List of All Articles with Tag 'f'

By Shadia Nasralla, Ron Bousso and America Hernandez LONDON/PARIS Shell and TotalEnergies reported sharp falls in second-quarter profit

Wheat futures climbed as Ukraine said Russia fired two Kalibr cruise missiles from a submarine in the Black

By Dominique Vidalon and Helen Reid PARIS Cash-strapped retailer Casino suffered a loss in the first half after

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has bid farewell to the club as he closes in on a move to Al-Ettifaq. The 33-year-old will bring to an end a 12-year spell at Anfield, in which he won every single major club honour, when his move to the Saudi Pro League club is confirmed. “It’s hard to put these last 12 years into words and it’s even harder to say goodbye. I will always be a Red. Until the day I die,” he posted on Instagram. “Thank you for everything. You’ll never walk alone.” He added in a video accompanying his post: “I’m in the (Liverpool) dressing room for the last time so, as you can imagine, it is very emotional. “I need to somehow explain what these last 12 years have meant for me and my family. “Being made the captain of Liverpool Football Club was one the greatest honours of my life. “From the day the armband was passed to me I did everything I could to behave like a Liverpool captain should. “Thank you for allowing me to be part of your club, thank you for your support in good time and bad.” Henderson’s move to the Middle East – where he will be reunited with former Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard as manager – has been in the pipeline for several weeks but on Wednesday a fan posted a video on social media of him training with his new club in Croatia. Despite the very public interest in the England international he flew out to Liverpool’s training camp in Germany 11 days ago, although he did not play in either of their friendlies out there after an offer of an initial £12million was accepted. In contrast, fellow midfielder Fabinho was left at home as a £40m bid from Al-Ittihad arrived hours before they were due to travel. The Brazil international is still awaiting the conclusion of the deal but that is expected to go through this week. Henderson’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia has come in for criticism after his staunch support for the LGBT+ community and Rainbow Laces Premier League initiative. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, while the state stands accused of a host of other abuses including placing harsh restrictions on women’s rights and the right to political protest. “Jordan Henderson is of course free to play for whoever he chooses, but we would urge him to examine Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and be prepared to speak out about human rights violations in the country,” Amnesty’s UK economic affairs director Peter Frankental told the PA news agency last week. Pride in Football, a network of LGBT+ fan groups, said in a statement: “When you see someone who has been an ally so publicly transfer to a club in a country where LGBT+ people are attacked and imprisoned, it is disappointing. “Good luck in Saudi Arabia Jordan, but you have lost the respect of so many people who valued you, and trusted you.” Liverpool’s own LGBT+ fans group Kop Outs were even more damning, saying: “Given choices he has recently made, Kop Outs doubt & question if Henderson was ever an actual ally.” While Al-Ettifaq wait to confirm Henderson’s arrival they have signed Scotland international Jack Hendry’s from from Club Brugges and former Celtic forward Moussa Dembele. Read More Jordan Henderson risks tarnishing Liverpool legacy after career built on triumph of character

MADRID The investment firm of Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega, the founder of fashion giant Inditex, on Thursday reported

By Jorgelina do Rosario and Rodrigo Campos LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) -Time is running out for Argentina to secure the next

By Orathai Sriring and Kitiphong Thaichareon BANGKOK Thailand's factory output shrank more than expected in June as sluggish

By Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday that China has rolled over a $2.4

Summer holiday season may be in full swing, but you can always bring a dash of your dream destination style home – without even stepping foot on a plane. From a touch of tropical to far-flung flair and seaside sunset scenes, the world of interiors is full of travel-inspired treasures. Here’s what’s on our bucket list… 1. Beach Sunset Photography (left) and Pray For Surf Photography, from £49 each framed, Beach House Art When you want to make a spectacular sunset or paddling adventure part of your everyday world, nothing beats the wow factor of travel photography to place you right at the scene. 2. Palm Leaf Stems – Pack of 3, £39, Where Saints Go Green and leafy accents such as tropical palm stems are a brilliant styling tool – and faux designs do the job wonderfully when you’re short on natural sunlight or want something that’ll last. 3. Leopard Jungle Cushion, £29.95, Mint & May When you want to take a walk on the wild side at home, this loveable leopard will lend an exotic edge to pared-back schemes. 4. Paloma Home Divine Fabric 2 Seater Sofa in Plush Velvet Turmeric, £945.99 (was £1,999), SCS In a sunny shade, this velvet sofa – with brass-tipped walnut legs and deep seats – looks plush enough to channel some five-star luxe. Adorn with floral scatter cushions for extra Mediterranean vibes. 5. Shell Burnished Copper Pendants, £89 each, Atkin and Thyme Pendant lighting is having a moment, and these chic shell drops take ambient lighting to a new level. Made from burnished copper, they’re a work of art before you’ve even hit the switch. 6. George Gold Bird Ornament, £5, Direct.asda You can almost hear the forest birdsong from this chirpy little fellow. A welcome dash of gold for any sideboard or bookcase. 7. Send Me a Postcard Wallpaper in Summer Brights, £50 per roll, Lust Home Why not make a picture postcard setting a reality, with a funky feature wall dedicated to idyllic coastal hideaways and mesmerising views? With a variety of destinations, from Morocco to the Amalfi Coast, we’re big fans. 8. Siobhan Murphy Coral & Beetroot Snake Bookends, £20 (were £50), Freemans There’s something mystical about serpent decos, especially this eye-catching pink pair. Perfect for your glossy travel magazines and guide books. 9. Austin Leopard Print Velvet Dining Chair, £175, Rockett St George Bold and beautiful, this leopard accent chair is surprisingly easy to work into existing schemes. Think fast track to safari lodge décor or a splash of glam. 10. Zira Monkey Table Lamp Silver With Shade, £95.40, Dar Lighting With a glossy metallic finish, this monkey lamp loves the spotlight and will brighten up your space with its faux silk shade and smiley face. 11. George Pink Tiger Print Throw, £20 (was £22), Direct.asda This pink cotton throw will make a statement piece styled with a glass coffee table, lush greenery and bamboo palm. A bargain to boot. 12. STAR by Julien Macdonald Tropical Print Floor Cushion, £27 each (were £39), Freemans For a touch of island life, we can’t think of anything cooler than chilling out on a comfy floor cushion. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, a pop of pink is never a bad idea. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The most unhygienic things in your kitchen revealed – and how to get them clean Laura Whitmore: I feel unsafe as a woman Meet the professional cuddler charging £70-an-hour to hug ‘the big spoons in life’

Centrica is boosting shareholder returns after profit at its British Gas business increased almost 10-fold compared to last

Michael Bisping is, in his own words, “f***ing knackered”. As we sit in a long, vast hallway in a Canary Wharf hotel, it is 2pm local time. But Bisping, fresh in from the US, is mentally in another time zone completely. The 44-year-old is in London to provide commentary for this weekend’s Fight Night at the O2 Arena, where – in two days’ time – Tom Aspinall will knock out Marcin Tybura in 73 seconds. In many minds, Aspinall is Britain’s next UFC champion. Bisping, though, will always be Britain’s first. It has been seven years since the Lancashire fighter stunned Luke Rockhold on short notice to win their rematch, avenge a loss to the American, and take the middleweight title. And it has been six years since Bisping retired, following a loss to Kelvin Gastelum in Shanghai. “It’s crazy, it doesn’t feel like that at all,” he says. “It’s flown by, to be honest, but I’m still very busy and very involved in the UFC, which I’m very grateful for. This company changed my life in so many of the best ways possible. Fighting in the UFC is a very tough career, but it opened so many doors for me. I’ll forever be grateful.” Nowadays, Bisping’s main involvement with the UFC is at the commentary desk, where he can combine his charisma with insight from a Hall Of Fame career. “I take it very seriously,” he says. “From the first fighter on the prelims to the main event, they all need the same amount of attention and respect. For those people making their debut, this is their main event. You have to be just as studious for them. I know I’m very jovial, sometimes silly – a little foolish – but I’m playing the part. I take it very seriously.” During his fighting career, Bisping would often play the part of the ‘bad guy’. It was the sort of approach that saw some fans delight in his brutal knockout loss to Dan Henderson in 2009, seven years before Bisping outpointed his rival to retain the middleweight belt. Now, however, he is beloved, as is evidenced by fans’ interactions with the Briton at live events. That said, ‘fans’ isn’t a word that Bisping likes to use. “It’s never sat comfortably with me,” he explains. “I’m just a very normal guy from Clitheroe. Mixed martial arts is an incredible sport, but we’re fighters – not rockstars. I think the moment you start thinking like that, you need to give your head a bit of a wobble and have a chat with yourself.” In his penultimate fight, versus welterweight icon Georges St-Pierre, Bisping again filled the role of the bad guy, against one of the nicest guys in MMA. “GSP” would submit Bisping to take the title, before retiring from the sport. Three weeks later, after losing to Gastelum, Bisping followed suit. Now, the Briton is pondering following GSP back into action, as St-Pierre prepares to compete in the UFC Fight Pass Invitational jiu-jitsu tournament in December. “He was trying to train me and offer me to do it,” Bisping says. “I’m kind of considering it, to be honest. I have many injuries, but I can still grapple, and it’s pretty low risk on the body. If things aren’t going well, you can tap out at any time, and it’s not like there’s a world title on the line or I’m trying to build a career from it. But the challenge of coming back to a competitive realm is appealing to me, and I think the ‘fans’ would get a kick out of it...” Bisping and GSP discussed the latter’s grappling venture on YouTube recently, in a much friendlier exchange than the ones that preceded their 2017 fight. “We’ve laughed about it many times, we’ve had many a dinner together,” Bisping says. “I’m happy and proud to call him a friend. I have so much respect for the man. I always did, we actually trained together for a long period in 2006, but that’s just the way I was; if someone was gonna fight me, I’d kinda take it personally. “Everyone deals with it in different ways, and of course I was playing the bad guy. You’re trying to sell pay-per-views, but I do build some animosity in my own mind until the fight’s done. Never has a harsh word spoken between us since then. The man really is one of the nicest, most fantastic human beings.” Bisping, like St-Pierre, has often credited martial arts as a key factor in becoming a well-adjusted adult, and the former middleweight champion is not only in London for commentary duties but also to promote the city’s first UFC Gym, which will open later this year. Like the existing UFC Gyms in Nottingham and Woking, the space will offer martial arts classes, though it is not aimed at those purely wishing to get into fighting, he clarifies. “Obviously I’m biased, but I think a mixed martial artist in prime condition is one of the best-trained athletes in the world. I think UFC Gym mirrors that, in terms of what we can offer with fitness. UFC Gyms are world-class fitness centres, and there’s a real vibrancy to them. They offer jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, kids’ classes, but they’re not necessarily aimed at people wanting to be fighters. I have a UFC Gym in California, it’s got every type of class you could imagine. It’s got yoga, circuit classes, weight training, cryotherapy, saunas.” Has Bisping ever tried yoga? “I keep talking about starting, but I’m a little self-conscious!” he laughs. “I need to start, because my body is a little beat up after spending 20 years getting the crap kicked out of me. It’s on the agenda.” Before long, a bit of grappling may be on the agenda, too. Visit ufcgym.co.uk for more details. Read More UFC 291 live stream: How to watch Poirier vs Gaethje online and on TV this weekend Tom Aspinall finally banishes ghosts of the past with UFC London triumph Tyson Fury seeks UFC star Tom Aspinall’s help ahead of Francis Ngannou fight UFC 291 fight card in full as Dustin Poirier faces Justin Gaethje What time does UFC 291 start this weekend? How to watch UFC 291 online and on TV this weekend

Barclays Plc said it would buy back a further £750 million ($972 million) of its shares after a