2
International
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
News WORLD NEWS
Kashmir chief minister offers to resign over sex scandal Agence France-Presse
SRINAGAR - Indian Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered to resign Tuesday after a lawmaker accused him of involvement in a three-year-old sex scandal.
Sonia Sotomayor WASHINGTON Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor appears headed to quick confirmation as the first Hispanic justice despite opposition from a growing chorus of conservative Republican senators who say she would bring liberal bias to the high court.
Boat capsized PROVIDENCIALES - A boat carrying Haitian migrants capsizes and sinks off the Turks and Caicos Islands and up to 85 people are missing, the U.S. Coast Guard says. One survivor says the boat struck a reef as it tried to elude police.
FBI arrests RALEIGH - A father, his two sons and four other North Carolina men are accused of military-style training at home and plotting “violent jihad” through a series of terror attacks abroad, federal authorities say. Source: ap
Authorities uncovered a racket in April 2006 involving 40 women whose clients allegedly included politicians, bureaucrats, security officials and businessmen in the conservative Muslim-majority state. The case is being investigated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigations, which has charged several former ministers and top security officials over the scandal. “I will visit the governor of the state today and tender my resignation,” Abdullah told the state assembly after opposition lawmakers and former finance minister Muzaffer Beigh said Abdullah was one of the accused. “After hearing this I will not be
able to function as the chief minister so I have decided to resign,” a visibly upset Abdullah said, though colleagues in the ruling National Conference party urged him to review his decision. “It is a baseless allegation but I won’t be at peace with myself until I am proven innocent,” he said, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house. Abdullah, 39, came to power in state elections last year following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, is in the grip of an insurgency that has killed more than 47,000 people over the past two decades, according to official figures.
AFP PHOTO/Tauseef MUSTAFA/FILES
Sport
International
TALLIL MILITARY BASE - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates was in Iraq Tuesday to urge the country’s Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish communities to settle their political differences before the withdrawal of US troops by the end of 2011. In an unannounced visit, Gates planned to appeal to Iraqi Arab and Kurdish officials to take advantage of the window of the US troop presence to resolve disputes over power-sharing, internal boundaries and oil revenues, a senior US defence official said. “We’re saying to all the parties involved that they have this window of political opportunity that they need to seize between now and the end of 2011,” the official told reporters before Gates’s arrival at a US base in Tallil, south of Baghdad. Gates, who visited Israel and Jordan on Monday, also planned to get a first-hand look at how
the US military was preparing to adapt to a new mission focused on advising and supporting Iraqi security forces. He was to visit a combined operations centre on the base where US and Iraqi forces work together, and meet commanders of a newlycreated “advise and assist” brigade. Under an agreement with Baghdad, US troops withdrew from Iraqi cities and towns last month and are required to pull out of the country entirely by 2011. As time winds down on the US military mission, President Barack Obama’s administration has called for stepped up efforts to tackle disputes that threaten to revive ethnic and sectarian strife. The administration believes that “all sides have to take an approach in both words and actions that commits them to a peaceful political process,” the official said. The Kurds in particular have an interest in forging reconciliation promptly while US forces remain on the ground, the official said. Washington, which has
Agence France - Presse
BARCELONA - Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic signed a five-year contract with Barcelona Monday and said he is finally “living a dream.” The 27-year-old was transfered from Inter Milan in a deal which will also see Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o move the other way and the Italian side receive 46 million euros as well as Alexander Hleb on loan. “It feels like I’m living a dream now,” Ibrahimovic told a news conference. “It was not easy for me in the last weeks.” He said he had always insisted that “only one club can buy me and that is Barcelona... My will to come to Barcelona was too big for staying in Inter Milan.” “It is a big honour. There are many big clubs but there is only one special club,” he said, adding that he hoped to develop his skills playing with such players as Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez. “I come here to bring something new. I’m here to win and I’ll do my best to win,” he said. Ibrahimovic will on Tuesday undergo an operation on a broken bone in his hand, suffered during a friendly between Inter and Chelsea during the club’s US tour, Barca’s technical director Txiki Begiristain said.
Wearing the “number 9” shirt formerly held by Eto’o, he later received a rapturous welcome before tens of thousands of fans at the Camp Nou stadium. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has said Ibrahimovic won’t be the club’s last major signing before the end of the transfer window. And he has warned big-spending rivals Real Madrid that his side won’t give up their reign as European and Spanish champions without a fight. Real have spent at least 209 million euros this summer on Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul Albiol and Karim Benzema during the close season. Barcelona beat holders Manchester United to win their third Champions League crown in May in Rome. The club also won the domestic league and cup last season, making them the first Spanish team to win the treble.
INDIA, Srinagar : (FILES) In this picture taken on May 6, 2009, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah speaks during an interview with AFP at his residence in Srinagar. Abdullah offered to resign on July 28, 2009.
longstanding ties to the Kurdish former rebel factions that run an automomous regional government in northern Iraq, could act as an “honest broker” between the Kurds and the Shiite-led central government, he said. During his two-day visit Gates was to travel to the autonomous Kurdistan region after holding talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and Iraq’s defence and interior ministers. His trip to Kurdistan comes after presidential and parliamentary elections in the region on Saturday which saw a new reform-minded opposition group hail a major breakthrough against the longdominant ex-rebel factions. Gates was also expected to discuss supplying Iraq with weapons and equipment to help the Baghdad government provide for its security after the departure of US troops. Among the possible hardware on Baghdad’s wish list were F-16 fighter jets, as Iraq looks to develop a modern air force, the defence official said.
The US military is gradually drawing down in Iraq under the security agreement with Baghdad that will see American troops leave by the end of 2011. Carrying out the accord has caused some friction between the remaining 128,000 American troops and Iraqi security forces. An Iraqi officer ordered the detention of US soldiers this month after they shot dead three Iraqis while pursuing insurgents. Maliki said during a visit to Washington last week that the detention of the US soldiers was a mistake and that the Iraqi officer was “out of line.” At a news conference in Jordan on Monday, Gates said the United States remains committed to the security accord and that it is being successfully carried out. “The United States is abiding by the terms of the agreement that we signed with the Iraqis, and we will continue to abide by that agreement,” he said.
z Founder : K.Nadha, z Chief Editor: ABG Satria Naradha z Managing Editor: Wirata z Editors: Alit Purnata, Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Darmasunu, Daniel Fajry, Diah Dewi, Iwan Darmawan, Martinaya, Mawa, Palgunadi, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Sutiawan, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Mas Ruscitadewi, Oka Rusmini, Umbu Landu Paranggi, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Gregorius Rusmanda, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan, Tabanan: Surpi. Jakarta: Nikson, Suharto Olii, Indu P. Adi, Ahmadi Supriyanto, Achmad Nasrudin, Hardianto, Darmawan S. Sumardjo, Heru B Arifin, Asep Djamaluddin, Ade Irawan, Ipik Tanoyo. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani, Nur Haedin, Suyadnya. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publiser: PT Bali Post
15
Ibrahimovic signs five-year deal with Barca
(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Barcelona’s new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden poses with his jersey during his official presentation at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, July 27, 2009.
Arbeloa close to Real deal
Gates urges Iraq foes to seize chance to reconcile Agence France-Presse
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Agence France - Presse
MADRID - Liverpool’s Spanish international Alvaro Arbeloa said Tuesday that a deal which would see him return to Real Madrid could be completed by the end of the week. “At present I am only focused on Liverpool but it is true that the transfer deal is nearly completed,” the 26year-old full-back said in an interview published in sports daily Marca.
“We will see what will happen in the next few days, if we can all make an effort so that the operation takes place and be something good for everyone, which is what we all want. It could all be sorted out this week.” Rival sports daily AS said the transfer deal will be worth four million euros (5.7 million dollars). Last week Real’s managing director said the club’s lavish recruitment drive, which has seen over 200
million euros spent on big-names such as Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, would stop until players departed to create vacancies. Arbeloa, part of the Spain squad which won Euro 2008, joined Liverpool from Deportivo La Coruna in January 2007. He signed for Deportivo from Real in 2006, having failed to make an impact in his first spell at the Spanish giants when he played for its youth team.
striker Samuel Eto’o has signed a five-year contract with Inter Milan, the Italian champions announced on Monday
Eto’o signs five-year Inter deal Agence France - Presse
ROME- Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o has signed a five-year contract with Inter Milan, the Italian champions announced on Monday. The 28year-old had arrived in Milan on Monday morning to take a medical examination before then officially signing on the dotted line, on the same day that Zlatan Ibrahimovic finalised his move in the opposite direction by joining Barcelona. Inter did not reveal how much the Cameroon striker will be paid but he is believed to have signed a deal worth 10-10.5 million euros net per season. He is part of a swap deal that sees Swedish international striker Ibrahimovic head to Catalonia while Inter also pocket 46 million euros and take Belarus winger Alexander Hleb on loan for a year. Upon arriving at Milan’s Linate airport, Eto’o claimed he was com-
ing to Inter to win a third Champions League crown. Eto’o has twice already been on a Champions League winning team with Barcelona, scoring against Arsenal in the 2006 final in a 2-1 victory and again against Manchester United in May in a 2-0 success. “I’m very happy to be here at Inter. I’ve come here to work hard and win the Champions League,” said Eto’o. “I had the opportunity to spend 13 years in Spain. Today, I am ready to begin a new adventure. I want to thank the president (of Inter Massimo) Moratti who helped my arrival a lot. I hope to deliver what he’s expecting from me. He’s a man with a lot of heart.” Eto’o also congratulated his new team-mates on having beaten city rivals AC Milan 2-0 in a friendly in the United States on Sunday. He joined Barcelona in 2004 having previously been on Real Madrid’s books before being sent to Mallorca.
(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
Liverpool soccer players from left-right, Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Emiliano Insua, Javier Mascherano, Yossi Benayoun, Damien Plessis, David Ngog, Alvaro Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso wait during a training session held at the National Stadium on Friday July 24, 2009 in Singapore. Liverpool will play the Singapore national team at a friendly match on Sunday.