo-lovers.

In London enthusiasts had a kind of access to wrestlers that they likely wouldn’t have in Japan – hundreds of people waited for them to leave the arena every night for a selfie or an autograph.

Each day the audience was fascinated by the many rituals and traditions on display, from salt throwing to ring-entering ceremonies, and participated enthusiastically when prompted to shout at every yokozuna foot stomp.

There were stare-downs, false starts, belts almost coming loose, and leg lifts that left everyone in awe.

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Stuart Pearce’s son Harley’s tragic final moments as devastated girlfriend pays tribute

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Harley Pearce has been described as a ‘ golden boy with an infectious smile ‘ by his heartbroken family following the news of the 21-year-old’s tragic death on Thursday. And now his girlfriend has paid tribute

The son of England legend Stuart Pearce has been killed in a tragic accident, with his grieving family paying tribute.

Harley Pearce, 21, who worked in farming, lost control of the tractor he was driving down a country lane in the Cotswolds. It’s thought the vehicle suffered a possible tyre blow-out, which caused him to veer off the road.

Sadly Harley, 21, died at the scene in Witcombe, Gloucestershire Police confirmed. Emergency services were called at around 2.30pm on Thursday to a report of a collision involving a tractor on the A417 Old Birdlip Hill in Witcombe.

A source told the Daily Mail: “From what we’ve been told is Harley’s tractor had a blow out and he lost control”.

READ MORE: Stuart Pearce’s son was helped by Sir Alex Ferguson but didn’t follow dad into footballREAD MORE: Farmer’s horrifying death after being eaten by his own pigs with only his dentures left behindREAD MORE: Ricky Hatton’s son’s emotional update as tragic cause of death revealed

Investigating officers are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash or who has any relevant dashcam footage to get in touch. Harley’s parents are also receiving support from specialist officers.

Harley – who lived near Marlborough in Wiltshire – ran his own company, Harley Pearce Agricultural Service, and worked on farms on the Wiltshire and Gloucestershire border.

His devastated family are now trying to come to terms with their loss. They said in tribute: “Our family is truly shocked and utterly heartbroken at the loss of our cherished son and devoted brother, Harley. A soul who left an unforgettable imprint on all who knew him.

” He was a golden boy with an infectious smile, and this shocking tragedy will leave a huge hole in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have known him.

“With a quiet, understated strength and deep kindness, we are so proud of the young man he had become, exhibiting a wonderful work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit in the farming industry. He will always be our shining star. Rest in Peace, our beautiful son and brother. You will never ever be forgotten”.

Harley’s girlfriend has also paid a moving tribute to the man ‘ I’ll love forever’. A letter left at the scene alongside flowers read: “To my Hunny. The man I’ll love forever.

” I’m so proud of you, and of what we’ve become. “You know you have my heart, and I know I have yours. I’ll cherish us forever. Forever in your arms, forever in our heart. I love you! Love, Your Holly xxx”.

Harley was the youngest of two children Pearce shared with his former wife Liz. The couple, who divorced in 2013 after two decades of marriage, also have an older daughter, Chelsea, an equestrian rider who has competed at three European Championships for Great Britain.

Stuart – who won 78 international caps – previously shared a touching story about how he helped Harley win his school’s Fantasy Football league when his son was eight-years-old.

Pretending to want information for the England U21 team, Stuart rang former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to ask whether he was planning to play Phil Jones or Chris Smalling on the final day.

The Scot gave him the answer – and Stuart’s son promptly added that player to his team and ultimately won the league.

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In March, Pearce had a health scare on a flight after experiencing chest pains. The Las Vegas to Heathrow flight was diverted to St John’s in Canada and he spent five days in hospital recovering.

Olivia Attwood reveals real reason Bradley Dack won’t be at Pride of Britain

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Olivia Attwood will be attending the Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards later today – but her husband Bradley Dack will not be joining her on the red carpet, or inside the ceremony

Olivia Attwood won’t be joined by her husband, Bradley Dack, at the Pride of Britain Awards. The reality star has been open with fans over the past few weeks, admitting that their marriage hasn’t been completely peaceful.

Just last week, the pair were seen engaging in a tense exchange at a swanky London restaurant where they had been dining. But today, she was seen leaving a radio studio without her wedding ring – hours before walking the red carpet at the Mirror’s annual event, celebrating the nation’s unsung heroes.

But the Mirror understands Olivia will be walking the red carpet and attending our event on her own, without Bradley by her side. This is due to Bradley’s footballing training schedule, and he wouldn’t make it to JW Marriott Grosvenor House London in time.

Olivia looked unrecognisable as she left the Kiss FM studios today. The former Love Island star appeared to be deep in thought as she walked out of work, wearing a black tracksuit. The 34-year-old scraped her blonde hair back off her face with a black headband as she carried her expensive Hermes Birkin bag in her hand.

The pair tied the knot in 2023 at the Bulgari hotel in Knightsbridge having known one another for almost a decade. But Olivia recently opened up about their marriage – and Bradley’s reaction to seeing her cosying up to Pete Wicks in Ibiza.

She stated that while their marriage isn’t “perfect”, she and Bradley are very much still a couple and that she and Pete are simply just friends, as well as colleagues. “Me and Brad never pretend to have a perfect relationship, we have been up, down, left, backwards, and the last six months have been really challenging for us”, she said.

Olivia explained that she and her husband prioritize their relationship because they frequently have to “navigate” it. We constantly have to work at it, she told the Daily Mail, and that’s the only way to describe the “boring side” of being an adult in a long-term relationship.

The actress explained that she was aware of Bradley’s dislike of his and Pete’s portraits and that she would not have appreciated it if she had seen images of him and another woman. Olivia and Bradley’s relationship is “at a crossroads,” according to sources.

They are at a crossroads, according to a source. Brad wants children, but Olivia won’t say when she will start trying because she’s frustrated. He worries that because he wants to be a father, she will never be ready. It’s obviously very concerning because their marriage will eventually take them on entirely different paths. If they can’t compromise, there is a concern that their relationship won’t rekindle.

Olivia made an Instagram announcement just last week. One person inquired, “Where the hell is Brad?” having noticed that her social media posts had noticed that he had not been much of a part of her. Olivia responded, “I swear he’s alive. 10 of us. There have been many changes. I’m not a faker, and my marriage is frikin’ hard (no one wants to hear that phrase out loud).

Continue reading the article.

If pictures don’t accurately reflect our reality, I won’t post them. You will be the first to know if there are any more updates from us.

Everton defender Branthwaite to have operation

PA Media

Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite needs a hamstring operation and is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.

The 23-year-old has yet to feature for David Moyes’ side this season after sustaining an injury in pre-season.

The injury was described as a ‘minor niggle’ in July, but the England international has had a setback and now needs surgery.

Everton said: “Following specialist consultation, it has been determined the defender will undergo a surgical procedure to address the issue.

“Branthwaite will commence a structured rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the club’s medical team following the operation.”

Branthwaite attracted interest from a number of clubs in the summer – including Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham – before signing a new five-year contract.

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