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Extra.ie
13-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Soulless British and Irish Lions now just a marketing exercise
Whatever happens in the looming Test series against the Wallabies, this British and Irish Lions has been a massive success. Well, commercially anyway. A record number of lucrative tour packages were snapped up by the travelling supporters ahead of this tour. The 'Red Army' has never had so many recruits. Plenty of big-money sponsors, including commercial airlines and insurance giants, have been on board for quite some time. Indeed, the 'official' title of this campaign is the Qatar Airways Lions Men's Tour to Australia 2025. The three Tests at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the MCG in Melbourne and Accor Stadium in Sydney have long been sold out. Those tickets came at a premium, too. A record number of lucrative tour packages were snapped up by the travelling supporters ahead of this tour. Pic:The Lions is big money, for the hosts and the four unions which provide the coaches, players and support staff. All the people in the boardroom will be delighted with how this Lions series played out. Has it gone too far? The misty-eyed days of the amateur era are long past, and rugby is now a business. Funding a fully professional rugby tour spanning the best part of six weeks isn't cheap either. That's the reality of the modern game. But is it just us, or does the whole Lions concept now feel a tad corporate? Whatever happens in the looming Test series against the Wallabies, this British and Irish Lions has been a massive success. Well, commercially anyway. Pic:We keep hearing about how 'epic' these tours are and how it is the 'pinnacle' for every coach and player to be a part of them, how these tours are 'unmissable' for the fans. Really? This series hasn't exactly stirred the soul in recent weeks. Maybe it's the tourists struggling to hit top gear, the mediocre midweek opposition or the suspicion that the Wallabies – despite having Joe Schmidt on board – are no great shakes at present, but this whole series has felt a bit flat. As long as the Lions remain profitable, it is here to stay. As long as the Lions remain profitable, it is here to stay. Pic: Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images You would wonder how the players genuinely feel about the whole concept, however. Being a pro is a bit of a grind these days. Between club and country commitments, the modern player doesn't get much of a breather. It's a big reason why the Lions tours are now so condensed. Gone are the days when the visitors would spend a proper stint in the country they're touring, taking in plenty of games against local opposition, mixing with the locals, making memories and getting a real sense of the place. The entire Lions squad sound a bit weary at the moment, given their exhaustive travel schedule, taking in stops in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra and Adelaide in the space of 15 days. Judging from the dispatches from Australia in recent days, Farrell, his coaches and the players all sound a bit weary. And it's showing on the pitch. Yesterday was better, but it was against a thrown-together side. Yes, the Lions have never been more lucrative, but they have sold their souls in the process. The money is flying in, but the sense of wonder drained away long ago.
Arab News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Afghan cattle farmers fear for future and flock as Pakistan deportation threat looms
ISLAMABAD: Saeed Khan tapped his wooden staff rhythmically as he guided over two dozen cattle and sheep into a livestock enclosure bound by mud and fencing fashioned out of thorny branches. The soft sound of hooves over the dusty ground could be heard as Khan went about his work, with the occasional sound of bleats filling the air. Khan, 48, is a member of the nomadic Kuchi tribe that traces its origins to Afghanistan. The Kuchis depend on animals for their livelihood and their movements historically were determined by the weather and the availability of good pastures. Khan, whose ancestors used to come to Pakistan only during the winters and would return to the high-altitude pastures of Afghanistan during summers, made Pakistan his permanent home in the '80s, but he now fears for the future, with Islamabad's June 30 deadline for Afghan Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders to leave the country over by almost two weeks. 'At first, there wasn't any card issue,' Khan told Arab News, minding his flock in Islamabad. 'Our people didn't know much about it. It's only now that the problem has come up, that we've realized.' The problem Khan referred to is a controversial deportation drive that Pakistan launched in 2023 against what it described as 'illegal foreigners,' mostly Afghans, in the country. Islamabad this year said it wanted 3 million Afghans to leave the country, including 1.4 million people with PoR cards and some 800,000 with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). According to data from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), more than 900,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since the expulsion drive began. While Pakistan deported thousands of ACC holders, the government said those with PoR cards could stay until June 30. The Pakistan government cites economic stress and security concerns as reasons to push ahead with the expulsion drive, while human rights advocates say the move threatens people who have lived in Pakistan for decades and contributed significantly to its informal economy and urban infrastructure. The Kuchi nomads would spend the winters in the Indus Valley region or parts of southern Afghanistan and Balochistan before heading for the Hindu Kush mountains in the summer each year, according to Professor Thomas Barfield, president of the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies and a leading anthropologist on Afghan culture at Boston University. Presently, they number around a million in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Khan, after settling in Pakistan, has raised animals not only to sell them for the Eid Al-Adha sacrifice, when cattle are in high demand, but also for exports. 'I do both cattle and sheep [farming],' Khan explained. 'Especially Turkish sheep for sacrifice. [But] most of our animals go to factories, one in Raiwind Lahore, one in Kasur, one in Kamoke, then they're exported abroad.' There are many mud shelters near Khan's home along the Qur'ang river in Islamabad that now lie abandoned. They were once inhabited by Kuchi families who had ACCs but were expelled by Pakistani authorities. The empty shelters serve as a stark reminder for Khan and other PoR card-holders such as his nephew, Mohammad Ullah, of what the future may bring. 'This place where they used to live, they left it as they were,' Ullah told Arab News, pointing to the empty huts. Some ACC holders remain, concealing their identity out of fear of deportation, but the majority of Kuchis here holds PoR cards. Some of the Kuchis were left out when they were being registered as they were away herding animals in remote areas. A Kuchi person, who spoke to Arab News on condition of anonymity, said his entire family had PoR cards except for him. 'The thing is, we have six children here. If I go to Afghanistan, my children will stay here, right?' he asked. 'So, what will I do there, and what will they do here?' Khan also worries about his livestock and says he would have to sell them all if Pakistani authorities forced him to leave. 'Because they won't let us take it across the border [to Afghanistan],' he said, bearing a tensed look on his face.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Lions tame gutsy Brumbies for fourth straight win on Australia tour
Lions pip Brumbies British and Irish Lions' Bundee Aki is tackled by ACT Brumbies' Rory Scott during their rugby match in Canberra on Wednesday. Photo: Saeed Khan/AFP Image: Saeed Khan/AFP Marcus Smith and Ollie Chessum got on the scoresheet as a defiant British and Irish Lions fought past a gutsy ACT Brumbies 36-24 on Wednesday, piercing their defence for five tries. On a frigid Canberra night, the visitors started slowly but found their groove as they count down to the first Test, building on a 19-10 half-time lead to bank a fourth consecutive win since landing in Australia. In the Lions' previous two games against the Brumbies, Australia's top Super Rugby side, only two points had separated them each time – the tourists won 30-28 in 2001 and lost 14-12 in 2013. This time the Lions were convincing winners as players jostle for position in Andy Farrell's team for the opening Wallabies Test in Brisbane on July 19. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "The Brumbies were very good today. They challenged us throughout the whole game," Lions captain Maro Itoje said. "It was a hotly contested game, but another step in the right direction. "We're building a team. We're a group of individuals coming together. "The more we play, the better we will become, we just have to accelerate that." After two statement wins over Western Force and Queensland Reds, the tourists were scrappy against the NSW Waratahs, struggling to convert territory and possession into points. In response, Farrell named his strongest side of the tour so far and they were more cohesive, marshalled by Englishman Itoje. They cut down on the handling errors and showed more attacking intent under the guidance of Scottish playmaker Finn Russell, although the defence was leaky with the hosts' crossing four times. "Proud. I think the way we defended was quality and it shows how much pride the boys have in this jersey," Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan said. While the Brumbies were without their top players, who are on Australia duty, they still boasted plenty of firepower and had a brilliant start. Kinghorn injury concern Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan gave away a penalty and the Brumbies launched into a rolling maul that saw Tuaina Taii Tualima burrow over after just four minutes. The tourists woke from their slumber and levelled 10 minutes later when Bundee Aki broke the defence, with Russell luring two defenders before offloading for lock Chessum to dot down. They should have had another try soon after but Ireland winger James Lowe failed to ground the ball. Having lost Elliot Daly to a broken arm last week, there was a further fullback blow for the Lions when Blair Kinghorn went off in the first half and had his left knee put in an ice pack, with Smith replacing him. "I was just speaking to him (Kinghorn) then," Farrell told Sky Sports. "Someone had landed on his knee, he felt a little bit of something so he's walking around. So hopefully it's not too serious." TLowe had another chance on the half-hour mark, which this time he took after sharp hands from Sheehan and Jack Conan. Russell added the extras for a 12-5 lead, but the Brumbies struck back with another well-deserved try, courtesy of winger Corey Toole. A goal-line dropout by the Brumbies as the hooter sounded proved costly. The Lions gathered and attacked the line, with Smith finishing for a 19-10 lead at the break. An early second-half try to Garry Ringrose, who got on the end of a Smith grubber kick, stretched their advantage to 26-10. But the hosts again hit back when substitute Hudson Creighton scythed through. The Lions did not panic and a Russell penalty increased their buffer before a converted try by Josh van der Flier put the game beyond reach. AFP
Forbes
25-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Japan Plugs A Gap Left By China In Australian Resources
Japanese trading companies have emerged as big winners from lingering mistrust between Australia and China, using the rift to make a series of major investments in Australian resources which might previously have attracted Chinese companies. Mitsui's $5.3 billion acquisition last month of a 40% stake in a world-class but undeveloped iron ore project is the highlight of Japan's plunge into Australian resources ranking as the biggest investment ever made by Mitsui. Iron ore stockpiles at the Parker Point export loading facility in Western Australia. (Photo by ... More) Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Sojitz have also been building on their exposure to Australian resources, especially in the fields of energy and critical metals. A long-term investor in Australian resources, Japan was crowded out for several years by China, but a trade dispute four years ago which saw China ban the import of some Australian raw materials, soured that relationship, clearing the way for a Japanese return. The close relationship between Australia and Japan is being reinforced by both countries having long standing connections to the U.S. which has become increasingly distrustful of China. Sojitz led the way into critical metals with its support 15 years ago for Australia's leader in that field, Lynas Rare Earths, providing the capital to help build the Mt Weld mine in Western Australia, and continue to pump in funds to pay for expansion of the business which has emerged as the world's biggest rare earth producer outside China. The Japan/Australia connection in rare earths, which have multiple industrial and military uses, is also of interest to the U.S. with Lynas and the U.S. Defense Department working on a solution to a wastewater disposal issue at the planned Seadrift rare earth processing plant being built by Lynas in Texas. The plunge by Japanese companies deep into Australian resources goes beyond the simple purchasing of raw materials though those transactions are also expanding with Nippon Steel and JFE Steel last year buying a combined 30% stake in the Blackwater coal mine, and Woodside Energy selling a 15.1% interest in the Scarborough gas project to JERA, a major Japanese power company. Australian coal being railed to port for shipping to Asia. Photo by Saeed Khan/AFP (via Getty ... More Images) It's the growing interest of Japan's trading houses in early-stage resources exploration and project development which points to even closer future ties with Australia. Mitsui's investment in the Rhodes Ridge mine is the deal which will finally see an asset, dormant for 50 years, brought into production with construction and future operation of the mine being managed by Rio Tinto, a major Australian iron ore miner. Mitsubishi has at least two Australian resources deals moving through the early stages of planning, a non-binding understanding with Australia's Chalice Mining over the Gonneville palladium, nickel, cobalt and copper project and the Goongarrie nickel project where it is partnering with Sumitomo and the Australian company, Ardea Resources. Gonneville has attracted Mitsubishi because it is seen as a future source of metals deemed to be critical with the supply of palladium controlled by Russia and South Africa, while nickel, cobalt and copper are key ingredients in rechargeable batteries. Australian nickel is attracting Japanese investment, partly because China dominates Indonesia ... More production Goongarrie is a pure nickel opportunity which has been 30 years in the exploration and evaluation phase but is currently working towards completion of definitive feasibility study which could lead to construction of a mine able to compete with Indonesia's low-cost nickel mines which are largely Chinese controlled. Increasing involvement in Australian resources has been welcomed by the Australian Government, which is also closely monitoring Chinese investment in critical metals, sparking a dispute with Chinese investors in Northern Minerals, an Australian company proposing to develop the Browns Range rare earth project in the Northern Territory. Five Chinese investors in Northern Minerals were last year ordered by the Australian Government to sell their shares, but not all have complied with the failure to comply stoking Australian Government concern. The rare earth dispute with China gained further traction earlier this month when a former Australian Defense Minister, Linda Reynolds, accused China of manipulating the critical minerals sector. It's incident like the trade clash of four years ago and the current dispute involving Northern Minerals which has thrown the Australian resources door wide open for Japan.
