Don't drop it: World's most expensive ice cream costs $6,400
A white truffle and gold leaf ice cream made in Japan comes with its own custom spoon.
1970-01-01 08:00
Liverpool thought they’d bought the future – but two wrong moves left them counting the cost
As their soon-to-be former teammates formed a guard of honour on Saturday, there were four presentations in all, two for men in tracksuits, two for those who have distinguished themselves in Liverpool shirts over the last eight years and who wore them at Anfield for a final time. The scorer Roberto Firmino and James Milner, the thirty-somethings who are veterans of over 300 Liverpool appearances apiece, had bowed out as influential substitutes. For the younger duo of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a watching brief felt sadly fitting. It is how they have spent much of their Liverpool careers: sometimes watching on from the bench, often from the stands. Neither has reached 150 appearances in all competitions, even including outings as a substitute. Keita has started 49 league games since his £52m move, or 26 per cent of those in his five years at Anfield, Oxlade-Chamberlain 46 in six, which is just 21 per cent. This season, the Englishman has played 335 Premier League minutes – just 10 per cent of Liverpool’s – and the Guinean 294, or 8.9 per cent. They have had spells as ever-presents on injury bulletins. They were both omitted from Liverpool’s Champions League squad in the autumn, even if the medical team’s pessimism about Oxlade-Chamberlain proved excessive, eventually rendering him fit but ineligible. “Four legends,” Jurgen Klopp had said, but it felt a generous description. Firmino qualifies; so, too, Milner, an unglamorous and often uncelebrated figure, belatedly got his own banner in the Kop. “Ribena for my men – we ride at dawn,” it read, a fine salute to a teetotaller defined by his physical power, willing spirit and leadership qualities. Liverpool, Klopp feels, will miss his mentality. “He sets a high, high bar,” said his manager. But there were heartfelt tributes and a sense of what might have been. The departing quartet fall into two categories: a pair who realised their potential and a duo who did not. It is not entirely their fault. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Anfield career can be divided into two, though certainly not at the half-way point. He was electric for three months before suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Roma in the 2018 Champions League semi-finals, the dynamic, explosive attacking central midfielder he had always wanted to be. Though he had a fine 2019-20 season, he never recaptured that zest. Keita’s terrific debut against West Ham in 2018 proved a false dawn. He was sporadically excellent thereafter – by and large, he had an impressive 2021-22 season – but Klopp’s assessment last year that of his first 100 games, 80 of them were “really good” was not shared by many supporters. For some, Keita’s time on Merseyside was summed up by his shot in last season’s Champions League final: skied, it was a missed opportunity. For others, it may be epitomised by the Twitter thread of the five strangest reasons for his frequent absences, from getting hurt walking, to being injured on a plane, to a military coup. There was a farcical element but Liverpool could count the cost of two moves that went wrong. They have never had the margin for error that the Manchester clubs possess in the transfer market. For years, they got nearly all of their major signings correct, sometimes spectacularly. But Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain cost a combined £87m and will leave on free transfers. Each is in his twenties and, while it was not stated explicitly, was not offered a new deal. Klopp is a master of eloquent compliments, but Liverpool gave up on both. For years, camouflaged by the excellence of their elders, it mattered less than it might have done until, suddenly, it proved crucial. Six years after Liverpool agreed to sign both – they wanted Keita so much they waited a year for him to actually arrive – they were supposed to be the future of Liverpool’s midfield and the future arrived. Liverpool’s many midfielders this season fell into three categories: the thirty-somethings, the youngsters and the trio at their supposed peak, in their late twenties. But Fabinho has had an awful campaign and Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain were bit-part players, making a combined total of seven league starts, none before Boxing Day, none after February, none where they played 90 minutes, only two of which Liverpool won. Without them, it has been a season of makeshift midfields, of problems at the heart of the side. With Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson ageing, perhaps the plan was for this to be the season of Naby Keita: instead it ends with him being released. Liverpool lost the generation game; the next group, whether Stefan Bajcetic, Harvey Elliott or Curtis Jones, all had periods that showed their promise but those who were supposed to represent the present either regressed or simply were not available. A consequence is that much of Liverpool’s summer budget will be devoted to midfielders; with a need to split it to get more than one – which may not have been necessary had Keita flourished and earned a new deal – they won’t get Jude Bellingham. Their outlay could stretch into nine figures; in a sense, they will be looking to regenerate, to shape Klopp’s second side. In another respect, they are seeking to replace Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain, to find players of the quality they were supposed to show more often. But whether their eventual arrivals are Mason Mount and Alexis Mac Allister or Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Gallagher, the first ability they need to demonstrate is one Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain have lacked too often: availability. And preferably for at least 50 games a season. Read More Liverpool will still attract top talent across ‘exciting’ and ‘intense’ summer, Virgil van Dijk believes Roberto Firmino ends glorious Liverpool career with imperfect goodbye Jurgen Klopp admits Liverpool have not been good enough for top-four finish
1970-01-01 08:00
Riding on G7 success, Japan PM Kishida eyes early election
By Elaine Lies and Yoshifumi Takemoto TOKYO Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is increasingly certain to call a
1970-01-01 08:00
Harrison Ford relished reviving the role of Indiana Jones
Harrison Ford has always been keen to shoot another 'Indiana Jones' movie.
1970-01-01 08:00
Foo Fighters unveil new drummer Josh Freese
Josh Freese will replace the late Taylor Hawkins as Foo Fighters' sticksman.
1970-01-01 08:00
Miley Cyrus rules out 'isolating' arena shows
Miley Cyrus doesn't feel a "connection" to her fans at large-scale concerts.
1970-01-01 08:00
Fast and Furious franchise 'is in the pruning process'
Michelle Rodriguez feels excited about the future of the 'Fast and Furious' franchise.
1970-01-01 08:00
Summer Sun Beats Ryanair’s Higher Prices: The London Rush
Ryanair’s optimistic outlook for the summer season could spell good news for the aviation and holiday industry more
1970-01-01 08:00
‘Succession’ Season 4 Episode 9 Review: The Roy siblings unleash the ultimate political dystopia over America
America is in shambles after Kendall and Roy help Jeryd Mencken win the US Presidential election for selfish purposes
1970-01-01 08:00
Flights stopped as Mount Etna eruptions coat Catania city and airport in thick layer of ash
Flights were suspended at Sicily’s Catania airport on Sunday after Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, showered the city with a thick coating of ash. Ash fell across the runway and over the city of Catania, as well as on at least one town on Mount Etna’s slopes, according to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). The INGV, which closely monitors Etna with instrumentation on the slopes, noted that cloud cover on a rainy day impeded views of the eruption, which often serves up a spectacular display of flaming lava during the volcano’s not infrequent spells of heightened activity. No injuries were reported. Photos and videos taken after the eruption show a massive plume of ash rising out of the volcano, covering the sky. Some photos also show ash on people’s homes and cars. Catania airport said that due to ashfall, flight operations were temporarily suspended. The airport authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation and will resume flights once conditions permit. The INGV indicated that monitoring had recorded evidence of a stepping up in tremor activity in recent days. People in the towns of Adrano and Biancavilla reported hearing loud booms emanating from the volcano on Sunday, the Italian news agency ANSA said. Italy’s national Civil Protection Agency had noted on Thursday in an alert that in view of increased volcanic activity, “sudden” variations of Etna‘s activity could occur. In early 2021, an eruption of the volcano lasted several weeks. But it hasn’t unleashed a major eruption since 1922. Mount Etna, towering at approximately 3,330metres tall (10,926 feet), is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Due to its history of recent activity and the risk to nearby populations, Mount Etna has been added to the list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worldwide, a designation given by the United Nations to volcanoes that exhibit more than one volcanic hazard. The volcano is monitored continuously by scientists to ensure the safety of nearby communities, while studying the geological processes at play. Additional reporting by agencies Read More Mexico City airport briefly shutters due to eruption of volcanic ash Satellite imagery captures huge volcanic eruption in Russia Earthquake activity at two Alaska volcanoes could signal eruption, officials warn Travellers shocked after airline weighs woman on baggage scale Teenager fined by airline after attempting baggage hack of wearing all her clothes Disney’s new $2,400 a night Star Wars hotel forced to close after 18 months
1970-01-01 08:00
Adani Stocks Surge, Head for Best Day Since Hindenburg’s Report
Adani Group shares surged on Monday, extending gains spurred by an Indian court panel’s report that found no
1970-01-01 08:00
F-16s for Ukraine: Why Kyiv would still face big hurdles in using the US-made fighter jets
Ukraine's quest for US-made F-16 fighter jets received a big boost over the weekend when US President Joe Biden gave his backing for Kyiv's pilots to be trained to fly them.
1970-01-01 08:00
