Edisi 06 Januari 2011 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 20 3rd Year Price: Rp 3.000,-

I

UK police release video of royal car attack

N

T

E

R

N

A

T

I

O

Thursday, January 6, 2011

N

A

L

e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

The city of Rockhampton is completely surrounded by flood waters on January 5, 2011 after the swollen Fitzroy River broke its banks. Tens of thousands of people in Rockhampton braced for complete isolation as waters, which have inundated an area bigger than France and Germany and closed the town’s airport and railway, lapped at the last remaining road link.

PAGE 6

Culture and Tourism Ministry Targeted 120 Films PAGE 8

AFP PHOTO / Torsten BLACKWOOD

Dennis Hopper art collection up for auction in NYC PAGE 12

Australia floods cause “catastrophic” damage Reuters

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia – Australia’s record floods are causing catastrophic damage to infrastructure in the state of Queensland and have forced 75 percent of its coal mines, which fuel Asia’s steel mills, to grind to a halt, Queensland’s premier said on Wednesday.

The worst flooding in decades has affected an area the size of Germany and France, leaving towns virtual islands in a muddy inland sea, dev-

astated crops, cut major rail and road links to coal ports, slashed exports and forced up world coal prices.

“Seventy-five percent of our

mines are currently not operation because of this flood,” Premier Anna Bligh told local television. “So, that’s a massive impact on the in-

ternational markets and the international manufacturer of steel.”

The Australian floods, which have cut off 22 towns and affected 200,000 people, have resulted from the La Nina weather phenomenon, which produces monsoonal rains over the western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Continued on page 6

Firefighters battle huge blaze at New Jersey condo complex WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

23 - 31

JAKARTA

24 - 33

BANDUNG

21 - 29

YOGYAKARTA

23 - 32

SURABAYA

23 - 32

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

RAIN

HOTLINE

For placing advertisment, please contact: Eka Wahyuni

0361-225764

NEW Jersey - By the time the sun rose over Rahway, the fire at the 100 unit housing complex had been burning for several hours.

The blaze broke out in the complex, being built at the intersection of St. Georges Avenue and Stone Street, just after 1:30 a.m. “I heard the helicopters flying over. I said what’s going on out here. And as I looked out, I seen the flames shooting from the top of the building,” Kevin Retcho said.

“I seen fire coming out from the roof and stuff - through the windows. It started out on the left side corner of the building, then it just started working itself around the whole building,” Omar Cadiz said.

In fact, the blaze was so intense it took firefighters from ten surrounding departments to help put it out.

Because of the tight modular

construction of the unoccupied building, dousing hot spots was an all day job. Arson investigators joined firefighters on the scene trying to determine how and why the fire started.

By late afternoon, they did know where it started. “If you’re looking at the building, it’s what we would call the B side, which is the left side and about halfway back.”

Rahway Fire Chief Bill Young said.

This complex had been under construction for about a year. It was almost completed and set to open as rentals this spring. The fire chief says it’s not salvageable.

“The whole third floor is gone.

There’s mortar damage. The whole building is gone,” he said. No injuries were reported. Calls of the smoke smell came from as far away as Manhattan.

AP Photo/NBC New York

In this frame grab from video released by NBC New York, a fire blazes at a condominium complex under construction Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, in Rahway, N.J. The fire started around 1:30 a.m. at the three-story building along Route 27.

2

International

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Bali News Authority of Ngurah Rai Airport protests Mangupura (Bali Post)—

Fireworks fiesta on the last New Year’s Eve 2011 claimed to have caused a number of aircrafts to land late at Ngurah Rai International Airport reaped a strong denial from the management of PT. Angkasa Pura I (Persero), Main Branch Office of the Ngurah Rai Airport.

A number of aircrafts reported to choose swirling in the sea due to fear of landing because of many fireworks flying high and exploding in the air near the airport, had been clarified by the Personnel and General Manager of PT. Angkasa Pura I, Risman Torry. According to him, it had no impact on the flight activities at the Ngurah Rai Airport.

“All flights during the period of year change, both for those that would land and take off, were running normally, unlike the news in the media,” said Risman Torry in his office on Tuesday (Jan 4).

According to him, the officers of Air Traffic Control at Ngurah Rai Airport responsible for managing the air traffic did not receive any holding request (waiting for land-

ing) from the pilots as a result of fireworks fiesta on the New Year’s Eve 2011. ”We never received any complaints or reports from pilots concerning with the fireworks activities around the airport,” he said in relation to the worries and fears threatening the safety of flight due to disturbance of those fireworks.

Even, there was no request of pro-

hibiting the fireworks activities near the airport like the ban on raising a kite near the airport. He recognized that no confirmation was given to the management of PT. Angkasa Pura I (Persero) Ngurah Rai Airport to do so.

“Nevertheless, we need to convey to the public, let us jointly maintain the security and flight safety because the airport is the main entrance of tourists to Bali,” he said.

Risman Torry appealed the public not to play any laser beam within the vicinity of the airport. Actually, the laser beam was remarkably dan-

gerous for the world of aviation and could interfere with the flight safety.

Based on the document of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding to the Manual on Laser Emitters and Flight Safety, it was explained that exposure to laser emissions might provide a physiological and medicopsychological effects on the cabin crews. “Of course, it can be fatal for flight safety. To that end, all communities are advised not to play, use or turn on the laser beam on the area of airport and its surroundings,” he said. (par)

To take back glory of Lesser Sunda Buleleng tourism should make improvement TOURISM of Buleleng had ever attained its golden period when it was the capital of the Lesser Sunda Province. The amazing beauty of Lovina Beach along with its dolphin attractions, Ulun Danu and Gitgit Waterfall seems to have been forgotten from the tourism map of the Island of the Gods.

Tourism development has been focused on the southern regions of Bali namely Badung, Denpasar and Gianyar Regency, while forgets the potential of the North Bali. In reality, the attractions owned are no less magnificent than that of other tourist destinations in Bali. If only the government would overcome the problem of inequality, it is not impossible for Buleleng community to enjoy the sweet pie of the tourism sector.

Pursuant to the Bali Regional Regulation No. 4/1999, it has been set forth that Buleleng Regency had been divided into two tourist resorts namely the Kalibukbuk tourism resort or better known as Lovina Beach resort with a broad development area reaching 3,542 ha covering 7 villages such as the village of Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem, Temukus, Tigawasa and Batu Ampar tourist resort located in the west of North Bali with the development area reaching 14,124 ha. The resort includes 5 villages namely Penyabangan, Bonyupoh, Pemuteran, Sumberkima, and Pejarakan Village.

A practitioner of Bali tourism, Nyoman Kandia, expressed the sweetness of pie of the rapid growing Bali tourism could be said to have not been felt by the people of Buleleng. It was caused by the sector identical to Bali had not been well ordered.

“Less supportive transportation

poses one of the triggers of the tourism underdevelopment in the Buleleng region. However, if government is willing to arrange the potential maximally and prepare the supporting facilities, the glory of Lesser Sunda will return,” said Nyoman Kandia in Denpasar, Tuesday (Jan 4).

The gap was also indicated by the room occupancy rate of the star hotels.

Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Office recorded that the highest room occupancy rate in the period of November 2010 was in Badung Regency namely 67.19 percent and the lowest in Buleleng Regency namely 28.11 percent.

According to the Chairman of the National Executive Board of the Indonesian Tour Guides Association (HPI), Buleleng Regency retained historical record of Balinese people, ranging from megalithic era up to the struggle for the independence could be packaged into an attractive tourism package. Armed with potential of nature and history, Buleleng could develop the tourism industry as a source of locally generated revenue (PAD). The efforts remained to be hampered by inadequate supporting infrastructure. “The potential of Buleleng’s nature is different from that of South Bali, where tourists can enjoy the panorama of mountains and coastal panorama all at once. These assets can be sold to tourists,” he said.

He added that tourist objects in Buleleng Region spread out across the four tourism areas, such as Batuampar area in Gerokgak subdistrict, Kalibukbuk or Lovina area in Buleleng subdistrict, Bedugul area in Sukasada subdistrict and Air Sanih area in Tejakula subdistrict. In addition, the Singaraja City also inherited the relics

in the form of Old Port originating from the Dutch colonial government and old buildings around the capital of Buleleng.

Similarly, Buleleng Regency had a food crop sector. The potential would become one of the leading sub-sectors when tourism and agriculture could go hand in hand. The Dean of Faculty of Economics, Warmadewa University (Unwar), I Wayan Arjana, stated that tourism in Bali had close relationship to religious, cultural and agricultural life. “Essentially, our culture belongs to an agrarian culture, highly dependent on agriculture. Agriculture itself will remain to play strategic role in the development of tourism and modern Balinese society. Taking back the glory of the agricultural sector that had boomed in the era of 1970s in Buleleng will provide direct and tangible contribution to the economy of society,” he explained.

The extent of agricultural land in Buleleng Regency increased through the years as many plantations were converted to rice fields. Many estates, especially in the western region, had been turned into rice fields. In 2007, the extent of rice field in Buleleng was 10,719 hectares, while in 2008 increased to 10,913 hectares. Meanwhile, in 2009 the extent raised significantly reaching almost a thousand hectares with a total of 11,070 hectares. “Synergy between the agricultural sector and tourism in Buleleng will make both areas continue to grow mutually and never eliminate the agriculture,” he said.

Agrotourism, described by Arjana, was utilization of area or the agricultural cultivation activity. This sector had been already developing in some locations, such as rural tourism, utilizing

the dikes of subak as tracking path.

Agro-tourism should be developed because farmers were expected to contribute agricultural products for consumption of tourists. “Of course, tourism businesspeople are expected to have a commitment to accommodate local agricultural products in Buleleng like grape, so farmers will have no difficulty in marketing their crops. Tourism activities will have direct impact on farmers, not only on the workers in the tourism industry,” he said.

Farmer groups and tourism businesspeople needed to do a partnership with a clear pattern, either in capital or partnerships in the product marketing of farmers. Hopefully, by this effort farmers were expected to become more independent and able to follow the development of the economic situation.

Meanwhile, the Regional Coordinator of the Indonesia Hotels and Restaurants Association (ASITA) for Bali, NTB and NTT, Bagus Sudibya, said the need of incentives for investors wishing to invest their capital in North Bali like Buleleng to encourage the sectors such as tourism in the area. “Incentive can be an income tax relief for investors in order they are attracted to invest their capital in the region. Conversely, those only wishing to invest in South Bali should be imposed with disincentives,” he said while adding that the efforts would greatly support the development of tourism in North Bali.

The existence of moratorium, admitted Bagus Sudibya, could be the best policy to cope with tourism development in Bali staying to concentrate in the South Bali. Moratorium would encourage equitable development of tourism throughout the regencies in Bali.

“Development of accommodation and tourist attraction should not only be carried out in South Bali but also throughout Bali as in North Bali. For that purpose, it is required an adequate infrastructure. Therefore, government needs to make wider road to West Bali, East Bali, and North Bali,” he said.

Transportation mode Development of road access to West and East Bali including North Bali was extremely important. By adequate road access, tourists would spread evenly to all parts of Bali. By such road access, the potential of tourism in the Bali region would become more developed.

Then, the spread of tourists across Bali would automatically mean that accommodation and other tourist facilities would be expanded to all regions of Bali. “In essence, we do not restrict the development of accommodation in Bali. However, the construction of the accommodation must be tailored pursuant to the existing infrastructure including the roads, water, electricity as well as other infrastructure,” he said.

He asserted, in this regard, the role of government should encourage the development of infrastructure throughout Bali. Development of tourism infrastructure should be spread across Bali. Tourists would be indirectly interested to visit all tourist objects in Bali.

“Aside from improving the tourism infrastructure, the government must also improve the management of a tourist attraction. The efforts to improve the tourist attraction in Bali will become the task of government, including the management of tourist objects in Bali,” he said.

z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, 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,Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan,. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. 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. Publisher: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

Thursday, January 6, 2011

3

IDR 1 Billion For Sukawati Art Market Parking Arrangement Budget Gianyar (Bali Post) –

The minim parking spaces at Sukawati Art Market, Sukawati had its attention from the local government yet there hasn’t been any certainty if it will be widen. Now year 2011, Gianyar council has planned to do so by allocating IDR 1 billion for it.

Gianyar Regent Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati during an event with Gianyar based reporters a while ago stated that the budget has been prepared. The allocated budget is going to be for the art market reparation including its parking space. The budget will be taken from the Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHR) budget which in 2011 is focused on three sub districts including Sukawati.

Connecting to moving the Sukawati general market to be in front of the art market, the Regent didn’t comment much about it as that decision is on the people’s hand.

Moving a market is not as easy as it looks, like moving a city. The wor-

rying condition was due to the increasing tourist visits all year with the parking space being unsupportive so vehicles tend to park along the road causing traffic jam.

The market traders are also uncomfortable with this situation as besides there are competitions such as gift shop centers but also worries tourists won’t come to the market anymore due to the chaos situation. (kmb16)

The parking lot in Sukawati Art Market in Gianyar Regency IBP/ist

Stopped By Rain Salt Farmers To secure tourist destination: Halted Producing for Two Months Ministry of Tourism goes hand Semarapura (Bali Post) –

Salt production at its center in Kusamba Village, Dawan, Klungkung stopped since two months ago with the rain keep coming as salt farmers are dependable on sunshine to produce suitable marketed salts. Based on what’s seen at Kusamba last Tuesday (4/1), a number of farming equipments were left just like that. Their activity hasn’t been seen much and instead they would take brush stones as a job replacement for the rainy season. “For around two months we haven’t been producing. Just this Tuesday sunshine appeared. So we’re trying to work again,” a salt farmer from Banjar Rame, Kusamba, Ketut Kaping, explained.

Head of Kusamba Salt Farm Group admitted got orders from a supplier from Jumpai which the products will be sent to America, “I have received 800 kg to 1,5 ton orders yet because of rainy season did not stop, I and colleagues couldn’t fulfill this order.” Now the numbers of its farmers have decreased as well from hundreds to 31 people, “Colleagues of mine have all changed jobs when the price of salt has gone up several years ago.”

At this time, salt price is IDR 1.500 per kg for local price meanwhile super salt (for export) is IDR 9.000 for ¼ kg, “Hopefully the weather gets better (there’s sunshine) so we can work again.”

Besides rain, apparently the equipment prices have also increased like rubbers for making centong (sea water carrier towards salt producing location) have gone up to IDR 30.000 a sheet, drying equipments as well, “Hopefully government will help us.”

Kusamba salt quality has been approved and now its export destination has gone to America, Japan and Australia. Its center production has also been visited by foreign tourists only just the road condition is still uncooperative. (kmb20)

in hand with National Police Jakarta (Bali Post)—

Ministry of Culture and Tourism took the National Police to secure the tourist destination. “It aims to improve the coordination in the security and orderliness as well as create the systems and methods in the implementation of security measures. Therefore, it can realize the security and safety in tourism destinations,” said the Head of Information and Public Relations of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, I Gusti Ngurah Putra, in Jakarta Tuesday (Jan 4).

Indonesia had a beautiful, unique and diverse tourist destination. Nevertheless, Ngurah said, all the advantages would not enough to make the Indonesia’s tourism competitive if not backed up by any collateral security and safety. “For that purpose, we need to create a safe and comfortable environment and atmosphere by improv-

ing the security management system,” said Ngurah.

Security and safety posed integral part of tourism, so no matter small the disturbance and security were would affect the tourism. On that account, the factor of safety and security should become major concern in the administration of tourism.

Previously, the cooperation agreement in destination security was conducted by Directorate General of Tourist Destination Development, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Firmansyah Rahim, and Operations Assistant to Chief of National Police, Sunarko, witnessed by the Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik and National Police Chief Timur Pradopo.

After signing the agreement, each party immediately formulated the Security Management System in Tourist Destination (SMPDP). Among others,

it contained the main guidelines used as reference for the Preparation of Technical Guidelines by stakeholders in the field of culture and tourism to realize the security standards in accordance with the applicable provisions in realizing the competitive tourism.

The cooperation agreement denoted the implementation of Law No. 10/2008 concerning with tourism, Presidential Decree No. 63/2004 on the Security of National Vital Objects, Law No.2/2002 concerning with National Police, Police Regulation No. 24/2007 concerning with the Security Management System for Organizations, Companies and Government Institutions, and Ethical Code of the World Tourism providing the protection for tourists, tourism businesses, and community as well as natural resource assets and historical relics belonging to the tourism attraction. (son)

Boat Wrecks Unmanaged Worried Threatening Corals and Sea Creatures Denpasar (Bali Post) –

IBP/Bali Putra

Salt farmer is disturbed by the heavy rain.

A boat stuck on the corals of the Mertasari waters, Sanur, since a few months ago hasn’t been taken action.

This condition invites worry for Sanur residents as it could damage corals and sea creatures under it. Not only that, oil leakage from ship can be another damaging factor as Sanur public figure IB Gede Udiyana last Tuesday (4/ 1) stated when met at Denpasar. It was

also stated that the ship is on the local fishermen route, “This boat is now being questioned by those worried residents of its affect to its surroundings.”

The former Head of Commission B for Denpasar House of Representatives hoped there will be a quick step from responsible institution to manage this situation as based from the information received the ship was going to help those wrecked

boats at Serangan shores and yet the Thought Boat was also wrecked.

Udiyana suspected the boat crew did not understand the waters condition there and so got wrecked on a coral. Now, Benoa Harbor Administration say will take care of it after the boat was there for a month, “This should get a quicker action so it won’t damage its surroundings.” (kmb12)

4

News

Thursday, January 6, 2011

International

Chavez floats Stone, Penn, Clinton for U.S. envoy Reuters

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sought to end a diplomatic stand-off with the United States on Tuesday by suggesting it name Bill Clinton, actor Sean Penn or director Oliver Stone as its envoy to Caracas.

In the latest flare-up between the ideological foes, Washington withdrew the visa of Venezuela’s ambassador last week in retaliation for Chavez’s rejection of President Barack Obama’s nominated ambassador to Caracas.

U.S. diplomat Larry Palmer had criticized Venezuela’s government, saying morale in its military was low and there were clear ties between members of the Chavez administration and leftist rebels in neighboring Colombia. In a televised speech late on Tuesday, Venezuela’s firebrand president said he had come up with a solution.

“I hope they name Oliver Stone.

I’ll suggest a candidate ... Sean Penn, or (linguist and philosopher Noam) Chomsky. We have a lot of friends there. Bill Clinton!” Chavez said.

Stone visited Caracas in May for the local premiere of his documentary “South of the Border,” which profiles Latin America’s leftist leaders. He told reporters he admired Chavez and his record since coming to power in 1999.

Penn, who has been involved in humanitarian efforts following Haiti’s earthquake, won best actor

Oscars for his roles in the Clint Eastwood-directed drama “Mystic River” and as slain gay activist Harvey Milk in the movie “Milk.”

Chavez also recounted how he met U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton briefly on the sidelines of Dilma Rousseff’s inauguration ceremony on Saturday in Brazil.

“I said to Senora Clinton ‘How is your husband?’” he said. “But I made a mistake because I speak very bad English, and I said ‘How is your wife?’

She laughed, then I said husband.”

When Obama took office in January 2009, promising more engagement with foes, there were expectations of a possible rapprochement.

Chavez toned down his tirades against the “empire” and shook hands with the new U.S. leader at a summit.

But within months, Chavez said Obama was disillusioning the world by following his predecessor George W. Bush’s foreign policies, and the rhetoric from Caracas cranked up again. Despite the latest diplomatic spat, few expect either Venezuela or the United States to risk jeopardizing trade ties — principally oil — crucial to both nation’s economies.

Reuters

U.S. Director Oliver Stone

Pakistani governor buried under tightened security Associated Press Writer

LAHORE, Pakistan – Thousands gathered under tight security Wednesday to pay silent homage at the funeral of a provincial governor shot dead by a bodyguard who said he was enraged by the politician’s opposition to laws ordering death for insulting Islam.

Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer, 66, was a senior member of the ruling party regarded as an outspoken moderate in a country increasingly beset by zealotry. His assassination on Tuesday added to the turmoil in nuclear-armed Pakistan, where the government is on the verge of collapse and Islamic militancy is on the rise Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other senior ruling party officials joined up to 6,000 mourners at a ceremony at the governor’s official residence in the city of Lahore in eastern Pakistan, before Taseer was buried at a nearby cemetery.

Taseer was a close ally of U.S.backed President Asif Ali Zardari and the highest-profile political figure to be assassinated since former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was slain three years ago. His death was

a reminder of the growing danger to those in Pakistan who dare to challenge Islamist extremists.

Khusro Pervez, the commissioner of Lahore, said city authorities had deployed additional police to keep the peace before and after Taseer’s funeral. Thousands of police guarded the governor’s residence and other key sites. “Police are on maximum alert.

Police are guarding all important installations in the city,” Pervez said.

The governor’s residence has been the scene of angry street protests in recent weeks against Taseer’s call to repeal blasphemy laws that order death for anyone convicted of insulting Islam and his support for a Christian woman sentenced to die for allegedly insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. Taseer was shot in the back in the capital Islamabad as he left a restaurant to walk to his car.

An intelligence official who interrogated the suspect, Mumtaz Qadri, said the 26-year-old commando had been planning the assassination since learning four days ago that he would be deployed with security for the governor.

Son of former Iranian shah found dead in Boston AP

BOSTON – The youngest son of the late shah of Iran was found dead Tuesday of an apparent suicide at his home in Boston, after he had “struggled for years to overcome his sorrow,” his brother said.

“Once again, we are joined with mothers, father and relatives of so many victims of these dark times for our country,” the shah’s oldest son, Reza Pahlavi, wrote on his website in announcing the death of his brother, Alireza Pahlavi.

Pahlavi, 44, died from a gunshot wound that apparently was self-inflicted, said Jake Wark, a spokesman for the Suffolk district attorney’s office.

Boston police said officers responding to a 911 call found the man dead in his home in the city’s South End neighborhood shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday. A police spokesman did not know who made the call or whether it came from the home.

Fardia Pars, who is close to Reza Pahlavi, said by phone from Paris that Alireza Pahlavi went into a deep depression following the 2001 death of his sister Leila Pahlavi, who was found in a London hotel room at age 31 after overdosing on barbiturates.

Alireza Pahlavi never recovered, Pars said.

Pahlavi’s depression “grew over time — his departure from Iran, living in exile, the death of his father and then AP his sister to whom he was very close,” said Nazie Eftekhari, FILE - In this Friday, April 15, 2005 file photo, Iran’s who works in Reza Pahlavi’s office in Washington and is Farah Pahlavi, widow of Iranian Shah Mohammad a close family friend.

Pahlavi

Activities

International

Thursday, January 6, 2011

5

Ayana Get Conde Nast Gold List Honors IBP

JIMBARAN - The New Year festivities may be winding to a close with only sore heads and new resolutions as mementoes, but Ayana Resort and Spa Bali is continuing the celebrations after being ranked among the world’s best hotels on the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler Gold List.

With an overall score of 91.1, Ayana was just one of four hotels in Indonesia to make the coveted list, which in its 17th year is one of the most prestigious compendiums of the best hotels, resorts and cruise lines on the planet. The list is based on the results of the magazine’s annual independent Readers’ Survey, which was completed by almost 26,000 voters. Entries are intended to reflect a property’s character and the unique guest experiences it offers, rather than a tick-list of its facilities.

“Updated annually, it is a truly global tally of peerless travel experiences (and proves the mobility and discriminating tastes of our readers),” the magazine said in its January issue as it revealed the results.

Ayana General Manager Charles de Foucault expressed delight at receiving such high recognition for the second year running, maintaining AYANA’s listing from the 2010 Gold List. “Conde Nast Traveler readers are well-traveled, accustomed to luxury service, and have no tolerance for anything less than first-class. They demand innovation, reliability and the wow factor,” said Charles. “To be listed by such travelers among the world’s best hotels is a true honor for Ayana, reflecting our continued evolution since our rebranding to an independent property in 2009. Thank you to everyone for your support.”

The Gold List results come shortly after AYANA was awarded Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort for the second year running at the World Travel Awards in November, and Asia ‘s Leading Luxury Villa (Ayana Villa). Other accolades in 2010 include being voted the #1 Spa Hotel in the World by Conde Nast Traveler readers, voted among the Top 20 Hotels for Value Overall by Travel + Leisure readers, and voted Indonesia’s Leading Independent Resort at the Indonesian Tourism Awards.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event forJanuary 3 through January 26, 2011 04 January Special Event at Tenganan Pegringsingan Usaba Sadha Main ritual of twelfth month commanced with temple annyversary celebration of Pura Accompanied by Gambang orchestra at 18.00 pm.

Temple anniversary celebration at Pura Dalem Puri,Pura Ulun Kulkul, Pura Kiduling Kreteg, Pura Benua Kawan,Besakih complex,districk of Rendang,Karangasem regency 05 January Special Event at Tenganan Pegringsingan Usaba Sadha Main Ceremony held at Pura Jero when the whole temple adherents go praying to the temple in their finest traditional dress while Gambang orchestra cheeras the atmosphere at 17.00 pm.

06 January Special Event at Tenganan Pegringsingan Usaba Sadha Last ritual held at Pura Jero ended with procession of Deities back to Subak Pemaksan (the agricultural temple) at 18.00 pm. Followed by special event held for the elderly people of the village.

12 January Temple anniversary celebration at: * Pura Luhur Pucak Padang Dawa, Bangli village,distict of Baturiti, Tabanan Regency * Pura Silayukti,Padangbai village, district of manggis,Karangasem Regency * Pura Air Jeruk,South Beach of Sukawati Village,Gianyar Regency * Pura Dangin Pasar,Batuan Village, District of Sukawati.Gianyar regensy

* Pura Desa Lembeng,Ketewel village, District of Sukawati.Gianyar regency * Pura Penataran,Batuyang Village, District of Sukawati.Gianyar regency * Pura Budha Kliwon,Penatih Village, east of denpasar 19 January Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Ratu Pasek Besakih (the mother temple) complex,distric of Rendang, Karangasem Regency * Pura Dalem Batur Village, distric of kintamani,Bangli regency 22 January Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Dalem Tarukan,Bebalang village, South oe the town of bangli. * Pura Benua Kangin,Besakih (the mother temple complex)Karngasem Regensy * Pura Dalem,Pemuteran,Jelantik tojan Village,Klungkung regensy * Pura Pucak Sari,Gunung Sari Village,district of Penebel,Tabanan Regency.

26 January Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Bandesa Mas Kepisah,Pedungan village, south of denpasar * Pura Pasar agung,Kaba-kaba village, district of kediri,Tabanan regency * Pura Dalem Petinget, Kerobokan village, district of kuta,Badung regency * Pura Dalem Pulasari,samprangan village, district of blahbatuh,Gianyar regency * Pura Natih,Banjar kalan,Batuan Village, District of Sukawati,Gianyar regency

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

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

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

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

6

News

Thursday, January 6, 2011

UK police release video of royal car attack Associated Press Writer

LONDON – British police released Tuesday a video of a mob kicking and hitting a limo carrying Prince Charles and his wife during student protests last month, hoping to find witnesses and suspects in one of the worst royal security breaches in recent years.

AP Photo/Aaron Favila

Philippine Southern Luzon Command Chief Lt. General Roland Detabali, left, talks with captured senior communist rebel commander, Tirso Alcantara, at a military hospital in suburban Quezon City, north of Manila, Philippines on Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011.

The closed-circuit security camera video shows several people attacking the vintage Rolls-Royce after the car was forced to slow down during the violent central London demonstrations.

A young woman is shown hitting the Rolls-Royce twice, before picking up a trash can and throwing it at the back of one of the convoy cars, smashing its back window. Two other men wearing dark hooded tops, are also seen running along the royal car and hitting it.

Thousands of students took to

the capital’s streets on Dec. 9 to protest university tuition fee hikes.

While the majority were contained by police near Parliament, breakaway groups ran to shopping areas near Regent Street, where they came upon the royal couple’s car.

An Associated Press photograph captured the future king and his wife Camilla, who were dressed in evening wear and were on their way to a charity event at a theater, looking shocked as the rowdy crowd surrounded the car. They were unharmed but appeared visibly shaken afterward.

Police said they hoped the video released Tuesday can help them trace witnesses and suspects believed to have broken the law.

British media reports said protesters at one point poked Camilla with a stick through an open or broken car window. Officials confirmed that “contact was made,” but did not elaborate.

Critics have questioned the security measures for royals and how protesters could have gotten so close to the royal car. They have also criticized the choice of vehicle, which had large clear windows and wasn’t bullet-proof.

Philippine raid captures communist rebel commander Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine troops and police captured a senior communist rebel commander, officials said Wednesday as a 19day Christmas truce ended this week with both sides vowing to step up fighting.

Tirso Alcantara, the rebel New People’s Army commander for the main island of Luzon, was wounded when he tried to draw his gun as special army troops backed by police raided a village south of the capital late Tuesday, said army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz.

Alcantara, also known by his nom de guerre Comrade Bart, is one of the highest-ranking members of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines to be arrested recently, even though the guerrillas and the government earlier agreed to resume stalled peace talks in February on ending the 42-year insurgency.

Military spokesman Col. Generoso Bolina said troops were tipped off that Alcantara was in a house outside Lucena city, but they arrived after he escaped by motorcycle. They chased and caught up with him and his accomplice at a road checkpoint, he said.

Government negotiators have expressed hope that last year’s election of reformist President Benigno Aquino III on the promise he would reduce poverty and improve governance would soften the rural-based Marxist insurgency, one of Asia’s longest. The holiday cease-fire was the longest truce between the sides in a decade.

In a statement Wednesday, the underground Communist Party demanded the release of Alcantara “before the resumption of formal peace talks,” saying he is one of the rebels’ consultants in the negotiations.

Alcantara is covered by a joint agreement granting security and safe conduct passes to consultants in the talks, the statement said, adding that his lawyers and doctors should be allowed to visit him.

Australia floods... and its scale here in Queensland. What From page 1 The La Nina is expected to last another three months after it produced Australia’s third-wettest year on record in 2010, the nation’s weather bureau said on Wednesday.

“Queensland is a very big state. It relies on the lifelines of its transport system, and those transport systems in some cases are facing catastrophic damage,” said Bligh. “Without doubt this disaster is without precedent in its size

I’m seeing in every community I visit is heartbreak, devastation.”

Residents in flooded towns scrambled to build sandbag levees on Wednesday in the hope of holding back the rising waters, which analysts estimate could shave around 0.4 percentage point of Australia’s economic activity. In Rockhampton, a cattle town of 75,000, a rise of just 20 cm (8 inches) in floodwaters would inundate another 400 homes and lap at the front door of a further 4,000 properties.

“Let’s hope we dodge the bullet.

AP Photo/Matt Dunham

FILE - This is a Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 file photo of Britain’s Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as they react as their car is attacked by angry protesters in London. British police released a video Tuesday Jan. 4, 2011 of the mob attacking a limo carrying the Royal couple during the student protests the last month.

Every centimeter counts,” said Ian Stewart, Queensland’s state disaster coordinator. Three people have drowned in the floods. Authorities are warning people to stay out of floodwaters not just because of the risk of drowning but because snakes and crocodiles are being washed into homes and shops.

FORCE MAJEURE

Some coal mines in Queensland, the world’s biggest exporter of coal used in steel-making, were resuming production although the outlook re-

mained uncertain. Macarthur Coal said on Wednesday it had resumed transporting coal by rail to Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal this week, but force majeure notices remained in place and future coal trains would depend on coal availability.

“Once the pits are free of water, we’ll have more coal exposed that can be processed and transported,” said Nicole Hollows, Macarthur’s managing director. “It is not possible to predict when we will return to a steady state of mining as that largely depends on any future rain.”

Wesfarmers is resuming output at its Curragh mine in the Bowen Basin, but maintained its force majeure. A spokesman for Dalrymple port warned that unless mine companies resume production in the nation’s biggest coal region soon, coal export shipments could again be cut. Some rail lines carrying coal from inland mines expected to stay partially underwater for another week. “In terms of river levels, they might recede by next week but these big mining establishments are obviously going to feel the affects for months to come,” said Jess Carey.

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, January 6, 2011

7

Indonesia maintains rate at 6.50 pct as inflation rises Agence France-Presse FOTO ANTARA/ Fanny Octavianus

The traffic congestion happened during the inundation at Gunung Sahari, Jakarta on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. On rainy season like this, people of Jakarta often have to face traffic congestion because most street get inundated.

US continues maintaining RI‘s F-16 Falcons Antara

JAKARTA - The United States government continued the maintenance of the F-16 jet fighters of the Indonesian Air Force.

This statement was made by former US Air Force Commander in the Asia Pacific (US PACAF) General (ret.) William J Begert when making a courtesy call on Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Mar-

shal Imam Sufaat in Jakarta Tuesday.

Spokesman for the Indonesian Air Force Air Commodore Bambang Samoedro said after attending the meeting, adding that the maintenance of F-16 jet fighters of the Indonesian Air Force is going on normally following the embargo.

“It had already been three years that they had been maintaining our F-16s,” Bambang said.

The maintenance was carried out

by Pratt & Whitney, where William Begert is Vice President for Business Development & Aftermarket Sales and Services.

Bambang also said that they consisted of several teams coming twice a year for checking the F-16s based at Iswahjudi air base in Madiun, East Java. The Indonesian Air Force now has 10 F-16 Fighting Falcons based at Air Squadron 3 at Iswahjudi.

Papua believed to be human traffickers‘ market Antara

JAKARTA - Women‘s Empowerment and Children‘s Protection Minister Linda Amalia Sari said here Tuesday there were indications that Papua and West Papua were a human trafficking market.

“There are indications that Papua and West Papua have become a destination for victims of human trafficking ,” said Linda who is also executive chairperson of the government`s Human Trafficking Handling and Prevention Task Force in an expose of her ministry`s work

programs in 2011.

She said her ministry was making an effort to further investigate the indications and find out the truth.

“We are going to folow up the clues on human trafficking victims in Papua,”she added.

Based on preliminary data her ministry had received, Papua and West Papua were thriving markets for human traffickers.

“According to preliminary reports, many underage women from other parts of the country have been brought to Papua and West Papua to work as waitresses and possibly as

commercial sex workers,” she said.

She said she was planning to set up branches of the Human Trafficking Hand;ing and Prevention Task Force in all cities and districts in Papua and West Papua.

At present such Task Force branches already existed in 20 provinces and 70 districts across Indonesia.

“The Task Force`s function is to monitor, discuss problems and obstacles as well as to synergize implementation of prevention and management actions against human trafficking nationally,” she said.

Half of Bengkulu’s coral reefs damaged by fish trawls Antara

BENGKULU - About 40 to 50 percent of Bengkulu province‘s coral reefs have been damaged by trawls used by fishermen to catch fish, a local fisheries official said.

“The condition of coral reefs along the coast from Kaur to Mukomuko districts has deteriorated so much dues to the use of trawls by fishermen.” Bismalinda, head of Bengkulu`s marine and fisheries office, said here Tuesday.

Most local fishermen were not aware of the adverse consequences

of the use of trawls for the marine ecosystem, he said.

The damaging process had been going on for a long time and repairing it would take decades. Meanwhile, the degraded condition of the coral reefs had reduced fish‘ hauls, especially hauls of reef fish and lobsters along the Bengkulu coasts, he added.

The situation was currently being compounded by uncertain weather conditions which further depressed fishermen‘s income, he said, Coral reef damage was also caused by the use of explosives by the fishermen. The practice killed

not only big but also small fishes.

Nowadays, he added, it was difficult for fishermen to catch fish near the coastline and they had to go farther out to sea to get fish while their boats could not do that. To overcome the problem, local fisheries authorities were continuously informing fishermen of the hazards of using trawls and dynamite to catch fish, he said.

The government was making serious efforts to conserve and rehabilitate the coral reefs but they would succeed only with the participation and awareness of the people to preserve the ecosystem of coral reefs, he said.

JAKARTA - Indonesia’s central bank kept interest rates on hold Wednesday, days after data showed inflation last year was much higher than forecast.

The bank held the key borrowing rate at 6.50 percent for the 17th straight month as it tries to foster a recovery in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

However, it is coming under pressure to announce an increase to temper rising prices as inflation hit reached 6.96 percent in 2010, well up from the bank’s 4-6 percent target and a jump from the previous year’s 2.78 percent.

Credit Suisse’s India and Southeast Asia Economics head Robert Prior-Wandesforde said the bank decided to maintain its rate probably because a higher rate would attract even greater foreign “hot-money” inflows.

“This is not such a bad thing in itself, but the worry here is that the more foreign money there is the

country, the more there is to leave it as and when global risk appetite sours,” Prior-Wandesforde said in a statement.

Indonesia has received huge inflows of foreign money as investors turn to emerging economies in Asia, which is leading the global recovery, in place of slow-growth areas such as the United States or Europe.

“Having said that, the country does at least have the comfort of much higher foreign exchange reserves to protect the rupiah if needs be,” Prior-Wandesforde said. The country had 96.2 billion dollars in reserves at the end of December.

Indonesia’s main stock index rose 46 percent last year, while its rupiah currency gained more than 4.0 percent against the dollar.

Indonesia hopes Singapore‘s investment to rise 50 percent Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia hopes Singapore‘s investment in Indonesia will rise by up to 50 percent in 2011, chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa said here on Tuesday.

“Singapore`s investment in Indonesia in 2010 was recorded at around five billion US dollars. We hope it will increase up to 50 percent,” he said after meeting with Singapore`s minister of trade and industry Lim Hng Kiang.

He said investment was one of the issues discussed by the working group in the framework of economic cooperation between the two countries. The two countries have agreed to focus their cooperation on the fields of infrastructure, connectivity, ports and manufacturing sectors.

“Singapore as an international financial hub is hoped to be able to promote investment opportunities in Indonesia to investors,” he said.

The working group that has been set up by the two countries

also deals with development in Batam, Bintan and Karimun, air transportation, human resources development and agribusiness.

Hatta said the development in Batam, Bintan and Karimun has shown progress while obstacles such as in licensing, customs and others had been reduced.

“We have agreed to increase the promotion of the region so that it could become an investment destination. This must become a success story,” he said.

On air transportation Hatta said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would issue a connectivity blueprint in the framework of establishing an ASEAN economic community.

He said an agreement has also been reached with regard to improving the skills of the Indonesian human resources in Singapore.

“In the agribusiness Singapore meanwhile will keep increasing supply of vegetables from Indonesia. It is expected to grow 20 percent,” he said.

8

International

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Bali Today Julia Roberts during the shooting of Eat Pray Love at Gianyar Art Market.

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik stated that one of the priority programs on culture is to push national film production so it will keep increasing and have better quality,

http://images.allmoviephoto.com

Culture and Tourism Ministry Targeted 120 Films Bali Post

JAKARTA – Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik stated that one of the priority programs on culture is to push national film production so it will keep increasing and have better quality, “This year 2011 national film production is targeted 120 film titles as last year was as much as 100 titles.”

This was stated during Priority Program Meeting of Public Welfare Ministry 2011 at the Economy and Public Welfare Minister Office, Jakarta, last Tuesday (4/1).

Besides the number of production to be increased, Indonesia is being an option as an international class shooting location as well, “A number of film producers this year will be back shooting in places such as Raja Ampat, West Papua and Bali.” In this opportunity, Wacik mentioned Indonesia will be the host to the 6th Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC-ICH) which will take place in Bali on November 2011. Indonesia will also be the member to Committee Subsidiary Body and Consultative Body, “We suggest Saman

dance from Aceh to be in the World Heritage Culture Representative in the 6th IGC-ICH at Bali after wayang, keris, batik and angklung.”

The other priority program is to continue the museum revitalization program such as in 2010 with the Visit Museum Year. There have been activities in increasing human resource quality for museums such as educating 18 people for Museology Master also revitalization for National Museum at North Sumatra, Jambi, East Java, West Borneo, West Nusa Tenggara and Culture Museum Batak Balige at North Sumatra.

Wacik also explained the number of foreign tourist visits have reached its target of 7 million in year 2010 and received USD 7.6 billion foreign exchange reserves. Now in 2011, Wacik is targeting 7.3 million as pes-

simistic target while 7,7 million as the optimistic target.

This meeting was led by Economy and Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono was attended by a number of other ministers such as Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng, National Education Minister M. Nuh, Social Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufry, Religion Minister Suryadharma Ali, Living Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Public Housing Minister Suharso Monoarfa, Head of National Family Planning Coordinating Agency (BKKBN) Sugiri Syarief, Head of Medicine and Food Supervision Board Kustantinah and Head of National Disaster Management (BNPB) Syamsul Ma’arif. (son)

Foreign tourists complained rubbish overflowed Bali Post

AMPLAPURA - Rubbishes that have been left overflowed on the roadside to Amed tourist object, Abang, Karangasem caused traffic jams according to Karangasem House of Representatives member from Bunutan, Luh Purnamaningsih. Last Tuesday (4/1) she also stated the dump has made foreign tourists complaining.

The protest was then confirmed by tourist practitioner in Bunutan, Nyoman Sargi and Nyoman Nawi as well. It is very ashamed that these rubbishes are damaging the beauty of the tourist object. Sargi mentioned that the overflowing rubbishes causing tourism here, especially Amed to Lean which is known for its beautiful beaches and called hidden paradise, brought down.

Nawi and Sargi asked those responsible to take care of it. Meanwhile, Luh Puranamaningsih stated have contacted the banjar and village official of this area yet no action taken until now, “I just wish there are local residents led by the village officials to volunteer in inserting the rubbishes to plastic bags then I can contact Head of Cleanness and Gardening to get those so it can be brought to the landfills. Yet there are no volunteers yet.”

She stated, according to Purwakerti Village supervisors those rubbishes weren’t dragged by a flood coming from Banjar Bias Lantang yet it was from the village’s river source flood. It seemed that residents are throwing rubbishes there including plastic ones to the drainages and so flood sent it to Amed.

Sargi and Nawi couldn’t wait longer who wants to volunteer so to them Karangasem Council should take action soon to clean up the mess, “The council can’t only be seen as the ones taking retribution from tourism and having rubbishes left overflowed, filthy and causing traffic jam ignored.”

Sargi added don’t talk about the uncontrollable demarcation line on the beach shores at Lean and its surroundings as the government seemed to ignore it too, “The main roads are narrow, many sharp turns and steep roads up or down while in a number of rivers there are no bridges so during floods vehicles are scared they will sink.” (013)

http://diverscafe.mine.nu

The photo shows Amed Beach, Karangasem. Rubbishes that have been left overflowed on the roadside to Amed tourist object, Abang, Karangasem caused traffic jams according to Karangasem House of Representatives member from Bunutan, Luh Purnamaningsih.

Foreign exchange of tourism 2010 reaches USD 7.6 billion Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Contribution of foreign exchange by tourism sector in 2010 was quite large. Ministry of Culture and Tourism estimated that foreign exchange gaining from foreign tourist visits in 2010 reached more than USD 7.6 billion. Meanwhile, the number of foreign tourist visits in 2010 was 7.01 million with spending money amounting to USD 1,085 per person.

Director of Overseas Promotion, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Gede Pitana, stated the amount of

foreign exchange posed a contribution of tourists amounting to 7.01 million of foreign tourists during their visit throughout 2010.

“In the last 2010, the spending money of tourists increased from previously USD 998 to USD 1,085 in 2010 with the length of stay of foreign tourists in 2010 reached more than 8 days. This figure has increased from the previous year,” said Gede Pitana, Tuesday (Jan 4).

According to him, in the period of 2011 the central government set the

target at 7.7 million foreign tourists.

The target increased by about 10 percent compared to the visit in 2010.

However, when compared to the target in 2010, then growth could exceed 15 percent.

“Bali as a major tourist destination in Indonesia provides a significant contribution. Of the foreign tourists visiting Bali around 2.45 million, the contribution of foreign exchange obtained was USD 2.658 billion. Or it was more than 34 percent,” he said.

Head of Bali Government Tourism

Office, I.B. Kade Subhiksu, stated that Bali set the target of tourism growth in 2011 at 2.5 million to 2.6 million with the indicator of surging arrival of foreign tourists in 2010. Provisional data of foreign tourist visits in the period of January-November reached 2,275,293 people. It increased by 11 percent over the same period in 2009 with the number of arrival was 2,047,389 people.

“Target achievement of 2.5 million to 2.6 million foreign tourist visits in 2011 is temporary,” said I.B. Subhiksu.

Nevertheless, the target achievement

of Bali’s tourism growth in 2011 would be determined by the condition of security, smooth flight, availability of supporting infrastructure and solution of problems at hand such as flooding and rubbish.

“We recognize there are many constraints faced by the tourism sector, particularly in the areas of infrastructure that has not been arranged properly. However, we will continue to make improvement against the deficiencies for the progress of Bali tourism,” he said. (par)

International

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Balinese Culture

Archaeological heritage in Bali Archaeological researches in Bali have found a number of archeological heritages, which belonged to prehistoric and historic remains. Prehistoric remains proved the earliest of the people’s life, started from hunting and food gathering through cultivation up to mastering the advanced technology.

Such remains indicated the struggle and the achievement of the people’s life gradually, after adapting and exploring their environment its natural resources for their life, because the nature was still quite dangerous. On the other hands, the remains also demonstrated the relationship of the prehistoric Balinese people to those who lived in Java, Sumatera etc, even to the South-East Asian people.

The most important of the prehistoric live in Bali is the invention of the metallic technology along with the megalithic tradition. During the advance technology the Balinese people have produced several kinds of bronze goods for ritual purpose such as kettledrums and for daily uses as well such as axes etc. Mastering the advance technology, Balinese people have succeeded to develop stone moulds in the village of Manuaba (Gianyar) for casting bronze kettledrum. The humanmask decoration, showed a remarkable similarities to the decorations of the huge kettledrums found in the village of Pejeng not so far of the east of Manuaba, but the stone moulds of Manuaba are small in its size.

It should be noted here that bronze kettledrums were not only found in Bali, but also in Java, and Eastern Indonesian Island. Another bronze moulds made of clay were also found in West Java, but not for producing kettledrums, but for making spear-

heads, axes, etc. Regarding the humanmask decorations, which were founds on the kettledrums of Pejeng, on the stone moulds of Manuaba and on the number of the sarcophagi found in Bali, was regarded as symbol of the leader’s or the ancestor’s spirits. The people believed that the spirit, who were abode on the top of the mountain or on the inaccessible place have the magic power for protecting the living society.

When Hinduism has spread widely in Indonesia, the people believed to the sacred mountain as the place of the Hindu pantheons and the ancestor’s spirit as well. Based on this conception, then the people built their temples on the mountain area such as as Pura Besakih on the slope of Mount Agung.

Along with the development of the metallic industry, the megalithic tradition increased not only in Bali, but also in Sumatera, Flores etc. Several kinds of megalithic remains were found there namely menhirs, dolmens, menhirstatues, stepped pyramids etc. It is a matter of facts that the megalithic tradition have strongly influenced the people’s life and it is not surprising any more that living megalithic tradition could be found until to present day in Nias, Toraja, Bali and Eastern Indonesians Islands. In Bali, the megalithic remains, exe the sarcophagi are regarded as sacred monuments and functioned for worshipping thje Hindu Trinity, the local deities and the ancestor’s spirit (Sutaba 1984).

Researches on the advanced technology and on the megalithic tradition in Bali in particular, have made conclusions that Balinese people have build their social organization headed by the leaders. The well organizations have made favorable conditions for

mastering the advance technology.

Then the social and cultural development became the solid foundation for facing the new era when Hinduism arrived in Bali (Sutaba, 1930).

Bali have got Hindu-Budhis influences nearly at the 9 century A.D. as Proved by the finding of clay stuphikas and seals beared Budhis formula, near the village of Pejeng, Gianyar. Then a pillar inscription was rediscovered in Blanjong Sanur (Badung) which mentioned the name of the king Kesari Warmadewa. This inscription was originated from c.10 century A.D. Since this period, Hinduism was spread widely in Bali and went deeply into the life of the Balinese people and then survived until today. Having well developed social organization and cultural life before the arrival of Hinduism, have led the Balinese people successfully modified the new elements in accordance with their characters and became the new one beared Balinese identity.

The wellknown king of Bali is a couple royal named king Udayana and his wife Gunapryadharmapati (c.10 century A.D), then succeeded by their families. During the ancient history of Bali, a number of temples were built nearly in the whole island. In these temple several kinds of historical remains were preserved e.g. statues, inscriptions etc. As the follower of Hinduism, Balinese people regard the temples including the remains in them as sacred monuments for worshiping the Hindu pantheons, the local deities and the ancestor’s spirit as well. This religious function was the responsibility of the Balinese people for keeping the monuments in well conditions and the welfare of the living society.

RUJAK (Vegetable & Fruits Salad With Palm Sugar Sauce) OVERVIEW: This popular snack, in intriguing mixture of sweet, sour and spicy hot flavors, is prepared at countless warung throughout Bali.

INGREDIENTS: 1 small pineapple, peeled and sliced evenly 1 sour mango, peeled and sliced 1 pamelo or grapefruit, peeled and cut in segments 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and sliced 3 water apples (jambu), quartered (optional) 1 medium sized star fruit, sliced ½ small papaya, peeled, cut in half, seeded and sliced in even segments 1 green apple, peeled and sliced 1-cup rujak sauce PREPARATION: Combine all ingredients in salad bowl and mix well.

Serve at room temperature.

Helpful hint: although this is served as snack in Bali, you can serve it as part of Balinese meal or buffet.

BASE RUJAK: 6 tbsp tamarind pulp 1-cup palm sugar syrup 1tsp dried shrimp paste, roasted 6 bird’s eye chilies, left whole ½ tsp salt ½ cup water PREPARATION: Combine all ingredients in a heavy pan and bring slowly to the boil. Stir well and simmer for 10 minutes.

When cool, squeeze to extract all the juice from the tamarind and strain through a sieve. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

C.045 ibp

9

10

Destinations

Thursday, January 6, 2011

International

Purancak Temple IBP

Purancak Temple is also mentioning as Pura Perancak situated in the coastal area right at Purancak Countryside, Negara sub district and Jembrana Regency. In order to reach the location of this temple which is also situated in the estuary of Purancak River, we have to go the west direction and goes to through the good road with the car or other motorcycle. After going through the journey within 9 Km from the district town, all visitors who visit this temple will arrive at non-irrigated dry field. This land is fully planted by the coconut trees with beautiful panorama that make a comfortable atmosphere.

Pertaining to the name (Abhiseka) of Purancak Temple, it is inseparable from the holy journey (Dharmayatra and Tirthayatra) of Danghyang Dwijendra, a famous Siwa Religion Adviser. From the domestic sources, there is opinion that the name of Purancak Temple is come the word of Perahu Encak (Balinese Language meaning leaky boat or breaking boat). There is also from domestic source say that the

this temple’s name is come from word Ancak (The tree name, sycamore bodi), because when Danghyang Dwijendra crossing the sea in west part of Bali Island that is also recognized as Sagara Rupek, he firstly arrive at the location where the Purancak Temple existing now.

He wait his wife and son who go up the leaky boat that had been patched by spool gourd leaf ( Waluh Pahit), while Danghyang Dwijendra go up a bitter fruit Waluh (spool gourd) by using his both hand and feet as oar .

When he waiting his wife and son, he was seat under a tree which is called Ancak Tree and at the same time he do conversation with a cow farmer. Since he was seat under that tree then The Temple is built right in this location hence this temple is named by Purancak Temple. But in conjunction to other domestic sources that is estimated the Purancak Temple is also taken away from the name of this countryside where he firstly arrive and do pray while waiting his family.

This temple is kept by a priest every day who waiting and monitoring everyone who cross the way. The priest will remind and admonishing

http://www.perancak.nl

if there anyone who pass and neglect to conduct the pray based on the regulation stated by I Ngurah Ragsasa, the powerful and handle hegemony over there.

Dhangyang Dwijendra and his family continue his holy journey and pass this temple. When he arrive at this temple area, the priest as a temple keeper who is also observe everyone crossing this area, he admonished and asked to Danghyang

International Bali Post Classifieds BALI CENTRAL CANOPY

g

www.solo-cctv.com

Rekam 24 jam Non Stop - Internet on line

Harga Termurah Kwalitas Terjamin Jln. Buana Raya 88X, Padangsambian - Denpasar

Telp./Fax : (0361) 8600043, 7429952, 485041 C.513069-bkl

Apapun kebutuhan CCTV Anda, ada di sini!

Garansi Barang & Jasa... PASTI ! !

Dengan tenaga berpengalaman, instalasi dijamin rapi Hubungi:

Jln. Buluh Indah No. 23 Denpasar Telp. (0361) 2764411-088802911054 C.492248-elk

C.492607-rpa

tion like previously.

Dhangyang Dwijendra finally fulfills his request and then he do pray again to return the temple condition like previously. By blessing of his spiritual strengthens and Chastity, the temple become intact return. The priest look so happy to witness all this experiences then Danghyang Dwijendra bestow the Kalpika to the priest in order to glorify as a proof that he was done a holy journey to this place.

... gets maximum benefits with minimum charge Denpasar : +62 361 22-5764 Jakarta : +62 21 535-6271

Contact us

Mengerjakan : Atap Canopy Polycarbonat & Jual Bahan Spesial merk atap: Solarlate dan Crystal-late

Dwinjendra to do pray in this temple. When he reach in the silent moment of praying, suddenly inscrutable fact happened that this temple breaks. When witnessing this inscrutable occurrence, I Ngurah Rangsasa with all his supporter are feeling very fear and then run to his house meanwhile the temple priest is very braze and request to Danghyang Dwijendra return the temple back to the perfec-

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

Thursday, January 6, 2011

11

BUSINESS Auto sales jump, upswing seen for 2011 Reuters

DETROIT - U.S. auto sales rose to the highest rate in 16 months in December, and major automakers forecast the recovery would gather momentum in 2011 as the industry distances itself from one of its deepest slumps ever.

Auto sales are one of the first snapshots of U.S. consumer demand. The 11 percent rise in December auto sales stands as the latest in a string of indicators including unexpectedly strong factory orders for November pointing toward growing confidence in the recovery.

U.S. auto sales rose more than 11 percent in 2010 to almost 11.6 million vehicles, snapping a four-year slide that forced the Detroit automakers into a wrenching restructuring that included government-directed bankruptcies for GM and Chrysler.

In a year-end surge that took the industry by surprise, the annualized sales rate for December jumped to almost 12.6 million vehicles, the highest rate since August 2009 when the U.S. government’s “Cash for Clunkers” trade-in incentives touched off a short-lived boom.

Major automakers, including Ford and GM, said they expected that sales for 2011 could top the 13 million-vehicle level. Analysts said that estimate could prove conservative if the momentum of recent

months continues.

“We have seen real improvement in actual consumer demand, particularly in the last quarter of 2010,” TrueCar.com analyst Jesse Toprak said.

General Motors Co’s sales rose 7.5 percent from a year earlier in December. Ford Motor Co’s sales rose 6.7 percent and the carmaker overtook Toyota Motor Corp as No. 2 in the U.S. market for 2010.

The gains for the top U.S. automakers underline the stunning turnaround in the fortunes of GM and Ford. Shares of Ford, which avoided a bailout, have gained more than 70 percent over the past year.

Shares of GM are up 13 percent from a November initial public offering that marked the automaker’s reemergence as a listed company after a U.S. government bailout.

GM shares closed up 2.3 percent at $37.90 and Ford stock gained 0.75 percent to $17.38 on Tuesday.

Toyota, which has been struggling with the aftermath of a safety crisis that surfaced in late 2009, posted a sales decline of almost 6

percent in December.

For 2010, Toyota sales were almost flat from 2009, the worst of the downturn when industry-wide sales were at the lowest level since the 1980s.

Other major automakers posted double-digit percentage gains for December. Chrysler sales rose 16 percent and Nissan Motor Co sales rose 28 percent. Sales for Honda Motor Co were up 21 percent.

Hyundai Motor Co’s sales gained 33 percent. Its affiliate Kia Motors posted a 45 percent gain, continuing a trend that has seen the Korean brands take share from rivals in a recovering U.S. market.

Hyundai has benefited from Toyota’s stumbles, an improved reputation for quality and its ability to undercut established competitors on price.

“South Korean carmakers will continue to be ahead of Japanese rivals because of new model effects, the favorable currency and improved brand image,” Korea Investment & Securities analyst Suh Sungmoon said.

He expected Hyundai and Kia to further increase their U.S. market share to 8.4 percent this year, from last year’s 7.7 percent.

Shares in Hyundai and Kia rallied 4.7 percent and 3 percent, respectively, in Asian trade on Wednesday, while Honda fell 0.6 percent and Toyota and Nissan rose less than 1 percent.

Major automakers cited a range of negative factors that represent an overhang for the U.S. economy and auto sales, including the drag from a still-weak housing market, high unemployment and the threat of rising gasoline prices.

But executives and analysts said the increased availability of loans for consumers, rising used car prices and improving consumer confidence had tipped the balance toward continued recovery for the auto industry.

“I think people are a lot more confident in making big purchases now.

That’s the story of the fourth quarter,” Al Castignetti, the head of Nissan sales, told Reuters. “I think we’re going to see slow, steady growth.”

GM and Ford both reported a jump in sales to retail customers through dealerships; a category considered the best indicator of underlying demand.

GM said it expected industry-

wide U.S. sales of about 12.7 million to 13.2 million vehicles in 2011, excluding heavier work trucks. Ford forecast sales at about 12.2 million to 13.2 million vehicles on the same basis.

Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist at brokerage ConvergEx Group, said the stronger GM sales for December could force analysts to raise earnings forecasts for the fourth quarter.

“The key variable here is pricing, which improved in the month,” Colas said in a note for clients.

In a sign of increasing confidence in the pace of recovery, Ford said it would begin to push its inventory levels over the 400,000-vehicle level that it has maintained in recent months.

One of the bright spots for the Detroit automakers has been the rise in sales of trucks in recent months, including the pickup trucks used heavily in construction and by other small business owners.

For December, sales of Ford’s market-leading F-Series pickup trucks were up almost 14 percent. Sales of the rival Chevy Silverado rose 32 percent.

Sales of trucks and SUVs remain key for the U.S. automakers because they are more expensive vehicles that carry wider profit margins than smaller and more fuel-efficient cars.

Retail sales: will upswing boost earnings? South Korea’s Samsung Group to invest 38 billion dollar Reuters

NEW YORK - Investors who were heartened when U.S. retailers reported their best holiday sales season in three years hope for one more gift: upgraded earnings forecasts.

Wall Street analysts expect top U.S. chains to report this week that sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 3.4 percent in December, according to Thomson Reuters data.

That follows a 6 percent increase reported for November.

But that strong end to the holiday season has been largely priced into stocks, said Manning & Napier analyst Walter Stackow. Investors are looking for companies to increase their earnings forecasts as a sign that the sales were not “bought” with unplanned margin-sapping discounts.

Those companies’ shares are likely to rise, Stackow said.

Shoppers turned out in greater numbers this year, driven in part by pent-up demand after two seasons of frugality and a general sense that the economy is finally improving.

Still, Wall Street is fretting that shoppers will put their wallets away for a while, now that Christmas is over. That would place a question mark over the U.S. economic recovery given that consumer spending makes up 70 percent of the U.S. economy.

“People have tended to shop during the times they need to, like holidays or back to school,” said Nomura analyst Paul Lejuez. “During off periods, they haven’t been coming out.”

“A good December might not mean a great

January, February, March,” he added.

Retailers appeared to keep their momentum in the final week of the month. The International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs said chain-store sales for the week ended January 1 were up 3.6 percent from the same week a year ago.

Last week’s massive blizzard, which dumped as much as three feet of snow on parts of the U.S. Northeast, probably put a small dent in December sales. Research firm ShopperTrak has estimated that $1 billion in retail sales may have been postponed because of the storm.

Michael Niemira, chief economist for the Council of Shopping Centers, told Reuters the snowstorm could lower the December sales growth rate by 0.5 percentage point, though some purchases may show up in January.

So far most analysts say the season’s discounting was not out of line, boding well for retailers’ results.

“I did not see any kind of chaotic rush to runaway promotions,” said Richard Hastings, a consumer strategist at Global Hunter Strategies.

JPMorgan analyst Charles Grom predicted that a strong November and the expectation of solid December sales would prompt discounter Target Corp, department store chains J.C. Penney Co Inc, Macy’s Inc, and Kohl’s Corp, and upscale retailers Nordstrom Inc and Saks Inc to raise profit forecasts.

The spending recovery helped the S&P Retail Index rise 23.4 percent in 2010, compared with the broader S&P 500’s increase of 11.7 percent.

However, the index has stalled since early December on concerns the rally has run out of steam.

Agence France-Presse

SEOUL - South Korea’s Samsung Group said Wednesday it plans to spend a massive 43.1 trillion won (38.3 billion dollars) this year as it looks to expand its presence in global markets and develop new businesses.

The nation’s largest business group will invest 29.9 trillion won in expanding or building new plants producing semiconductors, liquid crystal display panels and other electronics and an additional 12.1 trillion won on research and development.

The new investment for 2011, up 18 percent from last year, is aimed at cementing “global market dominance of Samsung’s major businesses,” the group said in its 2011 investment plan.

Projected investment in semiconductor plants amounts to 10.3 trillion won, followed by 5.4 trillion won each on those producing liquid crystal display panels and factories making the organic light-emitting diode.

The group this year will hire 25,000 new workers — also a record and up 11 percent from 2010.

“Uncertainties over the global economy still persist, but we have reached the decision... in an effort to beef up the global competitiveness of our flagship businesses,” Samsung said in a statement.

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker of flat screens and memory chips, is the

standard bearer for the group, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of South Korea’s gross domestic product.

The world’s second largest maker of mobile phones after Nokia posted a record third-quarter net profit in December as global recovery fanned demand for memory chips and handsets, including popular smartphones.

The firm has strived to expand its presence in the lucrative smartphone and tablet computer markets with its Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab as it goes head to head with US titan Apple and its market-leading iPhone and iPad. The group’s aggressive investment plan for this year comes as it seeks to find new growth engines at the start of a third generation of family management.

Samsung last year unveiled a plan to nurture new businesses including renewable energy and healthcare, with a goal to rack-up sales worth 50 trillion won by 2020.

Jay Y.Lee, the only son of Chairman Lee Kun-Hee, was promoted to president of Samsung Electronics last December when his two sisters were also elevated at the group’s key subsidiaries, which include hotel and textile affiliates.

Samsung, which means “Three Stars”, was launched in 1938 when Lee Byung-Chull, the son of a wealthy landowner, opened a trading company. Samsung Electronics began operations in 1969.

12

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Entertainment

International

Dennis Hopper art collection up for auction in NYC Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Dennis Hopper shot two bullet holes through an Andy Warhol portrait of Mao Zedong but instead of earning the wrath of the artist, Warhol called the “Easy Rider” star a collaborator. Warhol’s “Mao” is among 300 works of fine art and memorabilia owned by the late actor-director of the 1969 counterculture film up for auction at Christie’s next week. The 1972 colored screenprint is expected to bring $20,000 to $30,000.

Most of the items adorned the actor’s Venice Beach, Calif., home.

Hopper, who was twice nominated for Oscars and earned a star last year on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, died of prostate cancer at his home in May. He was 74.

The actor/director was already stricken with cancer when he attended the ceremony for the unveiling of his commemorative star. The framed plaque of the star that Hopper received as a momento of the event is being sold next week for an estimated $1,000 to $1,500.

Hopper began collecting in the 1960s after the venerable actor, Vincent Price, himself an avid collec-

tor of Impressionist art, told him: “You need to collect, this is where you need to put your money,” said Cathy Elkies, Christie’s director of iconic collections.

“This really was his calling.”

Hopper, a photographer and painter himself, became immersed in the West Coast artist scene and pop art movement, becoming close friends with Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and many of the other artists he collected. While eclectic, “there is some depth of certain artists” among the fine art works in the collection, including those by Wallace Berman, Bruce Conner and George Herms.

Conner’s “Picnic on the Grass” and Warhol’s “Mao” are the highest

priced items in the sale. “Picnic on the Grass” also is expected to bring between $20,000 to $30,000. The shooting incident involving “Mao” occurred sometime in the early 1970s at Hopper’s Los Angeles home, said Alex Hitz, a family friend and a trustee of the estate.

“One night in the shadows, Dennis, out of the corner of his eyes, saw the Mao and he was so spooked by it that he got up and shot at it, twice, putting two bullet holes in it,” Hitz told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Los Angeles.

“Andy saw it, loved it and annotated those holes” labeling them “warning shot” and “bullet hole.” Hopper’s four children are selling the collection because “it was Dennis’ wish to sell everything,” said Hitz.

“How do you cut a Warhol and all those other wonderful pieces by four,” he added. Elkies said Hopper’s Venice Beach house was filled “literally from floor to ceiling with art, and realistically they (the children) couldn’t take that on.”

AP Photo/Christie’s Images Ltd. 2010

This image provided by Christie’s auction house in New York shows a portrait of Mao Zedong by Andy Warhol, with two bullet holes put there by “Easy Rider” star Dennis Hopper.

Bodyguard expected to French TV star accused of Hemingway plagiarism testify against Jackson doc Agence France Presse

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – A bodyguard who prosecutors say was ordered by the doctor charged in Michael Jackson’s death to conceal syringes and other items before calling 911 is expected to shed light on the chaotic efforts that failed to revive the King of Pop. Alberto Alvarez will testify Wednesday at a preliminary hearing against Dr. Conrad Murray about the doctor’s attempts to revive the singer on June 25, 2009, his attorney said.

The bodyguard’s testimony could provide key corroboration to the prosecutors’ argument that Murray’s actions demonstrated

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File

FILE - In this Feb. 8, 2010 file photo, Michael Jackson’s physician, Conrad Murray arrives for his arraignment at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles.

“an extreme deviation from the standard of care” by administering the powerful anesthetic propofol without the proper equipment, and also concealing it and botching efforts to resuscitate the singer. An autopsy report found Jackson died from an overdose of propofol.

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said Tuesday that Murray forced Alvarez, 34, to gather and conceal items before calling 911 to try to help Jackson. Walgren told a judge that he would present evidence that Murray waited much as 21 minutes before calling for paramedics.

At the end of the preliminary hearing, which was expected to go into next week, a judge will rule whether there is enough evidence for Murray to stand trial on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the pop star’s death. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

The Houston cardiologist has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys have contended he did not give Jackson anything that “should have” killed the singer. On Tuesday, Jackson friend and choreographer Kenny Ortega described how the singer appeared sick during one rehearsal days before his death and left early. The rehearsals were for a series of planned comeback concerts in London.

Ortega said after that incident, Murray “was upset that I had sent Michael home the night before and didn’t allow him to rehearse.” The hearing, attended by international media and fans, provided another glimpse into the private life of Jackson, a one-time superstar who grew reclusive after his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.

AFP/File/LIONEL BONAVENTURE

Patrick Poivre d’Arvor

PARIS – A French celebrity TV news anchor, who notoriously faked an “exclusive” interview with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, was on Tuesday accused of plagiarism in his new biography of Ernest Hemingway.

Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, a household name in France for the past three decades, was accused by L’Express magazine of lifting around 100 pages from a previous biography of the late US novelist.

The weekly’s website said PPDA, as he is popularly known in France, cut and pasted swathes of text from a 1985 book by US author Peter Griffin — later translated into French — and passed them off as his own by changing them slightly. Poivre d’Arvor’s book on

Hemingway, who penned such classics as “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “A Farewell to Arms” and “The Old Man and the Sea”, is due in bookstores on January 19.

The journalist, who did not immediately respond to calls from AFP on Tuesday, told L’Express that he had consulted Griffin’s book as part of his research but denied plagiarism.

He was exposed in 1991 for using press conference footage and, interposing his own questions, pretending it was his own “exclusive” interview with Castro. PPDA also got a suspended prison term and large fine in the 1990s for receiving the proceeds of embezzled funds.

He presented the evening news on France’s main private channel TF1 from the mid-1980s until 2008 and is also a best-selling author.

‘True Grit,’ ‘127 Hours’ receive writers noms Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Huge hits such as “True Grit” and “Inception” will be up against smaller films that include “127 Hours” and “The Kids Are All Right” for screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America.

The sci-fi smash “Inception” and the lesbian family tale “The Kids Are All Right” were among guild nominees Tuesday for best original screenplay, along with the ballet thriller “Black Swan,” the boxing saga “The Fighter” and the comic drama “Please Give.”

The Western “True Grit” and the survival story “127 Hours” are in the running for adapted screenplay, along with the con man tale “I Love You Phillip Morris,” the Facebook drama “The Social Network” and the heist thriller “The Town.”

Some of the year’s most acclaimed films, including “The King’s Speech,” “Winter’s Bone” and “Toy Story 3,” were ineligible because they were not made under the guild’s contract guidelines.

Documentary screenplay nominees are “Enemies of the People,” “Freedom Riders,” “Gasland,” “Inside Job,”

“The Two Escobars” and “Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?” Guild winners will be announced Feb. 5.

AP Photo/Paramount Pictures

In this undated film publicity image released by Paramount Pictures, Jeff Bridges, left, and Hailee Steinfeld are shown in a scene from ‘True Grit.’

Life Style

International

Sat-nav turtles go on trans-ocean trek Agence France Presse

PARIS – Satellite tracking devices have shed light on an astonishing trans-Atlantic odyssey undertaken by the leatherback turtle, one of the world’s most ancient species, as it goes on a feeding foray before breeding, scientists said on Wednesday.

Biologists at the University of Exeter in southwestern England attached the tiny trackers to 25 female turtles at their breeding grounds in Gabon, central-west Africa, and then monitored their movements over the next five years.

Three migratory routes emerged as the turtles headed for food-rich waters in the Atlantic, building reserves over the next two to five years before returning to Gabon to reproduce, they reported.

One route led to a circular zone in the mid-Atlantic between central Africa and Brazil, and another route went far south, beyond the Cape of Good Hope.

A third went straight as an arrow across the Atlantic to the coast of South America, an ocean-spanning 7,563 kilometres (4,699 miles).

“Despite extensive research carried out on leatherbacks, no-one has really been sure about the journeys they take in the South Atlantic until now,” said Matthew Witt of the university’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation.

“What we’ve shown is that there are three clear migration routes as they head back to feeding grounds after breeding in Gabon, although the numbers adopting each strategy varied each year. We don’t know what influences that choice yet, but we do know these are truly remarkable journeys.”

The findings, published by Britain’s Royal Society in its journal Proceedings B, also showed that the turtles also crisscross routes used by longline trawlers. These are

Thursday, January 6, 2011

13

Gadget charger harnesses walking power Agence France Presse

LAS VEGAS – A US company has come up with a baton-shaped device that charges gadgets using power generated by walking, hiking or running.

Tremont Electric was in Las Vegas on Tuesday for the Consumer Electronics Show, where it will tout the nPower PEG (personal energy generator) as ideally suited for today’s gizmo-dependent lifestyles.

“It’s for any outdoors enthusiast who is deep in the woods and doesn’t have access to a power outlet or for a commuter who constantly needs backup battery power,” said Jessica Davis of Tremont. “You could use this for

an emergency situation or just for your commute.”

PEG batons measure nine inches (23 centimeters) and weigh 11 ounces (312 grams). Electricity is generated when floating magnets slide through coils, according to Davis. The batons can be put in a backpack, brief case, or runner’s pouch where they synch to up-and-down motion to generate power.

“It tunes to optimize the amount of power being produced,” Davis said. PEG works with more than 3,000 handheld devices that are USB 2.0 compatible. The Ohiobased company began selling the 160-dollar “kinetic” chargers in September and has been scrambling to catch up to demand.

AFP PHOTO/HO/UNIVERSITY OF EXETER/ MATTHEW WITT

In this handout picture received by The University of Exeter, taken on December 13, 2005 a Leatherback Turtle moves along a beach in the Mayuba National Park in Southern Gabon.

ships that trail baited hooks for fish but often end up snaring hapless turtles, as well as albatrosses.

“All of the routes we’ve identified take the leatherbacks through areas of high risk from fisheries,” said Witt’s colleague, Brendan Godley.

“Knowing the routes has also helped us identify at least 11 nations who should be involved in conservation efforts, as well as those with long-distance fishing

fleets.”

The largest, farthest-ranging and deepest-diving turtles on Earth, leatherbacks can reach up to two metres (6.5 feet) in length and exceed 900 kilos (2,000 pounds) in weight.

Their numbers have remained relatively stable in the Atlantic, but have declined alarmingly in the Pacific.

Their decline has been blamed on accidental catch by trawlers and loss of breeding grounds to shorefront development.

AFP/File/Christof Stache

Hikers — like these in Germany — can use the nPower PEG, a baton-shaped device that charges gadgets using power from walking, hiking or running, when they are away from power outlets, said makers Tremont Electric.

TB patients face higher lung cancer risk: study Agence France Presse

AFP/File/Marine Simon

An Indian tuberculosis patient breathes through an oxygen mask.

Tuberculosis patients are 11 times more likely than the average to develop lung cancer, according to a study by Taiwanese scientists.

TAIPEI – Tuberculosis patients are 11 times more likely than the average to develop lung cancer, according to a new study published by a group of Taiwanese scientists.

The researchers followed more than 700,000 randomly selected individuals over a period of six years, including 4,480 diagnosed with tuberculosis, they said in a statement Wednesday.

“The incidence of lung cancer in these tuberculosis patients was 11 times greater than people without tuberculosis,” said one of the researchers, Chen Chih-yi, from China Medical University in the central Taiwan city of Taichung. “This study suggests that it is also important to watch out for lung cancer prevention in the campaign against tuberculosis.”

The findings, published in the January issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, support the notion of a link

between tuberculosis and lung cancer, which has so far been suspected but not definitively proved.

“Tuberculosis is a very common chronic disease worldwide. People in developing and undeveloped areas suffer from it mostly,” said Chen.

“It is well known that lung cancer is causally associated with smoking. Less attention has been focused on whether people with tuberculosis are also at higher risk of developing lung cancer.”

14

Sport

Thursday, January 6, 2011

International

Kaka in ‘perfect shape’ after surgery: doctor

Manchester United’s Portugese midfielder Nani (R) celebrates with Manchester United’s Brazilian defender Rafael Da Silva (L) after scoring the second goal during the English Premier League football match against Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on January 4, 2011.

Agence France Presse

MADRID – Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder Kaka is in “perfect shape” following the knee surgery he underwent in August, the Belgian doctor who performed the operation said in comments published on Wednesday. “Kaka needed to have the surgery, he could not play with the pain he was feeling and the treatment he has had since the operation has been perfect,” sports daily Marca quoted Doctor Marc Martens as saying.

“Now he has a new knee, it is like he had never had the operation. He is in perfect shape. “After the surgery we really did not know when he would return. There was an estimated timeline but we did not think he would return so early and in such good physical condition.”

Kaka, 28, underwent surgery on his left knee on August 5 and only returned to training last month. He returned to action for the first time since his operation on Monday, coming on the pitch in the 75th minute of Real’s 3-2 Spanish league win at Getafe.

“I am very happy for playing a game again and for stepping onto a pitch. Coming back with a victory is the best thing that could have happened to me,” the player said after the match.

“At times, I was afraid when I thought about when I was going to come back, or if I ever would. I must now earn a spot because the team is in great form. Competition is always good for the team.”

Kaka’s hopes of reclaiming a first-team place have been hit by the arrival of 22-year-old playmaker Mesut Ozil, who joined Real from Werder Bremen last summer after starring for Germany at the World Cup in South Africa.

Prior to his injury, Kaka had struggled to shine due to a combination of injuries and poor form.

He joined Real from AC Milan for around 65 million euros in June 2009, shortly before the arrival of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Kaka won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2007 while he was at AC Milan.

AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES

Ferguson upbeat as Manchester United extend lead Agence France Presse

MANCHESTER, England – Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, saw his team successfully meet his target of opening the new year in first place in the English Premier League and then fired a warning to their title rivals after a 2-1 victory over Stoke.

Goals from Javier Hernandez and Nani, either side of Dean Whitehead’s surprising equaliser at Old Trafford here on Tuesday, left United three points clear of Manchester City, at least for the 24 hours before their local rivals play Arsenal, with a game in hand.

Veteran United manager Ferguson, who turned 69 last week, said history indicated his team deserved its billing as favourites to win a record 19th English championship and pointed to the coming month as a pivotal period.

“We’re pleased about that,” said Ferguson when asked about the league table. “I think we’re going to be in the shake-up. “Once you get to the new year it gives you a good guide where you are going to be at the end of the season and history tells you we play better in the second half and big games are not an issue. We relish that.

“January is going to be a big month for us. We’ve got Liverpool in the (FA) Cup and then Tottenham the next week.” It was a far from convincing United display for a line-up without Edwin van der Sar, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand although the vic-

tory means that only West Bromwich Albion — in a draw in October — have taken points from Old Trafford this season.

But United are still the only unbeaten side in the league this season and Ferguson defended making some unenforced changes against Stoke by insisting: “It will be a busy month and it was important to get these players playing. “You have to have faith in your squad and I do. In the games they’ve played they’ve never let me down.”

“You can look as many stats as you like - shots at goal, passes, things like that,” said Ferguson. “But I look at our home performances and our home performances have been fantastic.

“Away from home we had two bad performances — Sunderland and on Saturday at West Brom, a battling performance at Birmingham where we should have won.

“Other than that, we have had some good performances away from home. We have dropped some points away but that doesn’t mean we didn’t play well. “We’re an easy target for that kind of thing. We’ve got to dismiss it and concentrate on what our

ambitions are - which are to win the league.” Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez scored his sixth goal of the season — and his third against Stoke — as well as having a hand in Nani?s winner and Ferguson conceded the Mexican forward will leave him with a selection headache when Rooney recovers from his ankle injury.

“That’s the kind of problem you want,” Ferguson said. “Over the years the strikers I’ve had have always given me that problem — that’s their job. “If Chico keeps sticking the ball in the net it does give you a problem.”

Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, paid tribute to his team’s conquerors and had no doubt United had the mental strength to win the title.

“They know how to win games and there’s a mentality at the football club,” he said. “This club is used to winning and it’s ingrained within the club. It gives you that edge and will hold them in good stead again this season. “I’m certain they’ll have a run when things won’t go that well but they’ve got the quality and the depth to do it again.”

Aquilani set to stay at Juventus AP Photo/Paul White

Real Madrid’s Kaka from Brazil runs with the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Getafe at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium in Getafe, Spain Monday, Jan. 3, 2011.

Kaka has been injured for several months and is back in the team squad.

Turin - Alberto Aquilani’s agent expects Juventus to sign the Liverpool midfielder on a permanent basis.

The Italy international is currently on a season-long loan at the Serie A club and has been one of the stand-out performers this season.

Juve have the option of turning

Aquilani’s spell into a long-term deal and the 26-year-old’s representative, Franco Zavaglia, reckons the Bianconeri will honour their agreement with the Merseysiders.

Zavaglia told Radio Sportiva: “The release from Liverpool depends only on Juventus but I think there will be.

“Alberto is very, very happy in Turin and has found an environment where he can express himself.”

Zavaglia believes the former Roma schemer benefited from his brief time at Anfield, adding: “The English experience has been good, it has enriched his international background.”

Sport

International

Thursday, January 6, 2011

15

Berdych makes perfect start to new season Agence France Presse

CHENNAI, India – Top seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic opened his campaign in the 450,000-dollar ATP Chennai Open with a fluent win over Frederico Gil of Portugal on Tuesday. The world number six needed just 45 minutes to defeat the 101st-ranked Gil 6-0, 6-1 in a first round match at the Nungambakkam Tennis stadium in the southern Indian city.

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) tries to block a shot by New York Knicks center Amare Stoudemire (1) in the first half of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Stoudemire had 28 points in the Knicks 128-115 win over the first place Spurs.

Knicks defeat NBA-best Spurs Agence France Presse

NEW YORK – Wilson Chandler scored 31 points while Amare Stoudemire and Raymond Felton each added 28 points to spark the New York Knicks past NBA overall leader San Antonio Spurs 128115. The Spurs saw their four-game win streak snapped and fell to 295, still three games atop Dallas in the Southwest division and leading the league.

“They were more aggressive. They were more physical. They were hungrier than we were,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “If we score 115 points, I expect to win. Our defense was pathetic. It was our worst defense of the year. They went after the game and they got it.

Nothing else tricky about it.”

The Knicks had the best-shooting night against the Spurs all season, hitting 55 percent from the field. “We feel like we can match up with the best of them,” Stoudemire said. “We have got some quality wins against some pretty good teams so we feel like we’re right there, but we’ve just got to play with some consistency and keep it going all year.”

French guard Tony Parker had 26 points for the Spurs while DeJuan Blair added 17, Argentine playmaker Manu Ginobili added 15 and Tim Duncan added 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

Popovich sees the Spurs’ superb start as unsustainable rather than a strong launch for one of the best seasons in NBA history. “We’re not going to keep up this pace, that’s for sure,” Popovich said. “It’s not going to happen.”

Toney Douglas and Felton made 3-pointers and Felton and Stoudemire hit back-to-back baskets to give the Knicks a 122-111 lead with 3:27 remaining as New York surpassed a league-best 107.2 pointper-game average.

“They made us play their game instead of us making them play ours,” Duncan said. “They got up and down, made shots, had it rolling in every direction. We couldn’t find a way to stop them.”

Gil was facing a total rout when he trailed 5-0 in the second set, but managed to hold his serve at that stage to win his only game in the match. “It was important to start well in the new season and I am happy I was able to do that tonight,” said 25-year-old Berdych.

“I was aggressive from the start and my game was obviously too fast for him. “It happens only a few times that one wins a match in 45 minutes.

I did not have such a game last year and don’t think I will have another one this year.

“But I am not looking too far ahead. I will take it step by step and prepare for my next match” said Berdych, who takes on Ivan Dodig of Croatia in the second round.

Berdych led a march of the seeded players on the second day after twotime defending champion Marin Cilic of Croatia was knocked out by Japan’s rising star Kei Nishikori on Monday.

Third seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, who lost to Cilic in last year’s final, began with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna. Fourth seed Richard Gasquet of France, ranked 30th in the world, overwhelmed compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-1, 63 to reach the second round.

“I can’t think of a better way to start the year,” said Gasquet, who aims to return to the top 10 for the first time since 2007. The Frenchman next plays Bjorn Phau of Germany for a place in the quarter-finals. Seventh seed Xavier Malisse of Belgium, who won the Chennai event in 2007, disposed off Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 6-3, 6-1 in another match.

Robin Haase, the eighth-seeded Dutchman, fought off a spirited challenge from Frank Dancevic of Canada before winning 6-7 (6/8), 6-

4, 6-4. The lone seeded player to fall on Tuesday was number five Jeremy Chardy of France, who lost to Blaz Kavcic of Slovakia 6-3, 6-2.

India’s number one Somdev Devvarman, winner of the singles titles at the Commonwealth and Asian Games last year, crashed out

in the first round. The 108th-ranked Indian was beaten by qualifier David Goffin of Belgium 6-2, 6-4 in an hour and 26 minutes.

“It was just a bad day for me,” Devvarman said. “I was shaky and nervous for no reason because I was hitting the ball well in practice.

AFP PHOTO/Dibyangshu SARKAR

Czech Republic’s tennis player Tomas Berdych serves to his Portugese opponent Frederico Gil, during their first round match at the ATP Chennai Open 2011, in Chennai on January 4, 2011.

Berdych won the match 6-0, 6-1.

Brook hunting down Khan London - Kell Brook is urging Frank Warren to do all he can to get Amir Khan to face him.

Warren has already put forward a multi- million dollar offer to the WBA light welterweight champion to step up to a weight and take on undefeated British rival Brook.

And the Yorkshireman was left fuming when Khan turned down the offer, saying that he used to beat him up in sparring. “Believe me, it was always the other way around,” said Brook.

“I couldn’t believe it when I read what Khan had been saying - may be all those punches he took against Maidana have had an affect on his memory. “We used to do a bit together when we were both in the ama-

teurs, and I showed him up every time we got in the ring together.

“Amir’s come on a bit since then, but then so have I. “I’d seriously love it if Frank Warren could get this fight on because we could settle it once and for all.

“I watched Khan’s last fight against Maidana. “Fair play to him because he soaked up some punishment to hold on to his title.

“But Maidana showed that Khan’s chin hasn’t improved much since he went to Freddie Roach.

He can take a shot better, but he still gets clipped and hurt. “I feel that I’ve got the power to take him out of there. One clean shot on his chin is all that I need to land.”

16

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Sport

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

Al-Attiyah takes first stage win Nasser Al-Attiyah won his first stage of this year’s Dakar Rally on Tuesday, though his Volkswagen team-mate Carlos Sainz still holds the event’s overall lead. Al-Attiyah had started the day third, also trailing Stephane Peterhansel’s BMW, but quickly caught Sainz and trailed the Spaniard home to record a 25-second advantage and his ninth career Dakar stage win. But the Qatari was not content with the stage victory, complaining about a loss of engine power during the day.

“I’m very disappointed,” he said.

“We had exactly the same problem as yesterday. We completely lost power after 200km. I don’t know why. That’s three days the same thing has happened. “I gained 1m30 on Carlos in the first part, but I lost my lead on the technical section where you must always use 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear.

“We must fix the problem. I don’t care about our time or the special stage victory. Tomorrow there will be dunes and soft sand and that will be a problem.”

Sainz, meanwhile, was happy with his second place today: “I’m more or

less happy with my day. We lost a minute and a half to Nasser by the end of the first section, but in the end we made up most of the time lost by pushing more on the last section where there was less navigation.” Peterhansel finished another half minute behind Sainz and has now fallen more than four minutes behind the leader.

Giniel de Villiers remains fourth, now 17 minutes off the lead, while Krzysztof Holowczyc closed in on him with the fourth fastest time today. Home driver Orlando Terranova remains sixth after the last of the Argentinean special stages.

Stage two results: Pos Driver 1. Nasser Al-Attiyah 2. Carlos Sainz 3. Stephane Peterhansel 4. Krzysztof Holowczyc 5. Giniel de Villiers

Car Volkswagen Volkswagen BMW BMW Volkswagen

Time/Gap 3h42m20s +24s +59s +5m30s +5m53s

Car Volkswagen Volkswagen BMW Volkswagen BMW

Time/Gap 9h12m05s + 3m34s + 4m19s + 16m57s + 21m49s

Overall standings: AFP PHOTO/Daniel GARCIA

Qatar’s driver Nasser Al-Attiyah steers his Volkswagen with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk on January 3, 2011 during the stage 2 Cordoba-Tucuman of the 2011 Dakar Rally. Defending champion Carlos Sainz of Spain added a second stage win in as many days Monday at the Dakar Rally in Argentina, dominating the 324km special stage from Cordoba to San Miguel de Tucuman.

Brawn sure Schumacher will improve ROSS Brawn is convinced Michael Schumacher will show a big improvement in form in 2011 judging by the progress the seventime champion made at the end of last year. Schumacher’s return to F1 in 2010 did not live up to its preseason hype, as he failed to finish on the podium and was beaten regularly by team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Speaking in the week that Schumacher celebrated his 42nd birthday, Brawn reckons the onus is now more on him to help Mercedes to produce a better car, rather than expect major progress from his driver.

When asked if he had thought of any birthday present to give Schumacher, Brawn told Gazzetta della Sport: “No, I haven’t thought about any particular present for Michael Schumacher, because I already know what he wants from me: a competitive car. “I’m still optimistic because Michael’s performances at the end of last season were encouraging. I’m convinced he will go decidedly better this year.”

A lot of Schumacher’s early-season problems were blamed on the characteristics of Bridgestone’s 2010 tyres - with the narrower fronts not giving the German the confidence he had enjoyed earlier in his career.

Schumacher hopes Pirelli’s 2011 rubber will help him, but that is far from guaranteed – with early impressions from the first F1 test with

the tyres not proving conclusive.

“It’s premature to say that,” said Brawn when asked if the Pirellis would help Schumacher.

“In the Abu Dhabi test we didn’t detect big differences compared to the performances obtained with Bridgestones, but it’s clear that, by changing supplier, the cars need to be adapted. We’ll see a lot of changes during winter testing.”

IBP/ist

Ross Brawn, left, is talking with Michael Schumacher

Pos Driver 1. Carlos Sainz 2. Nasser Al-Attiyah 3. Stephane Peterhansel 4. Giniel de Villiers 5. Krzysztof Holowczyc