Edisi 04 Maret 2011 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 60 3rd Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

I

Foreign tourists flying direct to Bali reaches 209,093

N

T

E

R

N

A

T

I

O

N

A

L

e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

Friday, March 4, 2011

The Ogoh-ogoh Baruna Murti from banjar Gemeh, Denpasar. The Hindus is celebrating Nyepi Day, Caka New Year 1933 tomorrow. Before the New Year, there is pengerupukan where they carry out the giant puppet called “Ogoh-Ogoh” all around the village. It is the symbol to return the evil to its original place and to suppress our bad characters before Nyepi.

PAGE 8

Actor Mickey Rooney tells Congress about abuse

IBP/Eka Adiyaksa

PAGE 12

Pakistan vows to battle extremism after minister slain The International Bali Post would like to say Happy Nyepi Day, Caka New Year 1933 WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

24 - 31

JAKARTA

23 - 32

BANDUNG

21 - 29

YOGYAKARTA

22 - 31

SURABAYA

23 - 32

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

RAIN

HOTLINE

For placing advertisment, please contact: Eka Wahyuni

0361-225764

Reuters

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan must not buckle to extremism, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday, a day after Taliban militants killed his government’s only Christian minister for challenging a law on blasphemy toward Islam.

The assassination of Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti in broad daylight on Wednesday

threatens to further destabilize the nuclear-armed U.S. ally where many fear a strain of violent reli-

gious conservatism is becoming more mainstream in society.

Zardari, head of a government many Pakistanis hold in little regard, said Bhatti’s killing was the result of a “negative mindset and intolerance” that had led to the killing of a provincial governor in January.

Punjab governor Salman Taseer was also shot dead, by his own body-

guard, for his staunch opposition to the blasphemy law that mandates the death sentence for anyone insulting Islam.

“We have to fight this mindset and defeat them. We will not be intimidated nor will we retreat,” the official APP news agency quoted Zardari as saying.

Continued on page 6

Actress Jolie visits Afghanistan: UNHCR Associated Press Writer

KABUL – US film star Angelina Jolie has made a surprise two-day visit to Afghanistan to meet refugees in the war-torn country, the UN’s refugee agency said Wednesday. Jolie, star of films such as “Mr & Mrs Smith” and also a UNHCR goodwill ambassador, spent two days meeting refugees, afterwards calling for more to be done to reintegrate former exiles into Afghan society.

Over 5.5 million people have returned to Afghanistan since 2002, the year after the Taliban were ousted by a US-led invasion, according to the

UNHCR. Most of them had fled to Pakistan and Iran and their return has increased the country’s population by over 20 percent, it says.

There are currently some 140,000 international troops in Afghanistan fighting a Taliban-led insurgency.

Continued on page 6

Angelina Jolie (L) meets Khanum Gul (R), 35 year old, mother of 8 children, and her youngest son, Samir at their makeshift home at Tamil Mill Bus site in Kabul on March 2, 2011.

AFP PHOTO / UNHCR / JASON TANNER

2

International

Friday, March 4, 2011

Bali News

Thousands of devotees in Buleleng do Melasti to local beach Singaraja (Bali Post)—

Virtually all sections of northern coast in Buleleng, Wednesday (Mar 2), were filled with Hindu devotees who performed Melasti procession before Nyepi festivity. The entire processions were escorted by pecalang of customary security taskforce assisted by police officers from each subdistrict police in Buleleng.

Beach areas in the former port of Buleleng were crowded by thousands of devotees from customary villages existing in the Sukasada and Buleleng Subdistrict. Meanwhile, the Kerobokan Beach was thronged by thousands of devotees from Kerobokan customary village and those from other villages that also performed the same melasti procession. In the meantime, the Banjar Beach filled with many villas was also overwhelmed by devotees performing melasti procession from customary villages within the territory of Banjar Subdistrict.

The procession held at the same time had once caused traffic congestion. However, due to alacrity of

pecalang together with police officers, the traffic congestion did not take place for a long time.

Division Head of Operations of Buleleng Police, Ida Bagus Wedanajati, said that all personnel including personnel of subdistrict police had been instructed to secure the entire series of Nyepi Day, ranging from melasti procession, pecaruan (exorcism rite), ogohogoh (papier mache demon) parade, as well as Ngembak Nyepi.

The tasks had been divided according to their own field. Traffic officers arranged the traffic safety and criminal detective unit did crime prevention. “In short, we secure all of them,” he said. (kmb15)

IBP/File

The Hindus carry out melasti ceremony.

Bali residents do not comply with tax obligation Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Bali Regional Office of Directorate General of Tax (DJP) recorded that compliance level of Bali residents in carrying out tax obligations remained low. DJP Bali also noted the number of taxpayers in Bali had reached 368,835. Of these numbers, only 208,161 that had submitted their tax notification or 56.44 percent of the total registered taxpayers.

Head of DJP Bali, Zulfikar Thahar, stated the results of studies indicated several reasons why taxpayers were reluctant to submit their annual tax notification. Among them, the taxpayers did not get the annual tax notification, and they found difficulties in filling out the form of tax notification consisting of multiple attachments, the company where taxpayers worked did not issue evidence of income tax deduction pursuant to Article 21, and some taxpayers were also lazy to queue up at Main Tax Office.

“Awareness of Balinese residents to pay taxes remains low. Of the reg-

istered taxpayers, the lowest level of compliance is on individual taxpayer,” said Zulfikar in Denpasar, Wednesday (Mar 2).

He explained that the number of individual taxpayers up to 2010 reached 339,715 people.

Among them, only 194,656 people or 46.8 percent submitted their tax notification. Meanwhile, out of the registered corporate taxpayers amounting to 29,120 people, only 13,505 people or 57.3 percent submitted their tax notification. In order to improve the tax realization in the period of 2011, DJP Bali would provide a drop box at a number of public places such as in the Ramayana Bali Mall, BPD Bali, Tiara Dewata, Discovery Shopping Mall, BTDC, Ngurah Rai Airport, Seminyak Square and the Udayana University Jimbaran.

“Such drop box is intended to provide closer services to the community. Besides, it also reduces long queue in the main tax office,” he said. Related to tax

revenue in the period of 2011, DJP Bali had set the target of tax realization at IDR 4.08 trillion. The target was much higher than the target realization in 2010 set at IDR 3.64 trillion.

“Tax realization is targeted to increase. It is proportional to the growth rate of individual and corporate taxpayers existing in Bali Province,” he said. Throughout the year 2010, the target of tax realization set by DJP Bali, as admitted by Zulfikar, had not been in accordance with the target. In 2010, the tax realization just reached IDR 3.58 trillion, or 98.32 percent of the target set. Low tax realization in 2010 was inseparable from the low compliance of tax notification submission by taxpayers.

“On average, only 56.44 percent of taxpayers in Bali submitted their tax notification in 2010. Ideally, it should reach 100 percent. Nevertheless, we will attempt all the times so the awareness of taxpayers to pays taxes increases as well,” he said (par)

Jail for Life, Student Burst Crying Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Accused Munasiroh (26) was suspected to have tried smuggled Methamphetamine weighing 427, 97 grams through Ngurah Rai International Airport started her trial last Wednesday (2/3) in Denpasar District Court. For that accused was stated violated section 114 paragraph 2, section 113 paragrah 2 and section 115 paragraph 2 from Indonesia Republic Law No.35 Year 2005 on narcotics with punishment maximum jailed for life.

Public Prosecutor Ketut Sujaya explained accuses was captured in the Arrival Terminal on Monday 8th November 2010 when suspected to have violated the law in importing the methamphetamine. The capture started with an information received by Bali Police Drugs Directorate National Operation Team from the Customs worker of one Thai Air TG-431 passen-

ger acting suspiciously.

For that, the student with passport number R 435828 was then checked which then six packages of clear crystals weighing 164, 46 gross gram was placed on a brown colored with laces bra and another one outside a brown panties weighing 263, 51 gross gram. From the interrogation with police, accused admitted all of them was brought from Bangkok and received from someone named Lina who’s at CNK Hotel 5th Floor No. 591 Patanakan No.40 Thailand.

These items were next sent to Jakarta and from Lina she was given an electric ticket using SMS with flight number JXFQ3T also promised USD 4.000 for payment. As the maximum punishment was stated, Munasiroh burst crying in the trial room. She couldn’t believe that the items she brought were a trap that brought her to the court. (015)

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

Bali News

International

Friday, March 4, 2011

3

Tawur Preparation

Klungkung Catus Pata Closed Three Days Semarapura (Bali Post) –

In the coming Tawur Agung Kesanga ( in order welcoming the Caka New Year 1933 on Nyepi Day, Klungkung Catus Pata cross road is closed for three days, Wednesday (2/3) to Friday (4/3). This was done for preparation for placing variety religious ceremony equipments such as sanggar tawang, sanggar surya, bale panggungan, bale pewedaan, terok and lampan genah banten.

Specially for Tuesday it is allowed to go through it as for Melasti they have to pass by it.

Yet for Thursday (3/3) the 100 meters radius four ways will be totally closed (sterile) as there will be some cleansing for the equipments also mapepada wewalungan (animal sacrificing for cleansing procession).

The Mapepada happened in the morning was led by Ida Pedanda Ketut Gelgel and Ida Dalem Surya Dharma Sogata.

Wewalungan (animals) used were cow, bull, goat, pig, swan, dog, duck, turtle, and chickens.

And so by tawur’s peak this Fri-

day, there will be preparation.

The tawur kesanga starts at 10 am local time on Friday and led

by Ida Pedanda Gede Putra Tembau from Geria Aan, Banjarangkan and Ida Pedanda Nyoman Jelantik Karang from Geria Karang, Buda Keling.

Tawur committee, Dewa Ketut Soma, explained philosophically means payment after a year taking nature’s content, realize it or not. And so in this changing year (Caka) it is obliged to return it to balance it, “If we take it without giving something back, it’s not balance.” Those balances were the balance of Panca Maha Bhuta

sources (akasa, bayu, teja, apah and pertiwi), It is still being questioned why this tawur kesanga is heled in the four ways of catus pata.

Dewa Soma stated it is based on Hindu Concept as this place is the tapak dara, the symbol of the meeting of akasa and pertiwi (central point) and so this is the symbol of swastika.

Meanwhile tawur kesanga is a “nyomya” activity where buta kala becomes buta hita and a symbol of hoping harmony with nature, “This is to hope for harmony, and so it’s best in its center point.” (kmb20)

Secured, Blood Stock For Nyepi Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Every year Blood Transfusion Unit (UTD) of Bali Branch Indonesia Red Cross (PMI) Guidance stocked blood for the coming Nyepi day.

Since Wednesday (2/3) the blood packages are prepared and hoped will be enough until the coming Nyepi on Saturday (5/3).

Head of Sub Donor Recruitment UTD Bali PMI Guidance, Made Geria Amita, stated 270 packages of blood with blood type A 110 pockets, B 50 pockets, O 80 pockets and AB 30 pockets. Even though the stock

was felt enough but there has been a problem like one of them was to fulfill thrombosis needs in this Nyepi day, “For thrombosis we can’t stock them as it only last 5 hours so it needs from a fresh blood.”

In solving it those patients who will need it the doctors will suggest plasma blood instead and for that there is some stock. Besides that to avoid the stocks finished, the UTD will only receive doctor requests only, “Usually there are no surgery scheduled during Nyepi so blood stock won’t finish. The case that needs it usually is treatment in increasing patient’s

hemoglobin (Hb) or emergency surgery.”

During Nyepi day the UTD will open 24 hours but its services only in Sanglah Hospital, “If there are other hospitals that need it can come here straight away with ambulance and special permission letter.” For the workers in Nyepi, UTD prepared six of its staffs for deliver, donor taker and service also processing, “For donor activities, in the next few days there hasn’t been any schedule but it doesn’t mean there are no possibilities that these donors come here before Nyepi day.”(san)

IBP/Eka and Yudi

The Ogoh-Ogoh spread throughout Denpasar. From left, the Ogoh-Ogoh from Bajar Karang Suwung, followed by from banjar Belaluan Sadmerta, then Mastya Awatara from banjar Titih Tengah, Banjar Kayumas Kaja Denpasar, and the last from Banjar Alang Kajeng Denpasar

Cruise ship quay in Celukan Bawang goes unnoticed ABOUT three years ago, Buleleng Regency was impregnated with discourse on the construction of cruise ship quay in the port area of Celukan Bawang, Gerokgak Subdistrict. But amidst the emergence of a new discourse on the international airport development, in fact the previous discourse disappeared.

What about the cruise ship quay?

Before the emergence of discourse to build an international airport, there were at least three mega projects in the Buleleng region previously touted to increase the prestige of Buleleng as developed regency. The three projects consist of the international standard swimming pool covering about 1.6 hectares of land in Banyuasri area resembling to the Ancol Dreamland. Another project was the cruise ship quay in the Celukan Bawang port.

If the swimming pool and dreamland-like project have been indeed not materialized at all, the cruise ship quay project has even been built. It has been established by using a fund allocated through

the Bali Regional Budget around in 2006. However, the funds amounting to IDR 7.2 billion was only enough to build the quay along 160 meters. So, the established quay could not have been used by cruise ship that supposedly had promised to berth in Buleleng. For that reason, the quay was planned to be extended again until reaching 200 meters to enable cruise ships to anchor. Unfortunately, until now the quay extension apparently has not been materialized and cruise ships never drop by in Buleleng.

Information collected from several sources in Buleleng Regency said that the quay project was initially built along 120 meters. Later, it was extended to 160 meters. However, the standard established by the Atsuka cruise ship management of Japan was supposed to be over 190 meters. For that purpose, Buleleng Regency or Bali Provincial Government was forced to re-allocate additional budget for the extension. Unluckily, the budget was not realized, so the cruise ship never comes. (ole)

4

News

Friday, March 4, 2011

International

Rebels corner fleeing Gadhafi forces after battle Associated Press Writer

BREGA, Libya – Rebel forces routed troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi in a fierce battle over an oil port Wednesday, scrambling over the dunes of a Mediterranean beach through shelling and an airstrike to corner their attackers.

While they thwarted the regime’s first counteroffensive in eastern Libya, opposition leaders still pleaded for outside airstrikes to help them oust the longtime leader.

The attack on Brega, a strategic oil facility 460 miles (740 kilometers) east of Gadhafi’s stronghold in Tripoli, illustrated the deep difficulties the Libyan leader’s armed forces — an array of militiamen, mercenaries and military units — have had in rolling back the uprising that has swept over the entire eastern half of Libya since Feb. 15.

In the capital of Tripoli, Gadhafi warned against U.S. or other Western intervention, vowing to turn Libya into “another Vietnam,” and saying any foreign troops coming into his country “will be entering hell and they will drown in blood.”

At least 10 anti-Gadhafi fighters were killed and 18 wounded

in the battle for Brega, Libya’s second- largest petroleum facility, which the opposition has held since last week. Citizen militias flowed in from a nearby city and from the opposition stronghold of Benghazi hours away to reinforce the defense, finally repelling the regime loyalists.

The attack began just after dawn, when several hundred proGadhafi forces in 50 trucks and SUVs mounted with machine guns descended on the port, driving out a small opposition contingent and seizing control of the oil facilities, port and airstrip. But by afternoon, they had lost it all and had retreated to a university campus 5 miles (7 kilometers) away.

There, opposition fighters besieged them, clambering from the beach up a hill to the campus as mortars and heavy machine gun fire blasted around them, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene. They took cover behind grassy dunes, firing back with assault rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers. At one point, a warplane struck in the dunes to try to disperse them, but it caused no casualties and the siege continued.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies before a Senate Appropriations Committee; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing on the budget for the State Department in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 2, 2011.

AFP PHOTO / ROD LAMKEY JR

Clinton

Iran contacting Arab opposition movements Agence France Presse

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that Iran is directly or indirectly communicating with opposition groups in Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen in a bid to shape events there. It was the first time that Clinton detailed alleged efforts by Iran to meddle in the three-month wave of Arab revolts that has toppled presidents in Tunisia and Egypt, convulsed Libya and shaken Yemen, Bahrain and Oman.

AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

Supporters cheer as a convoy of Libyan rebel soldiers drives in Ajdabiya on March 2, 2011 while pro Moamer Kadhafi soldiers and mercenaries armed with tanks and heavy artillery stormed the nearby city of Brega, 200 kilometres (125 miles) southwest of the main eastern city Benghazi, sparking heavy clashes.

“They are doing everything they can to influence the outcomes in these places,” Clinton told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“They are using Hezbollah... to communicate with counterparts... in (the Palestinian movement) Hamas who then in turn communicate with counterparts in Egypt,” the chief US diplomat said.

“We know that they are reaching out to the opposition in Bahrain. We know that the Iranians are very much involved in the opposition

movements in Yemen,” she said.

“So either directly or through proxies, they are constantly trying to influence events. They have a very active diplomatic foreign policy outreach,” she added. In a bid to counteract the Iranian moves, she said, the United States is making diplomatic and other contacts of its own with opposition groups across the Middle East and North Africa.

Clinton said it was a delicate task.

“Most people want us to be helpful but they don’t want us to be taking a

leading role, and so how we deliver on the aid they’re seeking without looking as though we’re trying to take over their revolution is our challenge,” she said.

“But it is also a challenge for the Iranians. They don’t have a lot of friends, but they’re trying to curry more friends,” Clinton said. She said nonetheless “it’s a constant effort on our part” to keep Iranian influence at bay, adding she needed “the resources” to move diplomats and other US officials around to be successful.

Clinton pointed out that Shiite and non-Arab Iran was trying to win influence even though it is not a natural ally of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Muslim Arab group in Egypt. However, Iran has long supported Hamas, a radical Sunni Muslim group in Gaza, which neighbors Egypt.

Egypt’s prime minister quits after calls for purge Reuters

CAIRO – Egypt’s Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq resigned on Thursday and a former transport minister was picked to appoint a new government after pro-democracy activists demanded a purge of Hosni Mubarak’s old guard from the cabinet. Shafiq was appointed prime minister by Mubarak in his final days in office before he was ousted on February 11 after an 18day popular uprising which shook the Middle East. But there have been protests and political pres-

sure for Shafiq to step down.

One Shafiq aide said appointing Essam Sharaf prime minister was timed to defuse calls for another mass rally by protesters on Friday after a first modest reshuffle by Shafiq failed to mollify protesters who want a clean break with the Mubarak era.

“This is a shocking and premature resignation. There have been pressures from the streets that he quit,” one of Shafiq’s aides told Reuters, asking not to be identified. “There was fear of Friday’s protests and how big they may be. He actually wanted to leave before this week as well and

does not want to agitate the people,” the aide said.

Even since Mubarak’s overthrow, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians have turned out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and other cities to celebrate his downfall and to send a message to the military that the people will not be ignored.

Shafiq, an air force commander, has been tipped by one military source as a potential contender for the presidency in a forthcoming election. This would ensure the armed forces would have one of their own members in Egypt’s top post.

AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI

An Egyptian rests at Tahrir Square in Cairo on March 2, 2011 where protesters returned to push for political reform after more than two weeks of massive street protests forced former president Hosni Mubarak to resign on February 11 after 30 years of rule.

International

Activities

Friday, March 4, 2011

5

Oakley Pro 2011 at Canggu Beach Bali AS an industry leader in the core sports market, Oakley is pleased to announce the dates and the venue for its annual 6-star Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship event; the Oakley Pro 2011 from April 1-14 at Canggu Beach in Bali, Indonesia New for this year is the dual sanctioning of the Oakley Pro 11 as the first 6-star event of the new Asian Surfing Championship Tour.

The new ASC Tour is a testament to the growth of the popularity of surfing through South East Asia, and is comprised of selected events from the ISC tour in conjunction with events in Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia and soon in the Philippines and other SEA countries. The Asian Surfing Championship Tour is at the forefront of taking the sport to a whole new audience.

Discussing the development of the new ASC series, CEO of the Coca-Cola ISC Tour Tipi Jabrik stated, “Over the past 5 years, the Indonesian Surfing Championships has really gained credibility in the global surfing community as a world class series. We have not only raised the standard of competition but also achieved a high level of professionalism in the administration. After assisting in the planning and hosting of a number of events in the region, we are proud to announce the new ASC Tour with the universal support of the surfing industry. As a leader in the development of surfing in the region, Oakley jumped at the chance to take part in the tour and we are elated they will host this first 6-star event.”

As one of the highest performance waves in Bali, Canggu has been the site of the event for the last 2 years, and as Oakley continues their push to raise the bar of performance through quality venues it was an easy decision to return to Canggu to host the first event of this year.

“Oakley always scores great waves each year in this event at Canggu and we are all stoked to get waves of this caliber as it leads to some of the best surfing of the year,” noted 2009 Coca-Cola ISC

Champion and Oakley athlete Lee Wilson, “and with this being the first ever event of the new Asian Tour, all the surfers are really looking forward to going big again at this event.” A Mecca for the international surfing community, Canggu is one of the most photographed waves in the region. With the perfect waves breaking in close proximity to the beach and great facilities available in the rapidly developing area, Canggu is just as userfriendly for the spectators as for the surfers.

Acknowledging the fact that many fans won’t have the chance to make it to the beach, Oakley will be working hard again this year to bring the waves to cities across Indonesia. “The growing popularity and interest in surfing in Indonesia and beyond the traditional boundaries of Bali has not been lost on Oakley,” states Gino Andrias, Oakley Sports and Alternate Marketing Manager. “We will be looking to take advantage of the amazing venue we have for this year’s event to provide photos, video and updates to our 575,000+ Facebook fans and will be launching an integrated event minisite this week to maximize our reach beyond the beach throughout the competition window”.

The Oakley Pro 2011 is a 6-Star Indonesian Surfing Championship event that will be held at Canggu Beach starting on the 1st of April with a 14-day waiting period, allowing the surfers to compete in only the best waves.

A total prize purse of nearly Rp 60 million with Rp 15 million going to the winner of the Open Division, along with valuable championship points, will ensure the level of competition as well as the excitement factor will be going off the scale.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for February 1 through March 2, 2011 1 February AnggarKasih Tambir Dalem Puri Temple in Batuan - Sukawati Dalem Kediri Silakarang in Silakarang Singapadu - Gianyar Dalem Temple in Sukawati Village - Gianyar Dalem Temple in Singakerta Village - Ubud Gianyar Dalem Lemben in Ketewel - Sukawati Gianyar Paibon Pasek Tangkas in Peliatan - Ubud Puseh ngukuhin in Keramas - Gianyar Pemerajan Agung Ki Telabah in Tuakilang Tabanan Karang Buncing in Blahbatuh - Gianyar Dalem Bubunan in Seririt - Buleleng Desa Badung Temple in Denpasar Merajan Pasek Gelgel Gobleg in Turupinghe Banjar - Buleleng Luwur Pedengenan Bedha in Bongan Tabanan Merajan Dukuh Sebudi in Keramas - Gianyar Merajan Pasek Ngukuhin in Keramas - Gianyar Pucak Payongan in Kedewatan - Ubud Gianyar Tanah Kilap “ Griya Anyar” in Suwung Kawuh - Denpasar Selatan Selukat Temple in Keramas - Blahbatuh Gianyar Dalem Tampuagan in tembuku - Bangli Dalem Waturenggong in Desa Taro - Gianyar Dalem Bentuyung in Ubud - Gianyar Puseh Temple in Ubud - Gianyar Dalem Temple Peliatan Ubud - Gianyar 2 February Buda Umanis Tambir, Tilem Kawulu Sari Bankar Titih Kapal - Badung Ulun Kulkul (Aci Sarin Tahun) Besakih Karangasem Dalem Yang Taluh Sidemen Karangasem

Dalem Kangin Sidemen - Karangasem.

16 February Buda Keliwon Matal Puseh & Desa Temple Sukawati Village - Gianyar Merajan Agung Batuyang - batubulan Pasek Gelgel Bebetin Sawan - Buleleng Maspahit Temple Sesetan - South Denpasar Pasek Bendesa Manik Mas Dukuh Kendran Tegalalang Panti Pasek Gaduh Sesetan - South Denpasar Merajan Pasek Kubayan Wangaya Gede Pedarman Arya Kanuruhan Besakih Karangasem 17 February Purnama Kesanga Penataran sasih Temple Pejeng - Gianyar Bukit Mentik Gunung Lebah Batur Village Kintamani - bangli 26 February Tumpek Kandang Day Puseh Temple Gianyar City Luhur Dalem Sagening Kediri - Tabanan Merajan Pasek Gelge Tegal Gede - Badung 2 March Buda Wage Menail Dalem Tarukan LinggihCemenggaon Sukawati Gianyar Pasek Dangke Bambang - Bangli Penataran Dalem Ketut Pejeng Pejeng Kaja Gianyar Puseh Menakaji Peninjoan - Bangli Merajan Agung Blangsinga Blahbatuh - Gianyar Kawitan Gusti Agung Blangsinga Blahbatuh Gianyar Kawitan Gusti Celuk Celuk - Sukawati - Gianyar Baler Sada Temple Banjar Pemebatan, Kapal Mengwi

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

6

Friday, March 4, 2011

News

2 US airmen killed in Frankfurt airport shooting Associated Press Writer

FRANKFURT, Germany – Two U.S. airmen were killed and two others were wounded at Frankfurt airport Wednesday when a man opened fire on them at close range with a handgun, the first such attack on American forces in Germany in a quarter century. President Barack Obama called the shooting an “outrageous act.”

The alleged assailant, identified as a 21-year-old Kosovo man, was taken immediately into custody and was being questioned by authorities, said Frankfurt police spokesman Manfred Fuellhardt.

Family members in Kosovo described the suspect as a devout Muslim, who was born and raised in Germany and worked at the airport.

The attacker got into an argument with airmen outside their military bus before opening fire, killing the bus driver and one other serviceman, and wounding two others, one of whom was in life-threatening condition, Fuellhardt said. He said the attacker also briefly entered the bus. The suspect then fled into the airport terminal, where he was quickly grabbed by two federal police officers and a U.S. air-

man who had pursued him into the building, authorities said. He was disarmed without incident.

The victims, part of a group of about a dozen members of an Air Force military police and base security unit, had just arrived from England, the Air Force said.

They had landed at Frankfurt airport, one of Europe’s busiest, and were waiting outside Terminal 2 to be driven to nearby Ramstein Air Base, which is often used as a logistical hub for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The two wounded airmen were taken to a hospital.

“I’m saddened and I’m outraged by this attack,” Obama said at the White House. “I want everybody to understand that we will spare no effort in learning how this outrageous act took place.”

Britain releases UFO sighting and policy files Reuters

LONDON – Britain Thursday released 35 previously classified files documenting sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) by the military and members of the public dating back to the 1950s.

The files contain around 8,500 pages which mainly cover the period from 1997 to 2005 and include photographs, drawings and descriptions of flying saucer sightings, as well as letters the Ministry of Defense (MoD) sent eyewitnesses in response to their accounts. Policemen, a soldier, a Royal Air Force (RAF) officer and members of the public report sightings of objects including a “chewy mint shaped solid craft” and aerial objects resembling a “ring,” a “jellyfish” and a “silver voile spin top.”

In one account a man said he believed he had been “abducted” by aliens in October 1998 after seeing an unidentified craft hover over his London home and finding he had gained an hour of time in the process. “It was a large cigar-shaped vehicle with big projectiles on each side like wings,” he told the MoD. “It seemed to have two very bright lights at the front and a white light flashing round and round underneath... As you can imagine, I felt quite shaken.”

The MoD wrote to the man informing him that the object was probably an airship, adding that the time he had gained was probably the result of the clocks being put back one hour on the

night of his close encounter.

Another file released by the National Archives reveals how the RAF was inundated with calls one morning in 1967 after residents of southern England awoke to find six small beeping UFOs lying in a perfect line from the Isle of Sheppey to the Bristol Channel.

A bomb disposal unit blew up one of the UFOs, another was airlifted to the southeastern village of Aldermaston and both the army and the MoD’s intelligence unit were mobilised for what was considered a real “alien invasion.”

It was later discovered that engineering students at Farnborough Technical College had constructed and positioned the UFOs in a bid to raise money for charity.

“It does raise some questions about what really would happen if at any time in the future there was some kind of instant — would we be prepared?” said David Clarke, author of “The UFO Files” and consultant to the National Archives’ UFO project. One of the files documents the experiences of a retired RAF officer who said he saw a UFO while on holiday in Sri Lanka in April 2004 and sent the MoD supporting photographs.

“I noticed a partial aura in the sky, a minute or so later there was a clap of thunder, then a short while later a ring like a doughnut appeared,” he told the MoD, adding that he thought it was an “air burst.” In its reply the MoD suggested he contact the Sri Lankan government.

AFP PHOTO / FRANK RUMPENHORST GERMANY OUT

Police cover a US military bus at Frankfurt airport, after two people were killed and two seriously injured in a shooting on board the bus on March 2, 2011. The attack on the bus that carried US air force personnel about to fly home from Germany left two airmen dead and two seriously injured, local authorities and the US military said.

Pakistan...

From page 1 “Such acts will not deter the government from eliminating extremism and terrorism,” he said.

“Shahbaz fell victim to the negative mindset and intolerance that also took the lives of... Benazir Bhutto and Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.”

Former prime minister Bhutto, who was Zardari’s wife, was killed by militants in 2007. Zardari’s fears for Pakistan’s future were echoed by several newspapers and lawmakers from minority communities in the parliament who also called on the government to take a firm stand against extremists.

“Mr. Bhatti’s brutal assassination has once again highlighted the fact that we are fast turning into a violent society,” the liberal Daily Times newspaper said in its editorial. “This is not the time to be frightened into silence. It is time to implement the law and not surrender in front of extremists.”

Condemnation poured in from around the world after news of Bhatti’s killing broke, with the Church of England and the Vatican decrying the violence against Christians in Pakistan. “I hope the government of Pakistan will not only

hold the killers to account, but reflect on how it can more effectively confront the extremism which is poisoning Pakistani society,” United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay said from Geneva on Wednesday.

The controversial blasphemy law has been in the spotlight since last November, when a court sentenced a Christian mother of four to death after her neighbors complained she had insulted Prophet Muhammad. Both Taseer and Bhatti championed the cause of the woman, a farmhand.

Al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban militants, fighting to bring down the state, had called for Bhatti’s death because of his attempts to amend the law. These killings, along with frequent militant attacks and chronic economic problems have raised fears for the future of the U.S.-ally, where the unpopular coalition government is struggling to cope.

Ties between the two old allies have hit new lows after the arrest in January of Raymond Davis, a U.S. Central Intelligence Agency contractor, who shot dead two armed men in the city of Lahore. The United States says Davis has immunity, but Pakistan has said it is for the courts to decide. Davis is on trial for murder, and the second hearing in his case was adjourned on Thursday. His immunity hearing is March 14. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani an-

nounced three days of official mourning for Bhatti’s death and said flags would fly at half-mast on Friday. Police said they had detained around 20 people for questioning.

Zardari’s government has repeatedly said it would not change the blasphemy law, and officials have distanced themselves from anyone calling for amendments for fear of a backlash from extremists, a move that dismayed moderates and liberals.

“Of course the silent majority, which keeps silent over these things, also must bear responsibility,” I.A. Rehman, director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, told the Express 24/7 television channel Wednesday night.

“There’s blood on their hands also.” The funeral of Bhatti, a Catholic, is expected to take place on Friday or Saturday, his family friends said.

Christians and other religious minorities have staged protests in several cities, denouncing his death and have called on the government to provide them protection.

“We are sons of the soil but still we are being discriminated against. But we cannot be suppressed,” Aafia Nasir, a female Christian parliamentarian said in the National Assembly.

sure there is water, job opportunities, a school for the children and medical clinics,” Jolie said in a statement released by UNHCR at the end of the visit.

Jolie, married to fellow actor Brad Pitt, is noted for her humanitarian work. This was her second visit to Afghanistan, where she arrived Monday.

Actress...

From page 1 “The focus needs to be put now on reintegration and that means not just putting up shelter but making

Indonesia Today

International

Friday, March 4, 2011

7

Ahmadiyah Officially Banned in West Java Antara

BANDUNG - The West Java provincial government will announce a regulation banning the Ahmadiyah religious sect here Thursday.

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

Indonesians suffering from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rally against a free trade agreement between the European Union and India on generic anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) in front of the EU office in Jakarta on March 2, 2011. The free trade agreement between the EU and India is to be assessed and may threaten the availability of generic ARV drugs that are used for the treatment of HIV and AIDS sufferers, according to the protestors.

Policeman beats up journalist in West Sulawesi Antara

MAMUJU - A policeman in West Sulawesi town of Mamuju has beaten up Awaluddin DP, a journalist of Publik newspaper, with a rattan stick on Wednesday.

The beating happened when he was taking pictures of a motorbike racing on a track temporarily set up on the street in front of the West Sulawesi governor‘s office, Awaluddin said.

He said he warded off Bustam M‘s rattan stick but, as a result, he got a minor injury on his arm and his cellular phone got damaged.

“If I do not ward off Bustam M`s beating, my face will get hurt,” he said.

Bustam M swung his rattan stick to him so suddenly when he taking picture of the news event in Bustam‘s efforts to disperse a crowd

of spectators from the dangerous zone, he said.

Instead of offering an apology, Bustam scolded him, he added.

Indonesian journalists remain vulnerable to acts of physical violence despite the government‘s strong support for press freedom.

On Tuesday for instance, Poso police arrested three men for their alleged acts of violence against a journalist. Central Sulawesi police spokesman Commissioner Rostin Tumaloto only identified the suspects as An, Al, and Sn. They were all Poso Kota subdistrict residents.

They were among six people suspected of having attacked Media Alkhairaat journalist Subandi at Sintuvu Maroso University campus on Tuesday at 01.00 PM local time, he said.

The physical violence was likely related to Media Alkhairaat‘s news

about that private university‘s environment-loving students who vandalized and burned some chairs inside the university campus.

The news item was published on February 25, 2011, he said.The Indonesian Press Council (Dewan Pers) had recorded 25 cases of violence against journalists during 2010.

The violence occurred in the form of acts of intimidation, destruction of reporting equipment, vandalizing of media offices, acts of sabotage, confinement, physical maltreatment and murder, Agus Sudibyo, head of the Press Council‘s unit for complaints and ethics enforcement, said.

In Jakarta, the city‘s metropolitan police are handling alleged acts of violence against a Global TV cameraman by noted pop musician Ahmad Dhani and five other people believed to be his associates.

“The governor`s regulation on the Ahmadiyah was signed and all related authorities have also discussed its main point,” the provincial government`s spokesman, Ruddy Gandakusumah, said.

The provincial government‘s regulation on the Ahmadiyah ban would have officially been announced at Bandung city‘s historic Satay or Pakuan building on Thursday morning, he said. With the issuance of this regulation, all activities related to Ahmadiyah religious sect would be outlawed and banned in West Java, he said.

The policy on banning Ahmadiyah was issued after governor, vice governor, West Java provincial legislative body‘s speaker, top police and military chiefs and other related stakeholders in the province held a closed door meeting on Wednesday, he said.

The calls for banning the Ahmadiyah sect‘s teachings in Indonesia have repeatedly and consistently been echoed by various elements of Muslim society members in the country over the past few weeks.

On March 1, for instance, hundreds of Muslims, including those of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) staged a rally to demand the banning of the Ahmadiyah religious sect‘s teachings in Indonesia.

FPI Chairman Habib Salim Alatas said the rally had nothing to do with politicization but was purely meant to show the Indonesian Muslim community‘s aspiration over the Ahmadiyah problem.

In solving this problem, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was asked to issue a decree banning Ahmadiyah, he said.

“At the moment, we have got the inter-ministerial decree but we insist that a presidential decree of the Ahmadiyah sect be also available,”

he said.

Besides that, he also called on Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo to issue regulations about the dissolution of Ahmadiyah sect‘s activities in the province‘s areas.

“We do support East Java governor`s decision about the Ahmadiyah ban,” he said.

On February 18, a number of Islamic organizations and the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) in Banten had also asked the government to ban the Ahmadiyah sect in the province soon.

“Before the Cikeusik incident on February 6, the MUI had actually urged the provincial government to ban all the activities of the Ahmadiyah sect,” MUI-Banten chapter`s chairman KH Aminudin Ibrahim said.

MUI, Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, and Religious Followers‘ Harmony Forum (FKUB) in Banten Province had agreed to again call on the provincial government to ban all activities of the Ahmadiyah, he said.

A series of attacks on Ahmadiyah religious sect followers and their properties have occurred in some parts of Indonesia over the past two years. The latest incident happened in Umbulan village Cikeusik subdistrict, Pandeglang district, Banten province, on February 6, killing three people.

In response to the latest incident, Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the cases of sectarian violence could be handled if firm law enforcement was implemented to the perpetrators. “Don`t let the perpetrators be untouched by the law. If it is so, there will be a feeling that if we kill or destroy properties in a mass, we think that the law cannot do anything,” he said.

RI‘s forex reserves surpass US$100 billion Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia‘s foreign exchange reserves reached US$100 billion early this month, Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Darmin Nasution said here on Wednesday.

“The foreign exchange reserves have surpassed US$100 billion and with it means we have `an in-

surance` to cushion upheavals in the global financial markets,” he said.

He said the fast growing foreign exchange reserves were proof that Indonesia is on the right track of directing towards an investment grade.

“The achievement has given increasing confidence that we have been on the right track and are leading towards an investment grade,”

he said.

On February 25 Darmin said the country‘s foreign exchange reserves could reach up to US$120 billion until the end of the year.

He said the country‘s foreign exchange reserves had been quite strong to cushion sudden reversal.

“Actually we have already tried to calculate the foreign exchange estimates. We cannot set the right

amount because there is no formula for it but only its estimate and it is actually US$90 billion,” he said.

Vice President Boediono meanwhile said the foreign exchange reserves are a self-insurance for the country.

“In a volatile situation we must have insurance. As no one sells an insurance plan to protect against possible crisis we therefore make

our self-insurance plan,” he said.

He said however that the foreign exchange reserves were not an optimal solution to overcome an economic crisis.

“Indeed it is not an optimal solution for the national economy or global economy because the money is stationary but it must be like that because of the uncertainty we are facing,” he said.

8

Internationa

Friday, March 4, 2011

Bali Today Oakley set to host the first event of the 2011 IBP

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Two tourists sunbathing at Kuta beach while Balinese people doing the Melasti ritual. Based on the record of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Province, foreign tourists flying direct from overseas to Bali during January 2011 reached 209,093 people. Such amount shows an increase of 16.83 percent compared to the same period in the previous year reaching 179,273 people.

Foreign tourists flying direct to Bali reaches 209,093 Bali Post

DENPASAR - Based on the record of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Province, foreign tourists flying direct from overseas to Bali during January 2011 reached 209,093 people.

Such amount shows an increase of 16.83 percent compared to the same period in the previous year reaching 179,273 people.

“It is a good start. Hopefully, this condition will continue to increase in years to come. Likewise, this signifies that international community progressively has confidence that the safety and comfort while spending holidays on the Island of the Gods will be guaranteed,” said the Head of BPS Bali, Gede Suarsa, Wednesday (Mar 2).

According to him, the arrival of foreign tourists in January 2011 was still dominated by Australia, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea with their respective percentage 28.11 percent, 8.18 percent, 80.1 percent, 80.1 percent, 5.50 percent and 4.99 percent.

If compared to the arrival of foreign tourists in December 2010, among the ten countries with the largest number of tourists such as People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan, Russia, South

Korea and Taiwan underwent an increase, while Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Great Britain and the United States indicated a decrease.

“Among the foreign tourists visiting Bali, 99.64 percent of them entered Bali through the airport, while the remaining 0.36 percent through sea ports,” he said.

If compared to the same month in the previous year, the number of tourists coming through the airport indicated an increase by 16.92 percent.

But, if compared to December 2010 the rate declined to 6.63 percent.

Meanwhile, tourists coming through seaports in January 2011 amounted to 756 people, or decreased by 30.51 percent if compared to January 2010 and dropped by 7.99 percent if compared to December 2010.

“If compared to December, it indeed shows a decline. However, these conditions are very reasonable where in December, myriad tourists came in droves to Bali to enjoy the New Year celebrations,” he explained.

Meanwhile, AA Gede Pradnyana, an entrepreneur having a travel agency in Sanur, said that Balinese people were considered warm-hearted. Additionally, they had various matchless traditions remaining to attract tourists from around the world. Then, soaring number of Russian tourists, for example, had longer stay and loyally spent more money.

“December to February poses the month of visit (peak season) for Russia tourists,” he said while adding that many of them took advantage of their time to travel overseas, especially Bali, by means of charter flights. (par)

CANGGU - As an industry leader in the core sports market, Oakley is pleased to announce the dates and the venue for its annual 6-star Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship event; the Oakley Pro 2011 from April 1-14 at Canggu Beach in Bali, Indonesia New for this year is the dual sanctioning of the Oakley Pro 11 as the first 6-star event of the new Asian Surfing Championship Tour.

The new ASC Tour is a testament to the growth of the popularity of surfing through South East Asia, and is comprised of selected events from the ISC tour in conjunction with events in Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia and soon in the Philippines and other SEA countries. The Asian Surfing Championship Tour is at the forefront of taking the sport to a whole new audience.

Discussing the development of the new ASC series, CEO of the CocaCola ISC Tour Tipi Jabrik stated, “Over the past 5 years, the Indonesian Surfing Championships has really gained credibility in the global surfing community as a world class series. We have not only raised the standard of competition but also achieved a high level of professionalism in the administration. After assisting in the planning and hosting of a number of events in the region, we are proud to announce the new ASC Tour with the universal support of the surfing industry. As a leader in the development of surfing in the region, Oakley jumped at the chance to take part in the tour and we are elated they will host this first 6-star event.”

As one of the highest performance waves in Bali, Canggu has been the site of the event for the last 2 years, and as Oakley continues their push to raise the bar of performance through quality venues it was an easy decision to return to Canggu to host the first event of this year.

“Oakley always scores great waves each year in this event at Canggu and we are all stoked to get waves of this caliber as it leads to some of the best surfing of the year,” noted 2009 CocaCola ISC Champion and Oakley athlete Lee Wilson, “and with this being the first ever event of the new Asian Tour, all the surfers are really looking forward to going big again at this event.”

A Mecca for the international surfing community, Canggu is one of the most photographed waves in the region. With the perfect waves breaking in close proximity to the beach and great facilities available in the rapidly developing area, Canggu is just as user-friendly for the spectators as for the surfers.

Acknowledging the fact that many fans won’t have the chance to make it to the beach, Oakley will be working hard again this year to bring the waves to cities across Indonesia. “The growing popularity and interest in surfing in Indonesia and beyond the traditional boundaries of Bali has not been lost on Oakley,” states Gino Andrias, Oakley Sports and Alternate Marketing Manager. “We will be looking to take advantage of the amazing venue we have for this year’s event to provide photos, video and updates to our 575,000+ Facebook fans and will be launching an integrated event minisite this week to maximize our reach beyond the beach throughout the competition window”.

The Oakley Pro 2011 is a 6-Star Indonesian Surfing Championship event that will be held at Canggu Beach starting on the 1st of April with a 14-day waiting period, allowing the surfers to compete in only the best waves. A total prize purse of nearly Rp 60 million with Rp 15 million going to the winner of the Open Division, along with valuable championship points, will ensure the level of competition as well as the excitement factor will be going off the scale.

IBP/Doc

al

Friday, March 4, 2011

Balinese Culture

Bali to become the host The biggest beauty exhibition in Asia IBP

DENPASAR – Bali, surprisingly received one of the best awards in tourism world which is The Best Spa Destination in The World. The award was given by the SENSE Magazine. The award was given during the world tourism exhibition in Berlin. Bali was chosen among various countries such as Fiji, Guam, China, and Thailand.

At the same time, Bali also received other awards, The Sense Wellness Person and the Five-starDiamond Lifetime Achievement Award which was given by the President of American Academy of Hospitality, Joe Cinque.

in order to develop Bali as The Best Spa Destination in The World, there will be held the first Bali International Spa & Wellness Expo 2011.

It will be carried out started on March 9 through March 11, 2011 in Sanur Paradise Convention Center.

The event could become an alternative tourism attraction in Bali or even Indonesia. Previously, the similar event was held in Bali in 2007 and 2008 but the purpose of the event is to socialize spa to the locals in Bali.

The main goal of the first Bali International Spa & Wellness is to support the small and middle scale industry in spa products, beauty, and others and to introduce them to the international world.

There is great hope that the event

could become the place for the buyers and sellers to interact and conduct transaction. In addition for the marketing purpose, the expo could preserve the uniqueness of Balinese traditional spa or massage before it is being claimed by other countries.

Usadha Bali is already famous throughout the world as well as Indonesian traditional herb drink, jamu.

In addition to the three days exhibition, there also will be seminar and workshop which will be divided to three classes. The classes consist of therapist, owner, and public class. There is great hope that it can give better understanding regarding the standard of therapy and how to manage a spa.

Sambal Be Tongkol (Tuna Fish Salad) OVERVIEW: Although this is made with fresh tuna in Bali, you can also use drained canned tuna as a substitute. Season the canned tuna and combine with seasonings, but do not attempt to fry it.

INGREDIENTS: 4 fresh tuna steaks, weighing 100 gr each ¼ cup seafood spice paste 1 tsp salt ½ tsp crushed black pepper 1 tbsp freshly squeezed limejuice 2 tbsp oil 1-cup sambal matah Fried shallot for garnish PREPARATION: 1. Season fresh tuna steaks with seafood spice paste, salt pepper and lime juice.

2. Heat oil in frying pan and cook tuna steaks for 3 minutes on each side over high heat. Do not over cook.

Set aside and allow cooling down, and then breaking the tuna into small chunks. Place in salad bowl, add sambal matah and mix well.

3. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with fried shallots. Serve at room temperature with steamed rice. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

Godoh (Fried Bananas) OVERVIEW: Fried bananas is popular throughout Southeast Asia, where they are abundant and inexpensive. The slow frying technique used in this recipe ensures that the bananas remain crisp after cooking.

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup rice flour 2/3 cup water ¼ tsp salt 8 small finger bananas Oil for frying PREPARATION: Place rice flour in deep mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle of the flour, and add water and salt. Whisk vigorously until batter is evenly smooth for coating and not too thin (if too thin, add more rice flour).

Peel bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Dip into batter to coat generously. Heat oil in wok or deep fryer until moderately hot. Add bananas and fry slowly until golden brown and crispy. This will take about 15 minutes. Remove bananas from oil, drain on paper napkins and dry well. Can be served with until, here used as a dip. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

9

10

Friday, March 4, 2011

Destinations

International

Puri Agung Karangasem IBP

Puri Agung Karangasem or Karangasem Palace is one of palaces exist in Amlapura Town, east part of Bali owns the unique building architecture.

If we see from palace ichnography, Puri Agung Karangasem owns two types those are the older shares with traditional ichnography and the at new building own the modern ichnography even its building name use the modern name like Maskerdam from word Amsterdam, London, Betawi, Yogya and others. The buildings are mostly decorated by Chinese architecture. The door is decorated by Barong Sai ornament and other bas-reliefs ornament at door leaf is fully patterned from china.

The ichnography at ancient building is still following the traditional pattern of Puri/palace. It is starting from the entrance south part of palace which is called Bancingah or Ancak Saji, then step into the middle area call Jaba/Petandakan/Pamengkang and it is referred by last Loji, the king residence.

The building form types are still keeping traditionally with the graven pillar. The ancient building is made about 1875, while the Maskerdam building is assumedly built in year 1900 by I Gusti Gde Jelantik and then it is taken hold by Stedehouder (Dutch Government Representative).

The mains building is called Maskerdam own three doors with the wide front yard. It’s building pillar is made from the intact teak, so that looks utilize the modern technique. Front of mains building there is another building which is called Bale Gili and it is encircled by big enough pool of hotspot or meeting place.

The entrance of new building pass through two doors with the high rise building like pagoda is giving typical type of Puri Agung Karangasem.

This Palace is non-stopped to do the improvement and now it has been opened as a tourism destination in east part of Bali Island. A lot of tourist have visited this place and from Denpasar town only 2 hours to the east way.

International Bali Post Classifieds

Denpasar : +62 361 22-5764 Jakarta : +62 21 535-6271

Contact us

BALI CENTRAL CANOPY

Mengerjakan : Atap Canopy Polycarbonat & Jual Bahan Spesial merk atap: Solarlate dan Crystal-late

g

... gets maximum benefits with minimum charge

www.solo-cctv.com

Rekam 24 jam Non Stop - Internet on line

Harga Termurah Kwalitas Terjamin Jln. Buana Raya 88X, Padangsambian - Denpasar

Telp./Fax : (0361) 8600043, 7429952, 485041 C.513069-bkl

Apapun kebutuhan CCTV Anda, ada di sini!

Garansi Barang & Jasa... PASTI ! !

Dengan tenaga berpengalaman, instalasi dijamin rapi Hubungi:

Jln. Buluh Indah No. 23 Denpasar Telp. (0361) 2764411-088802911054 C.492248-elk

C.492607-rpa

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

Friday, March 4, 2011

11

BUSINESS Inflation rising in Asia, emerging economies Agence France-Presse

AFP PHOTO / ROD LAMKEY JR

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke listens to opening statements from members of Congress prior to his testimony before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on receiving “the Monetary Policy Report to the Congress required under the Humphrey-Hawkins Act” in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC March 2, 2011.

Fed survey: Economy expands throughout US Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy expanded in January and early February in all parts of the country, but businesses reported they are under pressure to raise their prices.

A Federal Reserve survey released Wednesday showed that all 12 of the Fed’s regions reported growth at a “modest to moderate pace” and it pointed to a pickup in job creation in each.

Retail sales picked up in 10 of the 12 regions, while falling in the Richmond and Atlanta areas. Factory activity rose in all districts except St. Louis.

The survey hinted at some inflationary concerns. Costs are rising for manufacturers and retailers in most areas. Manufacturers in many districts said they are increasingly able to pass on those costs to customers. Retailers in some districts said they have or soon will raise prices.

“There are beginning to be some troubling signs on inflation,” said Steven Wood, Chief Economist at Insight Economics.

But other economists noted that the survey found little evidence that wages are increasing. Accelerating wages are “a necessary condition for a sustained, destabilizing high-inflation episode,” said Dana Saporta, an economist at Credit Suisse Securities.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke endured tough questioning

from members of Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday about the threat of rising inflation. Lawmakers raised concerns that the Fed’s $600 billion bond-purchase program is laying the groundwork for higher prices.

Those concerns have been heightened by recent run-ups in the price of oil, corn, wheat and other commodities.

Bernanke told members of Congress that higher oil prices, which have risen due to turmoil in the Middle East, would likely cause only a temporary and mild increase in inflation.

The U.S. economy has been growing for 18 months. But that expansion hasn’t been enough to significantly lower the nation’s unemployment rate, which was 9 percent in January. The federal government will release the February jobs report on Friday.

The Fed survey did note that the job market is picking up in all districts.

Many districts reported improved hiring in the manufacturing and health care industries.

Seven districts said that staffing agencies are more optimistic, with more employers converting temporary jobs to permanent status. Permanent hiring is also picking up, the agencies said.

The survey also noted that wages remain steady in five districts and are rising only modestly in several others. Sluggish wage growth should act to restrain future price increases.

Harsh snowstorms in many different parts of the country reduced store sales and factory activity. Bad weather disrupted manufacturing in the Cleveland, Atlanta and Minneapolis regions, and pushed down retail sales in six districts.

Housing remains the economy’s main weak spot, the report showed.

“Overall sales and construction remained at low levels across all districts,” the survey said. The St. Louis region said sales are still declining.

Tourism improved in the Richmond, Atlanta and San Francisco areas, while it slowed in Kansas City, partly due to severe weather. New York reported slower business at hotels and said Broadway theater attendance dropped.

The region-by-region survey is based on information collected from the Fed’s 12 regional banks on or before Feb. 18. Known as the “Beige Book,” the survey provides a more inthe-trenches look at the overall economy than broad statistics.

WASHINGTON – A top International Monetary Fund official expressed concern Wednesday about overall inflation in emerging countries beyond the current spike in food and commodity prices.

Naoyuki Shinohara, IMF deputy managing director, highlighted signs of a broadening upward pressure on prices in a speech to Asian central bankers in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“Prices for oil and non-oil commodities rose considerably in 2010, partly in response to strong global demand, but also because of supply shocks for selected commodities, such as weather-related crop damage,” he said, according to the prepared text on the IMF website.

“Upward pressure on prices is expected to persist in 2011,” he warned.

Shinohara noted that the uptick in consumer price inflation in emerging economies in 2010 was due

partly to rising food prices, but the recent bout of high food price inflation “has been quite persistent and is beginning to feed into overall price inflation in a number of emerging economies.”

In Asia, “core inflation has also begun to rise — although the degree of acceleration has varied quite a bit across the region — suggesting that price pressures are broadening,” he said.

The region’s economic conditions are ripe for rising prices, he explained.

On one hand, “real wage growth has also picked up in a number of Asian economies on the back of relatively low and falling unemployment and anecdotal evidence of skill shortages,” he said.

However, credit growth, which slowed significantly during the global financial crisis, he said, “has turned the corner and is running at robust rates across emerging Asia.”

The IMF projects that in 2011 Asia will remain the fastest-growing region in the world, with output rising 8.5 percent in the developing countries.

Markets expect tough European bank inflation talk Agence France-Presse

FRANKFURT – Financial markets expect tough talk on inflation from European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet but the ECB’s main interest rate is set to remain at a record low of 1.0 percent.

A centre of focus when Trichet speaks following the rate decision will be on an updated forecast by central bank staff for 2012 inflation.

Economists say its level with respect to the ECB target of just below 2.0 percent will give a good indication as to when the bank’s key lending rate could begin to rise from the level it fell to in May 2009.

With eurozone inflation at 2.4 percent, a growing economy, producer prices on the rise and Arab unrest pushing energy costs higher, ECB policymakers might have to rethink their view that price stability will return in early 2012.

Credit and the money supply are also rising, the Bank of England could soon raise its rate from the current low of 0.50 percent and the European Union might not get to grips with the eurozone debt crisis later this month.

If EU leaders do not agree on terms that ease market pressure against Greece, Ireland and Portugal, the ECB could find itself in a bind.

The bank would have to keep buying government bonds and the threat of a rate hike to press for fiscal discipline could make things

worse for the weaker peripheral eurozone countries.

Global Economics economist Julian Jessop noted however that due to a surge in oil prices, “there is clearly a risk that the Bank of England or the ECB decide to raise rates sooner than they would otherwise have done.”

The ECB’s March meeting will be marked by new staff forecasts for growth and inflation, and possibly “important decisions on the liquidity strategy” aimed at helping struggling commercial banks, UniCredit economist Marco Valli said.

So-called “addicted” banks must be taken off an ECB drip of cheap loans as part of the central bank’s move towards an exit from exceptional measures taken to battle the global economic and financial crisis.

One possible decision would be to end unlimited three-month loans and force banks to bid again for the funds.

But as fresh risks might emerge with a new and tougher set of bank stress tests, “for the ECB the cost of waiting and extending the full allotment for at least a couple more months seems to be lower than the cost of moving towards a less generous liquidity provision system,” Valli said.

Trichet has said the ECB could act on either interest rates or liquidity measures while leaving the other unchanged, but analysts think he will begin by raising “hawkish” anti-inflation rhetoric.

“We expect a number of announcements to indicate the tightening cycle is getting closer,” Royal Bank of Scotland analysts wrote in a research note.

12

Friday, March 4, 2011

Entertainment

International

Approval for Bob Dylan China concerts pending Associated Press Writer

HONG KONG – China is reviewing an application from Bob Dylan to stage concerts in the country, a year after the American folk legend’s planned concerts in Beijing and Shanghai were canceled, an official at the Ministry of Culture said Thursday.

The application was pending and the ministry’s decision would be posted on the ministry’s official website, the official who would only gave his last name, Zhou, told The Associated Press.

The Dylan fan magazine ISIS recently reported on its website that the singer was to perform in Beijing on April 6 and Shanghai on April 8 as part of an upcoming Asian tour. But the dates were not listed on Dylan’s official website, raising speculation of possible censorship problems.

Dylan was originally scheduled

AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File

FILE - In this file photo taken Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, Bob Dylan performs at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

to play Beijing and Shanghai last year, but the dates were canceled.

Mainland music fans blamed a financial dispute with Dylan’s Taiwanese promoter. The promoter denied the allegations, saying the flash point was a demand from the Ministry of Culture for Dylan to sign a pledge promising “not to hurt the feelings of the Chinese people” during his performances.

The Chinese government carefully screens the content of imported entertainment content for political messages or commentary that runs contrary to its official line.

Foreign music acts in particular are believed to receive special scrutiny after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted “Tibet!” during a 2008 concert in Shanghai after performing a song called “Declare Independence.”

A year later, British rock group Oasis scrapped its planned debut in China, saying Ministry of Culture officials were offended by the fact that front man Noel Gallagher performed at a free Tibet concert in New York City in 1997.

China claims Tibet has always been part of its territory, but many Tibetans say the Himalayan region was virtually independent for centuries and that Beijing’s tight control is draining them of their culture and identity.

Dylan may be considered a controversial act in China because of his association with protest movements in the U.S. in the 1960s. Songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin” were inspirations for the American civil rights and anti-war movements.

Dylan is confirmed for a slew of other Asian dates, according to his official website, including Hong Kong on April 12 and Singapore on April 15. He will then tour Australia and New Zealand.

Bieber’s hair clippings sell for more than $40K

Actor Mickey Rooney tells Congress about abuse Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Actor Mickey Rooney told Congress on Wednesday that he was left powerless by a family member who took and misused his money. “I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated,” Rooney told a special Senate committee considering legislation to curb abuses of senior citizens. “But above all, when a man feels helpless, it’s terrible.”

The 90-year-old film and television star told lawmakers that elder abuse comes in various forms, including physical and emotional. In his case, he described the abuse as financial.

In his testimony, Rooney did not identify the family member he contends abused him. But he has obtained a restraining order from a

judge in Los Angeles keeping his stepson, Chris Aber, away from him until an April 5 court hearing.

Rooney has accused Aber in court filings of withholding food and medicine and meddling in his personal finances. Attempts by The Associated Press to find a working phone number for Aber have been unsuccessful.

Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who chairs the Special Senate Committee on Aging, said the elderly are particularly vulnerable because they are “often fragile” and their abusers usually stand little chance of getting caught.

Rooney began his film career in the 1920s and has appeared in scores of feature films and TV shows, including the musicals “Babes in Arms” (1939) and “Strike Up the Band” (1940) and the Andy Hardy film series. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, including a supporting actor nomination for his role in “The Black Stallion” (1979). He received an honorary Oscar in 1982.

Curtis Stone leaving no TV show unturned

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Justin Bieber’s hair is officially the stuff of legend: His hair clippings have sold for more than $40,000 on eBay. After the 17-year-old pop sensation chopped off some of his famous locks, he brought the clippings to the “Ellen” show. Host Ellen DeGeneres put them on eBay. When the bidding ended, the clippings went for $40,668. The proceeds are being donated to The Gentle Barn, which rescues neglected and abused animals and uses them to help disadvantaged kids.

Bieber’s magic touch continues.

He’s got two albums in the top five on the U.S. album chart this week, and his movie, “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (3-D),” has grossed almost $70 million at the box office since its release last month.

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Entertainer Mickey Rooney testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, about elder abuse, before the Senate Aging Committee.

Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Carlo Allegri

Justin Bieber arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Sunset Tower in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011.

LOS ANGELES – Whether he’s coaching “The Biggest Loser” contestants, filling in for Kathie Lee Gifford on “Today,” co-hosting the Miss USA pageant or barbecuing for Oprah Winfrey, it seems like Curtis Stone is everywhere these days. In his role on NBC’s new reality TV eatery contest, he’s adding a new title to his ever-growing resume: investor.

The lanky Australian chef is serving as a financial backer of the grand prize — a fast-casual restaurant chain with outposts in Los Angeles, New York and Minneapolis — on “America’s Next Great Restaurant” (premiering Sunday at 7 p.m. EST) alongside celebrity chef Bobby Flay,

Chipotle founder Steve Ells and Miami restaurateur Lorena Garcia.

“Normally, when NBC comes to you and wants you to do a show, you’re like, ‘Woo hoo! I just landed a new show,’” said Stone. “This was different because they actually wanted us to get our checkbooks out. It was interesting because normally when you walk into a meeting with network executives, you kiss their ass, but this time I had a bunch of questions.”

Stone wouldn’t say how much the group is contributing to launch the winner’s restaurant chain, but he insisted, “We’re all equal investors in terms of our financial commitment to it, which means we get an equal say in how this is going to work.” If it flops, Stone already has another gig lined up. He’s the new host of

Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.”

“It’s a dream job for me,” he said earlier this month on the set of the Bravo cooking competition spin-off, where he’s taken over Kelly Choi’s spot for the tossed-up third season.

“When they first approached me, I told them they needed to mix it up and put all of the chefs together in one pool, and they told me that’s exactly what they were doing.”

That means the contest will play out more like a regular “Top Chef” season. Producers dumped the numerical scoring system in favor of having the experienced cheftestants eliminated one by one by the show’s judges, critics James Oseland and Ruth Richel. Stone said he has learned more about his craft from sitting alongside the critics.

Science

International

Friday, March 4, 2011

13

Review: Xoom emerges as first real iPad competitor Associated Press Writer

Federal researchers declare eastern cougar extinct Associated Press Writer

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The “ghost cat” is just that. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday declared the eastern cougar to be extinct, confirming a widely held belief among wildlife biologists that native populations of the big cat were wiped out by man a century ago.

After a lengthy review, federal officials concluded there are no breeding populations of cougars — also known as pumas, panthers, mountain lions and catamounts — in the eastern United States. Researchers believe the eastern cougar subspecies has probably been extinct since the 1930s.

Wednesday’s declaration paves the way for the eastern cougar to be removed from the endangered species list, where it was placed in 1973.

The agency’s decision to declare the eastern cougar extinct does not affect the status of the Florida panther, another endangered wildcat.

Some hunters and outdoors enthusiasts have long insisted there’s

a small breeding population of eastern cougars, saying the secretive cats have simply eluded detection — hence the “ghost cat” moniker.

The wildlife service said Wednesday it confirmed 108 sightings between 1900 and 2010, but that these animals either escaped or were released from captivity, or migrated from western states to the Midwest.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service fully believes that some people have seen cougars, and that was an important part of the review that we did,” said Mark McCollough, an endangered species biologist who led the agency’s eastern cougar study. “We went on to evaluate where these animals would be coming from.”

A breeding population of eastern cougars would almost certainly have left evidence of its existence, he said.

Cats would have been hit by cars or caught in traps, left tracks in the snow or turned up on any of the hundreds of thousands of trail cameras that dot Eastern forests.

But researchers have come up empty. The private Eastern Cougar Foundation, for example, spent a decade looking for evidence. Finding none, it changed its name to the Cougar Rewilding Foundation last year and shifted its focus from confirming sightings to advocating for the restoration of the big cat to its precolonial habitat.

“We would have loved nothing more than for there to be a remnant wild population of cougars on the East Coast,” said Christopher Spatz, the foundation’s president. “We’re not seeing (evidence) because they’re not here.” Others maintain that wild cougars still prowl east of the Mississippi.

SAN FRANCISCO – Motorola’s Xoom has been hailed as the most likely tablet computer to rival Apple’s iPad — the first with the goods to compete against the uncontested leader in this nascent but rapidly growing market.

After trying it out, I found it to be a great gadget that, in many ways, can keep up with the black slab from Apple. The first black slab, that is.

Unfortunately, Apple said Wednesday that it will start selling a new, improved iPad next week, which will likely make it difficult for the Xoom to snag many users. The Xoom is well-equipped, with a large, vivid touch screen and zippy processor.

It’s the first to use Honeycomb, Google Inc.’s flashy tablet-geared Android 3.0 software, which is a big improvement over older versions designed for phones but pushed onto some tablets.

It’s clear the software was designed for a tablet’s larger touch screen. A persistent bar at the bottom of the screen displays virtual “home” and “back” buttons. You get information such as battery life and wireless reception and notifications for emails, instant messages and more.

You also get a virtual button that can

pull up miniaturized images of your most recently used apps, the way it looked when you last used them. That makes it convenient for speeding back over to a game or Web page.

The touch-screen keyboard is also nicer, thanks to Honeycomb. It’s easier to type e-mails and instant messages on the Xoom than on tablets running older versions of Android. Although it doesn’t seem as easy to use as the iPad’s virtual keyboard, the Xoom’s keyboard is fairly spacious and was something I got use to typing with after several hours. Those who do a lot of typing can use a Bluetooth keyboard or connect a USB keyboard with an adapter through the Xoom’s Micro USB port. There’s one big blemish marring the Xoom’s otherwise delightful package: its price tag.

The Xoom, made by Motorola Mobility Inc. and available from Verizon Wireless, costs $800 without a cellular-service contract, about $70 more than a similarly apportioned iPad. You can get a Xoom for $600, but you’ll have to sign up for a twoyear data plan that runs at least $20 per month; by contrast, AT&T Inc. offers month-to-month data service for the iPad. Like the iPad, the Xoom lets you access the Internet through Wi-Fi, so a data plan isn’t essential.

AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2011 file photo, a Motorola Xoom tablet is shown at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

China says it wants green growth within five years Agence France Presse

AFP/File/Peter Parks

Polluted haze sits atop the Chinese city of Zengzhou in central Henan province. China, the world’s biggest polluter, plans to “go green” in the next five years, emphasising energy efficiency and the battle on its choking pollution in its plans to revamp the economy, experts say.

BEIJING – China, the world’s biggest polluter, plans to “go green” in the next five years, emphasising energy efficiency and the battle on its choking pollution in its plans to revamp the economy, experts say. The so-called 12th five-year plan — already approved

by Communist Party leaders — is expected to be reviewed and rubberstamped by delegates to the National People’s Congress, which opens its annual session Saturday in Beijing.

“We must not any longer sacrifice the environment for the sake of rapid growth and reckless roll-outs,” Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday, warning that doing so would result in unsustainable growth and the depletion

of resources. China’s total carbon dioxide emissions, which it finally admitted last year are the largest in the world, increased by 32.5 percent between 2006 and 2009, according to the US Energy Information Administration, a government agency.

Beijing has already launched an ambitious programme to develop clean energy and shut down factories that fail to meet emissions targets.

It also wants to reduce its energy consumption per unit of GDP, or carbon intensity, by 40 to 45 percent by 2020 based on 2005 levels — essentially a vow of greater energy efficiency, but not an absolute cap on emissions. According to consultants APCO Worldwide, which specialise in government policy, the

government’s new economic blueprint could include new carbon emission goals to push the process forward.

“I think this plan is greener than the last,” Roger Somerville, a Beijing-based APCO expert, told AFP. “It’s not so much that the Chinese government has become a Greenpeace supporter, but... they are trying to change what they can do to generate economic growth,” he added.

“They are looking at things like a low-carbon economy and they are seeing... the creation of high-value jobs and economic growth in the future,” he said, pointing to strong Chinese investment in the solar and wind power sectors.

14

Sport

Friday, March 4, 2011

International

Messi downs Valencia as Barcelona go ten clear Agence France Presse

MADRID – Argentine sensation Lionel Messi scored his 27th league goal of the season as champions Barcelona defeated Valencia 1-0 at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday to move ten points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the Spanish first division summit.

Messi netted a 76th minute winner as Barcelona continued their unbeaten away run and put Real under extra pressure to win at home to Malaga on Thursday. Ballon D’Or winner Messi had missed several chances in the first half but came good 14 minutes from time slotting in a cross from Adriano to clinch a vital win.

It handed coach Pep Guardiola his first ever victory at the Mestalla, which had been the only top-flight venue where he had failed to secure three points. For third-placed Valencia it was a first league defeat since early December of last year and Villarreal are now just one point behind them in fourth. It was an emotional first return to the Mestalla for Spanish World Cup star David Villa, who spent five years at the club before joining Barcelona for 40 million euros in the summer, and the forward was given a warm reception from the home fans.

Spanish international playmaker Xavi returned to the Barca starting line-up after recovering from his calf injury to join Javier Mascherano and Sergi Busquets in midfield. Valencia decided to play with Juan Mata, normally a winger, leading the line and the hosts started at a high tempo to try and disrupt Barcelona’s possession game.

Eric Abidal and Dani Alves were both forced to make crucial clear-

ances for Barcelona early on before the champions found their rhythm. In the ninth minute Messi went clean through on goal but the Argentine fluffed a chance he usually buries on autopilot.

Messi had three chances to score but missed them all with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, third choice at the beginning of the season, standing tall. Valencia thought they had scored in the 20th minute but Jordi Alba’s goal was ruled out for offside.

Just after the half hour mark Messi squandered another goalscoring opportunity when his lob landed on the roof of the net with only Guaita to beat.

Villa and full back Adriano both went close before the interval but Barcelona went into the break frustrated at the 0-0 scoreline. Substitute Roberto Soldado volleyed just wide in the 51st minute for Valencia’s best chance of the match and Pablo Hernandez then curled inches wide of the post minutes later to give Barcelona a warning.

The decisive goal came on 76 minutes with Brazilian Adriano cutting the ball across goal for Messi to arrive on cue to guide in with his trusty left foot. Earlier Villarreal ended a run of four league games without a win with a 1-0 home victory over promoted Hercules.

West Ham stadium takeover gets formal approval Agence France Presse

LONDON – West Ham’s bid to take over the 2012 Olympics stadium was given formal approval by the British Government and Mayor of London Boris Johnson on Thursday. The green light allows the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) to enter into negotiations with West Ham and their consortium partners to agree a lease for the facility.

“We are delighted with the progress that has been made and very pleased we have reached this very significant milestone in determining the long-term

legacy for the Olympic Park following the Games,” local government minister Bob Neill said in a statement.

The OPLC had given its backing to West Ham last month after a bitter battle for the stadium venue with Premier League rivals Tottenham.

West Ham won after tabling a bid which proposed retaining the stadium’s running track.

Bid rivals Spurs had proposed demolishing the stadium and replacing it with a purpose built venue without an athletics track, a plan that had been condemned by British Olympic officials.

AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) vies with Valencia’s goalkeeper Vicente Guaita (L) during the Spanish League football match Valencia CF vs FC Barcelona on March 2, 2011 at Mestalla stadium in Valencia.

Wenger focuses on title after FA Cup romp Agence France Presse

LONDON – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turned his attention back to the English Premier League title race immediately after defeating Leyton Orient to seal a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Wednesday. The Gunners were the beneficiaries of Chelsea’s win over Manchester United on Tuesday, as their game in hand and meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson’s team mean their

destiny is in their own hands.

“For us, it keeps us even better in the race,” Wenger said. “I felt anyway, no matter what happened (in United?s clash), whether it was a draw, would have been good as well.

It just depends on us. “It’s down to our results. I say that for a long time, it depends how consistent we will be with our results. That will decide the championship.”

Wenger’s side face Sunderland at the weekend and warmed up for that

AFP PHOTO/ GLYN KIRK

Arsenal’s Ivorian defender Emmanuel Eboue (L) vies with Leyton Orient’s English midfielder Tom Carroll (R) during their FA Cup fifth round replay football match against Leyton Orient at the Emirates Stadium, London, England, on March 2, 2011.

clash by thrashing League One team Orient in the Cup, with Nicklas Bendtner scoring a hat-trick.

It went some way to getting over the disappointment of losing to Birmingham in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. They now face title rivals United in the next round at Old Trafford. “We were professional,” Bendtner said. “After the disappointment of Sunday it was important for us. “We know its going to be difficult against United but we very much look forward to that game when it comes.

“We just need to focus on Sunderland first.” Next week Arsenal also play the second leg of their Champions League clash against Barcelona, taking a 2-1 lead to the Nou Camp.

Robin van Persie is set to miss that match as he is out for three to four weeks with a knee injury.

Tomas Rosicky suffered mild concussion against Orient but should recover, and there is optimism of Cesc Fabregas overcoming his hamstring complaint.

“I personally hope he will be there next Tuesday,” Wenger said.

“He has a chance to play in Barcelona.

“I don’t think he will be involved on Saturday - no chance. But we will try with him on Sunday and Monday and have a final test on Monday morning. “We go from day to day.

Two or three days ago thinking to play part of game if all goes well.”

Sport

International

Friday, March 4, 2011

15

Garnett silences Fry as Celtics cruise past Suns Reuters

BOSTON – Boston forward Kevin Garnett scored a game-high 28 points in his rematch with Phoenix’s Channing Frye as the Celtics eased to a 115-103 victory over the Suns on Wednesday In his previous matchup against the Suns on January 28, Garnett was ejected with two technical fouls after he hit Frye in the groin area leading to a confrontation between the pair.

Wednesday, however, Garnett was back to his best, adding 11 rebounds as the Eastern-Conference leading Celtics cruised to victory after opening up a 20-point advantage before halftime. The Celtics were also helped by Rajon Rondo recording 16 points and 15 assists and Paul Pierce scoring 16 and 13 rebounds.

“I think all our guys were (extra motivated),” Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “That’s what the explosion early was all about.”

Boston led by as much as 29 points over the Suns in the third before the visitors fought back to trail by as little as eight.

The victory maintained Boston’s

strong form since they traded away center Kendrick Perkins last week to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Perkins helped the Celtics win the 2008 NBA title and reach last year’s finals and fans have been worried the team would regress but this victory was Boston’s (44-15) third in four games since the trade.

The Celtics now lead the East by 1.5 games over the Miami Heat.

Forward Troy Murphy made his debut for Boston after being picked up off waivers but scored only one point in 14 minutes of play.

Phoenix (31-28), pushing to move into a playoff position, had their four-game winning streak snapped and fell 1.5 games behind

the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference.

Guard Aaron Brooks led Phoenix with 17 points and seven assists in his third game since the team acquired him in a trade with Houston.

Steve Nash finished with eight points and seven assists.

Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns drives around Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics on March 2, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeated the Suns 115-103.

Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Serena Williams treated for blood clot in lungs Associated Press Writer

SERENA WILLIAMS’ absence from tennis could stretch to almost a year after two new health scares — a blood clot in her lungs

followed by a hematoma — have added to her injury woes.

Her agents confirmed Wednesday that Williams was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism last week and later needed treatment for a he-

matoma. The 13-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t played an official match since winning Wimbledon last July because of a foot injury she sustained not on the court but at a restaurant.

Her latest health problems have been “extremely hard, scary and disappointing,” Williams said in a statement. “I am doing better. I’m at home now and working with my doctors to keep everything under control. I know I will be OK, but am praying and hoping this will all be behind me soon.

“While I can’t make any promises now on my return, I hope to be back by early summer. That said, my main goal is to make sure I get there safely.”

People magazine first reported on Williams’ condition, quoting spokeswoman Nicole Chabot as saying Williams underwent “emergency treatment” Monday for a hematoma suffered as a result of treatment for “a more critical situation,” the pulmonary embolism.

The 29-year-old Williams was treated at a Los Angeles hospital then returned to her home in the city.

“Thankfully everything was caught in time,” her agents said in a statement. “With continued doctor visits to monitor her situation, she is recuperating at home under strict medical supervision.” Williams’ mother, Oracene Price, tweeted: “Thank you for your concern. She is fine.”

The tennis star attended Sunday night’s Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. On Tuesday night, Williams posted on her Twitter account, “Tough day.” A few min-

utes later, she retweeted Kim Kardashian.

The younger sister of seven-time major champion Venus Williams has been out of competition since she cut her right foot on broken glass at a restaurant shortly after winning her fourth Wimbledon title July 3. Her comeback has been repeatedly delayed by complications

with the injury.

Williams had surgery after initially hurting her foot and pulled out of the U.S. Open. She resumed practicing in September, but kept pushing back her return and needed an additional operation in October.

Williams missed the Australian Open in January, where she was the two-time defending champion.

Cyclist Contador vows to fight any doping ban Agence France Presse

MADRID – Three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador vowed to fight any attempt to re-impose doping sanctions, in an interview published Wednesday. Contador tested positive for minute traces of the banned muscle-building substance clenbuterol during last July’s Tour de France, which he won.

The Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) last month rescinded proposals to hand down a one-year competition ban after accepting Contador’s claim that he ate drug-contaminated meat and was therefore not negligent.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) can still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to have that judgement overturned.

When asked what he would do if WADA appealed and the CAS

imposed a two-year ban, the 28year-old rider was defiant. “Now I want to fight and if I managed to stop them sanctioning me I should fight with even more determination to ensure that the higher authorities don’t do so either,” he said in an interview with the daily ABC. Contador called again for a review of anti-doping procedures, which he has criticised for harming his reputation over the detection of a minute trace of clenbuterol he claims came from eating a contaminated steak. Some laboratories were expected to detect these trace levels but not others, he said. “I want WADA to review my case, study it and find new guidelines for the future,” he said.

Contador said he was concentrated on his riding. “I am not completely happy because I have suffered a lot, too much,” he told the paper.

16

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

Friday, March 4, 2011

Sport

Honda says no magic in 2011 bike Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso of Repsol Honda powers his bike during a MotoGP pre-season second test run on the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on February 24, 2011.

AFP PHOTO / Saeed Khan

Honda says its winter leap forward is down to a series of small improvements rather than a major design breakthrough with its 2011 MotoGP bike.

The team, which last won a MotoGP title with Nicky Hayden in 2006, has shown commanding form in testing so far with its expanded three-bike works line-up of Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, while Marco Simoncelli’s factory-specification Gresini bike has also been a frontrunner.

HRC executive vice president Shuhei Nakamoto said the progress was down to detail changes, and that

Honda had been gaining ground last year too, but its form had been masked

by Pedrosa injuring himself at Motegi.

“It’s difficult to explain, but we’ve tried many things,” Nakamoto told the official MotoGP website. “For each item we’ve improved, it’s been small. But if you can find one hundredth, then you find ten of them, that’s one tenth.

“Last year in the second half our results were not too bad until the ac-

cident at Motegi when Dani was trying to catch up with Jorge [Lorenzo].

We had found a direction for development, and we’ve kept that direction at HRC, with the engine, the suspension, the brakes etc. Every single small improvement is step by step, and now our machine looks competitive but of course we have to continue to develop.”

Reigning champion Lorenzo said it was obvious from Honda’s form that the whole team was in much better shape this year. “All four riders with a works Honda are ahead: that means that it’s the bike that has

Vettel: Two stops impossible right now WORLD champion Sebastian Vettel believes Pirelli’s tyres will force drivers to make at least three pitstops during races, as he reckons one or two are impossible at the moment. Pirelli has said several times that it has designed its tyres to wear out quicker than last year’s Bridgestone, with two-stop strategies the main goal.

Vettel, however, reckons the current tyres will not last enough to stop just twice, and he predicts races with up to four pitstops. The German also thinks the racing will change significantly because of the different tyres.

“The tyres are very different from last year, but then again it’s the same for everybody,” said Vettel. “I think the racing will change. “I think one stop is impossible and at this stage also two stops, so I think it will be a three or four-stop race. I think it will make it very interesting.

“The question is if it is a good thing for us or a bad thing. It’s hard to say now because obviously we have to get going first and see how the races unfold. “But other than that we have the rear wing which should make overtaking a bit easier

to us. A lot of questions, but I think we will only find the real answer when we go racing, really.”

The Red Bull driver admitted he is also hoping the moveable rear wings and the KERS will not make overtaking too artificial.

“KERS is the same for everybody

so it doesn’t really make a big difference. The rear wing is a bit of a different story because you can use it in the race only for attacking, not for defending. “I just hope it doesn’t make overtaking too easy because then it would make the racing artificial. We need to see.”

AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

Germany’s formula one 2010 world champion Sebastian Vettel poses at Infiniti car maker’s booth on March 1, 2011 at Geneva motor show in Geneva. Car makers display 170 new models as the automobile industry preview the 81st Geneva motor show.

improved a lot, otherwise there would be just one rider going strong while the others would be behind,” Lorenzo told Motosprint.

“We have managed to improve by almost one second compared to 2010. The problem is that our rivals have improved even more. At some points the difference in speed is as much as 8 km/h. At the moment Honda is the most powerful bike; Ducati is a close second; Yamaha is only third.

“Honda has improved in its handling too: I’ve followed the Honda riders a bit, and I have a feeling they

now have an easier bike to ride.

We’ll see how our bike goes on other tracks, but at the moment Honda is making a difference with its engine.”

But Nakamoto said Honda still had problems to resolve as well and was not in perfect shape yet.

“At this moment, all our Honda riders are complaining about braking stability,” he said. “The braking is good, but after braking, they have hopping. So therefore we’re concentraing on fixing this area.

We’re trying the clutch and the engine control system for that. It’s getting better, but it’s still an issue.”