Edisi 30 Desember 2013 | International Bali Post

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Entertainment

Monday, December 30, 2013

Hollywood struggles against new film meccas

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — In the old days, filmmakers flocked to Hollywood for its abundant sunshine, beautiful people and sandy beaches.

But today a new filmmaking diaspora is spreading across the globe to places like Vancouver, London and Wellington, New Zealand.

Fueled by politicians doling out generous tax breaks, filmmaking talent is migrating to where the money is. The result is an incentives arms race that pits California against governments around the world and allows powerful studios —with hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal— to cherry-pick the best deals.

The most recent iteration of the phenomenon came earlier this month when James Cameron announced plans to shoot and produce the next three “Avatar” sequels largely in New Zealand.

What Cameron gets out of the deal is a 25 percent rebate on production costs, as long as his company spends at least $413 million on the three films.

“There’s no place in the world that we could make these sequels more cost effectively,” says producer Jon Landau. It is neither the

archipelago’s volcanoes nor its glaciers that are attractive, because the “Avatar” movies will be shot indoors. Sure, Peter Jackson’s awardwinning special effects infrastructure is there, but the deciding factor was the money. “We looked at other places,” says Landau. But in the end, “it was this rebate.”

In exchange, the local economy will benefit hugely, Landau says, comparing the ripple effect to the boost that comes from new home construction. “We’re doing lumber, we’re catering for hundreds of people a day. We’re housing people in hotels. We’re going to a stationery store and tripling their business in a year.”

The deal was “the best Christmas present we could have possibly hoped for,” says Alex Lee, an Auckland, New Zealand-based entertainment lawyer. The news is especially welcome because the local screen industry is facing a potential drought: The Starz pay TV series “Spartacus” finished this year and Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy is set to wrap next year. Thanks to the “Avatar” sequels, the 1,100 workers at Weta Digital Ltd., the ground-breaking digital effects house Jackson co-founded in 1993, can keep plugging away through 2018.

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Monday, December 30, 2013 Prayers, vigil as India remembers gang-rape victim

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City go top with tough win over Palace

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Thai army chief urges calm, doesn’t rule out coup

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SBY asked not to destroy Bali’s nature

Bali Post

AP Photo/20th Century Fox, File

FILE - This undated file film publicity image originally released by 20th Century Fox shows the characters Neytiri, voiced by Zoe Saldana, right, and Jake, voiced

by Sam Worthington, in a scene from “Avatar.”

Britney Spears’ Las Vegas residency a departure

DENPASAR - Discourses of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to revise the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita to smooth the Benoa Bay reclamation plan continued to reap criticism. “It is an attempt to harm the nature and culture by using legal instruments as if what they do by revising the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita is correct. Actually, if the revision is done it will become the entrance to the destruction of Bali’s nature and culture in the future,” said Chairman of the Bali Dwipa Care Forum (FPBD), Gede Bangun Nusantara.

He said the effort to remove the conservation status of Benoa Bay to smooth the reclamation was a kind of exploitation against Bali in a structured, planned and massive way by the government. By including PT TWBI in the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of

the Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) in the corridor 5 of the Benoa Bay Investment Concern Area (KPI), added Bangun, showed off the model of destruction against the environment of Bali on the economic grounds and the progress of tourism in Bali.

To that end, Balinese people should unite to reject the revision of Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita. The Bali House and Governor of Bali as the spearhead should reject the revision. Moreover, it would eliminate the Benoa Bay area as a conservation area. “If the rejection is not done, the integrity as Balinese of the legislators and governor should be doubted. Instead, they were the leaders elected

by Balinese people to promote and maintain the Balinese culture. Not otherwise, they conspired with central government and investors,” he concluded.

Deputy Chairman of the Bali House, Ida Bagus Putu Sukarta, asked the central government to carefully discourse the change of

the status of conservation area of Benoa Bay for the sake of reclamation. Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita and Regional Bylaw No.16/2009 should be upheld and never be tampered with because it was one of the protections for the nature, culture and environment of Bali. “So, we ask to uphold the Regional Bylaw No.16/2009 as the fortress and fence of the Bali’s development. After all, we have to really keep Bali. Anyway, the program of central government should carefully see the condition in Bali and pay attention to the people’s aspiration,” said the politician from Sanur.

Sukarta doubling as Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Gerindra Bali asked

the central government not to target the Benoa Bay for the reclamation under the pretext of promoting Bali tourism. The aspect of environmental conservation and maintenance should be featured. Impact of the reclamation on the environmental, cultural, customary and social sustainability of Balinese people should be considered. “It must be considered whether the reclamation is worth and does not harm the environment of Bali and Benoa Bay in particular. Local wisdom in Bali must be considered and adhered to. We have a concept namely the upstream (ulu) and downstream (teben), Tri Hita Karana, and culture. This must be made into the cornerstone in any development of Bali,” he concluded. (kmb29)

Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS — Britney Spears has begun her early retirement in Las Vegas with a show that looks strikingly like the eye-popping Cirque du Soleil productions found elsewhere on the Strip. The debut of Spears’ long-term casino gig Friday kept an audience of about 4,500 on their feet for about 90 minutes. The youngfor-Vegas crowd was there for the danceable hits and the spectacle, which included acrobatics, a ring of fire, The show’s production values are unusually high for a casino residency, often calling to mind the golden age of music videos. Its high-concept set pieces featured a cadre of backup dancers who danced in human-sized hamster wheels and somersaulted over the Grammy-winning star. Spears, 32, has signed on to perform 50 shows each in 2014 and 2015 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

She cuts a different figure from the typical Strip headliner.

Other successful Las Vegas acts— including Shania Twain, Elton John and Celine Dion— have generally attracted an older audience. Judging from Friday’s show, her fans are more likely to be found at a casino mega-club than in front of a slot machine.

Still, her show “Piece of Me,” is not immune to nostalgia, one of the prime currencies in Las Vegas entertainment. It includes several callbacks to the 1990s and early 2000s, including plaid shirts tied around dancers’ waists and a recap of the barely-there sparkling costume Spears wore in the “Toxic” music video. Spears’ younger self haunted the show, with clips of her early performances playing on huge monitors. Notably absent from those monitors, to the displeasure of some fans in the cheap seats, were any live close-ups of what was unfolding onstage.

On his way out, Shane Sodeman, of San Diego, complained that Spears hadn’t donned the sexy school girl outfit or the skintight orange jumpsuit she wore in sexier days. A version of the jumpsuit was displayed in the lobby.

Speculation abounded ahead of the show that Spears would not be singing live, a claim that officials with Planet Hollywood

parent company Caesars Entertainment Corp. denied.

Entertainment Programming Vice President Kurt Melien said Spears sings against a recorded track of her vocals to help her through the more physically grueling parts of the set, and add the electronic undertones that characterize many of her songs.

AP Photo/Caesars Entertainment, David Becker

In this photo provided by Caesars Entertainment, Britney Spears rehearses “Britney: Piece of Me” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, in Las Vegas. Spears began her two-year Las Vegas casino residency Friday.

The file photo shows resident of Tanjung Benoa rallied against plan on reclamation. Discourses of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to revise the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita to smooth the Benoa Bay reclamation plan continued to reap criticism.

IBP/File Photo

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International

Monday, December 30, 2013

Bali News Bali Post

DENPASAR - Kecak Dance performance telling the story on Sugriwa and Subali was presented by 35 children coalesced into the Lentera Anak Bali at the opening of the Denpasar Festival (Denfest), Saturday (Dec 28) at the Catur Muka Statue roundabout, Denpasar.

DENPASAR - Fire burned out the second floor of Tirta Dewi Mart II shopping complex on Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta, Friday (Dec 27). This fire also caused the Green Garden Hotel located next to it to evacuate hundreds of guests out of the hotel. Sugita encountered at the location said the fire was known around 10:30 p.m. At that time, the fire was seen blazing on the second floor of the Tirta Dewi Mart taken advantage for MM Day

Spa and New Release DVD Store.

“Previously, the smoke was seen rising from the shopping complex,” he said.

At that time, two buildings were vacant as they were just closed around 10:00 night. Quickly the fire burned out the roof and the contents of spa building owned by Mrs. Merry and DVD Store owned

by Mulyadi. “Suddenly, the fire has been seen to spread to the two stores,” he added.

The fire engulfing the store

unique landscapes, pure white sandy bays dotted with dramatic granite boulders and the crystal clear sea water that surrounds it. After serving as the location for the famous Indonesian movie, Laskar Pelangi, Belitung has become known for its idyllic location, as well as its production and distribution of pepper and tin.

The main tourist spots on Belitung are found on the pristine beaches and offshore islands/islets. The main beaches are Tanjung Tinggi Beach and Tanjung Kelayang Beach, both of which boast blue clear water, powdery sands and the signature rocky landscape. As for the islands/islets, Batu Berlayar Island (meaning Sailing Rock) is full of stunning granite structures while

IBP/Courtesy of Archipelago International

Lengkuas Island is the home of a 129 year-old lighthouse and a great place for snorkeling. Pasir Island is made of sand and is submerged during high tide, as is Bird Islet (Pulau Burong) which can be accessed from Tanjung Binga beach at low tide.

“Belitung is a fantastic destination for both leisure and business travel thanks to its idyllic

Calendar Event for January 1 through February 26, 2014 The Kecak Dance during the opening ceremony of the 6th annual Denpasar Festival city of Denpasar. Regarding the traffic congestion, Dewa Parsana said it was a commonplace whenever there were activities. However, everything could certainly be addressed and coordinated.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson of Denpasar Municipality, IB Rahoela, accompanied by Publication Subdivision Head, Dewa Gede Rai, said the Denpasar Festival having been prepared optimally was expected to give a pride to the city of Denpasar,

IBP/File

so it could be used as an unforgettable yearend cultural icon. “At the same time, this yearend festival is made into a reflection of the urban life that has so many superior cultures as a foothold to develop the community creative culture,” said Rahoela.

Another event that was quite interesting in the Denpasar Festival this year was the presentation of The Exotic of Wastra fashion show featuring the products of national designers. (par)

Fire burns out Tirta Dewi Mart shopping complex Bali Post

JAKARTA - Archipelago International is set to expand its flourishing Aston brand with the opening of Aston Belitung Hotel on the island of Belitung, situated off of Sumatra’s east coast. Scheduled for a soft opening in early November, the hotel was conceptualized to support Belitung’s development, providing international standard accommodations and conference facilities to the city’s growing commerce.

The hotel will feature 202 guest rooms and suites, several of which enjoy breathtaking views of the nearby ocean. The hotel swimming pool also soaks up this beachfront vista, as do the handful of food and beverage outlets including a restaurant, coffee shop and a bar & lounge complete with karaoke facilities. Being just 20 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes to the city centre, government offices and banking district, business travelers are well catered for together with five hotel meeting rooms and a grand ballroom capable of accommodating up to 600 persons. Down-time can be enjoyed in the hotel’s fitness center and spa.

Belitung is renowned for many things, namely its beautiful beaches,

it was people’s activity showcasing a wide variety of traditional cuisines that were very difficult to find today.

“It is an amazing activity as displaying all community activities in the city of Denpasar. The concept is very good, I never imagine there is a very classy event like this in Denpasar,” said the former Chief of Denpasar Metro Police.

He even expected that such kind of activity could be carried out twice a year so as to help the SMEs in the

caused panic in the stores and other businesses located around the scene. Even, the enlarging fire made the guests in Green Garden Hotel located right next to the burning store panic. The hotel immediately evacuated hundreds of guests to get out of the hotel area.

One of the hotel staffs met said the fire was very great so that hotel decided to evacuate its guests.

“Indeed, all guests were evacuated out of the hotel because the fire was so large,” said the hotel staff that

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IBP

Rai Mantra: Denfest prevents economic leakage tagline ‘Creative in Motion’ reflects the modern Denpasar society in the era of globalization,” he said.

Denpasar Festival held for the sixth time was designed as an onstreet festival, in which the central theme highlighted was Denpasar, My City My Home, was centered near the roundabout of Catur Muka Statue, Jalan Gajah Mada, Jalan Veteran and around the Puputan Badung Square.

The activity posed a synergy between the Denpasar Municipality and the community components showcasing a variety of events ranging from the arts, culture, culinary treasures to textiles. As the peak of the creative expression of the Denpasar artists and sublime culture which referred to the local potential, the event was welcomed enthusiastically by the whole society.

The event inaugurated at 5:00 p.m. was filled with a variety of arts and cultural attractions as well as a photo exhibition by the members of the Denpasar Photographer Community (DPC). The best works of the photographers were exhibited during the implementation of the Denpasar Festival this year.

One of the residents making a visit before the festival was opened, Dewa Parsana, said the Denpasar Festival event was very unusual considering

Monday, December 30, 2013

Aston Belitung opens

Feud of Subali and Sugriva open Denfest VI

The annual multi-event agenda filled with creativities was officially opened by the Mayor of Denpasar, Ida Bagus Rai Darmawijaya Mantra, marked with the beating of a drum.

Amidst the opening of the festival, IB Rai Mantra expected the annual event could result in an added value to the development of Denpasar city in the future.

“We expect this activity can generate a value-added benefit in the future. The superiority-based creativity should continue to develop intellectually,” he said. According to him, the people’s party organized up to December 31 would affect the human resources that all this time had been dominated by the workers from outside Bali in general and Denpasar in particular had resulted in an economic leakage.

“This event poses an effort to reduce the economic leakage occurred in the city of Denpasar. To prevent the economic leakage, we must together understand and support it by using the local products,” he said.

Chief of Denpasar customary village, AA Putu Sueca, serving as Chairman of the Committee, revealed that such an activity represented a portrait of Denpasar as an open and multicultural city. “The creativity displayed in the Denpasar Festival with

Activities

International

rejected his name to be published.

Meanwhile, Chief of Kuta Police, I Nyoman Resa, met at the location of the fire said the firefighters came to the scene a few minutes later to put out the fire immediately. Around 11:30 p.m. the fire could be extinguished by 8 fire trucks. No casualties were reported in the incident, but the entire contents of the building on the second floor burned out. “The fire only occurred on the second floor. Meanwhile, the first floor of the building used for the minimarket

did not catch fire,” he said.

It was not known the exact cause of the fire burning out the buildings and land owned by Sucipto. Police officers were still investigating the scene of the fire. “As provisional estimation, the fire was caused by electric short circuit. The exact amount of losses has not been known as it was still awaiting one of the shop owners that stayed overseas,” added Chief of Kuta Police Detective Criminal Section, Wahyu Setyo. (nik)

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

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

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

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

Pura Tengkulak Tulikup Gianyar Pura Taman Sari Ubud Pura Penataran Badung

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

29 Jan Hari Siwaratri

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

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

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

surroundings and growing commerce, so we are extremely proud to be bringing our Aston brand to this paradisal island. By introducing a hotel with high standards and quality accommodations, we hope to attract an international clientele to Belitung to support its economic development and exciting future prospects” says Norbert Vas, Archipelago’s VP for Sales & Marketing.

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

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

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

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

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

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Lifestyle

Monday, December 30, 2013

International

Bali News

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

3

Lack of customers dooms many Cuban businesses

Australian tourists to Bali increasing

Associated Press Writer

Antara

DENPASAR - Regardless of strained relations between Indonesia and Australia last month, the number of Australian tourists arriving in Indonesia is increasing, an observer said.

HAVANA — The dented metal pizza trays are packed away, so too the old blender that never worked when it was needed.

Gone is the sweet smell of rising dough that infused Julio Cesar Hidalgo’s Havana apartment when he and his girlfriend were in business for themselves, churning out cheesy pies for hungry costumers.

Two years on the front lines of Cuba’s experiment with limited free market capitalism has left Hidalgo broke, out of work and facing a possible crushing fine. But the 33-year-old known for his wide smile and sunny disposition says the biggest loss is harder to define. “I feel frustrated and let down,” Hidalgo said, slumped in a rocking chair one recent December afternoon, shrugging his shoulders as he described the pizzeria’s collapse.

“The business didn’t turn out as I had hoped.”

The Associated Press recently checked in with nine small business owners whose fortunes it first reported on in 2011 as they set up shop amid the excitement of President Raul Castro’s surprising embrace of some free enterprise.

Among them were restaurant and cafeteria owners, a seamstress and taekwondo instructor, a vendor of bootleg DVDs and a woman renting her rooms out to well-heeled tourists. Their fates tell a story of divided fortunes.

Of the six ventures that relied on revenue from cash-strapped islanders, four are now out of business, their

owners in more dire financial straits than when they started. But the three enterprises that cater to well-heeled foreigners, and to the minority of wellpaid Cubans who work for foreign businesses, are still going and in some cases thriving.

While the sample size is small, the numbers point to a basic problem that economists who follow Cuba have noted from the start: There simply isn’t enough money to support a thriving private sector on an island where salaries average $20 a month.

“Clearly, there is a macroeconomic environment that does not favor the private sector or the expansion of demand that the private sector requires,” said Pavel Vidal, a former Cuban Central Bank economist.

Vidal has long called on Communist authorities to adopt a huge stimulus package or more aggressively seek capital from foreign investors. Now a professor at Colombia’s Javeriana University, he says one has only to look at the trends since 2011 to see the private sector economy is nearly tapped out. After a surge of enthusiasm, the number of islanders working

AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

A chair sits empty in the home of Maleidy Blanco who runs a barbershop here in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. After a surge of enthusiasm, the number of islanders working for themselves has stalled for the past two years at less than 10 percent of the workforce. for themselves has stalled for the past two years at about 444,000 — or 9 percent of the workforce.

Even in developed countries where entrepreneurs have access to capital, loans and a wide pool of paying customers, startups are risky ventures.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about half of all

new establishments in America close within five years, and two-thirds are gone within a decade. The failure rate of Cuban entrepreneurs followed by AP was 44 percent in less than two years, and worse if one considers only those that relied primarily on Cuban customers.

“There’s not enough money circu-

lating in the economy in the hands of everyday people,” said Ted Henken, a professor of Latin American studies at Baruch College in New York and author of an upcoming book on private enterprise in Cuba. “You’re all competing for the same customers, most of whom are poor and have very limited disposable income.”

“Bali still remains a favorite place to visit by Australian tourists because its geographical location is nearer and security is more insured so that the number of Australian tourists to Bali is increasing,” Bali tourism observer Dewa Nyoman Putra said.

The tourist resort province of Bali is a small island but it has complete tourism destinations such as beaches, mountains and rice fields.

All these tourist destinations could be reached in a single day.

Putra who is also a tourism operator said Australian tourists commonly went to Bali with family members to visit Kuta, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa. Only a small percentage visited Ubud which is so far known as an artist village in Bali.

Clean beaches with waves scenes in Bali’s southern part still constitutes a favorite tourist destination for Austraian tourists. They came to Bali for holidaying while also sporting.

Putra said that based on data from Bali’s tourism service, Australian

tourists accounted for 25.31 percent or 754,056 of the total foreign tourists which stood at 2,979,517 visiting Bali in the January - November 2012 period.

The number of Australian tourists visiting Bali in October reached 67,680 but sharply increased to 85,158 in November 2013, he said.

Because beach is their main target, they stay in beach areas during their visit in Bali. Only a small numbers or about 16.67 percent stayed in the mountainous regions such as Ubud and Tegallalang tourist resorts, about about 8.89 percent stayed in Denpasar (Bali’s provincial capital).

A survey by the Denpasar office of Bank Indonesia(the central bank) on the behavior of 510 Australian tourists in November last year indicated that 95.95 percent of them came to Bali for holidaying while the remaining ones were for a business visit or a MICE (Meeting Incentive Converence Exhibition) event. Therefore, the average length of their stay in Bali reached six days.

IBP/File Photo

An Australian tourist putting a flag in the Ground Zero, Kuta, Bali Island during the commemeration of Bali Bombing. Regardless of strained relations between Indonesia and Australia last month, the number of Australian tourists arriving in Indonesia is increasing, an observer said.

Banners rejecting reclamation widely spread

US boy, 9, is youngest to reach Aconcagua summit Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Claudio Gutierrez

Tyler Armstrong, from Southern California, poses for a portrait as he arrives to a hotel in Mendoza, Argentina, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. The 9-year-old boy from has become the youngest person in recorded history to reach the summit of Argentina’s Aconcagua mountain, the tallest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A 9-year-old boy from Southern California has become the youngest person in recorded history to reach the summit of Argentina’s Aconcagua mountain, which at 22,841 feet (6,962 meters) is the tallest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres. Tyler Armstrong of Yorba Linda reached the summit on Christmas Eve with his father Kevin and a Tibetan sherpa, Lhawang Dhondup, who has climbed Mt. Everest multiple times. They were in fine spirits Friday as they left Aconcagua, whose sheer precipices and bitter cold have claimed more than 100 climbers’ lives.

“You can really see the world’s atmosphere up there. All the clouds are under you, and it’s really cold,” Tyler said, describing the summit to The Associated Press. “It doesn’t look anything like a kid’s drawing of

a mountain. It’s probably as big as a house at the summit, and then it’s a sheer drop.”

Only 30 percent of the 7,000 people who obtain permits to climb Aconcagua each year make the summit, said Nicolas Garcia, who handled their logistics from down below. No one under 14 is usually allowed, so the family had to persuade an Argentine judge that Tyler could safely accomplish the feat.

In their case, they took the “Polish Glacier” route, which doesn’t require climbing, and roped themselves together only when crossing steep ice-covered slopes.

“Any kid can really do this, all they have to do is try. And set their mind to the goal,” said Tyler, who worked out twice a day for a year and a half to prepare for the climb.

He also held fundraisers, not only to defray the cost but to raise money for CureDuchenne, which funds

muscular dystrophy research.

“I think Tyler’s record speaks for itself and because I think he’s doing it for a good cause, he’s doing it to help other people, I think the judge recognized that,” said his father, an emergency medical technician.

Tyler’s mother is a pediatric neuropsychologist, and they also have another son, Tyler’s younger brother Dylan.

“Most people think we as parents are pushing Tyler to do this, when it’s completely the opposite. I wouldn’t climb it if I didn’t have to, but my wife makes me do it to keep watch on him,” he said.

“He’s a great dad,” Tyler said. “At 20,000 feet, he wanted to turn around but I kept him going. And the day we were getting off the mountain, he had a blister and it popped ... He made it to the summit and everything but that dang blister made him ride a mule.”

Bali Post

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

Dozens of banners expressing the rejection against the reclamation plan emerged again along the road section of Tanjung Benoa, Friday (Dec 27). They criticized the revision plan of the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita that allowed the reclamation at Benoa Bay.

MANGUPURA - Dozens of banners expressing the rejection against the reclamation plan emerged again along the road section of Tanjung Benoa, Friday (Dec 27). They criticized the revision plan of the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita that allowed the reclamation at Benoa Bay. Activity of the rejection against the reclamation was also graced with the play of a song entitled ‘Reject Reclamation’ at some corners of the street.

The rejection was coordinated by the Tanjung Benoa Society Association (HMTB). They asked Governor Pastika to listen to the aspirations of Tanjung Benoa community to withdraw the Gubernatorial Decree No.1727 and reject the reclamation plan of Benoa Bay. The action of the banner installation coincided with the prayer plan and the release of turtle hatchlings led by the Bali Mangrove Care Forum (FPMB) in conjunction with the welcome of the New Year 2014 and the release of turtle hatchlings

at Benoa Bay. In the program list disseminated by the committee, the event was scheduled to be attended

by Governor Pastika to give a speech and release turtle hatchlings on the east coast of Tanjung Benoa. Unfortunately, until the event was over, Governor Pastika did not appear.

Meanwhile, the speech was read by the official of the regional working unit of Bali government.

A local community leader, I Made Wijaya, affirmed the activity was filled with the interest of imaging.

“We declare it is not good and inappropriate, let alone state the Tri Hita Karana philosophy where they do not necessarily understand and implement. So, we firmly reject,” he said.

Meanwhile, another community leader, Wayan Ranten, said the event with Artha Graha and the FPMB was a joint prayer and the reading of the interfaith pledge harmony. He explained the event was filled with joint prayers and the release of turtle hatchlings. “It poses our concerns for the endangered species and the environment,” he said. (dgk)

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Bali News

Monday, December 30, 2013

International

International

W

To clean up rubbish

RLD

Sanitation Agency prepares watershed management program

Police secure dozens of firecrackers and liquors Bali Post

DENPASAR - Chief of Kuta Police, I Nyoman Resa, had stated to prohibit the fireworks and firecrackers that were not appropriate with provisions.

The statement was also actually realized and his party seized dozens of firecrackers, Friday (Dec 27). Apart from firecrackers, the Kuta Police also secured a number of unlicensed liquors.

Accompanied by Chief of Criminal Detective Section Wahyu Setyo, Chief Reza said that his party held a raid against fireworks and liquor ahead of the New Year 2014. A number of locations were raided and his party managed to secure 28 bars of firecrackers sizing 0.8 (8 shots), 18 bars sizing 0.1, 19 bars sizing 1.8 and 52 bars sizing 0.8 (5 shots).

The firecrackers were confiscated from MU Adi, 32, a resident of Jalan Pudak Sari 50 Kuta, Badung.

Seizure of the evidence was appropriate with the Letter of Assignment: SP GAS/502/XII/Reskrim dated December 27, 2013 on the disciplining of all kinds of firecrackers and fireworks. “The firecracker was secured in the residential area located on Jalan Pudak Sari 50 Kuta, Badung,” he said.

Meanwhile, the officers also secured a number of liquors from Sand Bar on Jalan Popies I, Kuta.

The liquor was not equipped with sales letters.

The liquor secured included 3 bottles of Bacardi, 3 bottles of Jack Daniels, 2 bottles of Jeam Beam, 2 bottles of Jose Guservo, 1 bottle of Absolute Vodka, 1 bottle of Red Label and 1 bottle of Stonehaven.

“These firecrackers and liquors have been secured,” he explained. (kmb21)

13

Beijing bun shop gets China’s president as diner

Associated Press Writer

Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Plastic waste strewn in many watersheds should be cleaned with a clear program.

To that end, the Regent of Buleleng Putu Agus Suradnyana asked the Sanitation and Landscaping Agency (DKP) to make a hardware and software program to manage the watershed in Buleleng.

Regent Suradnyana said that managing the watershed in Buleleng was actually very easy because the rivers in Buleleng were unlike the rivers in Southern Bali that were averagely long enough.

“Meanwhile, the rivers in Buleleng are quite short, so it should be easy to manage,” he said.

He added that to make the watershed management program the Sanitation and Landscaping Agency should perform initial data collection and research carefully enough. For example, all the activities existing in the watershed should be specified. “With a clear assessment and program, the watershed management is not only to clean up the trash, but can also benefit economically,” he said. (kmb15)

Monday, December 30, 2013

AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn

The dog from Kintamani is joining a competition

IBP/File

Mountain dog passes administration process Bali Post

BANGLI - WHO does not know the Kintamanian dog? The dog originating from mountainous area of Kintamani in Bangli, as a typical dog of Bali, has drawn the interest of many people. Physically, it resembles a wolf and commonly lives in the mountainous areas like at Sukawana, Kintamani. The dog known to be intelligent has been declared to pass the administration as the family of dog that deserves to get recognition and legal protection from the government.

Enactment of the Kintamanian dog in terms of administrative process as separate family of dog was revealed by the Head of Bangli Livestock and Fishery Agency, Alit Parwata, when making a presentation with the academician doubling as researcher of Kintamanian dog from the Udayana University, Prof. Puja, in Bogor some time ago.

The presentation was also supported by the All Indonesia Kennel Club (Central Perkin) and twenty-five panelists from various universities, including the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Brawijaya University (UB) and others. “From the results of the administration at that time, the Kintamanian dog was declared to have passed as separate family of dog in order to get recognition and legal protection from the government. Besides, it was also admitted to have superior advantages compared to the other breed of dogs,” said Parwata.

However, for the establishment, his party was still awaiting the arrival of the Director General of Livestock Breeding, the Ministry of Agriculture, to conduct

verification and see in person the presence of the dog which was also known as the dog of Bali in its native habitat at Sukawana village, Kintamani, Bangli.

According to Alit Parwata, many advantages to be gained if later on the Kintamanian dog had received official recognition and a certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture as a native purebred dog to Indonesia. Kintamanian dog which so far had been recognized to have intelligent, independent and loyal nature to its master would be increasingly interested by the community and would indirectly affect the economic value of the dog. “If previously the Kintamanian dog was only valued at tens to hundreds of thousands of rupiahs per head, in the future when it has got official recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture the price can reach millions of rupiahs. By all means, this will be good news for Kintamanian dog breeders in Bangli,” he said.

Not only that, the excellence of Kintamanian dog was also recognized for its skills in helping police duties as a narcotic dog and theft prevention or SAR. In the tradition of Balinese community, the existence of Kintamanian dog, especially

the blangbukem (brown feather and black muzzle), was often taken advantage for a means of ceremonies.

Outside Bali, the dogs whose existence had been recognized as a distinctive type of dog breed by the Indonesian Kennel Club (Perkin) in 2006 and by the Asian Kennel Union (AKU) in the Philippines in 2012 were distributed in several other regions. Among others, they were in East Java, Solo, Jakarta, West Java, Medan, Europe, the Netherlands, Croatia, the USA and Australia.

Alit Parwata said that so far the population of Kintamanian dog reached 2,669 heads, consisting of 1,562 females and 1,107 males. To make the local Kintamanian dog dominate and actually become the icon of Bali, his party claimed to improve the human resources and breeder community of Kintamanian dog, increase the facilities and infrastructure of preservation as well as the development of attractions, regulation and public education. “Therefore, the population of Kintamanian dog can dominate in the county and actually become the icon of Bali and Indonesia,” he hoped.

All this time, the region known as the production center of Kintamanian dog was located at Paketan hamlet, Sukawana village, Kintamani. Most local residents bred the dogs at their own home and there was no special place to breed it.

Typically, the result of dog breed was sold for additional income of residents beyond their main profession as a citrus farmer. (ina)

Thai anti-government protesters sit on the ground after being detained by riot policemen during a clash at a sport stadium in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. Rock-throwing protesters trying to halt preparations for elections fought police in the Thai capital on Thursday, escalating their campaign to topple the country’s beleaguered government.

Thai army chief urges calm, doesn’t rule out coup

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping dropped in unexpectedly at a traditional Beijing bun shop, where he queued up, ordered and paid for a simple lunch of buns stuffed with pork and onions, green vegetables, and stewed pig livers and intestines.

Such visits are extremely rare — if not unheard of — for top Chinese leaders, who are usually surrounded by heavy security and are not known for mingling with the public other than at scheduled events.

After spotting Xi on Saturday, fellow diners took photos of the president and shared them on China’s social media. State media reposted the photos on their microblog accounts, and the official Xinhua News Agency reported about Xi’s lunch on its Chinese-language news site.

“Had it not been for the photos, it would be incredulous to believe Xi, as a dignified president and party chief, should eat at a bun shop,” author Wu Xiqi wrote in an editorial carried by the ruling Communist Party’s official news site. “Xi’s act has subverted the traditional image of Chinese officials, ushering a warm, people-first gust of wind that is very touching indeed.”

On Sunday, the store welcomed long lines of Chinese, some posing for photos in the room where Xi was and others wanting to order what he had bought. A group from southern Guangdong province who were visiting Beijing had gone to have a look after hearing about Xi’s visit online.

The manager of the Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop, who gave only her family name, He, said that Xi and a small entourage arrived at the no-frills eatery in western Beijing at around noon Saturday without prior notification. She said that Xi paid 21 yuan ($3.40) for his lunch.

“There was no special security measure during his stay,” the manager said. “Customers could freely enter and leave the restaurant, and many took photos with him.” In one photo, a chef posed with Xi, who continued eating his meal as the picture was taken.

Associated Press Writer

BANGKOK — Thailand’s powerful army chief on Friday issued his strongest call yet for the nation’s political rivals to overcome their bitter divide, refusing to rule out the possibility of a military coup as long as the conflict threatens to tear the country apart. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha made the comments one day after protesters trying to stop February elections battled with police in Bangkok in clashes that left two people dead and injured more than 140, one of the most violent days since the conflict began two months ago.

The crisis has seen Thailand wracked by political tensions in which demonstrators have sought to overthrow the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The army has staged 11 successful coups in the country’s history — the last against Yingluck’s brother in 2006 — so Prayuth’s words carry great weight.

Asked whether a military takeover was possible, Prayuth said simply, “That door is neither open nor closed ... it will be determined by the situation.” Protesters have lobbied for the army to intervene in the crisis, and their leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, has called on the military to take sides. Late last month, they forced their way onto the grounds of army head-

quarters to deliver a letter asking the military to support their campaign. Prayuth responded by insisting that the army would not take sides.

On Friday, he reiterated that stance, saying, “Please don’t bring the army into the center of this conflict.” The deepening crisis took a turn for the worse Thursday after protesters tried to overrun a Bangkok sports stadium where election candidates were gathering to draw lots for their positions on ballots. Masked protesters fired rocks from slingshots as they tried to break into the building to halt the process, while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Two people, including a police officer, were shot dead. Four election commissioners left the

stadium by helicopter to escape the violence, some of the sharpest since a long-running dispute between Thailand’s bitterly divided political factions intensified anew in November.

As the violence unfolded Thursday, Thailand’s election commission called for the Feb. 2 polls to be delayed. That was a blow to Yingluck, whose ruling party won a landslide during the last vote in 2011 and would likely dominate any new election, thanks to her overwhelming support in the country’s north and northeast. The government rejected the call for the ballot to be delayed. Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Friday that he would ask the military to provide security for the elections.

AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Tourists from Guangdong province, who ordered similar food to what Chinese President Xi Jinping ate the day before, pose for photos at the Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop in Beijing, China, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.

12

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

Monday, December 30, 2013

Snake kills security guard at luxury hotel

US stocks rise amid wave of positive sentiment

Agence France-Presse

Agence France-Presse

NEW YORK - US stocks edged towards the finale of a banner 2013 in buoyant fashion this week, repeatedly reaching new records on a string of solid economic data.

Markets eased on Friday, with all three indices retreating slightly from Thursday records. But that came on the heels of three straight recordsetting days earlier in the holidayshortened week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 257.27 (1.59 percent) higher for the week at 16,478.41. Thursday’s record close marked the 50th record settlement for the year, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The S&P 500 also repeatedly broke records, ending the week 23.08 (1.27 percent) higher at 1,841.40. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index closed 51.85 (1.26 percent) higher at 4,156.59.

“Over all, you’re seeing a slow drift higher in stocks this week, as many traders have called it a good year and looking forward to 2014,” said David Levy, portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management.

The stretch between the Christmas and New Years holidays has historically been a winner for investors in a phenomenon known as a “Santa Claus” rally.

Investopedia said reasons stocks usually rise during this period include

“happiness around Wall Street” and “the fact that the pessimists are usually on vacation this week.”

This time around, unexpectedly strong economic data also propelled markets, with low trading volumes accentuating the trends.

Data showed US consumer spending rose in November for the second straight month. There were also better-than-expected reports on new home sales, durable goods orders and new unemployment claims.

Levy said a key factor could be how quickly interest rates rise. So far, bond yields have edged higher in the wake of last week’s announcement.

But a sudden rise could crimp investor enthusiasm.

“While there’s still room for stocks to move higher, I wouldn’t expect as strong a year in 2014 as we’ve seen in 2013,” Levy said. Levy said the “jury is out” on the economy, even though the trend is positive. For one thing, the 2013 holiday shopping season has been generally disappointing.

Corporate news highlights included Apple’s deal with China Mobile to make its iPhones more widely available in the massive Chinese market.

Brazil slaps tax increase on overseas tourism spending

Agence France-Presse

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil on Saturday imposed a hefty six percent increase on the surcharge paid by its citizens when making credit cards purchases overseas.

The increase, which went into effect Saturday, raised the tax from 0.38 percent to 6.38 percent. The tax also applies to cash withdrawals from overseas bank machines and purchases made when using travelers checks.

The announcement will come as a rude surprise to millions of Brazilians many of whom already have departed the country on

their summer holiday travels.

The measure is expected to add some 552 million reals ($205 million) to government coffers next year.

The tax also aims to reduce the amount that Brazilians spend overseas, thereby bolstering domestic industry and reducing a budget deficit which the O Globo daily said stands at $72.7 billion.

According to government figures, Brazilians spent $23.1 billion overseas between January and November of this year, a 14 percent increase over the same period in 2012.

ANTARA FOTO/Yudhi Mahatma

AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File

In this Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, file photo, Jason Hardzewicz, a floor official and trader for Barclays, works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. US stocks edged towards the finale of a banner 2013 in buoyant fashion this week, repeatedly reaching new records on a string of solid economic data.

The hard-won deal took years to negotiate and could double Apple’s iPhone presence in China.

UPS and FexEx were also scrutinized after some consumers did not receive holiday packages by Christmas, despite promises by retailers.

However, shares in both companies rose, suggesting investors were cheered by the news of lofty business

more than they were troubled by complaints on Twitter that likened the shippers to the “Grinch who stole Christmas.”

Shares in Target underperformed the S&P 500 as news dribbled out about its massive data breach in the first part of the Christmas holiday season. On Friday, Target said hackers obtained “strongly encrypted”

debit-card data, but that it was confident hackers could not have obtained PIN numbers.

Analysts expect another fairly quiet week next week, owing to the New Year holiday. But there will again be a handful of economic reports, including the Case-Shiller index of home prices and the Conference Board’s report on consumer confidence.

Stock Market Prediction Citigroup P Year-end target: 1,900.

P Reasoning: Modest improvement in the economy and better company earnings. Enticed by higher returns, investors will move some cash from bonds back into stocks.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch P Year-end target: 2,000.

P Reasoning: With the Federal Reserve likely to end its bondbuying program, bonds face a tough year. In stocks, the focus will be large multinational companies that can benefit from an

improving global economy.

Goldman Sachs P Year-end target: 1900.

P Reasoning: The rally of 2013 cannot continue into 2014.

Stocks are no longer cheap. Investors are paying more than $16 for every $1 of earnings, versus about $14 at the beginning of 2012. Stocks will keep rising, but more modestly, Goldman analysts say.

Barclays Capital PYear-end target: 1,900.

P Reasoning: The Fed pulling

out of its stimulus program will lessen the support for U.S. stocks over the next year. Investors should focus on corporate earnings, as well as the modestly improving economy.

Wells Fargo Securities P Year-end target: 1850-1900.

P Reasoning: The stock market will trend higher next year, but the returns are unlikely to repeat the gains of 2013. Another round of budget battles between the White House and Congress as well as a new Fed chairwoman will likely impact the market’s growth.

5

The current development of global economy remains in uncertain situation. Indonesia, including Bali, has got the impact of such global uncertainty. It is characterized by the fluctuation in the exchange rate and the worsening Indonesia’s payment balance (NPI).

DENPASAR - Police on the holiday island of Bali warned tourists to be on guard Friday after a huge python killed a security guard at a luxury beachfront hotel.

The four-metre (13-foot) snake is still on the loose after the attack early Thursday at the Bali Hyatt, which is in the popular Sanur area but currently closed for renovation.

The security guard, Ambar Arianto Mulyo, spotted the serpent and succeeded in catching it, a police official said. Mulyo, 59, gripped its head with his right hand and its tail with his left -- but the snake proved too strong, managing to wrap itself around his neck and strangle him.

He was accompanied by friends but they were too terrified to step in and help, Gusti Ngurah Yudistira, the head of the police criminal investigations unit covering the Sanur area, told AFP. “The victim died on the spot as his neck was crushed and he could not breath,” he said.

The snake is still on the loose after a police search of the hotel and its extensive grounds failed to track down the animal, he warned.

“We urge residents and tourists to stay on the alert,” Yudistira said, adding the snake may have slithered into a nearby area of thick foliage opposite the hotel.

The deadly attack came at a busy time on Bali, as foreign tourists pack out the island’s palm-fringed beaches for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Yearender

Global economic pressure has not receded The current development of global economy remains in uncertain situation. Indonesia, including Bali, has got the impact of such global uncertainty. It is characterized by the fluctuation in the exchange rate and the worsening Indonesia’s payment balance (NPI). This depressed the exchange rate with the correction over IDR 12,200 per U.S. dollar by the end of 2013. In 2014, the challenge will not recede. When the economy is in the process of correction to soft landing, some of the global and domestic challenges still arise. The shifting landscape of the global economy has the risk to reverse the direction of portfolio capital towards developed countries, especially the U.S. As a result, it causes a pressure on the widening deficit in the balance of payment.

Chief Representative of Bank Indonesia for Region III Bali-Nusra, Benny Siswanto, stated the year 2014 posed a political year for Indonesia, including the region of Bali and Nusa Tenggara. Empirically, the regional leader election showed the situation remained conducive to the ongoing economic activity.

“We also hope the implementation of general election 2014 could run safely, so the economic activity is well maintained and running properly,” he said.

The economy of Bali and Nusa Tenggara region in 2014 was ex-

pected to reach 6.05 percent, higher than the growth in 2013. Its growth was supported by the increased consumption and the net export growth. “We expect the economy of Bali as the regional economic powerhouse can go beyond our prediction of 6.35 percent. This prospect is supported by the promising development of Bali tourism industry as entrance gates of tourists,” he said.

He explained the economic growth of Bali was also supported by weakening imports, so the net export returned to be positive. “In

terms of prices, we are very optimistic that inflation, both in Bali and Nusa Tenggara, is able to achieve the target of 4.5 percent nationwide.

Optimizing role of the Bali regional inflation controller team (TPID) and synergy among the TPIDs within the regional and national framework will keep the price fluctuation at a reasonable and stable level,” he said optimistically.

Such an effort, he said, would surely require the support of the business community to participate in controlling the price, so the availability of goods and inflation expectation continued to be maintained. “Indeed, the current global economy stays in uncertain situation. We have felt the impact of the global uncertainties, such as the fluctuation of the exchange rate and the deterioration of the Indonesia’s balance of payment (NPI). It depresses the exchange rate of rupiah with the correction of over IDR 11,500 per U.S. dollar by the end of 2013,” he explained.

According to him, in the future,

the challenge would have not receded. When the economy was in the process of correction to soft landing, some of the global and domestic challenges stayed to arise.

“Shifting of the global economic landscape has the risk of reversing the direction of portfolio capital toward the developed countries, especially the U.S. As a result, the pressure on the deficit of the Indonesia’s payment balance is getting wider,” he added.

In addition, he said, the direction of portfolio capital to developed countries also had an impact on the risk of depreciation of rupiah against the hard currency. Amidst these global challenges, the domestic challenges were also severe.

“Such challenges are associated with the excess fragmentation of rupiah liquidity in the banking sector. It requires attention because it can increase the complexity of monetary operations and disrupt the stability of financial system,” he said.

A banking and SMEs observer of Bali, I Gusti Viraguna Bagoes Oka,

said other than due to political turmoil, the economy of Bali this year until 2014 faced a tough challenge, especially due to inflation since the end of the first quarter until the third quarter. The economic slowdown this year was estimated to continue until next year.

“Next year, the economic pressure will be harder than this year because it will be more influenced by political policy. This influence should be anticipated with good governance,” he said.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Undiknas University, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Raka Suardana, also acknowledged that the influence of politics on the economy ahead of the presidential election should be anticipated. Otherwise, it would adversely affect the national economy, including that of Bali. “This condition should be managed properly, especially by the government, if it does not want to be adversely affected by the economy.

Many policies will be politicized, especially those related to the economy,” he said. (par)

6

Monday, December 30, 2013

W

RLD

International

Anxious wait for stranded Antarctic ship Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal

Indian activists sit near the effigies representing the rapists as they mark the first anniversary of the fatal gang rape of a young woman, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.

Prayers, vigil as India remembers gang-rape victim Agence France Presse

New Delhi - With vigils and prayers, India on Sunday marked the first anniversary of the death of a student savagely gang-raped on a Delhi bus -- a tragedy that sparked nationwide protests. The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died on December 29 last year, nearly two weeks after being attacked by a gang of six men on a moving bus as she returned home from the cinema with a male companion.

The attack and her subsequent death shook the country, shone a global spotlight on India’s treatment of women and unleashed seething public anger about sexual violence and harassment of women.

The victim’s family are holding a religious ceremony in their ancestral village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, away from the constant media attention they have faced since the attack, her brother said. “We want to remember her in a quiet way, away from all the glare.

We want it to be a private family moment,” the brother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told AFP before the anniversary.

The family will follow traditional Hindu rituals, with a prayer ceremony and symbolic offerings to their ancestors, which are believed to bring peace to those who have died.

The student, who was repeatedly assaulted with an iron rod during her ordeal, has been praised for her determination to report her attackers to the police before she died of her injuries.

Four of her attackers were convicted and given the death penalty in September after the case was fast-tracked, while a juvenile was sentenced to a detention centre. The sixth man died in prison in March in an apparent suicide.

The angry and sometimes violent protests against the attack jolted India’s parliament, which this year passed tougher laws against rapists and other sex-crime offenders. Women’s groups say some improvements have also been made in the last 12 months to India’s notoriously slow, inefficient and sometimes corrupt police and judicial systems, which has encouraged some victims to report sexual crimes. Despite the reforms, new cases of rape continue to be reported daily from across the country in the Indian press. An ambulance driver allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl after he drove her sick mother to hospital in the central state of Chhattisgarh, the Press Trust of India reported.

Police have charged the driver

over the incident in Kanker district on December 23, the news agency reported on Saturday. In the capital a small group of school students and workers gathered at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, a protest site in the city’s centre where a makeshift memorial has been set up for the victim.

They urged lawmakers to push ahead with reforms aimed at reducing crimes against women, including speeding up the justice system.

“A lot more still needs to be done to ensure that India becomes an absolute rape-free nation,” Akash Kumar, a school student from the nearby satellite town of Gurgaon, told AFP. “We want the Indian government to set fixed time-frames for police investigations, court trials and ultimately punishment for the accused,” said Vikas Tyagi, a callcentre worker.

Others at the memorial pushed for a fresh national debate on lowering from 18 the age at which juveniles are tried as adults for heinous crimes.

Sydney - Passengers on a Russian research ship trapped in thick Antarctic ice faced an uncertain wait Sunday for one last icebreaking attempt with no guarantees of success. The MV Akademik Shokalskiy has been marooned by heavy ice since Tuesday about 100 nautical miles east of the French Antarctic base Dumont d’Urville, with two icebreaking ships so far failing in attempts to reach it.

China’s Snow Dragon came tantalisingly close on Saturday, getting to within six-and-a-half nautical miles of the passenger vessel carrying 74 scientists, tourists and crew before impenetrable ice forced it to turn back.

The Australian government’s resupply ship Aurora Australis is now en route to make one final bid to free the icebound boat and is expected to reach the Akademik at 11pm Australian time (1200 GMT).

“It will then assess if it can make it through the ice to the Akademik Shokalskiy,” the Australian Maritime Safety Authority told AFP. “If the Aurora Australis is not capable of getting through the ice, then we will look at utilising the helicopter on board the Chinese-flagged vessel (the Snow Dragon) which AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) has tasked to remain in the vicinity.” The Snow Dragon’s helicopter did a reconnaissance flight over the site on Sunday afternoon to determine the best approach route for the Australian icebreaker and returned with promising news.

“RCC Australia has been advised that ice conditions are improving,” an AMSA spokeswoman said. Those on board the ship also reported an easing in the ice, with BBC journalist Andrew Luck-Baker describing “big cracks appearing way towards the horizon”.

“Pools of water are beginning to open up and we’re just wondering whether this is our lucky break,” Luck-Baker told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Air rescue planned if ships fail The Aurora Australis has the highest icebreaking rate of the three vessels initially sent to the Akademik’s rescue, which also included France’s L’Astrolabe, but there is no guarantee it will be able to reach the Russian ship.

The Australian icebreaker can cut ice up to 1.6 metres thick but the Akademik is estimated to be surrounded by ice of between three and four metres.

Aurora Australis captain Murray Doyle said Saturday that his vessel was not built to tackle ice thicker than three metres, likening it to driving a car into a brick wall.

Expedition co-leader Greg Mortimer said contingency plans had been made if the Australian vessel couldn’t reach them “in the next few days” to evacuate the Akademik, using the Snow Dragon’s helicopter to ferry passengers off the ice to other ships to return home “via the Ross Sea or (Australia’s) Casey (Antarctic) base”.

The call to abandon icebreaking efforts in favour of an air rescue would be made by the ships’ captains, led by Doyle, he added.

Lebanon rocket fire draws Israeli artillery strike Reuters

JERUSALEM - Rockets launched from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Sunday, causing no injuries or damage, and Israel responded with artillery fire across a border that has been largely quiet since a war in 2006.

It was not immediately clear who fired the rockets. A U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, urging restraint, said it was working with the Lebanese Army to obtain further details of the attack.

Israeli authorities said five rockets were launched from Lebanon but only one or two struck inside Israel, near the border town of Kiryat Shmona. South Lebanon is a stronghold of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla group - which battled Israel seven years ago and is currently engaged in Syria’s civil war in support of President Bashar al-Assad - but Palestinian factions are also in the area.

In a statement, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel held the Lebanese government and military responsible for the rocket attack, the first along the frontier since August.

Yaalon said the military responded with “massive shelling toward the (rocket) launch area, and if needed will use even greater force”. A Reuters witness in the Lebanon frontier area said 33 Israeli shells hit near two southern border towns. A Lebanese security source confirmed the count, and said no one was hurt.

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

INDONESIA Indonesia’s competitiveness still low Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia’s competitiveness is still too low to achieve a sustainable level of growth, a senior researcher has said.

“Indonesia’s competitiveness is still low as reflected in low productivity though the its state budget has amounted Rp1,800 trillion,” Suharna Surapranata, senior adviser of the Indonesian Researchers and Scientist Society (MIPI), said on Sunday.

Surapranata, who is a former research and technology minister, made the remarks in a discussion organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies and Civilizational Transformation (ISSaCT).

According to the Global Economic Forum in the Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014, Indonesia was ranked 38th on the list of 148 countries surveyed.

“Ranked 37, Thailand is higher than Indonesia. Indonesia’s competitiveness is also lower than that of Brunei Darussalam (26) and Malaysia (24). It is far lower than that of Singapore which was second on the list. Singapore even outclasses the United States (5), Germany (4) and Finland (3),” he said.

Switzerland is ranked first as a country with the highest competitiveness.

For this purpose, Indonesia should make a lot of improvements, particularly in the field of research and technology, Surapranata said. components for the competitive edge of a country include institutional development, policies and various other productivity determiners, he said.

“The productivity of a nation decides the return of investment in broad sense such as physical development, financial system, human resources and technology,” Surapranata added.

In the meantime, economist Derek Carnegie said that increasing productivity was one of the efforts the government could make to maintain and increase Indonesia’s economic growth and stability.

“Actually, Indonesia has strong industrial productivity, but it should increase its competitiveness to support the country’s more stable economy,” Derek Carnegie, economist of the Or-

ganization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said on Thursday.

Derek said the increase could be observed from Indonesia’s manufacturing sector, which at present was relatively better than those of other countries grouped in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Besides, Indonesia could also achieve a sustainable economic growth through improvement in the national education system by encouraging the involvement of local governments in providing supporting infrastructures.

“Indonesia could expand education access for the people through improvement of government polices and adoption of an efficient conditional cash transfer program,” he said.

Indonesia also needs to reinforce its natural disaster management scheme, particularly the system which is related to floods, and to reform its pension system which a present is one of the pillars in its social insurance system.

“The pension system must be reinforced because at present Indonesia has not yet applied an adequate social insurance system which provide income for the majority of Indonesian people retiring from services,” he said.

Derek added that besides the challenges mentioned above, the Indonesian government should also improve its business climate by simplifying business procedures to boost investment which so far has become the biggest contributor to the country’s economic growth.

The OECD has predicted that Indonesia’s economic growth will be the highest one in Southeast Asian countries in the 2014-2018 period with an average growth of 6.0 percent followed by the Philippines 5.8 percent, Malaysia 5.1 percent and Thailand 4.9 percent.

Besides, Singapore’s economic growth will also reach 3.3 percent in the same period while Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar will grow fast in mid-term.

11

Rupiah to strengthen in 2014 Antara

LABUAN BAJO - Bank Indonesia (BI/ the central bank) is optimistic that the rupiah currency will strengthen in 2014 in line with the improvement of economic fundamentals and the decline in the country’s current account deficit.

“With improving economic fundamentals such as the decline in the country’s current account deficit, the rupiah value against the US dollar will strengthen,” Executive Director of BI’s Monetary and Economic Policy Department Doddy Budi Waluyo said.

He said that the implementation of the legislative and presidential elections in 2014 would not have negative impacts on the rupiah exchange value.

Doddy predicted that the current account deficit in 2014 would reach US$25 US$26 billion or about 2.9 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The conditions were better than those at the end of 2013 which stood at US$31 billion or 3.6 percent of the GDP, or the conditions in the second quarter of 2013 which reached 4.4 percent.

BI also estimated that inflation rate could be taken under control and returned to its normal level at a range of 4.5 plus-minus one percent in 2014.

The Central Bureau of Statistics in November 2013 recorded the inflation rate at 7.79 percent while the year-on-year inflation was recorded at 8.37 percent.

“With that conditions, the rupiah should not necessarily weaken in 2014,” Doddy said.

He said that the rupiah value now depreciated as a result of high demand for US dollar in the country.

“Rupiah can just strengthen due to positive sentiment but it weakens in term of fundamental conditions, and BI will not let the rupiah value be far from the fundamental conditions,” he said.

He said that the rupiah value had been in a downward trend since last May or July.

Before May, the rupiah was recorded at below Rp9,700 per US$1 and had reached over Rp10,000 since September 2013.

On Friday evening, the rupiah exchange rate against the Greenback weakened 73 points at the interbank market from Rp12,201 to Rp12,274.

Pick-up truck crash kills 18 in East Java Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Eighteen people on their way to a funeral were killed when their pick-up truck crashed into a trailer in Indonesia, police said Sunday.

The pick-up with 31 people on board had attempted to overtake three vehicles but collided with a cargo trailer in Probolinggo district in East Java on Saturday, East Java police spokesman Awi Setyono told AFP. “The pick-up carrying all-female passengers

hit the trailer as it was trying to speed past three vehicles in front by going on the wrong lane,” he said.

“Eighteen people were killed, including the male driver and two girls aged five and two.”

Thirteen passengers were hospitalised with serious injuries and broken bones. The trailer driver and his assistant were slightly hurt, he said.

Fatal accidents are common on Indonesia’s poorly maintained roads, especially on densely populated Java island.

ANTARA FOTO/Adhitya Hendra

Eighteen people on their way to a funeral were killed when their pick-up truck crashed into a trailer in Indonesia, police said Sunday.

10

Monday, December 30, 2013

Destination

International

Sports

International

IBP/File Photo

The Statue of Wisnu As the anchor point of GWK, the 20 meter tall copper statue of the

Lord Wisnu has been placed temporarily on the highest hill of Ungasan where visitors can enjoy sunset or sunrise over the magnificent view of Kuta, Benoa and Sanur. The statue of Wisnu is an illustration of the Almighty God in maintaining and caring all life and its being. The god Wisnu is the owner of Amerta in the form of water as the source of fertility , giving wealth and life to the universe.

The Statue of Garuda Right behind the Plaza Wisnu is the Plaza Garuda where the 18 meters tall statue of Garuda placed temporarily. At the present time, Plaza Garuda becomes the focal point of a massive alley of carved limestone pillars which covers more than 4000 sqm open space area namely Lotus Pond. The colossal limestone pillars and monumental Garuda statue make Lotus Pond a very exotic space. With its room capacity that can accommodate up to 7000 people, Lotus Pond has gained good reputation as the perfect place to hold big and international events.

The Statue of Wisnu’s Hands The statue of Wisnu’s hands was added to GWK Cultural Park in 2007.

It’s one step closer to finishing the complete Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue.

This piece was placed temporarily on Tirta Agung area.

7

Bass’ block saves Celtics in 103-100 win over Cavs

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue Designed and built by Nyoman Nuarta, one of Indonesia’s foremost modern sculptor, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue or GWK and its pedestal building will be standing 150 meters tall with its wings span 64 meters across. Made from more than 4000 tons of copper and brass, the statue is picturing Lord Wisnu, as the source of wisdom, riding on the back of the mythical bird Garuda as the manifestation of conscience toward Amerta, the perennial goodness.

The statue and its pedestal will be surrounded by more than 240 hectares cultural park which was once an abandoned and unproductive limestone quarry. The cultural park will provide attractions for both local and foreign visitors with supporting facilities such as Lotus Pond, Festival Park, Amphitheater, Street Theater, Exhibition Hall, as well as Jendela Bali The Panoramic Resto and souvenir shop.

At present time, the statue of Wisnu, the statue of Garuda, and the hands of Wisnu have been placed temporarily in three different plazas within the park.GWK Cultural Park is intended to educate, especially the young generations about the importance of preserving and cultivating world’s cultural heritage.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Associated Press Writer

BOSTON — Brandon Bass made a game-saving blocked shot in the closing seconds for the Boston Celtics to hold out the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-100 in the NBA on Saturday. The Celtics led by 19 points entering the final quarter but two Dion Waiters free throws made it 102-100 with 43.3 seconds left. Bass then blocked Waiters’ shot in the lane and Avery Bradley nailed one free throw with 1.4 seconds left.

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Boston Celtics’ Jared Sullinge, left, blocks Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Friday, Nov. 29, 2013.

Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bradley 18, and Bass added 15 for Boston, which ended a three-game losing streak. Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 32 points, the eighth time in his last 10 games he’s scored 20 or more.

The Cavaliers were playing soon after suspending center Andrew Bynum indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team” and banning him from all team-related activities.

It’s likely he has played his final game for Cleveland. Dwight Howard had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and James Harden scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in

the Houston Rockets’ 107-98 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Chandler Parson added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Terrence Jones had 17 points and eight rebounds to help Houston win its third straight game.

In Toronto, Kyle Lowry had a season-best 32 points and 11 assists, Terrence Ross made a career-high seven 3-pointers and the Toronto Raptors beat New York for the second straight night, topping the Knicks 115-100. Lowry came within two rebounds of a tripledouble and Ross had 23 points as Toronto won for the fourth time in five games.

Greivis Vasquez made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Lowry capped it from long range with 5 seconds left as the Raptors finished with a season-high 15 baskets from beyond the arc. In Indianapolis, Paul George scored 24 points and Lance Stephenson added 23 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 105-91 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

George Hill finished with 21 points for the Pacers, who put five players in double figures and pulled away with a third-quarter burst. Roy Hibbert scored 11 and David West 10 for Indiana, which leads the Eastern Conference at 23-6.

Federer, Serena looking to get on a roll in Brisbane Reuters

Roger Federer and Serena Williams had contrasting 2013 seasons but both kick off their new campaigns at the Brisbane International this week showing no signs just yet of calling time on their illustrious careers. Born just a month apart and each with 17 grand slam singles titles to their name, Federer and Williams could justifiably claim to be the best tennis players of their generation, if not of all time.

This year, though, it was American Williams who led the way with 11 titles, including the coveted trophies at the French and U.S. Opens, and winning 78 of 82 matches to regain the number one ranking.

Federer slumped to sixth in the world after winning just the one title at Halle and failing to get to a grand slam final for the first time since 2002. While admitting the season had been difficult at times, Federer said on his arrival in Brisbane that he was feeling fitter than he had for more than 18 months and was not about to be pushed into retirement.

“People are always going to jump in and say ‘this is it’, and that’s what happened this year,” the 32-year-old told a news conference.

“Critics are a part of the game. But they are the last guys to push me out of this game. “Deep down I am

doing it because I love the game.

And now I don’t want to waste any more opportunities.”

Federer, top seed in the absence of double defending champion Andy Murray, will not be joined by the newest member of his coaching team, Stefan Edberg, until he reaches Melbourne.

The Brisbane field should not test the Swiss too greatly, though, with big-serving South African Kevin Anderson the only top 20 player in his half of the draw. Japan’s Kei Nishikori is seeded second.

Williams had no sooner capped her stellar 2013 season by winning the WTA Championships than started plotting what she views as a long overdue sixth triumph at Melbourne Park.

ANKLE TWIST Williams pulled out of the Brisbane tournament in 2012 after turning on her left ankle in her second round tie before exiting the Australian Open in a fourth round upset at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova. Last year, she won the Brisbane title without losing a set but, hampered by another ankle twist in her first round match, was knocked out in the Australian Open quarter-finals by compatriot Sloane Stephens.

Having missed the 2011 Australian Open after cutting her foot by

stepping on some glass in a restaurant, Williams is keen to return to winning ways at a tournament she won five times in eight years from 2003. “I hope to be the one standing up in the end, and it’s for sure my next goal,” Williams said after

her tour championships triumph in Istanbul.

“Seeing that I didn’t do as well as I want to there, actually the past few years, so my goal is just to go a year in Australia without twisting an ankle.

That’s what I’m going to start with.”

The American top seed faces a much tougher draw than Federer, who also has a first round bye, with, if the seedings hold up, Maria Sharapova and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka standing in the way of her title defence.

AP Photo/Tertius Pickard

Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a shot during a training session at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.

8

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

Sp rt

City go top with tough win over Palace Reuters

LONDON - Manchester City ground out a 1-0 win over struggling Crystal Palace to go top of the Premier League and champions Manchester United continued their recent revival with a 1-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday. With leaders Arsenal not playing until Sunday, Edin Dzeko’s 66th-minute goal earned the points for City who maintained their perfect home record this season but showed none of their usual free-scoring swagger at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko, right, attempts a shot past Crystal Palace’s Danny Gabbidon during their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Dec. 28, 2013.

Reuters

LONDON - The FA is to investigate an alleged antiSemitic gesture made by West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka during Saturday’s 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham United. An FA spokesman said his organisation would be launching a probe after Anelka’s actions provoked widespread criticism.

The former France striker celebrated the first of his two goals against West Ham with an apparent “quenelle” hand signal, made famous by French comedian Dieudonne, which is linked to anti-Semitism.

“Anelka’s gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting,” French Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron said

on Twitter. “There’s no place for anti-Semitism on the football field.”

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Paris St Germain striker tried to play down the incident. “This gesture was a special dedication to my friend Dieudonne,” Anelka said on Twitter. The 34-year-old was backed by West Brom caretaker coach Keith Downing.

“It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well,” said Downing. “I think speculation can be stopped now, it is absolute rubbish really. “He is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around, he is totally surprised by it.”

Reuters

MILAN - AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to be out of action for about 10 weeks after undergoing foot

surgery on Saturday, the Serie A club said.

The Italy international had just returned at the end of November after being sidelined for three months with a thigh injury and then a microfracture to his foot.

TAKING CONTROL

Manchester United struggled initially at Norwich, surviving a first-half onslaught before taking control. Manager David Moyes left England striker Wayne Rooney out of his squad completely, but substitute Danny Welbeck’s 57th-minute strike secured victory.

United climbed to sixth behind City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton while Hull’s battering of Fulham took them to 10th and earned midfielder Tom Huddlestone an appointment with his barber.

The former Tottenham and England player drove in Hull’s fourth goal and his first for the club, an achievement he had said would result in the trimming of his plentiful locks and a pair of scissors were duly brandished on the touchline in celebration.

On a triumphant day for Steve Bruce’s Hull, Slovenian midfielder Robert Koren struck twice after Ahmed Elmohamady had opened the scoring. George Boyd and Matty Fryatt also found the net to inflict Fulham’s heaviest defeat in the top tier since 1968. “I’m shocked. I don’t know if there was something in the tea - I did not see that coming and the players did not see that coming,” Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen told reporters.

A home triumph seemed likely when Gabriel Agbonlahor put Aston Villa ahead after seven minutes, but Swansea fought back and Belgian winger Roland Lamah headed them level after 36 minutes. The draw meant Villa avoided a fifth consecutive defeat and eased the pressure on manager Paul Lambert.

AC Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy controls the ball during their Italian Serie A soccer match against Livorno at the Armando Picchi stadium in Livorno December 7, 2013.

REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito

AP Photo/Jon Super

FA to probe alleged Anelka anti-Semitic gesture

“I think the team that wants to win the title must have differe n t faces,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. “We usually score lots of goals at home, but after 45 minutes we knew it would not be like that.”

Mid-table Hull City hammered relegation-threatened Fulham 6-0, Aston Villa struggled again in a 1-1 home draw with Swansea City and West Ham United were held 3-3 by West Bromwich Albion in a thrilling early kickoff at Upton Park.

In the day’s final match, managerless Cardiff City threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with bottom club Sunderland in their first game since Malky Mackay was sacked. Pellegrini made six changes to the side that overcame Liverpool 2-1 on Thursday and Palace unexpectedly took the game to their hosts with England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who suffered a gashed face in a first-half clash with striker Jerome Cameron, making a string of fine saves.

Pellegrini made a double substitution, bringing on French forward Samir Nasri and Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo shortly before Dzeko struck. Jesus Navas made room and crossed from the right for Bosnian Dzeko to turn and shoot into the roof of the net from 15 metres.

Milan’s El Shaarawy out for 10 weeks

UEFA’s Platini says it’s clear he’s not popular ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

UEFA President Michel Platini believes he has made himself unpopular in some football circles by enforcing stricter punishments for clubs, but that it’s a necessary consequence of trying to clean up the sport. Platini, who is weighing up whether he has the support to seek the FIFA presidency in 2015, said Friday that penalizing clubs for racism, match-fixing and uncontrolled spending is key to ensuring that football is “free of cheating, violence or injustice.”

Platini said in an end-of-year message that UEFA still must act “quicker and firmer,” but highlighted how clubs are already being forced to play in empty stadiums to punish racism, and booted out of European competitions for financial mismanagement.

“All of these measures are not making us popular. That is patently clear,” Platini said. “However, my aim is not to be popular. My aim is to be responsible. “It is a responsibility that I must take on, in order to ensure football’s continued existence, as well as the future of our competitions.”

Among the scourges tarnishing football’s image, Platini highlighted match-fixing, the “extravagant” amounts middlemen are making on transfer deals, the trafficking of minors and the “violent or discriminatory excesses of extremist fringes which pollute the stands at certain stadiums.”

The centerpiece of Platini’s presidency has been championing “Financial Fair Play” rules compelling clubs to break even, and pay players wages and tax bills on time as a condition for playing in the Champions League or Europa League.

“We will be capable of taking measures which are imperative for football’s well-being,” Platini said in warning to clubs fearing being banned from European competitions. Addressing the mission he faces to clean up European football, Platini warned that the “morality of men leaves something to be desired.”

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

UEFA President Michel Platini waits for the beginning of the draw ceremony for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Costa do Sauipe near Salvador, Brazil, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013.

Cameroon seeks to convince dual nationals to play Reuters

YAOUNDE - The Cameroon football federation is to send a delegation to Europe in a bid to convince players of Cameroonian origin to make themselves available for selection at next year’s

9

World Cup in Brazil. FECAFOOT said they were focusing on four players in particular who had been capped by France at junior level.

The quartet comprises three 20-yearolds - Axel Ngando at Ligue 2 club AJ Auxerre, Samuel Umtiti at Olympique

Lyon and Jean-Christophe Behebeck at Valenciennes - and the 21-year-old Paul-Georges Ntep de Madiba, also at Auxerre.

“We want to convince them to play for Cameroon, notably in the World Cup but also in the future,” the federation said in a

statement on Friday. “The idea is to clarify their status and then seek FIFA permission to change their nationality.”

Cameroon will be competing at their seventh World Cup and have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Brazil, Croatia and Mexico.

8

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

Sp rt

City go top with tough win over Palace Reuters

LONDON - Manchester City ground out a 1-0 win over struggling Crystal Palace to go top of the Premier League and champions Manchester United continued their recent revival with a 1-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday. With leaders Arsenal not playing until Sunday, Edin Dzeko’s 66th-minute goal earned the points for City who maintained their perfect home record this season but showed none of their usual free-scoring swagger at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko, right, attempts a shot past Crystal Palace’s Danny Gabbidon during their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Dec. 28, 2013.

Reuters

LONDON - The FA is to investigate an alleged antiSemitic gesture made by West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka during Saturday’s 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham United. An FA spokesman said his organisation would be launching a probe after Anelka’s actions provoked widespread criticism.

The former France striker celebrated the first of his two goals against West Ham with an apparent “quenelle” hand signal, made famous by French comedian Dieudonne, which is linked to anti-Semitism.

“Anelka’s gesture is a shocking provocation, disgusting,” French Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron said

on Twitter. “There’s no place for anti-Semitism on the football field.”

The former Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Paris St Germain striker tried to play down the incident. “This gesture was a special dedication to my friend Dieudonne,” Anelka said on Twitter. The 34-year-old was backed by West Brom caretaker coach Keith Downing.

“It is dedicated to a French comedian he knows very, very well,” said Downing. “I think speculation can be stopped now, it is absolute rubbish really. “He is totally unaware of what the problems were or the speculation that has been thrown around, he is totally surprised by it.”

Reuters

MILAN - AC Milan striker Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to be out of action for about 10 weeks after undergoing foot

surgery on Saturday, the Serie A club said.

The Italy international had just returned at the end of November after being sidelined for three months with a thigh injury and then a microfracture to his foot.

TAKING CONTROL

Manchester United struggled initially at Norwich, surviving a first-half onslaught before taking control. Manager David Moyes left England striker Wayne Rooney out of his squad completely, but substitute Danny Welbeck’s 57th-minute strike secured victory.

United climbed to sixth behind City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton while Hull’s battering of Fulham took them to 10th and earned midfielder Tom Huddlestone an appointment with his barber.

The former Tottenham and England player drove in Hull’s fourth goal and his first for the club, an achievement he had said would result in the trimming of his plentiful locks and a pair of scissors were duly brandished on the touchline in celebration.

On a triumphant day for Steve Bruce’s Hull, Slovenian midfielder Robert Koren struck twice after Ahmed Elmohamady had opened the scoring. George Boyd and Matty Fryatt also found the net to inflict Fulham’s heaviest defeat in the top tier since 1968. “I’m shocked. I don’t know if there was something in the tea - I did not see that coming and the players did not see that coming,” Fulham manager Rene Meulensteen told reporters.

A home triumph seemed likely when Gabriel Agbonlahor put Aston Villa ahead after seven minutes, but Swansea fought back and Belgian winger Roland Lamah headed them level after 36 minutes. The draw meant Villa avoided a fifth consecutive defeat and eased the pressure on manager Paul Lambert.

AC Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy controls the ball during their Italian Serie A soccer match against Livorno at the Armando Picchi stadium in Livorno December 7, 2013.

REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito

AP Photo/Jon Super

FA to probe alleged Anelka anti-Semitic gesture

“I think the team that wants to win the title must have differe n t faces,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC. “We usually score lots of goals at home, but after 45 minutes we knew it would not be like that.”

Mid-table Hull City hammered relegation-threatened Fulham 6-0, Aston Villa struggled again in a 1-1 home draw with Swansea City and West Ham United were held 3-3 by West Bromwich Albion in a thrilling early kickoff at Upton Park.

In the day’s final match, managerless Cardiff City threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with bottom club Sunderland in their first game since Malky Mackay was sacked. Pellegrini made six changes to the side that overcame Liverpool 2-1 on Thursday and Palace unexpectedly took the game to their hosts with England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who suffered a gashed face in a first-half clash with striker Jerome Cameron, making a string of fine saves.

Pellegrini made a double substitution, bringing on French forward Samir Nasri and Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo shortly before Dzeko struck. Jesus Navas made room and crossed from the right for Bosnian Dzeko to turn and shoot into the roof of the net from 15 metres.

Milan’s El Shaarawy out for 10 weeks

UEFA’s Platini says it’s clear he’s not popular ROB HARRIS, AP Sports Writer

UEFA President Michel Platini believes he has made himself unpopular in some football circles by enforcing stricter punishments for clubs, but that it’s a necessary consequence of trying to clean up the sport. Platini, who is weighing up whether he has the support to seek the FIFA presidency in 2015, said Friday that penalizing clubs for racism, match-fixing and uncontrolled spending is key to ensuring that football is “free of cheating, violence or injustice.”

Platini said in an end-of-year message that UEFA still must act “quicker and firmer,” but highlighted how clubs are already being forced to play in empty stadiums to punish racism, and booted out of European competitions for financial mismanagement.

“All of these measures are not making us popular. That is patently clear,” Platini said. “However, my aim is not to be popular. My aim is to be responsible. “It is a responsibility that I must take on, in order to ensure football’s continued existence, as well as the future of our competitions.”

Among the scourges tarnishing football’s image, Platini highlighted match-fixing, the “extravagant” amounts middlemen are making on transfer deals, the trafficking of minors and the “violent or discriminatory excesses of extremist fringes which pollute the stands at certain stadiums.”

The centerpiece of Platini’s presidency has been championing “Financial Fair Play” rules compelling clubs to break even, and pay players wages and tax bills on time as a condition for playing in the Champions League or Europa League.

“We will be capable of taking measures which are imperative for football’s well-being,” Platini said in warning to clubs fearing being banned from European competitions. Addressing the mission he faces to clean up European football, Platini warned that the “morality of men leaves something to be desired.”

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

UEFA President Michel Platini waits for the beginning of the draw ceremony for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Costa do Sauipe near Salvador, Brazil, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013.

Cameroon seeks to convince dual nationals to play Reuters

YAOUNDE - The Cameroon football federation is to send a delegation to Europe in a bid to convince players of Cameroonian origin to make themselves available for selection at next year’s

9

World Cup in Brazil. FECAFOOT said they were focusing on four players in particular who had been capped by France at junior level.

The quartet comprises three 20-yearolds - Axel Ngando at Ligue 2 club AJ Auxerre, Samuel Umtiti at Olympique

Lyon and Jean-Christophe Behebeck at Valenciennes - and the 21-year-old Paul-Georges Ntep de Madiba, also at Auxerre.

“We want to convince them to play for Cameroon, notably in the World Cup but also in the future,” the federation said in a

statement on Friday. “The idea is to clarify their status and then seek FIFA permission to change their nationality.”

Cameroon will be competing at their seventh World Cup and have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Brazil, Croatia and Mexico.

10

Monday, December 30, 2013

Destination

International

Sports

International

IBP/File Photo

The Statue of Wisnu As the anchor point of GWK, the 20 meter tall copper statue of the

Lord Wisnu has been placed temporarily on the highest hill of Ungasan where visitors can enjoy sunset or sunrise over the magnificent view of Kuta, Benoa and Sanur. The statue of Wisnu is an illustration of the Almighty God in maintaining and caring all life and its being. The god Wisnu is the owner of Amerta in the form of water as the source of fertility , giving wealth and life to the universe.

The Statue of Garuda Right behind the Plaza Wisnu is the Plaza Garuda where the 18 meters tall statue of Garuda placed temporarily. At the present time, Plaza Garuda becomes the focal point of a massive alley of carved limestone pillars which covers more than 4000 sqm open space area namely Lotus Pond. The colossal limestone pillars and monumental Garuda statue make Lotus Pond a very exotic space. With its room capacity that can accommodate up to 7000 people, Lotus Pond has gained good reputation as the perfect place to hold big and international events.

The Statue of Wisnu’s Hands The statue of Wisnu’s hands was added to GWK Cultural Park in 2007.

It’s one step closer to finishing the complete Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue.

This piece was placed temporarily on Tirta Agung area.

7

Bass’ block saves Celtics in 103-100 win over Cavs

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Statue Designed and built by Nyoman Nuarta, one of Indonesia’s foremost modern sculptor, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue or GWK and its pedestal building will be standing 150 meters tall with its wings span 64 meters across. Made from more than 4000 tons of copper and brass, the statue is picturing Lord Wisnu, as the source of wisdom, riding on the back of the mythical bird Garuda as the manifestation of conscience toward Amerta, the perennial goodness.

The statue and its pedestal will be surrounded by more than 240 hectares cultural park which was once an abandoned and unproductive limestone quarry. The cultural park will provide attractions for both local and foreign visitors with supporting facilities such as Lotus Pond, Festival Park, Amphitheater, Street Theater, Exhibition Hall, as well as Jendela Bali The Panoramic Resto and souvenir shop.

At present time, the statue of Wisnu, the statue of Garuda, and the hands of Wisnu have been placed temporarily in three different plazas within the park.GWK Cultural Park is intended to educate, especially the young generations about the importance of preserving and cultivating world’s cultural heritage.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Associated Press Writer

BOSTON — Brandon Bass made a game-saving blocked shot in the closing seconds for the Boston Celtics to hold out the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-100 in the NBA on Saturday. The Celtics led by 19 points entering the final quarter but two Dion Waiters free throws made it 102-100 with 43.3 seconds left. Bass then blocked Waiters’ shot in the lane and Avery Bradley nailed one free throw with 1.4 seconds left.

AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

Boston Celtics’ Jared Sullinge, left, blocks Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Boston, Friday, Nov. 29, 2013.

Jeff Green and Jordan Crawford each scored 19 points, Bradley 18, and Bass added 15 for Boston, which ended a three-game losing streak. Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 32 points, the eighth time in his last 10 games he’s scored 20 or more.

The Cavaliers were playing soon after suspending center Andrew Bynum indefinitely for “conduct detrimental to the team” and banning him from all team-related activities.

It’s likely he has played his final game for Cleveland. Dwight Howard had 24 points and 17 rebounds, and James Harden scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter in

the Houston Rockets’ 107-98 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Chandler Parson added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Terrence Jones had 17 points and eight rebounds to help Houston win its third straight game.

In Toronto, Kyle Lowry had a season-best 32 points and 11 assists, Terrence Ross made a career-high seven 3-pointers and the Toronto Raptors beat New York for the second straight night, topping the Knicks 115-100. Lowry came within two rebounds of a tripledouble and Ross had 23 points as Toronto won for the fourth time in five games.

Greivis Vasquez made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and Lowry capped it from long range with 5 seconds left as the Raptors finished with a season-high 15 baskets from beyond the arc. In Indianapolis, Paul George scored 24 points and Lance Stephenson added 23 to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 105-91 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

George Hill finished with 21 points for the Pacers, who put five players in double figures and pulled away with a third-quarter burst. Roy Hibbert scored 11 and David West 10 for Indiana, which leads the Eastern Conference at 23-6.

Federer, Serena looking to get on a roll in Brisbane Reuters

Roger Federer and Serena Williams had contrasting 2013 seasons but both kick off their new campaigns at the Brisbane International this week showing no signs just yet of calling time on their illustrious careers. Born just a month apart and each with 17 grand slam singles titles to their name, Federer and Williams could justifiably claim to be the best tennis players of their generation, if not of all time.

This year, though, it was American Williams who led the way with 11 titles, including the coveted trophies at the French and U.S. Opens, and winning 78 of 82 matches to regain the number one ranking.

Federer slumped to sixth in the world after winning just the one title at Halle and failing to get to a grand slam final for the first time since 2002. While admitting the season had been difficult at times, Federer said on his arrival in Brisbane that he was feeling fitter than he had for more than 18 months and was not about to be pushed into retirement.

“People are always going to jump in and say ‘this is it’, and that’s what happened this year,” the 32-year-old told a news conference.

“Critics are a part of the game. But they are the last guys to push me out of this game. “Deep down I am

doing it because I love the game.

And now I don’t want to waste any more opportunities.”

Federer, top seed in the absence of double defending champion Andy Murray, will not be joined by the newest member of his coaching team, Stefan Edberg, until he reaches Melbourne.

The Brisbane field should not test the Swiss too greatly, though, with big-serving South African Kevin Anderson the only top 20 player in his half of the draw. Japan’s Kei Nishikori is seeded second.

Williams had no sooner capped her stellar 2013 season by winning the WTA Championships than started plotting what she views as a long overdue sixth triumph at Melbourne Park.

ANKLE TWIST Williams pulled out of the Brisbane tournament in 2012 after turning on her left ankle in her second round tie before exiting the Australian Open in a fourth round upset at the hands of Ekaterina Makarova. Last year, she won the Brisbane title without losing a set but, hampered by another ankle twist in her first round match, was knocked out in the Australian Open quarter-finals by compatriot Sloane Stephens.

Having missed the 2011 Australian Open after cutting her foot by

stepping on some glass in a restaurant, Williams is keen to return to winning ways at a tournament she won five times in eight years from 2003. “I hope to be the one standing up in the end, and it’s for sure my next goal,” Williams said after

her tour championships triumph in Istanbul.

“Seeing that I didn’t do as well as I want to there, actually the past few years, so my goal is just to go a year in Australia without twisting an ankle.

That’s what I’m going to start with.”

The American top seed faces a much tougher draw than Federer, who also has a first round bye, with, if the seedings hold up, Maria Sharapova and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka standing in the way of her title defence.

AP Photo/Tertius Pickard

Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a shot during a training session at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.

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Monday, December 30, 2013

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International

Anxious wait for stranded Antarctic ship Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal

Indian activists sit near the effigies representing the rapists as they mark the first anniversary of the fatal gang rape of a young woman, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.

Prayers, vigil as India remembers gang-rape victim Agence France Presse

New Delhi - With vigils and prayers, India on Sunday marked the first anniversary of the death of a student savagely gang-raped on a Delhi bus -- a tragedy that sparked nationwide protests. The 23-year-old physiotherapy student died on December 29 last year, nearly two weeks after being attacked by a gang of six men on a moving bus as she returned home from the cinema with a male companion.

The attack and her subsequent death shook the country, shone a global spotlight on India’s treatment of women and unleashed seething public anger about sexual violence and harassment of women.

The victim’s family are holding a religious ceremony in their ancestral village in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, away from the constant media attention they have faced since the attack, her brother said. “We want to remember her in a quiet way, away from all the glare.

We want it to be a private family moment,” the brother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told AFP before the anniversary.

The family will follow traditional Hindu rituals, with a prayer ceremony and symbolic offerings to their ancestors, which are believed to bring peace to those who have died.

The student, who was repeatedly assaulted with an iron rod during her ordeal, has been praised for her determination to report her attackers to the police before she died of her injuries.

Four of her attackers were convicted and given the death penalty in September after the case was fast-tracked, while a juvenile was sentenced to a detention centre. The sixth man died in prison in March in an apparent suicide.

The angry and sometimes violent protests against the attack jolted India’s parliament, which this year passed tougher laws against rapists and other sex-crime offenders. Women’s groups say some improvements have also been made in the last 12 months to India’s notoriously slow, inefficient and sometimes corrupt police and judicial systems, which has encouraged some victims to report sexual crimes. Despite the reforms, new cases of rape continue to be reported daily from across the country in the Indian press. An ambulance driver allegedly raped a 10-year-old girl after he drove her sick mother to hospital in the central state of Chhattisgarh, the Press Trust of India reported.

Police have charged the driver

over the incident in Kanker district on December 23, the news agency reported on Saturday. In the capital a small group of school students and workers gathered at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, a protest site in the city’s centre where a makeshift memorial has been set up for the victim.

They urged lawmakers to push ahead with reforms aimed at reducing crimes against women, including speeding up the justice system.

“A lot more still needs to be done to ensure that India becomes an absolute rape-free nation,” Akash Kumar, a school student from the nearby satellite town of Gurgaon, told AFP. “We want the Indian government to set fixed time-frames for police investigations, court trials and ultimately punishment for the accused,” said Vikas Tyagi, a callcentre worker.

Others at the memorial pushed for a fresh national debate on lowering from 18 the age at which juveniles are tried as adults for heinous crimes.

Sydney - Passengers on a Russian research ship trapped in thick Antarctic ice faced an uncertain wait Sunday for one last icebreaking attempt with no guarantees of success. The MV Akademik Shokalskiy has been marooned by heavy ice since Tuesday about 100 nautical miles east of the French Antarctic base Dumont d’Urville, with two icebreaking ships so far failing in attempts to reach it.

China’s Snow Dragon came tantalisingly close on Saturday, getting to within six-and-a-half nautical miles of the passenger vessel carrying 74 scientists, tourists and crew before impenetrable ice forced it to turn back.

The Australian government’s resupply ship Aurora Australis is now en route to make one final bid to free the icebound boat and is expected to reach the Akademik at 11pm Australian time (1200 GMT).

“It will then assess if it can make it through the ice to the Akademik Shokalskiy,” the Australian Maritime Safety Authority told AFP. “If the Aurora Australis is not capable of getting through the ice, then we will look at utilising the helicopter on board the Chinese-flagged vessel (the Snow Dragon) which AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) has tasked to remain in the vicinity.” The Snow Dragon’s helicopter did a reconnaissance flight over the site on Sunday afternoon to determine the best approach route for the Australian icebreaker and returned with promising news.

“RCC Australia has been advised that ice conditions are improving,” an AMSA spokeswoman said. Those on board the ship also reported an easing in the ice, with BBC journalist Andrew Luck-Baker describing “big cracks appearing way towards the horizon”.

“Pools of water are beginning to open up and we’re just wondering whether this is our lucky break,” Luck-Baker told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Air rescue planned if ships fail The Aurora Australis has the highest icebreaking rate of the three vessels initially sent to the Akademik’s rescue, which also included France’s L’Astrolabe, but there is no guarantee it will be able to reach the Russian ship.

The Australian icebreaker can cut ice up to 1.6 metres thick but the Akademik is estimated to be surrounded by ice of between three and four metres.

Aurora Australis captain Murray Doyle said Saturday that his vessel was not built to tackle ice thicker than three metres, likening it to driving a car into a brick wall.

Expedition co-leader Greg Mortimer said contingency plans had been made if the Australian vessel couldn’t reach them “in the next few days” to evacuate the Akademik, using the Snow Dragon’s helicopter to ferry passengers off the ice to other ships to return home “via the Ross Sea or (Australia’s) Casey (Antarctic) base”.

The call to abandon icebreaking efforts in favour of an air rescue would be made by the ships’ captains, led by Doyle, he added.

Lebanon rocket fire draws Israeli artillery strike Reuters

JERUSALEM - Rockets launched from Lebanon struck northern Israel on Sunday, causing no injuries or damage, and Israel responded with artillery fire across a border that has been largely quiet since a war in 2006.

It was not immediately clear who fired the rockets. A U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, urging restraint, said it was working with the Lebanese Army to obtain further details of the attack.

Israeli authorities said five rockets were launched from Lebanon but only one or two struck inside Israel, near the border town of Kiryat Shmona. South Lebanon is a stronghold of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla group - which battled Israel seven years ago and is currently engaged in Syria’s civil war in support of President Bashar al-Assad - but Palestinian factions are also in the area.

In a statement, Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Israel held the Lebanese government and military responsible for the rocket attack, the first along the frontier since August.

Yaalon said the military responded with “massive shelling toward the (rocket) launch area, and if needed will use even greater force”. A Reuters witness in the Lebanon frontier area said 33 Israeli shells hit near two southern border towns. A Lebanese security source confirmed the count, and said no one was hurt.

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

INDONESIA Indonesia’s competitiveness still low Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia’s competitiveness is still too low to achieve a sustainable level of growth, a senior researcher has said.

“Indonesia’s competitiveness is still low as reflected in low productivity though the its state budget has amounted Rp1,800 trillion,” Suharna Surapranata, senior adviser of the Indonesian Researchers and Scientist Society (MIPI), said on Sunday.

Surapranata, who is a former research and technology minister, made the remarks in a discussion organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies and Civilizational Transformation (ISSaCT).

According to the Global Economic Forum in the Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014, Indonesia was ranked 38th on the list of 148 countries surveyed.

“Ranked 37, Thailand is higher than Indonesia. Indonesia’s competitiveness is also lower than that of Brunei Darussalam (26) and Malaysia (24). It is far lower than that of Singapore which was second on the list. Singapore even outclasses the United States (5), Germany (4) and Finland (3),” he said.

Switzerland is ranked first as a country with the highest competitiveness.

For this purpose, Indonesia should make a lot of improvements, particularly in the field of research and technology, Surapranata said. components for the competitive edge of a country include institutional development, policies and various other productivity determiners, he said.

“The productivity of a nation decides the return of investment in broad sense such as physical development, financial system, human resources and technology,” Surapranata added.

In the meantime, economist Derek Carnegie said that increasing productivity was one of the efforts the government could make to maintain and increase Indonesia’s economic growth and stability.

“Actually, Indonesia has strong industrial productivity, but it should increase its competitiveness to support the country’s more stable economy,” Derek Carnegie, economist of the Or-

ganization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said on Thursday.

Derek said the increase could be observed from Indonesia’s manufacturing sector, which at present was relatively better than those of other countries grouped in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Besides, Indonesia could also achieve a sustainable economic growth through improvement in the national education system by encouraging the involvement of local governments in providing supporting infrastructures.

“Indonesia could expand education access for the people through improvement of government polices and adoption of an efficient conditional cash transfer program,” he said.

Indonesia also needs to reinforce its natural disaster management scheme, particularly the system which is related to floods, and to reform its pension system which a present is one of the pillars in its social insurance system.

“The pension system must be reinforced because at present Indonesia has not yet applied an adequate social insurance system which provide income for the majority of Indonesian people retiring from services,” he said.

Derek added that besides the challenges mentioned above, the Indonesian government should also improve its business climate by simplifying business procedures to boost investment which so far has become the biggest contributor to the country’s economic growth.

The OECD has predicted that Indonesia’s economic growth will be the highest one in Southeast Asian countries in the 2014-2018 period with an average growth of 6.0 percent followed by the Philippines 5.8 percent, Malaysia 5.1 percent and Thailand 4.9 percent.

Besides, Singapore’s economic growth will also reach 3.3 percent in the same period while Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar will grow fast in mid-term.

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Rupiah to strengthen in 2014 Antara

LABUAN BAJO - Bank Indonesia (BI/ the central bank) is optimistic that the rupiah currency will strengthen in 2014 in line with the improvement of economic fundamentals and the decline in the country’s current account deficit.

“With improving economic fundamentals such as the decline in the country’s current account deficit, the rupiah value against the US dollar will strengthen,” Executive Director of BI’s Monetary and Economic Policy Department Doddy Budi Waluyo said.

He said that the implementation of the legislative and presidential elections in 2014 would not have negative impacts on the rupiah exchange value.

Doddy predicted that the current account deficit in 2014 would reach US$25 US$26 billion or about 2.9 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

The conditions were better than those at the end of 2013 which stood at US$31 billion or 3.6 percent of the GDP, or the conditions in the second quarter of 2013 which reached 4.4 percent.

BI also estimated that inflation rate could be taken under control and returned to its normal level at a range of 4.5 plus-minus one percent in 2014.

The Central Bureau of Statistics in November 2013 recorded the inflation rate at 7.79 percent while the year-on-year inflation was recorded at 8.37 percent.

“With that conditions, the rupiah should not necessarily weaken in 2014,” Doddy said.

He said that the rupiah value now depreciated as a result of high demand for US dollar in the country.

“Rupiah can just strengthen due to positive sentiment but it weakens in term of fundamental conditions, and BI will not let the rupiah value be far from the fundamental conditions,” he said.

He said that the rupiah value had been in a downward trend since last May or July.

Before May, the rupiah was recorded at below Rp9,700 per US$1 and had reached over Rp10,000 since September 2013.

On Friday evening, the rupiah exchange rate against the Greenback weakened 73 points at the interbank market from Rp12,201 to Rp12,274.

Pick-up truck crash kills 18 in East Java Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Eighteen people on their way to a funeral were killed when their pick-up truck crashed into a trailer in Indonesia, police said Sunday.

The pick-up with 31 people on board had attempted to overtake three vehicles but collided with a cargo trailer in Probolinggo district in East Java on Saturday, East Java police spokesman Awi Setyono told AFP. “The pick-up carrying all-female passengers

hit the trailer as it was trying to speed past three vehicles in front by going on the wrong lane,” he said.

“Eighteen people were killed, including the male driver and two girls aged five and two.”

Thirteen passengers were hospitalised with serious injuries and broken bones. The trailer driver and his assistant were slightly hurt, he said.

Fatal accidents are common on Indonesia’s poorly maintained roads, especially on densely populated Java island.

ANTARA FOTO/Adhitya Hendra

Eighteen people on their way to a funeral were killed when their pick-up truck crashed into a trailer in Indonesia, police said Sunday.

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International

Monday, December 30, 2013

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

Monday, December 30, 2013

Snake kills security guard at luxury hotel

US stocks rise amid wave of positive sentiment

Agence France-Presse

Agence France-Presse

NEW YORK - US stocks edged towards the finale of a banner 2013 in buoyant fashion this week, repeatedly reaching new records on a string of solid economic data.

Markets eased on Friday, with all three indices retreating slightly from Thursday records. But that came on the heels of three straight recordsetting days earlier in the holidayshortened week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 257.27 (1.59 percent) higher for the week at 16,478.41. Thursday’s record close marked the 50th record settlement for the year, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The S&P 500 also repeatedly broke records, ending the week 23.08 (1.27 percent) higher at 1,841.40. The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index closed 51.85 (1.26 percent) higher at 4,156.59.

“Over all, you’re seeing a slow drift higher in stocks this week, as many traders have called it a good year and looking forward to 2014,” said David Levy, portfolio manager at Kenjol Capital Management.

The stretch between the Christmas and New Years holidays has historically been a winner for investors in a phenomenon known as a “Santa Claus” rally.

Investopedia said reasons stocks usually rise during this period include

“happiness around Wall Street” and “the fact that the pessimists are usually on vacation this week.”

This time around, unexpectedly strong economic data also propelled markets, with low trading volumes accentuating the trends.

Data showed US consumer spending rose in November for the second straight month. There were also better-than-expected reports on new home sales, durable goods orders and new unemployment claims.

Levy said a key factor could be how quickly interest rates rise. So far, bond yields have edged higher in the wake of last week’s announcement.

But a sudden rise could crimp investor enthusiasm.

“While there’s still room for stocks to move higher, I wouldn’t expect as strong a year in 2014 as we’ve seen in 2013,” Levy said. Levy said the “jury is out” on the economy, even though the trend is positive. For one thing, the 2013 holiday shopping season has been generally disappointing.

Corporate news highlights included Apple’s deal with China Mobile to make its iPhones more widely available in the massive Chinese market.

Brazil slaps tax increase on overseas tourism spending

Agence France-Presse

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil on Saturday imposed a hefty six percent increase on the surcharge paid by its citizens when making credit cards purchases overseas.

The increase, which went into effect Saturday, raised the tax from 0.38 percent to 6.38 percent. The tax also applies to cash withdrawals from overseas bank machines and purchases made when using travelers checks.

The announcement will come as a rude surprise to millions of Brazilians many of whom already have departed the country on

their summer holiday travels.

The measure is expected to add some 552 million reals ($205 million) to government coffers next year.

The tax also aims to reduce the amount that Brazilians spend overseas, thereby bolstering domestic industry and reducing a budget deficit which the O Globo daily said stands at $72.7 billion.

According to government figures, Brazilians spent $23.1 billion overseas between January and November of this year, a 14 percent increase over the same period in 2012.

ANTARA FOTO/Yudhi Mahatma

AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File

In this Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, file photo, Jason Hardzewicz, a floor official and trader for Barclays, works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. US stocks edged towards the finale of a banner 2013 in buoyant fashion this week, repeatedly reaching new records on a string of solid economic data.

The hard-won deal took years to negotiate and could double Apple’s iPhone presence in China.

UPS and FexEx were also scrutinized after some consumers did not receive holiday packages by Christmas, despite promises by retailers.

However, shares in both companies rose, suggesting investors were cheered by the news of lofty business

more than they were troubled by complaints on Twitter that likened the shippers to the “Grinch who stole Christmas.”

Shares in Target underperformed the S&P 500 as news dribbled out about its massive data breach in the first part of the Christmas holiday season. On Friday, Target said hackers obtained “strongly encrypted”

debit-card data, but that it was confident hackers could not have obtained PIN numbers.

Analysts expect another fairly quiet week next week, owing to the New Year holiday. But there will again be a handful of economic reports, including the Case-Shiller index of home prices and the Conference Board’s report on consumer confidence.

Stock Market Prediction Citigroup P Year-end target: 1,900.

P Reasoning: Modest improvement in the economy and better company earnings. Enticed by higher returns, investors will move some cash from bonds back into stocks.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch P Year-end target: 2,000.

P Reasoning: With the Federal Reserve likely to end its bondbuying program, bonds face a tough year. In stocks, the focus will be large multinational companies that can benefit from an

improving global economy.

Goldman Sachs P Year-end target: 1900.

P Reasoning: The rally of 2013 cannot continue into 2014.

Stocks are no longer cheap. Investors are paying more than $16 for every $1 of earnings, versus about $14 at the beginning of 2012. Stocks will keep rising, but more modestly, Goldman analysts say.

Barclays Capital PYear-end target: 1,900.

P Reasoning: The Fed pulling

out of its stimulus program will lessen the support for U.S. stocks over the next year. Investors should focus on corporate earnings, as well as the modestly improving economy.

Wells Fargo Securities P Year-end target: 1850-1900.

P Reasoning: The stock market will trend higher next year, but the returns are unlikely to repeat the gains of 2013. Another round of budget battles between the White House and Congress as well as a new Fed chairwoman will likely impact the market’s growth.

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The current development of global economy remains in uncertain situation. Indonesia, including Bali, has got the impact of such global uncertainty. It is characterized by the fluctuation in the exchange rate and the worsening Indonesia’s payment balance (NPI).

DENPASAR - Police on the holiday island of Bali warned tourists to be on guard Friday after a huge python killed a security guard at a luxury beachfront hotel.

The four-metre (13-foot) snake is still on the loose after the attack early Thursday at the Bali Hyatt, which is in the popular Sanur area but currently closed for renovation.

The security guard, Ambar Arianto Mulyo, spotted the serpent and succeeded in catching it, a police official said. Mulyo, 59, gripped its head with his right hand and its tail with his left -- but the snake proved too strong, managing to wrap itself around his neck and strangle him.

He was accompanied by friends but they were too terrified to step in and help, Gusti Ngurah Yudistira, the head of the police criminal investigations unit covering the Sanur area, told AFP. “The victim died on the spot as his neck was crushed and he could not breath,” he said.

The snake is still on the loose after a police search of the hotel and its extensive grounds failed to track down the animal, he warned.

“We urge residents and tourists to stay on the alert,” Yudistira said, adding the snake may have slithered into a nearby area of thick foliage opposite the hotel.

The deadly attack came at a busy time on Bali, as foreign tourists pack out the island’s palm-fringed beaches for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Yearender

Global economic pressure has not receded The current development of global economy remains in uncertain situation. Indonesia, including Bali, has got the impact of such global uncertainty. It is characterized by the fluctuation in the exchange rate and the worsening Indonesia’s payment balance (NPI). This depressed the exchange rate with the correction over IDR 12,200 per U.S. dollar by the end of 2013. In 2014, the challenge will not recede. When the economy is in the process of correction to soft landing, some of the global and domestic challenges still arise. The shifting landscape of the global economy has the risk to reverse the direction of portfolio capital towards developed countries, especially the U.S. As a result, it causes a pressure on the widening deficit in the balance of payment.

Chief Representative of Bank Indonesia for Region III Bali-Nusra, Benny Siswanto, stated the year 2014 posed a political year for Indonesia, including the region of Bali and Nusa Tenggara. Empirically, the regional leader election showed the situation remained conducive to the ongoing economic activity.

“We also hope the implementation of general election 2014 could run safely, so the economic activity is well maintained and running properly,” he said.

The economy of Bali and Nusa Tenggara region in 2014 was ex-

pected to reach 6.05 percent, higher than the growth in 2013. Its growth was supported by the increased consumption and the net export growth. “We expect the economy of Bali as the regional economic powerhouse can go beyond our prediction of 6.35 percent. This prospect is supported by the promising development of Bali tourism industry as entrance gates of tourists,” he said.

He explained the economic growth of Bali was also supported by weakening imports, so the net export returned to be positive. “In

terms of prices, we are very optimistic that inflation, both in Bali and Nusa Tenggara, is able to achieve the target of 4.5 percent nationwide.

Optimizing role of the Bali regional inflation controller team (TPID) and synergy among the TPIDs within the regional and national framework will keep the price fluctuation at a reasonable and stable level,” he said optimistically.

Such an effort, he said, would surely require the support of the business community to participate in controlling the price, so the availability of goods and inflation expectation continued to be maintained. “Indeed, the current global economy stays in uncertain situation. We have felt the impact of the global uncertainties, such as the fluctuation of the exchange rate and the deterioration of the Indonesia’s balance of payment (NPI). It depresses the exchange rate of rupiah with the correction of over IDR 11,500 per U.S. dollar by the end of 2013,” he explained.

According to him, in the future,

the challenge would have not receded. When the economy was in the process of correction to soft landing, some of the global and domestic challenges stayed to arise.

“Shifting of the global economic landscape has the risk of reversing the direction of portfolio capital toward the developed countries, especially the U.S. As a result, the pressure on the deficit of the Indonesia’s payment balance is getting wider,” he added.

In addition, he said, the direction of portfolio capital to developed countries also had an impact on the risk of depreciation of rupiah against the hard currency. Amidst these global challenges, the domestic challenges were also severe.

“Such challenges are associated with the excess fragmentation of rupiah liquidity in the banking sector. It requires attention because it can increase the complexity of monetary operations and disrupt the stability of financial system,” he said.

A banking and SMEs observer of Bali, I Gusti Viraguna Bagoes Oka,

said other than due to political turmoil, the economy of Bali this year until 2014 faced a tough challenge, especially due to inflation since the end of the first quarter until the third quarter. The economic slowdown this year was estimated to continue until next year.

“Next year, the economic pressure will be harder than this year because it will be more influenced by political policy. This influence should be anticipated with good governance,” he said.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Undiknas University, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Raka Suardana, also acknowledged that the influence of politics on the economy ahead of the presidential election should be anticipated. Otherwise, it would adversely affect the national economy, including that of Bali. “This condition should be managed properly, especially by the government, if it does not want to be adversely affected by the economy.

Many policies will be politicized, especially those related to the economy,” he said. (par)

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Bali News

Monday, December 30, 2013

International

International

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To clean up rubbish

RLD

Sanitation Agency prepares watershed management program

Police secure dozens of firecrackers and liquors Bali Post

DENPASAR - Chief of Kuta Police, I Nyoman Resa, had stated to prohibit the fireworks and firecrackers that were not appropriate with provisions.

The statement was also actually realized and his party seized dozens of firecrackers, Friday (Dec 27). Apart from firecrackers, the Kuta Police also secured a number of unlicensed liquors.

Accompanied by Chief of Criminal Detective Section Wahyu Setyo, Chief Reza said that his party held a raid against fireworks and liquor ahead of the New Year 2014. A number of locations were raided and his party managed to secure 28 bars of firecrackers sizing 0.8 (8 shots), 18 bars sizing 0.1, 19 bars sizing 1.8 and 52 bars sizing 0.8 (5 shots).

The firecrackers were confiscated from MU Adi, 32, a resident of Jalan Pudak Sari 50 Kuta, Badung.

Seizure of the evidence was appropriate with the Letter of Assignment: SP GAS/502/XII/Reskrim dated December 27, 2013 on the disciplining of all kinds of firecrackers and fireworks. “The firecracker was secured in the residential area located on Jalan Pudak Sari 50 Kuta, Badung,” he said.

Meanwhile, the officers also secured a number of liquors from Sand Bar on Jalan Popies I, Kuta.

The liquor was not equipped with sales letters.

The liquor secured included 3 bottles of Bacardi, 3 bottles of Jack Daniels, 2 bottles of Jeam Beam, 2 bottles of Jose Guservo, 1 bottle of Absolute Vodka, 1 bottle of Red Label and 1 bottle of Stonehaven.

“These firecrackers and liquors have been secured,” he explained. (kmb21)

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Beijing bun shop gets China’s president as diner

Associated Press Writer

Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Plastic waste strewn in many watersheds should be cleaned with a clear program.

To that end, the Regent of Buleleng Putu Agus Suradnyana asked the Sanitation and Landscaping Agency (DKP) to make a hardware and software program to manage the watershed in Buleleng.

Regent Suradnyana said that managing the watershed in Buleleng was actually very easy because the rivers in Buleleng were unlike the rivers in Southern Bali that were averagely long enough.

“Meanwhile, the rivers in Buleleng are quite short, so it should be easy to manage,” he said.

He added that to make the watershed management program the Sanitation and Landscaping Agency should perform initial data collection and research carefully enough. For example, all the activities existing in the watershed should be specified. “With a clear assessment and program, the watershed management is not only to clean up the trash, but can also benefit economically,” he said. (kmb15)

Monday, December 30, 2013

AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn

The dog from Kintamani is joining a competition

IBP/File

Mountain dog passes administration process Bali Post

BANGLI - WHO does not know the Kintamanian dog? The dog originating from mountainous area of Kintamani in Bangli, as a typical dog of Bali, has drawn the interest of many people. Physically, it resembles a wolf and commonly lives in the mountainous areas like at Sukawana, Kintamani. The dog known to be intelligent has been declared to pass the administration as the family of dog that deserves to get recognition and legal protection from the government.

Enactment of the Kintamanian dog in terms of administrative process as separate family of dog was revealed by the Head of Bangli Livestock and Fishery Agency, Alit Parwata, when making a presentation with the academician doubling as researcher of Kintamanian dog from the Udayana University, Prof. Puja, in Bogor some time ago.

The presentation was also supported by the All Indonesia Kennel Club (Central Perkin) and twenty-five panelists from various universities, including the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Brawijaya University (UB) and others. “From the results of the administration at that time, the Kintamanian dog was declared to have passed as separate family of dog in order to get recognition and legal protection from the government. Besides, it was also admitted to have superior advantages compared to the other breed of dogs,” said Parwata.

However, for the establishment, his party was still awaiting the arrival of the Director General of Livestock Breeding, the Ministry of Agriculture, to conduct

verification and see in person the presence of the dog which was also known as the dog of Bali in its native habitat at Sukawana village, Kintamani, Bangli.

According to Alit Parwata, many advantages to be gained if later on the Kintamanian dog had received official recognition and a certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture as a native purebred dog to Indonesia. Kintamanian dog which so far had been recognized to have intelligent, independent and loyal nature to its master would be increasingly interested by the community and would indirectly affect the economic value of the dog. “If previously the Kintamanian dog was only valued at tens to hundreds of thousands of rupiahs per head, in the future when it has got official recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture the price can reach millions of rupiahs. By all means, this will be good news for Kintamanian dog breeders in Bangli,” he said.

Not only that, the excellence of Kintamanian dog was also recognized for its skills in helping police duties as a narcotic dog and theft prevention or SAR. In the tradition of Balinese community, the existence of Kintamanian dog, especially

the blangbukem (brown feather and black muzzle), was often taken advantage for a means of ceremonies.

Outside Bali, the dogs whose existence had been recognized as a distinctive type of dog breed by the Indonesian Kennel Club (Perkin) in 2006 and by the Asian Kennel Union (AKU) in the Philippines in 2012 were distributed in several other regions. Among others, they were in East Java, Solo, Jakarta, West Java, Medan, Europe, the Netherlands, Croatia, the USA and Australia.

Alit Parwata said that so far the population of Kintamanian dog reached 2,669 heads, consisting of 1,562 females and 1,107 males. To make the local Kintamanian dog dominate and actually become the icon of Bali, his party claimed to improve the human resources and breeder community of Kintamanian dog, increase the facilities and infrastructure of preservation as well as the development of attractions, regulation and public education. “Therefore, the population of Kintamanian dog can dominate in the county and actually become the icon of Bali and Indonesia,” he hoped.

All this time, the region known as the production center of Kintamanian dog was located at Paketan hamlet, Sukawana village, Kintamani. Most local residents bred the dogs at their own home and there was no special place to breed it.

Typically, the result of dog breed was sold for additional income of residents beyond their main profession as a citrus farmer. (ina)

Thai anti-government protesters sit on the ground after being detained by riot policemen during a clash at a sport stadium in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. Rock-throwing protesters trying to halt preparations for elections fought police in the Thai capital on Thursday, escalating their campaign to topple the country’s beleaguered government.

Thai army chief urges calm, doesn’t rule out coup

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping dropped in unexpectedly at a traditional Beijing bun shop, where he queued up, ordered and paid for a simple lunch of buns stuffed with pork and onions, green vegetables, and stewed pig livers and intestines.

Such visits are extremely rare — if not unheard of — for top Chinese leaders, who are usually surrounded by heavy security and are not known for mingling with the public other than at scheduled events.

After spotting Xi on Saturday, fellow diners took photos of the president and shared them on China’s social media. State media reposted the photos on their microblog accounts, and the official Xinhua News Agency reported about Xi’s lunch on its Chinese-language news site.

“Had it not been for the photos, it would be incredulous to believe Xi, as a dignified president and party chief, should eat at a bun shop,” author Wu Xiqi wrote in an editorial carried by the ruling Communist Party’s official news site. “Xi’s act has subverted the traditional image of Chinese officials, ushering a warm, people-first gust of wind that is very touching indeed.”

On Sunday, the store welcomed long lines of Chinese, some posing for photos in the room where Xi was and others wanting to order what he had bought. A group from southern Guangdong province who were visiting Beijing had gone to have a look after hearing about Xi’s visit online.

The manager of the Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop, who gave only her family name, He, said that Xi and a small entourage arrived at the no-frills eatery in western Beijing at around noon Saturday without prior notification. She said that Xi paid 21 yuan ($3.40) for his lunch.

“There was no special security measure during his stay,” the manager said. “Customers could freely enter and leave the restaurant, and many took photos with him.” In one photo, a chef posed with Xi, who continued eating his meal as the picture was taken.

Associated Press Writer

BANGKOK — Thailand’s powerful army chief on Friday issued his strongest call yet for the nation’s political rivals to overcome their bitter divide, refusing to rule out the possibility of a military coup as long as the conflict threatens to tear the country apart. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha made the comments one day after protesters trying to stop February elections battled with police in Bangkok in clashes that left two people dead and injured more than 140, one of the most violent days since the conflict began two months ago.

The crisis has seen Thailand wracked by political tensions in which demonstrators have sought to overthrow the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The army has staged 11 successful coups in the country’s history — the last against Yingluck’s brother in 2006 — so Prayuth’s words carry great weight.

Asked whether a military takeover was possible, Prayuth said simply, “That door is neither open nor closed ... it will be determined by the situation.” Protesters have lobbied for the army to intervene in the crisis, and their leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, has called on the military to take sides. Late last month, they forced their way onto the grounds of army head-

quarters to deliver a letter asking the military to support their campaign. Prayuth responded by insisting that the army would not take sides.

On Friday, he reiterated that stance, saying, “Please don’t bring the army into the center of this conflict.” The deepening crisis took a turn for the worse Thursday after protesters tried to overrun a Bangkok sports stadium where election candidates were gathering to draw lots for their positions on ballots. Masked protesters fired rocks from slingshots as they tried to break into the building to halt the process, while police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Two people, including a police officer, were shot dead. Four election commissioners left the

stadium by helicopter to escape the violence, some of the sharpest since a long-running dispute between Thailand’s bitterly divided political factions intensified anew in November.

As the violence unfolded Thursday, Thailand’s election commission called for the Feb. 2 polls to be delayed. That was a blow to Yingluck, whose ruling party won a landslide during the last vote in 2011 and would likely dominate any new election, thanks to her overwhelming support in the country’s north and northeast. The government rejected the call for the ballot to be delayed. Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Friday that he would ask the military to provide security for the elections.

AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

Tourists from Guangdong province, who ordered similar food to what Chinese President Xi Jinping ate the day before, pose for photos at the Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop in Beijing, China, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.

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Monday, December 30, 2013

International

Bali News

International

Monday, December 30, 2013

3

Lack of customers dooms many Cuban businesses

Australian tourists to Bali increasing

Associated Press Writer

Antara

DENPASAR - Regardless of strained relations between Indonesia and Australia last month, the number of Australian tourists arriving in Indonesia is increasing, an observer said.

HAVANA — The dented metal pizza trays are packed away, so too the old blender that never worked when it was needed.

Gone is the sweet smell of rising dough that infused Julio Cesar Hidalgo’s Havana apartment when he and his girlfriend were in business for themselves, churning out cheesy pies for hungry costumers.

Two years on the front lines of Cuba’s experiment with limited free market capitalism has left Hidalgo broke, out of work and facing a possible crushing fine. But the 33-year-old known for his wide smile and sunny disposition says the biggest loss is harder to define. “I feel frustrated and let down,” Hidalgo said, slumped in a rocking chair one recent December afternoon, shrugging his shoulders as he described the pizzeria’s collapse.

“The business didn’t turn out as I had hoped.”

The Associated Press recently checked in with nine small business owners whose fortunes it first reported on in 2011 as they set up shop amid the excitement of President Raul Castro’s surprising embrace of some free enterprise.

Among them were restaurant and cafeteria owners, a seamstress and taekwondo instructor, a vendor of bootleg DVDs and a woman renting her rooms out to well-heeled tourists. Their fates tell a story of divided fortunes.

Of the six ventures that relied on revenue from cash-strapped islanders, four are now out of business, their

owners in more dire financial straits than when they started. But the three enterprises that cater to well-heeled foreigners, and to the minority of wellpaid Cubans who work for foreign businesses, are still going and in some cases thriving.

While the sample size is small, the numbers point to a basic problem that economists who follow Cuba have noted from the start: There simply isn’t enough money to support a thriving private sector on an island where salaries average $20 a month.

“Clearly, there is a macroeconomic environment that does not favor the private sector or the expansion of demand that the private sector requires,” said Pavel Vidal, a former Cuban Central Bank economist.

Vidal has long called on Communist authorities to adopt a huge stimulus package or more aggressively seek capital from foreign investors. Now a professor at Colombia’s Javeriana University, he says one has only to look at the trends since 2011 to see the private sector economy is nearly tapped out. After a surge of enthusiasm, the number of islanders working

AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa

A chair sits empty in the home of Maleidy Blanco who runs a barbershop here in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013. After a surge of enthusiasm, the number of islanders working for themselves has stalled for the past two years at less than 10 percent of the workforce. for themselves has stalled for the past two years at about 444,000 — or 9 percent of the workforce.

Even in developed countries where entrepreneurs have access to capital, loans and a wide pool of paying customers, startups are risky ventures.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, about half of all

new establishments in America close within five years, and two-thirds are gone within a decade. The failure rate of Cuban entrepreneurs followed by AP was 44 percent in less than two years, and worse if one considers only those that relied primarily on Cuban customers.

“There’s not enough money circu-

lating in the economy in the hands of everyday people,” said Ted Henken, a professor of Latin American studies at Baruch College in New York and author of an upcoming book on private enterprise in Cuba. “You’re all competing for the same customers, most of whom are poor and have very limited disposable income.”

“Bali still remains a favorite place to visit by Australian tourists because its geographical location is nearer and security is more insured so that the number of Australian tourists to Bali is increasing,” Bali tourism observer Dewa Nyoman Putra said.

The tourist resort province of Bali is a small island but it has complete tourism destinations such as beaches, mountains and rice fields.

All these tourist destinations could be reached in a single day.

Putra who is also a tourism operator said Australian tourists commonly went to Bali with family members to visit Kuta, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Tanjung Benoa. Only a small percentage visited Ubud which is so far known as an artist village in Bali.

Clean beaches with waves scenes in Bali’s southern part still constitutes a favorite tourist destination for Austraian tourists. They came to Bali for holidaying while also sporting.

Putra said that based on data from Bali’s tourism service, Australian

tourists accounted for 25.31 percent or 754,056 of the total foreign tourists which stood at 2,979,517 visiting Bali in the January - November 2012 period.

The number of Australian tourists visiting Bali in October reached 67,680 but sharply increased to 85,158 in November 2013, he said.

Because beach is their main target, they stay in beach areas during their visit in Bali. Only a small numbers or about 16.67 percent stayed in the mountainous regions such as Ubud and Tegallalang tourist resorts, about about 8.89 percent stayed in Denpasar (Bali’s provincial capital).

A survey by the Denpasar office of Bank Indonesia(the central bank) on the behavior of 510 Australian tourists in November last year indicated that 95.95 percent of them came to Bali for holidaying while the remaining ones were for a business visit or a MICE (Meeting Incentive Converence Exhibition) event. Therefore, the average length of their stay in Bali reached six days.

IBP/File Photo

An Australian tourist putting a flag in the Ground Zero, Kuta, Bali Island during the commemeration of Bali Bombing. Regardless of strained relations between Indonesia and Australia last month, the number of Australian tourists arriving in Indonesia is increasing, an observer said.

Banners rejecting reclamation widely spread

US boy, 9, is youngest to reach Aconcagua summit Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Claudio Gutierrez

Tyler Armstrong, from Southern California, poses for a portrait as he arrives to a hotel in Mendoza, Argentina, Friday, Dec. 27, 2013. The 9-year-old boy from has become the youngest person in recorded history to reach the summit of Argentina’s Aconcagua mountain, the tallest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A 9-year-old boy from Southern California has become the youngest person in recorded history to reach the summit of Argentina’s Aconcagua mountain, which at 22,841 feet (6,962 meters) is the tallest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres. Tyler Armstrong of Yorba Linda reached the summit on Christmas Eve with his father Kevin and a Tibetan sherpa, Lhawang Dhondup, who has climbed Mt. Everest multiple times. They were in fine spirits Friday as they left Aconcagua, whose sheer precipices and bitter cold have claimed more than 100 climbers’ lives.

“You can really see the world’s atmosphere up there. All the clouds are under you, and it’s really cold,” Tyler said, describing the summit to The Associated Press. “It doesn’t look anything like a kid’s drawing of

a mountain. It’s probably as big as a house at the summit, and then it’s a sheer drop.”

Only 30 percent of the 7,000 people who obtain permits to climb Aconcagua each year make the summit, said Nicolas Garcia, who handled their logistics from down below. No one under 14 is usually allowed, so the family had to persuade an Argentine judge that Tyler could safely accomplish the feat.

In their case, they took the “Polish Glacier” route, which doesn’t require climbing, and roped themselves together only when crossing steep ice-covered slopes.

“Any kid can really do this, all they have to do is try. And set their mind to the goal,” said Tyler, who worked out twice a day for a year and a half to prepare for the climb.

He also held fundraisers, not only to defray the cost but to raise money for CureDuchenne, which funds

muscular dystrophy research.

“I think Tyler’s record speaks for itself and because I think he’s doing it for a good cause, he’s doing it to help other people, I think the judge recognized that,” said his father, an emergency medical technician.

Tyler’s mother is a pediatric neuropsychologist, and they also have another son, Tyler’s younger brother Dylan.

“Most people think we as parents are pushing Tyler to do this, when it’s completely the opposite. I wouldn’t climb it if I didn’t have to, but my wife makes me do it to keep watch on him,” he said.

“He’s a great dad,” Tyler said. “At 20,000 feet, he wanted to turn around but I kept him going. And the day we were getting off the mountain, he had a blister and it popped ... He made it to the summit and everything but that dang blister made him ride a mule.”

Bali Post

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

Dozens of banners expressing the rejection against the reclamation plan emerged again along the road section of Tanjung Benoa, Friday (Dec 27). They criticized the revision plan of the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita that allowed the reclamation at Benoa Bay.

MANGUPURA - Dozens of banners expressing the rejection against the reclamation plan emerged again along the road section of Tanjung Benoa, Friday (Dec 27). They criticized the revision plan of the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita that allowed the reclamation at Benoa Bay. Activity of the rejection against the reclamation was also graced with the play of a song entitled ‘Reject Reclamation’ at some corners of the street.

The rejection was coordinated by the Tanjung Benoa Society Association (HMTB). They asked Governor Pastika to listen to the aspirations of Tanjung Benoa community to withdraw the Gubernatorial Decree No.1727 and reject the reclamation plan of Benoa Bay. The action of the banner installation coincided with the prayer plan and the release of turtle hatchlings led by the Bali Mangrove Care Forum (FPMB) in conjunction with the welcome of the New Year 2014 and the release of turtle hatchlings

at Benoa Bay. In the program list disseminated by the committee, the event was scheduled to be attended

by Governor Pastika to give a speech and release turtle hatchlings on the east coast of Tanjung Benoa. Unfortunately, until the event was over, Governor Pastika did not appear.

Meanwhile, the speech was read by the official of the regional working unit of Bali government.

A local community leader, I Made Wijaya, affirmed the activity was filled with the interest of imaging.

“We declare it is not good and inappropriate, let alone state the Tri Hita Karana philosophy where they do not necessarily understand and implement. So, we firmly reject,” he said.

Meanwhile, another community leader, Wayan Ranten, said the event with Artha Graha and the FPMB was a joint prayer and the reading of the interfaith pledge harmony. He explained the event was filled with joint prayers and the release of turtle hatchlings. “It poses our concerns for the endangered species and the environment,” he said. (dgk)

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International

Monday, December 30, 2013

Bali News Bali Post

DENPASAR - Kecak Dance performance telling the story on Sugriwa and Subali was presented by 35 children coalesced into the Lentera Anak Bali at the opening of the Denpasar Festival (Denfest), Saturday (Dec 28) at the Catur Muka Statue roundabout, Denpasar.

DENPASAR - Fire burned out the second floor of Tirta Dewi Mart II shopping complex on Jalan Kartika Plaza, Kuta, Friday (Dec 27). This fire also caused the Green Garden Hotel located next to it to evacuate hundreds of guests out of the hotel. Sugita encountered at the location said the fire was known around 10:30 p.m. At that time, the fire was seen blazing on the second floor of the Tirta Dewi Mart taken advantage for MM Day

Spa and New Release DVD Store.

“Previously, the smoke was seen rising from the shopping complex,” he said.

At that time, two buildings were vacant as they were just closed around 10:00 night. Quickly the fire burned out the roof and the contents of spa building owned by Mrs. Merry and DVD Store owned

by Mulyadi. “Suddenly, the fire has been seen to spread to the two stores,” he added.

The fire engulfing the store

unique landscapes, pure white sandy bays dotted with dramatic granite boulders and the crystal clear sea water that surrounds it. After serving as the location for the famous Indonesian movie, Laskar Pelangi, Belitung has become known for its idyllic location, as well as its production and distribution of pepper and tin.

The main tourist spots on Belitung are found on the pristine beaches and offshore islands/islets. The main beaches are Tanjung Tinggi Beach and Tanjung Kelayang Beach, both of which boast blue clear water, powdery sands and the signature rocky landscape. As for the islands/islets, Batu Berlayar Island (meaning Sailing Rock) is full of stunning granite structures while

IBP/Courtesy of Archipelago International

Lengkuas Island is the home of a 129 year-old lighthouse and a great place for snorkeling. Pasir Island is made of sand and is submerged during high tide, as is Bird Islet (Pulau Burong) which can be accessed from Tanjung Binga beach at low tide.

“Belitung is a fantastic destination for both leisure and business travel thanks to its idyllic

Calendar Event for January 1 through February 26, 2014 The Kecak Dance during the opening ceremony of the 6th annual Denpasar Festival city of Denpasar. Regarding the traffic congestion, Dewa Parsana said it was a commonplace whenever there were activities. However, everything could certainly be addressed and coordinated.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson of Denpasar Municipality, IB Rahoela, accompanied by Publication Subdivision Head, Dewa Gede Rai, said the Denpasar Festival having been prepared optimally was expected to give a pride to the city of Denpasar,

IBP/File

so it could be used as an unforgettable yearend cultural icon. “At the same time, this yearend festival is made into a reflection of the urban life that has so many superior cultures as a foothold to develop the community creative culture,” said Rahoela.

Another event that was quite interesting in the Denpasar Festival this year was the presentation of The Exotic of Wastra fashion show featuring the products of national designers. (par)

Fire burns out Tirta Dewi Mart shopping complex Bali Post

JAKARTA - Archipelago International is set to expand its flourishing Aston brand with the opening of Aston Belitung Hotel on the island of Belitung, situated off of Sumatra’s east coast. Scheduled for a soft opening in early November, the hotel was conceptualized to support Belitung’s development, providing international standard accommodations and conference facilities to the city’s growing commerce.

The hotel will feature 202 guest rooms and suites, several of which enjoy breathtaking views of the nearby ocean. The hotel swimming pool also soaks up this beachfront vista, as do the handful of food and beverage outlets including a restaurant, coffee shop and a bar & lounge complete with karaoke facilities. Being just 20 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes to the city centre, government offices and banking district, business travelers are well catered for together with five hotel meeting rooms and a grand ballroom capable of accommodating up to 600 persons. Down-time can be enjoyed in the hotel’s fitness center and spa.

Belitung is renowned for many things, namely its beautiful beaches,

it was people’s activity showcasing a wide variety of traditional cuisines that were very difficult to find today.

“It is an amazing activity as displaying all community activities in the city of Denpasar. The concept is very good, I never imagine there is a very classy event like this in Denpasar,” said the former Chief of Denpasar Metro Police.

He even expected that such kind of activity could be carried out twice a year so as to help the SMEs in the

caused panic in the stores and other businesses located around the scene. Even, the enlarging fire made the guests in Green Garden Hotel located right next to the burning store panic. The hotel immediately evacuated hundreds of guests to get out of the hotel area.

One of the hotel staffs met said the fire was very great so that hotel decided to evacuate its guests.

“Indeed, all guests were evacuated out of the hotel because the fire was so large,” said the hotel staff that

15

IBP

Rai Mantra: Denfest prevents economic leakage tagline ‘Creative in Motion’ reflects the modern Denpasar society in the era of globalization,” he said.

Denpasar Festival held for the sixth time was designed as an onstreet festival, in which the central theme highlighted was Denpasar, My City My Home, was centered near the roundabout of Catur Muka Statue, Jalan Gajah Mada, Jalan Veteran and around the Puputan Badung Square.

The activity posed a synergy between the Denpasar Municipality and the community components showcasing a variety of events ranging from the arts, culture, culinary treasures to textiles. As the peak of the creative expression of the Denpasar artists and sublime culture which referred to the local potential, the event was welcomed enthusiastically by the whole society.

The event inaugurated at 5:00 p.m. was filled with a variety of arts and cultural attractions as well as a photo exhibition by the members of the Denpasar Photographer Community (DPC). The best works of the photographers were exhibited during the implementation of the Denpasar Festival this year.

One of the residents making a visit before the festival was opened, Dewa Parsana, said the Denpasar Festival event was very unusual considering

Monday, December 30, 2013

Aston Belitung opens

Feud of Subali and Sugriva open Denfest VI

The annual multi-event agenda filled with creativities was officially opened by the Mayor of Denpasar, Ida Bagus Rai Darmawijaya Mantra, marked with the beating of a drum.

Amidst the opening of the festival, IB Rai Mantra expected the annual event could result in an added value to the development of Denpasar city in the future.

“We expect this activity can generate a value-added benefit in the future. The superiority-based creativity should continue to develop intellectually,” he said. According to him, the people’s party organized up to December 31 would affect the human resources that all this time had been dominated by the workers from outside Bali in general and Denpasar in particular had resulted in an economic leakage.

“This event poses an effort to reduce the economic leakage occurred in the city of Denpasar. To prevent the economic leakage, we must together understand and support it by using the local products,” he said.

Chief of Denpasar customary village, AA Putu Sueca, serving as Chairman of the Committee, revealed that such an activity represented a portrait of Denpasar as an open and multicultural city. “The creativity displayed in the Denpasar Festival with

Activities

International

rejected his name to be published.

Meanwhile, Chief of Kuta Police, I Nyoman Resa, met at the location of the fire said the firefighters came to the scene a few minutes later to put out the fire immediately. Around 11:30 p.m. the fire could be extinguished by 8 fire trucks. No casualties were reported in the incident, but the entire contents of the building on the second floor burned out. “The fire only occurred on the second floor. Meanwhile, the first floor of the building used for the minimarket

did not catch fire,” he said.

It was not known the exact cause of the fire burning out the buildings and land owned by Sucipto. Police officers were still investigating the scene of the fire. “As provisional estimation, the fire was caused by electric short circuit. The exact amount of losses has not been known as it was still awaiting one of the shop owners that stayed overseas,” added Chief of Kuta Police Detective Criminal Section, Wahyu Setyo. (nik)

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

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

Pura Tengkulak Tulikup Gianyar Pura Taman Sari Ubud Pura Penataran Badung

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

29 Jan Hari Siwaratri

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

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

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

surroundings and growing commerce, so we are extremely proud to be bringing our Aston brand to this paradisal island. By introducing a hotel with high standards and quality accommodations, we hope to attract an international clientele to Belitung to support its economic development and exciting future prospects” says Norbert Vas, Archipelago’s VP for Sales & Marketing.

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

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

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

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

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

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Entertainment

Monday, December 30, 2013

Hollywood struggles against new film meccas

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — In the old days, filmmakers flocked to Hollywood for its abundant sunshine, beautiful people and sandy beaches.

But today a new filmmaking diaspora is spreading across the globe to places like Vancouver, London and Wellington, New Zealand.

Fueled by politicians doling out generous tax breaks, filmmaking talent is migrating to where the money is. The result is an incentives arms race that pits California against governments around the world and allows powerful studios —with hundreds of millions of dollars at their disposal— to cherry-pick the best deals.

The most recent iteration of the phenomenon came earlier this month when James Cameron announced plans to shoot and produce the next three “Avatar” sequels largely in New Zealand.

What Cameron gets out of the deal is a 25 percent rebate on production costs, as long as his company spends at least $413 million on the three films.

“There’s no place in the world that we could make these sequels more cost effectively,” says producer Jon Landau. It is neither the

archipelago’s volcanoes nor its glaciers that are attractive, because the “Avatar” movies will be shot indoors. Sure, Peter Jackson’s awardwinning special effects infrastructure is there, but the deciding factor was the money. “We looked at other places,” says Landau. But in the end, “it was this rebate.”

In exchange, the local economy will benefit hugely, Landau says, comparing the ripple effect to the boost that comes from new home construction. “We’re doing lumber, we’re catering for hundreds of people a day. We’re housing people in hotels. We’re going to a stationery store and tripling their business in a year.”

The deal was “the best Christmas present we could have possibly hoped for,” says Alex Lee, an Auckland, New Zealand-based entertainment lawyer. The news is especially welcome because the local screen industry is facing a potential drought: The Starz pay TV series “Spartacus” finished this year and Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy is set to wrap next year. Thanks to the “Avatar” sequels, the 1,100 workers at Weta Digital Ltd., the ground-breaking digital effects house Jackson co-founded in 1993, can keep plugging away through 2018.

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Monday, December 30, 2013 Prayers, vigil as India remembers gang-rape victim

Page 6

City go top with tough win over Palace

Page 8

Thai army chief urges calm, doesn’t rule out coup

Page 13

SBY asked not to destroy Bali’s nature

Bali Post

AP Photo/20th Century Fox, File

FILE - This undated file film publicity image originally released by 20th Century Fox shows the characters Neytiri, voiced by Zoe Saldana, right, and Jake, voiced

by Sam Worthington, in a scene from “Avatar.”

Britney Spears’ Las Vegas residency a departure

DENPASAR - Discourses of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to revise the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita to smooth the Benoa Bay reclamation plan continued to reap criticism. “It is an attempt to harm the nature and culture by using legal instruments as if what they do by revising the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita is correct. Actually, if the revision is done it will become the entrance to the destruction of Bali’s nature and culture in the future,” said Chairman of the Bali Dwipa Care Forum (FPBD), Gede Bangun Nusantara.

He said the effort to remove the conservation status of Benoa Bay to smooth the reclamation was a kind of exploitation against Bali in a structured, planned and massive way by the government. By including PT TWBI in the Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of

the Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) in the corridor 5 of the Benoa Bay Investment Concern Area (KPI), added Bangun, showed off the model of destruction against the environment of Bali on the economic grounds and the progress of tourism in Bali.

To that end, Balinese people should unite to reject the revision of Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita. The Bali House and Governor of Bali as the spearhead should reject the revision. Moreover, it would eliminate the Benoa Bay area as a conservation area. “If the rejection is not done, the integrity as Balinese of the legislators and governor should be doubted. Instead, they were the leaders elected

by Balinese people to promote and maintain the Balinese culture. Not otherwise, they conspired with central government and investors,” he concluded.

Deputy Chairman of the Bali House, Ida Bagus Putu Sukarta, asked the central government to carefully discourse the change of

the status of conservation area of Benoa Bay for the sake of reclamation. Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita and Regional Bylaw No.16/2009 should be upheld and never be tampered with because it was one of the protections for the nature, culture and environment of Bali. “So, we ask to uphold the Regional Bylaw No.16/2009 as the fortress and fence of the Bali’s development. After all, we have to really keep Bali. Anyway, the program of central government should carefully see the condition in Bali and pay attention to the people’s aspiration,” said the politician from Sanur.

Sukarta doubling as Chairman of the Regional Representative Council of the Gerindra Bali asked

the central government not to target the Benoa Bay for the reclamation under the pretext of promoting Bali tourism. The aspect of environmental conservation and maintenance should be featured. Impact of the reclamation on the environmental, cultural, customary and social sustainability of Balinese people should be considered. “It must be considered whether the reclamation is worth and does not harm the environment of Bali and Benoa Bay in particular. Local wisdom in Bali must be considered and adhered to. We have a concept namely the upstream (ulu) and downstream (teben), Tri Hita Karana, and culture. This must be made into the cornerstone in any development of Bali,” he concluded. (kmb29)

Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS — Britney Spears has begun her early retirement in Las Vegas with a show that looks strikingly like the eye-popping Cirque du Soleil productions found elsewhere on the Strip. The debut of Spears’ long-term casino gig Friday kept an audience of about 4,500 on their feet for about 90 minutes. The youngfor-Vegas crowd was there for the danceable hits and the spectacle, which included acrobatics, a ring of fire, The show’s production values are unusually high for a casino residency, often calling to mind the golden age of music videos. Its high-concept set pieces featured a cadre of backup dancers who danced in human-sized hamster wheels and somersaulted over the Grammy-winning star. Spears, 32, has signed on to perform 50 shows each in 2014 and 2015 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

She cuts a different figure from the typical Strip headliner.

Other successful Las Vegas acts— including Shania Twain, Elton John and Celine Dion— have generally attracted an older audience. Judging from Friday’s show, her fans are more likely to be found at a casino mega-club than in front of a slot machine.

Still, her show “Piece of Me,” is not immune to nostalgia, one of the prime currencies in Las Vegas entertainment. It includes several callbacks to the 1990s and early 2000s, including plaid shirts tied around dancers’ waists and a recap of the barely-there sparkling costume Spears wore in the “Toxic” music video. Spears’ younger self haunted the show, with clips of her early performances playing on huge monitors. Notably absent from those monitors, to the displeasure of some fans in the cheap seats, were any live close-ups of what was unfolding onstage.

On his way out, Shane Sodeman, of San Diego, complained that Spears hadn’t donned the sexy school girl outfit or the skintight orange jumpsuit she wore in sexier days. A version of the jumpsuit was displayed in the lobby.

Speculation abounded ahead of the show that Spears would not be singing live, a claim that officials with Planet Hollywood

parent company Caesars Entertainment Corp. denied.

Entertainment Programming Vice President Kurt Melien said Spears sings against a recorded track of her vocals to help her through the more physically grueling parts of the set, and add the electronic undertones that characterize many of her songs.

AP Photo/Caesars Entertainment, David Becker

In this photo provided by Caesars Entertainment, Britney Spears rehearses “Britney: Piece of Me” at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013, in Las Vegas. Spears began her two-year Las Vegas casino residency Friday.

The file photo shows resident of Tanjung Benoa rallied against plan on reclamation. Discourses of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to revise the Presidential Regulation on Sarbagita to smooth the Benoa Bay reclamation plan continued to reap criticism.

IBP/File Photo