Edisi 26 Juli 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 140 2st Year

Russia’s Putin sings with expelled agents

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Monday, July 26, 2010

Cruise ship harbor to operate 2011

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19 killed in Love Parade stampede in Germany Agence France Presse

Samuel L. Jackson announces ‘Avengers’ cast PAGE 12

WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

25 - 31

JAKARTA

25 - 31

BANDUNG

20 - 29

YOGYAKARTA

23 - 33

SURABAYA

25 - 33

SUNNY

DUISBURG - Some were trampled to death, some crushed against the walls of a tunnel, Germany on Sunday mourned 19 people killed in a sudden stampede by thousands trying to get to a huge open air music festival. Another 340 people were injured in the mass panic to get to the Love Parade dance party in the western city of Duisburg that drew about 1.4 million partygoers from across the world, according to a new mounting toll given by police.

Authorities have not yet given any indication as to what set off the sudden fright. But questions were immediately raised about the safety of the 200 metre (650 feet) long and 30 metre (100 feet) wide tunnel that was the main access to the giant rave being held in a former railway freight yard.

Police said the main crush was inside the tunnel, but a Duisburg city official said some people also died on the steps leading up to the tunnel.

Most revellers remained unaware of the incident and kept on dancing into the night as authorities kept a lid on the news to avoid another panic.

Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes however.

“Everywhere you looked there were blue faces,” one young female partygoer told the Die Welt daily.

“My boyfriend pulled me out over the bodies, otherwise we would both have died in there. How can I ever forget those faces. The faces of the dead.”

Several people fell to the ground and were trampled underfoot, another witness told the NTV news channel. “Some people were on the ground while others were climbing up the walls,” said the witness, Udo Sandhoefer.

Police and security officials tried to get into the tunnel “but it was already too full,” he added.

“People kept trying to get into the tunnel for about 10 minutes, then realised what had happened and turned around,” he said.

Another 18-year-old witness named Marius told the Bild daily: “There was no way of escaping.

There was a wall of people in front of me. I was scared I was going to die.”

Continued on page 6

20 villages to receive Tourism Development Program can increase Bali’s economics Jakarta (Bali Post)-

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AFP PHOTO / DANIEL NAUPOLD GERMANY OUT

Police help a woman who fell from a stairs as panic broke out during the Loveparade in Duisburg, western Germany, on July 24, 2010. At least 19 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in a mass panic during the Loveparade on July 24, 2010.

The National Tourism Development program through the village tourism is proven to be able to increase the economics condition of the village and the awareness of the people. Bakri, the head of tourism destination division in Indonesian Cultural and Tourism

Ministry, said that the condition can give good effect on the small industries in Bali.

For that reason, the ministry is proposing that other 20 villages in Bali receive the similar program. He said that the program can act as the magnet for the tourists and also can increase the tourist’s visitation to Bali.

“I will come to Bali and inspect

which village appropriate to be given the program,” Bakri added.

The government is targeting to give the similar program to 2,000 villages throughout Indonesia in 2014.

The government prepares 20 billion rupiah for the program in 2010.

The fund is much bigger than last year where the government only prepared 6 billion rupiah. Every

year the fund will increase and next year it will become 50 billion rupiah. It means that each village will receive around 60 million up to 90 million rupiah.

Bakri said that almost 60% of the people who live on those villages are considered poor because they can not manage the resources on the village. (010)

2

International

Monday, July 26, 2010

Bali News Four methamphetamine dealers arrested by police

Celebration of National Children’s Day

Overshadowed by gloomy future of children

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

CELEBRATION of the National Children’s Day (HAN), last Friday (Jul 23), reflected that this nation had not been able to take the kids to fully get their rights. There were still many children suffering, having no opportunity to obtain education, and their health was very heartbreaking. In fact, since they were born they had rights that should not only be fulfilled by parents, but also by state and nation. They were entitled to get a confession, a decent life up to education.

Based on survey conducted by the Bali Regional Commission of Mother and Child Protection (KPAID), apparently more than 300 street children in the region of Badung and Denpasar recorded to be illiterate and exploited to work as beggars. They were occasionally disguised to be a hawker of bracelets and fruits. In Badung alone there were 300 street children working as beggars and hawker of bracelets at once. Meanwhile, in Denpasar, there were 100 children having profession as beggars plus fruit hawkers.

Chairman of KPAID Bali, A.A. Sri Wahyuni, when met in her office on last Friday (Jul 23) said that such condition posed one of the blurry portraits of the future of children in Bali. If they were neglected persistently, it could not be imagined how their future would be.

Yuni continued that the habit of begging done by children that mostly were from the region of Karangasem indeed became the result of parental upbringing. Lazy culture had been ingrained since the children were born, so they did not want to improve their life and were already comfortable with their income exceeding the salary of a professor where their gross income might reach IDR 10 million per month.

From the result of search conducted in the Badung areas such as Kuta, Mengwi, Lukluk and Kapal and Denpasar area, these street children worked until twelve o’clock at night. After begging, they would sleep on the porch, patio of stores or narrow alleys and if renting a roof over the head, they would hire a cabin or a room in boarding house abuzz. “Sleeping within a room rollicking is not impossible to trigger other disasters befalling these children such as sexual abuse,” said Yuni.

Children with the habit of begging since their childhood and without education was worried by Yani if they grew up would sink deeper into the world of disgrace. Based on the result of survey, especially the fe-

IBP/doc

Children gather during the celebration of Indonesian Children’s Day which fall on July 23rd 2010 male street children tended to change profession to become a prostitute at the age above 15 years. “Ironically, most of them did begging just to compete in relation to the implementation of temple anniversary in their region.

They want to show off the best clothes, or expensive imported fruits when paying homage to temple,” said Yuni.

Then, how to resolve this problem? Yuni explained that it was not easy to change the ‘lazy’ mental behavior embedded in the children themselves. However, it did not necessarily mean that everything was impossible. Early parental involvement by attempting to provide a decent living and education for children was very important. The role of the community by not giving out due to compassion was also one of important keys to the habit of begging on street children in Bali. “If society and government could give more focus to encourage their education, it would be more beneficial for them. But, it indeed requires a new innovation, because sometimes these kids did not want to attend education,” said Yuni.

However, not all street children re-

fused to change their fate. Some of them were very thirsty for knowledge. This was evidenced by the 245 street children registered to have education through learning community, reading class and skill training.

“KPAID in cooperation with Hindu Dharma Women Association (WHDI) conducts a free reading class in the form of education and skill training. Actually, Education Agency had provided funds to the WHDI Bali for 300 children, but the registered ones were just 245 including their parents,” explained Yuni.

As a matter of fact, many foundations and government programs providing free education for the children, but it just lacked of enough socialization. Yuni expected the National Children’s Day every year was not just becoming a moment of commemoration for the better future of Indonesian children. In welcoming the National Children’s Day, KPAID had held a storytelling event for teachers of kindergarten and elementary school and provided assistance to the abandoned baby Winda left by its mother in Sanglah Hospital. (kmb24)

The ranks of Directorate of Narcotics of Bali Police managed to arrest two perpetrators of drug abuse. They were Ketut Putra Jaya, 26, from Pendem Hamlet, Beng Village, Karangasem and Made Loka Sentana, 23, a resident living on Jalan Pulau Misol, Denpasar.

“Both suspects were alleged to be drug dealers belonging to methamphetamine (SS) type,” police official said, last Friday (Jul 23).

The process of arrest, the officers said, started from the information provided by the public. It was said the two suspects often distributed methamphetamine. Police then followed up the information and tracked the presence of each suspect. As a result, one suspect managed to be traced.

Initially, police arrested the suspect Putra Jaya, last Tuesday (Jul 20) at 4:30 pm Local Time. Police caught the suspects in front of the Renon Square, precisely around the Jalan Kesuma Jaya, Denpasar. After being searched, from the hands of the suspect was found the evidence in the form of methamphetamine weighing 0.8 grams gross weight or 0.2 grams net weight.

Several hours later, police captured the suspect Loka Sentana. This man was

caught in his boarding house located on Jalan Pulau Misol XI/4 Denpasar. Unfortunately, the police could not find any drugs as evidence, but the cash amounted to IDR 800,000 in his pants’ pocket alleged to be the result of the sale of his methamphetamine.

Not only Bali Police, West Denpasar Police also reaped the same results. Two perpetrator alleged as dealers of drug belonging to methamphetamine type were captured on Jalan Bhuana Raya, Gang Surya, Padangsambian, Denpasar, last Monday (Jul 19) at 11:00 pm Local Time. They consisted of Yonhelmy, 33, and Ketut Suardika, 29.

When committing the search at the scene, police found a clear crystal plastic clip alleged to contain methamphetamine. Not only that, police also seized a plastic pipette containing the remainder of clear crystal powder. The case of both suspects was still being investigated further.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson of Bali Police, Gde Sugianyar, when asked for his confirmation justified the arrest of the four suspects related to methamphetamine case. They were still undergoing examination in the room of investigator. “Police are still developing the case,” he added. (kmb21)

The Coming Fasting

Main Product Prices Predicted Increases 5 Percent Denpasar ( Bali Post)

The prices of some essentials are predicted an increase as fasting month approaches this coming early August.

According to market’s analysis by the Head of Inside Country’s Sales of Bali Province Sales and Industries Agency, Drs. Bagus Ketut Wijaya, the increase will be around 2 to 5 percent.

Wijaya confirmed last Friday (23/ 7), the effect of the fasting month in Bali will increase prices especially on herbs. Meanwhile, essentials like rice and sugar will have a little increase compared during Galungan where the demand during fasting month is much more less.

He also added, the increase only happens until the coming September.

To anticipate, the Agency is importing rice and sugar from other places such as Sumbawa, Sulawesi, Central Java, Lampung and Ujung Pandang .

They have also asked the rice distributors in Bali to increase the stock by two times from usual on the 15th Day before Eid (Idul Fitri) to secure

a shortage of it.

The increase of the Electricity Bills (TDL) has affected the increase pricing on the essentials as well, as some of the entrepreneurs used electricity for their product machineries.

The harvest season and the weather combined with the increased electricity bills, caused the rice pricings increased. For example right now it has reached IDR 6.500 per kg for a general IR 64 rice and IDR 7.000 for IR 64 local rice and from outside Bali reaches IDR 7.500 to IDR 8.000 per kg.

Based on the observation from traditional markets, the request on essentials for the coming fasting month is still normal. Actually the request for sugars, rice and eggs are a little decreasing.

It became a tradition the prices of rice, sugar, herbs and meat increases during Fasting month and Galungan.

So it is predicted the people’s request during these celebration days increases although now is still stabile, according to Nengah Nasih, an essential seller at Badung Market. (par)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan, Tabanan: Surpi. Jakarta: Nikson, Suharto Olii, Indu P. Adi, Ahmadi Supriyanto, Achmad Nasrudin, Hardianto, Darmawan S. Sumardjo, Heru B Arifin, Asep Djamaluddin, Ade Irawan, Ipik Tanoyo. 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

Pasut Beach Victim Found

Sudira’s Body Floated at Sea Tabanan ( Bali Post) –

Made Sudira (45), a fisherman from Pasut, Tibubiu Village, Kerambitan, who was sunken by the waves of Pasut Beach on Thursday (22/7) was found dead Friday (23/7) at 5 pm. Another man, Made Sandia (42), still not found.

According to Bali Post’s investigation on location, the founded body was then taken to the shore and brought to a hospice and then the work to find Sandia’s body was continued.

Police officials, Search and Rescue Distress (SAR) team also the victim’s family and some local residents seemed ready and fully hoped to find the other body. Some of them

went through the shore; another went through the sea where the two was caught by the wave.

As told before the two victims, who were part of Segara Nadi 2, bravely sets their fish trap to go to the sea at 11.30 am. After 300 meters from shore, a sudden wave attached their boat and flipped them. The broken boat was then stranded to the shore yet the fishermen weren’t

there.

The incident was witnessed by Sudira’s child, I Komang Sandi Putra (21) and a local resident, I Wayan Bandem Suyasa (53) who was helping pushing the boat to the shore. The two witnesses panicked when they saw the boat was shaken by the waves and then flipped over which made the two fishermen gone in the wide sea. (gap)

Needs Guidelines, Semarapura Market Spacing Semarapura ( Bali Post) –

Head of Klungkung Cooperative Agency, Small and Middle Business (UKM) and Sale and Industries Agency, Nengah Becik, confirmed that it needs the Region’s Head guidelines to do the spatial arrangement in the Semarapura Market as it did started with a guideline.

“To arrange it there should be a new guideline from the Region’s Head,” Becik confirmed on Friday (23/7). Connecting to the market’s condition, Becik admitted has observed and spread questionnaires to the sellers and can roughly conclude that they want a much better space

arrangement so it gives safety and comfort to the sellers and the consumers, “But we did not find any bulk car sellers in the market.”

These results can’t just be applied like that; it needs consultation to the academics, “To be truthful, my agencies don’t have the people who can order a market space arrangement any better.” Besides an accurate application, an independent consultant’s involvement will be more objective.

It also needs a discussion with the Klungkung Region House of Representatives which later the opinions can be the guide for the region’s head to take actions, “I haven’t coordinate

with the Regent (Wayan Candra – red). If the discussion with the Region’s Secretary (Ketut Janapria) was done, then we can coordinate with the Regent.”

Before, House of Representatives’ member from Dwi Tunggal Fraction thinks the government wasn’t serious in tackling the market’s spacing. It is a fact: at least 20 bulk car sellers crowded the parking space to sell clothes and cloths. When actually most of the spaces at Semarapura Market were empty and should be used by those car sellers. This then caused complains by the cloth sellers on the second floor of the market. (kmb20)

Balinese women:

In devotional services through the arts Beauty can stop everyone’s eyes flickering. Beauty of the kid song can lullaby a baby. Similarly, beauty also can toss the imagination, soothe the mind and draw people to get near. Bali has many sources of that beauty offering the charm of nature, culture or adventure.

By maintaining traditions inspired

by Hinduism, Balinese people go on running in harmony with the time. In other words, they do not feel inferior because of inheriting those traditions.

Beauty in the form of various dance movements has been introduced since early ages. On seeing a dance staged, a toddler may watch it attentively or its fingers move and move as if imitating the movement of the dance.

Virtually all customary villages in Bali have gamelan troupe. This troupe plays important role in expressing their entertainment arts and accompanying every ritual activity. This existence gives opportunity to villagers from child to adult to express their artistic talent especially in dance, drama and gamelan arts. Young girls under twelve or elementary school age have a chance to participate in performing Rejang Dance. By wearing white and yellow costumes and floral decoration on head, they dance beautifully accompanied by gamelan music. Rejang Dance is one of the sacred dances performed in relation to the organization of temple an-

niversary or odalan. Other than putting a basic love to their tradition, they also show devotional service or ngatur ayah through the arts.

When they grow older, right on entering secondary school, they join customary village youth club or Sekaa Taruna. Here, with their male friends and their brothers and sisters start to learn about organization. Many things can be learned through this organization. Since it has affiliation to customary village, they can learn about the making of some simple oblation under guidance of senior oblation maker and various traditional arts. In Bali, this youth club actually play important role in preparing young generation to maintain their valuable cultural heritages or to prepare themselves for inheriting customary responsibility.

With their male counterpart, here the young girls also learn to play drama or more complex traditional arts. Popular genres of performance showed are pure entertainment and the one in combination with sacred dance. The latter usually features Calonarang. This magical drama involves a combination of male and female players. In essence, this Calonarang drama highlights the endless fight between truth and untruth symbolizing by sanctified effigies or tapakan like Rangda and Barong. By and large, it is also associated with ritual events at local temple.

In the following stage, when woman gets married she will enter the new organization, namely customary village.

Having learned much about ritual works, it is now the time to practice them in wider social life. They should attend some socio-religious activities when the events engage the members of customary village. At this stage, household mother can remain to show her devotional service through the arts other than social works. Through the arts, they may join the drama or individual psalmodic singing or pasantian.

How is about their private life? It is normal as others. They also have opportunity to build career in their profession. In modern life with heterogeneous professions as today, woman also works as men do. Traditions do not impede them to reach outstanding achievement in self-employee or office job. If they work at daytime, some social works will be held at the evening.

Tradition is not something obsolete.

Even, it retains abundant inspirations to create something new and creative that is advantageous for modern life.

However, traditions should also be reviewed and adjust to the current condition without leaving behind its core.

Tradition does not hinder women to get their career achievement. Even, it stays to give them a channel to express their spiritual sense through devotional services. (BTN/punia)

Monday, July 26, 2010

3

Considered to take side, subdistrict heads across Jembrana apologize Negara (Bali Post)—

Jembrana House, last Friday (Jul 23), invited the subdistrict heads throughout Jembrana Regency, namely that of Pekutatan, Mendoyo, Jembrana, Negara and Melaya to hold hearings. This measure was intended to respond to the letter made by subdistrict heads throughout Jembrana to Jemberana Electoral Commission (KPUD) dated June 24, 2010 about the response to the determination of program phases and schedule of the Jembrana Regency Election 2010.

The letter was also alleged to be taken advantage by the Regent of Jembrana, Gede Winasa, to sue the phases made by the Jemberana Electoral Commission. Other than addressed to Electoral Commission, copies of letter were also sent to Minister of Home Affairs, Governor and other relevant institutions.

Deputy Chairman of Jembrana House, I Wayan Wardana, who led the hearings last Friday accompanied by another Deputy Chairman I Ketut Widastra and Commission B Nyoman Suheng Kusumayasa, said the letter made by subdistrict heads caused them surprised. “We regret that subdistrict heads who are also civil servants even interfered with political issues. They should be neutral and never get involved in practical politics. As consequence, we will question this,” said Wardana from Democratic Party.

From observation made during the hearing last Friday, the subdistrict heads throughout Jembrana Regency apologized for the actions conducted to the House. Most of the legislators who were present in the hearing warned in order they were neutral and impartial, let alone their

letter raised a less favorable situation in Jembrana.

However, from the very bottom of their heart, all subdistrict heads said they actually had no intention to interfere with the steps created by the Electoral Commission. “We’re just giving advice, and we do not intend to intervene and interfere with the stages of the Commission. If it is considered to interfere, please do accept our sincere apologies,” said the five subdistricts compactly.

According to Wardana after the meeting, even though the subdistrict heads had already apologized, his party stayed to remind them in order to maintain their neutrality so that the public were not confused and Jembrana election could run peacefully, securely and democratically.

“Besides, they should not be driven by certain parties having interests to thwart the Jembrana Election,” he said.

Two legislators of Jembrana House, Ketut Sugiasa and Nyoman Suheng Kusumayasa said their invitation to the subdistrict heads across Jembrana was not intended to judge them but to work together in maintaining the stability within the society so that the upcoming election could go well in Jembrana.

In the meantime, the subdistrict heads also explained about the situation in their territory prior to the Election of Jembrana. One of the subdistrict heads, namely that of Mendoyo, Nengah Ledang, explained if the situation of his territory by the election was safe and under control. However, their territory had now declared public health emergency (KLB) of rabies and some regions had been affected by chikungunya outbreak and these had been handled accordingly. (kmb)

As knocking up SMK student, a newlywed teacher arrested by police Semarapura (Bali Post) -

It is really an insistent misfortune. This expression describes the fate of individual elementary school teacher in Nusa Penida, Gede Saputra, 28. Other than being confined behind detention cell after declared as a suspect, this teacher from Karangasem was also threatened by disciplinary action. It was imposed because of his own action knocking up a girl studying in vocational high school (SMK) from Nusa Penida, Ni Wayan SR, 16, considered to remain underage.

Ironically, Gede Saputra also just married a woman who is also from Nusa Penida in last June.

Head of Klungkung Education Agency (Disdikpora), Nengah Wijana, was unable to help his people who had disgraced the image of education in Klungkung. He entirely en-

trusted the case to police authority. “The legal process is already in the police’s hand. Let it go naturally,” pointed out Wijana last Friday (Jul 23).

Although the case had not had permanent legal power, Wijana still admitted that his party would make coordination regarding to that matters with Regional Secretary of Klungkung, Ketut Janapria. In connection with the enforcement of discipline in the ranks of civil servant, the arrest of Gede Saputra by police had an impact on the decreasing of effectiveness of the relevant individual. Even, he simply could not follow the teaching and learning activities. “That’s what I need to talk with the Secretary as the highest civil servant bureaucracy.

Imposition of sanctions must go through the process and assessment,” he said. (kmb20)

4

News

Monday, July 26, 2010

International

US aircraft carrier leads drills with South Korea Associated Press Writer

ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON – A nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier led an armada of warships in exercises off the Korean peninsula Sunday that North Korea has vowed to physically block and says could escalate into nuclear war.

AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man

A U.S. Navy helicopter flies over the Nimitz-class USS George Washington for joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea, at the Busan port in Busan, south of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 25, 2010.

U.S. military officials said the maneuvers, conducted with South Korean ships and Japanese observers, were intended to send a strong signal to the North that aggression in the region will not be tolerated.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been particularly high since the sinking in March of a South Korean naval vessel. Fortysix Korean sailors were killed in the sinking, which Seoul has called Pyongyang’s worst military attack on it since the 1950-53 Korean War. The military drills, code-named “Invincible Spirit,” are to run through Wednesday with about 8,000 U.S. and South Korean troops, 20 ships and submarines and

51 bodies found at northern Mexico dumping ground Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY – Investigators said Saturday they have found 51 corpses in two days of digging in a field near a trash dump outside the northern city of Monterrey, as excavations continued at one of the largest clandestine body dumping grounds in Mexico’s bloody drug war.

The attorney general of Nuevo Leon state, where Monterrey is located, said the victims included 48 men and 3 women. There so many bodies that authorities were using refrigerated trucks to hold them, Alejandro Garza y Garza told local television.

Investigators are still struggling to identify the remains but suspect

drug traffickers are involved. “The majority of these bodies have tattoos of different types that could give us an indication about whether they belonged to one group or another and, among other things, determine whether they were linked to organized crime,” Garza y Garza said.

He added that investigators were nearing the end of their search. “We have practically covered all the area where we think there might be this sort of thing,” Garza y Garza said. “In general terms, we are wrapping it up.”

A state government spokesman said the bodies have been found both whole and in parts, with some buried in pits and others on or near the surface. The spokesman, who was not authorized to be quoted by name, said an anonymous phone tip

AP Photo/Iram Oviedo

Soldiers, wearing face masks, patrol the surroundings of the site where investigators found some 51 corpses in two days of digging in a field near a trash dump outside the northern city of Monterrey, Mexico Friday, July 23, 2010.

led authorities to the site on Thursday.

Photographs showed charred spots on the ground — suggesting some bodies may have been partially burned. Mexico’s drug cartels have been known to use corrosive liquids, fire, quicklime and other methods to dispose of their victims or make identification of their bodies harder.

The largest mass grave found in recent years was discovered in May in the southern city of Taxco, where a total of 55 bodies were dumped in an abandoned mine shaft, apparently by a drug gang.

Nearly 25,000 people have been killed in drug violence in Mexico since the government launched an offensive against cartels in late 2006. The government has said in the past that the overwhelming majority of the victims are gang members, in part because the cartels want to control domestic street-level drug sales and often kill rival dealers.

But the cartels have also slain law enforcement officials and kidnap victims. Monterrey has been the scene of bloody turf battles between the Gulf cartel and its former ally, the Zetas gang.

The violence appears to have reached new levels in recent weeks, especially since traffickers claimed responsibility for a car bomb that killed a federal police officer and two others July 15 in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.

200 aircraft. The Nimitz-class USS George Washington was deployed from Japan.

“We are showing our resolve,” said Capt. David Lausman, the carrier’s commanding officer. North Korea has protested the drills, threatening to retaliate with “nuclear deterrence” and “sacred war.”

The North routinely threatens attacks whenever South Korea and the U.S. hold joint military drills, which Pyongyang sees as a rehearsal for an invasion. The U.S. keeps 28,500 troops in South Korea and another 50,000 in Japan, but says it has no intention of invading the North.

Still, the North’s latest rhetoric carries extra weight following the

sinking of the Cheonan. Capt. Ross Myers, the commander of the carrier’s air wing, said the exercises were not intended to raise tensions, but acknowledged they are meant to get North Korea’s attention.

The George Washington, one of the biggest ships in the U.S. Navy, is a potent symbol of American military power, with about 5,000 sailors and aviators and the capacity to carry up to 70 planes.

“North Korea may contend that it is a provocation, but I would say the opposite,” he said. “It is a provocation to those who don’t want peace and stability. North Korea doesn’t want this. They know that one of South Korea’s strengths is its alliance with the United States.”

He said North Korea’s threats to retaliate were being taken seriously.

“There is a lot they can do,” he said.

“They have ships, they have subs, they have airplanes. They are a credible threat.”

Thai voters check lists prior to casting their ballots at a polling station in Bangkok, on July 25. The Thai government looks set for victory in a “litmus test” byelection, according to exit polls in the country’s first parliamentary race since mass opposition rallies rocked the capital.

AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul

Government set to win crucial Thai by-election: exit poll Agence France Presse

BANGKOK – The Thai government looked set for victory in a “litmus test” by-election on Sunday, according to exit polls in the country’s first parliamentary race since mass opposition rallies rocked the capital.

Pitting a leader of the “Red Shirt” anti-government movement, detained on terrorism charges, against a member of the elite-backed ruling party, the election was seen as a telling indicator of public opinion after the protests.

After residents cast their votes amid a heavy police presence, ruling Democrat Party candidate Panich Vikitsreth looked set to clinch victory with 52.77 percent, according to exit polls by Rajabhat Suan Dusit University.

Red Shirt leader Kokaew Pikulthong, who was allowed to leave prison briefly last month to

register for the poll, was expected to take 40.93 percent in the by-election, triggered by the death of a ruling-party lawmaker.

Kokaew, a candidate for the opposition Puea Thai (For Thais) party — who has not been convicted of any crime — was denied a request to be released to campaign and relied on Red Shirt allies to win support in the coveted constituency in northern Bangkok.

The vote comes two months after the army broke up the Reds’ rally in the heart of Bangkok and Thai society remains deeply divided following the political violence, in which 90 people died and about 1,900 were injured.

The protests by the Reds — many of whom back fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra — attracted up to 100,000 people demanding immediate elections, but most of the leaders are now behind bars.

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

General Info

Monday, July 26, 2010

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.

HOSPITAL Bangli Bangli General Hospital Jl. Kesumayuda 27, Bangli Phone : +62 366 91521 Gianyar

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 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

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 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.

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.

Badung Bali Medical Clinics There are some medical clinics that are well known by foreigners in Bali. Some of them are western owned and operated : 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 International SOS Clinic Bali Opened in 1999, offers International SOS members and visitors to Bali comprehensive primary health care and 24-hour 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 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

Clinic Mas Jl. Raya Mas, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974573 Toyo Clinic Jl. Pengosekan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 978078 Permata Bunda Clinic Jl. Patih Jelantik 50 X, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 942082 Ubud Clinic Jl Raya Ubud No.36 Campuhan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974911 Gianyar General Hospital Jl. Ciung Wanara 2, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 943049 Karangasem Karangasem General Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai, Karangasem Phone : +62 363 21001 Klungkung Klungkung General Hospital Jl. Flamboyan 40-4, Klungkung Phone : +62 366 21371 Negara Negara General Hospital Jl. Gelar, Negara Phone : +62 365 41006 Tabanan Laboratorium Clinic Jl. Gunung semeru No. 8, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 819260 Mengwi Clinic Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai 46, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 880550 Darma Kerti Hospital Jl. Teratai 16, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 812359 Tabanan General Hospital Jl. Pahlawan 14, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 811027 Singaraja Prodia Clinic Jl. RA Kartini 12, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 24-516 Singaraja Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai 30, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 22-573 Pet Clinics Kayumas: (0361) 226934 Sayang Binatang: (0361) 483121 Satwa Kertha Husada: (0361) 263018 Pantai Sindhu: (0361) 287518 Sidakarya: (0361) 724492 Pedungan: (0361) 720026

TAXIS Praja Taxi : (0361) 289090 Bali Taxi : (0361) 701111 Ngurah Rai Taxi : (0361) 724724 Pan Wirthi Taxi : (0361) 723366 Komotra Taxi : (0361) 758855

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News

Monday, July 26, 2010

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, right, rides Harley Davidson Lehman Trike as he arrives for the meeting with Russian and Ukrainian motorbikers at their camp near Sevastopol in Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula, Saturday, July 24, 2010.

(AP Photo/Sergei Karpukhin, Pool)

Russia’s Putin sings with expelled agents Associated Press Writer

FOROS, Ukraine – Vladimir Putin says he met with the Russian spies who were expelled from the United States, joining them in a patriotic song and promising them good jobs and a bright future back in their homeland.

Russia’s prime minister said late Saturday he recently got together with the 10 sleeper agents, without saying when or where. The agents were expelled from the U.S. earlier this month in a biggest spy scandal since the Cold War. “We talked about life,” Putin told reporters in Ukraine. “We sang ‘What Motherland Begins With’ and other songs of that character.”

“What Motherland Begins With” is a song from the 1968 television series about Soviet spies in Nazi Germany. The song is favored by intelligence officers.

Putin, a former KGB officer who spent three years in socialist Germany as a low-level functionary, spoke about the uneasy lives the secret agents had in the U.S., where they were caught by the FBI

in U.S. cities and suburbs where they had been living for more than a decade.

“They had a very difficult fate,” Putin said, referring to the expelled spies who spent years of burrowing into American society. “They had to carry out a task to benefit their motherland’s interests for many, many years without a diplomatic cover, risking themselves and those close to them.”

The 10 agents were deported in exchange for three former intelligence officers and a think tank arms expert convicted and sentenced to long prison sentences in Russia. An 11th Russian spy escaped authorities in Cyprus and remains at large, and a 12th one, who had worked for Microsoft, was deported from the United States in mid-July.

U.S. authorities did not charge the agents with spying, and it is not clear whether they actually compromised any U.S. secrets. Some Russian analysts called their mission a failure that showed how inefficient Russian intelligence agencies are.

Putin, however, promised that the Motherland will take a good care of its spying sons and daughters. “They will work, and I am sure they will have decent jobs,” he said. “And I am sure they will have an interesting and bright life.”

The biggest spy swap since the Soviet collapse did not complicate President Barack Obama’s campaign to improve and broaden U.S. relations with Russia, and both Moscow and Washington sides expressed satisfaction with the resolution of the spy case.

US missiles kill 5 militants in NW Pakistan Associated Press Writer

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – Unmanned U.S. aircraft fired four missiles at a house in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing five suspected militants in the second drone strike in as many days, intelligence officials said.

The U.S. has launched more than 100 missile strikes in P a k i s t a n ’s s e m i a u t o n o m o u s tribal area along the Afghan border over the past several years.

Most have them have targeted militants in North and South Waziristan, important sanctuaries for Afghan and Pakistani Taliban fighters.

The house that was destroyed

Sunday was in Shaktoi, a village along the border of North and South Waziristan. The attack, which actually occurred in South Waziristan, also wounded four suspected militants, said the intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The strike came a day after U.S. aircraft fired six missiles at a compound in the Nazai Narai area of South Waziristan, killing 16 suspected militants. The hideout was known to be frequented by foreign fighters who were among the dead, intelligence officials said.

The U.S. refuses to publicly acknowledge the covert CIA-run

drone program in Pakistan, but officials have said privately that it has killed several senior Taliban and al-Qaida figures.

One of the reasons the U.S. has relied so heavily on the missile strikes is that it has been unable to convince the Pakistani military to target Afghan Taliban fighters in North Waziristan who regularly launch cross-border attacks against U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Many analysts believe Pakistan’s reluctance is driven by the military’s belief that the Taliban could be useful allies in Afghanistan after foreign forces withdraw. Pakistan publicly condemns the U.S. missile strikes, but it has secretly helped Washington in previous attacks.

Peres: Croatian WWII camp was a show of ‘sadism’ Associated Press Writer

JASENOVAC, Croatia – Touring the site of Croatia’s World War II concentration camp, Israeli President Shimon Peres said Sunday it was a demonstration of “sheer sadism” and that Iran’s president, who has denied the Holocaust, should visit it.

Peres and Croatian President Ivo Josipovic toured Jasenovac, where a memorial honors about 85,000 of Jews, Serbs, Gypsies and anti-fascist Croats who died here in 1941-45 at the hands of Croatia’s pro-Nazi regime. Thousands of people also were deported from Croatia to Nazi-run camps where they died.

Peres used the opportunity to refer to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s denials of the Holocaust. “I wish I would see him here,” Peres said.

“And I’m asking myself why does he deny (it)?” the Israeli leader said. “To permit the legitimacy of continuity to kill.” Jasenovac, the worst of about 40 camps in Croatia at the time, didn’t have a gas chamber. Inmates, including the elderly and children, were killed with guns, knives and hammers. Many were tortured or starved to death. About 30,000 Jews died in Croatia during the war, most of the Jewish community’s prewar population.

Peres said Croatian pro-Nazi guards “were not as elaborate and organized as Germans and that he believed the Nazis forced Croats to be brutal. “I think they wanted them to have a demonstration of sheer sadism,” he said.

On Sunday, Peres was concluding his three-day visit to Croatia — another sign of warming relations between Israel and Croatia.

Israel shunned Croatia in the 1990s and held off on recognizing its 1991 independence until 1997 because Croatia’s government at the time was sympathetic to the World War II regime and its late president, Franjo Tudjman, who had downplayed the fascists’ crimes.

Since 2000, Croatia’s pro-Western governments have openly denounced fascism, and ex-President Stipe Mesic apologized for Croatians’ crimes while visiting Israel in 2001.

Peres’s predecessor, Moshe Katsav, traveled to Jasenovac in 2003, the first Israeli head of state to officially visit the country.

On Sunday, President Josipovic thanked Peres for “joining us to bow to the victims and to help us to face our past.” Peres told him he was “proud that the two of us are trying to raise the civilization of humanity, respect and human rights.”

(AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

President of Israel Shimon Peres.

19 killed...

From page 1 Panicked friends and family sent a raft of messages on Twitter in a bid to locate missing partygoers. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was “aghast” at the catastrophe.

“In these difficult hours, my thoughts are with the relatives of the victims. They have my sympathy and my condolences.” “Young people came to party. Instead, there was death and injury. I am aghast and saddened by the sorrow and the pain,” she said in a statement.

President Christian Wulff said: “Such a catastrophe that has caused death, sorrow and pain during a peaceful festival involving young people from many countries is dreadful.”

Shock turned quickly to anger as partygoers criticised organisers for only allowing one entrance through

the tunnel to the festival. There was “simply nowhere to get out” of the area around the tunnel, one survivor told WDR television.

Focus magazine quoted the founder of the Love Parade, who goes by the name of Dr Motte (Dr Moth), as saying: “The organisers are to blame ... they showed not the slightest responsibility for people.”

The influential mass circulation Bild asked on its website: “Why did the police let people carry on the party?” Duisburg mayor Adolf Sauerland vowed to hold a comprehensive enquiry.

“In the run-up to the event, we worked out a solid security plan with the organisers and everyone involved,” he said. “The investigations that have already been launched must uncover the precise course of events.”

International

Indonesia Today

Monday, July 26, 2010

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Floods and landslide in Indonesia kill 21 Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - At least 21 people have been killed in floods and a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Indonesia, an official said Sunday.

The landslide on Buru Island in eastern Maluku province took place on Friday after heavy rains in a hilly area, Disaster Management Agency spokesman Priyadi Kardono told AFP. AFP PHOTO/CAHYADI “We’ve pulled out 18 bodies from the Residents use a boat to evacuate their families as floodwaters hit Sudan village in Sampit, Central Kalimantan on July 23, 2010. Deforestation is blamed for flooding which affected hundreds of houses landslide and rescued seven others who in nine villages after the Cempaga Hulu river in Kotawaringin Timur regency overflowed with the were injured,” he said.

Elsewhere, three people drowned and ongoing rainy season.

three went missing after days of continuous rain in South Kalimantan province caused a river there to overflow, he added. More than 3,000 families were affected by the floods, local media reported.

Floods and landslides are common in Indonesia, which is densely populated and prone to frequent heavy rains.

Indonesia foils ‘’Shabu-Shabu” Rights groups slam US ties with Indonesian force smuggling from Malaysia Antara

BANDA ACEH - Indonesian customs officers at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport here foiled the smuggling of 158 grams of “ShabuShabu” from Malaysia on Friday.

“Besides the Methamphetamine drug, we also seize bank notes totaling Rp200 million from the suspect,” Head of investigation division of the Aceh province’s customs office Edy Safutra said.

Speaking to newsmen here Saturday, Safutra said his men arrested a suspect, identified as HBS, 26. The six packs of Methamphetamine drug were found inside a plastic bottle of liquid soap owned by the suspect, he said.

HBS himself was resident of Syiah Kuala sub-district, Banda Aceh. He arrived here from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia, Safutra said.

The airport’s customs officers suspected HBS of concealing drugs after thoroughly checking

his bag.

The on-duty officers successfully identified covered packs of “Shabu-Shabu” that the suspect put inside a plastic bottle, he said.

“We have referred this case to the police,” he said.

The suspect said the ShabuShabu did not belong to him but it was owned by someone in Malaysia only identified as D. The drug package was then given to an Aceh resident only identified as M, he said.

“We are cross-checking his confession,” Edy Safutra said adding that HBS could be jailed for 15 years if found guilty.

Due to its geographical position, the Aceh province is vulnerable to trans-national drug trafficking activities.

“There are a lot of vulnerable smuggling gates in Aceh. But the trans-national smuggling activities through the Aceh waters are much riskier than through air,” Adjunct Sen.Comms Heru Sukanto said.

This chief of Aceh provincial police’s anti-drug directorate said the Aceh waters could be used by drug traffickers due to the Malacca Strait’s busy sea-lane.

The Aceh province’s eastern and northern coastal areas were also vulnerable to the overseas Methamphetamine drug traffickers, he said.

“Aceh has lots of estuaries of rivers. In Idi, East Aceh district, alone there are about 300 estuaries of rivers,” he said.

Heru Sukanto said the drugs smuggled into Aceh by international syndicates were dominantly from such countries as Malaysia, Thailand, as well as certain African and Middle Eastern countries.

“The way the drug traffickers smuggle is sometimes uneasy to detect,” he said adding that the drug traffickers used poor local residents as their couriers.

The Aceh police got difficulties in crashing the drug trafficking rings because their masterminds lived abroad so that they were untouched, he said.

The arrested couriers did not even know the masterminds.

Therefore the Aceh police would meet with those from national police for talks about a possible cooperation with neighbors’ police, he said.

Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Human rights groups reacted angrily Friday to the US military’s resumption of ties with Indonesian Special Forces accused of ongoing human rights violations in the young democracy.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Thursday in Jakarta that the United States would resume ties with Kopassus, an elite unit said to have been responsible for atrocities and mass repression under the late dictator Suharto.

Local rights group the West Papua Advocacy Team said that Kopassus soldiers “continue to repress peaceful protest... routinely intimidate, threaten and accost Papuans who non-violently resist denial of fundamental rights”.

In a statement sent to AFP, the group said a sweeping Kopassus antirebel operation in remote areas of Papua province has forced thousands of villagers to flee into the forest, where they lack food, shelter and medical care.

The Obama administration has been seeking to build relations with Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslimmajority nation, which has rapidly transformed in the past decade into a civilian-led democracy.

Gates said links with Kopassus,

which took a prominent role in past operations in East Timor, Aceh and Papua, would be limited at first.

The US will only expand cooperation if the unit, and the Indonesian military as a whole, undertake reforms, he said.

American forces had broken off ties with the Kopassus in 1999 under a law banning cooperation with foreign troops implicated in rights abuses.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International were also sharply critical of the decision to renew ties.

“It’s hard to see the administration’s decision as anything other than a victory for abusive militaries worldwide,” said HRW’s Asia advocacy director Sophie Richardson.

“The Indonesian justice system rarely vigorously investigates or prosecutes anyone from the military, so forces like Kopassus will likely still are able to commit abuses with impunity and still meet the Obama administration’s standards.”

Amnesty International said that the decision sent “the wrong message in a country where mass and severe human rights violations have taken place in an atmosphere of impunity”.

Indonesian authorities have offered no official comment since Gates’s announcement.

People should not be victimized with kerosene conversion program Antara

JAKARTA - The people should not become victims of the government’s less carefully made kerosene-to-gas conversion program, a legislator said.

“The falling victims of gas canister explosion should not have happened, let alone if later it is found

that the accidents have taken place due to the acts of certain individuals who want to reap business advantage,” Boggy Adhityo Rizaldi, member of the House Commission VII on energy affairs, said here on Sunday.

He said that it was revealed during a hearing with Chief People’s Welfare Minister Agung Laksono

and Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR) recently that the increasing gas canister blasts was not caused by the gas cylinders.

Based on the result of the assessment of the Police’s Forensic Laboratory Center (Puslibfor), the main cause of the blast was substandard pipes that connected the canisters with the stoves.

This is despite the fact that gas canisters which did not attach the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) labels also circulated among the public.

At present, pipes which were made of rubber, plastics and mixture between rubber and plastics are now on circulation in the public market.

The National Standardization

Agency (BSN) has stressed that based on SNI 06-7213-2006 which is the recognized SNI label for stove; pipes made of rubber were the only hoses that met the standard criteria.

Robby stressed the importance of further investigation of the frequent gas canister blasts of late through a House working committee.

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Internationa

Monday, July 26, 2010

Bali Today Cruise ship harbor to operate 2011 Antara

Denpasar – The development of cruise ships harbor in Tanah Ampo, Karangasem Regency can be done in 2011. However, there are some facilities that need to be completed such as the sailing navigation equipments, offices and other facilities that can support the operational of the harbor.

I Ketut Teneng, the head of publication and documentation division in Bali Government, said that the fund to develop the harbor is coming from Indonesian Government, Bali Government and Karangasem Government.

Indonesian Government gave 92.2 billion rupiah to develop the harbor. The fund was use to the environmental and other studies, to build the 154 meters of dock, trestle and causeway as long as 194 meters, and making the road leading to the harbor.

Teneng said that Bali Government prepared 14.7 billion rupiah to build the passengers terminal, office, fences, and the electricity and water facilities. While Karangasem Government pre-

pared 6 billion to build the western part of the harbor and paying for the extra land needed to develop the harbor.

The harbor is very important in developing tourism in the eastern part of Bali. Teneng said that the harbor can be docked by big cruise ships, the one that can carry more than 1,700 passengers.

The complete facilities in the harbor could attract many cruise ships to Bali. The island could follow the example from Singapore where it is visited more than 300 cruise ships every year.

Teneng said that if half of those ships could stop by in Bali before traveling to other countries then Bali will gain many benefit from it.

HIV/AIDS serious threat in northern Bali Antara

SINGARAJA - Over the past five years, at least 13 people in Northern Bali areas had been infected with HIV/ AIDS every month, a HIV/AIDS voluntary worker said.

As of July 2010, a total of 880 people had been infected by this deadly disease, Chairman of the Citra Husada Indonesia Foundation (YCUI)-Buleleng Chapter Ketut Sukiarta said.

“There are 13 HIV/AIDS cases every month in Northern Bali areas since 2005,” he said.

In helping the patients, the Buleleng district government supported the presence of professional counselors, he said. “Buleleng district has so far had 28 professional counselors. They work at local health centers,” Ketut Sukiarta said.

About the spread of HIV/AIDS in the northern part of Bali Island, he said the disease had not only infected such high risky people as commercial sex workers and truck drivers but also house wives.

“Teenage students are also infected,” he said.

HIV/AIDS remains a serious threat to public health in this famous resort island.

According to Sanglah Public Hospital’s infected disease division, over the past five months, 153 Bali residents had positively been infected

by HIV/AIDS. “The number of people having the HIV/AIDS consultation with us is between 19 and 37. They generally admit that they have more than one sexual partners,” Dr.Ida Ayu Miswaryati said last June.

The head of Sanglah Public Hospital’s infected disease division said that at least 170 people had HIV/AIDS consultations with the hospital’s doctors over the past five months.

However, there were only 153 who were positively infected, she said.

Compared to last year, this year’s number of HIV/AIDS cases increased but there were less patients dying of this dangerous disease than last year, she said.

The dead patients were in the age range of 20 and 40, she said.

Among the vulnerable people were inmates. In this case, twelve prison inmates of Denpasar-based Kerobokan jail in Bali Province were among those positively infected with HIV/AIDS. “We keep monitoring their mental and physical condition seriously,” Head of the prison, Siswanto, said on July 8.

Siswanto said the HIV/AIDS-infected prisoners should not be isolated.

Instead, they were given various working skills, including computer and English language, he said.

“As part of the prison community, they should not be isolated. They have the right to live as normal people,” he said.

Bali Post/Doc

Tourists coming out from the cruise ship. The development of cruise ships harbor in Tanah Ampo, Karangasem Regency can be done in 2011.

Five Balinese women victims of human trafficking in Malaysia Antara

KUALA LUMPUR - Five Balinese women who were victims of human trafficking in Malaysia are currently being sheltered at the Indonesia embassy and due to be repatriated on Monday (July 26), an embassy official said.

The five women used to be students at Mengwitani School of Tourism (PLP) in Badung, Bali Province, said the embassy’s labor attache, Agus Trianto, here Saturday.

“I will accompany them to Indonesia and hand them over directly to their respective parents on July 26,” he said.

They arrived in Malaysia last April under a working contract between their school and a local employment recruiter. They were promised internships at five-star hotels.

Instead of being placed at the promised five-star hotels, they were brought to Penang from Kuala Lumpur to be employed at an electronic factory, he said.

According to Nyoman, one of the five ill-fated students, they were offered an internship program at Malaysia’s five-star hotels by their

school’s principal.

“Our school was said to be cooperating with a manpower recruitment agent in Indonesia named Samuel,” Nyoman said.

However, to be able to work in the neighboring country, Nyoman said she had to pay Rp10.5 million while two of her friends had each been charged Rp6.5 million, she said.

The money was used for buying one-way tickets, obtaining passports, paying airport tax, and health check-ups, she said.

“We arrived at Sepang, Malaysia, at midnight on April 13. The Malaysian agent came to pick us up on April 14. He took us to a dormitory in Penang island,” Nyoman said.

Instead of sending them to the promised five-star hotels for working under the internship program, he put them in an electronic factory in Penang, she said.

“Finding different reality, we immediately called our parents.

They were very concerned because we were not in an internship program at the hotels as promised,” she said.

However, the school authori-

ties ignored their parents’ protests, Nyoman said.

Luckily, the Malaysian employment agency, Teguh Sarjana Bumi, returned them to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur because it also felt deceived by Samuel, she said.

Nyoman said she and her four friends were just given RM50 each for working three days at the electric company.

From April to May, Teguh Sarjana Bumi lent them RM50 a week for buying meals, she said.

Between June and July, they received 700 - 900 ringgit a month.

“When we were still in Bali, the recruitment agency promised that we would be paid 700 - 900 ringgit per month,” Nyoman said.

In response to the five Balinese students’ cases, Agus Trianto said they were indeed victims of human trafficking.

“If Samuel can be arrested, he can be prosecuted under the antihuman trafficking law,” he said.

In Malaysia, more than a million Indonesians are working in such sectors as construction and plantations.

al

Monday, July 26, 2010

Balinese Culture

Bali to firmly uphold law on environment Antara

DENPASAR - The tourist resort province of Bali will in the coming years firmly upholds the law on the environment, Head of Bali’s Environment Agency (BLH) AA Alit Sastrawan said.

“In our efforts to realize the program to make Bali a Green Province which as launched by the local government, the law on the environment should be firmly upheld,” Alit said.

He said his office was now preparing legal frameworks, including draft bylaws so that later en-

forcement of the law would in real terms protect all stakeholders in the environment.

“We will popularize it first before we take firm actions to enforce the law,” Alit said.

Earlier, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono fully supported Bali’s initiative to become the first “green” province in Indonesia.

“We have also received expressions of support from various parties, including the director of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in Bangkok

who will be visiting Bali in the near future,” Made Mangku Pastika said on Tuesday.

The governor, who attended a workshop on Bali Green Province which involved various elements of Bali’s community, said turning Bali into a green, healthy, beautiful and clean province would not be easy.

However, he was confident that with the high commitment of and consistent hard work by regional government officials at all levels, and the cooperation of local religious and community leaders, the dream to turn Bali into a green province would be achieved.

People working near Buyan Lake.

The tourist resort province of Bali will in the coming years firmly upholds the law on the environment, Head of Bali’s Environment Agency (BLH) AA Alit Sastrawan said.

Courtesy of Walhi Bali

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, and then cool.

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

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

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

C.045 ibp

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Monday, July 26, 2010

Destinations

International

Ubud Monkey Forest IBP

Ubud Monkey Forest is a small rain forest dwelt by some group of monkeys and other tropical animals. It is strategically located in the hearth of Ubud Village, precisely located in the region of Padang Tegal Village, Ubud Sub district and Gianyar Regency. Monkey Forests in Balinese language called Wanara Wana are spread out in the island and Ubud Monkey Forest itself own very important function of the continuity the monkey habitat in Bali. Meanwhile the local community own important role to keep this forest naturally in order to all wild animals able to live smoothly.

Ubud Monkey Forest is dwelt by 200 monkeys, pertained to long tail inclusive macaques or macaca fascicularis group which owns the wide disseminating area. Among the amount monkeys living in this forest, there are 23 adult male, 79 adult female and 98 still baby. All the monkeys in this forest consisted of three groups, dwell certain area and use the certain place and certain time. However, it also happened that entire group can use the forest and whenever two groups are existing at same place and time, they will fight each other. These monkeys are believed as Gods Guard of Dalem Agung Temple, The Hindu Temple exist in the middle of forest. There are three Holy Temples in this monkey forest and those are existing surround the forest and it is estimated built in the middle of 14 century, in the early governance of Gelgel dynasty. Dalem Agung Temple is located in northwest from the forest represent the existence of most important temples. Beside of two others, that are Permandian Temple, in Westside from this forest and Prajapati Temple which is located in south-east side where the place of Dewa Siwa (Siwa God), one of the Khayangan Temple in Padang Tegal Village.

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

Monday, July 26, 2010

11

BUSINESS Seven banks fail EU health check, most cleared Agence France-Presse

British recovery shoots ahead in second quarter Agence France-Presse

LONDON - Seven of 91 European banks have failed crisis “stress tests,” prompting regulators to declare the sector sound overall and winning a thumbs up from the IMF and Washington.

But many experts questioned the severity of the health checks, announced on Friday, despite statements from the International Monetary Fund and the United States that the exam would help boost confidence and market stability.

German state-owned lender Hypo Real Estate, Greece’s ATEBank and five regional savings banks in Spain failed the key test of capital strength conducted by the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS).

For the seven at-risk banks, the body estimated the shortfall of capital at 3.5 billion euros.

Some analysts said the checks failed to shed much light on the sector.

Neil MacKinnon, an economist at VTB Capital in London, said in a note that it “looks like a whitewash and the initial reaction is one of scepticism on the part of the markets.”

ING bank analyst Chris Turner said the CEBS announcement “does not appear to have uncovered any ‘skeletons in the closet’,” but added: “Whether it goes far enough remains to be seen.”

The report spared all the banks examined in debt-laden Portugal.

Greece, which sparked fears for the stability of the entire eurozone and was rescued by an EU and IMF bailout, also got off lightly with just one bank failing.

Another focus of concern in Europe, Ireland, saw its banks also pass the CEBS’s key measure of so-called Tier One capital ratios, as did Italy.

French and British banks likewise emerged with passing grades.

CEBS insisted the stress tests were “a substantial and severe test, both in macroeconomic terms and in financial terms,” Vitor Constancio, vice-president of the European Central Bank and a CEBS member, told a news conference.

The head of the EU executive commission’s financial affairs division Marco Bruti said: “We have always maintained that the bulk of the banking system in the EU is sound, and this is confirmed now by the stress tests.”

The Tier One ratio measures core capital against outstanding assets, such as loans. A key test was the effect a government debt crisis would have on banks’ balance sheets which hold large amounts of government bonds.

Banks must maintain a minimum ratio of 6.0 percent while a surplus reassures investors the bank is not likely to run suddenly short of cash. The CEBS calculated the seven banks would see this ratio fall below six percent.

The CEBS estimated by the standard of its test that the total potential damage to balance sheets at the 91 banks — which account for 65 percent of the European banking market — would be 566 billion euros (727 billion dollars) over two years if certain tough conditions hit.

The scale of this crash test is more than twice the amount injected into EU banks at the height of the financial crisis.

“We welcome today’s publication of the results of European supervisory bank stress tests, which have been a major undertaking and represent an important step toward improving transparency and

bolstering market confidence,” said IMF managing director Dominique StraussKahn.

“The publication of the results and the actions that have been announced to address bank capital deficiencies promise to significantly strengthen the European financial system,” he added.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also welcomed the release of the results, saying the EU “has made a significant effort to increase disclosure on the conditions of individual European financial institutions and enhance market stability.”

US stocks extended gains Friday in cautious trading as Wall Street digested results of the stress tests.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 102.32 points (0.99 percent) to end the week at 10,424.62 after a gain of nearly two percent, or 200 points, a day earlier on better-than-expected earnings of key US companies.

The tech-rich Nasdaq composite index rose 23.58 points (1.05 percent) to 2,269.47 and the broader S&P 500 index added 8.99 points (0.82 percent) at 1,102.66.

The tests were the first time such an insight into the secret entrails of leading banks has ever been published in Europe.

If markets judge the tests too weak, analysts have warned the result could be to undermine or even negate the exercise, which aimed to remove uncertainty.

If the criteria pass the market test, then doubts about the solvency of the European banking sector will be dispelled.

Banks will step up lending among themselves and, more importantly, to businesses and the economy at large.

US economy “gradually” improving: Geithner Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The US economy is “gradually” improving after the financial crisis, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” program, to be broadcast Sunday.

“I talked to businesses across the country, and I would say that is the general view, an economy that’s gradually getting better,” Geithner said in excerpts of the interview released in advance of its broadcast.

Geithner also downplayed the prospects of a “double-dip” recession, in which the economy sinks again after a short period of growth.

He said that given the specific drivers of the recent recession, including the US housing bubble, “what you would expect is a more moderate paced recovery... and that’s what we’re seeing.”

Despite the slow pace “you are seeing a recovery. You’re seeing private investment expand again, job growth starting to come back. And that’s very encouraging,” he said.

Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke warned US lawmakers on July 21 that the outlook for the US economy was “unusually uncertain,” saying the central bank could step in if the recovery fails.

Bernanke said the world’s largest economy would see “moderate growth, a gradual decline in the unemployment rate and subdued inflation over the next several years.”

Compounding fears of a painful exit from recession, he also warned that private sector hiring was growing at an “insufficient” pace.

LONDON - Britain’s economy sprang a big surprise with growth of 1.1 percent in the second quarter, the strongest pace since 2006 as the recovery strengthened, official data showed on Friday.

The figure was almost double forecasts for 0.6percent growth in the April-June period, and builds on the economy’s modest emergence from a recordlength recession late last year.

“Gross domestic product (GDP) increased 1.1 percent in the second quarter of 2010. The increase in output was due mainly to increases in business services and finance and construction,” the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

Economists were stunned by the news, but warned about the impact of the British government’s austerity measures that are aimed at tackling a huge public deficit, amid ongoing market jitters about soaring European state debt.

“This is an absolutely incredible growth number — way above all expectations and the best performance since the first quarter of 2006,” said IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer.

“Furthermore, the pick up was widespread across all sectors with service sector activity picking up sharply, manufacturing output humming and the construction sector returning to growth with a vengeance.”

The recovery gathered pace after 0.3-percent expansion in the first three months of the year.

Despite the impressive GDP data, British finance minister George Osborne warned that the job was not finished in repairing the troubled economy.

“Today’s figures show the private sector contributing all but 0.1 percent of the growth in the second quarter, and put beyond doubt that it was right to begin acting on the deficit now,” Osborne said in response.

“While I am cautiously optimistic about the path for the economy, the job is not yet done.

“The priority now is to implement the budget policies which support rebalancing and help ensure ... sustained growth.”

Shadow finance minister Alistair Darling, who was Osborne’s predecessor in the previous Labour government, argued that brutal public spending cuts could jeopardise the recovery.

Darling said the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government “will have to accept responsibility for the risks they are taking with the economy”.

“This is the final nail in the coffin of the coalition’s argument that things are worse than they believed before the election,” he added.

The ONS added Friday that British GDP expanded 1.6 percent in the second quarter, compared with the equivalent period in 2009. That was the strongest reading since the start of 2008.

“UK second-quarter GDP is startlingly strong,” added ING economist James Knightley.

“The government will likely argue that this vindicates their decision to push ahead with aggressive fiscal austerity measures in order to combat the UK’s deficit and debt problems.

“However, we are cautious that confidence has weakened and business surveys suggest softer growth in the third quarter. Moreover, the wave of fiscal austerity hitting the UK will also constrain economic activity.”

12

Entertainment

Monday, July 26, 2010

International

‘Pretty Wild’ Star Alexis Neirs, Lindsay’s Neighbor in Jail, Released Way Early

ALEXIS Neirs, star of E!’s ‘Pretty Wild, was released from a Los Angeles County jail Friday after serving just 30 days of 180-day sentence for felony burglary of Orlando Bloom’s home, sheriff’s officials said.

Her neighbor at Century Regional Detention Facility this week was none other than Lindsay Lohan, who was detained just one cell over.

Although Neiers was behind bars specifically for burglarizing Bloom, she was also part of crime ring that allegedly broke into Lohan’s home.

A watch stolen from the ‘Mean Girls’ actress was found at the Neiers’ home.

In a statement released through her publicist Friday, Neiers said she “did a lot of soul searching” during her time behind bars. “I feel very

humbled and see my life in a way that I have come to be very grateful for and I am also grateful to everyone who has helped and supported me through this,” the statement said.

In California, nonviolent female inmates generally serve about 25 percent of their sentence, principally because of overcrowding in the jail system. If that is the standard, then Neirs should have been expected to serve out 45 days of her 180-day sentence.

Neiers is one of six people accused of targeting the homes of celebrities — including those of Megan Fox, Paris Hilton and Lohan — and stealing millions in jewelry, clothing and other luxury items. The group has been dubbed the “Burglar Bunch” by some, and the “Bling Ring” by others.

Neiers agreed to a plea bargain in May shortly before her trial was to begin. Her lawyer, Jeffery Rubenstein, said at the time that it was in her best interest to avoid a trial and a possible hefty sentence — a felony burglary count could have netted her up to six years in prison — if convicted.

“After lengthy consideration and fighting the best pretrial fight we could, we decided it was in Alexis’ best interest to take responsibility for her small part in this incident and do a little bit of county jail time instead of a lengthy state prison sentence if convicted.” Bloom, star of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ films, had been expected to testify at the trial.

Alfred Molina to join new ‘Law & Order’ series Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Veteran film and Broadway actor Alfred Molina is joining the cast of “Law & Order: Los Angeles,” which debuts this fall as the newest member of the NBC crime drama family. Molina will play Deputy District Attorney Morales, said Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of the series nicknamed “LOLA” that will air 10 p.m.

Eastern time on Wednesdays.

The show’s premiere date — and the first name of Molina’s character — have yet to be announced. “I am thrilled that Fred is `LOLA’s’ deputy D.A.,” Wolf said in a statement Saturday, adding that Molina joins a list of outstanding character actors who have starred in “Law & Order” series, including Sam Waterson, Dianne Wiest and Michael Moriarity.

“Law & Order: Los Angeles” will join “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” on NBC. The original “Law & Order” ended its run last season after 20 years to share a longevity record with “Gunsmoke.”

Skeet Ulrich (“Jericho”) plays a lead detective in the new crime

AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Samuel L. Jackson, right, welcomes Robert Downey Jr. onto the stage during a panel for the movie ‘The First Avenger’ at Comic-Con International Saturday, July 24, 2010 in San Diego.

Samuel L. Jackson announces ‘Avengers’ cast Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO – Comic book fans no longer have to imagine what it might be like to see all their favorite superheroes in one place.

They got the chance Saturday at Comic-Con, when the cast of the forthcoming “Avengers” film took the stage. Samuel L. Jackson surprised some 6,000 fans gathered for a Marvel Studios presentation when

he stepped out just as it was ending and started introducing the cast of “The Avengers.”

Jackson brought out stars Clark Gregg, Scarlett Johannson, Chris Hemsworth of “Thor” and Chris

Evans of “Captain America.”

He then introduced another surprise guest, Robert Downey Jr., who brought out the rest of the all-star cast, including Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner.

“The Avengers” is based on the comic book series of the same name, which brings various Marvel superheroes together. The film is due in 2012.

Favreau, Ford, Craig surprise fans at Comic-Con Alfred Molina

drama that, like its predecessors, divides its episodes between the work of police and prosecutors.

Molina’s film credits include “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “SpiderMan 2” and “The Da Vinci Code.”

He recently starred on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning drama “Red.” “Law & Order: Los Angeles” is produced by Wolf Films and Universal Media Studios. Wolf is joined by Rene Balcer, Blake Masters and Peter Jankowski as executive producers.

Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO – It was as though Han Solo himself had stepped into the San Diego Convention Center. Harrison Ford made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con Saturday, and the crowd of some 6,000 sci-fi and comic book fans greeted him with a sustained standing ovation unmatched by any other during this year’s event.

Two security guards playfully brought him out in handcuffs. The “Star Wars” hero smiled bashfully, seemingly moved by the warm welcome.

Ford was on hand to help present his new film, “Cowboys & Aliens,” joining a panel that included co-stars Daniel Craig, Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde and director Jon Favreau. The film looks like an old-fashioned Western when suddenly a spaceship arrives. The movie is set for release next summer.

AP Photo/Denis Poroy

Actor Harrison Ford waves to the crowd after a panel for the movie ‘Cowboys and Aliens’ at Comic-Con International Saturday, July 24, 2010 in San Diego.

Life Style

International

In this undated photo released on Friday, July 23, 2010, by Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, a diver holds a skull belonging to a woman, known as La Mujer de las Palmas, who lived between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago, in Tulum, Mexico.

AP Photo/ Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History

Ancient woman suggests diverse migration Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY – A scientific reconstruction of one of the oldest sets of human remains found in the Americas appears to support theories that the first people who came to the hemisphere migrated from a broader area than once thought, researchers say.

Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History on Thursday released photos of the reconstructed image of a woman who probably lived on Mexico’s Caribbean coast 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. She peeks out of the picture as a short, spry-looking woman with slightly graying hair.

Anthropologists had long believed humans migrated to the Americas in a relatively short period from a limited area in northeast Asia across a temporary land corridor that opened across the Bering Strait during an ice age.

But government archaeologist Alejandro Terrazas says the picture has now become more complicated, because the reconstruction more resembles people from southeastern

Asian areas like Indonesia. “History isn’t that simple,” Terrazas said.

“This indicates that the Americas were populated by several migratory movements, not just one or two waves from northern Asia across the Bering Strait.”

Some outside experts caution that the evidence is not conclusive. Ripan Malhi, assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois, said that “using facial reconstructions to assign ancestry to an individual is not as strong as using ancient DNA to assess the ancestry of the individual, because the environment can influence the traits of the face.”

“All of the current genetic evidence points to Northeast Asia as the main source for Native Americans,” Malhi said.

However, there have been few opportunities to use DNA or other methods to identify the origins of the first inhabitants because only a handful of skeletons from 10,000 years ago have survived.

The female is known as “La Mujer de las Palmas,” or “The Woman of the Palms,” after the sinkhole cave near the Caribbean resort of Tulum where her remains were found by divers and recovered in 2002.

Because rising water levels flooded the cave where she died or was laid to rest, her skeleton was about 90 percent intact. Archaeologists and physical anthropologists calculated she was between 44 and 50 years old when she died, was about 5 feet (1.52 meters) tall and weighed about 128 pounds (58 kilograms).

Experts also measured skull features and calculated the muscle and other tissue layers that once covered her face, which served as a guide for experts in paleo-anthropological modeling at the Atelier Daynes in France to complete a model of the woman.

Monday, July 26, 2010

13

Medical marijuana to be OK in some VA clinics Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Patients treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics will be able to use medical marijuana in the 14 states where it’s legal, according to new federal guidelines.

The directive from the Veterans Affairs Department in the coming week is intended to clarify current policy that says veterans can be denied pain medication if they use illegal drugs. Veterans groups have complained for years that this could bar veterans from VA benefits if they were caught using medical marijuana.

The new guidance does not authorize VA doctors to begin prescribing medical marijuana, which is considered an illegal drug under federal law. But it will now make clear that in the 14 states where state and federal law are in conflict, VA clinics generally will allow the use of medical marijuana for veterans already taking it under other clinicians.

“For years, there have been veterans coming back from the Iraq war who needed medical marijuana and had to decide whether they were willing to cut down on their VA medications,” John Targowski, a legal adviser to the group Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access, which worked with the VA on the issue.

Targowski in an interview Saturday said that confusion over the government’s policy might have led some veterans to distrust their doctors or avoid the VA system.

Dr. Robert A. Petzel, the VA’s undersecretary for health, sent a letter to Veterans for Medical Marijuana Access this month that spells out the department’s policy. The guidelines will be distributed to the VA’s 900 care facilities around the country in the next week.

Petzel makes clear that a VA doctor could reserve the right to modify a veteran’s treatment plan if there were risks of a bad interaction with other drugs.

“If a veteran obtains and uses medical marijuana in a manner consistent with state law, testing positive for marijuana would not preclude the veteran from receiving opioids for pain management” in a VA facility, Petzel wrote. “The discretion to prescribe, or not prescribe, opioids in conjunction with medical marijuana, should be determined on clinical grounds.” Opioids are narcotic painkillers, and include morphine, oxycodone and methadone.

Under the previous policy, local VA clinics in some of the 14 states, such as Michigan, had opted to allow the use of medical marijuana because there no rule explicitly prohibiting them from doing so.

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File

ILE - This Sept. 15, 2009 file photo shows marijuana plants in Seattle. Patients treated at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics will be able to use medical marijuana in the 14 states where it’s legal, according to new federal guidelines.

Despite oil, baby turtles being released to Gulf Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/The Caller-Times, Todd Yates, FILE

FILE - Five Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchlings leave the beach at Padre Island National Seashore in this Sunday, June 17, 2007 file photo near Corpus Christi, Texas. Wildlife officials plan to release a large group of hatchlings early next week.

HOUSTON – Federal biologists are releasing thousands of endangered baby sea turtles into the western Gulf of Mexico, betting that by the time the silver dollar-sized swimmers make it to the oil-fouled waters of the eastern Gulf, BP will have cleaned up its goopy mess.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are proceeding with the annual release of Kemp’s ridley turtle hatchlings off Padre Island National Seashore because Texas has not been significantly impacted by the oil spill. For years, scientists have incubated and hatched the turtles to give the endan-

gered creatures a boost.

The risks of holding turtles in captivity at a critical stage in their life cycles could be worse than the dangers of oil more than 400 miles away, the plan’s supporters say.

Hundreds of days-old hatchlings have been freed on Texas beaches since the June 8 decision. Another large group is expected to be released early next week.

The decision, however, has stirred controversy among some scientists, environmentalists and turtle lovers.

Supporters say there should only be intervention with animals directly in the oil’s path, like loggerhead turtles in Florida. In 1979, after a rig blowout in the Mexican Gulf, authorities airlifted

Kemp’s ridleys to oil-free waters.

Critics argue the decision to free vulnerable hatchlings doesn’t adequately account for hurricanes, storms or a seasonal change in current, all of which could bring the oil west and directly into their path.

Nesting mothers, they say, are also at risk because many deposit their eggs in northern Mexico or south Texas and head for heavily impacted areas.

“We have raised them in captivity and learned the hard way that there are also a lot of negative potential from that,” said Deborah Crouse, a sea turtle biologist in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Recovery Program.

14

Monday, July 26, 2010

Sport

International

Mano Menezes named as new Brazil coach Agence France Presse

BRASILIA - Mano Menezes was on Saturday named as Brazil’s new coach, succeeding Dunga, who was axed after the team were knocked out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had said earlier on Saturday that they had offered Corinthians coach Menezes the chance to lead Brazil to the 2014 World Cup, which is being playing on home soil.

“I have the honour to inform you that I was approached by the Brazilian Football Confederation to take over the post of national team coach,” 48-yearold Menezes told a news conference

Brazilian football coach Mano Menezes, of Corinthians football club, watches a training session, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 22, 2010.

According to local media, Menezes, 48, is on the top of the list of candidates to replace Dunga as the new coach of the Brazilian national football squad. The official announcement by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) is scheduled for next July 26.

AFP PHOTO/Mauricio LIMA

Freak injuries in football ABERDEEN - Factfile on freak injuries in football after Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield dropped boiling water on his foot while making coffee. Langfield will be out for two or three weeks.

Kirk Broadfoot Glasgow Rangers defender suffered burns and needed hospital treatment thanks to an egg.

Broadfoot was inspecting two eggs he had just poached in his microwave when one of them blew up and squirted scaldinghot water into his face.

Richard Wright Everton goalkeeper was ruled out of an FA Cup fourthround replay at Chelsea when he ignored a warning not to practise in the goalmouth and promptly fell over the sign, suffering a twisted ankle.

Rio Ferdinand During his Leeds days, the England defender suffered a knee strain caused by having his foot on a coffee table for too long while he watched television.

Dave Beasant Former Wimbledon goalkeeper was out for two months in 1993 when he dropped a bottle of salad cream on his

foot, severing the tendon in his big toe.

Santiago Canizares The Spain goalkeeper missed the 2002 World Cup after accidentally shattering a bottle of aftershave in his hotel sink. A piece of glass fell on his foot, severing a tendon in his toe.

Michael Stensgaard Danish goalkeeper retired after suffering an injury to his shoulder while he attempted to fold down an ironing board.

Liam Lawrence Stoke midfielder fell down the stairs and injured his ankle after tripping over his dog.

Robbie Keane Tottenham and Republic of Ireland striker ruptured his knee cartilage after stretching to pick up his tv remote when at Wolves back in 1998.

David Seaman Former Arsenal goalkeeper pulled a muscle in his back trying to tape British TV soap Coronation Street.

David Batty Former England midfielder injured his Achilles tendon when his toddler ran over his foot with his tricycle.

at the Sao Paulo headquarters of Corinthians.

“I have come here to officially confirm that I have accepted the offer.”

Menezes moved into the frame on Friday after Fluminense refused to release top choice Muricy Ramalho from his contract which runs until December.

“I don’t give a damn that I wasn’t number one on the list,” added Menezes. “We have 30, 40, 50 great coaches in Brazil. If I am the number two, that’s fine with me.”

Menezes coached Gremio from 2005 to 2007. In his last year with the club, he took Gremio to the final of the Copa Libertadores where they were defeated by Argentina’s Boca Juniors. With Corinthians, who he also led from the second division, he won the Brazilian Cup in 2009.

Amongst Menezes’s first missions

will be the Copa America in Argentina in 2011 and the London Olympics in 2012.

Menezes will be officially unveiled on Monday, which is also the deadline for the squad to be announced for the August 10 friendly international against the USA in New Jersey.

Dunga was sacked after five-times champions Brazil were knocked out of the World Cup in South Africa in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands.

The CBF had drawn up a three-man shortlist for the job. The other candidate was understood to be former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who lef Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title.

But Scolari, who has also coached Portugal and Chelsea, ruled himself out saying he intended to honour his contract with Palmeiras which runs until 2012.

Big-spending City sign Kolarov from Lazio Agence France Presse

MANCHESTER - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini continued his pre-season spending spree by signing Serbia defender Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio on Saturday. Mancini had been keen on Kolarov for several months and completed a deal for the highly-rated left-back after Lazio accepted an offer of around 19 million pounds.

Kolarov, 24, had already been granted a work permit and put pen to paper on a five-year contract after passing a medical. “I’m very excited to be at a great club like Manchester City. Even the training ground is fantastic, better than Lazio’s,” the Serbian told the club’s official website.

“I’m coming back early next week to train with the players who aren’t touring America. I want to start as soon as I can, and I can’t wait to meet all the other guys. “I had the opportunity to join other teams - the names are not important. When I spoke with Mr Mancini, my choice was Manchester City because I know they are a good team. I think maybe a great team.

“The Premier League is the best in the world and he wants us to go further and win the Premier title and the Champions League. For a young player like me, this is the best opportunity.”

City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners have now backed Mancini with nearly 90 million pounds since the end of last season as they seek to establish the club as one of Europe’s superpowers. Mancini had already spent 25 million pounds each on Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure and Valencia winger David Silva, as well as landing German defender Jerome Boateng from Hamburg for 15 million pounds.

The City boss is convinced Kolarov’s arrival will be a major boost as he tries mount a challenge for the Premier League title.

“He has the ability to play in numerous positions and is very good in midfield,” said Mancini. “This is an additional benefit to the team. He has a fantastic international career ahead of him. I first saw Kolarov in his Lazio debut back in 2007. I was impressed by

IBP/ist

Aleksandar Kolarov the speed and strength of someone so young.

“I have watched him a lot since then and so have the Manchester City scouts. His attacking capability is very good. He is fast and can shoot with power and accuracy.

“He was composed on the ball, had an excellent delivery with his left foot and was technically very able.”

Mancini also rejected reports that Kolarov’s arrival meant the end for England defender Wayne Bridge at Eastlands.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Bridge, but Mancini insists he wants to keep the former Chelsea left-back at City. “I want two top-class players for each position,” he added.

Sport

International

Monday, July 26, 2010

15

Fish hooks Roddick at Atlanta tennis championship Agence France Presse

IBP/ist

Alberto Contador carrying the Spanish flag during Tour de France race

Contador locks up Tour title in next-to-last stage Associated Press Writer

PAUILLAC, France – Wiping away tears, Alberto Contador is ready for the champagne to flow. After three daunting weeks of crashes, biting cold, fog and searing heat, he is set to become the Tour de France champion again.

The Spaniard all but captured his third title in four years Saturday by holding off a full-bore challenge from his main rival, Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, in a 32-mile individual time trial in the next-to-last stage. Sunday’s ride into Paris is a mostly ceremonial affair.

“I am very moved ... It was a difficult Tour and I’m very happy,” a tearful Contador said.

He took a deep breath and his hand trembled as he fired an index finger — the trademark gesture by the rider nicknamed “El Pistolero” — to fans after donning the yellow jersey one more time.

“I think it’s the first Tour that has given me so much emotion, you can’t imagine,” he said.

Contador wasn’t in top form, but did what he had to. The defending champion extended his lead over Schleck from eight seconds to 39 in a stage won by Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland.

Now Contador surely gets to wear yellow on the ChampsElysees. And as the unquestioned leader of his sport at 27 years old, he remains on track for a possible challenge to Lance Armstrong’s record of seven Tour wins.

Barring a wild turn of events, Contador awaits a coronation in the 20th and final stage on Sunday — a 64-mile ride from Longjumeau to the famed Paris thoroughfare. Any attempted attacks by riders would likely be quashed by Contador and his Astana teammates.

Contador will have won the Tour without winning a stage. He’ll become the first champion to have done that since Greg LeMond of the U.S. won the last of his three titles in 1990 — not counting 2006 — when Oscar Pereiro of Spain inherited his title only after American Floyd Landis lost it for doping.

Contador acknowledged this wasn’t his best Tour. “Cycling is not like mathematics. There are moments when you are very wellprepared and everything runs smoothly. But this year, maybe I was not in the best shape really,” he said.

“Today I was not feeling so well: I didn’t sleep well, I had a stomachache,” Contador said through a translator, before adding: “Eventually, things went pretty well.”

Schleck, who is poised to finish second to Contador for the second straight year, had no regrets. “Beat-

ing Contador is not easy, but I tried everything,” Schleck said. “I am happy, and I’ll come back next year to win.”

“I think I did the best time-trial of my cycling life so far,” he added. During the race, Schleck was hindered by the withdrawal of his older brother and teammate.

Frank Schleck broke his collarbone in a crash over the cobblestones in the third stage along the BelgianFrench border.

The 39-second margin is exactly the time that Schleck lost to Contador in the controversial 15th stage on Monday. That’s when the Luxembourg rider’s bike chain became entangled in a final Pyrenean climb — and Contador sped on.

Some called it a breach of cycling’s often-unclear etiquette, which calls for riders to respect the yellow jersey — Schleck was wearing it then — in times of uncontrollable mishaps like a crash.

That day, Contador took the jersey and has worn it since.

Schleck was at first angered over Contador ’s move to bolt ahead, but he later appealed to fans not to jeer the Spaniard. The two riders have vacationed together and Schleck calls him a friend.

ATLANTA – Mardy Fish shocked top seed and good friend Andy Roddick 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 at the ATPAtlanta Championship to reach his third final in his past four starts. Over the past six weeks dating to Queen’s, the revitalized Fish - who lost 15 kilograms last autumn and streamlined his game as he recovered from knee surgery - has contested the Queen’s final and won this month on Newport grass.

The sixth seed will face fellow American John Isner, who struggled in the heat against Kevin Anderson but benefitted from late cloud cover on the way to a 6-3, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3 victory.

Fish snapped a seven-year drought against Roddick, his former roommate during their teenaged years in Florida.

The number 49 Fish beat his mate in 2003 in their first ATP clash. Since then, Roddick had won nine in a row.

“This is fantastic,” Fish said. “To finally beat Andy is great. It was a tough match but I served well and took my chances. I know I’ve improved my game and it’s showing.”

Fish has powered through in the steamy deep south without dropping a set all week while Roddick had struggled through three sets in his previous two matches. Fish beat Isner in their only prior meeting, last season indoors.

Fish needed only one break to secure victory over Roddick, firing nine aces and 27 winners. Roddick, with two titles this season, was nil for three on

(AFP/Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox)

Mardy Fish returns a backhand to Andy Roddick during the semifinals of the Atlanta Tennis Championships at the Atlanta Athletic Club on July 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. Fish beat Roddick 7-6 (7/5), 6-3. break points, with the winner now on a nine-match run of success this summer.

Isner, winner of the longest match in tennis history less than a month ago at Wimbledon, will be playing in his fourth final of the season. He owns a title at Auckland while missing out in Memphis and Belgrade. Isner and opponent Anderson were long-time foes, having played several times while attending different American universities.

Isner now stands 3-1 over the South African on the ATP Tour.

Bryant has successful arthroscopic knee surgery: Lakers Reuters

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant has undergone successful arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to be fit for a pre-season training camp in September, the Los Angeles Lakers said on Friday.

The two-time NBA Finals’ MVP underwent surgery on his right

knee last week, the team said on their website (www.nba.com/lakers).

“Bryant is currently undergoing rehab and is expected to be fully recovered prior to the start of the Lakers’ training camp on September 25,” the team said.

The guard had surgery on the same knee in 2003 and 2006.

16

Monday, July 26, 2010

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

Sport

McLaren: More to come from diffuser

McLaren believes it has only just begun to scrape the surface when it comes to exploiting the full potential of its blown diffuser. The Woking-based team is racing its revised floor for the first time at this weekend’s German Grand Prix, although the new concept could not help Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button challenge Red Bull Racing for pole position.

AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOF STACHE

McLaren Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton drives at the Hockenheimring circuit on July 23, 2010 in Hockenheim, during the first free practice session of the Formula One German Grand Prix.

Rossi says Laguna tougher on injuries LAGUNA SECA - Valentino Rossi found Laguna Seca tougher for his still-recovering leg and shoulder in Friday practice than the Sachsenring had been a week earlier, but remains confident that his condition will not hamper him.

The world champion made a spectacular return to action in Germany, just six weeks after breaking his leg in a Mugello practice crash, and with discomfort from his April shoulder injury still lingering. Rossi was around the top six all weekend at the Sachsenring, and finished fourth in the race - only losing third to Casey Stoner at the final corner.

Although he was sixth again in Friday practice in America, Rossi admitted the Laguna track had been harder on his body. “This track is a bit harder for me than Sachsenring and I have more pain than I had there, mostly in the ankle but also in the shoulder at the braking point before the Corkscrew,” he said.

But he is certain he can still be quick enough this weekend even if it is proving to be a stern physical challenge. “Aside from that I

think we can be better tomorrow,” said Rossi. “We haven’t put everything together yet to be at our full

potential on the track and if we had a few more laps today we could have been a bit further up.”

AFP PHOTO/GABRIEL BOUYS

Valentino Rossi of Italy leaves the track after the second free practice session of the US Grand Prix in Laguna Seca, California, on July 24, 2010.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh reckons McLaren is nowhere near optimising the performance it can get out of its blown diffuser - and that the team should be able to get much more speed out of it over the next few races.

“I think we have probably got less than half of what is possible and I am sure that as the races go by we will get more from that,” said Whitmarsh at Hockenheim.

“Once you have got this concept working then the aerodynamicists can start to work on the details of the floor, start to work on the exhausts, and start to work on how it interacts with the wheels and the tyres. There is a lot of scope now to make progress.”

Whitmarsh has echoed comments from other teams that the blown diffuser is not the key element that will help McLaren beat Red Bull to the title – as he targets other areas of car developments too.

“We spotted some other things on their car [Red Bull] that we are looking at the moment,” explained Whitmarsh. “They have worked on developing the blown diffuser but we mustn’t get carried away with the idea that the blown diffuser is the answer to everything.

“I think once you are exploiting exhaust gases in that way then you can start to develop the car. They have other features on their car which are interesting too. We will be looking at them and we will be looking to see what we can do.”

Whitmarsh reckoned his team needed to find a lap performance improvement of up to 0.25 seconds per race if it was to triumph in 2010.

“We know that we have to continue to try and develop the car by 0.125s to 0.25s per lap at every race,” he said. “That is a second every four races.

“We need to be doing that. This championship is still very winnable and we will be focused and pushing hard on that inevitably as the weeks go by.

Then we will start to concentrate a little bit more on next year’s car but I think we will get that balance right.”