Edition Tuesday, April 17, 2018 | Internasional Bali Post

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

IBP/net

Carrie Underwood performs onstage during the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Beyonce throws Coachella homecoming with Destiny’s Child reunion

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

INDIO - Beyonce returned spectacularly to the stage Saturday with a joyous, homecoming-themed party at the Coachella festival where she delighted fans with a rare reunion of her former trio Destiny’s Child.

Before a sea of some 100,000 people in the southern California desert, the pop superstar headlined the second night of the premier global music festival, ending a year-long hiatus from live music as she gave birth to twins.

Beyonce showed no sign of slowing down after her maternity leave, singing and strutting her stuff with little break for two hours as she led around 100 back-up dancers and musicians.

Her husband, rap mogul Jay-Z, popped up on stage toward the end of her set to join in their song “Deja Vu.” But he turned out to be only a preview of a less routine guest appearance.

With an audio recording of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay “We Should All Be Feminists” allowing Beyonce a moment to prepare, she re-emerged being elevated to the stage in an unmistakable silhouette of three figures.

Fellow Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined Beyonce for three of the trio’s songs, including “Say My Name.”

It was their first reunion since Beyonce’s Super Bowl halftime show in 2013. The group propelled Beyonce to stardom but was also beset by internal friction.

On Saturday, Beyonce referred to her bandmates as her “sisters” -- and was also joined on stage by her real sister, Solange Knowles.

Beyonce made clear from the start that Coachella was about reuniting, with an announcer starting the show by welcoming guests to her “homecoming.”

A school’s worth of brass and string players played from stadium-style stands as Beyonce entered to a New Orleans-style march. She sported an all-American outfit of tight jean shorts and a collegiate sweatshirt -- the Greek letters, of course, starting with “B.” After revving up the crowd with fireworks and the boisterous “Crazy in Love,” Beyonce offered a take on “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the unofficial African American national anthem. (afp)

LOS ANGELES - he 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards were notable for many reasons. They were held in Las Vegas, a mere few months after a horrific shooting at another country event took place in that very city. Reba McEntire returned to reclaim her longtime hosting duties. Chris Stapleton’s wife gave birth right in the midst of it all.

However, for many fans, there was just one moment to tune in for: Namely, the big live reveal of Carrie Underwood’s face. For months, Underwood — who suffered a fall back in November that necessitated 40-50 stitches to her face — had laid low on social media, only posting pictures of her face with strategic disguising props such as scarves.

She progressed to revealing herself in profile, then moved on to full-on photos that either were a bit zoomed out or had clever lighting. All of this understandably had fans wondering what the heck she was hiding?

When Underwood did take the stage to perform her new single “Cry Pretty,” nobody knew quite what to expect. However, those who were betting on something dramatic — well, good thing they weren’t betting on Vegas tables, because they lost that bet.

Underwood’s face looked smooth as glass; as perfect and flawless as ever. “Pretty” was the only word to describe her.

She received a standing ovation for her performance — which also was flawless — but fans on social media, predictably, reacted with confusion and a little bit of irritation. After all, the mystery of Carrie’s face really had gone on for a long time. (net)

Beyoncé at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

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Passengers prepare to board boats to Nusa Penida island from Sanur beach on Bali on March 21, 2018.

SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Trouble in Paradise: Tourism surge lashes Southeast Asia’s beaches

Hordes of tourists clamber across the white sand with selfie sticks as Thai park rangers wade into turquoise waters to direct boats charging into the cliff-ringed cove.

Made famous by the 2000 movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Maya Bay on the western Thai island of Koh Phi Phi Ley is now a case study in the ruinous costs of runaway tourism, swamped by up to 4,000 daily visitors.

“There is too many people here, it’s bad,” lamented Saad Lazrak, a 61-year-old from Morocco, as crowds around him swallowed the stretch of sand encircled by an amphitheatre of limestone cliffs.

Across the region, Southeast Asia’s once-pristine beaches are reeling from decades of unchecked tourism as governments scramble to confront trash-filled waters and environmental degradation without puncturing a key economic driver.

Thailand’s Maya Bay will be off limits for four months from June to September, officials announced last month, in a bid to save its ravaged coral reefs.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered this month the Boracay beach resort closed to tourists for up to six months from April 26, describing the destination as a “cesspool” tainted by sewage dumped directly into the sea.

Indonesian officials, meanwhile, declared a “garbage emergency” last year swamping a six-kilometre stretch of coast along the island of Bali. The island’s grim coastal pollution was highlighted in March

by British diver Rich Horner’s viral video of swimming through a sea

of trash swirling off shore.

“Plastic bags, more plastic bags, plastic, plastic, so much plastic!”

Horner said in a Facebook post that has been viewed more than a million times.

- Breathing space Conservationists and governments are worried about the health of coral reefs, which are in a dire state globally due to climate change and rising sea temperatures.

When exposed to warmer waters, they shed the algae that dazzle the eye and are vital to marine ecosystems, leaving the corals diseased or bone-white in a process called bleaching.

Environmental stress, including pollution, human contact and exposure to plastics that comes with mass tourism are also major threats to reefs that are part of the draw for

snorkellers and scuba-divers.

“Tourism has a series of detrimental effects on coral health,” said Eike Schoenig, a Thailand-based marine biologist at the Center for Oceanic Research and Education.

Countries in Southeast Asia are looking to stem the threats without cutting off the cash flow of a regional tourism boom, led by China, the top source market for travellers to the region. Thailand received 35 million tourists last year, of whom nearly 10 million hailed from China, according to official data.

But what is good for business can be bad for beaches.

Songtam Suksawang, Thailand’s National Park Office Director, told AFP he personally inspected the beach at Maya Bay and said it “must definitely be (temporarily) closed” in order to rehabilitate it.

He said authorities are discussing

new rules once the shut-down is lifted, such as restrictions on the number of daily visitors, better regulation of boats and a higher entrance fee.

- Tourism costs Thailand is also conducting studies on six other marine parks, while the Philippines is weighing action on other top destinations buckling under mass tourism. But governments are wary of curtailing an industry that creates jobs and buoys economies.

Continued to page 6 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.

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Bali News

International

International

Activities

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Blood Donors are Life Savers

To attract quality travelers

Bangli unable to build star-rated hotel as having no tourism area

BANGLI —Bangli is the only district in Bali having no tourism area. This condition makes it unable to be built star-rated hotels and tourism facilities as in other districts. As a result, the tourism and people’s economy in Bangli cannot grow even though every year Bali is visited by up to millions of tourists.

A former legislator of the Bangli House of Representatives, Ida Bagus Santosa, said on Sunday (Apr. 15) that Bali currently has 16 areas included in the tourism area. Of the dozens of tourism areas, none exists in Bangli district. As having no tourism area, Bangli cannot be built with tourism facilities in the form of star-rated hotels by investors. Visiting tourists to Bangli so far finally just ‘pissed.’

According to him, the existence of starred hotels in an area greatly affects the development of tourism and the economy of the surrounding communities. With the starred hotels, other tourism supporting facilities will emerge and the economic development of the community will move dynamically.

“So far, Bangli seems to be marginalized. Geographically, the region of Bangli has many destinations worth selling. However, Bangli is not given the quota of tourism area, and only given the sacred duties of guarding mountains and lakes,” he said.

This man from Demulih village, Susut, also very much deplored even though it has such condition, none of the parties in Bangli want to protest and ask for justice so that Bangli can be defined as a tourism area. The Bangli government, according to Santosa, seemed to accept such a fate.

“The measure to be taken now is that Bangli people must unite to claim their rights. There must be a regulatory change for Bangli so as to have a tourism area. Thus, the economy of Bangli community can grow and develop. Do not just accept the fate as it is,” said Santosa. (kmb40)

Products and services must also be qualified

DENPASAR —Bali tourism is expected to become quality other competitive benefits. “We cantourism. Bali seems unable to apply quality tourism because it not blame on them because they are investing. They also need guests, remains to be hampered by a number of obstacles.

Advisor to Bali Tourism Board, Bagus Sudibya, said if wishing to get quality tourist visit, the products and services offered must also be qualified. He considered Bali cannot apply this quality tourism because there are still constraints of waste, clean water, transportation and tourist destinations.

He explained that quality tourism means the tourists are qualified.

Quality tourists are not only seen in terms of their purchasing power, but also in terms of mature plan to go to a destination with a particular purpose.

If wishing to draw quality tourists to come, the products offered must also be qualified, according to expectations of guests. Quality products include the airlines used, quality tourist destination, airport with the services, ground transportation, tour guides and quality drivers. “All of them are produced by qualified human resources, like a quality chef produces quality food,” he said on Sunday (Apr. 15). Products and services yielded by qualified human resources will attract quality tourists to come.

Bali should indeed lead to quality tourism. However, it does not necessarily mean that Bali can bring in quality tourists. One of the requirements is the product served must have a good quality.

The concept of quality tourism is to have a clean habit, green concept and good water, so that it is believed

there is a good life, including good oxygen. On that account, this green concept indeed demands the firmness of law enforcement, which area can be built and which area belongs to green open space.

If wishing to bring in quality tourists, friendly attitude should also be upheld. Honesty is also important because it is a reflection of quality human beings. This is for the sustainability of Bali tourism itself. If tourists are deceived, it will provide a negative image for tourists. Later on, they will not come to Bali again.

Meanwhile, Division Head of the MICE Acceleration Team of the Ministry of Tourism, I.B. Surakusuma or familiarly called Gus Lolec, said the low hotel room rates to attract tourists cannot be avoided due to room rate competition among hoteliers. Room rate competition occurs due to excessive hotel room availability.

The number of new hotels and unclear investment make it difficult for hoteliers. So, it is no wonder at certain seasons, the supply is more than demand. “If they are suppressed how they can sell because they borrow money from the bank. So, it is just like between the devil and the deep sea or they are faced with difficult situation,” he said.

Currently the hotel competes by lowering their room rate as low as possible and making packages with

right. However, the guests obtained through a tight campaign also make it difficult. If they compete and do not get guests how they pay off their debts,” he joked.

The hotel associations such as the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) and Bali Hotel Association (BHA) should encourage their members not to dump. Meanwhile, in the matter of room rate, the local government cannot intervene because the room rate is a policy or hotel management decision.

Therefore, the associations and local governments should cooperate to make a bottom rate agreement.

In other words, the room rate in a contract agreement issued should be different from publish rate. “It’s a secret, if it sells under the contract rates provided for travel agencies, the Bali tourism will go bankrupt. Bali tourism has an ethics that must be accounted for,” he said.

Even though the presence of 10 New-Bali is believed to be able to make quality Bali tourism, he doubts who will supervise and control this matter. The hotel reserves the right to sell the room at an agreed room rates. Meanwhile, tourists cannot be directed to choose another place for their vacation. Even if the room rate installed for a trip to Bali is raised, tourists are confident there must be agency selling the hotel room at a lower price. (kmb42)

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

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On Friday, 6th April 2018, Hard Rock Hotel Bali conducted a blood donation drive in conjunction with the Indonesian Red Cross Denpasar City.

The donated blood will be used for transfusions or made into medications, giving someone else another chance at life. In fact, we may help save up to three lives with just one donation.

“The blood donation program is held twice annually as part of our contribution to the local community and in line with our mantra and philosophy to: “Take Time To Be Kind”, said Ketut Narendra Wiriadijaya as Marketing Communications Manager Hard Rock Hotel Bali. More than 40 participants from Hard Rock Hotel Bali joined the program.

He added that the guests are very enthusiastic in joining the event. “Not only our guests but some guests from other hotels are also taking part in donating their blood,” Narendra said.

Hard Rock also invited tourism businessmen and media partner to join. “In addition to blood donor, we also carried out carithy fun run and other event as a part of our CSR,” he explained. There is great hope that the event will be carried out for many times more and could help others.

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Science

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

International

This undated NASA artist’s illustration released on April 11, 2018 shows NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) that is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida no earlier than April 16, 2018.

NASA’s new planet-hunter to seek closer, Earth-like worlds

TAMPA - NASA is poised to launch a $337 million washing machine-sized spacecraft that aims to vastly expand mankind’s search for planets beyond our solar system, particularly closer, Earth-sized ones that might harbor life.

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, is scheduled to launch Monday at 6:32 pm (2232 GMT) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Its main goal over the next two years is to scan more than 200,000 of the brightest stars for signs of planets circling them and causing a dip in brightness known as a transit.

NASA predicts that TESS will discover 20,000 exoplanets -- or planets outside the solar system -- including more than 50 Earth-sized planets and up to 500 planets less than twice the

size of Earth. “They are going to be orbiting the nearest, brightest stars,” Elisa Quintana, TESS scientist at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center, told reporters on Sunday.

“We might even find planets that orbit stars that we can even see with the naked eye,” she added.

“So in the next few years we might even be able to walk outside and point at a star and know that it has a planet.

This is the future.”

- Follow-on to Kepler Just a couple of decades ago, the

notion of finding habitable planets -or any planets at all -- was a mere fantasy, said Paul Hertz, astrophysics division director at NASA. “Humans have wondered forever whether we were alone in the universe, and until 25 years ago the only planets we knew about were the eight in our own solar system,” he told reporters on the eve of the TESS launch.

“But since then, we have found thousands of planets orbiting others stars and we think all the stars in our galaxy must have their own

family of planets.”

TESS is designed as a follow-on to the US space agency’s Kepler spacecraft, which was the first of its kind and launched in 2009. The aging spacecraft is currently low on fuel and near the end of its life.

Kepler found a massive trove of exoplanets by focusing on one patch of sky, which contained about 150,000 stars like the Sun. The Kepler mission found 2,300 confirmed exoplanets, and thousands more candidate planets. But many were too distant and dim to study further.

TESS, with its four advanced cameras, will scan an area that is 350 times larger, comprising 85

percent of the sky in the first two years alone.

“By looking at such a large section of the sky –- this kind of stellar real estate -- we open up the ability to cherry-pick the best stars to do follow-up science,” said Jenn Burt, a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“On average the stars that TESS observes are 30-100 times brighter and 10 times closer than the stars that Kepler focused on.”

TESS uses the same method as Kepler for finding potential planets, by tracking the dimming of light when a celestial body passes in front of a star. (afp)

Nearly 1,400 Sharks Spotted In Mysterious Gathering Off East Coast NEARLY 1,400 basking sharks were spotted in aerial photos in a puzzling gathering off the East Coast of the U.S. The unusual plankton-eating basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world — surpassed only by the whale shark — and have been generally believed to be solitary swimmers. The huge fish can reach 32 feet in length and weigh as much as five tons.

An analysis of satellite and aerial photos found hundreds of them collected in a kind of shark conference in the waters off southern New England in 2013, according to a new study. Scientist suspect the gathering wasn’t related to mating.

The animals were all adults or juveniles, according to the research published this

month in the Journal of Fish Biology.

Researchers speculate the sharks may have been in a feeding frenzy on a plankton bloom in the area before setting off on their annual autumn migration south. A survey the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted shortly after the 2013 gathering found high concentrations of zooplankton, adding support for that theory.

Until the study, basking sharks were known to gather occasionally, but only a few hundred at a time at the most and generally in the Pacific, according to experts.

The population estimates for the area are “in the hundreds,” marine conservation biologist Boris Worm told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “So 1,400

would be not just a large group, but a large chunk of the population.”

Scientists found the unusual gathering by studying more than three decades of aerial photos that were collected in studies seeking North Atlantic right whales.

Ten significant aggregations of basking sharks were identified off the coast of Nova Scotia and New England between 1980 and 2013, ranging from 36 to at least 1,398, the largest ever reported.

Whatever the reason for the mysterious gathering, scientists see it a positive sign for the species. During the 20th century, the slow-moving sharks were intensely hunted until their population eventually collapsed. They’re currently protected in the U.S. and U.K. (net)

IBP/net

Nearly 1,400 basking sharks were spotted in aerial photos in a puzzling

Bali News

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

3

Inter-regional disparities highlighted DENNPASAR — The economic disparities amongst different regions of Bali were highlighted in the Bali Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang) held at the Governor of Bali’s office’s Wiswasabha Utama on Thursday (Apr. 12). Apart from issues related to the Human Development Index (HDI), other key issues and strategies were also addressed during the two day meeting.

“There are still massive economic disparities between Southern Bali and the North, East and West of Bali. Our HDI is not optimal because health, education and income levels remain low”, said Director General of Regional Government Development from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nata Wirawan.

According to Wirawan, infrastructure development in Bali needs to be directed to Northern, Eastern and Western Bali in order to bridge the gap. Minum service standards need to be improved in order for people to have access to better quality education and health. Also, added Wirawan, Bali needs to improve it’s competitiveness in terms of commodities for export markets.

“Bali’s weak competitiveness in export commodities means that the lcoal econimy lacks added value.

Bali’s leading commodities need to be developed and pioneering efforts need to be made”, he explained.

Wirawan also pointed to the need for Bali to use it’s local revenue and government expenditures more efficiently. Regional inflation also needs ot be controlled, reional plannign and budgeting needs to meet deadlines, sources of regionaly generated revenue (PAD) need to be worked on , dependancy on balancing fnds or transfer from the central gvernment needs ot be reduced and public services need to be improved, he delivered.

Head of the Bali Research and Development Bureau, I Wayan Wiasthana Ika Putra, shared that the reduction of disparities between regions is one of the priorities for the Bali Regional Development Plan 2019. One way to do this is through infrastructure development and environemntal conservation. Basic services need to be made available to people all over Bali as a human development priority for social equity, he added.

“Another prioroty is to boost the economy of these regions by adding value to agriculutral products, tourism services, creative industires and productive servies. Maintianing peaceful living conditions, conserving cultural practices, imporving governmance and improving the quality of beaurocraxy also need to be worked on, said Putra.

Putra also said the the development plan meeting also included disccusion about the district / municipal proposal regarding direct expenditure and special financial assistance (BKK). There were a total of 129 proposal for direct spending in the form of programs and activities aimed at the Province of Bali altogether valued at IDR IDR 4.474 trillion. There were also 187 BKK proposals with a total value of IDR 2. 176 trillion.

There were also proposals for the the government of Bali;s direct spending in the initial draft of the RKPD 2019 requiring a budget of IDR 2.593 trillion. The formulation of the regional financial policy direction is adjusted to the projected revenue and the percentage of budget deficit is rationally allocated to fund direct expenditure in the RKPD 2019 worth IDR 1.368 trillion.

“Hopefully, with the permission of the governor, the relevant ministry could provide a boost to support the Province of Bali in being allocated a larger budget than last year”, said Putra. (kmb32)

IBP/kmb

Bhakti pepranian becomes a part of the procession in Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa at Ulun Danu Batur Temple, Batur customary village, Kintamani.

Bhakti pepranian

Expression of people’s gratitude for graces of the Creator

BANGLI — Bhakti pepranian becomes a part of the procession in Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa at Ulun Danu Batur Temple, Batur customary village, Kintamani. In the process of bhakti pepranian, Batur customary villagers give the best produce in the form of food along with dishes as well as fruits and tubers. It signifies an expression of gratitude for all the graces bestowed by the Creator.

The procession of bhakti pepranian at Ulun Danu Batur Temple was held on Friday (Apr. 13). Bhakti pepranian is held in the madya mandala (middle courtyard) of the temple and was followed by hundreds of pilgrims and government officials. This procession marked the end of the series of Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa at the Ulun Danu Batur Temple held on March 31.

Supporting devotee (pangemong) of Ulun Danu Batur Temple at Batur customary village, Jro Gede Batur Duhuran, explained the purpose of implementing the bhakti pepranian is as an expression of gratitude as well as apologies to God if there were drawbacks committed by people during the implementation of the ritual. “As a human being, surely we cannot escape from making a mistake. Moreover, the Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa is a great ritual. Of course, there is a lack or missing. So, the bhakti pepranian is our means to apologize to Him

while invoking so as to be endowed with safety and well-being to the universe along with the contents,” he explained.

Jro Gede Batur Duhuran added that in the bhakti pepranian the ritual paraphernalia presented consists of food, side dishes, fruits and tubers. They are of the best ones owned by the community. Having been presented, the offerings are begged with family. It signifies togetherness. Devotees also beg to God in order to be bestowed with safety and prosperity for all.

He added that after the bhakti pepranian was then continued with bhakti perang-perangan through the presentation of Baris Jojor Dance and Baris Gede Dance. Both dances are played by two people. They move from the opposite direction (north and south), after meeting in the middle, the dancers will find merta. The warfare signifies the search for mertha so that people must fight first.

“Here the war does not mean the real war, but a symbolic war. To find success, people must pass through a process by hard work,” said Jero Gede Batur Duhuran.

After the bhakti perang-perangan, the next procession is bhakti matiti swara. Matiti swara is bhisama or speech from the deity. The essence of His speech is that people are always asked to do goodness. Quotes of the speech in the bhakti matiti swara can be interpreted as follows: “Dear all villagers and the Hindus; please listen to me carefully. Cultivate a few but harvest much. Give applause cheerfully, okay?”

All devotees responding by saying ‘okay’ in the bhakti matiti swara procession must comply with their words. Anyone who breaks is believed to be sentenced by the deity.

“This is moral message carried in the chronicle of Purana Ulun Danu Batur. As the member of Batur community, we very much believe in it,” he explained. (kmb40)

4

Bali News

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

Drug extension must be included in village program AMLAPURA — The threat of drug abuse is getting more dangerous. Today, it does not only target residents in big cities, but also increasingly spreads to villages. Each village is asked to proactively conduct counseling about drug hazards. Moreover, if necessary, it can be included in the working program of village activities.

This was revealed when the Karangasem Community Empowerment Agency worked with National Narcotics Agency of Karangasem District (BNNK) in the meeting room of the Karangasem Manpower and Transmigration Agency not long ago.

The meeting was attended by all headmen and subdistrict heads across Karangasem.

Head of the Karangasem Village Empowerment Agency, Komang Agus Sukasena, emphasized the importance of village role in the handling of drug abuse.

Strategic role of the village must be realized with a variety of real activities. By that way, moving together will further narrow the moving space for the illicit goods trafficking.

Thus, he encouraged that every village through the coordination of sub-district head can do it through various working programs directly touching the young generation. He also encouraged the existence of various positive activities at villages to keep young people away from the promiscuity and negative influence of drugs. “Village knows best it people, and the villages also better understands and its

territory. Do not let drugs enter our village,” he said.

Head of the BNNK Karangasem, Nyoman Sebudi, on that occasion explained various things starting from a grand design of anti-drug development, drug abuse research and development as well as drug modus operandi.

Similarly, it was explained about the impact and characteristics of drug use to the prevalence of drug abuse data in Bali. When compared to other districts/municipality in Bali, drug abuse rate in Karangasem remains the lowest in Bali. However, his agency has mapped some gray areas in Karangasem which is used as a drug deal place.

In the meeting, he also explained the role of government agencies in the Prevention and Eradication of Drug Abuse and Trafficking (P4GN) in accordance with Law Number 35/2009 regarding the government element at the lowest level, namely the village. He asserted the significant role of headmen in the P4GN, including in the monitoring.

Then, they must report if there are people using drugs.

In addition, he encouraged village participation by making village regulations (Perdes) governing moral sanctions for drug abusers. Village regulation certainly may not conflict with the higher regulations. In the village regulation is detailed more about social sanctions to be dealt with.

This has a quite severe impact if the village is able to apply it in order to provide a deterrent effect to the perpetrators. (kmb31)

IBP/kmb31

The meeting was attended by all headmen and subdistrict heads across.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

13

Journalists killing shows Ecuador, Colombia must act on ‘narco border’

BOGOTA - The kidnapping and killing of two journalists and their driver has thrown up an uncomfortable truth for Colombia and Ecuador, analysts say: that their long-neglected border has become a drug traffickers’ nirvana.

IBP/kmb35

This tradition is collecting a variety of harvest yields from one home to another for the preparation of pujawali at the temple.

Ahead of pujawali at Samuantiga Temple

Hundreds of children do Ngambeng tradition

GIANYAR — Pujawali or temple festival at Samuantiga Temple this time will fall on full moon of the eleventh month in Balinese calendar (Apr. 30). By the celebration, hundreds of children conducted the ngambeng tradition on Sunday (Apr. 15). This tradition is collecting a variety of harvest yields from one home to another for the preparation of pujawali at the temple.

Chief of Bedulu customary village, I Gusti Made Ngurah Serana, said last Sunday that children entering people’s house when conducting ngambeng tradition has the meaning of disseminating information that pujawali will soon be held. The areas targeted by this tradition are the Wanayu Mas, Taman, Bedulu and Tengkulak Kaja customary village.

This tradition is held every day 15 prior to the pujawali. Usually, it lasts for one week. During that time, the children will make a group before traveling around the supporting villages of the temple.

“At the very least, it can consist of two children. However, it maximally consists of dozens of children,” he explained.

Schedule of the ngambeng tradition is also adjusted to children. For example, last Sunday was holiday so that many children can join the ngambeng tradition in the morning.

Meanwhile, on school days it will

be usually done in the afternoon.

“Ordinarily, children walk from their home to another home of the temple supporting devotees,” he explained.

Dressed in medium customary attires, the children will say greeting of Om Swastyastu to house owner. It has become a tradition that every house visited has been preparing the harvest yields to be collected for the temple, such as coconut, banana leaf, bamboo, green coconut leaf, incense, and other ritual paraphernalia. Well, if they consider to have got enough harvest yields above, they will be taken to the temple. “When arriving at the temple, they are placed in the kitchen, while the children will have lunch prepared,” he said.

He said that at the same such tradition also becomes a medium of learning about the involvement of children in the preparation of religious ceremonies starting from

an early age. He admitted so far many ngambeng perpetrators do the tradition beyond the village area of the supporting devotees like Ubud.

Interestingly, the ngambeng tradition perpetrators are always greeted positively. “Since some ngambeng perpetrators go outside the supporting villages, we ask the people visited by ngambeng perpetrator to understand,” he said.

Gusti Serana recognized the ngambeng tradition may not be dispensed. A few years ago, it had been banned, but it resulted in a disaster and disruption to the implementation of the rituals at the temple. “It is said the ngambeng was once abandoned because of various considerations. As consequence, various ritual paraphernalia seemed to be lacking or missing without ever been found. Likewise, people who rejected coarsely to do ngambeng tradition are believed to have an unfavorable impact,” he said. (kmb35)

The two governments sent troops into the dense jungle area to hunt for the killers and re-establish control over a region analysts say has become a key corridor for the supply of cocaine to the United States.

Ecuador’s Interior Minister Cesar Navas said Sunday he had sent 550 police and troops, backed by tanks and a helicopter, to take “total control” of the border town of Mataje, where the journalists were kidnapped. As part of a coordinated operation Bogota sent troops into the Tumaco area on the Colombian side of the border, known as the zone with the world’s highest density of coca-leaf plantations.

The northwestern area is marked by dense jungle, criss-crossed by rivers, leading into the Pacific -- an ideal launching pad for seaborne drug shipments and “transnational crime” under the influence of the Mexican drug cartels, said local Colombian military commander General Mauricio Zabala.

This is the fiefdom of the Oliver Sinisterra Front, which claimed responsibility for the kidnappings of Javier Ortega, Paul Rivas and their driver Efrain Segarra.

Its leader is Walter Patricio Artizala, better known by his nom-de-guerre Guacho, a former middle-ranking FARC commander known to operate on both sides of the border with about 80 men.

“Guacho will fall, sooner or later,” Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Sunday, confirming the kingpin is on a list of high value targets.

“The highly-present Mexican cartels see that one of their main cocaine supply sources

Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP

A man exchanges US dollars for Colombian pesos in Imbili, Tumaco Municipality, in the Colombian department of Narino near the border with Ecuador, on April 15, 2018 where military presence has been reinforced following the murder of an Ecuadorean journalist team in the area. is drying up, that is why they are trying to generate violence,” he added.

However, the full-on military approach being undertaken by the governments risks unleashing a fresh wave of violence, according to analyst Fernando Carrion, pointing

to the bloodshed in Mexico under Felipe Calderon’s government (2006-2012).

In depressed areas like this one “an economic policy is required so that there is substitution of crops, so that the income of the inhabitants doesn’t come from narcot-

ics,” he said.

“We have to have a multilateral policy, where there are issues of economy, politics and obviously military issues,” said Carrion, an expert in security at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Quito. (afp)

Shark attack suspends elite surfing competition in Australia

IBP/net

A man suffered leg injuries Monday after he was attacked by a shark off Australia’s southwestern coast, forcing authorities to shut down a nearby international surfing competition.

SYDNEY - A man suffered leg injuries Monday after he was attacked by a shark off Australia’s southwestern coast, forcing authorities to shut down a nearby international surfing competition.

The surfer was knocked off his board before being thrashed around, a witness said. “(I) saw the guy who had been attacked get separated from the board and then start to paddle for an inside wave, which he managed to body surf all the way in,” witness Peter Jovic told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“They got him to shore and

started working on him to stem the bleeding.”

St John Ambulance Western Australia said the injured surfer, aged in his 30s, was “conscious and breathing and being treated for leg injuries”. He was airlifted to hospital for treatment.

The attack occurred shortly before 8:00am local time (0000 GMT) at Cobblestones beach, near where the world’s top surfers were competing on the sixth day of the Margaret River Pro event, which is part of the World Surf League Championship Tour.

Organisers confirmed the incident off the coast of Gracetown

-- 260 kilometres (162 miles) south of Western Australia’s capital Perth -- which prompted an one-hour suspension in the competition.

“The safety of our surfers & staff is a top priority. We have mitigation protocols in place and will be enhancing those when competition resumes,” the WSL’s organisers tweeted.

The surfer was not believed to have been part of the WSL tour, a St John Ambulance spokesman told AFP. Surfing resumed about 10:40am, with officials deploying drones to monitor the area alongside waterskiers. (afp)

12

International

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

5

Forty Types of Medicine Prepared at Tamba Waras Temple

Despite job cuts, GM won’t abandon small car market

General Motors confirmed Sunday its plans to eliminate a shift at an Ohio plant, idling some 1,500 employees as demand for compact cars dips.

The downsizing of the workforce in Lordstown, Ohio -- where GM produces the Chevrolet Cruze -- was related to “historic” market changes that spelled lower demand for compact cars, a company spokeswoman told AFP. “As we look at the market for compact cars in 2018 and beyond, we believe a more stable operating approach to match market demand is a one-shift schedule,” said spokeswoman Dayna Hart, adding the second shift will be suspended toward the end of 2018’s second quarter.

She emphasized the company did not plan to abandon the passenger car market completely. “The car market remains important to GM and Chevrolet since it represents 36 percent of industry retail sales.

The small car segment also brings new and conquest customers to Chevrolet,” Hart said.

The layoffs, which the automaker first announced Friday, appear to undercut the Trump administration’s promises to bring auto jobs back to the region, along with neighboring western Penn-

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Mouse Cremation at Bedha Village, How Does the Ceremony Look Like?

IBP/kmb

Various strange and mystical incidents occurred at this temple.

However, not all people have the capability of experiencing them.

Probably, only ‘selected’ people can experience this spiritual sensation. The Tamba Waras Temple or commonly known as the Tambo Waras holds its pujawali or festival every six months namely on Buda Umanis Perangbakat. At that time, many pilgrims come here to say prayers. Nowadays, they are not only coming from Bali but also from outside Bali.

It is surely meant to invoke safety. There are two types of medicine provided here, one medicine to be drunk and another to be scrubbed at location of the pain. Actually, there are approximately 40 types of medicine made in this temple area. Location of the medicine making is called Bale Asep in the form of kitchen. One of the medicines produced at this temple is juuk linglang.

There is a mythical story accompanying the making of this medicine.

It is said that in 2005, when an ngenteg linggih ritual was held, there was an offering maker who encountered a juwuk linglang or tangerine.

It was then halved, strangely it exuded fire. This tangerine was then mixed with some elements of fruit, herbs and oils.

Besides, there is a medicine known as manik sekecap made from honey bees. The honey is not taken from anywhere but from the chamber shrine where the bees make their nests. Likewise, there is lungsir pancawarna or multicolored sea snail. People who suffer from diseases of the eye, this medicine can be invoked at the Batu Coblong spring shrine. Another shrine is called swine shrine where people can invoke medicine for their livestock. (kmb)

Bali Island retains a number of unique things. For instance, Balinese people have a tradition of fighting against mouse pests. Dubbed as the rice granary region of ??Bali, Tabanan district surely has an extensive agricultural land. A number of challenges are often faced by local farmers.

sylvania.

But Hart said across the US industry, the small car market has been in steady decline since 2014, a trend driven by lower fuel prices and an improving economy.

Last year, GM sold 150,000 Chevy Cruze cars in the US, all produced at Lordstown. Since the start of 2018, sales of the vehicle have dropped 28 percent, according to auto consultancy and data firm

Autodata.

Meanwhile, GM’s competitors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, have also announced plans to cut back on passenger car production in the US. Ford is repurposing a plant in

Wayne, Michigan to build trucks, and shifting car production to Mexico and China -- while Fiat Chrysler has converted its plants near Detroit to produce pick-up trucks. (afp)

Tokyo stocks close higher as investors shrug off Syria strikes

Nicolas ASFOURI / AFP

A man rests as he keeps an eye on stock price movements displayed on a screen at a securities company in Beijing on March 23, 2018. Asian markets plunged on March 23 following a sell-off in New York as Donald Trump sparked fresh trade war fears by imposing huge tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing unveiled its own measures against US goods.

Tokyo stocks gained ground on Monday as investors forecast that US-led strikes on Syria would have limited impact.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.26 percent or 56.79 points to close at 21,835.53 while the broader Topix was up 0.40 percent or 6.86 points at 1,736.22.

The strikes “have thus far drawn only verbal condemnation from Russia with Russia’s prediction of ‘global chaos’ if the West hits Syria again not filling markets with fresh dread”, Ray Attrill, head of currency strategy at National Australia Bank, said in a client note.

US, French and British missiles destroyed sites suspected of hosting chemical weapons development and storage facilities on the

weekend, but the buildings were mostly empty and the Western allies swiftly reverted to diplomatic efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Syrian regime’s top ally, warned that fresh strikes would spark “chaos”, but Washington vowed economic sanctions against Moscow rather than further military action.

“There are no signs of a further escalation in bilateral (Russia-US) tensions,” said SMBC Nikko chief economist Yoshimasa Maruyama.

“Chances are that the future Syrian situation will show a similar development to that of April 2017,” he said in a commentary, noting market reactions to the US missile attacks at that time were only

temporary.

The dollar edged down to 107.21 yen Monday from 107.35 yen in New York Friday afternoon before the announcement of a wave of Western strikes against Syria’s regime.

“The yen rose slightly against the dollar but the 107-yen level is not going to be a negative factor for Japanese stocks,” Hikaru Sato, senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities, told AFP. In Tokyo trade, Toyota rose 0.37 percent to 6,936 yen and Honda gained 0.23 percent to 3,782 yen, with Nissan up 0.35 percent at 1,129 yen. Sony gained 0.81 percent to 5,288 yen but Panasonic fell 0.19 percent to 1,558 yen. (afp)

For instance, mouse attack threatens the yields of agricultural production. To overcome such pest attack, some villages in Tabanan district still uses traditional method of mass hunting. Not only that, the ceremony of mereteka merana or mouse cremation is still done especially by subak members in the area of Bedha customary village, Tabanan. This ceremony is still closely related to the safety and fertility of plants, especially paddy.

The mouse cremation has been frequently done at Bedha customary village and has been regarded as local custom. Moreover, this ceremony is held in the holy place namely Penataran Bale Agung, Puseh Temple of Bedha. Moreover,

Have you ever tasted tipat santok? This traditional food is the most popular on the Bali Island.

Balinese people of all walks of life really like this simple menu.

Children, teenagers and old people never get bored with this food because it is easily obtained. Moreover, the flavor can be customized because the sauces can be increased or decreased as desired.

Tipat santok is a breakfast menu

after the ceremony it has proved to provide real evidence for the life of farmers. “Until now, the tradition of mouse cremation in Bedha remains to exist, but it’s only done if there is an uncontrolled mouse pest attacks in paddy fields,” said chief of Bedha customary village, I Nyoman Surata.

The ceremony, said Surata, aims to purify the soul of pests so as to return to its origin and does not reincarnate to the earth as a pest that damage all types of plants on earth, especially paddy plants. “Thus, it is unlike cremation on Pitra Yadnya but when there is an uncontrolled pest attack, so farmers always face harvest failure. The mouse also

called as Jero Ketut is cremated like in ngaben ceremony. After being cremated, the mice collected from mass hunting (through fumigation) in the fields are floated to the sea,” he explained.

He added that at Bedha village such ceremonies are often organized when mice and other pests have caused an extraordinary disturbance and cannot be controlled. This last mouse cremation ceremony was held in 2009 involving subak groups in Tabanan district under the coordination of Sedahan Agung of Tabanan. Interestingly, after the mouse cremation, the plants have never been attacked by pests until now. (kmb)

Tipat Santok Lalah Manis

which is very well known in Bali.

Tipat santok with spicy sweet sauces are often becoming people’s choice. It is called so because it offers sweet and spicy flavor. Spicy here does not happen due to too much pepper but because of spicy chili, while the sweet flavor is given by the brown sugar. In Java this food is commonly known as gado-gado.

Tipat santok is very easy to find.

It is cheap and served fresh because it is prepared after being ordered.

Almost at every village street people can enjoy this food because many merchants of this food are open until late evening.

They usually sell at village roadside, traditional markets and in the aisles.

Basically the main ingredient is ketupat (rice bag) wrapped in young coconut leaf. However,

in later development, people also use plastic or banana leaves as the wrapper. In the presentation, the tipat santok is served with various vegetables such as water spinach, sprouts, and cucumber. Optionally it is accompanied with tofu or tempeh and fried red beans.

In the meantime, the spice is made from fried peanut mixed with garlic, aromatic ginger, lime,

palm sugar, fermented shrimp paste and fermented soy beans where all these herbs are then pulverized.

After that, it is sprinkled with fried shallot. Now, it is ready to be served. One portion of tipat santok costs varies according to the venue and merchants. At villages, a portion is sold for IDR 4,000 – IDR 5,000 while in urban areas ranging from IDR 6,000 to IDR 10,000. (kmb)

6

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

W

International

RLD

International

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Trump ‘morally unfit’ for office, fired FBI chief Comey says

11

This picture taken on April 15, 2018 shows Indonesian villagers releasing painted

WASHINGTON - Fired former FBI chief James Comey lashed out at Donald Trump in an interview with ABC broadcast Sunday, calling him “morally unfit” to be president and describing him as a serial liar who will “stain everyone around him.”

terrapin or saw-jawed turtle

Comey’s remarks are the latest salvo in a war of words with Trump, who excoriated the former FBI director on Twitter earlier in the day, again calling him a “slimeball” and suggesting he should be jailed.

The wide-ranging interview with ABC News also came ahead of Tuesday’s release of Comey’s memoir, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership,” in which he details his interactions with the Republican president.

“I think he’s morally unfit to be president,” Comey said, in his first televised interview since being fired in May last year.

The former federal prosecutor pointed to how Trump “talks about and treats women like they’re pieces of meat” and “lies constantly about matters big and small and insists the American people believe it.”

“Values matter,” Comey said. “This president does not reflect the values of this country.”

Comey also said that serving in Trump’s administration poses a serious ethical dilemma.

“The challenge of this president is that he will stain everyone around him,” he told ABC, which aired an edited version of the interview but published a full transcript.

“And the question is, how much stain is too much stain and how much stain eventually makes you unable to accomplish your goal of protecting the country and serving the country?” (afp)

province. The painted terra-

into an estuary at the mangrove conservation area in Tamiang district, Aceh pin is critically endangered species according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP

These two file photos show FBI Director James Comey (L) in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2017; and US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2017.

Trouble in Paradise...

From page 1

Spending on travel and tourism contributed nearly $136 billion to the region’s GDP in 2017, a figure forecast to rise to $144 billion this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The cost of the closures is already being felt in the Philippines, where hundreds of Boracay hotels and tour companies are facing steep losses from cancelled rooms, flights and other bookings.

But some countries are not taking such dramatic steps.

In Indonesia, the tourism ministry said there were no plans to close Bali or any other holiday destination in the archipelago, although it acknowledged that pockets of the tropical paradise were under strain from heavy tourism. “Shut down Bali? I don’t think we will need to do that yet,” said ministry spokesman Guntur Sakti. “Bali is the centre of Indonesian tourism.”

In fact, Indonesia has identified 10 other destinations where it is trying to boost visitors and replicate Bali’s success, including neighbouring island Lombok and Lake Toba in Sumatra. Experts

are also sceptical that short shutdowns will have lasting effects.

“Bottom line is that temporarily closing the beach is probably not the optimal solution to these problems. It only take a day for a bunch of incompetent snorkellers to trash a small reef,” said Andrew Baird from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Australia.

In Thailand, the government hopes to draw people to lesser known beaches. “We are working very hard to spread people out, not to go to one condensed area,” said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine expert working with the parks and tourism authorities.

Travellers to Maya Bay might like the idea.

“It’s very touristy. There wasn’t a patch of sand that didn’t have people laying down on it, taking photos,” Oliver Black, a 22-year-old tourist, said of his afternoon at the destination. As for his thoughts on the looming closure?

“It would not really upset me if I wasn’t able to go to (back to) Maya beach,” he told AFP. (afp)

Russia’s Putin predicts global ‘chaos’ if West hits Syria again MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.

In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, Putin and Rouhani agreed that the Western strikes had damaged the chances of achieving a political resolution in the seven-year Syria conflict, according to a Kremlin statement.

“Vladimir Putin, in particular, stressed that if such actions committed in violation of the U.N. Charter continue, then it will inevitably lead to chaos in international relations,” the Kremlin statement said.

Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” program that the United States would announce new economic sanctions on Monday aimed at

companies “that were dealing with equipment” related to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged chemical weapons use.

On Saturday, the United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7.

The Western countries blame Assad for the Douma attack that killed dozens of people. The Syrian government and its ally Russia have denied involvement in any such attack.

The bombings marked the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and ally Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he had convinced Trump, who has previously said he wanted to take U.S. forces out of Syria, to stay for “the long term.”

The United States, France and Britain have said the missile

strikes were limited to Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war.

Macron said in an interview broadcast by BFM TV, RMC radio and Mediapart online news that he had convinced Trump to focus on the chemical weapons sites.

Responding to Haley’s remarks about the plans for new sanctions, Evgeny Serebrennikov, deputy head of the defense committee of Russia’s upper house of parliament, said Moscow was ready for the penalties, according to RIA news agency.

“They are hard for us, but will do more damage to the USA and Europe,” RIA quoted Serebrennikov as saying.

In Damascus, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, met inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW for about three hours in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official. (net)

Jokowi`s electability still the highest: Survey

Body of slovak tourist to be cremated in semarang

JAKARTA - Jokowi`s electability still remains the highest among his rivals, according to a survey by KedaiKOPI institute.

Moderate quake hits off Indonesia, no tsunami warning A moderately strong 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia’s Molucca Sea on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami alert was issued.

The quake struck at a depth of 36.5 kilometres (22 miles), 85 kilometres northwest of Kota Ternate at 4.30am (1930 GMT Sunday), the USGS said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat and there were no immediate reports of damage.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

A huge undersea quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 170,000 people in Aceh province, on western Sumatra island, and tens of thousands more in other countries with coasts on the Indian Ocean.(afp)

Former military chief Gatot Nurmantyo and cleric TGB Zainul Madji meanwhile have emerged as the most favorites for a vice presidential candidate, ANTARA learned here on Sunday.

Jokowi (Joko Widodo) as incumbent collected 48 3 percent of the points or the highest in electability, followed by former army commander Prabowo Subianto with 21.5 percent, Gatot Nurmantyo with 2.1 percent, TGN Zainul Madji, Anies Baswedan and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono with 1.1 percent each.

“If Jokowi rematched with Prabowo today he would remain superior,” KedaiKOPI founder Hendri Satrio said.

On an open question Jokowi also remained at the top of mind of the public for president collecting 35.1 percent of votes, followed by Prabowo (12.0 percent), Gatot Nurmantyo (1.1 percent), Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (0.7 percent), TGB Zainul Madji (0.5 percent) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (0.5 percent).

“Other names collected less than 0.5 percent of votes are Hari Tanoe,

SEMARANG - The body of Andrey Voytech, a Slovak tourist who was found dead on Mount Merbabu on April 7, 2018, will be cremated at Kedungmundu Crematorium, here.

The cremation plan was confirmed by Senior Commissioner Agus Triatmadja, spokesman of the Central Java Provincial Police, Monday.

“The body will be cremated in Semarang, pending for permission from his family and the Slovak embassy,” he said.

Voytech had been reportedly missing while climbing Mount Merbabu for around two weeks and he was later found dead in a river.

Based on an autopsy which was performed to find out the cause of his death, there were no signs of mistreatment on his body, which is now being kept in Dr Kariadi Hospital, Semarang. “His body was found in a river, most likely that he fell,” the policeman said.

Triatmadja suspected that the Slovak man fell from a 13 meter-high

Anis Baswedan and Edy Rahmayadi,” Hendri said.

Public satisfaction over the government of President Joko Widodo is still high. Until now 66.5 percent of the public has expressed satisfaction over the government of Joko Widodo especially with regard to health, infrastructure, education and foreign relations sectors.

The director of Kedai KOPI Survey Institute, Vivi Zabkie, said for vice president Gatot Nurmantyo has been the most favorite collecting 17.5 percent of votes.

Other nsmes on top of public mind for the position are TGB Zainul Madji and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

“They are the top three names on the public mind as vice presidential candidates although most people (53.5 percent) have had any decision about it,” Vivi said.(ant)

10

Destination

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

Pacquiao: ‘No decision’ on trainer after reports Roach ditched

MANILA - Manny Pacquiao said Monday he had not yet chosen a trainer for his July world title fight with Lucas Matthysse, dismissing reports he has cut ties with long-standing mentor Freddie Roach.

Finns Beach Club

MANGUPURA - Finns Beach Club is a chic hangout now located at Berawa Beach in Canggu, where you can relive the fun dining and lounging vibe from the heydays of its former ‘hidden’ location near Uluwatu. With a magnificent all-bamboo structure that is spacious and airy, and an adjacent blue-tiled freeform infinity pool, you can stay either in our out of the sun, or simply soak in the pool while taking in wide ocean views. The Berawa Beach location also offers regulars of the former Finns Beach Club to a new hotspot that is now within easier reach from the main resort areas of Kuta and Seminyak. Being on an absolute beachfront that faces the main Berawa surf break, the beach club welcomes surfers, who can paddle in for a cold beer and a bite after each session on the waves. For sunset lovers, it is one of the best lounging spots in Canggu for just that, with signature cocktails at hand. When you’re not chilling out on their single or double parasol-shaded daybeds, hit the 30m infinity edge pool, order up your drink from a swim up bar, and enjoy cool tunes fed through underwater speakers.

There’s daybeds and beanbags on the sand.

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These are available for a minimum spending of IDR 250,000 (USD 18.75) per person and includes a towel. Groups of up to six can opt for double daybeds at only twice the price.

An all-day dining menu at Finns Beach Club features simple food, with a good mix of local, international and fusion cuisine. A grazing menu consists of a tasty assortment such as chicken wings with barbecue glaze, grilled squid with salt and Szechuan pepper, a fish basket with beer battered snapper served with tartar sauce and arancini or risotto croquettes with edamame and cheese, each at IDR 55,000 (USD 4). They also have a kids menu, too. At the circular Surf Bar, you can choose a seat with the best view over the pool and the surf, and ask for any of Finns Beach Club’s signature (IDR 110,000 or USD 8.25 each). Refreshing selections include the blackberry smoothie booze, which is a blend of vodka, blackberry liqueur, yoghurt and apple juice, with a dash of cinnamon.

For something fizzy and uplifting, try the Hollywood bubbles, made of Benedictine herbal liqueur, raspberry, pomegranate juice and sparkling wine. The venue is a good spot

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to spend your whole day in Canggu, as it opens until midnight. Their roster of resident DJs hit the booth and turntables from 16:00 daily, playing tunes to help you chill out all night. You can also watch out for their night

surfing unfold right at front from sunset time, when the flood lights are switched on over the rolling waves. Head up to the Sunset Lounge on the second level of Finns Beach Club for the best views over the breaks. (net)

The veteran US ring guru Roach said last week that his 15-year association with Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, had been terminated ahead of the Matthysse bout in Malaysia.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t hurt that he didn’t contact me personally about his decision, but the great times we enjoyed together far outweigh that,” Roach said in a brief statement on Friday.

But Pacquiao went on social media Monday to say that he would make a decision later this week on his corner team for the Kuala Lumpur fight with the Argentine World Boxing Association welterweight champion.

“Contrary to statements which I personally did not make that are circulating in the media, I have not made my final decision who will be my head trainer for my July 14 (US time zone) fight with Matthysse,” he said.

Pacquiao -- who has a record of 59 wins with 38 KOs, seven losses and two draws -- told millions of followers on his official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts that his adviser Mike Koncz “has been in contact with Freddie (Roach)’s people to keep them informed.

“I will make a final decision within the week. When that decision is made, Freddie will be the first one to be informed and then I will advise the media,” the 39-year-old added.

Roach was ever-present in Pacquiao’s corner during his rise to the pinnacle of his sport, helping mould the fighter into one of the best boxers in history.

Pacquiao has not fought since being defeated on points by Australia’s Jeff Horn in Brisbane last July, a loss that cost the Filipino star his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

Matthysse, who has 39 wins including 36 KOs against four defeats, won the vacant WBA belt after beating Thailand’s Teerachai Sithmorseng in January. (afp)

TED ALJIBE / AFP

This file photo taken on October 22, 2009 shows Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao (R) sharing a light moment with his US trainer Freddie Roach (L) after a training session at a gym in Manila.

Shanghai ‘disaster’ clouds title hopes: Hamilton

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Johannes EISELE / AFP

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton gets into his car during a practice session for the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 13, 2018.

SHANGHAI - Lewis Hamilton declared his Chinese Grand Prix a “disaster” on Sunday and said Mercedes would find it tough to repeat their F1 championship victory unless they can sort out issues with a car he feels uncomfortable in.

Hamilton finished only fifth in the Chinese Grand Prix -- a race he has dominated -- though he was bumped up to fourth due to a 10-second penalty assessed on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull won, ahead of Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in second.

Hamilton has yet to win a race this season and is nine points behind Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the Formula One driver’s standings.

“Saturday and Sunday felt like a disaster from my side,” he said.

“It is clear from this weekend we are not the quickest. We have lost performance since Melbourne and maybe even more so this weekend.”

“We are the second or third-fastest team at the moment, so we have some improving to do, but that’s not impossible.”

Germany’s Vettel and Ferrari put champions Mercedes on the defensive with a season-opening victory in Australia, followed last weekend by a close win in Bahrain.

The result in Shanghai could mean more questions asked of Mercedes, even though they maintain a one-point advantage in the constructors’ standings.

“Who knows what the season holds?

If it continues the way it is, it’s going to be very tough to win,” Hamilton said.

“But if there is an opportunity, and we were to finish on top, it would mean even more because it’s an even tougher season than before.”

Hamilton said he “struggled” with his car in Shanghai. “Rather than blame it on strategy or anything else, I was uncomfortable in the car this weekend.”

Said Bottas: “It’s very close between Red Bull, Ferrari and us, so we need to make sure we keep developing our car.”

“Nearly winning both last weekend and this weekend is the worst feeling -- but it makes both me and the entire team even hungrier. Thankfully there are a lot more races to go.” (afp)

8

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Isco leads Real to Malaga win as Zidane rests Ronaldo and Bale

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were both rested and Real Madrid hardly broke sweat as they beat Malaga 2-1 on Sunday to climb to third in La Liga.

Isco scored one and set up another at La Rosaleda in a comfortable victory for a much-changed Real side, following Wednesday’s last-gasp Champions League win over Juventus. Diego Rolan grabbed a consolation for Malaga with the last kick of the game but the result was never in doubt. “Today I can be happy with a job well done,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said.

As well as Bale and Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane were left out, with the all-important Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich looming next week.

But Isco did his chances of a start in Germany no harm at all by bending in a free-kick that both Ronaldo and Bale

would have been proud of, and then generously teeing up Casemiro when he might easily have finished himself.

After scoring his first Real goal in nine appearances against his former club, Isco held his hands up apologetically, and he enjoyed a warm reception from the Malaga fans when substituted in the second half.

“He has always been important, despite what everyone thinks,” Zidane said of Isco. “He is important, even if sometimes you think I have something else in my head.”

Victory means Los Blancos leapfrog Valencia, who were beaten by Barcelona on Saturday, but remain four points behind Atletico Madrid in second.

Malaga, meanwhile, stay bottom and are all-but doomed, sitting 14 points behind 17th-placed Levante, who had earlier been beaten 3-0 by Atletico.(afp)

Street side: Indonesia slum kids eye youth ‘World Cup’

Somad rarely ventures beyond his impoverished Jakarta neighbourhood, but the 14-year-old is now gearing for a trip to Russia next month as a player in the 2018 Street Child World Cup. It’s the journey of a lifetime for the aspiring striker and eight other Indonesian kids set to compete against teams of other disadvantaged children from two dozen nations.

The event’s third edition in Moscow is a long way from Bekasi on the outskirts of Indonesia’s teeming capital where Somad’s father sorts through foul trash heaps to find and sell usable goods.

Along with his food-seller mother, the teen lives in a 45-metre (485 square foot) makeshift home shared with four other families. “Not many kids can be as lucky as I am,” says Somad, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

“I want to make my parents and friends proud so we can have better lives and have no need to be scavengers anymore.”

The slum is mostly populated by trash pickers who live in its hundreds of shacks. A potent smell of garbage is everywhere in the district where stray animals wander along its muddy roads.

More than 200 children are participating in the seven-a-side tournament, which kicks off ahead of this year’s Russia-hosted World Cup. Off the pitch, the kids will take part in art lessons, workshops and

there is a conference focused on disadvantaged youth.

“I want to help Indonesia win the competition. But if we do win, I don’t want to show off,” says striker Bayu, picked for the Indonesian contingent from among more than 90 children. “I want to share the experience with my friends when I’m back.”

In 2014, the boy’s team from Tanzania won the tournament while the girl’s trophy was claimed by hosts Brazil.

The inaugural 2010 event, started

by British charity Street Child United, was played in South Africa.

Indonesian team coach Wahyu Kurniawan said children from poor neighbourhoods have a vitality that is key to breaking into professional football.

“Kids from the street are more active and tend to have more power and spirit,” he told AFP. “My job is to convert those qualities into good football skill and sportsmanship on the field.” But the tournament is about more than just sports -- it’s to give a voice to marginalised children.

“Achievement in the tournament is not our main priority, it’s a bonus,” said Jessica Hutting from Kampus Diakoneia Modern (KDM), a children’s rights NGO that selected the Indonesian players.

“We use football as a tool to bring street-connected children together in a safe space where their voices can be heard.”(afp)

A workman begins to change the external panel designs on the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 15, 2018, to mark Manchester City’s Premier League title win. Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday as Manchester United crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion.

Paul ELLIS / AFP

Man City eye record books after clinching title

Champions Manchester City have set their sights on rewriting the record books after clinching the Premier League title. Pep Guardiola’s side were crowned kings of English football on Sunday as their arch rivals Manchester United slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat against struggling West Bromwich Albion.

City are 16 points clear of second placed United, who can only take a maximum of 15 points from their remaining matches.

Given the way they have demolished all challengers in the league, it was apparent months ago that it was only a matter of when rather than if City would take the title.

But sealing the silverware thanks to a slip from old enemies United and their boss Jose Mourinho -- a longtime rival of Guardiola -- was a sweet moment, especially after they lost to their neighbours in the Manchester derby last weekend.

Winning the title with five matches to go makes City the joint earliest champions in the Premier League era -- matching the achievement of the 2000-01 Manchester United team.

That is just one of a welter of statistical feats that have led some to rank City among the Premier League’s greatest ever teams.

Whether they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Manchester United’s 1999 treble winners or the 2004 Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ is up for debate.

But City, who will stage a title party when they host Swansea on Sunday, have a chance to underline their credentials over their last five matches.

Fuelled by the majestic form of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, City set a new Premier League record earlier this season by winning 18 successive

matches.

The Premier League’s record points tally of 95, set by Chelsea in 2004-05, is within City’s reach if they can take nine from their last fixtures.

With 28 league victories so far, City need three more wins to top Chelsea’s record of 30 Premier League wins in a season.

United hold the current record Premier League winning margin of 18 points and that could also fall to City.

City have won 14 games on the road this season and have two to go away from home -- winning both of those would beat Chelsea’s record of 15.

Guardiola’s players will focus on those targets once they have recovered from a boisterous evening of celebrations in Manchester.

- Get the party started After starting the title party with his Mancunian wife and his Unitedsupporting father-in-law, City captain Vincent Kompany joined team-mates to raise a glass to their success.

“It is the same feeling as the first time, you can’t describe it,” Kompany said. “The first time you think you are going to win all of them and the first time you lose it you think you are never going to win it again.

“It shows how football is in Manchester. There have been a lot more good days for the Red side but today it is for the Blue.

“The first one was special but this one is perhaps the one I’m most proud of. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team.”

Unlike Belgian defender Kompany, Guardiola spent Sunday afternoon playing golf with his son instead of watching the United match.

In his second season in charge, Guardiola, aided by the vast financial backing of City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners, has created a sublime team that helped him become the first Spanish coach to win the English top-flight title.

It was a far cry from his trophy-less first season with City and Kompany said Guardiola’s tenacious attitude led them to the summit. “It is one of the first things I noticed within the first month,” he said.

“There was a period of adaptation for him coming into the league and for us taking in his methods. “He has been able to transfer to the team that hunger and desire to never be satisfied.”

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola was all smiles when he was pictured arriving home after his golf outing.

City’s title is the 24th trophy of his glittering career. Speaking after Saturday’s 3-1 win over Tottenham, the 47-year-old gave all the credit to his players.

“I am so glad to be here and be part of this club. These guys are fantastic, awesome, they are incredible,” he said. “This club is absolutely amazing in all terms.”(afp)

9

PSG secure title, but thoughts already on summer of change It may have felt in many respects as though Paris SaintGermain’s season ended a month ago, but this Sunday they find themselves celebrating reclaiming the French title, their second trophy in a fortnight.

While Neymar is still absent recovering from an operation on a fractured foot, Unai Emery’s side took back the Ligue 1 crown in the best possible fashion, demolishing last year’s champions Monaco.

A near flawless run of domestic form over the last three months comfortably saw off their nearest rivals, and Sunday’s thumping triumph followed a 3-0 win over Monaco in the League Cup final at the end of March.

To their credit, PSG have not wallowed in self-pity since their defeat to Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in early March, just after the

crushing blow of losing Neymar to injury.

“The defeat against Real Madrid was a big defeat, but apart from that I am very happy with what the team has produced this season,” said Emery recently.

After being denied by Monaco last year, there was never really any doubt that PSG would reclaim the crown this time.

They have been top since August. Champions for the fifth time in six seasons, Emery’s team are on course to set a new points record. There have been only two defeats, against Strasbourg and Lyon.

“The league title is very important to me. It is the main competition and it shows how consistent a team is,” Emery said this week. “The club wants to progress, improve, become the best in the world.”

There is certainly merit to be

had in dethroning Monaco, but the principality side effectively accepted defeat at the end of August when they allowed Kylian Mbappe to move to the capital, just a few weeks after Neymar was signed for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($264 million).

Qatar-owned PSG’s budget is about that of Lyon, Monaco and Marseille -- their three biggest rivals -- combined. Perspective is therefore necessary.

PSG have now won as many domestic honours in seven years of Qatar ownership as in the previous 41 years of their history, and they can still win this season’s French Cup. - Tuchel tipped to succeed Emery But their financial might -even regardless of the threat of UEFA sanctions for breaches of

CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Monaco (ASM) on April 15, 2018, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Paris Saint-Germain won the match and claim their seventh French League title.

Financial Fair Play -- ensures the playing field is so uneven at home, and the Champions League is their holy grail.

A second successive exit in the last 16 means heads will roll at the end of this season in preparation for a new attempt to definitively become part of the European elite.

Emery’s contract is due to expire and the Spaniard will not be kept on. With their credibility on the line, Qatar Sports Investments cannot afford to get it wrong when it comes to naming a successor.

But having been linked with the likes of Antonio Conte, Luis Enrique, even Jose Mourinho, instead it seems that Thomas Tuchel will be the chosen one.

Given Tuchel’s profile -- a free agent since leaving Borussia Dortmund last year, with just one major trophy as a coach and little

European pedigree -- appointing the 44-year-old German may surprise many.

The new man’s biggest job will be learning to get along with Neymar, a brilliant player but one whose off-field antics are frequently in the headlines.

That is assuming Neymar remains in Paris for a second season, amid constant speculation of a move away, possibly to Real Madrid.

Other players will certainly leave, with the likes of Thiago Motta and Javier Pastore possibly having won their last Ligue 1 title.

“I have spoken to Neymar. He doesn’t know yet when he will be back, but the project here is with Neymar, of course,” captain Thiago Silva told TF1 on Sunday.

“I am sure the project here will carry on for us to try to make our dream come true.”(afp)

8

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Isco leads Real to Malaga win as Zidane rests Ronaldo and Bale

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were both rested and Real Madrid hardly broke sweat as they beat Malaga 2-1 on Sunday to climb to third in La Liga.

Isco scored one and set up another at La Rosaleda in a comfortable victory for a much-changed Real side, following Wednesday’s last-gasp Champions League win over Juventus. Diego Rolan grabbed a consolation for Malaga with the last kick of the game but the result was never in doubt. “Today I can be happy with a job well done,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said.

As well as Bale and Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Raphael Varane were left out, with the all-important Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich looming next week.

But Isco did his chances of a start in Germany no harm at all by bending in a free-kick that both Ronaldo and Bale

would have been proud of, and then generously teeing up Casemiro when he might easily have finished himself.

After scoring his first Real goal in nine appearances against his former club, Isco held his hands up apologetically, and he enjoyed a warm reception from the Malaga fans when substituted in the second half.

“He has always been important, despite what everyone thinks,” Zidane said of Isco. “He is important, even if sometimes you think I have something else in my head.”

Victory means Los Blancos leapfrog Valencia, who were beaten by Barcelona on Saturday, but remain four points behind Atletico Madrid in second.

Malaga, meanwhile, stay bottom and are all-but doomed, sitting 14 points behind 17th-placed Levante, who had earlier been beaten 3-0 by Atletico.(afp)

Street side: Indonesia slum kids eye youth ‘World Cup’

Somad rarely ventures beyond his impoverished Jakarta neighbourhood, but the 14-year-old is now gearing for a trip to Russia next month as a player in the 2018 Street Child World Cup. It’s the journey of a lifetime for the aspiring striker and eight other Indonesian kids set to compete against teams of other disadvantaged children from two dozen nations.

The event’s third edition in Moscow is a long way from Bekasi on the outskirts of Indonesia’s teeming capital where Somad’s father sorts through foul trash heaps to find and sell usable goods.

Along with his food-seller mother, the teen lives in a 45-metre (485 square foot) makeshift home shared with four other families. “Not many kids can be as lucky as I am,” says Somad, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

“I want to make my parents and friends proud so we can have better lives and have no need to be scavengers anymore.”

The slum is mostly populated by trash pickers who live in its hundreds of shacks. A potent smell of garbage is everywhere in the district where stray animals wander along its muddy roads.

More than 200 children are participating in the seven-a-side tournament, which kicks off ahead of this year’s Russia-hosted World Cup. Off the pitch, the kids will take part in art lessons, workshops and

there is a conference focused on disadvantaged youth.

“I want to help Indonesia win the competition. But if we do win, I don’t want to show off,” says striker Bayu, picked for the Indonesian contingent from among more than 90 children. “I want to share the experience with my friends when I’m back.”

In 2014, the boy’s team from Tanzania won the tournament while the girl’s trophy was claimed by hosts Brazil.

The inaugural 2010 event, started

by British charity Street Child United, was played in South Africa.

Indonesian team coach Wahyu Kurniawan said children from poor neighbourhoods have a vitality that is key to breaking into professional football.

“Kids from the street are more active and tend to have more power and spirit,” he told AFP. “My job is to convert those qualities into good football skill and sportsmanship on the field.” But the tournament is about more than just sports -- it’s to give a voice to marginalised children.

“Achievement in the tournament is not our main priority, it’s a bonus,” said Jessica Hutting from Kampus Diakoneia Modern (KDM), a children’s rights NGO that selected the Indonesian players.

“We use football as a tool to bring street-connected children together in a safe space where their voices can be heard.”(afp)

A workman begins to change the external panel designs on the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 15, 2018, to mark Manchester City’s Premier League title win. Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday as Manchester United crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion.

Paul ELLIS / AFP

Man City eye record books after clinching title

Champions Manchester City have set their sights on rewriting the record books after clinching the Premier League title. Pep Guardiola’s side were crowned kings of English football on Sunday as their arch rivals Manchester United slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat against struggling West Bromwich Albion.

City are 16 points clear of second placed United, who can only take a maximum of 15 points from their remaining matches.

Given the way they have demolished all challengers in the league, it was apparent months ago that it was only a matter of when rather than if City would take the title.

But sealing the silverware thanks to a slip from old enemies United and their boss Jose Mourinho -- a longtime rival of Guardiola -- was a sweet moment, especially after they lost to their neighbours in the Manchester derby last weekend.

Winning the title with five matches to go makes City the joint earliest champions in the Premier League era -- matching the achievement of the 2000-01 Manchester United team.

That is just one of a welter of statistical feats that have led some to rank City among the Premier League’s greatest ever teams.

Whether they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Manchester United’s 1999 treble winners or the 2004 Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ is up for debate.

But City, who will stage a title party when they host Swansea on Sunday, have a chance to underline their credentials over their last five matches.

Fuelled by the majestic form of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, City set a new Premier League record earlier this season by winning 18 successive

matches.

The Premier League’s record points tally of 95, set by Chelsea in 2004-05, is within City’s reach if they can take nine from their last fixtures.

With 28 league victories so far, City need three more wins to top Chelsea’s record of 30 Premier League wins in a season.

United hold the current record Premier League winning margin of 18 points and that could also fall to City.

City have won 14 games on the road this season and have two to go away from home -- winning both of those would beat Chelsea’s record of 15.

Guardiola’s players will focus on those targets once they have recovered from a boisterous evening of celebrations in Manchester.

- Get the party started After starting the title party with his Mancunian wife and his Unitedsupporting father-in-law, City captain Vincent Kompany joined team-mates to raise a glass to their success.

“It is the same feeling as the first time, you can’t describe it,” Kompany said. “The first time you think you are going to win all of them and the first time you lose it you think you are never going to win it again.

“It shows how football is in Manchester. There have been a lot more good days for the Red side but today it is for the Blue.

“The first one was special but this one is perhaps the one I’m most proud of. It’s a privilege to be a part of this team.”

Unlike Belgian defender Kompany, Guardiola spent Sunday afternoon playing golf with his son instead of watching the United match.

In his second season in charge, Guardiola, aided by the vast financial backing of City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners, has created a sublime team that helped him become the first Spanish coach to win the English top-flight title.

It was a far cry from his trophy-less first season with City and Kompany said Guardiola’s tenacious attitude led them to the summit. “It is one of the first things I noticed within the first month,” he said.

“There was a period of adaptation for him coming into the league and for us taking in his methods. “He has been able to transfer to the team that hunger and desire to never be satisfied.”

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola was all smiles when he was pictured arriving home after his golf outing.

City’s title is the 24th trophy of his glittering career. Speaking after Saturday’s 3-1 win over Tottenham, the 47-year-old gave all the credit to his players.

“I am so glad to be here and be part of this club. These guys are fantastic, awesome, they are incredible,” he said. “This club is absolutely amazing in all terms.”(afp)

9

PSG secure title, but thoughts already on summer of change It may have felt in many respects as though Paris SaintGermain’s season ended a month ago, but this Sunday they find themselves celebrating reclaiming the French title, their second trophy in a fortnight.

While Neymar is still absent recovering from an operation on a fractured foot, Unai Emery’s side took back the Ligue 1 crown in the best possible fashion, demolishing last year’s champions Monaco.

A near flawless run of domestic form over the last three months comfortably saw off their nearest rivals, and Sunday’s thumping triumph followed a 3-0 win over Monaco in the League Cup final at the end of March.

To their credit, PSG have not wallowed in self-pity since their defeat to Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League in early March, just after the

crushing blow of losing Neymar to injury.

“The defeat against Real Madrid was a big defeat, but apart from that I am very happy with what the team has produced this season,” said Emery recently.

After being denied by Monaco last year, there was never really any doubt that PSG would reclaim the crown this time.

They have been top since August. Champions for the fifth time in six seasons, Emery’s team are on course to set a new points record. There have been only two defeats, against Strasbourg and Lyon.

“The league title is very important to me. It is the main competition and it shows how consistent a team is,” Emery said this week. “The club wants to progress, improve, become the best in the world.”

There is certainly merit to be

had in dethroning Monaco, but the principality side effectively accepted defeat at the end of August when they allowed Kylian Mbappe to move to the capital, just a few weeks after Neymar was signed for a world record fee of 222 million euros ($264 million).

Qatar-owned PSG’s budget is about that of Lyon, Monaco and Marseille -- their three biggest rivals -- combined. Perspective is therefore necessary.

PSG have now won as many domestic honours in seven years of Qatar ownership as in the previous 41 years of their history, and they can still win this season’s French Cup. - Tuchel tipped to succeed Emery But their financial might -even regardless of the threat of UEFA sanctions for breaches of

CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / AFP

Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Monaco (ASM) on April 15, 2018, at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. Paris Saint-Germain won the match and claim their seventh French League title.

Financial Fair Play -- ensures the playing field is so uneven at home, and the Champions League is their holy grail.

A second successive exit in the last 16 means heads will roll at the end of this season in preparation for a new attempt to definitively become part of the European elite.

Emery’s contract is due to expire and the Spaniard will not be kept on. With their credibility on the line, Qatar Sports Investments cannot afford to get it wrong when it comes to naming a successor.

But having been linked with the likes of Antonio Conte, Luis Enrique, even Jose Mourinho, instead it seems that Thomas Tuchel will be the chosen one.

Given Tuchel’s profile -- a free agent since leaving Borussia Dortmund last year, with just one major trophy as a coach and little

European pedigree -- appointing the 44-year-old German may surprise many.

The new man’s biggest job will be learning to get along with Neymar, a brilliant player but one whose off-field antics are frequently in the headlines.

That is assuming Neymar remains in Paris for a second season, amid constant speculation of a move away, possibly to Real Madrid.

Other players will certainly leave, with the likes of Thiago Motta and Javier Pastore possibly having won their last Ligue 1 title.

“I have spoken to Neymar. He doesn’t know yet when he will be back, but the project here is with Neymar, of course,” captain Thiago Silva told TF1 on Sunday.

“I am sure the project here will carry on for us to try to make our dream come true.”(afp)

10

Destination

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

Pacquiao: ‘No decision’ on trainer after reports Roach ditched

MANILA - Manny Pacquiao said Monday he had not yet chosen a trainer for his July world title fight with Lucas Matthysse, dismissing reports he has cut ties with long-standing mentor Freddie Roach.

Finns Beach Club

MANGUPURA - Finns Beach Club is a chic hangout now located at Berawa Beach in Canggu, where you can relive the fun dining and lounging vibe from the heydays of its former ‘hidden’ location near Uluwatu. With a magnificent all-bamboo structure that is spacious and airy, and an adjacent blue-tiled freeform infinity pool, you can stay either in our out of the sun, or simply soak in the pool while taking in wide ocean views. The Berawa Beach location also offers regulars of the former Finns Beach Club to a new hotspot that is now within easier reach from the main resort areas of Kuta and Seminyak. Being on an absolute beachfront that faces the main Berawa surf break, the beach club welcomes surfers, who can paddle in for a cold beer and a bite after each session on the waves. For sunset lovers, it is one of the best lounging spots in Canggu for just that, with signature cocktails at hand. When you’re not chilling out on their single or double parasol-shaded daybeds, hit the 30m infinity edge pool, order up your drink from a swim up bar, and enjoy cool tunes fed through underwater speakers.

There’s daybeds and beanbags on the sand.

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These are available for a minimum spending of IDR 250,000 (USD 18.75) per person and includes a towel. Groups of up to six can opt for double daybeds at only twice the price.

An all-day dining menu at Finns Beach Club features simple food, with a good mix of local, international and fusion cuisine. A grazing menu consists of a tasty assortment such as chicken wings with barbecue glaze, grilled squid with salt and Szechuan pepper, a fish basket with beer battered snapper served with tartar sauce and arancini or risotto croquettes with edamame and cheese, each at IDR 55,000 (USD 4). They also have a kids menu, too. At the circular Surf Bar, you can choose a seat with the best view over the pool and the surf, and ask for any of Finns Beach Club’s signature (IDR 110,000 or USD 8.25 each). Refreshing selections include the blackberry smoothie booze, which is a blend of vodka, blackberry liqueur, yoghurt and apple juice, with a dash of cinnamon.

For something fizzy and uplifting, try the Hollywood bubbles, made of Benedictine herbal liqueur, raspberry, pomegranate juice and sparkling wine. The venue is a good spot

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to spend your whole day in Canggu, as it opens until midnight. Their roster of resident DJs hit the booth and turntables from 16:00 daily, playing tunes to help you chill out all night. You can also watch out for their night

surfing unfold right at front from sunset time, when the flood lights are switched on over the rolling waves. Head up to the Sunset Lounge on the second level of Finns Beach Club for the best views over the breaks. (net)

The veteran US ring guru Roach said last week that his 15-year association with Pacquiao, who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions, had been terminated ahead of the Matthysse bout in Malaysia.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t hurt that he didn’t contact me personally about his decision, but the great times we enjoyed together far outweigh that,” Roach said in a brief statement on Friday.

But Pacquiao went on social media Monday to say that he would make a decision later this week on his corner team for the Kuala Lumpur fight with the Argentine World Boxing Association welterweight champion.

“Contrary to statements which I personally did not make that are circulating in the media, I have not made my final decision who will be my head trainer for my July 14 (US time zone) fight with Matthysse,” he said.

Pacquiao -- who has a record of 59 wins with 38 KOs, seven losses and two draws -- told millions of followers on his official Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts that his adviser Mike Koncz “has been in contact with Freddie (Roach)’s people to keep them informed.

“I will make a final decision within the week. When that decision is made, Freddie will be the first one to be informed and then I will advise the media,” the 39-year-old added.

Roach was ever-present in Pacquiao’s corner during his rise to the pinnacle of his sport, helping mould the fighter into one of the best boxers in history.

Pacquiao has not fought since being defeated on points by Australia’s Jeff Horn in Brisbane last July, a loss that cost the Filipino star his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

Matthysse, who has 39 wins including 36 KOs against four defeats, won the vacant WBA belt after beating Thailand’s Teerachai Sithmorseng in January. (afp)

TED ALJIBE / AFP

This file photo taken on October 22, 2009 shows Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao (R) sharing a light moment with his US trainer Freddie Roach (L) after a training session at a gym in Manila.

Shanghai ‘disaster’ clouds title hopes: Hamilton

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Johannes EISELE / AFP

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton gets into his car during a practice session for the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 13, 2018.

SHANGHAI - Lewis Hamilton declared his Chinese Grand Prix a “disaster” on Sunday and said Mercedes would find it tough to repeat their F1 championship victory unless they can sort out issues with a car he feels uncomfortable in.

Hamilton finished only fifth in the Chinese Grand Prix -- a race he has dominated -- though he was bumped up to fourth due to a 10-second penalty assessed on Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull won, ahead of Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in second.

Hamilton has yet to win a race this season and is nine points behind Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the Formula One driver’s standings.

“Saturday and Sunday felt like a disaster from my side,” he said.

“It is clear from this weekend we are not the quickest. We have lost performance since Melbourne and maybe even more so this weekend.”

“We are the second or third-fastest team at the moment, so we have some improving to do, but that’s not impossible.”

Germany’s Vettel and Ferrari put champions Mercedes on the defensive with a season-opening victory in Australia, followed last weekend by a close win in Bahrain.

The result in Shanghai could mean more questions asked of Mercedes, even though they maintain a one-point advantage in the constructors’ standings.

“Who knows what the season holds?

If it continues the way it is, it’s going to be very tough to win,” Hamilton said.

“But if there is an opportunity, and we were to finish on top, it would mean even more because it’s an even tougher season than before.”

Hamilton said he “struggled” with his car in Shanghai. “Rather than blame it on strategy or anything else, I was uncomfortable in the car this weekend.”

Said Bottas: “It’s very close between Red Bull, Ferrari and us, so we need to make sure we keep developing our car.”

“Nearly winning both last weekend and this weekend is the worst feeling -- but it makes both me and the entire team even hungrier. Thankfully there are a lot more races to go.” (afp)

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

W

International

RLD

International

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Trump ‘morally unfit’ for office, fired FBI chief Comey says

11

This picture taken on April 15, 2018 shows Indonesian villagers releasing painted

WASHINGTON - Fired former FBI chief James Comey lashed out at Donald Trump in an interview with ABC broadcast Sunday, calling him “morally unfit” to be president and describing him as a serial liar who will “stain everyone around him.”

terrapin or saw-jawed turtle

Comey’s remarks are the latest salvo in a war of words with Trump, who excoriated the former FBI director on Twitter earlier in the day, again calling him a “slimeball” and suggesting he should be jailed.

The wide-ranging interview with ABC News also came ahead of Tuesday’s release of Comey’s memoir, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership,” in which he details his interactions with the Republican president.

“I think he’s morally unfit to be president,” Comey said, in his first televised interview since being fired in May last year.

The former federal prosecutor pointed to how Trump “talks about and treats women like they’re pieces of meat” and “lies constantly about matters big and small and insists the American people believe it.”

“Values matter,” Comey said. “This president does not reflect the values of this country.”

Comey also said that serving in Trump’s administration poses a serious ethical dilemma.

“The challenge of this president is that he will stain everyone around him,” he told ABC, which aired an edited version of the interview but published a full transcript.

“And the question is, how much stain is too much stain and how much stain eventually makes you unable to accomplish your goal of protecting the country and serving the country?” (afp)

province. The painted terra-

into an estuary at the mangrove conservation area in Tamiang district, Aceh pin is critically endangered species according to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).

CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP

These two file photos show FBI Director James Comey (L) in Washington, DC, on March 20, 2017; and US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, on June 6, 2017.

Trouble in Paradise...

From page 1

Spending on travel and tourism contributed nearly $136 billion to the region’s GDP in 2017, a figure forecast to rise to $144 billion this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The cost of the closures is already being felt in the Philippines, where hundreds of Boracay hotels and tour companies are facing steep losses from cancelled rooms, flights and other bookings.

But some countries are not taking such dramatic steps.

In Indonesia, the tourism ministry said there were no plans to close Bali or any other holiday destination in the archipelago, although it acknowledged that pockets of the tropical paradise were under strain from heavy tourism. “Shut down Bali? I don’t think we will need to do that yet,” said ministry spokesman Guntur Sakti. “Bali is the centre of Indonesian tourism.”

In fact, Indonesia has identified 10 other destinations where it is trying to boost visitors and replicate Bali’s success, including neighbouring island Lombok and Lake Toba in Sumatra. Experts

are also sceptical that short shutdowns will have lasting effects.

“Bottom line is that temporarily closing the beach is probably not the optimal solution to these problems. It only take a day for a bunch of incompetent snorkellers to trash a small reef,” said Andrew Baird from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies in Australia.

In Thailand, the government hopes to draw people to lesser known beaches. “We are working very hard to spread people out, not to go to one condensed area,” said Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine expert working with the parks and tourism authorities.

Travellers to Maya Bay might like the idea.

“It’s very touristy. There wasn’t a patch of sand that didn’t have people laying down on it, taking photos,” Oliver Black, a 22-year-old tourist, said of his afternoon at the destination. As for his thoughts on the looming closure?

“It would not really upset me if I wasn’t able to go to (back to) Maya beach,” he told AFP. (afp)

Russia’s Putin predicts global ‘chaos’ if West hits Syria again MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.

In a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, Putin and Rouhani agreed that the Western strikes had damaged the chances of achieving a political resolution in the seven-year Syria conflict, according to a Kremlin statement.

“Vladimir Putin, in particular, stressed that if such actions committed in violation of the U.N. Charter continue, then it will inevitably lead to chaos in international relations,” the Kremlin statement said.

Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” program that the United States would announce new economic sanctions on Monday aimed at

companies “that were dealing with equipment” related to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged chemical weapons use.

On Saturday, the United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in Douma on April 7.

The Western countries blame Assad for the Douma attack that killed dozens of people. The Syrian government and its ally Russia have denied involvement in any such attack.

The bombings marked the biggest intervention by Western countries against Assad and ally Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he had convinced Trump, who has previously said he wanted to take U.S. forces out of Syria, to stay for “the long term.”

The United States, France and Britain have said the missile

strikes were limited to Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities and not aimed at toppling Assad or intervening in the civil war.

Macron said in an interview broadcast by BFM TV, RMC radio and Mediapart online news that he had convinced Trump to focus on the chemical weapons sites.

Responding to Haley’s remarks about the plans for new sanctions, Evgeny Serebrennikov, deputy head of the defense committee of Russia’s upper house of parliament, said Moscow was ready for the penalties, according to RIA news agency.

“They are hard for us, but will do more damage to the USA and Europe,” RIA quoted Serebrennikov as saying.

In Damascus, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, met inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW for about three hours in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official. (net)

Jokowi`s electability still the highest: Survey

Body of slovak tourist to be cremated in semarang

JAKARTA - Jokowi`s electability still remains the highest among his rivals, according to a survey by KedaiKOPI institute.

Moderate quake hits off Indonesia, no tsunami warning A moderately strong 5.9-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia’s Molucca Sea on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami alert was issued.

The quake struck at a depth of 36.5 kilometres (22 miles), 85 kilometres northwest of Kota Ternate at 4.30am (1930 GMT Sunday), the USGS said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat and there were no immediate reports of damage.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

A huge undersea quake in 2004 triggered a tsunami that killed more than 170,000 people in Aceh province, on western Sumatra island, and tens of thousands more in other countries with coasts on the Indian Ocean.(afp)

Former military chief Gatot Nurmantyo and cleric TGB Zainul Madji meanwhile have emerged as the most favorites for a vice presidential candidate, ANTARA learned here on Sunday.

Jokowi (Joko Widodo) as incumbent collected 48 3 percent of the points or the highest in electability, followed by former army commander Prabowo Subianto with 21.5 percent, Gatot Nurmantyo with 2.1 percent, TGN Zainul Madji, Anies Baswedan and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono with 1.1 percent each.

“If Jokowi rematched with Prabowo today he would remain superior,” KedaiKOPI founder Hendri Satrio said.

On an open question Jokowi also remained at the top of mind of the public for president collecting 35.1 percent of votes, followed by Prabowo (12.0 percent), Gatot Nurmantyo (1.1 percent), Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (0.7 percent), TGB Zainul Madji (0.5 percent) and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (0.5 percent).

“Other names collected less than 0.5 percent of votes are Hari Tanoe,

SEMARANG - The body of Andrey Voytech, a Slovak tourist who was found dead on Mount Merbabu on April 7, 2018, will be cremated at Kedungmundu Crematorium, here.

The cremation plan was confirmed by Senior Commissioner Agus Triatmadja, spokesman of the Central Java Provincial Police, Monday.

“The body will be cremated in Semarang, pending for permission from his family and the Slovak embassy,” he said.

Voytech had been reportedly missing while climbing Mount Merbabu for around two weeks and he was later found dead in a river.

Based on an autopsy which was performed to find out the cause of his death, there were no signs of mistreatment on his body, which is now being kept in Dr Kariadi Hospital, Semarang. “His body was found in a river, most likely that he fell,” the policeman said.

Triatmadja suspected that the Slovak man fell from a 13 meter-high

Anis Baswedan and Edy Rahmayadi,” Hendri said.

Public satisfaction over the government of President Joko Widodo is still high. Until now 66.5 percent of the public has expressed satisfaction over the government of Joko Widodo especially with regard to health, infrastructure, education and foreign relations sectors.

The director of Kedai KOPI Survey Institute, Vivi Zabkie, said for vice president Gatot Nurmantyo has been the most favorite collecting 17.5 percent of votes.

Other nsmes on top of public mind for the position are TGB Zainul Madji and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono.

“They are the top three names on the public mind as vice presidential candidates although most people (53.5 percent) have had any decision about it,” Vivi said.(ant)

12

International

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

5

Forty Types of Medicine Prepared at Tamba Waras Temple

Despite job cuts, GM won’t abandon small car market

General Motors confirmed Sunday its plans to eliminate a shift at an Ohio plant, idling some 1,500 employees as demand for compact cars dips.

The downsizing of the workforce in Lordstown, Ohio -- where GM produces the Chevrolet Cruze -- was related to “historic” market changes that spelled lower demand for compact cars, a company spokeswoman told AFP. “As we look at the market for compact cars in 2018 and beyond, we believe a more stable operating approach to match market demand is a one-shift schedule,” said spokeswoman Dayna Hart, adding the second shift will be suspended toward the end of 2018’s second quarter.

She emphasized the company did not plan to abandon the passenger car market completely. “The car market remains important to GM and Chevrolet since it represents 36 percent of industry retail sales.

The small car segment also brings new and conquest customers to Chevrolet,” Hart said.

The layoffs, which the automaker first announced Friday, appear to undercut the Trump administration’s promises to bring auto jobs back to the region, along with neighboring western Penn-

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Mouse Cremation at Bedha Village, How Does the Ceremony Look Like?

IBP/kmb

Various strange and mystical incidents occurred at this temple.

However, not all people have the capability of experiencing them.

Probably, only ‘selected’ people can experience this spiritual sensation. The Tamba Waras Temple or commonly known as the Tambo Waras holds its pujawali or festival every six months namely on Buda Umanis Perangbakat. At that time, many pilgrims come here to say prayers. Nowadays, they are not only coming from Bali but also from outside Bali.

It is surely meant to invoke safety. There are two types of medicine provided here, one medicine to be drunk and another to be scrubbed at location of the pain. Actually, there are approximately 40 types of medicine made in this temple area. Location of the medicine making is called Bale Asep in the form of kitchen. One of the medicines produced at this temple is juuk linglang.

There is a mythical story accompanying the making of this medicine.

It is said that in 2005, when an ngenteg linggih ritual was held, there was an offering maker who encountered a juwuk linglang or tangerine.

It was then halved, strangely it exuded fire. This tangerine was then mixed with some elements of fruit, herbs and oils.

Besides, there is a medicine known as manik sekecap made from honey bees. The honey is not taken from anywhere but from the chamber shrine where the bees make their nests. Likewise, there is lungsir pancawarna or multicolored sea snail. People who suffer from diseases of the eye, this medicine can be invoked at the Batu Coblong spring shrine. Another shrine is called swine shrine where people can invoke medicine for their livestock. (kmb)

Bali Island retains a number of unique things. For instance, Balinese people have a tradition of fighting against mouse pests. Dubbed as the rice granary region of ??Bali, Tabanan district surely has an extensive agricultural land. A number of challenges are often faced by local farmers.

sylvania.

But Hart said across the US industry, the small car market has been in steady decline since 2014, a trend driven by lower fuel prices and an improving economy.

Last year, GM sold 150,000 Chevy Cruze cars in the US, all produced at Lordstown. Since the start of 2018, sales of the vehicle have dropped 28 percent, according to auto consultancy and data firm

Autodata.

Meanwhile, GM’s competitors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, have also announced plans to cut back on passenger car production in the US. Ford is repurposing a plant in

Wayne, Michigan to build trucks, and shifting car production to Mexico and China -- while Fiat Chrysler has converted its plants near Detroit to produce pick-up trucks. (afp)

Tokyo stocks close higher as investors shrug off Syria strikes

Nicolas ASFOURI / AFP

A man rests as he keeps an eye on stock price movements displayed on a screen at a securities company in Beijing on March 23, 2018. Asian markets plunged on March 23 following a sell-off in New York as Donald Trump sparked fresh trade war fears by imposing huge tariffs on Chinese imports and Beijing unveiled its own measures against US goods.

Tokyo stocks gained ground on Monday as investors forecast that US-led strikes on Syria would have limited impact.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.26 percent or 56.79 points to close at 21,835.53 while the broader Topix was up 0.40 percent or 6.86 points at 1,736.22.

The strikes “have thus far drawn only verbal condemnation from Russia with Russia’s prediction of ‘global chaos’ if the West hits Syria again not filling markets with fresh dread”, Ray Attrill, head of currency strategy at National Australia Bank, said in a client note.

US, French and British missiles destroyed sites suspected of hosting chemical weapons development and storage facilities on the

weekend, but the buildings were mostly empty and the Western allies swiftly reverted to diplomatic efforts.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Syrian regime’s top ally, warned that fresh strikes would spark “chaos”, but Washington vowed economic sanctions against Moscow rather than further military action.

“There are no signs of a further escalation in bilateral (Russia-US) tensions,” said SMBC Nikko chief economist Yoshimasa Maruyama.

“Chances are that the future Syrian situation will show a similar development to that of April 2017,” he said in a commentary, noting market reactions to the US missile attacks at that time were only

temporary.

The dollar edged down to 107.21 yen Monday from 107.35 yen in New York Friday afternoon before the announcement of a wave of Western strikes against Syria’s regime.

“The yen rose slightly against the dollar but the 107-yen level is not going to be a negative factor for Japanese stocks,” Hikaru Sato, senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities, told AFP. In Tokyo trade, Toyota rose 0.37 percent to 6,936 yen and Honda gained 0.23 percent to 3,782 yen, with Nissan up 0.35 percent at 1,129 yen. Sony gained 0.81 percent to 5,288 yen but Panasonic fell 0.19 percent to 1,558 yen. (afp)

For instance, mouse attack threatens the yields of agricultural production. To overcome such pest attack, some villages in Tabanan district still uses traditional method of mass hunting. Not only that, the ceremony of mereteka merana or mouse cremation is still done especially by subak members in the area of Bedha customary village, Tabanan. This ceremony is still closely related to the safety and fertility of plants, especially paddy.

The mouse cremation has been frequently done at Bedha customary village and has been regarded as local custom. Moreover, this ceremony is held in the holy place namely Penataran Bale Agung, Puseh Temple of Bedha. Moreover,

Have you ever tasted tipat santok? This traditional food is the most popular on the Bali Island.

Balinese people of all walks of life really like this simple menu.

Children, teenagers and old people never get bored with this food because it is easily obtained. Moreover, the flavor can be customized because the sauces can be increased or decreased as desired.

Tipat santok is a breakfast menu

after the ceremony it has proved to provide real evidence for the life of farmers. “Until now, the tradition of mouse cremation in Bedha remains to exist, but it’s only done if there is an uncontrolled mouse pest attacks in paddy fields,” said chief of Bedha customary village, I Nyoman Surata.

The ceremony, said Surata, aims to purify the soul of pests so as to return to its origin and does not reincarnate to the earth as a pest that damage all types of plants on earth, especially paddy plants. “Thus, it is unlike cremation on Pitra Yadnya but when there is an uncontrolled pest attack, so farmers always face harvest failure. The mouse also

called as Jero Ketut is cremated like in ngaben ceremony. After being cremated, the mice collected from mass hunting (through fumigation) in the fields are floated to the sea,” he explained.

He added that at Bedha village such ceremonies are often organized when mice and other pests have caused an extraordinary disturbance and cannot be controlled. This last mouse cremation ceremony was held in 2009 involving subak groups in Tabanan district under the coordination of Sedahan Agung of Tabanan. Interestingly, after the mouse cremation, the plants have never been attacked by pests until now. (kmb)

Tipat Santok Lalah Manis

which is very well known in Bali.

Tipat santok with spicy sweet sauces are often becoming people’s choice. It is called so because it offers sweet and spicy flavor. Spicy here does not happen due to too much pepper but because of spicy chili, while the sweet flavor is given by the brown sugar. In Java this food is commonly known as gado-gado.

Tipat santok is very easy to find.

It is cheap and served fresh because it is prepared after being ordered.

Almost at every village street people can enjoy this food because many merchants of this food are open until late evening.

They usually sell at village roadside, traditional markets and in the aisles.

Basically the main ingredient is ketupat (rice bag) wrapped in young coconut leaf. However,

in later development, people also use plastic or banana leaves as the wrapper. In the presentation, the tipat santok is served with various vegetables such as water spinach, sprouts, and cucumber. Optionally it is accompanied with tofu or tempeh and fried red beans.

In the meantime, the spice is made from fried peanut mixed with garlic, aromatic ginger, lime,

palm sugar, fermented shrimp paste and fermented soy beans where all these herbs are then pulverized.

After that, it is sprinkled with fried shallot. Now, it is ready to be served. One portion of tipat santok costs varies according to the venue and merchants. At villages, a portion is sold for IDR 4,000 – IDR 5,000 while in urban areas ranging from IDR 6,000 to IDR 10,000. (kmb)

4

Bali News

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

Drug extension must be included in village program AMLAPURA — The threat of drug abuse is getting more dangerous. Today, it does not only target residents in big cities, but also increasingly spreads to villages. Each village is asked to proactively conduct counseling about drug hazards. Moreover, if necessary, it can be included in the working program of village activities.

This was revealed when the Karangasem Community Empowerment Agency worked with National Narcotics Agency of Karangasem District (BNNK) in the meeting room of the Karangasem Manpower and Transmigration Agency not long ago.

The meeting was attended by all headmen and subdistrict heads across Karangasem.

Head of the Karangasem Village Empowerment Agency, Komang Agus Sukasena, emphasized the importance of village role in the handling of drug abuse.

Strategic role of the village must be realized with a variety of real activities. By that way, moving together will further narrow the moving space for the illicit goods trafficking.

Thus, he encouraged that every village through the coordination of sub-district head can do it through various working programs directly touching the young generation. He also encouraged the existence of various positive activities at villages to keep young people away from the promiscuity and negative influence of drugs. “Village knows best it people, and the villages also better understands and its

territory. Do not let drugs enter our village,” he said.

Head of the BNNK Karangasem, Nyoman Sebudi, on that occasion explained various things starting from a grand design of anti-drug development, drug abuse research and development as well as drug modus operandi.

Similarly, it was explained about the impact and characteristics of drug use to the prevalence of drug abuse data in Bali. When compared to other districts/municipality in Bali, drug abuse rate in Karangasem remains the lowest in Bali. However, his agency has mapped some gray areas in Karangasem which is used as a drug deal place.

In the meeting, he also explained the role of government agencies in the Prevention and Eradication of Drug Abuse and Trafficking (P4GN) in accordance with Law Number 35/2009 regarding the government element at the lowest level, namely the village. He asserted the significant role of headmen in the P4GN, including in the monitoring.

Then, they must report if there are people using drugs.

In addition, he encouraged village participation by making village regulations (Perdes) governing moral sanctions for drug abusers. Village regulation certainly may not conflict with the higher regulations. In the village regulation is detailed more about social sanctions to be dealt with.

This has a quite severe impact if the village is able to apply it in order to provide a deterrent effect to the perpetrators. (kmb31)

IBP/kmb31

The meeting was attended by all headmen and subdistrict heads across.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

13

Journalists killing shows Ecuador, Colombia must act on ‘narco border’

BOGOTA - The kidnapping and killing of two journalists and their driver has thrown up an uncomfortable truth for Colombia and Ecuador, analysts say: that their long-neglected border has become a drug traffickers’ nirvana.

IBP/kmb35

This tradition is collecting a variety of harvest yields from one home to another for the preparation of pujawali at the temple.

Ahead of pujawali at Samuantiga Temple

Hundreds of children do Ngambeng tradition

GIANYAR — Pujawali or temple festival at Samuantiga Temple this time will fall on full moon of the eleventh month in Balinese calendar (Apr. 30). By the celebration, hundreds of children conducted the ngambeng tradition on Sunday (Apr. 15). This tradition is collecting a variety of harvest yields from one home to another for the preparation of pujawali at the temple.

Chief of Bedulu customary village, I Gusti Made Ngurah Serana, said last Sunday that children entering people’s house when conducting ngambeng tradition has the meaning of disseminating information that pujawali will soon be held. The areas targeted by this tradition are the Wanayu Mas, Taman, Bedulu and Tengkulak Kaja customary village.

This tradition is held every day 15 prior to the pujawali. Usually, it lasts for one week. During that time, the children will make a group before traveling around the supporting villages of the temple.

“At the very least, it can consist of two children. However, it maximally consists of dozens of children,” he explained.

Schedule of the ngambeng tradition is also adjusted to children. For example, last Sunday was holiday so that many children can join the ngambeng tradition in the morning.

Meanwhile, on school days it will

be usually done in the afternoon.

“Ordinarily, children walk from their home to another home of the temple supporting devotees,” he explained.

Dressed in medium customary attires, the children will say greeting of Om Swastyastu to house owner. It has become a tradition that every house visited has been preparing the harvest yields to be collected for the temple, such as coconut, banana leaf, bamboo, green coconut leaf, incense, and other ritual paraphernalia. Well, if they consider to have got enough harvest yields above, they will be taken to the temple. “When arriving at the temple, they are placed in the kitchen, while the children will have lunch prepared,” he said.

He said that at the same such tradition also becomes a medium of learning about the involvement of children in the preparation of religious ceremonies starting from

an early age. He admitted so far many ngambeng perpetrators do the tradition beyond the village area of the supporting devotees like Ubud.

Interestingly, the ngambeng tradition perpetrators are always greeted positively. “Since some ngambeng perpetrators go outside the supporting villages, we ask the people visited by ngambeng perpetrator to understand,” he said.

Gusti Serana recognized the ngambeng tradition may not be dispensed. A few years ago, it had been banned, but it resulted in a disaster and disruption to the implementation of the rituals at the temple. “It is said the ngambeng was once abandoned because of various considerations. As consequence, various ritual paraphernalia seemed to be lacking or missing without ever been found. Likewise, people who rejected coarsely to do ngambeng tradition are believed to have an unfavorable impact,” he said. (kmb35)

The two governments sent troops into the dense jungle area to hunt for the killers and re-establish control over a region analysts say has become a key corridor for the supply of cocaine to the United States.

Ecuador’s Interior Minister Cesar Navas said Sunday he had sent 550 police and troops, backed by tanks and a helicopter, to take “total control” of the border town of Mataje, where the journalists were kidnapped. As part of a coordinated operation Bogota sent troops into the Tumaco area on the Colombian side of the border, known as the zone with the world’s highest density of coca-leaf plantations.

The northwestern area is marked by dense jungle, criss-crossed by rivers, leading into the Pacific -- an ideal launching pad for seaborne drug shipments and “transnational crime” under the influence of the Mexican drug cartels, said local Colombian military commander General Mauricio Zabala.

This is the fiefdom of the Oliver Sinisterra Front, which claimed responsibility for the kidnappings of Javier Ortega, Paul Rivas and their driver Efrain Segarra.

Its leader is Walter Patricio Artizala, better known by his nom-de-guerre Guacho, a former middle-ranking FARC commander known to operate on both sides of the border with about 80 men.

“Guacho will fall, sooner or later,” Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Sunday, confirming the kingpin is on a list of high value targets.

“The highly-present Mexican cartels see that one of their main cocaine supply sources

Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP

A man exchanges US dollars for Colombian pesos in Imbili, Tumaco Municipality, in the Colombian department of Narino near the border with Ecuador, on April 15, 2018 where military presence has been reinforced following the murder of an Ecuadorean journalist team in the area. is drying up, that is why they are trying to generate violence,” he added.

However, the full-on military approach being undertaken by the governments risks unleashing a fresh wave of violence, according to analyst Fernando Carrion, pointing

to the bloodshed in Mexico under Felipe Calderon’s government (2006-2012).

In depressed areas like this one “an economic policy is required so that there is substitution of crops, so that the income of the inhabitants doesn’t come from narcot-

ics,” he said.

“We have to have a multilateral policy, where there are issues of economy, politics and obviously military issues,” said Carrion, an expert in security at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Quito. (afp)

Shark attack suspends elite surfing competition in Australia

IBP/net

A man suffered leg injuries Monday after he was attacked by a shark off Australia’s southwestern coast, forcing authorities to shut down a nearby international surfing competition.

SYDNEY - A man suffered leg injuries Monday after he was attacked by a shark off Australia’s southwestern coast, forcing authorities to shut down a nearby international surfing competition.

The surfer was knocked off his board before being thrashed around, a witness said. “(I) saw the guy who had been attacked get separated from the board and then start to paddle for an inside wave, which he managed to body surf all the way in,” witness Peter Jovic told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“They got him to shore and

started working on him to stem the bleeding.”

St John Ambulance Western Australia said the injured surfer, aged in his 30s, was “conscious and breathing and being treated for leg injuries”. He was airlifted to hospital for treatment.

The attack occurred shortly before 8:00am local time (0000 GMT) at Cobblestones beach, near where the world’s top surfers were competing on the sixth day of the Margaret River Pro event, which is part of the World Surf League Championship Tour.

Organisers confirmed the incident off the coast of Gracetown

-- 260 kilometres (162 miles) south of Western Australia’s capital Perth -- which prompted an one-hour suspension in the competition.

“The safety of our surfers & staff is a top priority. We have mitigation protocols in place and will be enhancing those when competition resumes,” the WSL’s organisers tweeted.

The surfer was not believed to have been part of the WSL tour, a St John Ambulance spokesman told AFP. Surfing resumed about 10:40am, with officials deploying drones to monitor the area alongside waterskiers. (afp)

14

Science

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

International

International

This undated NASA artist’s illustration released on April 11, 2018 shows NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) that is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida no earlier than April 16, 2018.

NASA’s new planet-hunter to seek closer, Earth-like worlds

TAMPA - NASA is poised to launch a $337 million washing machine-sized spacecraft that aims to vastly expand mankind’s search for planets beyond our solar system, particularly closer, Earth-sized ones that might harbor life.

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, is scheduled to launch Monday at 6:32 pm (2232 GMT) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Its main goal over the next two years is to scan more than 200,000 of the brightest stars for signs of planets circling them and causing a dip in brightness known as a transit.

NASA predicts that TESS will discover 20,000 exoplanets -- or planets outside the solar system -- including more than 50 Earth-sized planets and up to 500 planets less than twice the

size of Earth. “They are going to be orbiting the nearest, brightest stars,” Elisa Quintana, TESS scientist at NASA’s Goddard Spaceflight Center, told reporters on Sunday.

“We might even find planets that orbit stars that we can even see with the naked eye,” she added.

“So in the next few years we might even be able to walk outside and point at a star and know that it has a planet.

This is the future.”

- Follow-on to Kepler Just a couple of decades ago, the

notion of finding habitable planets -or any planets at all -- was a mere fantasy, said Paul Hertz, astrophysics division director at NASA. “Humans have wondered forever whether we were alone in the universe, and until 25 years ago the only planets we knew about were the eight in our own solar system,” he told reporters on the eve of the TESS launch.

“But since then, we have found thousands of planets orbiting others stars and we think all the stars in our galaxy must have their own

family of planets.”

TESS is designed as a follow-on to the US space agency’s Kepler spacecraft, which was the first of its kind and launched in 2009. The aging spacecraft is currently low on fuel and near the end of its life.

Kepler found a massive trove of exoplanets by focusing on one patch of sky, which contained about 150,000 stars like the Sun. The Kepler mission found 2,300 confirmed exoplanets, and thousands more candidate planets. But many were too distant and dim to study further.

TESS, with its four advanced cameras, will scan an area that is 350 times larger, comprising 85

percent of the sky in the first two years alone.

“By looking at such a large section of the sky –- this kind of stellar real estate -- we open up the ability to cherry-pick the best stars to do follow-up science,” said Jenn Burt, a postdoctoral fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

“On average the stars that TESS observes are 30-100 times brighter and 10 times closer than the stars that Kepler focused on.”

TESS uses the same method as Kepler for finding potential planets, by tracking the dimming of light when a celestial body passes in front of a star. (afp)

Nearly 1,400 Sharks Spotted In Mysterious Gathering Off East Coast NEARLY 1,400 basking sharks were spotted in aerial photos in a puzzling gathering off the East Coast of the U.S. The unusual plankton-eating basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world — surpassed only by the whale shark — and have been generally believed to be solitary swimmers. The huge fish can reach 32 feet in length and weigh as much as five tons.

An analysis of satellite and aerial photos found hundreds of them collected in a kind of shark conference in the waters off southern New England in 2013, according to a new study. Scientist suspect the gathering wasn’t related to mating.

The animals were all adults or juveniles, according to the research published this

month in the Journal of Fish Biology.

Researchers speculate the sharks may have been in a feeding frenzy on a plankton bloom in the area before setting off on their annual autumn migration south. A survey the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted shortly after the 2013 gathering found high concentrations of zooplankton, adding support for that theory.

Until the study, basking sharks were known to gather occasionally, but only a few hundred at a time at the most and generally in the Pacific, according to experts.

The population estimates for the area are “in the hundreds,” marine conservation biologist Boris Worm told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “So 1,400

would be not just a large group, but a large chunk of the population.”

Scientists found the unusual gathering by studying more than three decades of aerial photos that were collected in studies seeking North Atlantic right whales.

Ten significant aggregations of basking sharks were identified off the coast of Nova Scotia and New England between 1980 and 2013, ranging from 36 to at least 1,398, the largest ever reported.

Whatever the reason for the mysterious gathering, scientists see it a positive sign for the species. During the 20th century, the slow-moving sharks were intensely hunted until their population eventually collapsed. They’re currently protected in the U.S. and U.K. (net)

IBP/net

Nearly 1,400 basking sharks were spotted in aerial photos in a puzzling

Bali News

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

3

Inter-regional disparities highlighted DENNPASAR — The economic disparities amongst different regions of Bali were highlighted in the Bali Development Planning Meeting (Musrenbang) held at the Governor of Bali’s office’s Wiswasabha Utama on Thursday (Apr. 12). Apart from issues related to the Human Development Index (HDI), other key issues and strategies were also addressed during the two day meeting.

“There are still massive economic disparities between Southern Bali and the North, East and West of Bali. Our HDI is not optimal because health, education and income levels remain low”, said Director General of Regional Government Development from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nata Wirawan.

According to Wirawan, infrastructure development in Bali needs to be directed to Northern, Eastern and Western Bali in order to bridge the gap. Minum service standards need to be improved in order for people to have access to better quality education and health. Also, added Wirawan, Bali needs to improve it’s competitiveness in terms of commodities for export markets.

“Bali’s weak competitiveness in export commodities means that the lcoal econimy lacks added value.

Bali’s leading commodities need to be developed and pioneering efforts need to be made”, he explained.

Wirawan also pointed to the need for Bali to use it’s local revenue and government expenditures more efficiently. Regional inflation also needs ot be controlled, reional plannign and budgeting needs to meet deadlines, sources of regionaly generated revenue (PAD) need to be worked on , dependancy on balancing fnds or transfer from the central gvernment needs ot be reduced and public services need to be improved, he delivered.

Head of the Bali Research and Development Bureau, I Wayan Wiasthana Ika Putra, shared that the reduction of disparities between regions is one of the priorities for the Bali Regional Development Plan 2019. One way to do this is through infrastructure development and environemntal conservation. Basic services need to be made available to people all over Bali as a human development priority for social equity, he added.

“Another prioroty is to boost the economy of these regions by adding value to agriculutral products, tourism services, creative industires and productive servies. Maintianing peaceful living conditions, conserving cultural practices, imporving governmance and improving the quality of beaurocraxy also need to be worked on, said Putra.

Putra also said the the development plan meeting also included disccusion about the district / municipal proposal regarding direct expenditure and special financial assistance (BKK). There were a total of 129 proposal for direct spending in the form of programs and activities aimed at the Province of Bali altogether valued at IDR IDR 4.474 trillion. There were also 187 BKK proposals with a total value of IDR 2. 176 trillion.

There were also proposals for the the government of Bali;s direct spending in the initial draft of the RKPD 2019 requiring a budget of IDR 2.593 trillion. The formulation of the regional financial policy direction is adjusted to the projected revenue and the percentage of budget deficit is rationally allocated to fund direct expenditure in the RKPD 2019 worth IDR 1.368 trillion.

“Hopefully, with the permission of the governor, the relevant ministry could provide a boost to support the Province of Bali in being allocated a larger budget than last year”, said Putra. (kmb32)

IBP/kmb

Bhakti pepranian becomes a part of the procession in Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa at Ulun Danu Batur Temple, Batur customary village, Kintamani.

Bhakti pepranian

Expression of people’s gratitude for graces of the Creator

BANGLI — Bhakti pepranian becomes a part of the procession in Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa at Ulun Danu Batur Temple, Batur customary village, Kintamani. In the process of bhakti pepranian, Batur customary villagers give the best produce in the form of food along with dishes as well as fruits and tubers. It signifies an expression of gratitude for all the graces bestowed by the Creator.

The procession of bhakti pepranian at Ulun Danu Batur Temple was held on Friday (Apr. 13). Bhakti pepranian is held in the madya mandala (middle courtyard) of the temple and was followed by hundreds of pilgrims and government officials. This procession marked the end of the series of Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa at the Ulun Danu Batur Temple held on March 31.

Supporting devotee (pangemong) of Ulun Danu Batur Temple at Batur customary village, Jro Gede Batur Duhuran, explained the purpose of implementing the bhakti pepranian is as an expression of gratitude as well as apologies to God if there were drawbacks committed by people during the implementation of the ritual. “As a human being, surely we cannot escape from making a mistake. Moreover, the Pujawali Ngusaba Kedasa is a great ritual. Of course, there is a lack or missing. So, the bhakti pepranian is our means to apologize to Him

while invoking so as to be endowed with safety and well-being to the universe along with the contents,” he explained.

Jro Gede Batur Duhuran added that in the bhakti pepranian the ritual paraphernalia presented consists of food, side dishes, fruits and tubers. They are of the best ones owned by the community. Having been presented, the offerings are begged with family. It signifies togetherness. Devotees also beg to God in order to be bestowed with safety and prosperity for all.

He added that after the bhakti pepranian was then continued with bhakti perang-perangan through the presentation of Baris Jojor Dance and Baris Gede Dance. Both dances are played by two people. They move from the opposite direction (north and south), after meeting in the middle, the dancers will find merta. The warfare signifies the search for mertha so that people must fight first.

“Here the war does not mean the real war, but a symbolic war. To find success, people must pass through a process by hard work,” said Jero Gede Batur Duhuran.

After the bhakti perang-perangan, the next procession is bhakti matiti swara. Matiti swara is bhisama or speech from the deity. The essence of His speech is that people are always asked to do goodness. Quotes of the speech in the bhakti matiti swara can be interpreted as follows: “Dear all villagers and the Hindus; please listen to me carefully. Cultivate a few but harvest much. Give applause cheerfully, okay?”

All devotees responding by saying ‘okay’ in the bhakti matiti swara procession must comply with their words. Anyone who breaks is believed to be sentenced by the deity.

“This is moral message carried in the chronicle of Purana Ulun Danu Batur. As the member of Batur community, we very much believe in it,” he explained. (kmb40)

2

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Bali News

International

International

Activities

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Blood Donors are Life Savers

To attract quality travelers

Bangli unable to build star-rated hotel as having no tourism area

BANGLI —Bangli is the only district in Bali having no tourism area. This condition makes it unable to be built star-rated hotels and tourism facilities as in other districts. As a result, the tourism and people’s economy in Bangli cannot grow even though every year Bali is visited by up to millions of tourists.

A former legislator of the Bangli House of Representatives, Ida Bagus Santosa, said on Sunday (Apr. 15) that Bali currently has 16 areas included in the tourism area. Of the dozens of tourism areas, none exists in Bangli district. As having no tourism area, Bangli cannot be built with tourism facilities in the form of star-rated hotels by investors. Visiting tourists to Bangli so far finally just ‘pissed.’

According to him, the existence of starred hotels in an area greatly affects the development of tourism and the economy of the surrounding communities. With the starred hotels, other tourism supporting facilities will emerge and the economic development of the community will move dynamically.

“So far, Bangli seems to be marginalized. Geographically, the region of Bangli has many destinations worth selling. However, Bangli is not given the quota of tourism area, and only given the sacred duties of guarding mountains and lakes,” he said.

This man from Demulih village, Susut, also very much deplored even though it has such condition, none of the parties in Bangli want to protest and ask for justice so that Bangli can be defined as a tourism area. The Bangli government, according to Santosa, seemed to accept such a fate.

“The measure to be taken now is that Bangli people must unite to claim their rights. There must be a regulatory change for Bangli so as to have a tourism area. Thus, the economy of Bangli community can grow and develop. Do not just accept the fate as it is,” said Santosa. (kmb40)

Products and services must also be qualified

DENPASAR —Bali tourism is expected to become quality other competitive benefits. “We cantourism. Bali seems unable to apply quality tourism because it not blame on them because they are investing. They also need guests, remains to be hampered by a number of obstacles.

Advisor to Bali Tourism Board, Bagus Sudibya, said if wishing to get quality tourist visit, the products and services offered must also be qualified. He considered Bali cannot apply this quality tourism because there are still constraints of waste, clean water, transportation and tourist destinations.

He explained that quality tourism means the tourists are qualified.

Quality tourists are not only seen in terms of their purchasing power, but also in terms of mature plan to go to a destination with a particular purpose.

If wishing to draw quality tourists to come, the products offered must also be qualified, according to expectations of guests. Quality products include the airlines used, quality tourist destination, airport with the services, ground transportation, tour guides and quality drivers. “All of them are produced by qualified human resources, like a quality chef produces quality food,” he said on Sunday (Apr. 15). Products and services yielded by qualified human resources will attract quality tourists to come.

Bali should indeed lead to quality tourism. However, it does not necessarily mean that Bali can bring in quality tourists. One of the requirements is the product served must have a good quality.

The concept of quality tourism is to have a clean habit, green concept and good water, so that it is believed

there is a good life, including good oxygen. On that account, this green concept indeed demands the firmness of law enforcement, which area can be built and which area belongs to green open space.

If wishing to bring in quality tourists, friendly attitude should also be upheld. Honesty is also important because it is a reflection of quality human beings. This is for the sustainability of Bali tourism itself. If tourists are deceived, it will provide a negative image for tourists. Later on, they will not come to Bali again.

Meanwhile, Division Head of the MICE Acceleration Team of the Ministry of Tourism, I.B. Surakusuma or familiarly called Gus Lolec, said the low hotel room rates to attract tourists cannot be avoided due to room rate competition among hoteliers. Room rate competition occurs due to excessive hotel room availability.

The number of new hotels and unclear investment make it difficult for hoteliers. So, it is no wonder at certain seasons, the supply is more than demand. “If they are suppressed how they can sell because they borrow money from the bank. So, it is just like between the devil and the deep sea or they are faced with difficult situation,” he said.

Currently the hotel competes by lowering their room rate as low as possible and making packages with

right. However, the guests obtained through a tight campaign also make it difficult. If they compete and do not get guests how they pay off their debts,” he joked.

The hotel associations such as the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) and Bali Hotel Association (BHA) should encourage their members not to dump. Meanwhile, in the matter of room rate, the local government cannot intervene because the room rate is a policy or hotel management decision.

Therefore, the associations and local governments should cooperate to make a bottom rate agreement.

In other words, the room rate in a contract agreement issued should be different from publish rate. “It’s a secret, if it sells under the contract rates provided for travel agencies, the Bali tourism will go bankrupt. Bali tourism has an ethics that must be accounted for,” he said.

Even though the presence of 10 New-Bali is believed to be able to make quality Bali tourism, he doubts who will supervise and control this matter. The hotel reserves the right to sell the room at an agreed room rates. Meanwhile, tourists cannot be directed to choose another place for their vacation. Even if the room rate installed for a trip to Bali is raised, tourists are confident there must be agency selling the hotel room at a lower price. (kmb42)

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

15

On Friday, 6th April 2018, Hard Rock Hotel Bali conducted a blood donation drive in conjunction with the Indonesian Red Cross Denpasar City.

The donated blood will be used for transfusions or made into medications, giving someone else another chance at life. In fact, we may help save up to three lives with just one donation.

“The blood donation program is held twice annually as part of our contribution to the local community and in line with our mantra and philosophy to: “Take Time To Be Kind”, said Ketut Narendra Wiriadijaya as Marketing Communications Manager Hard Rock Hotel Bali. More than 40 participants from Hard Rock Hotel Bali joined the program.

He added that the guests are very enthusiastic in joining the event. “Not only our guests but some guests from other hotels are also taking part in donating their blood,” Narendra said.

Hard Rock also invited tourism businessmen and media partner to join. “In addition to blood donor, we also carried out carithy fun run and other event as a part of our CSR,” he explained. There is great hope that the event will be carried out for many times more and could help others.

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

16 Pages Number 93 10th year

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

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

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Carrie Underwood performs onstage during the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Beyonce throws Coachella homecoming with Destiny’s Child reunion

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Tuesday, April 17, 2018

INDIO - Beyonce returned spectacularly to the stage Saturday with a joyous, homecoming-themed party at the Coachella festival where she delighted fans with a rare reunion of her former trio Destiny’s Child.

Before a sea of some 100,000 people in the southern California desert, the pop superstar headlined the second night of the premier global music festival, ending a year-long hiatus from live music as she gave birth to twins.

Beyonce showed no sign of slowing down after her maternity leave, singing and strutting her stuff with little break for two hours as she led around 100 back-up dancers and musicians.

Her husband, rap mogul Jay-Z, popped up on stage toward the end of her set to join in their song “Deja Vu.” But he turned out to be only a preview of a less routine guest appearance.

With an audio recording of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay “We Should All Be Feminists” allowing Beyonce a moment to prepare, she re-emerged being elevated to the stage in an unmistakable silhouette of three figures.

Fellow Destiny’s Child members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined Beyonce for three of the trio’s songs, including “Say My Name.”

It was their first reunion since Beyonce’s Super Bowl halftime show in 2013. The group propelled Beyonce to stardom but was also beset by internal friction.

On Saturday, Beyonce referred to her bandmates as her “sisters” -- and was also joined on stage by her real sister, Solange Knowles.

Beyonce made clear from the start that Coachella was about reuniting, with an announcer starting the show by welcoming guests to her “homecoming.”

A school’s worth of brass and string players played from stadium-style stands as Beyonce entered to a New Orleans-style march. She sported an all-American outfit of tight jean shorts and a collegiate sweatshirt -- the Greek letters, of course, starting with “B.” After revving up the crowd with fireworks and the boisterous “Crazy in Love,” Beyonce offered a take on “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the unofficial African American national anthem. (afp)

LOS ANGELES - he 2018 Academy of Country Music Awards were notable for many reasons. They were held in Las Vegas, a mere few months after a horrific shooting at another country event took place in that very city. Reba McEntire returned to reclaim her longtime hosting duties. Chris Stapleton’s wife gave birth right in the midst of it all.

However, for many fans, there was just one moment to tune in for: Namely, the big live reveal of Carrie Underwood’s face. For months, Underwood — who suffered a fall back in November that necessitated 40-50 stitches to her face — had laid low on social media, only posting pictures of her face with strategic disguising props such as scarves.

She progressed to revealing herself in profile, then moved on to full-on photos that either were a bit zoomed out or had clever lighting. All of this understandably had fans wondering what the heck she was hiding?

When Underwood did take the stage to perform her new single “Cry Pretty,” nobody knew quite what to expect. However, those who were betting on something dramatic — well, good thing they weren’t betting on Vegas tables, because they lost that bet.

Underwood’s face looked smooth as glass; as perfect and flawless as ever. “Pretty” was the only word to describe her.

She received a standing ovation for her performance — which also was flawless — but fans on social media, predictably, reacted with confusion and a little bit of irritation. After all, the mystery of Carrie’s face really had gone on for a long time. (net)

Beyoncé at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

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Passengers prepare to board boats to Nusa Penida island from Sanur beach on Bali on March 21, 2018.

SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Trouble in Paradise: Tourism surge lashes Southeast Asia’s beaches

Hordes of tourists clamber across the white sand with selfie sticks as Thai park rangers wade into turquoise waters to direct boats charging into the cliff-ringed cove.

Made famous by the 2000 movie “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Maya Bay on the western Thai island of Koh Phi Phi Ley is now a case study in the ruinous costs of runaway tourism, swamped by up to 4,000 daily visitors.

“There is too many people here, it’s bad,” lamented Saad Lazrak, a 61-year-old from Morocco, as crowds around him swallowed the stretch of sand encircled by an amphitheatre of limestone cliffs.

Across the region, Southeast Asia’s once-pristine beaches are reeling from decades of unchecked tourism as governments scramble to confront trash-filled waters and environmental degradation without puncturing a key economic driver.

Thailand’s Maya Bay will be off limits for four months from June to September, officials announced last month, in a bid to save its ravaged coral reefs.

In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered this month the Boracay beach resort closed to tourists for up to six months from April 26, describing the destination as a “cesspool” tainted by sewage dumped directly into the sea.

Indonesian officials, meanwhile, declared a “garbage emergency” last year swamping a six-kilometre stretch of coast along the island of Bali. The island’s grim coastal pollution was highlighted in March

by British diver Rich Horner’s viral video of swimming through a sea

of trash swirling off shore.

“Plastic bags, more plastic bags, plastic, plastic, so much plastic!”

Horner said in a Facebook post that has been viewed more than a million times.

- Breathing space Conservationists and governments are worried about the health of coral reefs, which are in a dire state globally due to climate change and rising sea temperatures.

When exposed to warmer waters, they shed the algae that dazzle the eye and are vital to marine ecosystems, leaving the corals diseased or bone-white in a process called bleaching.

Environmental stress, including pollution, human contact and exposure to plastics that comes with mass tourism are also major threats to reefs that are part of the draw for

snorkellers and scuba-divers.

“Tourism has a series of detrimental effects on coral health,” said Eike Schoenig, a Thailand-based marine biologist at the Center for Oceanic Research and Education.

Countries in Southeast Asia are looking to stem the threats without cutting off the cash flow of a regional tourism boom, led by China, the top source market for travellers to the region. Thailand received 35 million tourists last year, of whom nearly 10 million hailed from China, according to official data.

But what is good for business can be bad for beaches.

Songtam Suksawang, Thailand’s National Park Office Director, told AFP he personally inspected the beach at Maya Bay and said it “must definitely be (temporarily) closed” in order to rehabilitate it.

He said authorities are discussing

new rules once the shut-down is lifted, such as restrictions on the number of daily visitors, better regulation of boats and a higher entrance fee.

- Tourism costs Thailand is also conducting studies on six other marine parks, while the Philippines is weighing action on other top destinations buckling under mass tourism. But governments are wary of curtailing an industry that creates jobs and buoys economies.

Continued to page 6 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.