Edisi 15 Januari 2014 | International Bali Post

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

16 Pages Number 22 6th year Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

‘Romeo and Juliet’ with Bloom becomes a V-Day film

Entertainment

Before it closed in December, high definition cameras recorded the show on Nov. 27 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre under the direction of Emmy Award-winning Don Roy King. That recording — the first time in over 36 years “Romeo and Juliet” had been on Broadway — will be available in more than 2,000 movie theaters in all 50 states from Feb. 13-19.

“It’s so great to capture it because who knows when it will be on Broadway again,” said Darryl Schaffer, an executive vice president at Screenvision. “It’s just such a great production. We’re excited to bring it to movie theaters.”

Bloom made his Broadway debut as Romeo in director David Leveaux’s

revival of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy opposite Condola Rashad, who has back-to-back Tony Award nominations for “Stick Fly” and “The Trip to Bountiful.”

Screenvision, which began broadcasting stage works in 2008, recommends individual ticket prices at $20, though each exhibiter can set its own price. The average ticket price on Broadway was $78, with a top premium ticket fetching $223.

The move is just the latest to seize on technological improvements and a willingness to let live shows be recorded, following in the pioneering digital footsteps of The Metropolitan Opera and London National Theatre’s NT Live series.

This theater image released by The Hartman Group shows Orlando Bloom, left, and Condola Rashad during a performance of “Romeo and Juliet,” in New York.

Producers see such broadcasts as a win-win for everyone. Movie theaters get content for off-peak times, theatrical producers can see a new life for their work, and audiences who never got to see Broadway offerings can now catch shows for a fraction of the price.

“The timing is right. There are enough platforms out there. Technology has advanced. Now we’re getting cooperation from unions and the industry as a whole. So I think now is the moment,” said producer Stewart F. Lane, who cofounded BroadwayHD with fellow theater producer Bonnie Comley. Together, they’ve produced such shows as “War Horse,” ‘’Jekyll & Hyde” and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.”

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

Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Japan, Ethiopia urge peace in South Sudan

Arsenal beats Villa 2-1, back atop Premier League

Thai protest leader vows to keep Bangkok shut down

Page 6

Page 8

Page 13

Winners at 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — This Valentine’s Day, why not offer your loved one a timeless Broadway romance — without ever leaving your neighborhood?

Content provider Screenvision and the new company BroadwayHD teamed up to record the recent Orlando Bloom-led production of “Romeo and Juliet” and broadcast it to movie theaters across the country.

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

AP Photo/The Hartman Group, Carol Rosegg

Ballon D’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Honorary Ballon D’Or: Pele (Brazil) Woman player of the year: Nadine Angerer (Germany) Men’s team coach of the year: Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich/Germany) Women’s team coach of the year: Silvia Neid (German national team) Puskas prize for goal of the year: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) for his goal against England in a friendly President’s prize: Jacques Rogge (Belgium/former International Olympic Committee president) ‘Fair Play’: Afghan Football Federation FIFPro World XI: Manuel Neuer - Daniel Alves, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Philip Lahm - Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Franck Ribery - Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi.

Producers: ‘American Idol’ making changes Associated Press Writer

PASADENA, California — The producers of “American Idol” say the show’s new season will include changes to freshen it, including expanded song choices for contestants.

After tending toward a fair amount of golden oldies, the show’s song list will add more current tunes that the young contestants can relate to, executive producer Per Blankens said Monday. Former judge Randy Jackson’s new role will include leading a workshop that helps contestants deal with vocal and other challenges, executive producer Trish Kinane said.

The talent contest also will introduce a “rush week” that precedes the Hollywood week auditions. But Kinane told the Television Critics Association that the series is still essentially “American Idol.”

Fox’s program enters its 13th season Wednesday with declining ratings and competition in the talent genre from NBC’s “The Voice.” It’s the first season for the judging panel of Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr. and Jennifer Lopez, who told the critics’ group they have fun working together and want to emphasize the contestants, not themselves.

Ronaldo back as world’s best

AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt

Agence France-Presse

MADRID - It has taken Cristiano Ronaldo a long time to be back on top of the world.

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

From left, Host Ryan Seacrest, Judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr., and executive producers Trish Kinane and Per Blankens are seen during the panel of “American Idol” at the FOX Winter 2014 TCA, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, Calif.

Since winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time after leading Manchester United to Champions League glory in 2008, he has been relegated into second place in three of the last four years as Barcelona rival Lionel Messi won the award for an unprecedented four consecutive times.

On Monday, however, he was finally crowned World Player of the Year for a second time as he beat Messi and Bayern Munich’s treble-winning playmaker Franck Ribery to football’s highest individual award.

By swapping Manchester for

Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, Ronaldo accepted the challenge of constant comparisons with Messi.

Unfortunately for the Portuguese, though, his marriage with the world’s richest club initially wasn’t as perfect as he had envisaged. Barca and Messi’s dominance has continued as they have racked up 12 trophies to Madrid and Ronaldo’s three since he moved to Spain.

The Catalans were once again superior on a collective level in 2013 as they sealed their 22nd league title with a club record 100

points. However, with Messi’s year having been blighted by injuries, the last 12 months did signal a change on the individual front for Ronaldo.

Despite his remarkable goalscoring record, Ronaldo wasn’t always greeted with the hero’s worship he thought he deserved from the club’s fans.

Yet, driven by fear that he could have been running down his contract with the intention of leaving Madrid, 2013 marked a turning point in the adulation Ronaldo now receives every time he steps foot inside the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo finally quashed any speculation surrounding his future by extending his contract with Madrid until 2018 in September in a deal that saw him become the

world’s best paid player.

And the backing he now receives was most visibly displayed when thousands of Real fans donned masks of their hero in support of his bid to win the Ballon d’Or following incendiary comments from FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter had described Ronaldo as a “commander” given his serious nature on the field and said he personally preferred Messi’s more humble image. The Swiss’ words, though, only seemed to fan the flames of Ronaldo’s already sensational form as he went on to score 15 times in his next eight matches.

Most importantly in that run, he ensured Portugal wouldn’t miss out on this year’s World Cup in Brazil by scoring all four of his country’s goals in their 4-2 aggregate playoff

win over Sweden.

The impact in particular of his stunning hat-trick in the secondhalf of the second-leg in Stockholm was such that FIFA conveniently decided to extend the voting period for the Ballon d’Or by two weeks and allow those that had already cast their votes to change them.

How much of an impact that change of dates made is unclear.

Ribery can certainly feel hard done by after Bayern steamrollered the competition on their way to winning five trophies in 2013.

Yet, despite his lack of collective silverware, Ronaldo’s individual brilliance cannot be overlooked.

His 66 goals in 56 games for club and country was more than Messi and Ribery’s combined total of 65.

Continued on page 6

2

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Bali News

JIMBARAN - InterContinental Bali Resort was awarded as “Indonesia Leading Family Resort” by Indonesia Travel and Tourism Award (ITTA).

The Indonesia Travel and Tourism Award, a non-governmental award given to various tourism hospitality industries based on online voting, assessed by Binus Business School and judged by Board of Advisor ITTA 2013.

250 tourism hospitality industries were participated and competing for the title of leaders in the industry.

InterContinental Bali Resort as one of the leading family resort which provides a wide range of activities for both parents, teens and toddlers. The kids club “Planet Trekkers” is structured as a mini-resort for children, which is a fully-supervised and secured zone with ample recreational space for age-appropriate children’s facil-

TABANAN - Apparently, it has become a regular happening in the rainy season that marine debris filled back the coastal area of Yeh Gangga, Sudimara village, Tabanan. As a result, beauty of the beach located in south of Tabanan was disturbed.

The marine debris piling up was always dominated by twigs and pieces of dried wood as well as some leftover supplies of ceremony washed away by river water from the upstream region after heavy rain.

The garbage is filling the Yeh Gangga Beach in Tabanan problem, especially for fishermen. When it was cleaned up, the other marine debris would come again after raining. This condition often led fishermen to be furious.

Moreover, Yeh Gangga Beach was not only used as a fishing boat landing base, but also a venue to organize various rituals. Almost every day, there were people who held a ritual on the beach.

Aside from generating unpleasant smells, a number of wood rubbish was also hazardous for beachgoers. When they stepped on it, the wooden rubbish could injure the feet. The Yeh Gangga fishermen group was actually always diligent to clean up the marine debris. Due to the overflowing river, abundant rubbish would always come.

IBP/File

Murdika hoped the rubbish problem would not only be imposed on the coastal residents.

However, there should be a particular concern for the beach preservation either from volunteers or relevant agencies. “It is impossible to impose to fishermen only because our time has been spent to work on the sea and in the hamlet,” he said. (kmb28)

Avalanche

Klungkung-Karangasem road access disconnected

Bali Post

SEMARAPURA - Heavy rain recently led to an avalanche. The road access on Bukit Abah, Besan village, Dawan subdistrict, near the border of Klungkung with Karangasem is at risk of being disconnected due to the avalanche.

The point of avalanche is quite hazardous where it is right at the verge of valley on the ascending road section. Residents were asked to be vigilant, because seeing the rest of the road, a subsequent avalanche was worried to happen that could threaten the safety of

residents.

Headman of Besan, Made Suryata Gepuri, said on Sunday (Jan 12) the incident happened on Thursday (Jan 2). At that time, it had rained for two days since the New Year’s Eve. Suddenly, the road to Tribuana village, Sidemen subdistrict and Gelelang village, Manggis subdistrict, Karangasem, avalanched along about ten meters with a width of about two meters.

Avalanche of the road body immediately plunged into the abyss.

After that, the remaining road body was only about one and a half meters.

“Point of the avalanche is right at the verge of the cliff, so it is very hazardous,” said Suryanta.

She made sure there were no casualties in the incident. His party hoped the track could be immediately repaired, so the residents did not worry when passing the track. If the remaining road body was also eroded by the avalanche, the road access of Klungkung to Karangasem would thoroughly be disconnected.

Subdistrict Head of Dawan, AA Gede Putra Wedana, said it was the only one road access to the one-roof elementary and junior

high school at Gegelang Manggis, Karangasem.

Many elementary and junior high school students from Bukit Abah were attending school there.

Similarly, parents worried if their children passed through the road.

In addition, if the whole road body avalanched, the students would lose the road access to school.

Before getting to the point of the avalanche, the path to the Bukit Abah was known to be ascending and many parts were damaged.

Thus, it needed to be repaired immediately to avoid getting worse.

Deputy Regent of Klungkung,

15

IBP

Bali Post

to high waves. I prefer amassing twigs or pieces of dry wood for firewood to daydreaming. It is not bad for boiling fish because using LPG is rather wasteful.

Meanwhile, when buying firewood elsewhere is too costly and reaching IDR 300,000 per a small pickup truck,” he explained.

Related to marine debris always coming every rainy season, he said, such pile of rubbish was usually cleaned up independently.

Unfortunately, the accumulated rubbish was difficult to be burnt because it mixed with stones carried by upstream floods. The stones also filled the rubbish piles so it was difficult for fire to burn.

According to Murdika, the rubbish had become a classic

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

InterContinental awarded “Indonesia Leading Family Resort”

Again, Yeh Gangga Beach flooded by marine debris

Such marine debris has started to look scattered since the past few days. Obviously, this condition started making fishermen uncomfortable. Likewise, visitors were also made slightly unpleasant. “Quite a lot of rubbish was scattered. When it rained and the river overflowed and beaches were always full of marine debris,” said Wayan Murdika, 62, a fisherman on Yeh Gangga Beach, Sunday (Jan 12).

The presence of rubbish frequently complicated fishermen when going to sea and landing by fishing boat. Abundant pieces of wood scattered also made unpleasant spectacle, not to mention the foul odors. “I have not gone to sea for three days due

Activities

International

Made Kasta, had inspected the location of avalanche accompanied by the subdistrict head of Dawan AA Gede Putra Wedana and headman Made Suryanta Gepuri on Sunday. For the damages, his party would immediately summon the Head of Public Works and the Head of Klungkung National Unity, Politics and Community Protection Agency (Kesbangpolinmas) to take immediate action. He urged residents who used to pass through the track to remain cautious because it frequently rained lately and was prone to cause avalanche. (kmb31)

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

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

ities and fun-filled and culturally inclined indoor and outdoor such as kite making, dress-up, dance, music, turtle release and Indonesian Bahasa language lessons.

Children can enjoy their most favorite gelato which are available around the resort.

We know how to pleased them.

The endless pristine beach at InterContinental Bali is perfect for early morning walks, family time on the sand and indulging in the daily ritual of watching the beautiful Jimbaran Sunset. The resort also provides a variety of water sports, and with its relatively calm waters, our beach offers a safe place for swimming with children and learning new water sports activities.

Located less than a fifteen-minute

IBP/Courtesy of InterContinental

drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, InterContinental Bali Resort offers a luxurious range of 417 beautifully-appointed rooms, suites and private villas housed in six separate wings, which is defined by a contemporary Balinese

style that embodies the spirit of refined tropical living and warm Balinese hospitality and come inspired by this island’s age-old artistic and cultural heritage.

“We take pride in the fact that we are able to provide the best facilities

Calendar Event for January 1 through February 26, 2014 1 Jan Buda Kliwon Matal, Kajeng Kliwon And Tilem Sasih Kenam Pura Desa Sukawati Sukawati Pura Pasek Gelgel Gelgel Bebetin Pura Maspahit Sesetan Pura Padharman Arya Kanuruhan Besakih 11 Jan Tumpek Kandang Pura Desa Gianyar Pura Luhur Dalem Sagening Kediri Tabanan Pura Sang Hyang Tegal Tegalalang 15 Jan Purnama Sasih Kapitu Pura Dalem Tarukan Cemenggaon Sukawati Pura Penataran Dalem Ketut Pejeng Kaja Gianyar Pura Puseh Manakaji Peninjauan Bangli Pura Taman Limut Pengosekan Mas Ubud Pura Benua Besakih Pura Gunung Rena Sidemen Karangasem Pura Pasek Gelgel Abadi Karangasem Pura Pucak Gunung Mangun Kubu Karangasem 16 Jan Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan

17 Jan Hari Bhatara Sri 21 Jan Anggara Kasih Prangbakat Pura Bukit Buluh Gunaksa Klungkung Pura Tirtha Sidamala Bebalang Bangli Pura Gunung Pangsong Lombok Pura Dalem Benawah Gianyar Pura Dalem Bitra Gianyar Pura Pura Hyang Haluh/Jenggala Besakih

Pura Tengkulak Tulikup Gianyar Pura Taman Sari Ubud Pura Penataran Badung

Pura Penataran Giri Purwo Tegal Delimo Banyuwangi Pura jala Sidhi amerta Juanda Surabaya

29 Jan Hari Siwaratri

19 Feb Buda Cemeng Kelawu Pura Penataran Agung Teluk Padang Karangasem Pura Melanting Camenggaon Sukawati Pura Penataran ped Nusa Penida Pura Gaduhan Jagat Singakerta Ubud Pura Masceti Sanding Tampak Siring Pura Penataran Batu Lepang Kamasan Kelungkung Pura Paibon Pasek Gelgel Kedonganan Kuta Pura Guwa Besakih Pura Basukian Besakih Pura Jati Ubud Pura Melanting Ubud Pura Dalem Peed Nusa Penida Pura Sad Kayangan Nusa Penida Pura Penataran Agung Gunung Karangasem

30 Jan Tilem Sasih Kepitu Pura Buana Kawan Besakih Pura Ulun Kulkul Besakih 31 Jan Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan 5 Feb Buda Kliwon Ugu Pura Dalem Tarukan Peninjauan Tembuku Bangli Pura Pemayun Banyuning Tengah Buleleng Pura Kayangan Tiga Seririt Buleleng Pura Agung Gunung Raung Taro Tegalalang 6 Feb Pura Dalem Puri Besakih

21 Feb Hari Bhatara Sri 14 Feb Purnama Sasih Kawulu Pura Dalem Batur Bangli Pura Ida Ratu Pasek Besakih Pura Dalem Suci Sidemen Karangasem Pura Buana Kawan Besakih 15 Feb Tumpek Wayang & Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan Pura Majapahit Jembrana Pura Panti Gelgel Pengembungan Sesetan Pura Pedarman Dalem Sukawati Besakih Pura Pedarman Mengwi Besakih Pura Pedarman Kaba-kaba Besakih Pura Pedarman Dalem Bakas Besakih Pura Pedarman Dinasti Dalem Besakih

25 Feb Anggara Kasih Dukut Pura Dalem Batuyang Batubulan Pura Pasek Gelgel Mengening Kediri Tabanan Pura Pasek Undagi Krambitan Tabanan Pura Pucak Taman bedulu Gianyar Pura Puser Jagat Nusa Penida Pura Dalem Purwa Kawan Bangli Pura Desa Ketewel Gianyar 26 Feb Pura Agung Pasek gelgel Sibang Kaja Abian Semal Pura Dalem Samprangan Gianyar

for families including Club InterContinental, a resort within a resort, with an exclusive Club InterContinental privileges and entitlements and other activities”, comments Mr. Michel Chertouh, General Manager of InterContinental Bali Resort.

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.

14

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Science

International

India scrambles to save tigers from deadly virus Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/University of Goteborg, Johan Wingborg

In this April 4, 2012 photo made available by the University of Goteborg in Sweden, the Swedish research team practices before the operations to transplant wombs at the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden.

Swedish doctors transplant wombs into 9 women

NEW DELHI — India is scrambling to protect its beleaguered tiger population after several big cats tested positive for a virus common among dogs but deadly to other carnivores, experts said. In the last year, canine distemper virus has killed at least four tigers and several other animals across northern and eastern India, according to Rajesh Gopal of the government’s National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The revelation is bad news for wild tigers — already endangered by rampant poaching and shrinking habitat as India undergoes breakneck development to accommodate the staggering growth of its 1.2 billion people. That same economic development and population growth means more people — and more dogs — are coming even closer to wildlife.

India will now test every tiger carcass it finds for the virus, Gopal said, while authorities also consider a massive campaign to vaccinate dogs against canine distemper. “We cannot vaccinate every dog, of course. But even 50 percent of dogs in the zones around sanctuaries would help,” Gopal said. He did not give details of the

plans being considered. There is no vaccine for big cats.

The cases being found across such a huge swath of India, however, suggests the disease could already be running in the wild, experts said, though they agree much more research is needed.

“These are very disturbing finds,” said Dr. A.K. Sharma, head scientist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, which performed the canine distemper lab tests. “The cases were quite distant from each other, and the latest was an area where there are no dogs. So it appears the virus is spreading.”

Since two cubs tested positive in a zoo in the Bihar state capital of Patna a year ago, Sharma and his colleagues have found at least four more cases — a red panda in the northeast state of Manipur, a wild tiger in West Bengal, a zoo lion in Darjeeling and last month a wild tiger in the Dudhwa Tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh.

“In the last case, forest guards said they saw the animal in a confused state before it died,” he said. Experts said there are likely more undetected cases, since testing for canine distemper has not been routine and few animals that die in the wild are ever found.

Associated Press Writer

STOCKHOLM — Nine women in Sweden have successfully received transplanted wombs donated from relatives in an experimental procedure that has raised some ethical concerns.

The women will soon try to become pregnant with their new wombs, the doctor in charge of the pioneering project has revealed. The women were born without a uterus or had it removed because of cervical cancer. Most are in their 30s and are part of the first major experiment to test whether it’s possible to transplant wombs into women so they can give birth to their own children.

In many European countries, including Sweden, using a surrogate to carry a pregnancy isn’t allowed.

Life-saving transplants of organs such as hearts, livers and kidneys have been done for decades and doctors are increasingly transplanting hands, faces and other body parts to improve patients’ quality of life. Womb transplants — the first ones intended to be temporary, just to allow childbearing — push that frontier even farther and raise some new concerns.

There have been two previous attempts to transplant a womb — in Turkey and Saudi Arabia — but both failed to produce babies.

Scientists in Britain, Hungary and elsewhere are also planning similar operations but the efforts in Sweden are the most advanced.

“This is a new kind of surgery,” Dr. Mats Brannstrom told The

Associated Press in an interview from Goteborg. “We have no textbook to look at.”

Brannstrom, chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of Gothenburg, is leading the initiative. Next month, he and colleagues will run the first-ever workshop on how to perform womb transplants and they plan to publish a scientific report on their efforts soon.

Some experts have raised concerns about whether it’s ethical to use live donors for an experimental procedure that doesn’t save lives.

But John Harris, a bioethics expert at the University of Manchester, didn’t see a problem with that as long as donors are fully informed.

He said donating kidneys isn’t necessarily life-saving, yet is widely promoted. “Dialysis is available, but we have come to accept and to

even encourage people to take risks to donate a kidney,” he said.

Brannstrom said the nine womb recipients are doing well. Many already had their periods six weeks after the transplants, an early sign that the wombs are healthy and functioning. One woman had an infection in her newly received uterus and others had some minor rejection episodes, but none of the recipients or donors needed intensive care after the surgery, Brannstrom said. All left the hospital within days.

None of the women who donated or received wombs has been identified. The transplants began in September 2012 and the donors include mothers and other relatives of the recipients. The team had initially planned to do 10 transplants, but one woman couldn’t proceed due to medical reasons, university spokesman Krister Svahn said.

Bali News

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

3

Difficulty of raw materials

Photo album craftsmen on verge of distinction Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Ambengan village in Sukasada subdistrict is not only famous as producer of various agricultural products and estates. However, this village is also known as a production center of photo album handicraft made from banana sheath and dried foliage.

Unfortunately, this homebased business is now at the verge of extinction. One of the reasons becoming the cause is the difficulty of craftsmen to obtain raw materials due to the impact of rainy season this year. In addition, the orders from foreign buyers have also declined and similar products are produced by residents outside Buleleng.

As information obtained at Ambengan village, only a few photo album craftsmen groups remained to survive. Previously, almost all households produced photo album craft using local materials. Aside from craftsmen, some collectors of the products had also gone bankrupt. The situation occurred because they had difficulty to get raw materials. In addition, the orders from foreign buyers also decreased lately compared to previous years.

Made Eko Adnyana, a craftsman when met at his home at Ambengan hamlet, Ambengan village said last Sunday if the raw materials became scarce. The raw materials like banana sheath, hibiscus leaves, butterfly leaves and coconut peduncle were hard to obtain these days. They were used to decorate the design of photo albums, photo frames and notepads. Previously, they were easy to get at local village, but then they should seek to neighboring villages.

Even though trying to find out beyond the village, those materials were still difficult to obtain, especially the hibiscus leaves and banana sheath becoming the most difficult to find because there were no dried ones due to the influence of rainy season. “It is hard to find and people rarely sell them, especially the hibiscus leaves and banana sheath. Meanwhile, no longer people sell the dried coconut peduncle as previously,” he said.

According to Eko, the difficulty of getting raw materials would make their business go bankrupt.

Even, earlier he had no longer been producing because of having no raw materials. Luckily, the collector who gave him order was willing to provide with raw materials, so that he could still produce.

Production cost of a small-size photo album was charged at IDR 1,750 each. Meanwhile, the largest was slightly more expensive namely at IDR 2,000 each. “When having more supply of raw materials, we can produce more, but since the raw material is difficult, our maximal production comes to 10 pieces only,” he added.

Similar condition was also disclosed by Ketut Rasio, an album craft collector. All this time, he admitted to have difficulty in obtaining raw materials. Not just difficult, there were no more residents who sold

IBP/Mud

Ambengan village in Sukasada subdistrict is not only famous as producer of various agricultural products and estates. dried hibiscus leaves, banana sheath and coconut peduncle as previously.

Responding to this condition, Rasio was trying to find the materials by exploring some villages in Gerokgak. A sheet of banana sheath previously purchased at IDR 300 then increased to IDR 600. Meanwhile, dried hibiscus leaves were then purchased at a price of IDR 25,000 per one large plastic bag. “Banana sheath and hibiscus leaves are the most difficult. Previously, a lot people indeed sold them, but nobody sell them now,” he said.

When asked about the demand for photo album craft, Rasio claimed if the order decreased quite dramatically. Even, such condition made many colleagues of the same profession go bankrupt because lacking of foreign agents and buyers. The decline in demand for the typical photo album craft of Ambengan village happened because the agents and buyers generally looked for a variety of craft products. In other words, the agents and buyers did not only look for photo album craft, but also the other crafts.

In addition, especially for the photo album craft made from natural materials also began to be produced by many other villages in Bali such as Klungkung. So, the buyers and agents no longer ordered to Buleleng but switched to other villages in Bali. “Since many people have been able to produce and customers are not just looking for this kind of craft, the order is down and the situation is understandable.

Now, it highly depends on how to manage the business and expand the market access,” he added. (mud)

Dang Kahyangan Temple of Candidasa restored Bali Post

AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui

In this Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 photo, an Indian worker holds two lion cubs at Patna Zoo, in Patna, India. India is scrambling to protect its beleaguered tiger population after several big cats tested positive for a virus common among dogs but deadly to other carnivores, experts said.

AMLAPURA - Dang Kahyangan Temple of Candidasa located at Candidasa tourist attraction, Karangasem, will be restored. All workers or builders have been working since Monday (Jan 6). It was announced by Chairman of the Restoration Committee, Nengah Sirnu, in Karangasem, Sunday (Jan 12). Related to the temple restoration estimated to cost IDR 1 billion, the supporting devotees hoped the Karangasem government could lend a heavy equipment to dredge the part of the cliff.

Chairman of the Committee as well as the fundraising coordinator for the temple restoration, Nengah Suparta, added that his party had submitted a proposal to borrow heavy equipment to Karangasem Public Works.

“However, there has been no response whether it is confirmed or not. Hopefully, the government could lend us the equipment,” said Suparta. It would be used to cut and dredge the cliff of about 50 meters high in the western part of the temple. Dredging of the cliff was intended to expand the temple area and secure the cliff in case any collapse or avalanche occurred that could endanger the pilgrims.

Suparta said his party also hoped there would be donation from the government and investors, both incorporated in the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Karangasem Chapter or other businessmen running the businesses at Candidasa. Most of the farmland at local area had been sold or leased by residents to investors and established with hotel or

tourism-related businesses.

Previously, before the tourism developed in Candidasa, the levy collection system for the purpose of ritual and construction of the temple was applied through saihan system where every resident having a farmland at Candidasa was charged a levy in proportion to the area of land owned. Today, things had changed.

All farmlands at the Candidasa waterfront had been established with tourism-related facilities.

“Tourism generates large amount of regional revenue (PAD) ranked second after quarry in Karangasem.

Candidasa tourism also contributes high enough to the regional revenue of Karangasem so it is advisable to help in the form of donation for the temple restoration,” said Suparta.

The temple belonged to an ancient one. Sirnu estimated it was the representation of purusha and pradhana (male-female aspect) with the nyegara-gunung or seaward-mountainward location. Other than the Bugbug villagers, the nyegara-gunung ritual of Sibetan villagers was also held in the temple. “Nyegara-gunung ritual can be held at the pond of Segara Temple at Candidasa or in the Candidasa Temple. However, the area of Segara Temple is very narrow because the surrounding areas have been filled with hotels,” said Sirnu.

Interestingly, the main shrine in the upper temple only consisted of a phallus posing the characteristic of the worship to Lord Shiva or purusha.

While at the lower temple, there was an ancient stone statue, representing

Ida Batara Ayu Mas Manik. Besides, there was a principal statue of a woman or housewife carrying 10 babies. Some people called it the statue of Mrs. Brayut. Actually, it was the statue of Ida Batara Ayu Mas Manik holding 10 babies. “That is why the temple is better known as the Candidasa Temple. The statue of Ida Ratu Mas Manik in the lower temple is alleged to represent the pradhana aspect,” said Sirnu.

Since the temple belonged to ancient relics and had uniqueness, it attracted the visit of many foreign tourists in Candidasa. Related to the first stage of restoration, namely the restoration of Ida Ratu Ayu Mas Manik shrine located on the slopes of the cliff, the statue was moved temporarily to the bottom area. (013)

4

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Bali News

International

International

W

Hit by flood, revetment of Tukadaya River collapses

RLD

NEGARA - As a result of floods, the safeguarding revetment of Tukadaya River at Dangin Tukadaya village, Jembrana subdistrict, was broken. At some points, the revetment bordering with Dangin Tukadaya and Dauhwaru village collapsed along about 20 meters.

Arrested, a French tourist distributes drugs

Bali Post

DENPASAR - Being a drug dealer is not only committed by local residents, but also apparently committed by foreign citizen. As proof, the Narcotics Investigation Unit of Denpasar Police arrested a French tourist named Verchere Thierry Claude Josep, 47, alleged to distribute drugs, Thursday (Jan 9). From his hand, police seized heroin.

Chief of Denpasar Police Narcotics Detective, Agus Tri Waluyo, justified on Sunday (Jan 12) the arrest of drug trafficker. Until now, his party remained to explore the case in order to uncover the syndicate. So far, the culprit was still mum where he got the four packages of such illicit goods with a weight of 121 grams. “The culprit has been arrested. In the near future, the Chief of Denpasar Police will release it,” said Chief Agus.

As information, the culprit was arrested at his residence on Jalan Tangkuban Perahu Gang Merta Sedana No. 2, second floor, Pengubengan, Denpasar. The raid was carried out at 5:10 p.m. Having been unable

to move, police conducted a search.

Four packages of heroin were found in his room. However, the culprit did not admit if such illicit goods were not his property. Nevertheless, police arrested him and the case was still being developed.

Before he was arrested, said a source in the Denpasar Police, police officers initially received information that there was a foreign tourist who trafficked drugs.

The information was received as a complaint only. It was not mentioned about the characteristics and where he lived. Nevertheless, police conducted an investigation by disseminating officers in the field. As a result, police managed to detect the presence of the culprit and instantly raided his home.

After arresting and seizing the evidence, the culprit was examined.

Aside from having not admitted that heroin was his property, he was not willing to tell who had given the drugs. It was touted the heroin was distributed to foreigners as well. “Obviously, the case is still being investigated,” he said while requesting anonymity. (kmb21)

REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Workers at the office of the National Economic and Social Development Board line up to leave after antigovernment protesters from the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform group surrounded their office in Bangkok January 14, 2014.

The damage revetment of Tukadaya River

Indonesian sailors still lack of legal protection

Bali Post

DENPASAR - The Indonesian workers, chiefly the sailors working on foreign-flagged vessels all this time often have not received adequate legal protection. Besides, there has been no legal instrument related to their job they deeply involved.

For example, some vessel crews (ABK) ran aground in the waters of Trinidad and Tobago, Central America, as well as in Ivory Coast, West Africa in October-November 2012. According to the Head of the Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Worker (BP3TKI) of Denpasar, Wayan Pageh, they were the victims due to the absence of legal protection governing their job services. Ultimately, they sued PT Cartigo related to their rights that had not been given.

“We do hope the lawsuit of the sailors of Trinidadian vessel currently held at the West Jakarta District Court gets the protection as fair as possible, so their rights can be given,” said Pageh, Saturday (Jan 11).

He said the legal action should be supported and appreciated in order similar cases would not recur and befall other sailors. Besides, it could provide a deterrent effect for the users of sailors. “Over the years, our vessel crew and Indonesian sailors working on foreign-flagged vessels had no legal protection related to their job. Actually, they have generated revenue for the country.

Therefore, the state must provide protection for them,” he said.

Further, he said the vessel crews and Indonesian sailors working for foreign-flagged ships were those complying with international regulations such as the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.

Today, at total of 38 countries in the world—including Singapore and the Philippines—had ratified the MLC 2006, while Indonesia had not.

Fortunately, the Head of the BNP2TKI, Moh Jumhur Hidayat, had anticipated the absence of the norm with a Regulation Number: PER-12/KA/IV/2013 on the Procedures of Recruitment and Protection of Sailors on Foreign-flagged

Vessels, while previously it had been issued the Regulation of the Head of the BNP2TKI Number: PER-03/KA/I/2013 on Procedures for Placement and Protection of the Indonesian Workers on Fishing Vessels.

“The presence of the Regulation of the Head of the BNP2TKI was assessed by the International Labour Convention (ILO) as the earnest effort of the Government of Indonesia in protecting its citizens working on foreign-flagged vessels,” he said.

Pageh added if it was not anticipated with the Regulation of the Head of the BNP2TKI, it would surely lead to massive termination of employment (PHK). On August 20, 2013 was the deadline for the ratification of the MLC 2006.

“We want to synergize the existing regulations so as not to sacrifice the future fate of prospective Indonesian migrant workers/migrant seafarers including our vessel crews. Besides, it may not harm the stakeholders and complicate the policy makers at the county / municipal and provincial government,” he affirmed. (kmb29)

Thai protest leader vows to keep Bangkok shut down Reuters

BANGKOK - Protesters trying to topple Thailand’s government moved to tighten the blockade around ministries on Tuesday and a hardline faction threatened to storm the stock exchange, while major intersections in the capital Bangkok remained blocked. The turmoil is the latest chapter in an eight-year conflict pitting the Bangkokbased middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly poorer, rural supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier ousted by the military in 2006.

Although the capital was calm and the mood among the tens of thousands of protesters remained festive, analysts said the scope for a peaceful resolution of the crisis was narrowing. “As anti-government protesters intensify actions, the risk of violence across wide swathes of the country is growing and significant,” an International Crisis Group (ICG) report said.

Ministries and the central bank have been forced to operate from back-up offices after protesters led

by Suthep Thaugsuban stopped civil servants getting to work.

“In the next two or three days we must close every government office,” Suthep told a large crowd of supporters. “If we cannot, we will detain the prime minister and other ministers. We will start by cutting water and electricity and

their homes. I suggest they evacuate their children.”

Groups of demonstrators marched peacefully from their seven big protest camps to ministries, the customs office, the planning agency and other state bodies on Tuesday, aiming to paralyze the workings of government. A student group allied to Suthep’s People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has threatened to attack the stock exchange, with faction leader Nitithorn Lamlua telling supporters on Monday it represented “a wicked capitalist system that provided the path for Thaksin to become a billionaire”.

A PDRC spokesman said the bourse was not one its targets. “We will not lay siege to places that provide services for the general public, including airports, the stock exchange and trains. However, we will block

government offices to stop them from functioning,” Akanat Promphan told supporters at a rally.

Jarumporn Chotikasathien, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, told Reuters emergency measures had been prepared to secure the premises and trading systems. Trading was normal during the morning, with the index slightly down at the midday break.

There was no special security visible at the exchange. A Reuters photographer said one group of protesters marched past on their way to the customs department but did not stop.

DEEPLY POLARISED Disruption to government services would compound the problems faced by Yingluck, who dissolved parliament in December and called a snap election for February. Now working from Defence Ministry facilities on the outskirts of Bangkok, she heads a caretaker administration that has a limited remit and cannot initiate policies that commit the next government.

Yingluck invited protest leaders and political parties to a meeting on Wednesday to discuss an Election Commission proposal to postpone the election until May.

13

India PM: Rahul Gandhi should lead Congress Party

Associated Press Writer

Bali Post

Such damaged revetment was clearly visible from the bridge separating the two villages. According to a local resident met on Sunday (Jan 12), it was not known exactly when the revetment began to burst. But after it rained last year, the revetment began to burst. Initially, it only occurred along a few meters, but later on after the river often flooded, the avalanche was increasingly wider.

Originally the damage only afflicted to the revetment under the bridge. It also protected the land of cemetery owned by Dangin Tukadaya village and a number of other villages.

Gede Subrata, a resident living around the location, said the collapse originally occurred at only one point along about 10 meters. But later on, the avalanche was getting wider, and happened to two points. “The second flood occurred about last Wednesday added another collapse,” he explained. Meanwhile, the collapse on the previous revetment was getting higher and reached three meters,” he added.

Without immediate handling, it was feared the collapsed revetment would extend. The land of cemetery protected was also eroded by river water that often overflowed lately. His party hoped the broken revetment could be immediately repaired to protect the land of cemetery. (kmb26)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

NEW DELHI — India’s prime minister announced Friday he would step aside after 10 years following this summer’s general election, saying Rahul Gandhi should replace him if the ruling Congress Party manages to stay in power. In only his third news conference in a decade, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Gandhi — the 43-year-old heir to India’s Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty — has the best credentials to become the next head of the Congress Party and prime minister of the world’s biggest democracy.

Singh is 81 and was not expected to seek another term. “I have ruled myself out as a prime ministerial candidate,” Singh said. “Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials. ... I do hope the party will take the right decision at the appropriate time.”

Friday’s news conference came at a time when the Congress Party’s stock is low, battered by corruption scandals, internal feuding, and an inability to deal with a stumbling economy and deep-rooted problems with poverty, infrastructure and education.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Narendra Modi, has the momentum ahead of the May elections, after trouncing Congress in recent state polls.

The vote was seen as a gauge

of voter sentiment in the secular country of 1.2 billion.

Singh said it would be disastrous if Modi became prime minister. Modi, chief minister of western Gujarat state for the past 11 years, is credited with turning his western state into an industrial haven. But critics question whether the Hindu nationalist chief can be a truly secular leader over India’s many cultures.

Modi has been accused of doing little to stop anti-Muslim riots in the state in 2002, which left more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, dead. “Without discussing the merits of Modi, it would be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the next prime minister,” Singh said.

Asked about BJP claims that he was a “weak” prime minister, Singh said: “If by a strong prime minister they mean you preside over the massacre of innocent citizens on the streets of Ahmadabad, if that is the measure of strength, I do not believe that is the sort of strength this country needs, least of all from its prime minister.” Ahmadabad is the commercial center of Gujarat.

Modi has denied any role in the violence and says he bears no responsibility for the killings.

Last month, he said that he had been “shaken to the core” by the violence and that his government responded to it swiftly and decisively.

AP Photo/Harish Tyagi, Pool

Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh greets during a press conference, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 3, 2014.

12

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

BUSINESS

5

A Sanctum to worship Goddess Giri Putri IBP

NEGARA - Kalong Temple is located in the middle of the Kalong Island, amid the Gilimanuk Bay, and still belongs to the area of Bali Barat National Park. When devotees would like to say prayers, they will be transported by a boat to a distance of not less than ten minutes sail. Anniversary of this temple falls right on the Kuningan feast day, while the venerated deity in the temple is the Goddess Giri Putri.

Agence France-Presse

NEW DELHI - Foreign supermarket giants faced being shut out of the Indian capital Tuesday after Delhi’s new state government said it would not grant them a licence to operate. low Western supermarkets to hold a majority stake in local chains for the first time, have been seen as a chance to revive India’s ailing economy.

But small family-run stores fear that they could be priced out of business by the major retailers while there has also been widespread opposition from labour activists.

India’s main business lobby criticised the Aam Aadmi government move, saying it would hit investor confidence at a time when the economy is growing at its slowest rate for a decade.

“This direct negation without demonstrating a search for a viable alternative would hamper investment sentiment,” said Sidharth Birla, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

“It has been proven time and again that both large multi-brand retail stores and small kirana stores coexist peacefully,” Birla told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Singh’s FDI reforms, which also opened up the airline and insurance industries, had been meant to draw in more foreign investors into Asia’s third largest economy.

But they have been undermined by persistent worries over issues such as corruption, red tape and tax battles.

Walmart and Indian firm Bharti announced in October that they were ending their retail partnership, with the US giant saying India’s foreign investment rules were partly to blame for the split.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Kalong Temple

Foreign supermarkets face shut-out in Delhi Amit Yadav, the Delhi municipality’s industry commissioner, told AFP he had written to the federal government to indicate that foreign “multi-brand retailers” would not be given consent to open stores in the capital in a reversal of previous policy.

Foreign retailers which only sell their own branded products, such as Britain’s Marks and Spencer, have long been able to operate in India.

But reforms unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in late 2012 should pave the way for the first foreign supermarkets to operate, provided 30 percent of their produce is sourced locally.

Delhi had been expected to be one of the first places to welcome the likes of Walmart and Tesco under the reforms.

But Singh’s Congress party was trounced in state elections in Delhi last month, losing power to a new anti-corruption party with a much cooler attitude towards foreign direct investment (FDI).

“It was a part of their manifesto to drop the FDI in multibrand retail policy and accordingly, a letter has been sent to the government of India asking to withdraw it,” said Yadav.

“FDI in multibrand retail is a policy that lies with the consent of individual state establishments.

Its implementation is strictly a state subject.”

Aam Aadmi, a fledgling anticorruption party, made opposition to the FDI reforms one of its pledges in the Delhi election which had been ruled by Congress for the last 15 years.

Singh’s FDI reforms, which al-

Bali News

International

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

A Ford Mustang is seen in the automaker’s display area at the North American International Auto Show is seen in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Detroit auto show

GM wins awards, Ford turns heads

Agence France-Presse

DETROIT - General Motors’ Chevrolet unit swept car and truck of the year honors but Ford’s use of aluminum in its F150 sparked new debate on the first day of the Detroit auto show Monday.

The show also saw the debut appearance of Mary Barra as GM’s new chief executive -- the first woman ever to lead a major auto maker; Fiat-Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne pledging to oversee the union of the two for at least the next three years; and Ford chief executive Alan Mulally still in his job, after finally scotching talk he was headed to Microsoft.

Automakers, after a hugely successful 2013, forecast more growth and unveiled powerful new trucks, sexy sports cars and luxury models.

General Motors logged an early win after its Chevrolet brand swept the car and truck of the year awards with the Corvette Stingray sports car and the Chevy Silverado pickup truck.

“Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than

100-year history,” Chevy chief Alan Batey said, hailing its wins.

Eyes were on Ford, however, as it gambled with a major change for the best-selling F150 pickup, replacing steel body panels with aluminum to drastically lower body weight and boost fuel economy.

The move, which helped Ford slash the truck’s weight by up to 700 pounds (317 kilos) is seen as a big risk, because truck buyers tend to focus on sturdiness and power.

Toyota, meanwhile, revved up its design credentials with a provocative new concept for a sports car, with a race car pit crew opening a shiny red box to reveal the FT-1 sports concept -- Future Toyota 1.

Chrysler unveiled its hotly-anticipated revamp of the 200 sedan, which aims to bring a new level of luxury and styling to its midsized offering with a low entry price of $21,700.

“We designed a car to take on every other vehicle in its class, feature by feature and prove that a quality sedan doesn’t have to cross an ocean to be worthy of an American driveway,” Chrysler brand chief Al Gardner told reporters.

Mercedes got a jump on its com-

petitors by hiring Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child to serenade its sleek and luxurious new C-Class sedan, an upgrade from the entrylevel position it has held for several years.

Now that role has been taken by the CLA, and the C-Class has been decked out with features from higher-end Mercedes.

Also enjoying the move down from senior models is the diminutive Honda Fit. Honda has reshaped the front, enlarged the inside with generous leg space for a subcompact, boosted horsepower to 130 and worked to smooth the ride, adding a right-side Lane Watch, Bluetooth, rearview cameras, and upgraded smart phone connectivity.

Corvette also generated excitement with its new racing versions of the Corvette Stingray, the streetlegal Z06 and the track-ready CR.7.

Kia and Toyota brought in concept pocket-rockets, BMW served up a hat-trick of new models -- the 2 series, and an M3 and M4 -- and Chrysler revamped its 200 series sedan, hoping some European styling thanks to its new Italian owners will boost its market presence.

Building of the Kalong Temple only consists of a Padmasana shrine along with a small and simple Piasan pavilion. Meanwhile, its wantilan hall is typically a four-pillared pavilion sizing 3 x 4 meters. There is no compound wall protecting the temple area, so that when the seawater rises, it will inundate the temple courtyard sizing 17 x19 meters. Supporting devotee of the temple only consists of 34 families where all of them are from the village of Gilimanuk.

According to Jro Mangku Yasa, one of the caretakers of the Kalong Temple, history of the temple was commenced by its discovery in 1970.

At that time, one of the spiritualists from Negara had a piece of keris dagger. In each meditation, he had always got a vision that owner of the kris was the deity abiding in the Kalong Temple, but he did not know the location. Eventually, when meeting Jro Mangku Yasa, he asked this priest to take him to the temple concerned.

From that time, they established a temporary shrine whose pillar used

some trees (turus lumbung).

In the long run, the pillars of the temporary shrine were damaged and the temple was forgotten by the spiritualist. Then in 1980, a few young Hindu people of Gilimanuk seemed to get a vision instructing them to re-organize the temple by building a Padmasana shrine and it could have been completed in 2004.

On the other hand, according to Agung Putu Wirawan, a caretaker of the Kalong Temple, the late Gusti Made Beratha, a former headman of Gilimanuk, found a very unique holy bell in the vicinity of the location in 1980s. It was smaller than the holy bell usually used by a high priest. In the passage of time, the holy bell was taken by the Antiquities Agency to be saved. However, until Gusti Made Beratha died in 1999, existence of the holy bell was unclear. In other words, it was unknown whether the holy bell belonged to a spiritualist of the ancient human, considering location of the temple is also adjacent to the museum of ancient humans. (kmb)

IBP/File Photo

Lukat geni at Paksebali:

A tradition of neutralizing negative force CELEBRATION of Nyepi in Bali is not only marked with the implementation of the catur brata penyepian or four abstinences.

Many people celebrate it with a series of unique Balinese traditions, chiefly on the Pengerupukan or one day before Nyepi. Aside from becoming the right moment for reflection and introspection to neutralize the inner bad qualities, Nyepi also neutralizes the nature from negative qualities. One of the unique traditions known as Lukat Geni was performed in the Satria Kawan Palace, Paksebali, Dawan, Klungkung.

IBP/File Photo

Tradition of Lukat Geni has been carried out through generations.

On the Pengerupukan night, the Satria Kawan Palace, Paksebali, showed off different ambience from the other customary villages in Bali.

Other than parading the ogoh-ogoh symbolizing bhuta kala (viciousness), it was also accompanied with a series of Lukat Geni tradition.

This tradition has been implemented through generations since many years ago. Lukat Geni was a procession of the battle situation by means of fire kindled on dried coconut leaves used as a weapon.

The activity involved several youths in pair from the local area.

Dried coconut leaves used as the weapon was first tied and then lit.

Afterward, it was slapped onto each opponent. Before the procession began, the priest of royal family temple of the Satria Kawan Palace invoked the safety to local deities for the smoothness of procession.

Participants and paraphernalia in use should be purified first through a special ritual.

Since late afternoon, the youth had gathered to take part in the Lukat Geni (fire wars) tradition.

The whole community, young-old and men-women thronged to witness the attraction from a closer distance. It was performed before the ogoh-ogoh parade. For the making of ogoh-ogoh, the youth of Satria Kawan should spend up to IDR 4.5 million and took them for nearly a month.

Before parading the ogoh-ogoh, all the participants of Lukat Geni (the youth) seemed to have beaten each other by using the flames on a bundle of dried coconut leaves.

Such ‘mutual beating’ action was increasingly fierce as accompanied by the vigorous baleganjur gamelan music. However, they showed off no anger, no revenge. Despite using flames, no youth looked to get injured because they did it sincerely for a single purpose, namely eliminating the bad or negative qualities.

Considering the Lukat Geni tradition was basically held for cleaning up nature and neutralizing negative forces, so that it would not cause any disruption due to destructive things. “Hopefully,

implementation of the Lukat Geni next year could be better than the previous year,” said the temple priest of Satria Kawan Palace, Jero Mangku AA Oka. He added that Lukat Geni ritual had existed since days of yore.

Due to several factors, the tradition was abolished for some periods.

Since recent years, the ritual was re-implemented to neutralize and maintain the balance of nature.

The tradition of neutralizing nature from negative forces was also carried out at Dawan customary village. However, the tradition was different namely by sacrificing a cow or caru sapi. It was carried out coinciding with the implementation of usabha desa taking place on the Pengerupukan. The procession was held by parading the cow from Dalem Temple, going around the village and then going to Puseh and Bale Agung Temple. Ultimately, it turned back to the end of the village and the selected cow was sacrificed or made into caru exorcism at cemetery of the Dawan customary village. (kmb)

6

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

W

RLD

International

46 years on, Vietnamese helmet returned Associated Press Writer

HUONG NON, Vietnam — In 1968, young American soldier John Wast was scouring a battlefield in central Vietnam for weapons and intelligence when an enemy helmet with an image of a dove scratched onto it caught his eye. He tied it to his rucksack, and five months later took it home as a war souvenir, where for 46 years it had sat on a shelf.

When a U.S. veterans’ charity approached him asking whether he would like to see the helmet returned to the family of its onetime owner, he said yes, so long as it didn’t cause them any more pain. The group, the Development of Vietnam Endeavors Fund, located the family of the soldier, Bui Duc Hung, who was killed in the war, his remains never recovered.

On Tuesday, four U.S. veterans returned the helmet in a ceremony in the Hung’s family’s village 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Hanoi that stressed the need for peace and reconciliation. “This is a very sacred moment for my extended family,” said Bui Duc Duc, the 52-year-old nephew of the slain solider.

Duc wept as the helmet was placed in front of a family altar in his house. The Americans, along with around 100 villagers and local officials gathered for the ceremony, looked on. A bust of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s victorious war time leader was also in the room.

“We consider this helmet as part of him and we will keep as a reminder for our family’s future generations,” he said. Up to 3 million Vietnamese were killed in the war, which the United States undertook to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.

AP Photo/Elias Asmare

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, left, listen to a question at a press conference after meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Japan, Ethiopia urge peace in South Sudan Agence France Presse

Addis Ababa - The leaders of Japan and Ethiopia on Monday urged South Sudan’s warring parties to sign a ceasefire to end weeks of fighting that has left thousands dead. “We agreed that the cessation of hostilities in South Sudan and national reconciliation is the most important way forward,” Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said at a joint briefing with his Japanese counterpart.

The comments came amid peace talks in Addis Ababa between rival South Sudanese parties aimed ending weeks of violence that has displaced over 200,000 people and brought the young country to the brink of civil war.

Ethiopia and Japan said they were committed to stability in South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011. “I have confirmed with (Hailemariam) that Japan and Ethiopia will maintain close contact and exchange information for stability for the situation in South Sudan,” Japanese leader Shinzo Abe said.

The Japanese leader said peace, security and aid in Africa were a

priority for his government and promised $11 million (8 million euros) to support refugees in Ethiopia.

Abe also announced $4.8 million (3.5 million euros) to develop Ethiopia’s agriculture sector and said his government was planning on investing in geothermal power production.

In addition, the countries launched the first direct flight between the two countries as a means to boost political and economic ties. “We have to double our efforts to bring our trade relations to the level possible between our two countries,” Hailemariam said. Abe reiterated his commit-

ment to increasing Japan’s role in Africa, home to several of the world’s fastest growing economies. “The Abe administration is the administration that has placed the greatest emphasis on Japan’s relationship with Africa,” he said.

The two-day trip to Ethiopia is Abe’s final stop on an Africa tour that has also taken him to Ivory Coast and Mozambique in a bid to boost Japanese ties and business relations in Africa, which has become a key trading partner with China. He is expected to deliver his policy plan for the continent at the African Union Tuesday before departing for Oman.

Rodman ‘sorry’ after controversial North Korea trip

Agence France Presse

Beijing - An emotional Dennis Rodman appeared to break down Monday as he apologised on his return from a controversial trip to North Korea, where he sang “Happy Birthday” to regime leader Kim Jong-Un. The former NBA star was widely criticised for refusing to bring up human rights abuses or the plight of a US missionary detained in North Korea during his week-long visit, but said he would return again next month.

Rodman was also accused of pandering to North Korean authorities during the trip, which featured an exhibition basketball match involving other NBA stars to mark Kim’s birthday. “I love my country, America, I love it and I will never trade it for nothing in the world,” the pierced and heavily tattooed ex-Chicago Bull told reporters at Beijing airport.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has described Rodman’s actions as “treason”. Rodman said he wanted to “show people that no matter what is going on in the world, for one day... not politics, not all this stuff...” before launching into an apology.

“I am sorry. I am not the president. I am not an ambassador. I am Dennis Rodman. Just an individual, just showing the world the fact that we can actually get along and be happy for one day,” Rodman said, before his voice broke and he put his hands to his face. The player known as “The Worm” was returning from his fourth visit to the reclusive state in 12 months. “It is amazing that I had the opportunity just to go to North Korea, and for the Marshal (Kim) just to give me an opportunity just to be in his presence and in his city,” he said, adding that he would visit the North again next month for “another game”. He gave no further details.

Ronaldo...

From page 1 Ronaldo also led the way in the most demanding environment of all, the Champions League, finishing as last season’s top scorer and becoming the first man to ever score nine times in just five group games this season. Moreover, at both club and international level he has managed to revise the previously popular image of him as a petulant and selfish player. At the age of 28, this is a more mature Ronaldo than the one who won the Ballon d’Or five years ago. A captain and star that, as he showed that night in Stockholm, takes responsibility and leads by his example. A maturation process that has finally seen him topple Messi as the world’s best.

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

11

INDONESIA President: Let’s emulate sublime nature of Prophet Muhammad Antara

JAKARTA - President Yudhoyono, in his message to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad on Tuesday, called on Indonesian Muslims to emulate the sublime nature of the prophet.

On his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono, the president tweeted, “Let us emulate the sublime nature and follow the example of Prophet Muhammad who had set a good example to all.”

The president noted that the prophet was a model for Muslims to learn and emulate his thoughts, his words, his personality and his attitude in loving his people and respecting others.

President Yudhoyono also attended the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad, commonly called Maulid Nabi in Indonesia, is com-

memorated by Muslims during the month of Rabi-al-awwal, the third month of the Muslim calendar.

Muhammad was born approximately in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.

He was raised by his is uncle after both his parents died when he was very young. Prophet Muhammad learned to be a shepherd as well as the skills to trade like a merchant.

He began preaching around the age of 40. Eventually, he and his followers, totaling to around ten thousand, took control of Mecca.

Muhammad died of an illness in 632 after integrating Arabia into a single Muslim entity.

Corruption suspect charged with money laundering Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has added charges against Ratu Atut Chosiyah, Tubagus Chaeri Wardana (TCW) with money laundering.

The younger brother of disgraced Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah and husband of South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany, is already in KPK detention on bribery charge.

Atut herself has also been arrested

by KPK on charge of corruption.

KPK has found enough evidence to charge Tubagus alias Wawan with money laundering, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said

here on Monday.

KPK earlier charged Wawan with bribery in the Lebak district election in Banten and corruption in the procurement of health equipment for hospital in South Tangernag, Banten.

Johan said he had no yet information about Wawan’s assets being confiscated, but what was certain is KPK is probing suspicious financial transactions involving the suspect.

Ratu Atut Chosiyah is charged with accepting bribe in the project for the procurement of health equipment in Banten and in the Lebak district election and in bribing chief justice of the Constitutional Court.

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Mount Sinabung erupts with molten rocks and hot gasses under the full moon as seen from Jeraya, North Sumatra, Indonesia, early Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. The volcano has sporadically erupted since September, forcing thousands of people who live around it slopes to flee their homes.

Militant jailed over Myanmar embassy plot Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - An Indonesian court has sentenced an Islamic extremist to six years in jail for conspiring to attack the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta to avenge the killing of Rohingya Muslims.

The South Jakarta district court on Monday found Rokhadi, alias Shiro, guilty of “evil conspiracy” for plotting the bombing as well as owning explosives to be used to blow up the front of the embassy, Okto Rikardo, a prosecutor who attended the trial, told AFP on Tuesday.

The court added that Rokhadi kept pipe bombs in his house for three days before he passed them to another member of the group,

Achmad Taufiq, who was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years jail last week.

Rokhadi is one of several men who have gone on trial over the May bomb plot, which came amid anger in Muslim-majority Indonesia at persecution of the stateless Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Myanmar.

Police foiled the plan the night before it was due to take place.

Rokhadi had also attended a bomb-assembling class with other members of group, the court added.

His deeds, the judges said, had tainted Indonesia’s reputation as a safe country and disrupted its efforts in combating terrorism.

Rokhadi’s sentence is lighter

than the prosecutors’ recommendation of eight years. He said he would not appeal.

There have been a string of attacks on minority Muslims in Myanmar since 2012, mostly in the Rohingya’s western home state of Rakhine. Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands made homeless.

Indonesia has been waging a campaign against Islamic extremists over the past decade since a string of attacks on Western targets, and has succeeded in dismantling the most dangerous networks.

Sigit Indrajid, 23, confessed during his trial last month that he was the mastermind of the plot.

He is due to be sentenced later this month.

10

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Destination

International

Sports

International

IBP

IBP/File Photo

7

Lowry scores 23 points, Raptors beat Bucks 116-94

Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest TABANAN - Alas Kedaton is situated at Kukuh Village, Marga Subdistrict, or some 4 km from the town of Tabanan. This temple has two kinds of uniqueness. Firstly, it has four entrances into the temple, namely the entrance from the west functioning as the main entrance, then from the north, east and the south.

All the entrances lead to the middle courtyard. Secondly, the courtyard becoming the sanctum sanctorum is even lower than the middle and outermost courtyard.

The sanctum is surrounded by a forest becoming the native home to a group of monkeys considered sacred. Besides, there also live a group of flying foxes suspending on the branches of large trees. When they are flying together, it generates a very interesting attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.

Piodalan or anniversary of this temple is celebrated on Tuesday (Anggara Kasih) or twenty days after Galungan. Uniquely, the ritual should be commenced at noon and should be completed before sunset.

The temple is often called Alas Kedaton or Dalem Kahyangan Temple.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Associated Press Writer

TORONTO — Kyle Lowry scored 23 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat Milwaukee 116-94 in the NBA on Monday night to hand the struggling Bucks their sixth straight loss. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points and Patrick Patterson 18 as Toronto won for the eighth time in nine games. The Atlantic Division leaders ended a five-game home slide against the Bucks, beating them in Toronto for the first time since Jan. 22, 2010.

With newly signed Toronto FC players Michael Bradley and former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe courtside, the victory gave Toronto its first five-game home winning streak for over a year. Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 27 points, Brandon Knight had 16 and Giannis Antetokounmpo 11 for the

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) looks to pass against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight, left, during first half NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Bucks, who are winless since beating the Lakers in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. The NBA’s worst team at 7-30, Milwaukee has lost 14 of 16 overall. Bucks forward Khris Middleton struggled for the third straight game, making just one of eight field goal attempts and finishing with two points.

In New Orleans, Tony Parker capped a 27-point outing with several clutch layups in the final minutes, and the San Antonio Spurs won their fifth straight game, 101-95 over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans.

Tim Duncan scored 18 points before fouling out in the final

period in what turned out to be a surprisingly tense contest between the Western Conference-leading Spurs and a depleted Pelicans squad that has now lost six straight since an injury to leading scorer Ryan Anderson. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead New Orleans, while Brian Roberts, starting at point guard for the injured Jrue Holiday, scored 19 points.

Elsewhere, Dwight Howard had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets over Boston 104-92, and send the Celtics crashing to its ninth consecutive defeat, while John Wall and Nene had 19 points apiece as the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 102-88.

Also Monday, the New York Knicks beat the Phoenix Suns 98-96 in overtime, the Dallas Mavericks thrashed the Orlando Magic 107-88 and the Utah Jazz outclassed the Denver Nuggets 118-103.

Del Potro wins in “worst conditions” at Melbourne Park Reuters

MELBOURNE - World number five Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over American qualifier Rhyne Williams in stifling heat on Tuesday. The towering Argentine, who won the 2009 U.S. Open, is a dark horse to win his second grand slam title having enjoyed encouraging form in the leadup to Melbourne with victory in the Sydney International warmup event.

The 22-year-old Williams, ranked 130 in the world, had other ideas as he matched Del Potro’s firepower in a tense first set and closed it out when the fifth seed stumbled in an error-strewn tiebreak. Del Potro steadied in the second set and cruised to victory in just over three hours to set up a clash with Spain’s 62nd ranked Roberto Bautista Agut.

The extreme heat at Melbourne

Park on Tuesday caused a ball-boy and men’s player Frank Dancevic to collapse during his first round loss, and the Canadian later slammed organisers as ‘inhumane’ for not suspending play. “I tried to focus for the match in the worst conditions to play,” Del Potro said in a courtside interview. “Really, really hot but the crowd kept me going.

“Hopefully the weather will be better on Thursday.”

Del Potro is unlikely to get his wish, however, with the temperatures forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) for the next three days until a cool change on the weekend.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina celebrates a point won over Rhyne Williams of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.

AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill

8

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Sp rt

Arsenal beats Villa 2-1, back atop Premier League Associated Press Writer

BIRMINGHAM, England — Arsenal scored two goals in the space of 59 seconds on its way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa that put the visitors back on top of the Premier League on Monday. Jack Wilshere’s 34th-minute opener was quickly followed by a well-taken goal by Olivier Giroud, which proved to be enough to lift Arsenal back above Manchester City and Chelsea after their victories at the weekend.

Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored his first goal since mid-September to give Villa hope in the 76th minute but the home side couldn’t find an equalizer despite late pressure. “The first half was more about playing, and the second half was more about fighting,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

With its fourth straight league win, Arsenal restored its one-point lead over City after 21 matches. To cap another disappointing result at Villa Park for the mid-table hosts, Villa defender Nathan Baker was carried off on a stretcher in the 21st minute after briefly losing consciousness when he was hit straight in the face by a shot from Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry.

Baker required oxygen and a neck brace after being treated on the field for seven minutes. He was later diagnosed with mild concussion, according to broadcaster Sky Sports.

The pressure was on Arsenal after seeing the rest of the top seven all pick up victories by two-goal margins over the weekend. However, save for a worrying last 15 minutes when Villa rallied gamely, the Gunners passed the ball much better and always looked the likely winners.

Wilshere’s goal came when he ran onto a cut-back from left back Nacho Monreal,

took a touch and shot low in to the bottom corner to the left of goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Just seventeen seconds after the restart, the ball hit the back of the net again. This time Wilshere was the provider, the England midfielder collecting a loose ball and playing a sublime pass through to Giroud, who brought the ball down well and fired across Guzan into the corner. It was the France striker’s ninth league goal of the season on his return to the first team after a spell out through injury and illness.

Villa had only scored seven goals in its previous 10 home games this season so a comeback was unlikely, even if memories were relatively fresh of a surprise win at Arsenal on the first day of the season.

However, when Benteke stooped to head in Matthew Lowton’s fine cross at full stretch after Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla sloppily gave possession away, it was all to play for with 14 minutes left.

Benteke’s downward header, saved comfortably by Wojciech Szczesny, was the closest Villa came to earning a point.

“It’s a massive three points, especially because we dropped a bit in the second half,” Wilshere said. “We have done that a few times, letting teams come on to us, but we dealt well with it.”

Arsenal’s Oliver Giroud kisses his hand as he celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

FIFA allows Kosovo to play friendly matches Reuters

PRISTINA - Kosovo is to be allowed to play friendly matches against FIFA member-states at club and international level with some limitations, world soccer’s governing body said on its website (www. fifa.com) on Monday. The permission was a big step forward for Kosovo to start competing at international level six years after it declared independence from Serbia.

“Following various meetings that have taken place since 2012, the FIFA Emergency Committee has today...confirmed a set of modalities of friendly matches involving clubs and representative teams of Kosovo,” FIFA said. “Clubs and representative teams of the (Football Federation of Kosovo) may not display national symbols (flags, emblems, etc.) or play national anthems.” Kosovo will still not be allowed to play matches against clubs and representative teams of countries of the former Yugoslavia until further notice.

Many athletes from Kosovo have chosen to move abroad and compete for

TFC on suicide watch after Defoe and Bradley signings AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Inter Milan forward Rodrigo Palacio, of Argentina, heads the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Chievo Verona, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Inter Milan held to 1-1 draw by Chievo in Serie A

Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

adopted countries in order to take part in major sporting events which are still out of reach for Kosovo given that it is yet to become a member of the United Nations.

The country with more than 90 percent Albanian population got the go-ahead after a series of meetings with the leadership of the Serbian Football Association and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

“The decision...represents a major boost for football development in Kosovo and it once again confirms the extraordinary power of our sport to bring people together,” Blatter said. The decision was hailed as a major victory in Kosovo and local media have already come up with candidates eligible to play for the national team.

“I congratulate Kosovo’s entire sporting community for this achievement,” the country’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on his facebook page.

“I express the hope that in the near future, the Kosovo Football Federation will be an equal member of UEFA and FIFA where today’s limitations will not be valid anymore,” he said.

9

MILAN — Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chievo Verona in Serie A as an incorrectly disallowed goal saw its poor run continue on Monday. Chievo took the lead in the eighth minute when former AC Milan forward Alberto Paloschi smashed the ball into the top far corner with a great finish.

Inter leveled four minutes later as Yuto Nagatomo sidefooted home Ricardo Alvarez’s low pass across the area from close range. Nagatomo thought he had fired Inter in front just two minutes later but his effort was harshly ruled out for offside.

“We scored a clear and obvious goal and they didn’t give it to us,” Alvarez said. “Certainly we’re making

our mistakes and we know that but I think that the referees are too. Certainly we have to think about what we’re doing, but sometimes the referees make too many mistakes against us.”

Rodrigo Palacio should have scored in the 25th but he headed Jonathan’s cross wide from an unmarked position at the far post.

Chievo could have taken the lead in the 71st when Cyril Thereau combined well with Paloschi on the counter but the Frenchman fired wide of the left post. Inter has won just one of its past seven league matches and was knocked out of the Italian Cup

by Udinese last week. It is fifth but 10 points behind third-placed Napoli and the final Champions League berth.

Chievo moved a point off the relegation zone.

Reuters

TORONTO - - Toronto FC’s decision to sign England striker Jermain Defoe and U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley is akin to committing financial suicide, Tim Leiweke, the man who masterminded the deals, said on Monday. But if Leiweke, president of TFC owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), and all those involved in the reported $100 million deal were really preparing for economic hara-kiri they were doing it with a smile on their faces.

There were no frowns anywhere as MLSE, whose sporting portfolio also includes the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Raptors, introduced Defoe and Bradley during a splashy unveiling at a popular upscale sports bar.

Defoe, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur where he was the Premier League club’s fifth highest scorer with 142 goals and Bradley, a hard-nosed midfielder lured from Serie A giants AS Roma, joined Brazilian striker Gilberto to cap an off-season shopping spree never before seen in Major League Soccer. “To do one DP (designated player) is a smart move, to do two DP’s is not the smartest thing ever done and to do three is financial suicide,” Leiweke told a news conference on Monday. “We don’t have enough seats to make

economic sense out of this and we have raised our ticket prices.

“But we needed to repair the integrity of the relationship with our fans and to the owners credit they understand the first year is a lost leader and we’re not going to dwell on that.”

While Leiweke, the man who brokered the deals that brought David Beckham and Robbie Keane to the Los Angeles Galaxy, conceded the signings made no financial sense he said it was an opportunity too good to pass up as MLSE tries to breathe new life into a club which has failed miserably on the pitch.

When TFC entered the league seven years ago to great fanfare and wild support, they were held up as the prototype MLS franchise and the template of how to get a club off the ground.

But in seven years they have yet to reach the playoffs and last season won just six games on the way to finishing bottom of the table in 2012 with just five victories. With the franchise in disarray and the fan base shrinking, MLSE’s hand was forced into making a big move to get back on track.

“You do it because you can and we have the owners who are committed and they understand it’s going to take a year two to get this to a point where it makes financial sense,” Leiweke said.

Villarreal thrash Sociedad 5-1 to claim fifth spot

Reuters

MADRID - Villarreal landed a stunning blow on a potential rival for a European qualification berth when Giovani dos Santos and Ikechukwu Uche each struck twice in a 5-1 drubbing of Real Sociedad in La Liga on Monday. The resounding victory for the team known as “yellow submarine” lifted them above Sociedad into fifth on 34 points at the halfway stage of the season, two ahead of the San Sebastian-based side and two behind another Basque club, fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Villarreal produced a brilliant display of attacking football at their Madrigal stadium, with former Tottenham Hotspur forward Dos Santos on scintillating form. It was the latest evidence they fully deserve to be playing among the elite of Spanish football after spending a year in the second division last term. Mexican Dos Santos fired them ahead in the 17th minute before crossing for Nigerian Uche to make it 2-0 in the 27th.

Dos Santos, a product of Barcelona’s academy who has also had

stints at Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Real Mallorca, grabbed his second six minutes later as Sociedad were swept aside by the home side’s intensity and attacking verve. Uche completed his double from another Dos Santos assist 10 minutes into the second half and Moises Gomez added a fifth in the 58th before Imanol Agirretxe pulled one back for Sociedad on the hour.

Villarreal had not won at home since the end of October and the victory will give them a boost for their next game on Thursday, when they host Sociedad again in the last 16 of the King’s Cup. Last week’s first leg in San Sebastian ended 0-0 and the winners of the tie will play Almeria or third-tier Racing Santander in the quarter-finals.

“We were really keen to start winning at home again after a long time without a victory,” Villarreal fullback Mario Gaspar told Spanish television broadcaster Cuatro. “I think we enjoyed ourselves on the pitch, you could see that, and now we have to focus on Thursday as we are also very excited about the Cup,” he added.

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn

New Toronto FC soccer players Jermain Defoe, left, and Michael Bradley pose during a news conference in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

8

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Sp rt

Arsenal beats Villa 2-1, back atop Premier League Associated Press Writer

BIRMINGHAM, England — Arsenal scored two goals in the space of 59 seconds on its way to a 2-1 win over Aston Villa that put the visitors back on top of the Premier League on Monday. Jack Wilshere’s 34th-minute opener was quickly followed by a well-taken goal by Olivier Giroud, which proved to be enough to lift Arsenal back above Manchester City and Chelsea after their victories at the weekend.

Belgium striker Christian Benteke scored his first goal since mid-September to give Villa hope in the 76th minute but the home side couldn’t find an equalizer despite late pressure. “The first half was more about playing, and the second half was more about fighting,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

With its fourth straight league win, Arsenal restored its one-point lead over City after 21 matches. To cap another disappointing result at Villa Park for the mid-table hosts, Villa defender Nathan Baker was carried off on a stretcher in the 21st minute after briefly losing consciousness when he was hit straight in the face by a shot from Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry.

Baker required oxygen and a neck brace after being treated on the field for seven minutes. He was later diagnosed with mild concussion, according to broadcaster Sky Sports.

The pressure was on Arsenal after seeing the rest of the top seven all pick up victories by two-goal margins over the weekend. However, save for a worrying last 15 minutes when Villa rallied gamely, the Gunners passed the ball much better and always looked the likely winners.

Wilshere’s goal came when he ran onto a cut-back from left back Nacho Monreal,

took a touch and shot low in to the bottom corner to the left of goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Just seventeen seconds after the restart, the ball hit the back of the net again. This time Wilshere was the provider, the England midfielder collecting a loose ball and playing a sublime pass through to Giroud, who brought the ball down well and fired across Guzan into the corner. It was the France striker’s ninth league goal of the season on his return to the first team after a spell out through injury and illness.

Villa had only scored seven goals in its previous 10 home games this season so a comeback was unlikely, even if memories were relatively fresh of a surprise win at Arsenal on the first day of the season.

However, when Benteke stooped to head in Matthew Lowton’s fine cross at full stretch after Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla sloppily gave possession away, it was all to play for with 14 minutes left.

Benteke’s downward header, saved comfortably by Wojciech Szczesny, was the closest Villa came to earning a point.

“It’s a massive three points, especially because we dropped a bit in the second half,” Wilshere said. “We have done that a few times, letting teams come on to us, but we dealt well with it.”

Arsenal’s Oliver Giroud kisses his hand as he celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, England, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

FIFA allows Kosovo to play friendly matches Reuters

PRISTINA - Kosovo is to be allowed to play friendly matches against FIFA member-states at club and international level with some limitations, world soccer’s governing body said on its website (www. fifa.com) on Monday. The permission was a big step forward for Kosovo to start competing at international level six years after it declared independence from Serbia.

“Following various meetings that have taken place since 2012, the FIFA Emergency Committee has today...confirmed a set of modalities of friendly matches involving clubs and representative teams of Kosovo,” FIFA said. “Clubs and representative teams of the (Football Federation of Kosovo) may not display national symbols (flags, emblems, etc.) or play national anthems.” Kosovo will still not be allowed to play matches against clubs and representative teams of countries of the former Yugoslavia until further notice.

Many athletes from Kosovo have chosen to move abroad and compete for

TFC on suicide watch after Defoe and Bradley signings AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Inter Milan forward Rodrigo Palacio, of Argentina, heads the ball during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Chievo Verona, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Inter Milan held to 1-1 draw by Chievo in Serie A

Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

adopted countries in order to take part in major sporting events which are still out of reach for Kosovo given that it is yet to become a member of the United Nations.

The country with more than 90 percent Albanian population got the go-ahead after a series of meetings with the leadership of the Serbian Football Association and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

“The decision...represents a major boost for football development in Kosovo and it once again confirms the extraordinary power of our sport to bring people together,” Blatter said. The decision was hailed as a major victory in Kosovo and local media have already come up with candidates eligible to play for the national team.

“I congratulate Kosovo’s entire sporting community for this achievement,” the country’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said on his facebook page.

“I express the hope that in the near future, the Kosovo Football Federation will be an equal member of UEFA and FIFA where today’s limitations will not be valid anymore,” he said.

9

MILAN — Inter Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chievo Verona in Serie A as an incorrectly disallowed goal saw its poor run continue on Monday. Chievo took the lead in the eighth minute when former AC Milan forward Alberto Paloschi smashed the ball into the top far corner with a great finish.

Inter leveled four minutes later as Yuto Nagatomo sidefooted home Ricardo Alvarez’s low pass across the area from close range. Nagatomo thought he had fired Inter in front just two minutes later but his effort was harshly ruled out for offside.

“We scored a clear and obvious goal and they didn’t give it to us,” Alvarez said. “Certainly we’re making

our mistakes and we know that but I think that the referees are too. Certainly we have to think about what we’re doing, but sometimes the referees make too many mistakes against us.”

Rodrigo Palacio should have scored in the 25th but he headed Jonathan’s cross wide from an unmarked position at the far post.

Chievo could have taken the lead in the 71st when Cyril Thereau combined well with Paloschi on the counter but the Frenchman fired wide of the left post. Inter has won just one of its past seven league matches and was knocked out of the Italian Cup

by Udinese last week. It is fifth but 10 points behind third-placed Napoli and the final Champions League berth.

Chievo moved a point off the relegation zone.

Reuters

TORONTO - - Toronto FC’s decision to sign England striker Jermain Defoe and U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley is akin to committing financial suicide, Tim Leiweke, the man who masterminded the deals, said on Monday. But if Leiweke, president of TFC owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), and all those involved in the reported $100 million deal were really preparing for economic hara-kiri they were doing it with a smile on their faces.

There were no frowns anywhere as MLSE, whose sporting portfolio also includes the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and NBA’s Raptors, introduced Defoe and Bradley during a splashy unveiling at a popular upscale sports bar.

Defoe, who joined from Tottenham Hotspur where he was the Premier League club’s fifth highest scorer with 142 goals and Bradley, a hard-nosed midfielder lured from Serie A giants AS Roma, joined Brazilian striker Gilberto to cap an off-season shopping spree never before seen in Major League Soccer. “To do one DP (designated player) is a smart move, to do two DP’s is not the smartest thing ever done and to do three is financial suicide,” Leiweke told a news conference on Monday. “We don’t have enough seats to make

economic sense out of this and we have raised our ticket prices.

“But we needed to repair the integrity of the relationship with our fans and to the owners credit they understand the first year is a lost leader and we’re not going to dwell on that.”

While Leiweke, the man who brokered the deals that brought David Beckham and Robbie Keane to the Los Angeles Galaxy, conceded the signings made no financial sense he said it was an opportunity too good to pass up as MLSE tries to breathe new life into a club which has failed miserably on the pitch.

When TFC entered the league seven years ago to great fanfare and wild support, they were held up as the prototype MLS franchise and the template of how to get a club off the ground.

But in seven years they have yet to reach the playoffs and last season won just six games on the way to finishing bottom of the table in 2012 with just five victories. With the franchise in disarray and the fan base shrinking, MLSE’s hand was forced into making a big move to get back on track.

“You do it because you can and we have the owners who are committed and they understand it’s going to take a year two to get this to a point where it makes financial sense,” Leiweke said.

Villarreal thrash Sociedad 5-1 to claim fifth spot

Reuters

MADRID - Villarreal landed a stunning blow on a potential rival for a European qualification berth when Giovani dos Santos and Ikechukwu Uche each struck twice in a 5-1 drubbing of Real Sociedad in La Liga on Monday. The resounding victory for the team known as “yellow submarine” lifted them above Sociedad into fifth on 34 points at the halfway stage of the season, two ahead of the San Sebastian-based side and two behind another Basque club, fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Villarreal produced a brilliant display of attacking football at their Madrigal stadium, with former Tottenham Hotspur forward Dos Santos on scintillating form. It was the latest evidence they fully deserve to be playing among the elite of Spanish football after spending a year in the second division last term. Mexican Dos Santos fired them ahead in the 17th minute before crossing for Nigerian Uche to make it 2-0 in the 27th.

Dos Santos, a product of Barcelona’s academy who has also had

stints at Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Real Mallorca, grabbed his second six minutes later as Sociedad were swept aside by the home side’s intensity and attacking verve. Uche completed his double from another Dos Santos assist 10 minutes into the second half and Moises Gomez added a fifth in the 58th before Imanol Agirretxe pulled one back for Sociedad on the hour.

Villarreal had not won at home since the end of October and the victory will give them a boost for their next game on Thursday, when they host Sociedad again in the last 16 of the King’s Cup. Last week’s first leg in San Sebastian ended 0-0 and the winners of the tie will play Almeria or third-tier Racing Santander in the quarter-finals.

“We were really keen to start winning at home again after a long time without a victory,” Villarreal fullback Mario Gaspar told Spanish television broadcaster Cuatro. “I think we enjoyed ourselves on the pitch, you could see that, and now we have to focus on Thursday as we are also very excited about the Cup,” he added.

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn

New Toronto FC soccer players Jermain Defoe, left, and Michael Bradley pose during a news conference in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

10

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Destination

International

Sports

International

IBP

IBP/File Photo

7

Lowry scores 23 points, Raptors beat Bucks 116-94

Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest TABANAN - Alas Kedaton is situated at Kukuh Village, Marga Subdistrict, or some 4 km from the town of Tabanan. This temple has two kinds of uniqueness. Firstly, it has four entrances into the temple, namely the entrance from the west functioning as the main entrance, then from the north, east and the south.

All the entrances lead to the middle courtyard. Secondly, the courtyard becoming the sanctum sanctorum is even lower than the middle and outermost courtyard.

The sanctum is surrounded by a forest becoming the native home to a group of monkeys considered sacred. Besides, there also live a group of flying foxes suspending on the branches of large trees. When they are flying together, it generates a very interesting attraction for domestic and foreign tourists.

Piodalan or anniversary of this temple is celebrated on Tuesday (Anggara Kasih) or twenty days after Galungan. Uniquely, the ritual should be commenced at noon and should be completed before sunset.

The temple is often called Alas Kedaton or Dalem Kahyangan Temple.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Associated Press Writer

TORONTO — Kyle Lowry scored 23 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat Milwaukee 116-94 in the NBA on Monday night to hand the struggling Bucks their sixth straight loss. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points and Patrick Patterson 18 as Toronto won for the eighth time in nine games. The Atlantic Division leaders ended a five-game home slide against the Bucks, beating them in Toronto for the first time since Jan. 22, 2010.

With newly signed Toronto FC players Michael Bradley and former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe courtside, the victory gave Toronto its first five-game home winning streak for over a year. Ersan Ilyasova scored a season-high 27 points, Brandon Knight had 16 and Giannis Antetokounmpo 11 for the

AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Nathan Denette

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) looks to pass against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Knight, left, during first half NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Bucks, who are winless since beating the Lakers in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. The NBA’s worst team at 7-30, Milwaukee has lost 14 of 16 overall. Bucks forward Khris Middleton struggled for the third straight game, making just one of eight field goal attempts and finishing with two points.

In New Orleans, Tony Parker capped a 27-point outing with several clutch layups in the final minutes, and the San Antonio Spurs won their fifth straight game, 101-95 over the reeling New Orleans Pelicans.

Tim Duncan scored 18 points before fouling out in the final

period in what turned out to be a surprisingly tense contest between the Western Conference-leading Spurs and a depleted Pelicans squad that has now lost six straight since an injury to leading scorer Ryan Anderson. Anthony Davis had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead New Orleans, while Brian Roberts, starting at point guard for the injured Jrue Holiday, scored 19 points.

Elsewhere, Dwight Howard had 32 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets over Boston 104-92, and send the Celtics crashing to its ninth consecutive defeat, while John Wall and Nene had 19 points apiece as the Washington Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 102-88.

Also Monday, the New York Knicks beat the Phoenix Suns 98-96 in overtime, the Dallas Mavericks thrashed the Orlando Magic 107-88 and the Utah Jazz outclassed the Denver Nuggets 118-103.

Del Potro wins in “worst conditions” at Melbourne Park Reuters

MELBOURNE - World number five Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the second round of the Australian Open with a 6-7 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over American qualifier Rhyne Williams in stifling heat on Tuesday. The towering Argentine, who won the 2009 U.S. Open, is a dark horse to win his second grand slam title having enjoyed encouraging form in the leadup to Melbourne with victory in the Sydney International warmup event.

The 22-year-old Williams, ranked 130 in the world, had other ideas as he matched Del Potro’s firepower in a tense first set and closed it out when the fifth seed stumbled in an error-strewn tiebreak. Del Potro steadied in the second set and cruised to victory in just over three hours to set up a clash with Spain’s 62nd ranked Roberto Bautista Agut.

The extreme heat at Melbourne

Park on Tuesday caused a ball-boy and men’s player Frank Dancevic to collapse during his first round loss, and the Canadian later slammed organisers as ‘inhumane’ for not suspending play. “I tried to focus for the match in the worst conditions to play,” Del Potro said in a courtside interview. “Really, really hot but the crowd kept me going.

“Hopefully the weather will be better on Thursday.”

Del Potro is unlikely to get his wish, however, with the temperatures forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (108 Fahrenheit) for the next three days until a cool change on the weekend.

Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina celebrates a point won over Rhyne Williams of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014.

AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill

6

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

W

RLD

International

46 years on, Vietnamese helmet returned Associated Press Writer

HUONG NON, Vietnam — In 1968, young American soldier John Wast was scouring a battlefield in central Vietnam for weapons and intelligence when an enemy helmet with an image of a dove scratched onto it caught his eye. He tied it to his rucksack, and five months later took it home as a war souvenir, where for 46 years it had sat on a shelf.

When a U.S. veterans’ charity approached him asking whether he would like to see the helmet returned to the family of its onetime owner, he said yes, so long as it didn’t cause them any more pain. The group, the Development of Vietnam Endeavors Fund, located the family of the soldier, Bui Duc Hung, who was killed in the war, his remains never recovered.

On Tuesday, four U.S. veterans returned the helmet in a ceremony in the Hung’s family’s village 70 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Hanoi that stressed the need for peace and reconciliation. “This is a very sacred moment for my extended family,” said Bui Duc Duc, the 52-year-old nephew of the slain solider.

Duc wept as the helmet was placed in front of a family altar in his house. The Americans, along with around 100 villagers and local officials gathered for the ceremony, looked on. A bust of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s victorious war time leader was also in the room.

“We consider this helmet as part of him and we will keep as a reminder for our family’s future generations,” he said. Up to 3 million Vietnamese were killed in the war, which the United States undertook to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.

AP Photo/Elias Asmare

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, left, listen to a question at a press conference after meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Japan, Ethiopia urge peace in South Sudan Agence France Presse

Addis Ababa - The leaders of Japan and Ethiopia on Monday urged South Sudan’s warring parties to sign a ceasefire to end weeks of fighting that has left thousands dead. “We agreed that the cessation of hostilities in South Sudan and national reconciliation is the most important way forward,” Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said at a joint briefing with his Japanese counterpart.

The comments came amid peace talks in Addis Ababa between rival South Sudanese parties aimed ending weeks of violence that has displaced over 200,000 people and brought the young country to the brink of civil war.

Ethiopia and Japan said they were committed to stability in South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011. “I have confirmed with (Hailemariam) that Japan and Ethiopia will maintain close contact and exchange information for stability for the situation in South Sudan,” Japanese leader Shinzo Abe said.

The Japanese leader said peace, security and aid in Africa were a

priority for his government and promised $11 million (8 million euros) to support refugees in Ethiopia.

Abe also announced $4.8 million (3.5 million euros) to develop Ethiopia’s agriculture sector and said his government was planning on investing in geothermal power production.

In addition, the countries launched the first direct flight between the two countries as a means to boost political and economic ties. “We have to double our efforts to bring our trade relations to the level possible between our two countries,” Hailemariam said. Abe reiterated his commit-

ment to increasing Japan’s role in Africa, home to several of the world’s fastest growing economies. “The Abe administration is the administration that has placed the greatest emphasis on Japan’s relationship with Africa,” he said.

The two-day trip to Ethiopia is Abe’s final stop on an Africa tour that has also taken him to Ivory Coast and Mozambique in a bid to boost Japanese ties and business relations in Africa, which has become a key trading partner with China. He is expected to deliver his policy plan for the continent at the African Union Tuesday before departing for Oman.

Rodman ‘sorry’ after controversial North Korea trip

Agence France Presse

Beijing - An emotional Dennis Rodman appeared to break down Monday as he apologised on his return from a controversial trip to North Korea, where he sang “Happy Birthday” to regime leader Kim Jong-Un. The former NBA star was widely criticised for refusing to bring up human rights abuses or the plight of a US missionary detained in North Korea during his week-long visit, but said he would return again next month.

Rodman was also accused of pandering to North Korean authorities during the trip, which featured an exhibition basketball match involving other NBA stars to mark Kim’s birthday. “I love my country, America, I love it and I will never trade it for nothing in the world,” the pierced and heavily tattooed ex-Chicago Bull told reporters at Beijing airport.

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has described Rodman’s actions as “treason”. Rodman said he wanted to “show people that no matter what is going on in the world, for one day... not politics, not all this stuff...” before launching into an apology.

“I am sorry. I am not the president. I am not an ambassador. I am Dennis Rodman. Just an individual, just showing the world the fact that we can actually get along and be happy for one day,” Rodman said, before his voice broke and he put his hands to his face. The player known as “The Worm” was returning from his fourth visit to the reclusive state in 12 months. “It is amazing that I had the opportunity just to go to North Korea, and for the Marshal (Kim) just to give me an opportunity just to be in his presence and in his city,” he said, adding that he would visit the North again next month for “another game”. He gave no further details.

Ronaldo...

From page 1 Ronaldo also led the way in the most demanding environment of all, the Champions League, finishing as last season’s top scorer and becoming the first man to ever score nine times in just five group games this season. Moreover, at both club and international level he has managed to revise the previously popular image of him as a petulant and selfish player. At the age of 28, this is a more mature Ronaldo than the one who won the Ballon d’Or five years ago. A captain and star that, as he showed that night in Stockholm, takes responsibility and leads by his example. A maturation process that has finally seen him topple Messi as the world’s best.

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

11

INDONESIA President: Let’s emulate sublime nature of Prophet Muhammad Antara

JAKARTA - President Yudhoyono, in his message to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad on Tuesday, called on Indonesian Muslims to emulate the sublime nature of the prophet.

On his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono, the president tweeted, “Let us emulate the sublime nature and follow the example of Prophet Muhammad who had set a good example to all.”

The president noted that the prophet was a model for Muslims to learn and emulate his thoughts, his words, his personality and his attitude in loving his people and respecting others.

President Yudhoyono also attended the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad, commonly called Maulid Nabi in Indonesia, is com-

memorated by Muslims during the month of Rabi-al-awwal, the third month of the Muslim calendar.

Muhammad was born approximately in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar.

He was raised by his is uncle after both his parents died when he was very young. Prophet Muhammad learned to be a shepherd as well as the skills to trade like a merchant.

He began preaching around the age of 40. Eventually, he and his followers, totaling to around ten thousand, took control of Mecca.

Muhammad died of an illness in 632 after integrating Arabia into a single Muslim entity.

Corruption suspect charged with money laundering Antara

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has added charges against Ratu Atut Chosiyah, Tubagus Chaeri Wardana (TCW) with money laundering.

The younger brother of disgraced Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah and husband of South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany, is already in KPK detention on bribery charge.

Atut herself has also been arrested

by KPK on charge of corruption.

KPK has found enough evidence to charge Tubagus alias Wawan with money laundering, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said

here on Monday.

KPK earlier charged Wawan with bribery in the Lebak district election in Banten and corruption in the procurement of health equipment for hospital in South Tangernag, Banten.

Johan said he had no yet information about Wawan’s assets being confiscated, but what was certain is KPK is probing suspicious financial transactions involving the suspect.

Ratu Atut Chosiyah is charged with accepting bribe in the project for the procurement of health equipment in Banten and in the Lebak district election and in bribing chief justice of the Constitutional Court.

AP Photo/Binsar Bakkara

Mount Sinabung erupts with molten rocks and hot gasses under the full moon as seen from Jeraya, North Sumatra, Indonesia, early Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014. The volcano has sporadically erupted since September, forcing thousands of people who live around it slopes to flee their homes.

Militant jailed over Myanmar embassy plot Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - An Indonesian court has sentenced an Islamic extremist to six years in jail for conspiring to attack the Myanmar embassy in Jakarta to avenge the killing of Rohingya Muslims.

The South Jakarta district court on Monday found Rokhadi, alias Shiro, guilty of “evil conspiracy” for plotting the bombing as well as owning explosives to be used to blow up the front of the embassy, Okto Rikardo, a prosecutor who attended the trial, told AFP on Tuesday.

The court added that Rokhadi kept pipe bombs in his house for three days before he passed them to another member of the group,

Achmad Taufiq, who was sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years jail last week.

Rokhadi is one of several men who have gone on trial over the May bomb plot, which came amid anger in Muslim-majority Indonesia at persecution of the stateless Rohingya in mainly Buddhist Myanmar.

Police foiled the plan the night before it was due to take place.

Rokhadi had also attended a bomb-assembling class with other members of group, the court added.

His deeds, the judges said, had tainted Indonesia’s reputation as a safe country and disrupted its efforts in combating terrorism.

Rokhadi’s sentence is lighter

than the prosecutors’ recommendation of eight years. He said he would not appeal.

There have been a string of attacks on minority Muslims in Myanmar since 2012, mostly in the Rohingya’s western home state of Rakhine. Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands made homeless.

Indonesia has been waging a campaign against Islamic extremists over the past decade since a string of attacks on Western targets, and has succeeded in dismantling the most dangerous networks.

Sigit Indrajid, 23, confessed during his trial last month that he was the mastermind of the plot.

He is due to be sentenced later this month.

12

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

BUSINESS

5

A Sanctum to worship Goddess Giri Putri IBP

NEGARA - Kalong Temple is located in the middle of the Kalong Island, amid the Gilimanuk Bay, and still belongs to the area of Bali Barat National Park. When devotees would like to say prayers, they will be transported by a boat to a distance of not less than ten minutes sail. Anniversary of this temple falls right on the Kuningan feast day, while the venerated deity in the temple is the Goddess Giri Putri.

Agence France-Presse

NEW DELHI - Foreign supermarket giants faced being shut out of the Indian capital Tuesday after Delhi’s new state government said it would not grant them a licence to operate. low Western supermarkets to hold a majority stake in local chains for the first time, have been seen as a chance to revive India’s ailing economy.

But small family-run stores fear that they could be priced out of business by the major retailers while there has also been widespread opposition from labour activists.

India’s main business lobby criticised the Aam Aadmi government move, saying it would hit investor confidence at a time when the economy is growing at its slowest rate for a decade.

“This direct negation without demonstrating a search for a viable alternative would hamper investment sentiment,” said Sidharth Birla, president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

“It has been proven time and again that both large multi-brand retail stores and small kirana stores coexist peacefully,” Birla told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Singh’s FDI reforms, which also opened up the airline and insurance industries, had been meant to draw in more foreign investors into Asia’s third largest economy.

But they have been undermined by persistent worries over issues such as corruption, red tape and tax battles.

Walmart and Indian firm Bharti announced in October that they were ending their retail partnership, with the US giant saying India’s foreign investment rules were partly to blame for the split.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Kalong Temple

Foreign supermarkets face shut-out in Delhi Amit Yadav, the Delhi municipality’s industry commissioner, told AFP he had written to the federal government to indicate that foreign “multi-brand retailers” would not be given consent to open stores in the capital in a reversal of previous policy.

Foreign retailers which only sell their own branded products, such as Britain’s Marks and Spencer, have long been able to operate in India.

But reforms unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in late 2012 should pave the way for the first foreign supermarkets to operate, provided 30 percent of their produce is sourced locally.

Delhi had been expected to be one of the first places to welcome the likes of Walmart and Tesco under the reforms.

But Singh’s Congress party was trounced in state elections in Delhi last month, losing power to a new anti-corruption party with a much cooler attitude towards foreign direct investment (FDI).

“It was a part of their manifesto to drop the FDI in multibrand retail policy and accordingly, a letter has been sent to the government of India asking to withdraw it,” said Yadav.

“FDI in multibrand retail is a policy that lies with the consent of individual state establishments.

Its implementation is strictly a state subject.”

Aam Aadmi, a fledgling anticorruption party, made opposition to the FDI reforms one of its pledges in the Delhi election which had been ruled by Congress for the last 15 years.

Singh’s FDI reforms, which al-

Bali News

International

AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

A Ford Mustang is seen in the automaker’s display area at the North American International Auto Show is seen in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

Detroit auto show

GM wins awards, Ford turns heads

Agence France-Presse

DETROIT - General Motors’ Chevrolet unit swept car and truck of the year honors but Ford’s use of aluminum in its F150 sparked new debate on the first day of the Detroit auto show Monday.

The show also saw the debut appearance of Mary Barra as GM’s new chief executive -- the first woman ever to lead a major auto maker; Fiat-Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne pledging to oversee the union of the two for at least the next three years; and Ford chief executive Alan Mulally still in his job, after finally scotching talk he was headed to Microsoft.

Automakers, after a hugely successful 2013, forecast more growth and unveiled powerful new trucks, sexy sports cars and luxury models.

General Motors logged an early win after its Chevrolet brand swept the car and truck of the year awards with the Corvette Stingray sports car and the Chevy Silverado pickup truck.

“Chevrolet is in the midst of the most aggressive product transformation in the brand’s more than

100-year history,” Chevy chief Alan Batey said, hailing its wins.

Eyes were on Ford, however, as it gambled with a major change for the best-selling F150 pickup, replacing steel body panels with aluminum to drastically lower body weight and boost fuel economy.

The move, which helped Ford slash the truck’s weight by up to 700 pounds (317 kilos) is seen as a big risk, because truck buyers tend to focus on sturdiness and power.

Toyota, meanwhile, revved up its design credentials with a provocative new concept for a sports car, with a race car pit crew opening a shiny red box to reveal the FT-1 sports concept -- Future Toyota 1.

Chrysler unveiled its hotly-anticipated revamp of the 200 sedan, which aims to bring a new level of luxury and styling to its midsized offering with a low entry price of $21,700.

“We designed a car to take on every other vehicle in its class, feature by feature and prove that a quality sedan doesn’t have to cross an ocean to be worthy of an American driveway,” Chrysler brand chief Al Gardner told reporters.

Mercedes got a jump on its com-

petitors by hiring Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child to serenade its sleek and luxurious new C-Class sedan, an upgrade from the entrylevel position it has held for several years.

Now that role has been taken by the CLA, and the C-Class has been decked out with features from higher-end Mercedes.

Also enjoying the move down from senior models is the diminutive Honda Fit. Honda has reshaped the front, enlarged the inside with generous leg space for a subcompact, boosted horsepower to 130 and worked to smooth the ride, adding a right-side Lane Watch, Bluetooth, rearview cameras, and upgraded smart phone connectivity.

Corvette also generated excitement with its new racing versions of the Corvette Stingray, the streetlegal Z06 and the track-ready CR.7.

Kia and Toyota brought in concept pocket-rockets, BMW served up a hat-trick of new models -- the 2 series, and an M3 and M4 -- and Chrysler revamped its 200 series sedan, hoping some European styling thanks to its new Italian owners will boost its market presence.

Building of the Kalong Temple only consists of a Padmasana shrine along with a small and simple Piasan pavilion. Meanwhile, its wantilan hall is typically a four-pillared pavilion sizing 3 x 4 meters. There is no compound wall protecting the temple area, so that when the seawater rises, it will inundate the temple courtyard sizing 17 x19 meters. Supporting devotee of the temple only consists of 34 families where all of them are from the village of Gilimanuk.

According to Jro Mangku Yasa, one of the caretakers of the Kalong Temple, history of the temple was commenced by its discovery in 1970.

At that time, one of the spiritualists from Negara had a piece of keris dagger. In each meditation, he had always got a vision that owner of the kris was the deity abiding in the Kalong Temple, but he did not know the location. Eventually, when meeting Jro Mangku Yasa, he asked this priest to take him to the temple concerned.

From that time, they established a temporary shrine whose pillar used

some trees (turus lumbung).

In the long run, the pillars of the temporary shrine were damaged and the temple was forgotten by the spiritualist. Then in 1980, a few young Hindu people of Gilimanuk seemed to get a vision instructing them to re-organize the temple by building a Padmasana shrine and it could have been completed in 2004.

On the other hand, according to Agung Putu Wirawan, a caretaker of the Kalong Temple, the late Gusti Made Beratha, a former headman of Gilimanuk, found a very unique holy bell in the vicinity of the location in 1980s. It was smaller than the holy bell usually used by a high priest. In the passage of time, the holy bell was taken by the Antiquities Agency to be saved. However, until Gusti Made Beratha died in 1999, existence of the holy bell was unclear. In other words, it was unknown whether the holy bell belonged to a spiritualist of the ancient human, considering location of the temple is also adjacent to the museum of ancient humans. (kmb)

IBP/File Photo

Lukat geni at Paksebali:

A tradition of neutralizing negative force CELEBRATION of Nyepi in Bali is not only marked with the implementation of the catur brata penyepian or four abstinences.

Many people celebrate it with a series of unique Balinese traditions, chiefly on the Pengerupukan or one day before Nyepi. Aside from becoming the right moment for reflection and introspection to neutralize the inner bad qualities, Nyepi also neutralizes the nature from negative qualities. One of the unique traditions known as Lukat Geni was performed in the Satria Kawan Palace, Paksebali, Dawan, Klungkung.

IBP/File Photo

Tradition of Lukat Geni has been carried out through generations.

On the Pengerupukan night, the Satria Kawan Palace, Paksebali, showed off different ambience from the other customary villages in Bali.

Other than parading the ogoh-ogoh symbolizing bhuta kala (viciousness), it was also accompanied with a series of Lukat Geni tradition.

This tradition has been implemented through generations since many years ago. Lukat Geni was a procession of the battle situation by means of fire kindled on dried coconut leaves used as a weapon.

The activity involved several youths in pair from the local area.

Dried coconut leaves used as the weapon was first tied and then lit.

Afterward, it was slapped onto each opponent. Before the procession began, the priest of royal family temple of the Satria Kawan Palace invoked the safety to local deities for the smoothness of procession.

Participants and paraphernalia in use should be purified first through a special ritual.

Since late afternoon, the youth had gathered to take part in the Lukat Geni (fire wars) tradition.

The whole community, young-old and men-women thronged to witness the attraction from a closer distance. It was performed before the ogoh-ogoh parade. For the making of ogoh-ogoh, the youth of Satria Kawan should spend up to IDR 4.5 million and took them for nearly a month.

Before parading the ogoh-ogoh, all the participants of Lukat Geni (the youth) seemed to have beaten each other by using the flames on a bundle of dried coconut leaves.

Such ‘mutual beating’ action was increasingly fierce as accompanied by the vigorous baleganjur gamelan music. However, they showed off no anger, no revenge. Despite using flames, no youth looked to get injured because they did it sincerely for a single purpose, namely eliminating the bad or negative qualities.

Considering the Lukat Geni tradition was basically held for cleaning up nature and neutralizing negative forces, so that it would not cause any disruption due to destructive things. “Hopefully,

implementation of the Lukat Geni next year could be better than the previous year,” said the temple priest of Satria Kawan Palace, Jero Mangku AA Oka. He added that Lukat Geni ritual had existed since days of yore.

Due to several factors, the tradition was abolished for some periods.

Since recent years, the ritual was re-implemented to neutralize and maintain the balance of nature.

The tradition of neutralizing nature from negative forces was also carried out at Dawan customary village. However, the tradition was different namely by sacrificing a cow or caru sapi. It was carried out coinciding with the implementation of usabha desa taking place on the Pengerupukan. The procession was held by parading the cow from Dalem Temple, going around the village and then going to Puseh and Bale Agung Temple. Ultimately, it turned back to the end of the village and the selected cow was sacrificed or made into caru exorcism at cemetery of the Dawan customary village. (kmb)

4

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Bali News

International

International

W

Hit by flood, revetment of Tukadaya River collapses

RLD

NEGARA - As a result of floods, the safeguarding revetment of Tukadaya River at Dangin Tukadaya village, Jembrana subdistrict, was broken. At some points, the revetment bordering with Dangin Tukadaya and Dauhwaru village collapsed along about 20 meters.

Arrested, a French tourist distributes drugs

Bali Post

DENPASAR - Being a drug dealer is not only committed by local residents, but also apparently committed by foreign citizen. As proof, the Narcotics Investigation Unit of Denpasar Police arrested a French tourist named Verchere Thierry Claude Josep, 47, alleged to distribute drugs, Thursday (Jan 9). From his hand, police seized heroin.

Chief of Denpasar Police Narcotics Detective, Agus Tri Waluyo, justified on Sunday (Jan 12) the arrest of drug trafficker. Until now, his party remained to explore the case in order to uncover the syndicate. So far, the culprit was still mum where he got the four packages of such illicit goods with a weight of 121 grams. “The culprit has been arrested. In the near future, the Chief of Denpasar Police will release it,” said Chief Agus.

As information, the culprit was arrested at his residence on Jalan Tangkuban Perahu Gang Merta Sedana No. 2, second floor, Pengubengan, Denpasar. The raid was carried out at 5:10 p.m. Having been unable

to move, police conducted a search.

Four packages of heroin were found in his room. However, the culprit did not admit if such illicit goods were not his property. Nevertheless, police arrested him and the case was still being developed.

Before he was arrested, said a source in the Denpasar Police, police officers initially received information that there was a foreign tourist who trafficked drugs.

The information was received as a complaint only. It was not mentioned about the characteristics and where he lived. Nevertheless, police conducted an investigation by disseminating officers in the field. As a result, police managed to detect the presence of the culprit and instantly raided his home.

After arresting and seizing the evidence, the culprit was examined.

Aside from having not admitted that heroin was his property, he was not willing to tell who had given the drugs. It was touted the heroin was distributed to foreigners as well. “Obviously, the case is still being investigated,” he said while requesting anonymity. (kmb21)

REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Workers at the office of the National Economic and Social Development Board line up to leave after antigovernment protesters from the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform group surrounded their office in Bangkok January 14, 2014.

The damage revetment of Tukadaya River

Indonesian sailors still lack of legal protection

Bali Post

DENPASAR - The Indonesian workers, chiefly the sailors working on foreign-flagged vessels all this time often have not received adequate legal protection. Besides, there has been no legal instrument related to their job they deeply involved.

For example, some vessel crews (ABK) ran aground in the waters of Trinidad and Tobago, Central America, as well as in Ivory Coast, West Africa in October-November 2012. According to the Head of the Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Worker (BP3TKI) of Denpasar, Wayan Pageh, they were the victims due to the absence of legal protection governing their job services. Ultimately, they sued PT Cartigo related to their rights that had not been given.

“We do hope the lawsuit of the sailors of Trinidadian vessel currently held at the West Jakarta District Court gets the protection as fair as possible, so their rights can be given,” said Pageh, Saturday (Jan 11).

He said the legal action should be supported and appreciated in order similar cases would not recur and befall other sailors. Besides, it could provide a deterrent effect for the users of sailors. “Over the years, our vessel crew and Indonesian sailors working on foreign-flagged vessels had no legal protection related to their job. Actually, they have generated revenue for the country.

Therefore, the state must provide protection for them,” he said.

Further, he said the vessel crews and Indonesian sailors working for foreign-flagged ships were those complying with international regulations such as the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.

Today, at total of 38 countries in the world—including Singapore and the Philippines—had ratified the MLC 2006, while Indonesia had not.

Fortunately, the Head of the BNP2TKI, Moh Jumhur Hidayat, had anticipated the absence of the norm with a Regulation Number: PER-12/KA/IV/2013 on the Procedures of Recruitment and Protection of Sailors on Foreign-flagged

Vessels, while previously it had been issued the Regulation of the Head of the BNP2TKI Number: PER-03/KA/I/2013 on Procedures for Placement and Protection of the Indonesian Workers on Fishing Vessels.

“The presence of the Regulation of the Head of the BNP2TKI was assessed by the International Labour Convention (ILO) as the earnest effort of the Government of Indonesia in protecting its citizens working on foreign-flagged vessels,” he said.

Pageh added if it was not anticipated with the Regulation of the Head of the BNP2TKI, it would surely lead to massive termination of employment (PHK). On August 20, 2013 was the deadline for the ratification of the MLC 2006.

“We want to synergize the existing regulations so as not to sacrifice the future fate of prospective Indonesian migrant workers/migrant seafarers including our vessel crews. Besides, it may not harm the stakeholders and complicate the policy makers at the county / municipal and provincial government,” he affirmed. (kmb29)

Thai protest leader vows to keep Bangkok shut down Reuters

BANGKOK - Protesters trying to topple Thailand’s government moved to tighten the blockade around ministries on Tuesday and a hardline faction threatened to storm the stock exchange, while major intersections in the capital Bangkok remained blocked. The turmoil is the latest chapter in an eight-year conflict pitting the Bangkokbased middle class and royalist establishment against the mostly poorer, rural supporters of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier ousted by the military in 2006.

Although the capital was calm and the mood among the tens of thousands of protesters remained festive, analysts said the scope for a peaceful resolution of the crisis was narrowing. “As anti-government protesters intensify actions, the risk of violence across wide swathes of the country is growing and significant,” an International Crisis Group (ICG) report said.

Ministries and the central bank have been forced to operate from back-up offices after protesters led

by Suthep Thaugsuban stopped civil servants getting to work.

“In the next two or three days we must close every government office,” Suthep told a large crowd of supporters. “If we cannot, we will detain the prime minister and other ministers. We will start by cutting water and electricity and

their homes. I suggest they evacuate their children.”

Groups of demonstrators marched peacefully from their seven big protest camps to ministries, the customs office, the planning agency and other state bodies on Tuesday, aiming to paralyze the workings of government. A student group allied to Suthep’s People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has threatened to attack the stock exchange, with faction leader Nitithorn Lamlua telling supporters on Monday it represented “a wicked capitalist system that provided the path for Thaksin to become a billionaire”.

A PDRC spokesman said the bourse was not one its targets. “We will not lay siege to places that provide services for the general public, including airports, the stock exchange and trains. However, we will block

government offices to stop them from functioning,” Akanat Promphan told supporters at a rally.

Jarumporn Chotikasathien, president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, told Reuters emergency measures had been prepared to secure the premises and trading systems. Trading was normal during the morning, with the index slightly down at the midday break.

There was no special security visible at the exchange. A Reuters photographer said one group of protesters marched past on their way to the customs department but did not stop.

DEEPLY POLARISED Disruption to government services would compound the problems faced by Yingluck, who dissolved parliament in December and called a snap election for February. Now working from Defence Ministry facilities on the outskirts of Bangkok, she heads a caretaker administration that has a limited remit and cannot initiate policies that commit the next government.

Yingluck invited protest leaders and political parties to a meeting on Wednesday to discuss an Election Commission proposal to postpone the election until May.

13

India PM: Rahul Gandhi should lead Congress Party

Associated Press Writer

Bali Post

Such damaged revetment was clearly visible from the bridge separating the two villages. According to a local resident met on Sunday (Jan 12), it was not known exactly when the revetment began to burst. But after it rained last year, the revetment began to burst. Initially, it only occurred along a few meters, but later on after the river often flooded, the avalanche was increasingly wider.

Originally the damage only afflicted to the revetment under the bridge. It also protected the land of cemetery owned by Dangin Tukadaya village and a number of other villages.

Gede Subrata, a resident living around the location, said the collapse originally occurred at only one point along about 10 meters. But later on, the avalanche was getting wider, and happened to two points. “The second flood occurred about last Wednesday added another collapse,” he explained. Meanwhile, the collapse on the previous revetment was getting higher and reached three meters,” he added.

Without immediate handling, it was feared the collapsed revetment would extend. The land of cemetery protected was also eroded by river water that often overflowed lately. His party hoped the broken revetment could be immediately repaired to protect the land of cemetery. (kmb26)

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

NEW DELHI — India’s prime minister announced Friday he would step aside after 10 years following this summer’s general election, saying Rahul Gandhi should replace him if the ruling Congress Party manages to stay in power. In only his third news conference in a decade, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that Gandhi — the 43-year-old heir to India’s Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty — has the best credentials to become the next head of the Congress Party and prime minister of the world’s biggest democracy.

Singh is 81 and was not expected to seek another term. “I have ruled myself out as a prime ministerial candidate,” Singh said. “Rahul Gandhi has outstanding credentials. ... I do hope the party will take the right decision at the appropriate time.”

Friday’s news conference came at a time when the Congress Party’s stock is low, battered by corruption scandals, internal feuding, and an inability to deal with a stumbling economy and deep-rooted problems with poverty, infrastructure and education.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Narendra Modi, has the momentum ahead of the May elections, after trouncing Congress in recent state polls.

The vote was seen as a gauge

of voter sentiment in the secular country of 1.2 billion.

Singh said it would be disastrous if Modi became prime minister. Modi, chief minister of western Gujarat state for the past 11 years, is credited with turning his western state into an industrial haven. But critics question whether the Hindu nationalist chief can be a truly secular leader over India’s many cultures.

Modi has been accused of doing little to stop anti-Muslim riots in the state in 2002, which left more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, dead. “Without discussing the merits of Modi, it would be disastrous for the country to have Narendra Modi as the next prime minister,” Singh said.

Asked about BJP claims that he was a “weak” prime minister, Singh said: “If by a strong prime minister they mean you preside over the massacre of innocent citizens on the streets of Ahmadabad, if that is the measure of strength, I do not believe that is the sort of strength this country needs, least of all from its prime minister.” Ahmadabad is the commercial center of Gujarat.

Modi has denied any role in the violence and says he bears no responsibility for the killings.

Last month, he said that he had been “shaken to the core” by the violence and that his government responded to it swiftly and decisively.

AP Photo/Harish Tyagi, Pool

Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh greets during a press conference, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 3, 2014.

14

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Science

International

India scrambles to save tigers from deadly virus Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/University of Goteborg, Johan Wingborg

In this April 4, 2012 photo made available by the University of Goteborg in Sweden, the Swedish research team practices before the operations to transplant wombs at the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Goteborg, Sweden.

Swedish doctors transplant wombs into 9 women

NEW DELHI — India is scrambling to protect its beleaguered tiger population after several big cats tested positive for a virus common among dogs but deadly to other carnivores, experts said. In the last year, canine distemper virus has killed at least four tigers and several other animals across northern and eastern India, according to Rajesh Gopal of the government’s National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The revelation is bad news for wild tigers — already endangered by rampant poaching and shrinking habitat as India undergoes breakneck development to accommodate the staggering growth of its 1.2 billion people. That same economic development and population growth means more people — and more dogs — are coming even closer to wildlife.

India will now test every tiger carcass it finds for the virus, Gopal said, while authorities also consider a massive campaign to vaccinate dogs against canine distemper. “We cannot vaccinate every dog, of course. But even 50 percent of dogs in the zones around sanctuaries would help,” Gopal said. He did not give details of the

plans being considered. There is no vaccine for big cats.

The cases being found across such a huge swath of India, however, suggests the disease could already be running in the wild, experts said, though they agree much more research is needed.

“These are very disturbing finds,” said Dr. A.K. Sharma, head scientist at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, which performed the canine distemper lab tests. “The cases were quite distant from each other, and the latest was an area where there are no dogs. So it appears the virus is spreading.”

Since two cubs tested positive in a zoo in the Bihar state capital of Patna a year ago, Sharma and his colleagues have found at least four more cases — a red panda in the northeast state of Manipur, a wild tiger in West Bengal, a zoo lion in Darjeeling and last month a wild tiger in the Dudhwa Tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh.

“In the last case, forest guards said they saw the animal in a confused state before it died,” he said. Experts said there are likely more undetected cases, since testing for canine distemper has not been routine and few animals that die in the wild are ever found.

Associated Press Writer

STOCKHOLM — Nine women in Sweden have successfully received transplanted wombs donated from relatives in an experimental procedure that has raised some ethical concerns.

The women will soon try to become pregnant with their new wombs, the doctor in charge of the pioneering project has revealed. The women were born without a uterus or had it removed because of cervical cancer. Most are in their 30s and are part of the first major experiment to test whether it’s possible to transplant wombs into women so they can give birth to their own children.

In many European countries, including Sweden, using a surrogate to carry a pregnancy isn’t allowed.

Life-saving transplants of organs such as hearts, livers and kidneys have been done for decades and doctors are increasingly transplanting hands, faces and other body parts to improve patients’ quality of life. Womb transplants — the first ones intended to be temporary, just to allow childbearing — push that frontier even farther and raise some new concerns.

There have been two previous attempts to transplant a womb — in Turkey and Saudi Arabia — but both failed to produce babies.

Scientists in Britain, Hungary and elsewhere are also planning similar operations but the efforts in Sweden are the most advanced.

“This is a new kind of surgery,” Dr. Mats Brannstrom told The

Associated Press in an interview from Goteborg. “We have no textbook to look at.”

Brannstrom, chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of Gothenburg, is leading the initiative. Next month, he and colleagues will run the first-ever workshop on how to perform womb transplants and they plan to publish a scientific report on their efforts soon.

Some experts have raised concerns about whether it’s ethical to use live donors for an experimental procedure that doesn’t save lives.

But John Harris, a bioethics expert at the University of Manchester, didn’t see a problem with that as long as donors are fully informed.

He said donating kidneys isn’t necessarily life-saving, yet is widely promoted. “Dialysis is available, but we have come to accept and to

even encourage people to take risks to donate a kidney,” he said.

Brannstrom said the nine womb recipients are doing well. Many already had their periods six weeks after the transplants, an early sign that the wombs are healthy and functioning. One woman had an infection in her newly received uterus and others had some minor rejection episodes, but none of the recipients or donors needed intensive care after the surgery, Brannstrom said. All left the hospital within days.

None of the women who donated or received wombs has been identified. The transplants began in September 2012 and the donors include mothers and other relatives of the recipients. The team had initially planned to do 10 transplants, but one woman couldn’t proceed due to medical reasons, university spokesman Krister Svahn said.

Bali News

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

3

Difficulty of raw materials

Photo album craftsmen on verge of distinction Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Ambengan village in Sukasada subdistrict is not only famous as producer of various agricultural products and estates. However, this village is also known as a production center of photo album handicraft made from banana sheath and dried foliage.

Unfortunately, this homebased business is now at the verge of extinction. One of the reasons becoming the cause is the difficulty of craftsmen to obtain raw materials due to the impact of rainy season this year. In addition, the orders from foreign buyers have also declined and similar products are produced by residents outside Buleleng.

As information obtained at Ambengan village, only a few photo album craftsmen groups remained to survive. Previously, almost all households produced photo album craft using local materials. Aside from craftsmen, some collectors of the products had also gone bankrupt. The situation occurred because they had difficulty to get raw materials. In addition, the orders from foreign buyers also decreased lately compared to previous years.

Made Eko Adnyana, a craftsman when met at his home at Ambengan hamlet, Ambengan village said last Sunday if the raw materials became scarce. The raw materials like banana sheath, hibiscus leaves, butterfly leaves and coconut peduncle were hard to obtain these days. They were used to decorate the design of photo albums, photo frames and notepads. Previously, they were easy to get at local village, but then they should seek to neighboring villages.

Even though trying to find out beyond the village, those materials were still difficult to obtain, especially the hibiscus leaves and banana sheath becoming the most difficult to find because there were no dried ones due to the influence of rainy season. “It is hard to find and people rarely sell them, especially the hibiscus leaves and banana sheath. Meanwhile, no longer people sell the dried coconut peduncle as previously,” he said.

According to Eko, the difficulty of getting raw materials would make their business go bankrupt.

Even, earlier he had no longer been producing because of having no raw materials. Luckily, the collector who gave him order was willing to provide with raw materials, so that he could still produce.

Production cost of a small-size photo album was charged at IDR 1,750 each. Meanwhile, the largest was slightly more expensive namely at IDR 2,000 each. “When having more supply of raw materials, we can produce more, but since the raw material is difficult, our maximal production comes to 10 pieces only,” he added.

Similar condition was also disclosed by Ketut Rasio, an album craft collector. All this time, he admitted to have difficulty in obtaining raw materials. Not just difficult, there were no more residents who sold

IBP/Mud

Ambengan village in Sukasada subdistrict is not only famous as producer of various agricultural products and estates. dried hibiscus leaves, banana sheath and coconut peduncle as previously.

Responding to this condition, Rasio was trying to find the materials by exploring some villages in Gerokgak. A sheet of banana sheath previously purchased at IDR 300 then increased to IDR 600. Meanwhile, dried hibiscus leaves were then purchased at a price of IDR 25,000 per one large plastic bag. “Banana sheath and hibiscus leaves are the most difficult. Previously, a lot people indeed sold them, but nobody sell them now,” he said.

When asked about the demand for photo album craft, Rasio claimed if the order decreased quite dramatically. Even, such condition made many colleagues of the same profession go bankrupt because lacking of foreign agents and buyers. The decline in demand for the typical photo album craft of Ambengan village happened because the agents and buyers generally looked for a variety of craft products. In other words, the agents and buyers did not only look for photo album craft, but also the other crafts.

In addition, especially for the photo album craft made from natural materials also began to be produced by many other villages in Bali such as Klungkung. So, the buyers and agents no longer ordered to Buleleng but switched to other villages in Bali. “Since many people have been able to produce and customers are not just looking for this kind of craft, the order is down and the situation is understandable.

Now, it highly depends on how to manage the business and expand the market access,” he added. (mud)

Dang Kahyangan Temple of Candidasa restored Bali Post

AP Photo/Aftab Alam Siddiqui

In this Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 photo, an Indian worker holds two lion cubs at Patna Zoo, in Patna, India. India is scrambling to protect its beleaguered tiger population after several big cats tested positive for a virus common among dogs but deadly to other carnivores, experts said.

AMLAPURA - Dang Kahyangan Temple of Candidasa located at Candidasa tourist attraction, Karangasem, will be restored. All workers or builders have been working since Monday (Jan 6). It was announced by Chairman of the Restoration Committee, Nengah Sirnu, in Karangasem, Sunday (Jan 12). Related to the temple restoration estimated to cost IDR 1 billion, the supporting devotees hoped the Karangasem government could lend a heavy equipment to dredge the part of the cliff.

Chairman of the Committee as well as the fundraising coordinator for the temple restoration, Nengah Suparta, added that his party had submitted a proposal to borrow heavy equipment to Karangasem Public Works.

“However, there has been no response whether it is confirmed or not. Hopefully, the government could lend us the equipment,” said Suparta. It would be used to cut and dredge the cliff of about 50 meters high in the western part of the temple. Dredging of the cliff was intended to expand the temple area and secure the cliff in case any collapse or avalanche occurred that could endanger the pilgrims.

Suparta said his party also hoped there would be donation from the government and investors, both incorporated in the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Karangasem Chapter or other businessmen running the businesses at Candidasa. Most of the farmland at local area had been sold or leased by residents to investors and established with hotel or

tourism-related businesses.

Previously, before the tourism developed in Candidasa, the levy collection system for the purpose of ritual and construction of the temple was applied through saihan system where every resident having a farmland at Candidasa was charged a levy in proportion to the area of land owned. Today, things had changed.

All farmlands at the Candidasa waterfront had been established with tourism-related facilities.

“Tourism generates large amount of regional revenue (PAD) ranked second after quarry in Karangasem.

Candidasa tourism also contributes high enough to the regional revenue of Karangasem so it is advisable to help in the form of donation for the temple restoration,” said Suparta.

The temple belonged to an ancient one. Sirnu estimated it was the representation of purusha and pradhana (male-female aspect) with the nyegara-gunung or seaward-mountainward location. Other than the Bugbug villagers, the nyegara-gunung ritual of Sibetan villagers was also held in the temple. “Nyegara-gunung ritual can be held at the pond of Segara Temple at Candidasa or in the Candidasa Temple. However, the area of Segara Temple is very narrow because the surrounding areas have been filled with hotels,” said Sirnu.

Interestingly, the main shrine in the upper temple only consisted of a phallus posing the characteristic of the worship to Lord Shiva or purusha.

While at the lower temple, there was an ancient stone statue, representing

Ida Batara Ayu Mas Manik. Besides, there was a principal statue of a woman or housewife carrying 10 babies. Some people called it the statue of Mrs. Brayut. Actually, it was the statue of Ida Batara Ayu Mas Manik holding 10 babies. “That is why the temple is better known as the Candidasa Temple. The statue of Ida Ratu Mas Manik in the lower temple is alleged to represent the pradhana aspect,” said Sirnu.

Since the temple belonged to ancient relics and had uniqueness, it attracted the visit of many foreign tourists in Candidasa. Related to the first stage of restoration, namely the restoration of Ida Ratu Ayu Mas Manik shrine located on the slopes of the cliff, the statue was moved temporarily to the bottom area. (013)

2

International

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Bali News

JIMBARAN - InterContinental Bali Resort was awarded as “Indonesia Leading Family Resort” by Indonesia Travel and Tourism Award (ITTA).

The Indonesia Travel and Tourism Award, a non-governmental award given to various tourism hospitality industries based on online voting, assessed by Binus Business School and judged by Board of Advisor ITTA 2013.

250 tourism hospitality industries were participated and competing for the title of leaders in the industry.

InterContinental Bali Resort as one of the leading family resort which provides a wide range of activities for both parents, teens and toddlers. The kids club “Planet Trekkers” is structured as a mini-resort for children, which is a fully-supervised and secured zone with ample recreational space for age-appropriate children’s facil-

TABANAN - Apparently, it has become a regular happening in the rainy season that marine debris filled back the coastal area of Yeh Gangga, Sudimara village, Tabanan. As a result, beauty of the beach located in south of Tabanan was disturbed.

The marine debris piling up was always dominated by twigs and pieces of dried wood as well as some leftover supplies of ceremony washed away by river water from the upstream region after heavy rain.

The garbage is filling the Yeh Gangga Beach in Tabanan problem, especially for fishermen. When it was cleaned up, the other marine debris would come again after raining. This condition often led fishermen to be furious.

Moreover, Yeh Gangga Beach was not only used as a fishing boat landing base, but also a venue to organize various rituals. Almost every day, there were people who held a ritual on the beach.

Aside from generating unpleasant smells, a number of wood rubbish was also hazardous for beachgoers. When they stepped on it, the wooden rubbish could injure the feet. The Yeh Gangga fishermen group was actually always diligent to clean up the marine debris. Due to the overflowing river, abundant rubbish would always come.

IBP/File

Murdika hoped the rubbish problem would not only be imposed on the coastal residents.

However, there should be a particular concern for the beach preservation either from volunteers or relevant agencies. “It is impossible to impose to fishermen only because our time has been spent to work on the sea and in the hamlet,” he said. (kmb28)

Avalanche

Klungkung-Karangasem road access disconnected

Bali Post

SEMARAPURA - Heavy rain recently led to an avalanche. The road access on Bukit Abah, Besan village, Dawan subdistrict, near the border of Klungkung with Karangasem is at risk of being disconnected due to the avalanche.

The point of avalanche is quite hazardous where it is right at the verge of valley on the ascending road section. Residents were asked to be vigilant, because seeing the rest of the road, a subsequent avalanche was worried to happen that could threaten the safety of

residents.

Headman of Besan, Made Suryata Gepuri, said on Sunday (Jan 12) the incident happened on Thursday (Jan 2). At that time, it had rained for two days since the New Year’s Eve. Suddenly, the road to Tribuana village, Sidemen subdistrict and Gelelang village, Manggis subdistrict, Karangasem, avalanched along about ten meters with a width of about two meters.

Avalanche of the road body immediately plunged into the abyss.

After that, the remaining road body was only about one and a half meters.

“Point of the avalanche is right at the verge of the cliff, so it is very hazardous,” said Suryanta.

She made sure there were no casualties in the incident. His party hoped the track could be immediately repaired, so the residents did not worry when passing the track. If the remaining road body was also eroded by the avalanche, the road access of Klungkung to Karangasem would thoroughly be disconnected.

Subdistrict Head of Dawan, AA Gede Putra Wedana, said it was the only one road access to the one-roof elementary and junior

high school at Gegelang Manggis, Karangasem.

Many elementary and junior high school students from Bukit Abah were attending school there.

Similarly, parents worried if their children passed through the road.

In addition, if the whole road body avalanched, the students would lose the road access to school.

Before getting to the point of the avalanche, the path to the Bukit Abah was known to be ascending and many parts were damaged.

Thus, it needed to be repaired immediately to avoid getting worse.

Deputy Regent of Klungkung,

15

IBP

Bali Post

to high waves. I prefer amassing twigs or pieces of dry wood for firewood to daydreaming. It is not bad for boiling fish because using LPG is rather wasteful.

Meanwhile, when buying firewood elsewhere is too costly and reaching IDR 300,000 per a small pickup truck,” he explained.

Related to marine debris always coming every rainy season, he said, such pile of rubbish was usually cleaned up independently.

Unfortunately, the accumulated rubbish was difficult to be burnt because it mixed with stones carried by upstream floods. The stones also filled the rubbish piles so it was difficult for fire to burn.

According to Murdika, the rubbish had become a classic

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

InterContinental awarded “Indonesia Leading Family Resort”

Again, Yeh Gangga Beach flooded by marine debris

Such marine debris has started to look scattered since the past few days. Obviously, this condition started making fishermen uncomfortable. Likewise, visitors were also made slightly unpleasant. “Quite a lot of rubbish was scattered. When it rained and the river overflowed and beaches were always full of marine debris,” said Wayan Murdika, 62, a fisherman on Yeh Gangga Beach, Sunday (Jan 12).

The presence of rubbish frequently complicated fishermen when going to sea and landing by fishing boat. Abundant pieces of wood scattered also made unpleasant spectacle, not to mention the foul odors. “I have not gone to sea for three days due

Activities

International

Made Kasta, had inspected the location of avalanche accompanied by the subdistrict head of Dawan AA Gede Putra Wedana and headman Made Suryanta Gepuri on Sunday. For the damages, his party would immediately summon the Head of Public Works and the Head of Klungkung National Unity, Politics and Community Protection Agency (Kesbangpolinmas) to take immediate action. He urged residents who used to pass through the track to remain cautious because it frequently rained lately and was prone to cause avalanche. (kmb31)

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

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

ities and fun-filled and culturally inclined indoor and outdoor such as kite making, dress-up, dance, music, turtle release and Indonesian Bahasa language lessons.

Children can enjoy their most favorite gelato which are available around the resort.

We know how to pleased them.

The endless pristine beach at InterContinental Bali is perfect for early morning walks, family time on the sand and indulging in the daily ritual of watching the beautiful Jimbaran Sunset. The resort also provides a variety of water sports, and with its relatively calm waters, our beach offers a safe place for swimming with children and learning new water sports activities.

Located less than a fifteen-minute

IBP/Courtesy of InterContinental

drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport, InterContinental Bali Resort offers a luxurious range of 417 beautifully-appointed rooms, suites and private villas housed in six separate wings, which is defined by a contemporary Balinese

style that embodies the spirit of refined tropical living and warm Balinese hospitality and come inspired by this island’s age-old artistic and cultural heritage.

“We take pride in the fact that we are able to provide the best facilities

Calendar Event for January 1 through February 26, 2014 1 Jan Buda Kliwon Matal, Kajeng Kliwon And Tilem Sasih Kenam Pura Desa Sukawati Sukawati Pura Pasek Gelgel Gelgel Bebetin Pura Maspahit Sesetan Pura Padharman Arya Kanuruhan Besakih 11 Jan Tumpek Kandang Pura Desa Gianyar Pura Luhur Dalem Sagening Kediri Tabanan Pura Sang Hyang Tegal Tegalalang 15 Jan Purnama Sasih Kapitu Pura Dalem Tarukan Cemenggaon Sukawati Pura Penataran Dalem Ketut Pejeng Kaja Gianyar Pura Puseh Manakaji Peninjauan Bangli Pura Taman Limut Pengosekan Mas Ubud Pura Benua Besakih Pura Gunung Rena Sidemen Karangasem Pura Pasek Gelgel Abadi Karangasem Pura Pucak Gunung Mangun Kubu Karangasem 16 Jan Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan

17 Jan Hari Bhatara Sri 21 Jan Anggara Kasih Prangbakat Pura Bukit Buluh Gunaksa Klungkung Pura Tirtha Sidamala Bebalang Bangli Pura Gunung Pangsong Lombok Pura Dalem Benawah Gianyar Pura Dalem Bitra Gianyar Pura Pura Hyang Haluh/Jenggala Besakih

Pura Tengkulak Tulikup Gianyar Pura Taman Sari Ubud Pura Penataran Badung

Pura Penataran Giri Purwo Tegal Delimo Banyuwangi Pura jala Sidhi amerta Juanda Surabaya

29 Jan Hari Siwaratri

19 Feb Buda Cemeng Kelawu Pura Penataran Agung Teluk Padang Karangasem Pura Melanting Camenggaon Sukawati Pura Penataran ped Nusa Penida Pura Gaduhan Jagat Singakerta Ubud Pura Masceti Sanding Tampak Siring Pura Penataran Batu Lepang Kamasan Kelungkung Pura Paibon Pasek Gelgel Kedonganan Kuta Pura Guwa Besakih Pura Basukian Besakih Pura Jati Ubud Pura Melanting Ubud Pura Dalem Peed Nusa Penida Pura Sad Kayangan Nusa Penida Pura Penataran Agung Gunung Karangasem

30 Jan Tilem Sasih Kepitu Pura Buana Kawan Besakih Pura Ulun Kulkul Besakih 31 Jan Kajeng Kliwon Enyitan 5 Feb Buda Kliwon Ugu Pura Dalem Tarukan Peninjauan Tembuku Bangli Pura Pemayun Banyuning Tengah Buleleng Pura Kayangan Tiga Seririt Buleleng Pura Agung Gunung Raung Taro Tegalalang 6 Feb Pura Dalem Puri Besakih 14 Feb Purnama Sasih Kawulu Pura Dalem Batur Bangli Pura Ida Ratu Pasek Besakih Pura Dalem Suci Sidemen Karangasem Pura Buana Kawan Besakih 15 Feb Tumpek Wayang & Kajeng Kliwon Uwudan Pura Majapahit Jembrana Pura Panti Gelgel Pengembungan Sesetan Pura Pedarman Dalem Sukawati Besakih Pura Pedarman Mengwi Besakih Pura Pedarman Kaba-kaba Besakih Pura Pedarman Dalem Bakas Besakih Pura Pedarman Dinasti Dalem Besakih

21 Feb Hari Bhatara Sri 25 Feb Anggara Kasih Dukut Pura Dalem Batuyang Batubulan Pura Pasek Gelgel Mengening Kediri Tabanan Pura Pasek Undagi Krambitan Tabanan Pura Pucak Taman bedulu Gianyar Pura Puser Jagat Nusa Penida Pura Dalem Purwa Kawan Bangli Pura Desa Ketewel Gianyar 26 Feb Pura Agung Pasek gelgel Sibang Kaja Abian Semal Pura Dalem Samprangan Gianyar

for families including Club InterContinental, a resort within a resort, with an exclusive Club InterContinental privileges and entitlements and other activities”, comments Mr. Michel Chertouh, General Manager of InterContinental Bali Resort.

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

16 Pages Number 22 6th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

‘Romeo and Juliet’ with Bloom becomes a V-Day film

Entertainment

Before it closed in December, high definition cameras recorded the show on Nov. 27 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre under the direction of Emmy Award-winning Don Roy King. That recording — the first time in over 36 years “Romeo and Juliet” had been on Broadway — will be available in more than 2,000 movie theaters in all 50 states from Feb. 13-19.

“It’s so great to capture it because who knows when it will be on Broadway again,” said Darryl Schaffer, an executive vice president at Screenvision. “It’s just such a great production. We’re excited to bring it to movie theaters.”

Bloom made his Broadway debut as Romeo in director David Leveaux’s

revival of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy opposite Condola Rashad, who has back-to-back Tony Award nominations for “Stick Fly” and “The Trip to Bountiful.”

Screenvision, which began broadcasting stage works in 2008, recommends individual ticket prices at $20, though each exhibiter can set its own price. The average ticket price on Broadway was $78, with a top premium ticket fetching $223.

The move is just the latest to seize on technological improvements and a willingness to let live shows be recorded, following in the pioneering digital footsteps of The Metropolitan Opera and London National Theatre’s NT Live series.

Page 6

Arsenal beats Villa 2-1, back atop Premier League

Page 8

Thai protest leader vows to keep Bangkok shut down

Page 13

Winners at 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or

This theater image released by The Hartman Group shows Orlando Bloom, left, and Condola Rashad during a performance of “Romeo and Juliet,” in New York.

Producers see such broadcasts as a win-win for everyone. Movie theaters get content for off-peak times, theatrical producers can see a new life for their work, and audiences who never got to see Broadway offerings can now catch shows for a fraction of the price.

“The timing is right. There are enough platforms out there. Technology has advanced. Now we’re getting cooperation from unions and the industry as a whole. So I think now is the moment,” said producer Stewart F. Lane, who cofounded BroadwayHD with fellow theater producer Bonnie Comley. Together, they’ve produced such shows as “War Horse,” ‘’Jekyll & Hyde” and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert.”

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

Wednesday, January 15, 2014 Japan, Ethiopia urge peace in South Sudan

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — This Valentine’s Day, why not offer your loved one a timeless Broadway romance — without ever leaving your neighborhood?

Content provider Screenvision and the new company BroadwayHD teamed up to record the recent Orlando Bloom-led production of “Romeo and Juliet” and broadcast it to movie theaters across the country.

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

AP Photo/The Hartman Group, Carol Rosegg

Ballon D’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Honorary Ballon D’Or: Pele (Brazil) Woman player of the year: Nadine Angerer (Germany) Men’s team coach of the year: Jupp Heynckes (Bayern Munich/Germany) Women’s team coach of the year: Silvia Neid (German national team) Puskas prize for goal of the year: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) for his goal against England in a friendly President’s prize: Jacques Rogge (Belgium/former International Olympic Committee president) ‘Fair Play’: Afghan Football Federation FIFPro World XI: Manuel Neuer - Daniel Alves, Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Philip Lahm - Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Franck Ribery - Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi.

Producers: ‘American Idol’ making changes Associated Press Writer

PASADENA, California — The producers of “American Idol” say the show’s new season will include changes to freshen it, including expanded song choices for contestants.

After tending toward a fair amount of golden oldies, the show’s song list will add more current tunes that the young contestants can relate to, executive producer Per Blankens said Monday. Former judge Randy Jackson’s new role will include leading a workshop that helps contestants deal with vocal and other challenges, executive producer Trish Kinane said.

The talent contest also will introduce a “rush week” that precedes the Hollywood week auditions. But Kinane told the Television Critics Association that the series is still essentially “American Idol.”

Fox’s program enters its 13th season Wednesday with declining ratings and competition in the talent genre from NBC’s “The Voice.” It’s the first season for the judging panel of Keith Urban, Harry Connick Jr. and Jennifer Lopez, who told the critics’ group they have fun working together and want to emphasize the contestants, not themselves.

Ronaldo back as world’s best

AP Photo/Keystone, Steffen Schmidt

Agence France-Presse

MADRID - It has taken Cristiano Ronaldo a long time to be back on top of the world.

Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

From left, Host Ryan Seacrest, Judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr., and executive producers Trish Kinane and Per Blankens are seen during the panel of “American Idol” at the FOX Winter 2014 TCA, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena, Calif.

Since winning the Ballon d’Or for the first time after leading Manchester United to Champions League glory in 2008, he has been relegated into second place in three of the last four years as Barcelona rival Lionel Messi won the award for an unprecedented four consecutive times.

On Monday, however, he was finally crowned World Player of the Year for a second time as he beat Messi and Bayern Munich’s treble-winning playmaker Franck Ribery to football’s highest individual award.

By swapping Manchester for

Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, Ronaldo accepted the challenge of constant comparisons with Messi.

Unfortunately for the Portuguese, though, his marriage with the world’s richest club initially wasn’t as perfect as he had envisaged. Barca and Messi’s dominance has continued as they have racked up 12 trophies to Madrid and Ronaldo’s three since he moved to Spain.

The Catalans were once again superior on a collective level in 2013 as they sealed their 22nd league title with a club record 100

points. However, with Messi’s year having been blighted by injuries, the last 12 months did signal a change on the individual front for Ronaldo.

Despite his remarkable goalscoring record, Ronaldo wasn’t always greeted with the hero’s worship he thought he deserved from the club’s fans.

Yet, driven by fear that he could have been running down his contract with the intention of leaving Madrid, 2013 marked a turning point in the adulation Ronaldo now receives every time he steps foot inside the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo finally quashed any speculation surrounding his future by extending his contract with Madrid until 2018 in September in a deal that saw him become the

world’s best paid player.

And the backing he now receives was most visibly displayed when thousands of Real fans donned masks of their hero in support of his bid to win the Ballon d’Or following incendiary comments from FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Blatter had described Ronaldo as a “commander” given his serious nature on the field and said he personally preferred Messi’s more humble image. The Swiss’ words, though, only seemed to fan the flames of Ronaldo’s already sensational form as he went on to score 15 times in his next eight matches.

Most importantly in that run, he ensured Portugal wouldn’t miss out on this year’s World Cup in Brazil by scoring all four of his country’s goals in their 4-2 aggregate playoff

win over Sweden.

The impact in particular of his stunning hat-trick in the secondhalf of the second-leg in Stockholm was such that FIFA conveniently decided to extend the voting period for the Ballon d’Or by two weeks and allow those that had already cast their votes to change them.

How much of an impact that change of dates made is unclear.

Ribery can certainly feel hard done by after Bayern steamrollered the competition on their way to winning five trophies in 2013.

Yet, despite his lack of collective silverware, Ronaldo’s individual brilliance cannot be overlooked.

His 66 goals in 56 games for club and country was more than Messi and Ribery’s combined total of 65.

Continued on page 6