Edisi 05 Agustus 2011 | International Bali Post

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Bali still unable to synergize tourism and agriculture

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Friday, August 5, 2011

Victims of a helicopter crash are lined up on the floor as police prepare to transfer them in Bitung on August 4, 2011 a day after the aircraft crashed during heavy rain. The helicopter crashed on August 3 in Indonesia killing nine including two Australians and two South Africans employed

by Melbourne-based Newcrest Mining, the company said on August 4.

PAGE 8

AFP PHOTO / GLEN RARUNG

Review: ‘Apes’ is big, ridiculous summer fun PAGE 12

Chopper crash kills 10 in Indonesia Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - A helicopter crash in Indonesia killed nine people including two Australians and two South Africans employed by Melbourne-based Newcrest Mining, the company said Thursday.

WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

21 - 30

JAKARTA

24 - 32

BANDUNG

17 - 25

YOGYAKARTA

19 - 31

SURABAYA

19 - 31

SUNNY

RAIN

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port ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told AFP. Search and rescue workers discovered the badly damaged wreckage in dense forest about 10 kilometers (six miles) from Manado, North Sulawesi province.

The Bell 412 aircraft was flying to Newcrest’s Gosowong mine on the island of Halmahera, some 2,400 kilometres northeast of the capital Jakarta, Australia’s largest gold producer said.

Continued on page 6

LED screen will replace messy banners Bali Post

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

Local officials said the toll climbed to 10 when an Indonesian man found alive in the wreckage subsequently died of his injuries.

Six Indonesians and four foreigners were on board the chopper when it went down in heavy rain Wednesday afternoon shortly after taking off from Manado on Sulawesi Island, local officials said.

“The helicopter crashed in a mountainous area and it was raining when the accident happened,” trans-

DENPASAR - To minimise the messy short or long, small or big banners on the roads of Denpasar, the city’s Cleanliness and Grounds Agency (DKP) plans a new way of public space’s advertisements by changing plastic ones to a digital one using LED (Light Emitting Diode) Screens as stated by Head of DKP, I Ketut Wisada when met at Denpasar Mayor Office last Wednesday (3/8).

For the first step, the agency will prioritize the cross road of Sudirman and Dewi Sartika Street specifically the corner of Matahari

Department Store as many advertisement mess that place all this time. He said this project can go on by this month by a help of a third party and this solution will create a better view to see.

Other areas that will have a change includes Teuku Umar Street and in front of a McDonald in Sanur. Denpasar Regional Secretary, A.A. Ngurah Rai Iswara, welcomes well this suggestion as all this time Balinese ornamented buildings, which always have become Bali’s image, seemed to be blocked by unclear banners.

Continued on page 6

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

People pass in front of Matahari Department store, one of the LED screens locations. Minimising the messy short or long, small or big banners on the roads of Denpasar, the city’s Cleanliness and Grounds Agency (DKP) plans a new way of public space’s advertisements by changing plastic ones to a digital one using LED (Light Emitting Diode) Screens.

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International

Friday, August 5, 2011

Bali News Fish Raring, Consumption Gone Low Amlapura (Bali Post) –

50,000 fishermen in Karangasem are under the poverty line as their fishing result seemed much unclear lately with the raring fishes on the sea. It was explained a number of bombing has occurred in the waters of East Seraya. Head of Karangasem Animal Husbandry, Fishery and Sea Agency, drh. Ketut Artama, last Wednesday explained the bombs have clearly destroyed corals which has been the high value asset of Karangasem sea tourism and the place where fishes breed.

Head of Karangasem House of Representatives Commission B, Nyoman Oka Antara, also explained a number of fish nets or fish houses created in the waters of Kubu and Abang also destroyed by boats/ships using the route as it is an international route. “Those fish houses cost up to ten millions and its ropes tend to be attacked by ships. The house is then gone and causes those fishes in it no longer there,” he explained.

Artama explained this factor caused Karangasem fish consumption really low with 28 kg per family per year where nationally it’s approximate 32 kg per family per year. “There were fishermen reporting about their nets cut off by ships in Abang and Manggis waters but we still don’t know how to handle it,” he stated. Oka also added that government’s attention to farmers, husbandries and fishermen is crucial and vital as they live depending on nature. “Without any attention, guidance, help and protection, they who live on limited technology and economy will never have their life better and so poverty will keep on going,” he concluded. (013) IBP/Bali Putra

A farmer is giving manure on his reice paddy.

Distribution Limited, Manure Difficulties for Farmers Semarapura (Bali Post) –

Farmers in Klungkung are having difficulties on manures they need as what’s prioritise is those farmers who has its turn to plant paddies will have to propose a request on the manure to the head of subak (irrigation) usually two kilogram of urea for one hundred square meters land while farmers still need manures for other activities like tree growing such as albesia and so if they do get it they have to pay up to IDR 110,000 instead of real price IDR 86,000 being it was bought somewhere else.

Subak Sengkiding farmer, Nyoman Sukadana, last Wednesday (3/8) at Banjarangkan stated farmers in Bali do plant paddies in turn just like anywhere in Bali and so when one part has rice the other part is palawija (second crop of plants). “Those farmers who don’t have the turn got difficulties in getting the manure. For the second crops short term we would plant flowers, while long term we plant albesia,” he explained.

Manure warehouse owner in Sengkiding, Madame Wayan, is the stocker of the manure for a number of subak in Banjarangkan.

The reason she opens this was due to the Village Cooperation is too far from the area and no public transportation is around. “Not all farmers also have their private vehicles so the manures are placed here and I only take profit IDR 1,000 to IDR 2,000 per sack,” she stated. When asked for confirma-

tion of the situation she admitted afraid to give to those who are not planting paddies. “The farmers are not being on schedule. There are those planting paddies and others planting flowers when they all are in turn of planting paddies.

So those who are planting flowers automatically can’t get their manures until they plant paddies as the need of manure for flowers is not as much as for paddies,” she explained. (kmb20)

Troubling, Illegal Cafes Must Be Well Regulated All of Bali’s Regents/Mayors are urged immediately in regulating the illegal cafes from each of their areas. As concerned, the location of these illegal cafes has grown like a fungus in the rainy season equally troublesome. Many criminal activities such as intergroup fights gain casualties occur, not yet the suspected to be where sex commercial workers would be around increasing the number of HIV/AIDS victims in Bali. “This is distressing,” Ketut Kariyasa Adnyana, Head of the Committee IV DPRD Bali, stated last Wednesday (3/8). The The committee leader from Buleleng added that there are many women as waitresses combine as sex commercial workers in these cafes that have been indicated to have the easily-spread sexual disease including HIV/ AIDS. If there are no actions taken in towards this condition, these illegal cafes will certainly be a threat to the Bali’s youth generation as the majority of the café visitors are youngsters as well. “Regents/mayors must be able to dismiss these illegal cafes as they are clearly not certified and violating the rules and regulations. If they don’t take these immediate actions, it would be best if they resign from being regent/mayor. Besides, the problem can be easily solved completely,” he stated.

Adnyana also request village institutions, police civil services and the police to take in courage and acquire action as whereabouts of these cafes are disrupting the public order. “Police should be able in dismissing them, whereas the waitresses can be snared to public regulations, and then send them home to their origins,” he said.

Beforehand, Bali’s Governor Made Mangku Pastika has also instructed these regents and mayors to do so. This former Bali Police Head courageously assuring that these cafes have no certification because there is no possibility that the head of the regions give out the certification. “Take action immidiately,” he clarified.

The number one person in Bali also accuse the whereabouts of the women working in cafes are involved in increasing the HIV/AIDS victims in Bali as they are also the sex commercial workers and the total of them that has HIV/AIDS are over four thousand people. “It’s about time we standardize these illegal cafes. For this importance, I’ve already messaged all the regents/mayors to directly obtain action,” he firmly said. (ian)

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International

Bali News

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Friday, August 5, 2011

Dog bite cases in Bali stay high Over one hundred bites per day Denpasar (Bali Post)—

During the year 2011, the cases of dog bites in Bali have not shown a significant decrease. Average bite case remains above 100. Based on data of Bali Health Services, the average dog bites per day during January was 164, February (161), March (167), April (161), May (159), June (171) and in July showed a decrease of about 15 percent or the average bite was 134 per day. High bite cases, according to the Head of Bali Health Services, Nyoman Sutedja, could be caused by several reasons.

“At the moment, the dogs can have been traumatized by vaccination so that they become more suspicious and ferocious and are ultimately easy to bite,” said Sutedja when met on Wednesday (Aug 3).

Besides, the report on the demand for anti-rabies vaccine (VAR) of the community bitten by dogs also remained high. This happened because the public stayed vigilant despite the biting dogs had been vaccinated.

“They are still afraid of rabies. Therefore, they consistently ask for antirabies vaccine even though they know if their dog has been vaccinated,” said Sutedja.

To realize Bali free from rabies, it had to meet the requirement where there should be no death cases due to rabies within two years. Meanwhile, the victims of rabies during 2011 had reached 17 people. “Bali can be declared free from rabies if there are no death cases due to rabies over the past two years. To achieve that condition, vaccination to rabies carrier animals especially dogs should reach about 90 percent,” said Sutedja.

Coverage of 90 percent meant that it had included the repeated vaccination and not only the initial vaccination. “Dogs must be given repeated vaccination at least for three times. On that account, dog owners are encouraged to routinely vaccinate their pet dog,” said Sutedja.

For anti-rabies vaccine availability in 2011, Bali Government had allocated a fund of approximately IDR 5.2 billion for the purchase of vaccine. “In the amendment of regional budget, it will be allocated about over IDR 8.4 billion for the purchase of anti-rabies vaccine,” said Sutedja. (san)

To support local artists

Cultural parade, portion of Jembrana arts multiplied Negara (Bali Post)—

At the height of cultural parade to welcome the upcoming anniversary of Jembrana, the local artists that so far play a little role will be maximized. Meanwhile, it has been ascertained the arts from outside Bali will no longer be displayed for the sake of budget efficiency and developing the potential of the local culture of Jembrana.

Regent of Jembrana, I Putu Artha, when accompanied by the Head of Jembrana Transportation, Communication and Informatics Agency, IGP Sudhiarsa, said on Wednesday (Aug 3) that his party would make efficiency with various changes on the budget for cultural parade in welcoming the anniversary of Negara City this year. One of the ways was by not presenting cultural attraction from outside Bali and put more emphases on the native arts to Jembrana that had been at the edge of extinction like leko and kendang mebarung. The number of Jegog troupe reaching tens of units would gradually be revived by involving them in such an event.

“Efficiency is made on the cost of accommodation for contingents from outside Bali that formerly had spent much budget. Now, we will focus on the local arts of Jembrana and Bali,” said the Regent Artha.

In addition, the performance would not only be concentrated on the civic center area of Negara City. However, it would be held evenly in a number of subdistricts. Later on, the peak of cultural parade would be organized in the area of cultural hall. “It is intended for an even distribution, so it is not only centralized. In each subdistrict, it will be featured the arts that had been long inactive,” added Artha. Date of the peak of the parade would be brought forward from the usual date on November 1 to August 28 this year.

Meanwhile, other entertainments to enliven the 116th anniversary of Negara City and the 66th anniversary of the Indonesian Independence would consistently be organized by including various competitions as in the previous years. However, certain portions of local culture would be more highlighted than in the past years. The theme featured this year was Satam Caritam Uttamam meaning that realizing the welfare of society posed the main Dharma. If the spending last year amounted to IDR 1.4 billion, this year it would be cut into IDR 800 million and there would be an efficiency of about IDR 600 million. (kmb26)

IBP/File

Indonesian Tourism and Cultural Minister, Jero Wacik, right, welcome the Australian Resources, Energy, and Tourism, Martin Ferguson in Jakarta.

Adding 10 flights

Australian tourists increase by 20 percent Jakarta (Bali Post)—

Australia is one of the Indonesia’s major tourism markets where last year the number of Australian tourists reached 769,585 or indicated an increase of around 20 percent over the previous year. On that basis, Australia made 10 additional flights from 25,000 flights per week.

It was stated by Director General of Marketing, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Sapta Nirwandar, after accompanying the Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik to receive the Minister of Funding Source, Energy and Tourism of Australia, Martin Ferguson, in Jakarta on Wednesday (Aug 3).

According to Sapta, Australia was ranked third in the foreign tourist arrivals after Singapore and Malaysia. Among the several tourist destinations in Indonesia, Bali was one of the most popular tourist destinations visited by many Australian tourists.

Sapta revealed the number of Australian tourists visiting Bali last year reached 643,735 people or increased by 20 percent if compared to the achievement in previous year reach-

ing 468,413 people. “We do hope that with the additional flights and operation of Lombok International Airport, the visit of Australian tourists will be getting more and more,” he said.

Earlier, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said that Australia was one of the very important countries for Indonesia in the development of national tourism.

To that end, said Wacik, government continued to strengthen bilateral cooperative relations of both

countries through cooperation, especially in tourism.

So far, said Wacik, Indonesia and Australia continued to strengthen the cooperation that had been signed such as in the field of research and human resource development, promotion, investment and interregional cooperation. Cooperation in tourism, he said, was reinforced through a means of Task Force or Joint Working Group Meeting in tourism field. (010)

4

News

Friday, August 5, 2011

International

Syrian tanks thrust into Hama, 45 killed-activist Reuters

AMMAN - At least 45 civilians were killed in a tank assault by Syrian President Bashar alAssad’s forces to occupy the center of Hama, an activist said on Thursday, in a sharp escalation of a military campaign aimed at ending an uprising against his rule.

Reacting to intensifying assaults on Syrian cities and towns, the U.N. Security Council overcame deep divisions and condemned Assad’s bloody crackdown on civilian protesters. It was the first substantive action by the United Nations on Syria’s five-month-old uprising for political freedoms.

An activist who managed to leave the besieged city told Reuters that 40 people were killed by heavy machinegun fire and shelling by tanks in al-Hader district north of the Orontes river on Wednesday and early on Thursday.

The activist, who gave his name as Thaer, said five more people from the Fakhri and Assa’ad families, including two children, were killed as they were trying to leave Hama by car on

the al-Dhahirya highway.

Syrian authorities have expelled most independent media, making it difficult to verify witness accounts and official statements.

Residents earlier said tanks had advanced into central Hama on Wednesday after heavily shelling the city and occupied the main Orontes Square, the site of some of the largest protests against Assad, who succeeded his father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, in 2000.

Snipers spread onto rooftops and into the nearby citadel. They said shelling concentrated on alHader district, large parts of which were razed in 1982 when forces loyal to Hafez al-Assad overran Hama to crush Islamist insurgents, killing many thousands of people.

Human rights campaigners say more than 90 people, not counting the latest toll, have been killed in Hama since Assad, from Syria’s minority Alawite sect, launched a military assault on Sunday to crush dissent against his autocratic rule.

IBP/rtr

A British man and an Italian kidnapped in May in northern Nigeria appear for the first time since their capture in a video sent to AFP Wednesday in which they say their abductors are from Al-Qaeda.

Britain urgently checking Nigeria hostage video Reuters

ABUJA - The British Foreign Office said on Thursday it was checking the authenticity of a video which appears to show a British man and his Italian colleague who were kidnapped in May in northern Nigeria.

REUTERS/Social Media Website via Reuters TV

Military tanks drive into the Jabal Al-Zawya area of Idlib on August 1, 2011 in this still image taken from video posted on a social media website.

The hostages in the video, which is around one-minute-long, say they were taken by al Qaeda, according to the AFP news agency, which was sent the video in Ivory Coast.

“We can confirm that two people, including a British national, were kidnapped in Nigeria on 12 May,” a Foreign Office statement said. “A video has been released allegedly showing the hostages and officials are urgently checking its authenticity.”

The two men, who were working for a construction company, were seized from their accommoda-

tion in the capital of Kebbi state, which lies near Nigeria’s northwestern borders with the countries of Niger and Benin, the Nigerian police said at the time.

The video shows hostages blindfolded and on their knees, while three armed men stand behind them with faces hidden by turbans, AFP said. It was not clear when the film was made and it could not be independently verified.

There were no details of the abductors or their demands. The hostages each read a statement, ask-

ing their governments to meet the demands of the kidnappers, who they said were al Qaeda.

“We are working to secure the hostages’ safe and swift release. We ask those holding the two men to show compassion and release them, enabling them to rejoin their families,” the statement from the Foreign Office said.

Hundreds of oil workers were kidnapped during years of militant attacks in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta hundreds of kilometers away in the southeast, but such attacks are relatively rare in the north.

Al Qaeda’s north African wing, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, is known to operate in neighboring Niger and has kidnapped foreign workers there but this would be the first such incident in Nigeria.

Police: Fake bomb placed on teen in extortion plot Associated Press Writer

SYDNEY — Police were hunting Thursday for a masked man who chained a fake bomb to a young woman’s neck after breaking into her wealthy family’s home in an extortion attempt that Australia’s prime minister said resembled “a Hollywood script.”

In a climactic scene late Wednesday, bomb squad specialists safely freed Madeleine Pulver after 10 harrowing hours with the device attached around her neck. The 18-year-old was not hurt and police later determined the device contained no explosives.

A note of demands had been attached to the device, New South Wales state Police Detective Superintendent

Luke Moore said, though he declined to specify what the demands were.

“We are treating this as an attempted extortion — a very serious attempted extortion,” Moore said.

The drama began on Wednesday afternoon in the upscale Sydney suburb of Mosman when Pulver’s family contacted police saying their daughter had been attacked and there was a strange device attached to her.

Bomb technicians, negotiators and detectives rushed to the scene.

Neighboring homes were evacuated, streets were closed and medical and fire crews waited nearby.

Pulver told police a man wearing a mask broke into her home and confronted her while she was in the kitchen. The teen said the man

forced her to stay still while he fitted the device to her neck, and then fled. When officials arrived on the scene, they found Pulver alone in the house with the suspicious device tethered to her neck by a chain.

The family lives in one of Sydney’s ritziest areas and her father, William Pulver, is CEO of an information technology company. On Thursday, he fought back tears as he talked about his daughter’s horrifying ordeal.

“We as parents are extraordinarily proud of Maddy,” William Pulver said, his equally tearful wife Belinda at his side. “I think she has woken up this morning in pretty good spirits. She’s a little tired, a little sore, from holding this damned device in place for about 10 hours.”

AP Photo/Rick Rycroft

William Pulver, right, makes a statement as his wife Belinda listens in Sydney, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011, a day after their daughter Madeleine was chained to a fake bomb for 10 hours.

Activities

International

Friday, August 5, 2011

5

Spend Ramadhan with Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta IBP

JAKARTA – The Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta is a four star deluxe international hotel in the heart of Jakarta providing guests with a unique experience of service excellence and comfort. With 401 guestrooms all providing a comfortable working environment, plus a choice of a city or pool view, business and leisure travelers alike will find us a perfect choice.

With the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr 1432H just around the corner, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta has come up with a wide range of offers for staying and breaking fast.

Our “Medina Room Package” will include suhoor or a buffet breakfast for 2 (two) persons at Café Sirih, 20% discount at Matsu Japanese Restaurant & The Lobby Lounge, and late check-out until 3pm. Booking will start from July 15 and last until September 30, 2011, and stay periods will start from August 1 to September 30, 2011.

When it’s time to break the fast, come to Café Sirih to enjoy a wide showcase for the magnanimous Ramadhan sweet “Tajil,” which consists of Kurma (dates), Bubur Sumsum, Kolak Biji Salak, palm sugar as well as coconut milk for topping. This will be available beginning July 30 through August 29, 2011. In addition, Café Sirih will also showcase a wide array of Indonesian fusion food such as Udang Goreng Tepung, Buntut Lada Hitam and Ayam Goreng Serundeng.

To make your Ramadan memorable, Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta is also offering a banquet package for events such as gatherings or Halal Bihalal.

As the holy month of Ramadan begins, a month with a thousand blessings, the hotel management and staff would like to say Happy Fasting and Happy Eid AlFitr 1432H.

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

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

Besakih - Karangasem

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Friday, August 5, 2011

News Lawmakers: Piers Morgan should discuss hacking Associated Press Writer

LONDON — British lawmakers say CNN interviewer Piers Morgan should return to Britain to answer allegations that the newspaper group he worked for hacked the voicemail of Paul McCartney’s ex-wife.

From 1995 to 2004, Morgan edited the Daily Mirror tabloid, part of the Trinity Mirror PLC group. McCartney’s ex-wife Heather Mills has accused a reporter working for Trinity Mirror of intercepting her voicemail messages in 2001, but has not specified which newspaper.

Conservative legislator Therese Coffey, a member of a Parliamentary committee examining Britain’s phone-hacking scandal, said Morgan should return to London to assist.

Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman said Thursday that Morgan had “questions to answer.” He has denied any knowledge of phone hacking.

LED screen...

From page 1 AP Photo/Manuel Diaz

High waves crash into the Santo Domingo waterfront as Tropical Storm Emily approaches the shores of the Dominican Republic, Wednesday Aug. 3, 2010.

Haitians hunker down as Tropical Storm Emily nears Associated Press Writer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Thousands of earthquake homeless and other poor Haitians waited nervously in flimsy shanties and tents as Tropical Storm Emily swirled offshore early Thursday, threatening to bring dangerous rains.

Strong winds whipped through palm trees and some rain was already falling on southern Haiti.

Forecasters predicted the storm would make landfall on Haiti’s southern peninsula after dawn and dump torrential rains across a country where more than 600,000 people still live without shelter after last year’s earthquake.

“If any storm comes, we meet our demise,” said Renel Joseph, a 57-year-old resident of Cite Soleil, a seaside shantytown of Haiti’s capital. David Preux, head of mission for the International Organization for Migration in the southern city of Jacmel, said that he expected conditions to worsen during the night.

“The problem is when people wait until the last minute to evacuate,” Preux said. The storm’s forward motion slowed Wednesday night and it appeared likely to skirt the southern tip of

the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. Emily had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph).

Dominican authorities kept a tropical storm warning in effect for the southwestern coast but ended an alert Wednesday night from Cabo Francis Viejo southeastward to Cabo Engano.

Although the center of the storm seemed likely to miss most of the island, intense rain still posed a threat to both nations, said Diana Goeller, a meteorologist with the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The countries are divided by a range of high mountains.

“This storm has a lot of heavy rainfall with it,” Goeller told The Associated Press. “So in those mountainous areas, there could be very dangerous, life-threatening mudslides or flash floods.”

John Cangialosi, a hurricane

specialist with the hurricane center, said up to 20 inches of rain was possible in isolated high-elevation areas. That is enough to cause serious problems in a country prone to catastrophic flooding.

Michel Davison of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the storm earlier dropped up to 10 inches (250 millimeters) of rain in parts of Puerto Rico, though its center never got within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of the island.

Francois Prophete, who was shoring up the corrugated-metal roof of his one-room cinder block home in the hills southeast of Port-au-Prince, said most people had few options in a nation where the vast majority are desperately poor. “We can’t afford to do much,” he said. Local authorities urged people to conserve food and safeguard their belongings.

“We hope with LED screens, the banners can come off then the ornaments can be seen again,” he stated.

However, Denpasar House of Representatives Commission B member hoped this change is based on a clear research and observation by meaning it is assured to give a positive affect

to Denpasar’s image. He hopes besides commercial advertisements, government rules and regulations or suggestions could also be in it. “We hope this is not only focused on the Regional Real Income but also balancing the aesthetic and face of the city,” he clarified. (kmb12)

Chopper...

From page 1 The helicopter was chartered

by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, a joint venture between Newcrest Mining Ltd. and Indonesian company PT Aneka Tambang. Newcrest said the cause of the crash was not yet known.

“There were 10 people on board the helicopter, which was transporting eight employees and contractors to the mine and there were two crew,” said the Australian Stock Exchangelisted Newcrest.

A spokeswoman for the Australian foreign ministry confirmed that two Australians and two South Africans were among the dead, contradicting local officials who insisted all four foreign victims were Australians.

Senior executives were en route to Manado, along with PT Halmahera Minerals director Iwan Irawan, with work at the Gosowong mine suspended, added the company, one of the world’s lowest-cost gold producers.

“Newcrest and Aneka Tambang express their deepest sadness and condolences to family, colleagues and friends

of the passengers over this tragic event,” said Newcrest chief executive Greg Robinson.

The company said no senior executives were among the dead.

Newcrest is the world’s sixth largest gold miner by volume, with 2.8 percent of the global market, according to Deutsche Bank.

Gosowong is the company’s only gold mine in Indonesia, and produced 19.4 percent of the company’s total gold output in the April-June quarter, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Newcrest, which has around 5,100 employees and is among Australia’s top 20 companies by market capitalisation, added that counselling and support services were being made available to family and employees.

The company operates across Australia as well as in Indonesia.

Mining is a huge industry in resource-rich Indonesia, with many operations scattered across remote parts of the massive archipelago of 17,000 islands.

International

Indonesia Today

Friday, August 5, 2011

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Anti-terror police mobilized to hunt OPM separatists Antara

AFP PHOTO/BANJIR AMBARITA

Papuanese people participate in a pro-independence rally asking for referendum for Papua in Jayapura on August 2, 2011. A rebel commander in the Indonesian province of Papua on August 2 denied involvement in an ambush that killed four people, as tensions rose ahead of a pro-independence rally.

No military operations in Papua: Army Chief Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian army said here on Thursday that it had launched no military action in reaction to recent attacks and ambushes by alleged separatist OPM members.

“What happens is border security and routine civic mission operations,” Army Chief of Staff General Pramono Wibowo said after accompanying Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro in a visit to the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.

At that visit, they made a conversations with three wounded personnel evacuated from Papua.

He said the TNI (military) Manunggal Masuk Desa (the military go to and unite in villageTMMD) civic mission was deliberately carried out in Puncak Jaya in view of the infrastructure and social conditions in the region, which are quite concerning, such as bike-taxi service centers, churches and “honai” traditional houses.

“The TMDD activity in Papua

is the same as that done in any other region in the country such as infrastructure development, construction of public and social facilities especially in remote regions, backward villages and regions hit by natural disasters,” he said.

So, he said, the activities done by the army are not military operations and there is no military operation in Papua.

The new army chief of staff said in response to recent security development in Papua marked by several incidents of attacks on military posts and ambushes on military members he would increase patrols and alertness.

“Efforts to ‘clean up’ armed OPM members would be done in-

tensively by local units as the territorial units as well,” he said.

Asked about the strength of the group he said he could not predict because they spread in various places and mingle with local population.

“They sometimes emerge and then vanish. So, until now we cannot predict about their exact number,” he said.

What is clear is, he said, the TNI would continue hunting them down as their activities is linked to national security and sovereignty.

“Automatically we will keep chasing them, as what they have done has to do with sovereignty,” he said.

Defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro came to the hospital to visit three TNI members that have been wounded in an attack by OPM members in Puncak Jaya District recently during patrolling. One of them was hit in the head; others have their palm or hand broken.

Government revokes licenses of 1,731 importers Antara

JAKARTA - The government has revoked the licenses of 1,731 registered importers for failure to carry out and report their import activities, a senior official said.

Director General for External

Trade Deddy Saleh said here on Wednesday that the measure was taken on July 27, 2011 against registered importers for certain products.

He said that the revoked licenses were issued to the importers on December 2010.

The director general said that of the 1,731 licenses, 727 were for electronics importation and 265 for the importation of garments.

Besides, 215 were for toys, 195 for footwear, 69 for cosmetics and 19 for traditional and herbal medicines.

JAKARTA - The Densus-88 anti-terror police had been mobilized to hunt down members of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM) after they attacked mobile brigade police in Tanjakan Gunung Merak, Nafri, Abepura, Papua, a police spokesman said.

“The Densus-88 anti-terror police of the Police Headquarters had been fielded to assist Papua police and the military in combing the hideouts of the OPM members,” National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said here on Wednesday.

Basides, the National Police Headquarters also sent a forensic laboratory team to Papua.

“The Forensic Laboratory Center of the National Police has sent a team to Tanjakan. There are five officers and now they are scrutinizing the incident scene,” Anton said.

From Witnesses, it was known that the OPM members were hiding behind trees and then ambushed police personnel from the left and right sides of the car. And then they disappeared.

As a result of their attacks, four

people were killed, one a military officer and three civilians.

Recounting what had happened in the incident, Anton said the incident happened at 7:20 local time when about 16 OPM members, five of whom carried riffles, came to a Papua TV tower construction site.

“Brandishing a long-barrel fire arms, one of them approached construction workers Andi Laupe and Benediktus Brian and asked them to stop working,” Anton said.

The workers soon after wards reported to two police officers on duty at the Paniai district head‘s house, namely First Brigadier Solihin and Second Brigadier Kristianto.

“Upon receiving the report, Solihin contacted the Paniai Police Resort chief who ordered a number of Paniai Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members to go to the scene,” Anton said.

Upon arrival at the scene, the Brimob detail was greeted with a hail of bullets which forced the police to return the fire, he said.

“The OPM separatists then fled eastward. While they were hunting the OPM members, police found proof such as SS1 and Mouser ammunition as well as bayonets,” Anton said.

Manado to host ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting Antara

JAKARTA - An annual ASEAN economic ministers‘ meeting will be organized in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, on August 10-14, 2011, according to a minister.

The meeting would discuss the inter-ASEAN economic cooperation and the cooperation between the regional organization and its dialog partners, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Tuesday.

ASEAN internal issues to be discussed in the meeting will include efforts to achieve the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

The meeting will for the first time involve the United States and Russia as the dialog partners. The ASEAN economic ministers are also expected to discuss the sectors of trade and investments in the region.

“The discussion on investment is important because ASEAN is one fo the three main investment sources in the region, apart from the European Union and Japan,” he said.

They will also discuss future

plans after the establishment of the AEC and the role of ASEAN in the East Asian region.

As the current ASEAN Chair, Indonesia will propose a theme on the inclusive and equitable ASEAN economic development, and present a working framework concerning the agenda on the equitable development.

The minister said Indonesia was drafting guidance on equitable development for institutions under the ASEAN Economic Community Council in order to narrow down a gap.

Other ASEAN dialog partners to take part in the Manado meeting will be Australia, India, South Korea, China, and New Zealand.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar.

As this year‘s chairman of ASEAN, Indonesia has committed itself to focusing on promoting ASEAN outward and inward significantly. Indonesia‘s theme for its chairmanship is “ASEAN Community in a Global Community of Nations”.

8

International

Friday, August 5, 2011

Bali Today Bali still unable to synergize tourism and agriculture Bali Post

DENPASAR - Endeavor of Bali Government to synergize agriculture and tourism sector in order they keep growing hand in hand has not reaped a result. A lecturer of Agro-industrial Technology of Warmadewa University, Dr. I Gusti Bagus Udayana, assessed that agricultural sector in Bali had not received attention lately. In fact, the farming system known as subak had become one of the most interesting attractions on the Island of the Gods.

“For a concrete example, tourists are taken to see local people farming, then travel agencies and their guests are happy, but farmers get nothing,” said Bagus Udayana in Denpasar on Wednesday (Aug 3).

According to him, relevant agencies including government should facilitate it. Travel agencies and hotels were directed to take the results of processed commodities such as crispy spinach, mushroom chips, corn chips and others. By doing so, the products of farmers were purchased continuously and they got added value as it was better if sold in the processed product than in basic material.

“By doing so, both sectors can get mutual benefit. Tourists can get what they want, while farmers can sell their farming products. The matter of quality improvement can be facilitated by universities as well as research and development where government serves as facilitator,” he said.

He said that addressing the agricultural issues should be undertaken from the upstream to downstream.

Among them, it should be set up the market infrastructure and then agri-

cultural products should be absorbed by tourism such as every travel agency was obliged to take the processed products of the agriculture for travelers.

“For instance, the processed products like snakefruit taffy or chocolate candy that have been processed as the result of agriculture are directly purchased by tourists that had paid through travel agencies. So, there is an agreement between farmers and tourism stakeholders or travel agencies,” he explained.

In addition, it was required the involvement of financial institutions in backing up the activities of farmers.

In years to come, the agricultural products needed to be insured. “If farmers fail to harvest there will be a guarantee so they remain viable and vivacious,” he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter, Ferry Markus, stated that readiness to meet the standardization of quality, quantity and continuity would be resolved if government could sit down together with Bali tourism perpetrators to find out the

IBP/Net

The photo shows view of rice field in Bali Island. A lecturer of Agro-industrial Technology of Warmadewa University, Dr. I Gusti Bagus Udayana, assessed that agricultural sector in Bali had not received attention lately. In fact, the farming system known as subak had become one of the most interesting attractions on the Island of the Gods. best solution. “By sitting together to find the best way out, we have a great confidence that government, tourism stakeholders and farmers will no longer blame one another as happened so far,” he said.

According to him, so far the circle of tourism industry never refused to use the local products because by using such products his party could re-

duce the cost incurred. However, perpetrators in the industry so far obtained the supply of fruits and vegetables of local farmers through intermediary of supplier. “If we take straight from the farmers of course we face many obstacles such as restrictedness of production whereas the industry requires continuous supply of the local products,” he said.

It was said that the circles of tourism industry responded it positively, but they still questioned whether the provision and quality produced by farmers could meet the specified standards. “Our farmers have not been able to meet the criteria of tourism, so it takes a long time to be absorbed by the markets like hotels, restaurants and supermarkets,” he added. (par)

Balinese Women, Sweating as Porters By and large, on every religious holiday, the markets in Bali, especially in Denpasar and Badung, are invaded by impromptu market porters (carrying goods on her head). No half-heartedly, the number of impromptu porters emerging before religious holiday can reach hundreds of people.

Nengah Mudri, a porter from Bebandem Village, Karangasem, told Bali Post that before Kuningan many impromptu porters appeared in numbers. They came from different regions, generally from Munti Gunung,

who just got a blessing from people who were shopping in Badung Market. As the biggest traditional market in Denpasar, it was indeed always crowded by communities purchasing their needs.”Surely it is a blessing for us, the middle-down class community. So, it is not surprising if many people change profession into impromptu porter,” she said.

She added when there was no feast day, the number of porters in Badung Market was around 30-50 people.

However, during the holidays their number could reach hundreds of

people.

Although the market was invaded by impromptu porters, she admitted there was no rivalry. Her income was at least IDR 60,000 per day and during busy days she could earn more than IDR 100,000 per day. On usual days, her average income was IDR 25,000-IDR 30,000 per day. “For one time service, we are usually paid no less than IDR 5,000 or depending on the kindness of our customer,” she said.

Comparable confession was also revealed by another porter, Nengah

Sari. She was an impromptu porter before religious festivals as being persuaded by her friend. “It is common if impromptu porter appears in numbers,” she said. They were trying to find money for survival, considering it was difficult to find a job now. Moreover, most of the porters had inadequate education background. “Although it is a rough work, it does not matter as long as it’s good and can support the family,” she added.

Not only invaded by spike of impromptu porters, the number of trad-

ers also nearly doubled. An increasing number of traders always happened before the celebration of Hindu feast day. Most of them were seasonal traders coming from different regions in Bali and generally sold a variety of religious ceremonial supplies, such as coconut, banana and tamiang (ornamental paraphernalia). These seasonal traders kept on increasing a week before Galungan until Kuningan feast day. In addition to increasing number of traders, visitors to traditional markets were also increasingly crowded. (BTN/kmb)

International

Friday, August 5, 2011

Balinese Culture Balinese Characters:

From Palm-leaf to Keyboards Probably, you have watched or are going to watch arja operetta or Ramayana Ballet during the visit in Bali. It would be more convenient if it is enjoyed while having dinner of Balinese cuisine. At the same time, you watch the beauty of culture and taste the delicacy of local culinary. You may hear the language spoken by players or puppeteer was not understandable. Of course, it is Balinese language.

As Japanese and Chinese, Balinese language also has its own characters. They consist of some 18 main characters and 10 vowel sounds. Ordinarily, Balinese characters are used to write palm-leaf manuscript or lontar. Such characters are incised with sharp knife or stylus. When the writing works have completed, they should be rubbed with a blend of oil and lamp shoot to blacken them. So they are visible easily. Since the works were performed manually, the copying of a manuscript took a long time.

At a glance, Balinese characters look like Old Javanese, Tamil (India). It is inseparable from historical aspect where they had similarity of genealogical lines.

Today, Balinese characters still have restricted use, namely at school for local subject from elementary school to senior high

school. It is becoming the responsibility of local government to preserve and develop Balinese language in order it could survive in the midst of the growth of other languages like Bahasa Indonesia and foreign languages.

Balinese language poses a medium and spirit of Balinese culture. To preserve Balinese culture should also simultaneously maintain and use of Balinese language in daily life. In other words, speaking Balinese language also characterizes one of the identities as a Balinese. Among the use of other languages, Balinese language should remain to give a space to grow and develop. Other than speaking and teaching it at schools, it should also accommodate the need of modern community or use in wider functions of language.

Balinese community receives abundant heritages of lontar or palm-leaf manuscripts from the predecessors retained by individuals and museums. They carry many aspects of knowledge, ranging from philosophy, local healing, literature, architecture, agriculture, herbal practice, astrology and so forth. Therefore, if they could be interpreted and presented in popular language, they could become attractive information for young generation and saleable

books for commercial needs. Today, there is also a trend of poising the tradition with modern science namely by re-interpreting the indigenous wisdoms that are relevant to the current time. People will get balanced inputs from the past and current orientation.

Of course, such treasures will be beneficial for the conservation and future development of Balinese culture because it stays in touch with its original roots.

Young generation should be introduced to these roots at early stage.

Later, they will not lose their identity and even could feel proud of it. Moreover, it could give them inspiration in making their creativities, either in fine arts, performance, traditional architecture or herbal healings.

Thanks to modern technology, the writing of Balinese characters now can be made easy by Bali Simbar font. It is the innovative thinking of I Made Suatjana (1986) lies behind the composing of this font. His work has helped the writing of Balinese characters in word processing application like Microsoft Word. Hopefully, there would be more creative software helping the development and learning of Balinese language so it would not come into extinction or be far left behind with the modern life. (BTN/punia)

SEMUR LIDAH

(Ox Tongue In Sweet Nutmeg Sauce) OVERVIEW: Although native to Indonesia, the nutmeg is not often used in cooking. One exception is the braised meat dish known as Semur, which is generally made with beef. This Balinese version uses ox tongue and partners the inimitable fragrance of nutmeg with sweet soy sauce.

INGREDIENTS: 2,5 lt (10 cups) water 600 gr (1 ¼ lb) ox tongue, washed well 1 cup beef stock 4 tbsp sweet soy sauce (kecap manis) 2 tbsp thin soy sauce ¾ tsp ground black pepper ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg 4 ea salam leaves 3 fragrant lime leaves 3 tbsp fried shallots 3 medium size potatoes, peeled and cut in 2 cm (3/4 in dice) Fried shallots to garnish PREPARATION: 1. Bring water to boil in a heavy stockpot, add beef spice paste and salam leaves, whole ox tongue and bring back to boil.

2. Reduce heat and simmer for approximately 3 hours or until tongue is cooked and very tender.

3. Plunge ox tongue into ice water and cool for 5 minutes. Peel skin off with a sharp knife.

4. Slice ox tongue in thin even slices and place in saucepan.

5. Fill up with beef stock and add all remaining ingredients. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

6. Add potatoes and continue to simmer until potatoes are cooked.

7. Garnish with fried shallots. (www.baliguide.com/ balifood)

C.045 ibp

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Friday, August 5, 2011

Destinations

International

Banyuwedang hot spring IBP

Located in Pajarakan Village, Gerokgak District Buleleng Regency, it’s about 60 kms from Singaraja, it’s located near the West Bali National park. This beach area also near the Menjangan beach that usually used for Snorkeling or Diving Banyuwedang Hot spring come from the hot spring in the beach area, this hot spring is the largest hot spring in Bali. This hot spring contain a little of Sulfur, the average temperature is around 40 C. Because of its sulfur, this hots ping believed able to cure a lot of disease. There is a lot of people come to this place with a hope to cure their sickness.

In the beach area of the hot spring, there is a lot of mangrove (actually this hot spring located in the middle of mangrove forest), so this area was free from abrasion. There also a creek with a white shore in this hot spring area, this makes banyuwedang hot spring even more beautiful than what you have been thinking.

The domestic tourist was dominated the visit to this area, they come with a hope to cure their sickness, lot of domestic tourist come from Banyuwangi, Java. This makes government of the Bali regency planning to make this area as a “Health Tourism”.

International Bali Post Classifieds

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

Contact us

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

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BUSINESS ECB to halt rate hike cycle, pressured on bond buys Reuters

FRANKFURT - An economic slowdown and debt market turmoil mean the European Central Bank will probably hit ‘pause’ on its interest rate raising cycle for several months and may even signal on Thursday a readiness to buy bonds again.

The ECB meeting, which began at 0700 GMT, comes against a backdrop of slowing growth in the euro zone core and the spread of the bloc’s debt crisis to G7 economy Italy — a development that has alarmed policymakers and put the bank’s dormant government bondbuying plan back in the spotlight.

The chief European economist for Standard and Poor’s, Jean-Michel Six, said markets expect the ECB will reactivate its bond-buying operation to calm market turmoil.

“Markets are still moving so we need someone to intervene,” he said. “The only effective fireman capable of getting us out of the building quickly is the ECB which, since the beginning of the crisis, has played an admirable role to calm markets.”

The outlook for global interest rates has swung away from the sort of steady tightening begun by the ECB earlier this year and the Frankfurt-based bank meets just a day after Switzerland delivered a shock cut in its already very low rates.

The Bank of Japan also eased monetary policy by boosting asset purchases on Thursday and signaled its determination to support Tokyo’s solo currency intervention to weaken the yen.

The ECB is expected to leave its key refinancing rate unchanged at 1.5 percent.

ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, whose eight-year term expires at the end of October, is highly unlikely to indicate a reversal in the bank’s policy tightening course that it began with a rate rise in April, followed by another last month.

But the euro zone slowdown means any further hike will almost certainly come in the fourth quarter at the earliest. With inflation slowing to 2.5 percent in July, Trichet is likely to indicate the ECB is in wait-and-see mode on monetary policy.

“I would expect some softer comments on the economy and honestly he can afford that because the ECB has strengthened its credibility in the sense that it was the first big Western bank that went into tightening,” said Gilles Moec at Deutsche Bank.

“If there is one central bank that can afford to take a breather and look at the situation for six months before making any sort of additional tightening decision, that’s the ECB.” The way Trichet phrases the bank’s eco-

nomic assessment will, as always, be key.

Risks to growth have long been described as “broadly balanced,” and last month the ECB reiterated it was monitoring inflation “very closely,” which usually means that rate hikes remain on the agenda. Any changes would be seen as a clear hint that the central bank is getting cold feet about rate hikes.

Euribor futures show financial markets have priced out further rate rises this year by the ECB, whose Governing Council holds its regular monthly monetary policy with several key members away on holiday.

With many European policymakers on holiday, there appears little prospect of urgent action on that front and the euro zone’s rescue fund (EFSF) cannot use new powers granted last month to buy bonds in the secondary market or give states precautionary credit lines until they are approved by national parliaments in late September at the earliest.

That leaves the ECB as just about the only bulwark against market attacks on Italy and Spain in the short-term.

“I would expect Trichet to try to raise the probability that they may intervene but no more than that,” Deutsche’s Moec said.

The European Union voiced support on Wednesday for Italy and Spain, whose bond yields surged to 14-year highs, but acknowledged that investors now doubt whether the euro zone can overcome its sovereign debt woes.

“The agreement at the summit to broaden the scope of the EFSF was a very positive step,” said BNP Paribas economist Ken Wattret.

“But as there is a delay before those changes are operational, it would be very welcome if the ECB could bridge that gap by re-starting its SMP and buying across a wider range of markets.”

In May last year, markets went into a frenzy after Trichet said the Governing Council had not discussed the option of buying government bonds. Just four days later, the ECB made a Uturn and started the buying program, which was internally controversial and was opposed by Axel Weber, who later quit as head of the Bundesbank.

“It’s possible that the ECB may reactivate it’s bond-buying program, possibly even during the press conference,” said Nomura economist Jens Sondergaard. “(But) we need to see a sharp deterioration from here before they actually step in.”

Yen sinks after intervention; stocks near lows Reuters

LONDON - The yen tumbled from near record highs on Monday after Japan intervened to curb the currency’s exportdamaging strength, while world stocks held above 2011 lows as expectations grew for more policy action in developed countries.

Japan spent an estimated 1 trillion yen ($13 AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO billion) to sell the yen Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaaki throughout Tokyo and Shirakawa speaks before press at the bank London trading hours headquarters in Tokyo on August 4, 2011. and is likely to leave extra liquidity from the intervention in the system. The Bank of Japan pledged to ease monetary policy further to bolster growth by buying assets such as stocks and bonds.

Japan’s action follows an unexpected interest rate cut by Switzerland to weaken its currency on Wednesday.

There are expectations that may be the forerunner for fresh rounds of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve and Bank of England, while the European Central Bank is under pressure to resume bond buying to ease the euro zone debt crisis.

Retail sales seen rising in July Reuters

NEW YORK - Deep discounts and the warmest July weather in decades should help retail chains report a rise in monthly sales, with many expecting warehouse clubs and high-end chains to lead the way.

July figures will give investors an early read on consumer demand in the economy at the start of the back-toschool season, the second-biggest selling period of the year after Christmas.

Chains ranging from Target Corp to Saks Inc will report closely watched sales at stores open at least a year on Thursday.

Analysts are expecting same-store sales to rise 4.3 percent in July, compared with a year-ago increase of 2.8 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

“Recent hot weather has driven consumers to the malls, aiding in the clearance of spring and summer merchandise,” Barclays analyst Robert Drbul said.

An early batch of results highlighted mixed fortunes.

Teen apparel chain Zumiez Inc reported a 4.9 percent rise in same-store sales, missing the analysts’ estimate of a 7.5 percent increase. The company blamed the weakness on lackluster sales of accessories and hard goods.

Rival Hot Topic Inc blew past estimates with a 7.3 percent rise in same-

store sales, prompting it to forecast a narrower-than-expected loss in the quarter.

Top U.S. drug store chain Walgreen Co reported a 2.7 percent rise in July same store sales, beating the analyst estimate for a 2.5 percent increase as strong sales of candy and other frontend merchandise offset weak pharmacy sales.

Investors will want to know if retailers had to offer deeper-than-usual discounts to win shoppers.

U.S. consumer sentiment fell in July to its lowest point in more than two years as anxieties over stagnant wages and unemployment deepened, a survey showed.

“My mom is paying the bills and they’re telling me that they need to cut back on me spending all this money on me buying clothes,” said Ed Rush, 15, who was shopping at a Target store in Chicago.

Analysts expect warehouse club operators such as Costco Wholesale Corp and BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc to post some of the largest sales gains in July.

Many also expect healthy sales gains at dollar stores, off-price chains TJX Cos and Ross Stores Inc and luxury chains Saks Inc and Nordstrom Inc. One underperformer of the month could be clothing retailer Gap Inc. Same-store sales at the parent of the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic chains are expected to fall 0.7 percent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

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Friday, August 5, 2011

Entertainment

International

Lost Hitchcock film discovered in New Zealand David Sterritt, author of “The Films of Alfred Hitchcock.”

“Even though he didn’t direct it, he was all over it.” Foundation Director Annette Melville said the three “White Shadow” reels — about 30 minutes — were found among films donated to the archive by the family of New Zealand projectionist and collector Jack Murtagh. No other copy of “The White Shadow” is known to exist.

The film stars Betty Compson in a dual role as twin sisters, one angelic and the other “without a soul,” according to Melville. “At the time, people said the plot was improbable.

I’m putting a polite spin on it. Many said it was ridiculous,” Melville said.

“It’s a totally crazy, zany plot with soul migration back and forth and all these improbable meetings.”

A restored print of “The White Shadow” will be shown Sept. 22 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences headquarters in Beverly Hills. The program also will feature two recently rediscovered short films, including one directed by and starring silent-era superstar Mabel Normand.

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — Alfred Hitchcock is still surprising his fans.

Film preservationists said Wednesday they’ve found the first half of the earliest known surviving feature film on which Hitchcock has a credit: a silent melodrama called “The White Shadow.”

The first three reels of the sixreel film, made in 1923, were discovered by the National Film Preservation Foundation at the New Zealand Film Archive. “The White Shadow” was directed by Graham Cutts, and the 24-yearold Hitchcock was credited as writer, assistant director, editor and art director.

Hitchcock made his own directing debut two years later with the chorus-girl melodrama “The Pleasure Garden.” He went on to direct such suspense classics as “Psycho,” ‘’The Birds,” ‘’Rear Window” and “Vertigo.” “The White Shadow” is a “missing link, one of those few productions where we are able to bridge that gap of Hitchcock, the young guy with all these ideas, and Hitchcock the filmmaker,” said

AP Photo/Twentieth Century Fox

In this image released by Twentieth Century Fox, Caesar the chimp, a CG animal portrayed by Andy Serkis, and James Franco are shown in a scene from “Rise of the Planet of the Apes .”

Review: ‘Apes’ is big, ridiculous summer fun Associated Press Writer

Silly humans. We’re so arrogant. We see a cute, cuddly baby chimp, assign all kinds of familiar characteristics to it and raise it with the loving playfulness we’d give our own children, only to find that the creature’s unpredictable and ferocious animal nature wins out in the end.

AP Photo/National Film Preservation Foundation

In this image released by the National Film Preservation Foundation, Betty Compson, center, is shown in a scene from the Alfred Hitchcock film, “The White Shadow.”

If the documentary “Project Nim” didn’t serve as enough of a warning for us earlier this summer, now we have the blockbuster “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” which is sort of a prequel and sort of a sequel and sort of a reboot. Mainly, it’s a spectacle.

Except for a couple of cute nods to the 1968 Charlton Heston original, “Rise” pretty much functions as its own stand-alone entity.

Sure, it might be trying to teach us a lesson about hubris, provide some insight into the darker elements of human nature we’d rather not acknowledge. But mostly it’s about

angry, ‘roided-up chimps clambering across cars on the Golden Gate Bridge, giving a hairy smackdown to the outmatched California Highway Patrol officers who are foolish enough to stand in their way. The second you see cops arriving on horseback in a futile attempt at keeping the peace, you just know that one of these primates is going to end up climbing into the saddle and unleashing hell, most likely in slow motion.

This is not a complaint, mind you.

This seventh film in the “Planet of the Apes” series rises to such ridiculous heights, it’s impossible not to

Kutcher will play Internet billionaire on ‘Men’ Associated Press Writer

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Ashton Kutcher will play “an Internet billionaire with a broken heart” when he arrives as the new star of “Two and a Half Men” next month.

CBS Entertainment Nina Tassler shared this tidbit about the muchanticipated cast change for TV’s biggest sitcom during a session with television reporters on Wednesday. Kutcher, of course, will fill the void left by Charlie

Sheen, who made a stormy exit from “Men” last season.

Kutcher’s character will be named Walden Schmidt, confided the CBS boss, who added that Schmidt has no family connection to the characters played by continuing stars Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones. They portrayed the brother and nephew of Sheen’s departed character.

Tassler would not confirm or deny reports that the new season of “Men” begins with the death of Sheen’s character, Charlie Harper,

and a funeral. “The mystery is part of the marketing,” she said. “Men” begins its ninth season on Sept. 19 with the first of a two-part kickoff that establishes Kutcher’s character.

Predictably, Tassler voiced excitement about the show’s new star.

Kutcher, she said, “is an extraordinarily professional, talented, funny, gifted actor who comes with a tremendous amount of commitment and enthusiasm.” “The show will be as irreverent as it has ever been,” she promised. “Our Program Prac-

tices people are already on high alert.”

Even so, Kutcher and his “Men” co-stars were conspicuously absent from Wednesday’s sessions of the Television Critics Association, which was visited by cast members from several of CBS’ new fall shows as well as from “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” the veteran crime drama that is welcoming Ted Danson to the fold for its upcoming 12th season.

laugh out loud — in a good way, in appreciation. There’s big, event-movie fun to be had here, amped up by some impressive special effects and typically immersive performance-capture work

by Andy Serkis, best known as Gollum from the “Lord of the Rings” films.

But the idea that director Rupert Wyatt and writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver truly had anything serious in mind seems rather disingenuous. There’s a thin layer of philosophical substance draped over a muscular action picture. The third act makes that clear.

At first, though, James Franco is toiling away stoically as Will Rodman, a scientist at a San Francisco-based pharmaceutical company who is doing genetic research in hopes of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. His quest is personal: His once-brilliant father (John Lithgow in the film’s few subtle scenes) suffers from the affliction.

Science

International

Friday, August 5, 2011

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Heat-seeking vampire bats hone in on veins Scientists have found the genetic pathway that enables vampire bats to sink their razor-edged teeth into “hot spots” likely to yield a quick and copious liquid meal, reports a study released Wednesday. The protein encoded by the gene, known as TRVP1, allows the blood-thirsty beasts to detect tiny pulses of warmth emitted by a prospective victim’s exposed veins, the researchers said.

IBP/ist

A vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, pictured here on August 2. Scientists have found the genetic pathway that enables vampire bats to sink their razor-edged teeth into “hot spots” likely to yield a quick and copious liquid meal, reports a study released Wednesday

In most mammals, the equivalent gene — which regulates sensitivity to temperature — acts like an alarm by triggering pain, prompting an animal to recoil from heat above a certain threshold, often 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit). But for vampire bats it works as a homing device, turning the night-flying mammal into a heat-seeking missile with fangs.

Within a range of about 20 centimetres (eight inches), anything above 30 C (86 F) shows up on its infrared radar as a potential meal.

“The bat can distinguish areas of skin where a vein is closest to the surface,” explained David Julius, a scientist at the University of California at San Francisco and lead researcher for the study, published in Nature.

Desmodus rotundus — the only bat

to feast on fresh blood — needs a regular supply but is not greedy, never taking more than about two tablespoons per serving.

A chemical in the bat’s saliva numbs the victim’s skin, and another prevents blood from clotting. All bats use an impressive array of tools to navigate and find food, including a highly developed sense of smell, sharp hearing and — despite a reputation for blindness — keen vision.

Bats are also masters of echolocation, the ability to interpret the return echoes of sounds they emit to detect, identify and capture living prey that is, more often than not, also in flight.

But only vampire bats, among the order’s 1,200 known species, are able to “feel” fine gradients in infrared radiation, more commonly known as heat.

Israeli scientists develop date-rape drug detector Agence France Presse

The days of having to cart your cocktail to the ladies room may be over: two Israeli scientists say they have developed a sensor that can accurately detect date-rape drugs in drinks 100 percent of the time. Professor Fernando Patolsky and Doctor Michael Ioffe of Tel Aviv University’s school of chemistry say the sensor can tell you in real time whether your martini or your mocktail has been spiked with ei-

ther of the two most common daterape drugs.

“You just dip it into your drink, it might actually look like a stirrer in the final production, it’s tiny, very tiny,” Ioffe told AFP. “And you don’t even have to hold it up to the light and the system will let you know whether there are drugs dissolved in your drink.”

The device sucks up a tiny drop of the suspect beverage and puts it in contact with the patented chemical formula devised by Patolsky and Ioffe. “The drug itself is reacting

IBP/afp

A bartender mixes a drink. The days of having to cart your cocktail to the ladies room may be over: two Israeli scientists say they have developed a sensor that can accurately detect date-rape drugs in drinks 100 percent of the time

with this chemical formulation and the previously clear formula becomes dirty and when the light shines it you can detect it,” Ioffe said. “You don’t have to do anything but dip it in your drink.”

The two scientists tested their device on a range of popular cocktails as well as soft drinks and other beverages and found it was able to correctly tell which had been spiked 100 percent of the time. “What’s amazing is that there is no false positives until now,” Ioffe said.

At present, the device can accurately detect the presence of the two of the most-commonly used date-rape drugs: GHB (gammahydroxybutyric acid) and ketamine. The scientists are also working to expand the device’s detection capacity to include Rohypnol, another drug commonly used to sedate the victims of date rape.

“We have some very, very optimistic preliminary results,” Ioffe said. “All we need is money.” The pair expect the first batch of sensors could be commercially available within a year and a half. The chemical formula that the device uses is cheap to produce and is not poisonous, meaning companies should be able to produce the sensor without requiring government approval.

REUTERS/Stringer

Dr. Martin Pickford displays a sub-complete skull of a fossil ape found in Karamoja region, northeast of Uganda’s capital Kampala, during a news conference in Kampala August 2, 2011.

20-million year-old ape skull found in Uganda Reuters

KAMPALA - Ugandan and French scientists have discovered a fossil of a skull of a tree-climbing ape from about 20 million years ago in Uganda’s Karamoja region, the team said Tuesday. The scientists discovered the remains on July 18 while looking for fossils in the remnants of an extinct volcano in Karamoja, a semi-arid region in Uganda’s northeastern corner.

“This is the first time that the complete skull of an ape of this age has been found. It is a highly important fossil,” Martin Pickford, a paleontologist from the College de France in Paris, told a news conference.

Pickford said preliminary studies

of the fossil showed that the treeclimbing herbivore, roughly 10years-old when it died, had a head the size of a chimpanzee’s but a brain the size of a baboon’s, a bigger ape.

Bridgette Senut, a professor at the Musee National d’Histoire Naturelle, said that the remains would be taken to Paris to be xrayed and documented before being returned to Uganda.

“It will be cleaned in France, it will be prepared in France and then in about one year’s time it will be returned to the country,” Senut said.

Uganda’s junior minister for tourism, wildlife and heritage said the skull was a remote cousin of the Hominidea Fossil Ape.

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Friday, August 5, 2011

Sport

International

Former Japan soccer defender Naoki Matsuda dies Associated Press Writer

TOKYO — Former Japan national defender Naoki Matsuda has died two days after suffering a cardiac arrest during training, his club said. The 34-year-old Matsuda had been in critical condition after collapsing Tuesday during practice with his club Matsumoto Yamaga.

Japan’s Naoki Matsuda raises his arms after winning their Group H soccer match against Russia at the World Cup Finals in Yokohama in this June 9, 2002 file photo.

Former Japan defender Matsuda died in hospital on August 4, 2011 three days after collapsing during training from a suspected heart attack.

REUTERS/Ruben Sprich/Files

“He passed away today at 1:06 p.m.,” Yamaga president Hiroshi Otsuki said Thursday. “Since Tuesday there has been an outpouring of support from Matsuda fans all over Japan.”

Matsuda played 40 times for Japan, including the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. He also played 385 J-League games for the Yokohama F Marinos from 19952010, helping the team to three JLeague titles. Matsuda collapsed after a 15-minute run. After an initial diagnosis of heat stroke, it was determined he suffered a cardiac arrest. He was unconscious on his arrival at a hospital and showed no response to heart massage.

Van der Sar bids farewell at Spain beats Ecuador 2-0, advances at U20 World Cup star-studded Ajax finale Associated Press Writer

Agence France Presse

Manchester United’s former Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar bid farewell to his adoring public on Wednesday in the company of several star internationals in front of 53,000 Ajax fans. “I want to thank everyone in the stadium ... thanks for your support down through the years,” van der Sar told the crowd at the Ajax Arena where he started his career in 1990.

The towering 1.97m goalie selected a “Dream Team” made up notably of Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Dirk Kuyt, Edgar Davids, Rio Ferdinand and Dennis Bergkamp, who played for an hour against Dutch giants Ajax. To a standing ovation from the crowd, Van der Sar left the pitch several minutes before the end of the game which was won 2-1 by the “Dream Team” thanks to goals from Louis Saha and Bergkamp.

“He is maybe the best goalkeeper that Manchester United ever had, but I say maybe because we also had Peter Schmeichel,” said United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

Earlier in the evening two teams for which van der Sar played - Ajax, with whom he won the Champions League in 1995, and the Dutch national side that were World Cup semi-finalists in 1998 - played each other.

Patrick Kluivert, Marc Overmars, Frank Rijkaard, Frank de Boer and his brother Ronald, represented Ajax while Bergkamp and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were among the players representing the national side.

“Ajax fans thank Edwin van der Sar,” a banner draped on the stands read. Van der Sar won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and Manchester United in 2008, four Premier League titles and four

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia — Real Madrid playmaker Sergio Canales sparked Spain to a 2-0 win over Ecuador on Wednesday, and put his team into the second round of the Under-20 World Cup. Surprising Saudi Arabia also advanced after routing Guatemala 60. Nigeria did the same by beating Croatia 5-2, while Costa Rica kept

alive its hopes of reaching the second round with a 3-2 victory over Australia.

Spain struggled early against Ecuador in Manizales but picked up the pace after Canales came off the bench in the 56th minute, playing for the first time after a lingering muscle injury.

Canales scored from close range in the 67th and set up Alvaro Vazquez’s goal in the 85th.

IBP/afp

Manchester United’s former Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, pictured in May 2011, bid farewell to his adoring public on Wednesday in the company of several star internationals in front of 53,000 Ajax fans Dutch league titles. The 40-year-old also holds the Premier League record of 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal during the 2010-2011 season and a Dutch record for 130 caps.

He started his career at Ajax (1990-1999) before moving on to Juventus (1999-2001), Fulham (20112005) and Manchester United (2005-2011), playing his last official match at Wembley on May 28 during the Champions League final loss to Barcelona.

AP Photo/Nestor Silva

Spain’s Sergio Canales, center, celebrates surrounded by Ecuador’s players Edder Fuertes, left, Juan Govea and goalkeeper John Jaramillo after scoring during a U-20 World Cup group C soccer match in Manizales, Colombia, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011.

Sport

International

Friday, August 5, 2011

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Tour Down Under to open World Tour until 2015 Associated Press Writer

ADELAIDE, Australia — The Tour Down Under will remain the opening event on World Tour for the next four years after the International Cycling Union extended the license of the Australian race.

The Premier of South Australia state, Mike Rann, announced Thursday that the six-day tour would remain part of the World Tour at least until 2015. The Australian stage race was the first non-European event to be added to the UCI ProTour in 2008 and was chosen by seventime Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong for his international comeback in 2009.

Armstrong also rode in the Tour Down Under in 2010 and this year, making it his last event outside of America.

Clippers’ Griffin stays busy during NBA lockout Associated Press Writer

REUTERS/Romina Amato

Switzerland’s Roger Federer hits a return to Portugal’s Rui Machado during their men’s singles Davis Cup tennis match in Bern July 8, 2011.

Federer trusts himself to thrive past age 30 Reuters

NEW YORK - Roger Federer will turn 30 next week, but the Swiss winner of a record 16 grand slam singles titles said on Wednesday he will not pause for reflection since he is too busy plotting for more tennis success.

Federer will spend his birthday on Monday in Montreal at the Rogers Cup tournament, where adoring fans have serenaded him in the past to mark the occasion.

“I’m looking forward to turning 30, excited to see how the Canadians are going to celebrate my birthday this time around, because sometimes they start singing ‘Happy Birthday’ during my match,” Federer told reporters during a conference call.

Federer said the milestone birthday would not move him to take stock of his career and his future. “My plans are always probably a bit over a year ahead of the time. I’m already way past this point,” he said. “I’m already thinking beyond the Olympics next year.

“Birthdays, they happen. They are a part of life. I’m happy I’m getting older,” added Federer,

who is married and the father of twin girls. “I’d rather be 30 than 20 to be quite honest. This is, to me, a nice time.”

Federer said he still loves the game, the lifestyle and the challenge as he ramps up his preparation for this month’s U.S. Open, which he won five times in a row from 2004. What has changed, is his frequency of winning.

Federer, who once reigned a record 237 successive weeks as world number one and enjoyed the top perch for a total of more than five years overall, has slipped to number three behind Australian Open and Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic and number two Rafa Nadal, the French Open champion.

Federer is 1-3 this year against Djokovic and 0-3 versus Nadal, and his last grand slam triumph came at the 2010 Australian Open.

The Swiss maestro, who is comfortable trading groundstrokes or attacking the net and who has won majors on grass, hardcourt and clay, said he was feeling fine physically heading into the year’s last grand slam. “In the preparation, nothing changes,” said Federer.

“Do you listen to your body more? Yes, you do. Are you more wise? Yes, you are. Are you more experienced? Yes. Do you have a thousand matches in your body?

Yes, you do. You just go with what you have.

Federer is happiest, of course, when he is winning. “I’ve won so much that you feel like if you put yourself in the right position and you do all the right things you’ll definitely get a shot of winning big tournaments,” he said.Federer said he draws inspiration from tennis greats who enjoyed longevity.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Even with NBA players locked out by the league, Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Blake Griffin isn’t taking any days off. Griffin hosted the opening day of his first annual basketball camp for kids in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, then squeezed in a private one-hour workout afterward with the hope of improving on his Rookie of the Year season.

Griffin has also been busy with appearances for a growing number of sponsors after his leap over the hood of a car to win the NBA’s slam dunk title, and last weekend he was part of his brother’s wedding in Tulsa.

“I haven’t stopped working out really since May,” Griffin said. “It’s been every day, sneaking it in whenever I can.” Griffin says it’s frustrating for him to think that the NBA games may be interrupted after his first season playing in the league. Griffin missed all of the 2009-10 season with a broken kneecap after he had been the No. 1 draft pick out of Oklahoma.

“Now my first three seasons, I could play 82 games,” Griffin said. “So, we’ll see what happens.” The NBA and its players returned to the bargaining table Monday, but Commissioner David Stern left saying he was no longer optimistic about the process. On Tuesday, the league took two actions against the NBA players association, filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board and a lawsuit in federal district court in New York.

Neither team proposed a new collective bargaining agreement during the negotiations Monday. “Hopefully from here on out, it’s a little better,” Griffin said, adding: “I think things will start to move a little faster once the season gets closer and closer.”

The regular season is scheduled to start on Nov. 1, and training camps typically open about a month before then. That leaves little time to reach a deal between two sides that seem miles apart.

“You just stay ready really, That’s really all I can do — pace myself, stay ready,” Griffin said. “I have to take a little time off every now and then to make sure your body’s going to be fresh, because you can’t be working out for six months straight. It is tough, but at the same time you’ve got to put in the work.”

Griffin led all rookies with 22.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per game last season, becoming the first rookie All-Star since Yao Ming in 2003. He called that first season a “pretty good one, but I’m looking forward to next year already and getting better.”

Griffin said he wants to improve his all-around game, particularly his shooting, after gaining the most notoriety for the slam dunk contest.day, Aug. 2, 2011.

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, left, keeps the ball away from two participants in his basketball camp, right, in Oklahoma City, Tues

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

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Friday, August 5, 2011

Button determined to continue push for title Jenson Button, McLarenJenson Button says he is determined to continue to fight for this year’s title despite his huge gap to Sebastian Vettel in the standings.

Button scored his second win of the season in last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, but Red Bull rival Vettel finished in second and increased his lead in the championship. The McLaren driver is 100 points behind the German. Button conceded it will be a challenge to catch Vettel, but he insists he is not giving up.

“I’m 100 points behind Sebastian, so that’s going to be challenging, but we like a challenge,” said Button. “I never give up, so let’s see what happens.

“I’ll take each race as it comes and then look at the points at the end of the year.” Button admitted he was very encouraged by McLaren’s progress in the last couple of races, with the team having won back-to-back events in Germany and Hungary.

“Our race pace was very strong, but I don’t

think there was much between us, Ferrari and Red Bull,” he said. “We’ve won three of the last five races and each of our major rivals has won just one apiece during that time, so we’re doing something right. “To win with Lewis in Germany and me in Hungary proves that McLaren is pushing, developing and challenging the cars around us with genuine pace in the car.”

Team-mate Lewis Hamilton, the winner at the Nurburging, is also bullish about his prospects for the upcoming races, the Briton adamant that he can score more victories.

“There are 200 points up for grabs and I enter all of the races believing I can win them,” he said. “We’re about to visit some really special venues: Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, Suzuka and Interlagos are some of the greatest tracks in the sport. You really feel their soul and their history.

AFP PHOTO / ATTILA KISBENEDEK “We’re going to these tracks with three McLaren Mercedes’British driver Jenson Button celebrates on the podium at the Hungaroring teams battling with similar pace at the top, it’s circuit on July 31, 2011 in Budapest after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix. going to be a competitive and dramatic run down to Brazil and the end of the season.”

Vijay Mallya hails ‘remarkable’ Force India FORCE India boss Vijay Mallya says his team has reasons to be very proud after what he labelled as a remarkable performance in the last few races. Adrian Sutil secured a season-best sixth place in the German Grand Prix, and that was followed by team-mate Paul di Resta finishing in seventh position in Hungary last weekend.

The results allowed Force India to close the gap to sixth-placed Sauber to nine points. Mallya admitted he has been delighted with his team’s progress. “It’s the result that counts. I’m very encouraged and very happy,” said Mallya on Force India’s website.

“Development work through the season is obviously paying off. The car is getting better and more competitive and easier to drive. The drivers are highly motivated and clearly they are putting in their very best. In Germany it was Adrian, and in Hungary, Paul.”

He added: “We had a slow start to the season, because I think the first few flyaway races were just an extension of our development programme. But once we got going from the European season onwards, particularly from Monaco, we’ve

improved almost every race.

“These last few races, where we have qualified in Q3, say it all. To be in the top 10 in such a fiercely competitive field is quite remarkable, and quite satisfying.”

Mallya also believes the nature of the Spa and Monza circuits should mean Force India will continue performing strongly in the upcoming races. “The car is going to be quick, I think. If you look at the sector maximum speeds in the race in Hungary, in S1 Adrian was the quickest, and in S3, Paul was the quickest,” he said.

“So this car has pace. But it also has good downforce to handle the corners as well. I’ll be looking forward to Spa, and hopefully a strong showing.”

“It was an absolutely fantastic moment to see the car in pole position in 2009 and Giancarlo Fisichella on the podium.

But that car could only go very fast in a straight line, and pretty much didn’t do very much else! Now it’s doing everything that’s asked of it, irrespective of the track. I think that’s a better position to be in.”

Force India’s German driver Adrian Sutil drives at the Hungaroring circuit on July 30, 2011 in Budapest during the qualifing session of the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix.

AFP PHOTO / PETER KOHALMI