Edisi 09 Juni 2011 | International Bali Post

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US officials: Yemen leader heavily burned in blast

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16 Pages Number 125 3st Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

PAGE 6

Artists in the backstage during the Bali Art Festival parade last year.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is scheduled to officially kick off the 33rd Bali Art Festival (PKB) at the Denpasar Art Center here Friday (June 10).

Bali‘s bamboo handicraft exports down PAGE 8

BP/Eka Adhiyasa

Richard Gere to visit Buddhist sites in S. Korea PAGE 12

President to officially kick off Bali Art Festival Antara

“President SBY will officially open the PKB as well as the Bali DENPASAR - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono World Culture Forum and `Utsawa (SBY) is scheduled to officially kick off the 33rd Bali Art Sharma Gita` which happen to be at the same time in Bali this Festival (PKB) at the Denpasar Art Center here Friday organized year,” Ketut Suastika, head of the Bali (June 10). cultural office, said here Wednesday.

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The PKB‘s theme is “Self Adaptation in Multiculture”, he said.

“It means diversity and differences are beautiful. And it`s very relevant to the condition prevailing in Indonesia at present,” he said.

Continued on page 6

Booths of BAF 2011:

Completed 90 percent, BAF becomes a blessing for artists Bali Post

DENPASAR - By the annual extravagant event of the 33rd Bali Arts Festival (BAF) scheduled to be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next Friday (Jun 10), a number of infrastructural facilities such as booths to exhibit and sell superior handicraft products have been completed 90%.

Based on observation of Bali Post, Tuesday (Jun 7), the south, west and central part of the Ksiraarnawa Building looked to have been arranged for exhibition stands. They were allocated for

the exhibition of various handicraft products and booths for non-transactional exhibition. Handing over of the booths from the organizer to tenant was held on Wednesday.

One of the craftsmen, Agung Oka, joining to grace the BAF of this year said to be free from worries because government, in this regard related agency, had provided exhibition space for passive and active exhibitors. In other words, craftsmen could still get a blessing at the BAF this year because transaction was still allowed by the organizer.

Continued on page 6

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Workers finishing booths to exhibit and sell superior handicraft products for the extravagant event of the 33rd Bali Arts Festival (BAF).

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International

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Bali News Bali-World Culture Forum:

Bali offers Tri Kaya Parisudha Denpasar (Bali Post)—

IBP/File

A dog is given vaccination by the officer. The Health Services had procured additional vaccine amounting to more than 40,000 vials.

Bali obtains 40,000 additional vials of anti-rabies vaccine NECESSITY of anti-rabies vaccine (VAR) to prevent the spread of rabies is one of the important matters. To that end, Bali government through Bali Health Services held a procurement of VAR. Chief of Bali Health Services, Nyoman Sutedja, said that currently the Health Services had procured additional vaccine amounting to more than 40,000 vials. “Lately, the stock of anti-rabies vaccine in Bali Health Services was only 20,000 vials. Luckily, the procurement process could be made quickly, so we’ve got additional supply of 40,000 vials,” he said.

In addition to the procurement

by Bali government, each regency/ city also prepared vaccine stock.

Dog bite cases, added Sutedja, currently reached 120 cases per day.

This figure had decline compared to last year where they reached 160 to 180 cases of bite per day. “If the bite cases are like these, the vaccine provided can last until November,” said Sutedja.

Regarding to the death of toddler from Bangli caused by rabies virus, Sutedja appealed the public to be more aware of dog bites though bitten by a puppy.

“The victim was bitten at lip area. Though the wound is small, but if containing rabies virus it can be fatal,” said Sutedja. He also added that in the current season influenza and encephalitis disease tended to increasingly widespread in the community. “In this season, flue can now lead to inflammation of brain, especially in children,” said Sutedja.

Hazardously, rabies also affected the brain and caused inflammation of brain. On that account, added Sutedja, every health service provider needed to be alert and always

asked patients whether they had a history of being bitten by a dog or not. “Every healthcare officer has received training in managing patients with rabies. So, patients who enter with symptoms leading to brain inflammation or others resembling the symptoms of rabies should be asked whether they have a history of bites or not,” he explained.

If had been known from the beginning, the procedures for handling patients with rabies could be carried out early and transmission primarily to medical personnel could be minimized. (san)

So far, the Balinese indigenous wisdom such as Tri Hita Karana concept has been introduced to international community. This time, through Bali World Culture Forum (BWCF), Bali will try to offer another concept namely Tri Kaya Parisudha to a global audience.

“If so far we have adopted various external cultural elements, now we should be able to ‘give’ something to international community. We will offer one of Bali’s indigenous wisdoms known as Tri Kaya Parisudha (TKP) in Bali World Culture Forum,” said Chairman of BWCF Steering Committee, Wayan Geriya, Tuesday (Jun 7) in the office of Bali Cultural Services.

Meanwhile, Bali World Culture Forum will be opened along with the 33rd Bali Arts Festival (BAF) and 11th national Utsawa Dharma Gita (UDG) by the President of the Republic of Indonesia on Friday (Jun 10) night in Bali Art Center. There are two agendas of BWCF, namely seminars and field visits to sites currently becoming the world heritage nomination. For the activity, it has been invited keynote speakers of UNESCO and other speakers from the United States, Denmark, India, Australia, plus national and local speakers of Bali.

Governor of Bali is also asked to be a resource person

to present the subject on Bali’s culture based development.

“BWCF will be attended by 50 representatives of the world delegation, 50 representatives of national delegation and 100 participants from Bali,” he said.

Geriya added that TKP was an ideal concept encouraging us to have good thoughts (manacika), good words (wacika) and good deeds (kayika). The indigenous wisdom we had, added the humanist Geriya, should be highlighted and offered to international community as a capital to seize opportunities and anticipate the evolving issues.

Through the embodiment of TKP concept, we would expect some sorts of contribution to the progress of the world.

For Bali, it was expected to drive a revitalization effort because theoretically it had been very good and ideal. However, practically it had not been implemented maximally.

Eme rg e n c e o f e c o l o g i c a l damage, lack of respect for diversity, for example, occurred because we had not optimally implemented the kayika element in the TKP concept. “Through this event, we remind again the basic values of TKP that will be able to control us in thinking, saying and doing. In terms of praxis, the sublime concept is expected not to be fragile,” he added. (08)

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Bali News

International

3

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Museum of Buleleng apprehensive

No maintenance budget, historical objects turn damaged ATTENTION of government to museum in Buleleng can be said to be very lacking. For example, the Museum of Buleleng located on Jalan Veteran in Singaraja that stores numerous objects related to the history of Buleleng Regency really does not get attention from Buleleng government, both morally and materially. As a result, the museum is now alarming. Condition of buildings and the objects stored inside also turn damaged because they are not properly maintained.

Every day, the Buleleng Museum is always visited by tourists. The museum retains a number of historical objects closely associated with the birth of Singaraja City along with the development of Buleleng from pre-colonial era, colonial to modern times as today. For instance, the museum stores some sarcophagi found at a number of villages in North Bali. Those sarcophagi indicate that Buleleng region was inhabited by ancient men since hundreds of centuries ago. Interestingly, aside from the sarcophagi, the building also stores modern object namely the official car of Governor Mr. Pudja. It is a dumb witness of Singaraja City as the former capital of the Lesser Sunda.

Another modern object that has historical value is a typewriter of Anak Agung Pandji Tisna. He was a novelist in the era of New Literati of Indonesia. It is the typewriter used by Pandji Tisna to write the famous novels entitled Sukreni Gadis Bali (Sukreni, a Balinese

Girl) and I Swastha Setahun di Bedahulu (One-Year Living of Swastha at Bedahulu). Apart from classified into rare category, the typewriter of Tisna Pandji has proved that in Buleleng was ever born a great literati who was comparable to other great authors such as Sutan Takdir Alisyahbana, Marah Rusli and Merari Siregar.

Today, those relics are not well maintained because the museum does not have a definite source of funding. The income is practically only obtained from the sale of admission ticket or donation into the museum whose amount is not too much. Indeed, there are a number of donors who occasionally provide assistance in large amount. However, the donation is not obtained regularly. The fund acquired from the help of visitors and donors is only enough to hire the cleaning service attendant. “Automatically, we have no fund for maintaining the buildings and museum collections,” said one of the attendants in the

Museum of Buleleng.

The only hope is the assistance of Buleleng Regency. But unfortunately, the local government is not willing to allocate funds to the Museum of Buleleng on the grounds that the museum is managed by a foundation, namely North Bali Heritage Preservation Foundation (PWB). “Since the museum is managed by a foundation local government has never allocated a budget to support the museum’s operation,” said Chairman of the foundation who is also the former regent of Buleleng, Ketut Wirata Sindhu, after hearings with the Deputy Regent of Buleleng, Made Arga Pynatih, Tuesday (Jun 7).

As chairman of the foundation, Wirata Sindhu so far had been struggling for looking for funds to donors used to cover the museum operational cost. Besides, his party was also heavily looking for sponsors to promote the museum. However, the results were not optimal.

As consequence, condition of the

IBP/Ole

The current condition of the object stored in Buleleng Museum. museum was getting alarming. Due to the damage, the historic items stored in the room had been damaged. “Now, we manage this museum along with a hobbyist group who sets aside money to pay for the museum operations,” he said.

According to Wirata Sindhu, though the operational cost was not possible to be assisted by Buleleng Regency, he hoped government could

help the costs of cleaning service attendant employed in the museum.

With this effort, the museum environment could survive. “If government is unable to help the operational cost, we much appreciate if it could help the salary of cleaning service. There are always tourists visiting the museum every day. Then, cleaning service is required to maintain this environment,” he said. (ole/kmb)

Complained, lacking of blood stock Prevent customary conflict by sense of shame Tabanan (Bali Post)—

Shortage of blood stock begins to occur in Tabanan. Since the last few months, the supply of blood to the Blood Transfusion Unit of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) of Tabanan continued to decrease. As a result, officers were often distraught to serve the demand of blood for patients. So far, the blood supply only relied on blood donation from volunteers.

Treasurer of Tabanan Red Cross, Made Dwi Wahyuni, explained the average need of blood in Tabanan reached 300 bags per month. Of this amount, her party only relied on the supply from blood donation of people whose amount was only about 80 percent. “It’s our problem.

Our supply only sources from donors,” she said on Tuesday (Jun 7).

Due to lacking of supply, the officers often asked for supplies from outside the region like Denpasar.

According to Dwi Wahyuni, blood demand in Tabanan was high.

The request included all blood types, from A to O. Within a day, the average demand was above 5 bags. If there was no stock, the Red

Cross had to ask for a substitute donor from the patient’s family. The requirements, they should be healthy and eligible. “Therefore, we always encourage people to donate blood,” she said. Dwi added that mass blood donation, as the activity carried out by dozens of officers of Tabanan Police last Tuesday, was helpful enough for Red Cross in serving blood demand for residents.

Dwi explained the high demand for blood continued to occur throughout the year. Meanwhile, the Red Cross only relied on donors whose supply could not be ascertained. “We encourage more substitute donors if any patient demands for blood,” she said. So far, the lack of blood supply was mostly covered by the assistance from Denpasar.

Therefore, said Dwi, her party always held a socialization to each agency to conduct a mass blood donation. All costs of donor were on the account of Red Cross. After donating blood, the donors were given nutritious food to restore their stamina. The blood donation activity was handled and controlled by two physicians. (udi)

Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Now, customary dispute or issue has become a dynamic faced by customary village in Bali, especially in Gianyar. Conflict in customary village can surely be resolved by the customary village concerned, considering that government in this regard can only mediate to find out the solution. In addressing the customary problem, all parties are expected to have a sense of shame.

This was revealed by Deputy Regent of Gianyar, Dewa Made Sutanaya, before 271 Chiefs of Customary Village throughout Gianyar who participated in the training and socialization of decisions yielded by summit meeting of Bali Customary Village General Assembly in Cultural Center of Gianyar on Tuesday (Jun 7).

Existence of customary village played an important role in the progress of development. To that end, in resolving the existing customary problems, all parties were expected to have a sense of shame. Considering, small and trivial things could then break into customary issues making us ashamed to be seen by people from outside Bali, whereas we had been known as people who had valuable tradition and culture, he said.

Chief of Middle Assembly of Customary Village (MMDP) of Gianyar Regency, AA Gde Alit Asmara, added that in response to the emergence of a variety of customary conflicts was required an improvement of human resources of customary village chief for the empowerment of village to reach prosperity and security.

Meanwhile, Chief of Bali Cus-

tomary Village General Assembly (MDP), Jero Gede Putu Suwena Upadesha, explained that currently customary village encountered farragoes problems due to strong influence of various factors beyond the area of customary village. With the existence of superior institution namely MDP Bali, the customary village was expected to stand still, persistently maintain the spirit of Bali and act flexibly in realizing the single policy agreement of Bali (Bali mawacara) to reach the peaceful Bali. One of the measures made by the highest institution in Bali was socializing the results of MDP summit sessions in order they could then be forwarded by chief of customary village to the entire community and used as guidelines in creating orderliness of the village. (kmb16)

4

News

Thursday, June 9, 2011

International

NKorea test-launched short-range missile last week Associated Press Writer

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea tested a short-range missile last week in an apparent effort to improve its missile capabilities, a South Korean official said Wednesday amid renewed tension on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea threatened last week to attack South Korea to protest soldiers’ use of photos of Pyongyang’s ruling family as targets during firing drills. The threat is part of steady animosity between the divided Koreas, which spiked last year after two deadly attacks blamed on North Korea.

The North conducted a routine testlaunch of a KN-06 surface-to-air missile off its western coast sometime last week, the South Korean official said, requesting anonymity because the government isn’t officially confirming the launch.

The KN-06 is an upgraded version of KN-01 and KN-02 missiles, which have a range of about 75 miles (120 kilometers), and the launch appeared aimed at testing the new missile’s improved range and accuracy, the official said.

North Korea regularly conducts short-

range missile tests, and South Korea’s military says the North test-fired such missiles last year. South Korean media including Yonhap news agency also reported Wednesday about the North’s missile test.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that it hasn’t detected any suspicious activities by North Korea’s military.

The two Koreas are still technically at war, but relations between the countries plunged to one of their lowest points in decades following the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year and North Korea’s shelling of a South Korean border island in November.

A total of 50 South Koreans were killed.

North Korea has denied involvement in the warship sinking. It says the artillery barrage was provoked by South Korean firing drills on the island.

Demonstrators gather during a peaceful rally outside the Greek Parliament in Athens, on Sunday, June 5, 2011.

AP Photo/Dimitri Messinis

European banks not rushing to help Greece Agence France Presse

FRANKFURT – Eurozone banks aren’t rushing to contribute to a second rescue package for Greece, which is currently under discussion and could involve them agreeing to renew loans to Athens.

“Participation by private creditors should only take place if all other options have failed,” the German federation of private banks said Tuesday in a statement.

European political leaders, especially in Germany, have insisted however that private banks play a part in any new plans for Greece, which is being crushed by some 350 billion euros ($500 billion) in debt.

Given a lack of acceptable options, “it looks increasingly likely that the (credit) rollover idea is the way forward,” ING strategist Padhraic Garvey said.

On Monday, European Central Bank

(ECB) president Jean-Claude Trichet told Canadian television CBC such a solution would be “appropriate” because it would not mean an official restructuring of Greece’s debt, which the ECB is opposed to.

But exchanging old bonds for new ones with an identical face value would mean an “instantaneous” loss for banks because the value of Greek bonds has been marked down on money markets, Garvey noted. He estimated that 75 percent of European banks would have to agree to the scheme for it to work, and 90 percent “would really be required in order to make a rollover a real success.” European governments, which own stakes in some banks, could be tempted to “influence” them, Berenberg Bank chief economist Holger Schmieding noted. “If their countries ask them to hold onto Greek bonds, they will,” he told a media briefing in Frankfurt.

AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE

South Korea’s K1 tank (C) and US Bradley armored vehicles (back) participate in a joint military drill between South Korea and the US in Paju near the inter-Korean border on June 8, 2011 aimed at deterring North Korea’s military threat.

Humala seeks to reassure Peru mining companies on tax Reuters

LIMA – Leftist President-elect Ollanta Humala tried to soothe fears of companies in Peru’s vast mining sector on Tuesday, saying he would negotiate taxing their windfall profits instead of imposing a new levy unilaterally.

Humala, a former army officer who narrowly beat right-wing lawmaker Keiko Fujimori in Sunday’s vote, has ditched his most radical proposals since losing the 2006 election and recast himself as a conciliatory leader.

But he says mining companies whose profits have swollen on lofty global commodities prices should fund social programs in a country where a third of people are poor despite a decade-long economic boom.

“In principle there was a political consensus during the campaign to charge a windfall profits tax on miners,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“The tax rate we need to talk about with companies, taking their profit margins into account.”

Some companies have bristled at the proposal, saying it would encourage them to build mines elsewhere and jeopardize $40 billion in mining projects the government of departing President Alan Garcia has lined up for the next decade.

Before Humala spoke, top miner Southern Copper said it was re-evaluating $2 billion in projects for Peru. “We are in a holding pattern,” Southern Copper Chief Executive Oscar Gonzalez told Reuters. “Until we see what measures the new government will take ... we will be waiting.”

OTHERS MOVE AHEAD

Gonzalez did not specify if the $2 billion in mining projects under review includes Tia

Maria — a $1 billion copper project previously put on hold because of stiff opposition from farmers worried about water shortages. Humala, who is well-liked in the poor provinces, has said he will work to end social conflicts over natural resource projects that have plagued companies.

More than 200 isolated towns in Peru have organized to stop new mines from being built, saying they will cause pollution or fail to bring direct economic benefits. Unlike Southern Copper, other companies have said they are more confident about investing to expand.

AP Photo/Karel Navarro

President-elect Ollanta Humala, right, shakes hands with his former presidential candidate rival Keiko Fujimori after a meeting in Lima, Peru, Monday June 6, 2011.

Humala won Peru’s presidency in a bitterly fought runoff with the daughter of disgraced ex-President Alberto Fujimori.

International

Activities

Thursday, June 9, 2011

5

Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center offers “Culinary Indulgence” IBP

DENPASAR - At Jempiring Restaurant - Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center , her trained chefs take pleasure in creating scrumptious meals for our June’s 2011 F&B promotion which entitled with Culinary Indulgence.

At this June, Jempiring restaurant offered you the special menu with the Chef’s special recipe. For food, our kitchen team has prepared a mouthwatering appetizer Maccaroni Soup, Maccaroni Soup with Mushroom Button and Chicken.

Continuing with the tempting main course Fried Gurami with Sweet Soya Sauce, A Fried Gurame with Sweet Soya Sauce Served with Steam Rice. Then sweetened with the sugary dessert Cape Orange Pudding with Strawberry Ice Cream ,The Greatest Combination of Orange Taste Pudding with Strawberry Ice Cream on Top .

The delicious food promotions will also accompanied with the freshen two options of beverages. The frappe collection entitled with Hazelnut Cookies Frappe, The Hazelnut, Almond, Vanilla, Espresso, Milk as Delicious Smooth Combination to Taste and for your health needs we offer the healthy drink entitled with Legrass, The Tasted of Perfect Mix Blended of Blue Curacao, Lemon Juice, Lemongrass and Lime Leave with a Splash of Sprite.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

News Russian spacecraft blasts off for space station Associated Press Writer

TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO/AHMAD GHARABLI

Armed Yemeni tribesmen loyal to dissident tribal leader Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar inspect damage at his house in Sanaa on June 7, 2011 while anti-government protesters demanded a swift transfer of power from Ali Abdullah Saleh as his deputy said the veteran Yemeni president would return within days after surgery in Riyadh for blast injuries.

US officials: Yemen leader heavily burned in blast Associated Press Writer

SANAA, Yemen – President Ali Abdullah Saleh was burned over 40 percent of his body and suffered bleeding in the brain from last weekend’s attack on his palace, U.S. officials said Tuesday, indicating his wounds were worse than initially reported. The revelation casts doubts on a quick return to Yemen and spells a deepening power vacuum.

In the wake of Saleh’s evacuation to Saudi Arabia for treatment, Yemen’s violence escalated, with government troops battling Islamic militants and opposition tribesmen in two southern cities on Tuesday. The military said it killed 30 militants who were among a group that took over the city of Zinjibar last week amid the country’s turmoil.

The United States fears that alQaida’s branch in Yemen — one of the terror network’s most active, blamed for two attempted anti-U.S. attacks — will take advantage of the chaos to strengthen its base in the country.

Washington and Saudi Arabia are pushing Yemeni officials to seize the opportunity of Saleh’s evacuation to immediately begin a transfer of power and formation of a new government. The U.S. ambassador in Sanaa spoke with Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is acting president, to press the American view, State Department spokes-

man Mark Toner told reporters in Washington.

Toner said he wasn’t sure how long Saleh would undergo treatment in Saudi Arabia, or whether he still planned on returning. But he said Yemen needed to move forward in the meantime. “We need to see all sides moving forward on a constructive basis,” he said.

Friday’s attack on Saleh’s palace compound came amid two weeks of battles in Sanaa between government forces and opposition tribesmen determined to drive him from power. The fighting pushed the impoverished country closer to civil war after four months of street protests by hundreds of thousands of Yemenis failed to oust Saleh, who has been in power for nearly 33 years.

On Monday, Hadi said Saleh, in his late 60s, was improving after a series of operations in Saudi Arabia and would return home “within days.” If Saleh were to return, it would almost certainly

re-ignite the fighting in the capital, which is only barely being contained by a Saudi-brokered cease-fire.

But the revelations by U.S. officials suggested Saleh was in no condition to return soon. Three officials said Saleh, in his late 60s, had burns over 40 percent of his body and bleeding in his skull. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Yemeni officials have said Saleh suffered heavy burns on his face, neck and chest. One of the operations in Saudi Arabia was to remove wood fragments embedded in his chest.

Yemeni officials have said a rocket hit a mosque in the presidential palace compound where Saleh and his senior leadership and several hundred others were praying. At least 11 guards were killed and more than 150 people wounded. The strike was a devastating blow to Saleh’s top circle of power.

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan – A Russian Soyuz craft lit up the starry skies of the southern Kazakh steppe early Wednesday as it blasted off to carry a three-man crew for a mission to the International Space Station that will take in the U.S. shuttle’s farewell voyage.

Russian cosmonaut Sergei Volkov, NASA’s Michael Fossum, and Satoshi Furukawa of Japan’s JAXA space agency will spend almost two days squeezed into the cramped Soyuz capsule before docking with the space station, where they will remain until mid-November.

By being present on the space station as the shuttle performs its final voyage, Fossum and fellow NASA astronaut Ron Garan will play leading roles in the closing act of the program.

“They’re going to be very proud to be part of the last shuttle dock mission. It’s obviously going to be a sad time for all of us to see the end of the program,” said NASA colleague Jeff Williams, who accompanied Fossum’s family during their stay in Baikonur.

Overnight, however, all attention was on the spectacle of the simple and powerful Soyuz performing its duties.

At 2:15 a.m Wednesday

(2015 GMT Tuesday), the ferocious roar of rockets echoed around the desolate expanses of the Russian-leased Baikonur space launch site as the Soyuz capsule was propelled into heavens, delighting the astronauts’ families, friends and colleagues.

Furukawa gave a thumbs-up sign as the rocket charged into low orbit at speeds approaching 14,000 miles per hour (23,000 kilometers per hour), and a soft toy began to float, indicating zero gravity.

“We feel just great,” Volkov said in answer to a question from mission control outside Moscow.

Within seconds, the phosphorous white intensity of the heavens above the Central Asian plains faded and the Soyuz blended into the stars.

Among the spectators at the viewing platform was JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who last year also did a six-month stint on the space station.

Speaking after the launch, he said Furukawa’s mission could serve to lift his country’s spirits after the earthquake that earlier this year devastated swathes of Japan.

“Now in Japan, there is not a lot of good news around, but I hope that by seeing Satoshi going up, the young people can feel they have a better future,” Noguchi said.

President...

From page 1 This year, the Bali Art Festival is participates by artists from Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, Japan, Australia, India, Thailand, and Indonesia as the host.

On Saturday, the festival‘s parade will start from the office of

the Denpasar Mayor at 4 pm local time and end at the Art Center at 5 pm.

The Festival will feature a total of 334 art and cultural performances by involving 15,000 artists at the Denpasar Art Center, from June 10 to July 9, 2011.

Completed 90 percent...

From page 1 “Hopefully, we get blessing by participating in this BAF, at least we can increase our customers,” he said while arranging the leased booth. Related to the rental price of the booth, Agung claimed there was an increase in price over the previous year. For stand located in the western side of Ksiraarnawa Building, the rental price was IDR 4 million. Increase in the rental prices surely had an impact on the increase in the selling price of the products.

Another tenant, Dewa Ayu Suartini, admitted the selling price could be more expensive to cover the amount spent during the exhibition. “Probably, the selling price of our product will rise, too,” she said.

Nevertheless, she remained optimistic that by participating in the exhibition during the BAF she would be able to increase the growth of her business, especially in terms of product promotion. (bit)

Indonesia Today

International

Thursday, June 9, 2011

7

Australia halts live cattle exports to Indonesia Agence France-Presse

SYDNEY – Australia on Wednesday suspended all live cattle exports to Indonesia for up to six months after a public outcry following shocking images of mistreatment in slaughterhouses.

AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

Greenpeace forest campaigner Zulfahmi wears a shirt with an illustration of a Barbie doll holding a chainsaw during a press conference in Jakarta on June 8, 2011 demanding Mattel stop destroying rainforests for toy packaging.

Greenpeace accuses Barbie of destroying Indonesia rainforests Reuters

JAKARTA - Greenpeace said on Wednesday it had evidence that Barbie doll packaging comes from Indonesian rainforests, accusing toy manufacturers such as Mattel and Walt Disney Co of contributing to the country’s rapid deforestation.

On Tuesday, Greenpeace activists dressed as Ken dolls rappelled down the side of Mattel headquarters near Los Angeles to unfurl a banner saying Barbie packaging contributes to rainforest destruction.

The massive pink-and-blue sign on the Mattel building outside Los Angeles featured a frowning Ken declaring: “Barbie, its over. I don’t date girls that are into deforestation.”

“Barbie is trashing rainforests and pushing critically-endangered wildlife, like tigers, towards extinction,” said Bustar Maitar, head of

Greenpeace’s campaign to save the forests in Indonesia, in Jakarta.

“Mattel, which makes Barbie, must stop wrapping the world’s most famous toy in rainforest destruction,” he added.

Greenpeace said its investigators used forensic testing that showed Barbie’s packaging comes from Indonesian rainforests.

Activists also used ‘in country’ investigation, mapping data and traced company certificates to show that Mattel, along with other toy companies including Disney, are using packaging produced by Indonesian paper firm Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), which Greenpeace accuses of destroying rainforests.

Mattel, the world’s biggest toy company by revenue, said in a written statement released to Reuters in Los Angeles that it had been in communication with Greenpeace on a variety of paper sourcing issues.

It was not immediately clear what percentage of Mattel’s paper packaging comes from APP. Responding to Greenpeace, APP said its products meet the legal requirements for all countries, including Indonesia.

“It is our responsibility to adhere strictly with these laws, not to satisfy the unreasonable and groundless demands of a foreign-based NGO,” the statement added.

“We believe it’s irresponsible to play on the emotions of children and their parents to rehash old, discredited allegations in order to attack the industry of a developing nation.”

APP added that it has set the goal of 100 percent sustainable plantation pulp wood by 2015.

Greenpeace said the activities in Los Angeles and Jakarta mark the start of a worldwide campaign to stop toy companies driving deforestation in Indonesia.

Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the trade, worth Aus$318 million a year (US$340 million), would not start again until safeguards were in place to ensure animal welfare in its northern neighbour.

“We need to establish sufficient safeguards to ensure exporters provide verifiable and transparent supply chain assurance up to, and including, the point of slaughter for every consignment that leaves Australia,” he said.

“It will take some time to ensure that we have got supply chain assurance in place.

“I didn’t want to put a timeframe on it (but) the current suspension is up to six months. It is important that industry use that period to work through and come up with supply chain assurance.”

The blanket ban comes a week after Canberra suspended live beef exports to 11 Indonesian abattoirs that featured in a report by Australian state television which showed gruesome images of cattle being abused.

Footage included kicking, hitting, gouging of eyes and breaking of tails as Indonesian workers attempted to force cattle into slaughter boxes, putting Canberra under pressure from animal welfare groups. Lyn White, the Animals Australia campaigner who shot the abuse aired by public broadcaster ABC, called for a wider ban on Australian live exports.

“We’ll continue campaigning that the broader trade should be

banned,” she told ABC radio.

“Because we’re still sending animals to about a dozen other countries where there are no laws to protect them from cruelty.”

Sixty percent of Australia’s lucrative live cattle trade goes to Indonesia, with about 500,000 animals sent there each year. While Jakarta has vowed to investigate, it’s concedes there are no regulations that could be used to sanction those found to be abusing animals.

“We’re fully aware that we have to improve animal welfare in our abattoirs,” Indonesian Agriculture ministry livestock department Chief Prabowo Respatiyo Caturroso said Wednesday.

He added that Jakarta may buy more beef from New Zealand to make up for shortfalls.

“Surely, if Australia stops the export, New Zealand is ready to export more beef to Indonesia,” he said, although this would mean frozen meat as New Zealand does not export cows for slaughter.

The Australian cattle industry has expressed shock at the treatment of its animals in Indonesia, but concerns are growing about the impact of a ban.

Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association president Rohan Sullivan said it would devastate the industry and hurt farming families.

“If we stop exports to Indonesia, we are walking away from the millions of dollars that Australian producers have invested in infrastructure, training and improved animal husbandry,” he said.

AT&T wins telecom license in Indonesia AT&T said Wednesday it had won an operating license in Indonesia, making the US company the first foreign telecom operator to gain direct access to the rapidly expanding Asian country.

AT&T said the Multimedia Services Operator (MSO) license would allow it to directly deliver services to multinational corporate customers and expand its range of services in the country of 240 million people.

“This underscores our strategy

of being a trail-blazer in entering new and emerging markets to support our global... customers wherever their business takes them,” AT&T ASEAN general manager Choo Hock Lye said in a statement.

“Many of our key multinational customers have told us they need to be in Indonesia, and while AT&T has been operating a successful business here, the new license will allow us to deliver an array of new services and make it much easier for us to do busi-

ness with multinational customers.”

The company has about 80 corporate clients in Indonesia through a local joint venture, but has not been licensed to operate on its own until now.

AT&T said Indonesia was “one of the world’s fastest growing countries” with GDP growth predicted at 6.4 percent this year and an investment growth rate of 13 percent.

“You’re seeing a general trend in the region where countries are making moves to open up,” AT&T senior

vice president of marketing and global strategy Roman Pacewicz told Dow Jones Newswires.

“Any Asian market is a market we look closely at and evaluate.”

AT&T’s Asia-Pacific business including India and Malaysia has posted annual double-digit growth over the past five years, compared to relatively flat total business revenue across the whole company.

The US giant won licenses in India in 2006 and Malaysia last year.

AT&T has invested more than $4 billion since 2006 in international network, systems and applications, and provides IP-based services to 182 countries.

Communications ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto said AT&T was required to make commitments to invest in Indonesia as part of the terms of the license.

“They see Indonesia as a lucrative market with very positive economic growth,” he told AFP.

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International

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Bali Today Bali‘s bamboo handicraft exports down Antara

DENPASAR - Bali‘s bamboo handicraft exports in the first four months of 2011 declined 11.42 percent to US$3.58 million from the same period last year.

The bamboo handicraft exports contributed 2.1 percent of the province‘s overall exports reaching US$168.13 million in the four months through April, Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Bureau at the Bali Provincial Government I Ketut Teneng said here on Sunday.

However, he did not elaborate on the reason for the drop.

“Bamboo handicraft is among the 14 types of handicraft goods produced by small industries in Bali.

Overall, handicraft exports contributed 38.31 percent of the total nonoil/non-gas exports over the period,” he said.

He said bamboo handicraft exports grew by an average of 1.97 percent in each of the past five years.

Last year, bamboo handicraft exports contributed US$9.51 million to the province‘s foreign exchange coffers.

In 2006, bamboo handicraft exports stood at US$12.87 million. The figure fell 32.05 percent to US$8.75 million in 2007, and jumped 86.8 percent to US$16.29 million in 2008.

However, the figure fell to US$11.34 million in 2009.

Bamboo handicraft is mostly produced at Kintamani about 45 km northeast of the provincial capital Denpasar. Australia is among the market for Balinese bamboo handicraft.

Workers making bamboo handicrafts. Bali‘s bamboo handicraft exports in the first four months of 2011 declined 11.42 percent to US$3.58 million from the same period last year.

IBP/Net

Miracle Birth of Sea Turtles at Nikko Antara

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

A man holding baby sea turtle that ready to be released to the ocean to preserve its population. Nikko Bali Resort and Spa recently welcomed 50 baby turtles of the Olive Ridley species – the most abundant sea turtle in the world, estimated that there are around several hundred of thousand of female Olive Ridleys today.

NUSA DUA - Welcoming a new life to the world is always a miraculous event to anyone, especially when it involves endangered species such as the sea turtles.

After nurturing a sea turtle nest found on the beach a couple of months back, Nikko Bali Resort and Spa recently welcomed 50 baby turtles of the Olive Ridley species – the most abundant sea turtle in the world, estimated that there are around several hundred of thousand of female Olive Ridleys today.

These cute little turtles hatched from a nest found in March and out of 81 eggs, there are still 29 that haven’t hatched yet.

The hatching period of these eggs can take up to 60 days and temperature of the sand around the nests determines the sex of the sea turtles that hatched from it. The hotter the sand, the less incubation time and the more female sea turtles will hatch.

These babies are planned to be released back to the sea on Tuesday, May 24th at the beach of the resort, involving

their in-house-guests – under the supervision of the Badan Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, May 19th, another nest was found not far from the existing nest with more than 90 eggs in it suspected to be from the same species.

These eggs are expected to hatch in July.

Nikko Bali Resort and Spa also discovered two turtle nests last year from the same species and released them back to the ocean in June and August of 2010.

Nikko Bali Resort & Spa is a 5-star resort hotel located atop a 40-meter cliff in Nusa Dua and offers a 180-degree view of the Indian Ocean.

The 389-room resort, wholly owned by Indonesia’s PT Caterison Sukses, includes a Presidential Suite and three Royal Suites. It caters to business and leisure Travelers, as well as families visiting the tropical Indonesian island of Bali.

In 2011, Nikko Bali Resort and Spa became the first ever resort in Bali to receive the prestigious award “Eco Hotel” issued by an international testing, inspection and certification organization, TUV Rheinland Indonesia.

International

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Balinese Culture Ikan Bali (Bali Fish)

Traditional Sports:

Get the Experience as the Locals Do Aside from sightseeing to nature, leisure experience can also be obtained by enjoying some intriguing local traditions. There are light daily activities, hobbies, traditional sports and so forth.

Many people do this just for getting the experience, not for the end result.

Balinese community has several traditional sports and games.

Probably, the only one display of those sports and games can be found in the annual implementation of Bali Arts Festival (BAF).

It poses one of the media used to preserve and promote the treasure of cultural heritages together with other cultural elements.

Such an endeavor is required to be introduced to modern generation. If they never know about those sports they will never appreciate theirs. Moreover, they now tend to be attracted by modern games that sometimes make their parents worried on account of characters played in the video games or the like. They may turn less patient or when having no money to play the games it kindles them to commit crime.

No matter small it is, it remains hazardous. However, it does not necessarily mean that modern games must be rejected. The key is that children should be persistently under parental control to

minimize the negative impact because it also contains educational value.

Meanwhile, traditional games will teach them how to get in touch with nature, prepare the tools, cooperate with others and tolerate friends. Here, their patience is required until the toys can be completed. In addition, their relationship will establish togetherness in the level of their understanding. Since most traditional games are played outside the house, so they can know better their surrounding environment and friends. These values enable them to enrich their outlook.

There are a variety of traditional sports and games such as stilts, sack race, coconut-shell clog, tug-of-war, pulling arecasheath and many others. When managed well, these traditional can create a good business.

Craftsmen, for instance, can make the tools and their replica that may be taken advantage for souvenir by tourists. Moreover, if they are designed with the touch of Balinese ornamental styles they are going to give added value.

In addition, the games like stilts (tajog) can become an optional attraction for tourists. Getting involved in the games of

course will drive a pleasure of its own. Try change the orientation.

If the games or sports usually played by the locals, let’s share them with our guests. Then, if the games usually played at smooth or even land can be played with a slight challenge such as by crossing shallow-watered river or even on the beach, near the edges of waves. With different condition and background along this challenge, it certainly becomes an attractive and unique adventure.

Without doubt, there are more traditional games and sports that need exploring and discovering.

These traditions actually are potential products becoming attractive games offered to visitors.

While preserving, we can also offer something different from modern games offered by other destinations. If Bali will ‘go green’ with its organic agriculture, its tradition can also offer ‘eco-friendly’ attraction where it is unnecessary to exploit the nature excessively but it even can go hand in hand with the preservation of local tradition. One day, the treasures of traditional games and sports could be coalesced into a ‘traditional games park.’

Ultimately, let’s share the fun of our traditions by involving visitors in the experience as the locals do. (BTN/punia)

Ingredients * 1 Fish, about 650-900g dressed Weight.

Preferably sea bass or Mackerel * 1 t Salt * Oil, for deep frying * 2 T Margarine or oil * 2 sm Onions, sliced * 1 t Sambal Oelek * 1/2 t Laos * 1/2 t Lemon grass * 3 T Tamarind juice * Pinch of ground ginger * 1 t Brown sugar * 1 T Sweet soy sauce Directions Cut fish into serving portions and rub salt all over.

Feep-fry and drain on absorbent paper.

Heat oil and saute sliced onions until lightly brown.

Add sambal oelek, laos, lemon grass, tamarind juice, ginger, brown sugar and soy sauce. Heat thoroughly.

Place fried fish in deep serving dish and pour sauce over it. Serve with rice. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Indonesian Coconut Beef Ingredients * 1 1/2 lb Boneless sirloin steak, -trimmed * 3 tb Corn oil * 1 lg Spanish onion, sliced * 1 Garlic clove, crushed * 1 ts Ground ginger * 1 ts Ground cumin * 1 ts Ground coriander * 1 ts Chili seasoning * 2/3 c Shredded coconut * 2 ts Light-brown sugar * 1 tb Lemon juice * 1 1/4 c Beef stock * Thin slivers red bell pepper * Chopped green chilies * Small onion slices

Directions Cut steak in 1/2" thick strips.

Heat oil in a saucepan. Add Spanish onion slices and garlic and fry gently until soft. Add beef and fry, stirring, until brown.

Add spices to beef and cook 2 minutes. Add coconut, brown sugar, lemon juice and beef stock; stir well. Simmer gently, uncovered, 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until mixture is thickened and dry. Stir mixture more frequently towards end of cooking time to prevent sticking. Garnish with slivers of bell pepper, green chilies and small slices onion. (http://asiarecipe.com) C.045 ibp

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Destinations

International

Geger Beach IBP

Just heading towards Nusa Dua, on the intersection near the BTDC, turn right to Siligita road, follow the road, you will see a small statue on an intersection and notice the sign board to Geger and Sawangan Beach direction where it will lead you to the main road on which Bali Golf Resort Nusa Dua is located, and you’ll pass one of the newest hotel in Bali: St Regis as well. Then you’ll arrive at Geger Beach.

Geger Beach, Nusa Dua, has a thick white sand so thick and rich that an international beach games in 2008 with venues mostly held in Kuta Beach decided that Geger should ‘share’ the white sand so the volleyball players would fall on a comfy bouncy sand instead of soft brown and hard sand like Kuta Beach.

Because of the rolling surf, Geger beach is popular with the surfing community. The beach is just 5 minutes away from the Nusa Dua beach resort and hotel complex, which also contains a golf course. Most of those staying n Nusa Dua have no idea of this little gem just down the road, which remains a very relaxing beach in Bali.

International Bali Post Classifieds Contact us

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

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

Thursday, June 9, 2011

BUSINESS IMF cuts Japan forecast, calls for debt measures Agence France-Presse

TOKYO – The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday lowered its 2011 growth forecast for Japan and called on the world’s third largest economy to adopt “more ambitious” measures to tackle its huge debt.

The IMF cut its growth forecast for Japan in 2011 to minus 0.7 percent from the plus 1.4 percent it had predicted in April after the country was hit by its biggest recorded earthquake and a devastating tsunami.

However, the fund said it expected Japan to stage a rebound after the summer and upped its 2012 GDP growth forecast to 2.9 percent from an earlier estimate of 2.1 percent.

“Japan’s economy continues to face headwinds from the earthquake but should start to recover strongly in the second half of the year,” the IMF said in a statement.

“The initial shock of the disaster was severe, but swift and decisive action by the government and the Bank of Japan helped to limit its impact on the economy,” it said.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the government passed an emergency budget and the BoJ injected a record amount of cash into the banking system, and set up a lending scheme for banks in disaster-hit areas.

The impact of the earthquake,

tsunami and a subsequent nuclear emergency at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant plunged Japan into its worst crisis since World War II, with nearly 24,000 people dead or missing.

The economy slipped into a technical recession, after many of Japan’s biggest firms faced massive production disruption amid power shortages and broken supply chains.

Analysts have meanwhile warned that the costs of reconstruction threaten to further pressure a public debt that, at around 200 percent of GDP, is the industrialised world’s highest.

The IMF said given Japan’s fiscal pressures it could finance reconstruction work with various tax measures and needed to implement a more aggressive plan to lower its debt to maintain global investor confidence.

“Japan needs a more ambitious medium-term strategy for bringing down public debt to maintain confidence in public finances,” the IMF said, adding that this could be helped by increasing the five per-

cent consumption tax.

“Given the limited scope for cutting expenditures, the fiscal adjustment strategy should rely on comprehensive tax reforms centered on a gradual increase in the consumption tax.”

The fund said comprehensive fiscal and structural reforms in Japan “would also benefit the rest of the world” in terms of better stability in government bond markets and helping reduce global interest rates.

Ratings agencies have warned that reconstruction costs from the March 11 disasters had raised pressure on the public purse.

Japan, the world’s third largest economy, has one of the planet’s lowest birth rates and highest life expectancies.

Its population of 127 million started shrinking several years ago, reducing the labour pool and decreasing the affordability of welfare obligations.

Political wrangling has also increased doubts over the government’s ability to formulate policy to address the situation.

German trade slumps in April Agence France-Presse

FRANKFURT – Trade between Germany and the rest of the world slumped in April, official data showed on Wednesday, underpinning forecasts for a slowdown in global activity in the middle part of the year.

German exports fell by 5.5 percent from the previous month while imports declined by 2.5 percent, the national statistics office said in a statement.

Germany, the world’s second largest exporter after China, posted a seasonal and calendar-

corrected trade surplus of 12 billion euros ($17.6 billion).

The total value of exports came to 85.9 billion euros, the corrected figures showed, while the country imported goods worth 73.9 billion euros.

Figures provided by the German central bank that give a broader picture of trade showed a current account surplus of 8.8 billion euros in April, down sharply from 12 billion in the same month a year earlier.

After enjoying a very strong first quarter, the German economy, Europe’s biggest, is

forecast to slow a bit in coming months but still post a strong annual growth rate of around 3.0 percent according to private economists.

Falling unemployment should lead to stronger domestic consumption, a pillar of growth that has been less reliable than exports in the past.

A breakdown of the figures released on Wednesday showed that the biggest annual increase in both exports and imports by Germany was to countries outside the European Union, with gains of 18.6 percent and 28.2 percent, respectively.

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Obama presses Europe, pledges help for Greek crisis Reuters

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged European countries and bondholders to prevent a “disastrous” default

by Greece and pledged U.S. support to help tackle the country’s debt crisis.

Obama, whose political prospects have suffered from persistently high unemployment and ballooning U.S. debt, has pinpointed the euro zone crisis as one foreign “headwind” hitting the U.S. economy.

After a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he stressed the importance of German “leadership” on the issue — a hint that he expects Berlin to help — while expressing sympathy for the political difficulties European Union countries face in helping a struggling member state.

“I’m confident that Germany’s leadership, along with other key actors in Europe, will help us arrive at a path for Greece to return to growth, for this debt to become more manageable,” Obama said.

“But it’s going to require some patience and some time. And we have pledged to cooperate fully in working through these issues, both on a bilateral basis but also through international and financial institutions like the IMF.” A proposal for a second Greek bailout package worth 80 billion (117 billion dollars) to 100 billion (146 billion dollars) euros over three years was taking shape, euro zone sources said.

Merkel, under political pressure at home to avoid being the financial savior for other struggling European countries, said Germany understood its role.

“We’ve seen that the stability of the euro as a whole will also be influenced if one country is in trouble,” she said. “So we do see clearly our European responsibility and we’re shouldering that responsibility, together with the IMF.” With U.S. unemployment at 9.1 percent, Obama has blamed outside forces for impeding the economy, including high fuel prices, the earthquake in Japan and the euro zone crisis.

“America’s economic growth depends on a sensible resolution of this issue,” he said. “It would be disastrous for us to see an uncontrolled spiral and default in Europe because that could trigger a whole range of other events.”

Obama said Greece had to make structural reforms and instill greater transparency in its economy.

But his main message was aimed at EU countries — and, by default, wealthy Germany — to step up to help Athens.

“Other countries in the euro zone are going to have to provide them a backstop and support,” he said.

“And frankly, people who are holding Greek debt are going to have to make some decisions, working with the European countries in the euro zone, about how that debt is managed.”

The euro debt problems dominated discussions between Merkel and Obama, who also touched on foreign policy issues such as the wars in Afghanistan and Libya.

Obama welcomed Merkel at a formal ceremony on the White House lawn with firing cannons and military musicians adding to the pomp of an official visit.

Later in the evening Obama and his wife Michelle hosted Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer, for a state dinner, where the president awarded her the “Medal of Freedom” — the highest U.S. civilian honor.

Obama noted the event, held open-air in the Rose Garden to take advantage of a warm Washington evening, was the first such state dinner of his presidency for a European leader.

“Tonight we honor Angela Merkel, not for being denied her freedom, or even for obtaining her freedom, but for what she achieved when she gained her freedom,” Obama said.

In public the two leaders referred to each other by their first names and joked about looking different from their predecessors. Obama is the first black U.S. president and Merkel is the first female chancellor of Germany.

Their show of partnership did not mask differences between them — and Libya has been one of those issues in the past.

The United States cautiously endorsed military action in Libya while Germany confounded its NATO partners by refusing to take part.

Obama said he would expect Germany to help once Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was gone and recovery work was needed in the North African country. He thanked Merkel for Germany’s stepped-up support in Afghanistan, which he said had freed up other NATO members to be active in Libya.

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Entertainment

International

Richard Gere to visit Buddhist sites in S. Korea Agence France Presse

SEOUL – Hollywood star Richard Gere plans to visit South Korea this month to promote his photo exhibition and tour Buddhist temples, a religious official said Wednesday.

Gere plans to tour Bulguksa temple in the ancient capital of Gyeongju, 370 km (230 miles) southeast of Seoul, and take part in an overnight stay programme at the UNESCO World Heritage site, said a spokesman for the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism.

“We are still in talks with Mr Gere to hammer out details... the final itinerary will be announced next week,” he told AFP. Gere — a Buddhist and longtime

AP Photo/Harry Hamburg

Rapper Ja Rule due to go to prison in NYC gun case Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Multiplatinum-selling rapper Ja Rule is set to go to prison, but he’s leaving fans with an album on the way. The rapper-actor — whose gravelly voice, thuggish tough talk and duets with R&B divas made him one of rap’s stars in the early 2000s — is set to be sentenced Wednesday to two years in a New York prison.

“My last day out,” he Tweeted Tuesday afternoon, adding that he was spending it at the movies with his family.

Ja Rule, 35, pleaded guilty in December to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, resolving a nearly four-year-old case.

Police said they found a loaded .40caliber semiautomatic gun in a rear door of his $250,000-plus Maybach sports car, which they’d said they’d stopped for speeding as he left a star-laden concert at Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre on July 22, 2007. Rap superstar Lil Wayne was arrested separately after headlining the same show. He later pleaded guilty to the same charge,

spending about eight months in a city jail last year.

“Laws are laws,” Ja Rule said Monday on “Good Day New York,” which airs on New York’s Fox 5 TV station. “There’s nothing I could really do but own up to the situation.” “You know, I try not to regret anything I do in life, because you go through life and you do things, and you man up to them. You own them,” he added.

Born Jeffrey Atkins, Ja Rule emerged as a hardcore rapper in the late 1990s but then became known for his collaborations with female pop singers, including Jennifer Lopez and Ashanti. He scored a best rap album Grammy Award nomination in 2002 with “Pain Is Love.” He also has appeared in movies, including the 2001 film “The Fast and the Furious” and 2003’s “Scary Movie 3.”

He’s recently been wrapping up a new album, “Pain Is Love 2,” but he told “Good Day New York” he’s also been trying to prepare himself mentally for prison. He lives in Upper Saddle River, N.J., with his wife and three children.

Actor, Richard Gere, chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Campaign for Tibet, is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 2, 2011.

campaigner for the rights of Tibetans — will also visit Seoul to promote an exhibition of photos he took in Tibet and at other Buddhist-related sites, the spokesman said.

Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported Gere will arrive in South Korea on June 20 and meet leaders of the Jogye order, the nation’s largest Buddhist sect.

The 61-year-old star of “Pretty Woman” and “Chicago” in 2000 sent a letter to then-South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung asking him to grant a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. The visit was not permitted.

South Korea has about 10 million Buddhists and 13.7 million Christians in its population of 48.6 million, according to the National Statistical Office.

“Super 8” director JJ Abrams (L), stars Elle Fanning and Joel Courtney, and producer Steven Spielberg introduce a clip from the film at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, June 5, 2011.

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Mystery surrounds “Super 8” in a summer of sequels Reuters

LOS ANGELES – Its pedigree could hardly be stronger — producer Steven Spielberg and sci-fi master J.J. Abrams. But “Super 8” arrives in North American movie theaters on Friday shrouded in such secrecy that it may prove a hard sell in a summer bursting with familiar superheroes and sequels.

The plot centers on a group of kids in a small Ohio town who spend the summer of 1979 making a home movie using the titular 8mm film format that was popular back then. They witness a train crash, which triggers a series of inexplicable events and disappearances.

Abrams, 44, wrote and directed the film, while Spielberg helped him shape the story.

But with no big stars and a trailer that does not show the sci-fi alien creature around whom the film revolves, the buzz for the $50 million picture has hardly been deafening.

Yet keeping that mystery element intact is exactly what Abrams wanted, much to the dismay of studio executives at Paramount Pictures.

“One of the fights we’ve had about selling the movie is how much do we tell? What do we show?” Abrams told Reuters. “There’s a feeling of ‘Well, if they don’t know it, then you

gotta show them everything so they understand it before they see it.’ “My feeling is that if you show them everything, they won’t want to go see it, so there’s a battle internally,” he said.

Abrams — who reinvigorated Paramount’s dormant “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible” franchises, and co-created the TV hit “Lost” — appears to have had the final say.

Industry website Deadline Hollywood called the “Super 8” marketing campaign a “bold gamble” given the pressure on Hollywood studios to deliver the biggest possible audiences on opening weekend. Deadline Hollywood reported this week that audience awareness of the film is lagging in key categories behind Warner Bros. upcoming comic book movie “Green Lantern” and Disney/Pixar’s “Cars 2” animated sequel” Paramount, as studios often do, is playing down opening-weekend expectations. The Hollywood Reporter said on Monday that the studio hopes it will earn $25 million to $30 million during its first three days of release across the United States and Canada.

That compares to a $56 million opening last weekend for 20th Century Fox’s “X-Men: First Class” and more than $90 million for Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” in May.

Science

International

Thursday, June 9, 2011

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Scientists unveil new mobile app to identify trees Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – If you’ve ever wondered what type of tree was nearby but didn’t have a guide book, a new smartphone app allows users with no formal training to satisfy their curiosity and contribute to science at the same time.

Scientists have developed the first mobile app to identify plants by simply photographing a leaf. The free iPhone and iPad app, called Leafsnap, instantly searches a growing library of leaf images amassed by the Smithsonian Institution. In seconds, it returns a likely species name, high-resolution photographs and information on the tree’s flowers, fruit, seeds and bark.

Users make the final identification and share their findings with the app’s growing database to help map the population of trees one mobile phone at a time.

Leafsnap debuted in May, covering all the trees in New York’s Central park and Washington’s Rock Creek Park. It has been downloaded more than 150,000 times in the first month, and its creators expect it to continue to grow as it expands to Android phones.

By this summer, it will include all the trees of the Northeast and eventually will cover all the trees of North America.

Smithsonian research botanist John Kress, who created the app with engi-

neers from Columbia University and the University of Maryland, said it was originally conceived in 2003 as a hightech aid for scientists to discover new species in unknown habitats. The project evolved, though, with the emergence of smartphones to become a new way for citizens to contribute to research.

“This is going to be able to populate a database of every tree in the United States,” Kress said. “I mean that’s millions and millions and millions of trees, so that would be really neat.”

It’s also the first real chance for citizens to directly access some of the science based on the nearly 5 million specimens kept by the U.S. National Herbarium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The collection began in 1848 and is among the world’s 10 largest plant collections.

Kress said it will allow users to easily learn about the plant diversity in their yards and parks. It also includes games and could be used to build lessons or scavenger hunts for schools.

This image provided by NASA shows the Sun unleashing a mediumsized solar flare, a minor radiation storm and a spectacular coronal mass ejection on June 7, 2011.

AP Photo/NASA

Solar flare erupts, creating spectacular images Associated Press Writer

GREENBELT, Md. – A medium-sized solar flare has erupted from the sun in an impressive display captured by NASA cameras.

Scientists say that the event won’t have a significant impact on Earth.

NASA says the flare peaked Tuesday and created a large cloud that appeared to cover almost half the surface of the sun. Images

were recorded by the orbiting satellite called the Solar Dynamics Observatory. A news release says solar energy released by the event should deliver a “glancing blow” to Earth’s magnetic field on Wednesday or Thursday.

But it’s not expected to cause a major impact here. The National Weather Service is predicting minor effects on satellites and weak impacts on some power grids.

AP Photo/Cliff Owen

W. John Kress, director, Consortium for Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet, curator and research scientist, Smithsonian Institute, displays his Leafsnap app on his iPhone along with tree leaf specimens, Thursday, April 28, 2011, at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum’s specimen storage room in Washington.

Nintendo out for all gamers with “Wii U” console Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES – Nintendo on Tuesday provided the first glimpse of a second-generation Wii console designed to dispel notions its system is not up to the standards of “hardcore” videogame players.

“Wii U” builds on the Japanese videogame titan’s record of hardware innovation with a controller that combines a tablet computerstyle touchscreen with toggles and buttons used for blockbuster shooter or action titles.

“The boundaries that once divided players are starting to be erased,” Nintendo chief executive Satoru Iwata said as the world got a look at the Wii U at the opening of the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. “For Nintendo, the goal of innovation is to serve every player.”

Nintendo did not reveal how much it planned to charge for the Wii U when the new consoles hit the market next year to battle with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3).

Major videogame studios such as Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, THQ and Square Enix are already on board crafting titles for the Wii U, according to Nintendo North America president Reggie Fils-Aime.

“It seems Nintendo heard the voices of the hardcore gamers,” said

Irrational Games studio co-founder Ken Levine, the creative force behind hit action game “BioShock.” A key feature to the Wii U controller is a 6.2-inch (16-centimeter) screen that displays maps or other information to complement game play, acts as a touchscreen game board and serves as a second monitor.

A forward-facing camera allows for online video chat with friends while playing with or against them

online using a television connected to a Wii U. A THQ game studio executive referred to the new console as the “Swiss Army knife” of consoles. “You won’t have to give up your game play when someone else comes in the room and wants to use the television,” Iwata said, referring to the way game action could be continued on a controller’s screen. “This device is designed to appeal to all people, particularly the most dedicated and serious players.”

AFP/Getty Images/File/Kevork Djansezian

Global president of Nintendo Satoru Iwata (L) president of Nintendo America Reggie Fils-Aime, speak during a news conference after the unveiling of the new Wii U game console at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Sport

International

Chubby Ronaldo apologises for missed chances in farewell Reuters

SAO PAULO - A chubby-looking Ronaldo said farewell to soccer in Brazil’s lacklustre 1-0 win over Romania in a friendly on Tuesday, missing three chances in the 15 minutes he was on the pitch. Fred, who started the match before making way with 15 minutes remaining in the first half for the former Brazil striker, scored the winner right in front of goal from Neymar’s low left cross in the 22nd minute.

Ronaldo, 34, retired in February saying he struggled to keep his weight in check for the rigours of top flight soccer due to a thyroid problem. The crowd at the Pacaembu were unhappy with Brazil’s second half performance in their last warm-up before defending the Copa America in Argentina next month, jeering the team towards the end and chanting Ronaldo’s name.

Brazil, held 0-0 by the Netherlands in Goiania on Saturday, had a promising first half and managed to set up the chubby “Phenomenon”, who played at walking pace, with three chances — but he missed them all. The striker, who played for both Milan clubs and Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid in a brilliant career, was inside the six-yard box ready to tap in Maicon’s low cross from the right but goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu blocked.

Robinho then set the unmarked Ronaldo up with an easier chance but the holder of a record 15 World Cup goals and two winners medals sliced the ball way over the top. Neymar then pulled the ball back from the goalline on the right and Ronaldo shot low bringing Tatarusanu to a good diving save.

“People, you are too much. Excuse me, I had goal chances and I didn’t manage to score in my last match, my last 15 minutes,” said Ronaldo, wrapped in a Brazilian flag, after a lap of honour of the Pacaembu where he played for his last club Corinthians.

“I can only thank you for all your support, all the love the Brazilian people have given me all these years,” he told the crowd from the centre circle at halftime. Romania’s best chance was a fierce free kick by Gabriel Muresan from 30 metres out that hit Victor’s bar midway through the first half REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

Germany’s Mario Gomez (2nd L) and Andre Schurrle (L) celebrate their victory against Azerbaijan during their Euro 2012 Group A qualifying soccer match in Baku, June 7, 2011.

Gomez, Ozil strike as Germany go 10 points clear Agence France Presse

BAKU – Germany went ten-points clear at the top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group on Tuesday as stars Mario Gomez and Mesut Ozil netted in a 3-1 win over minnows Azerbaijan.

Now only a mathematical chance remains of Joachim Loew’s side failing to qualify for next year’s finals, to be hosted by the Ukraine and Poland, as they picked up their seventh straight win in Group A. “I must pay the team a big compliment, I think we have put in a great season,” said Loew, who enjoyed his 47th win from 68 international as coach.

“After all, it is 24 days since the end of the German league season and the players are at their limits.

“Azerbaijan defended well, so ultimately, I’m very satisfied.”

Despite coming to Baku, near the Caspian Sea, with a depleted squad, the Germans still had enough young talent to comfort-

ably see off Azerbaijan and at 27years-old, captain Philipp Lahm was the oldest German on the pitch.

“Hard to believe that at 27, I was the oldest out there, but it shows the depth of young talent we have in the squad,” said Lahm, who was winning his 80th cap.

Real Madrid star Ozil opened the scoring with half an hour gone at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium when he latched onto a loose ball in the penalty area and curled his shot around diving goalkeeper Kamran Agayev.

The winger then turned provider for the second goal when he found plenty of space down the left flank and crossed the ball in for Gomez to drill his shot into the back of the

net on 41 minutes.

It was Gomez’s fourth goal in his last three games for Germany as the Bayern Munich star’s purple patch continues having netted 28 goals last season in the Bundesliga.

The hosts scored a consolation goal with time almost up when striker Murad Huseynov stabbed home his shot in the 89th minute after capitalising on a mistake by Germany defender Mats Hummels, who failed to get his header away.

But replacement Andre Schuerrle netted Germany’s third deep in added time after fellow sub Mario Goetze split the defence and after Gomez’s shot was saved, Schuerrle followed up. The Germans can wrap up qualification if they beat Austria in Gelsenkirchen on September 2.

Henderson headed for Liverpool Agence France Presse LONDON – Liverpool have won the race to sign promising Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson after the clubs agreed a transfer deal reportedly worth around £20 million, it was confirmed Wednesday. “A fee has been agreed with Liverpool for Jordan Henderson and he travels to Anfield today with the club’s blessing,” Sunderland confirmed in a statement on the club’s website.

Henderson, 20, will head to Anfield as part of a deal which will see French striker David Ngog join the Black Cats as a makeweight according to reports. The deal comes after days of speculation linking Henderson to a Liverpool move, with Reds manager Kenny Dalglish determined to clinch the transfer before the midfielder travels to Denmark for the Under-21 European

Championships.

Henderson’s signing will be the third major transfer since Dalglish took over as caretaker in January, following the acquisitions of Andy Carroll and Uruguayan international Luis Suarez. Henderson has been a key figure for Sunderland in the past two seasons, and made his senior England debut against France in November last year.

He is the latest part of a transfer strategy that will see Liverpool target young talent rather than established stars, reports said. The club are also chasing Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, 25, Blackburn centrehalf Phil Jones, 19, and Ipswich’s teenage striker Connor Wickham, 18.

Liverpool have also been linked to Aston Villa’s England international Ashley Young although Manchester United are currently favourites to secure the attacking midfielder’s signature.

AFP/File/Graham Stuart

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson (right) vies with Blackburn Rovers’ striker ElHadji Diouf during their Premier League match between at The Stadium of Light, Sunderland in January 2011.

Sport

International

Thursday, June 9, 2011

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Ailing Nowitzki lifts Mavericks, NBA finals tied Associated Press Writer

DALLAS – Coughing and wheezing, his temperature spiking to 101, worn out from hardly sleeping the night before, Dirk Nowitzki went through three miserable quarters in Game 4 of the NBA finals. Yet the fourth quarter was his time to shine. Again. And now the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat are starting over in the NBA finals, this best-of-seven series reduced to a best-of-three.

Nowitzki fought through a sinus infection and everything else that ailed him and his team to power a 21-9 run over the final 10:12, lifting the Mavericks to a memorable 8683 victory Tuesday night.

In the final period, Nowitzki scored 10 of his 21 points — including a driving right-handed layup that spun in off the backboard with 14.4 seconds left — and grabbed five of his 11 rebounds as Dallas pulled off its second stunning finish this series.

“Just battle it out,” Nowitzki said, sniffing throughout his postgame interview with his warm-up jacket zipped all the way up, still in his uniform instead of changing into street clothes like the NBA prefers.

“This is the finals. You have to go out there and compete and try your best for your team. So that’s what I did.”

The Mavs avoided going down 3-1, a deficit no team has ever overcome in the finals, and guaranteed the series will return to Miami for a Game 6 on Sunday night. Game 5

is Thursday night in Dallas, and Nowitzki vowed to be ready.

“There’s no long term,” Nowitzki said. “I’ll be all right on Thursday. ... Hopefully I’ll get some sleep tonight, take some meds and be ready to go on Thursday.”

Nowitzki wasn’t as dominant as Michael Jordan when he scored 38 points despite a 103-degree fever in Game 5 of the 1997 finals — but it was that kind of performance down the stretch. With everyone knowing he wasn’t at full strength, the Mavs still ran their offense through him in the fourth quarter, and he delivered, making 2 of 6 shots and all six of his free throws.

If the Mavericks wind up winning their first championship, what Nowitzki’s done this series will go down among the greatest. Remember, in Game 2 he bounced back from a torn tendon in the tip of his left middle finger to score the final nine points in Dallas’ 22-5 rally, including two left-handed layups among his final three baskets.

“The average person, you know, has sick days and battling 100something (fever), it’s just tough to get out of bed,” Dallas center Tyson Chandler said. “This guy is playing against the best athletes in the world.” What Nowitzki did grows in stature when compared to how meek a healthy LeBron James played. James made only 3 of 11 shots — a tip-in during the first quarter, then a 15-foot jumper and a breakaway dunk in the third quarter. Not only did he fail to score in the fourth, he took only one shot while playing all 12 minutes.

He finished with eight points, ending a double-figure scoring streak of 433 consecutive games, regular season and postseason. It was his fewest points ever in the playoffs. “I’ve got to do a better job of being more assertive offensively,” said James, who nonetheless contributed nine rebounds and seven assists. “I’m confident in my ability. It’s just about going out there and knocking them down.”

AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK

Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts as he plays with Spain’s Rafael Nadal during their Men’s final match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium, on June 5, 2011 in Paris.

Federer withdrawal leaves Halle boss fuming Agence France Presse

AP Photo/David J. Phillip; Pool

Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (41) shoots past Miami Heat’s Joel Anthony (50) during the first half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals basketball game Tuesday, June 7, 2011, in Dallas.

HALLE, Germany – French Open finalist Roger Federer’s late withdrawal from Halle’s ATP event has angered the tournament director, who insists the Swiss let him down at the eleventh hour.

World number-three Federer traditionally uses Halle’s grass-court tournament to prepare for Wimbledon and has a permanent contract to play at the west German event. The publicity campaign for this year’s event included Federer’s image.

However, with the action already underway, the tournament suffered a huge blow late Monday when the top seed pulled out because he did not want to risk aggravating his delicate groin ahead of Wimbledon later this month. “I am very disappointed as it’s one of my absolute favourite tournaments, but my body, especially my groin, needs a rest,” said Federer in a statement.

But tournament director Ralph Weber is furious the Swiss had not informed him of the groin problem sooner.

In the first-round, the 29-year-old six-time Wimbledon champion had been scheduled to face Australia’s former world number one Lleyton Hewitt in a much anticipated rematch of last year’s final. “For me this is a personal disappointment that I cannot describe at the moment. I am stunned,” said Weber.

“Our plans for the past year have been nearly exclusively with Roger appearing. “And he never gave us any indication that he had health problems. “I clearly expressed my disappointment to his management.

“We expect that this lifetime contract will be fulfilled in person - and not just a declaration of intent.”

Weber said he will now meet with Federer personally at Wimbledon to discuss the matter and with Halle set to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2012, Weber is looking at recruiting stars Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic for next year.

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

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Sport

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Ferrari ‘understands’ hard tyre issue Ferrari technical director Pat Fry is confident that the Maranello outfit is on course to cure the problems it has had in using Pirelli’s hard tyres this year. Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have both struggled for speed at circuits where the hard compound has been available - and the issues were highlighted at Barcelona when Alonso led in the early stages on the soft before losing a lap when he switched to the hards.

AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa of Brazil crashes against a wall during the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Sunday, May 29, 2011.

Ben Spies extends Yamaha MotoGP contract BEN Spies has signed a one-year extension to his Factory Yamaha MotoGP contract, meaning he will continue to ride alongside Jorge Lorenzo for the first year of 1000cc racing, in 2012.

“I am very happy to say that I will remain a part of the Yamaha family,” said Spies, “and that I will continue in the MotoGP series for 2012. This is a privileged time of my career riding for the most successful team in recent years at the very highest racing level.

“Yamaha has been great in supporting me through World Superbike and on to MotoGP and I want to thank them for all they have done, and for giving me their trust to continue in MotoGP in 2012. I especially would like to say thank you to Lin Jarvis and Masahiko Nakajima for their support.”

After a tough start to the season, including two DNFs, Spies took his first podium of the season last Sunday in Catalunya and is now up to seventh in the standings.

“We are obviously delighted to announce the continuation of our partnership with Ben for the 2012 season and we hope that he will remain at Yamaha for many years to come,” stated Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Motor Racing.

“Ben has shown his ability to successfully compete at the highest level; firstly by becoming Yamaha’s first World Superbike champion in 2009 and then attaining the status of Best Rookie in 2010 with the Tech3 Yamaha Team.

“His transition to the Yamaha Factory Racing team in 2011 has just begun and we have every confidence in Ben’s abilities and high potential for the future. This timely decision now allows us to concentrate on the present championship and, in parallel, to prepare for our 2012 MotoGP program with the change to the 1000cc bikes.” World champion and 2011 points leader Lorenzo is also signed until the end of 2012.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

MotoGP rider Ben Spies from the U.S holds up his third place trophy at the Montmelo racetrack near of Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 5, 2011. Stoner win the GrandPrix, Lorenzo made second and Spies took third place.

Ferrari has been working on the matter, and Fry told the team’s official website that he believes progress has been made in the area.

“I think you need to look at the nature of the tracks and the tyres that are there,” he said in a video interview. “Barcelona is a very challenging track: downforce is key there along with car balance, and you need to generate good tyre temperature.

“Trying to makes the hard tyres work is quite difficult and, if you look at some of the smaller teams, they could not get the hard tyre working at all, so you have quite a large spread of the speed of various cars and that grows as the tyres get harder.

“We had a few issues that we were working on last week and we now understand. They were giving us particular issues that exaggerated the problems that people have on the hard tyre, and hopefully we have an understanding of it now, and we have been working on fixing it.”

Ferrari is set to bring a few developments to its car for this weekend’s Canadian GP, which Fry hopes will deliver a further step forward in form.

“It is a normal constant stream of updates, and there are a few dif-

ferent parts coming through - a few little bits on the diffuser and a few bits on the rear wing,” he said. “A reasonable performance step hopefully, if everything goes to plan.

“Hopefully we are still closing the gap to the other teams. There has not been a lot of time between Monaco and Canada, but the nature of the tracks are relatively different in terms of what you need for aero, so we have specific rear wings for those circuits and it is the normal push to get downforce on the car.”

Although tyres are again expected to be a dominant factor in Montreal, Fry believes that this weekend’s race will not prove as difficult for teams as last year’s was.

“I think it is certainly going to be a challenging race,” he said. “It is a bit like Monaco I suppose, where it is all about traction and braking. The braking is always a challenge there compared to Monaco. The traction and how cars uses tyres at corner exit will be key for how the rear tyres wear out.

“It is the same two compounds as it has been in the past but, if anything, I think it will be slightly less trouble than last year because the compounds are a bit harder.”