China's President XI JINPING met with UN Secretary-General BAN KI-MOON in Nanjing on Aug. 16, "on the sidelines of the Second Summer Youth Olympic Games" (CHINA, 8/16). ... Ferrari President LUCA DI MONTEZEMOLO "has dismissed suggestions" FERNANDO ALONSO and KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN "could leave the team at the end of the year." The team's "failure to produce a winning car led to speculation over both men." But Di Montezemolo said, "We are lucky to have two great champions, who are working with the whole team to get back to being competitive again" (BBC, 8/14). ... Talks between the Korea FA and BERT VAN MARWIJK "over the national team coaching job have broken down and South Korea will now turn their attention to other candidates." The Dutchman "had been the KFA's top pick to fill the role" left vacant by HONG MYUNG-BO. Local media reported that tax issues "had been a major factor in the breakdown of the contract talks," while the 62-year-old had also said that "he wanted to spend more time back home in Europe than in South Korea if he took the job" (REUTERS, 8/17). ... RORY MCILROY "paraded the Claret Jug around Old Trafford" at the halftime of ManU's Premier League curtain-raiser against Swansea (London INDEPENDENT, 8/16). ... SIM BHULLAR "became the first player of Indian descent picked by an NBA team when he was signed by Sacramento Kings," which are owned by an Indian-American. Kings Owner VIVEK RANADIVE said, "I've long believed that India is the next great frontier for the NBA, and adding a talented player like Sim only underscores the exponential growth basketball has experienced in that nation." Bhullar, who is 7 feet and 5 inches, "was born in Toronto, Canada and played two seasons for New Mexico State." He was a two-time Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP (HINDUSTAN TIMES, 8/16). ... SHAHARYAR KHAN "is all set to become the next Pakistan Cricket Board chairman as he was the only candidate to file nomination papers for the elections and no one else came up to contest against him." The acting PCB Chair and Chief Election Commissioner Justice (ret.) SAIR ALI had already said that "he will leave the PCB" (EXPRESS TRIBUNE, 8/17).
