Tourists reflect on the world's largest mirror

Reflection ... Salar de Uyuni salt pan

THESE tourists may look like they’re walking in the air — but they’re actually standing on the world’s largest natural MIRROR.

The amazing phenomenon happens when water falls on the Salar de Uyuni salt pan in Bolivia.

The ground there is so flat that when it rains, there is nowhere for the water to drain away to and it creates a mirror effect which reflects the sky.

And the effect makes for a stunning sight, as these incredible pictures by photographer Takaki Watanabe show.

Walking in the air ... couple take a stroll

Salar de Uyuni is Earth’s biggest salt pan at an incredible 10,500 square kilometres.

And the South American geological wonder is so flat that NASA uses its surface to calibrate their satellite orbits.

Salt pans occur in areas which would usually form lakes or ponds, but the climate is so hot that the rain evaporates before they can form.

Looking up ... clouds over the salt pan

The Salar also contains the world’s highest concentration of lithium, which is vital for computer and phone batteries.

Half of the planet’s supply of the precious metal is contained in the area.

Jump ... tourist seems to be flying

Real keen on Tev

MAD FOR CARLOS ... Real fancy Tevez

REAL MADRID have made a shock move to land Carlos Tevez.

And Manchester City could be ready to sell as they prepare their first bid of £20million for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

Spanish champions Real have asked to be told if City plan to offload their star.

And City would want £25m for their Argentine, who has two years left on his £198,000-a-week deal.

Etihad boss Roberto Mancini made his peace with Tevez at the end of last season after the forward’s strike — but he may want to sell to fund his summer buys.

Insect’s ass is grass as it gets too close tiny predator

Lunch time ... tarsier enjoys meal

AN UNFORTUNATE grasshopper makes an easy meal for one of the planet’s cutest critters.

The tiny tarsier clutches the insect in both hands while chomping on it.

And at only five inches tall it packs a punch far beyond its tiny size.

Nevertheless the miniature mammal, native to Bohol Island, The Philippines, is under threat.

Taken from its jungle habitat and into the human world, the saucer-eyed beasts struggle to survive.

Under threat ... tarsiers' cuteness works against them

Czech wildlife photographer Petr Slavik, 44, explained: “The major enemy of the tarsius is their cuteness.

“But if kept as pets they are dying very soon and they have never been successfully bred in captivity.

“For this reason the research of their behaviour is so important.”

Aston Martin hopes new car will Vanquish rivals

Speedy ... Aston Martin Vanquish can reach speeds of 183mph

ASTON Martin has unveiled its latest model — and James Bond is likely to be shaken AND stirred at the prospect of his next company car.

The Vanquish replaces the DBS grand tourer — favoured by Daniel Craig in his first two Bond outings before he switched to his classic DB5.

And if he does manage to get his hands Aston's latest model, chances are he’ll be outrunning all his enemies.

Under the bonnet is a massive 6-litre V12 engine which will rocket from 0 to 62mph in just 4.1 seconds, and then on to a top speed of 183mph.

The body is made of carbon fibre which makes it lighter and stiffer and improves its sports car-like driving dynamics.

And if that isn’t enough to justify the Vanquish’s £189,995 price tag, potential buyers may be swayed by its looks.

Pricey ... Vanquish will cost £189,995

Billed as “the ultimate expression of Aston Martin design ethos”, the Vanquish takes inspiration from the One-77, a limited edition model which cost customers £1.2million.

Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin, claims the Vanquish will offer “luxurious, continent-crossing capability and pure driving excitement without compromise”.

Looks ... Vanquish is billed as the 'ultimate' Aston Martin design

He added: “This is the latest incarnation of everything we know, informed and developed from One-77.

“It is the ultimate Super Grand Tourer — confident and assured — and is the newest representation of Power, Beauty and Soul.

“I believe the car unveiled today once again puts this great British brand at the top of its class.”

Luxury ... bosses say the car offers 'no compromise'

Drogba confirms China switch

IT'S OFFICIAL ... Didier Drogba on the website of new club Shanghai Shenhua

DIDIER DROGBA has today confirmed his long-expected move to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

The 34-year-old, who left Stamford Bridge following Chelsea's Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich, has signed a 2½-year deal worth around £200,000 a week with the Chinese Super League side.

He said: "I have considered all the offers I have received in the past few weeks, but feel that Shanghai Shenhua FC is the right move for me at this time.

"I am looking forward to a new challenge, to experiencing a new culture, and am excited about the new developments in the Chinese Super League.

"When Chelsea went to China last year, we had a great time and I met some amazing fans.

"I hope to help promote Chinese football around the world and further improve the links between China and Africa.’”

Drogba will link up with former Blues team-mate Nicolas Anelka, who joined the club in January, and Argentinian manager Sergio Batista.

Batista said: “Drogba is a very good soccer player, his outstanding skills and amazing experience will give us motivation to improve our games.

"It is my honour to invite him to join in our team. At last I have to say that the club owner Zhu Jun did his utmost to bring Drogba to Shenhua.”

Drogba scored 157 goals in all competitions for Chelsea, finishing with 100 in 226 league appearances since signing from Marseille for £24million in 2004.

He had an exceptional record in cup finals, scoring nine times, including one in this year’s 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Liverpool.

Brit firm offers trips to the Moon... for £100million

Testing ... Sun girl Miranda Prynne tries out firm's space module

A BRITISH company has unveiled plans to take humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972.

Isle of Man-based Excalibur Almaz will blast passengers into lunar orbit for a £100million “fare”.

The first voyages — aboard Russian shuttles once used to spy on the West — could launch in 2015.

Until now space tourists have travelled only to the International Space Station and back.

Excalibur has bought and recycled four re-entry capsules and two space stations from Russian firm NPO Mashinostroyenia.

Customers will first dock with one of the space stations in low-Earth orbit. From there they will be blasted into the Moon’s orbit, taking them 234,000 miles from home. The flights, which could last eight months, will then continue into space, taking them further from Earth than achieved before. Chief executive Art Dula said yesterday: “The EA fleet has flown to space several times and will undertake many more missions. It contains vessels of a design that’s spent thousands of hours in space.

“This, my fellow adventurers, is scientific fact, not fiction.”

Lift-off ... flights could last eight months

Art claims the company, whose spacecraft each carry three people, needs only 29 passengers to succeed financially.

The firm — whose Isle of Man home is rated the world’s fifth most-likely place to man the next mission to the Moon — yesterday drew crowds by displaying one of its vessels in Westminster, London.

One small step for Isle of Man ... how spacecraft will look

Art said his voyages were very different to trips offered by space flight rivals, whose craft will provide a few minutes’ weightlessness at just 60 miles up.

He added: “Our passengers will not be tourists but private expedition members on expeditions that will go further than any man has ever gone in the past.”

Porto striker Hulk issues come and get me plea to Chelsea despite interest from France

Hulk has given the clearest indication yet that he could join Chelsea after admitting the Premier League club are his preferred destination.

The Brazilian is almost certain to leave Porto this summer and has attracted interest all over Europe, most recently from Paris St Germain.

Chelsea have long been linked with a move for the striker, most notably last season when Andre Villas-Boas tried to make Hulk follow him to Stamford Bridge.

Pedigree: Brazil striker Hulk has reiterated his desire to join Chelsea

Villas-Boas was subsequently sacked before Christmas but the Blues' new boss Roberto di Matteo remains keen on pursuing the sale.

Chelsea's hopes appeared to take a hit earlier this week when Ligue 1 side PSG made contact with Hulk's agent and suggested they would be willing to pay up to £43million, some £13m more than the Blues had opened the bidding at.

But now Hulk has revealed he would welcome a move to England over France.

The 25-year-old said: 'Chelsea are the current European champions and would please any player and I'm no exception. I'd be happy if the transfer happened.

'I leave everything in the hands of Porto. I am under contract and I have been happy at Porto for four years, where I have achieved everything.

In his heart: Hulk has enjoyed the best part of his career at Porto and insists any decision is down to the club, who he will always keep in his heart

Hulk, who has a contract to 2014, added in O Jogo: 'I'll have the club in my heart no matter what happens this summer or in any other summer.'

Roman Abramovich sees Hulk as the ideal replacement for Didier Drogba who left the club at the end of the season.

Last wekk, newspaper A Bola claims Tottenham will be contenders to sign the player if Villas-Boas is appointed the new boss at White Hart Lane, though the price tag appears to be prohibitive.

Meanwhile, another Portuguese newspaper, Diario Noticias, says the biggest stumbling block to his move to Chelsea is a dispute about who should pay his agent for his five per cent stake in Hulk, and Uruguayan club Atletico Rentistas, who own 10 per cent.

Mayweather Jr. atlet paling kaya

NEW YORK - Petinju terkemuka, Floyd Mayweather Jr. yang sedang menjalani hukuman penjara, menjadi atlet berpendapatan termahal dengan anggaran gaji sebanyak AS$85 juta (RM267.75 juta), menurut majalah Forbes dalam kategori 100 ahli sukan yang menerima pendapatan tertinggi.

Mayweather Jr. atau Money menduduki tempat pertama menerusi dua pertarungan popularnya tahun lalu.

Dia sedang menjalani hukuman selama tiga bulan kerana didapati cuba mencederakan bekas teman wanitanya.

Menduduki tempat kedua ialah seorang lagi petinju, Manny Pacquiao dengan perolehan sebanyak AS$62 juta (RM195.30 juta).

Awal bulan ini, peninju dari Filipina itu terlepas kejuaraan WBO (welterweight) kepada Timothy Bradley.

Pemain golf, Tiger Woods yang sebelum ini menerima pendapatan tertinggi sejak 2001 jatuh ke tempat ketiga dengan AS$59.4 juta (RM187.11 juta)

Pemain bola keranjang, LeBron James di tempat keempat dengan perolehan AS$53 juta (RM166.95 juta) diikuti bintang tenis Roger Federer sebanyak AS$52.7 juta (RM166.01 juta).

Bekas pemain Real Madrid, David Beckham di tempat kelapan dengan pendapatan AS$46 juta (RM144.90 juta) manakala pemain tenis Rusia Maria Sharapova sebanyak AS$27.9 juta (RM87.89 juta) - AGENSI

Shebby Pengarah Bola Sepak Blackburn

Serbegeth Singh

KUALA LUMPUR - Bekas pemain pertahanan kebangsaan Serbegeth Singh dilantik sebagai pengarah bola sepak kelab divisyen satu England, Blackburn Rovers, mulai musim depan.

Laporan Daily Mail United Kingdom semalam mendedahkan pemilik Blackburn yang berasal dari India, Venky mengesahkan Serbegeth, yang turut dikenali sebagai Shebby, diberikan tanggungjawab tersebut.

Salah satu tugas Shebby kelak ialah bertindak sebagai orang tengah untuk Venky dan pengurus kelab itu, Steve Kean.

Shebby disifatkan arif tentang Liga Perdana Inggeris sebagai pengulas di saluran televisyen berbayar.

Shebby, 43, dijangka meninggalkan kerjayanya sebagai pengulas bola sepak sebuah saluran televisyen tempatan tersebut untuk menggalas cabaran baru itu.

Beliau merupakan bekas pemain kebangsaan Malaysia dari 1978 hingga 1996.

Shebby juga merupakan ketua pasukan Kuala Lumpur dan membantu pasukan berkenaan menjuarai Piala Malaysia sebanyak tiga kali berturut-turut dari 1987 hingga 1989.

Sementara itu, Naib Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Hamidin Amin berkata, pemilihan Shebby sesuatu yang baik buat negara dan bekas pemain itu.

Kata Hamidin, melalui jawatan yang bakal disandang oleh Shebby, ia diharap dapat memberikannya lebih banyak idea sekali gus mampu membantu pembangunan sukan bola sepak tanah air.

"Saya bangga apabila mengetahui berita ini.

"Saya percaya ada sesuatu yang istimewa pada Shebby sehingga membolehkannya terpilih mengisi jawatan penting itu.

"Ini juga membuktikan bahawa bekas pemain bola sepak kita mempunyai kualiti tersendiri untuk berjaya di peringkat lebih tinggi," katanya ketika dihubungi.

Drogba ditawar gaji RM988,550 seminggu

BEIJING - Shanghai Shenhua menawarkan Didier Drogba kontrak lumayan bernilai 200,000 pound (RM988,550) seminggu, gaji yang memastikan dia akan menjadi pemain termahal dibayar di China.

Pengumuman mengatakan Drogba yang sudah meninggalkan Chelsea untuk menyertai kelab Liga Super China itu akan dibuat pada bila-bila masa.

Menurut laporan Oriental Morning Post, kedua-dua pasukan telah bersetuju secara prinsip untuk kontrak dua tahun setengah.

Gaji yang dicadangkan itu dijangka melebihi gaji yang diterima oleh bekas rakan sepasukan Chelsea, Nicolas Anelka yang menerima 160,000 pound (RM795,000) seminggu.

Shenhua enggan menyatakan sebarang komen dan laporan rasmi mengatakan Drogba akan mengumumkan perkara itu sendiri jika dia membuat keputusan untuk menyertai Shenhua.

Bintang Ivory Coast sebelum ini mengatakan yang dia akan menyatakan hala tujunya selepas ini tetapi enggan mengulas sama ada akan menyertai Shenhua.

''Langkah seterusnya cukup menarik,'' kata pemain yang berusia 34 tahun itu selepas melawat New Delhi.

Perjanjian itu turut menambah Drogba akan menjadi jurucakap kepada syarikat permainan online China, satu perjanjian yang sama kepada penyerang Perancis, Anelka, yang menyertai Shenhua, Januari lalu. Anelka dibayar AS$3.4 juta (RM10.74 juta) oleh pemilik permainan online, Zhu Jun yang juga ketua pelabur di Shenhua.

Shenhua, yang kini di tangga ke-12 daripada 16 pasukan dalam saingan liga, bergelut dengan masalah prestasi walaupun mendapat khidmat Anelka, malah telah memecat ketua jurulatih, Jean Tigana untuk digantikan oleh bekas pengurus Argentina, Sergio Batista. - AFP