I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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Entertainment
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
In bite-sized roles, Gandolfini ubiquitous again
WEATHER FORECAST Dps 23 - 32
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK — In the five years since “The Sopranos” ended, James Gandolfini has eschewed the spotlight, instead disappearing into a heap of character actor performances that, while they may lack the heft of Tony Soprano, have only further proved the actor’s wide-ranging talent.
AP Photo/Paramount Vantage, File
This publicity film image released by Paramount Vantage shows James Gandolfini, as Pat, in a scene from the film “Not Fade Away.”
16 Pages Number 7 5th year
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
This season offers a gluttony of Gandolfini, albeit in bite-sized parts. In Kathryn Bigelow’s Osama bin Laden hunt docudrama “Zero Dark Thirty,” he plays Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. In David Chase’s ‘60s period drama “Not Fade Away,” he plays the old-school father of a wannabe rocker. And in Andrew Dominick’s crime flick “Killing Them Softly,” he plays an aged, washed-up hit man. None of the roles are showy lead men, and that’s just fine with Gandolfini. “I’m much more comfortable doing smaller things,” Gandolfini said in a recent interview. “I like them. I like the way they’re shot; they’re shot quickly. It’s all about the scripts — that’s what it is — and I’m getting some interesting little scripts.” The 51-year-old actor takes scant pleasure in interviews and rarely does them. This is partly because Gandolfini — sitting attentively with his hands on his knees, his head back and his let’s-hear-whatyou-have-to-say eyes tilted downward — distrusts the ego-inflating effect of attention. Explaining his interest in a character, he breaks off: “I
always wonder how interesting any of this is to people. It’s just my own (stuff).” Though Gandolfini’s achievement playing Tony Soprano for eight years is unquestioned (he won three Emmy awards), the sensation of the show — and the long time spent playing a violent, sometimes loathsome gangster — grated on Gandolfini. He says that after “The Sopranos,” he didn’t quite regain himself as an actor until he starred in the Tony-winning play “God of Carnage” on Broadway in 2009. He played half of a Brooklyn couple trying to resolve a squabble with another couple over a fight between their children — a part also revealing of our underlying animalism. “It really grounded me more as an actor again,” says Gandolfini. “Then I could go off and try different things.”
e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Stalin’s birthday marked in Russia and beyond
Benitez needs goals to keep flowing at Chelsea
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Predicting who’s at risk for violence isn’t easy Page 14
in Jesus’ Bethlehem birthplace
‘Odd Couple’ star Jack Klugman dies in LA at 90 Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES — For many, Jack Klugman will always be the messy one. His portrayal of sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison on TV’s “The Odd Couple” left viewers laughing but it also gave Klugman the leverage to create a more serious character, the gruff medical examiner in “Quincy M.E.” His everyman ethos and comic timing endeared him to audiences and led to a prolific, six-decade acting career that spanned stage, screen and television. Klugman died Monday at age 90 in suburban Northridge with his wife at his side. His sons called on his fans to embrace their father’s tenacious and positive spirit. “He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it, and he would encourage others to do the same,” son Adam Klugman said. The cause of Klugman’s death was not immediately known. Adam Klugman said his father had been slowing down in recent years, but wasn’t battling cancer, which robbed him of his voice in the 1980s. Klugman taught himself to speak again, and kept working. He remained popular for decades simply by playing the type of man you could imagine running into at a bar or riding on a subway with — gruff, but down-to-earth, his tie stained and a little loose, a racing form under his arm, a cigar in hand during the days when smoking was permitted. Off-screen, Klugman owned racehorses and enjoyed gambling, although acting remained his passion. Despite his on-screen wars with Tony Randall’s neat-freak char-
acter Felix Unger on “Odd Couple,” the show created a friendship between the men that endured after the series ended. When Randall died in 2004 at age 84, Klugman told CNN: “A world without Tony Randall is a world that I cannot recognize.” AP Photo/David F. Smith, File
FILE - In this May 20, 1973 file photo, Jack Klugman holds his Emmy for his role in “The Odd Couple” presented at the 25th Emmy Awards Banquet for outstanding continued performance by an actor in a leading role in a comedy series in Los Angeles.
Associated Press
BETHLEHEM — Pilgrims and locals celebrated Christmas Day on Tuesday in the ancient Bethlehem church where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminating the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filling its overflowing halls. Overcast skies and a cold wind didn’t dampen the spirits of worshippers who came dressed in holiday finery and the traditional attire of foreign lands to mark the holy day in this biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited eagerly to see the grotto that is Jesus’ traditional birthplace. Duncan Hardock, 24, a writer from MacLean, Va., traveled to Bethlehem from the republic of Georgia, where he had been teaching English. After passing through the separation barrier Israel built to ward off West Bank attackers, he walked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square where the church stands. “I feel we got to see both sides of Bethlehem in a really short period of time,” Hardock said. “On our walk from the wall, we got to see the lonesome, closed side of Bethlehem ... But the moment we got into town, we’re suddenly in the middle of the party.” Bethlehem lies 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Je-
rusalem. Entry to the city is controlled by Israel, which occupied the West Bank in 1967. Hardock’s girlfriend, 22-year-old Jennifer Gemmell of Longmont, Colorado, compared the festive spirit in Manger Square on Christmas Eve, saying “it’s like being at Times Square at New Year’s.” The cavernous church was unable to hold all the worshippers who had hoped to celebrate Christmas Day Mass inside. A loudspeaker outside the church broadcast the service to the hundreds in the square who could not pack inside. Tourists in the square posed for pictures as vendors hawked olive wood rosaries, nativity scenes, corn on the cob, roasted nuts, tea and coffee. An official from the Palestinian tourism ministry predicted 10,000 foreigners would visit Bethlehem on Christmas Day and said 15,000 visited on Christmas Eve — up 20 percent from a year earlier. The official, Rula Maia’a, attributed the rise in part to the Church of the Nativity’s classification earlier this year as a U.N. World Heritage Site. Christians from Israel — Arab citizens and others — also boosted the number of visitors. Information technology consultant Martin Wzork came to Bethlehem with his wife and young daughter from Krakow, Poland. “My wife believes in God, so it’s important for her,” said Wzork, who described himself as a non-believer. “For me, it’s interesting because it’s a historical place
AP Photo/Adel Hana
A cross is held during Christmas celebrations outside the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshippers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born. and famous.” On Christmas Eve, thousands of Christians from all over the world packed the square, which was awash in light, resplendent with decorations and adorned by a lavishly decorated, 17-meter (55-foot) fir tree. Their Palestinian hosts, who welcome this holiday as the high point of their city’s year, were especially joyous this season, proud of the United Nations’ recognition of an independent state of Palestine just last month. Israel, backed by the United States, opposed the Palestinian statehood bid, saying it was a ploy to bypass negotiations, something the Palestinians deny. Talks stalled four years ago. Later Tuesday, the world’s Christmas focus will shift to Vatican City, where Pope Benedict XVI will deliver his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” speech — Latin for “to the city and the world” — from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered in the piazza below. The speech traditionally reviews world events and global challenges, and ends with the pope delivering Christmas greetings in dozens of languages.
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International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Bali News
International
JAKARTA – Aston International, the largest international hotel operator in Indonesia, recently announced that the company has penned deals for three new four-star “Astons” in Indonesia – the Aston Jimbaran Hotel – Bali, the Aston Simatupang Hotel & Conference Center in Jakarta and the Aston Karawang Hotel.
Amlapura (Bali Post)—
Continuous rain flushing the area of Rendang, Karangasem, within the past two days caused avalanche and fallen tree. A fallen banyan tree toppled over two other large trees in front of the Puseh temple of Menanga, Rendang subdistrict, Karangasem, Sunday (Dec 23) around 12:00 a.m. so that it brought the road section to Besakih to a standstill for some 4 hours. was still raining. No loss of life was caused by the fallen tree. However, it kindled traffic congestion on the Menanga-Besakih road section. Chief of Rendang Police, Nyoman Tusta, with permission from Karangasem Police Chief said his party had come down to location of accident situating no far from location of the fallen tree. Police officers diverted the traffic flow of Klungkung-Besakih to Buyan or from Rendang to Batusesa hamlet and then headed for Besakih
so that it did not cause total traffic congestion. Aside from police officers, police chief said that a team of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Karangasem also came down to location. Branches of the tree were cut by chain saw with the assistance of local residents. Pieces of the trees were rolled out to roadside, so that the road section could soon be passed through. Additionally, the fallen tree also resulted in material avalanche of cliff nearby. (013)
Join Team captured foreigner bringing marijuana join team of Denpasar Police Illegal Drugs Section, Badung Regency Narcotic Board and National Narcotic Board of Bali did some ‘sweeping’ at some entertainment places from Saturday (22/12) 11 pm local time until Sunday (23/12) 3.30 am local time. At least 6 places were raided and one Japanese named Watanabe Shinichi (35) was found bringing marijuana. Head of the Illegal Drugs Section, PC I Wayan Suarda, confirmed and have brought Watanabe to the headquarters to be investigated further including taking his urine sample yet its lab test hasn’t come out. The Illegal Drugs Section on this case only to support the Narcotic Boards involved in tackling illegal drugs distribution in Denpasar and around it. Moreover it’s near Christmas and New Year. Every visitor to those places had their brought items checked.
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IBP
Menanga-Besakih road section cut off
Denpasar (Bali Post)-
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Aston announces 3 new hotels
Landslide and fallen tree
One of the Menanga residents, Dewa Gede Surya, said last Sunday the fallen banyan tree was of large enough diameter. Even, the banyan tree toppled over the other two trees. The three large trees fell onto the road, right at the Arca descending road section. Allegedly, the quite old banyan tree collapsed because it was unable to hold the heavy burden of wet leaves whereas the wind did not blow so strongly. Fortunately, no people were passing when the large tree collapsed as it
Activities
Watanabe was found in a room at a discotheque located in By Pass Ngurah Rai Street, Kuta, Badung. When his bag was
checked, marijuana consisting of leaves, components and seeds totaling 0.72 grams was found. (kmb21)
The tents are ready for the Denpasar Festival which will be officially opened on December 28, 2012. The traffic will be closed during the festival so the people must find alternative route.
IBP/File
The new cafe which was just being build at Delod Berawah, Negara.
Cafés proliferate at Delod Berawah Negara (Bali Post)—
The endeavor to change the negative image of Delod Berawah tourist area is in fact not accompanied with real action. As evidence, the number of dimly lit cafés on the land belonging to property of Perancak Temple at Delod Berawah continues to grow. The latest one, a new two-storied café was opened on Saturday night (Dec 22). Even, it was a permanent building and overlooking the beach. Meanwhile, not long ago, the village authority implemented a policy to close the cafés in the area by degrees. From the information gathered on Sunday (Dec 23), the café was a branch of one of the cafés in Jembrana and officially opened on Saturday night. It was unclear whether it already had a building permit or not because according to a resource person the land in use had the status as property of the Perancak Temple categorized into dang kahyangan temple. Since the past few years, the area had been overwhelmed by cafés on contracted land for one to five years. As information of the resource person, the land serving as temple property was about 0.98 hectares located right on the west side of cemetery of Delod Berawah. Seeing condition of the land was less productive and located at coastal borderline, the land was later on leased for café businesses. Negative impression of the cafés
was considered to have tarnished the Delod Berawah tourist area, while local government was committed to gradually change the image. As planned, the area would be modified into culinary destination and a number of budgets would be allocated to repair some tourism supporting facilities. Village authority was committed not to renew the contract agreement of those cafés. But in fact, a new café in the area of Delod Berawah was alleged to be opened last week. The resource person regretted because it was permanently built and even two-storied. Moreover, almost all the cafés in a row were located close to beach. “Has it owned a permit or not? It is said there has been a commitment not to add another café,” said the resource person. Headman of Delod Berawah, Made Rentana, denied the construction of new café. According to him, there was only renovation of a cafe. He said to be still committed not to add any café at Delod Berawah and would not renew the contract agreement of the existing cafés. Related to the building, the Head of Jembrana Public Order Officer (Satpol PP), I Putu Widarta, said if his party had not monitored or heard about new cafe building at Delod Berawah. Similarly, his party had not made any coordination with licensing office. “We have not checked it,” he said. (kmb26)
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, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, 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
“With sustained economic growth, a raising middle class of soon to be 120 million people and significant investment in infrastructure leading to increased volumes for business travel and continued international and domestic leisure travel demand, opportunities continue for quality upscale hotel developments in Indonesia” says Norbert Vas, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We are thrilled to announce these three new hotels in Bali, Jakarta and in West Java’s manufacturing hub of Karawang and remain excited about the prospects for our upscale Aston brand in Indonesia” added Mr. Vas. Aston now is committed to a total of 21 new Aston hotels in Indonesia bringing several of its smaller 3 star
“Aston City Hotels” to secondary cities such as Jember, Luwuk, Kupang, Madiun and Bekasi but also focusing on larger projects such as the 202 room Aston Jimbaran Hotel – Bali and the 324 room Aston Simatupang Hotel & Conference Center as well as the 154 room Aston Karawang Hotel which will be the first international 4 star business Hotel in West Java’s rapidly expanding manufacturing hub. In addition the company is also in the midst of developing two new flag ship hotels for its 5 star “Grand Aston” brand with a new development in Surabaya and a complete overhaul if its popular Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa which is due to rebrand to a Grand Aston in April next year.
IBP/Courtesy of Aston International
Calendar Event for December 12 through December 27, 2012 12 Des B uda Keliwon Ugu Pura Dalem Tarukan Banjar Pulasari Desa Peninjoan Tembuku - Bangli Pura Pasek Gelgel Boading Kabakaba Tabanan Pura Pemayun Banyuning T e n gah - Buleleng Pura Desa Kayangan Tiga Desa Bubunan Seririt - Buleleng Pura Agung Gunung Raung Banjar Taro Kaja Taro - Tegalalang Merajan Pasek Dangka Bungbungan 22 Des H ari Tumpek Wayang Pura Majapahit Jembrana Odalan Betara ratu Gede Celuk Sukawati Odalan Betara Ratu Wedyadari Camenggaon Sukawati Pura Panti Gelgel Pengembungan Sesetan Denpasar Betara Ratu Alit dan Ratu Lingsir Singakerta Ubud Pura Pedarmaan Dalem Sukawati B esakih Pura Pedarmaan Mengwi Besakih Pura Pedarmaan Kaba-kaba Besakih Pura Pedarmaan dalem Bakas Besakih Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Gelgel
Pegatepan Gelgel Klungkung Pura Pemrajan Agung Sulang Kec Dawan Klungkung Merajan Pasek Bendesa Kori Agung Pengatepan Pura Pedarmaan Dinasti dalem sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan P u r a Besakih (Dalem Klungkung) Pura Penataran Giri Purwa dan Pesraman Dusun Kuto Rejo Kendal Rejo Tegal Delimo Banyuangi 26 Des Buda Wage Kelawu Pura Penataran Agung Teluk Padang Karangasem Pura Melanting D esa Camenggaon Sukawati Pura Penataran Ped Nusa Penida Pura Pasek Gelgel Pangembungan Bongkase Abiansemal Pura Pasek Bendesa Reyang Gede Penebel Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Br. Jawa Tengah Buleleng Pura Gaduhan Jagat Desa Singakerta Ubud Pura Masceti Tegeh Mancawarna Sanding Tampaksiring Pura Penataran Batu Lepang Kamasan Klungkung Pura Paibon Pasek Gelgel Gobleg Desa Kedonganan Kuta
Pura Goa Besakih Pura Basukian Besakih Penataran Agung Besakih Merajan Pasek Gelgel Pejeng Merajan Pasek Gelgel Songan Merajan Pasek Prateka Pekandelan Sidemen Merajan Pasek Prateka Taman Sari Sukasada Pura dadia Pasek Gelgel Sidemen Karangasem Merajan Pasek Gelgel Tampuagan, Tembuku, Bangli 27 Des Purnama Kepitu Pr. Benua Besakih. Pura Dalem Desa Camenggaon - Sukawati Pura Suranadhi Lombok Pura Narmada Lombok Pura Segara Ampenan Lombok Mr Agung Dewa Agung Klungkung Ulah Sidemen Pura Gunungrene S i d e m e n Karangasem. Merajan Pasek Gelgel Ababi Mr. Pasek gelgel Tista Pura Gunung Gunung - Tianyar Kubu - Karangasem Pura Pingit Klenting sari Banjar Sumberkelompok - Gerokgak Singaraja Pura Payogan Agung Kutai Kartanegara
Balinese Temple Ceremony Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc. The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion. The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines. In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Health
International
Mo. students lose 756 pounds at SC boarding school Associated Press Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sixteen-year-old Jason Alexander weighed 326 pounds four months ago when he and 13 classmates boarded a plane for a weightloss boarding school in South Carolina. When he stepped off a return flight home Friday, he was down to 233 pounds, making him the biggest loser in his Missouri school district’s unusually aggressive effort to battle childhood obesity. While individual families have long enrolled children in weightloss programs, the Independence school district is believed to be the first to send students as a group to a program like the one in South Carolina. The 12 students who completed the program lost a combined 756 pounds, and relatives and friends who greeted them at the airport could scarcely believe the change. Jason’s mother, Debbie Al-
AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File
FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 file photo, parents leave a staging area after being reunited with their children following a shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where Adam Lanza opened fatally shot 27 people, including 20 children.
Predicting who’s at risk for violence isn’t easy Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO — It happened after Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Colo., and now Sandy Hook: People figure there surely were signs of impending violence. But experts say predicting who will be the next mass shooter is virtually impossible — partly because as commonplace as these calamities seem, they are relatively rare crimes. Still, a combination of risk factors in troubled kids or adults including drug use and easy access to guns can increase the likelihood of violence, experts say. But warning signs “only become crystal clear in the aftermath, said James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminology professor who has studied and written about mass killings. “They’re yellow flags. They only become red flags once the blood is spilled,” he said. Whether 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who used his mother’s guns to kill her and then 20 children and six adults at their Connecticut school, made any hints
about his plans isn’t publicly known. Fox said that sometimes, in the days, weeks or months preceding their crimes, mass murderers voice threats, or hints, either verbally or in writing, things like “’don’t come to school tomorrow,’” or “’they’re going to be sorry for mistreating me.’” Some prepare by target practicing, and plan their clothing “as well as their arsenal.” (Police said Lanza went to shooting ranges with his mother in the past but not in the last six months.) Although words might indicate a grudge, they don’t necessarily
mean violence will follow. And, of course, most who threaten never act, Fox said. Even so, experts say threats of violence from troubled teens and young adults should be taken seriously and parents should attempt to get them a mental health evaluation and treatment if needed. “In general, the police are unlikely to be able to do anything unless and until a crime has been committed,” said Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a Columbia University professor of psychiatry, medicine and law. “Calling the police to confront a troubled teen has often led to tragedy.”
exander, said it wasn’t just the weight loss. Her son who had battled a speech impediment and been slow to smile was now grinning broadly. “It’s crazy,” Alexander said. “Kids have always given him grief.” The school district, donors and the students’ families worked together to pay about half of the usual $28,500-per-semester tuition at MindStream Academy in Bluffton, S.C. The rest of the tuition was paid by a foundation associated with the academy and other donors. Jason and the other students — the youngest was 11 — spent the semester exercising, studying, working with counselors and learning to eat healthier. The curriculum was practical and hands-on: Students took field trips to a grocery store and fast food restaurant to learn to make good purchasing decisions and studied things like knife skills in the school’s kitchen.
Catholic Church urges Irish to oppose abortion law Reuters
DUBLIN - The head of Ireland’s Catholic Church urged followers in his Christmas Day message to lobby against government plans to legalize abortion. Ireland, the only EU member state that currently outlaws the procedure, is preparing legislation that would allow limited access to abortion after the European Court of Human Rights criticized the current regime. The death last month of an Indian woman who was denied an abortion of her dying foetus and later died of blood poisoning has intensified the debate around abortion, which remains a hugely divisive subject in the predominantly Catholic country. “I hope that everyone who believes that the right to life is fundamental will make their voice heard in a reasonable, but forthright, way to their representatives,” Cardinal Sean Brady said in a Christmas message on Tuesday. “No government has the right to remove that right from an innocent person.” Irish Prime Minister Enda
Kenny, a regular Mass goer, is bringing in legislation that would allow a woman to have an abortion if her life was at risk from pregnancy. The country’s Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that abortion was permitted when a woman’s life was at risk but successive governments have avoided legislating for it because it is so divisive. The death of Savita Halappanavar, who repeatedly asked for an abortion while she was miscarrying in an Irish hospital, highlighted the lack of clarity in Irish law that leaves doctors in a legally risky position. Halappanavar’s death reignited the abortion debate and prompted large protests by groups both in favor of and against abortion. Kenny and his conservative Fine Gael party have been criticized for tackling the abortion issue and some party members have indicated that they may not be able to back the law. Relations between the Irish government and the once dominant Catholic Church are at an all-time low in the wake of years of clerical sex abuse scandals.
Bali News
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
3
Slonding gamelan of Tunjuk village
Virtually extinct, begins to be favored by teenagers Bali Post
TABANAN - Strains of its rhythm are heard melancholy. When people listen to it, the rhythm can hypnotize and make everyone dissolved in the strains. Its soft melody strengthens spiritual nuance when a ritual is taking place. It is the selonding gamelan music posing a native cultural heritage to Tenganan, Karangasem, but almost extinct in Tabanan. Fortunately, many young generations are starting to favor it lately. One of the Slonding gamelan troupes remaining to exist is the Kembang Bali art studio at Tunjuk hamlet, Tabanan. Amid the onslaught of modern music, this slonding troupe remains to survive. Even, it receives many invitations. On average, the gamelan players consist of teenagers. Although being classified into beginner, they are quite skillful in playing the gamelan music resembling gambang xylophone. “The gamelan players are the result of intense exercise in recent months. Thus, they are able to play it well,” said the group head of Kembang Bali Slonding gamelan troupe, Suarjana, not long ago. The man admitted that his slonding gamelan was inherited from generation to generation. Incidentally, his family had the blood of the art. However, such gamelan faced a dormant period because no generation wanted to play it. Due to perseverance in inviting teenagers, Suarjana was able to revive the slonding gamelan troupe. Almost every month, his gamelan troupe received an invitation to make performance. Although being categorized into bizarre art, he did not want to set a particular tariff for the performance.
“We are doing devotional service so as not setting a tariff,” he said. Incidentally, all the slonding gamelan players still had kinship ties. Slonding gamelan consisted of a number of devices. Among them, there were nyongyong ageng, nyongnyong alit, gong, gong alit and penem. These instruments could still be fitted with other instruments like petudug, cymbals and penyoroh. The rhythm played used a kind of pelog scale. When making performance, it would be adjusted to demand. “We are also able to make performance for all night long,” said Suarjana. He said that slonding gamelan music could become a complement to any ritual. The slonding troupe under his coordination was frequently invited to make performance outside Tabanan. According to Suarjana, preservation of the traditional gamelan would be constantly continued. To engender new generation, his party began to teach children the way to play slonding gamelan. On that account, the typical Balinese gamelan was not going to disappear. With simple method, children could be easily
taught to play the slonding. In keeping with the passage of time, he said, the number of slonding instrument also increased. It was adapted to situation. However, the core instruments remained to be preserved because they were essential spirit of
the slonding rhythm. Playing slonding, said Suarjana, needed a sense. Thus, the rhythm generated could touch the feeling. This man hoped the other traditional gamelan could also be preserved by getting children to start favoring their traditional gamelan. (kmb30)
IBP/Budi Wiriyanto
Selonding gamelan music posing a native cultural heritage to Tenganan, Karangasem, but almost extinct in Tabanan. Fortunately, many young generations are starting to favor it lately.
BMKG predicted Bali affected by drought Antara
IBP/File Photo
BMKG predicted Bali will affected by drought.
JAKARTA - The number of whirlwinds that hit Indonesia last year was 28 times higher than that of the year 2002 due to the impact of global warming, according National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. “Global warming has resulted in the formation of more cumulonimbus clouds that could trigger whirlwinds,” he said during the weekend. Indonesia has been hit by 258 whirlwinds so far this year, which have accounted for 36 percent of the total number of disasters that have struck the country in 2012. A total of 404 districts/cities, inhabited by 115 million people, in Sumatra, Northern Java, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi, are vulnerable to whirlwinds. Sutopo predicted that the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters, such as
floods, landslides, droughts, forest fires and whirlwinds, would increase next year. Citing the forecast by National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), he said whirlwinds were likely to occur in March-April 2013. While and floods and landslides were most likely to happen during the January-March period. A total of 60.9 million people live in 315 districts/cities that are prone to floods, while some 124 million live in 270 districts/ cities that are vulnerable to landslides. Forest fires might occur during the dry season next year in eight provinces: North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. The country is likely to be affected by droughts during August-October 2013, particularly in Java, Bali and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
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Bali News
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
International
International
Ahead of Christmas
Christians of Piling village share food
W
Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI marked Christmas Eve with Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a pressing question: Will people find room in their hectic, technology-driven lives for children, the poor and God? The pontiff also prayed that Israelis and Palestinians live in peace and freedom, and asked the faithful to pray for strifetorn Syria as well as Lebanon and Iraq. The ceremony began at 10 p.m. local time Monday with the blare of trumpets, meant to symbolize Christian joy over the news of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. As midnight neared, chuch bells tolled throughout Rome, while inside the basilica, the sweet voices of the Vatican’s boys’ choir resounded joyously. Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican traditionally began at midnight, but the start time was moved up years ago so as to give the 85-year-old pontiff more time to rest before his Christmas Day speech. That address is to be delivered at midday Tuesday from the basilica’s central balcony. A smiling Benedict, dressed in
Christians at Piling customary village, Mengesta, Penebel, has a unique tradition in welcoming Christmas. They held ngejot or sharing food tradition beginning on Sunday (Dec 23). This tradition, namely preparing food and sharing it for local Hindus, has been in force for generations. It is commenced by preparing a variety of Balinese cuisines such as pork lawar and satay as well as Balinese cakes. The entire food was then delivered to local Hindu residents. gan to Christian residents. He added that Christians only shared food once a year, while the Hindus did it twice a year because Galungan and Kuningan fell every seven months. Another uniqueness of Christmas was that during a Christmas mass all the Christians put on traditional dresses like saying prayers to temple. In medium customary dresses, the Christians prayed in church led by local leader. Such cultural unification, said
Sukayasa, did not only occur in relation to festivity days. In daily social life, Christians were also coalesced into hamlet organization. Therefore, in the matters of ritual, they always involved customs like in the marriage, death, three-month ritual for baby, christening or birthday. “By and large, when Hindu neighbors have ritual activities, we will always help them. Meanwhile, similar help also applies to our devotees,” he concluded. (kmb30)
Collapsed road prone to accident Semarapura (Bali Post)—
IBP/File
The Bale Kulkul infront of Bali Museum burn again on Tuesday, December 25, 2012. The firefighters are trying to estinguish the fire.
Jalan Subali II at Semarapura Klod Kangin, exactly in front of the SMKN 1 Klungkung vocational school collapsed on Friday (Dec 21). The road collapsed after being passed through by a truck carrying 16 tons of cement. The collapsed road was complained by neighborhood residents. A gaping hole with a diameter of about two meters was very dangerous to road users, especially at night as there was no street lighting at location. Security guard at SMKN 1 Klungkung, Putu Muliana, revealed on Sunday (Dec 23) the truck known to belong to Surya Store of Klungkung transported cement to be unloaded in the warehouse located not far from location of the collapsed road. However, when it was about to turn to make closer to the warehouse, suddenly the left wheel of the truck stuck as the road passed collapsed about two meters long. Muliana added the collapsed road was very dangerous to road users. He said that many local residents were almost plunging into the pothole because no warning sign was posted to indicate if the road was damaged. “Necessarily, a warning sign should be installed to remind road users to be careful. However, until now there has been no sign posted,” he said. He expected that relevant agencies such as the Klungkung Public Works should immediately post
a warning sign and install street lighting on location, so that the collapsed road would not claim any casualty. “If possible, before the students here (SMKN 1 Klungkung) attend school (Jan 3), the broken road should have been repaired,” he said. Meanwhile, the Head of Klungkung Public Works, A.A. Ngurah
Agung, said last Sunday that his party had not received any report about the collapsed road. He said to immediately put up a warning sign at location so that road users would not fall into the pothole. “Later, we will immediately post a warning sign, but the street lighting can be carried out by Fixtures Division,” he said. (kmb31)
UN envoy worried after talks with Syria’s Assad Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT — The international envoy to Syria said after talks with the country’s leader Monday that the situation was “worrying” and gave no indication of progress toward a negotiated solution for the civil war. Lakhdar Brahimi’s mission came as activists reported intense fighting in the central province of Hama, where anti-government gunmen entered the predominantly Alawite town of Maan. Assad’s regime is dominated by mem-
bers of his minority Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam, while most of the rebels are Sunni Muslims. Brahimi said he and President Bashar Assad exchanged views on the crisis and discussed possible steps forward, which he did not disclose. He spoke briefly to reporters after meeting the Syrian leader at the presidential palace in Damascus. “The situation in Syria is still worrying and we hope that all the parties will go toward the solution that the Syrian people are hoping for and look forward to,”
AP Photo/SANA
IBP/File
A man is showing the damage road in Semarapura Klod Kangin, Klungkung
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At Christmas Eve Mass, pope urges space for God
Tabanan (Bali Post)—
According to Immanuel Church Deacon Council of Piling Kanginan, Nyoman Sukayasa, every time welcoming the Christmas, his devotees always held the tradition passed down through generations. It was intended to preserve the interfaith harmony. “Other than sharing food, we also slaughter, prepare food and make satay,” he said, Sunday (Dec 23). Every year, the local Christians delivered food to Hindus at the local village. On the contrary, the Hindus would also deliver food on Galun-
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, meets with UN Arab League deputy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012.
Brahimi said. Syria’s state news agency quoted Assad as saying his government supports “any effort in the interest of the Syrian people which preserves the homeland’s sovereignty and independence.” Brahimi has apparently made little progress toward brokering an end to the conflict since starting his job in September, primarily because both sides adamantly refuse to talk to each other. The government describes the rebels as foreign-backed terrorists set on destroying the country. The opposition says that forces under Assad’s command have killed too many people for him to be part of any solution. Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011. Brahimi’s two-day visit was to end later Monday. It is his third to Damascus as an envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League. The security situation in Damascus and elsewhere in the country has declined since Brahimi’s previous visits. Instead of flying in to the Damascus International Airport as he did on earlier visits, Brahimi drove to Damascus over land from the Lebanese capital Beirut because of fighting near the Damascus airport.
gold-colored vestments, waved to photo-snapping pilgrims and applauding church-goers as he glided up the center aisle toward the ornate main altar of the cavernous basilica on a wheeled platform guided by white-gloved aides. The platform saves him energy. In his homily, Benedict cited the Gospel account of Mary and Joseph finding no room at an inn and ending up in a stable which sheltered the baby Jesus. He urged people to reflect upon what they find time for in their busy, technology-driven lives. “The great moral question of our attitude toward the homeless, toward refugees and migrants takes on a deeper dimension: Do we really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof? Do we have time and space for him?” the pope said. “The faster we can move, the
more efficient our time-saving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of God never seems urgent,” Benedict lamented. The pope worried that “we are so ‘full’ of ourselves that there is no room left for God.” He added, “that means there is no room for others either — for children, for the poor, for the stranger.” With his voice a bit hoarse, and looking somewhat tired as the two-hour ceremony neared its end, Benedict decried that history has suffered through “misuse of religion,” when belief in one God became a pretext for intolerance and violence. Still, he insisted that where God is “forgotten or even denied, there is no peace either.” “Let us pray that Israelis and Palestinians be able to live their lives in the peace of the one God and in freedom,” the pope said.
Former President George H.W. Bush remains hospitalized Reuters
Former President George H.W. Bush, who has been hospitalized for a month undergoing treatment for bronchitis, may not be released from a Houston hospital in time to celebrate Christmas at home as doctors had hoped. Bush, 88, remained in stable condition and doctors were optimistic he would make a full recovery, George Kovacik, a spokesman at Methodist Hospital, said in an emailed statement on Sunday. But doctors were being “extra cau-
tious” with his care and no discharge date had been set, the statement said. Earlier this month, Kovacik said doctors expected Bush would be able to spend Christmas at home with his family. “His doctors feel he should build up his energy before going home,” the statement said. Bush, the 41st president and a Republican, took office in 1989 and served one term in the White House. The father of former President George W. Bush, he also is a former congressman, U.N. ambassador, CIA director and vice president for two terms under Ronald Reagan. IBP/rtr
Former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and his father George H.W. Bush attend a function onboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier off the coast of Maine, June 10, 2012
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
BUSINESS
Bali News
International
Kebo Iwa Dance revised Bali Post
Greece not doing enough against rich tax dodgers
GIANYAR - After being staged in the celebration of Gianyar’s anniversary (Apr 19), the Kebo Iwa Dance to be used as mascot by the Regent of Gianyar Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati will be revised. Even, result of the dance revision will be staged on December 30 at the Cultural Hall Open Stage. It was revealed when the Regent Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati made a visit to Paripurna dance studio at Bona village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, on Sunday (Dec 23) to watch the exercise of the artists presenting the Kebo Iwa Dance. Previously, the Kebo Iwa Dance used as the mascot of Gianyar was performed by SMKN 3 Sukawati vocational school and staged on the celebration night of the 241st anniversary of Gianyar Town. The dance is divided into six sequels, namely flashback describing the greatness of
ATHENS - Greece’s drive to crack down on flagrant tax evaders such as doctors and lawyers is flagging and must be reinvigorated, a report by the European Union and International Monetary Fund said on Monday. income. After a Christmas recess, p a r l i a m e n t i s ex p e c t e d t o pass a new tax law which aims to raise about 2.5 billion euros over the next two years as part of a 13.5 billion euro austerity package. A second piece of longdelayed legislation to crack d ow n o n t a x eva s i o n w i l l follow later in the year, the government said. P e r c e ive d t a x i n j u s t i c e has dented the popularity of Greece’s pro-bailout ruling coalition. The radical leftist Syriza party, which opposes austerity and advocates a big and immediate debt writedown, has taken the lead in almost all the opinion polls published since a June election. Improving Greece’s slow tax administration and just i c e i s a key o b j e c t ive o f the bailout. According to the report, individuals and companies have racked up 53 billion euros of tax debts to the government, a figure that corresponds to about a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product. But just 15-20 percent of that amount can be collected, the EU/IMF said, given that a large number of these tax cases are old and the debtors have already defaulted. According to a list of tax sinners published last year, Greece’s biggest tax debtor was state-run railway company OSE.
Kebo Iwa who was born of spiritual aura. Then, pepeson or the coming out of the dancer describes the majesty of Chief Minister Kebo Iwa. Thirdly, pengawak (core) describes the dilemma of Kebo Iwa who is faithful to the orders of the king to go to Java because he has been matched by Gajah Mada with Putri Lemah Tulis. Fourthly, the first pengecek describes the expertise of Kebo Iwa in making a sculpture. Fifthly, it describes the making of a beautiful woman statue where Kebo Iwa imagines to meeting with Putri Lemah Tulis. Finally,
pekaad describes the valor and glory of Kebo Iwa as Chief Minister. Meanwhile, in the composition of Kebo Iwa Dance by Paripurna dance studio, the structure is divided into three sequels. Chief of Paripurna Studio Bona, I Made Sidia, explained the preliminary part depicted the figure of young Kebo Iwa who had artistry and literary talent. However, in the search for a partner, Kebo Iwa was deceived by Chief Minister Gajah Mada from Majapahit Kingdom. With great heroism, Kebo Iwa was ultimately willing to give his life for the sake of realizing the ideal of Majapahit Kingdom in uniting the archipelago. Regent of Gianyar hoped the performance of Kebo Iwa Dance could run nicely, so that it would be able to give a spectacle with aesthetic, historical, and educational value. (kmb16)
Kebo Iwa statue
IBP/Net
Cruise quay dormant due to tug of war of management in central government
Associated Press
Athens has collected just half the tax debts and conducted less than half the audits it was supposed to under the targets set by its lenders, according to a survey by the country’s international lenders which was compiled in November. “The mission expresses concern that authorities are falling idle and that the drive to fight tax evasion by the very wealthy and the free professions is at risk of weakening,” it said. By the end of September authorities had conducted 440 checks on suspected wealthy tax evaders, compared with a full-year target of 1,300. About 1.1 billion euros in overdue taxes have been collected so far, less than the 2 billion euros targeted. The lenders urged Greece to improve tax collection and focus on the cases most likely to produce results. “Doctors and lawyers are a good place to start,” they said. Tax evasion is endemic in Greece, making it more difficult for the government to shore up its finances under its 240-billion-euro international bailout. Wi t h r eve n u e s fa l l i n g short and the austerity-hit country obliged to meet its fiscal targets when its economy is shrinking for a fifth year, Athens is hiking taxes on middle-class wage earners who can’t hide their
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Bali Post
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
FedEx courier Andrew Standeven makes last minute deliveries to businesses at the CambridgeSide Galleria mall in Cambridge, Mass., Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Although fresh data on the holiday shopping season is expected in coming days, early figures point to a ho-hum season for retailers despite last-ditch efforts to lure shoppers over the final weekend before Christmas. And with concerns about the economy and the looming “fiscal cliff” weighing on the minds of already cautious shoppers, analyst say stores will need to offer “once in a lifetime” blowouts to clear out inventory.
Lawmakers play waiting game with “fiscal cliff” deadline in sight Reuters
WASHINGTON - With only a week left before a deadline for the United States to go over a “fiscal cliff,” lawmakers played a waiting game on Monday in the hope that someone will produce a plan to avoid harsh budget cuts and higher taxes for most Americans from New Year’s Day. Though Republicans and Democrats have spent the better part of a year describing a plunge off the cliff as a looming catastrophe, the nation’s capital showed no outward signs of worry, let alone impending calamity. The White House has set up shop in Hawaii, where President Barack Obama is vacationing. The Capitol was deserted and the Treasury Department - which would have to do a lot of last-minute number-crunching with or without a deal - was closed. So were all other federal government offices, with Obama having followed a tradition of declaring the Monday before a Tuesday Christmas a holiday for government employees,
notwithstanding the approaching fiscal cliff. Expectations for some 11th-hour rescue focused largely on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, in part because he has performed the role of legislative wizard in previous stalemates. But McConnell, who is up for re-election in 2014, was shunning the role this year, his spokesman saying that it was now up to the Democrats in the Senate to make the next move. “We don’t yet know what Senator Reid will bring to the floor. He is not negotiating with us and the president is out of town,” said McConnell’s spokesman, referring to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat. “So I just don’t know what they’re going to do over there,” he said. Two-day-old tweets on leadership websites told the story insofar as it was visible to the public. House Speaker John Boehner’s referred everyone to McConnell. McConnell’s tweet passed the responsibility along to Obama, saying it was a “moment that calls for
presidential leadership.” Reid’s tweet said: “There will be very serious consequences for millions of families if Congress fails to act” on the cliff. The next session of the Senate is set for Thursday, but the issues presented by across-the-board tax hikes and indiscriminate reductions in government spending, were not on the calendar. The House has nothing on its schedule for the week, but members have been told they could be called back at 48 hours notice, making a Thursday return a theoretical possibility. However, aides to the Republican leaders in Congress said there were no talks with Democrats on Monday and none scheduled after negotiations fell off track last week when Boehner failed to persuade House Republicans to accept tax increases on incomes of more than $1 million a year. “Nothing new, Merry Christmas,” an aide to Boehner responded when asked if there was any movement on the fiscal cliff.
AMLAPURA — Continuation of the cruise ship quay development at Tanah Ampo, Manggis, Karangasem, stagnated. The problem lay in the tug of war of
management in central government. It was recognized by the Regent of Karangasem, I Wayan Geredeg, at the opening of the Tirtagangga Festival taking place only for one day on Sunday (Dec 23) at Tirtagangga.
In the face of Director of Marketing for Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, M. Farid, Regent Geredeg revealed the stagnation of the cruise ship quay development. Actually, the quay needed extension of 154
meters so that it could be berthed by cruises. Currently, the quay length was only 150 meters. Regent Geredeg said that Karangasem County government had completed the land acquisition and the construction of ring road or entry and exit driveway of the quay area three years ago. “Tug of war of management system in central government is very complicated,” said Geredeg. He hoped the Director of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, M. Farid, could help deliver and struggle to the ministry of transportation in Jakarta, so that the cruise ship quay development could be resumed so that it would not turn dormant. Based on observation, the cruise ship quay had been tested. However, the cruise ship berthed at sea and foreign tourists were transferred by lifeboat to be landed on a pontoon bridge. The pontoon bridge itself had been built and repaired for many times. Later on, no cruise ships wanted to stop in at the quay, but preferred to berth at Benoa Harbor, Denpasar. Geredeg said that cruise ship tourists actually had a great
potential to be attracted. Small country like Singapore could be visited by 670 cruise ships per year. If only 50 percent of them could be drawn to come around to Indonesia or Tanah Ampo quay and respectively carried 2,000 passengers, it could be ascertained the multiplier effect generated for the improvement of Bali’s economy. On the other hand, Director M. Farid did not want to mention anything about the continuation of the cruise ship quay development. He said the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting Bali was tolerable. In 2011, the number of tourists coming directly to Bali via Ngurah Rai Airport was recorded 2.8 million. Aside from direct entry via Ngurah Rai Airport, some tourists also came to Bali via Jakarta or Surabaya and their number per year was estimated to reach 700 to 800 people. Therefore, said Farid, the total tourist visit to Bali in 2011 was estimated around 3.6 million. Besides, the domestic tourist visit to Bali was also sizeable, reaching 2.2 million. “Therefore, throughout the year 2011 the number of foreign and domestic tourist visits to Bali reached 7 million,” he said. IBP/Net Tirtagangga Festival taking place for one day presented the Continuation of the cruise ship exhibition of various handicrafts. quay development at Tanah Meanwhile, the arts and culture displayed comprised a number Ampo, Manggis, Karangasem, of Balinese dances, cakepung and stagnated. The problem lay in genjek a cappella as well as gag the tug of war of management in by Cedil and friends. The event was also attended by dozens of central government. foreign tourists. (013)
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International
Airliner lands on Myanmar road in fog; 2 killed Associated Press Writer
IBP/ap
Ushangi Davitashvili kisses the bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin that stands in the courtyard of his apartment building in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.
Stalin’s birthday marked in Russia and beyond Associated Press Writer
TBILISI, Georgia — People across the vast territory where Josef Stalin once imposed his terror have marked the 133rd anniversary of the dictator’s birth, some in hatred but others in reverence. In Moscow, several hundred Russian Communists led by their leader Gennady Zuyganov laid flowers at Stalin’s grave at the Red Square Friday, while smaller rallies were held across Russia and several former Soviet republics. Leftists in neighboring Belarus said they found a Stalin statue that was buried after denunciation of his personality cult in 1956, but refused to specify its whereabouts because they fear authorities will order its destruction. Authorities in Stalin’s hometown of Gori, Geor-
gia, they will reinstall his statue that was removed in 2010. In southern Ukraine, several ethnic Crimean Tatars trashed a small street exhibition on Stalin. The entire Crimean Tatar population of Ukraine was hastily deported in cattle trains on Stalin’s orders in 1944 for their alleged collaboration with Nazi Germans during World War II. Of the 200,000 Crimean Tatars, almost a fifth died of starvation and diseases, and the survivors were allowed to return only in the late 1980s.
According to the prominent Russian right group Memorial, Stalin ordered the deaths of at least 724,000 people during the purges and repression of the 1930s, while millions died as a result of the forced labor system in Gulags, the Soviet prison system. But, some people believe he was a strong and valiant leader whose grip on the nation was needed for security and his popularity in Russia has been climbing amid Kremlin-backed efforts to defend his image.
8 dead after Christmas Day fires in Philippines Associated Press Writer
MANILA, Philippines — Authorities in the Philippines say at least eight people are dead after two separate Christmas Day fires in the capital region. One of the blazes left about 1,500 people homeless when it razed their shantytown.
Arson investigator Rosendo Cabillan says a predawn fire Tuesday razed two apartment buildings in Quezon City, a Manila suburb. A veterinarian and six household members died after they were trapped inside. Fire officer Noel Binwag says another blaze in suburban San Juan city hours earlier de-
stroyed shanties of about 1,500 people. Binwag says angry residents beat a man to death after accusing him of starting the fire. He says two firemen also were injured when they were hit by rocks by some residents who grabbed their fire hoses to put out the blaze themselves.
YANGON, Myanmar — An Air Bagan flight packed with Christmas tourists crash-landed on a road in central Myanmar on Tuesday, killing two people and injuring 11, officials said. Four foreigners were among the injured, state television reported. It said the fatalities included an 11-year-old passenger believed to be a Myanmar citizen and a man riding a motorcycle on the road where the plane came down. The flight was carrying 63 passengers, including 51 foreigners, and six crew members from the city of Mandalay to Heho airport in Shan State, the gateway to a popular tourist destination, Inle Lake, Air Bagan said in a brief statement on its Facebook page. The airline identified the injured tourists as two Americans, a British national and a Korean. It described the incident as an “emergency landing.” Authorities gave a different and more dramatic account, saying the pilot
mistook the road for a runway due to bad weather. “While descending, the plane mistakenly landed ... due to fog beside the runway,” state television reported. It said the aircraft made a hard landing on a road and then came to a stop in a nearby rice paddy field. “The rear end of the plane broke and caught fire,” state TV said, carrying a statement posted on Deputy Information Minister Ye Htut’s Facebook page. Rescuers brought the fire under control about 45 minutes later, he said. Witnesses said smoke filled the plane when it hit the ground and was still rising from the plane’s badly charred wreckage hours later. Airport officials in Heho said that injured passengers were taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Taunggyi for treatment. Air Bagan is one of five private airlines that fly domestic routes in Myanmar. It is a unit of Htoo Trading Company, which is owned by business tycoon Tay Za.
Former South African president Mandela “much better”: Zuma Reuters
JOHANNESBURG - Former South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela is looking much better after more than two weeks in hospital, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. Zuma, who visited Mandela on Christmas Day, said in a statement that doctors were happy with the progress the elder statesman was making. “We found him in good spirits. He was happy to have visitors on this special day and is looking much better. The doctors are happy with the progress that he is making,” said Zuma. The 94-year-old Nobel Peace laureate has been in hospital in Pretoria for more than two weeks after being admitted for routine tests. He then underwent surgery to remove gallstones. Mandela, who came to power in historic elections in 1994 after decades struggling against apartheid, remains a symbol of resistance to racism and injustice at home and around the world.
He has a history of lung problems dating back to when he contracted tuberculosis while in jail as a political prisoner. But this is his longest stay in hospital since he was released from prison in 1990. He spent time in a Johannesburg hospital in 2011 with a respiratory condition, and again in February this year because of abdominal pains though he was released the following day after a keyhole examination showed there was nothing serious. Zuma, who has just been reelected as president of the ruling African National Congress party, last week described Mandela’s condition as serious. “The Mandela family truly appreciates all the support they are receiving from the public. That is what keeps them going at this difficult time,” said Zuma. Periodic statements from the presidency continue to stress that the veteran politician is responding to treatment. No date has been given for his release from hospital.
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
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INDONESIA Rotten egg attack mars Indonesia Christmas celebration Agence France-Presse
BEKASI - More than 200 Indonesian Muslims threw rotten eggs at Christians wanting to hold a Christmas mass near land outside Jakarta where they plan to build a church, police and a witness said. Some 100 Christian worshippers intended to hold a mass near empty land where they hope to build a church, about 30-kilometre (18 miles) east of the capital, in a project barred by district government and community members in 2009. Since then, worshippers from the Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant have held Sunday services under scorching sun outside the property. On Tuesday, however, local community members blocked the road near the land, Andri Ananta, a local police chief on Jakarta’s outskirts, told AFP. An AFP photographer witnessed furious locals -- men and women wearing Muslim headscarf, with small children in tow -- physically blocking the road and throwing rotten eggs at the gathering worshippers. Ananta said police managed to convince the Christians to drop their plan and return home. “We tried our best to avoid any clash and the Christians agreed to leave,” he said, adding 380 police and military personnel including an antiriot squad were deployed to the area. Church leader Reverend Palti Panjaitan said the incident came after a Christmas Eve attack Monday evening when “intolerant people” threw not only rotten eggs but plastic bags filled
with urine and cow dung at them. “Everything had happened while police were there. They were just watching without doing anything to stop them from harming us,” he told AFP. The country’s high court last year overruled the district government’s 2009 decision, but constant intimidation from Muslims in the area has delayed the church’s construction,
church officials said. Indonesia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion but rights groups say violence against minorities including Christians and the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect has escalated since 2008. Ninety percent of Indonesia’s population of 240 million identify themselves as Muslim but the vast majority practise a moderate form of Islam.
TANJUNG PINANG - Customs and excise officials of the Riau Islands province have foiled a smuggling attempt of 3.4 kg heroine at the Sri Bintan Pura international seaport on Monday. The alleged smuggler identified by his initial as Ih hailing from Malaysia committed the heroin smuggling by Ferry MV Cinta Indomas heading to Tanjungpinang, the Customs and Excise personnel said, adding Il has been questioned by the Customs and Excise officials. In the meantime, during 2012, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise(DJBC) has seized at least 539 kilograms of narcotics, doubling the figures from 2011. “We have seized narcotics of
Antara
JAKARTA - The Indonesia`s Religious Affairs Minister, Suryadharma Ali said, Muslims can convey Christmas greetings to Christians. “It is not unusual to convey Christmas greetings to Christians,” said Ali on Monday. This statement is not in line with what the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH Ma`ruf, believes in. According to KH Ma`ruf, the greeting, Merry Christmas, is forbidden (haram). However, Ali disclosed, Muslims can convey Christmas greetings to Christians. Ali said the differing views
of the MUI and the ministry are expected. Islamic laws are based on the Koran, Sunnah (words and deeds of Prophet Mohammad) and the Ulema`s opinion. “Since Indonesia is a multicultural society, people should have cordial relations with those of other ethnic groups,” he pointed out. “These greetings are not a part of any ritual,” he said. Ali added that Muslims can convey greetings to Buddhists, Hindus and those who follow the teachings of Kong Hu Cu, during their respective festivals. “It does not matter as long as there is tolerance and diversity in the country,” he added.
Euro 3 to be implemented in August 2013 Antara
AP Photo/Trisnadi
In this late Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 photo, a giant Christmas tree is displayed as Indonesians pray during a Christmas eve service at a church in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
Indonesian customs office foils 3.4 kg-heroin smuggling attempt Antara
Muslims can convey Christmas greetings
538,980.95 grams, or 539 kilograms. The current amount is larger than [that seized] in 2011, which reached 217,392.17 grams,” said Customs and Excise Director General Agung Kuswandono at a press conference in the DJBC office on Friday. According to him, the type of narcotics that have increased the most in 2012 is Ecstasy, of which authorities have seized up to 383,127.05 grams compared with figures in 2011 of only 9,665.7 grams. The DJBC has also seized cocaine weighing up to 6,847 grams in 2012, which has increased from the 2011 seizure of 176.17 grams. The institution has also revealed an increase in heroin smuggling attempts in 2012, having seized 30,382.9 grams
compared with the 14,718 grams it had seized in 2011. Furthermore, the DJBC has recorded a decrease in methamphetamine smuggling into Indonesia. In 2012, customs seized at least 92,609.79 grams of methamphetamine, a drop from 2011 figures of 158,376.7 grams. “We cannot measure the financial losses created by the narcotics problem, but we expect it to be negligible. Our youth could have gotten addicted and displayed poor morals if the 539 kilograms of narcotics had been misused,” Agung said. The institution has also seized several commodities that violate customs law in as many as 3,286 cases that would have created financial losses to the state of up to Rp193.4 billion.
JAKARTA - The Minister of Environment, Balthasar Kambuaya, has officially announced the enactment of the new emissions standard for two-wheeled vehicles which is equivalent to the European Emission Standard (EURO) 3, effective as of in August 1, 2013. “As of August 1, 2013 the two-wheeled vehicle emissions standard for Indonesia is EURO 3,” Balthasar said in the presentation of urban air quality evaluation results here Monday. With the implementation of the emission standard, it is expected motorcycles would use fuel according to the standard, the minister said. “Actually, this standard has already been implemented but it has not been based on EURO 3,” he added. Later, if the standard is fully implemented consumers must use fuel with an octane level of 91, and which is unleaded. Balthasar said, the implementation of the new standard could encourage industry to produce competitive motorcycles at the ASEAN level. The head of road transport of the ministry of environment, M Zakaria, said the implementation of the Euro 3 standard would reduce emissions coming out from motor vehicles.
“All the two-wheeled vehicles will be tested by the Center for Engineering Thermodynamics and Propulsion (BTMP)-BPPT (agency for the assessment and application of technology),” Zakaria added. The planned implementation of the EURO 3 standard is also put the regulation of the minister of environment Number 23/2012 on amendment to the ordinance of the Minister of the Environment number 10/2012 concerning the raw exhaust emissions of motor vehicles of new type L3 category. EURO is the motor vehicle emission standard in Europe, which is adopted by several countries in the world. EURO requires new vehicles to have a grade of flue gas such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide under a certain threshold. In EURO 3, a two-wheeled vehicles with a cylinder capacity of less than 50 cubic cm may only produce 0.8 grams/kilometer of hydrocarbons (HC), 0.15 grams/kilometer of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and only 2 grams/kilometer of carbon monoxide (CO). As for the two-wheeled vehicles with a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cubic cm may only produce 0.3 grams/kilometer of hydrocarbons (HC), 0.15 grams/kilometer of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and only 2 grams/kilometer of carbon monoxide (CO).
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Destinations
Kedewatan Customary Village
A Tourism Village Rich in Culinary Attractions IBP
On hearing the name of Kedewatan Village, our mind will surely point to a menu of delicious mixed rice. As a matter of fact, the village located in Ubud subdistrict, Gianyar, has another advantage such as unique culture. As a result, many small-scale hotels to star hotels are established at the village. Besides, the challenging rapids of Ayung River in the west of the village have attracted many tourists to enjoy rafting adventure. Kedewatan Village is a tourism route leading to Kintamani, Ubud and Batubulan. Therefore, the village is passed through by many foreign and domestic tourists every day. Uniquely, wherever they come from and go to, they always make their time to have a break for tasting the chicken rice of Kedewatan. Even, it has become something like ‘a tradition’ for tourist guides, travel agencies or local communities. There are plenty of restaurants offering different types of mixed rice. However, the most visited locations are Warung Mardika, Jero Mangku, Ibu Agung and Warung Adnyani. Each restaurant is averagely visited by 200 people per day. Among those tourists, about 25 percent are foreign tourists. Chief of Kedewatan Customary Village, Sang Putu Eka Pertama, said the village had a beautiful nature, fresh air and friendly people so that it made the village one of the prominent destinations. Moreover, the Kedewatan customary village had been declared as a culture-based village so that in maintaining the harmony
of customary villagers his party always gave priority to culture. Aside from having the original design of Balinese traditional architecture, the village also preserved the ancient and classical dance. It was the art in the form of Calonarang mystical drama entitled Kunti Sraya. In addition, the villagers of Kedewatan were also good at various kinds of art creativities such carving, painting and playing gamelan music. Therefore, star hotels, villas, inns, and art shops within the territory of customary village had become a source of revenue for the village. Eka Pertama added the Kedewatan customary village had a total area of 150 hectares. Of such area, one-third remained an overlay of paddy field that still had its own potential amidst the rapid development of Kedewatan as part of tourism village. The village formerly dropped in by Rishi Markandeya was inhabited by totally 2,237 people spreading across two hamlets, namely the Kedewatan and Kedewatan Anyar.
Sports
International
International
7
Anthony leads Knicks over Timberwolves
Reuters
Carmelo Anthony took over in the last two minutes to carry the New York Knicks to a 94-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Anthony, who was ejected during Friday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, finished with 33 points, scoring 19 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks came from behind to secure the home win. “We didn’t want to look back at this game later in the season and say this was a game we shouldn’t have lost,” Anthony told reporters. “We picked it up defensively in the second half and we won the game.” New York trailed for virtually the entire game before Anthony went on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to put the Knicks up by four. Anthony scored the Knicks’ last 12 points to seal the win. “That was kind of an MVP performance at the end. He stepped up and made the plays,” said New York coach Mike Woodson. “When he got that fifth foul called, it’s like a light went off and he made the plays big-time.” J.R. Smith scored 19 off the bench for New York (20-7) while Tyson Chandler had 16 and nine rebounds as the Knicks maintained their 5 1/2 game lead in the Atlantic Division. Nikola Pekovic recorded 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead the
IBP/File Photo
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Timberwolves (13-12), who were missing All Star Kevin Love due to an eye ailment. Minnesota went up by nine at half-time and led by 11 midway through the third before New York made their move. Chandler scored 10 in the third quarter as the Knicks cut the deficit to two heading into the fourth. New York are still without forward Amar’e Stoudemire, who has been out the entire season with a knee injury but has recently started practicing with the team. Despite his absence, the Knicks are off to a strong start and have a 5 1/2-game lead in the Atlantic Division. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine
Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) shoots past New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, December 23, 2012.
British paper to sue Armstrong Nadal does not expect to Reuters
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REUTERS/Christinne Muschi
Lance Armstrong walks back to his car after running at Mount Royal park with fans in Montreal August 29, 2012.
LONDON - The Sunday Times is suing disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong for around one million pounds over his libel action against the British newspaper in 2004. Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles from 19992005 in October, received 300,000 pounds from the Sunday Times as payment towards his legal fees after the paper raised questions about the American’s success following his recovery from testicular cancer. “It is clear that the proceedings were baseless and fraudulent. Your representations that you had never taken performance enhancing drugs were deliberately false,” read the letter to Armstrong’s lawyers in the Sunday Times. The paper is demanding the return of the 300,000 pounds payment plus interest, as well as costs accrued in defending the case, which was settled in 2006. A report by the United States AntiDoping Agency (USADA) in October said the now-retired Armstrong had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program the sport has ever seen.” Armstrong has always denied using performance-enhancing drugs but chose not to contest the USADA charges.
be fully fit before March
Reuters
MADRID - Rafa Nadal does not expect to be back to full fitness and close to his competitive best until the Masters tennis event at Indian Wells in March, the Spanish world number four was quoted as saying on Sunday. Nadal will return to action at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in five days’ time after six months out with a knee injury. “I need to see how it improves and how it reacts to the intensity and demands of playing with tennis players of such a high level,” Nadal said in an interview with Spanish daily ABC. After a shock defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon in June, Nadal was diagnosed with a partial tear of the patella tendon and inflammation in his left knee and was unable to defend his Olympic title at the London Games. The 11-times grand-slam singles champion also missed the U.S. Open and the season-ending World Tour championships before returning to the practice court on Nov. 20. Nadal said the knee was “still not 100 percent” and he was planning to ease back in slowly. “I am not thinking long term, I am just focused on the knee, seeing how it responds and then we’ll see later on. “I want to be sure that it’s completely ready to start competing in anger again, without any doubts. “If I feel
good in Abu Dhabi we’ll continue but if not I’ll take it calmly.” REAL OBJECTIVE
The first grand-slam event of 2013, the Australian Open, starts on Jan. 14. The 26year-old Nadal, who won a record seventh French Open crown in May on his favoured clay, said winning matches was not his priority over the coming weeks and he was totally focused on making sure the knee had healed properly. “My goal is not this week, nor even Doha (from Dec. 31) or Australia,” he said. “My goal is to be in shape, get back to feeling completely fine and feeling completely prepared. “My season, my real objective, is to be in perfect condition for Indian Wells and Miami (in March) and get to Monte Carlo (in April) with good feelings, to tackle the clay season in good shape. “The last tournament I played in good shape was Roland Garros and I won it. “The end of February or March is when I will feel good. That’s when my season starts, that’s when I’ll tell myself that I am ready to win.” Nadal’s athletic, aggressive playing style places huge demands on his muscles and joints and he has been sidelined several times by injuries during his 11year career.
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International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sp rt
Benitez needs goals to keep flowing at Chelsea Associated Press Writer
Chelsea’s free-scoring form is slowly chipping away at the enmity toward new manager Rafa Benitez from the club’s fans. The 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday showcased Chelsea’s attacking prowess, and dispelled some of the fears about the dour football Benitez could introduce after replacing Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge last month. “There won’t be one of our fans watching who didn’t enjoy the performance and hopefully we can continue,” Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said. “The manager said he is going to keep working hard and doing his best and as players that is what we try to do, and I am sure we will win people over with performances like that.” The club record-equaling league win on Sunday was secured despite being Chelsea’s fifth match in 15 days, including a grueling Club World Cup trip to Japan that was followed by a 5-1 League Cup win at Leeds. Now the team has another five games to negotiate in 15 days during the Christmas-New Year program, starting Wednesday at Norwich. Norwich embarked on a 10-match unbeaten run after losing 4-1 at Chelsea in October, including wins over Manchester United and Arsenal, but was beaten by West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. “They have great attacking options — we experienced that at their place a couple of months ago,” Norwich manager Chris Hughton said. “At the moment Chelsea are on a high and (Benitez) will be judged on that.” Sitting third, Chelsea could be back in the title race if the resurgence continues. While seven points behind
Manchester City and 11 adrift of Manchester United, Chelsea has a game in hand after beating Villa to end a stretch of more than two months without a home win in the league. “We showed what we are capable of and it is just a matter of consistency now,” Cahill said. “We have a lot of young players but on a day like Sunday you can really see the quality in the squad.” Most importantly for Chelsea, Fernando Torres has been rejuvenated under fellow Spaniard Benitez, who first brought him to England when he was in charge at Liverpool. The striker has netted seven goals in his last six games — all under Benitez — having scored only seven in the opening four months of the season. “As soon as he started scoring goals, he had confidence — and for a striker it is key,” Benitez said. “The team is doing well so he has more chances.” David Luiz is another player who is thriving under Benitez. The Brazilian defender was among the seven goal scorers on Sunday and produced a vibrant display when he was redeployed from central defense to midfield. Luiz scored from a free kick as he did in the two Champions League group stage wins over Nordsjaelland though the side failed to advance to the
knockout portion of the competition. “During training I try different things, different movements — it’s a natural technique, I’ve not studied it,” Luiz said. “When I was younger, I would always try to kick the ball like that and, when you become a more experienced player, you get more confidence to do it.” Chelsea’s mission is to keep the confidence flowing through the team just
as it did in the early weeks of the season when they topped the standings. The current leader, United, heads to Newcastle on Wednesday fresh from seeing its five-match winning run end with a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Newcastle, though, has won just two of its last 12 games and is 14th after finishing an impressive fifth last season and hasn’t won at Old Trafford since 1972.
But United defender Jonny Evans remains wary of the power in the Newcastle strike forced provided by Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse. “When the ball is floating around in the box, they beat people in the air,” Evans said. “And their goal record is what got Newcastle to where they were last year.” United’s lead over Manchester City was trimmed to just four points over the weekend.
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Marseille beats St. Etienne to move level with PSG Associated Press Writer
PARIS — Andre Ayew scored with a towering header in firsthalf stoppage time as Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 1-0 at home on Sunday to head into the winter break level on points with leader Paris Saint-Germain and secondplace Lyon. The French title race is the closest among the top five leagues in Europe, with only goal difference giving PSG the edge over Lyon and third-place Marseille after 19 matches. PSG, which won 3-0 at Brest on Friday, is ahead of Lyon on goal difference. Lyon beat Nice 3-0 on Saturday. Marseille has won its past three league games, while SaintEtienne has failed to win and score a goal in its past six. “For the last few games we’ve been hanging on after scoring first,” Marseille coach Elie Baup said. “But there’s no doubting the unity we have in this team. Everyone pulls together.” At the end of a scrappy first
half, right back Rod Fanni burst forward and whipped in a superb cross toward the penalty spot, and Ayew climbed above his marker to send a powerful glancing header past goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier. “I think we have the quality and the players to do something good this season,” Ayew said. “But we shouldn’t get carried away. When we win it’s always either 1-0 or 2-0, and we’re never really safe from the threat of a late goal. We need to start killing teams off.” Baup agrees that Marseille needs to strengthen in attack during the January transfer window. “That’s the area we are struggling the most in and where we need to improve,” said Baup, adding that he is aiming to sign two players. In the second half, Saint-Etienne missed chances as midfielder Joshua Guilavogui saw his shot charged down by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who then did brilliantly to tip Pierre-Emerick Aubamyeang’s header over the
crossbar. Saint-Etienne’s goal slump has coincided with Aubameyang’s, who has not scored in seven games since being linked to some of Europe’s big clubs. Meanwhile, Valenciennes goes into the annual break in sixth place after bouncing back from two defeats to beat struggling Evian 2-1. Valenciennes was low on confidence after losing 2-0 away to Rennes and 4-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain, but striker Gregory Pujol settled the nerves with an early goal. Forward Saber Khlifa equalized for the visitors in the 34th minute before midfielder Jose Saez grabbed the winner in the 75th. “The break comes at the right time for us, because our squad was becoming a bit stretched,” Valenciennes coach Daniel Sanchez said. “We’re in good shape for the second part of the season, although it will be a tough (start) for us as we have three or four away trips.”
Swansea City’s free-scoring striker Michu is set to make his Spain debut early next year following a sensational start to his career in the English Premier League. Vicente del Bosque, coach of European and world champions Spain, told Spanish television that the 26-year-old will play in the Feb. 6 friendly against Uruguay in Doha.
Michu will be joined in the Spain squad by Iago Aspas, currently being linked to Swansea, whose manager Michael Laudrup is an admirer of the Celta Vigo forward. “Iago Aspas and Michu will appear (against Uruguay),” confirmed Del Bosque. Michu has been prolific since his bargain $3.2 million transfer from Rayo Vallecano in the summer, topping the
AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
Real Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho from Portugal shouts from the touchline during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012.
Jose Mourinho under pressure for dropping Casillas Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, right, celebrates his goal with Victor Moses during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.
Swansea hot-shot Radnicki officials arrested Michu set for Spain debut in corruption raid - police
Reuters
9
Premier League scoring charts with 13 goals in 18 games. He leap-frogged Manchester United’s Robin van Persie after scoring the equaliser in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw against the league leaders. Aspas may well be on Laudrup’s wish-list for the January transfer window but the expected price tag of around $13 million could put Swansea off.
Reuters
BELGRADE - Two senior officials at Serbian first division club Radnicki 1923 Kragujevac and a soccer agent were arrested on Monday on suspicion of fraud and abuse of power, the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) said. “FC Radnicki vice-president Nebojsa Vasiljevic and general secretary Darko Stojanovic as well as Zoran Pavlovic, a soccer agent with a FIFA licence, have been arrested on suspicion of illegal dealings in the transfer
of the club’s player Filip Kostic,” MUP said on its website (www.mup.gov.rs). “While arranging Kostic’s transfer to Dutch side FC Groningen (this year) in the amount of 1.25 million euros, the three appear to have denied Radnicki 550,000 euros of that sum so that Pavlovic benefited illegally,” it said. Radnicki, promoted to Serbia’s top flight last year, are second-bottom in the 16-team league with 12 points from 15 games at the winter break. The first division resumes on Feb 27.
AP Photo/Claude Paris
Marseille’s Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew, right, reacts after scoring against Saint-Etienne’s French goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, during their League One soccer match, in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.
BARCELONA, Spain — Real Madrid President Florentino Perez’s confounded expression upon hearing that veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas had been dropped for Saturday’s game against Malaga showed just how far coach Jose Mourinho has gone in his quest to exert control over the club. And it may be that Mourinho has finally gone too far. After waves of criticism from fans and players alike as Madrid slumped to a 3-2 loss in the game, the question arises whether Perez has reached the limits of his support for the often successful, yet equally abrasive, Mourinho. “Mourinho has his particular way of dealing with his squad,” said former Madrid player and coach Jorge Valdano. “But this was him doubling down. It was an exhibition of power. It was him imposing his decision on a club legend.” Mourinho did not announce his decision to drop Casillas, highly respected both in Spain and abroad for his decade of quality service in Madrid’s net, for the little-used Adan Garrido until minutes before the game. The move backfired in the second half when Malaga scored on the inexperienced Adan three
times to deal Madrid another loss that left it flagging 16 points adrift of Spanish leader Barcelona and its league title defense hopes shattered. Mourinho said that he had picked Adan because he was “in better form” than Casillas. That argument was far from convincing to fans and players past and present. A fan poll published on Monday by Spanish sports daily Marca indicates that most of Madrid’s fans want Mourinho out. Eighty-two percent of the almost 100,000 participants in the online poll voted yes to the question “Should Real Madrid fire Mourinho?” “Iker doesn’t need to be punished to play better,” said former Madrid goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez, an old teammate of Casillas. “This only brings to a boil the atmosphere of conflict that Madrid already has.” Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said after the match that he was “surprised” by the decision. Casillas told La Sexta television on Sunday that he felt fine and that Mourinho hadn’t told him why he had been benched. “I’m not used to being a backup,” Casillas said. “But the team is above any player. I have to keep training and try to win back my place in the starting lineup.”
8
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sp rt
Benitez needs goals to keep flowing at Chelsea Associated Press Writer
Chelsea’s free-scoring form is slowly chipping away at the enmity toward new manager Rafa Benitez from the club’s fans. The 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa on Sunday showcased Chelsea’s attacking prowess, and dispelled some of the fears about the dour football Benitez could introduce after replacing Roberto Di Matteo at Stamford Bridge last month. “There won’t be one of our fans watching who didn’t enjoy the performance and hopefully we can continue,” Chelsea defender Gary Cahill said. “The manager said he is going to keep working hard and doing his best and as players that is what we try to do, and I am sure we will win people over with performances like that.” The club record-equaling league win on Sunday was secured despite being Chelsea’s fifth match in 15 days, including a grueling Club World Cup trip to Japan that was followed by a 5-1 League Cup win at Leeds. Now the team has another five games to negotiate in 15 days during the Christmas-New Year program, starting Wednesday at Norwich. Norwich embarked on a 10-match unbeaten run after losing 4-1 at Chelsea in October, including wins over Manchester United and Arsenal, but was beaten by West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. “They have great attacking options — we experienced that at their place a couple of months ago,” Norwich manager Chris Hughton said. “At the moment Chelsea are on a high and (Benitez) will be judged on that.” Sitting third, Chelsea could be back in the title race if the resurgence continues. While seven points behind
Manchester City and 11 adrift of Manchester United, Chelsea has a game in hand after beating Villa to end a stretch of more than two months without a home win in the league. “We showed what we are capable of and it is just a matter of consistency now,” Cahill said. “We have a lot of young players but on a day like Sunday you can really see the quality in the squad.” Most importantly for Chelsea, Fernando Torres has been rejuvenated under fellow Spaniard Benitez, who first brought him to England when he was in charge at Liverpool. The striker has netted seven goals in his last six games — all under Benitez — having scored only seven in the opening four months of the season. “As soon as he started scoring goals, he had confidence — and for a striker it is key,” Benitez said. “The team is doing well so he has more chances.” David Luiz is another player who is thriving under Benitez. The Brazilian defender was among the seven goal scorers on Sunday and produced a vibrant display when he was redeployed from central defense to midfield. Luiz scored from a free kick as he did in the two Champions League group stage wins over Nordsjaelland though the side failed to advance to the
knockout portion of the competition. “During training I try different things, different movements — it’s a natural technique, I’ve not studied it,” Luiz said. “When I was younger, I would always try to kick the ball like that and, when you become a more experienced player, you get more confidence to do it.” Chelsea’s mission is to keep the confidence flowing through the team just
as it did in the early weeks of the season when they topped the standings. The current leader, United, heads to Newcastle on Wednesday fresh from seeing its five-match winning run end with a 1-1 draw at Swansea. Newcastle, though, has won just two of its last 12 games and is 14th after finishing an impressive fifth last season and hasn’t won at Old Trafford since 1972.
But United defender Jonny Evans remains wary of the power in the Newcastle strike forced provided by Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse. “When the ball is floating around in the box, they beat people in the air,” Evans said. “And their goal record is what got Newcastle to where they were last year.” United’s lead over Manchester City was trimmed to just four points over the weekend.
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Marseille beats St. Etienne to move level with PSG Associated Press Writer
PARIS — Andre Ayew scored with a towering header in firsthalf stoppage time as Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 1-0 at home on Sunday to head into the winter break level on points with leader Paris Saint-Germain and secondplace Lyon. The French title race is the closest among the top five leagues in Europe, with only goal difference giving PSG the edge over Lyon and third-place Marseille after 19 matches. PSG, which won 3-0 at Brest on Friday, is ahead of Lyon on goal difference. Lyon beat Nice 3-0 on Saturday. Marseille has won its past three league games, while SaintEtienne has failed to win and score a goal in its past six. “For the last few games we’ve been hanging on after scoring first,” Marseille coach Elie Baup said. “But there’s no doubting the unity we have in this team. Everyone pulls together.” At the end of a scrappy first
half, right back Rod Fanni burst forward and whipped in a superb cross toward the penalty spot, and Ayew climbed above his marker to send a powerful glancing header past goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier. “I think we have the quality and the players to do something good this season,” Ayew said. “But we shouldn’t get carried away. When we win it’s always either 1-0 or 2-0, and we’re never really safe from the threat of a late goal. We need to start killing teams off.” Baup agrees that Marseille needs to strengthen in attack during the January transfer window. “That’s the area we are struggling the most in and where we need to improve,” said Baup, adding that he is aiming to sign two players. In the second half, Saint-Etienne missed chances as midfielder Joshua Guilavogui saw his shot charged down by goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who then did brilliantly to tip Pierre-Emerick Aubamyeang’s header over the
crossbar. Saint-Etienne’s goal slump has coincided with Aubameyang’s, who has not scored in seven games since being linked to some of Europe’s big clubs. Meanwhile, Valenciennes goes into the annual break in sixth place after bouncing back from two defeats to beat struggling Evian 2-1. Valenciennes was low on confidence after losing 2-0 away to Rennes and 4-0 at home to Paris Saint-Germain, but striker Gregory Pujol settled the nerves with an early goal. Forward Saber Khlifa equalized for the visitors in the 34th minute before midfielder Jose Saez grabbed the winner in the 75th. “The break comes at the right time for us, because our squad was becoming a bit stretched,” Valenciennes coach Daniel Sanchez said. “We’re in good shape for the second part of the season, although it will be a tough (start) for us as we have three or four away trips.”
Swansea City’s free-scoring striker Michu is set to make his Spain debut early next year following a sensational start to his career in the English Premier League. Vicente del Bosque, coach of European and world champions Spain, told Spanish television that the 26-year-old will play in the Feb. 6 friendly against Uruguay in Doha.
Michu will be joined in the Spain squad by Iago Aspas, currently being linked to Swansea, whose manager Michael Laudrup is an admirer of the Celta Vigo forward. “Iago Aspas and Michu will appear (against Uruguay),” confirmed Del Bosque. Michu has been prolific since his bargain $3.2 million transfer from Rayo Vallecano in the summer, topping the
AP Photo/Andres Kudacki
Real Madrid’s coach Jose Mourinho from Portugal shouts from the touchline during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012.
Jose Mourinho under pressure for dropping Casillas Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, right, celebrates his goal with Victor Moses during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.
Swansea hot-shot Radnicki officials arrested Michu set for Spain debut in corruption raid - police
Reuters
9
Premier League scoring charts with 13 goals in 18 games. He leap-frogged Manchester United’s Robin van Persie after scoring the equaliser in Sunday’s 1-1 home draw against the league leaders. Aspas may well be on Laudrup’s wish-list for the January transfer window but the expected price tag of around $13 million could put Swansea off.
Reuters
BELGRADE - Two senior officials at Serbian first division club Radnicki 1923 Kragujevac and a soccer agent were arrested on Monday on suspicion of fraud and abuse of power, the Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) said. “FC Radnicki vice-president Nebojsa Vasiljevic and general secretary Darko Stojanovic as well as Zoran Pavlovic, a soccer agent with a FIFA licence, have been arrested on suspicion of illegal dealings in the transfer
of the club’s player Filip Kostic,” MUP said on its website (www.mup.gov.rs). “While arranging Kostic’s transfer to Dutch side FC Groningen (this year) in the amount of 1.25 million euros, the three appear to have denied Radnicki 550,000 euros of that sum so that Pavlovic benefited illegally,” it said. Radnicki, promoted to Serbia’s top flight last year, are second-bottom in the 16-team league with 12 points from 15 games at the winter break. The first division resumes on Feb 27.
AP Photo/Claude Paris
Marseille’s Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew, right, reacts after scoring against Saint-Etienne’s French goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, during their League One soccer match, in Marseille, southern France, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012.
BARCELONA, Spain — Real Madrid President Florentino Perez’s confounded expression upon hearing that veteran goalkeeper Iker Casillas had been dropped for Saturday’s game against Malaga showed just how far coach Jose Mourinho has gone in his quest to exert control over the club. And it may be that Mourinho has finally gone too far. After waves of criticism from fans and players alike as Madrid slumped to a 3-2 loss in the game, the question arises whether Perez has reached the limits of his support for the often successful, yet equally abrasive, Mourinho. “Mourinho has his particular way of dealing with his squad,” said former Madrid player and coach Jorge Valdano. “But this was him doubling down. It was an exhibition of power. It was him imposing his decision on a club legend.” Mourinho did not announce his decision to drop Casillas, highly respected both in Spain and abroad for his decade of quality service in Madrid’s net, for the little-used Adan Garrido until minutes before the game. The move backfired in the second half when Malaga scored on the inexperienced Adan three
times to deal Madrid another loss that left it flagging 16 points adrift of Spanish leader Barcelona and its league title defense hopes shattered. Mourinho said that he had picked Adan because he was “in better form” than Casillas. That argument was far from convincing to fans and players past and present. A fan poll published on Monday by Spanish sports daily Marca indicates that most of Madrid’s fans want Mourinho out. Eighty-two percent of the almost 100,000 participants in the online poll voted yes to the question “Should Real Madrid fire Mourinho?” “Iker doesn’t need to be punished to play better,” said former Madrid goalkeeper Cesar Sanchez, an old teammate of Casillas. “This only brings to a boil the atmosphere of conflict that Madrid already has.” Madrid defender Sergio Ramos said after the match that he was “surprised” by the decision. Casillas told La Sexta television on Sunday that he felt fine and that Mourinho hadn’t told him why he had been benched. “I’m not used to being a backup,” Casillas said. “But the team is above any player. I have to keep training and try to win back my place in the starting lineup.”
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Destinations
Kedewatan Customary Village
A Tourism Village Rich in Culinary Attractions IBP
On hearing the name of Kedewatan Village, our mind will surely point to a menu of delicious mixed rice. As a matter of fact, the village located in Ubud subdistrict, Gianyar, has another advantage such as unique culture. As a result, many small-scale hotels to star hotels are established at the village. Besides, the challenging rapids of Ayung River in the west of the village have attracted many tourists to enjoy rafting adventure. Kedewatan Village is a tourism route leading to Kintamani, Ubud and Batubulan. Therefore, the village is passed through by many foreign and domestic tourists every day. Uniquely, wherever they come from and go to, they always make their time to have a break for tasting the chicken rice of Kedewatan. Even, it has become something like ‘a tradition’ for tourist guides, travel agencies or local communities. There are plenty of restaurants offering different types of mixed rice. However, the most visited locations are Warung Mardika, Jero Mangku, Ibu Agung and Warung Adnyani. Each restaurant is averagely visited by 200 people per day. Among those tourists, about 25 percent are foreign tourists. Chief of Kedewatan Customary Village, Sang Putu Eka Pertama, said the village had a beautiful nature, fresh air and friendly people so that it made the village one of the prominent destinations. Moreover, the Kedewatan customary village had been declared as a culture-based village so that in maintaining the harmony
of customary villagers his party always gave priority to culture. Aside from having the original design of Balinese traditional architecture, the village also preserved the ancient and classical dance. It was the art in the form of Calonarang mystical drama entitled Kunti Sraya. In addition, the villagers of Kedewatan were also good at various kinds of art creativities such carving, painting and playing gamelan music. Therefore, star hotels, villas, inns, and art shops within the territory of customary village had become a source of revenue for the village. Eka Pertama added the Kedewatan customary village had a total area of 150 hectares. Of such area, one-third remained an overlay of paddy field that still had its own potential amidst the rapid development of Kedewatan as part of tourism village. The village formerly dropped in by Rishi Markandeya was inhabited by totally 2,237 people spreading across two hamlets, namely the Kedewatan and Kedewatan Anyar.
Sports
International
International
7
Anthony leads Knicks over Timberwolves
Reuters
Carmelo Anthony took over in the last two minutes to carry the New York Knicks to a 94-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Anthony, who was ejected during Friday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, finished with 33 points, scoring 19 in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks came from behind to secure the home win. “We didn’t want to look back at this game later in the season and say this was a game we shouldn’t have lost,” Anthony told reporters. “We picked it up defensively in the second half and we won the game.” New York trailed for virtually the entire game before Anthony went on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes to put the Knicks up by four. Anthony scored the Knicks’ last 12 points to seal the win. “That was kind of an MVP performance at the end. He stepped up and made the plays,” said New York coach Mike Woodson. “When he got that fifth foul called, it’s like a light went off and he made the plays big-time.” J.R. Smith scored 19 off the bench for New York (20-7) while Tyson Chandler had 16 and nine rebounds as the Knicks maintained their 5 1/2 game lead in the Atlantic Division. Nikola Pekovic recorded 21 points and 17 rebounds to lead the
IBP/File Photo
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Timberwolves (13-12), who were missing All Star Kevin Love due to an eye ailment. Minnesota went up by nine at half-time and led by 11 midway through the third before New York made their move. Chandler scored 10 in the third quarter as the Knicks cut the deficit to two heading into the fourth. New York are still without forward Amar’e Stoudemire, who has been out the entire season with a knee injury but has recently started practicing with the team. Despite his absence, the Knicks are off to a strong start and have a 5 1/2-game lead in the Atlantic Division. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine
Minnesota Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (14) shoots past New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, December 23, 2012.
British paper to sue Armstrong Nadal does not expect to Reuters
Classic Stage
MAGIC SHOW Kids Party Christmas New Year Eve
08123961594
C.0009173-rpa
REUTERS/Christinne Muschi
Lance Armstrong walks back to his car after running at Mount Royal park with fans in Montreal August 29, 2012.
LONDON - The Sunday Times is suing disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong for around one million pounds over his libel action against the British newspaper in 2004. Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles from 19992005 in October, received 300,000 pounds from the Sunday Times as payment towards his legal fees after the paper raised questions about the American’s success following his recovery from testicular cancer. “It is clear that the proceedings were baseless and fraudulent. Your representations that you had never taken performance enhancing drugs were deliberately false,” read the letter to Armstrong’s lawyers in the Sunday Times. The paper is demanding the return of the 300,000 pounds payment plus interest, as well as costs accrued in defending the case, which was settled in 2006. A report by the United States AntiDoping Agency (USADA) in October said the now-retired Armstrong had been involved in the “most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program the sport has ever seen.” Armstrong has always denied using performance-enhancing drugs but chose not to contest the USADA charges.
be fully fit before March
Reuters
MADRID - Rafa Nadal does not expect to be back to full fitness and close to his competitive best until the Masters tennis event at Indian Wells in March, the Spanish world number four was quoted as saying on Sunday. Nadal will return to action at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi in five days’ time after six months out with a knee injury. “I need to see how it improves and how it reacts to the intensity and demands of playing with tennis players of such a high level,” Nadal said in an interview with Spanish daily ABC. After a shock defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol in the second round at Wimbledon in June, Nadal was diagnosed with a partial tear of the patella tendon and inflammation in his left knee and was unable to defend his Olympic title at the London Games. The 11-times grand-slam singles champion also missed the U.S. Open and the season-ending World Tour championships before returning to the practice court on Nov. 20. Nadal said the knee was “still not 100 percent” and he was planning to ease back in slowly. “I am not thinking long term, I am just focused on the knee, seeing how it responds and then we’ll see later on. “I want to be sure that it’s completely ready to start competing in anger again, without any doubts. “If I feel
good in Abu Dhabi we’ll continue but if not I’ll take it calmly.” REAL OBJECTIVE
The first grand-slam event of 2013, the Australian Open, starts on Jan. 14. The 26year-old Nadal, who won a record seventh French Open crown in May on his favoured clay, said winning matches was not his priority over the coming weeks and he was totally focused on making sure the knee had healed properly. “My goal is not this week, nor even Doha (from Dec. 31) or Australia,” he said. “My goal is to be in shape, get back to feeling completely fine and feeling completely prepared. “My season, my real objective, is to be in perfect condition for Indian Wells and Miami (in March) and get to Monte Carlo (in April) with good feelings, to tackle the clay season in good shape. “The last tournament I played in good shape was Roland Garros and I won it. “The end of February or March is when I will feel good. That’s when my season starts, that’s when I’ll tell myself that I am ready to win.” Nadal’s athletic, aggressive playing style places huge demands on his muscles and joints and he has been sidelined several times by injuries during his 11year career.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
W
RLD
International
Airliner lands on Myanmar road in fog; 2 killed Associated Press Writer
IBP/ap
Ushangi Davitashvili kisses the bust of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin that stands in the courtyard of his apartment building in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.
Stalin’s birthday marked in Russia and beyond Associated Press Writer
TBILISI, Georgia — People across the vast territory where Josef Stalin once imposed his terror have marked the 133rd anniversary of the dictator’s birth, some in hatred but others in reverence. In Moscow, several hundred Russian Communists led by their leader Gennady Zuyganov laid flowers at Stalin’s grave at the Red Square Friday, while smaller rallies were held across Russia and several former Soviet republics. Leftists in neighboring Belarus said they found a Stalin statue that was buried after denunciation of his personality cult in 1956, but refused to specify its whereabouts because they fear authorities will order its destruction. Authorities in Stalin’s hometown of Gori, Geor-
gia, they will reinstall his statue that was removed in 2010. In southern Ukraine, several ethnic Crimean Tatars trashed a small street exhibition on Stalin. The entire Crimean Tatar population of Ukraine was hastily deported in cattle trains on Stalin’s orders in 1944 for their alleged collaboration with Nazi Germans during World War II. Of the 200,000 Crimean Tatars, almost a fifth died of starvation and diseases, and the survivors were allowed to return only in the late 1980s.
According to the prominent Russian right group Memorial, Stalin ordered the deaths of at least 724,000 people during the purges and repression of the 1930s, while millions died as a result of the forced labor system in Gulags, the Soviet prison system. But, some people believe he was a strong and valiant leader whose grip on the nation was needed for security and his popularity in Russia has been climbing amid Kremlin-backed efforts to defend his image.
8 dead after Christmas Day fires in Philippines Associated Press Writer
MANILA, Philippines — Authorities in the Philippines say at least eight people are dead after two separate Christmas Day fires in the capital region. One of the blazes left about 1,500 people homeless when it razed their shantytown.
Arson investigator Rosendo Cabillan says a predawn fire Tuesday razed two apartment buildings in Quezon City, a Manila suburb. A veterinarian and six household members died after they were trapped inside. Fire officer Noel Binwag says another blaze in suburban San Juan city hours earlier de-
stroyed shanties of about 1,500 people. Binwag says angry residents beat a man to death after accusing him of starting the fire. He says two firemen also were injured when they were hit by rocks by some residents who grabbed their fire hoses to put out the blaze themselves.
YANGON, Myanmar — An Air Bagan flight packed with Christmas tourists crash-landed on a road in central Myanmar on Tuesday, killing two people and injuring 11, officials said. Four foreigners were among the injured, state television reported. It said the fatalities included an 11-year-old passenger believed to be a Myanmar citizen and a man riding a motorcycle on the road where the plane came down. The flight was carrying 63 passengers, including 51 foreigners, and six crew members from the city of Mandalay to Heho airport in Shan State, the gateway to a popular tourist destination, Inle Lake, Air Bagan said in a brief statement on its Facebook page. The airline identified the injured tourists as two Americans, a British national and a Korean. It described the incident as an “emergency landing.” Authorities gave a different and more dramatic account, saying the pilot
mistook the road for a runway due to bad weather. “While descending, the plane mistakenly landed ... due to fog beside the runway,” state television reported. It said the aircraft made a hard landing on a road and then came to a stop in a nearby rice paddy field. “The rear end of the plane broke and caught fire,” state TV said, carrying a statement posted on Deputy Information Minister Ye Htut’s Facebook page. Rescuers brought the fire under control about 45 minutes later, he said. Witnesses said smoke filled the plane when it hit the ground and was still rising from the plane’s badly charred wreckage hours later. Airport officials in Heho said that injured passengers were taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Taunggyi for treatment. Air Bagan is one of five private airlines that fly domestic routes in Myanmar. It is a unit of Htoo Trading Company, which is owned by business tycoon Tay Za.
Former South African president Mandela “much better”: Zuma Reuters
JOHANNESBURG - Former South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela is looking much better after more than two weeks in hospital, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. Zuma, who visited Mandela on Christmas Day, said in a statement that doctors were happy with the progress the elder statesman was making. “We found him in good spirits. He was happy to have visitors on this special day and is looking much better. The doctors are happy with the progress that he is making,” said Zuma. The 94-year-old Nobel Peace laureate has been in hospital in Pretoria for more than two weeks after being admitted for routine tests. He then underwent surgery to remove gallstones. Mandela, who came to power in historic elections in 1994 after decades struggling against apartheid, remains a symbol of resistance to racism and injustice at home and around the world.
He has a history of lung problems dating back to when he contracted tuberculosis while in jail as a political prisoner. But this is his longest stay in hospital since he was released from prison in 1990. He spent time in a Johannesburg hospital in 2011 with a respiratory condition, and again in February this year because of abdominal pains though he was released the following day after a keyhole examination showed there was nothing serious. Zuma, who has just been reelected as president of the ruling African National Congress party, last week described Mandela’s condition as serious. “The Mandela family truly appreciates all the support they are receiving from the public. That is what keeps them going at this difficult time,” said Zuma. Periodic statements from the presidency continue to stress that the veteran politician is responding to treatment. No date has been given for his release from hospital.
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
11
INDONESIA Rotten egg attack mars Indonesia Christmas celebration Agence France-Presse
BEKASI - More than 200 Indonesian Muslims threw rotten eggs at Christians wanting to hold a Christmas mass near land outside Jakarta where they plan to build a church, police and a witness said. Some 100 Christian worshippers intended to hold a mass near empty land where they hope to build a church, about 30-kilometre (18 miles) east of the capital, in a project barred by district government and community members in 2009. Since then, worshippers from the Filadelfia Batak Christian Protestant have held Sunday services under scorching sun outside the property. On Tuesday, however, local community members blocked the road near the land, Andri Ananta, a local police chief on Jakarta’s outskirts, told AFP. An AFP photographer witnessed furious locals -- men and women wearing Muslim headscarf, with small children in tow -- physically blocking the road and throwing rotten eggs at the gathering worshippers. Ananta said police managed to convince the Christians to drop their plan and return home. “We tried our best to avoid any clash and the Christians agreed to leave,” he said, adding 380 police and military personnel including an antiriot squad were deployed to the area. Church leader Reverend Palti Panjaitan said the incident came after a Christmas Eve attack Monday evening when “intolerant people” threw not only rotten eggs but plastic bags filled
with urine and cow dung at them. “Everything had happened while police were there. They were just watching without doing anything to stop them from harming us,” he told AFP. The country’s high court last year overruled the district government’s 2009 decision, but constant intimidation from Muslims in the area has delayed the church’s construction,
church officials said. Indonesia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion but rights groups say violence against minorities including Christians and the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect has escalated since 2008. Ninety percent of Indonesia’s population of 240 million identify themselves as Muslim but the vast majority practise a moderate form of Islam.
TANJUNG PINANG - Customs and excise officials of the Riau Islands province have foiled a smuggling attempt of 3.4 kg heroine at the Sri Bintan Pura international seaport on Monday. The alleged smuggler identified by his initial as Ih hailing from Malaysia committed the heroin smuggling by Ferry MV Cinta Indomas heading to Tanjungpinang, the Customs and Excise personnel said, adding Il has been questioned by the Customs and Excise officials. In the meantime, during 2012, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise(DJBC) has seized at least 539 kilograms of narcotics, doubling the figures from 2011. “We have seized narcotics of
Antara
JAKARTA - The Indonesia`s Religious Affairs Minister, Suryadharma Ali said, Muslims can convey Christmas greetings to Christians. “It is not unusual to convey Christmas greetings to Christians,” said Ali on Monday. This statement is not in line with what the Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), KH Ma`ruf, believes in. According to KH Ma`ruf, the greeting, Merry Christmas, is forbidden (haram). However, Ali disclosed, Muslims can convey Christmas greetings to Christians. Ali said the differing views
of the MUI and the ministry are expected. Islamic laws are based on the Koran, Sunnah (words and deeds of Prophet Mohammad) and the Ulema`s opinion. “Since Indonesia is a multicultural society, people should have cordial relations with those of other ethnic groups,” he pointed out. “These greetings are not a part of any ritual,” he said. Ali added that Muslims can convey greetings to Buddhists, Hindus and those who follow the teachings of Kong Hu Cu, during their respective festivals. “It does not matter as long as there is tolerance and diversity in the country,” he added.
Euro 3 to be implemented in August 2013 Antara
AP Photo/Trisnadi
In this late Monday, Dec. 24, 2012 photo, a giant Christmas tree is displayed as Indonesians pray during a Christmas eve service at a church in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
Indonesian customs office foils 3.4 kg-heroin smuggling attempt Antara
Muslims can convey Christmas greetings
538,980.95 grams, or 539 kilograms. The current amount is larger than [that seized] in 2011, which reached 217,392.17 grams,” said Customs and Excise Director General Agung Kuswandono at a press conference in the DJBC office on Friday. According to him, the type of narcotics that have increased the most in 2012 is Ecstasy, of which authorities have seized up to 383,127.05 grams compared with figures in 2011 of only 9,665.7 grams. The DJBC has also seized cocaine weighing up to 6,847 grams in 2012, which has increased from the 2011 seizure of 176.17 grams. The institution has also revealed an increase in heroin smuggling attempts in 2012, having seized 30,382.9 grams
compared with the 14,718 grams it had seized in 2011. Furthermore, the DJBC has recorded a decrease in methamphetamine smuggling into Indonesia. In 2012, customs seized at least 92,609.79 grams of methamphetamine, a drop from 2011 figures of 158,376.7 grams. “We cannot measure the financial losses created by the narcotics problem, but we expect it to be negligible. Our youth could have gotten addicted and displayed poor morals if the 539 kilograms of narcotics had been misused,” Agung said. The institution has also seized several commodities that violate customs law in as many as 3,286 cases that would have created financial losses to the state of up to Rp193.4 billion.
JAKARTA - The Minister of Environment, Balthasar Kambuaya, has officially announced the enactment of the new emissions standard for two-wheeled vehicles which is equivalent to the European Emission Standard (EURO) 3, effective as of in August 1, 2013. “As of August 1, 2013 the two-wheeled vehicle emissions standard for Indonesia is EURO 3,” Balthasar said in the presentation of urban air quality evaluation results here Monday. With the implementation of the emission standard, it is expected motorcycles would use fuel according to the standard, the minister said. “Actually, this standard has already been implemented but it has not been based on EURO 3,” he added. Later, if the standard is fully implemented consumers must use fuel with an octane level of 91, and which is unleaded. Balthasar said, the implementation of the new standard could encourage industry to produce competitive motorcycles at the ASEAN level. The head of road transport of the ministry of environment, M Zakaria, said the implementation of the Euro 3 standard would reduce emissions coming out from motor vehicles.
“All the two-wheeled vehicles will be tested by the Center for Engineering Thermodynamics and Propulsion (BTMP)-BPPT (agency for the assessment and application of technology),” Zakaria added. The planned implementation of the EURO 3 standard is also put the regulation of the minister of environment Number 23/2012 on amendment to the ordinance of the Minister of the Environment number 10/2012 concerning the raw exhaust emissions of motor vehicles of new type L3 category. EURO is the motor vehicle emission standard in Europe, which is adopted by several countries in the world. EURO requires new vehicles to have a grade of flue gas such as nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide under a certain threshold. In EURO 3, a two-wheeled vehicles with a cylinder capacity of less than 50 cubic cm may only produce 0.8 grams/kilometer of hydrocarbons (HC), 0.15 grams/kilometer of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and only 2 grams/kilometer of carbon monoxide (CO). As for the two-wheeled vehicles with a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cubic cm may only produce 0.3 grams/kilometer of hydrocarbons (HC), 0.15 grams/kilometer of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and only 2 grams/kilometer of carbon monoxide (CO).
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International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
BUSINESS
Bali News
International
Kebo Iwa Dance revised Bali Post
Greece not doing enough against rich tax dodgers
GIANYAR - After being staged in the celebration of Gianyar’s anniversary (Apr 19), the Kebo Iwa Dance to be used as mascot by the Regent of Gianyar Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati will be revised. Even, result of the dance revision will be staged on December 30 at the Cultural Hall Open Stage. It was revealed when the Regent Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati made a visit to Paripurna dance studio at Bona village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, on Sunday (Dec 23) to watch the exercise of the artists presenting the Kebo Iwa Dance. Previously, the Kebo Iwa Dance used as the mascot of Gianyar was performed by SMKN 3 Sukawati vocational school and staged on the celebration night of the 241st anniversary of Gianyar Town. The dance is divided into six sequels, namely flashback describing the greatness of
ATHENS - Greece’s drive to crack down on flagrant tax evaders such as doctors and lawyers is flagging and must be reinvigorated, a report by the European Union and International Monetary Fund said on Monday. income. After a Christmas recess, p a r l i a m e n t i s ex p e c t e d t o pass a new tax law which aims to raise about 2.5 billion euros over the next two years as part of a 13.5 billion euro austerity package. A second piece of longdelayed legislation to crack d ow n o n t a x eva s i o n w i l l follow later in the year, the government said. P e r c e ive d t a x i n j u s t i c e has dented the popularity of Greece’s pro-bailout ruling coalition. The radical leftist Syriza party, which opposes austerity and advocates a big and immediate debt writedown, has taken the lead in almost all the opinion polls published since a June election. Improving Greece’s slow tax administration and just i c e i s a key o b j e c t ive o f the bailout. According to the report, individuals and companies have racked up 53 billion euros of tax debts to the government, a figure that corresponds to about a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product. But just 15-20 percent of that amount can be collected, the EU/IMF said, given that a large number of these tax cases are old and the debtors have already defaulted. According to a list of tax sinners published last year, Greece’s biggest tax debtor was state-run railway company OSE.
Kebo Iwa who was born of spiritual aura. Then, pepeson or the coming out of the dancer describes the majesty of Chief Minister Kebo Iwa. Thirdly, pengawak (core) describes the dilemma of Kebo Iwa who is faithful to the orders of the king to go to Java because he has been matched by Gajah Mada with Putri Lemah Tulis. Fourthly, the first pengecek describes the expertise of Kebo Iwa in making a sculpture. Fifthly, it describes the making of a beautiful woman statue where Kebo Iwa imagines to meeting with Putri Lemah Tulis. Finally,
pekaad describes the valor and glory of Kebo Iwa as Chief Minister. Meanwhile, in the composition of Kebo Iwa Dance by Paripurna dance studio, the structure is divided into three sequels. Chief of Paripurna Studio Bona, I Made Sidia, explained the preliminary part depicted the figure of young Kebo Iwa who had artistry and literary talent. However, in the search for a partner, Kebo Iwa was deceived by Chief Minister Gajah Mada from Majapahit Kingdom. With great heroism, Kebo Iwa was ultimately willing to give his life for the sake of realizing the ideal of Majapahit Kingdom in uniting the archipelago. Regent of Gianyar hoped the performance of Kebo Iwa Dance could run nicely, so that it would be able to give a spectacle with aesthetic, historical, and educational value. (kmb16)
Kebo Iwa statue
IBP/Net
Cruise quay dormant due to tug of war of management in central government
Associated Press
Athens has collected just half the tax debts and conducted less than half the audits it was supposed to under the targets set by its lenders, according to a survey by the country’s international lenders which was compiled in November. “The mission expresses concern that authorities are falling idle and that the drive to fight tax evasion by the very wealthy and the free professions is at risk of weakening,” it said. By the end of September authorities had conducted 440 checks on suspected wealthy tax evaders, compared with a full-year target of 1,300. About 1.1 billion euros in overdue taxes have been collected so far, less than the 2 billion euros targeted. The lenders urged Greece to improve tax collection and focus on the cases most likely to produce results. “Doctors and lawyers are a good place to start,” they said. Tax evasion is endemic in Greece, making it more difficult for the government to shore up its finances under its 240-billion-euro international bailout. Wi t h r eve n u e s fa l l i n g short and the austerity-hit country obliged to meet its fiscal targets when its economy is shrinking for a fifth year, Athens is hiking taxes on middle-class wage earners who can’t hide their
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Bali Post
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
FedEx courier Andrew Standeven makes last minute deliveries to businesses at the CambridgeSide Galleria mall in Cambridge, Mass., Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Although fresh data on the holiday shopping season is expected in coming days, early figures point to a ho-hum season for retailers despite last-ditch efforts to lure shoppers over the final weekend before Christmas. And with concerns about the economy and the looming “fiscal cliff” weighing on the minds of already cautious shoppers, analyst say stores will need to offer “once in a lifetime” blowouts to clear out inventory.
Lawmakers play waiting game with “fiscal cliff” deadline in sight Reuters
WASHINGTON - With only a week left before a deadline for the United States to go over a “fiscal cliff,” lawmakers played a waiting game on Monday in the hope that someone will produce a plan to avoid harsh budget cuts and higher taxes for most Americans from New Year’s Day. Though Republicans and Democrats have spent the better part of a year describing a plunge off the cliff as a looming catastrophe, the nation’s capital showed no outward signs of worry, let alone impending calamity. The White House has set up shop in Hawaii, where President Barack Obama is vacationing. The Capitol was deserted and the Treasury Department - which would have to do a lot of last-minute number-crunching with or without a deal - was closed. So were all other federal government offices, with Obama having followed a tradition of declaring the Monday before a Tuesday Christmas a holiday for government employees,
notwithstanding the approaching fiscal cliff. Expectations for some 11th-hour rescue focused largely on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, in part because he has performed the role of legislative wizard in previous stalemates. But McConnell, who is up for re-election in 2014, was shunning the role this year, his spokesman saying that it was now up to the Democrats in the Senate to make the next move. “We don’t yet know what Senator Reid will bring to the floor. He is not negotiating with us and the president is out of town,” said McConnell’s spokesman, referring to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat. “So I just don’t know what they’re going to do over there,” he said. Two-day-old tweets on leadership websites told the story insofar as it was visible to the public. House Speaker John Boehner’s referred everyone to McConnell. McConnell’s tweet passed the responsibility along to Obama, saying it was a “moment that calls for
presidential leadership.” Reid’s tweet said: “There will be very serious consequences for millions of families if Congress fails to act” on the cliff. The next session of the Senate is set for Thursday, but the issues presented by across-the-board tax hikes and indiscriminate reductions in government spending, were not on the calendar. The House has nothing on its schedule for the week, but members have been told they could be called back at 48 hours notice, making a Thursday return a theoretical possibility. However, aides to the Republican leaders in Congress said there were no talks with Democrats on Monday and none scheduled after negotiations fell off track last week when Boehner failed to persuade House Republicans to accept tax increases on incomes of more than $1 million a year. “Nothing new, Merry Christmas,” an aide to Boehner responded when asked if there was any movement on the fiscal cliff.
AMLAPURA — Continuation of the cruise ship quay development at Tanah Ampo, Manggis, Karangasem, stagnated. The problem lay in the tug of war of
management in central government. It was recognized by the Regent of Karangasem, I Wayan Geredeg, at the opening of the Tirtagangga Festival taking place only for one day on Sunday (Dec 23) at Tirtagangga.
In the face of Director of Marketing for Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, M. Farid, Regent Geredeg revealed the stagnation of the cruise ship quay development. Actually, the quay needed extension of 154
meters so that it could be berthed by cruises. Currently, the quay length was only 150 meters. Regent Geredeg said that Karangasem County government had completed the land acquisition and the construction of ring road or entry and exit driveway of the quay area three years ago. “Tug of war of management system in central government is very complicated,” said Geredeg. He hoped the Director of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, M. Farid, could help deliver and struggle to the ministry of transportation in Jakarta, so that the cruise ship quay development could be resumed so that it would not turn dormant. Based on observation, the cruise ship quay had been tested. However, the cruise ship berthed at sea and foreign tourists were transferred by lifeboat to be landed on a pontoon bridge. The pontoon bridge itself had been built and repaired for many times. Later on, no cruise ships wanted to stop in at the quay, but preferred to berth at Benoa Harbor, Denpasar. Geredeg said that cruise ship tourists actually had a great
potential to be attracted. Small country like Singapore could be visited by 670 cruise ships per year. If only 50 percent of them could be drawn to come around to Indonesia or Tanah Ampo quay and respectively carried 2,000 passengers, it could be ascertained the multiplier effect generated for the improvement of Bali’s economy. On the other hand, Director M. Farid did not want to mention anything about the continuation of the cruise ship quay development. He said the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting Bali was tolerable. In 2011, the number of tourists coming directly to Bali via Ngurah Rai Airport was recorded 2.8 million. Aside from direct entry via Ngurah Rai Airport, some tourists also came to Bali via Jakarta or Surabaya and their number per year was estimated to reach 700 to 800 people. Therefore, said Farid, the total tourist visit to Bali in 2011 was estimated around 3.6 million. Besides, the domestic tourist visit to Bali was also sizeable, reaching 2.2 million. “Therefore, throughout the year 2011 the number of foreign and domestic tourist visits to Bali reached 7 million,” he said. IBP/Net Tirtagangga Festival taking place for one day presented the Continuation of the cruise ship exhibition of various handicrafts. quay development at Tanah Meanwhile, the arts and culture displayed comprised a number Ampo, Manggis, Karangasem, of Balinese dances, cakepung and stagnated. The problem lay in genjek a cappella as well as gag the tug of war of management in by Cedil and friends. The event was also attended by dozens of central government. foreign tourists. (013)
4
Bali News
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
International
International
Ahead of Christmas
Christians of Piling village share food
W
Associated Press Writer
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI marked Christmas Eve with Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a pressing question: Will people find room in their hectic, technology-driven lives for children, the poor and God? The pontiff also prayed that Israelis and Palestinians live in peace and freedom, and asked the faithful to pray for strifetorn Syria as well as Lebanon and Iraq. The ceremony began at 10 p.m. local time Monday with the blare of trumpets, meant to symbolize Christian joy over the news of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. As midnight neared, chuch bells tolled throughout Rome, while inside the basilica, the sweet voices of the Vatican’s boys’ choir resounded joyously. Christmas Eve Mass at the Vatican traditionally began at midnight, but the start time was moved up years ago so as to give the 85-year-old pontiff more time to rest before his Christmas Day speech. That address is to be delivered at midday Tuesday from the basilica’s central balcony. A smiling Benedict, dressed in
Christians at Piling customary village, Mengesta, Penebel, has a unique tradition in welcoming Christmas. They held ngejot or sharing food tradition beginning on Sunday (Dec 23). This tradition, namely preparing food and sharing it for local Hindus, has been in force for generations. It is commenced by preparing a variety of Balinese cuisines such as pork lawar and satay as well as Balinese cakes. The entire food was then delivered to local Hindu residents. gan to Christian residents. He added that Christians only shared food once a year, while the Hindus did it twice a year because Galungan and Kuningan fell every seven months. Another uniqueness of Christmas was that during a Christmas mass all the Christians put on traditional dresses like saying prayers to temple. In medium customary dresses, the Christians prayed in church led by local leader. Such cultural unification, said
Sukayasa, did not only occur in relation to festivity days. In daily social life, Christians were also coalesced into hamlet organization. Therefore, in the matters of ritual, they always involved customs like in the marriage, death, three-month ritual for baby, christening or birthday. “By and large, when Hindu neighbors have ritual activities, we will always help them. Meanwhile, similar help also applies to our devotees,” he concluded. (kmb30)
Collapsed road prone to accident Semarapura (Bali Post)—
IBP/File
The Bale Kulkul infront of Bali Museum burn again on Tuesday, December 25, 2012. The firefighters are trying to estinguish the fire.
Jalan Subali II at Semarapura Klod Kangin, exactly in front of the SMKN 1 Klungkung vocational school collapsed on Friday (Dec 21). The road collapsed after being passed through by a truck carrying 16 tons of cement. The collapsed road was complained by neighborhood residents. A gaping hole with a diameter of about two meters was very dangerous to road users, especially at night as there was no street lighting at location. Security guard at SMKN 1 Klungkung, Putu Muliana, revealed on Sunday (Dec 23) the truck known to belong to Surya Store of Klungkung transported cement to be unloaded in the warehouse located not far from location of the collapsed road. However, when it was about to turn to make closer to the warehouse, suddenly the left wheel of the truck stuck as the road passed collapsed about two meters long. Muliana added the collapsed road was very dangerous to road users. He said that many local residents were almost plunging into the pothole because no warning sign was posted to indicate if the road was damaged. “Necessarily, a warning sign should be installed to remind road users to be careful. However, until now there has been no sign posted,” he said. He expected that relevant agencies such as the Klungkung Public Works should immediately post
a warning sign and install street lighting on location, so that the collapsed road would not claim any casualty. “If possible, before the students here (SMKN 1 Klungkung) attend school (Jan 3), the broken road should have been repaired,” he said. Meanwhile, the Head of Klungkung Public Works, A.A. Ngurah
Agung, said last Sunday that his party had not received any report about the collapsed road. He said to immediately put up a warning sign at location so that road users would not fall into the pothole. “Later, we will immediately post a warning sign, but the street lighting can be carried out by Fixtures Division,” he said. (kmb31)
UN envoy worried after talks with Syria’s Assad Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT — The international envoy to Syria said after talks with the country’s leader Monday that the situation was “worrying” and gave no indication of progress toward a negotiated solution for the civil war. Lakhdar Brahimi’s mission came as activists reported intense fighting in the central province of Hama, where anti-government gunmen entered the predominantly Alawite town of Maan. Assad’s regime is dominated by mem-
bers of his minority Alawite sect, an off-shoot of Shiite Islam, while most of the rebels are Sunni Muslims. Brahimi said he and President Bashar Assad exchanged views on the crisis and discussed possible steps forward, which he did not disclose. He spoke briefly to reporters after meeting the Syrian leader at the presidential palace in Damascus. “The situation in Syria is still worrying and we hope that all the parties will go toward the solution that the Syrian people are hoping for and look forward to,”
AP Photo/SANA
IBP/File
A man is showing the damage road in Semarapura Klod Kangin, Klungkung
RLD
13
At Christmas Eve Mass, pope urges space for God
Tabanan (Bali Post)—
According to Immanuel Church Deacon Council of Piling Kanginan, Nyoman Sukayasa, every time welcoming the Christmas, his devotees always held the tradition passed down through generations. It was intended to preserve the interfaith harmony. “Other than sharing food, we also slaughter, prepare food and make satay,” he said, Sunday (Dec 23). Every year, the local Christians delivered food to Hindus at the local village. On the contrary, the Hindus would also deliver food on Galun-
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, meets with UN Arab League deputy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012.
Brahimi said. Syria’s state news agency quoted Assad as saying his government supports “any effort in the interest of the Syrian people which preserves the homeland’s sovereignty and independence.” Brahimi has apparently made little progress toward brokering an end to the conflict since starting his job in September, primarily because both sides adamantly refuse to talk to each other. The government describes the rebels as foreign-backed terrorists set on destroying the country. The opposition says that forces under Assad’s command have killed too many people for him to be part of any solution. Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011. Brahimi’s two-day visit was to end later Monday. It is his third to Damascus as an envoy of the United Nations and the Arab League. The security situation in Damascus and elsewhere in the country has declined since Brahimi’s previous visits. Instead of flying in to the Damascus International Airport as he did on earlier visits, Brahimi drove to Damascus over land from the Lebanese capital Beirut because of fighting near the Damascus airport.
gold-colored vestments, waved to photo-snapping pilgrims and applauding church-goers as he glided up the center aisle toward the ornate main altar of the cavernous basilica on a wheeled platform guided by white-gloved aides. The platform saves him energy. In his homily, Benedict cited the Gospel account of Mary and Joseph finding no room at an inn and ending up in a stable which sheltered the baby Jesus. He urged people to reflect upon what they find time for in their busy, technology-driven lives. “The great moral question of our attitude toward the homeless, toward refugees and migrants takes on a deeper dimension: Do we really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof? Do we have time and space for him?” the pope said. “The faster we can move, the
more efficient our time-saving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of God never seems urgent,” Benedict lamented. The pope worried that “we are so ‘full’ of ourselves that there is no room left for God.” He added, “that means there is no room for others either — for children, for the poor, for the stranger.” With his voice a bit hoarse, and looking somewhat tired as the two-hour ceremony neared its end, Benedict decried that history has suffered through “misuse of religion,” when belief in one God became a pretext for intolerance and violence. Still, he insisted that where God is “forgotten or even denied, there is no peace either.” “Let us pray that Israelis and Palestinians be able to live their lives in the peace of the one God and in freedom,” the pope said.
Former President George H.W. Bush remains hospitalized Reuters
Former President George H.W. Bush, who has been hospitalized for a month undergoing treatment for bronchitis, may not be released from a Houston hospital in time to celebrate Christmas at home as doctors had hoped. Bush, 88, remained in stable condition and doctors were optimistic he would make a full recovery, George Kovacik, a spokesman at Methodist Hospital, said in an emailed statement on Sunday. But doctors were being “extra cau-
tious” with his care and no discharge date had been set, the statement said. Earlier this month, Kovacik said doctors expected Bush would be able to spend Christmas at home with his family. “His doctors feel he should build up his energy before going home,” the statement said. Bush, the 41st president and a Republican, took office in 1989 and served one term in the White House. The father of former President George W. Bush, he also is a former congressman, U.N. ambassador, CIA director and vice president for two terms under Ronald Reagan. IBP/rtr
Former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and his father George H.W. Bush attend a function onboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier off the coast of Maine, June 10, 2012
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Health
International
Mo. students lose 756 pounds at SC boarding school Associated Press Writer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sixteen-year-old Jason Alexander weighed 326 pounds four months ago when he and 13 classmates boarded a plane for a weightloss boarding school in South Carolina. When he stepped off a return flight home Friday, he was down to 233 pounds, making him the biggest loser in his Missouri school district’s unusually aggressive effort to battle childhood obesity. While individual families have long enrolled children in weightloss programs, the Independence school district is believed to be the first to send students as a group to a program like the one in South Carolina. The 12 students who completed the program lost a combined 756 pounds, and relatives and friends who greeted them at the airport could scarcely believe the change. Jason’s mother, Debbie Al-
AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File
FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 14, 2012 file photo, parents leave a staging area after being reunited with their children following a shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where Adam Lanza opened fatally shot 27 people, including 20 children.
Predicting who’s at risk for violence isn’t easy Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO — It happened after Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Colo., and now Sandy Hook: People figure there surely were signs of impending violence. But experts say predicting who will be the next mass shooter is virtually impossible — partly because as commonplace as these calamities seem, they are relatively rare crimes. Still, a combination of risk factors in troubled kids or adults including drug use and easy access to guns can increase the likelihood of violence, experts say. But warning signs “only become crystal clear in the aftermath, said James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminology professor who has studied and written about mass killings. “They’re yellow flags. They only become red flags once the blood is spilled,” he said. Whether 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who used his mother’s guns to kill her and then 20 children and six adults at their Connecticut school, made any hints
about his plans isn’t publicly known. Fox said that sometimes, in the days, weeks or months preceding their crimes, mass murderers voice threats, or hints, either verbally or in writing, things like “’don’t come to school tomorrow,’” or “’they’re going to be sorry for mistreating me.’” Some prepare by target practicing, and plan their clothing “as well as their arsenal.” (Police said Lanza went to shooting ranges with his mother in the past but not in the last six months.) Although words might indicate a grudge, they don’t necessarily
mean violence will follow. And, of course, most who threaten never act, Fox said. Even so, experts say threats of violence from troubled teens and young adults should be taken seriously and parents should attempt to get them a mental health evaluation and treatment if needed. “In general, the police are unlikely to be able to do anything unless and until a crime has been committed,” said Dr. Paul Appelbaum, a Columbia University professor of psychiatry, medicine and law. “Calling the police to confront a troubled teen has often led to tragedy.”
exander, said it wasn’t just the weight loss. Her son who had battled a speech impediment and been slow to smile was now grinning broadly. “It’s crazy,” Alexander said. “Kids have always given him grief.” The school district, donors and the students’ families worked together to pay about half of the usual $28,500-per-semester tuition at MindStream Academy in Bluffton, S.C. The rest of the tuition was paid by a foundation associated with the academy and other donors. Jason and the other students — the youngest was 11 — spent the semester exercising, studying, working with counselors and learning to eat healthier. The curriculum was practical and hands-on: Students took field trips to a grocery store and fast food restaurant to learn to make good purchasing decisions and studied things like knife skills in the school’s kitchen.
Catholic Church urges Irish to oppose abortion law Reuters
DUBLIN - The head of Ireland’s Catholic Church urged followers in his Christmas Day message to lobby against government plans to legalize abortion. Ireland, the only EU member state that currently outlaws the procedure, is preparing legislation that would allow limited access to abortion after the European Court of Human Rights criticized the current regime. The death last month of an Indian woman who was denied an abortion of her dying foetus and later died of blood poisoning has intensified the debate around abortion, which remains a hugely divisive subject in the predominantly Catholic country. “I hope that everyone who believes that the right to life is fundamental will make their voice heard in a reasonable, but forthright, way to their representatives,” Cardinal Sean Brady said in a Christmas message on Tuesday. “No government has the right to remove that right from an innocent person.” Irish Prime Minister Enda
Kenny, a regular Mass goer, is bringing in legislation that would allow a woman to have an abortion if her life was at risk from pregnancy. The country’s Supreme Court ruled in 1992 that abortion was permitted when a woman’s life was at risk but successive governments have avoided legislating for it because it is so divisive. The death of Savita Halappanavar, who repeatedly asked for an abortion while she was miscarrying in an Irish hospital, highlighted the lack of clarity in Irish law that leaves doctors in a legally risky position. Halappanavar’s death reignited the abortion debate and prompted large protests by groups both in favor of and against abortion. Kenny and his conservative Fine Gael party have been criticized for tackling the abortion issue and some party members have indicated that they may not be able to back the law. Relations between the Irish government and the once dominant Catholic Church are at an all-time low in the wake of years of clerical sex abuse scandals.
Bali News
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
3
Slonding gamelan of Tunjuk village
Virtually extinct, begins to be favored by teenagers Bali Post
TABANAN - Strains of its rhythm are heard melancholy. When people listen to it, the rhythm can hypnotize and make everyone dissolved in the strains. Its soft melody strengthens spiritual nuance when a ritual is taking place. It is the selonding gamelan music posing a native cultural heritage to Tenganan, Karangasem, but almost extinct in Tabanan. Fortunately, many young generations are starting to favor it lately. One of the Slonding gamelan troupes remaining to exist is the Kembang Bali art studio at Tunjuk hamlet, Tabanan. Amid the onslaught of modern music, this slonding troupe remains to survive. Even, it receives many invitations. On average, the gamelan players consist of teenagers. Although being classified into beginner, they are quite skillful in playing the gamelan music resembling gambang xylophone. “The gamelan players are the result of intense exercise in recent months. Thus, they are able to play it well,” said the group head of Kembang Bali Slonding gamelan troupe, Suarjana, not long ago. The man admitted that his slonding gamelan was inherited from generation to generation. Incidentally, his family had the blood of the art. However, such gamelan faced a dormant period because no generation wanted to play it. Due to perseverance in inviting teenagers, Suarjana was able to revive the slonding gamelan troupe. Almost every month, his gamelan troupe received an invitation to make performance. Although being categorized into bizarre art, he did not want to set a particular tariff for the performance.
“We are doing devotional service so as not setting a tariff,” he said. Incidentally, all the slonding gamelan players still had kinship ties. Slonding gamelan consisted of a number of devices. Among them, there were nyongyong ageng, nyongnyong alit, gong, gong alit and penem. These instruments could still be fitted with other instruments like petudug, cymbals and penyoroh. The rhythm played used a kind of pelog scale. When making performance, it would be adjusted to demand. “We are also able to make performance for all night long,” said Suarjana. He said that slonding gamelan music could become a complement to any ritual. The slonding troupe under his coordination was frequently invited to make performance outside Tabanan. According to Suarjana, preservation of the traditional gamelan would be constantly continued. To engender new generation, his party began to teach children the way to play slonding gamelan. On that account, the typical Balinese gamelan was not going to disappear. With simple method, children could be easily
taught to play the slonding. In keeping with the passage of time, he said, the number of slonding instrument also increased. It was adapted to situation. However, the core instruments remained to be preserved because they were essential spirit of
the slonding rhythm. Playing slonding, said Suarjana, needed a sense. Thus, the rhythm generated could touch the feeling. This man hoped the other traditional gamelan could also be preserved by getting children to start favoring their traditional gamelan. (kmb30)
IBP/Budi Wiriyanto
Selonding gamelan music posing a native cultural heritage to Tenganan, Karangasem, but almost extinct in Tabanan. Fortunately, many young generations are starting to favor it lately.
BMKG predicted Bali affected by drought Antara
IBP/File Photo
BMKG predicted Bali will affected by drought.
JAKARTA - The number of whirlwinds that hit Indonesia last year was 28 times higher than that of the year 2002 due to the impact of global warming, according National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. “Global warming has resulted in the formation of more cumulonimbus clouds that could trigger whirlwinds,” he said during the weekend. Indonesia has been hit by 258 whirlwinds so far this year, which have accounted for 36 percent of the total number of disasters that have struck the country in 2012. A total of 404 districts/cities, inhabited by 115 million people, in Sumatra, Northern Java, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi, are vulnerable to whirlwinds. Sutopo predicted that the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters, such as
floods, landslides, droughts, forest fires and whirlwinds, would increase next year. Citing the forecast by National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), he said whirlwinds were likely to occur in March-April 2013. While and floods and landslides were most likely to happen during the January-March period. A total of 60.9 million people live in 315 districts/cities that are prone to floods, while some 124 million live in 270 districts/ cities that are vulnerable to landslides. Forest fires might occur during the dry season next year in eight provinces: North Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. The country is likely to be affected by droughts during August-October 2013, particularly in Java, Bali and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
2
International
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Bali News
International
JAKARTA – Aston International, the largest international hotel operator in Indonesia, recently announced that the company has penned deals for three new four-star “Astons” in Indonesia – the Aston Jimbaran Hotel – Bali, the Aston Simatupang Hotel & Conference Center in Jakarta and the Aston Karawang Hotel.
Amlapura (Bali Post)—
Continuous rain flushing the area of Rendang, Karangasem, within the past two days caused avalanche and fallen tree. A fallen banyan tree toppled over two other large trees in front of the Puseh temple of Menanga, Rendang subdistrict, Karangasem, Sunday (Dec 23) around 12:00 a.m. so that it brought the road section to Besakih to a standstill for some 4 hours. was still raining. No loss of life was caused by the fallen tree. However, it kindled traffic congestion on the Menanga-Besakih road section. Chief of Rendang Police, Nyoman Tusta, with permission from Karangasem Police Chief said his party had come down to location of accident situating no far from location of the fallen tree. Police officers diverted the traffic flow of Klungkung-Besakih to Buyan or from Rendang to Batusesa hamlet and then headed for Besakih
so that it did not cause total traffic congestion. Aside from police officers, police chief said that a team of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Karangasem also came down to location. Branches of the tree were cut by chain saw with the assistance of local residents. Pieces of the trees were rolled out to roadside, so that the road section could soon be passed through. Additionally, the fallen tree also resulted in material avalanche of cliff nearby. (013)
Join Team captured foreigner bringing marijuana
join team of Denpasar Police Illegal Drugs Section, Badung Regency Narcotic Board and National Narcotic Board of Bali did some ‘sweeping’ at some entertainment places from Saturday (22/12) 11 pm local time until Sunday (23/12) 3.30 am local time. At least 6 places were raided and one Japanese named Watanabe Shinichi (35) was found bringing marijuana. Head of the Illegal Drugs Section, PC I Wayan Suarda, confirmed and have brought Watanabe to the headquarters to be investigated further including taking his urine sample yet its lab test hasn’t come out. The Illegal Drugs Section on this case only to support the Narcotic Boards involved in tackling illegal drugs distribution in Denpasar and around it. Moreover it’s near Christmas and New Year. Every visitor to those places had their brought items checked.
15
IBP
Menanga-Besakih road section cut off
Denpasar (Bali Post)-
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Aston announces 3 new hotels
Landslide and fallen tree
One of the Menanga residents, Dewa Gede Surya, said last Sunday the fallen banyan tree was of large enough diameter. Even, the banyan tree toppled over the other two trees. The three large trees fell onto the road, right at the Arca descending road section. Allegedly, the quite old banyan tree collapsed because it was unable to hold the heavy burden of wet leaves whereas the wind did not blow so strongly. Fortunately, no people were passing when the large tree collapsed as it
Activities
Watanabe was found in a room at a discotheque located in By Pass Ngurah Rai Street, Kuta, Badung. When his bag was
checked, marijuana consisting of leaves, components and seeds totaling 0.72 grams was found. (kmb21)
The tents are ready for the Denpasar Festival which will be officially opened on December 28, 2012. The traffic will be closed during the festival so the people must find alternative route.
IBP/File
The new cafe which was just being build at Delod Berawah, Negara.
Cafés proliferate at Delod Berawah Negara (Bali Post)—
The endeavor to change the negative image of Delod Berawah tourist area is in fact not accompanied with real action. As evidence, the number of dimly lit cafés on the land belonging to property of Perancak Temple at Delod Berawah continues to grow. The latest one, a new two-storied café was opened on Saturday night (Dec 22). Even, it was a permanent building and overlooking the beach. Meanwhile, not long ago, the village authority implemented a policy to close the cafés in the area by degrees. From the information gathered on Sunday (Dec 23), the café was a branch of one of the cafés in Jembrana and officially opened on Saturday night. It was unclear whether it already had a building permit or not because according to a resource person the land in use had the status as property of the Perancak Temple categorized into dang kahyangan temple. Since the past few years, the area had been overwhelmed by cafés on contracted land for one to five years. As information of the resource person, the land serving as temple property was about 0.98 hectares located right on the west side of cemetery of Delod Berawah. Seeing condition of the land was less productive and located at coastal borderline, the land was later on leased for café businesses. Negative impression of the cafés
was considered to have tarnished the Delod Berawah tourist area, while local government was committed to gradually change the image. As planned, the area would be modified into culinary destination and a number of budgets would be allocated to repair some tourism supporting facilities. Village authority was committed not to renew the contract agreement of those cafés. But in fact, a new café in the area of Delod Berawah was alleged to be opened last week. The resource person regretted because it was permanently built and even two-storied. Moreover, almost all the cafés in a row were located close to beach. “Has it owned a permit or not? It is said there has been a commitment not to add another café,” said the resource person. Headman of Delod Berawah, Made Rentana, denied the construction of new café. According to him, there was only renovation of a cafe. He said to be still committed not to add any café at Delod Berawah and would not renew the contract agreement of the existing cafés. Related to the building, the Head of Jembrana Public Order Officer (Satpol PP), I Putu Widarta, said if his party had not monitored or heard about new cafe building at Delod Berawah. Similarly, his party had not made any coordination with licensing office. “We have not checked it,” he said. (kmb26)
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, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, 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
“With sustained economic growth, a raising middle class of soon to be 120 million people and significant investment in infrastructure leading to increased volumes for business travel and continued international and domestic leisure travel demand, opportunities continue for quality upscale hotel developments in Indonesia” says Norbert Vas, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “We are thrilled to announce these three new hotels in Bali, Jakarta and in West Java’s manufacturing hub of Karawang and remain excited about the prospects for our upscale Aston brand in Indonesia” added Mr. Vas. Aston now is committed to a total of 21 new Aston hotels in Indonesia bringing several of its smaller 3 star
“Aston City Hotels” to secondary cities such as Jember, Luwuk, Kupang, Madiun and Bekasi but also focusing on larger projects such as the 202 room Aston Jimbaran Hotel – Bali and the 324 room Aston Simatupang Hotel & Conference Center as well as the 154 room Aston Karawang Hotel which will be the first international 4 star business Hotel in West Java’s rapidly expanding manufacturing hub. In addition the company is also in the midst of developing two new flag ship hotels for its 5 star “Grand Aston” brand with a new development in Surabaya and a complete overhaul if its popular Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa which is due to rebrand to a Grand Aston in April next year.
IBP/Courtesy of Aston International
Calendar Event for December 12 through December 27, 2012 12 Des B uda Keliwon Ugu Pura Dalem Tarukan Banjar Pulasari Desa Peninjoan Tembuku - Bangli Pura Pasek Gelgel Boading Kabakaba Tabanan Pura Pemayun Banyuning T e n gah - Buleleng Pura Desa Kayangan Tiga Desa Bubunan Seririt - Buleleng Pura Agung Gunung Raung Banjar Taro Kaja Taro - Tegalalang Merajan Pasek Dangka Bungbungan 22 Des H ari Tumpek Wayang Pura Majapahit Jembrana Odalan Betara ratu Gede Celuk Sukawati Odalan Betara Ratu Wedyadari Camenggaon Sukawati Pura Panti Gelgel Pengembungan Sesetan Denpasar Betara Ratu Alit dan Ratu Lingsir Singakerta Ubud Pura Pedarmaan Dalem Sukawati B esakih Pura Pedarmaan Mengwi Besakih Pura Pedarmaan Kaba-kaba Besakih Pura Pedarmaan dalem Bakas Besakih Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Gelgel
Pegatepan Gelgel Klungkung Pura Pemrajan Agung Sulang Kec Dawan Klungkung Merajan Pasek Bendesa Kori Agung Pengatepan Pura Pedarmaan Dinasti dalem sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan P u r a Besakih (Dalem Klungkung) Pura Penataran Giri Purwa dan Pesraman Dusun Kuto Rejo Kendal Rejo Tegal Delimo Banyuangi 26 Des Buda Wage Kelawu Pura Penataran Agung Teluk Padang Karangasem Pura Melanting D esa Camenggaon Sukawati Pura Penataran Ped Nusa Penida Pura Pasek Gelgel Pangembungan Bongkase Abiansemal Pura Pasek Bendesa Reyang Gede Penebel Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Br. Jawa Tengah Buleleng Pura Gaduhan Jagat Desa Singakerta Ubud Pura Masceti Tegeh Mancawarna Sanding Tampaksiring Pura Penataran Batu Lepang Kamasan Klungkung Pura Paibon Pasek Gelgel Gobleg Desa Kedonganan Kuta
Pura Goa Besakih Pura Basukian Besakih Penataran Agung Besakih Merajan Pasek Gelgel Pejeng Merajan Pasek Gelgel Songan Merajan Pasek Prateka Pekandelan Sidemen Merajan Pasek Prateka Taman Sari Sukasada Pura dadia Pasek Gelgel Sidemen Karangasem Merajan Pasek Gelgel Tampuagan, Tembuku, Bangli 27 Des Purnama Kepitu Pr. Benua Besakih. Pura Dalem Desa Camenggaon - Sukawati Pura Suranadhi Lombok Pura Narmada Lombok Pura Segara Ampenan Lombok Mr Agung Dewa Agung Klungkung Ulah Sidemen Pura Gunungrene S i d e m e n Karangasem. Merajan Pasek Gelgel Ababi Mr. Pasek gelgel Tista Pura Gunung Gunung - Tianyar Kubu - Karangasem Pura Pingit Klenting sari Banjar Sumberkelompok - Gerokgak Singaraja Pura Payogan Agung Kutai Kartanegara
Balinese Temple Ceremony Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc. The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion. The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines. In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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Price: Rp 3.000,-
Entertainment
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
In bite-sized roles, Gandolfini ubiquitous again
WEATHER FORECAST Dps 23 - 32
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK — In the five years since “The Sopranos” ended, James Gandolfini has eschewed the spotlight, instead disappearing into a heap of character actor performances that, while they may lack the heft of Tony Soprano, have only further proved the actor’s wide-ranging talent.
AP Photo/Paramount Vantage, File
This publicity film image released by Paramount Vantage shows James Gandolfini, as Pat, in a scene from the film “Not Fade Away.”
16 Pages Number 7 5th year
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
This season offers a gluttony of Gandolfini, albeit in bite-sized parts. In Kathryn Bigelow’s Osama bin Laden hunt docudrama “Zero Dark Thirty,” he plays Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. In David Chase’s ‘60s period drama “Not Fade Away,” he plays the old-school father of a wannabe rocker. And in Andrew Dominick’s crime flick “Killing Them Softly,” he plays an aged, washed-up hit man. None of the roles are showy lead men, and that’s just fine with Gandolfini. “I’m much more comfortable doing smaller things,” Gandolfini said in a recent interview. “I like them. I like the way they’re shot; they’re shot quickly. It’s all about the scripts — that’s what it is — and I’m getting some interesting little scripts.” The 51-year-old actor takes scant pleasure in interviews and rarely does them. This is partly because Gandolfini — sitting attentively with his hands on his knees, his head back and his let’s-hear-whatyou-have-to-say eyes tilted downward — distrusts the ego-inflating effect of attention. Explaining his interest in a character, he breaks off: “I
always wonder how interesting any of this is to people. It’s just my own (stuff).” Though Gandolfini’s achievement playing Tony Soprano for eight years is unquestioned (he won three Emmy awards), the sensation of the show — and the long time spent playing a violent, sometimes loathsome gangster — grated on Gandolfini. He says that after “The Sopranos,” he didn’t quite regain himself as an actor until he starred in the Tony-winning play “God of Carnage” on Broadway in 2009. He played half of a Brooklyn couple trying to resolve a squabble with another couple over a fight between their children — a part also revealing of our underlying animalism. “It really grounded me more as an actor again,” says Gandolfini. “Then I could go off and try different things.”
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Stalin’s birthday marked in Russia and beyond
Benitez needs goals to keep flowing at Chelsea
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Predicting who’s at risk for violence isn’t easy Page 14
in Jesus’ Bethlehem birthplace
‘Odd Couple’ star Jack Klugman dies in LA at 90 Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES — For many, Jack Klugman will always be the messy one. His portrayal of sloppy sportswriter Oscar Madison on TV’s “The Odd Couple” left viewers laughing but it also gave Klugman the leverage to create a more serious character, the gruff medical examiner in “Quincy M.E.” His everyman ethos and comic timing endeared him to audiences and led to a prolific, six-decade acting career that spanned stage, screen and television. Klugman died Monday at age 90 in suburban Northridge with his wife at his side. His sons called on his fans to embrace their father’s tenacious and positive spirit. “He had a great life and he enjoyed every moment of it, and he would encourage others to do the same,” son Adam Klugman said. The cause of Klugman’s death was not immediately known. Adam Klugman said his father had been slowing down in recent years, but wasn’t battling cancer, which robbed him of his voice in the 1980s. Klugman taught himself to speak again, and kept working. He remained popular for decades simply by playing the type of man you could imagine running into at a bar or riding on a subway with — gruff, but down-to-earth, his tie stained and a little loose, a racing form under his arm, a cigar in hand during the days when smoking was permitted. Off-screen, Klugman owned racehorses and enjoyed gambling, although acting remained his passion. Despite his on-screen wars with Tony Randall’s neat-freak char-
acter Felix Unger on “Odd Couple,” the show created a friendship between the men that endured after the series ended. When Randall died in 2004 at age 84, Klugman told CNN: “A world without Tony Randall is a world that I cannot recognize.” AP Photo/David F. Smith, File
FILE - In this May 20, 1973 file photo, Jack Klugman holds his Emmy for his role in “The Odd Couple” presented at the 25th Emmy Awards Banquet for outstanding continued performance by an actor in a leading role in a comedy series in Los Angeles.
Associated Press
BETHLEHEM — Pilgrims and locals celebrated Christmas Day on Tuesday in the ancient Bethlehem church where tradition holds Jesus was born, candles illuminating the sacred site and the joyous sound of prayer filling its overflowing halls. Overcast skies and a cold wind didn’t dampen the spirits of worshippers who came dressed in holiday finery and the traditional attire of foreign lands to mark the holy day in this biblical West Bank town. Bells pealed and long lines formed inside the fourth-century Church of the Nativity complex as Christian faithful waited eagerly to see the grotto that is Jesus’ traditional birthplace. Duncan Hardock, 24, a writer from MacLean, Va., traveled to Bethlehem from the republic of Georgia, where he had been teaching English. After passing through the separation barrier Israel built to ward off West Bank attackers, he walked to Bethlehem’s Manger Square where the church stands. “I feel we got to see both sides of Bethlehem in a really short period of time,” Hardock said. “On our walk from the wall, we got to see the lonesome, closed side of Bethlehem ... But the moment we got into town, we’re suddenly in the middle of the party.” Bethlehem lies 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Je-
rusalem. Entry to the city is controlled by Israel, which occupied the West Bank in 1967. Hardock’s girlfriend, 22-year-old Jennifer Gemmell of Longmont, Colorado, compared the festive spirit in Manger Square on Christmas Eve, saying “it’s like being at Times Square at New Year’s.” The cavernous church was unable to hold all the worshippers who had hoped to celebrate Christmas Day Mass inside. A loudspeaker outside the church broadcast the service to the hundreds in the square who could not pack inside. Tourists in the square posed for pictures as vendors hawked olive wood rosaries, nativity scenes, corn on the cob, roasted nuts, tea and coffee. An official from the Palestinian tourism ministry predicted 10,000 foreigners would visit Bethlehem on Christmas Day and said 15,000 visited on Christmas Eve — up 20 percent from a year earlier. The official, Rula Maia’a, attributed the rise in part to the Church of the Nativity’s classification earlier this year as a U.N. World Heritage Site. Christians from Israel — Arab citizens and others — also boosted the number of visitors. Information technology consultant Martin Wzork came to Bethlehem with his wife and young daughter from Krakow, Poland. “My wife believes in God, so it’s important for her,” said Wzork, who described himself as a non-believer. “For me, it’s interesting because it’s a historical place
AP Photo/Adel Hana
A cross is held during Christmas celebrations outside the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshippers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site where many believe Jesus Christ was born. and famous.” On Christmas Eve, thousands of Christians from all over the world packed the square, which was awash in light, resplendent with decorations and adorned by a lavishly decorated, 17-meter (55-foot) fir tree. Their Palestinian hosts, who welcome this holiday as the high point of their city’s year, were especially joyous this season, proud of the United Nations’ recognition of an independent state of Palestine just last month. Israel, backed by the United States, opposed the Palestinian statehood bid, saying it was a ploy to bypass negotiations, something the Palestinians deny. Talks stalled four years ago. Later Tuesday, the world’s Christmas focus will shift to Vatican City, where Pope Benedict XVI will deliver his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” speech — Latin for “to the city and the world” — from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered in the piazza below. The speech traditionally reviews world events and global challenges, and ends with the pope delivering Christmas greetings in dozens of languages.