Edisi 19 Januari 2010 | International Bali Post

Pope gunman released from prison

16 Pages Number 12 2nd Year

PAGE 6 e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com. Price: Rp 3.000,-

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

British tourists to Bali increase 12% PAGE 8

Sandra Bullock Gives $1 Million To Help Haiti PAGE 12

IBP/kmb20

Seaweeds farmers are being played by the businessmen.

Played by businessmen

Nusa Penida Seaweed Farmers difficult to develop Semarapura (Bali Post) –

Seaweed from Nusa Penida has special character which is demanded by the market. However, seaweed seemed to be difficult in helping the people to increase their welfare. Currently, the price of the seaweed is determined by the local businessmen so it is very low.

WEATHER FORECAST

The farmers don’t have the bargaining power to determine the price. For that reason, the government should take actions to assists the farmers. The government could establish an organization to organize the crops produce by the farmers. The organization also can find the market so the price will be reason-

able for them. Ketut Panca, a member of Klungkung House of Representative, said “currently, the businessmen like to play with the price. In Nusa Penida there are only two businessmen that handle the seaweed crops from the farmers.” Both of them can decreased the price because the lack of knowledge

of the farmers. “The farmers are still using the traditional way to guess the season. When it is rainy, the seaweed could decompose and during dry season, it is very difficult to grow seaweed. So the farmers sell their crops for whatever price they get,” he added. The condition is very worrying for the farmer so Panca urged the govern-

ment to do something. In addition to the low price, the farmers also suffered from other problems such as diseases. Most of the diseases that attack seaweed don’t have the cure yet. There are two kinds of seaweeds developed by the farmers in Nusa Penida, they are cottoni and spinosium. Both of them are better from the similar crop in other area especially in terms of the fabric. Many buyers from outside Bali demanded the seaweed from Nusa Penida but the farmers only can enjoy the small amount of profit. (kmb20)

CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

24 - 32

JAKARTA

25 - 32

BANDUNG

19 - 28

YOGYAKARTA

22 - 33

Cagcag Weavers Haunted by Foreign Textiles

SURABAYA

24 - 33

They Turn to Work at Rice Field Negara (Bali Post)—

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The typical Cagcag weaving artisans of Jembrana Regency feel increasingly confused today. Price of raw material rising and the selling price turning smaller consequently have an impact on their turnover. Moreover, when entering the

ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) this year, they are increasingly concerned about the displacing of textile products by that of neighboring countries joining the AFTA. Surprisingly, many crafters consisting of mostly housewives preferred to leave the profession as craftsmen and switched to another

job. A number of weaving artisans at Sangkaragung Village confessed to leave their weaving profession and moved to become farm laborers because its results were a little more promising for their daily bread and butter. Made Darmi, one of the weavers turning to be farming laborer at

Pangkung Gondang Hamlet, said that the current price of yarn rose by 200 percent. Meanwhile, the result of weaving works done for a week was only sold at IDR125, 000. Such condition caused more than 60 percent of weavers at her place switched their jobs. Continued on page 6

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International

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Bali News Illegal Billboards in Badung

Often Confesses to Miss Regional Revenue Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The rise of commercial billboards in the form of banners and billboards in Badung Regency leaves a wide range of issues. Problems that often highlighted is the declining of environmental aesthetic because of so many ads placed by the roadside. Not only environmental aesthetic problems in plain view, the Head of Badung Regional Revenue Service (Kadispenda), I Gusti Agung Alit Agung, admitted his side was often missed in an attempt to control the banners and billboards, especially in terms of the ad content and taxes. Agung Alit met last Saturday (Jan 16), at Blahkiuh said during this time his side had difficulty in disciplining and inventorying those billboard ads and banners because the party of advertisers often cheated the Dispenda. “Yes, we indeed admit to find difficulty in controlling billboard advertising,” he said. Mode used by billboard advertiser, said Alit Agung, when the officers of Dispenda Badung was performing a control to the field, in fact that targeted advertising has been withdrawn. However,

after the discipline operation, those billboards or commercial banners were actually re-installed by the advertiser. “Advertisersoften played hide-and seek with us. When we take operation they were not installed, but installed again on the next day, and so on. Consequently, our officers are often missed,” said Agung Alit. Since his party did not want to be fooled again, Alit Agung affirmed to take a new strategy namely by tightening the billboard licensing. One week before the permit expired, the Dispenda

Badung would make a binding licensing with advertisers. Material of agreements contaied the advertiser’s decision whether to extend the permit or not. If the advertiser wanted an extension of permit, the billboard owners were required to pay a security deposit. By this way, billboard advertisers were expected not to play again with the Dispenda. “If providing guarantee in the form of money, billboard owners would have to think more when playing games with us,” warned the Great Alit. (ded)

Murder of Brother-in-Law

Charge with 20 Years Imprisonment Amlapura (Bali Post)—

Defendant I Nyoman Mangku alias Mangku Kari, 45, was charged 20-year prison sentence in a trial in Amlapura Court not long ago. Responding to the demands of the prosecutor, legal advisor of the defendant I Made Ruspita who was contacted last Sunday (Jan 17) in Amlapura said that his party would convey the defense statement of his client in the next session. Public prosecutor Agus Adnyana prove d Mangku Kari from Pedahan village was guilty of planned murder according to Article 340 of the Penal Code. Where, Mangku Kari massacred his brother-in-law when the victim was the squatting to bargain a pig at Tukad Deling market, West Tianyar, five months ago. When pierced with a machete that usually used by the defendant was previously utilized to slaughter pig at helping neighbors who held traditional activities.The victim still had time to run. However,

the victim was in a holding staggered and the wound of his bleeding abdominal cavity gushed fresh blood. The defendant chased and stabbed him for several times. Local residents at the market had no time to break up the fight, because it happened so quickly. Apparently, the defendant had followed the victim from his village at Pedahan and stalked victims as unsuspecting. When the incident ensued, residents at the market of Tukad Deling shocked and the victim was rushed to be taken to community health center of Tianyar. Unfortunately, when arriving at the health center, the victim was declared dead. Meanwhile, the accused was about to run away, but not far from the market he was successfully arrested by members of detective police of Karangasem Resort Police that have made patrol at the local market since that morning on responding to related reports of residents mentioning the frequent pickpocket or theft action. When examined by police and the before the judge panel chaired

by Made Yuliada, Mangku Kari admitted deliberately to seek his brother-in-law because he knew him to go to Tukad Deling market. The accused brought a machete tucked under his shirts. He planned to kill his brother in-laws because he himself was frightened due to threatened frequently by the victim by using sword at night and challenged to fight. “Who is inattentive, he would die first. Therefore, rather than dying in vain, I decided to stab him first,” he said. Why the victim often searched for the accused to his house and picked a fight, allegedly the victim was grudge against him. The victim was just released from Karangasem Jailhouse after serving a prison sentence because the victim often maltreated his wife. Victim’s wife was younger sister of the defendant Mangku Kari. The defendant reported the domestic violence afflicted his younger sister to police station by the reason that he had no the heart to see her suffering due to violent deeds of the victim. (013)

IBP/eka

Denpasar government is trying to make the city as beautiful as possible. A pedestrian is forced to walk on the side of the road because the sidewalk is being use to place flowers and statues.

As Having No Identity Card, Teens of Fishpond Labors Arrested Negara (Bali Post)—

Dozens of migrant fishpond labors were arrested by Jembrana Civil Servant Police Unit (Satpol PP) because they were known to have no seasonal resident identity card (Kipem), last Saturday (Jan 16 ) afternoon. Approximately eleven migrant labors from West Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi and Java were secured in one of the ponds at Taman Hamlet, Tuwed Village, Melaya. Such control was based on information received from the local resident alleging the UD Terus Jaya fishpond employed illegal workers who have not had Kipem. Even, some of those laborers have lived permanently but have not had permission to live or work in that shrimp fishpond. Dozens of those workers were examined when harvesting shrimp and away from each other. The officers coming at around 5:00 pm Local Time summoned all labors right away to be gathered. The officer collected the data of their identity and other administrative details, including ID card and Kipem. Section Head of Peacefulness

and Orderliness, Made Tama, with permission of Chief of Satpol PP Jembrana, I Ketut Wiratma, said the operation results of last Saturday afternoon was the officers found eleven laborers without Kipem from Bondowoso, Probolingo, West Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi. They included Peter Saingo Lende, 28, Tamo Yasua Ama, 21, Janwarandi Pala, 21, from West Sumba, Luke , 21, Danil, 23, Julius Sukanata,18, Melki Yanus, 19, Luke Kaka, 20, West Lombok, Ifandiri, 23, Suwarno, 44, from East Java and Efendi Koja, 23, from the Banggai, Sulawesi. Furthermore, the eleven fishpond labors were secured at the office of Satpol PP Jembrana. They were obliged to attend civil session last Monday. From the recognition of the migrant labors they did not know anything about Kipem. They were employed by the owner of the pond to serve as fishpond laborers. They lived at pond shed and served until the harvest of shrimp. “They will be sent home to their respective areas after the process of civil session,” added Section Head of Civil Investigator (PPNS), I Made Sapta Budiartha. (sur)

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

Bali News

International

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Active Lifestyle Holds Up the Aging Being active indeed has a lot of benefits. Other than being physically active is healthier, active people will also be biologically much younger than the lazy who passed most of their time in front of the television, according to a study published in ‘Archives of Internal Medicine’. A study of long-term health, on Monday (Jan 18), based on 2,401 twins found that those who had an active lifestyle looked 10 years younger biologically than people who were more sedentary. Some researchers took DNA from white blood cells and examined the cellular hereditary part of participants in order to determine the length of a genetic sequence called telomere, found at the end of the chromosome. Short telomere increased when a cell split. When the telomere got too short, cells stopped splitting. Aging occurred as more cells reached the end of its te-

lomere and died. The study indicated a fairly active person and did physical activities on average of 100 minutes per week has a telomere that looked on average of five or six times younger than the subjects who were less active and made physical activity on average of 16 minutes each week. Those who performed most activities, on average of 199 minutes per week, had a look of telomere about nine to ten years younger than the least active. “These data suggested that sports activities may eventually protect the body from the aging process,” said Tim

D. Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College of London, who led the study. Physical activity could also reduce psychological stress, which has been associated with telomeric length. Many researchers said they hoped the doctors could use these findings to encourage people to do exercise. “Hopefully when the physician teaching or using clinical treatment could give advice to their patients about this benefit,”said Spector. “It may also slow the aging process, and people may actually look and feel younger, which we knew would be good for most people.”

IBP/edi

Waste disposal unit (DSDP) in Pesanggaran area is used to put household wastes. The second project will be doe soon.

Formulating the Final Exam Format

Infant with Spilled Intestines at Sanglah Hospital Parliament—National Education Dept Urged to Involve PGRI Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Since last Friday (Jan 15) Sanglah Hospital treated a baby with spilled intestines from Singaraja. Such female infant was the daughter of Pande Putu Ardika, 22, and I Gusti Ketut Ayu Ariani, 22, who lived on Jalan Wibisana Singaraja. The baby who has not had a name until Sunday (Jan 17) was still in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Sanglah Hospital. The Head of Sanglah Hospital Emergency Room, Kuning Atmadjaya, when contacted last Sunday said the baby was in a stable condition. “Operation of intestinal intercalation has been performed two days ago. We have a baby in a stable condition. In other words, up to now there has been no hypothermia, stuffy or frequent infections in infant in the case of natural spilled intestines,” explained Kuning. Babies with this infection case, according to Kuning, were at risk and most die from it. Met in the Emergency Room of Sanglah Hospital, the father of the baby, Pande Putu Ardikatold that their

first baby was born with the help of a midwife in a normal condition last Friday (Jan 15) at around 05.30 am Local Time. “I could see my baby’s bowels were outside while accompanying my wife to give birth,” said Ardika. He did not guess at all that their baby would be had deformity because when she got USG examination no sign of strangeness was found. His daughter was declared healthy and normal. “It once got USG examination when the pregnancy was at the age of six months. At that time, it was declared healthy and normal,” he said. During pregnancy, according to Ardika, his wife had been ill during the age of three months of pregnancy. But she did not carelessly take the drug and drank only the recommended drug by midwife. “When cough and colds, my wife only took medicine from the midwife. She never took free medication because shebasically did not like taking medicine,” said Ardika who worked as laborer of coffee plantation.

During the pregnancy, Ardika’s wife remained to work as a shop attendant at one of the supermarkets in Singaraja. However, Ardika again affirmed that she worked as usual and there was no history of falls or lifting weights. Knowing her intestines were outside, Ardika’s first child was referred to Buleleng Hospital immediately, which then was brought to Sanglah Hospital on the same day when the baby was born. “At the moment, we use community health insurance (Jamkesmas),” said Ardika wishing an immmediate recovery for his baby. On the other hand, some time ago, exactly Friday (Dec 30) Sanglah Hospital received Siamese twins. These infants came to hospital around 10:30 pm Local Time, according to Kuning, the baby was shortly handled because they died instantly. “Indeed, we once handled the Siamese twins from Gianyar, but unfortunately they died before he could provide further treatment,” said Kuning. (san)

Price of Chicken Feed Increases, Breeders Scream Tabanan (Bali Post)—

Laying chicken breeders in Tabanan screamed. The reason, they kept on losing money due to the price of eggs dropped from a few months later and prices feed continued to creep up. Breeders concerned could not survive with a situation that lasted long enough. One of the breeders who is now sitting in the Tabanan House, Nyoman Satiayasa, last Sunday (Jan 17), said that the highest price of an egg at the level of breeder was IDR 630 per piece. He said it was far from operational costs incurred by breeder. This condition made the breeder be under threat of bankruptcy. The losses occurred due to drop

in egg prices was not small. Ideally, he said, the price of egg was around IDR 700 per piece making breeders unable to cover their operational costs and provide little benefit. This former head of Babahan Village said the number of eggs entering into Bali estimated to be one of the causes of price drop on local eggs. Similarly, it was also possibly caused by the act of speculators where the price at market was IDR 1,000 but at breeder’s level showed no improvement. Being unable to pay the cost of feed and other operational costs, many breeders said they were threatened out of business because most breeders in Tabanan belonged to small category depending on the

price of eggs. He said it was certainly different from the big breeders who could sell the eggs at a lower price. The Head of Tabanan Animal Husbandry Services, Ni Nyoman Rusmini, said her party had a chance to meet breeders at Babahan. She said that it required the efforts dealing with the current price of chicken feed. Regarding to the price, Rusmini claimed to be unable to regulate the price issue due to the prevailing of market mechanism. Rusmini did not dismiss that a lot of eggs entered from outside Bali. Instead, she appealed in order the Tabanan breeders should be ready to compete globally. Therefore, they might not be defeated by larger enterprise. (kmb14)

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

House of Representatives and the Ministry of National Education planning to formulated a system or method of the national examination (UN) that was really effective to produce quality graduates was positively responded by Secretary General of Indonesia Association of Teachers (PGRI) of Bali Branch, Gede Wenten Aryasudha and Head of PGRI of Denpasar Branch, I Nengah Madiadnyana.To avoid controversy and rejection from the ranks of education against the UN format coming into force in the coming years, the two officials insisted that the House and the Ministry of National Education should involved the PGRI actively in the preparation and adoption of the UN method. “In each making of vital educational policies including the UN, the government naturally involve PGRI as highly representative organization that representing the aspirations of teachers in Indonesia,” Wenten Aryasudha and Madiadnyana told Bali Post, last Sunday (Jan 17). According to the two sources of Bali Post, the urge to be involved in the discussion of UN method was very logical. The reason, the teachers were actually entitled to at least assess and evaluate the results of the teaching-learning process achieved by their students. In other words, determination whether or not students graduated from an educational unit level would be fairer if done by the teachers. “The reason, they were the most knowledgeable about the achievement and the quality of the development of their students,” said Madiadnyana firmly justified by Wenten Aryasudha. Wenten Aryasudha and Madiadnyana confessed to agree

with the members of Commission X of central House of Representatives, Dr. I Wayan Koster, who accused the UN format that has been imposed did not given a real picture about the quality of graduates. Occasionally, the academic ability of mediocre students even got a special value on the UN. While the students whose academic ability in the eyes of his teachers considered outstanding even got a lower national examination due to uncooperative. “As educators, we often shake heads at seeing this phenomenon. Indeed there is something wrong with the UN format imposed today. Therefore, we are very supportive if the House and the Ministry of National Education really seriously want to formulate a new national examination format and must be more accountable in terms of quality graduates,” Wenten said Aryasudha and Madiadnyana compactly. Then, what kind of UN format is considered the most ideal assessed by the two seniors of PGRI Bali? According to them, it was more comfortable if the government re-applied the EBTANAS format in determining the graduation of students because it was more objective in measuring student’s achievement as a whole. Because the learning achievement of students in previous semesters, semester grades especially odd and even at last grade, still became an important parameter in determining student’s graduation. “Most importantly, the determination of a student from graduation level of education units must become the rights and authority of the teachers’board. Of course, by looking at the process and learning the achievement of students for three full years,” they affirmed. (kmb13)

4

News

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

International

Pinera victory could complicate Chile’s diplomacy AP

SANTIAGO, Chile – Billionaire and now President-elect Sebastian Pinera invoked the calls to service of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama as he challenged Chileans to come together to improve their country. The conservative businessman, who won Sunday’s election by a 5248 percent margin over former President Eduardo Frei, vowed to appoint the “best, most prepared, most honest and most dedicated” people to help transform Chile “into the best country in the world.” But Pinera’s long and rousing victory speech made no mention of foreign policy, and given his recent comments about Chile’s neighbors, he may find unity on a continent dominated by leftist governments very hard to achieve. Pinera’s election victory Sunday night ends two decades of uninterrupted rule by a center-left coalition, and returns to power the same political parties that provided civic support for Augusto Pinochet’s brutal 1973-1990 dictatorship. That legacy alone is bound to complicate relations with Argentina, whose leader has made prosecuting human rights violators a centerpiece of her presidency, and Uruguay, which just elected a former leftist

guerrilla as its president. According to Pinera’s campaign Web site, his foreign policy goals include peacefully resolving conflicts, reaching strategic accords and promoting Latin American integration while protecting Chile’s sovereignty and national identity. “For Chile it’s vitally important to have and maintain good relations with our neighbors and other American nations,” Pinera’s platform reads. But while President Michelle Bachelet tried to defuse border tensions with Peru and Bolivia and avoid antagonizing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Pinera’s more nationalistic tone — and friendship with Colombia’s conservative President Alvaro Uribe — could make relations difficult. Pinera has criticized Latin American populism as a failed approach, and in last week’s presidential debate, he called Cuba a “dictatorship,” said Venezuela is “not a democracy” and vowed never to concede land nor sea that belongs to Chile. “This tone is clearly going to become an obstacle to building good relations with Bolivia, and certainly with Venezuela,” said Marcelo Mella, a political scientist at the University of Santiago. “It seems to me that nationalistic and chauvinistic declarations won’t help generate a good climate for resolving conflicts.”

AP

Supporters of Chile’s new president-elect Sebastian Pinera

File photo of the Greek-flagged tanker Maran Centaurus is seen at an unknown location. AFP/Maran Tankers/Ho

EU: Somali pirates release Greek supertanker AP

NAIROBI, Kenya – Somali pirates released a Greek supertanker and its crew of 28 on Monday after a rival pirate group attacked the pirates onboard in an unsuccessful attempt to steal the ransom, the spokesman for the European Union’s anti-piracy force said. Cmdr. John Harbour says pirates left the Greek-flagged Maran Centaurus Monday morning. He said a group of rival pirates had attacked the ship just before the ransom was being delivered, prompting the pirates onboard the tanker to call for assistance from the anti-piracy force. He said the EU naval force did not intervene but declined to give details on the actions of other warships in the area. The naval force is monitoring the ship as it leaves Somali waters, he said. A Somali middleman, who helped negotiate for the release of the ship, says pirates collected $5.5 million Sunday afternoon and left the ship Monday morning. The fig-

ure could not be immediately confirmed. The middleman spoke on condition of anonymity because he said he feared reprisals. The middleman said pirates in two speedboats attacked the ship Sunday just before the ransom was due to be delivered but after a brief shootout, two helicopters from a warship intervened. The middleman said the two helicopters did not fire at any of the pirates, but only hovered over them, successfully scaring off the attacking group. The Maran Centaurus was hijacked Nov. 29 about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) off the Somali coast. It was carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil from Saudi Arabia

destined for the United States, estimated to be worth roughly $150 million at the time of the attack. A Greek coast guard spokeswoman said the tanker had left Somalia escorted by a Greek frigate and was heading to the South African port of Durban. She said all crew members were in good health, and the ship was expected to reach Durban in a week. She spoke on condition of anonymity in line with Greek government regulations. The ship, only the second oil tanker captured by Somali pirates, had 9 Greeks, 16 Filipinos, 2 Ukrainians, and a Romanian aboard. Its seizure resurrected fears of an environmental or safety disaster first raised by the capture of the Saudiowned Sirius Star. That hijacking was resolved in January last year with a $3 million ransom payment. It was carrying 2 million barrels of oil valued at about $100 million at the time.

Netanyahu in Berlin for joint session with Merkel AP

BERLIN – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government were in Berlin Monday to take part in a special joint session with the German government, a symbolic visit highlighting the two nations’ bond six decades after the Holocaust. It is the first time that an Israeli government will convene in Berlin, the former heart of the Nazi regime and the capital today of a reunified Germany. High on the agenda will be Germany’s push to win the release of a captive Israeli soldier held by Hamas militants and its efforts to

curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Environmental issues, economic cooperation and efforts to restart the Middle East peace process are also to be discussed. The historic trip was originally scheduled for late November, but was put off at the last moment when Netanyahu fell ill with a viral infection and a light fever. “We assign great importance to this good relationship with Germany,” Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday. “It has far-reaching implications for Israel’s economy, for Israel’s policies, for our political struggle in the world and for Israel’s security.” Six million Jews perished in the

Nazi Holocaust, and Israel was established three years after the end of World War II. Over the years, Germany has paid $39.4 billion in compensation to Holocaust survivors in Israel, some 250,000 of whom are still alive. Some Israelis still refuse to buy German-made goods or visit Germany. But since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1965, Germany has become perhaps Israel’s strongest ally in Europe. Germany is Israel’s third-largest trade partner after the U.S. and China. The Germans have also played a leading role as a Mideast mediator and in efforts to halt Iranian nuclear ambitions.

AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Dan Meridor, Israel’s Minister of Intelligence

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

Tuesday, January 19, 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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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

News Haiti’s voodoo priests object to mass burials Reuters

AP –

Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot Pope John-Paul II in Rome in 1981, at left, is seen in the back of a car

Pope gunman released from prison

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) – Haiti’s voodoo priests are objecting to anonymous mass burials as an improper way to handle the tens of thousands of dead from the earthquake — and have taken their complaint to President Rene Preval. Dumping the dead in hurriedly excavated mass graves without proper rites is seen as desecration in a country where many believe in zombies — dead bodies brought back to life by supernatural forces who could persecute the living. Haitian officials say so far at least 50,000 bodies have been dumped in mass graves outside the shattered capital, Port-au-Prince, in what they view as the most efficient way to dispose of the fast-rotting corpses from Tuesday’s disaster. “It is not in our culture to bury people in such a fashion,” Haiti’s main voodoo leader, Max Beauvoir, said in a meeting with Preval. Local radio is broadcasting messages for Haitians to put bodies recovered from under the rubble of collapsed buildings on the street for collection by garbage and other trucks. “The conditions in which bodies are being buried is not respecting the dignity of

Myanmar court hears Suu Kyi appeal of house arrest AP

AP

ANKARA, Turkey – The Turkish man who shot Pope John Paul II in 1981 was released from prison on Monday after more than 29 years behind bars. Mehmet Ali Agca waved to journalists as he left the prison in a white sedan car in a convoy of several vehicles. He was taken to a military hospital to be assessed for compulsory military service. A 2006 military hospital report said he is not fit for military service because of a “severe anti-social personality disorder.” There have been long-standing questions about the 52-year-old Agca’s mental health based on his frequent outbursts and claims that he was the Messiah. In a statement on Monday, distributed by his lawyer outside the prison in Sincan on the outskirts of Ankara, the Turkish capital, he raved again: “I proclaim the end of the world. All the world will be destroyed in this century. Every human being will die in this century. ... I am the Christ eternal.” Agca shot John Paul on May 13, 1981, as the pope rode in an open car in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff was hit in the abdomen, left hand and right arm, but the bullets missed vital organs. John Paul met with Agca in Italy’s Rebibbia prison in 1983 and forgave him for the shooting. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said there were no plans to comment on the release. The motive for the attack remains unclear but has not been linked to Islamic issues. When Agca was arrested minutes after the attack, he declared he had acted alone. Later, he suggested Bulgaria and the Soviet Union’s KGB were behind the attack, but then backed off that line. His contradictory statements have frustrated prosecutors over the decades. Agca has said that he will answer questions

about the attack after he is released from prison. His lawyer said he would not speak on Monday but would rest in Ankara. Agca is expected to travel to Istanbul later, private NTV television said. “We are not running away from the media, he may speak in a few days,” lawyer Gokay Gultekin said. Agca was released after completing his sentence for killing journalist Abdi Ipekci in 1979. He had received a life sentence, which amounts to 36 years under Turkish law, for murdering Ipekci, but he escaped from a Turkish prison less than six months into the sentence and went on to shoot the pope in Rome two years later. Agca reportedly sympathized with the Gray Wolves, a far right-wing militant group that fought street battles against leftists in the 1970s. He initially confessed to killing Ipekci, one of the country’s most prominent left-wing newspaper columnists, but later retracted his statements. After his extradition on June 14, 2000, Agca was separately sentenced to seven years and four months for two robberies in Turkey in 1979. But authorities deducted his prison sentence in Italy and several amnesties and amendment of the penal code reduced his term further. The complex situation complicated the calculation of his remaining term and even led to his wrongful release from prison in 2006. He was reimprisoned eight days later. Agca’s military situation was expected to be clarified as soon as late Monday. Turkish military generally accepts conscripts until the age of 41. Agca has said he is beginning to consider book, film and television documentary offers.

these people,” Beauvoir, who was educated at City College of New York and the Sorbonne in Paris, said in the Preval meeting this weekend. More than half of Haiti’s 9 million people are believed to practice voodoo, a religion with roots in Africa. Some 80 percent also are Catholic and most Haitians see no conflict between the two. Five days after the earthquake, scores of untouched corpses, now bloated and stinking, remain on streets. Red Cross officials have repeatedly said no one should fear disease from dead bodies after the earthquake that is believed to have killed up to 200,000 people. “I don’t understand why everyone is worried about a disease risk,” Haitian Red Cross President Michaelle Amedee Gedeon told Reuters. “Do we have cholera in Haiti? No. Do we have the plague in Haiti? No. Rodents, water will not get contaminated. The only bad effect from the corpses is the smell.” On Sunday, more bodies appeared overnight, with locals saying they were thieves burned and shot by lynch-mobs, gangs and police. They said about 20 people were killed like that.

YANGON, Myanmar – Lawyers for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Monday they were optimistic Myanmar’s highest court would overturn an extension of her house arrest imposed after an American intruder swam uninvited to her home. The court began hearing from both sides in the case Monday and was expected to issue a ruling within a month. Suu Kyi, who was barred from attending the session, has been detained for 14 of the past 20 years. The 64-year-old Nobel Peace Laureate’s sentence would ensure she cannot participate in Myanmar’s first elections in two decades that will be held sometime this year. Her party swept the last elections in 1990, but the results were never honored by the military, which has ruled the country since 1962. Suu Kyi’s lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court last month after a lower court upheld a decision to sentence her to an additional 18 months of house arrest. She had been convicted in August of violating the previous terms of her detention by briefly sheltering an American who swam to her lakeside home. Suu Kyi’s lawyer Nyan Win told judges the extension was unlawful because it was based on provisions from the 1974 Con-

stitution that are no longer in effect. The court also agreed to review the house arrest of Suu Kyi’s two female companions, who are also ordered confined for 18 months at her compound in Yangon. “We are very optimistic. The law is completely on our side,” Suu Kyi’s lawyer, Kyi Win, told reporters waiting outside the court. Kyi Win said the ruling would be announced in a month, correcting another lawyer’s assertion it would be handed down this week. British Ambassador Andrew Heyn, who attended the Supreme Court hearing, said his government fully supported Suu Kyi’s appeal. “Our position remains that Suu Kyi’s house arrest and the detention of all political prisoners is unjust and we call again on the government to release her and all political detainees without condition,” Heyn said. On Friday, Suu Kyi met with Cabinet minister Aung Kyi, part of her National League for Democracy party’s efforts to prepare for the elections. Suu Kyi’s party has not yet declared whether it will take part in the election. Suu Kyi’s last meeting with Aung Kyi was on Dec. 9, when he informed her that her request to be allowed to meet with the party elders was granted. She met them on Dec. 16.

Cagcag... From page 1 Several years ago, she added, almost at every house of her village could be encountered weaving tools. Now, with the sale of unbalanced production to capital, they one by one did not commit weaving. Today, only a handful of government-assisted groups that was still active, while in the house only elderly people who had been unable to take

other profession. A crafter remaining active, Ketut Noris, 70, said she still did cagcag weaving due to unable to take other work even if calculated counting losses. Most of the crafters belonging to productive age preferred to take profession as a laborer (watermelon or rice) as well as project workers. Government’s endeavor by rendering assistance to the weavers was considered not to touch the crafters evenly. (sur)

International

Indonesia Today

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

7

Minister denies SBY met Ical on cabinet reshuffle Antara FOTO ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma

The situation during the meeting of the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee on Monday, January 18, 2010. Former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais said the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee had lost focus giving rise to concern the issue might drag on indefinitely.

Century inquiry committee not focused: Amien Rais Antara

MAGELANG - Former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman Amien Rais said the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee had lost focus giving rise to concern the issue might drag on indefinitely. “The House special inquiry committee’s investigation is losing focus. It has even been dragged into debating the ethics of posing questions to witnesses. This would eventually obscure the real problem,” Rais said after addressing a gathering held by the country’s second largest Islamic organization

Muhammadiyah here on Sunday. He said the committee should focus its investigation on officials who had allegedly misappropriated the bailout funds amounting to Rp6.7 trillion. “I have doubts about whether the inquiry committee is able to settle the case because it is not focused on the alleged treacherous officials who were expected to protect the people’s money but instead embezzled it,” he said. Rais who is also a former chairman of Muhammadiyah, said that if the committee was not focused it was not likely to be able to settle the Bank Century case. “We hope that the special House

inquiry committee will not leave the bailout case unresolved,” he said. He said honesty in this country had become a very rare commodity while the problems being faced by the nation had increasingly become heavier and heavier. “Our nation cannot make any progress because it has lost one of the most valuable virtues in life which is honesty,” he said. He said that honesty would encourage people to do praiseworthy things as a main asset in paradise. On the other hand, lies would encourage people to become deceitful and hypocrite and this would only cause losses to the state and takes the liars to hell.

MADIUN - Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi denied a rumor that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Golkar Party Chairman Aburizal (Ical) Bakrie had met to discuss a cabinet reshuffle. There was a rumor that the president and Ical had met to discuss a cabinet reshuffle, including the replacement of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati but Sudi denied it when accompanying President Yudhoyono in a working visit to Madiun, East Java, on Monday. “President Yudhoyono has the right to meet with any figure but he has not discussed a cabinet reshuffle,” Sudi said on the sidelines of a rain-tree planting drive led by the president around the Bening Widas Dam here. Besides Silalahi, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha also bluntly denied the rumor about an SBY-Ical meeting. “Where is the information

from? It is not true that there was a discussion about a cabinet reshuffle,” said the presidential spokesman. A national newspaper on Monday reported that President Yudhoyono and Ical had met to discuss a cabinet reshuffle, especially about the replacement of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani. Relations between Ical and Sri Mulyani had soured after the latter refused to use government funds to buy the shares of Ical’s companies during the 2008 monetary crisis. Golkar’s aggressive attitude in the Bank Century case was said to be a reflection of the party leader’s wish to see Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati removed from the cabinet.

Indonesian ownership of 92 outermost islands not yet fully secured Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia‘s ownership of 92 outermost islands has yet to be fully secured, expert in international politics and international relations lecturer of Parahiyangan University Dr Andreas H Pareira said in Jakarta over the weekend. He was responding to a statement made by the foreign ministry in

Jakarta that the 92 outermost islands are completely safe from the claim of other countries, as the Indonesian ownership is guaranteed under international law. “The safety from foreign claims on the basis of international law is merely a first stage guarantee, not yet a full guarantee,” the former House Commission I member said. In past experience, he said, other

countries had different interpretations of international law, which could also happen in the future. “This can always lead to overlapping claims. We therefore need to be constantly alert and never always rely on international law, our international law experts need to be aggressive in fighting for Indonesia`s ownership of its outermost islands,” he pointed out.

Pertamina fuel tank in Ampenan on fire Antara

MATARAM - A tank at PT Pertamina’s fuel depot in Ampenan, Mataram, which has been on fire sicne 11.00 am local time, is feared to explode as the fire has reached the top of the tank. The tank contains about ten

kiloliters of premium gasoline, while about four or five other fuel tanks at the depot are also feared to catch fire. Six fire trucks are on location to try to extinguish the raging fire but with little success so far while local people living around the depot have begun to worry that the fire would

spread to their houses. A number of police officers are on guard at the site to prevent people from coming too close to the fuel tank fire. Half an hour after the fire started, two firefighters were taken to the nearest hospital after being injured by flames from the fire.

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

A protester portrayed as vice president Boediono (L) displays a poster of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during an anticorruption protest in front of the parliament building in Jakarta on January 18, 2010. The demonstrators denounced the government’s decision to pump some 730 million USD into the failing Bank Century in 2008 which has been linked to a string of damaging corruption allegations.Yudhoyono has denied allegations that some of the money went to his political patrons and to charitable organisations that subsequently backed his 2009 election campaign.

8

Internationa

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Bali Today British tourists to Bali increase 12% Antara

DENPASAR – The number of tourists from England visited Bali during January through November 2009 was 85,060 people. The number increased 12% compared to the same period in 2008 which was 75,643 people. Ida Komang Wisnu, the head of Bali Statistics Department, said “the increase also happened in the number of tourists from Australia, China, Malaysia, and France.” He said that most of the tourists were coming through Ngurah Rai International Airport and only 116 of them came by the sea. The British tourists enjoyed the beautiful nature and the unique cultures of Bali. Currently, Bali has 1,317 English guides that can take them and give information about the tourist sites in Bali. Wisnu said that the tourist from England was on the eight place of the top ten list of the most tourists visited Bali. It was 3% from the total number of tourists visited Bali last year which was 2.1 million tourists.

Wisnu also said that there was also decreased in the number of tourists visited Bali. The decrease was happening on the tourists from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Germany. While the one that increase was from Australia, England, China, Malaysia, France, and Netherlands.

Tourists looking at some of keris that being exhibit at Furama Xclusive Villas and Spa. The number of tourists from England visited Bali during January through November 2009 was 85,060 people. The number increased 12% compared to the same period in 2008 which was 75,643 people.

BTN/Doc

Cagcag Weavers Haunted by Foreign Textiles

They Turn to Work at Rice Field The typical Cagcag weaving artisans of Jembrana Regency feel increasingly confused today. Price of raw material rising and the selling price turning smaller consequently have an impact on their turnover. Moreover, when entering the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) this year, they are increasingly con-

cerned about the displacing of textile products by that of neighboring countries joining the AFTA. Surprisingly, many crafters consisting of mostly housewives preferred to leave the profession as craftsmen and switched to another job. A number of weaving artisans at Sangkaragung Village confessed

Bali Post/Sur

A crafter of Cagcag woven remaining active, Ketut Noris working at her home.

to leave their weaving profession and moved to become farm laborers because its results were a little more promising for their daily bread and butter. Made Darmi, one of the weavers turning to be farming laborer at Pangkung Gondang Hamlet, said that the current price of yarn rose by 200 percent. Meanwhile, the result of weaving works done for a week was only sold at IDR125, 000. Such condition caused more than 60 percent of weavers at her place switched their jobs. Several years ago, she added, almost at every house of her village could be encountered weaving tools. Now, with the sale of unbalanced production to capital, they one by one did not commit weaving. Today, only a handful of government-assisted groups that was still active, while in the house only elderly people who had been unable to take other profession. A crafter remaining active, Ketut Noris, 70, said she still did cagcag weaving due to unable to take other work even if calculated counting losses. Most of the crafters belonging to productive age preferred to take profession as a laborer (watermelon or rice) as well as project workers. Government’s endeavor by rendering assistance to the weavers was considered not to touch the crafters evenly. (sur)

Entrance ticket at Gianyar’s Tourist Object to rise Bali Post

GIANYAR - A number of entrance tickets at the tourist objects in Gianyar Regency will experience a price increase this year. This plan was revealed by the revised regional regulations concerning with the discussion performed at the level of Gianyar House. The reason for the raising of ticket prices was to boost the regionally generated revenue (PAD) at every tourist object in Gianyar Regency in 2010. The information obtained, last Sunday (Jan 17), the price of entrance ticket to tourist objects in Gianyar Regency would be validated from swimming pool on the Bukit Jati hilltop area, Goa Gajah and some other tourist objects. The planning to increase the ticket prices at those tourist objects was confirmed by a member of Gianyar House from Sanding, Tampaksiring, Wayan Tagel Winarta. The increase being discussed in the Gianyar House considered the current price of ticket to tourist objects in Gianyar remained low in comparison to that of other regions, such as Tabanan and other areas.

Even, according to a member of Commission D of Gianyar House, I Nyoman Arjawa, the increase just had to wait for the decision. The increase of ticket price would be validated for entrance to Bukit Jati swimming pool, namely for children at IDR 3,000 (remain the same), while for adult from IDR 6,000 to IDR 7,500. The increase of IDR 1,500 would be allocated for insurance premium (IDR 1,000) and the remaining became revenue of regional revenue. Then, for Goa Gajah tourist object would be IDR 7,500 from IDR 6,000 for children and to IDR 15,000 from IDR 10,000 for adult, he explained. Arjawa said that policies to raise the ticket price of some tourist objects in Gianyar would not to become a burden to visitors. Other than due to not too significant, such amount remained to be standard as that of other regions. “The increase in ticket prices to tourist objects will be accompanied by an increase in services, and improvement of facilities, resulting in a balance between the increases in admission and the facility at the objects,” he said. (kmb16)

al

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Balinese Culture Sweet Coconut Rice Balls

Aston International to develop two more favehotels IBP

DENPASAR - Aston International has been awarded contracts to develop and manage two new premium select service hotels in Bali under the Aston group’s trendy 2 star favehotel brand. The two new favehotels will be in privileged locations in the heart of Legian on Jalan Raya Legian and Bali’s fashionable Seminyak on Jalan Petitenget. Each hotel will offer around 100 stylish, comfortable and functional guest rooms at highly competitive room rates. Guests will benefit from the favehotel’s hallmarks such as superior beddings, high speed internet access, LCD televisions and favehotel’s accolade winning interior design. Aston Internationals Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Norbert Vas, said ‘’These two new faves will bring the number of favehotels in Bali to three and compliment the already exiting favehotel Denpasar which is currently in its soft opening stage. The two locations in Legian and Seminyak are a perfect match for favehotel which aims to provide budget hotels that surprise and delight and bring style and great design to the otherwise predictable 2 star hotel segment.’’ In addition to the hotels in Bali the Aston Groups is currently developing favehotels in Jakarta, Surabaya and Ambon and is envisioning projects in literally every primary and secondary city in Indonesia, Malaysia and the region beyond. According to the release receive by International Bali Post, favehotel is a new select service brand established by Aston International, Indonesia’s largest Hotel Group, aiming to offer inexpensive, fresh, attractive and contemporary 2 star hotels to smart budget minded travelers. Since its inception in July 2009 favehotel has been on the forefront of the budget hotel sector redefining the industry’s standards for select service hotels thru imaginary design, mid market features such as high quality

beddings and LCD televisions and a small environmental footprint. Aston entered the Indonesian market in the late nineties and has an underlying portfolio consisting of 50 properties including hotels, condotels, resorts, serviced apartments and boutique villa resorts, of which 25 are operational and 25 under development due to open between now and 2011. Aston properties currently operate under the 5 star Grand Aston, 4 star Aston, 3 star Aston City and 2 star fave Hotel brands but the company is also developing Luxury Villa resorts under the Royal Kamuela and Kamuela brands and 3 star hotels under the affordable lifestyle Quest Hotel label. With a proven track record of success, Aston has a very definitive vision of the future - to be universally recognized as the preferred hospitality management company in Asia Pacific. (iah)

(Klepon)

Ingredients * 1½ cups glutinous powder * ¾ cup lukewarm water * 2-3 drops green food coloring * 8 tsp. grated Java dark brown sugar * 1 cup freshgrated coconut, mixed with ½ tsp. salt

Directions Mix the rice powder with the lukewarm water and green food coloring into a firm but flexible dough. Pull off one full teaspoon of the dough and shape it into a ball with approximately 1-inch in diameter. Push a finger into the center of the ball to make a hole, and put in approximately ½ tsp. of the grated sugar. Seal, and roll it back into the ball shape with the palms of your hands. Prepare all the balls and set them aside. Prepare a pot half filled with water and bring it to a boil.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com

Aston International has been awarded contracts to develop and manage two new premium select service hotels in Bali under the Aston group’s trendy 2 star favehotel brand.

Drop the balls into the boiling water. Remove the balls with a spoon once they float to the water surface and then roll the balls in the grated coconut. Serve at room temperature. Makes 30 rice balls. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Steamed Mushroom Wraps (Pepes Jamur Kuping) Ingredients * 100 gram cloud ear mushroom, soaked in hot water until soft, then drained * 1 egg, beaten * 125 ml medium thick coconut milk from ¼ coconut * banana leaves Spice Paste Ingredients: * 10 red chilies * 10 bird shit chilies (prik kii nuu) * 7 small shallots * 3 small cloves garlic * 5 candlenuts * 2 tomatoes * 1 cm fresh galangal (langkuas) * 1 tsp. salt * 1 tsp. palm sugar or brown sugar

Directions Slice the mushroom in 1 cm lengths and mix together with the egg, santan and the spice paste blend. Devide the mixture among 20 packets made of banana leaves. Fold the ends of the packets and seal. Steam the packets for about 25 minutes until done. Remove and set aside. Broil the packets over medium heat until liquid has evaporated. Makes 20 Wraps (http://asiarecipe.com)

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

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BUSINESS Japan’s recovery still fragile: finance minister Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - The world’s second-largest economy is recovering but Japan still faces tough challenges, led by the twin threats of deflation and unemployment, the country’s finance minister said on Monday. “The economic situation is still severe, falling short of a self-sustained recovery, even though it is beginning to pick up,” newly-appointed Naoto Kan said at the start of a 150-day parliament session. “Looking ahead, there are the risks of a further worsening of the employment situation and deflation, and the foundation of a strong, private demand-led recovery is still fragile.” Asia’s top economy plunged into deep recession in 2008 as the global downturn sharply cut into its exports, but it grew at a modest 1.3 percent on an annualised basis in the JulySeptember quarter. Kan, referring to a stimulus package announced last month — Japan’s fourth since the global economic crisis hit — said: “The government will tackle deflation and AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO

Pedestrians pass before a share prices board in Tokyo on January 18, 2010. The world’s secondlargest economy is recovering but Japan still faces tough challenges, led by the twin threats of deflation and unemployment, the country’s finance minister said on Monday.

Britain facing decade of economic pain: forecasters Agence France-Presse

LONDON - Britain faces the prospect of a decade of economic pain, after binging on cheap debt, and its recovery will rely on trading more with Asian tigers like China, forecasters warned on Monday. The economy, expected to have escaped recession in the last quarter of 2009, faces a “challenging” 2010, according to the Independent Treasury Economic Model (ITEM) Club economic forecasting group of auditors Ernst and Young. “The UK economy has moved out of a decade of debt and into a decade of painful readjustment,” the ITEM Club said in a key report published on Monday. “After years of relying on domestic spending and borrowing the economy now needs to rebalance towards saving and exporting, or risk stagnating.” British gross domestic product (GDP) will meanwhile “struggle” to reach 1.0 percent this year. “The UK is facing another challenging year,” added chief economic adviser Peter Spencer. “We are no longer in a position to borrow — the massive debts that we racked up in the last decade now need to be repaid.

“The consumer is completely cashed out — with consumer spending likely to increase by just 0.4 percent this year.” However, Britain will fare better if the country trades more with Asian powerhouse economies like China, he added. “It is vital the UK rejuvenates its overseas investment model and starts selling into countries such as China, where we have an exceptionally low market share compared to our leading competitors. “The UK’s recovery is reliant on a roaring trade with the tiger economies,” Spencer added. Official data due on January 26 is widely expected to reveal that Britain exited its longest recession on record during the fourth quarter of 2009, or three months to December. But the ITEM Club said Monday that this was due to exceptional emergency stimulus measures — like the new-for-old vehicle scrappage scheme that has boosted the troubled auto sector. Another measure was British finance minister Alistair Darling’s temporary cut in taxation on goods and services — or value-added tax (VAT) — but this expired at the start of the year. “Once the effects of these temporary stimuli have worn off, it is difficult to see where the growth is going to come from in the short-term,” Spen-

cer added. “ITEM forecasts that GDP will struggle to reach 1.0 percent this year, with interest rates likely to remain flat well into 2010.” Turning to the public finances, the ITEM Club also expressed concern about sky-high government borrowing. “ITEM remains concerned about the Treasury’s projections for next year, which are based upon very optimistic assumptions for both the pace of the economic recovery and for the value of tax revenues raised,” it said. Late last year, Chancellor of the Exchequer Darling forecast in his prebudget report that state borrowing would hit a record 178 billion pounds in the current 2009/10 financial year which runs until April. “The fiscal position remains a major uncertainty and the pre-budget report was a big disappointment, with the Chancellor failing to come up with any credible medium-term plan for restoring the public finances to health,” Spencer said on Monday. The country’s longest recession on record has slashed taxation revenues and ramped up government spending on unemployment benefits and economic stimulus measures. The public purse was also ravaged by a series of enormously expensive bailouts in the British banking sector.

make sure the economy will recover.” The centre-left government submitted a bill for 7.2 trillion yen (79.1 billion dollars) in spending as part of the package announced last month which it says is worth a total of 274 billion dollars. To help finance the package and other spending, the government plans to issue new bonds worth 9.342 trillion yen (102.6 billion dollars), Kan said. Japan’s public debt is around 180 percent of gross domestic product, largely due to massive spending during the economic “lost decade” of the 1990s. Kan’s predecessor Hirohisa Fujii, who stepped down this month citing health problems, has warned that “Japan’s fiscal situation is serious.” Japan’s new debt issued this fiscal year will reach 53.5 trillion yen, topping tax revenue for the first time since 1946, the government has said. Kan said that more than 52 percent of public spending will be fi-

nanced through bond issues rather than tax revenues. International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, speaking in Tokyo, said tackling soaring government debt is one of the top priorities for global policymakers as a fragile economic recovery takes hold. “We have to fix the consequences of the policies which have been put in place” in response to the global economic crisis, he said. Addressing the high level of sovereign debt is “probably the top priority” facing developed, and many emerging, economies in the coming years, he said. He added that, while many advanced economies have clawed out of recession, “all efforts should be focused on fighting unemployment.” Japan’s unemployment climbed to 5.2 percent in November from 5.1 percent in October, worsening for the first time in four months. Core consumer prices fell 1.7 percent in November from a year earlier, the ninth straight monthly drop.

Asia faces ‘golden opportunity’ after crisis: Singapore fund Agence France-Presse

TAIPEI - Asian financial institutions face a “golden opportunity” after the global slump left their Western counterparts struggling, the deputy head of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund said in Taipei Monday. Tony Tan, deputy chairman of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) said Asian firms were in much better shape to play a major role on the region’s expansion over the next several years. “Asian financial institutions and markets have been given a golden opportunity,” he told a forum in the Taiwan capital, according to the text of his speech. “The globalised Western banking system, hampered by capital constraints and re-regulation, will likely not be able to intermediate the massive capital demand needed to finance Asian

growth.” “This leaves the playing field unusually open for Asian financial institutions and markets, particularly for the next few years.” The GIC is the world’s fourth-largest sovereign wealth fund, managing a global portfolio of more than 100 billion US dollars. Asian banks have benefited from entering the crisis with relatively healthy levels of capital, liquidity and non-performing assets, but now they must act fast, Tan said. “Asian banks and capital markets will need to develop quickly to step into the breach,” he said. “Regulatory and development authorities in the financial sector in Asia need to cooperate as never before with each other and financial institutions to develop regional financial and capital markets.”

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Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Entertainment

International

Sandra Bullock Gives $1 Million To Help Haiti SANDRA Bullock has followed in the footsteps of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and George Clooney, donating $1 million to help the victims of Tuesday’s Haiti earthquake. The Miss Congeniality star has handed over the cash to the Doctors Without Borders’ emergency operations in Port-Au-Prince, after seeing news coverage of the devastation the 7.0-magnitude quake caused.

Robert Pattinson To Play Spider-Man? BRITISH actor Robert Pattinson is set to swing into action to replace Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 4, according to a U.K. report. The Twilight hunk is reportedly the top choice with Columbia executives to star in the film, after Maguire pulled out last week over a reported script issue. Daily Variety claimed movie bosses are planning to make a prequel about Spider-Man’s alter-ego, Peter Parker, as a teenager instead - and Pattinson is the hot favorite to land the role, reports Britain’s Daily Mirror. A source tells the publication, “The buzz in Hollywood is all about R-Patz as the hot, young thing being lined up to fill Tobey Maguire’s shoes. It would be a hard act to follow as fans were traumatized at the news Tobey was going. His mild-mannered portrayal as Peter Parker and the transformation to Spider-Man kept millions of fans in the cinemas for the box-office smash. He also had great chemistry with Kirsten Dunst, who plays love interest Mary Jane.” But Pattinson faces tough competition for the coveted role - High School Musical star Zac Efron also has his eye on playing the webslinger. He says, “I don’t know what the chances are to be honest. I assume they’re pretty slim. It’s a long-shot but if it came down to it, it’d be a dream come true. What young actor wouldn’t?”

Nicolas Cage Owes $14 Million In Taxes NCOLAS Cage has spoken out about his tax woes, revealing he still owes $14 million to the U.S. government. he Con Air star has found himself at the centre of a number of tax claims in recent months, with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) making a $6.2 million demand in August in relation

to unpaid taxes in 2007. age is also facing other claims of unpaid tax related to his earnings between 2002 and 2004, while he was accused of defaulting on a $2 million loan in October. he actor blamed financial mismanagement for his money woes and is currently embroiled in a legal wrangle with his former business manager Samuel Levin. The 46 year old was hit with a $6.7 million suit on New Year’s Eve in relation to unpaid taxes in 2008 - taking his total tax bill to approximately $14 million. Cage opened up about his money issues on Friday, telling TMZ.com, “Over the course of my career I have paid at least $70 million in taxes. Unfortunately, due to a recent legal situation, another approximate $14 million is owed to the IRS, however, I am under new business management and am happy to say that I am current for 2009. All taxes will be paid including any to be determined state taxes.”

In a statement, she says, “I wanted to ensure that my donation would be used immediately to meet the needs of the Haitian people affected by this catastrophic event.” Earlier this week, Pitt & Jolie personally donated the same sum, while Clooney’s Not On Our Watch charity has donated another $1 million. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen reached even deeper, giving $1.5 million to the relief efforts. Wyclef Jean is also raising cash through his Yele foundation and will co-host a telethon to raise funds for the people of his native Haiti with George Clooney on January 22. And British actress Emily Blunt has vowed to add her support to the twohour Hope For Haiti telethon: “I’m going to be doing the thing that George is organizing; the telethon. But I think, really, it’s just about everyone needs to jump in. Everyone needs to get involved in whatever way they can. So, I think I’m just going to research the best way to help.”

Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ wins best drama honor at Globes THE Golden Globes gave top honors to James Cameron’s “Avatar” and took its cue from the film’s celebration of humanity, with winners ranging from the gritty child-abuse drama “Precious” to freewheeling comedy “The Hangover.” Sunday’s awards ceremony also opened wide to embrace the long-admired Jeff Bridges, who took best dramatic-acting honors for the country-music film “Crazy Heart,” and a sitcom actress, Mo’Nique, who emerged as a fierce screen presence in “Precious.” Fox’s spunky new TV musical comedy series “Glee” was honored, while the best TV drama award went to AMC’s 1960s Madison Avenue saga “Mad Men” for the third year in a row. Cameron was the big winner on the movie side, claiming best drama and best director for his science-fiction blockbuster and setting him for a possible awards sequel to 1997’s “Titanic.” Cameron’s epic about the doomed oceanliner won the same prizes and went on to dominate the Academy Awards. This time, though, instead of being “king of the world,” as Cameron declared at the Oscar ceremony, he has become king of a computer-generated distant moon that made critics gush and sent box-office receipts soaring. The film has grossed $1.6 billion worldwide, second only to “Titanic” with $1.8 billion. “‘Avatar’ asks us to see that everything is connected, all human beings to each other, and us to the Earth. And if you have to go four and a half light years to another, made-up planet to appreciate this miracle of the world that we have right here, well, you know what, that’s the wonder of cinema right there, that’s the magic,” Cameron said. Other film acting prizes went to Sandra Bullock for the football tale “The Blind Side,” Meryl Streep for the Julia Child story “Julie & Julia,” Robert Downey Jr. for the crime romp “Sherlock Holmes” and Austrian actor

Christoph Waltz as a gleefully bloodthirsty Nazi in “Inglourious Basterds.” Sunday’s winners could get a lastminute boost for the Oscars, whose nominations balloting closes Saturday. Last year’s big Globe winner, “Slumdog Millionaire,” went on to garner Oscar glory. Michael C. Hall won for best actor in a TV drama for Showtime’s “Dexter,” in which he plays a serial killer with a code of ethics, targeting only other murderers. Hall said last week ‘s publicists said last week that Hall is being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and that the cancer is in remission. “Dexter” also won the supporting-actor TV honor for John Lithgow. Other TV winners included Juliana Margulies as best actress in a drama for CBS’ “The Good Wife” and Toni Collette as best comedy actress for Showtime’s “The United States of Tara.”

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Meryl Streep poses with the award for best actress in a motion picture, comedy or musical for

Life Style

International

A couple of illegally smuggled orangutans hug each other inside a cage at the Khao Pratap Chang wildlife reserve near Bangkok. Illegal wildlife traders are turning to the Internet to reach a wider customer base, circumvent laws and evade authorities, an animal rights activist told a conference on Sunday.

AFP/File/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul

Internet allowing illegal wildlife trade: activist Agence France - Presse

SINGAPORE – Illegal wildlife traders are turning to the Internet to reach a wider customer base, circumvent laws and evade authorities, an animal rights activist told a conference on Sunday. Items such as rhinoceros horns, leopard pelts and even live tiger cubs are being hawked openly in online advertisements on public websites, said Grace Ge, Asian regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). The Internet offers anonymity for the seller as well as fast and untraceable sales, while inadequate legislation governing online companies ensures relative impunity, she said at a regional animal rights conference held in Singapore. “The Internet has facilitated the trading of wildlife, which is having a devastating effect on animals and ecosystems worldwide,” she said. Through the Internet, traders are able to “circumvent rules, regulations and evade enforcement”, Ge told delegates at the Asia for Animals 2010 conference. Citing an IFAW study on the illegal online wildlife trade in 2008, Ge

said there was a “huge volume of wildlife and their products traded online on a daily basis”. The research was conducted over a three-month period in 2008 in 11 countries including the United States, China, Australia and several European nations. It found 7,122 online advertisements selling endangered species or products derived from their slaughter. The United States was a major culprit as the source of 70.5 percent of advertisements, followed by Britain and China with 7.7 percent and 7.6 percent respectively, the study showed. Estimates of the value of final

sales on these websites totalled more than 457,000 dollars, but the actual amount was likely to be higher as most sites did not advertise their prices, according to the study. Meanwhile, animal rights activists said at the conference that cooperation rather than conflict with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners was more effective in protecting wildlife from poachers. Executive director of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) Louis Ng said the previous approach of confrontation had not been as effective.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

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Story of Newton’s encounter with apple goes online Associated Press Writer

LONDON – An 18th-century account of how a falling piece of fruit helped Isaac Newton develop the theory of gravity is being posted to the Web, making scans of the fragile paper manuscript widely available to the public for the first time. Newton’s encounter with an apple ranks among science’s most celebrated anecdotes, and Britain’s Royal Society said it was making the documents available online Monday. Royal Society librarian Keith Moore said the apple story has managed to keep its polish in part because it packs in so much — an illustration of how modern science works, an implicit reference to the solar system and even an allusion to the Bible. When Newton describes the process of observing a falling apple and guessing at the principle behind it “he’s talking about the scientific method,” Moore said. “Also the shape of the apple recalls the planet — it’s round — and of course the apple falling from the tree does indeed hark back to the story of Adam and Eve, and Newton as a religious man would have found that quite apt.” The incident occurred in the mid-1660s, when Newton retreated to his family home in northern England after an outbreak of the plague closed the University of Cambridge, where he had been studying. The Royal Society’s manuscript, written by Newton’s contemporary William Stukeley, recounts a spring afternoon in 1726 when the famous scientist shared the story over tea “under the shade of some apple trees.” “He told me, he was just in the same situation, as when formerly, the notion of gravitation came into his mind,” Stukeley wrote. “It was occasion’d by the fall of an apple, as he sat in contemplative mood. Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground, thought he to himself ... Why should

it not go sideways, or upwards? But constantly to the earth’s center? Assuredly, the reason is, that the earth draws it. There must be a drawing power in matter.” Stukeley’s account joins the long-lost notes of Newton’s 17thcentury scientific rival Robert Hooke on the Royal Society’s Web site. Users can flip through both documents using the same pageturning software used to browse Leonardo’s sketches and Jane Austen’s early work on the British Library’s site. The Royal Society is an academy of scientists founded in 1660 to gather, discuss and spread scientific knowledge. It is marking its 350th anniversary this year by putting more than 60 of its most important scientific papers online.

AP Photo/Royal Society/PA

This undated photo released by the Royal Society via PA shows Sir Isaac Newton. An 18th-century account of how a falling piece of fruit helped Newton develop the theory of gravity is being posted to the Web, making scans of the fragile paper manuscript widely available to the public for the first time. Newton’s encounter with an apple ranks among science’s most celebrated anecdotes, and Britain’s Royal Society said it was making the documents available online Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.

A New Malaria Vaccine that Treats the Mosquito Too

REUTERS/Katrina Manson

A child is seen inside a mosquito net in a mud hut in Mallay village, southern Sierra Leone, April 8, 2008.

MALARIA was eradicated in the U.S. by 1951, so Americans can be forgiven for not giving the disease much thought. But the mosquito-borne scourge is responsible for the deaths of nearly a million children under age 5 each year mostly in Africa - killing one child every 30 seconds. Half the world’s population remains at risk - including travelers to affected countries. But while initiatives to provide insecticide-treated bed nets and other control measures have cut malaria rates in half in some countries, the disease is adapting, and insecticideresistant and treatment-resistant strains are increasingly problematic. And the worldwide recession is reducing the funding available to keep malaria-control initiatives going. As a new avenue of attack, the PATH

Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - on Friday, Jan. 15, announced a collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Sabin Vaccine Institute to create a whole new kind of malaria vaccine. Called a transmissionblocking vaccine (TBV), it is aimed not at protecting individuals from the disease but at preventing mosquitoes that carry it from spreading it. (See TIME’s health and medicine covers.) “I think it’s very encouraging,” says Dr. Lee Hall, chief of the Parasitology and International Programs branch of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). “It’s a big endorsement by MVI for this general approach.” Traditional vaccines work by introducing a killed or weakened version of a

disease into the body, where the immune system spots it and cranks out antibodies against it. Then, if a wild strain of the pathogen comes along later - one that has the power to sicken or kill the body is ready for it. The new approach is different. Developed by Rhoel Dinglasan, an entomologist and biologist at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, it would instead work within the mosquito gut. (See the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2009.) Dinglasan has found an antigen, called AnAPN1, that causes humans to create antibodies that prevent transmission of malaria by mosquitoes. Get enough of these antibodies into mosquitoes, and you lock the disease up there and prevent it from infecting us.

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Sport

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

International

Safina, Clijsters through as Sharapova crashes out Agence France -Presse

MELBOURNE – Former champion Maria Sharapova crashed out of the Australian Open on Monday but there were no dramas for Dinara Safina and Kim Clijsters who spearheaded the charge into the second round. American Andy Roddick also cruised through, in stark contrast to former world number one Sharapova who was a shadow of her former self in a 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 64 defeat to fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. It was a disastrous start to the year for the underdone 22-year-old, seeded 14, who opted to only play exhibitions in Thailand and Hong Kong as a warm-up to the opening Grand Slam of the season. Playing with the roof closed on the Rod Laver Arena due to rain, which disrupted play on outside courts, she struggled to find consistency against a player ranked 58. “I certainly had my chances and just didn’t execute,” she said. “There is no grey area. It was just up and down in many areas, and just finished at the down level.” The Russian pin-up won here in 2008 but was deprived of defending her title last year after failing to recover from shoulder surgery which kept her out of action until May. Another of the Russian contingent, Safina, downed Slovakia’s 47th-ranked Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4, 6-4. But she too had her work cut out as she battled double faults and unforced errors in an emo-

tional and spasmodic performance. The 23-year-old, who struggled with a back problem at the end of last year and was playing in only her seventh match since mid-September, was happy just to stay in the tournament. “It was not an easy first round match, she’s a very good opponent,” said the number two seed, who was thrashed in the final last year by Serena Williams. “I had some good moments and bad moments, but overall I’m happy I went through.” She added that her back was no longer a problem and she was fired up for this season. “I feel like I’m back and I’m enjoying every moment on the court,” said Safina, who next faces either Russian qualifier Regina Kulikova or Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. Clijsters, who sensationally won the US Open last year after coming out of retirement, was too good for Canada’s Valerie Tetreault, romping home 6-0, 6-4 in under an hour. The Belgian, along with Justine Henin, lurk

as dark horses to bookmakers’ favourite Williams, who gets her title defence underway on Tuesday against Poland’s Urszula Radwanska. On the men’s side, American seventh seed Roddick motored past Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker 6-1, 64, 6-4 to stay on track for a potential quarter-final clash with US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro. Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic also progressed, with the 24th seed crushing 16-year-old Australian wildcard Jason Kubler, the youngest player in the draw, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

Dinara Safina of Russia returns the ball to Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia during their Women’s singles first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.

(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Federer, Serena lead stars on Haiti fundraiser ‘Melo, Billups lead Nuggets past Jazz Agence France - Presse

MELBOURNE – The top stars in tennis raised at least 200,000 dollars (185,000 US) for the Haiti earthquake victims Sunday in a hastily-arranged charity doubles match led by Roger Federer and Serena Williams. Federer organised the event in Rod Laver Arena on the eve of the Australian Open after watching the tragic

events in the Caribbean nation unfold on television. “I followed it on the TV and saw the devastation,” said the Swiss superstar. “On Saturday morning I thought we should do something, I called up Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley and said ‘is it possible?’ “He said probably not. I called up a few players just in case and they were like, ‘we should do it straight away.’ In 24 hours we were able to

(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Serena Williams of the United States, left, and Roger Federer of Switzerland react during an exhibition tennis match in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday Jan. 17, 2010. A series of exhibition games were set up by Roger Federer of Switzerland ahead of the Australian Open to raise funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The world number one has recruited a number of stars, including Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, to play doubles matches on Sunday at Melbourne Park.

pull this thing off.” Federer managed to rustle up fellow world number one Williams, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick and Australian favourites Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur. Despite the late notice, it was sell-out with 15,000 fans packing Rod Laver Arena and paying 10 dollars (nine US) each, with all the proceeds going to Partners in Health, a charity aiding Haiti. “Tennis Australia did an amazing job promoting the event in such a short time,” added Federer. “It is wonderful to see, I am happy it was such a success.” Tiley said it was too soon to put a figure on money raised, but said it would be at least 200,000 dollars (185,000 US). The players were split into two teams, red and blue, the colours of the Haitian flag, with former Grand Slam champion Jim Courier in the umpire’s chair. Roddick — foot-faulted by a linesman — provided the comic highlight by threatening to send Williams in to seek retribution along the lines of her US Open outburst last September. Williams took the joke in good spirit, doubling over in laughter. The 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti last week, bringing death and misery on an unprecedented scale to the impoverished nation. The latest toll from the Haitian government is at least 50,000 people dead and 1.5 million homeless, but those figures could soar once the full extent of the tragedy is known. Early estimates had spoken of 100,000 dead.

Associated Press Writer

DENVER – Carmelo Anthony scored 37 points and Chauncey Billups added 29 in the Denver Nuggets’ 119-112 win over Utah that snapped a four-game winning streak by the Jazz on Sunday night. Ty Lawson returned to Denver’s rotation after missing four games with a sprained ankle and helped steady a sometimes erratic offense, scoring 11 points and dishing out an assist. Nene added 18 points for the Nuggets, whose win on this January night could mean a lot come April. Denver improved to 3-0 against Utah, winning the season series, which could prove crucial for playoff seeding should these teams end up with the same record in the tight Western Conference. Point guard Deron Williams (sprained wrist) and forward Andrei Kirilenko (hyperextended knee) were both in Utah’s starting lineup despite playing the night before in a 112-95 win over Milwaukee in Salt Lake City. Williams led the Jazz with 23 points but Kirilenko scored just seven. Kyle Korver had 19, Carlos Boozer 18 and Paul Millsap 17 for the Jazz. Although Utah’s lone lead came at 7-6, this game was contested until the final minute. The Nuggets jumped out to a 17point lead in the second quarter but

Utah kept it interesting by closing with a 12-2 run and went into halftime down 60-53. Kirilenko opened the third quarter with a bucket to make it a five-point game, but the Nuggets responded with a 10-0 run, sparked by Anthony, to grab a 70-55 lead. Once again, the Jazz didn’t go down quietly. They used a 13-2 run to pull to 85-81 heading into the fourth quarter, and Mehmet Okur’s bucket cut Denver’s lead to 85-83. Boozer’s drive made it 108-104 with just under two minutes left, but the Jazz got no closer. Billups iced it with a 3-pointer with 57 seconds left that made it 113108. Lawson had missed four games since spraining his left ankle against Golden State on Jan. 5, and in his absence, the Nuggets lost some of the fluidity in their offense, often having trouble with pace and penetration that’s so crucial to their philosophies. Coach George Karl also missed Lawson’s disruptive defense and said he looks forward to putting him on the court with Billups more often during the last half of the season, just like they were for the frenetic final minutes Sunday night. “Ty’s defense is better than any rookie I’ve ever coached,” Karl said before tip-off. “He still makes mistakes, but he’s a very sound defender as is Chauncey, and their ability to find the open man, I’ve said, what, 2,451 times, is the key to our team.”

Sport

International

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

15

Cameroon edge Zambia in Cup of Nations thriller Agence France - Presse

LUBANGO, Angola – Cameroon edged Zambia 3-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations Group D thriller at Tundavala Stadium on Sunday to revive hopes of winning the tournament for a fifth time. Substitute Mohamadou Idrissou headed the 86th-minute winner to complete a late scoring flurry in which Cameroon struck twice within five minutes to snatch the lead only for Zambia to level from a penalty. Geremi and Samuel Eto’o were the other marksmen for the winners while Jacob Mulenga gave Zambia an early lead and captain Christopher Katongo levelled from a spotkick with nine minutes left. Gabon, who fought out a dour goalless draw with Tunisia in the first half of a double header, lead the pool with four points. Cameroon have three, Tunisia two and Zambia one ahead of the final mini-league fixtures next Thursday. “We can become better, but we started from a low base,” commented coach Paul Le Guen, who took over Cameroon when they were last in their World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group. The former Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Rangers boss added: “We found ourselves in difficulty here because Zambia play really well. The first half was very tough for us. Afterwards things got better but I know they’re good and that we were fortunate to win and to take the three points.”

The Frenchman made two changes from the team shocked 1-0 by Gabon in their opening match, with midfielder Stephane Mbia and striker Tchoyi Somen replacing Landry Nguemo and Achille Webo. Zambia, also coached by a Frenchman in Herve Renard, stuck with the side that led Tunisia before having to settle for a 11 draw in a match they could easily have won. The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) needed no incentive to beat the Indomitable Lions, having suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat against them at the same stage of the last Nations Cup in Ghana two years ago. Renard had warned his squad that there is nothing more dangerous than a wounded lion and they heeded his advice by snapping at the feet of their more illustrious opponents from the kick-off. The in-your-face approach of a country trying to reach the second round for the first time since 1996 paid off after only eight minutes when

Netherlands-based Mulenga struck. This goal once again exposed Cameroon as a team prone to slapstick defending, with a careless Geremi pass intercepted by Felix Katongo, who burst past the veteran defender and crossed from the left. Rigobert Song, another long-serving defender who was held responsible for the Gabon goal, headed the ball against his goalkeeper Carlos Kameni as he attempted to avert danger and the rebound fell to Mulenga who tapped it home. Cameroon boasted an attack starring three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o, but Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was not tested until the 36th minute when he reacted swiftly to push away a Jean Makoun drive. A double save from Kameni soon after saved Cameroon from falling further behind as he parried a Rainford Kalaba free-kick and got up quickly to foil Katongo, who reached the rebound first.

Agence France - Presse

Ronaldinho despatched the resulting penalty and Marco Borriello scored on 28 minutes to put the game to bed before half-time before the Brazilian rounded off the scoring in the second period. Milan coach Leonardo paid tribute to his Brazilian compatriot and looked forward to the derby. “It’s normal when someone feels the love, he responds. He’s entertaining everyone, he’s a great player,” he said of Ronaldinho. “He’s having a great season, he’s rediscovered his taste for playing well and scoring goals. It’s a great time in a great title race (for the derby) and it will create interest because we are closer (to Inter). There

will be a lot of expectation and attention and I’m delighted to be a part of that.” Milan started in determined mood following Inter’s 2-2 draw at Bari on Saturday and Ronaldinho took an Alessandro Nesta cross on his chest on three minutes before sending a spectacular overhead bicycle kick just off target. But on 10 minutes the referee took the decision that essentially ended the game as a contest. Jardim Brandao dithered on the ball in his own box and Borriello dispossessed him before trying to round Curci. There was minimal contact between the pair and Borriello crumpled to the ground but the striker’s last touch had been too heavy and left him no chance of reaching the ball before a back-tracking defender. Juventus slumped to their seventh defeat in 10-games with a 1-0 reverse at Chievo that is sure to increase the pressure on under-fire coach Ciro Ferrara. Juve dropped to fifth and out of the Champions League places as both AS Roma and Napoli overtook them. Roma moved up to third as on-loan striker Luca Toni scored his first goals for the club in a 3-0 win over free-falling Genoa. Simone Perrotta opened the scoring on 17 minutes after a scramble at a corner and then Toni turned home Mirko Vucinic’s cross on the stroke of half-time. And on the hour mark Vucinic turned provider again for Toni to head home his second. Napoli could not fully capitalise as they were held 0-0 at home by Palermo but still extended their unbeaten league run to 14 matches.

(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, left, controls the ball past Zambia’s Rainford Kalaba in their African Cup of Nations Group D match at Tundavala Stadium in Lubango, Angola Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010.

Wenger targets title Ronaldinho hat-trick puts heat on Inter after Bolton win ROME – Ronaldinho plundered a hat-trick as AC Milan crushed 10man Siena 4-0 on Sunday to close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan to just six points and with the Milan derby to come next week. Milan also have a game in hand meaning they could potentially draw level with the four-in-a-row champions if they were to win next weekend’s crunch clash. Playing the league’s basement sitters Milan hardly needed a helping hand but they got exactly that as Siena goalkeeper Gianluca Curci was harshly sent off on 10 minutes.

(AP Photo/Daniele Badlato)

Milan’s Ronaldinho in action during their Serie A game against Siena in Milan, Italy Sunday Jan. 17 2010. Milan won 4-0.

Agence France - Presse

BOLTON, England – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted his side were now genuine title contenders after goals from Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida helped them beat Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium. Sunday’s success left the third-placed Gunners just three points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and they will go top, on goal difference, if they beat Bolton again at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in a fixture re-arranged following the recent cold snap in Britain. After losing 3-0 at home to Chelsea on November 29, Wenger?s men were written off as potential champions but have since gone eight matches unbeaten to transform their season. However, having seen Fabregas mark his return to the Arsenal side in style to help ruin Owen Coyle’s first match in charge of Bolton, Wenger said: “We are now in a quite interesting position that nobody expected us to be in. “When the season started we were not all convinced maybe in our squad that we could be where we are today,” the Frenchman added. “But now we are where we are, we want to have a go. We are a big club and when you are a big club, the most difficult thing is like last season in October and November, when you know you don’t fight for the title. “But now we have a chance to fight for the championship, so let’s have a go.” Fabregas had missed Arsenal’s three previous matches with a

hamstring problem but the break did not appear to have done him any harm as he ran the show for the visitors on Sunday, including playing a part in setting-up fellow Spaniard Merida for the Gunners’ second goal 12 minutes from time. Turning to Fabregas, Wenger said: “What is very interesting for us is Cesc gets stronger and stronger and has more personality on the pitch, like the whole team. “He grows. He will be 23 this year - he is just starting.” Coyle almost had the dream start as Bolton boss when after just 45 seconds Kevin Davies dribbled into the box but he could not control the ball when unmarked and the chance went begging. Arsenal showed Bolton how it should be done in the 28th minute. After some impressive build-up play, Abou Diaby was tackled by Gretar Steinsson on the edge of the box but the Icelandic defender tripped and gifted the ball to Fabregas and after a collecting a wonderful return pass from Eduardo, the Spain midfielder calmly slotted into the bottom corner . Bolton were a much improved team after half-time with South Korea’s Lee Chung-Yong causing Arsenal problems down the right wing while Matt Taylor missed several good chances to level the match at 1-1. “I thought the level of performance was terrific and on another day would have got us points, whether one or three,” Coyle said. “If we play at that level we will pick up points in this league and we can make a game of it on Wednesday.”

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Sport

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sainz clinches Dakar Rally victory San Rafael, ARG

Carlos Sainz resisted Volkswagen team-mate Nasser AlAttiyah’s late challenge to clinch his first Dakar Rally victory. Al-Attiyah had reduced Sainz’s lead - which at one stage reached 10 minutes - to just under three minutes going into the final stage. But although Al-Attiyah was fastest again on today’s San Rafael to Buenos Aires leg, he could not do enough in the final 206 kilometres to overhaul the former World Rally champion, who wrapped up victory with a cushion of 2m12s.

(AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Volkswagen’s Carlos Sainz and co-driver Lucas Cruz, of Spain, race in stage 12 of the ArgentinaChile Dakar Rally 2010 between San Juan and San Rafael, Argentina, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.

Khan signs promotion deal with De La Hoya Agence France - Presse

LOS ANGELES – British superstar Amir Khan, the World Boxing Association super-lightweight champion, has signed a promotional deal with Oscar de la Hoya, hoping the “Golden Boy” can boost his US recognition. Khan, 22-1 with 16 knockouts, joined a stable of British fighters that includes WBA heavyweight champion David Haye and Ricky Hatton who have deals with Golden Boy Promotions, which announced the contract with Khan on Sunday. “I am really happy,” Khan said. “They will be the right team to help me continue my career as an elite fighter and to expand my fan base to the United States and around the world.”

“I’m ready to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime and know that Golden Boy will help me accomplish these goals.” Khan won a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics at age 17. Six months ago, Khan took the WBA crown by unanimous decision over Andreas Kotelnik and last month he knocked out Dmitriy

Salita in his first title defense. “Amir Khan is one of the most talented fighters in the world at any weight,” De la Hoya said. “That talent, combined with his charismatic and out-going personality, makes him a promoter’s dream and I feel will one day lead him to being the face of boxing.”

“It has been a very important day for me,” said Sainz. “Spain has finally won the Dakar with cars and I’m delighted. I want to thank [copilot] Lucas [Cruz] for his great work and to all the team, and everybody who put their trust in me. We haven’t had any problems, and the car doesn’t have a scratch. I think we have done a fast but intelligent Dakar. It has been a very hard fight with my team-mate. We knew it would be that way. As I said before, I want to thank everyone who trusted in me.” Al-Attiyah had been determined to catch Sainz during the final days, but insisted he was still content with second. “I’m quite happy,” he said. “Second place is a good result for me because I’ve never been in this position. “I was pushing, but everybody knows this stage is quite straight. Really I’m so happy with second place because I tried my best.

It’s a good feeling because we did a great job all Dakar without any mistakes or accidents with other cars.” Mark Miller finished third, to complete a one-two-three for VW as it repeated its 2009 win. Sainz had held the lead from stage five onwards, as VW took command of the second half of the rally following a strong early challenge from the X-raid BMW team. The BMWs had the pace to take the fight to VW, but not the consistency. Stage one winner Nani Roma crashed heavily on the second day, Guerlain Chicherit had to play catch-up from the start following severe electrical problems, and a broken propshaft on stage five cost Dakar legend Stephane Peterhansel a growing lead. Peterhansel and Chicherit at least fought back to fourth and fifth, ahead of Carlos Sousa in the best of the ex-works Mitsubishis now run by the JMB Stradale team.