Edisi 20 Januari 2014 | International Bali Post

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Tamela Mann tops Stellar Awards with 7 wins Associated Press Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Tamela Mann has won seven awards including top honor artist of the year at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Mann broke down in tears as she spoke with the audience during the

29th annual ceremony at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

She also won major awards female vocalist and CD of the year for “Best Days.”

Kirk Franklin’s “Take Me to the King” was named song of the year, Tye Tribbett took male vocalist of the

David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” took the Screen Actors Guild Awards’ top honor for outstanding cast on Saturday night, beating out Steve McQueen’s acclaimed “12 Years a Slave.” Because actors make up the largest branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the SAG Awards (which last year picked “Argo”) are considered one of the best indicators of the Oscars.

Just days ago, the Academy Awards nominations set up a trio of front-runners, bestowing 10 nods on “American Hustle” and “Gravity,” and nine on “12 Years a Slave.” But though no actor was individually honored by the guild for “American Hustle,” the Abscam tale now appears to have an edge over its Oscar rivals. Speaking for a cast that includes Amy Adams, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper credited Russell as the epitome of the actor’s director.

“He makes you feel like you’re part of the family, whether you’re Robert DeNiro or you’re Patty Mack,” Cooper said at the Shrine Auditorium ceremony

in Los Angeles. “You are part of the family.”

In addition to last year’s “Argo,” SAG cast awards have lined up with such past Oscar best-picture winners as “The King’s Speech,” ‘’Slumdog Millionaire” and “No Country for Old Men.” But the guild has also diverged with picks like “The Help,” ‘’Inglourious Basterds” and “Little Miss Sunshine.”

Saturday’s awards were a somewhat low-key affair with a few memorable speeches but no earthquakes in a rapidly solidifying award season. The night’s acting winners — Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”), Lupita Nyong’o (“12

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

year and Tasha Cobb won three awards including new artist of the year.

Hezekiah Walker and Anthony Brown & Group Therapy matched Cobb with three wins apiece as well. The two-hour awards were hosted by Sherri Shepherd and Rickey Smiley and broadcast on the Up Network.

With SAG win, ‘Hustle’ has Oscar look of ‘Argo’ Associated Press Writer

Entertainment

Years a Slave”) and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) — are each probably the favorites of their categories.

“It really shines a great light on this bull ride we call acting,” said McConaughey, honored for lead actor in the Texas HIV drama. “I’ve been able to recently find some characters that I can humble myself to their humanities and get feverishly drunk on their obsessions.”

One of the night’s biggest winners was Nyong’o, who won supporting actress over Lawrence. Though “12 Years a Slave” is only her feature film debut, the Kenyan actress has been hailed for her red-carpet style and grace this awards season. Her speech was both composed and emotional — the kind of display that can turn Oscar voters’ heads.

She thanked McQueen “for taking a flashlight and shining it underneath the floorboards of this nation and reminding us what it is we stand on.” And she recalled the celebratory phone call to her father when she got the part.

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

Monday, January 20, 2014 28 wounded in blasts at Bangkok protest site

Juve stay eight clear after 12th straight win

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Obama tells Germans spying won’t damage ties

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Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP, File

FILE - Tamela Mann performs on stage at the BET Awards at the Nokia Theatre in this Sunday, June 30, 2013 file photo taken in Los Angeles. Mann has won seven awards including top honor artist of the year at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Situation during arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport.

IBP/File Photo

Ngurah Rai Airport anticipates surge of passenger on general election Mangupura (Bali Post)—

Management of PT Angkasa Pura (AP) I considered the year of general election would have an impact on the world of flight due to high mobility of general election 2014. On general election, a lot of people would travel, especially those getting involved in the legislative and presidential election.

From left, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn and Bryan Cranston pose in the press room with their awards for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series for "Breaking Bad" at the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Los Angeles.

Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/ap

“The year of politics certainly has an impact on the world of aviation. A lot of politicians will campaign themselves outside the area and attend many political meetings, including in Bali, so the travel is estimated to increase,” said

Co-General Manager of PT AP I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Arditha, Friday (Jan 17).

According to him, aside from commercial flight, this year of politics would also be estimated to have an impact on charter flights or the use

of private jet.

His party had established a new aircraft parking space (apron) to accommodate small-bodied aircrafts.

All this time, many small aircrafts or charters flew VIP guests to Bali where the amount could reach thousands of passengers each year.

“At the moment, we have owned a parking space accommodating 16 private jets, so this kind of aircraft will not be mixed with the commercial aircraft,” he said.

Unfortunately, Ngurah Arditha could not specify how much the

increase would occur in relation to the legislative and presidential election. However, similar surge would also occur in the mid-year due to the long school holidays.

Management of the airport actually had made coordination related to flight schedules. “We estimate the peak of political journey will take place in April and continues to July through August in school holiday season,” he said.

Passenger growth at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport showed an adequately significant surge. His

party recorded 224,118 domestic passengers coming to Bali or an increase of 19 percent by the end of 2013 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of passenger departing from Bali through the Ngurah Rai Airport reached 219,909 people or an increase of 24 percent compared to last year. Similar increase also occurred to the arrival of international passengers reaching 169,952 or an increase of 28 percent, while the departing passengers reached 148,709 or an increase of 24 percent. (kmb27)

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International

Monday, January 20, 2014

Bali News

IBP

NUSA DUA - The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali is delighted to announce that its journey towards transformation is finally complete. The finale of this multi-million dollar revitalization project was officially celebrated with an upbeat Carnaval de Bali party. Over 600 invited guests gathered on Friday, 13 th December 2013 to enjoy an uplifting evening of great food and entertainment.

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Sacred area of Besakih Temple and surrounding areas, in fact, has never escaped from the target of investors since the past until now to profit by building tourist accommodation or facilities in the largest temple in Bali. Various plans of mega project have haunted Besakih like the building plan of golf course. Status of Besakih has also been planned to be a culture reserve and world cultural heritage. However, both plans have been denied by Balinese people. by the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali, Friday (Jan 17).

According to him, about ten years ago he was presented with the data in the form of development plan proposal by one of the student activists from the Udayana University in which included a land acquisition plan reaching 6 villages and the plan to build a runway. “There was a plan to build a runaway. At that time, we were still busy to discuss and reject the Besakih area to be included into the culture reserve.

But recently, it was never heard again,” he said.

According to him, the construction plan of golf course, runway or status change of Besakih Temple into a culture reserve, world cultural heritage to National Tourism Strategic Area posed the attempts of the investors targeting the area of Besakih to build tourist facilities or tourist accommodation. “Besakih is

Gianyar (Bali Post)—

captured reptile.

The two-meter long crocodile was first seen by Deputy Hamlet Chief of Juga, Putu Asta Putra.

All this time, he was made curious by the information on the crocodile that had grabbed a resident of Juga, Kadek Budiarta aka Bonar, 40, who was fishing last Saturday. Since then, local residents were always looking for information about the existence of the crocodile because its presence was worried to threaten the safety of residents who indulged in around the Wasan River dam.

IBP/File

The Hindus are praying in Besakih Temple continuously targeted. We must be cautious about it. Hopefully, the proposal containing the plan to build a runway at Besakih has nothing to do with the plan to build a golf course, the status of culture reserve, world cultural heritage to the KSPN. However, if we pay attention, those plans are correlative and interconnected,” said Sudirta.

He worried and was suspicious if Besakih would be targeted continuously throughout the ages by investors. “When we are inattentive, they are free to enter and Besakih then faces a degradation of sanctity because the estab-

lishment of accommodation and tourism facilities is allowed in the area,” he said.

Sudirta promised to trace back the information and proposal related to the plan of building a runway at Besakih to determine whether there was an attempt of certain parties to continue the plan. “The plan is not heard anymore. Nevertheless, we will trace it back whether it has something to do with the plan emerging recently,” he said while reminding the need for firm resistance and continuing all the efforts of the investors

Finding location of the crocodile was about 60 meters from the Wasan River dam, where residents usually fished. Actually, quite few local residents and the officials of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Gianyar had briefly explored the small river northwards but they could not find it. Based on information of Mang Teng, one of the residents, the search made around 2:00 p.m. northwards eventually could find the crocodile. It was hiding under a small tunnel where the water was murky. “Such find-

ing was finally informed to the officer,” he said.

Shortly thereafter, a number of personnel of police, the BPBD Gianyar and Natural Resources Conservation Agency (KSDA) Bali came to location. Amid the crowds coming to watch it, the Head of Gianyar Livestock, Fisheries and Maritime Agency, I Made Raka, did not know about the origin of the crocodile. But from the search performed by municipal police to Villa Bumi Sekembang at Tengkulak, it was indeed mentioned to have looked

targeting Besakih.

Sudirta also requested in order that Besakih area remained to become a region having a tourist attraction and would not be developed into the National Tourism Strategic Area in accordance with the decision of Sabha Pandita of PHDI that had rejected the inclusion of Besakih and surrounding areas into the KSPN. “The inclusion of Besakih into the KSPN has not got a clear solution so far. We expect this can be soon completed so it will no longer be overextended,” he said. (kmb29)

The crocodile troubling residents finally found

A crocodile with unknown origin was found by residents in the Wasan River at Juga hamlet, Mas village, Ubud, Gianyar, Friday (Dec 17). The crocodile that had made the surrounding people curious since a few days before was finally found in the river with a depth of about 1.5 meters and a width of about 1 meter.

The discovery of the crocodile had drawn the attention of dozens of people who came to the location. Afterward, related personnel were contacted to handle the

Monday, January 20, 2014

15

Westin celebrate completion of Westin Resort Nusa Dua

Besakih Temple area had been targeted for runway

The last one remaining to reap the pros and cons as well as to become a polemic is the inclusion of Besakih area and the surrounding areas into the National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN).

In fact, the efforts of investors to target Besakih were not only those plans. A member of Bali Regional Representative (DPD), Wayan Sudirta, revealed that Besakih area had been targeted to be used as location of runway.

“In the past, there was a proposal of megaproject at Besakih where one of the designs indicated the establishment of runway. As planned, it would need the land acquisition as wide as the area of 6 villages,” said Sudirta when speaking in the middle assembly of the Besakih Authority Agency and Regional Bylaw Draft on Zonation Regulation Directive (APZ) of Bali Province held

Activities

International

after a crocodile in 1998 which was purchased at IDR 500,000.

However, the crocodile escaped and after it was found the owner declared to have been dead.

Apparently, the officers got a little difficulty to capture the crocodile considering the crocodile got into a small tunnel and never came out. Residents and the BPBD officers guarding in the area had dismantled the refuge tunnel of the crocodile.

Until 5:00 p.m., the search of crocodile remained to take place. (kmb16)

 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

The commencement point for the event was the foyer of newly launched Heavenly Spa by Westin.

Travel agents, media representatives and business associates came together upon arrival and were treated to a guided tour of this integrated wellness facility. This was also an opportunity to inspect Prego and the accommodation categories that were recently unveiled under the new Premier Wing.

Managing Director, Mr Bipan Kapur gave visual presentation and speech about resort’s transformation process. “It was encouraging to see so many people gathered to help us

celebrate the climax of our revitalization project. The resort has been transformed before our very eyes and this renewing journey has been a detailed-driven process with the needs of today’s modern travelers in mind. It truly complements the Westin brand philosophy of preserving wellness in travel,” comments Mr Bipan Kapur.

The entire project was carried out in record time and expertly managed to ensure that in-house guests were not inconvenienced in any way.

Things got off to a fine start in the first quarter of this year with the refurbishment of WestinWORKOUT. This

refreshed facility represented a new chapter in well-being at the resort with an updated décor and state-ofthe-art cardio equipment with interactive touch-screen consoles.

Next was the innovative launch of Tangent, a personalized work environment that is totally conducive to the business dealings of today’s mobile travelers. It is facilitated by media: scape by Steelcase technology as well as seamless connectivity for video conferencing. Guests can now conduct impromptu meetings in a private setting located just off the lobby.

The iconic Bali International Con-

vention Centre (BICC) was also given a sophisticated new look with updated meeting facilities.

It was completed to coincide with a number of prestigious events, including Miss World 2013 and the APEC CEO Summit, both of which put the island in the global spotlight. BICC now incorporates a total of 26 revitalized function rooms and 2 VIP holding rooms to accommodate heads of state.

Mangupura Hall was tastefully refurbished to host 2500 delegates and the auditorium is still the only tiered theatre of its kind in Bali. The Café and The Lounge were new additions along with designer seating in all public areas. These upgrades have elevated BICC to the highest possible level resulting in a world-class meeting venue that continues to lead the way with

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

gracious hospitality and impeccable service standards.

Westin Kids Club was revived and expanded in anticipation for the summer school holidays and to fulfil the needs of young travellers. The club is now bigger and better than ever before with age-appropriate areas for toddlers, children and teens.

There are separate social and play spaces for specific age groups where personal tastes and interests are understandably different.

Also unique to Westin Kids Club is a small spa facility where youngsters can enjoy a session of personal indulgence just like mum and dad.

Westin Kids Spa offers a nurturing menu of treatments for little ones including mini manicures, hair braiding and special holiday pampering.

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

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

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

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

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

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Lifestyle

International

Airfares continue to rise in the US Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — The price to board an airliner in the United States has risen for the fourth straight year, making it increasingly expensive to fly almost anywhere. The average roundtrip ticket within the U.S., including tax, reached $363.42 last year, up more than $7 from the prior year, according to an Associated Press analysis of travel data collected from millions of flights throughout the country.

The 2 percent increase outpaced inflation, which stood at 1.5 percent.

Airfares have risen nearly 12 percent since their low in the depths of the Great Recession in 2009, when adjusted for inflation, the analysis showed.

Ticket prices have increased as airlines eliminated unprofitable routes, packed more passengers into planes and merged with one another, providing travelers with fewer options. Today, 84 percent of seats are filled with paying passengers, up from 82 percent in 2009.

“Anyone traveling today will know that those flights are full,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data and analytics for the Airlines Reporting Corp, which processes ticket transactions for airlines and more than 9,400 travel agencies, including websites such as Expedia and Orbitz. “Just through supply and demand, those fares will go up.”

And none of this factors in the bevy of extra fees travelers now face for checking bags, getting extra legroom or even purchasing a blanket, meal or pair of headphones. The typical traveler pays an additional $50 roundtrip to check a single suitcase. Those fees, introduced in 2008 to offset losses from rising fuel prices, now bring

in $3.4 billion a year for U.S. airlines and have helped them return consistent annual profits for the last four years.

The AP reviewed data from 6 million annual flights taken in the U.S., analyzing fees and government on-time records along with fare data from the Airlines Reporting Corp.

Jean Medina, spokeswoman for Airlines for America, the airlines’ trade and lobbying group, said over the long-term fares have not climbed as fast as inflation and that flying “remains a great bargain.”

“Carriers continue to invest in their products with new planes, new services and new destinations,” Medina said. “It’s a great time to fly.”

Airlines are able to push fare and fee hikes because there is less competition. “You get some pricing power as a result,” said airline consultant Robert Mann.

A wave of consolidation that started in 2008 has left four U.S. airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines — controlling more than 80 percent of the domestic airtravel market. Discount airlines such as Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines have grown at breakneck speed but still carry a tiny fraction of overall passengers.

International

Bali News

Monday, January 20, 2014

84,161 farming households switch profession Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The pressure of living expenses continue to rise and the tertiary needs inevitably causes the economy of farmers increasingly difficult to develop so it no longer becomes a promising sector. Ultimately, a number of farmers in Bali prefer to release their land ownership. As a result, many farmers are deeply involved in tourism industry, informal sector or other sectors.

AP Photo/J. David Ake, File

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, file photo, an American Airlines jet takes off from Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport early in the morning. The price of flying continues to climb, with the average domestic roundtrip ticket, including tax, reaching $363.42 last year, up more than $7 from the prior year.

A farmer from Tumbak Bayuh village, Mengwi, Badung, Wayan Suarja, said he had experience a crop failure when their rice starting to bear fruits was attacked by mice. Farmers eventually suffered a loss. Moreover, the attack of other pests then followed and ended in crop failure. “Formerly, I once suffered a loss of IDR 1.2 million for 2,000 square meters of land. The loss occurred in the matter of production cost such as fertilizer and tractor. We had to buy rice because of crop failure whereas our area belongs to rice producer,” he complained, Saturday (Jan 18).

Further, he claimed to stop farming due to economic condition increasingly difficult. The pressure of living cost continued to rise and tertiary needs inevitably made the economic life as farmer increasingly difficult to develop, so it no longer became a promising sector. “We’re pretty tough if continuing to be a farmer so we are forced to try other business such as

selling,” he added.

Based on data of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali in 2013, in just a decade there were 84,161 households who stopped farming.

Meanwhile, a total of 408,233 farming households in Bali were recorded in 2013 from the previous number reaching 492,394 households. It means that for a decade there has been a decline in the number of farming households in Bali at 17.09 percent or 1.86 percent per year.

Responding to this condition, a lecturer from Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University, Dr. Ni Luh Kartini, said on Saturday (Jan 18) that one of the reasons causing the disappearance of farmers was the fact that agriculture was no longer promising welfare. Moreover, the price of fertilizer and seed were not affordable and the water was not adequate to irrigate their paddy plants. “How can farming be developed? Now, the price of fertilizer is increasingly expensive,

market access reduces and many other shortcomings need to be addressed,” she said.

She added that to raise the agricultural sector the government should first increase the price of agricultural production. It included the agricultural production in broader sense, ranging from grain to soybean including the plantation sector such as clove. Government should control the prices of the agricultural production. She also explained the price increase in agricultural production would provide motivation for farmers to develop the sector.

If the price of agricultural production was not worth, it would be difficult for people to return to farming.

Besides, the government needed to ensure the availability of agricultural needs including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and others. The needs of the agricultural means of production should be ensured so farmers were not hampered by the limitations of the agricultural means of production. (nik)

Bao Bao the panda makes her debut at National Zoo Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Bao Bao, the four and a half month old giant panda cub, looks towards her mother Mei Xiang, as she makes her public debut at an indoor habitat at the National Zoo in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014.

WASHINGTON — Bao Bao the panda cub is ready for her public.

The National Zoo in Washington has extended its hours this weekend for the giant panda house as Bao Bao (bow bow) makes her public debut. Saturday was the first chance for the public to see the 5-month-old cub.

The zoo says the panda house will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Visitors are allowed into the building in small groups to avoid overcrowding.

The zoo says the amount of time Bao Bao and panda mother Mei Xiang (may-shong) will be on exhibit each day depends on their behavior. They will have access to their private den, if they choose.

IBP/File

One of the remaining rice field in Denpasar Area

3

Agricultural sector in Sawan lacks of youth regeneration Singaraja (Bali Post)—

The world of agriculture in Bali is increasingly abandoned by young generation amid the glittering of tourism sector and swift currents of globalization. The younger generation is required to meet the economic needs and looking for a job in accordance with the changing times.

To pursue economic welfare, the younger generation gradually begins to leave the world of agriculture which in essence becomes their heritage.

Met on Friday (Jan 17), I Nyoman Suwendra, Chief of Subak Babakan Tua, Kanginan hamlet, Sawan village, Buleleng, told the agriculture remained to be unable to give future hope for most young generations. “We work hard and get in touch with mud and under blazing sun.

When the harvest arrives, the result is not sufficient for supporting the family needs,” he complained.

Indeed, it sounded sad when hearing their complaint having long been felt and become a fear of the agriculture in Bali within the next few years. Young generation rarely wanted to be seriously engaged in agriculture.

“A lot of young people of productive age have shifted their livelihood. They chose to become servant, laborer, builder or worker outside the area to earn a living for sure. By becoming a builder, they could earn IDR 70,000 each day. In other words, they had assurance of the income wanted,” said Suwendra.

According to Suwendra, farmers were also faced with the imbalance between the results of farming and the price of rice in the market. “When farmer harvests, the selling price of rice is IDR 7,000 per kilogram, while in the market has reached IDR 9,000. The difference in price from the farmer to the market was significant.

This makes farmers find a solution to get around their daily needs,” he said.

Suwendra explained the vivacity of farmers began to decline as no regeneration of young people in the agriculture. Younger generation rarely wanted to glance at the world of agriculture. Farming business was still dominated by the older generation belonging to 50-60 years old and over. “The older generation having the farmland often complained where they should look for and pay harvester when the harvest time arrived. Ranging from seedling preparation to planting and harvest, they are difficult to look for labor to cultivate rice fields whose area reaches some hectares,” he explained.

To encourage young generation to farming, the man born on September 14, 1954 confirmed that some time ago Sawan village was inspected by high officials of the Logistics Agency (Bulog), universities and relevant regional working units (SKPD) to agriculture. Farmers revealed various complaints and problems they faced.

“Now, the member of Subak Babakan Tua consists of 70 people who are still dominated by older generation.

They are relatively cultivating an area of 2,500, 5,000 to 8,000 square meters. In general, the involvement of young generation in agriculture remains minimal and the regeneration should have happened,” he said.

Similar opinion was revealed by Gede Upadana, a farmer of Subak Babakan Tua, from Kanginan hamlet, Sawan village, Buleleng County. According to him, younger generation was rarely willing to be engaged in agriculture. “More young generations are working outside the village. They prefer to look for job opportunities in rural areas,” he said. The man born in 1958 had been getting involved in farming since his childhood with his parents and when growing adult he already accustomed to and enjoyed the windfall from growing rice.

“The current problems at issue, no interest and the factor of economic potential have caused the young generation to increasingly leave the farming activities,” he said. (dgk)

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Monday, January 20, 2014

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International

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Traders at courtyard of Taman Ayun soon relocated

RLD

Management of stalls at Taman Ayun is finally handed over officially by Badung government through the regent of Badung to Gulingan customary village, Friday (Jan 17). would be complaint of traders due to the relocation, it was a normal thing. “The dynamics of traders feeling to suffer a loss is a commonplace. Clearly, the traders are only allowed to peddle in the Tenten Market. So, they no longer peddle in the pedestrian area,” he said.

When asked for his confirmation separately, Chief of Gulingan customary village, Nyoman Dhanu, appreciated the suggestion of the regent regarding the rental rate.

However, the rental rate worth IDR 10,000 excluding the levies of sanitation, electricity, water and others. (kmb25)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

In this Jan. 17, 2014, photo, President Barack Obama Talks about National Security Agency surveillance at the Justice Department in Washington. Obama’s orders to change some U.S. surveillance practices put the burden on Congress to deal with a national security controversy that has alarmed Americans and outraged foreign allies.

The visitors of Taman Ayun Temple are seeing the buaty of the temple

Bad weather, chili of farmers falls out before harvest Bangli (Bali Post)—

The farmer is showing the rooten chili in his farm in Bangli Regency

IBP/File

Bad weather happening lately resulted in a bad threat to a number of chili farmers in Bangli County. Hectares of chili plants being ready to harvest fell out. As a result, the farmers were at risk of facing harvest failure and had to suffer a loss worth millions of rupiahs.

Such condition was experienced by dozens of chili farmers at Kuta Undisan hamlet, Kayubihi village, Bangli. Bad weather with heavy rains hitting the region since the past few weeks has been causing the majority of the ready-toharvest chili of farmers to fall out before it could be harvested. Such condition was compounded by the attack of disease on the leaves and flower buds of the chili.

According to one of the local farmers, the most common disease attacking their chili plant was called anthrax disease. Such kind of disease was usually caused by the type of pests and bad weather condition, especially the rainfall taking place at night.

Due to such condition, various efforts had been made by farmers to tackle the spread of the disease so as not to widespread. However, such efforts looked ineffective. “It has been resolved by spraying but the condition still persists,” said

IBP/File

a local chili farmer, Ni Wayan Rendah.

She said the symptom of chili plants having been attacked by the disease and facing the falling out of lower buds was originally started by the infection on leaves so they turned yellow and dried up.

Furthermore, the chilies having started to grow larger were unable to develop perfectly and showed decomposition at the base of the fruit. It was accelerating the chilies to fall out before they could be harvested.

According to Nyoman Sarta, another chili farmer, the bad weather lately caused a number of farmers at the hamlet to suffer a loss. Such condition was further exacerbated because the price of chili at farmer level increasingly slumped. Previously, the price of curly chili had reached IDR 35,000 per kilogram, but after the bad weather its price dropped dramatically to IDR 25,000 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, the price of large chili also decreased from IDR 15,000 to IDR 13,000 per kilogram.

As a result of such condition, farmers had to bear substantial losses. They could do nothing and hoped to get the attention from relevant agencies to cope with the condition so the loss to be borne by farmers would not be getting greater. (ina)

Obama tells Germans spying won’t damage ties Associated Press Writer

BERLIN - President Barack Obama told German television in an interview aired Saturday that he would not allow America’s massive communications surveillance capability to damage relations with Germany and other close U.S. allies.

Obama made the pledge in a rare interview with Germany’s ZDF television in an apparent step to repair the damage to America’s relations with Germany and other countries following reports that the U.S. National Security Agency had monitored communications of European citizens - even listening in on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone.

Merkel accused the U.S. of a grave breach of trust after reports about her cellphone emerged in October, and her government has been pressing for a “no spying” agreement with Washington since then. Her center-right party’s foreign policy spokesman, Philipp Missfelder, told reporters Thursday that revelations about U.S. spying in Germany had plunged relations with Washington to their lowest level in more than a decade.

During the 16-minute interview,

Obama acknowledged the anger in Germany and elsewhere ignited by spy revelations following the leak of documents obtained by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden to news media. Obama said it would take time to restore trust, although he defended U.S. surveillance as necessary to protect the U.S. and its allies, including Germany.

Obama said that before the revelations he had forged a close working relationship with Merkel and that he could not allow U.S. surveillance operations to damage that trust. “As long as I am president of the United States, the German chancellor need not worry about that,” Obama said, according to a simultaneous German translation as he spoke. He said that in foreign policy issues even close partners do not share the same views but “that is no reason” to spy on private communications.

The interview was broadcast a day after Obama ordered new limits on the way U.S. intelligence accesses phone records from hundreds of millions of Americans and moved toward eventually stripping the massive data collection from the government’s hands.

Obama also promised to curb spying on allied leaders and to extend some privacy protections to foreign citizens - demands that have special resonance in Germany because of its bitter memories of massive domestic surveillance by the Nazis and East German Communists. German interviewer Claus Kleber told the president that initial reaction in Germany toward his speech had been “skeptical, careful, many even disappointed” including those who are “normally pro-American. “ Following the Friday speech, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany would wait and see what happens before making a final judgment on Obama’s intelligence reforms. “The government continues to expect that German law be respected on German territory, including and particularly by our close partner,” Seibert said.

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Jerusalem panel urges pressing Israel over settlements

Agence France Presse

Mangupura (Bali Post)—

The kiosk totally consisting of 29 blocks are named Tenten Market or traditional market. All traders are given deadline to peddle in the courtyard of Taman Ayun Temple until Wednesday (Jan 22).

Regent of Badung, AA Gde Agung, said that even though becoming the asset of Badung, the management of Tenten Market could not be free of charge. It was in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Finance.

The rental fee was IDR 10,000 per block per day. Traders who wanted to lease the block should go through the Chief of Gulingan customary village. However, he stated the 24 traders who made a living all this time in the courtyard of Taman Ayun should be given a priority.

Gde Agung argued if there

Monday, January 20, 2014

Marrakech - Muslim nations urged the international community Saturday to put pressure on Israel to stop building Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, at the end of talks in Morocco. The Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee made the call amid heightened concerns settlements could undermine US-brokered peace talks that resumed in July after becoming bogged down three years earlier over the construction drive.

“The international community must... put pressure on Israel to stop the illegal and provocative settlement construction,” a statement said at the end of the twoday meeting in Marrakesh.

That “will create a favourable context for the pursuit of peace negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinians, and for relations between Israel, its Arab neighbours and the Muslim world, the statement added. The panel also praised the United States as a “serious” broker of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The committee was founded by the pan-Muslim Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1975 to resist the confiscation of Palestinian land and assets in Jerusalem.

Chairman King Mohamed VI of Morocco opened the meeting Friday by calling for “a strong mobilisation of our own means and resources... to defend the Holy City.”

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas later claimed Israel was using the peace talks as a “cover” to expand settlements in the West Bank. Concerns over settlement construction returned to the fore last week when Israel announced plans to build 1,800 new settler homes in the West Bank, including annexed Arab east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

The announcement came only days after the latest peace mission by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who criticised the settlements as “illegitimate” and “unhelpful.” The controversial decision prompted Britain, Italy, France and Spain to summon Israeli ambassadors in protest, with the Jewish state calling in European ambassadors on Friday in a tit-for-tat move.

After Israel unveiled the plans, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon launched a tirade against Secretary of State John Kerry for his “obsession” with brokering a framework peace deal by April, sparking a diplomatic spat with Washington.

AP Photo/MAP

In this photo provided by the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, left, walks with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, right, at the King’s Palace in Marrakech Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, as they attend the meeting of the Al-Quds Committee.

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International

Monday, January 20, 2014

BUSINESS

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Trace back a pilgrimage of ancient sage IBP

NEGARA - Amerthasari Temple located about 1.5 km south of Negara town is one of the Dang Khayangan temples in Jembrana. From time immemorial to the present, the temple situating amid the customary settlement of Lokasari, or precisely Mertasari hamlet, Loloan Timur, Negara, is venerated by the subak members. It is reflected at the beginning of each planting season. To keep away their plants from diseases, residents are always saying prayers and starting their activities from the temple. It is a universal temple because it is used to venerate a great religious teacher, Danghyang Nirartha and closely associated with his pilgrimage to the Island of Bali.

Agence France-Presse

Building of this temple has been renovated in 1961 but in 1965 the temple building was abandoned and the renovation was totally discontinued. Ultimately, on July 14, 1976, the entire building collapsed as hit by earthquake. After that, four customary villages were responsible for the temple existence, namely the

BB Agung, Puseh Agung of Banjar Tengah village, Kertha Jaya customary village of Pendem village, and Lokasari customary village of Loloan Timur village.

At the beginning of the Merthasari Temple and before the renovation in 1965, there was only one temple located under a large

banyan tree. Priest of the Merthasari Temple, Mangku Nendra, said that previously there was a small pond around the temple. After the renovation, the pond was moved and a meru shrine was established. Now, it has been added with a Padma shrine on the pond. Meanwhile, water of the pond is taken modernly

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Mannequins display fashions in an H&M storefront window advertising discounts up 75%. British shoppers opened their wallets and spent heavily in the month over Christmas, in a fresh sign of economic recovery, official data showed on Friday.

Budget vote brings rare truce in US fiscal wars

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — After last fall’s tumultuous, bitterly partisan debt ceiling and government shutdown battles, a sense of fiscal fatigue seems to be setting in among many U.S. policymakers as President Barack Obama prepares for his fifth State of the Union address later this month. A declining U.S. budget deficit, still-accommodative Federal Reserve and a small-bore budget deal negotiated last month — given final approval Thursday in Congress — are helping to temper partisan rhetoric in the short term as attention in Washington shifts to the approaching midterm elections.

The recovery from the deep recession of 2007-2009 has been one of the slowest in history and still has a ways to go, especially in terms of regaining lost jobs. That was driven home by a Labor Department report last Friday that U.S. employers added just 74,000 jobs last month, far fewer than had been forecast and the smallest monthly gain in three years.

The overall jobless rate dropped to 6.7 percent from 7 percent in November, the lowest level since October 2008. Much of the decline came from Americans who stopped looking for jobs and are no longer being counted by the government as unemployed.

Meanwhile, a growing number of baby boomers are retiring.

Still, economists are generally

Monday, January 20, 2014

Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple

British shoppers on a spending binge

LONDON - British shoppers opened their wallets and spent heavily in the month over Christmas, in a fresh sign of economic recovery, official data showed on Friday. Retail sales shot ahead at the fastest annual pace for more than nine years Retail sales jumped 5.3 percent in December compared with the figure for the same month of 2012, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That was the fastest annual expansion in sales since October 2004, according to the ONS, which cited strong growth in department stores and smaller shops.

On a monthly basis, the ONS added that sales grew 2.6 percent in December from November. That was the biggest month-on-month gain since February 2010. The data beat expectations for an annual gain of 2.5 percent and a monthly increase of just 0.2 percent, according to economists polled by the Wall Street Journal.

“December’s retail sales data suggests that the retail sector is continuing to support the economic recovery,” said economist Martin Beck at research group Capital Economics.

He added: “December’s performance was particularly impressive given the terrible weather over the Christmas period and some disappointing survey and anecdotal evidence.”

Bali News

International

predicting a pickup in economic growth in 2014 amid a continued favorable climate of low inflation, falling oil prices, a housing recovery and the Fed sticking to its plan to only slowly pare back the hundreds of billions of dollars in financial stimulus it has pumped into the economy over the past four years.

Meanwhile, recent polls show rising public distaste for brinkmanship and dysfunction on both sides of the political divide in Washington. In a recent poll, conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 70 percent said they lacked confidence in the government’s ability “to make progress on the important problems and issues facing the country in 2014.”

Last October, Republican conservatives forced a 16-day government shutdown with their failed attempt to defund Obama’s health insurance overhaul. But any public relations advantage Democrats may have reaped from that episode may have been eroded or lost in the problem-plagued rollout of the health care program.

Leaders of both parties are expressing frustration over the recent bouts of gridlock that come from divided control of government, with Democrats now controlling both the executive branch and the Senate and Republicans ruling the House. Neither party wants to bear the blame for the perceived dysfunction — while both sides are quick to blame the other for it. And both sides are trying to better position themselves as they calculate strategy with a close eye on potential midterm wins and losses.

The $1.1 trillion spending compromise grew out of an agreement negotiated last month by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray — leaders respectively of the House and Senate Budget committees. It funds the government through Sept.

30, eases across-the-board govern-

ment mandatory spending cuts and eliminates, for now, the likelihood of an election-year government shutdown. The measure passed the House 359-67 on Wednesday and the Senate 72-26 on Thursday.

Obama was expected to sign it.

It was a modest agreement, not the grand bargain some had hoped for. But for once, at least, the two sides were roughly on the same page and debate, for once, was mostly muted.

“It’s bipartisan, bicameral. We did it because we listened to each other and functioned with maximum respect,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “No one wants to shut the government down on either side,” Sen. Richard Shelby of Arizona, the committee’s top Republican, told colleagues.

The volume of the rhetoric may be lowered a bit, for now, but it’s not clear how long the pause will last.

“The Republicans certainly didn’t want to put themselves in the position they did with respect to the government shutdown,” said Thomas E. Mann a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution.

“And the (Ryan-Murray) agreement was important in terms of setting budget ceilings for two years and giving a fighting shot at getting appropriations bills for next year done.

But I don’t think that stretches or moves on to other things.”

The two parties, for instance, are squabbling now over Obama’s request to Congress to temporarily restore extended unemployment benefits for about 1.4 million longer-term unemployed workers who lost them when the program expired on Dec. 28. And another battle to raise the nation’s borrowing authority — when the current debt limit debt is reached, probably sometime in March — also looms.

Rich Galen, a Republican Party consultant and former top aide to Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, suggests the now-raging controversy over the rocky healthinsurance rollout is transitory and likely to fade with time. “Remember, in 2000 it took us 36 days to find out who the president was,” he said, referring to the razor-close victory of Republican George W. Bush over Democratic Vice President Al Gore.

IBP/File Photo

from the ground with the depth of about 15 meters, and then flowed under the Padma shrine.

As a matter of fact, it was named Amerthasari Temple. However, for consideration of easier pronunciation, it was then called Merthasari.

The current temple priest, denoting the third generation, mentioned the meaning of Amerthasari was that Amertha meant the whole foods, while Sari meant the essence.

Mangku Nendra is the successor of the previous temple priest, namely Nengah Netra who was also his deceased father. Meanwhile, the first was still unclear because the temple was still not restored at that time.

At the moment, the Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple has some shrines, namely the Ratu Nyoman, Padmasana, Meru, Pepelik, Taksu and Dewa Ayu Manik Galih dedicated to venerate the Goddess Sri. Genesis of the temple has something to do with Danghyang Nirartha. When arriving in Bali, Pedanda Sakti taught religion at Gede Perancak Temple where currently the Dang Khayangan Perancak Temple has been moved to Tanjung Tangis. At that time, he asked the monkeys where there was another village. The monkey responded by facing north and there laid a village called Budeng. There lived black monkey or Ijah. As soon as arriving at the village, he asked again where there was a village, and the monkeys were facing the west, now becoming the location of the Merthasari Temple.

When arriving at the village, he taught the people about agriculture, farming and trade. The Telaga Taman was a very fertile area. Religious life was quite good. In this area, there were five sanctums. In the long run, it turned into Amerthasari village and is now called Mertasari.

Now, the temple whose anniversary falls on Anggara Kasih (Tuesday) Perangbakat is venerated by four customary villages namely the Lokasari (Mertasari), Dauh Waru, Pendem and Batu Agung. Mangku added that other than the temple, there was also the Taman Temple that formerly was a pond. “In days of yore, there was a temple located beneath the banyan tree,” explained Nendra.

Aside from the six shrines existing today, the temple sitting on the area of 1800 square meters also has a Peselang pavilion to place gamelan instrument, Piasan, storing chamber and the easternmost is pavilion of Banten Piodalan (oblation).

In the past, most of the supporting devotees were farmers, but now they are from four customary villages and even from beyond Bali.

As the existing plan, this temple area will be expanded to the current parking lot. After the land acquisition, it will become about 3,000 square meters. Renovation and expansion of the temple area will include the temple building, construction of base fence, parking lot expansion, the arrangement of temple landscaping, as well as the wantilan hall. (kmb)

Tain Temuati Cake:

A Balinese green and luscious cake Jaja gadang tain temuati is one of the traditional cakes of community in Bali. It is called jaja gadang tain temuati because it is green (gadang) and has the shape of small round worm excrement (tain temuati). This very tender and sweet cake exudes a very typical flavor. Moreover, it is very safe to consume because the ingredients and coloring agent are made of organic substance.

THE main ingredient is rice flour mixed with green leaf extract produced by daun suji or dracaena leaf. It is used to make the cake look greenish as well as engender a delicious flavor, and fragrance. To serve the cake, it is put onto a small dish and then sprinkled with grated coconut and brown sugar sauce.

On days of yore, the cake was presented with a tekor (dish-shaped banana leaf). This cake is usually served when people held grandiose religious ceremonies (engaging villagers). But now, the traditional cake is very rare. Aside

from being difficult and complicated preparation, the ingredient in use is also of selected rice processed manually.

Preparations: first of all, the selected rice is soaked with clean water for about 6 hours. After that, the rice is made into flour by means of crushing. The flour is then clenched into the shape of balls. Then, steam all the batters until cooked or for 15 minutes.

Take out the cooked flour and then mixed with the extract of dracaena leaf and give a small amount of starch to make it sticky. Unlike in the past, to make the batter sticky people usually

used cassava.

Later on, the flour batter is crushed and kneaded until refined. Subsequently, the batter is formed by using coconut shell mold having many small holes. This mold is put on the flour and then driven while rolling it. From the holes of coconut shell mold will come out a cake resembling the earth worm excrement. Afterward, the cake is placed on a banana leaf and then steamed again for about 15 minutes.

When having cooked, the cake is taken out and cooled. For the presentation, the cake should be removed from the banana leaves one by one. Then, put them on the plate and sprinkle with grated coconut and brown sugar sauce. To sprinkle the sugar, use banana leaf whose end has been torn up resembling a brush. Having sprinkled it evenly, the cake is ready to serve.

IBP/File Photo

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Monday, January 20, 2014

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RLD

International

Rodman checks into rehab center Associated Press Writer

REUTERS/Paul Barker

A man displays a shirt damaged in an explosion near Victory Monument in Bangkok January 19, 2014. Twenty-eight people were injured, seven of them seriously, in an explosion on Sunday in the centre of the Thai capital, medical officials said.

28 wounded in blasts at Bangkok protest site Associated Press Writer

BANGKOK — Two explosions shook an anti-government demonstration site in Thailand’s capital on Sunday, wounding at least 28 people in the latest violence to hit Bangkok as the nation’s increasingly volatile political crisis drags on. Police said the blasts near Victory Monument, in the north of the city, were caused by fragmentation grenades — the same kind that killed one man and wounded dozens Friday in a similar explosion targeting protest marchers.

The demonstrators, who control several small patches of Bangkok, are vying to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government and derail Feb. 2 elections she called in a bid to quell the crisis.

Witnesses said the explosions occurred about two minutes apart.

The first blast went off about 100200 meters (yards) from a stage set up by protesters, leaving a small crater beside a vendor’s stall. The second went off near a row of vendors selling anti-government T-shirts, leaving bloody clothes and a ripped white-and-blue plastic tarp scattered across the ground.

Protester Theerayuth Uthakapintanont said that the second blast struck two vendors who were selling merchandise to protesters in the street.

The Erawan Medical Center, which tracks casualties, said 28 people were wounded. Bangkok, a vast city of 12 million people, is calm, but such incidents have

occurred nearly every day over the last week, including shooting attacks at protest venues and small explosives hurled at the homes of top protest supporters.

It is unclear who is behind the unrest. But prolonged violence, even on a small scale, increases the chance that the military will stage a coup. Such a scenario would benefit protesters, who have called on the army to take sides and do not have the numbers to bring down the government on their own.

Thailand’s army has staged about a dozen successful coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. The last coup, in 2006, toppled then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s brother — and touched off a societal schism that in broad terms pits the majority rural poor who back the Shinawatras against an urban-based elite establishment supported by the army and staunch royalists who see Yingluck’s family

as a corrupt threat to the traditional structures of power.

Yingluck’s opponents — a minority that can no longer win at the polls — argue the Shinawatras are using their electoral majority to impose their will and subvert democracy.

The crisis boiled over again late last year after the ruling party attempted to push through an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return from self-imposed exile. Thaksin has lived abroad since 2008 to avoid a prison sentence for a corruption conviction.

Late Saturday night, a gunman opened fire on anti-government protesters in Bangkok’s Lad Prao district, where protesters have taken over a key intersection. A 54-yearold man was shot in the back and seriously wounded in the shooting.

He underwent surgery and was in the intensive care unit on Sunday, the Erawan Center said.

Dennis Rodman has checked into an undisclosed alcohol rehabilitation center to treat his long-time struggle with alcoholism, his agent says. Darren Prince declined on Saturday to say which facility will treat Rodman and how long he will be there. Rodman recently returned to the United States from his latest trip to North Korea.

He later apologized for comments he made in North Korea about a detained American missionary, saying he had been drinking and was under pressure as he organized an exhibition game there. He also sang “Happy Birthday” to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the start of the friendly game.

“What was potentially a historic and monumental event turned into a nightmare for everyone concerned,” Prince said. “Dennis Rodman came back from North Korea in pretty rough shape emotionally. The pressure that was put on him to be a combination ‘super human’ political figure and ‘fixer’ got the better of him. “He is embarrassed, saddened and remorseful for the anger and hurt his words have caused.”

Rodman won five NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls and was one of the NBA’s fiercest rebounders and most colorful personalities. Detroit selected Rodman in the second round of the 1986 draft out of Southeastern Oklahoma. The native of Trenton, New Jersey, also played for Chicago, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in of 2011.

He stamped his name on “Dennis Rodman — The original Bad Ass Premium Vodka,” late last year. It was in the works before his relations with North Korea, but has taken off since.

More than 90 wildfires blaze in Australian state Associated Press Writer

CANBERRA, Australia — More than 90 wildfires were burning over Australia’s New South Wales state on Sunday, but the danger has ebbed in neighboring Victoria and South Australia states. Many of the 93 fires burning across New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, were sparked by overnight lightning strikes, state Country Fire Service spokesman Matt Sun said. At least three houses had been destroyed near the village of Minimbah, west of Sydney, he said.

He said 900 firefighters continued to battle blazes late Sunday.

Heat wave conditions across southeast Australia last week intensified wildfires that destroyed at least 25 houses in Victoria and South Australia over several days.

Victoria Fire Service Commissioner Craig Lapsley said Australia’s second most populous state had coped “reasonably well” with a fire emergency that scorched 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of grass and woodlands. On Sunday, the emergency was over, but 35 fires continued to burn. In South Australia, firefighters were concerned by only one fire Sunday.

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

INDONESIA Floods kill 5 in Jakarta, displace thousands Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Five people died in Jakarta because of flood that hit the capital city. Those victims added the death toll in days of floods and landslides in Indonesia to 23.

More than 10,000 Indonesians have fled their homes in the capital due to flooding that has left five dead, an official said Sunday, with people using rubber dinghies and wading through waist-deep water to reach safer ground.

Many parts of Jakarta were under murky, brown water, while on the vast archipelago’s northern Sulawesi island the death toll from flash floods and landslides rose to 19.

Buildings in some parts of sprawling capital, which has a population of 10 million and is regularly afflicted by floods during the six-month rainy season, were half submerged, with roads

unpassable in many areas.

“So far 10,530 people in Jakarta have been displaced by floods caused by heavy rains,” disaster agency official Tri Budiarto said.

Five people have so far been killed in the past week due to flooding, officials have said previously.

Budiarto confirmed the toll and said those killed had either died by drowning or being electrocuted.

However the floods were yet to reach the same level as last year when the central business district was left under water.

On Sulawesi, around 40,000 people were still displaced following flash floods and landslides

earlier in the week, local disaster agency chief Christian Laotongan.

“The floods have subsided but houses were wrecked, and furniture and belongings were damaged, so people have not been able to return,” he added.

Rescuers on Saturday recovered the body of a woman from a landslide in Tomohon city, Laotongan said, bringing the death toll in the area to 19.

Indonesia is regularly affected by deadly floods and landslides during its wet season. Environmentalists blame logging and a failure to reforest denuded land for exacerbating the floods.

Associated Press

to the point that they risk destroying the food source that’s vital to their survival.

Up to 20 turtles were spotted in an area covering about two U.S. football fields (one hectare) at Derawan Island off Indonesia’s part of Borneo in 2011.

That means snorkelers are almost guaranteed to see a turtle every moment they’re in the water. The rate was four times higher than non-protected

areas elsewhere and also topped historic numbers reported before the reptile was hunted by humans.

The graceful creatures with heartshaped shells usually just munch on seagrass much like cows grazing in a field. But the increasing population has pushed them to desperation: With no top leaves left, they now claw at the plants with their flippers and use their mouths to violently rip the seagrass out by the roots, leaving patches of white sandy ocean floor. Such behavior has not been seen elsewhere, according to findings published last week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. They are “creating sort of piles of mud in the seagrass bed where they’ve eaten the underlying root matter, and it can take a hell of a long time for that to come back,” said co-author Peter Mumby, a marine ecologist at the University of Queensland in Australia.

“So essentially, they’re going to eat themselves out of house and home.”

Using modeling, the research team, led from 2008 to 2011 by Marjolijn Christianen of Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, found

Endangered turtles face new threat

JAKARTA - Green sea turtles remain a rare sight in many parts of the world, but one Indonesian island tasked with protecting them is being overrun by far too many.

New research suggests that the gentle endangered creatures are crowding into a marine reserve in numbers never recorded anywhere, gobbling seagrass

AP Photo/University of Queensland, Marjolijn Christianen

AP Photo/Country Fire Authority

In this Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014 photo released by Victoria Country Fire Authority, a water bomber works over a large fire burning throughout Victoria’s Grampians region.

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This undated photo taken by Marjolijn Christianen of the Radboud University of Nijmegen and released by University of Queensland, shows a green turtle at the bottom of the sea in the waters off Derawan Island, East kalimantan, Indonesia.

that nearly all turtles would need to be removed from the area in order for the seagrass to recover. If they are not stopped, the beds could be destroyed within the next five to 10 years, the study suggests.

Mumby said a short-term solution may be to try to relocate the turtles to less populated reserves, but he added that larger conservation issues must be addressed by the government.

Pesticide, fertilizer and sediment runoff from nearby mining and agriculture operations, including rapidly expanded palm oil plantations, are smothering seagrass beds in areas outside the decade-old reserve. The turtles are also congregating in the protected area for safety because they are being poached outside. The heavy hunting of sharks, a major turtle predator, could be another factor contributing to the rising numbers.

Many of the turtles feeding off Derawan do not nest there and instead come from outside areas including Malaysia and the Philippines, said Windia Adnyana, a turtle expert from Udayana University in Bali who has worked for years in the marine reserve.

And while there are more turtles coming to eat, he said the number nesting on the island continues to decline with an estimated 10,000 turtles returning to the beach where they were born every year.

“It’s alarming in a place like Derawan,” he said. “Protecting the species alone is not enough. There has to be consideration about the capacity of the food itself, the seagrass.”

Seagrass is part of an important ecosystem, providing food, shelter and nurseries for different types of fish, mammals and invertebrates. It helps maintain the health of coral reefs, mangroves and marshes, while also preventing erosion and keeping water clear by trapping sediment coming from land.

A 2011 global survey found that 14 percent of all seagrass species are at risk of going extinct, largely due to pollution, coastal development, deforestation, sedimentation, sewage runoff and dredging.

Green turtles are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.

10

Monday, January 20, 2014

Destination

Sports

International

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

7

Jones leads Rockets over Bucks, 114-104

Kedonganan Beach IBP

JIMBARAN - It is only 3 kilometers southwards of Ngurah Rai Intemational Airport; this object offers a gently sloping white sandy beach with quiet waves, so it is suitable for relaxing, swimming and sunbathing. In the northern part of Kedonganan Beach, lies traditional fish market embellished with the parking of traditional boats along the beach. As a result, they enrich the beauty of coastal scenery.

Exploring and sailing the crescent-shaped beach by fishing boat will give another unique impression for tourists.

AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia waves to the crowd as she celebrates her win over Serena Williams of the U.S. in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014.

IBP/File Photo

Inspired Ivanovic stuns Serena, Djokovic crusies Reuters

MELBOURNE - An inspired Ana Ivanovic blew the race for the Australian Open women’s title wide open when she stunned overwhelming favourite Serena Williams in the fourth round at Melbourne Park on Sunday. Novak Djokovic was for once forced to cede the spotlight to another Serbian but showed no signs of relinquishing his iron grip on the men’s title and was merciless in his 6-3 6-0 6-2 flogging of Fabio Fognini.

Third seed David Ferrer also advanced to the last eight and a meeting with Tomas Berdych and his stripy football shirt, while women’s fourth seed Li Na and Flavia Pennetta set up a last eight clash of 31-year-olds. Li and Pennetta had every reason to expect their path to the final to be blocked by world number one and top seed Williams until Ivanovic secured the biggest shock of the tournament with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

The Serbian’s victory instead sent her through to a quarter-final clash against Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard, who ended Australia’s hopes of a home champion with a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-0 win over Casey Dellacqua.

“I actually believed,” said Ivanovic, whose mental toughness has been fre-

quently questioned since her failure to back up her 2008 French Open title. “Going on to the court today, I really just tried to give my best. “I tried to make it a good match. I was very competitive till the last moment and I’m just very thrilled.”

Williams was riding high on a winning streak of 25 matches going back to the start of last year’s U.S. Open and had not lost a single set to Ivanovic in four previous meetings.

When the 32-year-old took the first set despite looking a little lethargic, she seemed to be on her way to a record 62nd victory at the Australian Open, where she is 51-1 after going 1-0 up in match.

DICTATING PLAY In the second set, though, Ivanovic really started to take the

game to Williams, attacking the 17-times grand slam champion’s serve with a success very few have managed and dictating the back court with her forehand.

Her tally of 20 forehand winners to two for Williams told its own tale but, most importantly, once in front in the deciding set, Ivanovic kept her head before serving out to love for the match. “I really did certain things extremely well and I kept her under pressure I felt throughout the whole match,” the 26-year-old said.

“I didn’t think much about the occasion and who I was playing, because it can get overwhelming.”

Williams’s four-year quest for a sixth Melbourne title has been bedevilled by injury but she offered no excuses until realising coach Patrick Mouratoglou had told reporters about a back problem she sustained before her third round match.

“So he’s the one that’s snitching?” she said to laughter. “I don’t want to blame anything. I feel like Ana deserves all the credit. I feel she played unbelievable today. I think she went for her shots. “It’s not like I gave her the match. I tried to fight the best I could today.”

HOUSTON — Terrence Jones had a career-high 36 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets led from the start in a 114-104 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA on Saturday night. Jones had 25 points by halftime, matching his previous career-best set on Wednesday, and James Harden added 22 points.

Brandon Knight scored 26 points with seven assists for the NBA-worst Bucks, who have dropped eight in a row.

Jones received a standing ovation when he grabbed a rebound off a missed 3-pointer by O.J. Mayo and dribbled by him with a slick spin move before driving into the lane and finishing with an off-balance layup to push the lead to 112-97 with about 2½ minutes remaining. The 22-year-old Jones is the second-youngest Rocket to have a 30-point game behind Hakeem Olajuwon.

Star forward Dwight Howard added 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, Aaron Brooks

had 10 points and four assists and Jones also had two blocks, a steal and an assist.

John Henson had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee and Luke Ridnour added 14 points.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, LeBron James had 34 points and eight rebounds, and the Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Bobcats for the 15th straight time, 104-96 in overtime.

James scored six points in the extra period, including two driving layups to lift the Heat to their second win in two nights. Chris Bosh added 25 points and seven rebounds for Miami. Al Jefferson had 22 points to lead the Bobcats, who were playing their fourth game in five nights.

Paul George scored 36 points, leading the Indiana Pacers past the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-92 for its fourth straight win. Lance Stephenson added 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Pacers improve to 32-7 and retain the league’s top record.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Houston Rockets’ Terrence Jones (6) looks to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Larry Sanders (8) defend during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Houston. The Rockets won 114-104.

8

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

International

Sp rt

Juve stay eight clear after 12th straight win

Associated Press Writer

POGBA STRIKES

Van Aanholt winner hands Vitesse top place again Reuters

Patrick van Aanholt scored a last minute winner as Vitesse Arnhem moved top of the Dutch league standings with a 2-1 away triumph at PEC Zwolle on Saturday, putting immediate pressure back on defending champions Ajax Amsterdam. Ajax led Vitesse on goal difference at the brief winter break but are now again forced to play catch-up to their unfashionable fellow title contenders.

Vitesse moved to 40 points, three ahead of Twente Enschede who had taken over top spot on Friday with a 3-1 home triumph over Heracles Almelo. Ajax are also on 37 points before Sunday’s home match against PSV Eindhoven.

Christian Atsu, like van Aanholt on loan from

Chelsea, took just 121 seconds to put Vitesse ahead at PEC but the lead lasted only seven minutes before Guyon Fernandez equalised. A missed penalty

by Brazilian teenager Lucas Piazon three minutes after the equaliser left Vitesse scrambling until van Aanholt hit home the winner.

Jon Dahl Tomasson made a successful start as new Roda JC Kerkrade coach as they twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw away at Marco van Basten’s fifth-placed SC Heerenveen.

Debutant Hans Hateboer set up the opening goal for FC Groningen’s Michael de Leeuw but then got sent off near the end, after which RKC Waalwijk equalised through Evander Sno’s penalty. The 1-1 draw means Groningen stay sixth in the standings.

Juventus’ Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring against Sampdoria during their Italian Serie A soccer match at Juventus Stadium in Turin January 18, 2014.

BARCELONA, Spain — Cristiano Ronaldo scored a long-range goal worthy of the recently awarded Ballon d’Or to spark Real Madrid’s 5-0 rout at Real Betis, provisionally lifting his team level with the leaders of the Spanish league on Saturday.

Ronaldo netted one of his signature free kicks in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday to celebrate being named the world player of the year, and he topped that with a 25-meter blast taken on the run in the 10th minute in Seville.

Gareth Bale followed Ronaldo’s rocket with a delicately placed free kick in the 25th for his first goal since Nov. 30, leaving the hosts demoralized and in tatters at the back. Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Alvaro Morata all scored before the demolition of bottom-side Betis was over.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid can both regain their advantage over M a d r i d when they play matches on Sunday.

“Everything went our way,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

“It was an important opportunity to reach the top of the table. At least we can sleep well

tonight.”

Betis certainly won’t after it was left eight points from safety just past the league’s midway mark after Elche earned its first win in six rounds by beating 10-man Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at home.

Entering the match on a 12round winless streak and showing no improvement since Juan Carlos Garrido replaced Pepe Mel as its coach, Betis desperately needed to repeat its 1-0 win over Madrid from last season.

But Madrid dominated possession from the start, and the talent of Ronaldo and company soon crushed any hopes of an upset.

“I understand that people are not happy with my contribution so far,” said Garrido, who has yet to guide Betis to a win in five rounds and has seen his new team eliminated from the Copa del Rey. “We haven’t been able to change a situation that was already negative. I’m not happy, that is evident. We have to hang in there and work to turn this around.”

Elsewhere, Espanyol beat Celta Vigo 1-0 in Barcelona thanks to Sergio Garcia’s late goal to move into the upper half of the standings, while Osasuna was outplayed at Granada but held on to draw 0-0 and stay undefeated in five rounds. Ancelotti said he would ask Ronaldo “for more” after he won his second Ballon d’Or on Monday,

Australia’s Robbie Kruse is likely to miss the World Cup finals in Brazil after sustaining a knee injury that will need surgery next week.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward was injured at training on Friday and scans on Saturday confirmed he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would miss the rest of the season, his Bundesliga club said.

Similar injuries have required up to a year of rehabilitation for other athletes, though local media

have reported the 25-year-old was considering a different procedure that could see him playing again in three months.

The ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) uses synthetic components to repair the damage, though its long term success and effects are still unclear.

Kruse was seen as the linchpin of Ange Postecoglou’s attack for the World Cup, where they open their Group B campaign against Chile in Cuiaba on June 13. The Netherlands and world champions Spain are also in the group.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring against Betis during their La Liga soccer match at the Benito Villamarin stadium, in Seville, Spain on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014.

City still improving after reaching 100 goals-Pellegrini

Australia forward Kruse likely to miss World Cup

Reuters

and his star forward has certainly done that with two more superb goals this week to help his team advance past Osasuna in the Copa del Rey and tighten the league title race.

Ronaldo was aggressive as ever from the start against Betis and his effort paid off when he unleashed a right-footed strike while dribbling at full speed that sailed past goalkeeper Stephan Andersen and into the roof of the net. The shot increased Ronaldo’s league-leading tally to 21 goals in 20 rounds. He has 31 goals in 26 appearances overall for Madrid. Bale turned Andersen into a helpless bystander for a second time when he lifted a free kick over the wall before it suddenly dipped down and into the net.

Modric then set up Benzema’s goal in first-half stoppage time when he pounced on a loose ball, drew three defenders to him, changed direction and crossed for the striker to slot home. It was Benzema’s 100th goal in his fifth season at Madrid. Ancelotti praised the work of Modric and fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso for triggering Madrid’s lethal attack.

“Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema were very efficient. The entire team gave them several scoring options because we played at a fast pace,” he said. “The help of our midfielders, above all Modric, was very important.”

AP Photo/Angel Fernandez

They reduced the deficit again in the 70th minute when Gabbiadini tapped home his fifth goal of the season on the rebound following a Gianluigi Buffon save from a corner. The striker almost scored a shock equaliser three minutes later when he thumped a long-range shot against the bar.

However, Juve midfielder Paul Pogba then struck a powerful shot of from distance that flew into the top corner

with 12 minutes left to seal the three points for the hosts. “I don’t think it would have been right for us to draw as Juve deserved to win. But we hit the bar and if that had gone in it might have gone differently,” said Mihajlovic.

“But that’s the difference, we hit the bar and they score a great goal through Pogba.” Rudi Garcia’s Roma, with captain Francesco Totti starting on the bench, were on top from the start against Livorno with Destro scoring after six minutes with an easy tap-in, although their Ivorian striker Gervinho looked offside in the build-up.

A close-range Strootman strike nine minutes before the break and Ljajic’s first goal since November with 12 minutes left saw Roma confirm their superiority in a devastating display which was blighted only by their profligacy in front of goal.

REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino

ROME - Arturo Vidal’s double helped Juventus to their 12th straight league win with a 4-2 triumph over Sampdoria and saw the Italian champions restore an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A. Antonio Conte’s side moved on to 55 points from 20 games after taking the spoils from an entertaining encounter in which the visitors showed great heart and plenty of attacking intent. this season with a penalty four minutes before halftime.

Three minutes before the spot kick was given for a soft-looking foul on Vidal by Vasco Regini, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s spirited Samp side got back into the match when Andrea Barzagli diverted Manolo Gabbiadini’s low cross into his own goal.

9

Ronaldo’s rocket sparks Madrid’s 5-0 rout at Betis

Reuters

“Samp are a team that came to our place and gave us a game. I think they can do good things over the rest of the season,” said goalscorer Vidal. AS Roma had briefly moved within five points of Juve after strolling past lowly Livorno 3-0 earlier on Saturday thanks to goals from Mattia Destro, Kevin Strootman and Adem Ljajic.

Third-placed Napoli, 13 points behind Juve, visit Bologna on Sunday looking to keep their slim title hopes alive (1400 GMT). “It’s a tough league.

Roma and Napoli both have great players, but we need to carry on the way we’ve been doing up to now right to the end and hopefully we’ll get our third title,” added Chile midfielder Vidal.

He broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a neat finish off the outside of his foot and, after Fernando Llorente headed the second from a corner six minutes later, Vidal took his tally to 10

Monday, January 20, 2014

Reuters

AP Photo/Jon Super

Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Cardiff City during their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Jan 18, 2014.

Manchester - Rampant Manchester City steamed through the 100 barrier as goals continued to rain down at The Etihad Stadium in a 4-2 Premier League win over Cardiff City on Saturday. Edin Dzeko struck after 14 minutes to bring up the milestone and further goals from Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero finished off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plucky Cardiff side to keep ruthless City breathing down the necks of leaders Arsenal.

City, who have won all of their 11 home league games so far this season, are the first team in England to reach 100 goals in all competitions before the end of January with their total now standing at 103 and counting. “I think it’s very important for the team, it’s not easy to score 100 goals at this stage of the season,” manager Manuel Pellegrini told the club’s website (www.mcfc.co.uk)

“It reflects how we think this team must play - we must be confident in what we are doing. “I think we are getting better as the season goes on.” City have scored 68 goals in all competitions in front of their home fans and now have 63 in 22 league games, 40 behind Chelsea’s 2009-10 Premier League record with 16 matches left.

Aston Villa hold the record for most goals in a domestic top flight league campaign with 128 in 42 games in 1930-31. While scoring records are welcome, Pellegrini is more concerned with churning out victories. Saturday saw City chalk up a seventh successive league win and they look unstoppable, especially at home.

“We have to play 16 more games, so we have a lot of points to fight for, we are not worried about what happens with other teams,” added Pellegrini. “We are in a good moment - the confidence of the whole squad is high. In the last month (of the season) we will be under a lot of pressure and I hope we’ll continue in this way.”

8

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

International

Sp rt

Juve stay eight clear after 12th straight win

Associated Press Writer

POGBA STRIKES

Van Aanholt winner hands Vitesse top place again Reuters

Patrick van Aanholt scored a last minute winner as Vitesse Arnhem moved top of the Dutch league standings with a 2-1 away triumph at PEC Zwolle on Saturday, putting immediate pressure back on defending champions Ajax Amsterdam. Ajax led Vitesse on goal difference at the brief winter break but are now again forced to play catch-up to their unfashionable fellow title contenders.

Vitesse moved to 40 points, three ahead of Twente Enschede who had taken over top spot on Friday with a 3-1 home triumph over Heracles Almelo. Ajax are also on 37 points before Sunday’s home match against PSV Eindhoven.

Christian Atsu, like van Aanholt on loan from

Chelsea, took just 121 seconds to put Vitesse ahead at PEC but the lead lasted only seven minutes before Guyon Fernandez equalised. A missed penalty

by Brazilian teenager Lucas Piazon three minutes after the equaliser left Vitesse scrambling until van Aanholt hit home the winner.

Jon Dahl Tomasson made a successful start as new Roda JC Kerkrade coach as they twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw away at Marco van Basten’s fifth-placed SC Heerenveen.

Debutant Hans Hateboer set up the opening goal for FC Groningen’s Michael de Leeuw but then got sent off near the end, after which RKC Waalwijk equalised through Evander Sno’s penalty. The 1-1 draw means Groningen stay sixth in the standings.

Juventus’ Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring against Sampdoria during their Italian Serie A soccer match at Juventus Stadium in Turin January 18, 2014.

BARCELONA, Spain — Cristiano Ronaldo scored a long-range goal worthy of the recently awarded Ballon d’Or to spark Real Madrid’s 5-0 rout at Real Betis, provisionally lifting his team level with the leaders of the Spanish league on Saturday.

Ronaldo netted one of his signature free kicks in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday to celebrate being named the world player of the year, and he topped that with a 25-meter blast taken on the run in the 10th minute in Seville.

Gareth Bale followed Ronaldo’s rocket with a delicately placed free kick in the 25th for his first goal since Nov. 30, leaving the hosts demoralized and in tatters at the back. Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Alvaro Morata all scored before the demolition of bottom-side Betis was over.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid can both regain their advantage over M a d r i d when they play matches on Sunday.

“Everything went our way,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

“It was an important opportunity to reach the top of the table. At least we can sleep well

tonight.”

Betis certainly won’t after it was left eight points from safety just past the league’s midway mark after Elche earned its first win in six rounds by beating 10-man Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at home.

Entering the match on a 12round winless streak and showing no improvement since Juan Carlos Garrido replaced Pepe Mel as its coach, Betis desperately needed to repeat its 1-0 win over Madrid from last season.

But Madrid dominated possession from the start, and the talent of Ronaldo and company soon crushed any hopes of an upset.

“I understand that people are not happy with my contribution so far,” said Garrido, who has yet to guide Betis to a win in five rounds and has seen his new team eliminated from the Copa del Rey. “We haven’t been able to change a situation that was already negative. I’m not happy, that is evident. We have to hang in there and work to turn this around.”

Elsewhere, Espanyol beat Celta Vigo 1-0 in Barcelona thanks to Sergio Garcia’s late goal to move into the upper half of the standings, while Osasuna was outplayed at Granada but held on to draw 0-0 and stay undefeated in five rounds. Ancelotti said he would ask Ronaldo “for more” after he won his second Ballon d’Or on Monday,

Australia’s Robbie Kruse is likely to miss the World Cup finals in Brazil after sustaining a knee injury that will need surgery next week.

The Bayer Leverkusen forward was injured at training on Friday and scans on Saturday confirmed he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would miss the rest of the season, his Bundesliga club said.

Similar injuries have required up to a year of rehabilitation for other athletes, though local media

have reported the 25-year-old was considering a different procedure that could see him playing again in three months.

The ligament augmentation and reconstruction system (LARS) uses synthetic components to repair the damage, though its long term success and effects are still unclear.

Kruse was seen as the linchpin of Ange Postecoglou’s attack for the World Cup, where they open their Group B campaign against Chile in Cuiaba on June 13. The Netherlands and world champions Spain are also in the group.

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after scoring against Betis during their La Liga soccer match at the Benito Villamarin stadium, in Seville, Spain on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014.

City still improving after reaching 100 goals-Pellegrini

Australia forward Kruse likely to miss World Cup

Reuters

and his star forward has certainly done that with two more superb goals this week to help his team advance past Osasuna in the Copa del Rey and tighten the league title race.

Ronaldo was aggressive as ever from the start against Betis and his effort paid off when he unleashed a right-footed strike while dribbling at full speed that sailed past goalkeeper Stephan Andersen and into the roof of the net. The shot increased Ronaldo’s league-leading tally to 21 goals in 20 rounds. He has 31 goals in 26 appearances overall for Madrid. Bale turned Andersen into a helpless bystander for a second time when he lifted a free kick over the wall before it suddenly dipped down and into the net.

Modric then set up Benzema’s goal in first-half stoppage time when he pounced on a loose ball, drew three defenders to him, changed direction and crossed for the striker to slot home. It was Benzema’s 100th goal in his fifth season at Madrid. Ancelotti praised the work of Modric and fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso for triggering Madrid’s lethal attack.

“Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema were very efficient. The entire team gave them several scoring options because we played at a fast pace,” he said. “The help of our midfielders, above all Modric, was very important.”

AP Photo/Angel Fernandez

They reduced the deficit again in the 70th minute when Gabbiadini tapped home his fifth goal of the season on the rebound following a Gianluigi Buffon save from a corner. The striker almost scored a shock equaliser three minutes later when he thumped a long-range shot against the bar.

However, Juve midfielder Paul Pogba then struck a powerful shot of from distance that flew into the top corner

with 12 minutes left to seal the three points for the hosts. “I don’t think it would have been right for us to draw as Juve deserved to win. But we hit the bar and if that had gone in it might have gone differently,” said Mihajlovic.

“But that’s the difference, we hit the bar and they score a great goal through Pogba.” Rudi Garcia’s Roma, with captain Francesco Totti starting on the bench, were on top from the start against Livorno with Destro scoring after six minutes with an easy tap-in, although their Ivorian striker Gervinho looked offside in the build-up.

A close-range Strootman strike nine minutes before the break and Ljajic’s first goal since November with 12 minutes left saw Roma confirm their superiority in a devastating display which was blighted only by their profligacy in front of goal.

REUTERS/Giorgio Perottino

ROME - Arturo Vidal’s double helped Juventus to their 12th straight league win with a 4-2 triumph over Sampdoria and saw the Italian champions restore an eight-point lead at the top of Serie A. Antonio Conte’s side moved on to 55 points from 20 games after taking the spoils from an entertaining encounter in which the visitors showed great heart and plenty of attacking intent. this season with a penalty four minutes before halftime.

Three minutes before the spot kick was given for a soft-looking foul on Vidal by Vasco Regini, Sinisa Mihajlovic’s spirited Samp side got back into the match when Andrea Barzagli diverted Manolo Gabbiadini’s low cross into his own goal.

9

Ronaldo’s rocket sparks Madrid’s 5-0 rout at Betis

Reuters

“Samp are a team that came to our place and gave us a game. I think they can do good things over the rest of the season,” said goalscorer Vidal. AS Roma had briefly moved within five points of Juve after strolling past lowly Livorno 3-0 earlier on Saturday thanks to goals from Mattia Destro, Kevin Strootman and Adem Ljajic.

Third-placed Napoli, 13 points behind Juve, visit Bologna on Sunday looking to keep their slim title hopes alive (1400 GMT). “It’s a tough league.

Roma and Napoli both have great players, but we need to carry on the way we’ve been doing up to now right to the end and hopefully we’ll get our third title,” added Chile midfielder Vidal.

He broke the deadlock in the 18th minute with a neat finish off the outside of his foot and, after Fernando Llorente headed the second from a corner six minutes later, Vidal took his tally to 10

Monday, January 20, 2014

Reuters

AP Photo/Jon Super

Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring against Cardiff City during their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Jan 18, 2014.

Manchester - Rampant Manchester City steamed through the 100 barrier as goals continued to rain down at The Etihad Stadium in a 4-2 Premier League win over Cardiff City on Saturday. Edin Dzeko struck after 14 minutes to bring up the milestone and further goals from Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero finished off Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plucky Cardiff side to keep ruthless City breathing down the necks of leaders Arsenal.

City, who have won all of their 11 home league games so far this season, are the first team in England to reach 100 goals in all competitions before the end of January with their total now standing at 103 and counting. “I think it’s very important for the team, it’s not easy to score 100 goals at this stage of the season,” manager Manuel Pellegrini told the club’s website (www.mcfc.co.uk)

“It reflects how we think this team must play - we must be confident in what we are doing. “I think we are getting better as the season goes on.” City have scored 68 goals in all competitions in front of their home fans and now have 63 in 22 league games, 40 behind Chelsea’s 2009-10 Premier League record with 16 matches left.

Aston Villa hold the record for most goals in a domestic top flight league campaign with 128 in 42 games in 1930-31. While scoring records are welcome, Pellegrini is more concerned with churning out victories. Saturday saw City chalk up a seventh successive league win and they look unstoppable, especially at home.

“We have to play 16 more games, so we have a lot of points to fight for, we are not worried about what happens with other teams,” added Pellegrini. “We are in a good moment - the confidence of the whole squad is high. In the last month (of the season) we will be under a lot of pressure and I hope we’ll continue in this way.”

10

Monday, January 20, 2014

Destination

Sports

International

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

7

Jones leads Rockets over Bucks, 114-104

Kedonganan Beach IBP

JIMBARAN - It is only 3 kilometers southwards of Ngurah Rai Intemational Airport; this object offers a gently sloping white sandy beach with quiet waves, so it is suitable for relaxing, swimming and sunbathing. In the northern part of Kedonganan Beach, lies traditional fish market embellished with the parking of traditional boats along the beach. As a result, they enrich the beauty of coastal scenery.

Exploring and sailing the crescent-shaped beach by fishing boat will give another unique impression for tourists.

AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia waves to the crowd as she celebrates her win over Serena Williams of the U.S. in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014.

IBP/File Photo

Inspired Ivanovic stuns Serena, Djokovic crusies Reuters

MELBOURNE - An inspired Ana Ivanovic blew the race for the Australian Open women’s title wide open when she stunned overwhelming favourite Serena Williams in the fourth round at Melbourne Park on Sunday. Novak Djokovic was for once forced to cede the spotlight to another Serbian but showed no signs of relinquishing his iron grip on the men’s title and was merciless in his 6-3 6-0 6-2 flogging of Fabio Fognini.

Third seed David Ferrer also advanced to the last eight and a meeting with Tomas Berdych and his stripy football shirt, while women’s fourth seed Li Na and Flavia Pennetta set up a last eight clash of 31-year-olds. Li and Pennetta had every reason to expect their path to the final to be blocked by world number one and top seed Williams until Ivanovic secured the biggest shock of the tournament with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

The Serbian’s victory instead sent her through to a quarter-final clash against Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard, who ended Australia’s hopes of a home champion with a 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-0 win over Casey Dellacqua.

“I actually believed,” said Ivanovic, whose mental toughness has been fre-

quently questioned since her failure to back up her 2008 French Open title. “Going on to the court today, I really just tried to give my best. “I tried to make it a good match. I was very competitive till the last moment and I’m just very thrilled.”

Williams was riding high on a winning streak of 25 matches going back to the start of last year’s U.S. Open and had not lost a single set to Ivanovic in four previous meetings.

When the 32-year-old took the first set despite looking a little lethargic, she seemed to be on her way to a record 62nd victory at the Australian Open, where she is 51-1 after going 1-0 up in match.

DICTATING PLAY In the second set, though, Ivanovic really started to take the

game to Williams, attacking the 17-times grand slam champion’s serve with a success very few have managed and dictating the back court with her forehand.

Her tally of 20 forehand winners to two for Williams told its own tale but, most importantly, once in front in the deciding set, Ivanovic kept her head before serving out to love for the match. “I really did certain things extremely well and I kept her under pressure I felt throughout the whole match,” the 26-year-old said.

“I didn’t think much about the occasion and who I was playing, because it can get overwhelming.”

Williams’s four-year quest for a sixth Melbourne title has been bedevilled by injury but she offered no excuses until realising coach Patrick Mouratoglou had told reporters about a back problem she sustained before her third round match.

“So he’s the one that’s snitching?” she said to laughter. “I don’t want to blame anything. I feel like Ana deserves all the credit. I feel she played unbelievable today. I think she went for her shots. “It’s not like I gave her the match. I tried to fight the best I could today.”

HOUSTON — Terrence Jones had a career-high 36 points and 11 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets led from the start in a 114-104 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA on Saturday night. Jones had 25 points by halftime, matching his previous career-best set on Wednesday, and James Harden added 22 points.

Brandon Knight scored 26 points with seven assists for the NBA-worst Bucks, who have dropped eight in a row.

Jones received a standing ovation when he grabbed a rebound off a missed 3-pointer by O.J. Mayo and dribbled by him with a slick spin move before driving into the lane and finishing with an off-balance layup to push the lead to 112-97 with about 2½ minutes remaining. The 22-year-old Jones is the second-youngest Rocket to have a 30-point game behind Hakeem Olajuwon.

Star forward Dwight Howard added 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, Aaron Brooks

had 10 points and four assists and Jones also had two blocks, a steal and an assist.

John Henson had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee and Luke Ridnour added 14 points.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, LeBron James had 34 points and eight rebounds, and the Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Bobcats for the 15th straight time, 104-96 in overtime.

James scored six points in the extra period, including two driving layups to lift the Heat to their second win in two nights. Chris Bosh added 25 points and seven rebounds for Miami. Al Jefferson had 22 points to lead the Bobcats, who were playing their fourth game in five nights.

Paul George scored 36 points, leading the Indiana Pacers past the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-92 for its fourth straight win. Lance Stephenson added 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Pacers improve to 32-7 and retain the league’s top record.

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Houston Rockets’ Terrence Jones (6) looks to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and Larry Sanders (8) defend during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Houston. The Rockets won 114-104.

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Monday, January 20, 2014

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RLD

International

Rodman checks into rehab center Associated Press Writer

REUTERS/Paul Barker

A man displays a shirt damaged in an explosion near Victory Monument in Bangkok January 19, 2014. Twenty-eight people were injured, seven of them seriously, in an explosion on Sunday in the centre of the Thai capital, medical officials said.

28 wounded in blasts at Bangkok protest site Associated Press Writer

BANGKOK — Two explosions shook an anti-government demonstration site in Thailand’s capital on Sunday, wounding at least 28 people in the latest violence to hit Bangkok as the nation’s increasingly volatile political crisis drags on. Police said the blasts near Victory Monument, in the north of the city, were caused by fragmentation grenades — the same kind that killed one man and wounded dozens Friday in a similar explosion targeting protest marchers.

The demonstrators, who control several small patches of Bangkok, are vying to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government and derail Feb. 2 elections she called in a bid to quell the crisis.

Witnesses said the explosions occurred about two minutes apart.

The first blast went off about 100200 meters (yards) from a stage set up by protesters, leaving a small crater beside a vendor’s stall. The second went off near a row of vendors selling anti-government T-shirts, leaving bloody clothes and a ripped white-and-blue plastic tarp scattered across the ground.

Protester Theerayuth Uthakapintanont said that the second blast struck two vendors who were selling merchandise to protesters in the street.

The Erawan Medical Center, which tracks casualties, said 28 people were wounded. Bangkok, a vast city of 12 million people, is calm, but such incidents have

occurred nearly every day over the last week, including shooting attacks at protest venues and small explosives hurled at the homes of top protest supporters.

It is unclear who is behind the unrest. But prolonged violence, even on a small scale, increases the chance that the military will stage a coup. Such a scenario would benefit protesters, who have called on the army to take sides and do not have the numbers to bring down the government on their own.

Thailand’s army has staged about a dozen successful coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. The last coup, in 2006, toppled then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s brother — and touched off a societal schism that in broad terms pits the majority rural poor who back the Shinawatras against an urban-based elite establishment supported by the army and staunch royalists who see Yingluck’s family

as a corrupt threat to the traditional structures of power.

Yingluck’s opponents — a minority that can no longer win at the polls — argue the Shinawatras are using their electoral majority to impose their will and subvert democracy.

The crisis boiled over again late last year after the ruling party attempted to push through an amnesty bill that would have allowed Thaksin to return from self-imposed exile. Thaksin has lived abroad since 2008 to avoid a prison sentence for a corruption conviction.

Late Saturday night, a gunman opened fire on anti-government protesters in Bangkok’s Lad Prao district, where protesters have taken over a key intersection. A 54-yearold man was shot in the back and seriously wounded in the shooting.

He underwent surgery and was in the intensive care unit on Sunday, the Erawan Center said.

Dennis Rodman has checked into an undisclosed alcohol rehabilitation center to treat his long-time struggle with alcoholism, his agent says. Darren Prince declined on Saturday to say which facility will treat Rodman and how long he will be there. Rodman recently returned to the United States from his latest trip to North Korea.

He later apologized for comments he made in North Korea about a detained American missionary, saying he had been drinking and was under pressure as he organized an exhibition game there. He also sang “Happy Birthday” to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the start of the friendly game.

“What was potentially a historic and monumental event turned into a nightmare for everyone concerned,” Prince said. “Dennis Rodman came back from North Korea in pretty rough shape emotionally. The pressure that was put on him to be a combination ‘super human’ political figure and ‘fixer’ got the better of him. “He is embarrassed, saddened and remorseful for the anger and hurt his words have caused.”

Rodman won five NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls and was one of the NBA’s fiercest rebounders and most colorful personalities. Detroit selected Rodman in the second round of the 1986 draft out of Southeastern Oklahoma. The native of Trenton, New Jersey, also played for Chicago, San Antonio, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas. He was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in of 2011.

He stamped his name on “Dennis Rodman — The original Bad Ass Premium Vodka,” late last year. It was in the works before his relations with North Korea, but has taken off since.

More than 90 wildfires blaze in Australian state Associated Press Writer

CANBERRA, Australia — More than 90 wildfires were burning over Australia’s New South Wales state on Sunday, but the danger has ebbed in neighboring Victoria and South Australia states. Many of the 93 fires burning across New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, were sparked by overnight lightning strikes, state Country Fire Service spokesman Matt Sun said. At least three houses had been destroyed near the village of Minimbah, west of Sydney, he said.

He said 900 firefighters continued to battle blazes late Sunday.

Heat wave conditions across southeast Australia last week intensified wildfires that destroyed at least 25 houses in Victoria and South Australia over several days.

Victoria Fire Service Commissioner Craig Lapsley said Australia’s second most populous state had coped “reasonably well” with a fire emergency that scorched 130,000 hectares (320,000 acres) of grass and woodlands. On Sunday, the emergency was over, but 35 fires continued to burn. In South Australia, firefighters were concerned by only one fire Sunday.

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

INDONESIA Floods kill 5 in Jakarta, displace thousands Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Five people died in Jakarta because of flood that hit the capital city. Those victims added the death toll in days of floods and landslides in Indonesia to 23.

More than 10,000 Indonesians have fled their homes in the capital due to flooding that has left five dead, an official said Sunday, with people using rubber dinghies and wading through waist-deep water to reach safer ground.

Many parts of Jakarta were under murky, brown water, while on the vast archipelago’s northern Sulawesi island the death toll from flash floods and landslides rose to 19.

Buildings in some parts of sprawling capital, which has a population of 10 million and is regularly afflicted by floods during the six-month rainy season, were half submerged, with roads

unpassable in many areas.

“So far 10,530 people in Jakarta have been displaced by floods caused by heavy rains,” disaster agency official Tri Budiarto said.

Five people have so far been killed in the past week due to flooding, officials have said previously.

Budiarto confirmed the toll and said those killed had either died by drowning or being electrocuted.

However the floods were yet to reach the same level as last year when the central business district was left under water.

On Sulawesi, around 40,000 people were still displaced following flash floods and landslides

earlier in the week, local disaster agency chief Christian Laotongan.

“The floods have subsided but houses were wrecked, and furniture and belongings were damaged, so people have not been able to return,” he added.

Rescuers on Saturday recovered the body of a woman from a landslide in Tomohon city, Laotongan said, bringing the death toll in the area to 19.

Indonesia is regularly affected by deadly floods and landslides during its wet season. Environmentalists blame logging and a failure to reforest denuded land for exacerbating the floods.

Associated Press

to the point that they risk destroying the food source that’s vital to their survival.

Up to 20 turtles were spotted in an area covering about two U.S. football fields (one hectare) at Derawan Island off Indonesia’s part of Borneo in 2011.

That means snorkelers are almost guaranteed to see a turtle every moment they’re in the water. The rate was four times higher than non-protected

areas elsewhere and also topped historic numbers reported before the reptile was hunted by humans.

The graceful creatures with heartshaped shells usually just munch on seagrass much like cows grazing in a field. But the increasing population has pushed them to desperation: With no top leaves left, they now claw at the plants with their flippers and use their mouths to violently rip the seagrass out by the roots, leaving patches of white sandy ocean floor. Such behavior has not been seen elsewhere, according to findings published last week in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. They are “creating sort of piles of mud in the seagrass bed where they’ve eaten the underlying root matter, and it can take a hell of a long time for that to come back,” said co-author Peter Mumby, a marine ecologist at the University of Queensland in Australia.

“So essentially, they’re going to eat themselves out of house and home.”

Using modeling, the research team, led from 2008 to 2011 by Marjolijn Christianen of Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, found

Endangered turtles face new threat

JAKARTA - Green sea turtles remain a rare sight in many parts of the world, but one Indonesian island tasked with protecting them is being overrun by far too many.

New research suggests that the gentle endangered creatures are crowding into a marine reserve in numbers never recorded anywhere, gobbling seagrass

AP Photo/University of Queensland, Marjolijn Christianen

AP Photo/Country Fire Authority

In this Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014 photo released by Victoria Country Fire Authority, a water bomber works over a large fire burning throughout Victoria’s Grampians region.

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This undated photo taken by Marjolijn Christianen of the Radboud University of Nijmegen and released by University of Queensland, shows a green turtle at the bottom of the sea in the waters off Derawan Island, East kalimantan, Indonesia.

that nearly all turtles would need to be removed from the area in order for the seagrass to recover. If they are not stopped, the beds could be destroyed within the next five to 10 years, the study suggests.

Mumby said a short-term solution may be to try to relocate the turtles to less populated reserves, but he added that larger conservation issues must be addressed by the government.

Pesticide, fertilizer and sediment runoff from nearby mining and agriculture operations, including rapidly expanded palm oil plantations, are smothering seagrass beds in areas outside the decade-old reserve. The turtles are also congregating in the protected area for safety because they are being poached outside. The heavy hunting of sharks, a major turtle predator, could be another factor contributing to the rising numbers.

Many of the turtles feeding off Derawan do not nest there and instead come from outside areas including Malaysia and the Philippines, said Windia Adnyana, a turtle expert from Udayana University in Bali who has worked for years in the marine reserve.

And while there are more turtles coming to eat, he said the number nesting on the island continues to decline with an estimated 10,000 turtles returning to the beach where they were born every year.

“It’s alarming in a place like Derawan,” he said. “Protecting the species alone is not enough. There has to be consideration about the capacity of the food itself, the seagrass.”

Seagrass is part of an important ecosystem, providing food, shelter and nurseries for different types of fish, mammals and invertebrates. It helps maintain the health of coral reefs, mangroves and marshes, while also preventing erosion and keeping water clear by trapping sediment coming from land.

A 2011 global survey found that 14 percent of all seagrass species are at risk of going extinct, largely due to pollution, coastal development, deforestation, sedimentation, sewage runoff and dredging.

Green turtles are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species.

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International

Monday, January 20, 2014

BUSINESS

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Trace back a pilgrimage of ancient sage IBP

NEGARA - Amerthasari Temple located about 1.5 km south of Negara town is one of the Dang Khayangan temples in Jembrana. From time immemorial to the present, the temple situating amid the customary settlement of Lokasari, or precisely Mertasari hamlet, Loloan Timur, Negara, is venerated by the subak members. It is reflected at the beginning of each planting season. To keep away their plants from diseases, residents are always saying prayers and starting their activities from the temple. It is a universal temple because it is used to venerate a great religious teacher, Danghyang Nirartha and closely associated with his pilgrimage to the Island of Bali.

Agence France-Presse

Building of this temple has been renovated in 1961 but in 1965 the temple building was abandoned and the renovation was totally discontinued. Ultimately, on July 14, 1976, the entire building collapsed as hit by earthquake. After that, four customary villages were responsible for the temple existence, namely the

BB Agung, Puseh Agung of Banjar Tengah village, Kertha Jaya customary village of Pendem village, and Lokasari customary village of Loloan Timur village.

At the beginning of the Merthasari Temple and before the renovation in 1965, there was only one temple located under a large

banyan tree. Priest of the Merthasari Temple, Mangku Nendra, said that previously there was a small pond around the temple. After the renovation, the pond was moved and a meru shrine was established. Now, it has been added with a Padma shrine on the pond. Meanwhile, water of the pond is taken modernly

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Mannequins display fashions in an H&M storefront window advertising discounts up 75%. British shoppers opened their wallets and spent heavily in the month over Christmas, in a fresh sign of economic recovery, official data showed on Friday.

Budget vote brings rare truce in US fiscal wars

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — After last fall’s tumultuous, bitterly partisan debt ceiling and government shutdown battles, a sense of fiscal fatigue seems to be setting in among many U.S. policymakers as President Barack Obama prepares for his fifth State of the Union address later this month. A declining U.S. budget deficit, still-accommodative Federal Reserve and a small-bore budget deal negotiated last month — given final approval Thursday in Congress — are helping to temper partisan rhetoric in the short term as attention in Washington shifts to the approaching midterm elections.

The recovery from the deep recession of 2007-2009 has been one of the slowest in history and still has a ways to go, especially in terms of regaining lost jobs. That was driven home by a Labor Department report last Friday that U.S. employers added just 74,000 jobs last month, far fewer than had been forecast and the smallest monthly gain in three years.

The overall jobless rate dropped to 6.7 percent from 7 percent in November, the lowest level since October 2008. Much of the decline came from Americans who stopped looking for jobs and are no longer being counted by the government as unemployed.

Meanwhile, a growing number of baby boomers are retiring.

Still, economists are generally

Monday, January 20, 2014

Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple

British shoppers on a spending binge

LONDON - British shoppers opened their wallets and spent heavily in the month over Christmas, in a fresh sign of economic recovery, official data showed on Friday. Retail sales shot ahead at the fastest annual pace for more than nine years Retail sales jumped 5.3 percent in December compared with the figure for the same month of 2012, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. That was the fastest annual expansion in sales since October 2004, according to the ONS, which cited strong growth in department stores and smaller shops.

On a monthly basis, the ONS added that sales grew 2.6 percent in December from November. That was the biggest month-on-month gain since February 2010. The data beat expectations for an annual gain of 2.5 percent and a monthly increase of just 0.2 percent, according to economists polled by the Wall Street Journal.

“December’s retail sales data suggests that the retail sector is continuing to support the economic recovery,” said economist Martin Beck at research group Capital Economics.

He added: “December’s performance was particularly impressive given the terrible weather over the Christmas period and some disappointing survey and anecdotal evidence.”

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International

predicting a pickup in economic growth in 2014 amid a continued favorable climate of low inflation, falling oil prices, a housing recovery and the Fed sticking to its plan to only slowly pare back the hundreds of billions of dollars in financial stimulus it has pumped into the economy over the past four years.

Meanwhile, recent polls show rising public distaste for brinkmanship and dysfunction on both sides of the political divide in Washington. In a recent poll, conducted by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 70 percent said they lacked confidence in the government’s ability “to make progress on the important problems and issues facing the country in 2014.”

Last October, Republican conservatives forced a 16-day government shutdown with their failed attempt to defund Obama’s health insurance overhaul. But any public relations advantage Democrats may have reaped from that episode may have been eroded or lost in the problem-plagued rollout of the health care program.

Leaders of both parties are expressing frustration over the recent bouts of gridlock that come from divided control of government, with Democrats now controlling both the executive branch and the Senate and Republicans ruling the House. Neither party wants to bear the blame for the perceived dysfunction — while both sides are quick to blame the other for it. And both sides are trying to better position themselves as they calculate strategy with a close eye on potential midterm wins and losses.

The $1.1 trillion spending compromise grew out of an agreement negotiated last month by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray — leaders respectively of the House and Senate Budget committees. It funds the government through Sept.

30, eases across-the-board govern-

ment mandatory spending cuts and eliminates, for now, the likelihood of an election-year government shutdown. The measure passed the House 359-67 on Wednesday and the Senate 72-26 on Thursday.

Obama was expected to sign it.

It was a modest agreement, not the grand bargain some had hoped for. But for once, at least, the two sides were roughly on the same page and debate, for once, was mostly muted.

“It’s bipartisan, bicameral. We did it because we listened to each other and functioned with maximum respect,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “No one wants to shut the government down on either side,” Sen. Richard Shelby of Arizona, the committee’s top Republican, told colleagues.

The volume of the rhetoric may be lowered a bit, for now, but it’s not clear how long the pause will last.

“The Republicans certainly didn’t want to put themselves in the position they did with respect to the government shutdown,” said Thomas E. Mann a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution.

“And the (Ryan-Murray) agreement was important in terms of setting budget ceilings for two years and giving a fighting shot at getting appropriations bills for next year done.

But I don’t think that stretches or moves on to other things.”

The two parties, for instance, are squabbling now over Obama’s request to Congress to temporarily restore extended unemployment benefits for about 1.4 million longer-term unemployed workers who lost them when the program expired on Dec. 28. And another battle to raise the nation’s borrowing authority — when the current debt limit debt is reached, probably sometime in March — also looms.

Rich Galen, a Republican Party consultant and former top aide to Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, suggests the now-raging controversy over the rocky healthinsurance rollout is transitory and likely to fade with time. “Remember, in 2000 it took us 36 days to find out who the president was,” he said, referring to the razor-close victory of Republican George W. Bush over Democratic Vice President Al Gore.

IBP/File Photo

from the ground with the depth of about 15 meters, and then flowed under the Padma shrine.

As a matter of fact, it was named Amerthasari Temple. However, for consideration of easier pronunciation, it was then called Merthasari.

The current temple priest, denoting the third generation, mentioned the meaning of Amerthasari was that Amertha meant the whole foods, while Sari meant the essence.

Mangku Nendra is the successor of the previous temple priest, namely Nengah Netra who was also his deceased father. Meanwhile, the first was still unclear because the temple was still not restored at that time.

At the moment, the Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple has some shrines, namely the Ratu Nyoman, Padmasana, Meru, Pepelik, Taksu and Dewa Ayu Manik Galih dedicated to venerate the Goddess Sri. Genesis of the temple has something to do with Danghyang Nirartha. When arriving in Bali, Pedanda Sakti taught religion at Gede Perancak Temple where currently the Dang Khayangan Perancak Temple has been moved to Tanjung Tangis. At that time, he asked the monkeys where there was another village. The monkey responded by facing north and there laid a village called Budeng. There lived black monkey or Ijah. As soon as arriving at the village, he asked again where there was a village, and the monkeys were facing the west, now becoming the location of the Merthasari Temple.

When arriving at the village, he taught the people about agriculture, farming and trade. The Telaga Taman was a very fertile area. Religious life was quite good. In this area, there were five sanctums. In the long run, it turned into Amerthasari village and is now called Mertasari.

Now, the temple whose anniversary falls on Anggara Kasih (Tuesday) Perangbakat is venerated by four customary villages namely the Lokasari (Mertasari), Dauh Waru, Pendem and Batu Agung. Mangku added that other than the temple, there was also the Taman Temple that formerly was a pond. “In days of yore, there was a temple located beneath the banyan tree,” explained Nendra.

Aside from the six shrines existing today, the temple sitting on the area of 1800 square meters also has a Peselang pavilion to place gamelan instrument, Piasan, storing chamber and the easternmost is pavilion of Banten Piodalan (oblation).

In the past, most of the supporting devotees were farmers, but now they are from four customary villages and even from beyond Bali.

As the existing plan, this temple area will be expanded to the current parking lot. After the land acquisition, it will become about 3,000 square meters. Renovation and expansion of the temple area will include the temple building, construction of base fence, parking lot expansion, the arrangement of temple landscaping, as well as the wantilan hall. (kmb)

Tain Temuati Cake:

A Balinese green and luscious cake Jaja gadang tain temuati is one of the traditional cakes of community in Bali. It is called jaja gadang tain temuati because it is green (gadang) and has the shape of small round worm excrement (tain temuati). This very tender and sweet cake exudes a very typical flavor. Moreover, it is very safe to consume because the ingredients and coloring agent are made of organic substance.

THE main ingredient is rice flour mixed with green leaf extract produced by daun suji or dracaena leaf. It is used to make the cake look greenish as well as engender a delicious flavor, and fragrance. To serve the cake, it is put onto a small dish and then sprinkled with grated coconut and brown sugar sauce.

On days of yore, the cake was presented with a tekor (dish-shaped banana leaf). This cake is usually served when people held grandiose religious ceremonies (engaging villagers). But now, the traditional cake is very rare. Aside

from being difficult and complicated preparation, the ingredient in use is also of selected rice processed manually.

Preparations: first of all, the selected rice is soaked with clean water for about 6 hours. After that, the rice is made into flour by means of crushing. The flour is then clenched into the shape of balls. Then, steam all the batters until cooked or for 15 minutes.

Take out the cooked flour and then mixed with the extract of dracaena leaf and give a small amount of starch to make it sticky. Unlike in the past, to make the batter sticky people usually

used cassava.

Later on, the flour batter is crushed and kneaded until refined. Subsequently, the batter is formed by using coconut shell mold having many small holes. This mold is put on the flour and then driven while rolling it. From the holes of coconut shell mold will come out a cake resembling the earth worm excrement. Afterward, the cake is placed on a banana leaf and then steamed again for about 15 minutes.

When having cooked, the cake is taken out and cooled. For the presentation, the cake should be removed from the banana leaves one by one. Then, put them on the plate and sprinkle with grated coconut and brown sugar sauce. To sprinkle the sugar, use banana leaf whose end has been torn up resembling a brush. Having sprinkled it evenly, the cake is ready to serve.

IBP/File Photo

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Bali News

International

International

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Traders at courtyard of Taman Ayun soon relocated

RLD

Management of stalls at Taman Ayun is finally handed over officially by Badung government through the regent of Badung to Gulingan customary village, Friday (Jan 17). would be complaint of traders due to the relocation, it was a normal thing. “The dynamics of traders feeling to suffer a loss is a commonplace. Clearly, the traders are only allowed to peddle in the Tenten Market. So, they no longer peddle in the pedestrian area,” he said.

When asked for his confirmation separately, Chief of Gulingan customary village, Nyoman Dhanu, appreciated the suggestion of the regent regarding the rental rate.

However, the rental rate worth IDR 10,000 excluding the levies of sanitation, electricity, water and others. (kmb25)

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

In this Jan. 17, 2014, photo, President Barack Obama Talks about National Security Agency surveillance at the Justice Department in Washington. Obama’s orders to change some U.S. surveillance practices put the burden on Congress to deal with a national security controversy that has alarmed Americans and outraged foreign allies.

The visitors of Taman Ayun Temple are seeing the buaty of the temple

Bad weather, chili of farmers falls out before harvest Bangli (Bali Post)—

The farmer is showing the rooten chili in his farm in Bangli Regency

IBP/File

Bad weather happening lately resulted in a bad threat to a number of chili farmers in Bangli County. Hectares of chili plants being ready to harvest fell out. As a result, the farmers were at risk of facing harvest failure and had to suffer a loss worth millions of rupiahs.

Such condition was experienced by dozens of chili farmers at Kuta Undisan hamlet, Kayubihi village, Bangli. Bad weather with heavy rains hitting the region since the past few weeks has been causing the majority of the ready-toharvest chili of farmers to fall out before it could be harvested. Such condition was compounded by the attack of disease on the leaves and flower buds of the chili.

According to one of the local farmers, the most common disease attacking their chili plant was called anthrax disease. Such kind of disease was usually caused by the type of pests and bad weather condition, especially the rainfall taking place at night.

Due to such condition, various efforts had been made by farmers to tackle the spread of the disease so as not to widespread. However, such efforts looked ineffective. “It has been resolved by spraying but the condition still persists,” said

IBP/File

a local chili farmer, Ni Wayan Rendah.

She said the symptom of chili plants having been attacked by the disease and facing the falling out of lower buds was originally started by the infection on leaves so they turned yellow and dried up.

Furthermore, the chilies having started to grow larger were unable to develop perfectly and showed decomposition at the base of the fruit. It was accelerating the chilies to fall out before they could be harvested.

According to Nyoman Sarta, another chili farmer, the bad weather lately caused a number of farmers at the hamlet to suffer a loss. Such condition was further exacerbated because the price of chili at farmer level increasingly slumped. Previously, the price of curly chili had reached IDR 35,000 per kilogram, but after the bad weather its price dropped dramatically to IDR 25,000 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, the price of large chili also decreased from IDR 15,000 to IDR 13,000 per kilogram.

As a result of such condition, farmers had to bear substantial losses. They could do nothing and hoped to get the attention from relevant agencies to cope with the condition so the loss to be borne by farmers would not be getting greater. (ina)

Obama tells Germans spying won’t damage ties Associated Press Writer

BERLIN - President Barack Obama told German television in an interview aired Saturday that he would not allow America’s massive communications surveillance capability to damage relations with Germany and other close U.S. allies.

Obama made the pledge in a rare interview with Germany’s ZDF television in an apparent step to repair the damage to America’s relations with Germany and other countries following reports that the U.S. National Security Agency had monitored communications of European citizens - even listening in on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cellphone.

Merkel accused the U.S. of a grave breach of trust after reports about her cellphone emerged in October, and her government has been pressing for a “no spying” agreement with Washington since then. Her center-right party’s foreign policy spokesman, Philipp Missfelder, told reporters Thursday that revelations about U.S. spying in Germany had plunged relations with Washington to their lowest level in more than a decade.

During the 16-minute interview,

Obama acknowledged the anger in Germany and elsewhere ignited by spy revelations following the leak of documents obtained by former NSA analyst Edward Snowden to news media. Obama said it would take time to restore trust, although he defended U.S. surveillance as necessary to protect the U.S. and its allies, including Germany.

Obama said that before the revelations he had forged a close working relationship with Merkel and that he could not allow U.S. surveillance operations to damage that trust. “As long as I am president of the United States, the German chancellor need not worry about that,” Obama said, according to a simultaneous German translation as he spoke. He said that in foreign policy issues even close partners do not share the same views but “that is no reason” to spy on private communications.

The interview was broadcast a day after Obama ordered new limits on the way U.S. intelligence accesses phone records from hundreds of millions of Americans and moved toward eventually stripping the massive data collection from the government’s hands.

Obama also promised to curb spying on allied leaders and to extend some privacy protections to foreign citizens - demands that have special resonance in Germany because of its bitter memories of massive domestic surveillance by the Nazis and East German Communists. German interviewer Claus Kleber told the president that initial reaction in Germany toward his speech had been “skeptical, careful, many even disappointed” including those who are “normally pro-American. “ Following the Friday speech, government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany would wait and see what happens before making a final judgment on Obama’s intelligence reforms. “The government continues to expect that German law be respected on German territory, including and particularly by our close partner,” Seibert said.

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Jerusalem panel urges pressing Israel over settlements

Agence France Presse

Mangupura (Bali Post)—

The kiosk totally consisting of 29 blocks are named Tenten Market or traditional market. All traders are given deadline to peddle in the courtyard of Taman Ayun Temple until Wednesday (Jan 22).

Regent of Badung, AA Gde Agung, said that even though becoming the asset of Badung, the management of Tenten Market could not be free of charge. It was in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Finance.

The rental fee was IDR 10,000 per block per day. Traders who wanted to lease the block should go through the Chief of Gulingan customary village. However, he stated the 24 traders who made a living all this time in the courtyard of Taman Ayun should be given a priority.

Gde Agung argued if there

Monday, January 20, 2014

Marrakech - Muslim nations urged the international community Saturday to put pressure on Israel to stop building Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, at the end of talks in Morocco. The Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Committee made the call amid heightened concerns settlements could undermine US-brokered peace talks that resumed in July after becoming bogged down three years earlier over the construction drive.

“The international community must... put pressure on Israel to stop the illegal and provocative settlement construction,” a statement said at the end of the twoday meeting in Marrakesh.

That “will create a favourable context for the pursuit of peace negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinians, and for relations between Israel, its Arab neighbours and the Muslim world, the statement added. The panel also praised the United States as a “serious” broker of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The committee was founded by the pan-Muslim Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1975 to resist the confiscation of Palestinian land and assets in Jerusalem.

Chairman King Mohamed VI of Morocco opened the meeting Friday by calling for “a strong mobilisation of our own means and resources... to defend the Holy City.”

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas later claimed Israel was using the peace talks as a “cover” to expand settlements in the West Bank. Concerns over settlement construction returned to the fore last week when Israel announced plans to build 1,800 new settler homes in the West Bank, including annexed Arab east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

The announcement came only days after the latest peace mission by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who criticised the settlements as “illegitimate” and “unhelpful.” The controversial decision prompted Britain, Italy, France and Spain to summon Israeli ambassadors in protest, with the Jewish state calling in European ambassadors on Friday in a tit-for-tat move.

After Israel unveiled the plans, Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon launched a tirade against Secretary of State John Kerry for his “obsession” with brokering a framework peace deal by April, sparking a diplomatic spat with Washington.

AP Photo/MAP

In this photo provided by the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, left, walks with King Mohammed VI of Morocco, right, at the King’s Palace in Marrakech Friday, Jan. 17, 2014, as they attend the meeting of the Al-Quds Committee.

14

Monday, January 20, 2014

Lifestyle

International

Airfares continue to rise in the US Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — The price to board an airliner in the United States has risen for the fourth straight year, making it increasingly expensive to fly almost anywhere. The average roundtrip ticket within the U.S., including tax, reached $363.42 last year, up more than $7 from the prior year, according to an Associated Press analysis of travel data collected from millions of flights throughout the country.

The 2 percent increase outpaced inflation, which stood at 1.5 percent.

Airfares have risen nearly 12 percent since their low in the depths of the Great Recession in 2009, when adjusted for inflation, the analysis showed.

Ticket prices have increased as airlines eliminated unprofitable routes, packed more passengers into planes and merged with one another, providing travelers with fewer options. Today, 84 percent of seats are filled with paying passengers, up from 82 percent in 2009.

“Anyone traveling today will know that those flights are full,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data and analytics for the Airlines Reporting Corp, which processes ticket transactions for airlines and more than 9,400 travel agencies, including websites such as Expedia and Orbitz. “Just through supply and demand, those fares will go up.”

And none of this factors in the bevy of extra fees travelers now face for checking bags, getting extra legroom or even purchasing a blanket, meal or pair of headphones. The typical traveler pays an additional $50 roundtrip to check a single suitcase. Those fees, introduced in 2008 to offset losses from rising fuel prices, now bring

in $3.4 billion a year for U.S. airlines and have helped them return consistent annual profits for the last four years.

The AP reviewed data from 6 million annual flights taken in the U.S., analyzing fees and government on-time records along with fare data from the Airlines Reporting Corp.

Jean Medina, spokeswoman for Airlines for America, the airlines’ trade and lobbying group, said over the long-term fares have not climbed as fast as inflation and that flying “remains a great bargain.”

“Carriers continue to invest in their products with new planes, new services and new destinations,” Medina said. “It’s a great time to fly.”

Airlines are able to push fare and fee hikes because there is less competition. “You get some pricing power as a result,” said airline consultant Robert Mann.

A wave of consolidation that started in 2008 has left four U.S. airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines — controlling more than 80 percent of the domestic airtravel market. Discount airlines such as Allegiant Air and Spirit Airlines have grown at breakneck speed but still carry a tiny fraction of overall passengers.

International

Bali News

Monday, January 20, 2014

84,161 farming households switch profession Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The pressure of living expenses continue to rise and the tertiary needs inevitably causes the economy of farmers increasingly difficult to develop so it no longer becomes a promising sector. Ultimately, a number of farmers in Bali prefer to release their land ownership. As a result, many farmers are deeply involved in tourism industry, informal sector or other sectors.

AP Photo/J. David Ake, File

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, file photo, an American Airlines jet takes off from Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport early in the morning. The price of flying continues to climb, with the average domestic roundtrip ticket, including tax, reaching $363.42 last year, up more than $7 from the prior year.

A farmer from Tumbak Bayuh village, Mengwi, Badung, Wayan Suarja, said he had experience a crop failure when their rice starting to bear fruits was attacked by mice. Farmers eventually suffered a loss. Moreover, the attack of other pests then followed and ended in crop failure. “Formerly, I once suffered a loss of IDR 1.2 million for 2,000 square meters of land. The loss occurred in the matter of production cost such as fertilizer and tractor. We had to buy rice because of crop failure whereas our area belongs to rice producer,” he complained, Saturday (Jan 18).

Further, he claimed to stop farming due to economic condition increasingly difficult. The pressure of living cost continued to rise and tertiary needs inevitably made the economic life as farmer increasingly difficult to develop, so it no longer became a promising sector. “We’re pretty tough if continuing to be a farmer so we are forced to try other business such as

selling,” he added.

Based on data of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali in 2013, in just a decade there were 84,161 households who stopped farming.

Meanwhile, a total of 408,233 farming households in Bali were recorded in 2013 from the previous number reaching 492,394 households. It means that for a decade there has been a decline in the number of farming households in Bali at 17.09 percent or 1.86 percent per year.

Responding to this condition, a lecturer from Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University, Dr. Ni Luh Kartini, said on Saturday (Jan 18) that one of the reasons causing the disappearance of farmers was the fact that agriculture was no longer promising welfare. Moreover, the price of fertilizer and seed were not affordable and the water was not adequate to irrigate their paddy plants. “How can farming be developed? Now, the price of fertilizer is increasingly expensive,

market access reduces and many other shortcomings need to be addressed,” she said.

She added that to raise the agricultural sector the government should first increase the price of agricultural production. It included the agricultural production in broader sense, ranging from grain to soybean including the plantation sector such as clove. Government should control the prices of the agricultural production. She also explained the price increase in agricultural production would provide motivation for farmers to develop the sector.

If the price of agricultural production was not worth, it would be difficult for people to return to farming.

Besides, the government needed to ensure the availability of agricultural needs including seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and others. The needs of the agricultural means of production should be ensured so farmers were not hampered by the limitations of the agricultural means of production. (nik)

Bao Bao the panda makes her debut at National Zoo Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Bao Bao, the four and a half month old giant panda cub, looks towards her mother Mei Xiang, as she makes her public debut at an indoor habitat at the National Zoo in Washington, Monday, Jan. 6, 2014.

WASHINGTON — Bao Bao the panda cub is ready for her public.

The National Zoo in Washington has extended its hours this weekend for the giant panda house as Bao Bao (bow bow) makes her public debut. Saturday was the first chance for the public to see the 5-month-old cub.

The zoo says the panda house will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Visitors are allowed into the building in small groups to avoid overcrowding.

The zoo says the amount of time Bao Bao and panda mother Mei Xiang (may-shong) will be on exhibit each day depends on their behavior. They will have access to their private den, if they choose.

IBP/File

One of the remaining rice field in Denpasar Area

3

Agricultural sector in Sawan lacks of youth regeneration Singaraja (Bali Post)—

The world of agriculture in Bali is increasingly abandoned by young generation amid the glittering of tourism sector and swift currents of globalization. The younger generation is required to meet the economic needs and looking for a job in accordance with the changing times.

To pursue economic welfare, the younger generation gradually begins to leave the world of agriculture which in essence becomes their heritage.

Met on Friday (Jan 17), I Nyoman Suwendra, Chief of Subak Babakan Tua, Kanginan hamlet, Sawan village, Buleleng, told the agriculture remained to be unable to give future hope for most young generations. “We work hard and get in touch with mud and under blazing sun.

When the harvest arrives, the result is not sufficient for supporting the family needs,” he complained.

Indeed, it sounded sad when hearing their complaint having long been felt and become a fear of the agriculture in Bali within the next few years. Young generation rarely wanted to be seriously engaged in agriculture.

“A lot of young people of productive age have shifted their livelihood. They chose to become servant, laborer, builder or worker outside the area to earn a living for sure. By becoming a builder, they could earn IDR 70,000 each day. In other words, they had assurance of the income wanted,” said Suwendra.

According to Suwendra, farmers were also faced with the imbalance between the results of farming and the price of rice in the market. “When farmer harvests, the selling price of rice is IDR 7,000 per kilogram, while in the market has reached IDR 9,000. The difference in price from the farmer to the market was significant.

This makes farmers find a solution to get around their daily needs,” he said.

Suwendra explained the vivacity of farmers began to decline as no regeneration of young people in the agriculture. Younger generation rarely wanted to glance at the world of agriculture. Farming business was still dominated by the older generation belonging to 50-60 years old and over. “The older generation having the farmland often complained where they should look for and pay harvester when the harvest time arrived. Ranging from seedling preparation to planting and harvest, they are difficult to look for labor to cultivate rice fields whose area reaches some hectares,” he explained.

To encourage young generation to farming, the man born on September 14, 1954 confirmed that some time ago Sawan village was inspected by high officials of the Logistics Agency (Bulog), universities and relevant regional working units (SKPD) to agriculture. Farmers revealed various complaints and problems they faced.

“Now, the member of Subak Babakan Tua consists of 70 people who are still dominated by older generation.

They are relatively cultivating an area of 2,500, 5,000 to 8,000 square meters. In general, the involvement of young generation in agriculture remains minimal and the regeneration should have happened,” he said.

Similar opinion was revealed by Gede Upadana, a farmer of Subak Babakan Tua, from Kanginan hamlet, Sawan village, Buleleng County. According to him, younger generation was rarely willing to be engaged in agriculture. “More young generations are working outside the village. They prefer to look for job opportunities in rural areas,” he said. The man born in 1958 had been getting involved in farming since his childhood with his parents and when growing adult he already accustomed to and enjoyed the windfall from growing rice.

“The current problems at issue, no interest and the factor of economic potential have caused the young generation to increasingly leave the farming activities,” he said. (dgk)

2

International

Monday, January 20, 2014

Bali News

IBP

NUSA DUA - The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali is delighted to announce that its journey towards transformation is finally complete. The finale of this multi-million dollar revitalization project was officially celebrated with an upbeat Carnaval de Bali party. Over 600 invited guests gathered on Friday, 13 th December 2013 to enjoy an uplifting evening of great food and entertainment.

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Sacred area of Besakih Temple and surrounding areas, in fact, has never escaped from the target of investors since the past until now to profit by building tourist accommodation or facilities in the largest temple in Bali. Various plans of mega project have haunted Besakih like the building plan of golf course. Status of Besakih has also been planned to be a culture reserve and world cultural heritage. However, both plans have been denied by Balinese people. by the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali, Friday (Jan 17).

According to him, about ten years ago he was presented with the data in the form of development plan proposal by one of the student activists from the Udayana University in which included a land acquisition plan reaching 6 villages and the plan to build a runway. “There was a plan to build a runaway. At that time, we were still busy to discuss and reject the Besakih area to be included into the culture reserve.

But recently, it was never heard again,” he said.

According to him, the construction plan of golf course, runway or status change of Besakih Temple into a culture reserve, world cultural heritage to National Tourism Strategic Area posed the attempts of the investors targeting the area of Besakih to build tourist facilities or tourist accommodation. “Besakih is

Gianyar (Bali Post)—

captured reptile.

The two-meter long crocodile was first seen by Deputy Hamlet Chief of Juga, Putu Asta Putra.

All this time, he was made curious by the information on the crocodile that had grabbed a resident of Juga, Kadek Budiarta aka Bonar, 40, who was fishing last Saturday. Since then, local residents were always looking for information about the existence of the crocodile because its presence was worried to threaten the safety of residents who indulged in around the Wasan River dam.

IBP/File

The Hindus are praying in Besakih Temple continuously targeted. We must be cautious about it. Hopefully, the proposal containing the plan to build a runway at Besakih has nothing to do with the plan to build a golf course, the status of culture reserve, world cultural heritage to the KSPN. However, if we pay attention, those plans are correlative and interconnected,” said Sudirta.

He worried and was suspicious if Besakih would be targeted continuously throughout the ages by investors. “When we are inattentive, they are free to enter and Besakih then faces a degradation of sanctity because the estab-

lishment of accommodation and tourism facilities is allowed in the area,” he said.

Sudirta promised to trace back the information and proposal related to the plan of building a runway at Besakih to determine whether there was an attempt of certain parties to continue the plan. “The plan is not heard anymore. Nevertheless, we will trace it back whether it has something to do with the plan emerging recently,” he said while reminding the need for firm resistance and continuing all the efforts of the investors

Finding location of the crocodile was about 60 meters from the Wasan River dam, where residents usually fished. Actually, quite few local residents and the officials of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Gianyar had briefly explored the small river northwards but they could not find it. Based on information of Mang Teng, one of the residents, the search made around 2:00 p.m. northwards eventually could find the crocodile. It was hiding under a small tunnel where the water was murky. “Such find-

ing was finally informed to the officer,” he said.

Shortly thereafter, a number of personnel of police, the BPBD Gianyar and Natural Resources Conservation Agency (KSDA) Bali came to location. Amid the crowds coming to watch it, the Head of Gianyar Livestock, Fisheries and Maritime Agency, I Made Raka, did not know about the origin of the crocodile. But from the search performed by municipal police to Villa Bumi Sekembang at Tengkulak, it was indeed mentioned to have looked

targeting Besakih.

Sudirta also requested in order that Besakih area remained to become a region having a tourist attraction and would not be developed into the National Tourism Strategic Area in accordance with the decision of Sabha Pandita of PHDI that had rejected the inclusion of Besakih and surrounding areas into the KSPN. “The inclusion of Besakih into the KSPN has not got a clear solution so far. We expect this can be soon completed so it will no longer be overextended,” he said. (kmb29)

The crocodile troubling residents finally found

A crocodile with unknown origin was found by residents in the Wasan River at Juga hamlet, Mas village, Ubud, Gianyar, Friday (Dec 17). The crocodile that had made the surrounding people curious since a few days before was finally found in the river with a depth of about 1.5 meters and a width of about 1 meter.

The discovery of the crocodile had drawn the attention of dozens of people who came to the location. Afterward, related personnel were contacted to handle the

Monday, January 20, 2014

15

Westin celebrate completion of Westin Resort Nusa Dua

Besakih Temple area had been targeted for runway

The last one remaining to reap the pros and cons as well as to become a polemic is the inclusion of Besakih area and the surrounding areas into the National Tourism Strategic Area (KSPN).

In fact, the efforts of investors to target Besakih were not only those plans. A member of Bali Regional Representative (DPD), Wayan Sudirta, revealed that Besakih area had been targeted to be used as location of runway.

“In the past, there was a proposal of megaproject at Besakih where one of the designs indicated the establishment of runway. As planned, it would need the land acquisition as wide as the area of 6 villages,” said Sudirta when speaking in the middle assembly of the Besakih Authority Agency and Regional Bylaw Draft on Zonation Regulation Directive (APZ) of Bali Province held

Activities

International

after a crocodile in 1998 which was purchased at IDR 500,000.

However, the crocodile escaped and after it was found the owner declared to have been dead.

Apparently, the officers got a little difficulty to capture the crocodile considering the crocodile got into a small tunnel and never came out. Residents and the BPBD officers guarding in the area had dismantled the refuge tunnel of the crocodile.

Until 5:00 p.m., the search of crocodile remained to take place. (kmb16)

 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

The commencement point for the event was the foyer of newly launched Heavenly Spa by Westin.

Travel agents, media representatives and business associates came together upon arrival and were treated to a guided tour of this integrated wellness facility. This was also an opportunity to inspect Prego and the accommodation categories that were recently unveiled under the new Premier Wing.

Managing Director, Mr Bipan Kapur gave visual presentation and speech about resort’s transformation process. “It was encouraging to see so many people gathered to help us

celebrate the climax of our revitalization project. The resort has been transformed before our very eyes and this renewing journey has been a detailed-driven process with the needs of today’s modern travelers in mind. It truly complements the Westin brand philosophy of preserving wellness in travel,” comments Mr Bipan Kapur.

The entire project was carried out in record time and expertly managed to ensure that in-house guests were not inconvenienced in any way.

Things got off to a fine start in the first quarter of this year with the refurbishment of WestinWORKOUT. This

refreshed facility represented a new chapter in well-being at the resort with an updated décor and state-ofthe-art cardio equipment with interactive touch-screen consoles.

Next was the innovative launch of Tangent, a personalized work environment that is totally conducive to the business dealings of today’s mobile travelers. It is facilitated by media: scape by Steelcase technology as well as seamless connectivity for video conferencing. Guests can now conduct impromptu meetings in a private setting located just off the lobby.

The iconic Bali International Con-

vention Centre (BICC) was also given a sophisticated new look with updated meeting facilities.

It was completed to coincide with a number of prestigious events, including Miss World 2013 and the APEC CEO Summit, both of which put the island in the global spotlight. BICC now incorporates a total of 26 revitalized function rooms and 2 VIP holding rooms to accommodate heads of state.

Mangupura Hall was tastefully refurbished to host 2500 delegates and the auditorium is still the only tiered theatre of its kind in Bali. The Café and The Lounge were new additions along with designer seating in all public areas. These upgrades have elevated BICC to the highest possible level resulting in a world-class meeting venue that continues to lead the way with

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

gracious hospitality and impeccable service standards.

Westin Kids Club was revived and expanded in anticipation for the summer school holidays and to fulfil the needs of young travellers. The club is now bigger and better than ever before with age-appropriate areas for toddlers, children and teens.

There are separate social and play spaces for specific age groups where personal tastes and interests are understandably different.

Also unique to Westin Kids Club is a small spa facility where youngsters can enjoy a session of personal indulgence just like mum and dad.

Westin Kids Spa offers a nurturing menu of treatments for little ones including mini manicures, hair braiding and special holiday pampering.

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 25 6th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Monday, January 20, 2014

Tamela Mann tops Stellar Awards with 7 wins Associated Press Writer

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Tamela Mann has won seven awards including top honor artist of the year at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Mann broke down in tears as she spoke with the audience during the

29th annual ceremony at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.

She also won major awards female vocalist and CD of the year for “Best Days.”

Kirk Franklin’s “Take Me to the King” was named song of the year, Tye Tribbett took male vocalist of the

David O. Russell’s “American Hustle” took the Screen Actors Guild Awards’ top honor for outstanding cast on Saturday night, beating out Steve McQueen’s acclaimed “12 Years a Slave.” Because actors make up the largest branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the SAG Awards (which last year picked “Argo”) are considered one of the best indicators of the Oscars.

Just days ago, the Academy Awards nominations set up a trio of front-runners, bestowing 10 nods on “American Hustle” and “Gravity,” and nine on “12 Years a Slave.” But though no actor was individually honored by the guild for “American Hustle,” the Abscam tale now appears to have an edge over its Oscar rivals. Speaking for a cast that includes Amy Adams, Christian Bale and Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper credited Russell as the epitome of the actor’s director.

“He makes you feel like you’re part of the family, whether you’re Robert DeNiro or you’re Patty Mack,” Cooper said at the Shrine Auditorium ceremony

in Los Angeles. “You are part of the family.”

In addition to last year’s “Argo,” SAG cast awards have lined up with such past Oscar best-picture winners as “The King’s Speech,” ‘’Slumdog Millionaire” and “No Country for Old Men.” But the guild has also diverged with picks like “The Help,” ‘’Inglourious Basterds” and “Little Miss Sunshine.”

Saturday’s awards were a somewhat low-key affair with a few memorable speeches but no earthquakes in a rapidly solidifying award season. The night’s acting winners — Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine”), Lupita Nyong’o (“12

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

year and Tasha Cobb won three awards including new artist of the year.

Hezekiah Walker and Anthony Brown & Group Therapy matched Cobb with three wins apiece as well. The two-hour awards were hosted by Sherri Shepherd and Rickey Smiley and broadcast on the Up Network.

With SAG win, ‘Hustle’ has Oscar look of ‘Argo’ Associated Press Writer

Entertainment

Years a Slave”) and Jared Leto (“Dallas Buyers Club”) — are each probably the favorites of their categories.

“It really shines a great light on this bull ride we call acting,” said McConaughey, honored for lead actor in the Texas HIV drama. “I’ve been able to recently find some characters that I can humble myself to their humanities and get feverishly drunk on their obsessions.”

One of the night’s biggest winners was Nyong’o, who won supporting actress over Lawrence. Though “12 Years a Slave” is only her feature film debut, the Kenyan actress has been hailed for her red-carpet style and grace this awards season. Her speech was both composed and emotional — the kind of display that can turn Oscar voters’ heads.

She thanked McQueen “for taking a flashlight and shining it underneath the floorboards of this nation and reminding us what it is we stand on.” And she recalled the celebratory phone call to her father when she got the part.

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Monday, January 20, 2014 28 wounded in blasts at Bangkok protest site

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FILE - Tamela Mann performs on stage at the BET Awards at the Nokia Theatre in this Sunday, June 30, 2013 file photo taken in Los Angeles. Mann has won seven awards including top honor artist of the year at the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Situation during arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport.

IBP/File Photo

Ngurah Rai Airport anticipates surge of passenger on general election Mangupura (Bali Post)—

Management of PT Angkasa Pura (AP) I considered the year of general election would have an impact on the world of flight due to high mobility of general election 2014. On general election, a lot of people would travel, especially those getting involved in the legislative and presidential election.

From left, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn and Bryan Cranston pose in the press room with their awards for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series for "Breaking Bad" at the 20th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, in Los Angeles.

Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/ap

“The year of politics certainly has an impact on the world of aviation. A lot of politicians will campaign themselves outside the area and attend many political meetings, including in Bali, so the travel is estimated to increase,” said

Co-General Manager of PT AP I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Arditha, Friday (Jan 17).

According to him, aside from commercial flight, this year of politics would also be estimated to have an impact on charter flights or the use

of private jet.

His party had established a new aircraft parking space (apron) to accommodate small-bodied aircrafts.

All this time, many small aircrafts or charters flew VIP guests to Bali where the amount could reach thousands of passengers each year.

“At the moment, we have owned a parking space accommodating 16 private jets, so this kind of aircraft will not be mixed with the commercial aircraft,” he said.

Unfortunately, Ngurah Arditha could not specify how much the

increase would occur in relation to the legislative and presidential election. However, similar surge would also occur in the mid-year due to the long school holidays.

Management of the airport actually had made coordination related to flight schedules. “We estimate the peak of political journey will take place in April and continues to July through August in school holiday season,” he said.

Passenger growth at the I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport showed an adequately significant surge. His

party recorded 224,118 domestic passengers coming to Bali or an increase of 19 percent by the end of 2013 compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the number of passenger departing from Bali through the Ngurah Rai Airport reached 219,909 people or an increase of 24 percent compared to last year. Similar increase also occurred to the arrival of international passengers reaching 169,952 or an increase of 28 percent, while the departing passengers reached 148,709 or an increase of 24 percent. (kmb27)