Edisi 4 Februari 2010 | International Bali Post

China to beef up security in restive Xinjiang

16 Pages Number 24 2nd Year

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Defying China, Obama to meet Dalai Lama Forests in Jembrana Will Be Tightly Guarded

Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The White House is standing tough on President Barack Obama’s plans to meet with the Dalai Lama, firmly rejecting Chinese pressure to snub him as rows escalate between Washington and Beijing.

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The Chinese government reacted Wednesday to the plans by saying it “resolutely opposes” the Dalai Lama’s visit to the United States and any of his meetings with US leaders.

“We urge the US side to clearly recognize the high sensitivity of the Tibet issue and handle related issues carefully and appropriately to avoid causing more harm to Sino-US ties,” foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement.

Days after defying Beijing with a 6.4-billion-dollar weapons package for Taiwan, the White House insisted Tuesday that China address human rights concerns in Tibet.

“The president told China leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to do so,” White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters.

“The Dalai Lama is an internationally respected religious and cultural leader, and the president will meet with him in that capacity.”

The Dalai Lama is due in the

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Graphic on previous meetings between the Dalai Lama and heads of states.

Hundreds of Evidences Secured O

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

Continued on page 6

Customs and Excise Frisks Warehouse of Imported Liquors

WEATHER FORECAST

SUNNY

United States for a 10-day trip later this month, his secretary said, and will be in Washington February 1719 before speaking and teaching engagements in Los Angeles and Florida. He will return to India from New York on February 25.

Obama has sought wide-ranging ties with the rising Asian power on issues from the global economy to North Korea. Burton said the president remained committed to “building a positive, comprehensive and cooperative relationship with China.”

In October, Obama avoided meeting the Dalai Lama he visited Washington. The move was controversial at home, but the White House said Obama did not want to sour ties with Beijing before his maiden visit a month later.

Ma noted the two sides had discussed the issue during Obama’s visit to China in November, when Chinese leaders stated their “firm opposition toward any national leader or government official meeting the Dalai Lama.”

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Customs and Excise officers of Ngurah Rai Airport, Tuban, last Monday (Feb 1) afternoon, raided a warehouse of imported alcoholic drinks. Spirits warehouse suspected to be illegal is located on Jalan Buana Raya Gang Buana Mekar IA No. 6 Denpasar. Officers also managed to secure hundreds of different brands of alcohol bottles as evidence.

The warehouse raid took place at 5.00 pm Local Time. A number of Customs and Excise officers moved and shoot the warehouse, after receiving information from the public. “Communities around the warehouse claimed suspicious

of the activities of people dwelling in the house,” said Section Chief of Prosecution and Investigation, Bagus Endro Wibowo, last Monday (Feb 1) night.

It is said, a number of cars in and out of the barn. The freights transported were suspected to be the wrong things. Based on such information, the officers immediately executed the raid by dogging one of the cars coming into the scene.

Officers were conducting searches in the warehouse.

Unfortunately, in the raid, officers could not find the owner of the illegal goods. The owner was said to go to Vietnam. Meanwhile, at least 500 bottles of different brands of alcohol were secured by the of-

ficers. “The owner is named Hendrik. It is said he (Hendrik-ed) is now in Vietnam,” he explained to journalists.

Officers also secured two attendants consisting of Mangisi Haris, 22, and Syafrudin Haraba, 22, serving as the warehouse keeper. They also asked for testimony at the office of Customs and Excise. “We still go into the investigation.

Clearly, our evidence is secured and an alcoholic beverage belonged to type B and C. We just stay expanding it,” he said.

Described, all bottles of alcohol were using false customs label.

Therefore, the existing excise tax on the bottle belonged to old customs of output in 2008 and 2009. Meanwhile,

the Customs and Excise have issued a new tax, of course, in 2010. “ Such Customs tax label is a fake,” he said as he revealed the brands secured namely the Vaccari, Jimbeam, Bols Blue, Cointreu, Gordon’s, Chivas Regal, Black Label, Gallian, Kahlua, Pernod and Dramboei.

From the results of temporary examination, those illegal spirits were sent from Singapore via Jakarta, Surabaya, and then sent to Denpasar. Officers ensnared the perpetrator by Law No. 39/2007 on Excise with the threat of one to five years imprisonment. Officers also know, perpetrator did not have the serial number of entrepreneur on goods subject to excise charge or NPPBKC. (kmb21)

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International

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Bali News The Elderly Murdered by Village Drunkard Tabanan (Bali Post)—

Sadistic. That’s the right word for I Made Indrawan alias Moleh, 29. Just imagine, after police explored the village, in fact he was the murderer of an old grandmother who sells goods everyday in a stall, Ni Made Tami, 75, a resident of Banjar Sanda, Pupuan. Moleh had the heart to kill the grandmother Tami just because of getting emotioal due to the nagging of grandmother when he was about to buy cigarettes almost at midnight last Sunday (Jan 31). Moleh is a convict and had been in jail twice in the case of destruction and posing a threat. He looked cool when examined at Tabanan Resort Police.

Moleh at Tabanan Resort Police, last Tuesday (Feb 3) claimed to upset due to old grandmother’s nagging. Grandmother Tami was unwilling to serve when he would buy cigarettes. Moleh admitted to brutally slam his hammer into the head of grandmother after strangling her until limp. When asked if he was drunk on that sadistic murder, Moleh said he was drinking previously, but when committed the murder he was in conscious state.

This village drunkard sat silent when asked whether he regretted his actions or not.

Spokesperson of Tabanan Resort Police, Endung Hardanto, last Wednesday, said that the disclosure of the case was based on fingerprints and the results of investigation where suspicion led to Moleh.

At that time, the police officer led person by Chief of Tabanan Resort Police, AA Made Sudana, arrested the perpetrator at his home without a fight.

Before the event, last Sunday afternoon at around 4:00 pm Local Time, along with four colleagues of Moleh namely Sutarmawan alias Wayan Sutar, 20, I Wayan Setiasa alias Saprol, 28, Murdana and Murdita held red wine party at Sanda roadside, Pupuan. After a long party, at around 6:30 pm, another friend joined such alcoholic drink party like Sadnyana alias Wayan Sardok,25. At around 7:00 pm, they continued the party to the house of Hermawan while watching TV. The party took place until 9:30 pm Local Time. Not long later, the suspect bought instant noodle together with Murdiana and Setiasa at the stall of Ketut Karet, and brought back to eat. Satisfied with alcoholic drink party at around 10:30 pm, the suspects was back to sleep.

Around 11:00 pm, Moleh was awakened by the desire to smoke.

But unfortunately he did not have a cigarette, let alone all the shops in the village was closed. When Moleh remembered that grandmother Tami was usually willing to open much less pounding. By riding Yamaha Jupiter motorbike with plate number DK 3890, he

BP/doc

The suspect I Made Indrawan alias Moleh is escorted by the police to his cell. Moleh killed an elderly named Tami at midnight on Sunday Januari 31st 2010. went to small stall belonged to grandmother Tami about 200 yards from his house. On arrival, Moleh directly banged the door and yelled. Approximately 10 minutes banged hard, the old woman woke up and asked who it was. Instantly the suspect answer,”I am Moleh and would like to buy cigarettes.”

Maybe she was so sleepy so she Tami did not want to wake up to open the door. It made Moleh upset. He immediately broke down the door of stall and could easily open. Being annoyed and angry, grandmother Tami scolded for rude actions of the suspect.

Hearing the victim grumble, the suspect got angry and kicked the victim until the old woman was slumped on the merchandise. Instead merciful-pity, he even strangled the victim’s neck until limp. Not satisfied with what he had done, short the curly haired man was about to find a wooden rod to beat the victim. But instead he found a hammer or a woodenhandled hammer outside the stall’s wall. Hammer weighing more than three kg were then taken inside. He had asked for a cigarette again, but still not given. In fact, the victim

closed the door in trembling condition and saw the suspect looking bloodthirsty and sadistic. Instead of leaving, the suspect returned to break the stall’s door and chased the victim until her room. Sadistically, he slapped hammer to the victim’s head and the temples above right ear made the victim fall immediately. Hard blow to the old woman made her unmoved. Seeing his victim fell while the feet still on the floor, the suspect intended to eliminate the traces. He lifted the victim’s waist, tucked and covered her with blanket.

Feeling no body blocked, the suspect who are unemployed was back into the shop to take money in the victim’s money box, but not found. He then ruffled his cigarette rack box. The suspect attempted to throw the hammer into the bush north of victim’s stalls with a distance of about 10 meters. He returned to take the bike, cool off in the village security post on the west of the stall and then went home to sleep. Meanwhile, the suspect considered him safe because he had lost the trace of the murder. When people were excited with the death of grandmother, he only calmed until the police came to capture him. (kmb14)

Findings of BPK in Bali Provincial Govt

Without Proposal, Social Fund Issued Allocation of social assistance in Bali Regional Budget 2009 amounted to more than IDR 300 billion. Even, in the fiscal year 2010 the Bali Regional Budget comes to more than IDR 350 billion. This condition drew the attention of Audit Board (BPK) of the RI to conduct a special inspection. From the examination it was found no social fund expenditure passed through proposals for community groups in the Cultural Services of IDR 2.56 billion. It was said by Chief Representative of KPK Bali, Gede Kastawa, after the delivery of the examination results to the Head of Bali House, AA Ngurah Oka Ratmadi, in the meeting room of Representative’s Office at Renon Bali , lastTuesday (Feb 2).

Besides, it was also found the expenditure of cash for socio-religious assistance and People’s Welfare Bureau at regional secretariat managed did not comply with the provisions amounted to IDR 5.83 billion. According to Kastawa, before the social assistance was distributed to the public, it should be preceded by proposals submission by community groups to the related institutions. Afterwards, the related institution checked to the field whether the agencies in the field were worthy to receive the assistance. “If feasible, the new project will be delivered to community groups,” he said. But the reality told it was without prosposal to the relevant authorities issued the assistance. The building of community funded by the assistance has existed but it did not comply with the procedure,” he said.

From the examination of BPK in the second quarter of 2009, was also found the realization of official trips to outside the region for the chairman and members of the Bali House without supported by valid evidence worth IDR 1 billion.

This finding is due to a number of airline tickets and boarding pass of the members of the House and the chairman was not in accordance with the manifest. In other words, the name on the airline ticket was not pursuant to the list brought by

flight attendants when the rechecking was carried out. Secretariat Office of the House when checked mentioned that it was misreported the names.

However, if the evidence did not support or was not legally acceptable, the solution was the chairman and members of the House should return the money for business trips to the regional treasury.

Other findings of BPK was a regional tax arrears settlement that was not maximum amounting to IDR 27.43 billion, motor vehicles for heavy equipment and large motor vehicles were not subject to tax at least IDR 95.01 million. Determination of tax for groundwater / surface water found difficulty so the revenue of underground water received late was IDR 26.57 billion. Tax calculation of underground/surface water did not match the provisions of IDR 112.28 million, the underground/surface water tax of Badung, Buleleng, Gianyar and less defined IDR 112.28 million, cash expenditures for the cost of local taxation on Regional Revenue Agency (Dispenda) was not in accordance with IDR 7.16 billion.

Lack of volume and some miscalculations in the work package was accomplished late at Educational, Youth and Sport Services (Disdikpora) and fines have notbeen collected worth IDR 102.16 million.

Excess in the calculation of work unit price in the Office of Public Works worth IDR 98.73 million and the addendum of contracts in Disdikpora Bali was not in accordance with the stipulation so caused potential loss of a fine worth IDR 205.72 million.

Regarding to opinion of BPK related to Regional Budget 2009, Kastawa has not performed comprehensive examination to the Bali Regional Budget 2009. Such examination was just carried out in this April.

Concerning with Bali Regional Budget 2008, the opinion of KPK was disclamer. Current examination of BPK is focused on the compliance with applicable regulations. In a number of agencies, the findings of BPK could be followed up by the House and law enforcement apparatus. Regional leader could be imposed firm sanctions for violations committed by the institutions. (029)

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Bali News

International

Thursday, February 4, 2010

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Using Most Part of the Road

Street Vendors Disciplined Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Civic center area becoming the center community activity, in fact has become the target of the traders to earn a livelihood. The proof, the existence of street hawkers who chose location to sell goods is blooming enough whereas a number of areas in the central area of Bali Provincial Government has become no-trading area.

In an effort to provide convenience for visitors and order of the region, the public order officers (Satpol PP) has discipline them regularly. From the result of discipline reinforcement, the apparatus managed to bring order at least five pushcarts of merchants. “They are selling goods on the road in the east of parking area of Puputan Margarana Renon Square,” said Division Head of Satpol PP of Denpasar Nyoman Ambara, at his office, last Tuesday (Feb 2) yesterday.

The five traders disciplined including Mursid, 34, having the address on Jalan Kapten Tantular. He had two pushcarts to sell goods around Renon square. As a result of this violation, both pushcarts of Mursid were now secured at the office of Satpol PP of Denpasar. The next was Hafiah, 45, Amak Sanin, 36, and Moh. Yamin, 40. They all have the same addresses on Jalan Kapten Tantular.

Like Mursid, the three pushcarts belonged to the merchants also had been secured at the headquarters Satpol PP. According to Ambara, the five traders, next Monday (Feb 8) future will be summoned, then they would be heard in the Denpasar Court. The five suspects were threatened by sanctions for violating the law No. 3/2000 on

Sanitation and Public Order. “We actually do not does prevent any residents to seek for sustenance, but they must obey the existing rules,” explained Ambara last Tuesday.

In the near future, his party would also discipline the existence of beggars and homeless people being rampant in the streets. They usually operate at the area of intersection around Jalan Gatot Subroto - Cokroaminoto and Tjunction of Jalan Maruti-Jalan Cokroaminoto, Ambara admitted if his party has been quite overwhelmed in performing the discipline.

The reason, such child beggars tended to hideand-seek with the officers. “From the morning until noon, we alert the officers. Instead, they operate in the afternoon,” he said.

Ambara also admitted his side were currently overwhelmed with the existence of a more focused personnel to control the waste waster issues, licensing and control of unlicensed businesses. Therefore, the team assigned to discipline the existence of beggars and homeless persons in Denpasar was still lacking. However, in years to come his party would remain to perform supervision, with a team assigned by using civilian clothes. “We have to disguise, with free clothes and a black plate car,” he said. (kmb12)

Corruption Allegations on Road Marker Installation Police Suspect Three Denpasar (Bali Post) —

Cases of alleged corruption happens again.

This time, it is the procurement and installation of road markers on the Development Unit of Land Transportation (Satker LLAJ), Department of Transportation and Communication of Bali Province that alleged with irregularities.

Deviations occurred when the execution of the tender took place. The tender was also judged to have violated the provisions. In addition, the implementation of project activities is also not in accordance with the contract that resulted in Central Government loss. In this case of alleged corruption, the investigators from Corruption Unit of Bali Department of Police has set three suspects namely Endah Suparsetyaningsih SE MBA as the winner of the tender, I Nyoman Oka Diputra, as chairman of the auction committee and I Gede Putu Sunarta, as government officials who made the commitment.

Police also aim the project’s supervisory consultant (IR SI), who allegedly got involved. ‘’This case is still being studied by our investigators from the Corruption Unit of Police Department. Three people have been named as a suspect,’’ confirmed a source in Bali Police Headquarter (Mapolda), Tuesday (2 / 2) yesterday.

The source whose name asked not to be published, said corruption allegations started when the supply contract emerge in a Lump Sump form with a binding unit price of IDR 1.4 billion. However, in its implementation, there were arithmetical corrections of IDR 2.1 billion inserted into the contract.

Moreover, the volume of work is also less than the contract that stated 80 kilometers of road

to be done. Along with it, the Central Government’s impairment reaches IDR 1.2 billion. ‘’Allegations of corruption were revealed after the Audit and Development Supervising Agency (BPKP) conducted audits,’’ he explained as he called the loss of IDR 651, 8 million in the change of contract and IDR 551, 7 million in the volume of work.

After a deviation was known, this case was reported to the Corruption Unit of Bali Department of Police with file no. Pol. LP-A/VIII/2009 / Dit., dated August 11th, 2009. The report was about the alleged corruption of procurement and installation of road markers in Satker LLAJ Bali, Department of Transportation and Communications Bali Province.

In fact, the result of temporary police investigation has not only set the three suspects, but also has presented this case with the representatives of the Province of Bali BPKP to the Bali District Prosecutor. ‘’This case has been discussed for sometime with representatives of Bali Regional BPKP and the District Prosecutor’’, he added.

Meanwhile, separately confirmed, Head of Bali Police Liaison Kombes Pol. Gde Sugianyar verify that the police had received reports of the alleged corruption case. In fact, he also confessed to have coordinated with the Corruption Unit of Polda Bali regarding the matter. ‘’There have been three suspects named. However, the case is still being investigated deeper’’, he said to the newspaper yesterday. Kombes Sugianyar was reluctant to further link the three suspects, especially about their respective positions. ‘’To be more specific, just wait for the results of subsequent investigation’’, he added. (kmb21)

BP/dar

An officer of the public police confiscate pushcarts of merchants around civic center area. Many sellers are using the part of the road to do their activitis and it is forbidden.

Problematic Students Put into Special Class IN ORDER to face the national exams (UN) successfully in the upcoming 2009/2010 academic year, the majority of secondary, senior high and vocational high schools provide intensive guidance to students that are registered as participants. In fact, some schools have anticipated by holding special classes for children considered to have academic problem , particularly for the subjects tested in the exam.

It is scheduled specialized classes for students having academic problems would begin to be intensified after the result of Denpasar UN tryout has been distributed by the Denpasar Education, Youth and Sports Service (Disdikpora).

Contacted last Tuesday (Feb 2), the Headmaster of SMA PGRI 2 Denpasar, I Gede Wenten Aryasudha, confirmed that it was sure to form a special class for students having academic trouble. Out of 635 students who registered for the UN, he estimated that approximately 60-80 students would become residents of a special class that must be given the strengthening of UN materials with extraintensive portions. Considering the absorbability of students in the field tended to be lower, the teachers were also required to submit the items of lessons in a special way, too. “Actually, we have implemented this strategy since the UN last year. With this strategy, the students put into the special classes are usually more motivated to learn even more serious because they know themselves not able to meet the minimum graduation standards required,” he said and added, in order to map out where students were judged worthy of inhabiting such special class would be determined from the results UN tryout for secondary school (SMP) held by Disdikpora of Denpasar City and Disdikpora of Bali Province.

So, how is the preparation of strategies for students who are able to meet the required graduation standards? According to Wenten Aryasudha, students having no problem in the academic field were also given special debriefing. They followed the debriefing in each class guided directly by the teacher of UN subjects who had taught them. While students in special classes will be guided by a team of teachers who may not be a teacher who taught them in their classes. “Since the beginning of this February, all participants are required to follow the UN special debriefing for three consecutive days namely from Friday until Sunday. For three days, they were encouraged by the enrichment of UN material equipped with exercises of the UN questions intensively,” he said.

Contacted separately, Headmaster of SMAN 2 Denpasar, I Ketut Sunarta, asserted that the government imposed an obligation to follow a special debriefing for the academic achievements of students who assessed worrying or potentially would not pass on the next exam. However, they did not put into a special class but still joined with his colleagues.

However, the development of academic achievement of students with problems was strictly monitored by teachers of the subjects tested in the national examination. “We do not want to create a special class for fear that the strategy could affect the psychology of the students concerned. If they are nurtured in isolation, they obviously feel distinguished from his colleagues,” he said and added that his party implemented a strategy with personal approach to encouraging students that have problem to learn. (ian)

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

News

International

Protestant split imperils new Belfast deal Associated Press Writer

BELFAST - A compromise plan to save Northern Ireland’s CatholicProtestant government is unraveling because the Protestant party in that coalition is badly split on whether to accept it, a senior party official said Tuesday.

The politician told The Associated Press that 39 percent of the Democratic Unionist Party’s lawmakers voted against the proposed agreement Monday, compromising the leadership of Democratic Unionist leader Peter Robinson.

Robinson has spent the past week in round-the-clock talks with the Irish Catholics of Sinn Fein to negotiate a salvation plan for their 2 1/2year-old power-sharing coalition, the central achievement of Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace accord.

But Robinson - whose authority already has suffered from his politician wife’s sex-and-ethics scandal - says he won’t move forward unless he can take the vast majority of his party with him.

Sinn Fein triggered Northern Ireland’s political crisis last month by threatening to withdraw from the coalition. Sinn Fein leaders say they’re fed up waiting for the Protestant side to accept terms for taking control of Northern Ireland’s justice system, a move that Britain hoped Northern Ireland would make in 2008.

A Sinn Fein pullout would wreck the power-sharing government and trigger early elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The British and Irish governments had expected both parties to give rubber-stamp approval to the compromise. While Sinn Fein lawmakers broadly backed the deal as expected, the Democratic Unionists reversed course in an air of confusion and secrecy.

On Tuesday, a well-placed politician said Robinson put the plan to a ballot - and 14 of the party’s 36 lawmakers rejected it. The politician, who says he voted against the deal, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Democratic Unionist deputy leader Nigel Dodds decried the leaking of sensitive information - but like other party officials didn’t deny the vote setback on Tuesday.

Dodds, a hard-liner and Robinson’s most likely successor, stressed that no vote had been taken specifically on Robinson’s leadership and no lawmakers criticized Robinson for his personal life.

Last month, Northern Ireland was shocked when Robinson’s wife, Iris, admitted having a 2008 affair with a teenager 39 years her junior and lobbying businessmen to give him money to open a cafe.

Iris Robinson resigned last month as a lawmaker and was checked into a Belfast mental hospital. Police are investigating whether either Robinson broke any laws. Peter Robinson has denied any wrongdoing.

Robinson didn’t comment as he resumed talks Tuesday with British and Irish government officials and Sinn Fein at Hillsborough Castle southwest of Belfast, where the diplomatic marathon began Army general to lead a landmark study on how the military would lift its ban on openly gay service members.

Pentagon counsel Jeh Johnson and Gen. Carter Ham, who leads Army forces in Europe, will conduct the yearlong assessment.

Ham is a former enlisted infantryman who rose to command troops in northern Iraq. Johnson, the Pentagon’s top leagal officer, played an integral role in the effort to close the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

AFP PHOTO/ALI AL-SAADI

An Iraqi soldier stands guard as Muslim Shiite pilgrims head on foot from Baghdad to the holy city of Karbala to take part in the Aabaeen, 40 days of mourning after Ashura, on February 3, 2010. A suicide attacker driving a minibus killed 20 Shiite pilgrims, including women and children, travelling on foot to a shrine city in central Iraq, health and security officials said.

Suicide attack on pilgrims at Iraq shrine city kills 20 Agence France-Presse

KARBALA - A suicide attacker driving a minibus on Wednesday killed 20 Shiite pilgrims, including women and children, travelling on foot to a shrine city in central Iraq, health and security officials said.

The bomber struck a crowd of pilgrims on the outskirts of Karbala, 110 kilometres (68 miles) south of Baghdad, in an attack that also left 117 people wounded.

The pilgrims had been travelling on foot from Hilla in Babil province to Karbala to observe Friday’s Arbaeen rituals.

A senior provincial health official who gave the toll said at least one woman and three children were among the dead. An interior ministry official, who confirmed the casualty toll, said the bomber deto-

nated an explosives-laden bus.

Arbaeen marks 40 days after the Ashura anniversary commemorating the slaying of one of Shiite Islam’s most revered figures, Imam Hussein, by the armies of the Sunni caliph Yazid in 680 AD. Tens of thousands of Shiites, including many from neighbouring Iran, make their way annually at Arbaeen to pay homage at Imam Hussein’s shrine in Karbala, considered one of the holiest places in Shiite Islam.

In Baghdad on Monday a female

Top US uniformed officer: Gay ban should be lifted Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON - The U.S. military’s top uniformed officer is declaring that gays should be allowed to serve openly in uniform, arguing that it is “the right thing to do.”

It was the strongest statement yet from the Pentagon on this volatile issue. Adm. Mike Mullen told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday he is deeply troubled by a policy that forces

people to “lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.”

Mullen said he knows many will disagree about abandoning the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and said there are practical obstacles to lifting the 1993 ban that requires service members to keep their sexual orientation secret. But he said he thinks the military can handle it. Mullen is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and chief military adviser to President Barack

Obama.

Obama has called on Congress to repeal the measure, but Democrats say they want more guidance on how to allow openly gay service members to serve without causing a major upheaval.

Gay rights activists, a core constituency of Obama’s Democratic Party have complained he has been slow in fulfilling a campaign promise to eliminate the policy.

But some high-ranking military officers are reluctant to embrace

the change while troops are stretched thin at a time of two wars.

Mullen noted that he and fellow high-ranking officers must still participate in the wide-ranging review that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered about how and whether to change the policy, but then added his personal note.

Mullen said he was endorsing a change in policy, “speaking for myself, and myself only.”

suicide bomber blew herself up among a crowd of pilgrims who were making their way to Karbala for the ceremonies, killing at least 41 people.

Around 30,000 members of the Iraqi security forces have been deployed to the holy city for the festival which culminates on Friday.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s office blamed Monday’s suicide bombing on the Baath party of executed dictator Saddam Hussein.

“We hold Baathists and their Takfiri allies responsible for this massacre,” Maliki said.

Takfiri is a term used by the Iraqi government to refer to Al-Qaeda members.

Defence ministry spokesman General Mohammed al-Askari said the woman bomber came from Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, that has in the past been a stronghold of Al-Qaeda which still has a local presence.

Iraqi politicians and US forces have warned of rising violence ahead of a general election on March 7, the second parliamentary ballot since the US-led invasion of 2003 which toppled Saddam before ushering in a deadly insurgency.

In recent months insurgents had appeared to direct their attacks away from religious targets to government buildings in Baghdad.

The apparent switch had prompted the army to urge government officials to change their travel itineraries and avoid high-risk areas in the capital, the Baghdad military command said on Monday.

International IMIGRATION Australian Consulate General Jalan Tantular 32 Renon Denpasar Phone: +62 361 241118 Fax: +62 361 221195 (General) +62 361 241120 (Immigration)

General Info

Thursday, February 4, 2010

HOSPITAL Denpasar There are 4 major hospitals usually used by foreigners Denpasar General Hospital (RSUP Sanglah), Kasih Ibu Hospital, Rumah Sakit Wongaya and Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada.

HOSPITAL Bangli Bangli General Hospital Jl. Kesumayuda 27, Bangli Phone : +62 366 91521 Gianyar

Royal Danish & Norwegian Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 070 The Czech Republic Jalan Pengembak No. 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.286 465 France Consulate Agency Jalan Merta Sari Gang II No. 8 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.285 485 The Federal Republic of Germany Jalan Pantai Karang No 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.288 535 The Republic of Hungary Jalan By Pass No 219 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.287 701 Italian Consulate Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 005 Honorary Consulate of Mexico Jalan Mohamad Yamin 1 A, Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.223 266 Honorary Consulate of The Netherlands Jalan Raya Kuta 127, Bali Phone +62.361.761 506 Honorary Consulate of Spain Komplek Istana Kuta Galleria Blok Vallet 2 No 11. Jalan Patih Jelantik Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.769 286 USA Consulate Agency Jalan Hayam Wuruk No. 188 Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.222 426 Consulate General of Japan Jalan Raya Puputan No. 170 Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.227 628 Honorary Consulate of British Jalan Tirta Nadi No. 20 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.270 601 Swiss and Austria Consulate Jalan Patih Jelantik, Komplek Pertokoan Istana Galleria Phone +62.361.751 735 Honorary Consulate of Brazil Jalan Legian No. 186, Bali Phone +62.361.757 775 Honorary Consulate of Thailand Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 81, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.263 310 Embassy of India Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 42-44, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.241 978 Honorary Consulate of Sweden anf Finland Segara Village Hotel, Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.282 223 Honorary Consulate of Malaysia Alam Kulkul Boutique Resort, Jalan Pantai Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.752 520

RSUP Sanglah is the main provincial public hospital. Its facilities have improved since the emergency ward had been built in 1991. Difficult/critical cases would not become a problem anymore since it has complete equipments. It is located on Jl. Kesehatan Selatan 1 Sanglah Denpasar with : Phone : 227 911 – 15 Fax : 226 363 Kasih Ibu Hospital is a private hospital which caters for less serious cases such as diarrhea, intestinal disorders, anemia, asthma and minor accidents. Kasih Ibu is also equipped to care for pregnant women. This hospital is located on Jl. Teuku Umar 120 Denpasar.

Phone : 223 036 Fax : 268 690.

Rumah Sakit Wongaya (Public Hospital; Psychiatric Unit) Jl. Kartini, Denpasar.

Phone : 222 142.

Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada , (Private) Jl. Sudirman No 50, Denpasar Phone : 227 560, 234 824 In relating with health, Bali also has insurance and medical evacuation company, that is: AEA International - SOS Assistance Bali.

PT Abhaya Eka Astiti, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No. 24X, Kuta 80361.

Phone : 755 768 Fax : 755 768 One thing that should be noted by tourists here is that the Blood Bank in Bali normally carries no stock of Rhesus (Rh) Negative blood.

Badung Bali Medical Clinics There are some medical clinics that are well known by foreigners in Bali. Some of them are western owned and operated : Bali International Medical Center (BIMC) Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) provides excellent Primary Health Care & Emeregency Medical Services for tourists, traveler, and expatriate living in Bali.

Emeregency Room, Ambulance, Clinic Services, Insurance & Medical Evacuations also available. Open 24 hours Phone : 761 2631. Located Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.100X, Kuta, Bali 80361 - Indonesia. http://www.bimcbali.com International SOS Clinic Bali Opened in 1999, offers International SOS members and visitors to Bali comprehensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency medical service.

Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta 80361, Bali - Indonesia Phone : 720 100 Fax : 721 919 E-mail : info@sos-bali.com ttp ://www.sos-bali.com Bali Nusa Dua Emergency Clinic Jl Pratama No. 81 Phone : 771 324 Kuta Clinic Jl. Raya Kuta Phone : 753 268 Dental Clinic Dr Indra Guizot, Jl. Patimura 19, Denpasar Phone : 222 445, 234 375 DDS. Ritjie Rihartinah, Jl Pratama No. 81 Nusa Dua Phone : 771 324 Retno W. Agung, Jln. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.4A Br. Tamansari – Sanur Phone : 288 501

Clinic Mas Jl. Raya Mas, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974573 Toyo Clinic Jl. Pengosekan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 978078 Permata Bunda Clinic Jl. Patih Jelantik 50 X, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 942082 Ubud Clinic Jl Raya Ubud No.36 Campuhan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974911 Gianyar General Hospital Jl. Ciung Wanara 2, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 943049 Karangasem Karangasem General Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai, Karangasem Phone : +62 363 21001 Klungkung Klungkung General Hospital Jl. Flamboyan 40-4, Klungkung Phone : +62 366 21371 Negara Negara General Hospital Jl. Gelar, Negara Phone : +62 365 41006 Tabanan Laboratorium Clinic Jl. Gunung semeru No. 8, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 819260 Mengwi Clinic Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai 46, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 880550 Darma Kerti Hospital Jl. Teratai 16, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 812359 Tabanan General Hospital Jl. Pahlawan 14, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 811027 Singaraja Prodia Clinic Jl. RA Kartini 12, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 24-516 Singaraja Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai 30, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 22-573 Pet Clinics Kayumas: (0361) 226934 Sayang Binatang: (0361) 483121 Satwa Kertha Husada: (0361) 263018 Pantai Sindhu: (0361) 287518 Sidakarya: (0361) 724492 Pedungan: (0361) 720026

TAXIS Praja Taxi : (0361) 289090 Bali Taxi : (0361) 701111 Ngurah Rai Taxi : (0361) 724724 Pan Wirthi Taxi : (0361) 723366 Komotra Taxi : (0361) 758855

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

News Asia bolsters defenses as West feels pinch: IISS Agence France-Presse

AFP PHOTO

Chinese rescuers airlift food supply into Aletai, farwest China’s Xinjiang region on January 22, 2010, after a heavy snowfall.

China to beef up security in restive Xinjiang Agence France-Presse

BEIJING - China is recruiting 5,000 elite police officers to prevent further unrest in restive Xinjiang, the government said Wednesday as the nation’s security minister vowed a more “tenacious” approach in the region.

The regional government said the move was in response to deadly ethnic violence last July in which Muslim Uighurs clashed with members of China’s Han majority — the country’s worst unrest in decades.

A statement on the regional government’s news website said the officers would focus on “striking against terrorist crimes and handling mass incidents” — a term China uses to refers to social unrest.

China argues that it must maintain tight control in Xinjiang to counter the serious separatist and terrorist threats it says it faces in the northwest region.

Authorities have blamed last July’s unrest in the regional capital Urumqi,

which prompted a heavy security clampdown, on “separatists” but have offered no evidence.

The officers will be part of “Special Police” forces — the Chinese equivalent of elite police units such as the heavily armed Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams of the United States.

Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu meanwhile issued a statement warning of a continued “grim” security situation in Xinjiang.

Meng called for security forces there to “work with greater determination, higher morale, and a more tenacious style.”

“We must recognise that hostile

forces inside and outside the country are not reconciled to their failure,” said the statement on the ministry’s website, warning of more attempts at “sabotage”.

The report said 3,600 of the recruits had already enlisted and authorities hoped to have them begin patrolling by the end of March.

China has so far reportedly executed or sentenced to death 26 people over the unrest, which the government said left nearly 200 dead and more than 1,600 injured.

Uighurs have long chafed at what they say has been decades of Chinese political, religious and cultural repression.

LONDON - Asian states led by China and India are surging ahead with military spending as they recover strongly from the global slowdown, while Europe and the US feel the military pinch, a study said Wednesday.

The US military remains “under severe strain” due to ongoing Iraq operations and its 30,000-strong surge in Afghanistan, said the respected annual “Military Balance” report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Britain, the United States’ main ally in both Iraq and Afghanistan, faces a particular challenge as it grapples to pay for its military and draw down a massive budget deficit.

“In terms of defence and security spending the impact of the financial crisis has varied across regions and countries,” said the report, noting that a plan to update Russia’s military equipment has “effectively been abandoned.”

In the United States, after defence spending almost doubled under the administration of former president George W. Bush, a budget deficit of 12.5 percent in 2009 “marked the end of this phase of rising defence spending.

“Both (President Barack) Obama and (Defence Secretary Robert) Gates have signalled that fiscal realities will necessitate a dramatic re-prioritisation within defence spending.

“The US military is still under severe strain ... US forces are substantially larger than those of America’s allies, and the army for instance is expanding,” the 490-page report noted.

But it said: “They are still suffering some personnel strains, given the myriad burdens placed upon them, par-

ticularly continuing operations in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.”

The report comes a day after China warned Obama not to meet the Dalai Lama and threatened diplomatic reprisals over US arms sales to Taiwan, widening an escalating feud between the world’s top powers.

Russia’s military ambitions have been hit hard by a 7.5 percent GDP contraction in 2009, said the report, adding that a 2007-2015 reprioritisation programme “will be replaced with a new 10-year plan starting in 2011.”

Asia’s giants will however power ahead militarily.

“In contrast to developments in advanced economies, both India and China have maintained their recent trend of double-digit increases in defence spending,” it said.

India boosted defence spending by 21 percent in 2009 following the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, it noted, adding: “Other Asian states, such as Australia, Indonesia and Singapore have also posted increases.”

In Europe, massive stimulus packages contributed to an increase in budget deficits, which ballooned to 6.2 percent of GDP in the eurozone, while Britain is expected to have recorded a deficit of 11.6 percent of GDP, it said.

“When the time comes to redress these fiscal imbalances, discretionary spending will come under considerable pressure and defence is likely to suffer,” said the IISS report.

Strains would be felt in particular by countries facing a looming demographic shift, for example requiring greater expenditure on pensions and healthcare.

Defying China...

From page 1 The Dalai Lama, who has built a strong global following since fleeing into exile in India in 1959, says he is seeking greater rights for Tibetans within Chinese rule, but Beijing accuses him of separatism.

The United States considers both Taiwan, where the mainland’s defeated nationalists fled in 1949, and Tibet, where Beijing sent troops in 1950, to belong to China.

But Burton said “we have human rights concerns about the treatment of Tibetans. We urge the government of China to protect the unique cultural and religious traditions of Tibet.”

China earlier warned that a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama would “seriously undermine” US-China ties.

“If the US leader chooses to meet with the Dalai Lama at this time, it will certainly threaten trust and cooperation between China and the United States,” said Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the Communist Party body that handles contact with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.

Zhu’s comments followed another round of talks between Chinese officials and Dalai Lama envoys — the

ninth since 2002 and the first in more than a year.

Beijing said the talks yielded no progress. Some Tibet activists argue that China is simply biding time with the talks, which the United States has praised, as it waits for the 74-year-old Dalai Lama to die.

China earlier snapped off military ties and threatened to punish US companies over the arms package to Taiwan, which includes Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and other military hardware.

Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the sharp Chinese reaction may be tied to another issue — F-16 fighter-jets, which the administration did not sell to Taiwan.

“The Chinese are probably breathing a sigh of relief over the F-16s. But they may think that the louder they huff and puff and the more ‘costly’ they make this, that they will further dissuade the US on the F-16s,” he said.

US officials have said F-16s are not off the table and that they are still studying the proposal. Taiwan has pressed for the fighter jets, which analysts say are vital for the island to modernize its fleet.

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, February 4, 2010

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PDIP identifies 45 law violations in Bank Century case Antara

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

A picture of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with a ‘Pinocchio’ liars nose is stuck onto the parliament gate next to a group of people (upper R) declaring themselves as supporters of Yudhoyono, as a case into a string of damaging corruption allegations continues, in Jakarta on February 3, 2010. The Indonesian government has been under close scrutiny after the decision to pump some 730 million USD into failing Bank Century in 2008.

Government expected to advance domestic defense industry Antara

JAKARTA - The government is expected to consistently advance domestic defense industry by prioritizing the products of state enterprises (BUMN) strategic industry for the procurement of military hardware system (alutsista).

“We hope the government will be firm and consistent to advance domestic defense industry by using the military hardwares produced by BUMN strategic industry instead of purchasing them from abroad,” House of Representatives (DPR) Commission-I member Enggartiasto Lukita said here on Wednesday.

The member of Golkar Party faction at the House Commission-I made the remark in response to a statement made by the Defense Ministry to arrange Defense Industry’s Master Plan (RIIP).

Enggartiasto then said if certain National Defense Forces (TNI) military hardwares were still produced

by foreign company, he proposed that the company cooperate with BUMN strategic industry to produce them in Indonesia.

Therefore he added that the government should have “multi-years” budget for alutsista with its volume and quantity set for five years.

Meanwhile, chairman of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction in the DPR, Tjahjo Kumolo, questioned the government’s plan to cooperate in the defense industry field with China.

“The Defense Ministry should be consistent with the government’s intention to give priority to the domestic defense industry revitaliza-

tion program,” Tjahjo Kumolo said.

He made the remark in response to a defense ministry statement indicating the ministry was drawing up a plan to develop a defense industry in cooperation with China. Such a plan could mean Indonesia would eventually procure more arms from China, he said.

Tjahjo said Indonesia had enough human resources and other domestic supporting facilities to develop its domestic defense industry as long as the government had the political will to take immediate action.

“It should not happen that the government eventually explores the possibility of procuring arms from China,” he said.

He said the government should seriously try to empower the domestic arms industry so that the country could become independent in meeting its armament needs for the sake of reinforcing the country’s sovereignty.

Soekarno-Hatta customs foil illegal animal exports Antara

JAKARTA - Customs personnel at Soekarno-Hatta airport, Tangerang, Banten, had foiled an attempt to smuggle out snakes and turtles, which actually constituted illegal exports of the commodities.

Spokesman for the Customs Directorate General Evi Suhartantyo said in Jakarta Tuesday in the export documents, the goods had been declared fresh fruits (salak).

“The 2,200 gross kg of salak, net weight 1,000 kg, and the exports was an attempted by PT IDT,” Evi said.

An investigation of the animal quarantine agency at the airport shows that the cargo consisted of Jali snakes, totalling 700 of them.

The smuggled goods also comprised turtles totaling 3,492 of them.

But the fresh fruits (salak) were packed in only 32 bags.

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives has identified 45 breaches of the law in the Bank Century case and is recommending their further investigation by law-enfocing agencies, a spokesman said.

Gayus Lumbuun, vice chairman of the PDIP faction in the parliament, said here Tuesday, the 45 unlawful acts were identified based on the nine findings of a State Audit Board (BPK) audit on the bank‘s finances and the testimonies of witnesses heard by the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee.

“The Inquiry Committee did its own investigation based on the BPK`s nine findings,” said Gayus who is also the committee`s vice chairman.

Among the 45 identified law violations, Gayus said, were the issuance of Government Regula-

tion in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No 4 of 2008 on a Financial System Safety Net (JPSK), amendment of the Bank Indonesia Regulation (PBI) on conditions to obtain ShortTerm Financing Facility (FPJP) funds, extension of FPJP funds to Bank Century, the existence of the Communication Committee (KK), the decision of the financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) to save Bank Century.

Meanwhile, Ganjar Pranowo, a PDIP legislator in the House Bank Century Inquiry Comittee, said based on the breaches of law found in the Bank century case, his party‘s faction in the House had concluded that four instititutions were involved or respsonsible for the violations, namely Bank Indonesia (BI), the KSSK, KK, and the Deposit Insurance Institute (LPS).

He said the Inquiry Committee had so far been investigating what had not yet been uncovered by the BPK audit on the Bank Century finances.

AUMI proposes three programs to solve ACTFA-related problems Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Medium-scale Entrepreneurs Association (AUMI) has proposed three programs and anticipatory actions to ensure the continuity of smalland medium-scale enterprises and cooperatives under the AseanChina Free Trade Agreement.

“We are optimistic the three programs can overcome the ACFTA-related problems and save small- and medium-scale enterprises and cooperatives

(KUKM) business if the government implements the three proposals especially in the 100-day implementation of the ACFTA,” AUMI general chairman, Ilhamy Elias said here Tuesday.

The first step is to reduce negative impacts of ACFTA against KUKM that is to map the impact of KUKM sector, he said.

The second step is to publish strategic policy and the third is the total coordination with all ministries and institutions related to the global trade policy, he added.

Central Aceh earthquake damages 28 schools Antara

BANDA ACEH - The January 28 earthquake that rocked Central Aceh damaged at least 28 schools, forcing thousands of students to stay at home, a government official said.

The natural disaster also caused local residents and government to suffer material losses totaling Rp73.784 billion (1US$=Rp9,450), the district government‘s spokesperson, Windi Darsa, said here Tuesday.

The temblor damaged at least 28 schools and 600 houses, he said.

The earthquake measuring five on the Richter Scale jolted the greater areas of Central Aceh and Bener Meriah districts , about 300 kilometers from Banda Aceh, on January 28. The tremors caused minor and serious damage to hundreds of houses and tens of schools but nobody was hurt.

“The displaced people are tem-

porarily sheltered in other people`s houses that had remained intact,” he said. Darsa said thousands of students had yet to return to school because their class-rooms had also been damaged.

“Keeping the students at home is the best option because we do not have tents to make emergency class rooms,” he said.

The earthquake happened a week ago but the Aceh provincial government had yet to supply locals with tents for building emergency class rooms for the ill-fated students, he said. Like many other parts of the Indonesian archipelago, Aceh is prone to earthquakes.

On December 26, 2004, the province’s capital city was rocked by a powerful earthquake, which was followed by tsunami.

More than 200,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of others lost their homes.

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Internationa

Thursday, February 4, 2009

Bali Today ISI Denpasar attract attention in Copenhagen Antara

DENPASAR – The art group from Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Denpasar attracted the attention of the audiences during the international music festival in Copenhagen, Denmark.

I Wayan Rai S, the head of ISI Denpasar, said that the art group was among those who received warm reception. “The group from ISI performed on February 3rd 2010 on 7 degree Celsius of temperature. The art group represents Asia and will collaborate with other group from different countries,” Rai said Rai explained that they are very proud to get the spotlight among the world class musician. The performance also gives certain value and experiences

to the students in the group.

“They had the chance to interact with world class artists. We also promote tourism in Bali and Indonesia when we take part in the festival, so there are many benefits that we get in taking part in the festival,” Rai added.

ISI also took part in the Copenhagen parade and was performing Cak dance. The members also joined in a seminar with the Royal Denish Academy of Music.

Rai said “the performance in the festival is possible because the MoU which was sign by ISi Denpasar and The Royal Denish Academy of Music.

The cooperation also will be done in lecturer and student exchange programs and others.”

The art group will return to Indonesia on February 9th 2010.

BTS teardown by Badung government Denpost/Witari

The forest in Jembrana area are damage because the trees have been cut down by people. In order to prevent more damage done to forests in Jembrana, the entrance of the forests will be heavily guarded.

ATSI ask Badung government to be cooperative IBP

Preventing Further Damage

Forests in Jembrana Will Be Tightly Guarded Denpost

NEGARA - In order to prevent more damage done to forests in Jembrana, the entrance of the forests will be heavily guarded. Destruction of tens of thousands of hectares of forest in Jembrana really made the regent of Jembrana, I Gede Winasa decided to revitalize the program of zero-visit to forest by placing a number of officers to guard the entrance to the forest.

Jembrana Regent Gede Winasa who was annoyed because the forests in Jembrana were being destroyed even more, on Tuesday (2/ 2), gathered the chief of villages as supporters of forest protection.

Winasa said forestry issues are a fundamental problem that must be addressed, so it is vital to involve the village community leaders in protecting the forest.

To intensify forest protection, Winasa revitalizes the zeroentrance to forest program by involving traditional institutions.

“The revitalization of this program should immediately be done because we have spent billions of funds to treat the forest but no results have been gained. With this program, everyone is prohibited to enter and exit the forest”, he said.

With this policy, Winasa asked the village leaders to abide by regulations that have been made in the form of traditional law (awig-awig).

For this program, Winasa manages the technical supervision is by placing Pamong Praja Police Unit officials, village and Subak administrators which are supporters of the forest protection at the entrance points.

“Guards for each point should be composed of two officers, one village and one Subak administrator who will oversee Jembrana’s forest for 24 hours”, he explained. If later along the way there are cases of illegal logging to be found, Winasa requested that the post guards to contact base camp through a communication device that has been prepared. “In half an hour, officials at the base camp must have already arrived at the scene”, he said.

For the testing of the system, Winasa expected to prepare six checkpoints scattered throughout Jembrana district.

He thinks this could be done starting next Monday. “If you do not enter the forest, it would recover by itself. In this program only animals are allowed to enter”, he said. Not only that, Winasa also threatened to isolate the village which has been at least reluctant and careless for three times. Likewise, any assistance for those villages will also be stopped. Winasa invited all brave village leaders to impose sanctions and bring the destructors of forests to the court. In addition to sanctions, Winasa also will provide IDR 1 million prize to anyone who can catch the thief. (021)

DENPASAR – The teardown of some base transceiver system (BTS) of cellular operators in Badung area will disturb the cellular operators’ service to customers. For that reason, The Cellular Operators Association in Indonesia (ATSI) asks the Badung government to be cooperative.

On the statement issued by The Head of ATSI Sarwoto Atmosutarno, ATSI was clearly asking the Badung government not to repeat the demolished act. According to Sarwoto, by doing the action, the government will give negative impact to cellular operators’ services. Not only the customers that reside in Badung area who will gain the effect of the demolition, the Bali’s province and international services also being disturb by the teardown. This is because, reasoned Sarwoto, some of the BTS that being teardown by Badung government also supplies services to international network.

On the ATSI statement, there are eight operators that experience some disturbance because of the teardowns, there are Telkomsel (12 BTS), Mobile 8 Telekom (7 BTS), Telkom (6 BTS), Hutchison CP Telecom (4 BTS), Bakrie Telecom (4 BTS), Indosat (3 BTS), Excelcomindo Pratama (3 BTS), and Natrindo Telepon Selular (2 BTS). ‘’They experience decreasing network quality that cause inconvenience to their customers, not only in Badung area but also Bali and the international,” said Sarwoto.

Due to this problem, Sarwoto asks Badung government to be cooperative and willing to open a dialogue talk with ATSI in solving the problem. ‘”Together, we should find solution to

fix the problem,” said Sarwoto.

Badung government is taking hard action to organize the tower development in their area because they afraid later on Badung will change into towerland. They already teardown several towers that belong to the cellular operators because they didn’t have any permit to build towers. But in the teardown process, most of the cellular operators’ services to its customers are decreasing. The problem not only happens in Badung, which is famously known as tourist destination, but also in other area in Bali. This problem also raise complains from cellular customers because they have difficulty using voice, data, and text messaging services. (iah)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com

The teardown of some base transceiver system (BTS) of cellular operators in Badung area will disturb the cellular operators’ service to customers.

al

Thursday, February 4, 2009

Balinese Culture

Ayana voted World’s #1 Spa IBP

JIMBARAN - Thermes Marins Bali Spa that located in Ayana Resort and Spa Bali has been awarded the World’s #1 Spa at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards 2010. Ayana was also awarded Favorite Hotel Spa in Asia and Indian Sub-continent at the prestigious ceremony in London, which followed an international survey of Conde Nast Traveller readers.

The statement release by Ayana’s Director of Spa and Business Development Michi Sonoda, ‘’The spa industry worldwide has undergone significant change in recent years as modern travelers seek the type of holiday where they can completely rebalance and revive their senses, to ease the stress of their increasingly hectic lives.

http://www.lestaritour.com

Thermes Marins Bali Spa that located in Ayana Resort and Spa Bali has been awarded the World’s #1 Spa at the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards 2010.

This award recognizes our position as a world leader in both Thalasso therapy and traditional Indonesian remedies, and nothing gives us more pleasure than sharing the benefits of our wellbeing philosophy with our guests.’’

Set in beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, Thermes Marins Bali is the only Thermes Marins spa in south-east Asia. The 22,000 sqm facility incorporates spa villas, treatment rooms, beauty salon, reflexology and relaxation lounge, and the Spa on the Rocks treatment villas anchored on rocks amidst the ocean.

It is also home to one of the world’s largest Aquatonic® Seawater Jet Pools, supplied direct from the underlying ocean and warmed to optimum temperatures to provide the curative and preventative properties of seawater. The spa menu offers ancient Eastern healing and modern European treatments including Thalasso therapy, massage, facials, hair, nail care, anti-aging and slimming treatments. The highest quality products are used including La Mer, Thermes Marins, Guinot and Decleor.

Formerly The Ritz-Carlton Bali Resort & Spa, Ayana rebranded on 1 April 2009 after a management change initiated by the owner, who’s invested millions of dollars to strengthen the property’s position as Southeast Asia’s premier resort. Facility upgrades include the new Rock Bar, located on natural rocks abutting the ocean, and renovations of Padi restaurant, Damar Terrace restaurant and Ayana Ballroom.

The 77-hectare property retained the vast majority of its 950 staff and selected West Paces Hotel Group led by Horst Schulze, former president and founder of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, to provide management expertise. General Manager Charles de Foucault brings more than 30 years’ experience, including 17 with Ritz-Carlton hotels. (iah)

Indonesian Salad (Gado-Gado) Ingredients * DRESSING 1/2 c Flaked coconut * 1 c Hot water * 1 Onion — chopped * 1 cl Garlic — finely chopped * 1 1/2 ts Peanut oil * 2/3 c Peanut butter * 1/2 c Water * 1 tb Sugar * 1/2 ts Salt * 1/2 ts Chili powder * 1/8 ts Ground ginger SALAD * 1 c Bean sprouts * 1 c Cabbage — shredded * 4 oz Bean curd — drained and cut -into 1" pieces * 2 tb Peanut or vegetable oil * 1 c Potatoes — cooked, peeled -and sliced * 1 c Green beans — cooked * 1 c Carrots — cooked & sliced * 1 Cucumber — sliced * 2 Hard-cooked eggs — peeled -and sliced

Directions To prepare Dressing, place coconut in blender container. Add 1 cup hot water. Cover and blend on high speed about 30 seconds. Cook and stir onion and garlic in oil in 2-quart saucepan about 5 minutes. Stir in coconut and remaining ingredients.

Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat.

Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

To prepare Salad, pour enough boiling water over bean sprouts and cabbage to cover. Let stand 2 minutes. Drain. Cook bean curd in oil in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, turning pieces gently, until light brown. Remove with slotted spoon. Drain. Cook potatoes in same skillet until light brown. Drain.

Arrange bean sprouts, cabbage, bean curd, potatoes and remaining ingredients on platter. Pour warm dressing over Salad. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Sambal Matah

(Raw Shallot & Lemongrass Sambal) Ingredients * * * * * * sliced * * * *

15 shallots, peeled, cut in half and finely sliced 4 cloves garlic, cut in half & sliced 15 small sliced chilies 5 lemon leaves (daun limau) chopped very fine 1 tsp roasted shrimp cake (terasi), finely grated 4 stalks lemon grass, bruised and very finely 1 tsp salt ¼ tsp ground black pepper 2 tbsp freshly squeezed limejuice 80 ml coconut oil

Directions 1. Combine above ingredients in deep bowl and mix well for 5 minutes.

2. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Note: If you sauté finished sauce for two minutes over medium heat will enhance the beautiful flavor of this delicate sauce. (http://asiarecipe.com)

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Destinations

International

Lovina Beach LOVINA is one of the famous tourist places in north part of Bali which own beautiful of calm sea water, blackish chromatic sand and the sea with its dolphin. One of the favorite fascinations in Lovina is dolphin watching tour. Hundreds of dolphins can be seen in the morning time around 1 km offshore.

We can see the dolphin attractions in this place like jumping. It is not fail to draw if the tourist has the time to see the sunset here. Lovina area is also supported by the number of tourism fascination which is can be reached from this location. Places of interests around Lovina are Hot Water Banjar, Wihara Budha (Buddies shrine), Gigit Waterfall and some countryside exist around the location.

Lovina is officially located in Kalibukbuk area and covering some countryside like Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan and Kalibukbuk countryside.

Kalibugbug countryside it self is located in Buleleng sub district, meanwhile the Kaliasem and Temukus countryside are located in Banjar sub district where it both of them are belong to Buleleng regency. The eastern countryside is called Pemaron about 5 Km west of Singaraja, and the western countryside is Temukus about 12 Km west of Singaraja.

The centre of activities in Lovina area is located 10 Km from Singaraja town. Nowadays, Lovina area is becoming the center of tourism activities in north part of Bali and offer many kind of accom-

modations, restaurants, bars, beach activities, art shops, bank, transportations etc. The accommodations in this area are a available from the star hotel class until small hotel even the home stay for the low budget travelers. As a tourist area and center of tourism in Singaraja, Lovina get the biggest visit from tourist who visiting north part of Bali . It is estimated by 90% from tourist who pay a visit to north part of Bali will in Lovina.

There are no clear sources or evidence hit the name of Lovina genesis. Pursuant to the reference of the children from Anak Agung Panji Tisna, the clan of famous Buleleng King that the name of Lovina is given by him which is located in Kaliasem countryside, where at the first time he build a bungalow as a resort.

He said that the name of Lovina is taken away from a name of small hotel in India that is lafeina whereabouts he stayed and write the book with the title of Ni Ketut Widhi. This book is translated into some languages. In memory of the hotel name, hence the ownership lands give the Lovina name. But there is also other version that is Lovina Name is given caused by its 2 Santen trees are planted by him and grow embracing each other. In this case Lovina is coming from Latin Language that mean is loving each other or love.

Then Lovina’s name is interpreted as abbreviation from Love and Ina and it is interpreted as Love to Indonesia. (http://www.balistarisland.com)

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

11

BUSINESS Vistors looks at vehicles displayed at a Toyota Motor Corp. showroom at an office of the Japanese automaker in Nagoya, central Japan, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Toyota Motor Corp sales dropped 16 percent in January as the automaker reeled from a massive recall and rivals Ford Motor Co and General Motors Corp surged past it in the U.S. market.

AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi

Toyota U.S. sales reel from crisis; GM, Ford surge Reuters

DETROIT - Toyota Motor Corp sales dropped 16 percent in January as the automaker reeled from a massive recall and rivals Ford Motor Co and General Motors Corp surged past it in the U.S. market.

Toyota’s U.S. market share fell to its lowest level since January 2006 and its monthly sales dropped below 100,000 vehicles for the first time in more than a decade.

Overall auto sales rose 6 percent from a year earlier, powered by revived purchases by rental car companies which had dropped out of the market a year earlier due to tight credit and concerns about a deepening slump in the economy.

Fears of an extended sales slump pushed Toyota’s shares down 3.7 percent in a flat market in Tokyo, compounding a slide that has sent the stock down 17 percent since its recall was announced on January 21.

As Toyota sales spun into reverse, Ford and Hyundai Motor Co emerged as the big winners, each posting 24 percent sales gains.

In one telling benchmark, the Ford brand outsold Toyota, Scion and Lexus on a combined basis. GM’s volume-leading Chevrolet brand also topped Toyota on its own.

“Auto sales and market share is kind of like a high-speed road race and if you get caught up in the gravel on the shoulder you can get passed really fast, and essentially that is what happened to Toyota,” Autoconomy analyst Erich Merkle said.

“Right now we have to find out how long it is going to take them to get back on pavement

again,” Merkle said.

Investors in Tokyo were also trying to gauge the long-term impact of the recall, as well as the weight of Toyota’s surplus production capacity on profitability.

“The possibility that the impact will last two to three years is low, but that doesn’t mean we’re rushing in to buy Toyota now — there are too many unknowns,” said Akihiro Tsunoda, senior investment manager at Sompo Japan Asset Management.

Toyota’s weak sales report came as U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood took a harder line with the automaker for what he said was a slow response to safety complaints.

U.S. government officials said Toyota could face both an unusual civil penalty because of the recall and an expanded probe that would focus on electric controls.

Either development could further damage the Japanese automaker’s reputation for quality and cast a shadow over its results.

Toyota said its U.S. sales had been meeting company projections until the last week of January when it was forced to take the unprecedented action of turning away customers for many of its best-selling vehicles.

Eight of Toyota’s 19 models — about 60 percent of the carmaker ’s U.S. inventory — could not be sold because of faulty accelerators during the crucial last week of the month, the peak time

for auto sales.

That cost Toyota almost 20,000 sales of cars and light trucks, executives estimated. That would represent more than $500 million in lost revenue during the last week of January based on average vehicle sale prices.

In addition, Toyota faces costs of $250 million for its first set of repairs under recall. The total cost of the recall would easily top $1 billion to Toyota and could deepen in the weeks ahead, analysts have said.

Nissan, GM sales up Nissan Motor Co appeared to benefit from Toyota’s woes as its sales rose 16 percent. GM’s rose 14 percent.

Honda Motor Co, which made a point of not following its rivals in targeting Toyota customers, saw its sales drop 5 percent.

Chrysler, still the industry’s weakest player, posted a sales drop of 8 percent. Chrysler, now controlled by Fiat SpA, has seen sales fall for 25 consecutive months.

Ford’s U.S. market share ticked up to 16 percent in January.

Toyota, which had 17 percent market share in 2009, saw its share fall to just above 14 percent.

Analysts expect 2010 sales in the U.S. market — now the second-largest vehicle market behind China — to recover above 11 million sales compared with a 27year-low of 10.4 million unit sales in 2009.

Fitch warns China banks face big ‘bubble risk’ Agence France-Presse

SHANGHAI - Fitch Ratings warned Wednesday that banks in China face the greatest “bubble risk” of any Asian country, one day after it downgraded two mid-sized Chinese banks due to the rising threat of bad credit.

The agency’s comments in an Asia-wide assessment of the banking sector come as concerns mount that Chinese banks may be headed for trouble over bad debt after a record lending spree last year.

“The agency views ‘bubble risk’ as greatest for Chinese banks given their 32 percent loan growth in 2009; this looks likely to be followed by a further 20 percent in 2010,” Fitch said in a statement.

“Credit growth of more than 50 percent over a two-year period in an economy where bank credit is already quite large relative to gross domestic product almost inevitably involves some misallocation of credit,” it added.

New loans extended by China’s banks nearly doubled in 2009 from the previous year to 9.6 trillion yuan (1.4 trillion dollars) as banks heeded Beijing’s calls to pump up lending to keep the economy growing.

Fitch however noted the limited transparency of Chinese banks and said their tendency to reschedule loans meant any bad debt problems would surface slowly.

“Chinese banks are less wellplaced, compared with Asian peers, to deal with potential problems given that rapid loan growth is weakening capital ratios that are already relatively low,” Fitch said.

On Tuesday, Fitch downgraded China Merchants Bank and China CITIC Bank to ‘D’ from ‘C/D’ given “both banks’ noticeable deterioration in capital and rising on and off-balancesheet credit risk in the wake of last year’s very rapid loan growth.”

“All Chinese banks have come under strain to some degree over the past year, but the weakening in financial performance has been most striking at CMB and CNCB,” said Beijing-based Fitch analyst Charlene Chu. Last year’s lending spree has triggered fears that excess liquidity is fuelling inflation and feeding asset bubbles.

China last month increased the minimum amount of money that banks must keep in reserve and took other steps that analysts said were aimed at curbing lending amid fears of rising bad loans.

No austerity program to slash French deficit: PM Agence France-Presse

PARIS - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Wednesday ruled out an austerity program to bring the country’s public deficit within eurozone limits.

“We are going to slow the increase in public spending,” he told Europe 1 radio.

“It’s not an austerity policy. An austerity policy entails tax increases and cuts in entitlements.”

The French government on Monday made a commitment to the European Commission to reduce the country’s public deficit, now running at 8.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product, to 3.0 percent in 2013 in order to meet eurozone requirements.

The public deficit comprises central and local government budgets and welfare spending.

Budget minister Eric

Woerth on Tuesday told France Info radio that the French pledge was contingent on economic growth rebounding to 2.5 percent a year starting in 2011.

“For 50 years, public spending has risen faster than inflation,” Fillon said Wednesday.

“We are going to hold public spending increases to under 1.0 percent in central and local budgets, and to under 3.0 percent for social welfare spending, which has never been done before.

“But even that will mean an increase in spending.”

While the government has officially ruled out tax hikes as a means to reduce the deficit, the level of tax receipts is expected to rise from 41 percent of GDP this year to 43 percent in 2013.

“It’s a serious policy that we can still implement because we have room to maneuver,” Fillon said.

“In a few years, we will have no other choice but to apply rigour and austerity.”

12

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Entertainment

International

Jackson’s doctor meets with legal team Associated Press Writers

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson’s physician has been strategizing with his team of defense attorneys and is ready to surrender to authorities if prosecutors file charges, the doctor’s attorney said.

Dr. Conrad Murray, who has a practice in Houston, came to Los Angeles last weekend and spent Tuesday afternoon meeting with his newly assembled team of three lawyers. The district attorney’s office has not said if it will file charges but lead defense attorney Ed Chernoff said Murray is ready for such a move.

“I haven’t received any phone call from anybody asking for the doctor to surrender,” Chernoff said. “If we get the call, we’ll be happy to.”

David Walgren, the deputy Los Angeles County district attorney handling the case, declined to comment.

Jackson, 50, hired Murray to be his personal physician as he prepared for a strenuous series of comeback performances in London. His death on June 25 in Los Angeles came after Murray, tending to Jackson in the star’s rented mansion, administered the powerful anesthetic propofol and two

other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, which ruled the death a homicide.

Propofol is only supposed to be administered by an anesthesia professional in a medical setting. The patient requires constant monitoring because the drug depresses breathing and heart rate while also lowering blood pressure, a potentially deadly combination.

Murray, a cardiologist, has maintained from the outset that nothing he gave the singer should have killed him. Administering propofol to Jackson wasn’t illegal, so prosecutors must show Murray deviated from accepted medical norms when he administered it in a non-medical setting while Jackson already had other sedatives in his system.

A law enforcement official last month told the AP that prosecutors had decided to seek a grand jury indictment on an involuntary manslaughter charge. On Tuesday, a second law enforcement official said prosecutors were sticking with the charge but planned to file a criminal complaint to avoid the appearance of secrecy in the closely watched case.

Both officials requested anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the case.

AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

Canadian film director James Cameron poses for photographers prior to the opening of the movie Avatar in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday Jan. 28, 2010.

‘Avatar,’ ‘The Hurt Locker’ top Oscar nominations Agence France Presse

BEVERLY HILLS, California – Science-fiction epic “Avatar” and gritty Iraq war drama “The Hurt Locker” will battle for supremacy at the Oscars after topping nominations with nine nods each.

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2009 file picture, Dr. Conrad Murray arrives at his clinic in Houston.

Michael Jackson’s physician has arrived in Los Angeles in anticipation of a decision from the district attorney’s office on whether to charge him for the singer’s death, a spokeswoman said Tuesday Feb. 2, 2010.

AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File

James Cameron’s “Avatar” — the most expensive movie ever made and the highest grossing film of all time — picked up a slew of nominations, including best picture and best director.

Low-budget “The Hurt Locker” — directed by Cameron’s ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow — also earned nine nods including best director, best picture, best actor and best original screenplay. ‘Avatar’ and ‘Hurt Locker’: the Oscars odd couple Bigelow is only the fourth woman ever nominated for directing and the first since Sofia Coppola, who received a nod for

“Lost in Translation” in 2003. No woman director has ever won the Oscars’ top prize.

However “The Hurt Locker,” a tense thriller about a US army bomb disposal squad operating in Iraq, has emerged as the favorite to land the best picture prize when the 82nd Academy Awards are presented on March 7.

Although it has earned only 16 million dollars at the box office — around 125 times less than “Avatar” — Bigelow’s film has won a host of awards regarded as reliable indicators of likely Oscars success.

“It’s so gratifying, so extraordi-

Glamour model Katie Price marries again Reuters

LONDON – Glamour model Katie Price has married cage fighter and Celebrity Big Brother winner Alex Reid, her publicist said on Wednesday.

The couple, who have been dating for several months, tied the knot in a “private, simple ceremony” in Las Vegas on Tuesday, he added in a statement.

“We are very much in love and look forward to the future to-

gether,” the couple said.

“We can’t wait to get back and celebrate our marriage with our friends and family who we know fully support our wishes.”

Price, 31, who is also known as Jordan in the media, is a tabloid and celebrity magazine favorite.

She was married to the singer Peter Andre before they split last year, and she has three children.

As well as publicity deals, Price has turned her celebrity into cash in other ways, endorsing lingerie and perfume

and writing novels, children’s books and autobiographies.

Reid is best known for appearing in the latest series of the Celebrity Big Brother show and, against the odds, emerging as the winner.

The publicist added: “Their decision to marry has not been made with any pre-conceived commercial plan or media deal in place, and their reason for getting married is purely down to their love for each other.”

BP/ist

Katie Price

nary,” a delighted Bigelow told NBC television. “And it’s such a compliment to everybody who worked on the movie — the cast, crew everybody.”

This year’s best picture race was expanded to 10 films in a move analysts said was intended to boost television ratings for the awards show.

It is the first time since 1943 — when “Casablanca” won best picture — that so many films have been nominated in the category.

While “The Hurt Locker” has nominations spread across various spheres, “Avatar” got most of its nods in technical categories, reflecting the film’s groundbreaking 3-D visual effects. List of major 82nd Academy Awards nominees Meanwhile, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch said there have been “very early talks” with Cameron for a sequel of the sci-fi epic, and that “we’ll be pushing for one.”

Also vying for the best picture race is Quentin Tarantino’s bloody World War II revenge film “Inglourious Basterds,” which weighed in with eight nominations.

It was followed by the independent “Precious,” which scored six nominations for its story about the struggles of an illiterate abused teenager, including best picture and best director.

Other films in the best picture race include “District 9,” South African director Neill Blomkamp’s dazzling science-fiction film about aliens stranded in a Johannesburg township, and “Up,” Pixar’s charming animated film about a crotchety widower who ties balloons to his house and floats to South America.

It is only the second time an animated film has made it to the best picture race, following Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in 1992.

Life Style

International

Panda cubs from the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Center in Sichuan are seen at a Shanghai zoo, in China Thursday Jan. 28, 2010.

Ten giant panda cubs, all born after the deadly earthquake that hit China’s Sichuan province in 2008, were sent to Shanghai to go on display during this year’s World Expo.

AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko

Chinese language tutor sought for US-born panda Associated Press Writer

BEIJING – Ni hao — hello — Mei Lan! Chinese zookeepers are advertising for a tutor to teach Chinese to an American-born giant panda arriving this week in her parents’ homeland.

The language lessons, a special diet and even blind dates are also part of the red-carpet welcome being rolled out for 3-year-old Mei Lan, or Beautiful Orchid, by Chinese caretakers ahead of her arrival Friday on a special FedEx flight from the U.S. Under a deal between China and the U.S., all giant pandas originally from China are only lent out to foreign zoos for scientific study for several years. They and any cubs they produce must all return to China eventually.

Determined to help Mei Lan adapt more quickly to her new life, the caretakers at her new home, the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, are recruiting a

language teacher via the Internet.

Mei Lan has lived at a zoo in Atlanta, Georgia, since her birth in 2006.

“Mei Lan has been living in the United States since she was born, and she must be unfamiliar with Chinese,” Huang Xiangming, director of the center’s animal management department, told the official Xinhua News Agency.

The center has set up a Web site on the popular Internet portal Sina.com for Mei Lan, detailing the qualifications for a volunteer teacher: a bachelor’s degree or higher, no history of infectious disease and good command of both English and Chinese.

“She will be taught Chinese with a Sichuan dialect, because people

here all speak Sichuan dialect. She will become familiar with some simple phrases,” Cui Kai, a staffer at the panda research center, told The Associated Press. “For example, she will be taught the phrases for going back to the cage or coming out from the dormitory.”

Mei Lan will also have to gradually get used to her new Chinese diet.

“We have asked the American zookeepers to bring Mei Lan’s favorite biscuits, but we will gradually use Chinese ‘wotou’ (steamed bread made of corn and sorghum) and fresh bamboo to replace biscuits,” Huang said.

Mei Lan will be housed in a special suite during an initial quarantine period, which all pandas from overseas undergo. Then, her caretakers hope to introduce her to a potential mate.

Panda fans are being asked to help choose a “boyfriend” for Mei Lan.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

13

Doctor casts new light on cat that can predict death Reuters

SYDNEY – When doctors and staff realized that a cat living in a U.S. nursing home could sense when someone was going to die, the feline, Oscar, was portrayed as a furry grim reaper or four-legged angel of death.

But Dr. David Dosa, who broke the news of Oscar’s abilities in a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, said he never intended to make Oscar sound creepy or his arrival at a bedside to be viewed negatively.

Dosa said he hopes his newly released book, “Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat” will put the cat in a more favorable light as well as providing a book to help people whose loved ones are terminally ill.

“After the New England Journal article you got the feeling that if Oscar is in your bed then you are dead, but you did not really see what is going on for these family members,” said Dosa, an assistant professor of medicine at Brown University.

“I wanted to write a book that would go beyond Oscar’s peculiarities, to tell why he is important to family members and caregivers who have been with him at the end of a life.”

Dosa said Oscar’s story is fascinating on many levels.

Oscar was adopted as a kitten from an animal shelter to be raised as a therapy cat at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, which cares for people with severe dementia and in the final stages of various illnesses.

SIXTH SENSE?

When Oscar was about six months old the staff noticed that he would curl up to sleep with patients who were about to die.

So far he has accurately predicted about 50 deaths.

Dosa recounts one instance when staff was convinced of the imminent death of one patient but Oscar refused to sit with that person, choosing instead to be on the bed of another patient down the hallway. Oscar proved to be right. The person he sat with died first, taking staff on the ward by surprise.

Dosa said there is no scientific evidence to explain Oscar’s abilities, but he thinks the cat might be responding to a pheromone or smell that humans simply don’t recognize.

Dosa said his main interest was not to delve further into Oscar’s abilities but to use Oscar as a vehicle to tell about terminal illness, which is his main area of work.

AP Photo/Stew Milne, File

FILE - In this July 23, 2007 file photo, Oscar, a hospice cat with an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, walks past an activity room at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I.

Yahoo keeps AP in its content corner with new deal Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

A screen shot of Associated Press news content on the Yahoo news Web site is shown in San Francisco, Monday, Feb. 1, 2010.

SAN FRANCISCO – The Associated Press has signed a licensing deal with Yahoo Inc. that gives the news cooperative a steady stream of revenue at a time less money is flowing in from newspapers and broadcasters.

The announcement by both companies Monday didn’t disclose the financial terms of the agreement, which allows Yahoo to continue posting AP content on its site.

The AP says it is still negotiating to renew its online licensing agreements with two other companies with far deeper pockets, Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Google stopped posting fresh AP content on its Web

site in late December.

Stung by the AP’s first downturn in revenue in years, AP’s management has said the cooperative needs to make more money from the online rights to its stories, photographs and video as more people flock to the Web for information and entertainment.

It’s unclear whether the AP achieved its financial objectives in the Yahoo deal.

Yahoo, based in Sunnyvale, Calif., described the AP as an important part of its efforts to keep its nearly 600 million worldwide users informed. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with AP for many years to come,” the company said in a statement.

The duration of the new contract wasn’t disclosed. Yahoo has been posting AP content on its site since 1998.

Its Web site also relies on other services, including AP rival Reuters, as well as reporters that it employs.

The formula has worked well for Yahoo, even as it has struggled in other key areas, such as Internet search and social networking. Yahoo pulls in the biggest U.S. Internet audiences in news, sports and finance, according to the research firm comScore Inc. The not-for-profit AP finds itself at a critical juncture in its 164-year history because the Internet’s popularity is draining advertising revenue from U.S. print publication and broadcasters, which have been the AP’s traditional funding sources and still account for about 40 percent of the cooperative’s revenue combined.

14

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Sport

International

Indonesian world champion bemoans lack of exposure Reuters

JAKARTA – WBA featherweight champion Chris John hopes his success will pave the way for fellow Indonesians to make their mark on the sport, but worries that a lack of professional bouts and scant television coverage is holding them back.

Undefeated John (43-0-2), ranked number one in his weight category by Ring Magazine, is scheduled to defend his title in Bali in April or May against an as yet undecided opponent.

However, it is unlikely that Indonesians will get to watch one of their sporting greats in action as most fights are not broadcast on television. John believes the lack of coverage discourages his compatriots from pursuing a career in boxing.

“There are many potential boxers in Indonesia. The problem right now is that there are not many fights, especially on TV,” John told Reuters by telephone last week.

“They are training but they don’t know when they are going to fight. How can you get a good career unless you fight?”

But John’s success and that of Filipino Manny Pacquiao, the sport’s pound-for-pound number one fighter, have given boxing a boost in Asia and encouraged fans and promoters to look in the region for fresh talent.

“Me, as world champion, it means they (Indonesian boxers) have the opportunity to be world champion, just by working hard.”

HOME DECISION

John, who at 30 sees his career lasting another five years, endured a controversial draw

with Houston-native Rocky Juarez in his U.S. debut in February last year.

While he did not agree with the decision, he said it had not put him off fighting U.S. boxers or taking fights in the United States.

“Of course I was disappointed (with the draw), because maybe it was a home decision,” he said.

“For fighting (in future), it doesn’t necessarily have to be in the U.S. I hope to fight in Indonesia, like in (Jakarta suburb) Depok and hopefully I will be fighting in Bali in April or May.” John said he was interested in fighting WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez or undefeated Cuban Yuriorkis Gamboa.

“It would be interesting to fight them. Until now, neither my trainer nor I have heard from them. I do have more experience than Lopez, but then again, in the ring, we won’t know the outcome.”

Lopez and Gamboa fought on the same card in New York last month and are expected to meet later this year, leaving John slightly out of the picture and considering a move up to super-featherweight.

“I’m not sure now because when I move up I must leave my super champion belt. My trainer has a plan for me to move up a weight and has planned appropriate training,” he added.

REUTERS/Steve Marcus

WBA featherweight champion Chris John of Indonesia flexes on the scale during an official weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada September 18, 2009 file photo.

Durant helps Thunder storm to victory Top seed Monfils serves over Hawks warning at S.Africa Open Reuters

Agence France Presse

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – Kevin Durant continued to display the form that has propelled him into this season’s All-Star Game with 33 points and 11 rebounds in Oklahoma City Thunder’s 106-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks Tuesday.

The Thunder held a two-point advantage with 4:31 remaining before the 21-year-old Durant scored the next four points to help the home team pull away for a third straight win.

Durant, enjoying a breakthrough campaign in his third NBA season, led his side to victory despite scoring four points less than Hawks AllStar guard Joe Johnson as Atlanta suffered a third defeat in four games.

“We did a good job of getting baskets and getting stops when we needed to,” Durant told reporters. “We have to have that focus in the fourth where we execute on both ends. I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”

The game was tightly contested throughout the first half but Oklahoma City (27-21) built a 77-64 advantage in the third quarter before a 15-4 spurt in the fourth enabled the Hawks (3017) to tie the contest and set up an exciting finale. It was in the closing minutes where Durant imposed his will and continued a scoring run that has produced 25 points or more in 22 straight games.

Having entered the night second in the league scoring at 29.6 points per game, Durant could

JOHANNESBURG – Top seed Gael Monfils lost the toss and first two games before unleashing his service power to crush Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 6-1 and reach the second round of the South African Open on Tuesday.

The 23-year Frenchman ranked 13 in the world was clearly stung by the early form of the veteran Slovak and lost just one of the remaining 13 games at the Montecasino entertainment centre in a leafy, upmarket northern suburb.

It was a floodlit match settled by serving with Monfils outstanding apart from an occasional double-fault blip while 32-year-old Hrbaty battled as his dream start swiftly transformed into a nightmare.

Long before the end of the first round tie the only issue was how long it would take Monfils to wrap up victory and the end came on 53 minutes and 36 seconds via a stinging first serve from the Switzerland-based Frenchman.

“I had a good game and hope to continue this form throughout the week as my ambition is to emulate compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and win the title,” said Monfils.

“The altitude was not a big problem as I had two good days of practice and playing at night made it a little easier for me as there was less humidity,” he added after a swel-

REUTERS/Bill Waugh

Oklahoma City Thunder star guard Kevin Durant looks downcourt as NBA fans cheer in the background against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of their NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 7, 2009 file photo. soon take over the NBA’s scoring lead.

Jeff Green added 19 for the Thunder while point guard Russell Westbrook nearly had a triple-double with 12 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. Equally as important, Oklahoma City made just seven turnovers for the game.

“That was a big key coming in,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “We knew (Atlanta) was a team that did not turn over the ball so we wanted to make good decisions and keep it simple.” Josh Smith put up 15 points for Atlanta, who have fallen two games behind the Orlando Magic in the Southeast Division.

tering day in the South African financial capital.

Monfils, born in Paris to Caribbean parents and a huge fan of late American tennis great Arthur Ashe, has a second round date with compatriot Josselin Ouanna, who ousted Israeli Harel Levy in straight sets.

On a mixed day for favoured players, third seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain advanced after an unexpectedly tough match while fourth Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland and sixth Xavier Malisse of Belgium bowed out.

Qualifier Benjamin Balleret from the principality of Monaco proved no match for Lopez during the opening set in which he managed to win just one game before rallying to take the second on a tiebreaker.

Then it was the turn of the Spaniard to regain the initiative and win the decisive set, but not before he suffered the acute embarrassment of serving three consecutive double faults when 3-0 ahead.

Chiudinelli fell to Jamaican giant Dustin Brown after three close sets while Malisse made a more timid departure after falling in straight sets to rising India Davis Cup star Somdev Devverman.

South Africa had two successes to celebrate with Izak van der Merwe edging Israeli Noam Okun in two sets settled by tiebreakers while Raven Klaasen eliminated Frenchman David Guez in another two-set duel.

Sport

International

Thursday, February 4, 2010

15

Raul resigned to life on the Real bench Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS

Chelsea’s English defender John Terry celebrates after Ivorian forward Didier Drogba (Out of camera range) scored against Hull City during their English Premier League football match at The KC Stadium in Hull, northern England, on February 2, 2010.

Ancelotti backs Terry as Chelsea held at Hull Agence France Presse

HULL – Carlo Ancelotti has backed John Terry to come through his personal crisis and lead Chelsea to the title despite his side’s disappointing failure to overcome Hull City in a 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

Terry’s week of woe showed no signs of improving as he was subjected to abuse on Humberside on Tuesday evening.

And just to make matters worse he was booked before having to watch his side drop two crucial points against Phil Brown’s struggling team, blowing their chance to open up a four-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

Terry had to run a gauntlet of hate from the home supporters that promises to become a regular event for the defender, but Ancelotti insists his captain can handle the flak and will carry on playing.

Terry will meet England manager Fabio Capello later this week to discuss his future as his country’s captain following reports of his affair with the former girlfriend of international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

But he has the backing of Ancelotti, even if the Italian admits he might give the centreback a family holiday later this month when Chelsea face Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti said: “Nothing can distract our concentration in this competition. In every game the Chelsea team has good focus and we can play good football.

“Concentration is always on top.

This is an issue for me and John Terry. I think it’s not a problem. You can see the line-up against Cardiff.

“If he needs a holiday he will have one and if not, he will play against Cardiff. “I don’t like to speak about this. It’s not a question I want to speak about.

“For him (Terry) nothing has changed. He continues to play a very good game and every game he’s living a good moment.

“He’s doing his best. The atmosphere in the team is the same. There has been no change.

“We are in a good position now.

We are top. We know Manchester United are very good and it will be a long race until the end of the season.

“We are happy to have a twopoint lead. This was an opportunity, but it’s impossible to win every game.”

Chelsea had to rely on Didier Drogba’s clinical free kick to salvage a point for the league leaders. It was his 20th goal of the season and cancelled out Stephen Mouyokolo’s opening goal for Hull, his first for the club.

Ancelotti praised the impact Drogba had on his return to the side following international duty at the African Cup of Nations and believes his form and fitness will be key as the season enters its final third.

Ancelotti added: “It’s an important moment for us, but we need to have all the players in good condition between now and the end of the season.”

Hull rode their luck at times with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once again impressive but Brown is convinced this result can provide his side with the belief that they have what it takes to go on and avoid relegation for the second season in succession.

“Against the quality of the opposition, that performance is right up there. I’m just disappointed we can’t perform like this on a more regular basis,” said Brown.

MADRID – Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez said Tuesday he has come to terms with his new role as a subsitute.

“It’s not an ideal situation for any player. For 15 years I have won practically everything, and in the last three months I have played less.

Sooner or later I had to come to this point,” he told a news conference.

The 32-year-old Real icon, who with 66 goals is still the Champions League’s top scorer, had been a regular in the first team since he made his debut with the club at 17.

But coach Manuel Pellegrini has left him on the bench in recent months in favour of France’s Karim Benzema and Argentine Gonzalo Higuain, and he has scored only five goals in 26 matches this season.

Raul said he hopes to remain at Real “for now” and “there will be time to talk” about “what may happen” in the future.

The striker has won more than

AFP/File/Pierre-Philippe Marcou

Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez — pictured in 2009 has said he has come to terms with his new role as a subsitute.

100 caps for Spain. But he has not appeared for the national side since September 2006 when he was controversially dropped by former Spain coach Luis Aragones.

Mourinho hits out at Cup semi-finals format Agence France Presse

ROME – Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho hit out at the Italian Cup schedule ahead of his team’s semifinal first leg against Fiorentina at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Following the game, the teams will have to wait more than two months before playing the second leg in Florence.

“It won’t be easy playing Fiorentina but mostly because the second leg won’t be played until April and who knows what condition the teams will be in then,” Mourinho said on Tuesday.

“It’s like playing the first half of a match and then coming back two months later for the second period.

“I don’t even know what result tomorrow night (Wednesday) would be considered good. It might not even be enough to win 3-0 just as it might not be a drama to have to overcome a 1-0 deficit in two months time.”

The much-maligned Italian Cup has been ridiculed by the Italian League’s scheduling this season, particularly with last week’s quarter-finals.

The league’s decision to reschedule the last eight tie between AC Milan and Udinese meant that two matches were played on Milan’s San Siro pitch on successive nights with Juventus’s trip to Inter following 24 hours after the Milan-Udinese game.

And now the semi-finals, which are played over two legs though no other round is, will be stretched over two months.

Even so, Mourinho is hoping to add this piece of silverware to his trophy cabinet, although he does not have Cameroon forward Samuel

AFP/File/Giuseppe Cacace

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has hit out at the Italian Cup schedule ahead of his team’s semi-final first leg against Fiorentina at the San Siro.

Eto’o available yet following his Africa Cup of Nations duty.

But new-signing MacDonald Mariga, the Kenya midfielder, has been included in the squad after joining from Parma on Monday when a proposed move to Manchester City fell through due to issues in gaining a work permit in England.

“I’m happy about his arrival, he’s an extra option in central midfield.

Today he trained for the first time,” said the former Chelsea boss, who on Monday failed to land the coach of the year award for the 2008/09 season - voted on by his peers - losing out to Cagliari boss Massimiliano Allegri.

“We know he’s just coming back from injury but he seems to be ready to play.

“He’s not the finished product but I hope he will be because he’s young. He needs to improve but he’s one for the future as well as the present.”

16

Sport

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Virgin reveals its VR-01 F1 contender VIRGIN Racing has revealed details of its first Formula 1 car, the VR-01, although its planned online launch was delayed by technical difficulties.

The VR-01 was due to be unveiled on the team’s website this morning, the team having opted for an ‘all-digital’ launch to mirror its ‘all-digital car’ - reflecting the fact that design company Wirth Research created the car entirely using computational fluid dynamics rather than using a windtunnel.

But technical issues prevented the broadcast from taking place as planned, so the car has now been revealed via the team’s website.

“Today is a very proud day for everyone involved with Virgin Racing, however on this occasion, where the car is the star, I want to pay tribute to all the amazing people at Wirth Research who deserve so much of the credit for the VR-01,” said designer Nick Wirth.

“Putting together an F1 team, assembling an engineering group and designing a new car from scratch is an epic task in the timeframe we have been working to.

“I have been fortunate to have worked with the very best designers in F1 and I am well aware of exactly what it takes to be successful in this sport. When you see what

the existing teams have achieved using the conventional but proven design approach, it is unsurprising that there is a great deal of scepticism about our all-CFD approach.

“But we are competing in a sport that is undergoing significant change having come face to face with today’s harsh economic realities. Under resource restriction, convention will become too costly and necessity really will be the mother of invention. I have absolute belief in the digital design process and the opportunity to put the all-CFD approach to the test at the highest level - to demonstrate that this could be the way for the future of F1 - is very, very exciting.”

Virgin’s F1 project was officially launched in December, when Lucas di Grassi and Timo Glock were announced as its drivers. It fired the Cosworth-powered car up for the first time last week, and will conduct a shakedown at Silverstone on Thursday and Friday.

The team will then join the rest of the F1 field for the second winter test at Jerez, where it will also become the first of the new entrants to

BP/ist

The new car of Virgin Racing is revealed test alongside the established squads.

While unwilling to make grand predictions for his car’s debut, Wirth is quietly confident about the VR01’s prospects.

“We are a serious racing team with serious ambitions, so we aren’t going to try to run before we can walk,” he said. “The starting point is to try

MotoGP testing starts at Sepang TESTING for the 2010 MotoGP season commenced at Sepang today as several factory test riders carried out a shakedown session ahead of tomorrow’s first full-field test of the year.

No official times were released, but the four factory squads Honda, Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki were all in action at the Malaysian Grand Prix venue.

Yamaha used works test riders Norihijo Fujiwara and Wataru Yoshikawa, while Akiyoshi Kosuke and Nobuatsu Aoki were riding for Honda and Suzuki respectively.

Recently-promoted Ducati team boss Vittoriano Guareschi continued with his previous test rider role as well to give the latest Desmosedici its first run.

The test rider day was introduced as part of the more stringent 2010 test restrictions. In previous years all three days of running were open for the full MotoGP field.

The race riders are all present at Sepang and will commence their 2010 preparations tomorrow and Friday.

to run reliably, safely and efficiently and be the best of the new teams.

Then we will start to bring performance to the car through a continuous development programme in computer simulation.”

He acknowledged that the CFD approach had limitations - but insisted windtunnel testing was no different.

“We fully expect to encounter issues along the way; CFD is an approximation - as is scale-model testing,” Wirth said. “In both cases, it is

only when you hit the track that you can really appreciate the effect of factors that are tricky to model with any technology such as the effect that the real stiffness of all bodywork components and joints has on the airflow for example.

“We’ve done all of this before on both closed and open-wheel cars, so I’m pretty confident in the accuracy of our predictions and looking forward to seeing how our starting configuration performs on the race track.”