Edisi 05 September 2011 | International Bali Post

I

Indonesian Air Force and RAAF Hold security drill at Ngurah Rai Airport Air Base

N

T

E

R

N

A

T

I

O

Monday, September 5, 2011

N

A

L

16 Pages Number 182 3st Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

PAGE 8

Soderbergh’s virus thriller ‘Contagion’ sweeps Venice PAGE 12

AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

In this Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011 photo, Indonesian National Police spokesperson Maj. Gen. Anton Bahrul Alam holds up a portrait of al-Qaida-linked militant Umar Patek as he speaks to the media in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Bali terror suspect could serve only a few years WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

21 - 30

JAKARTA

24 - 32

BANDUNG

17 - 25

YOGYAKARTA

19 - 31

SURABAYA

19 - 31

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

RAIN

HOTLINE For placing advertisment, please contact: Eka Wahyuni

0361-225764

Associated Press

JAKARTA — An Indonesian man blamed for Southeast Asia’s deadliest suicide bombing could escape with just a few years behind bars.

The tough anti-terrorism law passed after the double nightclub blasts in Bali cannot be used retroactively against Umar Patek, leaving prosecutors scrambling to convict him of lesser crimes, from premeditated murder to immigration violations.

Patek, an al-Qaida-linked militant captured on Jan. 25 in the same Pakistani town where Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces, allegedly told interrogators he made the explosives used in the 2002 attacks on Bali island.

The bombings killed 202 people, including 88 Australians and seven

Americans. They were followed by near annual suicide attacks on glitzy Western hotels, restaurants and an embassy in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

More than 680 militants have been rounded up, tried in open courts and convicted or executed under anti-terror laws passed in 2003, including 32 for their roles in the Bali bombings, according to police and prosecutors. In 2004, however, the constitutional court ruled that the law could no longer be used retroactively.

Patek will be the first big fish to test that decision.

Continued on page 6

Feds warn of small airplane terror threats Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The FBI and Homeland Security have issued a nationwide warning about al-Qaida threats to small airplanes, just days before the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Authorities say there is no specific or credible terrorist threat for the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. But they have stepped up security nationwide as a precaution.

According to a five-page law enforcement bulletin issued Friday, as recently as early this year, al-Qaida was considering ways to attack airplanes.

The alert, issued ahead of the summer’s last busy travel weekend, said terrorists have considered renting private planes and loading them with explosives.

Continued on page 6

2

International

Monday, September 5, 2011

Bali News

Three subdistricts in Badung get priorities Mangupura (Bali Post)—

Judicial team of Badung Regency has a program of population control in cooperation with police and customary village to anticipate the negative impact of soaring migrants. The control will be particularly prioritized in three subdistricts of Badung, namely the North Kuta, South Kuta and Kuta.

It was expressed by the Head of the Badung public order officers (Satpol PP), I Ketut Martha, Saturday (Sep 3). According to him, the three subdistricts were tourist resort that sometimes gave a space for criminal acts like terrorist to come to Badung. Hence, the anticipative measures in the form of supervision

against residents had to be intensively executed.

Regarding to illegal residents that could be ensnared by judicial team, Martha said, would surely be sent to their region of origin. The budget had been prepared to repatriate those illegal migrants. Meanwhile, a legislator from Kuta, South

Badung, I Nyoman Karyana, said the discipline of migrant population should be carried out simultaneously and sustainably. He was apprehensive as the mobility of illegal migrant population was often difficult to detect. Even, some of them played hide-and-seek with the authorities. (kmb25)

Sustainable farming in Bali not worked on maximally

Preoccupied by BAF and Exhibition

Rehabilitation to Art Center accomplished 50 percent only

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

So far, the rehabilitation of Bali Art Center with a total budget of IDR 9 billion from the Bali Regional Budget 2011 could have been accomplished 50 percent only. According to the Head of Bali Cultural Agency, Ketut Suastika, Friday (Sep 2), the rehabilitation program was targeted to be completed in two phases, namely early phase in November and second phase in late December.

“Construction period has been in progress because the auction process required considerable time and we hope the work will meet the standards,” he said. He added the funds were directed to rehabilitate the Bali Art Center, especially in facing the development of arts and culture in Bali as a world tourist destination.

“A lot of facilities and infrastructure of Bali Art Center needs rehabilitating, starting from the entrance, wantilan hall, Ardha Chandra amphitheater and other buildings for exhibition,” he said.

Furthermore, Suastika described there were five packages currently being worked on such as the Ardha Candra building, three open stages and bridges, compound walls and entrances of the Art Center as well as the construction and rehabilita-

IBP/file

The Arda Chandra Open Stage, one of the main stage in Art Center Denpasar. tion of wantilan hall and craft building.

When contacted separately, the Head of Bali Art Center, Ketut Mantara Gandi, rejected the presumption if the rehabilitation ran slowly. During the rehabilitation process, a lot of events were organized at the location such as the Bali Arts Festival (BAF) resumed with exhibition last August. As a result, the rehabilitation was discontinued temporarily.

“Indeed, during the Bali Arts

IBP/File

Farmers are working on their rice field

Festival and Exhibition, all rehabilitation activities were suspended so as not to disrupt the events. Now, the workers have started their activities, although some of them were going home.

It does not matter because many of our workers are from Bali,” he said. Furthermore, Mantara Gandi added that until now 50 percent of the rehabilitation process had been completed. At least, the early stage could be accomplished in November. (bit)

Bali has a great potential in the field of agribusiness, but the potential has not been explored and developed maximally to improve the welfare of farmer communities. Some observers consider the agricultural sector of Bali is still potential to be developed, although the farmland continues to erode and be converted into residential land each year. Nevertheless, there are still many strategies of agricultural development that can be undertaken.

As disclosed by the Chairman of Farmer Fishermen Group (KTNA) of Bali Chapter, Made Suparsa, when contacted by Bali Post on Friday (Sep 2), the agricultural sector of each regency/ city across Bali had many excellent commodities that could be processed into food and beverage products and they had been developed. One of them was the process of passion fruit into syrup in Petang, Badung Regency. Later, the processing business seemed to fade and the production was almost inactive.

It meant that so far the government did not empower the farmers optimally because it only tended to provide assistance without a commitment to help the development of human resources, land area and low selling price of

the raw materials. Suparsa explained that it eventually caused the development of sustainable agriculture turned under threat. As consequence, farmers were reluctant to continue their farming venture because it was considered unprofitable.

Furthermore, Suparsa stated the fact ultimately made the farmers of Bali less competitive. He admitted there were three components actually underlying the successful continuation of the efforts, namely the production, farmer groups and most importantly, the marketing. “But in reality, so far the farmers still face an obstacle in the matter of marketing because many of the other large-scale businesses are popping up in Bali and offering better quality,” he said.

Without setting aside the tourism sector that was also a leading sector of Bali, he expected at least the government could continue to focus on exploring the potential of agriculture, plantation, fishery and livestock. By doing so, all sectors had clear future, while creating sustainable agriculture and the farmers could be more vivacious in the production activities.

“At least, government should be able to suppress the number of large-scale business and maximize the existing farmer activities,” he said. (bit)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 0215357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

Monday, September 5, 2011

3

Overcoming clean water issues in Buleleng Requires political decision, not a business feasibility A problem rarely resolved easily in Buleleng Regency is that many villages are unable to enjoy clean water. This issue has continued to arise since the New Order era and until the current reform era has not been fully resolved. This water issue is infrequently featured as topic during electoral campaign or regional leader election. Unluckily, the campaign only leaves a campaign. When the election is over, the drought-stricken residents will remain dry. Meanwhile, the regent continues to change as well as local and central people’s representative keeps changing, too.

NUMEROUS villages in Buleleng have been unable to enjoy clean water since many years.

Among others, there are Pacung Village in Tejakula Subdistrict and Pangkung Paruk Village in Seririt Subdistrict. Aside from both villages, the others on highlands in the subdistrict of Tejakula, Kubutambahan, Banjar and Seririt also complain about the water issue. If there is any water, they should drain it from a remote spring. Many villages in Tejakula and Kubutambahan Subdistrict rely on the springs located in Bangli Regency. As happened at Pacung Village, about 500 families are unable to enjoy the water with ease until now.

Despite a number of springs at the village, they are located on the beach around the Ponjok Batu Temple. If people want to get clean water, they must be willing to carry a bucket.

Chief of Pacung Village, Made Yasa, said he and other village apparatus had found a spring at Subak Pamesahan, Selulung Village in Bangli Regency, about 24 kilometers from Pacung Village.

The spring was wasted water from a cistern of the local subak member. To request the water, the village chief and local figures had met with the authority of Selulung Village for several times and it had allowed it.

However, it required somewhat large amount of fund, around IDR 2.8 billion, to channel the water from Selulung Village. To drain the water from the spring, they should install pipe through numerous villages such as the Selulung and Kembang Sari in Bangli Regency and then the Mengening, Tajun and Bayad Hamlet in Kubutambahan Subdistrict.

A number of residents of Pacung Village said many leaders had given them promises during the electoral campaign to finance the procurement of clean water at the village. Unfortunately, the promise was only revealed when meeting with the residents. After the election, residents remained to scream as they did not get the water. “As if nobody heard our screams,” he said.

A number of other villages in Tejakula Subdistrict such as Tembok could have enjoyed clean water since the construction of a number of artesian wells through the European aid projects several years ago. So far, only residents living at lowland that could enjoy it, but those living on hill ranges could not. Actually the water could be pumped upward by means of technology, but none helped the procurement of machine because it was very costly.

Director of Municipal Waterworks (PDAM) of Buleleng Regency, Nyoman Artha Widnyana, said his party had tried to serve the needs of clean water of the villages in Tejakula Subdistrict.

For example, a number of residents residing on the lowland of Pacung Village had subscribed clean water from the water source at Air Sanih in Kubutambahan.

But, his party was unable to serve the residents living on higher land as it cost too expensive.

“Pumping can be carried out by three phases,” he said.

According to Artha Widnyana, to help the residents living on higher lands indeed required a political decision to make it happen. In terms of business feasibility, the investment expenses incurred for the water to villages on the higher region was incomparable to benefits gained. “It thoroughly needs a political decision for the sake of humanity,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Buleleng House, Dewa Nyoman Sukrawan, admitted to be apprehensive with the large number of villagers in Buleleng that were unable to enjoy clean water. To that end, he urged the government to help the residents because the water posed a vital necessity. “There is no excuse for government not to help the people who have difficulty to get water. Moreover, the need for water is vital,” he said.

One of the efforts that had to be performed was to build artesian well at some points. For that purpose, his party would struggle in the fiscal year 2012 in order government could build artesian wells at a number of villages that faced difficulty to get clean water. (ole)

IBP/Ole

A woman must carries two buckets and walks for many kilometers just to find water.

Impact of homecoming

Daily levies of traditional market slump Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Idul Fitri holiday and joint leave this year did not only affect the implementation of physical projects in Denpasar but also had an impact on traditional markets in several locations across Denpasar. Even, the acquisition of daily levies of traders managed by PD Pasar also showed a decrease 15-25 percent, mainly since the past three days.

It was confirmed by Director of PD Pasar Denpasar, I Made Westra, when contacted on Friday (Sep 2). He admitted there was a decrease in daily income during the Idul Fitri holiday because many daily traders usually performing their activities in traditional markets remained closed. The decline was significant namely15-25 percent of total daily income amounting to IDR 30-35 million. “It’s the prediction I observe in the field, while the exact amount can be known next Monday,” said Westra.

Westra said that revenue decline was mainly caused by most traders were going home related to Idul Fitri celebration. By and large, they did their activities on the courtyard by selling daily necessities such as soybean curd, tempeh, fruits and leaves mostly supplied from Java. In addition, many clothing traders in Ashoka Market, Kereneng, remained to close their business temporarily.

Of the 16 traditional markets in

Denpasar, said Westra, almost all of them having traders that were going home to celebrate Idul Fitri as seen in the Ashoka Market, courtyard of Badung Market, Kumbasari Night Market and Anyar Sari Market, Ubung. “The homecoming of traders selling soybean curd, tempeh and other similar foods clearly influenced the daily levies of PD Pasar,” he explained.

Decline in daily revenue, Westra said, would also have an impact on the monthly income of PD Pasar Denpasar. During the normal months, the income of PD Pasar was around IDR 1.150 billion per month, but in August it certainly declined. When asked about the time of traders to be

back to normal activities, Westra could not ascertain. According to information, several suppliers from Java found difficulty to come into Bali due to crowdedness at Ketapang Harbor.

Previously, the Head of Denpasar Transportation Agency, I Gede Astika, said that in relation to the current bustling homecoming, the freight transportation was temporarily halted. In other words, the transportation of goods other than foodstuff was not allowed to operate. It was intended to give comfort to homecoming flows experiencing a substantial increase before and after the Idul Fitri feast day. (kmb12)

IBP/File

The quiet market in Denpasar area. Idul Fitri holiday and joint leave this year did not only affect the implementation of physical projects in Denpasar but also had an impact on traditional markets in several locations across Denpasar.

4

News

Monday, September 5, 2011

International

Libya rebels poised to attack Gadhafi stronghold Associated Press Writer

TARHOUNA, Libya — Libyan rebels are poised to attack one of Moammar Gadhafi’s remaining strongholds, saying Sunday that surrender talks have collapsed.

Rebels control most of Libya and are moving forward with setting up a new government, but they might hold off on declaring victory until Gadhafi is caught and his remaining strongholds are defeated. Gadhafi and his staunchest allies have been on the run since the fall of the capital late last month. Loyalists have entrenched themselves in several towns, including besieged Bani Walid, some 90 miles (140 kilometers) southeast of Tripoli.

Rebel officials have given conflicting statements on where they believe Gadhafi is hiding. Bani Walid, Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte and the loyalist town of Sabha, deep in the Libyan desert, have been mentioned.

Thousands of rebel fighters have converged on Bani Walid in recent days, with the closest forces about 10 miles (15 kilometers) from the town center.

Rebel leaders said they tried to negotiate a peaceful surrender, but accused

Bani Walid tribal leaders of stalling.

“Negotiations are over, and we are waiting for orders” to attack, said Mohammed al-Fassi, a rebel commander at a staging area about 45 miles (70 kilometers) from Bani Walid. “We wanted to do this without bloodshed, but they took advantage of our timeline to protect themselves.”

Al-Fassi said more Gadhafi loyalists have moved into Bani Walid from the south, but did not know how many.

Bani Walid is a base of the 1-millionstrong Warfala tribe, one-sixth of Libya’s population. Gadhafi said in an audio message last week that the Warfala would be among the tribes defending him to the death.

But Bani Walid also has a history of opposition to Gadhafi. Western diplomats in Libya and opposition leaders abroad reported in 1993 that the air force had put down an uprising by army units in Misrata AP Photo/Gaia Anderson and Bani Walid. They said many officers An rebel fighter sits on his armed pickup truck in the desert outside of a military base approxiwere executed and arrested. mately 45 kilometers outside of Bani Walid, Libya, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.

British police officers scuffle with members of the English Defense League in London, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.

AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

Far-right group clashes with police in London Agence France Presse

Members of a far-right group clashed with police at a rally in London, despite a government ban on marches imposed after deadly riots that rocked the country last month.

Police said they arrested 60 people after scuffles broke out and firecrackers were thrown by the crowd of more than 1,000 activists from the English Defence League.

EDL leader Stephen Lennon addressed the crowd in Aldgate, east London, saying he had defied bail conditions imposed for an earlier football hooliganism offence in order to appear at the rally.

“I’m meant to sign on at a police station on a Saturday, I’m not doing that ...

The credible outcome is I will be put on remand in prison for my democratic right,” Lennon said.

“That’s what’s going to happen and when I go to court, if they let me out of court with any bail conditions that restrict my democratic right to oppose militant Islam, I will break them the minute I walk out.”

Around 1,500 counter-protesters from an anti-fascist group gathered nearby in the Whitechapel area while more than 3,000 police monitored both protests in the overall area, which is home to large ethnic minority populations.

At the protest police arrested 16 people for offences including affray, drunk and disorderly and assault on a police officer, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

They later arrested another 44 people on a coach on suspicion of violent disorder after the vehicle carrying EDL members broke down in east London and there was a clash with local youths, police said.

Japan new PM Noda enjoys strong voter support Reuters

TOKYO - Two-thirds of Japanese voters support new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda as his call for unity within the ruling party and conciliatory stance toward the opposition raised hopes for speedy policy implementation, newspaper polls showed on Sunday.

That was a sharp turnaround from his predecessor, Naoto Kan, who saw his support fall below 20 percent after suffering a political stalemate due to rebels within his Democratic Party and a divided parliament, where the opposition controls the upper chamber and can block bills.

But potential trouble for Japan’s new leader is already brewing as the Asahi newspaper said Noda had received political donation from a non-Japanese resident. A similar development forced Seiji Maehara to step down as foreign minister in March.

Noda, a fiscal hawk, became Japan’s sixth premier in five years last week, pledging to quickly tackle fiscal reforms to rein in huge public debt — now twice the size of the country’s $5 trillion economy — but with an eye on growth.

Support for the Noda government was 67 percent, according to a poll by the Nikkei business daily, compared with 19 percent for Kan’s cabinet in the previous survey conducted in late July.

Polls by three other major newspapers, the Yomiuri, Mainichi and Asahi,

showed that support for Noda, who is tasked to forge a new energy policy while ending a radiation crisis caused by a deadly tsunami in March, came to 65 percent, 56 percent and 53 percent, respectively. Another poll by Kyodo news agency showed similar results on Saturday.

New Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda speaks during his first press conference as the Japanese leader at his official residence in Tokyo Friday, Sept. 2, 2011.

AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi

International

Activities

Monday, September 5, 2011

5

“Independence Spirit through inspiring event, ASTON Culinary Fest” IBP

IBP/Courtesy of Quest Hotel

All finalists and the Judges are taking picture together after the competition and announcement of winners.

Quest Hotel Kuta Central Park has joined another great unity and team building event, held by Aston International Indonesia with the spirit of independence and unity with a spirit and virtue of independence. Aston International has held an inspiring event involving all Aston International property management in Bali. Event was held at the breathtaking Aston Bali Beach Resort and Spa in Tanjung Benoa, which our member of Quest Hotel Kuta Central Park also took part in the events of Chef Competition and Bartender Competition with appoint Made Sukarsana, I Made Surya Hardita and I Gede Juliartawan.

The idea of the event is to grow productivity and professional awareness of an outstanding hospitality services for all of Aston International Property Management and staff, including Quest Hotel Kuta Central Park, which also teaches all participant about how to make a fun and delicious food and beverages in the toughest condition.

The inspiring event have brought all members, employees, managements, all gathered in togetherness, hand in hand with the spirit of Indonesia’s 66th anniversary of liberation day, unity in diversity and looking forward to a brighter and even more professional services and quality.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for August 7 through August 30, 2011 7 Aug Redite Paing Pahang Pasek Toh Jiwa Kekeran - Mengwi -Badung Pasek Sadra Peguyangan - Badung

15 Aug Soma Keliwon Krulut Pasel Gelgel Kekeran Temple Mngwi Badung Merajan Pasek Subadra Temple Kramas-Gianyar

9 Aug Anggara Wage Pahang Batu Madeg (Meru Tumpang Sanga) Besakih Hyang Tibha Batuan Sakah

20 Aug Tumpek Krurut Pasek Gelgel Temple Br Tengah Buleleng Dalem Pemuteran Temple Jelantik Tojan - Klungkung Pedarmaan Bhujangga W. Temple Besakih Taman Sari Temple Gunungsari Penebel - Tabanan Dalem Tarukan Temple Bebalang Bangli Benua Kangin Temple Besakih Merajan Kanginan Temple Besakih

10 aug Buda Keliwon Pahang Luhur Puncak Padang Dawa Baturiti Tabanan Silayukti Temple Padangbai-Karangasem Aer Jeruk Sukawati Dangin Pasar Batuan-Sukawati Penataran Temple Batuyang-Batubulan Desa Lembeng Ketewel-Sukawati Pasek Bendesa Dukuh-Kediri-Tabanan Kawitan Dalem Sukawati Gianyar Kresek Banyuning-Buleleng Puseh Temple Bebandem-Karangasem Merajan Pasek Kubayan-Gaji Merajan pasek Gelgel Jeroan Abang-Songan Merajan Pasek Subrata Temaga Merajan Pasek Gelgel Bungbungan Sad Kahyangan Batu Medahu. S Nusa Penida Buda Kliwon Penatih-Denpasar Penataran Dukuh Nagasari Bebandem Karangasem Pasek Bendesa Temple Tagtag Paguyangan Pulasari Temple Sibang Gede Abiansemal Batur Sari Temple Ubud Penataran Agung Temple Sukawati 13 Aug Purnama Karo Gelap Temple Besakih Dangkahyangan Temple Pengukur-ukur Pejeng Merajan Gerya Temple Kebon Tabanan Candi Goro Temple Tianyar-Kubu Karangasem Ponjok Batu Temple Tejakula-Buleleng

21 Aug Redite Umanis Merakih Parangan Tengah Temple Ceningan Kangin - Lembongan Dalem Temple Celuk Sukawati - Gianyar 24 Aug Buda Wage Merakih Bendesa Mas Kepisah Temple Pedungan - Denpasar Selatan Natih Temple Banjar Kalah - Batubulan Puseh. Temple Silakarang - Singapadu dalem Petitenget Temple Kerobokan - Kuta Dalem Pulasari Temple Samplangan - Gianyar Kubayan - Kepisah Temple Pedungan - Denpasar - Selatan Pasek gelgel Temple Banjar Tanahpegat - Tabanan Paibon Banjar Bengkel Sumerta - Denpasar Pasek Temple Lumintang - Denpasar Panti Penyarikan Medahan Sanding - Tampaksiring Pasar Agung Temple Kaba-kaba - Tabanan 30 Aug Anggar Kasih Tambir Dalem Puri Batuan Temple Sukawati Dalem Kediri Temple Silakarang - Singapadu Dalem Temple Sukawati Dalem Temple Singakerta - Ubud dalem Lembeng Temple Ketewel - Sukawati Paibon Pasek Tangkas Temple Peliatan - Ubud

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

Monday, September 5, 2011

News Magnitude-7.0 quake shakes Vanuatu Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — A magnitude-7.0 earthquake shook the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Sunday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. No tsunami alert was issued.

The 9:55 a.m. Sunday (2256 GMT Saturday) quake was deep, some 132 kilometers (82 miles) below the surface, the USGS said.

The USGS said the quake hit some 348 kilometers (216 miles) southeast of Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, and some 1,860 kilometers (1,155 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia.

Feds...

From page 1

IBP/rtr

Locals aboard a boat search for bodies and aircraft wreckage near Juan Fernandez Islands, about 420 miles (676 km) off Chile’s coast, September 3, 2011.

“Al-Qaida and its affiliates have maintained an interest in obtaining aviation training, particularly on small aircraft, and in recruiting Western individuals for training in Europe or the United States, although we do not have current, credible information or intelligence of an imminent attack being planned,” according to the bulletin obtained

by The Associated Press.

The bulletin also says al-Qaida would like to use sympathetic Westerners to get flight training, then get them to become flight instructors.

Matthew Chandler, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, described the bulletin as routine.

“We shared this information with our partners to highlight the need for continued awareness and vigilance,” he said.

Aviation security is much tighter than it was a decade ago, but al-Qaida remains keenly interested in launching attacks on airplanes, believing large attacks with high body counts are more likely to grab headlines.

Threats to small airplanes are nothing new. After the 2001 attacks, the government grounded thousands of crop dusters amid fears the planes could be used in an attack.

In 2002, U.S. officials said they uncovered an al-Qaida plot to fly a small plane into a U.S. warship in the Persian Gulf. And in 2003, U.S. officials uncovered an al-Qaida plot to crash an explosives-laden small aircraft into the American consulate in Karachi, Pakistan.

Chile says no survivors from Pacific Ocean air crash

Bali terror suspect...

Reuters

From page 1

SANTIAGO - All 21 people aboard a military aircraft that crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the remote Juan Fernandez islands perished, Chile’s government said on Saturday, as rescuers and fishermen scoured for bodies.

Search and rescue teams have recovered four bodies so far in the wake of Friday’s crash, one of the worst air disasters Chile has suffered in recent years.

“One arrives at the conclusion that the impact was so strong that it must have killed those aboard

instantly,” Defense Minister Andres Allamand said.

The CASA 212 military plane tried twice to land on Friday before it went missing as heavy winds and sporadic rains hit the area.

Among the passengers were five TVN national television staff mem-

bers, including well-known presenter Felipe Camiroaga, who were planning to film a report about reconstruction on the islands after last year’s devastating earthquake and tsunami.

The islands were badly hit by the tsunami.

Strauss-Kahn back home, faces frosty welcome Reuters

PARIS - Dominique StraussKahn, his presidential hopes shattered by a sex assault scandal that rocked his homeland, returned on Sunday to France, where he faces a frosty reception from the public and unease among his political allies.

The former IMF chief arrived at Paris’s Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport at about 7 a.m. (1 a.m. ET) with his wife Anne Sinclair. Police escorts whisked the couple through the terminal, past waiting media, and into a car.

Dressed in a suit and smiling, Strauss-Kahn arrived at his

apartment in the luxurious Place des Vosges square in central Paris an hour later. He waved, but made no comment as he pushed through a sea of flashing media cameras.

His homecoming marks the end of a three-month struggle through New York’s criminal court system after he was charged with attempting to rape a New York hotel maid. The case was dropped after her credibility was thrown into doubt.

His Socialist Party allies have cheered the withdrawal of charges against the man formerly tipped as a possible favorite to win the 2012 presidential elec-

tion, but the damage to his image from the affair make his future unclear.

“Let’s not put pressure on him,” Francois Pupponi, a close ally and mayor of the northern Paris suburb of Sarcelles where Strauss-Kahn built his political base as mayor in the late 1990s.

“He needs to rebuild himself,” Pupponi told LCI television, moments after the couple arrived at Roissy. “What’s important is that he is back in France. He is going to be able to think about the future with more clarity.”

French media said StraussKahn was expected to make a statement later in the day.

Authorities will instead use a Dutch colonial-era penal code to charge Patek with premeditated murder and a decades-old emergency decree to charge him with possession of explosives, said Rear Marshal Chairul Akbar, a high official at Indonesia’s anti-terrorism agency. Both carry a maximum penalty of death, but getting a conviction will be hard.

“We waited nearly six months to have him deported from Pakistan because we are worried he’d get off after just a few years in jail,” Akbar said. Indonesia had hoped the U.S., Australia or the Philippines — all of which had reason to put him behind bars — would agree to take the veteran Jemaah Islamiyah member.

“But when that didn’t happen,” Akbar said, “we had no choice but to bring him home.”

The nation of 240 million people only recently emerged from decades of rule by Gen. Suharto, who led one of the 20th century’s most brutal dictatorships. His military regime killed hundreds of thousands of political opponents. When Indonesia came under pressure to pass anti-terror legislation soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, early drafts were shelved over concerns they harkened back to the days of Suharto.

The legislation eventually approved has been widely praised as both tough on terrorists and concerned with human rights. It is seen as a potential model for Egypt, another Muslim-majority nation with an authoritative past.

Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam, a spokesman for the National Police, said Patek still faces possible prosecution for alleged crimes committed after the anti-terror law was passed such as gun smuggling, immigration violations and involvement in a jihadi training camp discovered in Indonesia’s westernmost province of Aceh last year.

“They want to get him on a series of sentences that could amount to him spending decades in jail, but getting there is not as easy as it seems,” said Greg Barton of the Global Terrorism Research Center at Monash University in Australia.

Most terror convictions in Indonesia yield sentences of fewer than 10 years, he said. Patek trained in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the 1990s. After the Bali bombings he escaped to the Philippines, where he allegedly helped train militants with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf group.

He allegedly told Indonesian authorities he went to Pakistan in January to meet with bin Laden.

International

Indonesia Today

Monday, September 5, 2011

7

Indonesia backs Libyan transition Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesia said it supported Libya’s peaceful transition towards democracy following the downfall of Moamer Kadhafi.

AFP PHOTO / TARKO SUDIARNO

Royal servants dressed in batik sarongs pay their respect to Queen Hemas, wife of Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, during a traditional ceremony towards the end of Eid al Fitr following the month of Ramadan at the Sultan’s palace in Yogyakarta in Java island on September 01, 2011. The centuries old sultanate became the special region of Yogyakarta after Indonesia gained independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945.

“Indonesia supports the National Transitional Council in Libya in carrying out the peaceful transition towards democracy,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a statement on Saturday.

Natalegawa said the process of

the democratic transition must reflect the wishes and aspirations of Libyans.

“In the end, a political process which grants Libyans the chance to decide their own future is the best solution in resolving the issues in Libya,” he said.

Number of traffic accidents up: police chief Antara

BANGKALAN - Police will evaluate the travel system during the holiday season due to a hike in the number of traffic accidents this season, National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said.

“We will conduct an evaluation after the Idul Fitri holiday is over so that next year`s travels can be organized in a better way and the number of accidents can be reduced

maximally,” he said here on Saturday.

On the whole the flows of traffic during the Idul Fitri holiday this year have been smooth but the

numbers of accidents were on a rising trend.

According to data from the National Police‘s Directorate of Traffic and Road Transportation there had been a total of 2,998 traffic accidents from seven days before and until the fall of Idul Fitri on August 31.

A total of 490 people died in the accidents while 811 had been seriously wounded and 2,027 others

lightly injured.

“The number is bigger than last year`s,” he said.

During the period last year the number of accidents totaled 2,246 in which 539 died, 660 seriously wounded and 1,283 lightly injured.

General Timur Pradopo said although the number of accidents was higher this year the fatalities had dropped from 592 last year to only

490.

The National Police chief arrived at Lebinsen, Sukolilo Barat, aboard a helicopter to inspect traffic in the Suramadu Bridge linking Surabaya and the island of Madura in East Java.

He was accompanied by East Java regional police Inspector General Hadiatmoko and other highranking officers.

Idul Fitri holidays help boost domestic tourism industry Antara

JAKARTA - Many of the 237million Indonesian people are in the mood for holidaying in the postfasting Idul Fitri Muslim festivity, as they have flocked to tourist attractions throughout the country since the past few days.

To celebrate the Idul Fitri which fell on August 31 (or 30 for some others), the government has announced that the national holidays and joint leave days are from August 29 to to September 3, 2011.

With Saturday and Sunday, the Indonesian people have nine days holidays in total for Idul Fitri 2011.

The long holidays have certainly helped boost certain sectors such as transportation and tourism. During this year‘s Idul Fitri, about 15.5 million Idul Fitri or Lebaran travelers headed to their hometowns throughout Indonesia to celebrate Idul Fitri with their relatives.

And after performing Idul Fitri mass prayer and getting together with their relatives, they spent the rest of the holidays by visiting recreational centers and tourist attrac-

tions such as beautiful beaches.

There have been reports lately that recreational places, mountainous area, and beaches everywhere were crowded with visitors.

In Jakarta, PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol Department Corporate Plan Metty Yan Harahap estimated at least 1.5 million visitors would flood the Ancol Dreamland recreational park in one week from August 27 to Sept 4, 2011.

She said the targeted number of visitors during the week would be 10 percent higher than that in last year‘s Lebaran week-long holiday.

Monas Square in Central Jakarta was packed with people observing the eve of Idul Fitri, the festivity marking the end of the fasting month, on Tuesday evening (Aug 3).

Traffic jams were seen on the roads leading to the location such as Jalan Merdeka Selatan and Jalan Merdeka Timur causing snarls in other main roads such as on Jalan Thamrin.

Firecrackers were heard in many parts of the city while fireworks were also seen in the sky from several locations on the spe-

cial evening.

On the second day of Idul Fitri, Thursday (Sept 1), at least 45,000 people visited the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII), eastern Jakarta.

“Today, the number of visitors reach 45,000 people, double than that on the first day of Lebaran,” TMII Information Manager Mas`ud Toyib said in Jakarta, Thursday (Sept 1), predicting that the peak would be on Sunday (Sept 4).

In Tangerang, Banten Province, thousands of holiday makers visited Tanjung Pasir beach, Teluk Naga sub district, on Saturday (Sept 3).

“Since morning, this beach has been drawing thousands of visitors,” Tanjung Pasir Security Coordinator Asmar Yopi said here on Saturday.

He predicted that the beach would remian packed with people throughout Saturday and Sunday (Sept 3 and 4), the last days of the Idul Fitri holidays.

Rosidah (28), a Balaraja resident, said every year she and her friends visited Tanjung Pasir beach because it was located closer to home and easier to reach than Anyer, a more popular seaside resort.

“If we go to Anyer, we are also afraid of getting stuck in a traffic jam,” she said.

Tens of thousands of people were expected to visit Anyer beach in Serang District, Banten Province, during the upcoming weekend (Sept 3 and 4).

“The peak of tourist arrivals at Anyer is expected to happen this Saturday and Sunday,” Secretary of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI)’s Serang Chapter Sukirman, said in Anyer, Banten, on Friday (Sept 2).

Cilegon Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Umar Surya Fana said he would deploy a number of personnel to anticipate the increased flow of tourist arrivals in Anyer in the weekend.

“This weekend, it`s not only the peak of tourist arrivals in Anyer Beach, but also the reverse flow of Eid Fitr travelers from Bakauheni to Merak Seaport,” he said.

In West Java, a number of tourists visiting Mount Papandayan, West Java, have ignored a government warning not to enter the area in the immediate vicinity of the

mountain which erupted recently.

Although a number of signs had been put up at points at the mountain‘s foot to warn visitors that the mountain had been in an alert status since August 13, 2011, tourists were still eager to visit Mount Papandayan, Imam said During the current Idul Fitri holiday season, many big city people who came to Garut to meet families or relatives had also taken the opportunity to visit Mount Papandayan.

A Garut government spokesperson, Dikdik Hendraja , said n Mount Papandayan had been attracting a number of tourists from outside the region since the start of the Idul Fitri holiday season.

Also in West Java Province, at least 25,000 visitors were expected to flock to several tourism resorts in the Rancabali region, Bandung District.

On every weekend and during Idul Fitri holidays, the number of visitors to tourist attractions such as Kawah Putih, Situ Patenggang, Cimanggu, Ciwalini and Mt Highland significantly increases, Asep Ester, chairman of the Bandung Tourism group (Kompepar), said recently.

8

International

Monday, September 5, 2011

Bali Today Indonesian Air Force and RAAF

Hold security drill at Ngurah Rai Airport Air Base Bali Post

DENPASAR - Indonesia and Australia will hold joint an air drill called Elang Ausindo 2011 between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) taking place at the air base station of Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali.

The cooperation involving the fighter aircrafts of both sides will last on September 5-10.

Commander of the Ngurah Rai Air Base Station, Lieutenant Colonel Jumarto, explained the joint drill posed one of the cooperation in the field of aerospace between Indonesia and Australia.

It aimed at improving the ability and skills of the combat aircraft of both countries in maintaining the sovereignty of each country.

“Other than the joint aerospace drill with Australia, the Indonesian Air Force also holds a similar drill with a number of countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States,” said Jumarto on the sidelines of the drill preparation, Saturday (Sep 3).

He explained that Australia led

by Mel Hupfeld as Commander of the Air Combat Group engaged 8 units of F18 Hornet with supporting aircraft like a unit of C17 (Globe Master) and 2 units of C130 (Hercules) aircraft. Meanwhile, Indonesia led by Panji Emir who also Assistant Officer III to Director of Elang Ausindo 2011 Joint Drill employed 6 units

of F16 aircrafts and 2 units C130 (Hercules) as supporting aircraft.

“We hope the people of Bali, especially around the Ngurah Rai Airport, to understand about this activity because the drill will cause noises. However, this activity is intended to stabilize the readiness of state sovereignty,” he said. According to him, other than to socialize the drill, especially the ability of the National Air Force, it also gave the opportunity to the aerospace lover community, young generation as well as students to witness the drill involving the fighter aircrafts of both countries.

“Fighter aircraft of both countries will arrive on Monday (Sep 5) and conduct an attraction prior to the joint drill is opened by the Deputy Assistant Operations, Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff, Ida Bagus Anom Manuaba,” he explained. He also affirmed that Bali was trusted as the venue of the drill so residents around the Ngurah Rai Airport were expected to tolerate the drill activity. (par)

French investor to produce fragrant soaps Antara

DENPASAR - A French investor has invested in Bali to produce various fragrant soaps for spa treatments on the Resort Island and exports.

“The soaps produced from floral materials are supplied to hotels, spas, and being marketed overseas as well,” Roichan Muchlis of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI)’s Bali chapter said here on Fri-

day.

The fragrant soaps have received a halal certificate from the local MUI office, Roichan said.

The MUI’s Bali chapter has also issued certificates for salt production in Karangasem District. The salt is also being exported especially to Japan.

Halal-certified nut and chocolate products from Bali have also been marketed in Indonesia’s cities and overseas.

IBP/Parwata

Indonesia and Australia will hold joint an air drill called Elang Ausindo 2011 between the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) taking place at the air base station of Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali.

Telkomsel data traffic 101 terabytes during holiday Antara

DENPASAR - Telkomsel’s communication data traffic rose during the post-fasting holiday of Idul Fitri reaching 101 terabytes or 33 percent from normal levels.

“One of the causes for the rise is because many Telkomsel clients send Idul Fitri greetings through video streaming or social networks,” the company’s president director, Sarwoto Atmosutarno, said in a press statement.

He said it was also caused by the increasing use of Telkomsel Blackberry application services such as chatting and browsing while other social media services had also increased by 2.3 Gbps from normally 1.9 Gbps.

Sarwoto said the hike proved customers’ confidence in the capacity and quality of Telkomsel broadband networks.

He said an increase was also recorded in the text messaging service reaching 39 percent to 1.2 billion messages a day.

The rise in the SMS traffic started on August 29, 2011 totaling 924 million and on August 30 or a day before Idul Fitri reaching 1.2 billion.

On the day of Idul Fitri, the total number of SMS messages reached 967 million and 99.63 percent of the total SMS messages were sent successfully to the addresses while 85.63 percent of them were received within less than 30 seconds.

“We have already anticipated the hike by increasing the capacity from 80,000 SMS messages per second during Idul Fitri last year to 83,750 per second this year,” he said.

He said the use of telephone communication service had also risen with the traffic successfully served reaching 1.03 billion minutes or rising three percent compared to around one billion minutes in normal voice traffic.

He said in general Telkomsel did not find any significant problem with regard to providing smooth and easy telecommunications service for its customers. To ensure its smooth service, he said, Telkomsel had prepared a team seven days before and seven days after D-Day.

International

Monday, September 5, 2011

Balinese Culture

UDANG PANTUNG KUNING (Lobster in Yellow Sauce)

OVERVIEW: A real gourmet treat from Bali, this could also be made with huge prawns. In Bali, coconut chunks are roasted directly on charcoal, then the charred skin scrapped off and the flesh grated for making the coconut milk.

IBP/Net

Bali earned US$49.2 million from exports of handicrafts, marine products and other non-oil/ non-gas commodities to Japan in the first semester this year.

Bali earns US$49 million exports to Japan Antara

DENPASAR - Bali earned US$49.2 million from exports of handicrafts, marine products and other non-oil/non-gas commodities to Japan in the first semester this year.

The head of the exports section of the province’s industry and trade office, Putu Bagiada, said exports to

Japan rose 8.6 percent from last year despite the recent earthquake and tsunami there.

Exports of household products, handicrafts, garments still continued although not in volumes as big as before the tsunami, he said.

He said in March, 2011 Bali’s exports of handicrafts and non-oil/nongas commodities to Japan reached

US$8.6 million which was bigger than that in the same period last year which was recorded at only US$5.7 million.

Japan has imported a lot of marine products such as fresh and frozen tuna reaching almost 60 percent of total foreign exchange spent for it, followed by wooden handicrafts and garments.

INGREDIENTS: 4 sml lobsters, weighing about 500 gr each or 1 kg large prawns 5 cups water 2 lemongrass, bruised 2 fragrant lime leaves 4 cups coconut milk Few drops white vinegar Fried shallots to garnish SPICE PASTE: 5 red chilies, seeded and chopped 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 7 shallots, peeled and chopped 5 cm fresh turmeric, peeled and chopped 5 cm ginger, peeled and chopped 4 candlenuts 1 ½ tsp coriander ½ tsp dried shrimp paste toasted 1 sml tomato, peeled and seeded 2 tbsp oil 1 ½ tbsp tamarind pulp 1 salam leaf 1 lemon grass, bruised PREPARATION: Prepare spice paste by grinding or blending all ingredients except oil, tamarind, salam leaf and lemongrass. Heat oil; add spice paste and all other ingredients. Cook over moderate heat for about 5 minutes, and then cool.

Wash lobsters and leave whole. Bring water to the boil, add lobsters and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove lobsters, plunge in iced water for 1 minutes, then drain and remove meat. Return shells to the pot of water, keeping lobster meat aside.

Add spice paste, lemongrass, lime leaves and vinegar to the water with the shells and simmer until 4 cups of stock remain. Add coconut milk and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain stock and return to pan. Add lobster and simmer for 1 minute. Serve garnished with fried shallots and accompanied by white rice.

Helpful hints: if using prawns instead of lobster, peel the raw prawns and put prawns shells 4 cups of water. Simmer for 5 minutes, and then combine this stock with coconut milk, prawns and all other ingredients, simmering until cooked. (www.baliguide.com/balifood) C.045 ibp

9

10

Monday, September 5, 2011

Destinations

International

Bali Art Center IBP

Taman Budaya or Bali Art Center is the culture building complex with the best style of Balinese traditional architecture. It is featuring the good lay-out building of amphitheater to be a place/hall of show performance purpose. It is symbolizing the twiddling of Mandara Giri mount in the milk ocean and spattering the Amerta holy water for the life of endless as according to nature of dynamic culture and stayed alive during the human being still dwell the earth planet. This amphitheater can accommodate up to 6.000 audiences for the show of colossal both for modern and also traditional. This Taman Budaya (Cultural Park) is opened in the year 1973 with the Bali Artistry Party (Pesta Kesenian Bali) within one month. On that month, there are full of entertainment amusement traditional dance, exhibition, and other cultural activities.

At the opening ceremony enlivened by artistic parade started from

Puputan Park and finish at the Art Center. Its distance is about 2 Km and this parade is followed by entire regencies and towns in Bali by delivering their artistry mission. This event is often followed by other provinces in Indonesia as well as from outside country like Japan, Korea, Europe, and America etc. In this culture parade is presented in so many forms those are from the sacral until contemporary traditional.

There are also type of marry and custom clothes from each area, instrument of music or gamelan, forms Sesajen (offering) and others.

In fact this event is not tourist event due to visitor and audiences are mostly come from the local resident. But some of tourists can enjoy this party which is every year.

The person who is propose this yearly culture event is Mr. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra (who was been a Bali Governor. Taman Budaya or Bali Art Center is published as one of place to visit in Bali or tourist destination in Bali.

International Bali Post Classifieds Contact us

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

C.0012404-rmh-2

C.0000140-rmh

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

C.0001328-bgn

Monday, September 5, 2011

11

BUSINESS Fed could get specific on goals if recession hits Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange at the end of the day on September 2, 2011 in New York City. A darkening U.S. economic outlook is forcing Federal Reserve officials to dig ever deeper into an already depleted policy toolkit and consider measures until recently deemed too radical.

Reuters

WASHINGTON - A darkening U.S. economic outlook is forcing Federal Reserve officials to dig ever deeper into an already depleted policy toolkit and consider measures until recently deemed too radical.

A new U.S. downturn could prompt policymakers to take the aggressive step of setting specific economic guideposts for the direction of interest rates.

August jobs data pointed to a labor market teetering on the edge of recession, and investors are looking for the Fed to take some sort of action in September — probably an additional further effort to push down long-term interest rates.

But if things get worse, baby steps in the direction of further easing might not do the trick, pushing the central bank to be even bolder.

An approach that sets explicit targets for economic conditions would serve the twin goals of increasing transparency about the aims of policy and requiring only a verbal commitment rather than outright asset purchases, which have proven controversial.

“The next step would be to outline criteria, numerical targets for unemployment and inflation,” said Mark Gertler, an economics professor at New York University who has been a consultant to the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Such a measure could help the economy by temporarily allowing greater inflation, reducing the debt burden of businesses and consumers and giving them added incentive to spend by pushing the dollar down.

“Where they can be most effective is to signal to the markets how fast they are going to let the recovery go before they raise rates,” said Gertler.

Minutes from the Fed’s last meeting on August 9 suggested officials were already considering such a shift last month, even before the economic data took another turn for the worse.

“In choosing to phrase the outlook for policy in terms of a time horizon, members also considered conditioning the outlook for the level of the federal funds rate on explicit numerical values for the unemployment rate or the inflation rate,” the minutes said.

Chicago Fed President Charles Evans has actively campaigned for a price-level target, and in interviews this week suggested the central bank should allow inflation to rise as high as 3 percent in order to spur employment.

But if Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke opts for that route, he is likely to face opposition from more-

hawkish policymakers who fear inflation, once rising, could get out of control.

Even those who are not anxious about inflation might worry the move would unnecessarily box the Fed into trying to achieve a specific level of unemployment, when central bankers do not have full control of the variables affecting the labor market.

Economists widely agree the level of full employment that is consistent with non-inflationary growth can vary over time.

“This idea has come up, I was a bit cautious about it,” Dennis Lockhart, the president of the Atlanta Fed, told reporters this week.

Last month, the Fed took the unprecedented step of saying it expected to keep interest rates near zero for at least another two years, an effort to put downward pressure on long-term borrowing costs.

However, the economy continues to look sickly.

The prospect of a renewed downturn appeared heightened after the government said on Friday that the U.S. job market failed to add jobs last month for the first time in nearly a year, while the unemployment rate remained stuck at 9.1 percent.

Against that backdrop, the Fed could begin to ponder employing even some of the more controversial policy options left in its toolbox.

What will the Fed do in the very near term?

Many analysts are expecting some sort of fresh policy announcement at the Fed’s next meeting on September 20-21.

Expectations of action grew last week when Bernanke announced that the meeting, originally scheduled for one day, was being expanded to two to allow more time for officials to discuss their options.

“I am expecting them in some way to talk about extending the maturity of their holdings,” said Dana Saporta, economist at Credit Suisse. “For Bernanke to announce that there is a two-day meeting coming up at which options will be actively discussed and then to announce the status quo at the end does not seem likely to me.”

For its next easing step, the Fed would almost certainly seek to tilt its bond portfolio toward longer-dated maturities to try to put more down-

Andrew Burton/Getty Images/AFP

ward pressure on long-term interest rates. It is unclear, however, exactly how the Fed might shift its portfolio.

The more modest way to do this would be to simply reinvest proceeds from maturing bonds it holds into longer-dated issues. Another way, akin to a 1961 policy known as Operation Twist, would involve actively selling securities of short duration to buy longer-term ones.

Both approaches have been actively discussed. Neither is likely to have a major economic impact, but they could bolster market psychology at a fragile time, buying policymakers time to debate more aggressive measures.

Analysts at Keefe, Bruyette and Woods even see the possibility that the Fed might eventually try to complement new efforts on housing

from the administration of President Barack Obama with a new mortgage stimulus of its own.

“Down the road,” they said in a research note, “we would not rule out the Fed employing a modified Operation Twist that would involve reinvesting the proceeds of maturing Treasuries into mortgage-backed securities or even selling short-dated Treasuries to buy MBS.”

World Bank chief warns of economic ‘danger zone’ Agence France-Presse

BEIJING - World Bank chief Robert Zoellick warned Saturday that the global economy was heading into a new “danger zone”, as he urged China to speed up structural reforms to help its development.

“The financial crisis in Europe has become a sovereign debt crisis, with serious implications for the monetary union, banks, and competitiveness of some countries,” he said at a conference in Beijing on the future of China.

“The United States must address the issues of debt, spending, tax reform to boost private sector growth and a stalled trade policy,” he added, warning starkly: “The world economy is entering a new danger zone this autumn.”

The World Bank chief also urged Beijing to accelerate its struc-

tural reforms as it seeks to develop from an export-driven economy towards a growth model more reliant on domestic consumption.

“China’s structural challenges occur in a current international context of slowing growth and weakening confidence,” he warned, adding that China would face further challenges in the years ahead.

“In the next 15 to 20 years, China is well-positioned to join the ranks of the world’s high income countries,” he said, warning: “That’s a transition that only a handful of countries have made — and, sadly, many have failed”.

The World Bank in July reclassified China as an upper middle income economy, putting it in a group of nations that he said needed to move on from the growth models they relied on while they were poor.

“They can be squeezed on both ends: by competition from low-in-

come, low-wage economies, as well as by competition from upper-income countries through innovation and technological change,” he said.

He urged Beijing to address the issue, saying “China’s policymakers know what needs to be done”.

Beijing routinely comes under pressure from Europe and the United States to revalue its currency, which they say is kept artificially weak to favour Chinese exports, and to allow more access to the world’s number two economy.

China’s monetary policy and intellectual property rights have also been at the root of persistent frictions between the trading partners.

“Decisions in Europe, decisions in the United States, decisions in China — they affect us all,” added Zoellick, who is in China until Monday.

12

Monday, September 5, 2011

Entertainment

International

Arpaio, Seagal deny dog killing claim during raid Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and actor Steven Seagal deny accusations by a U.S. man and his lawyer that a family dog was killed during a raid for Seagal’s reality TV show. The sheriff’s office said in a news release the allegation is without merit. Seagal added he’s outraged.

The action movie actor was participating in the raid as a special deputy sheriff for his show “Steven Seagal Lawman” on the A&E cable channel.

His movie credits include “Under Siege,” ‘’Above the Law” and “Fire Down Below.” Seagal and numerous deputies and posse members were present March 9 during a raid at the home of Jesus Llovera. In the claim, Llovera says an 11-month-old puppy was killed along with 100 roosters.

According to witnesses at the raid, a dog was present on Llovera’s property when deputies and SWAT team members, including Seagal, entered the premises with a search warrant to arrest Llovera on cockfighting charges and seize all evidence pertaining to the crime.

Arpaio said there’s no evidence to back up the claim that his officers killed a dog. “If my deputies, or posse man Seagal for that matter, had done something so awful like shooting a family dog, then where are the photos to prove it?” Arpaio asked.

Llovera’s attorney, Robert Campos, told The Associated Press Friday his client didn’t accuse Steven Seagal of killing an animal on his property in a notice of claim filed against the sheriff’s office.

“My client never accused Seagal of having anything to do with the death of his puppy,” Campos said. “He (Llovera) just wanted an apology from Seagal for his role in the destruction of my client’s home, property and animals.”

In Llovera’s claim, the sheriff’s office and Seagal are accused of setting off explosives to create a distraction and confusion. The claim says Seagal was free to commandeer a tank and crash through an iron gate on the southeast corner of Llovera’s property.

IBP/afp

(From L) Actors Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne and director Steven Soderbergh pose during the photocall of “Contagion” at the 68th Venice Film Festival on September 2.

Soderbergh’s virus thriller ‘Contagion’ sweeps Venice Agence France Presse

From Hong Kong to Chicago and across to London, the world descends into chaos when a lethal virus sweeps the planet in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller “Contagion”, screening at the Venice Film Festival. “Contact with another person will likely seal your demise. You can’t be courageous, or you’ll die,” said actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays one of the first victims of the killer bug, which leaves riots and hysteria in its wake.

Released in the midst of a reallife banking crisis, with riots across parts of Europe and growing fears of biological terrorism, the film depicts a breakdown in trust across all parts of society that evokes contemporary anxieties.

The Academy Award-winning director said he had been drawn to the idea of showing people “struggling with a real-world problem, especially one with a ticking

clock, where the stakes couldn’t be higher.”

Paltrow’s on-screen husband, Matt Damon, watches helplessly as his wife returns from a trip to Hong Kong with flu-like symptoms which quickly worsen — leaving him to protect his 15-year-old daughter alone, as fear grips the world. “Day Two” is when it all beings, with close-up shots in an airport of hands touching mouths, glasses and door-

knobs, waiters sneezing and victims travelling home to fall ill in London, Hong Kong and Minneapolis.

The story’s multiple threads criss cross as the World Health Organisation and US Centres for Disease Control scramble into action, while activist blogger Jude Law sniffs out the story and accuses the authorities of a cover up. “Steven’s movies don’t leave any fat on the bone. The pace mirrors the progression of the infection itself and how things spiral quickly out of control,” Damon said.

Acts of heroic selflessness in the midst of the pandemic are overshadowed by violence as people fight each other for food rations and bleak scenes where survivors wander garbage-strewn streets and arm themselves against looters.

Alice Cooper says Gaga is a female version of him Associated Press Writer

Many artists have been compared to Alice Cooper, but the legendary rocker says one stands above them all. “Lady Gaga is the female Alice Cooper,” the 63-year old rocker said. “She totally gets it.”

Though their music styles may differ, both inject a heavy dose of theater into their performance, living out fantasies and nightmares on stage. Since the early 1970s, Cooper has used a real guillotine with a forty pound blade that comes within inches of his head and hung himself using a real rope; He performs with his signature boa constrictor.

While Gaga’s stunts have been less dangerous, they are equally outrageous, and her outfits extremely outlandish. She wore a dress made of raw meat to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. That attire is currently on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Gaga performed as her male alter ego Jo Calderone at this year’s show, never breaking character from start to finish. And at this year’s Grammys, she arrived on the red carpet in a giant egg carried by four men.

As shocking as they appear on stage, the artists born Vincent Furnier and Stefani Germanotta (Alice Cooper and Lady Gaga, respectively) are nothing like their

entertainment personas, insists Cooper.

“She created a character named Lady Gaga and wrote songs for Lady Gaga, just as I write songs for Alice,” he said. “But when you meet her offstage, she’s nothing like that person... and neither am I.” When not playing music, Cooper can usually be found on a golf course, where he handicaps between zero and four. Instead of gothic attire with streaming mascara; he opts for a Callaway golf shirt, and the traditionally loud trousers. Cooper will release “Welcome 2 My Nightmare” on Sept.

13, a follow-up his 1975 smash solo album.

International

Science

Monday, September 5, 2011

13

Woolly rhino fossil hints at origins of Ice Age giants A 3.6-million-year-old woolly rhinoceros fossil discovered in Tibet indicates that some giant mammoths, sloths and saber-tooth cats may have evolved in highlands before the Ice Age, experts say. Paleontologists from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who found the rhino’s complete skull and lower jaw in 2007, argue that it adapted to the global cooling before it happened.

In a paper to be published Friday in the journal “Science,” they will argue that the rhinos evolved in the cold and snowy Tibetan highlands while the rest of the world was much warmer. The animal developed special adaptations — including a flat horn useful for sweeping snow away to find vegetation — and then was able to spread to northern Asia and Europe once the Ice Age set in 2.6 million years ago.

“The extinction of Ice Age giants such as woolly mammoths and rhinos, giant sloths, and saber-tooth cats has been widely studied, but much less is known about where these giants came from,” the

IBP/afp

Space junk littering orbit; might need cleaning up and other parts that come off during launches, as well as old satellites. When scientists noticed WASHINGTON — Space junk has made that this could be a problem, they came up with such a mess of Earth’s orbit that experts say agreements to limit new space junk and those we may need to finally think about cleaning it plans had been working. Those agreements are up. That may mean vacuuming up debris with intended to make sure what is sent into orbit weird space technology — cosmic versions of eventually falls back to Earth and burns up.

But two events in the past four years — a 2007 nets, magnets and giant umbrellas, according to the chairman of an expert panel that issued Chinese anti-satellite weapon test and a 2009 crash-in-orbit of two satellites — put so much a new report on the problem Thursday.

There are 22,000 objects in orbit that are big new junk in space that everything changed, the enough for officials on the ground to track and report said. The widely criticized Chinese test used a missile to countless more smash an aging smaller ones that weather satellite could do damage to into 150,000 pieces human-carrying of debris larger than spaceships and four-tenths of an valuable satellites. inch (1 centimeter) The International and 3,118 pieces Space Station has can be tracked by to move out of the radar on the ground, way of debris from the report said. time to time.

“Those two “We’ve lost single events control of the endoubled the amount vironment,” said of fragments in retired NASA seEarth orbit and nior scientist completely wiped Donald Kessler, out what we had who headed the done in the last 25 National Academy years,” Kessler said. of Sciences report.

All that junk that Since the space means something age began 54 years AP Photo/NASA ago, civilization This computer generated graphic provided by has to be done, has littered the area NASA shows images of objects in Earth orbit that “which means you just above Earth’s are currently being tracked. Space junk has made have to look at atmosphere with such a mess of Earth’s orbit that experts say we cleaning space,” said Kessler. leftover boosters may need to finally think about cleaning it up.

Associated Press Writer

researchers said in a statement. “The Tibetan Plateau may have been another cradle of the Ice Age giants.”

In addition to the woolly rhino, the team also uncovered extinct species of three-toed horse, Tibetan bharal — also known as blue sheep — and some 25 other kinds of mammals.

“Cold places, such as Tibet, Arctic, and Antarctic, are where the most unexpected discoveries will be made in the future,” said Xiaoming Wang, from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

“These are the remaining frontiers that are still largely unexplored.”

This artist’s rendering shows a wooly rhino using its flattened horn to sweep snow away in order to find vegetation for food. A 3.6-million-year-old woolly rhinoceros fossil discovered in Tibet indicates that some giant mammoths, sloths and saber-tooth cats may have evolved in highlands before the Ice Age, experts say

People perform yoga during a gathering calling for world peace, at Ibirapuera Park in Sao Paulo August 21, 2011.

REUTERS/Nacho Doce

Yoga shows some benefit for diabetes Reuters

NEW YORK - Gentle yoga classes may help people with type 2 diabetes take off a small amount of weight and steady their blood sugar control, a small study suggests.

The study, of 123 middle-aged and older adults, found that those who added yoga classes to standard diabetes care shed a handful of pounds over three months. Meanwhile, their average blood sugar levels held steady — in contrast to the non-yoga-practicing “control” group, whose blood sugar levels rose.

The findings, reported in the journal Diabetes Care, do not suggest that yoga should replace other forms of exercise for people with type 2 diabetes — a disease commonly associated with obesity. To really lose weight and rein in blood sugar,

more-vigorous exercise would work better, according to Shreelaxmi V. Hegde of the Srinivas Institute of Medical Science and Research Center in Mangalore, India.

Among the 60 study participants who took yoga classes several times a week, the average BMI — a measure of weight in relation to height — declined from 25.9 to 25.4. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight. “In our study the effect of yoga on BMI (body mass index) and blood sugar control was marginal,” Hegde, the lead researcher on the work, told Reuters Health in an email.

“But,” she added, “it should be noted that yoga controlled the blood sugar levels which otherwise rose in the control group.” In addition to that, the study found, signs of so-called oxidative stress declined in the yoga group.

14

Monday, September 5, 2011

Sport

International

Czechs grab late equaliser to deny Scotland Reuters

LONDON - A late penalty by Michal Kadlek earned the Czech Republic a 2-2 draw with Scotland in Glasgow on Saturday to keep them on course for a playoff spot for the Euro 2012 finals.

Scotland seemed on the verge of a crucial victory when Darren Fletcher struck with eight minutes to go but the Czechs salvaged a point when Kadlek blasted his spot kick into the roof of the net after Danny Wilson was harshly adjudged to have tripped substitute Jan Rezek in the area in the 90th minute.

World champions Spain are commanding leaders in Group I with maximum points from their five games while the Czechs remain in second on 10 points from six matches. Scotland move up to third on five points from five matches.

The Czechs dominated the first half but fell behind on the stroke of halftime when Fletcher played in Kenny Miller who beat keeper Jan Lastuvka from close range.

It was Scotland’s first real ef-

fort on goal and the pattern of Czech possession continued after the break as Scotland clung doggedly to their lead.

For all the Czechs’ neat football they needed a rather unorthodox equaliser when Jaroslav Plasil turned the ball into the net off his stomach from a cross into the area after 78 minutes.

In a tense finale, Scotland went back in front when Miller seized on a defensive slip to race towards goal and tee up Fletcher with a perfect diagonal pass and the Manchester United midfielder calmly rolled the ball into the net.

The celebratory mood of the fans soon turned sour though and they were further incensed when Scotland had a penalty claim turned down when Christophe Berra tumbled in the area and was booked for diving.

AP Photo/Scott Heppell

Czech Republic’s captain Tomas Rosicky, right, vies for the ball with Scotland’s Scott Brown, left, during their Euro 2012 Group I qualifying soccer match at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Saturday Sept. 3, 2011.

Germany include uncapped Bender for Poland friendly Agence France Presse

Uncapped Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender has been called into the Germany squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland in Gdansk.

The 22-year-old was telephoned by Germany coach Joachim Loew on Sunday morning and joined the team in Duesseldorf before Monday’s flight to Gdansk, whose Municipal Stadium will host Euro 2012 matches next June.

Germany qualified for the Euro 2012 finals with a 6-2 win over Austria in Gelsenkirchen on Friday. Loew has opted to rest three of his first-choice players in vicecaptain Bastian Schweinsteiger and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, both of Bayern Munich, as well as play-maker Mesut Ozil of Real Madrid, for the friendly.

Bender was part of the junior Germany team which won the Under-19 European title in 2008 and will be included in the 19-man squad Loew will take to Gdansk.

His twin brother Sven made his debut for Germany in the friendly defeat to Australia in March and is

part of the Borussia Dortmund team which won the German league title last season.

The national team trained in Duesseldorf on Sunday and

Schalke defender Benedikt Hoewedes was the only absentee as he struggles with a groin strain suffered in the first-half of the win over Austria.

Agreement set to bring end to Italy football strike Italy’s footballers are set to sign an agreement with club presidents on Monday that will end the current strike and allow the domestic season to start on September 9, a source close to the players’ union (AIC) revealed on Saturday. “The collective labour agreement between the players and Serie A will be signed on Monday morning or afternoon, there are just a few small technical matters left to be resolved,” the anonymous source told Italian news agency Ansa.

The agreement is however only believed to be a temporary one that will allow football to be played while the different parties continue to discuss the terms of a new labour agreement. There are two major sticking points to the new agreement, with the first relating to the payment of a solidarity tax and the second connected to the fate of players who are forced to train on their own when dropped from their club’s squad.

On Friday, AIC president Damiano Tommasi said he was “moderately optimistic,” with most observers in Italy beginning to believe that

players and presidents were set to reach agreement.

The dispute has been ongoing since November last year, and the opening weekend of the season, due to be played on August 27 and 28, was postponed after the strike was called.

On Thursday, the clubs finally agreed a proposal by the players to sign the temporary agreement which will run through to June 30, 2012, and to give themselves 15 to 30 days to negotiate over article 7 relating to the conditions faced by players dropped from their club’s squad.

The parties do appear to have reached a resolution on the payment of the solidarity tax, with the AIC agreeing that the players should pay it themselves. However, no law as yet exists on the payment of the tax.

“The conditions that the AIC demanded in order to sign the agreement are now in place,” assured the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in a statement on Friday, “so the league season should start next weekend.”

Sport

International

Monday, September 5, 2011

15

Bolt runs 4th fastest 200 in history at worlds Associated Press Writer

DAEGU, South Korea — Even with the 200 meters already won, Usain Bolt gritted his teeth and dipped his 6-foot-5 frame at the line.

He proved his point. The Jamaican may have clowned around before the race and renewed his antics afterward, but for 19.40 seconds Saturday at the world championships he was as all business. And when he’s this serious, he’s impossible to catch.

“I am still the best,” he said. “It was beautiful.” Bolt stayed an instant longer in the starting blocks, clearly not wanting to false start as he did in the 100 final when he was disqualified. His slow start hardly mattered. He quickly passed the competition around the curve.

From there, it was simply a matter of what his time would be. He didn’t let up, huffing and puffing all the way.

It wasn’t near his world record of 19.19, but it was the fourth fastest in history. And that’s with Bolt admitting he’s nowhere near his record form of two years ago at the worlds. He expects that to change for next year’s London Games, when the stakes are bigger and the lights brighter. “I have to come to the Olympics and do my extreme best and blow the peoples’ minds,” Bolt said.

On Saturday, he was not the entire show. The Americans hauled in five medals to increase their total to 21, four more than Russia.

Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross led the women’s 1,600 team to gold, while Walter Dix wound up with silver, finishing 0.30 seconds behind Bolt. Danielle Carruthers and Dawn Harper couldn’t catch Sally Pearson in the 100 hurdles but still took silver and bronze.

The surprise of the night for the U.S. came when 21-year-old Matthew Centrowitz finished third in the 1,500, less than a second behind winner Asbel Kiprop of Kenya. Centrowitz drew inspiration from watching Jenny Barringer Simpson win the women’s 1,500 on Thursday. “(She) made me think it was possible,” said Centrowitz, whose father was a two-time Olympian. “She set the tone.”

AP Photo/Mike Groll

Serena Williams sits on the court following a shot to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.

Williams wins a wild one at US Open Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — What started out as a breeze turned into something much more difficult for Serena Williams on Saturday. Williams won her third-round match, 6-1, 7-6 (5) over fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka, but not before losing her first four match points and getting pushed to the limit in the second set by the Belarussian, who suddenly found her footing in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt gestures after winning the gold in the Men’s 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011.

On the fourth of those match points, Azarenka ran Williams off the court and Williams slid and did the splits in an unsuccessful attempt at a passing shot, a move that prompted John McEnroe, calling the match on TV, to say, “If I did that, I’d be out for a year. Life.”

Williams got back up but Azarenka broke serve to tie the second set at 5. They went to a tiebreaker and nobody led by more than two points in a back-andforth thriller that included six winners and an ace — an electric conclusion to a match that started out as a snoozer.

Williams won the first set in 28 minutes and looked every bit the favorite in a tournament that has lost its defending champion, Kim Clijsters, the Wimbledon and

French Open champs, Petra Kvitova and Li Na, three-time major champion Maria Sharapova, along with Williams’ sister, Venus.

Because Serena hasn’t played much this year, she came in seeded 28th. That set her up for an early match with Azarenka — a match that, quality wise, might have been more appropriate for the second weekend at Flushing Meadows instead of the first. Williams hit 39 winners and had only 24 unforced errors and Azarenka went for a lot, too — making 18 winners and 22 unforced errors.

Williams’ next match will be against the winner of a thirdround meeting between American Sloane Stephens and 16th-seeded Ana Ivanovic.

Earlier, No. 3 Roger Federer defeated 27th-seeded Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to make it to the round of 16 for the 30th straight time in a Grand Slam tournament.

Federer needs an Open title to extend his streak to nine straight years with a major championship.

He fought off the range of his 6foot-6 opponent and dealt with an unpredictable wind on the show court to win his 225th match at a major, second best behind Jimmy Connors.

“I’m on track because I’m in the tournament,” Federer said.

“That’s the most important at the end of the day. I seriously don’t care how I’m playing. I wish I could play my best every single time and feel amazing. That’s not reality.”

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

16

Sport

Monday, September 5, 2011

Lorenzo wins San Marino Grand Prix Reuters

MILAN - Jorge Lorenzo led from start to finish to win the San Marino Grand Prix and cut Casey Stoner’s lead in the MotoGP world championship on Sunday. Lorenzo’s fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa took second place while Stoner, who had won the last three races, finished third.

Australian Stoner started in pole position but world champion Lorenzo snatched the lead on the first bend and never looked back as he won his third race of the season.

Stoner saw his world championship lead over second-placed Lorenzo cut from 44 to 35 points with five races in the 18-race season still to go.

The Spaniard’s third win of the season was made all the sweeter as Stoner’s pace dropped off and he was passed by Honda works team-mate Dani Pedrosa six laps from the end, allowing Lorenzo to close to within 35 points of the championship lead.

“It’s fantastic,” Lorenzo enthused. To be back with a very good bike is great. I want to thank all the team for this.”

The race had initially looked like being the three-horse race widely predicted, as Stoner and Pedrosa trailed Lorenzo’sYamaha away the start - the Spaniard stealing the lead away from the start as spots of rain fell.

Behind them Ducati’s Valentino Rossi gave a partisan home crowd reasons to be optimistic with a storming opening which saw him rise from 11th on the grid to fifth by lap two.

Rossi’s pace faded slightly and he eventually lost contact with the battle for fourth,

contested by Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli, Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso and Yamaha’s Ben Spies.

A similar fate befell Stoner. Having shadowed Lorenzo intensely, his pace began to slip away at mid-distance, allowing the Spaniard – who set a new lap-record at the midway stage – to start rapidly building a gap.

Stoner then fell back into the clutches of Pedrosa, who passed him for second with a bold move into Curvone on lap 22. Behind them, Simoncelli had built a small gap in fourth but saw it eroded in the final laps, culminating in a dramatic three-way scrap on the final lap.

Dovizioso twice passed Simoncelli only to see his fellow Italian fight-back and eventually claim fourth by just 0.037s on the line.

Spies brought the Yamaha home in sixth ahead of Rossi, who ended in a relatively lonely seventh for Ducati. His team-mate Nicky Hayden had earlier dropped his bike at Turn 15 and retired from the race.

Tech 3’s Colin Edwards had lain eighth but dropped rapidly as his pace tailed off in the closing stages. Eighth instead went to Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista, with Hector Barbera and Cal Crutchlow rounding out the top ten.

REUTERS/Marco Iorio

Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo of Spain takes a curve during the qualifying session for the San Marino motorcycling Grand Prix at the Misano circuit September 3, 2011.

Marc Marquez closes on Moto2 title MARC Marquez trimmed Stefan Bradl’s Moto2 championship lead to 23 points by scoring his sixth win of the year in a hard-fought race at Misano. The title rivals were joined

by Andrea Iannone and Scott Redding in a spectacular lead battle that raged for most of the 26 laps.

Bradl (Kiefer Kalex) had led from pole at the start but a mistake out of Turn 14 let Marquez (Catalunya Suter) and Redding (Marc VDS Suter) through. Redding then grabbed the lead from Marquez, who would lose places to Bradl and Iannone with a minor error of his own moments later.

Redding confidently pulled away in the lead, putting in his best Moto2 ride yet. It was a poignant and praiseworthy performance as the 18-year-old Briton returned to the track where he had been blamelessly involved in Shoya Tomizawa’s fatal accident 12 months ago, and took total control of the first half of the race.

Iannone, Marquez and Bradl would eventually reel Redding in. On lap 13, Speed Master rider Iannone attacked Redding but was successfully fended off - allowing Marquez to get between them, and then to grab first from Redding a few corners later. Then when Iannone retaliated against Marquez, it was the Spaniard who lost momentum, allowing Bradl back through, with the German then overtaking Iannone on the next lap.

But when Iannone repassed Bradl for the lead with six laps to go, a close call between them saw the points leader fall to fourth again, with Marquez then passing Iannone next time around and starting to pull away.

Bradl got back up to second and began to chase Marquez down, taking Iannone with him, but they could not catch the

reigning 125cc champion, who won by 0.619 seconds over Bradl and 0.713s over Iannone.

JIR’s Alex de Angelis, who had also been caught up in Tomizawa’s accident a year ago, came through to fourth ahead of Redding in the end, with Bradley Smith chasing his countryman to the flag in sixth having stayed with the leaders all race. Yuki Takahashi was part of this pack too and finished seventh.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Marc Marquez, of Spain, takes the checkered flag to win the Moto2 motorcycle race during the MotoGP weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011.