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Protection of government low Balinese residents leave agricultural sector

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16 Pages Number 185 3st Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

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

PAGE 8

Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic jewels coming to auction PAGE 12

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Mass “Matatah” ceremony

Elderly participants take part A great “matatah” ceremony was held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 in Bali People Struggle Monument in Renon, Denpasar. 280 participants took part in the event and they were not only from Bali but also from Java and Southern Sumatra.

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The ceremony participated by grandmother and grandfather along with their grandchildren is program to help the poor society. The idea of the ceremony was given by the Vice Governor of Bali, AA. Puspayoga. The “matatah” was led by two

priests and assisted by 25 sangging or the officer to peal the tooth. The procession was attended by the Vice Governor, the head of Bali House, Cok Ratmadi, S.H and other related officers. The ceremony was started with “mekalan-kalan” a day before and

followed by “mejaya-jaya” a day after the “matatah” ceremony. I Gusti Lanang Rai is one of the participants from Karangasem and currently life on Setiabudi Street, Denpasar. He was very excited with the ceremony because he is longing to carry out the ceremony since a long time ago but didn’t have the fund to do it. As a driver, his income cannot afford a big ceremony and now after he is 55 years old, Lanang Rai is able to do the “matatah”. “This

is like my faith as a poor person. Maybe I’m the only one who hasn’t had the complete teeth while joining the ceremony but I don’t care. I would like to thank the Vice Governor for his help,” said Lanang Rai. He was even more excited because his children, I Gusti Ayu Cahyani, I Gusti Lanang Putra Prawira and I Gusti Putra Juniarta also joined the ceremony. Continued on page 6

Indonesia wants Australia

Relaxing the travel warning INDONESIA’S counter-terrorism chief has called on Australia to relax official warnings against travelling to his country, saying they don’t reflect current threat levels. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) travel advice for Indonesia, last updated on August 29, continues to warn of a “very high threat of terrorist attack”, particularly on the resort island of Bali. But Ansyaad Mbai, head of the National Counter Terrorism

Agency, said on Wednesday there was no reason why Australians should be concerned about travelling to Indonesia. “If I may recommend, there is no reason for Australia to worry to come to Indonesia. The Australian Federal Police know there is no reason,” he said. “I disagree with the opinion that Indonesia is a high risk for Australians now.” It is possible the matter will be raised at an international meeting

on de-radicalisation to be held in Bali this week, to be attended by Australian officials, including DFAT counter-terrorism policy section secretary Peter Shannon. The DFAT website warns Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Indonesia. “We consider that terrorist attacks are more likely to focus on places where large numbers of Westerners gather, including, but not limited to, tourist areas in islands such as Bali, as well as

Jakarta and other places in Indonesia,” the website says. “Attacks against Westerners in Bali and Jakarta indicate that these areas remain priority targets for terrorists.” However, Ansyaad said the threat against Western targets had reduced significantly in recent years, including in Bali where 202 people including 88 Australians were killed in 2002 in Indonesia’s single most deadly terrorist attack. Continued on page 6

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International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Bali News

Decreases, realization of Bali’s export product Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Realization of export commodity from Bali consigned through a number of harbors in Indonesia in June 2011 reached USD 50,591,720. Such amount decreased 2.69 percent compared to the previous month’s export value reaching USD 51,990,652, and also decreased 3.59 percent compared to May 2011 amounting to USD 52,473,705. Pursuant to the data of Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Province, most commodities from Bali in June 2011 were consigned through the harbor of Bali namely 50.90 percent, while the second largest shipping was through harbor in East Java reaching 48.42 percent, and then followed by the Greater Jakarta (0.67 percent), North Sumatera (0.01 percent) and Central Java (0.01 percent). Most exports of Bali were consigned to the United States (23.21 percent), Japan (15.4 percent), Australia (7.35 percent), Singapore (7.17 percent) and Hong Kong (6.33 percent). Head of BPS Bali, I Gede Suarsa, said in Denpasar that the main five commodities exported in June 2011 were fish and shrimp, jewelry products/gems, non-knitted garments, timber and wood products, furniture and home lighting. “The commodity of fish and

shrimp compared to the export period of the previous month in the same year showed a change of 21.02 percent, considering the transaction value of fish and shrimp export commodities in May 2011 was USD 12,627,723 and it decreased in the following month with the transaction value of USD 9,973,631,” he said. Meanwhile, related to the import of Bali, he exposed, reached USD 8,837,930. This amount dropped 61.88 percent compared to the same month in the previous year which reached USD 23,183,432. Even, it decreased 40.42 percent compared to May 2011 period which reached USD 14,789,389. “The main commodities imported are machines or mechanical products, jewelry, electrical equipment, optical devices and clock products, watches and parts,” he said.

Most imports originated from Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, China and Germany with their respective percentage of 19.20 percent, 16.82 percent, 12.27 percent, 11.84 percent and 8.83 percent. Meanwhile, the Head of Bali Industry and Trade Agency, Gde Darmaja, earlier said the returning growth and decline in Bali’s leading export commodity should be addressed positively by exporters. In other words, the export condition was getting better, so the exporters should be ready to grow their internal performance. The agency had also undertaken counseling so the exporters could take a positive measure for their business development either in terms of human resources, labor discipline, services or enhancement of creativity so that foreign consumers were more interested to purchase the products. (bit)

Water Crisis, Farmers Unemployed Tabanan (Bali Post) –

The water crisis holding back 47 farmers of Banjar Samsam 1, Samsam Vilage, Kerambitan, caused by holed irrigation which waters the rice fields since two months ago made farmers left it and be labours or unemployed. “The farmers are totally shrieking,” Banjar Samsam 1 Head, Made Lantika (62) stated. Lantika added the farmers are only depending on this one irrigation for the watering of their fields as there are no water sources around. They can’t make wells as it is expensive and the water is hard to get. This kind of situation has happened several times but this is the worse one and fatal. The situation caused un-skinned paddies price of the farmers decreased then with the water crisis the yellowing paddies were dying and unsold. Farmers were forced to sell it cheaply to IDR 2,600 per kg instead of IDR 12,500. “This is the third failing harvest,” Lantika continued. Farmers did try to plant again yet the no water in caused plants drying and then died with only a few growing not normal. Being annoyed by the situation, farmers left it with a debt of IDR 10,5 on manures to the local cooperative. Now they are hoping the irrigation can be built again as they are threaten can’t eat if it needs to wait it to be built next year.

IBP/File

A burning car is seen in Singaraja area.

Car Burnt While Repaired Singaraja (Bali Post) –

A Honda Ekselen car owned by Ketut Widiada (39) from WR Supratman, Singaraja, got burnt last Tuesday (6/9) at 4 pm local time. The car with number plate DK 203 JU produced 1982 was burnt while being repaired which then three cars of fire brigades sent to turn it off and gone by 5.30 pm. Widiada stated at that time him and his son, Sura (14), was repairing it as it still problematic after a repair done at the garage three days before. When the car cap was opened all of a sudden fire goes out, which predicted coming from a short circuit at the battery and caught his son while starting the car. Widiada admitted the battery is not the suitable one being used. His son stated that the car did just come from being fuelled and there are around eight tubes of petrol in the car. Under the car there are also two drums suspected with kerosene or petrol. Not far from the burning poin, there are also a tank, a number of drums and tubes usually used to save petrol. Luckily during the incident the drums were empty and fire did not spread far. Head of Singaraja Police, Police Commissioner Made Budiada, that came to secure the area suspected the fire came from a fire source during the car was being repaired. Due to it, victim experiences ten of millions rupiah loss. (kmb)

Polemic Discussion on Parking Tariff Increase City Representatives Call Up Executives Denpasar (Bali Post) –

IBP/File

The water crisis make many farmers become unemployed. Labouring is also not a good solution for them with the minim experience they have. “We are very on a crisis. If it’s kept left like this, our lands can be totally damaged,” he stated.(udi)

The polemic on the increase parking tariff plan got its turning point as Denpasar House of Representatives calls up executives for coming Friday (9/9) to discuss the burdening situation. Head of Representatives’ Special Committee XI, I Ketut Suteja Kumara, stated his side in the nearing time will discuss retribution draft of the increase. “This plan of regulations is sensitive as it is involving the public. With our busy schedule this is a priority,” he explained last Tuesday (6/9). It is planned the committee will ask the executives of Transportation Agency and Denapsar Parking Management for their statements. In the plan, the increase will be reaching hundred percent where for motorcycles from IDR 500 to IDR 2,000 while cars IDR 2000 to IDR 3000. Then for medium bus or trucks IDR 5,000 and large bus or trucks IDR 7,000. Head of Denpasar Transportation Agency, Gede Astika, stated his side is ready to be called. (par)

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

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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Deposit levies every year

Gitgit Waterfall gets no attention Singaraja (Bali Post)—

IBP/Ole

The famers are harvesting their rice paddy.

Bad weather early this year causes grain production down Singaraja (Bali Post)—

Residents of Gitgit Customary Village, Sukasada Subdistrict, managing the Gitgit Waterfall tourist object admitted to feel disappointed lately. The tourist object rarely got the attention from the Buleleng Cultural and Tourism Agency whereas it had deposited a good few levies to Buleleng Government. A resident of Gitgit Customary Village, Tuesday (Sep 6), said that many object facilities were damaged such as toilets and walkways. However, improvement of those facilities was carried out independently by the customary village. Even during the flash flood late 2010 until early 2011, the river flowed by the waterfall was in severely damaged. The object was filled in by large tree trunks, mud and garbage. “Clean up service on the river and object was performed by local residents through mutual assistance,” said one of the residents. In fact, the resident said, the Regency Government and Gitgit Customary Village got the same amount of revenue. As in 2010, the levies collected from the ecotourism object were approximately IDR 230 million. Such amount was divided evenly, 50 percent for regency government and 50 percent for customary village. However, if calculated in details on a net basis, the portion acquired by customary village was actually much fewer because a half of the total levies obtained by customary village should be used to maintain the object facilities. Chief of Gitgit Customary Village, Ketut Ritama, confirmed that Gitgit Waterfall did not get serious attention from the regency government. As far as his knowledge, the last maintenance aid was given about three years ago. “The aid was granted after having fuss as if we were begging,” he said. According to Ritama, when the Ministry of Culture and Tourism provided a fund through community empowerment program for tourism (PNPM) for Gitgit Village worth IDR 100 million, the famous Gitgit Waterfall only got an allocation of IDR 4 million. According to him, more funds were distributed to other objects at Gitgit Village that so far had not deposited any levies to the regional treasury. Ideally, the object that managed to give levies should be given more serious attention. “At least, the levies we have deposited to regional treasury could partially be returned in the form of aids for the object maintenance,” he said. (kmb15)

High rainfall since early 2011 has made the farmers in Buleleng suffer great losses. Such high rainfall sparked vicious tungro attack. As a result, most rice fields in Northern Bali faced crop failure because the plants could not produce. As usual, the rice field area of 5,000 square meters could produce 20 tons of dry grain, but now the highest output was only 1.5 quintal. Chairman of Buleleng Rice Milling Association (Perpadi), Made Nariasa, said on Tuesday (Sep 6) if farmers faced crop failure in the planting season three months ago. Nariasa added that based on his observation the rice field experiencing crop failures in the past three months was at Jineng Dalem Village, Buleleng Subdistrict. Some 65 hectares of rice field at the village faced crop failure. Similar condition was also experienced by farmers at Petandakan, Pegadungan and Alasangker Village (Buleleng Subdistrict) as well as a number of other villages. “At that time, 90 percent of farmers experienced crop failure. Even, there were farmers who replaced their plants for many times but the result was the same. In short, they should suffer a great loss,” he said. According to Nariasa, the only one trigger of crop failure in early 2011 was the bad weather. High rainfall made the pests and diseases quickly proliferate. One of the pests attacking malignantly and difficult to eradicate was the tungro virus. As a result, the grain production dropped. He gave an example that farmland area of 5,000 square meters could only produce 1.5 quintal of dry grain. In normal weather, the same area was capable of producing up to 2 tons

of dry grain. Other than decline in production, farmers also found difficulty to sell their grain. Meanwhile, the rice harvest group did not dare to buy the grain because it was mostly attacked by diseases due to bad weather. “Three months ago, farmers had to harvest their own rice because grain brokers did not dare to buy because the paddy was damaged due to bad weather,” he explained. Similar opinion was disclosed by rice milling businessman from Ambengan Village, Sukasada Subdistrict, Made Nyiriasa. He admitted that many farmers at his home village also faced crop failure three months ago due to high rainfall. Both farmers and grain brokers suffered adequately great losses because the grain they purchased did not give optimal output. “At that time, we all really incurred losses and so did businessman because the results of milled grain declined sharply,” he said. According to Nyiriasa, in the planting season three months ago, one hectare of rice field could produce 5 tons of dry grain. If the weather was normal, the same area could produce 10 tons of dry grain. As consequence, production of dry grain and rice declined rapidly in the last harvest sea-

son. Previously, if one quintal of dry grain was milled into rice would produce 70 kg of rice, but now only produced 50 kg.”It is the production of the harvest season three months ago. But, in this planting season, no farmers have harvested at Ambengan, while in urban areas has started to harvest,” added Nyiriasa. After facing crop failure, farmers in Northern Bali apparently could get profit in this planting season. Based on field observation, some subak areas had harvested their rice. According to a farmer, the current harvest was quite profitable. It was inseparable from the current price of rice ranging from IDR 210,000 to IDR 250,000 per 100 square meters. With that selling price, the farmer claimed to get tolerable profit compared to the previous harvest season. Meanwhile, the production of every 100 square meters of land for this harvest was around 70 to 75 kg. “Now, the result is good and gives us reasonable profit compared to the previous harvest. Previously, the maximal output per 100 square meters was only 10 kilograms of dry grain, but now it rises up to 75 kilograms,” said a farmer at Tukadmungga, Buleleng Subdistrict. (kmb/kmb15)

IBP/File

Gitgit waterfall, one of the tourism destination in Buleleng Regency.

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News

Thursday, September 8, 2011

International

Bombing outside court kills 11 in India’s capital Associated Press Writer

NEW DELHI — A bomb hidden in a briefcase exploded Wednesday outside a crowded entrance to a New Delhi courthouse, killing 11 people and wounding scores more in the deadliest attack in India’s capital in nearly three years. The blast near a gate at the High Court, the second at the building in five months, came despite a high alert in the city. It renewed doubts about India’s ability to protect even its most important institutions despite a security overhaul that followed the 2008 Mumbai siege. “There was smoke everywhere. People were running. People were shouting. There was blood everywhere. It was very, very scary,” said Sangeeta Sondhi, a lawyer, who was parking her car near the gate when the bomb exploded. A Muslim militant group claimed responsibility for the blast in an email, but investigators said it was too early to name any group as suspects. The government rallied Indians to remain defiant in the face of such attacks. “We will never succumb to the

pressure of terrorists,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said during a visit to neighboring Bangladesh. “This is a long war in which all political parties and all the people of India will have to stand united so that this scourge of terrorism is crushed.” The bomb exploded about 10:14 a.m. near a line of more than 100 people waiting at a reception counter for passes to enter the court building to have their cases heard. The High Court is an appeals panel below India’s Supreme Court. On May 25, a small explosion that appeared to be a failed car bomb erupted in the court’s parking lot. The latest blast shook the courthouse, sending lawyers and judges fleeing outside, said Sanjiv Narula, a lawyer who was in the building. People ran to the blast site to assist the injured, piling them into auto-rickshaws to take them to the hospital. Officials said the blast killed 11 people and wounded 59 others. Ambulances and forensic teams rushed to the scene, along with sniffer dogs and a bomb disposal unit, apparently checking for any further explosives.

AP Photo/Arshad Butt

Pakistani police officer walks past burning vehicle at the site of suicide bombing in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.

Twin suicide blasts kill 23 people in Pakistan Associated Press Writer

QUETTA, Pakistan — A pair of suicide bombers attacked a top army officer in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday, missing him but killing his wife. At least 22 others died, including several guards, a senior officer and two children, officials said.

AP Photo/Mustafa Quraishi

Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram, center wearing glasses, inspects the site of a blast outside the High Court in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011.

Police said they were investigating whether the strike was in revenge for the recent arrests in Quetta of three top al-Qaida suspects, an operation that was assisted by the CIA. But within hours, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and a spokesman for the group said Brig. Khurram Shahzad, the deputy head of the region’s Frontier Corps, was targeted because of an incident several months ago that left five people dead at a checkpoint in the city. In Wednesday’s blasts, the first attacker detonated his vehicle next

to a group of Frontier Corps officers close to Shahzad’s house. Hurling grenades, the second attacker than stormed the house and blew himself up inside it, police officer Naseer Ahmed Kurd said. Police officer Hamid Shakil said at least 23 people were killed and more than 60 were injured. Two of the dead were children traveling in a rickshaw. A colonel in the corps was also killed, he said. Shakil said one of the suicide bomber was carrying an identity card showing him to be a 21-year-old Afghan refugee. The bombing comes just days

after Monday’s disclosure of the arrests of the three al-Qaida suspects in the city. The Pakistan army statement announcing it had stressed the level of CIA involvement — a possible sign of an upswing in cooperation between two uneasy anti-terror allies after the rancor surrounding Osama bin Laden’s killing. American officials praised the operation, saying the detention of the most senior militant — Younis al-Mauritani — was a significant achievement. The Frontier Corps took part in the operation. American officials praised the operation, saying the detention of the most senior militant — Younis al-Mauritani — was a significant achievement. “This attack was maybe in reaction to the recent arrests, but we are investigating,” police officer Hamid Shakil said of the Wednesday blasts.

16th arrest in phone hacking probe Associated Press Writer

British police investigating phone hacking at the now defunct News of the World tabloid said Wednesday they had arrested a 35year-old man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept voicemail messages. The man, who was not named, was arrested at his home shortly before 6am (0500 GMT) before being taken to a police station in north London, Scotland Yard said. He is the 16th person arrested

this year as part of the inquiry into phone hacking at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World, which was closed down in July after it emerged that a murdered girl was among those targeted. The tabloid’s royal editor and a private detective were jailed for hacking in 2007 but a flood of allegations suggesting that the practice was widespread prompted the police to reopen their investigation in January. The scandal led to the resigna-

tion of two of Murdoch’s top aides and two senior police officers, and also dragged in Prime Minister David Cameron after his ex-media chief, former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, was arrested.

British police investigating phone hacking at the now defunct News of the World tabloid said Wednesday they had arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept voicemail messages.

IBP/ap

Activities

International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

5

Fire Simulation in Rama Garden Hotel IBP

LEGIAN - Fire simulation was becoming an attractive scene for tourists staying in the Rama Garden Hotel, Legian, Kuta, on Thursday (Aug 25). They were not only watching the event delightfully, but also captured it by a few of camera shots. “I am pleased to see the workers of this hotel who provide convenient atmosphere for guests,” said a foreign tourist, Steve Quon, accompanied by his wife. He stated that it was a positive training drill and it also could give the sense of security for those who stay in the hotel. It also could give extra knowledge to the hotel employee when they are facing fire hazard incident. The anticipation program against the fire hazard was organized by the employees of Rama Garden Hotel annually. “This drill is intended to perfect the results of training followed previously. Other than organizing the event in hotel, similar training was also attended in a few government agencies including in the organizations such as Kuta Executive Club,” explained the Manager of Rama Garden Hotel, Ni Luh Redianis. During the training drill, the hotels staffs also checked the condition of all equipments in the hotels so it can work properly if the problems occur.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for August 31 through October 5, 2011 31 Aug Buda Umanis Tambir Sari Bankar Titih Temple Kapal 12 Sep Purnama Ketiga Gunung Sari Temple Lombok Pauman Bhujangga Tonja Denpasar Kawitan Arya Gajah Para Tianyar Karangasem Pedarman Arya Telabah Besakih Bukit Mentik Temple Gunung Lebah Batur Kintamani 14 Sep Buda Keliwon Matal Village Temple Sukawati Merajan Agung Batuyang - batubulan Pasek Gelgel Bebetin Temple Sawan - buleleng Maspahit Temple Sesetan - Denpasar Selatan Pasek Bendesa Manik Mas Dukuh Kendran - Tegalalang Panti Pasek Gaduh Temple Sesetan Merajan Pasek Kubayan Wangaya Gede Pedarman Arya Kanuruhan Besakih 24 Sep Tumpek Kandang Puseh Temple Gianyar Luhur Dalem Sagening Kediri - Tabanan Merajan Pasek Gelgel Tegal Gede Badung 27 Sep Tilem Ketiga Ulun Kulkul Temple Ulun Kulkul Besakih 28 Sep Buda Wage Menail Tarukan Temple Cemenggaon Sukawati Mr. Pasek Dangke Bambang - Bangli Penataran Dalem Ketut Pejeng Kaja - Gianyar Puseh Menakaji Temple Peninjoan - Bangli Merajan Agung Temple Blangsinga - Blahbatuh Kawitan Gusti Agung Blangsinga Blahbatuh Gianyar Kawitan Gusti Celuk Kapal Mengwi

4 Ock Anggar Kasih Perangbakat Bukit Buluh Temple Gunaksa - Klungkung Tirta Sudamala Temple Bebalang - Bangli Paibon Pasek Bendesa Sangsit - sawan - Buleleng Pasek Gelgel Temple Pangi Dawan - Klungkung Gunung Tengsong Lombok Dalem Benawah Temple Benawah - Gianyar Dalem Temple Bitra - Gianyar Dalem Temple Banyuning Timur - Buleleng Dalem Pauman Batan Getas Pauman Batan Getas Titih Denpasar Tengah Padang Tegalalang Merajan Pasek Gelgel Desa Sande - Pupuan Tabanan Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Desa Adat Pagan Denpasar Hyangaluh/Jenggala Besakih Merajan Pasek Lurah Tutuan Gunaksa Mr. Pasek Gelgel Selulung Merajan Pasek Subrata Medahan Merajan Pasek Munggu Munggu Tengkulak Temple Tulikup - Gianyar Penataran Badung Ogang Sidemen 5 Ock Buda Umanis Perangbakat Puri Agung Dalem Tarukan Pejeng Tampak Siring Rambut Siwi Temple Jembrana Batu Bolong Temple Canggu - Kuta Pasek Marga Klaci Temple Tabanan Agung Pasek Temple Dauh Waru Jembrana Ratu Pasek Temple Sangsit Sawan - Buleleng Pasek Tangkas Darma R. Tabanan Village Temple Banyuning Buleleng Srijon Temple Tabanan Mr. Pasek Gelgel Lebah Pangkung Merajan Pasek Gelgel Patemon Tirta Anom Padang Sigi Sading - Tampak Siring Dadi Agung Pasek Bendesa Dukuh Manuaba Tegalalang Pedarmaan Batursari Ngilis Jegu Penebel Tabanan Puncak Mundi Nusa Penida

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc. The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion. The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines. In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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News

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Cameron to visit Russia on Monday: Kremlin Associated Press Writer

British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow on Monday next week at the invitation of the Russian leader, the Kremlin said Wednesday. It gave no further details. Cameron will be the first British prime minister to officially visit Russia since the November 2006 killing by poisoning in London of dissident Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. Former British prime minister Tony Blair flew to Russia’s second city of Saint Petersburg for a G8 summit in July 2006. Litvinenko’s death has harmed ties and seen London accuse Moscow of trying to protect the Russian culprits who allegedly organised the radioactive substance used to poison the dissident. The dispute has also damaged security service cooperation between the two nations and seen periodic protests outside the British embassy in Moscow. British Foreign Secretary William Hague visited Moscow in October and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov came to London in February.

Elderly... From page 1

AP Photo/Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Chase A. Fountain

This photo provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife shows a fire burning in Bastrop State Park in Bastrop, Texas. More than 1,000 homes have been destroyed in at least 57 wildfires across rain-starved Texas, most of them in one devastating blaze near Austin that is still raging out of control, officials said Tuesday.

Wildfires sweep across Texas, four dead Reuters

AUSTIN, Texas - Two people have died in a monstrous wildfire that raged out of control near Austin on Tuesday and had destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to be evacuated, officials said. The two deaths in the 33,000-acre Bastrop County Complex fire brought the death toll from Labor Day weekend fires across the state to four, including a mother and infant daughter who died in northeast Texas on Monday. Officials declined to provide details on the new deaths, other than to say they were not public safety responders. Wildfires sweeping across drought-stricken Texas have destroyed more than 1,000 homes and forced thousands of evacuations in the last several days. The worst of the fires, the Bastrop County Complex fire, located about 30 miles southeast of Austin, has destroyed some 550 homes, the most of any single fire in Texas history. About 5,000 people have been evacuated in Bastrop County alone. On Tuesday evening, Governor Rick Perry announced the deployment of Texas Task Force 1, a wide-area search

team that responded to the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City and was sent to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived in Bastrop on Tuesday afternoon to start assessing damages and needs of victims. The fire was still out of control late on Tuesday. “It is certainly a remarkable fire in terms of evacuations and the number of homes that have burned,” said Ken Frederick, spokesman for the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. More than 3.6 million acres in Texas have been scorched by wildfires since November, fed by a continuing drought that has caused

more than $5 billion in damage to the state’s agricultural industry and that shows no sign of easing. The Bastrop County fire stretches 24 miles long and 20 miles wide at its widest point. Evacuations were still underway on Tuesday afternoon. Perry, the front-runner among Republican presidential contenders, canceled his appearance at a candidate round-table in South Carolina on Monday to return to Austin. He told reporters there on Tuesday that he was focused on the firefighting effort and didn’t know whether he would attend a Republican candidates’ debate in California on Wednesday.

The similar appreciation was also given by most of the participants. However, AA Puspayoga stated that it is not only his idea to carry out the event. He said that it was the demand from the people who cannot afford to do

such ceremony. “Actually, there is nothing special about it. It is by coincidence that I was given the task by Ida Sang Hyang Widhi to be a small part of the ceremony,” he explained. (ram)

Relaxing... From page 1 “I can understand how concerned is the government of Australia in order to protect and to prevent Australian people being targeted by terrorists, but in fact for me I don’t see (there is a) risk,” he said. The comments come after Indonesia’s Trade Minister Mari Pangestu last week called for the travel warnings to be lifted, saying they did not reflect the progress made in combating terrorism in recent years. Indonesia’s counter-terrorism chief has called on Australia to relax official warnings against travelling to his country, saying they don’t reflect current threat levels. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) travel advice for Indonesia, last updated on August 29, continues to warn of a “very high threat of terrorist attack”, particularly on the resort island of Bali. But Ansyaad Mbai, head of the National Counter Terrorism Agency, said on Wednesday there was no reason why Australians should be concerned about travelling to Indonesia. “If I may recommend, there is no reason for Australia to worry to come to Indonesia. The Australian Federal Police know there is no reason,” he said. “I disagree with the opinion that Indonesia is a high risk for Australians now.” It is possible the matter will be raised at an international meeting

on de-radicalisation to be held in Bali this week, to be attended by Australian officials, including DFAT counter-terrorism policy section secretary Peter Shannon. The DFAT website warns Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Indonesia. “We consider that terrorist attacks are more likely to focus on places where large numbers of Westerners gather, including, but not limited to, tourist areas in islands such as Bali, as well as Jakarta and other places in Indonesia,” the website says. “Attacks against Westerners in Bali and Jakarta indicate that these areas remain priority targets for terrorists.” However, Ansyaad said the threat against Western targets had reduced significantly in recent years, including in Bali where 202 people including 88 Australians were killed in 2002 in Indonesia’s single most deadly terrorist attack. “I can understand how concerned is the government of Australia in order to protect and to prevent Australian people being targeted by terrorists, but in fact for me I don’t see (there is a) risk,” he said. The comments come after Indonesia’s Trade Minister Mari Pangestu last week called for the travel warnings to be lifted, saying they did not reflect the progress made in combating terrorism in recent years.

Indonesia Today

International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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RI senior soccer team loses 0-2 to Bahrain Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia‘s senior soccer team lost 0-2 (0-1) to Bahrain in the third round of the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E at the Bung Karno main stadium here Tuesday night. Bahrain‘s winning goals were made by Sayed Dhiya Saeed at the 45th minute and Ismaeel Abdullatif Ismaeel at the 72nd minute. The national team which had been strengthened with Boaz Salossa since the beginning of the first round immediately struck at the opponent‘s defense. The “must win” mission was directly applied by the national soccer team. When the game had run only four minutes, Boaz Salossa fielded at the right side directly threatened Bahrain‘s wicket watched by its goalkeeper Sayed Mohamed. But his shot slightly deviated on the right opponent‘s goal. On the other hand, Bahrain‘s team whcih was trained by coach Peter Taylor also launched fierce attacks. But Bahrain‘s attacks were

always intercepted by Indonesian goalie Markus Haris Maulana. However, through Muhamed Ali and Ismaeel Abdullatief, the Middle Eastern team continued to threaten the national team‘s goalkeeper. After losing 0-2, the home team tried to regain its footing. However, due to supporters who kept setting off fireworks, the game was suspended for around 15 minutes. The game ended 0-2 when the South Korean referee blew the long whistle signaling the end of the game. On September 2, Indonesia lost 0-3 (0-0) to Iran in the third round of the Pre-World Cup 2011 round in group E at Tehran‘s Azadi Stadium. While Bahrain at the time played Qatar and their match ended in a 0-0 draw.

AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY

Bahrain’s Mohamed Ali Mohamed Tayeb Alalawi (C, in white) challenges Hamka Hamsah (#23) of Indonesia as Hariono (#8) looks on during their FIFA World Cup football qualifier in Jakarta on September 6, 2011. Bahrain defeated Indonesia 2-0.

Indonesia to create disincentives for foreign-made goods Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia will create disincentives for goods consumed on a large scale but not produced in the country, Capital Investment Coordinating Board chief Gita Wirjawan said here on Wednesday. “We will take stock of those products,” he said following a coordination meeting at the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs, Hatta Rajasa. He said Indonesia needed to address the practice of consuming foreign-made goods in large volumes in the country. “In the spirit of the Masterplan for Indonesian Economic Development Expansion and Acceleration (MP3EI) we will conduct downstreaming of production and increase national production capacity,” he said. Gita referred to the case of BlackBerry cellphones which are widely used in the country but have been made in Malaysia where the manufacturer had invested in the relevant production facilities. The BlackBerry manufacturers was targeting the production of four million units next year and market them at the price of US$300 per unit while sales in Malaysia reached no more than 400,000 units. “We must take a stand with regard to this issue. It can be in the form of non-tariff, tariff or other barriers,” he said. He also referred to Bosch of Germany as another example. He said the German company was also planning to build a solar panel plant in Malaysia while its target market was obviously Indonesia. “This is what I explained at the coordination meeting just now and my explanation was welcomed by coordinating minister Hatta Rajasa, the

finance minister, the industry minister and others,” he said. Gita said to attract investment and increase national production capacity the government had provided various incentives including a tax allowance and a tax holiday. “We need to think of creating disincentives for those who do not produce goods in Indonesia,” he said. He said the government was still formulating the details of the proposed disincentive and hoped it would be ready for discussion again next week or in the next two weeks. Industry Minister MS Hidayat also expressed the need to produce regulations on consumer products which are not produced in the country such as BlackBerry cellphones made in Malaysia. “There must be an additional tax or an additional tariff for such products,” he said. He said the policy would not only apply to Blackberry cellphones but also to others so that more investors would choose to invest in the country. “There will be a kind of incentives and disincentives for such products. We must have a regulation or a barrier with the aim of attracting investors to make goods in Indonesia,” he said. Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu meanwhile said on a separate occasion that efforts to increase the use of home-made products needed to be intensified although a further study still had to be made with regard to their implementation. “Certainly consideration has to be made because if we produce at all cost the consumers would be burdened,” she said. She said what was important now was how production could be done at home at a competitive cost and price. “There is room for adjustment. But it still has to be discussed continuously,” she said.

Earthquake damages hundreds of houses in Aceh Antara

BANDA ACEH - The magnitude6.7 earthquake which rocked Aceh Singkil District, Aceh Province, on Tuesday, damaged hundreds of houses in Trumon Tengah sub district, South Aceh District. “Based on the inventory result up to now, a total of 356 houses have cracks in walls, ceilings and floors,” Deputy South Aceh District Head Daska Aziz said here on Wednesday. Of the 356 affected houses, 59 were seriously damaged, he said. The houses are located at Ladang Rimba, Gunung Kapur, Krueng Batee, Ie Jerneh, Cot Bayu, Lhok Raya, Naca and Gampong Teungoh villages. Despite the damages, none of the local residents evacuated themselves to other places, Deska said. Trumon Tengah Sub District Head Abdul Munir said the tremor also damaged two mosques and a bridge connecting Tapaktuan and Medan. “The mosques located at Naca and Gampong Teungoh are seriously damaged. All of their walls have cracks, and the small mosque at Lhok Raya is lightly damaged,” he said. Trumon Tengah Sub District, Aceh Selatan District, is one of the quake affected area located in the border of

Subulussalam and Aceh Singkil, which are around 600 km south of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Darussalam Province. Meanwhile, an official of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that hit Aceh Province on Tuesday at 00.55.12 am local time, claimed two lives. “Based on preliminary data that we have received, two people were killed and one person was slightly injured,” BNPB Chief Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. The earthquake damaged one house of worship, a nurse academy building and three houses seriously, and 15 other houses lightly. “Besides, 160 shops were gutted by fire due to short circuits,” he said. BNPB was now coordinating with the disaster mitigation agencies of North Sumatra and Aceh to assess the damages. The Meulaboh meteorology, climatology and geophysics office‘s head, Edi Darlupti, said earlier that the quake‘s epicenter was located at 2.81 degrees northern latitude and 97.85 degrees eastern longitude, or 59 kilometers northeast of Singkil Baru, Aceh Province, and at a depth of 78 km on land.

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International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Bali Today Protection of government low

Balinese residents leave agricultural sector REALITY that some Balinese residents are forced to eat cassava as no longer have a supply of rice as happened at Datah and Duda Timur Village, Karangasem, certainly makes us apprehensive. This evidence indicates if Bali actually has not been self-supporting in meeting the food needs of the population. Additionally, the tragedy of poverty faced by a few Balinese, where most of them are farmers, can indicate if government has been unable to prosper the farmers. Obviously, this condition occurs because government does not give serious attention to the sector and the latter seems to have been marginalized. When contacted on Tuesday (Sep 6), an agricultural observer from Udayana University, Dr. GN Alit Susanta Wirya, did not deny if government’s attention to agricultural sector had not been encouraging. He affirmed the powerlessness of Balinese farmers in achieving prosperity made the sector begin to be abandoned. It was inseparable from the lacking of attention given by government. For example, government protection against farmers such as provision of subsidies or land and property tax (PBB) relief to active farmland in Bali today were still in the level of discourse. Due to high taxes and inexpensive selling price of agricultural products, some few farmers had pragmatic mindset to sell their farmland and changed profession to other sectors considered more promising. “In my opinion, the low government protection against agricultural sector is one of the reasons why many

Balinese people are not vivacious to involve in agricultural sector and then sell their farmland. Of course, we cannot entirely blame on farmers having such pragmatic mindset. In this context, I hope that Bali Government wants to introspect and make selfevaluation why Balinese people are so reluctant to farm,” he reminded. Reserve fund

Alit Susanta Wirya did not reject the condition of agricultural sector in Bali that could be said in ‘dormant condition.’ He said many factors causing the agriculture of Bali sluggish. Other than low competitiveness of Bali’s agricultural products, government policies that tended not to favor the agriculture also aggravated the condition of agriculture in Bali. Due to low competitiveness, the majority of Balinese people were no longer interested to pursue the agricultural sector because it was considered not prom-

ising to increase welfare. “Protection of government against local agricultural products is very low, too. Imported agricultural products could penetrate Bali easily and come to be competitor for local agricultural products. Policies to protect the local agricultural products are not visible and remain in the level of discourse without real action to make it happen,” he criticized. Comparable opinion was revealed by legislator of Bali House, Ida Bagus Gede Udiyana. This Golkar politician from Sanur considered the urgency of government to protect local agricultural products from the invasion of imported products. He said that most of those imported agricultural products had inferior quality and sold at relatively lower prices than local products. With these conditions, the imported products came to be a very strong competitor for local agricultural products. “We cannot reject the imported products to enter Bali. How-

Wanna Try a Snail Flesh? To be able to encounter snail traders is certainly not an easy matter because people rarely sell such raw materials of traditional food. Only a few people will do it and snail availability is few and far between, too. Made Sukerti, for instance, is one of the snail sellers doing the selling at particular point of Jalan Merpati Denpasar. She revealed that it is quite difficult to find such a snail due to restricted availability of rice field area. To obtain snail, she has to look for it through the area of Kerobokan, Canggu and surrounding areas. Within a single search, she could only obtain 6-10 kilograms. “Such amount of snail was looked for a whole day,” she said. She said that she sold a rice field snail. By and large, she sold its flesh and also along with its shell or live snail. Furthermore, she added that since it was difficult to find and its availability was in limited number, of course, the condition affected the selling price to the consumers of snail. She disclosed that snail flesh pack-

aged in a plastic bag of half-kilogram is sold at IDR 6,000-IDR 10,000 and it contained approximately 12-15 pieces of snail. Meanwhile, the snail with their shell was sold at IDR 6,000 per pack that averagely contained some 10-12 pieces of snail. “So far, most consumers purchased clean snail or its flesh. On that account, they just need to fry and add spices at home. It’s more practical,” she said. Aside from selling directly to consumers, she also acknowledged to receive some orders from a restaurant owner who served snail dishes in Denpasar. Additionally, the demand for snails is very high from restaurants. However, her party could not have met such amount of demand. “Since it is difficult to look for snails, then we can only meet 10 kilograms per day. Therefore, it is sold at expensive price,” she added. Snail is one of the sources of protein which can assist in keeping the health of the people. Snails are a food tradition dating all the way back to the

Roman Empire and while to many, snails are considered a delicacy, they are actually eaten as abundantly as any other meat in North Africa and the Mediterranean regions. Early man all over the world consumed what they could for survival, and that often included the snail. In parts of the world including Rome snails were eaten on a very large scale. In fact, they were harvested so that there would be a huge supply of them all the time to meet the demand. That desire to consume then hasn’t stopped there. They continue to be a huge industry for the restaurant business. Offering snails is a common offering for wedding receptions and other elaborate affairs. If you haven’t tried them the idea may not be very appealing to you. However, you may find that your taste buds are really impressed by them. After all, millions of people eat them and they can’t all be wrong! Snails are especially popular in Catalonia, Spain, where the “Aplec del cargol” snail celebration takes place

IBP/Net

ever, we can narrow the faucets of imported products by improving the quality standards of imported products that are allowed to enter Bali. Low quality products should be prevented from entering Bali. By doing so, the quality of imported products coming to Bali will be selected strictly,” he said. He also considered the urgency of regional government, both provincial and regency/city government, to prepare a reserve fund to help farmers who experienced crop failure. With the reserve fund, farmers were expected to recover soon and re-involve in agriculture. He affirmed the exist-

ence of reserve fund was very urgent to sustain the activities of farmers in Bali. By and large, the farming community in Bali had mediocre income so the crop failures potentially made their activity completely paralyzed. As consequence, they could not purchase seeds and other equipment to begin the farming activities. More importantly, they also found difficulty to survive. “On that account, local governments must protect the farmers, especially those who experienced crop failure. The existence of reserve fund will greatly alleviate their burden,” he suggested. (ian)

each year, drawing in over 200,000 visitors. Snails are also eaten in large amounts in Greece, Sicily and France, and are considered a “cheap” snack in Portugal. In France, snails or escargots, are an important part of the cuisine. The French eat 8 pounds of snails per head each year. If you’d like to prepare your own snails at home, here’s an easy guide to doing it right. Clean your snails. If you’re using live, fresh snails from a harvesting farm, you’ll need to make sure that their insides are clean before preparing them. Place the snails in a covered basket or net sack. The basket should be placed in a cool dry place and the snails must be able to breathe. Leave the basket for 4 days. Wash the snails. After 4 days without food, the snails will be ready for further preparation. Their insides may be clean, but their shells must too be washed out. Place the snails in a bucket of clean water and add a little salt and vinegar. Let the snails sit for 10 minutes, until the water turns milky. Strain and rinse the snails. Repeat the washing step above several times, until the water no longer turns milky. Prepare to boil your snails. Fill a large

soup pot with water and add a little salt and vinegar to it. The pot should be large enough to hold all the snails covered with about an inch of water. Bring to a boil. Boil the snails. Pour the cleaned snails into the boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Strain and rinse the boiled snails. The snails are now ready to be used in other recipes. You can tip and shell them for pasta or soup or you can leave them in the shell and boil or sauté them in a sauce. Many people viewed them as pests which is why they don’t have any problems eating them. Instead of paying money for them, they started to harvest their own from gardens and farms. In fact, some of the farmers in California were making a nice amount of money on the side by collecting the snails and selling them on the market along with their fruits and vegetables. The most common type of snail used is the garden variety. If you have a garden and they are present you can trap them and process them yourself. This is a great way to take care of the problem you are having with the pests harming your fruits and vegetables. At the same time you can treat your family to a great appetizer or meal. (BTN/kmb)

International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Balinese Culture Ngelawar:

From Togetherness with Love to Flavor Each region in Indonesia has different delicacy pursuant to surrounding environment providing the ingredients and tradition maintained. Bali, for instance, has lawar. It has been renowned and tasted by the tongue of foreign tourists. Hot spices supported by a variety of tubers and thinly-chopped vegetables like the young coconut shell, string bean, grated coconut or young papaya will kindle the appetite from the beginning until the end. Then, chopped meat such as pork, beef, chicken, duck or others are used as the main ingredient, and it gives the name of the lawar itself. This lawar delicacy is over and over again introduced in every occasion of traditional culinary event. At villages, the ngelawar (preparation of lawar) tradition is begun by togetherness. Villagers usually slaughter a pig or the like and prepare the dishes collectively for special occasions such as personal life-cycle rituals or temple anniversary. From early in the morning, they have been ready to go by bringing along with a sharp knife. Few

moments later, the chopping boards turn crowded sounding tek...tek…tek…tek and goes on. Some prepare spices and vegetables, while the others slice thinly the meat in use. In essence, the pebat or kitchen department is very busy. Meanwhile, when celebrating the Galungan and Kuningan festivity, Balinese people (Hindu) may join the collective slaughter known as mepatung while food preparation is undertaken individually. This has something to do with slightly different tastes and interests. The food is prepared for filling some oblations other than for consumption. Their food habitually consist of lawar, satay, komoh (clear soup), urutan (sausage), skin crackers, tum (chopped meat mix with spices and then steamed) and so forth. Other tradition remains to be maintained is ngejot or presenting food gift to neighbor and relatives. Though they equally have the same delicacy, it is intended to maintain social relationship and exchange the food as theirs may have different

tastes. Similarly, family members will also visit relatives where parent or grandparent comes from. To share the happiness with the ancestral souls, at least family will also bring along sagi offering and be presented to them in the home platform shrine at bale dangin or eastern pavilion. Today, probably many people are very busy as they must be in charge to work. However, there are always people offering their services by providing ready-toserve lawar. It is variedly packed in nice bamboo basket containing particular number of satay, lawar and serapah (grated coconut with meat). On that account, people will not be busy to prepare it in case of organizing an event or socio-religious activity. When making a visit to Bali, it also a good opportunity for you try these delicacies. At least, try the lawar as it has been identical to Balinese cuisine. Seemingly, your visit to Bali would be incomplete without ‘pampering’ your tongue by this delicacy. Of course, it will enrich your culinary adventure, too! (BTN/punia)

Coconut Sweet Potato Cake (Getuk Lindri) Ingredients * 2 lbs. cassava * 200 gram granulated sugar * ½ tsp. vanila * 1 cup steamed fresh-grated coconut, mixed with 1 tsp. salt * 100 cc water * food color Directions Put in sugar and vanila in a large stockpot with water and bring it to a boil. Steam cassava until soft. Peel cassava. Mash cassava while still hot and pour the water mixture and food color (whatever color you like) and blend well. Use the equipment as shown on the left hand side to mold the mixture. Then put them onto a serving platter, and sprinkle with grated coconut. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate for an hour and serve chilled. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Kue Mangkok (Cup Cakes) Ingredients * 350 grams rice flour * some water * 150 grams all purpose flour * 200 grams fermented cassava / tapioca (tape singkong) * 400 grams sugar * 200 cc warm water * 2 Tsp baking soda * 250 cc club soda * 1 Tsp vanilla * food coloring (your choice of 3 or 4 colors) * salt to taste

Directions Add enough water to the rice flour so that its weight increases to 500 grams. Add the all purpose flour to the rice flour mixture and stir well. Add the fermented tapioca and sugar. Mix well. Add the warm water and work the dough for about 10 minutes.-Add the baking soda, the club soda and vanilla. Mix until everything is evenly distributed. Finally, add the food coloring and blend until smooth. Warm the cup molds for about 5 minutes and fill it for about 4/5 full. Put in a steamer with the water already at a rolling boil. Steam for about 20 minutes. (http://asiarecipe.com) C.045 ibp

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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Destinations

International

Elephant Cave IBP

Welcome to Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) which is located in west side of Bedulu countryside, Blah Batuh Sub district and Gianyar Regency. It is about 27 km from Denpasar town. This cave is built at crevasse edge from the federation of 2 rills that is called Pangkung River, where the irrigation is mixed with Petanu River flow. The federation area of two rivers is called Campuhan/Mixture. It owns the magical energy on the basis of Rwabineda Concept/two different matters on this basic concept hence Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) is intentionally built among two rivers. The word of Gua Gajah is anticipated coming from the word of Lwa Gajah, the name of Buddhist Temple or hermitage for Buddhist monk. The Gua Gajah’s name is written on Negarakeertagama papyrus which is compiled by Mpu Prapanca on 1365 M. Lwa or Lwah/loh mean the river and it reflect to the meaning that the hermitage is located at Gajah River or in Air Gajah. In the year inscription

944 Saka, it is mentioned with the name of ‘ser ring Air Gajah’ that is meaning the Subak leader in Air Gajah. The word has mentioned that the hermitage of Lwa Gajah is located in Subak Air Gajah. There is a relief which is almost looking like the form of mountain on the entrance of this cave. It was carved many designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise and specters. The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side. There is an article letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side. There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the middle of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is previously piled up by land and it has been found on 1954 by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in two groups.

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11

BUSINESS US slides to 5th place in economic competitiveness Associated Press

GENEVA - A global economic group says the U.S. slipped further among competitive economies, taking fifth place due to huge deficits and pessimism about government. Switzerland retained the top spot in the Geneva-based World Economic Forum’s annual ranking Wednesday based on economic data and a survey of 15,000 business executives. It was followed by Singapore, Sweden and Finland. The United States was in fourth place last year, after falling from No. 1 in 2008. The forum praised the United States for its productivity, highly sophisticated and innovative companies, excellent universities and flexible labor market. But it also cited rising government debt and declining public faith in politicians and corporate ethics.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP

A man sits in front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) September 6, 2011 in New York City. A global economic group says the U.S. slipped further among competitive economies, taking fifth place due to huge deficits and pessimism about government.

BOJ stays on hold after Swiss move Reuters

TOKYO - The Bank of Japan kept its policy settings unchanged on Wednesday, saving up its scant ammunition for later, while the yen stabilized in the wake of Switzerland’s radical action to curb its soaring currency. But growing uncertainty over the global outlook and the Swiss move to set a ceiling for its currency against the euro keeps pressure on the Japanese central bank to take further action in coming months to prevent a renewed yen spike from derailing a fragile economic recovery. Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said the BOJ should be mindful of heightening global economic uncertainty and the potential harm the stubbornly strong yen could have on corporate morale,

signaling his readiness to ease policy again to support growth. But he countered criticism that the BOJ was not doing enough compared with its U.S. and European counterparts, ahead of his visit to France for a weekend Group of Seven gathering where the need for further monetary stimulus may be discussed. “We eased monetary policy at last month’s rate review because we thought we needed to be mindful of downside risks. We acted pre-emptively taking into account various uncertainties,” Shirakawa told a news conference. “We don’t feel that we didn’t do anything today. Instead, we feel that we are proceeding with powerful monetary easing.” As expected, the BOJ kept its policy rate at a range of zero to 0.1 percent by a unanimous vote and held off on additional mon-

etary easing steps. The decision sparked a brief yen rally against the dollar on disappointment by some market players who had bet the BOJ would follow Switzerland with measures to counter yen rises. The central bank maintained its view that Japan’s economy will resume a moderate recovery later this year with growth picking up on increases in output and exports. It also stressed that core consumer inflation will remain near zero for the time being and reassured markets that it will keep rates virtually at zero until price stability is foreseen. “As the BOJ clearly sees the economy picking up steadily, the central bank doesn’t see a need to take immediate action,” said Junko Nishioka, chief Japan economist at RBS Securities.

Greece, Italy under pressure on euro zone austerity Reuters

BERLIN - The euro zone’s most indebted nations were scrambling on Wednesday to convince investors and the rest of Europe of their commitment to tackle their debt problems, even as the bloc’s main paymaster Germany battles increasing opposition to further aid. Germany’s top court is due to deliver a ruling around 0800 GMT (4 a.m. ET) that may grant legislators more say over future aid, but was expected to stop short of blocking Berlin’s contribution to a current series of multi-billion euro bailouts. Italy’s center-right government promised on Tuesday to hike valueadded tax as it bowed to market pressure for more action on its swollen debt and ignored mass street protests and strikes against its austerity measures. Greece’s finance minister pledged to speed up delayed privatizations and structural reforms, while his Irish counterpart said Dublin was considering making a deeper fiscal adjustment than planned next year to boost market confidence. “We are in the middle of a peculiar war — if we lose, we lose everything,” Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos told reporters. “If we don’t complete structural reforms, if we don’t change the way the state and the economy work, we will be stuck.” Doubts about the will of Italy and Greece to push through the austerity demanded by their partners have darkened the political mood in Europe as leaders grapple with a two-year-old debt crisis that has triggered renewed pressure in bond markets. With Italian bond spreads over German bunds widening, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi met ministers as the Senate began a debate opening the way for approval of a 45.5 billion euro austerity package on Wednesday. Rome said it would raise value added tax and introduce a constitutional balanced budget amendment as part of a revised plan. But its credibility has taken a hammering in financial markets because of the chaotic way it has been handled. With investors alarmed at Italy’s lack of progress in reining its 1.9 trillion euro debt, Rome’s borrowing costs have been rising inexorably for more than a week, despite intervention by the European Central Bank. “Italy is governed appallingly badly,” European Energy Commissioner Guenter Oettinger told a conference in Berlin on Tuesday, accusing Berlusconi’s government of irresponsibility and saying the ECB, which has bought Italian bonds in the open market to hold down yields, had been “cheated.” Meanwhile fiscal backsliding in Athens has put a new aid payment from the country’s international lenders in danger and prompted lawmakers in German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party to call for Greece’s ejection from the 17-nation currency area. Just six weeks after euro zone leaders came together in Brussels to agree on new anti-crisis measures — including a second bailout for Greece and new powers for the bloc’s rescue fund — their strategy looks to be unraveling. In southern Europe, public resistance to new austerity measures is on the rise, while in the north public anger at a series of taxpayer funded bailouts is building to a crescendo. Greece has floated the idea of speeding up payments under a second international bailout although it has made no formal request and any such change would be unlikely, an official close to EU and IMF negotiators told Reuters on Tuesday. Any such demand to cover a higher-than-expected deficit would further complicate talks between Greece and its international lenders, already fraught due to the country’s repeated fiscal slippages and reform delays. Seeking to placate creditors, Finance Minister Venizelos told reporters in Athens late on Tuesday Greece would speed up delayed reforms, key to obtaining an 8 billion euro tranche of aid from a first, 110 billion euro EU/IMF bailout secured in May 2010. The ECB is counting on European governments to step in and assume the role of bond-buyer of last resort once their rescue mechanism, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), receives new powers.

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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Entertainment

International

Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic jewels coming to auction Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Elizabeth Taylor dazzled the world with her luminous beauty, lavish lifestyle — and an unquenchable passion for diamonds and jewels that was fueled by the great loves of her life. The late Hollywood star amassed one of the foremost jewelry collections in the world, including a 33.19-carat diamond ring and a 16th century pearshaped pearl from one of her seven husbands, Richard Burton. The Associated Pressed recently viewed about two dozen of her most iconic pieces at Christie’s auction house, which is selling her complete jewelry collection, valued at $30 million, in New York on Dec. 13-14. “These are the top jewels that Elizabeth Taylor received from the great loves of her life, Mike Todd and Richard Burton,” said Christie’s jewelry expert Rahul Kadakia. “They’re from moments in life that were very dear to her,” jewels that were purchased in Bulgari in Rome, at Cartier in New York and at auction. The stories behind them are as priceless as the gems themselves. In a 2002 memoir, “My Love Affair with Jewelry,” Taylor took readers on a personal journey of her collection, describing in her own words how she came to own each piece. “I never, never thought

of my jewelry as trophies,” she wrote. “I’m here to take care of them and to love them. . When I die and they go off to auction I hope whoever buys them gives them a really good home.” It’s an extraordinary collection of rubies, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires in intricate and bold designs. Among the standouts is the 16thcentury La Peregrina, one of the largest and most symmetrically perfect pear-shaped pearls in the world, which Burton purchased for Taylor in 1969 as a Valentine’s Day gift. The two had met in Italy on the set of the 1963 film “Cleopatra,” and married for the first time in 1964. Once part of the Crown Jewels of Spain, the pearl later passed into the hands of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon III and the Duke of Abercorn. When it came up at auction in New York, Burton snapped it up for

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Elizabeth Taylor’s “The Mike Todd Tiara,” estimated at $60,000 - $80,000, is shown in this photograph at Christie’s, in New York, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2001. Christie’s auction house is selling her complete jewelry collection in New York on Dec. 13-14.

$37,000, beating out the underbidder, a member of the Spanish Royal family. Cartier later created a ruby and

diamond necklace from which the pearl was suspended, a design that was inspired by the famous Velazquez portraits of Spain’s Queen

Margarita and Queen Isabel wearing the pearl as a necklace. It is estimated to fetch $2 million to $3 million.

Eddie Murphy to host Academy Awards solo Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Cash Money/Universal Records

In this CD cover image released by Cash Money/Universal Records, the latest release by lil Wayne, “Tha Carter IV,” is shown.

Lil Wayne’s new CD sells 964,000 units in 1st week Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — It wasn’t quite “A Milli” but it was awful close: Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter IV” sold 964,000 in its debut week for the second-best first-week sales of the year. The figures were released by Nielsen SoundScan on Tuesday. Only Lady Gaga sold more this year. Her “Born This Way” hit No. 1 with 1.1 million sold thanks in

part to a one-day offer from Amazon.com to buy the album for 99 cents. Lil Wayne just barely missed his own sales record. “Tha Carter III” sold just over 1 million when it was released in 2008. Lil Wayne made “Tha Carter IV” available for digital download immediately after an appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards and released a physical CD two days later.

LOS ANGELES — In the tradition of Bob Hope and Johnny Carson, and later Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg, Oscar is going back to its comedic roots with Eddie Murphy as host. The actor and comedian will host the 84th annual Academy Awards, producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer said Tuesday — and even they were surprised the reclusive star agreed to the gig. The last comic to host the show alone was Jon Stewart in 2008. A singing, dancing Hugh Jackman took over in 2009, and in recent years, pairs of actors have helmed the show. This is Murphy’s first time hosting the Academy Awards. He said in a statement that he’s “enormously honored” to join the ranks of the aforementioned Oscar hosts. Ratner and Murphy worked together on their latest film, “Tower Heist,” and the director casually floated the notion of hosting the Oscars by the star. “And Eddie said, ‘Wow, that would be a brilliant idea for you and me to do the Oscars together,’” Ratner recalled. “I was like, ‘Are you serious?’” Ratner said in an interview. He called Mischer, his coproducer, who immediately

warned him not to get his hopes up. “I said, ‘Not a chance,’” the veteran TV director and producer said. “Everybody wants Eddie Murphy. He’s a comedic genius, he’s a brilliant impersonator. He’s just the kind of guy who would make any television show wonderful. So many times through the years I’ve tried to get Eddie Murphy to agree to come be on a show, and generally he kind of stays to himself and has not been interested in it.” Murphy made a rare TV appearance in April on the inaugural Comedy Awards, which Mischer produced, when the 50-year-old entertainer accepted the Comedy Icon award. By contrast, when Murphy was nominated for an Oscar for 2006’s “Dreamgirls,” he did very few interviews and reportedly left the ceremony as soon as his category was announced. (Alan Arkin won for “Little Miss Sunshine.”) “I think that Eddie probably gave this serious consideration because of the experience he did have with Brett (on “Tower Heist),” Mischer said. “When we did decide to ask him, I think Eddie felt secure with Brett.” Ratner called Murphy “one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever” and cited him as an inspiration for his filmmaking career.

Science

International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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Fewer Americans smoking, survey finds Agence France Presse

IBP/afp

The sea floor around the West Antarctica peninsula could become invaded by a voracious king crab, which is on the march thanks to global warming, biologists reported on Wednesday

Global warming brings crab threat to Antarctica Agence France Presse

The sea floor around the West Antarctica peninsula could become invaded by a voracious king crab, which is on the march thanks to global warming, biologists reported on Wednesday. The worrisome intruder is a bright-red deep-sea predator that previously had been spotted only in the Ross Sea, on the other side of West Antarctica. Taxonomists identified the crustacean just five years ago, bestowing it with the lengthy monicker of Neolithodes yaldwyni Ahyong and Dawson and placing it among the 121 species of king crab. It is known as an “ecosystem engineer” because it digs into the sea floor to feast on worms and other tiny animals, an activity that in large numbers can have repercussions across the marine food web. A team led by Laura Grange of the University of Hawaii at Manoa lowered a remote-controlled

scoutcraft as part of a long-term probe into biodiversity in the waters off the Antarctic peninsula. They looked at Palmer Deep, a mud-floored basin in the Weddell Sea located 120 kilometres (75 miles) from the edge of the continental shelf. The robot’s camera, trailed over two kilometres (1.2 miles), spotted 42 crabs, all of them at depths lower than 850 metres (2,760 feet), where the water was a relatively balmy 1.4 degrees Celsius (34.5 degrees Fahr-

enheit). By extrapolation, the crab population in Palmer’s deep — an area measuring 14 kms (nine miles) long by eight kms (five miles) wide — could be more than 1.5 million, says Grange. That density is the same as commercial crab fisheries in Alaska and the British South Atlantic island of South Georgia. The images gave a glimpse of the kind of damage caused by the foraging crustaceans. The crabs, their shells measuring roughly 10 centimetres (four inches) across, had dug gashes up to 20 cms (one foot) into the soft ocean floor and thrown up lumps of sediment. The robot also retrieved a pregnant female crab, as proof that the species was reproducing. None of the crabs was found at shallower depths, where the seas are colder.

Fewer American adults are smoking, and those who still do are lighting up less, suggests a nationwide survey from the US Centers for Disease Control released on Tuesday. Using data from 2005 to 2010, researchers with the US government agency reckoned that 19.3 percent of American adults — or 45.3 million people over the age of 18 — are smoking cigarettes, down from 20.9 percent in 2005. “There are three million fewer smokers in America than there were five years ago,” said CDC director Tom Frieden, elaborating on the latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. “People who are continuing to smoke are smoking less — but we can do much better by continuing to invest in tobacco control programs at all levels.” Among smokers, the proportion of those who consume 30 or more cigarettes a day fell to 8.3 percent from 12.7 percent, although those who smoke nine or less cigarettes a day rose to 21.8 percent from 16.4 percent. Despite the progress, the

CDC’s findings — based on household interviews — indicated a slower rate of decline in smoking between 2005 and 2010 than in the preceding five-year period. Smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke is the number-one preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, claiming an estimated 443,000 American lives every year. Getting Americans to smoke less has been US government policy since the 1960s. Under its Healthy People initiative, the Department of Health wants to bring the national prevalance of smoking to below 12 percent by 2020. “In many ways, the findings we are releasing today are good news,” Tim McAfee, director of the CDC’s office on smoking and health, told reporters in a telephone conference call with Frieden. “It’s a slower rate of decline, but we are still moving in the right direction.” Frieden and McAfee attributed the trend to sustained anti-smoking campaigns, including higher excise taxes on cigarettes and an “epidemic spread” of indoor smoking bans that now are in place in half of the 50 states.

IBP/afp

Cigarette packs are displayed in a tobacco shop in 2010. Fewer American adults are smoking, and those who still do are lighting up less, suggests a nationwide survey from the US Centers for Disease Control released on Tuesday

Half of world’s PCs ‘use pirated software’ Agence France Presse

IBP/afp

A man uses the internet in Beijing. Almost half of personal computer users around the world get their software illegally, with China’s massive market the worst culprit, a Business Software Alliance (BSA) survey showed

Almost half of personal computer users around the world get their software illegally, with China’s massive market the worst culprit, a report claimed on Wednesday. A Business Software Alliance (BSA) survey showed 47 percent of PC users globally believe there is nothing wrong with using unauthorised copies of software programs. This includes buying a single licence for multiple installations or downloading programs from peerto-peer networks, BSA said. The

survey of 15,000 PC users in 32 countries showed Chinese users have the most relaxed attitude to piracy. As many as 86 percent of computer users in the country acquire their software illegally most or all of the time, the survey showed. “The survey makes it clear that the global software piracy epidemic is spreading fastest in China, which is now the world?s biggest market for new PCs,” said BSA president and chief executive Robert Holleyman. The Washington-based BSA is an industry group that works

for copyright protection and counts among its members some of the world’s biggest technology companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Symantec and Adobe. Pirated software installations cost the industry nearly $59 billion globally last year, a BSA report said in May. It said in terms of value, China was the world’s second-largest culprit behind the US, installing $7.78 billion of stolen programs last year. The commercial value of pirate computer software used in the US was estimated at $9.5 billion, the BSA said in the May report.

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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Sport

International

Stankovic injured on 100th appearance as Serbs win Reuters

AP Photo/Fabrizio Giovannozzi

Italian players celebrate after striker Giampaolo Pazzini (center, covered by teammates) scored the winning goal against Slovenia during a group C, EURO 2012 qualifying soccer match, at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence, Italy, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. Italy won 1-0.

Spain, Italy qualify for Euro 2012

BELGRADE - Serbia kept alive their hopes of reaching the Euro 2012 finals with a 3-1 home win over Faroe Islands on Tuesday but their success was marred by an injury to captain Dejan Stankovic on his 100th international appearance. Stankovic was taken to hospital at halftime with a concussion after struggling in the latter stages of the first half. “He suffered a knock midway through the first half and felt dizzy in the dressing room, but a thorough scan showed that he is alright,” Serbian Football Association spokesman Aleksandar Boskovic told a post-match news conference. “We are looking forward to his speedy recovery so we can have him back for the last two qualifiers at home to Italy and away to Slovenia,” added coach Vladimir Petrovic. The result lifted the Serbs to second place in Group C, behind winners Italy who secured a berth in next year’s finals in Poland and Ukraine with a 1-0 home win over Slovenia. Italy have 22 points from eight matches, ahead of Serbia on 14 and Estonia, who have played a game more, on 13. Fourth-placed Slovenia have 11 points from nine games and only a slim chance of clinching the runners-up spot. Serbia are in the driving set to finish second as they need one win from their remaining two matches, at home to Italy on Oct. 7 or away to Slovenia four days later. The winners of Europe’s nine qualifying groups and the best second-placed team will qualify automatically for the finals while the other eight runners-up will enter a two-leg playoff for the remaining four berths.

Associated Press Writer

LONDON — Spain and Italy sealed their places at Euro 2012 with two qualifying games to spare on Tuesday while England moved closer to next year’s finals after beating Wales in a game at Wembley overshadowed by the death of a Wales fan. David Villa and Alvaro Negredo scored twice as defending champion Spain thrashed Liechtenstein 6-0 to secure top spot in Group I, and substitute Giampaolo Pazzini’s 85thminute strike earned the Italians a narrow win in Florence that clinched them first place in Group C. The 2010 and 2006 world champions join already-qualified Germany and the two co-hosts in the finals. The Netherlands maintained its perfect record in Group E with a 2-0 victory in Finland but still needs a point to guarantee first place, like England, which beat Wales 1-0 in Group G through Manchester United winger Ashley Young’s goal. However, England’s victory was marred after London police said a Wales fan had died after an assault was reported outside the stadium before the game. Police said the man, who they believe is in his 40s, sustained head injuries and was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Six Wales fans were arrested. Elsewhere, France’s Euro 2012 qualification hopes were dealt a setback by drawing 0-0 at Romania, with second-place BosniaHerzegovina now only a point behind in Group D after a Zvezdan Misimovic’s 87th-minute winner in the 1-0 victory at Belarus. France hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final round of group fixtures on Oct.

11 and, along with Portugal, is the European heavyweight most in danger of missing out. The Portuguese, who weren’t in action on Tuesday, are tied at 13 points in Group H with Denmark and Norway after the Danes’ 2-0 win over their Nordic rivals in Copenhagen. Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez celebrated winning his 103rd cap — a Spanish record for an outfield player — by scoring just before halftime to put Spain ahead 3-0 in a routine victory in Logrono, the team’s eighth in a row in qualifying. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos also found the net for defending European champions. “Now we have time to think about the European Championship, prepare for the games we have left to play,” Villa said. “It was important to qualify quickly.” By keeping a clean sheet against Slovenia, Italy has only conceded one goal in eight qualifiers — the lowest in all nine qualifying groups. The Azzurri edged past the Faeroe Islands 1-0 on Friday and one goal was enough for Cesare Prandelli’s team four days on, with Pazzini collecting a pass from Claudio Marchisio and firing home from the angle shot from six meters (yards). “This was a victory of courage,” said Prandelli, who has brought fresh energy to a team that was eliminated

in the group stage at last year’s World Cup. Pazzini said: “This was a big goal. I like all my goals, but this one was important for qualifying mathematically.” Serbia moved into second place by beating the Faeroes 3-1 and needs three points from its last two games to seal second place. The best second-place finisher qualifies automatically for Euro 2012, with the other eight advancing to a series of two-legged playoffs. Goals by Kevin Strootman and Luuk de Jong secured an eighth straight win for the Netherlands, who stayed six points clear of Sweden after the Scandinavians’ 5-0 thrashing of 10-man San Marino, courtesy of goals by Kim Kallstrom, Christian Wilhemsson (two), Martin Olsson and Tobias Hysen. England failed to convince against Wales — a team 113 places lower down in the rankings — but Young’s snap finish from Stewart Downing’s cut-back means a draw for Fabio Capello’s men at Montenegro on Oct. 7 will put them through. Russia stayed two points clear at the top of Group B after a 0-0 home draw to second-place Ireland and Croatia leapfrogged Greece to go a point clear at the top of Group F with a 3-1 win over Israel in Zagreb.

AP Photo/ Marko Drobnjakovic

Serbia’s Dejan Stankovic, left, goes past Joan Edmundsson of the Faroe Islands during their Euro 2012 Group C qualifying soccer match in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011.

Sport

International

Thursday, September 8, 2011

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Rain washes out entire day at roofless U.S. Open Reuters

NEW YORK - Rain washed out the entire ninth day of the U.S. Open on Tuesday, leaving organisers with a backlog of matches and raising questions about why there is still no roof over the centre court. Persistent showers delayed the scheduled start of play at Flushing Meadows for almost three hours when tournament officials decided to cancel both the day and night sessions before a single ball had been hit. “The latest forecast indicates worsening conditions with no projected breaks in the rain through the remainder of the day and into the night,” the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said in a statement. The USTA said they hoped to resume play at 1100 ET (1500 GMT) on Wednesday, although more foul weather was predicted and the forecast for the rest of the week was bleak. Tuesday’s schedule had included the remaining four men’s fourth-round clashes, featuring Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray against unseeded opponents, and the first two women’s quarter-finals. The Wednesday programme traditionally features two men’s and two women’s quarter-finals in the Arthur Ashe Stadium but was hastily rearranged to include 10 singles matches on three showcourts. Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Nadal and Novak Djokovic were listed to play on the centre court while Ameri-

can Andy Roddick was set for the Louis Armstrong Stadium and Murray was moved to the Grandstand, the smallest of the three main courts. The U.S. Open has become a regular victim of rain in recent years with each of the past three men’s finals being washed out and played on Mondays, and this latest cancellation was sure to reignite the annual debate over why there is no roof. The centre courts at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon have retractable roofs while organisers of the French Open plan to cover up their main court by 2014. However, U.S. Tennis Association officials have continually balked at the idea because of the enormous cost of covering Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest tennis stadium in the world. Officials estimate the cost would be in excess of $150 million and say the money would be better spent on grassroots tennis programmes.

AP Photo/Mel Evans

Water gathers on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2011. The start of play at the U.S. Open is being delayed because of rain.

McRae to blame for fatal Zidane junior trains with Madrid first team crash, enquiry finds Reuters

Agence France Presse

Enzo Zidane, the 16-year-old son of France great and current Real Madrid director of football Zinedine, trained with the Spanish giants’ first-team for the first time on Tuesday. Enzo, a left-sided midfielder, usually plies his trade with the Juvenile C team in the Madrid youth set-up but on Tuesday he was given the chance to show his worth alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil as coach Jose Mourinho and his father Zinedine watched on. Enzo, named after Zidane’s hero, the former Uruguay star Enzo Francescoli, was born in France but has spent the past 10 years in the Spanish capital. His father said last year that he would decide which of the two national teams his son plays for when the teen is called up. Enzo Zidane had already caught the eye of the coach of Spain’s UnIBP/afp Former football international Zinedine Zidane’s son Enzo der-16 squad last year, but never made it into the team. (C) takes part in a football game in June 2011.

LONDON - Former world rally champion Colin McRae was to blame for the helicopter crash that killed him, his five-year-old son and two family friends in 2007, an enquiry into the accident found on Tuesday. The BBC reported that the enquiry at Lanark Sheriff court in Scotland found McRae, 39, had carried out unnecessary low-level manoeuvres and his flying was both ‘imprudent’ and ‘unreasonable’. The four, including a six-yearold friend of McRae’s son, were killed when the helicopter crashed near McRae’s family home in Lanark. McRae was the youngest world rally champion, as well as Britain’s first, when he won world title with Subaru in 1995. “The deaths and the accident resulting in the deaths might have been avoided had Mr McRae not flown his helicopter into the Mouse Valley,” Sheriff Nikola Stewart said

in a written conclusion. “There was no necessity to enter the Mouse Valley. There were no operational or logistical reasons to enter the Mouse Valley. “Mr McRae chose to fly the helicopter into the valley. For a private pilot such as Mr McRae, lacking the necessary training, experience or requirement to do so, embarking upon such demanding, low-level flying in such difficult terrain, was imprudent, unreasonable and contrary to the principles of good airmanship.” The sheriff also found that McRae’s flying licence was out of date and he lacked a valid “rating” for his Eurocopter Squirrel helicopter. McRae’s family said in a separate statement that they believed the cause of the crash could not be determined. “We still believe we will never know what caused the crash but we were never in any doubt as to Colin’s prowess as a fine pilot,” said his father Jimmy.

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

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Sport

Thursday, September 8, 2011

McLaren says it won’t ask Hamilton to change McLaren says it will not ask Lewis Hamilton to change his aggressive approach to racing despite the Briton’s up and down 2011 season. Hamilton saw his slim chances of fighting for the championship vanish after crashing out of the Belgian Grand Prix last week. The McLaren driver is now 113 points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel with seven races to go. The Spa crash followed on from a disappointing race in Hungary, where he finished in fourth after spinning while leading. He had scored a superb win in the previous race in Germany. McLaren, however, insists Hamilton’s aggressive style is what has secured him so many successes in F1, and will not try to change the Briton’s driving style. “Lewis has had an up and down season and is a great driver who has won races this year and every year that he’s driven for McLaren, and he’s always pushing very hard,” McLaren principal engineer Philip Prew told a Vodafone phone-in on Wednesday. “He obviously came into the season with great hopes of winning the championship and obviously it’s going to be very difficult to achieve that from here. He’s pushing hard, which brings its consequences of high risk and I think that’s what we’re seeing.

“We will not ask him to change because Lewis has a very charging and aggressive approach and we fully support that. It’s won him championships and that’s our intention. “Lewis is a very clever guy and he’s a very good racing driver, and he will reflect on the difficulties that he’s had this year and he will come back stronger.” Prew said McLaren is set to shift its focus to the 2012 car, but he is still expecting some improvements that will help its pace this season. “There’s always been a balance, but as we approach the tail end of this season the emphasis will move towards the MP27,” he said, “but there’s still much learning that we can have with the MP-26 so with the development plans that we have at the moment. “We should be looking at components that will give lap time benefit that we can hopefully carry over to next year, such as with front wings and rear wings for example that are directly transferable with the changes in the regulations, so hopefully we can benefit from both seasons.”

McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain has a service check prior to crash during the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix in SpaFrancorchamps, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011.

Massa pins hopes on warmer weather FELIPE Massa is hoping higher track temperatures will help Ferrari enjoy a strong home race following a difficult Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian squad endured a disappointing race at Spa as it struggled to get the best out of its tyres due to the low temperatures during the weekend. Although the same tyre compounds will be used at Monza this weekend, Massa is hoping the warmer weather will make Ferrari much more competitive. “Of course this is a very important weekend for us,” Massa wrote on Ferrari’s website. “Not in the sense of it being a last chance for us this year or anything like that, but because we really want to produce a

AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain, background, chases Ferrari driver Felipe Massa of Brazil, during the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011.

great result for ourselves, for the team and most of all for the fans. “Spa was not fantastic for us and the cold weather accentuated our tyre problems, but this weekend, we have the same tyre compounds but hopefully much hotter weather. We will need a car with good top speed. “Like all the teams, we will have a low downforce set-up unique to Monza, with small wings and in free practice you need to make sure the car is well balanced with good traction to pull out of the slow chicanes and that it is able to deal with jumping the kerbs, which is vital for a quick lap time, especially in qualifying.” He added: “Monza is our last weekend of racing in Europe this year and, because this season has not gone so well for us, it will be even more important to do our job perfectly and try and get the result that we and all the tifosi want and deserve.” The Brazilian is also predicting plenty of passing during this weekend’s race due to the nature of the very fast Monza circuit. “I think we will see a lot of overtaking, because of the high speed nature of the track and the fact we will have two zones where we can use the DRS,” Massa said. “I’m not saying it will be an advantage to be lying second coming into Parabolica on the last lap to overtake the car in front, because if you have a good car, it’s probably a better strategy to pass before then and pull out a gap that is bigger than one second. “However, if you are fighting right down to the last lap, that could be the case, which would make for a very exciting race. At this point of the season, it is not difficult to predict that Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren and of course Red Bull Racing will be the main contenders. “However, Mercedes have shown they have possibly the best top speed on the straight out of all of us and as that is so important at this circuit, they could also have some influence on the final result.”

AP Photo/Dimitar Dilkoff, pool