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Straits Times
30 minutes ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lionel Messi strikes as Inter Miami stun Porto at Club World Cup
ATLANTA - A Lionel Messi trademark free-kick earned Inter Miami a shock 2-1 comeback win against Porto in the Club World Cup on June 19. The Argentine superstar found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for the MLS side and give them a strong chance of progressing from Group A. Inter Miami and Palmeiras have four points each, after the Brazilian side beat Al Ahly 2-0 earlier on – the Egyptians like Porto have one point. Samu Aghehowa's early penalty gave the Portuguese side the lead as they had the better of the first half and could have scored more. However Telasco Segovia blasted Miami level and then Messi's free-kick helped them claim a noteworthy scalp, in a match many thought would be straightforward for Porto. Co-owned by former England international David Beckham, Inter Miami played their first MLS match in 2020 and signed Messi in 2023, raising their profile significantly. This was the first competitive victory for an MLS side over European opposition, in their second encounter after Chelsea beat Los Angeles FC earlier in the week. 'It's a huge joy, the whole team made a big effort, we worked really well,' Messi told DAZN. 'It's a really important win for us and we have to enjoy it... 'You can see that we want to compete, and today we competed against a really good European team... we knew that today we were weaker, but we had our strengths.' Even with Messi, arguably the face of the tournament, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium was under half-full at kick-off, hamstrung by another 3pm kick-off on a working day as it was for Chelsea's opener at the venue. More fans entered throughout the game, keen to get a glimpse of the 37-year-old widely considered to be the game's greatest ever player, with nearly 32,000 present in the end. Messi did not disappoint and was the game's outstanding player, involved heavily from the off. The former Barcelona great clipped a dipping ball in behind for veteran striker Luis Suarez, who could only prod it at the goalkeeper. Porto took the lead in the eighth minute after being awarded a soft penalty after a VAR review, as Miami defender Noah Allen made light contact with Joao Mario in the box. Spain international Samu Aghehowa beat Oscar Ustari, who had saved a penalty in the goalless draw against Al Ahly, even though the stopper got a hand to his low effort. Porto's Samu Aghehowa scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot, past Inter Miami's Oscar Ustari. PHOTO: AFP Uruguayan striker Suarez, 38, might have levelled after Messi threaded him through on goal but, forced to use his weaker left foot, Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos denied him. Javier Mascherano's side almost levelled through US international Benjamin Cremaschi after a charge forward from Suarez broke open Porto's defence, but Ramos made a smart near post stop to thwart him. Maximiliano Falcon brilliantly headed off his own goal-line with Ustari beaten by Rodrigo Mora's effort to keep Inter Miami hopes alive. Ustari denied Aghehowa and then scrambled the ball to safety as it rolled towards his net after Alan Varela crashed a shot off the upright and it hit him on the back, as Porto turned the screw before the break. 'Clutch moment' Inter Miami levelled right at the start of the second half, with Segovia blasting home Marcelo Weigandt's inviting cut-back to stun the Portuguese side. Messi then sent Miami ahead with a goal all of his own making after 54 minutes. The playmaker was brought down outside the area and dusted himself down before arrowing a classic Messi free-kick into the top right corner. Argentine superstar Messi found the top corner with a second half set-piece to clinch a surprise victory for MLS side Inter Miami. PHOTO: REUTERS '(Messi) is a leader, he's the player he is, he's the greatest player in the world,' Inter Miami forward Fafa Picault told DAZN. 'I had a feeling (the free-kick) was going in. That was a great goal, a great show of leadership and coming in a clutch moment for us.' Miami battled hard to keep Porto at bay and groans travelled around the stadium after seven minutes of stoppage time was announced. Mascherano's players thew themselves in the way of shots in a way the former Argentine defensive midfielder would have done himself, and Inter Miami were eventually able to claim their much-craved victory. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
32 minutes ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Auckland City's Club World Cup participation is a privilege with a price
MIAMI: Adam Mitchell knows he is going to lose money this month. The Auckland City defender left his job selling houses in New Zealand to take part in the Club World Cup, where the eventual champions will pocket a staggering US$125 million — while his semi-professional team plays on for pride and an appearance fee still under negotiation. "My business runs on a commission basis only," Mitchell told Reuters on Thursday after his side's humbling 10-0 defeat to European giants Bayern Munich at the expanded Club World Cup. "If I'm not back working, there's no income coming in. But a tournament like this, you have to be willing to make sacrifices and that's what a lot of us have done." The Club World Cup's new, lucrative format has attracted criticism for its schedule congestion at the end of a long European season. Mitchell and his teammates, many of whom work as teachers, delivery drivers, and tradesmen, are effectively paying out of their own pockets for the privilege of competing on this stage. It is not just Mitchell's earnings that are taking a hit. New Zealand's labour laws typically grant around four to five weeks of annual leave per year — most of which, for Auckland's players, was already used up during last year's Oceania qualifying tournament. "The players that went to the qualification for this tournament, well, we played in the Solomon Islands. That was three weeks," Mitchell explained. "Some people have run out of annual leave. People are kind of in negative days and taking unpaid leave. So, it's nice for people to know the sacrifices we make to be here." While the tournament offers prize money tiers based on performance, Auckland City, representing one of football's smallest confederations, will receive the lowest payout - a fraction of the $3.58 million meant for Oceania. Even that amount, Mitchell noted, is still subject to ongoing negotiations between the club and New Zealand Football. NO MERCY On the pitch, the gulf between part-time semi-professionals and global superstars was on brutal display. Bayern Munich, ranked among the world's elite, named a starting 11 packed with internationals, showing no mercy en route to a double-digit victory. "Conceding 10 goals isn't a nice feeling," Mitchell admitted. "But I think we have to realise the calibre of team and calibre of players we were up against. "The fact that they did put their strongest team out and they didn't take the pedal off the metal at all. They just kept going and going and going, which, it's not great for us, but in a way that's a sign of respect." The heavy defeat has not dampened spirits within the Auckland camp. With two more games to play in their group against Benfica and Boca Juniors, Mitchell said he and his teammates are determined to leave their mark. "If you watched the (Bayern) game, you could see we never give up regardless of the scoreline," he said. Back home, Mitchell juggles the demands of a commission-based real estate job with evening training sessions and coaching duties at the club. His typical day starts early, squeezing in gym sessions before work, and ends late at night after training. "It's not ideal for my wife," he joked. "I don't get to see her that often, but she really respects the fact that this is a sacrifice that we have to make and she also has to make. "(For her) just seeing myself and the whole team on the stage and obviously against the best players in the world, I think it's a really proud moment." Mitchell admits that while the financial hit stings, the exposure could pay off in other ways. "Maybe if someone was watching on TV and they realised I was in the industry, maybe they just want to have a chat and that's the way you can build some rapport," he said. To the critics who have questioned the inclusion of Auckland City in a competition of this scale, Mitchell remains unapologetic. "We don't bother too much about critics. We've earned the right to be here. People have to realise we are semi-professionals, but we do treat training and we treat our club like a professional club, with the resources we have," said Mitchell, whose side face Benfica on Friday.
West Australian
33 minutes ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Israel-Iran crisis: Penny Wong orders Australian diplomatic staff evacuate Tehran after Marco Rubio call
Australian diplomatic staff are evacuating the embassy in Iran, underlining heightened fears of the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifying. Diplomatic staff will move to neighbouring Azerbaijan and continue helping Australians evacuate the region. There are around 2000 Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as wanting to leave Iran. The move underlines the tense situation in the Middle East as Israel and Iran continue to exchange fire. US President Donald Trump said he would wait another two weeks before deciding on making any US intervention in Israel's attack on Iran, which began last week. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quoted the President as saying during a briefing to reporters. President Trump is under intense pressure from the isolationist wing of his Make America Great Again movement to avoid being drawn into another conflict in the Middle East and broker a diplomatic solution. On Friday, European Foreign Ministers from Germany, France and the UK are set to meet the Iranian counterpart in Geneva to try and calm the conflict. Amid fears that Israel's quest to take out Iran's capacity to build a nuclear bomb, the Australian government closed the embassy on Monday. On Friday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the government's order to abandon the embassy in a statement released shortly after her phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio overnight. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said: 'Secretary Rubio and Minister Wong agreed to continue to work together closely to commit to a path of peace and ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.' Senator Wong said in a statement that the worsening security situation prompted the government directive to move the Ambassador, Ian McConville, a career diplomat, elsewhere in the region. 'The Australian Government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our Embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran,' the minister said. 'The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is deploying consular staff to Azerbaijan, including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran. 'We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. 'Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place. 'We are continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran, and we remain in close contact with other partner countries.' 'At this stage, our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.'
Business Times
34 minutes ago
- Business
- Business Times
Europe: Shares dive as Middle East tensions, US involvement fears weigh
EUROPEAN shares skidded to an over one-month low on Thursday as escalating Middle East tensions and fears over potential US involvement rattled investors. The pan-European Stoxx 600 closed down for the third consecutive day with a 0.83 per cent drop to 535.86, its lowest level since May 9. Trading volumes remained thin as US markets were shut for a public holiday. The week-old Iran-Israel conflict showed no signs of de-escalation. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump kept markets guessing about American involvement in air strikes on Tehran. Markets were hopeful of talks between the US and Iran, and between the European Union and Iran on Friday, leading to a potential de-escalation in tensions. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Much of the recent nervousness has been in markets centred around crude oil supply shocks, triggered by tensions in the oil-rich Middle East. Oil prices rose on the day and boosted the energy sector by 0.8 per cent, emerging as the session's top performer. Healthcare and utilities were the only other sectors in the green. Conversely, travel and leisure stocks led broader declines and finished 2.3 per cent lower, taking a hit from the soaring oil prices. 'When the main channel is through energy prices, you see some risk aversion and that's what we're seeing across European equities and that explains the subdued performance,' said Lilian Chovin, head of asset allocation at Coutts, referring to the Middle East tensions. Unpredictable policies European central bank decisions this week showed how Trump's unpredictable trade policies are complicating monetary policy. The Bank of England kept rates on hold, as expected, but flagged risks from a weaker labour market and higher energy prices. Britain's FTSE 100, which houses energy giants such as BP and Shell, lost 0.6 per cent. The Swiss National Bank cut rates to zero as expected, while Norway's central bank delivered a surprise 25 basis-point cut, its first reduction in five years. Stocks in Oslo were up 0.7 per cent. The Euro Stoxx Volatility index touched its highest level since May 23 and was at 24.94. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that inflation in goods prices is expected to go up over the summer as Trump's tariffs work their way to consumers. The mixed signals did not offer markets much clarity on how the Fed plans to navigate the uncertain economic environment. EU officials are increasingly resigned to a 10 per cent rate on 'reciprocal' tariffs being the baseline in any trade deal between the United States and the EU, five sources familiar with the negotiations said. 'We understand Trump's reaction function and the constraints that apply to him and so investors are better able to form forward-looking views compared to two months ago,' Chovin added. Shares in recruitment companies in Europe slid after British recruiter Hays' forecast a more than 57 per cent drop in annual operating profit. Rival firms Randstad Robert Walters and Adecco fell over 4.5 per cent each. Among stocks, Stora Enso jumped 14.7 per cent to top the Stoxx 600 after the Finnish forestry group said it was initiating a strategic review of its Swedish forest assets. REUTERS
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
Napoleon's iconic bicorne hat and personal treasures expected to fetch millions in Paris
PARIS -- After Hollywood's 'Napoleon' exposed the legendary emperor to a new generation, over 100 relics — which shaped empires, broke hearts and spawned centuries of fascination — are on display in Paris ahead of what experts call one of the most important Napoleonic auctions ever staged. His battered military hat. A sleeve from his red velvet coat. Even the divorce papers that ended one of history's most tormented romances — with Josephine, the empress who haunted him to the end. Two centuries after his downfall, Napoleon remains both revered and controversial in France — but above all, unavoidable. Polls have shown that many admire his vision and achievements, while others condemn his wars and authoritarian rule. Nearly all agree his legacy still shapes the nation. 'These are not just museum pieces. They're fragments of a life that changed history,' said Louis-Xavier Joseph, Sotheby's head of European furniture, who helped assemble the trove. 'You can literally hold a piece of Napoleon's world in your hand.' The auction — aiming to make in excess of 7 million euros ($7.5 million) — is a biography in objects. The centerpiece is Napoleon's iconic bicorne hat, the black felt chapeau he wore in battle — with wings parallel to his shoulders — so soldiers and enemies could spot him instantly through the gunpowder haze. 'Put a bicorne on a table, and people think of Napoleon immediately,' Joseph said. 'It's like the laurel crown of Julius Caesar.' The hat is estimated to sell for at least over half a million dollars. For all the pageantry — throne, swords, the Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor — the auction's true power comes from its intimacy. It includes the handwritten codicil of Napoleon's final will, composed in paranoia and illness on Saint Helena. There is the heartbreakingly personal: the red portfolio that once contained his divorce decree from Josephine, the religious marriage certificate that formalized their love and a dressing table designed for the empress. Her famed mirror reflects the ambition and tragedy of their alliance. 'Napoleon was a great lover; his letters that he wrote are full of fervor, of love, of passion,' Joseph said. 'It was also a man who paid attention to his image. Maybe one of the first to be so careful of his image, both public and private.' The auction's timing is cinematic. The 2023 biopic grossed over $220 million worldwide and reanimated Napoleon's myth for a TikTok generation hungry for stories of ambition, downfall and doomed romance. The auction preview is open to the public, running through June 24, with the auction set for June 25. Not far from the Arc de Triomphe monument dedicated to the general's victories, Djamal Oussedik, 22, shrugged: 'Everyone grows up with Napoleon, for better or worse. Some people admire him, others blame him for everything. But to see his hat and his bed, you remember he was a real man, not just a legend.' 'You can't escape him, even if you wanted to. He's part of being French," said teacher Laure Mallet, 51. The exhibition is a spectacle crafted by celebrity designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, famed for dressing Lady Gaga and Pope John Paul II. 'I wanted to electrify history,' Castelbajac said. 'This isn't a mausoleum, it's a pop culture installation. Today's collectors buy a Napoleon artifact the way they'd buy a guitar from Jimi Hendrix. They want a cabinet of curiosities.' He's filled the show with fog, hypnotic music and immersive rooms. One is inspired by the camouflage colors of Fontainebleau. Another is anchored by Napoleon's legendary folding bed. 'I create the fog in the entrance of the Sotheby's building because the elements of nature were an accomplice to Napoleon's strategy,' the designer said. Castelbajac, who said his ancestor fought in Napoleon's Russian campaign, brought a personal touch. 'I covered the emperor's bed in original canvas. You can feel he was just alone, facing all he had built. There's a ghostly presence." He even created something Napoleon only dreamed of. 'Napoleon always wanted a green flag instead of the blue, white, red tricolore of the revolution," he said, smiling. "He never got one. So I made it for Sotheby's.'
