I N T E R N A T I O N A L
16 Pages Number 49 5th Year Price: Rp 3.000,-
WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 DPS
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Page 13 Kuta beach area on Tuesday was hit by strong wind causing panic among foreigners and local people there.
19 tourists killed as balloon explodes at Luxor Agence France-Presse
CAIRO - A hot air balloon caught fire and exploded over Egypt’s ancient temple city of Luxor during a sunrise flight on Tuesday, killing 19 tourists including Japanese and Koreans, sources said. The balloon which was carrying 21 people was flying at 300 metres (1,000 feet) caught fire when it caught fire, a security official said. Continued on page 6
Kuta beach hit by strong wind Antara KUTA - Kuta beach area on Tuesday was hit by strong wind causing panic among foreigners and local people there. “The beach sand scattered everywhere, it even entered the front part of restaurants.
Tourists who happened to be near the area ran away to safer place when the wind hit,” restaurant worker Dina Indah said. She explained strong wind has been hitting the area in the past two days , usually during mid day or afternoon. “But today’s wind is the worst,” she added.
Meanwhile Yongky, a local tourist, said he ran to a safer place when the wind hit Kuta beach. “Lucky the wind only hit for 10 minutes,” he said. Last February 19, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) warned fishermen and sea transportation users in Bali of high
waves that will likely to happen in southern area. Spokesman of Bali`s BMKG Nyoman Gede Wiryajaya explained strong wind happened due to the change of wind circulation from east to the west. Apart from causing high waves, such condition also triggers rain. IBP/Yudi Karnaedi
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International
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Bali News %DG ZHDWKHU ‍ۋ‏VK FDWFK RI ‍ۋ‏VKHUPHQ GHFOLQHV Beware of tornado Mangupura (Bali Post)—
Heavy rain accompanied with gale with the wave heights over 2.0 meters around the North and South Sea of Java, Bali and NTT had an impact RQ WKH FDWFK RI ÂżVKHUPHQ DQG WKH SULFH KLNH RI ÂżVK LQ WKH PDUNHW As told by one of the fishermen at Kedonganan, Nurdianto, since the past three days the weather was unfriendly. Strong winds caused high waves so that fishermen did not dare to go to sea. Though getting no catches, they remained to go to sea as usual. “In normal weather, we can gain 50 to 70 kg of fish, but currently only get 40 percent. Due to declining fish catches, the fish price also experiences a surge,â€? said Nurdianto, Monday (Feb 25). He explained, for the time being, some kinds of fish experienced price hike such as grouper from IDR 26,000 per kg to IDR 37,000 per kg, while snapper from IDR 28,000 to IDR 40,000 per kg. Furthermore, the price of prawn also increased from IDR 75,000 to IDR 80,000 per kg. “The weather condition is indeed unpredictable whereas earlier this month the weather was pretty good, so the catch of fishermen was normal,â€? he said. Rohman, another fisherman, admitted that since the past three days the weather was considered unfriendly. Hence, he was fear of going to sea so that he only killed time on the coast
while repairing fishing tools such as nets, outboard engine and boat. “When the weather is like this, our fish catch automatically declines. As usual when the production decreases, the price of fish will show a surge,� he added. Meanwhile, the Head of Meteorology and Geophysics Agency for Region III Denpasar, I Wayan Suardana, confirmed that bad weather afflicting Bali since February 24 was caused by tropical cyclones, namely the low pressure air generally formed in tropical region. “It will take place up to 2-3 days. To that end, we ask the public especially fishermen to remain vigilant. Moreover, the current condition has the potential to kindle tornado,� he appealed. It was explained the tornado was caused by a localized cumulus-nimbus cloud. Such condition more frequently happened in transitional season like today. When the cumulus-nimbus clouds gathered, there was air flow going up and down, so that it triggered a circle and finally generated tornado. “In other words, there is possibility for tornado to happen, so please remain vigilant,� he affirmed. (kmb27)
'XH WR W\SKRRQ RUJDQLF PDQXUH SURGXFHU EXLOGLQJ FROODSVHG Singaraja (Bali Post)-
A new organic manure producer building owned by Trade and Industrial Agency Bali Province at Kalianget Village, Seririt, collapsed after hit by a typhoon last Saturday (23/2) evening. As seen last Monday (25/2) the building was no longer standing at all, all walls and roofs scattered everywhere covering some machines inside it and a WZR PRQWKV ROG SDGG\ ¿HOGV QH[W WR LW Meanwhile another unit building on the south with plastic roofs and light steel is still standing where it has containers for produced manures to be placed. A local stated it wasn’t known when WKH EXLOGLQJ FROODSVHG DV IURP WKH ¿UVW time it was built no one knew who
owned the building and what it is for as there were no project statement’s board or socialization from the government. The contractor of the building, Putu Latra, explained that the building has been completed and has been taken over by the Agency a month ago which so contractors were obligated to just maintain it. With it collapsed due to nature disaster, it is not known if any compensation can be given as it is not a faulty on the contractor. The project value reached IDR 79 million excluding the machines and equipments for the production. “We just knew the building collapsed and it is because of the disaster and not our work quality,� Latra explained. (kmb)
Tornado in Tabanan
7ZR WHPSOHV FROODSVH KRXVHV GHVWUR\HG UDQFK RQ ‍ۋ‏UH Tabanan (Bali Post)—
A tornado raged in Tabanan on Monday (Feb 25). Two temples collapsed and 15 houses broke down in the incident. Besides, the gale also devastated a chicken farm to the ground and then caught fire. There was no loss of lives in the disaster. Total losses were still calculated by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Tabanan. Both collapsed temples respectively consisted of Puseh Temple of Pandak Gede customary village, Kediri, and Gedong Temple at Pangkung hamlet, Pejaten village, Kediri. Both were badly damaged after hit by the tornado. The most severe condition was experienced by Puseh Temple of Pandak Gede. A seven-tiered meru shrine and grand surya shrine collapsed, including a 20-meter compound wall. The loss was estimated to reach IDR 500 million whereas the temple was just inaugurated on October 3, 2012. Debris of the meru shrine scattered around the eastern corner of the temple. None of the meru shrines could be saved whereas some of its ornaments were gold-coated. “The dragon head, door of meru shrine, front column and kemendung are entirely goldplated. Now, its condition is destroyed by the wind,� said a committee member of the temple development, Dewa Made Yasa. After the incident, the residents immediately held a meeting to make decision regarding the evacuation measure, including the ceremony. Brunt of the wind, said Dewa Made Yasa, occurred around 03:00 p.m. The wind blew from the west and then spun amidst the temple. A moment
later, the meru shrine standing ÂżUPO\ FROODSVHG $ QXPEHU RI residents began to evacuate last Monday. Similar condition was also experienced by Gedong Temple at Pangkung hamlet, Pejaten village. The riverbank temple was badly damaged after toppled over by a banyan tree buffeted by the wind. A gamelan pavilion, compound wall and a palanquin were crushed by the giant tree. Roof tiles of the pavilion were totally damaged. “The tree attaining the age of hundreds of years old was uprooted. As blown by strong wind, the stem collapsed,â€? said Nada Umbara, one of local residents. It was unknown about the total losses due to such incident. Until Monday afternoon, the fallen log was left transverse over the roof of gamelan pavilion. According to Nada Umbara, his party was still awaiting the aid of heavy equipment to do the evacuation. The tree collapsed coincidently with the collapse of Puseh Temple of Pandak Gede customary village. The brunt of tornado also toppled over a chicken farm owned by Made Jimat, 60, at Cekik hamlet, Brembeng village, Selemadeg. Four permanent buildings razed to the ground after hit by the wind. Luckily, all the workers were resting then. Approximately 21,000 chickens were trapped in the collapsed buildings. It was not yet known the total chickens died. Other than collapsing, a building block of the IDUP ZDV RQ ÂżUH Chronologically, the raging winds blew from the west. A moment later, the far end building suddenly collapsed, and then toppled over the next
building. Within minutes, four buildings made of brick broke down, including its asbestos URRI 0HDQZKLOH WKH ÂżUH HQJXOÂżQJ WKH EXLOGLQJ EORFN ZDV alleged to have been kindled by heater blower in the enclosure. “The incident occurred very fast, as soon as the wind came, the building suddenly collapsed DQG FDXJKW ÂżUH ´ VDLG :D\DQ Triyasa, 33, one of the local workers. Brunt of the wind, he said, RQO\ ODVWHG IRU ÂżYH PLQXWHV 2QFH collapsed, he along with several other workers burst out and asked IRU KHOS WR ÂżUH EULJDGH 1RW ORQJ after, the team arrived at the VFHQH WR H[WLQJXLVK WKH ÂżUH 7KH ÂżUH FRXOG MXVW KDYH EHHQ H[WLQguished two hours later. The farm owner, Made Jimat, claimed not to have calculated the loss suffered. The man from the Belayu village, Marga, just learned the incident after contacted by his men whereas the chickens were only a weekold. Among the six blocks of building at the site, four of them collapsed. At the same time, the wind also struck Dukuh village, Kerambitan. As a result, 15 houses were damaged. Among them, four houses were severely damaged, while the remaining ones were slightly damaged. On average, the roof collapsed as swept by the wind. Fortunately, the residents managed to escape. Other than houses, the wind also uprooted two trees at two separate locations, respectively on Jalan Tuakilang, Tabanan and Pande hamlet, Kediri. “We still continue to collect data from each subdistrict, as well as calculating the total losses,â€? said the Head of BPBD Tabanan, Gusti Ngurah Made Sucita, via telephone. (kmb30)
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, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. 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: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, )DFVLPLOH: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post
Bali News
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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Puspayoga commits to prioritizes quality tourism sector Antara
DENPASAR - A candidate of Bali governor Anak Agung Ngurah Puspayoga is committed to boosting the province’s economic growth by giving priority to the development of quality tourism sector. “The commitment is included in his vision and mission,” said Director of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)’s Bali Media Center Nyoman Gede Sudiantara here on Monday. He said that under Puspayoga’s leadership, Bali will also give priority to the development of other sectors like agriculture. “Some sectors such as agricultural, tourism and small-scale industries as well as handicraft industry could contribute to the improvement of the Balinese people’s welfare,” said Sudiantara. Therefore, to improve the capacity and quality of agriculture, the sector must be developed together with the tourism industry. He expected that all of these efforts can build a better Bali in the future. Head of the Bali Central Statistics Agency (BPS) I Gede Suarsa said that Bali’s economy had grown better in 2012 than the previous year. The growing economy was indicated by the increase of all components of gross regional domestic product (GRDP). Badung District contributed 25.46 percent to the economic growth in Bali, followed by Denpasar 20.98 percent. Bali’s main contributors to its economic growth included trade, hotels and restaurants which was 1.84 percent, followed by the service sector 1.11 percent.
FOTO ANTARA/Nyoman Budhiana
A candidate of Bali governor Anak Agung Ngurah Puspayoga is committed to boosting the province’s economic growth by giving priority to the development of quality tourism sector.
Garuda to open four international routes from Bali Antara
D E N PA S A R - I n d o n e s i a n flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is planning to open four new inter-
national flight routes from Denpasar, Bali, to a number of major cities in the world this year. “We plan to open new flight
routes from Denpasar to Auckland, Brisbane, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur,” Garuda General Manager for Bali Taufik Hidayat
FOTO ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma
Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is planning to open four new international flight routes from Denpasar, Bali, to a number of major cities in the world this year.
M said here on Tuesday. The frequency of Garuda Denpasar-Singapore vice versa flights will also be increased, he said. The new flights will be opened in order to meet Garuda passengers’ need for increased services, according to Taufik. He said his airlines would also increased the number of its domestic routes, namely Denpasar-Bandung and DenpasarBalikpapan. “We hope the plans to increase the number of international and domestic routes would be realized in the middle of this year,” he said. He said if the plans ran well, Garuda would have 40 flights from Denpasar every day. So far, Garuda has average 34 flights from Denpasar. To make its services to the four new destinations convenient, Garuda would use new Boeing 777-300 EA planes. In the meantime, Garuda, in cooperation with General Electric, has recently launched an engine test cell to meet the need of PT Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF) Aero Asia. “The engine test cell consists of a big room in which a plane
engine will be hanged and measured using various sensors to create real conditions met during a flight,” the company’s president director, Emirsyah Satar, said. He said the facility is used for testing plane engines to meet tight requirements that have to be fulfilled before engines are installed at the wings. He said the facility was the result of joint development efforts by GE and jet engine maker CFM International. Emirsyah said the launching of the engine test cell was part of the development efforts to improve GMF’s engine service and maintenance capability in line with the international standards. The development of the facility also involved GMF technicians allowing transfer of knowledge to the technicians and also constituted an important achievement for Garuda, he said. “This is part of efforts to improve the capability (of GMF) in plane engine service and maintenance to become a center of excellence in plane engine service and maintenance in the ASEAN region,” he said.
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Bali News
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
International
Amlapura-Singaraja road section broken off A number of houses collapse Amlapura (Bali Post)—
The Amlapura-Singaraja road section, precisely at Munti Gunung junction within the area of Kertabuana hamlet, Tianyar Barat, has totally cut off since on Sunday night (Feb 24). The state road was cut off by flash flooding after heavy rains flushed the mountain ranges of Munti Gunung and Songan, Bangli about for 4 hours. Until Monday (Feb 25), the AmlapuraSingaraja road section still cut off. Hamlet chief of Tamansari, I Gede Daryana, said that other than the broken off section of Amlapura-Singaraja, a number of county road sections at Tianyar Barat such as the line of Tamansari to Peradi Kaja and the road leading to Sukangeneb Temple were also damaged, mainly collapse at road edge. Besides, some electric poles also uprooted due to flooding as the land was eroded. Other than many damaged roads, three houses and shops also collapsed, even some of them were toppled over by fallen trees. The three collapsed buildings were the seriously damaged house and stall owned by Gede Selat as toppled over by mango tree, partially collapsed stall owned by Nyoman Bali and a broken fence owned by Ngurah Gde. Daryana reported, four motorcycles of residents were washed away, and three of them had been found on Monday. Meanwhile, another was still missing and sought by the owner.
Daryana said the Amlapura-Singaraja road section was disconnected as eroded by flooding with a gaping hole along 15 meters and depth of some 4 meters. Due to such eroding hole, cars and motorcycles could not pass. On Sunday afternoon, congestion occurred from the direction of Amlapura to Singaraja along some 2 kilometers and so did the direction of Singaraja to Amlapura. Meanwhile, most riders turned back on Monday rather than stuck in traffic congestion. Karangasem Regent, Wayan Geredeg, and staff came down to location on Sunday night to see the disconnected road. The state disconnected road was reported in order to get more immediate repair. Besides, there was no alternative road to divert the traffic of Amlapura-Singaraja road section. Daryana added the road at the junction to Munti Gunung in the area of Kertabuana hamlet had disconnected for several times as crushed by flooding. Having been repaired last year, it was then disconnected again. (013)
IBP/File
The picture shows the broken Amlapura-Singaraja road.
Hyperbaric chamber service at Sanglah Hospital From divers to sudden deaf patients Denpasar (Bali Post)—
Nearly for seventeen years, the Sanglah Hospital has owned hyperbaric chamber service. The service located near the Ratna Room has been opened since 1996 and served the cases of decompression illness or the pressure in the organ system caused by diving activities. A doctor of hyperbaric chamber, Anita Devi, accompanied by Kadek Sosiawati explained the hyperbaric chamber service was initially opened to handle cases of decompression illness caused by diving activities in Bali and Nusa Tenggara. “In the past, should there be any divers getting decompression illness in Bali, they should be hospitalized to Surabaya, while Bali belonged to a tourist area having many diving activities. To that end, the service was then opened which covers the area of Bali and Nusa Tenggara,” said Devi. The hyperbaric chamber conditioned the patients like in the circumstance of diving and they were supplied with 100 percent of pure oxygen. Hyperbaric chamber shaped like a submarine where the pressure was set to 2.8 atmosphere or equal to the pressure while diving in the ocean. According to Devi, in the blood of divers were usually produced particular gas bubbles. If the gas bubbles composed of nitrogen substance accumulated, they would cause a pressure called decompression illness. Such pressure could occur anywhere and cause different effects, depending
on where the emphasis was. “Without immediate handling, these bubbles can cause pressure in patients leading to lung damage, paralysis until heart attack,” said Devi. Aside from treating patients suffering decompression illness, the hyperbaric chamber was also able to prevent the occurrence of decompression illness. “So, before the bubbles accumulate, with the treatment of hyperbaric chamber service, the bubbles formed in the bloodstream will be cleaned up to avoid any decompression illness,” said Devi. By and large, these precautions were given to diving guides commonly doing their activities twice a day. “This therapy is called washing out silent bubble and is recommended to do it every six months,” said Devi. Other than for diving cases, the hyperbaric chamber therapy was also intended for patients with sudden deafness and diabetes experiencing wound with long healing or diabetic foot to methanol poisoning that caused blindness. For these patients, according to Devi, they would usually be consulted by other disease division to hyperbaric chamber. Advantages of this hyperbaric chamber, aside from giving oxygen pressure, were also providing 100 percent of pure oxygen assisting to clean the blood flow and accelerating the formation of new tissue. For further visit, added Devi, the average of patients received in 2012 amounted to 40-50 people per month. “In 2013, it increased to 60-70 patients. Most of them are foreigners,” said Devi. (san)
Reporter’s wife robbed Denpasar (Bali Post)-
Robbers on motorcycles seemed to be haunting these days. After three women victimized, now a reporter’s wife, Putri Marita Wijayanti (25) became the victim. Not only valuables were taken, wounds also existed after she fell when her bag was taken. The incident that took place at Ciung Wanara Street, Renon, East Denpasar last Monday (25/2) around 10 pm local time has been reported to the East Denpasar Police. Victim is a wife of a RRI radio reporter, Dicky Utomo, who was going to work at the Public Works Agency Office
at Cok Agung Tresna Street, Denpasar. She was driving the motorcycle and there was her colleague as the passenger. When about to pass Ciung Wanara Street, another motorcycle driver came by and quickly took victim’s bag. Trying to get her bag back, sadly victim fell and had to let go all her BlackBerry phone, iPhone, ATM cards and other documents. Millions of rupiah valuable were lossed and wounds existed on the hand and feet. Police is still investigating the case. “The robber drove an old type of motorcycle (bebek), wore black jacket and racing helmet,” Utomo explained. (kmb21)
Trees fell down, houses damaged Gianyar (Bali Post)-
Rain with strong winds that happened on Monday (25/2) early morning caused a number of trees fell in Gianyar and caused houses damaged including its roofs flying off. The damages occurred in eight different places where trees fell at Samplangan including a bayur tree blocking a street at Bukit Tatu, pule tree at Pura Gunung Merta, banyan tree at Pengosekan Street and a tree at Tulikup as stated by Head of Gianyar Regional
Nature Disaster Management (BPBD), A.A. Oka Digjaya. Meanwhile houses damaged due to a falling tree were owned by Dewa Tedun at Sidan Kaja, Rida and Witanyasa at Banjar Blahpane, Ida Bagus putu Darmawan at Tegallinggah, and Wayan Gunarta had its ceilings flying off. Evaucation has taken place for collapsing trees which involved BPBD, Public Works Agency, Transportation Agency and Gianyar Cleanliness and Grounds Agency. (kmb16)
International
Bali News
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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Capital market investment in Bali small Bali Post
DENPASAR - Capital market has not become an option for Balinese people to invest. It is reflected by the small percentage of Balinese people that have invested in the sector. The Capital Market Information Center of Denpasar records that only 0.13 percent of the three million inhabitants of this region getting involved in the sector. “Virtually most capital market investors in Bali are in Denpasar and Badung. Up to the beginning of this year, they amounted to about 4,000 investors,” said the Head of Capital Market Information Center of Denpasar, I Gusti Agung Alit Nityaryana, Monday (Feb 24). He said the potential for capital market investors in Bali was quite large. It was supported by the economic growth of Bali lying above the national growth in recent years. High enough growth of middle class population today should be taken as the opportunity to intensify the dissemination of capital market to the public. “Nationally, the capital market targets to pick up 1 percent of the total Indonesian population to invest in the stock market. So far, the target achievement is being sought through a variety of strategies, where one of which is by intensifying the socialization of capital markets to community,” he said. According to him, the socialization in Bali targeted the line-up of pupils and students either through seminars
or through establishment of corner market in a number of campuses. The initial target was to introduce the investment products available in the capital market. “We are optimistic that in the future the percentage of Balinese people that invest in the stock market will continue to rise,” he said. According to him, to introduce the capital market to community was quite hard. It was kindled by improper investment practices that had brought in negative opinions about investing in stock market. “Some people think the stock market is the same as the illegal investments that have been detrimental to thousands of Balinese society,” he said. To that end, his party had an obligation to change the negative mindsets expressed in society by the introduction of proper investment products traded in capital market. “Any investment has its own risk. Please do not be easily tempted by the offer of investment offering great profits without risk,” he said. (kmb27)
FOTO ANTARA/Nyoman Budhiana
Bangli’s residents saw the construction of the solar power plant (PLTS) 1MWp (Mega Watt Photovoltaic) which is connected to the electrical network designed by PLN in the village of Bangkled, Bangli, Bali, on Tuesday (26/2). Power plant covering an area of 1.2 hectares is the largest unit of PLTS in Indonesia that successfully built at this time to produce additional electricity amounting to 2,880,080 KWh with 20 years of operation.
Seririt coastal region prone to tsunami Bali Post
IBP/kmb
Coastal areas in Seririt subdistrict are prone area to be affected by tsunami. This occurs because the active tectonic fault distance is very close to the region.
SINGARAJA - Coastal areas in Seririt subdistrict are prone area to be affected by tsunami. This occurs because the active tectonic fault distance is very close to the region. Any earthquake with the magnitude of above 7 Richter scale (SR) occurred in region will possibly result in tsunami. It was revealed when the Bali Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) installed the Evacuation Route Map and Tsunami Early Warning Signs at the village hall of Pengastulan, Seririt subdistrict, Monday (Feb 25). The activity was attended by Deputy Regent of Buleleng, Nyoman Sutjidra, accompanied by the head of related technical agencies in the scope of Buleleng County. The Head of BPBD Bali, Dewa Made Indra, said that to prevent casualties in the event of a tsunami, the BPBD installed the Evacuation Route Map and Tsunami Early Warning Signs. The device, map and signs were very helpful and could provide early warning for coastal residents, mainly the Pengastulan village in Seririt. Moreover, the area was densely populated. To avoid many casualties, the residents could follow the instructions installed in
the maps. In addition, the residents would be gradually taught through the medium of dissemination on tsunami hazards and awakened to save themselves on a regular basis if any time there was an earthquake with the potential to kindle tsunami. “This device will not work if it is just installed. Well, after this the BPBD will continue to provide education through socialization to residents in order they will be alert at all times in case of earthquake occurs above the magnitude of 7 Richter Scale,” he said. Deputy Regent of Buleleng, Nyoman Sutjidra, said the device installation used to prevent the devastating tsunami was essential. Moreover, Buleleng had a wide expanse of beach and many fishermen lived at seaside areas. Local government through the BPBD Buleleng and SAR team would also open a post in Buleleng. “Installation of this map is made because we have a long coastal region from the west to the east and is inhabited by fishermen. Together with the SAR team, we will always give an understanding in order the residents can participate to learn about the device so that casualties can be minimized in case of disaster,” he explained. (kmb)
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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International
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Tibetan monks self-immolate in anti-China protest Associated Press Writer
REUTERS/ Bart Maat
Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg arrives at a meeting for European Liberal politicians in Amsterdam February 25, 2013.
British police to review sex scandal claims at Lib Dems
BEIJING — Two Tibetan monks in their early 20s set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule near dozens of pilgrims who had gathered for prayers to mark the end of the Tibetan New Year festival, a Tibet rights group said. Both died. One of the monks, Tsesung Kyab, self-immolated Monday outside a temple in Luqu county in northwestern Gansu province while the other, Phagmo Dundrup, set himself ablaze Sunday at a monastery in neighboring Qinghai province, said the Washington, D.C.-based, International Campaign for Tibet reported. The ICT said large numbers of religious pilgrims had gathered at both monasteries for prayer ceremonies to commemorate the end of the Tibetan new year festival, Losar. The group says it received images of the self-immolation in Luqu, in which pilgrims watched as Tsesung Kyab was ablaze. The latest self-immolations bring the total since 2009 to 106. Last week, two Tibetan teenagers set themselves on fire in a double self-immolation in Aba prefecture of Sichuan province, Tibet rights advocacy groups said. Seventeen-year-old Richen and his childhood friend Sonam Dargye, 18, were among the youngest to have died after staging the fiery protests. The protests have come despite an intensified crackdown in Tibetan areas by Chinese authorities hoping to stop the selfimmolations. Authorities have detained and jailed Tibetans they accuse of helping others self-immolate, an act that Beijing now considers a crime. A woman who answered the phone at the Communist Party’s propaganda department in Gannan prefecture, which oversees Luqu county, said she was unaware of the reported self-immolation while county officials could not be reached. Authorities in Qinghai’s Haidong prefecture, where the second protest took place, either could not be reached or said they had no information on the case.
19 tourists...
Reuters
LONDON - British police said they would review accusations of sexual misconduct made DJDLQVW D IRUPHU RIÂżFLDO RI WKH FRDOLWLRQÂśV /LE 'HPV LQWHQVLI\LQJ D VFDQGDO WKDW WKUHDWHQV WR RYHUZKHOP WKH SDUW\ DKHDG RI D E\ HOHFWLRQ Detectives from London’s police force will consider whether “criminal activityâ€? took place relating to the allegations of sexual impropriety made against the party’s former chief executive Chris Rennard, the Metropolitan Police Service said. Rennard, a member of parliament’s upper house, denies the allegations, but has stood down from party duties while they are investigated. The furore comes at a difficult moment for the party following the resignation of a former cabinet minister Chris Huhne this month after he admitted asking his then wife to accept a penalty for a speeding offence he had committed. A local election to replace Huhne takes place this Thursday, with the Lib Dems, below 10 percent in national opinion polls,
fighting a close battle with their Conservative coalition partners for the seat. The Lib Dems’ stumbling response to the reports that Rennard inappropriately touched female party members and activists several years ago has put it on the back foot since they emerged in a television news report last week. Lib Dem President Tim Farron, in an apparent criticism of party leader Nick Clegg, said the party had “screwed this up�. Conservative-supporting newspapers have leapt on the crisis, putting Clegg, who serves as deputy prime minister, on the spot after he appeared to change his position on when and how much he knew about the allegations. The Daily Mail accused Clegg of a cover-up after he disclosed he had been aware of “indirect
and non-specific concerns� about Rennard in 2008. Clegg denied hushing up the matter, saying his chief of staff had gone to Rennard at the time to put the concerns to him along with the warning that such behaviour was “wholly unacceptable�. “It is wrong ... to suggest that we could have acted further given that we didn’t have specific allegations five years ago. We have them now. That’s why we will act,� Clegg told Sky News. The party has now announced two internal inquiries, one into how the party handled the allegations, and another into the allegations themselves. “We don’t want there to be any no-go areas. If there are things which are criminal they need to pursued,� party deputy leader Simon Hughes told Sky News.
From page 1 An employee at the company operating the balloon said the pilot and one tourist survived by jumping out of the basket before it plunged to the ground. Both have been taken to hospital. The employee, who declined to give her name, told AFP the tourists were from Korea, Japan and Britain, as well as one Egyptian. Earlier a security official reported 19 people dead but said they were from Hong Kong, Japan, France and Britain. “This is terrible, just terrible,� the employee told AFP by telephone. “We don’t yet know what happened exactly or what went wrong,� she said. The balloon had been floating over the west bank of Luxor, one of Egypt’s most renowned archaeological sites and home to the famous Valley of the Kings and the grand Temple of Hatshepsut. The British foreign office could not immediately confirm if any Britons had died in the crash. “We are aware of reports (that Britons might be among the casualties). We are making inquiries,� a foreign office spokesman said. In 2009, 13 foreign tourists were injured when their hot air balloon hit a phone mast and crashed at Luxor. Sources at the time said the balloon was overcrowded. The crash comes amid widespread anger over safety standards in Egypt following several deadly transport and construction accidents.
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Chandler leads Nuggets past Lakers, 119-108 DENVER — Wilson Chandler scored 23 points in place of the injured Danilo Gallinari as the Denver Nuggets downed the Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 on Monday night. Gallinari, the Nuggets’ leading scorer, sat out with a bruised left thigh. He wasn’t needed as Ty Lawson chipped in with 22 points to help the Nuggets win their ninth straight game at home, ended the Lakers’ four-game winning streak and took the season series from their longtime nemesis 3-1. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 29 points, and Dwight Howard added 15 points and 14 boards but missed 11 of his last 12 free throws. Boston’s Paul Pierce scored 26 points, including seven
straight in overtime as the Celtics beat the Utah Jazz 110-107 to close out a five-game road trip. Courtney Lee made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to bump Boston’s lead to three, and Randy Foye’s 26-footer at the buzzer missed everything. Avery Bradley added a season-high 18 points for Boston. Gordon Hayward led Utah with 26 points, Paul Millsap had 16 and Al Jefferson finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Al Horford had 23 points and 22 rebounds at Atlanta as the Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 114-103 for its fifth win in six games. Josh Smith added 23 points for the Hawks, who were ahead 61-51 at halftime and led by as many as 26 in the third quarter. Jeff Teague had 20 points for Atlanta, which shot 14 of 33 from 3-point range. Kyle Korver scored 15 points, all from beyond the arc. Rodney Stuckey led Detroit with 22 points, and Jonas Jerebko added 21.
Querrey breezes in Delray Beach opener Reuters AP Photo/ David Zalubowski
Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler, center, drives the lane for a basket past Los Angeles Lakers forwards Antawn Jamison, left, and Earl Clark in the third quarter of the Nuggets’ 119108 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver on Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.
Sam Querrey battered fellow American Michael Russell in the first round of the Delray Beach International on Monday, blasting seven aces to take the first set 6-2 before his opponent retired with a leg injury at 2-2 in the second. “I thought that was the best attitude I’ve had all year,” third seed Querrey told reporters. “I was hitting second serve returns and taking cracks at them, and dominating with my forehand. It’s the most aggressive I’ve been all year.”
Querrey, who lost in the second round in Memphis last week and has never got beyond the semis at the Delray, took just 44 minutes to wrap up his match against Russell. Xavier Malisse, a Delray winner in 2005 and 2007, cruised past Alejandro Falla 6-3 6-3 while the upset of the day belonged to Ivan Dodig, who beat fifth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 6-3. “First few games I was struggling,” Dodig said. “Coming from indoor to first tournament outdoor, every player is struggling a bit. It was a little strange.” In the day’s other match, Evgeny Donskoy beat Steve Darcis 7-6 6-3.
Analysis: Paddy Lowe’s exit a blow to McLaren McLaren may have been putting on a brave face on Paddy Lowe’s defection to Mercedes on Monday, but there is no hiding from the fact that his departure is a blow. That is not just a perception from those outside the corridors of Woking either, because it was Jenson Button who prophetically suggested late last year that a Lowe exit would be a much bigger loss for the outfit than losing Lewis Hamilton. Speaking about how upset he was that Hamilton had elected to jump ship, Button said: “I’m not disappointed because there’s always change. “I’d be disappointed if Paddy Lowe moved from the team because that’s the guy who’s going to help me achieve in the future. “Whereas with Lewis, drivers come and go and people change, and that’s pretty normal in the sport.”
Button’s comments are no surprise really. When McLaren elected last year to name Lowe as its first technical director in the post Adrian Newey era, it was based on the instrumental role he had played in driving the outfit forward. Here was the man who as head of McLaren’s R&D helped push on power steering, brake steer and a ramp-up of the team’s simulator facilities. As engineering director since 2005 and, for the past 12 months as technical director, he helped create cars that were good enough for numerous victories - even though titles remained elusive. Lowe’s future will now be focused on delivering those trophies for Mercedes instead, and most likely longer term as Ross Brawn’s eventual successor when the current team boss elects to call time on his F1 career.
Tim GossAt McLaren, Tim Goss is a more than worthy successor to Lowe. And although he may not have the high profile of other senior technical figures in the sport, his contribution to Woking’s recent successes should not be downplayed. Yet Goss and his engineering crew will know that they are without one on their biggest assets when they head into play in Melbourne, at a time when the outfit has already lost a star player from its driver line-up. Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus must all be rubbing their hands at the prospect of their toughest rival experiencing a lack of continuity on both the driving and technical front. Lowe’s benefits to Mercedes will not be felt for nearly a year yet, but the impact of his decision to join Brackley is going to be felt in Woking much sooner than that.
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Sp rt Maradona returns to Italy after 8-year tax exile Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/Matt Dunham
Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale scores his second and the winning goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur at Upton Park stadium in London, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.
Superlatives run short for wizard Bale Reuters
LONDON - Gareth Bale’s team mates are losing count of his goal tally and opposing managers have no idea how to cope with his threat after the Welsh wizard’s stunning late strike helped Tottenham Hotspur beat West Ham United 3-2 on Monday. Bale’s double, which took his Premier League haul to 15 goals and only four behind golden boot pacesetter Robin van Persie, was his third this month for Spurs who are chasing second spot in the table. Bale scored two superb free kicks to hand the London club a 2-1 first-leg advantage over Olympique Lyon in their Europa League last 32 first leg and he was also twice on target in their last league match against Newcastle United. “I don’t know how many goals he’s scored now but they’re all spectacular,� said team mate Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was also on the scoresheet in Monday’s
victory. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, whose team played their part in an enthralling end-to-end encounter, said he had never seen anything like Bale’s streak of out-of-the-ordinary goals. “We’ve one man to thank for tonight’s result and that’s Gareth Bale. He’s the difference and his wonder goals are continuing,� Allardyce told Sky Sports. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen anyone score so many in such a short time. He’s done it twice tonight. “We played fantastic but we’ve really been beaten by Bale. As soon as he hit it I went ‘oh no’, I knew it was going in,� he said of
the 90th-minute winner. Allardyce’s opposite number Andre Villas-Boas also sung Bale’s praises, calling his prize asset “world class� and adding that “players like this assume responsibility at key moments.� The left-footed winger was typically modest in his assessment of another hard-fought victory as his team continue to push for honours. “It’s not about me, it’s about the team and we played really well. We obviously wanted to get the three points to keep our Champions League hopes alive,� said Bale, who has scored eight of Tottenham’s last 10 goals in all competitions.
NAPLES, Italy — Diego Maradona returned to Italy on Monday in a bid to clear his name in a tax evasion case. The 1986 World Cup winner with Argentina landed in Rome dressed in black and wearing dark glasses before heading straight to Naples, where he will hold a news conference Tuesday morning. Maradona’s Italian debts of nearly â‚Ź40 million (more than $50 million) stem from alleged unpaid taxes during the time he played for Napoli from 1984-91, a period in which he helped the club win its only two Serie A titles. His lawyer, Angelo Pisani, recently said his client won the dispute. But the collection agency issued a statement earlier this month saying it KDG QRW ÂłDQQXOOHG GHFODUHG H[WLQFW QRU PRGLÂżHG´ 0DUDGRQDÂśV GHEWV Fellow passengers scrambled to get near the star when they recognized him as they disembarked the plane. One particular fan caught Maradona’s eye as he took a photo of him on a camera phone with a Juventus cover. “When Juventus played against us they were always scared,â€? Maradona joked. Dozens of supporters wearing Napoli colors turned up to greet their hero with songs about him from his playing days. Amid the frenzy, Maradona and Pisani — who met his client at the airport — were ushered by police into an awaiting car and drove off to Naples’ Hotel Royal. Maradona came out onto the balcony to wave to about 300 chanting fans. When they started singing “who doesn’t jump is a Juventus fan,â€? the 52-year-old Argentine immediately started jumping. 0DUDGRQD ZLOO UHSRUWHGO\ Ă€\ WR 'XEDL ODWH 7XHVGD\ EXW ZLOO UHWXUQ to Naples for Friday’s match against title rival Juventus.
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Napoli draws 0-0 at Udinese in Serie A Associated Press Writer
REUTERS/Phil Noble
Manchester City’s Joe Hart (front) dives to save a penalty from Chelsea’s Frank Lampard (obscured) during their English Premier League soccer match at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England, February 24, 2013.
Maths does not add up in Hart’s Man City title dream Reuters
MANCHESTER, England Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart’s desire to hold on to the Premier League title is so great that he will not let the small matter of some basic maths get in his way. “Even if there is one game to go and we are 12 points behind, we’ll still believe. We’ve got to,� local media quoted the England international as saying on Tuesday.
³:HœYH JRW WR NHHS ¿JKWLQJ \RX never know.� Except that he does know that should there really be a 12-point gap on the last day of the season, the trophy will already have red ribbons on it and be on its way to an open-top bus parade with a Manchester United team celebrating a 20th title. Luckily for Hart, champions City in fact have 11 games in ZKLFK WR RYHUWXUQ D SRLQW GH¿FLW
UDINE, ITALY — Napoli was held to a scoreless draw by Udinese LQ 6HULH $ RQ 0RQGD\ PDNLQJ LW ÂżYH VWUDLJKW JDPHV LQ DOO FRPSHWLWLRQV without a win. Meanwhile, two stunning long-range strikes helped Lazio beat Pescara 2-0 to pass both Milan clubs to move into third place, four points behind Napoli. Chances were few and far between in Udine with both sides having only one shot on target all night. Napoli started with an attacking line-up and went closest in the opening period when Marek Hamsik headed straight at goalkeeper Daniele Padelli just before halftime. Edinson Cavani, the league’s leading scorer, was guilty of a glaring miss when he failed to put away Pablo Armero’s cross from six yards out. Second-place Napoli is now six points behind defending champion Juventus, which it hosts on Friday. 1DSROL KDV RQO\ VFRUHG RQH JRDO LQ WKH SDVW ÂżYH PDWFKHV LQ DOO FRPpetitions. “I think that if Napoli plays like we did tonight we can also SXW -XYHQWXV LQ GLIÂżFXOW\ ´ 1DSROL FRDFK :DOWHU 0D]]DUUL VDLG Âł, KDYH to give credit to my players. Today we played a great match against a tough opponent. We were just unlucky. However, when my team plays like that I am happy, I cannot complain. We created a lot of chances, but the ball just didn’t drop for us.â€? In Rome, Lazio took the lead in the 29th minute when Senad Lulic cut the ball back to Stefan Radu, who hit a screamer into the top left corner IURP \DUGV ,W ZDV 5DGXÂśV ÂżUVW 6HULH $ JRDO DIWHU JDPHV Lulic doubled Lazio’s lead six minutes later with a brilliant solo goal, lashing another 25-yard thunderbolt into the top left corner. It is Lazio’s ÂżUVW ZLQ LQ VL[ PDWFKHV Âł:H SOD\HG D JUHDW ÂżUVW KDOI WRGD\ ´ /XOLF VDLG Âł7KH WKUHH SRLQWV are important. “I am happy with my goal, but the most important thing is the victory. Now we have to prepare for the match against AC Milan.â€? Pescara is WK LQ WKH WDEOH DQG ÂżYH SRLQWV RII VDIHW\
which is at least a mathematically possible if not an easy task. “We have just got to keep going,� Hart added. “It’s going to be really hard, we’ve got a lot to do but we’re going to have a damn good go at doing it.� They could in fact be 15 points behind United by the time they next play as Alex Ferguson’s side host Norwich City on Saturday before City’s trip to Aston Villa on Monday.
Gennaro Gattuso takes charge at Swiss club Sion Associated Press Writer
SION, Switzerland — ItalLDQ PLGÂżHOGHU *HQQDUR *DWWXVR was made player-coach of Swiss team FC Sion on Monday, with current manager Victor Munoz demoted to another role at the club. Gattuso will take charge because of the team’s “disastrous performanceâ€? in a 4-0 loss against Thun on Sunday, the club said in a statement. “Until further notice, the players will manage their activities themselves. The management entrusts
responsibility for the group to its captain Gennaro Gattuso,â€? Sion said. *DWWXVRÂśV ÂżUVW PDWFK LQ FKDUJH of the team, which he joined last year after 13 seasons with AC Milan, will be the Swiss Cup quarterfinals at Lausanne on Wednesday. The club said Munoz has not been formally dismissed, but “takes a step backâ€? and will be on scouting duties this week. Gattuso does not have the formal coaching license required by the Swiss Football Association, so Munoz remains nominally in his post.
A World Cup winner in 2006, the 35-year-old Gattuso effectively becomes Sion’s fifth coach this season. Munoz only took charge in January. Sion is fourth in the 10team top division but trails leader Grasshoppers by nine points. $IWHU VHHLQJ WKH ¿UVW KDOI SHUformance Sunday, charismatic Sion president Christian Constantin came from the grandstand to spend the second half in the team dugout alongside Munoz. Constantin later said the players were not responding to the Spanish coach.
AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini
Napoli’s Pablo Armero, left, and Udinese’s Dusan Basta, jump for the ball during their Serie A soccer match, at the Friuli Stadium in Udine, Italy, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.
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Tihingan Village IBP
Tihingan Village in Banjarangkan sub district is the center of gong gamelan production. Its production is start with crude work then expert work to synchronize the gong sound. This, the most important thing is the expertise to synchronize the gong sound. In Tihingan village there are 2 pande (expert) gong maker groups. This Village is located in Banjarangkan sub district and can be reached with 2 wheels or 4 wheels vehicles. About 3 km go to the west of Semarapura city. The road to Tihingan is well enough. The people of Tihingan village are very famous in Bali as they are expert of making gamelan instrument like Gong and other gamelan instruments. The people in this village can make all kind of gamelan Bali, like Semara Pegulingan, Gender puppet, Kelentangan/Angklung and others, made of kerawang metal. Their expertise may descended by their ancient from hundred years ago. The gamelan has become famous in the world and many foreign tourists come to Tihingan and reserve Gong to be brought to their country. IBP/Net
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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Hundreds of Indonesians repartriated from Syria Antara
-$.$57$ $ERXW ,QGRQHVLDQV DUH EHLQJ UHSDWULDWHG IURP 6\ULD DPLG ULVLQJ WHQVLRQ KDSSHQLQJ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ D press statement from the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry VDLG KHUH RQ 7XHVGD\ The 129 Indonesians will be leaving Damascus to Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday (Feb 26) before going back to Jakarta. This is WKH ÂżIWK UHSDWULDWLRQ KDYLQJ EHHQ conducted by the Indonesian government since February 2013. Indonesian Ambassador to Syria Wahib Abdul Jawad said officers at the embassy are trying their best to repatriate more Indonesians home. About 12,000 Indonesians, mostly migrant workers, have been repatriated from Damascus since conflict erupt there in 2011. In 2013, about 1,057 more people were sent back to Indonesia. Up till now 172 Indonesians are still resided at the embassy in
Damascus. The Syrian uprising, by those originally calling for modest reforms, began in February 2011. Since then, however, armed conflicts between security forces and opposition groups seeking to topple President Bashar al-Assad have escalated. A study commissioned by UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay collated data from seven different sources and concluded that there had been 59,648 deaths as of November 2012, the BBC reported on January 2, 2013. Pillay said the number of deaths has since risen to above 60,000 and described the bloodshed as “truly shocking�.
Papua shooting incident not related to rebellion Antara
JAYAPURA - Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said the recent shooting of soldiers and civilians in Puncak and Puncak Jaya Districts, Papua Province, was not related to rebellion. The shooting incident was allegedly linked to district head elections at that time, he said here on Monday. “We are now collecting pieces of evidence, including alleged involvement of a candidate in the district head elections,� he said. He added the evidence was needed to see if the district head candidate had been involved in the incident. Therefore, he said, the police believed that the incident had nothing to do with rebellion.
“We do not need dialogs as what has happened is a criminal case and has nothing to do with politics,â€? he said adding the police had reinforced its personnel to anticipate security disturbance in the region. The shooting incident left 12 people dead, eight of them soldiers. The slain soldiers were First Sergeants Udin, Frans, Ramadhan, and Edi, First Private Mustofa, Wahyu Bowo as well as Chief Private Jojo Wiharja and Wempi. Meanwhile, the civilians killed LQ WKH LQFLGHQW ZHUH LGHQWLÂżHG DV Markus Kevin Rendenan, Yulius, Rudi, and Yohanis Palimbong. All the bodies were evacuated to the provincial capital Jayapura by helicopter on Sunday morning (Feb 24). The evacuation process was SUHYLRXVO\ GHOD\HG E\ XQLGHQWLÂżHG shooting and bad weather
AP Photo/Gembong Nusantara
A Hindu priest throws offerings into the sea during a religious ceremony called Melasti on Ngobaran Beach in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. Melasti is performed a week ahead of Balinese Hindu’s Day of Silence to purify the universe from bad inuences, bad deeds and bad thoughts.
Elderly wins rare victory against noisy mosque Agence France-Presse
BANDA ACEH - An elderly Indonesian said Monday he had won a rare victory against a noisy mosque, despite being forced to withdraw legal action after an angry mob threatened to kill him. Complaints against the loud speakers issuing the call to prayer have been met with extreme opposition in Indonesia, the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation that is home to about 800,000 mosques. And when Sayed Hasan, 75, filed a lawsuit in December in the city of Banda Aceh, in which he complained of being disturbed by lengthy recordings of Koranic verses, it was met with strong protests from the community. But Hasan, a Muslim, said despite being taken to see the deputy mayor and Muslim leaders, and then being escorted to the court where he was forced to withdraw his legal suit, he had ultimately won a rare victory. “I was forced to withdraw my lawsuit as an angry mob threatened to kill me,â€? he said. “But after I dropped my case, the volume ZDV VLJQLÂżFDQWO\ WXUQHG GRZQ E\ about half.â€?
AFP PHOTO / CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN
Acehnese Sayed Hasan reads an Islamic book at his house in Banda Aceh on February 25, 2013. Hasan said on February 25 he had won a rare victory against a noisy mosque, despite being forced to withdraw legal action after an angry mob threatened to kill him. A local Muslim leader said the imam had decided to reduce the noise. City dwellers in Indonesia are often woken up before dawn by intermingling calls to prayer from three or four nearby mosques. Many also blare Koranic verses or
broadcast day-long events through loudspeakers. Ninety percent of Indonesia’s 240 million citizens are Muslim. While most practise a moderate form, Aceh province has implemented sharia law, which is enforced by special Islamic police.
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BUSINESS Japan passes $142 billion stimulus budget Agence France-Presse
AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGO
Visitors walk in front of the VISA stand at the 2013 Mobile World congress in Barcelona on February 25, 2013. The 2013 Mobile World Congress, the world’s biggest mobile fair, is held from February 25 to 28 in Barcelona.
Mobile industry sees 4 billion subscribers by 2018 Agence France-Presse
BARCELONA - The $1.0-trillion (750-million-euro) global mobile industry predicted Monday a boom in subscribers to four billion people by 2018 as the world’s largest mobile fair opened in Barcelona, Spain. Already, 3.2 billion people pay for mobile services, nearly half of the world’s population, said a study by A. T Kearney and GSMA, which represents 750 mobile operators and organises the vast, four-day annual Mobile World Congress. The report forecast that a further 700 million subscribers would be added by 2017 and the four billion-subscriber mark would be hit in 2018. Revenues for mobile operators alone amounted $1.0 trillion, or 1.4 percent of the world’s gross domestic product, in 2012, the report said. Most of the growth was in the Asia Pacific region, where operators were forecast to raise revenue by 4.0 percent a year up to 2017, adding $80 billion, or 23 percent, to their revenue of $350 billion, the report said. But Africa showed the fastest growth, and mobile operators there were predicted to boost revenue by 25 percent over the 2012 to 2017
period to 70 billion dollars. Worldwide, the growth in mobile operators’ revenues was expected to slow, however, from a 4.0-percent annual expansion from 2008 to 2012 to an annual pace of 2.3 percent in the period up to 2017. “One of the reasons for the slowdown is the decline of revenues in Europe,” the report said, blaming “heavy regulation” of mobile prices, and impact of the eurozone economic crisis for an estimated fall in revenue from $248 billion to $216 billion from 2008 to 2012. “The mobile operator market in Europe is expected to decrease further by 2.0 percent a year to 2017 due to competition and regulation. This trend, together with the growth in traffic, show the increasing value to consumers, who are using mobile services more while spending less,” it said.
New lightning fast fourth-generation mobile networks, which promise download speeds as quick as the best fixed broadband connections, could boost revenues, it said, pointing to higher prices being commanded for 4G in North America, Scandinavia, South Korea and Japan. “In Europe it is still too early to judge consumer reaction to the new services but it is certainly true that operators are positioning 4G as a premium service,” the report said. The use of mobile phones was exploding, the GSMA report said. “At the end of 2012, there were 6.8 billion mobile connections worldwide, a figure expected to grow to 9.7 billion by the end of 2017,” the report said. But the industry urged regulators to use a light touch. “The mobile communications industry is creating a mobile economy, both directly through network investment, job creation and contributions to public funding, and by transforming adjacent industries such as education, healthcare, payments, transportation and utilities,” said GSMA director general Anne Bouverot.
TOKYO - Japan’s parliament on Tuesday passed a $142 billion extra budget that forms a key part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to tackle the deflation that has dogged the economy for years. The 13.1 trillion yen ($142 billion) package squeaked by the oppositioncontrolled upper house of parliament less than two weeks after the lower house approved the spending. The measure is part of a wider stimulus package announced by Abe’s cabinet in January, after his Liberal Democratic Party swept December elections on a pledge to revive the world’s third-largest economy. The new money will be earmarked for various economy-boosting measures, including job growth, upgrading Japan’s ageing infrastructure, and rebuilding disaster-struck areas hit by the 2011 quake-tsunami. Plugging a public-pension financing gap was among the other spending measures. The total package could top 20 trillion yen if spending by local governments and the private sector was included. Japan’s economy shrank for a third straight quarter between October and December, leaving it mired in recession largely due to weak export demand, and stirring fears about its ability to cement a recovery. Abe has pledged to pull Japan out of years of falling prices, which dampen demand and business investment, through big spending and aggressive monetary easing. He has pressured the Bank of Japan for such policy measures, with a new central bank chief set to be nominated as early as this week. The hawkish prime minister has also said he would boost defence spending. Japan is embroiled in territorial disputes with China and South Korea, while an unpredictable North Korea jangled regional nerves earlier this month with its third nuclear test. But the big spending plans have stoked fears over Japan’s already tattered fiscal health, the worst among industrialised nations, with public debt standing at more than twice the size of the economy.
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Skeptical Syrian opposition to attend Rome talks Associated Press Writer
BERLIN — Skeptical Syrian opposition leaders agreed Monday to attend an international conference in Rome after first threatening to boycott the session that was to be the centerpiece of Secretary of State John Kerry’s first overseas mission in his new job. Opposition leaders had protested what they see as inaction by other nations in the face of violence from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. Kerry not only made a public plea at a joint news conference Monday with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, he also called Moaz Khatib, leader of the Syrian Opposition Council, “to encourage him to come to Rome,” a senior U.S. official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter, described the conversation as “good” but declined to offer more detail. Spokesman Walid al-Bunni said the council had decided to send a delegation to Rome after all. Al-Bunni told Al-Arabiya TV the decision was made based on guarantees al-Khatib heard from western diplomats that the con-
ference would be different and that the opposition would receive real commitments this time. “We will go and we will see if the promises are different this time,” he said. After speaking with Khatib, Kerry flew to Berlin from London, the first stop of his first trip as secretary of state — a hectic ninecountry dash through Europe and the Middle East. Kerry had also dispatched his top Syrian envoy to Cairo in hopes of convincing opposition leaders that their participation is critical to addressing questions from potential donors and securing additional aid from the United States and Europe. “We are determined that the Syrian opposition is not going to be dangling in the wind, wondering where the support is, if it is coming,” Kerry told reporters in London after meeting British Prime Minister David
Cameron and Hague. “We are not going to let the Syrian opposition not have its ability to have its voice properly heard in this process.” Vice President Joe Biden also reached out Monday in a phone call to Khatib. Biden commended him and other members of the Syrian Opposition Coalition for their courage. He also emphasized President Barack Obama’s commitment to a postAssad government that protects the rights of all its citizens, according to a description of the call provided by the White House. US Secretary of State John Kerry reacts after listening a reporter’s question during a joint news conference with Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Hague, not seen, following their meeting in central London, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013.
World powers and Iran begin nuclear talks Reuters
AP Photo/ Lefteris Pitarakis, pool
But with the Islamic Republic’s political elite pre-occupied with worsening internal infightALMATY - World powers are expected to of- ing ahead of a June presidential election, few fer Iran limited sanctions relief on Tuesday if it believe the meeting Tuesday and Wednesday agrees to halt its most sensitive nuclear work, in in the Kazakh city of Almaty will yield an ima new attempt to resolve a dispute that threatens mediate breakthrough. to trigger another war in the Middle East. At best, diplomats and analysts say, Iran will In their first meeting in eight months - time take the joint offer from the United States, Rusthat Iran has used to expand atomic activity that sia, France, Germany, Britain and China seriousthe West suspects is aimed at developing a bomb ly and agree to hold further talks soon on how to capability - the powers hope Iran will engage in implement practical steps to ease the tension. The serious talks on finding a diplomatic solution. powers would like to see “a recognition by our The negotiations formally got under way in Iranian colleagues that our offer is a serious one the Kazakh city of Almaty - which follows three ... but it is not the final act in the play,” said one inconclusive meetings last year in Istanbul, diplomat participating in the talks. “I wouldn’t Baghdad and Moscow - at around 1:30 p.m predict a decisive breakthrough.” (0730 GMT). Iran is showing no sign, however, of backing down over a nuclear program it says is for entirely peaceful energy purposes. The program has drawn tough Western sanctions that have greatly reduced its oil exports, an economic lifeline. A U.N. nuclear watchdog report last week said Iran was for the first time installing advanced centrifuges that would allow it to significantly speed up its enrichment of REUTERS/Stanislav Filippov/Pool uranium, which can Participants sit at a table during talks on Iran’s nuclear programme have both civilian and in Almaty February 26, 2013. military purposes.
Iranian news censors Michelle Obama’s Oscar gown It’s no surprise that some in the Middle East were not happy about the movie “Argo,” which focuses on the Iranian hostage crisis which lasted from 1979 to 1981. But this is a reaction no one was expecting. During Sunday’s Academy Award’s telecast, First Lady Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance, handing out the award for Best Picture via satellite from the White House. However, the Iranian news agency Fars not only took exception to the honors bestowed on Ben Affleck’s film, which won the night’s biggest award, they offered a less-than-subtle critique of the First Lady’s dress. Since Mrs. Obama’s gown exposed her shoulders in a way that would violate the codes of modesty enforced in many Muslim nations, Fars photoshopped a picture
of the First Lady, with the result offering significantly more coverage of her shoulders and chest. The digital alteration was discovered by photojournalist and blogger Golnaz Esfandiari. Fars didn’t stop with altering Mrs. Obama’s gown. The news agency also slammed “Argo” as an “anti-Iran film … produced by the Zionist company Warner Bros.” Iran’s state own television network also gave the film a thumbs-down, calling it “an advertisement for the CIA.” A report by The London Times pointed out that “Argo” has been banned in Iran, but bootleggers have been selling DVD copies though underground networks, fetching roughly a dollar apiece for the movie. After this, don’t expect Fars to be invited to do red carpet coverage of the Oscars in 2014.
The picture on the right shows that the gown of Michelle Obama had been transformed.
IBP/ist
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Health
International
Panel questions value of calcium, vitamin D pills there’s a lot more to learn.â€? The main caution: These recomWASHINGTON — Popping cal- mendations aren’t for people at high cium and vitamin D pills in hopes of risk of weak bones, including older strong bones? Healthy older women adults who have previously broken a shouldn’t bother with relatively bone and are at risk for doing so again, low-dose dietary supplements, say said Dr. Sundeep Khosla of the Amerinew recommendations from a gov- can Society for Bone and Mineral Research. Those people should consult ernment advisory group. Both nutrients are crucial for healthy a doctor, said Khosla, a bone specialist bones and specialists advise getting as at the Mayo Clinic who wasn’t part of much as possible from a good diet. the panel’s deliberations. Calcium and vitamin D work The body also makes vitamin D from sunshine. If an older person has a together, and you need a lifetime of YLWDPLQ GHÂżFLHQF\ RU ERQH WKLQQLQJ both to build and maintain strong osteoporosis, doctors often prescribe bones. Vitamin D also is being studied for possibly preventing cancer higher-than-normal doses. But for otherwise healthy post- and certain other diseases, something menopausal women, adding modest that Monday’s guidelines don’t adsupplements to their diet — about 400 dress and that other health groups international units of D and 1,000 mil- have cautioned isn’t yet proven. For now, national standards advise ligrams of calcium — don’t prevent broken bones but can increase the risk the average adult to get about 1,000 mg of calcium, 1,300 for postmenopausal of kidney stones, the U.S. Preventive women, every day. For vitamin D, the A doctor checks the blood pressure of a patient at the J.W.C.H. safety-net clinic in the center Services Task Force said Monday. It isn’t clear if those doses offer bone goal is 600 IUs of vitamin D every day, of skid row in downtown Los Angeles July 30, 2007. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson protection if taken before menopause, moving to 800 after age 70, according or if they help men’s bones, the guide- to the Institute of Medicine, which set lines said. What about higher-dose those levels in 2010. The nutrients can supplements that have become more come from various foods, including common recently? There’s not enough RUDQJH MXLFH IRUWLÂżHG ZLWK FDOFLXP DQG evidence to tell if they would prevent D; dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and fractures, either, in an otherwise healthy FKHHVH FHUWDLQ ÂżVK LQFOXGLQJ VDOPRQ person, the panel concluded. It urged DQG IRUWLÂżHG EUHDNIDVW FHUHDOV +DUGHU to measure is how much vitamin D the more research to settle the issue. It’s a confusing message con- body also produces from sunshine. Most people should get enough sidering that for years, calcium and vitamin D supplements have been calcium from food, said Mayo’s Reuters widely considered an insurance Khosla. But while he cautions against policy against osteoporosis, with little too high doses, he frequently tells NEW YORK - Missed or wrong diagnoses are common in primary care and may put some his patients to take a multivitamin patients at risk of serious complications, a new study suggests. down side to taking them. “Regrettably, we don’t have as much because it’s harder to get vitamin D information as we would like to have from food and during the winter. Although mistakes during sur- IRU EHWZHHQ ÂżYH DQG VHYHQ SHUFHQW RI history, doing a full exam or ordering While supplement science gets gery and in medication prescribing conditions doctors initially diagnosed the correct tests, Singh’s team found. about a substance that has been around a long time and we used to think we sorted out, the task force’s Moyer have been at the center of patient as something else. Cutting down on those errors may understood,â€? said Dr. Virginia Moyer advises healthy seniors to exercise safety efforts, researchers said less Most diagnostic errors could have require changes in doctor training, for of the Baylor College of Medicine, — proven to shore up bones and good attention has been paid to missed caused moderate or severe harm to the example. One thing patients can do, who heads the task force. “Turns out, for the rest of the body, too. GLDJQRVHV LQ WKH GRFWRUÂśV RIÂżFH patient, the researchers determined. Of the researchers agreed, is come to the Because of how common they are, the 190 patients with diagnostic errors, RIÂżFH SUHSDUHG WR JLYH WKHLU GRFWRU DOO those errors may lead to more patient 36 had serious, permanent damage and of the relevant information about the injuries and deaths than other mistakes, GLHG DFFRUGLQJ WR ÂżQGLQJV SXEOLVKHG nature and timing of their symptoms. according to Dr. David Newman-Toker Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine. “I do think it’s important for from Johns Hopkins University School 2QH RI WKH GLIÂżFXOWLHV LQ PDNLQJ a patient to question or observe of Medicine in Baltimore, who co-wrote an accurate diagnosis is certain com- the doctor,â€? Newman-Toker said. a commentary on the new study. mon symptoms - such as stomach “Ask pointed questions: ‘What else “We have every reason to believe ache or shortness of breath - could could this be? What things are you that diagnostic errors are a major, ma- be signs of a range of illnesses, both most concerned about?’â€? jor public health problem,â€? Newman- serious and not, researchers said. In addition, he told Reuters Toker told Reuters Health. “If you look at the types of chief Health, patients should “not just “You’re really talking about complaints that these things occur assume that once the diagnosis has at least 150,000 people per year, with, they’re fairly common chief KDSSHQHG WKH ÂżUVW WLPH WKDW HYHU\deaths or disabilities that are result- complaints,â€? said Dr. Hardeep Singh, thing is said and done and that it’s all ing from this problem.â€? who led the new study at the Houston over. You just can’t have blind obediFor the new study, researchers used VA Health Services Research and De- ence to the doctor’s diagnosis.â€? electronic health records to track 190 velopment Center of Excellence. For example, Newman-Toker diagnostic errors made during primary “If somebody would come in with said, if people develop new sympcare visits at one of two healthcare mild shortness of breath and a little toms or their symptoms worsen, they facilities. In each of those cases, the bit of cough, people would think you VKRXOGQÂśW DVVXPH HYHU\WKLQJ LV ÂżQH misdiagnosed patient was hospitalized might have bronchitis, you might because their doctor initially diagRU WXUQHG XS EDFN DW WKH RIÂżFH RU HPHU- have phlegm‌ and lo and behold they nosed something not serious. gency room within two weeks. would come back two days later with Patients should understand there The study team found the type heart failure,â€? he told Reuters Health. is some uncertainly involved in a of missed diagnosis varied widely. Most of the missed diagnoses were diagnosis, Singh said, especially Pneumonia, heart failure, kidney WUDFHG EDFN WR WKH RIÂżFH YLVLW DQG WKH because symptoms and conditions IBP/ist failure and cancer each accounted doctor not getting an accurate patient can change over time. Associated Press Writer
Missed diagnoses common LQ WKH GRFWRU¡V RI‍ۋ‏FH
International
Activities
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
15
Favehotel Balikpapan opens IBP
$UFKLSHODJR ,QWHUQDWLRQDO RSHQHG LWV ÂżUVW WUHQG\ VHOHFW VHUYLFH favehotel in Kalimantan, the favehotel MT Haryono Balikpapan. The new “faveâ€? enjoys a privileged location on Jalan MT Haryono with close proximity to the central business district and Balikpapan’s Sepinggan airport. With 112 fun, fresh and friendly rooms, the new fave aims to bring edgy design and unprecedented levels of service to Balikpapan’s budget hotel market affording facilities and amenities usually associated with more high end hotels such as an attractive and contemporary hotel lobby, ample of parking space and an eclectic cafĂŠ serving complimentary breakfast. Guest rooms are equipped with 32 inch LED televisions, top of the line beds with quality cotton bed linens and duvets, free and “trulyâ€? high speed WiFi and a complete set of complimentary in room DPHQLWLHV VXFK DV Ă€XII\ FRWWRQ WRZHOV bathroom amenities, individual controlled air-conditioning and save deposit boxes. Archipelago’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mr. Norbert Vas, said: “Due to Indonesia’s budding economy and
changing customer taste demand for quality budget hotels is on the raise. There are now 17 faves in Indonesia and Malaysia which are consistently fully booked and enjoy tremendous on line popularity with more than half a million bookings coming via fave’s accolade wining website last \HDU :H DUH FRQ¿GHQW WKDW WKH IDYHKRWHO MT Haryono - Balikpapan, with its trademark design and service, will be equally well-liked�. Since its inception in 2009 favehotels have been in the forefront of the budget hotel sector redefining the industry’s standards for select service hotels through imaginative design, mid market features such as high quality beddings, complimentary high speed internet access and LCD televisions and have received accolades for their user friendly website offering instant
easy bookings and best rate guarantees for internet savvy customers. favehotels currently operates 4 hotels in Jakarta, 5 in Bali, 2 in Bandung and Solo and 1 each in Balikpapan, Langkawi, Surabaya and Yogyakarta and has a large development pipeline in Indonesia, Malaysia and the
Calendar Event for January 27 through February 27, 2013 27 Jan Redite Umanis Ukir Sanggah Gede Dukuh Segening Tegal Tugu Gianyar 30 Jan Buda Cameng Ukir Pura Pejenengan Kawitan Arya Tauman Banjar Jelantik Kuri Batu Desa Tojan Gelgel Klungkung Pura Pasar Agung Besakih (Alit) Besakih Pura Pasek bendesa Pasar Badung Legian Kuta Pura Gede Gunugn Agung Dukuh Munggu Badung Hyang Agung Pura Ibuwanasari Tegal Pura Puseh, Desa di Bebablang Bangli Pura Dalem Peruncak Badung Pura Pasek Bendesa Hyang Selat Kerobokan Badung Pura Kereban Langit Desa Sading Mengwi Badung Pemerajan Sareng Kangin Baleran Ubud 5 Feb Anggara Sasih Kulantir Pura Penataran Tangkas Sukawati Pura Dalem Lagan Babalang Bangli Pura Puseh Lembeng Ketewel Sukawati Pura Pasek Gelgel Penulisan Kerambitan Tabanan
Pura Gaduh Sanding Pura Dalem Gandamayu Klungkung Pura Sang Hyang Tegal Banjar Tarokaja-Tegalalang
Banjar Saba Penatih
6 Feb Buda Umanis Kulantir Pura Pasek Tangkas Pasekan Kaler Tabanan Pura Gaduh - Benoh Ubung Denpasar
14 Feb Warespati Wage Tolu Pura Peninjoan Besakih
10 Feb Tilem Kawulu Pura Dalem Alas Harum - Tegal Kepuh kabe - kabe Kediri Tabanan Pura Ulun Kulkul Besakih Pura Dalem Yang Taluh Sidemen Karangasem Pura Dalem kangin Dusun Dukuh Sidemen Karangasem 11 Feb Soma Umanis Tulu Pura Puseh/Balai Agung Ubung Kupang Penebel Tabanan Pura Kawitan Sakula Gotra Pasung Grigih Banjar Tegal Kepuh Kaba-kaba Kediri Tabanan Pura Bhujangga Rsi Tumbak Bayuh P u r a P a i b o n Ta n g k a s K o r i Agung Ceningan Kangin lembongan Pura Batu Madeg Besakih Pura Penataran Agung penatih
13 Feb Buda Pon Tolu Pura Catur Buana Sanding Tampak Siring
20 Feb Buda Kliwon Gumbreg Pura Pasek Gelgel Kukuh Marga Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Dukuh Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Pasek Gelgel Mambang Selemadeg Tabanan Pura Puseh, Pura Desa Desa Guwang Sukawati Merajan Pangeran Tangkas Kori Agung Jeroan Sanding Pura Dalem Setra Batu Nunggul Desa Swana Nusa Penida Pura Dadia Agung Pasek Gelgel Ketewel 25 Feb Purnama Sasih Kesanga Pura Nataran Sasih Pejeng Gianyar Pura Bukit Mentik - Gunung Lebah Batur Kintamani 27 Feb Buda Paing Wariga Merajan Pasek Gaduh Kayubihi Bangli
Philippines. favehotels aims to become Indonesia’s best in class and most consistent budget hotel chain promising uncompromising standards for cleanliness and safety and a network covering the entire archipelago. The group has announced plans to open closto 30 new hotels within the coming 2 years.
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 “umbulXPEXO´ ORQJ Ă€DJV DOO WKHVH DUH SUHURJDWLYHV RU DWWULEXWHV of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjorâ€?, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
Entertainment
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Film of Austrian girl’s hostage ordeal premieres Associated Press Writer
VIENNA — The story of Natascha Kampusch, who grew from a 10-year old to a young woman as a captive of a sadistic abductor, is now a movie. The ďŹ lm depicting her more than eight-year long ordeal premiered late Monday in Vienna. Titled “3096 Days,â€? the English-
language ďŹ lm is based on Kampusch’s biography. Thure Lindhardt, who played abductor Wolfgang Priklopil, says the role was “challenging,â€? while CampbellHughes describes her portrayal of Kampusch as “a very great responsibility.â€? Prominent Austrians in the audience
came away impressed. Former Interior Minister Karl Blecha said the ďŹ lm succeeded in depicting the horrors of Kampusch’s torment. Kampusch was snatched off a Vienna street when she was 10 and held prisoner until she ed in August 2006. Priklopil committed suicide within hours of her escape.
Dennis Rodman worms his way into North Korea Associated Press Writer
PYONGYANG, North Korea — Former NBA star Dennis Rodman brought his basketball skills Tuesday and amboyant style — tattoos, nose studs and all — to a country with possibly the world’s strictest dress code: North Korea. Landing in Pyongyang with VICE television, the American athlete and showman known as “The Wormâ€? became an unlikely ambassador for sports diplomacy at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Rodman is joining three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team and a VICE correspondent for a news show on North Korea that will air on HBO later this year, VICE told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview Tuesday before they landed. Rodman and VICE said the Americans hope to engage in a little “basketball diplomacyâ€? by running a basketball camp for children and playing with North Korea’s top basketball stars — and, they hope, drawing leader Kim Jong Un to a game.
AP Photo/Kim Kwang Hyon
Kim is said to be a huge basketball fan. “Is sending the Harlem Globetrotters and Dennis Rodman to the DPRK strange? In a word, yes,â€? said Shane Smith, the VICE founder who is host of the upcoming series, referring to North Korea by the initials of its formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. “But ďŹ nding common ground on the basketball court is a beautiful thing. Rodman might seem an odd ďŹ t for North Korea, where men’s fashion rarely ventures beyond military khaki and where growing facial hair is forbidden. Though there’s a burgeoning fashion sense among the women of Pyongyang, the men in this conservative society still tend dress austerely: khaki work suits, military uniforms, dark blue Mao-style
suits or Western-style suit jackets. In contract, Rodman was a poster boy for ashy excess during his heyday in the 1990s. He called his 1996 autobiography “Bad as I Wanna Beâ€? — and showed up wearing a wedding dress to promote it. Shown a photo of a snarling Rodman, piercings dangling from his lower lip and two massive tattoos emblazoned on his chest, one North Korean in Pyongyang recoiled and said: “He looks like a monster!â€? But Rodman is also a Hall of Fame basketball player and one of the best defenders and rebounders to ever play the game. During a storied, often controversial career, he won five NBA championships. On Tuesday, Rodman, now 51, was low-key and soft-spoken in cobalt blue sweatpants and a Polo Ralph Lauren cap. There was a bit of ash: white-rimmed sunglasses and studs in his nose and lower lip. But he told AP he was there to teach basketball and talk to people, not to stir up trouble.
Flamboyant former NBA VWDU 'HQQLV 5RGPDQ ÂżIWK from right, poses with three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, in red jerseys.
AP Photo/Ronald Zak
Austrian Natascha Kampusch poses for phoWRJUDSKHUV EHIRUH WKH SUHPLHUH RI WKH ¿OP ³ 'D\V´ LQ 9LHQQD $XVWULD 0RQGD\ )HE