QPR sedia cabar kuasa EPL

PARK Ji-Sung Park menunjukkan jersi kelab barunya, QPR bersama Tony Fernandes (kanan) dan Mark Hughes selepas sidang akhbar mengumumkan penyertaan bekas pemain Manchester United itu ke Loftus Road di London, semalam. - AP

LONDON - Pembelian beberapa pemain termasuk yang terbaru bekas bintang Manchester United, Park Ji-Sung sudah cukup membayangkan cita-cita besar Queens Park Rangers (QPR) untuk memahat kukuh nama dalam Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL) menjelang musim baru Ogos ini.

Sekalipun pengerusinya, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes lebih selesa bersikap merendah diri apabila menyatakan beliau tidak berhajat meletakkan sebarang sasaran untuk diraih QPR bagi musim 2012/13, tetapi kerancakan pembelian pemain baru yang dilakukan kelab itu menunjukkan keseriusan mereka untuk bersaing.

Malah, kelab itu juga dalam perancangan untuk meninggalkan stadium lama di Loftus Road bagi membina sebuah stadium baru yang merupakan sebahagian daripada perancangan jangka panjang QPR.

Fernandes ketika ditemui media Malaysia di ibu kota England itu berkata, apa yang sedang diusahakannya bersama-sama pengurus Mark Hughes merupakan perancangan jangka panjang.

"Secara jujurnya saya tidak pula meletakkan sebarang sasaran yang perlu dilakar QPR dalam tempoh jangka pendek. Saya lebih senang untuk menyaksikan peningkatan kelab ini selangkah demi selangkah dan seterusnya menjadi sebuah kelab yang kukuh di liga perdana pada satu hari nanti," katanya.

Selain Ji-Sung, QPR turut membawa masuk bekas penjaga gol West Ham, Robert Green, penyerang Fulham, Andrew Johnson, Ryan Nelsen dari Tottenham Hotspur, Samba Diakite (Nancy) dan pemain pinjaman dari Manchester United, Fabio Da Silva.

Menurut Fernandes, beliau mahu QPR mencipta nama di pentas dunia secara perlahan-lahan seperti mana yang dilakukan oleh syarikat penerbangannya, Air Asia.

"Saya masih ingat dahulu seorang wartawan Utusan (Malaysia) pernah bertanya berapa lama saya mampu bertahan bersama Air Asia, tetapi nampaknya sehingga kini saya masih dengan syarikat penerbangan itu.

"Jadi begitu juga halnya saya dengan QPR, kalau boleh saya mahu melihat kelab ini berkembang maju dan muncul sebagai kelab yang disegani satu hari kelak," tegasnya.

Mengulas mengenai perlawanan pembukaan musim baru menentang Swansea, beliau berharap skuad Hughes itu tidak mengulangi kesilapan musim lepas apabila dibelasah 4-0 oleh Bolton dalam perlawanan pertama EPL.

Ditanya sama ada kehadiran Ji-Sung menjadikan QPR sebagai sebuah skuad lengkap, Fernandes memberitahu, penyertaan pemain kebangsaan Korea Selatan itu bukan bererti QPR akan menamatkan pemburuan untuk terus bersaing dalam pasaran perpindahan pemain.

"Kita akan cuba mendapatkan tiga atau empat lagi pemain baru dan saya menyerahkan sepenuhnya kepada Mark (Hughes) yang bekerja keras sehingga sanggup mengelilingi dunia bagi mendapatkan pemain-pemain yang berkualiti," ujarnya.

India beli koleksi berharga Gandhi RM3.5j

Koleksi berharga Gandhi termasuk surat dibeli RM3.5 juta hasil rundingan bersama ahli keluarga Kallenbach.

NEW DELHI - India telah membeli koleksi surat, akhbar dan gambar berkaitan tokoh kemerdekaan dan spiritual India, Mahatma Gandhi dengan nilai AS$1.1 juta (RM3.5 juta) bagi mengelakkan ia dilelong di Sotheby's di London.

Koleksi berharga itu diperoleh daripada ahli keluarga teman rapat beliau, Hermann Kallenbach.

Setiausaha bersama di Kementerian Kebudayaan, Sanjiv Mittal berkata, kesemua koleksi tersebut akan ditempatkan di Arkib Kebangsaan.

Sebelum ini, Sotheby's telah membuat anggaran sebelum jualan antara AS$500,000 (RM1.6 juta) dan AS$700,000 (RM2.2 juta) untuk keseluruhan koleksi itu.

Survival of the fiercest: Wildebeest takes on 18ft killer crocodile

As regular as the seasons themselves, herds of wildebeest make an annual migration across east Africa - following rainfall and the growth of new grass.

Exploiting this predictability, each year predators lay in wait until the migrating beasts come into their killing zone.

Day or night, death can come to the young, sick or simply unlucky members of the herd - swiftly from a single cheetah, or without mercy from a pride of lions or pack of hyenas.

Unsteady on his feet: The young wildebeest, already separated from the rest of the herd, is an easy target for the ever-watchful killers beneath the surface of the Mara River in Kenya

Under attack: An 18ft Nile crocodile has targeted the young beast and is using its teeth to injure its prey, as well as its weight and strength to drag it beneath the surface

Dance of death: The wildebeest tries to out-manoeuvre his attacker but has already been badly injured. At one point the crocodile's massive jaw span seems to be taking in the wildebeest's body

For this young male, the end came not on the plains but in one of Kenya's heaving rivers - delivered by one of nature's apex killing machines.

Like all in his herd, the doomed wildebeest was taking his chances crossing the Mara River in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya.

Unfortunately for him, he walked straight into the path of an 18ft Nile crocodile - a species of predator so efficient that it has barely changed throughout evolution.

Dragged below: Exhausted and outweighed, the wildebeest eventually succumbs to the relentless onslaught

Horrific end: As more crocodiles join in the fight, the wildebeest is drowned and torn to pieces

The crocodile used its huge weight and strength to attack the beast as it was already caught off balance by the rushing water and uneven footing.

Its enormous jaw span virtually took in the entire wildebeest's body as the victim attempted in vain to escape the attack.

As more crocodiles joined in on the kill, the fight became hopeless.

At the end of the rainy season in east Africa, around May and June, wildebeest migrate to wetter areas in response to a lack of drinking water.

Circle of life: The majority of wildebeest would have safely forded the Mara River this year, but will have to take their chances with each migration

They travel hundreds of miles, crossing several rivers in a formation known as swarm intelligence - where they work together to cross the obstacle as safely as possible.

Casualities are inevitable, however, and this young male was estimated to be around five years old.

New Zealand photographer David Lloyd, 41, who captured the one-sided fight, said he was awe-struck by the sheer power of the killer.

He said: 'The crocodile is the largest in Africa. They're huge creatures that make many kills like this every year. The migration season really is feeding time for them.

'I estimate that the ones lurking in the river that day were between 15 and 18 feet. They're huge creatures.'

Can Di Matteo's new look Chelsea team pass the test as Barcelona lite?

For years they have been the heavyweights of the Barclays Premier League. With Didier Drogba bulldozing opposition defenders, Chelsea won three League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League in eight seasons.

Now they are tearing up the rule book and starting again. It’s time for a mini revolution at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are bringing in small, exciting players whom they hope can ape Barcelona’s tiki-taka passing style. Roman Abramovich and Roberto Di Matteo want pretty football - being efficient but unattractive to watch is no longer an option.

Viva la revolution: Chelsea's style will inevitably change next season

Out have gone much of the old guard. Drogba is in China with Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou has signed for Lille and Florent Malouda and Michael Essien could also leave.

In their places have arrived Eden Hazard from Lille and Marko Marin from Werder Bremen, with Oscar due to join from Internacional. All three are creative players to sit behind Fernando Torres, who needs service in a way Drogba did not.

You have been warned: Eden Hazard

Add Juan Mata and Ramires into the mix and you can see that Chelsea are thinking big by thinking small. They want to kill teams with passing, not strength.

The club are making sure their new signings are getting special treatment as they prepare for something of a culture shock at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed Abramovich’s personal bodyguards chaperone Hazard and Marin into training each day. They are important members of the Chelsea squad, part of the future for this team.

Di Matteo has been obsessive in his approach to the season, beginning his day at 8am and finishing long after the players have left the training ground.

It has echoes of the long hours Andre Villas-Boas used to put in but the atmosphere at the training ground is far more relaxed under the Italian.

He will experiment in pre-season, using Frank Lampard in the withdrawn role in which he excelled during the Champions League. He will sit in front of the back four alongside John Mikel Obi or Ramires.

Then come the little men. The plan is for Marin, Hazard and Mata to work behind Torres, providing the £50m striker with enough chances to finally kickstart his Chelsea career. The trio will have the licence to swap positions, making them difficult to mark and track.

Next in: Highly-rated young Oscar from Brazil is close to completing a £25m move

Oscar, set to be the latest addition to the revolution, can replace any of them. He will need to as Chelsea’s fixture list will pile up with the campaigns in the Premier League, Champions League, World Club Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

Di Matteo knows this is the start of another journey for Abramovich, reaching for the stars as the framework is put in place to carry on competing with other European heavyweights.

Only this time they will be heavyweights of a different kind. Chelsea have won the Champions League with defensive might, now they plan to mesmerise.

Emirate rise Is tiny Qatar taking over the world?

Laser show ... The Shard in London

LONDON’S newest landmark, the Shard, is more than Europe’s tallest building – it is a symbol of a dramatic shift in world power.

Owned by the tiny Gulf state of Qatar, the Shard is the tip of cash-rich Qatar’s investment iceberg in Britain.

With an income which makes Bob Diamond seem like a Big Issue seller, Qatar had enough cash to buy 20 per cent of Barclays while adding other blue chips to their portfolio.

In London alone, the Muslim emirate has been buying up everything from Chelsea Barracks to the new Olympic Village.

Qatar failed in its bid to stage the Olympics but it will be home to the World Cup in 2022. Its own teams haven’t made a mark on the world of soccer but sponsorship of Barcelona has made Qatar a global footie brand.

With billions in revenue from natural gas, Qatar’s ruling al-Thani family could have been just rich Arabs on a buying and bling spree.

Of course, like other rich Arabs in London, the Qataris go in for plenty of the “off with the chador” and foot down on the pedal of the Lamborghini but the tiny emirate punches above its weight in world politics. Britain used to “protect” the Persian Gulf state. Now the Emir helps our economy out in return for backing his foreign policy.

Qatar is tiny, with barely 200,000 “citizens”, serviced by swarms of migrant workers but it is really a family business.

Gulf star ... Barcelona's Lionel Messi

Any position of importance is held by a member of the ruling al-Thani clan.

From the start of the “Arab Spring”, they promoted democracy — admittedly abroad, but you have to start somewhere.

Last year their special forces blazed a trail for democracy in Libya and they are helping rebels in Syria.

But back home, the micro-state’s security services take a close interest in any sign of dissent. Six out of seven people are Third World migrant workers — many of them women — with no real rights.

Some are highly paid journalists at the Emir’s pet project, the Al Jazeera satellite television station, which broadcasts Qatar’s message around the world. With an average annual income of around one hundred thousand dollars a head, the native Qataris see little profit in promoting democracy at home which might put ideas in their servants’ heads.

Tiny ... Qatar

Abroad, the regime has been promoting Islamic parties in the new Middle Eastern democracies. Their cash subsidises the new Islamic political parties which have won elections in Egypt and Tunisia.

Saudi Arabia and Iran are the local giants, each with a claim on Qatar’s territory.

Fortunately for Qatar, the Saudis and the Ayatollahs are bitter rivals who would never accept the other one gobbling up the tiny emirate. But if they ever clash, then Qatar could find itself a highly inflammable frontline statelet.

To make matters more uncertain, America is Qatar’s protector but it is also determined to stop Iran getting “the bomb”. If Washington bombs Tehran’s nuclear projects, Iran could lash out at Qatar. The nation’s lavish investments here are insurance against a rainy day in the Gulf.

The gas will one day run out but it could explode in the ruling family’s face if the region’s big boys get into a scrap.

Chelsea win the Oscar... Roman beats AVB to grab £25m Brazil playmaker

Chelsea have pulled off another transfer coup by clinching the signature of £25million Brazilian wonderkid Oscar.

Despite already splashing out £42m on Marko Marin and Eden Hazard, Roman Abramovich's latest revolution shows no signs of abating after he moved in for the Internacional playmaker who is regarded as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Brazil in years.

To add further flavour to the European champions' deal, they have pipped their former manager Andre Villas-Boas in the process.

New recruit: Chelsea have fought off competition from Spurs to sign Oscar

Tottenham's new boss thought he was in a strong position to land 20-year-old Oscar after making an offer last week.

It was reported the bid was £11m, but sources in South America say it was much higher than that and a club-record offer of nearer £18m.

Chelsea, however, have moved quickly to swamp Tottenham's offer and beat their former charge to his signature.

Star man: The Internacional striker is one of world football's hottest prospects

OSCAR FACTFILE

Full name: Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior

Born: September 9, 1991 in
Americano, Sao Paulo.

Height: 5ft 10in.

2009: Sao Paulo, played 11 games.

From 2010: Signed for Internacional.

Has scored 19 goals in 70 games
for the club.

International: Six Brazil caps.

Scored hat-trick as Brazil won the 2011 FIFA Under 20
World Cup, beating Portugal 3-2.

Oscar shot to prominence last summer when he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the FIFA Under 20 World Cup final against Portugal.

The Brazilian - full name Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Junior - was also watched by Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He is adept as a playmaker or in the role behind the striker and equally comfortable on the left or right of midfield. He is described as a 'typically brilliant Brazilian No 10'.

The acquisition will put pressure on the position of Stamford Bridge idol Juan Mata, who is expected to be rested at the start of the season due to his participation in the Olympics for Spain.

Losing battle: Tottenham's new boss AVB was also interested in the Brazil starlet

Chelsea fans will be able to get an early sight of the new signing as he is also a member of his country's Olympic squad.

Chelsea came in for criticism for the way they won the Champions League with an obdurate defensive style.

However, the signing of Oscar is another bold statement of intent from Abramovich as he strives to make Chelsea a more fluid, attacking team in the mould of Barcelona.

The signing boosts the Brazilian contingent at Stamford Bridge, where Oscar will be joining Ramires in midfield, David Luiz and exciting young prospect Lucas Piazon.

Summer signings: Hazard and Marin have already completed moves to Chelsea

Abramovich believes if manager Roberto Di Matteo can channel that flair alongside the defensive grit the squad showed to win the Champions League, then Chelsea will be well placed to mount more serious challenges on domestic and European honours.

And his spending hasn't finished yet, with Chelsea also linked to another Brazilian star, 25-year-old striker Hulk of Porto.

Running at full speed with horns out to attack: Shocking moment a raging bull

Hurtling at full speed with its horns ready to strike, a raging bull runs into a man and shoves him into the sea as other revellers look on in shock.

The terrifying moment happened during the Bous a la Mar festival in Denia, on the eastern coast of Spain, in which men emerge from protective barriers and encourage bulls to chase them.

The festival took place as two British men spoke of how they were gored by a bull at Spain's most famous festival.

Liam Tarff, 29, and 20-year-old Nick Couchman were attacked when the half-ton animal, called Runaway, broke off from the main pack at the Running of the Bulls festival in Pamplona.

On the rampage: A bull chases a man into the sea during the Bous a la Mar festival in the eastern Spanish coastal town of Denia

Jumping in: Revellers emerge from protective barriers to provoke bulls into chasing them into the water

Dangerous: Grinning men watch and hold the bull's horn after the animal joins the man in the water

Mr Tarff, an insurance worker from Brixton, London, was gored in the left thigh.

Fellow Londoner Nick Couchman, a 20-year old events organiser, was gored in the right thigh.

Mr Tarff, who managed a thumbs up to the crowd as he was carried away in agony on a stretcher with a blood-soaked bandage around his leg, said: 'It was a feeling of sheer panic when I saw the bull stop, turn round and run towards me.

'I was trapped against the barriers with people crowded around me and no fast way out.

'I felt its horn go through my leg. It was like being stabbed with a large knife.

Gorged: Laim Tarff was helpless to stop the half ton bull piecing his left thigh with its horn. He is pictured here with the bandaged leg recovering in hospital

Terrifying: A reveler tries to escape a bull in the bull ring, at the end of third running of the bulls at the San Fermin fiestas, in Pamplona

Daredevils: A runner looks alarmed as he is tossed into the air by a rampaging bull

One man is photographed clinging on to a bulls horns for dear life as he tries to avoid being injured

Ouch! A bull tramples over a crowd of men the bull ring

'I fell to the ground and managed to crawl under the barrier.

'The next thing first aiders were poking their fingers into my open wound to check there were no pieces of bull horn stuck inside and then I was carried off into an ambulance.

'I only did the run for a friend who's celebrating his 30th birthday and dreamed of taking part. He's due to become a father in September and everyone was telling him not to do it but he survived unscathed.

'I'm starting to realise now just how lucky I've been.

'If the bull's horn had gone in a few inches higher through somewhere like my heart, I probably would not have been around to tell the tale.

Painful: A man lets out a yelp of pain as a cow tosses him out of the way during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona

Basque regional policemen help a runner to his feet after he fell during one of the runs

Leap: A steer jumps over the crowd of runners blocking its way

'Fortunately the doctors have told me I'll be okay.'

He added: 'The ironic thing is that I've been staying off the alcohol to make sure sure I'm in form for the run with the bulls every morning. I'm probably the most sober person at the festival.

'We tried to do the run on Sunday but were turned back because there were too many people.

'We saw other people who were off their heads running barefoot.

'The experience has been worth it but I don't think I'll be repeating it in a hurry.'

Friend Paul Edwards, 29, one of a group of five pals Liam ran with, added: 'We knew he had been gored from the live TV images they showed in the bullring after the run.

Race: The crowd tries to escape at Estafeta corner as a fighting bull from Miura ranch charges through the streets

Stampede: Some participants are trampled as a crowd gathers at the entrance of the bull ring during the second run of the bulls

Adrenaline junkies: People travel from all over the world to run with the bulls

'But we couldn't get to see him for over an hour so we didn't know how bad it was.

'We were joking before we came over that one of us was going to get gored and the images were going to be all over Youtube but we never imagined it would happen for real.'

Second victim Nick, also taking part in his first Running of the Bulls festival - called the San Fermines in Spanish - said: 'I know it's been a bit of madness but I'm still glad I took part.

'I might change my mind later but at the moment I feel like I want to do it again.'

Liam and Nick were among three people gored at today's run. A 39-year-old American was also attacked and another three suffered bruising.

Runners sprint alongside Miura fighting bulls at the Estafeta corner

Near miss: A fallen runner reaches up to protect his head as he lies in the way of Miura fighting bulls at the entrance to the bullring

The 1,200 bull called Fugado - which in English means Runaway - caused most of the chaos.
It fell over at the start of the half-mile course in Pamplona, northern Spain, and completed most of the run on its own.

The two Brits were gored near the end of the run, the third of the nine-day festival made famous by a 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel, and the bloodiest so far.

Other thrill-seekers pulled Fugado by the tail and waved their traditional red neckscarves at it in a desperate attempt to divert its attention and save more bloodshed.

Shepherds herding the animals eventually managed to form a human ring behind the beast and get it running forwards again towards the bullring at the end of the course.

One man collides with a charging bull and another struggles to get out of the way in time

Skid: Two men are sent flying by a bull and others look desperate to get out of the way

Fifteen people have been killed at the annual festival since records began in 1911, and 200 to 300 are usually injured each year.

The most recent death was in 2009 when 27-year-old Daniel Jimeno, from Madrid, was gored in the neck by a bull called Capuchino.

The event has become increasingly popular with foreigners, who join the locals by staying up all night drinking and partying before thousands compete in the 8am run.

Pamplona's population of 200,000 swells to around two million during the festival, the largest in Spain.

After each morning run, the animals are killed in an afternoon bullfight.

An estimated 1,900 thrill-seekers competed in today's/yesterday's (MON) run, around half the number who took part at the weekend.

The 850-metre-long run through Pamplona's old town lasted just over three and a half minutes.

A 73-year-old local was the only person gored in the first two runs.

Park: I wasn't forced out

HE'S R'S ... Hoops have bagged Ji-Sung Park

JI-SUNG PARK arrived at QPR yesterday insisting: It was MY decision to quit Manchester United.

The midfielder ended his seven-year stay at Old Trafford by sealing a £5million switch to Loftus Road.

And after signing a two-year deal with Rangers, he denied he had been forced out of United by boss Alex Ferguson.

The South Korean star, 31, who may succeed Joey Barton as R’s skipper, said: “I was the one who said I wanted to leave the club because I’d had a great offer.

“I was the one who said it to Manchester United.

“It was a difficult decision because United are a good club and everybody wants to play there.

“But last season I didn’t play as much. I would still have had a good chance to play for Man United but QPR made me a very good offer and their ambitions and plans were interesting for me.

“That’s why I made the decision to leave. If QPR hadn’t explained their future I might have stayed.”

Park became the first South Korean to play in the Premier League when United signed him from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven for £4m in 2005.

He repaid that fee by helping the club win four Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Park added: “It is a big step to leave United but it is important to understand this is about another challenge in my life.”

Rob’s the £37m Man

IN FOR A PENNY ... Roberto Mancini

ROBERTO MANCINI’S new £37.5million contract makes him British football’s highest-paid boss.

The Manchester City chief ended speculation about his future last night, despite a £6.5m-a-year approach from the Russian FA.

He said: “I’m very much looking forward to the challenges and excitement ahead. The opportunity that exists to build on our recent success is huge.”

The Russians wanted the 47-year-old Italian to take over from Dick Advocaat and steer their national team towards the 2018 World Cup, which they will host.

But SunSport revealed on Sunday that Mancini was ready to pledge his future to the Premier League champions.

And his mega £7.5m-a-year deal, which ties him to City until 2017, takes him way above Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson in the pay league.

Fergie earns around £4m a year at Old Trafford.

But Mancini’s new contract recognises his achievement of guiding City to their first title in 44 years last season.

Mancini added: “I’m delighted to be able to give my all to City for a further five years.

“This is a fantastic club from the owner, chairman, board and executive team through to the players, staff and fans.”

The news Mancini is staying will come as a huge relief to City supporters, who have taken him to their hearts.

He ended the club’s 35-year wait for silverware with last year’s FA Cup triumph — and followed it up by winning the Premier League on the final day 12 months later.

Mancini had been about to enter the last year of the deal he signed when he succeeded Mark Hughes in December 2009.

From shimmering cities to the dark side of the world: Stunning satellite images which show how we use light and energy

At night, London is a burning bright spot, consuming enough energy to power Ireland with its light show.

But as these stunning images from space show, we in the West are guilty of wasting energy and polluting light on a staggering scale.

Now compare the Third World countries in Africa, South America and large swathes of Asia which lie in almost complete darkness.

Waste of energy: A satellite image of Britain and Europe at night showing the light show from space, with far greater uses of energy in the major cities

Light show: An image of the U.S. from space highlighting the staggering light pollution, especially on the east coast, in Houston, Texas, and San Francisco and Los Angeles on the west coast

In darkness: Third World countries in Africa barely register any light at night in contrast to the West, apart from an amazing trail of light from Cairo running down the Nile in Egypt

Each year London consumes 150 thousand gigawatt hours of energy, equal to the consumption of nations such as Portugal and Greece.

Campaigners have warned that 50 per cent of the UK's population cannot see many stars because the night skies are 'saturated' with light pollution.

The pictures created by scientist Felix Pharand-DeschÍnes using data gathered by satellites highlight the contrast between the first and third world.

They show Egypt's densely populated River Nile as it scorches a path through the darkness of Northern Africa while Japan is wall-to-wall light.

America shines brightly, but south of its border the countries are almost lightless and in central Asia, India and Australia barely any light is registered.

Global view: A satellite picture of the energy waste in the West and darkness in the rest of world showing how much more energy the rich world uses than other areas

Contrast: This shot of the Western Hemisphere demonstrates a higher use of energy in Europe compared to Africa and Asia, and incredible bursts of light in London, Paris and Moscow

Desolate: While much of the United States and Canada are awash with light, the vast areas to the north are almost invisible on this map