Edisi 16 April 2015 | International Bali Post

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Tom Hanks’ wife had double mastectomy

John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File

In a Sunday, March 29, 2015, file photo, Nick Jonas arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Billboard announced Tuesday, April 14, 2015, that Jonas, Sam Smith and Hozier will take the stage at the Billboard Music Awards on on May 17.

Sam Smith, Nick Jonas, Hozier to perform at Billboard Awards

LOS ANGELES - Rita Wilson, wife of Hollywood star Tom Hanks, revealed that she had a double mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis, People Magazine reported Tuesday.

The actress and singer, 58, told People that she underwent surgery last week and that she is taking a break from her work on the Broadway stage to recover from the procedure.

“Last week, with my husband by my side, and with the love and support of family and friends, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction for breast cancer after a diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma,” Wilson told the magazine.

The actress said she initially was told that she did not have cancer, but received the diagnosis after consulting a second physician.

“I am recovering and most importantly, expected to make a full recovery. Why? Because I caught this early, have excellent doctors and because I got a second opinion.”

A mother of two, Wilson said she expects to be able to return next month to her role in “Fish in the Dark,” a play having a successful run on Broadway.

Wilson’s revelation about her cancer comes on the heels of last month’s revelation

by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed over fears of a hereditary form of cancer, following a double mastectomy two years ago.

Experts said the pre-emptive surgeries greatly reduced the odds that Jolie would die from the aggressive mutation of the disease that killed her mother, grandmother and aunt. (afp)

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2015

China accuses Dalai Lama of inciting Tibet self-immolations Page 6

Goalkeeper Oblak helps Atletico hold Real Madrid to 0-0 draw Page 8

Protracted French radio strike shows challenges of reform Page 13

Tourism contributing to water crisis

DENPASAR - Water is not only a basic need for daily life, but is also required by the tourism lost. If the construction of hotels sector. With the number of hotel rooms in Bali having reached 77,496 (data compilation of PHRI continues, the water will run out, and we cannot create new sources Bali 2014—Ed), a clean water crisis is emerging as a serious threat.

“I once made the simple calculation: if the occupancy rate of the 77,000 hotel rooms reaches 50 percent and we multiply this by 360 days, it would mean that 13,900,000 liters of water would be needed that year,” said Chairman of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter, Dr. Cok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati familiarly called Cok Ace in a discussion in Denpasar, on Tuesday (Apr. 14).

Nevertheless, added Cok Ace, tourism business people cannot be entirely blamed if a water crisis occurs because Balinese people

are also considered to be wasteful in their use of water. Ideally, water consumption per person should be between 50 to 60 liters per day for drinking, bathing and so on. However, in Bali the consumption of water reaches as much as 183 liters per person per day.

“It is three times more than the sustainable figure allows for, and this is because in the past, there was always an abundance of water. Now that the culture has shifted from agriculture to industrial, we are still holding on to our old habit of using a lot of water,” said Cok Ace. This former regent of Gianyar

therefore invites all stakeholders, including the general public, to work hand in hand to make sure that development happens in a controlled manner. Apart from creating stricter zoning laws, general attention must be paid to the carrying capacity of the island.

Otherwise, sooner or later travelers will be forced to abandon Bali as a destination. “If we have agreed to develop the concept of cultural tourism, we must consequently dare to determine and respond to the carrying capacity. Without submitting to the limits of the carrying capacity of Bali, our main attraction will be

of water,” he said.

In the same discussion, Managing Director of the Denpasar Municipality Waterworks (PDAM), Putu Gede Mahaputra, declared that South Bali as a tourist center, is the most wasteful in its se of water. In Denpasar, 196 liters of water are used per person per day. The total water demand amounts to 1,440 liters per second, while PDAM Denpasar which serves 78,067 consumers, can only provide 1,253 liters per second.

“We still have a deficit of 187 liters per second, if we want to provide all the water that people demand for their wasteful usage.

Talking about having an average of 60 litres per person per day as the standard of the Ministry of Public Works suggests, this is only realistic in rural areas,” he said.

In urban areas, the daily consumption could be set at 120 liters per person. However, since we are accustomed to using excessive amounts of water, we are now finally facing a deficit,” he explained. (kmb32) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http://radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

NEW YORK — Sam Smith, Nick Jonas and Hozier will take the stage at the Billboard Music Awards. Billboard announced the performers Tuesday. The show will air live on ABC on May 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Smith is the second most nominated act with 13, including top artist, Hot 100 song for “Stay With Me” and Billboard 200 album for “In the Lonely Hour.” Taylor Swift is the leading nominee with 14 nominations.

Hozier is up for five awards, including top new artist and rock song for “Take Me to

Church.” Jonas is riding high off his solo hits “Jealous” and “Chains.”

They join previously announced performers Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa. Ariana Grande, One Direction and Katy Perry will compete with Smith and Swift for top artist. (ap)

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File

Billy Joel, girlfriend expecting baby this summer

NEW YORK — Billy Joel has a new release this summer: a baby. A representative for the 65-year-old singer said Joel and girlfriend Alexis Roderick are expecting their first child.

They have been dating since 2009.

Roderick will be 34 next month. The baby will be Joel’s second child and first with Roderick. He is the father of singer-

songwriter Alexa Ray Joel.

The statement from Joel’s representative said the couple “opted to keep any further details of her pregnancy under wraps until their

new addition makes an official debut.”

Joel is completing a month-to-month residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His next show is on May 28. (ap)

IBP/File Photo

Tourists flocked at Sanur Beach during the holiday season. Water is not only a basic need for daily life, but is also required by the tourism sector. With the number of hotel rooms in Bali having reached 77,496 (data compilation of PHRI Bali 2014—Ed), a clean water crisis is emerging as a serious threat.

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International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Bali News

International

Purchasing power of farmers in Bali down

DENPASAR - The purchasing power of Balinese farmers is down, precisely at the moment when prices for basic commodities are soaring. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, the purchasing power of farmers in Bali has decreased as seen by the decline in the farmer exchange value (NTP) which determines the economic ability of farmers in relation to market values. When the exchange value is high farmers have more purchasing power an device versa.

The results of the price monitoring, conducted in rural areas of Bali, in January 2015, indicates that the farmer exchange value has decreased from 104.19 in previous month to 104.18 or is down by 0.01 percent.

In general, the decline in the farmer exchange value is caused by a greater decrease in the index value received by farmers than the decrease in the index paid by farmers. There are two sub-sectors showing a decrease, namely the Smallholder Crop and Horticulture, while the farmer exchange value of other subsector shows an increase.

The farmer exchange value of Bali for February 2015 showed a decrease of 0.27 percent,(from 104.18 to 103.90). According to data, the index of prices received by farmers in February 2015 there was a decrease of 0.65 percent (from 120.25 to 119.46).

Meanwhile, the index of prices paid by farmers decreased by 0.39 percent from 115.42 to 114.97.

According to the Secretary of the Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI) of Bali Chapter, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Raka Suardana, the decrease in farmers’ purchasing power is caused by the strongly felt increase in the

price of goods, especially basic needs such as rice, fuel, LPG and electricity over the past three months.

“The government raised fuel prices again, which invariably affects the general public and farmers in particular,” said Raka Suardana on Wednesday.

What is more, the price of raw commodities produced by farmers has not gone up very much. Farmers already sell at a very low price, with the majority of profits been made by intermediaries. “Middlemen or traders make the bulk of the profits, so famers end up loosing out on both ends,” he said.

When asked about the role of government, this Dean of Undiknas University stated that the government has taken steps to address these problem but could for example change the way purchases arranged through the Logistic Agency (Bulog) which are usually buys from traders or collectors not directly from farmes.

“Obviously the price set by the market does not reach the famers, it is the middlemen who enjoy the benefits.

Farmers in Bali are mostly sharecroppers or farm laborers, so of course the amount paid to them by collectors is

Activities

DENPASAR – Archipelago International, one of Indonesia’s leading hotel operators, is ready to open another Quest hotel in Bali this April, this time in the bustling capital of Denpasar. unique and inspiring designs, creative hospitality concepts and state of the art technology for travelers seeking

a stylish yet unpretentious environment. The upcoming hotel, Quest San Denpasar, will continue this concept

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

The purchasing power of Balinese farmers is down, precisely at the moment when prices for basic commodities are soaring. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, the purchasing power of farmers in Bali has decreased as seen by the decline in the farmer exchange value (NTP) are of land and every harvest he can obtain 3.5 tons, at most. The profits obtained after deducting production and labor costs, is around IDR 3 million every three months or IDR 1 million a month. If the land is sold to a developer for IDR 20 million per 100 square meters, then farmers instantly receive IDR 1 billion.

“If it is deposited in a bank, the farmer will then receive approximately IDR 4.5 million a month in interest. This calculation applies to land sold for IDR 20 million per 100 square meters. Just imagine if the price is IDR 50 million or even IDR 200 million per 100 square meters, then for obvious economic reasons, the farmland will be con-

verted into building developments,” he explained.

Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) of Bali Chapter, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Suparta said that the government has supported the work of farmers with technology, fertilizer and management. But clearly the government does not protect farmers in terms of the farmer exchange value.

“The marketing system has not been addressed clearly and strongly.

No system has been established, which means that farmers are still losing the price battle. Consequently, the farmer exchange value makes being a farmer even less profitable,” he said. (kmb27)

retariat of Government of Buleleng, I Ketut Suparto, admitted such condition in his office on Tuesday (Apr. 14). Suparto said that the investment team actually has been very open to all investors that will submit investment proposal in Buleleng. As long as the document is declared complete and legal as well as all the procedures have been passed properly, the investment team as directed by the regent will not refuse to provide recommendations for investment proposal of the investors.

But all this time, he discovered many facts in the field that many capital owners having submitted proposals and been given recommendation do not followed it up properly. “On

the one side, the proposals have been given recommendation, but the investors do not follow it up by submitting other principle permits. Apparently the investors are not serious to invest in our region,” he said.

Suparto cited as example that within the past few years the investment team of local government received the investment offer of investor in tourism field. In the proposal of investment planning, the domestic investor will develop a seaplane area in the waters of Pemuteran village, Gerokgak. Reportedly, proposal of the principle permit for the investment plan was already issued in the mid of 2014. Unfortunately, after the recommendation is issued, the inves-

tor does not follow it up by completing with documents of other permit.

Against this condition, Suparto claimed to have sent a reprimand the investor because every recommendation of principle permit issued by the investment team has validity for six months. Any expired recommendation must be extended if the investor will continue their investment.

“It is one of the examples. The recommendation of seaplane has been issued around the mid of 2014, but so far there is no follow-up. We can ensure that its validity has expired and the recommendations must be submitted again,” he said.

On the other hand, Suparto said that in general the development

of investment in the region lately showed a significant increasing trend.

From the record in recent years, the value of investment in this region has reached approximately IDR 225 billion. Of that investment value, the labor absorbed reached 1,337 people dominated by local residents and the remaining are residents from outside the region.

This investment is dominated by tourism sector followed by industry and the remaining is other service. If only all the investors are serious to invest and in fact they really make investment in the field, it can be ascertained that the investment value recorded will be much from the number recorded today. (kmb38)

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(0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

of the affordable lifestyle 3-star hotel brand.

With this in mind, the Quest San Denpasar will be a modern, convenient and enjoyable hotel, delightfully furnished throughout the 179 rooms and suites, which cover 4 different room types. The hotel will also feature a signature restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool as well as a spa and a fitness center. Gearing itself towards business travelers, there will also be 4 meeting rooms and an event-friendly ballroom that can accommodate up to 300 persons.

Located on Jl. Mahendradata in the vicinity of Denpasar’s commercial hub and easily accessible from Kuta and Seminyak, the new Quest will become a popular choice for tourists seeking a central base from which to explore the island. It is also one of the few Bali hotels that focuses on the needs of professionals, conference planners, and business travelers, and thus is well suited for small to medium-sized corporate gatherings.

“We are very excited to be opening another Quest hotel here in Bali. The city of Denpasar is a perfect location for our premium budget hotel brand, and with the addition of dedicated MICE facilities, we are pleased to also cater to the growing market of business and conference travel.” Said Tenaiya Brookfield, VP Sales & Marketing at Archipelago International.

Balinese Temple Ceremony

Deplored, investors unserious to invest in Buleleng

SINGARAJA - Lately interest of capital owners (investors—Ed) to invest in Buleleng show a significant increase. However, many investors apparently are not serious to invest in North Bali after getting a recommendation for their investment proposal.

Apparently investors deliberately not continue their proposal to look for other supporting permit through relevant technical agency in Buleleng County. Some investors have completed all the licensing documents, but they have not made any investment as planned.

Secretary of investment team doubling as the Head of the Economic and Development Affairs in the Sec-

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New Quest Hotel to open in Denpasar

The Quest brand by Archipelago International aims to combine the value of premium budget hotels with

not enough,” he said.

FOr this reason, Suardana suggests that the Bulog purchase grain directly from farmers, not through intermediaries. “Probably it will be difficult to implement because it requires a lot of people, but it would certainly increase farmers’ income,” he said.

As for the government’s role in protecting agricultural lands, Suardana considers that that there is a lot of room for improvement given that farmers continue to be marginalized and forced to only think about the immediate future. “If farmlands can be sold to developer for very high prices, why should they remain poor farmers?” he asked.

For example, a farmer has 0.5 hect-

Thursday, April 16, 2015

IBP/Courtesy of Archipelago International

Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Health

International

Study links diabetes in pregnancy to higher autism risk

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

In this photo taken April 3, 2015, Eleanor Blum, 88, with Alzheimer’s disease, solves crossword puzzles. The immune system may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease, US researchers have discovered, in a breakthrough which could lead to the development of new treatments for the most common form of dementia.

Immune system link to Alzheimer’s disease

WASHINGTON - The immune system may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease, US researchers have discovered, in a breakthrough which could lead to the development of new treatments for the most common form of dementia.

A Duke University study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reported that researchers had found that certain immune system cells which normally protect the brain began to consume a key nutrient, arginine.

In tests on mice, researchers were able to block the process with a small-molecule drug to prevent brain plaques and memory loss.

The study found that while the exact role of immune system cells was unclear, the research could point to a new potential cause of Alzheimer’s while eventually opening a door to a new treatment strategy.

“If indeed arginine consumption is so important to the disease

process, maybe we could block it and reverse the disease,” said Carol Colton, professor of neurology at the Duke University School of Medicine, a senior author of the study.

“We see this study opening the doors to thinking about Alzheimer’s in a completely different way, to break the stalemate of ideas in Alzheimer’s disease.”

Research into the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers has typically focused on two hallmarks -- “plaques” and “tangles.”

Plaques are a build-up of sticky proteins known as beta amyloid while tangles are a twisted protein called tau.

By studying a type of mouse

created several years ago with a similar type of immune system to a human, researchers found that immune cells called microglia began to divide and change early in the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Using the drug difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) before the onset of symptoms, scientists were able to block damage caused by arginase, an enzyme which breaks down arginine.

“All of this suggests to us that if you can block this local process of amino acid deprivation, then you can protect -- the mouse, at least -- from Alzheimer’s disease,” said Matthew Kan, one of the researchers involved in the study. (afp)

MIAMI - When pregnant women develop gestational diabetes early in pregnancy, their children may face a higher risk of developing autism, researchers said Tuesday.

While the findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) does not prove that diabetes in pregnancy causes autism, researchers said their findings highlight a link that deserves further study.

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects as many as one in 68 children in the United States, and its causes remain poorly understood.

Gestational diabetes affects nearly one in 10 women, and is a high blood sugar condition that arises while in pregnant women who did not previously have diabetes.

The study spanned the electronic health records of more than 322,000 children born between 28 and 44 weeks at Kaiser Permanente Southern California medical centers between 1995 and 2009.

The children were followed for an average of five and a half years after birth.

Women who developed gesta-

tional diabetes by the 26th week of pregnancy had a 63 percent higher risk of having offspring with autism than children whose mothers did not have gestational diabetes.

After accounting for factors such as maternal age, education, race and ethnicity and household income, the increased risk of autism associated with gestational diabetes was 42 percent.

There was no higher risk of autism in women who developed gestational diabetes later than the 26th week of pregnancy.

“The exposure of fetuses to maternal hyperglycemia may have long-lasting effects on organ development and function, but whether this can disrupt fetal brain development and heighten risk for neurobehavioral developmental disorders in offspring is less clear,” said lead author Anny Xiang of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research and Evaluation.

“Future studies should address whether early diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes can reduce the risk of autism.” (afp)

The brain’s aging and a new report urges ways to stay sharp

WASHINGTON — The brain ages just like the rest of a body, says a new report that urges seniors to take steps to keep sharp. The prestigious Institute of Medicine examined what scientists know about “cognitive aging,” changes in mental functioning as we get older.

This isn’t a disease like Alzheimer’s but a natural process — and it’s not always bad. Wisdom can indeed increase with age, and years of experience can prove invaluable, stressed Dr. Dan Blazer, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Duke University who chaired the IOM committee.

“The brain ages in all of us. But there’s wide variability in the way the brain ages,” Blazer said.

Staying cognitively sharp is one of the biggest concerns of seniors, with good reason. Tuesday’s report warns that even subtle slowdowns can affect daily life, making seniors more vulnerable to financial scams, driving problems or other difficulties in a technology-driven world.

Indeed, while some people will experience little if any cognitive change, many older adults process information more slowly, and have more difficulty multitasking than

when they were younger, the report found. What’s called working memory — the brain’s short-term storage — often declines with age but typically long-term memory remains intact even if it takes longer to recall someone’s name.

That kind of change may not be obvious until, say, someone is faced with a complex financial decision or forced to make a transaction quickly and has trouble, Blazer said. Older adults are losing nearly $3 billion a year, directly and indirectly, to financial fraud, the report noted.

What’s the difference between normal aging and cognitive decline?

“There’s no clear line that we can draw here,” Blazer cautioned.

Someone experiencing memory difficulty needs to be checked by a doctor, said IOM panelist Dr. Jason Karlawish of the University of Pennsylvania. With Alzheimer’s, nerve cells in the brain die. With normal cognitive aging, neurons don’t die — they just don’t work as well, he explained.

The best advice for staying sharp as you get older: Be physically active.

The sooner you start the better, but it’s never too late, Blazer said. (ap)

Bali News

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

15 American, Canadian models, deported from Bali

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KUTA - The Ngurah Rai immigration office in Bali province has deported 15 foreign nationals, who are models and their crew from the U. S and Canada, for abusing their permits of stay.

“All the foreign nationals came to Bali using the visaon-arrival facility. However, they abused the visas by having photo shoots,” a spokesman for the immigration office, Mohamad Soleh, said on Tuesday.

While 11 of the 15 foreign nationals are from the U. S., four are from Canada, he added.

Nine of them are models and six are crew members.

The crew members from Canada included hairdresser Dina Morel, makeup artist Aurelie Elisabeth Renout, and social media officer Chloe Terae Thomson, while those from the U. S were manager Luis Munoz, marketing officer Ronald Hansen and lighting officer Mariel Dulgicer.

Photo shoots were carried out in a number of places, including in a luxury villa in Canggu area, in Seminjak area, and in the zoo in Gianyar district.

“We arrested them on Friday (April 10) at around 9:00 p. m. after monitoring them for two days from Wednesday (April 8),” Soleh revealed.

Based on results of the investigation, evidence and documents, the models and crew members belonged to a group that carried out activities called “paradise challenges,” the spokesman pointed out.

Moreover, the foreign nationals were deported in stages from Monday (April 13), he added.

ANTARA FOTO/Nyoman Budhiana “Two of them were deported in the first phase on Monday, and three others will be deported tonight,” Soleh Officers of The Ngurah Rai immigration office showed passports of foreign nationals who violated peraffirmed. (ant) mits of stay.

Less and less travellers visit Batu Tumpeng Beach SEMARAPURA - The government of Klungkung has not been managing tourism to its maximum potential, as seen by the condition of the coastal area of Batu Tumpeng, Gelgel village. The beach, located to the east of Watu Klotok Temple and that is often visited by surfers, is showing signs of neglect.

The black sandy beach of Batu Tumpeng, is not been managed optimally, so that things like the road leading to the beach and to Batu Tumpeng Temple have become severely damaged, with gaping potholes along the entire length of road and that become even worse near the temple. The potholes have become filled with mud and gravel making this road, located just 1 km from Jalan Bypass I.B. Mantra, very hard to navigate.

Such conditions are deplored by locals who say Batu Tumpeng Beach’s waves are famous amongst travellers who come here deliberately to surf them. Unfortunately, since facilities have been so neglected, less and less travellers are bothering to visit. “For the last three weeks, there has been a severe decline in visitors,” said local resident, Ni Nyoman Wati who runs a shop near the beach.

According to Wati, normally there are about five to ten travelers -mostly

from Japan, America and Australia, who visit Batu Tumpeng Beach to surf, escorted by a tour guide. Wati has noticed that there have been less visitors recently. She said that she was not sure why there was a drop in surfers visiting Batu Tumpeng Beach, but she did say: “many travelers ask about

the damaged road, which so far has not been repaired.”

Apart from the severely damaged road, the beach itself is also being eroded from abrasion. A levee has been installed on Batu Tumpeng Beach to help overcome the problem, but it only stretched along 100 meters,

which is not long enough to stop the abrasion which now threatens Ketapang Kembar Temple.

Wati and her son, Gde Suarnata, explained the the waves here are quite large, and often splash onto the sidewalk ontop of the levee. “Yes the waves often crash onto the sidewalk

Batu Tumpeng Beach

IBP/kmb

which has begun to collapse as a result,” added Suarnata. (kmb)

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Bali News

International

Allegedly illegal workers in Lembongan

SEMARAPURA - Klungklung legislator A.A. Sayang Suparta, revealed on Wednesday that many foreigners working in Lembongan, Nusa Penida, are alleged to be working without legal work permits. Apparently they work safely as illegal worker at the tourist attraction.

According to Sayang, a number of companies in the tourist destination of Lembongan employ foreign workers, including eight diving companies that apparently have a secret staff of illegal foreigners. The companies should be applying for work permits or foreigner employment permits (IMTA) for their staff, but Sayang Suparta is confident that they rarely do so.

Apart from diving company staff, many diving instructors working in Lembongan also do not hold foreigner employment permits.

Agencies in charge of regulating such activities rarey take decisive action related to such offences. “If (the foreign workers) and proven to be working without a permit,the local government can recommend that they be deported,” he said.

However, upon investigation,it would seem that the government of Klungkung, especially the Social and Manpower Agency, does not understand the rules regarding the foreigner employment permit nor what actions should be taken if a foreigner is found to be without such a permit. For foreigners who only work in Klungkung, the employment permit must be issued by

the county government, but when a foreigner works in more than one county or city, the permit must be issued by the province.

“Also, it should be noted that many instructors have diving certificates that were issued in Australia, and yet they are working in Lembongan, how can this be happening?” asked Sayang Suparta.

Commission I of the Klungkung House, has already scheduled an investigation into the Lembongan matter said Sayang Suparta, This issue will be highlighted by Com-

mission I, so that appropriate parties will be held accountable for the legality of foreign workers.

Seeing the potential of the abundance of foreign workers in Lembongan, one of the 19 regional bylaw drafts to be discussed in the House, will be looking at a renewal charge for the foreign employment permit. The amount of the levy will be discussed further during the meeting of the House. If this draft is passed, this sector will become a new source of revenue for the local government. (kmb31)

school is far enough from his home.

To look after his children, Made Weta is assisted by his mother and his sister. Although having given birth for 17 times, the baby girl born by his wife looks healthy and beautiful. However, it must be done through a cesarean delivery.

Kamboja Room Coordinator where Nengah Weta is treated, Ida Ayu Suryasmi, revealed that in accordance with procedure, the patient must give birth by cesarean. For the safety of the mother and baby, the childbirth of more than five times must be through cesarean although she has accustomed to delivering naturally.

In addition to maternity surgery,

doctor also made sterilization because she is considered to have many children. “After we perform a caesarean section, it is immediately followed by sterilization to prevent another pregnancy,” she explained when met in the room where Nengah Weta is treated.

When met, Ni Nengah Weta admitted that after undergoing caesarean section she felt painful more than natural birth as commonly made at home. To reduce the pain at the former location of operation, the doctor has given a painkiller inserted into the infusion. “It’s very painful, but the childbirth at home only results in a little pain,” said Nengah Weta. (dwa)

Afraid of using contraceptive device, Nengah Weta pregnant for 17 times

AMLAPURA - Being afraid of using contraceptive device, Ni Nengah Weta, a mother from Padangsari hamlet, Pedahan village, Kubu, continues to be pregnant up to 17 times. At the seventeenth birth, Ni Nengah Weta having been familiar to have childbirth at home is forced to give birth to a baby at hospital for her safety. Though being accustomed to independent childbirth, Nengah Weta claimed to feel painful after undergoing cesarean section at Karangasem Hospital.

The husband to Ni Nengah Weta named I Made Weta when met by this newspaper claimed to forget the name of the whole children. According to Made Weta, his wife has

been in labor for 17 times including the childbirth on Monday (Apr. 13) around five o’clock in the afternoon.

From the 17 pregnancies, they have now had 11 children consisting of four sons and seven daughters.

He said that his wife aborted for three times and three children died after birth. The childbirth at hospital is the first time for her wife. All this time, his wife always gives birth at home even one of the childbirths occurred near a cow.

Such independent childbirth has often been carried out. Nevertheless, Made Weta admitted that he no longer wants to have another child as he considered no longer strong enough to do it.

His first daughter named Ni Nengah Engguk has married to a man from Australia and already has a one-year-old toddler. Despite having dozens of children, Made Weta admitted to still be able to meet their needs as he is assisted by his first daughter. “Every day he looks for grass for fodder of his three cattle. We have three hectares of land cultivated with cabbage, corn and potatoes,” he said when met at Karangasem Hospital, Tuesday (Apr. 14).

In fact, such number of children has an impact on their education.

According to Made Weta, his elder children never get higher education. He said it happens because the

Students in Nusa Penida take exam in dark room

IBP/kmb

Implementation of the national exam for high school, vocational school and MA Islamic school in Klungkung region starting on Monday (Apr. 13). The field observation indicated that several exam rooms were found still dark at SMKN 1 Nusa Penida.

SEMARAPURA - Implementation of the national exam for high school, vocational school and MA Islamic school in Klungkung region starting on Monday (Apr. 13) received serious attention from the Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, and Deputy Regent, I Made Kasta. Both local leaders came down to the field separately to observe the condition of national examination at a number of schools in Klungkung, Tuesday (Apr. 14).

Regent Suwirta himself accompanied by Chairman of the Klungkung House, I Wayan Baru, Spokesman of Klungkung government, I Wayan Parna, and subdistrict head of Nusa Penida I Ketut Sukla started the monitoring at SMAN 1 high school and SMKN 1 Nusa Penida vocational school. Based on observation at both schools, Regent Suwirta considered the implementation of national exam has been going on smoothly. All participants attended the exam orderly.

However, Suwirta deplored because the field observation indicated that several exam rooms were found still dark at SMKN 1 Nusa Penida.

To follow up the condition, this regent from Lembongan appealed to school authority to make the room in use more representative. “It will be difficult for students to answer

the exam questions maximally if the room has no lights,” he protested.

Similar condition also happens in mainland Klungkung. Deputy Regent Kasta with the Head of Klungkung Education Agency, Nyoman Mudarta, observing the implementation of national exam assesses that it has been running well and smoothly.

Nevertheless, Deputy Regent Kasta hoped the national exam at high school level can run smoothly until the end. “Hopefully, the students can face this national exam and pass one hundred percent for Klungkung,” he said.

In the meantime, the Head of Klungkung Education Agency, I Nyoman Mudarta, said that this year the number of students taking the national exam for high school, vocational school and MA Islamic school in Klungkung reaches 2,787 students, while the schools participating in the exam amounts to18 schools consisting of nine public high school (1,833 students), eight private schools (917 students) and one Madrasah Aliyah (MA) Islamic school with 37 students. Of the whole participants taking the national exam, all of them can be present to attend the implementation of national exam started on Monday (Apr. 13). (kmb)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

International

13

White House standoff with Congress over Iran bill not over

WASHINGTON — Legislation empowering Congress to reject an emerging Iran nuclear pact is expected to sail through both houses of Congress, leaving President Barack Obama with the tough task of selling the deal to skeptical lawmakers.

“I don’t know how you cut a deal with the devil and think the devil is going to keep his end of the deal,” House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday after Obama bowed to pressure from Republicans and Democrats and agreed to sign compromise legislation.

The legislation, unanimously approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, would give lawmakers a say on what could be a historic deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. In exchange, the influential Islamic nation in the Middle East would get relief from economic sanctions stifling its economy.

The rare and reluctant agreement between the president and the Republican-led Congress came after the White House maintained for weeks that congressional interference could jeopardize sensitive negotiations with Tehran. The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China reached a preliminary framework agreement with Iran on April 2 to curb its nuclear program and hope to finalize a pact by June 30.

Despite the resistance from the White House, lawmakers from both parties insisted that Congress have a formal role in reviewing and possibly voting down any deal.

“I have always supported congressional review of any final agreement with Iran,” said Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, who emphasized that the bill will not per-

mit any legislative action until after the White House presents Congress with any final deal that can be reached to rein in Iran’s nuclear program.

“If a final agreement with Iran is received in a timely manner, Congress will have 30 calendar days for an orderly and thoughtful review.

If an agreement with Iran goes into effect, then this bill ensures an ongoing oversight role for Congress and provides for expedited procedures to snap back sanctions if Iran breaches the agreement,” Cardin said.

Echoing Boehner’s skepticism, Cardin said “there is no trust when it comes to Iran.” He said that’s why the final agreement must be verifiable and transparent, and that it’s clear that any violations would result in the restoration of the strongest possible sanctions.

The committee approved the compromise bill, 19-0, shortly after White House spokesman Josh Earnest conveyed the president’s decision to remove his veto threat. The bill is now likely to clear both houses of Congress. It’s expected to come before the full Senate as soon as next week.

Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker said Secretary of State John Kerry was lobbying against the measure on Capitol Hill just a few hours before the vote. Corker said the White House’s sudden support was dictated by the number of senators — Republicans and Democrats — backing the measure. “This bill always has been about allowing Congress the opportunity to review any final deal to ensure it is verifiable and enforceable before the president could act to unwind the sanctions that Congress put in place,” said Corker, who pushed his Republican and Democratic colleagues to reach a compromise on a hotly partisan issue. (ap)

AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2014 file photo, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. speaks in Columbia, Tenn. Democratic senators are intent on changing a bill that would give Congress a say in an emerging nuclear deal with Iran, tweaks that could make it more palatable to President Barack Obama, who called Corker and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on April 8, to lobby against undermining diplomatic efforts to end a standoff with Tehran.

AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere

A radio France employee unrolls a banner reading: Radio France to Save Radios, at the company’s headquarters in Paris, France, Wednesday April 15, 2015.

Protracted French radio strike shows challenges of reform

PARIS — Unions and the government are nearing agreement on the future of France’s national radio company after a 28-day strike that exemplifies the challenges of loosening up labor rules.

Broadcasts resumed Tuesday morning and staff at state-run Radio France met to discuss next steps. On Monday, four of five unions voted to return to work after progress on a compromise reform plan.

Unions at Radio France, which includes several news radio stations and two orchestras, are fighting cost cuts and layoffs.

The cuts come amid broader government efforts to encourage

hiring and reduce state spending.

The Radio France battle has shown how hard it is to reduce worker benefits and protections seen by many in France as major accomplishments of the 20th century. (ap)

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s competition chief is filing an antitrust complaint alleging Google has been abusing its dominance in Internet searches and is opening a probe into its Android mobile system.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Wednesday she is “concerned that the company has given an unfair advantage to its own comparison shopping service.”

Vestager said the separate antitrust probe into Android will investigate whether the Internet giant relies on anti-competitive deals and abuses its dominant position in Europe’s mobile market.

Vestager said her chief goal was to make sure multinationals “do not artificially deny European consumers as wide a choice as possible or stifle innovation”.

Google’s general counsel Kent Walker wrote late Tuesday that a “statement of objections” to

Google’s business practices was to be released by Vestager Wednesday. (ap)

EU files antitrust charges against Google

AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File

FILE - In this Tuesday, March 23, 2010 file photo, the Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Brussels.

12

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

International

BUSINESS

Bali News

As a whole, the world’s most populous region will continue to build up its share of the global economy, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook report.

“Asia’s growth is forecast to hold steady in 2015, and the region is expected to continue outperforming the rest of the world over the medium term,” it said.

The report comes as China grapples with growth slumping to levels not seen in almost a quarter of a century.

Much of that slowdown from the breakneck growth of years past has been deliberately engineered by Beijing, as the government repositions the economy to a more sustainable path.

But it leaves global expansion more reliant on the likes of India and Japan, with the United States and Europe still struggling to shake off their torpor.

The IMF said that under reforms by India’s new businessfriendly government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country was expected to expand at a much faster pace than previously expected.

“Growth will benefit from recent policy reforms, a consequent pickup in investment, and lower oil prices,” the report said.

“Lower oil prices will raise real disposable incomes, particularly among poorer households, and help drive down inflation.”

Modi swept to power last year on a pledge to revive India’s flag-

Residents walk past a textile shop offering heavy discounts in Hangzhou in east China’s Zhejiang province Wednesday April 15, 2015. China’s economic slump deepened as manufacturing and retail sales cooled in the first quarter of this year, stepping up pressure for Beijing to keep the world’s second-largest economy on track.

“This increase reflects support from the weaker yen, higher real wages, and higher equity prices due to the Bank of Japan’s additional quantitative and qualitative easing, as well as lower commodity prices,” the report said.

But should things turn worse than expected in both China and Japan, that would reverberate worldwide “given these economies’ large size and deep trade and financial linkages with other nations”.

The risks, it said, were failure to implement crucial reforms in China and Japan not making structural changes.

In South Korea, “momentum has stalled somewhat”, the Fund said, adding that this reflected “fragile household and investor sentiment”.

Its forecast of 3.3 percent growth this year was based on “the assumption that supportive monetary and macroprudential policies and more favourable terms of trade spur a rebound in aggregate demand”.

In Australia a downturn in global commodity prices is “exacerbating the long-anticipated decline in resource-related investment”. However, the IMF added that record-low interest rates will help non-resource sectors.

The IMF forecast GDP growth for Australia of 2.8 percent this year and 3.2 percent next, largely in line with previous reports.

Among Southeast Asia’s top five economies -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- GDP growth was seen at 5.2 percent in 2015 and 5.3 percent next year. (afp)

trade is expanding far more slowly than anticipated a year ago.

The Ebola outbreak in west Africa, unusually harsh winter weather in the United States and collapsing world oil prices are also taking their toll, as are strong exchange rate fluctuations, Azevedo said.

“All of these things have effects, sometimes destabilising effects,” Azevedo said.

On Tuesday, WTO said preliminary estimates showed global trade had expanded just 2.8 percent last year and was expected to swell only 3.3 percent this year.

A year ago, the WTO was singing a different tune.

WTO acknowledged though that “risks to the trade forecasts are mostly on the downside.”

Trade is a key measure of the health of the global economy, which it both stimulates and reflects.

But Azevedo warned Tuesday that a systemic shift might be under way and that trade expansion would no longer far outstrip overall economic growth as it has largely done for decades.

Azevedo said that the 2015 forecast was based on an assumption that global GDP would expand by nearly 3.0 percent, while the 2016 forecast depended on economic growth reaching over three percent. (afp)

ging fortunes, and the IMF said his new broom should sweep in growth of 7.5 percent this year and next -- making it the world’s fastest growing major economy.

That was a sharp increase on past IMF predictions, which had put growth at 6.3 percent in 2015 and 6.5 percent next year.

It compared with the report’s expectation for China’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow 6.8

percent this year and 6.3 percent in 2016.

The 2015 rate, which is in line with a projection by economists in an AFP survey, would be the slowest since 1990 when the Chinese economy was hammered by foreign sanctions after the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

However, the IMF said “ongoing implementation of structural reforms and lower commodity

down”.

The IMF upgraded its view for Japan, but warned that the prospects for a decisive break from years of recession and deflation hinged on deeper structural reforms by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan’s growth is seen at 1.0 percent this year and 1.2 percent in 2016 -- both more than double from the last outlook’s forecasts.

AP Photo

Sluggish economy, conflicts weigh on global trade

GENEVA - Sluggish economies and global conflicts are taking their toll on world commerce, the World Trade Organization said Tuesday, slashing its trade growth outlook for 2015.

“For trade growth it is important that you have certain elements present in the global economy (including) stability, predictability, and those things are not there right now,” WTO chief Roberto Azevedo told reporters in Geneva.

With economies around the world still struggling to fully recover from the 2008 financial crisis, and with conflicts flaring in places like Ukraine and the Middle East, global

Last April, it had forecast that trade would expand 4.6 percent in 2014 and 5.8 percent this year.

But it downgraded those predictions in September, to 3.1 percent and 4.0 percent respectively, before slashing them further on Tuesday.

“Trade growth has been disappointing in recent years due largely to prolonged sluggish growth in GDP following the financial crisis,” Azevedo said.

“Looking forward, we expect trade to continue its slow recovery, but with economic growth still fragile and continued geopolitical tensions, this trend could easily be undermined,” he warned.

Last year was the third consecutive year in which trade grew less than three percent, WTO said in a statement.

In fact, trade growth averaged just 2.4 percent between 2012 and 2014 -- the slowest rate on record for a three-year period when trade was expanding.

Trade growth is expected to pick up in 2016 with an expansion of 4.0 percent, it said, warning though that going forward, trade growth looks set to remain well below the annual average of 5.1 percent seen since 1990.

“We are cautiously forecasting that trade will continue its slow recovery,” Azevedo told reporters.

Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple

IBP/kmb

Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple

NEGARA - Amerthasari Temple located about 1.5 km south of Negara town is one of the Dang Khayangan temples in Jembrana.

From time immemorial to the present, the temple situating amid the customary settlement of Lokasari, or precisely Mertasari hamlet, Loloan Timur, Negara, is venerated by the subak members. It is reflected at the beginning of each planting season. To keep away their plants from diseases, residents are always saying prayers and starting their activities from the temple. It is a universal temple because it is used to venerate a great religious teacher, Danghyang Nirartha and closely associated with his pilgrimage to the Island of Bali.

Building of this temple has been renovated in 1961 but in 1965 the temple building was abandoned and the renovation was totally discontinued. Ultimately, on July 14, 1976, the entire building collapsed as hit by earthquake.

After that, four customary villages were responsible for the temple existence, namely the BB Agung, Puseh Agung of Banjar Tengah village, Kertha Jaya customary village of Pendem village, and Lokasari customary village of Loloan Timur village.

At the beginning of the Merthasari Temple and before the renovation in 1965, there was only one temple located under a large banyan tree. Priest of the Merthasari Temple, Mangku Nendra, said that previously there was a small pond around the temple. After the renovation, the pond was moved and a meru shrine was established. Now, it has been added with a Padma shrine on the pond. Meanwhile, water of the pond is taken modernly from the ground with the depth of about 15 meters, and then flowed under the Padma shrine.

As a matter of fact, it was named Amerthasari Temple. However, for consideration of easier pronunciation, it was then called Merthasari. The current temple priest, denoting the third generation, mentioned the meaning of Amerthasari was that Amertha meant the whole foods, while Sari meant the essence.

Mangku Nendra is the successor of the previous temple priest, namely Nengah Netra who was also his deceased father. Meanwhile, the first was still unclear because the temple was still not restored at that time.

At the moment, the Dang Khayangan

5

Lawyers seek lenience for US couple in Bali murder trials

IMF: India, Japan to drive Asia as China slows

HONG KONG - Faster growth under the reformist governments of India and Japan will help prices are expected to expand cushion the blow to the world economy from a marked slowdown in China, the International consumer-oriented activities, partially buffering the slowMonetary Fund predicted Tuesday.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Amerthasari Temple has some shrines, namely the Ratu Nyoman, Padmasana, Meru, Pepelik, Taksu and Dewa Ayu Manik Galih dedicated to venerate the Goddess Sri. Genesis of the temple has something to do with Danghyang Nirartha. When arriving in Bali, Pedanda Sakti taught religion at Gede Perancak Temple where currently the Dang Khayangan Perancak Temple has been moved to Tanjung Tangis. At that time, he asked the monkeys where there was another village.

The monkey responded by facing north and there laid a village called Budeng. There lived black monkey or Ijah. As soon as arriving at the village, he asked again where there was a village, and the monkeys were facing the west, now becoming the location of the Merthasari Temple.

When arriving at the village, he taught the people about agriculture, farming and trade.

The Telaga Taman was a very fertile area.

Religious life was quite good. In this area, there were five sanctums. In the long run, it turned into Amerthasari village and is now called Mertasari.

Now, the temple whose anniversary falls on Anggara Kasih (Tuesday) Perangbakat is venerated by four customary villages namely the Lokasari (Mertasari), Dauh Waru, Pendem and Batu Agung. Mangku added that other than the temple, there was also the Taman Temple that formerly was a pond. “In days of yore, there was a temple located beneath the banyan tree,” explained Nendra.

Aside from the six shrines existing today, the temple sitting on the area of 1800 square meters also has a Peselang pavilion to place gamelan instrument, Piasan, storing chamber and the easternmost is pavilion of Banten Piodalan (oblation).

In the past, most of the supporting devotees were farmers, but now they are from four customary villages and even from beyond Bali. As the existing plan, this temple area will be expanded to the current parking lot.

After the land acquisition, it will become about 3,000 square meters. Renovation and expansion of the temple area will include the temple building, construction of base fence, parking lot expansion, the arrangement of temple landscaping, as well as the wantilan hall. (olo)

DENPASAR — Lawyers for an American couple on trial in Indonesia argued Tuesday that prosecutors improperly charged them with premeditated murder in the death of the woman’s mother.

They urged the three-judge panel to give the lightest possible sentences to Heather Mack and her boyfriend Tommy Schaefer.

They are being tried separately, with the same judges and prosecutors, at Denpasar District Court.

Schaefer, 21, and Mack, 19, both from Chicago, are charged with deliberately murdering Sheila von Wiese-Mack, 62, whose badly beaten body was found last August in a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi outside an upscale hotel on Bali island.

Prosecutors have asked the judges to find the defendants guilty of premeditated murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death, but have sought 15- and 18-year jail terms respectively for Mack and Schaefer.

In Mack’s trial Tuesday, her lawyer Ary Soenardi argued that short messages cited by the prosecutors as well as court testimonies and the defendants’ confessions did not clearly prove that Mack had committed premeditated murder.

“In our opinion, the prosecutors failed to provide clear evidence of the defendant’s assistance in the case,” Soenardi said. “Therefore, the primary charge of premeditated murder should be ruled out.”

He expressed hope that the panel would hand down a “fair and humane verdict.”

Schaefer’s lawyer, Iswahyudi Edy, asked the judges to consider the situation and condition of the defendant at the time of the incident.

“Premeditated murder could not be proven legally and convincingly,” Edy said. “The defendant, therefore, should not be punished as sought by the prosecutors.”

Prosecutors insisted last week that their evidence showed the couple deliberately plotted to kill von Wiese-Mack while vacationing on Bali, based on the testimony of witnesses and messages between the defendants.

They argued that Schaefer deliberately brought a metal fruit bowl when he came to the room at the St. Regis resort where Mack and her mother were staying. They said he then used the bowl to strike her, while Mack helped stuff her mother’s body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

The prosecutors said they decided to be lenient with Mack because she repeatedly expressed remorse and recently gave birth.

Schaefer testified that von Wiese-Mack was angry when she learned about her daughter’s pregnancy and tried to strangle him, prompting him to strike her with the bowl.

Presiding Judge Made Suweda adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday, when the judges are to deliver their verdict. (ap)

AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati

Tommy Schaefer, right, talks to Heather Mack, both from Chicago, Ill. in a court oom for their trial in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

6

Thursday, April 16, 2015

W

RLD

AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia

An exile Tibetan Buddhist monk wears a mask in the likeness of Buddhist leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who has been in a Chinese prison since 2002 on charges of “inciting separatism”, while another activist holds a placard during a street protest in Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

China accuses Dalai Lama of inciting Tibet self-immolations

International

Cubans hail removal from US list of state terrorism sponsors HAVANA — Cuban officials and ordinary citizens alike hailed the island’s removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the move by President Barack Obama heals a decadesold insult to national pride and clears the way to swiftly restore diplomatic relations.

“The Cuban government recognizes the president of the United States’ just decision to take Cuba off a list in which it should never have been included,” Josefina Vidal, Cuba’s top diplomat for U.S. affairs, said Tuesday night.

Cuban and U.S. foreign-policy experts said the two governments appeared to have taken a major leap toward the reopening of embassies in Havana and Washington after four months of complex and occasionally frustrating negotiations.

“This is important because it speaks to Obama’s desire to keep moving forward,” said Esteban Morales, a political science professor at the University of Havana. “Now there are no political obstacles. What remains are organizational and technical problems, which can be resolved.”

In a message to Congress, Obama said Tuesday that Cuba’s government “has not provided any support for international terrorism” over the last six months and has given “assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”

Cuba will officially be removed from the terrorism list 45 days

after the president’s message was sent to Congress. Lawmakers could vote to block the move during that window, though Obama would be all but certain to veto such a measure.

What remains to be seen in coming weeks is whether Cuba will allow U.S. diplomats to move around Cuba and maintain contacts with citizens including dissidents, the second point of contention in the negotiations on restoring full diplomatic relations.

Cuba is highly sensitive to any indication the U.S. is supporting domestic dissent and that issue may prove considerably tougher than amending the terrorism list.

The Obama administration made little pretense in recent years that it believed Cuba was supporting terrorism.

Cuba was put on the list in 1982 because of what the U.S. said were its efforts “to promote armed revolution by organizations that used terrorism.”

That included support for leftist guerrilla groups including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the Basque separatist movement ETA in Spain. Cuba also sheltered black and Puerto Rican militants who carried out attacks in the United States. Among those was Joanne Chesimard, who was granted asylum by Fidel Castro after she escaped from a U.S. prison where she was serving a sentence for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. (ap)

BEIJING — China accused the Dalai Lama on Wednesday of inciting a wave of self-immolations among Tibetans that are widely seen as desperate protests against Chinese rule in the Himalayan region. Similar accusations have been denied in the past, and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has called the deaths sad and ineffective in changing Chinese policy.

A report issued Wednesday by the Cabinet’s State Council Information Office said Chinese police investigations showed such incidents are being “manipulated and instigated” by the Dalai Lama and his supporters.

The report said a strategy to encourage Tibetans to burn themselves to death emerged after the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile based in India recommitted itself to non-violence in 2011. It cited statements from exile groups that it said encouraged such acts as worthy Buddhist sacrifices and commemorated the victims as martyrs. It also said a monastic arm of the exile government coordinated with monasteries inside China to “remotely plan self-immolations.”

“To commit an act of selfviolence in a public place is inherently violent behavior whose aim is to create an atmosphere of terror and transmit psychological horror,” the report said. It gave no figures for the number of selfimmolations. Independent groups say 113 men and 24 women have set themselves on fire since March 2011 and most have died of their burns.

In the latest incident, 47year-old nun Yeshi Khando set herself on fire last week near a police station in a Tibetan part of Sichuan province while shouting slogans including “Tibet needs freedom,” overseas pro-Tibetan groups reported. Tibetan areas in China are closed to foreign journalists and such incidents are

virtually impossible to independently verify.

Tibetan monks and nuns are among the most active opponents of Chinese rule in the region and face some of the harshest restrictions on their activities. Tibet Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo demanded last week that Buddhist monasteries display the national flag as part of efforts to shore up government control.

China says Tibet has been part of its territory for more than seven centuries, although many Tibetans say they were effectively independent for most of that time.

The Dalai Lama fled to India during an aborted uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, eight years after Communist troops occupied Tibet. (ap)

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

INDONESIA Indonesia protests beheading of domestic worker in Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA - Jakarta summoned the Saudi Arabian ambassador Wednesday to protest the beheading of an Indonesian domestic worker and complain that her family and consular staff were not given prior notice of the execution.

Saudi authorities said Siti Zainab was executed Tuesday in the Muslim holy city of Medina after being convicted of stabbing and beating Saudi woman Noura al-Morobei to death in 1999.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and three of his predecessors had previously written to the Saudi king asking for the victim’s family to forgive Zainab.

But the sentence was carried out despite Jakarta claiming Zainab’s family and consular officials were not given adequate notice before her execution.

“From the beginning, the government has struggled to provide her with assistance and has asked the family (of the victim) for forgiveness,” Indonesia’s foreign ministry said in a statement received late Tuesday.

“The Indonesian government filed a protest against the Saudi

Arabian government for not giving prior notification to Indonesian representatives or to the family over the execution date.”

The Saudi interior ministry said Zainab’s execution was delayed until the victim’s children were old enough to decide whether the punishment should proceed.

Riyadh’s ambassador to Indonesia Mustafa Ibrahim AlMubarak said he was “surprised” to be summoned by the foreign ministry but would follow up on Jakarta’s concerns. “The problem is not about the court and the execution, it is about the date of the execution,” he told reporters.

Migrant Care, an NGO advocating for the rights of Indonesian workers abroad, condemned the execution and claimed Zainab was acting in self defence against an abusive employer.

The group urged Indonesia to

abandon the death penalty “as a first step to push other countries to not impose the death penalty on migrant workers”.

Jakarta, however, remains determined to execute several drug traffickers -- including citizens from Australia, France, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil and the Philippines -- as soon as possible.

Indonesia executed six drug offenders in January, including five foreigners, prompting a furious Brazil and the Netherlands -- whose citizens were among those put to death -- to recall their ambassadors.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia would proceed with the executions as planned, despite protests over Zainab’s case.

“Our commitment is to protect our citizens, that is our priority,” she told reporters late Tuesday. (afp)

BANDA ACEH — A Sumatran elephant has been found dead in Indonesia’s Aceh province with its tusks cut off, raising suspicion it was killed by poachers.

Genman Sefti Hasibuan, head of the local Conservation and Natural Resources Agency said the carcass of the estimated 25year-old male elephant was discovered Monday inside a palm oil plantation in Karang Hampa village in West Aceh District.

It was reported to have been rotten and missing its tusks, Hasibuan said Tuesday. Villagers estimated it died four to

five days earlier from gunshot wounds.

It was the first elephant death in Aceh this year, Hasibuan said, adding that a team has been sent to the area for investigation.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the animals as “critically endangered” after their numbers dropped to between 2,400 and 2,800 from an estimated 5,000 in 1985.

Environmentalists say the elephants could be extinct within three decades unless they are protected.

Sumatra’s elephants sometimes venture into populated areas searching for food due to destruction of their habitat.

Some are shot or poisoned with cyanide-laced fruit, while others are killed by poachers for their ivory.

In February, police in Riau province arrested eight members of a poaching syndicate and confiscated tusks worth more than $30,000, following the arrest of a local tusks buyer. The group admitted to have killed at least six elephants in Riau and neighboring Jambi provinces. (ap)

Sumatran elephant found dead without tusks

AP Photo/Desmond Boylan

A man drives his taxi past a Cultural Center with the word “Cuba” on it, in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. President Barack Obama will remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the White House announced Tuesday, a key step in his bid to normalize relations between the two countries.

11

Indonesia’s Widodo seeks to revive faltering manufacturers

BEKASI - Indonesian factory manager Ronie, whose plant produces shoes for Western markets, is preparing for layoffs as orders fall and wages rise, an example of the challenge facing President Joko Widodo as he seeks to boost the country’s lacklustre manufacturers.

Widodo is hoping to return the country’s factories to their former glory as he seeks to lift Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, which is growing at five-year lows, and reduce dependence on commodity exports.

He faces numerous stumbling blocks -- complex bureaucracy, rising salaries, creaking infrastructure -- that have in many cases encouraged foreign companies to set up shop in other Asian countries seen as more business-friendly.

Nevertheless the president, who took office in October, is moving fast. His government has streamlined the notoriously slow process for approving business licences, increased infrastructure spending, wants to make wage rises more predictable, and is striving to lure more foreign investment.

The push can’t come soon enough for the country’s manufacturers, who make goods ranging from electronics to clothing and toys, but have long been neglected as Indonesia relied on money from natural resources, which is drying up as global prices fall.

Ronie’s shoe factory in Bekasi, an industrial zone outside Jakarta, has seen orders plunge 35 percent in the past year. With wages rising steeply as unions flex their muscles, the production manager now plans to lay off a third of the plant’s 1,200 staff.

“We are definitely worried,” Ronie, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP from a room in his factory full of designer shoes destined for shops in the United States and Europe.

While worldwide factors -- such as subdued demand in developed markets -- have played a role, industry figures say the government’s tepid support means they have had little help in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Economic data paints a bleak picture.

Indonesia performs poorly compared to others in Southeast Asia.

The country’s export of manufactured goods was a mere eight percent of GDP in 2012, data from

the Economist Intelligence Unit showed, trailing rivals Vietnam at 50 per cent, Malaysia at 46 per cent and Thailand at 44 per cent.

For factory bosses and investors mulling coming to Indonesia, steep and unpredictable annual salary increases have become a top concern, as trade unions become increasingly vocal and demand higher wages to keep up with increased living costs.

As well as sharp variations from year to year, there are also large differences across the country, as wage rises are negotiated from province to province.

The government is seeking to come up with a new system to make wage rises more predictable, a move welcomed by the Indonesian Footwear Association, that represents the country’s $3.5-billion-a-year shoe export industry. “If this does not work, I believe very soon there will be another 10, or 15, or 20 factories moving from Indonesia,” association chairman Eddy Widjanarko told AFP. Widodo’s push to improve infrastructure is also seen as key to helping manufacturers, as investors have long complained about ageing ports and potholed roads that hamper the transportation of goods.

The president’s visit to China and Japan last month was focused on seeking investment for such projects, although analysts are sceptical about his chances of success in a country with a poor record on building infrastructure due to rampant corruption and problems with land acquisition.

While factories already in Indonesia are suffering, others can’t even get a foot in the door. Taiwan technology giant Foxconn announced plans to invest back in 2012, but is yet to start operations in Indonesia as it remains locked in negotiations with the government.

Despite the challenges, there are already signs that Widodo’s new approach is generating greater optimism. Richard Hakim, who owns a leather shoe factory in Bogor, south of Jakarta, has raised his production targets and hired more workers on top of the nearly 3,000 employees on the assembly floor making trendy loafers for foreign markets.

“We try out best to convince our buyers that we can make the shoes good quality, and deliver on time,” he said. (afp)

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Destination

Thursday, April 16, 2015

TABANAN - Soka Beach is located at Antap village, Selemadeg subdistrict, Tabanan County, right on the main road connecting Jembrana to Denpasar. The

distance from Denpasar is about 45 km and about 84 km from Gilimanuk. Density of vehicles passing through the route is very high from the morning till

night because it is the only road connecting Java to Bali. On the east of the Soka Beach lies a cave under the rock cliff, called Bulungdaya Cave inhabited by thousands of swallows. On the western side lies coconut grove along the coastline. It offers a beautiful landscape with black sandy beach, while on the far

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west is bounded by verdant hills concatenated into one with Mount Batukaru in the north. In the east, visitors will be able to see the Mount Agung and Mount Batukaru while in the south spreads the Indonesian Ocean.

Beautiful panorama merging with the atmosphere of the hills in the southern tip of Bali as

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well as the pounding waves is capable of keeping people away from hustles and bustles. So, it will unsurprisingly make them more convenient and peaceful.

Beach panorama offered by Soka Beach is indeed very exotic and romantic that can touch the heart for those visiting the location.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

7

Sharapova pulls out of Fed Cup semi-final with leg injury

MOSCOW- Maria Sharapova has pulled out of Russia’s Fed Cup semi-final against Germany in Sochi this weekend with a leg injury, the Russian Tennis Federation said on Tuesday. “I was really looking forward to playing in Sochi and taking part in the Fed Cup,” the world number two told the Russian Tennis Federation press service.

“For me, it would have been the first time I would have had the opportunity to play in the city where I grew up. “My team and I specially changed my timetable so that I could represent my country in the semi-final.

“However, unfortunately I picked up a leg injury and it did not allow me to be in the best condition to get ready for this tie,” Sharapova added.

The 27-year-old’s last appearance was in the Miami Open at the end of March, where she lost in the second round to world number 97 Daria Gavrilova in straight sets.

She only returned to practice a few days ago after picking up an injury during in Miami.

“I need to be at the top of my game in order to help my team and play to the best of my ability in the Fed Cup semi-finals against such strong opponents. Unfortunately,

I didn’t have enough time to prepare,” she said.

REPLACEMENT NEEDED

Sharapova is also a doubt for the WTA Stuttgart Open, which starts on April 20, where she would be defending her title. Sharapova helped Russia beat Poland in the Fed Cup first round in February, where she won both her singles matches. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Vesnina have all been picked for Russian, with captain Anastasia Myskina now having to find a replacement for Sharapova.

Myskina, who won the French Open in 2004, said she had been in constant contact with the Russian number one. “Over the last few days, I have spoken with Maria and her team a lot,” Myskina said.

“Unfortunately her condition will not allow her to play for the national team. Maria did everything she could to try and play in Sochi.

However, at the moment, she just isn’t ready. “I believe in the strength and ability of our team and am really looking forward to the semifinal,” Myskina added. Russia are bidding for their first Fed Cup title since 2008, having been runners-up in 2013. (rtr)

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Indiana Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey (2) goes up for a dunk over Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. The Pacers defeated the Wizards 99-95 in double overtime.

Pacers survive scare with 99-95 double OT win over Wizards

INDIANAPOLIS — C.J. Miles scored 25 points and George Hill added 24 to lead a 7-2 spurt to open the second overtime Tuesday as Indiana kept its playoff hopes alive with a 99-95 victory over Washington. The Pacers (38-43) have won six straight games and will make a fifth straight playoff appearance if they win at Memphis — or if Brooklyn loses to Orlando — on the final night of the regular season.

Maria Sharapova serves against Daria Gavrilova (not pictured) on day three of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.

Gavrilova won 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Martin Gortat and Bradley Beal each scored 19 points for the Wizards (46-35). It was a grind for the Pacers, who struggled shooting all night and trailed 70-61 deficit with 7:07 left.

They rallied to take a late 79-75 lead, then Washington forced overtime. Indiana didn’t lead again until Hill’s mid-range jumper 23 seconds into the second overtime made it 8785. And Hill finally sealed it with a 3 with 27.8 seconds left.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul’s 22 points, including six 3-pointers, led Los Angeles over the injurydepleted Phoenix Suns 112-101 in LA’s final regular-season game before the NBA playoffs. The Clippers clinched the West’s No. 3 seed

with the win.

Blake Griffin hit his first six shots on his way to 20 points as Clippers coach Doc Rivers played his starters major minutes with a higher playoff seeding on the line.

DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 14 rebounds, setting the Clippers’ single-season record for rebounds in a season.

Los Angeles (56-26) can finish with the No. 2 seed if the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets lose their final games Wednesday.

The Suns were down to eight available players, Archie Goodwin leading Phoenix with a season-high 18 points.

In Boston, Jae Crowder hit an off-balance fall-away shot from deep

on the right wing with .8 seconds left as the Celtics edged the Toronto Raptors 95-93 to secure the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

Evan Turner and Avery Bradley each scored 14 points for Boston, which will face No. 2 seed Cleveland in the playoffs. Brandon Bass added 13 points and nine rebounds.

It was the fifth straight win for the Celtics, who clinched a playoff spot on Monday when Brooklyn lost. Kyle Lowry had 16 points for the Raptors, who are locked into the fourth seed and will face Washington. Toronto beat the Wizards in all three meetings this season. Lou Williams also had 16 points for Toronto, Terrence Ross scored 12 and Jonas Valanciunas’ 11. (ap)

Valentino Rossi already intends to stay in MotoGP beyond the end of his current Yamaha contract in 2016. The 36-year-old signed a new deal last season after his upsurge in form convinced him to continue racing following a tough period in which Rossi had

when asked about his longer-term future.

The seven-time MotoGP champion’s last title came in 2009. While playing down the significance of his present points lead, he said his third place in last weekend’s Austin race was a good omen for Yamaha.

“Leading the championship after two races doesn’t mean a lot but it’s good to be at the top after Austin because, on paper, this track is one of the most difficult for the Yamaha,” he said. “We always struggled to finish in the past with the front tyre but this year was better. I was more

or less always in the top four.” The MotoGP title battle moves straight to Termas de Rio Hondo for the Argentine Grand Prix this weekend.

Rossi is one point ahead of Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and five clear of Austin-winning Honda rider Marc Marquez. (net)

IBP/File Photo

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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Rossi keen to remain in MotoGP beyond current Yamaha deal admitted he had to prove to himself that he was still good enough.

Rossi currently leads the 2015 world championship and said his intention was now to continue racing into 2017 and beyond. “I have a contract for two years and I hope it’s not the last one,” he said

8

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

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fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Watford who travel to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

With three games left the teams finishing first and second will gain automatic promotion to the top flight and a potential cash boost of more than 120 million pounds ($177.28 million). The next four sides play off for the final Premier League place.

BRENTFORD DEFEATED

Ipswich Town are a point behind Derby in sixth after beating Cardiff City 3-1 but Brentford’s hopes of a second successive promotion took a hit when they lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday. The west London club are seventh, three points behind Ipswich and level with Wolves.

Bournemouth struck early through Wilson’s 22nd goal of the season at Reading but the hosts tried to put Saturday’s Cup showdown against Arsenal at Wembley out of

their minds and battled hard to get back into the game.

Reading pressed strongly for a late equaliser and Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc was booked for time-wasting before his side held on for another vital victory.

Norwich missed a golden chance to lead at Leeds when Graham Dorrans spurned a first-half penalty but the Scottish midfielder made amends by scoring a late second to seal the win after Jonny Howson had put the East Anglia side ahead.

Middlesbrough,

ki

LONDON - Bournemouth kept their dream of reaching English soccer’s top flight for the first time firmly alive with a gritty 1-0 win at FA Cup semi-finalists Reading on Tuesday. The south-coast club took the lead through Callum Wilson after four minutes and hung on to stay ahead in the gripping race for promotion to the lucrative Premier League as the Championship pacesetters all won.

“It was a nervy ending with what’s at stake -- we defended for our lives,” Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told the BBC. “We showed incredible mental strength to score so early and see the game out the way we did.

We are finding new ways to win and I’ll take that at this stage.”

Norwich City remained a point behind the leaders with a 2-0 victory at Leeds United, Middlesbrough beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 to stay a point back in third and playoff contenders Derby County crushed relegated Blackpool 4-0. The Rams stayed

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Bournemouth keep Premier League dream very much alive

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pressure as Atletico launched several attacks.

“The first half was very different to the second half,” Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas said.

“In the first half we were the better side but we were denied by some fantastic saves by Oblak. The tie is still open, very open.”

Madrid missed a clear chance when striker Karim Benzema chose to pass to Bale instead of shooting, with the Welshman’s shot being blocked by Diego Godin in the 69th minute.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who started with his

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Gareth Bale’s effort after Atletico defender Diego Godin had failed to make a clearance, and the Atletico keeper followed up by saving Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick shortly afterward. Oblak made a spectacular diving save to stop another shot by Bale in the 31st and, after denying both James Rodriguez and Luka Modric before the break, was also kept busy in the second half.

Atletico came out with renewed attacking energy after one of coach Diego Simeone’s renowned halftime pep-talks, and midfielder Arda Turan missed a chance when he headed just wide of the near post in the 49th.

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was fortunate not to be penalized for unleashing an elbow into Mario Mandzukic’s eye in the penalty area shortly afterward. The Croatia forward had to leave the field three times to receive treatment on a bleeding eyebrow. After that, Madrid had to cope with increased

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“Well, we have been scoring goals in the Bernabeu recently, so anything is possible,” Atletico captain Gabriel “Gabi” Fernandez said. “It cost us a lot to get into this match and it’s good to have a secure goal. But we’ve got to hang onto the ball more.”

The draw in very windy conditions at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium meant that coach Diego Simeone’s side has been unbeaten in all seven derby matches this season against Madrid winning four and drawing three.

His team’s excellent defensive record also remained intact. Atletico has not conceded a goal at home in the Champions League since a 4-1 win over AC Milan in March last year. Juventus beat Monaco 1-0 in Turin in the night’s other first-leg match. Madrid could have opened the scoring after a free kick in the second minute but Oblak stopped Dani Carvajal’s shot.

Two minutes later, Oblak blocked

Ph

MADRID — Goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a series of outstanding saves to help Atletico Madrid hold Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday. In a repeat of last season’s final, cup holder Madrid enjoyed most of the possession and virtually all of the chances - only to leave without a goal and with everything still to do in next week’s second leg at home in the Santiago Bernabeu.

AP

Goalkeeper Oblak helps Atletico hold Real Madrid to 0-0 draw

favored attacking formation of Ronaldo on the left, Bale running up the right flank and Benzema as striker, substituted the France international with Francisco “Isco” Roman in the 76th. Simeone then brought on Raul Garcia — who has recovered from an arm injury — for Antoine Griezmann, Atletico’s top scorer with 21 goals.

Fernando Torres replaced Jorge “Koke” Resurrecion in the 81st and Atletico could have scored a late winner, only for Mandzukic’s shot to be blocked by defender Raphael Varane. (ap)

Atletico’s Jan Oblak jumps for the ball next to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. who visit Norwich on Friday, roared out of the blocks with early goals by Jelle Vossen and Patrick Bamford against Wolves but Bakary Sako pulled one back soon after halftime to make the hosts sweat for their win.

League one (third tier) leaders Bristol City thrashed Bradford City 6-0 to guarantee their return to the second tier of English football after a two-year absence. (ap)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Paris Saint-Germain appeals Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 4-game ban

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain has appealed to the French Olympic Committee against the four-match ban handed to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic was suspended last week by the French league’s disciplinary commission following his

criticism of a referee. Following PSG’s 3-2 loss at Bordeaux in the league on March 15, the Sweden striker lost his temper and vented his anger on television at decisions which went against his side.

Ibrahimovic, whose comments

were caught on camera, insulted referee Lionel Jaffredo and one of his assistants, then used an expletive to describe France.

Because of the appeal, Ibrahimovic could be available for Saturday’s league match at Nice. (ap)

SAO PAULO — Peru striker Paolo Guerrero has dengue fever, a Brazilian hospital said Tuesday.

The Corinthians player has been hospitalized since Saturday with high fever and body pain.

Doctors suspected the mosquitoborne disease was to blame and tests released on Tuesday confirmed the diagnosis.

The 28-year-old striker is expected to be sidelined for about two weeks. He already missed

Corinthians’ match in the Sao Paulo state championship on Saturday and will not be able to play in the final stages of the traditional regional tournament. Corinthians hosts rival Palmeiras in the semifinals next weekend. (ap)

With his dazzling skills and brilliant goals, Raheem Sterling has been one of the most exciting and talked-about soccer players in England over the last two seasons. Recently, though, it’s his off-the-field activities that have been grabbing the headlines.

Two weeks after giving an unsanctioned interview saying he had rejected a new Liverpool deal worth 100,000 pounds ($146,000) a week, the 20-yearold Sterling appeared on the front page of two big-selling British newspapers in the space of three days. Pictures in The Sunday Mirror apparently showed him smoking a shisha pipe while images in Tuesday’s edition of The Sun showed him apparently inhaling nitrous oxide, a legal high commonly known as “laughing gas” or “hippie crack.”

Later Tuesday, the Daily Mail published pictures on its website of Sterling and teammate Jordon Ibe appearing to hold shisha pipes. The pictures were believed to have been taken in a London bar earlier this season, according to the newspaper.

The controversies haven’t affected his on-the-field displays — he scored on his last appearances for England as well as for Liverpool on Monday — but Sterling finds himself at the center of increasing negativity at a time when he should be celebrated for being one of the shining lights of the English game.

“Young players make mistakes,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.

“As long as they learn from them, that is what is important.”

While Sterling produces the goods on the field, Liverpool’s fans will continue to back their most crowd-pleasing player. He scored a superb opening goal

in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Monday and was given a big ovation when he was substituted near the end.

It was a bit different inside Anfield on Friday, when Sterling was heckled by some fans as he modeled Liverpool’s new uniform at a launch ceremony.

According to reports in the British media, a question-and-answer session involving Sterling and players was interrupted when Sterling was asked his view on the uniform. “Make sure we see you in it next season,” came a shout from the crowd, provoking cheers from other spectators.

Sterling told the BBC, in an interview Liverpool wasn’t informed about, that negotiations with the club over a new contract are on hold until the offseason and that he would have signed a fresh deal if it had been offered last year.

Sterling said he would not be discussing extending his contract, which runs through June 2017, until the end of the season — no matter how much money Liverpool offered.

Rodgers said he was surprised at those comments — and he was also given a shock late Monday when pictures emerged of Sterling taking nitrous oxide, which effectively pushes the oxygen out of the body. It can cause dizziness or affect your judgment, and there is a risk of unconsciousness.

“It is something that when you are a professional sportsperson at the top level of the game, I don’t think it is something you should be doing. It is as simple as that,” Rodgers said. “But I will speak to him on it. I owe him that respect to see what he says.

“We want players here who are super-professional and focused on their football. I know he is, he very much is focused on his football and improving as a player.”

The Jamaica-born Sterling made his debut for Liverpool and England when he was 17, was selected for England’s World Cup squad at 19 and has been described by Rodgers as the best young talent in Europe. (ap)

AP Photo/Massimo Pinca

Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo applauds fans as he walks off the pitch during the Champions League, quarterfinal, first leg soccer match between Juventus and Monaco, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

Peru striker Guerrero diagnosed with dengue fever in Brazil

Rodgers: Sterling not acting like a pro by taking legal high

AP Photo/Jon Super

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling applauds supporters after being substituted during his team’s English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Monday, April 13, 2015.

9

Rusty Pirlo still makes the difference for Juventus

TURIN - Even at 35 and playing his first game in seven weeks, Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo made the difference in their 1-0 win over Monaco on Tuesday. Coach Massimiliano Allegri took a calculated risk by thrusting the bearded midfielder into the Champions League quarter-final first leg tie for his comeback after recovering from a calf muscle strain.

Even though he looked somewhat rusty after his layoff, Pirlo, whose calm, thoughtful style is becoming a rarity among the high tempo and relentless pressing of the modern game, repaid Allegri’s trust with interest.

With his very first touch, he lofted the ball over the Monaco defence to send Alvaro Morata clear on goal, but the Spaniard was fractionally offside.

He was the calming influence in a midfield where an anxious Juventus gave away possession too often in the first half and it was his long, floated pass over the Monaco rearguard which led to a Juventus penalty and only goal just before the hour. Pirlo caught the Monaco defence off-guard with a perfectly weighted ball for Morata, who got clear of the Monaco defence and was judged to have been fouled

by Ricardo Carvalho as he charged towards goal. Arturo Vidal converted the penalty.

“Pirlo had a good 70 minutes which is excellent considering that he hadn’t played for 50 days,” said Allegri. “Set pieces can be decisive in these games and I needed a touch of quality on the

passes in midfield to break through those tiny spaces. In fact his pass was decisive for the penalty.”

Allegri said that the scoreline, without an away goal for Monaco, gave Juventus a “slight advantage” as they tried to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2002-03. “It’s to be expected that in a quarter-final, you don’t beat Monaco three or four nil, they have the best defence in the French league. They’re difficult to stop on the counterattack and we had problems in the first 15 minutes,” he said.

Juventus, who are on course for a fourth successive Serie A title and have reached the Coppa Italia final, could also become the first Italian team since Inter Milan in 2009/10 to reach the last four. “It’s still an open tie and we must respect Monaco, who are a decent side,” said defender Patrice Evra, in his first season at the club.

“We didn’t make the mistake Arsenal made in underestimating them, even though 1-0 isn’t an amazing result. In spite of that, it gives you a platform to get through to the next round. There’s still a lot of work to be done in Monte Carlo.” “We’re a good team and, by getting through to the next round, we’d become a great team,” he added.

“We must keep moving forward: this shirt brings enormous responsibility, especially when thinking back to the great players who have made history.” (rtr)

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

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fifth, four points behind fourth-placed Watford who travel to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

With three games left the teams finishing first and second will gain automatic promotion to the top flight and a potential cash boost of more than 120 million pounds ($177.28 million). The next four sides play off for the final Premier League place.

BRENTFORD DEFEATED

Ipswich Town are a point behind Derby in sixth after beating Cardiff City 3-1 but Brentford’s hopes of a second successive promotion took a hit when they lost 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday. The west London club are seventh, three points behind Ipswich and level with Wolves.

Bournemouth struck early through Wilson’s 22nd goal of the season at Reading but the hosts tried to put Saturday’s Cup showdown against Arsenal at Wembley out of

their minds and battled hard to get back into the game.

Reading pressed strongly for a late equaliser and Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc was booked for time-wasting before his side held on for another vital victory.

Norwich missed a golden chance to lead at Leeds when Graham Dorrans spurned a first-half penalty but the Scottish midfielder made amends by scoring a late second to seal the win after Jonny Howson had put the East Anglia side ahead.

Middlesbrough,

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LONDON - Bournemouth kept their dream of reaching English soccer’s top flight for the first time firmly alive with a gritty 1-0 win at FA Cup semi-finalists Reading on Tuesday. The south-coast club took the lead through Callum Wilson after four minutes and hung on to stay ahead in the gripping race for promotion to the lucrative Premier League as the Championship pacesetters all won.

“It was a nervy ending with what’s at stake -- we defended for our lives,” Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told the BBC. “We showed incredible mental strength to score so early and see the game out the way we did.

We are finding new ways to win and I’ll take that at this stage.”

Norwich City remained a point behind the leaders with a 2-0 victory at Leeds United, Middlesbrough beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 to stay a point back in third and playoff contenders Derby County crushed relegated Blackpool 4-0. The Rams stayed

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Bournemouth keep Premier League dream very much alive

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pressure as Atletico launched several attacks.

“The first half was very different to the second half,” Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas said.

“In the first half we were the better side but we were denied by some fantastic saves by Oblak. The tie is still open, very open.”

Madrid missed a clear chance when striker Karim Benzema chose to pass to Bale instead of shooting, with the Welshman’s shot being blocked by Diego Godin in the 69th minute.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, who started with his

s re nd

Gareth Bale’s effort after Atletico defender Diego Godin had failed to make a clearance, and the Atletico keeper followed up by saving Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick shortly afterward. Oblak made a spectacular diving save to stop another shot by Bale in the 31st and, after denying both James Rodriguez and Luka Modric before the break, was also kept busy in the second half.

Atletico came out with renewed attacking energy after one of coach Diego Simeone’s renowned halftime pep-talks, and midfielder Arda Turan missed a chance when he headed just wide of the near post in the 49th.

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was fortunate not to be penalized for unleashing an elbow into Mario Mandzukic’s eye in the penalty area shortly afterward. The Croatia forward had to leave the field three times to receive treatment on a bleeding eyebrow. After that, Madrid had to cope with increased

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“Well, we have been scoring goals in the Bernabeu recently, so anything is possible,” Atletico captain Gabriel “Gabi” Fernandez said. “It cost us a lot to get into this match and it’s good to have a secure goal. But we’ve got to hang onto the ball more.”

The draw in very windy conditions at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium meant that coach Diego Simeone’s side has been unbeaten in all seven derby matches this season against Madrid winning four and drawing three.

His team’s excellent defensive record also remained intact. Atletico has not conceded a goal at home in the Champions League since a 4-1 win over AC Milan in March last year. Juventus beat Monaco 1-0 in Turin in the night’s other first-leg match. Madrid could have opened the scoring after a free kick in the second minute but Oblak stopped Dani Carvajal’s shot.

Two minutes later, Oblak blocked

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MADRID — Goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a series of outstanding saves to help Atletico Madrid hold Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday. In a repeat of last season’s final, cup holder Madrid enjoyed most of the possession and virtually all of the chances - only to leave without a goal and with everything still to do in next week’s second leg at home in the Santiago Bernabeu.

AP

Goalkeeper Oblak helps Atletico hold Real Madrid to 0-0 draw

favored attacking formation of Ronaldo on the left, Bale running up the right flank and Benzema as striker, substituted the France international with Francisco “Isco” Roman in the 76th. Simeone then brought on Raul Garcia — who has recovered from an arm injury — for Antoine Griezmann, Atletico’s top scorer with 21 goals.

Fernando Torres replaced Jorge “Koke” Resurrecion in the 81st and Atletico could have scored a late winner, only for Mandzukic’s shot to be blocked by defender Raphael Varane. (ap)

Atletico’s Jan Oblak jumps for the ball next to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. who visit Norwich on Friday, roared out of the blocks with early goals by Jelle Vossen and Patrick Bamford against Wolves but Bakary Sako pulled one back soon after halftime to make the hosts sweat for their win.

League one (third tier) leaders Bristol City thrashed Bradford City 6-0 to guarantee their return to the second tier of English football after a two-year absence. (ap)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Paris Saint-Germain appeals Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 4-game ban

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain has appealed to the French Olympic Committee against the four-match ban handed to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic was suspended last week by the French league’s disciplinary commission following his

criticism of a referee. Following PSG’s 3-2 loss at Bordeaux in the league on March 15, the Sweden striker lost his temper and vented his anger on television at decisions which went against his side.

Ibrahimovic, whose comments

were caught on camera, insulted referee Lionel Jaffredo and one of his assistants, then used an expletive to describe France.

Because of the appeal, Ibrahimovic could be available for Saturday’s league match at Nice. (ap)

SAO PAULO — Peru striker Paolo Guerrero has dengue fever, a Brazilian hospital said Tuesday.

The Corinthians player has been hospitalized since Saturday with high fever and body pain.

Doctors suspected the mosquitoborne disease was to blame and tests released on Tuesday confirmed the diagnosis.

The 28-year-old striker is expected to be sidelined for about two weeks. He already missed

Corinthians’ match in the Sao Paulo state championship on Saturday and will not be able to play in the final stages of the traditional regional tournament. Corinthians hosts rival Palmeiras in the semifinals next weekend. (ap)

With his dazzling skills and brilliant goals, Raheem Sterling has been one of the most exciting and talked-about soccer players in England over the last two seasons. Recently, though, it’s his off-the-field activities that have been grabbing the headlines.

Two weeks after giving an unsanctioned interview saying he had rejected a new Liverpool deal worth 100,000 pounds ($146,000) a week, the 20-yearold Sterling appeared on the front page of two big-selling British newspapers in the space of three days. Pictures in The Sunday Mirror apparently showed him smoking a shisha pipe while images in Tuesday’s edition of The Sun showed him apparently inhaling nitrous oxide, a legal high commonly known as “laughing gas” or “hippie crack.”

Later Tuesday, the Daily Mail published pictures on its website of Sterling and teammate Jordon Ibe appearing to hold shisha pipes. The pictures were believed to have been taken in a London bar earlier this season, according to the newspaper.

The controversies haven’t affected his on-the-field displays — he scored on his last appearances for England as well as for Liverpool on Monday — but Sterling finds himself at the center of increasing negativity at a time when he should be celebrated for being one of the shining lights of the English game.

“Young players make mistakes,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said.

“As long as they learn from them, that is what is important.”

While Sterling produces the goods on the field, Liverpool’s fans will continue to back their most crowd-pleasing player. He scored a superb opening goal

in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Monday and was given a big ovation when he was substituted near the end.

It was a bit different inside Anfield on Friday, when Sterling was heckled by some fans as he modeled Liverpool’s new uniform at a launch ceremony.

According to reports in the British media, a question-and-answer session involving Sterling and players was interrupted when Sterling was asked his view on the uniform. “Make sure we see you in it next season,” came a shout from the crowd, provoking cheers from other spectators.

Sterling told the BBC, in an interview Liverpool wasn’t informed about, that negotiations with the club over a new contract are on hold until the offseason and that he would have signed a fresh deal if it had been offered last year.

Sterling said he would not be discussing extending his contract, which runs through June 2017, until the end of the season — no matter how much money Liverpool offered.

Rodgers said he was surprised at those comments — and he was also given a shock late Monday when pictures emerged of Sterling taking nitrous oxide, which effectively pushes the oxygen out of the body. It can cause dizziness or affect your judgment, and there is a risk of unconsciousness.

“It is something that when you are a professional sportsperson at the top level of the game, I don’t think it is something you should be doing. It is as simple as that,” Rodgers said. “But I will speak to him on it. I owe him that respect to see what he says.

“We want players here who are super-professional and focused on their football. I know he is, he very much is focused on his football and improving as a player.”

The Jamaica-born Sterling made his debut for Liverpool and England when he was 17, was selected for England’s World Cup squad at 19 and has been described by Rodgers as the best young talent in Europe. (ap)

AP Photo/Massimo Pinca

Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo applauds fans as he walks off the pitch during the Champions League, quarterfinal, first leg soccer match between Juventus and Monaco, at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy, Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

Peru striker Guerrero diagnosed with dengue fever in Brazil

Rodgers: Sterling not acting like a pro by taking legal high

AP Photo/Jon Super

Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling applauds supporters after being substituted during his team’s English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Monday, April 13, 2015.

9

Rusty Pirlo still makes the difference for Juventus

TURIN - Even at 35 and playing his first game in seven weeks, Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo made the difference in their 1-0 win over Monaco on Tuesday. Coach Massimiliano Allegri took a calculated risk by thrusting the bearded midfielder into the Champions League quarter-final first leg tie for his comeback after recovering from a calf muscle strain.

Even though he looked somewhat rusty after his layoff, Pirlo, whose calm, thoughtful style is becoming a rarity among the high tempo and relentless pressing of the modern game, repaid Allegri’s trust with interest.

With his very first touch, he lofted the ball over the Monaco defence to send Alvaro Morata clear on goal, but the Spaniard was fractionally offside.

He was the calming influence in a midfield where an anxious Juventus gave away possession too often in the first half and it was his long, floated pass over the Monaco rearguard which led to a Juventus penalty and only goal just before the hour. Pirlo caught the Monaco defence off-guard with a perfectly weighted ball for Morata, who got clear of the Monaco defence and was judged to have been fouled

by Ricardo Carvalho as he charged towards goal. Arturo Vidal converted the penalty.

“Pirlo had a good 70 minutes which is excellent considering that he hadn’t played for 50 days,” said Allegri. “Set pieces can be decisive in these games and I needed a touch of quality on the

passes in midfield to break through those tiny spaces. In fact his pass was decisive for the penalty.”

Allegri said that the scoreline, without an away goal for Monaco, gave Juventus a “slight advantage” as they tried to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2002-03. “It’s to be expected that in a quarter-final, you don’t beat Monaco three or four nil, they have the best defence in the French league. They’re difficult to stop on the counterattack and we had problems in the first 15 minutes,” he said.

Juventus, who are on course for a fourth successive Serie A title and have reached the Coppa Italia final, could also become the first Italian team since Inter Milan in 2009/10 to reach the last four. “It’s still an open tie and we must respect Monaco, who are a decent side,” said defender Patrice Evra, in his first season at the club.

“We didn’t make the mistake Arsenal made in underestimating them, even though 1-0 isn’t an amazing result. In spite of that, it gives you a platform to get through to the next round. There’s still a lot of work to be done in Monte Carlo.” “We’re a good team and, by getting through to the next round, we’d become a great team,” he added.

“We must keep moving forward: this shirt brings enormous responsibility, especially when thinking back to the great players who have made history.” (rtr)

10

Destination

Thursday, April 16, 2015

TABANAN - Soka Beach is located at Antap village, Selemadeg subdistrict, Tabanan County, right on the main road connecting Jembrana to Denpasar. The

distance from Denpasar is about 45 km and about 84 km from Gilimanuk. Density of vehicles passing through the route is very high from the morning till

night because it is the only road connecting Java to Bali. On the east of the Soka Beach lies a cave under the rock cliff, called Bulungdaya Cave inhabited by thousands of swallows. On the western side lies coconut grove along the coastline. It offers a beautiful landscape with black sandy beach, while on the far

International

west is bounded by verdant hills concatenated into one with Mount Batukaru in the north. In the east, visitors will be able to see the Mount Agung and Mount Batukaru while in the south spreads the Indonesian Ocean.

Beautiful panorama merging with the atmosphere of the hills in the southern tip of Bali as

Sports

International

well as the pounding waves is capable of keeping people away from hustles and bustles. So, it will unsurprisingly make them more convenient and peaceful.

Beach panorama offered by Soka Beach is indeed very exotic and romantic that can touch the heart for those visiting the location.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

7

Sharapova pulls out of Fed Cup semi-final with leg injury

MOSCOW- Maria Sharapova has pulled out of Russia’s Fed Cup semi-final against Germany in Sochi this weekend with a leg injury, the Russian Tennis Federation said on Tuesday. “I was really looking forward to playing in Sochi and taking part in the Fed Cup,” the world number two told the Russian Tennis Federation press service.

“For me, it would have been the first time I would have had the opportunity to play in the city where I grew up. “My team and I specially changed my timetable so that I could represent my country in the semi-final.

“However, unfortunately I picked up a leg injury and it did not allow me to be in the best condition to get ready for this tie,” Sharapova added.

The 27-year-old’s last appearance was in the Miami Open at the end of March, where she lost in the second round to world number 97 Daria Gavrilova in straight sets.

She only returned to practice a few days ago after picking up an injury during in Miami.

“I need to be at the top of my game in order to help my team and play to the best of my ability in the Fed Cup semi-finals against such strong opponents. Unfortunately,

I didn’t have enough time to prepare,” she said.

REPLACEMENT NEEDED

Sharapova is also a doubt for the WTA Stuttgart Open, which starts on April 20, where she would be defending her title. Sharapova helped Russia beat Poland in the Fed Cup first round in February, where she won both her singles matches. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Vesnina have all been picked for Russian, with captain Anastasia Myskina now having to find a replacement for Sharapova.

Myskina, who won the French Open in 2004, said she had been in constant contact with the Russian number one. “Over the last few days, I have spoken with Maria and her team a lot,” Myskina said.

“Unfortunately her condition will not allow her to play for the national team. Maria did everything she could to try and play in Sochi.

However, at the moment, she just isn’t ready. “I believe in the strength and ability of our team and am really looking forward to the semifinal,” Myskina added. Russia are bidding for their first Fed Cup title since 2008, having been runners-up in 2013. (rtr)

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Indiana Pacers guard Rodney Stuckey (2) goes up for a dunk over Washington Wizards center Kevin Seraphin during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. The Pacers defeated the Wizards 99-95 in double overtime.

Pacers survive scare with 99-95 double OT win over Wizards

INDIANAPOLIS — C.J. Miles scored 25 points and George Hill added 24 to lead a 7-2 spurt to open the second overtime Tuesday as Indiana kept its playoff hopes alive with a 99-95 victory over Washington. The Pacers (38-43) have won six straight games and will make a fifth straight playoff appearance if they win at Memphis — or if Brooklyn loses to Orlando — on the final night of the regular season.

Maria Sharapova serves against Daria Gavrilova (not pictured) on day three of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.

Gavrilova won 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Martin Gortat and Bradley Beal each scored 19 points for the Wizards (46-35). It was a grind for the Pacers, who struggled shooting all night and trailed 70-61 deficit with 7:07 left.

They rallied to take a late 79-75 lead, then Washington forced overtime. Indiana didn’t lead again until Hill’s mid-range jumper 23 seconds into the second overtime made it 8785. And Hill finally sealed it with a 3 with 27.8 seconds left.

Clippers point guard Chris Paul’s 22 points, including six 3-pointers, led Los Angeles over the injurydepleted Phoenix Suns 112-101 in LA’s final regular-season game before the NBA playoffs. The Clippers clinched the West’s No. 3 seed

with the win.

Blake Griffin hit his first six shots on his way to 20 points as Clippers coach Doc Rivers played his starters major minutes with a higher playoff seeding on the line.

DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 14 rebounds, setting the Clippers’ single-season record for rebounds in a season.

Los Angeles (56-26) can finish with the No. 2 seed if the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets lose their final games Wednesday.

The Suns were down to eight available players, Archie Goodwin leading Phoenix with a season-high 18 points.

In Boston, Jae Crowder hit an off-balance fall-away shot from deep

on the right wing with .8 seconds left as the Celtics edged the Toronto Raptors 95-93 to secure the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference.

Evan Turner and Avery Bradley each scored 14 points for Boston, which will face No. 2 seed Cleveland in the playoffs. Brandon Bass added 13 points and nine rebounds.

It was the fifth straight win for the Celtics, who clinched a playoff spot on Monday when Brooklyn lost. Kyle Lowry had 16 points for the Raptors, who are locked into the fourth seed and will face Washington. Toronto beat the Wizards in all three meetings this season. Lou Williams also had 16 points for Toronto, Terrence Ross scored 12 and Jonas Valanciunas’ 11. (ap)

Valentino Rossi already intends to stay in MotoGP beyond the end of his current Yamaha contract in 2016. The 36-year-old signed a new deal last season after his upsurge in form convinced him to continue racing following a tough period in which Rossi had

when asked about his longer-term future.

The seven-time MotoGP champion’s last title came in 2009. While playing down the significance of his present points lead, he said his third place in last weekend’s Austin race was a good omen for Yamaha.

“Leading the championship after two races doesn’t mean a lot but it’s good to be at the top after Austin because, on paper, this track is one of the most difficult for the Yamaha,” he said. “We always struggled to finish in the past with the front tyre but this year was better. I was more

or less always in the top four.” The MotoGP title battle moves straight to Termas de Rio Hondo for the Argentine Grand Prix this weekend.

Rossi is one point ahead of Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso and five clear of Austin-winning Honda rider Marc Marquez. (net)

IBP/File Photo

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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Rossi keen to remain in MotoGP beyond current Yamaha deal admitted he had to prove to himself that he was still good enough.

Rossi currently leads the 2015 world championship and said his intention was now to continue racing into 2017 and beyond. “I have a contract for two years and I hope it’s not the last one,” he said

6

Thursday, April 16, 2015

W

RLD

AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia

An exile Tibetan Buddhist monk wears a mask in the likeness of Buddhist leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who has been in a Chinese prison since 2002 on charges of “inciting separatism”, while another activist holds a placard during a street protest in Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, April 7, 2015.

China accuses Dalai Lama of inciting Tibet self-immolations

International

Cubans hail removal from US list of state terrorism sponsors HAVANA — Cuban officials and ordinary citizens alike hailed the island’s removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the move by President Barack Obama heals a decadesold insult to national pride and clears the way to swiftly restore diplomatic relations.

“The Cuban government recognizes the president of the United States’ just decision to take Cuba off a list in which it should never have been included,” Josefina Vidal, Cuba’s top diplomat for U.S. affairs, said Tuesday night.

Cuban and U.S. foreign-policy experts said the two governments appeared to have taken a major leap toward the reopening of embassies in Havana and Washington after four months of complex and occasionally frustrating negotiations.

“This is important because it speaks to Obama’s desire to keep moving forward,” said Esteban Morales, a political science professor at the University of Havana. “Now there are no political obstacles. What remains are organizational and technical problems, which can be resolved.”

In a message to Congress, Obama said Tuesday that Cuba’s government “has not provided any support for international terrorism” over the last six months and has given “assurances that it will not support acts of international terrorism in the future.”

Cuba will officially be removed from the terrorism list 45 days

after the president’s message was sent to Congress. Lawmakers could vote to block the move during that window, though Obama would be all but certain to veto such a measure.

What remains to be seen in coming weeks is whether Cuba will allow U.S. diplomats to move around Cuba and maintain contacts with citizens including dissidents, the second point of contention in the negotiations on restoring full diplomatic relations.

Cuba is highly sensitive to any indication the U.S. is supporting domestic dissent and that issue may prove considerably tougher than amending the terrorism list.

The Obama administration made little pretense in recent years that it believed Cuba was supporting terrorism.

Cuba was put on the list in 1982 because of what the U.S. said were its efforts “to promote armed revolution by organizations that used terrorism.”

That included support for leftist guerrilla groups including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the Basque separatist movement ETA in Spain. Cuba also sheltered black and Puerto Rican militants who carried out attacks in the United States. Among those was Joanne Chesimard, who was granted asylum by Fidel Castro after she escaped from a U.S. prison where she was serving a sentence for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. (ap)

BEIJING — China accused the Dalai Lama on Wednesday of inciting a wave of self-immolations among Tibetans that are widely seen as desperate protests against Chinese rule in the Himalayan region. Similar accusations have been denied in the past, and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has called the deaths sad and ineffective in changing Chinese policy.

A report issued Wednesday by the Cabinet’s State Council Information Office said Chinese police investigations showed such incidents are being “manipulated and instigated” by the Dalai Lama and his supporters.

The report said a strategy to encourage Tibetans to burn themselves to death emerged after the self-declared Tibetan government-in-exile based in India recommitted itself to non-violence in 2011. It cited statements from exile groups that it said encouraged such acts as worthy Buddhist sacrifices and commemorated the victims as martyrs. It also said a monastic arm of the exile government coordinated with monasteries inside China to “remotely plan self-immolations.”

“To commit an act of selfviolence in a public place is inherently violent behavior whose aim is to create an atmosphere of terror and transmit psychological horror,” the report said. It gave no figures for the number of selfimmolations. Independent groups say 113 men and 24 women have set themselves on fire since March 2011 and most have died of their burns.

In the latest incident, 47year-old nun Yeshi Khando set herself on fire last week near a police station in a Tibetan part of Sichuan province while shouting slogans including “Tibet needs freedom,” overseas pro-Tibetan groups reported. Tibetan areas in China are closed to foreign journalists and such incidents are

virtually impossible to independently verify.

Tibetan monks and nuns are among the most active opponents of Chinese rule in the region and face some of the harshest restrictions on their activities. Tibet Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo demanded last week that Buddhist monasteries display the national flag as part of efforts to shore up government control.

China says Tibet has been part of its territory for more than seven centuries, although many Tibetans say they were effectively independent for most of that time.

The Dalai Lama fled to India during an aborted uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, eight years after Communist troops occupied Tibet. (ap)

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

INDONESIA Indonesia protests beheading of domestic worker in Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA - Jakarta summoned the Saudi Arabian ambassador Wednesday to protest the beheading of an Indonesian domestic worker and complain that her family and consular staff were not given prior notice of the execution.

Saudi authorities said Siti Zainab was executed Tuesday in the Muslim holy city of Medina after being convicted of stabbing and beating Saudi woman Noura al-Morobei to death in 1999.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo and three of his predecessors had previously written to the Saudi king asking for the victim’s family to forgive Zainab.

But the sentence was carried out despite Jakarta claiming Zainab’s family and consular officials were not given adequate notice before her execution.

“From the beginning, the government has struggled to provide her with assistance and has asked the family (of the victim) for forgiveness,” Indonesia’s foreign ministry said in a statement received late Tuesday.

“The Indonesian government filed a protest against the Saudi

Arabian government for not giving prior notification to Indonesian representatives or to the family over the execution date.”

The Saudi interior ministry said Zainab’s execution was delayed until the victim’s children were old enough to decide whether the punishment should proceed.

Riyadh’s ambassador to Indonesia Mustafa Ibrahim AlMubarak said he was “surprised” to be summoned by the foreign ministry but would follow up on Jakarta’s concerns. “The problem is not about the court and the execution, it is about the date of the execution,” he told reporters.

Migrant Care, an NGO advocating for the rights of Indonesian workers abroad, condemned the execution and claimed Zainab was acting in self defence against an abusive employer.

The group urged Indonesia to

abandon the death penalty “as a first step to push other countries to not impose the death penalty on migrant workers”.

Jakarta, however, remains determined to execute several drug traffickers -- including citizens from Australia, France, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil and the Philippines -- as soon as possible.

Indonesia executed six drug offenders in January, including five foreigners, prompting a furious Brazil and the Netherlands -- whose citizens were among those put to death -- to recall their ambassadors.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia would proceed with the executions as planned, despite protests over Zainab’s case.

“Our commitment is to protect our citizens, that is our priority,” she told reporters late Tuesday. (afp)

BANDA ACEH — A Sumatran elephant has been found dead in Indonesia’s Aceh province with its tusks cut off, raising suspicion it was killed by poachers.

Genman Sefti Hasibuan, head of the local Conservation and Natural Resources Agency said the carcass of the estimated 25year-old male elephant was discovered Monday inside a palm oil plantation in Karang Hampa village in West Aceh District.

It was reported to have been rotten and missing its tusks, Hasibuan said Tuesday. Villagers estimated it died four to

five days earlier from gunshot wounds.

It was the first elephant death in Aceh this year, Hasibuan said, adding that a team has been sent to the area for investigation.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the animals as “critically endangered” after their numbers dropped to between 2,400 and 2,800 from an estimated 5,000 in 1985.

Environmentalists say the elephants could be extinct within three decades unless they are protected.

Sumatra’s elephants sometimes venture into populated areas searching for food due to destruction of their habitat.

Some are shot or poisoned with cyanide-laced fruit, while others are killed by poachers for their ivory.

In February, police in Riau province arrested eight members of a poaching syndicate and confiscated tusks worth more than $30,000, following the arrest of a local tusks buyer. The group admitted to have killed at least six elephants in Riau and neighboring Jambi provinces. (ap)

Sumatran elephant found dead without tusks

AP Photo/Desmond Boylan

A man drives his taxi past a Cultural Center with the word “Cuba” on it, in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. President Barack Obama will remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the White House announced Tuesday, a key step in his bid to normalize relations between the two countries.

11

Indonesia’s Widodo seeks to revive faltering manufacturers

BEKASI - Indonesian factory manager Ronie, whose plant produces shoes for Western markets, is preparing for layoffs as orders fall and wages rise, an example of the challenge facing President Joko Widodo as he seeks to boost the country’s lacklustre manufacturers.

Widodo is hoping to return the country’s factories to their former glory as he seeks to lift Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, which is growing at five-year lows, and reduce dependence on commodity exports.

He faces numerous stumbling blocks -- complex bureaucracy, rising salaries, creaking infrastructure -- that have in many cases encouraged foreign companies to set up shop in other Asian countries seen as more business-friendly.

Nevertheless the president, who took office in October, is moving fast. His government has streamlined the notoriously slow process for approving business licences, increased infrastructure spending, wants to make wage rises more predictable, and is striving to lure more foreign investment.

The push can’t come soon enough for the country’s manufacturers, who make goods ranging from electronics to clothing and toys, but have long been neglected as Indonesia relied on money from natural resources, which is drying up as global prices fall.

Ronie’s shoe factory in Bekasi, an industrial zone outside Jakarta, has seen orders plunge 35 percent in the past year. With wages rising steeply as unions flex their muscles, the production manager now plans to lay off a third of the plant’s 1,200 staff.

“We are definitely worried,” Ronie, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP from a room in his factory full of designer shoes destined for shops in the United States and Europe.

While worldwide factors -- such as subdued demand in developed markets -- have played a role, industry figures say the government’s tepid support means they have had little help in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Economic data paints a bleak picture.

Indonesia performs poorly compared to others in Southeast Asia.

The country’s export of manufactured goods was a mere eight percent of GDP in 2012, data from

the Economist Intelligence Unit showed, trailing rivals Vietnam at 50 per cent, Malaysia at 46 per cent and Thailand at 44 per cent.

For factory bosses and investors mulling coming to Indonesia, steep and unpredictable annual salary increases have become a top concern, as trade unions become increasingly vocal and demand higher wages to keep up with increased living costs.

As well as sharp variations from year to year, there are also large differences across the country, as wage rises are negotiated from province to province.

The government is seeking to come up with a new system to make wage rises more predictable, a move welcomed by the Indonesian Footwear Association, that represents the country’s $3.5-billion-a-year shoe export industry. “If this does not work, I believe very soon there will be another 10, or 15, or 20 factories moving from Indonesia,” association chairman Eddy Widjanarko told AFP. Widodo’s push to improve infrastructure is also seen as key to helping manufacturers, as investors have long complained about ageing ports and potholed roads that hamper the transportation of goods.

The president’s visit to China and Japan last month was focused on seeking investment for such projects, although analysts are sceptical about his chances of success in a country with a poor record on building infrastructure due to rampant corruption and problems with land acquisition.

While factories already in Indonesia are suffering, others can’t even get a foot in the door. Taiwan technology giant Foxconn announced plans to invest back in 2012, but is yet to start operations in Indonesia as it remains locked in negotiations with the government.

Despite the challenges, there are already signs that Widodo’s new approach is generating greater optimism. Richard Hakim, who owns a leather shoe factory in Bogor, south of Jakarta, has raised his production targets and hired more workers on top of the nearly 3,000 employees on the assembly floor making trendy loafers for foreign markets.

“We try out best to convince our buyers that we can make the shoes good quality, and deliver on time,” he said. (afp)

12

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

International

BUSINESS

Bali News

As a whole, the world’s most populous region will continue to build up its share of the global economy, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook report.

“Asia’s growth is forecast to hold steady in 2015, and the region is expected to continue outperforming the rest of the world over the medium term,” it said.

The report comes as China grapples with growth slumping to levels not seen in almost a quarter of a century.

Much of that slowdown from the breakneck growth of years past has been deliberately engineered by Beijing, as the government repositions the economy to a more sustainable path.

But it leaves global expansion more reliant on the likes of India and Japan, with the United States and Europe still struggling to shake off their torpor.

The IMF said that under reforms by India’s new businessfriendly government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country was expected to expand at a much faster pace than previously expected.

“Growth will benefit from recent policy reforms, a consequent pickup in investment, and lower oil prices,” the report said.

“Lower oil prices will raise real disposable incomes, particularly among poorer households, and help drive down inflation.”

Modi swept to power last year on a pledge to revive India’s flag-

Residents walk past a textile shop offering heavy discounts in Hangzhou in east China’s Zhejiang province Wednesday April 15, 2015. China’s economic slump deepened as manufacturing and retail sales cooled in the first quarter of this year, stepping up pressure for Beijing to keep the world’s second-largest economy on track.

“This increase reflects support from the weaker yen, higher real wages, and higher equity prices due to the Bank of Japan’s additional quantitative and qualitative easing, as well as lower commodity prices,” the report said.

But should things turn worse than expected in both China and Japan, that would reverberate worldwide “given these economies’ large size and deep trade and financial linkages with other nations”.

The risks, it said, were failure to implement crucial reforms in China and Japan not making structural changes.

In South Korea, “momentum has stalled somewhat”, the Fund said, adding that this reflected “fragile household and investor sentiment”.

Its forecast of 3.3 percent growth this year was based on “the assumption that supportive monetary and macroprudential policies and more favourable terms of trade spur a rebound in aggregate demand”.

In Australia a downturn in global commodity prices is “exacerbating the long-anticipated decline in resource-related investment”. However, the IMF added that record-low interest rates will help non-resource sectors.

The IMF forecast GDP growth for Australia of 2.8 percent this year and 3.2 percent next, largely in line with previous reports.

Among Southeast Asia’s top five economies -- Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand -- GDP growth was seen at 5.2 percent in 2015 and 5.3 percent next year. (afp)

trade is expanding far more slowly than anticipated a year ago.

The Ebola outbreak in west Africa, unusually harsh winter weather in the United States and collapsing world oil prices are also taking their toll, as are strong exchange rate fluctuations, Azevedo said.

“All of these things have effects, sometimes destabilising effects,” Azevedo said.

On Tuesday, WTO said preliminary estimates showed global trade had expanded just 2.8 percent last year and was expected to swell only 3.3 percent this year.

A year ago, the WTO was singing a different tune.

WTO acknowledged though that “risks to the trade forecasts are mostly on the downside.”

Trade is a key measure of the health of the global economy, which it both stimulates and reflects.

But Azevedo warned Tuesday that a systemic shift might be under way and that trade expansion would no longer far outstrip overall economic growth as it has largely done for decades.

Azevedo said that the 2015 forecast was based on an assumption that global GDP would expand by nearly 3.0 percent, while the 2016 forecast depended on economic growth reaching over three percent. (afp)

ging fortunes, and the IMF said his new broom should sweep in growth of 7.5 percent this year and next -- making it the world’s fastest growing major economy.

That was a sharp increase on past IMF predictions, which had put growth at 6.3 percent in 2015 and 6.5 percent next year.

It compared with the report’s expectation for China’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow 6.8

percent this year and 6.3 percent in 2016.

The 2015 rate, which is in line with a projection by economists in an AFP survey, would be the slowest since 1990 when the Chinese economy was hammered by foreign sanctions after the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

However, the IMF said “ongoing implementation of structural reforms and lower commodity

down”.

The IMF upgraded its view for Japan, but warned that the prospects for a decisive break from years of recession and deflation hinged on deeper structural reforms by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan’s growth is seen at 1.0 percent this year and 1.2 percent in 2016 -- both more than double from the last outlook’s forecasts.

AP Photo

Sluggish economy, conflicts weigh on global trade

GENEVA - Sluggish economies and global conflicts are taking their toll on world commerce, the World Trade Organization said Tuesday, slashing its trade growth outlook for 2015.

“For trade growth it is important that you have certain elements present in the global economy (including) stability, predictability, and those things are not there right now,” WTO chief Roberto Azevedo told reporters in Geneva.

With economies around the world still struggling to fully recover from the 2008 financial crisis, and with conflicts flaring in places like Ukraine and the Middle East, global

Last April, it had forecast that trade would expand 4.6 percent in 2014 and 5.8 percent this year.

But it downgraded those predictions in September, to 3.1 percent and 4.0 percent respectively, before slashing them further on Tuesday.

“Trade growth has been disappointing in recent years due largely to prolonged sluggish growth in GDP following the financial crisis,” Azevedo said.

“Looking forward, we expect trade to continue its slow recovery, but with economic growth still fragile and continued geopolitical tensions, this trend could easily be undermined,” he warned.

Last year was the third consecutive year in which trade grew less than three percent, WTO said in a statement.

In fact, trade growth averaged just 2.4 percent between 2012 and 2014 -- the slowest rate on record for a three-year period when trade was expanding.

Trade growth is expected to pick up in 2016 with an expansion of 4.0 percent, it said, warning though that going forward, trade growth looks set to remain well below the annual average of 5.1 percent seen since 1990.

“We are cautiously forecasting that trade will continue its slow recovery,” Azevedo told reporters.

Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple

IBP/kmb

Dang Khayangan Amerthasari Temple

NEGARA - Amerthasari Temple located about 1.5 km south of Negara town is one of the Dang Khayangan temples in Jembrana.

From time immemorial to the present, the temple situating amid the customary settlement of Lokasari, or precisely Mertasari hamlet, Loloan Timur, Negara, is venerated by the subak members. It is reflected at the beginning of each planting season. To keep away their plants from diseases, residents are always saying prayers and starting their activities from the temple. It is a universal temple because it is used to venerate a great religious teacher, Danghyang Nirartha and closely associated with his pilgrimage to the Island of Bali.

Building of this temple has been renovated in 1961 but in 1965 the temple building was abandoned and the renovation was totally discontinued. Ultimately, on July 14, 1976, the entire building collapsed as hit by earthquake.

After that, four customary villages were responsible for the temple existence, namely the BB Agung, Puseh Agung of Banjar Tengah village, Kertha Jaya customary village of Pendem village, and Lokasari customary village of Loloan Timur village.

At the beginning of the Merthasari Temple and before the renovation in 1965, there was only one temple located under a large banyan tree. Priest of the Merthasari Temple, Mangku Nendra, said that previously there was a small pond around the temple. After the renovation, the pond was moved and a meru shrine was established. Now, it has been added with a Padma shrine on the pond. Meanwhile, water of the pond is taken modernly from the ground with the depth of about 15 meters, and then flowed under the Padma shrine.

As a matter of fact, it was named Amerthasari Temple. However, for consideration of easier pronunciation, it was then called Merthasari. The current temple priest, denoting the third generation, mentioned the meaning of Amerthasari was that Amertha meant the whole foods, while Sari meant the essence.

Mangku Nendra is the successor of the previous temple priest, namely Nengah Netra who was also his deceased father. Meanwhile, the first was still unclear because the temple was still not restored at that time.

At the moment, the Dang Khayangan

5

Lawyers seek lenience for US couple in Bali murder trials

IMF: India, Japan to drive Asia as China slows

HONG KONG - Faster growth under the reformist governments of India and Japan will help prices are expected to expand cushion the blow to the world economy from a marked slowdown in China, the International consumer-oriented activities, partially buffering the slowMonetary Fund predicted Tuesday.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Amerthasari Temple has some shrines, namely the Ratu Nyoman, Padmasana, Meru, Pepelik, Taksu and Dewa Ayu Manik Galih dedicated to venerate the Goddess Sri. Genesis of the temple has something to do with Danghyang Nirartha. When arriving in Bali, Pedanda Sakti taught religion at Gede Perancak Temple where currently the Dang Khayangan Perancak Temple has been moved to Tanjung Tangis. At that time, he asked the monkeys where there was another village.

The monkey responded by facing north and there laid a village called Budeng. There lived black monkey or Ijah. As soon as arriving at the village, he asked again where there was a village, and the monkeys were facing the west, now becoming the location of the Merthasari Temple.

When arriving at the village, he taught the people about agriculture, farming and trade.

The Telaga Taman was a very fertile area.

Religious life was quite good. In this area, there were five sanctums. In the long run, it turned into Amerthasari village and is now called Mertasari.

Now, the temple whose anniversary falls on Anggara Kasih (Tuesday) Perangbakat is venerated by four customary villages namely the Lokasari (Mertasari), Dauh Waru, Pendem and Batu Agung. Mangku added that other than the temple, there was also the Taman Temple that formerly was a pond. “In days of yore, there was a temple located beneath the banyan tree,” explained Nendra.

Aside from the six shrines existing today, the temple sitting on the area of 1800 square meters also has a Peselang pavilion to place gamelan instrument, Piasan, storing chamber and the easternmost is pavilion of Banten Piodalan (oblation).

In the past, most of the supporting devotees were farmers, but now they are from four customary villages and even from beyond Bali. As the existing plan, this temple area will be expanded to the current parking lot.

After the land acquisition, it will become about 3,000 square meters. Renovation and expansion of the temple area will include the temple building, construction of base fence, parking lot expansion, the arrangement of temple landscaping, as well as the wantilan hall. (olo)

DENPASAR — Lawyers for an American couple on trial in Indonesia argued Tuesday that prosecutors improperly charged them with premeditated murder in the death of the woman’s mother.

They urged the three-judge panel to give the lightest possible sentences to Heather Mack and her boyfriend Tommy Schaefer.

They are being tried separately, with the same judges and prosecutors, at Denpasar District Court.

Schaefer, 21, and Mack, 19, both from Chicago, are charged with deliberately murdering Sheila von Wiese-Mack, 62, whose badly beaten body was found last August in a suitcase in the trunk of a taxi outside an upscale hotel on Bali island.

Prosecutors have asked the judges to find the defendants guilty of premeditated murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death, but have sought 15- and 18-year jail terms respectively for Mack and Schaefer.

In Mack’s trial Tuesday, her lawyer Ary Soenardi argued that short messages cited by the prosecutors as well as court testimonies and the defendants’ confessions did not clearly prove that Mack had committed premeditated murder.

“In our opinion, the prosecutors failed to provide clear evidence of the defendant’s assistance in the case,” Soenardi said. “Therefore, the primary charge of premeditated murder should be ruled out.”

He expressed hope that the panel would hand down a “fair and humane verdict.”

Schaefer’s lawyer, Iswahyudi Edy, asked the judges to consider the situation and condition of the defendant at the time of the incident.

“Premeditated murder could not be proven legally and convincingly,” Edy said. “The defendant, therefore, should not be punished as sought by the prosecutors.”

Prosecutors insisted last week that their evidence showed the couple deliberately plotted to kill von Wiese-Mack while vacationing on Bali, based on the testimony of witnesses and messages between the defendants.

They argued that Schaefer deliberately brought a metal fruit bowl when he came to the room at the St. Regis resort where Mack and her mother were staying. They said he then used the bowl to strike her, while Mack helped stuff her mother’s body in the suitcase by sitting on it to enable Schaefer to close it.

The prosecutors said they decided to be lenient with Mack because she repeatedly expressed remorse and recently gave birth.

Schaefer testified that von Wiese-Mack was angry when she learned about her daughter’s pregnancy and tried to strangle him, prompting him to strike her with the bowl.

Presiding Judge Made Suweda adjourned the hearing until next Tuesday, when the judges are to deliver their verdict. (ap)

AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati

Tommy Schaefer, right, talks to Heather Mack, both from Chicago, Ill. in a court oom for their trial in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, April 14, 2015.

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Bali News

International

Allegedly illegal workers in Lembongan

SEMARAPURA - Klungklung legislator A.A. Sayang Suparta, revealed on Wednesday that many foreigners working in Lembongan, Nusa Penida, are alleged to be working without legal work permits. Apparently they work safely as illegal worker at the tourist attraction.

According to Sayang, a number of companies in the tourist destination of Lembongan employ foreign workers, including eight diving companies that apparently have a secret staff of illegal foreigners. The companies should be applying for work permits or foreigner employment permits (IMTA) for their staff, but Sayang Suparta is confident that they rarely do so.

Apart from diving company staff, many diving instructors working in Lembongan also do not hold foreigner employment permits.

Agencies in charge of regulating such activities rarey take decisive action related to such offences. “If (the foreign workers) and proven to be working without a permit,the local government can recommend that they be deported,” he said.

However, upon investigation,it would seem that the government of Klungkung, especially the Social and Manpower Agency, does not understand the rules regarding the foreigner employment permit nor what actions should be taken if a foreigner is found to be without such a permit. For foreigners who only work in Klungkung, the employment permit must be issued by

the county government, but when a foreigner works in more than one county or city, the permit must be issued by the province.

“Also, it should be noted that many instructors have diving certificates that were issued in Australia, and yet they are working in Lembongan, how can this be happening?” asked Sayang Suparta.

Commission I of the Klungkung House, has already scheduled an investigation into the Lembongan matter said Sayang Suparta, This issue will be highlighted by Com-

mission I, so that appropriate parties will be held accountable for the legality of foreign workers.

Seeing the potential of the abundance of foreign workers in Lembongan, one of the 19 regional bylaw drafts to be discussed in the House, will be looking at a renewal charge for the foreign employment permit. The amount of the levy will be discussed further during the meeting of the House. If this draft is passed, this sector will become a new source of revenue for the local government. (kmb31)

school is far enough from his home.

To look after his children, Made Weta is assisted by his mother and his sister. Although having given birth for 17 times, the baby girl born by his wife looks healthy and beautiful. However, it must be done through a cesarean delivery.

Kamboja Room Coordinator where Nengah Weta is treated, Ida Ayu Suryasmi, revealed that in accordance with procedure, the patient must give birth by cesarean. For the safety of the mother and baby, the childbirth of more than five times must be through cesarean although she has accustomed to delivering naturally.

In addition to maternity surgery,

doctor also made sterilization because she is considered to have many children. “After we perform a caesarean section, it is immediately followed by sterilization to prevent another pregnancy,” she explained when met in the room where Nengah Weta is treated.

When met, Ni Nengah Weta admitted that after undergoing caesarean section she felt painful more than natural birth as commonly made at home. To reduce the pain at the former location of operation, the doctor has given a painkiller inserted into the infusion. “It’s very painful, but the childbirth at home only results in a little pain,” said Nengah Weta. (dwa)

Afraid of using contraceptive device, Nengah Weta pregnant for 17 times

AMLAPURA - Being afraid of using contraceptive device, Ni Nengah Weta, a mother from Padangsari hamlet, Pedahan village, Kubu, continues to be pregnant up to 17 times. At the seventeenth birth, Ni Nengah Weta having been familiar to have childbirth at home is forced to give birth to a baby at hospital for her safety. Though being accustomed to independent childbirth, Nengah Weta claimed to feel painful after undergoing cesarean section at Karangasem Hospital.

The husband to Ni Nengah Weta named I Made Weta when met by this newspaper claimed to forget the name of the whole children. According to Made Weta, his wife has

been in labor for 17 times including the childbirth on Monday (Apr. 13) around five o’clock in the afternoon.

From the 17 pregnancies, they have now had 11 children consisting of four sons and seven daughters.

He said that his wife aborted for three times and three children died after birth. The childbirth at hospital is the first time for her wife. All this time, his wife always gives birth at home even one of the childbirths occurred near a cow.

Such independent childbirth has often been carried out. Nevertheless, Made Weta admitted that he no longer wants to have another child as he considered no longer strong enough to do it.

His first daughter named Ni Nengah Engguk has married to a man from Australia and already has a one-year-old toddler. Despite having dozens of children, Made Weta admitted to still be able to meet their needs as he is assisted by his first daughter. “Every day he looks for grass for fodder of his three cattle. We have three hectares of land cultivated with cabbage, corn and potatoes,” he said when met at Karangasem Hospital, Tuesday (Apr. 14).

In fact, such number of children has an impact on their education.

According to Made Weta, his elder children never get higher education. He said it happens because the

Students in Nusa Penida take exam in dark room

IBP/kmb

Implementation of the national exam for high school, vocational school and MA Islamic school in Klungkung region starting on Monday (Apr. 13). The field observation indicated that several exam rooms were found still dark at SMKN 1 Nusa Penida.

SEMARAPURA - Implementation of the national exam for high school, vocational school and MA Islamic school in Klungkung region starting on Monday (Apr. 13) received serious attention from the Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, and Deputy Regent, I Made Kasta. Both local leaders came down to the field separately to observe the condition of national examination at a number of schools in Klungkung, Tuesday (Apr. 14).

Regent Suwirta himself accompanied by Chairman of the Klungkung House, I Wayan Baru, Spokesman of Klungkung government, I Wayan Parna, and subdistrict head of Nusa Penida I Ketut Sukla started the monitoring at SMAN 1 high school and SMKN 1 Nusa Penida vocational school. Based on observation at both schools, Regent Suwirta considered the implementation of national exam has been going on smoothly. All participants attended the exam orderly.

However, Suwirta deplored because the field observation indicated that several exam rooms were found still dark at SMKN 1 Nusa Penida.

To follow up the condition, this regent from Lembongan appealed to school authority to make the room in use more representative. “It will be difficult for students to answer

the exam questions maximally if the room has no lights,” he protested.

Similar condition also happens in mainland Klungkung. Deputy Regent Kasta with the Head of Klungkung Education Agency, Nyoman Mudarta, observing the implementation of national exam assesses that it has been running well and smoothly.

Nevertheless, Deputy Regent Kasta hoped the national exam at high school level can run smoothly until the end. “Hopefully, the students can face this national exam and pass one hundred percent for Klungkung,” he said.

In the meantime, the Head of Klungkung Education Agency, I Nyoman Mudarta, said that this year the number of students taking the national exam for high school, vocational school and MA Islamic school in Klungkung reaches 2,787 students, while the schools participating in the exam amounts to18 schools consisting of nine public high school (1,833 students), eight private schools (917 students) and one Madrasah Aliyah (MA) Islamic school with 37 students. Of the whole participants taking the national exam, all of them can be present to attend the implementation of national exam started on Monday (Apr. 13). (kmb)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

International

13

White House standoff with Congress over Iran bill not over

WASHINGTON — Legislation empowering Congress to reject an emerging Iran nuclear pact is expected to sail through both houses of Congress, leaving President Barack Obama with the tough task of selling the deal to skeptical lawmakers.

“I don’t know how you cut a deal with the devil and think the devil is going to keep his end of the deal,” House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday after Obama bowed to pressure from Republicans and Democrats and agreed to sign compromise legislation.

The legislation, unanimously approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, would give lawmakers a say on what could be a historic deal aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. In exchange, the influential Islamic nation in the Middle East would get relief from economic sanctions stifling its economy.

The rare and reluctant agreement between the president and the Republican-led Congress came after the White House maintained for weeks that congressional interference could jeopardize sensitive negotiations with Tehran. The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China reached a preliminary framework agreement with Iran on April 2 to curb its nuclear program and hope to finalize a pact by June 30.

Despite the resistance from the White House, lawmakers from both parties insisted that Congress have a formal role in reviewing and possibly voting down any deal.

“I have always supported congressional review of any final agreement with Iran,” said Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, who emphasized that the bill will not per-

mit any legislative action until after the White House presents Congress with any final deal that can be reached to rein in Iran’s nuclear program.

“If a final agreement with Iran is received in a timely manner, Congress will have 30 calendar days for an orderly and thoughtful review.

If an agreement with Iran goes into effect, then this bill ensures an ongoing oversight role for Congress and provides for expedited procedures to snap back sanctions if Iran breaches the agreement,” Cardin said.

Echoing Boehner’s skepticism, Cardin said “there is no trust when it comes to Iran.” He said that’s why the final agreement must be verifiable and transparent, and that it’s clear that any violations would result in the restoration of the strongest possible sanctions.

The committee approved the compromise bill, 19-0, shortly after White House spokesman Josh Earnest conveyed the president’s decision to remove his veto threat. The bill is now likely to clear both houses of Congress. It’s expected to come before the full Senate as soon as next week.

Committee Chairman Sen. Bob Corker said Secretary of State John Kerry was lobbying against the measure on Capitol Hill just a few hours before the vote. Corker said the White House’s sudden support was dictated by the number of senators — Republicans and Democrats — backing the measure. “This bill always has been about allowing Congress the opportunity to review any final deal to ensure it is verifiable and enforceable before the president could act to unwind the sanctions that Congress put in place,” said Corker, who pushed his Republican and Democratic colleagues to reach a compromise on a hotly partisan issue. (ap)

AP Photo/Erik Schelzig, File

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2014 file photo, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. speaks in Columbia, Tenn. Democratic senators are intent on changing a bill that would give Congress a say in an emerging nuclear deal with Iran, tweaks that could make it more palatable to President Barack Obama, who called Corker and Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., on April 8, to lobby against undermining diplomatic efforts to end a standoff with Tehran.

AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere

A radio France employee unrolls a banner reading: Radio France to Save Radios, at the company’s headquarters in Paris, France, Wednesday April 15, 2015.

Protracted French radio strike shows challenges of reform

PARIS — Unions and the government are nearing agreement on the future of France’s national radio company after a 28-day strike that exemplifies the challenges of loosening up labor rules.

Broadcasts resumed Tuesday morning and staff at state-run Radio France met to discuss next steps. On Monday, four of five unions voted to return to work after progress on a compromise reform plan.

Unions at Radio France, which includes several news radio stations and two orchestras, are fighting cost cuts and layoffs.

The cuts come amid broader government efforts to encourage

hiring and reduce state spending.

The Radio France battle has shown how hard it is to reduce worker benefits and protections seen by many in France as major accomplishments of the 20th century. (ap)

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s competition chief is filing an antitrust complaint alleging Google has been abusing its dominance in Internet searches and is opening a probe into its Android mobile system.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Wednesday she is “concerned that the company has given an unfair advantage to its own comparison shopping service.”

Vestager said the separate antitrust probe into Android will investigate whether the Internet giant relies on anti-competitive deals and abuses its dominant position in Europe’s mobile market.

Vestager said her chief goal was to make sure multinationals “do not artificially deny European consumers as wide a choice as possible or stifle innovation”.

Google’s general counsel Kent Walker wrote late Tuesday that a “statement of objections” to

Google’s business practices was to be released by Vestager Wednesday. (ap)

EU files antitrust charges against Google

AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File

FILE - In this Tuesday, March 23, 2010 file photo, the Google logo is seen at the Google headquarters in Brussels.

14

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Health

International

Study links diabetes in pregnancy to higher autism risk

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

In this photo taken April 3, 2015, Eleanor Blum, 88, with Alzheimer’s disease, solves crossword puzzles. The immune system may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease, US researchers have discovered, in a breakthrough which could lead to the development of new treatments for the most common form of dementia.

Immune system link to Alzheimer’s disease

WASHINGTON - The immune system may play a part in Alzheimer’s disease, US researchers have discovered, in a breakthrough which could lead to the development of new treatments for the most common form of dementia.

A Duke University study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reported that researchers had found that certain immune system cells which normally protect the brain began to consume a key nutrient, arginine.

In tests on mice, researchers were able to block the process with a small-molecule drug to prevent brain plaques and memory loss.

The study found that while the exact role of immune system cells was unclear, the research could point to a new potential cause of Alzheimer’s while eventually opening a door to a new treatment strategy.

“If indeed arginine consumption is so important to the disease

process, maybe we could block it and reverse the disease,” said Carol Colton, professor of neurology at the Duke University School of Medicine, a senior author of the study.

“We see this study opening the doors to thinking about Alzheimer’s in a completely different way, to break the stalemate of ideas in Alzheimer’s disease.”

Research into the brains of Alzheimer’s sufferers has typically focused on two hallmarks -- “plaques” and “tangles.”

Plaques are a build-up of sticky proteins known as beta amyloid while tangles are a twisted protein called tau.

By studying a type of mouse

created several years ago with a similar type of immune system to a human, researchers found that immune cells called microglia began to divide and change early in the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Using the drug difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) before the onset of symptoms, scientists were able to block damage caused by arginase, an enzyme which breaks down arginine.

“All of this suggests to us that if you can block this local process of amino acid deprivation, then you can protect -- the mouse, at least -- from Alzheimer’s disease,” said Matthew Kan, one of the researchers involved in the study. (afp)

MIAMI - When pregnant women develop gestational diabetes early in pregnancy, their children may face a higher risk of developing autism, researchers said Tuesday.

While the findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) does not prove that diabetes in pregnancy causes autism, researchers said their findings highlight a link that deserves further study.

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects as many as one in 68 children in the United States, and its causes remain poorly understood.

Gestational diabetes affects nearly one in 10 women, and is a high blood sugar condition that arises while in pregnant women who did not previously have diabetes.

The study spanned the electronic health records of more than 322,000 children born between 28 and 44 weeks at Kaiser Permanente Southern California medical centers between 1995 and 2009.

The children were followed for an average of five and a half years after birth.

Women who developed gesta-

tional diabetes by the 26th week of pregnancy had a 63 percent higher risk of having offspring with autism than children whose mothers did not have gestational diabetes.

After accounting for factors such as maternal age, education, race and ethnicity and household income, the increased risk of autism associated with gestational diabetes was 42 percent.

There was no higher risk of autism in women who developed gestational diabetes later than the 26th week of pregnancy.

“The exposure of fetuses to maternal hyperglycemia may have long-lasting effects on organ development and function, but whether this can disrupt fetal brain development and heighten risk for neurobehavioral developmental disorders in offspring is less clear,” said lead author Anny Xiang of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research and Evaluation.

“Future studies should address whether early diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes can reduce the risk of autism.” (afp)

The brain’s aging and a new report urges ways to stay sharp

WASHINGTON — The brain ages just like the rest of a body, says a new report that urges seniors to take steps to keep sharp. The prestigious Institute of Medicine examined what scientists know about “cognitive aging,” changes in mental functioning as we get older.

This isn’t a disease like Alzheimer’s but a natural process — and it’s not always bad. Wisdom can indeed increase with age, and years of experience can prove invaluable, stressed Dr. Dan Blazer, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Duke University who chaired the IOM committee.

“The brain ages in all of us. But there’s wide variability in the way the brain ages,” Blazer said.

Staying cognitively sharp is one of the biggest concerns of seniors, with good reason. Tuesday’s report warns that even subtle slowdowns can affect daily life, making seniors more vulnerable to financial scams, driving problems or other difficulties in a technology-driven world.

Indeed, while some people will experience little if any cognitive change, many older adults process information more slowly, and have more difficulty multitasking than

when they were younger, the report found. What’s called working memory — the brain’s short-term storage — often declines with age but typically long-term memory remains intact even if it takes longer to recall someone’s name.

That kind of change may not be obvious until, say, someone is faced with a complex financial decision or forced to make a transaction quickly and has trouble, Blazer said. Older adults are losing nearly $3 billion a year, directly and indirectly, to financial fraud, the report noted.

What’s the difference between normal aging and cognitive decline?

“There’s no clear line that we can draw here,” Blazer cautioned.

Someone experiencing memory difficulty needs to be checked by a doctor, said IOM panelist Dr. Jason Karlawish of the University of Pennsylvania. With Alzheimer’s, nerve cells in the brain die. With normal cognitive aging, neurons don’t die — they just don’t work as well, he explained.

The best advice for staying sharp as you get older: Be physically active.

The sooner you start the better, but it’s never too late, Blazer said. (ap)

Bali News

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

15 American, Canadian models, deported from Bali

3

KUTA - The Ngurah Rai immigration office in Bali province has deported 15 foreign nationals, who are models and their crew from the U. S and Canada, for abusing their permits of stay.

“All the foreign nationals came to Bali using the visaon-arrival facility. However, they abused the visas by having photo shoots,” a spokesman for the immigration office, Mohamad Soleh, said on Tuesday.

While 11 of the 15 foreign nationals are from the U. S., four are from Canada, he added.

Nine of them are models and six are crew members.

The crew members from Canada included hairdresser Dina Morel, makeup artist Aurelie Elisabeth Renout, and social media officer Chloe Terae Thomson, while those from the U. S were manager Luis Munoz, marketing officer Ronald Hansen and lighting officer Mariel Dulgicer.

Photo shoots were carried out in a number of places, including in a luxury villa in Canggu area, in Seminjak area, and in the zoo in Gianyar district.

“We arrested them on Friday (April 10) at around 9:00 p. m. after monitoring them for two days from Wednesday (April 8),” Soleh revealed.

Based on results of the investigation, evidence and documents, the models and crew members belonged to a group that carried out activities called “paradise challenges,” the spokesman pointed out.

Moreover, the foreign nationals were deported in stages from Monday (April 13), he added.

ANTARA FOTO/Nyoman Budhiana “Two of them were deported in the first phase on Monday, and three others will be deported tonight,” Soleh Officers of The Ngurah Rai immigration office showed passports of foreign nationals who violated peraffirmed. (ant) mits of stay.

Less and less travellers visit Batu Tumpeng Beach SEMARAPURA - The government of Klungkung has not been managing tourism to its maximum potential, as seen by the condition of the coastal area of Batu Tumpeng, Gelgel village. The beach, located to the east of Watu Klotok Temple and that is often visited by surfers, is showing signs of neglect.

The black sandy beach of Batu Tumpeng, is not been managed optimally, so that things like the road leading to the beach and to Batu Tumpeng Temple have become severely damaged, with gaping potholes along the entire length of road and that become even worse near the temple. The potholes have become filled with mud and gravel making this road, located just 1 km from Jalan Bypass I.B. Mantra, very hard to navigate.

Such conditions are deplored by locals who say Batu Tumpeng Beach’s waves are famous amongst travellers who come here deliberately to surf them. Unfortunately, since facilities have been so neglected, less and less travellers are bothering to visit. “For the last three weeks, there has been a severe decline in visitors,” said local resident, Ni Nyoman Wati who runs a shop near the beach.

According to Wati, normally there are about five to ten travelers -mostly

from Japan, America and Australia, who visit Batu Tumpeng Beach to surf, escorted by a tour guide. Wati has noticed that there have been less visitors recently. She said that she was not sure why there was a drop in surfers visiting Batu Tumpeng Beach, but she did say: “many travelers ask about

the damaged road, which so far has not been repaired.”

Apart from the severely damaged road, the beach itself is also being eroded from abrasion. A levee has been installed on Batu Tumpeng Beach to help overcome the problem, but it only stretched along 100 meters,

which is not long enough to stop the abrasion which now threatens Ketapang Kembar Temple.

Wati and her son, Gde Suarnata, explained the the waves here are quite large, and often splash onto the sidewalk ontop of the levee. “Yes the waves often crash onto the sidewalk

Batu Tumpeng Beach

IBP/kmb

which has begun to collapse as a result,” added Suarnata. (kmb)

2

International

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Bali News

International

Purchasing power of farmers in Bali down

DENPASAR - The purchasing power of Balinese farmers is down, precisely at the moment when prices for basic commodities are soaring. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, the purchasing power of farmers in Bali has decreased as seen by the decline in the farmer exchange value (NTP) which determines the economic ability of farmers in relation to market values. When the exchange value is high farmers have more purchasing power an device versa.

The results of the price monitoring, conducted in rural areas of Bali, in January 2015, indicates that the farmer exchange value has decreased from 104.19 in previous month to 104.18 or is down by 0.01 percent.

In general, the decline in the farmer exchange value is caused by a greater decrease in the index value received by farmers than the decrease in the index paid by farmers. There are two sub-sectors showing a decrease, namely the Smallholder Crop and Horticulture, while the farmer exchange value of other subsector shows an increase.

The farmer exchange value of Bali for February 2015 showed a decrease of 0.27 percent,(from 104.18 to 103.90). According to data, the index of prices received by farmers in February 2015 there was a decrease of 0.65 percent (from 120.25 to 119.46).

Meanwhile, the index of prices paid by farmers decreased by 0.39 percent from 115.42 to 114.97.

According to the Secretary of the Indonesian Economists Association (ISEI) of Bali Chapter, Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Raka Suardana, the decrease in farmers’ purchasing power is caused by the strongly felt increase in the

price of goods, especially basic needs such as rice, fuel, LPG and electricity over the past three months.

“The government raised fuel prices again, which invariably affects the general public and farmers in particular,” said Raka Suardana on Wednesday.

What is more, the price of raw commodities produced by farmers has not gone up very much. Farmers already sell at a very low price, with the majority of profits been made by intermediaries. “Middlemen or traders make the bulk of the profits, so famers end up loosing out on both ends,” he said.

When asked about the role of government, this Dean of Undiknas University stated that the government has taken steps to address these problem but could for example change the way purchases arranged through the Logistic Agency (Bulog) which are usually buys from traders or collectors not directly from farmes.

“Obviously the price set by the market does not reach the famers, it is the middlemen who enjoy the benefits.

Farmers in Bali are mostly sharecroppers or farm laborers, so of course the amount paid to them by collectors is

Activities

DENPASAR – Archipelago International, one of Indonesia’s leading hotel operators, is ready to open another Quest hotel in Bali this April, this time in the bustling capital of Denpasar. unique and inspiring designs, creative hospitality concepts and state of the art technology for travelers seeking

a stylish yet unpretentious environment. The upcoming hotel, Quest San Denpasar, will continue this concept

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

The purchasing power of Balinese farmers is down, precisely at the moment when prices for basic commodities are soaring. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, the purchasing power of farmers in Bali has decreased as seen by the decline in the farmer exchange value (NTP) are of land and every harvest he can obtain 3.5 tons, at most. The profits obtained after deducting production and labor costs, is around IDR 3 million every three months or IDR 1 million a month. If the land is sold to a developer for IDR 20 million per 100 square meters, then farmers instantly receive IDR 1 billion.

“If it is deposited in a bank, the farmer will then receive approximately IDR 4.5 million a month in interest. This calculation applies to land sold for IDR 20 million per 100 square meters. Just imagine if the price is IDR 50 million or even IDR 200 million per 100 square meters, then for obvious economic reasons, the farmland will be con-

verted into building developments,” he explained.

Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) of Bali Chapter, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Suparta said that the government has supported the work of farmers with technology, fertilizer and management. But clearly the government does not protect farmers in terms of the farmer exchange value.

“The marketing system has not been addressed clearly and strongly.

No system has been established, which means that farmers are still losing the price battle. Consequently, the farmer exchange value makes being a farmer even less profitable,” he said. (kmb27)

retariat of Government of Buleleng, I Ketut Suparto, admitted such condition in his office on Tuesday (Apr. 14). Suparto said that the investment team actually has been very open to all investors that will submit investment proposal in Buleleng. As long as the document is declared complete and legal as well as all the procedures have been passed properly, the investment team as directed by the regent will not refuse to provide recommendations for investment proposal of the investors.

But all this time, he discovered many facts in the field that many capital owners having submitted proposals and been given recommendation do not followed it up properly. “On

the one side, the proposals have been given recommendation, but the investors do not follow it up by submitting other principle permits. Apparently the investors are not serious to invest in our region,” he said.

Suparto cited as example that within the past few years the investment team of local government received the investment offer of investor in tourism field. In the proposal of investment planning, the domestic investor will develop a seaplane area in the waters of Pemuteran village, Gerokgak. Reportedly, proposal of the principle permit for the investment plan was already issued in the mid of 2014. Unfortunately, after the recommendation is issued, the inves-

tor does not follow it up by completing with documents of other permit.

Against this condition, Suparto claimed to have sent a reprimand the investor because every recommendation of principle permit issued by the investment team has validity for six months. Any expired recommendation must be extended if the investor will continue their investment.

“It is one of the examples. The recommendation of seaplane has been issued around the mid of 2014, but so far there is no follow-up. We can ensure that its validity has expired and the recommendations must be submitted again,” he said.

On the other hand, Suparto said that in general the development

of investment in the region lately showed a significant increasing trend.

From the record in recent years, the value of investment in this region has reached approximately IDR 225 billion. Of that investment value, the labor absorbed reached 1,337 people dominated by local residents and the remaining are residents from outside the region.

This investment is dominated by tourism sector followed by industry and the remaining is other service. If only all the investors are serious to invest and in fact they really make investment in the field, it can be ascertained that the investment value recorded will be much from the number recorded today. (kmb38)

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of the affordable lifestyle 3-star hotel brand.

With this in mind, the Quest San Denpasar will be a modern, convenient and enjoyable hotel, delightfully furnished throughout the 179 rooms and suites, which cover 4 different room types. The hotel will also feature a signature restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool as well as a spa and a fitness center. Gearing itself towards business travelers, there will also be 4 meeting rooms and an event-friendly ballroom that can accommodate up to 300 persons.

Located on Jl. Mahendradata in the vicinity of Denpasar’s commercial hub and easily accessible from Kuta and Seminyak, the new Quest will become a popular choice for tourists seeking a central base from which to explore the island. It is also one of the few Bali hotels that focuses on the needs of professionals, conference planners, and business travelers, and thus is well suited for small to medium-sized corporate gatherings.

“We are very excited to be opening another Quest hotel here in Bali. The city of Denpasar is a perfect location for our premium budget hotel brand, and with the addition of dedicated MICE facilities, we are pleased to also cater to the growing market of business and conference travel.” Said Tenaiya Brookfield, VP Sales & Marketing at Archipelago International.

Balinese Temple Ceremony

Deplored, investors unserious to invest in Buleleng

SINGARAJA - Lately interest of capital owners (investors—Ed) to invest in Buleleng show a significant increase. However, many investors apparently are not serious to invest in North Bali after getting a recommendation for their investment proposal.

Apparently investors deliberately not continue their proposal to look for other supporting permit through relevant technical agency in Buleleng County. Some investors have completed all the licensing documents, but they have not made any investment as planned.

Secretary of investment team doubling as the Head of the Economic and Development Affairs in the Sec-

15

New Quest Hotel to open in Denpasar

The Quest brand by Archipelago International aims to combine the value of premium budget hotels with

not enough,” he said.

FOr this reason, Suardana suggests that the Bulog purchase grain directly from farmers, not through intermediaries. “Probably it will be difficult to implement because it requires a lot of people, but it would certainly increase farmers’ income,” he said.

As for the government’s role in protecting agricultural lands, Suardana considers that that there is a lot of room for improvement given that farmers continue to be marginalized and forced to only think about the immediate future. “If farmlands can be sold to developer for very high prices, why should they remain poor farmers?” he asked.

For example, a farmer has 0.5 hect-

Thursday, April 16, 2015

IBP/Courtesy of Archipelago International

Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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

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

16 Pages Number 85 7th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Tom Hanks’ wife had double mastectomy

John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File

In a Sunday, March 29, 2015, file photo, Nick Jonas arrives at the iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Billboard announced Tuesday, April 14, 2015, that Jonas, Sam Smith and Hozier will take the stage at the Billboard Music Awards on on May 17.

Sam Smith, Nick Jonas, Hozier to perform at Billboard Awards

LOS ANGELES - Rita Wilson, wife of Hollywood star Tom Hanks, revealed that she had a double mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis, People Magazine reported Tuesday.

The actress and singer, 58, told People that she underwent surgery last week and that she is taking a break from her work on the Broadway stage to recover from the procedure.

“Last week, with my husband by my side, and with the love and support of family and friends, I underwent a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction for breast cancer after a diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma,” Wilson told the magazine.

The actress said she initially was told that she did not have cancer, but received the diagnosis after consulting a second physician.

“I am recovering and most importantly, expected to make a full recovery. Why? Because I caught this early, have excellent doctors and because I got a second opinion.”

A mother of two, Wilson said she expects to be able to return next month to her role in “Fish in the Dark,” a play having a successful run on Broadway.

Wilson’s revelation about her cancer comes on the heels of last month’s revelation

by Hollywood star Angelina Jolie that she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed over fears of a hereditary form of cancer, following a double mastectomy two years ago.

Experts said the pre-emptive surgeries greatly reduced the odds that Jolie would die from the aggressive mutation of the disease that killed her mother, grandmother and aunt. (afp)

WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps

Thursday, April 16,

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

2015

China accuses Dalai Lama of inciting Tibet self-immolations Page 6

Goalkeeper Oblak helps Atletico hold Real Madrid to 0-0 draw Page 8

Protracted French radio strike shows challenges of reform Page 13

Tourism contributing to water crisis

DENPASAR - Water is not only a basic need for daily life, but is also required by the tourism lost. If the construction of hotels sector. With the number of hotel rooms in Bali having reached 77,496 (data compilation of PHRI continues, the water will run out, and we cannot create new sources Bali 2014—Ed), a clean water crisis is emerging as a serious threat.

“I once made the simple calculation: if the occupancy rate of the 77,000 hotel rooms reaches 50 percent and we multiply this by 360 days, it would mean that 13,900,000 liters of water would be needed that year,” said Chairman of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter, Dr. Cok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati familiarly called Cok Ace in a discussion in Denpasar, on Tuesday (Apr. 14).

Nevertheless, added Cok Ace, tourism business people cannot be entirely blamed if a water crisis occurs because Balinese people

are also considered to be wasteful in their use of water. Ideally, water consumption per person should be between 50 to 60 liters per day for drinking, bathing and so on. However, in Bali the consumption of water reaches as much as 183 liters per person per day.

“It is three times more than the sustainable figure allows for, and this is because in the past, there was always an abundance of water. Now that the culture has shifted from agriculture to industrial, we are still holding on to our old habit of using a lot of water,” said Cok Ace. This former regent of Gianyar

therefore invites all stakeholders, including the general public, to work hand in hand to make sure that development happens in a controlled manner. Apart from creating stricter zoning laws, general attention must be paid to the carrying capacity of the island.

Otherwise, sooner or later travelers will be forced to abandon Bali as a destination. “If we have agreed to develop the concept of cultural tourism, we must consequently dare to determine and respond to the carrying capacity. Without submitting to the limits of the carrying capacity of Bali, our main attraction will be

of water,” he said.

In the same discussion, Managing Director of the Denpasar Municipality Waterworks (PDAM), Putu Gede Mahaputra, declared that South Bali as a tourist center, is the most wasteful in its se of water. In Denpasar, 196 liters of water are used per person per day. The total water demand amounts to 1,440 liters per second, while PDAM Denpasar which serves 78,067 consumers, can only provide 1,253 liters per second.

“We still have a deficit of 187 liters per second, if we want to provide all the water that people demand for their wasteful usage.

Talking about having an average of 60 litres per person per day as the standard of the Ministry of Public Works suggests, this is only realistic in rural areas,” he said.

In urban areas, the daily consumption could be set at 120 liters per person. However, since we are accustomed to using excessive amounts of water, we are now finally facing a deficit,” he explained. (kmb32) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http://radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

NEW YORK — Sam Smith, Nick Jonas and Hozier will take the stage at the Billboard Music Awards. Billboard announced the performers Tuesday. The show will air live on ABC on May 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Smith is the second most nominated act with 13, including top artist, Hot 100 song for “Stay With Me” and Billboard 200 album for “In the Lonely Hour.” Taylor Swift is the leading nominee with 14 nominations.

Hozier is up for five awards, including top new artist and rock song for “Take Me to

Church.” Jonas is riding high off his solo hits “Jealous” and “Chains.”

They join previously announced performers Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa. Ariana Grande, One Direction and Katy Perry will compete with Smith and Swift for top artist. (ap)

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File

Billy Joel, girlfriend expecting baby this summer

NEW YORK — Billy Joel has a new release this summer: a baby. A representative for the 65-year-old singer said Joel and girlfriend Alexis Roderick are expecting their first child.

They have been dating since 2009.

Roderick will be 34 next month. The baby will be Joel’s second child and first with Roderick. He is the father of singer-

songwriter Alexa Ray Joel.

The statement from Joel’s representative said the couple “opted to keep any further details of her pregnancy under wraps until their

new addition makes an official debut.”

Joel is completing a month-to-month residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City. His next show is on May 28. (ap)

IBP/File Photo

Tourists flocked at Sanur Beach during the holiday season. Water is not only a basic need for daily life, but is also required by the tourism sector. With the number of hotel rooms in Bali having reached 77,496 (data compilation of PHRI Bali 2014—Ed), a clean water crisis is emerging as a serious threat.