Edisi 6 Mei 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 87 2st Year

Nepal’s Maoists block roads to government offices

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Thursday, May 6, 2010

Giant dome for Gulf oil leak is next best solution

Gianyar’s craftsmen nominated in UNESCO Award 2010

Associated Press Writer

PAGE 8

Mira Sorvino Wants To Reunite ‘Romy & Michele’ PAGE 12

Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

Seagulls stand on the beach as concern continues that the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may harm animals in its path on May 5, 2010 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Oil is still leaking out of the Deepwater Horizon wellhead at a estimated rate of 1,000-5,000 barrels a day.

NEW ORLEANS – The best short-term solution to bottling up a disastrous oil spill threatening sealife and livelihoods along the Gulf Coast should be arriving on Wednesday in the form of a specially built giant concrete-and-steel box designed to siphon the oil away.

Crews for contractor Wild Well Control were putting the finishing touches Tuesday on the 100-ton containment dome. A barge at about midday would haul the contraption to the spot 50 miles offshore where a miledeep gusher from a blown-out undersea well has been spewing at least 210,000 gallons of crude a day into the Gulf for two weeks. BP spokesman John Curry said it would be deployed on the seabed by Thursday.

Continued on page 6

Japan PM under fire over US base U-turn Agence France Presse

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TOKYO – Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama faced abarrage of criticism on Wednesday after his U-turn on the relocation of a US base, with calls mounting for him to quit ahead of key elections in July.

Major newspapers railed against his decision to scrap plans to move an unpopular US airbase entirely off the island of Okinawa after months of dithering over the issue that angered close ally Washington.

“The government’s recent disarray appears shameful,” the topselling Yomiuri Shimbun said in an editorial. “Needless to say, Prime Minister Hatoyama bears the greatest responsibility.”

On his first visit to the subtropical island since he took office in September, Hatoyama on Tuesday apologised for his failure to meet his pledge to remove the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Okinawa.

Hatoyama had long vowed to re-

view an accord made in 2006 by previous governments in Tokyo and Washington under which the base should be moved from its current crowded urban location on Okinawa to a quieter coastal area.

However, a search for alternative sites in Japan has been met by more protests, leaving Hatoyama with few viable options ahead of a selfimposed May 31 deadline to resolve the matter.

“The prime minister has stated that he would stake his job on the resolution by the end of May. The words are grave,” the Mainichi Shimbun said in an editorial.

“If he fails, it will be certain that his political responsibility should be rigorously examined.”

Continued on page 6

AFP/File

Japan’s embattled Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama

2

International

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Bali News The unshakable incumbent Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The election Denpasar mayor-deputy mayor for the 2010-2015 tenure was followed by two couples of candidate. The incumbent candidate IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra—IGN Jaya Negara was only competed by single candidate couple namely I Wayan Subawa—IB Gede Udiyana supported by Democratic Party, Functional Group (Golkar) and the number of coalition parties. In the mayoral election conducted last Tuesday (May 4), provisionally the incumbent candidate was leading in the votes.

Out of the 805 polling stations and 2 special polling stations provided by Denpasar Electoral Commission, some of them could have been successfully summarized by Electoral Commission. Until 20:00 pm Local Time, the incoming data had reached 138,059 votes, or 34.02 percent of the total votes.

The incumbent candidate acquired 100,377 votes or 72 percent.

Meanwhile, the candidate I Wayan Subawa-IB Gede Udiyana could only obtain 37,515 votes or 27.2 percent and invalid signed votes reached 167. “This vote acquisitions are still a provisional figure because they still continue to change according to the data entering into the Electoral Commission,” said Chairman of Denpasar Electoral Commission I Made Gede Rai Misno.

Meanwhile, the data presented by the winning team of Dharmanegara at PDI-P Office of

Denpasar mentioned the vote acquisition had already reached the ratio of 73.57 percent and 26.43 percent for the candidate IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra—IGN Jaya Negara. These data had been collected from 307 polling stations in Denpasar. “This amount will continue to change in accordance with the entry of data from the witnesses,” said one of the members of Dharmanegara winning team.

On responding to this victory, Rai Mantra admitted he could not give more comments because the incoming data had not been released by the Electoral Commission. “Let’s wait for official results from the Electoral Commission,” he explained.

On the other side, the successful execution of the current mayoral election apparently stayed to leave homework for the Electoral Commission. It was caused by the fact that out of 405,839 registered voters, some 25 percent did not use their

rights to vote.

Rai Misno recognized the high estimation of blank voters was caused by the high mobility of population in Denpasar. More than that, voters who worked in the private sector possibly could not use their rights to vote because they worked as usual. “Pure blank voters pure was not more than 10 percent,” said Rai Misno.

Meanwhile, the euphoria of victory felt by supporters of the incumbent candidate had been visible since the counting process of votes was completed. A number of supporters of Dharmanegara were seen throwing their joy with colleagues. Even, at the house of Rai Mantra on Jalan Tjok Agung Tresna some of his fanatic supporters cut their hairs bald en masse. “This is a manifestation of gratitude for the victory of the incumbent candidate,” said one of the supporters who cut his entire hairs. (kmb12/kmb13)

Karangasem regent election runs flourishingly,

While candidate Geredeg-Sukerana excels Amlapura (Bali Post)—

Regent election in Karangasem, last Tuesday (May 4) took place relatively smoothly and safely.

There was no significant incident reported until the election’s night and distribution of logistics found no difficulties. From the results of vote counting in a number of secretariats of the winning team of the candidate, the incumbent couple I Wayan Geredeg-I Made Sukerana (Gesuka), temporarily obtained dominant votes over 50 percent out of 328,780 registered voters.

From the results of the vote counting, Gesuka excelled throughout the eight subdistricts in Karangasem Regency. Based on provisional tabulation, in Selat subdistrict Gesuka attained 8,712 (39.66 percent), while Sudirta-Astawa achieved 6,112 votes (27.8 percent), Bagiarta-Rudiarta got 5,970 votes (27.18 percent) and the fewest votes attained by KertiaCokorda Sutedja namely 1,174 votes (5.34 percent). Invalid votes or blank voters at home of the deputy regent candidate Rudiarta was high enough

Two methamphetamine dealers captured Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Villa Sukun burglarized:

An employee locked up and threatened by sickle Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Robbery case occurred again in the jurisdiction of Badung Police. Vila Sukun situated at Semana Hamlet, Mambal Village, Abiansemal, Badung, last Monday (Apr 3) early morning was robbed by criminals flock. One of the local employees, I Made Budiarta, was locked up and threatened by sharp weapon in the form of sickle. A number of existing properties at the villa were successfully taken away.

Villa owner who is citizen of Dutch origin, Jost Van Greken, 51, claimed to have lost cash amounted to IDR 82 million. The incident was reported to Abiansemal Police and until now it is still being investigated.

“It happened at 02:40 am Local Time.

Perpetrator entered into the villa and immediately shoved a sickle to Budiarta,” said a resource person at

Badung Police, last Tuesday (May 4).

The officer explained that the robbery occurred in the villa lasted so quickly. Perpetrator came into the villa and immediately put a sickle at the waist of local employee (Budiarta-ed). As consequence, Budiarta could not do much or submitted to his fate. “Budiarta was threatened by perpetrator and asked to show the victim’s room,” he said while requesting not to mention his name on the newspaper.

Having shown the victim’s room, perpetrator immediately looted the possessions of victim. A laptop, a black leather bag, two antique watches, a silver bracelet, four Nokia hand phones, a pair of gold hand made safety pins and cash worth IDR 4 million were entirely grabbed by perpetrator. “In the report of victim, he admitted to suffer a total loss reaching

IDR 82 million,” he explained.

As soon as getting the coveted items, perpetrator rushed to leave the scene. Meanwhile, Budiarta who survived from the threat of perpetrator hurriedly went out of the villa and sought for help. Nevertheless, perpetrator hurriedly escaped without leaving any traces and the victim could only surrender and then reported the cases to the Abiansemal Police. “Now, Abiansemal Police handled the case,” he added.

In the meantime, Chief of Abiansemal Police I Gusti Made Sudiana when asked for his confirmation last Tuesday, refused to give comment on the robbery incident whose victim was a foreigner. “I am sorry because I am still busy conducting the security for the Badung regent election. Please call me later on,” he added. (kmb21)

namely reaching 9,637 (30.49 percent) of the total 21,968 registered voters.

Meanwhile, based on the monitoring at Pemuteran some residents grumbled because old people, housewives and the sick were not given to deputize the voting by the officials. A number of residents seemed unfamiliar with the regent electoral system. The residents such as housewife, old people and the sick insisted on deputizing the voting because they did not have time or could not come to the polling station to punch the ballot.

Another man said that his wife was unable to come to the polling station because she should be working in the kitchen. Then, a farmer also told reasonably that he wanted to represent his wife for the voting because she and his brothers were still working for others. “Galungan festivity will be coming soon. My wife and my sisters are still working. Otherwise, we have no money for celebrating the Galungan,” he said while keeping on grumbling. (013)

The ranks of Criminal Detective of Badung Police captured two suspects of drug abuse belonging to methamphetamine (SS). Both suspects were Fajerin, 25, and I Kadek Dana, 27. They were arrested in front of a dormitory room belonged to the suspect Dana located on Jalan Pulau Flores VI/1 Denpasar, last Saturday (May 1). From the hand of each suspect, police could seize evidence in the form of methamphetamine weighing 0.5 gram. Chief of Badung Police Dwi Suseno, last Tuesday (Apr 4), confirmed the arrest of two suspects who alleged to be drug dealers. Now, they are still continuing to investigate and develop the cases.

“We are still developing their cases.

Both suspects have been arrested in Headquarters of Badung Police,” the former Chief of Bangli Police told reporters last Tuesday.

The process of the arrest, said Chief Dwi Suseno, originated from the information from community.

Both suspects were then made into target of operations by police. While

doing investigation in the field, several members were deployed to arrest the suspect. “At first, we arrested the suspect Fajerin at the scene at 11:45 am. From his hands, we seized a package of methamphetamine weighing 0.5 grams,” he said.

Based on information of the suspect Fajerin, it was known that he had a syndicate. The syndicate was identified as Dana. Later on, police were chasing the suspect and eventually he was confined at 3:00 pm at the same scene. “We provoke the suspect Dana to go out. Finally, we got and brought him to the office for further process.

Evidence was the same namely methamphetamine of 0.5 grams,” explained the officer with two jasmines on the shoulder.

Both suspects are now arrested at the detention cell. Based on the result of examination to the suspects, police found difficulties to uncover them all because their syndicate was cut off. “Indeed, their syndicate broke off. On that account, we will continue to develop if there were any other syndicates or not (kmb21)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z Chief Editor: ABG Satria Naradha z Managing Editor: Wirata,Palgunadi z Editors: Alit Purnata, Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Darmasunu, Daniel Fajry, Diah Dewi, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Sutiawan, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan, Tabanan: Surpi. Jakarta: Nikson, Suharto Olii, Indu P. Adi, Ahmadi Supriyanto, Achmad Nasrudin, Hardianto, Darmawan S. Sumardjo, Heru B Arifin, Asep Djamaluddin, Ade Irawan, Ipik Tanoyo. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani, Nur Haedin, Suyadnya. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publiser: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

Gita Prevail Slightly Over Brahmawijaya Bangli (Bali Post)

Bangli local election held on Tuesday (4 / 5) yesterday was full of surprises. Various surveys that had been done by various surveys of volunteers or other agencies in Bali since a month ago until three days before were proven wrong when the election was over. Although Gita as one of the results of a survey of NGOs in Jakarta was predicted to win, but the reality of the temporary results of votes for Gita during days the voting was conducted is wrong.

The same goes for Brahmawijaya with a slim victory over Gita as one of the survey conducted by the institutions, go to fall out. Because, in the calculation while the slightly winning Gita won 53 002 votes and Brahmawijaya with a vote of 48 706 votes.

While Arsada who is promoted and get full ammo from the current regent Arnawa was far behind. In fact, the regents Arnawa has lost where he was taking his ballot. At TPS IX Kawan Village Bangli Banjar Pule Alas just gone to the 27

votes, while Gita 106 and the Brahmaputra 126 votes. Arsada also experienced bad luck. Two polling stations located in Arsada’s origin, precisely TPS VI and V Kelurahan Cempaga Brahma Putra dominated the votes to 268 votes. While Arsada has got 167 votes, 99 votes followed

by Gita, IB Ludra & Durpa (LPD) 77 votes while Gunawan has got five votes. The defeat at home to prospective also experienced by IB Ludra at a ballot at polling station 7 Cempaga Village. In this TPS LPD

sprayed only 127 votes, 278 votes Brahmaputra, Gunawan 0, Gita 7 while Arsada six votes.

Both candidates Made Gianyar candidates who cast ballots at polling stations Bunutin Kintamani absolute win as many as 653 of the 658 voters’ voice. The victory was also experienced IB Brahma Putra who voted at a polling station Demulih Village Bangli District.

Brahmawijaya won 461 votes, Ghita 22, Arsada 0, LPD 9, and Gunawan four votes. (Kmb17)

Bulged Green School Results of Executive Board’s carelessness Mangupura (Bali Post) -

Badung DPRD circles spoke about the violations committed by the international Green School, Sibang Kaja. Secretary of Commission A Badung DPRD I Made Duama, on Tuesday (4 / 5) yesterday, calling, violations occurred due to negligence of the executive. For that reason he urged the Green School to be sanctioned.

Duama be said, a violation committed by the Green School is fatal because this case involves violations of licensing and regulation. Although the Green School, claimed to have pocketed an operating permit from the central government, but should also complement the permission of the Green School in the

region, including respect for the rule in the region. “Do not be casual if you want to build in Badung,” said Duama with high tone.

Violations have taken place since a year old, other than calling the Green School does not respect the rules; the executive considered a shortcoming in Badung any supervision. Badung executive should be able to watch every development that occurs in its territory. Moreover, problems and vortex of Green School which is built in the Ayung River, once had sticking out and become a polemic in the community.

For now, Duama and Badung District are urged to take firm action against violations committed by the Green School. Government should

not indiscriminate; despite the Green School is a foreign investment. “Do not grant privileges. Any entrepreneur who wants to invest in Badung, shall comply with any applicable provisions in Badung,” he added.

Furthermore, it expresses, in the near future this will soon Badung DPRD checks to the field. Moreover, according to information from the media, at local school sites breach legislation five years in 2005, owing to the form of school buildings did not characterize the architecture of Bali. In addition, the alleged cause of the sliding vortex of Pura Beji, will also be evaluated. “If it violates our right, yes we have to dismantle,” he added. (DED)

Naked Woman Body Found Dead at Gorge Gianyar (Bali Post)-

A naked woman body that’s swelled disturbed the residents of Banjar Panglan, Desa Pejeng Tengah, Tampaksiring, Gianyar, last Tuesday (4/5). The rotting woman was found at the river in a gorge, which is the river flow of Singa River. The woman that’s still named Miss X for the while had been placed at Sanglah Hospital.

The body of the naked woman was first founded by a Banjar Panglan resident, Nyoman Pilih (38), who was searching for firewood around the gorge, where patirtaan (a place for holy water) Sudamala is. It was said around 14.00 wita, Pilih was asked by his parent, Made Sanpeyana (50) to get some firewood from around the gorge. Without

known, when going through the gorge, Pilih’s nose started to smell bad odor.

Felt confused, that bad odor was then searched and founded from a body on the river. After seeing it, Pilih then told his parents and reported it to the police.

The rotting body was found facing downwards and bare-naked. Police and residents who were evaluating felt a bit hard as the location being in a deep gorge and slippery caused by the rain that came down before. Head of Tampaksiring District Police, Adjunct Police Commissioner (AKP) Ketut Jeksi said that for now the body is being placed and to be autopsied at Sanglah Hospital. Police are not certain yet to give any explanation about the founded body.

Altough from the condition of the

body that had peeled off, it is predicted that the body had reached its 7 days.

The police also have not got any reports from the residents of Tampaksiring or nearby that any of them had lost a family member. “We are hoping residents that felt this family member is missing will contact the police soon,” he said.

Meanwhile from looking at the police’s behavior in the crime scene, there was an awkwardness that was questioning the residents. The barenaked body had something like the intestines (Placenta) coming out of her vagina just like someone who just gave birth. Connecting to this, the Tampaksiring District Police are reluctant to answer and still waiting for the autopsy result. (kmb16)

Thursday, May 6, 2010

3

Working, 22 Elementary Students Cannot Participate in UASBN Singaraja (Bali Post) -

Around 30 elementary students in Buleleng district did not follow UASBN starting on Tuesday (4 / 5) yesterday. Out of the 30 students who are absent, as many as 22 students were absent and went on the grounds put to work by their parents.

Head of Buleleng Education Agency (Kadisdik) Gede Suyasa UASBN after monitoring the implementation in some schools said yesterday in Buleleng UASBN followed by as many as 11 342 students.

Who attended yesterday as much as 11 312. As many as 30 more people are missing for various reasons. Reports received from the schools mentioned as many as four students absent because of illness, two because of death, and two more because of transmigration.

“From the interim report, as many as 22 students absent because of work,” Suyasa said.

Suyasa himself claimed not to know clearly, what jobs are

taken by the students so that they quit school and did not take the exam. Interim report received from the school that kids were working and not take the exam because it follows the wishes of their parents. To determine the clarity of the information, it requested that the school conduct more in-depth monitoring so that students do not participate in UASBN for a reason that cant be known clearly. “Temporary information mentions the kids did not take the exam because the required work by the parents,” Suyasa said.

In general, the implementation UASBN in Buleleng running smoothly and there were no such problems that occurred in previous high school examination. Kadisdik Suyasa is able to carry out the implementation of UASBN in Banjar Jawa for SD 3 and SD 1, 2, 4 Banyuasri.

Kadisdik hope that graduation rates can be maintained and improved in quality from the previous year. (Kmb15)

Eka Wiryastuti Got Most Votes Tabanan (Bali Post) -

Votes for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) are truly firm in Tabanan. That is proved by how excelling the pair from PDIP Ni Putu Eka Wiryastuti-I Komang Gede Sanjaya (Eka Jaya) is now.

If there are no significant changes, this only daughter from the current Tabanan Regent N Adi Wiryatama is going to take her father’s position. Meanwhile her strong competitor, PDIP’s senior cadre I Wayan Sukaja, that is paired with Ngurah Anom gained second place.

From the data that is gained by the Election Commission (KPUD) Tabanan until 18.15 where it’s a closed data, candidate number 1 Eka Jaya gained 125.720 votes or 47.59 percent.

While the package I Wayan Sukaja-Ngurah Anom (Sukarno) reached 11.430 votes or 42.93 percent. And also IGG Putra Wirasana-Oka Mahendra only reached 25.046 votes or 9.48 percent.

Eka Jaya gained 5 sub districts which are Tabanan, Kerambitan, Selemadeg, Pupuan and Kediri. The Sukarno package only excelled by 4 sub districts which are: East Selemadeg, West

Selemadeg, Penebel, Baturiti and Marga. Meanwhile, WM wasn’t able to gain any sub district. Sukarno actually succeeded at Eka Wiryastuti’s base camp in Sub district Kediri with 53,73 votes. While in Marga, Sukaja’s birthplace, Eka actually managed to get 45, 85 percent and Sukarno package managed to reach 50,36 votes. But the data that is publicised is a bit different to the quick count data from Election Comission Tabanan. Only just, the Election Commission leader I Gede Budiatmika is not prepared to open that data.

Sukaja hasn’t admitted this victory because there’s an indication of increase in votes. He said, the counting done by his team, as much as 53, 9 percent of votes owned by the Sukarno pair. He also saw a lot of awkwardness during this election being carried out. Meanwhile Eka Wiryastuti admitted that she is very grateful with the votes that have won her. Eka stated that she is ready to lead Tabanan and carry out its mandate of the people. Her competitor, IGG Putra Wirasana, was said to be the first who gave congratulations to Eka before any of her other competitors. (kmb14)

4

News

Thursday, May 6, 2010

International

Frantic effort to ensure Philippine vote continues AFP

MANILA (AFP) – Philippine election officials insisted Wednesday that next week’s polls would go ahead, amid frantic efforts to replace more than 70,000 faulty memory cards that were to be used in vote counting machines.

The Commission on Elections has come under enormous pressure since revealing the technical glitch, with President Gloria Arroyo’s office saying the vote may need to be delayed.

But election commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Monday’s election, when 50 million people are eligible to choose a new president and thousands of other government positions, would go ahead as planned.

“I truly believe we will have an election on May 10,” Larrazabal said at a press conference to brief the media on how the problems would be resolved.

Presidential spokesman Gary Olivar told AFP earlier on Wednesday that a delay may be needed to ensure the nation’s first attempt at a computerized election count was credible.

“I would imagine that the success of the automation... is more important than the timing,” Olivar said.

“Nobody benefits from a foul up... if technical issues require more time and require us to delay, that is not an unreasonable judgement to make.” The Commission on Elections said on Tuesday that they had discovered memory cards for more than 76,000 vote-counting machines had been configured incorrectly and would have to be replaced.

The vendor, Smartmatic-TIM, said testing at the start of this week revealed the faulty memory cards made the machines unable to read names of candidates on paper ballots. Election monitors deployed by candidates said the machines also wrongly transferred votes to rivals.

Larrazabal said it would be a tough challenge to get the fresh memory cards to all the machines across the sprawling archipelago of more than 7,000 islands.

“It is a major logistical problem, but our goal is to get it done,” he said.

“We now have to write (the codes) into the cards, bring them to the provinces and then swap them with the old ones, test and seal them again.”

He said helicopters belonging to the armed forces and private companies such as beer giant San Miguel would be used to fly the replacement chips across the country.

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to the 2010 High-level Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons May 3, 2010 at the United Nations In New York.

TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/ DON EMMERT

Ahmadinejad: Iran sanctions effort will undermine Obama McClatchy Newspapers

NEW YORK — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tuesday brushed off the threat of new United Nations sanctions against Iran , saying they’d have little impact and would end up undermining President Barack Obama’s standing at home and abroad.

AFP/File

Philippine election officials insisted Wednesday that next week’s polls would go ahead

“The failure of the motto of change is really not going to harm Iran. It will harm mainly the U.S. administration,” Ahmadinejad asserted, referring to Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign slogan, “Change you can believe in.”

“While we do not welcome sanctions, we do not fear them either,” he said, warning that the approval of new measures “will mean relations between Iran and the U.S. will never be improved again.”

The U.S. and Iran haven’t had

diplomatic relations in three decades.

Ahmadinejad, who began his second term as president last year amid election fraud charges that led to bloody clashes between his regime and the opposition, made his comments at a wide-ranging news conference one day after he addressed an international arms control conference at the U.N. Sitting before an Iranian flag and flanked by top aides, he used many of the questions to continue the attacks he launched against the U.S. from the U.N. General Assembly

podium, questioning whether the only nation ever to have used nuclear weapons has the standing to accuse Iran of seeking nuclear arms.

Speaking through a translator, he also warned that Iran would defend Lebanon and Syria if they’re attacked by Israel over alleged missile shipments to Lebanese militants, and he claimed that Iranian women enjoy better rights and treatment than their European counterparts, an assertion at odds with numerous human rights reports.

Ahmadinejad’s speech to the NonProliferation Treaty Review Conference was part of an intense Iranian diplomatic campaign to head off or dilute a fourth round of sanctions for defying U.N. orders to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

Nukes, trade underpin NKorea leader’s China visit AP

BEIJING – North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s secrecy-shrouded visit to China is aimed at securing economic support for his wrecked economy in exchange for a commitment to return to denuclearization talks, experts and media said Wednesday.

Chinese officials have refused to confirm Kim’s presence in the country, though he has been seen several tims since arriving aboard his armored train on Monday. China, which sent troops to save the North Korean regime during the

1950-53 Korean War, is widely seen as the country with the most clout with Pyongyang. Kim, who is known to shun air travel, has visited five times since succeeding his father as ruler in 1994, most recently in 2006. Japanese and South Korean media, which have been closely tracking Kim, reported Wednesday that a train carrying Kim had arrived in the booming eastern port city of Tianjin. His secretive trek by rail and motorcade is expected to eventually bring him to Beijing for talks with state and Communist Party leaders, including President Hu Jintao.

Those discussions are expected to center on further financial help from

China, already impoverished North Korea’s biggest source of food and fuel aid and main bulwark against tougher sanctions against Kim’s isolated, hard-line communist regime.

Chinese investment, especially in North Korean natural resources, has also been growing, although widespread economic chaos — most recently a botched currency reform effort — limits such opportunities.

Fearing the regime’s implosion and mass unrest on its border, China is expected to accede to new aid requests, said Cai Jian, deputy director of the Center for Korean Studies at Shanghai’s Fudan University.

AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, wearing a pair of glasses, gets into a vehicle as he leaves a hotel

International

General Info

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

Thursday, May 6, 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, May 6, 2010

News Giant dome...

From page 1

AP –

Supporters of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) shout slogans as they block a road during a general strike

Nepal’s Maoists block roads to government offices AP

KATMANDU, Nepal – Nepal’s Maoist opposition blocked streets leading to key government offices Wednesday on the fourth day of their crippling general strike to demand the prime minister’s resignation, but the government vowed not to bow to protesters’ pressure.

Protesters hoped to disrupt the government by blocking streets leading to the Singhadurbar complex which houses key offices and ministries, but many government ministers already had entered the complex under police protection before sunrise.

The Maoists, known to use violence to back their strike calls, have demanded that residents halt all travel and keep businesses and schools closed since Sunday in their campaign to get Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to resign and hand power to a Maoistled government.

The strike has shut down most businesses, schools and transport, with daily

activity grinding to a standstill.

The strike comes as Nepal’s Constituent Assembly, elected to draw up a new constitution, struggles to draft the charter before its term expires May 28.

Home Minister Bhim Rawal told reporters Wednesday that the prime minister was not going to bow to the pressure from the protesters and does not plan to resign.

Rawal said the government was working to bring life back to normal, including deploying police to protect banks, which were expected to begin reopening late Wednesday after heeding strike calls to stay closed. Rawal also said police would escort additional

convoys of trucks carrying essential goods into the city, after escorting a few trucks with fuel and food early Tuesday.

The Maoists and parties in Nepal’s ruling coalition have failed to reach any agreements despite several meetings between their leaders in the past three days.

The standoff has raised fears of renewed violence in Nepal, where the Maoists ended their decade-old insurgency and joined a peace process in 2006. They won elections in 2008 and briefly led a coalition government, but a dispute over the army chief’s firing split the coalition.

No panic on plane as Times Square suspect arrested AP

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Passengers aboard the plane with the Times Square bomb suspect said Wednesday they were asked to identify their carry-on baggage and went through another round of security screening after the flight was brought back to the terminal in New York.

Suspect Faisal Shahzad was arrested Monday at John F. Kennedy International Airport while authorities held back the Dubai-bound Emirates flight and brought passengers back into the waiting lounge.

Passengers arriving in Dubai said

the plane left the gate and taxied for about five minutes before the pilot made an announcement that the plane was returning. They were asked to identify their carry-on luggage, but there was no other information given by the flight crew.

Some passengers said they only learned of the links to the failed Times Square attack after seeing news reports in the terminal or talking with airport security officials. It was unclear whether any passengers witnessed the arrest of Shahzad, who was placed on a “no-fly” list by U.S. officials just hours earlier.

The passengers said they went

through another full security screening before returning to the plane, which was delayed about seven hours.

In a statement Tuesday, Dubaibased Emirates said that two passengers were questioned, but were released and allowed to travel on the flight.

“We didn’t know what was going on ... When we went back to the airport, that was when we became somewhat concerned,” said Myra Page, a tourist from Maryland. Colorado businessman Robert Woodward says there was no panic.

“There was no commotion, no general alarm or concern,” he said.

It’s the latest idea that engineers from oil giant BP PLC were trying since an oil rig the company was operating exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers. It sank two days later, when the oil started pouring into the Gulf. BP is in charge of the cleanup and President Barack Obama and many others say the company also is responsible for the costs.

A rainbow sheen of oil has reached land in parts of Louisiana, but the gooey rafts of coagulated crude have yet to come ashore in most places. Forecasts showed the oil wasn’t expected to come ashore until at least Thursday.

“It’s a gift of a little bit of time.

I’m not resting,” U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry said.

In their worst-case scenario, BP executives told members of a congressional committee that up to 2.5 million gallons a day could spill if the leaks worsened, though it would be more like 1.7 million gallons.

Containment domes have never been tried at this depth — about 5,000 feet — because of the extreme water pressure. The dome, if all goes well, could be fired up early next week to start funneling the oil into a tanker.

“We don’t know for sure” whether the equipment will work, said BP spokesman Bill Salvin.

“What we do know is that we have done extensive engineering and modeling and we believe this gives us the best chance to contain the oil, and that’s very important to us.”

The seas calmed Tuesday allow-

ing more conventional methods to contain the spill to get back on track as businesses and residents kept an eye on the ocean currents, wondering when the sheen washing ashore in places might turn into a heavier coating of oil. Crews put out more containment equipment and repaired some booms damaged in rough weather over the weekend. They also hoped to again try to burn some of the oil on the water’s surface, possibly Wednesday.

Chemical dispersants piped 5,000 feet to the main leak have significantly reduced the amount of oil coming to the surface, BP said.

The company also hoped to shut off one of the smaller of three leaks though it might not reduce the flow much, said Doug Suttles, BP PLC’s chief operating officer.

From the air Tuesday, the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion looked similar to a week ago except for the appearance of a massive rig brought in to drill a relief well to shut off the spewing oil.

That would take months, however.

Across the accident zone, oil floated in the ocean in different hues, shapes and textures. In places, it was a rich paisley patterned reds and oranges. In others, it took on varying gray and blue striated shapes, almost like a Vincent Van Gogh’s thick brush strokes.

People along the Gulf Coast have spent weeks living with uncertainty, wondering where and when that huge slick might come ashore, ruining their beaches — and their livelihoods.

Japan PM...

From page 1 The opposition camp stepped up pressure on Hatoyama to resign ahead of July elections for the upper house, where his Democratic Party of Japan does not enjoy a majority.

“It’s a clear breach of promises and for people in Okinawa, it’s betrayal,” said Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party.

“It is natural for the prime minister to resign” if he fails to resolve the issue by May 31, Tanigaki added.

The drawn-out dispute has angered residents of Okinawa, cost the centre-left leader much domestic support and strained ties with Japan’s key defense ally the United States, which wants the 2006 accord implemented.

Latest opinion polls in Japan have put support for Hatoyama and his cabinet at just over 20 percent, sharply down from 72 percent in September when he took office.

“Prime Minister Hatoyama can’t help but lose his political influence further,” said Shinichi Nishikawa, professor of politics at

Meiji University in Tokyo.

“It would not be a surprise if calls for his resignation spread to his ruling coalition,” Nishikawa said. “Even if he can survive for now, his resignation will be very likely after the election.”

Hatoyama is reportedly proposing to follow the original plan in general, but some 1,000 US Marines and their helicopter operations would be moved to the remote island of Tokunoshima, 200 kilometres (120 miles) northeast of Okinawa.

Hatoyama plans to meet three mayors from Tokunoshima on Friday in Tokyo to ask them to back the proposal, but the mayors have already voiced strong opposition to hosting them.

Mizuho Fukushima, a Socialist leader in the ruling coalition, urged Hatoyama to reconsider his about-turn, saying: “He should accept Okinawa’s voice firmly.”

The issue has stirred passions on Okinawa, site of some of World War II’s bloodiest battles, and still the host of more than half the 47,000 US troops stationed in Japan under a post-war security treaty.

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, May 6, 2010

7

Students should be given anti-corruption education Antara

JAKARTA - Anti Corruption Education Movement (Gepak) chairman Thariq Mahmud has said students should be given anti-corruption education as early as possible.

AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

Workers salvage belongings from the bedroom of a two-storey residence after being hit by a meteor, located in Delima street, eastern Jakarta on May 4, 2010. Following investigations by the Indonesian National Aeronautics and Space Agency and police forensic teams, it was concluded on May 3, that the incident was a meteorological accident and the explosion was caused by a meteor.The owner Soedarmojo and his wife were away when the meteor’s impact heavily damaged the house and two adjoining residences at 4.30 in the afternoon (0930 GMT) of April 29, 2010. Authorities said they are still searching for meteorite pieces in the rubble and advised the community to surrender any meteorite pieces they find.

UNICEF provides RP2.7 billion for clean water programs in Papua Antara

BIAK - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has allocated funds amounting to Rp2.7 billion to finance several clean water supply development programs in Papua.

“UNICEF is committed to assisting the communities in kampongs and districts so they can have access to clean water supply for their daily needs,” UNICEF Post Officer in Papua Idris Irwan said here on Wednesday.

In Papua Proivnce, the UN agency was planning to set up clean water facilities in Jayapura, Jayawijaya, Puncak Jaya, Biak Numfor, and Jayapura districts, he said.

UNICEF was paying serious attention to clean water provision as clean

water was basic need of the people, he said.

In Biak, for example, the fund had distributed containers capable of holding o 2,000-4,000 liters of rain water, he added.

“We have distributed 500 containers in 20 kampongs. The program has been implemented by UNICEF with the cooperation of the local district administration,” Irwan said.

UNICEF had also helped provide water filters in Papua where the local people need clean water for cooking, washing and drinking.

Almost 50 percent of the developing world’s population (2.5 billion people) lack proper sanitation facilities, and over 884 million oothers still use water from unsafe sources.

Inadequate access to safe water and

sanitation services, coupled with poor hygiene practices, kill and sicken thousands of children every day, and lead to impoverishment and diminished opportunities for thousands more. UNICEF works in more than 90 countries around the world to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices.

Studies show that when water sources are more than 30 minutes away from homes, people - and especially children - are highly vulnerable to hygiene-related diseases.

But many people live further away from their water sources. UNICEF surveys on conditions in sub-Sahara Africa, for example, show that over 40 percent of households are at least that far from the nearest water source.

RI appointed WMO Regional President Antara

LONDON - Indonesia has been appointed president of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) for Asia and the Southwest Pacific regions for the period 2010-2014.

Dr. Sri Woro Budiati Harijono, head of the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) was named as the president of WMO for Asia and the Southwest Pacific at the 15th Session of WMO Regional Association V (RA-V) being held in Bali, from April 30 to May 6m, 2010, Muhsin Syihab, first secretary at the Indonesian Permanent Representative Office in Geneva, told ANTARA cor-

respondent in London Wednesday.

Indonesia is a member of the WMO Executive Council (EC) for the 2007-2011 period.

As the new president of WMO RA-V, Dr. Sri Woro Budiati Harijono will maintain Indonesia’s membership in the WMO EC for the 20112015 period.

BMKG has been very active in establishing international cooperation, and is now exploring the possibility of forming a Regional Hydrological Training Center in Bandung, according to Dr. Sri Woro.

The WMO RA-V membership consists of 22 countries, namely Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indo-

nesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Britain, the United States and Vanuatu.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations, said earlier Prof. Dr. Emil Salim had been appointed a member of the High Level Task Force of Global Framework for Climate Services (HLTF-GFCS) in the Intergovernmental Meeting of WMO (IGMWMO) in Geneva, last January.

“Anti-corruption education for students can help develop their mental attitude against any corrupt practices,” Mahmud said here early this week.

He said anti-corruption education was a long term project toward the creation of a new Indonesia, and therefore it should be made together and consistently.

According to him, all stakeholders such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Police, public prosecutor’s office, national education ministry, and members of the civil society such as non-government organizations and mass organizations should be involved in the anticorruption education program.

Mahmud said that as part of the community, Gepak has prepared such a program for secondary school and senior high school students and therefore it should be included in school curricula.

“But we have to be wise and careful to present the anti corruption subject with practical methods so that the

students can absorb it easily,” he said.

Otherwise, he said, the subject would be a burden to the students if it was forced on them because they were already laden with so many subjects.

Several years ago, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) sponsored the establishment of “honesty canteens” at schools in Indonesia with the objective of helping to make students become good and honest persons.

The honesty canteen program was implemented at a number of schools in some provinces in the country.

Against a daily backdrop of corruption news and court trials, several city schools have also developed a values program to develop anti-corruption minds among school students.

The honesty canteens were introduced several years ago to allow students to buy food at unattended food stalls, because the students were expected to be honest in paying for what they had bought and taking the change from a money box.

Government gives incentives to oil exploration companies Antara

JAKARTA - The government, under decree of the Finance Minister No 24/PMK.011/2010, is giving a fiscal incentive to upstream natural oil and gas as well as geothermal explorations.

Finance ministry spokesman Harry Z Soeratin said in Jakarta Tuesday the fiscal incentive is given under Article 3 paragraph (2), point b, of Law No 47 of 2009 on the 2010 State Budget and to boost national oil and gas, and geothermal production.

He said the incentive takes the form of government-borne Value Added Tax (VAT) on the import of goods used in upstream natural oil and gas and geothermal explorations by upstream natural oil and gas, and geothermal companies.

Government-borne VAT will be given to goods used in upstream natural oil and gas and geothermal

explorations and natural geothermal explorations under certain conditions.

He added that the conditions include goods that are not yet domestically produced, and goods already locally produced, but still lacking the necessary specifications, or goods already locally produced but in a number not yet adequate to meet the needs of the existing industries.

The upstream natural oil and gas explorations referred to in this regulation are activities aimed at collecting information on geological conditions to find estimated natural oil and gas reserves in designated areas.

In the meantime, geothermal explorations cover geological, geophysical, geochemical surveys, trial drillings, and exploration well drillings for more information on geological conditions below the surface of the earth for estimates on geothermal potentials.

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Internationa

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Bali Today Gianyar’s craftsmen nominated in UNESCO Award 2010 Bali Post

GIANYAR— The sluggish condition of handicraft business in Gianyar Regency caused by the counterfeit of Intellectual Property Rights did not dampen the intent of local crafters to be creative. After winning the Best of the Best of Craft Design in the Inacraft Exhibition 2010, craftsmen of fan painting of Gianyar Regency are now nominated into the UNESCO Award 2010 held in Jakarta between September and October 2010. UNESCO Award is an international award competition for craftsmen and artisans who came to compete among the Asian countries.

When asked for his confirmation last Tuesday (May 4), the Head of Gianyar Industry and Trade Services, Wayan Suamba, explained about the achievement of Gianyar fan painting as Best of the Best in the Inacraft Exhibition 2010 inaugurated by President SBY via teleconference from Tampaksiring Palace. The exhibition itself involved 1,427 participants in last April 2010 at JCC Jakarta. Meanwhile, after the achievement above, such fan painting craft was nominated to rep-

resent Indonesia in the Asian competition. ”There were 189 nominations selected into seven categories namely, wood, pottery, textiles, natural fiber/ plaits, metal, rock and others. In the meantime, the fan painting belongs to wood category and represents the best of all categories. Certainly, with this predicate we are optimistic to achieve the UNESCO Award,” affirmed Suamba.

Gianyar Regency Government is very appreciative to the achievement

of craftsmen of Gianyar fan painting.

“We are surely proud of this achievement. Hopefully, this can provide motivation and become a model for other Gianyar art crafters known to have a range of commodities (not just wood) to continue working and innovate even harder,” he said. (kmb16) IBP/Agung Dharmada

The Best of the Best of Craft Design in the Inacraft Exhibition 2010. After winning the Best of the Best of Craft Design in the Inacraft Exhibition 2010, craftsmen of fan painting of Gianyar Regency are now nominated into the UNESCO Award 2010 held in Jakarta between September and October 2010.

Archaeological Heritage Protection (1)

Community - Based Conservation in Bali

By I Made Sutaba It is generally accepted that each nation of the world, have their own history, which depends on the local situation and condition, as proved by their archeological and historical remains. In this connection, Indonesia for example, has so many interesting monuments, which could be found nearly in the whole of the archipelago namely in Sumatera, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesian Island.

Among them are belonged to prehistoric and historic period, which consist of movable and immovable monuments, and made of tangible and intangible material.

Based on the function when the monuments were discovered, our monuments could be classified into two groups namely the dead monuments, which were not used any more by local people. The second one is the living monuments, which until now is still used for religious purpose by the local people as seen in Bali.

It is a matter of facts that only a very few of our monuments have been removed to the government museum to protect them from further deterioration. The facts mean that most of them are still in its original places, standing alone struggle against all kind of dan-

gers, which are coming from environment and human activities.

Indonesian governments are aware to protect our archaeological remains, because of its values for: 1). Reconstructing our national from the very early time covering the live of our ancestors; 2). Increasing and strengthening our cultural identity as the basic foundation for our development plans facing the forthcoming modern world; 3). Increasing cultural appreciation and responsibility for the young generations through the education systems; 4). Supporting cultural tourism and cultural diplomacy to build up a peaceful world based on cultural understanding.

It should be very easy to understand that not any nations would like to lose their national cultural roots and so it is a national task to protect the archaeological heritage.

This important task is not only because of its value as mentioned above, but actually also due to a number of factors which could damage the monuments, namely: 1). The very old age of the monuments; 2).

The natural effect such as climate, humidity, etc; 3). Human activities e.g. graffiti, vandalism, illegal excavation etc; 4). Modernization, industrialization and development

project; 5). Tourism facilities etc Now it should be very clear that any archaeological protection trough preservation and conservation should be regarded: 1). To protect the monuments as a national cultural property bearing national pride; 2). To protect the archeological environment for keeping the beauty and the attractions of the monuments as a unity of ecosystems; 3). To keep the cultural values of the monuments in their people mind forever.

Facing the problem of archeological protections in Indonesia, the Dutch have issued Monuments Ordinance (Monumenten Ordonnantie, Stb. No. 238, 1931), which is not suitable any more for us, and then recently our government have declared the new one called Law Concerning Items of Cultural Property (Undang-undang No.5, 1992 tentang Benda Cagar Budaya). In our modern world today, not any nations would like to sacrifice their culture, because it is very natural to have the national spirit, which have been built through a very long history. Each nation should regard their national spirit as the very important power for today and facing the future. (To be continued…)

Thousand of people participate in ”Ci Suak” ritual Antara

DENPASAR – Thousands of people will take part in the “Shie Jit Thien Sang Sen Muk” celebration which is being held to commemorate the birth of the God of Commerce in Klenteng Caow Eng Bio in Tanjung Benoa.

Liong Siu Yang, the head of the committee, said that in the celebration there will be also a “Ci Suak” or a cleansing ceremony which will be held started on May 6th through May 9th 2010. Thousands of people will take part in ceremony.

“Buddist from throughout Bali and some cities in Indonesia take part in the ceremony. The participants come from Jakarta and Surabaya will take part in the ceremony,” Liong Siu said.

He also will invite the Hindus and

Moslems in Benoa area to increase the solidarity and tolerance between religions in the area. Liong Siu said “currently, over 1,000 people already signed to join the Ci Suak ceremony which will be held from morning till night time.”

In ordet to take part in the ceremony, the participants must pay 100,000 rupiah. In addition to Konghucu, Taoists and Buddhists also can take part in the ceremony.

“The fee which is given by the participants will be used by the foundation to take care of the holy place or klenteng,” he added.

The “Shie Jit Thien Sang Sen Muk” celebration is also added by the making of giant golden tiger. It is made from the same material to make ogoh-ogoh, Balinese puppet for ngerupuk day.

al

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Balinese Culture Indonesian Curried Crab

Balinese women:

Ingredients

In devotional services through the arts Beauty can stop everyone’s eyes flickering. Beauty of the kid song can lullaby a baby. Similarly, beauty also can toss the imagination, soothe the mind and draw people to get near.

Bali has many sources of that beauty offering the charm of nature, culture or adventure.

By maintaining traditions inspired by Hinduism, Balinese people go on running in harmony with the time. In other words, they do not feel inferior because of inheriting those traditions. Beauty in the form of various dance movements has been introduced since early ages. On seeing a dance staged, a toddler may watch it attentively or its fingers move and move as if imitating the movement of the dance.

Virtually all customary villages in Bali have gamelan troupe. This troupe plays important role in expressing their entertainment arts and accompanying every ritual activity.

This existence gives opportunity to villagers from child to adult to express their artistic talent especially in dance, drama and gamelan arts.

Young girls under twelve or elementary school age have a chance to participate in performing Rejang Dance.

By wearing white and yellow costumes and floral decoration on head, they dance beautifully accompanied by gamelan music. Rejang Dance is one of the sacred dances performed in relation to the organization of

temple anniversary or odalan. Other than putting a basic love to their tradition, they also show devotional service or ngatur ayah through the arts.

When they grow older, right on entering secondary school, they join customary village youth club or Sekaa Taruna. Here, with their male friends and their brothers and sisters start to learn about organization.

Many things can be learned through this organization. Since it has affiliation to customary village, they can learn about the making of some simple oblation under guidance of senior oblation maker and various traditional arts. In Bali, this youth club actually play important role in preparing young generation to maintain their valuable cultural heritages or to prepare themselves for inheriting customary responsibility.

With their male counterpart, here the young girls also learn to play drama or more complex traditional arts. Popular genres of performance showed are pure entertainment and the one in combination with sacred dance. The latter usually features Calonarang. This magical drama involves a combination of male and female players. In essence, this Calonarang drama highlights the endless fight between truth and untruth symbolizing by sanctified effigies or tapakan like Rangda and Barong. By and large, it is also associated with ritual events at local temple.

In the following stage, when woman gets married she will enter the new organization, namely customary village. Having learned much about ritual works, it is now the time to practice them in wider social life. They should attend some socio-religious activities when the events engage the members of customary village. At this stage, household mother can remain to show her devotional service through the arts other than social works. Through the arts, they may join the drama or individual psalmodic singing or pasantian.

How is about their private life? It is normal as others. They also have opportunity to build career in their profession. In modern life with heterogeneous professions as today, woman also works as men do. Traditions do not impede them to reach outstanding achievement in self-employee or office job. If they work at daytime, some social works will be held at the evening.

Tradition is not something obsolete.

Even, it retains abundant inspirations to create something new and creative that is advantageous for modern life.

However, traditions should also be reviewed and adjust to the current condition without leaving behind its core.

Tradition does not hinder women to get their career achievement. Even, it stays to give them a channel to express their spiritual sense through devotional services. (BTN/punia)

* 4 crabs * 6 Shallots * 2 Stalks lemon grass * 2 ts Tamarind * 1/2 c Boiling water * 1 Handful coriander leaves * 3 Cloves garlic * 1 tb Fresh galangal * 2 To 3 birdseye chillies, -seeded * 4 Candlenuts * 1 t Blachan * 1 t Tumeric * Salt and pepper to taste * 3 tb Oil * 2 c Coconut milk

Directions Cut the 4 crabs into quarters with a cleaver or large knife. With a hammer, gently crack the claws and harder sections of shell.

Finely chop 6 shallots and 2 stalks lemon grass.

Steep 2 teaspoons tamarind in half a cup of boiling water. Chop a handful of fresh coriander leaves.

In a food processor, grind together 3 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon fresh galangal, 2-3 birdseye chillies, seeded, 4 candlenuts (or substitute 8-10 cashews) and 1 teaspoon blachan (hard dark brown shrimp paste), 1 teaspoon turmeric and salt and pepper to taste. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large wok or pan, and fry the paste until fragrant. Add shallots, lemon grass, crab pieces and 2 cups coconut milk. Simmer for quarter of an hour.

Strain the tamarind water and add half to the sauce.

Taste and add more if you wish. Ladle curvy into a serving dish and scatter the fresh coriander on top.

Serve with plain rice. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Ikan Bali (Bali Fish)

Ingredients * 1 Fish, about 650-900g dressed Weight.

Preferably sea bass or Mackerel * 1 t Salt * Oil, for deep frying * 2 T Margarine or oil * 2 sm Onions, sliced * 1 t Sambal Oelek * 1/2 t Laos * 1/2 t Lemon grass * 3 T Tamarind juice * Pinch of ground ginger * 1 t Brown sugar * 1 T Sweet soy sauce

Directions Cut fish into serving portions and rub salt all over.

Feep-fry and drain on absorbent paper.

Heat oil and saute sliced onions until lightly brown.

Add sambal oelek, laos, lemon grass, tamarind juice, ginger, brown sugar and soy sauce. Heat thoroughly. http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com

Place fried fish in deep serving dish and pour sauce over it. Serve with rice. (http://asiarecipe.com)

9

10

Destinations

Thursday, May 6, 2010

International

Penglipuran Village PENGLIPURAN Village is a traditional countryside owning unique characteristic life, socializing and culture. It is located in Kubu Village , Bangli Sub district and Bangli Regency. The natural nature and environments of countryside is designating the pittance touch of modernization influence. This countryside is supported by cool atmosphere because it is located on the height land about 700 m above sea level and according to history of all old doyens that this countryside is taken away from the word Pengeling Pura what its meaning remember to ancestor, but there is also telling that the word of Penglipur mean the entertainer.

It is said that at former empire era, all king often use this area as a place to amuse themselves, because its nature is beautiful and can give the peacefulness and inspiration at the time of experiencing a problem.

The houses exist in this countryside from north to the south is look very beautiful in particular the Balinese traditional entrance gate which are made similar each other. When we step down to this village, we will meet the Balinese houses are oriented northeastwards to Mount Agung which is located in north-east of Bali Island . The structure of house building between one house and others are equal in particular to condition, form, size and function from the building except building of family bed room is freeform. The family temple building is places

the same direction to the Agung Mount, kitchen is located in upstate from the lawn and the building of Bale Sakaenem is the six beamed building which its function for ceremony place. The place for look after the livestock and the place to plant assorted vegetable are referred as non irrigated dry field which is called Teba. Its Construction material is made from wood except family residence. It is predominated by substance from bamboo because around this countryside is bamboo producer.

The countryside is lead by a leader which is Bendesa or Kelian or Penyarikan or Patengan and he/she is assisted by Sinoman. The social system is recognized by the 12 group terms that are number 1 until 12 as member of Pemerincik that is commissioned member converse the problem or plan and its result is submitted to the member.

They are very trusting of 12 groups and have represented the tradition in heritage away back. The Consanguinity System in this countryside is Patrilinial system that is according to father lineage. This countryside religion leader is called as Jero Bayan which is consisted of 3 Jero Bayans that is a Jero Bayan Mucuk and 2 people of Jero Bayan Nyoman. The specific cultural potential like pattern of building architecture remains to be traditional, the beautiful nature and environment with cool atmosphere, hence this countryside is the ideal place to visit during your vacation in Bali. (www.balistarisland.com)

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Thursday, May 6, 2010

11

BUSINESS A Greek man walks next the Bank of Greece in the center of Athens on May 4, 2010. The European Central Bank’s main interest rate should mark a full year at a record low one percent Thursday, an island of stability as the ECB seeks to navigate the Greek debt crisis.

AFP PHOTO / DIMITAR DILKOFF

ECB rates to remain stable as bank is rocked

by Greek crisis Agence France-Presse

FRANKFURT - The European Central Bank’s main interest rate should mark a full year at a record low one percent Thursday, an island of stability as the ECB seeks to navigate the Greek debt crisis.

Analysts expect the central bank’s monetary policy to remain on hold until early next year as it grapples with the eurozone’s biggest challenge ever.

“The ECB is probably first in line wishing for at least some normality to return so that it can focus on what it is good at: conducting monetary policy,” ING senior economist Carsten Brzeski said.

Even the withdrawal of exceptional monetary stimulus put in place at the height of the financial turmoil now seems trivial compared with the crisis ECB governors face in Lisbon during one of two meetings held away from Frankfurt.

“Thursday’s ECB meeting will once again be on Greece, Greece and Greece,” Brzeski said.

Inflation is still comfortably below the bank’s target of just under two percent, though some say that could change if the ECB begins printing euros to buy eurozone government bonds.

And the eurozone economy is looking healthier at the moment, with strong industrial output and positive confidence indicators, according to the latest surveys.

Those bright spots are nonetheless overshadowed by the biggest crisis ever faced by the 16 countries that share Europe’s common currency.

An historic 110-billion-euro (145-billion-dollar) rescue package agreed by the European Union and International Monetary Fund to help Greece pay its debts has been seen by financial markets as a short- to medium-term measure at best.

On Tuesday, the euro fell to a near one-year low of 1.3023 dollars in London as traders rendered their verdict on the Greek bailout.

Among the trouble spots, “fears of liquidity and funding difficulties in the banking system will persist,” UniCredit chief economist Marco

Annunziata said.

“This will understandably keep investors concerned about the fate of other vulnerable countries,” notably Portugal and Spain.

Steps taken to help Greece tackle 300 billion euros in debt and a public deficit of nearly 14 percent of output have often come after much hesitation by EU officials, and the latest case marked a delicate U-turn by the ECB itself.

After insisting that central bank criteria on collateral accepted for loans would not depend on the situation in a specific country, the ECB did an abrupt about-face on Monday.

A decision to accept all Greek debt regardless of its downgrading to junk levels by ratings agency Standard and Poor’s provided crucial relief to Greek banks and the government but seriously tarnished the ECB’s reputation.

“During the Greek crisis, politicians and reality have proven the ECB wrong several times,” Brzeski commented.

Suspending collateral rules “only for Greek sovereign debt in my view has further undermined the single currency, compounding the already significant damage done to the credibility of eurozone institutions,” Annunziata added.

Many analysts doubt whether Athens can fulfill obligations taken in exchange for the EU/IMF aid because of public protests and the fact that the Greek economy will likely remain weak for several years.

“Financial markets believe it is possible for a eurozone sovereign borrower to default, even though the activation of the bailout plan has eliminated this risk for a while,” Natixis economist Patrick Artus noted.

Indonesian finance minister resigns to join World Bank Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati resigned Wednesday to accept a job as managing director of the World Bank.

The minister confirmed her resignation from the cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in what is likely to be seen as a blow to economic reform in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.

“The news is correct. I’m still waiting for the approval of the president. For the time being, I will continue to carry out my duties at the finance ministry during this transition week,” she said.

Indonesia’s sharemarket plunged 3.2 percent in mid-morning trade after Indrawati confirmed her resignation.

A World Bank statement said the economist and former International Monetary Fund board member had guided Indonesia through the global recession and earned the “respect of her peers across the world”.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Sri Mulyani Indrawati. She has been an outstanding finance minister with in-depth knowledge of both development issues and the role of the

World Bank Group,” said World Bank president Robert Zoellick.

“As a member of the Senior Team she will play a key role in helping to lead the bank as we move to strengthen client support, implement our reform programme and anticipate future challenges.”

In a World Bank press release Indrawati said: “It is a great honour for me and also for my country to have this opportunity to contribute to the very important mission of the bank in changing the world”.

Her appointment to the World Bank comes a day after she was questioned for a second time by anti-graft investigators probing a 700-million-dollar bank bailout in 2008.

Indrawati was among a core of top economic officials who authorised the rescue of mid-sized Bank Century, and has denied any wrongdoing after it emerged that bailout funds had been siphoned off by well-connected depositors.

The independent technocrat has stayed aloof from politics despite being the target of constant attacks from party leaders who have tried to unseat her and seize control of the finance ministry.

China to ramp up spending in restive Xinjiang: state media Agence France-Presse

BEIJING - China will pour around 1.5 billion dollars in economic aid into its restive Xinjiang region as it seeks to quell simmering unrest, state media reported.

The injection of 10 billion yuan in development funds will begin in 2011 and is aimed at raising living standards to meet the “pressing demands” of the region’s ethnic Uighur minority, Outlook Weekly magazine said in its latest edition.

The move also would be used as a weapon in the battle to “oppose separatism, infiltration and terrorism” in the region, said the magazine, which is published by the official Xinhua news agency.

The decision was made at a meeting in Xinjiang in March and marked the latest in a series of government pledges of more equitable development for the northwestern region following a spate of deadly violence last July.

Rioting Uighurs attacked members of China’s majority ethnic Han population on July 5 in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi, sparking Han counter-protests in subsequent days.

The government says nearly 200 people were killed and 1,700 injured in the violence — the nation’s worst in decades — which Beijing has blamed on foreign separatist forces.

Many of Xinjiang’s roughly eight

million Uighurs — a Muslim, Turkicspeaking people — accuse China of political, religious and cultural oppression.

A key gripe has been what many Uighurs see as unfair economic development benefiting Han immigrants who have flooded to the area and now make up about half of its population.

The funding is to come from a programme under which the country’s richer provinces fund development in poorer regions, Outlook Weekly said.

The programme has been in place in Xinjiang for 13 years but is being expanded to 82 cities and towns in the region, up from 56, it said.

The report did not specify over what time period the 10 billion yuan would be funnelled into the region, nor did it say how the figure compared to previous cash injections.

Last month, Xinhua said a meeting of China’s leaders, chaired by President Hu Jintao, had decided to ramp up development in Xinjiang, a vast region of deserts with rich energy deposits on the border with Central Asia.

China also said in April it was replacing Wang Lequan, the longtime top official in Xinjiang who was known for his hardline policies and faced calls to step down after last July’s violence.

China’s leadership is expected to lay out its detailed plans for Xinjiang development in a meeting later in May, state press has said.

12

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Entertainment

International

Mira Sorvino Wants To Reunite ‘Romy & Michele’ REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Pablo Picasso’s 1932 ‘Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust’ is seen at Christie’s auction house in New York April 16, 2010. The art market plummeted with the onset of the global financial crisis but experts, fund managers, collectors and auctioneers are rallying on signs the once-hot investment is on the verge of solid recovery

Picasso piece sets record for art sold at auction Reuters -

NEW YORK – Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” sold for more than $106 million at Christie’s on Tuesday, setting a record for art sold at auction. The Picasso, a 1932 work not seen publicly in 50 years, was purchased by an anonymous buyer from a world-class collection assembled by the late Los Angeles art patrons Frances and Sidney Brody.

The vibrant, large-scale depiction of Picasso’s mistress and frequent subject, Marie-Therese Walter, was the top priced work at Christie’s sale of Impressionist and modern art. The sale netted $335.5 million for the auction house. “Obviously we’re thrilled” with the final price of $106,482,500 including commission for the Picasso, auctioneer Christopher Burge said afterward. He added that there was “incredible bidding” across the range of 69 works on offer, of which more than 80 percent found buyers.

A record was also set for Georges Braque when “La Treille” sold for $10,162,500, or more than twice the pre-sale estimate. Christie’s said the sale’s total was its third best, with the $224 million Brody take second only among single-owner sales to the Yves

St. Laurent sale in Paris. Nearly three-quarters of the winning bids came equally from U.S. and European bidders, while one-fourth were categorized as “other,” a designation that includes collectors from the Mideast.

Christie’s Americas Chairman Marc Porter said the sale was also marked by “an extremely heavy rate of participation from new collectors, in new economies.” The sale, dominated by Picassos and Giacomettis, was not without its casualties, notably Edvard Munch’s “Fertility,” which was estimated around $30 million but went unsold when no one bid beyond $23 million. But the big spending, especially for the Brody works, spoke to the willingness of deep-pocketed collectors to purchase rare works of impeccable provenance.

Three Giacometti sculptures also saw strong prices. A narrow bust, a forearm with outstretched hand and a walking cat, all bronzes from the Brody collection, fetched $55.3 million, $25.84 million and $20.8 million respectively. The spring sales continue on Wednesday with Sotheby’s auction of Impressionist and modern art.

Chris Brown Defends Decision To Sing National Anthem At Boxing Match CHRIS Brown has defended his decision to sing the national anthem at the boxing bout between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley over the weekend - following a raft of criticism. The singer took the mic before the fight in Las Vegas on Saturday night to belt out “The StarSpangled Banner,” but his performance was met with a muted reaction from the crowd at the Palms Hotel.

Brown’s appearance at the event was also met with criticism from online bloggers, who slammed the decision to give the hitmaker a star turn at a boxing match, following his conviction for assaulting ex-girlfriend Rihanna last year. And the “Kiss Kiss” star addressed the controversy with a series of posts on his Twitter.com page.

He writes, “I’m human. How many of u r (sic) perfect? If there is no forgiveness, there is no change... I’m humbled by everything. If I wasn’t somewhat sane and loved my fans and music so damn much I would give up, but that’s not why I was put on this earth... you’ll see!”

Mira Sorvino has confirmed she’s been in talks to re-team with Lisa Kudrow for a sequel to their cult 1997 movie Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion. The Oscarwinner joined forces with the Friends star to play a pair of ditzy blondes attending a get-together with their childhood friends.

The film spawned a 2005 TV prequel, Romy and Michele: In the Beginning, starring Katherine Heigl, but Sorvino hopes movie bosses will agree to bring the two original actresses back for a follow-up.

She tells Moviehole.net, “Yeah, we’ve talked about doing another reunion movie. I don’t know (if it will happen). It would be 15 (years after the first movie), but we’ll see if it ever happens. It’s just so silly and fun and it really has resonance with various audiences. It’s just a fun underdog buddy comedy of two very stupid people who have good hearts eventually, so I like that movie.”

Doctor: Bret Michaels released from hospital POISON frontman Bret Michaels Michaels’ was admitted into the perform surgery or other invasive has been released from a Phoenix hos- hospital April 22 after suffering a procedures, but they plan a third test pital and is expected to make a full severe headache. He was diagnosed to check again for an aneurysm, a recovery after suffering a brain hem- with a subarachnoid hemorrhage, bulge in a weak part of a blood vesorrhage last month, his doctor said which causes bleeding in the fluid- sel that makes it more likely to have Tuesday. Dr. Joseph Zabramski, chief filled spaces around the base of the a second hemorrhage. It is unlikely of cerebrovascular surgery at the Bar- brain. Two tests showed that that Michaels’ hemorrhage is related row Neurological Institute at St. Michaels did not suffer an aneu- to an appendectomy conducted on Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Cen- rysm, so doctors are unsure what April 12 or to Michaels being hit in ter, said he recommended that caused his condition. They did not the face by a descending set piece Michaels wait at least four to six at last year’s Tony Awards, a misweeks before resuming normal achap that left the rocker with a brotivity. He declined to say when ken nose and a busted lip. Hard Michaels could resume touring. hits to the head can cause hemorDoctors will examine Michaels evrhages, but not almost a year afery two weeks until he’s recovered. ter the incident, Zabramski said.

“This produces a great deal of Michaels, who filmed most stress on the body,” he said. “This of NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprenis like being involved in an accitice” last fall, is one of five redent from inside.” Zabramski said maining stars vying to win Michaels is fully conscious and Donald Trump’s business-themed aware and talking fine, but he has reality TV competition. The other back spasms and headaches when contenders are celebrity chef he tries to walk. He could continue Curtis Stone, reality TV diva getting back pain and headaches, Sharon Osbourne, former WWE but Zabramski doesn’t expect any wrestler Maria Kanellis, pop other long-term effects. He singer Cyndi Lauper and actress wouldn’t say when Michaels was Holly Robinson Peete. If he released or whether he was sent avoids being fired by Trump in home or to a rehabilitation facilupcoming episodes, Michaels’ ity. The 47-year-old contestant on prognosis means he could possi“The Celebrity Apprentice” is rebly attend “The Celebrity Apceiving therapy and will probably prentice” finale May 23 at New continue to suffer from severe pain York University’s Skirball Cenfor another seven to 10 days as ter. The finale features the last AP Photo/Gus Ruelas, file blood pooled under his brain dis- In this April 9, 2008 file photo, Poison two contestants performing a fisolves. Michaels is a Type 1 dia- lead singer Bret Michaels poses for a nal task, typically organizing a betic, which limits the available portrait in the Hollywood area of Los charity event, then debating each options to ease discomfort. other live in front of Trump.

Angeles

Life Style

International

Kindle upgrade adds Facebook and Twitter Reading an e-book that you just can’t put down? Now you can tell the world about it directly from your Kindle. This week Amazon is debuting new firmware for the two current versions of the Kindle that will let users interact with popular social networks within the Kindle operating system. Version 2.5 of Kindle’s software, which is rolling out to Kindle units automatically now on a limited basis, adds Facebook and Twitter features to the popular gadget. Primarily, it gives users the ability to highlight passages they like and automatically share them with friends, though that’s probably just a first step toward broader socialnetworking features.

The version 2.5 firmware also adds a bevy of other features, including crisper text, larger font options, the ability to organize books into collections, zoom and pan features for PDF documents, and password protection — the latter of which is seen as a key feature for educational users.

Why is Amazon doing all of this? Simple: Competition is ramping up. While Kindle was once the only game in town (aside from Sony, which continues to lumber along with its readers), new competitors like the Barnes & Noble Nook are hitting the market and upping the ante on the ereader space. Now that the Apple iPad has arrived, competition is even fiercer, and Amazon certainly must feel its reader needs to do more than just display text if it wants to compete with do-anything gadgets like the iPad and the various Windows- and Android-based tablets that are about to hit the market.

What will die-hard librovores — which make up the Kindle faithful — think of their beloved ereader suddenly becoming more computer than book?

Is the simplicity of the Kindle being assaulted, or are these new social-networking features really REUTERS/Dani Cardona A woman shows a Kindle during a news conference for the presentation of complementing the reading experience? the device in Madrid in this October 14, 2009 file photo.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

13

African states push for UN ban on female circumcision Agence France - Presse

DAKAR – Lawmakers from 27 African countries gathered in Dakar on Monday for a two-day conference to push for a UN ban on female genital mutilation as a breach of human rights. International activists joined envoys from the United Nations and African Union in Senegal to “promote the adoption of a resolution that explicitly bans female genital mutilation as a practice that is contrary to human rights.”

The cutting or removal of young girls’ and women’s clitoris and/or labia affects some 120 to 140 million women in 28 countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, according to the World Health Organisation. Often carried out for deep-seated religious or cultural reasons, it can lead to infection, urinary tract problems, mental trauma, sterility or complications during childbirth, and in some cases fatal haemorrhaging.

In Africa, around 91 million girls aged nine and under have undergone the practice, with three million operated on each year, the UN population fund’s envoy Rose

Gkuba told the conference.

“Now is the time to move forwards with a specific resolution at the United Nations that can give a new boost, a new hope to activists, governments and lawmakers,” Italian Senate deputy leader and campaigner Emma Bonino said. “There is no miracle solution,” she told the conference. “Only a complex strategy that needs to be implemented.”

The African Union’s envoy Yetunda Teriba stressed that the West had a role to play in combating genital mutilations.

“Migrants have exported the practice,” she said. “Although most of the victims are in Africa, the problem is growing in Europe among migrant and refugee communities.” But Senegal’s parliament speaker Mamadou Seck said the key to fighting genital mutilation was “education and persuasion, to convince but not coerce.” Senegal is one of 19 African countries that have banned the practice and its Families Minister Ndeye Khady Diop said a nationwide campaign between 2000 and 2005 managed to reduce the number of mutilations by over 70 percent. Dakar is preparing to launch a second campaign that hopes to eradicate the practice completely by 2015, she said.

A woman who performs genital cutting shows a knife she uses during a gathering to denounce circumcision in 2005 in Abidjan.

Lawmakers from 27 African countries gathered in Dakar on Monday for a two-day conference to push for a UN ban on female genital mutilation as a breach of human rights.

AFP/File/Kambou Sia

Study: Stomach cancer up in young, white adults Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO – Scientists are puzzling over a surprising increase in stomach cancer in young white adults, while rates in all other American adults have declined. Chances for developing stomach cancer are still very low in young adults but the incidence among 25 to 39 year old whites nonetheless climbed by almost 70 percent in the past three decades, a study found. National Cancer Institute researchers and colleagues examined new cases from 1977 to 2006 of cancer in the

lower stomach, which can be caused by chronic infection with a common bacteria called H. pylori. It also causes stomach ulcers.

Overall, there were 39,003 cases detected in a surveillance program that covers about one-fourth of the U.S. population. These included only 734 white young adults, but their incidence rate climbed from .54 per 200,000 to about 1 per 200,000.

Among white adults aged 25 to age 84, the rate declined from almost 12 per 200,000 to 8 per 200,000; among black adults it declined from about 27 per 200,000 to 19 per 200,000.

Rates also declined for other races,

which weren’t specified.

Dr. Jaffer Ajani, a digestive cancer specialist at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, said the increase in young white adults is surprising but not alarming. Ajani, who was not involved in the research, said it could be a statistical blip but that it needs to be investigated. The study appears in Wednesday’s Journal of the American Medical Association. It focused on lower stomach cancer, not cancer of the upper stomach, which has been linked with gastric reflux. Together, these cancers are the fourth most common type of can-

cer worldwide.

In U.S. men, stomach cancer is among the top 10 most common cancers in blacks, Asian-Americans, Hispanics and American Indians. It’s also among the most common cancers in Asian-American women.

Lower stomach cancer has been linked with diets high in salt and saltpreserved foods, and low in fresh fruits and vegetables; its incidence historically has been higher in Asia and other countries where this type of food preservation is more common. But stomach cancer rates have been declining in many countries because of improved food preserva-

tion and better hygiene, which decreases risks for H. pylori infection, so the overall U.S. decline was expected, said Dr. Charles Rabkin of the National Cancer Institute, the study’s lead author.

However, the researchers noted that salt intake has increased among Americans of all ages, and said they will be investigating whether changes in eating habits explain the rise in young adults. H. pylori prevalence might have increased in young adults, or there may be some other unknown bacteria that could play a role, although those theories remain unproven, Rabkin said.

14

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Sport

International

Superman Returns: Howard, Magic crush Hawks 114-71 Associated Press Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. – Stan Van Gundy turned to his assistant coaches on the Orlando Magic bench, unsure what to do with star Dwight Howard finally avoiding foul trouble and his team on his way to a blowout victory. “Should I give Dwight a rest?” Van Gundy asked. “They said, ‘No. Just let it ride.’”

What a ride it was. Howard had 21 points and 12 rebounds in one of the most crushing playoff wins in Magic history, a 114-71 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. Howard added five blocks and avoided the fouls and frustration that overwhelmed him in the first round, helping the Magic go ahead by as many as 46 points. Vince Carter finished with 20 points as Orlando showed no signs of rust after an eight-day layoff since sweeping Charlote.

Maybe all Howard needed was some time to cool off. “I still played about the same amount of min-

utes,” Howard said, chuckling, because he wasn’t needed much in the fourth. “The first round is over with.”

Josh Smith scored 14 points and Zaza Pachulia had 12 points for a Hawks team that had little playoff poise.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Orlando, and Atlanta will have to find some way to rally from such a paralyzing defeat.

“It’s embarrassing,” Hawks point guard Mike Bibby said. “They embarrassed us.” Only a 47-point win in the first round against Boston in 1995 was a larger margin of victory in a playoff game for Orlando. This was just one big Magic highlight reel.

Nothing riled up fans more than when Howard snatched a layup attempt by

Smith in the air, pulling down the ball with one hand. He threw the ball upcourt to Jason Williams, who lobbed a pass from just past midcourt for an alley-oop dunk to Mickael Pietrus that was part of 17 straight Magic points in the second quarter.

The arena was roaring so loud that, even after Hawks coach Mike Woodson called timeout and was on the floor pleading with officials for a goaltend, many players couldn’t hear the whistle and continued. Finally, somebody had to tell the Magic to stop. “I think the challenge is not to get carried away with the score,” Van Gundy said. “It was one of those nights where everything just snowballed.”

Venus and Serena cruise into Rome third tennis round Agence France - Presse

ROME – Williams sisters Venus and Serena had few problems between them as they cruised into the third round of the WTA Rome Open at the Foro Italico here on Tuesday after straight sets victories. World number one Serena, the reigning Australian Open champion, overcame a tough first set to beat Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 76 (7/2), 6-1. Before that, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus breezed to a 6-2, 6-2 dismantling of another Swiss, Patty Schnyder.

Serena was playing for the first time since winning in Melbourne and she certainly took her time to adjust. In the first set she quickly found herself two breaks down at 14 but broke back straight away to love with a drop-shot winner on game point. “I was a little off. I got off to a little bit of a slow start but it was good and I was able to fight it off,” she said.

“I don’t think anything went wrong. I thought she played excellently, to be honest. I thought she was really playing well so I just had to pick up the level of my game.”

Serena, the 2002 champion here, had looked lacklustre in the opening exchanges but she finally came to life in the 10th game as she saved three set points, screaming after one of those as she tore up to the net to reach a drop shot and crash a backhand winner down the line. She broke Bacsinszky to level at 5-5 and then strolled through the tie-break 7-2.

That effectively heralded the end of her 20-year-old opponent’s resistance, although the Swiss did hold in the fifth game from 0-40 down.

Doug Benc/Getty Images/AFP

Zaza Pachulia #27 of the Atlanta Hawks battles for a rebound with Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 4, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Hawks 114-71.

Woods says Grand Slam irons in his garage Associated Press Writer

(AFP/Vincenzo Pinto)

US Venus Williams celebrates after beating Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder during their third round match of the WTA Rome Open.

Venus won 6-2, 6-2 Venus, playing in her first match in more minutes. The world number three, who than a month due to a knee problem, had not played since January due to a needed only an hour and a quarter to back injury, was out of sorts from the win her second round tie. The victory beginning. She went down 4-0 in the first ensured the world number four main- set and although she battled back to 4-4, tained her 100 percent record against lost her serve again to give up the set.

Schnyder with her 10th win out of 10 In the second she served for the set against the Swiss. “I think it was a pretty at 5-3 and had a set point but was brogood performance, I felt good on court,” ken before eventually levelling the said the 1999 winner here. “She likes match in a tie-break. But she visibly clay, it suits her type of game but I was wilted in the decider and world numexecuting pretty well. We’ve had some ber 43 Dulgheru cantered away to the difficult matches in the past although best result of her career. “I was too out that score was a bit easy. When I play of touch with the racket. I had only pracagainst her I have the opportunity to tised a little bit so this was disappointcontrol the point a little more because ing,” said Safina. “The third set went she doesn’t hit with so much force.” so fast, in one second it was 5-0. The Ironically, both sets followed iden- only good thing out of this match is that tical patterns, with the first three games my back was fine.” In other matches, going against the server and then Will- Polish eighth seed Agnieszka iams breaking in the seventh game as Radwanska of Poland thrashed home well before serving out. There was no favourite Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-0, while such comfort for reigning champion there were also wins for sixth seed Elena Dinara Safina, the former world num- Dementieva, seventh seed Jelena ber one, who was stunned by Romania’s Jankovic, 11th seed Yanina Wickmayer, Alexandra Dulgheru 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 14th seed Nadia Petrova and 16th seed in a marathon that lasted two hours 40 Shahar Peer.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Tiger Woods says the Titleist irons offered online for a minimum bid of $250,000 were not the ones he used to win four consecutive majors. eBay believed him enough to take the item off its website Tuesday.

Steve Mata, a former Titleist representative who worked with Woods when he swept the majors, said Woods gave him the irons during the 2001 Buick Classic in New York when it was time to change out the grooves.

“He may have my set of irons, but they’re not from those tournaments,” Woods said Tuesday at The Players Championship. “They’re in my garage.”

Woods said he used two sets of irons for his “Tiger Slam,” which began with his 15-shot victory in the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and ended 294 days later with his victory in the 2001 Masters. Players often change irons when the grooves get worn. Woods said both sets are in his garage. Woods switched to Nike irons in October 2004. The only club he uses not made by Nike is his Scotty Cameron putter.

Mata, whom Titleist dismissed after the 2008 season, used a friend to put the irons up

for bid on Monday. He said after Woods’ press conference, the item was removed. An eBay representative said only that the irons were taken down because of an apparent violation. Mata stands by his claim. “I did all his work for him on tour when he was at Titleist,” Mata said in a telephone interview. “We made up two sets of irons because no two sets are ever identical. I wanted to give him an option. He was in the pro-am at Westchester and I gave him the irons.”

Mata said Woods took the new set and gave him the irons he had been using.

“He said, ‘Keep them, they’re yours.’ And I said, ‘What? Are you kidding me?’”

Mata said. “I turned to another Titleist employee and said, ‘Does he know what they are?’

And Tiger said he knew exactly what they are.” Mata declined to name the other Titleist employee whom he described as his witness. He said several people in the industry know the story of Woods giving him the irons from the four straight majors. He said a few y e a r s l a t e r, h e r e m i n d e d Woods that he had the irons and Woods told him that he used two sets of Titleist irons in winning the four majors.

Sport

International

Thursday, May 6, 2010

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Lyon fired up as Champions League battle heats up Agence France - Presse

AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGO

Barcelona’s forward Bojan Krkic scores (R) against Tenerife’s goalkeeper Sergio Aragoneses (down) during the Spanish League football match Barcelona against Tenerife at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May 4, 2010.

Messi brace pushes Barcelona closer to Spanish league title Agence France - Presse

MADRID – Lionel Messi netted his 30th and 31st league goals of the season as Barcelona inched closer to retaining their La Liga title with a 4-1 home win over relegation-threatened Tenerife at Camp Nou on Tuesday. The Catalans are now four points clear of Real Madrid at the summit with just two games left, but Real have a game in hand and must win at fourth-placed Real Mallorca on Wednesday to keep their title hopes alive.

Messi put Barcelona ahead on 17 minutes and added a second in the final minute to stay on course to win the Pichichi crown for the league’s top scorer, as he is currently six goals ahead of his nearest rival, Real striker Gonzalo Higuain. Argentine Roman Martinez stunned the champions by equalising for Tenerife shortly before half-time following an error from home captain Carles Puyol. But second-half goals from Bojan Krkic (in the 63rd minute) and substitute Pedro Rodriguez (77) turned the game in Barca’s favour before Messi rubbed salt in the wound with his late strike.

“It was a difficult night due to the weather and the fixture list is already taking its toll but we gave our all,” said Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes. It is a very competitive league and we have won our game and now we just have to wait.” Barcelona will hope Mallorca can do them a favour against Real as they turn their fo-

cus to Saturday’s tough trip to Champions League hopefuls Sevilla.

Promoted Tenerife, who have won just once on their travels all season, stay third from bottom, although they are level on points with Malaga above them. Valencia sealed a place in the Champions League qualifying round after coming from behind to defeat bottom side Xerez 3-1 at the Mestalla later on Tuesday. Spain international winger Juan Mata scored a brace before setting up David Silva for a third as third-placed Valencia made sure of a top-four finish and moved to within a point of an automatic place in next season’s Champions League.

Xerez prop up the table, as they have done for most of the season, lying five points from safety and could be relegated on Wednesday if results go against them. A rain-soaked night and the midweek fixture kept some Barcelona fans away for the visit of Tenerife

at Camp Nou and the wet surface made passing tricky for both sides.

On 12 minutes Barcelona rightback Dani Alves had the first real opening but chose to pass when shooting seemed the best option and the chance went begging.

Barca got the early goal they craved on 17 minutes with Ibrahimovic heading down an Alves cross and Messi chipping in from close range for his 30th league goal of the campaign.

The hosts should have made it 2-0 on 34 minutes but Maxwell chose to shoot from an acute angle rather than squaring to Ibrahimovic. The miss was punished six minutes before half-time when captain Puyol produced a rare stray pass to gift possession to Tenerife and Argentine Roman slotted the ball past Valdes. Bojan restored Barca’s lead just after the hour, latching onto a neat pass from the active Alves before finishing coolly into the bottom-left corner.

PARIS – Fallen French giants Lyon have reignited their hopes of a podium finish and a Champions League spot next season as the battle for Europe heats up in Ligue 1 this week. Lyon are just two points off third-placed Lille after their 1-0 win at Montpellier on Sunday and will be looking to maintain the momentum after their recent Champions League semi-final exit.

The former seven-time champions host direct rivals Auxerre, sitting second, on Wednesday night, knowing that they have no room for error, before travelling to Valenciennes on Saturday. “For the year to be a success we have to ensure that after this Champions League semi-final we play this competition again next year,” said Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas.

“A top six finish and one in the leading trio is not the same thing.”

Lyon have not finished off the podium in 12 years - winning the title seven times between 2002 and 2008 - and were third last season.

They will be playing for a French record 11th consecutive Champions League appearance, a feat midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is convinced they can achieve.

“We’ve managed to mobilise ourselves again. We’re capable of doing it. When it comes to important games like these we’re good,” said Toulalan. But they could have their work cut out against Auxerre, who are five points ahead of them in the standings, and also targeting a Champions League spot with three games to play. Auxerre slipped up with a goalless draw at home Friday

against table toppers Marseille, and have the luxury of two days more rest than Lyon.

Auxerre coach Jean Fernandez will however have to do without the services of key Romanian international striker Daniel Niculae (thigh) and midfielder Kamel Chafni (thigh).

Didier Deschamps’ Marseille, on course for the title with a fivepoint lead on Auxerre, host eighth-placed Rennes in Wednesday’s late game, before visiting Lille at the weekend.

Lille, who strengthened their grip on a place in the Champions League qualifiers with a 3-1 win over Nancy on Sunday, travel to Toulouse. “Between second and sixth anything is possible. What’s important is to win,” said coach Rudi Garcia.

Bordeaux have no chance of defending their title as they sit fifth, but their European hopes are alive after their 1-0 win over Toulouse. Midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has however been ruled out for the next two games as coach Laurent Blanc insisted he would not put his World Cup participation at risk by rushing the France midfielder back from injury. Gourcuff has been out of action for the past nine days because of a left hamstring injury, and Blanc said that he would miss Wednesday’s game at Nice and possibly Saturday’s penultimate game against Sochaux. Elsewhere, recently-crowned French Cup champions Paris Saint Germain, sitting 11th, will be looking to carry that form through to the league, when they host Valenciennes, one place above them.

AFP PHOTO ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

Montpellier defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (R) vies with Lyon forward Michel Fernandes Bastos (L) during their French L1 football match Montpellier/ Lyon, on May 02, 2010 at the Mosson Stadium in Montpellier.

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Thursday, May 6, 2010

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

Sport

FIA approves Ferrari engine changes

Ferrari has been given the green light by the FIA to make modifications to its engine on reliability grounds following the problems it has had in the early stages of the season.

Both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have suffered engine issues in the opening flyaway events - with Alonso suffering two blow-ups that has left him in particular on the back foot in terms of his supply for the season.

With customer team Sauber having also encountered its share of engine issues, Ferrari conducted a detailed investigation into the matter after the Chinese Grand Prix. And after finding out that there was an intrinsic problem with the design of the engine, Ferrari applied to the governing body to be able to make some improvements to the power units on reliability grounds. The Maranello outfit was duly given approval and the modifications will be ready in time to be fitted to the F10 cars at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Although Ferrari has not outlined exactly what the issues were with the engine, they are believed to relate to air consumption, which could have been caused by leaking pneumatic valves. A statement by Ferrari said: “A lot of work was carried out on the test bench, completing several long runs and this work produced some solutions which it is felt will solve the reliability problems experienced in Bahrain and Malaysia. The team therefore requested and received authorisation from the FIA to make some changes within the framework of the current engine regulations and these modifications will be fitted to the engines to be used in Spain.

“While since China, everyone in the Gestione Sportiva has been Ferrari has been given the green light by the FIA to make modifications to its engine on reliability working hard as always on their various areas of activity, it is grounds following the problems it has had in the early stages of the season fair to say that over the past weeks, the staff in the engine department really produced a major effort, working night and day to analyse, evaluate and solve issues that have affected engine performance in past races.” The Spanish GP will also see Ferrari fit the full version of the F-Duct to both drivers’ cars for the first time in practice, although a decision about whether the concept ROBERT Kubica has warned ishes, I would have been more than more points than expected. will be used for qualifying and the race will only be made after “I think it’s been a very enhis Renault team must stay real- happy. However, at the same time the results of the Friday sessions are in. istic despite its strong start to the there has still been some frustration, couraging start to the year and 2010 season. Renault has man- especially in Shanghai where the we’ve definitely maximised all the aged 46 points in the first four safety car in the middle of the race opportunities that have come our races of the year, and is currently definitely cost me a podium. But way, which is very important,” he in fifth in the standings after some you have to accept that this is part said. “We know that our outright very promising performances, in- of racing. Sometimes the luck goes pace is still behind the four fastcluding a podium finish in Aus- your way and sometimes against est teams, but with our strategy tralia. But Kubica is aware the the you.” Chief race engineer Alan from the pit wall and the perforFrench squad will need a very big Permane also says the first part of mances of Robert and Vitaly, we the season has been positive, and have come away with more points step to be able to fight on top.

“The whole team is working admits the team has perhaps scored than we might have expected.” hard and it’s good that we’re making the most of our opportunities in the races,” said Kubica.

“But it’s important to remain realistic because we still need some big steps to be at the front of the grid and fighting consistently with Red Bull and McLaren in normal conditions.

The next race in Barcelona will be another big test for us because the return to Europe is usually a turning point in the season with many teams planning big upgrades to their cars. The Pole, however, insists there are a lot of reasons to be encouraged following the first races of the season.

“I think we should take a lot of positives from the first four races. If you had said to me at the start of the season, or even after Bahrain, that I would have scored Robert Kubica has warned his Renault team must stay real40 points and three top five fin- istic despite its strong start to the 2010 season

Kubica realistic on Renault’s chances