Edition Thurday, March 8, 2018 | Internasional Bali Post

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

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

16 Pages Number 66 10th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Thursday, March 8, 2018

REUTERS/Dominick Reuter

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby leaves after a pre-trial hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. March 6, 2018.

Cosby lawyers want other accusers barred at retrial as #MeToo looms NORRISTOWN - Allowing 19 other women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault to testify at his retrial would unfairly prejudice jurors, especially against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, his lawyers told a judge on Tuesday.

Cosby, best known as the star of the 1980s TV hit “The Cosby Show,” is accused of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand, now 44, at his home near Philadelphia between Dec. 30, 2003, and Jan. 20, 2004. His first trial in June ended with a hung jury.

Constand, a former administrator of the women’s basketball team at Temple University, Cosby’s alma mater, is one of more than 50 women who have accused him of sexual assaults, some dating back decades.

Cosby, 80, has repeatedly denied assaulting anyone, saying any sexual encounter was consensual. The retrial is set to begin with jury selection on March 29.

All of the accusations except Constand’s are too old to be prosecuted, but prosecutors asked Judge Steven O’Neill on Monday to allow 19 of the other accusers to testify in support of Constand’s case.

Cosby’s lawyers objected on Tuesday, arguing that they should be barred because the #MeToo movement has

created an atmosphere in which the other women’s testimony would prejudice the jury against him.

The movement, which grew out of accusations against a host of entertainment, sports, and news media figures, has encouraged millions of women to share their experiences of abuse and harassment.

Having the other women tell their stories on the witness stand would only enrage jurors, and that appeared to be the prosecution’s purpose in making its request, defense attorney Becky James said in the second day of a pretrial hearing in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

“In that environment, allowing the 19 to testify would be hugely prejudicial,” she said.

The judge allowed one other accuser to testify in Cosby’s first trial. In general, a defendant’s history is not admissible as evidence that he or she committed a particular crime.

But the Cosby case is an exception, prosecutors argued, because the way he abused the 19 women was repetitive and consistent.

“Nineteen prior bad acts are needed to demonstrate that these events are not random and remote,” Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Jappe said in her rebuttal argument on Tuesday. (rtr)

Stormy Daniels sues Trump over ‘hush agreement’

CALIFORNIA - Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels sued President Donald Trump on Tuesday, alleging he never signed a nondisclosure agreement to keep her quiet about an “intimate” relationship between them.

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles claiming the agreement is invalid and she is free to publicly discuss her relationship with Trump.

The lawsuit, which Clifford’s attorney Michael Avenatti published in a tweet, says that she signed both the agreement and a side letter using her stage name on October 28, 2016, days before the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen signed the document the same day, but Trump never signed the document, the lawsuit claims.

The “hush agreement” as it is called in the lawsuit refers to Trump as David Dennison and Clifford as Peggy Peterson. The side letter agreement reveals the true identities of the parties as Clifford and Trump, according to the lawsuit. Clifford asks in the lawsuit for the Los Angeles County Superior Court to declare the agreement and side agreement invalid and unenforceable.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Avenatti was not immediately available for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Clifford and Trump had an intimate relationship that lasted from the summer of 2006 well into 2007, including meetings in Lake Tahoe and at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Daniels was quoted in a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly magazine that she had an affair with Trump after they met at a

REUTERS/Stringer

Sri Lanka’s army soldiers stand guard a road after a clash between two communities in Digana, central district of Kandy, Sri Lanka March 6, 2018.

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File photo

Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels Lake Tahoe golf tournament in 2006, not long after Trump’s wife, Melania, had given birth to their son, Barron.

Cohen has said he paid Clifford $130,000 of his own money in 2016, the year Trump was elected president, but said neither the Trump Organization nor Trump’s campaign was a party to the transaction, though he declined to say publicly what it was for.

The lawsuit said the 2016 hush agreement called for $130,000 to

be paid into the trust account of Clifford’s then-attorney. In return, Clifford was not to disclose any confidential information about Trump.

The suit alleges Cohen has tried to keep Clifford from talking about the relationship as recently as Feb. 27, 2018.

“The attempts to intimidate Ms. Clifford into silence and ‘shut her up’ in order to ‘protect Mr. Trump’ continue unabated,” the lawsuit said. (rtr)

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Thursday, March 8, 2018

Jl. D.Poso No 68 Jl. D.Poso No. 50D Jl. D.Poso No. 39 Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur Jl. D.Tamblingan

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28 Kopi Made Jl. Raya Puputan No. 106 Dps 29 Dimsum Manan Jl. Raya Niti Mandala Renon No 148 30 Furama Jl. Raya Niti Mandala No. 148 Renon 31 Warung Subah Renon Jl. Mohamad Yamin No.18 32 Ayam Betutu khas Gilimanuk Jl. Merdeka No.88 Renon 33 Bali Bakery Jl. Hayam Wuruk 184 Denpasar

Lanka declares state of emergency after Buddhist-Muslim clashes

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday declared a nationwide state of emergency for seven days in a bid to curb communal violence after clashes erupted between majority Buddhists and members of the Muslim minority. Under the emergency, which was imposed for the first time since 2011, following the end of the civil war with Tamil separatists two years before that, security forces can carry out searches without warrant and detain suspects without charges.

The move came after police said Sinhalese mobs targeted the properties of minority Muslims in eastern and central Sri Lanka, incensed by the death of a Sinhalese truck driver after a clash with Muslim youths in the central Kandy district on Sunday. Some people were instigating violence through Facebook , the government said, warning of tough action against them.

“The president has instructed the police to impartially, comprehensively and promptly deal with those engaged in criminal activities

and those causing or attempting to cause ethnic and religious tensions, irrespective of their ethnic or religious identities and political affiliations,” said a statement issued

by Sirisena’s office.

Tension has been growing between the two communities in Sri Lanka over the past year, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites.

Some Buddhist nationalists have also protested against the

presence in Sri Lanka of Muslim Rohingya asylum-seekers from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, where Buddhist nationalism has also been on the rise. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament that “political groups” he did not identify were trying to incite hatred against Muslims.

Muslims make up about 9 percent of Sri Lanka’s 21 million people.

Buddhists comprise about 70 percent and ethnic Tamils, most of whom are Hindus, about 13 percent.

Analysts say the government

has been alarmed by the speed with which the trouble spread in two districts of Kandy and sought to contain it through the imposition of emergency.

Postings have appeared on Facebook threatening more attacks on Muslims. The unrest in Kandy began on Sunday after the funeral of the Sinhalese truck driver, the government said.

It was not clear why the initial altercation occurred but after the driver’s funeral on Monday, a Sinhalese mob attacked Muslim shops, police said. Early on Tuesday the body of a Muslim youth was found in a burnt-out shop, police said.

Area residents have said more than 30 shops and houses have damaged while scores of mosques also have

been attacked after the government imposed a curfew on Monday. Police reimposed the curfew until 0600 hours (0030 GMT) Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka said it was important that the government act quickly against perpetrators of sectarian violence, and protect religious minorities and their places of worship. It also asked for an early lifting of the emergency. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

2

Bali News

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Disconnection of internet on Nyepi may impact on security Parliament urged to soon coordinate with ministry

DENPASAR - A joint appeal to turn off mobile data (internet) services on Nyepi is actually not a new request. Last year, this had also been delivered but could not be realized after coordinating with the Ministry of Communications and Informatics.

It happens because the internet disconnection will have a big impact, one of them on Bali’s own security aspects.

enjoying entertainment. As an impact, many people are offended and so forth, and some even threaten the Chairman of PHDI, that’s natural,” he said.

According to Sudiana, the appeal has been proposed to the Ministry of Communications and Informatics. If accepted by cellular service providers, it will be good. Otherwise, there is no sanction given to them. He hoped the cellular service providers can understand that Nyepi celebration once in a year can be carried out solemnly.

“All the Hindus should not be anxious. A lot of critics have come in to us. However, if you can feel the pleasure of not using social media for one day, for instance, you’ll get addicted later on,” he added.

Sudiana added, at the time of Nyepi, communication to God does not need to use any other means. However, it is simply by bringing together our thoughts, words and deeds.

“At that time, if having carried out well, we will feel the real practices of religion,” he said. (kmb32)

“Actually this discourse also emerged last year. However, after we make coordination with the parliament (Bali House of Representatives), Indonesia Broadcasting Commission (KPID) of Bali Region and the Ministry, it has quite large impact on the security in connection with the existence of our airport and tourism,” said the Head of the Bali Communications, Informatics and Statistics Agency, Nyoman Sujaya, when confirmed on Tuesday (Mar. 6).

Sujaya explained if something happened to the security of Bali, police also need internet access to overcome it. It also includes in case of disaster. Nevertheless, his agency will continue to coordinate one of the contents of the joint appeals of the religious councils of Bali Province. Certainly, it is meant to find out the best way for all parties.

“Later on, Commission I of the Bali House of Representatives will coordinate on March 9 to the Ministry of Communications and Informatics related to television, radio and internet. After that, the coordination result will be disseminated next Monday,” he explained.

When separately interviewed, Chairman of the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali Province, I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said there have been joint appeals consisting of eight points of agreement. The fourth point states that providers of cellular communication services are expected to turn off their mobile data (internet) service from Saturday (Mar. 17) at 06:00 until Sunday (Mar. 18) at 06:00.

Since it is an appeal, the people of Bali are asked not to be anxious and emotionless as the appeal is actually expected to have a positive impact on the Hindus celebrating Nyepi in Bali.

“The internet contains a lot of entertainment. In the catur brata penyepian, there is amati lelanguan or restraint from

PHDI Buleleng disseminates the closing of Internet access on Nyepi

SINGARAJA - Celebration of Nyepi Day of Caka New Year 1940 will coincide with Saraswati Day. Religious councils of Bali Province called for cellular communication companies to close internet access services for people carrying out Catur Brata Penyepian (four abstinences in series of Nyepi). In the near future, this appeal will be disseminated to subdistricts and villages in Buleleng.

There are eight points of decision of religious councils of Bali Province. One of them hoped the

cellular communication companies to turn off their internet services starting on Saturday (Mar. 17) at 06:00 through Sunday (Mar. 18) at 06:00.

In responding to this appeal, Chairman of the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Buleleng Chapter, Dewa Nyoman Suardana, said on Tuesday (Mar. 6) that he supports the appeals.

The closure of internet access on Nyepi Day will provide the widest opportunities for the devotees to carry out the tapa brata penyepian well, so the

implementation of Nyepi can run solemnly without being disrupted by negative things. In the near future, the appeals will be further disseminated to subdistrict heads and forwarded to villages. “We follow the direction of PHDI Bali.

As religious people, let’s respect and appreciate to the provisions in implementing Nyepi so that the atmosphere is peaceful,” he said.

According to Suardana, when the religious leadership in Bali issued a public policy devotees should not show off an assumption that PHDI makes a new problem.

Rather, the appeals must be addressed wisely. He assessed when the internet access is active on Nyepi, it can be misused to do negative things through social media growing rampant lately. Suardana pointed out that having selfie on the road and then uploading to social media is worried to result in controversy. “It is just carried out for one day, not to turn on mobile phone. Without being arranged, who else will do it,” he said.

In separate location, Chairman of the Buleleng House of Representatives, Gede Supriatna, hoped

the appeals could be reviewed as the implementation of Catur Brata Penyepian depends on the awareness of each people.

Meanwhile, the need for internet access is not limited to games among children and adults or those being active in social media network. Conversely, internet access is also needed to obtain information that is urgent to support broader interests. “We respect to the appeals of the PHDI. However, it would be wiser for the PHDI to review the appeals,” he explained. (kmb38)

 Founder : K.Nadha,  General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra  Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Sugiartha, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Suasrina, Buleleng: Dewa kusuma, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Dewa Farendra. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto.  Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

Activities

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

15

Swimming at Aston Denpasar and Get Free Breakfast Buffet

Staying at the hotel usually will automatically get breakfast and use the pool for free. However, both facilities can now be enjoyed at Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center for those who do not stay at the hotel.

Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center offers Hot Deal Breakfast on Weekend. Through

this package, guests can use the 3 pools on weekends and satisfy their taste-budge through buffet breakfast provided by Jempiring Restaurant with various menu choices, such as; a variety of salads, cereals, milk, juices, bread station, waffles and pancake station, egg station, porridge with various kinds of condiments, authentic station,

coffee and tea, and also available the variant of main course such as traditional, Western, Asian, and local. This package is quite affordable for a four-star hotel located on Jl. Gatot Subroto Barat no. 283 Denpasar, it cost IDR 60,000 nett/ person, while for children it will cost IDR 45,000 nett/ child, 6-10 years old.

“Due to the high demand from our loyal guests who did not stay but regularly used the pool on the weekend, then we launched this package. So we suggest that anyone who interested to have this package, kindly book it at least one day in advance, to make sure to get a seat in our restaurant. “ Said Ady Suardy - Assistant Restaurant

Manager di Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center.

For further information and reservation, kindly contact 0361 - 411999 or quick response please mention and follow us on Twitter @AstonDenpasarID, Instagram @ AstonDenpasar, and Facebook @ Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center.

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Thursday, March 8, 2018

Health

International

Dieting pressure in teen years tied to food and weight problems later MINNEAPOLIS - Adults who were pressured by their parents to diet during adolescence may have a higher risk of obesity and eating disorders as adults than people who weren’t urged to lose weight as teens, a U.S. study suggests.

As parents, adults who endured dieting pressure during their teen years were also more likely to encourage their own children to watch what they ate, researchers report in Pediatrics, online March 6.

“When adolescents were encouraged to diet by their parents, they were more likely to be overweight, engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors, binge eat and diet, and to have lower body satisfaction as adults,” said lead study author Jerica Berge of the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.

“These results suggest that a pattern is created and passed from one generation to the next,” Berge said by email.

For the study, researchers examined data from eating surveys that 556 participants completed in school when they were 15 years old on average, as well as results from online surveys they completed as adults 15 years later.

In the first surveys, 37 percent of the teens said they were encouraged to diet by their parents. They were more likely to experience this if they were girls, younger in age, from low-income households, overweight or obese, or non-white.

When the participants grew up, those who had been pushed to diet were 25 percent more likely to be overweight and 37 percent more likely to be obese than the adults who weren’t pressured to lose weight

during adolescence, the study found.

While binge eating was rare, it was 72 percent more likely among the adults who had been pressured to diet as teens.

As parents, people who were pushed to diet during their teen years were also roughly 50 percent more likely to push their own kids to diet and to talk to children about their weight.

Families with a parent who was pressured to diet growing up were also more likely to tease one another about weight or openly talk about each other’s weight, researchers found.

The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how dieting pressure during adolescence might translate into certain behaviors related to food and weight in adulthood.

Beyond its small size, another limitation is that researchers relied on participants to accurately report whether they were overweight or obese. Most of the participants were women, too. And there weren’t enough fathers in the study to explore how experiences in adolescence might influence how they interacted with their own kids about food and weight.

Even so, the study offers fresh evidence that even well-intended efforts by parents to encourage kids to slim down can backfire, said Katherine Bauer, coauthor of an accompanying editorial, and a nutrition specialist at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor.

“Many people, adults and teens alike, desire to eat healthier and achieve a healthier weight,” Bauer said by email. “But achieving this is really hard when there’s so much misinformation about nutrition out there and so much pressure for quick fixes.” (rtr)

IBP/net

Adults who were pressured by their parents to diet during adolescence may have a higher risk of obesity and eating disorders as adults.

Bali News

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

3

Indian tourist visit targeted to reach 400,000 in 2018

IBP/net

For pregnant women with chronic or pregnancy-related hypertension, home blood pressure monitoring could safely reduce their number of required hospital visits.

Home blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy safe, cost effective

LONDON - For pregnant women with chronic or pregnancyrelated hypertension, home blood pressure monitoring could safely reduce their number of required hospital visits, suggests a small study in the UK. About 10 percent of pregnant women have chronic high blood pressure, gestational high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia - a complication of pregnancy that includes elevated blood pressure - and must keep tabs on their blood pressure throughout pregnancy.

“I saw just how much time and effort women diagnosed with high blood pressure in pregnancy have to spend attending the hospital for monitoring,” said senior study author Dr. Asma Khalil, an obstetrician at St. George’s Hospital at the University of London.

They often have to come to the hospital two or three times a week, spending a couple of hours each time, having their blood pressure and urine monitored, Khalil added.

“I saw how they had to take time off work, arrange childcare, and spend time and money coming to the hospital. I also saw how busy this made the staff at the hospital day unit, and the cost to the health services,” she told Reuters Health in an email.

On top of all of that, just coming to the hospital often stressed women so much that it made their blood pressure higher than it had been at home, Khalil said.

To see if women could monitor themselves at home effectively, and without any added risks to themselves or the pregnancy, the researchers enrolled pregnant patients of the hospital who had been

diagnosed with high blood pressure but were otherwise healthy.

A total of 108 women were taught how to measure and track their blood pressure at home using the WatchBP Home monitor.

Twenty-nine of these women also opted to use a smartphone app to record their measurements while the rest simply kept written notes.

In addition, women assigned to home monitoring were given written instructions regarding when to go to the hospital based on their blood pressure readings or potential symptoms of pre-eclampsia.

Another 58 women, similar to those in the home-monitoring group, were used as a comparison group drawn from past patients of the hospital who had received normal care.

All the women were followed for five to nine weeks during pregnancy, and the study team analyzed post-delivery records to assess pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, cesarean sections, admission to neonatal unit and others. The mothers’ incidence of hypertension-related complications including kidney, liver and heart problems was also assessed.

“There was no difference in the incidence of adverse maternal, fetal or neonatal outcome between women who had home blood pressure monitoring and those who had the traditional blood pressure monitoring,” Khalil said.

Women who self-monitored averaged 0.8 visits to the clinic per week, compared to the traditionalcare group’s average of 1.6 visits per week, according to the results in Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. (rtr)

MANGUPURA - The visit of Indian tourists to Bali is now increasing steadily. Moreover, throughout 2017 a total of 270,000 Indian tourists traveled to Bali.

Such number is still considered small when compared to India’s population reaching 1.3 billion people. Besides, the number of people belonging to middle to upper economic class with lifestyle that like traveling overseas lies in the range of 10-15 percent. Of course, this becomes an opportunity to increase tourist arrivals to Bali.

In 2018, the visit of Indian tourists is expected to increase to 400,000. For that purpose, the tourism players invited 200 buyers or prospective buyers of Bali tourism products by doing business to business (B2B) table top by Tri Uma in Kuta on Tuesday (Mar. 6). The event under the name of Education Destination Workshop International (EDWIN) took place on March 5-10.

Through this activity, Chairman of the Regional Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) of Badung, IGN Rai Suryawijaya, said the tourism promotion through direct meetings of the industry as a seller with buyers is an appropriate measure to increase tourist arrivals to Bali. He added the Indian market is still very potential.

“It will be better for them (buyers) to come to Bali because they can see in person and experience the safe and comfortable atmosphere and the beauty of the Bali Island,” he said.

He explained that tourism promotion can be done in two ways,

namely by promotions outside and within the country by inviting potential buyers to see firsthand the products sold to potential tourists.

Meanwhile, the promotion held outside the country is by coming directly to the countries concerned.

With the incessant tourism promotion, he hoped to increase the visit of Indian tourists to Bali so that it occupies the third position as the largest number of countries visiting Bali. He said the length of stay spent by Indian tourists at least amounts to five days. Moreover, this market is better than China which only has 4 days 3 nights. “On average, the spending of Indian tourist at 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels, not jasmine-rated hotels, reaches minimally USD 100-200 per day,” he said.

The Association of Indonesia Tour and Travel Agency (ASITA) of Bali Chapter, Putu Winastra, added that a total of 10 travel agencies handle the Indian market through B2B relations to bring in Indian tourists. He said that only few Indian tourists have vacation to Bali, probably due to flight constraints. “For Indian market, we have Namaste division consisting of 30 travel agencies that specializes in handling Indian tourists,” he added.

He hoped the 200 buyers will bring in more and more guests to Bali. By bringing in buyers from India through B2B cooperation, surely it will become far more potential because the products on offer such as hotel, destination and others can directly be experienced. (kmb23)

Other than beautiful and smart

Mirah Cintya, Putri Indonesia of Bali Chapter, has a good attitude

DENPASAR — Being a Putri Indonesia (Princess of Indonesia) is not easy. It is not enough just armed with beautiful face, high posture and skills to sway on catwalk, but must also be smart and have a good attitude.

IBP/kmb

The visit of Indian tourists to Bali is now increasing steadily.

IBP/kmb

A.A. Ayu Mirah Cyntia Dewi

A.A. Ayu Mirah Cyntia Dewi has been named Putri Indonesia 2018 of Bali Chapter last February. This girl born on April 13, 1997 will further fight against other beautiful princess of Indonesia to become a Putri Indonesia 2018. If she wins, the elected Putri Indonesia will compete again to the Miss Universe.

Met on Monday (Mar.5), Laksmi Duarsa, Advisor to Putri Bali Foundation, said that Mirah is a participant of Putri Bali 2018 whose score is above the average.

Of the 3 outline assessments, the score of Mirah Cintya for beauty, intelligence and behavior is said to be above the average. “The others are good, but Mirah Cintya is even better,” she said.

The selection stage until getting the title of Putri Indonesia of Bali Chapter took a month. Many teenagers of 18-25 years old participated in the event. There were two selections made from January and the second selection in February. Of the hundreds of participants,

10 names were chosen for quarantine.

During the quarantine period, all the participants got a lot of knowledge starting from walking exercises on catwalk, general knowledge, aptitude tests and table manners, modeling exercises and many other things.

In essence, the assessment point of Putri Indonesian of Bali Chapter is divided into 3 namely beauty, brain and behavior. “During the quarantine period, there will be an evening talent showcase of each participant,” she said.

Afterward, in the grand final, all the participants were judged by 5 judges including from Mustika Ratu.

After the selection of Mirah Cintya as Putri Indonesia of Bali Chapter 2018, this student of Tourism Management Study Program at the Faculty of Tourism, Udayana University, only has two weeks to prepare for the selection of Putri Indonesia. “There are body-building, body treatments, cooking by chef and walking on catwalk exercises, so the training gained beforehand will be reinforced by the exercises,” she said.

After attending the training, since last Wednesday, Mirah has followed quarantine period in Jakarta to further compete in the event of Putri Indonesia 2018. (kmb42)

4

Bali News

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Pengerupukan night must get attention from all parties MANGUPURA — When welcoming the Nyepi (Day of Silence) holiday, the entire customary village chiefs in Kuta Selatan subdistrict assisted by pecalang (village security guard) are expected to coordinate with security guards at the village level. This coordination needs to be done in order that the whole series of activities can run in accordance with the Hindu customs and religions.

“It means to prevent unwanted things from happening in connection with the night of the Pengerupukan. After completing the ogohogoh parade, we hope the ogohogoh used to be placed well in accordance with the agreement of each customary village. In short, it should not be placed on the road that can disrupt road users,” said the Head of South Kuta Sub-district, Made Widiana, after holding a meeting to discuss the security of Nyepi holiday on Tuesday (Mar. 6) at his office.

Widiana further confirmed the night of Pengerupukan should get the attention from all parties. If there is ogoh-ogoh parade, it should be organized more orderly. In addition, sekaa taruna (customary village youth club) or local community is expected to utilize hamlet hall as a gathering place after the Pengerupukan. They should not use the street as a place to gather especially while drinking alcohol because it can ignite an unsafe situation.

“We ask chief of customary village to coordinate with the hamlet

chief in order they can direct their people after the Pengrupukan so as not to use the road to get together.

We ask to equally maintain the situation so as to be safe and controlled,” he said.

Meanwhile, when entering the catur brata penyepian (four abstinences), all devotees are expected to make introspection for the activities having been done within the past year. If there are residents or other people who need health services, they can contact to pecalang to call the village ambulance to be transferred to hospital or health center for further treatment. “Later, the ambulance will be accompanied by pecalang as the escort,” he concluded.

The meeting was also attended by the Interfaith Communion Forum (FKUB) officials, house of worship attendants, and hospital management across South Kuta subdistrict, immigration office, police and TNI (Indonesian Army).

In the meantime, the immigration authorities are expected to disseminate to tourists or foreign nationals living in people’s homes.

Probably, they have not known the procedures of the implementation of Nyepi feast day. To that end, it will become the task of the immigration office to disseminate.

“Perhaps many foreigners who live in people’s home or rented houses without a host, so they need to be informed about the procedures of the Nyepi holiday,” he added. (kmb23)

IBP/wan

The night of Pengerupukan should get the attention from all parties. If there is ogoh-ogoh parade, it should be organized more orderly.

13

At least 18 killed as second earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea

IBP/kmb31

The arrival of the Head of the Karangasem Library and Archive Office accompanied by several technical staff, Division Head of Library Development and Division Head of Library Processing is meant to have a closer look at the collection and management of the museum.

Karangasem Library has eyes for Penaban Lontar Museum

SINCE the launch of Bali Lontar (Palm-Manuscript) Museum by Dukuh Penaban customary village, Karangasem, it has received much attention from various parties, including the management of lontar museum at home and overseas, lontar observers, mass media and bureaucrats.

One of them is from the Karangasem Library and Archive Office which specifically visited the museum directly on Monday (Mar. 5).

The arrival of the Head of the Karangasem Library and Archive Office, I Komang Daging, accompanied by several technical staff, Division Head of Library Development, I Komang Pasek Antara and Division Head of Library Processing, I Made Sujendra, is meant to have a closer look at the collection and management of the museum. In addition, they also wanted to establish cooperation with the museum currently being under development.

The cooperation is a form of synergy between the government and customary village to give a new impression in the process of library development.

The arrival of the entourage from the Karangasem Library was received directly by the Museum Head, Jro Nengah Suarya, accompanied by his Secretary I Nengah Sudana and other senior figures of local village. To the management, Daging said the form of cooperation includes the arrangement ac-

tivities of the ancient archipelagic manuscripts, physical preservation and library content. The process will involve a team from various stakeholders including the Bali Lontar Museum at Penaban.

This cooperation is just made for the first time. Results of this activity will be made into the material collection of the Karangasem Library and Archive Office. Thus, the quality and quantity of library collections increased from before.

Besides, various visitors will visit the Karangasem Library. “Later, the readers that cannot read Balinese scripts in the palm-leaf manuscript can read the transliteration in the form of book in the Karangasem Library,” said Daging.

Jro Nengah Suarya welcomed the cooperation as the relatively new museum has received the attention from various parties. He said to have previously been working with several parties including lontar owners at his village and

overseas museum owners such as Leiden Museum, in the Netherlands and the Balinese language extension officers in Karangasem. Jro Suarya claimed that his museum has collected more than 400 units of palm-leaf manuscripts. “The management of this museum will not only preserve the lontar manuscripts, but also organize the learning of Balinese culture. Thus, this can become a tourist attraction,” said Suarya.

To be noted, the land area of this museum spreads across 1.5 hectares located in the middle of lush green moor with rural and natural atmosphere. The physical buildings established in the museum area include Sangkul Putih Pavilion, hall and classroom of higher priests, display room of lontar manuscript collection, kitchen and open stage to perform cultural show. Meanwhile, the other buildings are still in the stage of workmanship. (kmb31)

IBP/net

Agio Pereira and Julie Bishop sign paperwork in front of small East Timor and Australian flags.

Australia, East Timor sign deal on maritime border, gas field

UNITED NATIONS - East Timor and Australia signed a treaty at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday to resolve a long-running dispute over their maritime border and struck a deal on how to share revenue from the offshore Greater Sunrise gas field.

East Timor will receive a bigger share of the revenue than Australia depending on the development concept - 70 percent of the revenue if the gas is piped to the tiny country or 80 percent if the gas is piped to Australia for processing.

The agreement also establishes a maritime boundary in the Timor Sea for the first time. Australia had sought a boundary aligned with its continental shelf, but East Timor argued the border should lie half way between it and Australia - placing much of the Greater Sunrise field under its control.

“With this treaty we open a new chapter in relations between Australia and Timor-Leste,” said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who signed the treaty alongside East Timor’s Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister for the Delimitation of Borders Hermenegildo Augusto Cabral Pereira.

The protracted dispute had led the owners of Greater Sunrise Woodside Petroleum, ConocoPhil-

lips, Royal Dutch Shell and Japan’s Osaka Gas - to shelve the project.

The Greater Sunrise field is estimated to hold 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas and 226 million barrels of condensates, which analysts have previously estimated could be worth $40 billion. However, development could be at least a decade away, with Woodside looking at the latter half of the next decade.

Australian Associated Press reported shortly before the signing ceremony that East Timor had accused Australia of colluding with the oil companies to have the gas piped to Australia for processing.

“Australia rejects absolutely any suggestion that we have acted other than in utmost good faith throughout this conciliation process,” Bishop told reporters at the United Nations.

“The way is now clear for Timor-Leste, as the majority beneficiary of the division of the resource, to find a way with the joint venture partners to develop Greater Sunrise in an economically viable

fashion,” she said.

East Timor had been pushing hard for the building of an onshore processing plant to boost its economy. Bishop said Australia does not have a position and that the main concern was that any project was economically viable.

“It’s a conciliation process, it was never meant to be easy. We had ups and downs in this 22, 23 months,” said Pereira, adding that the focus should be on Tuesday’s treaty signing.

Ending years of opposition, Australia agreed in 2017 to accept Dili’s formal notice to terminate an agreement to split petroleum revenue equally from Greater Sunrise and set a 50-year timetable for negotiating a permanent sea boundary.

Dili had taken the long-running maritime border dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, an intergovernmental organization based at The Hague, which ordered compulsory arbitration between the two parties. (rtr)

SYDNEY - A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Southern Highlands on Wednesday killing at least 18 people, an official said, a week after a larger quake flattened villages and killed at least 55 people.

The tremor, shortly after midnight local time, struck just 31 km (19 miles) southwest of the epicentre of last Monday’s magnitude 7.5 quake that has left government and aid agencies scrambling to provide emergency supplies to the remote region.

Australia and New Zealand said on Wednesday they would increase aid to Papua New Guinea.

Australia will deploy three helicopters this week to deliver aid, while New Zealand will send a second military plane to distribute medical equipment, hygiene kits and tarpaulins.

Wednesday’s quake was the most severe of a series of aftershocks that have rattled the resource-rich region, about 600 km (370 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

William Bando, the administrator of Hela Province, said initial reports put the death toll from the aftershock at 18.

“It appears Hides was hardest hit. We haven’t heard about potential casualties there yet, but it is a big village with many people,” he added.

Manasseh Makiba, Papua New Guinea’s Vice Minister for Petroleum & Energy who represents parts of Hela Province in parliament, said victims were still being found.

“People are still being ex-

tracted from mud. People are still being taken to hospitals,” he said.

Local media outlets reported the death toll from the original quake had risen to 75, after government officials said previously that 55 people had been killed.

A spokeswoman at Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Centre said on Wednesday that authorities were finalising a final report into the casualties from the first quake.

James Komengi, a United Church project officer, speaking from Tari, the capital of quakeaffected Hela province, said his church’s assessment and response centre had counted up to 67 deaths in that province alone.

Aid efforts are being hampered as rescue workers struggle to reach the highlands area as many roads are either badly damaged or blocked.

The International Red Cross warned the situation could deteriorate if heavy rains hit the region.

“We are anxious to reach communities while there is a lull in what is usually a season of heavy rain. A big downpour could bring landslides in hillsides already destabilised by the earthquake, cause floods and contaminate water,” said Udaya Regmi, Director the International Red Cross in Papua New Guinea.

The Red Cross said its initial assessments indicate that as many as 143,000 people could have been affected, with an estimated 500 people injured and 17,000 people displaced from their homes. Even in more accessible areas of the country, health facilities have been damaged. (rtr)

MAF International/Handout via REUTERS

Residents wait to receive aid after an earthquake in Papua New Guinea in this handout image released March 7, 2018.

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BUSINESS

tariffs based on “national security”, went ahead.

Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, said countries will not be excluded from the tariffs but there will be a mechanism for some corporate exemptions, raising hopes some Japanese products will be exempted.

Any steps Japan does take in response to U.S. tariffs would be consistent with rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), said a Japanese government source, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to media.

“We wouldn’t stand idly by, but ... if we did the same thing as the United States by taking steps that are against WTO rules, that would be like a children’s spat.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has forged close ties with Trump, is wary of confrontation over trade since keeping Tokyo and Washington on the same page on North Korea is a top priority, experts said.

“The security issue looms much larger now. I don’t think they want to set off Trump,” said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University’s Japan campus. “You don’t get what you want by getting in his face, but by making it seem he’s getting a better deal,” he added. (rtr)

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

A humanoid robot works side by side with employees in the assembly line at a factory of Glory Ltd., a manufacturer of automatic change dispensers, in Kazo, north of Tokyo, Japan, July 1, 2015.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh speaks during the Lebanon Investment in Infrastructure Conference in Beirut, Lebanon March 6, 2018.

Lebanese dollar reserves recover from last year’s crisis

BEIRUT - The Lebanese central bank’s dollar reserves grew in early 2018, recovering from a decline during a political crisis last year that pushed up interest rates, its governor said on Tuesday. Reserves climbed by $1.4 billion in the first two months of the year and total assets in dollars exceeded $43 billion, Governor Riad Salameh said at an economic conference in Beirut.

“With the rise of interest rates and the return of political issues to normal, the dollar reserves at the central bank rose,” he said.

November’s political crisis was triggered by the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri during a trip to Saudi Arabia, before he returned to the country and resumed his role.

The crisis raised questions about Lebanon’s economic stability and put pressure on the Lebanese pound’s peg to the dollar. Lebanon has one of the world’s most indebted governments measured against the size of its economy.

Growth has been slowed by war in neighbouring Syria and years of internal political disputes.

The economy relies on the confidence of millions of expatriate Lebanese who deposit into local banks. The banks buy government debt, which finances the expanding budget deficit and debt.

The International Monetary Fund last month strongly criticised Lebanon’s unsustainable debt trajectory and said there was an “urgent need” for government policy to stabilise and then reduce public debt as a share of gross domestic product. Hoping to stimulate its economy, Lebanon this year is seeking up to $16 billion in infrastructure investment from international donors who hope to ward off more Middle East instability, in a country that hosts more than a million Syrian refugees.

“It is no secret that the economic situation in Lebanon today is difficult and that we face big challenges,” Hariri told the conference.

“Growth rates are low, unemployment rates have exceeded 30 per cent, poverty rates are increasing, the balance of payments suffers a deficit, public debt is rising at a rapid rate and has exceeded $80 billion and the treasury deficit has reached

unsustainable levels,” he added.

During November’s turmoil, some Lebanese rushed for dollars; data shows central bank foreign assets fell by $1.6 billion that month.

Salameh told Reuters on the conference’s sidelines that November’s increase in local currency interest rates of around 2 percentage points -- a result of the political crisis -had been enough to iron out market imbalances, “therefore we have an outlook of stable interest rates”.

The government passed a state budget last year for the first time since 2005 and has pledged to agree a 2018 budget before April 6, when France will host a donor conference to support Lebanon.

Tuesday’s conference, organised

by Lebanese business magazine AlIktissad Wal-Aamal in cooperation with Hariri’s office, was a roadshow for Lebanon’s infrastructure investment plans ahead of April’s Paris conference. (rtr)

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Caruk, a Rare and Sacred Gamelan

An old gamelan instrument called Caruk made its first appearance at the Bali Arts Festival (BAF) this year. The Caruk gamelan troupe from Pau Village, Banjarangkan performed music that is rarely heard, on the Amgsoka stage of the Denpsar Art Center. “The caruk gamelan instrument is estimated to have originated in the fifteenth century and this is the fifth generation of this particular gamelan troupe” explained art coordinator of Pau customary village, Nengah Sukirta. Pau Village and Tangkas Village are the only places in Klungkung where caruk gamlean can be found, said Sukirta adding that they are only played for Deva Yajna and Pitri Yajna religious cermonies.

Japan urges U.S. to shun steel tariffs but makes no threats

TOKYO - Japan on Tuesday stuck to its a low-key approach to threatened U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium, reflecting a desire to keep trade fights from hurting security ties as well as lessons learned about how to deal with President Donald Trump. The spectre of a trade war coincides with signs of a thaw in a crisis over North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat, prompting concerns in Tokyo that talks between Pyongyang and Washington could take place despite Japan’s stance that the focus should be on putting increased pressure on Pyongyang.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko on Tuesday repeated that Japanese steel and aluminium exports are not affecting America’s national security but are helping America’s economy. He declined comment on possible retaliation.

“High quality steel and aluminium exports from (U.S.) ally Japan are not at all affecting U.S. national security but rather are contributing to U.S. employment and the economy,” Seko told a news conference. U.S. President Donald Trump last week proposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium. That prompted Canada, Mexico and the European Union to threaten counter-steps if the plan, based on Section 232 of a 1962 U.S. law that allows such

Bali News

International

“For Pitri Yajna rituals, caruk gamelan is played during the cremation ceremony during menek tumpang salu, menek bea and mapurwadaksina rites that culminate in the nyekah ritual.

For Dewa Yajna rituals, caruk gamelan is played during the mamungkah rite. It is played at the peak of the ritual when the deities circle the offerings clockwise –known as murwa daksina” he elaborated.

Head of Pau customary village’s caruk gamelan troupe, I Wayan Suendra, said that this gamelan instrument is a rare and sacred instrument. Caruk gamelan consists of two small xylophones and one saron that are always played together.

“We also have an extra player so for the BAF performance there were four musicians” he Suendra. Suendra added that nine different caruk gamelan compositions were handed down by the ancestors, however because the palm-leaf manuscripts on which they were written are hard to read, only five of the compositions are played. All five were performed at this year’s BAF: the Tabuh Ririgan, Tabuh Rejang, Tabuh Ombak Segara, Tabuh Panji Marga and Tabuh Manu Kaba.

“For a very long time only five of the compositions can be played because of the difficulty in reading the lontars, but we are determined to find a way to read the others so that we can perform them in next year’s BAF”, explained Suendra.

Currently, there are only four people in Pau customary village who are actively involved playing gamelan so Suendra is eager to encourage younger people to learn to play.

“The notation for caruk gamelan music is different than other gamelan so it is harder to learn. It takes many years to master. After the BAF we will start to teach young children, which may take even longer”, he said. (kmb)

Galungan Day: Defeat Kalatiga, Strengthen Awareness

Galungan and Kuningan are feast days of the Hindus. Galungan falling every six months (210 days) or every Buda Kliwon Dungulan, Wednesday (Nov. 1), while Kuningan falls every Saniscara Kliwon Kuningan, Saturday (Nov. 11). In the Sundarigama palm-manuscript is mentioned that celebration of Galungan and Kuningan symbolizes the victory of dharma (truth) against adharma (untruth), the victory of Jayatiga against Kalatiga.

Dr. I Ketut Sumadi, said the celebration of Galungan has started from the previous week namely with Sugihan Jawa ritual (Oct. 26) and Sugihan Bali (Oct. 27). While on Sunday (Oct. 29) is called penyekeban meaning the preparation of ritual paraphernalia.

Raw materials are ripening so that they can be used to fill the ritual paraphernalia of Galungan.

On Sunday, the Kalatiga comes down to tempt human life, so here is really the victory against the temptation of life in the local wisdom of Bali is better known as Sad Ripu (six enemies). Sad Ripu is the six enemies in human beings affecting humans into self-forgetfulness.

It consists of kama (lust, desire), lobha (greed), krodha (anger), moha (confusion), mada (drunk) and matsarya (envy, jealousy).

According to Dr. Sumadi, the coming down of temptations of life is a power, so that people need to be vigilant to see one’s self living with the environment. This is in accordance with the concept of microcosm (human body) and

macrocosm (universe) that must be kept in balance.

While on Monday is the Penyajahan Galungan as the time to prepare everything in more details related to ritual paraphernalia. On that account, it becomes a part of celebrating the victory of dharma against adharma.

READ Nyambutin Ritual, first time baby’s feet touch the earth On Penyajaan Galungan, human temptation level will be higher, so hopefully there is no temptation in preparing the ritual paraphernalia.

The next day, on Tuesday (Oct. 31) is Penampahan Galungan where devotees start to purify themselves, so it is symbolized with slaughtering animal (pig or chicken). “In the context of philosophy, it is the time to do self-contemplation namely making self-awareness to be higher by stripping ourselves what we have ever done, the six things making us forgetful,” he explained.

At that time, humans dispose of the lust of animalistic temptation into a divine nature, making non-good into good. Therefore, on the penampahan, other than making Balinese food like lawar delicacy, people also prepare ritual paraphernalia in the afternoon.

One of the banten or oblations made is prayascita, as a symbol of self-purification carried out around 18:00-19:00. The ceremony is followed by all family members, so that everything can already feel free from temptation.

In the afternoon of the penampahan day, devotees install penjor, meaning that humans can be aware of temptation at that time, so they start doing the seconds of independence. Installing penjor is the symbol of human independence from worldly temptations to achieve prosperity of life. It is an expression of gratitude for the prosperity bestowed by God. “As for banten, devotees prepare yellow-white food oblation symbolizing sanctity,” added Dr. Sumadi.

He said that banten prayascita symbolizes the expression of gratitude for the grace of God in the form of self-awareness, so that devotees can do a good job. It also results in happiness not only for oneself, but also for others. Penjor is symbolizing mountain where the deities abide.

“At that time, God grants prosperity to his devotees,” he added.

In the philosophy of Mount Agung, there are three dragons giving prosperity to their people. They are Basuki giving fertility, Ananta Boga providing endless feeding and Taksaka keeping the air circulation, so that human can survive as energized by the elements of fire, water and wind as the 3 elements causing human to live. On the penampahan, human can live quietly.

On Galungan, humans carry out rituals in accordance with their respective abilities. Aside from saying prayers at home, they also say prayers at clan temple, village trinity temple and universal temple.

“Devotees also say prayers in other

places such as sanctified water source, paddy field, and grave by putting food oblation along with side dish, water, coffee and cigarette,” he said.

The offerings are addressed to dead parents who are still buried (before ritually cremated), so that people can feel relieved. At night, they can practice yoga and worship God in all its manifestations whether as generator, operator and destroyer. Destroyer is important in order that something useless could be restored to its origin, can be recycled to be useful. On Thursday (Nov. 2) or Umanis Galungan devotees offer banten penganyar or small banten to plead for guidance of God that Galungan ritual has been already executed properly.

“On Umanis Galungan human

beings are given better enlightenment, so that getting sweeter filled with mutual forgiving activities or mutually visit relatives and friends to strengthen social ties,” he explained.

On Sunday (Nov. 5) is the Pemacekan Agung, meaning that human beings should not be careless again after receiving enlightenment of God. On Monday (Nov. 6) is Somoribek Day, meaning that human beings really become strong until the next activity, according to the task and obligation. On Friday (Nov. 10) is the Penampahan Kuningan having the same process to boost awareness. Human beings may no longer get tempted by Kalatiga. They must strengthen the soul to overcome temptations of life. (kmb)

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South Korea’s Moon says sanctions on North to stay, too early to be optimistic

SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday sanctions on North Korea will not be eased for the sake of a summit between the two sides as Chinese state media repeated Beijing’s line that talks are the only way to end the nuclear standoff.

South Korean officials met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday in the first such encounter of its kind and said he had expressed his willingness to denuclearise if his country’s security is assured.

And U.S. President Donald Trump said North Korea seems “sincere” in its apparent willingness to suspend nuclear tests if it holds denuclearisation talks with the United States.

Tensions rose to the highest level in years over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, which it pursues in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, with shrill, bellicose rhetoric coming from both Kim Jong Un and Trump.

North Korea has boasted of its plans to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the mainland United States. But fears of all-out war eased last month, coinciding with North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics in the South.

“From looking at the news or Twitter, I believe President Trump is positive about the results of the North Korea visit (by South Korean officials),” Moon told political party leaders.

“However, as this is just the beginning, I believe we are not at a situation yet where we can be optimistic.”

Moon added he had no plans for an easing of sanctions.

“Just because there are talks ongoing between North and South Korea doesn’t mean international sanctions can be eased,” said Moon. “There cannot be an arbi-

International

trary easing of sanctions; we do not wish to do that and I tell you now it is impossible.”

South Korea’s goal was the denuclearisation of North Korea, nothing less, said Moon in comments distributed by the Blue House.

“We cannot have things like the prevention of nuclear proliferation or a moratorium as a final goal,” said Moon.

North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North defends its weapons programmes as necessary to counter U.S. aggression. The South hosts 28,500 U.S. troops, a legacy of the war.

North and South next month will have the first meeting between their leaders since 2007 at the border village of Panmunjom, Chung Eui-yong, head of the South Korean delegation, said on Tuesday.

Leaders around the world have also met the apparent breakthrough with guarded optimism, wary of repeating past negotiations that failed to prevent Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

On-again off-again “six-party” talks, grouping the two Koreas, Japan, Russia and the United States and hosted by China, ended in failure in 2009, with North Korea criticising U.S. aggression.

South Korean officials who met the North Korean leader will leave for Washington on Thursday. Chung said he had a verbal message from Kim Jong Un that he will relay to U.S. officials but it was unclear whether he would meet Trump.

After returning from the United States, Chung will visit China and Russia, while Suh Hoon, the head of South Korea’s intelligence agency, will head to Japan to brief officials. (rtr)

KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the launch of a Hwasong-12 missile in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 16, 2017.

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Indonesia says it blocks services on blogging site Tumblr over pornography REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn (L) and U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster take questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2018.

After tariff fight loss, Trump economic adviser Cohn quits WASHINGTON - Gary Cohn, the top economic adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and a voice for Wall Street in the White House, said on Tuesday he would resign, a move that came after he lost a fight over Trump’s plans for hefty steel and aluminum import tariffs.

The departure of Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, was expected to be finalized in a few weeks and will blow a hole in Trump’s already depleted advisory team at a time when the economy is growing but markets are volatile.

Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday night that he “will be making a decision soon” on replacing Cohn.

Administration officials said Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, and conservative commentator Larry Kudlow were the “top two candidates” for the job.

White House officials said the tariffs dispute contributed to Cohn’s decision to leave but that it was not the sole reason. One official cited several issues and noted: “His biggest mission was on the tax cut bill, which he got passed.”

It was the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the White House, which Trump downplayed on Tuesday.

Asked at a news conference with the Swedish prime minister about high staff turnover, Trump said: “Many, many people want every single job. ... I could take any position in the White House and I’ll have a choice of the 10 top people having to do with that position.

Everybody wants to be there.”

Cohn told Trump about his decision to resign on Tuesday, but

he and the president had been discussing his possible departure for weeks, a White House official said.

Cohn did not show up for Trump’s news conference on Tuesday, despite a seat being set aside for him.

STOCKS FALTER

Following the news on Cohn, the U.S. dollar weakened and U.S. stock futures fell more than 1 percent, with analysts citing increased uncertainty about the U.S. economic agenda.

“One of the adults in the room has left. The markets will worry that this is a signal that we will definitely go ahead with these tariffs,” said Paul Mortimer-Lee, chief market economist at BNP Paribas corporate and investment banking.

Without Cohn in the picture, Navarro, an economist, will likely have a clearer field to pursue a protectionist agenda, which squares with Trump’s long-held concerns about trade.

Trump said last week he would impose import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, a move criticized by some prominent Republicans, but backed by some Democrats.

Trump’s announcement followed an intense debate within the White House between Cohn and Navarro and their respective allies, said White House officials.

“The chances of us having a trade war have now increased ...

The economic nationalists now certainly have the upper hand,” said Monica de Bolle, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think tank. (rtr)

JAKARTA - Indonesia has blocked microblogging site Tumblr after complaints about pornographic content on hundreds of accounts, the communications ministry said on Tuesday. The world’s most populous Muslim-majority country has stepped up efforts to police online content after a rise in hoax stories and hate speech, and because of anti-pornography laws pushed by Islamic parties.

The ministry sent an email to Tumblr on Feb. 28 asking it to “clean its platform” of pornographic content within two days, Noor Iza, a spokesman for the ministry, said in a text message.

It then blocked eight Tumblr domain names on Monday after he said it had not received a response. Indonesia has tough anti-pornography laws and the ministry said it had received complaints about pornographic contents on more than 360 accounts. Tumblr, which is part of Verizon’s Oath business, which also includes Yahoo and AOL, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

According to the site’s community guidelines, any sexual or adult-oriented content should be flagged as “Not Suitable for Work” to warn users of the material.

Indonesia blocked more than 70,000 sites displaying “negative” content such as pornography or militant ideology in January with a system using 44 computer servers to help purge the internet of material deemed harmful, the communications minister said in an interview last month.

Authorities also threatened last year to block Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp Messenger, which is widely used in the country, unless graphics interchange format (GIF) images provided by third parties were removed.

Authorities had blocked access to some channels on encrypted messaging service Telegram last year, saying it had several forums that were “full of radical and terrorist propaganda”. (rtr)

RI to provide capacity building scholarships for Afghans: Marsudi

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is preparing scholarship for capacity building programs for the Afghans, as part of the country`s contribution in realizing peace in Afghanistan. The scholarships will be provided specifically for mining and religious studies, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) headquarter in Jakarta on Tuesday.

“We have agreed to provide scholarship in the mining field for Afghanistan,” she added. The government is cooperating with the MUI to provide 135 scholarships for religious studies.

Indonesia has shown support to tackle the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan by building the Indonesia Islamic Center (IIC) in Kabul that offers the Assalam Mosque and other facilities, such as a clinic, library and lodge.

On Feb 28, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has conducted the groundbreaking ceremony of a health clinic at IIC, which will be granted to the Afghan government and can later be used for offering public health services.

In addition to that, the Afghan government also asked Indonesia to help increasing exports and imports to raise the competitiveness of their products while strengthening the economic sector of Afghanistan. (ant)

REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

A woman wearing a full-face veil shops for clothes in a traditional textile market in Jakarta, Indonesia March 7, 2018.

Indonesian Islamic university bans burqas on campus

JAKARTA - An Indonesian state Islamic university faced criticism from Muslim groups and activists on Wednesday after it banned female students from wearing full-face veils citing fears over the spread of radical ideology on the campus. Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, the majority of whom practice a moderate form of Islam.

But the country has seen a recent rise in more conservative interpretations of the religion, which many see as a threat to its long-standing reputation for religious tolerance and diversity.

The State Islamic University (UIN) in Yogyakarta city, on Java island, said it had 41 students using the full veil, or burqa, who would be offered counselling sessions and ultimately be asked to take off the veil if they wanted to graduate.

The Islamic Defenders Front, a conservative group that campaigns against activities it deems un-Islamic, said in a statement the policy “did not make sense” and was in conflict with the country’s efforts to preserve diversity. A women’s rights activist decried what she

described as a limitation on the freedom of women to wear what they want.

“Using full-face veils is a choice and we cannot interfere in their choice and their freedom,” said the activist, Lathiefah Widuri Retyaningtyas. University rector Yudian Wahyudi said radicalisation, as exemplified by the burqas, undermined learning.

“Female students wearing the burqa, and radical groups, they are disturbing the teaching process,” Wahyudhi said.

“We are putting moderate Islam forward,” he said, adding that the policy was a “preventive action to save the students”. Students would be allowed to continue using regular headscarves that do not cover the face, he said.

A recent survey showed that nearly a fifth of high school and university students support the establishment of a caliphate over the current secular government.

The data has alarmed authorities already struggling to contain the growing influence of both peaceful and militant Islamist groups in the world’s third-largest democracy. (rtr)

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Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Vettel leads testing as Mercedes predict three-way battle

BARCELONA - Formula One world champions Mercedes predicted a threeway title battle as the second pre-season test started on Tuesday with Ferrari and Red Bull showing their pace.

Gunung Sari Dance

GIANYAR - Gunung Sari Dance is an important cultural dance in Bali and one the depicts the island’s rich cultural heritage.

The troupes perform on location at the Puri Agung Peliatan in Ubud each Saturday evening, so make sure you head down to watch on your next stay in Bali.

The dance is scheduled on Saturday nights from about 7.30pm and the show costs 100,000 IDR per person. The dancers dress up in colourful costumes and dance to traditional Balinese music with unique music.

As this is a place of worship, visitors must ensure that they wear a sarong to cover knees and ankles when visiting a temple. Also make sure that shoulders and midriffs are covered. If you do not have your own, you can hire one from the locals at the entrance.

If you would like to come and see the dance and are travelling from Denpasar or Kuta, it is best to get a taxi. There are many metered taxis in Bali, particularly in the tourist areas of Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Ubud and Nusa Dua. Finding a taxi is extremely easy as taxis usually crawl along the main road beeping at tourists.

Make sure to get a taxi with a meter, look for the Bluebird Group taxis, otherwise ensure you negotiate a price before getting in. As a guide, a 5km trip will cost around 40,00050,000 IDR ($4-$5 AUD or $3-$4 USD).

There are also many accommodation choices located in Ubud, so perhaps you could come and stay for a couple of nights, as Ubud has a completely different feel than the beach towns of Kuta or Seminyak. (net)

Looking for Experienced Villa Manager&Cook PleasaCall9075771 Email:info@bali-properties.net

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Kuta:Spv Bar,Bartender,Waiters SPA,CS,Kasir,Cook,08123807241

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Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was fastest, lapping in one minute 20.396 seconds and completing 171 laps -- equal to nearly 800km and more than 2-1/2 race distances at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The German did his fastest lap on the medium tyres, with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas second on softs with a time 0.200 slower.

Dutch 20-year-old Max Verstappen was third on the timesheets for Red Bull in 1:20.649, doing 130 laps.

“What we have seen is that even if it is best case we are not in front by a lot, and if it is a worst case we are not far behind,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television.

“What we have seen from Red Bull is that they have a very strong package,” added the Austrian, whose Mercedes team are going for their fifth drivers’ and constructors’ championship double in a row.

“I think it will be all three of us against each other.”

Bottas and four times world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton shared testing duties, with the Finn putting in 86 laps and the Briton 91 -- a total of 824km between the pair.

“We have not worked too much on finetuning the set-up as we’re mostly still gathering information,” commented Hamilton.

“In the next couple of days, once we get into the long-runs and some shorter qualifying-style runs, we will get a better idea of where the car is.”

REUTERS/Juan Medina

2018 Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari during testing.

BRIGHT SKIES After snow and rain hit last week’s first test, dry conditions and bright skies greeted teams with some gusts of wind later on.

“It was a good day’s work,” said Vettel.

“We managed to get through our programme, even if the conditions weren’t always ideal because of the wind.”

McLaren endured another difficult day,

with Stoffel Vandoorne’s Renault-powered car suffering electrical and hydraulic failures and doing the fewest laps.

Toro Rosso, now working with Honda after the Japanese manufacturer’s parting from McLaren, were fifth on the timesheets while Vandoorne was 12th.

“Today wasn’t the day we had hoped for on track, but, despite this, we aren’t overly concerned about the issues that we’ve faced

today,” said McLaren’s racing director Eric Boullier.

“It’s obviously not the productive day we had planned, but the problems... are the types of niggles that we almost hope and expect to face during testing, in order to prepare us properly for the season ahead.”

The first race is in Australia on March 25. (rtr)

Olympic champion Samuelsson to boycott Russian event STOCKHOLM - Sweden’s Olympic biathlon champion Sebastian Samuelsson has told Reuters he will boycott the final World Cup event of the year in

Hotel Reservations Personnel needed in Jimbaran-Bali.Very Well Spoken And Written English is a must.Experience Work ing in the hospitality Industry is a plus.

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Russia over continuing concerns about the country’s anti-doping record.

The 20-year-old, who won Olympic gold in the team relay and

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Sebastian Samuelsson

IBP/net

silver in the 12.5km pursuit, said he does not want to return to Russia until the country’s anti-doping agency RUSADA has been given the green light by the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA).

“As soon as RUSADA has been approved again by WADA, there’s no problem having competition there,” Samuelsson said.

“I believe it’s possible, but they have to look at themselves, realise what they have done and really want to solve the problem. My understanding at the moment is that they don’t believe that they have done much wrong.”

RUSADA was declared noncompliant by WADA amid allegations of state-sponsored doping, which Moscow denies, and the systematic violation of anti-doping rules.

Russia’s Olympic Committee was banned from sending a team to the Pyeongchang Winter Games

and Russian athletes who participated had to pass strict checks and compete under a neutral flag.

The decision by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) to go ahead with the last World Cup event of the year in Tyumen, Russia from March 20-25 was met with a storm of criticism, and the U.S. biathlon team has announced that it will not take part.

Following a triumphant homecoming to Ostersund, Samuelsson has also decided not to travel to Russia and he is highly critical of the sport’s governing body and how they have handled the issue of RUSADA’s non-compliance.

“The big problem is that the IBU doesn’t take it seriously or do anything about this situation that has arisen,” he said.

The IBU did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

In a statement on Feb. 14 an-

nouncing that the World Cup event would go ahead in Russia as originally planned, the IBU said: “The IOC (International Olympic Committee) had no concerns that all the competitions awarded to Russia before RUSADA was officially declared non-compliant were to be organised and conducted according to the initial plans and schedules.”

Samuelsson said athletes needed to stand together to present a unified stance.

“I’m convinced that most of the biathletes at the World Cup level don’t want to go to Russia. It’s about everyone standing together and putting pressure on the IBU, but unfortunately we haven’t been as unified as one had hoped,” Samuelsson said.

“On the other hand, I feel a strong support from both athletes and coaches for this decision,” he added. (rtr)

8

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Sp rt Splashing cash not enough for PSG to deliver in Champions League

PARIS - Paris St Germain’s early exit from the Champions League again showed the club’s inability to deliver on the biggest stage despite their expensively assembled team. PSG were knocked out in the last 16 by Real Madrid 5-2 on aggregate, losing 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, never threatening a comeback following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Spain.

Without Neymar, who is recovering from ankle surgery, Unai Emery’s side failed to create space against the defending champions. “All that for this,” wrote French sports daily L’Equipe on their front page.

“PSG disappeared without leaving a trace,” the paper wrote in a column.

Since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over in 2011, PSG have never reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, being eliminated in the last 16 twice in a row after four consecutive quarter-final exits.

Spending 400 million euros ($497 million) on Neymar and France international Kylian Mbappe did not help as the Brazilian played poorly in the first leg and his striking partner was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday.

In Ligue 1, PSG lead the standings by a massive 14

points after 28 games and it could be said that they lack the competitiveness of a bigger league to prepare them for the Champions League knockout stage.

Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, however, believes the club founded in 1970 have to build their identity. “PSG is just a group of players,” he told Italian TV. “You cannot buy ideas. The club should always come first. I thought I would see players with the bit between their teeth. I think PSG need to become an institution.”

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said he was “disappointed by a few players,” among which should feature midfielder Marco Verratti, who picked up a second yellow card for arguing with referee Felix Brych.

It was Verratti’s third dismissal in the Champions League, and it appeared to seal his team’s fate as they already were 1-0 down after Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener. Al-Khelaifi, however, is convinced the club’s method is the right one. “I don’t think it’s a mindset problem. The players believed in it and we were ready,” he said.

“We will not change our investment strategy. We will continue with our project notably with those two players (Neymar and Mbappe) because they are the future of the club.” (rtr)

Liverpool can beat anyone, says Mane ahead of Man United clash

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane shoots at goal and hits the post

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Madrid always up their game in Champions League - Kovacic

REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Everton’s Cenk Tosun celebrates scoring their first goal

Tosun hopes to shine with Everton’s attacking ‘quality’

Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani applauds fans after the match

9

Cenk Tosun expects to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the company of Everton’s talented attacking players as the club hope to extend their impressive home form against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. The 26-year-old Turkish striker’s first Everton goal came in a 2-1 league defeat at Burnley last weekend.

He believes the squad boasts the firepower to hit straight back and that it is only a matter of time before they can pose a serious attacking threat under Sam Allardyce.

“We have a lot of quality players up front,” Tosun, who arrived at Everton in January, told the club website. (www.evertonfc.com) “Theo Walcott, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney, Oumar Niasse, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yannick Bolasie... it’s great for me to play with them and when I get to know them fully it will be better still.

“I know the players around me and the coaches here will improve my game, so I will get better, too, I believe.” Tosun is aiming to find the target once more against 10th-placed Brighton at Goodison Park, where Everton have collected 20 points in their last nine matches.

“We have to try to put Burnley in the past as fast as possible and focus on the Brighton game because we are really good at Goodison Park in front of our fans,” he added.

“It will be a tough game but I hope we play the game that we have to and take the three points against Brighton.” (rtr)

PARIS - Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and midfielder Mateo Kovacic reflected on their side’s love affair with the Champions League after completing their task against upstarts Paris St Germain and advancing to the quarter finals 5-2 on aggregate. Real have underperformed on the domestic stage, trailing Barcelona by 15 points and knocked out of the King’s Cup by Leganes, and many predicted an early elimination from Europe when they drew the runaway Ligue 1 leaders in the last 16.

Not for the first time, however, the 12-times European champions came into their own on the biggest stage of the continent. The double defending champions held a 3-1 lead from the first leg and, aided by the absence of Neymar, nullified the French side in Tuesday’s second leg amid the billowing smoke of flares at an intimidating Parc des Princes to win 2-1.

“I have been here for three years and we always play better in the Champions League. Madrid were just to born to win,” said Kovacic, who is targeting a third consecutive winners medal in as many campaigns with the side.

“It’s always great when you win a game as important as this. PSG played well, it was difficult for us but we managed the tie very well. They had more possession and played tough, they ran a lot, but we are also very tough to beat.”

Real talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 117 goals and in opening the scoring with a header, he matched Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of netting in eight consecutive games in the competition.

Edinson Cavani’s rebounded effort gave 10-man PSG faint hope of a belated comeback but Casemiro’s deflected goal at the other end, coming after Marco Verratti was sent off for the hosts, secured Real’s passage into the last eight.

“We knew this was the perfect stage for us to vindicate ourselves in our favourite competition,” added Real captain Ramos, who has hoisted the famous trophy three times.

“We dominated the game by enjoying our football again, we’ve recovered that state of mind which has helped us achieve so much and I hope this continues because we still haven’t won anything.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic is shown a yellow card by referee Felix Brych for a foul on Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane believes the Merseyside club have the ability to defeat any team in the world, including bitter rivals and Saturday’s Premier League opponents Manchester United. The two clubs are battling to finish as the best of the rest behind runaway league leaders Manchester City with United second in the table, two points ahead of third-placed Liverpool with nine games remaining in the campaign.

Liverpool have won four of their last five league games and booked a Champions League quarter-final berth on Tuesday as a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their last 16 tie with Porto helped Juergen Klopp’s side record a 5-0 aggregate win.

“It will not be easy but I’ve always said we can beat any team in the world,” Mane told British media. “Honestly they (Manchester United) are one of the best teams in England, of course in the world also, but we are as well. “It’s the dream for every single player to play this kind of game so everyone is looking

forward to it.”

United have won three of their last five league games, including consecutive wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and the home side will be confident ahead of Saturday’s match as City are the only visitors to win a league game at Old Trafford this season.

Liverpool last won at Old Trafford in 2014 but goalkeeper Lorius Karius is confident that the Merseyside club can get a crucial win as they aim to seal Champions League football for next season.

“It’s a very big game for us, for the club, for the fans,” Karius said.

“With the situation being this tight together on the table also, we can’t really ask for more.

“Of course they have a good squad and we have respect for them, but we don’t fear anyone.

We’re really confident, looking at ourselves and our own abilities, we know we can beat them. “We want to go directly into the Champions League again, there’s not many places for it and second (place) would be ideal obviously.” (rtr)

8

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Sp rt Splashing cash not enough for PSG to deliver in Champions League

PARIS - Paris St Germain’s early exit from the Champions League again showed the club’s inability to deliver on the biggest stage despite their expensively assembled team. PSG were knocked out in the last 16 by Real Madrid 5-2 on aggregate, losing 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, never threatening a comeback following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Spain.

Without Neymar, who is recovering from ankle surgery, Unai Emery’s side failed to create space against the defending champions. “All that for this,” wrote French sports daily L’Equipe on their front page.

“PSG disappeared without leaving a trace,” the paper wrote in a column.

Since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took over in 2011, PSG have never reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, being eliminated in the last 16 twice in a row after four consecutive quarter-final exits.

Spending 400 million euros ($497 million) on Neymar and France international Kylian Mbappe did not help as the Brazilian played poorly in the first leg and his striking partner was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday.

In Ligue 1, PSG lead the standings by a massive 14

points after 28 games and it could be said that they lack the competitiveness of a bigger league to prepare them for the Champions League knockout stage.

Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, however, believes the club founded in 1970 have to build their identity. “PSG is just a group of players,” he told Italian TV. “You cannot buy ideas. The club should always come first. I thought I would see players with the bit between their teeth. I think PSG need to become an institution.”

PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said he was “disappointed by a few players,” among which should feature midfielder Marco Verratti, who picked up a second yellow card for arguing with referee Felix Brych.

It was Verratti’s third dismissal in the Champions League, and it appeared to seal his team’s fate as they already were 1-0 down after Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener. Al-Khelaifi, however, is convinced the club’s method is the right one. “I don’t think it’s a mindset problem. The players believed in it and we were ready,” he said.

“We will not change our investment strategy. We will continue with our project notably with those two players (Neymar and Mbappe) because they are the future of the club.” (rtr)

Liverpool can beat anyone, says Mane ahead of Man United clash

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane shoots at goal and hits the post

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Madrid always up their game in Champions League - Kovacic

REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Everton’s Cenk Tosun celebrates scoring their first goal

Tosun hopes to shine with Everton’s attacking ‘quality’

Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani applauds fans after the match

9

Cenk Tosun expects to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the company of Everton’s talented attacking players as the club hope to extend their impressive home form against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. The 26-year-old Turkish striker’s first Everton goal came in a 2-1 league defeat at Burnley last weekend.

He believes the squad boasts the firepower to hit straight back and that it is only a matter of time before they can pose a serious attacking threat under Sam Allardyce.

“We have a lot of quality players up front,” Tosun, who arrived at Everton in January, told the club website. (www.evertonfc.com) “Theo Walcott, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney, Oumar Niasse, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yannick Bolasie... it’s great for me to play with them and when I get to know them fully it will be better still.

“I know the players around me and the coaches here will improve my game, so I will get better, too, I believe.” Tosun is aiming to find the target once more against 10th-placed Brighton at Goodison Park, where Everton have collected 20 points in their last nine matches.

“We have to try to put Burnley in the past as fast as possible and focus on the Brighton game because we are really good at Goodison Park in front of our fans,” he added.

“It will be a tough game but I hope we play the game that we have to and take the three points against Brighton.” (rtr)

PARIS - Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and midfielder Mateo Kovacic reflected on their side’s love affair with the Champions League after completing their task against upstarts Paris St Germain and advancing to the quarter finals 5-2 on aggregate. Real have underperformed on the domestic stage, trailing Barcelona by 15 points and knocked out of the King’s Cup by Leganes, and many predicted an early elimination from Europe when they drew the runaway Ligue 1 leaders in the last 16.

Not for the first time, however, the 12-times European champions came into their own on the biggest stage of the continent. The double defending champions held a 3-1 lead from the first leg and, aided by the absence of Neymar, nullified the French side in Tuesday’s second leg amid the billowing smoke of flares at an intimidating Parc des Princes to win 2-1.

“I have been here for three years and we always play better in the Champions League. Madrid were just to born to win,” said Kovacic, who is targeting a third consecutive winners medal in as many campaigns with the side.

“It’s always great when you win a game as important as this. PSG played well, it was difficult for us but we managed the tie very well. They had more possession and played tough, they ran a lot, but we are also very tough to beat.”

Real talisman Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with 117 goals and in opening the scoring with a header, he matched Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of netting in eight consecutive games in the competition.

Edinson Cavani’s rebounded effort gave 10-man PSG faint hope of a belated comeback but Casemiro’s deflected goal at the other end, coming after Marco Verratti was sent off for the hosts, secured Real’s passage into the last eight.

“We knew this was the perfect stage for us to vindicate ourselves in our favourite competition,” added Real captain Ramos, who has hoisted the famous trophy three times.

“We dominated the game by enjoying our football again, we’ve recovered that state of mind which has helped us achieve so much and I hope this continues because we still haven’t won anything.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Real Madrid’s Mateo Kovacic is shown a yellow card by referee Felix Brych for a foul on Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane believes the Merseyside club have the ability to defeat any team in the world, including bitter rivals and Saturday’s Premier League opponents Manchester United. The two clubs are battling to finish as the best of the rest behind runaway league leaders Manchester City with United second in the table, two points ahead of third-placed Liverpool with nine games remaining in the campaign.

Liverpool have won four of their last five league games and booked a Champions League quarter-final berth on Tuesday as a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their last 16 tie with Porto helped Juergen Klopp’s side record a 5-0 aggregate win.

“It will not be easy but I’ve always said we can beat any team in the world,” Mane told British media. “Honestly they (Manchester United) are one of the best teams in England, of course in the world also, but we are as well. “It’s the dream for every single player to play this kind of game so everyone is looking

forward to it.”

United have won three of their last five league games, including consecutive wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace, and the home side will be confident ahead of Saturday’s match as City are the only visitors to win a league game at Old Trafford this season.

Liverpool last won at Old Trafford in 2014 but goalkeeper Lorius Karius is confident that the Merseyside club can get a crucial win as they aim to seal Champions League football for next season.

“It’s a very big game for us, for the club, for the fans,” Karius said.

“With the situation being this tight together on the table also, we can’t really ask for more.

“Of course they have a good squad and we have respect for them, but we don’t fear anyone.

We’re really confident, looking at ourselves and our own abilities, we know we can beat them. “We want to go directly into the Champions League again, there’s not many places for it and second (place) would be ideal obviously.” (rtr)

10

Destination

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Vettel leads testing as Mercedes predict three-way battle

BARCELONA - Formula One world champions Mercedes predicted a threeway title battle as the second pre-season test started on Tuesday with Ferrari and Red Bull showing their pace.

Gunung Sari Dance

GIANYAR - Gunung Sari Dance is an important cultural dance in Bali and one the depicts the island’s rich cultural heritage.

The troupes perform on location at the Puri Agung Peliatan in Ubud each Saturday evening, so make sure you head down to watch on your next stay in Bali.

The dance is scheduled on Saturday nights from about 7.30pm and the show costs 100,000 IDR per person. The dancers dress up in colourful costumes and dance to traditional Balinese music with unique music.

As this is a place of worship, visitors must ensure that they wear a sarong to cover knees and ankles when visiting a temple. Also make sure that shoulders and midriffs are covered. If you do not have your own, you can hire one from the locals at the entrance.

If you would like to come and see the dance and are travelling from Denpasar or Kuta, it is best to get a taxi. There are many metered taxis in Bali, particularly in the tourist areas of Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, Ubud and Nusa Dua. Finding a taxi is extremely easy as taxis usually crawl along the main road beeping at tourists.

Make sure to get a taxi with a meter, look for the Bluebird Group taxis, otherwise ensure you negotiate a price before getting in. As a guide, a 5km trip will cost around 40,00050,000 IDR ($4-$5 AUD or $3-$4 USD).

There are also many accommodation choices located in Ubud, so perhaps you could come and stay for a couple of nights, as Ubud has a completely different feel than the beach towns of Kuta or Seminyak. (net)

Looking for Experienced Villa Manager&Cook PleasaCall9075771 Email:info@bali-properties.net

Sales/Marketing,for HealthCare /Beauty Care, Experience, National Area,Apply to: versaindustries4@gmail. com

B.BP.001.02.18.0001364

Divine Diva Clothing Seminyak Looking for Shop Manager must be experienced in social media Marketing,Customer Communication,English 90%.Send cv to: divinediva_189@hotmail.com

B.BP.001.02.18.0001376

Looking Bar Manager,Bar Staff,Host /Hostess,Cashier,Cooks,Waiter/ ess,Stewards,Jl.Arjuna Legian Krm CV:info@hoipolloibali.com

B.BP.001.01.18.0001035

B.BP.031.01.18.0000667

Kuta:Spv Bar,Bartender,Waiters SPA,CS,Kasir,Cook,08123807241

B.BP.001.02.18.0001346

Cr waiter/waitress experienced Speak good English,New Coffee &Green Food,Healthy Juices etc 9-5 hrs,6working days.Send CV juwitaariana@gmail.com immediate start Seminyak

B.BP.001.02.18.0001377

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was fastest, lapping in one minute 20.396 seconds and completing 171 laps -- equal to nearly 800km and more than 2-1/2 race distances at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The German did his fastest lap on the medium tyres, with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas second on softs with a time 0.200 slower.

Dutch 20-year-old Max Verstappen was third on the timesheets for Red Bull in 1:20.649, doing 130 laps.

“What we have seen is that even if it is best case we are not in front by a lot, and if it is a worst case we are not far behind,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television.

“What we have seen from Red Bull is that they have a very strong package,” added the Austrian, whose Mercedes team are going for their fifth drivers’ and constructors’ championship double in a row.

“I think it will be all three of us against each other.”

Bottas and four times world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton shared testing duties, with the Finn putting in 86 laps and the Briton 91 -- a total of 824km between the pair.

“We have not worked too much on finetuning the set-up as we’re mostly still gathering information,” commented Hamilton.

“In the next couple of days, once we get into the long-runs and some shorter qualifying-style runs, we will get a better idea of where the car is.”

REUTERS/Juan Medina

2018 Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari during testing.

BRIGHT SKIES After snow and rain hit last week’s first test, dry conditions and bright skies greeted teams with some gusts of wind later on.

“It was a good day’s work,” said Vettel.

“We managed to get through our programme, even if the conditions weren’t always ideal because of the wind.”

McLaren endured another difficult day,

with Stoffel Vandoorne’s Renault-powered car suffering electrical and hydraulic failures and doing the fewest laps.

Toro Rosso, now working with Honda after the Japanese manufacturer’s parting from McLaren, were fifth on the timesheets while Vandoorne was 12th.

“Today wasn’t the day we had hoped for on track, but, despite this, we aren’t overly concerned about the issues that we’ve faced

today,” said McLaren’s racing director Eric Boullier.

“It’s obviously not the productive day we had planned, but the problems... are the types of niggles that we almost hope and expect to face during testing, in order to prepare us properly for the season ahead.”

The first race is in Australia on March 25. (rtr)

Olympic champion Samuelsson to boycott Russian event STOCKHOLM - Sweden’s Olympic biathlon champion Sebastian Samuelsson has told Reuters he will boycott the final World Cup event of the year in

Hotel Reservations Personnel needed in Jimbaran-Bali.Very Well Spoken And Written English is a must.Experience Work ing in the hospitality Industry is a plus.

Please send Cover letter and CV to hr@ lotus-hotel.com

B.BP.001.01.18.0001103

Htl&Rest need Waiter,Good English,Direct intvw to The Yulia Inn Jl.Pantai Kuta 43 T.751893

Russia over continuing concerns about the country’s anti-doping record.

The 20-year-old, who won Olympic gold in the team relay and

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying

B.BP.001.02.18.0001374

Need Waiter/Waitess,IT/Design, Bartender,Cook for Resto in Kuta. Send CV + Foto to Email: wikamitra@yahoo. com Phone/WA :089693670981

B.BP.001.01.18.0000157

Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500

Sebastian Samuelsson

IBP/net

silver in the 12.5km pursuit, said he does not want to return to Russia until the country’s anti-doping agency RUSADA has been given the green light by the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA).

“As soon as RUSADA has been approved again by WADA, there’s no problem having competition there,” Samuelsson said.

“I believe it’s possible, but they have to look at themselves, realise what they have done and really want to solve the problem. My understanding at the moment is that they don’t believe that they have done much wrong.”

RUSADA was declared noncompliant by WADA amid allegations of state-sponsored doping, which Moscow denies, and the systematic violation of anti-doping rules.

Russia’s Olympic Committee was banned from sending a team to the Pyeongchang Winter Games

and Russian athletes who participated had to pass strict checks and compete under a neutral flag.

The decision by the International Biathlon Union (IBU) to go ahead with the last World Cup event of the year in Tyumen, Russia from March 20-25 was met with a storm of criticism, and the U.S. biathlon team has announced that it will not take part.

Following a triumphant homecoming to Ostersund, Samuelsson has also decided not to travel to Russia and he is highly critical of the sport’s governing body and how they have handled the issue of RUSADA’s non-compliance.

“The big problem is that the IBU doesn’t take it seriously or do anything about this situation that has arisen,” he said.

The IBU did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

In a statement on Feb. 14 an-

nouncing that the World Cup event would go ahead in Russia as originally planned, the IBU said: “The IOC (International Olympic Committee) had no concerns that all the competitions awarded to Russia before RUSADA was officially declared non-compliant were to be organised and conducted according to the initial plans and schedules.”

Samuelsson said athletes needed to stand together to present a unified stance.

“I’m convinced that most of the biathletes at the World Cup level don’t want to go to Russia. It’s about everyone standing together and putting pressure on the IBU, but unfortunately we haven’t been as unified as one had hoped,” Samuelsson said.

“On the other hand, I feel a strong support from both athletes and coaches for this decision,” he added. (rtr)

6

Thursday, March 8, 2018

W

RLD

South Korea’s Moon says sanctions on North to stay, too early to be optimistic

SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday sanctions on North Korea will not be eased for the sake of a summit between the two sides as Chinese state media repeated Beijing’s line that talks are the only way to end the nuclear standoff.

South Korean officials met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday in the first such encounter of its kind and said he had expressed his willingness to denuclearise if his country’s security is assured.

And U.S. President Donald Trump said North Korea seems “sincere” in its apparent willingness to suspend nuclear tests if it holds denuclearisation talks with the United States.

Tensions rose to the highest level in years over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, which it pursues in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, with shrill, bellicose rhetoric coming from both Kim Jong Un and Trump.

North Korea has boasted of its plans to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the mainland United States. But fears of all-out war eased last month, coinciding with North Korea’s participation in the Winter Olympics in the South.

“From looking at the news or Twitter, I believe President Trump is positive about the results of the North Korea visit (by South Korean officials),” Moon told political party leaders.

“However, as this is just the beginning, I believe we are not at a situation yet where we can be optimistic.”

Moon added he had no plans for an easing of sanctions.

“Just because there are talks ongoing between North and South Korea doesn’t mean international sanctions can be eased,” said Moon. “There cannot be an arbi-

International

trary easing of sanctions; we do not wish to do that and I tell you now it is impossible.”

South Korea’s goal was the denuclearisation of North Korea, nothing less, said Moon in comments distributed by the Blue House.

“We cannot have things like the prevention of nuclear proliferation or a moratorium as a final goal,” said Moon.

North and South Korea are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The North defends its weapons programmes as necessary to counter U.S. aggression. The South hosts 28,500 U.S. troops, a legacy of the war.

North and South next month will have the first meeting between their leaders since 2007 at the border village of Panmunjom, Chung Eui-yong, head of the South Korean delegation, said on Tuesday.

Leaders around the world have also met the apparent breakthrough with guarded optimism, wary of repeating past negotiations that failed to prevent Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

On-again off-again “six-party” talks, grouping the two Koreas, Japan, Russia and the United States and hosted by China, ended in failure in 2009, with North Korea criticising U.S. aggression.

South Korean officials who met the North Korean leader will leave for Washington on Thursday. Chung said he had a verbal message from Kim Jong Un that he will relay to U.S. officials but it was unclear whether he would meet Trump.

After returning from the United States, Chung will visit China and Russia, while Suh Hoon, the head of South Korea’s intelligence agency, will head to Japan to brief officials. (rtr)

KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the launch of a Hwasong-12 missile in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 16, 2017.

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

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Indonesia says it blocks services on blogging site Tumblr over pornography REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn (L) and U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster take questions during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2018.

After tariff fight loss, Trump economic adviser Cohn quits WASHINGTON - Gary Cohn, the top economic adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump and a voice for Wall Street in the White House, said on Tuesday he would resign, a move that came after he lost a fight over Trump’s plans for hefty steel and aluminum import tariffs.

The departure of Cohn, director of the National Economic Council, was expected to be finalized in a few weeks and will blow a hole in Trump’s already depleted advisory team at a time when the economy is growing but markets are volatile.

Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday night that he “will be making a decision soon” on replacing Cohn.

Administration officials said Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, and conservative commentator Larry Kudlow were the “top two candidates” for the job.

White House officials said the tariffs dispute contributed to Cohn’s decision to leave but that it was not the sole reason. One official cited several issues and noted: “His biggest mission was on the tax cut bill, which he got passed.”

It was the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the White House, which Trump downplayed on Tuesday.

Asked at a news conference with the Swedish prime minister about high staff turnover, Trump said: “Many, many people want every single job. ... I could take any position in the White House and I’ll have a choice of the 10 top people having to do with that position.

Everybody wants to be there.”

Cohn told Trump about his decision to resign on Tuesday, but

he and the president had been discussing his possible departure for weeks, a White House official said.

Cohn did not show up for Trump’s news conference on Tuesday, despite a seat being set aside for him.

STOCKS FALTER

Following the news on Cohn, the U.S. dollar weakened and U.S. stock futures fell more than 1 percent, with analysts citing increased uncertainty about the U.S. economic agenda.

“One of the adults in the room has left. The markets will worry that this is a signal that we will definitely go ahead with these tariffs,” said Paul Mortimer-Lee, chief market economist at BNP Paribas corporate and investment banking.

Without Cohn in the picture, Navarro, an economist, will likely have a clearer field to pursue a protectionist agenda, which squares with Trump’s long-held concerns about trade.

Trump said last week he would impose import tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, a move criticized by some prominent Republicans, but backed by some Democrats.

Trump’s announcement followed an intense debate within the White House between Cohn and Navarro and their respective allies, said White House officials.

“The chances of us having a trade war have now increased ...

The economic nationalists now certainly have the upper hand,” said Monica de Bolle, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think tank. (rtr)

JAKARTA - Indonesia has blocked microblogging site Tumblr after complaints about pornographic content on hundreds of accounts, the communications ministry said on Tuesday. The world’s most populous Muslim-majority country has stepped up efforts to police online content after a rise in hoax stories and hate speech, and because of anti-pornography laws pushed by Islamic parties.

The ministry sent an email to Tumblr on Feb. 28 asking it to “clean its platform” of pornographic content within two days, Noor Iza, a spokesman for the ministry, said in a text message.

It then blocked eight Tumblr domain names on Monday after he said it had not received a response. Indonesia has tough anti-pornography laws and the ministry said it had received complaints about pornographic contents on more than 360 accounts. Tumblr, which is part of Verizon’s Oath business, which also includes Yahoo and AOL, did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

According to the site’s community guidelines, any sexual or adult-oriented content should be flagged as “Not Suitable for Work” to warn users of the material.

Indonesia blocked more than 70,000 sites displaying “negative” content such as pornography or militant ideology in January with a system using 44 computer servers to help purge the internet of material deemed harmful, the communications minister said in an interview last month.

Authorities also threatened last year to block Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp Messenger, which is widely used in the country, unless graphics interchange format (GIF) images provided by third parties were removed.

Authorities had blocked access to some channels on encrypted messaging service Telegram last year, saying it had several forums that were “full of radical and terrorist propaganda”. (rtr)

RI to provide capacity building scholarships for Afghans: Marsudi

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government is preparing scholarship for capacity building programs for the Afghans, as part of the country`s contribution in realizing peace in Afghanistan. The scholarships will be provided specifically for mining and religious studies, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) headquarter in Jakarta on Tuesday.

“We have agreed to provide scholarship in the mining field for Afghanistan,” she added. The government is cooperating with the MUI to provide 135 scholarships for religious studies.

Indonesia has shown support to tackle the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan by building the Indonesia Islamic Center (IIC) in Kabul that offers the Assalam Mosque and other facilities, such as a clinic, library and lodge.

On Feb 28, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has conducted the groundbreaking ceremony of a health clinic at IIC, which will be granted to the Afghan government and can later be used for offering public health services.

In addition to that, the Afghan government also asked Indonesia to help increasing exports and imports to raise the competitiveness of their products while strengthening the economic sector of Afghanistan. (ant)

REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan

A woman wearing a full-face veil shops for clothes in a traditional textile market in Jakarta, Indonesia March 7, 2018.

Indonesian Islamic university bans burqas on campus

JAKARTA - An Indonesian state Islamic university faced criticism from Muslim groups and activists on Wednesday after it banned female students from wearing full-face veils citing fears over the spread of radical ideology on the campus. Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population, the majority of whom practice a moderate form of Islam.

But the country has seen a recent rise in more conservative interpretations of the religion, which many see as a threat to its long-standing reputation for religious tolerance and diversity.

The State Islamic University (UIN) in Yogyakarta city, on Java island, said it had 41 students using the full veil, or burqa, who would be offered counselling sessions and ultimately be asked to take off the veil if they wanted to graduate.

The Islamic Defenders Front, a conservative group that campaigns against activities it deems un-Islamic, said in a statement the policy “did not make sense” and was in conflict with the country’s efforts to preserve diversity. A women’s rights activist decried what she

described as a limitation on the freedom of women to wear what they want.

“Using full-face veils is a choice and we cannot interfere in their choice and their freedom,” said the activist, Lathiefah Widuri Retyaningtyas. University rector Yudian Wahyudi said radicalisation, as exemplified by the burqas, undermined learning.

“Female students wearing the burqa, and radical groups, they are disturbing the teaching process,” Wahyudhi said.

“We are putting moderate Islam forward,” he said, adding that the policy was a “preventive action to save the students”. Students would be allowed to continue using regular headscarves that do not cover the face, he said.

A recent survey showed that nearly a fifth of high school and university students support the establishment of a caliphate over the current secular government.

The data has alarmed authorities already struggling to contain the growing influence of both peaceful and militant Islamist groups in the world’s third-largest democracy. (rtr)

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International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

BUSINESS

tariffs based on “national security”, went ahead.

Peter Navarro, director of the White House National Trade Council, said countries will not be excluded from the tariffs but there will be a mechanism for some corporate exemptions, raising hopes some Japanese products will be exempted.

Any steps Japan does take in response to U.S. tariffs would be consistent with rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), said a Japanese government source, who declined to be identified because he was not authorised to speak to media.

“We wouldn’t stand idly by, but ... if we did the same thing as the United States by taking steps that are against WTO rules, that would be like a children’s spat.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has forged close ties with Trump, is wary of confrontation over trade since keeping Tokyo and Washington on the same page on North Korea is a top priority, experts said.

“The security issue looms much larger now. I don’t think they want to set off Trump,” said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University’s Japan campus. “You don’t get what you want by getting in his face, but by making it seem he’s getting a better deal,” he added. (rtr)

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

A humanoid robot works side by side with employees in the assembly line at a factory of Glory Ltd., a manufacturer of automatic change dispensers, in Kazo, north of Tokyo, Japan, July 1, 2015.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh speaks during the Lebanon Investment in Infrastructure Conference in Beirut, Lebanon March 6, 2018.

Lebanese dollar reserves recover from last year’s crisis

BEIRUT - The Lebanese central bank’s dollar reserves grew in early 2018, recovering from a decline during a political crisis last year that pushed up interest rates, its governor said on Tuesday. Reserves climbed by $1.4 billion in the first two months of the year and total assets in dollars exceeded $43 billion, Governor Riad Salameh said at an economic conference in Beirut.

“With the rise of interest rates and the return of political issues to normal, the dollar reserves at the central bank rose,” he said.

November’s political crisis was triggered by the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri during a trip to Saudi Arabia, before he returned to the country and resumed his role.

The crisis raised questions about Lebanon’s economic stability and put pressure on the Lebanese pound’s peg to the dollar. Lebanon has one of the world’s most indebted governments measured against the size of its economy.

Growth has been slowed by war in neighbouring Syria and years of internal political disputes.

The economy relies on the confidence of millions of expatriate Lebanese who deposit into local banks. The banks buy government debt, which finances the expanding budget deficit and debt.

The International Monetary Fund last month strongly criticised Lebanon’s unsustainable debt trajectory and said there was an “urgent need” for government policy to stabilise and then reduce public debt as a share of gross domestic product. Hoping to stimulate its economy, Lebanon this year is seeking up to $16 billion in infrastructure investment from international donors who hope to ward off more Middle East instability, in a country that hosts more than a million Syrian refugees.

“It is no secret that the economic situation in Lebanon today is difficult and that we face big challenges,” Hariri told the conference.

“Growth rates are low, unemployment rates have exceeded 30 per cent, poverty rates are increasing, the balance of payments suffers a deficit, public debt is rising at a rapid rate and has exceeded $80 billion and the treasury deficit has reached

unsustainable levels,” he added.

During November’s turmoil, some Lebanese rushed for dollars; data shows central bank foreign assets fell by $1.6 billion that month.

Salameh told Reuters on the conference’s sidelines that November’s increase in local currency interest rates of around 2 percentage points -- a result of the political crisis -had been enough to iron out market imbalances, “therefore we have an outlook of stable interest rates”.

The government passed a state budget last year for the first time since 2005 and has pledged to agree a 2018 budget before April 6, when France will host a donor conference to support Lebanon.

Tuesday’s conference, organised

by Lebanese business magazine AlIktissad Wal-Aamal in cooperation with Hariri’s office, was a roadshow for Lebanon’s infrastructure investment plans ahead of April’s Paris conference. (rtr)

5

Caruk, a Rare and Sacred Gamelan

An old gamelan instrument called Caruk made its first appearance at the Bali Arts Festival (BAF) this year. The Caruk gamelan troupe from Pau Village, Banjarangkan performed music that is rarely heard, on the Amgsoka stage of the Denpsar Art Center. “The caruk gamelan instrument is estimated to have originated in the fifteenth century and this is the fifth generation of this particular gamelan troupe” explained art coordinator of Pau customary village, Nengah Sukirta. Pau Village and Tangkas Village are the only places in Klungkung where caruk gamlean can be found, said Sukirta adding that they are only played for Deva Yajna and Pitri Yajna religious cermonies.

Japan urges U.S. to shun steel tariffs but makes no threats

TOKYO - Japan on Tuesday stuck to its a low-key approach to threatened U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium, reflecting a desire to keep trade fights from hurting security ties as well as lessons learned about how to deal with President Donald Trump. The spectre of a trade war coincides with signs of a thaw in a crisis over North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat, prompting concerns in Tokyo that talks between Pyongyang and Washington could take place despite Japan’s stance that the focus should be on putting increased pressure on Pyongyang.

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko on Tuesday repeated that Japanese steel and aluminium exports are not affecting America’s national security but are helping America’s economy. He declined comment on possible retaliation.

“High quality steel and aluminium exports from (U.S.) ally Japan are not at all affecting U.S. national security but rather are contributing to U.S. employment and the economy,” Seko told a news conference. U.S. President Donald Trump last week proposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium. That prompted Canada, Mexico and the European Union to threaten counter-steps if the plan, based on Section 232 of a 1962 U.S. law that allows such

Bali News

International

“For Pitri Yajna rituals, caruk gamelan is played during the cremation ceremony during menek tumpang salu, menek bea and mapurwadaksina rites that culminate in the nyekah ritual.

For Dewa Yajna rituals, caruk gamelan is played during the mamungkah rite. It is played at the peak of the ritual when the deities circle the offerings clockwise –known as murwa daksina” he elaborated.

Head of Pau customary village’s caruk gamelan troupe, I Wayan Suendra, said that this gamelan instrument is a rare and sacred instrument. Caruk gamelan consists of two small xylophones and one saron that are always played together.

“We also have an extra player so for the BAF performance there were four musicians” he Suendra. Suendra added that nine different caruk gamelan compositions were handed down by the ancestors, however because the palm-leaf manuscripts on which they were written are hard to read, only five of the compositions are played. All five were performed at this year’s BAF: the Tabuh Ririgan, Tabuh Rejang, Tabuh Ombak Segara, Tabuh Panji Marga and Tabuh Manu Kaba.

“For a very long time only five of the compositions can be played because of the difficulty in reading the lontars, but we are determined to find a way to read the others so that we can perform them in next year’s BAF”, explained Suendra.

Currently, there are only four people in Pau customary village who are actively involved playing gamelan so Suendra is eager to encourage younger people to learn to play.

“The notation for caruk gamelan music is different than other gamelan so it is harder to learn. It takes many years to master. After the BAF we will start to teach young children, which may take even longer”, he said. (kmb)

Galungan Day: Defeat Kalatiga, Strengthen Awareness

Galungan and Kuningan are feast days of the Hindus. Galungan falling every six months (210 days) or every Buda Kliwon Dungulan, Wednesday (Nov. 1), while Kuningan falls every Saniscara Kliwon Kuningan, Saturday (Nov. 11). In the Sundarigama palm-manuscript is mentioned that celebration of Galungan and Kuningan symbolizes the victory of dharma (truth) against adharma (untruth), the victory of Jayatiga against Kalatiga.

Dr. I Ketut Sumadi, said the celebration of Galungan has started from the previous week namely with Sugihan Jawa ritual (Oct. 26) and Sugihan Bali (Oct. 27). While on Sunday (Oct. 29) is called penyekeban meaning the preparation of ritual paraphernalia.

Raw materials are ripening so that they can be used to fill the ritual paraphernalia of Galungan.

On Sunday, the Kalatiga comes down to tempt human life, so here is really the victory against the temptation of life in the local wisdom of Bali is better known as Sad Ripu (six enemies). Sad Ripu is the six enemies in human beings affecting humans into self-forgetfulness.

It consists of kama (lust, desire), lobha (greed), krodha (anger), moha (confusion), mada (drunk) and matsarya (envy, jealousy).

According to Dr. Sumadi, the coming down of temptations of life is a power, so that people need to be vigilant to see one’s self living with the environment. This is in accordance with the concept of microcosm (human body) and

macrocosm (universe) that must be kept in balance.

While on Monday is the Penyajahan Galungan as the time to prepare everything in more details related to ritual paraphernalia. On that account, it becomes a part of celebrating the victory of dharma against adharma.

READ Nyambutin Ritual, first time baby’s feet touch the earth On Penyajaan Galungan, human temptation level will be higher, so hopefully there is no temptation in preparing the ritual paraphernalia.

The next day, on Tuesday (Oct. 31) is Penampahan Galungan where devotees start to purify themselves, so it is symbolized with slaughtering animal (pig or chicken). “In the context of philosophy, it is the time to do self-contemplation namely making self-awareness to be higher by stripping ourselves what we have ever done, the six things making us forgetful,” he explained.

At that time, humans dispose of the lust of animalistic temptation into a divine nature, making non-good into good. Therefore, on the penampahan, other than making Balinese food like lawar delicacy, people also prepare ritual paraphernalia in the afternoon.

One of the banten or oblations made is prayascita, as a symbol of self-purification carried out around 18:00-19:00. The ceremony is followed by all family members, so that everything can already feel free from temptation.

In the afternoon of the penampahan day, devotees install penjor, meaning that humans can be aware of temptation at that time, so they start doing the seconds of independence. Installing penjor is the symbol of human independence from worldly temptations to achieve prosperity of life. It is an expression of gratitude for the prosperity bestowed by God. “As for banten, devotees prepare yellow-white food oblation symbolizing sanctity,” added Dr. Sumadi.

He said that banten prayascita symbolizes the expression of gratitude for the grace of God in the form of self-awareness, so that devotees can do a good job. It also results in happiness not only for oneself, but also for others. Penjor is symbolizing mountain where the deities abide.

“At that time, God grants prosperity to his devotees,” he added.

In the philosophy of Mount Agung, there are three dragons giving prosperity to their people. They are Basuki giving fertility, Ananta Boga providing endless feeding and Taksaka keeping the air circulation, so that human can survive as energized by the elements of fire, water and wind as the 3 elements causing human to live. On the penampahan, human can live quietly.

On Galungan, humans carry out rituals in accordance with their respective abilities. Aside from saying prayers at home, they also say prayers at clan temple, village trinity temple and universal temple.

“Devotees also say prayers in other

places such as sanctified water source, paddy field, and grave by putting food oblation along with side dish, water, coffee and cigarette,” he said.

The offerings are addressed to dead parents who are still buried (before ritually cremated), so that people can feel relieved. At night, they can practice yoga and worship God in all its manifestations whether as generator, operator and destroyer. Destroyer is important in order that something useless could be restored to its origin, can be recycled to be useful. On Thursday (Nov. 2) or Umanis Galungan devotees offer banten penganyar or small banten to plead for guidance of God that Galungan ritual has been already executed properly.

“On Umanis Galungan human

beings are given better enlightenment, so that getting sweeter filled with mutual forgiving activities or mutually visit relatives and friends to strengthen social ties,” he explained.

On Sunday (Nov. 5) is the Pemacekan Agung, meaning that human beings should not be careless again after receiving enlightenment of God. On Monday (Nov. 6) is Somoribek Day, meaning that human beings really become strong until the next activity, according to the task and obligation. On Friday (Nov. 10) is the Penampahan Kuningan having the same process to boost awareness. Human beings may no longer get tempted by Kalatiga. They must strengthen the soul to overcome temptations of life. (kmb)

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Bali News

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Pengerupukan night must get attention from all parties MANGUPURA — When welcoming the Nyepi (Day of Silence) holiday, the entire customary village chiefs in Kuta Selatan subdistrict assisted by pecalang (village security guard) are expected to coordinate with security guards at the village level. This coordination needs to be done in order that the whole series of activities can run in accordance with the Hindu customs and religions.

“It means to prevent unwanted things from happening in connection with the night of the Pengerupukan. After completing the ogohogoh parade, we hope the ogohogoh used to be placed well in accordance with the agreement of each customary village. In short, it should not be placed on the road that can disrupt road users,” said the Head of South Kuta Sub-district, Made Widiana, after holding a meeting to discuss the security of Nyepi holiday on Tuesday (Mar. 6) at his office.

Widiana further confirmed the night of Pengerupukan should get the attention from all parties. If there is ogoh-ogoh parade, it should be organized more orderly. In addition, sekaa taruna (customary village youth club) or local community is expected to utilize hamlet hall as a gathering place after the Pengerupukan. They should not use the street as a place to gather especially while drinking alcohol because it can ignite an unsafe situation.

“We ask chief of customary village to coordinate with the hamlet

chief in order they can direct their people after the Pengrupukan so as not to use the road to get together.

We ask to equally maintain the situation so as to be safe and controlled,” he said.

Meanwhile, when entering the catur brata penyepian (four abstinences), all devotees are expected to make introspection for the activities having been done within the past year. If there are residents or other people who need health services, they can contact to pecalang to call the village ambulance to be transferred to hospital or health center for further treatment. “Later, the ambulance will be accompanied by pecalang as the escort,” he concluded.

The meeting was also attended by the Interfaith Communion Forum (FKUB) officials, house of worship attendants, and hospital management across South Kuta subdistrict, immigration office, police and TNI (Indonesian Army).

In the meantime, the immigration authorities are expected to disseminate to tourists or foreign nationals living in people’s homes.

Probably, they have not known the procedures of the implementation of Nyepi feast day. To that end, it will become the task of the immigration office to disseminate.

“Perhaps many foreigners who live in people’s home or rented houses without a host, so they need to be informed about the procedures of the Nyepi holiday,” he added. (kmb23)

IBP/wan

The night of Pengerupukan should get the attention from all parties. If there is ogoh-ogoh parade, it should be organized more orderly.

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At least 18 killed as second earthquake strikes Papua New Guinea

IBP/kmb31

The arrival of the Head of the Karangasem Library and Archive Office accompanied by several technical staff, Division Head of Library Development and Division Head of Library Processing is meant to have a closer look at the collection and management of the museum.

Karangasem Library has eyes for Penaban Lontar Museum

SINCE the launch of Bali Lontar (Palm-Manuscript) Museum by Dukuh Penaban customary village, Karangasem, it has received much attention from various parties, including the management of lontar museum at home and overseas, lontar observers, mass media and bureaucrats.

One of them is from the Karangasem Library and Archive Office which specifically visited the museum directly on Monday (Mar. 5).

The arrival of the Head of the Karangasem Library and Archive Office, I Komang Daging, accompanied by several technical staff, Division Head of Library Development, I Komang Pasek Antara and Division Head of Library Processing, I Made Sujendra, is meant to have a closer look at the collection and management of the museum. In addition, they also wanted to establish cooperation with the museum currently being under development.

The cooperation is a form of synergy between the government and customary village to give a new impression in the process of library development.

The arrival of the entourage from the Karangasem Library was received directly by the Museum Head, Jro Nengah Suarya, accompanied by his Secretary I Nengah Sudana and other senior figures of local village. To the management, Daging said the form of cooperation includes the arrangement ac-

tivities of the ancient archipelagic manuscripts, physical preservation and library content. The process will involve a team from various stakeholders including the Bali Lontar Museum at Penaban.

This cooperation is just made for the first time. Results of this activity will be made into the material collection of the Karangasem Library and Archive Office. Thus, the quality and quantity of library collections increased from before.

Besides, various visitors will visit the Karangasem Library. “Later, the readers that cannot read Balinese scripts in the palm-leaf manuscript can read the transliteration in the form of book in the Karangasem Library,” said Daging.

Jro Nengah Suarya welcomed the cooperation as the relatively new museum has received the attention from various parties. He said to have previously been working with several parties including lontar owners at his village and

overseas museum owners such as Leiden Museum, in the Netherlands and the Balinese language extension officers in Karangasem. Jro Suarya claimed that his museum has collected more than 400 units of palm-leaf manuscripts. “The management of this museum will not only preserve the lontar manuscripts, but also organize the learning of Balinese culture. Thus, this can become a tourist attraction,” said Suarya.

To be noted, the land area of this museum spreads across 1.5 hectares located in the middle of lush green moor with rural and natural atmosphere. The physical buildings established in the museum area include Sangkul Putih Pavilion, hall and classroom of higher priests, display room of lontar manuscript collection, kitchen and open stage to perform cultural show. Meanwhile, the other buildings are still in the stage of workmanship. (kmb31)

IBP/net

Agio Pereira and Julie Bishop sign paperwork in front of small East Timor and Australian flags.

Australia, East Timor sign deal on maritime border, gas field

UNITED NATIONS - East Timor and Australia signed a treaty at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday to resolve a long-running dispute over their maritime border and struck a deal on how to share revenue from the offshore Greater Sunrise gas field.

East Timor will receive a bigger share of the revenue than Australia depending on the development concept - 70 percent of the revenue if the gas is piped to the tiny country or 80 percent if the gas is piped to Australia for processing.

The agreement also establishes a maritime boundary in the Timor Sea for the first time. Australia had sought a boundary aligned with its continental shelf, but East Timor argued the border should lie half way between it and Australia - placing much of the Greater Sunrise field under its control.

“With this treaty we open a new chapter in relations between Australia and Timor-Leste,” said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who signed the treaty alongside East Timor’s Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister for the Delimitation of Borders Hermenegildo Augusto Cabral Pereira.

The protracted dispute had led the owners of Greater Sunrise Woodside Petroleum, ConocoPhil-

lips, Royal Dutch Shell and Japan’s Osaka Gas - to shelve the project.

The Greater Sunrise field is estimated to hold 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas and 226 million barrels of condensates, which analysts have previously estimated could be worth $40 billion. However, development could be at least a decade away, with Woodside looking at the latter half of the next decade.

Australian Associated Press reported shortly before the signing ceremony that East Timor had accused Australia of colluding with the oil companies to have the gas piped to Australia for processing.

“Australia rejects absolutely any suggestion that we have acted other than in utmost good faith throughout this conciliation process,” Bishop told reporters at the United Nations.

“The way is now clear for Timor-Leste, as the majority beneficiary of the division of the resource, to find a way with the joint venture partners to develop Greater Sunrise in an economically viable

fashion,” she said.

East Timor had been pushing hard for the building of an onshore processing plant to boost its economy. Bishop said Australia does not have a position and that the main concern was that any project was economically viable.

“It’s a conciliation process, it was never meant to be easy. We had ups and downs in this 22, 23 months,” said Pereira, adding that the focus should be on Tuesday’s treaty signing.

Ending years of opposition, Australia agreed in 2017 to accept Dili’s formal notice to terminate an agreement to split petroleum revenue equally from Greater Sunrise and set a 50-year timetable for negotiating a permanent sea boundary.

Dili had taken the long-running maritime border dispute to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, an intergovernmental organization based at The Hague, which ordered compulsory arbitration between the two parties. (rtr)

SYDNEY - A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Southern Highlands on Wednesday killing at least 18 people, an official said, a week after a larger quake flattened villages and killed at least 55 people.

The tremor, shortly after midnight local time, struck just 31 km (19 miles) southwest of the epicentre of last Monday’s magnitude 7.5 quake that has left government and aid agencies scrambling to provide emergency supplies to the remote region.

Australia and New Zealand said on Wednesday they would increase aid to Papua New Guinea.

Australia will deploy three helicopters this week to deliver aid, while New Zealand will send a second military plane to distribute medical equipment, hygiene kits and tarpaulins.

Wednesday’s quake was the most severe of a series of aftershocks that have rattled the resource-rich region, about 600 km (370 miles) northwest of the capital Port Moresby.

William Bando, the administrator of Hela Province, said initial reports put the death toll from the aftershock at 18.

“It appears Hides was hardest hit. We haven’t heard about potential casualties there yet, but it is a big village with many people,” he added.

Manasseh Makiba, Papua New Guinea’s Vice Minister for Petroleum & Energy who represents parts of Hela Province in parliament, said victims were still being found.

“People are still being ex-

tracted from mud. People are still being taken to hospitals,” he said.

Local media outlets reported the death toll from the original quake had risen to 75, after government officials said previously that 55 people had been killed.

A spokeswoman at Papua New Guinea’s National Disaster Centre said on Wednesday that authorities were finalising a final report into the casualties from the first quake.

James Komengi, a United Church project officer, speaking from Tari, the capital of quakeaffected Hela province, said his church’s assessment and response centre had counted up to 67 deaths in that province alone.

Aid efforts are being hampered as rescue workers struggle to reach the highlands area as many roads are either badly damaged or blocked.

The International Red Cross warned the situation could deteriorate if heavy rains hit the region.

“We are anxious to reach communities while there is a lull in what is usually a season of heavy rain. A big downpour could bring landslides in hillsides already destabilised by the earthquake, cause floods and contaminate water,” said Udaya Regmi, Director the International Red Cross in Papua New Guinea.

The Red Cross said its initial assessments indicate that as many as 143,000 people could have been affected, with an estimated 500 people injured and 17,000 people displaced from their homes. Even in more accessible areas of the country, health facilities have been damaged. (rtr)

MAF International/Handout via REUTERS

Residents wait to receive aid after an earthquake in Papua New Guinea in this handout image released March 7, 2018.

14

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Health

International

Dieting pressure in teen years tied to food and weight problems later MINNEAPOLIS - Adults who were pressured by their parents to diet during adolescence may have a higher risk of obesity and eating disorders as adults than people who weren’t urged to lose weight as teens, a U.S. study suggests.

As parents, adults who endured dieting pressure during their teen years were also more likely to encourage their own children to watch what they ate, researchers report in Pediatrics, online March 6.

“When adolescents were encouraged to diet by their parents, they were more likely to be overweight, engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors, binge eat and diet, and to have lower body satisfaction as adults,” said lead study author Jerica Berge of the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis.

“These results suggest that a pattern is created and passed from one generation to the next,” Berge said by email.

For the study, researchers examined data from eating surveys that 556 participants completed in school when they were 15 years old on average, as well as results from online surveys they completed as adults 15 years later.

In the first surveys, 37 percent of the teens said they were encouraged to diet by their parents. They were more likely to experience this if they were girls, younger in age, from low-income households, overweight or obese, or non-white.

When the participants grew up, those who had been pushed to diet were 25 percent more likely to be overweight and 37 percent more likely to be obese than the adults who weren’t pressured to lose weight

during adolescence, the study found.

While binge eating was rare, it was 72 percent more likely among the adults who had been pressured to diet as teens.

As parents, people who were pushed to diet during their teen years were also roughly 50 percent more likely to push their own kids to diet and to talk to children about their weight.

Families with a parent who was pressured to diet growing up were also more likely to tease one another about weight or openly talk about each other’s weight, researchers found.

The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to prove whether or how dieting pressure during adolescence might translate into certain behaviors related to food and weight in adulthood.

Beyond its small size, another limitation is that researchers relied on participants to accurately report whether they were overweight or obese. Most of the participants were women, too. And there weren’t enough fathers in the study to explore how experiences in adolescence might influence how they interacted with their own kids about food and weight.

Even so, the study offers fresh evidence that even well-intended efforts by parents to encourage kids to slim down can backfire, said Katherine Bauer, coauthor of an accompanying editorial, and a nutrition specialist at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor.

“Many people, adults and teens alike, desire to eat healthier and achieve a healthier weight,” Bauer said by email. “But achieving this is really hard when there’s so much misinformation about nutrition out there and so much pressure for quick fixes.” (rtr)

IBP/net

Adults who were pressured by their parents to diet during adolescence may have a higher risk of obesity and eating disorders as adults.

Bali News

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

3

Indian tourist visit targeted to reach 400,000 in 2018

IBP/net

For pregnant women with chronic or pregnancy-related hypertension, home blood pressure monitoring could safely reduce their number of required hospital visits.

Home blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy safe, cost effective

LONDON - For pregnant women with chronic or pregnancyrelated hypertension, home blood pressure monitoring could safely reduce their number of required hospital visits, suggests a small study in the UK. About 10 percent of pregnant women have chronic high blood pressure, gestational high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia - a complication of pregnancy that includes elevated blood pressure - and must keep tabs on their blood pressure throughout pregnancy.

“I saw just how much time and effort women diagnosed with high blood pressure in pregnancy have to spend attending the hospital for monitoring,” said senior study author Dr. Asma Khalil, an obstetrician at St. George’s Hospital at the University of London.

They often have to come to the hospital two or three times a week, spending a couple of hours each time, having their blood pressure and urine monitored, Khalil added.

“I saw how they had to take time off work, arrange childcare, and spend time and money coming to the hospital. I also saw how busy this made the staff at the hospital day unit, and the cost to the health services,” she told Reuters Health in an email.

On top of all of that, just coming to the hospital often stressed women so much that it made their blood pressure higher than it had been at home, Khalil said.

To see if women could monitor themselves at home effectively, and without any added risks to themselves or the pregnancy, the researchers enrolled pregnant patients of the hospital who had been

diagnosed with high blood pressure but were otherwise healthy.

A total of 108 women were taught how to measure and track their blood pressure at home using the WatchBP Home monitor.

Twenty-nine of these women also opted to use a smartphone app to record their measurements while the rest simply kept written notes.

In addition, women assigned to home monitoring were given written instructions regarding when to go to the hospital based on their blood pressure readings or potential symptoms of pre-eclampsia.

Another 58 women, similar to those in the home-monitoring group, were used as a comparison group drawn from past patients of the hospital who had received normal care.

All the women were followed for five to nine weeks during pregnancy, and the study team analyzed post-delivery records to assess pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, cesarean sections, admission to neonatal unit and others. The mothers’ incidence of hypertension-related complications including kidney, liver and heart problems was also assessed.

“There was no difference in the incidence of adverse maternal, fetal or neonatal outcome between women who had home blood pressure monitoring and those who had the traditional blood pressure monitoring,” Khalil said.

Women who self-monitored averaged 0.8 visits to the clinic per week, compared to the traditionalcare group’s average of 1.6 visits per week, according to the results in Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. (rtr)

MANGUPURA - The visit of Indian tourists to Bali is now increasing steadily. Moreover, throughout 2017 a total of 270,000 Indian tourists traveled to Bali.

Such number is still considered small when compared to India’s population reaching 1.3 billion people. Besides, the number of people belonging to middle to upper economic class with lifestyle that like traveling overseas lies in the range of 10-15 percent. Of course, this becomes an opportunity to increase tourist arrivals to Bali.

In 2018, the visit of Indian tourists is expected to increase to 400,000. For that purpose, the tourism players invited 200 buyers or prospective buyers of Bali tourism products by doing business to business (B2B) table top by Tri Uma in Kuta on Tuesday (Mar. 6). The event under the name of Education Destination Workshop International (EDWIN) took place on March 5-10.

Through this activity, Chairman of the Regional Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD) of Badung, IGN Rai Suryawijaya, said the tourism promotion through direct meetings of the industry as a seller with buyers is an appropriate measure to increase tourist arrivals to Bali. He added the Indian market is still very potential.

“It will be better for them (buyers) to come to Bali because they can see in person and experience the safe and comfortable atmosphere and the beauty of the Bali Island,” he said.

He explained that tourism promotion can be done in two ways,

namely by promotions outside and within the country by inviting potential buyers to see firsthand the products sold to potential tourists.

Meanwhile, the promotion held outside the country is by coming directly to the countries concerned.

With the incessant tourism promotion, he hoped to increase the visit of Indian tourists to Bali so that it occupies the third position as the largest number of countries visiting Bali. He said the length of stay spent by Indian tourists at least amounts to five days. Moreover, this market is better than China which only has 4 days 3 nights. “On average, the spending of Indian tourist at 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels, not jasmine-rated hotels, reaches minimally USD 100-200 per day,” he said.

The Association of Indonesia Tour and Travel Agency (ASITA) of Bali Chapter, Putu Winastra, added that a total of 10 travel agencies handle the Indian market through B2B relations to bring in Indian tourists. He said that only few Indian tourists have vacation to Bali, probably due to flight constraints. “For Indian market, we have Namaste division consisting of 30 travel agencies that specializes in handling Indian tourists,” he added.

He hoped the 200 buyers will bring in more and more guests to Bali. By bringing in buyers from India through B2B cooperation, surely it will become far more potential because the products on offer such as hotel, destination and others can directly be experienced. (kmb23)

Other than beautiful and smart

Mirah Cintya, Putri Indonesia of Bali Chapter, has a good attitude

DENPASAR — Being a Putri Indonesia (Princess of Indonesia) is not easy. It is not enough just armed with beautiful face, high posture and skills to sway on catwalk, but must also be smart and have a good attitude.

IBP/kmb

The visit of Indian tourists to Bali is now increasing steadily.

IBP/kmb

A.A. Ayu Mirah Cyntia Dewi

A.A. Ayu Mirah Cyntia Dewi has been named Putri Indonesia 2018 of Bali Chapter last February. This girl born on April 13, 1997 will further fight against other beautiful princess of Indonesia to become a Putri Indonesia 2018. If she wins, the elected Putri Indonesia will compete again to the Miss Universe.

Met on Monday (Mar.5), Laksmi Duarsa, Advisor to Putri Bali Foundation, said that Mirah is a participant of Putri Bali 2018 whose score is above the average.

Of the 3 outline assessments, the score of Mirah Cintya for beauty, intelligence and behavior is said to be above the average. “The others are good, but Mirah Cintya is even better,” she said.

The selection stage until getting the title of Putri Indonesia of Bali Chapter took a month. Many teenagers of 18-25 years old participated in the event. There were two selections made from January and the second selection in February. Of the hundreds of participants,

10 names were chosen for quarantine.

During the quarantine period, all the participants got a lot of knowledge starting from walking exercises on catwalk, general knowledge, aptitude tests and table manners, modeling exercises and many other things.

In essence, the assessment point of Putri Indonesian of Bali Chapter is divided into 3 namely beauty, brain and behavior. “During the quarantine period, there will be an evening talent showcase of each participant,” she said.

Afterward, in the grand final, all the participants were judged by 5 judges including from Mustika Ratu.

After the selection of Mirah Cintya as Putri Indonesia of Bali Chapter 2018, this student of Tourism Management Study Program at the Faculty of Tourism, Udayana University, only has two weeks to prepare for the selection of Putri Indonesia. “There are body-building, body treatments, cooking by chef and walking on catwalk exercises, so the training gained beforehand will be reinforced by the exercises,” she said.

After attending the training, since last Wednesday, Mirah has followed quarantine period in Jakarta to further compete in the event of Putri Indonesia 2018. (kmb42)

2

Bali News

Thursday, March 8, 2018

International

Disconnection of internet on Nyepi may impact on security Parliament urged to soon coordinate with ministry

DENPASAR - A joint appeal to turn off mobile data (internet) services on Nyepi is actually not a new request. Last year, this had also been delivered but could not be realized after coordinating with the Ministry of Communications and Informatics.

It happens because the internet disconnection will have a big impact, one of them on Bali’s own security aspects.

enjoying entertainment. As an impact, many people are offended and so forth, and some even threaten the Chairman of PHDI, that’s natural,” he said.

According to Sudiana, the appeal has been proposed to the Ministry of Communications and Informatics. If accepted by cellular service providers, it will be good. Otherwise, there is no sanction given to them. He hoped the cellular service providers can understand that Nyepi celebration once in a year can be carried out solemnly.

“All the Hindus should not be anxious. A lot of critics have come in to us. However, if you can feel the pleasure of not using social media for one day, for instance, you’ll get addicted later on,” he added.

Sudiana added, at the time of Nyepi, communication to God does not need to use any other means. However, it is simply by bringing together our thoughts, words and deeds.

“At that time, if having carried out well, we will feel the real practices of religion,” he said. (kmb32)

“Actually this discourse also emerged last year. However, after we make coordination with the parliament (Bali House of Representatives), Indonesia Broadcasting Commission (KPID) of Bali Region and the Ministry, it has quite large impact on the security in connection with the existence of our airport and tourism,” said the Head of the Bali Communications, Informatics and Statistics Agency, Nyoman Sujaya, when confirmed on Tuesday (Mar. 6).

Sujaya explained if something happened to the security of Bali, police also need internet access to overcome it. It also includes in case of disaster. Nevertheless, his agency will continue to coordinate one of the contents of the joint appeals of the religious councils of Bali Province. Certainly, it is meant to find out the best way for all parties.

“Later on, Commission I of the Bali House of Representatives will coordinate on March 9 to the Ministry of Communications and Informatics related to television, radio and internet. After that, the coordination result will be disseminated next Monday,” he explained.

When separately interviewed, Chairman of the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali Province, I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said there have been joint appeals consisting of eight points of agreement. The fourth point states that providers of cellular communication services are expected to turn off their mobile data (internet) service from Saturday (Mar. 17) at 06:00 until Sunday (Mar. 18) at 06:00.

Since it is an appeal, the people of Bali are asked not to be anxious and emotionless as the appeal is actually expected to have a positive impact on the Hindus celebrating Nyepi in Bali.

“The internet contains a lot of entertainment. In the catur brata penyepian, there is amati lelanguan or restraint from

PHDI Buleleng disseminates the closing of Internet access on Nyepi

SINGARAJA - Celebration of Nyepi Day of Caka New Year 1940 will coincide with Saraswati Day. Religious councils of Bali Province called for cellular communication companies to close internet access services for people carrying out Catur Brata Penyepian (four abstinences in series of Nyepi). In the near future, this appeal will be disseminated to subdistricts and villages in Buleleng.

There are eight points of decision of religious councils of Bali Province. One of them hoped the

cellular communication companies to turn off their internet services starting on Saturday (Mar. 17) at 06:00 through Sunday (Mar. 18) at 06:00.

In responding to this appeal, Chairman of the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Buleleng Chapter, Dewa Nyoman Suardana, said on Tuesday (Mar. 6) that he supports the appeals.

The closure of internet access on Nyepi Day will provide the widest opportunities for the devotees to carry out the tapa brata penyepian well, so the

implementation of Nyepi can run solemnly without being disrupted by negative things. In the near future, the appeals will be further disseminated to subdistrict heads and forwarded to villages. “We follow the direction of PHDI Bali.

As religious people, let’s respect and appreciate to the provisions in implementing Nyepi so that the atmosphere is peaceful,” he said.

According to Suardana, when the religious leadership in Bali issued a public policy devotees should not show off an assumption that PHDI makes a new problem.

Rather, the appeals must be addressed wisely. He assessed when the internet access is active on Nyepi, it can be misused to do negative things through social media growing rampant lately. Suardana pointed out that having selfie on the road and then uploading to social media is worried to result in controversy. “It is just carried out for one day, not to turn on mobile phone. Without being arranged, who else will do it,” he said.

In separate location, Chairman of the Buleleng House of Representatives, Gede Supriatna, hoped

the appeals could be reviewed as the implementation of Catur Brata Penyepian depends on the awareness of each people.

Meanwhile, the need for internet access is not limited to games among children and adults or those being active in social media network. Conversely, internet access is also needed to obtain information that is urgent to support broader interests. “We respect to the appeals of the PHDI. However, it would be wiser for the PHDI to review the appeals,” he explained. (kmb38)

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Activities

International

Thursday, March 8, 2018

15

Swimming at Aston Denpasar and Get Free Breakfast Buffet

Staying at the hotel usually will automatically get breakfast and use the pool for free. However, both facilities can now be enjoyed at Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center for those who do not stay at the hotel.

Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center offers Hot Deal Breakfast on Weekend. Through

this package, guests can use the 3 pools on weekends and satisfy their taste-budge through buffet breakfast provided by Jempiring Restaurant with various menu choices, such as; a variety of salads, cereals, milk, juices, bread station, waffles and pancake station, egg station, porridge with various kinds of condiments, authentic station,

coffee and tea, and also available the variant of main course such as traditional, Western, Asian, and local. This package is quite affordable for a four-star hotel located on Jl. Gatot Subroto Barat no. 283 Denpasar, it cost IDR 60,000 nett/ person, while for children it will cost IDR 45,000 nett/ child, 6-10 years old.

“Due to the high demand from our loyal guests who did not stay but regularly used the pool on the weekend, then we launched this package. So we suggest that anyone who interested to have this package, kindly book it at least one day in advance, to make sure to get a seat in our restaurant. “ Said Ady Suardy - Assistant Restaurant

Manager di Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center.

For further information and reservation, kindly contact 0361 - 411999 or quick response please mention and follow us on Twitter @AstonDenpasarID, Instagram @ AstonDenpasar, and Facebook @ Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center.

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

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

16 Pages Number 66 10th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Thursday, March 8, 2018

REUTERS/Dominick Reuter

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby leaves after a pre-trial hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. March 6, 2018.

Cosby lawyers want other accusers barred at retrial as #MeToo looms NORRISTOWN - Allowing 19 other women who have accused comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault to testify at his retrial would unfairly prejudice jurors, especially against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, his lawyers told a judge on Tuesday.

Cosby, best known as the star of the 1980s TV hit “The Cosby Show,” is accused of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand, now 44, at his home near Philadelphia between Dec. 30, 2003, and Jan. 20, 2004. His first trial in June ended with a hung jury.

Constand, a former administrator of the women’s basketball team at Temple University, Cosby’s alma mater, is one of more than 50 women who have accused him of sexual assaults, some dating back decades.

Cosby, 80, has repeatedly denied assaulting anyone, saying any sexual encounter was consensual. The retrial is set to begin with jury selection on March 29.

All of the accusations except Constand’s are too old to be prosecuted, but prosecutors asked Judge Steven O’Neill on Monday to allow 19 of the other accusers to testify in support of Constand’s case.

Cosby’s lawyers objected on Tuesday, arguing that they should be barred because the #MeToo movement has

created an atmosphere in which the other women’s testimony would prejudice the jury against him.

The movement, which grew out of accusations against a host of entertainment, sports, and news media figures, has encouraged millions of women to share their experiences of abuse and harassment.

Having the other women tell their stories on the witness stand would only enrage jurors, and that appeared to be the prosecution’s purpose in making its request, defense attorney Becky James said in the second day of a pretrial hearing in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

“In that environment, allowing the 19 to testify would be hugely prejudicial,” she said.

The judge allowed one other accuser to testify in Cosby’s first trial. In general, a defendant’s history is not admissible as evidence that he or she committed a particular crime.

But the Cosby case is an exception, prosecutors argued, because the way he abused the 19 women was repetitive and consistent.

“Nineteen prior bad acts are needed to demonstrate that these events are not random and remote,” Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Jappe said in her rebuttal argument on Tuesday. (rtr)

Stormy Daniels sues Trump over ‘hush agreement’

CALIFORNIA - Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels sued President Donald Trump on Tuesday, alleging he never signed a nondisclosure agreement to keep her quiet about an “intimate” relationship between them.

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles claiming the agreement is invalid and she is free to publicly discuss her relationship with Trump.

The lawsuit, which Clifford’s attorney Michael Avenatti published in a tweet, says that she signed both the agreement and a side letter using her stage name on October 28, 2016, days before the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen signed the document the same day, but Trump never signed the document, the lawsuit claims.

The “hush agreement” as it is called in the lawsuit refers to Trump as David Dennison and Clifford as Peggy Peterson. The side letter agreement reveals the true identities of the parties as Clifford and Trump, according to the lawsuit. Clifford asks in the lawsuit for the Los Angeles County Superior Court to declare the agreement and side agreement invalid and unenforceable.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Avenatti was not immediately available for comment.

According to the lawsuit, Clifford and Trump had an intimate relationship that lasted from the summer of 2006 well into 2007, including meetings in Lake Tahoe and at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Daniels was quoted in a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly magazine that she had an affair with Trump after they met at a

REUTERS/Stringer

Sri Lanka’s army soldiers stand guard a road after a clash between two communities in Digana, central district of Kandy, Sri Lanka March 6, 2018.

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File photo

Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels Lake Tahoe golf tournament in 2006, not long after Trump’s wife, Melania, had given birth to their son, Barron.

Cohen has said he paid Clifford $130,000 of his own money in 2016, the year Trump was elected president, but said neither the Trump Organization nor Trump’s campaign was a party to the transaction, though he declined to say publicly what it was for.

The lawsuit said the 2016 hush agreement called for $130,000 to

be paid into the trust account of Clifford’s then-attorney. In return, Clifford was not to disclose any confidential information about Trump.

The suit alleges Cohen has tried to keep Clifford from talking about the relationship as recently as Feb. 27, 2018.

“The attempts to intimidate Ms. Clifford into silence and ‘shut her up’ in order to ‘protect Mr. Trump’ continue unabated,” the lawsuit said. (rtr)

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Lanka declares state of emergency after Buddhist-Muslim clashes

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday declared a nationwide state of emergency for seven days in a bid to curb communal violence after clashes erupted between majority Buddhists and members of the Muslim minority. Under the emergency, which was imposed for the first time since 2011, following the end of the civil war with Tamil separatists two years before that, security forces can carry out searches without warrant and detain suspects without charges.

The move came after police said Sinhalese mobs targeted the properties of minority Muslims in eastern and central Sri Lanka, incensed by the death of a Sinhalese truck driver after a clash with Muslim youths in the central Kandy district on Sunday. Some people were instigating violence through Facebook , the government said, warning of tough action against them.

“The president has instructed the police to impartially, comprehensively and promptly deal with those engaged in criminal activities

and those causing or attempting to cause ethnic and religious tensions, irrespective of their ethnic or religious identities and political affiliations,” said a statement issued

by Sirisena’s office.

Tension has been growing between the two communities in Sri Lanka over the past year, with some hardline Buddhist groups accusing Muslims of forcing people to convert to Islam and vandalising Buddhist archaeological sites.

Some Buddhist nationalists have also protested against the

presence in Sri Lanka of Muslim Rohingya asylum-seekers from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, where Buddhist nationalism has also been on the rise. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament that “political groups” he did not identify were trying to incite hatred against Muslims.

Muslims make up about 9 percent of Sri Lanka’s 21 million people.

Buddhists comprise about 70 percent and ethnic Tamils, most of whom are Hindus, about 13 percent.

Analysts say the government

has been alarmed by the speed with which the trouble spread in two districts of Kandy and sought to contain it through the imposition of emergency.

Postings have appeared on Facebook threatening more attacks on Muslims. The unrest in Kandy began on Sunday after the funeral of the Sinhalese truck driver, the government said.

It was not clear why the initial altercation occurred but after the driver’s funeral on Monday, a Sinhalese mob attacked Muslim shops, police said. Early on Tuesday the body of a Muslim youth was found in a burnt-out shop, police said.

Area residents have said more than 30 shops and houses have damaged while scores of mosques also have

been attacked after the government imposed a curfew on Monday. Police reimposed the curfew until 0600 hours (0030 GMT) Wednesday.

The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka said it was important that the government act quickly against perpetrators of sectarian violence, and protect religious minorities and their places of worship. It also asked for an early lifting of the emergency. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.