Edisi 10 Agustus 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 157 2st Year

Floods strand 300 foreigners in India’s Ladakh

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

BSA recorded 886 million dollar losses over software piracy PAGE 8

Webber: Red Bull strong everywhere PAGE 16 AP

Rescuers and residents walk on a road covered by rocks and mud near a collapsed building

1,300 missing in China amid Asian flood wave WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

25 - 33

JAKARTA

25 - 34

BANDUNG

21 - 31

YOGYAKARTA

24 - 33

SURABAYA

26 - 37

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

ZHOUQU, China – Rescuers dug through mud and wreckage Monday searching for 1,300 people missing after flash floods and landslides struck northwestern China, just one of a series of floods across Asia that have killed hundreds and spread misery to millions more.

In Pakistan, frustrated victims railed against the government’s anemic relief effort for the estimated 15 million displaced by the country’s worst-ever floods, while rescuers in mountainous Indian-

controlled Kashmir raced to rescue dozens of stranded foreign trekkers and find 500 people still missing in flash floods that have killed 140.

Continued on page 6

Radical Indonesian cleric arrested for terrorism JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s elite anti-terror unit arrested radical Islamist cleric Abu Bakar Bashir on Monday for alleged ties to a group accused of plotting Mumbai-style attacks targeting foreigners and several high-profile assassinations.

RAIN

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File - In this July 19, 2007 file photo, Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir talks to journalists

0361-225764 AP

Bashir, who has been arrested twice before and spent several years in jail, arrived at the national police headquarters under tight security.

“The United States is behind this!” shouted the bearded cleric, who was wearing his traditional white robe. “This arrest is a blessing ... I will be rewarded

by Allah!”

Continued on page 6

2

International

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Bali News Eradicating poverty in Bali

Karangasem runs unclear program Discourse on the alleviation of poor people in Karangasem has lasted more than five years namely since 2004. At that time, the number of poor people in Karangasem was recorded over 46,000 households. Although the discourse on eradicating the poverty of residents in the only one undeveloped regency in Bali has taken place for long time, the really appropriate program seemed to have not run accordingly. As a result, poor residents remain poor, children under five years old (toddlers) remains to exist, and beggars stay in great quantities. Even, there is a tendency that beggars seemingly increase a lot, especially the housewives bringing along with their toddler or school-age children.

A social activist who is also the operator of Gandhi Gedong Ashram at Candidasa, Nyoman Sadra, said the insignificant decline in the number of poverty in Karangasem was caused by the unreal data. Supposedly, the poor people should be recorded based on the real name, complete personal identity and proper address. From the data, it was then made the alleviation program, or facilitation. “Who, where they live and the root of their poverty should be included in the data. Only then search for the solution and if necessary, accompany them until they could live their life better,” explained Sadra.

Meanwhile, Ni Nyoman Suparni, a counselor at the Integrated Service Center for Women and Children Empowerment (P2TP2A) in Karangasem, also said to be in agreement with Sadra. The woman handling a lot of social problems of local residents like poverty, domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape questioned why beggars were never completely alleviated. All this time, there were averagely 600 beggars every year claiming to be from Munti Gunung and Pedahan, Kubu that were captured and returned to Karangasem by other regency/city in Bali. Those beggars were given guidance in the hope they stopped begging. Unfortunately, after they were returned to their respective village, they came down the city to beg again.

According to Suparni, from several times handling the poor residents, she could obtain information why they did begging. Some residents admitted to have no skills because they never went to school. Some others were poor because they had no land to cultivate.

Moreover, if they had little land, farming could only be performed once a year because their land was barren. In order they could eat, head of the household told his wife or wives to go down the mountain and to beg in towns.

“We’ve handled cases of domestic violence of a wife taken into multiple marriages, namely a husband with three wives. Her husband told his wives to become beggar bringing along with their children. If they did not want to look for money or returned

home without bringing money, his wives would be abused. Meanwhile, the husband has a fun at home while gambling,” said Suparni.

Poverty, illiteracy or uneducated condition has become a vicious circle or a causal relationship. The poor is unable to pay tuition for their children.

Since they are not attending school, illiteracy or having low education, they do not have any life skills. As consequence, they are unable to think creatively to get out of the poverty problem. When being sick the poor are unable to seek treatment and eventually their quality of life turns lower. They become non-productive and will continue to be so. “More horrifyingly and widespread impact incurs if the poverty is not only materially poor but also mentally poor. Moral poverty can trigger social problems, such as theft crimes or other evil actions. On that account, the rate of crimes in Karangasem is high enough,” said Sadra.

In the meantime, Suparni said that as long as her experience to give guidance to children facing legal problems, cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment and rape, in fact the causes interconnected with poverty or economic problems in the household. Economic difficulty could kindle domestic quarrel leading to domestic violence.

This condition made the family disharmonious. Therefore, their children got less parental attention or were neglected in terms of parental love and education.

If the economic problem or poverty was not handled or disconnected, it would cause endless social problems.

“Poor family in a number of cases as found in Kubu, one of the families only has a single unit of small and simple house. The entire family consisting of parents and many children growing adults are sleeping together in a couch (bed). This can cause incest (relationship) or illicit sexual intercourse between father with his daughter, or between boys and girls,” she said.

Therefore, according to the Head of Karangasem House, I Gede Dana, in order to eradicate the poverty, the chains had to be disconnected first. It could be starting with education. Rate of illiteracy or the completion of mandatory nine-year education should be really re-

alistic. On that account, it might not be limited to the reports on paper only, illiteracy and nine-year mandatory education should be completely successful. “I find many primary school graduates this year are unable to continue to junior high school. However, the report said it had been completed 100 percent.

Thus, management education must be improved,” he asserted.

In response to the statement, the Regent of Karangasem I Wayan Geredeg said the improvement of education management was only a matter of time. But he could not explain when the management of education in Karangasem could be better. Geredeg said the budget of educational sector in Karangasem had reached 47 percent of total regional budget.

Then, the social activist Nyoman Sadra advised no to feel proud if seeing the budget allocation for the education to reach 47 percent, but most of them were only allocated for the stomach.

Most budgets were used to pay salaries, side dishes allowance, benefits of performance improvement (TPK), overtime pay, allowances of teacher certification, teacher in remote areas allowance (Gudacil) for around 5,000 teachers and local honorary civil servants. “It should be explained how much percent of the budget is used to pay salaries and all allowances, and how much percent is intended for the interests of improving the teaching and learning process in order to improve the quality of education output of the children,” said Sadra, a former teacher.

According to Gede Dana, it should be more effective to eradicate poverty of population through education. All this time, there were still many illiterate residents. Adult beggars were illiterate. Their children belonging to schools-age were also sent or invited to beg or exploited to search for money.

“If they persist not to go to school, they are going to continue begging through generations. If they are educated, they will know it is shameful to do begging and they will stop the habit of begging, reluctance to work, and getting a lot of money at ease. If they are smart, they will not be poor anymore. They will be able to think creative to get out of poverty,” he said.

Rejang dancers go trance on the Tawur Agung rite Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Sapat Customary Village, Tegallalang subdistrict, Gianyar, last Sunday (Aug 8) organized a Tawur Agung and Pedanan rites at Pura Desa temple of local village. The ritual taking the most grandiose one (Utamaning utama) was held in the series of Mamungkah Mupuk Pedagingan, Ngusaba Desa and Ngusaba Nini at Pura Desa temple of Sapat Customary Village. Interestingly, the ritual procession accompanied by the presentation of sacred Rejang Dewa dance had a trance experienced by the dancers.

Implementation of the ritual was commenced by Negtegan ritual held on Saniscara (Saturday) wuku Krulut coinciding with the full moon of June 26, 2010. It was resumed with Rsi Gana exorcism rite officiated by two higher priests namely Ida Pedanda Grya Aan and Ida Pedanda Grya Santrian. According to the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dewa Nyoman Rai Arsana, who is also the

Head of Sapat Customary Village, Tegallalang, the implementation of such ritual posed the decision of local villagers through plenary meeting getting involved senior figures of local royal palace, public figures and all potential components of the society at the Sapat Customary Village.

Backed up by self-introspection, the ritual was carried out pursuant to the capabilities without the purpose of carrying out the yajña ceremony seeking for prestige or the like. Dewa Rai Arsana who is also a successful entrepreneur would not like to disappoint the people who had worked sincerely, selflessly and always put the spirit of togetherness known as “Druenang Sareng.”

Meanwhile, the Regent of Gianyar Dr. Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati attending the event accompanied by Secretary of Gianyar Tjokorda Gde Putra Nindia signed an inscription at the location of such impressive rituals. (kmb16)

Worrying, 300 Hectares of Abandoned Land at South Kuta Mangupura (Bali Post) –

Badung House of Representatives noted around 300 hectares of land until now was not known it’s status so Representatives asked National Land Agency (BPN) to take out Right to Build (HGB) certificate and to verify its status.

The House’s Commission B member, I Wayan Puspa Negara, on Sunday (8/8) said those lands were owned by three companies: Raga Wisata (200 hectares), Indo Wisata Makmur (50 hectare) and Moncol Bumi (50 hectare).

Until now those lands were not used at all and left ignored, only had a board stating its owner. This condition is worrying as it has potential being in a strategic place.

According to Puspa Negara, this neglected land is Badung region’s own problem as it’s quite a huge land. This is only a few of it as there were more owned by investors yet not used.

According to Puspa, Govern-

ment Law No 11 Year 2010 on neglected land ruled the owner to use it soon so it is functioned economically or give affect to the people. And so with this condition in Badung, BPN should evaluate those lands’ HGB. If these lands haven’t been used for 5 years, Puspa demanded to have its HGB taken back.

The same thing mentioned by Commision B Leader, I Putu Partawa, these abandoned lands should be used not only as a speculation. More of it, these lands are strategic so it is useful for example to take it back being what it was before, “If it was for farming, take it back as a farm land and more. It will be more useful rather than being abandoned.”

From its data, Puspa mentioned BPN’s data doesn’t synchronize with Region Development Board (Bappeda) data. So this data on abandoned lands in Badung seemed weak so Puspa demanded this synchronizing to be better. (ded)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan, Tabanan: Surpi. Jakarta: Nikson,Hardianto,Ade Irawan . NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani, Nur Haedin, Suyadnya. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

3 Kg Gas Tube

Government Asked To Subsidize Kerosene THE high number of fire caused by the 3 kg gas tube explosion caused residents to miss its safety using kerosene. Actually people asked for kerosene subsidy to be back on track if those explosions are not solved. Not only that, government is asked to do much tighter supervision on these gas tubes distributions and safety as most are leaking.

This public opinion was recorded by Bali Post during a poll on randomized respondents in Bali. When asked, does government need to subsidize back kerosene as the 3 kg gas tubes have caused problems? Dominantly hoped kerosene will be subsidized again. There’s 63,3 percent of the respondents support this hope as mostly think kerosene is much safer and they also admitted are still saving its equipment. There’s 32,3 percent of the respondents think kerosene is not needed anymore but they asked for tighter supervision on these evil 3 kg gas tubes. While 4,4 percent of them don’t really want to think about it.

When asked, is the government action to confiscate and disciplined these 3kg gas tubes will take care and avoid explosions and

fire? Dominantly said they are not sure. They marked government are not serious on this problem.

Around 65,7 percent of the respondents judge these confiscations of problematic gas tubes doesn’t avoid faking those gas tubes. As long as 3 kg tube prices is not as much as 12,1 kg tube prices, then speculators are still obviously playing as it gives clear advantage.

Only 22,2 percent of the respondents admitted are sure on those disciplinary by confiscating problematic tubes as it will take care of public’s traumas. While 12 percent don’t know this disciplinary at all.

Meanwhile, when asked what’s solution would you suggest to avoid the 3 kg gas tube explosion?

Dominantly, 48,7 percent of them, asked government to do a tighter

supervision and fix the tube’s quality which then crimes to it can be solved. Besides that, some asked 3 kg gas tube and 12 kg gas tube to be same priced. Around 37,3 percent of respondents, asked for equality to be done as they think the forged crime happened as there was an opportunity for it. 6,8 percent of respondents asked for those crime actors to be given heavier punishment as they have seemed to plan this and cause social trauma. Also they asked agent not to be disobedient in processing the distribution and it needs to be controlled, as often workers just throw those empty 3kg gas tubes to the truck before being filled in again.

Those who gave alternative solutions and also not giving any at all reached 7,2 percent of the respondents. (dir)

Denpasar (Bali Post) –

torbikes. It caused complains to those who liked to cycle around this areal.

What Bali Post saw on Sunday, not only motorbikes that went in, even an orange Police patrol car with its front light and siren on came by as well. This was followed by bicycle riders on the car free day route. “That car shouldn’t get through here, this is a vehicles free route,” Putu Arini, a Denpasar resident who was enjoying this light sport in Renon stated.

Head of Relation Agency for Denpasar City, I Gede Astika, SH when confirmed stated will evalu-

ate this situation, “We will ask explanations from our workers. I just came from outside the region, for work.”

As known, routes for car free day are Puputan Street, road in front of Kejati Bali, in front of BPOM office and all around Puputan Margarana field, Renon.

Every Sunday morning until 11 am wita those routes are closed from vehicles so the morning sports can be done relaxingly without any worries of vehicles coming true. Although, the gates to car free day routes need much tighter supervision so there will be no vehicles coming in. (kmb12)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

3

Sellers Arrangement Waits for Central Parking Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Sellers being outside Pasar (Market) Badung areal seems not accommodated and caused traffics in the heart of Denpasar City. So, an arrangement for these outside sellers is back on the Denpasar City Government agenda. Yet actually the arrangement will be happening after central parking in Badung Market is done.

Head of Peace and Order Agency and Police Civil Service I Ketut Nick Natha Wibawa who was met at Denpasar on Sunday (8/ 8) mentioned he has done a meeting with involved institute to solve this problem. In the meeting who was attended by First Director of Denpasar Markets Trading Company (PD) revealed discussion on sellers’ arrangement around Gajah Mada Street and Sulawesi Street.

Lots of sellers at Gajah Mada Street have used the candi bentar (front gate) areal when actually

this areal should be sellers free, “We have planned to do this arrangement after the central parking project is done.”

It was said, the arrangement Markets Trading Company as they are the market’s management. Although his side will be ready to help if there will be difficulty in this. His side also hoped this arrangement will not cause any traffic anymore.

Before, Head of Denpasar Markets Trading Company, I Made Westra, said the high number of people chose to be outside the market caused some spaces inside the market empty as they chose being outside rather than being in the spaces.

Meanwhile, sellers on cars usually stayed at Badung Market’s areal (inside) reaches 132 sellers and areal sellers’ reaches 87 people.

They are selling from 5 pm ro 6 am wita. (kmb12)

Development of flyover is attempted Car Free Day Polluted By Vehicles not to shift the statue

Denpasar City Government program to make civic center in Renon as a car free place (Car free day) got a positive appreciation from the people. The number of enthusiastic people sporting in the morning around the civic center increased and those routine or identical sports some is centered here. More of it, the Denpasar City Government wants to make this area free from vehicles.

But the area around Puputan Margarana Field, Renon was still violated. For sure on Sunday (8/ 8) the car free day route had vehicles coming true especially mo-

Fire happen in Denbar and Kuta Tens of million of losses Denpasar (Bali Post)

Cases of fires occurred in two places in one day, Friday (6 / 8) yesterday. In addition to sear a semi permanent house in Jalan Merapi Denbar, the fire is also raging and engulfed a building in Jalan Baypass Ngurah Rai, Kuta.

There were no fatalities, but the citizens suffered losses of tens of millions of rupiah.

Now Tim Labfor Branch Police Headquarters Denpasar was still investigating the two incidents are related.

Residents in Jalan Merapi,

Gang V West Denpasar shocked by the blaze at a house owned by Putu Sukaja (50). When the incident, some residents are still asleep. Section, the fire raged and destroyed the victim’s house at around 5:00. Residents had time to panic before hand in hand to give help. Not long after, the official Fire Department (FMD) from Denpasar City Administration arrived at the scene. Thanks to the attentiveness of the officer who assisted the residents, the fire can be tamed too. â € ™â € ™case this fire allegedly caused by electrical short-range correlation, firm

Kanit Reskrim Denpasar Police of west Sector , Iptu Wayan Wesnawa Adhi Putra, Friday (6 / 8) yesterday.

Police officers and the Labfor Police Headquarters Branch Denpasar still investigating the cause of fire related to the sudden flare and engulfed the victim’s home. Police ranks Denbar is looking into the case of a fire at Jalan Merapi.

Meanwhile in separate places, the red rooster is spreading a building near a discotheque at around Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Kuta. (Jep)

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The discourse on the removal of Dewa Ruci related to the construction of flyover plans in the region of Kuta Roundabouts, Badung has raised protests from some circles. Some circles of the Bali House, Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) and a number of parties on behalf of community groups asserted their disapproval against the plan to shift the Dewa Ruci statue already standing solidly. They hoped the statue could remain at its current point, while the construction of flyover designated to address traffic congestion could still run.

In responding to the protests, the Bali Provincial Government through the Department of Public Works made review together with the Department of Public Works. Attempted, the construction of flyover at the Kuta Roundabouts would not shift the Dewa Ruci statue as the expectations of a number of people in Bali. “We are trying to make an effort in order not to remove the Dewa Ruci statue,” revealed the Head of Bali Public Works Dewa Putu Punia Asa to Bali Post, last Sunday (Aug 8).

According to Punia Asa, in accordance with the initial development plans of flyover at the intersection of Kuta Roundabouts, Badung, the existence of Dewa Ruci statue would be removed. Unless it was performed, the road development would not be straight and if it was shifted to 20 meters aside it certainly incurred a very large indemnity. Along the development plan of the road, almost all buildings had already had a permit. Meanwhile, compensa-

tion cost was estimated to reach IDR 500 million per are. Other than the funds allocated for the construction of flyover, there was no single penny earmarked for cost of shifting the statue. “It had been decided and when the design was reviewed again, there was no shifting of Dewa Ruci statue,” he asserted.

Punia Asa added that the government would give the community an opportunity to assess if the construction of flyover had been accomplished. Later on, if the existence of the statue would be far below or lower than the existence of flyover, the public were welcomed to provide assessment whether the statue should be shifted or not.

“People are invited to assess it later. If shifted now, it is estimated there will be big waves of protests,” he said.

Except for the protest against the removal of the statue, he said that a wave of protests was also estimated to arise during the construction in progress.

Unavoidably, the road would face traffic congestion and traffic flows would be disrupted. Such condition should be tolerated by society. On that account, continuous socialization should be committed in order wider community could recognize it. “The construction of flyover worth IDR 300 billion is expected to have started its physical process in the upcoming November. Ascertained the one-way sunset road will be disconnected. It is by considering that many facilities such as cables are buried either under or above must be observed,” he said while adding that his party would make coordination with relevant parties so that the construction could go flourishingly. (kmb13)

4

News

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

International

Nagasaki marks 65th anniversary of US atomic bomb TOKYO – The Japanese city of Nagasaki marked the 65th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bomb attack on Monday with a record 32 countries attending — but no American representative.

A moment of silence was observed at 11:02 a.m., the time when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the southern Japanese city on Aug. 9, 1945, in the waning days of World War II. Nagasaki was flattened three days after the United States detonated its first nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. About 80,000 people were killed in Nagasaki, while some 140,000 people were killed or died within months in Hiroshima. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II. The Nagasaki ceremony began with a chorus of aging survivors of the atomic bombing and Mayor Tomihisa Taue calling for a nuclear-free world.

“Nagasaki, together with Hiroshima, will continue to make the utmost efforts until the world gets rid of all nuclear weapons,” he said.

While the United States sent Ambassador John Roos as the country’s first delegate to Friday’s memorial ceremony in Hiroshima, it did not dispatch a representative to the Nagasaki anniversary.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said Monday the ambassador could not attend the Nagasaki ceremony due to schedule conflicts. The U.S. envoy recently called the city’s mayor to tell him he hopes to visit Nagasaki in the future, according to the embassy.

A Nagasaki city official said delegations from a record 32 countries, including nuclear powers Britain and France, attended Monday’s ceremony.

The United States decided to drop the bombs because Washington believed it would hasten the end of the war and avert the need to wage prolonged and bloody land battles on Japan’s main island. That concern was heightened by Japan’s desperate efforts to control outlying islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa as the Allies closed in.

AP

People attend a ceremony to mark the 65 anniversary of the U.S. atomic bomb attack in the waning days

AFP

File – Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Struggling PM regains slim lead in Australia vote SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has clawed back a narrow election-winning lead from conservative rival Tony Abbott, as the campaign for next week’s poll entered a crucial stage on Monday.

Gillard, the nation’s first woman leader, who seized power in a party putsch six weeks ago, had a tentative bounce in popularity after her early lead was eviscerated by party infighting and instability, two new opinion polls showed.

But the atheist single Labor Party leader played down her lead ahead

of the August 21 election, insisting she was still the underdog against Catholic family man Abbott in what has been a notably lacklustre campaign.

“This election is a tough, close contest and it’s going to be a photo finish,” Gillard told reporters in Perth. “And I believe that every day of the election campaign,” the flame-haired former lawyer added.

The latest Newspoll survey for The Australian newspaper showed the prime minister had turned around her vote to outpace Abbott’s Liberal-National coalition by 52

percent to 48.

Gillard, whose disaster-strewn campaign went awry as signs of disunity emerged in her centre-left following her brutal ouster of Kevin Rudd six weeks ago, has improved her rating from 50-50 a week ago, the survey said.

A Galaxy poll produced a similar result, showing Labor ahead of Abbott’s coalition by a tight 51 percent to 49 — up from 50-50 some 12 days ago, as both parties battle to announce new policies with no new funding in order to keep the budget deficit in check.

Anwar’s sodomy accuser spared questioning over ‘affair’ KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – The young man who has accused Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy was spared Monday from having to take the stand to answer claims he had an affair with a trial prosecutor.

Anwar last week applied to have the sodomy charges against him struck out, saying that 25-year-old Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who once worked as an aide in his office, could have been passed confidential information by the female lawyer. The former deputy prime minister, who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, has said the case is a political conspiracy and that the alleged relationship is more proof the trial is biased.

Lawyers for Anwar on Monday

asked the High Court to force Saiful, as well as the young prosecutor Farah Azlina Latif, to testify over the allegations.

But Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah refused the request, saying it was “not relevant to this case or this proceeding”.

Defence counsel Karpal Singh had asked the court to strike out the “frivolous” charge against Anwar, saying that the extraordinary allegations undermined the entire case.

“Never before in history... has such a motion been filed to strike out the charge on the basis of an affair between the prosecutor and the star witness,” he said. “This is putting the judicial system on trial. The court itself is on trial.”

The prosecution argued against the request for Saiful and Farah to take the stand, saying that it was a “fishing expedition” by the defence.

The claims of an affair first surfaced in a political blog last month, and shortly afterwards Farah was removed from the case.

No evidence has been offered, but neither the prosecution nor the pair involved have denied the allegations.

Saiful has accused Anwar — a 62year-old father of six — of sodomising him at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur condominium in 2008. If convicted, Anwar could face up to 20 years in prison.

Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to prevent him from taking power after the opposition made huge strides in 2008 elections, stunning the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which has been in power for half a century.

AFP

File – Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the man who accused Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy

International IMIGRATION Australian Consulate General Jalan Tantular 32 Renon Denpasar Phone: +62 361 241118 Fax: +62 361 221195 (General) +62 361 241120 (Immigration)

Royal Danish & Norwegian Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 070 The Czech Republic Jalan Pengembak No. 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.286 465 France Consulate Agency Jalan Merta Sari Gang II No. 8 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.285 485 The Federal Republic of Germany Jalan Pantai Karang No 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.288 535 The Republic of Hungary Jalan By Pass No 219 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.287 701 Italian Consulate Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 005 Honorary Consulate of Mexico Jalan Mohamad Yamin 1 A, Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.223 266 Honorary Consulate of The Netherlands Jalan Raya Kuta 127, Bali Phone +62.361.761 506 Honorary Consulate of Spain Komplek Istana Kuta Galleria Blok Vallet 2 No 11. Jalan Patih Jelantik Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.769 286 USA Consulate Agency Jalan Hayam Wuruk No. 188 Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.222 426

General Info HOSPITAL

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

5

HOSPITAL

Denpasar There are 4 major hospitals usually used by foreigners Denpasar General Hospital (RSUP Sanglah), Kasih Ibu Hospital, Rumah Sakit Wongaya and Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada.

HoBadung Bali Medical Clinics There are some medical clinics that are well known by foreigners in Bali. Some of them are western owned and operated :

RSUP Sanglah is the main provincial public hospital. Its facilities have improved since the emergency ward had been built in 1991. Difficult/critical cases would not become a problem anymore since it has complete equipments. It is located on Jl. Kesehatan Selatan 1 Sanglah Denpasar with : Phone : 227 911 – 15 Fax : 226 363

Bali International Medical Center (BIMC) Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) provides excellent Primary Health Care & Emeregency Medical Services for tourists, traveler, and expatriate living in Bali.

Emeregency Room, Ambulance, Clinic Services, Insurance & Medical Evacuations also available. Open 24 hours Phone : 761 2631. Located Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.100X, Kuta, Bali 80361 - Indonesia. http://www.bimcbali.com

Kasih Ibu Hospital is a private hospital which caters for less serious cases such as diarrhea, intestinal disorders, anemia, asthma and minor accidents. Kasih Ibu is also equipped to care for pregnant women. This hospital is located on Jl. Teuku Umar 120 Denpasar.

Phone : 223 036 Fax : 268 690.

International SOS Clinic Bali Opened in 1999, offers International SOS members and visitors to Bali comprehensive primary health care and 24hour emergency medical service.

Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta 80361, Bali - Indonesia Phone : 720 100 Fax : 721 919 E-mail : info@sos-bali.com ttp ://www.sos-bali.com

Rumah Sakit Wongaya (Public Hospital; Psychiatric Unit) Jl. Kartini, Denpasar.

Phone : 222 142.

Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada , (Private) Jl. Sudirman No 50, Denpasar Phone : 227 560, 234 824 In relating with health, Bali also has insurance and medical evacuation company, that is: AEA International - SOS Assistance Bali.

PT Abhaya Eka Astiti, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No. 24X, Kuta 80361.

Phone : 755 768 Fax : 755 768 One thing that should be noted by tourists here is that the Blood Bank in Bali normally carries no stock of Rhesus (Rh) Negative blood.

Bali Nusa Dua Emergency Clinic Jl Pratama No. 81 Phone : 771 324 Kuta Clinic Jl. Raya Kuta Phone : 753 268 Dental Clinic Dr Indra Guizot, Jl. Patimura 19, Denpasar Phone : 222 445, 234 375 DDS. Ritjie Rihartinah, Jl Pratama No. 81 Nusa Dua Phone : 771 324 Retno W. Agung, Jln. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.4A Br. Tamansari – Sanur Phone : 288 501 Bangli

Hotel Activities

Consulate General of Japan Jalan Raya Puputan No. 170 Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.227 628 Honorary Consulate of British Jalan Tirta Nadi No. 20 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.270 601 Swiss and Austria Consulate Jalan Patih Jelantik, Komplek Pertokoan Istana Galleria Phone +62.361.751 735 Honorary Consulate of Brazil Jalan Legian No. 186, Bali Phone +62.361.757 775 Honorary Consulate of Thailand Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 81, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.263 310 Embassy of India Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 42-44, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.241 978 Honorary Consulate of Sweden anf Finland Segara Village Hotel, Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.282 223 Honorary Consulate of Malaysia Alam Kulkul Boutique Resort, Jalan Pantai Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.752 520

Sanur Beach Hotel held a social activity few days ago. The hotel carried out Beach Cleaning activity on Sanur beach.

According to Candy, the Public Relations Manager of Sanur Beach Hotel, the activity was held due to the Sanur Village Festival but the similar activities will be done daily after the festival. On the closing ceremony, turtles were released to the sea by the hotel staffs.

6

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

News

Floods strand 300 foreigners in India’s Ladakh Reuters

JAMMU, India (Reuters) – More than 300 foreign tourists are stranded in India’s Himalayan region of Ladakh, three days after flash floods killed at least 150 people and ravaged the main town of Leh, officials said on Monday.

Floods triggered by unexpected heavy rains destroyed houses, uprooted telephone towers and deposited boulders and mud up to 15 feet high on highways and destroyed all communication networks, authorities and witnesses said.

At least 300 people are still missing and 25,000 people affected by the floods, army officials said. At least 7,000 soldiers were deployed to rebuild roads and bridges, they said.

“We have located about a group of 150 foreign tourists stranded in Zanskar Valley near Leh and we are trying to evacuate them by helicopters,” Flight Lietunant Priya Joshi of the Indian Air Force told Reuters on Monday.

Another 90 tourists were stranded in a monastery in Lama Yuru, about 110 km ( 68 miles) west of Leh, while another 73 were waiting for evacuation

Reuters –

Volunteers remove debris after flash floods in Leh, east of Srinagar August 8, 2010. in Din Karu, enroute to another tourist said Brigadier Sanjay Chawla of the destination, the army said.

Indian Army said from Leh. Thousands of tourists travel to About 33 soldiers were also swept Ladakh every year to visit old Buddhist away during the floods that hit the monasteries and for adventure sports Ladakh region on Friday, the army said. such as white water rafting.

In Leh, the main Buddhist town loThe region borders Pakistan, beset cated at an altitude of 3,505 meters by the worst floods in 80 years which (11,499 feet) in the state of Jammu and have killed over 1,600 people and left Kashmir, health officials were strugat least two million homeless. gling to treat the injured in the civilian “It will take a lot of time and effort hospital, which was also badly damto restore the communication network,” aged by the floods.

Book says Chinese premier is no reformist AP

HONG KONG – A book by a Chinese dissident author who says he was threatened with imprisonment argues China’s premier is not a reformist nor a man of the people, as popularly perceived at home, but a mediocre technocrat who rose to power through good acting.

Excerpts of “China’s Best Actor: Wen Jiabao,” seen by The Associated Press ahead of publication, show how the writer Yu Jie hopes to contrast the Chinese premier’s populist rhetoric with the hard-line actions and policies of the government he and President Hu Jintao lead, in which critics are routinely punished.

While the book is based on publicly available material, it puts forth arguments not openly expressed in China and is a reflection of the skepticism many dissidents feel toward the government’s professed policy of putting the people first.

The book — to be published Aug. 16 in Hong Kong — is a collection of essays in which Yu argues that although Wen frequently touts a reformist agenda that promises to improve the lives of the people, it is merely empty rhetoric.

“Even today there are still many people who believe Wen is ‘the people’s good premier’ who can’t act on his plan because of pressure from certain interest groups,” Yu writes in one essay. Yu says Wen

could not have risen to power after the June 4, 1989, government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators if he truly believed in political reform.

The writer says Hu and Wen are “two sides of the same coin” and their partnership is meant to complement each other’s strengths.

“Hu’s personality is calm and somber and he likes to give orders from behind the curtain. Acting on the stage is not his expertise. Wen in the meantime supplements Hu’s inadequacy. He likes going down into mines, visiting farmhouses and shedding tears,” Yu writes.

Wen often flies around the country to soothe crises and console disaster victims. On Sunday he flew to northwestern Gansu province where more than 120 people were killed by mudslides.

After word of his book spread online, police detained Yu last month and questioned him for more than four hours, mostly about the book’s contents, the writer said in an earlier interview.

Yu said his interrogators told him he could be imprisoned like Liu Xiaobo, an intellectual sentenced to 11 years in December for “inciting subversion.” China routinely uses vaguely worded subversion charges to jail people it considers troublemakers.

The Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Public Security did not

immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Yu points to Wen’s web-chats with Chinese citizens, in which the premier says Chinese citizens are all entitled to freedoms and rights as guaranteed by the constitution, and law and national development should be aimed at meeting the people’s needs.

The writer asks: Why then are the rights of Liu Xiaobo and Tan Zuoren, two jailed dissidents, not being protected? “They are China’s good citizens, not the country’s enemies,” he writes.

Yu’s position is controversial even among others punished for exercising freedom of expression. Li Datong, a veteran state newspaper journalist forced from a top editing job for reporting on sensitive subjects, said Yu was being unfairly harsh.

“Among the top Chinese leaders, who else speaks about democracy?

Who else speaks about universal values and freedom?” Li said in a phone interview. “Wen is the only one. He’s just a technocrat who has little power to affect power decisions. What else do you expect from him?”

Yu writes that he hopes the book will encourage others to see that criticism of one’s leaders should not be seen as a crime. “Without religious freedom or freedom of expression, wouldn’t living be like a walking corpse?”

Radical Indonesian...

From page 1 The fiery cleric is best known as one of the co-founders of Jemaah Islamiyah, the al-Qaida-linked network responsible for a string of suicide bombings in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, including the 2002 attacks on Bali island that killed 202 people, most of them Western tourists.

He also set up the al-Mukmin boarding school that produced some of the country’s deadliest bombers.

Bashir, who was arrested early Monday in West Java’s Ciamis district, has long denied links to terrorism.

The 72-year-old served 2 1/2 years in jail for his alleged role in the Bali bombings before his conviction was overturned. After his release in 2006, he started holding sermons nationwide calling for the creation of an Islamic state and spewing hatred toward foreigners.

Recently, Bashir formed a new radical group, Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid, or JAT, described by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group as an “ostensibly above-ground organization” that embraced individuals with known ties to fugitive extremists.

Bashir came under police scrutiny in May after three JAT members were arrested for allegedly raising funds for a new group calling itself Al Qaida in

Aceh, which had set up an Islamic militant training camp in the country’s far west.

The cell was accused of planning gun attacks on luxury hotels in the capital in an alleged plot reminiscent of the attacks in India’s financial center of Mumbai, where 10 gunmen rampaged through the city in 2008 and left 166 people dead.

The cell also was accused of planning several high-profile assassinations, including on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who said over the weekend that authorities had discovered yet another plot on his life.

On Sunday, five terror suspects were arrested in separate raids in West Java province, and high explosives confiscated.

Bashir’s lawyer, Muhammad Ali, would only say Monday that Bashir’s arrest was “related to the new terror group in Aceh.”

National police spokesman Col. Marwoto Suto details would not be released until later in the day.

The preacher’s son, Abdul Rohim, insisted his father, who went to Ciamis for a preaching engagement, was innocent.

“He was heading back to Solo when police arrested him together with my mother,” he said. “We appeal police to treat my parents well... He was just carrying out his obligations as a Muslim.”

1,300 missing...

From page 1 Sunday’s disaster in China’s Gansu province killed at least 127 people and covered entire villages in water, mud, and rocks.

Vehicles carrying aid supplies choked the road Monday over bare, eroded mountains into the remote county seat of Zhouqu. Bodies wrapped in blankets were collected and laid on truck beds, although the government had not updated the death toll since Sunday night.

Work was under way to restore power, water and communications. It was not known how many of the missing were in danger or simply out of contact. Hoping to prevent further disasters, demolitions experts set off three sets of charges to clear debris blocking the Bailong River upstream from the ravaged Zhouqu, which remained largely submerged following Sunday’s disaster.

The blockage had formed a 2-mile (3-kilometer)-long artificial lake on the river that overflowed in the pre-dawn hours, sending deadly torrents crashing down onto the town. Houses were ripped from their foundations, apartment buildings shattered, and streets covered with a layer of mud and water more than a yard (meter) deep.

This area of China is known to be prone to landslides, worsened by deforestation, erosion and the weakening of cliff faces by the massive 2008 earthquake that struck Sichuan province just to the south. Authorities were rushing in water, tents, blankets and other emergency supplies, and Premier Wen Jiabao flew to the area on Sunday to oversee relief efforts.

State broadcaster CCTV showed Wen comforting victims. At one point

he was shown calling out to people waiting to be pulled from their buried home, saying: “Don’t move! We’re getting you out.”

China’s worst flooding in a decade has killed more than 1,100 people this year, with more than 600 still missing.

The floods have caused tens of billions of dollars in damage across 28 provinces and regions.

In Pakistan, victims’ frustrations showed no sign of dissipating as heavy rains continue to raise water levels in the country’s swollen rivers, displacing thousands of additional people every day. Rising national anger has been directed at an already unpopular government that has deployed thousands of soldiers to save victims and deliver meals but has been overwhelmed by the scale of the disaster that has killed at least 1,500.

Manzoor Ahmed, 25, was one of thousands of people who fled their homes in Sindh province in the south, which was first inundated several days ago, more than a week after the floods devastated the northwest.

“It would have been better if we had died in the floods as our current miserable life is much more painful,” said Ahmed, who spent the night shivering in the rain after he fled with his family from the town of Shikarpur.

Thousands of Pakistanis in the neighboring districts of Shikarpur and Sukkur camped out on roads, bridges and railway tracks — any dry ground they could find — often with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and perhaps a plastic sheet to keep off the rain.

“I have no utensils. I have no food for my children. I have no money,” said Hora Mai, 40, sitting on a rain-soaked road in Sukkur along with hundreds of other people. “We were able to escape the floodwaters, but hunger may kill us.”

International

Indonesia Today

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

7

11 dead, dozens missing in Indonesia boat sinking Agence France-Presse

KUPANG - At least 11 people perished and more than 30 remained missing after an Indonesian passenger boat was hit by high waves and sank on Monday, rescue officials said.

Rescuers braved storms and rough seas to search for survivors, drafting in local fishermen to help scour the waters near Flores island in the east of the country.

“We have found 11 dead bodies and still look for about 32 people that went missing,” National Search and Rescue Agency spokesman Gagah Prakoso told AFP. The boat set sail carrying about 60 passengers at 7.30 am (2330 GMT Sunday) and capsized two hours later in East Nusa Tenggara province, he said.

Local police chief Abdul Rahma Aba said that the inter-island vessel was struck by high waves which caused panic among passengers before it capsized about two miles from shore.

Some 17 passengers were found alive, and four vessels from the local search and rescue agency and sea police unit have been deployed with up to 70 rescuers, Prakoso said.

“Our search operation will

take place for seven days. We cannot say now whether the chance to find any survivor is very slim. We’ll do our best and will deploy more rescuers tomorrow,” he told AFP. Local fishermen were also involved in the operation, Prakoso added.

Search and rescue official Thomas Aguino said the rescuers were being hampered in their work by bad weather and rough seas.

“We may halt today’s search at 6 pm (1100 GMT) and will resume our operation tomorrow very early,” he said.

The Indonesian archipelago of more than 17,000 islands is heavily dependent on maritime services but its safety record is poor, and fatal accidents are common.

Up to 335 people were killed when a heavily overloaded ferry sank off Sulawesi island in January last year. In December 2006 a ferry went down in a storm off the coast of Java, killing more than 500 people.

AFP PHOTO/BAY ISMOYO

Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Surin Pitsuwan (L), Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (C) and permanent representative of Vietnam to ASEAN Vu Dang Dung (R), blow out candles on a symbolic birthday cake during a celebration to mark ASEAN’s 43rd anniversary at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on August 9, 2010.

Number of RI’s rare species shrinks Antara

JAKARTA - Known as a mega biodiversity country, Indonesia has witnessed a shrink in the population of its rare species due to deforestation, a minister said.

The number of Indonesia’s endangered animals such as Sumatran tigers, Javanese rhinoceroses, and orangutans has dwindled because of deforestation activities conducted by the private sector as well as local communities, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said here Monday.

Speaking in a workshop organized to commemorate the National

Nature Conservation Day which falls on Aug 10, the minister said the number of Sumatran tigers which was 800 heads in 2005, now is only around 400, while the Javanese tiger has totally become extinct.

The population of Sumatran elephants, which was 8,000 heads in 2000, now is only 2,000, and rhinoceros, which was about 40-50, is around 60 heads currently.

In order to help preserve the rare species, the forestry ministry has planned to develop 30 million hectares areas into forest conservation ones, according to the minister.

The ministry has also launched primary forests covering 43 million hectares, he said.

“These (primary) forests could not be converted into other purposes and it should be declared moratorium,” he said.

In the post-New Order era, the forestry sector has experienced reform especially regarding the usage of forest areas for other purposes including plantations, the minister said. The National Nature Conservation Day is a strategic momentum to support the development of natural resource conservation, including its biodiversity and ecosystem.

RI-Singapore trade relations strong Antara

JAKARTA - Bilateral trade and investment relations are very strong as Indonesia is one of Singapore’s key trading partners and the latter has also consistently been among the top five investors in the archipelagic country, a Singaporean envoy has said.

According to the Indonesian National Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM)’s latest figures, Singapore was the top foreign investor in Indonesia in the first three months of 2010, Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia Ashok Mirpuri told ANTARA here early Monday.

When President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met in May 2010, they also agreed to set up six bilateral economic working groups to strengthen economic links, the ambassador said in coinciding with Singapore’s 45th National Day on August 9.

“The six working groups include cooperation in the areas of the

Batam, Bintan and Karimun Special Economic Zone, investments, air connectivity, cruise tourism, manpower and agribusiness,” he added.

Indonesia is a very attractive investment destination for Singapore businesses, he said, adding that through a long engagement with Indonesia, Singapore businesses have developed a good working knowledge of the business opportunities and environment here.

“As a result, it is not just the larger Singapore companies that have a presence in Indonesia. Many small and medium enterprises, and retail outlets, also have successfully made their foray into the Indonesian market,” he said.

On the two countries’ peopleto-people relations, he said the ties form the bedrock of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore. “We have to continue to strengthen such ties. One way we have been doing so is that of educational exchanges and cooperation”.

Every year, the Singapore Government gives out scholarships to

Indonesian students to pursue their high school and undergraduate studies in Singapore institutions, the ambassador said.

These students live in Singapore, make Singaporean friends and, when they return to Indonesia at the end of their studies, these friendships and relationships remain, he said.

“It is important that the younger generation of Indonesians and Singaporeans are familiar and comfortable with one another,” he noted.

Another way of strengthening people-to-people links are the arts and culture exchanges between Indonesia and Singapore. It is not uncommon for Singapore arts and culture groups to perform in Indonesia and vice-versa.

In fact, the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore is currently featuring an exhibition on ‘Sumatra: Isle of Gold’ which will run till November 2010. Such exchanges will increase the exposure of the two peoples to other cultures and tradi-

tions, and will serve to strengthen people-to-people relations.

“We are also each other’s top tourist destinations and the availability of flights from Singapore to various Indonesian cities and destinations means that the number of travelers from both sides will continue to grow,” he added.

According to him, Singapore and Indonesia are close neighbors with a long and shared history of cooperation. People-to-people ties and interactions run deep.

There is also extensive cooperation in many fields, such as trade, health, education, defense and the environment. “Our leaders share a broad strategic vision of the relationship as their Indonesian counterparts, one based on partnership and cooperation for mutual benefit,” Ambassador Mirpuri said.

Just this May, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met for a Retreat in Singapore. The two leaders share a very good relationship, and are committed to strength-

ening the ties between Indonesia and Singapore, Mirpuri said.

There is also a common understanding between Indonesia and Singapore on the importance of regional cooperation and economic integration through ASEAN, he added.

“This vision and meeting of minds has provided an impetus for both sides to work closely and comfortably together on many issues.

We are confident that this partnership will continue to grow and strengthen,” he said.

On the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), the ambassador clarified that Singapore and Indonesia negotiated and signed the DCA and Extradition Treaty (ET) as a package in April 2007 in Bali, witnessed

by President Yudhoyono, PM Lee and other prominent personalities from Singapore and Indonesia. Singapore remains committed to, and stands ready, to ratify this signed package of agreements, but the Indonesian House of Representatives has held up their ratification.

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Internationa

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Bali Today BSA recorded 886 million dollar losses over software piracy Antara

DENPASAR - The data from Business Software Alliance (BSA) showed that the industries losses over software piracy in Indonesia reached 886 million dollar on 2009.

The head representative of BSA in Indonesia Donny Alamsyah Sheyoputra said that the losses were increase significantly compared to 2008 that only reached 544 million dollar.

“It’s mean there are an increase number of software piracy over last year. If compare to the previous year, the rise was one percent, from 85 percent to 86 percent,” said Donny in the sideline of MoU signing ceremony between BSA with Bali’s Police.

He said in this condition, it can be concluded that from 100 softwares that have been installed to the computers, 86 softwares were non-licensed.

“We’re trying to socialize the awareness of using licensed software to people and companies who use laptops or personal computers,” he added.

From this effort, Donny said that there is an increasing aware-

ness over the laptop and PC users to use licensed software.

From the cooperation with police, he hoped that the awareness can gain momentum and increase significantly.

He planned to make team for sweeping on non-licensed software and punished the users under the law of copyrights.

He also said that besides involving law enforcement, BSA will do more socializing activity and educate consumers about the use of licensed software and copyrights law.

According to Donny, International Data Corporation (IDC) showed that Indonesia is sitting on the eight positions over 111 countries in the world where software piracy happens.

In The Asia Pacific, Indonesia worse than Vietnam, China, Thailand, India, and Hong Kong which were claimed as the center of piracy production in the world.

FOTO ANTARA/Nyoman Budhiana

Bali’s Police Vice of Chief Brigjen Pol. Komang Udayana (middle) with Donny Alamsyah Sheyoputra (right) signing the MoU of copyrights computer software in Bali on Monday, 9 August.

Balinese Wedding The pawiwahan (marriage, weddings of a Hindu couple) is a very important part of Balinese social life. The ritual generally takes place in the home of the groom, a further confirmation of the typical patriarchal inclinations of Balinese culture, and is performed by a priest. The newlyweds to be, dressed in very colorful and refined garments, worn only for the day of the wed- ding, will withdraw in prayer in the family temple. This is followed by the presentation of offerings in the pelinggih and by a series of ritual gestures. A very typical moment in the ceremony occurs when the bride offers the groom several different beverages: a conventional way to reiterate that the woman. as a wife, commits herself to obeying her husband and to lovingly care for him for the rest of their lives.

Many Balinese marriages are still prearranged or negotiated, though young men may also “kidnap” their wives, and mixed-caste marriages are increasingly common. Marriage customs differ from

caste to caste and village to village, but all Balinese marriage practices share fundamental similarities. There are basically two ways to get married on Bali, ‘ngerorod’ and ‘mapadik’.

Ngerorod

This is marriage by elopement, in which the prearranged honeymoon precedes the wedding ceremony. Since it’s otherwise quite expensive to marry on Bali, ‘ngerorod’ is becoming more and more popular. It has particular appeal to the Balinese sense of theater.

Balinese love a spectacular kidnapping in which friends of the suitor capture a woman in the fields, on the road, or down by the river. Theatrics are paramount: she is expected to bite and kick her abductors in mock self-defense.

These days it’s more stylish and fashionable for the woman to be whisked away in a hired sedan, and more often than not she goes willingly.

The couple then repairs to a friend’s house stocked with provisions, offerings, and the bride’s wardrobe. The woman’s infuriated father sounds the alarm demanding to know what has become of his daughter. A search party

is organized which eventually returns unsuccessful and exhausted.

Meanwhile, the couple is consummating the marriage before special offerings (sesayut tabuh rah) have the time to wilt. These offerings alone make the marriage binding by customary law. Emissaries of the groom visit the bride’s father to argue the advantages of the union. Begrudgingly, the girl’s father gives in, after a suitable bride price has been agreed upon. The groom’s father must finance and conduct the marriage ceremony, welcoming the bride as a new daughter into the family. The actual public wedding, within 42 days of the staged kidnapping, is only an official confirmation of their union. They are already married in the eyes of the gods.

Mepadik

This is marriage by consent, in which an upper-class couple conducts a formal courtship. Since daughters were once regarded as property useful for attaining a family’s social and political goals, high-caste families tried to wed a son to the daughter of a friend or relative so a blood bond

would unite the resources of both families.

Under no circumstances may a woman “marry down,” i.e., take a commoner. The preferred marriage is through a parallel patri-cousin, the father’s brother’s daughter. It has been noted that Triwangsa couples often get along so well because they are all first cousins. Traditionally, the man or his father journeys three times to the bride’s house with food and ‘sirih’. When the bride’s family visits, the groom’s father is obliged to give them food, ‘sirih’ is chewed (an ancient, ritualistic means of coming to agreement), and presents are exchanged. The groom then regularly visits the home of his prospective bride, presenting gifts and performing services for his future father-in-law.

The groom’s family arranges and pays for the wedding; the date set well in advance on a propitious day.

Wedding guests are often entertained by professional storytellers and musicians. Enormously detailed rules govern dining and seating arrangements. Sometimes the bride’s fam-

ily is not even invited.

The actual ceremony varies. It could be very simple and short, presided over by a common temple ‘pemangku’, or it may be elaborate, expensive, and go on all day. Both the bride and groom dress in bright ‘songket’, with brocades of gold thread, and the woman’s hair is decorated with glittering gold flowers.

Usually the bride and groom offer food to one another, then simulate such domestic duties such as washing, cooking rice, and cutting bamboo. Prayers are intoned, and then the couple eats together in public, feeding each other. This is an important symbolic act, as in former times only married men and women were allowed to eat food together in public. The priest then performs a ritual purification and blesses the couple. Neither rice nor flowers are thrown. Today there could very well be a Western-style buffet reception held afterward where speeches are offered by members of the two families. (BTN/Doc)

al

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Balinese Culture

Under water ”Candi” is not a mstery

By Dwi Yani The remains which is similar to an old historical remains which is found in Pemuteran Gulf in Buleleng regency is not a mystery. The “underwater temple garden” Pemuteran, that how the local named it, is the third additional diving site in Tangkad Jaran, Pemuteran which is known as one of the famous diving site in Bali.

Chris Brown, the coordinator of Reef Gardener Pemuteran, said “we build the site since 2005. It was to attract tourists to visits Bali after the second Bali bombing tragedy. We received assistance from AusAid.” The objects which attract the attention of the people in Indonesia including the Director of Marketing in Cultural and Tourism Department, Sapta Nirwanda, is located on 2,500 square meter of area.

In the site, the traditional Balinese entrance or “candi bentar” was placed carefully on the bottom of the ocean. Brown said that the structures were drowned on 2005 after Pemuteran received an ASEANTA award as the environment tourism area.

In 2006, some stones statues were drowned in the site. “Coral reefs can grow well on concrete

as you can see in Pemuteran.

Brown who also own ReefSeen Dive Centre, explained that naturally, Pemuteran gulf is a beautiful diving site but the climate change and the behavior of fishermen has destroyed the environment.

After the rehabilitation and conservation of the coastline through the biorock system, the locals assisted by the foreign experts built new diving site to attract more tourists. The site could also use by the reef gardener in Pemuteran to increase their knowledge about coral reefs.

There are 20 sea gardeners in Pemuteran right now and their duty is to preserve the biorock structure in the area.

The extra diving site was built based on the design of the locals in Pemuteran. Most of the objects were placed on the area where the coral reefs were badly destroyed.

The project was assisted by AusAid as much as 155 billion rupiah.

The first location is called Canyon Wreck and the second is Ships Graveyard. On both locations, traditional ships with various sizes were drowned and now there are biowrecks structures which are in

active function. Biowreck is a system which uses electrical power taken from solar cells.

Object diversity

Pemiteran gulf is located on the north side of Bali, around 115 kilometers from Denpasar. The gulf which is established as Marine Protected Area/MPA is already popular among tourists especially because the existence of Pulaki temple.

Pemuteran is known as the center of biorock which is metal structures electrified as the medium of coral reefs. If coral reefs grow then the fish will also grow and it could support the environment conservation program.

The biorock structures were drowned in October 2000 after the discussion between Indonesian Tourism Businessmen Association (Gahawisri) and Tom G and the late Wolf Gilbert, coral reefs experts.

AA Prana and Chris Brown was assigned to carry out the program and supported by the locals in the area. Many tourists visited Pemuteran, for that reason, the area must be enriched by increasing the biodiversity in the area.

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

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

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

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

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

C.045 ibp

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Destinations

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

International

Jagatnatha Temple IBP

Jagatnatha Temple is a Hindu Temple located in the center of Denpasar town. It is precisely located in Major Wisnu street eastside field of Puputan Badung. This temple is categorized as Kahyangan Temple and become an altar to the god for Hindu people. If it is compared with the name of Kahyangan Temples or other temples around Bali Island , this temple’s name is taken from the name of mount or village which is relevant to the temple located in Besakih Temple area, Ulundanu Batur Temple area, Lempuyang Temple area, Andakasa Temple area, Puncak Mangu Temple area and others.

Jagatnatha Temple is taking the special name which is not quit of various conception aspects.

Among of the temples in Bali, Jagatnatha Temple is also opened by executing the small ceremony on 13 May 1968. The unique of

Jagatnatha Temple does not own the Pengempon (the group of community who manage like the temple). Since the temple opening, Jagatnatha Temple only owns a few of people who arrange the fund to construct it until everyday ceremony.

It is handled by Jagatnatha development committee with other Hindu people. In furthermore growth after Jagatnatha Temple has been built, the ceremony execution is handled by committee of Hindu Holy Day (PAHARA HINDU) who is the institutionally personnel which is pursuant to Local Bali Government’s Decree.

Those personnel of PAHARA HINDU are generally taken away from local government of Badung Regency and Denpasar town. Nowadays, the full of execution is handled by the government of Denpasar town. This temple is many visited by tourist from all over the world since this temple is opened for tourist destination. http://3.bp.blogspot.com

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

11

BUSINESS China orders 2,000 firms to shut outdated plants Agence France-Presse

BEIJING - The Chinese government has ordered over 2,000 firms in high-polluting and energy-intensive industries to shut down outdated plants in its latest efforts to cut pollution and restructure the economy.

A total of 2,087 firms that produce steel, coal, cement, aluminium, glass and other materials have to close their old and obsolete facilities by the end of September, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said.

Companies that fail to do so risk having bank loans frozen, approvals for new projects and land dry up, and their electricity cut, the ministry said in a statement on its website Sunday.

“Accelerating the elimination of backward production facilities is an important move to change the economic growth pattern, restructure the economy and to improve quality and efficiency of growth,” it said.

China said last week its average energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) had risen marginally in the six months to June — the first year-onyear increase since 2006 — despite pledges to improve efficiency.

Energy consumption per unit

of GDP was up by 0.09 percent in the first half from a year earlier, making it more difficult for the nation to meet its goal of cutting energy consumption by 20 percent per unit of GDP between 2006 and 2010.

The outdated facilities due for closure include some owned by China’s biggest steel maker by output, Hebei Iron and Steel Group, and China Aluminum Corp of China, the nation’s biggest aluminium maker, according to the ministry.

Rapid industrialisation over the last 30 years has left China, the world’s third-largest economy, with some of the world’s worst water and air pollution and has left widespread environmental damage.

The International Energy Agency recently announced that China had surpassed the United States last year to become the world’s top energy consumer — a dubious distinction rejected by Beijing, which called the data “unreliable”.

AP Photo/Andy Wong

Chinese workers labor near the construction of a highway and buildings in Tianjin, China Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010. The Chinese government has ordered over 2,000 firms in high-polluting and energy-intensive industries to shut down outdated plants in its latest efforts to cut pollution and restructure the economy.

India may let foreigners APEC meeting vows to seek invest in share market higher-quality economic growth Agence France-Presse

NEW DELHI - India may loosen rules to allow foreign individual investors to invest in the country’s share markets as part of moves to reform Asia’s third-largest economy, a report said Monday.

A government panel set up to explore ways of increasing foreign capital inflows has urged the finance ministry make it easier for foreigners — in particular those of Indian origin — to buy shares on Indian exchanges, a person who worked on the panel told the Financial Times.

“The finance ministry has accepted the recommendations in principle as it wants to capitalise on India’s incredible growth by attracting more foreign investors,” Ashvin Parekh, a partner at consultancy Ernst and Young, who has been working with the finance ministry on the project, said.

Neither Parekh nor a finance ministry spokesman could immediately be reached for comment.

Foreign institutional investors were first allowed to invest in India 18 years ago. Foreign-owned brokers are common and trade directly on India’s ex-

changes. But individual or retail investors are banned from doing so.

Parekh said the plan to open the market to retail investors abroad had been passed on to India’s market regulator and central bank, which would have to create a framework to protect foreigners’ interests.

The proposal comes as India’s exchanges are upgrading technology to lure fast computer-driven trading that accounts for a large part of the activity on US and European bourses.

It also comes as the government seeks to raise about five billion dollars by selling minority holdings in stateowned groups, including Oil India and Coal India.

India’s equity market has attracted much foreign institutional investor interest in the past six months, outperforming large emerging markets rivals.

Foreign institutional investors have poured nearly 11 billion dollars into Indian equities in the first seven months of this year, up from 7.45 billion rupees during the same period last year.

Analysts expect inflows for this year to exceed the 17 billion record hit in 2007 before the global financial crisis.

Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - Asian and Pacific countries agreed Sunday to improve the “quality” of their growth and help put the global economy back on track from its crisis.

The accord was reached at a meeting of ministerial-level officials as well as industrial and academic leaders from the 21 countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

International institutions including the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank were also represented at the two-day meeting, which ended Sunday in the Japanese resort of Beppu.

It was aimed at paving the ground for APEC leaders to work out an unprecedented “growth strategy” for the region at the forum’s annual summit in November in the Japanese port city of Yokohama.

“As the world’s leading growth centre, the APEC region has a great responsibility for the future course of the global economy,” said a statement from the co-chairmen of the meeting.

“APEC should contribute to improving the quality of growth in the global economy as well through its growth strategy, as envisaged by the APEC economic leaders last year,” said the statement posted APEC’s official website.

APEC leaders agreed at last year’s summit in Singapore to formulate the strategy in 2010 to “shape the region’s growth following the financial and economic crisis,” said the statement.

APEC was launched in 1989 to promote trade and strengthen economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, which now accounts for more than half the world’s economic output and 40 percent of its population.

The grouping includes Australia, China, Japan, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and seven members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“Countries in the region are exploring ways to shift their emphasis on economic development from exports to domestic demand,” Japanese trade minister Masayuki

Naoshima told a news conference after co-chairing the meeting.

“Japan wants to cooperate in economic development by backing infrastructure projects,” said Naoshima.

The other co-chairman was Satoshi Arai, the Japanese minister of state for economic and fiscal policy.

The meeting confirmed that APEC aims to achieve economic growth that is “balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure,” the statement said.

Balanced growth should be led by “structural reforms” while inclusive growth features job creation — especially for women — human resources development and better access to finance, it added.

Energy efficiency will be the core of sustainable growth while innovative growth will be driven by an improvement in the research and development environment, the statement said.

The members of APEC can contribute to secure growth by working together in such areas as counterterrorism, prevention of pandemic diseases and food security, the statement added.

12

Entertainment

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

International

‘Twilight,’ ‘Vampire Diaries’ dominate Teen Choice Associated Press Writer

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – Maybe they should switch the name to the Vampire Choice Awards? Bloodsuckers struck another vein at the Teen Choice Awards with “The Twilight Saga” ruling Sunday’s ceremony with 12 wins, including choice fantasy movie and villain, while “The Vampire Diaries” sucked up seven surfboard-shaped trophies at the taped ceremony, which is scheduled to air Monday at 8 p.m. EDT on Fox. “This is what this night is all about,” said a gothed-out Katy Perry. “Vampires.” The goofy “California Girls” singer hosted the show with the male stars of “Glee.”

Besides going goth, her costume changes included donning hippie garb next to Kevin McHale, being crowned prom queen with prom king Chris Colfer, geeking out with Mark Salling and landing a split as a cheerleader alongside Cory Monteith.

“Tonight is my chance to go back to high school,” said Perry, “although this time people actually like me.”

Voters continued to really like “Twilight” stars Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson, who were present to accept their multiple awards, seemingly handed out like candy at the freewheeling ceremony. Of Pattinson’s four wins, one was actually not related to the supernatural saga: choice drama movie actor for “Remember Me.” “It’s great to win something outside of ‘Twilight,’” said Pattinson.

Throughout the show, funnyman Ken Jeong of “Community” and the upcoming bloodsucker satire “Vampires Suck” lingered inside a coffin on the side of

the stage at Universal Studios Hollywood’s Gibson Amphitheatre. Jeong, dressed as his vampire character Daro, only emerged to introduce presenters to the crowd of “bloody teens.”

The awards, which honor celebrities in television, film, music and sports, were selected by over 85 million votes cast online. Other multiple winners included “Gossip Girl,” Ellen DeGeneres, “Pretty Little Liars” and “Wizards of Waverly Place” star Selena Gomez, who picked up trophies in both TV and music categories.

The extravaganza was punctuated with several silly moments.

Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, winners in the reality show and reality stars categories for “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” were joined by their rarely seen older sister: Cougar Kardashian, a draged-up George Lopez sporting a dress, wig and pair of heels. “Oh my God,” exclaimed Lopez. “I got a blister the size of Justin Bieber on my heel.”

The teen sensation wasn’t in attendance at Sunday’s show to retrieve his four awards though. Instead, footage was shown of Shaquille O’Neal presenting Bieber with his trophies for choice breakout artist, male artist, summer music star and pop album at his concert last month in Phoenix before Bieber crooned “U Smile.”

Taylor Swift also won four awards but wasn’t present to accept for choice female country artist, country song for “Fifteen,” country album for “Fearless” and breakout movie actress for “Valentine’s Day.” Swift, however, did appear in a taped segment in which she mounted one of her surfboard-shaped trophies in a lake.

AP Photo/Columbia Pictures-Sony, Macall Polay, File

FILE - In this film publicity file image released by Columbia Pictures, Will Ferrell, left, Steve Coogan and Mark Wahlberg, right, are shown in a scene from “The Other Guys.” “The Other Guys” are the main guys at the box office, knocking off “Inception” to take the No. 1 spot. The buddy-cop parody starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg made $35.6 million in its opening weekend, according to Sunday estimates from Sony Pictures.

Cop comedy rules at US and Canadian cinemas Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES - It took a pair of bungling desk cops played by Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg to knock Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Inception” from its three-week perch atop the North American box office over the weekend, early figures showed Sunday. Buddy comedy “The Other Guys,” about two officers who take over a highprofile investigation, pulled in an estimated 35.6 million dollars in ticket sales, according to industry tracking firm Exhibitor Relations.

The movie toppled the mindbending thriller “Inception,” the sci-fi summer blockbuster co-starring Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page, which nevertheless held up well to pull in some 18.6 million dollars from Friday to Sunday, and totaling nearly 228 million dollars in ticket sales since it first opened.

In the flick DiCaprio stars as a thief who specializes in infiltrating dreams. The movie has impressed critics with its complex science fiction concepts.

Third place was the Disney dance movie “Step-Up 3-D,” which was praised for its use of 3-D technology but panned for its paper-thin plot. It grossed 15.5 million. Fourth

was “Salt,” starring Hollywood’s biggest female action flick superstar Angelina Jolie, who plays a captivating CIA agent accused of being a Russian spy. The movie raked in 11 million dollars in its third week, and nearly 92 million overall.

The latest Steve Carell vehicle “Dinner for Schmucks,” about a quest to find the dumbest guy possible to invite to a dinner meal, sank to fifth place on its second week out, earning 10.5 million dollars. 3-D animated film “Despicable Me” meanwhile also slipped from fourth to sixth spot, with 9.4 million dollars in sales. The film from Universal Pictures also stars Carell as the voice of Gru, a villain bent on snatch-

ing the moon. It has earned 209 million dollars in its five weeks of release. Next came the kid comedy “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” with 7.0 million dollars, and teen heartthrob Zac Efron in “Charlie St. Cloud” with 4.7 million.

Ninth was “Toy Story 3,” Disney/ Pixar’s latest release, with three million dollars, bringing its total box office sales to a hefty 396 million dollars over eight weeks.

Tenth place was held by “The Kids Are All Right,” a comedy starring Julianne Moore and Annette Bening as lesbian parents to two teenagers intent on meeting their anonymous sperm-donor father. It pulled in 2.6 million dollars.

Oscar-winning actress Patricia Neal dies at age 84 Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Matt Sayles

Actors Megan Fox, left, and Taylor Lautner accept the Choice Hotties awards at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, Calif.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Patricia Neal, the willowy, husky-voiced actress who won an Academy Award for 1963’s “Hud” and then survived several strokes to continue acting, died on Sunday. She was 84. Neal had lung cancer and died surrounded by her family at her home in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha’s Vineyard.

“She faced her final illness as she had all of the many trials she endured: with indomitable grace, good humor and a great deal of her self-described stubbornness,” her

family said in a statement.

Neal was already an award-winning Broadway actress when she won her Oscar for her role as a housekeeper to the Texas father (Melvyn Douglas) battling his selfish, amoral son (Paul Newman).

Less than two years later, she suffered a series of strokes in 1965 at age 39. Her struggle to once again walk and talk is regarded as epic in the annals of stroke rehabilitation. She returned to the screen to earn another Oscar nomination and three Emmy nominations.

The Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center that helps people recover from strokes and spinal cord and brain injuries is named for her in Knoxville, where she grew up.

“She never forgot us after she went to Hollywood,” said 85-yearold Bud Albers, who graduated with Neal from Knoxville High School in 1943, and still lives in the city.

Whenever she was in town, a bunch of her friends would always get together and have dinner, Albers said.

She had wanted to be there next week for a golf tournament that benefits the center, he said.

Life Style

International

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

13

Damp house linked to kids’ risk of nasal allergies Reuters

NEW YORK – Children who live in damp, water-damaged homes may be more likely than other kids to develop nasal allergies, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that of nearly 1,900 Finnish children they followed for six years, those who lived in homes with dampness or mold problems were more likely to develop allergic rhinitis during the study period. Allergic rhinitis refers to symptoms of congestion, sneezing and runny nose caused by allergens such as pollen, dust, animal dander or mold.

In this study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, 16 percent of children whose parents reported dampness in the home went on to be diagnosed with allergic rhinitis over the next six years.

That compared with just under 12 percent of children whose parents reported no dampness problems — that is, no visible signs of water damage to the ceilings, walls or floors, and no visible mold or mold odor in the home.

The researchers weighed a number of factors that might help account for the connection, including families’ socioeconomic status

(asthma and allergies tend to be common in lower income children) and whether children were also exposed to second-hand smoke.

However, damp, moldy conditions in the home remained linked to an increased risk of children’s nasal allergies. Children whose parents reported any mold or water damage in the home at the outset were 55 percent more likely than other children to develop allergic rhinitis — connected to any allergen, and not just mold.

“Our study strengthens the evidence that exposure to indoor dampness increases the risk of developing allergic rhinitis,” lead researcher Dr. Jouni Jaakkola, of the Institute of Health Sciences in Oulu, Finland, told Reuters Health in an email.

Previous studies, he said, had measured children’s exposure to dampness and mold, and their rates of nasal allergies, all at one time — making it impossible to tell whether the exposure preceded the allergies’ development.

REUTERS/Lee Celano

Wind and rain from Hurricane Gustav pound a deserted house in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana September 1, 2008.

Scientists find sea sponges Report: China zoos mistreat share human genes performing animals

Agence France Presse

SYDNEY – Mankind may be descended from apes but Australian scientists have found proof of links much closer to the sea floor, with a study revealing that sea sponges share almost 70 percent of human genes.

Genetic sequencing of sea sponges from the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef showed the ancient marine animal shared many of its genes with humans, including a large number typically associated with disease and cancer.

Lead researcher Bernard Degnan, of the University of Queensland, said the findings “would shed light on a whole range of different things,” and could lay the foundation for breakthroughs in cancer and stem cell research.

“Sponges have what’s (considered) the ‘Holy Grail’ of stem cells,” Degnan told AFP. Exploring the genetic function of sponge stem cells could provide “deep and important connections” to the genes that influenced human stem cell biology, he said. “(It) might actually inform the way we think about our own stem cells and how we might be able to use them in future medical applications,” he said.

The study — published in the journal “Nature” this week — is the result of more than five years of research by an international team of scientists. It

required the extraction of “really pure DNA” from sponge embryos and a complex sequencing exercise, Degnan said.

AFP/File/Marcel Mochet

An international team of scientists have revealed that sea sponges (pictured) share almost 70 percent of its genes with humans, including a large number typically associated with disease and cancer.

Associated Press Writer

BEIJING – Performing animals in Chinese zoos and parks are often trained using abusive practices, including routine beatings, and are housed in inadequate shelters, according to a report by a Hong Kong-based animal welfare group released Monday.

Bears are regularly whipped and beaten with sticks, elephants are prodded with metal hooks, and tigers and lions are defanged and declawed, causing them chronic pain, said the Animals Asia Foundation in a 28-page report.

The group surveyed animal performances and living conditions at 13 zoos and safari parks in China over a yearlong period until this August.

“The combined aspects of performances, abusive training methods and inadequate housing conditions are causing severe animal suffering for many thousands of performing animals across China,” the report said.

Earlier this year, the problem of animal mistreatment in China was highlighted with the reported deaths of 11 rare Siberian tigers at the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo in the frigid northeast over a three-month period. The tigers had reportedly starved to death after being fed nothing but chicken bones for weeks.

Last month, the State Forestry Administration ordered a crackdown against operations that mistreated wild animals for performance purposes.

The order criticized animal parks for being “obsessed about financial profits while not paying enough attention to protective measures. Illegitimate methods are taken in treating wild ani-

mals ... This not only brings potential risk to the endangered wild species and the public health, but also tarnishes China’s role and reputation in protecting wild animals.”

The Animals Asia Foundation said black bears are the most popular animal performers, typically forced to ride bicycles, tricycles, and even horses.

They were required to balance on balls, perform acrobatics, and even ‘box’ each other. The bears were regularly whipped or beaten with sticks by their trainers, it said.

“All of the performances observed were based upon fear and intimidation. To force animals to perform unnatural tricks, circus showmen frequently engage in negative reinforcement, whipping and striking the animals repeatedly,” the report said.

Lions and tigers, which were forced to jump through burning hoops, had all their teeth removed for security reasons. That caused caused severe pain since it exposed nerve endings in their mouth and gums. Elephants were prodded with metals hooks to perform tricks like kneeling on their front legs and stepping over people.

The report said animals are often housed in cramped concrete enclosures or cages, sometimes with no visible access to water. Some showed physical signs of being underfed, ill, or beaten.

“Animal performances portray the animal to the public in a humiliating way that does not promote empathy and respect. There is little educational value in seeing animals in conditions that do not resemble their natural habitat,” said David Neale, the group’s animal welfare director.

14

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Sport

International

Ivory Coast, Italy rely on new men, new starts Agence France Presse

(AP Photo/Tom Hevezi)

Manchester United pose for photographers after their 3-1 win over Chelsea in their English FA Community Shield soccer match at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday Aug. 8, 2010.

United deliver early blow to title rivals Chelsea Agence France Presse

LONDON - Manchester United delivered an early blow to title rivals Chelsea with a 3-1 victory over the Premier League champions in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have spent the close-season licking their wounds after being pipped to the title by the Blues, but they underlined their determination to regain the crown with a ruthless display in the annual curtain-raiser to the English top-flight season.

A first half goal from Antonio Valencia put United in front and new signing Javier Hernandez added the second after the break.

Salomon Kalou got one back for Chelsea, but Dimitar Berbatov’s late strike ensured United have the early momentum heading into the new campaign. Berbatov’s goal was the product of a 20-pass move.

“It’s my first goal of the season, so it’s a really good day,” said the Bulgarian. “Now we will celebrate and wait for our first league game against Newcastle next week. We have a great team spirit, we are like one big family.”

This may have been no more than a glamourous friendly, but there was definite edge to the match as these two old rivals tried to land a psychological blow ahead of the Premier League kickoff on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney responded to jeers from Chelsea fans with a superb cross-field pass towards Valencia, who out-paced the stumbling Ashley Cole but couldn’t quite lift his chip over Henrique Hilario. Valencia turned provider moments later as the Ecuador

winger picked out Paul Scholes 10 yards from goal, only for the veteran midfielder to volley well over.

Ancelotti’s double winners, who beat United in the Shield last season, threatened when Nicolas Anelka’s powerful long-range effort tested Edwin van der Sar. Branislav Ivanovic forced van der Sar into a much more difficult save when the Serbian defender towered above Nemanja Vidic to meet Malouda’s free-kick with a bullet header.

Rooney had been one of England’s most disappointing performers in South Africa, where he looked completely devoid of his usual enthusiasm. Back in a United shirt he was once again the effervescent figure who terrorised defences last season.

He covered large parts of the pitch in the first half, shooting just wide from a tight angle before chasing back tenaciously to break up a Chelsea attack. Inevitably, Rooney played a key role when United took the lead in the 41st minute.

Scholes, in sublime form, spotted Rooney’s run to the right edge of the Chelsea penalty area and found him with a long pass that dropped in behind Cole. John Terry had tracked Rooney and the striker took advantage by whipping a low cross into the area vacated by the Chelsea captain.

Valencia, having sprinted clear of Cole, found himself in yards of space and met Rooney’s superb de-

livery with a cool finish past Hilario. That was Rooney’s last contribution as Ferguson sent on Hernandez, Berbatov and Nani at half-time.

Chelsea have been below their best during a pre-season marred by three successive defeats and Carlo Ancelotti’s team were missing Didier Drogba’s imposing presence, so it was no surprise when the Ivorian came off the bench after an hour.

Drogba’s arrival gave extra impetus to the Blues and Michael Essien went close for Chelsea with a curling strike from outside the penalty area.

Another chance went when Cole shot straight at van der Sar after the United goalkeeper spilled Paulo Ferreira’s cross. Ancelotti brought on Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun, a close-season signing from Liverpool, for the last 18 minutes, but it was United who scored again in the 76th minute.

Valencia escaped Cole on the wing and drilled over a low cross that Hernandez converted at the far post in comical fashion, the Mexican slipping as he shot and seeing the ball bounce off his foot and onto his head before flying into the net.

Ivory Coast striker Kalou reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute when he tapped-in after van der Sar palmed Daniel Sturridge’s shot into his path.

But United had the last word as Berbatov took Nani’s pass in stoppage time and floated a perfect chip over Hilario to seal the win.

LONDON - Former Marseille coach Gerard Gili has emerged as the front-runner for the vacant post of Ivory Coast coach ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with Italy at Upton Park. The Africans are looking for a new man after SvenGoran Eriksson, the ex-England manager, left after the World Cup Finals.

Both nations were disappointing in South Africa, with neither managing to negotiate their way through the group stage. Ivory Coast Football Federation president Jacques Anouma has told Frenchman Gili, 57, he is in pole position to succeed Eriksson as he has been involved with both the Ivorian senior and youth teams for the past five years.

“Since he knows the place and the players, I have asked him to come,” Anouma said. “I’ve told him he has an advantage compared to others in that he already knows the lay of the land.”

The Ivory Coast’s most wellknown player, Didier Drogba, was not named in a 26-man squad for the Italy game as the Chelsea forward is not yet fully fit following a hernia operation, which reduced him to a half-hour substitute’s role in his club’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Community Shield season-opener on Sunday.

Only three other members of the World Cup squad will be missing however, with Galatasaray midfielder Kader Keita, Monaco’s Jean-Jacques Gosso and Maccabi Netanya goalkeeper Aristide Zogbo absent. New Manchester City signing Yaya Toure and his club-mate and older brother Kolo are scheduled to feature, as is Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue.

Italy’s failure to reach the knock-out phase in South Africa was a surprise as they began the tournament as the holders, having

beaten France in the final in 2006.

A 3-2 defeat to unfancied Slovakia brought coach Marcello Lippi’s reign to an abrupt end and the Ivory Coast clash will be successor Cesare Prandelli’s first chance to pick the national team.

Prandelli has brought in a host of new faces and recalled Sampdoria’s Antonio Cassano, who had been out of favour under Lippi. Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who has yet to make his senior debut, will be under intense scrutiny as Manchester City are keen to bring him to the English Premier League.

Other new faces in the squad are Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, Milan’s Luca Antonini, Cagliari’s Davide Astori and Andrea Lazzari, Sampdoria’s Stefano Lucchini, Stuttgart’s Cristian Molinaro and Juventus striker Amauri.

Amauri is a particularly interesting pick as he is a 30-year-old Brazilian who only obtained Italian citizenship in March, having played only lower league football in his homeland before moving to Europe to join Swiss side Bellinzona ten years ago.

He arrived at Juventus via Parma and insists he deserves a place on the world stage. “I chose the Italian team two years ago because effectively my career as a footballer has been in this country,” he said.

“When I first arrived I was a complete unknown, so to wear the Azzurri jersey now is a personal victory and a dream come true.

“I came here with my heart. I was not given a leg up by anyone and have nothing to be ashamed of.

It’s up to me to change the opinion that some people have. My objective is to represent the Azzurri for as long as possible, hopefully until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

“If I were to score against Brazil then I’d have absolutely no problem in celebrating, just as I hope to celebrate on Tuesday night against the Ivory Coast.”

AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO

Italy’s national football team players warm up, during a trainning session at the Italian Football Federation technical center of Coverciano in Florence,on August 9, 2010. Italy is to face Ivory Coast in a friendly match in London on August 10 .

Sport

International

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

15

Kuznetsova ends 10-month drought with WTA title Agence France Presse

SAN DIEGO - Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova squndered four match points before outlasting Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 on Sunday to win the WTA San Diego Open. “This just made me stronger. It didn’t kill me,” Kuznetsova said. “I didn’t kill myself in the third set.”

Kuznetsova captured her 13th career title at the 700,000-dollar hardcourt event, a tuneup for the US Open, and it was the first crown for the 21st-ranked veteran since she beat Radwanska in the Beijing final last October.

The two-time Grand Slam champion botched four match points in the second-set tie-breaker after squandering leads of 4-0 and 6-3, double-faulting twice on match point to open the door for 10th-ranked Radwanska to force a third set. “I think I did choke for the very first time in my life,” Kuznetsova said. “I never had this choke before. I don’t know why it

happened. Here I couldn’t make a ball. My knees were shaking.”

It was the first final for both players since 10 months ago in China. Kuznetsova, who won three titles in 2009, will jump back into the WTA’s top 20 with the title after reaching only one prior quarterfinal this year. She had not tumbled outside the top 20 since February of 2004.

Radwanska will advance to ninth but that was little consolation. “It’s always disappointing when it’s a long, very tough match,” Radwanska said. “I think it’s much easier to lose 6-1, 6-1 and have no chance. But if it’s a match like this, it hurts.”

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images/AFP

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia poses with the trophy after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during the championship match in the Mercury Insurance Open at La Costa Resort and Spa on August 8, 2010 in Carlsbad, California.

Disgraced Gatlin’s return gathers pace Agence France Presse

TALLINN - Disgraced former Olympic 100 metres champion Justin Gatlin made it three wins from three races since returning from a four year doping suspension as he won here on Sunday.

The 28-year-old - who failed a dope test for testosterone three months after equalling Asafa Powell’s then world record of 9.77sec in 2006 - timed 10.17sec running into a headwind, beating home unheralded compatriot Rubin Williams (10.25sec).

Gatlin, whose stated aim is to gain selection for the 2012 Olympics in London, had returned to action by winning two 100m races at the meet in Rakvere, Estonia, last Tuesday. Gatlin, world champion in 2005 in both the 100m and 200m, is barred from all the leading European meets.

“I am very glad with the result today (Sunday),” Gatlin told AFP. “My aim was to be better than at the last competition and I bettered that today by seven hundreths of a second.”

Gatlin, who lost 20 pounds over the past year as he battles to regain his place among the leading sprinters, was adamant when asked whether he was looking to qualifying for the 2012 Olympics and a bid to regain the title he won in Athens in 2004. “Yes, definitely,” said Gatlin.

However, he conceded that any dreams of rivalling the times being run by the leading trio of Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Powell were firmly on the back burner. “I am taking my return at the moment

with a modest aim - the only aim I have in front of me is to be better than last time at every competition,” he said.

Gatlin had a special word of gratitude for those people who had stayed faithful to him and his ability, especially as he has always protested his innocence.

“I wish to thank all my fans - I want to thank them more than ever.

It’s easy to have lot of fans when you are the top and all is well. So I really do appreciate a lot all the support I have got from the fans who have remained with me,” said Gatlin.

His mother Jeanette was trackside to watch her son compete

and condemned the sanction imposed on him. “I feel it (the fouryear ban) was unjust, very unjust and here in Estonia I have felt so happy for him,” she told AFP. “I really hope he will make a good comeback.”

Gatlin, who during his ban vainly tried his luck with three NFL teams as a wide receiver without being drafted, declined to comment.

“I am dedicating myself fully to sport now and am planning to return more strongly next season,” Gatlin said. His next competition will be in Joensuu in Finland on August 21 and he also plans to return to Tallinn during the indoor season.

(AP Photo/NIPA, Timur Nisametdinov)

Former Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, left, finishing the men’s 100 meter race during ERGO World Games Tallinn 2010, in the Estonian capital Tallinn, Sunday Aug. 8, 2010, with United States’ Rubin Williams at right.

Bayern refuse to release Ribery for FFF probe Agence France Presse

BERLIN - Bayern Munich will not release their French star Franck Ribery to appear before a French Football Federation (FFF) disciplinary commission later this month to explain his national team’s training ground strike at the World Cup, the German team said on Monday.

Ribery is among five France internationals ordered to appear before the FFF on August 17 to answer questions on the team’s strike after Nicolas Anelka was sent home from the World Cup for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.

“This invitation or summons was not fixed in agreement with Bayern Munich,” club president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. “According to FIFA’s statutes clubs are not obliged to free their players apart from dates fixed in the international calendar.

“That is not the case here. For this reason Bayern Munich will not let Frank Ribery go to this hearing.” Rummenigge said the team had not appreciated hearing about the summons in the press.

“The French Federation does not have the right to arbitrarily remove Franck Ribery from his commitments to Bayern,” he continued.

“Preparations for the next

Bundesliga season go before the resolution of conflicts generated in the World Cup by the French Federation.”

Bayern are due to play a German Cup tie on August 16 and the next day will begin preparations for their August 20 Bundesliga opener against Wolfsburg. Five French players have been targetted by the FFF because they were deemed to have had key roles in the strike.

Patrice Evra as the captain, Ribery as vice-captain, Anelka for insulting Domenech, Eric Abidal for his refusal to play France’s final World Cup match against South Africa, and Jeremy Toulalan for writing the statement issued by the players announcing their intention to strike.

As a result of their behaviour in South Africa all members of the French World Cup squad were left out of Laurent Blanc’s squad for his first game in charge, a friendly against Norway in Oslo on August 11. Ribery is also facing trouble on another front after being charged with having sex with an under-age prostitute.

The Bayern Munich player, who faces up to three years in prison if convicted, has admitted paying for sex with Zahia Dehar but denies knowing the call girl was under 18 at the time.

16

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

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Sport

Webber: Red Bull strong everywhere Championship leader Mark Webber says he must focus on being consistent on the tracks where he is weaker in order to stay ahead of his rivals all year long, but he is sure his Red Bull team will be strong on all venues. The Australian moved into the lead of the championship after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix last Sunday, when he took his forth win of the season.

Red Bull driver Webber is now four points ahead of McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton with seven races to go. Webber is adamant that there will be no weak tracks for his team, but he he admits it will be crucial to be consistent until the end of the season.

“We’ve shown this year that the car is performing on all tracks so we hope we don’t have any weak circuits,” he told Red Bull’s official website in a video interview. “For sure Singapore should be good, Suzuka, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.

We’re a little bit worried about how the long straights might go at some of the other venues, at maybe Monza.

“But the car is very, very strong at most tracks so we’re ready to take on anyone at any venue and I’m looking forward to all the races coming up.”

He added: “It would be nice to win Spa, Suzuka and a few other

victories, and along with that hopefully comes something special. We need to focus on being consistent on some tracks where we are not quite there or I’m not quite there. “We’ve had some small hiccups here and there because you need perfect weekends to win at this level. Of course Sebastian and I are pushing each other pretty hard as well to beat each other and you need to get everything right.”

The Australian said he would be happy to win some of the “signature” races left this year, although he insists the most important thing is to be strong on all venues.

“I have a few of my goals already in the pocket this year, which is sensational, but we have some great races coming up in the future, some real signature events which would be great to win,” he said. “But every race gives 25 points and we need to perform everywhere. If we can do that you never know what could happen at the end of the year.”

AFP PHOTO / DIMITAR DILKOFF

Red Bull’s Australian driver Mark Webber celebrates with his team members in the paddock of the Hungaroring circuit on August 01, 2010 in Budapest, after the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix. Webber won the race ahead of Ferrari’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s German driver Sebastian Vettel.

Sutil confident of strong finish

AFP PHOTO / POOL / CHRISTOPHE KARABA

Mechanics surrounded the cars of Force India’s German driver Adrian Sutil (L) and Renault f1’s Polish driver Robert Kubica after they crashed in the pits of the Hungaroring circuit on August 01, 2010 in Budapest, during the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix.

Adrian Sutil says is he if confident that Force India will be able to impress through the remainder of the F1 season.

Sutil had already scored points in seven of the twelve races so far this year to sit tenth in the championship standings – just three points behind seven-time champion Michael Schumacher. The season will resume at Spa later this month, with the Belgian circuit having been the scene of the race where Force India’s year turned a corner, with Giancarlo Fisichella securing pole and finishing on the podium.

Sutil followed that up with second on the grid and fourth place in the Italian GP at Monza and with both of those races still to come this season, Sutil said he was confident that Force India will shine once again. “I feel very comfortable,” he told the Hindustan Times during a visit to India. “They should suit our car. If you remember last year, there was a podium finish at Spa and a pole position.