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New Straits Times
23 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.
Qatar Tribune
44 minutes ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Israel attacks Iran's Arak reactor as Iranian missile hits hospital
Agencies Tehran/ Tel Aviv An Iranian missile barrage has struck several sites across Israel, damaging a hospital in the country's south, and Israel has attacked Iran's Arak heavy water nuclear reactor as the two countries trade fire for a seventh consecutive day. At least 240 people were wounded in the Iranian attacks, including four seriously, according to Israel's Ministry of Health. The majority were lightly wounded, including 70 at the Soroka Medical Center in the city of Beersheba in southern Israel. Iran said it was targeting a military site in that attack. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed the missile attack hit an Israeli military and intelligence centre located near Soroka hospital, causing only 'superficial damage to a small section' of the health facility. Iranian projectiles also made impacts in at least six other locations, including in Tel Aviv and two of its districts – Holon and Ramat Gan, according to local media reports. The Israeli army said its fighter jets struck dozens of sites in Iran, including Natanz and the heavy water nuclear reactor, which was originally called Arak and is now named Khondab. The military said it specifically targeted 'the structure of the reactor's core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production'. Iranian media reported air defences were activated in the area of the Khondab nuclear facility and two projectiles hit an area close to it. Officials told Iranian state TV that evacuations were made before the strikes and no risk of radiation or casualties was detected. There was no mention of any damage. An Israeli military spokesperson later said that fighter jets had struck the Bushehr nuclear power plant located on Iran's Gulf coast, the Reuters news agency reported. But an Israeli military official later said the statement was 'a mistake' and said he could not confirm or deny if the facility had been targeted. The escalation comes after Israel launched a major attack on Iranian military facilities and nuclear sites last Friday, killing senior military officials and top nuclear scientists. Iran responded to that attack by launching waves of missiles at targets in Israel, although most have been shot down by Israel's multitiered air defences. The conflict has quickly widened this week with both countries striking one another. The Soroka Medical Center, which has more than 1,000 beds and provides services to about one million residents of southern Israel, said in a statement there was 'extensive damage' in several areas of the hospital and the emergency room was treating several minor injuries. The hospital was closed to all new patients except for life-threatening cases. Many hospitals in Israel have activated emergency plans in the past week, converting underground parking to hospital floors and moving patients underground, especially those who are on ventilators or are difficult to move quickly. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iranian leaders they would pay 'a heavy price' for the attack, and Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to eliminate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'Such a person is forbidden to exist,' Katz said in a statement cited by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. The Iranian news agency IRNA said the 'main target' of the Beersheba attack 'was the large [Israeli army] Command and Intelligence (IDF C4I) headquarters and the military intelligence camp in the Gav-Yam Technology Park'. The facility is next to the Soroka Medical Center, it said, claiming the health facility suffered only minor damage from the shockwave resulting from the missile strike. Tight military censorship in Israel means information about sites such as military and intelligence facilities is not released to the public. According to Israeli media reports, a building next to the hospital described as 'sensitive' sustained heavy damage. Iranian state TV, meanwhile, reported the attack on the Arak site, saying there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever'. A Washington, DC-based Iranian human rights group said at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran in the past week of air strikes and more than 1,300 have been wounded. Iran has fired about 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel, killing at least 24 people and wounding hundreds.
The Star
an hour ago
- Business
- The Star
Explainer-NBA-Breaking down the Buss family's sale of LA Lakers at $10-billion valuation
Jeanie Buss, President of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks during the permanent placement of late Kobe Bryant's handprints and footprints in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo (Reuters) -The Buss family, architects of 11 NBA championships, is poised to relinquish their four-decade reign over the LA Lakers, with ESPN reporting they are entering an agreement to sell a majority stake in basketball's most glamorous franchise. The following is the breakdown of the deal: WHAT IS AT STAKE? Lakers minority owner Mark Walter is set to take majority ownership in a deal valuing the Lakers at about $10 billion, making it the most expensive U.S. sports team valuation in history. The deal will end family control of the Lakers. The Buss family will retain a minority share of just over 15% for a period of time after the deal, ESPN reported, bringing to a close its stewardship of a franchise that became synonymous with Hollywood allure and championship excellence. Reuters could not immediately ascertain what Walter's new stake in the team would be. He purchased a minority stake in the Lakers with Todd Boehly in 2021. The previous record for biggest sports deal was held by the Boston Celtics, who agreed in March to be sold for $6.1 billion. WHO ARE THE LAKERS? The Lakers are one of the most storied franchises in National Basketball Association history. The team was valued at $7.1 billion by Forbes last year, behind only the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks in the NBA. They are the second-most successful NBA team with 17 championships. The Celtics have 18. Jerry Buss, who bought the Lakers for $67.5 million in 1979, transformed them into one of the most well-known franchises in professional sports. The team won five championships during the celebrated "Showtime" era of the 1980s. The Lakers have LeBron James, arguably the league's biggest star, on their roster. They also snapped up Slovenian Luka Doncic in a high-profile trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February. WHO IS MARK WALTER? Walter is a 65-year-old American billionaire businessman who is CEO and chairman of holding company TWG Global. He is also CEO of investment firm Guggenheim Partners. Walter, whose net worth is listed as $6.1 billion by Forbes, has owned the LA Dodgers baseball team since 2012. He is adding the Lakers to a sporting portfolio that includes stakes in the Cadillac Formula One team, the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and English Premier League soccer club Chelsea. WHO ARE THE BUSS FAMILY? Jerry Buss's 66% stake in the Lakers was passed on to his six children via a family trust after his death in 2013. Buss died at the age of 80 due to kidney failure. His daughter, Jeanie, took over as principal owner after his death and is set to continue as team governor, maintaining a family connection to the purple-and-gold empire her father built. WHICH ARE SOME OTHER NOTABLE SPORTS DEALS? The Celtics set the previous benchmark in NBA sale valuations after agreeing to a $6.1-billion sale to a group headed by private equity firm Symphony Technology Group co-founder William Chisholm in March. The NFL's Washington Commanders sold for $6.05 billion in July 2023, in a deal that, at the time, was the biggest for a North American sports franchise. Also in 2023, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe finalised a deal to acquire a minority stake in Manchester United that valued the English soccer club at $6.3 billion. In 2022, former owner Roman Abramovich sold English soccer club Chelsea to a consortium led by Boehly that included Walter, for about $3.2 billion. WHEN IS THE LEAGUE EXPECTED TO APPROVE AND FINALISE THE LAKERS SALE? Final approval of the sale could take several months. The Celtics' sale has yet to receive final approval from the NBA Board of Governors. The Board is scheduled to meet in July in Las Vegas, though that session is expected to focus primarily on potential league expansion plans. (Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru;Editing by Rod Nickel)
RTHK
an hour ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Trump to make Iran war decision in 'next two weeks'
Trump to make Iran war decision in 'next two weeks' US President Donald Trump has left the world guessing whether the US will join Israel's strikes against Iran. Photo: Reuters US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will decide whether to join Israel's strikes on Iran within the next two weeks, as there is still a "substantial" chance of talks to end the conflict. Trump's move to hit the pause button could open up space for diplomacy, after days of fevered questions about whether or not he would order US military action against Tehran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a message from Trump after what she called "a lot of speculation" about whether the United States would be "directly involved" in the conflict. "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," Trump said in the statement. Trump has set two-week deadlines that subsequently shifted on a series of other tough topics in the past, including the Russia-Ukraine war – but Leavitt denied he was putting off a decision. "If there's a chance for diplomacy, the president's always going to grab it, but he's not afraid to use strength as well," Leavitt said. At the same time Leavitt reinforced the sense of urgency, telling reporters that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in the space of a "couple of weeks". "Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon," she said. Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon, saying that its programme is for peaceful purposes. (AFP)
The Star
an hour ago
- Sport
- The Star
Tennis-Sinner's Halle defence over after loss to former winner Bublik
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts during his final match against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo (Reuters) -World number one Jannik Sinner's bid to win back-to-back Halle Open titles was ended on Thursday following a 3-6 6-3 6-4 defeat by Alexander Bublik in the last 16, the top seed's first defeat to a player outside the Top 20 since 2023. Going into the contest Sinner held a 4-1 win-loss record against Kazakhstan's Bublik, including a recent victory at the French Open. However, in Halle, Bublik now holds a 2-0 advantage over his Italian rival having also beaten Sinner en route to winning the grasscourt event in 2023. The Italian began brightly as he sailed into a 3-0 lead on his way to winning the first set but eventually came unstuck as Bublik hit 36 winners, including 15 aces. "I don't know. I kept serving. I tried to get back whatever I can," world number 45 Bublik said when asked how he turned things around. "He's an unbelievable player. I was not thinking I could beat him. "If I would have a few chances and I executed them well and I kept serving, I had for certain a better chance than at Roland Garros," he added referring to his quarter-final defeat at the claycourt major. Bublik saved three break points in the first game of the second set before gaining the crucial break to lead 4-2 and smashed three aces when holding serve to force the decider where a break to go 4-3 up proved decisive. "It's a very fast surface. He gave me a chance. I had an amazing forehand to break him in the third set," Bublik said. "I just kept serving and putting him in uncomfortable positions. It worked well." Sinner's last loss to a player ranked outside the Top 20 came against Dusan Lajovic, then number 66 in the world, at Cincinnati in August 2023. Bublik will meet Tomas Machac in the quarter-finals after the Czech seventh seed eased to a 6-2 6-3 win over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan. German second seed Alexander Zverev, still looking to win his first grasscourt title, overcame Italian Lorenzo Sonego 3-6 6-4 7-6(2). Zverev, a twice beaten finalist in Halle, recorded his fifth win over the Italian in as many meetings, having also beaten Sonego at the same stage of last year's tournament. He next faces another Italian, Flavio Cobolli. Cobolli squeezed past Canadian Denis Shapovalov 7-6(2) 4-6 7-6(5). Another two-time losing finalist, Andrey Rublev, exits the tournament after a three-hour battle in which the Russian fourth seed was beaten 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(6) by Argentine Tomas Etcheverry. Etcheverry, who saved two match points in the deciding tiebreak, will meet another Russian, Karen Khachanov. The eighth seed beat Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 1-6 6-3. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes)
