Edition Tuesday, July 9, 2019 | International Bali Post

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Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Joss Stone deported from Iran ahead of 200th world tour gig LONDON - British singer Joss Stone said she was “gutted” after being deported from Iran ahead of the latest leg of a world tour that has already taken her to Syria and North Korea.

She was held shortly after arriving at Kish airport, according to a post on her Instagram account, as authorities suspected she was planning to play a public gig.

Women have been banned from singing solo in public in Iran since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

“We were aware there couldn’t be a public concert as I am a woman and that is illegal in this country,” she wrote, without specifying where or how she had hoped to play.

“So close yet so far, this moment broke a little piece of my heart,” she wrote it the post, below a picture of herself wearing a headscarf.

Iran confirmed it had denied

entry to the singer.

“Joss Stone and her entourage were refused entry to the territory for lack of required documents in accordance with the rules,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted police officials as saying.

The gig in Kish would have been the 200th of the “Total World Tour” she embarked on five years ago, she wrote in another post before departing for Kish.

That tour is an ambitious project to perform in every country on Earth and has seen her play in wartorn Libya, South Sudan as well as an “unofficial” gig in the capital of North Korea.

However she described the Iranian immigration officials as “genuinely nice kind people that felt bad that they couldn’t override the system,” and that they had refused her entry “with a heavy heart”. (afp)

British singer Joss Stone

IBP/net

Pussy Riot performing in Alabama to protest ‘ridiculous’ abortion ban

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Tuesday, July 9, 2019

NEW YORK - The Russian collective Pussy Riot will perform in Alabama on Thursday, a sold-out concert to raise money for women’s rights groups in light of the state’s recent passage of a near-total ban on abortion.

Proceeds from the Birmingham benefit will go to Planned Parenthood and the Yellowhammer Fund, a group that gives assistance to women seeking abortions at one of the southern US state’s three clinics.

In May, Alabama lawmakers triggered outrage after pushing through legislation making abortion a felony -- even in cases of rape or incest, unless the mother’s health is at risk -- punishing doctors with up to 99 years in prison for providing the procedure.

“It is ridiculous to me that it’s still a question in 2019 whether women can have an abortion,” Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova told AFP ahead of the performance.

“We want to come to Alabama and support women who are in quite a critical and vulnerable position right now,” she said. “Many Americans, they believe that Russia is a patriarchal country -- it’s true in a lot of ways, but when it comes to abortion rights, it’s not questionable.”

The Soviet Union in 1920 became the first state in the world to legalize abortion, though it

Pablo PORCIUNCULA BRUNE / AFP

In this file photo taken on April 13, 2019 Nadya Tolokonnikova, of Russian feminist protest punk rock group Pussy Riot, performs during a show at La Trastienda in Montevideo, on April 13, 2019. was banned under Joseph Stalin for nearly two decades starting in 1936.

An anti-abortion movement does exist in Russia, with activists seizing on the country’s declining population as reason for a ban, but according to Tolokonnikova it is only “insane, crazy freaks who claim that women don’t have right to have an abortion” there.

Though she feels “the US going backwards” the 29-year-old said she sees progress “because activism is blooming and the feminist

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movement is stronger than any time.”

“The feminist movement today is so strong that it will be able to overcome these obstacles,” the Moscow-based activist said.

“Those white, male dudes who are voting against abortion rights, they’re part of the history. They’re not really relevant.”

She sees legislation like that signed in Alabama as evidence of politicians who are “angry, and desperate, because they feel that their time (in power) is about to end.” (afp)

Carl DE SOUZA / AFP

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro holds the Copa America trophy as members of the Brazilian national team celebrates after winning the title by defeating Peru in the final match of the football tournament at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2019.

Brazil win Copa America despite Jesus dismissal

Ten-man Brazil held on to win the Copa America on home soil despite Gabriel Jesus’s dismissal with a 3-1 victory over Peru on Sunday. Jesus scored the decisive goal after a penalty from Peru captain Paolo Guerrero canceled out Everton’s opener for hosts Brazil at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.

A last minute penalty from substitute Richarlison sealed a win for Brazil which handed the South American giants their ninth Copa triumph and first since 2007.

Jesus’s evening went sour 20 minutes from time as he was sent off for a second booking.

The Manchester City striker was in tears as he left the field, making obscene hand gestures, angrily kicking a water bottle and almost knocking over the VAR booth.

Brazil’s players rallied after the

dismissal however to claim a battling victory.

“It’s really special because we built something together,” enthused captain Dani Alves.

Earlier, after a minute’s silence was held for bossa nova legend Joao Gilberto -- who died on Saturday -- underdogs Peru made a confident start and didn’t appear overawed by either their opponents or the occasion.

But it quickly became apparent that they were up against more ac-

complished players.

“It was a game in which they took advantage of our mistakes and turned them all into goals,” said Peru’s Edison Flores.

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca had said on Saturday they needed to prevent Brazil from dominating possession, but that was easier said than done.

- Individual brilliance Brazil started to stroke the ball around commandingly, and as they did that, they looked dangerous.

Their opening goal came from a piece of individual brilliance by Jesus, whose drag back fooled two defenders, creating space for him to cross for the unmarked Everton to

drill home at the back post on the quarter hour.

Brazil were in control and playing like champions elect as Roberto Firmino found space on the left and crossed for Philippe Coutinho to stab wide.

Left-winger Everton was clever with his movement in dragging the athletic right-back Luis Advincula out of position and Brazil’s leftback Alex Sandro found acres of space to put in a deep cross that Firmino headed over.

Just as it looked as if Brazil would stroll to victory, Peru went on the attack and a Christian Cueva cross hit the arm of a sliding Thiago Silva, giving Peru a penalty that was confirmed after a VAR review.

Guerrero sent goalkeeper Alisson the wrong way from 12 yards and Peru were back in it just before half-time. But they paid for their lack of guile and experience with almost the last kick of the half as Arthur was allowed to drive at the defence from midfield following a slip from Renato Tapia that left him space to attack.

Continued to page 6

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Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Bangli fails to be a child-friendly district BANGLI - Bangli is the only district in Bali that has not yet complied with predicate of child-friendly district. The unavailability of facilities fulfilling children’s rights such as children’s playgrounds is one of the obstacles for Bangli to become a child-friendly district.

Division Head of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Population Control, Family Planning Agency, Dewi Rahayu, when confirmed on Sunday (Jul. 7) did not to deny it. She said that to comply with the requirements for being child-friendly district, a series of stages of assessment and requirements should be met by Bangli. From a series of stages having been passed, Bangli failed to become a child-friendly district because it did not qualify when undergoing field verification stage.

She added that in order to become a childfriendly district, there are at least 24 indicators that had to be complied with. Of the 24 indicators, a total of 365 items of activity should be met by Bangli.

She stated that currently Bangli stays to lack facilities to fulfill children’s rights.

The facilities include child-friendly schools, child-friendly health centers and childfriendly playgrounds. In addition, the existence of an Integrated Service Center Agency for Women and Child’s Protection (P2TP2A) equally has not met the required criteria because there are still lack of facilities, infrastructure and human resources.

“Bangli indeed has P2TP2A. However, after the agency had been further explored, we don’t have a clinical psychologist and neither does the secretariat as we are still borrowing the space in the office,” said Dewi Rahayu.

If the current weakness continues to be fulfilled and addressed, according to her, in the future Bangli has possibility to become a child-friendly district. The efforts to achieve the predicate are not only the duty of the Population Control, Family Planning, Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agency, but also a number of other agencies included in the taskforce.

She gave an example that Education, Youth and Sports Agency has the task and role of realizing child-friendly schools, the Health Agency has the task to provide child-friendly health centers, Environment Agency has the task to provide child-friendly playgrounds, and the Transportation Agency has the task to provide child-friendly transportation.

Dewi Rahayu added that it is rather difficult to coordinate intensively with the regional agency included in the taskforce because many related officials in the regional agencies are still vacant. “Nine of our regional agencies are not occupied or still vacant. They do not include in the other district agencies belonging to the child-friendly taskforce.

Therefore, our coordination is rather difficult,” he added. (kmb40)

Bali News

International

Activities

International

Seven-tiered bade tower paraded along the beach draws tourists’ interest

SEMARAPURA — Karangsari customary village, Suana, Nusa Penida, organized a pitra yajna mass procession (Ngaben) on Sunday (Jul. 7). This five-yearly ceremony ran safely and smoothly.

Uniquely, the seven-tiered bade tower with the height of 9 meters was paraded along the coast. Even though it passed the seawater constraint, the Karangsari customary villagers carried it hand in hand containing 48 symbolic corpses along the distance of 400 meters to the cremation venue or cemetery.

More interestingly, the procession parading bade tower accompanied with Baleganjur and Angklung gamelan was not only witnessed by the people of Nusa Penida but also foreign tourists on vacation on the island dubbed as the Blue Paradise.

Before the peak of ceremony, three days before there was re-digging the corpse ritual carried out in the cemetery of Dalem Lempuyang Temple of the local customary village.

Moreover, the day before was carried out the ngendagin kuburan ritual by sprinkling holy water so that the ngebet ceremony could run smoothly.

In addition, two days before the peak of the mass ngaben activities was carried out themelaspas kajang ritual and a day after were the mapeed procession and the ngeringkes procession.

Chief of the Mass Cremation Committee, Mangku Gede I Nyoman Dunia, said that even though the cremation ceremony is obligation of each citizen, due to funding constraints, the Karangsari customary village consisting of three hamlets (the Pupuan, Karangsari and Pidada) prepared the ngaben ceremony as a form of togetherness and mutual cooperation in maintaining social relationship. This is meant to reduce the costs incurred by residents, especially those who are underprivileged. Each citizen having a corpse is charged contribution.

Though mass cremation is held to alleviate the costs incurred by residents, in its implementation it remains to refer to dewasa (auspicious day) with the hope the whole series of the mass cremation carried out can bring in safety without any obstacles, both physically (sekala) and psychically (niskala). “We’d like to express our profound gratitude to the residents of Karangsari customary village because the cremation ceremony today (Sunday) has run well,” he said.

In addition, on the same day the committee also organized ngerapuh or ngelungah for housewives having had an abortion or her baby

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

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died while being in the womb. This ngerapuh ceremony has significance of escorting the sacred soul of the deceased baby by directlyfloating the symbolic corpse into the sea through ngerapuh procession. Hopefully, its soul will have reunion with God.The whole series of the mass cremation ceremony was officiated over by Ida Rsi Bhagawan Dharma Cadhu Siddhi from Griya Suka Yadnya of Karangsari customary village. (win)

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A holiday designed for the Royals at Rumah Luwih

With its majestic landscape and the enchanting smiles of its people, Bali has long drawn the attention of people from all over the world.

The island is a melting pot of many races and cultures. Through the early influx of Chinese traders in the 7th century to the era of Dutch colonialism in the 16th century, each influence has left its mark on every aspect of Balinese culture, including in its architectural landscape.

This beautiful cultural mix has been revived in the stunning architecture of Rumah Luwih – a newly launched luxury resort set amidst the tranquil landscape of Pantai Lebih in Gianyar.

Designed by notable Indonesian architect, Hadiprana, the design of Rumah Luwih takes its inspiration from the exquisite Ujung Water Palace in Karangasem. A home for the royals, this water palace is renowned for its grand architecture that wonderfully blends the beauty of Dutch colonial style with the intricate details of Chinese and Balinese cultures.

Such grandiosity provides the base

for Rumah Luwih’s architectural design. The resort, which occupies 3,2 hectares of lush greenery, is the setting for this lavish private residence where all guests are treated as royals in their very own tropical sanctuary.

Deriving its name from a Sanskrit word, Luwih translates as “more”. More than a house, Rumah Luwih is a home. Its architecture epitomizes a beautiful beachfront mansion where all family gathers to relax and unwind. From its classic Dutch era tiles, to the curated antiques, teakwood fittings and use of beautiful silk, every detail of Rumah Luwih is designed to create an intimate feeling as if coming home to your loving grandma’s mansion.

True to its grand familial mansion philosophy, the resort incorporates one main building designed for the core family and an adjacent block of guest rooms to accommodate family guests when they come to visit. At Rumah Luwih, guests are welcome as close family and treated with five-star hospitality from the well-trained staff.

Located in the lush and unspoiled East coast of Bali, the resort enjoys unparalleled scenic beauty on one of Bali’s best beaches. From the moments guest step into the lobby, they are intimately engulfed by an unpretentious, welcoming ambiance. After being greeted by warm smiles, guests are ushered by the staff into a spacious lobby, which leads to an open view of Rumah Luwih’s Ocean Chapel set amidst the backdrop of the vast Indian Ocean and Nusa Penida Island on the horizon. Rumah Luwih’s Ocean Chapel has become the resort’s primary landmark and is renowned as the setting of intimate matrimony accommodating up to 50 people.

Emulating the lives of the Karangasem royals, the resort itself hosts 75 luxurious rooms including three one–of-a-kind suites.

To ensure ultimate indulgence and privacy, each room is designed to be expansive, ranging from 40 – 200 square meters.

Prabanggana Rooms offer 40 square meters of luxury with splendid views of the Indian Ocean or lush gardens. Arnawakanta Rooms

offer a grandiose,50 square meters of space to enjoy all of the luxurious in-room amenities including a bathtub for indulgent soaking.

For families or larger groups, Segara, Giri and Aruna Suites provide a graceful setting and total privacy with 100-200 square meters of indoor living space, as well as spacious private balconies overlooking the ocean. The suites offer guests the experience of living like a noble with their capacious bedrooms along with separate, comfortable sitting area, dining room, and living room.

For meals and refreshments, the main dining room, Andrawina provides a royal dining experience in a gorgeous colonial setting.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed in this luxurious dining room or in its laid-back seating by the pool where guests enjoy their meals accompanied by the serene ocean breeze.

For midday refreshment, predinner or a casual gathering, the Living room with its French doors and sweeping views of the estate is a perfect setting to simply hang

out or read a favorite book. For an evening drink, guests are invited to venture through the well-manicured lawn of Luwih garden, onto the lotus pond with its friendly geese and enjoy an extravagant selection of cocktails and drinks at the Beach Pavilion by the Oceanside.

“With its tranquil garden, lavish accommodations and an unrivalled panorama of the calm Indian Ocean, Rumah Luwih is indeed a new holiday destination worth to visit.

We understand that our guests come from all over the world with different backgrounds and stories that make them unique. Our aim is to provide one of a kind service and attention to each and every one of our guests so they feel right at home,” Mr. Agus Suananda, CHA, General Manager of Rumah Luwih stated.

Rumah Luwih is conveniently located only 5 minutes drive from Bali Safari & Marine Park, 25 minutes from Sanur and just 30 minutes to the historic & cultural center of famous Ubud. For booking and more information about Rumah Luwih, please visit www. rumahluwih.com

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Science

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

IBP/net

Clockwise from top left, here are eggs of an imperial hairstreak butterfly (?Jamelnus evagoras), a two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), a milkweed bug ?(Oncopeltus fasciatus) and a Hawaiian fly (Drosophila mimica).

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

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Twin Lakes Festival VI closed, transactions reach IDR 209 million

Why some insect eggs are spherical while others look like hot dogs

MASSACHUSETTS - Look at the nail of your pinky finger. That’s about the width of the biggest known insect egg, which belongs to the earth-borer beetle Bolboleaus hiaticollis. The smallest egg, from the wasp Platygaster vernalis, is only half the width of the thinnest recorded human hair.

Insect eggs range across eight orders of magnitude in size, and come in a stunning variety of shapes, a new database of almost 10,500 descriptions of eggs from about 6,700 insect species shows. The Harvard University team behind the database thinks it’s figured out one reason why. In a separate analysis, the researchers determined that where insects lay their eggs — for example, in water or in the bodies of other critters — helps to explain some of the diversity that’s evolved over time. The database and study were both published July 3 in Scientific Data and Nature, respectively.

“Eggs provide a wonderful window into the evolutionary and ecological forces involved in animal reproduction,” says Mary Stoddard, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University not involved in the new work. Stoddard and her colleagues analyzed over 47,000 photos of eggs of 1,400 bird species in a 2017 study, which found a link between a bird’s egg shape and the animal’s ability to fly. “Compared with bird eggs, insect eggs are truly wild,” she says.

“Some insect eggs are spherical or elliptical, but others resemble arrowheads or hot dogs.”

To compile the database of insect eggs, researchers developed computer programs that extracted egg measurements from text and photos in 1,756 digitized publications, and then used the measurements to estimate egg sizes and shapes. Representatives of over 500 families from all insect orders were included.

Harvard University evolutionary and developmental biologist Cassandra Extavour, an author of both papers, says that eggs, being just single cells without complex features that might complicate comparisons, make a “great starting point” to study how insects develop.

Analyzing the egg data revealed an astounding diversity. Still, within that variety, many insect groups have converged upon similar designs, such as spherical or elongated, says Samuel Church, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University.

Scientists previously had proposed reasons for those similarities; larger eggs, for example, might be more elongated because it’s easier for females to lay them. But using phylogenetic and statistical analyses, Church and his colleagues found no support for that idea. Even the seemingly straightforward hypothesis that larger eggs would be linked to species with larger adult body sizes was rejected for many species, the researchers say.

Instead, an egg’s form is best explained by where it is laid, the team reports.

Specifically, eggs laid in or on water tend to be smaller and rounder, while those laid inside another animal tend to be smaller and asymmetrical, with one end coming to more of a point than the other. Eggs laid in soil or leaf litter tend to be larger.

“The level of technical rigor [in these publications] is extremely high, and they did everything carefully and thoughtfully” to construct an impressive database, says entomologist Jay Rosenheim at the University of California, Davis, who was not part of the studies. But Church’s team might have applied “unduly stringent criterion” for rejecting certain hypotheses, Rosenheim says.

He sees in the data “a general pattern that egg size increases with body size in all of the taxa,” though the correlation isn’t always statistically significant.

“I’m convinced that the patterns we have described are broad patterns,” says Church, but emphasizes that an egg’s form is likely explained by more than just its immediate environment. (net)

Bali News

International

SINGARAJA — The sixth Twin Lakes Festival (TLF) 2019 ended on Saturday (Jul. 6) in the Lake Buyan area of Pancasari village, Sukasada. There was an increase in transaction value in this year’s TLF compared to a year earlier. In 2019, the total transaction value reached IDR 209 million while last year’s festival could only reach IDR 140 million.

Chairman of the TLF 2019 Committee who is also the Acting Head of the Buleleng Agriculture Agency, Made Sumiarta, said the increased transactions originated from the culinary sales as well as various exhibitions. In addition, the local food market and the exchange followed by the Bali Young Farmers Forum helped increase the number of the transactions. This year’s visitors looked more enthusiastic coupled with the well organized lake area. “All parties have helped so that this year’s event runs smoothly,” he said.

Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana (PAS), represented

by Assistant to Economic, Development, People’s Welfare and Procurement Affairs, Ni Made Rusmini, said that all efforts must go hand in hand. Meanwhile, to overcome environmental damage, the district government and the community also develop organic farming integrated with community-based tourism. Tourism development is also carried out by making natural beauty a tourist attraction. “We must maintain the balance of ecosystem, especially in the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan because both lakes are sacred areas and serve as water catchment areas,” she explained.

IBP/net

Oddly shaped human skulls discovered in northeastern China, including this approximately 6,000-year-old example from a child, point to millennia of intentional cranial reshaping in East Asia, researchers say.

East Asians may have been reshaping their skulls 12,000 years ago

Cooking tilapia and restocking Before the closing ceremony, various activities such as trail running, restocking, and tilapia cooking competitions were also organized. The cooking competition with tilapia ingredient showed a change because last year’s competition used catfish. The tilapia cooking competition was attended by representatives of each subdistrict attempting to produce the best tilapia serving.

Meanwhile, Head of the Buleleng Fisheries Agency, Ni Made Arnika, said that tilapia as ingredient used this year is an effort to develop fish farming in Buleleng. In addition, it is also an effort to introduce tilapia to the community of Buleleng. “We want the fish serving to be more diverse. On that account, every year we change the type of fish used as the ingredient,” she said.

In addition to tilapia cooking competitions, there was also a restocking of tilapia fish in Lake Buyan. This method restores the fish supply in Lake Buyan. As many as 10,000 fingerlings were restocked together with the Lake Buyan fishermen group. The ecosystem in Lake Buyan is also sought to be repaired by restocking. (kmb38)

DALLAS - Ancient tombs in China have produced what may be some of the oldest known human skulls to be intentionally reshaped.

At a site called Houtaomuga, scientists unearthed 25 skeletons dating to between around 12,000 years ago and 5,000 years ago.

Of those, 11 featured skulls with artificially elongated braincases and flattened bones at the front and back of the head, says a team led by bioarchaeologist Quanchao Zhang and paleoanthropologist Qian Wang.

Skull modification occurred over a longer stretch of time at the site than at any other archaeological dig, the researchers report online June 25 in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Permanent reshaping of a skull early in life, when cranial bones are soft, can be achieved by compressing an infant’s head with

one’s hands. Binding the head with hard, flat surfaces such as boards or tightly wrapping the head in cloth similarly remodels immature cranial bones. Specific head modifications may have been used as signs of social status.

Oddly shaped, intentionally modified skulls have been found in many parts of the world.

Claims from the 1980s that two roughly 45,000-year-old Neandertal skulls had been reshaped early in life have been dismissed by many researchers. The earliest skulls with generally accepted signs of cranial modification date to between around 13,000 and 10,000 years ago in western Asia, southeastern Australia and now, East Asia. In the Americas, this

practice began more than 8,000 years ago.

“It is too early to tell whether intentional cranial modification first emerged in East Asia and spread elsewhere or originated independently in different places,” says Wang, of Texas A&M University in Dallas.

Houtaomuga was excavated from 2011 to 2015. A man’s skeleton with a modified skull was found in a tomb dating to between 13,000 and 11,000 years ago, based on styles of pottery found in the same sediment layer. Radiocarbon dating of the skeleton placed it at around 12,000 years old. Two sediment layers dating to between 6,300 and 5,000 years old contained 10 skeletons with reshaped skulls. (net)

Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana

IBP/kmb

IBP/kmb

The festival is created in the context of cultural preservation as well as an effort to prevent younger generation from falling into negative things such as drugs.

Mertasari Cultural Charm IV held again

A cultural preservation means of Sanur Kauh village

DENPASAR — The Mertasari Cultural Charm returns to be held and will take place on July 11-14 centered on the Mertasari Beach parking lot. At the venue, there will also a series of traditional and modern cuisines from MSMEs – particularly from Sanur Kauh and Denpasar villages. The stage will be made quite different from the previous festival.

Chairman of the Mertasari Cultural Charm Committee VI, I Made Sudiana, said the festival is held by Yowana Kerthi Bhuana youth club of Sanur Kauh village.

The festival is created in the context of cultural preservation as well as an effort to prevent younger generation from falling into negative things such as drugs.

Since the 2019 is a year of politics, namely the election of regional head and even the highest leadership of the republic, the theme featured is Asta Brata having relation to leadership. The asta brata theme is relevant to the icon of 2019, namely choosing a leader.

At the festival, most of the performances are traditional and modern cultures, such as the baleganjur parade, gong kebyar and gong kebyar by PKK housewives art troupe representing the South Denpasar subdistrict to the competition of Denpasar City level. In addition, the youth and committee also sought to revive the culture having not yet been explored like the classic joged bumbung.

There are also performances of barong dance and solo Balinese drum play very much favored by younger generation today. “Registration of the Barong Dance and

Solo Drum Play is thronged by many elementary school students because this category is being loved by children. This proves that children have the intention to preserve their culture,” he said in the press conference on Sunday (Jul. 7).

According to him, this is the appropriate moment to hold this kind of activity. Aside from school holidays, July is also a high season of tourism. So, the hotels located around Sanur are informed about this agenda. Thus, their guests can come to watch the festival.

“When else guests can watch such extravagant cultural festival unless in this Mertasari Cultural Charm Festival,” he joked.

Other than cultural preservation, this festival is also a medium to introduce Sanur Kauh village globally. The property of from Sanur Kauh village having been known is just the Mertasari Beach, whereas according to him, Sanur Kauh village has the potential of developing tourism objects such as Tukad Loloan as well as Blanjong inscription and temple. Tukad Loloan (River) was formerly a garbage collection site, but now has been cleaned up and nicely arranged. The activities are also carried out in Tukad

Loloan, namely the fishing competition. It is meant to take people to love and maintain their river.

In addition to Tukad Bindu and Tukad Korea, Tukad Loloan is also expected to become another icon of Denpasar City.

No less interestingly, Sanur Kauh village also has Blanjong inscription and temple. This historical heritage is the milestone of the Island of Bali. All the potential places for this tourist destination will be packaged into a series of Mertasari Cultural Charm. The food festival is also included in the activities in the form of preparing lawar delicacy. He targeted 25,000 visitors because last year’s visitor reached 20,000.

Headman of Sanur Kauh, I Made Ada, accompanied by hamlet chief I Made Mahardika said that cultural charm of Mertasari is to summarize the activities at the village such as baleganjur and genjek a cappella.

With the festival, all the hamlets are actively carrying out cultural activities. “Every night, the hamlet youth actively conducts activities such as learning to play gamelan and genjek a cappella,” he said while agreeing the festival serves as a cultural forum of the Sanur Kauh village. (kmb42)

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Bali News

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Tabanan R&D strengthens Nikosake region to develop investment

TABANAN - Tabanan district government through the Regional Development Planning Board and Research Agency as the leading sector held a Workshop on Agro-Tourism Investment Management and Prospects Synergy in Nikosake Region at RM Dewi Sri, Kediri, on Saturday morning (Jul. 6) The discussion forum was held to spark new economic growth in the West Tabanan region, especially in the Nikosake region. The Nikosake consisting of 5 villages in West Tabanan such as Belimbing, Sanda, Munduktemu, Wanagiri and Lumbung Kauh villages remains to have gaps with the North and South Tabanan regions.

The five villages have very unique potential to be developed into agrotourism area.

For instance, Munduktemu is just like a country over the clouds, Sanda with fireflies and Wanagiri with the nickname as Rain Village has a beautiful view.

Through this informal discussion, the Tabanan Regional Development Planning Board and Research Agency (Bapelitbang) through the Head of Bapelitbang, IB Wiratmaja, who was present at the time, hoped to be able to explore all the potentials owned by the five villages in the Nikosake regions that will be packaged into a product collaborated with the production activities of local residents, so that tourists are interested in visiting the five villages in the Nikosake regions.

Also present on the occasion were the Regional Secretary of Tabanan district government, I Gede Susila, the related regional agencies in the Tabanan district government, several experts or resource persons, subdistrict heads, headmen of Nikosake regions and other related elements.

In his remarks at the time, Regional Secretary I Gede Susila stated the development

Chinese shadow theatre fights against dying of the light

Pawan Sharma / AFP

Onlookers and Indian police gather around the crumpled remains of a bus that crashed on the Delhi-Agra expressway, near Agra on July 8, 2019. A bus careered off one of India’s busiest roads early July 8 killing at least 29 people, police said.

IBP/kmb28

The discussion forum was held to spark new economic growth in the West Tabanan region, especially in the Nikosake region. of the local economy through the KPPN program selected these five villages as the development of agrotourism investment based on the consideration that the villages still have relatively high poverty rates. “Through various discussions, it has been agreed that the commodities used as the focus of development are palm wine, coffee, snakefruit and coconut. We then make the branding of the village and so do the 5 (five) leading commodities of Nikosake,” he explained.

In an effort to develop the regions, he said that last year through Bappenas facilities,

the Tabanan district government had collaborated with the NSLIC/NSELRED project through the Responsive Innovation Fund or RIF Program. “Through this collaboration, various trainings have been carried out with regard to increasing the value added of superior products as well as preparing human resources to support the development of tourism villages,” added Susila.

He also mentioned that Tabanan district government has revived regional companies, namely PD Dharma Santhika, mandated to handle the marketing of commodities and processed

products of farmers, BUMDes and MSMEs. Implementation or the success of the development of the activities, he explained, cannot be carried out alone by the government. However, it needs the support from all parties, especially the people in the Nikosake region, so that the program can run smoothly.

“Hopefully, they will continuously be enthusiastic and try to do something to develop the potential of each village. Increase human resources, maintain commitment, maintain togetherness, and build networks as wide as possible,” added Susila. (kmb28)

After finding of bones

Pecatu customary village to hold pecaruan ceremony

IBP/kmb

Chief of Pecatu customary village, I Made Sumerta

MANGUPURA - Pecatu customary village will organize mecaru ceremony after the finding of human bones on Thursday (Jul. 4). This is meant to purify psychically the village territory where the bones were found.

When confirmed on Sunday (Jul. 7), chief of Pecatu customary village, I Made Sumerta, explained the ceremony will be held soon. So far, his ranks are still making coordination with the big family of landowner where the human bones were found. Actually, the ceremony is indeed to purify the area psychically (niskala).

“We from village authority will organize a ceremony for village territory considered to have been made impure because of the incident. Hopefully, the area will be cleared again. Definitely a ceremony will be held at the location.

However, we cannot confirm the time yet. Apparently it will be held in the near future,” said Sumerta.

Related to the findings of human bones, so far the case still draws questions because the location is far enough from highway and residential areas. Hopefully, police authority will immediately be able to uncover

the findings. According to Sumerta, indeed the former quarry area has been inactive for a long time. The land belongs to the big family of I Nyoman Sudarma. “This is still being questioned because the location of bone finding is quite far from settlement and highway,” he said.

To note, at the location of bone finding were also found flip flops, jean short, black clothes, bras, and women’s panties. When being found, the bones were entirely intact. Her head faced eastward and the feet westward and was in facing down position. (kmb23)

13

29 die as bus plunges off India’s ‘highway to hell’

AGRA - At least 29 people were killed and 18 others injured when a bus careered off a notorious Indian highway after the driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel, officials said Monday.

The bus was carrying more than 50 people along the Yamuna expressway -- known as the “highway to hell” because of the number of fatal accidents -- when it crashed through a concrete barrier and plunged more than 12 metres (40 feet) into a drainage canal.

“It appears that the driver was drowsy,” said Agra district magistrate N.G. Ravi Kumar, who provided the number of dead and injured.

The bus was travelling from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi when the accident happened just before dawn, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) near Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.

More than 150,000 people a year are killed on India’s roads, which are notorious for design flaws and speeding drivers.

The 165-kilometre (100-mile) Yamuna expressway was India’s longest and most modern six-lane highway when it opened in 2012, but about 900 people have been killed on the road since, according to authorities.

Indian media have dubbed it the “highway to hell”.

Local residents said they were woken by the crash and found the mangled bus submerged in blackish-grey water.

- Most passengers were asleep Police said it landed on its roof in a drain, where running water complicated rescue efforts.

“We rushed out of our homes and saw people screaming for help,” one witness told reporters.

“We got into the drain and tried to save some of them. Soon police arrived and quickly brought cranes.”

Officials believe most of the passengers were asleep when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which had the Taj Mahal painted on its white exterior.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an investigation, as well as cash compensation of 500,000 rupees ($7,289) for the families of those killed.

“The committee will give a report on the cause of the acci-

dent and also suggest long-term measures to avoid such mishaps,” government official Awanish Awasthi said.

The Yamuna expressway was intended to be a symbol of modernity when it was opened -- speeding up journey times from Delhi to the key region -- but authorities admit there are key safety concerns.

In 2017 alone some 763 crashes were reported on the highway resulting in 145 deaths, authorities told the Save Life Foundation, a road safety campaign group.

“The crashes may be due to human or a car error, but most of the deaths are because the road infrastructure is not good enough,” said Piyush Tiwari, the group’s founder.

Fatalities on Indian roads are often blamed on speeding and drunk driving, but experts say many highways are poorly constructed and surfaced, making journeys risky.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered condolences to those affected and promised assistance to the injured. (afp)

BEIJING - Shadow puppets flitting across screens and reliving age old stories have fascinated Chinese people for some 2,000 years, but with falling audiences troupes are having to be creative to stay on the stage.

On a translucent screen in a Beijing classroom, a child with a cosmic ring takes on the son of the dragon king, attacking him with huge thrusts of his lance.

Behind the screen, puppeteers use rods to move the figures, to the joy of the schoolchildren watching.

The legends of the past are the bedrock of shadow theatre -- a tradition still popular in the countryside, though it has lost much ground in large cities over the last few decades.

Shadow theatre was celebrated up until the 1960s when it was targeted as part of the Cultural Revolution. It had something of a renaissance in the 1980s and in 2011 was included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

For the Chinese, the show is the forerunner of cinema -- in the Chinese language the word “cinema” literally means “electric shadow”.

With video games, film and TV now vying for viewers glued to their smartphones, shadow theatre is slowly losing its audience, and performers are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Wiping his forehead after his furious on-stage battle, Lu Baobang -- one of the last puppeteers of the old generation -- is worried there is no one to replace him when he retires.

“We can’t offer reasonable living standards to young apprentices,” said Lu, who descends

from a large family that developed one of the main schools of shadow theatre in Beijing.

- ‘Like my babies’ While the theatre struggles to attract young peoples’ interest, a troupe in a Beijing suburb -whose performers have an average age of 22 -- has managed to survive.

It is made up of 60 or so puppeteers with dwarfism, who present themselves as having an average height of 1.26 metres.

Jin Xinchun is one of them. He was struggling to find work several years ago, before he discovered the troupe online and moved to Beijing to join it where he was employed as a puppet maker.

“I am always happy to cut old leather to make beautiful puppets. They are my babies!”, Jin told AFP. Wang Xi, a puppeteer founded the troupe with her husband in 2008 after meeting with the national association of dwarves.

“They had trouble finding work. And it was hard for us to find successors. Our collaboration is like two drawbacks that turned out to a be a plus!”

The puppeteers now perform regularly in schools.

But Wang Xi said she is nervous about the future: “Our masters are all older than 80 and they obviously won’t be able to go on stage in 10 years.”

State support is key to keeping shadow theatre alive, Lu said.

“The government is aware of the importance of traditional culture, what we need now are concrete measures,” he said.

“This art will have no future if we don’t give young people hope.” (afp)

NICOLAS ASFOURI / AFP

In this picture taken on May 10, 2019, puppets are seen on a shadow theatre stage during a performance by the Beijing Shadow Show Troupe at a school in Beijing.

12

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

BUSINESS

Bali News

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

5

Six burned by accident during ngaben cremation ceremony in Klungkung regency

Six people reportedly suffered from burns after they were accidentally struck by fire during a mass ngaben (traditional Balinese cremation ritual) ceremony in Bali’s Klungkung regency yesterday.

AP Photo/Mariya Amrayeva

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, center left, and junior Finance Minister Anurag Thakur, left, stands for the media outside the finance ministry before proceeding towards the parliament house to unveil the annual federal budget in New Delhi, India, Friday, July 5, 2019. India’s government says the economy is expected to grow at 7% in 2019-20, up from a five-year low of 6.8% in the past year.

India eyes bigger investments in aviation, media, insurance

NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Friday proposed heavy investments in infrastructure, the digital economy and job creation to lift a sluggish economy burdened with a 45-year-high unemployment rate of 6.1%.

Unveiling a draft budget after a major victory in national elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman proposed a bigger role for foreign direct investment in aviation, media and insurance.

The government set a target for the economy to grow to $5 trillion by 2025 from the present $2.7 trillion. Sitharaman said it would reach $3 trillion by March next year.

She told Parliament that India’s economy is now the sixth largest in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, it is the third largest after the United States and China, she said.

She also announced cash handouts for small farmers, a pension

scheme for informal workers and a doubling of tax relief for the lower middle class.

Small farmers would be paid 6,000 rupees ($85) annually, benefiting as many as 120 million households. About 30 million retail traders and small shopkeepers with annual incomes of less than 15 million rupees ($220,000) would get pension benefits, she said.

The budget doubled income tax exemptions for those earning up to 500,000 rupees ($7,140) a year from the existing 250,000 rupees ($3,570). The decision would benefit 30 million lower-earning taxpayers.

Raising taxes on the rich people, Sitharaman announced a 3% in-

crease for those with an income between $292,000 - $730,000 a year and a 7% increase for those with an income above $730,000.

Currently, India imposes a 10% surcharge where total income is between 5 million and 10 million rupees ($120,000-$140,000) and 15% on income above 10 million rupees ($140,000).

At the same time, she reduced corporate tax to 25% from 30% for companies that have an annual turnover of up to $58 million. This would include 99.3% of companies in India and boost profits for a large number of them and stimulate investments, she said.

Sitharaman said foreign direct investment in aviation, media and

insurance could be opened further after multi-stakeholder examination. Also, insurance intermediaries could receive 100% foreign direct investment. India at present allows 49% foreign ownership in the insurance sector.

She also said that local sourcing norms of 30% would be eased for foreign direct investment in the single-brand retail sector, a demand put forward by several multinational companies. India currently requires investors to source locally 30% of the value of goods purchased.

“These companies will certainly have to relook at their strategy to tap the large Indian consumption potential. It would now be a race for all these retail companies to evaluate the conditions and take a quick decision to invest into India,” said Anil Talreja, an industrialist.

The finance minister said foreign direct investment in India has remained robust despite global headwinds. India’s FDI inflows in 2018-19 were around $64.375 billion, a 6% increase over the previous year.

Modi said the budget would accelerate the pace of development, rationalize the tax structure and modernize the country’s infrastructure. The government will invest 1 trillion rupees ($15 billion) in infrastructure over the next five years, Sitharaman said. She also said the government will raise 1.05 trillion rupees ($15.5 billion) through disinvestment in government-owned companies in 2019-2020.

The government also earmarked 100 billion rupees ($1.5 billion) for creating the infrastructure to promote electric cars in the country. (ap)

According to reports from local media, the incident occurred just as participants were preparing to light the corpses of the deceased. At one point, a hose used to channel fuel for the fire fell from its original position and was set alight by nearby burning incense, causing a fire that struck those around it.

“There was a crowd there because they were just about to do the cremation. The hose caught on fire so quickly, it became uncontrollable and struck people around it. Those who were injured badly were immediately brought to local hospitals,” Ketut Merta, one of the ngaben participants, told Tribun-Bali.

Ni Luh Wirati from Banjarangkan Police confirmed that a total of six people were injured in the fire, and said that the incident occurred at around 11am on Sunday. Three of them are being treated at Klungkung General Hospital, one of whom suffered from third-degree burns that affected almost 70 percent of their body.

Some of them will reportedly be transferred to Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, which is equipped with better facilities for those requiring more intensive treatment. (ant)

IBP/Bagiarta

Bali socializes “Bali Blues Festival 2019 Road Show”

DENPASAR - The socialization activity of the 2019 Roadshow Goes to Bali Blues Festival has been carried out with various events, one of which is holding the Jamz Blues Afternoon in Taman Kumbasari Tukad Badung, Bali.

The Head of the Denpasar City Tourism and Creative Resources Development Division, I Wayan Hendaryana welcomed the activity here Sunday.

He said the steps taken were in line with the vision and mission of the Mayor of Denpasar Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra and his Deputy Jaya Negara in providing space for creativity for the people. So that in the future they will be able to provide support for the development of the creative economy.

“We warmly welcome the implementation of this activity.

Besides being able to support the creativity of musicians, they can also provide free entertainment for the community,” he said.

Furthermore, Hendrayana said the existence of Taman Kumbasa-

ri Tukad Badung, in addition to being a place of creativity is also a means for the people’s education.

This is related to public awareness not to littering, including in rivers.

He said, of course, from the “Blues Afternoon” activity it was hoped that the activity would be able to stimulate the development of blues music in the city of Denpasar as one of the supporting sectors for the growth of the creative economy.

“Of course, Denpasar City Government highly appreciates and supports the implementation of this activity as with this activity it is expected to be able to support Taman Kumbasari Tukad Badung as one of the tourist destinations,” he said.

The activity coordinator, Anak Agung Bagus Mantra said that the implementation of Blues Afternoon deliberately took place in the Taman Kumbasari Tukad Badung Area. This is because the Denpasar City Government con-

tinues to provide support for the development of various creative sectors.

“This is the first showcase that we carried out on the banks of the river, so it is expected to be a means for capturing talents of young people in the field of music, especially blues music,” he said.

The purpose of implementing this activity, continued Gus Mantra, is to introduce the Bali Blues Festival in 2019 which will be held on the Paninsula Island on July 13-14. Several blues bands were also involved in the Blues Afternoon Goes To Bali Blues Festival this time, namely Crazy Horse, Joni Agung, Walabi and other groups that came suddenly.

“Indeed, there are no special invitations, we jam and play with several songs, I share them on social media, and many stated that they would join, yes this is a good trend for the development of blues music and to attract young blues talents in the future,” he said. (ant)

41 Bali Art Festival st

Tuesday, 9 th July 2019

Time : 11.00 MIT Location : Ratna Kanda Stage Program : Parade of Prembon Mask Dance, by Sere Lemo Arts Group, Peninjoan village, representing Bangli Regency Time : 14.00 MIT Location : Angsoka Stage Program : Contest on “Taman Penasar” Balinese songs accompanied by Balinese musics, by “Rwa Bhineda” Arts Group of the Disabled , Denpasar Time : 16.30 MIT Location : in the area of the Art Centre Program : Nglawang – performing dance and musics by going around the area, by Natya Praja Group of the Banjar Saraswati, Bajra village, Selemadeg subdtrict, representing Tabanan Regency Time : 19.30 MIT Location : in front of Kriya Hall Program : Shadow Puppet Play, by the Puppet Shadow Association – Pepadi of Bali Time : 19.30 MIT Location : Ardha Candra Amphitheatre Program : Parade Local Bali Popular Songs for Children and Youths : - Giri Anyar Arts Group, the Banjar of Celuk, Buruan village, Blahbatuh subdistrict, representing Gianyar Regency - Eka Mahardika Arts Group, Abiansemal subdistrict, representing Badung Regency - Demores Rumah Musik Singaraja Group, Pemaron Village, representing Buleleng Regency - Music Group of Catur Muka Swara Murti, representing Denpasar City

6

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Latin America faces obesity-food insecurity paradox: report

PARIS - Latin America and the Caribbean is facing an obesity epidemic while paradoxically the number of people facing food insecurity in the region continues to rise, the OECD and FAO warned in a report on Monday.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean ... obesity currently affects around one quarter of the population, while about 60 percent of the population is overweight,” the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said in a joint report.

It called the rapid development in the number of people who are overweight and obese an “epidemic” and a “growing public health problem”.

The report, an overview of developments expected in the food and agricultural sectors over the coming decade, found that a combination of excessive calorie consumption, unbalanced diets and declining activity levels were fuelling a growing burden of overweight and obesity in various countries across the world.

It said that in many low and middle-income countries, obesity exists alongside undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies, calling it “a ‘triple burden’ of malnutrition”.

In Latin America and the Caribbean “obesity seems to remain on the rise, particularly affecting lower-income sectors of the population, women, indigenous peoples, Afrodescendants and, in some cases, children”, said the report.

“Paradoxically, being an agricultural and food surplus region, Latin America witnessed the number of food insecure population increase for the third consecutive year,” it added.

Latin America is one of the world’s major food exporting regions, and the OECD and FAO said the rising food insecurity was likely driven by “the affordability of food to poor consumers ... rather than the physical availability of food...”.

The report pointed to a shift to animal-based proteins from a traditional diet rich in cereals, roots, tubers and pulses. The percent of fat-based calories in diets has also been rising across the region, although it is still just below the recommended level.

It noted that the share of added sugars in the diet also exceeds the recommended level, although this is dropping.

The report pointed to government policies in several countries to encourage healthier food choices, including controls on advertising of processed foods and beverages to children in Chile, and a health-related tax on food in Mexico. (afp)

Brazil...

From page 1

Center-back Carlos Zambano also slipped, allowing Arthur to feed Jesus in the middle of the area and the Manchester City striker made no mistake, finding the bottom corner.

- Changed dynamic Brazil had a few speculative shots at the start of the second half but Silva, Dani Alves and Coutinho all failed to hit the target.

After some wing trickery from Everton, Alex Sandro crossed but Firmino headed wide.

Brazil were in complete control at this stage as Peru could hardly string two passes together.

But the dynamic

changed 20 minutes from time as Jesus was given his marching orders for a second yellow card after a late challenge on Cueva.

The onus was now on Peru to attack and Miguel Trauco brought a near post save out of Alisson while Edison Flores fizzed a volley from outside the area just wide.

But amidst a flurry of substitutions, fouls and injury stoppages, the steam went out of Peru’s efforts and they were unable to exert any sustained pressure on the hosts.

Any hopes they had were extinguished when Zambrano was adjudged to have barged over Everton in the penalty area and substitute Richarlison drilled home the spot-kick into the bottom corner.(afp)

W

RLD

International

ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP

Greece’s newly elected Prime Minister and leader of conservative New Democracy party Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reacts as he gives his first statements after the official results of the elections at the party’s headquarters in Athens on July 7, 2019.

Mitsotakis becomes Greece’s new PM on vow to end economic crisis

ATHENS - Greece’s new prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, formally takes up the reins Monday, a day after an election victory that puts him in charge of the EU’s most indebted member with promises to end a decade of economic crisis.

The challenge facing the US-educated conservative is a hefty one as he takes over from defeated leftwing leader Alexis Tsipras, who imposed austerity measures required under a bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone.

The country’s public debt last year stood at 335 billion euros ($376 billion), or 180 percent of GDP. The debt load is forecast to fall to 168 percent of GDP this year, but only under belt-tightening brought in under Tsipras’s Syriza party -- something that Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party says is stifling growth.

The tricky job of keeping Greece’s international creditors onside while easing the hardship on Greeks -- by lowering taxes and renegotiating fiscal targets -- could result in a short honeymoon phase for Mitsotakis.

- ‘Message for change’ The 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant has pledged to create jobs and get rid of obstacles to business.

Those pledges wooed Greek voters, who handed him 40 percent of the votes in Sunday’s election, well ahead of the 31.5 percent given to Tsipras.

“It’s a strong message for change in Greece,” Mitsotakis told the channel CNBC. Last week he told AFP that he saw it as his mission “to make sure we restart the economy” with “ambitious growth driven by private investments, exports and innovation”.

He predicted that he could persuade Greece’s creditors to accept the easing of tight fiscal targets if “a comprehensive reforms package” was presented.

Tsipras, for his part, warned that Mitsotakis would do away with the social spending he brought in to help Greece’s vulnerable groups.

He portrayed the Mitsotakis family -- one of Greece’s leading political dynasties -- as part of a failed system that bankrupted the country in 2010, which he blamed for the humiliating bailout.

- Son of a PM -

Mitsotakis is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country’s longestserving parliamentarians. His sister Dora Bakoyannis is a former minister and Athens’s first female mayor.

He took charge of the New Democrats three years ago. Following the election, his party will have a majority of 158 seats in the 300-member parliament. New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists.

Syriza’s parliamentary presence will shrink from 144 seats to 86. Tsipras has promised to remain an “active” voice in opposition.

Sunday’s election was Greece’s third in as many months.

In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections. After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election.

“A painful cycle has closed,” Mitsotakis said in a televised address immediately following his electoral victory, adding that Greece would “proudly raise its head again” on his watch. (afp)

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

11

Residents gather outside their homes in Ternate on early July 8, 2019 after a strong magnitude 6,9 earthquake struck off Indonesia on July 7, the US Geological Survey reported, triggering a brief tsunami warning that sent panicked residents fleeing to higher ground.

Indonesia cancels tsunami alert after strong quake

A strong magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Indonesia on Sunday, the US Geological Survey reported, triggering a brief tsunami warning that sent panicked residents fleeing to higher ground.

The Southeast Asian nation is one of the most disaster-hit on Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.

Earthquakes and tsunamis have claimed thousands of lives in recent years. Sunday’s quake struck at a depth of 24 kilometres in the Molucca Sea, 185 kilometres southeast of Manado, between Sulawesi and Malkuku islands, according to the USGS.

Indonesia’s geophysics agency issued a tsunami warning for coastal communities nearby, where residents were advised to stay away from the coast.

The warning was later lifted by the agency and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Residents of Ternate in the Maluku island chain described panic as the quake hit. “I was getting ready to sleep when the window started rattling,” Budi

Nurgianto told AFP. “It was very strong -- I ran from my house and all my neighbours fled too.”

Video footage from Ternate showed scared residents -- some clutching children -- fleeing from the coast on motorbikes.

Hasyim Yusuf, the head of the Ternate disaster mitigation agency, said there were no reports of fatalities, but some people were “traumatised” by the tremor.

“In Ternate, people were panicking and some evacuated to

higher ground,” he told Metro TV. An official from Indonesia’s geophysics agency, Ot Oral Sem Wilar, said he felt the tremor strongly from where he was holidaying in North Sulawesi.

“My friends in Manado said people who live along the coastal area are evacuating.”

The USGS warned that considerable damage was possible in poorly built or badly designed structures.

Last year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand

JAKARTA - A dry spell has cast a pall over 100 districts and cities in the Aceh, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provinces, Indonesian Agriculture Ministry’s data stated.

The ministry held a coordinating meeting, attended by officials of the local agriculture, public works, and military offices, to deliberate on steps to mitigate

the impacts of the current period of extreme dry weather.

“Most parts of Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara have not received rains for over 30 days.

Drought has affected some 100 districts and cities,” Sarwo Edhy, director general for agriculture infrastructure and facilities at the Agriculture Ministry, revealed here on Monday.

The extreme dry season has impacted 102,746 hectares (ha) of ag-

ricultural area and ruined 9,358 ha.

East Java is the worst hit, with 34,006 ha of rice fields having dried up, and 5,069 hectares spoilt; followed by 32,809 ha in Central Java going bone dry and 1,893 ha spoilt; and 25,416 hectares going dry and 624 hectares ruined in West Java.

Yogyakarta has been ailing from the impact of the drought, with 6,139 ha going dry and 1,757 ha spoilt; 3,464 ha in Banten; 857 ha

in NTB; and 55 ha in NTT, with 15 ha ruined.

The National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast extreme dry season until September, with the condition likely to peak in August.

Sumardjo Gatot Irianto, the ministry’s director general for crops, affirmed that the ministry will accrue data on farmers covered under insurance, and the government will

more declared missing.

It has been hit by a string of deadly quakes including a devastating 2004 tremor measuring 9.1 magnitude that struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

The Boxing Day disaster was the world’s third biggest quake since 1900, and lifted the ocean floor in some places by 15 metres (50 feet).

Indonesia’s Aceh province was the hardest hit area, but the tsunami affected coastal areas as far away as Africa.(afp)

distribute seeds to farmers not having insurance cover.

He called for the need to build more water pumps and wells; restore the irrigation system; and optimize the utilization of water from nearby rivers, lakes, and dams to cope with the impact of drought.

The agriculture ministry will also intensify the planting of crops on dry land. During such a dry season, it is time to plant in productive swamp areas, he suggested.(ant)

Dry spell leaves Indonesia’s 100 districts, cities parched: ministry

10

Destination

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Six-time NBA all-star guard Irving signs with Nets

Traveler Likes Best Souvenirs of Tanah Lot TABANAN - High domestic and foreign tourist visit to Tanah Lot attraction has an impact on souvenir merchants. Other than enjoying the natural beauty of the beach and magical aura of the attraction located at Beraban village, Kediri, travelers can also purchase nice souvenirs. Thus, travelers can go home with souvenir as a memento.

At the beginning of 2017, the souvenir merchants at Tanah Lot look happy because there are a lot of visitors. From the number of tourist visits, most stop at souvenir stalls, so there are always merchandises that can be sold. Indeed, Tanah Lot is not only a favorite tourist attraction, but also famous for various souvenirs. “Travelers think that it is incomplete if they do not bring home the souvenirs of

Tanah Lot,” said Wayan Mudita, a tourist guide from Denpasar.

Various souvenirs on offer include clothes, slippers, fans, headdresses, bags, bracelets, wallets, hats, key chains, postcards and other beach sarongs. The best seller souvenirs are hats and Tshirts with the wording of Tanah Lot and Bali. Headdress is also bought by many domestic travelers. Moreover, school students when making a visit in a series of their study tour averagely purchase headdress which they wear directly.

In the meantime, bracelet, necklace and ring have little demand.

During summer, travelers usually purchase a hat. “Foreign travelers rarely purchase souvenirs. They mostly purchase drink and food. It

is different from domestic travelers who often buy T-shirts in large numbers. Especially in holiday seasons, almost all merchants earn fortunes,” said Mrs. Krishna, a souvenir merchant at Tanah Lot. Operations Manager of Tanah Lot tourist attraction, I Ketut Toya Adnyana, said that kiosks at Tanah Lot offer a variety of souvenirs.

Some are hawkers selling fruit as well as food and beverages. Their existence spreads in the main area and parking area. And the no less interesting is klepon cake that is also bought by many travelers.

“Various souvenirs become alternative tourist attraction at Tanah Lot because many tourists are happy after getting souvenirs. It is also a form of our services to tourists,” he said. (kmb)

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Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns against France’s Lucas Pouille during their men’s singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2019.

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic share Wimbledon ‘Manic Monday’ with sensation Gauff

LONDON - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic share top billing on ‘Manic Monday’ at Wimbledon with teenage sensation Coco Gauff.

Eight-time champion Federer, four-time winner Djokovic and Nadal, a double champion, all play last 16 ties against opponents who have never before progressed this far. Federer, the second seed, tackles Italy’s world number 20 Matteo Berrettini in what will be the Swiss great’s record 17th fourth round appearance at the All England Club.

“I don’t know him very well, so that makes it a bit more tricky,” said Federer, chasing a 21st Grand Slam title.

Nadal, the champion in 2008 and 2010, also has an unexpected opponent in the shape of world number 69 Joao Sousa, the first Portuguese player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Nadal has a 2-0 career advantage over the 30-year-old Sousa, with both wins coming on clay.

“He’s a super dangerous opponent against everybody. He is very quick, has a very good physical performance,” said Nadal, looking to back up his 12th Roland Garros

title with a third Wimbledon.

- Djokovic faces grass court rookie Djokovic insists he will not be complacent about his chances of reaching the final for the sixth time.

The highest seed that the world number one can face before the final is number 15 Milos Raonic, the 2016 runner-up from Canada.

But first up for the defending champion and 16-time major winner is 21-year-old Ugo Humbert from France who is playing in his first Wimbledon.

Until this year, world number 66 Humbert had never played a grass court match either as a junior or professional.

Should Djokovic emerge triumphant, he would face either Belgian 21st seed David Goffin or Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco in what would be his 11th quarter-final at the tournament.

Raonic, beaten by Andy Murray in the 2016 final, has made the

quarter-finals in the last two years.

So far at this Wimbledon, he has fired 59 aces across three rounds and dropped serve just once.

Raonic tackles Argentine 26th seed Guido Pella who has reached the last 16 at a Slam for the first time -- at the 20th attempt.

The 29-year-old Pella knocked out last year’s runner-up and fourth seed Kevin Anderson in the third round.

Roberto Bautista Agut, the Spanish 23rd seed, faces French 28th seed Benoit Paire with both men aiming to make the quarterfinals for the first time.

Monday’s other ties see 2017 semi-finalist Sam Querrey face last-16 debutant and US compatriot Tennys Sandgren.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, a quarterfinalist in 2018, tackles Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Nishikori recorded his 400th tour victory when he beat Steve Johnson in Saturday’s third round. (afp)

NEW YORK - Six-time NBA all-star guard Kyrie Irving signed a contract Sunday with the Brooklyn Nets, finalizing a deal unveiled last weekend to revamp the club that includes obtaining superstar Kevin Durant.

The Nets, who inked center DeAndre Jordan on Saturday, added top talent to a solid young playoff team and figure to be even tougher with Durant, who will miss next season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

Irving, 27, averaged 23.8 points, career highs of 5.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals over 67 games with Boston last season.

“Kyrie is one of the NBA’s elite guards and has won at the highest level,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said.

“His championship pedigree, coupled with his gifted scoring and playmaking abilities, will make him an outstanding addition to our team,” the first New Zealander to play in the NBA added.

Irving helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA crown and was a member of the 2016 Rio Olympics US gold medal squad.

“The entire coaching staff is excited to have the opportunity to coach a player of Kyrie’s caliber,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said.

“He’s as talented and accomplished as any point guard in our game and we are enthusiastic about integrating him and our other new roster additions into our returning core.”

Over eight seasons with Boston and Cleveland, Irving has averaged 22.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals over 508 career games. (afp)

8

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

9

Rapinoe fuses politics, pay and tech with World Cup win

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Mexico players celebrate with the trophy after Mexico defeated United States 1-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final soccer match in Chicago, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

Mexico defeat USA 1-0 to win record eighth Gold Cup

Jonathan dos Santos scored the only goal as Mexico defeated the United States 1-0 to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup for a record eighth time at Soldier Field on Sunday. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder dos Santos rifled home in the 73rd minute to settle a hard-fought encounter between the two arch-rivals of North American football in front of 62,493 fans.

“I am happy because the boys made a great effort and today we played against one of the best teams in the Gold Cup,” said Mexico coach Tata Martino. “They have made a good effort and a good match. It makes me happy because it was also my first international title.”

Mexico have now won the Gold Cup eight times since 1991 when the championship for teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) was rebooted.

It was a disappointing defeat for the American men, who had been hoping to complete a trophy double after the US women had powered to victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup in France earlier on Sunday.

“Over the course of 90 minutes, Mexico was the better team,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Hav-

ing said that, we started the game really bright.

- Pulisic woe “I think what we lacked was some of the calmness, some of the composure.”

Dos Santos’s winner was the outstanding move of a pulsating duel that saw the United States pay the price for failing to take advantage of several promising early chances.

The decisive goal came after a surging run down the right flank by Mexico’s Rodolfo Pizarro.

The Monterrey playmaker fed Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Raul Jimenez, who produced a delightful back heel into the path of dos Santos who curled his shot into the top corner past USA goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

But the defeat left Berhalter reflecting on what might have been after his team had started the first half strongly, carving out a string of promising chances as Mexico took their time to get into the game.

“When you talk about a step the team needs to take, we’re close,” Berhalter said. “But we weren’t there tonight.”

Chelsea’s new $72 million signing Christian Pulisic squandered a golden opportunity to fire the Americans ahead after only six minutes, latching on to a deft layoff from striker Jozy Altidore.

Pulisic’s searing pace took him clear of the Mexican defence, with Carlos Salcedo doing his best to unbalance the US attacker without conceding a penalty. But the Mexicans breathed a sigh of relief after Pulisic could only shoot directly at goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

The Mexicans received another huge let-off only two minutes later.

A speculative long ball forward from defender Tim Ream caught the Mexico defence off-guard and Altidore was left in a one-on-one with Hector Moreno.

- ‘Tough way to lose’ Altidore cleverly wrong-footed Moreno to leave himself one-onone with Ochoa, but could only look on in disgust as he dragged his left foot shot just wide of the post.

“It is disappointing to lose a final,” said American midfielder Michael Bradley. “We had some good chances. Getting the first goal can go a long ways towards winning the game.

“We had a good start to the game and if anything, the beginning of the second half wasn’t what it needed to be. They were able to get some momentum and get their goal. It was a tough way to lose.”

The frenetic start also produced some rugged challenges. Altidore was lucky to escape at least a yel-

low card for scything down dos Santos while Pulisic was also fortunate not to be booked for a ferocious tackle from behind that sent Edson Alvarez crashing to the turf.

At the other end Mexico also began to test the US defence, with Andres Guardado shooting over on 16 minutes after a desperate late block from Paul Arriola.

Tempers threatened to boil over soon after half-time when Altidore and Moreno tangled on halfway, which saw players from both sides rush to confront each other.

The US almost broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Jordan Morris’s header from a Pulisic corner was cleared off the line by Guardado.

But that was as good as it got for the US side as Mexico slowly began to dominate midfield, with the lively Pizarro a constant threat.

“We will stick together in this moment. I am certainly proud of the group. We continue to make progress and we got to keep going,” Bradley said.(ap)

LYON - A Women’s World Cup stirred by heated debates on politics, pay and technology saw the narratives fused in Sunday’s final by the undisputed and outspoken star of the tournament: Megan Rapinoe.

By opening the scoring with a penalty awarded after a video review, Rapinoe claimed a sixth goal and — thanks to three assists and playing fewer minutes — finished as the Golden Boot winner of the most-watched FIFA women’s tournament.

Winning the top player prize provided the pink-haired captain renowned for her individuality and activism with a platform for both after the Americans completed their title defense with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands.

The forward got to collect her scoring trophy before the main prize was handed out in Lyon, and revel in the adulation.

But only after the introduction of French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino for the on-field trophy presentation was followed by boos and chants of “equal pay” — thousands taking up Rapinoe’s campaign for more equitable prize money from the World Cup organizers and compensation from the U.S. federation.

“A little public shame never hurt anyone,” Rapinoe said with a winners’ medal around her neck. “So I am down with it.”

Not down with a visit to the White House, though, with Rapinoe’s rejection of a post-tournament visit delivered publicly in a video that emerged during the World Cup. “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS!” President Donald Trump responded in tweet that lit up the tournament. “Finish the job!”

When the job was finished Sun-

day, thanks to Rose Lavelle also scoring, only congratulations came from Trump — for the entire team.

“Great and exciting play,” he tweeted. “America is proud of you all!”

In the hours before the Americans won a record fourth World Cup, Rapinoe found an advocate for the pursuit of greater pay equality in the French president.

“We need to go progressively toward that,” Macron said. “We should progressively converge.”

That is undermined by the prize money for the men’s World Cup in 2022 jumping to $440 million when the women’s teams will only split $60 million in 2023.

This time, it is only half that.

Victory gave the Americans $4 million — double the amount earned four years ago — as part of a $30 million prize pot but lagging the $38 million earned by France for lifting the men’s trophy last July in Moscow.

On the eve of the final, sitting in the same news conference position occupied by Infantino a day earlier, Rapinoe rebuked the head of soccer’s governing body for disrespecting women as the prize-money gulf widens with the winners of the men’s World Cups.

Rapinoe chose not to confront Infantino on the field.

“There was a wry smile, for sure,” she said. “He knows. He did say we’ll have a conversation or something. I said, ‘I’d love to.’”

Rapinoe has something to be thankful to Infantino for: the introduction of VAR, which has had a disruptive debut in women’s soccer as referees and players have adjusted to the new technology. Replays confirmed Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt’s high challenge on striker Alex Morgan and Rapinoe took on penalty duties for her 50th international goal.

AP Photo/Francisco Seco

United States’ Megan Rapinoe holds the trophy celebrating at the end of the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. The US defeated the Netherlands 2-0.

“VAR wouldn’t miss the final, she had to show up somewhere,” Rapinoe said. “It has gotten a lot of stick in the tournament. There’s some inconsistencies but this is the first time all these referees have actually used it. So overall I think it’s been pretty good.”

What has been less of a success were FIFA’s efforts at attracting fans to some games.

FIFA knows it has to do more to raise attendance. The sellout crowd of 58,000 on Sunday was a rarity.

In a month when FIFA challenged the world to “Dare to Shine,” efforts were dimmed by marketing mishaps around ticket promotions that saw swathes of empty seats in stadiums.

The choice of venue will be scrutinized more closely with FIFA now

realizing going to stronger soccer cities — rather than Montpellier and Nice — could have produced fuller stadiums.

“A lot can be done to popularize our sport a bit more, like the men’s World Cup is kind of seen as a destination even for those that aren’t pure football fans,” said Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s head of women’s soccer. “We need to do a lot more to promote the game to attract that kind of fan.”

While the United States, Canada and Mexico were picked last year as joint hosts of the 2026 men’s World Cup, FIFA has yet to pick the destination for its next women’s showpiece in four years and the decision could be delayed again.

The FIFA Council was due to make

the pick in March but Infantino said Friday the bidding process might have to be re-opened after revealing plans to expand the tournament from 24 to 32 teams.

In a sign of soaring interest in the women’s game, FIFA already has nine countries interested in hosting in 2023: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea.

Rapinoe will be hoping players aren’t still fighting over pay by then.

“Everyone’s is kind of asking what’s next and what we want to come of all this,” she said. “It’s to stop having the conversation about equal pay, are we worth it, the investment piece. ... It’s time to kind of sit down with everyone and really get to work.”(ap)

Herrera says he ‘feels very lucky’ to join PSG from United

Paris Saint-Germain’s latest recruit Ander Herrera said on Sunday that if he had to leave Manchester United one of the only places he could go was “one of the most beautiful cities in the world”.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who signed a five-year contract with PSG after leaving United on a free transfer, talked to AFP the day before his new club begins

pre-season training.

“When a club with a big project, in constant growth, located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, comes to you, it is not very difficult to make a decision,” he said.

“When you leave a big club like Manchester United, the only places you can go are those like PSG: the biggest French club,

which has some of the best players in the world.” “I feel very lucky,” he said.

Herrera was part of the United squad that knocked PSG out of the Champions League in the round of 16 last season.

Asked what he had learned from that encounter, the Spaniard pointed out that PSG were without the injured Neymar and Edinson

Cavani but won 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg playing “extraordinary” football.

He carefully avoided the subject of PSG’s second-leg display as they lost 3-1 at home, by saying “I don’t want to talk about the past again”.

“You know in Europe, there are eight to 10 clubs who want to win it: Juventus, Real Madrid, Barce-

lona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Munich,” he said.

“But only one can do it. I think we have to continue to be the strongest team in France.” Herrera said he was impressed by the potential at PSG. “We have incredible players!

I will also be there to help them improve, and make them better players.”(afp)

8

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

9

Rapinoe fuses politics, pay and tech with World Cup win

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Mexico players celebrate with the trophy after Mexico defeated United States 1-0 in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final soccer match in Chicago, Sunday, July 7, 2019.

Mexico defeat USA 1-0 to win record eighth Gold Cup

Jonathan dos Santos scored the only goal as Mexico defeated the United States 1-0 to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup for a record eighth time at Soldier Field on Sunday. Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder dos Santos rifled home in the 73rd minute to settle a hard-fought encounter between the two arch-rivals of North American football in front of 62,493 fans.

“I am happy because the boys made a great effort and today we played against one of the best teams in the Gold Cup,” said Mexico coach Tata Martino. “They have made a good effort and a good match. It makes me happy because it was also my first international title.”

Mexico have now won the Gold Cup eight times since 1991 when the championship for teams from North America, Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF) was rebooted.

It was a disappointing defeat for the American men, who had been hoping to complete a trophy double after the US women had powered to victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup in France earlier on Sunday.

“Over the course of 90 minutes, Mexico was the better team,” US coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Hav-

ing said that, we started the game really bright.

- Pulisic woe “I think what we lacked was some of the calmness, some of the composure.”

Dos Santos’s winner was the outstanding move of a pulsating duel that saw the United States pay the price for failing to take advantage of several promising early chances.

The decisive goal came after a surging run down the right flank by Mexico’s Rodolfo Pizarro.

The Monterrey playmaker fed Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Raul Jimenez, who produced a delightful back heel into the path of dos Santos who curled his shot into the top corner past USA goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

But the defeat left Berhalter reflecting on what might have been after his team had started the first half strongly, carving out a string of promising chances as Mexico took their time to get into the game.

“When you talk about a step the team needs to take, we’re close,” Berhalter said. “But we weren’t there tonight.”

Chelsea’s new $72 million signing Christian Pulisic squandered a golden opportunity to fire the Americans ahead after only six minutes, latching on to a deft layoff from striker Jozy Altidore.

Pulisic’s searing pace took him clear of the Mexican defence, with Carlos Salcedo doing his best to unbalance the US attacker without conceding a penalty. But the Mexicans breathed a sigh of relief after Pulisic could only shoot directly at goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

The Mexicans received another huge let-off only two minutes later.

A speculative long ball forward from defender Tim Ream caught the Mexico defence off-guard and Altidore was left in a one-on-one with Hector Moreno.

- ‘Tough way to lose’ Altidore cleverly wrong-footed Moreno to leave himself one-onone with Ochoa, but could only look on in disgust as he dragged his left foot shot just wide of the post.

“It is disappointing to lose a final,” said American midfielder Michael Bradley. “We had some good chances. Getting the first goal can go a long ways towards winning the game.

“We had a good start to the game and if anything, the beginning of the second half wasn’t what it needed to be. They were able to get some momentum and get their goal. It was a tough way to lose.”

The frenetic start also produced some rugged challenges. Altidore was lucky to escape at least a yel-

low card for scything down dos Santos while Pulisic was also fortunate not to be booked for a ferocious tackle from behind that sent Edson Alvarez crashing to the turf.

At the other end Mexico also began to test the US defence, with Andres Guardado shooting over on 16 minutes after a desperate late block from Paul Arriola.

Tempers threatened to boil over soon after half-time when Altidore and Moreno tangled on halfway, which saw players from both sides rush to confront each other.

The US almost broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when Jordan Morris’s header from a Pulisic corner was cleared off the line by Guardado.

But that was as good as it got for the US side as Mexico slowly began to dominate midfield, with the lively Pizarro a constant threat.

“We will stick together in this moment. I am certainly proud of the group. We continue to make progress and we got to keep going,” Bradley said.(ap)

LYON - A Women’s World Cup stirred by heated debates on politics, pay and technology saw the narratives fused in Sunday’s final by the undisputed and outspoken star of the tournament: Megan Rapinoe.

By opening the scoring with a penalty awarded after a video review, Rapinoe claimed a sixth goal and — thanks to three assists and playing fewer minutes — finished as the Golden Boot winner of the most-watched FIFA women’s tournament.

Winning the top player prize provided the pink-haired captain renowned for her individuality and activism with a platform for both after the Americans completed their title defense with a 2-0 victory over the Netherlands.

The forward got to collect her scoring trophy before the main prize was handed out in Lyon, and revel in the adulation.

But only after the introduction of French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino for the on-field trophy presentation was followed by boos and chants of “equal pay” — thousands taking up Rapinoe’s campaign for more equitable prize money from the World Cup organizers and compensation from the U.S. federation.

“A little public shame never hurt anyone,” Rapinoe said with a winners’ medal around her neck. “So I am down with it.”

Not down with a visit to the White House, though, with Rapinoe’s rejection of a post-tournament visit delivered publicly in a video that emerged during the World Cup. “Megan should WIN first before she TALKS!” President Donald Trump responded in tweet that lit up the tournament. “Finish the job!”

When the job was finished Sun-

day, thanks to Rose Lavelle also scoring, only congratulations came from Trump — for the entire team.

“Great and exciting play,” he tweeted. “America is proud of you all!”

In the hours before the Americans won a record fourth World Cup, Rapinoe found an advocate for the pursuit of greater pay equality in the French president.

“We need to go progressively toward that,” Macron said. “We should progressively converge.”

That is undermined by the prize money for the men’s World Cup in 2022 jumping to $440 million when the women’s teams will only split $60 million in 2023.

This time, it is only half that.

Victory gave the Americans $4 million — double the amount earned four years ago — as part of a $30 million prize pot but lagging the $38 million earned by France for lifting the men’s trophy last July in Moscow.

On the eve of the final, sitting in the same news conference position occupied by Infantino a day earlier, Rapinoe rebuked the head of soccer’s governing body for disrespecting women as the prize-money gulf widens with the winners of the men’s World Cups.

Rapinoe chose not to confront Infantino on the field.

“There was a wry smile, for sure,” she said. “He knows. He did say we’ll have a conversation or something. I said, ‘I’d love to.’”

Rapinoe has something to be thankful to Infantino for: the introduction of VAR, which has had a disruptive debut in women’s soccer as referees and players have adjusted to the new technology. Replays confirmed Dutch defender Stefanie van der Gragt’s high challenge on striker Alex Morgan and Rapinoe took on penalty duties for her 50th international goal.

AP Photo/Francisco Seco

United States’ Megan Rapinoe holds the trophy celebrating at the end of the Women’s World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France, Sunday, July 7, 2019. The US defeated the Netherlands 2-0.

“VAR wouldn’t miss the final, she had to show up somewhere,” Rapinoe said. “It has gotten a lot of stick in the tournament. There’s some inconsistencies but this is the first time all these referees have actually used it. So overall I think it’s been pretty good.”

What has been less of a success were FIFA’s efforts at attracting fans to some games.

FIFA knows it has to do more to raise attendance. The sellout crowd of 58,000 on Sunday was a rarity.

In a month when FIFA challenged the world to “Dare to Shine,” efforts were dimmed by marketing mishaps around ticket promotions that saw swathes of empty seats in stadiums.

The choice of venue will be scrutinized more closely with FIFA now

realizing going to stronger soccer cities — rather than Montpellier and Nice — could have produced fuller stadiums.

“A lot can be done to popularize our sport a bit more, like the men’s World Cup is kind of seen as a destination even for those that aren’t pure football fans,” said Sarai Bareman, FIFA’s head of women’s soccer. “We need to do a lot more to promote the game to attract that kind of fan.”

While the United States, Canada and Mexico were picked last year as joint hosts of the 2026 men’s World Cup, FIFA has yet to pick the destination for its next women’s showpiece in four years and the decision could be delayed again.

The FIFA Council was due to make

the pick in March but Infantino said Friday the bidding process might have to be re-opened after revealing plans to expand the tournament from 24 to 32 teams.

In a sign of soaring interest in the women’s game, FIFA already has nine countries interested in hosting in 2023: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and South Korea.

Rapinoe will be hoping players aren’t still fighting over pay by then.

“Everyone’s is kind of asking what’s next and what we want to come of all this,” she said. “It’s to stop having the conversation about equal pay, are we worth it, the investment piece. ... It’s time to kind of sit down with everyone and really get to work.”(ap)

Herrera says he ‘feels very lucky’ to join PSG from United

Paris Saint-Germain’s latest recruit Ander Herrera said on Sunday that if he had to leave Manchester United one of the only places he could go was “one of the most beautiful cities in the world”.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who signed a five-year contract with PSG after leaving United on a free transfer, talked to AFP the day before his new club begins

pre-season training.

“When a club with a big project, in constant growth, located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, comes to you, it is not very difficult to make a decision,” he said.

“When you leave a big club like Manchester United, the only places you can go are those like PSG: the biggest French club,

which has some of the best players in the world.” “I feel very lucky,” he said.

Herrera was part of the United squad that knocked PSG out of the Champions League in the round of 16 last season.

Asked what he had learned from that encounter, the Spaniard pointed out that PSG were without the injured Neymar and Edinson

Cavani but won 2-0 at Old Trafford in the first leg playing “extraordinary” football.

He carefully avoided the subject of PSG’s second-leg display as they lost 3-1 at home, by saying “I don’t want to talk about the past again”.

“You know in Europe, there are eight to 10 clubs who want to win it: Juventus, Real Madrid, Barce-

lona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Munich,” he said.

“But only one can do it. I think we have to continue to be the strongest team in France.” Herrera said he was impressed by the potential at PSG. “We have incredible players!

I will also be there to help them improve, and make them better players.”(afp)

10

Destination

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Six-time NBA all-star guard Irving signs with Nets

Traveler Likes Best Souvenirs of Tanah Lot TABANAN - High domestic and foreign tourist visit to Tanah Lot attraction has an impact on souvenir merchants. Other than enjoying the natural beauty of the beach and magical aura of the attraction located at Beraban village, Kediri, travelers can also purchase nice souvenirs. Thus, travelers can go home with souvenir as a memento.

At the beginning of 2017, the souvenir merchants at Tanah Lot look happy because there are a lot of visitors. From the number of tourist visits, most stop at souvenir stalls, so there are always merchandises that can be sold. Indeed, Tanah Lot is not only a favorite tourist attraction, but also famous for various souvenirs. “Travelers think that it is incomplete if they do not bring home the souvenirs of

Tanah Lot,” said Wayan Mudita, a tourist guide from Denpasar.

Various souvenirs on offer include clothes, slippers, fans, headdresses, bags, bracelets, wallets, hats, key chains, postcards and other beach sarongs. The best seller souvenirs are hats and Tshirts with the wording of Tanah Lot and Bali. Headdress is also bought by many domestic travelers. Moreover, school students when making a visit in a series of their study tour averagely purchase headdress which they wear directly.

In the meantime, bracelet, necklace and ring have little demand.

During summer, travelers usually purchase a hat. “Foreign travelers rarely purchase souvenirs. They mostly purchase drink and food. It

is different from domestic travelers who often buy T-shirts in large numbers. Especially in holiday seasons, almost all merchants earn fortunes,” said Mrs. Krishna, a souvenir merchant at Tanah Lot. Operations Manager of Tanah Lot tourist attraction, I Ketut Toya Adnyana, said that kiosks at Tanah Lot offer a variety of souvenirs.

Some are hawkers selling fruit as well as food and beverages. Their existence spreads in the main area and parking area. And the no less interesting is klepon cake that is also bought by many travelers.

“Various souvenirs become alternative tourist attraction at Tanah Lot because many tourists are happy after getting souvenirs. It is also a form of our services to tourists,” he said. (kmb)

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500

GLYN KIRK / AFP

Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns against France’s Lucas Pouille during their men’s singles third round match on the sixth day of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2019.

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic share Wimbledon ‘Manic Monday’ with sensation Gauff

LONDON - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic share top billing on ‘Manic Monday’ at Wimbledon with teenage sensation Coco Gauff.

Eight-time champion Federer, four-time winner Djokovic and Nadal, a double champion, all play last 16 ties against opponents who have never before progressed this far. Federer, the second seed, tackles Italy’s world number 20 Matteo Berrettini in what will be the Swiss great’s record 17th fourth round appearance at the All England Club.

“I don’t know him very well, so that makes it a bit more tricky,” said Federer, chasing a 21st Grand Slam title.

Nadal, the champion in 2008 and 2010, also has an unexpected opponent in the shape of world number 69 Joao Sousa, the first Portuguese player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Nadal has a 2-0 career advantage over the 30-year-old Sousa, with both wins coming on clay.

“He’s a super dangerous opponent against everybody. He is very quick, has a very good physical performance,” said Nadal, looking to back up his 12th Roland Garros

title with a third Wimbledon.

- Djokovic faces grass court rookie Djokovic insists he will not be complacent about his chances of reaching the final for the sixth time.

The highest seed that the world number one can face before the final is number 15 Milos Raonic, the 2016 runner-up from Canada.

But first up for the defending champion and 16-time major winner is 21-year-old Ugo Humbert from France who is playing in his first Wimbledon.

Until this year, world number 66 Humbert had never played a grass court match either as a junior or professional.

Should Djokovic emerge triumphant, he would face either Belgian 21st seed David Goffin or Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco in what would be his 11th quarter-final at the tournament.

Raonic, beaten by Andy Murray in the 2016 final, has made the

quarter-finals in the last two years.

So far at this Wimbledon, he has fired 59 aces across three rounds and dropped serve just once.

Raonic tackles Argentine 26th seed Guido Pella who has reached the last 16 at a Slam for the first time -- at the 20th attempt.

The 29-year-old Pella knocked out last year’s runner-up and fourth seed Kevin Anderson in the third round.

Roberto Bautista Agut, the Spanish 23rd seed, faces French 28th seed Benoit Paire with both men aiming to make the quarterfinals for the first time.

Monday’s other ties see 2017 semi-finalist Sam Querrey face last-16 debutant and US compatriot Tennys Sandgren.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori, a quarterfinalist in 2018, tackles Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan.

Nishikori recorded his 400th tour victory when he beat Steve Johnson in Saturday’s third round. (afp)

NEW YORK - Six-time NBA all-star guard Kyrie Irving signed a contract Sunday with the Brooklyn Nets, finalizing a deal unveiled last weekend to revamp the club that includes obtaining superstar Kevin Durant.

The Nets, who inked center DeAndre Jordan on Saturday, added top talent to a solid young playoff team and figure to be even tougher with Durant, who will miss next season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

Irving, 27, averaged 23.8 points, career highs of 5.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals over 67 games with Boston last season.

“Kyrie is one of the NBA’s elite guards and has won at the highest level,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said.

“His championship pedigree, coupled with his gifted scoring and playmaking abilities, will make him an outstanding addition to our team,” the first New Zealander to play in the NBA added.

Irving helped the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2016 NBA crown and was a member of the 2016 Rio Olympics US gold medal squad.

“The entire coaching staff is excited to have the opportunity to coach a player of Kyrie’s caliber,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said.

“He’s as talented and accomplished as any point guard in our game and we are enthusiastic about integrating him and our other new roster additions into our returning core.”

Over eight seasons with Boston and Cleveland, Irving has averaged 22.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.3 steals over 508 career games. (afp)

6

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Latin America faces obesity-food insecurity paradox: report

PARIS - Latin America and the Caribbean is facing an obesity epidemic while paradoxically the number of people facing food insecurity in the region continues to rise, the OECD and FAO warned in a report on Monday.

“In Latin America and the Caribbean ... obesity currently affects around one quarter of the population, while about 60 percent of the population is overweight,” the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said in a joint report.

It called the rapid development in the number of people who are overweight and obese an “epidemic” and a “growing public health problem”.

The report, an overview of developments expected in the food and agricultural sectors over the coming decade, found that a combination of excessive calorie consumption, unbalanced diets and declining activity levels were fuelling a growing burden of overweight and obesity in various countries across the world.

It said that in many low and middle-income countries, obesity exists alongside undernourishment and micronutrient deficiencies, calling it “a ‘triple burden’ of malnutrition”.

In Latin America and the Caribbean “obesity seems to remain on the rise, particularly affecting lower-income sectors of the population, women, indigenous peoples, Afrodescendants and, in some cases, children”, said the report.

“Paradoxically, being an agricultural and food surplus region, Latin America witnessed the number of food insecure population increase for the third consecutive year,” it added.

Latin America is one of the world’s major food exporting regions, and the OECD and FAO said the rising food insecurity was likely driven by “the affordability of food to poor consumers ... rather than the physical availability of food...”.

The report pointed to a shift to animal-based proteins from a traditional diet rich in cereals, roots, tubers and pulses. The percent of fat-based calories in diets has also been rising across the region, although it is still just below the recommended level.

It noted that the share of added sugars in the diet also exceeds the recommended level, although this is dropping.

The report pointed to government policies in several countries to encourage healthier food choices, including controls on advertising of processed foods and beverages to children in Chile, and a health-related tax on food in Mexico. (afp)

Brazil...

From page 1

Center-back Carlos Zambano also slipped, allowing Arthur to feed Jesus in the middle of the area and the Manchester City striker made no mistake, finding the bottom corner.

- Changed dynamic Brazil had a few speculative shots at the start of the second half but Silva, Dani Alves and Coutinho all failed to hit the target.

After some wing trickery from Everton, Alex Sandro crossed but Firmino headed wide.

Brazil were in complete control at this stage as Peru could hardly string two passes together.

But the dynamic

changed 20 minutes from time as Jesus was given his marching orders for a second yellow card after a late challenge on Cueva.

The onus was now on Peru to attack and Miguel Trauco brought a near post save out of Alisson while Edison Flores fizzed a volley from outside the area just wide.

But amidst a flurry of substitutions, fouls and injury stoppages, the steam went out of Peru’s efforts and they were unable to exert any sustained pressure on the hosts.

Any hopes they had were extinguished when Zambrano was adjudged to have barged over Everton in the penalty area and substitute Richarlison drilled home the spot-kick into the bottom corner.(afp)

W

RLD

International

ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP

Greece’s newly elected Prime Minister and leader of conservative New Democracy party Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reacts as he gives his first statements after the official results of the elections at the party’s headquarters in Athens on July 7, 2019.

Mitsotakis becomes Greece’s new PM on vow to end economic crisis

ATHENS - Greece’s new prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, formally takes up the reins Monday, a day after an election victory that puts him in charge of the EU’s most indebted member with promises to end a decade of economic crisis.

The challenge facing the US-educated conservative is a hefty one as he takes over from defeated leftwing leader Alexis Tsipras, who imposed austerity measures required under a bailout to keep Greece in the eurozone.

The country’s public debt last year stood at 335 billion euros ($376 billion), or 180 percent of GDP. The debt load is forecast to fall to 168 percent of GDP this year, but only under belt-tightening brought in under Tsipras’s Syriza party -- something that Mitsotakis’s New Democracy party says is stifling growth.

The tricky job of keeping Greece’s international creditors onside while easing the hardship on Greeks -- by lowering taxes and renegotiating fiscal targets -- could result in a short honeymoon phase for Mitsotakis.

- ‘Message for change’ The 51-year-old Harvard graduate and former McKinsey consultant has pledged to create jobs and get rid of obstacles to business.

Those pledges wooed Greek voters, who handed him 40 percent of the votes in Sunday’s election, well ahead of the 31.5 percent given to Tsipras.

“It’s a strong message for change in Greece,” Mitsotakis told the channel CNBC. Last week he told AFP that he saw it as his mission “to make sure we restart the economy” with “ambitious growth driven by private investments, exports and innovation”.

He predicted that he could persuade Greece’s creditors to accept the easing of tight fiscal targets if “a comprehensive reforms package” was presented.

Tsipras, for his part, warned that Mitsotakis would do away with the social spending he brought in to help Greece’s vulnerable groups.

He portrayed the Mitsotakis family -- one of Greece’s leading political dynasties -- as part of a failed system that bankrupted the country in 2010, which he blamed for the humiliating bailout.

- Son of a PM -

Mitsotakis is the son of former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, one of the country’s longestserving parliamentarians. His sister Dora Bakoyannis is a former minister and Athens’s first female mayor.

He took charge of the New Democrats three years ago. Following the election, his party will have a majority of 158 seats in the 300-member parliament. New Democracy was last in power in 2014, in coalition with the Greek socialists.

Syriza’s parliamentary presence will shrink from 144 seats to 86. Tsipras has promised to remain an “active” voice in opposition.

Sunday’s election was Greece’s third in as many months.

In May, New Democracy beat Syriza by nearly 9.5 points in European parliament elections. A week later, it completed a near-sweep of Greek regions in local elections. After that, Tsipras was forced to call an early general election.

“A painful cycle has closed,” Mitsotakis said in a televised address immediately following his electoral victory, adding that Greece would “proudly raise its head again” on his watch. (afp)

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

11

Residents gather outside their homes in Ternate on early July 8, 2019 after a strong magnitude 6,9 earthquake struck off Indonesia on July 7, the US Geological Survey reported, triggering a brief tsunami warning that sent panicked residents fleeing to higher ground.

Indonesia cancels tsunami alert after strong quake

A strong magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Indonesia on Sunday, the US Geological Survey reported, triggering a brief tsunami warning that sent panicked residents fleeing to higher ground.

The Southeast Asian nation is one of the most disaster-hit on Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.

Earthquakes and tsunamis have claimed thousands of lives in recent years. Sunday’s quake struck at a depth of 24 kilometres in the Molucca Sea, 185 kilometres southeast of Manado, between Sulawesi and Malkuku islands, according to the USGS.

Indonesia’s geophysics agency issued a tsunami warning for coastal communities nearby, where residents were advised to stay away from the coast.

The warning was later lifted by the agency and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Residents of Ternate in the Maluku island chain described panic as the quake hit. “I was getting ready to sleep when the window started rattling,” Budi

Nurgianto told AFP. “It was very strong -- I ran from my house and all my neighbours fled too.”

Video footage from Ternate showed scared residents -- some clutching children -- fleeing from the coast on motorbikes.

Hasyim Yusuf, the head of the Ternate disaster mitigation agency, said there were no reports of fatalities, but some people were “traumatised” by the tremor.

“In Ternate, people were panicking and some evacuated to

higher ground,” he told Metro TV. An official from Indonesia’s geophysics agency, Ot Oral Sem Wilar, said he felt the tremor strongly from where he was holidaying in North Sulawesi.

“My friends in Manado said people who live along the coastal area are evacuating.”

The USGS warned that considerable damage was possible in poorly built or badly designed structures.

Last year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand

JAKARTA - A dry spell has cast a pall over 100 districts and cities in the Aceh, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) provinces, Indonesian Agriculture Ministry’s data stated.

The ministry held a coordinating meeting, attended by officials of the local agriculture, public works, and military offices, to deliberate on steps to mitigate

the impacts of the current period of extreme dry weather.

“Most parts of Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara have not received rains for over 30 days.

Drought has affected some 100 districts and cities,” Sarwo Edhy, director general for agriculture infrastructure and facilities at the Agriculture Ministry, revealed here on Monday.

The extreme dry season has impacted 102,746 hectares (ha) of ag-

ricultural area and ruined 9,358 ha.

East Java is the worst hit, with 34,006 ha of rice fields having dried up, and 5,069 hectares spoilt; followed by 32,809 ha in Central Java going bone dry and 1,893 ha spoilt; and 25,416 hectares going dry and 624 hectares ruined in West Java.

Yogyakarta has been ailing from the impact of the drought, with 6,139 ha going dry and 1,757 ha spoilt; 3,464 ha in Banten; 857 ha

in NTB; and 55 ha in NTT, with 15 ha ruined.

The National Meteorological, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast extreme dry season until September, with the condition likely to peak in August.

Sumardjo Gatot Irianto, the ministry’s director general for crops, affirmed that the ministry will accrue data on farmers covered under insurance, and the government will

more declared missing.

It has been hit by a string of deadly quakes including a devastating 2004 tremor measuring 9.1 magnitude that struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

The Boxing Day disaster was the world’s third biggest quake since 1900, and lifted the ocean floor in some places by 15 metres (50 feet).

Indonesia’s Aceh province was the hardest hit area, but the tsunami affected coastal areas as far away as Africa.(afp)

distribute seeds to farmers not having insurance cover.

He called for the need to build more water pumps and wells; restore the irrigation system; and optimize the utilization of water from nearby rivers, lakes, and dams to cope with the impact of drought.

The agriculture ministry will also intensify the planting of crops on dry land. During such a dry season, it is time to plant in productive swamp areas, he suggested.(ant)

Dry spell leaves Indonesia’s 100 districts, cities parched: ministry

12

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

BUSINESS

Bali News

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

5

Six burned by accident during ngaben cremation ceremony in Klungkung regency

Six people reportedly suffered from burns after they were accidentally struck by fire during a mass ngaben (traditional Balinese cremation ritual) ceremony in Bali’s Klungkung regency yesterday.

AP Photo/Mariya Amrayeva

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, center left, and junior Finance Minister Anurag Thakur, left, stands for the media outside the finance ministry before proceeding towards the parliament house to unveil the annual federal budget in New Delhi, India, Friday, July 5, 2019. India’s government says the economy is expected to grow at 7% in 2019-20, up from a five-year low of 6.8% in the past year.

India eyes bigger investments in aviation, media, insurance

NEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Friday proposed heavy investments in infrastructure, the digital economy and job creation to lift a sluggish economy burdened with a 45-year-high unemployment rate of 6.1%.

Unveiling a draft budget after a major victory in national elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sitharaman proposed a bigger role for foreign direct investment in aviation, media and insurance.

The government set a target for the economy to grow to $5 trillion by 2025 from the present $2.7 trillion. Sitharaman said it would reach $3 trillion by March next year.

She told Parliament that India’s economy is now the sixth largest in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, it is the third largest after the United States and China, she said.

She also announced cash handouts for small farmers, a pension

scheme for informal workers and a doubling of tax relief for the lower middle class.

Small farmers would be paid 6,000 rupees ($85) annually, benefiting as many as 120 million households. About 30 million retail traders and small shopkeepers with annual incomes of less than 15 million rupees ($220,000) would get pension benefits, she said.

The budget doubled income tax exemptions for those earning up to 500,000 rupees ($7,140) a year from the existing 250,000 rupees ($3,570). The decision would benefit 30 million lower-earning taxpayers.

Raising taxes on the rich people, Sitharaman announced a 3% in-

crease for those with an income between $292,000 - $730,000 a year and a 7% increase for those with an income above $730,000.

Currently, India imposes a 10% surcharge where total income is between 5 million and 10 million rupees ($120,000-$140,000) and 15% on income above 10 million rupees ($140,000).

At the same time, she reduced corporate tax to 25% from 30% for companies that have an annual turnover of up to $58 million. This would include 99.3% of companies in India and boost profits for a large number of them and stimulate investments, she said.

Sitharaman said foreign direct investment in aviation, media and

insurance could be opened further after multi-stakeholder examination. Also, insurance intermediaries could receive 100% foreign direct investment. India at present allows 49% foreign ownership in the insurance sector.

She also said that local sourcing norms of 30% would be eased for foreign direct investment in the single-brand retail sector, a demand put forward by several multinational companies. India currently requires investors to source locally 30% of the value of goods purchased.

“These companies will certainly have to relook at their strategy to tap the large Indian consumption potential. It would now be a race for all these retail companies to evaluate the conditions and take a quick decision to invest into India,” said Anil Talreja, an industrialist.

The finance minister said foreign direct investment in India has remained robust despite global headwinds. India’s FDI inflows in 2018-19 were around $64.375 billion, a 6% increase over the previous year.

Modi said the budget would accelerate the pace of development, rationalize the tax structure and modernize the country’s infrastructure. The government will invest 1 trillion rupees ($15 billion) in infrastructure over the next five years, Sitharaman said. She also said the government will raise 1.05 trillion rupees ($15.5 billion) through disinvestment in government-owned companies in 2019-2020.

The government also earmarked 100 billion rupees ($1.5 billion) for creating the infrastructure to promote electric cars in the country. (ap)

According to reports from local media, the incident occurred just as participants were preparing to light the corpses of the deceased. At one point, a hose used to channel fuel for the fire fell from its original position and was set alight by nearby burning incense, causing a fire that struck those around it.

“There was a crowd there because they were just about to do the cremation. The hose caught on fire so quickly, it became uncontrollable and struck people around it. Those who were injured badly were immediately brought to local hospitals,” Ketut Merta, one of the ngaben participants, told Tribun-Bali.

Ni Luh Wirati from Banjarangkan Police confirmed that a total of six people were injured in the fire, and said that the incident occurred at around 11am on Sunday. Three of them are being treated at Klungkung General Hospital, one of whom suffered from third-degree burns that affected almost 70 percent of their body.

Some of them will reportedly be transferred to Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, which is equipped with better facilities for those requiring more intensive treatment. (ant)

IBP/Bagiarta

Bali socializes “Bali Blues Festival 2019 Road Show”

DENPASAR - The socialization activity of the 2019 Roadshow Goes to Bali Blues Festival has been carried out with various events, one of which is holding the Jamz Blues Afternoon in Taman Kumbasari Tukad Badung, Bali.

The Head of the Denpasar City Tourism and Creative Resources Development Division, I Wayan Hendaryana welcomed the activity here Sunday.

He said the steps taken were in line with the vision and mission of the Mayor of Denpasar Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra and his Deputy Jaya Negara in providing space for creativity for the people. So that in the future they will be able to provide support for the development of the creative economy.

“We warmly welcome the implementation of this activity.

Besides being able to support the creativity of musicians, they can also provide free entertainment for the community,” he said.

Furthermore, Hendrayana said the existence of Taman Kumbasa-

ri Tukad Badung, in addition to being a place of creativity is also a means for the people’s education.

This is related to public awareness not to littering, including in rivers.

He said, of course, from the “Blues Afternoon” activity it was hoped that the activity would be able to stimulate the development of blues music in the city of Denpasar as one of the supporting sectors for the growth of the creative economy.

“Of course, Denpasar City Government highly appreciates and supports the implementation of this activity as with this activity it is expected to be able to support Taman Kumbasari Tukad Badung as one of the tourist destinations,” he said.

The activity coordinator, Anak Agung Bagus Mantra said that the implementation of Blues Afternoon deliberately took place in the Taman Kumbasari Tukad Badung Area. This is because the Denpasar City Government con-

tinues to provide support for the development of various creative sectors.

“This is the first showcase that we carried out on the banks of the river, so it is expected to be a means for capturing talents of young people in the field of music, especially blues music,” he said.

The purpose of implementing this activity, continued Gus Mantra, is to introduce the Bali Blues Festival in 2019 which will be held on the Paninsula Island on July 13-14. Several blues bands were also involved in the Blues Afternoon Goes To Bali Blues Festival this time, namely Crazy Horse, Joni Agung, Walabi and other groups that came suddenly.

“Indeed, there are no special invitations, we jam and play with several songs, I share them on social media, and many stated that they would join, yes this is a good trend for the development of blues music and to attract young blues talents in the future,” he said. (ant)

41 Bali Art Festival st

Tuesday, 9 th July 2019

Time : 11.00 MIT Location : Ratna Kanda Stage Program : Parade of Prembon Mask Dance, by Sere Lemo Arts Group, Peninjoan village, representing Bangli Regency Time : 14.00 MIT Location : Angsoka Stage Program : Contest on “Taman Penasar” Balinese songs accompanied by Balinese musics, by “Rwa Bhineda” Arts Group of the Disabled , Denpasar Time : 16.30 MIT Location : in the area of the Art Centre Program : Nglawang – performing dance and musics by going around the area, by Natya Praja Group of the Banjar Saraswati, Bajra village, Selemadeg subdtrict, representing Tabanan Regency Time : 19.30 MIT Location : in front of Kriya Hall Program : Shadow Puppet Play, by the Puppet Shadow Association – Pepadi of Bali Time : 19.30 MIT Location : Ardha Candra Amphitheatre Program : Parade Local Bali Popular Songs for Children and Youths : - Giri Anyar Arts Group, the Banjar of Celuk, Buruan village, Blahbatuh subdistrict, representing Gianyar Regency - Eka Mahardika Arts Group, Abiansemal subdistrict, representing Badung Regency - Demores Rumah Musik Singaraja Group, Pemaron Village, representing Buleleng Regency - Music Group of Catur Muka Swara Murti, representing Denpasar City

4

Bali News

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

Tabanan R&D strengthens Nikosake region to develop investment

TABANAN - Tabanan district government through the Regional Development Planning Board and Research Agency as the leading sector held a Workshop on Agro-Tourism Investment Management and Prospects Synergy in Nikosake Region at RM Dewi Sri, Kediri, on Saturday morning (Jul. 6) The discussion forum was held to spark new economic growth in the West Tabanan region, especially in the Nikosake region. The Nikosake consisting of 5 villages in West Tabanan such as Belimbing, Sanda, Munduktemu, Wanagiri and Lumbung Kauh villages remains to have gaps with the North and South Tabanan regions.

The five villages have very unique potential to be developed into agrotourism area.

For instance, Munduktemu is just like a country over the clouds, Sanda with fireflies and Wanagiri with the nickname as Rain Village has a beautiful view.

Through this informal discussion, the Tabanan Regional Development Planning Board and Research Agency (Bapelitbang) through the Head of Bapelitbang, IB Wiratmaja, who was present at the time, hoped to be able to explore all the potentials owned by the five villages in the Nikosake regions that will be packaged into a product collaborated with the production activities of local residents, so that tourists are interested in visiting the five villages in the Nikosake regions.

Also present on the occasion were the Regional Secretary of Tabanan district government, I Gede Susila, the related regional agencies in the Tabanan district government, several experts or resource persons, subdistrict heads, headmen of Nikosake regions and other related elements.

In his remarks at the time, Regional Secretary I Gede Susila stated the development

Chinese shadow theatre fights against dying of the light

Pawan Sharma / AFP

Onlookers and Indian police gather around the crumpled remains of a bus that crashed on the Delhi-Agra expressway, near Agra on July 8, 2019. A bus careered off one of India’s busiest roads early July 8 killing at least 29 people, police said.

IBP/kmb28

The discussion forum was held to spark new economic growth in the West Tabanan region, especially in the Nikosake region. of the local economy through the KPPN program selected these five villages as the development of agrotourism investment based on the consideration that the villages still have relatively high poverty rates. “Through various discussions, it has been agreed that the commodities used as the focus of development are palm wine, coffee, snakefruit and coconut. We then make the branding of the village and so do the 5 (five) leading commodities of Nikosake,” he explained.

In an effort to develop the regions, he said that last year through Bappenas facilities,

the Tabanan district government had collaborated with the NSLIC/NSELRED project through the Responsive Innovation Fund or RIF Program. “Through this collaboration, various trainings have been carried out with regard to increasing the value added of superior products as well as preparing human resources to support the development of tourism villages,” added Susila.

He also mentioned that Tabanan district government has revived regional companies, namely PD Dharma Santhika, mandated to handle the marketing of commodities and processed

products of farmers, BUMDes and MSMEs. Implementation or the success of the development of the activities, he explained, cannot be carried out alone by the government. However, it needs the support from all parties, especially the people in the Nikosake region, so that the program can run smoothly.

“Hopefully, they will continuously be enthusiastic and try to do something to develop the potential of each village. Increase human resources, maintain commitment, maintain togetherness, and build networks as wide as possible,” added Susila. (kmb28)

After finding of bones

Pecatu customary village to hold pecaruan ceremony

IBP/kmb

Chief of Pecatu customary village, I Made Sumerta

MANGUPURA - Pecatu customary village will organize mecaru ceremony after the finding of human bones on Thursday (Jul. 4). This is meant to purify psychically the village territory where the bones were found.

When confirmed on Sunday (Jul. 7), chief of Pecatu customary village, I Made Sumerta, explained the ceremony will be held soon. So far, his ranks are still making coordination with the big family of landowner where the human bones were found. Actually, the ceremony is indeed to purify the area psychically (niskala).

“We from village authority will organize a ceremony for village territory considered to have been made impure because of the incident. Hopefully, the area will be cleared again. Definitely a ceremony will be held at the location.

However, we cannot confirm the time yet. Apparently it will be held in the near future,” said Sumerta.

Related to the findings of human bones, so far the case still draws questions because the location is far enough from highway and residential areas. Hopefully, police authority will immediately be able to uncover

the findings. According to Sumerta, indeed the former quarry area has been inactive for a long time. The land belongs to the big family of I Nyoman Sudarma. “This is still being questioned because the location of bone finding is quite far from settlement and highway,” he said.

To note, at the location of bone finding were also found flip flops, jean short, black clothes, bras, and women’s panties. When being found, the bones were entirely intact. Her head faced eastward and the feet westward and was in facing down position. (kmb23)

13

29 die as bus plunges off India’s ‘highway to hell’

AGRA - At least 29 people were killed and 18 others injured when a bus careered off a notorious Indian highway after the driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel, officials said Monday.

The bus was carrying more than 50 people along the Yamuna expressway -- known as the “highway to hell” because of the number of fatal accidents -- when it crashed through a concrete barrier and plunged more than 12 metres (40 feet) into a drainage canal.

“It appears that the driver was drowsy,” said Agra district magistrate N.G. Ravi Kumar, who provided the number of dead and injured.

The bus was travelling from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi when the accident happened just before dawn, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) near Agra, home of the Taj Mahal.

More than 150,000 people a year are killed on India’s roads, which are notorious for design flaws and speeding drivers.

The 165-kilometre (100-mile) Yamuna expressway was India’s longest and most modern six-lane highway when it opened in 2012, but about 900 people have been killed on the road since, according to authorities.

Indian media have dubbed it the “highway to hell”.

Local residents said they were woken by the crash and found the mangled bus submerged in blackish-grey water.

- Most passengers were asleep Police said it landed on its roof in a drain, where running water complicated rescue efforts.

“We rushed out of our homes and saw people screaming for help,” one witness told reporters.

“We got into the drain and tried to save some of them. Soon police arrived and quickly brought cranes.”

Officials believe most of the passengers were asleep when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which had the Taj Mahal painted on its white exterior.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an investigation, as well as cash compensation of 500,000 rupees ($7,289) for the families of those killed.

“The committee will give a report on the cause of the acci-

dent and also suggest long-term measures to avoid such mishaps,” government official Awanish Awasthi said.

The Yamuna expressway was intended to be a symbol of modernity when it was opened -- speeding up journey times from Delhi to the key region -- but authorities admit there are key safety concerns.

In 2017 alone some 763 crashes were reported on the highway resulting in 145 deaths, authorities told the Save Life Foundation, a road safety campaign group.

“The crashes may be due to human or a car error, but most of the deaths are because the road infrastructure is not good enough,” said Piyush Tiwari, the group’s founder.

Fatalities on Indian roads are often blamed on speeding and drunk driving, but experts say many highways are poorly constructed and surfaced, making journeys risky.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered condolences to those affected and promised assistance to the injured. (afp)

BEIJING - Shadow puppets flitting across screens and reliving age old stories have fascinated Chinese people for some 2,000 years, but with falling audiences troupes are having to be creative to stay on the stage.

On a translucent screen in a Beijing classroom, a child with a cosmic ring takes on the son of the dragon king, attacking him with huge thrusts of his lance.

Behind the screen, puppeteers use rods to move the figures, to the joy of the schoolchildren watching.

The legends of the past are the bedrock of shadow theatre -- a tradition still popular in the countryside, though it has lost much ground in large cities over the last few decades.

Shadow theatre was celebrated up until the 1960s when it was targeted as part of the Cultural Revolution. It had something of a renaissance in the 1980s and in 2011 was included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

For the Chinese, the show is the forerunner of cinema -- in the Chinese language the word “cinema” literally means “electric shadow”.

With video games, film and TV now vying for viewers glued to their smartphones, shadow theatre is slowly losing its audience, and performers are struggling to keep their heads above water.

Wiping his forehead after his furious on-stage battle, Lu Baobang -- one of the last puppeteers of the old generation -- is worried there is no one to replace him when he retires.

“We can’t offer reasonable living standards to young apprentices,” said Lu, who descends

from a large family that developed one of the main schools of shadow theatre in Beijing.

- ‘Like my babies’ While the theatre struggles to attract young peoples’ interest, a troupe in a Beijing suburb -whose performers have an average age of 22 -- has managed to survive.

It is made up of 60 or so puppeteers with dwarfism, who present themselves as having an average height of 1.26 metres.

Jin Xinchun is one of them. He was struggling to find work several years ago, before he discovered the troupe online and moved to Beijing to join it where he was employed as a puppet maker.

“I am always happy to cut old leather to make beautiful puppets. They are my babies!”, Jin told AFP. Wang Xi, a puppeteer founded the troupe with her husband in 2008 after meeting with the national association of dwarves.

“They had trouble finding work. And it was hard for us to find successors. Our collaboration is like two drawbacks that turned out to a be a plus!”

The puppeteers now perform regularly in schools.

But Wang Xi said she is nervous about the future: “Our masters are all older than 80 and they obviously won’t be able to go on stage in 10 years.”

State support is key to keeping shadow theatre alive, Lu said.

“The government is aware of the importance of traditional culture, what we need now are concrete measures,” he said.

“This art will have no future if we don’t give young people hope.” (afp)

NICOLAS ASFOURI / AFP

In this picture taken on May 10, 2019, puppets are seen on a shadow theatre stage during a performance by the Beijing Shadow Show Troupe at a school in Beijing.

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Science

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

International

IBP/net

Clockwise from top left, here are eggs of an imperial hairstreak butterfly (?Jamelnus evagoras), a two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), a milkweed bug ?(Oncopeltus fasciatus) and a Hawaiian fly (Drosophila mimica).

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

3

Twin Lakes Festival VI closed, transactions reach IDR 209 million

Why some insect eggs are spherical while others look like hot dogs

MASSACHUSETTS - Look at the nail of your pinky finger. That’s about the width of the biggest known insect egg, which belongs to the earth-borer beetle Bolboleaus hiaticollis. The smallest egg, from the wasp Platygaster vernalis, is only half the width of the thinnest recorded human hair.

Insect eggs range across eight orders of magnitude in size, and come in a stunning variety of shapes, a new database of almost 10,500 descriptions of eggs from about 6,700 insect species shows. The Harvard University team behind the database thinks it’s figured out one reason why. In a separate analysis, the researchers determined that where insects lay their eggs — for example, in water or in the bodies of other critters — helps to explain some of the diversity that’s evolved over time. The database and study were both published July 3 in Scientific Data and Nature, respectively.

“Eggs provide a wonderful window into the evolutionary and ecological forces involved in animal reproduction,” says Mary Stoddard, an evolutionary biologist at Princeton University not involved in the new work. Stoddard and her colleagues analyzed over 47,000 photos of eggs of 1,400 bird species in a 2017 study, which found a link between a bird’s egg shape and the animal’s ability to fly. “Compared with bird eggs, insect eggs are truly wild,” she says.

“Some insect eggs are spherical or elliptical, but others resemble arrowheads or hot dogs.”

To compile the database of insect eggs, researchers developed computer programs that extracted egg measurements from text and photos in 1,756 digitized publications, and then used the measurements to estimate egg sizes and shapes. Representatives of over 500 families from all insect orders were included.

Harvard University evolutionary and developmental biologist Cassandra Extavour, an author of both papers, says that eggs, being just single cells without complex features that might complicate comparisons, make a “great starting point” to study how insects develop.

Analyzing the egg data revealed an astounding diversity. Still, within that variety, many insect groups have converged upon similar designs, such as spherical or elongated, says Samuel Church, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University.

Scientists previously had proposed reasons for those similarities; larger eggs, for example, might be more elongated because it’s easier for females to lay them. But using phylogenetic and statistical analyses, Church and his colleagues found no support for that idea. Even the seemingly straightforward hypothesis that larger eggs would be linked to species with larger adult body sizes was rejected for many species, the researchers say.

Instead, an egg’s form is best explained by where it is laid, the team reports.

Specifically, eggs laid in or on water tend to be smaller and rounder, while those laid inside another animal tend to be smaller and asymmetrical, with one end coming to more of a point than the other. Eggs laid in soil or leaf litter tend to be larger.

“The level of technical rigor [in these publications] is extremely high, and they did everything carefully and thoughtfully” to construct an impressive database, says entomologist Jay Rosenheim at the University of California, Davis, who was not part of the studies. But Church’s team might have applied “unduly stringent criterion” for rejecting certain hypotheses, Rosenheim says.

He sees in the data “a general pattern that egg size increases with body size in all of the taxa,” though the correlation isn’t always statistically significant.

“I’m convinced that the patterns we have described are broad patterns,” says Church, but emphasizes that an egg’s form is likely explained by more than just its immediate environment. (net)

Bali News

International

SINGARAJA — The sixth Twin Lakes Festival (TLF) 2019 ended on Saturday (Jul. 6) in the Lake Buyan area of Pancasari village, Sukasada. There was an increase in transaction value in this year’s TLF compared to a year earlier. In 2019, the total transaction value reached IDR 209 million while last year’s festival could only reach IDR 140 million.

Chairman of the TLF 2019 Committee who is also the Acting Head of the Buleleng Agriculture Agency, Made Sumiarta, said the increased transactions originated from the culinary sales as well as various exhibitions. In addition, the local food market and the exchange followed by the Bali Young Farmers Forum helped increase the number of the transactions. This year’s visitors looked more enthusiastic coupled with the well organized lake area. “All parties have helped so that this year’s event runs smoothly,” he said.

Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana (PAS), represented

by Assistant to Economic, Development, People’s Welfare and Procurement Affairs, Ni Made Rusmini, said that all efforts must go hand in hand. Meanwhile, to overcome environmental damage, the district government and the community also develop organic farming integrated with community-based tourism. Tourism development is also carried out by making natural beauty a tourist attraction. “We must maintain the balance of ecosystem, especially in the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan because both lakes are sacred areas and serve as water catchment areas,” she explained.

IBP/net

Oddly shaped human skulls discovered in northeastern China, including this approximately 6,000-year-old example from a child, point to millennia of intentional cranial reshaping in East Asia, researchers say.

East Asians may have been reshaping their skulls 12,000 years ago

Cooking tilapia and restocking Before the closing ceremony, various activities such as trail running, restocking, and tilapia cooking competitions were also organized. The cooking competition with tilapia ingredient showed a change because last year’s competition used catfish. The tilapia cooking competition was attended by representatives of each subdistrict attempting to produce the best tilapia serving.

Meanwhile, Head of the Buleleng Fisheries Agency, Ni Made Arnika, said that tilapia as ingredient used this year is an effort to develop fish farming in Buleleng. In addition, it is also an effort to introduce tilapia to the community of Buleleng. “We want the fish serving to be more diverse. On that account, every year we change the type of fish used as the ingredient,” she said.

In addition to tilapia cooking competitions, there was also a restocking of tilapia fish in Lake Buyan. This method restores the fish supply in Lake Buyan. As many as 10,000 fingerlings were restocked together with the Lake Buyan fishermen group. The ecosystem in Lake Buyan is also sought to be repaired by restocking. (kmb38)

DALLAS - Ancient tombs in China have produced what may be some of the oldest known human skulls to be intentionally reshaped.

At a site called Houtaomuga, scientists unearthed 25 skeletons dating to between around 12,000 years ago and 5,000 years ago.

Of those, 11 featured skulls with artificially elongated braincases and flattened bones at the front and back of the head, says a team led by bioarchaeologist Quanchao Zhang and paleoanthropologist Qian Wang.

Skull modification occurred over a longer stretch of time at the site than at any other archaeological dig, the researchers report online June 25 in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Permanent reshaping of a skull early in life, when cranial bones are soft, can be achieved by compressing an infant’s head with

one’s hands. Binding the head with hard, flat surfaces such as boards or tightly wrapping the head in cloth similarly remodels immature cranial bones. Specific head modifications may have been used as signs of social status.

Oddly shaped, intentionally modified skulls have been found in many parts of the world.

Claims from the 1980s that two roughly 45,000-year-old Neandertal skulls had been reshaped early in life have been dismissed by many researchers. The earliest skulls with generally accepted signs of cranial modification date to between around 13,000 and 10,000 years ago in western Asia, southeastern Australia and now, East Asia. In the Americas, this

practice began more than 8,000 years ago.

“It is too early to tell whether intentional cranial modification first emerged in East Asia and spread elsewhere or originated independently in different places,” says Wang, of Texas A&M University in Dallas.

Houtaomuga was excavated from 2011 to 2015. A man’s skeleton with a modified skull was found in a tomb dating to between 13,000 and 11,000 years ago, based on styles of pottery found in the same sediment layer. Radiocarbon dating of the skeleton placed it at around 12,000 years old. Two sediment layers dating to between 6,300 and 5,000 years old contained 10 skeletons with reshaped skulls. (net)

Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana

IBP/kmb

IBP/kmb

The festival is created in the context of cultural preservation as well as an effort to prevent younger generation from falling into negative things such as drugs.

Mertasari Cultural Charm IV held again

A cultural preservation means of Sanur Kauh village

DENPASAR — The Mertasari Cultural Charm returns to be held and will take place on July 11-14 centered on the Mertasari Beach parking lot. At the venue, there will also a series of traditional and modern cuisines from MSMEs – particularly from Sanur Kauh and Denpasar villages. The stage will be made quite different from the previous festival.

Chairman of the Mertasari Cultural Charm Committee VI, I Made Sudiana, said the festival is held by Yowana Kerthi Bhuana youth club of Sanur Kauh village.

The festival is created in the context of cultural preservation as well as an effort to prevent younger generation from falling into negative things such as drugs.

Since the 2019 is a year of politics, namely the election of regional head and even the highest leadership of the republic, the theme featured is Asta Brata having relation to leadership. The asta brata theme is relevant to the icon of 2019, namely choosing a leader.

At the festival, most of the performances are traditional and modern cultures, such as the baleganjur parade, gong kebyar and gong kebyar by PKK housewives art troupe representing the South Denpasar subdistrict to the competition of Denpasar City level. In addition, the youth and committee also sought to revive the culture having not yet been explored like the classic joged bumbung.

There are also performances of barong dance and solo Balinese drum play very much favored by younger generation today. “Registration of the Barong Dance and

Solo Drum Play is thronged by many elementary school students because this category is being loved by children. This proves that children have the intention to preserve their culture,” he said in the press conference on Sunday (Jul. 7).

According to him, this is the appropriate moment to hold this kind of activity. Aside from school holidays, July is also a high season of tourism. So, the hotels located around Sanur are informed about this agenda. Thus, their guests can come to watch the festival.

“When else guests can watch such extravagant cultural festival unless in this Mertasari Cultural Charm Festival,” he joked.

Other than cultural preservation, this festival is also a medium to introduce Sanur Kauh village globally. The property of from Sanur Kauh village having been known is just the Mertasari Beach, whereas according to him, Sanur Kauh village has the potential of developing tourism objects such as Tukad Loloan as well as Blanjong inscription and temple. Tukad Loloan (River) was formerly a garbage collection site, but now has been cleaned up and nicely arranged. The activities are also carried out in Tukad

Loloan, namely the fishing competition. It is meant to take people to love and maintain their river.

In addition to Tukad Bindu and Tukad Korea, Tukad Loloan is also expected to become another icon of Denpasar City.

No less interestingly, Sanur Kauh village also has Blanjong inscription and temple. This historical heritage is the milestone of the Island of Bali. All the potential places for this tourist destination will be packaged into a series of Mertasari Cultural Charm. The food festival is also included in the activities in the form of preparing lawar delicacy. He targeted 25,000 visitors because last year’s visitor reached 20,000.

Headman of Sanur Kauh, I Made Ada, accompanied by hamlet chief I Made Mahardika said that cultural charm of Mertasari is to summarize the activities at the village such as baleganjur and genjek a cappella.

With the festival, all the hamlets are actively carrying out cultural activities. “Every night, the hamlet youth actively conducts activities such as learning to play gamelan and genjek a cappella,” he said while agreeing the festival serves as a cultural forum of the Sanur Kauh village. (kmb42)

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Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Bangli fails to be a child-friendly district BANGLI - Bangli is the only district in Bali that has not yet complied with predicate of child-friendly district. The unavailability of facilities fulfilling children’s rights such as children’s playgrounds is one of the obstacles for Bangli to become a child-friendly district.

Division Head of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Population Control, Family Planning Agency, Dewi Rahayu, when confirmed on Sunday (Jul. 7) did not to deny it. She said that to comply with the requirements for being child-friendly district, a series of stages of assessment and requirements should be met by Bangli. From a series of stages having been passed, Bangli failed to become a child-friendly district because it did not qualify when undergoing field verification stage.

She added that in order to become a childfriendly district, there are at least 24 indicators that had to be complied with. Of the 24 indicators, a total of 365 items of activity should be met by Bangli.

She stated that currently Bangli stays to lack facilities to fulfill children’s rights.

The facilities include child-friendly schools, child-friendly health centers and childfriendly playgrounds. In addition, the existence of an Integrated Service Center Agency for Women and Child’s Protection (P2TP2A) equally has not met the required criteria because there are still lack of facilities, infrastructure and human resources.

“Bangli indeed has P2TP2A. However, after the agency had been further explored, we don’t have a clinical psychologist and neither does the secretariat as we are still borrowing the space in the office,” said Dewi Rahayu.

If the current weakness continues to be fulfilled and addressed, according to her, in the future Bangli has possibility to become a child-friendly district. The efforts to achieve the predicate are not only the duty of the Population Control, Family Planning, Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agency, but also a number of other agencies included in the taskforce.

She gave an example that Education, Youth and Sports Agency has the task and role of realizing child-friendly schools, the Health Agency has the task to provide child-friendly health centers, Environment Agency has the task to provide child-friendly playgrounds, and the Transportation Agency has the task to provide child-friendly transportation.

Dewi Rahayu added that it is rather difficult to coordinate intensively with the regional agency included in the taskforce because many related officials in the regional agencies are still vacant. “Nine of our regional agencies are not occupied or still vacant. They do not include in the other district agencies belonging to the child-friendly taskforce.

Therefore, our coordination is rather difficult,” he added. (kmb40)

Bali News

International

Activities

International

Seven-tiered bade tower paraded along the beach draws tourists’ interest

SEMARAPURA — Karangsari customary village, Suana, Nusa Penida, organized a pitra yajna mass procession (Ngaben) on Sunday (Jul. 7). This five-yearly ceremony ran safely and smoothly.

Uniquely, the seven-tiered bade tower with the height of 9 meters was paraded along the coast. Even though it passed the seawater constraint, the Karangsari customary villagers carried it hand in hand containing 48 symbolic corpses along the distance of 400 meters to the cremation venue or cemetery.

More interestingly, the procession parading bade tower accompanied with Baleganjur and Angklung gamelan was not only witnessed by the people of Nusa Penida but also foreign tourists on vacation on the island dubbed as the Blue Paradise.

Before the peak of ceremony, three days before there was re-digging the corpse ritual carried out in the cemetery of Dalem Lempuyang Temple of the local customary village.

Moreover, the day before was carried out the ngendagin kuburan ritual by sprinkling holy water so that the ngebet ceremony could run smoothly.

In addition, two days before the peak of the mass ngaben activities was carried out themelaspas kajang ritual and a day after were the mapeed procession and the ngeringkes procession.

Chief of the Mass Cremation Committee, Mangku Gede I Nyoman Dunia, said that even though the cremation ceremony is obligation of each citizen, due to funding constraints, the Karangsari customary village consisting of three hamlets (the Pupuan, Karangsari and Pidada) prepared the ngaben ceremony as a form of togetherness and mutual cooperation in maintaining social relationship. This is meant to reduce the costs incurred by residents, especially those who are underprivileged. Each citizen having a corpse is charged contribution.

Though mass cremation is held to alleviate the costs incurred by residents, in its implementation it remains to refer to dewasa (auspicious day) with the hope the whole series of the mass cremation carried out can bring in safety without any obstacles, both physically (sekala) and psychically (niskala). “We’d like to express our profound gratitude to the residents of Karangsari customary village because the cremation ceremony today (Sunday) has run well,” he said.

In addition, on the same day the committee also organized ngerapuh or ngelungah for housewives having had an abortion or her baby

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

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died while being in the womb. This ngerapuh ceremony has significance of escorting the sacred soul of the deceased baby by directlyfloating the symbolic corpse into the sea through ngerapuh procession. Hopefully, its soul will have reunion with God.The whole series of the mass cremation ceremony was officiated over by Ida Rsi Bhagawan Dharma Cadhu Siddhi from Griya Suka Yadnya of Karangsari customary village. (win)

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A holiday designed for the Royals at Rumah Luwih

With its majestic landscape and the enchanting smiles of its people, Bali has long drawn the attention of people from all over the world.

The island is a melting pot of many races and cultures. Through the early influx of Chinese traders in the 7th century to the era of Dutch colonialism in the 16th century, each influence has left its mark on every aspect of Balinese culture, including in its architectural landscape.

This beautiful cultural mix has been revived in the stunning architecture of Rumah Luwih – a newly launched luxury resort set amidst the tranquil landscape of Pantai Lebih in Gianyar.

Designed by notable Indonesian architect, Hadiprana, the design of Rumah Luwih takes its inspiration from the exquisite Ujung Water Palace in Karangasem. A home for the royals, this water palace is renowned for its grand architecture that wonderfully blends the beauty of Dutch colonial style with the intricate details of Chinese and Balinese cultures.

Such grandiosity provides the base

for Rumah Luwih’s architectural design. The resort, which occupies 3,2 hectares of lush greenery, is the setting for this lavish private residence where all guests are treated as royals in their very own tropical sanctuary.

Deriving its name from a Sanskrit word, Luwih translates as “more”. More than a house, Rumah Luwih is a home. Its architecture epitomizes a beautiful beachfront mansion where all family gathers to relax and unwind. From its classic Dutch era tiles, to the curated antiques, teakwood fittings and use of beautiful silk, every detail of Rumah Luwih is designed to create an intimate feeling as if coming home to your loving grandma’s mansion.

True to its grand familial mansion philosophy, the resort incorporates one main building designed for the core family and an adjacent block of guest rooms to accommodate family guests when they come to visit. At Rumah Luwih, guests are welcome as close family and treated with five-star hospitality from the well-trained staff.

Located in the lush and unspoiled East coast of Bali, the resort enjoys unparalleled scenic beauty on one of Bali’s best beaches. From the moments guest step into the lobby, they are intimately engulfed by an unpretentious, welcoming ambiance. After being greeted by warm smiles, guests are ushered by the staff into a spacious lobby, which leads to an open view of Rumah Luwih’s Ocean Chapel set amidst the backdrop of the vast Indian Ocean and Nusa Penida Island on the horizon. Rumah Luwih’s Ocean Chapel has become the resort’s primary landmark and is renowned as the setting of intimate matrimony accommodating up to 50 people.

Emulating the lives of the Karangasem royals, the resort itself hosts 75 luxurious rooms including three one–of-a-kind suites.

To ensure ultimate indulgence and privacy, each room is designed to be expansive, ranging from 40 – 200 square meters.

Prabanggana Rooms offer 40 square meters of luxury with splendid views of the Indian Ocean or lush gardens. Arnawakanta Rooms

offer a grandiose,50 square meters of space to enjoy all of the luxurious in-room amenities including a bathtub for indulgent soaking.

For families or larger groups, Segara, Giri and Aruna Suites provide a graceful setting and total privacy with 100-200 square meters of indoor living space, as well as spacious private balconies overlooking the ocean. The suites offer guests the experience of living like a noble with their capacious bedrooms along with separate, comfortable sitting area, dining room, and living room.

For meals and refreshments, the main dining room, Andrawina provides a royal dining experience in a gorgeous colonial setting.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed in this luxurious dining room or in its laid-back seating by the pool where guests enjoy their meals accompanied by the serene ocean breeze.

For midday refreshment, predinner or a casual gathering, the Living room with its French doors and sweeping views of the estate is a perfect setting to simply hang

out or read a favorite book. For an evening drink, guests are invited to venture through the well-manicured lawn of Luwih garden, onto the lotus pond with its friendly geese and enjoy an extravagant selection of cocktails and drinks at the Beach Pavilion by the Oceanside.

“With its tranquil garden, lavish accommodations and an unrivalled panorama of the calm Indian Ocean, Rumah Luwih is indeed a new holiday destination worth to visit.

We understand that our guests come from all over the world with different backgrounds and stories that make them unique. Our aim is to provide one of a kind service and attention to each and every one of our guests so they feel right at home,” Mr. Agus Suananda, CHA, General Manager of Rumah Luwih stated.

Rumah Luwih is conveniently located only 5 minutes drive from Bali Safari & Marine Park, 25 minutes from Sanur and just 30 minutes to the historic & cultural center of famous Ubud. For booking and more information about Rumah Luwih, please visit www. rumahluwih.com

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Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Joss Stone deported from Iran ahead of 200th world tour gig LONDON - British singer Joss Stone said she was “gutted” after being deported from Iran ahead of the latest leg of a world tour that has already taken her to Syria and North Korea.

She was held shortly after arriving at Kish airport, according to a post on her Instagram account, as authorities suspected she was planning to play a public gig.

Women have been banned from singing solo in public in Iran since the Islamic revolution of 1979.

“We were aware there couldn’t be a public concert as I am a woman and that is illegal in this country,” she wrote, without specifying where or how she had hoped to play.

“So close yet so far, this moment broke a little piece of my heart,” she wrote it the post, below a picture of herself wearing a headscarf.

Iran confirmed it had denied

entry to the singer.

“Joss Stone and her entourage were refused entry to the territory for lack of required documents in accordance with the rules,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA quoted police officials as saying.

The gig in Kish would have been the 200th of the “Total World Tour” she embarked on five years ago, she wrote in another post before departing for Kish.

That tour is an ambitious project to perform in every country on Earth and has seen her play in wartorn Libya, South Sudan as well as an “unofficial” gig in the capital of North Korea.

However she described the Iranian immigration officials as “genuinely nice kind people that felt bad that they couldn’t override the system,” and that they had refused her entry “with a heavy heart”. (afp)

British singer Joss Stone

IBP/net

Pussy Riot performing in Alabama to protest ‘ridiculous’ abortion ban

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

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

NEW YORK - The Russian collective Pussy Riot will perform in Alabama on Thursday, a sold-out concert to raise money for women’s rights groups in light of the state’s recent passage of a near-total ban on abortion.

Proceeds from the Birmingham benefit will go to Planned Parenthood and the Yellowhammer Fund, a group that gives assistance to women seeking abortions at one of the southern US state’s three clinics.

In May, Alabama lawmakers triggered outrage after pushing through legislation making abortion a felony -- even in cases of rape or incest, unless the mother’s health is at risk -- punishing doctors with up to 99 years in prison for providing the procedure.

“It is ridiculous to me that it’s still a question in 2019 whether women can have an abortion,” Pussy Riot co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova told AFP ahead of the performance.

“We want to come to Alabama and support women who are in quite a critical and vulnerable position right now,” she said. “Many Americans, they believe that Russia is a patriarchal country -- it’s true in a lot of ways, but when it comes to abortion rights, it’s not questionable.”

The Soviet Union in 1920 became the first state in the world to legalize abortion, though it

Pablo PORCIUNCULA BRUNE / AFP

In this file photo taken on April 13, 2019 Nadya Tolokonnikova, of Russian feminist protest punk rock group Pussy Riot, performs during a show at La Trastienda in Montevideo, on April 13, 2019. was banned under Joseph Stalin for nearly two decades starting in 1936.

An anti-abortion movement does exist in Russia, with activists seizing on the country’s declining population as reason for a ban, but according to Tolokonnikova it is only “insane, crazy freaks who claim that women don’t have right to have an abortion” there.

Though she feels “the US going backwards” the 29-year-old said she sees progress “because activism is blooming and the feminist

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movement is stronger than any time.”

“The feminist movement today is so strong that it will be able to overcome these obstacles,” the Moscow-based activist said.

“Those white, male dudes who are voting against abortion rights, they’re part of the history. They’re not really relevant.”

She sees legislation like that signed in Alabama as evidence of politicians who are “angry, and desperate, because they feel that their time (in power) is about to end.” (afp)

Carl DE SOUZA / AFP

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro holds the Copa America trophy as members of the Brazilian national team celebrates after winning the title by defeating Peru in the final match of the football tournament at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2019.

Brazil win Copa America despite Jesus dismissal

Ten-man Brazil held on to win the Copa America on home soil despite Gabriel Jesus’s dismissal with a 3-1 victory over Peru on Sunday. Jesus scored the decisive goal after a penalty from Peru captain Paolo Guerrero canceled out Everton’s opener for hosts Brazil at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.

A last minute penalty from substitute Richarlison sealed a win for Brazil which handed the South American giants their ninth Copa triumph and first since 2007.

Jesus’s evening went sour 20 minutes from time as he was sent off for a second booking.

The Manchester City striker was in tears as he left the field, making obscene hand gestures, angrily kicking a water bottle and almost knocking over the VAR booth.

Brazil’s players rallied after the

dismissal however to claim a battling victory.

“It’s really special because we built something together,” enthused captain Dani Alves.

Earlier, after a minute’s silence was held for bossa nova legend Joao Gilberto -- who died on Saturday -- underdogs Peru made a confident start and didn’t appear overawed by either their opponents or the occasion.

But it quickly became apparent that they were up against more ac-

complished players.

“It was a game in which they took advantage of our mistakes and turned them all into goals,” said Peru’s Edison Flores.

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca had said on Saturday they needed to prevent Brazil from dominating possession, but that was easier said than done.

- Individual brilliance Brazil started to stroke the ball around commandingly, and as they did that, they looked dangerous.

Their opening goal came from a piece of individual brilliance by Jesus, whose drag back fooled two defenders, creating space for him to cross for the unmarked Everton to

drill home at the back post on the quarter hour.

Brazil were in control and playing like champions elect as Roberto Firmino found space on the left and crossed for Philippe Coutinho to stab wide.

Left-winger Everton was clever with his movement in dragging the athletic right-back Luis Advincula out of position and Brazil’s leftback Alex Sandro found acres of space to put in a deep cross that Firmino headed over.

Just as it looked as if Brazil would stroll to victory, Peru went on the attack and a Christian Cueva cross hit the arm of a sliding Thiago Silva, giving Peru a penalty that was confirmed after a VAR review.

Guerrero sent goalkeeper Alisson the wrong way from 12 yards and Peru were back in it just before half-time. But they paid for their lack of guile and experience with almost the last kick of the half as Arthur was allowed to drive at the defence from midfield following a slip from Renato Tapia that left him space to attack.

Continued to page 6

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