Edisi 29 Juli 2011 | International Bali Post

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Friday, July 29, 2011

PAGE 8

Cage to star in film about Alaska serial killer PAGE 12

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

Garuda Indonesia pilots shake hands with the company’s management officials after the hearing at Jakarta’s SoekarnoHatta International Airport, in Tanggerang on July 28, 2011. Pilots accused management of intimidation and taking risks with passengers’ lives as they launched a 24-hour nationwide strike over pay.

AP/AFP JAKARTA - Pilots with state-run carrier Garuda Indonesia cut short their 24hour strike Thursday after company officials agreed to reopen negotiations over pay and working conditions.

Pudjobroto, a spokesman for the airline, said he hoped the two sides could reach a satisfactory agreement before the end of August.

The 600-strong Garuda’s Pilot Association called the strike — which lasted only half a day — after local pilots complained they earned 30 percent less than the

carrier’s foreign pilots.

“We just want to be heard,” said Capt. Stephanus Geraldus, the union’s chairman. “Not only are we underpaid, we’re overworked.”

“The board of directors should know all this undermines safety.”

It was not immediately clear how many pilots took part in the

strike.

Geraldus said 500 initially agreed to join in, but many were convinced to return to the skies by early Thursday.

Ari Sapari, Garuda’s chief operating officer, said the work stoppage caused no major disruptions in service.

Continued on page 6

WEATHER FORECAST

PHRI appeals hotel security to be tightened

CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

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JAKARTA

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BANDUNG

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Bali Post

YOGYAKARTA

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SURABAYA

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DENPASAR - The Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter called for its members to guard every entrance to hotel more strictly. This measure was undertaken in response to the mapping result of the National Anti-terrorism Agency (BNPT) that included Bali Province in the 14 provinces in Indonesia as terrorist propagation areas.

“We do not want to be negligent. To that end, all hoteliers and restaurateurs existing in Bali

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should tighten their security,” said Secretary General of PHRI Bali, Ferry Markus, in Denpasar on Wednesday (Jul 27).

According to him, most hotels in Bali had implemented adequate security systems in accordance with certification standards of hotel security. The certification posed a measure to improve the safety and convenience of tourists while staying in the hotel. “Certification of hotel security standards was also an endeavor to achieve the international standards of hotel security in Bali.

Continued on page 6

IBP/Doc

Tourists enjoying their vacation in the hotel area. The Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter called for its members to guard every entrance to hotel more strictly.

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International

Friday, July 29, 2011

Bali News Many Investors Ignored Permit Constructions and buildings not following rules and regulations including permit processes seemed to be found a lot in the Tabanan Government area. Moreover most just keep on building without any Building Permit on their hands as Head of Tabanan Government Public Relation Section, Wayan Sarba, admitted. “Investors would build and take care of permits later when actually it’s wrong,” he stated last Tuesday (26/7).

One of them is the plastic factory at Samsam Village, Kerambitan. He stated permit processes should start from Regional Development Board (Bappeda) where investor would ask for information on lands in Tabanan. From there, investor would get a recommendation and brought to the location where the project is built and socialise it to the residents around the area. If the people did not decline of the project then permits can be processed from the village then to the sub district which then forwarded to Tabanan Capital Board and Regional Permit (BPMPD) where principal permit will be produced yet investor is not allowed to build the project yet and has to get a Building Permit (IMB) first which has further regulations and produced directly by the Regent. He stated

those projects that do have IMB have been through a complete research by a sectored cross check team. If the plan matches with the place and function then IMB can be produced.

If one aspect can’t be fulfilled, IMB won’t be produced and if a building is built first before IMB was agreed, then it is more likely to be threatened demolished. “Before that there will be a warning first,” he stated.

Even so, he thinks BPMPD has its own observing team who checks and controls the investor’s seriousness in following the IMB as many buildings are built not suiting its IMB. Connected to its fee, it is counted as much as the area of land used and project type built. “It’s very technical and usually regency government is strict in selecting who can go in to protect our environment,” he clarified. (udi)

IBP/File

The officers of Buleleng Regency inspect the damage road.

Sepang Village Road, 1.5 Out of 8 Kilometres Fixed Busungbiu (Bali Post) –

Residents of Sepang Village, Busungbiu hoped that government will clear up the damaged roads of it so their economy routes will be well again. Yet with the 2011 budget, so far 1.5 kilometres has been mended and tarred with another 6.5 kilometre to go as the length of the damaged road reached up to 8

kilometres. This hope was stated during Buleleng House of Representatives, Gede Ardika, S.E., was visiting and observing situation.

Ardika stated he will keep fighting the hopes of the residents and will ask government to continue mending the 8 kilometre road remembering many vehicles and people have slipped then injured due

to it. Even during dry times it is also causes problems for vehicles to go through due to the many holes.

Ardika hoped contractors will also be able to finish the project before deadline. “With the friendly weather and people’s enthusiasm in helping this tarring project go smoothly, we hope it will finish in two weeks time,” he stated. (kmb15)

nance Section I Dewa Gede Riasa.

It was stated as much as IDR 36 million cash has been taken by the robbers.

The peculiar situation was then reported to the security which then they checked it also reported to the police. The safe was found damaged and police found a window on the east part of the building was forced opened

similar to the safe which suspected using a crowbar. Riasa added the amount of money taken is salary for 11 contracted workers and was just liquefied from Bali Regional Development Bank (BPD) yet due to workers who will pay them not in, then it will be delayed. “It was going to be paid today (27/7) yet it was taken away,” he explained. (kmb21)

Suspected Bird Flu, Chicken in Dawan Inspected Agency Office Robbed, IDR 36 Million Cash Gone Semarapura (Bali Post) –

Dawan residents in Klungkung especially at Dawan Kaler seemed careful with sudden death chickens found on some of the residents’ husbandries.

They suspect it due to bird flu moreover it has been happening since a week ago. One Vet from Health Community Centre, Ni Kadek Kusumawati, last Wednesday (27/7) came to the area to check and did some rapid test. “The result is negative,” she stated.

According to her the test shows that it was caused by ND or Newscastle

Disease which in Bali called gerudug.

A resident at Dusun Kayahan, Nengah Yudagama, his pet chicken was also suddenly dead and did not know what caused it. After checked by vets, it was buried straight away. Other residents admitted not only usual pet chickens that died, rooster also suddenly died. In the other hand, Head of Klungkung Animal Husbandry, Fishery and Sea (PPK) Agency, drh.

Gusti Ngurah Badiwangsa, have admitted to take action by sending his workers for rapid tests and spraying if necessary. (kmb20)

Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Bali Province Health Agency has been shocked last Wednesday (27/7) as a robbery took place in the office located at Melati Street No. 20, Denpasar. A safe that should be on the finance section room was found outside nearby motorcycle parking space around 7 am local time by worker Cok Gde Agung according to Head of Fi-

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Bali News

International

3

Friday, July 29, 2011

Clean water crisis haunts South Kuta Mangupura (Bali Post)—

Clean water crisis still haunts the South Kuta Subdistrict.

Not only experienced by residents, public facilities such as schools are still in difficulty to get clean water hitherto because the network coverage of municipality waterworks (PDAM) of Badung Regency have not reached the area.

The issue of clean water crisis in South Kuta area had come into view in the plenary session of Badung House, Monday (Jul 25).

In General Viewpoint, the Golkar Party faction highlighted this issue, particularly the service of municipality waterworks at Sawangan and Nusa Dua that often lived through disturbance lately.

Specifically, a member of Badung House of PDI-P faction, I Made Sumerta, Wednesday (Jul 27), revealed the clean water crisis also interfered with the learning activities of students in the schools located in the South Kuta area. He gave an example that water supply to SMP 1 secondary school of South Kuta did not run well recently. He said, within the past few weeks the clean water service did not work whereas the school had about 1,200 students.

Additionally, SMP 1 was also the envoy of South Kuta Subdistrict to struggle in the Wiyata

Mandala competition. “Now, the plants in the school garden have been falling and the toilet facility cannot be used. Clean water crisis has been a commonplace.

Therefore, we call for government to give special attention to this crucial issue,” said the man from Pecatu.

In response to the clean water crisis in South Kuta, the Regent of Badung AA Gde Agung in the plenary session of Badung House on Wednesday (Jul 27) admitted that clean water service by municipality waterworks lived through technical problems, specifically in Nusa Dua and Sawangan area. The problem, according to Gde Agung Gde, was caused by the improvement on the distribution piping network.

After improvement of the distribution system being implemented, he expected the production capacity would be increasing and clean water services could be maximized. (kmb25)

IBP/Eka

Fishermen are on their way to the sea. Police are trying to minimize the number of ilegal fishermen

Raid to fishermen The troops of Kuta Police chaired in person by Chief I Gede Ganefo organized a raid against fishermen on Kelan Beach on Wednesday (Jul 27). By working closely with Department of Transportation, Fishery Agency, Fisherman Group and village apparatus, the officers targeted illegal fishermen. By deploying at least 25 personnel, identity of fishermen hanging out at location was examined one by one.

Chief Ganefo explained that other than targeting the fishermen without identity, his party also examined fishermen who were not registered in the fisherman group who usually hung out in the region. Such a measure was intended to curb illegal fishermen because Kelan Beach belonged to vulnerable beach. Moreover, it was feared that terrorist group could enter through the beach if it was not maintained and moni-

tored intensively.

“In the future, if it has been disciplined, then anyone coming through the beach can be known.

Well, we really ask for cooperation of fishermen operating on Kelan Beach region to maintain the security. If there is a suspicious person entering through the beach, please quickly report to us,” explained the former Police Chief of South Denpasar to journalists. (kmb21)

Security priority should be given to tourist objects Car-free day still Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Though Bali Police Chief Inspector General of Police Totoy Herawan Indra had said that security condition of Bali stayed conducive, police authority would not be negligent in the matter of anticipating the entry of terrorist groups into Bali. Moreover, Bali Province was listed in the 14 terrorist propagation areas in accordance with the monitoring result of the National Antiterrorism Agency (BNPT).

To counteract the entry of radical groups and anticipate the propagation of terrorism in Bali, Bali Police ranks were always taking measures.

His party would increase vigilance to anticipate undesirable things. The consistent measures undertaken were intensifying sea patrol and guarding the entrances into Bali.

Such measures were disclosed by Division Head of Public Information Services of Bali, Pol. Gr. Com. Adj. Sri Harmiti, when asked for her confirmation on Tuesday (Jul 26). It was said, of the nine regencies in Bali, tourist objects were potential areas for terrorism propagation. On that account, Bali Police gave priority to security in tourist resorts like Kuta, Legian and other areas.

In addition, said this officer from Bangli, strict guard was also conducted in the entry points like Gilimanuk, Padangbai, Celukan Bawang, Benoa Harbor and Ngurah Rai Airport. Not only that, traditional harbors and unofficial stripes also got serious attention. “To safeguard the ports of entry and unofficial stripes, police must cooperate with local fishermen in particular and the people of Bali in general,” she explained. (kmb21)

sneaked in by vehicles Negara (Bali Post)—

Movement of car-free day imposed on Jalan Sudirman every Sunday morning will be continued because during the trial period within the past few months was responded positively by community and had positive impact. It was revealed by the Regent of Jembrana I Putu Artha when met in his office recently.

Nevertheless, the Regent Artha deplored there were parties that did not heed the provisions by consistently breaching the specified area whereas it only took place for about three hours.

Nevertheless, the Regent consistently instructed to continue the sporting campaign on Sun-

days like biking, running or other activities. “We’re not imitating other regions, but it’s a necessity to provide a space for people to exercise. Hopefully, all people could support it,” said Artha.

There were some who claimed to be harmed by the temporary closure of the main road section, especially the entrepreneurs who were running their business along the road. However, it would be better if employers could also appreciate the movement and did not only pursue a profit. “It’s impossible if they cannot spare their time for three hours and it’s only carried out on Sundays,” he said.

His party also considered the needs for an evaluation against

the road closure because in reality there remained passing motorists despite had been guarded by the officers. According to him, it was very dangerous because the users of car-free lane had felt free to use the road and if vehicles suddenly coming in they could get an accident.

On that account, when the carfree day would have been officially inaugurated later his party expected to set up movable barrier to prevent vehicles from coming in. “Perhaps, the officers knew the offenders and lacked of discipline, so there are still passing vehicles. It should be immediately evaluated,” added Artha. (kmb26)

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News

Friday, July 29, 2011

International

Food supplements airlifted into famine-hit Somalia Associated Press Writer

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A plane carrying 10 tons of urgently needed nutritional supplements to treat malnourished children has landed in famine-hit Somalia, a U.N. official said Wednesday. The airlift is part of a crisis intervention as famine threatens to spread across lawless Somalia. David Orr, a World Food Program spokesman who flew with the shipment from neighboring Kenya to the Somali capital of Mogadishu, said it was the first airlift of food aid since the U.N. declared a famine in parts of Somalia last week.

Orr said the aid would be distributed to medical facilities to treat the malnourished children. WFP spokeswoman Challiss McDonough said this is first of several planned airlifts in coming weeks. She said Wednesday’s shipment of peanut butter-based nutritional paste will treat 3,500 malnourished children for one month.

McDonough said WFP decided to send in the airlift because of an urgent need to treat the growing number of internally displaced children suffering from malnutrition before their condition deteriorates. She said about 18,000 children are suffering from malnutrition and that the number is expected to grow to 25,000.

WFP says it cannot reach 2.2 million people in need of aid in the militant-controlled areas in southern Somalia because of insecurity. Somalia has been embroiled in conflict for two decades, since the last leader was overthrown by warlords who then turned on each other. Islamist militant groups have spent the last few years battling the weak U.N.backed government in an attempt to overthrow it.

Al-Shabab — the most dangerous militant group in Somalia — said last week it will not allow the aid groups to operate in its territories, exacerbating the drought crisis. Earlier this month al-Shabab, which has links to al-Qaida, had shown indications of wavering on its 2009 ban on certain aid groups in its territories.

A family sit on a bed at a field hospital of the International Rescue Committee, IRC, in the town of Dadaab, Kenya, Tuesday, July 26, 2011.

AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam

Hugo Chavez mocks Sri Lanka rejects new war crimes charge succession talk Agence France Presse

Reuters

CARACAS - Venezuela’s convalescing President Hugo Chavez laughed off talk of succession on Wednesday and lashed out at speculation his cancer diagnosis was made up to boost his popularity.

“They say I’m putting on a show; it’s they who are putting on a macabre show,” said Chavez in another TV appearance that has marked a growing public presence since two trips to Cuba for surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and then chemotherapy. The evertheatrical Chavez loudly patted his stomach to show he was not wearing a colostomy bag, responding to one theory doing the rounds that his problems are intestinal.

Though no leading opposition figures have publicly suggested Chavez’s version of his can-

cer is untrue, precise medical details have been scarce, and Venezuelans have been endlessly speculating about what condition the president has.

Some in the militant anti-Chavez circles have been muttering that the cancer story is a ploy to boost his prospects ahead of 2012 when he plans to seek re-election in the South American OPEC member he has dominated for 12 years.

“Some of the spokesmen for the squalid ones, the counterrevolution, the right wing, capitalism and the empire ... first they were celebrating because Chavez was dying,” he said, laughing.

“Now they say I’m making it up.”

In a buoyant mood ahead of his 57th birthday on Thursday, Chavez also mocked another topic of national speculation: who might replace him if he becomes incapacitated.

Sri Lanka’s military Thursday rejected new allegations that its political bosses ordered the execution of surrendering Tamil rebels during the final days of the island’s separatist war.

Reacting to a new broadcast from Britain’s Channel 4 that accused defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse of ordering executions, military spokesman Ubaya Medawela dismissed the allegations as “completely false”.

Channel 4 said two Sri Lankan soldiers who declined to be named had told them that orders to execute surrendering rebels came directly from the defence secretary, who is the younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse.

“One of these eyewitnesses, an army officer, accuses defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse of ordering Brigadier Shavendra Silva to execute Tamil rebel leaders,” the report said.

Sri Lanka’s then army chief, Sarath Fonseka, has been charged with inciting violence and causing racial hatred for allegedly making a similar statement implicating Rajapakse, who has vehemently denied ordering any executions.

“This (latest Channel 4 report) is completely false,” Medawela told

AFP. “None of the things described

by Channel 4 has taken place. This latest report is aimed at strengthening their previous claims.” Channel 4 said Rajapakse himself denied the allegation.

The channel quoted a soldier as saying that the defence secretary had wanted troops “to finish the job by whatever means necessary”. “He said this was interpreted by the soldiers as a licence to kill,” the broadcast said.

The UN has said there are “credible allegations” of war crimes and

noted that tens of thousands of civilians perished in the final stage of the fighting in Sri Lanka.

The government in Colombo has consistently denied any war crimes happened while it crushed the Tigers, ending decades of ethnic conflict, and has also resisted calls for an international probe.

Sri Lanka’s former president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, on Sunday broke ranks with her ruling party and expressed shock over last month’s Channel 4 documentary, titled Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields.

AFP PHOTO/Ishara S. KODIKARA

This aerial photograph taken from a Sri Lankan Airlines air taxi flight shows ongoing construction work on a new jetty in the port of Colombo on July 19, 2011.

Activities

International

Friday, July 29, 2011

5

The Bali Ball at W Retreat & Spa

Raised over 100K for Bali Kids Orphanages IBP

SEMINYAK - The 1st inaugural Bali Ball, was held on Saturday, July 16, 2011, by Jemme Jewellery in conjunction with the W Retreat and Spa’s The Great Room, and Woo Bar. Co-sponsored by Villa Hugo, Jasmine Laundry and Chrysler Bali, along with an Organizing Committee contributing their support, time and services, the ball was held to benefit Bali Kids (Yayasan AnakAnak Bali), a children’s orphanage foundation based in Bali, Indonesia.

For the dinner portion of the Charity Benefit evening, close to 200 guests enjoyed a six course meal with wine pairings by W Celebrity Chef Jack Yoos, whilst the musical mastery of DJ’s Kevin Kloer (Amsterdam), and Stuart McCellan

(UK) featured on the decks, between courses. The event was MC’ed by celebrity VJ Jamie Aditya, and auctioneered by Stuart Smith of Bali Kids and The Ahimsa.

Representing the Bali Kids foundation was Brenton Whittaker, who gave a moving introduction and some background information on the foundation’s activities, to the dinner guests.

Other funds were raised through the auction of luxury W Retreat and Spa packages in Koh Samui, a stunning diamond necklace and green amethyst earrings by Jemme Jewellery, private donations, and attractive, fun door prizes including “Wish Balloons” which were purchased for Rp. 100.000 each, and released by guests with LED lights into the night sky.

Further contributions in the form of floral decorations by Heliconia, and food and beverage items, were also 100% donated, to ensure maximum revenue from the event, for the Bali Kids. Overall, over US$100,000 with donations still coming in, was raised for the cause, making the Bali Ball the single most successful fundraiser for Bali’s underprivileged children.

Between dinner and the afterparty at Woo Bar, twelve orphans from the Bali Kids, performed a traditional Balinese dance, and a modern hip-hop rendition for the guests, on the stage of the Great Room. After the kids’ touching performances, DJ Taro Joy (Canada), treated the 700+ after party guests at Woo Bar to his electro-rock set, well into the early morning hours of the benefit.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for July 9 through August 6, 2011 09 Jul Pura Catur Buana Sanding, Tampaksiring - Gianyar 10 Jul Pura Peninjoan

26 Jul Pura Puseh, Pura Desa Batua, Sukawati - Gianyar Pura Pasek Bendesa Kekeran Mengwi - badung Pura Manik Mas Besakih - Karangasem

Besakih - Karangasem

16 Jul Pura pasek Gelgel Kukuh,Marga - Tabanan Pasek Gelgel Dukuh Selemadeg - Tabanan Pasek Gelgel Mambang Selemadeg - Tabanan Pura Puseh, Pura Desa Guwang, Sukawati - Gianyar Pura Dalem Setra Batununggul Sewana,Nusa Penida Klungkung Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Gelgel Ketewel - Gianyar 17 Jul Aci-aci Penaung Taluh di Penataran Besakih Karangasem Pura Gunung Kuripan Lombok Pura Tirta Besakih - Karangasem Pura Purnama Camenggaon,Sukawati - Gianyar Pura Amerta Jati Komplek ALRI, Cinere - Jakarta Sel. Pura Jagatnatha Singaraja Pura Dang Hyang Tulus Dewa Apuan,Susut - Bangli Pura Jagathitha Selong - Lombok Timur Pura Agung Pasek Gelgel Gobleg Gobleg,Banjar - Buleleng Pura Desa, Pura Puseh Batur, Kitamani - Bangli Pura Asah (Alas Arum) Batur,Kintamani - Bangli Pura Dalem Kedewatan Celuk,Sukawati - Gianyar Pura Agung Mandara Giri Gunung Semeru - Lumajang, Jatim Pura Pengubengan Besakih - Karangasem Penataran Agung Sukawati - Gianyar Pura Bukit Mentik Gunung Lebah,Batur,Kintamani Bangli Merajan A. Puser Jagat Meranting Batukandik,Nusa Penida - Klungkung 23 Jul Merajan Pasek Gaduh Kayubihi - Bangli

30 Jul Pura Kepisah Sumerta - Denpasar Pura Pasek Gelgel Gerih, Abiansemal - Badung Pura Puncaksari Penarukan, Peninjoan- Bangli Pura Anteg Sari Br Dangin Pangkung, Kediri-Tabanan Pura Bangun Sakti Besakih - Karangasem Pura Pesimpangan Batur Pande Dangin Pangkung, Kediri Tabanan 01 Aug Odalan Ida Ratu Geng PenataranBesakih - Karangasem Ida Ratu Raja Puraus Mr. Saloding Besakih - Karangasem 03 Aug Pura Panti Pasek Gelgel Gobleg Kayuputih,Banjar Buleleng 05 Aug Pura Tirtaharum Tegalwangi - Bangli Pura Beratan Baturiti - Tabanan Pura Batu Klotok Lepang - Klungkung Pura Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari - Tabanan Pura Pasek Tangguntiti Jakatebel - Tabanan Pura Pasek Bendesa Sangsit,Sawan - Buleleng Pura Dalem Waturenggong Tarokaja,Tegallalang - Gianyar Pura Ibu (Pura Kaja) Wanagiri Selemadeg - Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Tulikup - Gianyar Pura Mnik Bingin Ds Dukuh,Sidemen - Karangasem 06 Aug Pura Penataran Gana Bebalang - Bangli Pura Dalem Gede Banjar Pande - Bangli Pura Puncak Sari Abiansemal - Badung Pasek Dadia A. Sanak Sapta Resi Peteluan,Sidan - Gianyar Pura Puseh Penegil Darma Kubutambahan - Buleleng Pura Dalem Maya Br Teruna,Blahbatuh - Gianyar

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.

6

Friday, July 29, 2011

News PHRI...

From page 1 I have confidence that all hotels, both star and boutique hotels have implemented it,” he said.

He said that hotel management was required to apply security standards that had been determined, moreover, during peak season as today. “Hotel management may not be inattentive. Whether there are terrorist threats or not the security standards should be applied accordingly,” he said.

Meanwhile, related to the current occupancy rate of hotels in Bali, Ferry Markus explained that it reached 70 percent and dominated by foreign tourists from Australia, China and Japan. On the contrary, the arrival of domestic tourists decreased.

“Decline in domestic tourists before the fasting month is a commonplace. Those who celebrate usually prefer to focus on celebration rather than on holiday. Their arrival will increase significantly before the Eid,” he explained.

In the meantime, Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, stated that Bali had implemented the security effort based on international standards, moreover, before the arrival of President Barack Obama to Bali. Governor Made Mangku Pastika admitted that he had prepared everything to welcome Obama. “It’s a trust to Bali. In relation to security, we have prepared it based on international standards,” he said. (par)

Pilots...

From page 1 REUTERS/Aly Song

Rescuers carry out rescue operations after two carriages from a bullet train derailed and fell off a bridge in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province July 24, 2011.

China institute takes blame for train crash; Wen visits Reuters

WENZHOU, China - A Chinese railway research institute took responsibility on Thursday for a flaw in signaling equipment that led to a deadly accident and stoked widespread public anger and suspicion of the government’s high-speed rail plans.

Premier Wen Jiabao visited the crash site near Wenzhou city in Zhejiang province and vowed a thorough and transparent investigation. He said an illness had prevented him visiting the scene earlier.

A high-speed train rammed into a stalled train late on Saturday killing 39 people. Soon after the crash, domestic media had blamed foreign technology.

China’s ruling Communist Party leaders rarely give press conferences, and Wen’s visit to the relatively prosperous commercial corner of China showed how worried the government is about public ire over official handling of the accident, which has sparked an uproar on the Internet and at least one protest.

Railway authorities said a signal

that should have turned red after lighting hit the stalled train remained green, and rail staff then failed to see something was amiss, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

The Beijing National Railway Research & Design Institute of Signals and Communications Co. Ltd., in a rare admission of responsibility for a disaster, issued an apology, acknowledging that it was the source of the deadly flaw.

The Institute would “face up to shouldering responsibility, and accept any punishment that is due, and will strictly undertake pursuing culpability of those responsible,” Xinhua reported, citing an institute statement.

“Safety overrides all else, and high-speed rail safety is of even more overriding importance,” said the Institute.

The admission of guilt came in the face of public ire about the accident that has escalated into angry accusations that officials had covered up facts and stifled media coverage to protect an ambitious rail expansion plan and the Communist Party’s image of unruffled control.

Wen, who is aged 68 and will retire from late next year, said he could not visit the accident site earlier because he was sick in bed. He did not specify the nature of the illness that kept him hospitalized for 11 days.

“The doctor only today reluctantly allowed me to check out of hospital,” said Wen, who looked a little worn but not seriously ill, making a rare public disclosure about the health of China’s senior leaders.

Garuda, which has 900 pilots and 395 flights daily, leased a new fleet of Boeing 737 Next Generation last year but the planes were forced to sit in hangars because there were not enough pilots to fly them.

Rather than risking further financial losses, the airline brought in about 40 foreigners to operate the new planes and train new pilots.

Risking passengers Garuda Indonesia pilots accused management Thursday of intimidation and taking risks with passengers’ lives as they launched a 24-hour nationwide strike over pay.

The Garuda Pilots Union senior official Jose Rizal said the company’s strike-breaking tactics included picking pilots up from their homes and forcing them onto planes.

Union members responded by broadening the strike, which began at midnight Wednesday, from outbound Jakarta flights to all domestic and international routes across the archipelago.

“We decided for a full (nationwide) strike today at around 5:00 am (2200 GMT Wednesday) when we found out three of our pilots had been intimidated and forced to fly by the management,” Rizal told AFP. “This could risk the safety of the flights as we’re not trained for that kind of situation. It seems that the intimidation process is still ongoing now.”

Company officials said the striking pilots had been replaced with training pilots and those in management desk jobs, and promised there would be no disruptions to flights.

Union members are demanding equal compensation between the flag carrier’s Indonesian and foreign pilots, who they say are paid double the amount locals receive.

Rizal said the strike was called after a week of talks with management went nowhere.

“Flight disruptions are yet to be felt this morning because the management anticipated this. But there will be an impact as the day goes. They have their limitations,” he said.

“We really want to sit down with the management and fix this problem together.”

Garuda spokesman Pujobroto said there had been no disruptions.

The company has hired about 34 foreign pilots since October as it seeks to expand following a $500 million listing on the Jakarta stock exchange.

Garuda posted net profits of 515.50 billion rupiah ($59.2 million) in 2010, down about 40 percent on the previous year due to an aggressive expansion plan including the recent purchase of 25 new Airbus planes.

Revenue rose 9.4 percent to 19.5 trillion rupiah and the airline carried 13 million passengers compared to 10.3 million in 2009, the company said.

International

Indonesia Today

Friday, July 29, 2011

7

E-id card program to be completed in 2011 Antara

JAKARTA - The home affairs ministry has targeted the completion of the Electronic Identity Card (E-ID) program in 197 districts/cities in 2011.

FOTO ANTARA/Prasetyo Utomo

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was interested to become a futurologist after his retirement.

President Wishes to Become Futurologist Antara

JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was interested to become a futurologist after his retirement.

When addressing the participants of an International Conference on Futurologists at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday, the President wished to become a part-time futurologist because such a profession takes too much time in making strategic plans and making predictions of the future.

“I was thinking about becoming a part-time futurologist because I would need a lot of time in making preparations and strategies by predicting what would happen this week, next year, and in the next decade,” he said.

When retired, he President said

with laughter, he may join the futurologist club in Indonesia.

The participants in the international futurologist conferenc3e meeting the president included Donald K Emmerson, Thomas Fingar, George Friedman, James Canton, Robert D Kaplan, Roger Beachy, and Zubaid Ahmad.

This was the first conference of its kind in Indonesia at Hotel Shangrila, Jakarta, on Thursday July 28, 2011, with the cooperation of the Capital Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) and the Indonesian embassy in Washington.

Themed “How the World will Change in the Next 30 Years: World Experts Talk about Global Trends and Force that will Sweep the 21st Century” the conference was the a meeting of world`s futurologists.

The President thanked the par-

ticipants for their participation and work.

The President said the work and research of futurologists are very relevant to Indonesia which is still facing the big process of transformation, democratization, development and decentralization.

In a meeting also attended by BKPM chief Gita Wirjawan, Indonesian ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal, and several cabinet members, the President heard an explanation from the futurologists on future trends of Indonesia and the world.

“We are waiting for your perspectives to give a better understanding about the strategies of achieving our national aims,” he said.

The President also told the participants about Indonesia‘s 2030 vision on economic growth, stable democracy, the developing civilization.

Increase expected in companies going public in 2nd semester Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) expects the number of companies conducting IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) in the second semester of this year to exceed that in a corresponding period last year, an IDX official said.

Eddy Sugito, director of the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX)‘s corporate valuation division, said with the expected increase in companies making IPOs, the stock exchange‘s emission value would obviously also rise.

“The prospects of the domestic stock market are still positive, and companies are expected to release their shares through IPOs so the value of securities to be issued in

the second half of 2011 is expected to exceed the figure in the year`s first half,” he said.

According to Capital Market Supervisory Agency and Financial Institution Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK) records, a total of 13 companies went public with a combined emission value of Rp11, 219 trillion in the first half of 2011.

Eddy also said several companies had plans to enter the stock market with quite a large value.

He said among the companies planning to enter the Stock Exchange market in the second half of 2011 were PT Visi Media Asia, PT Golden Energy Mines, PT Atlas Energy Resources, and PT Ark Commerce International.

“Certainly, the second half of this year will be more interesting due to its size, it can be bigger than the first semester`s average,” he said.

The Indonesian stock market‘s positive prospects were reflected in the Composite Stock Price Index (CSPI) that was continuing to record highest points that were considered reasonable and not a bubble.

Index fair strengthening was triggered by domestic economy growth which was also expected to increase, he said. European and the US uncertain economic turmoil also triggered investors to enter countries with good fundamentals such as Indonesia.

“The positive prospects of the Indonesian economy will attract more foreign investors,” he said.

“Our target is to provide E-ID cards to 300 people per day, so the E-ID Card program in 197 districts/cities can be completed in 2011,” the ministry`s Population and Civil Record Director General Irman said here on Wednesday when checking the equipment and E-ID card system at Menteng.

Around 67 million people are expected to get E-ID cards in August 2011.

In the process of obtaining an E-ID card, one resident spend for only around two minutes for signature, retina photo record, picture taking and finger print record.

The two minute process is faster than the earlier calculated four minutes. He estimated around 300 people could be served daily to obtain the E-ID

cards.

Irman said the E-ID cards could prevent one resident from having more than one ID cards or trying to fake his or her identities.

The E-ID card program is implemented in two stages - the first stage is in 197 districts/cities in 2011, and the second state in 300 districts/cities in 2012.

According to him, the devices for the program have been ready and and distributed to 267 urban villages in Jakarta.

The home affairs ministry has allocated a total budget amounting to Rp6.3 trillion from the state budget for the application of the e-ID cards, including for the logistics such as cards, card readers, finger print scanners, cameras, signature pads, servers, and trainings for 40,000 operators in every district/city.

Government sets up team to identify illegal music sites Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has set up a team to identify illegal music sites now already recorded at 20 which have the potential to hurt the domestic music industry worth up to Rp12 trillion.

“We have set up a team to identify illegal music sites in cooperation with music industry parties,” minister of communications and information Tifatul Sembiring said here on Wednesday.

He said until now his side had been able to identify minimally 20 illegal music sites following complaints from various parties including music industry communities that have demanded the closure of the sites.

“Our target this year is educating and improving awarenss and literacy of the people which is to be followed by law enforcement.

In the next six months we will con-

duct closures of the sites,” he said.

The ministry‘s director general of applications, Aswin Sasongko, meanwhile said the team was put under the structural coordination of the ministry of communications and information and involved music industry elements. He said identification would be done on sites located abroad and at home.

“With regard to overseas sites we would immediately block them temporarily while we would first invite operators of the domestic sites to conduct business communications (before blocking their sites),” he said.

Aswin said 20 illegal sites that had been identified providing music contents for illegal uploading would not be totally blocked if they were willing to conduct business legally.

Some of the sites however have so far been blocked because they have refused the appeal or been difficult to contact and continue to conduct their illegal activity.

8

International

Friday, July 29, 2011

Bali Today Indonesia’s Cultural Diversity Is Blessing Antara

IBP/Budi W.

Heavy rains flushing Tabanan on Wednesday (Jul 27) soaked a number of road sections leading to Tanah Lot area. Due to overflow of the river water, the tourist route was hit by flood until reaching ankle-high of adult men.

Flushed by heavy rains, road to Tanah Lot soaked by flood Bali Post

TABANAN - Heavy rains flushing Tabanan on Wednesday (Jul 27) soaked a number of road sections leading to Tanah Lot area. Due to overflow of the river water, the tourist route was hit by flood until reaching ankle-high of adult men. Similarly, the flood water briefly soaked the house courtyard of local citizens and even penetrated into the floors.

The most severe condition occurred on the road section of Batu Gaing Klod, Beraban Village. About 200 meters of road at the village was inundated. As a result, all passing vehicles should be extra careful and move slowly. Due to swift flood of the river, one unit of house was submerged as experienced by Yuli, 50, one of the local residents. Her stall was right on the roadside and inundated by water from the morning. “Every heavy rainfall, the river water was always overflowing. Even, it sometimes entered into the house,” she complained.

This woman said the rain be-

gan to fall from the morning at 06:00 a.m. on day before and continued for almost 4 hours. Unavoidably, the river water directly overflowed and covered the road body. To avoid splashing water from the wheel of cars, Yuli put up a sign in front of her house. “If not posted with a sign, motorists are always speeding.

My stall can be entirely wet,” she moaned again. As inundated by flooding, visitors of her stall immediately grew lonesome.

According to Yuli, the flooding surge was triggered by a clogged ditch and narrow river basin. As consequence, when it rained, the river water always

overflowed. She hoped there was concern from relevant agencies with the condition because the flood afflicting her had happened every rainy season.

Aside from soaking the road section, the rain also caused the rubbish strewn on the edge of waterways. Overflowing water from the gutter had dragged and piled up the rubbish along the roadside.

Ironically, it mostly consisted of plastic rubbish. If neglected, the rubbish was also a source of disease. Yuli also added that the overflowing water would usually subside at least after two hours provided that it did not rain any more. (udi)

SINGARAJA - Indonesia’s cultural diversity is a blessing, Culture and Tourism Resources Development Agency spokesman Pitana said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a public discussion in the framework of National Creative Week at Banyualit Buleleng Hotel in Buleleng district town of Singaraja, Pitana said the cultural diversity in Indonesia was among others in the form of traditional dances, music, art performances, fabric motifs, and handicrafts across the country.

He said the national cultural diversity should continue to be preserved and maintained in the face of various global cultural challenges.

According to him, the cultural diversity was the capital to develop a better life because it was a base for the nation’s cultural, tourism, and economic development in a creative way.

Pitana explained that conservation and development of culture and tourism should use the concept of democracy or community empowerment in accordance with the objective of tourism development.

He pointed out that in the other parts of the world, creative industry had positive impact on national and regional economy.

In England for example, Pitana said creative industry ranked second as a pillar of the country’s economy from the music, arts, and films.

While in Canada, creative industry in 2002 contributed 5.4 percent of gross domestic product and 6 percent against the United State gross domestic product.

Therefore cultural and social observer Made Metra said Indonesia should empower and develop its creative industry as the identity of the nation.

Kathakali, Mahabharata Show in Kerala Version Presentation of this dance can be said so unique. The dancers are not required to speak, but their hand movement known as ‘mudra’ and unique facial expressions implied a meaningful sign language.

Though the performance was only accompanied by vocal music, percussion and a cymbal, the dance-drama could become an attractive spectacle for tourists. Unique make-up and vivid colors of their costume indicated the nature of character they played.

It’s called ‘Kathakali,’ a drama-dance depicting the Mahabharata epic staged in front of tourists at Queen’s of India, Kuta. Presentation of the Kathakali in the form of drama was danced with elaborate masks and costumes. By and large, it had longer duration. With combination of dance and dialogue, it showed off the myth and living legend in the temple courtyard of Kerala becoming a very unique performance. In the presentation, the dancers used amazing costumes and make-up with the accompaniment of drums and vocals.

“Kathakali shows off story play denoting a classical dance-drama of Kerala originating from the seventeenth century and rooting in the Hindu mythology. The unique combination of literature, painting, music, acting and dance was staged for the first time in Bali and even in Indonesia,” said Neeta Malhotra, the owner of Queen’s Tandor, coordinating the travel of Indian artists to Bali.

All kinds of the art in this combination were arranged like literature containing narration, poetry and drama. Costumes with vibrant color and make-up were prepared by the artists themselves and a different head covering made of wood was worn during the play. The Aharya (players) had a lot of faces like Pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Minukku and many others.

Duration of the show was only 1.5 hours, but make-up should be prepared for 7 hours starting from facial make-up until clothing. This art was staged in Bali because the similarity of Balinese and Indian culture. “Through this performance, we would like to show off cultural similarities between India and Bali,” he added. (BTN/015)

International

Friday, July 29, 2011

Balinese Culture

Textile contribute biggest income Antara

DENPASAR – Textile and textile products was the highest revenue donator for Bali which was $59.8 million or 27% from the total export during January through May 2011 period.

Next on the list was tuna export which was $34 million or 16% from the total export.

The Head of Export Division in Bali Industrial and Trade Department, Putu Bagiada, said that the export from wooden handicrafts was also gained high revenue which was $24 million on the same period.

The three commodities are the main

exports good for Bali and it is keep increasing from time to time. This condition can be seen based on the paper works done by the Industrial and Trade Department every day.

The vanilla produced by Balinese farmers was dominating the non-oil and gas few years ago but the decrease in the production made the export was also decreasing. The vanilla farmers who spread out in northern part of Bali are complaining about the disease attacking their plants.

Until now, there is no solution to solve the problem so the farmers are reluctant to plant vanilla again and chose to develop other crops. Further-

more, the price of vanilla decreasing dramatically and it make the farmers don’t want to plant it. This year, the export of vanilla was only 31 tons worth $491,000.

Bagiada said that the textile products from Bali are facing tight competition from China, Malaysia, India, and other neighboring countries. However, Bali’s businessmen are very creative in making new design combine with the current fashion trend so the exports of Balinese clothing keep increasing.

The export which was $59.8 million was increasing 11.6% compare to the same period last year which was $53 million.

A woman making a kebaya, woman top that use by Balinese when they go to the temple or attending ritual ceremonies.

IBP/Doc

C.045 ibp

Gambir Cake, a Typical Balinese Taffy Not only rice wine and salted nuts favored by domestic tourists as typical souvenir of Bali, a number of snacks such as gambier snack is also responded positively by these circles. Gambier cake wrapped in leaves turns into a unique snack that can draw the intriguing interests of consumers to try.

“Gambier Cake can be said as typical souvenir of Bali that is no less attractive than rice wine, and salted peanuts,” said Ayu, a manager of souvenir shop providing typical souvenirs of Bali located around Denpasar not long ago.

Furthermore, she explained, as other regions in Indonesia, Bali also had a lot of typical and tempting snacks to enjoy. So far, she added, the current dominant market share for distinctive snack of Bali came from domestic tourists. Evidently, quite many tourists purchased gambier cakes, and this even increased when entering the holiday season.

According to Rini, another souvenir seller, the gambier cake itself was wrapped with typical and attractive leaf as the one used for taffy. When eaten, people would taste a tenderly ground peanut sauce inside. She said it was very unique and delicious as the batter of black sticky rice processed into rubbery taffy cake was encapsulated by ground peanut. That’s why many domestic tourists such as from East Java, Jakarta and Bandung were always interested to purchase it as snack souvenirs when they paid a visit to Bali.

Witari, another perpetrator of similar business, expressed the same opinion. She said that gambier confectionary had become one of the targets for a number of domestic tourists visiting Bali so far.

During their visit to Bali they considered it incomplete before enjoying and bringing along gambier cake as souvenirs. Nevertheless, she admitted that the gambier cake business was inseparable from some problems. One of them occurred when the price of ingredients such as sticky rice increased.

“In response to this condition, I still maintain the selling price unless the spike showed a significant increase in a long time. If the spike happens, I have no other choice but applying the price hike,” she said. (BTN/kmb)

9

10

Destinations

Friday, July 29, 2011

International

Mas Village IBP

Mas Village is one of villages in Bali fundamentally identified as an artistic countryside by focusing in artistic of wood carving. Mas Village is located in Ubud sub district and Gianyar Regency, east part of Bali. It owns the typical style of wood carving art by placing forward the distinguish synergy the humanism and naturalism. The village’s popularity as an art village is famous in the national and world level which is not forgetting from the highness name of some maestros which has borne and found the spirit (taksu) and soul. The famous maestro who was borne in this village is Ida Bagus Tilem.

This Artistic countryside owns the long history root. The result of wood carving art in this village owns the immeasurable and wide dimension like idol for the devoting (arca idol), representative dimension of everyday

Balinese social society life (farmer, fisherman, worker, intellectual, merchant etc), the abstract dimension as existing of actor imagination which is listening carefully of reality, dynamics and life philosophy. The villagers are same as villagers at other tourism countryside in Bali that have also experienced the transformation from agrarian society to the crafting society. Even nowadays, it is continued to service society from commerce service until levying service of the souvenir for overseas and domestic tourist.

It is strategically located in the main road from Denpasar to Ubud and it can be reached from several of angle. It is about 15 km easterly go to the majors road to Ubud from Denpasar town. If you wish to go to this place from Denpasar, the starting spandrel points step into Mas Village is Sakah, where a big baby idol monumentally existing in the middle of road. The Baby idol is a symbol and representative of human being life early which is believed by local residents with full of philosophic value, religious and dynamism.

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BUSINESS Fear over debt fight taking hold with investors Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A fast-approaching deadline is bound to heighten anxiety. That’s what happening on Wall Street as investors grow increasingly uneasy about the political stalemate over raising the nation’s debt ceiling.

The Dow Jones industrial average has closed down for four sessions in a row. And the declines have been steeper each day, reaching almost 200 points Wednesday.

Lawmakers face an Aug. 2 deadline or risk triggering an unprecedented federal default and unpredictable fallout in the economy. As the contentious debate in Washington heated up, initially the stock market didn’t show much reaction. But recent days have reflected signs of greater concern.

While no one was panicking, financial professionals who handle the investment accounts of everyday Americans — college funds, retirement accounts and other nest-eggs — said their customers were growing more worried by the day. One said he had not seen this level of anxiety since the 2008 financial crisis.

“We’re getting a ton of calls,” said Bob Glovsky, president of Mintz Levin Financial Advisors in Boston. “It’s all ‘What happens if the U.S. defaults? What’s going to happen to me?’”

Similarly, Glen Buco, a certified financial planner with West Financial Services in McLean, Va., said he started hearing from worried clients over the weekend, when talks in Washington failed to produce a compromise.

“The expectation was that there would be an agreement by this week. So now people are beginning to worry,” Buco said. The calls are mostly coming from clients who are nearing or already retired and living off their portfolios.

But he said they are expressing more irritation at the political sparring and aren’t yet panicking, but that may end soon.

Although Wednesday’s decline of 198.75 points was not close to the stomach-churning days of the fall of 2008, when the Dow lurched lower and higher by 700 points some days, there were signs that fear on Wall Street was growing.

The concerns have spread overseas. Asian markets tumbled on Thursday, with Japan’s bellwether index down about 1 per-

cent, as the threat of a debt default by the world’s largest economy rattled investors there.

“Right now the clouds are gathering,” said Chris Long, a financial planner in Chicago.

Without a deal by Tuesday, the Obama administration has said the government will be unable to pay all its bills, and could miss checks to Social Security recipients, veterans and others who depend on public help. In addition, credit rating agencies could downgrade their assessment of the government’s finances, further unnerving financial markets and perhaps causing interest rates to rise for everyone.

Already, some investors are taking precautions. Richard Shortt, 66, of Somerville, Mass., worries that a default, or even just a downgrade of U.S. debt, could cause bond and stock markets to tumble. Last week he sold about 10 percent of his stock holdings and put the proceeds into a money-market mutual fund.

“It might just be a short-term decline in the markets, but it could last a week or two while this gets resolved,” said Shortt, a semi-retired small business consultant. “If we do get any sort of debt downgrade, even if we avoid a default, that will change the game a bit.”

Financial advisers typically tell their clients not to tinker with their portfolios or try to play a short-term move in the market to their advantage. Of course, leaving investments alone could be a test of patience for the rest of this week.

On Friday afternoon, for example, it’s plausible that Congress could reach a deal in midafternoon and send the Dow soaring 300 points in the final hour of trading. It’s also plausible that there’s still no deal and traders decide staying in the market over the weekend is too risky, and send the Dow plunging.

Investors who rode out the financial turbulence in 2008 without rejiggering their portfolios have made up most of their losses. The stock market has almost doubled since its post-meltdown low in March 2009. Many

people who withdrew their money from the stock market during the worst haven’t come close to breaking even.

The memory of the fall of 2008 remains vivid. The Dow plunged 778 points in a single day when Congress surprised investors by rejecting an early version of $700 billion legislation to bail out the nation’s biggest banks.

“We’ve been through this, or something like it,” said Leisa Aiken, a financial planner in Chicago. “I think what we went through in 2008 has toughened clients up a little. They realize that they will get through it if they don’t give in to a knee-jerk reaction.”

This time around, analysts say, the chances of similar turmoil are small but growing. Standard & Poor’s, one of the rating services, has said that “the reverberations of the showdown may be deep and wide — particularly if Washington does not come to a timely agreement on the debt ceiling.”

Bond traders were still betting on a last-minute deal on the debt.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which should rise when investors believe there is a greater risk they won’t get their money back, has stayed near 3 percent all month.

Even if Washington sails past the deadline without raising the debt limit, bond traders believe the Obama administration will keep up its interest payments and cut spending on everything else.

The resulting shock to the economy and other financial markets would make Treasury bonds a safe place for investors to hide, which could result in lower yields.

One measure of investor concern, the Vix, or volatility index, shot up 14 percent on Wednesday.

The tone of the market changed this week, as nervous investors began moving money out of stocks, said Howard Ward, a chief investment officer at asset manager GAMCO. He said the stock market will likely become more volatile as the weekend nears, and while he said he was not repositioning his portfolio, he admitted: “Right now I’m pretty worried.”

AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

A US flag is displayed at the foreign currency brokage in Tokyo on July 28, 2011. A fast-approaching deadline is bound to heighten anxiety. That’s what happening on Wall Street as investors grow increasingly uneasy about the political stalemate over raising the nation’s debt ceiling.

Visa rolls out new fee program Reuters

CHARLOTTE - Visa Inc’s quarterly profit rose by 40 percent, and the world’s largest payment processor said it would introduce a new fee structure for U.S. merchants.

Visa Chief Executive Joseph Saunders, in a conference call with analysts, said the payment processor would introduce a network participation fee in the United States for all of its debit, credit and prepaid card services.

As part of the new policy, Visa also will lower the variable rate charged for transactions.

Visa’s shift away from per-transaction fees is a large departure for the San Francisco-based company.

It is being done in advance of new fee caps that take effect later this year as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

Saunders did not disclose what the participation fee will be, but said it will be based on a merchant’s size, and the merchants’ number of locations. He also said the new fees did not rule out future price changes.

Due to the overhaul and the new fee caps imposed by Dodd-Frank, Saunders said 2012 will be a “low point” for debit card processing fees.

“We won’t do as well as we have,” he said.

The new program comes as Visa

reported better-than-expected fiscal third quarter results, and plans to buy back an additional $1 billion in shares over the next year.

For Visa, the quarterly results highlight consumers’ increasing reliance on debit and credit cards rather than cash or checks to make everyday purchases.

“They’re getting better results as consumers are shifting from paper to plastic,” said Shannon Stemm, a financial services analyst with Edward Jones.

Analysts said the company’s continued profits drove the new share buyback program, following a similar $1 billion share buyback announced in April and completed in the fiscal third quarter.

Visa on Wednesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $1 billion, or $1.43 per Class A common share, up from $716 million, or 97 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding the one-time, noncash gain on its Visa Europe put option, Visa earned $883 million, or $1.26 per share.

Analysts estimated Visa would report net income of $1.23 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Total operating revenue increased 14 percent to $2.3 billion from a year ago.

Total payment volumes increased 17 percent to $941 billion from $802 billion.

12

Entertainment

Friday, July 29, 2011

International

Cage to star in film about Alaska serial killer

Christina Aguilera, Selena Gomez top ALMA nominees Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — Christina Aguilera (ag-wuhLEHR’-uh) and Selena Gomez are the leading nominees for the ALMA Awards, which honor the artistic accomplishments of Latinos in music, television and film.

The National Council of La Raza announced the nominations Thursday. Aguilera and Gomez are each up for three awards for their work in music and on the big and small screens. Jennifer Lopez and “Glee” star Naya Rivera have two nominations each.

For the first time, fans are being invited to help choose the winners by voting online. Winners will be determined by fan votes; box-office, Nielsen and Billboard rankings; and the ALMA Awards production team.

The ALMA Awards will be presented Sept. 16 during an hour-long special on NBC hosted by George Lopez and Eva Longoria.

Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The hunt for Alaska’s most infamous serial murderer is about to get the Hollywood treatment. Academy Award-winning actor Nicolas Cage will star in “Frozen Ground,” a movie detailing the police investigation of serial killer Robert Hansen, Variety reported Wednesday. He will play an Alaska State Trooper who investigated the murders.

Filming is scheduled to start in Anchorage on Oct. 10, a second major production filmed in Alaska in the last year. Filming wrapped up last fall on Drew Barrymore’s “Everybody Loves Whales.”

Emmett Furla Films is financing the $27 million Cage project and producing with Amber Entertainment, Variety reported.

Messages left for both by The Associated Press weren’t immediately returned Wednesday.

Hansen, who got the nickname “the Butcher Baker,” was convicted in 1984 after confessing to killing 17 women and raping another 30 in a 12-year span. He reNicolas Cage walks onto the stage for his movie, “Ghost Rider - Spirit of Vengeance,” during the Sony panel at Comic Con Friday, July 22, 2011, in San Diego.

ceived a 461 year sentence and is incarcerated at a state prison in Seward.

Hansen owned a bakery in a downtown minimall in the 1970s and ’80s. He lived across town with his wife and children, and they knew nothing of his other life. The construction of the transAlaska pipeline in the 1970s brought prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers and con artists to Alaska’s largest city, all hoping to pry away some of the big money construction workers were pulling in.

Those who sought a quick buck left as abruptly as they arrived in Anchorage, making sudden disappearances commonplace. Glenn Flothe was the trooper who put Hansen behind bars. Now retired, he didn’t immediately return a message to the AP on Wednesday.

But he told the Anchorage Daily News in 2008 that Hansen’s victims initially included any woman who caught his eye but that Hansen quickly learned that prostitutes and strippers were harder to track and less likely to be missed.

“He tried to make us think that he had some kind of moral code but the reality was that these street girls and the girls in the bars were easier victims,” Flothe told the newspaper.

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Country star Chesney chugs to touring milestone Associated Press Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Already secure as country music’s king of the road, Kenny Chesney is really flexing his muscle now. Chesney is poised to reach a milestone — and perhaps clear a path — as he readies for an Aug. 13 visit to New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. Chesney has already sold more than 43,000 tickets, making it the hottest single paid country show in the New York City-New Jersey area since Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard and Linda Ronstadt drew more than 51,000 in 1983.

“I don’t know if taking a chance is the right word, but to be honest with you it was a little bit of a risk to play Meadowlands Stadium,” Chesney said. “But my whole touring life has been a risk. ...

One day I said, ‘You know, I want to be able to say I played the New York-New Jersey area and I did it in a football stadium.’ We almost did it two years ago, and so now I felt like the time was right. I’m glad I was right.”

Playing against the odds is paying off. The greater New York metropolitan area has traditionally been a no-fly zone for country artists. But Chesney is matching artists like Jon Bon Jovi stride for stride in his home state and with other artists like Taylor Swift — who recently played in front of 52,000 fans in four sold-out arena

shows in Newark, N.J. — is helping show there’s room for a little twang in the shadow of the Big Apple.

Meadowlands CEO Marcus Lamping expects Chesney’s show with Zac Brown Band, Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker to sell out at around 50,000 and notes the show could clear the way for more major country acts to play a market they once wrote off.

“We’ve always believed in the show,” Lamping said. “We were perhaps a little anxious in the beginning because there hasn’t been a big (country) show here in a long time. But we were confident this would be a success and it’s been a success beyond what our original expectations were. It certainly gives us a lot of confidence to bring other shows to this market.”

Chesney’s rise in the New York area coincides with a resurgence in the music touring business. After a rough 2010 thanks to the weakened economy, musicians are seeing an increase in gross revenue — if not ticket sales.

Trade magazine Pollstar’s editor in chief, Gary Bongiovanni, says while ticket sales are still lagging behind, overall gross revenue is up both worldwide and in North America. The cumulative gross of $1.65 billion by the world’s top 50 tours is up $166 million or 11.2 percent.

Ticket sales are down by about 2 percent, Bongiovanni says, but artists have made up for that drop with increased prices.

Science

International

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Friday, July 29, 2011

Ancestor of all birds knocked from its perch Agence France Presse

The winged Archaeopteryx, long venerated as the forebear of birds, has been knocked off its hallowed perch on the tree of evolution, according to a study released Wednesday. A new dinosaur species unearthed in northern China reveals that the iconic 150 million year old “original bird” is probably just another dino with feathers, of which there are many, the researchers said.

South Korean scientists create glowing dog: report Reuters

SEOUL - South Korean scientists said on Wednesday they have created a glowing dog using a cloning technique that could help find cures for human diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, Yonhap news agency reported.

A research team from Seoul National University (SNU) said the genetically modified female beagle, named Tegon and born in 2009, has been found to glow fluorescent green under ultraviolet light if given a doxycycline antibiotic, the report said.

The researchers, who completed a twoyear test, said the ability to glow can be turned on or off by adding a drug to the dog’s food.

“The creation of Tegon opens new hori-

zons since the gene injected to make the dog glow can be substituted with genes that trigger fatal human diseases,” the news agency quoted lead researcher Lee Byeong-chun as saying.

He said the dog was created using the somatic cell nuclear transfer technology that the university team used to make the world’s first cloned dog, Snuppy, in 2005.

The scientist said that because there are 268 illnesses that humans and dogs have in common, creating dogs that artificially show such symptoms could aid treatment methods for diseases that afflict humans.

The latest discovery published in ‘Genesis’, an international journal, took four years of research with roughly 3.2 billion won ($3 million) spent to make the dog and conduct the necessary verification tests, Yonhap said.

In this undated handout picture released to Reuters on July 28, 2011, a foot of a genetically modified dog Tagon is seen under ultraviolet light at Seoul National University (SNU)’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Seoul.

REUTERS/Seoul National University/Handout

It is hard to imagine a harder fall from evolutionary grace. Since its discovery 150 years ago in Bavaria, most scientists placed Archaeopteryx squarely at the root of the broad group of proto-birds, known as Avialae, from which our modern feathered friends have emerged.

The emblematic creature was also held up as a case study — THE case study during the late 19th century — of evolutionary transition, to wit, from dinosaur to bird. Over the years, a few scientists have gingerly expressed doubts, pointing to supposedly defining bird-like characteristics — feathers, the wishbone, three-fingered hands — that were also showing up in nonavian dinosaurs.

But without hard proof that Archaeopteryx was not really where it belonged on the so-called phylogenetic tree, the presumed progenitor continued to reign over its feathered kingdom. Enter Xing Xu, a professor at Linyi University in China’s Shandong Province and discoverer extraordinaire of dinosaur fossils.

In the new study, published in Nature, Xu and colleagues describe the attributes of a previously unknown dinosaur the fossil of which was found in Liaoning Province, in China’s northeast.

About the size of a chicken and probably weighing less than a kilo (about two pounds), Xiaotingia shared a host of key characteristics with Archaeopteryx but seemed, at the same time, to fall into another group of non-avian dinos called Deinonychosauria.

A standard computer analysis confirmed as much, but at the same time produced a stunning result: Archaeopteryx had been reclassified into the same group. “In other words, Archaeopteryx was no longer a bird,” Lawrence Witmer, a professor at Ohio university’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, said in a commentary, also in Nature. Xiaotingia, it turns out, was the smoking gun that sceptical scientists had been looking for.

A drug addict prepares a hit of heroin. Some 10 million people who inject illegal drugs have hepatitis C while 1.2 million have hepatitis B, according to the first global estimate of infection rates among this population, published Thursday IBP/afp

10 million illegal drug users have hepatitis C: study Agence France Presse

Some 10 million people who inject illegal drugs have hepatitis C while 1.2 million have hepatitis B, according to the first global estimate of infection rates among this population, published Thursday.

Both viral diseases are debilitating and potentially deadly, and public health officials must step up efforts to combat bloodborne transmission and to lower treatment costs, the researchers urged.

The health and economic costs of hepatitis C (HCV) spread via injected drugs, on its own, may be as high or higher than for similarly transmitted cases of HIV, they said.

The study, published in the British journal The Lancet, found that fully two-thirds of the global population of “injecting drug users” have been exposed, and thus infected,

to HVC. About 80 percent are destined to develop chronic infections, and up to 11 percent of these individuals will, within two decades, suffer cirrhosis, which can cause liver failure and cancer.

There is currently no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus. The portion of drug users with HCV — inferred from the presence of hepatitis C antibody — varied among the 77 countries from which data was collected.

The rate was 60 to 80 percent in 25 nations, including Spain (80 percent), Norway (76), Germany (75), France (74), the United States (73), China (67) and Canada (64).

In 12 countries, the percentage was higher than 80, including Italy, Portugal, Pakistan, The Netherlands, Thailand and Mexico, which had a 97 percent infection rate among mainlining drug users.

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International

Thiago at double as Barcelona beat Bayern Agence France Presse

Highly rated midfielder Thiago Alcantara scored both goals as European champions Barcelona defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 on Wednesday to win the pre-season Audi Cup. Barcelona, playing without the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Carles Puyol, were rarely threatened by a Bayern side who kick off their league campaign next weekend.

“We deserved this victory because we made the most of our chances,” said 20-year-old Thiago, who found the net in the 42nd and 75th minutes.

In the match for third place, Brazil’s Internacional defeated AC Milan in a penalty shoot-out after the two sides were locked at 22 at the end of normal time.

Argentine Aguero says has joined Manchester City Chris Trotman/Getty Images/AFP

Wayne Rooney #10 of the Manchester United congratulates teammate Dimitar Berbatov #9 on his goal against the MLS All-Stars during the second half of the MLS All-Star Game at Red Bull Arena on July 27, 2011 in Harrison, New Jersey.

Rooney sets up 2 as Manchester United beats MLS Associated Press Writer

HARRISON, N.J. — Parachutists floated into the stadium, fireworks lit the sky and helicopters performed a flyover in the 25-minute pre-game spectacular before Manchester United played the MLS All Stars. The real show though was Wayne Rooney and the Reds, and it lasted 90 minutes and thrilled a sellout crowd of 26,760, which packed Red Bull Arena to get a glimpse of the best team in the English Premier League.

Rooney set up two goals with magnificent passes and Ji-Sung Park danced around a defender for another and Manchester United put on another show during its tour of the United States with a 40 victory Wednesday night. “I liked the result,” manager Sir Alex Ferguson said after Manchester United improved to 40 on a U.S. tour that has seen it outscore opponents 18-2.

The Reds didn’t have a lot of chances against the MLS, but when they did they were lethal, especially with Rooney setting up the goals.

In the states, soccer fans have seen Rooney scoring again and

again in replays of his bicycle kick in a game last season. This time, he was perfect with his passing.

“He’s a good passer of the ball,” Ferguson said. The ability was never more evident than in the 20th minute when Rooney worked a give-and-go with Dimitar Berbatov and then fed Anderson for the game’s opening goal.

Early in the second half, Rooney helped break the game with a looping pass that sprung Berbatov. “They are so quick to the ball, and it’s one or two touches and they are going and they are not letting up,” MLS defender Tim Ream said. “With Rooney, that just shows how much

of a well-rounded player he is.”

Danny Welbeck also scored for the reigning English Premier League champions, who will wrap up their preseason tour in Washington on Saturday against FC Barcelona in a rematch of the Champions League final, which the Spanish team won 3-1. Then it’s back to England for the Community Shield game and then start of another season the following week.

“We’re happy the way things are going,” midfielder Michael Carrick said. “The seasons still seems a long way away. But there is not too many games left now.

But we’ll be prepared for the start of the season.”

Reuters

MADRID - Argentina forward Sergio Aguero has completed his move to big-spending Manchester City from Atletico Madrid, he said on his Twitter feed on Wednesday.

“Now I am a City player,” Aguero, who is known as “Kun” after a Japanese cartoon character, said on the feed, which can be reached via a link on his official website (www.sergioaguero.com).

“Happy to be at this club and in this city,” added the 23-year-old.

“Thank you to everyone for the welcome and the reception.” One of the most sought-after forwards in world soccer, Aguero announced at the end of May he wanted to leave Atletico, who unlike City missed out on a place on next season’s Champions League, Europe’s elite club competition.

Spanish media reported the English Premier League side had agreed to pay 45 million euros ($65.4 million) to secure AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth his services and he FILE - In this Friday Sept. 1, 2006 file photo is expected to re- Argentine player Sergio Aguero runs durplace unsettled ing a training session in London ahead of compatriot Carlos a friendly soccer match against Brazil at Tevez. the Emirates Stadium in London.

Juventus had also been chasing Aguero, who upstaged team mate Lionel Messi of Barcelona at the Copa America by scoring three times in four games.

He was one of the few bright spots for the hosts, who bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a penalty shootout defeat to eventual champions Uruguay.

Married to one of Diego Maradona’s daughters, Aguero has spent five seasons at Atletico, where he won the Europa League in 2009-10.

He was raised at Independiente where he made his professional debut as a 15-year-old.

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Friday, July 29, 2011

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Phelps, Pellegrini make history at swim worlds Associated Press Writer

SHANGHAI — Michael Phelps took another small step toward next year’s Olympics, and this time it was a winning one. After losses in his first two events at the world championships, Phelps won the 200-meter butterfly for a record fifth time Wednesday. His time of 1 minute, 53.34 seconds was well off the world mark he set two years ago in Rome, but these days, Phelps incrementally measures his progress.

“It was 1½ seconds faster than last year,” he said. “I felt like myself the last 100 of that race, especially that last 25. I didn’t feel like I was dying and barely able to get my arms out of the water and like there was a piano on my back.” The two-time Olympic 200 fly champion went out fast, leading Japan’s Takeshi Matsuda through the first 100 meters before Matsuda overtook him on the final turn. Phelps fought back, and surged ahead for good a few meters into the last lap.

Matsuda earned the silver at 1:54.01, while China’s Wu Peng, who had dealt Phelps two losses in his “bread-and-butter” event this year, took bronze at 1:54.67. “What he doesn’t have is that kick on the last 50 where he just leaves everybody, so that’s the next step,” Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman said.

Italy’s Federica Pellegrini made history on the fourth night of the eightday meet at the Oriental Sports Center. Pellegrini won the 200 freestyle to

become the first woman to sweep the 200 and 400 at consecutive worlds, joining Australian great Ian Thorpe.

In the stands, Phelps’ mother Debbie looked relieved, while his sister Hilary and girlfriend Nicole Johnson immediately began texting on their cell phones. “I’m super happy with swimming faster than I did last year, but I still want more in that event,” he said. “I want to be faster. That was a little too close for my comfort, but that’s the race I sort of came on the scene with in 2000.”

The 10th anniversary of his first 200 fly world title set Phelps to reminiscing, something he’s willing to do now that he’s nearing the end of his historic career. He set a world record in his 2001 win. Back in Baltimore, he looks at a picture of himself from that meet every day while training at his home club.

“I think I look so young, but was I was 15, 16 at the time,” he said. Phelps defended his title at the 2003 worlds

in Barcelona, skipped the event in 2005 (“We were being dumb,” Bowman said), then reclaimed it in 2007 at Melbourne.

“I remember breaking the world record by a little over a body length,” he said. Two years ago in Rome, he lowered his world mark again. “I remember taking it out as fast as I could and hoping to hang on the last 50, and I think that made it one of the most painful I’ve ever had in the 200 fly,” he said.

Phelps led off the 4x100 relay when the United States took bronze on the opening night of the meet Sunday, then settled for silver behind teammate Ryan Lochte in the 200 free Tuesday.

“I had written down in my journal all the times I wanted to do at this meet, and so far I’m on pace,” Phelps said.

“Every single one that I’ve written down, I’m right at it.” Finally winning a race was a shot of confidence for Phelps, who has 14 Olympic gold medals and a record 23 world titles.

Blatter: ‘Give us time’ to clean up FIFA Associated Press Writer

RIO DE JANEIRO — FIFA President Sepp Blatter has asked for time to clear up corruption allegations involving soccer’s scandal-ridden governing body. Blatter on Wednesday tried to sidestep questions about a life ban issued to former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam and tried to focus on the announcement of the dates for the 2014 World Cup. The qualifying draw for the 2014 tournament in Brazil will be made in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, one week after suspended Asian Football Confederation president bin Hammam was banished from soccer over allegations he tried to bribe Caribbean soccer’s leaders.

However, Blatter did respond to bin Hammam’s accusation in the wake of his life ban being handed down that the FIFA president had acted like “dictator.” “Let us work,” the 75-year-old Swiss official said.

“I am not alone. I am not a dictator, as has been said.”

Since bin Hammam’s punishment, FIFA has asked Caribbean soccer’s leaders to explain their part

AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT

In a picture taken with an underwater camera US swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the final of the men’s 200-metre butterfly swimming event in the FINA World Championships at the indoor stadium of the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai on July 27, 2011. He won gold.

Jalen Rose gets 20 days in jail for drunk driving Associated Press Writer

in a May 10 meeting in Trinidad where the Qatari allegedly offered them $40,000 cash for their support.

The Caribbean Football Union members had until Wednesday to come forward with details, or also face the possibility of life bans from soccer.

Blatter was re-elected unopposed to a fourth four-year presidential term in June, three days after bin

Hammam withdrew his candidacy.

He then pledged a “zero-tolerance” drive to rid FIFA of corruption, but said Wednesday he needed several months to present details of how soccer’s judicial bodies and governance would be reformed.

“There is a lot of work already on the table,” Blatter said. “Give us the time to go step by step.”

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Jalen Rose was sentenced Wednesday to 20 days in jail for a March drunken-driving crash near Detroit, despite a recommendation that the ESPN analyst and former NBA player not serve jail time and the public support of several prominent figures, including Detroit’s mayor.

When he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated in May, Rose told the judge he drank six martinis before crashing his SUV along a snowy road in West Bloomfield Township.

He apologized in a brief statement after Wednesday’s hearing.

“I’m humbled, I’m embarrassed, and I’m very apologetic.

I can assure everyone that nothing like this will ever happen again,” he said.

One of his attorneys, Keith Davidson, wasn’t so contrite, railing against the sentence

handed down by 48th District Court Judge Kimberly Small.

“This was nothing less than an elected judge legislating from the bench,” said Keith Davidson.

“This is a man who has given millions of dollars to charity, started schools around the world and worked endlessly for the community, yet her average sentence is 17 days, and she sentenced Mr. Rose to 20 days.

Small, who is known for coming down hard on drunken drivers, lectured the former University of Michigan star for 15 minutes before delivering her sentence.

“I don’t think you have an alcohol problem, and I sincerely believe you when you say this will not happen again,” she said.

“But there are issues of punishment and deterrence. The one thing that people never want — that they will hire expensive lawyers to avoid — is jail time.

That’s why I believe it is the right punishment.”

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Massa prepared for emotional Hungarian GP Felipe Massa says Budapest will forever be a part of his personal history, as Formula 1 prepares to visit the circuit at which he was critically injured in 2009. The Brazilian plans to visit circuit and hospital staff who aided his recovery from a damaged skull and brain concussion, suffered after being hit by a spring during qualifying.

Massa says his recovery was ‘like a victory’ which he shared with circuit and hospital staff, whom he hopes to visit ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix. “Clearly, after what happened two years ago, Budapest and the Hungarian people are an important part of my personal history,” Massa told the official Ferrari website.

“Once again I plan to meet the people who helped me through that difficult time, both at the track and at the hospital.

“I spent some time in Budapest and made a full recovery, which was like a victory for me and the people here felt part of that victory.” Massa predicts a good grand prix for the Hungarian fans, and said he expected conditions to suit Ferrari far more than the cold temperatures of the Nurburgring.

“On current form, we can be optimistic of having another positive weekend,” he declared. “We will again have the Pirelli soft and supersoft tyres, which we know suits our car best, and in Hungary the hot temperatures will also be on our side.

“The Hungaroring race has sometimes been a bit processional; this year for sure there will be more overtaking. We continue to fight on a race by race basis, with the aim of winning as many as possible between now and the finale in BraAFP PHOTO / DIMITAR DILKOFF Ferrari’s Brazilian driver Felipe Massa sits in the pits at the Nurburgring racetrack on zil, so I think the July 23, 2011 in Nurburg during the third practice race of the German Formula One crowd can expect Grand Prix. a good show.”

Stoner: Too early for title talk CASEY Stoner has rejected suggestions that he is well on his way to the 2011 MotoGP title. The Repsol Honda star scored his fifth win of the season in Sunday’s US MotoGP at Laguna Seca - ending a three-race losing streak and raising his win rate back up to 50% after ten of 18 rounds.

The Australian heads for the MotoGP summer break with a 20 point advantage over Jorge Lorenzo, who Stoner caught and passed on Sunday. “Talking championship points at this moment is a little difficult. Points can slip away so quickly.

As long as we are there at the end of this season - we’re not going to win the world championship now,” said Stoner, the 2007 world champion.

“I think if we have a chance to win it that’ll come towards the end of the season or the last race. As long as I stay close enough for that, and we can keep these good results up, then I’ll be happy. “But Jorge is going to be strong every race and I think Dani [Pedrosa] is going to be up there, beating us and taking points away from us. It’s definitely going to be a tough end to the season.”

Yamaha’s reigning world champion Lorenzo, lucky to escape serious injury in a huge Saturday crash, has won just two of the ten races this year.

This time last year he had won seven of the ten races. “To win the world title the important

Casey Stoner, of Australia, waves to fans after winning the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix MotoGP world championship motorcycle race Sunday, July 24, 2011, at Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.

thing is to finish in front of Casey. Today we tried and couldn’t, but there are more races,” said the Spaniard.

“My strategy is just to go as fast as I can. Even then it is going to be tough, but we will try to the end. “At Brno, in a better physical condition, maybe things can change.”

Stoner and Lorenzo have both suffered one DNF so far this season. Honda has not won the MotoGP title since 2006 and 2011 is the factory’s last chance for an 800cc crown. The Czech Republic Grand Prix takes place from August 12-14.

AP Photo/Ben Margot