Edisi 23 Maret 2011 | International Bali Post

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

2 Americans die when raft overturns in Argentina

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REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

A rebel fighter fires his rifle at a military aircraft loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at a checkpoint in Ras Lanuf March 7, 2011.

Kate Middleton to use repaired Rolls-Royce PAGE 12

Libya rebels struggle to regroup; US jet crashes Associated Press Writer

AJDABIYA, Libya – Moammar Gadhafi’s forces shelled rebels regrouping outside a strategic eastern city on Tuesday and his snipers and tanks controlled the streets of the last opposition-held city in the west, signaling a prolonged battle ahead. An American fighter jet crashed over North African country, both crew ejecting safely.

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The U.S. Africa Command said both crewmembers were safe after what was believed to be a mechanical failure of the Air Force F-15.

Disorganization among the

rebels could hamper their attempts to exploit the air campaign by U.S. and European militaries. Since the uprising began on Feb. 15, the opposition has been made up of dis-

parate groups even as it took control of the entire east of the country.

Regular citizens — residents of the “liberated” areas — took up arms and formed a highly enthusiastic but un-

disciplined force that in the past weeks has charged ahead to fight Gadhafi forces, only to be beaten back by superior firepower. Regular army units that joined the rebellion have proven stronger, more organized fighters, but only a few units have joined the battles while many have stayed behind as officers struggle to get together often antiquated, limited equipment and form a coordinated force.

Continued on page 6

Cuba’s Castro: I quit as party chief 5 years ago Associated Press Writer

HAVANA – Fidel Castro said Tuesday he resigned five years ago from all his official positions, including head of Cuba’s Communist Party, a position he was thought to still hold.

It was the first time the 84-yearold revolutionary icon has said he no longer heads the Communist Party, which he has led since its cre-

ation in 1965. The Communist Party website still lists him as first secretary, with his brother President Raul Castro listed as second secretary.

Castro wrote in an opinion piece that when he got sick in 2006, “I resigned without hesitation from my state and political positions, including first secretary of the party ... and I never tried to exercise those roles again.”

Continued on page 6

Government supporters hold posters of Cuba’s President Raul Castro and Cuba’s leader Fidel Castro as they demonstrate outside the home of a leading Cuban dissident in Havana, Cuba, Friday March 18, 2011.

AP Photo/Javier Galeano

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International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Bali News

High Price fertilizer Strangled Farmers Negara (Bali Post) –

Lately rice farmers in Jembrana are faced by uncontrollable problems, not just failure in plantation due to diseases, fertilizer price has gone high where most farmers could not afford it anymore. Government has helped subsidizing highest price manures (HET) but when it got to the subak (irrigation) group where they bought it from, the price is still higher than HET. Official subsidized manure distributor Ni Putu Pebi Karmawati and Head of Agriculture for Jembrana Regency Ir. Nengah Ribawa stated the distribution has been using a closed pipe system which means the subak group will request how much is needed to several official distributors and so then HET manure are distributed.

Kadek Sriasa a farmer from Subak Pangkung Jajung, Berambang, Negara, stated the subsidized manure that he bought from his subak group costs more than IDR 100,000 which is very burdening farmers. Sometimes what’s supplied on the group is not enough either. From the data collected, the increased HET for urea have gone double from IDR 60,000 per sack before April 2010 and reaching IDR 80,000 per sack after April 2010. (kmb26)

IBP/ist

The farmer is putting fertilizer on his rice field.

Assumed as a bomb package Backpack of foreigner mixes up Kerobokan residents Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Two bags lying in a store located at Jalan Gunung Tangkuban Perahu No. 99 X, Kerobokan, North Kuta, Badung, precisely in front of the Kerobokan Jailhouse, had made the surrounding people get mixed up on Monday morning (Mar 21). Originally, the bags were assumed as bomb packages. However, after being checked up by bomb squad unit of Bali Police Mobile Brigade, the contents were in fact not hazardous. Even, the bags were later known to belong to an American citizen.

The two bags consisting of backpack and tote bag were placed on an engine of water pump. Originally, they were encountered by a local store attendant, Ni Komang Wartini. She suspected the existence of such bags as they were not picked up by the owner for long time. Those bags were seen first at 07:00 a.m. Local Time. Afterward, the finding of both bags made the surrounding people in an uproar because they were assumed them as bomb package. Witnesses reported the findings to the North Kuta Police.

Immediately, the report was then forwarded to bomb squad unit of Bali Police Mobile Brigade.

A quick action was committed by the bomb squad unit and they immediately came down to location and so were the Chief of North Kuta Police, Sukanada and his personnel. To sterilize the crime scene, the road from the east and west was totally closed for several hours. Meanwhile, the bomb squad unit started doing their job by preparing everything. Some equipment required was then taken out followed by bulletproof vest. Later, a number of officers were deployed to move toward the bag. In relatively short time, the bags were taken and put into the drum belonged to the bomb squad unit.

Spokesman of Bali Police, Gde Sugianyar, said on Monday that the results of examination by bomb squad unit indicated those bags were not bomb. Inside the bags, it was found a Herocyn medicated skin powder, swimming trunks, CD case, socks, keys, 2 pairs of glasses, beach sarong, Bible book, small towel, Dettol antiseptic, driving license under the name

of Craig David McClendon, as well as copies of passports. To follow up, police were then searching the relevant owner of the bag. “Having explored more profoundly, in fact the bags belonged to Craig David,” he said.

Chief Sukanada added that the bag’s owner was Craig David after police found traces from the passport. Apparently, Craig David lived in the Lembah Pujian, Denpasar. He was then picked up by police for questioning. Later, it was known that his bags had been stolen. “When we asked for information, Craig David claimed that his bags were stolen while shopping at the Circle-K Kerobokan,” said Chief Sukanada.

On that account, Craig David was asked to make a lost property report in the North Kuta Police because according to Chief Sukanada, the bags were stolen by criminals the day before. However, Craig David just noticed his bags missing when he was in the Lembah Pujian.

“Those bags were stolen in the car of Craig David. He is now still making a lost property report,” he explained. (kmb21)

Performance of Bali Crisis Center judged less optimal Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Since the fiscal year 2010, Bali has had a disaster crisis center (Pusdalops PB) both for disasters caused by nature or human such as terrorism. The center also known as the Bali Crisis Centre is located in the office of the national unity and community protection (Kesbanglinmas) on Jalan Panjaitan Denpasar. Having been in operation for almost a year, the existence of Bali Crisis Center is considered unable to portray themselves optimally in the control and management of disaster in Bali. Deputy Head of Commission IV of Bali House, Ketut Kariyasa Adnyana, told Bali Post on Tuesday (Mar 21).

According to the representative from Buleleng, less optimal performance of the Bali Crisis Center was visible from the overflowing water disaster of Lake Tamblingan that inundated a number of residential houses. Beyond the distribution of basic necessities to people affected by disasters, he said, the well-structured and well-coordinated handling of post-disaster by the Bali Crisis Center was almost invisible. “According to my assessment, the performance of Bali Crisis Center is not yet optimal.

Related to this poor performance, I remain to tolerate because of the age of Bali Crisis Center was not quite a year so it needs a thorough improvement in some aspects,” he said.

He added that the idea of establishing an integrated disaster management system was very sublime. It was driven by the background of experience in handling the Bali bomb blast I where Bali looked so unprepared for such magnitude of disaster. Even, the body bags were not sufficient so the victims’ body was wrapped in plain white cloth. As a result, the victims’ body turned damaged and was difficult to identify.

“Actually, the existence of Bali Crisis Center is very urgent for Bali.

From here, we can synergize all powers and potentials of security and disaster management within the local government officials, police, military, Indonesian Red Cross, all hospitals and Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), pecalang (customary security unit) and others. By the presence of Crisis Center, everything should be well monitored and coordinated,” he said while hoping that Bali Crisis Center could play a more optimal role in the future.

Four functions

When met separately, the Unit Head of Pusdalops PB, Putu Anom

Agustina, said his party had attempted to optimize the performance of Pusdalops PB in its very early age. In details, he said there were four functions that should be carried out by Pusdalops PB namely as the data and information center, early warning, emergency response and emergency services. Armed with 44 personnel and operated for 24 hours a day, the crisis center also monitored the symptoms of disasters such as tsunami, floods and so forth.

“Especially for the early detection of tsunami, from the Crisis Center is monitored six tsunami early warning devices established at a number of beaches in Southern Bali, such as on Sanur Beach, Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua Beach, Kedonganan Beach, Seminyak Beach and Tanjung Benoa Beach. All devices of tsunami early warning system work well because they are routinely tested every the 26th day of each month as a simulation,” he said while adding that early warning systems were integrated directly with BMKG office having the authority to determine whether the status of a potential earthquake could cause a tsunami or not.

Anom Agustina added that his party already had a joint agreement with TV and radio stations in Bali to deliver information related to disasters in their respective media.

Once there was a potential for a tsunami, for example, his party would directly contact the media immediately to announce the early warnings to the public. “In case of a catastrophic incident or terrorist attack, the Crisis Center will handle the coordination center. The entire top leadership of Bali will gather here for coordinating and commanding the handling efforts,” he said.

Similarly, it was said that Crisis Center also provided largesized LED TV located at Dewa Ruci roundabouts, Kuta, as a medium to socialize the information of disaster handling. If a disaster occurred, the LED TV would inform the anticipative measures needed taking by the community.

In addition, his party had also installed 10 units of CCTV at eight strategic points in Bali in which one unit was installed downtown Gianyar, Guwang Art Market, Batubulan T-junction, Benoa and Nusa Dua and respectively two units in Sanur and Kuta. “Installation of these devices is intended as an effort to increase the awareness and early detection of potential disasters, both natural and humanmade disasters,” he said. (kmb13)

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

Bali News

International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

3

Nusa Penida Resident Died Suspected Mushroom Poisoned Semarapura (Bali Post) –

IBP/Gung Dar

The Grain Barong and Rangda are seen during the ceremony in Mount Raung Temple at Taro Village, Gianyar.

Grain Barong and Rangda as an oblation Hindu devotees who come to say prayers to Mount Raung Temple at Taro Village, Tegallalang Subdistrict, Gianyar, will encounter a work of art in the form of Barong and Rangda effigy made of assorted fruits. The Barong and Rangda are made of a number of grains and fruits. There are three fruity effigies where two of them draw a great interest of supporting devotees, namely the Barong and Rangda made from grains.

Wayan Selem, an artist from Taro Village serving as designer of the Barong and Rangda, said that both effigies posed a sacrifice in the form of art presented to deities in the grandiose ritual. Presentation of the arts had a function as complementary paraphernalia in the ritual. Although it was not explained in details about the function of the offer-

ings, such a figure had been adapted to location of the rituals.

They were called fruity Barong and Rangda because of being made from assorted fruits, including beans and grains. The effigy of Barong and Rangda applied various types of grains. Approximately, there were 10 types of grain and beans obtained from rice fields and gardens of the

Taro residents. It took Wayan Selem a week to accomplish the making of Barong and Rangda effigy. With the help of some assistants Wayan Selem could accomplish the making of Barong and Rangda embodiment made of grains. Both symbolized the expression of gratitude of people for the proceeds of rice field and gardens graced by deities. (dar)

HIV/AIDS Attacked 200 Sex Commercial Workers in Buleleng Dim-lighted Cafes Let Spread Singaraja (Bali Post)

During a training of Village Care AIDS in Seririt, Head of Buleleng AIDS Tackle Commission (KPA), Made Arga Pynatih, stated the number of sex commercial workers in Buleleng reached 1,000 people and 20 percent of them or around 200 got HIV/AIDS. “Two years ago the spreader of HIV/AIDS was mostly through narcotics or narcotics injection needle. Now the spreader have changed where 98 percent was free sex and 0,2 percent is narcotic injection needles,” Pynatih explained.

Seririt Sub district Leader, Putu Idayati, stated Seririt is one of the most vulnerable places the virus

could spread as there are 35 cafes employing 69 people. “It is true that cafes are one of the causer of HIV/ AIDS spreading especially dim lighted cafes where it’s misused as sex transaction place,” Pynatih explained.

And so, why are these cafes are let operated without any disciplinary or so? According to Pynatih, there’s no quick way to do it as it has to be on the regulations. For that House of Representatives and Regency Government is still discussing the regulations on entertainment tax despite having a decision on it already. Apparently the government is still confused on

having cafes on Entertainment Tax or Restaurant Tax yet Pynatih thinks its better on the Entertainment Tax where cafés will be under bar/discotheque category with much kind of permits such as Building permit, Crowd permit, and more heavy permits. “With this regulation those cafes will fulfill the standards completely and there will be taxes asked from them, and for those who can’t will be shut down,” Pynatih concluded. The virus has taken youngsters lives in their productive age 13 to 27 years old. Government has now given out 115,000 free condoms to married couple in Buleleng. (kmb15)

A resident of Banjar Jurangpait, Kutampi Atas, Nusa Penida, Made Dangin (60), died on Monday (21/3) due to consuming mushrooms from his plantation last Saturday (19/3).

His body was then cremated straight away on Monday afternoon after treated in Health Community Center for two nights.

Made Suryana, another resident, stated victim got the mushroom when he went there with his wife Ni Made Ranis. As other Nusa Penida residents, eating mushroom is normal including those taken that day. At that time their only child did not want to eat it so it was only him and his wife who consumed it.

“The couple had diarrhea, vomiting and headache,” Suryana explained.

Head of the Nusa Penida I Health Community Center, dr.

Ketut Rai Sutapa, confirmed of the two victims came there in a very weak state so the two were

infused and given medicine. “Madame Ranis condition got well and went home that night yet victim (Dangin) was still intensively cared yet getting better,” Rai explained.

Victim’s condition got dropped again by Sunday (20/3) afternoon where victim couldn’t pee. It is suspected the poison has gone to his liver and so doctors decided to bring him to Klungkung or Sanglah Hospital.

Sadly Dangin died before it.

It is still unsure what kind of mushroom is the victim was consuming but it is suspected to be his death causer. Rai also received different information from residents such as the mushroom was growing from a cow poisoned waste or it was wood mushrooms.

Rai also suggested for Nusa Penida people to be careful of consuming mushrooms. “There are many kinds of mushroom that can be consumed and some not and so when cooking it we have to make sure it’s cooked well so it’s gone.” (kmb20)

Cross Island Money Imposter Network Reveaked Denpasar (Bali Post)

The revealed case of money imposter network last Saturday (19/3) placed accused Agung Nur Ibrahim alias Agung (18) from Sidoarjo and Siti Astuti alias Siti (39) from Jombang in the Bali Police cells. Another accused Erwan was captured by Jembrana Police Criminal Research while the mastermind Sony managed to escape.

Head of Bali Police Public Relation GCP Gde Sugianyar last Monday (21/3) stated around 179 bills of IDR 100,000 fake money were confiscated from their hands. “It has been confiscated as evidence. While the two accused (Agung and Siti) are being investigated further,” Sugianyar explained.

He explained the case was opened when accused Agung was seen paying with fake money in Art Shop Bagus, Hanguah Street, Sanur, South Denpasar. The seller knew it was fake and so reported it to the Bali Police which Bali Water Police then captured accused on location.

After checked, another 8 was found on accused wallet.

As Agung was investigated, he admitted to have received the money from Erwan, Sony and Siti who were staying at Satria Hotel, Pidada VIII Street, Ubung.

Police then came to the hotel and managed to capture Siti. The case was then handover to Bali Police Criminal Research and so it was further investigated.

From the hotel (room 14 and 15, red) it was then found again 170 bills of IDR 100,000 which totaled it to 179. Erwan and Sony escaped with Panther number plated W 807 AJ as police arrived.

Jembrana Polcie then managed to capture Erwan while Sony managed to escape again by motorcycle.

From the three accused confession, they purposely spread these fake money to shops, art shop and traditional market. “A day as much as IDR 1 million distributed and for the pay back is real money and given to Sony meanwhile they also got a pay back,” Sugianyar stated.

Siti admitted met Sony last month in Surabaya and wanted to join distributing the fake money.

From what’s found, the serial number to it looks perfect such as OBP807141, OBP807188 and ODU168089. “So far, accused admitted to have distributed IDR 10 million yet there hasn’t been any reports from the public especially those who received it,” Head of Bali Police Fast Attack Troops, Bambang Wirawan, concluded. (kmb21)

4

News

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

International

Work resumes at Japan nuclear plant after smoke scare Agence France Presse

OSAKA, Japan – Smoke and steam again rose from damaged reactors on Tuesday at Japan’s quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, where workers have battled to avert a large-scale disaster, Kyodo News reported. White steam-like vapour was seen rising from the number two reactor and what looked like white hazy smoke from the number three reactor, Kyodo said, adding that efforts to spray water and restore electricity had temporarily stalled.

However, work later resumed at the site, said the nuclear safety agency. Plant staff and technicians, firefighters and military personnel have struggled to prevent a full meltdown at the seaside plant northeast of Tokyo since the March 11 tsunami knocked out its reactor cooling systems.

Japan, meanwhile, has ordered the suspension of shipments of milk and certain vegetables including spinach from regions around the plant after abnormal radiation levels were found in the products, said chief government spokesman Yukio Edano.

But “even if you eat and drink them several times it will not be a health hazard. So I would like you to act calmly,” Edano said at a televised news conference. The monster tsunami that left the power plant on the brink of meltdown measured at least 14 metres (46 feet) high, the plant’s operator said Tuesday.

The Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) had earlier estimated the height of the wave at 10 metres at its Fukushima No. 1 plant. A massive 9.0-magnitude quake on March 11 triggered colossal waves along the country’s Pacific coast, crippling the plant’s cooling systems and prompting

emergency operations to prevent fuel rods from melting and spewing radioactive material.

“Now we estimate the height at more than 14 metres. We have found traces of the tsunami at such elevations,” TEPCO spokesman Naoki Tsunoda said, adding that the wave was 14 metres high when it passed through the plant’s parking area. A tsunami can surge to an elevation higher than its height at the time when it hits shore, Japanese media noted.

High levels of radioactive substances have been detected in the seawater near the plant. The substances were detected in seawater which was sampled Monday about 100 metres south of the Fukushima plant, Tsunoda said, stressing it was not a threat to human health.

“Normally, such radioactive substances are not detected in the area,” said Tsunoda, adding that the company will continue monitoring at the same point and in other areas.

TEPCO said the level of iodine-131 was 126.7 times higher and caesium-134 was 24.8 times higher than government-set standards. The level of caesium-137 was also 16.5 times higher while that of cobalt-58 was lower than the standard, said Tsunoda.

Syria protests spread, authorities pull back Reuters

DAMASCUS – Unrest spread in southern Syria on Monday with hundreds of people demonstrating against the government in three towns near the main city of Deraa, but authorities did not use force to quell the latest protests. Security forces killed four civilians in demonstrations that erupted last week in Deraa, in the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s rule since the 45-year-old succeeded his father 11 years ago.

An 11-year-old child died overnight from inhaling tear gas fired by security forces, activists said. “This is peaceful, peaceful. God, Syria, freedom,” chanted the protesters in Jassem, an agricultural town 30 km (20 miles) west of Deraa.

Demonstrations also erupted in the towns of Nawa and Inkhel during which marchers held placards with the word “freedom.” Leading opposition figure Haitham al-Maleh said on Monday a desire for democratic reform was near-universal in Syria.

“The revolution is at the door and

the regime is still flirting with change,” said Maleh, an 80-year-old lawyer and former judge who has spent his life peacefully resisting the ruling Baath Party’s monopoly on power, much of it from prison.

Independent figures have long urged Assad to curb security apparatus, initiate rule of law, release thousands of political prisoners, allow freedom of expression and reveal the fate of tens of thousands who disappeared during repression in the 1980s. The ruling Baath Party has banned opposition and enforced emergency laws since 1963.

AP Photo/Hussein Malla

A cameraman films the destroyed Revolution Youth Union branch, affiliated to the ruling Syrian Baath Party which was was destroyed by Syrian anti-government protesters, in the southern city of Daraa, Syria, Monday March 21, 2011.

Palin stays mostly out of sight for Israel visit Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/ Daniel Bar-On

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is seen through the window of a car as she leaves the Mamilla hotel in Jerusalem, Monday, March 21, 2011. Palin’s trip to Israel has raised speculation she is honing her foreign policy credentials before a run for the U.S. presidency next year.

JERUSALEM – Sarah Palin stayed out of sight Monday during her first trip to Israel, dodging paparazzi staking out hotels and holy sites in hopes of getting a glimpse of the former Alaska governor who might run for president.

A visit to Israel, a key U.S. ally, has become almost a rite of passage for potential Republican candidates at a time of strained relations between the U.S. and Israeli governments. Israel is a key American ally in a volatile region and a top concern for Jewish voters and pro-Israel Christian groups in the U.S.

Palin’s two-day private visit follows similar stops by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, all potential candidates for president in 2012.

Both Barack Obama and John McCain made stops in Israel ahead of the 2008 election. Obama has not returned since he was elected. For Palin, the visit is of particular importance. As McCain’s running mate in 2008, she was criticized for lacking experience in foreign policy.

Palin, accompanied by her husband, Todd, visited the Western Wall and other religious sites in Jerusalem’s Old City and elsewhere. She had a dinner

with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned later Monday and was to depart Tuesday.

During Sunday’s visit to the Western Wall — a retaining wall of the compound where the biblical Jewish Temples stood 2,000 years ago — she wore a Star of David necklace. “Israel is absolutely beautiful, and it is overwhelming to see and touch the cornerstone of our faith, and I am so grateful to get to be here,” Palin told reporters, referring to the part the Temple played in the life of Jesus.

“I’m very thankful to know that the Israeli and American link will grow in strength as we seek peace along with you,” she said.

Activities

International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

5

Maya Ubud’s a Spiritual Journey IBP

UBUD - Maya Ubud Resort & Spa’s special eight day package: A Spiritual Journey, has been an exceptional experience for its participants.

See what they say about it.

Since the beginning of the year when first introduced, demand for this package has seen a steady increase by those wishing to discover the real essence of the life of the Balinese, and experience their unique culture and spirituality.

The Spiritual Journey package is a unique package that introduces and assists participants to better understand the spiritual aspects of Balinese life and customs, whilst creating a rejuvenating and healing experience for participants. The Spiritual Journey commences with a warm welcome from our caring staff, each one allocated to meet the needs of clients to ensure their stay is a memorable and enlightening one.

Each enlightening day commences with morning yoga and meditation sessions in a picturesque setting, followed on different days by exploring nearby temples and visit-

ing a traditional Balinese healer (Balian), or even a spiritual consultation and priestly blessing. Another option is to learn with village ladies the art of making traditional temple offerings as our guide carefully explains the meaning of the offerings, which can later be presented during the village temple visit. On another morning clients will be taken for a walk to a traditional village to be greeted by local village people and experience how they start a typical day. Throughout the Spiritual Journey program, the designated resort guide will share with participants various aspects of the philosophy of the Balinese people, which will enlighten and help them better understand the unique practical, cultural and spiritual essence of Balinese life.

Each day is planned to ensure a relaxed pace with plenty of time in between scheduled activities to also enjoy free time . . . such as relaxing by one of the beautiful pools, taking the free shuttle bus to Ubud market, or simply being spoilt with one of several (all inclusive) spa pampering treatments that awaits you in the legendary riverside Spa at Maya.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for March 21 through April 23, 2011 21 Mar Betara Turun Kabeh Ceremony Besakih - Karangasem Bukit Jati Temple Bangli Batur Temple Kalanganyar - Bangli Masceti Pejengaji Temple Tegallalang - Gianyar Dalem Temple Tangsud,Sukawati - Gianyar Penambangan Badung Temple Denpasar Lempuyang Madia Temple Karangasem Batur Temple Bangli Desa Temple Singakerta,Ubud - Gianyar Pasek Gelgel Temple Marga - Tabanan Gaduh Temple Ketapian, Sumerta - Denpasar Pasek Bendesa Temple Tuakilang - Tabanan Pasek Agung Temple Tatag Kelod,Peguyangan Denpasar Agung Pasek Bendesa Temple Tonja - Denpasar Pasek Gegel Angsri Temple Baturiti - Tabanan Pasek Gelgel Baleagung Temple Braban - Tabanan Dukuh Sakti Belatung Temple Timpag,KerambitanTabanan Puseh Dukuh Sakti Belatung Rendang - Karangasem Pitamaha Temple Palangkaraya - Kalimantan Tengah Candra Praba Temple Komplek Polri,JelambarJakarta Barat Agung Jagatnatha Temple Denpasar Pemerajan Agung Temple Puri Petak - Gianyar Dadya Agung Bendesa Tangkas Abiansemal - Badung Puseh Temple Sidemen - Karangasem Agung Giri Natha Temple Semarang - Center of Java 2 April Puseh Temple , Village Temple Sukawati Gianyar Pasek Gelgel-Bebetin Temple Sawan Buleleng Maspahit Temple Sesetan Denpasar Pasek Bendesa Manik Mas Tegallalang Gianyar Panti Pasek Gaduh Temple Sesetan - Denpasar Pedarman Arya Kanuruhan Temple Besakih Karangasem 5 April Kahyangan Tiga Temple Batur Kintamani - Bangli Batur Temple Camenggaon, Sukawati Gianyar

Luhur Bhujangga Temple Canggu,Kuta Badung Kawitan Kayu Selem Temple Batur, Kintamani Bangli 12 April Puseh Temple , Desa Temple Gianyar Luhur Dalem Segening Temple Kediri Tabanan Sanghyang Tegal Temple Taro,Tegallalang Gianyar 16 April Dalem Tarukan Temple Cemenggon, Sukawati-Gianyar Penataran Dalem Ketut Temple Pejeng Kaja Gianyar Puseh Manakaji Temple Peninjoan - Bangli Kawitan Gusti Celuk Temple Mengwi Badung 20 April Segara Temple Lombok Island Dwijawarsa Temple Malang East Java Puncak Tinggah Temple Baturiti Tabanan Kawitan Batur Pande Tonja Temple Tonja - Denpasar Penyungsungan Pasek Tohjiwa Wanagiri,Selemadeg Tabanan Penataran Agung Temple Sidemen Karangasem Samuan Tiga Temple Bedulu Gianyar Kawitan Jati Luwih Bhujangga Jatiluwih Tabanan 21 April Dalem Taman Temple Peguyangan Denpasar 23 April Puri Agung Dalem Tarukan Pejeng,Tampaksiring Gianyar Rambut Siwi Temple Jembrana Batu Bolong Temple Canggu,Kuta Badung Pasek Temple Klaci,Tabanan Agung Pasek Temple Dauh Waru - Jembrana Ratu Pasek Temple Sangsit Buleleng Pasek Tangkas Temple Gede Tabanan Pedharman Batur Sari Ngiis Temple Jegu,Penebel Tabanan Desa Temple Banyuning Buleleng Srijong Temple Tabanan Puncak Mundi Temple Klumpu,Nusa PenidaKlungkung

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.

6

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

News

2 Americans die when raft overturns in Argentina Associated Press Writer

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Two tourists from the United States were killed Monday in an accident at the Iguazu Falls on northern Argentina’s border with Brazil, authorities said.

Laura Matejik Eberts, 28, and Philip Musgrove, 70, were in an inflatable boat that flipped over after hitting rocks near the base of the waterfall, said Jorge Veron, an

official in Misiones province. He did not release their hometowns.

Five other people suffered injuries and were treated at a hospital, Veron said. The injured included

one American, two Germans, one Colombian and one Argentine.

Veron said authorities were still trying to determine what caused the accident.

Philippine lawmakers impeach top anti-graft prober Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine lawmakers have impeached the country’s chief anti-graft investigator in what new President Benigno Aquino’s backers say is a victory in efforts to remove an obstacle to prosecuting his predecessor and other top

officials for alleged massive corruption.

After debating into the early hours of Tuesday, 212 lawmakers from the House of Representatives voted to impeach Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

She has been accused of failing to investigate former President Gloria

Macapagal Arroyo, top generals and other officials for alleged graft. Arroyo, now a House member, led 46 lawmakers in voting against impeachment.

Corruption has been a politically explosive issue for some time in the Philippines, a nation long gripped by crushing poverty.

Sumo wrestler becomes heaviest man to ever finish marathon The heaviest person to ever complete a marathon weighed 275 pounds.

Add that weight plus the total weight of a great long-distance runner (about 120 pounds) and you’ll get Kelly Gneiting.

Gneiting, a three-time U.S. sumo champion, tipped the scales at 400 pounds when he began Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon. Nine hours, 48 minutes, 52 seconds later he crossed the finish line and set the Guinness World Record for being the heaviest person to ever complete the 26.2-mile

race.

The 400-pound American jogged the first eight miles of the race and walked the last 18, often stopping at intersections and stoplights because he was well behind the 13-minute-per-mile pace set by race organizers. He says he became delirious after mile 10 and only realized he hit the 15-mile mark when a friend gave him a clean pair of socks.

“I was really struggling in the last five miles,” he told the Los Angeles Times, “but I said to myself, ‘If I have to crawl, I will.’”

When he finally finished, he had set the weight world record and a personal best by over two hours. “I’d like to see the Kenyan improve his marathon time by two hours,” he joked.

Gneiting weighed 200 pounds in college but says he packed on the weight after getting married. He became a sumo wrestler 11 years ago and won his first national title four years later. Despite his weight, Gneiting says he’s still fit and wants to prove it by competing in other competitions. Next up? Swimming the English Channel.

Cuba’s Castro...

limited private enterprise.

The elder Castro stepped down in 2006 due to a serious illness that almost killed him. In an official proclamation released on July 31, 2006, Fidel Castro provisionally delegated most of his official duties to his brother — including the presidency and head of the party.

In February 2008 he announced he was officially stepping down as president, and Raul Castro was formally picked to succeed him by the country’s parliament a few days later. But no reference was made to Fidel leaving his party post, and Cuban officials and ordinary people have referred to him as the party leader ever since.

While the government historically has focused on the day-today running of the country, the

party is tasked with guiding the Cuban people on their path to communism. In practice, no major policy can be passed without the party first agreeing.

While nobody was expecting Fidel Castro’s announcement to come the way it did — as a fait accompli thrown into a long opinion piece that otherwise focuses on criticism of President Barack Obama — speculation has been rampant that he would soon step down.

If the 79-year-old Raul Castro moves up to the top spot, it will give the Cuban leaders a chance to pick someone without their famous last name to hold the No. 2 position, potentially tapping a would-be successor after 52 years of uninterrupted rule.

From page 1 He said that even when his health began to improve, he stayed out of state and party affairs “even though everyone, affectionately, continued to refer to me by the same titles.”

Castro’s comments come just weeks ahead of a crucial Communist Party Congress, in which it was widely expected that a new party leader would be picked — presumably his brother. The Congress also is tasked with endorsing a series of major economic changes Raul Castro has enacted since taking over the presidency, including opening the island up to

AP Photo/Jason Dowling

A rescue worker hangs from a helicopter while searching for the bodies of two U.S. tourists who were killed in an accident at one of the waterfalls in the Iguazu Falls area in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, Monday March 21, 2011.

Libya...

From page 1 The ragtag band of hundreds of fighters who made their way to the outskirts of Ajdabiya on Tuesday milled about, clutching mortars, grenades and assault rifles. Some wore khaki fatigues.

One man sported a bright white studded belt. Some men clambered up power lines in the rolling sand dunes of the desert, squinting and hoping to see Gadhafi’s forces inside the besieged city of 140,000 that is the gateway to the east.

“Gadhafi is killing civilians inside Ajdabiya,” said Khaled Hamid, a rebel who said he been in Gadhafi’s forces but defected to the rebels’ side. “Today we will enter Ajdabiya, God willing.”

Misrata, the last western city held by rebels, was being bombarded by Gadhafi’s forces on Tuesday, his tanks and snipers controlling the streets, according to a doctor there who said civilians were desperately searching for shelter and food. Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals if the city falls to Gadhafi’s troops, he accused international forces of failing to protect civilians as promised under the United Nations resolution authorizing military action in Libya.

“Snipers are everywhere in Misrata, shooting any one who walks by while the world is still watching,” he said. “The situation is going from bad to worse. We can do nothing but wait. Sometimes we depend on one

meal per day.”

The air campaign by U.S. and European militaries that began Saturday has unquestionably rearranged the map in Libya and rescued rebels from what had appeared to be imminent defeat.

Monday night, Libyan state TV said a new round of strikes had begun in the capital, Tripoli, marking the third night of bombardment. But while the airstrikes can stop Gadhafi’s troops from attacking rebel cities — in line with the U.N. mandate to protect civilians — the United States, at least, appeared deeply reluctant to go beyond that toward actively helping the rebel cause to oust the Libyan leader.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and others said the U.S. military’s role will lessen in coming days as other countries take on more missions and the need declines for large-scale offensive action like the barrage of Tomahawk cruise missiles fired Saturday and Sunday mainly by U.S. ships and submarines off Libya’s coast.

A senior defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss classified data, said Monday that the attacks thus far had reduced Libya’s air defense capabilities by more than 50 percent. That has enabled the coalition to focus more on extending the no-fly zone, which is now mainly over the coastal waters off Libya and around the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the east, across the country to the Tripoli area this week.

International

Indonesia Today

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

7

RI, Timor Leste sign MoU on education, tourism, infrastructure cooperation Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Timor Leste here on Tuesday signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in education and diplomats‘ training, technical cooperation in the tourism and trade sectors as well as development of infrastructure.

FOTO ANTARA/Widodo S. Jusuf

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) accompanied by Prime Minister Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao (left) in the presidential palace, Jakarta on Tuesday, March 22. Indonesia and Timor Leste here on Tuesday signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in education and diplomats‘ training, technical cooperation in the tourism and trade sectors as well as development of infrastructure.

Indonesia to sell global bonds to three countries Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia is ready to offer bonds to the international market. namely to Switzerland, Britain and the United State to raise funds to cover its budget deficit.

“Their governments have confirmed. That is no longer a problem.

But we still have yet to see market conditions. In general they view positively on Indonesian conditions,” the acting chief of the Fiscal Policy Agency, Bambang Brodjonegoro, said here on Monday. He said after roadshows the three countries also gave appreciation to Indonesia‘s capability in dealing with inflation and maintaining its na-

tional resilience.

“We are updating our financing plan for the next year. The challenge might be more about inflation which we are now still discussing and then sustainability of the budget. But overall it is positive. They are ready to enter,” he said.

The issuance of the global bonds will follow the financing plans that have been put in the 2011 budget and is for supporting the issuance of state debentures.

“It will be done in line with the 2011 budget plans. Some have been issued for domestic markets. In the future the focus will also be on the domestic market. This one is for cov-

ering the balance,” he said.

Bambang assured the issuance of the global bonds would not clash with the Japanese plan to increase debts for rehabilitating that country recently hit by earthquake and tsunami.

“With regard to Japan I believed they could be self-reliance. What we see now is the market conditions which are still following Japan. Therefore our roadshow is non-deal in nature and no decision is made,” he said.

He said the bonds to be issued have a long-term tenure as most investors prefer that. Moreover now when the bond market potential is promising and relatively good in terms of market demand.

Wild elephants block housing complex in Riau Antara

PEKANBARU - A wild elephant and its two babies blocked a street in Cendana housing complex in Balai Raja vilage, Mandau subdistrict, Bengkalis district, Riau province, from Sunday morning to evening, a local resident said.

“Until Sunday evening, the animals remained at the asphalted street in the complex,” said Berton Panjaitan, a local resident.

The housing complex for teachers was located next to an oil-producing company, Chevron, he said.

The residents often saw the wild elephants coming to the area, Panjaitan said.

They passed by the street on Sunday morning and three of them remained there until Sunday evening.

As a result, the residents were afraid to pass the street, he said.

“The adult elephant and its two babies remain there though the people have tried to chase them away by using bamboo sticks and lanterns,” Panjaitan said.

Instead of going away, the elephants sat on the street. The people had reported this to the authorities of Riau

natural conservation agency, he said.

The conflict between elephants and humans remains a serious problem to the people of Bengkalis.

In November 2010, for instance, tens wild Sumatran elephants had repeatedly invaded the Petani village, Mandau subdistrict, Bengkalis district for few days. The wild elephants‘ presence had forced many of the villagers to stay home as working on their farms as usual had become risky.

The Petani village‘s head, Rianto, said that situation had made his people stay at home rather than going to their farmings.

Other sectors included in the MoU were technical cooperation in decentralization and state management, transportation and marine and fisheries.

The signing ceremony took place at the presidential palace in Central Jakarta and was witnessed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao.

Before witnessing the signing of the MoU, the two leaders had met to discuss development of bilateral relation between Indonesia and Timor Leste. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is scheduled to stay in Indonesia until March 25.

Several Indonesian senior officials also attending the Tuesday meeting were Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Marine and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu,

National Education Minister Muhammad Nuh, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam and National Military Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono.

On the Timor Leste side there were Foreign Affairs Minister Zacarias da Costa, Economic and Development Minister Joao Goncalves, Infrastructure Minister Pedro Lay da Silva, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino, Timor Leste‘s f Military Chief Major General Taur Matan Ruak, Tourism, Trade and Industry Minister Gil Alves, and Timor Leste‘s Ambassador to Indonesia Manuel Serrano.

Timor Leste, formerly known as East Timor, declared its independence on May 20, 2002, following a United Nations sponsored referendum in 1999 in which the people of Timor Leste voted in favor of independence instead of integration with Indonesia.

RI-Malaysia to sign MoU on workers in May Antara

JAKARTA - Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said a renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the placement and protection of domestic sector of Indonesian migrant workers (TKIs) with Malaysia would be signed here in May 2011.

“The governments of the two countries agreed for an earlier discussion of the renewed MoU. The basic things in the renewal and technical matters had already been discussed in detail in a Joint Working Group,” the minister said in a press release in Jakarta Monday.

The agreement on signing the renewed MoU had been reached in a bilateral meeting between Minister Iskandar and Malaysia‘s Human Resources Minister Datuk DR. S. Subramaniam in Kuala Lumpur on Monday discussing an increased TKI placement and protection in Malaysia.

The signing of the MoU would put an end to Indonesia‘s moratorium on Malaysia as it had been demanding for improved working conditions of TKIs in Malaysia, he said.

The future joint task force would consist of the representatives of the

two countries to supervise the implementation of the MoU. “Any cases and problems of the placement and protection of TKIs, would have to be immediately solved by the Joint Task Force,” Muhaimin said.

He also said that an agreement had been reached on several important matters which had been very difficult to solve including weekly holidays and that passports were held by their owners themselves, no longer by their employers.

“We have also agreed that the wages of TKIs in Malaysia will be paid by banks, while cost structure had been informally discussed in technical discussions and agreement have been reached,” Muhaimin said.

In the meantime, with regard the minimum wages of the TKIs, the minister said it would be set in very working contract approved of and sanctioned by the Manpower Attache in Malaysia.

With regard to the TKIs who had abandoned their employment, it would be the responsibility of each of the respective agencies except if they ran away from violence, which would be handled and solved by the joint task force, Muhaimin added.

8

International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Bali Today Bali must have waste management regulation Antara

Denpasar – Waste has become a global issue and for that reason, Bali Government must have rule on waste management. The spokesman of Golkar Party, I Gusti Lanang Bayu Wibiseka, said “the rule on waste or garbage will become the base for all regencies in Bali to manage waste.”

IBP/Bali Putra

He also added that the regulation on waste management must be well arranged so it will not contradict with the rule or regulation in every regency.

The similar statement was also said by the Democratic Party which was represented by Utami Dwi Suryadi. She stated that it is not easy to manage waste especially to make

the final disposal place or TPA.” “The idea to create a TPA in Suwung as the disposal place for Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan area can be done but it must be optimize so it can give economic value to the people,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Head of Bali Environmental Department, Anak Agung Alit Sastrawan, said that Bali

is targeting to free from plastic waste in 2013. He explained that Bali produce approximately 5,000 meter cube of garbage every day and about 10% of it is plastic waste.

“One of the way to achieve the goal is to make plastic out of cassava and always find new materials that are environmental friendly,” he added.

World Silent Day team urges the government to reconsider In developing nuclear power plant DENPASAR – The committee of the World Silent Day hoped that the explosion of the nuclear power plant in Japan should become one of the considerations for Indonesian Government to build the similar one.

Catur Yudha Haryani, one of the volunteer in the World Silent Day commemoration on Monday, March 21, 2010, said “from the case in Japan, the government must reconsider to de-

velop nuclear power plant in Indonesia.”

He stated that the government is planning to build nuclear power plant in 2016 but several nuclear experts said that it won’t be easy because mane requirements are needed. Some areas have been studied to become the place to build the power plant and one of them is Bangka Belitung.

“The government must consider

the long term effect of the nuclear power plant,” Catur said. He added that a thorough study must be conducted before the plant is being built including the analysis on effect which can be caused by the development of nuclear power plant. On that occasion, the volunteers of Worl Silent Day expressed their sadness on the disaster which happened in Japan.

They created origami in the form of stork which symbolizes peace.

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

World Silent Day activists meditated during the WSD celebration on Monday, 21 March. According to WSD activists government should reconsider to build the nuclear power plant.

Garbages were scattered everywhere in the side of the road on Klungkung Regency. Klungkung Regency is feared to be a dump city because the current management of waste problem is not maximal. Rubbishes are littered around. In the meantime, rubbish bins are placed haphazardly like on the sidewalk.

Bulan Pejeng: Prehistoric bronze drum “Bulan Pejeng” in fact is a large bronze drum (nekara) of prehistoric from Bronze Age that were developed around 2000 years ago or in the beginning of century. This cultural heritage is one of the sacred article, kept in Penataran Sasih Temple in Pejeng Village, Gianyar and is located in the main street of Tampaksiring-Kintamani so no difficulty to visit it. According to popular folktale in society, “Bulan Pejeng” is the “moon” which fell down in Pejeng Village long time ago, making the village was always bright on day and night so the thieves could not do their jobs. Therefore, the “moon” was urinated so did not shine anymore until these days. The name of Penataran Sasih Temple means “the place of the moon” Temple (moon=sasih) and might relate to the story of the “moon” fell from the sky previously. Another story told of this Pejeng nekara as the ear-plug of Kebo Iwa, a powerful legendary figure who was able to carve Goa Gajah, steep bank temple of Gunung Kawi, etc.

The Pejeng nekara has been introduced internationally by G.E. Rumphius, an expert in Biology through his book Amboinsche Rariteitkamer, published in 1705.

Although he never been to Bali, but he had succeeded for using the information from Hendrik Leydekereker’s. In fact, this nekara is a giant nekara with large size in every detail as in height of 186.5 m and a diameter of 1.60 m for its hit zone. Around the archeological experts, this nekara is also called as nekara with head, because it has four pairs of mask decoration with bulged-out eyes, long-coned nose, and the ears wearing earrings made from coins. The decoration of the mask is not only functioned as esthetic-decorative, but more for magi-

cal symbolism for the ancestors’ symbol of magic power which bring prosperity and protect the family or the society from any danger. Another decoration which has the magical symbolism is the decoration of octagonal star on the hit zone, border design, feather, and so on.

“Bulan Pejeng” is a masterpiece work of technology and metallurgy that reached its peak on Bronze Age. This cultural heritage is a significant mixture between modern and complicated metal technology and art creativity which full magical symbolism values as can be seen from its shape and patterns. All of it is the proof of a local Balinese wisdom in its spectacular work about 2000 years ago, far before India reached Bali. The dynamism of Balinese wisdom at that time also was proved by finding five stone moulds in Manuaba Village, Gianyar for making smaller nekara from Pejeng nekara. This fact has proved enough that Balinese people had succeeded in developing local metal industry.

Clay mould for making arrow head also has been found in West Java. In addition, Balinese people had produced a stone nekara which is kept in a temple in Carangsari Village (Badung), is now another success of Balinese wisdom. The other bronze nekara in Pacung, Ularan (Buleleng), Ban (Karangasem), Manikliyu (Bangli), Peguyangan (Badung) is a proof that local metal industry in Bali reached its top.

According to the results of archeological research can be known that at Bronze Age, megalithic tradition was also developed around the world. The archeological experts have a notion that Bali was inhabited by megalithic society who lived by farming, stayed in organized village, and ruled by a wellrespected figure. (BTN)

International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Balinese Culture Poor management, Klungkung feared to be a dump city Bali Post

SEMARAPURA - Klungkung Regency is feared to be a dump city because the current management of waste problem is not maximal.

Rubbishes are littered around. In the meantime, rubbish bins are placed haphazardly like on the sidewalk.

Inevitably, they kindle some complaints of local residents. One of the complaints was submitted by a Klungkung resident, Ni Ketut Puspawati. She complained about the rubbish strewn on Jalan Gunung Agung, Klungkung. Her complaint was submitted through a letter directly addressed to the Regent of Klungkung, Wayan Candra.

In fact, it was responded by a legislator of Klungkung House, Komang Gede Ludra, Monday (Mar 21). According to Ludra, if the less maximal handling of rubbish continued, he had

confidence that Klungkung would soon be a dump city. “The matter of rubbish should get a serious concern from the government,” said Ludra while mentioning that so far the transport of rubbish from the temporary rubbish bins to landfill was very late.

As a result, the collected rubbishes in the temporary rubbish bins turned full or were scattered again by dogs.

“When people begin to be aware of sanitation by disposing their rubbish into proper place, the transportation even moves late. It has become a less good precedent in the future,” he said while asking the government to take wholehearted measures in allocating the budget for waste management in years to come.

He also asked the government to pay more attention to residents and workers around the landfill, especially with regard to their health check-up.

“Every day they get involved in dirty environment. Of course, they are potentially exposed to diseases, bacteria and other health hazards,” he added.

Meanwhile, the executive in charge of the Head of Klungkung Sanitation and Landscaping Services (DKP), Wayan Tika, mentioned that his party frequently delayed to dispose the rubbish in the morning. As normal procedure, the rubbish that was not transported until 11:00 a.m. Local Time was usually taken in the afternoon.

The DKP had 10 vehicles to transport the rubbish collected in the temporary rubbish bins to landfill. As for facilities, Tika recognized that many of them were in damaged condition. ”As a matter of fact, we have proposed a budget for the procurement of new facilities. However, they could not be realized in total this year,” he added. (kmb20)

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

Directions Slice the mushroom in 1 cm lengths and mix together with the egg, santan and the spice paste blend.

Devide the mixture among 20 packets made of banana leaves. Fold the ends of the packets and seal.

Steam the packets for about 25 minutes until done.

Remove and set aside. Broil the packets over medium heat until liquid has evaporated. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Sweet Eggplant Stew (Semur Terong) Ingredients

http://blog.baliwww.com

* 1 lb. eggplant * 4 Tbs. vegetable oil * 1 Tbs. shallots * 1 clove garlic, sliced * ½ cup water * 1 Tbs. sweet soy sauce * ½ tsp. pepper * ¼ tsp. nutmeg * 1 tsp. vinegar * ½ tsp. salt * 1 tsp. sugar

Directions Cut the unpeeled eggplant into ½-inch-thick slices, and then cut the slices in half. Fry lightly in 2 Tbs. of oil for 2 minutes, or until light brown and softened. Set aside.

Stir fry the shallots and garlic in the remaining oil until light brown. Add the water, sweet aoy sauce, pepper, nutmeg, vinegar, salt and sugar. Let these entire ingredients cook for approximately 3 minutes to prepare the sauce.

Cook the eggplant slices in the sauce for additional 2 minutes to distribute the flavors. Shake the pan several times to mix but not mash the eggplant.

Serve hot or at room temperature. (http:// asiarecipe.com) C.045 ibp

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10

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Destinations

International

Spa IBP

Spa is one experience that you should not miss during your stay in Bali. The spa business in Bali emerging really fast during this ten years and become one of the sophisticated industry that can give your holiday a colorful experience.

Bali Spa with selected spa treatment, luxury rooms and friendly therapist will rejuvenate your soul and body become more motivated life union, flexing your muscle and also disappear the fatigue which you feel.

Spa in Bali offer multivarious of freshness manner live, develop health and keep in good health your husk during vacation. It offer the enjoyable smooth touch at your body and husk from professional therapist in massage treatment and encircled by the fresh fragrant aroma or enjoy the nature of Spa Villa with special spa treatment.

Bali really has become the Spa capital of Asia, if not the world!

Every spa has a small basic listing.

Selected spas have a detailed list of all their different treatments, direct links to e-mail and/or web site so you can contact them, and a number of pictures.

In Bali almost every hotel, no matter

how many stars it may have, has its own spa. Before your book your hotel for your next Bali holiday, check here to see what spa facilities they have to offer, and what other alternatives there are in the immediate area.

The Spas of Bali offer many different massages [Balinese, Indonesian, Thai, Swedish, Shiatsu from Japan and Lomi-Lomi from Hawaii], body wraps, polishes and scrubs [including the Royal Javanese Lulur and the Balinese Boreh], Chinese Reflexology and many Ayurvedic styles of treatment. Advanced spas offer Colon Hydrotherapy and personal treatments such as Vaginal Smoking. In the Ubud area some spas offer Craniosacral Therapy and other Healing treatments.

Double rooms are often provided for couples who wish to share the experience and the Four Hand Massage is very popular in Bali (two therapists, male or female, perform a full body massage in perfect synchronisation).

Extra Services are sometimes available in the smaller spas and Kerobokan boasts Bali’s first Gay Friendly spa (M Spa) although others also now exist, mainly in the Kerobokan, JImbaran and Ubud areas.

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

11

BUSINESS Toyota, Honda extend Japan auto shutdown Associated Press Writer

TOKYO – Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are extending their shutdown of auto production in Japan amid a shortage of parts following a colossal earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.

Japanese automakers are struggling with power cuts and a dwindling supply of components as a result of the March 11 disaster that devastated northeastern Japan.

Toyota, the world’s No. 1 car maker, said in a statement Tuesday that its shutdown of 11 factories would be extended until Saturday because of difficulty securing components, including rubber parts and electronics.

The shutdown had previously been announced through Tuesday.

The automaker has lost production of about 140,000 vehicles since March 14.

Toyota, the maker of the Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury models, resumed repair parts production last

week. It said that production was continuing.

Honda said its production halt would continue through Sunday.

The extended shutdown affects finished vehicle production at its Saitama and Suzuka factories and motorcycles at its Kumamoto factory. It had previously announced the shutdown through Wednesday.

The maker of Subaru autos, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., said it will start making parts for foreign production Wednesday and spare parts on Thursday but the shutdown at five auto factories in Japan was extended through Thursday.

Japanese automakers are expected to rebound once they restart

production following the quake and tsunami that likely killed at least 18,000 people in the northeast. But industry analysts say they will be hampered by power shortages and damage to roads.

Last week, Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. restarted some plants using their stocks of parts, but said that would continue only as long as inventory lasts.

Automakers are scrambling to find alternative parts suppliers to replace those disabled by the 9.0magnitude quake.

The disaster-stricken northeast is home mostly to tertiary parts-makers — the tiny machine shops that make parts for secondary and other suppliers.

US Fed to release crisis bailout data Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON – The US Federal Reserve said Monday it would release data on its emergency aid to banks after the Supreme Court rejected arguments to keep it secret.

The Supreme Court declined to review a ruling that forces the Fed to publish the names of banks that borrowed from its discount window in April and May 2008, months before the industry fell into a panic.

The discount window is a Fed facility banks can tap for short-term financing when they experience li-

quidity shortages, as some did when financial markets began to crumble with the housing market crash.

The Supreme Court’s decision effectively backed a request by the Bloomberg news agency and Fox News television to make the data on the Fed’s bailout moves public, despite banks and the Fed arguing this could damage perceptions of their stability.

According to the decision, the Fed will have to reveal within five days the names of the banks which received discount window loans, along with the amount, the term, and

the counterparty guarantees for the loans.

“The board will fully comply with the courts’ decisions and is preparing to make the information available. Some of the information relating to emergency credit facilities was already released on December 1,” Fed spokesman David Skidmore said.

The Fed had refused to reveal the information, on the grounds that it could erode public confidence in the specific institutions involved and create more difficulties for the struggling finance sector.

A view of the US Federal Reserve in Washington, DC. The US Federal Reserve said Monday it would release data on its emergency aid to banks after the Supreme Court rejected arguments to keep it secret.

AFP/File/Karen Bleier

REUTERS/Pichi Chuang

A man monitors stock market prices inside a brokerage in Taipei March 17, 2011.

Oil up in Asia on Libya tensions Agence France-Presse

SINGAPORE – Crude was mixed in Asian trade Tuesday but analysts said prices remained volatile as the turmoil in Libya continued to rattle investor sentiment.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April was up five cents to $102.38 a barrel, while Brent North Sea crude for May was down 18 cents to $114.78.

“We still have tensions in the Middle East underpinning oil prices. Investors are expecting that Libyan oil is not returning to the markets any time soon,” said Ong Yi Ling, investment analyst for Phillip Futures in Singapore.

Oil-rich Libya was producing 1.69 million barrels a day before the unrest, according to the International Energy Agency. It is now producing 400,000 barrels a day.

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi’s

Tripoli compound was rocked by blasts late Monday, his southern strongholds targeted and a navy base bombed as the US-European coalition sought to pin down Kadhafi’s military and protect Libya’s civilians and opposition.

The intervention by French, American and British forces in Libya has hobbled loyalist forces but offers little hint of how the situation will be resolved.

“A stalemate at current positions leaves most of the oil export ports in the hands of the Kadhafi regime,” noted PetroMatrix analyst Olivier Jakob in Zurich.

In London, the Centre for Global Energy Studies warned that the tightening market is in danger of repeating the 2008 price surge, when crude futures topped $147 a barrel.

It said the oil market needed “a clear unambiguous signal” from the OPEC cartel that the lost Libyan production would be replaced.

SIA cuts flights to Tokyo’s Haneda airport Agence France-Presse

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s flagcarrier said Tuesday it will suspend half of its daily flights between the city-state and Tokyo’s Haneda airport as demand weakened because of the nuclear crisis in Japan.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said in its website it will halt two of its four flights between Changi Airport and Haneda from Sunday.

“Flights SQ635 and SQ636 which operate between Singapore and Haneda will be suspended from 27 March 2011,” a post on the website read.

However, an SIA told AFP the airline would maintain its four flights between Singapore and the Japanese capital’s Narita Airport.

The spokesman said the suspension of the Haneda flights was due to a slump in customers going to Japan after a massive 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the country’s north-

east.

The twin disasters triggered a crisis at a tsunami-hit nuclear power plant about 250 kilometres (155 miles) from Tokyo, where workers have been struggling to bring overheating reactors under control.

“We are seeing weakening demand in and out of Tokyo due to the situation in Japan,” the spokesman said.

Kyodo News on Tuesday reported that smoke and steam were again rising from damaged reactors at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi plant.

White steam-like vapour was seen rising from the number two reactor and what looked like white hazy smoke from the number three reactor, Kyodo said, adding that efforts to spray water and restore electricity had temporarily stalled.

Abnormal levels of radiation were also detected in shipments of certain vegetables and milk from four prefectures near the plant, fuelling public anxiety about contamination from radiation.

12

Entertainment

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

International

‘Til Death Do Us Part’ tackles AIDS in rural China Associated Press Writer

HONG KONG – Director Gu Changwei is praising the all-star cast he assembled in his first film in four years, a drama exploring how AIDS impacts a rural Chinese village.

“Til Death Do Us Part” stars Zhang Ziyi, known for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and Hong Kong actor-singer Aaron Kwok as her love interest. The cast also includes Gu’s wife, actress Jiang Wenli, and veteran Chinese actor Pu Cunxin, as well as real AIDS patients. Gu said the role of an ostracized patient “really belonged to no one other than Ziyi.”

Zhang, whose recent credits include the romantic comedy “Sophie’s Revenge” and the English-language thriller “Horsemen,” said her role as a social outcast was extremely absorbing.

“It was very hard to separate myself from the character at any given moment. I was always living in the world of my character,” Zhang told The Associated Press on the sidelines of a news conference Tuesday.

Gu started as a cinematographer for famed Chinese directors Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige on movies like “Red Sorghum,” “Ju Dou” and “Farewell My Concubine.” His directorial debut, the 2005 family

drama “Peacock,” won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, and he followed it two years later with “And the Spring Comes,” starring his wife as a school teacher who aspires to be an opera singer.

Gu and Jiang marveled at the “Til Death” performances by Zhang and Kwok, a heartthrob idol who has reinvented himself as a serious actor. He won back-to-back best actor trophies at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards — the Chinese industry’s equivalent of the Oscars — in 2005 and 2006 for the crime thriller “Divergence” and the drama “After This Our Exile.”

Both Gu and Jiang said they couldn’t picture the glamorous Hong Kong star as a down-to-earth Chinese villager but were pleasantly surprised.

“I was thinking, ‘How could it be Aaron Kwok? He is so different,’” Jiang said. “But when I came on set on the first day I couldn’t recognize him. That’s when I thought he had succeeded.” “Til Death Do Us Part” will be released in China on May 10.

A companion documentary had its Asian premiere at the Hong Kong International Film Festival on Monday. In “Together,” Chinese filmmaker Zhao Liang recorded the difficulties of finding AIDS patients to appear in the feature film

AP Photo/Kin Cheung

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi, right, and Hong Kong actor Aaron Kwok attend a promotional event of their latest movie ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ in Hong Kong Tuesday, March 22, 2011, as part of the events in Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Lindsay Lohan’s dad arrested in Los Angeles Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Authorities in Los Angeles say Lindsay Lohan’s father has been arrested over allegations he held his girlfriend against her will and prevented her from calling 911. City News Services reports that Michael Lohan was arrested Monday night in West Hollywood.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Ratto says Lohan was booked on suspicion of preventing

report of victimization, false imprisonment and inflicting corporal injury on a cohabitant.

Ratto says the girlfriend’s name is being withheld. Authorities say Lohan was taken to a hospital for a medical condition unrelated to the arrest. Bail has been set at $200,000.

Lohan has a history of arrests in New York over allegations of harassment from ex-girlfriends. The “Mean Girls” actress reportedly is estranged from her father.

AP Photo/Dominic Lipinski, Pool

Carriage restorer Dave Evans cleans the 1902 State Landau carriage at the Royal Mews in central London, Monday March 21, 2011. The coach will be used to carry Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding day, Friday April 29, 2011, if the weather is good.

Kate Middleton to use repaired Rolls-Royce Associated Press Writer

LONDON – Kate Middleton will arrive at Westminster Abbey for her April 29 wedding in a Rolls-Royce that was damaged in December when Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were attacked by student protesters, officials said Tuesday.

The distinctive claret and black 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI will have its damaged paintwork and windows repaired by the royal couple’s wedding day, officials promised. The car was damaged Dec. 9 when a mob protesting student fee hikes hit the car with sticks and bottles.

“There was paint damage and damage to the glass,” said Alex Garty, transport manager at Buckingham Palace. “The repairs are ongoing. We’re using that opportunity to give her a 60-minute makeover, so she will look her best for the wedding.”

Royal brides have typically arrived

for their weddings in special horsedrawn coaches, but Middleton has decided to travel to the church by car.

After the ceremony, she and Prince William will ride in an opentopped 1902 State Landau horsedrawn carriage for the procession back to Buckingham Palace, unless inclement weather leads them to use the famed “Glass Coach,” which has a fixed roof to keep rain at bay.

The 1902 State Landau, housed at the Royal Mews near Buckingham Palace, was built for King Edward VII for use at his coronation. It is typically used by the queen to meet foreign heads of state on official visits to Britain. Charles

used it to travel to St. Paul’s Cathedral for his 1981 wedding, leaving the cathedral with Princess Diana.

The crowd-pleasing Glass Coach, which will be used only if there is steady rain, was built in 1881. In the past it has been used to carry royal brides, including Diana and Sarah Ferguson, to their weddings. Charles’ press office Tuesday released details about the procession indicating there would be five horsedrawn carriages.

The first would carry William and his bride. The next two carriages would carry Prince Harry, the best man, and Pippa Middleton, the maid of honor, and the bridesmaids.

The next carriage will carry Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, followed by a carriage with Prince Charles, Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, and Michael and Carole Middleton, the bride’s parents.

Canadian singer Bryan Adams gets Hollywood star Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Bryan Adams is now enshrined in concrete. The Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist and producer got his Hollywood Walk of Fame star Monday in front of the Musicians Institute.

His hits included “Cut Like a Knife,” “Summer of ’69,” “Run to You,” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You.” Adam recalled visiting Hollywood Boulevard at 16 and marveling at the stars. He said he was humbled by seeing his own star.

Retired hockey star Wayne

Gretzky was on hand for the dedication. Adams sang Canada’s national anthem’ before Gretzky’s final game.

The Grammy-winning singer is currently on tour. His charitable foundation, The Bryan Adams Foundation, provides grants for projects supporting the elderly, victims of wars and natural disasters, and those suffering from mental or physical abuse.

Canadian singer Bryan Adams is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Monday, March 21, 2011.

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

Science

International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

13

Japan quake loaded stress on fault closer to Tokyo Associated Press Tokyo

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The recent monster quake that hit northeastern Japan altered the earth’s surface, geologists say, loading stress onto a different segment of the fault line much closer to Tokyo.

Experts are quick to point out that this doesn’t mean a powerful earthquake is necessarily about to strike the Japanese capital. Even if it did, the structure of the tectonic plates and fault lines around the city makes it unlikely that Tokyo would be hit by a quake anywhere near the intensity of the 9.0-magnitude one that struck March 11, said Roger Musson of the British Geological Survey But, given the vast population — Tokyo and its surroundings are home to 39 million people — any strong temblor could be devastating. “Even if you’ve got, let’s say, a 7.5, that would be serious,” the seismologist said.

Japan is located on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanos and fault lines spanning the Pacific Basin, and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

But before last week’s quake — the largest to hit the country since it started keeping records 130 years ago — few geologists considered Japan to be a strong candidate for a 9-plus earthquake, said Andrew Moore, of Earlham College in Rich-

mond, Indiana.

There is mounting evidence, however, that Japan has been struck by several severe quakes in the last 3,500 years — most in the northern reaches of the country. Sand deposits indicate that several quakes have spawned 30-foot-high (9-meterhigh) waves that slammed into the northern island of Hokkaido, he said, the most recent in the 17th century.

Similar deposits underlie the city of Sendai — the area rocked last week — with the most recent from an 869 A.D. tsunami that killed 1,000 people and washed more than 2.5 miles (three kilometers) inland. And even weaker quakes that hit Tokyo in the past have caused significant damage.

But last week’s tremor changed the coastal landscape — and not just above sea-level. It created a trench in the sea floor 240 miles long (380 kilometers long) and 120 miles wide (190 kilometers wide) as one tectonic plate dove 30 feet (nine meters) beneath another, said Eric Fielding of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye, File

FILE - In this Saturday, March 12, 2011 file photo, a residential area remains in flood in Sendai, northern Japan, after a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami. Geologists say a powerful earthquake could strike near Tokyo because the recent monster that hit northeastern Japan altered the earth’s surface, loading stress onto a segment of the fault line near the capital.

Three of our dragons are missing: Indonesian zoo Agence France Presse

JAKARTA – Three young Komodo dragons have gone missing from a zoo in Indonesia, a spokesman said Tuesday, warning that the lost lizards were dangerous and fast on their feet. The

AFP/Komodo National Park/File/Ande Kefi

Photo illustration of two male Komodo dragons fighting over a female dragon during courtship in Komodo island. Three young Komodo dragons have gone missing from a zoo in Indonesia, a spokesman said Tuesday, warning that the lost lizards were dangerous and fast on their feet.

missing reptiles, which measured 50 centimetres (20 inches) to a metre long, were each around one year old and disappeared from their cage early this month, Surabaya zoo spokesman Agus Supangkat told AFP. “We’re worried if the Komodo dragons escaped. They’re dangerous. Young Komodos like the ones missing love to climb trees and can move very fast.”

The zoo has more than 50 of the giant lizards and trees in the cage had been trimmed to prevent any of the remaining animals escaping, Supangkat added. “They could have been eaten by predators, stolen or escaped. The zookeepers have said

they didn’t take them. The police are still investigating.”

Until recently Komodo dragons were believed to hunt with a “bite and wait” strategy using toxic bacteria in their saliva to weaken or kill their prey, before descending in numbers to feast.

But in 2005 researchers found that dragons’ jaws are armed with highly sophisticated poison glands that can cause paralysis, spasms and shock through haemorrhaging.

The world’s largest monitor lizard, Komodos can grow up to three metres (10 feet) long and weigh up to 140 kilograms (310 pounds). They are unique to a small group of islands in eastern Indonesia.

South Africans with AIDS fear new drug crimes Agence France Presse

DURBAN, South Africa – When thieves broke into Nonhlanhla’s home, they took her most valuable possession: Her AIDS drugs, which in urban legend are a key ingredient in a new narcotic called “whoonga”.

Experts say whoonga doesn’t actually contain AIDS meds, but is rather a combination of heroin, rat poison, and other chemicals.

That hasn’t ended the public perception that whoonga is laced with anti-retrovirals (ARV’s), sewing fear among people who depend on them for survival. “I don’t know who the dealers are, but I know that they use kids to steal ARV’s for

them. In the township you see kids stealing the medication of their parents and selling it to the people who make whoonga,” said Nonhlanhla.

South Africa has the world’s largest HIV-positive population, with 5.7 million of its 48 million people infected with the virus. For many, the theft of their medicine feels like a death sentence.

Nonhlanhla lives in KwaMashu, one of Durban’s a sprawling townships that last year claimed more homicides than any other neighbourhood in South Africa, which is battling one of the world’s highest crime rates. That’s compounded the fears surrounding whoonga, which have grown so strong that President Jacob Zuma

personally addressed the problem Tuesday, in opening a national conference on substance abuse.

“Experts from the University of KwaZulu-Natal have found that the whoonga does not contain ARV’s, but is made up of heroin mixed with rat poison and other chemicals,” Zuma said. “Perpetuating such inaccuracies is dangerous as it may make drug addicts to steal ARV’s, which would put the lives of people on treatment for HIV at risk,” he added.

But drug dealers like Tami Langa actively perpetuate the myth. He started smoking drugs in 2007. The next year he became a dealer, and now he’s trying to change his life and finish a rehab programme.

AFP/File/Asmaa Botmi

A man shows in his hand a new narcotic called “whoonga”. When thieves broke into Nonhlanhla’s home, they took her most valuable possession: Her AIDS drugs, which in urban legend are a key ingredient in a new narcotic called “whoonga”.

14

Sport

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

International

French star Ribery seeks redemption from 2010 Agence France Presse

AFP/File/Josep Lago

Real Madrid’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho(L), and Barcelona’s two time world footballer of the year Lionel Messi, seen in 2010, are the highest paid manager and player according to France Football magazine.

Messi, Mourinho highest paid in football Agence France Presse

PARIS – Lionel Messi and Jose Mourinho are the highest paid player and manager in football, according to France Football magazine.

Barcelona’s two time world footballer of the year Messi’s income from his salary and publicity deals in 2011 amounted to 31 million euros, while Real Madrid boss Mourinho topped the manager’s rich list with an income of 13.5mn euros.

Messi’s income, while making him the top paid footballer in the world, still falls a long way short of Tiger Woods, who with a revenue of 53mn euros is the highest

paid sportsman of them all.

Messi’s nearest rival in the footballer’s income stakes is Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo with 27.5mn euros, with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney in third with 20.7mn euros.

The English Premier League appears the most lucrative league of all with seven representatives in the top 20 list of highest paid players. Two former Premier League stars, David Beckham and Thierry Henry, now

PARIS – France playmaker Franck Ribery, back in the national team for the first time since the World Cup fiasco, apologised on Monday for his behaviour in the run up to and during a disastrous 2010 season. Before his first press conference since the World Cup, Ribery read a statement in which he explained how he “got it wrong in his behaviour as a footballer (during) a horrible 2010 from all points of view.”

“I took the wrong roads, I lost myself,” said Ribery. The 28-yearold had a season to forget in 2009/ 2010 as he struggled with injury, is under investigation for his involvement in an alleged under-age call-girl scandal and was banned for the Champions League final defeat to Inter Milan after being sent-off in the first leg of the semifinal against Lyon.

Things did not improve in South Africa at the World Cup and when France failed to qualify for the second round after finishing bottom of their group, Ribery was banned for three games for his involvement in the player revolt after Nicolas Anelka was sent home.

“I hurt people, people who are very dear to me, I disappointed even shocked many others: I blame myself and I apologise,” said the Bayern Munich player. Ribery also

slammed the media for their treatment of him.

“There were things said by you which shocked me, I felt it was spiteful and I was being hounded,” he said. “It affected a lot of people.

I did things which were maybe not always correct. The World Cup didn’t go well, I wasn’t good on the pitch, but at no time did I make decisions myself.

“In the bus, we were all there.

We were 23, we all suffered together. Now I want to turn the page, I want to forget all that, the France jersey I always have it in my heart.

I want to find the pleasure again that I knew in 2006.” Ribery thanked France coach Laurent Blanc for selecting him and said he was determined to repay his confidence.

“I thank him for his placing his confidence in me and for taking me back into the France team. For me the France team has always been a dream and a source of happiness,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot, matured, changed my behaviour. The World Cup was a bad experience but I’ve learned a lot. It’s made me a lot stronger.

“I had to find the pleasure of playing again and my level. Now I’m really enjoying myself.”

France play a Euro 2012 qualifier against Luxembourg on March 25 and a friendly against Croatia four days later.

playing in the MLS in the United States, are ranked fifth and 11 with salaries of 19mn and 13.6mn respectively.

Among the manager’s ranks Mourinho tops the list ahead of Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola with 10.5mn and former Inter Milan coach Raphael Benitez (10.2mn).

England manager Fabio Capello comes in fourth with the Italian receiving a salary of 8.5mn in France Football’s survey.

UEFA confirms 2014 World Cup qualifying format Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Jacques Brinon

UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, left, listens to French UEFA president Michel Platini prior to the UEFA executive meeting in Paris, Monday March, 21 2011.

PARIS – UEFA says Europe will retain the same format to decide which 13 nations qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Following a meeting of the executive committee in Paris, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino said Europe will enter the same 53 countries which played in the 2010 World Cup qualifying tournament, when nine group winners gained direct entry to the event in South Africa.

The eight best runners-up will be drawn in two-legged playoffs to decide four remaining slots.

The preliminary draw for the 2014 World Cup, which will feature 32 teams, is scheduled for July 30 in Brazil.

AP Photo/dapd, Michael Kienzler

Bayern’s Franck Ribery celebrates his goal during the German Bundsliga soccer match between SC Freiburg and FC Bayern Munich in Freiburg, Germany, on Saturday, March 19, 2011. Bayern won the match with 2-1.

Sport

International

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

15

Spurs’ Duncan sprains ankle in win over Warriors Associated Press Writer

SAN ANTONIO – Manu Ginobili scored 28 points and the San Antonio Spurs got a scare when Tim Duncan sprained his left ankle in a 111-96 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday night. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Duncan would be out “a while” but didn’t have a timetable.

The injury looked potentially serious as Duncan lay on his side, clutching his foot with both hands, for more than a minute. The 34year-old All-Star steadied himself with the help of trainers while limping off the court.

Ekpe Udoh led Golden State with 15 points. It was Udoh’s foot that Duncan appeared to be trying to avoid while landing awkwardly after hitting a short jumper in the first quarter. Tony Parker added 17 points and 15 assists.

Until now, Duncan has avoided the aches and injuries that have hampered him in recent years. He’s been so surprisingly durable that he’s only missed one game. That was Saturday against Charlotte — when Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn’t want to risk Duncan injuring himself on

the second night of a back-to-back.

Popovich’s biggest fear happened two nights later instead.

The Warriors made a run at the Spurs run with Duncan out. Golden State trailed 64-58 in the third after a burst that left Popovich furious. His frustration cost him a technical foul, barking at official Leroy Richardson over a perceived foul on Richard Jefferson that wasn’t called. But the Spurs — and Popovich — quickly settled down.

San Antonio ended the quarter on a 20-9 run to blow the game back open. Rookie Tiago Splitter, the 7footer who got his first NBA start in place of Duncan on Saturday, filled in again for his idol and finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Steve Novak scored 13 points and Jefferson had 12 for the Spurs.

AP Photo/Eric Gay

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan holds his left foot after he sprained his left ankle during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Monday, March 21, 2011, in San Antonio.

Sharapova’s crib devoid of tennis treasures Agence France Presse

INDIAN WELLS, California – Maria Sharapova says that most of her tennis treasures from her decade-long career are either tucked away in the back of a closet or out of sight in the basement of her house. The 23-yearold Russian said that visitors to her luxury California home would be hard pressed to find any signs that she is one of the most successful female tennis players of all-time.

“I was never like a souvenir type of person,” Sharapova said. “You come to my house and I don’t think you’d even know that I play tennis, honestly.”

Fashion conscious Sharapova likes to dress up as she disclosed this week at the BNP Paribas Open tournament saying she would rather sleep with her high heels on than a pair of tennis shoes.

“You don’t see any tennis things around,” Sharapova said. “Even my trophies are pretty stored in a (dining room) cabinet.

“Only if you sit in the dining-room table, where nobody ever sits at, unless you point them out, I don’t think anyone really sees them.”

Sharapova said when she is not on the tennis court she likes to maintain a distinction between her profession and her private life. The only thing she has

on partial display is those three grand slam trophies. “You know, when people come to the house, of course I show them my trophies.

“I mean, like I don’t hide them. But I don’t have like pictures of me. You don’t see like a picture of me with a grand slam trophy. “We get so many things would we travel, tennis souvenirs and books. “You come to my house and all the tennis equipment is stored in one closet somewhere in the basement, or in the garage you see my tennis bag.” Sharapova has won 22 career WTA titles and three grand slams, 2008 Australian Open, 2006 US Open and the 2004 Wimbledon.

Smukulis takes first stage of cycling Tour of Catalonia Agence France Presse

MADRID – Latvia’s Gatis Smukulis of HTC-Highroad won the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia, a 166.9-kilometre (103.5-mile) ride that started and ended in Lloret de Mar on Monday.

The 23-year-old completed the stage, which included two first category climbs, in four hours, eight minutes and 48 seconds, 28 seconds ahead of Italy’s sprint ace Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre.

Three-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador finished 10th on the stage in the

peloton after his Saxo Bank team helped reduce the large gap the stage winner had built up.

Contador, who will this week learn whether the International Cycling Union intends to appeal the decision by his national federation to exonerate him over a positive doping test, paid tribute to his team.

“The team has done an extraordinary job, because it was important that the break did not come in 4 or 5 minutes ahead,” said the 28-yearold, who has been in good form this season tuning up for this event with a win in the Tour of Murcia.

“The stage was hard and demand-

ing. We have started very fast to try to catch the break and, when it was made, we have stopped for a long time and they have taken much time. “The team had to work with others, we have cut minutes, but of course we had to work hard, because they were almost 15 minutes ahead and the stage was not very long.”

Contador, who has pinpointed Wednesday’s mountainous third stage as the pivotal one, said that he had wanted to finish at the head of the peloton as a safety-first measure. “I tried to avoid a fall and possible cuts,” he said.

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts following a shot to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark during a semifinals match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 18, 2011.

16

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

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

Sport

Ferrari: Strategy ‘absolutely vital’ Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali believes having the quickest car will not be enough to win this year’s titles, as he is adamant that strategy will be “absolutely vital”. “From what we have seen in winter testing, these tyres are very different to those we used in the past,” said Domenicali ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

“Therefore, we have to adopt a fresh approach and clearly, from what we have seen so far, the number of pitstops required to complete a race distance competitively will be higher than before.

“This is significant in terms of teamwork at the races, because more pitstops means the role of team members becomes even more important in terms of deciding the final outcome of the races. A further impact of having more pitstops is that possibly qualifying and therefore grid position will be less important than in 2010.

“In simple terms it is more likely that a car that has not set the fastest time and taken pole position can still go on to win the race. “It will be absolutely vital to have the right strategy in order to win the race,” he added.

The Italian said his team arrives in Melbourne very well prepared after a strong winter of testing, but he admitted he is staying cautious about its own performance ahead of the first race.

“The atmosphere in the team is good and everyone is keen to get to work in Melbourne, to see where we are compared to the other teams,” Domenicali added. “So far, we have done a lot of testing through four test sessions in Spain in February and early March but this will be the chance to see where our base line

puts us.

“There were fifteen days of winter testing in total. I am by nature very cautious so in assessing how we went during these days, I have to take into account how we worked through our programme, as well as looking at what the other teams did and because we do not know exactly what the others were doing in testing, I have to remain cautious in rating our own work.”

Domenicali insisted there is just one goal for the team this year, saying: “The goal is so clear I don’t need to repeat it.”

McLaren will introduce a ‘simpler’ exhaust system and new floor for the Australian Grand Prix after its troubled pre-season testing period - and hopes to gain over a second per lap from the changes.

McLaren Mercedes

The team has been off the pace and struggling for reliability during the winter, and team boss Martin Whitmarsh said during a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in conference that he had decided the only option was to shelve the MP4-26’s radical exhaust.

“I’m not satisfied with where the car was on reliability or performance in the test,” he said. “We have made some fairly dramatic changes, and those changes we will see in Australia. There’s some risk in that, but I

think it was the right thing to do and we’re hopeful that that risk comes off and the car is a lot more competitive in Australia.” He said the exhaust and floor were the headline elements in a major change to the car.

“We have a completely new floor and a new exhaust system. There are a lot of other bits and pieces, but they’re the clear and obvious ones that people will see in Australia.”

Whitmarsh acknowledged that the original exhaust design had been too complex and had created too many reliability issues.

“I’d say it is a simpler design than we’ve had before,” he said. “I think the exhaust systems have become quite extreme on quite a lot of the cars. I think we in particular had very extreme solutions. “But I think that they were not delivering, in my opinion, sufficient benefits for their complexity.

“I believe that the car isn’t fundamentally a bad car. I believe that we need to unlock the exhaustblowing potential.

“We had some very creative ideas, some of which could have worked spectacularly well. But if they were to work spectacularly well then they had to be sufficiently durable to be raceable, and frankly some of our solutions weren’t, and that’s why I think we had to go back on it. But I think in doing so we found some interesting performance.”

Whitmarsh admitted that going straight into the opening race of the season with such major changes on the car was a risk, but felt it was worthwhile given the performance gain he expects to see.

AP Photo/Paco Paredes

Ferrari F1 driver Fernando Alonso drives a kart during the inauguration of a Kart circuit that bears his name in La Moral, Asturias, Spain on Saturday March 19, 2011.

(AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

MotoGP Honda rider and first place winner Casey Stoner of Australia, left, leads his teammate and third place winner Dani Pedrosa of Spain during the Grand Prix of Qatar at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, March 20, 2011.

Arm pain caused Pedrosa to fade DANI Pedrosa said renewed pain from the shoulder and arm injury he suffered at the end of last season caused his decline in pace at the end of the Qatar Grand Prix. The Spaniard broke his collarbone in a practice crash at Motegi last year, causing him to miss three races and struggle for strength on his return.

He underwent surgery during the winter and had appeared to be back to full fitness in testing, but discomfort returned during today’s race at Losail - causing him to fall from fighting for the lead with Honda team-mate Casey Stoner to only just hanging on to third.

“Basically the race was pretty good - I was consistent, I was happy, the

bike was amazing in the corners and on the straights the bike was fast. Everything was alright,” said Pedrosa.

“But mid-race I started to have a lot of problems with my left arm again. I couldn’t control the bike anymore. “I just tried to slow down because I could not take control of the bike, I couldn’t grip really well or use the clutch in the proper way.

“I just tried to finish the race in the best position I could. I had a tough time in the second part of the race.”

Pedrosa hopes he can find ways to prevent the arm issue reoccurring in round two at Jerez in a fortnight. “I have to see what I can do for the next race to try to somehow improve these problems,” he said.