Edisi 21 januari 2010 | International Bali Post

Malaysia police arrest 8 over church arson attack

16 Pages Number 14 2nd Year

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Local fruits should be used for ritual ceremony PAGE 8

Celine Dion Named The Ultimate Performer Of The Last Decade PAGE 12

IBP/edi

Even tough the wind is very strong but the surfers still conduct activities on Kuta beach.

Rabies spread in Karangasem

Tenth of Patients didn’t get VAR Amlapura (Bali Post) –

The government officers seemed doesn’t care with the spread of rabies in Karangasem regency. They very busy in their political activities near the election which will be held in May 4th 2010.

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I Nyoman Oka Antara, a member of Karangasem House of Representative, said that poor people who suffer the most because of the rabies. At least 10 people had died

and the other effected by it.

Oka Antara said that during the budget meting, the house already prepared 300 million rupiah to handle the spread of rabies. How-

ever, the rabies didn’t decrease but spread all over the place.

“I wonder where the entire fund gone. It is very big fund and some of them also given by Bali Government,” he added. He is very worry because tenth of patients who wanted to get VAR injection in Karangasem hospital didn’t get it.

I Gede Parwata Yasa, the head of Karangasem Hospital said that the hospital has run out of VAR

since Tuesday, January 19th 2010.

Everyday approximately 70 people come to the hospital because of dog bites. “I already warned the government that there is a chance the number of patients requesting VAR increasing,” Parwata said. He also said that there is no use the VAR stock being increased by the government if the people keep bitten by dogs. So the government should also considering to handle the spread of wild dogs also.(013)

Denpasar House Rejects the STB Toll Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The discourse in connection with Serangan-Tanjung Benoa (STB) toll road again got a reaction from the Denpasar House.

Because, the road construction crossing the bridge over the sea of Benoa was considered to remove the source of income belonging to Denpasar City government, namely Benoa Harbor area that was beginning to be ogled by some investors.

In the view of member of Commission B of Denpasar House, I Ketut Resmiyasa, when met in his

office, last Tuesday (Jan 19), a lot of losses would afflict Denpasar City government if the project realized.

He said that Benoa Harbor activities would be hampered by the existence of the bridge across the driveway in front of the harbor. He said, if the bridge was built, his party believed cruise ships coming to Bali could not enter into Benoa Harbor. Not only cruises, ships with a high sailing pole would be unable to enter. “Definitely, this will prevent tourists from going to Bali,” he said.

This member of the House from Sesetan revealed, in addition to inhibiting the entry of large ships, a

number of investors who have started glancing Benoa development were ensured to delay their intention. “At the moment, there are investors looking at the area, because they considered it very strategic to develop a number of businesses,” he said.

However, Ketut Arya Saputra expressed different opinion. The member of the House from Serangan said that the concepts offered in the construction of Serangan-Tanjung Benoa could be passed through by large size ships. The issue then arose when more lands of BTID on Serangan Island would be used for

the roads. “BTID requested to use more land of the coastal area, not in the middle,” said Arya Saputra.

Resmiyasa judged, the road body to Tanjung Benoa would be better if going along with the coastal area of Benoa—Tanjung Benoa. Admittedly, the length of the road would be more than making a bridge over the sea. Moreover, the purpose of road making was to reduce traffic congestion in the area of Dewa Ruci roundabout. “There are many advantages if the road to Tanjung Benoa is built through the edge of coastal area,” said Resmiyasa. (kmb12)

2

International

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Bali News Diminishes, the Allocation of Teacher Certification for Bali

Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

In this budget year 2010, the number of teachers in Bali having the opportunity to follow the certification process will certainly fewer than in the previous years. For the 2010 quota, Bali is only allocated for 3,305 teachers out of 2,671 teachers of primary education (kindergarten, elementary and junior high school) and 634 teachers of secondary education (senior and vocational high school).

Meanwhile, in the last budget year 2009, Bali got allocation for 3,307 teachers and in 2008 amounted to 4,062 teachers. This means that the quota of teacher certification allocated by central government for Bali diminishes from year to year. The Head of Bali Education Quality Assurance Agency (LPMP Bali), Dr. I Wayan Sunata, accompanied by the Division Head of General Affairs, I Wayan Arnawa, said that matter, last Tuesday (Jan 19).

According to Sunata, the central government through budget implement document (DIPA) of LPMP Bali allocated at IDR 1.98 billion more to support the teacher certification program. Most of the funds would be distributed to the Workforce Training Agency (LPTK) which was believed to re-

view and assess the portfolio of the participant of teacher certification.

“The budget does not include the implementation of Educational Training for Teaching Profession (PLPG) for teacher certification participants that did not pass in the portfolio test. Total budget for the interest will be adjusted to the budget plan when the activity is held,” he said.

Sunata added that the allotment for 3,305 teachers would be distributed proportionally to the Educational, Youth and Sports Services (Disdikpora) of Regency/City across Bali. Of course, the regency/city with high teacher population would be given a greater share than other areas of lower teacher population. “For the purpose of the ration distribution, we will hold a special meeting with the

Disdikpora of Bali Province and Regency/City across Bali,” he said.

When contacted separately, the Organizing Coordinator of Teacher Certification Program of Region 21, Prof. Dr. Nyoman Sudiana, was ready to examine and assess the portfolio of thousands of participants of the teacher certification. For the interest, his party would involve at least 187 assessors consisting of lecturers with postgraduate academic qualification. In that way, the process of examination and portfolio assessment could be completed more quickly. “We hope that teachers getting the opportunity to follow the certification process in the 2010 budget year could take advantage of that opportunity as good as possible,” he said. (kmb13)

Injustice of UN Will be Brought to National Meeting Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The ranks of Indonesia Association of Teachers (PGRI) of Denpasar Branch remain unsatisfied with the decision of government that validates the National Examination (UN) as a condition of graduation. Moreover, for students of vocational high school that required to have skills will be harmed by the current UN format. To that end, the Head of PGRI Denpasar, Nengah Madiadnyana, would forward this injustice to the National Working Meeting (Congress) of PGRI in Kalimantan, January 22-25.

He considered the government was still covering up about the graduation of high school /vocational school and junior high school students today. The proof, there were minimal requirements with an average score of 5.5. In other words, it indicated another form of central government intervention on the rights of teacher board meeting to determine the graduation. Teacher board meeting would mean nothing if the score of the UN had been received

Police Set the Suspect in the Riot Case among Residents

by the school. Yet for vocational students, their pure score should be combined again with the score of the semester, and then divided.

Nengah Madiadnyana who is also the Head of SMK PGRI MKKS of Denpasar said his party would forward their voice in the Congress later to correct the UN and graduation formats.

Thus, the upcoming PGRI Congress would really give justice to the students.

Actually, he could agree with the UN format but without minimal requirements of the passing grade because the school-based quality improvement lay on the hands of schools and teacher board. The pure UN score could be used to measure the quality purely, not the result of engineering.

Among the subjects tested in the UN, a number of vocational students admitted most afraid of math. “Students feel strange, other than obliged to be ready to work with skills, on the other side we must pass the math national examination that we dislike,” said Made Nuratni, one of the vocational school

students.

The Headmaster of SMK PGRI Denpasar, I Ketut Suarya, claimed to remain worried if their students would fail in mathematics. In his perspective, the subjects like Bahasa Indonesia and English have been enough because his school belonged to vocational tourism school, but for the math was still doubtful. Moreover, he admitted that the students who attended vocational school consisted of those who were weak in mathematics. Probably, it could happen that students who tested their skills in Bali did not pass because of math.

Madiadyana, who is also the Headmaster of SMK PGRI 3 Denpasar, said that mathematics became a scourge for vocational high school students. “Most vocational students dislike mathematics, but others should be considered for student graduation. The key to their success, he said, should pass the test of pure productive subjects both in theory and practice. This is what I describe as injustice of the UN.” (025)

Gianyar Resort Police, last Tuesday (Jan 19), finally decided a suspect in the case of maltreatment that nearly led to clashes of a group of residents from Sengguan Kangin Hamlet with Lekok Hamlet, Gianyar, last Sunday (Jan 10). Determination of the suspect status was made after investigators of Gianyar Resort Police examined eight witnesses, including DS (Dewa Sui) from Lekok Hamlet becoming the injured victim due to the cutting down in the incident.

Chief of Gianyar Resort Police, Ketut Suardana, accompanied by Chief Unit of Detective Team of Gianyar Resort Police, Dewa Made Adnyana, confirmed that police had set one of the suspects in the clashes. Status of suspect was intended to AR (Alit Rama), a resident of Sengguan Kangin Hamlet.

At around 4:00 pm Local Time, AR becoming a suspect was immediately arrested, he said.

Determination of the suspect status by the police was based on examination done by investigators from a number of witnesses from both groups of residents. Of these witnesses clearly stated that the AR persecuted the victims. The suspect AR was ensnared by Article 351of the Penal Code regard-

ing to persecution. Meanwhile, in the cases of clash between the two groups, the police were still investigating and hearing the testimony from several witnesses, he explained.

As reported earlier, at around 7:45 pm Local Time, last Sunday (10), the frontier between the Sengguan Kangin Hamlet and Lekok Hamlet was in high tension caused by fighting of both groups originating from a misunderstanding. Because of the fight, DS was then hospitalized as afflicted an injury due to a cutting of a sharp weapon. Victim DS suffered from cutting injuries at shoulder to his chest, hands and rear hip.

Tensions of the two groups then continued on last Saturday (Jan 16) night. However, the problem was just triggered by the problem originating from a friction with a parking attendant named Bandem from Sengguan Kangin Hamlet with one of the people denoting a relative of the victim from of Lekok Hamlet. This problem again raised tensions by mobilizing residents of the two groups armed with swords, spears and air rifles. A truck of Mass Control Unit from Gianyar Resort Police was prepared at location to secure both territories. (kmb16)

Compound Wall of Beratan Temple Collapses Tabanan (Bali Post)—

Compound wall of Ulun Danu Beratan Temple collapsed, last Friday (Jan 15). Allegedly, the collapse of wall with the length of 20 meters was caused by the rains falling in succession, non-existence of adequate drainage and less strong foundations. The incident caused a loss of more than tens of millions of rupiah.

The authority of local tourism object, I Wayan Mustika, said to perform the improvements and ceremony would need a budget of approximately IDR 150 million.

He added the collapse of such wall compound did not disturb any tourism activities in the area, but caused a large enough loss.

Additionally, he said that the

continuous rain, less sturdy foundation and unavailability of drainage were alleged to become the cause such collapse. Mustika stated that his party has reported the incident to the Tabanan Public Works Services.

Within the past few days, the rain accompanied by strong wind made the Tabanan community aware. Although there have been no significant incidents due to the rain and wind, the condition caused a falling tree few days ago. Meanwhile, poor drainage in Tabanan city caused a flooding frequently. Heavy rains ensuing for a few hours could cause flood and made the city viler because rubbishes scattered around. (kmb14)

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, Martinaya, 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

Thursday, January 21, 2010

3

IBP/edi

During rainy season, the government conducted fogging regularly in order to prevent the spread of dengue fever

ATM Skimming Afflicts Denpasar Puts Ogoh-Ogoh into Competition Two Americans Encouraging the Creativity of the Young

Tens of Millions Vanished Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Theft action through ATM skimming was experienced by two Americans.

Their money worth tens of millions was totally taken out. This case of ATM fraud occurred in the Kuta police jurisdiction. Not only foreigners, some local residents equally become the victims.

Based on information collected, last Tuesday (Jan 19), two foreigners became the victims of ATM skimming were Robert Allan Nicksic, 53, an American with the address at Seminyak Asri Housing No. 41 Kuta, Seminyak and Richard Lewis Garrison, 62, a retired and American national living at Uma Alas Kauh No. 60, Kerobokan Kelod, North Kuta.

The victim Robert admitted of losing money in his ATM worth IDR 25 million, last Saturday (Jan 16). His loss of money was known only after the victim made transaction at the ATM BCA at Petrol Station located on Jalan Dewi Sri, Kuta, at 3:00 pm Local Time. Knowing this, the victim immediately reported the case to the Kuta police station.

Meanwhile, the victim Richard Lewis also admitted to experience the same case. His savings at the ATM was also known to disappear. A total amount of IDR18.5 million was known to vanish at an ATM BCA located on Jalan Laksmana, Kuta. After checking, in fact

his savings have been withdrawn by the thief for five times.

Chief of Kuta Sector Police, Dodi Prawira, when asked for his confirmation justified the action of ATM skimming. Until now, there have been dozens of victims reporting such cases.

Thus, his party would make coordination with Bali Police to ask for help, in this regard was the cyber-crime team.

On the other hand, the Spokesperson of Bali Police, Gde Sugianyar, stated, the cyber crime team of Bali Police would make coordination as well with related parties on responding to the rampant ATM fraud case. Of course, it would be prioritized and tracked whether it had caused any damage or misuse of PIN system because based on the reports, most victims claimed their money lost without a transaction. In fact, there was one victim claimed to lose money until reaching IDR 140 million. “Well, we will check this later. Of course, we will involve a team of cyber crime,” he explained. (kmb21)

To welcome the Caka New Year 1932, the Government of Denpasar City will organize an Ogoh-Ogoh competition among the Sekaa Taruna or customary village youth club across Denpasar City. Other than for ritual aspect, this competition will also become an arena of creativity for young people, especially Sekaa Taruna throughout Denpasar City.

This was conveyed by the Denpasar Mayor I B Rai D. Mantra in his speech before Sekaa Taruna of Denpasar City last Tuesday (Jan 19) at Praja Utama Room of Denpasar Mayor Office. Also present on that occasion was Rai Iswara, Regional Secretary of Denpasar City, Assistant II Edy Mulya, Division Head of Public Welfare, the Denpasar Customary Village Assembly and the Head of Denpasar Assembly of Cultural Advisory (Listibiya).

Rai Mantra further stated, the ogoh-ogoh of papier-mâché demon competition which in this year would be organized again denoted a form of government’s attention in responding to the development of creativity of the young, especially teenagers. For that purpose, his party should give more spaces to the young in order they could express theirs by pouring all the ideas and creativity. “This superior culture-based creativity has been showed off by those teenagers like in the event of kites competition, ogoh-ogoh, and traditional sports such as metajog (stilts), mecingklak, gale-gale and others. To me, they are very proud because in entering the competitive

world today, identity has a very important meaning,” he asserted.

For that purpose, Rai Mantra as a populist figure placed huge expectations to the customary youth clubs in order they could spread the creativity to the wider general public while inviting them to be always creative with a variety of innovative design and the mayor was ready to facilitate. In the ogoh-ogoh competition, the Mayor delivered a financial development fund worth IDR 3.5 million to each youth club making the ogoh-ogoh.

In the meantime, the Head of Denpasar Assembly of Customary Village, Made Karim, in his presentation explained more about the role of youth club. He stated that youth club played strategic roles and functions in societal life. According to him, youth club was the children of hamlet that would resume the devotional services of their parents and became inheritors of local culture.

Afterward, Komang Astita, the Head of Denpasar Assembly of Cultural Advisory, explained more about technical matters of the competition. According to him, the assessment would be divided into two stages namely for the level of subdistrict for three winners and later on those winners would be assessed at Catur Muka statue (the heart of Denpasar).

He also added that the competition once becoming stagnant denoted an arena of art and cultural creativity in combination with the religious activities.

4

News

Thursday, January 21, 2010

International

SKorean minister: Hit North first if threatened AP

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s defense chief called Wednesday for a pre-emptive strike on North Korea if there is a clear indication the country is preparing a nuclear attack.

AP

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2009 file photo, Zhang Yuewei, girlfriend of Chinese dissident Zhou Yongjun

9 year sentence for exChina democracy leader AP

BEIJING – A former Chinese democracy movement leader who was handed over to mainland China from Hong Kong — some say illegally — has been sentenced to nine years in prison on the charge of attempted fraud, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Zhou Yongjun was sentenced last Friday in the southwestern city of Shehong after an initial hearing on Nov. 19, Chen Zerui told The Associated Press. He was also fined 80,000 yuan ($11,700), but planned to appeal his conviction, Chen said.

A duty officer reached by phone at the court confirmed Zhou’s conviction, but said he had no knowledge of the sentence or other details.

Zhou captured global attention in 1989 by kneeling on the steps of the Great Hall of the People beside Tiananmen Square in a plea for China’s communist leaders to acknowledge student calls for political reforms and an end to corruption.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people are believed to have been killed in the army’s crackdown on the demonstrations. Many veterans of the movement who were not exiled continue to suffer government harassment. Zhou had been living in the United States since smuggling himself out of China in 1993, but was arrested in August 2008 while attempting to enter Hong Kong on a phony Malaysian passport bearing the name Wang Xingxiang.

Supporters say he was planning on returning to mainland China to visit his elderly parents and accuse Hong Kong’s government of violating its own laws in sending him to the mainland.

Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997 but maintains its British colonial era legal system and lacks a deportation and removal treaty with mainland China. Details of the charges against Zhou remain murky, as is common in China’s opaque legal system.

The comments, made as the two sides held a second day of talks on further developing their joint industrial complex in the North, were likely to draw an angry reaction from Pyongyang, which recently issued its own threat to break off dialogue with Seoul and attack.

South Korea should “immediately launch a strike” on the North if there is a clear intention of a pending nuclear attack, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said at a seminar in Seoul.

Kim made similar remarks in 2008 when he was chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, prompting North Korea to threaten to destroy the South. The North, which conducted underground nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, claims its nuclear weapons are not for use against South Korea but are a security guarantee against what it calls U.S. hostility.

Despite the rhetoric, officials held follow-up discussions Wednesday on the industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry. It did not provide further details.

The South Korean delegation was scheduled to return home later Wednesday, Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said. On Tuesday, the two sides met for nearly four hours to assess a joint tour of industrial parks in China and Vietnam undertaken in December.

Kaesong, which combines South Korean capital and technology with cheap North Korean labor, is the most prominent symbol of cooperation between the two countries still technically at war. About 110 South Korean factories employ some 42,000 North Korean workers.

The complex came under a cloud in late 2008, however, when North Korea tightened restricAFP/File tions on border crossings amid growing tensions A North Korean border guard takes pictures at the truce between the two countries. village of Panmunjom

Grisly massacre footage shown at Philippine trial AFP

AFP

Philippine politician Andal Ampatuan Jnr, the prime suspect in the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao

MANILA (AFP) – A Philippine politician accused of massacring 57 people displayed no emotion Wednesday as grisly footage was shown in court of the victims’ mangled and bloodied bodies being pulled from mass graves.

The video clips were part of evidence introduced by prosecutors against Andal Ampatuan Jnr, who is charged with murder over the election-related killings in the southern province of Maguindanao in November.

“What they did was too brutal. It was worse than demonic,” said Emmy Intia, a coordinator with Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, who was one of several people who left the court after finding the footage unbearable.

Filmed by a local government employee who accompanied police as they retrieved the victims from the mass graves in the two days after the murders, the video showed bloodied bodies, some of which were already decomposing.

While the case has attracted global publicity and dominated local media, it was the first opportunity for many people linked to the case to see the 180 minutes of footage of the bodies being hauled out of the mass graves.

As the footage was shown, a sister of one of the female victims broke down and had to be helped out of the courtroom.

A male lawyer representing the victims also rushed out of the silent courtroom, covering his mouth as he headed for the bathroom to vomit.

However, Ampatuan Jnr, who has pleaded not guilty, had no visible reaction.

Sitting in a lavender shirt and flanked by security escorts and lawyers, Ampatuan Jnr watched the footage impassively as body after body was dug up from the earth.

At one point he casually applied liniment to his neck while stifling a yawn.

“He looked bored. It was like the most ordinary thing to watch,” Lilian de Lima, head of the government’s Commission on Human Rights, who was in the courtroom, told reporters.

Prosecutors allege Ampatuan Jnr and about 100 of his gunmen abducted and shot dead the victims to stop a rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, from running against him for the post of Maguindanao governor in May elections.

Mangudadatu’s wife and pregnant sister, as well as at least 30 journalists travelling with them, were among the 57 killed.

Mangudadatu had sent his relatives to an election office to register his candidacy.

Police have said Ampatuan Jnr’s father and namesake, the patriarch of the clan, who was then governor of Maguindanao, should also be charged over the killings.

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

General Info

Thursday, January 21, 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, January 21, 2010

News 8 dead in Va. shootings; police corner suspect AP

AFP/File –

Malaysian Muslim volunteers stand guard outside St. James Church in Kuala Lumpur on Jaunary 12.

Malaysia police arrest 8 over church arson attack AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysian police Wednesday announced the arrest of eight Muslim men who allegedly attacked a Christian church with a firebomb — the first suspects in a spate of assaults on churches after a court ruled that non-Muslims could use the word “Allah” to refer to God. The unprecedented attacks on 11 churches and a Sikh temple were apparently sparked by a Dec. 31 court verdict that upset many ethnic Malay Muslims who insist that letting Christians use “Allah” in their Malay-language publications could confuse some Muslims and entice them to convert.

The dispute has strained ties between Malays, who make up nearly two-thirds of Malaysia’s 28 million people, and religious minorities, mainly ethnic Chinese and Indians who practice Buddhism, Christianity or Hinduism. Minority communities often complain about what they believe is institutionalized religious discrimination.

Authorities detained eight suspects since Tuesday in connection to a Jan. 8 attack on Kuala Lumpur’s Metro Tabernacle Church, which had its office gutted by fire, said Bakri Zinin, the federal police chief of criminal investigations. It was the first and most serious of all the attacks on churches.

“We believe that we solved this case,” Bakri told a news conference.

The suspects were all Malays from 21 to 26 years old, according to a police statement. Police tracked them down after one of them sought treatment at a hospital for burn injuries, Bakri said.

They could be charged with “mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy” a place of worship, which is punishable by a maximum 20-year prison sentence and a fine. Police have obtained a court order to detain the men for at least a week pending further investigation.

A Metro Tabernacle Church official, Peter Yeow, praised police for the breakthrough.

“Right from the word ‘go,’ the authorities have been doing their job quite well,” Yeow said. “We have put the event behind us. We are concentrating on going on with our lives.”

The disquiet centers on a court ruling in which the Herald, the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia, argued it has the right to use the word “Allah” in its Malay-language edition because the word predates Islam and is commonly used by Christians in other predominantly Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Indonesia and Syria.

The verdict overturned a years-old government ban on the use of the word in nonMuslim publications.

The government has appealed the decision while also condemning the church attacks and pledging to uphold freedom of religion guaranteed to minorities by the constitution.

Among the attacks in various Malaysian states, eight churches were firebombed, two were splashed with paint, one had its window broken, while a Sikh temple was pelted with stones, apparently because Sikhs use “Allah” in their scriptures.

Suspected vandals threw a rum bottle at a mosque last weekend in the first attack on a Muslim house of worship.

The controversy has reinforced concerns that the country is coming under the influence of hard-line Islam.

Minorities have complained of difficulties in obtaining approval to build new churches and temples. Last year, dozens of Muslims paraded with the bloodied head of a cow, a sacred animal in Hinduism, to protest the proposed relocation of a Hindu temple in their neighborhood.

APPOMATTOX, Va. – Police early Wednesday swarmed the woods and cornered a man who they said shot and killed eight people and fired on a state police helicopter that was searching for him, rupturing its fuel tank.

Officers manned a road block along a pitch-dark, narrow, undivided country lane in central Virginia where police believed Christopher Speight, 39, was hiding. On Tuesday, police found three bodies inside a home on the road, with four other victims lying just outside.

The drama began to unfold around noon Tuesday when an eighth victim was spotted barely alive along the side of the road. A deputy who answered the emergency call heard more gunshots and soon the area just about 3 miles from the state police district headquarters was filled with law enforcement from all over, with more than 100 responding. The injured man died on the way to the hospital, said state police Sgt. Thomas Molnar.

Police with dogs and heat-sensing equipment from a National Guard helicopter planned to hunt through the night.

“They ... will continue until the suspect is apprehended,” Molnar said.

Earlier, as teams swarmed trying to catch the gunman, he fired at the helicopter trying to flush him out, police said. One or more rounds struck the helicopter, forcing it down, but no police were injured.

Police refused to speculate on a motive and would not say what type of weapon was used.

Molnar also gave no background on the suspect, saying not much was known about him. Speight’s last known address was along the block lined with modest ranch and Cape Cod-style homes where the shootings occurred, but Molnar did not know if the suspect was still living there.

Police did not release the victims’ names or the suspect’s possible relationship to them. All the victims were adults and both men and women were

killed, Molnar said.

He would not say if all the victims were shot at the home where most of the bodies were found. He also would not say whether the shootings happened at Speight’s address or another house.

A Google map search shows the area of the shootings was thick with trees, sometimes giving way to large clearings, which look to be farm fields.

Buildings were spread out along the mostly flat area.

Molnar said police believe Speight was still within the perimeter they had set up to surround him, but would not say how large an area they were searching. Police said they are also looking for a car and a pickup truck that belonged to Speight.

Speight was not listed as an offender on the Virginia Department of Corrections Web site and a search for his name on the Appomattox County courts site came up with no matches.

Speight’s address was included in online real estate listings posted last year. They say the wooden house had three bedrooms and three bathrooms and sat on 34 acres. One online listing said homes in the area sell for about $189,000.

Appomattox is in a county of about 15,000 approximately 100 miles southwest of Richmond. It is best known as the place where Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to end the Civil War. After the shootings, authorities told nearby residents to stay inside and a small Christian school was locked down until state police could escort about 60 children from the building.

Resident Bethel Hawkins said police warned families to lock their doors in an area with many senior citizens.

“We’re just being cautious, keeping our doors locked, not going outside,” said Hawkins, who lives about 2 miles up the road from where the shootings occurred. “Our church service is supposed to be tonight, but we talked with our pastor and told him we’re not coming out. We’re not going out in the dark not knowing what’s out there. But we trust in the Lord to take care of us.”

Religious clashes kill 200 in Nigerian city Reuters

JOS, Nigeria (Reuters) – Clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs subsided on Wednesday in the Nigerian city of Jos, where rights activists said the death toll has topped 200, but sporadic gunfire could be heard in neighboring communities.

Hundreds of soldiers and police were stationed throughout Plateau state’s capital city in central Nigeria to enforce a 24-hour curfew, which has left many streets deserted and businesses closed.

U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said 151 bodies had been taken to the city’s mosque for burial since the violence started on Sunday, while the number of Christian dead was put at 65.

“The fighting has stopped in Jos, but we can hear gunshots in other communities in the outskirts of the city. We are expecting more corpses to be brought in from surrounding communities later today,” said Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a senior mosque official organizing mass burials, who estimated the death toll among Muslims at 155.

The official police figures were significantly lower with 20 people dead, 40 injured and 168 arrested since Sunday.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, in his first use of executive power, ordered troops to Jos on Tuesday to restore calm and prevent a repetition of clashes in November 2008, when hundreds of residents were killed in the country’s worst sectarian fighting in years.

It was not clear whether President Umaru Yar’Adua, who has been in hospital in Saudi Arabia for nearly two months, had been briefed on the situation.

This week’s violence erupted after an argument between Muslim and Christian neighbors over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes.

The fighting is unlikely to have a big impact on sub-Saharan Africa’s second biggest economy.

Its oil industry is in the south and its banking sector mainly in the commercial capital Lagos.

Burned BODIES

A Reuters correspondent saw three burned bodies lying on the streets in Jos and several buildings and cars destroyed by fire. Armoured vehicles and soldiers patrolled the city, while residents ventured outside with their arms held up to signal they were unarmed.

The city’s main hospital, Jos University Teaching Hospital, treated about 50 patients on Tuesday and was forced to turn away others. Two died from their injuries. “Ninety percent of the casualties were from gunshot injuries with a few from knives and bows and arrows,” said Dr. Dabit Joseph, who works at Jos University Teaching Hospital.

The Red Cross has 40 staff workers and several volunteers at seven centres in Jos to help thousands of displaced residents, an agency spokesman said.

Residents said most people were staying indoors because of rumors that some gangs were dressed up in fake military and police uniforms.

“Government has received with concern reports of men in fake security uniforms attacking unsuspecting citizens. Measures are being put in place to tackle this issue,” Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang said late Tuesday.

Nigeria has roughly equal numbers of Christians and Muslims, although traditional animist beliefs underpin many people’s faiths.

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, January 21, 2010

7

Indonesian minister warns of job losses over trade pact Agence France-Presse

AP Photo/Syaifullah

Sri Lankan asylum seekers sit inside a bus prior to their departure in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan island, Indonesia, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010. Sixteen Sri Lankan asylum seekers, the last batch of 78 ethnic Tamils rescued

by Australian Customs officials in October, have left for Australia and New Zealand for resettlement.

Sixteen Sri Lankan immigrants leave Tanjungpinang Antara

TANJUNGPINANG - Sixteen Sri Lankan immigrants left the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, Riau Islands Province, here on Wednesday morning, for Jakarta before proceeding to Australia and the Philippines.

They flew to Jakarta escorted by Indonesian foreign ministry and Australian embassy officials in Jakarta.

“They are the last batch of a total of 78 Sri Lankan immigrants who were accommodated at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center after they had to get off the Australian vessel Oceanic Viking,” Samsu Rizal, an Indonesian foreign ministry official, said here on Wednesday.

All of the Sri Lankan immigrants had met the conditions to be resettled in the third countries, he said.

“Three of them will be flown to Melbourne, Australia, and 13 others to

the Philippines from Jakarta,” Samsu Rizal said. The 13 immigrants headed to the Philippines still had to complete their travel documents, he said.

“One thing is clear: they are leaving Indonesia for third countries,” he said.

Previously, most Sri Lankan refugees stranded in Indonesia had been sent to Australia, the United States and Canada.

The refugees had earlier been nabbed by Australia’s customs patrol boat MV Oceanic Viking near Christmas Island, Australia. MV Oceanic Viking had later moored off

Cempedak Isle, Bintan District, Riau Island Province, with the 78 refugees on board.

At the request of the Australian government, they had been moved to the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, reportedly built with the financial assistance from Australia. In addition to the 16 Sri Lankans, the Indonesian government also deported a Thai fisherman, who had been detained at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center for poaching in Riau Island waters.

The Tanjungpinang immigration detention center is currently accommodating 105 immigrants.

“Of the total immigrants, 61 from Afghanistan, 15 from Thailand, one from Singapore, and 28 from Sri Lankan,” Sugiyo, head of the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, said.

Jojga walk heritage international to be held again Antara

JOGJAKARTA - The Jogjakarta Tourism Agency will this year again hold the Jogja Walk Heritage International. Head of the agency said here Tuesday that the event may be held around Prambanan Temple in Sleman regency and around Borobudur temple in Magelang regency, Central Java.

The two locations are still highly suitable for the international event, he said. He said the two temple areas are

very suitable for pedestrians, and the two temples had been declared by UNESCO as world heritage.

He also predicted that the number of participants in this year’s Jogja Walk Heritage International may be higher than last year’s. Since the event was first held in 2008, the number of participants reached 500, which increased to 1,000 in 2009.

“It is hoped the number of participants in this year’s Jogja Walk Heritage International would be many,

because they included those from China and Japan, as well as from Asean, Europe and America who are holidaying in Yogyakarta,” he said.

He said walking has become a hobby of many Japanese and Chinese. The secret is that by often walking, one would not only become physically healthy and fit, but also always think actively.

“Many Japanese and Chinese walk everyday as a routine and daily need,” he said.

JAKARTA - Indonesian economic ministers appeared split Wednesday over the impact of a regional free trade deal with China, as lawmakers sought answers over possible layoffs and factory shut-downs.

Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat told parliament he feared the free trade agreement between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which took full effect on January 1, could lead to job losses.

He said the “most serious impact” would fall on the steel, textile, unorganic chemical, furniture and energy-saving lamp industries, and called for the pact to be renegotiated to shield such sectors from Chinese competition.

“If there aren’t any protective steps taken for these industries we’re afraid that there will be ... layoffs and even the closure of those industries,” he said.

But in a sign of the tensions within the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Hidayat told reporters outside parliament he was “not allowed” to give estimates of potential job losses.

Meanwhile Trade Minister Mari Pangestu defended the deal, saying it was good news for Indonesian exporters to China and would bring badly needed foreign

direct investment from Chinese firms.

Pangestu and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa have said Indonesia is committed to abiding by its international agreements under the ASEAN-China FTA. But the trade minister has also indicated Jakarta is quietly trying to renegotiate key elements of the deal, and has talked about holding “informal discussions” with ASEAN over Indonesia’s concerns.

The industry ministry backs submitting a formal request to ASEAN and China for a delay to full liberalisation on 228 tariff lines for another two years.

ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuwan told reporters in Vietnam last week that Indonesia had expressed “difficulties” but there had been “no appeal for any change or any renegotiation” of the pact.

The ASEAN-China FTA establishes the world’s largest free trade area by population and has been under negotiation since 2002.

Under the pact, China and the six founding ASEAN states — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand — agreed to eliminate barriers to investment and tariffs on 90 percent of products by January 1, 2010.

Members that joined ASEAN later, including Vietnam and Cambodia, have until 2015 to follow.

WHO backs RI’s initiative to form influenza research center Antara

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed support for the Indonesian government’s initiative to set up a WHO collaborating center for research on influenza.

WHO Director General Margaret Chan unveiled the world body’s support at a recent meeting with Indonesian Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih on the sidelines of the 126th WHO executive board meeting, the Indonesian Representative Office in Geneva said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I support the Indonesian initiative to set up a WHO collaborating center for influenza in Indonesia and will lend help to realize the initiative,” the office quoted Margaret Chan as saying.

The support is of great significance to enable Indonesia and other developing nations to have adequate capacity to diag-

nose and conduct risk assessment of diseases which have the potentials to become a pandemic such as H5N1 and H1N1, the statement said.

The WHO director general also expressed support for the establishment of a WHO collaborating center for disaster management in Indonesia, it said.

To date, disaster management centers had been set up in nine areas in Indonesia.

Margaret Chan lauded Indonesia for its efforts to set up the disaster management centers, hoping they could serve as training centers for other countries.

While in Geneva, Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih also held meetings with her Indian and Brunei Darussalam counterparts to discuss efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in the health sector.

The WHO executive board is made up of 34 WHO member states including Indonesia.

8

Internationa

Thursday, January 21, 2009

Bali Today Strengthen the economic stability of the Balinese

Local fruits should be used for ritual ceremony Bali Post

DENPASAR - The glamorous ceremonies (yajña) in Bali, in fact, are most profitable for people of outside Bali because the fruits in use for the ceremonies are mostly imported from outside the region and overseas. This condition must be changed to strengthen the economic stability by making the local fruits of Bali as the main ingredients of the ceremony. For that purpose, the intellectuals and Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) needed to examine the possibility of bhisama (religious counsel) issuance so that the Hindu devotees in Bali had stronger faith to grow local fruits.

The view was expressed by a member of the Commission II of Bali House, Nyoman Sugawa Korry, last Tuesday (Jan 19) at Renon. This idea was backed by the overflow condition of local fruits at harvest, so prices dropped drastically. He mentioned that during a shortage of stock, the price of grape could reach IDR 5,000/kg. But in the current mass harvest its price dropped to IDR 800 per kg. Similar condition occurred to the price of snakefruit during its season reaching under IDR 1,000/ kg. However, beyond the season its price could reach over IDR 5,000/kg.

Another member of Commission II, Ketut Suania, also agreed to study on the ossibility in order PHDI could issue a bhisama obliging the Hindu devotees in Bali to use local fruits. The reason for using local fruits as ingredients of ritual was believed to have higher spiritual values as cultivated and produced on the

land of Bali by Balinese residents.

“Yajña or sacrifice denotes a manifestation of our sincere gratitude to God for the endowments of abundant fruits production. Such gratitude will increase when we use local fruits for the oblations,” he said.

Therefore, if Hindu devotees of Bali glances imported fruits or those from the outside the region for the ceremony it meant that they were grateful to have been using the fruit products of the outsiders.

The trend of Hindu devotees in Bali of using fruits from outside for their ceremony, he said, was merely driven by the intention to show off prestige. On that account, they were willing to pay more for imported fruits or fruits from outside Bali. Meanwhile, local fruits were abandoned because they were considered less prestigious and less attractive. Additionally, the continuity of these imported fruit productions was guaranteed. Against this problem, Sugawa Korry had confidence if the Balinese more glanced at the local fruits, it auto-

matically would drive more demands and the price would go up.

This condition would not only encourage farmers, but also stimulate researchers to conduct research in order to produce fruits all the year round. “If you get a good price I think the new technology and innovation will be adopted quickly,” he said.

In separate place, the Head of PHDI, Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said that it was unnecessary to issue a bhisama related to the proposal of using local fruits for the ceremony ingredients. He appreciated the suggestion of the House on how to empower the local economy through the use of the local fruits. But against this issue, he said it would be better if it would be entrusted to the Bali Agricultural Services to consider the technical cultivation in order its products could draw the attention of Hindu devotees, while its marketing could be entrusted to Bali Industry and Trade Services. (029)

http://www.rontravel.com

Balinese women holding high gebogan (fruits offering). The glamorous ceremonies (yajña) in Bali, in fact, are most profitable for people of outside Bali because the fruits in use for the ceremonies are mostly imported from outside the region and overseas. This condition must be changed to strengthen the economic stability by making the local fruits of Bali as the main ingredients of the ceremony.

Bali to become host of Asian belly dance festival IBP

DENPASAR - Bali will become the host of Asian belly dance festival that being held for four days starting from February 25 to 28, 2010. The venue of this festival is Ayodya Resort Bali that located at Nusa Dua, Bali.

According to Felix Rusli, Director Magnificent 9 Production that taking care this event, when it comes to art, culture, and dance, Bali seems to be a constant hub of activity and creative energy. ‘’As far as festivals and workshops go, where better that this rocking little island to set up camp,’’ stated Rusli in the release that receive by Inter-

Magnificent 9 Production

Bali will become the host of Asian belly dance festival that being held for four days starting from February 25 to 28, 2010. The venue of this festival is Ayodya Resort Bali that located at Nusa Dua, Bali.

national Bali Post on Wednesday.

Rusli added, with that in mind, the Belly Dance Festival Asia will be held on this Island of Gods, bringing the world of Middle Eastern Dance.

Besides the performance by the nights during the festival, Master instructors “Jilina” will teach by day. ‘’As a cultural exchange, some of our best local dancers will also be featured is Suzanna Hutabarat – Tibble from Hareem Queen Belly Dance Jakarta, showing her innovative approach to an ancient art form’’.

The release declared that 15 countries already support and registered on this event, the country is: Indonesia, Singapore, Philippine, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Africa, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan.

Asian Belly Dance Festival event highlight its Workshops, Woman’s Talk shows; Woman’s Food & Bazaar, Special Gala Dinner, and Asian Belly Dance Competition will all be part of the four day event held at Ayodya Hotels & Resort, along with other participating hotels and venues. (iah)

al

Thursday, January 21, 2009

Balinese Culture Debris and sand bar covered beaches amid rainy season Antara

KUTA – Debris and sand bar appear all over Kuta beach after big waves hit the beach. The garbage was pilling after the waves went far to the land. The similar condition was also seen in other beaches such as Sanur and Kedonganan.

While the sand was carry from the middle of the ocean by the waves. The garbage is not only plastic or house hold garbage but also woods, boards, and others. The locals think that the woods and boards

were the part of boats which belong to the fishermen.

The part of boats could have washed away during the poor weather condition. Fishermen often built their hut on the beach so it also could have been destroyed by the waves and the debris carried all the way to Kuta beach.

The garbage made the condition is very dirty and flies also wondering around the pile of dead fish. The poor condition made some tourists didn’t want to go to the beach. They were choosing to go to other tourist

site in Bali.

Some local fishermen said that actually is not as big as the one three years ago. The current waves didn’t destroy as much boats as the one three years ago.

The big waves which happened in Mei 2007 destroyed at least 20 boats in Kedonganan area, Badung. Cafes, house, and part of Kedonganan harbor was destroyed during the big waves.

The harbor was destroyed almost 50 meters. The harbor was used by the US-Navy ship during their visit in Bali in 2003.

Development of Tourism facilities is needed Antara

DENPASAR – The tourism businessmen in Bali should take parting increasing the facilities in Bali in order to accommodate more than 2.2 million tourists. Herdy D Sayoga, the manager of Bali Village, said “the opportunity must be taken into consideration especially Malaysia received travel warning

from US government.”

There is a chance that the tourists who wanted to visit Malaysia can redirect their trip to Indonesia. “This is a golden opportunity for us to increase the number of tourists visited Bali,” he added.

Indonesia also had been receiving travel warning from US and other countries. The warning was given several times during security disturbances

such as bomb explosion.

Herdy said “the warning is given to the people who wanted to enter Indonesia but most of them keep coming to the country especially Bali.” He said that tourism industry must take advantage of the opportunity.

“We hope that the industry will develop higher than last year of course if the security condition can be maintained,” he added.

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.

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

Indonesian Coconut Beef Ingredients * 1 1/2 lb Boneless sirloin steak, -trimmed * 3 tb Corn oil * 1 lg Spanish onion, sliced * 1 Garlic clove, crushed * 1 ts Ground ginger * 1 ts Ground cumin * 1 ts Ground coriander * 1 ts Chili seasoning * 2/3 c Shredded coconut * 2 ts Light-brown sugar * 1 tb Lemon juice * 1 1/4 c Beef stock * Thin slivers red bell pepper * Chopped green chilies * Small onion slices

Directions Cut steak in 1/2" thick strips.

Heat oil in a saucepan. Add Spanish onion slices and garlic and fry gently until soft. Add beef and fry, stirring, until brown.

Add spices to beef and cook 2 minutes. Add coconut, brown sugar, lemon juice and beef stock; stir well.

Simmer gently, uncovered, 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until mixture is thickened and dry. Stir mixture more frequently towards end of cooking time to prevent sticking. Garnish with slivers of bell pepper, green chilies and small slices onion.

NOTE: If you prefer a more moist mixture, cook 20-25 minutes instead of 30-35 minutes. (http:// asiarecipe.com)

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10

Destinations

Thursday, January 21, 2010

International

Celuk Village CELUK Village is the famous village in Bali as a tourist destination cause of the local residents is very proactive and full of innovation to the gold and silver crafting. This countryside is located in sub district of Sukawati, Gianyar Regency and owns the individuality and excellence in production of gold and silver crafting. Most of them are Balinese professional, artistic and skillful of design development related to the silver and gold crafting.

The productions of gold and silver at this village have penetrated to the local, national and international market. It can be measured from the type of artwork result and variation of ornament, good as present and also export commodity.

The type of gold and silver craft has been produced in this countryside are covering various of rings, bangles, chokers, earrings, mother of pearls, Tusuk Konde, broach and other types. Beside of that, Celuk’s

International Bali Post Classifieds Contact us

THE CCTV SYSTEM TOTAL SOLUTION

workers are able to response the market demands and produce the modern product like medal, maket and culture symbol. In spanning of artistic growth history, the silver and gold crafting had been started by a group of family pertained by Clan Pande. From this family circle, the activity of gold and silver crafting has disseminated to entire society as a top profession which are previously as the farmer. In year 1970’s decades, it has been happened the change of countryside society culture significantly from agrarian society structure to industrial society structure of crafting. Even nowadays, some of them have jumped again to the economic structure of service by focusing in tourism industry. The change and jumping movement of these structures have brought the new positive impact for prosperity. Celuk Village, Kuta and Ubud are the prosperous countryside in Bali by the higher resident’s

income cause of tourism.

Location

Celuk Village is strategically located in main road from Denpasar to Gianyar regency which is about 5 km from Denpasar town. The next door villages are Batubulan Village which is famous of Barong dance and stone carving, Singapadu Village with the art village equipped by places of recreation such as Bird Park and Bali Zoo Park, Batuan Village with the traditional painting, Guang village with the wood carving and Sukawati as a center of art market. Along way of Celuk Village about 2 km, we will find in the left and right side the various type of gold and silver shop which are opened to the domestic and international tourist. It is also inside of this village, we will find the activities and workshop of crafting which are ready to be ordered in small or huge number. (www.balistarisland.com)

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

11

BUSINESS IMF chief says Asia may need capital controls Agence France-Presse

HONG KONG - The IMF chief said Wednesday Asia may need to erect temporary capital controls, warning of the potential for new economic bubbles as speculative money floods into the region.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn said the global economy looked on course to beat the 3.1 percent growth forecast currently expected by the International Monetary Fund for 2010, as a post-crisis recovery accelerates.

Speaking in Hong Kong, the IMF managing director also reiterated his call for China to boost the value of its currency, the yuan, which critics say is kept artificially low to boost Chinese exports.

There is broad concern about the influx of foreign money pouring into Asia — which has sent property prices rocketing in Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China — as the region leads the recovery.

Strauss-Kahn said the cash flowing into Asia was in stark contrast to the global financial crisis when the fear was of money drying up.

“Understandably, however, policymakers in recipient countries are concerned now with how to manage these flows — their impact on exchange rates, domestic demand, financial stability — and the danger of asset bubbles,” he said.

Strauss-Kahn said options to discourage the inflow included cutting interest rates, accumulating reserves or tightening fiscal policy.

He added: “Capital controls can also play a role, particularly where the surge in capital flows is expected to be temporary, or where exchange rate overshooting is a real danger.

“As long as it’s temporary, it may be the only way” to ward off a bubble, Strauss-Kahn told the Asian Financial Forum, a gathering of political and business leaders.

And in a veiled comment on China, he said: “In many countries, exchange-rate appreciation should be the key response — especially in those where the exchange rate is undervalued.”

Malaysia was ridiculed by financial institutions and foreign governments in 1998 when it became the first crisis-hit Asian country to roll out capital controls to protect its financial markets and collapsing currency.

But the measures, including pegging the ringgit to the dollar and barring investors from taking money out of Malaysia, were later hailed by the IMF and other free-market proponents as an effective tool against speculation.

Economies worldwide went into a tailspin in late 2008 when credit dried up due

China to rein in bank loans Agence France-Presse

HONG KONG - China will rein in credit after explosive growth last year but has no plans to stop banks lending, a top regulator said Wednesday as the nation vies to cool its redhot economy.

Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, said new bank loans this year would fall to about 7.5 trillion yuan (1.1 trillion US dollars) from about 9.5 trillion yuan in 2009.

“This year, we will continue to control the pace of the credit supply,” Liu told the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong.

But the watchdog’s chief denied a report that it had asked several banks to stop extending new loans for the rest of this month.

Chinese state media had reported that major banks received verbal orders from authorities to stop lending for the rest of January.

“I’ve made it very clear about bank lending. We have never asked the banks to stop lending,” he told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of the forum.

Liu also told the conference that China’s banking sector has undergone “substantial and qualitative changes over the last few years.”

His comments come after China’s central bank moved earlier this month to hike the minimum amount of money that banks must keep in reserve.

Analysts have said the policy was likely a response to concerns about asset bubbles, bad loans and an overheating economy.

Beijing is also expected to raise interest rates and let the yuan, which has been effectively pegged to the US dollar since mid-2008, appreciate in value as critics accuse China of keeping the currency artificially low.

In the past year China adopted what it called a “moderately loose” monetary policy and embarked on an unprecedented four-trillion-yuan (586-billion-dollar) spending spree to keep the economy growing amid the global downturn.

It also urged banks to pump up lending, but after the amount of new loans subsequently surged, the government in recent months reversed course and called for “reasonable” lending as inflation fears rose.

Bank of England governor calls for G20, IMF to join forces Agence France-Presse

AP Photo/Kiyoshi Ota, Pool

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn largely to the collapse of a US property bubble.

But Strauss-Kahn said some emerging economies could begin exiting stimulus programmes sooner than rich countries, with world growth likely to outstrip the IMF’s forecast figure of 3.1 percent this year.

Excluding Japan, Asia may expand by more than seven percent, the IMF boss said.

He again dismissed fears of a “doubledip” recession for the world economy, but said the pace of recovery had been uneven with Asia bouncing back faster than the rest of the world.

The region must also look at boosting domestic demand to cut its reliance on foreign consumers, especially in the hard-hit United States, he said.

Strauss-Kahn said world leaders should press on with financial reforms to prevent a repeat of last year’s credit crisis, including better regulation and oversight of the banking sector.

“We need reform and we need political will,” he said.

“There is still a lot to do... My concern is that in six to 12 months, everybody will be back to business as usual and will have forgotten the lessons of the financial crisis.”

LONDON - The governor of the Bank of England called Tuesday for a radical overhaul of the system of global financial governance in a bid to prevent a repeat of the firestorm that tore the world economy apart.

Mervyn King proposed the Group of 20 industrialised nations should join forces with the International Monetary Fund to stop imbalances developing in the world economy.

Such a system of oversight was needed to cope with the entry into the system of fast emerging economies such as China and India, he said.

“The legitimacy and leadership of the G20 would be enhanced if it were seen as representing views of other countries too,” King said in a speech at the University of Exeter, southwest England.

“That could be achieved if the G20 were to metamorphose into a Governing Council for the IMF, and at the same time acquire a procedure for voting on decisions.”

A new system must seek to ensure countries coordinate economic policy so unsustainable imbalances do not emerge, King said.

These imbalances saw emerging giants such as China storing up huge savings in the form of currency reserves, while developed countries such as the US became consumers, often of Asian exports, and dug themselves into huge debt.

“The pattern of poor countries saving a lot and rich countries borrowing was not sustainable,” King said.

He highlighted that China was currently holding reserves of more than two trillion dollars (1.2 trillion pounds, 1.4 trillion euros) and Japan one trillion dollars.

The creation of a new system to deal with the issue was “urgent”, King said, warning that: “Having narrowed somewhat at the height of the crisis, the imbalances are now widening again.”

The governor further said the G20’s credibility could be damaged if it came to be viewed as a mere talking shop.

“So far the only specific agreement is to talk to each other,” he said.

“Concrete steps to reduce the scale of global imbalances have, to date, been notable by their absence.

“Smiling family photographs marking the attendance at international gatherings are no substitute for specific actions.”

King also warned of a “long period of healing ahead” for the global economy. In Britain, living standards would be hit as inflation rose, he said.

“There is little scope for growth in real take-home pay, which may remain weak as output recovers,” he said.

His comments came on the same day it emerged inflation in Britain had risen at a record rate to hit 2.9 percent in December.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Entertainment

International

Celine Dion Named The Ultimate Performer Of The Last Decade Springsteen, Jay-Z, Urban join Haiti telethon THE music world’s top stars are signing on for Friday’s “Hope for Haiti” telethon. Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban and Alicia Keys are just a few of the performers who will be featured, according to MTV Networks, an integral partner in the two-hour event.

Haiti was devastated and thousands of its citizens killed when an earthquake hit the Caribbean nation last week. “Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” will be an international event.

Haitian native Wyclef Jean will anchor the show from New York, while George Clooney will do so from Los Angeles. CNN’s Anderson Cooper will report from Haiti.

London has also been added to the lineup, and that’s where JayZ will perform, along with Bono, The Edge and Rihanna in a special joint performance. Coldplay is also to perform from London. In New York, Springsteen will per-

form, along with Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Jean and Sting. In Los Angeles, Swift is to perform, and Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow plan a collaboration.

Also performing in Los Angeles is Timberlake, Dave Matthews, John Legend, and Stevie Wonder.

People can purchase the night’s performances for 99 cents each through iTunes starting Saturday. A statement released Tuesday says all proceeds will go to Haiti relief. The “Hope for Haiti” benefit will be broadcast from New York, Los Angeles, London and Haiti. It will be televised on all the major networks at 8 p.m. EST, as well as MTV, VH1, CMT, BET, PBS, CNN, Bravo, and a host of other networks. In addition, the telethon will be streamed live on Web sites including YouTube, MySpace and AOL. The funds raised from the telethon will be donated to several relief organizations, including UNICEF, Oxfam America and Partners in Health.

CELINE Dion has emerged as the new century’s top performer after beating Kenny Chesney and the Dave Matthews Band to the top of America’s Ultimate Top 10 list. Created by combining artists’ album sales revenue with their concert ticket sales, the top 10 is an annual list of money-spinning singers and rockers - and Dion’s consistent success from 2000 to the end of 2009 have put her at the top of the new decade countdown.

The position is largely due to her five-year engagement at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where she performed her A New Day concert in front of sold-out audiences. According to compilers Pollstar, Dion pulled in $522.2 million in concert ticket sales during the decade and added $225.7 million in album sales, taking her 10-year tally to $747.9 million - $5 million more than second-placed Chesney.

Dave Matthews Band finished third on the list, while The Beatles came in fourth and U2 rounded out the top five. Also making the top 10 were Toby Keith, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Tim McGraw and Britney Spears.

Emmanuelle Chriqui Named AskMen.com’s Sienna Miller Is Latest Most Desirable Woman of 2010 Catwoman Wannabe

WANNABE Sienna Miller has become the latest star to covet the role of comic book villain Catwoman - the British actress would “love” to play the feline femme fatale in a new Batman

movie.

Movie bosses are currently making plans for the next installment in the superhero franchise, a followup to 2008 blockbuster The Dark Knight. And producers are rumored to be in talks to bring back Catwoman for the new film, the character played by Michelle Pfeiffer in 1992’s Batman Returns and again by Halle Berry in a 2004 spin-off from the Caped Crusader movies.

Stars including Charlize Theron and Kate Beckinsale have already voiced their interest in taking on the role, and now Miller has become the latest actress to add her name to the list of Catwoman wannabes.

She tells Britain’s OK! magazine, “Catwoman. I actually love Catwoman. I just think the idea of being half-cat and half-woman is a great kind of villain-esque persona.

It’s the age-old thing of a femme fatale.”

AFTER more than 6 million votes were cast, film starlet Megan Fox fell short of securing a top 10 position in AskMen.com’s Top 99 Most Desirable Women 2010 ranking, while “Entourage” actress Emmanuelle Chriqui claimed the No. 1 position.

The Top 99 Most Desirable Women is decided by an annual poll in which AskMen.com readers are asked to consider more than instant sex appeal and cast their ballot for women who embody the traits that they desire most in a potential companion such as intelligence, humor, talent, and character. In 2009’s list, Eva Mendes took the No. 1 spot.

Rounding out the top three for 2010 are Victoria’s Secret model Marisa Miller and British actress Kate Beckinsale, respectively.

Readers can also view the full “Top 99 Most Desirable Women” list, including profiles of each honoree, at www.AskMen.com.

The top 99 most desirable women for 2010, in order, are: A raven-haired Canadian actress with a curiously mysterious history and a friendly smile,

Emmanuelle Chriqui has been working frequently in television since 1995. With roles in Steven Spielberg’s A.I. and alongside ‘N Sync singer Lance Bass in On the Line (both 2001), the fresh-faced actress gained increased exposure and notable momentum in her cinematic career.

Born in Montréal, Québec, Canada, in 1977, Chriqui began acting in commercials at the age of ten, later graduating to feature films with roles in Detroit Rock City (1999) and Snow Day (2000). Also turning up frequently in bit roles on television, Chriqui has shown increasing promise in a variety of diverse roles and projects. She appeared in the 2003 thriller Wrong Turn, and in 2005, she began a recurring role on the smash hit HBO series Entourage as Sloan. She’d stay with the series until 2007, while also appearing in films like In the Mix and After Sex. In 2008, she joined Josh Hartnett for the Wall Street drama August, and joined the cast of the Adam Sandler comedy You Don’t Mess with the Zohan. Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Life Style

International

Thursday, January 21, 2010

13

Poachers threaten Malaysia’s defence of tigers: WWF Agence France - Presse

KUALA LUMPUR – Conservationists called on Wednesday for a war on the poachers who are undermining Malaysia’s ambitious goal to double its population of wild tigers to 1,000. With 2010 declared the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese zodiac, experts fear there will be an upsurge in poaching of one of the world’s most endangered species.

“The demand (for tiger parts) has been strong. It will remain strong in the Year of the Tiger,” said Dinoysius Sharma, executive director of WWFMalaysia. “Prices may increase amid dwindling numbers in the wild, which makes it more lucrative to hunt for tigers,” he said. “Security should be beefed up for the tigers.” Sharma said that in the past year, 10 tigers have been taken by poachers from one of Malaysia’s main habitats, the BelumTemengor forest in northern Perak state.

“We have evidence of (poachers) living in the jungle for long period of times,” he said. Sharma said that in the last 12 months, 114 tiger traps have been destroyed and 10 poachers arrested in the Belum-Temengor forest.

Malaysia’s wild tigers are mostly found near the Malaysia-Thai border, but there are also some living in central Pahang state and as far south as Johor, which borders Singapore.

In 2008 Malaysia unveiled an am-

bitious “National Tiger Action Plan” aimed at doubling the number of wild tigers in peninsular Malaysia to 1,000 by 2020. In the 1950s, there were as many as 3,000 tigers in Malaysia but their numbers fell as the country opened up more land for agriculture. Elizabeth John, from TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, said poaching “is the most immediate and worst threat” to Malaysia’s wild tigers and that poachers are “well armed and well equipped”.

“Other threats include loss of habitat and prey,” she said, adding that areas close to the Thai border are “poaching hotspots.” Melvin Gumal, director for Malaysia’s Wildlife Conservation Society, said that tigers are killed by poachers for their skin, meat, claws and other body parts which are prizes for their supposed medicinal value. “Enforcement must be our priority to reach the ambitious target (of 1,000 tigers).

The target is achievable,” he said.

AFP/WWF/File

This handout photo from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Malaysia shows rescuers preparing to move an injured tiger in Malaysia’s north Perak state in October 2009. The tiger was badly injured in a snare set up by poachers. Conservationists have called for a war on the poachers who are undermining Malaysia’s ambitious goal to double its population of wild tigers to 1,000.

Sony to launch PS3 motion controller in autumn

Conjoined Arizona twins readying for separation

Sony said.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. chief Kazuo TOKYO – Sony said it would launch its new Hirai promised “an exciting and varied line-up” of “motion controller” for the PlayStation 3 video games to go with the controller, which will go on game console in late 2010, in a fresh challenge to sale this autumn in Japan, North America, Europe rival Nintendo’s hit Wii console. The controller, and other markets. Sony unveiled a lollipop-shaped along with a camera installed in the console, tracks prototype of the controller last year bearing simiplayers’ movements, which will be mimicked by larities to the hand-held controller developed by onscreen characters wielding anything from Nintendo.

Sony and Microsoft, maker of the Xbox, were swords to tennis racquets, guns and baseball bats, left badly trailing behind the Wii when it was first launched in 2006 with a motion-sensing controller that can simulate a gun, sword, golf club or orchestra baton. Now they are seeking to emulate the Wii’s success. Microsoft is expected to launch by the end of the year a technology that enables people to play videogames using natural body movements instead of hand-held controllers.

The “Natal” system uses a camera and voice and face recognition software to recognise people and their AFP/File/Philippe Lopez File photo shows a man trying a game on Sony’s Playstation 3 con- actions, allowing people to sole. Sony said it would launch its new “motion controller” for the play driving games by simPlayStation 3 video game console in late 2010, in a fresh challenge to ply moving their hands as if turning a car steering wheel. rival Nintendo’s hit Wii console.

Associated Press Writer

Agence France - Presse

MESA, Ariz. – Conjoined twins from Arizona have already defied medical expectations by living past their third birthdays. Now their parents hope the girls will become one of the first sets of twins sharing a heart to be successfully separated. Emma and Taylor Bailey, from the San Tan Valley area near Phoenix, were born connected at the chest, sharing a liver and a sevenchambered heart. Most hearts have four chambers.

Their parents, Mandy and Tor Bailey, weren’t expecting them to ever leave the hospital. Emma and Taylor exceeded expectations but now have heart failure. And their parents know the girls must be surgically separated to survive in the long term. The Baileys have been working with a team at Seattle Children’s Hospital for about two years to prepare.

The family said a medical team at the Seattle hospital has successfully separated twins before and is confident it can save both girls, even though it has never separated twins with a shared heart. The girls had two preliminary surgeries and have a few more to go before they’ll be ready for separation and heart transplants. The family hopes

all the preliminary procedures will be done by the end of this year.

“It feels like we were intended to go this direction,” Mandy Bailey told the East Valley Tribune newspaper. “We don’t feel unnerved about it. We certainly understand the risks. We also understand the outcome if we don’t do anything.” The Baileys’ story has drawn an outpouring of support. The family is gearing up for its second annual fun run fundraiser on Feb. 13. Last year’s event attracted 1,000 runners and 5,000 people who attended an accompanying festival with food booths and other activities.

The family will eventually move to the Seattle area to be near the hospital.

But for now, Mandy Bailey travels with the girls when they have a surgery or need to visit the medical team. The most recent visit was a surgery shortly before Thanksgiving. The procedure went well, but there was an added complication when the twins got swine flu. What was expected to be a 10-day hospital stay turned into three weeks, Mandy Bailey said. The girls were sedated during the worst of the flu and got home a few days after Thanksgiving, in time for a turkey dinner. Mandy Bailey said the hospital visits have become “just kind of a normal routine” for her family. “It’s just part of our life right now,” she said.

14

Sport

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Lukas Lacko of Slovakia during the men’s singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday Jan. 20, 2010.

(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Nadal finding form in Melbourne, Roddick fumes Reuters -

MELBOURNE - Rafa Nadal dispelled any concerns over his fitness and form at the Australian Open with an impressive second-round win over Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko on Wednesday.

The Spaniard has been plagued by injuries and poor form since winning in Melbourne last year but showed he was starting to get back to his best with an effortless 6-2 6-2 6-2 win.

Nadal has beaten plenty of more accomplished players than Lacko and knows he will have to play even better if he hopes to defend his title but was unable to conceal his excitement. “I think I did well, no?,” he told reporters. “I think I played right way. Very good match, yeah.” Kim Clijsters and Svetlana Kuznetsova also flexed their muscles to charge into the third round of the first grand slam of the year.

Clijsters was given a solid workout from Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn but was able to raise her game whenever necessary in a 6-3 6-3 victory. Kuznetsova overcame a minor hiccup with her serve to beat fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-2 and remain on course for a tantalising fourthround meeting with Clijsters. “I feel like I’m good enough on the day to beat my opponents,” Clijsters said.

“It’s not my best tennis yet, but hopefully I can save that when it’s really necessary.”

Clijsters’ next opponent is Russian Nadia Petrova while Kuznetsova faces Germany’s Angelique Kerber. “I just get extra motivation when I play slams,” said Kuznetsova, who won last year’s French Open. “This is for real. This is for what you play for.” Andy Roddick eased to a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci but the match ended on a sour note when the American argued with the chair umpire over a line call in the final game, risking the possibility of a fine for foul language.

“I don’t do it for entertainment. I do it because I strongly believe what I feel,” Roddick later explained. “I think if I believe in something strongly enough, I’m pretty outspoken about it.”

Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, the 2007 Australian Open finalist, cruised through after beating Turkey’s Marsel

Ilhan 6-3 6-4 7-5 and could face Roddick in the fourth round. There were no major surprises in the women’s matches with last year’s Australian Open runner-up Dinara Safina and U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki both advancing in straight sets.

Safina overcame a minor stumble when serving for the match in her 6-3 6-4 victory over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova while Wozniacki made a belated start to her campaign at Melbourne Park, defeating Aleksandra Wozniak in a first-round match that was shuffled back because of rain on the opening day.

The return of Clijsters and fellow Belgian Justine Henin has helped make this championship one of the most open in decades. Despite winning last year’s U.S. Open shortly after making her comeback, Clijsters is only ranked 15th in the world while Henin, who made her comeback this month, needed a wildcard to get into the event.

International

Clijsters cruises as leading ladies star in Melbourne Reuters -

MELBOURNE - Kim Clijsters and Svetlana Kuznetsova charged into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday as the first grand slam of the year started to heat up. Clijsters was given a solid workout from Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn but was able to raise her game whenever she needed to in a fairly routine 6-3 6-3 victory.

Kuznetsova also overcame a couple of minor hiccups with her serve to beat fellow Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-2 and remain on course for a tantalising fourth-round meeting with Clijsters. “I feel like I’m good enough on the day to beat my opponents,” Clijsters told reporters. “It’s not my best tennis yet, but hopefully I can save that when it’s really necessary.”

Clijsters’ next opponent is Russian Nadia Petrova while Kuznetsova faces Germany’s Angelique Kerber. “I just get extra motivation when I play slams,” said Kuznetsova, who won last year’s French Open. “This is for real. This is for what you play for.” The return of Clijsters and fellow Belgian Justine Henin has helped make this championship one of the most open

in decades.

Despite winning last year’s U.S. Open shortly after making her comeback, Clijsters is only ranked 15th in the world while Henin, who made her comeback this month, needed a wildcard to get into the event.

As the seedings are decided on current rankings, the draw appears lopsided with some of the leading contenders likely to face each other much earlier than usual. Clijsters, Kuznetsova, Henin, Elena Dementieva and Yanina Wickmayer are all in the same quarter of the draw with Henin and Dementieva meeting in the second round on Tuesday evening.

Caroline Wozniacki made a belated start to her campaign at Melbourne Park, defeating Canada’s Aleksandra Wozniak in a first-round match that was shuffled back because of rain on the opening day. The Dane, who was runner-up to Clijsters in New York last year, plays Germany’s Julia Goerges next. In the men’s draw, American Andy Roddick sailed through to the third round after a comfortable 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci. Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, the 2007 Australian Open finalist, also cruised through after beating Turkey’s Marsel Ilhan 6-3 6-4 7-5.

(AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Kim Clijsters of Belgium returns the ball to Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn during their Women’s singles match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday Jan. 20, 2010.

‘King’ James helps Cavaliers put Raptors to sword Reuters -

(AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) tries to get past Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND - LeBron James sparked the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 108-100 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. James narrowly missed a triple double with 28 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, while Mo Williams added 22 points and 10 assists as the Eastern Conference’s top team won for the fourth time in five games.

Cleveland (32-11) held a 9594 edge late in the fourth quarter before breaking away thanks to

Williams’ three-pointer and capped by a James dunk. James, the league’s reigning MVP, made four successive free throws in the final minute to clinch the win.

“They gave us a little trouble in the first half but we were able to slow that down (in the second half). We were a bit more physical on the defensive end,” James told reporters after finishing with three steals and three blocks.

Chris Bosh paced the Raptors with 21 points and 10 boards while Andrea Bargnani added 19 as the visitors fell to 21-21 on the

season.

Toronto opened the season with a win over Cleveland that dropped the Cavs to 0-2. Since then, Cleveland have hit their stride and taken over the East, while the Raptors are battling for a playoff position.

Cleveland’s Shaquille O’Neal had 16 points and surpassed the 28,000-points mark for his career, the fifth player to do so.

“The only fallback for me is that I missed like 5,000 free throws,” O’Neal said. “If I would have at least hit half of those, then I would be at 30,000 right now.”

Sport

International

Thursday, January 21, 2010

15

Tevez double gives Man City win over United Reuters -

LONDON - Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez scored twice against his former club Manchester United to give the home side a 2-1 victory in the first leg of an exciting League Cup semi-final at Eastlands on Tuesday. Tevez, who controversially joined City last year in a move that has heightened the rivalry between the two clubs, wiped out United’s early lead when he smashed home a 42nd minute penalty.

The Argentina forward headed their second goal against the holders after 65 minutes when he was left unmarked in United’s six-yard box with only goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar to beat. United went ahead after 17 minutes when City failed to deal with an Antonio Valencia cross leaving Ryan Giggs with a simple tap-in after City keeper Shay Given blocked a Wayne Rooney shot.

The first semi-final between the two Manchester clubs since 1969 will be decided in the second leg at Old Trafford next Wednesday with the winners meeting Aston Villa or Blackburn Rovers in the final at Wembley Stadium on Feb.28. Villa hold a 10 lead after the first leg at Blackburn.

United settled first at a sold-out Eastlands and took the lead after Patrice Evra picked out Valencia on the right. His low cross into the box found Wayne Rooney and although Given saved his shot the ball ran to Giggs, a former City youth player, who scored his first derby goal since 1996. United dominated much of the half after that but City, whose Italian manager Roberto Mancini was experiencing his first Manchester derby, equalised after a controversial call by referee Mike Dean.

United defender Rafael tugged at Craig Bellamy’s shirt outside the penalty area and, while the City forward tried to stay on his feet, he fell inside the box.

Dean ruled there was another foul inside the area but TV replays clearly showed there was not. Tevez ignored the pleas of his former team mates and the timedelaying tactics of Van der Sar, which earned the keeper a booking, to blast the penalty into the net.

With United personnel claiming in recent days that the club were right to let Tevez leave at the end of last season, the Argentine made a “whose talking now” gesture with his hand — and teased United again after his second goal.

That came when he made it 2-1 with his 13th goal in his last 11 games, taking advantage of some slack United defending to head in from close range.

He ran towards United’s bench, cupping his ears as if to ask what they were saying about him now. United attacked relentlessly for the equaliser for the remainder of the match with Rooney twice being thwarted

by Given and substitute Michael Owen having a shot saved on the line. Although the visitors failed to find another goal, the tie is still evenly balanced with next week’s second leg likely to be just as lively.

(AP Photo/Jon Super)

Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez, right, fights for the abll against Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney during their English League Cup soccer match at The City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England,Tuesday Jan. 19, 2010.

Beckham match was Wenger wants Arsenal to seize golden opportunity commercial risk, NZ watchdog says Agence France - Presse

Reuters -

WELLINGTON - An exhibition game involving David Beckham was a commercial risk that cost New Zealand taxpayers almost NZ$2 million ($1.46 million) according to the country’s chief watchdog over public expenditure. The England midfielder, one of the most marketable athletes in sports, turned out for his LA Galaxy side in a match in Auckland in December (AP Photo/Daniele Badlato) 2008 but less than 15,000 fans David Beckham turned out to watch.

Beckham and the Galaxy had played a similar match in Wellington in 2007 and almost sold out Westpac Stadium. The 2008 match was underwritten by the Auckland Regional Council, who asked the central government’s Auditor General to conduct a review of the event. The report by deputy controller and Auditor General Phillippa Smith was released on Wednesday.

“The decision to promote the LA Galaxy event was made without a formal business strategy or a clear policy about the level of commercial risk that the council was willing to assume,” Smith said.

“We conclude that, despite the efforts of the council officers involved, the loss occurred because the LA Galaxy/Oceania ‘All Stars’ match was in essence the wrong event, at the wrong time, for the wrong price.”

Council staff had budgeted for a break-even point at 25,000 tickets but the shortfall resulted in a loss of NZ$1.88m for the council and residents in New Zealand’s largest city. “The people (the council officials) talked to were optimistic about the likely attendance at an exhibition football match involving LA Galaxy and estimated an attendance of 30,000 to 40,000,” the report said.

Their optimism was based on Auckland’s larger population, local support for mega-sporting events and the celebrity pulling power of Beckham, the report said.

LONDON – Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal have a golden opportunity to underline their title credentials as they bid to go top of the Premier League with a twogoal victory over Bolton on Wednesday.

Wenger’s side defeated Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday and a repeat of that result in north London would be enough to send the Gunners above Chelsea and Manchester United into first place.

After being widely written off as alsorans in November when Chelsea’s 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium left Arsenal 11 points behind the leaders, there has been a significant change in fortunes for Wenger’s men. While Chelsea and United have squandered points in matches they were expected to win, Arsenal have been able to put together an impressive run and Wenger knows it is essential not to waste the chance to grab that coveted first place.

“It is important psychologically, not mathematically so much,” Wenger said.

“We have a good opportunity to do it so we have to focus. “When the season started, we were not all convinced in our squad maybe that we could be where we are now.

Now that we are there, we want to have a go.” Even if Arsenal do go top of the table, Chelsea will have a game in hand on their London rivals, so there is no chance of Wenger getting carried away.

But the French coach is convinced his young team are capable of lasting the distance in the title race as long as captain Cesc Fabregas remains fit and in form. Fabregas has been arguably the Premier League’s best midfielder this season and produced a majestic display against Bolton capped by his 10th league goal of the season and a major role in Arsenal’s second goal. Games against title rivals Chelsea and United are looming on the horizon for Arsenal, so Wenger is

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal have a golden opportunity to underline their title credentials as they bid to go top of the Premier League with a two-goal victory over Bolton on Wednesday

well aware of the importance of keeping Fabregas on his game.

“He looks like a real general in midfield now and, of course, that helps as we go into a period of important games,” Wenger said. “It was a test of character (at the Reebok Stadium) and they have shown plenty, which is very good news for us.

“Over the years our strength has increased and we showed we have matured, we know when to go for the fights and we know when to put the ball down. Without a doubt there is still more to come because we are a young team. We have a very tough run of games coming up but let’s be focused on the next one and keep it simple.”

With French winger Samir Nasri and young midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Fran Merida - who scored Arsenal’s second against Bolton - ruled out through injury, Wenger is relieved to welcome back Theo Walcott and Denilson. England forward Walcott has struggled to shake off a host of different injuries this season, but his return will add a much-needed injection of en-

ergy to an attack already missing Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner.

“They are available for Wednesday.

It is a big boost to have them back of course because they were out for a while and it gives us some fresh players as well,” Wenger said. Bolton’s new boss Owen Coyle would love to have players of Walcott’s calibre to bolster his squad as he tries to drag them away from the relegation zone. Coyle has had just 10 days to work with his players since arriving from Burnley as the replacement for Gary Megson, but he has already impressed the likes of captain Kevin Davies. “I have seen a big change in some of the players, from the lads who have been starting to those on the fringes and those training with the reserves,” Davies said. “I have been really impressed with the way the players have responded to him and I think that is a credit to him. Speaking to players individually they have been impressed with his man-management skills.”

16

Sport

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Piquet: I had F1 offer for 2010 NELSON Piquet claims he could have made a return to Formula 1 this year if he wanted, after revealing that he had a firm offer for a drive in 2010. The Brazilian, who was at the centre of the Renault race-fix controversy that marred the end of last season, is now chasing opportunities to race in NASCAR - having recently tested a Toyota Tundra truck.

Piquet is adamant that his move to NASCAR is not because he had no chance of getting back into F1 but was because he did not want to get involved in the politics that surround grand prix racing. “I could’ve been there (Formula 1) if I wanted to,” Piquet said. “A team offered me to be there. I just thought I was sick and tired of all of the stuff over there. I just took a decision of starting a new step in my career and a new challenge in coming to NASCAR.” “For a lot of people who are outside of America, it’s a downgrade.

But for people that really understand - maybe it’s a downgrade in technology of the car — but in terms of career, of how big the sport is in a lot of ways it’s even a tougher step than F1. For me, I compare it side by side. It’s just two different types of cars. The level of competition and

the seriousness and the business of both series are very, very high. I was just sick and tired of things over there. I got a very, very good opportunity over here to start my career here and I’m here.”

It is not clear which team made the offer to Piquet, but the Brazilian was strongly linked at one point with the new Campos Meta team - which has already signed his compatriot Bruno Senna for 2010. Piquet said many things factored in his decision to switch to NASCAR besides the professional opportunities he had available. He says he feels supported by good people in his new venture in the US, which is set to start next month at Daytona.

“I had to balance a lot of things,” Piquet said. “I had to balance my happiness. I had to balance my opportunities. I had to balance a lot of things

and I think the best thing that I came up with - that I thought would be better for me - was the NASCAR route. I think the biggest factor point is that I’m having a lot of people behind me helping me, wanting me to be here. A lot of people that I trust and I’m liking. So, all of that has been very good for me. I think that’s what has played a big factor into the decision.”

This week Piquet has had a seat fitting for his stock car debut and has spent time in the Red Horse Racing factory. He plans to make his NASCAR debut with the team in the Truck Series season-opener on February 12, but a deal has been in the works for him to enter the ARCA event at the same track a week earlier. Piquet will be the first Brazilian to compete in NASCAR after Chtistian Fittipaldi drove for Petty Enterprises at Charlotte in the Sprint Cup series in 2003.

Gresini signs Elias for Moto2 TONI Elias has completed a deal to lead Gresini’s assault on the new Moto2 championship. The Spaniard was dropped from the squad’s MotoGP arm this year along with erstwhile team-mate Alex de Angelis, as Gresini recruited Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli for 2010. But he will remain with the team for Moto2, riding a Moriwaki chassis alongside Russian Supersport graduate Vladimir Ivanov. Elias tested the Moriwaki for the company last November.

“I am very pleased to continue racing with Team Gresini because it is like a family to me,” said Elias, who first joined Gresini in MotoGP

Toni Elias has completed a deal to lead Gresini’s assault on the new Moto2 championship

in 2006, winning that year’s Portuguese Grand Prix. He moved to Pramac Ducati for 2008 but returned for a third season at Gresini last year.”

“Alongside Moriwaki we are beginning a new adventure in Moto2.

We are extremely confident about the project and we will all work with great determination to get the maximum results possible.” Team boss Fausto Gresini has no doubt that Elias will be a contender for the Moto2 title.

Nelson Piquet claims he could have made a return to Formula 1 this year if he wanted, after revealing that he had a firm offer for a drive in 2010