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Wales Online
12 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Plymouth Argyle issue cryptic response to shock Gareth Bale takeover links
Plymouth Argyle issue cryptic response to shock Gareth Bale takeover links The Welsh football great is reportedly part of a consortium bidding to take over the League One side Gareth Bale (Image: PA Wire ) Plymouth Argyle chief executive Andrew Parkinson has refused to rule out reports linking Gareth Bale with a sensational move into football club ownership, describing the former Real Madrid star's involvement in a takeover bid as "speculation" at this stage. Stories first published by The Telegraph earlier this week claimed that a United States-based private equity group, fronted by Bale and involving members of the Storch family, was in discussions to purchase full control of the League One club. However, Parkinson was quick to dampen the excitement surrounding the links when questioned at new head coach Tom Cleverley's unveiling at Home Park on Thursday. 'That was really speculation,' Parkinson said. 'You would expect me to say that we are not in a position to be able to talk about any individuals or any investors, but of course when we have got the opportunity to do that we will do.' While neither confirming nor directly denying contact with Bale's consortium, Parkinson reiterated majority owner Simon Hallett's long-standing openness to external investment. Hallett revealed on May 31 that a year-long negotiation with a potential investor had collapsed, and that the club continues to seek the right partners for sustainable long-term growth. Article continues below 'I think Simon has said this numerous times, it's about getting the right people to be involved in the club for the long term,' Parkinson added. 'Simon and the other shareholders have committed for this season to do that and provide the right finances across the board. We will continue discussions for the long term.' The latest reports placed Bale as the public face of the American-led group and suggested he could even assume a chairman-style role if the bid succeeded—mirroring the involvement of former teammate Luka Modric, now a minority shareholder at Swansea City. The Welshman has been out of football since confirming his retirement back in January 2023, shortly after leading his side into the World Cup in Qatar, where they were unfortunately eliminated in the group stages. He finished his club career in the US playing for Los Angeles FC and still spends a lot of time in America. Other celebrity names below the Premier League include NFL legend Tom Brady, who purchased a stake in Birmingham City before they won promotion back to the Championship last season. Meanwhile, American golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas snapped up shares in Leeds United before the club sealed their return to the Premier League. Bale has no previous connection to Plymouth, and the move would clearly come as a huge surprise, although a takeover of the Pilgrims has seemingly been on the cards for some time. Argyle's leadership, however, appear to be keen to keep expectations in check as they attempt to stabilise after a turbulent 18 months that have included five head coaches and relegation from the Championship. Parkinson said the club remains focused on bouncing back under new boss Cleverley, while also building a more robust foundation behind the scenes. 'This is about the long term,' he said. 'It's about how we grow as a football club, how we develop, how we bring players on. We want long-term growth, not just going up and down.' For Bale, whose retirement in early 2023 ended a glittering playing career—including five Champions League titles and stints with Spurs, Real Madrid and LAFC—the links to Argyle mark the latest twist in his post-football evolution. While he's since built a profile as a businessman and pundit, a role in club ownership would represent a significant step into football's boardroom. Article continues below Whether that step will come at Home Park remains to be seen. For now, Plymouth are staying tight-lipped—and Bale's potential leap from superstar to chairman remains just that: potential.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Antimony shortage after China's export curbs leaves battery makers sweating
When China restricts exports of a key mineral, sometimes the pain is sudden and even crippling — enough to spur a major outcry almost immediately. Other times, it takes longer to be felt. For the world's makers of lead-acid batteries, China's restrictions on critical mineral antimony that were put in place late last year have become a major headache — one that their customers also now have as sky-high procurement costs are passed on. "We consider it a national emergency," said Steve Christensen, executive director at the United States-based Responsible Battery Coalition, whose members include battery maker Clarios, Honda and FedEx. He noted the key role batteries played in industry and civilian life, how antimony was used in military equipment, as well as the surge in spot prices. Antimony now costs more than US$60,000 per tonne, having more than quadrupled over the past year. "There are no quick solutions... We were completely caught off guard collectively, as an industry," he said. China likely produced 60 per cent of all antimony supply in 2024, according to the US Geological Survey. Much of antimony mined in other countries is also sent to China for processing. Beijing added the mineral to its export control list last September, requiring companies to gain licences for each overseas antimony deal. It then followed up in December with an outright ban on shipments to the US — an action seen as retaliatory after Washington further restricted exports of advanced semiconductors to Chinese companies. China's global exports of antimony are now just a third of levels seen this time last year. Christensen said US companies were hugely reliant on China for their supply of antimony and buyers were increasingly having to procure from an emerging "grey market", where sellers that had stocked up on the material were charging extremely high prices. China's restrictions on antimony precede its controls on rare earths and rare earth magnets that were imposed in response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs and do not appear to have been discussed in last week's efforts to stabilise a truce in trade tensions between the two countries. Last week's talks between China and the US also did not include any agreement on specialised rare earths such as samarium needed for military applications. Lead-acid batteries, commonly found in petrol-engine vehicles, are mostly used to start the engine and to power low-voltage instruments. They are also used as sources of backup power in various industries and to store excess energy generated by solar and wind systems. Antimony is also essential to military equipment such as night vision goggles, navigation systems and ammunition. Overall antimony demand is some 230,000 to 240,000 tonnes a year with lead-acid batteries accounting for about a third of that, according to consultancy Project Blue. While many battery makers may have access to antimony-lead alloy from recycled materials, Project Blue estimates they collectively need around 10,000 tonnes a year of higher purity antimony to top up the alloy to reach the right battery properties. Securing that additional portion could be challenging. Project Blue director Nils Backeberg said there was enough antimony outside China to satisfy non-Chinese demand but buyers needed to compete with Chinese purchasers such as the country's huge solar industry, and China's smelters were able to offer better terms. "With antimony prices at nearly five times normal market conditions, the cost becomes a factor and with supply limited on the Western market, a shortage is being felt," he said. For now, it seems that battery makers' antimony woes have not yet led to cuts in output. One source at an Indian battery maker said antimony represented only a small cost of a battery and price increases were being passed onto customers, but any more price rises could spell trouble. "If the price does increase further, everyone (in the industry) will be vulnerable," said the source. In a sign that profits are being affected, India's Exide Industries blamed high prices for antimony when it logged smaller-than-expected income for its fourth quarter. Christensen said policymakers should treat the issue as one of national security, arguing that Western countries had become "overly reliant on a single geopolitical adversary for minerals foundational to both national defence and civilian life".
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Alessia Russo: I fell into ‘trap' of scrolling social media at last Euros
On Tuesday tennis player Katie Boulter lifted the lid on the level of abuse aimed at some in her sport and revealed she and her family have received death threats. Arsenal forward Russo, who is gearing up for next month's Euros, said she could empathise with Boulter and has learned to avoid the platforms for the benefit of both her mental health and her football. 'I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game, but it's definitely one that can be really damaging,' said Russo. 'I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my team-mates, my coaches and my family. 'I think you have to remember that they are the people you need to lean on in tough times. As I've got older, I understand more what works for me. In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes. 'Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. It's personal preference and whatever works for the team. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me.' Manchester United attacking midfielder Ella Toone added: 'It's individual. Whenever we go to a tournament it's individual. It's what people want to do. 'I know that my decision might be different to someone else's and I have to respect that decision. I do like to scroll on Instagram. But I know other people turn their phones off. 'We have that conversation and all know how each other wants to go through the tournament. We respect each other's decision. If I see something on Instagram I'm not going to tell someone or blurt it out to the team because they don't want to see it. I think it's a personal preference.' The majority of Sarina Wiegman's squad – save three United States-based players due to link up next week – have now assembled ahead of the start of their European title defence, which kicks off with their Zurich opener against France on July 5. Much has changed for best friends Russo and Toone – and women's football – since the Lionesses lifted their first major trophy on home soil in 2022 and reached their first World Cup final the following summer. Energy in every step ⚡#Lionesses | @LucozadeSport — Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 17, 2025 'We understand this is like a new England,' Russo added. 'We have lots of different players with different strengths and it's about bringing all of that together and using each other's strengths. New players are coming in and you have seen the impact they have made straight away in big games. 'I think we have evolved in many different ways, tactically. But in terms of having that energy from young players coming through, it's something that's really exciting.'
Rhyl Journal
2 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Alessia Russo: I fell into ‘trap' of scrolling social media at last Euros
On Tuesday tennis player Katie Boulter lifted the lid on the level of abuse aimed at some in her sport and revealed she and her family have received death threats. Arsenal forward Russo, who is gearing up for next month's Euros, said she could empathise with Boulter and has learned to avoid the platforms for the benefit of both her mental health and her football. 'I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game, but it's definitely one that can be really damaging,' said Russo. 'I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my team-mates, my coaches and my family. 'I think you have to remember that they are the people you need to lean on in tough times. As I've got older, I understand more what works for me. In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes. 'Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. It's personal preference and whatever works for the team. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me.' Manchester United attacking midfielder Ella Toone added: 'It's individual. Whenever we go to a tournament it's individual. It's what people want to do. 'I know that my decision might be different to someone else's and I have to respect that decision. I do like to scroll on Instagram. But I know other people turn their phones off. 'We have that conversation and all know how each other wants to go through the tournament. We respect each other's decision. If I see something on Instagram I'm not going to tell someone or blurt it out to the team because they don't want to see it. I think it's a personal preference.' The majority of Sarina Wiegman's squad – save three United States-based players due to link up next week – have now assembled ahead of the start of their European title defence, which kicks off with their Zurich opener against France on July 5. Much has changed for best friends Russo and Toone – and women's football – since the Lionesses lifted their first major trophy on home soil in 2022 and reached their first World Cup final the following summer. Energy in every step ⚡#Lionesses | @LucozadeSport — Lionesses (@Lionesses) June 17, 2025 'We understand this is like a new England,' Russo added. 'We have lots of different players with different strengths and it's about bringing all of that together and using each other's strengths. New players are coming in and you have seen the impact they have made straight away in big games. 'I think we have evolved in many different ways, tactically. But in terms of having that energy from young players coming through, it's something that's really exciting.'
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Iran-Israel conflict top updates: Meta rejects Tehran's claims on location tracking
United States-based technology company Meta on Wednesday said it does not ' track the precise location ' of the users of its messaging platform WhatsApp, reported CBS News. Earlier in the day, Iran reportedly asked its citizens to stop using WhatsApp, Telegram and other 'location-based applications', accusing them of being Israel's 'main methods to identify and target individuals'. This came against the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Iran entering its sixth day. The countries have launched fresh attacks on each other. Here is more on this and other top updates: Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, said on Tuesday that the ' false reports ' from Iran will be an excuse for its services to be blocked in the country 'at a time when people need them the most'. It stated that all of the messages sent via WhatsApp are 'end-to-end encrypted meaning no-one except the sender and recipient has access to those messages, not even WhatsApp'. 'We do not provide bulk information to any government,' the tech firm said. The statement came after the Islamic Republic News Agency urged citizens to deactivate or delete their WhatsApp accounts because the 'Zionist regime is using citizens' information to harm us', Al Jazeera reported. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his nation would never surrender as demanded by United States President Donald Trump. A day earlier, Trump had demanded Iran's 'unconditional' surrender amid its conflict with Israel. The US president also claimed that Khamenei was in hiding and that Washington knew about his whereabouts. In a speech read on state television on Wednesday, Khamenei said: 'America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage.' Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilise the situation in West Asia, Reuters reported. In separate comments, the head of Russia's SVR foreign intelligence service, Sergei Naryshkin, was quoted as saying that the situation between Iran and Israel was now critical. Two buildings housing manufacturing sites for centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear programme have been destroyed at Karaj, just outside the capital Tehran, AFP quoted the International Atomic Energy Agency as saying. The UN agency's announcement came hours after Israel's military said it had carried out a series of air strikes in and around Tehran.
