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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Netflix removes suicide scene from ‘13 Reasons Why’

Angela Weiss / AFP

In this file photo taken on April 03, 2019 British actress Maisie Williams (L) and British actress Sophie Turner (R) arrive for the “Game of Thrones” eighth and final season premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York city.

‘Game of Thrones’ and Netflix tipped to sweep Emmy nominations

LOS ANGELES - “Game of Thrones” and Netflix are tipped by TV industry watchers to dominate Tuesday’s Emmy nominations as Hollywood gears up for awards season.

The Television Academy’s 24,000 members sifted through a record number of entries for this year’s Emmys, the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars.

After nominations are announced final-round voting will begin to pick winners who will be revealed at a glitzy Los Angeles show on September 22.

Here are five things to look out for: - ‘Game of Thrones’ “Game of Thrones” enraged fans with its final season, but experts still expect the HBO fantasy epic to reign over Emmy nominations one last time.

“Thrones” is the most decorated fictional show in the awards’ seven-decade history, with 128 nominations and 47 wins.

The last six episodes dominated water-cooler chat and settled the question of who would sit on the Iron

LOS ANGELES - Netflix has removed a graphic suicide scene from season one of the hit show “13 Reasons Why” following concern from mental health experts who fear it glorifies suicide.

The move comes two years after the launch of the show, which follows the story of high school student Hannah Baker who takes her own life.

While praised for raising issues such as bullying and self-harm, the show had come under criticism from schools and psychologists worried it could trigger copycat suicides among young people struggling with mental health issues.

“As we prepare to launch season three later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show,” Netflix said on Twitter late Monday.

“So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from season one.”

Producer Yorkey said the graphic suicide scene was intended to

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

show “the horror of such an act, and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate it.”

“No one scene is more important than the life of the show, and its message that we must take better care of each other,” he said in a statement on Twitter.

“We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.”

Netflix said the show had encouraged discussion about mental health issues.

“We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help -- often for the first time,” it said.

Two studies published in May found that suicides among US youths rose significantly in the months following the popular show’s release.

A study commissioned by Netflix and carried out by Northwestern University last year found that a majority of teens said the show helped them understand depression better and empathize with victims of bullying. (afp)

Throne -- sort of -- but the flood of social media anguish over its unsatisfying conclusion almost broke the internet.

Still, voters could pick the show out of “nostalgia” and because “they want to pay respect for the impact it’s had on TV overall,” said Indiewire TV critic Ben Travers.

“But it also could be a lack of options,” he added.

- Major absentees The Emmys only recognize shows that were on in the 12 months to May 31.

That means several big hitters are absent from main categories this year, including Hulu’s former drama series winner “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“Big Little Lies” and “Stranger Things” also just missed the cut-off -- something which may not be accidental.

“Some of the more prominent shows got out of the way fearing ‘Game of Thrones’ just dominating everything, and not wanting to go head to head with it,” said Travers. (afp)

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

SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

A teacher walks past tiles which fell off the damaged roof of a school building after a earthquake hit the area in Jimbaran on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on July 16, 2019. A strong 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali on July 16, the United States Geological Survey said, causing residents to flee their homes and damaging several buildings.

IBP/net

Netflix has removed a graphic suicide scene from season one of the hit show “13 Reasons Why” following concern from mental health experts who fear it glorifies suicide.

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Quake off Indonesia’s Bali causes minor damage, sparks panic

A strong earthquake struck off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said, causing residents to flee their homes and damaging several buildings.

The quake, which had a magnitude of 5.7, hit at 7.18am local time (0018 GMT) and was centred 82.1 kilometres (50.9 miles) southwest of the island’s capital Denpasar, according to the USGS. The tremor, which was felt as far away as Banyuwangi on the neighbouring island of Java, struck relatively deep at 91 kilometres and no tsunami warning was issued.

Residents of Bali described

panic as the quake hit. “I was carrying my baby when I felt the jolt -- it was strong, I ran outside immediately and saw many people were already fleeing to the street,” Denpasar resident Komang Sudiani told AFP. Photos circulated by Indonesia’s disaster agency showed minor damage to shop fronts and temples on the predominantly Hindu island.

“We have received reports of

damage such as fallen roof tiles and broken glass in several houses and offices,” Rahmat Triyono, the head of the agency’s earthquake and tsunami division, said in a statement.

More than 20 homes, schools, temples and offices were moderately damaged by the tremor, predominantly in Badung district, near the tourist hub of Kuta, Bali authorities said. No casualties have been reported in the disaster.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.

O n S u n d a y, a p o w e r f u l 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku island chain in eastern Indonesia, killing three people and damaging nearly 1,000 houses.

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

On December 26, 2004, a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 across the Indian Ocean region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia. (afp) 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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Bali News

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

Bali’s airport operations unhindered by 6.0-magnitude quake

JAKARTA - Operations at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, remained unaffected and ran smoothly after an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit 83 kilometers southwest of Nusa Dua-Bali on Tuesday (July 16) morning.

“Alhamdulillah (God be praised), operations at the Bali Airport are running normally,” airport management company PT Angkasa Pura I’s Public Relations Manager Awaluddin noted in a text message here on Tuesday.

According to information received from the Region IV Airport Authority Office, Ngurah Rai Airport can operate normally, and more checks have been conducted, of both the air and land side facilities, so as to ascertain that all are in normal condition and able to serve.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that the earthquake had no potential to trigger a tsunami. On Tuesday (July 16), a tectonic earthquake hit the area of the South Indian Ocean of Bali-Nusa Tenggara at 07:18:35 local time.

Head of BMKG’s Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Rahmat Troyono, expounded that the results of analysis indicated that the earthquake’s epicenter was located at coordinates 9.08 degrees south latitude and 114.55 degrees east longitude, or precisely located at a depth of 104 kilometers below sea, at a distance of 80 kilometers south of Kota Negara, Jembrana Regency, Bali Province.

The quake’s tremors were reportedly felt in Badung, Nusa Dua, Denpasar, Mataram, Central Lombok, West Lombok, Banyuwangi, Karangkates, Sumbawa, East Lombok, North Lombok, Jember, and Lumajang. No reports had yet been received of the damage caused by the earthquake. The modeling results indicated that the earthquake has no potential to trigger a tsunami “Until now, no reports have been received of damage

caused by the earthquake. The modeling results show that the earthquake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami,” he revealed.

Rahmat remarked that as of 7:50 a.m. local time, the BMKG monitoring results had not shown any aftershock activity.

“The people are encouraged to remain calm and not be affected by unsubstantiated issues,” he added. (ant)

Claiming to also meet Sandoz three times

Investor of Benoa Harbor reclamation claims to meet governor

DENPASAR - Having been postponed, the trial on the case of alleged fraud in the licensing submission for the development of the Benoa Bay Harbor reclamation area with the defendant Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Wiraputra was resumed on Monday (Jul. 15).

The victim who is also investor in the Benoa Harbor development reclamation plan, Sutrisno Lukito Disastro, was presented by public prosecutor Raka Arimbawa as a witness. In the presence of the panel of judge led by Ida Ayu Adnya Dewi accompanied by Made Pasek and Parta Bhargawa, he told what they had done for the development of Benoa Harbor. He also admitted to have the desire to dredge the seabed, so that large ships can enter Bali. “If there are now cruise arrivals, they cannot enter,” he said.

During the trial, the investor witness claimed to have met Governor of Bali at that time, Made Mangku Pastika, at the official residence and his son Putu Pasek Sandoz Prawirotama as well as the defendant Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Wiraputra.

The panel of judge member Made Pasek asked for several times

about the ‘remarks’ on adopted son of the governor. “Who is actually the adopted son of the governor?” the judge asked. Victim witness Sutrisno stated the defendant Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Wiraputra claimed to have very close relations to the governor so that he was called ‘an adopted son.’ On this basis, this investor believed in Gung Alit to submit the licensing of the reclamation plan.

“I was taken to the office of the governor’s son, Mr. Sandoz,” said Sutrisno Lukito. The judge chased, what did he go there (Sandoz’s office as Chairman of the HIPMI) for? The witness said that he wanted to submit something.

Gung Alit claimed that his relations to Sandoz have been like a family. Thus, investor believed and eventually gave them money worth billions by means of transfer or cash. “He (Gung Alit Wiraputra) claimed to be the right-man hand of the governor and claimed to be an adopted son. I was invited directly to the governor’s house, which was an official residence like a field,” said Sutrisno Lukito.

In the trial, the witness was also pursued who had the initia-

tive to ask for the assistance of the governor and Sandoz, the witness said that it was the initiative of the defendant. At that time, the investor witness was promised that the permit submission would be accomplished within six months because they were able to suppress the agency head and the recommendations of the Bali House of Representatives. On that basis, the victim witness was very confident the permit could be issued. Apart from having got the assistance to submit the permit and met the governor (at that time) and his son, he had conducted a survey to customary village. So, he was confident that reclamation’s permit of Benoa Harbor will be issued.

“Then after six months, have you been informed about the permit?” asked the judge. The witness said there was no permit delivered because it has not been issued yet.

The witness claimed to have met Sandoz for three times. First meeting was in the official residence of the governor, while the second and third, said Sutrisno in front of the trial, were in Sandoz’s office who he knew him as Chairman of the HIPMI Bali. Gung Alit

re-convinced Sutrisno Lukito by meeting him with Sandoz that the permit was still under process.

Meanwhile, when public prosecutor asked about the signing of the agreement, Gung Alit said it was carried out around February 2012.

The prosecutor repeated again the matters regarding the defendant Gung Alit confessing that he was an adopted son of the governor and could summon the agency head and coordinate with the Central House of Representatives. And this statement was justified by victim witnesses.

The legal counsel team of Gung Alit reiterated about the meeting with the Governor of Bali at that time. Was it an audience or not?

The witness said the meeting with the Governor of Bali and Sandoz, including with Gung Alit, was not part of the audience. The audience, according to him, is an official meeting and carried out in an official venue as well. “I met with the Governor and Sandoz and there was Mr. Alit (the defendant) at his residence,” said Sutrisno. So, according to the victim witness it was not part of the audience. He said the meeting with the governor and his son was meant to convince the

witness as investor.

The trial on Monday also mentioned about the agreement on mutual understanding and cooperation between investor and Gung Alit, whose draft was prepared by Made Jayantara. It was also mentioned that the agreement was then changed into the agreement with Gung Alit instead of with Sandoz (as in written draft). In addition, there was consequence with the ability to pay as much as IDR 30 billion. At first stage was given IDR 6 billion serving as a payment for mutual understanding.

The defendant’s attorney had asked whether the handover of IDR 6 billion was carried out during the audience with the governor.

The witness said no because, once again, Sutrisno claimed to have never had an audience with the governor. However, he only met, and convinced that he is an investor.

When he met with the governor, there were witnesses namely Sandoz, governor and Gung Alit. “One more thing I forget. At that time, Alit assured me that the defendant is close to the governor’s family,” affirmed the victim witness. (kmb37)

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Activities

International

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

15

KOREA SET TO GET MORE PLAYFUL WITH THE DEBUT OF MOXY SEOUL INSADONG

Marriott International announces the signing of Moxy Seoul Insadong, marking the debut of the Moxy brand in Korea. Centrally situated in lively Insadong, one of the most happening neighborhoods for shopping and dining in Seoul, the hotel will attract both the young and the young at heart with its spirited programming, lively bar scene and stylish design.

“I am excited that Moxy Hotels is set to debut in Korea with the upcoming opening of Moxy Seoul Insadong. Seoul is the leading

trendsetter in Asia-Pacific and it’s the ideal addition to our growing portfolio of Select Service Brands in Korea,” said Paul Foskey, Chief of Development, Asia Pacific, Marriott International.

Moxy Hotels was first launched in September 2014 with the opening of the Moxy Milan. In Asia Pacific, the first Moxy Hotel opened in Bandung, Indonesia, in June 2017, followed by Tokyo and Osaka in November 2017. A concept for the next-Gen traveler and the young-at-heart, Moxy is a fresh and innovative brand combining stylish

design and approachable service.

With tech-enabled rooms, vibrant lobby spaces and warm, modern service, Moxy aims to surprise travelers with a thoughtful, spirited and fun experience.

The upcoming Moxy Seoul Insadong is expected to feature 140 rooms, and a rooftop bar that doubles as a check-in desk – a signature of the Moxy brand. The fun lobby will feature big communal tables to work remotely by day, or to play or connect over drinks and fun board games by night.

“We are excited to partner with

Marriott International to bring the buzzing Moxy brand to Korea, “said Heemyung Woo, Chairman, Hee & Sun Co. “Moxy Seoul Insadong will be conveniently situated close to Seoul’s most lively areas, including Insadong and Ikseon-dong, which are both vibrant neighborhoods that blend historic Korean culture with trendsetting restaurant and boutique concepts that are popular among local Millennials and travelers.”

Right at the heart of all the action, from Moxy Seoul Insadong

guests will have access to narrow laneways lined with revitalized Korean hanook heritage buildings that now house creative cafes and stylish boutiques. The hotel is also nearby popular Seoul attractions including Changgyeonggung Palace, Insa-dong and Jongmyo, and next to transportation hub, Jongno 3-ga Station, making it very accessible to Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, and easily accessible to Gimpo and Incheon airports. For more information on Moxy Hotels, please visit us at www.MoxyHotels.com.

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Technology

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

Bali News

International

Russia launches space telescope

IBP/net

A fuel leak in the rocket engine forced India to abort the launch of its landmark Moon mission less than one hour before liftoff.

Fuel leak halted blastoff for Indian rocket: reports

SRIHARIKOTA - A fuel leak in the rocket engine forced India to abort the launch of its landmark Moon mission less than one hour before liftoff, media reports said Tuesday.

A committee of experts was looking into the causes of the problem that put back the bid to become just the fourth nation -- after Russia, the United States and China -- to land a spacecraft on the Moon.

Having halted the countdown 56 minutes and 24 seconds before the scheduled launch of Chandrayaan-2 -- or Moon Chariot 2 -- the Indian Space Research Organisation gave no explanation for what it called a “technical snag” in the rocket nor a date for a new attempt.

“As a measure of abundant precaution Chandrayaan-2 launch has been called off,” ISRO said.

However, the Times of India quoted a senior mission scientist as saying there had been a leak in the GSLV-MkIII rocket’s helium fuel component.

“After filling helium, we found the pressure was dropping, indicating there was a leak,” the unnamed scientist said adding that it was possible there were “multiple leaks”.

“We were lucky that the mission did not enter the automatic launch sequence else all would have been lost,” the Hindustan Times quoted a senior ISRO official as saying.

The report added that scientists were “racing to plug the leak” in time for a new launch window at the end of July.

Experts said Indian mission chiefs would be cautious about trying a new liftoff.

“If the launch does not happen in the next 48 hours, it could be postponed for a few months until we get an opportune launch window,” said Ravi Gupta, a scientist formerly with the state-run Defence Research and Development

Organisation.

- Low-cost missions -

India has spent about $140 million on Chandrayaan-2, with most of it home-made. It is one of the cheapest in the crowded space race.

The launch would have been the third to the moon this year.

China put its Chang’e 4 mission on the lunar surface in January, while Israel’s $100 million Beresheet crashlanded when it sought to become the first privately funded mission in April.

A soft landing on the Moon would be a huge leap forward in India’s space programme.

National pride is at stake as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to launch a crewed space mission by 2022.

It follows another high-profile but low-cost Indian mission -- Mangalyaan -- which put a spacecraft in orbit around Mars in 2014 at a fraction of the cost of comparable projects by established space powers like the United States, which often cost billions of dollars.

The Indian mission involved a 2.4-tonne orbiter that will circle the Moon for about a year taking images and testing the atmosphere. A lander named Vikram was to take the rover to the surface near the lunar South Pole.

The rover that was to be put on the surface on September 6 was to spend 14 days sending back data on rocks and soil.

India’s first lunar mission in 2008 did not land on the Moon but orbited it searching for water using radar.

New Delhi also has ambitions to land a probe on Mars, following the success of the Mangalyaan orbiter.

Lunar exploration has been in focus in recent months with the looming 50th anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon, and US President Donald Trump giving NASA a 2024 deadline to return astronauts to the lunar surface. (afp)

MOSCOW - Russia launched a space telescope Saturday from the cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in a joint mission with Germany intended to map X-rays across the sky and replace a project lost in January.

Video posted on the website of the Roskosmos, the Russian space agency, showed a Proton-M rocket carrying the Spektr-RG taking off from the launch pad at Baikonur at 1230 GMT. The launch of the scope, weighing more than 2.7 tonnes, was originally scheduled for June 21 but was postponed twice because of a battery problem.

The Spektr-RG, developed with Germany, is a space observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as the “Russian Hubble”, which Roskosmos said it lost control of in January.

Spektr-R was launched in 2011 to observe black holes, neutron stars and magnetic fields, aiding understanding of cosmic expansion. Its successor will take up similar duties but will also work on completing a high-resolution all-sky map, said Roskosmos.

- Russia facing competition for ISS links -

Russia’s space programme, long a source of great pride to the nation, has suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in recent years, although the country remains committed to ambitious projects

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

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Until the end of the year

“The observation of space by Spektr-RG will mark a new stage in X-ray astronomy, whose history goes back more than 55 years,” said the Russian space agency, adding the project would permit “the yearround observation of practically the whole celestial sphere,” the imaginary sphere formed by our universe.

Since 2011, Russia has been the only country capable of sending teams to the International Space Station (ISS).

But a series of recent setbacks together with corruption scandals within Roskosmos and the competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX have threatened its monopoly.

The next launch to the ISS is scheduled for July 20 . It will carry an Italian and a US astronaut together with a Russian cosmonaut.

The telescope’s research mission is set to last for six-and-a-half years including a four-year scan of the heavens and the remainder spent observing objects in space “at the behest of the international scientific community,” the agency statement said.

It will take some three months to reach its destination, an observing position some 1.5 million kilometres (900,000 miles) above Earth.

It is expected the telescope will uncover around three million super-massive black holes during its lifetime as well as some 100,000 massive galaxy clusters strung out across the known universe, the agency added. (afp)

IBP/net

The launch of the scope, weighing more than 2.7 tonnes, was originally scheduled for June 21 but was postponed twice because of a battery problem.

Levies of Kintamani tourism predicted to reach IDR 27 billion

BANGLI — Levies of Kintamani tourism is predicted to reach IDR 25-27 billion until the end of this year. Until the middle of this year, the collected levies of Kintamani tourism have reached IDR 15 billion. This was revealed by Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar, when met at Penelokan tourist object, Kintamani, on Monday (Jul. 15).

IBP/kmb

In the past few days, fishing enthusiasts often see the presence of alligator gar fish.

Finding of alligator gar fish makes people restless

TABANAN — In the past few days, fishing enthusiasts often see the presence of alligator gar fish.

Indonesia, particularly Bali, is not the native habitat to this kind of predatory fish.Pursuant to the information compiled, the predatory fish had been seen by the people about a month ago in a river at Nyanyi hamlet, Beraban, Kediri. Appearance of this fish makes residents worried because the fish whose natural habitat in the Nile is very ferocious to prey on fish commonly sought by residents. Moreover, this fish can also prey on animals or livestock including being able to attack humans if the size is large.

This matter has also been conveyed to the Chairperson of the Indonesia Fishermen Association (HNSI) of Tabanan Chapter, I Ketut Arsana Yasa.

He said the fish was found a month ago by local residents. After getting the report, in the past week, he even already asked his colleagues to check the information. Having been checked, at least three fish were found. Two large fish have the weight of about 12 kilograms with a length of almost one meter while another weighs around 6-7 kilograms. Other than at Nyanyi, the presence of this fish was also seen in the estuary of the Yeh Ho River at Pasut hamlet,

Tibubiyu, Kerambitan.

The findings were reported to the Tabanan Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, but there is no response yet.

“In fact, such kind of fish was also found in the river near my house,” he said in a surprised intonation.

He said to have discussed about it with fishermen. After this full moon, Tuesday (Jul. 16) following the Petik Laut ceremony on Pasut Beach the dangerous fish will be caught by means of tuna nets. “Probably, the fish can be captured,” he hoped.

He added that he was surprised at the findings of the alligator gar fish whereas the fish is prohibited in Indonesia in accordance with the Regulation of Minister of Fishery and Maritim Affairs No. 41/2014. “How can the fish be in Bali’s waters because it is forbidden in Indonesia? The existence of the fish endangers our people having activities in the river. So, the river is no longer safe,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Tabanan Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, AA Raka Icwara, stated that his agency had ordered the officers to check the truth of the existence of the fish. “We also have no clear information about its truth.

Now, it is still being investigated,” he explained. (kmb28)

Gianyar added that currently the levies of Kintamani tourism are extraordinary since the management is carried out by the UNESCO Global Geopark tourism management agency. Previously, it was difficult to achieve the levy target of IDR 15 billion. “Just now, the report (on the revenue) I’ve got is extraordinary. We estimate it can reach IDR 25-27 billion,” he affirmed.

Although the increase in the revenue from tourism levies in Kintamani is currently quite high, Gianyar still asks the management body to continue working

Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar

professionally and make improvement. Among them it can be done by maintaining and applying the Sapta Pesona (seven charms) well, including cleanliness, safety, hospitality and others. “By establishing a management body, of course tourism problems must be resolved,” he explained.

Gianyar gave an example the crossing to Terunyan having gotten a bad image in the past because of mistreatment of tourists must continue to be addressed and eliminated, including the problems on hawkers and security issues in Kintamani must be addressed with sincerity and tenacity.

He said that currently the extraordinary tourist visits do not only happen in Penelokan, but also in tourist attractions in the lower areas such as in the Hot Spring and Mount Batur that are also crowded. On that account, Gianyar returned to warn that the tourism management having increasingly started to be good can continuously be improved so that tourist visits to Kintamani continue to grow. (kmb40)

IBP/kmb

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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Bali News

International

Sulfuric bursts affect around two tons of fish in floating netcage

The mostly affected area by such sulfuric bursts is Seked hamlet, Central Batur. The phenomenon of sulfuric bursts causes sporadic fish to die. I Ketut Wania, a fish farmer at Seked hamlet, suffered the most losses due to the phenomenon of sulfuric bursts. More than 2.5 tons of fish belonging to him and being ready to harvest were dead.

When met on Monday (Jul. 15), Wania revealed that he just knew the sulfuric bursts on Lake Batur on early Sunday morning. The sulfuric burst caused many of his fish to die and they could not be saved.

Mass death of the fish at his floating netcage was first discovered on Monday morning when checking his floating netcage. “A lot of dead fish are ready to harvest as having been 7-8 months old. Of the 34 units of floating netcage, 2 units are ready for harvest. Each unit contains 5,000 fish, while some others contain 4,000 fish,” he explained.

Meanwhile, he added that his fish remaining under 4 months old can still survive. They are indeed stronger to survive when sulfuric bursts occur because small fish are more frequently on the surface of the lake.

Due to the phenomenon of sulfuric bursts, he suffered losses of up to IDR 70 million. To minimize the death of the other fish, he is currently forced to stop doing activities in the floating netcage and does not feed the fish during sulfuric bursts. “If we approach the netcages, the fish will go down to the bottom of the lake, and it can cause fish to lack of oxygen,” he explained.

He further added the phenomenon of sulfuric bursts is a natural phenomenon that routinely occurs every

year. About two years ago, sulfuric bursts in Lake Batur were quite severe. However, the occurrence at Seked region was classified to be safe from the sulfuric impacts.

Agriculture and Fisheries Agency checks water sample Meanwhile, a day after the emergence of sulfuric bursts in Lake Batur, a number of fisheries officers from the Bangli Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Agency (PKP) came down directly to the location to check and research the water of Lake Batur.

Head of the Bangli Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Agency, Nyoman Widiana, stated that after receiving the reports on the sulfuric bursts, he immediately checked at three points namely at Buahan, Kedisan and Seked. When checking it, his agency took samples of lake water at a depth of 10 meters to be examined. Result of the examination indicated the levels of sulfur and phosphorus in the water of Lake Batur is quite high. Conversely, the oxygen level dissolved in water (DO) is very low. However, based on the results of the examination carried out, fish deaths were only found in the Seked area precisely in the floating netcage of Ketut Wania. “There is absolutely nothing in other points,” he said.

Regarding this annual phenomenon, Widiana said that before entering the fifth month, he had written to the headman and fish farmer groups to take anticipatory measures. He mentioned that as experiences all this time the sulfuric bursts usually occur in the range from June to September. “We have asked the fish farmer groups to be vigilant by harvesting their fish early and avoid spreading fingerlings in these months,” he explained.

Most fish farmers in Lake Batur, said Widiana, have followed the recommendations of the Bangli Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Agency. The sulfuric bursts in Lake Batur are estimated to be lasting for ten days to two weeks. “Hopefully, the condition won’t get worse,” he explained. (kmb40)

IBP/kmb

Sulfuric bursts had an impact on the death of thousands of fish cultivated by local farmers in their floating fish netcages (KJA).

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Erdogan hails S-400 deal as Turkey marks 2016 coup bid anniversary

Farmers suffer losses worth tens of millions of rupiahs

BANGLI — Sulfuric bursts returned to occur in Lake Batur, Kintamani. Surely, it had an impact on the death of thousands of fish cultivated by local farmers in their floating fish netcages (KJA). This caused fish farmers to lose up to tens of millions of rupiahs.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

I Made Teja

IBP/kmb

Environment Agency focuses on overcoming waste disposal

DENPASAR — Conservation of natural resources starting from forests, rivers, lakes to the sea is one of the programs of the Bali government through the Environment Agency (DLH). Environment Agency is not alone, but involves related agencies such as the Bali-Penida River Agency, Forestry Agency, and the Environment Agency of the district / municipality. In addition, it also optimizes community empowerment efforts in each region.

“Furthermore, there is a role of NGOs that also encourages to jointly supervising the implementation of natural resources conservation,” said the Head of the Bali Environment Agency, I Made Teja, when confirmed on Monday (Jul. 15).

Teja claimed to have established a conservation institution to assist services in the environmental field. People participating in the environmental conservation efforts are given an award like Kalpataru.

Based on the data inventoried by the Environment Agency, waste disposal is still detected in some of the 22 rivers in Bali.

“But through the governor’s program, Bali plastic waste cleanup, we are trying to make corrective measures every month. This is the fourth month of implementation throughout Bali. We involve the community as a whole, both in customary villages, schools and respective neighborhoods,” he said.

Most importantly, continued Teja, is the involvement of the

PKK housewives to help encourage the community in their respective village. Then, law enforcement is carried out in collaboration with traditional villages, although it is still prioritized on coaching. Unless there are serious violations, then police authority will coordinate with the supervisor in each district / municipality.

“The increasingly wider open areas used to support tourism, we do not close our eyes. Indeed, in some areas, there are people coming while carrying garbage. So, an increase in tourist visits also adds to the amount of waste,” he added.

According to Teja, another measure taken is to develop Environmental Awareness Villages (DSL).

At present, there are 137 DSLs having been developed by continuing to seek community empowerment.

Admittedly, not all can be going well. But, public awareness actually began to increase especially after the issuance of the Gubernatorial Regulation No.97/2018 concerning the Limitation of Disposable Plastic Waste, so the reduction in plastic waste become increasingly effective.

“We also encourage customary villages to develop compost, there is a sorting of waste and optimizing waste banks in each hamlet. Similarly, we now encourage so that the community is able to process waste at its source. From the household, it has been reduced so that only few will go to landfill,” he concluded. (kmb32)

ISTANBUL - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday hailed the controversial delivery of a Russian missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions, as Turkey marked the third anniversary of a bloody coup attempt.

Just days before the anniversary, the first batch of the Russian S-400 defence system was delivered to Turkey despite repeated US calls for them to cancel the deal or face punishment.

“We have begun to receive our S-400s. Some said, ‘they cannot buy them’... God willing the final part of this (delivery) will be in April 2020,” Erdogan told a crowd of several thousand in Ankara.

The anniversary comes at a difficult moment for Erdogan. He faces a weakened economy, worsening relations with NATO ally the United States over the S-400 purchase, and a humiliating loss for his party in the recent Istanbul local election.

In 2016, nearly 250 people were killed -- excluding the coup-plotters -- and more than 2,000 injured after a rogue military faction tried to wrest power from the president. Thousands took to the streets in response to Erdogan’s call to defeat the uprising.

Relations with the West deteriorated after the coup bid, as Turkish officials accused the West of not giving Ankara sufficient support.

Over the same period, Erdogan has grown ever closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising concerns in Europe and the United States.

Erdogan said Turkey’s “next target was joint production with Russia” of the next missile defence system.

“We are taking every measure to make sure our people do not suffer the betrayal of 15 July again or something similar,” Erdogan added.

Late Monday he travelled to Istanbul to inaugurate a museum dedicated to the failed coup, where he insisted on the importance of commemorating the putsch attempt to prevent “greater

evils”.

Ankara accuses former ally-turnedfoe Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric exiled in the US, of having ordered the attempted coup. He lists his movement as a “terrorist” organisation.

Some 8,000 military personnel took part in the bid to overthrow Erdogan, backed by 35 fighter jets, three boats, 37 helicopters and 74 tanks, according to state news agency Anadolu.

Since 2016, tens of thousands of people have been detained while 150,000 public sector employees have been suspended or sacked over alleged links to Gulen.

- Arrests continue -

Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter that Turkey “sends a powerful message of unity and solidarity to the world: We will die but never let traitors and putschists destroy our country, our freedom and our dignity.”

The day, known as “15 July” in Turkey, has become a national holiday.

Earlier on Monday Erdogan took part in a tense ceremony at parliament, which was bombed during the coup violence.

Arzu, who was among the thousands who came to see Erdogan speak in Ankara, said she was there to “honour our martyrs”, adding: “Without them, we would not be alive.”

Anadolu reported Sunday that 110 suspected Gulen movement members have been extradited to Turkey from more than 20 countries.

Hundreds of life sentences have been handed down against accused putschists.

There are still almost daily police raids to capture suspects accused of ties to Gulen.

Based in Pennsylvania, Gulen strongly denies Ankara’s claims. His movement rejects the “terrorist” tag, insisting it promotes education and moderate Islam. (afp)

Alexander NEMENOV / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 22, 2017 Russian S-400 antiaircraft missile launching system is displayed at the exposition field in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow during the first day of the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017.

WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP

In this photo taken on April 7, 2019, an explosive detection dog is kept on leash during a practice session at the Mine Detection Centre (MDC) in Kabul. Naya, a three-year-old Belgian malinois, focuses intently as she leaps over hurdles and zooms through tunnels on an obstacle course at a training centre on a hill overlooking Kabul.

Man’s best friend: The dogs who sniff out explosives in Kabul

KABUL - Naya, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, focuses intently as she leaps over hurdles and zooms through tunnels on an obstacle course at a training centre on a hill overlooking Kabul.

She seems to be having fun, but is in fact being trained for a life-or-death mission: finding explosives in a country where hidden mines, bombs and weapons routinely kill.

Naya is one of about 200 dogs at the Afghan capital’s Mine Detection Centre (MDC), a non-governmental group raising the animals from rambunctious pups into a disciplined force, and teaching handlers how to work with the canines.

A common sight around the Afghan capital, explosives-sniffing dogs are deployed at checkpoints and government facilities, where they are an important tool in combatting the flow of homemade bombs being smuggled into Kabul.

“The dogs are very useful -- they are very fast, they do their jobs with great speed,” Taj Mohammad, a longtime trainer at the centre, told AFP on a recent visit.

Handlers demonstrated how they train dogs to hone in on particular scents -- explosives mainly, but also narcotics -- by using a special carousel of identical metal cannisters that conceal different smells.

Each time a dog correctly identifies a target smell, the handler gives it a rubber chewy ball to chomp on as a reward.

“The relationship with the handler must be perfect.

If it does not work, there will be casualties,” Mohammad said.

It takes about two years to train an explosives dog, and the process is intense for both the handler and the canine. The animals at the MDC are all German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois.

“It’s as if you are building a house or bringing up a child,” Mohammad said.

Handlers get about $500 a month for their dangerous work -- not a bad wage in Afghanistan -- as well as life insurance and retirement benefits.

Explosives are “a hidden enemy, so all the time I have a little fear in my heart,” dog handler Zabihullah

Amin said.

- No more mine detection -

After the MDC was established in 1989, the dogs mainly came from the Netherlands, but now most are local after breeding started here in 1994. More than 1,100 dogs have completed the training.

The canines’ initial mission was to hunt for landmines, a vital task in a country left strewn with the devastating weapons during the war with the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

But the dogs’ use tapered off in recent years following a series of incidents where they missed explosives, sometimes causing casualties as people returned to areas thought to be cleared.

According to Abdul Qudos Ziaee, head of operations at Afghanistan’s Directorate of Mine Action Coordination, dogs can be a useful mine-detection tool if properly managed.

But in several areas contaminated with anti-vehicle mines, some agencies failed to use the canines correctly or handlers were improperly trained, leading to sloppy practice and areas of terrain left dangerous.

“Whether it was fault of the dog handler or the dog was not properly trained ... the mine will be missed and the negative consequence will be borne by civilians,” Qudos Ziaee told AFP. Dogs can still be used to sweep large areas deemed “low threat”, he said, noting that procedures are currently being revised and new standards will be introduced in about a year.

At the MDC, handlers insist dogs are a better tool for finding mines than mechanical detectors, as they can sniff the explosives in non-metallic devices.

According to Ziaee, at least 1,432 people were killed or wounded in Afghanistan by mines and so-called explosive remnants of war in 2018.

Mohammad Wirwais, who works at the Mine Detection Center, was blinded by a mine while clearing terrain in 2008.

“I am fortunate and lucky, I have friends ... who lost their lives to mine explosions,” he said.

“I am good, thank God, I can solve my problems on my own, and I can work here too.” (afp)

12

International

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

BUSINESS

In this Nov. 29, 2018, file photo, victims of Japan’s forced labor and their family members arrive at the Supreme Court in Seoul, South Korea. Colonial-era Korean laborers on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, are seeking a court’s approval for the sales of local assets of their former Japanese employer after it refused to comply with a court order to compensate them for forced labor decades ago. The sign reads “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should compensate and apologize to victims of forced labor.”

Former Mitsubishi workers seek assets sale for forced labor

The development comes amid growing tensions between South Korea and Japan. Tokyo recently tightened controls on high-tech exports to South Korea, a move Seoul believes is retaliation for the South Korean court rulings last year. Japan says it is not retaliation, has warned it might take further action if South Korea pushes harder on the issue.

Lawyers and supporters of the Koreans who worked for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries during Japan’s 1910-45 occupation of Korea said in a joint statement Tuesday they’ll soon ask a South Korean court to authorize the sales of some assets that South Korea has seized from Mitsubishi.

The assets are some of Mitsubishi’s trademark rights and patents.

If a court approves, Mitsubishi’s assets will be put up for auction to raise funds to pay the compensation in a process expected to take about six months, according to Kim Yeong Hwan, an activist with a group that signed the statement.

The lawyers and activists said they sent three requests to

Mitsubishi to discuss the compensation but it hasn’t responded. Meanwhile the elderly plaintiffs are dying of old age.

An approval for selling the assets would likely fan antagonism between Seoul and Tokyo at a time when relations are already at their worst in decades.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday hinted Tokyo might retaliate.

“If Japanese companies are actually harmed, we will be forced to take necessary measures,” he told reporters, without giving details. “To prevent that, we urge the South Korean government to take appropriate actions.”

Tokyo has requested third-party arbitration of the Korean wartime labor dispute as stipulated in a 1965 treaty. The deadline for a response is Thursday, and Seoul has indicated that it will not respond.

South Korea has stepped up pressure on Japan to withdraw the newly imposed trade controls, which require approvals for all sales of certain materials used in many high-tech products.

South Korea plans to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and raise the issue at next week’s WTO General Council in Geneva. Trade officials from the countries failed to resolve the dispute in a working-level meeting last week.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday the measure threatens to shatter economic cooperation between the neighbors

and could damage Japan more than South Korea. He said Japan was abusing its leverage in trade to punish South Korea.

Japan says preferential export licensing arrangements for the three materials subject to its export control measure can only be allowed for trustworthy trading partners. Some Japanese ruling lawmakers have suggested U.N. sanctions may have been violated by transfers of sensitive materials from South Korea to North Korea. South Korean officials say such allegations are groundless and have proposed a U.N. investigation.

The Japanese trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, rejected Moon’s comments and said he did not expect Japanese companies to be harmed by the tighter export controls.

Seko reiterated Tuesday that Japan’s export curbs resulted from a review aimed at national security, to ensure implementation of export controls, and are not retaliation for South Korea’s handling of disputes over former Korean wartime laborers and other historical issues.

“I will make it clear that President Moon’s remark yesterday is completely off the mark,” Seko told reporters in Tokyo. “The Japanese measures by their nature do not require checks by international organizations.”

The Japanese side says it has been trying to discuss the issue with South Korea since 2016 and the failure to hold such meetings was a key reason behind Tokyo’s decision. (afp)

Ngerebeg tradition or better known as makotek held every Tumpek Kuningan (ten days after Galungan) at Munggu customary village, Mengwi, Badung, has the meaning as a tribute to the heroes, repellent of negative things and a means to unite the citizens. This was confirmed by chief of Munggu customary village, I Made Rai Sujana, amid the ngerebeg procession at the local Desa and Puseh Temple of local village, Saturday (Jan. 5).

He explained the meanings of the procession starting from the Mengwi kingdom headquartered at Munggu with the king named Ida Cokorda Nyoman Sakti Munggu.

When defending his territory in Blambangan, East Java, before the Mengwi troops named goak selem or black crow troops left the kingdom, right on the Tumpek Kuningan Day, the king of Mengwi performed a meditation at Dalem Kahyangan Wisesa Temple, Munggu. The king got a revelation from his meditation.

The return of his troops with victory or success in the war was then commemorated with the tradition of ngerebeg. “Therefore, on Tumpek Kuningan, the tradition of ngerebeg continues to be commemorated at Munggu customary village as a tribute to the victory of Mengwi’s royal war, as the respect for the heroes,” he explained.

Related to the tradition as disaster repellent, he told that it was initially carried out with a spear.

Then, during the Dutch colonial period the tradition was banned because it was thought to be a rebellion. As a result, this tradition

had not been organized for several times. Then, outbreaks of disease or plague attacked villagers, even many people died.

This condition made some customary and religious leaders negotiate with the Dutch administration and finally the tradition was allowed to be held again. However, the facilities used are not spears, but replaced with pulet wooden stick. “Since then, the tradition of ngerebeg formerly used spears was replaced with a pulet wooden stick, with the length of 3.5 meters. Based on such belief, the ngerebeg tradition serves as catastrophe repellent or keeps away from negative things,” he explained.

READ Tumpek Kandang, Fruit Arrangement Parade at Alas Kedaton The third meaning of the tradition is as a means to unite citizens.

This tradition is followed by almost all men aged 14 years and over from 12 hamlets at Munggu customary village. They mutually mingle while carrying wooden sticks and walking around the village area. When they arrive in several places such as road intersection they gather and unite the end of the stick to form the pyramid.

Once in a while, a young man will climb up the pile of the sticks.

“So, this tradition is to unite young people from 12 hamlets across the Munggu customary village. By carrying out the ngerebeg tradition, they will definitely do positive things and strengthen the sense of unity among the youth,” he concluded. (kmb)

Lebanese parliament convenes on budget amid tight security

BEIRUT — Lebanese lawmakers have begun discussing the draft 2019 state budget amid tight security and limited protests against proposed austerity measures.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

5

Ngrebeg Has Three Meanings, What Are They?

AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File

SEOUL — Colonial-era Korean laborers are seeking a court’s approval for the sales of local assets of their former Japanese employer after it refused to comply with a court order to compensate them for forced labor decades ago.

Bali News

International

The proposed budget aims to avert a financial crisis by raising taxes and cutting public spending in an effort to reduce a ballooning deficit.

Critics say the proposed mea-

sures fail to introduce structural reforms needed to rescue the flagging economy. Civil servants have been protesting for weeks, fearing the measures to be adopted in the

new budget would lead to wage cuts for state employees.

The corruption-plagued country is one of the most indebted in the world and there have been serious

concerns about an economic crash.

Roads leading to the parliament building in downtown Beirut were closed on Tuesday morning, ahead of the three-day debate. (ap)

IBP/kmb

IBP/kmb

At Tanah Lot, Holy Spring Always Thronged

by Visitors

When making a visit to Tanah Lot, prepare a little time to visit the holy water douche located beneath the Tanah Lot Temple. This source of fresh water does indeed feel fresh and can be drunk directly. Residents or visitors wishing to drink can collect it by cupped hands. Optionally, visitors can just wash hands or cleanse face to be getting fresher and cooler.

As one of the spots in the Tanah Lot tourist attraction area, it is never empty of visitors. This holy spring is always visited because of the holy water, one of the legends owned by the tourist attraction. It is said the holy water comes from the middle of the sea that can provide healing for people experiencing pain, or others.

“We invoke this holy water for our sick child,” said Nyoman Warni, a resident invoking the holy water on Sunday (Jun. 23).

Local communities, especially the Hindus, strongly believe the holy water can cure some ailments they are suffering from. For married women having not got children for long time, they often invoke holy water here in the hope of getting their descendants. Drinking the holy water is believed to be blessed with offspring.

In addition, many people also pray and beg for safety and happiness of their life. “Armed with confidence and based on a clean and sincere heart, it is said that all their hopes will be blessed,” convinced Warni.

To some people, this method seems rather ridiculous

to believe in such a myth. However, it does not matter if you entertain yourself by trying it to get what you expect. As evidence, many local communities invoke for recovery of their family members. Some tourists also take it by putting the holy water into a bottle.

“Maybe it’s made into a gift for their children, relatives or friends,” said Jero Niti, Promotion Section Officer of Tanah Lot Attraction.

According to Jero Niti, the holy spring is guarded by several priests taking turns on daily duty. It is meant to serve tourists that may want to pray for a moment or invoke holy water. There is no any kind of price offered for the holy water but it very much depends on sincerity of visitors if they wish to donate to Tanah Lot Temple. “Visitors can drink the holy water or just wash hands and face to get some benefits,” she said.

Indeed, when hearing or reading about Tanah Lot, one’s imagination will automatically refer to the famous beauty of sunset view to foreign visitors.

Actually, Tanah Lot also has other uniqueness, such as religious and cultural tourism being famous for the beautiful panorama of local beach. Tourists often wait for sunset view because it offers a very beautiful and romantic moment.

In certain months, among the cliffs of Tanah Lot visitors can watch sunset view, where it looks like a red ball peeking among the cliffs. Well … this is a very beautiful sight and has been known by tourists from all over the world. (kmb)

6

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

W

RLD

YURI CORTEZ / AFP

In this file photo taken on July 5, 2019 Yukpa indigenous children, some of them suffering from malnutrition, are fed with supplements provided by CARITAS organization, at Los Angeles del Tukuko mission, near Machiques, Zulia state, Venezuela.

Worsening world hunger affects 821 million, says UN

UNITED NATIONS - More than 821 million people suffered from hunger worldwide last year, the United Nations reported Monday -- the third year in a row that the number has risen.

After decades of decline, malnutrition began to increase in 2015, mainly because of climate change and war. Reversing the trend is one of the 2030 targets of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which aim to improve the planet and its people.

But getting to a world where no one is suffering from hunger by then remains an “immense challenge,” the report said, noting the number of people without enough to eat had risen from 811 million in 2017.

“We will not achieve zero hunger by 2030,” said David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme, one of the UN agencies contributing to the report.

“That’s a bad trend. Without food security we will never have peace and stability,” said Beasley, deploring that the media carry more talk about Brexit and Donald Trump than children dying of hunger.

He warned that extremist groups were using hunger and control over food supplies as a weapon to divide communities or recruit new members.

“The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report was produced by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other United Nations agencies including the World Health Organization.

“To safeguard food security and nutrition, it is critical to already have in place economic and social policies to counteract the effects of adverse economic cycles when they arrive, while avoiding cuts in essential services, such as healthcare and education, at all costs,” it said.

A “structural transformation” was needed to include the poorest people in the world, the authors said.

This would require “integrating food security and

International

International

Drug-related deaths in Scotland are ‘highest in Europe’ LONDON - Drug-related deaths in Scotland rose 27 percent last year to a record 1,187, the highest rate in Europe, official data showed on Tuesday.

The largest increases from 2017 levels were seen among drug users aged between 35 and 54 and death rates were highest in and around the city of Glasgow, Scotland’s statistics office said.

If Scotland were considered as an independent country, the rate would be higher than any EU country and it is triple the rate in Britain as a whole, the figures showed.

Scotland’s Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said the issue had become an “emergency”.

“The number of people who have lost their lives because of drug use is shocking,” he said.

“It is vital this tragedy is treated as a public health issue and we are prepared to take innovative and

bold measures in order to save the lives of those most at risk.”

Scotland is pressing the British government to allow supervised drug consumption facilities -- something which other EU countries have found can reduce fatalities.

But Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that Britain’s focus “should be to ensure people come off drugs, do not go on drugs in the first place and keep clear of drugs”.

The spike in drug-related deaths has been a trend for years in Scotland as decades of abuse by the socalled “Trainspotting generation” finally take their toll.

The blockbuster success of the film “Trainspotting”, based on Irvine Welsh’s novel about coming of age in the 1980s in Leith, made Scotland’s drug underworld famous around the world. (afp)

nutrition concerns into poverty reduction efforts” while tackling gender inequality and the exclusion of certain social groups, they said.

- Malnutrition widespread in Africa -

Malnutrition remains widespread in Africa, where around 20 percent of the population is affected, and in Asia where more than 12 percent of people experience it. In Latin America and the Caribbean, fewer than seven percent of people are affected.

Adding those hit by food insecurity gives a total of more than two billion people, eight percent of whom are in North America and Europe, who don’t regularly have access to enough nutritious, safe food, the report said.

The FAO said current efforts were insufficient to meet the goal of halving the number of children whose growth is stunted by malnutrition by 2030.

Robin Willoughby, the head of food and climate policy at Oxfam GB, said women were hit hardest by the rise in hunger.

“A toxic brew of climate shocks, inequality and conflict is unravelling years of progress,” he said.

“If we are to meet the target of ending hunger by 2030, governments must urgently cut greenhouse emissions, provide more support for small-scale agriculture and increase efforts to end violent conflicts.”

The French non-governmental group CCFD-Terre Solidaire said that in Africa and Latin America, food insecurity was affecting emerging economies as well, and not just those considered to be the least advanced.

Around 149 million of the world’s children currently suffer from hunger-related growth delays.

At the same time, the UN report notes that obesity and excess weight are both on the rise in all regions, with school-age children and adults particularly affected. (afp)

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

President Jokowi unequivocal in demanding solution to trash problem

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) minced no words in calling for necessary measures to be taken to tackle the garbage problem faced by several regions in Indonesia.

“We have held a limited meeting to discuss the problem of garbage, and as I recall it, six times since I was a mayor. I say what it is. We also want to solve this garbage problem; we want to do it,” President Jokowi emphasized at the presidential office here on Tuesday.

The head of state made the remark while chairing a limited meeting on “Development of the Construction of Waste Power Plants (PLTSa).”

“Hence, the governors should do the same, but until today, until now, I have not heard of any ‘progress’ to that end,” the president pointed out.

The president also sought reports from the regional heads over the progress achieved in tackling the garbage problem.

“Thus, we just head straight to tackling the problem. Hence, what is the problem? Someone said ‘Pak (Sir) PLN (state electricity company) is slow. Is anyone from PLN present?” the president questioned to which Acting President Director of PLN Djoko Rahardjo Abumanan then raised his hand.

“Someone said that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has not been ready. The minister is there.

We have already completed it this afternoon. This is not a matter of electricity. We want to solve this garbage problem and thereafter the electricity issue,” the president remarked.

The head of state called for the need to take immediate measures to tackle garbage pollution, both on land and at sea.

“We have yet to overcome (the garbage problem) on land while also having to deal with the ‘marine debris.’

This is not only our problem but also a global concern,” the president stated.

He also reiterated that the meeting should yield a concrete solution to the garbage problem.

“I really want to have a solution this afternoon. Where is the problem?

The attending mayors, governors, and district heads just speak to the point on what is the problem. Please keep it brief,” the president emphasized.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Research and Higher Education M. Nasir, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil, Minister/State Secretary Pratikono, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung were among the attendees at the limited meeting.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak, Head of the Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) Hammam Riza, Head of Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP) Roni Dwi Susanto, and Acting President Director of PLN Djoko Rahardjo Abumanan were also present at the meeting.

Moreover, the meeting was marked by the presence of Surabaya Mayor Tri Risma Harini, Makassar Mayor Muhammad Iqbal Samad Suhaeb, Manado Mayor Vicky Lumentut, Solo Mayor F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo, Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah, South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany, Deputy Mayor of Denpasar I.B. Rai Dharmawijaya, Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi, Palembang Mayor Harnojoyo, and other relevant officials. (ant)

Forest fires seared through 30,477 thousand hectares area in July

JAKARTA - Forest fires had consumed a total of 30,477 hectares of area as of July 2019, Agus Wibowo, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), stated.

Forest and bush fires engulfed the provinces of Aceh, Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Papua, Wibowo remarked here on Tuesday.

Forest fires devastated a total of 27,683 hectares of area in Riau, 2,274 hectares in West Kalimantan, 236 hectares in South Sumatra, 142 hectares in Aceh, 58 hectares in West Papua, 53 hectares in South Kalimantan, 27 hectares in Central Kalimantan, and four hectares in Jambi.

“The BNPB and the Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) have conducted aerial operation to induce artificial rain,” he remarked.

Wibowo believed that 99 percent of the fires were triggered by intentional or accidental human activities.

The Indonesian Military and Police have deployed 1,512 officers to prevent and help extinguish forest fires in the five provinces of Riau, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan that have declared an emergency alert status for forest fires.

He pointed out that the presence of peatlands in the five provinces along with Jambi makes them susceptible to forest fires in the dry season. However, no alert status has been declared in Jambi.

Earlier, this year, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had reminded the regional authorities to step up vigil over possible forest fires and droughts, as this year’s dry season was forecast to be drier than that of the previous year. The extreme dry season has affected several areas since May and is expected to last until September, with the condition likely to peak in August.

Last Sunday, haze arising from forest fire blanketed the sub-districts of Tampan and Senapelan in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Sumatra Island.

“Haze shrouds Panam (in Tampan Sub-district),”

Tanjung, a local resident, noted in Pekanbaru, Riau.

The Terra and Aqua satellites detected 38 hotspots on Sunday morning, rising from 35 hotspots on the previous day, the Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) station, reported.

The 38 hotspots were spotted in 11 districts and municipalities in Riau Province. Nine hotspots were detected in Siak District, seven in Pelalawan, six each in Bengkalis and Rokan Hilir, three in Kampar, two in Rokan Hulu, as well as one each in Pekanbaru, Meranti, Kuantan Singngi, Indragiri Hilir, and Indragiri Hulu.

A joint team, comprising police and military officers as well as local firefighters, has attempted to extinguish the forest fire in Parit Baru Village, Tambang Sub-district, Kampar District, since the past several days. (ant)

ANTARA FOTO/Syifa Yulinnas/hp

Haze shrouded Suak Nie Village, West Aceh District, Aceh Province, on Monday

Three busted in Riau for smuggling 10 kg meth from Malaysia

IBP/net

Drug-related deaths in Scotland rose 27 percent last year to a record 1,187, the highest rate in Europe, official data showed on Tuesday.

RIAU - The Riau Police arrested three drug offenders belonging to an international drug ring from Malaysia and seized 10 kilograms (kg) of crystal methamphetamine and 15,940 ecstasy pills.

The suspects were taken into police arrest in Bengkalis and Pekanbaru,

Director of the Riau Police’s Drug Crime Unit Senior Commissioner Suhirman confirmed here on Tuesday.

The offenders smuggled the drugs from Malaysia into Indonesia via Riau’s eastern coast, he noted.

“The eastern coast is the silk route for the smuggling of illicit drugs into

11

Indonesia through Riau, and the drugs were distributed outside Riau,” he remarked. The arrest was made after a tip-off was received from the local people. The police needed a month to investigate it.

Two suspects, respectively identified by their initials as D and A, were

arrested in Bengkalis on July 3, 2019, and the police seized 10 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 15,500 ecstasy pills from them.

The police later detained another suspect, Bd, 19, and confiscated some 500 ecstasy pills intended for sale in South Sumatra.

Suspect D confessed to having picked up the drugs smuggled through Riau’s waters from Malaysia four times. He was paid Rp20 million for each time.

The police claimed to have known the identity of a drug kingpin operating in Riau. (ant)

10

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Destination

International

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

Korean tears at breaking goal duck at world water polo

Gunung Payung Beach

BADUNG - Gunung Payung Beach, otherwise referred to locally as Pantai Gunung Payung, is one of the ‘hidden beaches’ on Bali’s southern coast, where you can find a remote and quiet setting over great seascapes. The location takes its name from a Balinese Hindu temple complex of the same name (Pura Dhang Kahyangan Gunung Payung) that is located high up on the cliff where visitors can see before heading down to the beach.

Getting to Gunung Payung Beach requires an approximate half-hour drive to Kutuh village from Nusa Dua. Along the main Jalan Gunung Payung road, you’ll also encounter the landscaped greens of the 18-hole Bukit Pandawa Golf Club together with its rugged limestone terrain. Just outside the temple, catch glimpses of grey long-tailed macaques, which are more of the shyer kind compared to its notoriously cheeky counterparts at the Uluwatu cliff area.

Approaching the cliff edge after the temple, you’re immediately welcomed to soaring ocean views and sounds of the waves below. The beach is quite an effort to reach, only for the fit and determined – down a steep flight of stairs that locals claim to total around 300. The deep green patches in the clear waters are growing grounds of local seaweed farmers, and upon reaching the base, you’ll discover deep and coarse sand with calm waters great for snorkelling. The remoteness and effort required to discover the beach keeps it untouched by vendors. Therefore, it’s good to bring your own drinking water and perhaps some snacks to replenish once you get down here.

The natural reef barriers also means calm and swimmable waters most of the time, but beware of spiny sea urchins that grow around these southern coasts and high tide conditions, as there are no lifeguards around. Also, midday trips are recommended when the seascape is clearer and the water warmer. The temple has its piodalan anniversary every full moon on the eighth month of the Balinese pawukon calendar (coinciding January or February on the Gregorian calendar). (IBP/net)

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Pascal PAVANI / AFP

France’s Julian Alaphilippe (C), current holder of the overall leader’s yellow jersey, and Belgium’s Yves Lampaert (L) greet fans ahead of a training session of Team Deceuninck-QuickStep, during a rest day of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race in Albi, southwestern France, on July 16, 2019.

Crosswind blows Alaphilippe and Ineos clear on Tour ALBI - Belgian rookie Wout Van Aert won stage 10 of the Tour de France on Monday as Julian Alaphilippe extended his overall lead after a blistering late charge split the peloton.

Yellow jersey wearer Alaphilippe launched the attack from 38 kilometres out, where narrow roads and a crosswind created perfect conditions for the devastating attack.

Defending champion Geraint Thomas and his powerful Ineos team leapt into the fray in what turned into a rampage all the way to the quaint Tarn town of Albi.

Pre-stage title pretenders Richie Porte, Thibaut Pinot, Jakob Fuglsang, Rigoberto Uran all lost 1min 40sec, while Movistar’s Mikel Landa lost over two minutes.

Frenchman Alaphilippe leads second placed Thomas by 1min 12sec, a second Ineos rider, Egan Bernal, is at 1min 16sec, and van Aert’s teammate Steven Kruijswijk is another 11sec off in fourth.

Pinot, who started in third, dropped to 11th, 2min 33sec behind his countryman.

“We knew there was a chance of a split,” said Alaphilippe. “I have my ambitions, and we will defend this jersey every day.

- Ineos plan pays off -

Ineos boss Dave Brailsford said the stage went exactly as he had

planned.

“I feel like we just scored a goal,” said Brailsford.

“It’s really rare that you put that much time into so many top guys,” he said.

“This race is like no other, if you lose your attention you can end up losing major time, and that’s what happened to all those guys.”

“We saw the weather and spoke about this in the pre-race briefing,” said the Briton who has plotted six Tour de France victories from the last seven.

Thomas, the 2018 champion, looked like the cat that got the cream.

“It was just a positioning error from them and they lose a minute and a half. That’s how it goes,” he explained.

The 22-year-old Bernal takes the best young rider’s white jersey.

“It was wild, but that’s the Tour, every day is super-hard here and anything can happen,” said the slightly built Bernal, who proved again here he can keep up with the burly riders who do well in crosswinds.

Nairo Quintana of Movistar was all smiles too, after finishing in the mini-peloton after an exhausting long-range dash.

“I was fortunate to be aware of what was happening, I feel lucky in a way, that’s racing,” said Quintana. (afp)

GWANGJU - South Korea’s female water polo team have lost their first two games at the world championships by an eye-watering aggregate score of 94-1 -- but they celebrated their goal as if they had won gold.

After suffering a record 64-0 defeat by Hungary in their Group B opener at the weekend, the plucky hosts were battered 30-1 by 2017 bronze medallists Russia on Tuesday.

But despite another lopsided result, goalscorer Kyung Da-seul was the toast of Gwangju after finding the net in the final quarter to trigger tearful scenes.

The 18-year-old said she would cherish the memory but was sad not to keep the ball as a memento.

“I’d love to have the ball but I have no idea where it’s gone,” Kyung told local media.

“I’d be grateful if someone found it for me.”

Footballers get to keep the match ball when they score a hat-trick and baseball players often keep the ball they hit for their first career run or homer -- if they can trade a signed bat or other memorabilia to get it back.

Kyung went home without her ball but was nevertheless feted as if she had hit the winning run in

baseball’s World Series.

“When I took the shot I didn’t think it was going to go in,” revealed Kyung. “But I gave it everything I had. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

South Korea only managed to rustle up a team a month before the start of the competition, calling on former swimmers, with all but captain Oh Hee-ji still in their teens.

Their dogged determination evoked memories of Equatorial Guinean swimmer Eric “The Eel” Moussambani, who clung to the lane rope at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in his first dip in a 50-metre pool before making it to the wall as the crowd erupted.

“Our coaches told us that we’re here to show people that we’re ready to battle hard,” Kyung added.

“They also said we grew so much after the first game -- we shed many tears of joy.”

Korean-American Ryan Hanna Yoon promised there was more to come from the hosts.

“It was really emotional because we’ve been going through a lot,” she said. “The goal means everything for us. We’re just beginners in water polo.”

Asked about her hopes for their next game against Canada on Thursday, Yoon smiled: “Scoring more and having them score less.” (afp)

Handout / FINA Organising Committee via Yonhap / AFP

This handout photo taken and released by the FINA Organising Committee via Yonhap shows South Korea’s players reacting after scoring a goal during the women’s water polo match between South Korea and Russia at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju on July 16, 2019.

8

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Ramsey could play 1st Juventus match against Tottenham

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

In this Saturday, July 6, 2019 photo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, center left, and Chile’s Gary Medel, center right, scuffle as referee Mario Diaz, from Paraguay, left, shows the red card to both of them during Copa America third-place soccer match at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Argentine sport court member advices Messi to apologize

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi should apologize for his harsh comments at the Copa América in order to avoid a sanction, an Argentine member of sport’s highest court said on Monday.

Following defeats in the last two finals, Messi had another frustrating end to the tournament when he was sent off in the third-place game between Argentina and Chile. He protested the refereeing and alleged “corruption,” claiming Argentina had been treated unfairly.

Although a decision has not been announced, CONMEBOL could penalize Messi.

“I’d advise Messi to apologize because they’re going to shake him with a sanction,” Gustavo Abreu, an Argentine member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport told local Club Octubre radio. “He should apologize so they don’t hit him with everything.”

Abreu also suggested the Argentine Football Association contact Messi and ask him to say sorry.

Messi was red carded after getting into a first-half shoving match with Chile midfielder Gary Medel, who also was ejected.

Argentina won 2-1 but Messi didn’t show up for the medal ceremony to protest the refereeing. He had

harsh words after the match, saying “we shouldn’t take part in this corruption.”

Messi had several objections.

“There was lack of respect toward us during this Copa América,” he said. “We could have done better, but they didn’t let us make it to the final. Corruption and the referees are not letting the fans enjoy football.

This is ruining football.”

Messi had already loudly complained against Copa América refereeing after Argentina’s loss to Brazil in the semifinals, hinting the result was expected because the hosts were allegedly in charge of South American soccer.

Messi said he expected Brazil to win the final against Peru, claiming it was already set up for the host’s victory.

When asked if he feared being suspended for his comments, Messi said “the truth needed to be told.”

CONMEBOL later released a statement condemning the “unacceptable” and “baseless accusations” that discredited the Copa América’s integrity.

“In football, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win,” the statement said. “One of the fundamental pillars of fair play is to accept the results and the refereeing decisions with respect.” (ap)

TURIN — Aaron Ramsey could play his first match for Juventus against a familiar foe if he recovers from injury in time.

Ramsey joined Juventus this month on a four-year contract after leaving Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract expired.

The midfielder is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the Europa League quarterfinals and a decision will be made “over the next few days” whether he goes with Juventus on its preseason tour of Asia — where its first game will be against Arsenal’s north London rival Tottenham.

“I have had a small injury; it is progressing nicely. We are taking it day by day and I am feeling stronger,” Ramsey said on Monday, at his first news conference as a Juventus player. “Nothing has been set in stone about whether I go or not. I am confident with the way it is going that I will be back soon.”

Juventus plays Tottenham in Singapore on July 21.

Ramsey, who had been at Arsenal since 2008, agreed to join Juventus back in February and so has had a few months to learn Italian.

However, the Wales international still impressed when his first words at his news conference were in Italian.

“I want to thank you all for being here and I’m very happy to be here at Juventus,” Ramsey said.

“They’re one of the best teams in the world. I’m working hard with

the rest of the group to be ready as soon as possible.”

The 28-year-old Ramsey said a few other clubs had expressed their interest but that it was an easy decision for him.

“When I heard that Juventus were interested in me, I thought it would be a dream to come here, as well as a great challenge,” he added. “You can’t turn down this opportunity. This is the right club for me. I hope to be a part of the history.”

Juventus has won the Serie A title the past eight seasons, as well as four Italian Cups, but it craves Champions League success.

It hasn’t won Europe’s premier club competition since 1996 although it has finished runners-up five times since — including twice in the past four years.

Even signing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer didn’t help as Juventus was eliminated by Ajax in the quarterfinals, ultimately leading to the departure of Massimiliano Allegri as coach at the end of the season and the hiring of Maurizio Sarri.

Sarri was the coach of Chelsea last season and saw his team beat Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final — with Ramsey injured.

“I think from what I saw last season, he had a good season at Chelsea,” Ramsey said. “He was definitely a success and hopefully he can bring his philosophy and style to this team.” (ap)

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File

In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 file photo, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates stadium in London. Aaron Ramsey could play his first match for Juventus against a familiar foe if he recovers from injury in time. Ramsey joined Juventus this month on a four-year contract after leaving Arsenal.

9

Griezmann thanks Barcelona for ‘another chance’ to join club BARCELONA — One year after publicly rejecting an offer to join Barcelona, France forward Antoine Griezmann put on his new blue-and-burgundy shirt and thanked the Spanish champions for giving him a second opportunity.

Griezmann signed his five-year contract with Barcelona on Sunday to complete his move from rival Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

After inking the deal, Griezmann told club president Josep Bartomeu “thanks for giving me another chance.”

Griezmann had openly flirted with joining Barcelona last year in a “behind-the-scenes” documentary that followed him for weeks as he contemplated the pros and cons of staying at Atletico or making the jump to Lionel Messi’s club.

The 45-minute “The Decision,” which was produced by a company owned by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, concluded with Griezmann accepting a new contract with Atletico, which also promised to provide him with teammates who could finally help him win an elusive major title.

But after another season finishing runner-up to Barcelona, Griezmann said it was now time to change his mind and make the leap to the five-time European champion.

“This year is different,” Griezmann said at a news conference at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Griezmann said that, other than being reluctant 13 months ago to uproot his family from Madrid, he also “wasn’t prepared to make that step and felt like I had something left to do at Atletico.

“This is a new challenge, a chance for me to improve, to not be complacent, to fight for a spot in the starting 11, to be an important player for this club, and to win a Liga, a Copa del Rey, and a Champions League, which are missing from my trophy case,” he said.

As for any Barcelona fans, or new teammates, who could still feel spurned by “The Decision,” Griezmann said that he was confident he could win them over.

“I have done some bad things in my past,” he said. “(But) I have never repented. (The documentary) was something that I wanted to do and thought should be seen. I didn’t toy with either (club). The important thing is that we are now together. If I have to ask anyone for forgiveness, I will do so on the pitch, where I speak the best.”

The 28-year-old Griezmann helped France to win the World Cup last year. In five seasons with Atletico, he scored 133 goals and won the Europa League, a Span-

ish Super Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. But there was also a lot of frustration at coming so close to even greater glory with a loss in a Champions League final and second-place finishes in the Spanish league.

Now Griezmann will go from being the leader of Atletico’s attack to becoming effectively a sidekick to Messi, and strike partner to Luis

Suárez.

Griezmann had a contract with Atletico until 2023 with a buyout clause of 200 million euros ($224 million), but the clause automatically fell to 120 million euros ($134 million) on July 1.

Barcelona announced it had paid 120 million to free Griezmann from his contract on Friday. Atletico, however, is demanding that Barce-

lona pay the full 200 million euros because they believe that the player had already negotiated the move to Barcelona before July 1.

Bartomeu insisted Sunday that “there is nothing” to Atletico’s claim because he said Barcelona only contacted Griezmann’s agent after the player announced in May that he wanted to leave Atletico. (ap)

AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

French forward Antoine Griezmann poses for the media during his official presentation after signing for FC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 14, 2019.

Senegal vs. Algeria, Mane vs. Mahrez in African Cup final CAIRO — Riyad Mahrez scored from a free kick in the fifth minute of injury time as Algeria beat Nigeria 2-1 on Sunday and progressed to the African Cup of Nations final against Sadio Mane’s Senegal.

Mahrez thundered his leftfooted match-winner into the net in effectively the last kick of the game to stunningly settle the semifinal at Cairo International Stadium.

Algeria will play for a second African title and first in nearly 30 years in Friday’s final. Senegal goes for its first African Cup title after 54 years of trying.

The teams met in the group stage at this tournament when Algeria won 1-0.

The final will also feature an intriguing Premier League subplot as Manchester City’s Mahrez comes up against Liverpool’s Mane.

Senegal went through after beating Tunisia 1-0 in an extra-time thriller at the 30 June Stadium across Cairo.

Both semifinals had dramatic VAR moments, with the referee video review system being used for

the first time at the African Cup this year. The referees made good use of it in the semis, with two drawn-out decisions.

Algeria led Nigeria through a first-half own-goal by William Troost-Ekong. Mahrez’s cross deflected off another Nigerian defender, then hit Troost-Ekong in the midriff and went in.

Algeria was pegged back when Nigeria was given a penalty for handball after a long VAR referral by Gambian referee Bakary Gassama, who initially didn’t award the spot-kick. A shot by Oghenekaro Etebo hit his own teammate Odion Ighalo and the arm of Algeria defender Aissa Mandi at just about the same time. Gassama didn’t give it at first, then referred to the TV screen on the sidelines more than a minute later and went back for the penalty.

Nigeria took its opportunity — contentious as it was — to level at 1-1 from the spot through Ighalo.

But Algeria captain Mahrez won it at the very death, hammering his free kick into the net and sprint-

ing half the length of the field to celebrate with teammates on the bench.

“This free kick arrived and, with the quality of a player like Mahrez, it’s a massive chance at a goal,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said.

“Thank God we made it.”

There were tense moments off the field at Cairo International also as Algerian fans and local Egyptian spectators began throwing plastic bottles at each other over a fence that separated them. Some of the Egyptians had started to cheer for Nigeria over Egypt’s North African rivals.

Lines of yellow vested security personnel were brought into the stands to stand between the supporters.

Senegal won the first semifinal with an own-goal in the 100th minute when Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen pushed a free kick onto the head of defender Dylan Bronn and the ball bounced back into the goal.

It was another game of high drama.

On a day when the sports world

was treated to epic contests at the Wimbledon men’s tennis final and the Cricket World Cup final, the African Cup held up its end of the bargain.

Senegal and Tunisia both missed penalties within a few minutes of each other in regulation time.

Tunisia was then given another penalty late in extra time only for referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa to check the VAR TV screen on the sidelines and dramatically reverse his decision — to the dismay of the Tunisians.

Tunisia should have gone ahead after winning the first penalty in the 73rd, when Ferjani Sassi’s shot hit the upper arm of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly as he threw himself in the way to block it.

Sassi took the penalty himself but Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis saved easily.

Senegal had its chance almost straight after, with Ismaila Sarr hacked down in the area.

Henri Saivet took the spot-kick instead of Mane, who missed two penalties earlier in the tournament.

His penalty was low and hard to

the bottom right corner, but Hassen dived full-stretch and brilliantly deflected it away with his left hand.

Hassen was responsible for deciding Tunisia’s fate, though.

In extra time, he went to punch away a free kick but only forced it onto Bronn’s head and it rebounded into the net.

The most contentious moment came right near the end after Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye was initially penalized for another handball in the area. The ball was headed down by a teammate and struck Gueye’s hand as he tried to pull it away at the side of his body.

Ethiopian referee Weyesa awarded the penalty, then decided to make the long run over to the sidelines to check with the VAR. After another long delay, he ran back onto the field waving his arms to signal no penalty.

Senegal has made it to just one final before, in 2002. Current Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was a member of that 2002 team and he dropped to his knees with arms held aloft in celebration at the final whistle. (ap)

8

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Ramsey could play 1st Juventus match against Tottenham

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

In this Saturday, July 6, 2019 photo, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, center left, and Chile’s Gary Medel, center right, scuffle as referee Mario Diaz, from Paraguay, left, shows the red card to both of them during Copa America third-place soccer match at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Argentine sport court member advices Messi to apologize

BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi should apologize for his harsh comments at the Copa América in order to avoid a sanction, an Argentine member of sport’s highest court said on Monday.

Following defeats in the last two finals, Messi had another frustrating end to the tournament when he was sent off in the third-place game between Argentina and Chile. He protested the refereeing and alleged “corruption,” claiming Argentina had been treated unfairly.

Although a decision has not been announced, CONMEBOL could penalize Messi.

“I’d advise Messi to apologize because they’re going to shake him with a sanction,” Gustavo Abreu, an Argentine member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport told local Club Octubre radio. “He should apologize so they don’t hit him with everything.”

Abreu also suggested the Argentine Football Association contact Messi and ask him to say sorry.

Messi was red carded after getting into a first-half shoving match with Chile midfielder Gary Medel, who also was ejected.

Argentina won 2-1 but Messi didn’t show up for the medal ceremony to protest the refereeing. He had

harsh words after the match, saying “we shouldn’t take part in this corruption.”

Messi had several objections.

“There was lack of respect toward us during this Copa América,” he said. “We could have done better, but they didn’t let us make it to the final. Corruption and the referees are not letting the fans enjoy football.

This is ruining football.”

Messi had already loudly complained against Copa América refereeing after Argentina’s loss to Brazil in the semifinals, hinting the result was expected because the hosts were allegedly in charge of South American soccer.

Messi said he expected Brazil to win the final against Peru, claiming it was already set up for the host’s victory.

When asked if he feared being suspended for his comments, Messi said “the truth needed to be told.”

CONMEBOL later released a statement condemning the “unacceptable” and “baseless accusations” that discredited the Copa América’s integrity.

“In football, sometimes you lose and sometimes you win,” the statement said. “One of the fundamental pillars of fair play is to accept the results and the refereeing decisions with respect.” (ap)

TURIN — Aaron Ramsey could play his first match for Juventus against a familiar foe if he recovers from injury in time.

Ramsey joined Juventus this month on a four-year contract after leaving Arsenal on a free transfer when his contract expired.

The midfielder is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the Europa League quarterfinals and a decision will be made “over the next few days” whether he goes with Juventus on its preseason tour of Asia — where its first game will be against Arsenal’s north London rival Tottenham.

“I have had a small injury; it is progressing nicely. We are taking it day by day and I am feeling stronger,” Ramsey said on Monday, at his first news conference as a Juventus player. “Nothing has been set in stone about whether I go or not. I am confident with the way it is going that I will be back soon.”

Juventus plays Tottenham in Singapore on July 21.

Ramsey, who had been at Arsenal since 2008, agreed to join Juventus back in February and so has had a few months to learn Italian.

However, the Wales international still impressed when his first words at his news conference were in Italian.

“I want to thank you all for being here and I’m very happy to be here at Juventus,” Ramsey said.

“They’re one of the best teams in the world. I’m working hard with

the rest of the group to be ready as soon as possible.”

The 28-year-old Ramsey said a few other clubs had expressed their interest but that it was an easy decision for him.

“When I heard that Juventus were interested in me, I thought it would be a dream to come here, as well as a great challenge,” he added. “You can’t turn down this opportunity. This is the right club for me. I hope to be a part of the history.”

Juventus has won the Serie A title the past eight seasons, as well as four Italian Cups, but it craves Champions League success.

It hasn’t won Europe’s premier club competition since 1996 although it has finished runners-up five times since — including twice in the past four years.

Even signing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer didn’t help as Juventus was eliminated by Ajax in the quarterfinals, ultimately leading to the departure of Massimiliano Allegri as coach at the end of the season and the hiring of Maurizio Sarri.

Sarri was the coach of Chelsea last season and saw his team beat Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final — with Ramsey injured.

“I think from what I saw last season, he had a good season at Chelsea,” Ramsey said. “He was definitely a success and hopefully he can bring his philosophy and style to this team.” (ap)

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File

In this Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 file photo, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates stadium in London. Aaron Ramsey could play his first match for Juventus against a familiar foe if he recovers from injury in time. Ramsey joined Juventus this month on a four-year contract after leaving Arsenal.

9

Griezmann thanks Barcelona for ‘another chance’ to join club BARCELONA — One year after publicly rejecting an offer to join Barcelona, France forward Antoine Griezmann put on his new blue-and-burgundy shirt and thanked the Spanish champions for giving him a second opportunity.

Griezmann signed his five-year contract with Barcelona on Sunday to complete his move from rival Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

After inking the deal, Griezmann told club president Josep Bartomeu “thanks for giving me another chance.”

Griezmann had openly flirted with joining Barcelona last year in a “behind-the-scenes” documentary that followed him for weeks as he contemplated the pros and cons of staying at Atletico or making the jump to Lionel Messi’s club.

The 45-minute “The Decision,” which was produced by a company owned by Barcelona defender Gerard Pique, concluded with Griezmann accepting a new contract with Atletico, which also promised to provide him with teammates who could finally help him win an elusive major title.

But after another season finishing runner-up to Barcelona, Griezmann said it was now time to change his mind and make the leap to the five-time European champion.

“This year is different,” Griezmann said at a news conference at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Griezmann said that, other than being reluctant 13 months ago to uproot his family from Madrid, he also “wasn’t prepared to make that step and felt like I had something left to do at Atletico.

“This is a new challenge, a chance for me to improve, to not be complacent, to fight for a spot in the starting 11, to be an important player for this club, and to win a Liga, a Copa del Rey, and a Champions League, which are missing from my trophy case,” he said.

As for any Barcelona fans, or new teammates, who could still feel spurned by “The Decision,” Griezmann said that he was confident he could win them over.

“I have done some bad things in my past,” he said. “(But) I have never repented. (The documentary) was something that I wanted to do and thought should be seen. I didn’t toy with either (club). The important thing is that we are now together. If I have to ask anyone for forgiveness, I will do so on the pitch, where I speak the best.”

The 28-year-old Griezmann helped France to win the World Cup last year. In five seasons with Atletico, he scored 133 goals and won the Europa League, a Span-

ish Super Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. But there was also a lot of frustration at coming so close to even greater glory with a loss in a Champions League final and second-place finishes in the Spanish league.

Now Griezmann will go from being the leader of Atletico’s attack to becoming effectively a sidekick to Messi, and strike partner to Luis

Suárez.

Griezmann had a contract with Atletico until 2023 with a buyout clause of 200 million euros ($224 million), but the clause automatically fell to 120 million euros ($134 million) on July 1.

Barcelona announced it had paid 120 million to free Griezmann from his contract on Friday. Atletico, however, is demanding that Barce-

lona pay the full 200 million euros because they believe that the player had already negotiated the move to Barcelona before July 1.

Bartomeu insisted Sunday that “there is nothing” to Atletico’s claim because he said Barcelona only contacted Griezmann’s agent after the player announced in May that he wanted to leave Atletico. (ap)

AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

French forward Antoine Griezmann poses for the media during his official presentation after signing for FC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 14, 2019.

Senegal vs. Algeria, Mane vs. Mahrez in African Cup final CAIRO — Riyad Mahrez scored from a free kick in the fifth minute of injury time as Algeria beat Nigeria 2-1 on Sunday and progressed to the African Cup of Nations final against Sadio Mane’s Senegal.

Mahrez thundered his leftfooted match-winner into the net in effectively the last kick of the game to stunningly settle the semifinal at Cairo International Stadium.

Algeria will play for a second African title and first in nearly 30 years in Friday’s final. Senegal goes for its first African Cup title after 54 years of trying.

The teams met in the group stage at this tournament when Algeria won 1-0.

The final will also feature an intriguing Premier League subplot as Manchester City’s Mahrez comes up against Liverpool’s Mane.

Senegal went through after beating Tunisia 1-0 in an extra-time thriller at the 30 June Stadium across Cairo.

Both semifinals had dramatic VAR moments, with the referee video review system being used for

the first time at the African Cup this year. The referees made good use of it in the semis, with two drawn-out decisions.

Algeria led Nigeria through a first-half own-goal by William Troost-Ekong. Mahrez’s cross deflected off another Nigerian defender, then hit Troost-Ekong in the midriff and went in.

Algeria was pegged back when Nigeria was given a penalty for handball after a long VAR referral by Gambian referee Bakary Gassama, who initially didn’t award the spot-kick. A shot by Oghenekaro Etebo hit his own teammate Odion Ighalo and the arm of Algeria defender Aissa Mandi at just about the same time. Gassama didn’t give it at first, then referred to the TV screen on the sidelines more than a minute later and went back for the penalty.

Nigeria took its opportunity — contentious as it was — to level at 1-1 from the spot through Ighalo.

But Algeria captain Mahrez won it at the very death, hammering his free kick into the net and sprint-

ing half the length of the field to celebrate with teammates on the bench.

“This free kick arrived and, with the quality of a player like Mahrez, it’s a massive chance at a goal,” Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi said.

“Thank God we made it.”

There were tense moments off the field at Cairo International also as Algerian fans and local Egyptian spectators began throwing plastic bottles at each other over a fence that separated them. Some of the Egyptians had started to cheer for Nigeria over Egypt’s North African rivals.

Lines of yellow vested security personnel were brought into the stands to stand between the supporters.

Senegal won the first semifinal with an own-goal in the 100th minute when Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen pushed a free kick onto the head of defender Dylan Bronn and the ball bounced back into the goal.

It was another game of high drama.

On a day when the sports world

was treated to epic contests at the Wimbledon men’s tennis final and the Cricket World Cup final, the African Cup held up its end of the bargain.

Senegal and Tunisia both missed penalties within a few minutes of each other in regulation time.

Tunisia was then given another penalty late in extra time only for referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa to check the VAR TV screen on the sidelines and dramatically reverse his decision — to the dismay of the Tunisians.

Tunisia should have gone ahead after winning the first penalty in the 73rd, when Ferjani Sassi’s shot hit the upper arm of Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly as he threw himself in the way to block it.

Sassi took the penalty himself but Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis saved easily.

Senegal had its chance almost straight after, with Ismaila Sarr hacked down in the area.

Henri Saivet took the spot-kick instead of Mane, who missed two penalties earlier in the tournament.

His penalty was low and hard to

the bottom right corner, but Hassen dived full-stretch and brilliantly deflected it away with his left hand.

Hassen was responsible for deciding Tunisia’s fate, though.

In extra time, he went to punch away a free kick but only forced it onto Bronn’s head and it rebounded into the net.

The most contentious moment came right near the end after Senegal’s Idrissa Gueye was initially penalized for another handball in the area. The ball was headed down by a teammate and struck Gueye’s hand as he tried to pull it away at the side of his body.

Ethiopian referee Weyesa awarded the penalty, then decided to make the long run over to the sidelines to check with the VAR. After another long delay, he ran back onto the field waving his arms to signal no penalty.

Senegal has made it to just one final before, in 2002. Current Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was a member of that 2002 team and he dropped to his knees with arms held aloft in celebration at the final whistle. (ap)

10

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Destination

International

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

Korean tears at breaking goal duck at world water polo

Gunung Payung Beach

BADUNG - Gunung Payung Beach, otherwise referred to locally as Pantai Gunung Payung, is one of the ‘hidden beaches’ on Bali’s southern coast, where you can find a remote and quiet setting over great seascapes. The location takes its name from a Balinese Hindu temple complex of the same name (Pura Dhang Kahyangan Gunung Payung) that is located high up on the cliff where visitors can see before heading down to the beach.

Getting to Gunung Payung Beach requires an approximate half-hour drive to Kutuh village from Nusa Dua. Along the main Jalan Gunung Payung road, you’ll also encounter the landscaped greens of the 18-hole Bukit Pandawa Golf Club together with its rugged limestone terrain. Just outside the temple, catch glimpses of grey long-tailed macaques, which are more of the shyer kind compared to its notoriously cheeky counterparts at the Uluwatu cliff area.

Approaching the cliff edge after the temple, you’re immediately welcomed to soaring ocean views and sounds of the waves below. The beach is quite an effort to reach, only for the fit and determined – down a steep flight of stairs that locals claim to total around 300. The deep green patches in the clear waters are growing grounds of local seaweed farmers, and upon reaching the base, you’ll discover deep and coarse sand with calm waters great for snorkelling. The remoteness and effort required to discover the beach keeps it untouched by vendors. Therefore, it’s good to bring your own drinking water and perhaps some snacks to replenish once you get down here.

The natural reef barriers also means calm and swimmable waters most of the time, but beware of spiny sea urchins that grow around these southern coasts and high tide conditions, as there are no lifeguards around. Also, midday trips are recommended when the seascape is clearer and the water warmer. The temple has its piodalan anniversary every full moon on the eighth month of the Balinese pawukon calendar (coinciding January or February on the Gregorian calendar). (IBP/net)

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France’s Julian Alaphilippe (C), current holder of the overall leader’s yellow jersey, and Belgium’s Yves Lampaert (L) greet fans ahead of a training session of Team Deceuninck-QuickStep, during a rest day of the 106th edition of the Tour de France cycling race in Albi, southwestern France, on July 16, 2019.

Crosswind blows Alaphilippe and Ineos clear on Tour ALBI - Belgian rookie Wout Van Aert won stage 10 of the Tour de France on Monday as Julian Alaphilippe extended his overall lead after a blistering late charge split the peloton.

Yellow jersey wearer Alaphilippe launched the attack from 38 kilometres out, where narrow roads and a crosswind created perfect conditions for the devastating attack.

Defending champion Geraint Thomas and his powerful Ineos team leapt into the fray in what turned into a rampage all the way to the quaint Tarn town of Albi.

Pre-stage title pretenders Richie Porte, Thibaut Pinot, Jakob Fuglsang, Rigoberto Uran all lost 1min 40sec, while Movistar’s Mikel Landa lost over two minutes.

Frenchman Alaphilippe leads second placed Thomas by 1min 12sec, a second Ineos rider, Egan Bernal, is at 1min 16sec, and van Aert’s teammate Steven Kruijswijk is another 11sec off in fourth.

Pinot, who started in third, dropped to 11th, 2min 33sec behind his countryman.

“We knew there was a chance of a split,” said Alaphilippe. “I have my ambitions, and we will defend this jersey every day.

- Ineos plan pays off -

Ineos boss Dave Brailsford said the stage went exactly as he had

planned.

“I feel like we just scored a goal,” said Brailsford.

“It’s really rare that you put that much time into so many top guys,” he said.

“This race is like no other, if you lose your attention you can end up losing major time, and that’s what happened to all those guys.”

“We saw the weather and spoke about this in the pre-race briefing,” said the Briton who has plotted six Tour de France victories from the last seven.

Thomas, the 2018 champion, looked like the cat that got the cream.

“It was just a positioning error from them and they lose a minute and a half. That’s how it goes,” he explained.

The 22-year-old Bernal takes the best young rider’s white jersey.

“It was wild, but that’s the Tour, every day is super-hard here and anything can happen,” said the slightly built Bernal, who proved again here he can keep up with the burly riders who do well in crosswinds.

Nairo Quintana of Movistar was all smiles too, after finishing in the mini-peloton after an exhausting long-range dash.

“I was fortunate to be aware of what was happening, I feel lucky in a way, that’s racing,” said Quintana. (afp)

GWANGJU - South Korea’s female water polo team have lost their first two games at the world championships by an eye-watering aggregate score of 94-1 -- but they celebrated their goal as if they had won gold.

After suffering a record 64-0 defeat by Hungary in their Group B opener at the weekend, the plucky hosts were battered 30-1 by 2017 bronze medallists Russia on Tuesday.

But despite another lopsided result, goalscorer Kyung Da-seul was the toast of Gwangju after finding the net in the final quarter to trigger tearful scenes.

The 18-year-old said she would cherish the memory but was sad not to keep the ball as a memento.

“I’d love to have the ball but I have no idea where it’s gone,” Kyung told local media.

“I’d be grateful if someone found it for me.”

Footballers get to keep the match ball when they score a hat-trick and baseball players often keep the ball they hit for their first career run or homer -- if they can trade a signed bat or other memorabilia to get it back.

Kyung went home without her ball but was nevertheless feted as if she had hit the winning run in

baseball’s World Series.

“When I took the shot I didn’t think it was going to go in,” revealed Kyung. “But I gave it everything I had. I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.”

South Korea only managed to rustle up a team a month before the start of the competition, calling on former swimmers, with all but captain Oh Hee-ji still in their teens.

Their dogged determination evoked memories of Equatorial Guinean swimmer Eric “The Eel” Moussambani, who clung to the lane rope at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in his first dip in a 50-metre pool before making it to the wall as the crowd erupted.

“Our coaches told us that we’re here to show people that we’re ready to battle hard,” Kyung added.

“They also said we grew so much after the first game -- we shed many tears of joy.”

Korean-American Ryan Hanna Yoon promised there was more to come from the hosts.

“It was really emotional because we’ve been going through a lot,” she said. “The goal means everything for us. We’re just beginners in water polo.”

Asked about her hopes for their next game against Canada on Thursday, Yoon smiled: “Scoring more and having them score less.” (afp)

Handout / FINA Organising Committee via Yonhap / AFP

This handout photo taken and released by the FINA Organising Committee via Yonhap shows South Korea’s players reacting after scoring a goal during the women’s water polo match between South Korea and Russia at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju on July 16, 2019.

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Wednesday, July 17, 2019

W

RLD

YURI CORTEZ / AFP

In this file photo taken on July 5, 2019 Yukpa indigenous children, some of them suffering from malnutrition, are fed with supplements provided by CARITAS organization, at Los Angeles del Tukuko mission, near Machiques, Zulia state, Venezuela.

Worsening world hunger affects 821 million, says UN

UNITED NATIONS - More than 821 million people suffered from hunger worldwide last year, the United Nations reported Monday -- the third year in a row that the number has risen.

After decades of decline, malnutrition began to increase in 2015, mainly because of climate change and war. Reversing the trend is one of the 2030 targets of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which aim to improve the planet and its people.

But getting to a world where no one is suffering from hunger by then remains an “immense challenge,” the report said, noting the number of people without enough to eat had risen from 811 million in 2017.

“We will not achieve zero hunger by 2030,” said David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme, one of the UN agencies contributing to the report.

“That’s a bad trend. Without food security we will never have peace and stability,” said Beasley, deploring that the media carry more talk about Brexit and Donald Trump than children dying of hunger.

He warned that extremist groups were using hunger and control over food supplies as a weapon to divide communities or recruit new members.

“The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World” report was produced by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other United Nations agencies including the World Health Organization.

“To safeguard food security and nutrition, it is critical to already have in place economic and social policies to counteract the effects of adverse economic cycles when they arrive, while avoiding cuts in essential services, such as healthcare and education, at all costs,” it said.

A “structural transformation” was needed to include the poorest people in the world, the authors said.

This would require “integrating food security and

International

International

Drug-related deaths in Scotland are ‘highest in Europe’ LONDON - Drug-related deaths in Scotland rose 27 percent last year to a record 1,187, the highest rate in Europe, official data showed on Tuesday.

The largest increases from 2017 levels were seen among drug users aged between 35 and 54 and death rates were highest in and around the city of Glasgow, Scotland’s statistics office said.

If Scotland were considered as an independent country, the rate would be higher than any EU country and it is triple the rate in Britain as a whole, the figures showed.

Scotland’s Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said the issue had become an “emergency”.

“The number of people who have lost their lives because of drug use is shocking,” he said.

“It is vital this tragedy is treated as a public health issue and we are prepared to take innovative and

bold measures in order to save the lives of those most at risk.”

Scotland is pressing the British government to allow supervised drug consumption facilities -- something which other EU countries have found can reduce fatalities.

But Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that Britain’s focus “should be to ensure people come off drugs, do not go on drugs in the first place and keep clear of drugs”.

The spike in drug-related deaths has been a trend for years in Scotland as decades of abuse by the socalled “Trainspotting generation” finally take their toll.

The blockbuster success of the film “Trainspotting”, based on Irvine Welsh’s novel about coming of age in the 1980s in Leith, made Scotland’s drug underworld famous around the world. (afp)

nutrition concerns into poverty reduction efforts” while tackling gender inequality and the exclusion of certain social groups, they said.

- Malnutrition widespread in Africa -

Malnutrition remains widespread in Africa, where around 20 percent of the population is affected, and in Asia where more than 12 percent of people experience it. In Latin America and the Caribbean, fewer than seven percent of people are affected.

Adding those hit by food insecurity gives a total of more than two billion people, eight percent of whom are in North America and Europe, who don’t regularly have access to enough nutritious, safe food, the report said.

The FAO said current efforts were insufficient to meet the goal of halving the number of children whose growth is stunted by malnutrition by 2030.

Robin Willoughby, the head of food and climate policy at Oxfam GB, said women were hit hardest by the rise in hunger.

“A toxic brew of climate shocks, inequality and conflict is unravelling years of progress,” he said.

“If we are to meet the target of ending hunger by 2030, governments must urgently cut greenhouse emissions, provide more support for small-scale agriculture and increase efforts to end violent conflicts.”

The French non-governmental group CCFD-Terre Solidaire said that in Africa and Latin America, food insecurity was affecting emerging economies as well, and not just those considered to be the least advanced.

Around 149 million of the world’s children currently suffer from hunger-related growth delays.

At the same time, the UN report notes that obesity and excess weight are both on the rise in all regions, with school-age children and adults particularly affected. (afp)

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

President Jokowi unequivocal in demanding solution to trash problem

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) minced no words in calling for necessary measures to be taken to tackle the garbage problem faced by several regions in Indonesia.

“We have held a limited meeting to discuss the problem of garbage, and as I recall it, six times since I was a mayor. I say what it is. We also want to solve this garbage problem; we want to do it,” President Jokowi emphasized at the presidential office here on Tuesday.

The head of state made the remark while chairing a limited meeting on “Development of the Construction of Waste Power Plants (PLTSa).”

“Hence, the governors should do the same, but until today, until now, I have not heard of any ‘progress’ to that end,” the president pointed out.

The president also sought reports from the regional heads over the progress achieved in tackling the garbage problem.

“Thus, we just head straight to tackling the problem. Hence, what is the problem? Someone said ‘Pak (Sir) PLN (state electricity company) is slow. Is anyone from PLN present?” the president questioned to which Acting President Director of PLN Djoko Rahardjo Abumanan then raised his hand.

“Someone said that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has not been ready. The minister is there.

We have already completed it this afternoon. This is not a matter of electricity. We want to solve this garbage problem and thereafter the electricity issue,” the president remarked.

The head of state called for the need to take immediate measures to tackle garbage pollution, both on land and at sea.

“We have yet to overcome (the garbage problem) on land while also having to deal with the ‘marine debris.’

This is not only our problem but also a global concern,” the president stated.

He also reiterated that the meeting should yield a concrete solution to the garbage problem.

“I really want to have a solution this afternoon. Where is the problem?

The attending mayors, governors, and district heads just speak to the point on what is the problem. Please keep it brief,” the president emphasized.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Research and Higher Education M. Nasir, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning Sofyan Djalil, Minister/State Secretary Pratikono, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung were among the attendees at the limited meeting.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak, Head of the Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) Hammam Riza, Head of Government Goods/Services Procurement Policy Institute (LKPP) Roni Dwi Susanto, and Acting President Director of PLN Djoko Rahardjo Abumanan were also present at the meeting.

Moreover, the meeting was marked by the presence of Surabaya Mayor Tri Risma Harini, Makassar Mayor Muhammad Iqbal Samad Suhaeb, Manado Mayor Vicky Lumentut, Solo Mayor F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo, Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah, South Tangerang Mayor Airin Rachmi Diany, Deputy Mayor of Denpasar I.B. Rai Dharmawijaya, Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi, Palembang Mayor Harnojoyo, and other relevant officials. (ant)

Forest fires seared through 30,477 thousand hectares area in July

JAKARTA - Forest fires had consumed a total of 30,477 hectares of area as of July 2019, Agus Wibowo, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), stated.

Forest and bush fires engulfed the provinces of Aceh, Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Papua, Wibowo remarked here on Tuesday.

Forest fires devastated a total of 27,683 hectares of area in Riau, 2,274 hectares in West Kalimantan, 236 hectares in South Sumatra, 142 hectares in Aceh, 58 hectares in West Papua, 53 hectares in South Kalimantan, 27 hectares in Central Kalimantan, and four hectares in Jambi.

“The BNPB and the Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) have conducted aerial operation to induce artificial rain,” he remarked.

Wibowo believed that 99 percent of the fires were triggered by intentional or accidental human activities.

The Indonesian Military and Police have deployed 1,512 officers to prevent and help extinguish forest fires in the five provinces of Riau, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan that have declared an emergency alert status for forest fires.

He pointed out that the presence of peatlands in the five provinces along with Jambi makes them susceptible to forest fires in the dry season. However, no alert status has been declared in Jambi.

Earlier, this year, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) had reminded the regional authorities to step up vigil over possible forest fires and droughts, as this year’s dry season was forecast to be drier than that of the previous year. The extreme dry season has affected several areas since May and is expected to last until September, with the condition likely to peak in August.

Last Sunday, haze arising from forest fire blanketed the sub-districts of Tampan and Senapelan in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Sumatra Island.

“Haze shrouds Panam (in Tampan Sub-district),”

Tanjung, a local resident, noted in Pekanbaru, Riau.

The Terra and Aqua satellites detected 38 hotspots on Sunday morning, rising from 35 hotspots on the previous day, the Pekanbaru Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) station, reported.

The 38 hotspots were spotted in 11 districts and municipalities in Riau Province. Nine hotspots were detected in Siak District, seven in Pelalawan, six each in Bengkalis and Rokan Hilir, three in Kampar, two in Rokan Hulu, as well as one each in Pekanbaru, Meranti, Kuantan Singngi, Indragiri Hilir, and Indragiri Hulu.

A joint team, comprising police and military officers as well as local firefighters, has attempted to extinguish the forest fire in Parit Baru Village, Tambang Sub-district, Kampar District, since the past several days. (ant)

ANTARA FOTO/Syifa Yulinnas/hp

Haze shrouded Suak Nie Village, West Aceh District, Aceh Province, on Monday

Three busted in Riau for smuggling 10 kg meth from Malaysia

IBP/net

Drug-related deaths in Scotland rose 27 percent last year to a record 1,187, the highest rate in Europe, official data showed on Tuesday.

RIAU - The Riau Police arrested three drug offenders belonging to an international drug ring from Malaysia and seized 10 kilograms (kg) of crystal methamphetamine and 15,940 ecstasy pills.

The suspects were taken into police arrest in Bengkalis and Pekanbaru,

Director of the Riau Police’s Drug Crime Unit Senior Commissioner Suhirman confirmed here on Tuesday.

The offenders smuggled the drugs from Malaysia into Indonesia via Riau’s eastern coast, he noted.

“The eastern coast is the silk route for the smuggling of illicit drugs into

11

Indonesia through Riau, and the drugs were distributed outside Riau,” he remarked. The arrest was made after a tip-off was received from the local people. The police needed a month to investigate it.

Two suspects, respectively identified by their initials as D and A, were

arrested in Bengkalis on July 3, 2019, and the police seized 10 kg of crystal methamphetamine and 15,500 ecstasy pills from them.

The police later detained another suspect, Bd, 19, and confiscated some 500 ecstasy pills intended for sale in South Sumatra.

Suspect D confessed to having picked up the drugs smuggled through Riau’s waters from Malaysia four times. He was paid Rp20 million for each time.

The police claimed to have known the identity of a drug kingpin operating in Riau. (ant)

12

International

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

BUSINESS

In this Nov. 29, 2018, file photo, victims of Japan’s forced labor and their family members arrive at the Supreme Court in Seoul, South Korea. Colonial-era Korean laborers on Tuesday, July 16, 2019, are seeking a court’s approval for the sales of local assets of their former Japanese employer after it refused to comply with a court order to compensate them for forced labor decades ago. The sign reads “Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should compensate and apologize to victims of forced labor.”

Former Mitsubishi workers seek assets sale for forced labor

The development comes amid growing tensions between South Korea and Japan. Tokyo recently tightened controls on high-tech exports to South Korea, a move Seoul believes is retaliation for the South Korean court rulings last year. Japan says it is not retaliation, has warned it might take further action if South Korea pushes harder on the issue.

Lawyers and supporters of the Koreans who worked for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries during Japan’s 1910-45 occupation of Korea said in a joint statement Tuesday they’ll soon ask a South Korean court to authorize the sales of some assets that South Korea has seized from Mitsubishi.

The assets are some of Mitsubishi’s trademark rights and patents.

If a court approves, Mitsubishi’s assets will be put up for auction to raise funds to pay the compensation in a process expected to take about six months, according to Kim Yeong Hwan, an activist with a group that signed the statement.

The lawyers and activists said they sent three requests to

Mitsubishi to discuss the compensation but it hasn’t responded. Meanwhile the elderly plaintiffs are dying of old age.

An approval for selling the assets would likely fan antagonism between Seoul and Tokyo at a time when relations are already at their worst in decades.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday hinted Tokyo might retaliate.

“If Japanese companies are actually harmed, we will be forced to take necessary measures,” he told reporters, without giving details. “To prevent that, we urge the South Korean government to take appropriate actions.”

Tokyo has requested third-party arbitration of the Korean wartime labor dispute as stipulated in a 1965 treaty. The deadline for a response is Thursday, and Seoul has indicated that it will not respond.

South Korea has stepped up pressure on Japan to withdraw the newly imposed trade controls, which require approvals for all sales of certain materials used in many high-tech products.

South Korea plans to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization and raise the issue at next week’s WTO General Council in Geneva. Trade officials from the countries failed to resolve the dispute in a working-level meeting last week.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday the measure threatens to shatter economic cooperation between the neighbors

and could damage Japan more than South Korea. He said Japan was abusing its leverage in trade to punish South Korea.

Japan says preferential export licensing arrangements for the three materials subject to its export control measure can only be allowed for trustworthy trading partners. Some Japanese ruling lawmakers have suggested U.N. sanctions may have been violated by transfers of sensitive materials from South Korea to North Korea. South Korean officials say such allegations are groundless and have proposed a U.N. investigation.

The Japanese trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, rejected Moon’s comments and said he did not expect Japanese companies to be harmed by the tighter export controls.

Seko reiterated Tuesday that Japan’s export curbs resulted from a review aimed at national security, to ensure implementation of export controls, and are not retaliation for South Korea’s handling of disputes over former Korean wartime laborers and other historical issues.

“I will make it clear that President Moon’s remark yesterday is completely off the mark,” Seko told reporters in Tokyo. “The Japanese measures by their nature do not require checks by international organizations.”

The Japanese side says it has been trying to discuss the issue with South Korea since 2016 and the failure to hold such meetings was a key reason behind Tokyo’s decision. (afp)

Ngerebeg tradition or better known as makotek held every Tumpek Kuningan (ten days after Galungan) at Munggu customary village, Mengwi, Badung, has the meaning as a tribute to the heroes, repellent of negative things and a means to unite the citizens. This was confirmed by chief of Munggu customary village, I Made Rai Sujana, amid the ngerebeg procession at the local Desa and Puseh Temple of local village, Saturday (Jan. 5).

He explained the meanings of the procession starting from the Mengwi kingdom headquartered at Munggu with the king named Ida Cokorda Nyoman Sakti Munggu.

When defending his territory in Blambangan, East Java, before the Mengwi troops named goak selem or black crow troops left the kingdom, right on the Tumpek Kuningan Day, the king of Mengwi performed a meditation at Dalem Kahyangan Wisesa Temple, Munggu. The king got a revelation from his meditation.

The return of his troops with victory or success in the war was then commemorated with the tradition of ngerebeg. “Therefore, on Tumpek Kuningan, the tradition of ngerebeg continues to be commemorated at Munggu customary village as a tribute to the victory of Mengwi’s royal war, as the respect for the heroes,” he explained.

Related to the tradition as disaster repellent, he told that it was initially carried out with a spear.

Then, during the Dutch colonial period the tradition was banned because it was thought to be a rebellion. As a result, this tradition

had not been organized for several times. Then, outbreaks of disease or plague attacked villagers, even many people died.

This condition made some customary and religious leaders negotiate with the Dutch administration and finally the tradition was allowed to be held again. However, the facilities used are not spears, but replaced with pulet wooden stick. “Since then, the tradition of ngerebeg formerly used spears was replaced with a pulet wooden stick, with the length of 3.5 meters. Based on such belief, the ngerebeg tradition serves as catastrophe repellent or keeps away from negative things,” he explained.

READ Tumpek Kandang, Fruit Arrangement Parade at Alas Kedaton The third meaning of the tradition is as a means to unite citizens.

This tradition is followed by almost all men aged 14 years and over from 12 hamlets at Munggu customary village. They mutually mingle while carrying wooden sticks and walking around the village area. When they arrive in several places such as road intersection they gather and unite the end of the stick to form the pyramid.

Once in a while, a young man will climb up the pile of the sticks.

“So, this tradition is to unite young people from 12 hamlets across the Munggu customary village. By carrying out the ngerebeg tradition, they will definitely do positive things and strengthen the sense of unity among the youth,” he concluded. (kmb)

Lebanese parliament convenes on budget amid tight security

BEIRUT — Lebanese lawmakers have begun discussing the draft 2019 state budget amid tight security and limited protests against proposed austerity measures.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

5

Ngrebeg Has Three Meanings, What Are They?

AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File

SEOUL — Colonial-era Korean laborers are seeking a court’s approval for the sales of local assets of their former Japanese employer after it refused to comply with a court order to compensate them for forced labor decades ago.

Bali News

International

The proposed budget aims to avert a financial crisis by raising taxes and cutting public spending in an effort to reduce a ballooning deficit.

Critics say the proposed mea-

sures fail to introduce structural reforms needed to rescue the flagging economy. Civil servants have been protesting for weeks, fearing the measures to be adopted in the

new budget would lead to wage cuts for state employees.

The corruption-plagued country is one of the most indebted in the world and there have been serious

concerns about an economic crash.

Roads leading to the parliament building in downtown Beirut were closed on Tuesday morning, ahead of the three-day debate. (ap)

IBP/kmb

IBP/kmb

At Tanah Lot, Holy Spring Always Thronged

by Visitors

When making a visit to Tanah Lot, prepare a little time to visit the holy water douche located beneath the Tanah Lot Temple. This source of fresh water does indeed feel fresh and can be drunk directly. Residents or visitors wishing to drink can collect it by cupped hands. Optionally, visitors can just wash hands or cleanse face to be getting fresher and cooler.

As one of the spots in the Tanah Lot tourist attraction area, it is never empty of visitors. This holy spring is always visited because of the holy water, one of the legends owned by the tourist attraction. It is said the holy water comes from the middle of the sea that can provide healing for people experiencing pain, or others.

“We invoke this holy water for our sick child,” said Nyoman Warni, a resident invoking the holy water on Sunday (Jun. 23).

Local communities, especially the Hindus, strongly believe the holy water can cure some ailments they are suffering from. For married women having not got children for long time, they often invoke holy water here in the hope of getting their descendants. Drinking the holy water is believed to be blessed with offspring.

In addition, many people also pray and beg for safety and happiness of their life. “Armed with confidence and based on a clean and sincere heart, it is said that all their hopes will be blessed,” convinced Warni.

To some people, this method seems rather ridiculous

to believe in such a myth. However, it does not matter if you entertain yourself by trying it to get what you expect. As evidence, many local communities invoke for recovery of their family members. Some tourists also take it by putting the holy water into a bottle.

“Maybe it’s made into a gift for their children, relatives or friends,” said Jero Niti, Promotion Section Officer of Tanah Lot Attraction.

According to Jero Niti, the holy spring is guarded by several priests taking turns on daily duty. It is meant to serve tourists that may want to pray for a moment or invoke holy water. There is no any kind of price offered for the holy water but it very much depends on sincerity of visitors if they wish to donate to Tanah Lot Temple. “Visitors can drink the holy water or just wash hands and face to get some benefits,” she said.

Indeed, when hearing or reading about Tanah Lot, one’s imagination will automatically refer to the famous beauty of sunset view to foreign visitors.

Actually, Tanah Lot also has other uniqueness, such as religious and cultural tourism being famous for the beautiful panorama of local beach. Tourists often wait for sunset view because it offers a very beautiful and romantic moment.

In certain months, among the cliffs of Tanah Lot visitors can watch sunset view, where it looks like a red ball peeking among the cliffs. Well … this is a very beautiful sight and has been known by tourists from all over the world. (kmb)

4

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Bali News

International

Sulfuric bursts affect around two tons of fish in floating netcage

The mostly affected area by such sulfuric bursts is Seked hamlet, Central Batur. The phenomenon of sulfuric bursts causes sporadic fish to die. I Ketut Wania, a fish farmer at Seked hamlet, suffered the most losses due to the phenomenon of sulfuric bursts. More than 2.5 tons of fish belonging to him and being ready to harvest were dead.

When met on Monday (Jul. 15), Wania revealed that he just knew the sulfuric bursts on Lake Batur on early Sunday morning. The sulfuric burst caused many of his fish to die and they could not be saved.

Mass death of the fish at his floating netcage was first discovered on Monday morning when checking his floating netcage. “A lot of dead fish are ready to harvest as having been 7-8 months old. Of the 34 units of floating netcage, 2 units are ready for harvest. Each unit contains 5,000 fish, while some others contain 4,000 fish,” he explained.

Meanwhile, he added that his fish remaining under 4 months old can still survive. They are indeed stronger to survive when sulfuric bursts occur because small fish are more frequently on the surface of the lake.

Due to the phenomenon of sulfuric bursts, he suffered losses of up to IDR 70 million. To minimize the death of the other fish, he is currently forced to stop doing activities in the floating netcage and does not feed the fish during sulfuric bursts. “If we approach the netcages, the fish will go down to the bottom of the lake, and it can cause fish to lack of oxygen,” he explained.

He further added the phenomenon of sulfuric bursts is a natural phenomenon that routinely occurs every

year. About two years ago, sulfuric bursts in Lake Batur were quite severe. However, the occurrence at Seked region was classified to be safe from the sulfuric impacts.

Agriculture and Fisheries Agency checks water sample Meanwhile, a day after the emergence of sulfuric bursts in Lake Batur, a number of fisheries officers from the Bangli Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Agency (PKP) came down directly to the location to check and research the water of Lake Batur.

Head of the Bangli Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Agency, Nyoman Widiana, stated that after receiving the reports on the sulfuric bursts, he immediately checked at three points namely at Buahan, Kedisan and Seked. When checking it, his agency took samples of lake water at a depth of 10 meters to be examined. Result of the examination indicated the levels of sulfur and phosphorus in the water of Lake Batur is quite high. Conversely, the oxygen level dissolved in water (DO) is very low. However, based on the results of the examination carried out, fish deaths were only found in the Seked area precisely in the floating netcage of Ketut Wania. “There is absolutely nothing in other points,” he said.

Regarding this annual phenomenon, Widiana said that before entering the fifth month, he had written to the headman and fish farmer groups to take anticipatory measures. He mentioned that as experiences all this time the sulfuric bursts usually occur in the range from June to September. “We have asked the fish farmer groups to be vigilant by harvesting their fish early and avoid spreading fingerlings in these months,” he explained.

Most fish farmers in Lake Batur, said Widiana, have followed the recommendations of the Bangli Agriculture, Food Security and Fisheries Agency. The sulfuric bursts in Lake Batur are estimated to be lasting for ten days to two weeks. “Hopefully, the condition won’t get worse,” he explained. (kmb40)

IBP/kmb

Sulfuric bursts had an impact on the death of thousands of fish cultivated by local farmers in their floating fish netcages (KJA).

13

Erdogan hails S-400 deal as Turkey marks 2016 coup bid anniversary

Farmers suffer losses worth tens of millions of rupiahs

BANGLI — Sulfuric bursts returned to occur in Lake Batur, Kintamani. Surely, it had an impact on the death of thousands of fish cultivated by local farmers in their floating fish netcages (KJA). This caused fish farmers to lose up to tens of millions of rupiahs.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

I Made Teja

IBP/kmb

Environment Agency focuses on overcoming waste disposal

DENPASAR — Conservation of natural resources starting from forests, rivers, lakes to the sea is one of the programs of the Bali government through the Environment Agency (DLH). Environment Agency is not alone, but involves related agencies such as the Bali-Penida River Agency, Forestry Agency, and the Environment Agency of the district / municipality. In addition, it also optimizes community empowerment efforts in each region.

“Furthermore, there is a role of NGOs that also encourages to jointly supervising the implementation of natural resources conservation,” said the Head of the Bali Environment Agency, I Made Teja, when confirmed on Monday (Jul. 15).

Teja claimed to have established a conservation institution to assist services in the environmental field. People participating in the environmental conservation efforts are given an award like Kalpataru.

Based on the data inventoried by the Environment Agency, waste disposal is still detected in some of the 22 rivers in Bali.

“But through the governor’s program, Bali plastic waste cleanup, we are trying to make corrective measures every month. This is the fourth month of implementation throughout Bali. We involve the community as a whole, both in customary villages, schools and respective neighborhoods,” he said.

Most importantly, continued Teja, is the involvement of the

PKK housewives to help encourage the community in their respective village. Then, law enforcement is carried out in collaboration with traditional villages, although it is still prioritized on coaching. Unless there are serious violations, then police authority will coordinate with the supervisor in each district / municipality.

“The increasingly wider open areas used to support tourism, we do not close our eyes. Indeed, in some areas, there are people coming while carrying garbage. So, an increase in tourist visits also adds to the amount of waste,” he added.

According to Teja, another measure taken is to develop Environmental Awareness Villages (DSL).

At present, there are 137 DSLs having been developed by continuing to seek community empowerment.

Admittedly, not all can be going well. But, public awareness actually began to increase especially after the issuance of the Gubernatorial Regulation No.97/2018 concerning the Limitation of Disposable Plastic Waste, so the reduction in plastic waste become increasingly effective.

“We also encourage customary villages to develop compost, there is a sorting of waste and optimizing waste banks in each hamlet. Similarly, we now encourage so that the community is able to process waste at its source. From the household, it has been reduced so that only few will go to landfill,” he concluded. (kmb32)

ISTANBUL - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday hailed the controversial delivery of a Russian missile defence system despite the threat of US sanctions, as Turkey marked the third anniversary of a bloody coup attempt.

Just days before the anniversary, the first batch of the Russian S-400 defence system was delivered to Turkey despite repeated US calls for them to cancel the deal or face punishment.

“We have begun to receive our S-400s. Some said, ‘they cannot buy them’... God willing the final part of this (delivery) will be in April 2020,” Erdogan told a crowd of several thousand in Ankara.

The anniversary comes at a difficult moment for Erdogan. He faces a weakened economy, worsening relations with NATO ally the United States over the S-400 purchase, and a humiliating loss for his party in the recent Istanbul local election.

In 2016, nearly 250 people were killed -- excluding the coup-plotters -- and more than 2,000 injured after a rogue military faction tried to wrest power from the president. Thousands took to the streets in response to Erdogan’s call to defeat the uprising.

Relations with the West deteriorated after the coup bid, as Turkish officials accused the West of not giving Ankara sufficient support.

Over the same period, Erdogan has grown ever closer to Russian President Vladimir Putin, raising concerns in Europe and the United States.

Erdogan said Turkey’s “next target was joint production with Russia” of the next missile defence system.

“We are taking every measure to make sure our people do not suffer the betrayal of 15 July again or something similar,” Erdogan added.

Late Monday he travelled to Istanbul to inaugurate a museum dedicated to the failed coup, where he insisted on the importance of commemorating the putsch attempt to prevent “greater

evils”.

Ankara accuses former ally-turnedfoe Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric exiled in the US, of having ordered the attempted coup. He lists his movement as a “terrorist” organisation.

Some 8,000 military personnel took part in the bid to overthrow Erdogan, backed by 35 fighter jets, three boats, 37 helicopters and 74 tanks, according to state news agency Anadolu.

Since 2016, tens of thousands of people have been detained while 150,000 public sector employees have been suspended or sacked over alleged links to Gulen.

- Arrests continue -

Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Twitter that Turkey “sends a powerful message of unity and solidarity to the world: We will die but never let traitors and putschists destroy our country, our freedom and our dignity.”

The day, known as “15 July” in Turkey, has become a national holiday.

Earlier on Monday Erdogan took part in a tense ceremony at parliament, which was bombed during the coup violence.

Arzu, who was among the thousands who came to see Erdogan speak in Ankara, said she was there to “honour our martyrs”, adding: “Without them, we would not be alive.”

Anadolu reported Sunday that 110 suspected Gulen movement members have been extradited to Turkey from more than 20 countries.

Hundreds of life sentences have been handed down against accused putschists.

There are still almost daily police raids to capture suspects accused of ties to Gulen.

Based in Pennsylvania, Gulen strongly denies Ankara’s claims. His movement rejects the “terrorist” tag, insisting it promotes education and moderate Islam. (afp)

Alexander NEMENOV / AFP

In this file photo taken on August 22, 2017 Russian S-400 antiaircraft missile launching system is displayed at the exposition field in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow during the first day of the International Military-Technical Forum Army-2017.

WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP

In this photo taken on April 7, 2019, an explosive detection dog is kept on leash during a practice session at the Mine Detection Centre (MDC) in Kabul. Naya, a three-year-old Belgian malinois, focuses intently as she leaps over hurdles and zooms through tunnels on an obstacle course at a training centre on a hill overlooking Kabul.

Man’s best friend: The dogs who sniff out explosives in Kabul

KABUL - Naya, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, focuses intently as she leaps over hurdles and zooms through tunnels on an obstacle course at a training centre on a hill overlooking Kabul.

She seems to be having fun, but is in fact being trained for a life-or-death mission: finding explosives in a country where hidden mines, bombs and weapons routinely kill.

Naya is one of about 200 dogs at the Afghan capital’s Mine Detection Centre (MDC), a non-governmental group raising the animals from rambunctious pups into a disciplined force, and teaching handlers how to work with the canines.

A common sight around the Afghan capital, explosives-sniffing dogs are deployed at checkpoints and government facilities, where they are an important tool in combatting the flow of homemade bombs being smuggled into Kabul.

“The dogs are very useful -- they are very fast, they do their jobs with great speed,” Taj Mohammad, a longtime trainer at the centre, told AFP on a recent visit.

Handlers demonstrated how they train dogs to hone in on particular scents -- explosives mainly, but also narcotics -- by using a special carousel of identical metal cannisters that conceal different smells.

Each time a dog correctly identifies a target smell, the handler gives it a rubber chewy ball to chomp on as a reward.

“The relationship with the handler must be perfect.

If it does not work, there will be casualties,” Mohammad said.

It takes about two years to train an explosives dog, and the process is intense for both the handler and the canine. The animals at the MDC are all German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois.

“It’s as if you are building a house or bringing up a child,” Mohammad said.

Handlers get about $500 a month for their dangerous work -- not a bad wage in Afghanistan -- as well as life insurance and retirement benefits.

Explosives are “a hidden enemy, so all the time I have a little fear in my heart,” dog handler Zabihullah

Amin said.

- No more mine detection -

After the MDC was established in 1989, the dogs mainly came from the Netherlands, but now most are local after breeding started here in 1994. More than 1,100 dogs have completed the training.

The canines’ initial mission was to hunt for landmines, a vital task in a country left strewn with the devastating weapons during the war with the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

But the dogs’ use tapered off in recent years following a series of incidents where they missed explosives, sometimes causing casualties as people returned to areas thought to be cleared.

According to Abdul Qudos Ziaee, head of operations at Afghanistan’s Directorate of Mine Action Coordination, dogs can be a useful mine-detection tool if properly managed.

But in several areas contaminated with anti-vehicle mines, some agencies failed to use the canines correctly or handlers were improperly trained, leading to sloppy practice and areas of terrain left dangerous.

“Whether it was fault of the dog handler or the dog was not properly trained ... the mine will be missed and the negative consequence will be borne by civilians,” Qudos Ziaee told AFP. Dogs can still be used to sweep large areas deemed “low threat”, he said, noting that procedures are currently being revised and new standards will be introduced in about a year.

At the MDC, handlers insist dogs are a better tool for finding mines than mechanical detectors, as they can sniff the explosives in non-metallic devices.

According to Ziaee, at least 1,432 people were killed or wounded in Afghanistan by mines and so-called explosive remnants of war in 2018.

Mohammad Wirwais, who works at the Mine Detection Center, was blinded by a mine while clearing terrain in 2008.

“I am fortunate and lucky, I have friends ... who lost their lives to mine explosions,” he said.

“I am good, thank God, I can solve my problems on my own, and I can work here too.” (afp)

14

Technology

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

Bali News

International

Russia launches space telescope

IBP/net

A fuel leak in the rocket engine forced India to abort the launch of its landmark Moon mission less than one hour before liftoff.

Fuel leak halted blastoff for Indian rocket: reports

SRIHARIKOTA - A fuel leak in the rocket engine forced India to abort the launch of its landmark Moon mission less than one hour before liftoff, media reports said Tuesday.

A committee of experts was looking into the causes of the problem that put back the bid to become just the fourth nation -- after Russia, the United States and China -- to land a spacecraft on the Moon.

Having halted the countdown 56 minutes and 24 seconds before the scheduled launch of Chandrayaan-2 -- or Moon Chariot 2 -- the Indian Space Research Organisation gave no explanation for what it called a “technical snag” in the rocket nor a date for a new attempt.

“As a measure of abundant precaution Chandrayaan-2 launch has been called off,” ISRO said.

However, the Times of India quoted a senior mission scientist as saying there had been a leak in the GSLV-MkIII rocket’s helium fuel component.

“After filling helium, we found the pressure was dropping, indicating there was a leak,” the unnamed scientist said adding that it was possible there were “multiple leaks”.

“We were lucky that the mission did not enter the automatic launch sequence else all would have been lost,” the Hindustan Times quoted a senior ISRO official as saying.

The report added that scientists were “racing to plug the leak” in time for a new launch window at the end of July.

Experts said Indian mission chiefs would be cautious about trying a new liftoff.

“If the launch does not happen in the next 48 hours, it could be postponed for a few months until we get an opportune launch window,” said Ravi Gupta, a scientist formerly with the state-run Defence Research and Development

Organisation.

- Low-cost missions -

India has spent about $140 million on Chandrayaan-2, with most of it home-made. It is one of the cheapest in the crowded space race.

The launch would have been the third to the moon this year.

China put its Chang’e 4 mission on the lunar surface in January, while Israel’s $100 million Beresheet crashlanded when it sought to become the first privately funded mission in April.

A soft landing on the Moon would be a huge leap forward in India’s space programme.

National pride is at stake as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to launch a crewed space mission by 2022.

It follows another high-profile but low-cost Indian mission -- Mangalyaan -- which put a spacecraft in orbit around Mars in 2014 at a fraction of the cost of comparable projects by established space powers like the United States, which often cost billions of dollars.

The Indian mission involved a 2.4-tonne orbiter that will circle the Moon for about a year taking images and testing the atmosphere. A lander named Vikram was to take the rover to the surface near the lunar South Pole.

The rover that was to be put on the surface on September 6 was to spend 14 days sending back data on rocks and soil.

India’s first lunar mission in 2008 did not land on the Moon but orbited it searching for water using radar.

New Delhi also has ambitions to land a probe on Mars, following the success of the Mangalyaan orbiter.

Lunar exploration has been in focus in recent months with the looming 50th anniversary of the first human landing on the Moon, and US President Donald Trump giving NASA a 2024 deadline to return astronauts to the lunar surface. (afp)

MOSCOW - Russia launched a space telescope Saturday from the cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in a joint mission with Germany intended to map X-rays across the sky and replace a project lost in January.

Video posted on the website of the Roskosmos, the Russian space agency, showed a Proton-M rocket carrying the Spektr-RG taking off from the launch pad at Baikonur at 1230 GMT. The launch of the scope, weighing more than 2.7 tonnes, was originally scheduled for June 21 but was postponed twice because of a battery problem.

The Spektr-RG, developed with Germany, is a space observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as the “Russian Hubble”, which Roskosmos said it lost control of in January.

Spektr-R was launched in 2011 to observe black holes, neutron stars and magnetic fields, aiding understanding of cosmic expansion. Its successor will take up similar duties but will also work on completing a high-resolution all-sky map, said Roskosmos.

- Russia facing competition for ISS links -

Russia’s space programme, long a source of great pride to the nation, has suffered a series of humiliating setbacks in recent years, although the country remains committed to ambitious projects

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

3

Until the end of the year

“The observation of space by Spektr-RG will mark a new stage in X-ray astronomy, whose history goes back more than 55 years,” said the Russian space agency, adding the project would permit “the yearround observation of practically the whole celestial sphere,” the imaginary sphere formed by our universe.

Since 2011, Russia has been the only country capable of sending teams to the International Space Station (ISS).

But a series of recent setbacks together with corruption scandals within Roskosmos and the competition from Elon Musk’s SpaceX have threatened its monopoly.

The next launch to the ISS is scheduled for July 20 . It will carry an Italian and a US astronaut together with a Russian cosmonaut.

The telescope’s research mission is set to last for six-and-a-half years including a four-year scan of the heavens and the remainder spent observing objects in space “at the behest of the international scientific community,” the agency statement said.

It will take some three months to reach its destination, an observing position some 1.5 million kilometres (900,000 miles) above Earth.

It is expected the telescope will uncover around three million super-massive black holes during its lifetime as well as some 100,000 massive galaxy clusters strung out across the known universe, the agency added. (afp)

IBP/net

The launch of the scope, weighing more than 2.7 tonnes, was originally scheduled for June 21 but was postponed twice because of a battery problem.

Levies of Kintamani tourism predicted to reach IDR 27 billion

BANGLI — Levies of Kintamani tourism is predicted to reach IDR 25-27 billion until the end of this year. Until the middle of this year, the collected levies of Kintamani tourism have reached IDR 15 billion. This was revealed by Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar, when met at Penelokan tourist object, Kintamani, on Monday (Jul. 15).

IBP/kmb

In the past few days, fishing enthusiasts often see the presence of alligator gar fish.

Finding of alligator gar fish makes people restless

TABANAN — In the past few days, fishing enthusiasts often see the presence of alligator gar fish.

Indonesia, particularly Bali, is not the native habitat to this kind of predatory fish.Pursuant to the information compiled, the predatory fish had been seen by the people about a month ago in a river at Nyanyi hamlet, Beraban, Kediri. Appearance of this fish makes residents worried because the fish whose natural habitat in the Nile is very ferocious to prey on fish commonly sought by residents. Moreover, this fish can also prey on animals or livestock including being able to attack humans if the size is large.

This matter has also been conveyed to the Chairperson of the Indonesia Fishermen Association (HNSI) of Tabanan Chapter, I Ketut Arsana Yasa.

He said the fish was found a month ago by local residents. After getting the report, in the past week, he even already asked his colleagues to check the information. Having been checked, at least three fish were found. Two large fish have the weight of about 12 kilograms with a length of almost one meter while another weighs around 6-7 kilograms. Other than at Nyanyi, the presence of this fish was also seen in the estuary of the Yeh Ho River at Pasut hamlet,

Tibubiyu, Kerambitan.

The findings were reported to the Tabanan Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, but there is no response yet.

“In fact, such kind of fish was also found in the river near my house,” he said in a surprised intonation.

He said to have discussed about it with fishermen. After this full moon, Tuesday (Jul. 16) following the Petik Laut ceremony on Pasut Beach the dangerous fish will be caught by means of tuna nets. “Probably, the fish can be captured,” he hoped.

He added that he was surprised at the findings of the alligator gar fish whereas the fish is prohibited in Indonesia in accordance with the Regulation of Minister of Fishery and Maritim Affairs No. 41/2014. “How can the fish be in Bali’s waters because it is forbidden in Indonesia? The existence of the fish endangers our people having activities in the river. So, the river is no longer safe,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Tabanan Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, AA Raka Icwara, stated that his agency had ordered the officers to check the truth of the existence of the fish. “We also have no clear information about its truth.

Now, it is still being investigated,” he explained. (kmb28)

Gianyar added that currently the levies of Kintamani tourism are extraordinary since the management is carried out by the UNESCO Global Geopark tourism management agency. Previously, it was difficult to achieve the levy target of IDR 15 billion. “Just now, the report (on the revenue) I’ve got is extraordinary. We estimate it can reach IDR 25-27 billion,” he affirmed.

Although the increase in the revenue from tourism levies in Kintamani is currently quite high, Gianyar still asks the management body to continue working

Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar

professionally and make improvement. Among them it can be done by maintaining and applying the Sapta Pesona (seven charms) well, including cleanliness, safety, hospitality and others. “By establishing a management body, of course tourism problems must be resolved,” he explained.

Gianyar gave an example the crossing to Terunyan having gotten a bad image in the past because of mistreatment of tourists must continue to be addressed and eliminated, including the problems on hawkers and security issues in Kintamani must be addressed with sincerity and tenacity.

He said that currently the extraordinary tourist visits do not only happen in Penelokan, but also in tourist attractions in the lower areas such as in the Hot Spring and Mount Batur that are also crowded. On that account, Gianyar returned to warn that the tourism management having increasingly started to be good can continuously be improved so that tourist visits to Kintamani continue to grow. (kmb40)

IBP/kmb

2

Bali News

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

International

Bali’s airport operations unhindered by 6.0-magnitude quake

JAKARTA - Operations at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali, remained unaffected and ran smoothly after an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit 83 kilometers southwest of Nusa Dua-Bali on Tuesday (July 16) morning.

“Alhamdulillah (God be praised), operations at the Bali Airport are running normally,” airport management company PT Angkasa Pura I’s Public Relations Manager Awaluddin noted in a text message here on Tuesday.

According to information received from the Region IV Airport Authority Office, Ngurah Rai Airport can operate normally, and more checks have been conducted, of both the air and land side facilities, so as to ascertain that all are in normal condition and able to serve.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that the earthquake had no potential to trigger a tsunami. On Tuesday (July 16), a tectonic earthquake hit the area of the South Indian Ocean of Bali-Nusa Tenggara at 07:18:35 local time.

Head of BMKG’s Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Rahmat Troyono, expounded that the results of analysis indicated that the earthquake’s epicenter was located at coordinates 9.08 degrees south latitude and 114.55 degrees east longitude, or precisely located at a depth of 104 kilometers below sea, at a distance of 80 kilometers south of Kota Negara, Jembrana Regency, Bali Province.

The quake’s tremors were reportedly felt in Badung, Nusa Dua, Denpasar, Mataram, Central Lombok, West Lombok, Banyuwangi, Karangkates, Sumbawa, East Lombok, North Lombok, Jember, and Lumajang. No reports had yet been received of the damage caused by the earthquake. The modeling results indicated that the earthquake has no potential to trigger a tsunami “Until now, no reports have been received of damage

caused by the earthquake. The modeling results show that the earthquake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami,” he revealed.

Rahmat remarked that as of 7:50 a.m. local time, the BMKG monitoring results had not shown any aftershock activity.

“The people are encouraged to remain calm and not be affected by unsubstantiated issues,” he added. (ant)

Claiming to also meet Sandoz three times

Investor of Benoa Harbor reclamation claims to meet governor

DENPASAR - Having been postponed, the trial on the case of alleged fraud in the licensing submission for the development of the Benoa Bay Harbor reclamation area with the defendant Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Wiraputra was resumed on Monday (Jul. 15).

The victim who is also investor in the Benoa Harbor development reclamation plan, Sutrisno Lukito Disastro, was presented by public prosecutor Raka Arimbawa as a witness. In the presence of the panel of judge led by Ida Ayu Adnya Dewi accompanied by Made Pasek and Parta Bhargawa, he told what they had done for the development of Benoa Harbor. He also admitted to have the desire to dredge the seabed, so that large ships can enter Bali. “If there are now cruise arrivals, they cannot enter,” he said.

During the trial, the investor witness claimed to have met Governor of Bali at that time, Made Mangku Pastika, at the official residence and his son Putu Pasek Sandoz Prawirotama as well as the defendant Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Wiraputra.

The panel of judge member Made Pasek asked for several times

about the ‘remarks’ on adopted son of the governor. “Who is actually the adopted son of the governor?” the judge asked. Victim witness Sutrisno stated the defendant Anak Agung Ngurah Alit Wiraputra claimed to have very close relations to the governor so that he was called ‘an adopted son.’ On this basis, this investor believed in Gung Alit to submit the licensing of the reclamation plan.

“I was taken to the office of the governor’s son, Mr. Sandoz,” said Sutrisno Lukito. The judge chased, what did he go there (Sandoz’s office as Chairman of the HIPMI) for? The witness said that he wanted to submit something.

Gung Alit claimed that his relations to Sandoz have been like a family. Thus, investor believed and eventually gave them money worth billions by means of transfer or cash. “He (Gung Alit Wiraputra) claimed to be the right-man hand of the governor and claimed to be an adopted son. I was invited directly to the governor’s house, which was an official residence like a field,” said Sutrisno Lukito.

In the trial, the witness was also pursued who had the initia-

tive to ask for the assistance of the governor and Sandoz, the witness said that it was the initiative of the defendant. At that time, the investor witness was promised that the permit submission would be accomplished within six months because they were able to suppress the agency head and the recommendations of the Bali House of Representatives. On that basis, the victim witness was very confident the permit could be issued. Apart from having got the assistance to submit the permit and met the governor (at that time) and his son, he had conducted a survey to customary village. So, he was confident that reclamation’s permit of Benoa Harbor will be issued.

“Then after six months, have you been informed about the permit?” asked the judge. The witness said there was no permit delivered because it has not been issued yet.

The witness claimed to have met Sandoz for three times. First meeting was in the official residence of the governor, while the second and third, said Sutrisno in front of the trial, were in Sandoz’s office who he knew him as Chairman of the HIPMI Bali. Gung Alit

re-convinced Sutrisno Lukito by meeting him with Sandoz that the permit was still under process.

Meanwhile, when public prosecutor asked about the signing of the agreement, Gung Alit said it was carried out around February 2012.

The prosecutor repeated again the matters regarding the defendant Gung Alit confessing that he was an adopted son of the governor and could summon the agency head and coordinate with the Central House of Representatives. And this statement was justified by victim witnesses.

The legal counsel team of Gung Alit reiterated about the meeting with the Governor of Bali at that time. Was it an audience or not?

The witness said the meeting with the Governor of Bali and Sandoz, including with Gung Alit, was not part of the audience. The audience, according to him, is an official meeting and carried out in an official venue as well. “I met with the Governor and Sandoz and there was Mr. Alit (the defendant) at his residence,” said Sutrisno. So, according to the victim witness it was not part of the audience. He said the meeting with the governor and his son was meant to convince the

witness as investor.

The trial on Monday also mentioned about the agreement on mutual understanding and cooperation between investor and Gung Alit, whose draft was prepared by Made Jayantara. It was also mentioned that the agreement was then changed into the agreement with Gung Alit instead of with Sandoz (as in written draft). In addition, there was consequence with the ability to pay as much as IDR 30 billion. At first stage was given IDR 6 billion serving as a payment for mutual understanding.

The defendant’s attorney had asked whether the handover of IDR 6 billion was carried out during the audience with the governor.

The witness said no because, once again, Sutrisno claimed to have never had an audience with the governor. However, he only met, and convinced that he is an investor.

When he met with the governor, there were witnesses namely Sandoz, governor and Gung Alit. “One more thing I forget. At that time, Alit assured me that the defendant is close to the governor’s family,” affirmed the victim witness. (kmb37)

 Founder : K.Nadha,  General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra  Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra.

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International

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

15

KOREA SET TO GET MORE PLAYFUL WITH THE DEBUT OF MOXY SEOUL INSADONG

Marriott International announces the signing of Moxy Seoul Insadong, marking the debut of the Moxy brand in Korea. Centrally situated in lively Insadong, one of the most happening neighborhoods for shopping and dining in Seoul, the hotel will attract both the young and the young at heart with its spirited programming, lively bar scene and stylish design.

“I am excited that Moxy Hotels is set to debut in Korea with the upcoming opening of Moxy Seoul Insadong. Seoul is the leading

trendsetter in Asia-Pacific and it’s the ideal addition to our growing portfolio of Select Service Brands in Korea,” said Paul Foskey, Chief of Development, Asia Pacific, Marriott International.

Moxy Hotels was first launched in September 2014 with the opening of the Moxy Milan. In Asia Pacific, the first Moxy Hotel opened in Bandung, Indonesia, in June 2017, followed by Tokyo and Osaka in November 2017. A concept for the next-Gen traveler and the young-at-heart, Moxy is a fresh and innovative brand combining stylish

design and approachable service.

With tech-enabled rooms, vibrant lobby spaces and warm, modern service, Moxy aims to surprise travelers with a thoughtful, spirited and fun experience.

The upcoming Moxy Seoul Insadong is expected to feature 140 rooms, and a rooftop bar that doubles as a check-in desk – a signature of the Moxy brand. The fun lobby will feature big communal tables to work remotely by day, or to play or connect over drinks and fun board games by night.

“We are excited to partner with

Marriott International to bring the buzzing Moxy brand to Korea, “said Heemyung Woo, Chairman, Hee & Sun Co. “Moxy Seoul Insadong will be conveniently situated close to Seoul’s most lively areas, including Insadong and Ikseon-dong, which are both vibrant neighborhoods that blend historic Korean culture with trendsetting restaurant and boutique concepts that are popular among local Millennials and travelers.”

Right at the heart of all the action, from Moxy Seoul Insadong

guests will have access to narrow laneways lined with revitalized Korean hanook heritage buildings that now house creative cafes and stylish boutiques. The hotel is also nearby popular Seoul attractions including Changgyeonggung Palace, Insa-dong and Jongmyo, and next to transportation hub, Jongno 3-ga Station, making it very accessible to Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, and easily accessible to Gimpo and Incheon airports. For more information on Moxy Hotels, please visit us at www.MoxyHotels.com.

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

16 Pages Number 138 11th year

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

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Netflix removes suicide scene from ‘13 Reasons Why’

Angela Weiss / AFP

In this file photo taken on April 03, 2019 British actress Maisie Williams (L) and British actress Sophie Turner (R) arrive for the “Game of Thrones” eighth and final season premiere at Radio City Music Hall in New York city.

‘Game of Thrones’ and Netflix tipped to sweep Emmy nominations

LOS ANGELES - “Game of Thrones” and Netflix are tipped by TV industry watchers to dominate Tuesday’s Emmy nominations as Hollywood gears up for awards season.

The Television Academy’s 24,000 members sifted through a record number of entries for this year’s Emmys, the small-screen equivalent of the Oscars.

After nominations are announced final-round voting will begin to pick winners who will be revealed at a glitzy Los Angeles show on September 22.

Here are five things to look out for: - ‘Game of Thrones’ “Game of Thrones” enraged fans with its final season, but experts still expect the HBO fantasy epic to reign over Emmy nominations one last time.

“Thrones” is the most decorated fictional show in the awards’ seven-decade history, with 128 nominations and 47 wins.

The last six episodes dominated water-cooler chat and settled the question of who would sit on the Iron

LOS ANGELES - Netflix has removed a graphic suicide scene from season one of the hit show “13 Reasons Why” following concern from mental health experts who fear it glorifies suicide.

The move comes two years after the launch of the show, which follows the story of high school student Hannah Baker who takes her own life.

While praised for raising issues such as bullying and self-harm, the show had come under criticism from schools and psychologists worried it could trigger copycat suicides among young people struggling with mental health issues.

“As we prepare to launch season three later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show,” Netflix said on Twitter late Monday.

“So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from season one.”

Producer Yorkey said the graphic suicide scene was intended to

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

show “the horror of such an act, and make sure no one would ever wish to emulate it.”

“No one scene is more important than the life of the show, and its message that we must take better care of each other,” he said in a statement on Twitter.

“We believe this edit will help the show do the most good for the most people while mitigating any risk for especially vulnerable young viewers.”

Netflix said the show had encouraged discussion about mental health issues.

“We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help -- often for the first time,” it said.

Two studies published in May found that suicides among US youths rose significantly in the months following the popular show’s release.

A study commissioned by Netflix and carried out by Northwestern University last year found that a majority of teens said the show helped them understand depression better and empathize with victims of bullying. (afp)

Throne -- sort of -- but the flood of social media anguish over its unsatisfying conclusion almost broke the internet.

Still, voters could pick the show out of “nostalgia” and because “they want to pay respect for the impact it’s had on TV overall,” said Indiewire TV critic Ben Travers.

“But it also could be a lack of options,” he added.

- Major absentees The Emmys only recognize shows that were on in the 12 months to May 31.

That means several big hitters are absent from main categories this year, including Hulu’s former drama series winner “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“Big Little Lies” and “Stranger Things” also just missed the cut-off -- something which may not be accidental.

“Some of the more prominent shows got out of the way fearing ‘Game of Thrones’ just dominating everything, and not wanting to go head to head with it,” said Travers. (afp)

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

SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

A teacher walks past tiles which fell off the damaged roof of a school building after a earthquake hit the area in Jimbaran on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on July 16, 2019. A strong 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali on July 16, the United States Geological Survey said, causing residents to flee their homes and damaging several buildings.

IBP/net

Netflix has removed a graphic suicide scene from season one of the hit show “13 Reasons Why” following concern from mental health experts who fear it glorifies suicide.

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Quake off Indonesia’s Bali causes minor damage, sparks panic

A strong earthquake struck off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali on Tuesday, the United States Geological Survey said, causing residents to flee their homes and damaging several buildings.

The quake, which had a magnitude of 5.7, hit at 7.18am local time (0018 GMT) and was centred 82.1 kilometres (50.9 miles) southwest of the island’s capital Denpasar, according to the USGS. The tremor, which was felt as far away as Banyuwangi on the neighbouring island of Java, struck relatively deep at 91 kilometres and no tsunami warning was issued.

Residents of Bali described

panic as the quake hit. “I was carrying my baby when I felt the jolt -- it was strong, I ran outside immediately and saw many people were already fleeing to the street,” Denpasar resident Komang Sudiani told AFP. Photos circulated by Indonesia’s disaster agency showed minor damage to shop fronts and temples on the predominantly Hindu island.

“We have received reports of

damage such as fallen roof tiles and broken glass in several houses and offices,” Rahmat Triyono, the head of the agency’s earthquake and tsunami division, said in a statement.

More than 20 homes, schools, temples and offices were moderately damaged by the tremor, predominantly in Badung district, near the tourist hub of Kuta, Bali authorities said. No casualties have been reported in the disaster.

Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide.

O n S u n d a y, a p o w e r f u l 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku island chain in eastern Indonesia, killing three people and damaging nearly 1,000 houses.

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

On December 26, 2004, a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 across the Indian Ocean region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia. (afp) 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.