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WEEKLY
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
BMW to test young drivers in spite of F1 pullout
LONDON: BMW will test American teenager Alexander Rossi and Mexican Esteban Gutierrez in southern Spain next week despite pulling out of Formula One, the German carmaker said on Tuesday.
‘Pandas worth more than Tiger’
SYDNEY: Two giant pandas due to begin a 10-year stay at an Australian zoo could give the local economy a bigger boost than recent visits by Tiger Woods or Lance Armstrong, officials said on Wednesday. Wang Wang, four, and three-year-old Funi are due to arrive at Adelaide Zoo on Saturday for a long-term loan from the Panda Protection and Research Centre at Ya’an in China’s Sichuan Province. Zoos South Australia chief Chris West said the stay would be a “financial bonanza” for the state’s economy, reaping an estimated 600-million dollar benefit over the 10 years. “The pandas can be expected to generate 632 million dollars (584 million US) for the state economy over 10 years,” West said. “Each year (the pandas) could generate significantly more economic benefits than the much-vaunted appearances by golfer Tiger Woods or cyclist Lance Armstrong,” he added.
Hockey players rewarded by Board
LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Qasim Zia distributed the cheques of performance based incentives and prize money for winning the World Cup Qualifiers to senior hockey team and prize money to junior hockey team for winning the Junior Asia Cup.President PHF Qasim Zia and Secretary Muhammad Asif Bajwa along with other officials of PHF were given a warm welcome to the junior hockey team here at National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.Qasim Zia distributed the cheques of performance based incentive along with $1000 to each for senior team players for winning the World Cup Qualifiers in Lille, France. He also distributed prize money of 50 thousand rupees each amongst the junior team.
Behrami staying put: Nani
LONDON: Valon Behrami will not leave West Ham in the winter transfer window, according to club sporting director Gianluca Nani. The Switzerland international, who joined the London outfit from Lazio in 2008, has been linked with a move to Juventus in January. However, the Hammers are adamant they will not be selling the 24-year-old midfielder. “I want to reiterate that we have no intention nor do we have the need to sell any of our top players,” said Nani in an interview to Italian radio station Radio Tau. “Everything is good as it is and that also goes for Behrami, a great player that will remain here.” Behrami is under contract with West Ham until June 2013.
Maicon banned for two games
MILAN: Inter Milan fullback Maicon has been banned for two games after being sent off for abusing a linesman at the weekend. The announcement by the Italian league’s disciplinary committee on Tuesday means the Brazilian will miss crucial league matches against Fiorentina at home on November 29 and Juventus away on December 5. Inter said on its website it would appeal against the ban. Maicon was sent off in the last minute of Inter’s 3-1 win against Bologna on Saturday for verbally abusing a linesman. Inter is currently top of Serie A with 32 points, five ahead of Juventus. AC Milan is a further two points back in third.
Robinho set for Man City return
MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Robinho is fit and set to play against Hull on Saturday in his first game since suffering an ankle stress fracture in August. The Brazil forward, City’s British record 32.5 million pound signing, was selected by his country for friendlies against England and Oman this month, without featuring in either match. Niedzwiecki told the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday: “Robi is looking really good. We are pleased, after all the speculation when he went with Brazil, he didn’t play for them because he wasn’t ready. “Things are looking very promising for him in terms of the weekend and he should be up for selection.”
Abidal’s contract extended to 2012
MADRID: Barcelona have agreed a one-year contract extension with defender Eric Abidal tying him to the club until 2012, the European champions said on their website on Wednesday. The 30-year-old French international left back is the sixth player to have renewed his contract with Barca this season after Yaya Toure, Victor Valdes, Pedro, Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol. The buy-out clause in his contract remains unchanged at 90 million euros.
Bayern coach ‘suspends Toni’
BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s under-pressure coach Louis van Gaal has suspended struggling Italian striker Luca Toni because of a complete breakdown in their relationship, the Bild daily reported on Wednesday. Van Gaal, whose own position is shaky five months into the job after a disastrous run of form by the German giants, has chucked Toni out for Wednesday’s make-or-break Champions League clash with Maccabi Haifa, Bild said.
Song to stay with Arsenal
LONDON: Arsenal’s Cameroon international midfielder Alex Song has signed a new long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Wednesday. The 22-year-old nephew of Cameroon defender Rigobert Song joined Arsenal from French club Bastia in 2006. He has made 96 appearances for the north London club while helping his country to next year’s World Cup finals.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
