Edisi 15 Juni 2011 | International Bali Post

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Bali’s red rice demanded by Philippine

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16 Pages Number 129 3st Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

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PAGE 8

Steve Jobs gets comic book bio treatment IBP/Net

The photo shows buildings using Balinese architecture. Numerous buildings that did not adopt the Balinese characteristics were highlighted by National Construction Contractors Association (Gapensi) of Bali.

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Lack of Balinese architecture buildings

Supervision from government still low

Bali Post

WEATHER FORECAST CITY

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DENPASAR

23 - 32

JAKARTA

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DENPASAR - Numerous buildings that did not adopt the Balinese characteristics were highlighted by National Construction Contractors Association (Gapensi) of Bali Chapter. Large amount of violations were inseparable from the saggy supervision of government ranging from the level of province up to regency/city in enforcing the Regional Regulation No.5/2005 concerning with building and architecture.

“Ideally, government should supervise strictly the building construction since the very beginning,” said Chairman of Gapensi Bali, Made Dwipa Kusuma, in Denpasar.

According to him, to implement and maintain the concept of buildings characterized by Balinese architecture was not too difficult. Even, people would be very benefited by applying Balinese architecture because it had been designed in accordance with condition of tropical climate.

However, it was not easy to maintain cultural identity in the midst of rapid development of Bali and influence of globalization.

“Balinese architecture is basi-

cally flexible and not expensive as the assumption of most people. It is very relevant to be applied,” he said.

Dwipa hoped, distinctive characteristic of Bali should be maintained in all areas, particularly in relation to the sustainability of tourism. One of them was the application of Balinese architecture in buildings. Balinese architecture had become one of the most important points in the image creation of Bali tourism.

“Implementation of Balinese architecture should start from the entrance gates like at the Ngurah Rai Airport, Tanjung Benoa Harbor, Padang Bai Harbor and others,” he said.

Continued on page 6

Government checking reports

Indonesian boys in Australian adult jail Antara

JAKARTA - The government through its Embassy in Canberra, Australia, is checking the validity of Australian newspaper reports about three under age Indonesian boys being detained in an adult prison in Australia.

“We are still checking the validity of these reports,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry`s Director for Protection and Legal Aid for Indonesian Nationals Tatang Budie Razak said here on Tuesday.

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper on Tuesday reported that three boys snatched by people smugglers from a poor

Indonesian village have been held for months in an Australian jail together with hardened criminals.

Federal police had ignored Immigration Department assessments and extracts of birth certificates showing the boys were under 18, contravening federal government policy to return children apprehended on asylum seeker boats.

Instead, the boys - aged 15 and 16 who were cooks and deck hands on an asylum-seeker boat - face five years‘ jail in a high security adult jail under harsh mandatory sentencing laws.

Continued on page 6

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International

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Bali News

Lacking of orders, sculptors put away their chisel Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Impacts of the decline in transactions at a number art shops in Gianyar cause many craftsmen especially sculptors change their profession into a construction worker. This condition is triggered by shortage of orders from the art shop owners. So, to survive the family’s economy, they have to keep their chisels while looking for other sources of livelihood.

A sculptor doubling as a legislator in the Gianyar House, Wayan Budiasa, last Monday (Jun 13) said that aftermath of decline in transactions at art shops in Gianyar caused the demand for sculptures to craftsmen dwindle. Such condition had actually originated from the Bali bombing tragedy. It was then aggra-

IBP/ist

Lessen Mercury Usage urge in Hospital Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Mercury waste produced from using medical equipment is a dangerous substance and gives bad affects towards health also environment. For that Denpasar City Government asked hospitals to lessen mercury usage through a join work with seven hospitals: Sanglah, Wangaya, Udayana, Bhayangkara, Puri Bunda, Puri Raharja and Bali Royal as stated last Monday (13/ 6) by Head of Denpasar Living Environment Board, A. A. Bagus Sudharsana.

Sudharsana stated, besides building awareness for hospital management or the company of the hospital on B3 waste or mercury management in thinking over of

throwing them to water source so environment can be preserved for now and the future, the purpose of this join work is to develop health service to be environmental friendly and produce less medical wastes/more friendly waste for example by lessening mercury usage step by step.

Meanwhile Denpasar City Secretary, AAN Rai Iswara, welcomed well this join work although this should be consistent as this should be continuous remembering health sector is the protector of the environment’s health. He hoped that dangerous substances such as mercury can be managed environmental friendly and so won’t cause any danger to others. (kmb12)

A man is finishing his statute. Impacts of the decline in transactions at a number art shops in Gianyar cause many craftsmen especially sculptors change their profession into a construction worker.

vated by global economic conditions resulting in a decrease to 30 percent of production of craftsmen.

Progressively rampant closure of art shops due to lacking of transactions could be seen along the area of Jalan Raya Kemenuh. Aside from kindled by commission war, it was also caused by less intensive promotion for sculpture handicraft products so far. Currently, the promotion carried out by regency government was most focused on handicraft products outside the sculpture.

In response to this matter, regency government needed to find solutions, especially in terms of promotion through exhibitions and more intensive promotional activities through

website. So far, regency government had not had a special promotion through website for handicraft sector. In this regard, regency government needed to imitate China in improving production by providing subsidies in the matter of export activities so the prices overseas would be cheaper, while foreign exchange earnings remained quite a few.

One of the breakthroughs could be done by extending promotion through exhibition and this would provide a new experience for craftsmen so that their production could be adjusted to the demand of market. “Here, government must dare to sacrifice. Otherwise, there will be many downturns in the future,” he explained. (kmb16)

Freelance Request Rent Vehicle Mafia Revealed Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The polemic of freelance tourist vehicles has come back after stated illegal by Bali Transportation Agency as drivers did not want to be called freelance and requested the Agency to reveal the mafia case behind rented vehicle permit sale. The 4,5000 drivers joined in the Bali Tourism Driver Association (ASPABA) stated ready to help officials in revealing it so.

“The permit that we bought was no longer IDR 5 million as stated by media, but IDR 7 to 15 million for a big vehicle. Meanwhile Transportation Agency only took IDR 50 thousand plus the kir fee reaching IDR 400 thousands, where did the rest go?” Head of ASPABA, Nyoman Artaya Sena, explained last Monday (13/6).

Artaya hoped that this can be solved soon and destroyed as it is disadvantaging the country as well. All this time only drivers are said illegal

when actually there are many rented vehicles did not function as its permit. Those drivers stated illegal was due to information shortage received so for that ASPABA forms legal counsel and builds cooperative. “We deserve to enjoy our income from tourism too. For that we have formed cooperative by government’s guidance so we receive legality,” he stated.

According to him there will be 4,311 people in this cooperative and

1,500 on the waiting list. They are illegal drivers using their own cars in bringing tourists. ASPABA Advisor, Ketut Arka, stated that these drivers were given training to increase Human Resource quality by inviting competent resource such as culture and Bali tradition understanding also on languages. With being ASPABA member it is hoped the drivers will understand the regulations on their activities as tourist drivers. (par)

Australian Robbed Nusa Penida – Francisca Marr (30) builder of a foundation in Bodong, Nusa Penida from Australia has been the newest victim of robbery happened last Friday (10/6). As stated by Klungkung Police Headquarters last Monday (13/6) the house which’s also the headquarter to the foundation has been locked before she left to meet her English friend, Mark. As she came back the room was in a mess while IDR 200 thousand, cell phone and the charger were missing.

The case is still investigated and robber is still searched. (kmb20)

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International

Bali News

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

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Robber Attacked Suzuki Dealer Semarapura (Bali Post) –

The captured empty houses’ robber, Achmad Jayadi from Lombok, did not guarantee Klungkung’s free of robbery as another robbery happened last Monday (13/6) attacking a Suzuki Dealer at Raya Banjarangkan Street, Klungkung.

It was known several items were gone after a worker came by around 6.30 am. Some rooms were in a state of mess such as manager room, spare part room, service room and product display. The robber seemed to have tried to force opened a saving box with ten millions of Rupiahs in it, but failed. The robber did manage taking a laptop, monitor, an exhaust and two vehicles licence.

It was suspected the robbery happened at night and got in using a fake key through the back door. In the night there is no security as the person has resigned when mutated being a sales person according to Wayan Antarayasa, one of the dealer workers. He admitted he was the one suppose to guard the place yet he was tired after praying in several temples (tirta yatra). “Actually around 7 pm I went out and was passing by the dealer also went to control it. It was still okay,” he explained.

Dealer Cashier, Ni Nyoman Darmini, admitted unsure of the loss.

Meanwhile Head of Banjarangkan Police, APC Ketut Suastika, stated there have been witnesses interrogated and crime scene investigated.

For sure, there was one ladder found used to climb up the walls and it is predicted it has caused IDR 7 million loss.

This case happened 15 days after a robbery hit Semarapura District Court Office where in here robber also messed up rooms such as finance, accountant, even Head of the District Court’s room, causing millions of Rupiahs loss. Until now it is not known who the robber is and still being investigated. (kmb20)

Patient of dengue fever dies

Four months, Sanglah Hospital treats 3,682 dengue cases Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Dengue fever remains an infectious disease threatening the public health.

Even, if not treated early, the disease carried by mosquitoes can cause death. One of the victims was Wayan Sumarni, 34, a resident of Jalan Tukad Citarum, Denpasar. Sumarni had received treatment in ICU Room of Sanglah Hospital since Friday (Jun 10) and finally died last Sunday (Jun 12).

Based on the data in Sanglah Hospital, the number of dengue fever patient treated averagely reached 17 to 43 per day. For January, the daily average of dengue patient under treatment reached 43, so within a month they reached 1,333 cases. Then, in February the daily average came to 38 people and totally 1,064 patients in a month. Meanwhile, in March the total patient of dengue fever treated amounted to 775 patients or an average of 25 per day and in April reached 510 patients with an average of 17 patients per day. On that account, the total number of dengue fever patient within the period of four months treated in Sanglah Hospital reached 3,682.

Persistent spread of the dengue fever virus, according to the Head of Bali Health Services, Nyoman Sutedja, was caused by supporting weather condition and a less clean environment. To that end, cooperation of all parties was expected to maintain the environmental sanitation, especially by performing a regular check to places having the potential to hold water. “Undertaking the movement of closing water container, draining or replacing water container and burying used goods simultaneously is the most appropriate way to handle dengue fever,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Dengue Fever Management Team of Sanglah Hospital, IGNP Arhana, explained that symptoms of dengue fever were similar to the symptoms of other infectious diseases. Therefore, to ensure it was required a blood test. “There are some patients who experience symptoms of acute respiratory infections but after checking their blood, in fact they were also affected by dengue fever. It is called dual infections,” said Arhana.

To that end, public vigilance for any symptoms of infectious diseases was necessary because if getting late handling, the dengue fever could be fatal. Arhana added the most important thing was not by treatment but prevention by maintaining the stamina and environmental sanitation. (san)

IBP/file

A green rice is seen on a rice field. Bali need to increase the production of the food in order to supply to local market.

Bali inadequate to rely on national food security Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Bali is not enough just to rely on the national food security. The Head of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) of Bali Chapter, Prof. Dr Nyoman Suparta, stated that food security based on self-sufficiency had been more prominent. Bali had to become a self-sufficient region to avoid food crisis and achieve food security.

“In terms of food security, Bali is categorized into secure region because the demand for food of the population remains to be fulfilled. It is indicated by sufficient and affordable supply to the community. However, Bali may not depend on the supply of other regions persistently,” said Suparta in Denpasar, Monday (Jun 13).

He said that food security conditions of Bali remained to source from outside Bali. Those commodities included rice, beans, corn, fish and vegetables. “In the event of disruption in distribution, it is not likely to cause a crisis. On that account, Bali should attempt to reach self-sufficiency as desired by every region,” he said.

He was optimistic that Bali would be capable of reaching self-sufficiency if there was a strong commitment and togetherness. Hard work of farmers and consistency of human resources became the only key to successful application of technology, and increase the income and welfare of farmers

though Bali was still facing several obstacles, including the land availability, water availability for irrigation, and application of appropriate farming technologies.

“Indeed, it requires the hard work of all parties with farmers to achieve the food self-sufficiency in Bali. Complexity of the existing problems must be addressed wisely and prudently in togetherness,” he said.

Meanwhile, the economic practitioner, Prof. Dr. Gede Sri Darma, assessed that high absorption rate of imported products in Indonesia would hamper the endeavor to achieve food self-sufficiency. Even, the surge of imported products had the potential to lead to the destruction of economic sector.

“Self-sufficiency program is merely a figment, whereas it’s bizarre if we talk about food security, but government loses interest to develop the domestic food production,” he said.

So far, local food producers such

as farmers had not been properly appreciated. For example, in 1998 the hard work of farmers was ignored by importing rice from neighboring countries. As consequence, the profession of farmer was getting to be left behind. Invasion of imported products had the potential to lead to massive layoffs, so the purchasing power decreased.

“Consequences of overwhelming imported products entering the unpreparedness will cause us to lose in the competition against other countries.

Moreover, since long ago our entrepreneurs have been lullabied by conditions and circumstances, even deliberately protected by government,” he said.

In 2009, Bali Trade and Industry (Disperindag) recorded that to meet the demand for food, Bali absorbed 5,000 tons of rice production output from outside Bali such as East Java and 37,521 tons were taken from the production of local farmers. (par)

4

News

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

International

Aung San Suu Kyi: People ‘hungry’ for justice Associated Press Writer

GENEVA – Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday her nation yearns for justice and progress, and the international community must help lift its workers’ grim conditions.

“Burma must not be allowed to fail and the world must not be allowed to fail Burma,” the 65year-old Nobel laureate told a U.N. labor conference by videolink, using the Southeast Asian country’s former name.

The pro-democracy icon, freed last November after spending much of the past 20 years under house arrest, said her nation once seemed the most likely success story in southeast Asia but “has fallen behind almost all the other nations in the region.”

Suu Kyi won the 1991 Nobel Peace prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy. She led her National League for Democ-

racy to victory in 1990 elections, but the military junta that led the government refused to recognize the results.

The former junta changed the nation’s name to Myanmar, but many democracy supporters and Suu Kyi still call it Burma.

After elections in November that were swept by a party close to the ruling junta, military leaders turned over control to a nominally civilian government in March.

In recent months Suu Kyi has been turning to videolinks and other means to get her message out, fearing — as she has for years — that if she were to leave the country she might not get back in.

Suu Kyi, seeking to revive her party, said its members and other groups and people struggling for political change created a “people’s network” six months ago to focus on social and humanitarian projects that spread democracy and human rights.

Rebel fighter make their way over a hill during fighting between the towns of Ryayna and Zawyat Bagul along the Nefusa mountain frontline as they try to cut off forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on June 12, 2011.

AFP PHOTO/COLIN SUMMERS

Libyan rebels breakout toward Tripoli Associated Press Writer

MISRATA, Libya – Libyan rebels Monday broke out toward Tripoli from the opposition-held port of Misrata 140 miles to the east, cracking a government siege as fighters across the country mounted a resurgence in their four-month-old revolt against Moammar Gadhafi.

AP Photo/Khin Maung Win

Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi talks to her party’s youth members during a workshop on educating journalism course at the party’s headquarters Monday, May 16, 2011, in Yangon, Myanmar. Over 50 trainees are attending this one-month course.

The rebels gained a diplomatic boost as well when the visiting the German foreign minister said the nascent opposition government was “the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.” Guido Westerwelle was visiting Benghazi, the capital of the rebel-held east of the country, to open a liaison office and hand over medical supplies.

He stopped short of full diplomatic recognition of the Transitional National Council, as has the United States, awaiting the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi from his

more than 40-year rule in the oilrich North African country.

Germany has refused to participate in NATO airstrikes in Libya and withheld its support for the U.N. resolution that allowed the attacks.

What started as a peaceful uprising against Gadhafi has become a civil war, with poorly equipped and trained rebel fighters taking control of the eastern third of Libya and pockets of the west.

But the fighting had reached a stalemate until last week when NATO began the heaviest bombardment of Gadhafi forces since the alliance took

control of the skies over Libya under a U.N. resolution to protect civilians from Gadhafi’s wrath. NATO has been pounding Gadhafi military and government position with increasing vigor and the rebels are again on the move.

Gadhafi’s power has been considerably degraded by the NATO attacks as well military and government defections. In London, Libyan analysts reported Monday that Gadhafi had lost another close official who defected and fled the country.

Sassi Garada, one of the first men to join Gadhafi when he took power, left Libya through Tunisia, according to Noman Benotman, a Libyan analyst in London who was in contact with his friends and family. Guma elGamaty, U.K. organizer for Libya’s interim council, also confirmed the defection.

Power mostly restored after NZealand quakes kill 1 Associated Press Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Power was mostly restored to New Zealand’s quake-damaged city of Christchurch on Tuesday after strong aftershocks brought down new buildings and killed a nursing home resident.

The latest quakes — the strongest of which was 6.0 in magnitude — left tens of thousands without electricity on a winter night when temperatures approached freezing. By afternoon, around 7,000 households

were still without power. The power company Orion said it was providing generators to fill some of the gap.

Water supplies were also compromised, and Mayor Bob Parker was encouraging people to boil their water.

More than 40 people suffered mostly minor injuries in Monday’s earthquakes. But the Canterbury District Health Board confirmed that a quake caused the death of one elderly resident of a nursing home, according to a spokeswoman who requested anonymity, citing policy.

She did not have further details.

Thousands of aftershocks have followed the February 6.3-magnitude quake that killed 181 people.

That tremor and its aftershocks have been very shallow and near the city, making them very destructive.

Monday’s quakes sent bricks crashing down in the cordoned-off city center, where only workers have tread since it was devastated in February. The aftershocks worsened the damage to dozens of buildings and collapsed one of the last downtown buildings still standing.

AP Photo/New Zealand Herald, Mark Mitchell

Lyttelton Timeball Station is damaged following strong aftershocks in Lyttelton, Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, June 14, 2011.

International

Activities

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

5

Dynasty’s Got Talent Winner IBP

KUTA - Over the last two months the Bali Dynasty Resort has been presenting our very own staff talent show, ‘Dynasty’s Got Talent’.

Dynasty asked guests to vote for their favorite act online via our website and each week live during the shows. The votes have been counted and Dynasty has a clear winner.

The eventual winners were Tom and Arna, who work at the pool from the Recreation Department.

Their Fire dance was a clear favourite, with Ratni and Marta’s Balinese dance coming in second place and Suastika, our singing Executive Chef coming third.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for May 25 through July 8, 2011 25 May Buda Pon Tolu Catur Temple Buwana Sanding Tampaksiring 26 May Wraspati Wage Tolu Peninjoan Temple Besakih - Karangasem 1 Jun Buda Keliwon Gumbreg Pasek Gelgel Kukuh Marga Tabanan Pasek Gelgel Dukuh Selemadeg Tabanan Puseh Guwang Village Sukawati Merajan Pasek Ketewel Ketewel Merajan Pangeran Tangkas Kuro Agung Jeroan Sading Dalem Setra Batu Nunggul Swana Nusa Penida 8 Jun Buda Paing Wariga Merajan Pasek Gaduh Kayubihi Bangli 11 Jun Tumpek Uduh/Pengatag Puseh / Village Temple Batuan Sukawati Pasek Bendesa Kekeran Mengwi Manik Mas Besakih - Karangasem 15 Jun Buda Wage Warigadean Kepisah Sumerta Denpasar Pasek Gelgel Gerih Abiansemal Badung Puncaksari Penarukan Peninjoan Bangli Bangun Sakti Besakih - Karangasem Antegsari Kaba-Kaba Kediri Tabanan Pesimpangan Batur Pande Kaba-Kaba Kediri Tabanan 17 Jun Sukra Umanis Warigadean Odalan Ida Ratu di Penataran Agung Besakih - Karangasem Odalan Ida Ratu Puraus Merajan Salonding Besakih 19 Jun Redite Pon Julungwangi Panti Pasek Gelgel Gobleg Banjar - Singaraja 21 Jun Anggar Kasih Julungwangi Tirtaharum Tegalwangi Bangli Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari Tabanan Pasek Tangguntiti Jakatebel Tabanan Pasek Bendesa Sangsit Sangsit Buleleng Dalem Waturenggong Taro Tegalalang

Ibu (Pura Kaja) Wanasari Selemadeg Tabanan Pasek Gelgel Tulikup - Gianyar Manik Bingin Sidemen - Karangasem 22 Jun Buda Umanis Julungwangi Penetaran Gana Bebalang Bangli Dalem Gede Banjar Pande Bangli Puncaksari Sangeh Abiansemal - Badung Dadia Agung Pasek Sanak Sapta Resi Gianyar Merajan Pasek Tohjiwa Tohjiwa Jakatebel Merajan Pasek Prateka Batusesa Mr. Jeroan Dauh Cemenggon Puseh Penegil Darma Kubutambahan Singaraja 30 Jun Wraspati Wage Sungsang Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Desa Tangkas Klungkung Siang Kangin Tampuagan Tembuku Bangli Odalan Ida Ratu Mas Penataran Agung Besakih Merajan Pasek Gelgel Petemon Odalan Ida Bhatara Bang Tulus Dewa Besakih - Karangasem 6 Jul Buda Keliwon Dunggulan Wakika Temple Kupang, NTT Agung Girinatha Temple Sumbawa Besar NTB Dukuh Sakti Temple Dukuh Kediri-Tabanan Atambuananta Temple Kutamba NTT Webananta Temple Kupang, NTT Giripati Mulawarman Temple Pontianak Mustika Dharma Temple Cijantung I Jakarta Timur Mustika Dharma Kompleks Kopassus Cijantung Jakarta Timur 7 Jul Wraspati Umanis Dunggulan Watukaru Temple Tabanan Lempuyang Luhur Temple Karangasem Kentel Gumi Temple Klungkung Pasek Gaduh Temple Umadesa Kediri Tabanan Pasek Kubayan Temple Wangaya Gede Penebel Tabanan Merajan Pasek Temple Tohjiwa Tiyingan - Klungkung Merajan Pasek Gaduh Temple Umadesa 8 Jul Sukra Paing Dunggulan Ulun Suwi Temple Jimbaran - Badung Luhur Temple Cemenggon, Sukawati - Gianyar Pasek Ubung Temple Ubung - Denpasar

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali.

There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

News 8 dead after gunmen storm Iraq gov’t building Associated Press Writer

AFP PHOTO/Alvaro Vidal

A cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano is seen in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, on June 5, 2011.

More flight delays in Australia as ash plays havoc Agence France Presse

SYDNEY – Thousands of airline passengers faced a third day of delays in Australia on Tuesday as the ash cloud from Chile’s volcanic eruptions continued to cause havoc. Qantas and Jetstar have lifted a ban on flights to and from Melbourne but services by the two airlines in and out of the southern island of Tasmania and New Zealand remain grounded.

Flights to Adelaide by Qantas, Jetstar and Tiger were also grounded Tuesday with a review on the situation later expected in the day.

“Qantas will continue to monitor the movement of the ash cloud and assess its impact on flight operations as the situation develops,” the airline said in a statement.

“The Qantas Group’s approach to flying is based on the highest standards of safety and risk assessment. Safety is always put before schedule.”

While Qantas continues to take a conservative approach, Virgin has resumed normal flights to Melbourne, Tasmania and New Zealand with its planes flying around or under the ash

plume. They are also flying in and out of Adelaide, as are international services by Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

“Additional flights will be implemented between Sydney and Melbourne and Melbourne and Hobart to carry impacted guests,’ Virgin said. Air New Zealand’s domestic and trans-Tasman flights continue to operate to schedule. “By adjusting cruising altitudes of our aircraft we are able to continue to safely deliver customers to their destinations,” Air New Zealand said.

Strong winds have carried the ash more than half way around the world, over the southern Atlantic

and southern Indian Oceans to Australia and as far as New Zealand since Chile’s Puyehue volcano erupted over a week ago.

Andrew Tupper, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre head, warned the crisis was not yet over.

“I think it’s fair to say there will be more disruption, so that’s the bit of bad news,” he told ABC radio, adding that while the ash was heading back to South America, it could return to Australia.

“It has been known to do a double lap in the past,” he said. The flight disruptions have affected an estimated 60,000 travellers.

IMF boots Fischer from race for top job Reuters

WASHINGTON – The International Monetary Fund’s board on Monday blocked Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer from the race for the top IMF job, further boosting the chances of French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde.

In a surprise move, the 24-member IMF board rejected changing the IMF’s rules that would have allowed 67-year-old Fischer to run,

two board official told Reuters.

IMF rules stipulate an age limit of 65 for an incoming managing director.

The officials said changing the rules for Fischer, who is highly respected by both advanced and emerging economies, would have required a reopening of the selection process to allow other candidates older than 65 to participate in the race.

An IMF board statement later

confirmed it had shortlisted Lagarde and Mexico’s central bank chief Agustin Carstens and would consider their nominations, although made no mention of Fischer.

“The executive board will meet with the candidates in Washington and, thereafter, meet to discuss the strengths of the candidates and make a selection,” the board said.

It reiterated that it planned to complete the selection by June 30.

BAGHDAD – Attackers set off two car bombs next to a government compound Tuesday, then opened fire and took an unknown number of hostages, Iraqi officials said. Eight people were killed in the assault.

There were conflicting reports about whether the situation had been brought under control in Baqouba, which was once an al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold. There was no immediate claim of responsibility but the complex attack bore the hallmarks of the insurgent group.

Gunmen first set off two car bombs near a gate protecting the government compound in Baqouba, 35 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, said Samira al-Shibli, a spokeswoman for the Diyala provincial council.

The compound houses buildings including the provincial council headquarters and the governor’s office.

Two officials with the Diyala Operations Command said at least some of the gunmen made their way into the compound and one of the officials said the gunmen took hostages. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

An Iraqi army officer, Col. Sabah al-Kuzi, said eight people died in the assault but he did not know how many of the attackers were among the dead.

One of the officials at the Diyala Operations Command said there were five gunmen: three were killed, one wounded and authorities were still searching for the fifth.

However, a member of the Diyala provincial council said 10 gunmen had stormed into the compound. “I am trying to call my colleagues and employees in the building but all their mobiles are switched off,” Nasreen Bahjat said. “The situation now is tense.”

Supervision...

From page 1 Application of Balinese architecture at each entrance, said Dwipa, was intended to make both domestic and foreign visitors feel the experience in Bali when setting feet here.

“Buildings in Bali, especially those located on the roadside such as commercial buildings have to

apply the Balinese architectural style as well. On that account, government should oversee the regional regulation to prevent any violations and impose severe sanctions to violators,” he said. Added, all components and tourism stakeholders should have the same awareness to keep the implementation of Balinese culture. The role of government itself would never be sufficient without the awareness of public and stakeholders. (par)

Government...

From page 1 Shivering with cold, Ako Lani, a 16-year-old orphan, convulsed in tears and could not speak when his lawyers asked him in Brisbane‘s high security Arthur Gorrie jail on May 30 whether he was being mistreated by prisoners.

Sixty Indonesian crew members who claim to be under 18 are being treated as adults in jails and immigration detention centers across Australia after wrist X-ray examinations that police say prove they are not children.

But defence lawyers citing a number of studies and judicial rulings say the X-rays are unreliable and inadequate to determine the ages of children.

Fourteen months after Ose Lani, 15, and Ako Lani and John Ndollu, both 16, were detained on an asylum-seeker boat near Ashmore Reef no Australian police or immigration officials have contacted anybody in Manamolo, the boys‘ village on Roti Island, to establish their ages.

No official has informed family the boys are in an Australian jail.

“The three boys went fishing one day and never returned. We thought they had been lost at sea,” Albert Lani, father of Ose Lani, said. Mr Lani wept when Margaret Bocquet-Siek, a volunteer interpreter phoned him from Brisbane last month to say his son was alive. “Ose`s father was crying with relief - the boy was only 14 when he left the village,” Dr Bocquet-Siek said.

Mark Plunkett, a Brisbane barrister, and Tony Sheldon, an Indonesia expert, have gathered affidavits in the village that prove all three boys are under 18.

Lawyers have obtained extracts of birth certificates confirming that Ose Lani is 15 and John Ndollu is 16. A birth certificate showing Ako Lani is 16 is being sent from Indonesia.

But prosecutors say it will take weeks, if not months, for police to verify the evidence, leaving the boys vulnerable to abuse in a jail that houses some of Queensland‘s worst offenders.

International

Indonesia Today

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

7

Temanggung sectarian rioter sentenced to one year Antara

AFP PHOTO / AHMAD SETIAWAN

Indonesian cleric Syihabudin waits inside the court detention center in Semarang on June 14, 2011 while supporters gather as he awaits for his verdict. The court sentenced the 46 year old cleric to one year in jail for inciting hundreds of people to burn churches and attack police. In February, a 1,500-strong mob of Muslims set two churches alight and ransacked a third in nearby Temanggung, on Java island, as they demanded that a Christian man be sentenced to death for insulting Islam.

Police chief promises to totally root out terrorism Antara

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo here on Tuesday reaffirmed the force‘s determination to totally root out terrorism.

He made the statement in response to rumors circulating through short text messages recently that bombs would explode in some parts of Indonesia when the Sout Jakarta District Court passes sentence on Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba‘asyir

who has been on trial on the charge of financing terrorist activity.

“There is no need to panic. We ask people to report immediately to the police if they see anything suspicious,” said Timur.

Abu Bakar Ba‘asyir was arrested

on August 9, 2010 on the grounds he had known, supported and received reports about preparations for the launching of terrorist attacks.

Baasyir was detained while he was passing the Banjar police station in his car at the border between West Java and Central Java provinces.

Police said Abu Bakar Baasyir was believed to have received reports routinely about terrorist plans for bombing attacks in Indonesia.

KPK may coerce Nazaruddin after three ignored summons Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) may resort to forceful means to bring former Democrat Party treasurer M Nazaruddin home (from Simgapore) if he fails to meet a third summons to testify in a bribery case at the Youth and Sports Ministry, a KPK spokesman said.

“When a case we are handling has reached an advanced investigation stage, a witness can be summoned with forceful means if he or she fails to meet our summons a third time without a legally acceptable explanation,” KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here Monday.

What the KPK was possibly to

do against Nazaruddin if a third summons was ignored, would be fully in accordance with the existing law, he said.

“So we will, of course, use our authority based on existing law. The procedure we are to follow in that case would also be conforming to the relevant legal rules,” he added.

The KPK had so far summoned Nazaruddin twice already to be questioned as a witness in two corruption or bribery cases.

Last Friday (June 10), the KPK had expected Nazaruddin to come to its office to testify in an alleged corruption case at the National Education Ministry but he did not. On Friday (June 13), the former Democrat Party official was to have pre-

sented himself at the KPK office to be heard as a witness in the bribery case involving Wafid Muharam, secretary to the Youth and Sports Minister but he also failed to come.

Nazaruddin had thus twice ignored a KPK summons and there had been no reaction whatsoever from him to both summonses while he was in Singapore where he had gone one day before a travel ban was imposed on him last May 14.

The summonses were served not only on Nazaruddin but also on his wife, Neneng, who was wanted in connection with suspected corruption in the procurement of solar power generation equipment for the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry.

SEMARANG - The Semarang District Court on Tuesday sentenced Syihabudin, a man involved in a sectarian riot in Temanggung last February, to one year in jail minus time in preventive detention.

The chief of the panel of judges, Edy Tjahjono, when reading the verdict here said the defendant had been convincingly proven of instigating people to carry out destructive acts “This sentence is given based upon facts unveiled in court sessions and judges` conviction,” he said in the company of members of the team of judges Dolman Sinaga and Wiwik Suhartono.

He said the defendant‘s actions had hurt a lot of people and caused damage to public facilities and created public unrest.

Upon hearing the verdict and after consulting with his lawyers Syihabudin said he would appeal it.

He said after the session that the verdict was unfair and that he had been a mere victim of engineering.

The prosecutor, Sugeng, had also demanded one year in prison for the defendant.

The rioting in Temanggung occurred on February 8, 2011 after the local court sentenced Antonius Richmond Bawengan to five years in jail over a case of religious desecration which was considered too lenient by some.

Due to the incident some churches, a Christian school and some motor vehicles were damaged.

Syihabudin who was believed to be the main actor behind the rioting was convicted for violating Article 160 of the Criminal Code on instigation.

Bottlenecks threaten Asia‘s infrastructure spending Antara

JAKARTA - The cost of building power plants, transportation hubs, telecom facilities, water systems and other infrastructure across Asia will exceed US$ 8 trillion over the next 10 years, according to discussions in the World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF-EA).

“The region actually has enough money in private savings, sovereign wealth funds and central bank reserves to fund the infrastructure upgrades. The problem is that bottlenecks threaten to hold back the projects, including regulatory complexity, land use and the failure to funnel those funds into long-duration financial instruments,” the WEF said in a press statement issued during the WEF-EA event.

Governments in Indonesia, India and elsewhere in Asia still are determined to build the required infrastructure to continue economic growth.

“Jakarta will have a mass transit railway system before I die,” vowed Gita Wirjawan, Chairman of Indonesia`s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), said.

Admitting that infrastructure projects in the past had been excessively delayed, Wirjawan said that “game-changers” are being introduced to speed up the process, including a new land-use law that may be passed in the third or fourth quarter of 2011.

A large power plant in Java was

recently announced, and a water treatment plant that was first planned during the presidency of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first leader, has garnered 29 expressions of interest.

In India, 11 kilometres of roads used to be constructed every year. Today, 10 kilometres are being built every day after the creation of the National Highways Authority. But a new mass transit system in Mumbai, on the drawing board for the past 20 years, has not been started.

“India is a mixed story,” said Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Construction Company. “There are grand successes, but also utter failures.”

One problem is that the central and state governments are very strong, while city and other local governments do not have enough authority and autonomy and they are the ones that implement infrastructure projects.

Stuart T. Gulliver, Group Chief Executive, HSBC Holdings, United Kingdom and a Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum on East Asia, said that a mandatory provident fund scheme must be formed along with a mature insurance industry to build pools of long-term money.

In Asia ex-Japan, two jurisdictions “that have done well in infrastructure are Hong Kong and Singapore,” he noted, “both of which had created mandatory provident funds ? and cleared red tape to enable construction of world-class infrastructure.”

8

International

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Bali Today Bali’s red rice demanded by Philippine Antara

Denpasar – The red rice from Bali which is produced in Jatiluwih, Tabanan, is highly demanded by the customers in Philippine. The Head of Bali Farming Department, Made Putra Suryawan, said “red rice is now become an export commodity and already exported to the Philippine.”

He explained that the number of rice exported is not too large, only 3 or 4 tons every harvest. The current area to plant the red rice is only 24 hectares and there is great hope that the number can be increased in the future.

“In addition to the rice from Jatiluwih, we are trying to develop the same type of rice in other areas in Bali,” Suryawan said. He added that the department cooperates with the exporter from East java to export the rice to other

countries such as Belgium. The rice exported is from Payangan, Gianyar In Payangan, the rice field is wider, consist of 86 hectares of land and can produce up to 8 tons in harvest season. If the exports continue, the farmer can become the supplier for the export commodity.

“Other commodities such as vegetables and fruits will be produce for local consumption only,” Suryawan said.

IBP/Net

The photo shows the rice field on Jatiluwih area.

Arja performance in the 33rd BAF Antara

Denpasar – “Arja” play, one of the traditional Balinese arts which perform dance and songs, will be performed in the fifth day of the 33rd Bali Art Festival (BAF). “The arja will be performed by the Arja Praba art group from Keramas, Gianyar Regency. The performance will be

done on Ayodya Stage in art Center Denpasar,” said one of the committee of BAF. The arja is one of the performances which will be done in the fifth day of BAF and the performances will start from the morning until at night. Other events are contemporary art by Sekar Rare art group from Banjar Pande, Tabanan in Ksirarnawa

Buliding and Utsawa Dharma Gita.

There will be also angklung parade which is performed by art group from Denpasar and Badung. The 33rd BAF which is being held started on June 10 through July 2011 filled with 334 performances. There are 24 art groups from 16 province and foreign art groups from five countries participate in the BAF.

IBP/Net

Arja performance.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011 Activity : Performance of Sekaa Parwa Agung Desa Blahkiuh Kecamatan Abiansemal Badung regency.

Time : 11.00 – 13.00 Place : Angsoka Stage Activity : Joged dance by Sekaa Joged Kuta Selatan Badung regency Time : 11.00 – 13.00 Place : Ayodya Stage Activity : Prembon masked dance exhibition presented by Bangli regency Time : 16.00 – 18.00 Place : Ayodya Stage Activity : Teruna Teruni Bali Festival Time : 18.00 – 19.30 Place : Ratna Kanda stage Activity : Performance of Tourism and Cultural Office of West Sumatra Time : 20.00 – 22.00 Place : Ksirarnawa Building Activity : Chidren gong kebyar exhibition featuring Sekaa Gong anak-anak Rare Pahrayangan Kecamatan Payangan Gianyar regency and Tabanan regency Time : 20.00 – 23.00 Place : Open stage Ardha Candra

International

Wednesday, June 15 2011

Balinese Culture

Community - Based Conservation in Bali It is generally accepted that each nation of the world, have their own history, which depends on the local situation and condition, as proved by their archeological and historical remains. In this connection, Indonesia for example, has so many interesting monuments, which could be found nearly in the whole of the archipelago namely in Sumatera, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesian Island. Among them are belonged to prehistoric and historic period, which consist of movable and immovable monuments, and made of tangible and intangible material. Based on the function when the monuments were discovered, our monuments could be classified into two groups namely the dead monuments, which were not used any more by local people. The second one is the living monuments, which until now is still used for religious purpose by the local people as seen in Bali.

It is a matter of facts that only a very few of our monuments have been removed to the government museum to protect them from further deterioration. The facts mean that most of them are still in its original places, standing alone struggle against all kind of dangers, which are coming from environ-

ment and human activities.

Indonesian governments are aware to protect our archaeological remains, because of its values for: 1). Reconstructing our national from the very early time covering the live of our ancestors; 2). Increasing and strengthening our cultural identity as the basic foundation for our development plans facing the forthcoming modern world; 3). Increasing cultural appreciation and responsibility for the young generations through the education systems; 4). Supporting cultural tourism and cultural diplomacy to build up a peaceful world based on cultural understanding.

It should be very easy to understand that not any nations would like to lose their national cultural roots and so it is a national task to protect the archaeological heritage.

This important task is not only because of its value as mentioned above, but actually also due to a number of factors which could damage the monuments, namely: 1).

The very old age of the monuments; 2). The natural effect such as climate, humidity, etc; 3). Human activities e.g. graffiti, vandalism, illegal excavation etc; 4). Modernization, industrialization and development project; 5). Tourism facili-

ties etc Now it should be very clear that any archaeological protection trough preservation and conservation should be regarded: 1). To protect the monuments as a national cultural property bearing national pride; 2). To protect the archeological environment for keeping the beauty and the attractions of the monuments as a unity of ecosystems; 3). To keep the cultural values of the monuments in their people mind forever.

Facing the problem of archeological protections in Indonesia, the Dutch have issued Monuments Ordinance (Monumenten Ordonnantie, Stb. No. 238, 1931), which is not suitable any more for us, and then recently our government have declared the new one called Law Concerning Items of Cultural Property (Undangundang No.5, 1992 tentang Benda Cagar Budaya). In our modern world today, not any nations would like to sacrifice their culture, because it is very natural to have the national spirit, which have been built through a very long history. Each nation should regard their national spirit as the very important power for today and facing the future. (BTN/Doc)

Bubur Pulut Hitam (Black Rice Dessert) Ingredients * 240 g Black glutinous rice (washed & drained) * 60 g White glutinous rice (pulut) (washed & drained) * 7 c Water * 2 Pandan leaves, knotted * 1/2 c Sugar * Pinch of salt * 1/2 T Tapioca flour or cornflour Combined with 2 Tbs water to Form a paste * 1/2 c Thick cocnut milk * Pinch of salt

Directions Put rice in pot with water and pandan leaves and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, remove pandan leaves and simmer for 45 minutes until liquid is thick.

Add sugar and simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt and thickening. Remove from heat.

Serve in small bowls topped with 1-2 tablespoons thick cocnut milk.

Coconut Sweet Potato Cake (Getuk Lindri) Ingredients * 2 lbs. cassava * 200 gram granulated sugar * ½ tsp. vanila * 1 cup steamed fresh-grated coconut, mixed with 1 tsp. salt * 100 cc water * food color

Directions Put in sugar and vanila in a large stockpot with water and bring it to a boil.

Steam cassava until soft. Peel cassava. Mash cassava while still hot and pour the water mixture and food color (what ever color you like) and blend well.

Use the equipment as shown on the left hand side to mold the mixture. Then put them onto a serving platter, and sprinkle with grated coconut.

Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate for an hour and serve chilled.

C.045 ibp

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Destinations

International

Penelokan IBP

Penelokan is situated on the southern part of Batur Tengah Village of Kintamani District, around 20 kms from the town of Bangli or some 63 km from Denpasar, the capital of Bali Province.

Many guests, domestic or foreign choose this place so they can enjoy the cold but refreshing air of the mountainous land. Of course, while they taste the stunning views of the solid black lavas of Mount Batur’s eruption in 1917 that devastated the surrounding village.

Batur has scenic views and is part of Kintamani that is in the northern side of Bangli Regency.

Penelokan (Look Out Point) is the best ppalce to see the drooping jaws sceneries offered by Mount and Lake Batur. It is about 1,500 meters above sea level.

Its temperature is at the average 22 degress Celcius at noo and 16 degress Celcius during the night.

And we invite those adventurous to climb the mountain until reaching the peak. The crater seems to be a beautiful painting carved to the mountain.

In addition to seeing the mountain, Batur also offers the charming Lake Batur with its clean water and the unique graveyard and Barong Brutuk of Trunyan Village, that cannot be found anywhere else in Bali.

International Bali Post Classifieds Contact us

... gets maximum benefits with minimum charge Denpasar : +62 361 22-5764 Jakarta : +62 21 535-6271

Jl. Kepundung 67 A, e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id Jl. Palmerah Barat 21 F

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

11

BUSINESS

AFP PHOTO

This photo taken on June 13, 2011 shows a Chinese vendor waiting for customers at a food market in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province. China’s politically sensitive inflation rate hit its highest level in nearly three years in May, the government said on June 14, despite persistent official efforts to tame food and property costs.

China food costs push inflation in May Associated Press Writer

SHANGHAI – China’s inflation rose to its highest level in nearly three years in May, thanks largely to stubbornly high food prices, adding to economic and social strains that have fanned recent protests.

The 5.5 percent rise in the consumer price index reported Tuesday was in line with expectations but higher than April’s 5.3 percent and March’s 32-month high of 5.4 percent. The National Statistics Bureau said the main factor was an 11.7 percent jump in food prices.

While food costs are likely to moderate as supplies improve over the summer months, China is juggling conflicting goals. By constraining bank lending in an effort to keep prices under control, it is pinching credit to the smaller, private businesses that drive most job creation and much of the country’s growth.

The spate of street demonstrations and bombings, from Inner Mongolia in the north all the way to Guangdong in the south, has highlighted the precarious balance the communist leadership is striving to maintain while keeping the world’s second largest economy growing at a stable pace.

Surging prices for food and other basic necessities have added to the frustrations over inequality, abuse of power and suppression of legitimate grievances that drove recent turbulence.

“My pension increases once a

year by more than 100 yuan ($13), but I can’t afford increases in food costs,” said Ma Chuanyi, a retired elementary school teacher. “I find that what increase the most are the cheaper foods.”

Drought and other weather disasters have decimated crops in wide parts of the country, as rising consumer demand pushes prices higher. Strong demand in construction and other industries has added to those pressures, spurred by a bank lending spree meant to fight off the impact of the 2008 global crisis.

On Tuesday, the central bank lifted the ratio of funds banks must set aside as reserves by a half point in its sixth such attempt this year to contain inflation. The latest increase, to a record 21.5 percent of deposits, will take effect June 20.

There are good grounds for caution, given the risk that rising food prices could spill into more generalized inflation, said a research note by IHS GlobalInsight economists Xianfang Ren and Alistair Thornton.

In Shanghai, the country’s commercial hub, residents are feeling the pinch of surging rent and food prices.

“Everything is becoming more

and more expensive. My landlord hit me with a rent increase yesterday, after raising it almost every year. Vegetables and meat are also expensive,” said Mindful of inflation’s role in eroding the economic gains that underpin their claim to power, China’s communist leaders have made taming prices a priority, while seeking to steer economic growth from the sizzling 9.7 percent rate in the first quarter to a more sustainable level.

The government reported Monday that bank lending slowed in May, indicating that repeated interest rate hikes and increases to reserve requirements may finally be reining in the excess lending that has helped drive prices higher.

“Weakening credit growth and a slowing economy present a policy dilemma when inflation is still high,” said Mark Williams, senior China economist at Capital Economics.

May’s figures indicate mixed results.

Investments have remained relatively strong in real estate and in state-dominated heavy industries, where excess capacity remains a big problem.

Honda profit to drop 63.5 percent Associated Press Writer

TOKYO – Honda’s profit for the fiscal year through March 2012 is expected to plunge 63.5 percent as vehicles sales slipped amid a parts shortage caused by the quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

Honda Motor Co. gave the forecast Tuesday, more than a month later than usual. Like other Japanese automakers, the maker of the Odyssey minivan and the Fit compact needed more time to assess the aftermath of the March 11 disaster.

But Honda said vehicle production in Japan is expected to be back at nearly normal levels by later this month, and production in regions outside of Japan is expected to be back up to predisaster levels in August or September.

Honda said it will try to make up for lost time and deliver more vehicles, but it is expecting its global vehicle sales for the fiscal year through March 2012 to drop 6 percent on year to 3.3 million vehicles. Honda had sold 3.51 million vehicles worldwide the previous fiscal year.

Given the devastation from the March 11 9.0 magnitude earthquake and the tsunami that it unleashed, analysts say the recovery at Japanese automakers has been remarkable.

Still, all the automakers are suffering, and the damage has continued because key auto parts suppliers were located in the northeastern region.

Koji Endo, auto analyst with Advanced Researach Japan Co. in Tokyo, said the disaster had hit Honda harder than Japanese rivals, such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., partly because it was such a lean company it didn’t have much inventory when the disaster-related parts short-

ages came.

“Honda was deeply hurt, and its strength of having little inventory is going to make its recovery take longer,” he said, noting that Honda’s auto business was likely in the red for the fiscal year and the results were being made up its motorcycle division. “This is going to take a while.”

Honda acknowledged that a shortage of parts for certain models will continue for some time.

Honda is projecting a profit of 195 billion yen ($2.4 billion) for the current fiscal year, down sharply from 534 billion yen recorded the previous fiscal year.

The To k y o - b a s e d automaker put the blame on the disaster, citing the decline in sales and the cost of fixing damaged property and equipment.

It also said higher raw material costs and research expenses related to future products, especially environmental technology, also hurt its bottom line.

Honda is now expecting sales to slip 7.1 percent on year to 8.3 trillion yen ($104 billion) for the current fiscal year, it said in a statement.

Honda also cited an unfavorable exchange rate as chiseling away at its profitability. A strong yen diminishes the value of overseas earnings of exporters like Honda.

Honda said the dollar had dropped to about 80 yen recently from 86 yen the previous year, while the euro went to 110 yen from 114 yen.

Another problem the Japanese automakers are facing is an electricity shortage after the quake and tsunami destroyed a nuclear power plant. Another plant is being shut down because of growing fears about the safety of nuclear power.

12

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Entertainment

International

Steve Jobs gets comic book bio treatment Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA – Steve Jobs, the public face of Apple Inc., is getting a biographical comic book. Publisher Bluewater Productions Inc. said Monday it will bring a 32page biography — titled “Steve Jobs: Co-Founder of Apple” — of the iconic CEO to comic book shops, bookstores and online retailers Aug. 24, detailing his life and career.

“His innovations command front page news, speculation of his health affects the stock market. Not bad for a college dropout,” Bluewater President Darren Davis said.

The book, written by C.W. Cooke and drawn by Chris

In this comic book cover released by Bluewater Productions Inc., Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is shown on the cover of the Bluewater Comics biography issue. The one-shot issue, expected in August, was created, in part, because of the sales of its last hightech profile subject, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Schmidt, profiles the technological innovator who helped co-create Apple and then oversaw its resurgence with products including the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. “Admire him or hate him, Jobs’ vision and business acumen revolutionized the world,” Cooke said. Between Jobs and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, “you would be hard pressed to find someone with greater influence over how we communicate, interact and do business over the last 30 years.”

The comic is part of the Vancouver, Wash.-based publisher’s wider series of looks at contemporary figures ranging from Lady Gaga to Sarah Palin to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

“There are definitely some similarities between Zuckerberg and Jobs. It takes a certain kind of drive and a certain kind of genius to move society the way they have,” Cooke said. “The idea behind both efforts is to show the person behind the personality and that it is never what you’d expect.”

Bluewater said the success of its Zuckerberg comic — it sold out — led the company to look at Jobs as a subject.

“His story, and that of Apple, is epic,” Davis said.

AP Photo/Bluewater Productions Inc.

Suit against Kardashians over card struck down

Carl Gardner, Coasters lead singer, dies at 83

Associated Press Writer

Associated Press Writer

Kim Kardashian

AP Photo/Jonathan Short

A judge has thrown out a $75 million lawsuit filed against the Kardashian sisters after they yanked their endorsement of a prepaid debit card that was criticized for its high fees, saying the reality show stars had no duty to promote a product that might be considered unlawful.

The ruling issued June 7 by Fresno Superior Court Judge Jeff Hamilton states attorneys for Revenue Resource Group LLC hadn’t sufficiently shown they could win their breach of contract case. The ruling also states the sisters could not sued for voicing concerns about the debit card because the claims would violate their First Amendment rights.

The Fresno-based company sued sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney in January, blaming them for heavy losses after the “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” stars publicly severed ties with the company. A phone message for the company’s attorney Nathan Miller was not immediately returned.

The sisters withdrew their support for the debit card three weeks after the product launched following a warning from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal that the card’s fees were “predatory.”

According to Hamilton’s ruling, Revenue Resource Group argued that they lost other celebrity endorsements because the Kardashians pulled out of their deal.

The company “has not met its burden to show that it is likely to prevail, because it has not addressed the claim the contract involved an unlawful/fraudulent product or how damages could be proven even had the defendants remained silent, given the record before the Court of apparently universal condemnation of the product’s profit making features,” the judge wrote.

He ordered Revenue Resource Group to dismiss the case by the end of the month and pay the Kardashians $6,825 in attorney’s fees.

The judge stated that the Kardashians’ criticism of the card wasn’t what harmed Revenue Resource Group, but rather the widespread coverage of fees and charges associated with the card.

Consumer advocates attacked the Kardashian Kard shortly after its release in November, citing that buying the card emblazoned with the sisters cost $59.95 for six months, or $99.95 for a full year. That did not include any spending money on the card and there was a $7.95 upkeep fee charged after the initial term ended.

Canceling the card also cost money — $6.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Carl Gardner, original lead singer of the R&B group the Coasters, has died in Florida. He was 83. Gardner’s wife Veta said her husband died Sunday at a Port St. Lucie hospice following a long bout with congestive heart failure and vascular dementia.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the Coasters had a string of hits in the late 1950s, including “Searchin’,” “Poison Ivy” and “Young Blood.” Their single “Yakety Yak” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its 1958 release. It also spent seven weeks as the No. 1 rhythm and blues song. “He loved his singing,” Veta Gardner said of her husband of 24 years. “That was his whole life.”

The Coasters have continued to perform over the decades, with multiple changes to the lineup. Gardner has always held the rights to the group’s name, and his son, Carl Gardner Jr., took over as lead singer when his father retired in 2005.

According to the group’s website, the elder Gardner was born in Tyler, Texas, and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s. He became a founding member of The Coasters in 1955.

The Coasters had 14 songs on the R&B charts, and eight of them crossed over to the pop Top 40, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their hits were written by the famed team of Jerry Leiber and

Mike Stoller.

“The Coasters’ parlayed their R&B roots into rock `n’ roll hits by delivering Leiber and Stoller’s serio-comic tunes in an uptempo doo-wop style.

Beneath the humor the songs often made incisive points about American culture for those willing to dig a little deeper,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry on the group says. In the 1960s, their hits were covered by The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and other British Invasion bands.

AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File

FILE - In this Jan. 20, 1988 file photo, Carl Gardner of The Coasters appears in New York City.

Gardner, original lead singer of the R&B group the Coasters, died Sunday, June 13, 2011 in Florida.

He was 83.

Science

International

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

13

Doc’s arthritis struggle shows illness’ severity Associated Press Writer

In this photo taken June 2, 2011, an endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit emerges from an artificial burrow inside an enclosure sat the Sagebrush Flats reserve near Ephrata, Wash.

AP Photo/Nicholas K. Geranios

Final effort to save tiny rabbits from extinction Associated Press Writer

EPHRATA, Wash. – Wildlife experts are making one last effort to save the endangered Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit, believed extinct in the wild since mid-2004.

The pygmy rabbit is the smallest rabbit in North America, and can fit in a person’s hand. Adults weigh about a pound and measure less than a foot in length. The previous effort to reintroduce the pygmy in 2007 ended badly when they were quickly gobbled by their many predators. Some 100 pygmy rabbits are being released this time into large wire enclosures.

The rabbits — who were raised in captivity for this last-ditch effort — must learn quickly to find food, breed and avoid being eaten. The wire enclosures give them a fighting chance to survive, scientists say.

“If this doesn’t work, I’m not sure what Plan B would be,” said Matt Monda of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, who has been working for years to save the endangered species.

Only the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit is endangered. Pygmy rabbits thrive in other Western states and are not protected. This recovery effort is not without some controversy.

A big concern was all the engineering that has gone into these animals, Monda said. The original goal was to preserve the genetics of the Columbia Basin rabbit, but that

proved impossible because of small numbers and problems that resulted from inbreeding.

The animals in the new effort are the result of cross-breeding with other pygmy rabbits from Idaho and Oregon. “That was a controversial idea, to bring non-endangered rabbits and make them endangered,” Monda said.

Still, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the practice, said agency biologist Chris Warren, who is involved in the rescue effort.

A key feature of this new rescue effort is a six-acre enclosure with a 6-foot-tall wire fence is intended to keep out coyotes, badgers, weasels, snakes and to disrupt birds of prey.

It has an electrified wire near the bottom to keep predators from digging under. The fence posts have spikes on top to prevent raptors from gaining a perch to hunt.

WASHINGTON – Dr. Sue Zieman can almost set her watch by her disease: Twice a day, she gets a fever and the already arthritic joints in her arms and hands, legs and feet abruptly, painfully swell even more.

During the evening flare, even the tendons in her feet puff up, ropelike worms just under her skin.

The rest of the day, her joints are so stiff that the once robust Maryland physician frequently uses a scooter to get around. Just shaking hands hurts the 47-year-old.

Inflammatory arthritis is disabling Zieman but exactly what kind and what caused it to attack suddenly is a mystery. Nor do her fellow doctors know what treatment to suggest next. She’s tried all of today’s arthritis medications with little relief.

Say arthritis, and people tend to shrug it off as a rite of passage of aging. The reality is much more complicated. Arthritis encompasses 100 different conditions and affects about 46 million people in the U.S. Osteoarthritis — where cartilage gradually erodes with the wearand-tear of aging — is by far the most common type.

But inflammatory types — such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus — occur when something makes the immune system run amok and attack the body’s own tissues, eating away cartilage and eventually harming bone. It can strike at far younger ages.

Zieman’s saga highlights not just how much doctors still have to learn about arthritis, but how devastating a severe case can be.

“It totally stripped my identity,” says Zieman, whose illness cost her career as a cardiologist and her love of sailing. “I just don’t think people realize how debilitated you can be, and young.”

She uses humor to help cope, nicknaming her scooter Bella and joking that “I know I’m going to turn into a pumpkin each night” when that 7 p.m. flare sends her to bed.

Infections sometimes trigger inflammatory arthritis, and that’s what probably happened with Zieman. She’d just returned from a business trip to India in December 2008 when she AP Photo/David Rickerby came down with a fe- This photo provided by David Rickerby, ver, fatigue and pain in shows Dr. Sue Zieman riding on her her shoulder and knee. scooter, named ‘Bella’, May 31, 2011, in Le Antibiotics didn’t help. Baux, France.

App “migraine notebook” keeps track of headaches Reuters

NEW YORK - A new iPhone app allows migraine sufferers to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms and use of medication so they can have more effective conversations with their doctors.

With the “Migraine Notebook” app patients can keep track of their day-to-day level of pain, the triggers that precede a migraine and when and at what dose they take their medicines.

“One of the biggest issues in medicine is how you communicate with your doctor,” said Dr. Merle Diamond, of the Diamond Headache Center in Chicago, said in an interview.

“This app gives us a window of communication which I think is really important in treating headaches. For example, it allows me to prepare questions about how they are using the medication,” she added.

About 30 million Americans,

mostly women, suffer from migraines, according to the National Headache Foundation. It most commonly begins between the ages of 15 and 55 and in the majority of cases there is a family history.

The headaches, which are characterized by a throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head, can be accompanied by nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light. Attacks can last from four to 72 hours, or longer, according to the foundation.

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International

Jamaica top Gold Cup group,Guatemala advance Agence France Presse

HARRISON, New Jersey – Jamaica finished the first round of the Gold Cup on top of Group B after a 1-0 victory over Honduras on Monday, with both teams advancing to the quarter-finals along with Guatemala.

Guatemala booked their berth with a 4-0 victory over Grenada, which was enough to put them through as one of the best two thirdplaced teams in group play.

Ryan Johnson got the goal for Jamaica — with some help from Honduran keeper Noel Valladares.

Johnson’s powerful shot hit the crossbar and then Valladares’ back before landing in the net.

“It’s one of the strangest goals, but it’s a goal,” said Johnson, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer. “The best thing was getting the clean sheet.

We haven’t been scored on so far and I’m really happy about that.”

“I dove for the ball and I could not get it,” Valladares said. “It hit me in the back and went in.”

Johnson had a chance to double the score from the penalty spot in the 71st, but Valladares saved his attempt. The victory gave Jamaica the maximum nine points from their three group matches.

In the quarter-finals of the regional championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean they’ll face the second-place team from Group C, which will be decided when the group stage concludes on Tuesday.

Honduras finished second in

Group B — ahead of Guatemala on goal difference — and will face Costa Rica, runners-up to Mexico in Group A. Guatemala needed to win by three goals to be assured of advancing.

In the end they had one to spare after goals from Jose Del Aguila, Marco Pappa, Carlos Ruiz and Carlos Gallardo.

“More than anything, this was a psychological and mental game,” Guatemala manager Ever Hugo Almeida said. “We had to score a specific number of goals. We needed three goals, but we had to take it goal by goal. We were able to manage the game and get the result we wanted.”

Del Aguila opened the scoring in the 15th with a shot that bounced off the inside of the right post and past keeper Shemel Louison. Pappa doubled the lead in the 21st minute with a hard-struck shot that Louison couldn’t deflect.

In the 53rd minute, Ruiz volleyed in a rebound of Jairo Arreola’s attempt off the crossbar and Gallardo completed the scoring five minutes later. Guatemala finished group play with four points and a goal difference of plus-two, enough to edge El Salvador as one of the top two third-placed teams.

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Honduras forward Walter Martinez, bottom, and Jamaica midfielder Damion Williams go down while battling for the ball during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament soccer game at Red Bull Arena, Monday, June 13, 2011 in Harrison, N.J.

Man Utd sign Blackburn defender Jones Agence France Presse

AFP/File/Andrew Yates

Blackburn Rovers’ Phil Jones (L) is challenged by Manchester City defender Yaya Toure during a Premier League match at Ewood Park, Blackburn, in April 2011.

LONDON – Blackburn Rovers said it was the lure of the Champions League that sealed the transfer of teenage defender Phil Jones to Premier League champions Manchester United.

United announced on Monday that they had agreed terms with Rovers for Jones, with the 19-year-old due to sign a five-year contract upon his return from the ongoing European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.

United thought Jones was heading to Old Trafford last week, only for old foes Liverpool to intervene with a reported £20 million ($33 million) offer.

However, Jones is understood to have told Rovers he only wanted to move to United and that has left Blackburn having to accept an offer believed to be in the region of £16.5 million ($27 million).

“Much as we would love him to stay on with us — and we made all efforts to convince him to stay — Phil has to finally follow his heart,”

said a statement on behalf of Venky’s, the Indian-based poultry firm that owns Rovers.

Blackburn manager Steve Kean said Rovers were prepared to make Jones the highestpaid player in the club’s history but the prospect of playing in the Champions League meant that there was little they could do to prevent the defender making the short journey across Lancashire to Old Trafford.

“The offer we made him was staggering for a 19-year-old, but it wasn’t the money,” Kean told Sky Sports News. “Phil wants to play Champions League football now and we’re not at that level.

“I’m sure we will be in the coming years, and we gave it a real good try and made him a fantastic offer, but I understand why he wants to go now.”He goes with our blessing and it’s an opportunity for us to invest in other young players across other areas of the pitch.

“We were hoping he was going to be captain of our club and captain of England, he’s a fantastic prospect and I’m sure he’ll be an England regular very soon,” Kean added.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

15

Nowitzki’s NBA title victory makes waves in Germany Reuters

BERLIN – Germany’s soccer filled newspapers were celebrating rare basketball success on Tuesday after countryman Dirk Nowitzki became the first German to win an NBA title when his Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat. “This is the title that we were missing,” read the front page of the best-selling Bild newspaper on Tuesday, which usually reserves a front page sports story almost exclusively for the country’s soccer exploits.

AFP PHOTO / Don EMMERT

Dirk Nowitzki (C) of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate defeating the Miami Heat 105-95 in Game 6 to win the NBA Finals on June 12, 2011 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida.

Terry scored 27 points and Dirk Nowitzki finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds as the Mavericks won the best-of-seven championship series four-games-to-two to claim their first NBA championship in franchise history.

The paper placed his victory on par with Germany’s first soccer World Cup win in 1954, boxer Max Schmeling’s world title, tennis player Boris Becker’s first Wimbledon title in 1985 and German cyclist Jan Ullrich’s Tour de France victory in 1997. Mavericks forward Nowitzki, who averaged 26 points per game in the finals was named the Most Valuable Player of the series after his team clinched their first championship with a 4-2 win over the Heat in the best-of-seven NBA finals on Monday.

Basketball in the past had briefly enjoyed a higher status in Germany

especially after the country won the European crown in 1993 but has since been again relegated to a sideshow.

The Mavericks’ win early on Monday morning German time quickly thrust the sport back into the spotlight with congratulations pouring in from the country’s sports leaders, including Germany’s national soccer team coach Joachim Loew. “He completed an amazing performance,” Loew told reporters. “He is exceptional and one of Germany’s top sportsmen. The title win is the cherry on top of a stunning basketball career in the United States.”

The few bars showing the match

Queen’s champ Murray in mood for Wimbledon glory

early on Monday morning local time in Berlin were packed with fans eager to see a victory for Nowitzki after 13 years in the NBA. In Belushi’s pub, a giant projector screen usually dedicated to soccer matches generated cheers in the crowd every time Dallas won a point or rebound. “He made it! The first and the last NBA title for a German player,” said Jakob Jordan, 28. “I usually watch soccer, but it was worth the late night to see this final.” A crowd of about 100 was shouting “MVP “ and “Dirk” as they poured out into the street at sunrise after the win.

Stand-in Asian chief takes office Agence France Presse

Agence France Presse

LONDON – Andy Murray has set his sights on Wimbledon glory after winning his second Queen’s title with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 victory over JoWilfried Tsonga.

Murray became the first Briton for 97 years to win the Wimbledon warmup event twice thanks to a gutsy comeback against Tsonga and the world number four will be among the favourites when the All England Club tournament gets underway next week.

The 24-year-old has endured three painful defeats in Grand Slam finals, including the Australian Open this year, but he believes he is in the perfect form to finally end his long wait to win a major.

“I’m going to Wimbledon with the feeling I’m going to win the tournament. I don’t think you can go in with any other attitude,” Murray said. “I feel like I am playing good tennis but I will need to improve in the next week because I have to play my best throughout the tournament to win it.

“I will be switched on from my first match. I’ll really look forward to the challenge because Wimbledon is one of the most important tournaments of the year, if not the most important.”

Murray underlined his sky-high confidence in the third set of the final against Tsonga when he hit a remarkable between-the-legs forehand winner from an acute angle near the net.

The British number one admitted it was the kind of spectacular shot he loves to play and he refused to apologise for a piece of show-boating some saw as a sign of arrogance.

“I enjoyed hitting them, it was good fun,” Murray said. “You don’t get a chance to do that very often and it just came off. “I was up 40-0 in the game, I probably wouldn’t have gone for it at 30-30.

“If it works I will try it anywhere.

It is not something I will think about too much. “I don’t know if he was annoyed but it was frustrating for me when he was hitting dive volleys and getting net cords in the first set.”

Britain’s Andy Murray lifts up the trophy after defeating France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the end of their singles final tennis match at the Queen’s Club grass court championships in London, Monday, June 13, 2011. Murray won by 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

AP Photo/Sang Tan

KUALA LUMPUR – China’s Zhang Jilong urged the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to look ahead Monday as he took up his duties as stand-in chief after its president was suspended over alleged bribes.

Zhang told staff to work together as he started work at Kuala Lumpur’s AFC House, less than two weeks after world body FIFA barred Mohamed bin Hammam while it probes vote-buying claims.

“We are all united and focused on taking Asian football ahead. We have to work together to meet the challenges and ensure that Asian football continues to move forward,” Zhang said in a message posted on the AFC website.

Former Chinese Football Association president Zhang, 59, served on the FIFA organising committees for the last two World Cups. He was also director of sports during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The AFC senior vice president’s appointment as acting chief was automatic under the body’s rules when Qatar’s bin Hammam was suspended on May 30. Bin Hammam strongly denies bribing delegates ahead of this month’s F

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

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Button defends Hamilton’s driving Jenson Button has jumped to the defence of his under-fire team-mate Lewis Hamilton - claiming that his critics should back off because the 2008 world champion is doing a phenomenal job on track.

IBP/ist

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton collide in Montreal during the race.

Alonso not giving up on title yet FERNANDO Alonso says he will not give up on his world championship hopes until he is mathematically out of contention - despite conceding that matters were now out of his hands.

The Spaniard drifted to 92 points off series leader Sebastian Vettel after the Canadian Grand Prix – when his hopes of victory were wrecked by bad luck with the timing of the weather, and then a clash with Jenson Button that left him unable to continue.

Although the deficit to Vettel means he needs a run of four race wins, with his rival not scoring, to take the lead of the title chase – the Spaniard is refusing to concede it is all over.

“No, the title is not gone because mathematically it is still alive,” said Alonso, whose best result this season has been second place in the Monaco Grand Prix. “We saw some retirements in the past years, as Hamilton did in Monza and Singapore last year. And if you win two races, and Vettel retires, the gap can close a lot.

“But it is true it is not in our hands, so we just need to concentrate race by race, try to do our best race-by-race, be on podium and try to win some grands prix.

“It up to them (Red Bull Racing) to do some mistakes but, if not, they have a very good position in the championship.” Alonso believes he had a car capable of fighting for the victory in Montreal – but conceded that bad luck with the timing of the stops cost him badly.

“In the dry it was very possible [to win]; while in the wet you need to be lucky with the positions.

“At the point when we fitted the intermediates early on we could have won the race, but luck compensates through the year so maybe Valencia is extremely lucky for us and we win. We hope so.”

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso makes his way back to the pits after crashing out of the Canadian Grand Prix auto race in Montreal, Sunday, June 12, 2011.

Hamilton was on the receiving end of critical comments from former world champions Emerson Fittipaldi and Niki Lauda in Montreal last weekend – with Lauda even suggesting that the FIA should punish the Briton for his clashes in the Canadian event.

Button does not agree, though, and says he is relishing going up against someone as talented as Hamilton.

“Lewis is in the headlines a lot, and a lot of it is because he is bloody good,” Button was quoted as saying by the Press Association.

“He’s a racer, a fighter. For me that is the reason why I wanted to be here, against and with a driver that is super talented, one of the best drivers Formula 1 has ever seen.

“It’s good challenging him on the circuit. We have a lot of respect for each other, we’ve raced each other a lot this year, and last year, and we’ve never touched. We’ve always given each other room. For me that’s a great position to be in.

“So I don’t agree with what Niki has said. I think his driving style is

aggressive and he always goes for gaps. Sometimes he’s right, sometimes he’s not, but it’s the same for all of us. He just finds himself in that situation more often than others.”

Button himself now has first hand knowledge of clashing with Hamilton – after they hit each other during a fight for position in Montreal.

And although he questioned on the radio what Hamilton had done during the moments straight after the collision, Button later spoke at length to his team-mate to ensure there were no lingering problems.

“Obviously I’m very sorry I collided with Lewis,” said Button. “We spoke about it, and it’s one of those things. I didn’t know he was there.

He went for a move; we collided, which is sad for both of us.

“Initially it played on my mind because you never want to crash with your team-mate. It’s the worst thing to do. But we spoke about it, and he was very good actually. He was one of the first people to congratulate me after the race, which was really nice to see.”