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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tourists visit to Bali increase 10%
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16 Pages Number 183 3st Year Price: Rp 3.000,-
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PAGE 8
As other big cities in Indonesia, the signs of homecoming backflows in Ubung Terminal, Denpasar, had been discernible the day after Idul Fitri holiday (H +1), Thursday (Sep 1).
Lewis gone, but telethon brings in more than ’10 PAGE 12
IBP/Yudi Karnaedi
Up to 3 days after Idul Fitri
5,043 homecomers back to Denpasar Bali Post
WEATHER FORECAST CITY
TEMPERATURE OC
DENPASAR
21 - 30
JAKARTA
24 - 32
BANDUNG
17 - 25
YOGYAKARTA
19 - 31
SURABAYA
19 - 31
SUNNY
BRIGHT/CLOUDY
RAIN
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DENPASAR - As other big cities in Indonesia, the signs of homecoming backflows in Ubung Terminal, Denpasar, had been discernible the day after Idul Fitri holiday (H +1), Thursday (Sep 1). According to the Unit Head of Passenger Terminal, Denpasar Transportation Agency, Nyoman Sutika, the peak backflow through Ubung Terminal was predicted to occur on H + 4, Sunday (Sep 4) afternoon until evening. From the data in Ubung Terminal, starting H +1 through H+4, Saturday (Sep 3), the total passengers arriving in Denpasar reached 5,043 people. “Peak backflow is predicted today (Sep 4—Ed). However, for the amount of passengers could not be recorded now because most passengers will be arriving late afternoon until this evening,” said Nyoman Sutika, Sunday (Sep 4). According to Sutika, the
amount of passengers arriving on the day after Idul Fitri was only a few, namely 1,156 people by means of 56 buses. Meanwhile, the next day increased to 1,847 people by 58 buses. Then, on H +3 of Idul Fitri, the number of passengers arriving at the largest terminal significantly increased to 2,040 people by 66 buses. “The amount of homecoming and backflow passengers through Ubung Terminal seems to decline every year. It happens because most homecomers used private car, car rental, tourist transport services and other means,” he said. Continued on page 6
Tough economic climate as Obama seeks 2nd term Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama faces a long reelection campaign having all but given up on the economy rebounding in any meaningful way before November 2012. His own budget office predicts unemployment will stay at about 9 percent, a frightening number for any president seeking a second term. Obama’s prospects aren’t entirely grim, however. The GOP, heavily influenced by the tea party, may nominate someone so deeply flawed or right-leaning that, Democrats hope, Obama can persuade Americans to give him a second chance rather than risk the alternative. Democrats say the man who ran on hope and change in 2008 will have to claw his way toward a second term with a sharply negative campaign. The strengths and weaknesses of his prospects seem clear. Next year’s unemployment rate is likely to be the highest in a presidential election since 1940. Continued on page 6
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International
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Bali News
Alleged to cause the damage of road Trucks hauling clove leaves subject to levies
Busungbiu (Bali Post)—
Alleged as one of the causes damaging the streets at Umajero Village, Busungbiu Subdistrict, the trucks hauling clove leaves at the village are subject to levy by the village. Amount of the levy varies according to the type of vehicle. The levy had caused the drivers to complain. A truck driver, Yunus, said on Sunday (Sep 4), he used to be stopped by village apparatus when transporting clove leaves at Umajero. He was then charged for levy worth IDR 25,000. As evidence of levy, the village officer issued an official receipt. The receipt had account number 17 and included the name of Umajero village treasurer Putu Arjana as recipient and approved by Made Gina Astra, Chief of Umajero Village. “He said the levy is charged to each truck hauling clove leaves,” he said. Secretary of Umajero Village, Gusti Putu Arnawa, said the levy collected to truck drivers passing at the village varied. A large truck should pay IDR 50,000, small truck (IDR 25,000) and pick-up van (IDR15,000). Meanwhile, a local community figure, Putu Artawa, stated that since the development of clove leaf oil process-
ing many large trucks often passed the road at Umajero Village. The passing wide-bodied trucks made the narrow road closed so it was difficult for residents to pass. Moreover, asphalt of the road began to flake off due to the heavy-loaded vehicles. Even, some electrical wires also broke as stuck fast on the high truck’s body. The truck did not only pass the paved country road, but also the concrete road. As consequence, the self-financed road that should only be passed through by motorcycles or small cars were now potentially damaged as frequently passed by trucks. “Then, who will repair these damaged streets?” he questioned. He added that the truck passing at his village was violating the provisions. In accordance with the regulation issued by the Buleleng Transportation Agency, the village roads should not be passed through by large trucks. (kmb)
IBP/File
Clove leaves are stacked on the side of the street before being transported to the factory.
Target of parking revenue beyond expectation Gianyar (Bali Post)—
In Gianyar Regency, the parking service has been made one of the revenue generators. Even, the target of regionally generated revenue (PAD) set for parking services reached IDR 3 billion per year. However, all the year round since the target enforced, it was never achieved at all. This happened in 2010. When entering the year 2011, the achievement was also doubted by many parties. Pursuant to data collected on Sunday (Sep 4), the parking levy imposed to motorcycle was IDR 1,000 and fourwheel vehicle was IDR 2,000 whereas the parking levies in Gianyar Regency were collected by parking attendant with deposit of daily target. When contacted separately (Aug 30), with the consent of the Head of Gianyar Transportation, Informatics and Communications Agency, Wayan Artana, the Unit Head of Parking Services Mangku Sudiana said that so far the parking services in Gianyar were managed in cooperation with custom-
ary villages. In the meantime, the parking space directly managed by regency government was in the hospital only. Parking deposit did not meet the target because it was not in line with the expectation as set forth in the Regional Budget. There were two kinds
of parking deposit, namely the gross and net deposit. The target was calculated by means of gross deposit. However, most cooperation agreement applied net deposit. It was one of the causes why the target set in 2010 could not be achieved. Besides, implemen-
tation of the new regional regulation on parking services in 2010 estimated to be effective in January could just prevail in July 2010, he explained. Meanwhile, stipulation of the target in 2011 remained to refer to the same law. Since some customary vil-
lages having cooperation in the parking services still deposited net revenue, so the target was unlikely to be achieved in 2011. “Now, we are still finding out the solution so the target can be achieved as set forth in the rule,” he explained. (kmb16)
Tortured by employer,staff reports to police Denpasar (Bali Post)—
Khairul Rahim, the owner of British 5 School of English located on Jalan Gunung Rinjani, MonangManing Housing Complex, Denpasar, had now to deal with police. He was reported by his employee called Isda K, 24, to Denpasar Metro Police with the allegation to have committed a crime of persecution. The victim claimed to have been beaten, strangled and kicked by the perpetrator in his office on Saturday (Sep 3). Information acquired in the
Denpasar Metro Police, Sunday (Sep 4), mentioned it was unclear about the allegation of perpetrator to torture the victim. It was said the victim who had worked for three years in the institution of perpetrator, was suddenly beaten up black-and-blue. “The victim was once asked about the office problem. Before replied, the perpetrator had beaten him directly,” said an officer in Denpasar Metro Police last Sunday. Before the torture occurred, said the police, the victim came to the office after he arrived back in Denpasar
from his home village. Well, without unclear reason, the victim had been asked. When he was about to answer the question, he had been hit directly. More tragically, he was also strangled and kicked. Being afraid, he did not go up against the employer. He just kept silent and slightly eschewed. As a result of the blow, the victim suffered some bruises on the face. Other than torturing, the perpetrator also seized the victim’s wallet. Contents of the wallet such as money and motorcycle’s registration were torn by the perpetrator. “I do not dare to
resist. I was beaten, kicked and strangled. My cash worth IDR 700,000 and motorcycle’s registration are torn down,” he admitted to investigator of Denpasar Metro Police last Sunday. Since he could not accept the treatment, the man from Alor, NTT, reported the case to Denpasar Metro Police. Meanwhile, Spokesperson IB Sarjana could not be asked for his information. When contacted for several times by reporters, his cellular phone was inactive. (kmb21)
z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 0215357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post
Bali News
International
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
3
During joint leave, fishermen also take day off ALTHOUGH the weather was sunny, most fishermen on the coast of Buleleng took day off coinciding with the joint leave in a series of Idul Fitri holiday. Fishermen at Pabean Hamlet, Sangsit Village, Sawan Subdistrict, for example, were enjoying their day-off and parking their boat on the beach side through Sunday (Sep 4). A fisherman named Mahir said that during the past few days he did not go to sea. He preferred to live at home while occasionally making a visit to the house of his brothers and sisters as well as close relatives in Sangsit. In fact, the weather at sea was quite bright and condition of fish catch was numerous. “We have not gone to see for three days because we are still in holiday period. Probably, we will go to sea next Monday,” he said. Most fishermen in Sangsit utilized a boat with 13 HP engine power. By such a small boat, local
fishermen usually could sail as far as 30 miles for three hours voyage every day. During that period, fishermen did not go to sea and the ships transporting fish from Madura did not berth on the Fish Landing Base (PPI) of Sangsit Village. Around the quay, there was only a vessel belonging to Buleleng Fisheries and Maritime Agency (Diskanla). Meanwhile, the office of Diskanla was closed during the joint leave. Condition of the quay that was usually very bustling then turned quiet without activities. (kmb)
Gas Station Running Out of Premium Antara
After Lebaran, gasoline supply in some gas station in Tabanan, Bali is running out in Tabanan Regency, Bali. Ketut Regan, operational manager in gas station in Pacung, Baturiti, Tabanan on Thursday confessed gasoline stock since Idul Fitri Day was running out.
“It is the first time we are running out of premium, now we are only having solar,” said him. Based on Pertamina (Oil and Gas Company) review, said Mr Narta, gasoline supply to gas station is decreasing due to inactive fleet of gasoline lifter. It is causing by many drivers who took Lebaran holiday. It makes delivery delay, added him.
IBP/File
The fishermen parked their boats on the beach. They chose to take a day off during the Lebaran holiday
People worry about fake pepper in the market Negara (Bali Post)—
Housewives in Jembrana Subdistrict recently worried in response to the circulation of fake pepper. Allegedly, the fake pepper was made by mixing flour with original pepper. The impact of this fake pepper on health was unknown yet. People admitted to have been deeply harmed. Some residents, chiefly the housewives encountered, claimed to feel aggrieved because the fake pepper was unusable. The mode was by mixing original pepper so the consumers were difficult to distinguish. At a glance, it was unseen. It was only recognized as fake pepper when soaked in the water. “The original pepper is white after soaked for a few minutes, while the fake one will melt and break easily when pressed,” said
the woman. However, some would persist when pressed and they turned brownish. In addition, the pepper could also be distinguished in terms of flavor when it was used. False pepper had no spice and hot flavor, unlike the original one which tasted spicy. In the market, the false pepper was almost similar to the original. Even, its size was larger. Consumers suspected the pepper was intentionally made larger with flour mixture to make it heavier. According to her, the false pepper had long been in circulation but no action was taken by relevant agencies and was still in circulation. Indeed, if consumer only purchased in small amount would not be harmed. However, if widely sold in the market, it would be so detrimental to society, especially consumers. Besides, it was
unknown for sure whether it harmed the health when consumed. “Personally, we just indeed purchase for household needs. But, if there is a celebration and purchasing a lot, of course we will be harmed as it has different taste,” added this household mother. On the other hand, the Head of the Jembrana Industry, Trade and Cooperative Agency, Gede Yasa Arimbawa, when asked for his confirmation about the matter had not provided an answer. But, lately the food control team including the Industry, Trade and Cooperative Agency had vigorously did the control against food and drink circulating in Jembrana, especially related to the expiry of food and beverage as well as distribution labels of alcoholic drinks. (kmb26)
Sarbagita Serves 11,112 Passengers In the middle of pro-contra reaction of local people towards the existence of Trans Sarbagita transportation, Sarbagita had served about 794 persons daily with the total passenger of 11,112 persons. “The highest passenger amount happened on holiday season, even Lebaran holiday contributed 1,691 passengers for Sarbagita,” said the Head of Trans Sarbagita Office Ida Bagus Parsa. The passenger amount contributing about Rp33 million within reasonable price whether for public or
student. The number earned if all of passengers got public tariff. Related with this fact, Ida Bagus Parsa said all of expense including petrol and other operational expense could figure out three days later. Supervisor of Trans Sarbagita Batubulan, Aditya confessed there is an increase of passenger amount weekly. On Sunday and a day after Lebaran, it filled by students who want to spend vacation in Nusa Dua. They should leave or take the bus from available halts.
The situation of a market early in the morning. The fake pepper that is now spreading around in many traditional markets in Bali makes the buyers must take extra precautions. IBP/File
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News
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
International
Gadhafi leaned on Arab allies to stay in power Associated Press Writer
CAIRO — Moammar Gadhafi’s dictatorship likely wouldn’t have survived for more than four decades without the sea of dictators all around, protecting one another and working together to silence dissident voices. Gadhafi himself saw collapse was inevitable as Arab unity frayed, and he pointed to the fall of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein as a sign of things to come. “Your turn is next,” he warned fellow leaders in a scathing speech at the 2008 Arab League summit in Damascus. Back in 2008, Gadhafi’s listeners laughed. Now, besides Gadhafi, longtime autocrats have been swept from power by popular uprisings in Tunisia, where the Arab Spring began, and Egypt. Syria’s Bashar Assad and Yemen’s Ali Abdullah Saleh are also under fierce pressure. Ties with autocrats stretch back to the early days of Gadhafi’s regime, historians have written. The night Gadhafi — then a junior officer who would later promote himself to colonel — ousted King Idriss, the first planeload of official visitors to land in Tripoli was from Egypt. Gamal Abdel Nasser sent veteran journalist and top adviser Mohammed Hassanin Haikal to take the measure of his neighbor’s new ruler. Gadhafi told Haikal he would seek Nasser’s guidance. Haikal promised Egypt’s support. Only four months after Gadhafi’s coup,
two members of his Revolutionary Command Council turned against him. Egyptian intelligence officers tipped off Gadhafi that he faced a coup, according to historians. Shortly after that, King Idriss’ nephew Abdullah al-Abid al-Senoussi, also known as the Black Prince, led a force of 5,000 mercenaries from Chad and planned to arm tribes loyal to the king to fight against Gadhafi. This time, it was Tunisians who are believed to have tipped off Gadhafi. In a recent interview, Gadhafi’s former Foreign Minister AbdelRahman Shalqam, who defected during this year’s rebellion, told the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat that Gadhafi used to pay former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali a monthly salary, and that Tunisian-Libyan cooperation was “at the highest level.” The exchange of security and intelligence information was the only successful sphere of cooperation among Arab governments, asserted Fathi al-Baja, a Libyan political scientist and top political leader for the Libyan rebels. “This is the only thing they could do,” he said.
AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File
FILE - In this Saturday, March 29, 2008 file photo, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, left, gestures with Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, during the opening session of the Arab Summit in Damascus, Syria.
China denies providing weapons to Libya
Cheney: US different if Hillary Clinton president
and South Africa. “Chinese companies have not provided miliChinese companies have not provided Libya tary products to Libya in any direct or indirect with any “military products”, China’s foreign form,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu ministry said Tuesday, after reports of Beijing told journalists. The Canadian daily said stateoffering weapons to the ousted Libyan leader controlled Chinese arms companies were ready Moamer Kadhafi. Canada’s Globe and Mail to sell weapons and ammunition worth at least newspaper reported on Sunday that Beijing of- $200 million to Kadhafi in late July, despite UN fered huge stockpiles of weapons to Kadhafi sanctions, citing secret documents it had obduring the final months of his regime and held tained. The documents, published on the paper’s secret talks on shipping them through Algeria website, do not confirm whether any military assistance was delivered. They showed that Kadhafi?s top security aides made a trip to Beijing in midJuly, where they met officials from China North Industries Corp. (Norinco); the China National Precision Machinery Import & Export Corp. (CPMIC); and China XinXing Import & Export Corp. The Chinese companies offered the entire contents of their stockpiles for sale, and promised to manufacture IBP/afp Soldiers of Lybian leader Moamer Kadhafi stand with a tank in more supplies if necessary, The Globe and Mail said. March 2011.
Associated Press Writer
Agence France Presse
WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton isn’t president, but Dick Cheney says that if she were in the White House rather than Barack Obama, then things might be different today in the country. Cheney isn’t getting into specifics, but he does think that “perhaps she might have been easier for some of us who are critics of the president to work with.” The former vice president tells “Fox News Sunday” that it’s his sense that the secretary of state is “one of the more competent members” of the Obama administration and it would be “interesting to speculate” about how she would have performed as president. Clinton lost the 2008 Democratic nomination to Obama, who went on to beat Republican John McCain in the general election. Obama named Clinton as the country’s top diplomat.
Activities
International
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
5
The AC Milan Glories Stayed in Westin Resort IBP
NUSA DUA - During their vacation in Bali, The AC Milan Glories were spending their time in Westin Resort Nusa Dua. The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali is the official hotel chosen by the ASD for AC Milan Glories in Bali for the short 3 day vacation in Bali. “We are very proud to host the Glorie AC Milan team during their historic visit to Bali. I believe our Westin signature program and facilities such as our legendary Heavenly Bed will ensure the team to revive, renew and feel at their best before AC Milan Glories continue their journey to Jakarta for the match,” comment Bipan Kapur, General Manager of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.
AC Milan Glorie Vs Indonesian All Star Legends is a program which is being held as an initiative of PT. ASD, were AC Milan’s greatest heroes including; Alessandro Costacurta, Nelson de Jesus Silva (Dida), Daniele Massaro, Gianluigi Lentini, Jean Pierre Papin, Franco Baresi, Daniele Massaro and Serginho plus a host of other legendary stars for charity match with the Indonesian All Star Legends team led by Coach Benny Dolo and including; Ponaryo Astaman, Bima Sakti, Kurniawan, Charis Yulianto, Widodo CS, Robby Darwis, and Rochy Puttiray. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the “Disaster Re lief” Foundation of Nadhlatul Ulama Indonesia.
Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for August 7 through August 30, 2011 7 Aug Redite Paing Pahang Pasek Toh Jiwa Kekeran - Mengwi -Badung Pasek Sadra Peguyangan - Badung
15 Aug Soma Keliwon Krulut Pasel Gelgel Kekeran Temple Mngwi Badung Merajan Pasek Subadra Temple Kramas-Gianyar
9 Aug Anggara Wage Pahang Batu Madeg (Meru Tumpang Sanga) Besakih Hyang Tibha Batuan Sakah
20 Aug Tumpek Krurut Pasek Gelgel Temple Br Tengah Buleleng Dalem Pemuteran Temple Jelantik Tojan - Klungkung Pedarmaan Bhujangga W. Temple Besakih Taman Sari Temple Gunungsari Penebel - Tabanan Dalem Tarukan Temple Bebalang Bangli Benua Kangin Temple Besakih Merajan Kanginan Temple Besakih
10 aug Buda Keliwon Pahang Luhur Puncak Padang Dawa Baturiti Tabanan Silayukti Temple Padangbai-Karangasem Aer Jeruk Sukawati Dangin Pasar Batuan-Sukawati Penataran Temple Batuyang-Batubulan Desa Lembeng Ketewel-Sukawati Pasek Bendesa Dukuh-Kediri-Tabanan Kawitan Dalem Sukawati Gianyar Kresek Banyuning-Buleleng Puseh Temple Bebandem-Karangasem Merajan Pasek Kubayan-Gaji Merajan pasek Gelgel Jeroan Abang-Songan Merajan Pasek Subrata Temaga Merajan Pasek Gelgel Bungbungan Sad Kahyangan Batu Medahu. S Nusa Penida Buda Kliwon Penatih-Denpasar Penataran Dukuh Nagasari Bebandem Karangasem Pasek Bendesa Temple Tagtag Paguyangan Pulasari Temple Sibang Gede Abiansemal Batur Sari Temple Ubud Penataran Agung Temple Sukawati 13 Aug Purnama Karo Gelap Temple Besakih Dangkahyangan Temple Pengukur-ukur Pejeng Merajan Gerya Temple Kebon Tabanan Candi Goro Temple Tianyar-Kubu Karangasem Ponjok Batu Temple Tejakula-Buleleng
21 Aug Redite Umanis Merakih Parangan Tengah Temple Ceningan Kangin - Lembongan Dalem Temple Celuk Sukawati - Gianyar 24 Aug Buda Wage Merakih Bendesa Mas Kepisah Temple Pedungan - Denpasar Selatan Natih Temple Banjar Kalah - Batubulan Puseh. Temple Silakarang - Singapadu dalem Petitenget Temple Kerobokan - Kuta Dalem Pulasari Temple Samplangan - Gianyar Kubayan - Kepisah Temple Pedungan - Denpasar - Selatan Pasek gelgel Temple Banjar Tanahpegat - Tabanan Paibon Banjar Bengkel Sumerta - Denpasar Pasek Temple Lumintang - Denpasar Panti Penyarikan Medahan Sanding - Tampaksiring Pasar Agung Temple Kaba-kaba - Tabanan 30 Aug Anggar Kasih Tambir Dalem Puri Batuan Temple Sukawati Dalem Kediri Temple Silakarang - Singapadu Dalem Temple Sukawati Dalem Temple Singakerta - Ubud dalem Lembeng Temple Ketewel - Sukawati Paibon Pasek Tangkas Temple Peliatan - Ubud
Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc. The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion. The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines. In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
News 5,043 homecomers... From page 1 For readiness of fleet in anticipating of the influx of homecomer backflow, he said, was not much different from readiness of homecoming flows. A total of 146 regular transportation fleets were still alerted. Apparently, this number was unlikely to increase considering the result of observation on H +4 the flow did not indicate any rise at Ubung Terminal. Besides, he explained about the arrival schedule of bus crews such as for the route of SurabayaMalang would arrive at Ubung Terminal around 11:00 a.m., for Yogyakarta and surrounding areas at 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from Jakarta and Bandung at 4:00
to 7:00 p.m. “We have alerted officers in sufficient number, including an integrated post,” he said. Sutika added the handling of backflow was relatively heavier than the previous homecoming. Examination of population administration required a hard work and extra prudence because there was possibility of some migrants without identity could enter Gilimanuk. Related to that matter, his party made cooperation with relevant agencies and integrated units that had a schedule for anticipatory measures such as inspection against comers performed at terminal and vulnerable points. (kmb13)
Tough... From page 1
IBP/afp
Debris of a destroyed house at Totsukawa village in Nara prefecture, western Japan. A typhoon that pummelled western Japan left at least 20 people dead and more than 50 missing, reports said Sunday, after swollen rivers swept away buildings and landslides crushed house
Typhoon kills 20 in Japan, over 50 missing Agence France Presse
A typhoon that pummelled western Japan left at least 20 people dead and more than 50 missing, reports said Sunday, after swollen rivers swept away buildings and landslides crushed houses. One of the victims drowned after flood waters gushed into his car and streets were submerged in scenes that rekindled memories of the March 11 tsunami disaster. Thousands of people were left stranded. Typhoon Talas, which made landfall on Saturday and is one of the deadliest in recent years, packed gusts of up to 108 kilometres (68 miles) per hour as it cut across the island of Shikoku and the main island of Honshu. The government set up an emergency task force as the number of victims looked set to grow and landslides and damaged roads hampered relief efforts. In Wakayama prefecture, 12 people were killed and 29 were missing.
One man drowned after flood waters surged into his car, and another man was killed after a landslide hit his house, the local government said. In Nara prefecture’s Totsukawa village, an overflowing river washed away apartments, leaving at least two people dead and seven missing, the local government said. In the Kansai region and elsewhere up to 30,000 people were evacuated, according to the fire and disaster management agency. Television footage showed massive landslides crushing wooden houses in mountainous communities, with muddy water submerging streets and washing away wooden debris and cars. A tally by the Kyodo news agency showed at least 20 people
had been killed, more than 50 were missing and 3,600 were left stranded by landslides and collapsed bridges. Jiji Press also said 20 people had been killed. The powerful storm had slowly moved north into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. However, it warned of more mudslides in the western region where massive rainfalls — more than 180 centimetres (72 inches) in some areas — have been recorded since Tuesday night. According to agency data a typhoon which hit Japan in October, 2004, left 98 people dead or missing, while a storm in September the same year left 46 people dead or missing.
But the leading Republican contenders have denigrated Social Security, switched positions on critical issues and done other things that might make them ripe targets for Obama’s well-funded campaign. Democratic strategist Doug Hattaway says GOP candidates, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, may turn off independent voters with their embrace of tea party stands on taxes, spending and program cuts. Obama “should lump them all together and make them answer for their slash-and-burn politics,” said Hattaway, a former top aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama’s rival for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. To do so, Hattaway said, Obama must link the candidates to congressional Republicans, blamed by Democrats for the nation’s stalled job growth and recent downgrade of U.S. creditworthiness. Making the connection might not prove easy. Obama’s potential challengers have avoided getting dragged into details of the bitter Capitol Hill fights over deficit spending. At least for now, they can lob criticisms at the president while offering few specific, measurable alternatives. “President Obama oversaw an economy that created zero jobs last month, and that is unacceptable,” Romney said Friday. But the influence of the tea party and other conservative groups may give Obama some openings, by pushing the GOP field so far to the right that the candidates risk alienating vital independent voters. In a debate last month, the top contenders pledged to oppose a deficit-reduction plan even if it cut $10 in spending for every $1 raised by new taxes. Perry, who entered the race after that debate, also has taken a tough stand against higher taxes.
Obama’s team says independents, who might pay scant attention to ideologically driven primaries, will find such positions extreme when they compare the eventual GOP nominee and the president. Political aide David Axelrod hinted that Obama will try to sharpen his differences with Republicans who insist on spending cuts in virtually every area and who refuse to let tax cuts expire, as scheduled, for the wealthiest. It’s hard “to create an economy in which people can get decent jobs and raise a family at the same time we’re cutting back on our commitment to spending on education and research and development that will create innovation and jobs,” Axelrod said in an interview. The Republicans’ “essential message is, let’s go back to the policies that helped get us in this mess,” he said, citing Wall Street deregulation and corporate tax breaks. If GOP lawmakers, backed by the presidential hopefuls, continue to thwart Obama’s bid to mix targeted spending cuts with tax increases, Axelrod said, “we’re going to take our case to the American people.” Recent polls underscore Obama’s challenge. A Pew Research poll found that 39 percent of independents approve of his job performance, while 52 percent disapprove. An AP-GfK poll showed a sharp erosion of support for Obama among white voters and women. Less than half of all women and less than half of all men approve of the job he’s doing, and only 50 percent of women say he deserves re-election. But the same polls show that far more voters blame former President George W. Bush more than Obama for the nation’s economic woes. Whether that sentiment lingers for 16 more months
International
Indonesia Today
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
7
Volcanic shocks still recorded in Tompaluan crater Antara
AP Photo/Gembong Nusantara
An Indonesia woman brings water from a dried lake in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, central Java, Indonesia, Sunday, Sept 4, 2011. Some parts in the densely populated island have been hit by drought, forcing villagers to walk miles to find drinking water.
MANADO - The Lokon and Mahawu volcanic monitoring post in Kakaskasen, Tomohon, was still recording volcanic shocks of quite high amplitudes up to 45 millimeters from the Tompaluan crater, Mt Lokon, North Sulawesi. “The amplitudes are still big,” head of the Lokon and Mahawu volcanic observation post in Kakaskasen, Farid Ruskanda Bina, said in Tomohon Saturday. He said the deep volcano indicates a very strong energy supply from magma. This calls for serious attention. It is always possible that Mt Lokon has been collecting energy. “Let us hope we had made the wrong prediction, and there would be no volcanic shock frequencies which may trigger an eruption,” he added. Besides volcanic shocks, on Sunday there had been five blows coupled by fine volcanic ash. The amplitude of the shock blows, Farid said, was
quite big reaching 40 millimeters. “Once in a while we have also recorded distant tectonic shocks, while it is not certain that such shocks could trigger an eruption,” Farid said. The shocks which are still being recorded, he said are tremors with a high amplitude. “From 00.00 to 1.55 pm local time we have recorded a big amplitude of 5-25 millimeters, dominating 10 milimeters. This means there had been continued magma supplies,” he said. Up till now the Bandung Geological and Disaster Volcanological and Mitigation Center (PVMBG) has not lowered the status of Mt Lokon from alet III to alert II. “We hope residents to stay away from the danger radius of Mt Lokon 2.5 kilometers from the brink of the crater,” he said. Mt Lokon erupted again on Sunday (Aug 28) since it erupted on Wednesday (Aug 17). Kinilow village, Kinilow I and Kakaskasen I, Tomohon Utara subdistrict, is a danger zone of Mt Lokon.
Indonesia’s SCTV blasted for pulling religion film Agence France-Presse
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission criticized a major television station for giving into Islamists’ demands that a film on religious tolerance be pulled. The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had threatened to storm SCTV headquarters if it broadcast a movie titled “?”, scheduled for the last night of the Ramadan holy fasting month this week. “We regret SCTV’s decision to
not air the movie. The movie has passed the censorship requirements and it doesn’t violate any regulations,” broadcasting commission official Ezki Suyanto told AFP. “It seems the station is just
afraid of the FPI. SCTV should not have given in to them. This is a bad precedent for other groups to do the same to TV stations.” The movie was directed by Muslim filmmaker Hanung Bramantyo, who has made several feature films on Islam, such as the box-office hit “Ayat-Ayat Cinta” (Verses of Love). FPI secretary-general Sobri Lubis said the movie tried to incite hatred toward Islam and disgraced the religion by suggesting Muslims
could live together harmoniously with people of other faiths in one country. “The movie supports the idea of pluralism and that the unification of many religions is acceptable. We rejected this dirty and damaging movie from the start,” he said. Lubis said the film unfairly depicted the stabbing of a priest and burning of a church, suggesting Indonesia’s Muslim majority was suppressing minorities.
Last year, the FPI threatened cinemas with violence if they did not withdraw a horror-comedy, “Hantu Puncak Datang Bulan” (The Menstruating Ghost of Puncak), after watching uncensored clips of the movie on YouTube. Civil society and human rights groups say intolerance is on the rise in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslimmajority country, under the leadership of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
PT. ASDP ferry Indonesia opens two new routes in 2012 Antara
LUWUK - River, lake and ferry service PT. Angkutan Sungai Danau dan Penyeberangan (ASDP) Ferry Indonesia, Luwuk branch, Central Sulawesi, will open a new Luwuk ferry route to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, with 13 hours travel. Luwuk branch of ASDP Ferry will also open a new BaturubeKolonodale route with a distance of 30 to 45 minutes. “We have obtained approval to open the two new ferry routes in 2012,” head of supervision of PT. ASDP Ferry Indonesia, Luwuk branch, Muhammad Nurdin said here Saturday. He said the two ferry routes are potential, as they will be packed with passengers including
cars, motorcycles and trucks carrying farm marine produce. “A team had already conducted a feasibility study of the two ferry routes and it concluded that they are potential,” Nurdin said. A ship weighing 500 GRT with a capacity of 200 passengers and 20 vehicles will be made available for the Luwuk-Kendari route. The Luwuk-Kendari route is now covered by a ship of PT. Pelni operating KM. Tolongkabila, and the Baturube-Kolonodale ASDP Ferry route will be transferred to KMP Cakalang II from Luwuk port to cover the route. KMP. Cakalang II had been covering the route of Luwuk, capital of Banggai regency to Banggai, Bonitan (Banggai Islandsd, SE
Sulawesi), Taliabu and Sanana (Sula regency, North Maluku). Nurdin said the two new routes will speed up the marketing of farm and marine produce, and the transportation of passengers. ASDP Ferry, Luwuk branch, covers Luwuk port to Banggai, Salakan, Bonitan (Banggai Islands) Taliabu and Sanan (North Maluku). The ferry port of Pagimana (Banggai regency) with KMP. Baronang covers Gorontalo route. Ampana port (Tojouna-una regency SE Sulawesi) operated KMP. Tanjung Api with the Dolong route (Tojounauna regency, SE Sulawesi), Parigi (Parigi Moutong regency, C Sulawesi) and Pohuato port (Marisa regency, Gorontalo). KMP Tuna Tomini with the route Ampana, Gorontalo and Wakai (Tojouna-una regency).
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International
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Bali Today Tourists visit to Bali increase 10% Antara
Denpasar – Bali was visited by 1.58 foreign tourists during January through July 2011 period. The number increase 10% compare to the same period last year which was 1.43 million tourists. “Most of the tourists are entering Bali through Ngurah Rai Airport and fly directly from their native country. Only 17,078 tourists are using cruise ships,” said the Head of Bali Statistics Department, Gede Suarsa. He added that Bali Government is targeting for 2.6 million tourists in 2011. The number is higher than the foreign tourist’s visitation last year which was 2.57 million tourists. He is quite optimist that the target can be fulfill because in the
first 7 months in 2011, the number of foreign tourists visited Bali already reached 1.5 million people. Suarsa said that in July 2010, Bali was visited by 283,534 tourists where 279,219 of them were using airplanes and the rest is coming through the sea.
IBP/Eka Adhiyasa
Tourists flocked in Kuta Beach during Lebaran holiday.
Balinese Wedding The pawiwahan (marriage, weddings of a Hindu couple) is a very important part of Balinese social life. The ritual generally takes place in the home of the groom, a further confirmation of the typical patriarchal inclinations of Balinese culture, and is per- formed by a priest. The newlyweds to be dressed in very colorful
and refined garments, worn only for the day of the wed- ding, will withdraw in prayer in the family temple. This is followed by the presentation of offerings in the pelinggih and by a series of ritual gestures. A very typical moment in the ceremony occurs when the bride offers the groom several different beverages: a conven-
tional way to reiterate that the woman. as a wife, commits herself to obeying her husband and to lovingly care for him for the rest of their lives. Many Balinese marriages are still prearranged or negotiated, though young men may also “kidnap” their wives, and mixed-caste marriages are increasingly common. Marriage cus-
AC Milan Glories players, Alessandro Costacurta (middle) with Maurizio Ganz (right) playing beach volley during their stayed in Nusa Dua before playing charity match in Jakarta with Indonesian soccer players. FOTO ANTARA/Nyoman Budhiana
toms differ from caste to caste and village to village, but all Balinese marriage practices share fundamental similarities. There are basically two ways to get married on Bali, ‘ngerorod’ and ‘mapadik’. Ngerorod
This is marriage by elopement, in which the prearranged honeymoon precedes the wedding ceremony. Since it’s otherwise quite expensive to marry on Bali, ‘ngerorod’ is becoming more and more popular. It has particular appeal to the Balinese sense of theater. Balinese love a spectacular kidnapping in which friends of the suitor capture a woman in the fields, on the road, or down by the river. Theatrics are paramount: she is expected to bite and kick her abductors in mock self-defense. These days it’s more stylish and fashionable for the woman to be whisked away in a hired sedan, and more often than not she goes willingly. The couple then repairs to a friend’s house stocked with provisions, offerings, and the bride’s wardrobe. The woman’s infuriated father sounds the alarm demanding to know what has become of his daughter. A search party is organized which eventually returns unsuccessful and exhausted. Meanwhile, the couple is consummating the marriage before spe-
cial offerings (sesayut tabuh rah) have the time to wilt. These offerings alone make the marriage binding by customary law. Emissaries of the groom visit the bride’s father to argue the advantages of the union. Begrudgingly, the girl’s father gives in, after a suitable bride price has been agreed upon. The groom’s father must finance and conduct the marriage ceremony, welcoming the bride as a new daughter into the family. The actual public wedding, within 42 days of the staged kidnapping, is only an official confirmation of their union. They are already married in the eyes of the gods. Mepadik
This is marriage by consent, in which an upper-class couple conducts a formal courtship. Since daughters were once regarded as property useful for attaining a family’s social and political goals, high-caste families tried to wed a son to the daughter of a friend or relative so a blood bond would unite the resources of both families. Under no circumstances may a woman “marry down,” i.e., take a commoner. The preferred marriage is through a parallel patri-cousin, the father’s brother’s daughter. It has been noted that Triwangsa couples often get along so well because they are all first cousins. Traditionally, the man or his father journeys three times to the bride’s house with food and ‘sirih’.
International
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Balinese Culture PANCONG
Calonarang: The King, the Witch and the Priest At the beginning of 7th century, a Balinese prince becomes the king of Java, the great Erlangga. His mother, Mahendradatta, was a Javanese princess who ruled Bali with her Balinese husband, Dharmodayana, until the husband, suspecting her of practising evil magic, exiled her to the forest. When Erlangga’s father died, leaving Mahendradatta as a rangda or a widow, she conspired to use her band of pupils trained in the black arts to destroy Erlangga’s kingdom. Her chief grudge against Erlangga because of fancied insults to her beautiful daughter, Ratna Menggali – the noblemen of Daha had refused her in marriage for fear of her mother’s evil reputation. Calonarang (Erlangga’s mother who practising evil magic) went with her pupils to the cemetery and they prayed and danced in honour of Begawati, the deity of black magic, to help them destroy Daha. The goddes appeared and danced with them, granting her permission, warning the witch, however, to preserve the center
of the kingdom untouched. The witches danced at the crossroads and soon people fell in great numbers. Discovering the cause of the epidemic, Erlangga ordered his soldiers to go and kill the witch. They stole into her house while she slept and stabbed her in the heart, but Calonarang awoke unhurt and consumed the daring soldiers with her own fire. The witch went once more into the cemetery and danced with her pupils, dug out corpses, cutting them into pieces, eating the members, drinking the blood, and wearing the entrails as necklaces. Begawati appeared again and joined in the bloody banquet, but warned Calonarang to be careful. The witches danced once more at the crossroads and the dreadful epidemic ravaged the land, the vassals of Erlangga died before they could even bury the corpses they bore to the cemeteries. The desperate king sent for Mpu Bharada, the holy man from Lemah Tulis, the only living being who could vanquish the witch. Mpu Bharada planned his campaign carefully. He sent Bahula, his young assistant, to
ask for the witch daughter’s in marriage. Highly flattered, the mother gave her consent and after a happy and passionate honeymoon, Bahula learned from his wife the secret of Calonarang’s power. The possession of a little magic book which he stole and turned over to his master. The holy man copied it and had it returned before the disappearance could be noticed. The book was a manual of righteousness and had to be read backwards. The holy man was then able to restore life to those victims whose bodies had not yet decayed. Armed with the new knowledge, he accused the witch of her crimes, but she challenged him by setting an enormous Banyan tree on fire by a single look of her fiery eyes. Bharada foiled the enraged witch by restoring the tree, and she turned her fire against the holy man. Unmoved, he killed her with one of her own mantras, but she died in her monstrous form and Bharada, to absolve her of her crimes and enable her to atone for them, revived her, gave her human appearance, and then killed her again. (BTN/Doc)
(Coconut Cake)
INGREDIENTS: 2 cups freshly grated coconut, or 1½ cups desiccated coconut moistened with warm milk 1/3 cup glutinous rice flour 1/3 cup plain rice flour ¼ cup white sugar ½ tsp salt PREPARATION: Combine all ingredients in a deep bowl and knead well for 3 minutes, until the dough is smooth and does not stick. Dust a cake tin with a little rice flour and press the dough into it. Bake in moderate oven (180 degree Celsius/ 350 degree F) for approximately 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)
NASI GORENG (Fried Rice)
OVERVIEW: There are about as many different ways of preparing Nasi Goreng in Bali, as there are cooks. The only constant ingredient is rice; everything else is determined by the cook’s taste or the availability of ingredients. Please be certain to use only cold rice, as warm rice will stick to the wok. INGREDIENTS: 6 tbsp oil 6 shallots, peeled, halves length wise and sliced 6 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 200 gr (6 ½ oz) chicken meat, sliced 150 gr (5 oz) medium size shrimp, peeled ¼ small white cabbage, shredded 4 eggs, beaten 2 tbsp sambal tomat 700 gr (1 ½ lb) cold cooked rice 2 tsp salt 1 tsp sliced bird’s eye chilies 2 tbsp fried shallot PREPARATION: 1. Heat vegetable oil in wok or heavy fry pan until very hot. 2. Add shallots and garlic and fry for 1 minute until golden yellow. 3. Add chicken and shrimp and fry for 1 minute, and then add cabbage and fry for 1 minute. Add sambal and mix well. 4. Add eggs and continuously stir for 30 seconds before adding rice and salt. Increase to very high heat and fry for 3 more minute, stir continuously. 5. Add chilies, mix well and serve immediately, garnished with fried shallots.
C.045 ibp
Note: Throughout Bali there are as many different ways of preparing Nasi Goreng as there are ingredients of chef’s. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Destinations
International
Penglipuran Village IBP
Penglipuran Village is a traditional countryside owning unique characteristic life, socializing and culture. It is located in Kubu Village, Bangli Sub district and Bangli Regency. The natural nature and environments of countryside is designating the pittance touch of modernization influence. This countryside is supported by cool atmosphere because it is located on the height land about 700 m above sea level and according to history of all old doyens that this countryside is taken away from the word Pengeling Pura what its meaning remember to ancestor, but there is also telling that the word of Penglipur mean the entertainer. It is said that at former empire era, all king often use this area as a place to amuse themselves, because its nature is beautiful and can give the peacefulness and inspiration at the time of experiencing a problem. The houses exist in this country-
side from north to the south is look very beautiful in particular the Balinese traditional entrance gate which are made similar each other. When we step down to this village, we will meet the Balinese houses are oriented northeastwards to Mount Agung which is located in north-east of Bali Island. The structure of house building between one house and others are equal in particular to condition, form, size and function from the building except building of family bed room is freeform. The family temple building is places the same direction to the Agung Mount, kitchen is located in upstate from the lawn and the building of Bale Sakaenem is the six beamed building which its function for ceremony place. The place for look after the livestock and the place to plant assorted vegetable are referred as non irrigated dry field which is called Teba. Its Construction material is made from wood except family residence. It is predominated by substance from bam-
boo because around this countryside is bamboo producer. The countryside is lead by a leader which is Bendesa or Kelian or Penyarikan or Patengan and he/she is assisted by Sinoman. The social system is recognized by the 12 group terms that are number 1 until 12 as member of Pemerincik that is commissioned member converse the problem or plan and its result is submitted to the member. They are very trusting of 12 groups and have represented the tradition in heritage away back. The Consanguinity System in this countryside is Patrilinial system that is according to father lineage. This countryside religion leader is called as Jero Bayan which is consisted of 3 Jero Bayans that is a Jero Bayan Mucuk and 2 people of Jero Bayan Nyoman. The specific cultural potential like pattern of building architecture remains to be traditional, the beautiful nature and environment with cool atmosphere, hence this countryside is the ideal place to visit during your vacation in Bali.
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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BUSINESS Most U.S. firms plan to expand business in Southeast Asia Reuters
SINGAPORE - Eighty-five percent of U.S. companies in Southeast Asia plan to expand their business as the region will become more important in the next two years, the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore said on Monday. “ASEAN continues to grow in importance for businesses in the region,” AmCham Singapore said in a statement, citing a poll of 327 senior executives from U.S. companies in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam between May 18 and June 8. ASEAN refers to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and also
includes Brunei, Myanmar and Laos. Seventy-three percent of respondents said ASEAN’s importance to their companies will increase over the next two years, up from 70 percent in a survey last year, while not a single company said it intended to shrink its regional operations. Regionally, Indonesia was the most popular destination for U.S.
companies, with 72 percent of respondents reporting their company was planning to expand there. “Indonesia’s strengths lie in its low-cost business environment. Respondents enjoy low-cost labor as well as low housing and office lease costs,” AmCham Singapore said. “However, there are also major concerns with corruption, laws and regulations, and infrastructure.”
EU official says region will avoid recession Associated Press
CANBERRA - The European Union will avoid slipping into recession and is doing all it can to tackle the region’s debt problems, a top official said Monday. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who is in Australia on his way to a meeting of South Pacific states, said the 27-nation EU and the euro common currency are resilient and the region will continue to grow, albeit modestly. “We don’t anticipate a recession in Europe,” Barroso told reporters after a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and senior ministers. “The latest forecast by the European Commission shows that there will be growth — modest growth, it’s true.” “The European Union and euro are strong and resilient and we are doing all it takes from tackling the underlying budget problems to strengthening the governance of the euro zone, from tighter financial regulation to improving our overall competitiveness,” he said. Disagreements over Greece’s massive budget deficits and how to make up for the funding shortfalls led international debt inspectors to suspend their review and leave Athens last week, as Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos warned an even deeper
recession in his country will hurt its deficit-cutting efforts. The unexpected departure on Friday of the debt inspectors — officials from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund — marked yet another occasion of conflict between international institutions demanding greater reform efforts and a government and country that are reaching their limits. But Barroso, who heads the EU’s executive arm, said it would be premature to make an assessment now on the Greek government’s latest efforts to tackle debt. Greece’s troubles are being worsened by a slowing global economy, with growth tapering off in major economies such as Germany, China and the United States. World business leaders and finance experts gathered in Italy for the annual Ambrosetti Forum at the weekend offered a downbeat assessment of the global economy — with several predicting another recession due to a calamitous cocktail of sluggish growth, eurozone dysfunction, and financial market volatility. The Australian government has criticized a lack of political will in Europe to tackle serious economic reform. Deputy Prime Min-
ister Wayne Swan co-wrote an article published in The Financial Times newspaper last month that said a crisis in confidence in policy makers posed a greater challenge than any economic barrier. But Gillard on Monday praised Europe’s efforts to tackle its sovereign debt crisis. “Australia certainly welcomes the important steps European authorities have taken to address sovereign debt problems and to press on with reform,” she told reporters. “We know and understand these are difficult decisions, but we know that tough decisions are needed to stabilize financial markets,” she said. Yet Gillard said she was “not on the same page” with Barroso on the need for a financial transactions tax on the European banking industry. The proposal will be put to a summit of the Group of 20 rich and developing nations in Cannes, France, in November. While in Australia, Barroso and Gillard agreed to expedite negotiations on a treaty that would formalize Australia’s relationship with the EU. They also agreed that officials will begin talks about how the EU’s carbon emissions trading scheme can be linked with Australia’s scheme which is scheduled to come into force in 2015.
IMF head warns again about Europe bank capitalization Agence France-Presse
The head of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde insisted that European banks needed extra capital, in a magazine interview on Monday. “We believe that overall it is necessary to recapitalise European banks so that they are strong enough to withstand the risks linked to the debt crisis and weak growth,” Lagarde told the weekly magazine Der Spiegel. Recapitalisation was needed “to avert contagion” of the problems, she said. German banking shares fell heavily in initial trading on Monday. Shares in Deutsche Bank were showing a fall of 5.34 percent to 24.63 euros and Commerzbank shares fell by 4.37 percent to 1.84 euros on renewed concern about the eurozone debt crisis owing to new strains over the Greek programme to reform public finances. Deutsche Bank was also affected by a report in the Financial Times newspaper that it faced legal problems in Britain. Lagarde was repeating a call she made a few days ago for urgent strengthening of the balance sheets of European banks. Her remarks provoked strong criticism from some personalities in Europe who replied that the banking system has adequate funds. Lagarde also said in the interview that Germany, which has a strong export surplus, should stimulate internal demand because this would be good for the German economy and for the economies of neighboring countries. Lagarde, when French Finance Minister before becoming head of the IMF, had criticized Germany for being over dependent on exports for growth and for having insufficient domestic consumption.
China can help by boosting consumption Associated Press
BEIJING — China can boost global economic growth by pressing ahead with reforms to promote domestic consumption and reduce reliance on exports and investment, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Monday. Communist authorities have said repeatedly they want more self-sustaining growth based on domestic consumption. But they have made little progress, and investment as a share of China’s economy rebounded after Beijing launched a stimulus based on public works spending following the 2008 global crisis. The World Bank is working with Beijing on developing ways to rebalance the world’s second-largest economy, Zoellick told reporters after meeting with Chinese officials. “The world economy won’t get out of this hole by simply relying on austerity policies,” he told reporters. Possible changes might include relying on the market instead of the government to allocate natural resources and overhauling the relationship between state-owned and private companies, Zoellick said. Zoellick’s comments came amid mounting fears the United States might be headed back into recession after the Labor Department reported Friday the economy added no jobs in August, its worst employment report in 11 months. Coming months will be a “sensitive time” for developed economies as Europe wrestles with a debt crisis and the United States tries to shore up growth, he said. Weakening global demand might add to Beijing’s urgency in trying to promote retail spending and other domestic consumption. But analysts say the many steps required to do that will take time, such as creating more government-financed health care to reduce the need for families to save so much to pay for emergencies. China’s spending on new factories and other investment has accounted for more than 40 percent of its economic output over the past decade — several times the level of the United States, Japan and other major economies. It rose close to 50 percent in 2009 due to stimulus spending, according to the International Monetary Fund.
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Entertainment
International
Lewis gone, but telethon brings in more than ’10 Asscoiated Press Writer
LAS VEGAS — Even without Jerry Lewis, the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon posted its best gain since the recession started, though the program’s longtime host was on the minds of many during the 46th annual fundraiser. “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe said after co-hosting Sunday’s program that he’s sorry the famed comedian didn’t participate, but the organization needs to move on to ensure the fundraiser continues. The telethon raised nearly $61.5 million Sunday, an increase of about $2.6 million over last year, MDA officials said. Lythgoe told The Associated Press minutes after the six-hour live broadcast ended on the east coast that he thought the 85-year-old actor would show up either during the telecast or earlier to film a taped segment of his signature song “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” “I was fully expecting him to turn up at any point and join that six hours — and I’m sorry he didn’t,” Lythgoe told the AP. “And hopefully another year he might. I mean, he knows that he is always welcome on the telethon. It’s his baby.” An orchestra was ready to film Lewis, but he didn’t come to the Las Vegas casino where the telethon was filmed, Lythgoe said. Lewis publicist Candi Cazau declined comment when reached by the AP. Earlier, she said Lewis
never agreed to any appearance — recorded or live — after the MDA announced in August he wouldn’t take part in the show or be its chairman. Lythgoe and co-host Jann Carl said during the show that Lewis “retired.” Lewis has not publicly said why he is no longer chairman of the MDA, or why he didn’t personally appear in this year’s telethon. The co-hosts’ remarks during the show were the first time the MDA has addressed Lewis’ departure since it was announced, and telethon spokesman Jim Brown declined further comment about the split. Lewis’ absence ended a 45-year run in which he raised $1.66 billion. The fundraiser raised $58.9 million last year, but was shortened this year from 21½ hours. Brown said early Monday that this year’s donations increased to nearly $61.5 million, the MDA’s best showing since 2008 when the recession started.
Pacino’s ‘Wilde Salome’ defies description Associated Press Writer
VENICE, Italy — Not even Al Pacino is sure what to call “Wilde Salome,” his film making its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Pacino says it’s neither documentary, nor film. He calls it “a much more ambitious and complicated gesture in cinema.” The movie is Pacino’s examination of Oscar Wilde’s once-banned play “Salome,” which tells the story of Herod’s obsession for his wife’s daughter, culminating with Salome’s vengeful demand for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The movie is premiering out of competition Sunday. It weaves together a documentary on Wilde’s life, footage of a reading of the play in Los Angeles and a film version of the play. Pacino also is to receive an award for his contribution to contemporary cinema.
AP Photo/MDA, Richard Cartwright
This photo provided by Muscular Dystrophy Association, The 46th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon co-hosts, from left to right, Nancy O’Dell, Jann Carl, Nigel Lythgoe and Alison Sweeney ad-lib personal salutes to Jerry Lewis, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, in Las Vegas.
“The tremendous success of the telethon, even in a tough economy where some communities are also being challenged by natural disasters, shows that America understands and appreciates the truly rapid progress being made by
MDA-funded researchers worldwide,” R. Rodney Howell, M.D., chairman of the MDA Board of Directors, said in a statement. Lythgoe said he and other telethon hosts knew Lewis — a man inextricably bonded to the telethon —
would be a presence even in a show that never included his voice. “There appeared to be an elephant in the room, and it’s one that you go talk about,” Lythgoe said. “This guy is someone who’s put this whole thing together.”
Eddie Murphy high on list to host Oscars: report Reuters
NEW YORK - Comedian Eddie Murphy is on an Oscar producer’s shortlist to host the Academy Awards in February, showbusiness website Deadline reported. A meeting is scheduled for this coming Tuesday between Oscar producer Brett Ratner and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, at which Ratner will offer president Tom Sherak the idea of having Murphy host the world’s top film honors. Deadline, citing unnamed sources, said in a report on Saturday night that having the “Shrek” movie star host the show was not a done deal, with many more steps to be completed before Murphy is agreed upon. The 84th Academy Awards’ other producer, Don Mischer, has been approached by several other big names who have expressed interest in the hosting duties. But according to the report Ratner has focused solely on Murphy, star of such 1980s and 1990s hit comedies as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Trading Places” and “The Nutty Professor.” An Academy spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment on Sunday. The upcoming Oscars will take place on February 26, 2012. Murphy, whose new film with Ben Stiller opens on November 4, is reportedly interested in the job, Deadline said. The “Saturday Night Live” alumnus was nominated for a best supporting actor in 2006 for “Dreamgirls.”
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Earthquake prediction still stymies scientists Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES — The East Coast earthquake left more than just residents unaccustomed to feeling the ground shake and sway in a daze. It also surprised some scientists who spend their careers trying to untangle the mysteries of sudden ground shifts.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite,File
File-In this Wednesday 24,2011 file photo an angel, carved from Indiana limestone, lies shattered amid other damage on the roof of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, after Tuesday’s earthquake.
Despite decades of research, earthquake prediction remains elusive. As much as society would like scientists to tell us when a jolt is coming, mainstream seismologists are generally pessimistic about ever having that ability. They lived through the checkered history of earthquake prediction, filled with passioned debates, failed oracles and the enduring search for warning signs that may portend a powerful quake. The Earth so far has refused to give up its secrets. In recent years, however, a more hopeful camp has emerged, pushed by researchers using satellites who say it may be possible to someday predict earthquakes from space and others who think they can tease out signals in rocks. The two schools of thought swapped notes during a
Fear in US as drug shortages mount Agence France Presse
Shortages of vital drugs, particularly cancer-fighting medication, have raised concerns in the United States, where regulators often have to race to try to find replacements. A recent report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that the number of important treatments that are difficult or impossible to find nearly tripled from 61 to 178 between 2005 and 2010. Most of the rare medications are for hospital use, including sterile injections, intravenous treatments, anesthetics and antibiotics. The products include both name-brand and generic drugs. “FDA hears from patients and also from healthcare professionals and organizations
IBP/ap
Shortages of vital drugs, particularly cancer-fighting medication, have raised concerns in the United States, where regulators often have to race to try to find replacements
about the terrible impact the shortages have had,” spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said. “We continue to do all we can under our current authority to address shortages when they occur.” The FDA’s efforts are hindered, however, because it cannot force private pharmaceutical companies to produce certain drugs or even require them to notify the agency when they plan to discontinue one, Burgess said. In 2010 it was able to avert 38 shortages, mainly by persuading other manufacturers to produce the drugs or helping to resolve production issues. But a survey of 820 hospitals carried out in June by the American Hospital Association found that almost all had run out of an important drug over the past six months. Eighty-percent said they had to delay patient treatments because of drug scarcity, and 70 percent said they administered less effective treatments. “We really need to take a very careful look at what is going on. I have never seen anything like this and I have been a pharmacist for over 40 years,” says Mike Cohen, a pharmacist at the non-profit Safe Medical Practices. The group recently surveyed 1,800 health professionals and found that a third of doctors and a fifth of pharmacists were aware of adverse reactions in their patients — including deaths — because of drug shortages. Cynthia Reilly of the American Society of Health System Pharmacists says the “dramatic increase” in shortages is in part due to “quality issues.” “In a lot of instances the manufacturer is either having problems with the production lines or perhaps they found particular products in vials so they have to do a recall,” she said.
two-day meeting in Los Angeles weeks before a relatively mild magnitude-5.8 rattled the Eastern Seaboard. “I was pretty skeptical going in and I remain skeptical,” said Washington state seismologist John Vidale, who was among 44 scientists from around the world who attended the invitation-only meeting. Geophysicist Malcolm Johnston with the U.S. Geological Survey agreed. “I’ve been chasing this for a long time,” he said. “If you think you can detect the start of an earthquake, it’s going to be very, very difficult.” How earthquakes occur is well known. The Earth’s crust is like a giant jigsaw puzzle, broken into several pieces known as tectonic plates that constantly bump and
grind or slide past each other. The movement happens slowly, about the speed at which our fingernails grow. Eventually, there’s enough pent-up stress and the rocks suddenly slip, releasing tremendous energy that we feel as shaking. Most earthquakes are small and imperceptible. Occasionally, a powerful one wreaks havoc like the ones that ravaged Haiti last year and coastal Japan in March. No one knows how a small rumble can cascade into a big one. Spurred in part by a pair of megaquakes in the 1960s, scientists began looking in earnest for signals that will help them distinguish a serious quake from the garden variety. Hopes were high for reading the seismic tea leaves. They scoured for anything and everything that might be a clue: warping in the Earth’s crust, radon gas releases along a fault, weird weather and even the behavior of cockroaches, snakes and other animals. None of the phenomena studied panned out, but the notion that animals might have a “sixth sense” persists to today.
Google Doodle Creative Lead Ryan Germick works on an illustration at the Google headquarters
IBP/ist
Google doodles a playful mix of art and technology A tribute to legendary Queen front man Freddie Mercury took center stage at Google in much of the world on Monday in the latest “doodle” merging technology and art to show the Internet giant’s human side. An animated video crafted into the logo on Google’s search page to honor what would have been the late rock legend’s 65th birthday marked the latest step in the evolution of doodles that started as rudimentary clip art. Google users woke to Mercury everywhere but in the United States, where a Labor Day holiday prompted the doodle to be bumped to Tuesday. “It has a lot of fun, goofy stuff to celebrate what an incredible song writer, fashion icon, and musical innovator he was,” doodle team creative lead Ryan Germick told AFP during a visit to their base at
Google’s headquarters in the California city of Mountain View. “Freddy Mercury was an awesome performer, an ambitious creator and pioneered really audacious concept records,” Germick said. “We just love him; we’ve been blasting Queen for the last couple of months and it is always joyful.” The first doodle was posted atop the logo at Google’s famously uncluttered search page by company cofounders Larry Page and Serge Brin in 1998 when Google was just getting off the ground. It was essentially an “Out of Office” note in the form of a Burning Man image from a gathering that Brin and Page were heading to in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Brin and Page posted the art to basically tell users “If the servers melt down we will be back in a couple of days — we’re out in the desert,” according to Germick.
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Rafaela stay top, Boca keep pace as champions Velez lose Reuters
BUENOS AIRES - Promoted Atletico Rafaela won 1-0 at Union to stay top of the Argentine first division, a point ahead of favourites Boca Juniors, while champions Velez Sarsfield went down to their second successive defeat on Sunday. Velez, seventh with seven points, lost at Olimpo in Bahia Blanca with Paraguayan Nestor Bareiro and fellow striker Martin Rolle, who scored a goal apiece, giving the visiting defence a torrid time. Former Mexico striker Guillermo Franco headed an equaliser before halftime but failed with a chance to put Velez level again when his 80th-minute penalty was saved by Laureano Tombolini. Rafaela, who have 12 points from four wins in five matches in the Apertura championship, scored with an own goal through Union defender Juan Pablo Cardenas,
who was sent off near the end for a second booking. Union, another promoted side, could have equalised just after the interval but Jeronimo Barrales’s penalty was saved by Guillermo Sara. Boca, 1-0 winners at Independiente in the weekend’s biggest match, are joint second with Lanus on 11 points and remain unbeaten. Rolando Schiavi, the 38-year-old defender in his second spell at Boca and captain for the day in the absence of injured midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme, hoofed the only goal home in a melee after a corner early in the
second half. With Boca dominant in the second half, winger Pablo Mouche rounded goalkeeper Fabian Assman and looked to have steered the ball home eight minutes later for a second goal but defender Julian Velazquez cleared off the line, although he was hurt crashing into the post and had to be substituted. Hard-core Independiente fans chanted outside the team’s dressing room demanding coach Antonio Mohamed’s dismissal. Lanus beat Estudiantes 2-1 at home on Saturday to keep the ailing 2010 Apertura champions stuck one from bottom with just two points.
AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano
Boca Juniors’ Sergio Araujo, top, crashes into Independiente’s goalkeeper Fabian Assmann during an Argentine soccer league match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.
Argentina not thinking of revenge v Nigeria Reuters
DHAKA - Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has dismissed talk of revenge when his side take on Nigeria in a friendly in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Tuesday. Argentina lost 4-1 to Nigeria in Abuja in June when their former coach Sergio Batista fielded a very inexperienced side. “I don’t think about any re-
venge, it’s no good for human beings, it’s no good for anyone, we will try to win but I don’t think we will go for revenge,” Sabella told a news conference on Monday. “It’s different game because we came here with a stronger team, but we will see tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t know what they kind of team they field tomorrow. They play yesterday (Sunday) against
Argentina’s soccer player Lionel Messi arrives in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. Argentina will play against Nigeria in their friendly soccer match scheduled for Sept. 6.
AP Photo/Saurabh Das
Madagascar.” Sabella said referring to Nigeria’s 2-0 win in an African Nations Cup qualifying match. Hundreds of fans cheered the Argentina squad when they arrived at Dhaka airport from the Indian city of Kolkata where they defeated Venezuela 1-0 in a friendly on Friday. Twice World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was the centre of attention and the prospect of watching the Barcelona forward sparked huge excitement in Bangladesh, a country ranked only 139th in the world but still very passionate about football. Sabella handed Messi the captain’s armband after replacing Batista as coach. “I think there is a time when Argentina have been very strong going forward, the first thing I have to sort out is to achieve some balance between attack and defence,” said Sabella. “We must let him (Messi) be happy. We must let him be completely free on the pitch. “There are different kind of captains, one for personality and another because they are great players. Argentina, knocked out of the Copa America on home soil in July at the quarter-final stage, needed a goal from defender Nikolas Otamendi to beat Venezuela in Sabella’s first game in charge.
Smooth Senegal revive memories of class of 2002 Reuters
CAPE TOWN - Senegal’s impressive early qualification for the African Nations Cup finals has revived memories of the squad who reached the World Cup quarter-finals nine years ago. A 2-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in Dakar on Sunday secured Senegal’s progress with one game to go, an impressive performance given the presence in Group E of two former continental champions in the Congolese and Cameroon. Senegal reached the last eight of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, beating holders France in the opening match of the tournament in Seoul. Coach Amara Traore, a member of that World Cup squad, has sought to replicate the strong team spirit which underpinned
their campaign and also helped the side reach the Nations Cup final in Mali the same year. “I have brought members of that generation on to the training staff and looked to others for advice,” Traore was quoted as saying in French sports daily L’Equipe. “The team was mismanaged after 2002 but we have now managed to achieve a positive mentality. We tried to rebuild the team collectively,” he added. “They have always had technical qualities but we had to do more on the mental side, to regain the confidence.” Senegal missed out on the last Nations Cup finals in Angola but are confident of claiming the continental crown next February, with captain Mamadou Niang, who plays in Turkey for Fenerbahce, Moussa Sow and Papiss Demba Cisse all consistent goalscorers.
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011
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Nadal wins, then deals with painful leg cramps Agence France Presse
NEW YORK — Rafael Nadal rolled his head back, squeezed his eyes shut, covered his contorted face with his left arm and leaned awkwardly in the leather chair used by players during U.S. Open news conferences. Frozen by the leg cramps that simultaneously hit his right hamstring and thigh about two hours after he’d won his third-round match, Nadal stopped taking reporters’ questions and paused between deep breaths to plead in Spanish, “Can you call a trainer for me, please?” Then slowly — and scarily to those watching, because it was unclear at that moment to anyone but Nadal himself exactly what was wrong — the defending champion slithered out of the chair and went down to the ground, hidden from view by a table. Within minutes, Nadal was sitting up, and then standing, after being given bags of ice to soothe his painful leg and bottles of water and Gatorade to drink. Even if it all amounted to nothing serious from a medical standpoint — as Nadal and his manager would later insist, chuckling — it was a bizarre scene, one at least as memorable as anything that took place on court Sunday at the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. “It’s bad luck it happened here,” Nadal said, “and not in the locker room.” His point was that tennis players often deal with cramps, particularly after competing in the sort of conditions Nadal did while beating 2002 Wimbledon runner-
up David Nalbandian 7-6 (5), 61, 7-5 on a muggy afternoon with the temperature in the 80s. “It’s just something that happens. It’s just unfortunate it happened in front of you all,” 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick told reporters after a straight-set victory over Julien Benneteau to get to the fourth round. “Every single player in there has had that happen before. Every single one. What we do — we run around, run miles and miles and miles and miles on the tennis court in nasty weather — (and) you throw nerves in there. I mean, it happens. As long as it doesn’t happen during a match, you’re fine.” Roddick continued: “Cramps are fine. It’s not an injury. A cramp is a cramp. When you go to bed and your foot cramps, it’s the same thing.” With No. 28 John Isner and unseeded Donald Young also winning Sunday, and No. 8 Mardy Fish advancing Saturday, Roddick is part of the first quartet of
American men to reach the U.S. Open’s fourth round since 2003. Others moving on included 2008 runner-up Andy Murray, who beat No. 25 Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 at night; No. 5 David Ferrer, Roddick’s next opponent; No. 12 Gilles Simon, who got past 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (3); and unseeded Gilles Muller, who will face Nadal for a quarterfinal berth. Nadal wasn’t the only player who appeared to be bothered by Sunday’s heat and humidity: No. 26 Flavia Pennetta of Italy felt as though she needed to throw up right out there on court during her 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over No. 13 Peng Shuai of China. “It was a bunch of things: the heat, the tension,” said Pennetta, who knocked off three-time major champion Maria Sharapova in the third round. “It’s not normal, but it happens.” Pennetta now plays Angelique Kerber of Germany, who defeated Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-4, 6-3.
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Rafael Nadal of Spain waits as a trainer works on his foot during his match against David Nalbandian of Argentina during the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.
Bolt leads Jamaica to 4x100 world record Associated Press Writer
DAEGU, South Korea — In one whirlwind week, Usain Bolt turned the biggest disappointment of his
career into another golden show capped with a world record that even he long believed was not within him this year. After opening with a false start
in 100 final last Sunday, Usain Bolt again produced the amazing in his closing race of the world championships — anchoring Jamaica to a world record in the
AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus
4x100-meter relay. When the first three runners passed the baton, Bolt suddenly saw the unexpected become reality. “I said, ‘Why not give my all.’ I kept saying: ‘I can do this. I can do this,’” Bolt said. And when Bolt is convinced, the clock usually obliges. One day after winning gold in the 200, Bolt was devastating down the home stretch of the relay and threw his yellow-clad chest across the line for a time of 37.04 seconds — the only world record in nine days of competition. “This record was a great achievement,” Bolt said. “I finished the championships on a good note so I’m proud of myself.” Fit-
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates winning the Men’s 4x100 Relay final and setting a world record at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.
tingly, Jamaica’s yellow-greenand-black flag was the last one rising into the night over Daegu Stadium, and Bolt spread his giant arms wide to soak in the occasion with all his might. There was no more of the performance anxiety that pushed him into a false start in the 100, only a sheer release of power as he coasted down the stretch for an overwhelming win over France and Saint Kitts and Nevis. He came looking for the same three gold medals he won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2009 world championships but left with only two and a world record. The United States was out of it because of a botched exchange, but no one could have gotten close to a Jamaican team anchored by Bolt. Ahead of the race, Bolt was already slapping the “JAM” on his bib in pride, and in a season where he was far from his best, he came through with a world record at the end of a season when he only centered on titles and victories, not times.
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Button predicts ‘spectacular’ Monza action JENSON Button is predicting some ‘spectacular’ racing action at the Italian Grand Prix thanks to the use of a double DRS zone at the famous Monza track. For the first time this year, the FIA is trialling two independent DRS zones at a race - with one running along Monza’s start-finish straight and the other between the second Lesmo and the Ascari chicane. Although it is not clear yet just how effective DRS will be at Monza, because of its unique low-downforce nature, Button still thinks it will play enough of a role to deliver an exciting race. “I think things will be a little more mixed-up this year,” said Button. “For the second time this season, we’ll have two distinct DRS zones, with two potential passing opportunities. “The first zone’s going to be interesting because it’s always been very tough to challenge for position under braking for Ascari – the track’s pretty narrow and it’s a fast entry – so I’ll be really interested to see how well DRS will work into that corner. We might see some pretty spectacular moves! “I think the more conventional passing opportunity will come from the second DRS zone, getting as close as possible into Parabolica, holding on through the corner – which won’t be straightforward – and then deploying DRS down the start/ finish straight before, hopefully, passing into Turn One. “The DRS is going to be a pretty major asset for a follow-
ing car, and it might shape the race in some really interesting ways.” Team principal Martin Whitmarsh has even talked about the possibility of Monza delivering the kind of action witnessed in the historic ‘slipstreamer’ races of the past. “Perhaps it’s a bit premature to be discussing the return of the epic ‘Monza slipstreamer’, but I think the whole team is going to Italy keen to see if DRS will create the sort of exciting and unpredictable grands prix that we either watched or read about when we were younger,” he said. For Lewis Hamilton, the most important thing this weekend is getting back on the top step of the podium after some recently frustrating races. “Last year, I won at Spa and failed to finish at Monza. For this year, I guess I’m looking to reverse that sequence! I’ve already moved on from my non-finish in Belgium and I’m really looking forward to returning to Italy, a place where I spent a lot of time racing karts: it’s a country I really love. “I think we go into the weekend feeling pretty optimistic. I’ve never won at Monza and I’d love to get a good result this year. I’m particularly looking forward to qualifying, because I think DRS will make a huge difference to our lap times, and I really want to get the maximum out of the car in qualifying – and then look forward to a strong race, of course. “I think things are set for another very closely matched race – I’m really looking forward to it.”
Stoner puts Misano race slump down to tiredness Casey Stoner blamed tiredness for his defeat in the San Marino Grand Prix, saying his energy level plummeted in the second half of the race. After challenging title rival Jorge Lorenzo for the lead at first, Stoner lost touch with the Yamaha and found himself slipping to third behind his Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa.
Casey Stoner,
Stoner said he had felt entirely comfortable early on, even when drizzle was hitting the circuit, and that the issue was with his fitness rather than the bike or its set-up. “The bike and everything felt pretty good,” he said. “We were pretty happy with the way the bike was performing - especially at the start of the race when we normally feel a little bit more uncomfortable. “We were just sitting behind Jorge because there was a bit of water and we didn’t really want to be the first one hitting the wet patches. “So I was comfortable behind Jorge and then of course it dried up. We both started running faster lap times and it felt like the bike was working really well and we’d hit a good set-up. “Then maybe halfway through the race, when I felt like I was starting to get a feel for things, all of a sudden I started getting tired. I was struggling on the brakes, ran wide a couple of times, and then started braking earlier, which lost me more time. “It just sort of built from there. I tried to keep a nice constant pace - I wasn’t ever going to be able to catch Jorge again, but wanted to at least stay in front of Dani. But just trying to keep that pace made me more and more tired.” Stoner does not think today’s problem was a sign of a significant issue and is sure he will be at full fitness for the Aragon Grand Prix in a fortnight. “I think after these last few races, a few bad nights’ sleep between Indy and now didn’t really help,” he said. “For the next race we’ll be fine again. But it was a tough race today.” He also paid tribute to Lorenzo after the Yamaha man’s first victory since the start of July. “Hats off to Jorge, he rode a great race, and didn’t make any big mistakes so he was able to pull away at the front,” said Stoner. “We’ll be ready again at the next one.”
AP Photo/Yves Logghe
McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button of Britain, left, talks to an unidentified team member, during the first practice session, ahead of the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix in SpaFrancorchamps, Belgium, Friday, Aug. 26, 2011.