Edisi 6 Januari 2010 | International Bali Post

Vietnam condemns China’s island tourism plans

16 Pages Number 3 2nd Year

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Serangan – Benoa Freeway to be built PAGE 8

Belinda Carlisle Shocked By Her Son’s ‘Coming Out’ International Bali Post/eka

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The President of Bali Post Media Group (KMB), Satria Naradha, give K. Nadha Nugraha Award in I Nyoman Gunarsa Museum.

Ten Museums receive K. Nadha Award Semarapura (Bali Post)-

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The K. Nadha Nugraha Press Award is given again this year.

The annual event has reached it tenth year. This year, the award is given to ten museums in Bali which are considered to have the commitment to preserve and educate the people about Balinese culture.

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Pande Suteja Neka, one of the speakers in a discussion about museum in I Nyoman Gunarsa Museum, Klungkung, on Tuesday, January 5th 2010.

The award was given in Nyoman Gunarsa Museum in Banjarangkan, Klungkung, on Tuesday, January 5th 2010. The event was joined by the vice governor of Klungkung, Tjok.

Gede Agung, museums owners and artists throughout Bali.

On the opening ceremony, the President of Bali Post Media Group (KMB), Satria Naradha, said that K. Nadha Nugraha award is given every January 5th to the person or institution that have the commitment to preserve and conserve Balinese culture and environment.

“These things usually small things that is neglected by others but actually it has great meaning. It is one of the considerations for the receivers of the award. This year, ten museums receive the award,” he added.

The museums are Puri Lukisan and Neka Museum in Ubud, Seni Lukis Klasik Museum, Nyoman Gunarsa Museum, Rudana Museum, Sidik Jari Museum in Denpasar, Subak Museum in

Tabanan, Purbakala Museum in Jembrana, Gedong Kirtya in Singaraja, and Yadnya Museum in Mengwi.

Unfortunately, museum is considered as a warehouse in Indonesia. It is considered as the place to put old things so the museum didn’t receive the proper attention.

Nyoman Gunarsa who also the head of Bali Museum Association (Himusba), said that museum has many functions and it plays important role in educating the nation especially on history.

“The museum started to be notice by many people. It is proven by the awarding of K. Nadha Nugraha award and also the Visit Museum Year 2010 which is planed

by Indonesian Cultural and Tourism Minister, Jero Wacik,” he added.

Gunarsa highly appreciated Jero Wacik and Satria Naradha for giving the high attention on museums because it is valuable treasure of Indonesia. .(bal)

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International

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bali News Accused of Telling Lies

Regent Gredeg Apologies, Promises to Withdraw the GBYMP Amlapura (Bali Post)—

Karangasem Regent I Wayan Gredeg finally apologized to IGM Tusan in the working room of the Regent, last Monday (Jan 4). He also promised to withdraw and revise the part of his book causing the protest from an entrepreneur IGM Tusan and promised not to repeat his deed.

Tusan protested and came to the office of Gredeg. In the face of Gredeg, he said to forgive Gredeg if the deed judged to have harmed him would not be repeated again. The content of book entitled Gredeg Bupati yang Membuat Perubahan or GBYMP (literally Gredeg, the Regent Making Reformation) on pages 67-69 made IGM Tusan surprised and feel a slap with the flat of the hand. Such community figure from Subagan eventually protested against the content of the book of which some parts of the book was incorrect and he was accused of telling lies by Gredeg.

Some of the contents regarded to the project implementation of AmedSeraya-Ujung ring road. One of the contents triggering the controversy where it was mentioned the shirts’ collar of I Gusti Made Tusan was once pulled before the meeting by I Wayan Gredeg in relation to the payment of project in 1987 at Karangasem Public Works Services.

On the other side, Gredeg said that even though he was once given the book before printed, he only read a smaller part of the book. He admitted that his party was wrong because he did not read the whole book. “I promise not to repeat it again,” he said.

Gredeg confessed that it was not

true that he pulled the shirts’ collar of Gusti Tusan. “Please do accept my apologies for that mistake,” he said briefly. In the meantime, Tusan admitted to be surprised when reading the book. Since the book was launched at the park in front of the Regent’s Office on a public gathering with officials of Karangasem Regency Government, last Wednesday (Dec 31), Tusan was persistently phoned by his colleague asking if the content of the book GBYMP was correct.

Tusan who is a contractor in Karangasem said that he admitted to get involved in the working of East Karangasem ring road in 1987. He did such provincial project with other two colleagues namely Made Mustikasari and Gredeg. At that time, said Tusan, Gredeg has not had a permit for largesize project so he should co-work with other contractor having the permit.

Each party worked for 15 km, not 22 km as mentioned in the book of Gredeg.

Summoned by Public Works

Tusan told that the ring road project of 15 km from Seraya to the frontier of Bunutan Village was undertaken by himself, while from the frontier of Bunutan to Amed Village was worked

by Mustikasari. By the time limit of the project, 4 km belonging to the portion

of Mustikasari has not completed yet, whereas the minister would inaugurate it. Tusan acknowledged, the Head of Karangasem Public Works summoned him and Wayan Gredeg to come to the office of Public Works. In the meeting, they both were requested to help the work of Mustikasari in order the road could be completed immediately as it would be inaugurated.

In the book of Wayan Gredeg, it was mentioned that Tusan was accused to make a move so the project could not be completed by the time limit. Besides, by the payment of first phase at the Karangasem Public Works, in the book was carried that Tusan made a move.

At that time, the Head of Karangasem Public Works Services, Gede Suandra, took them in a group of three to discuss in order the project could be completed and run smoothly. “At that time, Gredeg did not pull my shirts’ collar. If he did so, of course, I would oppose him. A number of accusations of Gredeg in his book were directed to me and it harmed my reputation,” he asserted.

Tusan admitted has not thought whether he would send a legal notice or directly take legal action related to the incorrect accusation of him. “Let the community judge it, which is correct and who tells lies,” he said. (013)

Two Times Wins Gold Medal in National Games THE DEATH of victim I Gede Arya Heru Wibawa, 41, a resident living on Jalan Tukad Alas Arum No. 10 South Denpasar, was very tragic. The victim died on the hand of two persons mentioned as gangsters namely I Wayan Darta alias Lengkong, 40, and I Made Suastika, 21, denoting a father and son.

Even though the victim was a former reliable athlete of pencak silat martial art, but he was powerless when beating up severely by the two suspects. Moreover, the victim died tragically with many wounds on the entire body. “Now, the victim worked as trainer,” said Chief of Denpasar Metro Police, I Gede Alit Widana, last Monday (Jan 4).

Observing the background of vic-

tim, he seemed to be an athlete of pencak silat martial art having outstanding achievement. It was indicated by two gold medals he won in the National Games (PON) respectively in 1996 and 2000. “Since he was old the victim then decided to become a trainer,” he told journalists.

Other information mentioned that not only the victim was an athlete. Even, some other members of his family were athletes, too. “My elder brother is a responsible man. He is a good man,” said the victim’s sister, Ni Made Arya Dwi Damayanti when met on last Monday.

The operator was inattentive

In the meantime, the operator of Mirama Karaoke was said to be in-

attentive on such incident. Because, both suspects mentioned as gangsters could pass into the karaoke by bringing sharp weapon.

“Security officers of the karaoke have performed an examination to every visitor,” said one of the operators when met at crime scene last Monday.

Nevertheless, Chief of Denpasar Metro Police Alit Widana judged the operators of such karaoke were inattentive. “Of course, they were inattentive because both suspects could enter the karaoke by bringing sharp weapon,” he explained to journalists at Headquarter of Denpasar Metro Police. (Jay)

Former National Athlete Dies Due to Murdered by Gangsters Perpetrators are Father and Son Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Murder action causing to kill a life in vain occurred again within the legal territory of Denpasar Metro Police. I Gede Arya Heru Wibawa, 41, denoting a former athlete of National Games (PON) died because of beaten up severely by gangsters.

Perpetrators of the murder were a father and son.

They were I Wayan Darta alias Lengkong, 40, and I Made Suastika, 21, residents of Jalan Pakis Aji Gang Cendana Sari III No. 20 Denpasar. However, after murdering the victim, the suspects surrendered themselves to the South Denpasar Sector Police and then they were taken to Denpasar Metro Police for further investigation.

Not only surrendering themselves, they also handed over to police officer the tools used to beaten up the victim, namely sickle and sword. “The two suspects are now being investigated by police officer,” said Chief of Denpasar Metro Police, I Gede Alit Widana, in the press conference, last Monday (Jan 4).

Both suspects have been put into detention cell of Denpasar Metro Police. Chief Alit Widana said that the motive of the incident was merely touchiness. “The victim and one of the suspects once got involved in a brush when jogging on the hall of karaoke,” said former Chief of Tabanan and Gianyar Resort Police.

Chief Alit Widana said that such murder action that once shocking local residents occurred in front of Mirama Karaoke, Jalan Raya Sesetan, South Denpasar, last Sunday (Jan 3) at 11:00 pm Local Time. Previously, both suspects and some friends organized a spirits party at particular place.

There, both suspects have drunk some 5-6 bottles of arrack. Well, after the spirits party, both suspects departed to Oke Café located on Jalan Tukad Bilok, Denpasar.

However, the electricity went out there so both suspects resumed their journey to Mirama Karaoke (crime scene—ed). “At this location (Mirama Karaoke—ed), they ordered 10 beers,” explained this officer with three-jasmine.

Both suspects sat on table No.

16 and accompanied by two servers. They quaffed the drink until drunken. The ambience was getting hotter in the midst of pounding sound of the loud music. Finally, they jogged on the hall.

“After the jogging, both suspects and victim went out in a procession,” he explained.

Right in front of the door, the suspect Suastika touched the victim. Allegedly, due to influence of alcoholic drink, the victim got angry and pulled the collar of the suspect’s shirts. Then, the victim hit him until falling down. Seeing his son was hit and fall down, the suspect Lengkong (father of Suastika—ed) was unacceptable.

Lengkong took out a sickle put behind his shirts. Randomly, Lengkong, working as debt collector, attacked the victim. The victim ran out of the Mirama Karaoke. “The suspect Suastika also pursued the victim while holding his sword he brought.

Both suspects beat up the victim severely in front of the karaoke,” he explained.

The suspects attacked the victim repeatedly. At the end, the victim was powerless and his body was splattered with blood. Situation of the karaoke was once strained due to such terrific incident. “On seeing the victim was powerless, both suspect ran away, while the victim died at location,” he said.

Chief of Denpasar Metro Police Alit Widana furthermore revealed the escape of both suspects, in fact, surrendered themselves to South Denpasar Sector Police. At the same time, they handed over the sharp weapons used. “The member of South Denpasar Sector Police took them right away to Denpasar Metro Police for more intensive examination,” he said.

Based on the result of autopsy, the Chief Widana said the victim suffered from seven wounds and cutting. In details, it was mentioned there were three wounds at left back, one at right waist, one at right chest and two others at abdomen. “The victim died due to the wound at right chest. Even, the wound afflicted his vein so the victim lost much blood,” he added. (kmb21)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z Chief Editor: ABG Satria Naradha z Managing Editor: Wirata,Palgunadi z Editors: Alit Purnata, Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Darmasunu, Daniel Fajry, Diah Dewi, Martinaya, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Sutiawan, 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. Publiser: PT Bali Post

International

Bali News

Robbed, a Mother and Son in Agony Semarapura (Bali Post)—

Perpetrators of violence targeted a family recently appeared at some regions in Bali.

The latest one targeted the legal territory of Klungkung Resort Police. A house located on Jalan Ngurah Rai Gang Seroja No. 8 Klungkung became the target of sadistic perpetrator, last Monday (Jan 4) dawn. As consequence, the mother and son, dwellers of the house were in agony because of beaten up severely by means of sharp weapon.

The victims of such violence were Gusti Ayu Murni Maherdi, 45, a teacher at senior high school or SMAN 2 Semarapura and her second son Dewa Gede Wirateja, 17, who is a student of senior high school. After the death of her husband, Gusti Maherdi only lived with her second son, while her first son lived in Denpasar. Ironically, the violence ensued at a house located within a densely populated settlement. It was unknown about the chronology of the incident. Both victims could not be asked about their information by police because they stayed shocked and should get intensive treatment at hospital.

Allegedly, the incident took place around 03:00 am Local time when both victims were sleeping soundly in their room and so did their surrounding residents. Suddenly, it was heard a shout to ask for help indicating a thief was taking action from the house of victims. The victim’s neighbor, Wayan Lunga, who is also a teacher at senior high school, rushed to go to the house of victim. How surprised he was when he encountered the victim Wirateja was lying down and splattered with blood, suffered from serious injury on chest and torn wound as well as broken bone on left hand. More than that, Lunga also found the victim Gusti Maherdi

was splattered with blood on her face and head that alleged as the cut of sharp weapon. Unfortunately, Lunga did not see the perpetrator.

Observing such tragic incident, Lunga informed the surrounding residents. Together with his local residents, Lunga evacuated the victim by pick-up vehicle to Bintang Hospital that is only some meters from crime scene. Since their injuries were serious, both victims were then referred to Sanglah Hospital. Lunga who reported the case of the incident with Ni Nengah Muliadi, 37, told the police that before they were taken to hospital, the victim Gusti Maherdi once explained that perpetrator entered into their house through her window. When caught by surprise, perpetrator got angry and threatened the victims.

Actually, the victim has submitted her belongings to her fate so perpetrator could take them. However, Gusti Maherdi also shouted and asked her son (victim Wirateja—ed) to run away and left the house. At that time, perpetrator got angrier. When seeing the victim Wirateja would like to open the door, perpetrator cut his chest by sharp weapon. In addition, perpetrator also cut his weapon randomly to the face of victim Maherdi and back part of her head. (kmb20)

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

3

Badung House Confused to Select Special Committee Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The circle of Badung House was made confused by many proposals on the establishment of Special Committee. Up to the plenary session of Badung House, there were 25 proposals urging for that. However, out of those several proposals, it was ensured that there would be a number of Special Committees that would be cancelled.

Out of the total 25 proposals, 12 proposals of them denoted the aspiration of the member of the House formulated in the meeting of Assembly Agency. Meanwhile, provincial government advanced 13 other proposals.

Deputy Head of Badung House, I Ketut Suiasa, said that 13 proposals delivered by provincial government posed the findings of the province regarding to regional legislation in Badung considered to have been obsolete and needed revising. According to him, until the recent meeting of Assembly Agency, the Badung House has not obtained information about 13 proposals from the province. “We just received a letter from the executive concerning with 13 regional legislation needing revision,” he said.

Meanwhile, the matter of 12 proposals on Special Committee from the legislative, Suiasa asserted that two of them have become regional legislation draft. Other than 12 proposals, there was also possibility on the addition of proposal but it would depend on the situation developing pursuant to the need of regional government.

Furthermore, Suiasa asserted that the

establishment of Special Committee should be observed in terms of several aspects. They consisted of priority, principle of technical orientation approach based on the leading sector and commission as well as material review to see its substance, direction and purpose of the special committee.

More than that, the establishment of Special Committee also had correlation to the preparation of budget. According to him, Badung House had four activities with three times of session within a year.

In other words, there would be eight Special Committees that could be formed and could work. “On that account, now it should be assessed which Special Committees are possible to be formed,” he said.

In the meantime, the Head of Commission C, I Nyoman Satria, described that especially for 13 Special Committees asked by the province, could be made into one Special Committee. Moreover, the 13 regional legislations needed revising emptied out into tax and regional charges. “I think they could be combined into one Special Committee to make it more efficient,” he said.

Regarding to the proposal of the House, he requested those forwarding the proposal could describe or present the importance of Special Committee establishment.

Satria judged there were a number of Special Committees that were unnecessary to be formed. For instance, the Special Committee on Responsibility Report (LKPJ).

“LKPJ poses a regular report so it is unnecessary to establish its Special Committee,” he added. (ded)

JKBM Begins to Prevail, Thirteen Obsolete Regional Lacks of Socialization Legislations in Badung Province Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Even though Bali Mandara Health Insurance (JKBM) has been implemented since last Friday (Jan 1), but no residents took advantage the health facility at Sanglah Hospital. Based on the monitoring of Bali Post on last Monday (Jan 4) there were some residents taking medical treatment to Sanglah Hospital and asked how to use the JKBM facility. Meanwhile, another patient would like to take advantage the JKBM for traffic accident case but it was told that JKBM did not cover a patient of traffic accident.

“Up to these days, indeed there are no residents harnessing the facility. Probably, because it is newly implemented and needs more socialization,” said Section Head of Out-Patient Medical Services, Ken Wirasandhi, met last Monday (Jan 4). He confessed there were some health treatments that were not covered by JKBM. One of them was the case of traffic accident because Jasa Raharja or Jamsostek insurance has covered it.

Other than traffic accident case, the health cases excluded in the coverage of JKBM consisted of HIV/AIDS, immunization beyond the basic ones, inherent physical defect, chemotherapy, circumcision, disease due to suicidal cause, service being inappropriate with procedures, patient of drug addiction as well as the rental of ambulance and transportation.

Furthermore, Ken explained that Sanglah Hospital only provided with JKBM if patient brought reference from Regional Hospital (RSUD). Pri-

marily, he said that JKBM had a flow of treatment ranging from village to community health service and then to RSUD, while the Sanglah Hospital was the last or central reference.

JKBM itself denoted a program of health services intended for Bali community having no health insurance both compulsory, optional, community health insurance or social labor insurance.

The initial service was at community health service (Puskesmas) where patients were enough to present their ID card. The patients would be asked whether they have had health insurance. If they have not, they would get JKBM service, but if they have, they would be suggested to use the health insurance owned. “The rich having no health insurance may harness the JKBM but they should follow the existing procedures and be willing to receive the treatment at third class,” explained Ken. The Head of Bali Health Services, Nyoman Sutedja, when contacted not long ago said that residents of Bali having Bali ID card that would like to get medical treatment, they could come to community health services nearby only by presenting Bali ID card they had. If community health service could not handle the treatment, they would be referred to Regional Hospital. If this hospital could not handle the patient, either; it would be referred to Sanglah Hospital. “Therefore, it could not come directly to Sanglah Hospital just by presenting ID card without reference letter from Regional Hospital or came right away to Regional Hospital without reference from community health services,” he added. (kmb24)

Reminds to Revise Them

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Bali Provincial Government reminded the Badung Regency Government regarding to 13 expired Regional Legislation concerning with Charges in Badung.

Those Regional Legislations have been 10 years old on average and were judged to have been irrelevant to be implemented.

These findings were revealed in the plenary session of Badung House organized last Monday (Jan 4).

Teens of such obsolete Regional Legislations denoted the findings of Inspectorate of Bali Province examining on last August 28, 2009. Other than considered irrelevant, those obsolete Regional Legislations were also considered inappropriate with the Act No. 28/2009 regarding to Tax and Regional Charges. On average, those regional legislations were made in last 1999.

Deputy Head of Badung House I Ketut Suiasa admitted, the letter from provincial government was just received by his party from Badung executive. In the letter of executive to Badung House No. 180/4340/ Hk dated December 28, 2009, regarding to Priority of Regional Legislation Draft Proposal 2010 was mentioned that in 2010 government planned a regional legalization program that would put priority and proposed 14 Regional Legislation drafts.

In addition, it required a revision for the Regent Regulation No. 28/2008 regarding to the Formation of Organization and Unit Procedure on Integrated Services in order to be improved into Regional Legislation, based on Regulation of Minister of Home Affairs No. 20/2008 on the Guidelines and Procedures of Integrated Services Unit in the region. However, it was not clarified when the executive would propose the draft of revision.

Meanwhile, Division Head of Law at Regional Secretary of Badung, I Ketut Martha, said it did not necessarily mean that revision could be done to obsolete regional legislations. Nevertheless, currently his party confessed to learn about the findings of provincial government.

Besides, his party was also adjusting it with the higher regulations. “We are learning and adjusting so we could not deliver its revision draft the House,” said Martha.

Furthermore, he also said the need of coordination with related institutions in the circle of Badung Government like Regional Revenue Agency (Dispenda), Housing, Planning and Urban Development Services and other Working System of Regional Apparatus. “Obviously, we targeted that revision could be performed in this 2010,” he asserted. (ded)

4

News

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

International

AP sources: Bomber at CIA base was a double agent AP

WASHINGTON – The suicide bomber who killed eight people inside a CIA base in Afghanistan claimed to have information about Osama bin Laden’s second-in-command, and was being recruited as a double agent to infiltrate al-Qaida, a former senior U.S. intelligence official and a foreign government official confirmed Monday.

The bombing killed seven CIA employees — four officers and three contracted security guards — and a Jordanian intelligence officer, Ali bin Zaid, according to a second former U.S. intelligence official. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the incident.

The former senior intelligence official and the foreign official said the bomber was Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, a 36-year old doctor from Zarqa, Jordan, who had been recruited by Jordanian intelligence. Zarqa is the hometown of slain Al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

NBC News first reported the bomber’s identity.

He was arrested more than a year ago by Jordanian intelligence and was thought to have been persuaded to support U.S. and Jordanian efforts against al-Qaida, according to the NBC report. He was invited to Camp Chapman, a tightly secured CIA forward base in Khost province on the fractious Afghan-Pakistan frontier, because he was offering urgent information to track down Ayman al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man. The CIA declined to comment on the report.

Hajj Yacoub, a self-proclaimed spokesman for the Taliban in Pakistan, identified the bomber on Muslim militant Web sites as Hammam Khalil Mohammed, also known as Abu-Dujana alKhurasani. There was no independent confirmation of Yacoub’s statement.

Al-Balawi was not searched for bombs when he got onto Camp Chapman, according to both former officials and a current in-

telligence official.

He detonated the explosive shortly after his debriefing began, according to one of the former intelligence officials. In addition to the eight dead, there were at least six wounded, according to the CIA. The bodies of seven CIA employees arrived Monday at Dover Air Force Base in a small private ceremony attended by CIA Director Leon Panetta, other agency and national security officials, and friends and family.

The former senior intelligence official said one of the big unanswered questions is why so many people were present for the debriefing — the interview of the source — when the explosive was detonated.

A half-dozen former CIA officers told The Associated Press that in most cases, only one or two agency officers would typically meet with a possible informant along with an interpreter. Such small meetings would normally be used to limit the danger and the possible exposure of the identities of both officers and informants.

An online jihadist magazine in September 2009 posted an interview with al-Balawi, according to SITE Monitoring Service, a terrorist watch group that reads and translates messages on extremist forums.

SITE said Monday that alBalawi used his pseudonym — identified as Khorsani — in the postings, describing how he rose through the ranks of online jihadist forums. He said he went to Afghanistan to fight, and he exhorted others to do violence.

“No words are more eloquent than those proven by acts, so that if that Muslim survives, he will be one who proves his words with acts. If he dies in the Cause of Allah, he will grant his words glory that will be permanent marks on the path to guide to jihad, with permission from Allah,” al-Balawi wrote, according to SITE’s translation.

A Jordanian government official, who was not authorized to speak to the press, said the Jordanian government has no connection to the bomber. The official said the Jordanian government had not verified whether the bomber was Jordanian.

AFP/Getty Images/File

The CIA symbol is shown on the floor of its headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

A traffic policeman inspects cars in the Yemeni capital Sanaa January 4, 2010.

U.S. embassy reopens in Yemen after threat Reuters

SANAA (Reuters) – The U.S. embassy in Yemen reopened on Tuesday, an embassy official said, a day after Yemeni forces killed two al Qaeda militants they said were behind a threat that forced U.S. and European missions to close.

“We are reopened,” a U.S. embassy official said. The embassy had closed on Sunday in response to what it said were threats from al Qaeda. Washington says the group is trying to use Yemen as a base for attacks far beyond the region.

Yemen was thrust into the foreground of the U.S.-led war against Islamist militants after a Yemenbased wing of al Qaeda said it was behind a Christmas Day bomb attempt on a U.S.-bound plane.

A number of western embassies closed their doors this week due to security fears. U.S. Secretary of

State Hillary Clinton said fighting in Yemen was a threat to regional and global stability.

The British and French embassies resumed operations on Tuesday but remained closed to the public, diplomats at those missions said.

Yemeni forces killed at least two al Qaeda militants on Monday they said were behind the threat that forced the foreign embassies to close, and President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Yemen was “ready to confront and defeat anyone thinking of harming the country and its security.”

Yemen had already stepped up

security on its coastline to block entry to militants from reaching its shores from Somalia, and said it was monitoring al Qaeda militants in two provinces.

The Yemeni government is fighting a Shi’ite Muslim rebellion in the north and separatist unrest in the south.

The West and Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda will take advantage of Yemen’s instability to spread its operations to the neighboring kingdom, the world’s biggest oil exporter, and beyond. Yemen itself produces a small amount of oil.

Placed strategically on the Arabian Peninsula’s southern rim, Yemen, the poorest Arab country, has shrinking oil reserves and faces a water crisis. Its population of 23 million is expected to double in the next 20 years.

Letters prompt anthrax scares across Alabama AP

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Envelopes containing white powder set off anthrax scares in five Alabama cities, shutting down two federal courthouses Monday and trapping a congressman in his office as authorities tested the substance.

No one was injured, and investigators said at least five of the letters — all sent to the offices of senators or congressmen — were believed to be from the same source.

None of the letters tested positive for anthrax or other hazardous substances, but officials didn’t immediately say what they contained.

Authorities said letters containing white powder were sent to the Mobile and Foley offices of Republican Rep. Jo Bonner, who was forced to

remain with staffers in the Mobile office while officials tested the substance.

“Each letter contained a small bag with a white powdery substance, and neither of these bags were opened,” said Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Bonner.

The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said letters also were sent to the offices of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and U.S. Sens. Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby in Montgomery. FBI spokeswoman Angela Tobon said all the letters sent to the lawmakers’ offices appeared to be from a common source.

Two more letters were sent to the federal courthouse in Anniston, and another letter was found at a federal courthouse in Birmingham, where an employee doing extra work found the first envelope Sunday at the Robert Vance Federal Building.

“It wasn’t anything that was dan-

gerous,” said Dr. Donald Williamson, head of the Alabama Department of Public Health.

With the Vance building already closed through Wednesday as a precaution, authorities were called to the federal courthouse in Anniston on Monday morning after mysterious powder was found in an office there, prompting another shutdown.

“We did sample it and test it, and it came back negative for a hazardous material,” said Anniston Fire Chief Bill Fincher.

Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby said the letter found at Bonner’s office there tested positive for “a very common household product,” but he wouldn’t elaborate. The letter apparently was delivered last Thursday and sat unopened during the long New Year’s holiday weekend.

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

Wednesday, January 6, 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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6

News

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Vietnam condemns China’s island tourism plans AFP

HANOI (AFP) – Vietnam has condemned what it says is a Chinese plan to develop tourism on the disputed Paracel archipelago.

The Paracels would be included in China’s plan to develop nearby Hainan island into an international tourist site, Vietnamese foreign ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said in a statement late Monday.

China announced its intention on December 31, the ministry said.

Nga demanded China immediately end the plan which “causes tension and further complicates the East Sea situation”.

Vietnam and China have a long-standing dispute over sovereignty of the Paracels and a more southerly archipelago, the Spratlys. Both are in the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea. On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Beijing had “taken note” of the Vietnamese protest.

She added: “I want to reiterate that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratleys and the Paracels.”

In December, Vietnam and Russia signed a major arms deal which reportedly involves the purchase of six submarines. Analysts said the deal aims to bolster Hanoi’s claims against China over the potentially resource-rich islands.

Vietnam says its policy is to ensure a peaceful outcome to the maritime disputes.

Vietnamese students shout anti-China slogans during a protest in Hanoi against the Chinese occupation

AFP/File –

Philippine massacre suspect pleads not guilty AFP

MANILA (AFP) – The prime suspect in the massacre of 57 people in the volatile southern Philippines last year pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to multiple counts of murder.

The case against Andal Ampatuan Jnr, a local mayor and a leader of a powerful clan, has thrown the spotlight on the nation’s corruptionplagued political and justice systems.

More than 30 heavily-armed police escorts took Ampatuan to a special court inside the national police headquarters for his arraignment and a bail hearing, the first steps in judicial proceedings that many fear could drag on for years.

“Not guilty,” Ampatuan Jnr’s lawyer Sigfrid Fortun told the court when asked to enter a plea as his client stood beside him.

The judge adjourned the hearing until January 13 after the prosecution asked to present over a dozen witnesses to block Ampatuan’s application for bail.

Ampatuan Jnr allegedly led 100 of his men in stopping a convoy carrying supporters of a political rival and journalists in the southern province of Maguindanao on November 23.

The victims were systematically murdered and buried in shallow pits or dumped in grasslands near a highway in Maguindanao, where Amapatuan Jnr’s father and namesake was governor.

Those killed in the worst political murders in the Philippines included

pregnant women and about 30 journalists.

Ampatuan Jr pleaded not guilty to 41 counts of murder on Tuesday, but is expected to be charged with 57 counts when final death certificates are processed.

Ampatuan Snr and several other clan members were arrested after martial law was imposed in Manguindanao and charged with rebellion. No date for their court appearance has been set.

Ramon Casiple, an analyst with the Institute for Political and Economic Reform, said the public must monitor the trial “every step of the way.”

“What we are facing here is a very strong clan with very strong political connections and the capability to intimidate or even kill witnesses,” he told AFP. “This puts the justice system to a test, because past cases with heavy political overtones have never been satisfactorily concluded.”

Casiple cited the trial of former president Joseph Estrada, who was deposed in a military-backed popular revolt in 2001, for massive corruption.

After a marathon six-year trial, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, only to be pardoned and set free by his successor Gloria Arroyo.

“At the end of the day, it’s still politics talking. And these warlords will not go down quietly,” Casiple said.

One judge had already backed out

from the explosive case, saying he feared for his life. There have also been calls from prosecutors for the justice department to ensure the safety of witnesses.

In a report to Congress defending martial law, Arroyo said those massacred bore “marks of despicable torture, contempt and outrageous torment.”

Relatives of the victims said they hoped for a swift trial, but were also prepared for a drawn out legal battle.

“I believe we will get a speedy trial,” said Myrna Reblando, whose husband Alejandro was among the journalists slain. “Those of us who are left behind, however, are prepared to fight for justice however long it may take.”

Ampatuan Snr had controlled Maguindanao province for most of the past decade and was grooming his son to take his place as governor in national elections in May. Ampatuan Snr’s influence and power grew because Arroyo allowed him to maintain a 3,000-strong heavily armed militia as part of a government strategy to contain Muslim separatist insurgents in the south.

In exchange for the support, Ampatuan also helped deliver votes from the province to Arroyo and her candidates in the 2004 election allegedly through cheating.

The shocking crime forced her to cut political ties with the clan, but critics say the Ampatuans may still hold enough political power to avoid the penalties many believe they deserve.

1,000 people homeless on Solomons after tsunami AP

HONIARA, Solomon Islands – A disaster management official says an earthquake and a tsunami have destroyed 200 homes on one island in the Solomons leaving about onethird of the population homeless.

Disaster management office director Loti Yates says visual assessments from the air Tuesday show extensive damage after a 7.2-magnitude temblor struck.

No injuries have been reported some 30 hours after the biggest in a series of quakes churned a tsunami wave that was up to 10 feet (3 meters) high as it plowed into a remote region in the nation’s west on Monday.

Yates says more than 1,000 people have been affected after some 200 houses were destroyed.

Only 3,600 people live on Rendova, one of the Solomon Islands some 190 miles (300 kilometers) from the capital Honiara.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (AP) — Earthquakes and a tsunami that slammed the Solomon Islands sent hillsides crashing down and inundated homes, but residents’ memories of earlier disasters probably helped prevent any casualties, officials and residents said Tuesday.

No injuries were reported some 30 hours after the biggest in a series of quakes churned a tsunami wave that was up to 10 feet (3 meters) high as it plowed into a remote region in the nation’s west on Monday.

Authorities were still trying to reach hard-hit areas on Rendova and Tetepare islands, and to account for an unknown number of people believed to have fled their villages, police commissioner Peter Marshall told The Associated Press.

Photographs taken from police helicopters Tuesday showed debris lining the foreshore and damaged houses on the coasts of Rendova and Tetepare, as well as deep scars on hills and cliffs caused by landslides, he said.

The largest quake — magnitude

7.2 — happened about 9:30 a.m. local time Monday and caused the tsunami to hit the coast a short time later. At least nine other quakes greater than magnitude 5.0 have rocked the earthquake-prone region since.

Residents said past disasters made them better prepared this time.

In April 2007, an 8.1 temblor unleashed a tsunami that killed more than 50 people. A quake-churned tsunami that killed more than 200 on nearby Samoa and Tonga in September was another reminder, locals said.

“People are very sensitive, as a quake conjures up memories and people immediately begin going to higher ground,” Marshall said.

“The fact it was daylight, the isolated nature of the wave and that the landslides were in a relatively sparsely populated area” also helped, he said.

In the provincial capital Gizo, dive shop owner Danny Kennedy said the general rule is that “if there’s anything more than 20 seconds of shaking or any sea water recedes, head for the hills.”

A police boat patrolled Tuesday to check the coastline, where many homes are at sea level, making them vulnerable to tsunamis, National Disaster Management Office spokesman Julian Makaa said. No casualties had been reported so far, he said.

One village, Retavo, home to about 20 people, was reportedly completely inundated by a wall of sea water up to 10 feet (3 meters) high, but Makaa said no deaths or injuries had been reported there.

Another disaster management official, Loti Yates, said earlier at least 16 houses were destroyed and 32 damaged in Baniata village on Rendova, an island some 190 miles (300 kilometers) from the capital, Honiara, where about 3,600 people live.

Emergency food, water and tarpaulins were being shipped in.

The Solomon Islands lie on the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim and where about 90 percent of the world’s quakes occur.

AFP/File –

File photo shows a series of islands in the remote Western Province of the Solomon Islands.

Indonesia Today

International

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

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One dead, 12 injured as train hits minibus Antara

FOTO ANTARA/Prasetyo Utomo

The head of corruption eradication commission (KPK) Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean (middle) raise his hand together with the member of anti-mafia law team after their meeting at Jakarta on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

JAKARTA - One person died and 12 others were injured in a collision between a commuter train and a minibus near Pasar Minggu train station here on Tuesday (Jan 5) morning, police said.

Commissioner Hasan Untoro, head of the South Jakarta police’s traffic unit, said the remains of the dead victim was sent to Fatmawati Hospital while the injured were brought to Pasar Rebo hospital.

The police were still on location to investigate the cause of the tragic accident.

However, it was presumed the minibus had defied a stop signal at a railway crossing.

The minibus was dragged over a distance of up to 100 meters by the train before the latter came to a stop at the nearest train station.

Anto, a witness of the accident, said most of the injured victims had wounds on their heads. The morning accident also caused a traffic jam in the area.

Power supply problems overcome by October 2010 Antara

JAKARTA - The electricity supply problems in a number of regions in Indonesia will be overcome by October 2010, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa said.

“Outages in a number of regions will be overcome in the next 10 months,” he said in his evaluation of economic performance in 2009 and prospects for 2010.

He said the state electricity company PLN would take steps to overcome electricity crisis in several regions by among others continuing the purchase of excess power of other companies.

In terms of finance, he said, the government would improve PLN’s

finance by increasing its funding to reach Rp30 trillion.

The additional funding would be taken from the increasing margin from formerly five percent against the principle production cost (BPP) to eight percent.

With the BPP in 2009 reaching Rp140 trillion an increase of one percent in margin would need Rp11.2 trillion.

By increasing the margin from five to eight percent it means PLN’s

margin would increase from Rp7 trillion to Rp11.2 trillion.

“Based on one percent increase in margin PLN will be able to borrow up to Rp7 trillion and so with an increase of three percent PLN’s debt capacity will reach Rp21 trillion,” he said.

The rest, he said, would be covered with the government’s capital participation totaling Rp10 trillion.

“The additional Rp30 trillion funds will make PLN healthy and at the same time able to overcome outages this year,” he said.

As the government will not raise the electricity tariff the increased margin would be covered by subsidy hike.

Greenpeace: Stop all tree logging activity in 2010 Antara

JAKARTA - Greenpeace expects the Indonesian government to start realizing its commitment to reduce national carbon emissions by stopping all trees logging activity in 2010.

“The government should start by stopping all tree logging activities this year,” Greenpeace’s Southeast Asia campaigner Bustar Maitar said here on Tuesday.

Bustar added the government must also revoke all land-use permits given to companies, especially on peat moss and forest areas in the country.

Thereby, Bustar argued, the government

would live up to its commitment to lower carbon emissions by 26 percent by 2020.

“Stopping the damage to peat moss and forest areas is the most effective way to reduce the green house effect in the world,” he said.

Bustar added the government would not need an excessive amount of money to stop tree logging activities. Therefore, the government could allocate the climate change litigation fund given by international organizations to people’s empowerment programs.

“We will find a way to reduce the greenhouse effect in a cheaper way so that the rest of the international funding can be used to finance activities to empower local people,” he said.

“We will discuss it with the House of Representatives,” he said.

PLN recorded by October 2009 11 of 24 national electricity systems suffered a deficit of power by 460.2MW. Only two systems under normal conditions and 11 others are on alert, he said.

He said PLN categorizes its power system into three namely normal when no outage occurs and operational reserves are bigger than the biggest unit of generators, alert when no outage occurs but the potential is there because operational reserves are smaller than the biggest unit of generators and then deficit when outages occur because power is smaller than the peak burden or transmission

system is disrupted.

Eleven systems detected to suffer a deficit are the southern part of Sumatra (198.3 MW), South Sulawesi (145.7 MW), the northern part of Sumatra (70MW), Minahasa (27.51 MW), Tanjung Pinang (7.4 MW), Palu (5.96 MW), Kendari (2.1 MW), Poso (1.71 MW), Sampit (0.8 MW), Ambon (0.56 MW) and Singkawang (0.16 MW).

The systems that are normal are the Java-Bali and Bontang while the systems under alert are Bangka, Belitung, Batam, Pontianak, Lombok, Barito, Mahakam, Gorontalo, Kupang, Ternate and Jayapura.

Ship about to leave for Sumenep Islands catches fire Antara

SUMENEP - Motor sailboat (KLM) Artasari carrying 60 tons of fuel oil in its hold which caught fire at a local people’s pier in Gresik Putih village, Kalianget subdistrict, Sumenep regency, Madura, East Java, on Monday at 4.45 p.m local time, was supposed to leave for Kangean Island, Sumenep.

“According to reliable sources, the 60 tons of fuel oil belonged to Iksan, Premium and Diesel Oil agent in Kangean. The ship was about to leave for Kangean,” Sumenep police chief Adjuct Sernior Commissioner Mualimin said here Monday night.

But, he added, when vessel was about to

leave, there was an explosion and the vessel caught fire.

“For the time being, we are still trying to find the real cause of the fire,” Mualimin said.

The fuel oil comprised 50 tons of gasoline and 10 tens of diesel oil.

One person was killed and two others sustained burns. The fatality was Jumaat, still a teenage boy who was fishing near the incident.

The two who sustained burns were crew members Mustafa and Ahmadiansah who are being hospitalized in Sumenep, while the fate of two other crewmen M. Nur and Ashadi was still unknown.

“For the time being, it is assumed that the ill-fated ship had a crew of four,” Mualimin said.

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Internationa

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Bali Today Serangan – Benoa Freeway to be built Antara

DENPASAR – The freeway connecting Serangan and Benoa must be built right away in order to reduce the traffic in southern Bali area. Ida Bagus Gede Udiyana, the member of commission III in Bali House of Representative, said “the freeway could become the solution to reduce the traffic in Ngurah Rai area.”

The high increase of vehicles in Bali especially in Badung and Denpasar affected the traffic in those cities. The government must act promptly to solve the problem especially Bali is one of the most famous tourist destination in the world.

Udiyana said that if the government doesn’t find the correct solution then there is no chance Bali will free from traffic jam especially the road leading to Ngurah Rai Airport. “We can see from the current condition where traffic jam always occurs from Pesanggaran to Ngurah Rai Airport,” he added.

The people who wanted to go to Nusa Dua will use the new freeway even if they must pay because it will have less traffic.

Meanwhile, for the fly over plan, the house agrees if there are already research and examination so it won’t harm the culture and religiosity of Bali. From the data gathered from various sources, the freeway will be built for 2 kilometers on the mangrove forest and 2.3 kilometers near the beach.

While in Serangan the road will be 2.6 kilometers long. A bridge will be built to connect the road as long as 350 meters so the total length of the road will be 9.91 kilometers.

FOTO ANTARA/R. Rekotomo

Workers finishing freeway that connecting Semarang with Solo. The similar freeway connecting Serangan and Benoa also to be built right away in order to reduce the traffic in southern Bali area. Ida Bagus Gede Udiyana, the member of commission III in Bali House of Representative, said “the freeway could become the solution to reduce the traffic in Ngurah Rai area.”

Legacy Treasures of I Wayan Djudjul Biennale of Balinese traditional painting was first organized in Ubud. This event exhibited 180 paintings of Balinese traditional style by young and old painters. It was historical for Balinese traditional painting, because almost 40 years since its birth, it was only this time the even was held.

Most followers of Balinese painting style definitely have died. One of them is I Wayan Djudjul, a painted from Tebesaya Village, Ubud.

I Wayan Djudjul breathed his last by the age of 65 years. His sudden death made many art enthusiasts in Bali shocked. Of course, Djudjul

was one of the famous painters having traditional style. Collectors favored his works due to the techniques acquiered. Besides, his works had distinctive identity and were different from that of other traditional famous painters.

Djudjul initiated his career as painter and it happened by chance.

BTN/Doc

The painting of I Wayan Djudjul

Originally, he was a student of Fine Arts, Department of Ceramics, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). At that time in 1961, he departed to Badung to continue his study by the assistance of his elder brother having profession as painter of Balinese traditional style.

Almost three years, he studied there while took side job by making relief with some classmates just to look for additional living cost.

However, such sweet moment did not last longer because his elder brother financing his study suddenly died. With severe sadness, Djudjul should go home and stop studying. His respect to the elder brother made him willing to release his individual aspirations to become a scholar in arts.

Afterward, he followed the message of his elder brother to take care of his brother’s wife and three children who remained very little then.

Later on, he was married with the wife of his brother and endowed with five children.

To support his life, Djudjul did painting. However, he was not painting by modern technique usually found during his lecture. He even painted in traditional style as performed by his elder brother. He attempted to make different painting. In other words, he gave emphasis on the description of details on the embellishment of clothes or accessories. It was clearly seen particularly on the paintings had theme Dancer.

Aside from painting, Djudjul

also gave the same opportunity to children at his home village to learn painting from him. To him, life skill was much more significant than giving some amount of money.

“Providing them with life skill means arming them a lifetimestock,” he said when asked about the activity as a teacher.

His patient and polite characteristic made him respected very much. Similarly, he did not become arrogant when his paintings were searched by people to be collected.

It was different from most other painters, when they have been famous, the price of their painting would be set at higher price. Djudjul was not like that. “I always set them at normal price and if too expensive, I will feel ashamed,” he said frankly.

The glamour of his popularity as a painter was probably less famous than other well-known painters. It was proven by many museums in Ubud exhibiting the works of Djudjul as their collection. Because, the presence of Djudjul in the arena of Balinese traditional painting actually was very significant for the development of Balinese traditional style at Tebesaya where he lived and Bali in general.

Many young painters finally followed his style so it turned typical in the realm of Balinese traditional painting. Respect is worth dedicating to Djudjul because he has implanted good foundation to painting generation after him through distinctive style. (BTN/Gung Man)

al

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Balinese Culture Bali growing forest to meet craftsmen’s timber needs

(Clear Tripe Soup) Overview: This is usually served with sambel tomat as a contrasting condiment. The sugar cane is used to help soften the tripe rather than to add any sweetness to the soup.

Antara

DENPASAR - Bali’s forestry office is currently growing forests of certain tree species to meet the timber needs of local small and handicraft industries, especially those producing wooden sculptures.

“The trees planted in the forest cultivation project consist of mahogany, Bentawas, Panggal Buaya and Trembesi (rain tree) and now cover a total area of 583 hectares,” the head of Bali’s Provincial Forestry Office, Anak Agung Ngurah Buana, said in Denpasar on Monday.

He said the locations of the cultivated forests were in Jembrana and Buleleng districts.

The trees were planted beside quick-yielding food crops such as corn, cassava and a variety of ground nuts.

Thus farmers would also get an income from the cultivated forests where the timber can be harvested only after at least 10 years, Agung Buana said.

Therefore, if the planting was done continuously on every inch of vacant land, local sculpting craftsmen would always have enough raw materials for their activity.

Bali constantly needs enormous volumes of timber as raw material for its sculpting industries which so far

Soto Babat

http://upload.wikimedia.org

Bali’s forestry office is currently growing forests of certain tree species to meet the timber needs of local small and handicraft industries, especially those producing wooden sculptures. have to buy it from other regions.

Therefore, by cultivating forests of specific trees in many locations it was expected Bali’s dependence on raw material from outside the province can be gradually reduced.

The timber plantations would also have a positive impact on the local people’s economy, especially of people living around the cultivated forests, Agung Buana said.

Bali has a 130,686 hectares forest area consisting of 95,766 hectares of protected forest (73.28 percent),

26,293 hectares of conservation forest (20.12 percent) and 8,626 hectares of production forests (6.60 percent).

The forest area is only 22 percent of Bali’s land area, whereas ideally it should reach up to 30 percent of the island’s land territory.

The movement to cultivate forests of selected trees as raw material for sculpture making on critical land was expected to make Bali’s air cooler and help preserve the functions of the island’s forest areas’ ecosystems, Agung Buana said.

Ingredients: 600 gr beef tripe, cleaned and washed well 3 liter water 1 liter beef stock 1 cup beef spice paste 5 cm sugar can stem, split lengthwise (optional) 2,5 cm ginger, peeled and sliced lengthwise 4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 1 tbsp distilled white vinegar 200 gr giant white radish, peeled and diced in 1 cm cubes 5 sprigs celery leaf chipped 1 tbsp fried shallots Preparation: Rinse tripe well under running water until very clean.

Bring water to boil in a large pan, add tripe and simmer until soft approx 1 hour.

Strain water and cool tripe in ice water. Cut in pieces approx 2,5 cm x 1cm. Bring beef, beef spice paste, sugar cane, ginger, garlic and vinegar to boil. Add tripe and radish. Simmer until vegetables are soft. Garnish with celery leaf and fried shallots.

Helpful hints: Any type of summer squash or Chinese winter melon can be used instead of giant white radish (Japanese daikon). This soup reheats well.sing cabbage, the cooking time will be much shorter. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with fried shallots. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

Ayam Pelalah

(Shredded Chicken with Chilies & Lime) Overview: You can use any type of leftover chicken (roast, steamed or fried) for this delightfully tangy chicken salad Ingredients: 1 whole chicken, weighing about 1.2 kg (2 ½ lb) 1 cup chicken spice paste ½ cup tomato sambal 3 tbsp freshly squeezed limejuice Preparation: 1. Rub the chicken outside and inside with the spice paste, and season with salt and crushed black pepper.

2. Place on wire rack in oven and roast first at 220 Celsius (420 F) for 20 min, then reduce heat to 180 Celsius (350 F) and roast until done. Frequently baste chicken with a mixture of coconut oil and chicken spice paste.

3. When cool, remove and discard the skin. Remove meat from bones and shred by hand into fine strips.

4. Combine chicken stripes with remaining ingredients. Mix well and season to taste. Serve at room temperature with steamed rice. (www.baliguide.com/ balifood)

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Destinations

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

International

Banjar Hot Water Banjar Hot Water is a nature hot wellspring from the ground and it is believed can heal the disease. Its water is accommodated at one small swimming pool encircled by unique rural nature, its situation close to the Wihara (Buda Temple). Banjar Hot Water is located in Banjar Country-

side, Banjar sub district and Singaraja Regency. It is about 1,5 Km from Banjar or 24 Km from Singaraja Town. To reach the Hot Water location in Banjar, we can use the motor vehicle through the main road with good condition and passing the Balinese Village with unique

culture life. The nearest accommodations like hotels or lodging including restaurants are also available in particular at Lovina Beach area.

There are many public transportation also available to connect the travel to Singaraja town.

This hot wellspring source is predictably built since of hundreds of year ago and since the Japanese colonize the Indonesia, this place has developed into three pools to relocate the water for taking a bath. The Japanese had also developed its military officer resort close to this area.

Having bathing in the heat water containing the brimstone, it will be able to heal the skin disease. This public bath which is built by Japanese now is exploited by public society. Beside of that, now this place is opened for tourist who can use this bathing place to swim in hot pool and also enjoy the water fall. Enjoying the hot water fall, we can feel like squeezing, especially at pool equipped by the douche with the

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high about 3,5 meters, so that can make the body refresh and relaxation.

Hot water in Banjar is progressively recognized to be a place of interest in north of Bali or a tourist destination in Singaraja Bali. Now this place visited by many tourist from local and Foreign countries. It is a mini tourism object which is

easily reached from Lovina Beach and it is opened daily from 07.00 am until 18.00 pm daily except Nyepi Day (Silent Day). From Singaraja Town, take the way to Gilimanuk or to the west part of Singaraja and we will meet the Banjar Countryside which is show the direction sigh of this hotel water place. (www.balistarisland.com)

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11

BUSINESS Dubai opens world’s tallest US manufacturing skyscraper at 828 metres sector sees acceleration Agence France-Presse

Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The US manufacturing sector posted its strongest pace of activity since April 2006 last month as factories ramped up production to make up for a massive drawdown in inventories, a survey showed Monday.

The Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index, also known as the purchasing managers index, climbed to 55.9 percent in December from 53.6 percent in November, for a fifth consecutive month of expansion.

The figure was stronger than the consensus estimate of a modest rise to 54.3 percent. Any number above 50 percent indicates growth.

“The sector may be benefiting from an excessive destocking cycle,” said Norbert Ore, chair of the ISM survey committee.

“Inventories have been ‘too low’ for nine consecutive months, and this month’s index is the lowest reading since the inception of the index in January 1997.

Overall, the recovery in manufacturing is continuing, but there are still some industries mired in the downturn.”

The ISM report showed nine industry sectors growing, including transportation, computers, apparel and foods. Seven sectors contracted including wood, plastics and chemicals.

In the survey’s sub-indexes, new orders rose more that five percentage points to 65.5 percent and production increased nearly two points to 61.8 percent.

The employment sub-index meanwhile increased to 52 percent from 50.8 percent, suggesting the manufacturing sector is adding workers at a faster pace.

“Overall, the December survey points toward sturdy growth in manufacturing industrial production, which is forecast to have increased 1.2 percent at an annual rate in the fourth quarter,” said Ryan Sweet at Moody’s Economy.com.

Ian Shepherdson at High Frequency Economics said the ISM index “was propelled by a rebound in the new orders index, which tends to lead the other compo-

AFP PHOTO/KARIM SAHIB

Emirati men walk past Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest tower, on January 04, 2009. Once-bustling Dubai will open the world’s tallest skyscraper boasting new limits in design and construction, hopeful of polishing an image tarnished by the debt woes afflicting the Gulf emirate. Emaar, the giant property firm part-owned by the government and which developed the needle-shaped concrete, steel and glass structure, has declined to reveal Burj Dubai’s exact height. nents and therefore suggests the January headline index will rise further.”

He added: “We remain of the view that this survey overstates the pace of broad economic growth because of its large company, manufacturing bias, but overall no doubt this is a robust report.”

Two more Spanish savings banks agree to merge: report Agence France-Presse

MADRID - Two more regional Spanish savings banks, Caja Duero and Caja Espana, agreed to merge on Monday, Spanish news reports said, as the pace of consolidation in the sector gathers pace amid the country’s recession.

The two banks, both based in the northern region of Castilla y Leon, reached the deal late on Monday after months of negotiations.

Spanish newspapers said the merger would be ratified by the boards of directors on Tuesday morning.

Last month, two regional Spanish savings banks, Unicaja and Cajasur, based in the southwestern region of Andalusia, also agreed to merge, And in November two savings banks based in the northeastern region of Catalonia, Caixa Penedes

and Caixa Laietana, announced that they had decided to join forces.

Spanish banks got off relatively lightly from the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, as the country’s strict rules meant they did not invest heavily in the high-risk loans that hurt financial institutions elsewhere.

But many, especially smaller unlisted saving banks usually controlled by regional politicians, were badly hit by the collapse of the country’s once-booming property market, both through loans to developers and mortgages.

The Spanish economy, Europe’s fifth-largest, entered into recession at the end of 2008 as the international credit crunch hastened a correction which was already under way in the property sector.

Spain’s GDP contracted 0.3 percent in the third quarter, its fifth straight quarterly decline.

DUBAI - The financially troubled Gulf emirate of Dubai on Monday opened the world’s tallest building, a glistening concrete, glass and steel pinnacle rising 828 metres (2,717 feet) out of the desert sands.

Blazing fireworks rippled up and down the massive structure after it was officially opened by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum.

He renamed the building, previously known as Burj Dubai, Burj Khalifa in honour of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan.

Sheikh Khalifa is also ruler of Abu Dhabi, the emirate which came to Dubai’s help late last year to the tune of 10 billion dollars to bail out troubled property developer Nakheel, a subsidiary of Dubai World.

“Today the United Arab Emirates achieves the tallest building ever created by the hand of man... and this great project deserves to carry the name of a great man. Today I inaugurate Burj Khalifa,” Sheikh Mohammad said.

Parachutists bearing the UAE colours of red, green, black and white then touched down as a giant portrait of Sheikh Khalifa was projected on an outer wall of the structure which cost 1.5 billion dollars to erect.

In the fireworks spectacle that followed blossoms of flames crackled up and down the huge building and out into the Dubai night sky, followed later by lasers sweeping the horizon from the tower’s many levels.

Dubai hopes the opening of the Burj Khalifa — the latest in a series of grandiose projects — will burnish an image tarnished by its crippling debt woes.

The needle-shaped tower, described by its developer as a “vertical city” as it dwarfs existing skyscrapers, boasts new limits in design and construction.

Emaar Properties, the partly government-owned developer, had maintained the suspense about the skyscraper ’s final height, saying only that it exceeded 800 metres (2,625 feet).

On Monday it said the tower has more than 200 floors, only 160 of which will be inhabited, while the remaining floors are for services.

Burj Khalifa has a total builtup area of 5.67 million square feet, including 1.85 million square feet of residential space and more than 300,000 square feet

of prime office space, Emaar said.

This amounts to 1,044 apartments and 49 floors of office space, served by 57 lifts. It also has a hotel carrying the Georgio Armani logo.

Bill Baker, a structural and civil engineer and partner in Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), which designed the tower, said it has set a new benchmark.

“We thought that it would be slightly taller than the existing tallest tower of Taipei 101. (Emaar) kept on asking us to go higher but we didn’t know how high we could go,” he said.

“We were able to tune the building like we tune a music instrument. As we went higher and higher and higher, we discovered that by doing that process... we were able to reach heights much higher than we ever thought we could.”

A spiralling Y-shaped design by SOM architect Adrian Smith was used to support the structural core of the tower, which narrows as it ascends. Higher up it becomes a steel structure topped with a huge spire.

To reach the final stages, concrete was propelled to a height of 605 metres — a world record.

Monday’s inauguration of the tower comes, however, after the once-booming real estate sector of the emirate has crashed, halving the value of most Dubai properties in comparison with peak prices recorded in the summer of 2008.

It also comes as Dubai battles a serious debt crisis, resulting from the heavy borrowing by some of its state corporates to finance imposing property projects.

The emirate narrowly escaped financial catastrophe last month as neighbouring deep-pocketed Abu Dhabi threw it a last-minute lifeline worth 10 billion dollars to pay imminent debt owed by Dubai World.

The group last month began negotiations with its creditors with the hope of reaching an agreement over restructuring an accumulated debt of 22 billion dollars amassed by its troubled subsidiaries.

Dubai’s total debt mostly that of its state-owned companies, amounts to 100 billion dollars.

Abu Dhabi, and the Abu Dhabi-based central bank of the United Arab Emirates, have already extended financial aid of 25 billion dollars to Dubai since it announced early in 2009 that it needed to sort the debt problem of its firms.

Dubai’s economy was hard hit by the global financial crisis, which turned off the tap on vital foreign financing badly needed for its breakneck-speed growth.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Entertainment

International

Sandra Bullock Was The Biggest Box Office Draw Of 2009 SANDRA Bullock was the biggest draw at the box office in 2009, according to a new survey. The actress appeared in three movies in the past 12 months - romantic com-

edy The Proposal, football drama The Blind Side and comedy All About Steve.

The films proved to be most popular with theatregoers, with The Blind Side taking $193 million to date in North America alone.

Bullock’s popularity put her ahead of actors like Johnny Depp and George Clooney in the annual list

by Quigley Publishing Company, which collates various pieces of information from cinema owners across the U.S. The news tops a stellar year for the actress - she was also recently named Entertainment Weekly magazine’s Entertainer of the Year, beating stars including Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift to the top spot.

The top 10 actors with star power in 2009 is as follows: 1) Sandra Bullock 2) Johnny Depp 3) Matt Damon 4) George Clooney 5) Robert Downey Jr. 6) Tom Hanks 7) Meryl Streep 8) Brad Pitt 9) Shia LaBeouf 10) Denzel Washington

Alexa Ray Joel Defends Her Mom Christie Brinkley ALEXA Ray Joel has defended her mom Christie Brinkley over allegations the singer’s hospital visit last month was prompted after a “dysfunctional” vacation with the supermodel.

The young star, whose father is Billy Joel, was admitted to St. Vincent’s hospital in New York after experiencing breathing difficulties while taking homeopathic medication Traumeel.

She reportedly took the medication in a bid to cope with a bout of severe depression after splitting from her boyfriend.

A U.S. newspaper speculated the 23 year old had “tried to kill herself” with pills following a series of bitter arguments with her mom while they were on a family holiday - a report the Piano Man and his former wife promptly dismissed in a joint statement.

Now the recovered singer/ songwriter has heaped praise on her parents, insisting they played no part in the ordeal. In a message posted on her Facebook.com page, Joel writes, “My Mom & Dad are my role models and best friends. What I was struggling with had nothing to do with them. The press was particularly harsh on my Mother, which is unthinkable to me, because she is the kindest woman I’ve ever known, and wouldn’t hurt a fly!!”

Belinda Carlisle Shocked

By Her Son’s ‘Coming Out’ THE Go-Go’s star Belinda Carlisle was stunned when her son announced he is gay - because she feared his sexuality would ruin his dream of a career in politics. Carlisle admits she was stunned when her 17year-old son James Duke Mason ‘came out’ in 2005 - and she immediately began worrying for his safety.

She tells Attitude magazine, “I have to say even though it wasn’t that much of a surprise, it was a shock.

When he told me I was driving and I had to pull the car over. It is different when it is your child. It’s not bad or good... but you start thinking, and I don’t mean this negatively, ‘Is there something I’ve done?’ I didn’t quite understand. More than likely it was a genetic thing.”

“I worried for his safety... He

came out to his school before he came out to my husband. And I was like, ‘Can’t you wait?’ He had to make a big announcement - it’s no one’s business what your sexuality is. I worry about him. He bought this t-shirt that I think is asking for trouble of two gay men holding hands. I said, ‘You can’t wear that on the street.’ He’s so out that I would like it if he reined it in a bit.

But he’s living in provincial France;

he’s nothing to compare it to. It’s hard for him. He’s had a few bad meltdowns being a gay teenager (living) in the middle of nowhere.”

However, the singer hopes James’ sexuality won’t inhibit his hopes of a political career: “Things have changed.

There’s pockets of people who would never accept a gay politician. But I think they just need education. It might take someone like him who is vocal to change people’s minds.”

Kanye West Is Back In The Studio KANYE West is preparing to rebuild his reputation with a new album after returning to the studio to work on his rap comeback. The Stronger hit-maker has been lying low since facing a backlash following his behavior at the MTV Video Music Awards in September, when he ruined Taylor Swift’s big moment by storming the stage during her acceptance speech.

He apologized for the stunt shortly after the incident and vowed to take some time out to reflect on his attitude, admitting, “I need to... take some time off and just analyze how I’m going to make it through the rest of this life, how I’m going to improve.” However, West is ready to return to the spotlight and is back behind the microphone.

In a New Year’s post on his website, West writes, “First of all, I want to thank everybody for their constant love and support over these past 6 years! I’m so happy to be back in the studio making new music. I will bring you the best I have to offer with the same dedication that Kobe (Bryant) has on the court.”

And the rapper is urging his fans not to pay attention to tabloid reports in the future and instead focus on his work.

He adds, “Let us look past headlines and deal with just a bit of reality in this new decade. We have our own outlets now. We don’t have to believe everything anymore.” West’s last album, 808s & Heartbreaks, was released in 2008.

Life Style

International

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

13

Planet-hunting telescope unearths hot mysteries Assocoiated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – NASA’s new planet-hunting telescope has found two mystery objects that are too hot to be planets and too small to be stars. The Kepler Telescope, launched in March, discovered the two new heavenly bodies, each circling its own star. Telescope chief scientist Bill Borucki of NASA said the objects are thousands of degrees hotter than the stars they circle. That means they probably aren’t planets. They are bigger and hotter than planets in our solar system, including dwarf planets.

AFP/NASA/File

This image taken by the Kepler telescope and released by NASA in 2009 shows small portion of Kepler’s full field of view — an expansive, 100-square-degree patch of sky in our Milky Way galaxy. NASA’s Kepler space telescope has discovered five new planets beyond the solar system, the US space agency said Monday, just 10 months after Kepler launched into space to find Earth-like planets.

Pandas headed to Shanghai for 2010 Expo Agence France - Presse

BEIJING – Ten giant panda cubs, all born after the deadly earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan province in 2008, were on their way Tuesday to Shanghai to go on display during this year’s World Expo, a zoo official said. Six female and four male pandas from the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Center in Sichuan were to arrive Tuesday evening to spend six months at the Shanghai Zoo and then six months at the Shanghai Wildlife Zoo, said a spokeswoman for the Shanghai Zoo. Like many Chinese officials, she would give only her surname, Tan. All 10 of the pandas were born at Wolong after a massive earthquake struck Sichuan in May 2008, show-

AP Photo

ing that the breeding process there is back on track after the reserve was nearly destroyed. The quake killed or left missing nearly 90,000 people.

The Shanghai Zoo, which already has three older giant pandas, has refurbished its panda house to accommodate the new arrivals, including an indoor and outdoor complex that will include a slide, wooden climbing devices and walkways, and a grassy knoll for lounging, Tan said.

The Expo will run for six months beginning May 1 and is expected to draw 70 million visitors, mostly Chinese. Pandas are threatened by loss of habitat, poaching and a low reproduction rate. Females in the wild normally have a cub once every two or three years, and the fertility rate of captive giant pandas is even lower. Only about 1,600 pandas live in the wild, mostly in southwestern Sichuan province. An additional 120 pandas are in Chinese breeding facilities and zoos, and about 20 live in zoos outside China.

A panda caretaker catches a panda to be sent from Sichuan to Shanghai for the World Expo, at the Bifengxia Panda Base in Ya’an, in southwest China’s Sichuan province, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010. Ten giant panda cubs, all born after the deadly earthquake that hit Sichuan province in 2008, were on their way Tuesday to Shanghai to go on display for this year’s World Expo, a spokeswoman for the Shanghai Zoo said.

“The universe keeps making strange things stranger than we can think of in our imagination,” said Jon Morse, head of astrophysics for NASA. The new discoveries don’t quite fit into any definition of known astronomical objects, and so far don’t have a classification of their own. Details about the mystery objects were presented Monday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Washington. For now, NASA researcher Jason Rowe, who found the objects, said he calls them “hot companions.”

How hot? Try 26,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to melt lead or iron. There are two leading theories for what the objects might be and those theories cover both ends of the cosmic life cycle:

_Rowe suggests they are newly born planets. New planets have extremely high temperatures, and in this case Rowe speculates they might be only about 200 million years old.

Ronald Gilliland of the Space Telescope Science Institute says they could be white dwarf stars that are dying and stripping off their outer shells and shrinking. The primary focus of the Kepler telescope’s threeyear mission is to find out how common other planets — especially Earth-like planets — are in the universe. To do that, it is scanning a small chunk of the sky, about one four-hundredth of the night sky with more than 150,000 stars to look for planets.

The telescope in just six weeks found its first five confirmed planets, slightly more than astronomers

expected from such a quick search.

There are hundreds of other candidates that need confirmation. The five planets are all much larger than Earth, much closer to their stars than Earth is to the sun, and way too hot for life, Borucki said. A couple of these planets are close to 3,000 degrees. “Looking at them is like looking at a blast furnace,” Borucki said. “Certainly, no place to look for life.” One of the newly discovered planets is so airy that “it has the density of Styrofoam,” Borucki said.

“There’s going to be all kinds of weird stuff out there,” said Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institute of Washington, who wasn’t part of the research. “This is an unparalleled data set. The universe really is a weird place. It’s fantastic.”

Evidence lacking for special diets in autism Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO – An expert panel says there’s no rigorous evidence that digestive problems are more common in children with autism compared to other children, or that special diets work, contrary to claims by celebrities and vaccine naysayers. Painful digestive problems can trigger problem behavior in children with autism and should be treated medically, according to the panel’s report published in the January issue of Pediatrics and released Monday.

“There are a lot of barriers to medical care to children with autism,” said the report’s lead author, Dr. Timothy Buie of Harvard Medical School. “They can be destructive and unruly in the office, or they can’t sit still. The nature of their condition often prevents them from getting standard medical care.” Some pediatricians’ offices “can’t handle those kids,” Buie said, especially if children are in pain or discomfort because of bloating or stomach cramps. Pain can set off problem behavior, further complicating diagnosis, especially if the child has trouble communicating — as is the case for children with autism.

Autism is a spectrum of disorders affecting a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Children with autism may make poor eye contact or exhibit repetitive movements such as rocking or hand-flapping. About 1 in 110 U.S. children have autism, according to a recent government estimate.

More than 25 experts met in Boston in 2008 to write the consensus report after reviewing medical research.

The Autism Society and other autism groups funded the effort, but gave no input.

The report refutes the controversial idea that there’s a digestive problem specific to autism called “leaky gut” or “autistic enterocolitis.” The hypothesis was first floated in 1998 in a now-discredited study by British physician Dr. Andrew Wakefield. His paper tied a particular type of autism and bowel disease to the measles vaccine. The new report says the existence of autistic enterocolitis “has not been established.” Buie said researchers and doctors have avoided digestive issues in autism because of their connection with Wakefield’s disputed research, which set off a backlash against vaccines that continues to this day.

The new report calls for more rigorous research

into the prevalence of digestive problems and whether special diets might help some children. For now, the report states, available information doesn’t support special diets for autism. Diets have been promoted by actress Jenny McCarthy, whose best-seller “Louder Than Words” detailed her search for treatments for her autistic son. Nearly 1 in 5 of children with autism are on a special diet, according to a project that tracks what treatments parents are trying. Most of them were on diets that eliminate gluten, found in many grains, or casein, a protein in milk, or both, according to the Interactive Autism Network at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Md. The new report advises doctors to watch for nutritional deficiencies in patients with autism. It recommends a nutritionist get involved if a patient is on a special diet or only eats certain foods. The report drew praise from Rebecca Estepp of Poway, Calif., who believes a special diet is helping her autistic son. She said the paper gives pediatricians credible recommendations they’ve needed. “I’m filled with hope after reading this report,” said Estepp of the support group Talk About Curing Autism. “I wish this report would have come out 10 years ago when my son was diagnosed.”

REUTERS/Jason Lee

An autistic child looks from behind his hand during a therapy session at the Stars and Rain School for autistic children in Beijing March 23, 2009.

14

Sport

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Andy Roddick of the US hits a backhand volley to Peter Luczak of Australia in the first round of the Brisbane International tennis tournament being played in Brisbane.

Roddick used his booming serve to overpower a brave Luczak 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

(AFP/William West)

Roddick overpowers Luczak in Brisbane Agence France - Presse

BRISBANE, Australia – Top seeded American Andy Roddick used his booming serve to overpower a brave Peter Luczak of Australia 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday. World number seven Roddick was forced to dig deep against an inspired Luczak, who matched the American shot for shot throughout the first set.

Luczak then had a mini-break in the first set tie-break but was unable to convert and Roddick fought back with his huge serve to claim the opening set. Roddick then lifted his play a notch to break his opponent twice in the second set and ease his way into the second round. Earlier defending champion Radek Stepanek easily demolished Australian wild card John Millman 6-4, 6-0.

Millman, who hails from Brisbane, kept pace with Stepanek over the early stages but once the world number 12 found his range, not even the raucous home crowd

could help the young Australian.

Stepanek has not had much of a break since he played in the Davis Cup final against Spain in early December, but said he was feeling strong ahead of the Australian summer.

“I haven’t had much time to rest or prepare because I went straight back to practice, but I am feeling great,” he said. “I have a great season in the bag, the best in my career so far, and I want to continue what I’ve been doing and make it back to the top 10.” Richard Gasquet put an emotional year behind him when he battled for two hours to defeat Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 4-6,

International

Kaman scores 20 and Clippers beat Blazers 105-95 Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Chris Kaman scored 20 points, Eric Gordon added 19 and the Los Angeles Clippers pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 105-95 on Monday night in the teams’ second matchup in five days.

Martell Webster scored a season-high 25 points, including five 3-pointers, Andre Miller had 22 points and 16 assists and Juwan Howard added 16 points for the Blazers, who won 10399 last week in Portland.

The Clippers led by four points going into the final 12 minutes. They opened with an 18-6 spurt, including six by Rasual Butler, to take their largest lead of the game, 95-80. The Blazers went nearly 4 minutes without a basket in that stretch. Butler scored 11 of his 13 points in the

period. Baron Davis had 15 points and nine assists for the Clippers.

Kaman added eight rebounds and four assists in a continuation of the dominance he’s shown since the season began.

He’s scored 20 or more points in 10 of the last 11 games and just missed his 10th doubledouble in the last 13 games.

Kaman is the Western Conference’s top scoring center and second-leading rebounder.

Butler was the only starter who played the final 1 1/2 minutes for the Clippers, when the reserves gave up three consecutive field goals.

The game was tied at halftime and neither team led by more than seven points in the third. The Clippers ended Portland’s four-game winning streak against them at Staples Center, where the Blazers had won seven of the last eight.

6-4 in the first match on centre court.

Gasquet, who only learned in December that he had been cleared of a doping offence, said he had enjoyed being able to play without the threat of suspension. “I could have won, I could have lost, but it was most important to play relaxed,” he said.

The only upset of the day came when Colombia’s Alejandro Falla downed seventh seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4. Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci, the eighth seed, was too good for Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 while Israel’s Harel Levy thrashed Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-0.

WTA Auckland Classic venue evacuated over bomb scare Agence France - Presse

(AFP/File/Sonny Tumbelaka)

Police evacuated the stadium hosting the Auckland Classic women’s WTA event here Tuesday due to a bomb scare as a handful of anti-Israel demonstrators picketed the venue. Play started 20 minutes late after the all-clear was given, delaying the appearance of Israel’s Shahar Peer (pictured in November), who went on to beat unseeded Slovenian Polona Hercog 7-5, 6-3.

AUCKLAND – Police evacuated the stadium hosting the Auckland Classic women’s WTA event here Tuesday due to a bomb scare as a handful of anti-Israel demonstrators picketed the venue.

Protesters denied any link to the scare and police said they had found the owner of an unattended bag that sparked the evacuation, and that normal procedure had been followed.

Play started 20 minutes late after the all-clear was given, delaying the appearance of Israel’s Shahar Peer, who went on to beat unseeded Slovenian Polona Hercog 7-5, 6-3.

A spokesman for the eight protesters, John Minto, said the Global Peace and Justice Auckland group had sent a letter to Peer asking her to withdraw from the tournament because of Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians.

The group launched a similar protest outside the ASB Tennis Centre last year but left halfway through Peer’s opening match. This time the group plans to stay as long as the 22-year-old remains in the tournament. “We will definitely be here if she progresses,” Minto said.

(AP Photo/David Zentz)

Los Angeles Clippers’ Rasual Butler lays up a shot over Portland Trail Blazers’ Dante Cunningham during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, in Los Angeles.

Sport

International

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

15

New Gunners deal for Rosicky Agence France - Presse

LONDON – Tomas Rosicky, the Czech international midfielder, has signed a new contract at Arsenal, the club announced Monday without revealing the length of the deal. Rosicky, who was signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2006, is the 15th player to sign a new contract for manager Arsene Wenger since May 2009.

The 29-year-old has been rewarded for his fine form this season after missing nearly two full seasons through injuries which had threatened to end his career prematurely. “The last two seasons haven’t been easy for me because of injuries but I feel it speaks volumes about the club’s belief in me for this to be signed, and I truly believe I have a lot left to offer the club, my team-mates and all the supporters,” Rosicky said.

“It’s felt like home since I arrived here four years ago and I believe

we’re on the verge of achieving something special together. I’m looking forward to the coming months and hope that together, we are all celebrating at the end of the season.” Rosicky follows the likes of Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby, Eduardo, Alex Song, Denilson, Theo Walcott, and Aaron Ramsey in signing new contracts in the past year.

Wenger said: “I have spoken many times of Tomas’ class and contribution, not only on the pitch but off it as well, and I very much feel that

this new contract reflects that.

“Tomas’ vision and touch is remarkable and I know that we will all benefit from his input in the coming seasons. Tomas is a special talent and we’re delighted that he has committed his future to Arsenal.”

Tomas Rosicky, pictured in 2007, the Czech international midfielder, has signed a new contract at Arsenal, the club announced Monday without revealing the length of the deal.

Coyle on verge of Bolton switch Agence France - Presse

(AFP/Getty Images/File/Jeff Gross)

Owen Coyle.

BURNLEY – Owen Coyle appeared Monday to be on the verge of quitting Burnley for Premier League rivals Bolton after it was confirmed he had held talks about filling the managerial vacancy at the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton have targeted Coyle as the man to succeed Gary Megson, who was sacked last week after two years in charge, and Burnley confirmed on Monday that their manager had already discussed a switch to their local rivals.

Burnley chairman Barry Kilby

was due to meet Coyle later in the day to discuss the future of the manager who guided the club into the top flight for the first time in 33 years. A clause in Coyle’s contract means it could cost Bolton up to three million pounds to secure his release but all the signs were that the Scot was on his way back to the club he played for between 1993 and 1995.

Although Bolton are currently in the Premier League’s bottom three, Coyle would enjoy considerably greater resources there than he does at Burnley, who are only two points clear of the drop zone.

(AFP/File/Paul Ellis)

Barcelona coach rules out new signings Agence France - Presse

MADRID – Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola Monday ruled out signing new players during the midseason transfer window, despite the absence of key players during the African Nations Cup. “As far as I know, we are not thinking about it,” he told a news conference in Barcelona.

He rejected the idea of boosting the midfield while Ivorian Yaya Toure and Mali’s Seydou Keita are on in-

ternational duty in the African Nations Cup in Angola this month. “In midfield, I am well served,” he said.

Guardiola said he would give the chance to younger players from the reserve team during the tournament.

In 2009, Barca won a record six titles, including the European Champions League, Spanish league and the World Club Championship. They currently lead the Primera Liga, unbeaten after the first 16 games of the season, with a two-point lead over arch rivals Real Madrid.

Macedonia forward Pandev returns to Inter Milan Agence France - Presse

(AFP/File/Robert Atanasovski)

Goran Pandev, seen here in 2006, is set to help fill the gap left at Inter Milan by Samuel Eto’o’s departure for the African Nations Cup, after the Serie A leaders said Monday that the Macedonia international has rejoined them on a four-anda-half-year deal.

ROME – Goran Pandev is set to help fill the gap left at Inter Milan by Samuel Eto’o’s departure for the African Nations Cup, after the Serie A leaders said Monday that the Macedonia international has rejoined them on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

The inventive forward moves to Inter as a free agent, having succeeded in a legal challenge to liberate himself of his contract with Lazio last month because he had been frozen out at the Rome side for making a transfer request in the summer.

It is a return to the club he first signed for in 2001, although he never played for them in Serie A. He went to Lazio in 2004 as part of the deal to send Dejan Stankovic the other way after loan stints at Spezia and Ancona.

“FC Internazionale announces that Goran Pandev joined the club on a permanent deal this morning,” the club said in a statement. “The Macedonian striker has signed a contract until 30 June 2014.” Italian media reported that Pandev has a good chance of making his league debut for Inter in Wednesday’s game at Chievo Verona.

Eto’o’s spell away with the Cameroon national team this month leaves Jose Mourinho with just two other forwards, Diego Milito and Mario Balotelli, as the club have loaned Honduran David Suazo to Genoa and Austrian Marko Arnautovic does not seem to figure in the Portuguese coach’s thinking. Pandev could be used on the wing in Verona though, as Mourinho is short of midfielders because of Dejan Stankovic’s and Thiago Motta’s suspensions.

(AFP/File/Sergei Supinsky)

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola, seen here in 2009, ruled out signing new players during the mid-season transfer window, despite the absence of key players during the African Nations Cup.

16

Sport

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Kubica set to stick with Renault

Robert Kubica’s manager has suggested the Pole is now set to remain with the Renault team following some doubts about his future at the French squad. Kubica and his management had asked for clarification on the situation of the team following the news that Renault had sold a stake of the outfit to Luxembourg company Genii Capital.

“We need some time - at least a few days - to evaluate the new situation so I am not in a position to say we will leave or stay,” said Kubica’s manager Daniele Morelli at the time of the deal. Kubica signed a deal with Renault at the end of the last year after racing for the BMW Sauber team since 2007.

Morelli said on Monday things are now progressing well and suggested Kubica will drive for the team in 2010 after all. “We are going in the right direction,” Morelli told BBC Sport. “There were no doubts, really, but it was very important we understood who were in the key

roles in the team and of course also the budget - it is fundamental you have that for the updates to the car.”

Morelli also denied that Kubica was seeking more money after the deal with Genii was announced. “It is totally untrue that we were asking for more money,” said Morelli.

“It is not in our interests to take advantage. We want the money for the team. Robert wants a performing car. It’s useless if the driver gets more money if you have a weak car and lose [performance] bonuses. It’s better to score points and make podiums than to earn more money.”

Robert Kubica’s manager has suggested the Pole is now set to remain with the Renault team following some doubts about his future at the French squad

Holyfield – Botha Postponed London -

Evander Holyfield’s WBF heavyweight title bout against Francois Botha has been postponed to give the boxers and organisers more time to prepare

Evander Holyfield’s WBF heavyweight title bout against Francois Botha has been postponed to give the boxers and organisers more time to prepare. Promoter Eddie Bazira said the fight, which had been scheduled to take place in Uganda on January 16, will now be held on February 20.

“We have realized that we need more time to publicize the event regionally and worldwide and also to give the fighters ample time to prepare themselves,” Bazira said. “I assure the world that the fight will take place.” Organizers for the fight at Kampala’s Nambole Stadium have predicted a crowd of 80,000 fans and the potential of a big pay-per-view deal for the cash-strapped Holyfield.

The 47-year-old, the only man to become world heavyweight champion four times, has not fought since losing a points decision to former WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev just over a year ago. Holyfield is fighting Botha for the lightly regarded WBF belt in the hope of once more gaining a shot at a more prestigious title. South African Botha retained the WBF title by drawing with Pedro Carrion of Cuba in Germany in October.