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Entertainment

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

‘Divergent’ soundtrack is uneven

Associated Press Writer

Various Artists, “Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” (Interscope Records) The latest dystopian young adult big screen adaptation, “Divergent,” has high expectations for the box office, though its soundtrack offers an uneven bag of tracks.

The film, highlighted by teenage angst overwrought by societal structure, could translate into a group of edgy, resonating songs, but the reality is that few rise up to the challenge. Ellie Goulding over contributes with her brand of manic pixie dream girl electro pop on four tracks (three only on the non-digital version).

The first single — Zedd’s piano ballad turned triumphant dance song “Find You” — is neither convincing nor very

inspiring to anyone other than the Saturday night club crowd. And Goulding’s “Beating Heart” is a stroke away from flatlining.

The album starts off slow with runof-the-mill dance tracks before it gets bizarre and wonderful with Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar’s “Backwards,” which mixes a hypnotic ‘60s sound with some epic rapping. M83’s “I Need You” takes a weird sax and blends it with an even weirder wailing Auto-Tune. A$AP

Rocky’s contribution, “In Distress,” is probably the most alienating and enticing of the whole album — the barky electro background is stabilized by his rapping, which turns into a melodic howl. Pretty Lights’ “Lost and Found” adds another layer of meditative sounds, skipping back and forth from uplifting pop to an exotic string sound.

Overall, though, the soundtrack barely passes the aptitude test into the Dauntless.

AP Photo/Interscope Records

This CD cover image released by Interscope Records shows the motion picture soundtrack for “Divergent.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Japan marks 3rd anniversary of tsunami disasters

Valladolid defeat proves Barcelona only “human” - Nasri

Venezuela unrest plays out daily in posh district

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One suspect on missing jet is Iranian, no terror link

Bieber surprises with performance during SXSW

Members of the media scramble with their smart phones and cameras to photograph pictures of the two men, a 19-year-old Iranian identified by Malaysian police as Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, left, and the man on the right, his identity still not released, who boarded the now missing Malaysia Airlines jet MH370 with a stolen passports, held up by a Malaysian policewoman during a press conference, Tuesday, March 11, 2014, in Sepang, Malaysia.

Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Op and Buffalo David Bitton

This Sunday, March 9, 2014 photo released courtesy of Op and Buffalo David Bitton shows Justin Bieber performing at the Scooter Braun Projects “Sunday Funday Showcase” at South By SouthWest, sponsored

by Op and Buffalo David Bitton, in Austin, Texas.

NEW YORK — Justin Bieber has kicked off the music portion of South

by Southwest before the real program begins. The 20-year-old pop star surprised a small crowd at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, on Sunday night.

Audience member Ashley Gregg said Monday that Bieber performed two songs, dedicating “Boyfriend” to ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez, who was backstage. “This goes out to my baby girl,” Bieber told a crowd of about 100 people.

The bar was hosting an event for Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun. Surprise performers included Bieber and boy band The Wanted. Cody Simpson, Dan + Shay, Tori Kelly and Rixton, who are among Braun’s clients, also performed.

The music portion of South by Southwest, which will feature Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Willie Nelson and Kendrick Lamar, starts Tuesday.

Aretha Franklin says Obama knows ‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T’ Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin has much R-E-S-P-E-C-T for President Barack Obama — regardless of his spelling skills.

At a White House concert last Thurs-

day, Obama dropped the initial “E’’ when trying to spell out “respect” as the queen of soul does in her famous song.

“I’m sure the President had much on his agenda and was just a little tired,” the 71-year-old singer said in a state-

ment Monday.

The concert included Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Janelle Monae, Ariana Grande and Jill Scott.

Franklin says no offense was taken.

“The President and I are mutual when it comes to R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” she said.

16 Pages Number 61 6th year

AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

Agence France-Presse

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police said Tuesday they had identified one of two men who boarded a missing Malaysian jet with fake passports as a 19-year-old Iranian believed to be seeking to emigrate to Germany.

The man has been identified as Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, Malaysia’s national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters.

Khalid said the 19-year-old boarded the plane on an Austrian passport whose owner had previously reported it stolen.

“We have been checking his background. We have also checked in with other police organisations on his profile,” Khalid said.

“We believe he is not likely to be a member of any terror group and we believe he was trying to migrate to Germany.” Khalid said authorities had not yet identified the other man.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappeared early

Saturday with 239 people aboard, sparking an international search for the plane in waters off Southeast Asia.

Revelations that two passengers on board were travelling on EU passports -- one Austrian, one Italian -- that were stolen in Thailand had fuelled speculation of a security breach and possible terrorist attack.

Asked why police believed the man was seeking to emigrate to Germany, Khalid said authorities had been in contact with his mother, who was waiting for him to reach Frankfurt.

Mehrdad and the other man, who used the Italian passport but has not been identified, both arrived in Kuala Lumpur on February 28.

Khalid said Malaysian police had been in touch with their counterparts in other countries, including Iran.

However, he said police were still considering all possibilities in terms of criminal involvement in the plane’s disappearance, when asked whether police thought the revelation made them consider terrorism less likely in the case.

“At this moment, I would not say less likely. Same weightage to all until we finish our investigations,” he said.

Khalid said police were focusing their investigations on various theories including a hijacking, sabotage or psychological problems among passengers or crew.

He did not elaborate and said none of those scenarios had yet turned up any findings.

The plane’s disappearance has left authorities, the airline, passengers’ families and aviation industry flummoxed at how a huge Boeing 777-200 jet could have completely vanished during its overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Search efforts involving several countries including China and the United States have found no evidence pointing to the plane’s fate. The plane emitted no distress signal or other signs of trouble.

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International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Bali News

Hundreds of Tabanan Transportation Agency employees take urine test

Bali Post

in drug abuse, Agus said his party would handle it in accordance with the civil service rules. “This measure can have a positive impact on the community and provide optimal services. They may not be affected by drugs.

Suppose there is an indication, the staffing rules will be implemented,” he said.

The Division Head of Community Empowerment of the BNNP Bali, Nyoman Artana, stated amidst the urine test that the year 2014 posed the year of rescue program for drug users nationwide. He added that all this time the drug users assumed they would be arrested and imprisoned. “This pattern has to be changed by persistent socialization of the BNN program to rescue the drug users through rehabilitation,” he explained.

Further, he said that to support the program, there were two methods to be used namely by

IBP/File

involving family or relatives of the addicts in the effort to coordinate the solution through rehabilitation.

Similar measure was also carried out to the addicts who were arrested by law enforcement officers.

“An addict arrested by law enforcement officers will be coordinated to law enforcement officers for further handling. However, if the offenders are drug dealers, we certainly agree if they must be sentenced to the fullest.

We will attempt to disseminate these two lines to the community,” he affirmed. The urine test for the ranks of Tabanan Transportation Agency was followed by 123 employees including parking attendants. (kmb28)

A year, local dog population in Buleleng increases 5,000 heads Bali Post

BULELENG - The number of dog population in Buleleng County increases dramatically. Even, within just a single year the dog population estimation in North Bali increases to 5,000 heads. Meanwhile, in 2013 the estimation reached 65,000 heads. Entering the year 2014, the population sharply increased to 70,000 heads. Interestingly, the increase of dog population seems unstoppable because people keep dogs more than one head in each household.

The Head of Buleleng Agriculture and Livestock Agency, Nyoman Swatantra, accompanied by

the Animal Health Division Head Wayan Susila, said on Monday (Mar 10) the growth of dog population in Buleleng was quite high. It was not only caused by the many dogs raised by each household, but the condition was also triggered by the high dog birth rate reaching 35 percent. Unfortunately, such fairly high population growth was not matched by the understanding of residents in maintaining their pet dog. Even, their dogs were kept sober and even in case of a dog bite they looked indifferent and did not recognize if the dog belonged to them.

“From the past time, the growth

of dog population is quite high and we are very difficult to control.

Moreover, it is aggravated by poor understanding of the dog owners in raising their animals,” he said.

Swatantra added that high population growth did not rule out the possibility that the menace of rabies dog bites still haunted the residents in North Bali. With this condition, the dog owners were encouraged to keep their dog properly. At least, they should bind and not let theirs run wild. In addition, the dog owners should be responsible in case their pet dog bit other people. This accountability was to acknowledge the dog and after a dog bite was

advised to tie or impound the dog, making it easier for officers to conduct observation and examine whether or not the dog had been contracted by rabies. “By all means, we have difficulty to handle more and more dogs in the effort to take precautions against the spread of this disease. To that end, we expect the residents to keep their dogs well and be responsible for the animal,” he added.

On the other hand, Swatantra said that prevention against the spread of rabies through mass vaccination program would be held again this year. The mass vaccination would be held back with support from the

Buleleng Budget, Bali Budget and State Budget. Meanwhile, it would be targeting as many as 49,000 dogs of the total dog population estimated to reach 70,000 heads in Buleleng. It would start in the near future by involving 18 teams for each subdistrict. Each team would consist of four dog catchers, a veterinarian giving the anti-rabies vaccine and a registrar of dog identity and the owner. “We’ve prepared the team. Hopefully, 40 percent of the total estimated dog population in our region can be vaccinated, so it will slightly provide comfort for residents against the threat of rabies transmission,” he added. (mud)

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(0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

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IBP

KUTA - If you want to know more about Balinese culture without having much time, you can come to Grand Whiz Hotel Kuta. The hotel located on Jalan Kartika Plaza and within the vicinity to Kuta Beach offers a Balinese Night event. It presents a variety of Balinese arts and cultures every Friday night starting at 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Balinese architecture, so the atmosphere looks really traditional. Intimacy and familial ambience of rural Bali will be felt because the seating is arranged without limit so that everyone can get involved.

Restaurant & Bar Manager, Ida Bagus Dirga, accompanied by Executive Chef Arif Suryadi said the Balinese Night was held to give the opportunity to visitors who wanted to know more closely about Balinese culture, especially the very unique Balinese cuisines that had been much-loved by the world community. “This event is also meant to raise the sales of the restaurant,” he said.

On that account, he explained, the restaurant located in front of the hotel lobby was really packed with Balinese atmosphere, so guests could watch Balinese dance and enjoy the delicacies delightedly. In the future, we will also present a special Balinese traditional drink with health benefits,” he said.

Calendar Event for March 5 through May 21, 2014 The officers of Tabanan Transportation Agency are taking urine test

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Regular Balinese Night at Grand Whiz Hotel Kuta

The Balinese Night does not only present Balinese dance performance, but also the traditional menus that are appropriate with the tongues of all nations. They are starting from (steamed) chicken betutu, twisted satay, assorted vegetables, water spinach with plecing spices and lawar. Besides, there is also seafood soup with an exceptional taste.

Apart from the main menus, it also offers dessert menu consisting of traditional market snacks widely known on this Island of One Thousand Temples. They include the black sticky rice cake, sumping, fried banana, boiled banana cake, pancake and many more. While enjoying the variety of menus, visitors are jazzed up with the performance of Balinese dances by involving the art troupe of local village.

Not only that, the decoration and arrangement of the venue is also designed in such a way by featuring

TABANAN - The whole ranks of the Tabanan Transportation, Communication and Informatics Agency organized a urine test at the local office, Monday (Mar 10). Such an action was intended to early detect the drug trafficking in the scope of local government bureaucracy as well as a shock therapy.

The urine test was conducted after the regular flag ceremony held every Monday. Of course, it shocked the employees because the activity involved the officers of the National Narcotics Agency (BNNP) of Bali Chapter. The Head of Tabanan Transportation, Communication and Informatics Agency, I Made Agus Hartawiguna, said the urine test was carried out after prior coordination with the BNNP Bali posing a responsibility as citizen against to rampant drug abuse in society.

“This measure poses a form of commitment because it is our responsibility to anticipate the drug trafficking and abuse. Responsibility of a state apparatus is certainly greater. Moreover, the Transportation Agency is responsible for providing services to community. As the apparatus, we must be clean,” he said.

If results of the urine test indicated that the staff were involved

Activities

International

5 Mar Hari Urip 6 Mar Hari Patetegan 7 Mar Pengeradanan Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Kabayan Penebel Tabanan 8 Mar Saraswati Pura Pasek tangkas Gempinis Dalang Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Sayan Abiansemal Pura Watu Gunung Bima Pura Agung Jagat Karana Surabaya Pura Aditya Jaya Jakarta Pura Pemaksan Banyuning Timur Pura Agung Wira Loka Cimahi Jawa Barat 9 Mar Hari Banyu Pinaruh 10 Mar Soma Ribek Pura Jati Jembrana Pura Kawitan Bayu Gaiyang Bangli Tirta Wening Surabaya Pura Desa Lingga Wana Abang Karangasem 11 Mar Sabuh Mas 12 Mar Hari Pagerwesi Pura Labang Sindu JiwaUbud Pura Kehen Bangli Pura Wira Bhuana Magelang Jawa tengah Pura Padang Sakti Denpasar Timur Pura Payogan Agung Ketewel Gianyar Pura Gaduh Pangiasan Dauh Puri Denpasar Pura Masceti Tampak Siring Pura Dalem Ularan Denpasar Pura Siwa Penebel Tabanan Pura Luhur Sliki Banyuwangi Pura Gunung Lebah Ubud Pura Puseh Sukawati 15 Mar Purnama Sasih Kesanga Pura Nataran Sasih Pejeng Gianyar Pura Bukit Mentik Gunung lebah Batur Kintamani 17 Mar Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan 22 Mar Tumpek Landep Pura Mutering Jagat Dalem Sidakarya

Denpasar Pura Agung Pasek Tabanan Pura Pasek Tangkas Tabanan Pura Kerta Banyuning Buleleng Pura Dalem Tenggaling Singapadu Gianyar Pura Bhujangga Jembrana Pura Dalem pingit Tegalalang Pura Penataran Pande Pandean Mengwi Pura Ida Ratu Pande Besakih Pura Penataran AGung Tulikup Pura Kumuda Saraswati Ubud Pura Batur Arya Tabanan 23 Mar Radite Umanis Ukir Sanggah Gede Dukuh Segening Tegal Tugu Gianyar 26 Mar Buda Cemeng Ukir Pura Pajenengan Kawitan Arya Gelgel Kelungkung Pura Pasar Agung Besakih Pura Pasek Bendesa Legian Kuta Badung Pura Gde Gunung Agung Munggu Badung Pura Puseh Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Peruncak Badung Pura Pasek Bendesa Hyang Krobokan Badung Pura Kereban Langit Mengwi Badung 28 Mar Melasti Pakiyisan Ke Segara Pura Pasek Gelgel Kukuh Marga 30 Mar Tilem Kesanga Tawur Agung 31 Mar Hari Raya Nyepi 1 May Buda Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan

2 May Bhatara Sri Ida Ratu Geng Besakih Pura Penataran Agung Besakih Ida Ratu Raja Puraus Besakih Merajan Saloding Besakih 6 May Anggara Kasih Juluwangi Pura Thirta Harum Tegal Wangi Bangli Pura Baratan Baturiti Pura Batu Klotok Klungkung

Pura Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari Tabanan Pura Ibu Wanagiri Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Manik Bingin Dukuh Sidemen 7 May Pura Penataran Gana Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Gede Pande Bangli Pura Puncak Sari Sangeh Abian Semal Pura Puseh Penegil Dharma Kubu Tambahan Bangli Pura Dalem Maya Blahbatuh Gianyar Pura Linggih Betara Kayu Selem Penataran Agung Besakih 13 May Purnama Sasih Jiyestha Pura Dwija Warsa Malang Pura Pucak Tinggah Angsri Baturiti Pura Kawitan Luhur Bhujangga Jati Luwih Penebel Pura Kawitan Batur Pande Tonja Tonja Denpasar Pura Penataran Agung Sidemen Karangasem Pura Maospahit Grenceng Denpasar 15 May Sugihan Jawa Pura Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Tangkas Klungkung Pura Siang Kangin Peninjoan Tembuku Bangli Pura Ida Ratu Mas Penataran Agung Besakih Pura Ida Bhatara Bang Tulus Besakih 16 May Sugihan Bali Dan Kajeng Kliwon 18 May Penyekeban 19 May Penyajaan Galungan 20 May Penampahan Galungan 21 May Hari Raya Galungan Pura Wakika Kupang NTT Pura Agung Girinatha Sumbawa Besar NTB Pura Dukuh Sakti Dukuh Kediri Tabanan Pura Atambuananta Kutamba NTT Pura Webananta Kupang NTT Pura Giripati Mulawarman Pontianak Pura Mustika Dharma Cijantung Jakarta Timur

IBP/BTN Doc

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

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

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

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Technology

International

Bali News

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

3

How can jet disappear?

In the ocean, it’s not hard

Destruction of Bali starts from downfall in agricultural sector

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In an age when people assume that any bit of information is just a click away, the thought that a jetliner could simply disappear over the ocean for more than two days is staggering. But Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is hardly the first reminder of how big the seas are, and of how agonizing it can be to try to find something lost in them.

A variety of challenges are faced by the agricultural sector so that farmers are in helpless condition due to various problems starting from the high production cost, increasing demands of land for settlement and tourism facilities, environmental destruction, unpredictable weather, tax burden and low willingness of young people to farming and so on. If the wetland has been sold, surely it is no longer the task of the landowners. In other words, the new landowners are legitimate to utilize their land for farming or residence.

Associated Press Writer

It took two years to find the main wreckage of an Air France jet that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009. Closer to the area between Malaysia and Vietnam where Saturday’s flight vanished, it took a week for debris from an Indonesian jet to be spotted in 2007. Today, the mostly intact fuselage still sits on the bottom of the ocean.

“The world is a big place,” said Michael Smart, professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Queensland in Australia. “If it happens to come down in the middle of the ocean and it’s not near a shipping lane or something, who knows how long it could take them to find?”

Amid the confusion, officials involved in the search say the Malaysian jet may have made a U-turn, adding one more level of uncertainty to the effort to find it. They even suggest that the plane could be hundreds of kilometers from where it was last detected. Aviation experts say the plane will be found — eventually. Since the start of the jet age in 1958, only a handful of jets have gone missing and not been found.

“I’m absolutely confident that we

will find this airplane,” Capt. John M. Cox, who spent 25 years flying for US Airways and is now CEO of Safety Operating Systems, said Monday.

The modern pace of communications, where GPS features in our cars and smartphones tell us our location at any given moment, has set unreal expectations. “This is not the first time we have had to wait a few days to find the wreckage.”

Based on what he’s heard, Cox believes it’s increasingly clear that the plane somehow veered from its normal flight path. He said that after the plane disappeared from radar, it must have been “intact and flew for some period of time. Beyond that, it’s all speculation.” If it had exploded midair along its normal flight path, “we would have found it by now.”

Malaysian civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, whose agency is leading a multinational effort to find the Boeing 777, said more than 1,000 people and at least 34 planes and 40 ships were searching a radius of 100 nautical miles (115 miles; 185 kilometers) around the last known location of Flight MH370. No signal has been detected

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Indonesian Navy pilots Maj. Bambang Edi Saputro, left, and 2nd Lt. Tri Laksono check their map during a search operation for the missing Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 over the waters bordering Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand near the Malacca straits on Monday, March 10, 2014. since early Saturday morning, when the plane was at its cruising altitude and showed no sign of trouble.

Azharuddin said the search includes northern parts of the Malacca Strait, on the opposite side of the Malay Peninsula and far west of

the plane’s last known location.

Azharuddin would not explain why crews were searching there, saying, “There are some things that I can tell you and some things that I can’t.”

Malaysian Maj. Gen. Datuk Affendi Buang, who is helping oversee the

ongoing search, said the search will take time.

“The only thing I could say is it’s difficult. There are so many examples of aircraft lost in the sea — you know it can take days, sometimes months, sometimes years,” he said.

Construction crunch slows Japan tsunami rebuilding Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa

In this Tuesday, March 4, 2014 photo, dumpsters kick up clouds of dirt as they head to construction sites in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Construction has only begun at two of 10 planned sites in Otsuchi and further down the coast.

TANOHATA, Japan — Tens of thousands of people on Japan’s northeastern coast who were left homeless in the March 2011 tsunami are shivering their way through yet another winter in cramped temporary housing, with perhaps several more to go.

Reconstruction plans are taking shape after three years of debate and red tape, but shortages of skilled workers and materials are delaying the work. In areas such as Tanohata, a fishing town of 3,800 along a scenic stretch of craggy cliffs and forests, less than a tenth of the new housing has been built. Overall, the figure is less than 8 percent completed, and less than a quarter of projects started.

As Japan’s over-stretched construction industry begins gearing up

to build venues and revamp aging infrastructure for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, shortages of skilled carpenters and heavy equipment operators as well as cement and other materials, are frustrating residents and local officials.

“It’s just cold, so very cold,” Shio Hironai, 53, said of the hut that has served as home since the 20-meter (65-foot) wave slammed into one of the town’s tiny coves.

“And the roof is caving in. It has been all along.”

Japan on Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters known as 3.11 that killed 15,884 people and left 2,636 unaccounted for on its northern coast. The country has struggled to rebuild tsunami-hit towns and to clean up radiation from the nuclear crisis. It has earmarked 25 trillion yen ($250 bil-

lion) for reconstruction through to March 2016. About 50,000 people from Fukushima are still unable to return home due to concerns over radiation.

Hironai, a former fish factory worker who now helps assemble fishing lures in a workshop set up to provide jobs after the disaster, said she hopes to finally move into a new home by May. “The carpenters are just too busy. We had to find a new company to do the work.”

In Tanohata and many other places in Iwate prefecture and elsewhere, groundwork is still not finished for most of the homes due to be rebuilt. Further to the south in Otsuchi, crews work until dark, rain or shine, leveling land for public housing units, a few here, a few there — wherever land can be cleared away from the most hazardous areas along the seaside.

Bali Post

Virtually all the stakeholders say that the agricultural sector in Bali poses a source of inspiration for the development of Bali dominated by tourism sector. But in reality, only a few pays attention to the development in the agricultural sector.

A lecturer at the Udayana University, Prof. Wayan Windia, said that building the agricultural sector required a political commitment, readiness not to be populist and egalitarian characters. This phenomenon could hardly be found in the character of the current leaders, including the leaders in Bali.

“The most obvious empirical evidence is the conversion of paddy fields in Bali, reaching an average of more than 1,000 hectares per year (BPS, 2010). I have confidence that the destruction of Bali is starting from the destruction of its agricultural sector,” he said.

Even, the results of the Agricultural Census released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali recently reported that the number of farming households had declined as much as 84,161 households from 492,394 households in 2003 and became 408,233 households in 2013.

Prof. Windia added that theoretically many leaders were reluctant to build the agricultural sector. They

preferred to do physical development in the sector of industry, tourism, infrastructure et cetera. Their reason was logical because the results of physical development could be known very quickly by the constituents. But building the agricultural sector would take very long time, be very difficult to implement and have to deal with people of different character and status.

Meanwhile, the term was only 5 years.

Thus, the political system was also greatly influenced the passion of the agricultural development.

Characteristic of the destruction in the agricultural sector, according to him, was getting real. It was reflected from the low farmer exchange value (NTP) ranging from 101 to 108. In other words, the ratio between the income and the expenditure index of farmers was very low, namely 101/100-108/100. Then, the contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP of Bali continued to decline throughout the year whereas the population relying their livelihood on the agriculture sector was still very high, reaching about 40 percent. This indicated if the productivity of the agricultural sector was very low. It was also noted the value-added of the agricultural product was the lowest compared to that of tourism industry.

Meanwhile, the contribution of the

IBP/Bit

Agricultural sector in Bali poses a source of inspiration for the development of Bali dominated by tourism sector. But in reality, only a few pays attention to the development in the agricultural sector. agricultural sector to the value added was only about 20 percent.

In the meantime, investment in the agriculture was very small. In Bali, the investment in the agricultural sector only reached about 1 percent of the total existing investment. The total loans distributed to the agricultural sector were only about 9 percent, while the total loans to the SMEs was 22 percent. When the loans and invest-

ments in the agricultural sector were very small, it should not expect the agricultural sector to grow and compete against the other sectors. In the meantime, Prof. Suparta, Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Union (HKTI) of Bali Chapter, said the agriculture was often glorified and revered, but it got minimal reinvestment in the conservation and development.

He said that many programs gave

an impression as a form of imaging only. He did not find any holistic, synergistic and dynamic agricultural development program with high policy commitment.

He added the existence of subak should at least be taken advantage as a movement, struggle and development base of the agriculture in Bali. “With the existence of subak, everything will be accommodated,” he said. (bit)

compared to the year 2013. To achieve the target, it was required accurate data from the local government of the counties and municipality.

“The data required include the number of retail, luxury car ownership, trade business permit mainly for central government tax such income tax and VAT. All this time, we have trouble of getting the data due to bureaucracy, even though there has been previously the Government Regulation No.31/2012,” he said.

According to him, some few institutions were not willing to give the necessary data to support the income tax by reason of the necessary data were confidential. Thus, it was then

issued the Regulation of Minister of Finance No.132/PMK.03/2013 about the details of the data, information as well as procedures for the submission of data related to taxation. Regulation of the Minister of Finance No.64/ PMA.05/2013 contained about the mechanisms of supervision against the deduction or collection and remittance of tax made by the expenditure treasurer of the regional working units (SKPD) or proxy of the regional general treasurer.

“These new rules will enable us to access the data of the institutions existing in the counties and municipality. We invite the Regional Secretary, Bali Revenue Service, officials of One

Stop Services and Bank BPD Bali so that they know about the rules,” he explained.

He mentioned that such socialization was carried out in all regions in order to optimize the tax revenues. To that end, the local government was expected to help in providing for the necessary data.

“Nearly 50 percent of tax revenue is distributed to the regions through special allocation fund (DAK), general allocation fund (DAU) and DHK. Last year, a total of IDR 528.6 trillion has been distributed to the regions. Consequently, the local government must provide the data, so the realized tax also increases,” he said. (kmb27)

Tax revenue contributes 78 percent to State Budget Bali Post

MANGUPURA - Tax revenue contributes the highest share to the State Budget. This sector is capable of contributing as much as 78.8 percent compared to other sectors. On that account, the Directorate General of Taxes, Ministry of Finance, will take various measures to boost tax revenue optimization.

The Division Head of Assessment Extensification Cooperation (KEP), Directorate General of Tax for Bali Region (DJP), Wiratmoko, said the tax coverage ratio or the amount of tax payer registered compared to the number of new population reached

14.7 percent of the Indonesia’s population reaching about 250 million people.

“This percentage is very small compared to the total number of population, while the tax revenue target from year to year increases. To achieve the revenue target, the directorate requires a lot of data to conduct surveillance. Without good data, it is hard to make supervision,” said Wiratmoko in Kuta, Monday (Mar 10).

He said the tax revenue target set in 2014 reached IDR 1,110.2 billion.

This amount was beyond the customs tax revenue. Meanwhile, the total tax revenue target reached IDR 1,320.2 billion or an increase of 19 percent

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Bali News

International

Buleleng Electoral Commission promotes election through fun walk Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Ahead of the implementation of the legislative election on April 9, 2014, various readinesses are more intensively carried out by the Buleleng Electoral Commission (KPU). One of them was socialization through fun walk by involving the community of Buleleng, so by the voting day various parties would not be abstention. The activity was officially opened by the Regent of Buleleng Putu Agus Suradnyana, Chairman of the Buleleng Electoral Commission Gede Suardana and related regional working units (SKPD). Hundreds of participants walked on the specified route starting from Singaraja Town Square and then surrounded some roads such as Jalan Ngurah Rai to Jalan Udayana, Sunday (Mar 9).

According to Suardana, the activity was conducted as a socialization effort of the Buleleng Electoral Commission in relation to the legislative election on April 9 to general public. “The fun walk for honest and fair election aims at promoting the legislative election on April 9, so that people can flock to the polls to determine their choice of candidates,” he said.

The target of the voters wanted to be achieved was approximately 78 percent of the total voters in Buleleng County. “Of all the electoral implementations, they tend to show off a decline in the number of voters every electoral event. Since the year 1999 up to the Bali gubernatorial election in 2013, there was a decrease from 91 percent to 61 percent. We expect people to know about the voting date, procedures of voting, and choose the candidate intelligently and able to change the fate of the nation in the future,” said Suardana. (dgk)

Tens of thousands of seaman certificate forms finally printed

Bali Post

The damage road in Pradi hamlet, Songan village, Bangli.

IBP/File

Never gets repairs

Pradi residents complain about collapsed road Bali Post

BANGLI - Residents of Pradi hamlet, Songan village, complained again about the collapsed road condition that has never got any repairs from the government. It has been more than two months the condition of road having partially eroded is still gaping. Residents worry if the breakdown will get worse and can endanger road users.

All this time, the collapsed road is the only road access used by local residents to their Kayu Selem clan (kawitan) temple. In addition to the economic activity, the road was also taken advantage by students of elementary and junior high school.

One of the local residents, Gede Seridana, said that after the collapse as flushed by rain a few months ago the condition of road in the region was often complained by residents. Many roadsides were eroded until leaving a small portion of the road body. Other than

almost disconnecting, condition of the road from the upper area to the village border had also been destroyed. “The collapsed road has been long lasting since the rain few months ago. But until now, it has never got any repair. Indeed, some time ago it was already checked by Public Works but there is no repair so far,” said Seridana.

According to him, because of the damage to the road, the access of public transportation was then very much disturbed. Even, the road was very hazardous to be passed through at night. Other than having

no lighting around the road, near the broken road was only bordered with piles of sober stone by residents.

“So, when motorcyclists want to pass they must take the space at the road periphery,” he said. Residents expected the government to immediately intervene and repair the breakdown road so the damage would not get worse. “We really hope the government can fix it immediately. Otherwise, it will make the safety of road users in danger because the road condition is now very alarming and hazardous to pass,” he hoped. (ina)

DENPASAR - To anticipate against the repatriation of seamen from Bali, the Head of the Bali Indostar Wisata International (BIWI) Marine Training Center, Ida Bagus Putu Astina, met the Directorate General of Shipping and Seamanship, Ministry of Transportation, Friday (Mar 7). From the meeting, it was revealed that since early March 2014 the seaman certificate form had been printed of some 25,000 pieces and distributed equally throughout Indonesia.

According to Astina last Sunday (Mar 9), the distribution of forms was given priority to the seamen in emergency that would soon depart.

In addition, the forms were also printed by government-owned company and not the private one as before.

“Other than serving as the Head of the BIWI Marine Training Center, I also made audience with the Directorate General in the capacity as a candidate of the Regional Representative Council (DPD-RI) carrying and promoting the aspirations of Balinese labor. Moreover, the labor from Singaraja should go home on April 9 from the Thomson Cruise Line due to crowd and management crisis document could not be issued,” said Astina.

Astina added that his party was received by the Director of Shipping and Maritime Affairs and the Subdivision Head of Seamanship. They admitted to deeply acknowledge and be concerned about the problems afflicting the Indonesian seamen. Moreover, some had been repatriated.

Inhibition of the certificate form printing since July 2013 was caused by legal issues. In addition, it was also caused by the distribution of fake documents due to fraudulence committed by IT hackers. Such an action was very harmful to the quality of seamen because they set out without going through a job training on board.

“I cannot keep silent on seeing this condition. I’m trying to find a solution in order the labor from Bali can immediately set out to reduce the number of unemployment,” he said.

According to this former cruise ship worker from Tabanan, the result of meeting mentioned that those whose job letter had been issued would be prioritized and taken to the training institution where they searched for documents. Furthermore, the training institution would inform it to the Subdivision Head of Maritime Affairs.

Meanwhile, the seaman who would be repatriated on April 9, considering the presence of interference and the internet access did not work, the Director of Shipping and Seamanship asked the Subdivision Head of Seamanship to issue a crowd and crisis management document as a stopgap so the migrant workers from Singaraja could continue to work on the cruise ship. It was made to avoid the adverse impact on the users overseas. “The document could be accounted for,” he said. (rah)

International

New Zealanders to vote on changing national flag

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Associated Press Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealanders will soon get to vote on whether to change their national flag, which many view as a relic from a colonial past. Prime Minister John Key on Tuesday announced plans to hold a referendum within three years.

His political opponents said they would follow through with those plans even if they oust Key in this year’s national elections.

The current flag depicts the Southern Cross star constellation and includes Britain’s Union Jack in the top left corner. Many complain it is too similar to Australia’s flag and doesn’t reflect New Zealand’s independence from former colonizer Britain. But many who have served in the military oppose a change. And among those advocating a change, there’s plenty of debate about a replacement.

Key said he favors a silver fern set against a black background, an image that’s popular among sports teams. Some say that would equate the country too much with its sporting heroes and would be too reminiscent of a pirate ensign. Some argue the country’s indigenous Maori should be represented in any new flag. In a speech Tuesday, Key said the flag represents a past era.

“The flag remains dominated by the Union Jack in a way that we ourselves are no longer dominated by the United Kingdom,” he said. He said Canada’s 1965 decision to embrace a distinctive maple leaf design was a good example, and he couldn’t imagine Canadians now wanting to go back to their old Union Jack flag.

“We should be represented by a flag that is distinctly New Zealand’s,” said Key, adding it would not signify an end to the South Pacific nation’s constitutional ties to the British monarchy or participation in the Commonwealth group of countries. Don McIver, president of the Returned and Services Association (RSA), said he’s proud of a flag that represents more than 100 years of tradition.

“The view of the RSA is there is no need to change the flag,” he said. “Thirty-two thousand New Zealanders have given their lives under the flag and many more thousands have served under it in a combat environment.” The Republican Movement of New Zealand, which advocates an end to recognizing the British monarch as New Zealand’s head of state, remains indifferent.

AP Photo/Alejandro Cegarra

Demonstrators take cover from teargas fired by the police during clashes in an anti-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, March 10, 2014.

Venezuela unrest plays out daily in posh district Associated Press Writer

CARACAS, Venezuela — A squad of motorcycle-mounted police wheels into an intersection newly seized from student protesters in a barrage of tear gas in eastern Caracas’ wealthy Chacao district, an important center of resistance to Venezuela’s socialist-led government. From a side street, a young man in a phosphorescent green hockey mask and a white T-shirt advances, his throwing hand sheathed in a fire-retardant glove for returning tear-gas canisters.

AP Photo/Nick Perry

In this photo taken on Monday, March 3, 2014, Victor Gizzi, left, and David Moginie, managers at flag manufacturer Flagmakers, pose next to flags of New Zealand, left, and Australia, in their factory near Wellington, New Zealand.

The young man struts and taunts the cops, accompanied by comrades behind a makeshift metal shield with “SOS” painted on it.

Gunpowder charges explode near the police. The officers retreat.

But the withdrawal is tactical.

Seconds later, a different set of motorcycle police in body armor roars uphill into the intersection, giving chase. Startled parrots scatter from a tree.

The police screech to a halt. A metal chain blocks the side street, and the masked youth escapes, while an audience inside an upmarket clothing store stays glued to the plate-glass windows. Officers take down the chain, but as soon as they leave two middle-aged men run out

of an office building and stretch it back across the street.

In a month of almost daily street protests, a certain crude choreography between the opposing forces has emerged in this neighborhood that is at ground zero for Venezuela’s worst unrest in more than a decade. Several hundred hard-core young people gather, erect barricades and hurl rocks, bottles and fireworks at police. Officers advance firing tear gas and plastic shotgun pellets to disperse the youths, drawing catcalls from people in apartment high-rises.

Painted on a wall near Altamira Square, where the protesters gather, is a motto from jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez

that they have embraced: “He who tires first, loses.”

The government claims these are all spoiled rich kids. But an informal census suggests hardcore protesters are increasingly from lower-middle-class and poor neighborhoods and are as fed up as anybody with the country’s chronic shortages of staple food items, 56 percent inflation, runaway violent crime and lousy job prospects.

“I can’t go out and protest in my neighborhood,” said Vi Dibrahim Torrealba, a 29-yearold medical student from Catia, a working-class district. Why? Armed pro-government motorcycle gangs won’t allow it, he and others say.

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International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

BUSINESS McDonald’s struggles worsened by snow Associated Press

AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, Pool

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, shakes hands with South Korean President Park Geun-hye during joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. South Korea and Canada reached a free trade agreement Tuesday that the two governments hope will boost exports and investment.

South Korea, Canada reach free trade agreement

Associated Press

NEW YORK — McDonald’s is fighting to hold onto customers in the U.S. and much of the world. The world’s biggest hamburger chain said Monday that sales fell 1.4 percent in February at established U.S. locations. It blamed the harsh winter weather, but conceded that “challenging industry dynamics” also played a role.

After years of outperforming its rivals, McDonald’s has been struggling to boost sales as people flock to new chains that have popped up quickly across the U.S. by positioning themselves as a step up from traditional fast food in terms of quality, for a little extra money. They also offer greater customization, meaning diners can dictate exactly what toppings they want.

Globally, McDonald’s said sales declined 0.3 percent at locations open at least 13 months in February. It warned that its muted performance so far this year could hurt first-quarter profit margins.

In region encompassing the Middle East, Africa and Asia, sales declined 2.6 percent. The company cited weakness in Japan and Australia, as well as a shift in the timing of the Chinese New Year.

Executives at McDonald’s Corp., based in Illinois, acknowledge Americans’ changing demands when it comes to fast food.

“A long time ago, mass appeal had to be mass appeal,” Jeff Stratton, the president of McDonald’s USA, said in an interview with The Associated Press last month. “That’s not necessarily the case anymore today.”

So the company’s restaurants are adapting to a world where McDonald’s traditional strength — consistency — isn’t always enough. For example, McDonald’s is rolling out new prep tables that can hold more toppings and sauces, a sign that it plans to give customers greater variety.

In Southern California, the company is even testing a “build-your-ownburger” concept that lets people use tablets to tap out the bread, cheese and other toppings they want on their burgers. Executives say results are promising so far, but rolling out the offering across its more than 14,000 U.S. locations would require considerable changes to its kitchens.

It would also need the backing of the independent franchisees that own and operate the majority of its restaurants in the U.S. In the meantime, McDonald’s has made other changes to its menu, including the option to get egg whites in breakfast sandwiches, and the addition of chicken McWraps, which are intended to appeal to people who want fresher, healthier food.

Europe was a relative bright spot, with sales up 0.6 percent on a strong performance in the U.K. and growth in France.

McDonald’s has more than 35,000 locations in more than 100 countries.

SEOUL — South Korea and Canada reached a free trade agreement Tuesday that the two governments hope will boost exports and investment.

After more than nine years of negotiations, the two countries said they would remove tariffs on most goods within a decade of the pact taking effect.

Canada agreed to eliminate tariffs on South Korean autos within two years of the deal being ratified. South Korea will reduce tariffs on Canadian beef over 15 years, according to South Korea’s statement.

The deal was announced after South Korean President Park Geun-hye held talks with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Seoul.

It is Canada’s first free trade agreement with an Asian nation. Much of Canada’s trade is with the United States due to a North American free trade area formed in 1994 with the U.S. and Mexico.

South Korea said the deal is expected to boost Hyundai, Kia and other South Korean auto brands in Canada, which is South Korea’s fifth-largest market for exported vehicles.

Last year, South Korean automakers had a combined 12 percent share of the Canadian auto market compared with 34 percent for Japanese brands and 45 percent for American autos.

The deal will also eventually help Canadian farmers and ranchers that compete with the U.S. and Australia to woo consumers in South Korea, a major meat importer. The two countries agreed to phase out tariffs on most meat and agricultural products imported to South Korea. Seoul currently imposes 40 percent tariffs on Canadian beef.

South Korea has opened its

meat market to the U.S. with a free trade agreement that went into effect about two years ago.

The country, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, also signed a free trade deal with Australia, a major meat exporter, last month and is in trade talks with New Zealand.

South Korean farmers and ranchers have been opposed to the pact with Canada since the beginning of the talks in 2005.

But the focus of domestic opposition to free trade has recently been on a possible deal between South Korea and China and South Korea’s steps toward joining a U.S-led pact covering more than a dozen Pacific Rim nations, said Park Hyung-dae, a director at a national union of farmers.

South Korean President Park sees trade as crucial for boosting growth and employment.

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

In this Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, photo, a large order of French Fries and drink are photographed at a McDonald’s restaurant in Robinson Township, Pa. McDonald’s is fighting to hold onto customers in the U.S. and much of the world. The world’s biggest hamburger chain said Monday that sales fell 1.4 percent in February at established U.S. locations.

Bali News

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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Bali becomes target market of US fragrances

Bali Post

MANGUPURA - Aside from being a world tourist destination, the Island of Bali also becomes the marketing target of fragrances from the United States. This sector is potential. Even, the spending for the air freshener is estimated to reach USD 15 billion each year.

One of businessmen in this industry, Andrew Kindfuller, said the fragrance had become an important part in the tourism industry since the past five years. The fragrance industry continued to evolve in harmony with the market continuing to grow. He estimated the market for this industry reached USD 15 billion a year.

“Bali is a potential market.

Moreover, Bali is a tourist destination with many hotels and tourist facilities,” said Andrew Kindfuller

in Nusa Dua. He disclosed the results of research conducted by his company revealed that visitors coming to malls, hotels, restaurants and other supporting tourism facilities assessed the ‘fragrance’ aspects posed the main thing that made a person feel comfortable and interested to come again.

“Fragrance has become an important factor supporting the tourism industry. Since the past five years, people’s orientation has

changed whether they are interested to visit a place or not,” he said.

According to him, the results of research conducted by his company indicated that since 30 years ago people had started to realize if the fragrance posed an important support in their business. In the past, he said, friendliness of reception was considered as a service that could make people come back to visit somewhere. However, today it was not enough. Fragrances were considered to be an important part

that encouraged people to revisit.

“Within 30 years of experience, people are getting more aware of scent in their business, either at hotels, retails, gyms, super markets and restaurants. In the past ten years, they have begun to realize and the industry is growing rapidly,” he said.

He mentioned the perfume touched the most powerful human sense. If there was industry paying no attention to fragrance in their business, it meant they lost sensitivity. In Indonesia, people prefer the pungent fragrance. “Indonesian people prefer a strong scent,” he said.

Today, he said that three-star hotel had started promoting the

matter. “Customer satisfaction needs a precision of fragrance. This industry is new in Indonesia, while in developed countries it has been quite advanced. Bali has a great potential market. Three-star hotels have started to apply it and price no longer becomes an issue. This supporting industry is being developed and can alter one’s mood,” he said.

Ardi Joanda, another practitioner in this industry, said that Indonesia with a population of 250 million posed a huge market. He told that a number of industries and households considered the fragrance an important thing. Although it posed something new, its market continued to grow. (kmb27)

Beji Waringin Pitu

A Wellspring with disease-healing quality IBP

MANGUPURA - Kapal village is one of the traditional villages in Bali which is rich in tradition and cultural uniqueness. The village has a tradition of the ketupat (rice bag) war, makotek and Sada Temple supposedly to be built in 830 AD. Kapal village is also famous for its pottery. The most unique is that the village has Beji Waringin Pitu (springs) where it has many exotic and mystical aspects.

According to the stories of local people, the Beji Waringin Pitu is believed by Hindu society as a holy place for purifying all human miseries. As the ritual means, people must offer pejati oblation and unfleshedyoung coconut (green and ivory coconut), after which they can perform the pelukatan or purificatory rite at the Beji spring.

The Beji spring is hidden in the lush banyan tree and becomes the place of worship of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Ganges. In this temple, Goddess Ganges is called the Goddess Manik Galih when showing off her mystical powers in the healing field. On that account, the Beji spring is famous as a healing spring which is good for health and disease.

The name Beji Waringin Pitu is derived from Balinese word. Beji means bathing place usually located near a source of water and sanctified. Waringin is a banyan tree that lives in the bathing place area. Meanwhile, pitu means seven (Balinese) indicating the amount of the showers. So, the Beji Waringin Pitu is bathing place having 7 sacred showers of spring under the banyan tree.

The seven showers come from the tributary of three springs. The three water sources are unified, so they become a single water source emerging and flowing large amount of water. Interestingly, the seven showers are not the ordinary ones, but a place for performing melukat or purificatory rite for the self and residence.

To preserve the sanctity of the temple, all visitors are expected to pay attention to the rules where those who are in temporarily and spiritually impure or cuntaka are not allowed to enter. This condition includes the death of family members, women in their period and after childbirth. For Balinese Hindus, they will be considered to regain normal condition after getting purificatory rite in accordance with local tradition.

IBP/File Photo

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International

International

Ukraine’s Crimea seeks to become independent state Associated Press Writer

KIEV, Ukraine — The Crimean parliament has voted that the Black Sea peninsula will declare itself an independent state if its residents vote to split off from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum on Sunday.

Crimea’s regional legislature on Tuesday adopted a “declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.”

The document specified that Crimea will become an independent state if its residents vote in favor of joining Russia in the referendum.

Western nations have said they will not recognize the vote as legitimate.

Swedish journalist shot to death in Afghan capital Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Anti-nuclear protesters hold balloons during a rally in front of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Tokyo, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

Japan marks 3rd anniversary of tsunami disasters Associated Press Writer

TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to boost rebuilding efforts as the country marked the third anniversary Tuesday of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead, destroyed coastal communities and triggered a nuclear crisis. Japan has struggled to rebuild towns and villages and to clean up radiation from the meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Reconstruction plans are finally taking shape, but shortages of skilled workers and materials are delaying the work.

The triple disasters known in Japan as 3-11 killed 15,884 people and left 2,636 unaccounted for on its northeastern coast. The country has earmarked 25 trillion yen ($250 billion) for reconstruction through March 2016.

Three years later, nearly 270,000 people remain displaced from their homes, including many from Fukushima prefecture who may never be able to return home due to radioactive contamination.

During a ceremony in Tokyo, officials and representatives of the survivors offered a minute of silence to mark the moment, at 2:46 p.m., when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the To-

hoku coast. It was the strongest quake recorded in Japan’s history.

Abe has visited disaster-hit areas regularly since taking office in late 2012, and said Tuesday he has seen signs of progress. Farming and fishing resumed in some areas, and some people have moved to public housing from shelters, he said, promising to do more.

“We must further speed up the reconstruction so that everyone affected by the disasters can return to ordinary life as soon as possible,” Abe, wearing a dark formal suit, said during the solemn ceremony.

Abe has promised to move hundreds of communities along

that ravaged coast to higher ground to avoid future tsunamis, and build thousands more public housing units within a year in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. In Fukushima, reconstruction has lagged further behind in some areas because of the nuclear disaster. Several towns are still off-limits due to high radiation.

The plant has stabilized substantially, but is still plagued by frequent leaks of radioactive water and other mishaps, triggering concern about whether it’s really under control. The leaks are hampering the plant’s decommissioning, which is expected to take about 40 years.

KABUL, Afghanistan — A Swedish journalist was shot to death while he was talking to a translator Tuesday on a street in Kabul, according to officials and witnesses. Nils Horner, 51, who also had British citizenship, had worked for Swedish Radio SR since 2001 as a foreign correspondent mostly in Asia and the Middle East, including Afghanistan and Baghdad.

The motive was unclear. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied responsibility for the attack, which came two months after a suicide bombing and shooting attack against a Lebanese restaurant that killed 13 foreigners and eight Afghans in the same area.

A guard at a restaurant across the street from the attack said two young men approached the journalist as he was talking to his translator at about 11 a.m. on the side of the road. The area is home to several embassies.

The guard, Mohammad Zubair, said one of the men pulled out a pistol and shot Horner in the head, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood. He said there was a single shot and the bullet then hit a nearby Mercedes Benz, which had a bullet hole. Zubair said he and other guards called to police at a nearby checkpoint and they began an investigation.

Sayed Gul Agha Hashimi, the head of the Kabul Criminal Investigation Department, earlier said two suspects had been arrested, but then clarified that police were questioning the journalist’s driver and translator. Hashimi said the journalist died while being treated at the hospital.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

INDONESIA Mt Slamet’s status President comments on raised to alert level Bank Century bailout case Antara

Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has commented on the Bank Century bailout case for the first time, saying that it is being handled by the anticorruption court but a policy cannot be tried.

President Yudhoyono was quoted by Kompas daily on Tuesday as saying that none of state officials dare to make any policy if it can be tried.

This leading Indonesian newspaper also noted that it was the head of state’s first statement on the bailout of Bank Century (now Bank Mutiara) case after the anti-corruption court tried Budi Mulya, former Bank Indonesia’s deputy governor, as defendant last Thursday.

However, if the policies were wrongly implemented for the sake of vested interests, including personal interest of those in charge, they were subject to criminal law, he said.

President Yudhoyono further said he was in Peru when the decision to bailout the troubled Bank Century was made in November 2008. He

was neither reported nor asked to give his opinion about the decision, he said as quoted by Kompas.

In connection with this Bank Century bailout scandal, Vice President Boediono had repeatedly refused to attend a hearing with the House of Representatives’ (DPR) team supervising the revelation of the case as he did on February 19.

The Vice President’s spokesman Yopie Hidayat had said Boediono’s stance remained unchanged due to the fact that the DPR had completed the political process of the case and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was working on it.

Boediono was summoned by the House’s monitoring team, in his capacity as the former Bank Indonesia governor.

Yopie added that Boediono re-

spected the House and the duties of members of parliament, but he also respected the recommendations of the DPR’s plenary session on its special inquiry into the Bank Century bailout, saying that this case was handled by law enforcers.

According to Sarifuddin Sudding, one of the supervising team members, Boediono’s presence was important to clarify his statement that it was the Insurance Deposit Agency (LPS), which was responsible for giving Bank Century the bailout funds totaling to Rp6.76 trillion.

Sudding argued that the DPR team members were seeking clarification on the statement because the 2004 LPS Law revealed that it was the president who should be held accountable.

AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

JAKARTA - The Indonesian authorities have raised the status of Mount Slamet in Central Java from normal to alert level as of 9 p.m. on Monday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Mount Slamet, which straddles the five districts of Pemalang, Banyumas, Brebes, Tegal, and Purbalingga has shown signs of increased earth tremor activity since March 2, Head of the BNPB Data and Information Center Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated in a short message text on Tuesday.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) recorded a total of 441 gushing earthquakes and nine shallow volcanic earthquakes between March 8 and 10.

“The PVMBG has reported the increased status of the volcano to the BNPB head,” he noted.

Sutopo has requested the local people to remain calm despite the increased activity of the highest volcano in Java.

“No local residents, tourists and climbers are allowed to carry out activities within a 2-km radius of Mount Slamet’s crater,” he emphasized.

Among the steps that must be taken by the local disaster mitigation board are informing the local residents of the volcano’s increased status, assessing the extent of danger, and checking evacuation facilities, he asserted.

Marine tourism to develop at Biak Antara

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center second row, prays amongst others during the funeral procession of Afghanistan’s influential Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

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Indonesian air force crewmen prepare a Boeing 737 “Surveiller” maritime patrol aircraft of the 5th Air Squadron “Black Mermaids” for a search operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that will be conducted over Malacca Straits, at Suwondo air base in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Authorities hunting for the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner expanded their search on land and sea Tuesday, reflecting the difficulties in finding traces of the Boeing 777 more than three days after it vanished with 239 people on board.

JAYAPURA - Newly elected Biak Numfor District Head Yesaya Sumbok is committed to developing marine tourism at the Padaido Islands to make the district a tourist destination in East Indonesia.

“Consisting of 30 small islands, Padaido is a small archipelago with distinct uniqueness and attraction, and therefore we will develop it in order to be a leading tourist destination in Papua,” Yesaya stated on Tuesday.

According to him, the cluster of Padaido islands has beautiful beaches and various types of habitats such as atolls, reef edge, and underwater caves.

“Therefore we are committed to developing the islands to support the local revenue by involving the local people, investors, and environmental observers,” he noted.

Further, the Biak Numfor district head added that he had coordinated with the Yorrys Raweyai Foundation to develop marine tourism potential at Padaido.

“I have discussed the matter with Yorrys and we will follow it up later,” he explained, adding that Padaido Islands is a paradise for both domestic and foreign tourists who like diving or snorkeling.

Padaido, derived from the local language meaning the “inexpressible beauty,” the small archipelago in Biak Numfor in the past was known as Schouter from William Schouter, a Dutch sailor who first discovered the islands in 1602.

According to a study conducted by Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN), Padaido is one of the places that has the greatest biodiversity of coral ecosystems in the world.

There are 95 species of coral and 155 species of fish, such as various types of sharks reef and octopuses as well as numerous other maritime properties.

Padaido Islands has an area of reefs about 9252.1 acres and 328.2 acres for the deep reefs.

Some international divers argue that Padaido’s beach area has the most spectacular coral reefs in the world, and therefore, this marine park is perfect for diving and snorkeling adventures.

10

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Goa Garba

Destinations

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

7

Knicks send 76ers to 17th straight loss Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks defeated Philadelphia 123-110 on Monday to send the 76ers to their 17th straight loss, while the Miami Heat edged the Washington Wizards to clinch an NBA playoff spot. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points for the Knicks, Amare Stoudemire added 23 points, and J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony each had 22 as New York won its fourth game in a row.

Michael Carter-Williams recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, while Tony Wroten also had 23 points for the struggling 76ers. Dwyane Wade scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and LeBron James led all scorers with 23 points and Chris Bosh added 22 for the for the Heat, who ended a three-game losing streak and moved within one game of Indiana in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Bradley Beal scored 18 points, Martell Webster added 17 and Drew Gooden scored 15 for the Wizards. Los Angeles power forward Blake Griffin scored 22 of his 37 points in the first quarter and made 14 of 16 shots before fouling out as the Clippers won their eighth straight game 112-105 over the Phoenix Suns.

Darren Collison scored 20 points and Chris Paul added 17 points and 11 assists for the Pacific Division leaders, who were 55.1 percent from the field and improved to 23-1 when shooting at least 50 percent. Goran Dragic had 23 points and five assists during a foul-plagued 33 minutes for the Suns.

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Al Jefferson scored 26 points and Kemba Walker added 24 as the Bobcats beat the Denver Nuggets 105-98 for their seventh straight home win.

Jefferson made 10 of his first 14 field-goal attempts and also had a game-high 12 rebounds. Walker added seven assists for the Bobcats, who also received a big boost from Gary Neal off the bench. Neal made his first six field-goal tries, including three 3-pointers, and ended up with 19 points. Ty Lawson scored 24 points to lead the Nuggets.

The Milwaukee Bucks downed the Orlando Magic 105-98 after Brandon Knight scored 24 points and sparked Milwaukee’s rousing rally from an 18point deficit with a dunk, while the Brooklyn Nets edged the Toronto Raptors 101-97. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Utah Jazz 112-110.

IBP

GIANYAR - If you are a spiritualist, try to feel the vibration of the magical temple of Goa Garba or Garba Cave.

Aura of the cave is so pronounced. People who aim to meditate and gain knowledge often come to this cave. This Goa Garba ancient relic is located beneath the Pengukur-Ukuran Temple estimated to have been built around the twelfth century AD during the reign of King Jayapangus.

Goa Garba is located at Sawegunung hamlet, Pejeng village, Tampaksiring subdistrict, Gianyar. By car, it is about 50 minutes away or about 34 km from Denpasar. This historic site is now becoming a tourist destination visited by many foreign travelers.

Other than being known as a tourist destination with an abundance of temples, Bali also retains a good few of cave. One of them is Goa Garba posing one of the ancient relics having a great significance. Goa Garba is located beneath the Pengukur-Ukuran Temple. The temple was formerly used as a school for the kings of Bali.

It is situated on a steep cliff, right on the bank of the Pakerisan River. Based on information of local residents, Goa Garba is a hermitage niche carved on the wall of cliff edge of the Pakerisan River. On top of this hermitage lie a number of pools and showers where at pool side sits a hole leading to a cave.

Sports

International

International

IBP/File Photo

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Maria Sharapova, of Russia, serves to Camila Giorgi, of Italy, during a third round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Monday, March 10, 2014, in Indian Wells, Calif.

Nadal and Sharapova out at Indian Wells Associated Press Writer

INDIAN WELLS, California — Defending champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova were upset in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday. First, Sharapova went down to qualifier Camila Giorgi, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, giving the young Italian her first victory over a top-five player. Then, Nadal followed on the main stadium court, losing 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine.

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

New York Knicks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. (5) shoots over Philadelphia 76ers’ Henry Sims (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 10, 2014, in New York.

Nadal staged a furious rally in the third. He won three straight games, including a break of Dolgopolov, to tie it at 5. Both players held serve to send the match into the tiebreaker.

They slugged it out from the baseline accompanied by a noisy soundtrack, with fans yelling and cheering. Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol watched nervously from Nadal’s box. Nadal led 4-2 before Dolgopolov won three straight points to take a 5-4 lead.

The Ukrainian hit two forehand winners and came up with a big service winner.

“I had enough breaks to win the match, but I didn’t play enough well from the baseline then to be solid with my serve,” Nadal said. “I didn’t go for the points. I played with too many mistakes.”

Nadal evened it at 5-all, but he hit the ball long to set up match point. Dolgopolov served what

he thought was an ace, but it was called out. He challenged the call and it showed the ball barely missed tagging the T. Dolgopolov put his second serve into play and produced a cross-court forehand that the world’s top-ranked player couldn’t return.

“It’s a moment for the people to be proud a little bit for someone from their country,” Dolgopolov said, referring to the political upheaval going on between Ukraine and Russia. “It’s good to make some results and make the people forget a little bit and have some happy moments in the news.” Dolgopolov had more errors (49) than winners (36).

Last month, Nadal defeated Dolgopolov to win the Rio de Janeiro title. The Ukrainian has risen quickly in the ATP Tour rankings, going from No. 57 to 31st after a strong February, posting three wins against top-20 players in Rio and made

the semifinals in Acapulco.

Before Nadal was sent packing, Sharapova committed 58 errors in her first loss to a player ranked outside the top 30 since Wimbledon last year.

“She’s someone that doesn’t give you much rhythm,” Sharapova said. “She’s quite aggressive, but some shots she hits incredible for a long period of time. Sometimes they go off a bit. If I’m speaking about my level, it was nowhere near where it should have been.”

Ranked 79th in the world, Giorgi made it through qualifying to play Indian Wells for the first time. She improved to 3-2 against top-10 opponents. The 22-year-old led 4-2 in the final set, but Sharapova broke Giorgi twice to tie it at 5. “I was trying to just play my game, and maybe I accelerate more than the other set,” Giorgi said. “I just play more aggressive.”

8

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

International

Sp rt

Valladolid defeat proves Barcelona only “human”-Nasri

Associated Press Writer

AMSTERDAM — In a severe blow to the Netherlands’ World Cup hopes, midfielder Kevin Strootman looks certain to miss the tournament in Brazil because of a serious knee injury.

AS Roma said Monday that the 24-year-old Strootman will undergo surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and possibly damaging the meniscus in his left knee during

Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Napoli. Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said in a statement he talked to the injured midfielder by phone.

“I can imagine his world is falling apart at the moment,” Van Gaal said, adding that Strootman’s loss “is also a blood-letting for the Netherlands team.” The left-footed midfielder has captained the national side in the past and is widely considered a future fulltime leader for his country. A strong tackler, he is also comfortable bringing

the ball forward in attack.

Strootman has played 25 times for the Dutch national side as a midfield enforcer, scoring three times. He was one of only a handful of players virtually guaranteed a place in Van Gaal’s World Cup squad.

“Kevin played a major role in our qualification for the World Cup in Brazil,” Van Gaal said. The 2010 runners-up have been drawn to play defending champion Spain, Chile and Australia at the World Cup.

The Munich state court was to hear testimony Tuesday from a tax-fraud investigator. A verdict is scheduled Thursday.

Hoeness is charged with evading 3.5 million in taxes, but he admitted to much more Monday, saying he wanted all facts “transparently on the table.”

Hoeness faces punishment ranging from a fine to 10 years in prison if found guilty, and judges could consider his confession a mitigating factor in deciding the sentence.

The 62-year-old, who was part of West Germany’s 1974 World Cupwinning squad, reported himself to authorities last year.

Bayern Munich president back in court

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri felt “hungover” after the team’s shock FA Cup exit but backed his team to bounce back in Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against a Barcelona side which has not been at its best either. Nasri, who scored in City’s 2-1 shock defeat by Wigan Athletic on Sunday, felt the team “woke up after 65 minutes” in the quarter-final and termed it an overall “bad performance”.

Associated Press Writer

MUNICH — Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness is back in court for a second day after his shocking admission as his trial opened that he evaded some 18.5 million euros ($25.7 million) in taxes through an undeclared Swiss bank account.

them this week against Valladolid. It just shows they are human.”

Nasri has twice tasted bitter comprehensive defeats at Barcelona with former club Arsenal, including a 4-1 defeat in 2010.

“It is not a good memory but at the time I thought they were better than they are today. “We played against Messi, who was unplayable. He scored four goals against us. I hope it is not the going to be the same. “Camp Nou is always something special.

It is a special feeling to play there. It is going to be difficult but I know if we play at our level we can do something.”

Nasri said there was no point City sitting back and defending against the La Liga outfit in Wednesday’s game. “Exactly the same way we finished the (Wigan) game. We have nothing to lose,” the French international said of their planned approach.

MADRID — Real Sociedad’s hopes of returning to the Champions League next season took a hit on Monday after it fell 3-2 at home to bottom-of-the-table Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. Sociedad slipped eight points behind fourth-place Athletic Bilbao, which holds the final qualifying place for Europe’s top-tier event. Rayo, meanwhile, is only one point from salvation after Ruben Rochina smashed a rising shot while on the run into goal for the 67th-minute winner.

Sociedad twice took the lead, in the opening instances through Inigo Martinez and then Ruben Pardo after the restart, but on both occasions the visitors equalized within minutes through Joaquin Larrivey and Alberto Bueno, respectively.

Despite Real’s constant pressing over the final 15 minutes, the Basque club couldn’t string together a decent effort on goal as Carlos Vela was guilty of wasting a clear opportunity at the close. “This game has given us life, it could be a fundamental result,” Rayo coach Paco Jemez said.

Rayo has 26 points alongside fellow relegation battlers

Almeria and Valladolid, while Getafe is just one point better.

Elsewhere, 10-man Malaga also enhanced its hopes of surviving the drop after securing a 2-0 win away to Osasuna, which is now just three points clear of relegation.

Samuel Sanchez gave the visitors the lead a quarter of the way in before the visitors were reduced by a player when Jesus Gamez was shown a second yellow card in the 52nd. No matter, as Nordin Amrabat doubled the Andalucians lead in the 66th, Malaga also hung on thanks to stellar goalkeeping by Willy Caballero.

Malaga joined Elche and Osasuna on 29 points with the victory. Real Madrid leads the standings with 67 points, three better than Atletico Madrid. Barcelona is third with 63 points, while Athletic has 51. Getafe fired coach Luis Garcia on Monday, with former player Cosmin Contra taking over the duties.

AP Photo/dpa,Carmen Jaspersen

Leverkusen’s headcoach Sami Hyypia gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hannover 96 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the HDI-Arena in Hannover, Germany, Saturday March 8, 2014.

Last tango in Paris but Leverkusen will fight - coach Reuters

Sociedad’s 4th-place hopes hit by 3-2 loss to Rayo Associated Press Writer

9

Netherlands midfielder Strootman to miss World Cup

Reuters

City, who also lost to Wigan in the FA Cup final in May, have little time to lament, however, as they travel to Spain with the unenviable task of overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

“The big disappointment is that it is twice now that Wigan have beaten us in the FA Cup. It is really difficult to accept,” Nasri was quoted as saying by British media on Monday. “It is like - the FA Cup, they gave it us on a plate and we refused to take it. “At training we are going to think Barcelona and try to think positive and get a result there.” Barcelona suffered a shock 1-0 La Liga defeat at struggling Valladolid on Saturday in one of their worst performances of the season, offering hopes to Manuel Pellegrini’s team.

“I think anything is possible in football,” Nasri said. “I saw

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

AP Photo/Jon Super

Manchester City’s Samir Nasri celebrates after his team’s 3-1 win against Sunderland in the English League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, England, Sunday March 2, 2014.

AP Photo/Michael Dalder, Pool

Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness, left, arrives with his lawyer Hanns W. Feigen, center, for the second day of his trial for tax evasion at the regional court in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

PARIS - Bayer Leverkusen will resist the option of fielding a secondstring team despite taking an almost insurmountable 4-0 deficit to Paris St Germain on Wednesday for their Champions League last-16 second leg. “We cannot just throw this game away because otherwise we can go ahead and send the Under-23 team,” Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia told reporters.

“I am really looking forward to the game and every player should feel the same.” The former Liverpool defender’s team have been struggling since the winter break, a German Cup exit to second division Kaiserslautern last month followed by three straight Bundesliga defeats.

“This is a challenge and we have to put in a good performance. I am a fighter and I hope my team has the same approach,” said Finn Hyypia.

Leverkusen are without midfielder Jens Hegeler who tore ankle ligaments in the 1-1 draw against Hanover 96 on Saturday and is out for the rest of the season.

“As far as the Champions League is concerned we are out,” said keeper Bernd Leno who saved a penalty and was outstanding against Hanover.

“But that does not mean we want to go and get slaughtered in Paris.” PSG have been in rampant form since their first-leg rout, netting nine goals in three Ligue 1 outings.

Laurent Blanc’s side have won their last five matches in all competitions. Led by talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they have scored 16 goals and conceded twice. The Sweden striker already has 38 goals in all competitions this season - more than one-third of PSG’s tally (102).

“We have many alternatives. When one player goes out, another comes in and it’s still the same rhythm, the same quality, and that is what a big team is about,” said Ibrahimovic. PSG will have striker Edinson Cavani back after he spent time in Uruguay dealing with a personal issue. “I hope he will be fit for Wednesday,” said Blanc who may use the game to make some fine-tuning to his team.

The coach is especially keen to get more out of midfielder Marco Verratti. “Marco must be more efficient offensively,” said Blanc.

8

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

International

Sp rt

Valladolid defeat proves Barcelona only “human”-Nasri

Associated Press Writer

AMSTERDAM — In a severe blow to the Netherlands’ World Cup hopes, midfielder Kevin Strootman looks certain to miss the tournament in Brazil because of a serious knee injury.

AS Roma said Monday that the 24-year-old Strootman will undergo surgery after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and possibly damaging the meniscus in his left knee during

Sunday’s 1-0 loss at Napoli. Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said in a statement he talked to the injured midfielder by phone.

“I can imagine his world is falling apart at the moment,” Van Gaal said, adding that Strootman’s loss “is also a blood-letting for the Netherlands team.” The left-footed midfielder has captained the national side in the past and is widely considered a future fulltime leader for his country. A strong tackler, he is also comfortable bringing

the ball forward in attack.

Strootman has played 25 times for the Dutch national side as a midfield enforcer, scoring three times. He was one of only a handful of players virtually guaranteed a place in Van Gaal’s World Cup squad.

“Kevin played a major role in our qualification for the World Cup in Brazil,” Van Gaal said. The 2010 runners-up have been drawn to play defending champion Spain, Chile and Australia at the World Cup.

The Munich state court was to hear testimony Tuesday from a tax-fraud investigator. A verdict is scheduled Thursday.

Hoeness is charged with evading 3.5 million in taxes, but he admitted to much more Monday, saying he wanted all facts “transparently on the table.”

Hoeness faces punishment ranging from a fine to 10 years in prison if found guilty, and judges could consider his confession a mitigating factor in deciding the sentence.

The 62-year-old, who was part of West Germany’s 1974 World Cupwinning squad, reported himself to authorities last year.

Bayern Munich president back in court

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri felt “hungover” after the team’s shock FA Cup exit but backed his team to bounce back in Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against a Barcelona side which has not been at its best either. Nasri, who scored in City’s 2-1 shock defeat by Wigan Athletic on Sunday, felt the team “woke up after 65 minutes” in the quarter-final and termed it an overall “bad performance”.

Associated Press Writer

MUNICH — Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness is back in court for a second day after his shocking admission as his trial opened that he evaded some 18.5 million euros ($25.7 million) in taxes through an undeclared Swiss bank account.

them this week against Valladolid. It just shows they are human.”

Nasri has twice tasted bitter comprehensive defeats at Barcelona with former club Arsenal, including a 4-1 defeat in 2010.

“It is not a good memory but at the time I thought they were better than they are today. “We played against Messi, who was unplayable. He scored four goals against us. I hope it is not the going to be the same. “Camp Nou is always something special.

It is a special feeling to play there. It is going to be difficult but I know if we play at our level we can do something.”

Nasri said there was no point City sitting back and defending against the La Liga outfit in Wednesday’s game. “Exactly the same way we finished the (Wigan) game. We have nothing to lose,” the French international said of their planned approach.

MADRID — Real Sociedad’s hopes of returning to the Champions League next season took a hit on Monday after it fell 3-2 at home to bottom-of-the-table Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league. Sociedad slipped eight points behind fourth-place Athletic Bilbao, which holds the final qualifying place for Europe’s top-tier event. Rayo, meanwhile, is only one point from salvation after Ruben Rochina smashed a rising shot while on the run into goal for the 67th-minute winner.

Sociedad twice took the lead, in the opening instances through Inigo Martinez and then Ruben Pardo after the restart, but on both occasions the visitors equalized within minutes through Joaquin Larrivey and Alberto Bueno, respectively.

Despite Real’s constant pressing over the final 15 minutes, the Basque club couldn’t string together a decent effort on goal as Carlos Vela was guilty of wasting a clear opportunity at the close. “This game has given us life, it could be a fundamental result,” Rayo coach Paco Jemez said.

Rayo has 26 points alongside fellow relegation battlers

Almeria and Valladolid, while Getafe is just one point better.

Elsewhere, 10-man Malaga also enhanced its hopes of surviving the drop after securing a 2-0 win away to Osasuna, which is now just three points clear of relegation.

Samuel Sanchez gave the visitors the lead a quarter of the way in before the visitors were reduced by a player when Jesus Gamez was shown a second yellow card in the 52nd. No matter, as Nordin Amrabat doubled the Andalucians lead in the 66th, Malaga also hung on thanks to stellar goalkeeping by Willy Caballero.

Malaga joined Elche and Osasuna on 29 points with the victory. Real Madrid leads the standings with 67 points, three better than Atletico Madrid. Barcelona is third with 63 points, while Athletic has 51. Getafe fired coach Luis Garcia on Monday, with former player Cosmin Contra taking over the duties.

AP Photo/dpa,Carmen Jaspersen

Leverkusen’s headcoach Sami Hyypia gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Hannover 96 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the HDI-Arena in Hannover, Germany, Saturday March 8, 2014.

Last tango in Paris but Leverkusen will fight - coach Reuters

Sociedad’s 4th-place hopes hit by 3-2 loss to Rayo Associated Press Writer

9

Netherlands midfielder Strootman to miss World Cup

Reuters

City, who also lost to Wigan in the FA Cup final in May, have little time to lament, however, as they travel to Spain with the unenviable task of overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

“The big disappointment is that it is twice now that Wigan have beaten us in the FA Cup. It is really difficult to accept,” Nasri was quoted as saying by British media on Monday. “It is like - the FA Cup, they gave it us on a plate and we refused to take it. “At training we are going to think Barcelona and try to think positive and get a result there.” Barcelona suffered a shock 1-0 La Liga defeat at struggling Valladolid on Saturday in one of their worst performances of the season, offering hopes to Manuel Pellegrini’s team.

“I think anything is possible in football,” Nasri said. “I saw

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

AP Photo/Jon Super

Manchester City’s Samir Nasri celebrates after his team’s 3-1 win against Sunderland in the English League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, England, Sunday March 2, 2014.

AP Photo/Michael Dalder, Pool

Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness, left, arrives with his lawyer Hanns W. Feigen, center, for the second day of his trial for tax evasion at the regional court in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

PARIS - Bayer Leverkusen will resist the option of fielding a secondstring team despite taking an almost insurmountable 4-0 deficit to Paris St Germain on Wednesday for their Champions League last-16 second leg. “We cannot just throw this game away because otherwise we can go ahead and send the Under-23 team,” Leverkusen coach Sami Hyypia told reporters.

“I am really looking forward to the game and every player should feel the same.” The former Liverpool defender’s team have been struggling since the winter break, a German Cup exit to second division Kaiserslautern last month followed by three straight Bundesliga defeats.

“This is a challenge and we have to put in a good performance. I am a fighter and I hope my team has the same approach,” said Finn Hyypia.

Leverkusen are without midfielder Jens Hegeler who tore ankle ligaments in the 1-1 draw against Hanover 96 on Saturday and is out for the rest of the season.

“As far as the Champions League is concerned we are out,” said keeper Bernd Leno who saved a penalty and was outstanding against Hanover.

“But that does not mean we want to go and get slaughtered in Paris.” PSG have been in rampant form since their first-leg rout, netting nine goals in three Ligue 1 outings.

Laurent Blanc’s side have won their last five matches in all competitions. Led by talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they have scored 16 goals and conceded twice. The Sweden striker already has 38 goals in all competitions this season - more than one-third of PSG’s tally (102).

“We have many alternatives. When one player goes out, another comes in and it’s still the same rhythm, the same quality, and that is what a big team is about,” said Ibrahimovic. PSG will have striker Edinson Cavani back after he spent time in Uruguay dealing with a personal issue. “I hope he will be fit for Wednesday,” said Blanc who may use the game to make some fine-tuning to his team.

The coach is especially keen to get more out of midfielder Marco Verratti. “Marco must be more efficient offensively,” said Blanc.

10

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Goa Garba

Destinations

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

7

Knicks send 76ers to 17th straight loss Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — The New York Knicks defeated Philadelphia 123-110 on Monday to send the 76ers to their 17th straight loss, while the Miami Heat edged the Washington Wizards to clinch an NBA playoff spot. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points for the Knicks, Amare Stoudemire added 23 points, and J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony each had 22 as New York won its fourth game in a row.

Michael Carter-Williams recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, while Tony Wroten also had 23 points for the struggling 76ers. Dwyane Wade scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter and LeBron James led all scorers with 23 points and Chris Bosh added 22 for the for the Heat, who ended a three-game losing streak and moved within one game of Indiana in the race for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Bradley Beal scored 18 points, Martell Webster added 17 and Drew Gooden scored 15 for the Wizards. Los Angeles power forward Blake Griffin scored 22 of his 37 points in the first quarter and made 14 of 16 shots before fouling out as the Clippers won their eighth straight game 112-105 over the Phoenix Suns.

Darren Collison scored 20 points and Chris Paul added 17 points and 11 assists for the Pacific Division leaders, who were 55.1 percent from the field and improved to 23-1 when shooting at least 50 percent. Goran Dragic had 23 points and five assists during a foul-plagued 33 minutes for the Suns.

At Charlotte, North Carolina, Al Jefferson scored 26 points and Kemba Walker added 24 as the Bobcats beat the Denver Nuggets 105-98 for their seventh straight home win.

Jefferson made 10 of his first 14 field-goal attempts and also had a game-high 12 rebounds. Walker added seven assists for the Bobcats, who also received a big boost from Gary Neal off the bench. Neal made his first six field-goal tries, including three 3-pointers, and ended up with 19 points. Ty Lawson scored 24 points to lead the Nuggets.

The Milwaukee Bucks downed the Orlando Magic 105-98 after Brandon Knight scored 24 points and sparked Milwaukee’s rousing rally from an 18point deficit with a dunk, while the Brooklyn Nets edged the Toronto Raptors 101-97. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Utah Jazz 112-110.

IBP

GIANYAR - If you are a spiritualist, try to feel the vibration of the magical temple of Goa Garba or Garba Cave.

Aura of the cave is so pronounced. People who aim to meditate and gain knowledge often come to this cave. This Goa Garba ancient relic is located beneath the Pengukur-Ukuran Temple estimated to have been built around the twelfth century AD during the reign of King Jayapangus.

Goa Garba is located at Sawegunung hamlet, Pejeng village, Tampaksiring subdistrict, Gianyar. By car, it is about 50 minutes away or about 34 km from Denpasar. This historic site is now becoming a tourist destination visited by many foreign travelers.

Other than being known as a tourist destination with an abundance of temples, Bali also retains a good few of cave. One of them is Goa Garba posing one of the ancient relics having a great significance. Goa Garba is located beneath the Pengukur-Ukuran Temple. The temple was formerly used as a school for the kings of Bali.

It is situated on a steep cliff, right on the bank of the Pakerisan River. Based on information of local residents, Goa Garba is a hermitage niche carved on the wall of cliff edge of the Pakerisan River. On top of this hermitage lie a number of pools and showers where at pool side sits a hole leading to a cave.

Sports

International

International

IBP/File Photo

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Maria Sharapova, of Russia, serves to Camila Giorgi, of Italy, during a third round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Monday, March 10, 2014, in Indian Wells, Calif.

Nadal and Sharapova out at Indian Wells Associated Press Writer

INDIAN WELLS, California — Defending champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova were upset in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday. First, Sharapova went down to qualifier Camila Giorgi, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, giving the young Italian her first victory over a top-five player. Then, Nadal followed on the main stadium court, losing 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) to Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine.

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

New York Knicks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. (5) shoots over Philadelphia 76ers’ Henry Sims (35) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, March 10, 2014, in New York.

Nadal staged a furious rally in the third. He won three straight games, including a break of Dolgopolov, to tie it at 5. Both players held serve to send the match into the tiebreaker.

They slugged it out from the baseline accompanied by a noisy soundtrack, with fans yelling and cheering. Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol watched nervously from Nadal’s box. Nadal led 4-2 before Dolgopolov won three straight points to take a 5-4 lead.

The Ukrainian hit two forehand winners and came up with a big service winner.

“I had enough breaks to win the match, but I didn’t play enough well from the baseline then to be solid with my serve,” Nadal said. “I didn’t go for the points. I played with too many mistakes.”

Nadal evened it at 5-all, but he hit the ball long to set up match point. Dolgopolov served what

he thought was an ace, but it was called out. He challenged the call and it showed the ball barely missed tagging the T. Dolgopolov put his second serve into play and produced a cross-court forehand that the world’s top-ranked player couldn’t return.

“It’s a moment for the people to be proud a little bit for someone from their country,” Dolgopolov said, referring to the political upheaval going on between Ukraine and Russia. “It’s good to make some results and make the people forget a little bit and have some happy moments in the news.” Dolgopolov had more errors (49) than winners (36).

Last month, Nadal defeated Dolgopolov to win the Rio de Janeiro title. The Ukrainian has risen quickly in the ATP Tour rankings, going from No. 57 to 31st after a strong February, posting three wins against top-20 players in Rio and made

the semifinals in Acapulco.

Before Nadal was sent packing, Sharapova committed 58 errors in her first loss to a player ranked outside the top 30 since Wimbledon last year.

“She’s someone that doesn’t give you much rhythm,” Sharapova said. “She’s quite aggressive, but some shots she hits incredible for a long period of time. Sometimes they go off a bit. If I’m speaking about my level, it was nowhere near where it should have been.”

Ranked 79th in the world, Giorgi made it through qualifying to play Indian Wells for the first time. She improved to 3-2 against top-10 opponents. The 22-year-old led 4-2 in the final set, but Sharapova broke Giorgi twice to tie it at 5. “I was trying to just play my game, and maybe I accelerate more than the other set,” Giorgi said. “I just play more aggressive.”

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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International

International

Ukraine’s Crimea seeks to become independent state Associated Press Writer

KIEV, Ukraine — The Crimean parliament has voted that the Black Sea peninsula will declare itself an independent state if its residents vote to split off from Ukraine and join Russia in a referendum on Sunday.

Crimea’s regional legislature on Tuesday adopted a “declaration of independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.”

The document specified that Crimea will become an independent state if its residents vote in favor of joining Russia in the referendum.

Western nations have said they will not recognize the vote as legitimate.

Swedish journalist shot to death in Afghan capital Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Anti-nuclear protesters hold balloons during a rally in front of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in Tokyo, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

Japan marks 3rd anniversary of tsunami disasters Associated Press Writer

TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to boost rebuilding efforts as the country marked the third anniversary Tuesday of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead, destroyed coastal communities and triggered a nuclear crisis. Japan has struggled to rebuild towns and villages and to clean up radiation from the meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. Reconstruction plans are finally taking shape, but shortages of skilled workers and materials are delaying the work.

The triple disasters known in Japan as 3-11 killed 15,884 people and left 2,636 unaccounted for on its northeastern coast. The country has earmarked 25 trillion yen ($250 billion) for reconstruction through March 2016.

Three years later, nearly 270,000 people remain displaced from their homes, including many from Fukushima prefecture who may never be able to return home due to radioactive contamination.

During a ceremony in Tokyo, officials and representatives of the survivors offered a minute of silence to mark the moment, at 2:46 p.m., when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the To-

hoku coast. It was the strongest quake recorded in Japan’s history.

Abe has visited disaster-hit areas regularly since taking office in late 2012, and said Tuesday he has seen signs of progress. Farming and fishing resumed in some areas, and some people have moved to public housing from shelters, he said, promising to do more.

“We must further speed up the reconstruction so that everyone affected by the disasters can return to ordinary life as soon as possible,” Abe, wearing a dark formal suit, said during the solemn ceremony.

Abe has promised to move hundreds of communities along

that ravaged coast to higher ground to avoid future tsunamis, and build thousands more public housing units within a year in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. In Fukushima, reconstruction has lagged further behind in some areas because of the nuclear disaster. Several towns are still off-limits due to high radiation.

The plant has stabilized substantially, but is still plagued by frequent leaks of radioactive water and other mishaps, triggering concern about whether it’s really under control. The leaks are hampering the plant’s decommissioning, which is expected to take about 40 years.

KABUL, Afghanistan — A Swedish journalist was shot to death while he was talking to a translator Tuesday on a street in Kabul, according to officials and witnesses. Nils Horner, 51, who also had British citizenship, had worked for Swedish Radio SR since 2001 as a foreign correspondent mostly in Asia and the Middle East, including Afghanistan and Baghdad.

The motive was unclear. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied responsibility for the attack, which came two months after a suicide bombing and shooting attack against a Lebanese restaurant that killed 13 foreigners and eight Afghans in the same area.

A guard at a restaurant across the street from the attack said two young men approached the journalist as he was talking to his translator at about 11 a.m. on the side of the road. The area is home to several embassies.

The guard, Mohammad Zubair, said one of the men pulled out a pistol and shot Horner in the head, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood. He said there was a single shot and the bullet then hit a nearby Mercedes Benz, which had a bullet hole. Zubair said he and other guards called to police at a nearby checkpoint and they began an investigation.

Sayed Gul Agha Hashimi, the head of the Kabul Criminal Investigation Department, earlier said two suspects had been arrested, but then clarified that police were questioning the journalist’s driver and translator. Hashimi said the journalist died while being treated at the hospital.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

INDONESIA Mt Slamet’s status President comments on raised to alert level Bank Century bailout case Antara

Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has commented on the Bank Century bailout case for the first time, saying that it is being handled by the anticorruption court but a policy cannot be tried.

President Yudhoyono was quoted by Kompas daily on Tuesday as saying that none of state officials dare to make any policy if it can be tried.

This leading Indonesian newspaper also noted that it was the head of state’s first statement on the bailout of Bank Century (now Bank Mutiara) case after the anti-corruption court tried Budi Mulya, former Bank Indonesia’s deputy governor, as defendant last Thursday.

However, if the policies were wrongly implemented for the sake of vested interests, including personal interest of those in charge, they were subject to criminal law, he said.

President Yudhoyono further said he was in Peru when the decision to bailout the troubled Bank Century was made in November 2008. He

was neither reported nor asked to give his opinion about the decision, he said as quoted by Kompas.

In connection with this Bank Century bailout scandal, Vice President Boediono had repeatedly refused to attend a hearing with the House of Representatives’ (DPR) team supervising the revelation of the case as he did on February 19.

The Vice President’s spokesman Yopie Hidayat had said Boediono’s stance remained unchanged due to the fact that the DPR had completed the political process of the case and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was working on it.

Boediono was summoned by the House’s monitoring team, in his capacity as the former Bank Indonesia governor.

Yopie added that Boediono re-

spected the House and the duties of members of parliament, but he also respected the recommendations of the DPR’s plenary session on its special inquiry into the Bank Century bailout, saying that this case was handled by law enforcers.

According to Sarifuddin Sudding, one of the supervising team members, Boediono’s presence was important to clarify his statement that it was the Insurance Deposit Agency (LPS), which was responsible for giving Bank Century the bailout funds totaling to Rp6.76 trillion.

Sudding argued that the DPR team members were seeking clarification on the statement because the 2004 LPS Law revealed that it was the president who should be held accountable.

AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

JAKARTA - The Indonesian authorities have raised the status of Mount Slamet in Central Java from normal to alert level as of 9 p.m. on Monday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Mount Slamet, which straddles the five districts of Pemalang, Banyumas, Brebes, Tegal, and Purbalingga has shown signs of increased earth tremor activity since March 2, Head of the BNPB Data and Information Center Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated in a short message text on Tuesday.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) recorded a total of 441 gushing earthquakes and nine shallow volcanic earthquakes between March 8 and 10.

“The PVMBG has reported the increased status of the volcano to the BNPB head,” he noted.

Sutopo has requested the local people to remain calm despite the increased activity of the highest volcano in Java.

“No local residents, tourists and climbers are allowed to carry out activities within a 2-km radius of Mount Slamet’s crater,” he emphasized.

Among the steps that must be taken by the local disaster mitigation board are informing the local residents of the volcano’s increased status, assessing the extent of danger, and checking evacuation facilities, he asserted.

Marine tourism to develop at Biak Antara

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center second row, prays amongst others during the funeral procession of Afghanistan’s influential Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, March 11, 2014.

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Indonesian air force crewmen prepare a Boeing 737 “Surveiller” maritime patrol aircraft of the 5th Air Squadron “Black Mermaids” for a search operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 that will be conducted over Malacca Straits, at Suwondo air base in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Authorities hunting for the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner expanded their search on land and sea Tuesday, reflecting the difficulties in finding traces of the Boeing 777 more than three days after it vanished with 239 people on board.

JAYAPURA - Newly elected Biak Numfor District Head Yesaya Sumbok is committed to developing marine tourism at the Padaido Islands to make the district a tourist destination in East Indonesia.

“Consisting of 30 small islands, Padaido is a small archipelago with distinct uniqueness and attraction, and therefore we will develop it in order to be a leading tourist destination in Papua,” Yesaya stated on Tuesday.

According to him, the cluster of Padaido islands has beautiful beaches and various types of habitats such as atolls, reef edge, and underwater caves.

“Therefore we are committed to developing the islands to support the local revenue by involving the local people, investors, and environmental observers,” he noted.

Further, the Biak Numfor district head added that he had coordinated with the Yorrys Raweyai Foundation to develop marine tourism potential at Padaido.

“I have discussed the matter with Yorrys and we will follow it up later,” he explained, adding that Padaido Islands is a paradise for both domestic and foreign tourists who like diving or snorkeling.

Padaido, derived from the local language meaning the “inexpressible beauty,” the small archipelago in Biak Numfor in the past was known as Schouter from William Schouter, a Dutch sailor who first discovered the islands in 1602.

According to a study conducted by Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN), Padaido is one of the places that has the greatest biodiversity of coral ecosystems in the world.

There are 95 species of coral and 155 species of fish, such as various types of sharks reef and octopuses as well as numerous other maritime properties.

Padaido Islands has an area of reefs about 9252.1 acres and 328.2 acres for the deep reefs.

Some international divers argue that Padaido’s beach area has the most spectacular coral reefs in the world, and therefore, this marine park is perfect for diving and snorkeling adventures.

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International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

BUSINESS McDonald’s struggles worsened by snow Associated Press

AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, Pool

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, shakes hands with South Korean President Park Geun-hye during joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, March 11, 2014. South Korea and Canada reached a free trade agreement Tuesday that the two governments hope will boost exports and investment.

South Korea, Canada reach free trade agreement

Associated Press

NEW YORK — McDonald’s is fighting to hold onto customers in the U.S. and much of the world. The world’s biggest hamburger chain said Monday that sales fell 1.4 percent in February at established U.S. locations. It blamed the harsh winter weather, but conceded that “challenging industry dynamics” also played a role.

After years of outperforming its rivals, McDonald’s has been struggling to boost sales as people flock to new chains that have popped up quickly across the U.S. by positioning themselves as a step up from traditional fast food in terms of quality, for a little extra money. They also offer greater customization, meaning diners can dictate exactly what toppings they want.

Globally, McDonald’s said sales declined 0.3 percent at locations open at least 13 months in February. It warned that its muted performance so far this year could hurt first-quarter profit margins.

In region encompassing the Middle East, Africa and Asia, sales declined 2.6 percent. The company cited weakness in Japan and Australia, as well as a shift in the timing of the Chinese New Year.

Executives at McDonald’s Corp., based in Illinois, acknowledge Americans’ changing demands when it comes to fast food.

“A long time ago, mass appeal had to be mass appeal,” Jeff Stratton, the president of McDonald’s USA, said in an interview with The Associated Press last month. “That’s not necessarily the case anymore today.”

So the company’s restaurants are adapting to a world where McDonald’s traditional strength — consistency — isn’t always enough. For example, McDonald’s is rolling out new prep tables that can hold more toppings and sauces, a sign that it plans to give customers greater variety.

In Southern California, the company is even testing a “build-your-ownburger” concept that lets people use tablets to tap out the bread, cheese and other toppings they want on their burgers. Executives say results are promising so far, but rolling out the offering across its more than 14,000 U.S. locations would require considerable changes to its kitchens.

It would also need the backing of the independent franchisees that own and operate the majority of its restaurants in the U.S. In the meantime, McDonald’s has made other changes to its menu, including the option to get egg whites in breakfast sandwiches, and the addition of chicken McWraps, which are intended to appeal to people who want fresher, healthier food.

Europe was a relative bright spot, with sales up 0.6 percent on a strong performance in the U.K. and growth in France.

McDonald’s has more than 35,000 locations in more than 100 countries.

SEOUL — South Korea and Canada reached a free trade agreement Tuesday that the two governments hope will boost exports and investment.

After more than nine years of negotiations, the two countries said they would remove tariffs on most goods within a decade of the pact taking effect.

Canada agreed to eliminate tariffs on South Korean autos within two years of the deal being ratified. South Korea will reduce tariffs on Canadian beef over 15 years, according to South Korea’s statement.

The deal was announced after South Korean President Park Geun-hye held talks with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Seoul.

It is Canada’s first free trade agreement with an Asian nation. Much of Canada’s trade is with the United States due to a North American free trade area formed in 1994 with the U.S. and Mexico.

South Korea said the deal is expected to boost Hyundai, Kia and other South Korean auto brands in Canada, which is South Korea’s fifth-largest market for exported vehicles.

Last year, South Korean automakers had a combined 12 percent share of the Canadian auto market compared with 34 percent for Japanese brands and 45 percent for American autos.

The deal will also eventually help Canadian farmers and ranchers that compete with the U.S. and Australia to woo consumers in South Korea, a major meat importer. The two countries agreed to phase out tariffs on most meat and agricultural products imported to South Korea. Seoul currently imposes 40 percent tariffs on Canadian beef.

South Korea has opened its

meat market to the U.S. with a free trade agreement that went into effect about two years ago.

The country, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, also signed a free trade deal with Australia, a major meat exporter, last month and is in trade talks with New Zealand.

South Korean farmers and ranchers have been opposed to the pact with Canada since the beginning of the talks in 2005.

But the focus of domestic opposition to free trade has recently been on a possible deal between South Korea and China and South Korea’s steps toward joining a U.S-led pact covering more than a dozen Pacific Rim nations, said Park Hyung-dae, a director at a national union of farmers.

South Korean President Park sees trade as crucial for boosting growth and employment.

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

In this Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, photo, a large order of French Fries and drink are photographed at a McDonald’s restaurant in Robinson Township, Pa. McDonald’s is fighting to hold onto customers in the U.S. and much of the world. The world’s biggest hamburger chain said Monday that sales fell 1.4 percent in February at established U.S. locations.

Bali News

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

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Bali becomes target market of US fragrances

Bali Post

MANGUPURA - Aside from being a world tourist destination, the Island of Bali also becomes the marketing target of fragrances from the United States. This sector is potential. Even, the spending for the air freshener is estimated to reach USD 15 billion each year.

One of businessmen in this industry, Andrew Kindfuller, said the fragrance had become an important part in the tourism industry since the past five years. The fragrance industry continued to evolve in harmony with the market continuing to grow. He estimated the market for this industry reached USD 15 billion a year.

“Bali is a potential market.

Moreover, Bali is a tourist destination with many hotels and tourist facilities,” said Andrew Kindfuller

in Nusa Dua. He disclosed the results of research conducted by his company revealed that visitors coming to malls, hotels, restaurants and other supporting tourism facilities assessed the ‘fragrance’ aspects posed the main thing that made a person feel comfortable and interested to come again.

“Fragrance has become an important factor supporting the tourism industry. Since the past five years, people’s orientation has

changed whether they are interested to visit a place or not,” he said.

According to him, the results of research conducted by his company indicated that since 30 years ago people had started to realize if the fragrance posed an important support in their business. In the past, he said, friendliness of reception was considered as a service that could make people come back to visit somewhere. However, today it was not enough. Fragrances were considered to be an important part

that encouraged people to revisit.

“Within 30 years of experience, people are getting more aware of scent in their business, either at hotels, retails, gyms, super markets and restaurants. In the past ten years, they have begun to realize and the industry is growing rapidly,” he said.

He mentioned the perfume touched the most powerful human sense. If there was industry paying no attention to fragrance in their business, it meant they lost sensitivity. In Indonesia, people prefer the pungent fragrance. “Indonesian people prefer a strong scent,” he said.

Today, he said that three-star hotel had started promoting the

matter. “Customer satisfaction needs a precision of fragrance. This industry is new in Indonesia, while in developed countries it has been quite advanced. Bali has a great potential market. Three-star hotels have started to apply it and price no longer becomes an issue. This supporting industry is being developed and can alter one’s mood,” he said.

Ardi Joanda, another practitioner in this industry, said that Indonesia with a population of 250 million posed a huge market. He told that a number of industries and households considered the fragrance an important thing. Although it posed something new, its market continued to grow. (kmb27)

Beji Waringin Pitu

A Wellspring with disease-healing quality IBP

MANGUPURA - Kapal village is one of the traditional villages in Bali which is rich in tradition and cultural uniqueness. The village has a tradition of the ketupat (rice bag) war, makotek and Sada Temple supposedly to be built in 830 AD. Kapal village is also famous for its pottery. The most unique is that the village has Beji Waringin Pitu (springs) where it has many exotic and mystical aspects.

According to the stories of local people, the Beji Waringin Pitu is believed by Hindu society as a holy place for purifying all human miseries. As the ritual means, people must offer pejati oblation and unfleshedyoung coconut (green and ivory coconut), after which they can perform the pelukatan or purificatory rite at the Beji spring.

The Beji spring is hidden in the lush banyan tree and becomes the place of worship of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Ganges. In this temple, Goddess Ganges is called the Goddess Manik Galih when showing off her mystical powers in the healing field. On that account, the Beji spring is famous as a healing spring which is good for health and disease.

The name Beji Waringin Pitu is derived from Balinese word. Beji means bathing place usually located near a source of water and sanctified. Waringin is a banyan tree that lives in the bathing place area. Meanwhile, pitu means seven (Balinese) indicating the amount of the showers. So, the Beji Waringin Pitu is bathing place having 7 sacred showers of spring under the banyan tree.

The seven showers come from the tributary of three springs. The three water sources are unified, so they become a single water source emerging and flowing large amount of water. Interestingly, the seven showers are not the ordinary ones, but a place for performing melukat or purificatory rite for the self and residence.

To preserve the sanctity of the temple, all visitors are expected to pay attention to the rules where those who are in temporarily and spiritually impure or cuntaka are not allowed to enter. This condition includes the death of family members, women in their period and after childbirth. For Balinese Hindus, they will be considered to regain normal condition after getting purificatory rite in accordance with local tradition.

IBP/File Photo

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Bali News

International

Buleleng Electoral Commission promotes election through fun walk Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Ahead of the implementation of the legislative election on April 9, 2014, various readinesses are more intensively carried out by the Buleleng Electoral Commission (KPU). One of them was socialization through fun walk by involving the community of Buleleng, so by the voting day various parties would not be abstention. The activity was officially opened by the Regent of Buleleng Putu Agus Suradnyana, Chairman of the Buleleng Electoral Commission Gede Suardana and related regional working units (SKPD). Hundreds of participants walked on the specified route starting from Singaraja Town Square and then surrounded some roads such as Jalan Ngurah Rai to Jalan Udayana, Sunday (Mar 9).

According to Suardana, the activity was conducted as a socialization effort of the Buleleng Electoral Commission in relation to the legislative election on April 9 to general public. “The fun walk for honest and fair election aims at promoting the legislative election on April 9, so that people can flock to the polls to determine their choice of candidates,” he said.

The target of the voters wanted to be achieved was approximately 78 percent of the total voters in Buleleng County. “Of all the electoral implementations, they tend to show off a decline in the number of voters every electoral event. Since the year 1999 up to the Bali gubernatorial election in 2013, there was a decrease from 91 percent to 61 percent. We expect people to know about the voting date, procedures of voting, and choose the candidate intelligently and able to change the fate of the nation in the future,” said Suardana. (dgk)

Tens of thousands of seaman certificate forms finally printed

Bali Post

The damage road in Pradi hamlet, Songan village, Bangli.

IBP/File

Never gets repairs

Pradi residents complain about collapsed road Bali Post

BANGLI - Residents of Pradi hamlet, Songan village, complained again about the collapsed road condition that has never got any repairs from the government. It has been more than two months the condition of road having partially eroded is still gaping. Residents worry if the breakdown will get worse and can endanger road users.

All this time, the collapsed road is the only road access used by local residents to their Kayu Selem clan (kawitan) temple. In addition to the economic activity, the road was also taken advantage by students of elementary and junior high school.

One of the local residents, Gede Seridana, said that after the collapse as flushed by rain a few months ago the condition of road in the region was often complained by residents. Many roadsides were eroded until leaving a small portion of the road body. Other than

almost disconnecting, condition of the road from the upper area to the village border had also been destroyed. “The collapsed road has been long lasting since the rain few months ago. But until now, it has never got any repair. Indeed, some time ago it was already checked by Public Works but there is no repair so far,” said Seridana.

According to him, because of the damage to the road, the access of public transportation was then very much disturbed. Even, the road was very hazardous to be passed through at night. Other than having

no lighting around the road, near the broken road was only bordered with piles of sober stone by residents.

“So, when motorcyclists want to pass they must take the space at the road periphery,” he said. Residents expected the government to immediately intervene and repair the breakdown road so the damage would not get worse. “We really hope the government can fix it immediately. Otherwise, it will make the safety of road users in danger because the road condition is now very alarming and hazardous to pass,” he hoped. (ina)

DENPASAR - To anticipate against the repatriation of seamen from Bali, the Head of the Bali Indostar Wisata International (BIWI) Marine Training Center, Ida Bagus Putu Astina, met the Directorate General of Shipping and Seamanship, Ministry of Transportation, Friday (Mar 7). From the meeting, it was revealed that since early March 2014 the seaman certificate form had been printed of some 25,000 pieces and distributed equally throughout Indonesia.

According to Astina last Sunday (Mar 9), the distribution of forms was given priority to the seamen in emergency that would soon depart.

In addition, the forms were also printed by government-owned company and not the private one as before.

“Other than serving as the Head of the BIWI Marine Training Center, I also made audience with the Directorate General in the capacity as a candidate of the Regional Representative Council (DPD-RI) carrying and promoting the aspirations of Balinese labor. Moreover, the labor from Singaraja should go home on April 9 from the Thomson Cruise Line due to crowd and management crisis document could not be issued,” said Astina.

Astina added that his party was received by the Director of Shipping and Maritime Affairs and the Subdivision Head of Seamanship. They admitted to deeply acknowledge and be concerned about the problems afflicting the Indonesian seamen. Moreover, some had been repatriated.

Inhibition of the certificate form printing since July 2013 was caused by legal issues. In addition, it was also caused by the distribution of fake documents due to fraudulence committed by IT hackers. Such an action was very harmful to the quality of seamen because they set out without going through a job training on board.

“I cannot keep silent on seeing this condition. I’m trying to find a solution in order the labor from Bali can immediately set out to reduce the number of unemployment,” he said.

According to this former cruise ship worker from Tabanan, the result of meeting mentioned that those whose job letter had been issued would be prioritized and taken to the training institution where they searched for documents. Furthermore, the training institution would inform it to the Subdivision Head of Maritime Affairs.

Meanwhile, the seaman who would be repatriated on April 9, considering the presence of interference and the internet access did not work, the Director of Shipping and Seamanship asked the Subdivision Head of Seamanship to issue a crowd and crisis management document as a stopgap so the migrant workers from Singaraja could continue to work on the cruise ship. It was made to avoid the adverse impact on the users overseas. “The document could be accounted for,” he said. (rah)

International

New Zealanders to vote on changing national flag

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Associated Press Writer

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealanders will soon get to vote on whether to change their national flag, which many view as a relic from a colonial past. Prime Minister John Key on Tuesday announced plans to hold a referendum within three years.

His political opponents said they would follow through with those plans even if they oust Key in this year’s national elections.

The current flag depicts the Southern Cross star constellation and includes Britain’s Union Jack in the top left corner. Many complain it is too similar to Australia’s flag and doesn’t reflect New Zealand’s independence from former colonizer Britain. But many who have served in the military oppose a change. And among those advocating a change, there’s plenty of debate about a replacement.

Key said he favors a silver fern set against a black background, an image that’s popular among sports teams. Some say that would equate the country too much with its sporting heroes and would be too reminiscent of a pirate ensign. Some argue the country’s indigenous Maori should be represented in any new flag. In a speech Tuesday, Key said the flag represents a past era.

“The flag remains dominated by the Union Jack in a way that we ourselves are no longer dominated by the United Kingdom,” he said. He said Canada’s 1965 decision to embrace a distinctive maple leaf design was a good example, and he couldn’t imagine Canadians now wanting to go back to their old Union Jack flag.

“We should be represented by a flag that is distinctly New Zealand’s,” said Key, adding it would not signify an end to the South Pacific nation’s constitutional ties to the British monarchy or participation in the Commonwealth group of countries. Don McIver, president of the Returned and Services Association (RSA), said he’s proud of a flag that represents more than 100 years of tradition.

“The view of the RSA is there is no need to change the flag,” he said. “Thirty-two thousand New Zealanders have given their lives under the flag and many more thousands have served under it in a combat environment.” The Republican Movement of New Zealand, which advocates an end to recognizing the British monarch as New Zealand’s head of state, remains indifferent.

AP Photo/Alejandro Cegarra

Demonstrators take cover from teargas fired by the police during clashes in an anti-government protest in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, March 10, 2014.

Venezuela unrest plays out daily in posh district Associated Press Writer

CARACAS, Venezuela — A squad of motorcycle-mounted police wheels into an intersection newly seized from student protesters in a barrage of tear gas in eastern Caracas’ wealthy Chacao district, an important center of resistance to Venezuela’s socialist-led government. From a side street, a young man in a phosphorescent green hockey mask and a white T-shirt advances, his throwing hand sheathed in a fire-retardant glove for returning tear-gas canisters.

AP Photo/Nick Perry

In this photo taken on Monday, March 3, 2014, Victor Gizzi, left, and David Moginie, managers at flag manufacturer Flagmakers, pose next to flags of New Zealand, left, and Australia, in their factory near Wellington, New Zealand.

The young man struts and taunts the cops, accompanied by comrades behind a makeshift metal shield with “SOS” painted on it.

Gunpowder charges explode near the police. The officers retreat.

But the withdrawal is tactical.

Seconds later, a different set of motorcycle police in body armor roars uphill into the intersection, giving chase. Startled parrots scatter from a tree.

The police screech to a halt. A metal chain blocks the side street, and the masked youth escapes, while an audience inside an upmarket clothing store stays glued to the plate-glass windows. Officers take down the chain, but as soon as they leave two middle-aged men run out

of an office building and stretch it back across the street.

In a month of almost daily street protests, a certain crude choreography between the opposing forces has emerged in this neighborhood that is at ground zero for Venezuela’s worst unrest in more than a decade. Several hundred hard-core young people gather, erect barricades and hurl rocks, bottles and fireworks at police. Officers advance firing tear gas and plastic shotgun pellets to disperse the youths, drawing catcalls from people in apartment high-rises.

Painted on a wall near Altamira Square, where the protesters gather, is a motto from jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez

that they have embraced: “He who tires first, loses.”

The government claims these are all spoiled rich kids. But an informal census suggests hardcore protesters are increasingly from lower-middle-class and poor neighborhoods and are as fed up as anybody with the country’s chronic shortages of staple food items, 56 percent inflation, runaway violent crime and lousy job prospects.

“I can’t go out and protest in my neighborhood,” said Vi Dibrahim Torrealba, a 29-yearold medical student from Catia, a working-class district. Why? Armed pro-government motorcycle gangs won’t allow it, he and others say.

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Technology

International

Bali News

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

3

How can jet disappear?

In the ocean, it’s not hard

Destruction of Bali starts from downfall in agricultural sector

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — In an age when people assume that any bit of information is just a click away, the thought that a jetliner could simply disappear over the ocean for more than two days is staggering. But Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is hardly the first reminder of how big the seas are, and of how agonizing it can be to try to find something lost in them.

A variety of challenges are faced by the agricultural sector so that farmers are in helpless condition due to various problems starting from the high production cost, increasing demands of land for settlement and tourism facilities, environmental destruction, unpredictable weather, tax burden and low willingness of young people to farming and so on. If the wetland has been sold, surely it is no longer the task of the landowners. In other words, the new landowners are legitimate to utilize their land for farming or residence.

Associated Press Writer

It took two years to find the main wreckage of an Air France jet that plunged into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009. Closer to the area between Malaysia and Vietnam where Saturday’s flight vanished, it took a week for debris from an Indonesian jet to be spotted in 2007. Today, the mostly intact fuselage still sits on the bottom of the ocean.

“The world is a big place,” said Michael Smart, professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Queensland in Australia. “If it happens to come down in the middle of the ocean and it’s not near a shipping lane or something, who knows how long it could take them to find?”

Amid the confusion, officials involved in the search say the Malaysian jet may have made a U-turn, adding one more level of uncertainty to the effort to find it. They even suggest that the plane could be hundreds of kilometers from where it was last detected. Aviation experts say the plane will be found — eventually. Since the start of the jet age in 1958, only a handful of jets have gone missing and not been found.

“I’m absolutely confident that we

will find this airplane,” Capt. John M. Cox, who spent 25 years flying for US Airways and is now CEO of Safety Operating Systems, said Monday.

The modern pace of communications, where GPS features in our cars and smartphones tell us our location at any given moment, has set unreal expectations. “This is not the first time we have had to wait a few days to find the wreckage.”

Based on what he’s heard, Cox believes it’s increasingly clear that the plane somehow veered from its normal flight path. He said that after the plane disappeared from radar, it must have been “intact and flew for some period of time. Beyond that, it’s all speculation.” If it had exploded midair along its normal flight path, “we would have found it by now.”

Malaysian civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, whose agency is leading a multinational effort to find the Boeing 777, said more than 1,000 people and at least 34 planes and 40 ships were searching a radius of 100 nautical miles (115 miles; 185 kilometers) around the last known location of Flight MH370. No signal has been detected

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Indonesian Navy pilots Maj. Bambang Edi Saputro, left, and 2nd Lt. Tri Laksono check their map during a search operation for the missing Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 over the waters bordering Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand near the Malacca straits on Monday, March 10, 2014. since early Saturday morning, when the plane was at its cruising altitude and showed no sign of trouble.

Azharuddin said the search includes northern parts of the Malacca Strait, on the opposite side of the Malay Peninsula and far west of

the plane’s last known location.

Azharuddin would not explain why crews were searching there, saying, “There are some things that I can tell you and some things that I can’t.”

Malaysian Maj. Gen. Datuk Affendi Buang, who is helping oversee the

ongoing search, said the search will take time.

“The only thing I could say is it’s difficult. There are so many examples of aircraft lost in the sea — you know it can take days, sometimes months, sometimes years,” he said.

Construction crunch slows Japan tsunami rebuilding Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa

In this Tuesday, March 4, 2014 photo, dumpsters kick up clouds of dirt as they head to construction sites in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Construction has only begun at two of 10 planned sites in Otsuchi and further down the coast.

TANOHATA, Japan — Tens of thousands of people on Japan’s northeastern coast who were left homeless in the March 2011 tsunami are shivering their way through yet another winter in cramped temporary housing, with perhaps several more to go.

Reconstruction plans are taking shape after three years of debate and red tape, but shortages of skilled workers and materials are delaying the work. In areas such as Tanohata, a fishing town of 3,800 along a scenic stretch of craggy cliffs and forests, less than a tenth of the new housing has been built. Overall, the figure is less than 8 percent completed, and less than a quarter of projects started.

As Japan’s over-stretched construction industry begins gearing up

to build venues and revamp aging infrastructure for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, shortages of skilled carpenters and heavy equipment operators as well as cement and other materials, are frustrating residents and local officials.

“It’s just cold, so very cold,” Shio Hironai, 53, said of the hut that has served as home since the 20-meter (65-foot) wave slammed into one of the town’s tiny coves.

“And the roof is caving in. It has been all along.”

Japan on Tuesday marks the third anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters known as 3.11 that killed 15,884 people and left 2,636 unaccounted for on its northern coast. The country has struggled to rebuild tsunami-hit towns and to clean up radiation from the nuclear crisis. It has earmarked 25 trillion yen ($250 bil-

lion) for reconstruction through to March 2016. About 50,000 people from Fukushima are still unable to return home due to concerns over radiation.

Hironai, a former fish factory worker who now helps assemble fishing lures in a workshop set up to provide jobs after the disaster, said she hopes to finally move into a new home by May. “The carpenters are just too busy. We had to find a new company to do the work.”

In Tanohata and many other places in Iwate prefecture and elsewhere, groundwork is still not finished for most of the homes due to be rebuilt. Further to the south in Otsuchi, crews work until dark, rain or shine, leveling land for public housing units, a few here, a few there — wherever land can be cleared away from the most hazardous areas along the seaside.

Bali Post

Virtually all the stakeholders say that the agricultural sector in Bali poses a source of inspiration for the development of Bali dominated by tourism sector. But in reality, only a few pays attention to the development in the agricultural sector.

A lecturer at the Udayana University, Prof. Wayan Windia, said that building the agricultural sector required a political commitment, readiness not to be populist and egalitarian characters. This phenomenon could hardly be found in the character of the current leaders, including the leaders in Bali.

“The most obvious empirical evidence is the conversion of paddy fields in Bali, reaching an average of more than 1,000 hectares per year (BPS, 2010). I have confidence that the destruction of Bali is starting from the destruction of its agricultural sector,” he said.

Even, the results of the Agricultural Census released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali recently reported that the number of farming households had declined as much as 84,161 households from 492,394 households in 2003 and became 408,233 households in 2013.

Prof. Windia added that theoretically many leaders were reluctant to build the agricultural sector. They

preferred to do physical development in the sector of industry, tourism, infrastructure et cetera. Their reason was logical because the results of physical development could be known very quickly by the constituents. But building the agricultural sector would take very long time, be very difficult to implement and have to deal with people of different character and status.

Meanwhile, the term was only 5 years.

Thus, the political system was also greatly influenced the passion of the agricultural development.

Characteristic of the destruction in the agricultural sector, according to him, was getting real. It was reflected from the low farmer exchange value (NTP) ranging from 101 to 108. In other words, the ratio between the income and the expenditure index of farmers was very low, namely 101/100-108/100. Then, the contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP of Bali continued to decline throughout the year whereas the population relying their livelihood on the agriculture sector was still very high, reaching about 40 percent. This indicated if the productivity of the agricultural sector was very low. It was also noted the value-added of the agricultural product was the lowest compared to that of tourism industry.

Meanwhile, the contribution of the

IBP/Bit

Agricultural sector in Bali poses a source of inspiration for the development of Bali dominated by tourism sector. But in reality, only a few pays attention to the development in the agricultural sector. agricultural sector to the value added was only about 20 percent.

In the meantime, investment in the agriculture was very small. In Bali, the investment in the agricultural sector only reached about 1 percent of the total existing investment. The total loans distributed to the agricultural sector were only about 9 percent, while the total loans to the SMEs was 22 percent. When the loans and invest-

ments in the agricultural sector were very small, it should not expect the agricultural sector to grow and compete against the other sectors. In the meantime, Prof. Suparta, Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Union (HKTI) of Bali Chapter, said the agriculture was often glorified and revered, but it got minimal reinvestment in the conservation and development.

He said that many programs gave

an impression as a form of imaging only. He did not find any holistic, synergistic and dynamic agricultural development program with high policy commitment.

He added the existence of subak should at least be taken advantage as a movement, struggle and development base of the agriculture in Bali. “With the existence of subak, everything will be accommodated,” he said. (bit)

compared to the year 2013. To achieve the target, it was required accurate data from the local government of the counties and municipality.

“The data required include the number of retail, luxury car ownership, trade business permit mainly for central government tax such income tax and VAT. All this time, we have trouble of getting the data due to bureaucracy, even though there has been previously the Government Regulation No.31/2012,” he said.

According to him, some few institutions were not willing to give the necessary data to support the income tax by reason of the necessary data were confidential. Thus, it was then

issued the Regulation of Minister of Finance No.132/PMK.03/2013 about the details of the data, information as well as procedures for the submission of data related to taxation. Regulation of the Minister of Finance No.64/ PMA.05/2013 contained about the mechanisms of supervision against the deduction or collection and remittance of tax made by the expenditure treasurer of the regional working units (SKPD) or proxy of the regional general treasurer.

“These new rules will enable us to access the data of the institutions existing in the counties and municipality. We invite the Regional Secretary, Bali Revenue Service, officials of One

Stop Services and Bank BPD Bali so that they know about the rules,” he explained.

He mentioned that such socialization was carried out in all regions in order to optimize the tax revenues. To that end, the local government was expected to help in providing for the necessary data.

“Nearly 50 percent of tax revenue is distributed to the regions through special allocation fund (DAK), general allocation fund (DAU) and DHK. Last year, a total of IDR 528.6 trillion has been distributed to the regions. Consequently, the local government must provide the data, so the realized tax also increases,” he said. (kmb27)

Tax revenue contributes 78 percent to State Budget Bali Post

MANGUPURA - Tax revenue contributes the highest share to the State Budget. This sector is capable of contributing as much as 78.8 percent compared to other sectors. On that account, the Directorate General of Taxes, Ministry of Finance, will take various measures to boost tax revenue optimization.

The Division Head of Assessment Extensification Cooperation (KEP), Directorate General of Tax for Bali Region (DJP), Wiratmoko, said the tax coverage ratio or the amount of tax payer registered compared to the number of new population reached

14.7 percent of the Indonesia’s population reaching about 250 million people.

“This percentage is very small compared to the total number of population, while the tax revenue target from year to year increases. To achieve the revenue target, the directorate requires a lot of data to conduct surveillance. Without good data, it is hard to make supervision,” said Wiratmoko in Kuta, Monday (Mar 10).

He said the tax revenue target set in 2014 reached IDR 1,110.2 billion.

This amount was beyond the customs tax revenue. Meanwhile, the total tax revenue target reached IDR 1,320.2 billion or an increase of 19 percent

2

International

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Bali News

Hundreds of Tabanan Transportation Agency employees take urine test

Bali Post

in drug abuse, Agus said his party would handle it in accordance with the civil service rules. “This measure can have a positive impact on the community and provide optimal services. They may not be affected by drugs.

Suppose there is an indication, the staffing rules will be implemented,” he said.

The Division Head of Community Empowerment of the BNNP Bali, Nyoman Artana, stated amidst the urine test that the year 2014 posed the year of rescue program for drug users nationwide. He added that all this time the drug users assumed they would be arrested and imprisoned. “This pattern has to be changed by persistent socialization of the BNN program to rescue the drug users through rehabilitation,” he explained.

Further, he said that to support the program, there were two methods to be used namely by

IBP/File

involving family or relatives of the addicts in the effort to coordinate the solution through rehabilitation.

Similar measure was also carried out to the addicts who were arrested by law enforcement officers.

“An addict arrested by law enforcement officers will be coordinated to law enforcement officers for further handling. However, if the offenders are drug dealers, we certainly agree if they must be sentenced to the fullest.

We will attempt to disseminate these two lines to the community,” he affirmed. The urine test for the ranks of Tabanan Transportation Agency was followed by 123 employees including parking attendants. (kmb28)

A year, local dog population in Buleleng increases 5,000 heads Bali Post

BULELENG - The number of dog population in Buleleng County increases dramatically. Even, within just a single year the dog population estimation in North Bali increases to 5,000 heads. Meanwhile, in 2013 the estimation reached 65,000 heads. Entering the year 2014, the population sharply increased to 70,000 heads. Interestingly, the increase of dog population seems unstoppable because people keep dogs more than one head in each household.

The Head of Buleleng Agriculture and Livestock Agency, Nyoman Swatantra, accompanied by

the Animal Health Division Head Wayan Susila, said on Monday (Mar 10) the growth of dog population in Buleleng was quite high. It was not only caused by the many dogs raised by each household, but the condition was also triggered by the high dog birth rate reaching 35 percent. Unfortunately, such fairly high population growth was not matched by the understanding of residents in maintaining their pet dog. Even, their dogs were kept sober and even in case of a dog bite they looked indifferent and did not recognize if the dog belonged to them.

“From the past time, the growth

of dog population is quite high and we are very difficult to control.

Moreover, it is aggravated by poor understanding of the dog owners in raising their animals,” he said.

Swatantra added that high population growth did not rule out the possibility that the menace of rabies dog bites still haunted the residents in North Bali. With this condition, the dog owners were encouraged to keep their dog properly. At least, they should bind and not let theirs run wild. In addition, the dog owners should be responsible in case their pet dog bit other people. This accountability was to acknowledge the dog and after a dog bite was

advised to tie or impound the dog, making it easier for officers to conduct observation and examine whether or not the dog had been contracted by rabies. “By all means, we have difficulty to handle more and more dogs in the effort to take precautions against the spread of this disease. To that end, we expect the residents to keep their dogs well and be responsible for the animal,” he added.

On the other hand, Swatantra said that prevention against the spread of rabies through mass vaccination program would be held again this year. The mass vaccination would be held back with support from the

Buleleng Budget, Bali Budget and State Budget. Meanwhile, it would be targeting as many as 49,000 dogs of the total dog population estimated to reach 70,000 heads in Buleleng. It would start in the near future by involving 18 teams for each subdistrict. Each team would consist of four dog catchers, a veterinarian giving the anti-rabies vaccine and a registrar of dog identity and the owner. “We’ve prepared the team. Hopefully, 40 percent of the total estimated dog population in our region can be vaccinated, so it will slightly provide comfort for residents against the threat of rabies transmission,” he added. (mud)

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(0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

15

IBP

KUTA - If you want to know more about Balinese culture without having much time, you can come to Grand Whiz Hotel Kuta. The hotel located on Jalan Kartika Plaza and within the vicinity to Kuta Beach offers a Balinese Night event. It presents a variety of Balinese arts and cultures every Friday night starting at 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Balinese architecture, so the atmosphere looks really traditional. Intimacy and familial ambience of rural Bali will be felt because the seating is arranged without limit so that everyone can get involved.

Restaurant & Bar Manager, Ida Bagus Dirga, accompanied by Executive Chef Arif Suryadi said the Balinese Night was held to give the opportunity to visitors who wanted to know more closely about Balinese culture, especially the very unique Balinese cuisines that had been much-loved by the world community. “This event is also meant to raise the sales of the restaurant,” he said.

On that account, he explained, the restaurant located in front of the hotel lobby was really packed with Balinese atmosphere, so guests could watch Balinese dance and enjoy the delicacies delightedly. In the future, we will also present a special Balinese traditional drink with health benefits,” he said.

Calendar Event for March 5 through May 21, 2014 The officers of Tabanan Transportation Agency are taking urine test

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Regular Balinese Night at Grand Whiz Hotel Kuta

The Balinese Night does not only present Balinese dance performance, but also the traditional menus that are appropriate with the tongues of all nations. They are starting from (steamed) chicken betutu, twisted satay, assorted vegetables, water spinach with plecing spices and lawar. Besides, there is also seafood soup with an exceptional taste.

Apart from the main menus, it also offers dessert menu consisting of traditional market snacks widely known on this Island of One Thousand Temples. They include the black sticky rice cake, sumping, fried banana, boiled banana cake, pancake and many more. While enjoying the variety of menus, visitors are jazzed up with the performance of Balinese dances by involving the art troupe of local village.

Not only that, the decoration and arrangement of the venue is also designed in such a way by featuring

TABANAN - The whole ranks of the Tabanan Transportation, Communication and Informatics Agency organized a urine test at the local office, Monday (Mar 10). Such an action was intended to early detect the drug trafficking in the scope of local government bureaucracy as well as a shock therapy.

The urine test was conducted after the regular flag ceremony held every Monday. Of course, it shocked the employees because the activity involved the officers of the National Narcotics Agency (BNNP) of Bali Chapter. The Head of Tabanan Transportation, Communication and Informatics Agency, I Made Agus Hartawiguna, said the urine test was carried out after prior coordination with the BNNP Bali posing a responsibility as citizen against to rampant drug abuse in society.

“This measure poses a form of commitment because it is our responsibility to anticipate the drug trafficking and abuse. Responsibility of a state apparatus is certainly greater. Moreover, the Transportation Agency is responsible for providing services to community. As the apparatus, we must be clean,” he said.

If results of the urine test indicated that the staff were involved

Activities

International

5 Mar Hari Urip 6 Mar Hari Patetegan 7 Mar Pengeradanan Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Kabayan Penebel Tabanan 8 Mar Saraswati Pura Pasek tangkas Gempinis Dalang Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Sayan Abiansemal Pura Watu Gunung Bima Pura Agung Jagat Karana Surabaya Pura Aditya Jaya Jakarta Pura Pemaksan Banyuning Timur Pura Agung Wira Loka Cimahi Jawa Barat 9 Mar Hari Banyu Pinaruh 10 Mar Soma Ribek Pura Jati Jembrana Pura Kawitan Bayu Gaiyang Bangli Tirta Wening Surabaya Pura Desa Lingga Wana Abang Karangasem 11 Mar Sabuh Mas 12 Mar Hari Pagerwesi Pura Labang Sindu JiwaUbud Pura Kehen Bangli Pura Wira Bhuana Magelang Jawa tengah Pura Padang Sakti Denpasar Timur Pura Payogan Agung Ketewel Gianyar Pura Gaduh Pangiasan Dauh Puri Denpasar Pura Masceti Tampak Siring Pura Dalem Ularan Denpasar Pura Siwa Penebel Tabanan Pura Luhur Sliki Banyuwangi Pura Gunung Lebah Ubud Pura Puseh Sukawati 15 Mar Purnama Sasih Kesanga Pura Nataran Sasih Pejeng Gianyar Pura Bukit Mentik Gunung lebah Batur Kintamani 17 Mar Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan 22 Mar Tumpek Landep Pura Mutering Jagat Dalem Sidakarya

Denpasar Pura Agung Pasek Tabanan Pura Pasek Tangkas Tabanan Pura Kerta Banyuning Buleleng Pura Dalem Tenggaling Singapadu Gianyar Pura Bhujangga Jembrana Pura Dalem pingit Tegalalang Pura Penataran Pande Pandean Mengwi Pura Ida Ratu Pande Besakih Pura Penataran AGung Tulikup Pura Kumuda Saraswati Ubud Pura Batur Arya Tabanan 23 Mar Radite Umanis Ukir Sanggah Gede Dukuh Segening Tegal Tugu Gianyar 26 Mar Buda Cemeng Ukir Pura Pajenengan Kawitan Arya Gelgel Kelungkung Pura Pasar Agung Besakih Pura Pasek Bendesa Legian Kuta Badung Pura Gde Gunung Agung Munggu Badung Pura Puseh Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Peruncak Badung Pura Pasek Bendesa Hyang Krobokan Badung Pura Kereban Langit Mengwi Badung 28 Mar Melasti Pakiyisan Ke Segara Pura Pasek Gelgel Kukuh Marga 30 Mar Tilem Kesanga Tawur Agung 31 Mar Hari Raya Nyepi 1 May Buda Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan

2 May Bhatara Sri Ida Ratu Geng Besakih Pura Penataran Agung Besakih Ida Ratu Raja Puraus Besakih Merajan Saloding Besakih 6 May Anggara Kasih Juluwangi Pura Thirta Harum Tegal Wangi Bangli Pura Baratan Baturiti Pura Batu Klotok Klungkung

Pura Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari Tabanan Pura Ibu Wanagiri Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Manik Bingin Dukuh Sidemen 7 May Pura Penataran Gana Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Gede Pande Bangli Pura Puncak Sari Sangeh Abian Semal Pura Puseh Penegil Dharma Kubu Tambahan Bangli Pura Dalem Maya Blahbatuh Gianyar Pura Linggih Betara Kayu Selem Penataran Agung Besakih 13 May Purnama Sasih Jiyestha Pura Dwija Warsa Malang Pura Pucak Tinggah Angsri Baturiti Pura Kawitan Luhur Bhujangga Jati Luwih Penebel Pura Kawitan Batur Pande Tonja Tonja Denpasar Pura Penataran Agung Sidemen Karangasem Pura Maospahit Grenceng Denpasar 15 May Sugihan Jawa Pura Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Tangkas Klungkung Pura Siang Kangin Peninjoan Tembuku Bangli Pura Ida Ratu Mas Penataran Agung Besakih Pura Ida Bhatara Bang Tulus Besakih 16 May Sugihan Bali Dan Kajeng Kliwon 18 May Penyekeban 19 May Penyajaan Galungan 20 May Penampahan Galungan 21 May Hari Raya Galungan Pura Wakika Kupang NTT Pura Agung Girinatha Sumbawa Besar NTB Pura Dukuh Sakti Dukuh Kediri Tabanan Pura Atambuananta Kutamba NTT Pura Webananta Kupang NTT Pura Giripati Mulawarman Pontianak Pura Mustika Dharma Cijantung Jakarta Timur

IBP/BTN Doc

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

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

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

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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

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

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Price: Rp 3.000,-

Entertainment

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

‘Divergent’ soundtrack is uneven

Associated Press Writer

Various Artists, “Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” (Interscope Records) The latest dystopian young adult big screen adaptation, “Divergent,” has high expectations for the box office, though its soundtrack offers an uneven bag of tracks.

The film, highlighted by teenage angst overwrought by societal structure, could translate into a group of edgy, resonating songs, but the reality is that few rise up to the challenge. Ellie Goulding over contributes with her brand of manic pixie dream girl electro pop on four tracks (three only on the non-digital version).

The first single — Zedd’s piano ballad turned triumphant dance song “Find You” — is neither convincing nor very

inspiring to anyone other than the Saturday night club crowd. And Goulding’s “Beating Heart” is a stroke away from flatlining.

The album starts off slow with runof-the-mill dance tracks before it gets bizarre and wonderful with Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar’s “Backwards,” which mixes a hypnotic ‘60s sound with some epic rapping. M83’s “I Need You” takes a weird sax and blends it with an even weirder wailing Auto-Tune. A$AP

Rocky’s contribution, “In Distress,” is probably the most alienating and enticing of the whole album — the barky electro background is stabilized by his rapping, which turns into a melodic howl. Pretty Lights’ “Lost and Found” adds another layer of meditative sounds, skipping back and forth from uplifting pop to an exotic string sound.

Overall, though, the soundtrack barely passes the aptitude test into the Dauntless.

AP Photo/Interscope Records

This CD cover image released by Interscope Records shows the motion picture soundtrack for “Divergent.

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

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

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Japan marks 3rd anniversary of tsunami disasters

Valladolid defeat proves Barcelona only “human” - Nasri

Venezuela unrest plays out daily in posh district

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One suspect on missing jet is Iranian, no terror link

Bieber surprises with performance during SXSW

Members of the media scramble with their smart phones and cameras to photograph pictures of the two men, a 19-year-old Iranian identified by Malaysian police as Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, left, and the man on the right, his identity still not released, who boarded the now missing Malaysia Airlines jet MH370 with a stolen passports, held up by a Malaysian policewoman during a press conference, Tuesday, March 11, 2014, in Sepang, Malaysia.

Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Op and Buffalo David Bitton

This Sunday, March 9, 2014 photo released courtesy of Op and Buffalo David Bitton shows Justin Bieber performing at the Scooter Braun Projects “Sunday Funday Showcase” at South By SouthWest, sponsored

by Op and Buffalo David Bitton, in Austin, Texas.

NEW YORK — Justin Bieber has kicked off the music portion of South

by Southwest before the real program begins. The 20-year-old pop star surprised a small crowd at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, on Sunday night.

Audience member Ashley Gregg said Monday that Bieber performed two songs, dedicating “Boyfriend” to ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez, who was backstage. “This goes out to my baby girl,” Bieber told a crowd of about 100 people.

The bar was hosting an event for Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun. Surprise performers included Bieber and boy band The Wanted. Cody Simpson, Dan + Shay, Tori Kelly and Rixton, who are among Braun’s clients, also performed.

The music portion of South by Southwest, which will feature Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Willie Nelson and Kendrick Lamar, starts Tuesday.

Aretha Franklin says Obama knows ‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T’ Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — Aretha Franklin has much R-E-S-P-E-C-T for President Barack Obama — regardless of his spelling skills.

At a White House concert last Thurs-

day, Obama dropped the initial “E’’ when trying to spell out “respect” as the queen of soul does in her famous song.

“I’m sure the President had much on his agenda and was just a little tired,” the 71-year-old singer said in a state-

ment Monday.

The concert included Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Janelle Monae, Ariana Grande and Jill Scott.

Franklin says no offense was taken.

“The President and I are mutual when it comes to R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” she said.

16 Pages Number 61 6th year

AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

Agence France-Presse

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police said Tuesday they had identified one of two men who boarded a missing Malaysian jet with fake passports as a 19-year-old Iranian believed to be seeking to emigrate to Germany.

The man has been identified as Pouria Nour Mohammad Mehrdad, Malaysia’s national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters.

Khalid said the 19-year-old boarded the plane on an Austrian passport whose owner had previously reported it stolen.

“We have been checking his background. We have also checked in with other police organisations on his profile,” Khalid said.

“We believe he is not likely to be a member of any terror group and we believe he was trying to migrate to Germany.” Khalid said authorities had not yet identified the other man.

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappeared early

Saturday with 239 people aboard, sparking an international search for the plane in waters off Southeast Asia.

Revelations that two passengers on board were travelling on EU passports -- one Austrian, one Italian -- that were stolen in Thailand had fuelled speculation of a security breach and possible terrorist attack.

Asked why police believed the man was seeking to emigrate to Germany, Khalid said authorities had been in contact with his mother, who was waiting for him to reach Frankfurt.

Mehrdad and the other man, who used the Italian passport but has not been identified, both arrived in Kuala Lumpur on February 28.

Khalid said Malaysian police had been in touch with their counterparts in other countries, including Iran.

However, he said police were still considering all possibilities in terms of criminal involvement in the plane’s disappearance, when asked whether police thought the revelation made them consider terrorism less likely in the case.

“At this moment, I would not say less likely. Same weightage to all until we finish our investigations,” he said.

Khalid said police were focusing their investigations on various theories including a hijacking, sabotage or psychological problems among passengers or crew.

He did not elaborate and said none of those scenarios had yet turned up any findings.

The plane’s disappearance has left authorities, the airline, passengers’ families and aviation industry flummoxed at how a huge Boeing 777-200 jet could have completely vanished during its overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Search efforts involving several countries including China and the United States have found no evidence pointing to the plane’s fate. The plane emitted no distress signal or other signs of trouble.