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Extra.ie
3 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Munster face seismic task as Sharks find their bite
The scale of the task facing Munster this weekend is seismic, with a star-studded Sharks side providing the opposition in Durban. The province snuck into the URC playoffs by dint of that nerve-shredding final-round win against Treviso in Cork. And Munster's reward was a trip to South Africa to face a squad loaded with Test quality. The Sharks will have the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi on board. It's a stellar cast of World Cup winners and household names on the international beat. Siya Kolisi. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Steve Haag This team of superstars play their rugby at Kings Park, the 54,000-capacity stadium which was built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. They have close ties with Roc Nation, the sports agency owned by rapper Jay Z and are bankrolled by a powerful US consortium. When you add all those pieces together, the Sharks have the makings of a superclub to rival the likes of Toulouse, Bordeaux and the Crusaders. But this Durban-based franchise have very much been less than the sum of their parts for a long time. Eben Etzebeth. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart The club finished 14th last season. A massive underachievement for a team with this level of depth and resources. The Sharks have improved massively this term, improving by 11 places to finish third in the regular season standings, just behind the Bulls and Leinster. Coached by New Zealander John Plumtree, who served as Ireland's forwards coach under Joe Schmidt for a short time, there is a sense that this sleeping giant is finally beginning to wake from its slumber. But the Sharks remain a work in progress. For all the South African heavyweights in their ranks, they haven't quite hit their stride. Sharks head coach John Plumtree. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Steve Haag Many of the players, including Etzebeth and fellow Springbok Andre Esterhuizen have admitted as much recently. They feel they are not far from clicking. That could spell trouble for Munster this weekend. The visitors have endured some tough days in Durban. Earlier this season, they suffered a 41-24 hammering at Kings Park. Then head coach Graham Rowntree would part ways with the province soon after. Two years ago, Munster were on the wrong end of a 12-try thriller at the same venue, the hosts prevailing 50-35 in a Champions Cup last-16 clash. Saying that, Ian Costello's side will take plenty of confidence against a Sharks outfit which can be notoriously flakey. The hosts concede a lot of turnovers and their defence can be suspect. Andre Esterhuizen. Pic: INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart On paper, the Sharks should cruise into the semi-finals, but this club has a long tradition of failing to live up to the hype. Long before the South African sides arrived in this part of the world to beef up the Pro14, the Sharks were flattering to deceive in Super Rugby. They landed a fair share of Currie Cup titles but the big southern hemisphere trophy proved elusive. The Sharks reached the final four times in 1996, 2001, 2007, and 2012, yet they never got over the line. The 2007 defeat was perhaps the bitterest pill to swallow when Bryan Habana scored a stunning, last-ditch try to seal victory for the Bulls in an all-South African final. Again, the Sharks have never lacked quality in their ranks. This is a club which has produced Tendai Mtawarira, the Du Plessis brothers, Frans Steyn, Butch James, Marcel Coetzee and JP Pieterson. Former Scotland out-half Gregor Townsend and French maverick Frederik Michalak lined out in the black, grey and white kit during their stellar careers. Bryan Habana scores the winning try during the Super 14 final in 2007. Pic: Duif du Toit/Yet this club has lived in the shadow of the other South African sides. It's been the same story in the URC, with the Bulls and Stormers leading the charge, with the latter landing the inaugural URC title in 2022. The Stormers contested the 2023 final (losing to Munster) before the Bulls picked up the mantle last season, losing to Glasgow in the league final. The Sharks, meanwhile, have been floundering in mid-table mediocrity for far too long. Many observers why this club have continually failed to impress. Speaking on the Boks office show, former Springboks captain Jean de Villiers wondered if team culture is the issue.'The Sharks have fantastic individuals,' the former Stormers, Munster and South Africa centre said. 'It is not a team. You don't see that team environment.
Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Qatar dangles perks in bid to build a Wall Street of its own
[RIYADH] Officials in Doha are dangling perks to Wall Street firms as they seek to build the city into the next great Middle Eastern financial centre. Some financial firms have been offered monetary subsidies so they can retrofit offices across the city to fit their needs. Others have been told the government would pay some staffers' salaries if they were to expand in the city. 'Our approach has always been to work towards where we see a competitive advantage,' said Sheikh Ali Alwaleed Al-Thani, chief executive officer of Invest Qatar, which describes itself as a concierge for entrepreneurs and businesses interested in investing in the country. Unlike Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh – financial centres in their own right – Qatar is better known for its role as a careful mediator in tense geopolitical conflicts. But two years after the tiny Gulf country splashed out more than US$300 billion to host the FifaWorld Cup, Qatar's expecting a major influx of cash as the country expands its production of liquefied natural gas. Doha plans to use the US$524 billion Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) as one of the levers to drive its ambitions, according to sources familiar with the matter. The fund could start encouraging private equity and infrastructure funds to set up in the country using its leverage as an investor, the sources said. A representative for the QIA declined to comment. 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 Investor meetings There are already signs that conversations are picking up in some quarters. 'I did meet with big investors – like even our own QIA, and the Brookfields, Blackstones,' Khalid Al-Obaidli, president of the country's Real Estate Regulatory Authority, said at this week's Qatar Economic Forum. 'All my questions were: What is your business plan? What makes you decide to invest?' 'So we can understand as a government,' he said, 'and make sure we do have the prerequisites for those investments'. To that end, Invest Qatar has lined up incentives to entice asset management, insurance, wealth management and financial technology players to Qatar. The programme, billed as the Lusail Financial Services Package, is part of a broader US$1 billion initiative and allows Doha to cover as much as 40 per cent of companies' local investment costs over the next five years, according to a statement. It's also encouraging firms to establish offices in city of Lusail, the main financial and business district. It's not just finance. The plan also targets technology, logistics and advanced manufacturing firms. To be sure, Doha still lags behind other centres in the region. The UAE hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi allow easier routes to long-term residencies and some expatriates prefer the lifestyle on offer in those cities. Many firms with a presence in the region might also be reluctant to add another office unless there's significant business coming in. 'The pie is getting bigger at such a fast pace,' Invest Qatar's Sheikh Ali said. 'Many of the projects are actually foreign companies that initially set up, say, in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and then decide to expand in Qatar.' There are early signs that indicate Doha's efforts have been working. Just this week, the emerging markets-focused fund manager Ashmore Group announced plans to open an office in Qatar, following in the footsteps of BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners. Unlike Saudi Arabia – which demanded that Wall Street firms obtain a regional headquarters license in the kingdom or it would kick them off state contracts – Qatar has sought to use a more friendly approach to luring these firms. 'The focus is on incentivising companies to set up,' Sheikh Ali said. 'We try to be competitive and help induce investment by taking some risk off the table.' The QIA has already emerged as a key plank to these efforts. The wealth fund last year started a so-called Fund of Funds programme that provides seed funding for venture capital firms in the hopes that they will invest that money locally. London-based Utopia Capital Management was one of the first to receive such backing and announced plans to open its Middle East headquarters in Doha in February. Firms such as B Capital – started by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and former Bain Capital investor Raj Ganguly – followed weeks later. The excitement about Doha's prospects was palpable at the Qatar Economic Forum. 'I have a friend who once told me that the World Cup was like an IPO for Qatar,' Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said at the event. 'And I believe this was – thanks to God – a very successful IPO. And it's been oversubscribed.' The development has not stopped in the aftermath of the World Cup. For years, Qatar has successfully bid for sporting events to come to its shores, which has helped draw thousands of fans. The country is now relying on a line-up of conferences and exhibitions to lure more families, medical tourists, and business travellers. 'We are building four Equinox Hotels in Saudi Arabia, one in Abu Dhabi, one in Dubai,' Jeff Blau, CEO of the real estate developer Related Cos said on stage at the conference this week. 'And in the green room, I think maybe we made a deal for Doha.' BLOOMBERG The government of the State of Qatar is the underwriter of the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'I'll shove it up their...': Trump says nobody gonna mention that he got Olympics and Fifa World Cup
At the White House gathering, US President Donald Trump shared what motivated him to run again in 2024 presidential elections, repeating his claim that the 2020 US election, which Democrats won, was 'rigged.' He was speaking at a Kennedy Center board meeting at the White House on Monday night. He boasted about securing both 2028 Olympics and 2026 Fifa World Cup in the United States. What motivated Trump for 2024? 'We got the Olympics and then we got through Gianni, he's the boss, he's a friend of mine, we got the World Cup. I got them both and I said, 'Man, I won't be president. I got the Olympics and the World Cup and I won't be president and they're gonna forget that I got them, nobody's gonna mention it because, you know, a little bit, that's the way life is. And then they rigged the election," he said. ALSO READ: White House study raises alarm: 9 million Americans could lose health insurance in 'major' recession if... by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Dhaka - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo "And then I said, you know what I'll do? I'll run again and I'll shove it up their a**. And that's what I did. And all of a sudden, I then realized, I said, you know what? I got the Olympics, I got the World cup, and I got the 250th. Look at the way this works out. So if they would have left us alone and wouldn't have cheated on the election and wouldn't have rigged it, I would have been retired right now. I would have been happily doing something else. And instead, they have me for four more years. Can you believe it? So it has rigged," he added. "So if they would have left us alone and wouldn't have cheated on the election and wouldn't have rigged it, I would have been retired right now," Trump said. 'ok'' "I would have been happily doing something else, and instead, they have me for four more years,' Trump added. Live Events — alx (@alx) Donald Trump criticized the previous leadership of the Kennedy Center, claiming that its period of "rampant political propaganda" ended with his recent involvement. Speaking to the center's new board members at a White House event, Trump remarked, "When I said I'd do this, I hadn't even been there." He joked about typically avoiding commitments without prior inspection and criticized the venue's condition, despite what he described as significant funding over the past decade. ALSO READ: FBI chief Kash Patel, accused of spending more time at nightclubs than office, makes big announcement After returning to office in January, Trump dismissed several long-serving board members. In February, newly appointed members voted to make him chairman, prompting the resignation of high-profile figures like TV producer Shonda Rhimes and musician Ben Folds. While the Kennedy Center has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, no US president has previously led it. Trump claimed the facility was deteriorating and criticized its programming, which he said had become overly political, focused on DEI initiatives, and included content he deemed inappropriate—particularly LGBTQ-related shows.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nobody's gonna mention that I got Olympics and Fifa World Cup: Donald Trump rails against opposition
US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump boasted about securing both 2028 Olympics and the 2026 Fifa World Cup in the United States and explained his motivation to run in 2024. Addressing the Kennedy Center board members at the White House gathering, Trump claimed that opponents had "rigged" the 2020 election. 'We got the Olympics and then we got through Gianni, he's the boss, he's a friend of mine, we got the World Cup. I got them both and I said, 'Man, I won't be president. I got the Olympics and the World Cup and I won't be president and they're gonna forget that I got them, nobody's gonna mention it because, you know, a little bit, that's the way life is. And then they rigged the election," he said. " And then I said, you know what I'll do? I'll run again and I'll shove it up their a**. And that's what I did. And all of a sudden, I then realized, I said, you know what? I got the Olympics, I got the World cup, and I got the 250th. Look at the way this works out. So if they would have left us alone and wouldn't have cheated on the election and wouldn't have rigged it, I would have been retired right now. I would have been happily doing something else. And instead, they have me for four more years. Can you believe it? So it has rigged," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo Meanwhile, Trump also criticised the previous administration of the Kennedy Center, declaring that the prominent Washington cultural venue's era of "rampant political propaganda" had concluded since his personal assumption of control. "When I said, I'll do this, I hadn't been there," Trump addressed the centre's new board members at the White House gathering. He quipped about not accepting positions without prior inspection, noting that despite substantial financial investment over the past decade, the facility was in poor condition. Following his return to office in January, Trump removed several long-term board members. New appointees subsequently installed him as chairman in February. This decision led to the departure of prominent figures, including television producer Shonda Rhimes and musician Ben Folds, from their leadership roles. The Kennedy Center, traditionally supported across party lines, has never previously had a US president at its helm. "The building was falling apart. In addition, the programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda, DEI and inappropriate shows," Trump stated, expressing disapproval of LGBTQ content.
The Citizen
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
City Power reclaims energy control with John Ware power station
The station is now one of three generation sites that will collectively contribute 150MW of capacity to the Johannesburg grid. City Power has declared a critical milestone in Johannesburg's push for energy autonomy with the revival of the John Ware Open Cycle Gas Turbine Power Station. According to the utility, the recommissioning of the John Ware facility comes as part of City Power's aggressive 10-point plan to reduce the city's vulnerability to national load shedding and improve energy resilience in Gauteng. City Power on Monday added that the John Ware facility stands as 'a symbol of our commitment to making sure that the city remains energy secure'. 'This is about taking control of our own energy destiny,' it said. Breaking free from Eskom's grip The John Ware power station was left vandalised and inoperable after the 2010 Fifa World Cup and now has been brought back to life through a focused refurbishment campaign. The station is now one of three generation sites, alongside Durban Street and Cottesloe, that will collectively contribute 150MW of capacity to the Johannesburg grid. The move represents a significant shift in municipal energy planning, with City Power taking on generation responsibilities traditionally left to Eskom. 'We developed the 10-point plan to respond directly to the country's energy challenges. That includes developing our own generation capacity, which we are delivering on,' the utility said. During commissioning, each of the two 25MW turbines at John Ware successfully generated 18MW, or 72% of capacity, despite limited diesel supplies. 'This dispels the false notion and inaccurate claims that the site generates less than 10MW,' the statement said. ALSO READ: Here's this week's Eskom load reduction and City Power outage schedule Engineering a resilient energy backbone Refurbishment works included major upgrades to fuel infrastructure, electrical systems and mechanical operations. City Power restored damaged fuel tanks, laid new pipelines and replaced key gauges and valves. Electrical work featured new high-capacity cabling, switch gear refurbishment and transformer protection enhancements. City Power invested in advanced grid management technologies, including a centralised Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (Scada) system and smart meters. 'We are building a smart, modernised grid that can respond rapidly to faults and enable more efficient energy supply management,' the utility said. This includes a robust data centre platform designed to support multiple critical systems like Scada, tele-protection and voice communications, ensuring secure and uninterrupted service. ALSO READ: Here's when City Power won't pay up or fix your outage Energy resilience where it's needed most The utility further implemented solar PV systems on public buildings, health facilities and schools to ensure critical services continue during load shedding. Micro-grids and solar public lighting projects are also underway to lighten the load on the main grid. 'These efforts directly respond to the real-world impact of national power constraints on municipal service delivery,' City Power said. City Power's re-entry into power generation signifies more than just infrastructure repair, it reflects a broader political and operational intention to localise energy governance. 'By investing in infrastructure like John Ware, we are building a foundation for Gauteng's economic resilience,' the utility added. NOW READ: City Power is monitoring this weak spot to stop power outages from theft
