Edisi 31 Maret 2011 | International Bali Post

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Pakistani women carry pots whilst walking back to their homes after collecting fresh water from a nearby water point on World Water Day on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. An alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people has been arrested in Pakistan, an Indonesian counterterrorism official said Wednesday, March 30, 2011.

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Highest rate of population growth in Badung and Denpasar PAGE 8 AP Photo/Anjum Naveed

Bali bomb suspect arrested in Pakistan: Indonesia Panic! at the Disco downsizes, may head to B’way PAGE 12

Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - An alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people has been arrested in Pakistan, an Indonesian counter-terrorism official said Wednesday.

The official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Umar Patek had been detained on Tuesday but declined to give details about where or how the arrest was made. There

has been no immediate confirmation from authorities in Pakistan.

A team comprising police and counter-terrorism officials has been sent to Pakistan, Indonesian

officials said.

“Our intelligence team is verifying the information with the Pakistani authorities to confirm if the person arrested was really him,” National Anti-Terror Agency chief Ansyaad Mbai told AFP. “If it’s him, then that’s really good news for us.”

“We’re not surprised if he’s in Pakistan as these terrorists move from country to country,” he added.

Indonesia’s counter-terrorism police

have been tracking Patek for years.

One of the most wanted Islamic extremists in Southeast Asia, he has a $1 million bounty on his head under the US government’s “Rewards for Justice” programme.

Born in 1970, he was the alleged field coordinator for the bombings of night clubs on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians.

Continued on page 6

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Agence France Presse

ROME – Hollywood star George Clooney and Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo could testify in Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s defence in his upcoming sex trial, a lawyer told AFP. Clooney and his girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, according to the defence, were among those who attended parties at Berlusconi’s villa at Arcore which the prosecution says was the scene of orgies and strip-shows with prostitutes.

The 74-year old premier is to stand trial on April 6 for allegedly having paid pole dancer Karima El Mahroug, nicknamed “Ruby the Heart Stealer”, for sex when she was 17, after one of his parties.

“We have proposed George Clooney as a witness,” the lawyer said. “Ruby says both Clooney and

Canalis were at a party at Arcore.”

Clooney issued a statement expressing puzzlement. “It seems odd since I’ve only met Berlusconi once and that was in an attempt to get aid into Darfur,” he said.

The voluptuous dark-haired dancer told investigating judges she had sex with Real Madrid player Ronaldo after meeting him in a Milan nightclub in January 2010. Ronaldo, currently the highest-paid footballer in the world, has denied ever meeting Ruby or giving her 4,000 euros in cash for her sexual services.

The current trial is centred around allegations that Berlusconi not only paid for sex with Ruby, but improperly used his power as prime minister by asking police to release her after she was arrested for suspected theft in May. Continued on page 6

AFP/File/Alberto Pizzoli

A combo image of US actor George Clooney and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. A lawyer close to the “Ruby the Heart Stealer” case told AFP on March 29, 2011 that Clooney could testify in Berlusconi’s defence in his upcoming sex trial.

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International

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Bali News

Debt of Negara Hospital reaches billions of rupiahs Negara (Bali Post)—

Debt of Negara Hospital for the claim of Jembrana health insurance (JKJ) has reached IDR 3.4 billion at the moment. This condition affects the hospital operations because it will have a difficulty to pay medical supplies and other operational costs. It was revealed by Deputy Regent of Jembrana, Made Kembang Hartawan, Tuesday (Mar 29), when making a raid to Negara Hospital.

According to Deputy Regent, if the condition was not addressed immediately, it would cause the hospital operations abnormal. “We will have the problems resolved and the funds will be allocated within the budget amendment and of course with the approval of the House” he explained.

Similarly, the Deputy Regent hoped that Negara Hospital could soon be a public service agency (BLU) and prepare itself to join the Bali Mandara Health Insurance (JKBM) so that it would cover a wider service. He expected the debt would not affect the services and discipline of medical team so they

could maintain the quality of service persistently.

Kembang also said that his party judged the sanitation in Negara Hospital was poorly maintained due to restricted cleaning service attendants. It was caused by the late outsourcing tender of the cleaning service attendant. In

response to the constraint, his party hoped when it had been running normally, the announcement could be issued within 10 days. “Temporarily, we expect the employees could do the cleaning together and maximize the existing employees,” he explained.

According to him, at the moment JKJ remained applicable, both for PPK 1 and inpatient treatment. For class 3 category, government remained to cover as much as IDR 1.2 million for once hospitalization. When asked regarding to the outsourcing employees held

in 2011, he said there were 583 people and spread to each regional apparatus agency (SKPD) ranging from sub-district office, public and others. Kembang admitted to feel so concerned with the constraints of outsourcing today. At the moment, there were only two domains allowing the outsourcing namely security and sanitation officers.

However, the public order officers (Satpol PP) and medical personnel such as midwives remained to apply outsourcing. “In the future this should be improved,” he explained. (kmb26)

Bomb Issue Ignored

by Tourist Bomb terror via book in some parts of Indonesia especially Jakarta actually did not make Bali’s visitors afraid. The repeater guest fortunately still visit Bali. Sanur kept play its role as one of destination for European. It delivered by the Head of BPC-PHRI Denpasar Ida Bagus Sidharta Putra yesterday.

According to Sidharta, Sanur still being a major choice for European who have holiday in Bali. It means the bomb terror did not affect to the Sanur’s tourism. “They ignored the issue,” said him. He optimized the terror issue will not decrease foreign’s intention to visit Bali. Further they have been heard

many times about the terrorism issue. Mostly they are faith visitor who often visit Bali. Sidharta added if the hotel occupancy is still stable. As hotel coordinator, he also tried hard to serve the guests well including standard hotel’s security.

In Denpasar there are around 200 hotels in which 25 of them are stars hotel. “Some hotel stars have not security certificate yet,” added him. Through PHRI Denpasar, he tried to encourage the role of PHRI in pushing its member to follow standards. “Now we will push benefit from association to the member. We will maximalize the exist networking so this association will be usefull,” said him.

IBP/File

Foreign tourists enjoy their time in Bali and not affected by the bomb issue.

PMI Collect Statue of Great Heroes Guarding Denpasar Millions For Japan Through three hours-fundraising in Puputan Renon Field, Denpasar on Sunday, PMI (Red Cross) Bali succeed to collect millions rupiah for Japan. “We are not only asking donation, but also collecting support and pray through people’s signatures in a 15 meters-white cloth,” said Chris Kartika Sari, coordinator fundraising event “Seribu Doa dan Harapan.”

He explained the support being caring proof as the other citizen ones.

Bali island people also concerned about Japanese who struck by earthquake and tsunami few days ago (11/ 3). The people’s signature being moral support for them so they can bravely surviving. “The fundraising being Balinese caring towards Japanese condition,” said him. Chris confessed the fundraising event will

continue periodically but they will look for right time and the right place for maximum result.

Later the fund will contribute for Japanese through Central PMI which had sent volunteers and aid to the disaster location. In that chance, Chisato Tomimura (29) a Japanese who had stayed in Bali for two years also brightened the fundraising event. She sang some Japanese songs with a guitar by herself. The enthusiasm of Bali citizen was good.

Adults and children were donating their money and signing the white cloth. In the other place, Balinese actors who joined in Pramusti (Artists, Musician, Creator, and Music Player) Bali also collected contribution for Japanese in the middle of fun bike event. It took place in Eastern Parking Yard Renon Field.

On the way home from providing lectures overseas, Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk of India, dropped in the house of his friend, who is also a king. There, he was entertained in familial atmosphere. In the meantime, they also talked about religion passionately.

His friend asked why the Hindus worshiped idol like statue.

This young monk smiled while asking permission to his friend to borrow the picture of his grandfather on the wall. Having been taken and handed over by a servant, Vivekananda examined and placed it on the carpet. Afterward, Vivekananda politely remarked if his friend would not have the heart to touch the photo by the toe of his boots. Finally, the friend realized his mistake that worshipping a statue or the like would help in conceptualization.

Meanwhile, according to a French linguist, Ferdinand de Saussure, in the language of sign there are the signifying (object) and the signified (concept or reference). In this context, photograph is the object, while grandfather is the reference. God has been universally acknowledged to be the most perfect. To help concentrate the mind on God, the Hindus apply a medium like various kinds of sanctified effigies. Each devotee has different ability to contact Him. Common people may use a medium, while those having higher spiritual knowledge do not need any medium. Therefore, none is wrong and it is a freedom.

Inspired by puranic or mythological stories, many Hindu artisans in Bali manage to make various kinds of sculpture. When visitors happened to have island ex-

cursion, you may encounter many statues such as outside the temple, at the end of each bridge, intersection, hotel’s gardens or even on the pavement on the protocol roads in Denpasar. Sacred statues are placed in the sanctum representing gods and goddess as well as heavenly creatures, decorative statue installed in commercial premises and the last one is statue to commemorate the great heroes.

Statues depicting the great heroes can be encountered in the regencies pursuant to their respective origin. One of the great heroes of Bali is I Gusti Ngurah Rai as the name of local international airport. Right in the east of the airport stands still the Statue of Ngurah Rai. He was the commander of Ciung Wanara troops of Bali struggling bitterly against the Dutch colonial for the sake of freedom.

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Bali News

International

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Residents ask for indemnity for relocation of rubbish depot Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The plan of Denpasar Sanitation and Landscaping Services to relocate the rubbish depot located on Jalan Cok Agung Tresna, Yangbatu, Dangin Puri Kelod, resulted in a new problem. The location planned for replacement land near the Department of Religious Affairs remained to be occupied up to this moment.

Not only that, people living on the land of Provincial Government claimed to live there with a lease contract agreement. “We live here by leasing the land at IDR 7 million for five years,” said Nur Usron, one of the residents living on the land.

Nur Usron said he was ready to move from that place provided he got compensation. He stayed there because he leased the land from the landowner. Even, he still held the land lease agreement. He had lived on the land for one year from the five-year lease agreement. “If we have to move, it’s okay as long as our money is refunded. Moreover, we have made a few permanent buildings,” he said.

As reported previously, relocation of the rubbish depot to vacant land owned by Bali Provincial Government, precisely on land adjacent to the Office of Bali Religious Affairs, had received a support and approval from the province recently. However, indolent relocation of the rubbish depot undoubtedly triggered questions from local residents. I Made Pudja, former Village Head of Dangin Puri Kelod, revealed the depot relocation had been proposed since he was still serving as the village head circa 2005. The proposal was repeated again when he was a member of the Denpasar House.

Existence of the occupants on location that would be used for the rubbish depot was recognized by the Head of Denpasar Sanitation and Landscaping Services, Ketut Wisada. It made his party difficult to organize and move the rubbish depot located on Jalan Cok Tresna. “So, when the land has been empty, we will immediately re-arrange the place, both the road access and landscaping around it,” said Wisada. (kmb12)

IBP/Bali Putra

The current condition of Galiran market.

Traders doubt realization of Galiran Market development Worried if buyers proceed to modern market Semarapura (Bali Post)—

Traders in Galiran Market, Klungkung, seem unable to wait for the Klungkung Regency to realize the promise of building Galiran Market. Moreover, those traders admitted to welcome very enthusiastically the plan as socialized a few years ago. “When will it be established? Formerly (at the time of socialization—Ed) it was said to have had a definite time and just waited for the approval of traders,” said one of the traders when encountered at Galiran Market, Tuesday (Mar 29).

IBP/FILE

Officers are unloading the garbage in the dump site.

Traders wanted in order the largest market in East Bali could be realized immediately. Atmosphere of the current market was very uncomfortable, both to merchants and buyers. Aside from a few damaged buildings worried to hazard, the condition was also getting slum. ”It will be muddy when it rains, while in dry season, the sun penetrates far into the market,” they said.

Being inconvenient, traders worried to be left by their potential customers or buyers considering that many modern markets had scattered in Klungkung. Their conditions were better and prices on offer were not much different from that of traditional market. “Government should think about it. If traditional

markets are made better with a more convenient arrangement, we believe buyers will not proceed,” he said.

When asked for his confirmation, the Head of Klungkung Public Works, I.B. Adnyana, admitted that Galiran Market development plan was once delayed last year. As a matter of fact, additional fund worth IDR 10 billion had been allocated. Such delay occurred due to design improvements. “But, now we as user of the budget have announced the development plan of Galiran Market transparently through website and announcement in public places along with other projects as a whole for 2011 handled by the Public Works,” said I.B. Adnyana. Furthermore, it

would be followed up by the officials of commitment maker in the preparation for tender and then processed through a working group.

I.B. Adnyana estimated the project of Galiran Market would spend IDR 52 billion. The process was carried out with multi-year system. For initial phase, it had been designed for the construction of block A and B with a fund worth IDR 15 billion. “It is located on the current vacant land. By doing so, the first phase development (block A and B) will not remove many traders. At least, it will only involve 100 traders (of consumer goods) in the north and east side,” he said while convincing that it was scheduled to start in April 2011. (kmb20)

The Flavor of Bali, at Roadside Stands You’ll find the latter at Bali’s many streetside food vendors known as warungs. Scattered throughout Indonesia, warungs usually occupy a modest shack or roadside lean-to with a small counter and

a bench where customers sit and eat traditional dishes. The bigger ones are no more than no-frills cafes, sometimes fashioned out of modest materials like rattan and corrugated metal.

While guidebooks and hotel concierges may warn you that eating at a warung is a little like playing Russian roulette with your stomach, they are probably being overly cautious. The truth is that the street food

in tourist-friendly Bali is as sanitary as what you’d find in most American cities, if not more so.

Besides, if you heed their warning, you’ll miss some of the best food the island has to offer, from

melt-in-your-mouth roast pig and fish satays to just-caught sashimi and spicy fried rice served with chicken prepared three ways. Not to mention, it’s cheap; you can feast for less than $3.

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News

Thursday, March 31, 2011

International

Yemen’s Saleh makes new offer to protesters Reuters

SANAA – Yemen’s president has made a new offer to protesters demanding he steps down, proposing he stays in his post until elections are held but transferring his powers to a caretaker government, an opposition source said on Wednesday. Ali Abdullah Saleh made his offer at a meeting on Tuesday night with Mohammed al-Yadoumi, head of the Islamist Islah party. It was the first time Saleh had dealt with Islah, once a partner in his government, an opposition spokesmen said.

“The opposition could pick a head of government of its own choosing and there would be parliamentary elections by the end of the year,” an opposition source said of Saleh’s offer. He said the opposition was still considering its response.

Weeks of protests by thousands of Yemenis in Sanaa and other cities have brought Saleh’s 32-year to the brink of collapse, but the United States and top oil producer Saudi Arabia, a key Yemen financer, are worried over who could succeed their ally. They have

long seen Saleh as a bulwark of stability who can keep al Qaeda from extending its foothold in a country that many see as close to disintegration.

Yemen’s al Qaeda wing claimed responsibility for a foiled attempt in late 2009 to blow up an airliner bound for Detroit, and for U.S.-bound cargo bombs sent in October 2010.

U.S. officials have said openly they like working with Saleh — who has allowed unpopular U.S. military operations in Yemen against al Qaeda — and Saleh has said the U.S. ambassador is involved in talks to find a solution.

ISLAH LURES WASHINGTON

Sheikh Hamid al-Ahmar, a key tribal figure who belongs to the Islah party, told Reuters on Tuesday Islah and the opposition could handle the militant issue better than Saleh, whose government he said was not serious in confronting them. “I think Yemenis would be capable to free Yemen of terror within months,” Ahmar said, adding the United States and European countries should call directly for Saleh’s departure.

AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus

Libyan rebel fire rockets from the frontline outside of Bin Jawaad, 150 km east of Sirte, central Libya, Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Libyan government tanks and rockets blunted a rebel assault on Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte on Tuesday and drove back the ragtag army of irregulars, even as world leaders prepared to debate the country future in London.

World powers move towards Kadhafi exile plan Agence France Presse

LONDON – International powers meeting in London edged closer to an exile plan for embattled Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, as France said it was ready to discuss military aid for rebels. More than 40 countries and organisations, including the United Nations and NATO, agreed to create a contact group to map out a future for Libya and to meet again as soon as possible in the Arab state of Qatar.

REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally to demand the ouster of Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh outside Sanaa University March 28, 2011.

British Foreign Minister William Hague, who chaired the conference, said the delegates “agreed that Kadhafi and his regime have completely lost legitimacy.” The representatives had agreed to continue military action until Kadhafi met all the conditions of the UN resolution authorising a no-fly zone and other measures to protect civilians, he added.

Qatar had also agreed to facilitate the sale of Libyan oil, he said.

The statement made no mention of an exile plan for Kadhafi, but Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told AFP that the participants had “unanimously” agreed that Kadhafi should leave the country.

“Beyond that, it depends on the country which may offer to welcome Kadhafi,” he added. “There is as yet no formal proposal, no country has formulated such a plan, even the African countries which may be ready

to make one.”

While Hague said Britain still wanted Kadhafi to face the International Criminal Court, he refused to rule out the possibility of exile, which Spain’s foreign minister had also earlier described as a possibility. “We’re not engaged in the United Kingdom in looking for somewhere for him to go, (but) that doesn’t exclude others doing so,” Hague said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that a UN special envoy would visit Tripoli to discuss the option of Kadhafi leaving the country. British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy called the conference to plot a post-Kadhafi political landscape, as well as to iron out differences over the military mission.

Japan: Not enough safeguards to protect nuke plant Associated Press Writer

TOKYO – Japan’s government admitted that its safeguards were insufficient to protect a nuclear plant against the earthquake and tsunami that crippled the facility and caused it to spew radiation, and vowed to overhaul safety standards. The struggle to contain radiation at the Fukushima Dai-ichi complex has unfolded with nearconstant missteps — the latest involving three workers drenched with water feared to be contaminated.

Safety officials said Wednesday that the three were fine and did not register high radiation levels, but the incident fed criticism of the utility that owns the plant as well as scrutiny of Japan’s preparedness for nuclear crises.

The March 11 tsunami that slammed into Japan’s northeast, wiping out towns and killing thousands of people, knocked out power and backup systems at the coastal nuclear power plant.

More than 11,000 bodies have been recovered, but officials say the final death toll is expected to exceed 18,000. Hundreds of thousands of people remain homeless, their homes and livelihoods destroyed. Damage could amount to $310 billion — the most expensive natural disaster on record.

“Our preparedness was not sufficient,” Chief Cabinet secretary Yukio Edano told reporters Tuesday. “When the current crisis is over, we must examine the accident closely and thoroughly review” the safety standards.

An Associated Press investigation found that Tokyo Electric Power Co. officials had dismissed scientific evidence and geological history that indicated that a massive earthquake — and subsequent tsunami — was far more likely than they believed.

That left the complex with nowhere near enough protection against the tsunami. The mission to stabilize the power plant has been fraught with setbacks, as emergency crews have dealt with fires, explosions and radiation scares in the frantic bid to prevent a complete meltdown. The plant has been leaking radiation that has made its way into vegetables, raw milk and tap water as far away as Tokyo. Residents within 12 miles (20 kilometers) of the plant have been ordered to leave and some nations have banned the imports of food products from the Fukushima region.

Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan arrives at his official residence in Tokyo Wednesday, March 23, 2011.

AP Photo/Yomiuri Shimbun, Hidetoshi Tanaka

International

Activities

Thursday, March 31, 2011

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Laguna Resort Offers Premium Meeting Package IBP

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The Laguna Bali is the perfect venue for your next corporate meetings, incentives or corporate events, featuring contemporary Balinese décor’s guestrooms and meeting facilities, resort-wide Wi-Fi and broadband internet access and a dedicated Convention Services team to plan and execute every detail of your event.

Experience an inspiring meeting venue in an indigenous Balinese resort, offering flawless charm and exceptional service. Full day meeting package at US$ 85 net per person per day.

Half day meeting package at US$ 80 net per person per day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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News

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Berlusconi to visit overwhelmed isle of Lampedusa Associated Press Writer

LAMPEDUSA, Italy – Premier Silvio Berlusconi is visiting the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa on Wednesday as ships arrived to remove some of the thousands of North African migrants who have overwhelmed it. A Navy ship and a commercial ferry arrived in the morning, and at least three more are expected throughout the day, said Cosimo Alessandro Nicastro, commander of the Italian Coast Guard. The ships will move some of the migrants to temporary shelters elsewhere in Italy.

Berlusconi is expected at midday for his first visit to the island since the migrant crisis broke in January amid unrest across North Africa. The premier toured a refugee center in another Sicilian town last month.

About 18,000 migrants, mostly Tunisians, have arrived in Lampedusa, which is closer to North Africa than to mainland Italy, since mid-January. Many have been transferred to other centers in Italy, but about 6,000 remain on the island.

With the local immigrant center overwhelmed, migrants have taken to sleeping in makeshift tent camps or in fields outdoors. Newspaper reports said Wednesday that about a

third of them have been left without food as authorities on the island only have enough to feed 4,000.

Tensions are so high that many of the island’s 5,000 residents staged protests Monday at the harbor and on the docks. Within the government, too, the crisis is creating some tension, with the anti-immigrant Northern League party pushing for quick repatriations. The opposition, meanwhile, accuses the government of poor handling of the migrant emergency.

Berlusconi met with Cabinet officials late Tuesday to review the crisis. Italy has asked fellow European nations to share the burden and take in some of the migrants. So far, the EU border agency has sent a team in to help, but Italy is insisting on far more tangible support from individual nations.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the migrant issue was raised at a meeting in London on Tuesday after talks on the Libya crisis.

Frattini said that, according to a decade-old EU directive, “when there’s an abnormal, sudden flow of homeless ... the EU must adopt measures for temporary protection that include the distribution of the homeless.”

“This is the time to do it,” he said.

AP Photo

Migrants on a boat approach the Lampedusa harbor, Italy, Monday, March 28, 2011. Fishermen have used empty migrants’ boats to block the entrance to Lampedusa harbor, a mostly symbolic act which still raised cheers from townsfolk gathered on the quays. News reports Monday said the boats, which had been seized by Italian authorities, were used to block the tiny island’s port.

Bali bomb suspect..

From page 1 Patek is a suspected member of AlQaeda-linked Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), blamed for a series of deadly bombings targeting Christians and Westerners in Indonesia dating back to 1999. Indonesian authorities had believed he was hiding among Islamic rebels in the southern Philippines.

The International Crisis Group, a think tank, reported in 2008 that he had become the commander of foreign jihadists there.

Police were investigating reports that Patek had returned to Indonesia early last year to join a new militant group being

AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

An Iranian woman, right, takes picture of her friend as she sits on a destroyed Iraqi tank, as they tour Shalamcheh, a battlefield of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, on the eve of the Iranian new year, Nowruz, some 612 miles (1020 kilometers) southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 20, 2011.

Gunmen kill 56 in grisly Iraq hostage siege Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD – Gunmen wearing military uniforms over explosives belts charged into a government building in Saddam Hussein’s hometown Tuesday in an attack that left 56 people dead, including 15 hostages who were shot execution-style. The five-hour standoff in Tikrit ended only when the attackers blew themselves up in one of the bloodiest days in Iraq this year.

American troops who were nearby as part of an advising mission with Iraqi forces responded to the attack, and some U.S. soldiers received minor wounds, said military spokesman Col. Barry Johnson. The U.S. troops dropped back after Iraqi forces took control, Johnson said.

The assault was reminiscent of the bloodshed that was common during the worst days of the conflict as Iraq was pushed to the brink of civil war.

Attacks have ebbed in recent years, but the looming deadline for the U.S. troops to withdraw from the country along with political unrest elsewhere in the Mideast have raised fears the country could return to violence.

The standoff in Tikrit, the capital of Salahuddin province 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of Baghdad, began around 1 p.m. when the attackers

set up in Aceh province by another alleged Bali ringleader, Dulmatin. Dulmatin was killed during a police raid in March, 2010.

“Umar Patek is a dangerous person.

He’s a bomb-making expert who teaches others how to assemble explosives. He’s an operational leader of Jemaah Islamiyah,” University of Indonesia security analyst Kusnanto Anggoro told AFP. “And he uses his expertise and influence to cause harm to people and to incite hatred. It’s a significant arrest,” he added.

JI’s goal is to unite Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and the southern Philippines in an Islamic state governed by a strict interpretation of sharia law similar to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.

blew up a car outside the council headquarters to create a diversion before launching their raid. Wearing military uniforms — including one with a high rank — the gunmen identified themselves as Iraqi soldiers at a security checkpoint outside the government compound but opened fire on guards when they were told they needed to be searched.

They later set fire to the bodies of the three slain provincial councilmen in a defiant show of how insurgents maintain the ability to carry out brutal attacks despite years of U.S.-Iraqi military efforts against them.

“Why did they shoot him and set fire to his poor body?” said Salahuddin government spokesman Mohammed al-Asi, trying not to weep when confirming the killing of lawmaker Mehdi al-Aaran, an elderly man who headed the council’s

George Clooney...

From page 1 Both Ruby and Berlusconi have denied they had sexual relations. Using the services of prostitutes is not a crime in Italy, but paying for sex with a girl under the age of 18 is illegal.

Ruby turned 18 in November 2010, and the prosecution alleges that Berlusconi had sex with her several months earlier. The prosecution has submitted its own list of 136 witnesses, including 49 girls who attended the billionaire media magnate’s parties, some of whom have provided photographic and video evidence of the raunchy evenings.

The defence team have argued that these wit-

religious affairs committee.

Speaking in a muted voice, Salahuddin Gov. Ahmed Abdullah called the attack “a tragic incident carried out by ruthless terrorists.”

Iraqi officials were quick to blame al-Qaida in Iraq for the slaughter, noting that execution-style killings and suicide bombers are hallmarks of the extremist group. A senior intelligence official in Baghdad likened the attack to al-Qaida’s hostage raid last fall on a Catholic church in Baghdad that left 68 dead and stunned the nation.

Tuesday’s attack left 56 people dead and 98 wounded, including government workers, security forces and bystanders, said Salahuddin health director Dr. Raied Ibrahim. Many died in the volleys of gunfire and explosions.

nesses have lied over Berlusconi’s alleged nights with prostitutes and raucous parties with orgies and guests dressed up as nurses or policewomen.

The Milan judges may decide to refused to grant the defence’s proposed witnesses if they decide their testimony is not relevant to the case in question. Clooney is no stranger to Italian courts. In 2010 the 49-year-old Hollywood heart-throb appeared at the fraud trial of three people accused of having co-opted his name for a fashion label.

The Golden Globe-winning actor has a house on the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy, not far from Berlusconi’s private villa at Arcore.

He spends several months a year there, sometimes with Italian model and actress Canalis. She too features on the list of 78 witnesses the premier’s legal team would like to call in Berlusconi’s defence.

Indonesia Today

International

Thursday, March 31, 2011

7

Government to sue eight companies for polluting environment Antara

JAKARTA - The Environment Ministry is to sue eight companies in East Java for polluting the environment, a spokesman said.

Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said here on Wednesday the eight companies had been on the government’s blacklist for some time for repeated violations

of environmental regulations.

“They seem to be careless over our warning,” said the minister adding that, according to the government’s procedure, companies

which had been blacklisted twice must be put on trial for firm sanction.

However, Gusti did not mention the name of the eight companies. He only said that one of them was a fish canning company.

Gusti also said there were other companies in several areas in Indonesia which are in the government’s

blacklist. However, he said he would wait for the companies to improve their system since they had only been in the blacklist once.

In general, Gusti said, the awareness of national companies to maintain the environment had been increasing progressively over the years. The condition could be seen from the decreasing number of com-

Geothermal less risky than nuclear Antara

JAKARTA - The use of geothermal energy poses fewer risks than nuclear power, a number of activists said here on Wednesday.

Muhammad Ridho, one of the activists grouped in the Care Unit Geothermal Power Plant, said at an Indonesian Renovation Forum that geothermal energy potential should be prioritized because it is less risky than nuclear energy.

He said Indonesia had the largest source of geothermal energy in the world that serves as a potential strategy for non-military national defense.

“The risk in the utilization of geothermal energy is less than that of nuclear power, and geothermal pressure con-

trol can reduce and inhibit the occurrence of volcanic eruption,” he said.

For the sake of security and national interests and welfare of the people, Muhammad Ridho said the state should wisely control the geothermal energy to ensure continuous availability of power supply.

Therefore he added that the government and the House of Representatives should continue to encourage the regions with geothermal energy to form regionally owned enterprises.

“Indonesia’s geothermal energy potential which is the largest in the world should serve as a golden opportunity to become the ‘Center of Excellence’ in the field of energy,” he said.

Indonesia to boost health services for poor Reuters

JAKARTA – Indonesia wants the private sector to build more hospitals and reserve a quarter of the available beds for the poor, as it increases spending on free healthcare to tackle a rise in diseases from strokes to AIDS, the health minister said.

The plan to cover basic hospital medical services nationwide, to ensure Indonesians who live in poverty get free hospital treatment, will cost 10 trillion rupiah ($1.15 billion), Endang Sedyaningsih said in an interview on Tuesday.

The extra spending comes as much of Asia seeks to improve healthcare facilities to prepare for an increase in chronic long-term illnesses as populations age, though many developing nations such as Indonesia are starting from scratch.

“We are aiming that everybody doesn’t have to pay when they are hospitalized in class-3 hospital beds,” Sedyaningsih said, referring to the basic level of service. “They will be covered by either the central government or the provincial government.”

But she acknowledged that there were budget constraints and the plan will be implemented in stages.

In 2009, 76.4 million Indonesians who were considered to be poor received free medical services in class-3 hospital beds, up from 36.4 million people in 2005. Currently, 56 percent of Indonesia’s 238 million populations have some form of health insurance.

Under Indonesia’s 2011 budget, the Health Ministry has been allocated 26.2 trillion rupiah, an increase of 10 percent - but this is still just 2.3 percent of gross domestic product, versus 3.7 percent in Thailand and 15.7 percent in the United States. The government last year opened up its healthcare sector to foreign investment and is encouraging private hospital builders to reserve space for its free health program.

“I invite the private sector to build hospitals and to have at least 25 percent of class-3 beds,” Sedyaningsih said. “If they can have 50 percent of the rooms in their hospitals for

class-3 beds, it would be great.”

Indonesian property firm Lippo Karawaci and the Mayapada Group are both building hospitals in Indonesia, but regional firms such as Singapore’s Raffles Medical or India’s Fortis Healthcare have yet to show interest.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has pledged to reduce the poverty level to around 8-10 percent, from above 30 percent now, though critics say strong economic growth has not benefited the poor. And, as incomes for a growing middle class rise, there is an increase in “lifestyle” diseases.

Indonesia now needs to tackle a rise in chronic, non-communicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease and cancer, even though infectious illnesses like tuberculosis, malaria, childhood diarrhea and dengue remain huge problems, said Sedyaningsih, who is currently battling lung cancer herself.

The ministry is trying to extend health services and treat adults with hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. It is also studying the possibility of reducing the salt content in fast food, and looking to improve health for children under five in a nation with a relatively high mortality rate.

Sedyaningsih, who was a scientist before becoming minister in October 2009, said HIV/AIDS was a growing concern even though its prevalence across the world’s fourthmost populous country is relatively low at 0.5 percent, versus 18 percent in South Africa.

“We have certain provinces that are facing AIDS very seriously, like Jakarta, Bali ... Papua province,” she said.

Indonesia had 4,158 newly confirmed HIV infections in 2010, up from 3,863 in 2009. It had a cumulative 24,131 HIV/AIDS cases by end-2010.

Sedyaningsih noted that controlling the spread of HIV was difficult because the use of condoms cannot be promoted due to religious sensitivities in the world’s most populous Muslim country. The ministry is asking NGOs and religious communities to be more active in promoting safe sex.

“We cannot put ads for condoms openly on TV. They are available, but we cannot promote their use or people will say the health ministry promotes promiscuity,” she said.

panies blacklisted by the government.

The minister also expressed hope to increase the number of companies being assessed by the government for its environmental-friendly system. “Last year we have 680 companies. Hopefully in 2011 we can increase the number to be 920,” he said.

Indonesia to launch Indonesian sustainable palm oil standard Antara

MEDAN - Indonesia plans to launch an Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standard to anticipate demand from importers.

“It will be launched on Wednesday (March 30) (by agriculture minister Suswono). The ISPO will be officially effective as of March 2012 and it is hoped all oil palm plantation companies will have obtained the ISPO certificate by 2014,” vice minister of agriculture, Bayu Krisnamurti, said here on Tuesday at the conference marking the 100th anniversary of Indonesia Palm Oil Industry held by the North Sumatra chapter of the Association of Indonesia Palm Oil Businessmen (Gapki) here from March 28 to 30.

He said the policy of implementing ISPO certification was taken in anticipation to importing countries of CPO and its derivatives later if they decided to only buy from exporters possessing certificates of palm oil sustainability.

Actually, he said, the ISPO provisions have partially been implemented for many years because in Indonesia no company may operate without a license.

The content of the ISPO is also not different very much from Europe‘s Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) that has earlier been implemented, he said.

This has even been considered more matched because it was made in reference to the conditions and regulations in Indonesia, he said.

With the ISPO national palm oil regulations will be referred to the ISPO including the hope that Indonesia could determine by itself the selling price of its CPO so determined by the bourse in Rotterdam.

He said companies that have possessed RSPO certificates must also have ISPO because they operate in Indonesia.

Bayu said ISPO is facing four challenges to make it become a competitive power or a national palm oil power namely assuring that its process would be easy and appropriate, auditing and auditors, certificates for farmers and acceptance of buyers and international community.

Whatever the challenges would be the ISPO must be implemented and the challenges must be faced with efforts to make the ISPO successful.

The general chairman of the Association of Indonesia Oil Palm Farmers (Apkasindo), Anizar Simanjuntak, said he welcomed the launching of the ISPO with the hope that the country could later determine the quality and price of CPO by itself.

He also hoped the ISPO would not be as expensive as RSPO certificates so that it would be affordable for smallholders. The chairman of Gapki of North Sumatra chapter, Balaman Tarigan, said Gapki members are ready to get the ISPO certificate although some have already had RSPO certificate.

8

International

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Bali Today Highest rate of population growth in Badung and Denpasar Bali Post

DENPASAR — The results of population census held by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Province in 2010 noted the rate of population growth in Badung and Denpasar within the past 10-year period (2000-2010) occupied the highest position. Of the population growth rate of Bali Province reaching 12.5 percent per year, Badung and Denpasar respectively occupied 4.63 percent and 4.00 percent. This phenomenon occurred because both regions are potential for regio nal migrants, aside from being tourist a leading destination in Bali.

Meanwhile, Klungkung and Karangasem Regency are two regencies with the lowest growth rate below one percent.

Department Head of Economic Development, Faculty of Economics, Udayana University, Dr. IGW Murjana Yasa, stated that Bali Province turned very attractive for regional migrants to make mobility toward these two urban areas. The main factors drawing them to come to Bali were employment opportunities, incomes as well as stimulus factor of the previous migrants existing in Bali.

“As a result, population growth especially in urban areas will remain high and the role of migration in population growth is increasingly significant,” he said. According to him, op-

timism of Bali’s economic growth in terms of demographic and employment aspect should be coupled with the efforts to control the population mobility. This situation also has an impact on the economic leakage because Bali highly depended on the production factors of outside Bali. For instance, large-scale production and industrial perpetrators in tourism sector were dominated by outsiders. With the leakage happening, then the economic growth would run to outside Bali.

“If this is allowed to persist, capital flight will not be unstoppable.

Though Bali indeed entails investors, it does not necessarily mean to require manpower from outside,” he said while suggested that pressing the mobility of migrants and economic networks of Bali were the keys to prevent such a leakage.

Population of Bali increases every

year. Within the period of 2009, it was recorded to reach 3,471,952 people.

This figure showed an increase of 62,107 people and was higher than the increase in 2008 reaching 36,965 people and they spread evenly with the densest population in Buleleng Regency amounting to 654,061 people. Meanwhile, the number of poor community during the period of 2002-2010 showed a tendency to decline, but in 2003 and 2006 the number of poor community rose again as Bali was hit by bombings. By percentage, the number of poor people in Bali decreased gradually from 2004 (6.85 percent), 2005 (6.72 percent), 2007 (6.63 percent), 2008 (6.17 percent), 2009 (5.13 percent), and 2010 (4.88 percent). The figures within the period of 2010 represented the lowest poverty rate within almost the past decade. (par)

www.antarafoto.com

Numbers of travelers using motorbikes queueing at Gilimanuk harbor. Bali Province turned very attractive for regional migrants.

The main factors drawing them to come to Bali were employment opportunities, incomes as well as stimulus factor of the previous migrants existing in Bali.

Sail Indonesia The biggest Asian regatta

http://lh4.ggpht.com

The flags of Sail Indonesia surround dolphin monument. Implementation of the International Sail Rally implemented since 2003 is increasingly favored by many world participants and the Sail Indonesia 2010 poses a performance in the International Sail Rally in this beloved country for the eighth time or year, while for Lovina, Buleleng Regency, it is the fourth time as the meeting point of Sail Indonesia.

Implementation of the International Sail Rally implemented since 2003 is increasingly favored by many world participants and the Sail Indonesia 2010 poses a performance in the International Sail Rally in this beloved country for the eighth time or year, while for Lovina, Buleleng Regency, it is the fourth time as the meeting point of Sail Indonesia.

Buleleng as a region located in the north most of Bali covers nearly twothird of Bali’s territory. It has a lot of tourism potentials that can be developed by the Government of Buleleng Regency. Hopefully, tourists coming to Bali and Buleleng in particular could explore and gain new experiences about the allure of northern Bali through this event.

The mission to establish maritime route of tourism sail rally has been realized. Such tourism route is from Kupang to Saumlaki and Batam participated by hundreds of yachts from more than 20 countries worldwide.

In the Sail Indonesia 2010 last year, participants taken to visit several new destinations such as Ndao Rote, Sabu, East Sumba, Southwest Sumba and Bau Bau. Similarly, Sail Indonesia 2010 ties 22 regencies and cities in Indone-

sia, while Lovina Beach in Buleleng Regency is the only one meeting point existing in Bali Province in the maritime event of Sail Indonesia 2010.

Sail Indonesia event is organized in the series of another world rally. It is based on the climate and the right wind direction as well as the needs of the sailor making the voyage from Australia to Asia as the largest regatta in the Asian event. Additionally, Sail Indonesia is expected to become a national event and encourage the maritime passion in all walks of Indonesian people as well as associated with Maritime Policy programmed by the Central Government.

Buleleng is situated in northern Bali spread on the extent of 1,370 km2 among the eight regencies and city throughout Bali. Granted with a natural and wonderful beauty, quiet sandy beaches, green tropical rain forest and simple community, this maritime event would be expected to introduce the entire beauty of Buleleng.

Bali, particularly the Northern Bali actually has a special potential of stopover point. On that account, it is required to build a facility in the form of tourism harbor. The existence of tourism harbor will enable the world sail-

ors to have a stopover here during the low season from December to March.

Even, according to the participants the amount of yacht passing through the Indonesian waters reaches two to three thousands every year. Therefore, the stopover at Lovina, Buleleng Regency is expected to become a means of reference for Local Government in developing and taking advantage of the opportunity. It is strongly supported by the characteristics of Bali, infrastructure, geography and location. Buleleng Regency currently becomes a special destination because the availability of supplies for the participants, international airport and visa extension services.Meanwhile, the presence of Sail Indonesia is expected to become a reference of informal education for the general public, pupils and students in many ways such as shipping technology, shipbuilding, navigation, communications and shipping infrastructure, shipping peripheral, as well as greatness of Indonesian maritime achievement reached during the golden period of Majapahit and Sriwijaya Kingdom could be revived, particularly among the younger generation, in the more applicable context of tourism, industry and economic impact. (BTN/Doc)

International

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Balinese Culture

Cyclone hit Singaraja Houses were destroyed Singaraja (Bali Post) -

Singaraja – At least 20 houses on the northern coast of Singaraja were badly destroyed after a cyclone hit the area on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at 6.30 pm. Several people were also injured in the incident From the information gathered in the location, the cyclone was coming from the west near Buleleng Harbor. The cyclone can be clearly seen on the sea and the

people started to run, afraid that it would come to the land.

The eye witness in the harbor stated that the cyclone was keep moving eastwards. There is floating restaurant on the path of it however the cyclone juts missed it. Then, the wind went to the land and struck the houses on the east part on the harbor.

The Tambak Sari area in Kampung Baru became the victim of the strong wind. Many houses were destroyed and the people were running for cover. The number of

damage is still undetermined but from the early prediction, more than 20 houses were damaged.

The electricity in the area was also not working due to the power line was also struck by the cyclone. The head of Buleleng District, Made Suyasa who inspected the scene with the officers from Buleleng Red Cross and other officers said that the houses were badly destroyed so they can not stay there anymore. “Currently, they people stay in a shelter provided by the government,” he added.

Bubuh Injin (Black Rice Pudding) OVERVIEW: Different versions of this Balinese snack are a great favorite with visitors to Bali.

INGREDIENTS: 1 cup black glutinous rice ¾ cup white glutinous rice 2 pandan leaves 5 cups water ½ cup palm sugar syrup 1½ cup freshly squeezed thick coconut milk IBP/ole

The destroyed house in Singaraja, Buleleng Regency

PREPARATION: 1. Rinse both lots of rice well for 2 minutes under running water. Drain 2. Put 5 cups water, both lots of rice and pandan leaf into heavy stockpot. Simmer over medium heat approximately 40 minutes.

3. Add palm sugar syrup and continue to cook until most liquid has evaporated. Season with a pinch of salt. Remove from heat and allow cooling.

4. Serve at room temperature, topped with freshly squeezed coconut milk.

Helpful hints: As fresh coconut milk turns rancid fairly quickly, a pinch of salt is usually added to the milk to help preserve it for few hours. A more effective alternative is to cook the coconut milk with 1 teaspoon of cornstarch diluted in a little water: heat gently, stirring constantly for a couple of minutes.

This coconut sauce will keep overnight.

Milk made from instant powdered coconut will not turn rancid, although the flavor is not as good as fresh coconut milk. (www.baliguide.com/balifood) C.045 ibp

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Destinations

International

Trunyan

http://prijogja.files.wordpress.com

THE village of Trunyan is squeezed tightly between the lake and the outer crater rim of Batur, an almighty volcano in Kintamani. This is a Bali Aga village, inhabited by descendants of the original Balinese, the people who predate the arrival of the Hindu Majapahit kingdom in the 16th century.

It is famous for the Pura Pancering Jagat temple, but unfortunately visitors are not allowed inside. There are also a couple of traditional Bali Aga-style dwellings, and a large banyan tree, which is said to be more than 1,100 years old. At Kuban sub-village close to Trunyan is a mysterious cemetery that is separated by the lake and accessible only by boat - there is no path along the steep walls of the crater rim.

The village of Trunyan itself is situated at the edge of Batur Lake. This location is inaccessible except by boat, and it takes around half an hour across the calm waters. Getting to Lake Batur takes around two hours drive to the northeast of Denpasar along the main road to Buleleng and through Bangli Regency.

Unlike the Balinese people, the people of Trunyan do not cremate or bury their dead, but just lay them out in bamboo cages to decompose, although

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strangely there is no stench. A macabre collection of skulls and bones lies on the stone platform and the surrounding areas.

The dead bodies don’t produce bad smells because of the perfumed scents from a huge Taru Menyan tree growing nearby. Taru means ‘tree’ and Menyan means ‘nice smell’. The name of Terunyan was also derived from these two words.

The women from Trunyan are prohibited from going to the cemetery when a dead body is carried there. This follows the deeply rooted belief that if a woman comes to the cemetery while a corpse is being carried there, there will be a disaster in the village, for example a landslide or a volcanic eruption. Such events have been frequent in the village’s history, but whether women had anything to do with it is a matter of opinion...

You can visit both the village of Trunyan and the Kuban cemetery by chartered boat from Kedisan. Sadly, nowadays the boat trips are now blatant tourist traps, as touts and guides strongly urge you to donate your cash to the temple project or leave a donation for the dead. These touts ruin an otherwise fascinating experience.

Jl. Kepundung 67 A, e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id Jl. Palmerah Barat 21 F

Thursday, March 31, 2011

11

BUSINESS UK agency asks BAA to sell 2 more airports Associated Press Writer

LONDON – BAA Ltd., the owner of Heathrow airport, must sell another London airport and one in Scotland to promote greater competition, Britain’s anti-monopoly agency said Wednesday.

In a preliminary ruling upholding a decision two years ago, the Competition Commission said it believed passengers and airlines would benefit if BAA sold London Stansted and either one of its Edinburgh or Glasgow facilities.

“The introduction of new ownership at Gatwick, whilst too recent for us to base any conclusions on, has also given a foretaste of the benefits competition can bring,” said Peter Freeman, chairman of the Competition Commission. “There has also been no cause to alter our view on the need for either Edinburgh or Glasgow to be under separate ownership.”

The commission said it planned to make a final ruling in May or June.

BAA, which had already been forced to sell London Gatwick airport two years ago, said it believed conditions had changed since 2009 but gave no indication whether it would appeal.

The big change since 2009 is that Prime Minister David Cameron’s government has canceled plans for building additional runways at Stansted and Heathrow.

BAA, which took over airports formerly owned by the government in 1986, has been owned by a consortium led by Grupo Ferrovial SA of Spain since 2006.

BAA had appealed against the 2009 decision on grounds of apparent bias but lost. In February, the Supreme Court refused to allow BAA to make further appeals in British courts.

The company could still seek to take the case to the European Court.

Global Infrastructure Partners, which also owns London City airport, paid 1.5 billion pounds ($2.4 billion) for Gatwick.

China economist blasts dollar dominance on eve of G20 Reuters

BEIJING – Dollar dominance is sowing the seeds of financial turmoil, and the solution is to promote new reserve currencies, a Chinese government economist said in a paper published on the eve of a G20 meeting about how to reform the global monetary system.

Although not an official policy statement, the paper by Xu Hongcai, a department deputy director at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, offered a window onto the domestic pressures bearing on Beijing to move away from a dollar-centric global economy.

The China Center, a top government think tank, has represented the Chinese government in organizing a forum on Thursday in Nanjing that will bring together finance ministers, central bankers and academics from the Group of 20 wealthy and developing economies.

Xu’s paper, “Reform of the international monetary system under the G20 framework,” was published in Chinese on the center’s website this week (www.cciee.org.cn).

“Nations around the world have no way of restricting dollar issuance by the Federal Reserve. The current

international monetary system lacks both stability and fairness,” Xu wrote.

He said the global monetary system had fallen into a “dollar trap.”

While it would be sensible to reduce dollar holdings in official currency reserves, nations cannot easily cut back, because doing so would only lead the dollar to weaken and so hit the value of their assets, he said.

China’s dollar dilemma is particularly acute, though Xu did not say as much. China had $2.85 trillion in foreign exchange reserves at the end of last year, more than any other country. About two-thirds are estimated to be invested in dollars.

Beijing has repeatedly warned that loose U.S. monetary policy threatens the dollar, but it has continued to accumulate dollar assets at the same time, adding about $260 billion of Treasury securities last

year, according to U.S. data.

With the Chinese government determined to limit yuan appreciation, it must buy a large amount of the dollars streaming into the country from its trade surplus and recycle those into U.S. investments.

Xu was not shy about proposing ways to remake the global monetary system.

For a start, he said diversification was needed, with several reserve currencies. Other countries could reinforce these currencies’ status by buying or selling them to keep their exchange rates stable, Xu said.

He said the International Monetary Fund should also play a policing role.

“If any international reserve currency depreciates, the IMF would be responsible for issuing a timely alert, increasing international pressure to force the country in question to take measures to stabilize its currency,” he said.

Qantas make cuts amid disasters, fuel cost hikes Agence France-Presse

SYDNEY – Australian flag carrier Qantas said Wednesday it will slash capacity and jobs as it grapples with disasters and surging fuel costs in its “most serious challenge” since the global downturn.

The announcement comes with the airline already facing threats of strike action from thousands of members over pay and job security.

Chief executive Alan Joyce said there had “never been a time when the world faced so many natural disasters”, with earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand and Australia devastated by floods and cyclones.

The calamities had come at “significant financial cost” he added, with Australia’s wild weather prompting Aus$80 million ($82.5 million) in cancellations, delays, lengthy airport closures and other costs.

New Zealand’s killer earthquake last month wiped $15 million off the bottom line while the tremor and tsunami in Japan brought another $45 million hit.

“We didn’t cancel services but obviously the loads on those flights, especially going into Tokyo, did drop off quite signifi-

cantly,” a Qantas spokeswoman told AFP. Meanwhile, a surge of almost 50 percent in the price of fuel since September to $131 a barrel had left the airline under significant financial pressure with second-half fuel costs estimated at Aus$2 billion.

“The significant and sustained increases in the price of fuel is the most serious challenge Qantas has faced since the global financial crisis,” Joyce said.

“We need to act decisively to respond to rising fuel costs and natural disasters, just like we did during the global financial crisis, to ensure the ongoing sustainability of our business.”

The carrier hiked airfares and other charges earlier this year in response to rising fuel costs but said it would not be able to recover “the full impact of current and forecast fuel prices.”

Qantas posted a four-fold increase in net profits to $241 million for the six months to December 2010, despite an Airbus A380 engine explosion that sent shudders through the industry.

The airline grounded its entire superjumbo fleet after the November blast in an episode Joyce said would cost $80 million in the

2011 financial year.

Joyce said Qantas’ domestic and international capacity would now be slashed and services to Japan either suspended or downsized, while flights to New Zealand’s earthquake-hit Christchurch would also be reduced.

Management positions would be trimmed and two ageing Boeing 767s retired early.

Qantas is already facing strike action over wages and the use of cheaper contract workers, with about 9,000 employees threatening to walk out earlier this month.

Staff wants a four percent pay rise with additional superannuation payments, as well as job security clauses.

Tony Sheldon, head of the influential Transport Workers’ Union, accused the airline attempting to influence wage negotiations by crying poor.

“The fact is Qantas announced a four-fold increase in profits in February, they bought three planes in cash earlier this year, and at the end of last year the top nine executives at Qantas patted each other on the back with a 58 percent pay increase,” said Sheldon.

The airline struck an upbeat

tone in its half-year results last month, saying pre-tax annual profits would be “materially stronger” than 2010’s $377 million as demand recovered, especially for business travel.

But analysts questioned whether Qantas could meet such confident forecasts even before

the oil price spiked, and CMC Markets strategist Ben Le Brun said they were now facing significant global political and economic headwinds.

“They are going to have to do anything they can if they want to keep earnings within the guidance they have made,” Le Brun told AFP.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com

Australian flag carrier Qantas said Wednesday it will slash capacity and jobs as it grapples with disasters and surging fuel costs in its “most serious challenge” since the global downturn.

12

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Entertainment

International

Stars to honor Gorbachev at London charity bash Reuters

LONDON – Movie stars, singers and politicians will turn out on Wednesday for a gala concert in London to honor former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this month.

The glitzy red carpet affair, cohosted by U.S. actors Kevin Spacey and Sharon Stone, underlines the celebrity status Gorbachev enjoys in the West, where he is widely perceived as the man who freed Eastern Europe from Soviet rule and ended a Cold War nuclear standoff.

“Mikhail Gorbachev is one of the few people who can justify the label ‘The man who changed the world’,” said the Royal Albert Hall on its website advertising the charity event at the prestigious venue in central London.

Attitudes in the former Soviet Union to the 1990 Nobel Peace laureate are more ambivalent, with many people lamenting the collapse of the Soviet Union and laying blame for the resulting economic hardships on Gorbachev’s shoulders.

“To me, he is a good-for-nothing man,” Sergei Orlov, a 53-yearold Moscow lawyer, told Reuters on March 2 when Gorbachev turned 80, summing up the view of millions. Gorbachev, he added, “simply betrayed his people, he destroyed the mechanism of the state and sold his country for nothing.”

But Gorbachev also enjoys star status in Russia and met President Dmitry Medvedev on his birthday.

An exhibit dedicated to the end of the Soviet Union was on display in his honor near the Kremlin, and much fanfare was made of the anniversary on state television.

Medvedev also awarded Gorbachev Russia’s top medal, calling it “a fitting evaluation of the big work you did as head of state” — but, in a careful nod to Gorbachev’s bitter critics, said that work “can be assessed in different ways.”

The musical gala in London will feature performances from Bryan Ferry and Shirley Bassey as well as leading Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and will raise funds for the Gorbachev Foundation and Macmillan Cancer Support.

AP Photo/Jeff Christensen

In this March 24, 2011 photo, recording artists Brendon Urie, left, and Spencer Smith from Panic! at the Disco pose for a portrait in New York.

Panic! at the Disco downsizes, may head to B’way Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Panic! at the Disco could be following in the footsteps of The Who and Green Day. Like those rockers before them, the Las Vegas-based band is interested in taking their sound to Broadway. “That would be amazing,” drummer Spencer Smith said in a recent interview.

“To put together a show that was a mix of our music as well as maybe tell a story ... that would be like a dream,” he continued.

AFP/File/Miguel Medina

French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and US actor Owen Wilson (L) talk in a street of Paris in 2010 during the shooting of US director Woody Allen’s movie “Midnight in Paris”.

Carla Bruni in Woody Allen film internet trailer Agence France Presse

PARIS – The trailer for Woody Allen’s next movie “Midnight in Paris” is out on the Internet, featuring French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in the gardens of the Rodin museum.

The romantic comedy, starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams as a young American couple in the French capital, is set to open the Cannes film festival on May 11, with general release in New York and Los Angeles on May 20.

Supermodel-turned-songwriter Bruni, 43, pops up 35 seconds into the trailer, sporting a light jacket, T-shirt, jeans and clipboard in her

role as a museum guide in the garden that is home to Auguste Rodin’s sculpture “The Thinker”.

Much of the rest of the trailer is made up of easy-on-the-eyes postcard views of Paris — as well as a broad hint about the flashback storyline when Williams is seen straying into an elegant 1920s milieu.

Others starring in “Midnight in Paris” include Oscar winners Marion Cotillard and Kathy Bates, as well as Welsh-born actor Michael Sheen. Bruni-Sarkozy married French President Nicolas Sarkozy in February 2008. Her older sister Valeria Bruni Tedeschi is an actress who has appeared in several internationally acclaimed films.

Smith acknowledges that he doesn’t know how to make that happen for Panic! _or if the goal is even possible. “It would be in like New Jersey. Like off-Broadway. Really far,” Smith said, sharing a laugh with Brendon Urie, the band’s vocalist.

“Tommy,” the 1969 album from the Who, was adapted to a Tony-winning Broadway musical in the early 1990s.

Most recently, Green Day gave new life to their Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling CD, 2004’s

“American Idiot,” when they brought the concept album to Broadway last year in a Tony Award-winning production.

But heading to the stage wouldn’t be a stretch for Panic! From the music video for their debut song, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies,” to their latest clip, “The Ballad of Mona Lisa,” the pop-rockers enjoy acting, dressing up and being theatrical.

“Every musician wants to act, but we have a way to do it where people know we’re not trained actors, so we

can be a little bit cheesy,” Smith said.

They can also be seen acting in “The Overture,” a short film they released on their website to promote “Vices & Virtues,” their recently released third CD. Urie says this time around, the group had more creative agreement while making the album because they downsized. Singer-guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker left Panic! in 2009 and formed the band The Young Veins, releasing the album “Take a Vacation!” in June.

“Everybody wants their opinion heard and so you argue a lot more with four cooks in the kitchen,” Urie said. “(Spencer and I) had been on the same page (regarding) where we saw the album going so in that sense there wasn’t really any arguing and that kind of helped.”

Enrique Iglesias won’t join Britney Spears on tour Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Enrique Iglesias won’t be joining Britney Spears on an upcoming tour despite her announcement that he would. Spears said Tuesday morning on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that the pair would be hitting the road together.

Iglesias representative Gary Mantoosh said later in a statement to The Associated Press his client and Spears won’t tour “despite initial re-

ports based on formal discussions of the possible run.” The statement says Iglesias “is very sorry for the confusion this might have caused to anyone.” It says the Latin singer respects Spears and is a fan of her work.

Igelesias is on tour in Europe.

Spears on Tuesday released her seventh album, “Femme Fatale.” Her U.S. tour kicks off June 17 in Sacramento, Calif.

A representative for the pop singer hasn’t returned an email seeking comment.

AP Photo/Jonathan Short, file

Enrique Iglesias

Science

International

Thursday, March 31, 2011

13

Nuke crisis reignites debate on protective pills Associated Press Writer

AFP/Ed Jones

A general view shows a restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton hotel inside the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong. The world’s highest hotel opened its doors in Hong Kong, housed in the city’s tallest skyscraper and offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbour.

World’s highest hotel opens in Hong Kong Agence France Presse

HONG KONG – The world’s highest hotel opened its doors in Hong Kong on Tuesday, housed in the city’s tallest skyscraper and offering unrivalled panoramic views of the world famous Victoria Harbour.

Towering some 490 metres (1,600 feet) above the bustling, chaotic streets of the Southern Chinese city, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel is making a grand comeback after temporarily closing in 2008.

Visitors peered out of the floorto-ceiling windows of the 118th floor of the International Commerce Centre, which houses the hotel, for a 360 degree view of the glitzy financial hub and the South China Sea. “We’re opening an iconic hotel which took us about 10 years to build,” president and chief operations officer Herve Humler told reporters.

“We are taking luxury to new heights in every sense,” he added. The Ritz-

Carlton however will likely lose the world’s highest hotel title in 2014, according to media reports, when the J-Hotel opens near the top of the over 600-metre Shanghai Tower in mainland China.

“People compete all around the world about everything — I’m sure someone somewhere is building an even taller building as we speak,” Humler said. “We emphasise service.”

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

also will be one of the most expensive places to stay in a city already packed with luxury hotels, with the rack rate starting at HK$ 6,000 (US$770) a night for a deluxe room. A presidential suite is going for HK$100,000.

Inside, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong exudes a chic, modern vibe in the restaurants and lobby areas, with a lot of sparkling decor and chandeliers, the main colour themes being black, brown and beige.

Visitors can expect to find facilities that include the highest bar in the world, and a top-floor pool that will feature a 19-metre ceiling-mounted LCD screen which swimmers can watch while enjoying the warmth of the heated water.

With 312 guest rooms, the hotel also has one of the largest ballrooms in the city at 930 square metres.

WASHINGTON – The Japanese nuclear crisis has reignited a debate in the U.S. over the government’s role in distributing a cheap anti-cancer drug to people living around nuclear power plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission currently makes the drug, potassium iodide, available to states for distribution within a 10mile radius of nuclear power plants. Some House members from both parties want that expanded to 20 miles. And the American Thyroid Association, whose mission is to promote thyroid health, wants to go further — urging that potassium iodide be made available within 200 miles of a nuclear plant.

Potassium iodide, if taken within a few of hours of radiation exposure, helps reduce the risk of thyroid cancer by preventing the body from absorbing radioactive iodine.

It’s especially important for children, whose thyroid glands are more susceptible to radioactive iodine.

A 2002 bioterrorism law called for expanding the distribution radius to 20 miles, but the Bush administration in 2007 waived that requirement, invoking a provision in the law that allows the president to do so if

he determined that a more effective method was available to prevent cancer. Bush’s White House science adviser, John Marburger, concluded that a better route was evacuation and interdiction of contaminated food.

Potassium iodide, a salt also known as KI, doesn’t block any other radiation besides radioactive iodine. “It is possible that public misunderstanding of KI and its limits may lead to a dangerous sense of false confidence that KI provides inoculation against all forms of radiation,” Marburger wrote in his decision.

President Barack Obama has not reversed that decision. Health and Human Services spokeswoman Dori Salcido said the government is studying lessons from the Japanese disaster, including potassium iodide distribution. But she added, “Experts agree that the best approach is always to avoid harmful levels of radiation by evacuating people nearby and monitoring food and water sources for harmful radiation levels.”

Reps. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Bill Young, R-Fla., have written separate letters to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urging her to fully implement the 2002 law’s potassium distribution provision.

AP Photo/Richard Matthews

FILE - This Tuesday, March 15, 2011, file photo shows bottles of potassium iodide on the shelf of the Texas Star Pharmacy on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 in Plano, Texas. The Japanese nuclear crisis has reignited a debate in the U.S.

Air NZ flight safety video an online hit Agence France Presse

WELLINGTON – An Air New Zealand in-flight safety video featuring camp US fitness guru Richard Simmons has gone viral on the Internet, the airline said Wednesday, attracting a million hits in three days.

Air New Zealand said the video “mile-high madness”, which has a sequin- and lycra-clad Simmons tak-

AFP/Getty Images/File/Moses Robinson

File photo of US fitness guru Richard Simmons, who has featured in an Air New Zealand inflight safety video, which has gone viral on the Internet, attracting a million hits in three days.

ing passengers though pre-flight safety routines on a plane decked out like a disco, had been hailed as the best safety video ever. The airline’s marketing manager Mike Tod described the online response to the video as “quite extraordinary”.

“In a matter of hours the new safety video had become a global hit on YouTube,” Tod said. The three-minute video, which includes a cameo appearance from Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe in a sweatband and shorts, began screening on Air New Zealand flights this week.

The airline has previously had safety videos featuring cabin staff wearing nothing but body paint, and New Zealand’s famous All Blacks

rugby union team.

A scene from the latter, showing New Zealand centre Richard Kahui refusing to kiss a male flight attendant, was cut after complaints it could spur gay suicides.

Air New Zealand has also stirred controversy with advertisements featuring a furry puppet called Rico who makes double entendres as he extols the airlines virtues, with some staff labelling it a “sleazeball”.

The airline bemused many New Zealanders with an advertisement released this month which had the puppet starring alongside US rapper Snoop Dogg, reciting lyrics such as “from Cali to Kiwi — we do it big in the New Zee”.

14

Sport

Thursday, March 31, 2011

International

Croatia end France’s winning streak Agence France Presse

PARIS – France were denied a seventh consecutive victory by Croatia on Tuesday, following a 00 draw between the sides in their friendly match at the Stade de France. Visiting striker Ivan Perisic was denied by France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the best chance of the first half, while centre-back Adil Rami hit the woodwork for the hosts in the second period.

AP Photo/Manu Fernandez

FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi from Argentina, second right, duels for the ball against Getafe’s Ivan Marcano Sierra, second left, and Daniel Parejo, right, during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, March 19 2011.

Injured Messi in doubt for league match Agence France Presse

MADRID – Barcelona’s Argentine star Lionel Messi missed his country’s friendly against Costa Rica due to a leg injury that could also keep him out of this weekend’s league match against Villareal, the club said Wednesday. “Pains in the abductor muscle of his right leg prevented Leo Messi from taking part in Argentina’s friendly against Costa Rica” on Tuesday, Barcelona said on its website.

The match in San Jose ended in a 0-0 draw. The 23-year-old, who won the world player of the year award in January for the second successive year, is also doubtful for the Spanish champion’s match against Villareal on Saturday.

“The injury does not appear to be serious although we will have to wait for tests which are to be undertaken in Barcelona to get a definitive diagnosis” before deciding whether he can play against Villareal.

The striker, who has scored 27 league goals for Barcelona this season, is to return to Spain on Thursday, just two days before the match.

The Catalan giants have a lead of five points over nearest rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish league before the two sides go head-to-head next month.

League strike A Spanish judge on Wednesday barred the country’s football league (LFP) from staging a strike this weekend to protest broadcast rights. The judge

backed a suit filed by six first division clubs who had opposed the planned walkout. Madrid Judge Purificacion Pujol decided to “suspend ... the agreement adopted by the (LFP) on February 11. As a result, the official calendar of the first and second divisions of the league cannot be changed,” she said in a ruling.

Pujol on Tuesday heard depositions by the parties concerned: representatives of the LFP and those of six clubs opposed to the strike. The LFP said it “respects the decision” of the judge but maintains its “demands of the government.”

The association announced on February 11 its decision to call the strike for the weekend of April 2-3 to protest a long-standing rule that one first division match per weekend is broadcast for free on television. Negotiations followed with political leaders to find a solution, but the LFP reiterated its decision last week.

But Espanyol Barcelona, Villarreal, Zaragoza, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Sevilla then took legal action to try and prevent the strike.

They described the proposed action as “a disproportionate, untimely measure that is contrary to the interests of the clubs, the competition and the fans and is, in addition, contrary to the law”.

The managing director and deputy chairman of Sevilla, Jose Maria Cruz, resigned on Tuesday from his post as vice-president of the LFP, the league said in a statement. It gave no reason for the decision.

Franck Ribery, meanwhile, was jeered by the home fans as he made his first France appearance on home soil since being banned by the French Football Federation for his role in France’s World Cup training ground strike last year. “There were some whistles but it’s normal,” said Ribery.

“After that the fans reacted well and that gave me confidence in myself. I wasn’t really tense, I just wanted to show that I was happy to be there.”

France coach Laurent Blanc dismissed doubts about his side’s attacking capacity, having seen them record a laboured 2-0 win at minnows Luxembourg in their Euro 2012 qualifier last Friday.

“It was a pretty open match,” said Blanc, who was sent off when France met Croatia in the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup at the same venue.

“Our opponents didn’t have the same philosophy as Luxembourg. It was an enjoyable match that had no relation to what we saw on Friday night.”

The pinpoint passing of Luka Modric meant that Croatia always looked dangerous in possession, but

France saw most of the chances in a first half that never quite caught fire.

Blaise Matuidi, starting in place of Yoann Gourcuff, shot wide from 25 yards, while Rami headed off-target from Samir Nasri’s left-wing centre.

Nasri then bent a free-kick narrowly wide of the right-hand upright, before Karim Benzema squandered France’s first real opportunity when he sidefooted Jeremy Menez’s low cross well over the bar.

Croatia’s clearest sight of goal had seen a Darijo Srna shot blocked by Rami, but they gave the hosts a fright in the 42nd minute. Perisic found himself one-on-one with Lloris after shrugging off Philippe Mexes on the Croatia right, but the Lyon goalkeeper showed sharp reactions and a strong wrist to push the ensuing shot away with his right hand.

Benzema prodded wide with his left foot following a neat exchange with Menez in first-half injury-time, but the half-time whistle sounded with France having failed to register a shot on target. Anthony Reveillere recti-

fied that statistic early in the second half, obliging substitute goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa to fist away a deflected drive.

Ribery emerged as a 60th-minute substitute for Florent Malouda and was roundly booed as he trotted onto the pitch. The boos resumed with Ribery’s every touch but the home fans nearly had something to celebrate when Rami skipped past Josip Simunic before bending a delicate shot onto the right-hand post from the edge of the area.

Ribery’s entrance appeared to give France greater thrust in the final third but a breakthrough would not come.

Substitute Loic Remy was sent clean through with five minutes to play but he hesitated, miscued his attempt to round Pletikosa and allowed the Croatia goalkeeper to save.

Rami roused the home fans with a spectacular overhead kick in injury time but he landed heavily on his shoulder and had to be stretchered off, as an underwhelming night ended on a sour note for France.

AFP/Franck Fife

France’s defender Philippe Mexes (2nd L) vies with Croatia’s defender Josip Simunic (L) during the friendly football match France vs Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis north of Paris.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

Kobe survivor scores in Japan charity game Agence France Presse

OSAKA – Stuttgart striker Shinji Okazaki has dedicated his goal in a Japan earthquake and tsunami charity match to people who helped him survive a major tremor when he was a child.

The 24-year-old struck the second goal in the national team’s 2-1 win

over a J-League select team in a rare all-star event before a sell-out crowd of 40,200 at the Nagai Stadium in the western Japanese city of Osaka Tuesday night.

Okazaki, who moved to the Bundesliga side after Japan lifted a fourth Asian Cup title in January, saw his home damaged in a 1995 quake

which killed some 6,400 people in the western port of Kobe and surrounding areas.

“My house was trashed inside. I could not go to school for about two weeks,” said the former Shimizu SPulse player, who was eight when the quake hit his hometown of Takarazuka.

Sport

International

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Tops seeds Nadal, Djokovic roll to Miami wins Agence France Presse

MIAMI – The world’s two best players rolled into the quarter-finals of the ATP and WTA Miami Masters, following a two-hour afternoon rain interruption which put the programme well behind schedule.

World number one Rafael Nadal lived up to expectations as the Spaniard strives for a first Miami title.

The top seed reached the last eight over Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-2 in just 59 minutes.

“It was very, very, very humid.

That’s why I’m sweating a lot,” said Nadal, who said the long wait in the locker room did not bother him.

It was a similar outcome for second seed Novak Djokovic as he won his 21st consecutive match of the season over compatriot and Davis Cup teammate Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-2. Former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro was at a loss for words after his fourth-round ouster at the hands of American Mardy Fish 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). “It’s difficult to

say something now because I just lost a very, very tough match,” said the Argentine.

“Maybe in two or three days I can say my level at the moment and what I expect for the future.” Spanish sixth seed David Ferrer beat compatriot Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-2 and South African Kevin Anderson put out American John Isner 6-3, 7-6 (7/ 4).

Number seven Tomas Berdych battled to get past German Florian Mayer 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/4) and next plays Nadal in a re-run of the 2010 Wimbledon final.

There was third-round disappointment for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as the French 15th seed was unable to recover in his rain-interrupted match from Monday against Dolgopolov.

Dolgopolov finished off the final set to post a 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 7-5 win and set up a date with Nadal.

In women’s play, battling Kim Clijsters saved five match points to overhaul Serb Ana Ivanovic 7-6 (7/ 4), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the quarters.

15

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Baron Davis (85) passes around Miami Heat’s LeBron James in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in Cleveland.

AP Photo/Mark Duncan

Cavaliers top LeBron, Heat 102-90 Associated Press Writer

CLEVELAND – In an unbearable season of losses, Cleveland got the win it wanted most. The Cavaliers took down LeBron James. Despite blowing a 23-point lead, the Cavs battled back and beat the Miami Heat 102-90 on Tuesday night, getting a dose of revenge against James, who was making his second homecoming visit to Cleveland since leaving last summer.

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns the ball to Feliciano Lopez, of Spain, at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Monday, March 28, 2011. Nadal defeated Lopez 6-3, 6-3.

J.J. Hickson scored 21 and Anthony Parker scored 20 for the Cavs, who were embarrassed by James and the Heat 118-90 on Dec. 2 — a night when Cleveland fans unleashed their hatred on the superstar. This time, James left the floor hanging his head. He finished with 27 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

In the closing seconds, a sellout crowd of 20,562 cut loose at a victory even the most loyal Cleveland fan couldn’t have imagined. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who accused James of quitting in last year’s playoffs after the two-time MVP announced he was joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a poorly conceived TV special, high-fived anyone within reach.

On the floor afterward, Parker, whose last 3-pointer with 2:47 left capped a 12-0 run and put the Heat away, addressed Cavs fans. “You guys deserve it,” he said.

The Cavaliers were a different team — literally — from the one that laid down against the Heat here in December. Injuries and trades have reduced Cleveland’s roster to a shell of the one James played with and helped win 60

games last season.

The Heat nearly rallied from 23 down, and tied it at 83-all on Mike Bibby’s seventh 3-pointer with 7:03 left. But Miami, which wasted a chance to move into second place in the Eastern Conference standings, went scoreless for 4:24, allowed the Cavs to get their 15th win and post their most lopsided win this season.

Wade added 24 for the Heat, who had their winning streak stopped at five.

Cleveland shot 56 percent from the field, a number that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will certainly use to motivate his team to play better defense as it gets ready for the postseason.

Baron Davis made his first start since coming to Cleveland in a trade, and the veteran scored 10 points and provided leadership. The Cavs also got a big lift from center Ryan Hollins, who had 13 points, three blocks and played physically — something none of Cleveland’s players did in December.

There wasn’t the same venom and hatred that shrouded James’ first visit four months ago. The crowd was energetic but not as outwardly angry toward James, who was booed every

time he touched the ball. Security was extremely high, but there were no reported incidents. The teams took turns going on extended runs in a wild, backand-forth third quarter.

Cleveland scored 18 straight points and opened a 71-48 lead, sending their fans into a frenzy and putting the Heat in a deep hole. But Miami was a long way from done as Wade hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored 10 points in a 19-1 spurt that pulled the Heat within 72-67 on James’ jumper.

Christian Eyenga’s 3-pointer with 2 seconds left put the Cavs ahead 7567. James flung a 3-pointer from a few steps beyond halfcourt to end the quarter, a shot that was initially ruled no good but changed after the officials reviewed TV replays between periods and determined there was a clock malfunction.

James arrived at the arena that was his pro basketball home for seven seasons at 5:12 p.m. Wearing headphones and a shirt with the inscription: “Long Live The King,” James went through security and waved to a few guards before ducking into the visitor’s locker room for the second time.

Tiger Woods still gets everyone’s attention Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. – So many people surrounded the first tee that it was hard to see who was playing.

The gallery stretched down the entire length of the 461-yard opening hole and wrapped around the back of the green on a sun-baked Sunday

at Bay Hill.

Now on the tee, Tiger Woods. He was in a tie for 29th. He was 10 shots out of the lead, no serious threat to win.

About four hours later, the final group of Martin Laird and Spencer Levin approached the fifth green with under 100 fans tagging along.

This is nothing new.

A few weeks earlier at Doral, the PGA Tour decided to group players based on their world ranking. Someone estimated the gallery at 85 people for the “Big Three” of Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. On the other side of the course, there were too many fans to count in the group of players ranked

4-5-6 — Graeme McDowell, Woods and Phil Mickelson.

During the FedEx Cup playoffs last year at Ridgewood, thousands of fans crammed behind the ropes on both sides of the fairway at Ridgewood Country Club to watch Woods, who was in 20th place and going nowhere.

One reporter was thinking too hard as he searched for the meaning of it all. “I get it ... but I don’t get it,” he said as his eyes scanned the size of the crowd. “The guy is in 20th place. Why wouldn’t you go watch someone who is actually playing well?” The answer: They were there to see Babe Ruth.

16

Thursday, March 31, 2011

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

Sport

Hamilton: Red Bull will need KERS Lewis Hamilton believes Red Bull Racing cannot afford to continue without KERS for much longer if it expects to stay ahead of his McLaren team. Red Bull decided not to use its KERS during the Australian Grand Prix weekend but, despite that, Sebastian Vettel managed to take a commanding victory ahead of Hamilton.

IBP/ist

Lewis Hamilton during Australian Grand Prix

Rossi expects better form at Jerez VALENTINO Rossi expects that the layout of the circuit at Jerez will be less stressful to his injured shoulder than Qatar, where he finished seventh in his debut for Ducati on March 20.

Rossi underwent surgery over the winter following a motocross accident earlier in 2010, but complained of pain throughout the Qatar weekend.

“Qatar, with its many hard corner entries and areas where we brake to the right, was difficult for my

shoulder,” said Rossi. “We’ll see if Jerez is a little easier from that point of view, although I think I’ll still have to grit my teeth for a while.

“Since Qatar, I’ve continued working out in the gym to try and increase my strength and especially my endurance, but after Spain I’ll have almost a month to recuperate more fully, following the postponement of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Ducati has not won a race at Jerez since 2006, and its only podium fin-

ish in the 800cc era came in 2009, when Casey Stoner finished third.

“From a technical point of view, Jerez doesn’t seem to have been the most favorable track for Ducati, but I’ve always liked it a lot and we’ll definitely have to try and do better than we have until now,” added Rossi.

“For the moment, we’ll continue working on the setup, using everything we learned in Qatar, where we found some good solutions for the race.”

AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

MotoGP Ducati rider Valentino Rossi of Italy steers his bike during the qualifying practice for the Grand Prix of Qatar at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, March 19, 2011.

The characteristics of the Melbourne circuit, however, did not make KERS vital during the season opener, but Hamilton reckons it will be a must for Red Bull in the next race in Malaysia.

The Briton still expects Red Bull to be very strong, but he is confident he will be able to challenge the team in the race, especially if it doesn’t use KERS. “Malaysia is a massive downforce track so you’re going to see Red Bull be as quick if not quicker,” said Hamilton. “But I have no doubts our car can be competitive as well.

“I don’t know if you’ve seen their front wing but it’s like trailing on the ground. That is massive downforce.

Ours is much higher off the ground.

That alone is like 20 points of downforce, like half a second, so as soon as we close that loophole or find out how to do that we will close that performance gap.

“We have some small upgrades coming. Whether or not we can compete with them on pure qualifying pace, I don’t know, but I think when it comes to the race there is a much longer straight going into turn one.

“If we can get on the first two rows again we can compete with our KERS. I don’t think they are going

to be able to go too long without KERS.” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, whose outfit used KERS during Friday practice in Australia, admitted earlier this week that the system was a “must” for the team in Sepang.

Hamilton’s team-mate Jenson Button suggested Red Bull’s KERS was not as strong as McLaren’s at the moment. “Most teams are getting 3.5 to 5 tenths out of KERS, and I think they are getting 1.5,” he said.

“It is good for us and something we need - we need to have a strong KERS system because in terms of their pace and every other area they are very strong.”

Button, however, feels Vettel was still not showing Red Bull’s true pace in Australia, despite the dominant win. “I still think we are a long way off the Red Bulls, I don’t think Seb is showing the full pace yet,” Button added. “He can make some good improvements for the next race because this is really the starting point with this exhaust system.

“Everyone else had the whole winter to play around so we can make some good improvements in the next two weeks and it will be a circuit that is good for our car, and where it was working well.”