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Friday, March 4, 2011

16 Pages Number 603rd Year

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

http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

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PAGE 8

Actor MickeyRooney tellsCongress aboutabuse

Foreign touristsflying direct to Balireaches 209,093

The InternationalBali Post wouldlike to say HappyNyepi Day, CakaNew Year 1933

The Ogoh-ogohBaruna Murtifrom banjarGemeh,Denpasar. TheHindus is cel-ebrating NyepiDay, Caka NewYear 1933 tomor-row. Before theNew Year, there ispengerupukanwhere they carryout the giantpuppet called“Ogoh-Ogoh” allaround thevillage. It is thesymbol to returnthe evil to itsoriginal place andto suppress ourbad charactersbefore Nyepi.

Associated Press Writer

KABUL – US film starAngelina Jolie has made a surprisetwo-day visit to Afghanistan tomeet refugees in the war-torncountry, the UN’s refugee agencysaid Wednesday. Jolie, star of filmssuch as “Mr & Mrs Smith” andalso a UNHCR goodwill ambas-sador, spent two days meetingrefugees, afterwards calling formore to be done to reintegrateformer exiles into Afghan society.

Over 5.5 million people have re-turned to Afghanistan since 2002, theyear after the Taliban were ousted bya US-led invasion, according to the

The assassination of Ministerfor Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti inbroad daylight on Wednesday

IBP/Eka Adiyaksa

Pakistan vows to battleextremism after minister slainReuters

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan must not buckle to extremism,President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday, a day afterTaliban militants killed his government’s only Christian min-ister for challenging a law on blasphemy toward Islam.

threatens to further destabilize thenuclear-armed U.S. ally wheremany fear a strain of violent reli-

gious conservatism is becomingmore mainstream in society.

Zardari, head of a governmentmany Pakistanis hold in little regard,said Bhatti’s killing was the resultof a “negative mindset and intoler-ance” that had led to the killing of aprovincial governor in January.Punjab governor Salman Taseer wasalso shot dead, by his own body-

guard, for his staunch opposition tothe blasphemy law that mandatesthe death sentence for anyone in-sulting Islam.

“We have to fight this mindsetand defeat them. We will not be in-timidated nor will we retreat,” theofficial APP news agency quotedZardari as saying.Continued on page 6

Actress Jolie visits Afghanistan: UNHCRUNHCR. Most of them had fled toPakistan and Iran and their return hasincreased the country’s population byover 20 percent, it says.

There are currently some140,000 international troops in Af-ghanistan fighting a Taliban-ledinsurgency.Continued on page 6

Angelina Jolie (L) meetsKhanum Gul (R), 35 year

old, mother of 8 children,and her youngest son,

Samir at their makeshifthome at Tamil Mill Bus sitein Kabul on March 2, 2011. AFP PHOTO / UNHCR / JASON TANNER

InternationalFriday, March 4, 20112

Bali News

Founder : K.Nadha, General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi

Winanto Denpasar: 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. Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. 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

Denpasar (Bali Post)—Bali Regional Office of Director-

ate General of Tax (DJP) recordedthat compliance level of Bali resi-dents in carrying out tax obligationsremained low. DJP Bali also notedthe number of taxpayers in Bali hadreached 368,835. Of these numbers,only 208,161 that had submittedtheir tax notification or 56.44 per-cent of the total registered taxpay-ers.

Head of DJP Bali, ZulfikarThahar, stated the results of studiesindicated several reasons why tax-payers were reluctant to submit theirannual tax notification. Amongthem, the taxpayers did not get theannual tax notification, and theyfound difficulties in filling out theform of tax notification consistingof multiple attachments, the com-pany where taxpayers worked didnot issue evidence of income taxdeduction pursuant to Article 21, andsome taxpayers were also lazy toqueue up at Main Tax Office.

“Awareness of Balinese residentsto pay taxes remains low. Of the reg-

Beach areas in the former port ofBuleleng were crowded by thousandsof devotees from customary villagesexisting in the Sukasada andBuleleng Subdistrict. Meanwhile, theKerobokan Beach was thronged bythousands of devotees fromKerobokan customary village andthose from other villages that alsoperformed the same melasti proces-sion. In the meantime, the BanjarBeach filled with many villas wasalso overwhelmed by devotees per-forming melasti procession from cus-tomary villages within the territoryof Banjar Subdistrict.

The procession held at the sametime had once caused traffic conges-tion. However, due to alacrity of

Thousands of devotees in BulelengThousands of devotees in BulelengThousands of devotees in BulelengThousands of devotees in BulelengThousands of devotees in Bulelengdo Melasti to local beachdo Melasti to local beachdo Melasti to local beachdo Melasti to local beachdo Melasti to local beach

IBP/File

The Hindus carry out melasti ceremony.

Singaraja (Bali Post)—Virtually all sections of northern coast in Buleleng, Wednes-

day (Mar 2), were filled with Hindu devotees who performedMelasti procession before Nyepi festivity. The entire processionswere escorted by pecalang of customary security taskforce as-sisted by police officers from each subdistrict police in Buleleng.

pecalang together with police of-ficers, the traffic congestion did nottake place for a long time.

Division Head of Operations ofBuleleng Police, Ida BagusWedanajati, said that all personnelincluding personnel of subdistrictpolice had been instructed to securethe entire series of Nyepi Day,ranging from melasti procession,pecaruan (exorcism rite), ogoh-ogoh (papier mache demon) pa-rade, as well as Ngembak Nyepi.The tasks had been divided accord-ing to their own field. Traffic of-ficers arranged the traffic safetyand criminal detective unit didcrime prevention. “In short, we se-cure all of them,” he said. (kmb15)

Bali residents do notcomply with tax obligation

istered taxpayers, the lowest levelof compliance is on individual tax-payer,” said Zulfikar in Denpasar,Wednesday (Mar 2).

He explained that the numberof individual taxpayers up to2010 reached 339,715 people.Among them, only 194,656people or 46.8 percent submittedtheir tax notification. Meanwhile,out of the registered corporatetaxpayers amounting to 29,120people, only 13,505 people or57.3 percent submitted their taxnotification. In order to improvethe tax realization in the periodof 2011, DJP Bali would providea drop box at a number of publicplaces such as in the RamayanaBali Mall, BPD Bali, TiaraDewata, Discovery ShoppingMall, BTDC, Ngurah Rai Airport,Seminyak Square and theUdayana University Jimbaran.

“Such drop box is intended toprovide closer services to thecommunity. Besides, it also re-duces long queue in the main taxoffice,” he said. Related to tax

revenue in the period of 2011, DJPBali had set the target of tax real-ization at IDR 4.08 trillion. Thetarget was much higher than thetarget realization in 2010 set atIDR 3.64 trillion.

“Tax realization is targeted toincrease. It is proportional to thegrowth rate of individual and cor-porate taxpayers existing in BaliProvince,” he said. Throughout theyear 2010, the target of tax real-ization set by DJP Bali, as admit-ted by Zulfikar, had not been in ac-cordance with the target. In 2010,the tax realization just reachedIDR 3.58 trillion, or 98.32 percentof the target set. Low tax realiza-tion in 2010 was inseparable fromthe low compliance of tax notifi-cation submission by taxpayers.

“On average, only 56.44 percentof taxpayers in Bali submitted theirtax notification in 2010. Ideally, itshould reach 100 percent. Never-theless, we will attempt all thetimes so the awareness of taxpay-ers to pays taxes increases aswell,” he said (par)

Denpasar (Bali Post) –Accused Munasiroh (26) was

suspected to have tried smuggledMethamphetamine weighing427, 97 grams through NgurahRai International Airport startedher trial last Wednesday (2/3) inDenpasar District Court. For thataccused was stated violated sec-tion 114 paragraph 2, section 113paragrah 2 and section 115 para-graph 2 from Indonesia Repub-lic Law No.35 Year 2005 on nar-cotics with punishment maxi-mum jailed for life.

Public Prosecutor KetutSujaya explained accuses wascaptured in the Arrival Terminalon Monday 8th November 2010when suspected to have violatedthe law in importing the meth-amphetamine. The capturestarted with an information re-ceived by Bali Police Drugs Di-rectorate National OperationTeam from the Customs workerof one Thai Air TG-431 passen-

Jail for Life,Student Burst Crying

ger acting suspiciously.For that, the student with pass-

port number R 435828 was thenchecked which then six packagesof clear crystals weighing 164,46 gross gram was placed on abrown colored with laces bra andanother one outside a brownpanties weighing 263, 51 grossgram. From the interrogationwith police, accused admitted allof them was brought fromBangkok and received fromsomeone named Lina who’s atCNK Hotel 5th Floor No. 591Patanakan No.40 Thailand.These items were next sent toJakarta and from Lina she wasgiven an electric ticket usingSMS with flight number JXFQ3Talso promised USD 4.000 forpayment. As the maximum pun-ishment was stated, Munasirohburst crying in the trial room. Shecouldn’t believe that the itemsshe brought were a trap thatbrought her to the court. (015)

3International Bali News Friday, March 4, 2011

Specially for Tuesday it is al-lowed to go through it as forMelasti they have to pass by it.Yet for Thursday (3/3) the 100meters radius four ways will betotally closed (sterile) as therewill be some cleansing for theequipments also mapepadawewalungan (animal sacrific-ing for cleansing procession).The Mapepada happened in themorning was led by IdaPedanda Ketut Gelgel and IdaDalem Surya Dharma Sogata.Wewalungan (animals) usedwere cow, bull, goat, pig, swan,dog, duck, turtle, and chickens.And so by tawur’s peak this Fri-

IBP/Eka and Yudi

The Ogoh-Ogoh spread throughout Denpasar. From left, theOgoh-Ogoh from Bajar Karang Suwung, followed by from banjarBelaluan Sadmerta, then Mastya Awatara from banjar TitihTengah, Banjar Kayumas Kaja Denpasar, and the last from BanjarAlang Kajeng Denpasar

Denpasar (Bali Post) –Every year Blood Transfu-

s ion Uni t (UTD) of Bal iBranch Indonesia Red Cross(PMI) Guidance stocked bloodfor the coming Nyepi day.Since Wednesday (2/3) theblood packages are preparedand hoped will be enough un-til the coming Nyepi on Satur-day (5/3).

Head of Sub Donor Recruit-ment UTD Bali PMI Guidance,Made Geria Amita, stated 270packages of blood with bloodtype A 110 pockets, B 50 pock-ets, O 80 pockets and AB 30pockets. Even though the stock

Tawur Preparation

Klungkung Catus PataKlungkung Catus PataKlungkung Catus PataKlungkung Catus PataKlungkung Catus PataClosed Three DaysClosed Three DaysClosed Three DaysClosed Three DaysClosed Three DaysSemarapura (Bali Post) –

In the coming Tawur Agung Kesanga ( in order welcoming the Caka New Year 1933 onNyepi Day, Klungkung Catus Pata cross road is closed for three days, Wednesday (2/3) toFriday (4/3). This was done for preparation for placing variety religious ceremony equip-ments such as sanggar tawang, sanggar surya, bale panggungan, bale pewedaan, terok andlampan genah banten.

day, there will be preparation.The tawur kesanga starts at 10

am local time on Friday and ledby Ida Pedanda Gede PutraTembau from Geria Aan,Banjarangkan and Ida PedandaNyoman Jelantik Karang fromGeria Karang, Buda Keling.Tawur committee, Dewa KetutSoma, explained philosophicallymeans payment after a year tak-ing nature’s content, realize it ornot. And so in this changing year(Caka) it is obliged to return it tobalance it, “If we take it withoutgiving something back, it’s notbalance.” Those balances were thebalance of Panca Maha Bhuta

sources (akasa, bayu, teja, apahand pertiwi),

It is still being questionedwhy this tawur kesanga is heledin the four ways of catus pata.Dewa Soma stated it is based onHindu Concept as this place isthe tapak dara, the symbol ofthe meeting of akasa andpertiwi (central point) and sothis is the symbol of swastika.Meanwhile tawur kesanga is a“nyomya” activity where butakala becomes buta hita and asymbol of hoping harmony withnature, “This is to hope for har-mony, and so it’s best in its cen-ter point.” (kmb20)

ABOUT three years ago,Buleleng Regency was impregnatedwith discourse on the constructionof cruise ship quay in the port areaof Celukan Bawang, Gerokgak Sub-district. But amidst the emergenceof a new discourse on the interna-tional airport development, in factthe previous discourse disappeared.What about the cruise ship quay?

Before the emergence of dis-course to build an international air-port, there were at least three megaprojects in the Buleleng region pre-viously touted to increase the pres-tige of Buleleng as developed re-gency. The three projects consist ofthe international standard swimmingpool covering about 1.6 hectares ofland in Banyuasri area resemblingto the Ancol Dreamland. Anotherproject was the cruise ship quay inthe Celukan Bawang port.

If the swimming pool anddreamland-like project have beenindeed not materialized at all, thecruise ship quay project has evenbeen built. It has been establishedby using a fund allocated through

Cruise ship quay in CelukanBawang goes unnoticed

Secured, Blood Stock For Nyepiwas felt enough but there has beena problem like one of them was tofulfill thrombosis needs in thisNyepi day, “For thrombosis wecan’t stock them as it only last 5hours so it needs from a freshblood.”

In solving it those patients whowill need it the doctors will sug-gest plasma blood instead and forthat there is some stock. Besidesthat to avoid the stocks finished,the UTD will only receive doctorrequests only, “Usually there areno surgery scheduled duringNyepi so blood stock won’t fin-ish. The case that needs it usuallyis treatment in increasing patient’s

hemoglobin (Hb) or emergencysurgery.”

During Nyepi day the UTDwill open 24 hours but its ser-vices only in Sanglah Hospital,“If there are other hospitals thatneed it can come here straightaway with ambulance and spe-cial permission letter.” For theworkers in Nyepi, UTD preparedsix of its staffs for deliver, do-nor taker and service also pro-cessing, “For donor activities, inthe next few days there hasn’tbeen any schedule but it doesn’tmean there are no possibilitiesthat these donors come here be-fore Nyepi day.”(san)

the Bali Regional Budget around in2006. However, the funds amount-ing to IDR 7.2 billion was onlyenough to build the quay along 160meters. So, the established quaycould not have been used by cruiseship that supposedly had promisedto berth in Buleleng. For that rea-son, the quay was planned to be ex-tended again until reaching 200meters to enable cruise ships to an-chor. Unfortunately, until now thequay extension apparently has notbeen materialized and cruise shipsnever drop by in Buleleng.

Information collected from severalsources in Buleleng Regency said thatthe quay project was initially builtalong 120 meters. Later, it was ex-tended to 160 meters. However, thestandard established by the Atsukacruise ship management of Japan wassupposed to be over 190 meters. Forthat purpose, Buleleng Regency orBali Provincial Government wasforced to re-allocate additional bud-get for the extension. Unluckily, thebudget was not realized, so the cruiseship never comes. (ole)

International4 Friday, March 4, 2011 News

“They are doing everything theycan to influence the outcomes inthese places,” Clinton told the Sen-ate Appropriations Committee.“They are using Hezbollah... tocommunicate with counterparts... in(the Palestinian movement) Hamaswho then in turn communicate withcounterparts in Egypt,” the chief USdiplomat said.

“We know that they are reachingout to the opposition in Bahrain. Weknow that the Iranians are verymuch involved in the opposition

Associated Press Writer

BREGA, Libya – Rebel forcesrouted troops loyal to MoammarGadhafi in a fierce battle over anoil port Wednesday, scramblingover the dunes of a Mediterraneanbeach through shelling and anairstrike to corner their attackers.While they thwarted the regime’sfirst counteroffensive in easternLibya, opposition leaders stillpleaded for outside airstrikes tohelp them oust the longtime leader.

The attack on Brega, a strategicoil facility 460 miles (740 kilome-ters) east of Gadhafi’s strongholdin Tripoli, illustrated the deep dif-ficulties the Libyan leader’s armedforces — an array of militiamen,mercenaries and military units —have had in rolling back the upris-ing that has swept over the entireeastern half of Libya since Feb. 15.In the capital of Tripoli, Gadhafiwarned against U.S. or other West-ern intervention, vowing to turnLibya into “another Vietnam,” andsaying any foreign troops cominginto his country “will be enteringhell and they will drown in blood.”

At least 10 anti-Gadhafi fight-ers were killed and 18 wounded

Reuters

CAIRO – Egypt’s Prime Min-ister Ahmed Shafiq resigned onThursday and a former transportminister was picked to appoint anew government after pro-democ-racy activists demanded a purge ofHosni Mubarak’s old guard fromthe cabinet. Shafiq was appointedprime minister by Mubarak in hisfinal days in office before he wasousted on February 11 after an 18-day popular uprising which shookthe Middle East. But there havebeen protests and political pres-

AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI

An Egyptian rests at Tahrir Square in Cairo on March 2, 2011 whereprotesters returned to push for political reform after more than twoweeks of massive street protests forced former president HosniMubarak to resign on February 11 after 30 years of rule.

Egypt’s prime ministerquits after calls for purge

sure for Shafiq to step down.One Shafiq aide said appointing

Essam Sharaf prime minister wastimed to defuse calls for another massrally by protesters on Friday after afirst modest reshuffle by Shafiq failedto mollify protesters who want a cleanbreak with the Mubarak era.

“This is a shocking and prematureresignation. There have been pres-sures from the streets that he quit,”one of Shafiq’s aides told Reuters,asking not to be identified. “Therewas fear of Friday’s protests and howbig they may be. He actually wantedto leave before this week as well and

does not want to agitate the people,”the aide said.

Even since Mubarak’s overthrow,hundreds of thousands of Egyptianshave turned out in Cairo’s TahrirSquare and other cities to celebratehis downfall and to send a messageto the military that the people willnot be ignored.

Shafiq, an air force commander,has been tipped by one militarysource as a potential contender forthe presidency in a forthcoming elec-tion. This would ensure the armedforces would have one of their ownmembers in Egypt’s top post.

US Secretary ofState HillaryClinton testifiesbefore a SenateAppropriationsCommittee;State, ForeignOperations, andRelated Pro-grams Subcom-mittee hearingon the budgetfor the StateDepartment inthe DirksenSenate OfficeBuildingon Capitol Hillin Washington,DC, March 2,2011.

AFP PHOTO / ROD LAMKEY JR

Clinton

Iran contacting ArabIran contacting ArabIran contacting ArabIran contacting ArabIran contacting Arabopposition movementsopposition movementsopposition movementsopposition movementsopposition movementsAgence France Presse

WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednes-day that Iran is directly or indirectly communicating with oppositiongroups in Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen in a bid to shape events there. It wasthe first time that Clinton detailed alleged efforts by Iran to meddle in thethree-month wave of Arab revolts that has toppled presidents in Tunisiaand Egypt, convulsed Libya and shaken Yemen, Bahrain and Oman.

movements in Yemen,” she said. “So either directly or through

proxies, they are constantly trying toinfluence events. They have a veryactive diplomatic foreign policy out-reach,” she added. In a bid to coun-teract the Iranian moves, she said, theUnited States is making diplomaticand other contacts of its own withopposition groups across the MiddleEast and North Africa.

Clinton said it was a delicate task.“Most people want us to be helpfulbut they don’t want us to be taking a

leading role, and so how we deliveron the aid they’re seeking withoutlooking as though we’re trying totake over their revolution is our chal-lenge,” she said.

“But it is also a challenge for theIranians. They don’t have a lot offriends, but they’re trying to currymore friends,” Clinton said. She saidnonetheless “it’s a constant effort onour part” to keep Iranian influence atbay, adding she needed “the re-sources” to move diplomats and otherUS officials around to be successful.

Clinton pointed out that Shiiteand non-Arab Iran was trying to wininfluence even though it is not anatural ally of the Muslim Brother-hood, a Sunni Muslim Arab groupin Egypt. However, Iran has longsupported Hamas, a radical SunniMuslim group in Gaza, which neigh-bors Egypt.

AFP PHOTO / MARCO LONGARI

Supporters cheer as a convoy of Libyan rebel soldiers drives inAjdabiya on March 2, 2011 while pro Moamer Kadhafi soldiers andmercenaries armed with tanks and heavy artillery stormed thenearby city of Brega, 200 kilometres (125 miles) southwest of themain eastern city Benghazi, sparking heavy clashes.

Rebels corner fleeingGadhafi forces after battle

in the battle for Brega, Libya’ssecond- largest petroleum facility,which the opposition has heldsince last week. Citizen militiasflowed in from a nearby city andfrom the opposition stronghold ofBenghazi hours away to reinforcethe defense, finally repelling theregime loyalists.

The attack began just afterdawn, when several hundred pro-Gadhafi forces in 50 trucks andSUVs mounted with machine gunsdescended on the port, driving outa small opposition contingent andseizing control of the oil facilities,port and airstrip. But by afternoon,they had lost it all and had re-treated to a university campus 5miles (7 kilometers) away.

There, opposition fighters be-sieged them, clambering from thebeach up a hill to the campus asmortars and heavy machine gunfire blasted around them, accord-ing to an Associated Press reporterat the scene. They took cover be-hind grassy dunes, firing back withassault rifles, machine guns andgrenade launchers. At one point, awarplane struck in the dunes to tryto disperse them, but it caused nocasualties and the siege continued.

Activities Friday, March 4, 2011 5International

Temple CeremonyCalendar Event for February 1 through March 2, 2011

EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annualCeremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Ba-linese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine whicheach family possesses. Because of this practically every fewdays a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in someVillage in Bali. There are also times when the entire islandcelebrated 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 consid-ered its birth day and celebration always takes place on thesame day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When newmoon is used then the celebration always happens on new moonor full moon. The day of course can differ the religious cel-ebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some templecelebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakihtemple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and mostof the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importanceof the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed withpieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, deco-rations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold andChinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the fourcorners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, whiteor black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped inthe shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrel-las soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, longflags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. Infront of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles,decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, riceand other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are thegirls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangementsof all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Everyvisitor admires the grace with which the carry their load ontheir heads.

Balinese TempleCeremony

1 FebruaryAnggarKasih Tambir

Dalem Puri Temple in Batuan - SukawatiDalem Kediri Silakarang in Silakarang -Singapadu - GianyarDalem Temple in Sukawati Village - GianyarDalem Temple in Singakerta Village - Ubud -GianyarDalem Lemben in Ketewel - Sukawati -GianyarPaibon Pasek Tangkas in Peliatan - UbudPuseh ngukuhin in Keramas - GianyarPemerajan Agung Ki Telabah in Tuakilang -TabananKarang Buncing in Blahbatuh - GianyarDalem Bubunan in Seririt - BulelengDesa Badung Temple in DenpasarMerajan Pasek Gelgel Gobleg in Turupinghe -Banjar - BulelengLuwur Pedengenan Bedha in Bongan -TabananMerajan Dukuh Sebudi in Keramas - GianyarMerajan Pasek Ngukuhin in Keramas - GianyarPucak Payongan in Kedewatan - Ubud -GianyarTanah Kilap “ Griya Anyar” in Suwung Kawuh- Denpasar SelatanSelukat Temple in Keramas - Blahbatuh -GianyarDalem Tampuagan in tembuku - BangliDalem Waturenggong in Desa Taro - GianyarDalem Bentuyung in Ubud - GianyarPuseh Temple in Ubud - GianyarDalem Temple Peliatan Ubud - Gianyar

2 FebruaryBuda Umanis Tambir, Tilem Kawulu

Sari Bankar Titih Kapal - BadungUlun Kulkul (Aci Sarin Tahun) Besakih -KarangasemDalem Yang Taluh Sidemen -Karangasem

Dalem Kangin Sidemen - Karangasem.

16 FebruaryBuda Keliwon Matal

Puseh & Desa Temple Sukawati Village - GianyarMerajan Agung Batuyang - batubulanPasek Gelgel Bebetin Sawan - BulelengMaspahit Temple Sesetan - South DenpasarPasek Bendesa Manik Mas Dukuh Kendran -TegalalangPanti Pasek Gaduh Sesetan - South DenpasarMerajan Pasek Kubayan Wangaya GedePedarman Arya Kanuruhan Besakih -Karangasem

17 FebruaryPurnama Kesanga

Penataran sasih Temple Pejeng - GianyarBukit Mentik Gunung Lebah Batur VillageKintamani - bangli

26 FebruaryTumpek Kandang Day

Puseh Temple Gianyar CityLuhur Dalem Sagening Kediri - TabananMerajan Pasek Gelge Tegal Gede - Badung

2 MarchBuda Wage Menail

Dalem Tarukan LinggihCemenggaon Sukawati -GianyarPasek Dangke Bambang - BangliPenataran Dalem Ketut Pejeng Pejeng Kaja -GianyarPuseh Menakaji Peninjoan - BangliMerajan Agung Blangsinga Blahbatuh - GianyarKawitan Gusti Agung Blangsinga BlahbatuhGianyarKawitan Gusti Celuk Celuk - Sukawati - GianyarBaler Sada Temple Banjar Pemebatan, KapalMengwi

ASan industry leader in the core sports market, Oakley is pleasedto announce the dates and the venue for its annual 6-star Coca-ColaIndonesian Surfing Championship event; the Oakley Pro 2011 fromApril 1-14 at Canggu Beach in Bali, Indonesia New for this year isthe dual sanctioning of the Oakley Pro 11 as the first 6-star event ofthe new Asian Surfing Championship Tour.

The new ASC Tour is a testament to the growth of the popularityof surfing through South East Asia, and is comprised of selectedevents from the ISC tour in conjunction with events in Thailand,Taiwan and Malaysia and soon in the Philippines and other SEAcountries. The Asian Surfing Championship Tour is at the forefrontof taking the sport to a whole new audience.

Discussing the development of the new ASC series, CEO of theCoca-Cola ISC Tour Tipi Jabrik stated, “Over the past 5 years, theIndonesian Surfing Championships has really gained credibility inthe global surfing community as a world class series. We have notonly raised the standard of competition but also achieved a highlevel of professionalism in the administration. After assisting in theplanning and hosting of a number of events in the region, we areproud to announce the new ASC Tour with the universal support ofthe surfing industry. As a leader in the development of surfing in theregion, Oakley jumped at the chance to take part in the tour and weare elated they will host this first 6-star event.”

As one of the highest performance waves in Bali, Canggu hasbeen the site of the event for the last 2 years, and as Oakley contin-ues their push to raise the bar of performance through quality ven-ues it was an easy decision to return to Canggu to host the first eventof this year.

“Oakley always scores great waves each year in this event atCanggu and we are all stoked to get waves of this caliber as it leadsto some of the best surfing of the year,” noted 2009 Coca-Cola ISC

Oakley Pro 2011 at Canggu Beach BaliChampion and Oakley athlete Lee Wilson, “and withthis being the first ever event of the new Asian Tour, allthe surfers are really looking forward to going big againat this event.” A Mecca for the international surfing com-munity, Canggu is one of the most photographed wavesin the region. With the perfect waves breaking in closeproximity to the beach and great facilities available inthe rapidly developing area, Canggu is just as user-friendly for the spectators as for the surfers.

Acknowledging the fact that many fans won’t havethe chance to make it to the beach, Oakley will be work-ing hard again this year to bring the waves to cities acrossIndonesia. “The growing popularity and interest in surf-ing in Indonesia and beyond the traditional boundariesof Bali has not been lost on Oakley,” states Gino Andrias,Oakley Sports and Alternate Marketing Manager. “Wewill be looking to take advantage of the amazing venuewe have for this year’s event to provide photos, videoand updates to our 575,000+ Facebook fans and will belaunching an integrated event minisite this week to maxi-mize our reach beyond the beach throughout the com-petition window”.

The Oakley Pro 2011 is a 6-Star Indonesian SurfingChampionship event that will be held at Canggu Beachstarting on the 1st of April with a 14-day waiting period,allowing the surfers to compete in only the best waves.A total prize purse of nearly Rp 60 million with Rp 15million going to the winner of the Open Division, alongwith valuable championship points, will ensure the levelof competition as well as the excitement factor will begoing off the scale.

Friday, March 4, 20116 News

The alleged assailant, identified asa 21-year-old Kosovo man, was takenimmediately into custody and was be-ing questioned by authorities, saidFrankfurt police spokesman ManfredFuellhardt.

Family members in Kosovo de-scribed the suspect as a devout Mus-lim, who was born and raised in Ger-many and worked at the airport.

The attacker got into an argumentwith airmen outside their military busbefore opening fire, killing the busdriver and one other serviceman, andwounding two others, one of whomwas in life-threatening condition,Fuellhardt said. He said the attackeralso briefly entered the bus. The sus-pect then fled into the airport terminal,where he was quickly grabbed by twofederal police officers and a U.S. air-

Reuters

LONDON – Britain Thursday re-leased 35 previously classified filesdocumenting sightings of unidentifiedflying objects (UFOs) by the militaryand members of the public dating backto the 1950s.

The files contain around 8,500 pageswhich mainly cover the period from1997 to 2005 and include photographs,drawings and descriptions of flying sau-cer sightings, as well as letters the Min-istry of Defense (MoD) sent eyewit-nesses in response to their accounts. Po-licemen, a soldier, a Royal Air Force(RAF) officer and members of the pub-lic report sightings of objects includinga “chewy mint shaped solid craft” andaerial objects resembling a “ring,” a “jel-lyfish” and a “silver voile spin top.”

In one account a man said he be-lieved he had been “abducted” by aliensin October 1998 after seeing an uni-dentified craft hover over his Londonhome and finding he had gained anhour of time in the process. “It was alarge cigar-shaped vehicle with big pro-jectiles on each side like wings,” he toldthe MoD.

“It seemed to have two very brightlights at the front and a white light flash-ing round and round underneath... Asyou can imagine, I felt quite shaken.”The MoD wrote to the man informinghim that the object was probably anairship, adding that the time he hadgained was probably the result of theclocks being put back one hour on the

AFP PHOTO / FRANK RUMPENHORST GERMANY OUT

Police cover a US military bus at Frankfurt airport, after two people were killed and two seriouslyinjured in a shooting on board the bus on March 2, 2011. The attack on the bus that carried US airforce personnel about to fly home from Germany left two airmen dead and two seriously injured,local authorities and the US military said.

2 US airmen killed in2 US airmen killed in2 US airmen killed in2 US airmen killed in2 US airmen killed inFrankfurt airport shootingFrankfurt airport shootingFrankfurt airport shootingFrankfurt airport shootingFrankfurt airport shootingAssociated Press Writer

FRANKFURT, Germany – Two U.S. airmen were killed andtwo others were wounded at Frankfurt airport Wednesday whena man opened fire on them at close range with a handgun, thefirst such attack on American forces in Germany in a quartercentury. President Barack Obama called the shooting an “outra-geous act.”

Britain releases UFOsighting and policy files

night of his close encounter.Another file released by the National

Archives reveals how the RAF was in-undated with calls one morning in 1967after residents of southern Englandawoke to find six small beeping UFOslying in a perfect line from the Isle ofSheppey to the Bristol Channel.

A bomb disposal unit blew up oneof the UFOs, another was airlifted tothe southeastern village of Aldermastonand both the army and the MoD’s intel-ligence unit were mobilised for whatwas considered a real “alien invasion.”It was later discovered that engineeringstudents at Farnborough Technical Col-lege had constructed and positioned theUFOs in a bid to raise money for char-ity.

“It does raise some questions aboutwhat really would happen if at any timein the future there was some kind of in-stant — would we be prepared?” saidDavid Clarke, author of “The UFOFiles” and consultant to the National Ar-chives’ UFO project. One of the filesdocuments the experiences of a retiredRAF officer who said he saw a UFOwhile on holiday in Sri Lanka in April2004 and sent the MoD supporting pho-tographs.

“I noticed a partial aura in the sky, aminute or so later there was a clap ofthunder, then a short while later a ringlike a doughnut appeared,” he told theMoD, adding that he thought it was an“air burst.” In its reply the MoD sug-gested he contact the Sri Lankan gov-ernment.

“Such acts will not deter the gov-ernment from eliminating extrem-ism and terrorism,” he said.“Shahbaz fell victim to the negativemindset and intolerance that alsotook the lives of... Benazir Bhuttoand Punjab Governor SalmanTaseer.”

Former prime minister Bhutto,who was Zardari’s wife, was killedby militants in 2007. Zardari’s fearsfor Pakistan’s future were echoedby several newspapers and lawmak-ers from minority communities inthe parliament who also called onthe government to take a firm standagainst extremists.

“Mr. Bhatti’s brutal assassinationhas once again highlighted the factthat we are fast turning into a vio-lent society,” the liberal DailyTimes newspaper said in its edito-rial. “This is not the time to befrightened into silence. It is time toimplement the law and not surren-der in front of extremists.”

Condemnation poured in fromaround the world after news ofBhatti’s killing broke, with theChurch of England and the Vaticandecrying the violence against Chris-tians in Pakistan. “I hope the gov-ernment of Pakistan will not only

“The focus needs to be put nowon reintegration and that means notjust putting up shelter but making

man who had pursued him into thebuilding, authorities said. He was dis-armed without incident.

The victims, part of a group of abouta dozen members of an Air Force mili-tary police and base security unit, hadjust arrived from England, the Air Forcesaid.

They had landed at Frankfurt airport,one of Europe’s busiest, and were wait-ing outside Terminal 2 to be driven tonearby Ramstein Air Base, which is of-ten used as a logistical hub for opera-tions in Afghanistan and Iraq. The twowounded airmen were taken to a hospi-tal.

“I’m saddened and I’m outraged bythis attack,” Obama said at the WhiteHouse. “I want everybody to understandthat we will spare no effort in learninghow this outrageous act took place.”

Pakistan...From page 1

hold the killers to account, but reflecton how it can more effectively con-front the extremism which is poison-ing Pakistani society,” United Na-tions human rights chief Navi Pillaysaid from Geneva on Wednesday.

The controversial blasphemy lawhas been in the spotlight since lastNovember, when a court sentenced aChristian mother of four to death af-ter her neighbors complained she hadinsulted Prophet Muhammad. BothTaseer and Bhatti championed thecause of the woman, a farmhand.

Al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Talibanmilitants, fighting to bring down thestate, had called for Bhatti’s death be-cause of his attempts to amend thelaw. These killings, along with fre-quent militant attacks and chroniceconomic problems have raised fearsfor the future of the U.S.-ally, wherethe unpopular coalition governmentis struggling to cope.

Ties between the two old allieshave hit new lows after the arrest inJanuary of Raymond Davis, a U.S.Central Intelligence Agency contrac-tor, who shot dead two armed men inthe city of Lahore. The United Statessays Davis has immunity, but Paki-stan has said it is for the courts todecide. Davis is on trial for murder,and the second hearing in his casewas adjourned on Thursday. His im-munity hearing is March 14. PrimeMinister Yusuf Raza Gilani an-

nounced three days of officialmourning for Bhatti’s death andsaid flags would fly at half-maston Friday. Police said they haddetained around 20 people forquestioning.

Zardari’s government has re-peatedly said it would not changethe blasphemy law, and officialshave distanced themselves fromanyone calling for amendmentsfor fear of a backlash from ex-tremists, a move that dismayedmoderates and liberals.

“Of course the silent majority,which keeps silent over thesethings, also must bear responsibil-ity,” I.A. Rehman, director of theHuman Rights Commission of Pa-kistan, told the Express 24/7 tele-vision channel Wednesday night.“There’s blood on their handsalso.” The funeral of Bhatti, aCatholic, is expected to take placeon Friday or Saturday, his familyfriends said.

Christians and other religiousminorities have staged protests inseveral cities, denouncing his deathand have called on the governmentto provide them protection.

“We are sons of the soil but stillwe are being discriminatedagainst. But we cannot be sup-pressed,” Aafia Nasir, a femaleChristian parliamentarian said inthe National Assembly.

Actress...From page 1 sure there is water, job opportuni-

ties, a school for the children andmedical clinics,” Jolie said in a state-ment released by UNHCR at the endof the visit.

Jolie, married to fellow actorBrad Pitt, is noted for her humani-tarian work. This was her secondvisit to Afghanistan, where she ar-rived Monday.

Friday, March 4, 2011 7Indonesia TodayInternational

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

Indonesians suffering from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rally against a free trade agreementbetween the European Union and India on generic anti-retroviral drugs (ARV) in front of the EU office inJakarta on March 2, 2011. The free trade agreement between the EU and India is to be assessed and maythreaten the availability of generic ARV drugs that are used for the treatment of HIV and AIDS sufferers,according to the protestors.

Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia‘s for-eign exchange reserves reachedUS$100 billion early this month,Bank Indonesia (BI) GovernorDarmin Nasution said here onWednesday.

“The foreign exchange reserveshave surpassed US$100 billionand with it means we have `an in-

“The governor`s regulation on theAhmadiyah was signed and all relatedauthorities have also discussed itsmain point,” the provincialgovernment`s spokesman, RuddyGandakusumah, said.

The provincial government‘sregulation on the Ahmadiyah banwould have officially been an-nounced at Bandung city‘s his-toric Satay or Pakuan building onThursday morning, he said. Withthe issuance of this regulation, allactivities related to Ahmadiyahreligious sect would be outlawedand banned in West Java, he said.

The policy on banning Ahmadiyahwas issued after governor, vice gov-ernor, West Java provincial legislativebody‘s speaker, top police and mili-tary chiefs and other related stake-holders in the province held a closeddoor meeting on Wednesday, he said.

The calls for banning theAhmadiyah sect‘s teachings in Indo-nesia have repeatedly and consistentlybeen echoed by various elements ofMuslim society members in the coun-try over the past few weeks.

On March 1, for instance, hun-dreds of Muslims, including those ofthe Islam Defenders Front (FPI)staged a rally to demand the banningof the Ahmadiyah religious sect‘steachings in Indonesia.

FPI Chairman Habib Salim Alatassaid the rally had nothing to do withpoliticization but was purely meantto show the Indonesian Muslimcommunity‘s aspiration over theAhmadiyah problem.

In solving this problem, PresidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono wasasked to issue a decree banningAhmadiyah, he said.

“At the moment, we have got theinter-ministerial decree but we in-sist that a presidential decree of theAhmadiyah sect be also available,”

Antara

MAMUJU - A policeman in WestSulawesi town of Mamuju hasbeaten up Awaluddin DP, a journal-ist of Publik newspaper, with a rat-tan stick on Wednesday.

The beating happened when hewas taking pictures of a motorbikeracing on a track temporarily set upon the street in front of the WestSulawesi governor‘s office,Awaluddin said.

He said he warded off BustamM‘s rattan stick but, as a result, hegot a minor injury on his arm andhis cellular phone got damaged.

“If I do not ward off Bustam M`sbeating, my face will get hurt,” hesaid.

Bustam M swung his rattan stickto him so suddenly when he takingpicture of the news event inBustam‘s efforts to disperse a crowd

AhmadiyahAhmadiyahAhmadiyahAhmadiyahAhmadiyahOfficially BannedOfficially BannedOfficially BannedOfficially BannedOfficially Bannedin West Javain West Javain West Javain West Javain West JavaAntara

BANDUNG - The West Java provincial government will announcea regulation banning the Ahmadiyah religious sect here Thursday.

he said.Besides that, he also called on

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo toissue regulations about the disso-lution of Ahmadiyah sect‘s activi-ties in the province‘s areas.

“We do support East Javagovernor`s decision about theAhmadiyah ban,” he said.

On February 18, a number of Is-lamic organizations and the Indone-sian Council of Ulemas (MUI) inBanten had also asked the govern-ment to ban the Ahmadiyah sect inthe province soon.

“Before the Cikeusik incidenton February 6, the MUI had actu-ally urged the provincial govern-ment to ban all the activities of theAhmadiyah sect,” MUI-Bantenchapter`s chairman KH AminudinIbrahim said.

MUI, Nahdlatul Ulama,Muhammadiyah, and ReligiousFollowers‘ Harmony Forum(FKUB) in Banten Province hadagreed to again call on the provin-cial government to ban all activi-ties of the Ahmadiyah, he said.

A series of attacks on Ahmadiyahreligious sect followers and theirproperties have occurred in someparts of Indonesia over the past twoyears. The latest incident happenedin Umbulan village Cikeusik sub-district, Pandeglang district, Bantenprovince, on February 6, killingthree people.

In response to the latest incident,Former Vice President Jusuf Kallasaid the cases of sectarian violencecould be handled if firm law en-forcement was implemented to theperpetrators. “Don`t let the perpe-trators be untouched by the law. Ifit is so, there will be a feeling thatif we kill or destroy properties in amass, we think that the law cannotdo anything,” he said.

RI‘s forex reserves surpass US$100 billionsurance` to cushion upheavals in theglobal financial markets,” he said.

He said the fast growing foreignexchange reserves were proof thatIndonesia is on the right track ofdirecting towards an investmentgrade.

“The achievement has given in-creasing confidence that we havebeen on the right track and are lead-ing towards an investment grade,”

he said.On February 25 Darmin said the

country‘s foreign exchange reservescould reach up to US$120 billionuntil the end of the year.

He said the country‘s foreign ex-change reserves had been quitestrong to cushion sudden reversal.

“Actually we have already triedto calculate the foreign exchangeestimates. We cannot set the right

amount because there is no formulafor it but only its estimate and it isactually US$90 billion,” he said.

Vice President Boediono mean-while said the foreign exchange re-serves are a self-insurance for thecountry.

“In a volatile situation we musthave insurance. As no one sells aninsurance plan to protect againstpossible crisis we therefore make

our self-insurance plan,” he said.He said however that the for-

eign exchange reserves were notan optimal solution to overcomean economic crisis.

“Indeed it is not an optimal so-lution for the national economy orglobal economy because themoney is stationary but it must belike that because of the uncertaintywe are facing,” he said.

Policeman beats upjournalist in West Sulawesi

of spectators from the dangerouszone, he said.

Instead of offering an apology,Bustam scolded him, he added.

Indonesian journalists remainvulnerable to acts of physical vio-lence despite the government‘sstrong support for press freedom.

On Tuesday for instance, Posopolice arrested three men for theiralleged acts of violence against ajournalist. Central Sulawesi policespokesman Commissioner RostinTumaloto only identified the sus-pects as An, Al, and Sn. They wereall Poso Kota subdistrict residents.

They were among six people sus-pected of having attacked MediaAlkhairaat journalist Subandi atSintuvu Maroso University campuson Tuesday at 01.00 PM local time,he said.

The physical violence was likelyrelated to Media Alkhairaat‘s news

about that private university‘s envi-ronment-loving students who van-dalized and burned some chairs in-side the university campus.

The news item was published onFebruary 25, 2011, he said.The In-donesian Press Council (DewanPers) had recorded 25 cases of vio-lence against journalists during2010.

The violence occurred in the formof acts of intimidation, destructionof reporting equipment, vandalizingof media offices, acts of sabotage,confinement, physical maltreatmentand murder, Agus Sudibyo, head ofthe Press Council‘s unit for com-plaints and ethics enforcement, said.

In Jakarta, the city‘s metropoli-tan police are handling alleged actsof violence against a Global TVcameraman by noted pop musicianAhmad Dhani and five other peoplebelieved to be his associates.

8 InternationaFriday, March 4, 2011

Bali Today

“It is a good start. Hopefully, thiscondition will continue to increase inyears to come. Likewise, this signifiesthat international community progres-sively has confidence that the safetyand comfort while spending holidayson the Island of the Gods will be guar-anteed,” said the Head of BPS Bali,Gede Suarsa, Wednesday (Mar 2).

According to him, the arrival offoreign tourists in January 2011 wasstill dominated by Australia, China,Japan, Russia and South Korea withtheir respective percentage 28.11 per-cent, 8.18 percent, 80.1 percent, 80.1percent, 5.50 percent and 4.99 percent.If compared to the arrival of foreigntourists in December 2010, among theten countries with the largest numberof tourists such as People’s Republicof China (PRC), Japan, Russia, South

IBPCANGGU - As an industry leader

in the core sports market, Oakley ispleased to announce the dates and thevenue for its annual 6-star Coca-ColaIndonesian Surfing Championshipevent; the Oakley Pro 2011 fromApril 1-14 at Canggu Beach in Bali,Indonesia

New for this year is the dual sanc-tioning of the Oakley Pro 11 as thefirst 6-star event of the new AsianSurfing Championship Tour.

The new ASC Tour is a testamentto the growth of the popularity ofsurfing through South East Asia, andis comprised of selected events fromthe ISC tour in conjunction withevents in Thailand, Taiwan and Ma-laysia and soon in the Philippines andother SEA countries. The Asian Surf-ing Championship Tour is at the fore-front of taking the sport to a wholenew audience.

Discussing the development of thenew ASC series, CEO of the Coca-Cola ISC Tour Tipi Jabrik stated,“Over the past 5 years, the Indone-sian Surfing Championships has re-ally gained credibility in the globalsurfing community as a world classseries. We have not only raised thestandard of competition but alsoachieved a high level of profession-alism in the administration. After as-sisting in the planning and hostingof a number of events in the region,we are proud to announce the newASC Tour with the universal sup-port of the surfing industry. As aleader in the development of surf-ing in the region, Oakley jumped atthe chance to take part in the tourand we are elated they will host thisfirst 6-star event.”

As one of the highest performancewaves in Bali, Canggu has been thesite of the event for the last 2 years,and as Oakley continues their pushto raise the bar of performancethrough quality venues it was an easydecision to return to Canggu to hostthe first event of this year.

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Two tourists sunbathing at Kuta beach while Balinese people doing the Melasti ritual. Basedon the record of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Province, foreign tourists flyingdirect from overseas to Bali during January 2011 reached 209,093 people. Such amount showsan increase of 16.83 percent compared to the same period in the previous year reaching179,273 people.

Foreign touristsForeign touristsForeign touristsForeign touristsForeign touristsflying direct to Baliflying direct to Baliflying direct to Baliflying direct to Baliflying direct to Balireaches 209,093reaches 209,093reaches 209,093reaches 209,093reaches 209,093Bali Post

DENPASAR - Based on the record of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali Province,foreign tourists flying direct from overseas to Bali during January 2011 reached 209,093 people.Such amount shows an increase of 16.83 percent compared to the same period in the previous yearreaching 179,273 people.

Korea and Taiwan underwent an in-crease, while Australia, Malaysia,Singapore, Great Britain and the UnitedStates indicated a decrease.

“Among the foreign tourists visit-ing Bali, 99.64 percent of them en-tered Bali through the airport, whilethe remaining 0.36 percent throughsea ports,” he said.

If compared to the same month inthe previous year, the number of tour-ists coming through the airport indi-cated an increase by 16.92 percent.But, if compared to December 2010the rate declined to 6.63 percent.Meanwhile, tourists coming throughseaports in January 2011 amountedto 756 people, or decreased by 30.51percent if compared to January 2010and dropped by 7.99 percent if com-pared to December 2010.

“If compared to December, it indeedshows a decline. However, these condi-tions are very reasonable where in De-cember, myriad tourists came in drovesto Bali to enjoy the New Year celebra-tions,” he explained.

Meanwhile, AA Gede Pradnyana, anentrepreneur having a travel agency inSanur, said that Balinese people wereconsidered warm-hearted. Additionally,they had various matchless traditionsremaining to attract tourists from aroundthe world. Then, soaring number of Rus-sian tourists, for example, had longer stayand loyally spent more money.

“December to February poses themonth of visit (peak season) for Russiatourists,” he said while adding that manyof them took advantage of their time totravel overseas, especially Bali, bymeans of charter flights. (par) IBP/Doc

Oakley set to host thefirst event of the 2011

“Oakley always scores great waveseach year in this event at Canggu andwe are all stoked to get waves of thiscaliber as it leads to some of the bestsurfing of the year,” noted 2009 Coca-Cola ISC Champion and Oakley ath-lete Lee Wilson, “and with this beingthe first ever event of the new AsianTour, all the surfers are really lookingforward to going big again at thisevent.”

A Mecca for the international surf-ing community, Canggu is one of themost photographed waves in the re-gion. With the perfect waves break-ing in close proximity to the beach andgreat facilities available in the rapidlydeveloping area, Canggu is just asuser-friendly for the spectators as forthe surfers.

Acknowledging the fact that manyfans won’t have the chance to make itto the beach, Oakley will be workinghard again this year to bring the wavesto cities across Indonesia. “The grow-ing popularity and interest in surfingin Indonesia and beyond the traditionalboundaries of Bali has not been loston Oakley,” states Gino Andrias,Oakley Sports and Alternate Market-ing Manager. “We will be looking totake advantage of the amazing venuewe have for this year’s event to pro-vide photos, video and updates to our575,000+ Facebook fans and will belaunching an integrated event minisitethis week to maximize our reach be-yond the beach throughout the com-petition window”.

The Oakley Pro 2011 is a 6-StarIndonesian Surfing Championshipevent that will be held at CangguBeach starting on the 1st of Aprilwith a 14-day waiting period, al-lowing the surfers to compete inonly the best waves. A total prizepurse of nearly Rp 60 million withRp 15 million going to the winnerof the Open Division, along withvaluable championship points, willensure the level of competition aswell as the excitement factor willbe going off the scale.

Balinese Culture

Friday, March 4, 2011 9al

Sambal Be Tongkol(Tuna Fish Salad)

OVERVIEW:Although this is made with fresh tuna in Bali, you can

also use drained canned tuna as a substitute. Seasonthe canned tuna and combine with seasonings, but donot attempt to fry it.

INGREDIENTS:4 fresh tuna steaks, weighing 100 gr each¼ cup seafood spice paste1 tsp salt½ tsp crushed black pepper1 tbsp freshly squeezed limejuice2 tbsp oil1-cup sambal matahFried shallot for garnish

PREPARATION:1. Season fresh tuna steaks with seafood spice paste,

salt pepper and lime juice.2. Heat oil in frying pan and cook tuna steaks for 3

minutes on each side over high heat. Do not over cook.Set aside and allow cooling down, and then breaking thetuna into small chunks. Place in salad bowl, add sambalmatah and mix well.

3. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnishwith fried shallots. Serve at room temperature withsteamed rice. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

Godoh(Fried Bananas)

OVERVIEW:Fried bananas is popular throughout Southeast Asia,

where they are abundant and inexpensive. The slowfrying technique used in this recipe ensures that thebananas remain crisp after cooking.

INGREDIENTS:1 cup rice flour2/3 cup water¼ tsp salt8 small finger bananasOil for frying

PREPARATION:Place rice flour in deep mixing bowl. Make a well in

the middle of the flour, and add water and salt. Whiskvigorously until batter is evenly smooth for coating andnot too thin (if too thin, add more rice flour).

Peel bananas and cut in half lengthwise. Dip intobatter to coat generously. Heat oil in wok or deep fryeruntil moderately hot. Add bananas and fry slowly untilgolden brown and crispy. This will take about 15minutes. Remove bananas from oil, drain on papernapkins and dry well. Can be served with until, hereused as a dip. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

IBP

DENPASAR – Bali, surpris-ingly received one of the bestawards in tourism world which isThe Best Spa Destination in TheWorld. The award was given bythe SENSE Magazine. The awardwas given during the world tour-ism exhibition in Berlin. Bali waschosen among various countriessuch as Fiji, Guam, China, andThailand.

At the same time, Bali also re-ceived other awards, The SenseWellness Person and the Five-star-Diamond Lifetime AchievementAward which was given by thePresident of American Academyof Hospitality, Joe Cinque.

Bali to become the hostThe biggest beautyexhibition in Asia

in order to develop Bali as TheBest Spa Destination in The World,there will be held the first Bali Inter-national Spa & Wellness Expo 2011.It will be carried out started on March9 through March 11, 2011 in SanurParadise Convention Center.

The event could become an alter-native tourism attraction in Bali oreven Indonesia. Previously, the simi-lar event was held in Bali in 2007 and2008 but the purpose of the event isto socialize spa to the locals in Bali.

The main goal of the first Bali In-ternational Spa & Wellness is to sup-port the small and middle scale in-dustry in spa products, beauty, andothers and to introduce them to theinternational world.

There is great hope that the event

could become the place for the buy-ers and sellers to interact and con-duct transaction. In addition for themarketing purpose, the expo couldpreserve the uniqueness of Balinesetraditional spa or massage before itis being claimed by other countries.

Usadha Bali is already famousthroughout the world as well as In-donesian traditional herb drink,jamu.

In addition to the three days ex-hibition, there also will be seminarand workshop which will be di-vided to three classes. The classesconsist of therapist, owner, andpublic class. There is great hope thatit can give better understanding re-garding the standard of therapy andhow to manage a spa.

Friday, March 4, 201110 InternationalDestinations

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IBP

Puri Agung Karangasem or Karangasem Palace is one of palaces existin Amlapura Town, east part of Bali owns the unique building architecture.If we see from palace ichnography, Puri Agung Karangasem owns two typesthose are the older shares with traditional ichnography and the at new build-ing own the modern ichnography even its building name use the modernname like Maskerdam from word Amsterdam, London, Betawi, Yogya andothers. The buildings are mostly decorated by Chinese architecture. Thedoor is decorated by Barong Sai ornament and other bas-reliefs ornamentat door leaf is fully patterned from china.

The ichnography at ancient building is still following the traditional pat-tern of Puri/palace. It is starting from the entrance south part of palacewhich is called Bancingah or Ancak Saji, then step into the middle area callJaba/Petandakan/Pamengkang and it is referred by last Loji, the king resi-dence.

The building form types are still keeping traditionally with the gravenpillar. The ancient building is made about 1875, while the Maskerdam build-ing is assumedly built in year 1900 by I Gusti Gde Jelantik and then it istaken hold by Stedehouder (Dutch Government Representative).

The mains building is called Maskerdam own three doors with the widefront yard. It’s building pillar is made from the intact teak, so that looksutilize the modern technique. Front of mains building there is another build-ing which is called Bale Gili and it is encircled by big enough pool ofhotspot or meeting place.

The entrance of new building pass through two doors with the high risebuilding like pagoda is giving typical type of Puri Agung Karangasem.This Palace is non-stopped to do the improvement and now it has beenopened as a tourism destination in east part of Bali Island. A lot of touristhave visited this place and from Denpasar town only 2 hours to the eastway.

Puri Agung Karangasem

Friday, March 4, 2011 11

BUSINESS

Agence France-Presse

FRANKFURT – Financial mar-kets expect tough talk on inflationfrom European Central Bank presi-dent Jean-Claude Trichet but theECB’s main interest rate is set to re-main at a record low of 1.0 percent.

A centre of focus when Trichetspeaks following the rate decisionwill be on an updated forecast bycentral bank staff for 2012 inflation.

Economists say its level with re-spect to the ECB target of just be-low 2.0 percent will give a good in-dication as to when the bank’s keylending rate could begin to rise fromthe level it fell to in May 2009.

With eurozone inflation at 2.4percent, a growing economy, pro-ducer prices on the rise and Arabunrest pushing energy costs higher,ECB policymakers might have torethink their view that price stabilitywill return in early 2012.

Credit and the money supply arealso rising, the Bank of Englandcould soon raise its rate from thecurrent low of 0.50 percent and theEuropean Union might not get togrips with the eurozone debt crisislater this month.

If EU leaders do not agree onterms that ease market pressureagainst Greece, Ireland and Portu-gal, the ECB could find itself in abind.

The bank would have to keepbuying government bonds and thethreat of a rate hike to press for fis-cal discipline could make things

A Federal Reserve survey releasedWednesday showed that all 12 of theFed’s regions reported growth at a“modest to moderate pace” and itpointed to a pickup in job creation ineach.

Retail sales picked up in 10 of the12 regions, while falling in the Rich-mond and Atlanta areas. Factory ac-tivity rose in all districts except St.Louis.

The survey hinted at some infla-tionary concerns. Costs are rising formanufacturers and retailers in mostareas. Manufacturers in many districtssaid they are increasingly able to passon those costs to customers. Retailersin some districts said they have or soonwill raise prices.

“There are beginning to be sometroubling signs on inflation,” saidSteven Wood, Chief Economist at In-sight Economics.

But other economists noted that thesurvey found little evidence that wagesare increasing. Accelerating wages are“a necessary condition for a sustained,destabilizing high-inflation episode,”said Dana Saporta, an economist atCredit Suisse Securities.

Federal Reserve Chairman BenBernanke endured tough questioning

Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON – A top Inter-national Monetary Fund officialexpressed concern Wednesdayabout overall inflation in emergingcountries beyond the current spikein food and commodity prices.

Naoyuki Shinohara, IMF deputymanaging director, highlighted signsof a broadening upward pressure onprices in a speech to Asian centralbankers in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“Prices for oil and non-oil com-modities rose considerably in 2010,partly in response to strong globaldemand, but also because of supplyshocks for selected commodities,such as weather-related crop dam-age,” he said, according to the pre-pared text on the IMF website.

“Upward pressure on prices is ex-pected to persist in 2011,” he warned.

Shinohara noted that the uptickin consumer price inflation in emerg-ing economies in 2010 was due

Fed survey: EconomyFed survey: EconomyFed survey: EconomyFed survey: EconomyFed survey: Economyexpands throughout USexpands throughout USexpands throughout USexpands throughout USexpands throughout USAssociated Press

WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy expanded in January and early February in all parts ofthe country, but businesses reported they are under pressure to raise their prices.

from members of Congress on Tues-day and Wednesday about the threatof rising inflation. Lawmakers raisedconcerns that the Fed’s $600 billionbond-purchase program is laying thegroundwork for higher prices.

Those concerns have been height-ened by recent run-ups in the price ofoil, corn, wheat and other commodi-ties.

Bernanke told members of Con-gress that higher oil prices, which haverisen due to turmoil in the Middle East,would likely cause only a temporaryand mild increase in inflation.

The U.S. economy has been grow-ing for 18 months. But that expansionhasn’t been enough to significantlylower the nation’s unemployment rate,which was 9 percent in January. Thefederal government will release theFebruary jobs report on Friday.

The Fed survey did note that thejob market is picking up in all districts.Many districts reported improved hir-ing in the manufacturing and healthcare industries.

Seven districts said that staffing agen-cies are more optimistic, with moreemployers converting temporary jobs topermanent status. Permanent hiring isalso picking up, the agencies said.

The survey also noted that wagesremain steady in five districts and arerising only modestly in several oth-ers. Sluggish wage growth should actto restrain future price increases.

Harsh snowstorms in many differ-ent parts of the country reduced storesales and factory activity. Bad weatherdisrupted manufacturing in the Cleve-land, Atlanta and Minneapolis regions,and pushed down retail sales in sixdistricts.

Housing remains the economy’smain weak spot, the report showed.

“Overall sales and construction re-mained at low levels across all dis-tricts,” the survey said. The St. Louisregion said sales are still declining.

Tourism improved in the Rich-mond, Atlanta and San Francisco ar-eas, while it slowed in Kansas City,partly due to severe weather. NewYork reported slower business at ho-tels and said Broadway theater atten-dance dropped.

The region-by-region survey isbased on information collected fromthe Fed’s 12 regional banks on or be-fore Feb. 18. Known as the “BeigeBook,” the survey provides a more in-the-trenches look at the overalleconomy than broad statistics.

Inflation rising in Asia,emerging economies

partly to rising food prices, but the re-cent bout of high food price inflation “hasbeen quite persistent and is beginning tofeed into overall price inflation in a num-ber of emerging economies.”

In Asia, “core inflation has also be-gun to rise — although the degree ofacceleration has varied quite a bit acrossthe region — suggesting that price pres-sures are broadening,” he said.

The region’s economic conditions areripe for rising prices, he explained.

On one hand, “real wage growth hasalso picked up in a number of Asianeconomies on the back of relatively lowand falling unemployment and anecdotalevidence of skill shortages,” he said.

However, credit growth, whichslowed significantly during the global fi-nancial crisis, he said, “has turned thecorner and is running at robust ratesacross emerging Asia.”

The IMF projects that in 2011 Asiawill remain the fastest-growing regionin the world, with output rising 8.5 per-cent in the developing countries.

Markets expect toughEuropean bank inflation talk

worse for the weaker peripheral eurozonecountries.

Global Economics economist JulianJessop noted however that due to a surgein oil prices, “there is clearly a risk thatthe Bank of England or the ECB decideto raise rates sooner than they would oth-erwise have done.”

The ECB’s March meeting will bemarked by new staff forecasts for growthand inflation, and possibly “importantdecisions on the liquidity strategy” aimedat helping struggling commercial banks,UniCredit economist Marco Valli said.

So-called “addicted” banks must betaken off an ECB drip of cheap loans aspart of the central bank’s move towardsan exit from exceptional measures takento battle the global economic and finan-cial crisis.

One possible decision would be to endunlimited three-month loans and forcebanks to bid again for the funds.

But as fresh risks might emerge witha new and tougher set of bank stresstests, “for the ECB the cost of waitingand extending the full allotment for atleast a couple more months seems to belower than the cost of moving towardsa less generous liquidity provision sys-tem,” Valli said.

Trichet has said the ECB could acton either interest rates or liquidity mea-sures while leaving the other un-changed, but analysts think he will be-gin by raising “hawkish” anti-inflationrhetoric.

“We expect a number of announce-ments to indicate the tightening cycle isgetting closer,” Royal Bank of Scotlandanalysts wrote in a research note.

AFP PHOTO / ROD LAMKEY JR

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke listens to opening statements from members of Con-gress prior to his testimony before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on receiving“the Monetary Policy Report to the Congress required under the Humphrey-Hawkins Act” in theRayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC March 2, 2011.

Entertainment InternationalFriday, March 4, 201112

The 90-year-old film and televi-sion star told lawmakers that elderabuse comes in various forms, in-cluding physical and emotional. Inhis case, he described the abuse asfinancial.

In his testimony, Rooney did notidentify the family member he con-tends abused him. But he has ob-tained a restraining order from a

Associated Press Writer

HONG KONG – China is re-viewing an application from BobDylan to stage concerts in thecountry, a year after the Americanfolk legend’s planned concerts inBeijing and Shanghai were can-celed, an official at the Ministry ofCulture said Thursday.

The application was pendingand the ministry’s decision wouldbe posted on the ministry’s officialwebsite, the official who wouldonly gave his last name, Zhou, toldThe Associated Press.

The Dylan fan magazine ISIS re-cently reported on its website that thesinger was to perform in Beijing onApril 6 and Shanghai on April 8 aspart of an upcoming Asian tour. Butthe dates were not listed on Dylan’sofficial website, raising speculationof possible censorship problems.

Dylan was originally scheduled

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Justin Bieber’shair is officially the stuff of leg-end: His hair clippings have soldfor more than $40,000 on eBay.

After the 17-year-old pop sen-sation chopped off some of his fa-mous locks, he brought the clip-pings to the “Ellen” show. HostEllen DeGeneres put them on eBay.

When the bidding ended, the clip-pings went for $40,668. The pro-ceeds are being donated to TheGentle Barn, which rescues ne-glected and abused animals and usesthem to help disadvantaged kids.

Bieber’s magic touch continues.He’s got two albums in the top fiveon the U.S. album chart this week,and his movie, “Justin Bieber: NeverSay Never (3-D),” has grossed al-most $70 million at the box officesince its release last month.

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Whether he’scoaching “The Biggest Loser” con-testants, filling in for Kathie LeeGifford on “Today,” co-hosting theMiss USA pageant or barbecuingfor Oprah Winfrey, it seems likeCurtis Stone is everywhere thesedays. In his role on NBC’s new re-ality TV eatery contest, he’s addinga new title to his ever-growing re-sume: investor.

The lanky Australian chef is serv-ing as a financial backer of the grandprize — a fast-casual restaurantchain with outposts in Los Angeles,New York and Minneapolis — on“America’s Next Great Restaurant”(premiering Sunday at 7 p.m. EST)alongside celebrity chef Bobby Flay,

Approval for Bob DylanChina concerts pending

to play Beijing and Shanghai lastyear, but the dates were canceled.Mainland music fans blamed a fi-nancial dispute with Dylan’s Tai-wanese promoter. The promoterdenied the allegations, saying theflash point was a demand from theMinistry of Culture for Dylan tosign a pledge promising “not tohurt the feelings of the Chinesepeople” during his performances.

The Chinese government care-fully screens the content of im-ported entertainment content forpolitical messages or commentarythat runs contrary to its official line.Foreign music acts in particular arebelieved to receive special scrutinyafter Icelandic singer Bjork shouted“Tibet!” during a 2008 concert inShanghai after performing a songcalled “Declare Independence.”

A year later, British rock groupOasis scrapped its planned debutin China, saying Ministry of Cul-ture officials were offended by thefact that front man Noel Gallagherperformed at a free Tibet concertin New York City in 1997.

China claims Tibet has alwaysbeen part of its territory, but manyTibetans say the Himalayan regionwas virtually independent for cen-turies and that Beijing’s tight con-trol is draining them of their cul-ture and identity.

Dylan may be considered a con-troversial act in China because of hisassociation with protest movementsin the U.S. in the 1960s. Songs like“Blowin’ in the Wind” and “TheTimes They Are a-Changin” were in-spirations for the American civilrights and anti-war movements.

Dylan is confirmed for a slew ofother Asian dates, according to hisofficial website, including HongKong on April 12 and Singapore onApril 15. He will then tour Austra-lia and New Zealand.

Bieber’s hair clippingssell for more than $40K

AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File

FILE - In this file photo takenSunday, Feb. 13, 2011, Bob Dylanperforms at the 53rd annualGrammy Awards in Los Angeles.

AP Photo/Carlo Allegri

Justin Bieber arrives at the Van-ity Fair Oscar Party at the Sun-set Tower in Los Angeles, Calif.,Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011.

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Entertainer Mickey Rooney testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, about elderabuse, before the Senate Aging Committee.

Actor Mickey Rooney tellsActor Mickey Rooney tellsActor Mickey Rooney tellsActor Mickey Rooney tellsActor Mickey Rooney tellsCongress about abuseCongress about abuseCongress about abuseCongress about abuseCongress about abuseAssociated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Actor Mickey Rooney told Congress on Wednesdaythat he was left powerless by a family member who took and misused hismoney. “I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated,” Rooney told a spe-cial Senate committee considering legislation to curb abuses of senior citi-zens. “But above all, when a man feels helpless, it’s terrible.”

judge in Los Angeles keeping hisstepson, Chris Aber, away from himuntil an April 5 court hearing.Rooney has accused Aber in courtfilings of withholding food andmedicine and meddling in his per-sonal finances. Attempts by TheAssociated Press to find a workingphone number for Aber have beenunsuccessful.

Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., whochairs the Special Senate Committeeon Aging, said the elderly are particu-larly vulnerable because they are “of-ten fragile” and their abusers usuallystand little chance of getting caught.

Rooney began his film career inthe 1920s and has appeared in scoresof feature films and TV shows, in-cluding the musicals “Babes inArms” (1939) and “Strike Up theBand” (1940) and the Andy Hardyfilm series. He was nominated foran Academy Award four times, in-cluding a supporting actor nomina-tion for his role in “The Black Stal-lion” (1979). He received an honor-ary Oscar in 1982.

Curtis Stone leaving no TV show unturnedChipotle founder Steve Ells andMiami restaurateur Lorena Garcia.

“Normally, when NBC comes toyou and wants you to do a show,you’re like, ‘Woo hoo! I just landed anew show,’” said Stone. “This wasdifferent because they actually wantedus to get our checkbooks out. It wasinteresting because normally whenyou walk into a meeting with networkexecutives, you kiss their ass, but thistime I had a bunch of questions.”

Stone wouldn’t say how much thegroup is contributing to launch thewinner’s restaurant chain, but he in-sisted, “We’re all equal investors interms of our financial commitmentto it, which means we get an equalsay in how this is going to work.” Ifit flops, Stone already has anothergig lined up. He’s the new host of

Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.”“It’s a dream job for me,” he said

earlier this month on the set of theBravo cooking competition spin-off,where he’s taken over Kelly Choi’sspot for the tossed-up third season.“When they first approached me, Itold them they needed to mix it upand put all of the chefs together inone pool, and they told me that’sexactly what they were doing.”

That means the contest will playout more like a regular “Top Chef”season. Producers dumped the nu-merical scoring system in favor ofhaving the experienced cheftestantseliminated one by one by the show’sjudges, critics James Oseland andRuth Richel. Stone said he haslearned more about his craft fromsitting alongside the critics.

International Friday, March 4, 2011 13Science

After a lengthy review, federalofficials concluded there are nobreeding populations of cougars —also known as pumas, panthers,mountain lions and catamounts —in the eastern United States. Re-searchers believe the eastern cou-gar subspecies has probably beenextinct since the 1930s.

Wednesday’s declaration pavesthe way for the eastern cougar to beremoved from the endangered spe-cies list, where it was placed in 1973.The agency’s decision to declare theeastern cougar extinct does not af-fect the status of the Florida panther,another endangered wildcat.

Some hunters and outdoors en-thusiasts have long insisted there’s

Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO –Motorola’s Xoom has been hailedas the most likely tablet computerto rival Apple’s iPad — the firstwith the goods to compete againstthe uncontested leader in this na-scent but rapidly growing market.

After trying it out, I found it to bea great gadget that, in many ways,can keep up with the black slab fromApple. The first black slab, that is.Unfortunately, Apple said Wednes-day that it will start selling a new,improved iPad next week, which willlikely make it difficult for the Xoomto snag many users. The Xoom iswell-equipped, with a large, vividtouch screen and zippy processor.

It’s the first to use Honeycomb,Google Inc.’s flashy tablet-gearedAndroid 3.0 software, which is abig improvement over older ver-sions designed for phones butpushed onto some tablets.

It’s clear the software was de-signed for a tablet’s larger touchscreen. A persistent bar at the bottomof the screen displays virtual “home”and “back” buttons. You get informa-tion such as battery life and wirelessreception and notifications for e-mails, instant messages and more.You also get a virtual button that can

Agence France Presse

BEIJING – China, the world’s big-gest polluter, plans to “go green” in thenext five years, emphasising energyefficiency and the battle on its chokingpollution in its plans to revamp theeconomy, experts say. The so-called12th five-year plan — already approvedby Communist Party leaders — is ex-pected to be reviewed and rubber-stamped by delegates to the NationalPeople’s Congress, which opens itsannual session Saturday in Beijing.

“We must not any longer sacrificethe environment for the sake of rapidgrowth and reckless roll-outs,” Pre-mier Wen Jiabao said Sunday, warn-ing that doing so would result in un-sustainable growth and the depletion

AFP/File/Peter Parks

Polluted haze sits atop the Chinese city of Zengzhou in central Henanprovince. China, the world’s biggest polluter, plans to “go green” in thenext five years, emphasising energy efficiency and the battle on itschoking pollution in its plans to revamp the economy, experts say.

China says it wants green growth within five yearsof resources. China’s total carbon di-oxide emissions, which it finally ad-mitted last year are the largest in theworld, increased by 32.5 percent be-tween 2006 and 2009, according tothe US Energy Information Adminis-tration, a government agency.

Beijing has already launched anambitious programme to developclean energy and shut down factoriesthat fail to meet emissions targets.

It also wants to reduce its energyconsumption per unit of GDP, or car-bon intensity, by 40 to 45 percent by2020 based on 2005 levels — essen-tially a vow of greater energy effi-ciency, but not an absolute cap onemissions. According to consultantsAPCO Worldwide, which specialisein government policy, the

government’s new economic blue-print could include new carbonemission goals to push the processforward.

“I think this plan is greener thanthe last,” Roger Somerville, aBeijing-based APCO expert, toldAFP. “It’s not so much that theChinese government has become aGreenpeace supporter, but... theyare trying to change what they cando to generate economic growth,”he added.

“They are looking at things likea low-carbon economy and they areseeing... the creation of high-valuejobs and economic growth in thefuture,” he said, pointing to strongChinese investment in the solar andwind power sectors.

Federal researchers declareFederal researchers declareFederal researchers declareFederal researchers declareFederal researchers declareeastern cougar extincteastern cougar extincteastern cougar extincteastern cougar extincteastern cougar extinctAssociated Press Writer

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The “ghost cat” is just that. The U.S. Fish andWildlife Service on Wednesday declared the eastern cougar to be ex-tinct, confirming a widely held belief among wildlife biologists thatnative populations of the big cat were wiped out by man a century ago.

a small breeding population of east-ern cougars, saying the secretivecats have simply eluded detection— hence the “ghost cat” moniker.The wildlife service said Wednes-day it confirmed 108 sightings be-tween 1900 and 2010, but that theseanimals either escaped or were re-leased from captivity, or migratedfrom western states to the Midwest.

“The Fish and Wildlife Servicefully believes that some people haveseen cougars, and that was an impor-tant part of the review that we did,”said Mark McCollough, an endan-gered species biologist who led theagency’s eastern cougar study. “Wewent on to evaluate where these ani-mals would be coming from.”

A breeding population of easterncougars would almost certainly haveleft evidence of its existence, he said.Cats would have been hit by cars orcaught in traps, left tracks in the snowor turned up on any of the hundredsof thousands of trail cameras that dotEastern forests.

But researchers have come upempty. The private Eastern CougarFoundation, for example, spent a de-cade looking for evidence. Findingnone, it changed its name to the Cou-gar Rewilding Foundation last yearand shifted its focus from confirm-ing sightings to advocating for therestoration of the big cat to its pre-colonial habitat.

“We would have loved nothingmore than for there to be a remnantwild population of cougars on the EastCoast,” said Christopher Spatz, thefoundation’s president. “We’re not see-ing (evidence) because they’re nothere.” Others maintain that wild cou-gars still prowl east of the Mississippi.

AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2011 file photo, a Motorola Xoom tablet is shownat Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif.

Review: Xoom emerges asfirst real iPad competitor

pull up miniaturized images of yourmost recently used apps, the way itlooked when you last used them. Thatmakes it convenient for speeding backover to a game or Web page.

The touch-screen keyboard isalso nicer, thanks to Honeycomb. It’seasier to type e-mails and instantmessages on the Xoom than on tab-lets running older versions of An-droid. Although it doesn’t seem aseasy to use as the iPad’s virtual key-board, the Xoom’s keyboard is fairlyspacious and was something I gotuse to typing with after severalhours. Those who do a lot of typingcan use a Bluetooth keyboard orconnect a USB keyboard with anadapter through the Xoom’s MicroUSB port. There’s one big blemishmarring the Xoom’s otherwise de-lightful package: its price tag.

The Xoom, made by MotorolaMobility Inc. and available fromVerizon Wireless, costs $800 withouta cellular-service contract, about $70more than a similarly apportionediPad. You can get a Xoom for $600,but you’ll have to sign up for a two-year data plan that runs at least $20per month; by contrast, AT&T Inc.offers month-to-month data servicefor the iPad. Like the iPad, the Xoomlets you access the Internet throughWi-Fi, so a data plan isn’t essential.

Friday, March 4, 201114 InternationalSport

Messi netted a 76th minute win-ner as Barcelona continued their un-beaten away run and put Real underextra pressure to win at home toMalaga on Thursday. Ballon D’Orwinner Messi had missed severalchances in the first half but camegood 14 minutes from time slottingin a cross from Adriano to clinch avital win.

It handed coach Pep Guardiola hisfirst ever victory at the Mestalla,which had been the only top-flightvenue where he had failed to securethree points. For third-placedValencia it was a first league defeatsince early December of last yearand Villarreal are now just one pointbehind them in fourth. It was anemotional first return to the Mestallafor Spanish World Cup star DavidVilla, who spent five years at theclub before joining Barcelona for 40million euros in the summer, and theforward was given a warm receptionfrom the home fans.

Spanish international playmakerXavi returned to the Barca startingline-up after recovering from his calfinjury to join Javier Mascherano andSergi Busquets in midfield. Valenciadecided to play with Juan Mata, nor-mally a winger, leading the line andthe hosts started at a high tempo totry and disrupt Barcelona’s posses-sion game.

Eric Abidal and Dani Alves wereboth forced to make crucial clear-

Agence France Presse

LONDON – Arsenal managerArsene Wenger turned his attentionback to the English Premier Leaguetitle race immediately after defeat-ing Leyton Orient to seal a place inthe quarter-finals of the FA Cup onWednesday. The Gunners were thebeneficiaries of Chelsea’s win overManchester United on Tuesday, astheir game in hand and meeting withSir Alex Ferguson’s team mean their

Agence France Presse

LONDON – West Ham’s bidto take over the 2012 Olympicsstadium was given formal ap-proval by the British Govern-ment and Mayor of LondonBoris Johnson on Thursday. Thegreen light allows the OlympicPark Legacy Company (OPLC)to enter into negotiations withWest Ham and their consortiumpartners to agree a lease for thefacility.

“We are delighted with theprogress that has been made andvery pleased we have reachedthis very significant milestone indetermining the long-term

AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) vies with Valencia’s goalkeeper Vicente Guaita(L) during the Spanish League football match Valencia CF vs FC Barcelona on March 2, 2011 atMestalla stadium in Valencia.

Messi downs Valencia as BarcelonaMessi downs Valencia as BarcelonaMessi downs Valencia as BarcelonaMessi downs Valencia as BarcelonaMessi downs Valencia as Barcelonago ten cleargo ten cleargo ten cleargo ten cleargo ten clearAgence France Presse

MADRID – Argentine sensation Lionel Messi scored his 27thleague goal of the season as champions Barcelona defeatedValencia 1-0 at the Mestalla stadium on Wednesday to moveten points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the Spanish first divi-sion summit.

ances for Barcelona early on be-fore the champions found theirrhythm. In the ninth minute Messiwent clean through on goal but theArgentine fluffed a chance he usu-ally buries on autopilot.

Messi had three chances toscore but missed them all withgoalkeeper Vicente Guaita, thirdchoice at the beginning of the sea-son, standing tall. Valencia thoughtthey had scored in the 20th minutebut Jordi Alba’s goal was ruled outfor offside.

Just after the half hour markMessi squandered anothergoalscoring opportunity when hislob landed on the roof of the netwith only Guaita to beat.

Villa and full back Adriano bothwent close before the interval butBarcelona went into the break frus-trated at the 0-0 scoreline. Substi-tute Roberto Soldado volleyed justwide in the 51st minute forValencia’s best chance of the matchand Pablo Hernandez then curledinches wide of the post minuteslater to give Barcelona a warning.

The decisive goal came on 76minutes with Brazilian Adrianocutting the ball across goal forMessi to arrive on cue to guide inwith his trusty left foot. EarlierVillarreal ended a run of fourleague games without a win witha 1-0 home victory over promotedHercules.

West Ham stadiumtakeover gets formalapproval

legacy for the Olympic Parkfollowing the Games,” localgovernment minister Bob Neillsaid in a statement.

The OPLC had given itsbacking to West Ham lastmonth after a bitter battle forthe stadium venue with Pre-mier League rivals Tottenham.West Ham won after tabling abid which proposed retainingthe stadium’s running track.

Bid rivals Spurs had pro-posed demolishing the stadiumand replacing it with a purposebuilt venue without an athlet-ics track, a plan that had beencondemned by British Olym-pic officials.

AFP PHOTO/ GLYN KIRK

Arsenal’s Ivorian defender Emmanuel Eboue (L) vies with LeytonOrient’s English midfielder Tom Carroll (R) during their FA Cupfifth round replay football match against Leyton Orient at theEmirates Stadium, London, England, on March 2, 2011.

Wenger focuses on title after FA Cup rompdestiny is in their own hands.

“For us, it keeps us even better inthe race,” Wenger said. “I felt any-way, no matter what happened (inUnited?s clash), whether it was adraw, would have been good as well.It just depends on us. “It’s down toour results. I say that for a long time,it depends how consistent we will bewith our results. That will decide thechampionship.”

Wenger’s side face Sunderland atthe weekend and warmed up for that

clash by thrashing League One teamOrient in the Cup, with NicklasBendtner scoring a hat-trick.

It went some way to getting overthe disappointment of losing to Bir-mingham in the League Cup final atWembley on Sunday. They now facetitle rivals United in the next roundat Old Trafford. “We were profes-sional,” Bendtner said. “After thedisappointment of Sunday it wasimportant for us. “We know its go-ing to be difficult against United butwe very much look forward to thatgame when it comes.

“We just need to focus onSunderland first.” Next week Arse-nal also play the second leg of theirChampions League clash againstBarcelona, taking a 2-1 lead to theNou Camp.

Robin van Persie is set to missthat match as he is out for three tofour weeks with a knee injury.Tomas Rosicky suffered mild con-cussion against Orient but shouldrecover, and there is optimism ofCesc Fabregas overcoming his ham-string complaint.

“I personally hope he will bethere next Tuesday,” Wenger said.“He has a chance to play inBarcelona.

“I don’t think he will be involvedon Saturday - no chance. But we willtry with him on Sunday and Mon-day and have a final test on Mondaymorning. “We go from day to day.Two or three days ago thinking toplay part of game if all goes well.”

Friday, March 4, 2011 15International Sport

Wednesday, however, Garnettwas back to his best, adding 11 re-bounds as the Eastern-Conferenceleading Celtics cruised to victoryafter opening up a 20-point advan-tage before halftime. The Celticswere also helped by Rajon Rondorecording 16 points and 15 assistsand Paul Pierce scoring 16 and 13rebounds.

“I think all our guys were (extramotivated),” Celtics coach DocRivers told reporters. “That’s whatthe explosion early was all about.”Boston led by as much as 29 pointsover the Suns in the third before thevisitors fought back to trail by aslittle as eight.

The victory maintained Boston’s

Associated Press Writer

SERENA WILLIAMS’ ab-sence from tennis could stretch toalmost a year after two new healthscares — a blood clot in her lungs

Agence France Presse

MADRID – Three-time Tourde France winner AlbertoContador vowed to fight any at-tempt to re-impose doping sanc-tions, in an interview publishedWednesday. Contador tested posi-tive for minute traces of the bannedmuscle-building substanceclenbuterol during last July’s Tourde France, which he won.

The Spanish cycling federa-tion (RFEC) last month re-scinded proposals to hand downa one-year competition ban afteraccepting Contador’s claim thathe ate drug-contaminated meatand was therefore not negligent.The International Cycling Union(UCI) and the World Anti-Dop-ing Agency (WADA) can stillappeal to the Court of Arbitrationfor Sport (CAS) to have thatjudgement overturned.

When asked what he would doif WADA appealed and the CAS

Garnett silences Fry asGarnett silences Fry asGarnett silences Fry asGarnett silences Fry asGarnett silences Fry asCeltics cruise past SunsCeltics cruise past SunsCeltics cruise past SunsCeltics cruise past SunsCeltics cruise past Suns

Steve Nash #13 of the Phoe-nix Suns drives around Kevin

Garnett #5 of the BostonCeltics on March 2, 2011 at

the TD Garden in Boston,Massachusetts. The Celticsdefeated the Suns 115-103.

Reuters

BOSTON – Boston forward Kevin Garnett scored a game-high 28 points in his rematch withPhoenix’s Channing Frye as the Celtics eased to a 115-103 victory over the Suns on WednesdayIn his previous matchup against the Suns on January 28, Garnett was ejected with two technicalfouls after he hit Frye in the groin area leading to a confrontation between the pair.

strong form since they traded awaycenter Kendrick Perkins last weekto the Oklahoma City Thunder.Perkins helped the Celtics win the2008 NBA title and reach last year’sfinals and fans have been worried theteam would regress but this victorywas Boston’s (44-15) third in fourgames since the trade.

The Celtics now lead the East by1.5 games over the Miami Heat.Forward Troy Murphy made his de-but for Boston after being picked upoff waivers but scored only one pointin 14 minutes of play.

Phoenix (31-28), pushing tomove into a playoff position, hadtheir four-game winning streaksnapped and fell 1.5 games behind

the eighth and final postseason spotin the Western Conference.

Guard Aaron Brooks led Phoenixwith 17 points and seven assists inhis third game since the team ac-quired him in a trade with Houston.Steve Nash finished with eightpoints and seven assists.

Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Serena Williams treated for blood clot in lungsfollowed by a hematoma — haveadded to her injury woes.

Her agents confirmed Wednesdaythat Williams was diagnosed with apulmonary embolism last week andlater needed treatment for a he-

matoma. The 13-time Grand Slamchampion hasn’t played an officialmatch since winning Wimbledon lastJuly because of a foot injury she sus-tained not on the court but at a res-taurant.

Her latest health problems havebeen “extremely hard, scary and dis-appointing,” Williams said in a state-ment. “I am doing better. I’m athome now and working with mydoctors to keep everything undercontrol. I know I will be OK, but ampraying and hoping this will all bebehind me soon.

“While I can’t make any prom-ises now on my return, I hope to beback by early summer. That said, mymain goal is to make sure I get theresafely.”

People magazine first reported onWilliams’ condition, quoting spokes-woman Nicole Chabot as sayingWilliams underwent “emergencytreatment” Monday for a hematomasuffered as a result of treatment for“a more critical situation,” the pul-monary embolism.

The 29-year-old Williams wastreated at a Los Angeles hospital thenreturned to her home in the city.“Thankfully everything was caughtin time,” her agents said in a state-ment. “With continued doctor visitsto monitor her situation, she is recu-perating at home under strict medi-cal supervision.” Williams’ mother,Oracene Price, tweeted: “Thank youfor your concern. She is fine.”

The tennis star attended Sun-day night’s Elton John AIDSFoundation Academy AwardsViewing Party. On Tuesday night,Williams posted on her Twitteraccount, “Tough day.” A few min-

utes later, she retweeted KimKardashian.

The younger sister of seven-timemajor champion Venus Williamshas been out of competition sinceshe cut her right foot on brokenglass at a restaurant shortly afterwinning her fourth Wimbledon titleJuly 3. Her comeback has been re-peatedly delayed by complications

with the injury.Williams had surgery after ini-

tially hurting her foot and pulledout of the U.S. Open. She resumedpracticing in September, but keptpushing back her return and neededan additional operation in October.Williams missed the AustralianOpen in January, where she was thetwo-time defending champion.

Cyclist Contador vowsto fight any doping ban

imposed a two-year ban, the 28-year-old rider was defiant. “NowI want to fight and if I managedto stop them sanctioning me Ishould fight with even more de-termination to ensure that thehigher authorities don’t do so ei-ther,” he said in an interviewwith the daily ABC.

Contador called again for areview of anti-doping proce-dures, which he has criticisedfor harming his reputation overthe detection of a minute traceof clenbuterol he claims camefrom eating a contaminatedsteak. Some laboratories wereexpected to detect these tracelevels but not others, he said. “Iwant WADA to review my case,study it and find new guidelinesfor the future,” he said.Contador said he was concen-trated on his riding. “I am notcompletely happy because Ihave suffered a lot, too much,”he told the paper.

Friday, March 4, 201116 SportI N T E R N A T I O N A L

The team, which last won aMotoGP title with Nicky Hayden in2006, has shown commanding formin testing so far with its expandedthree-bike works line-up of CaseyStoner, Dani Pedrosa and AndreaDovizioso, while Marco Simoncelli’sfactory-specification Gresini bike hasalso been a frontrunner.

HRC executive vice presidentShuhei Nakamoto said the progresswas down to detail changes, and that

WORLD champion SebastianVettel believes Pirelli’s tyres will forcedrivers to make at least three pitstopsduring races, as he reckons one or twoare impossible at the moment. Pirellihas said several times that it has de-signed its tyres to wear out quickerthan last year’s Bridgestone, withtwo-stop strategies the main goal.

Vettel, however, reckons the cur-rent tyres will not last enough to stopjust twice, and he predicts races withup to four pitstops. The German alsothinks the racing will change signifi-cantly because of the different tyres.

“The tyres are very different fromlast year, but then again it’s the samefor everybody,” said Vettel. “I thinkthe racing will change. “I think onestop is impossible and at this stagealso two stops, so I think it will be athree or four-stop race. I think it willmake it very interesting.

“The question is if it is a goodthing for us or a bad thing. It’s hardto say now because obviously wehave to get going first and see howthe races unfold. “But other thanthat we have the rear wing whichshould make overtaking a bit easier

Vettel: Two stops impossible right nowto us. A lot of questions, but I thinkwe will only find the real answerwhen we go racing, really.”

The Red Bull driver admitted heis also hoping the moveable rearwings and the KERS will not makeovertaking too artificial.

“KERS is the same for everybody

so it doesn’t really make a big dif-ference. The rear wing is a bit of adifferent story because you can useit in the race only for attacking, notfor defending. “I just hope it doesn’tmake overtaking too easy becausethen it would make the racing arti-ficial. We need to see.”

AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI

Germany’s formula one 2010 world champion Sebastian Vettelposes at Infiniti car maker’s booth on March 1, 2011 at Genevamotor show in Geneva. Car makers display 170 new models asthe automobile industry preview the 81st Geneva motor show.

Honda saysno magic in2011 bike

Honda says its winter leap forward is down to a series ofsmall improvements rather than a major design break-

through with its 2011 MotoGP bike.

Honda had been gaining ground lastyear too, but its form had been maskedby Pedrosa injuring himself at Motegi.

“It’s difficult to explain, but we’vetried many things,” Nakamoto toldthe official MotoGP website. “Foreach item we’ve improved, it’s beensmall. But if you can find one hun-dredth, then you find ten of them,that’s one tenth.

“Last year in the second half ourresults were not too bad until the ac-

cident at Motegi when Dani was try-ing to catch up with Jorge [Lorenzo].We had found a direction for devel-opment, and we’ve kept that direc-tion at HRC, with the engine, thesuspension, the brakes etc. Everysingle small improvement is step bystep, and now our machine lookscompetitive but of course we haveto continue to develop.”

Reigning champion Lorenzo saidit was obvious from Honda’s formthat the whole team was in muchbetter shape this year. “All four rid-ers with a works Honda are ahead:that means that it’s the bike that has

improved a lot, otherwise therewould be just one rider going strongwhile the others would be behind,”Lorenzo told Motosprint.

“We have managed to improve byalmost one second compared to2010. The problem is that our rivalshave improved even more. At somepoints the difference in speed is asmuch as 8 km/h. At the momentHonda is the most powerful bike;Ducati is a close second; Yamaha isonly third.

“Honda has improved in its han-dling too: I’ve followed the Hondariders a bit, and I have a feeling they

now have an easier bike to ride.We’ll see how our bike goes on othertracks, but at the moment Honda ismaking a difference with its engine.”But Nakamoto said Honda still hadproblems to resolve as well and wasnot in perfect shape yet.

“At this moment, all our Hondariders are complaining about brak-ing stability,” he said. “The brakingis good, but after braking, they havehopping. So therefore we’reconcentraing on fixing this area.We’re trying the clutch and the en-gine control system for that. It’s get-ting better, but it’s still an issue.”

Italian rider Andrea Dovizioso of RepsolHonda powers his bike during a MotoGPpre-season second test run on theSepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur onFebruary 24, 2011.

AFP PHOTO / Saeed Khan