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Thursday, January 5, 2012
PAGE 8
Broadway’s ‘Spider-Man’ musical earns new record PAGE 12 IBP/Yudi Karnaedi
Tourists and local people gathered in Ground Zero, Kuta, Bali Island to celebrated the New Year eve. During the period of January to November 2011, Bali was visited by 2,573,118 foreign tourists. The amount increased over the same period in 2010, reaching 2,348,891 foreign tourists or an increase of some 9.55 percent.
%DOL YLVLWHG E\ IRUHLJQ WRXULVWV Bali Post
WEATHER FORECAST CITY
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JAKARTA
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DENPASAR - During the period of January to November 2011, Bali was visited by 2,573,118 foreign tourists. The amount increased over the same period in 2010, namely reaching 2,348,891 foreign tourists or an increase of some 9.55 percent.
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Ngurah Rai Airport, reaching 2,540,370 people. Meanwhile, the rest was through the seaport amounting to 32,748 people. By nationality, the tourists visit to Bali was still dominated by Australians, reaching 717,926 people, or approximately 27.90 percent of the total number of tourist visit in November 2011. Continued on page 6
1< SROLFH VD\ PDQ FRQIHVVHV LQ ‍ۋ‏UHERPE RQ PRVTXH Reuters
SUNNY
“We are optimistic the target of 2.7 million in 2011 can be achieved because in November the tourist arrival to Bali has reached 221,603 people. No to mention in December, the tourist visit rate has showed a surge,� said the Head of Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, Gde Suarsa, in Denpasar. He said most foreign tourists holidaying on the Island of the Gods came through
NEW YORK - A New York City man faces arson and bias charges after confessing on Tuesday to a series of Molotov cocktail attacks that hit a mosque and a Hindu place of worship and unsettled civic leaders concerned the actions might portend violent religious bigotry. The suspect, who has not been
identiďŹ ed by name, is a 40-yearold unemployed tow-truck driver who appeared to have been motivated by personal grudges, said a law enforcement familiar with the investigation who was speaking on condition of anonymity. The suspect, who is originally from Guyana and lives in the Jamaica section of Queens where four of the attacks took place,
also made “broadly anti-Muslim statementsâ€? during questioning, the ofďŹ cial said. He chose the mosque after being refused access to the facility’s bathroom, and he mistook one of the private residences as the home of a “crack dealerâ€? with whom he had a dispute, the ofďŹ cial said. Another of the targets was a private residence where Hindu
services were held, but that may have been a coincidence. The suspect had a years-old dispute with someone who may not live there anymore, the ofďŹ cial said. Police earlier had announced a “person of interestâ€? in the investigation was being questioned, then later said he had been arrested upon confessing to the ďŹ rebomb attacks . Continued on page 6
2
Thursday, January 5, 2012
International
Bali News Poverty in Bali shoots up
Govt must focus on creation of job opportunities Denpasar (Bali Post)—
Economic growth of Bali shored up by the household and government consumption was rated by Chairman of the Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI) of Bali Chapter, Prof. Dr. Ketut Rahyuda, to have triggered a high poverty rate. Evidently, until September 2011 Bali had 183,100 poor people or increased 16,900 people compared to March, reaching 166,200 people. “Government should boost the real sector, including backing up the agricultural sector. Thus, high unemployment rate leading to poverty can be overcome,� said Prof. 5DK\XGD LQ 'HQSDVDU 7XHVGD\ -DQ 3). He said the economic growth achieved so far was supported more by the consumer sector. It made the ability to create new job opportunities somewhat limited so that it resulted in unemployment emptying to increased poverty. “Aside from improving the real sector, Bali relying on the service sector requires a human resource with high competency, in addition to be willing to work hard. Those with ordinary capability will be excluded in the search for jobs,�
he said. According to him, the competence of our current human resources from all sectors was very low so they could not compete against those who came from outside Bali. On that account, the tax collected by government should be appropriately used to enhance the competitiveness of the human resources. “With the high poverty rate, it is feared to have disastrous social impact such as rampant robbery, theft and fraud that can harm the image of Bali as a safe and comfortable tourist destination,� he said. 0HDQZKLOH WKH 5HFWRU RI 8Qdiknas, Prof. Dr. Gede Sri Darma, said that providing incentives for
SMEs entrepreneurship could become one of the efforts to overcome the inequality. Other solutions were training and mentoring the poor families in order they had adaptable and compatible skills as well as providinh them with tax exemption for certain business groups in accordance with local wisdom. “Government should generate the informal sector by local people, not by the exodus. For example, in North Badung the agriculture and livestock should EH LQWHQVLÂżHG ZLWK WKH DSSURSULDWH technology, while in South Bali the hospitality services and foreign language knowledge should be enhanced,â€? he said. (par)
Less than a month after repaired Asphalt of road turns bumpy Negara (Bali Post)—
Appearance of protocol roads like Jalan Ahmad Yani and Jalan Sudirman, Negara, was recently complained by the community. Some points of the road belonging to the Denpasar-Gilimanuk road VHFWLRQ DV VHHQ DW WKH WUDI¿F OLJKW LQ the north of Memorial Park have been damaged. The road frequently passed through by the Java-Bali WUDI¿F ÀRZV ZDV MXVW UHSDLUHG D few weeks ago. Lately, the road has been damage and bumpy as well as a cable excavation was made on the roadside. A number of riders met by Bali Post on Tuesday (Jan 3) admitted to be disappointed with several damages on the road whereas it was the main road section of Java-Bali. Even, at the traffic
light north of Memorial Park was just repaired a month ago but had been destroyed. I Ketut Merta, a resident from Melaya, admitting to frequently pass through on the road claimed to be surprised as the improvement lasted only a few weeks. “It has just been paved, why it quickly turns bumpy. Even, it is getting more damaged,â€? said this store attendant. Similar condition also happened to Jalan Sudirman. Some points had set to EH EXPS\ FKLHĂ€\ RQ WKH UDPSV Chairman of Commission C of Jembrana House, Ida Bagus Susrama, said it was a protocol road belonging to national road and under the authority of the province. His party also regretted the damage happened. Probably, it was due to overload or material used was of
poor quality. The load of vehicles when running was different from the condition of stopping where the load would be heavier when the vehicles stopped. “Ideally, the asphalt DW WKH VWRSSLQJ SRLQW OLNH WUDIÂżF lights should be different, it should be mightier,â€? said Susrama. On the other hand, the Head of the Jembrana Public Works Agency, I Ketut Swijana, when contacted VHSDUDWHO\ MXVWLÂżHG LI WKH GDPDJHG roads belonged to national/provincial road and the authority lay in the province. “Indeed, the road has just been repaired, but it is the authority of the province,â€? explained Swijana. Damage to the road could be triggered by the weather during the paving, road conditions and excessive load or tonnage of the passing vehicles. (kmb26)
IBP/File
The damage Dalem Temple is seen on the picture
Dalem Temple collapses as crushed by huge tamarind tree Tabanan (Bali Post)—
Excitement of the New Year did not make the residents of Kebon Hamlet, Nyitdah Village, Kediri, happy. It was triggered by the accident to the local Dalem Bajangan Temple collapsing after being toppled by a huge tamarind tree growing in the temple area. Tragically, such incident happened just a few minutes before the turn of the year, Sunday (Jan 1). As a result of the incident, the shrine and gamelan pavilion were totally destroyed. Similarly, the branches and trunks of the approximately 5-centuryold tree also damaged the roof of a house owned by Jero Mangku Wayan Satra, right next to the temple. Total losses were estimated to reach more WKDQ ,'5 PLOOLRQ ,URQLFDOO\ VLQFH there was equipment, the debris was left scattered on the site until Tuesday (Jan 3). “We’re still waiting for the equipment aid. It is said the equipment will arrive today (Tuesday—Ed),� said Jero Mangku Satra on Tuesday afternoon. This elderly man said the tamarind tree collapsed at the seconds before the turn of the year whereas at the midnight there was no rain or wind. Initially, Jro Mangku Satra heard a little voice like a cracked tile. Feeling suspicious, he rushed out. When he had no time to
look upward, the tamarind tree had toppled onto the temple and the roof of his house. “The sound was too loud. It happened too quickly,� he said. As soon as looking at the falling tree, the temple priest having served since 1998 called out for help to residents. Within minutes, the residents scrambled to getting closer. However, they did not dare to evacuate due to lacking of equipment. Other than temple shrines, the tree also knocked down the temple wall. According to Jero Mangku Satra, his party had performed a pecaruan ceremony after the incident. As planned, after evacuating the tree, residents would work in mutual assistance to re-build the temple. He admitted not to get any foreboding before the incident. However, his nephew had a dream to be bathed in the river. “I do not know what the dream means. Clearly, the old tree suddenly collapsed,� he said. Allegedly, the tree collapsed because its roots had been fragile. The trunk was also perforated due to age. Strangely, though being porous, the twigs and branches still looked fresh. Even, it bore quite dense fruits. So far, the tamarind tree was also made sacred by local residents. Aside from becoming a hereditary legacy, the tree also grew right in the temple. (udi)
z Founder : K.Nadha, z General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti z Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z 2IÂżFH: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, )DFVLPLOH: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 0215357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, )DFVLPLOH: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post
Bali News
International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
3
Three primary school children swept away in river One killed, two survived Denpasar (Bali Post)—
5LYHU VWUHDPV XQGHU WKH 6DGLQJ %ULGJH %DGXQJ 7XHVGD\ -DQ FODLPHG D FDVXDOW\ 7KUHH HOHPHQWDU\ VFKRRO FKLOGUHQ UHVSHFWLYHO\ QDPHG $JXV 6DSXWUD $GL $GQ\DQD 3XWUD DQG $JXV 6XDQGDQD DOO OLYLQJ DW .ZDQML +DPOHW SUHFLVHO\ LQ WKH ERDUGLQJ KRXVH RI 0U 0DGH 6HPSLGL %DGXQJ ZHUH VZHSW DZD\ E\ VWUHDPV RI WKH ORFDO ULYHU 2QH RI WKH YLFWLPV 6DSXWUD ZDV VWDWHG GHDG 0HDQZKLOH WZR RWKHU FKLOGUHQ QDPHO\ :LGDUWD DQG 6ZDQGDQD FRXOG VXUYLYH IURP WKH GHDWK Chief of Badung Police, Beny Arjanto, said the incident took place around 3:00 p.m. Local Time. Actually there were four children bathing in the river. Another was Komang Widarta. However, he was not swept away as his position was in the shallow water. “Only three victims were swept away by the river streams,â€? said Chief Beny last Tuesday. According to Chief Beny, the three victims swept away were asking for permission to their parents for studying in the group DW D IULHQGÂśV KRXVH )HZ PLQXWHV later, the three children were seen passing the Sempidi Market by a neighbor. In fact, their destination ZDV WR 6DGLQJ UHJLRQ DQG ÂżQDOO\ took a bath at the scene. “The
four children were bathing there. Condition of the river streams was a bit swift,� said Chief Beny. They bathed in group while playing. Initially, they bathed in shallow water, so the stream was not very swift. Well, the victim Saputra then moved to deeper water. He was then followed by the victim Suandana and Adi Adnyana Putra. Unexpectedly, the three victims were swept away by the streams and were then trying to save themselves. “The witness Widarta was calling out for help,� he explained. The body of victim Saputra disappeared, while Suandana and Adi Adnyana managed to hold a wood in the riverside. They were also rescued by people around the
location knowing the incident. Both victims were evacuated to the land on riverside. Meanwhile, some residents did a search for the missing victim. Likewise, the officers of Badung Police also searched the victim after receiving the report related to the incident. Having searched for a half hour, the victim’s body was found three kilometers from the scene. Unfortunately, the victim was found dead.The victim’s body was rushed to Surya Husada Hospital. Minor examination had been done to the victim’s body and after that it was immediately taken to the funeral home in Karangasem. “His family had taken the victim’s body to funeral home in Karangasem,� he explained. (kmb21)
Erratic weather, farmers confused Active role of agricultural institution highly required Denpasar (Bali Post)—
Information about the recent uncertain climate should at least get to farmers, so they are not confused and suffer losses in their farming activities. Here, it is required the active role of institutions related to agriculture, especially the government agencies like the Agricultural Agency with the staff in disseminating the climate information to farmers. “It can be delivered through the agricultural extension ofÂżFHUV DQG YROXQWHHUV )RU LQstance, they can actively give climate information to farmers in a simple language that can be easily understood by farmers. By doing so, farmers can understand the information and respond it appropriately in their farming,â€? said Nyoman Gede Wirajaya, Division Head of Data and Information, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Region III Denpasar, to Bali Post when contacted on Tuesday (Jan 3).
According to him, the information about uncertain climatic condition could be DFFHVVHG IURP YDULRXV RIÂżFLDO sources such as BMKG. “The problem is how to disseminate the information in order to reach farmers. By and large, the capability of farmers to access climate information is very restricted,â€? he said. So far, he added, farmers had PRUH FRQÂżGHQFH DQG DOZD\V referred to the season pursuant to their understanding based on conventional system. They considered it a condition of nature and never changed. “The understanding and learning process about climate among the farmers may take a long time. Therefore, it must begin now, and the agricultural H[WHQVLRQ RIÂżFHUV FDQ EHFRPH one of the spearheads in disseminating the climatic conditions to farmers,â€? he said. At least, farmers should be given the information and understanding about the matter so as not to be consistently in
confusion and ultimately suffered losses in the agricultural business. Related to the efforts of providing an understanding on climatic conditions, the BMKG also had a Climate )LHOG 6FKRRO SURJUDP WDUJHWLQJ the food production centers. In WKH &OLPDWH )LHOG 6FKRRO was held in Lombok and in PLG RI WKH &OLPDWH )LHOG School was scheduled to be held in Bali. ³&OLPDWH )LHOG 6FKRRO LV D school to empower farmers. It aims to give farmers the ability to read the climatic conditions. )RU WKH &OLPDWH )LHOG 6FKRRO in Bali, we will invite the PPL and PHP throughout Bali,� he explained. )RU LQIRUPDWLRQ D QXPEHU RI agricultural products showed a decline due to erratic weather. Additionally, most farmers planted crops that did not corUHVSRQG WR WKH VHDVRQV )RU examples, in this condition a horticultural crop requiring less water would not produce maximal yields. (bit)
IBP/File
Bali Guling, one of the activities during the 4th Annual Denpasar Festival
Denfest earns revenue worth IDR 3.1 billion Denpasar (Bali Post)—
7KH IRXUWK 'HQSDVDU )HVWLYDO 'HQfest) organized at the end of 2011 could draw the interest of people to visit. Evidently, the people participating in jazzing up the four-day annual event could reap a turnover of IDR 3.1 billion. The figure increased if compared to the happening held last year reaching IDR 2.5 billion. “Culinary booths became the prime target of visit in the fourth Denfest. On that account, from the total turnover of IDR 3.1 billion, IDR 2 billion was contributed by culinary booths. While the remaining IDR 1.1 billion was gained from the sales in the textiles and handicraft booths,� said Spokesperson of Denpasar Municipality, Dewa Gede Rai, Tuesday (Jan 3). According to him, the culinary booth could achieve a turnover of IDR 10-15 million. Nevertheless, the activity did not merely pursue the turnover, but also raised the local potential and provided space for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Denpasar. “We are not merely pursuing the turnover, but our achievement has proved if this annual event (Denfest) is getting favored by the public as well as tourists who visited Denpasar,� he said. Meanwhile, the Regional Craft Council (Dekranasda) of Denpasar, Selly Dharmawijaya Mantra, expected
that Denfest could encourage the development of endek fabric craftsmen in Denpasar. So far, the existence of endek craftsmen had turned dormant before finally revived after the implementation of the annual event. “Based on existing data, the number of endek craftsmen in Denpasar is around 15 people. But of that number, only some 10 craftsmen are still active. Before the 2000s, the number of endek craftsmen reached 35 people, but now only 15 craftsmen remain to survive,� he said. Meanwhile, Chief Executive of Dekranasda Denpasar, Dewa Dharendra, previously said the use of songket fabric was progressively growing, not only for customary and religious needs, but also for being developed for the need of fashion. “Even, the implementation of DenSDVDU )HVWLYDO LV LQWHQGHG WR VWLPXODWH the songket craftsmen. Hopefully, they could continue to meet those needs creatively. With the creativity, craftsmen can develop to attain social welfare and cultural preservation,� he said. He further said the fabric produced by craftsmen had no connections. Previously, the sheet of fabric produced had the width of 50 cm, but now it could reach 100 cm. Similarly, the length of fabric was originally only 4 meters, now the length produced could be unlimited or pursuant to the need of fashion. (par)
4
News
Thursday, January 5, 2012
International
No breakthrough on Mideast peace, talks to go on
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, flanked by his wife Ann and four sons, waves as he addresses supporters at his Iowa Caucus night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, January 3, 2012.
Reuters
AMMAN - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators made no breakthrough during their first high-level discussions in more than a year on Tuesday, but agreed to hold further talks in Amman on a confidential basis, Jordan’s foreign minister said. Tuesday’s talks were aimed at agreeing terms under which the two sides’ leaders - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could resume talks. Negotiations foundered in late 2010 after Israel refused to renew a partial freeze on Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, as demanded by the Palestinians. Nasser Judeh, who hosted the talks, reported no significant progress but added: “The important thing is the two sides have met face to face.” “We held today a serious discussion that aims at launching peace talks at the earliest possible opportunity over final status issues.” The Jordanian foreign minister added that from here on the sides would keep details of the meetings secret. That could boost the chances of progress by easing immediate pressure from Israeli or Palestinian public opinion not to make concessions. The Palestinians say they cannot hold talks while Israel cements its hold on land it captured in a 1967 war and on which they intend to establish an independent state. Israel says peacemaking should have no preconditions. Abbas said before Tuesday’s talks that Palestinians could take unilateral steps if Israel does not agree to halt settlement building in the occupied West Bank and recognize the borders of a future Palestinian state. “If they don’t ... there are measures that we could take. But we will not declare them now because they have not been finalized. But we will take measures that could be difficult,” Abbas told a group of judges in Ramallah.
REUTERS/Rick Wilking
Iowa’s razor-thin result LQGLFDWHV D ۋHUFH EDWWOH for conservatives is ahead Associated Press Writer
With Mitt Romney’s razor-thin, eight-vote victory over Rick Santorum, Iowa has created a new pecking order for the primaries to come in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and beyond. And, as is often the case, it will be a campaign for the soul of the party.
REUTERS/Ammar Awad
A Palestinian protestor holds a Palestinian flag in front of extreme right wing Jewish settler’s house during a weekly protest in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem December 30, 2011.
Romney leaves Iowa in a stronger position to win his party’s 2012 nomination than any of his competitors, but weaker than he would have been with a clean win. He will now have to contend with an intense round of questions about the limits of his support inside the base of the Republican Party. The contours of the reshaped contest began to become clear in the hours before the caucuses and immediately after while the votes were tallied. Santorum will take a twopronged approach against Romney: He will sell himself as not only the
more conservative candidate in the race, but also the one more likely to win over working-class Reagan Democrats with his blue-collar background. “Game on,” Santorum said as he took the stage at his victory night celebration in Johnston, Iowa. “What wins in America are bold ideas, sharp contrasts, and a plan that includes everyone,” he said. “A plan that includes everyone across the economic spectrum.” But as he moves on to New Hampshire--whose first-in-thenation primary will be held on
Tuesday, Jan. 10--as one of the top two candidates in the race right now, Santorum will have a huge target on his back. The Romney campaign is prepared to portray him as a Washington insider with no business experience--what Romney calls “the real economy.” In Iowa, Santorum rode a late wave of support, especially among evangelical Christians and the most conservative caucusgoers, to victory--but his road was made far easier because Romney chose not to lay a glove on him. According to the entrance poll conducted by Edison Research for the television networks and the AP, 46 percent of caucus attendees made their decision in the last few days, and Santorum won 33 percent of those voters.
Outrage as Taiwan ex-leader barred from funeral Agence France Presse
Taiwan prison authorities said Tuesday jailed ex-leader Chen Shui-bian would not be permitted to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral next week, sparking angry protests from his office and the opposition. The funeral of 85-year-old Wu Wang-hsia is scheduled for January 10, just four days before a presidential poll that could see the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), once chaired by Chen, regain power. “Many people are expected at the funeral, and for security reasons Chen won’t be allowed to go that day,” said Su Kun-ming, the spokesman for Taipei Prison, where Chen is serving a
term of 17 years and six months. Chen, who was president from 2000 to 2008, will be allowed to pay his final respects to his mother-inlaw on an undisclosed day, according to prison authorities. The decision immediately touched off a furious protest from Chen’s office, which dismissed the reference to security concerns as an excuse to prevent the former leader from appearing in public. “The decision is obviously due to political considerations,” it said in a statement. The former leader’s son Chen Chih-chung, who is running for a legislative seat on January 14, urged prison authorities to change their minds so that Chen “can bid
the last farewell to my grandmother at the funeral”. Su reiterated the terms under which Chen will be allowed the trip to the southern Tainan city, saying he would have to be either handcuffed or chained, and should refrain from any contact with the media. “Asking a retired president to be handcuffed is a deliberate humiliation,” DPP legislator Huang Wei-cher said. Taiwan’s jailed ex-leader Chen Shui-bian, pictured here in August 2011, will be allowed to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral next week, but will be handcuffed and barred from speaking to the media
IBP/afp
Activities
International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
5
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua Makes a Jakarta School greener IBP
JAKARTA - The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali celebrated the spirit of goodwill this festive season by helping to create a green environment for children in need. Under the banner of the Starwood initiative ‘Care for Community’, Associates from the Jakarta Sales Office recently visited the Sekolah Alternatif Untuk Anak Jalanan (Alternative School for Street Children) to donate a selection of plants. Ms. Naomi Sihombing together with her team also hosted an array of fun activities and word games for the children as well as distributed goodie bags filled with nutritious snacks. A plant was hung in front of the school to symbolize the visit and watering
cans were handed out to nurture this small garden setting. Care for Community by The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali is a ‘green’ initiative that is just one of many programs on Starwood’s Care agenda. Having successfully achieved Green Globe Benchmarked Silver status for the third time, the resort remains committed to operating to the world’s highest environmental standards. “This visit was undertaken to help create a healthier place of learning for children. We hope that early exposure to the importance of plants will help the children understand that green living is essential to the future of our planet,” commented Mr. Bipan Kapur, General Manager of the resort.
IBP/Courtesy of Westin Resort
Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for January 4 through 26, 2012 4 Jan Buda Paing Wariga Merajan Pasek Gaduh Kayubihi Bangli. 7 Jan Tumpek Uduh/Pengatag Pura Puseh/Pura Desa Batuan Sukawati Pura Pasek Bendesa Kekeran Mengwi Pura Manik Mas Besakih. 8 Jan Purnama Kepitu Ngusaba Ngaed Pr. Benua - Besakih Pura Dalem Desa Camenggaon - Sukawati Pura Suranadhi Lombok Pura Narmada Lombok Pura Segara Ampenan Lombok Mr Agung Dewa Agung Klungkung Sidemen Karangasem Pura . Merajan Pasek Gelgel Ababi Mr. Pasek gelgel Tista Pura di Gunung - Tianyar Kubu - Karangasem. Pura Pingit Klenting sari Gerokgak - Singaraja Pura di Gunung - Tianyar Tianyar Merajan Pasek Gelgel Ababi Mr. Pasek gelgel Tista Pura di Gunung - Tianyar Kubu - Karangasem Pura Pingit Klenting sari Gerokgak - Singaraja Pura Payogan Agung Kutai Kartanegara. 11 Jan Buda Wage Warigadean. Pura Kepisah Sumerta Denpasar Pura Pasek Gelgel Pura Pasek Gelgel Pura Puncaksari Penarukan Peninjoan Bangli Pura Bangun Sakti Besakih Pura Antegsari Kaba-Kaba Kediri Tabanan Pura Pesimpangan Batur Pande Kaba-Kaba Kediri Tabanan 13 Jan Sukra Umanis Warigadean Odalan Ida Ratu di Penataran Agung Besakih
Odalan Ida Ratu Puraus Merajan Salonding Besakih. 15 Jan Redite Pon Julungwangi Pura Panti Pasek Gelgel Gobleg Banjar Singaraja. 17 Jan Anggar Kasih Julungwangi Pura Tirtaharum Tegalwangi Bangli Pura Pasek Tohjiwa Wanasari Tabanan Pura Pasek Tangguntiti Jakatebel Tabanan Pura Pasek Bendesa Sangsit Buleleng Pura Dalem Waturenggong Taro Tegalalang Pura Ibu (Pura Kaja) Wanasari Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Tulikup Pura manik Bingin Sidemen. 18 Jan Buda Umanis Julungwangi Pura Penetaran Gana Bebalang Bangli Pura Dalem Gede Banjar Pande Bangli Pura Puncaksari Sangeh Abiansemal Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Sanak Sapta Resi Sidan Gianyar Merajan Pasek Tohjiwa Jakatebel Merajan Pasek Prateka Batusesa Odalan di Mr. Jeroan Dauh Cemenggon Pr. Puseh Penegil Darma Kubutambahan Singaraja. 23 Jan Tilem Kepitu Aci Petahuan Pura Ulun Kulkul Besakih Ngusaba Buluh Pura Benua Kawasan Besakih. 26 Jan Wraspati Wage Sungsang Pura Kawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Desa Tangkas Klungkung Pr. Siang Kangin Tampuagan Tembuku Bangli Odalan Ida Ratu Mas Penataran Agung Besakih Merajan Pasek Gelgel Petemon Merajan Pasek Gelgel MelinggihGelgel Melinggih Odalan Ida Bhatara Bang Tulus Dewa Besakih
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.
6
News
Thursday, January 5, 2012
International
Bali... From page 1
REUTERS/KCNA THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
North Koreans gather during a memorial for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, in this KCNA picture released December 29, 2011.
North Korea military strategy superior, says think-tank Reuters
6(28/ 1RUWK .RUHDÂśV PLOLWDU\ VWUDWHJ\ LV VXSHULRU WR WKH GHIHQVLYH SRVWXUH RI LWV DIĂ€XHQW nei hbor to the outh an independent think-tank said on ednesda i in on an the ed e in the earl da s of an war on the di ided peninsula The eoul-based Korea conomic Research Institute said in a report that in 2011 North Korea operated a 1 02-million-stron arm and a record number of tanks warships and air defense artiller Total militar personnel stren th is 1 2 million “The depressing reality is it would not be entirely wrong to say North Korea’s military strength is stronger,â€? the institute said. “We need to remember that the North is far superior in terms of the number of troops, and especially the North’s military is structured in its formation and deployment with the purpose of an offensive war.â€? South Korea’s armed forces number nearly 700,000, and they are backed by about 28,000 U.S. troops. But analysts say that even though the North’s army far outnumbers the combined South Korean and U.S. troop levels, the North’s forces would stand no chance of winning a war because their equipment was vastly infe-
rior. Experts say that while the North might have the early edge in any war, U.S. and South Korean air power alone would quickly turn the advantage their way. The two Koreas are still technically at war having signed only an armistice to end the 1 50-53 Korean War. Form of defence
Less than a month after the reclusive state’s leader Kim Jongil died, North Korea has made it clear its top priority is maintaining a songun, or military-first, policy whereby the army takes precedence over everything else. The institute’s report called for Seoul to hit back hard against any strike by the North. “The only way to deter a pre-
emptive attack by the North is to make it clear that the South Korean forces will assume it is a precursor to a full-out war and strike back regardless of the nature of the aggression, even if it is a small-scale regional guerilla war.� While the North has fewer combat aircraft than in 1 8 , its air power has been boosted E\ WRS FODVV 0L* ¿JKWHU MHWV since the 1 0s, the institute said. It also said there have notable increase in the number of submarines. But experts say most of the North’s naval and air force equipment are aged, and that its low fuel supplies mean it would be unable to sustain a long military operation.
“Aside from occupying the first position, the number of Australian tourist visit also increased compared to the period of 2010, approximately reached 13.8312. Then, it is followed by China amounting to 8.43 percent,� he said. The increase in visit of Australian tourists, recognized Suarsa, was inseparable from the people’s economic condition in the country that had been getting better. Additionally, it was also supported by the mileage that Bali was not so far from the country and favorable condition of Bali making it safe to visit. “Especially for the room occupancy rate in five-star hotels during the November 2011 reached an average of 0.15 percent. While for non-star hotels had an average of 35.85 percent,� he said. In the meantime, the Russian Honorary Consul in Bali, Chairul Nuku Kamka, also acknowledged recently about the increase in tourist visit to Bali from Australia, including the tourist visit from Russia. The market share of Russian tourists continued to rise, and it was even able to shift the posi-
tion of the other markets. “Russia is a country with a population of 142 million. If the flight frequency is added, I have confidence the growth of Russian tourist visit will increase. Currently, the number of their outbound could reach the top 10 position,� he said. According to Nuku Kamka, the growth of Russian market had reached 5,000 people in 2010 and rose to 80,000 people in 2011. “We are targeting the achievement of 80,000 tourists by the end of 2011. To that purpose, the infrastructure and tourism industry perpetrators should be better prepared because the Russian market had been getting maturer and experiencing many changes leading to new trends,� he said. Related to the obstacles faced by Bali to bring in Russian tourists, admitted Nuku Kamka, consisted of the limited flight frequency and mastery of Russian language in extending services and providing information in Russian language such as in the food menus. Only few Russian tourists mastered another language, so they needed a guide. (par)
NY police... From page 1 “The individual is implicating himself in each of the five firebombing cases, citing personal grievances with each location,� said police spokesman Paul Browne. The arson attacks drew condemnation from religious and civic leaders of various backJURXQGV ZKR MRLQHG 1HZ <RUN Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly for a news conference before the confession was reported. “ ear mongering about Islam and other American minorities have ripped this country apart ... We are all affected when this hate explodes,� said Cyrus McGoldrick of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group. One of the firebombs hit the mosque entrance at the Imam al-Khoei oundation, a Shiite organization in the New York City borough of Queens while some 75 to 80 people were inside. 1R LQMXULHV ZHUH UHSRUWHG
but one of the private homes suffered severe fire damage. “When everyone else was HQMR\LQJ WKHLU 1HZ <HDUÂśV 'D\ this villain comes in and wants to make life miserable for us,â€? said Muhsin Alidina, a program coordinator at the Islamic center who was in the mosque at the time of the attack. “Thank goodness it was also raining, so presumably it took away some of the force,â€? Alidina said. The suspect’s grievances with the convenience store may have started on December 27 when a clerk confronted a man thought to have being trying to steal a Starbucks rappuccino, police said. “When they were pushing him out of the store, he said words to the effect of, We’re going to get even. We’re going to get back at you,’â€? Kelly said before the confession was reported. Starbucks rappuccino bottles were used in at least four of the five Molotov attacks, police said.
International
Indonesia Today
Thursday, January 5, 2012
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Wife of Bali bombing suspect senteced to jail Associated Press
JAKARTA — An Indonesian court on Wednesday sentenced the wife of the top suspect in the 2002 Bali bombings to 27 months in jail for immigration violations. The East Jakarta District Court found Ruqayyah binti Husein Luceno, a 32-yearold Philippine national, guilty of using falsified personal data to get an Indonesian passport. Luceno and her husband, Umar Patek, were arrested in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad on Jan. 25, ending a decade-long manhunt for AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim Ruqayyah binti Husein Luceno, front left, the wife of the top suspect in the 2002 Bali one of Southeast Asia’s most wanted terrorbombings Umar Patek is escorted by police officers as she arrives for her trial at a ist suspects. Patek is accused of making the district court in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. The court has sentenced explosives used in the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people. He is awaiting trial. Ruqayyah 27 months in jail for immigration violation.
“The defendant has been proven guilty of violating the law ... by giving wrong information to the immigration office,” said presiding judge Suharjono, who uses a single name. Luceno and her husband traveled in August 2010 to Pakistan, where they were captured five months later in the same town where Osama bin Laden was killed. Luceno and her lawyers have not yet decided whether to appeal the sentence, which was lighter than the prosecutor’s demand of four years.
Indonesians have new symbol for injustice: sandals Associated Press
JAKARTA — Indonesians have found a new symbol for their growing frustration at uneven justice in their young, democratic nation: cheap, worn-out flip-flops. They have been dropping them off at police stations all over the sprawling archipelago to express outrage over the arrest and trial of a 15-year-old boy for lifting an old pair of white sandals from outside a boarding house used by police in northern Indonesia. “This is insane,” said Titis Anissa, a high school teacher in the capital, Jakarta, noting that government officials found guilty of plundering state coffers get off with a slap on the wrist. “And a young, poor boy takes a pair of $3 sandals? Enough already!” The boy snatched the shoes while he and several friends headed home from school in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, in November 2010. He was later interrogated and badly beaten by three officers, and faces up to five years in prison if found guilty — the same sentence given to many terrorists, drug pushers and rapists. He will appear Wednesday before the court in Palu for the second hearing of his trial, which opened last month. Indonesia has made tremendous strides since the ouster of longtime dictator Suharto just over a decade ago, implementing sweeping reforms that have freed up the media, scrapped oppressive laws and given citizens the right to directly pick their leaders for the first time. But the judicial system remains
a weak point. The flip-flop case has captured headlines since the trial began and is one of the most popular trends on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Thousands have joined in the sandal donation protest. A batch of 1,000 flip-flops will be given to Sgt. Ahmad Rusdi Harahap, owner of the stolen shoes, as “compensation,” said campaign organizer Budhi Kurniawan. The boy, not identified by name
because of his age, said he found the dirty old flip-flops near a garbage bin outside the boarding house. Six months later, he was summoned by Harahap, who accused him of theft. “At first, I didn’t understand what he was talking about,” he told The Associated Press. “I’d forgotten all about those sandals.” “He called a few of his colleagues and they started beating me up, hitting me with a piece of
wood,” he said. “I fell into a steep trench. My legs were bleeding.” The boy said the officers made him promise to give each a new pair of sandals, but his father, after seeing the cuts and bruises on his son’s body, decided to report the men to their superiors. Harahap, who along with the other two officers is facing charges of violating police ethics, responded by taking the teenager to criminal court.
AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim
Indonesian children carry pairs of sandals to the office of Indonesian Commission for Child Protection in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, to help protest for a 15-year-old boy who is being prosecuted for lifting an old pair of sandals in Central Sulawesi province.
Suzuki Motor to build new Indonesia engine plant Agence France-Presse
TOKYO - Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp. said Wednesday it would build a new engine factory in Indonesia in a bid to help boost output of small cars in the fast-growing Southeast Asian market. The car and motorcycle maker has spent 10 billion yen ($130 million) on a 1.3 million squaremetre (14 million square-foot) site in an industrial park outside Jakarta for its third Indonesian factory, Dow Jones Newswires said. The Nikkei business daily separately said Suzuki’s total investment in the project would reach 30 billion yen. The daily also said the investment is part of the company’s efforts to boost its production capacity in Indonesia to 150,000 vehicles from the current 120,000. Auto sales in Indonesia jumped by about 60 percent from a year earlier to around 760,000 vehicles in 2010, the Nikkei said, adding that Indonesia likely became the biggest auto market in Southeast Asia last year. Immediate confirmation of the reports was not available as the company was closed for the extended New Year holiday.
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International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Bali Today BMKG : be careful for high waves Antara
Denpasar Denpasar limatolo and eoph sics (BMK ) Denpasar ur e the people in Bali especiall the users of sea transportation to be more careful on the weather Durin the rain season hi h wa es ha e hi her possibilit to occur “Based on the analysis, in January through ebruary is the peak of rainy season which also affected the condition of the weather,” said the Head of BMKG Denpasar, I Wayan Suardana. He explained that during the peak of rainy season, there is big chance strong
wind would happen and also high waves. Suardana predicted that high waves up to two meters in the southern part of Bali coastal area. “This is based on the analysis on the atmosphere condition one week ahead,” he added
IBP/Surya Dharma
Cars came out from a ship that handling sea transport between Bali and East Java. All the passengers of sea transports in Bali have been warned by meteorology and climatology agency to be careful during this rainy season.
Bulan Pejeng: Prehistoric bronze drum “Bulan Pejeng” in fact is a large bronze drum (nekara) of prehistoric from Bronze Age that were developed around 2000 years ago or in the beginning of century. This cultural heritage is one of the sacred article, kept in Penataran Sasih Temple in Pejeng Village, Gianyar and is located in the main street of Tampaksiring-Kintamani so no difficulty to visit it. According to popular folktale in society, “Bulan Pejeng” is the “moon” which fell down in Pejeng Village long time ago, making the village was always bright on day and night so the thieves could not do their jobs. Therefore, the “moon” was urinated so did not shine anymore until these days. The name of Penataran Sasih Temple means “the place of the moon” Temple (moon=sasih) and might relate to the story of the “moon” fell from the sky previously. Another story told of this Pejeng nekara as the earplug of Kebo Iwa, a powerful legendary figure who was able to carve Goa Gajah, steep bank temple of Gunung Kawi, etc. The Pejeng nekara has been introduced internationally by G.E. Rumphius, an expert in Biology through his book Amboin-
sche Rariteitkamer, published in 1705. Although he never been to Bali, but he had succeeded for using the information from Hendrik Leydekereker’s. In fact, this nekara is a giant nekara with large size in every detail as in height of 18 .5 m and a diameter of 1. 0 m for its hit zone. Around the archeological experts, this nekara is also called as nekara with head, because it has four pairs of mask decoration with bulged-out eyes, long-coned nose, and the ears wearing earrings made from coins. The decoration of the mask is not only functioned as estheticdecorative, but more for magical symbolism for the ancestors’ symbol of magic power which bring prosperity and protect the family or the society from any danger. Another decoration which has the magical symbolism is the decoration of octagonal star on the hit zone, border design, feather, and so on. “Bulan Pejeng” is a masterpiece work of technology and metallurgy that reached its peak on Bronze Age. This cultural heritage is a significant mixture between modern and complicated metal technology and art creativity which full magical symbolism values as can be seen
from its shape and patterns. All of it is the proof of a local Balinese wisdom in its spectacular work about 2000 years ago, far before India reached Bali. The dynamism of Balinese wisdom at that time also was proved by finding five stone moulds in Manuaba Village, Gianyar for making smaller nekara from Pejeng nekara. This fact has proved enough that Balinese people had succeeded in developing local metal industry. Clay mould for making arrow head also has been found in West Java. In addition, Balinese people had produced a stone nekara which is kept in a temple in Carangsari Village (Badung), is now another success of Balinese wisdom. The other bronze nekara in Pacung, Ularan (Buleleng), Ban (Karangasem), Manikliyu (Bangli), Peguyangan (Badung) is a proof that local metal industry in Bali reached its top. According to the results of archeological research can be known that at Bronze Age, megalithic tradition was also developed around the world. The archeological experts have a notion that Bali was inhabited by megalithic society who lived by farming, stayed in organized
village, and ruled by a wellrespected figure. The society had mastered the technology and metallurgy art and the life which was more advance required the capability and mastery in specific parts in the society. In the next progression, social-functional groups emerged and developed such as leader group, carpentry and blacksmith group who have special ability, spiritual group
who organize and perform any ritual, and the society who has no special ability who work for other groups. At that time, in the society was grown the belief to the ancestors or the leaders who live at the top of a mountain or a hill and they had magical power that could protect the people from any danger. This belief really influenced daily life and to this very day still appears in the life of Indonesian. (BTN)
Chinese tourists to Bali increase 16% Antara
Denpasar Chinese tourists visited Bali during January through November 2011 was 217,028 people. The number increase 1 compare to the same period in 2010 which was 185,81 tourists. The Head of Bali Statistics Denpasar, Gede Suarsa said that the number of tourists from China came to Bali in 2010 was 1 , 25 while in 200 was 20 ,151 tourists. Tourists from China was in second place after the tourists from Australia in the list of the most tourists visited Bali followed by the one from Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, rance, Singapore, England, and Germany. Suarsa explained that the improving economic condition in China DQG WKHUH DUH GLUHFW ÀLJKWV WR %DOL ZLOO PDNH WKH QXPEHU RI WRXULVWV from China increase this year.
International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Balinese Culture Cooked Vegetables with Grated Coconut (Urap) Ingredients * 8 oz fresh green beans * 8 oz bean sprouts * 4 carrots * 1 can bamboo shoots * ½ small cabbage * 1 cup fresh grated coconut * 1 small onion, finely chopped * ½ tsp. chilli sauce (sambal ulek) * 1 tsp. salt * 2 Tbs. lime juice * ½ tsp. dried shrimp paste (terasi) Directions Wash bean sprouts, pinching of any brown tail. Pour boiling water over bean sprouts, then rinse under cold water tap. Drain well. String beans and cut diagonally or bite-size lengths and cook in lightly salted water until just tender. Beans should still be crisp to bite. AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA
Australian citizen Graeme Michael Pollock (2nd L), aged 31, attends his trial at a court in Denpasar on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on January 4, 2012. Pollock was arrested on September 17, 2011 for allegedly carrying 0.4 grams of methamphetamine in the popular beachside area of Kuta.
Scrub carrot and cut into thin strips, cook until tender. Drain well. Slice cabbage, discard the center stem. Blanch in boiling salted water for a minute or two, until tender but not limp. Drain and refresh with cold water. Cut bamboo shoots into strips the same size as the beans. Place fresh grated coconut into a bowl, add onion, chili sauce, salt, lime juice and the shrimp paste which has been grilled for a few minutes, or heated in a dry frying pan. Mix thoroughly together. Sprinkle this grated coconut mixture over vegetables, reserving some to garnish the dish when served. Put vegetables in a steamer and steam for 5-8 minutes. Put the steamed vegetables to a serving dish/platter and sprinkle with reserved grated coconut mixture. Use as an accompaniment to a meal, or as a salad by itself. (http://asiarecipe.com)
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Destinations
International
Sibetan Village IBP
Sibetan village, which is famous for its “salak” or snake skin fruit is located in Bebandem district, 83 km from Denpasar or 15 km from Amlapura. Visitors visiting this area will be able to find food stalls and home stay. As one of tourist destination in Karangasem, Sibetan village offers natural panorama (agro tourism). Sibetan village is 400-600 m above the sea level, with the average temperature of 20º-30º C. Its average rainfall is 1.567 mm - 20.000 mm per year. The cool climate and the comforting air make salak or skin snake fruit grows well in this area. Here, visitors can find various vegetations of salak with different tastes. The vast salak garden in this village is also interesting to see. Almost 81,12% of Sibetan’s area, which is 1.125.000 hectares, is turned into salak garden. Thus, about 14 various vegetations of salak can be found here, in which it cannot be seen in other areas. Mostly, visitors come to Sibetan village to witness directly the complete cultivation process of salak, including its marketing process. Except showing the vast salak garden, Sibetan is also worth to visit for its unique and special culture and traditional art performances, such as dances and “genjek” and the show of traditional music instrument called “angklung”. To enjoy the natural view of this area, visitors can join the trekking activity that will be led by local guides.
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International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
11
BUSINESS Small business payrolls rise 55,000 in December Reuters
A HIN TON - mall businesses created 000 obs in December and increased workin hours for emplo ees further e idence the labor market was stren thenin In addition, workers at small businesses saw a rise in their paychecks last month, said payrolls processing company Intuit on Wednesday. December’s gain compared to November’s upwardly revised 70,000 count, which was previously reported as an increase of 55,000. 7KH MREV PDUNHW LV VKRZLQJ VLJQV RI ¿UPLQJ ZLWK WKH XQHPSOR\PHQW rate dropping to a 2-1 2-year low of 8. percent in November. In addition, ¿UVW WLPH DSSOLFDWLRQV IRU VWDWH XQHPSOR\PHQW EHQH¿WV DUH KRYHULQJ QHDU 3-1 2-year lows. Households’ perceptions of the labor market are also improving, with PHDVXUHV RI MREV ³SOHQWLIXO´ DQG ³KDUG to get� in the Conference Board’s December consumer sentiment survey yielding their best readings since January 200 .
The revision to Intuit’s small business payrolls in November suggests that the government’s nonfarm employment count for that month could EH UDLVHG IURP ZKHQ ¿JXUHV for December are released on riday. December nonfarm payrolls are expected have increased 150,000 according to a Reuters survey, with the unemployment rate seen edging up to 8.7 percent. The government has been revising the prior months’ nonfarm payrolls ¿JXUHV KLJKHU DQG DQDO\VWV VD\ WKH %Xreau of Labor Statistics’ model tends to delay the count of small business employment. The Intuit survey is based on responses from about 72,000 small businesses with fewer than 20 employees that use the Intuit Online Payroll system. It covered the period from
November 24 to December 23. The average work week for small business employees rose 0.4 percent to 25.4 hours, while the average monthly salary increased 0.4 percent to 2,70 . Âł$OO RI WKH ÂżJXUHV ZH WUDFN VKRZ D stronger small business environment in December,â€? said Susan Woodward, the economist who helped to create the index. However, she noted increased YRODWLOLW\ LQ WKH VHDVRQDOO\ DGMXVWHG series for employment, hours worked, and compensation over the last four months, compared to earlier in 2011. “This volatility in the small business indicators parallels, with a slight lag, the increase in volatility in the stock market. All suggest that while a mild recovery is underway, it is fragile,â€? said Woodward.
Wall Street starts 2012 higher on signs of global growth Reuters
N YORK - Hoping for something better than 2011’s flat stock market, U.S. investors pushed shares higher on Tuesday to begin the new year, though questions remain about whether a rally can be sustained. The broad S P 500 index closed at its highest since late October as traders, with cash on hand for the new year, welcomed better-than-expected German and Chinese economic data. The upbeat responsewasreinforced by U.S. economic reports showing construction spending and factory activity beat economists’ forecasts. “There were some good economic numbers from outside the U.S., and people have cash to invest for the new year so that’s driving up prices,� said Giri Cherukuri, head trader at OakBrook Investments in Lisle, Illinois. “It’s a good start but we’ll have to wait and see for the trend.� Trading volume was below normal. About 7 billion shares changed hands on the NewYork Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and Amex, compared with last year’s daily average of about 7.84 billion shares.
Advancers led decliners on the New York Stock Exchange by more than 1 to 5 and by about 14 to 5 on the Nasdaq. Materials companies and ¿QDQFLDOV WKH ODJJLQJ VHFWRUV LQ were among Tuesday’s market leaders with the KBW bank index up 3.3 percent. U.S. Steel gained .5 percent to 28.17 after losing more than half its market value in 2011. Strategists polled by Reuters in December expect the benchmark 6 3 LQGH[ WR ¿QLVK DW for a yearly gain of . percent. That compares with the S P’s mere 0.003 percent slip in 2011. Data showed U.S. manufacturing sector growth accelerated in December at its strongest pace since June, while construction spending in November surged to the highest in nearly 18 months. Some of the S P 500’s worst performers last year rallied on Tuesday. But at the same time, McDonald’s Corp, the biggest gainer in 2011 among Dow components, fell 1.5 percent to 8.84. irst Solar, down 74 percent in MXPSHG SHUFHQW WR DQG 1HWÀL[ RII PRUH WKDQ SHUFHQW ODVW
year, added 4.3 percent to 72.24. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 17 .82 points, or 1.47 percent, to 12,3 7.38. The S P 500 Index added 1 .4 points, or 1.55 percent, to 1,277.0 . The Nasdaq Composite gained 43.57 points, or 1. 7 percent, to 2, 48.72. The market’s rise was foreVKDGRZHG E\ D ODUJH MXPS LQ VWRFN LQdex futures after weekend data showed China, the world’s largest consumer of metals, avoided economic contraction in December. Also boosting investors’ mood was German unemployment, which declined more than forecast. Indexes held on to gains after minutes from last month’s ederal Reserve meeting said a number of ed RI¿FLDOV EHOLHYHG HFRQRPLF FRQGLWLRQV could well warrant a further easing of monetary policy. Among declinging stocks, Exelon Corp fell 3 percent to 42.07 after a downgrade from Macquarie and other utility shares also lost ground as natural gas futures hit their lowest intraday price since September 200 . S P utilities, the best performers last year among the top ten sectors on the S P 500, fell 1.7 percent.
Belgian to head economics at European Central Bank Associated Press
RANK RT A top EuURSHDQ &HQWUDO %DQN RIÂżFLDO IURP Belgium has been put in charge of economics for the central bank, a surprise decision that passed over two candidates from Germany and rance. The bank’s six-member executive board gave the key post to Peter Praet, a former Belgian central bank RIÂżFLDO ZKR MRLQHG WKH (&% LQ -XQH The 2-year-old Praet takes over the responsibilities of Germany’s Juergen Stark, who resigned, the bank said in a statement Tuesday. 3UDHW LV WKH ÂżUVW QRQ *HUPDQ WR hold the post in the ECB’s 13-year history. His new responsibilities are important because he oversees the ECB economists who prepare SURMHFWLRQV XSRQ ZKLFK LQWHUHVW UDWH decisions for the 17-nation eurozone are based. Praet’s other responsibilities include ECB human resources and its budget. Praet is regarded by some analysts as less of a monetary hawk than Stark, meaning that he would be slightly more willing to cut interest rates in a given situation. +LJKHU UDWHV ÂżJKW LQĂ€DWLRQ EXW FDQ hurt growth. The appointment comes as a surprise after speculation that the economics portfolio would go to one of the two new board members ZKR MRLQHG -DQ -RHUJ $VPXVVHQ D IRUPHU *HUPDQ ÂżQDQFH PLQLVWU\ RIÂżFLDO DSSRLQWHG E\ (8 OHDGHUV WR ÂżOO 6WDUNÂśV VHDW RU %HQRLW &RHXUH D IRUPHU )UHQFK WUHDVXU\ RIÂżFLDO There had been speculation that either Asmussen or Coeure would bring a more pragmatic stance than WKH YRFLIHURXVO\ DQWL LQĂ€DWLRQ 6WDUN given that they both come from posts in government, as opposed to university teaching or central banking. Eurozone governments have been struggling with how to help heavily indebted governments $VPXVVHQ KDV EHHQ D NH\ ÂżJXUH LQ negotiating bailouts for euro members Greece, Portugal and Ireland. Analyst Nick Mathews at the Royal Bank of Scotland rates Praet as “slightly hawkishâ€? and “a bit more pragmaticâ€? compared to the outright hawkish Stark. He said the board’s decision to give the responsibility to a veteran central bank RIÂżFLDO VXFK DV 3UDHW ² LQVWHDG RI D candidate coming from the German RU )UHQFK JRYHUQPHQW ² FRXOG have been “a way of avoiding any accusation that there could be any SROLWLFDO LQĂ€XHQFH ´
The ECB has been a key instituWLRQ LQ ¿JKWLQJ WKH FULVLV RYHU WRR much debt piled up by several eurozone governments. Greece, Portugal and Ireland have needed bailouts after they could no longer borrow WR UH¿QDQFH WKHLU GHEWV DQG ,WDO\ and Spain have been under strong market pressure as well. The central bank has loaned heavily to eurozone banks to keep FUHGLW ÀRZLQJ FXW LQWHUHVW UDWHV WR spur growth, and bought limited amounts of government bonds. Buying bonds helps drive down the interest rate costs governments face when they borrow to pay off maturing debt. Excessive interest costs can lead to default or a bailout. So far the central bank has resisted stepping up the purchases of government bonds, saying European governments must FXW WKHLU GH¿FLWV DQG QRW ZDLW IRU WKH central bank to rescue them. %RWK RI 3UDHWœV SUHGHFHVVRUV ² 6WDUN DQG 2WPDU ,VVLQJ ² ZHUH former officials of Germany’s ¿HUFHO\ DQWL LQÀDWLRQDU\ %XQGHVEDQN ZKRVH HPSKDVLV RQ ORZ LQÀDtion and a strong German currency in the era before the euro is regarded as the model for the ECB’s antiLQÀDWLRQ PDQGDWH WKDW LV HQVKULQHG in the basic EU treaty. That mandate differs from that of the U.S. ederal Reserve, which has a broader responsibility to promote growth and employment. Both Asmussen and Coeure will VWLOO EH LQ WKH WKLFN RI ¿JKWLQJ WKH crisis. Asmussen, a veteran of interQDWLRQDO ¿QDQFH VXPPLWV DQG D NH\ ¿JXUH LQ EDLORXW QHJRWLDWLRQV ZLOO EH responsible for representing the ECB DW LQWHUQDWLRQDO ¿QDQFLDO PHHWLQJV +H willalsooverseethelegaldepartment amid disputes over how far the bank cangoinbailingouteurozonegovernments under the EU treaty. Coeure, who will be responsible for market operations and informaWLRQ V\VWHPV MRLQHG WKH (&% DIWHU executive board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi resigned. The executive board, which includes bank President Mario Draghi, supervises day-to-day operations at the bank’s headquarters in rankfurt. The board assigns each member a VSHFL¿F DUHD RI UHVSRQVLELOLW\ 7KH person responsible for the economists’ work is sometimes called the ECB’schiefeconomist,althoughthat LV QRW WKHLU RI¿FLDO WLWOH The six board members also sit on the bank’s 23-member governing council, which decides interest rates.
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Thursday, January 5, 2012
Entertainment
International
‘Help,’ ‘Bridesmaids’ earn nods for producer award Associated Writer Press
LOS ANGELES — The historical epic “War Horse,” the Deep South drama “The Help,” the silent film “The Artist” and the wedding comedy “Bridesmaids” are in the running for top honors from the Producers Guild of America. Also nominated Tuesday for the guild’s big film prize are two George Clooney tales: the family drama “The Descendants” and the political saga “The Ides of March.” Two Paris stories made the cut, the family adventure “Hugo” and the romantic fantasy “Midnight in Paris.” Rounding out the 10 nominees are the thriller “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and the sports tale “Moneyball.” Animated contenders for the Jan. 21 awards are “The Adventures of Tintin,” ‘’Cars 2,” ‘’Kung Fu Panda 2,” ‘’Puss in Boots” and “Rango.” Along with honors from other Hollywood professional groups such as actors, directors and writers guilds, the producer prizes help sort out contenders for the Academy Awards, whose nominations come out Jan. 24. The Producers Guild field represents a heavy-hitting lineup of Oscar winners and nominees, including Steven Spielberg(“War Horse” and “Tintin”), Martin Scorsese (“Hugo”), Woody Allen (“Midnight in Paris”), David Fincher(“Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), Alexander Payne (“The Descendants”) and Bennett Miller (“Moneyball”). Besides starring in “The Descendants,” Clooney multi-tasked on “Ides of March,” directing, producing, co-starring and cowriting.
AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File
FILE - In this March 9, 2011 file photo, people line up to enter the Foxwoods Theatre for a matinee showing of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” in New York.
Broadway’s ‘Spider-Man’ musical earns new record Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK — Look who’s sporting a big smile behind his mask on Broadway — none other than the once-mocked Spider-Man. The Broadway League reported Tuesday that “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” took in a whopping $2,941,790 over nine performances last week, which is the highest single-week gross of any show in Broadway history.
AP Photo/Disney, Andrew Cooper
In this film image released by Disney, Jeremy Irvine is shown in a scene from “War Horse.” Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Steven Spielberg were nominated Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, for the 23rd Annual Producers Guild Awards for the film “War Horse.”
The musical shattered the old record held by “Wicked,” which last January recorded the then-highest one-week take on Broadway with a $2,228,235 haul, though over an eight-show week. “We knew the possibility,” said Michael Cohl, one of the lead producers of “Spider-Man” along with Jeremiah “Jere” Harris. “I don’t think that Jere or I really thought we’d ever get there but we’re ecstatic that we did.”
While the eight-versus-nine show disparity gives “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” something of an asterisk, the Spider-Man producers pointed out that head-to-head last week with “Wicked” over nine shows each, their musical handily won. “Wicked” took in $2,712,535 last week. Both shows’ haul reflect the use of premium seating, in which producers charge higher prices for certain days
and certain seats. Also, “Wicked,” which is performed at the Gershwin Theatre, has about 100 seats less than the 1,930-seat Foxwoods Theatre, home of the superhero musical. The stunt-heavy Spider-Man show, which at $75 million makes it the costliest ever on Broadway, muscled to the top despite a turbulent history, including injuries to actors, delays in opening night, poor reviews and a record-breaking preview period. Many professional critics predicted its quick death. While pleased by the success, the producers on Tuesday weren’t doing a victory dance just yet. “The time to crow is when we have sustained longevity and we’ve returned the money to our investors,” Harris said.
TV’s History channel sets ambitious miniseries Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK — After its successful series on the history of America in 2010, television’s History channel is setting its sights even higher. The network said Tuesday that a 12-hour miniseries, “Mankind the Story of All of Us,” will debut late this year. History, seen in more than 300 million homes worldwide, will offer different versions of the series in different parts of the world, the first time it has ever done that. “America the Story of Us” hadn’t even concluded when History executives, impressed by its ratings, began talking about what to do next, said Nancy Dubuc, the network’s presi-
dent and general manager. “Rather than take a slice of the America story and do something more in depth on that, we decided to go bigger and broader,” she said. The “America” miniseries was the most-watched special ever on History, with 5.7 million people watching the first episode and nearly 40 million people in total watching some part of it, the Nielsen ratings company said. The new series starts with the Big Bang and traces the development of humans on a planet where the vast majority of species go extinct, said Jane Root, the project’s executive producer. Root described it as a “real actionadventure” project, one that en-
compasses astronomy, geology and other sciences along with history. It will make liberal use of computergenerated recreations in its storytelling, she said. The series traces the development of tools and the construction of the pyramids. Root said the production tries to make viewers aware of what it felt like, for instance, to set sail for distant lands on a ship when the common belief was the world was flat. Root said she was surprised to discover the amount of connections among cultures in ancient times, like when Vikings visited China and AP Photo/A+E Networks, Joe Alblas fought with people in what is now In this undated image released by A+E Networks, Easter islanders erect Canada, each before the time of the statue of Moai on the cliff in a scene from the History’s 12-hour Christopher Columbus. miniseries, “Mankind the Story of All of Us,” airing later this year.
Science
International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
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Hong Kong government RIۋFHV KLW E\ GHDGO\ EXJ Agence France Presse
0D\DQ &DOHQGDU 3UHGLFWV 'RRPVGD\ LQ 2U 1RW It sure is a good thing that the Mayan calendar says the world is going to end this year -- because at least, after the apocalypse comes on Dec. 21, you won’t have to read another word about it. Or maybe you will. The beginning of 2012 has brought a new flurry of reassurances that the Maya never did predict anything would go wrong this year, and that even if they had, we’re probably misreading their calendar anyhow. “There’s no real prophesy that says this is going to be the end of the world,” said Christopher Powell, an archeologist who studies Mayan culture, “not from the Mayan ruins, anyway.” At Yahoo News, writer Lisa Hix quoted Bruce Love of the Archaeological Institute of America: “Whatever the significance of the date is, it is significance we are putting on it; it’s not the significance the Maya are putting on it. It’s not coming from anywhere in the literature or in the Mayan hieroglyphic writing.” Over at Discovery News, Ian O’Neill, a physicist by training, has written a piece that says, “there’s no evidence to suggest the Mayans be-
lieved the end of their Long Count calendar would spell doomsday.” The Maya, who lived in Central America between A.D. 250 and 900, had a cyclical calendar that ran approximately one human lifetime, or 52 years (life was shorter back then). To account for events more than 52 years away, they devised another calendar, one that ran 5,126 years, and apparently began in the year 3114 B.C. Do a little math: 5,126 minus 3,114 equals 2,012. “I believe the Mayan calendar was based on some incredibly good astronomy, said Lawrence Joseph, author of “Apocalypse 2012.” “They were really good at knowing when. They weren’t so good
at saying what’s going to happen then.” Joseph said he worries about an outbreak of solar flares in December, enough to fry the world’s electric grid. But does any Mayan calendar really predict anything will happen? Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History said, “Western messianic thought has twisted the cosmovision of ancient civilizations like the Maya.” It said the Maya believed that time started and ended with regularity, with nothing apocalyptic occurring at the end. O’Neill blames the viral marketing campaign in 2009 that promoted the Roland Emmerich disaster movie “2012.” The film got mediocre reviews but sold a lot of DVDs. And social scientists say the mythology of a doomsday prophecy fits an old pattern: When times are tough, it’s almost comforting for people to blame higher unseen powers.
The bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found at several sites in the new Hong Kong government complex after one minister fell ill, in a major embarrassment for the authorities. The health department Tuesday said nine water samples taken from various places in the buildings, including the chief executive’s office, tested positive for Legionella, which causes Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia. The checks at the HK$5.5 billion ($708 million) brand new harbourfront complex, which opened in August last year, were prompted after Education Minister Michael Suen came down with the potentially fatal illness. Suen was in hospital for nearly two weeks and was discharged last week, but the level of Legionella bacteria found in a tap inside his office washroom was about 14 times more than what is considered safe. Health authorities said checks also found the bacteria in other parts of the building, including the washrooms of several other ministers, the canteen and a bakery, and ordered a massive disinfection operation. “This is more than embarrassing. It’s really a shame,” said Cyd Ho, a pro-democracy legislator. Ho blamed the government and Chief Executive Donald Tsang, whose term expires in June, for rushing to open the new building which she said had compromised the cleaning and sanitisation work. “Everyone was under pressure to accommodate the wish of one person just because of his will to move in as soon as possible so he could deliver his last policy address (in October) in the new complex,” she claimed. “This disease normally occurred only in very old buildings so when it’s found in a new building, it’s a shock to everybody,” Ho told AFP, urging Tsang to apologise to the more than 3,000 government staff who work at the new compound.
IBP/afp
A man stands in front of the new government headquarters in Hong Kong on January 3. The bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found at several sites in the new Hong Kong government complex after one minister fell ill
:RUOG ۋUVW K\EULG VKDUN IRXQG RII $XVWUDOLD Agence France Presse
AFP Photo/Pascal Geraghty
This undated handout photo from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries shows a hybrid black tip shark containing both common and Australian black tip DNA in Australian waters.
Scientists said on Tuesday that they had discovered the world’s first hybrid sharks in Australian waters, a potential sign the predators were adapting to cope with climate change. The mating of the local Australian black-tip shark with its global counterpart, the common black-tip, was an unprecedented discovery with implications for the entire shark world, said lead researcher Jess Morgan. “It’s very surprising because no one’s ever seen shark hybrids before, this is not a common occurrence by any stretch of the imagination,” Morgan, from the University of
Queensland, told AFP. “This is evolution in action.” Colin Simpfendorfer, a partner in Morgan’s research from James Cook University, said initial studies suggested the hybrid species was relatively robust, with a number of generations discovered across 57 specimens. The find was made during cataloguing work off Australia’s east coast when Morgan said genetic testing showed certain sharks to be one species when physically they looked to be another. The Australian blacktip is slightly smaller than its common cousin and can only live in tropical waters, but its hybrid offspring have been found 2,000 kilometres down
the coast, in cooler seas. It means the Australian black-tip could be adapting to ensure its survival as sea temperatures change because of global warming. “If it hybridises with the common species it can effectively shift its range further south into cooler waters, so the effect of this hybridising is a range expansion,” Morgan said. “It’s enabled a species restricted to the tropics to move into temperate waters.” Climate change and human fishing are some of the potential triggers being investigated by the team, with further genetic mapping also planned to examine whether it was an ancient process just discovered or a more recent phenomenon.
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Thursday, January 5, 2012
Sport
International
Japan striker Havenaar teams up with Vitesse Reuters
TOKYO - Japan striker Mike Havenaar has completed a medical DQG MRLQHG XS ZLWK KLV QHZ WHDP PDWHV DW 'XWFK ÂżUVW GLYLVLRQ FOXE Vitesse Arnhem, local media reported on Wednesday. The beanpole 24-year-old, who left relegated J.League side Ventforet Kofu to join Vitesse, had also been linked with German club Wolfsburg before opting for the Netherlands. Havenaar, whose Dutch father Dido is the goalkeeping coach for Japan’s Shimizu S-Pulse, was born and raised in Japan. He has signed a two-year-plus contract with Vitesse, who also have Japanese defender Michihiro Yasuda on their books, to run until the end of the 2014 season. “Moving to the Netherlands is an opportunity IRU PH WR PDWXUH DV D SOD\HU ´ +DYHQDDU WROG 9LWHVVHÂśV RIÂżFLDO ZHEVLWH (www.vitesse.nl). “I hope I can meet the club’s expectations.â€? Havenaar made his national team debut as a substitute on Sept. 2, when Japan squeezed past North Korea in their opening 2014 World &XS TXDOLÂżHU He then scored twice in an 8-0 thrashing of Tajikistan in another KRPH TXDOLÂżHU DQG QHWWHG - /HDJXH JRDOV LQ WR ÂżQLVK VHFRQG in the scoring charts, two behind Australia striker Josh Kennedy.
City move three points clear with Liverpool victory Reuters
AP Photo/Paul White
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal shoots on goal with an overhead kick during the ďŹ rst leg of a round of 16 Copa del Rey soccer match against Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid Tuesday Jan. 3, 2012.
Real storm back to take charge in Cup Reuters
MADRID - Holders Real Madrid scored three times in 10 minutes at the Bernabeu on TuesGD\ LQ D GUDPDWLF FRPHEDFN WR EHDW 0DODJD LQ WKHLU .LQJÂśV &XS ODVW ÂżUVW OHJ 5HDO FRDFK Jose Mourinho threw caution to the wind with a triple substitution at halftime when his side ZHUH WUDLOLQJ 6DPL .KHGLUD *RQ]DOR +LJXDLQ DQG .DULP %HQ]HPD UHVSRQGHG E\ QHWWLQJ EHWZHHQ WKH WK DQG WK PLQXWHV Up to that point, the underdogs had held sway in the Cup with three surprise results earlier in the evening. Third tier Mirandes, who knocked out Villarreal in the previous round, took a 2-0 lead over Racing Santander and another Segunda B side, Albacete, vanquishers of Atletico Madrid, drew 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao. Second division Alcorcon, who eliminated Real Zaragoza, grabbed a 2-1 win at home to high-flying Levante, who lie fourth in La Liga. Qatari-owned Malaga had been thrashed 4-0 and 7-0 in their last two meet-
ings with Real, but took the lead through Sergio Sanchez and Martin Demichelis, both scoring with headers from Santi Cazorla corners. Mourinho threw on Khedira, Benzema and Mesut Ozil for the second half to try and shake his side out of their lethargy and the former barged his way through to start the fightback. Higuain pounced on a wayward backpass to level two minutes later and Benzema slotted the third after a wonderful backheel from Higuain as Malaga desperately tried to keep the floodgates closed.
Pablo Infante was the hero for Mirandes, scoring after 32 minutes and laying on the second for Mikel Martins just after the restart, leaving La Liga’s lowest scoring team Racing with a tough task in the second leg. Alcorcon, who famously dumped city neighbours Real out of the Cup while in the Segunda B two years ago, surprised Levante with Borja Perez and Nagore twice giving them the lead. Last season’s losing finalists Barcelona are at home to Osasuna on Wednesday. The second legs will be played next week.
LONDON - Premier League leaders Manchester City put their recent run of poor form behind them to beat Liverpool 3-0 on Tuesday, while Tottenham Hotspur maintained their title push with a 1-0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion. 'HVSLWH KDYLQJ *DUHWK %DUU\ VHQW RII LQ WKH UG PLQXWH ¿UVW KDOI JRDOV from Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and a second-half penalty from James Milner helped City to a comprehensive victory. They move to 48 points from 20 games, three clear of rivals Manchester United who have played one match fewer and six clear of Tottenham who KDG -HUPDLQ 'HIRHœV FOLQLFDO ¿QLVK WR WKDQN IRU WKHLU YLFWRU\ DW :KLWH +DUW Lane. Sunderland maintained their good form since the arrival of new manager Martin O’Neill with a 4-1 win over struggling Wigan Athletic. Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring against Liverpool during their English Premier League soccer match at The Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday Jan. 3, 2012.
AP Photo/Jon Super
Sport
International
Thursday, January 5, 2012
15
Nadal, Tsonga win 1st-round matches at Qatar Open Associated Press
DOHA atar (A ) Rafael Nadal stru led past hilipp Kohlschreiber while defendin atar Open champion Ro er ederer routed Nikola Da denko in their season openers on Tuesda The second-ranked Nadal overcame Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3 in a match that lasted 2½ hours. Federer, who lost badly to Nadal and No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic over the weekend at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, showed he had shaken off the rust by overwhelming the injuryplagued Davydenko 6-2, 6-2 in just 54 minutes. Also, No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-1 and fourth-ranked *DHO 0RQ¿OV GHIHDWHG 5XL 0DFKDGR of Portugal 7-5, 6-3. Nadal, who has struggled with a sore left shoulder since the end of last season, started well and looked headed for a routine victory. But the 43rd-ranked Kohlschreiber stepped up his net play in the second set and jumped to a 4-1 lead on his way to evening the match. Kohlschreiber went up a break in the third but Nadal broke back and took control from there.
Nadal ripped a cross-court forehand past Kohlschreiber to go up 2-1 and then broke for 3-1. Helped by an improving serve and able to win most of the big rallies, Nadal jumped to 5-2 and closed the match with an acrobatic overhead smash and then a vicious cross-court forehand that Kohlschreiber couldn’t reach. “In general, for me, (this) was a really positive match,â€? Nadal said. Âł, WKLQN , SOD\HG D YHU\ JRRG ÂżUVW VHW The only moment that I didn’t play well was the beginning of the second and after the tiebreak. For the rest, I think I played a very solid match.â€? Nadal admitted Kohlschreiber was a tough opening draw, since he often plays much better than his ranking would indicate. Nadal, though, has never lost to Kohlschreiber in eight meetings. In a rematch of last year’s QaWDU 2SHQ ÂżQDO )HGHUHU H[SHFWHG D tricky encounter with Davydenko. But it was clear from the start that Davydenko — a former world No.
3 who has fallen in the rankings to 41st — would be no match for the third-ranked Swiss. Federer jumped to early leads in both sets. He had his service game working and repeatedly pounced on Davydenko’s weak serves. Hoping for a fourth title in Doha, )HGHUHU ZDV DEOH WR PRYH WKH 5XVVLDQ around the court at will as he racked up 18 winners to Davydenko’s seven. Davydenko also hurt himself with 20 unforced errors. Âł,W ZDV D JRRG ÂżUVW PDWFK IRU PH into the new season and I think it was a combination between me playing actually really well and Nikolay just QRW ÂżQGLQJ KLV UDQJH \RX NQRZ ZKDW we’re used to seeing from him in the past,â€? Federer said. “But I take these victories any time, especially against a top player like him.â€? Federer said he was most happy he bounced back from his play in Abu Dhabi, where he served erratically and struggled to break his opponents.
AP Photo/Osama Faisal
World number two tennis player Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber during the Qatar ATP Open Tennis tournament in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday Jan. 3, 2012.
.REH ‍ۋ‏QGV VKRRWLQJ WRXFK Year of Dragon could be China’s time to lead Asia as Lakers down Rockets Reuters
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (R) is defended by Houston Rockets Courtney Lee as he drives to the basket during their NBA game in Los Angeles, California January 3, 2012.
Kobe Bryant rediscovered his scoring touch to tally 37 points and lead the Los Angeles Lakers WR WRS VSRW LQ WKH 3DFLÂżF GLYLVLRQ with a 108-99 win over the visitLQJ +RXVWRQ 5RFNHWV RQ 7XHVGD\ Bryant, who had connected on just 26 percent of his shots over KLV SUHYLRXV WZR JDPHV ÂżQDOO\ FDXJKW ÂżUH DJDLQVW WKH 5RFNHWV while team mateAndrew Bynum had 21 points and 22 rebounds as the Lakers got their fourth win in ÂżYH JDPHV “I just had to make some adjustments,â€? Bryant told reporters as he continues to play with an injured right wrist. “Some shots (it) hurts, some it doesn’t, so it’s LQFRQVLVWHQW %XW \RX KDYH WR ÂżQG a rhythm.â€? Los Angeles held an 82-81 lead with about 10 minutes remaining of a previously tight FRQWHVW EXW RXWVFRUHG WKH 5RFNHWV 18-8 over the next eight minutes, led by nine points from Bryant during the stretch. Bryant made 14-of-29 shots and also had eight rebounds and
six assists. The win moved the Lakers (4-3) a half-game in front of the cross-town Clippers in WKH GLYLVLRQ 7KH 5RFNHWV meanwhile, have lost all three of their road games this season. Houston’s Kyle Lowry just missed a triple-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists while Luis Scola added 20 points. The visitors stayed in touch with the Lakers throughout the game, trailing by four at halftime and just one after three quarters, but they were pounded on the inside. Los Angeles grabbed a 53-38 advantage in rebounds led by 7-footer Bynum. $IWHU EHLQJ VXVSHQGHG WKH ÂżUVW four games of the season because RI D Ă€DJUDQW IRXO GXULQJ WKH ODVW post-season contest, Bynum has exploded back onto the scene ZLWK WKUHH VWUDLJKW GRXEOH ÂżJXUH games in points and rebounds. Âł5HERXQGLQJ WKH EDVNHWEDOO is big. It’s important to us and it’s something I’ve been working on,â€? Bynum said. “I’ve been doing a lot of work before practice. ,ÂśP VXSHU FRQÂżGHQW ULJKW QRZ ´
or Velappan, it is not just about Zhang’s credentials as geography also SEOUL, South Korea This is the plays a part. or 42 of the 44 years from Year of the Dragon in China, one for bold 1 58 to 2002, the president was supplied decision-making and strong leadership, by host country Malaysia. That changed and one that may see the country emerge as ten years ago as Bin Hammam, a Qatari, took control. Velappan, also from Mathe political power of Asian football. The Asian ootball Confederation can laysia, believes that it is time for East hold elections for its presidency any time $VLD WR VXSSO\ LWV ÂżUVW OHDGHU IRU RYHU from June onward to replace Mohammed ÂżYH GHFDGHV “Now it is time for regional rotational,â€? bin Hammam who is appealing his ban from the sport for vote-buying in the I A he said. “The presidency should not last more than two terms and then go around presidential election. ZhangYilong has been the acting presi- the regions if they have candidates that are dent since May 2011, and is the favorite to good enough. Compared to my day, there win this year’s vote but faces some strong are more people who have the potential and the leadership skills to be good canchallenges, particularly from west Asia. After the turmoil following Bin Ham- didates in the future.â€? =KDQJÂśV ÂżUVW FKDOOHQJH LV WR XQLWH KLV PDPÂśV VXVSHQVLRQ WKH &KLQHVH RIÂżFLDO has provided steady and uncontroversial UHJLRQ EHKLQG KLP EXW KH ÂżUVW IDFHV D leadership. He also has the backing ofA C potential challenge from Japan’s Kozo General Secretary from 1 78 to 2007 Tashima, a member of the A C’s Executive Committee and vice president Peter Velappan. “Zhang will be a good choice,â€? Velap- of Japan’s A. Tashima is well-liked but pan told the Associated Press. “He has KLV UHODWLYH ODFN RI SURÂżOH RXWVLGH (DVW gone through the different levels ofAsian Asia means that a win is unlikely. He football. I remember him from the Chi- could, however, damage the Chinese nese A and from there he has been with challenge. Whatever happens in his backyard, A C for around 30 years and he knows football and politics in Asia. He deserves =KDQJÂśV ÂżHUFHVW FKDOOHQJH ZLOO FRPH IURP the western reaches of the continent. a term as A C president at least.â€? Associated Press Writer
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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Sport
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Capirossi says Bridgestone W\UHV DUH ۋUVW SULRULW\ Loris Capirossi says improving the safety of MotoGP’s Bridgestone rubber is his chief priority in his new role as safety advisor to the championship and its promoter Dorna. The 38-year-old Italian, a veteran of 14 years in MotoGP/500cc and 22 years of racing, retired at the end of 2011 and was then offered an advisory role in matters of safety by Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta. Capirossi says he has no regrets over leaving the sport, and that he intends to use his new position to help improve safety - with the hardness and durability of Bridgestone tyres his primary concern. “Carmelo told me ‘on the subject of tyres, you decide, feel free to get angry’, so I’ve used this power immediately,” Capirossi told Italy’s Motosprint. “My meeting with the Bridgestone people at Valencia was tough. I told them that certain things won’t be accepted anymore: the tyres are too hard and therefore too dangerous, so they must be
changed. “The tyres situation in 2011 has never been clear, so in 2012 I will choose the tyres for the riders. I mean I will do it personally: I will go by the bunch of tyres and pick them myself. “There were problems with serial numbers too: with that number you can figure out when the tyre was built. A tyre built two years ago can’t go as quick as one built last week. Some riders had the new tyres and some other the old ones. That’s not okay, that must be fixed: I want the last rider to have the same possibilities the first one has.”
Capirossi said that his position as a Dorna outsider will also be an advantage, as it will permit him to be free of compromising issues like politics of economics. “There’s something important everybody must know: I want to do what I’m doing now in order to make life easier for the riders,” he declared. “I’ve accepted Dorna’s proposal with one condition: I must be allowed the chance to do things with passion and without being overpowered by economic or political interests. “Even though Dorna will pay me a retainer, should I be told to do something against the riders’ interests, then I won’t do it. This must be very clear.” On his own retirement, Capirossi said he has no regrets on calling time on his career after 2011, and that even the lure of competitive machinery may not have been enough to reverse his decision.
Mini confirms entry for 2012 World Rally Championship THE Mini World Rally Team has confirmed its entry in the 2012 World Rally Championship, according to AUTOSPORT’s sources. The British-based team missed the original December 19 entry, but an announcement is expected this week to clarify Mini’s position, joining Ford and Citroen as full manufacturers in the series. As confirmed by the Monte Carlo Rally entry list - and revealed by AUTOSPORT - the team will only run one of its two factory drivers full-time in this
year’s WRC. Spaniard Dani Sordo will maintain his seat in the #37 John Cooper Works WRC, while Kris Meeke misses the season opener in favour of paying private driver Pierre Campana. AUTOSPORT’s source in the FIA said: “We have an agreement that Mini will be registered as a manufacturer for this year’s championship. We understand there are existing concerns over the position of the promoter - and particularly the implications for the sport’s coverage in Germany, but we are addressing those
concerns.” Mini’s parent company BMW is known to be unhappy about the level of coverage in Germany and about the ongoing situation with North One Sports and the future of its parent company Convers Sports Initiatives, which is in administration. While Mini has committed a car to the full world championship, it remains to be seen whether Sordo will compete in the most expensive rounds of the series, such as Rally New Zealand, or whether one of pprivate Mini drivers takes the entry. The source added: “This is not an iideal situation. Ideally we wanted, in fact eeverybody involved wanted, the original pplan of two cars, two drivers: Sordo and M Meeke doing all 13 rounds. That wasn’t ppossible, so we had to find a solution w which we have done. The priority here iis that Mini is a manufacturer in the 22012 WRC.” Tensions are still believed to be runnning high between BMW in Munich and P Prodrive, the Banbury-based team which ddeveloped and runs the factory Mini John C Cooper Works WRCs. As was announced aat the team launch last year, Prodrive ddoes has a contract with BMW to run its ccars in the world championship until the eend of next season. Nobody from Prodrive was willing to ccomment on the firm’s WRC commitm ments for the year ahead.
IBP/ist
Loris Capirossi