Edisi 18 April 2017 | Internasional Bali Post

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

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

16 Pages Number 72 9th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/File Photo

Prince Harry

Britain’s Prince Harry sought counselling more than a decade after mother’s death

LONDON - Britain’s Prince Harry sought counselling in his late twenties to help deal with the grief of losing his mother more than a decade earlier, he told the Telegraph newspaper.

Harry, whose mother Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when he was just 12, said he had come “very close to a complete breakdown” on several occasions after shutting down his emotions, impacting both his work and his personal life.

“My way of dealing with it was sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help? It’s only going to make you sad, it’s not going to bring her back,” he said in an interview published on Monday.

“So from an emotional side, I was like ‘right, don’t ever let your emotions be part of anything’.”

He said his older brother Prince William had encouraged him to seek help and he had been to see “a shrink” several times. He also took up boxing to help

deal with aggression after feeling he was “on the verge of punching someone”. “(I) started to have a few conversations and actually all of a sudden, all of this grief that I have never processed started to come to the forefront and I was like, there is actually a lot of stuff here that I need to deal with,” he said, adding that he had experienced two years of “total chaos”.

The princes’ mother Diana was married to heir-to-thethrone Prince Charles between 1981 and 1996, when the couple divorced. She was killed when the car she was in crashed while being chased by paparazzi on motorbikes.

Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, described at times facing anxiety during royal engagements but said he was now in a “good place”.

He served in the British Army for 10 years, including two stints in Afghanistan, and now works with several charities including supporting wounded soldiers.

Along with William and William’s wife Catherine, he also set up a mental health charity. (rtr)

‘Fate of the Furious’ Debuts to Hefty $100.2 Million LOS ANGELES - “The Fate of the Furious” is roaring to a recordsetting global debut over the weekend even as domestic audiences showed less enthusiasm for the latest installment in Universal’s long-running “Fast and Furious” series.

Final numbers have yet to be released, but based on earlier estimates, the action-thriller is poised to set a new worldwide high-water mark. It is expected to pass the previous record of $529 million set by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” If that happens, a large part of the credit will to China, where “The Fate of the Furious” has already racked up a massive $135 million in its first two days of release. It is worth noting that Chinese theaters only give studios about 25% of ticket sales, roughly half of what they receive in most major territories.

Domestically, there are indications that a franchise centered on muscle cars and physics-defying stunts, has crested. “The Fate of the Furious” took in an estimated $100.2 million, an impressive result, but a steep drop off from “Furious 7’s” $147.2 million kick-off.

Heading into the weekend, most analysts expected the film would roar past the $100 million mark, instead of inch over the line.

There are important reasons

for the fall off. “Furious 7” served as a memorial of sorts to Paul Walker, the franchise star whose 2013 death in a car accident shattered his co-stars and many fans.

This time, there wasn’t the same emotional resonance. “The Fate of the Furious” continues the franchise without Walker, adding in series newcomers such as Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren.

Then there was the off-screen drama. This film had to contend with reports of off-screen tension between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson that undermined one of the franchise’s key selling points -- that these films are celebrations of family and brotherhood. Both stars steered clear of each other at the picture’s New York premiere and Diesel’s attempt to brush aside the reports of a beef between the actors left something to be desired.

Reviews were also weaker. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich labeled the film the worst of the series, while the Los Angeles Times’ Justin Chang argued the franchise had jumped the shark, or in this case, the nuclear submarine. That’s not to say there weren’t some loud advocates. Variety’s Owen Glieberman, for instance, praised the picture as a “dazzling action spectacle.” Audiences agreed, handing “The Fate of the Furious” an A CinemaScore. (rtr)

10 Malaika Scret 11 Snack Shack 12 Warung Lokal 13 Cokro Cafee 14 T.J.Bar 15 J & N Kebab 16 Goanna Bar 17 Batu Jimbar 18 Ramayana Cafee

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

AP Photo/Petros Karadjias

A man sales flags with Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk near the Eminonou mosque in Istanbul, Monday, April 17, 2017. Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party has called on the country’s electoral board to cancel Sunday’s referendum that approved a proposal to grant sweeping powers to the nation’s president.

European leaders respond cautiously to Turkey vote

BERLIN - Germany said on Monday the close result in Turkey’s referendum on expanding Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers was a big responsibility for him to bear and showed how divided Turkish society was. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also said Turkish authorities needed to address concerns about the content and procedure of Sunday’s referendum raised by a panel of European legal experts.

Matt Kennedy/Universal Pictures via AP

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, seated left, and Nathalie Emmanuel, seated right, and Tyrese Gibson, standing from left, Scott Eastwood, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez in “The Fate of the Furious.”

You can find International Bali Post at: 1 Kuta Beach Club Jl. Bakung Sari Kuta 2 Wen Dys Kuta the Coffe Bear Jl. Pantai Kuta 3 Seminyak Paradiso Bali Hotel Jl. Camplung Tanduk 4 Ramayana Resort&Spa Jl. Bakung Sari Kuta 5 The Lokha Legian Resort&Spa Jl. Padma Legian Kuta 6 66 Corner Live Sport Emtertaiment Jl. Doble Six/Werkudara 23 7 Leghawa Grill Jl. D.Tamblingan No. 51 8 Retno Barr dan Restoran Jl. D.Tamblingan No.126 A Sanur 9 Elkomedor Jl. D.Tamblingan 140

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

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

19 Smirnof Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 20 Legwa Hotel Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 21 Nu Laser Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 22 Ganesa Book Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 23 All For Daiving Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 24 Barocca Jl.Petitenget 17 DKerobokan 25 Lantern Jl.Petitenget 17E Kerobokan 26 Shearlock Jl.Petitenget 17C Kerobokan Klod 27 Cafe Degan Jl.Petitenget 9 Kerobokan Klod

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

Erdogan declared a narrow victory in the vote, which marked the biggest overhaul of modern Turkish politics.

Opponents said it was marred by irregularities and they would challenge the result.

Merkel and Gabriel, whose country has about 3 million residents of Turkish background, said they noted the preliminary result showing a victory for the “Yes” camp. Official results are expected within 12 days. “The German government ... respects the right of Turkish citizens to decide on their own constitutional order,” they said in a statement.

“The tight referendum result shows how deeply divided Turkish society is and that means a big responsibility

for the Turkish leadership and for President Erdogan personally.”

They expected Ankara to have a “respectful dialogue” with all parts of Turkish society and its political spectrum after a tough campaign.

German integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz warned against criticising Turks living in Germany across the board over how they voted, telling regional newspaper Saarbruecker Zeitung that only around 14 percent of all German Turks living in Germany had voted “Yes” and added that most migrants had not voted.

German integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz warned against criticising Turks living in Germany over how they voted, telling regional

newspaper Saarbruecker Zeitung that only around 14 percent of all German Turks living in Germany had voted “yes” and added that most migrants had not voted.

EU TALKS

Germany’s comments were echoed in France, where President Francois Hollande said: “It’s up to the Turks and them alone to decide on how they organise their political institutions, but the published results show that Turkish society is divided about the planned deep reforms.”

On Sunday, the European Commission said Turkey should seek a broad national consensus on constitutional amendments, given the narrow “Yes” majority and the extent of their impact. In March, the Venice Commission, a panel of legal experts at the Council of Europe, said the proposed changes to the constitution on which Turks voted, namely boosting Erdogan’s power, represented a “dangerous step backwards” for democracy.

Merkel and Gabriel pointed to the

Commission’s reservations and said that, as a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE security and human rights watchdog and an EU accession candidate, Turkey should quickly address those concerns.

“Political discussions about that need to take place as quickly as possible, both at the bilateral level and between the European institutions and Turkey,” Merkel and Gabriel said.

In a separate statement, France’s Foreign Ministry called on the Turkish government to respect the European Convention on Human Rights and its ban on the death penalty. Erdogan told supporters on Sunday that Turkey could hold another referendum on reinstating the death penalty. Such a move would spell the end of Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union. Austria, which has repeatedly called for halting membership talks, called once more for them to stop.

“We can’t just go back to the daily routine after the Turkey referendum.

We finally need some honesty in the

relationship between the EU and Turkey,” said Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, adding the bloc should instead work on a “partnership agreement”.

During the campaign, Erdogan repeatedly attacked European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, accusing them of “Nazi-like” tactics for banning his ministers from speaking to rallies of Turkish voters abroad.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek told Reuters on Monday he expected the “noise” between Ankara and Europe should die down after the European elections cycle.

The French vote for a new president begins next Sunday. Germany votes in September. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

2

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

COVER STORY

Five-day school application constrained by double shifts MANGUPURA —

The plan to reduce students’ learning activities at elementary, junior and senior high schools and equivalents aimed at improving the growth rate of domestic tourism raises question marks. It happens because a number of schools impose double shifts or have morning and afternoon classes.

Head of the Badung Education Agency, Ketut Widia Astika, welcomed the implementation of the five-day school or SaturdaySunday holiday. “However, in Badung there are still a number of schools applying morning and afternoon classes. This becomes an obstacle,” said Widia Astika, not long ago.

According to him, schools that apply morning and afternoon classes will get disrupted by the system.

“If the schools having not classes in the morning and afternoon, the obstacles may not be seen with the application of full day system because we just need to direct our teachers to remain at school for eight hours,” he said.

According to him, the implementation of Saturday-Sunday school holidays will cause activi-

ties at school to increase from six hours to eight hours. “So, students and teachers will be at school for eight hours with various activities,” he explained. One of the activities strengthened is the character education because it becomes one of the priorities.

“Students do not just study in classroom but also get selfdevelopment that can be done at school. By that way, children will not be getting saturated for being at school during eight hours,” he said.

In addition, teachers do not lack for activities at school, and there are no longer teaching and learning activities outside school hours.

“In principle, Badung welcomes it delightedly, but it cannot immediately be implemented. It can have an impact on the students of

the morning and afternoon class,” he added.

In the meantime, for schools applying morning and afternoon classes need to think in the future.

If applying the Saturday-Sunday school holidays, students must be limited or the classroom can be added. “They (the morning and afternoon classes) are what we think.

Probably, new students should be limited,” he concluded.

As published previously, the minister of education and culture planed to apply a SaturdaySunday holiday. By applying five-day school, parents can optimally spend their time with family. They will take their children to travel in Indonesia that is very rich in tourist destination, so that domestic tourist visit can be increased. (kmb27)

Genggong at the edge of extinction NEGARA — In addition to preret traditional musical instrument, genggong (jaw’s harp) also almost comes to extinction. This art developing at Penyaringan village is just deeply involved today by a handful of players. Over time, this bamboo musical instrument is increasingly marginalized by popular modern instruments.

The narrowness of space to show off and limited regeneration are two triggers of the traditional musical instruments causing them to be less developed. Only at certain moments, such as Jembrana Cultural Parade, this art is performed. Just few people of the current generation that are interested in playing this wind-generated instrument. One of them is a group of residents having profession as farmers at Penyaringan hamlet, Penyaringan. They claim to pursue this traditional music since they were in elementary school.

Currently, they are coalesced into genggong troupe.

According to some residents at Penyaringan, not all people can play this kind of musical instrument. In addition to having strong breath, people must also have an instinct to find out appropriate tone as expected. The rhythm of this instrument is followed by the jegog gamelan music. “Ideally there are ten people, including the players accompanying the flute and kletuk (rhythm marker). But currently, they continue to decrease and only one remains,” said Gede Sumarwan, one of the genggong players some time ago.

The elders told that this musical instrument with distinctive sound is originated from an agrarian society mimicking the sound of frogs in paddy fields. So, farmers then make a tool from palm midrib or bamboo perforated in such a way so that can produce sound.

Then, the bamboo is pulled by a rope. The result of combining the bamboo or palm section with the opening of the mouth creates a loud sound resembling the sound of frogs in the fields. In front of the bamboo or palm sits a coconut shell with the function of closing the mouth of the player. The power to play this instrument lies in the finger that pulls the string and the mouth. Not infrequently, beginners can experience cramp. On average, the troupe can play the jaw’s harp up to 30 minutes.

This art evolves at Penyaringan and is often performed in manusha yajna ritual and welcoming guests. The material used to make a loud sound is not haphazard. Usually it is taken from the bamboo’s part often having friction with other bamboo.

“Some people can still make this jaw’s harp, but most of them have been old. If there is no successor, it will probably go extinct,” he added.

These artists of traditional musical instrument hoped there is a concern from the local government so that the culture of agrarian society will not get marginalized and go to the edge of extinction. (olo)

The Genggong Intsrument

Activities

International

IBP/olo

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

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

15

Trekking at Bindu Tourism Village, Feel the Authentic Bali Do you want to try trekking the track of Bindu tourism village?

Evidently, the tourism village located at Bindu hamlet, Mekar Buana, Abiansemal, Badung, has more than one trekking route. Moreover, this new

route is more beautiful, challenging and very unique. On that account, choosing this new route really needs guts, so that it can feel the real atmosphere of Bali There are six German travelers

EVERY MONDAY Movie Monday19:00-21:00 Genius Cafe- Home to the entrepreneur Beach CLub Mertasari Beach (Next to Mercure), Sanur EVERY TUESDAY Ecstatic contact dance: Transformative journey Paradiso Ubud, Jalan Goutama Selatan, Ubud 100k includes dinner EVERY WEDNESDAY DEep Dive Dance Guided improvised movement 19:00-21:00 Paradiso Ubud Jalan Goutama Selatan, Ubud 100k EVERY THURSDAY African Drums with Catur SAng Klang Wijaya 16:00-18:00 Experience the healing power of drumming, all levels welcome

BY DONATION SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

having tried this new trekking route.

They are married couples consisting of Mr. And Mrs. Mayer, Mr. and Mrs. Muller and Mr. And Mrs. Ziegler. The travelers having profession as entrepreneurs and workers really enjoyed the trekking tourist attraction. “The track is really challenging so that we are quite impressed. We will continue to think of this memory until arriving at home,” said Mrs. Brigitte.

They were staying at Perani Pangi Villas located at Bindu tourism village. Indeed they are eager to walk around the village. “I’ve visited other villages in Bali, but this Bindu village is the most unique. Beautiful nature is rich in local plants. Local people are friendly and have seriousness in preserving their culture as well as clean environment,” added Mrs. Brigitte.

Atmosphere of Bindu village is also very unique. It was felt when exploring the new route continuously developed by the local tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) as the operator of the trekking tourist attraction. “I’ve tried other trekking villages, but this is the most memorable. Everything is available and complete here, so that I

can experience the real Bali at Bindu village,” she said seriously.

During the trip, they encountered various rare plants, fruits, rice crops, corn, garden balsam and marigold that they have never imagined before.

Besides, they very much enjoy traditional bamboo bridge. “We pass over a very unique traditional bridge. It’s afraid but slightly courageous,” said Mr. Ziegler.

On the way, they also found various kinds of animal such as birds, rats, lizards, dragonflies, chickens, dogs and others. They were surprised to see a snake. “At first, I am afraid to see a snake, but it does not matter. We really feel close to the rich environment with its inhabitants and the plants,” said this friendly man.

They were also impressed with the shower formerly used to be a bathing place by local people before development of toilet at people’s home. They were happy when crossing the embankment of paddy fields with intriguing grasses and felt magical aura during the procession of melukat or purificatory rite with

prayascita offering and wearing tridatu (white, red and black) thread to clean physically and psychically.

“I really feel something different because it turns out on my birthday I get a purificatory rite,” said Mr. Andreas.

Before doing the blessing at Tanah Hyang Balinese Healing Center, the six travelers were served with young coconut drink. They had a look at various types of herbal medicinal plants and the process of paddy plants from planting to harvesting. “Really, we finally know about the process of cooking rice from husked rice. Previously, we just hear about it,” he concluded.

After that, they looked around Balinese house applying what the so-called kosala-kosali (Balinese geomancy). They did not only feel comfortable in the house, but also felt different vibrations. After that, they enjoyed Balinese traditional menus, such as lawar, meat with gravy, shredded meat, fried condiment, pepes and others. While enjoying the meals, they are entertained with traditional rindik music. (bud)

14

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Science

International

Bali News

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

3

Hydrogen in Saturn moon’s ice plumes may support microbial life

REUTERS/Hannah McKay

A man holds an ‘Ooho’ plastic-less water container in London, Britain, April 12, 2017.

UK-based start-up hopes to cut plastic waste with innovative water balls

MASSACHUSETTS - Ice plumes shooting into space from Saturn’s ocean-bearing moon Enceladus contain hydrogen from hydrothermal vents, an environment that some scientists believe led to the rise of life on Earth, research published on Thursday showed.

The discovery makes Enceladus the only place beyond Earth where scientists have found direct evidence of a possible energy source for life, according to the findings in the journal Science.

Similar conditions, in which hot rocks meet ocean water, may have been the cradle for the appearance of microbial life on Earth more than 4 billion years ago.

“If correct, this observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus,” geochemist Jeffrey Seewald, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, wrote in a related commentary in Science.

The discovery was made using NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which in September will end a 13-year mission exploring Saturn and its entourage of 62 known moons.

The detection of molecular hydrogen occurred in October 2015 during Cassini’s last pass through Enceladus’ plumes, when it skimmed 30 miles (49 km) above the moon’s southern pole taking samples.

In 2005, Cassini discovered Enceladus’s geysers, which shoot hundreds of miles into space. Some of the material falls back onto the surface as a fresh coat of ice, while much of the rest gathers into a halo of ice dust that feeds one of Saturn’s rings.

A decade later, scientists measuring the moon’s slightly wobbly orbit around Saturn determined it holds a vast ocean buried 19- to 25 miles (30- to 40 km) beneath its icy shell.

The ocean is believed to be the geysers’ source.

Several moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn are known to contain underground oceans, but Enceladus is the only one where scientists have found proof of an energy source for life.

“We’re moving towards Enceladus’s ocean being habitable, but we’re not making any claims at this point about it being inhabited,” lead author Hunter Waite, with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, said in an interview.

“The next time we go back ... you’re going to take something that not only picks up on the habitability story, but it starts looking for evidence for life.” (rtr)

the solution for all the applications that plastic bottles have, but definitely for short term consumption it could be a solution,” Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, the founder of Skipping Rocks Lab, told Reuters.

In a trial near London Bridge on Wednesday, the innovative balls drew a mixture of surprise, amusement and delight among those who sampled them.

London’s city assembly said Ooho was a step forward.

“It could be part of the solution but not the only solution. You also need to be able to refill bottles at railway stations for example,” said Leonie Cooper, the Chair of the assembly’s environment committee.

Skipping Rocks, who spent three years developing Ooho,

said they produce up to 2,000 balls a day but hope to increase that figure, extend the shelf-life of the product and improve the resistance of the membranes.

The company aims to target, among other consumers, marathon runners, who will be able to dispose of the Oohos mid-race without concerns about the environment. It is also considering encapsulating alcohol for a whole new market.

“People see these small round bubbles and they just think ‘shots’.

So that’s definitely something we’re looking at,” said Skipping Rocks Lab Chief Operating Officer Lise Honsinger.

“We have encapsulated alcohol, we want to perfect it, and then hopefully this will be the Jaegerbomb of the future.” (rtr)

Umanis Kuningan

IBP/kmb40

Hot spring at Toya Bungkah thronged by visitors BANGLI - Kintamani remains to become an option for people to fill in their holidays. It is evident from the number of travelers making a visit to the cool-aired destination. As the day after Kuningan or Umanis Kuningan on Sunday (Apr. 16), a number of recreational areas in Kintamani were thronged by visitors. One of them is the hot spring bath at Toya Bungkah region.

As seen on Sunday, tourist visit to Toya Bungkah hot spring in Kintamani began to be crowded from the morning. They mostly consisted of local travelers. In addition to enjoying the warmth of soaking in bathing

LONDON - Small transparent spheres filled with natural or flavoured water could help provide a solution to London’s plastic waste problem, according to the start-up company based in the British capital that manufactures them.

With many cities around the world struggling to dispose of vast numbers of used plastic water bottles, the biodegradable ‘Ooho balls’ have begun quenching the thirst of consumers at special events in San Francisco and London.

The balls, which resemble large bubbles, have a jelly-like membrane made of plant and seaweed extracts.

The company, Skipping Rocks Lab, says the membranes decompose after four to six weeks if not consumed.

A report published by the London municipal authorities on Thursday said more than 4,000 plastic bottles had been removed from the River Thames in a one month period last year, demonstrating the scale of the waste problem.

“We think Ooho, may not be

In addition to enjoying the warmth of soaking in bathing pool, the arrival of visitors to Toya Bungkah is also meant to directly enjoy natural scenery of Lake Batur.

pool, the arrival of visitors to Toya Bungkah is also meant to directly enjoy natural scenery of Lake Batur.

Marketing Director of Toya Devasya, Onik Dianita, acknowledged that during holidays such as

Umanis Galungan and Kuningan, tourist visit increased significantly.

She mentioned the average tourist visit reached about 500-1,000 people per day. However, on weekend and holidays like yesterday, the visit

could reach 1,500-2,000 people.

“Today most of the visitors are the locals,” she said.

In the meantime, in addition to the hot spring at Toya Bungkah, the other tourist attraction crowdedly visited by travelers included the Penelokan and Terunyan tourism village.

Division Head of Tourist Object Development at the Bangli Tourism and Culture Agency, Wayan

Bona, said that the increasing number of tourist visit to several attractions or recreation sites in Kintamani regularly occur during holidays such as Galungan and Kuningan. He added that tourist visit to Terunyan is in reasonable number reaching hundreds of people. “Although the lake water overflows and soaks some homes at Terunyan, the tourist visit remains crowded,” said Bona. (kmb40)

PDAM installation to be impacted by Ngurah Rai underpass project

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Handout via REUTERS

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is shown diving through the plume of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, in 2015, in this photo illustration.

MANGUPURA - Construction of the underpass at Ngurah Rai statue intersection, Tuban, Kuta subdistrict, will certainly affect the installation of municipal waterworks (PDAM) in the area.

Technical Director of PDAM Tirta Mangutama, Wayan Suyasa, said at the location there is a flow of the PDAM’s main pipe running to South Kuta.

“At the location (Ngurah Rai intersection—Ed) sit six main pipes. The pipes run to South Kuta area, and we estimate the underpass construction will afflict to the pipes,” said Wayan

Suyasa when confirmed on Sunday (Apr. 16).

He claimed not to dare take anticipatory measures because he does not yet know about the exact illustrations of the underpass development planned to be financed by the national state budget.

“We have not been able to ascertain whether there is a cutting of the pipeline because so far there is no official layout drawing. Nevertheless, we will immediately coordinate with related parties, so that we can prepare the measures to be taken

later,” he said.

According to him, customers who utilize the PDAM services must know about the slight disruption possibility in the flow of the PDAM Tirta Mangutama, so that they can acknowledge. “It is better to tell customers from the beginning,” he said.

Nevertheless, his management will prepare a tank truck to serve the customers’ water needs later on. Even if possible, it could be assisted by the fire department.

Construction of the underpass at Ngurah Rai statue intersection at Tuban is estimated to

cost up to IDR 260 billion. If the plan can be run as schedule, the project should have run in the middle of 2017, so that in 2018 the project will have been completed.

Besides, the central government is still reviewing to widen the road at the Udayana University intersection, South Kuta subdistrict. It is considering that the path from Denpasar to Nusa Dua area is often crowded at the intersection.

Previously, the commitmentmaking officer (PPK) of the National Road Authority (BBPJN) VIII, Nyoman Yasmara, explained

that the underpass construction at the Ngurah Rai statue intersection will be worked on this year. It is expected to have been completed in 2018. As planned, the infrastructural project will have the length of 600 meters and the traffic width of 14 meters. The median will be 0.5 meter and sidewalk (0.75 meter) both in the right and left sides, while the free space height is about 5.2 meters.

Central government, according to Yasmara, will also design the road widening at the Udayana University intersection, South Kuta subdistrict. (kmb27)

4

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Bali News

International

Local visitors flock Penimbangan Beach

SINGARAJA - Virtually all the tourist areas in Buleleng were thronged by local visitors on the day after Kuningan (Apr. 16). This situation made the turnover of tourist objects to street vendors increase two times from usual days.

One of the tourist areas crowded by visitors on the day of the end of the holiday was Penimbangan Beach at Baktiseraga. Visitors have crowded the beach located close to Singaraja town from Saturday (Apr. 15). On average, visitors took a sea bath and partially sat relaxingly while enjoying the serene sea view. Due to crowded visitors, the beach became top-full with visitors ranging from children to the elderly.

On Sunday (Apr. 16), visitors have crowded the beach formerly used as location for turtle egg breeding.

Aside from taking a bath, many visitors also brought along their children to see the view of coral reef or see dolphin attraction in the natural habitat. To enjoy the view of coral reef garden or dolphin attraction, visitors hired a motorized boat operated by local fisherman.

Kadek Wisata, one of the marine tourism activists on Penimbangan Beach, said that visitors during feast holiday show significant increase compared to

ordinary days. No wonder, the ‘golden’ opportunity could not be released as such. The soaring visitors made dozens of canoe boards and equipment out of the lease. Moreover, he admitted that many visitors did not get canoe board because it has been out of lease.

On average, one canoe board is rented at IDR 10,000 to IDR 15,000 per unit for an hour.

On the other hand, the man familiarly addressed as Kadekan admitted trying to provide services for visitors by offering fair tariff and maintaining environmental sanitation to make it remain clean. This happens because Penimbangan Beach so far still faces waste-related problem of marine debris accumulating in the coastal land. “When entering holiday or Sunday, visitors will surely be crowded, so that the sales also increase. To make visitors comfortable, I always maintain good services and clean up marine debris even though without the help of the government,” he explained.

In addition to Penimbangan Beach, similar atmosphere also occurred at Banjar hot spring at Banjar village. At this object, foreign travelers mingled with local ones to bathe in the pool with warm water temperature. (kmb38)

IBP/kmb38

On average, visitors took a sea bath and partially sat relaxingly while enjoying the serene sea view.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

International

13

Violence spikes in Indian Kashmir after videos inflame tension

IBP/kmb23

Passengers can enjoy various entertainments such as acoustic and face painting.

Easter holiday, flight at Ngurah Rai Airport increases

MANGUPURA - Easter as well as weekend holiday are indeed a moment to fill in the holiday. This moment is used not only for a vacation in Bali, but also in other regions. Moreover, two days before the Easter holiday, the number of flight at Ngurah Rai airport experienced a sharp spike.

This can be seen from the data released by public relations of the Angkasa Pura I, Ngurah Rai Airport, on Saturday (Apr. 15).

On April 12, the arrival flight at Ngurah Rai Airport amounted to 199, while the departure flight amounted to 214. However, the flight returned to normal the day before Easter, namely on April 13. The number of arrival flight reached 196 and departure flight reached 197. Likewise on Easter (Apr. 14), the condition remained normal with 189 arrival flights and 187 departure flights.

“Passengers that come out of Bali mostly happen on day two before Easter holiday. We estimate that on this Sunday, the flight will experience a surge again,” said Legal Section Head and Public Relations of Ngurah Rai International Airport, Arie Ahsanurrohim, on Saturday (Apr. 15).

To provide an interesting experience for passengers on the Easter celebration, a different atmosphere was presented again at the Ngurah Rai Airport. This time, the Easter celebration being identical to eggs and rabbits seemed to enliven every corner of the airport in the form of hanging ornaments. Easter is indeed always synonymous with eggs and rabbits. Based on European tradition in the Middle Age,

the eggs are symbols of new life while rabbits are symbol of fertility. Until now, Christians often use these two ornaments to enliven Easter celebrations.

At Ngurah Rai Airport, the management of Angkasa Pura I conjured up the terminal with decoration of Easter nuances. With the theme “The Joy of Easter” passengers will be brought into a warm and pleasant Easter atmosphere.

Peak of this celebration takes place for two days, namely on April 1516, 2017. Located in domestic and international departure lounge, passengers can enjoy various entertainments such as acoustic and face painting. To enliven the atmosphere, Bunny Angel walks to greet passengers.

For passengers that like selfie, they can take advantage of their spare time to take pictures at the diorama of the Easter Bunny Tree House. This diorama is formed to resemble a tree house filled with funny playing rabbits in combination with Easter eggs of various colors. It is very beautiful and interesting to be used as a photo background.

Another attraction drawing the attention of passengers is the Mask Dance and Cendrawasih Dance used to greet passengers in the departure lounge. “We fully realize that waiting for the boarding call would be more fun if filled with activities. So, we bring entertainment and some games to fill in spare time. Hopefully, the decorations and games we serve can replace the spirit of Easter celebration even though they are at the airport,” said added. (kmb23)

SRINAGAR - Militants have stepped up attacks in contested Indian-ruled Kashmir, including raids on the homes of police officers, amid a spike in violence after the army allegedly tied a man to the front of a jeep as a human shield.

Police have filed a case against an army unit after soldiers in the Himalayan region were accused of seizing a 24-year old shawl weaver on April 9, before strapping him to the front of their vehicle and parading him through villages.

A video of the episode widely circulated on social media exemplifies for many viewers the human rights abuses allegedly committed

by Indian security forces battling to contain a separatist insurgency now in its 28th year.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the video’s authenticity was being ascertained, adding, “Action will be taken against those found guilty of misconduct.”

Police fired tear gas on Monday to scatter students in the region’s main city of Srinagar, the latest outbreak of protests since demonstrations last week after a botched by-election in which at least eight people were killed.

Some colleges were forced to close.

Over the weekend two more videos circulated on social media showing workers of the ruling political party in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir renouncing mainstream politics, one of them beside a man wielding a gun.

Another video, allegedly showing the killing of a 17-year old by paramilitary officers during the April 9 by-election, has also stirred anger. Reuters could not confirm the veracity of the videos.

The clashes in Kashmir, a region divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both, come

ahead of the hot summer months, when protests surge.

India accuses Pakistan of backing separatist fighters - a charge Islamabad denies. Kashmir witnessed deadly protests after a well-known separatist militant was killed last year.

Violence has declined since the early 2000s, when thousands died each year, but disillusionment and anger against Indian rule is widespread, and the separatist revolt is now largely homegrown.

HUMAN SHIELD

Soldiers picked up the shawl weaver, Farooq Ahmad Dar, near the home of a relative after he voted, he told media. “Look at the fate of the stone-pelter,” a soldier is heard saying over a loudspeaker in the video while Dar is tied to the vehicle.

“This is a phenomenon that has been going on for the last 27 years,” Khurram Parvez, a leading Kashmiri human rights activist jailed last year, told Reuters.

“This is not the first human shield case. What is different now is that this case has been documented, thanks to social media.”

Dar’s treatment was “unlawful and unacceptable” rights group Amnesty International said in a statement.

Police have registered a case against the local army unit, state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, urging security forces to exercise restraint.

The state’s police chief on Sunday told officers to avoid visiting their own homes in South Kashmir, after militants stormed the houses of at least four officers.

Militants also shot dead a lawyer affiliated with an opposition party and a former counter-insurgency commander, police said. A worker of the ruling party was killed late on Saturday. (rtr)

REUTERS/Danish Ismail

A Kashmiri student throws back a tear-gas canister fired by Indian police during a protest in Srinagar April 17, 2017.

Lim Heon-jeong/Yonhap via REUTERS

South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye looks out from a vehicle as she leaves her private house in Seoul, South Korea March 30, 2017.

S.Korea charges ousted leader Park and Lotte chief with bribery

SEOUL - South Korean prosecutors on Monday charged ousted president Park Geunhye and Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin with bribery in the latest twist to a corruption scandal that rocked the country for months.

Prosecutors charged Shin without detaining him.

The retail giant Lotte, with interests ranging from hotels and retail to food and chemicals, becomes the second conglomerate mired in the political scandal after Jay Y. Lee, the chief of the biggest, Samsung Group, was arrested suspected of bribing Park and her friend, Choi Soon-sil.

Lee, Park and Choi are being held at detention centres.

Lotte, South Korea’s fifth-biggest conglomerate, is grappling with the Chinese shutdown of dozens of its stores in China, after it agreed to provide land for the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system outside Seoul.

South Korea, which accuses China or discriminating against some South Korean companies working in China, and the United States say the sole purpose of THAAD

is to guard against North Korean missiles. China says its powerful radar can penetrate its territory and undermine its security and spoke out against it again on Monday.

Lotte’s chief Shin is also on a separate graft trial involving family members charged with embezzlement and breach of trust.

Prosecutors accused Park of colluding with Choi to receive 7 billion won ($6.16 million) from Lotte for favours, they said in a statement. Park was also charged with abuse of power and coercion by pressuring big businesses to contribute funds to non-profit foundations, the prosecutors said.

Park is also charged with taking bribes worth about 29.8 billion won from Samsung scion Lee in exchange for supporting his succession, according to the prosecutors’ statement.

Lotte denied allegations that it made improper deals with Park, or those linked to her, for favours, but said it would explain itself at court to resolve suspicions.

“We find the decision on the indictment regrettable,” Lotte Group said in a statement.

Park, Lee, Choi and Samsung Group have also denied wrongdoing. (rtr)

12

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

BUSINESS

China Daily/via REUTERS

Steel, stimulus drive China’s strongest economic growth since 2015 crack down on debt risks, China’s total social financing, a broad measure of credit and liquidity in the economy, reached a record 6.93 trillion yuan ($1 trillion) in the first quarter -- roughly equivalent to the size of Mexico’s economy. At the same time, spending by the central and local governments rose 21 percent from a year earlier.

That helped goose the pace of growth in the first quarter well above the government’s 2017 target of around 6.5 percent, and pipped economists’ forecasts of 6.8 percent yearon-year.

Such a strong bolt from the gate could see Beijing once again meet its annual growth target, even if activity starts to fade later in the year, as many analysts widely expect. “Main indicators were better than expected...which laid a good foundation for achieving the full-year growth goals,” statistics spokesman Mao Shengyong said at a news conference.

SAME OLD GROWTH DRIVERS?

Once again, China’s policymakers leaned on infrastructure and real estate INVESTMENT to drive expansion in the first quarter.

Growth in both areas has accelerated from last year and helped

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

5

Sacred Wayang Wong Dance of Tejakula Set Four Centuries Ago

Staff work on an assembly line at a factory in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, April 17, 2017.

BEIJING - China’s economy expanded faster than expected in the first quarter as higher government infrastructure spending and a gravitydefying property boom helped boost industrial output by the most in over two years. Growth of 6.9 percent was the fastest in six quarters, with forecast-beating March investment, retail sales and exports all suggesting the economy may carry solid momentum into spring.

But most analysts say the first quarter may be as good as it gets for China this year, and worry Beijing is still relying too heavily on stimulus and “old economy” growth drivers, primarily the steel industry and a property market that is showing signs of overheating.

“The Chinese government has a tendency to rely on infrastructure development to sustain growth in the long term,” economists at ANZ said in a note.

“The question we need to ask is whether this investment-led model is sustainable as the authorities have trouble taming credit. We need to watch closely whether China’s top leadership will send a stronger signal to tighten monetary policy shortly.”

Even as top officials vowed to

Bali News

International

offset slightly weaker growth in the services sector. “Faster growth in industrial output is the primary factor in the first quarter surprise, and due mostly to higher value-added growth related to supply-side consolidation in heavy industry,” said Brian Jackson, China economist at IHS Global Insight.

Real estate INVESTMENT also remained robust in the first quarter, expanding by 9.1 percent on-year, and the pace of new construction quickened despite intensifying government measures to cool soaring prices.

Most analysts agree the heated property market poses the single biggest risk to China’s economic growth, but predict the cumulative weight of property curbs will eventually temper activity, not produce an outright crash.

“Sales have started falling, which means tightening measures are starting to take effect,” said Shen Jianguang, an analyst at Mizuho Securities in Hong Kong, noting that will start to drag on both the services and construction sectors. More than two dozen cities announced new or additional property cooling measures in March and early April, after curbs late last year appeared to have little lasting effect.

Buoyed by a near 12 percent increase in housing starts, China produced a record amount of steel in March, Reuters data showed, though analysts say warning signs are flashing.

Rising inventory levels and recent falls in steel prices suggest output has been growing faster than China’s actual demand, raising worries of a glut later in the year, which could heighten trade tensions with the U.S. and its other major trading partners.

INCOME GROWTH PICKS UP

There were also positive signs on the consumer front in Monday’s data dump. After slowing for five quarters, disposable income growth picked up to 7.0 percent in the first quarter, the fastest since the end of 2015. March retail sales rebounded 10.9 percent onyear as consumers shelled out more for home appliances, furniture and decorations for new homes.

Auto sales also showed signs of recovering after weakening in the first two months of the year after the government reduced subsidies on small cars.

Analysts are closely watching for signs that consumption is accounting for a greater share of China’s econ-

omy, which would not only make growth more resilient and broader based but also reduce the need for more debt-fuelled stimulus and reliance on “smokestack” industries.

Though policymakers have pledged repeatedly to push reforms to head off financial risks and asset bubbles, the government is seeking to keep the economy on an even keel ahead of a major leadership transition in later this year. China’s central bank has gingerly shifted to a tightening policy bias in recent months, and is using more targeted measures to contain risks in the financial system, after years of ultra-loose settings.

It has bumped up interest rates on money market instruments and special short- and medium-term loans several times already this year and further modest increases are expected, especially if U.S. rates continue to rise.

“I think China should be directing the economy to slow down its growth in the long term...but on the contrary, growth is accelerating,” said Hidenobu Tokuda, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute in Tokyo.

“This is good for now but it makes it difficult to see how China’s economic slowdown will land in the future. Uncertainties remain high.” (rtr)

Wayang Wong sacred dance that only exists at Tejakula village, Tejakula subdistrict, was presented at Maksan Temple of local village on Thursday (Apr. 6).

The location is chosen because the masks of wayang wong characters are kept at local temple. They are even believed to have been four centuries old.

The players performing the Ramayana storyline start staging the first episode of the Bala Kanda in the Ramayana epic. In this staging, the storyline presented by the players is entitled “Sander Sita.” It tells about the duke Marica disguising as a golden deer to attract the attention of Sita. When seeing the deer, Sita then asked Rama to chase it. Rama went away from Sita and tried to shoot the disguising deer. Marica cleverly cried out for help, and his voice was similar to Rama’s. Again, Sita asked Laksmana to look for Rama as being told to be facing difficulties. When Laksmana followed Rama, Sita was abducted by Ravana. By and large, when featuring the storyline of kanda (book—Ed) starting from the first through the seventh, it will take approximately 4.5 years to 5 years.

Chairman of the Tejakukus Foundation, Gede Komang, amid the staging told that as sacred dance it is mandatory to be performed as devotional services or ngayah at the Maksan Temple of Tejakula.

As usual, the performance is done twice every year precisely on Wraspati Dungulan or the day after

Galungan. Since it is sacred, the wayang wong must still perform the episodes of Ramayana epic sequentially. “It has become the tasks of the players of wayang wong to perform devotional services at the temple because the masks are stored at this Maksan temple,” said Komang Gede when met Friday afternoon.

READ Pura Luhur Besi Kalung According to him, although it is classified into sacred dance, currently this wayang wong is also staged as entertainment art. For several times, the figures of wayang wong characters are presented in the art collaborations. However, the masks staged in the entertainment are not the sacred ones as those stored at Maksan Temple, but the imitations that are kept by the foundation.

Based on the existing references, wayang wong is known as sacred art. This art first appeared at Tejakula village about four centuries ago. From the location of its emergence at Tejakula, this art then spread to several regions in Bali.

Although having been widespread, its taksu (divine vibration) never disappears and is kept sacred until now. Wayang wong even becomes one of the nine dances included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Besides, the wayang wong dance is also recognized as one of the intangible cultural heritage objects in 2015. (kmb)

Want to Take Selfie with Long-Tailed Macaque?

Come to Sangeh Tourist Attractions IBP/kmb

Like previous holidays, Sangeh nature tourist object becomes an excellent destination to domestic travelers. Their presence on the long holiday weekend reached thousands of people.

Moreover, from nine o’clock in the morning, dozens of travelers coming with motorcycles and cars looked to enter the tourist attraction located on Jalan Raya Sangeh, Abiansemal, Badung. “Until midday, there have been 3,000 visitors. The visitors are still dominated by domestic travelers,” said Operations Manager of Sangeh nature tourism, Made Sumohon.

IBP/kmb

According to him, a number of buses carrying hundreds of domestic travelers fully occupied the parking area. They came from various regions such as Central Java, Surabaya, Semarang and some others. “Here, the coming visitors are still mostly domestic and local travelers and only few percent of them is foreigner.

They are usually from America and Europe. However, the presence of road access to Bedugul also affects the increasing number of tourist visit,” he explained.

He admitted that arrangement of the Sangeh tourist attraction has been very nice with a spacious parking area. Revenue from the admission tickets is allocated for the maintenance of sanitation and care of the monkeys around Sangeh. “In the past, there had been unsafe impression because the monkeys often bit visitors.

However, currently there is no longer such impression because a special officer is appointed to be responsible

for visitor’s safety,” he said.

He explained that Sangeh has become a well known natural tourist attraction from the past. The destination relies on wildlife and the forest as the attraction to be visited. It has a total area of ??13.969 hectares, in the north it borders with paddy fields, in the west with Yeh Penet River as well as in the south and east with Batusari hamlet. The forest is overgrown by around 6,443 nutmeg trees and approximately 27 other tree species such as quickstick, albizia, devil tree, banyan tree and there are also 22 species of shrubs such as fever nut and shoebutton ardisia spreading across the area of 10.8 hectares.

READ Taman Sari Market This forest is inhabited by animals including two types of mammals (monkeys and ferrets), eight bird species such as Java sparrow and turtledoves, three types of arthropods such as snakes and two kinds of amphibians.

“Well, the gray and long-tailed macaque becomes the primary tourist attraction to visit Sangeh,” he said.

According to him, this attraction also has four temples, namely the Bukitsari located in westernmost of the forest, Melanting Temple amid the forest, Tirta Temple in front of the forest and Anyar Temple in front of the entrance to the forest. All these temples are VENERATED by Sangeh customary village, except for the Anyar Temple venerated by Batusari hamlet. To preserve wildlife and the forests, people build a cage for isolation if there are naughty or sick monkeys. There is also a laboratory to treat the sick monkeys. (kmb)

6

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

W

RLD

REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Jean-Luc Melenchon of the French far left Parti de Gauche and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, attends a political rally in Toulouse, Southwestern France, April 16, 2017.

Far-left veteran Melenchon draws big crowd as French election enters final straight

TOULOUSE - Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon drew tens of thousands to a rally on Sunday, aiming to maintain momentum that has pushed the one-time outsider into contention in the French presidential election, with the first round of voting a week away.

Opinion polls show the top four candidates - centrist Emmanuel Macron, far-right leader Marine Le Pen, conservative Francois Fillon and Melenchon - within touching distance of each other before the April 23 first round after a surge by Melenchon in the last few weeks.

The polls tip Macron to beat National Front leader Le Pen in a runoff between the two leading candidates on May 7.

The outside possibility of a second-round showdown between Le Pen and Melenchon, both of whom propose a referendum on France’s membership of the European Union if their attempts to overhaul the bloc fail, has raised concern among some investors after last year’s shock British vote to leave the bloc.

Melenchon has pledged sharply higher government spending and would impose a 90 percent tax on top earners and take France out

of NATO. Le Pen has promised a crackdown on illegal immigration and wants to scrap the euro.

“We represent a France of beauty and generosity, that starts each new day mindful of our motto - liberty, equality and fraternity,” Melenchon told the Toulouse rally. His team said 70,000 turned up while local police put the number at 40,000.

Outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande told a French television programme broadcast on Sunday that he would personally feel “guilty” if Le Pen became president, bringing a far right party to power in France.

Front-runner Macron, a former economy minister and investment banker who has attempted to break the mould of French politics by launching a new centrist party, opted for a lower-profile visit in the Paris area on Sunday to people with difficulties finding housing.

Fillon, who is being investigated by magistrates on suspicion of embezzling state funds, held meetings with Catholic voters on Saturday but had no rally on Sunday, while all four leading candidates are set to hold large rallies on Monday.

The elections take place with France on heightened security alert following a spate of attacks by Islamist militants since January 2015 that have killed more than 230 people.

Asked by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper if authorities feared an attack timed to coincide with the election, Interior Minister Matthias Fekl replied: “No threat is being ruled out.”

Anti-fascists held a demonstration in Paris on Sunday, and Fekl said authorities were aware of the risk of violent street protests by opponents of the National Front if Le Pen got through to the second round. (rtr)

International

In Afghanistan, Trump aide promises coordinated response to enemies KABUL - U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser met Afghan officials in Kabul on Sunday and said the new administration was weighing diplomatic, military and economic responses to its Taliban and Islamic State enemies in Afghanistan.

The adviser, H.R. McMaster, was making the first high-level visit by a Trump official. He spoke to ABC News’ “This Week” program in the United States.

On Thursday, the U.S. military dropped a GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, one of the largest conventional weapons ever used in combat, during an operation against Islamic State militants in eastern Afghanistan.

While military officials said the strike was based solely on tactical needs, it led to speculation that Trump’s defense advisers are planning to escalate the war against militants in Afghanistan.

The strike was estimated to have killed nearly 100 militants and no civilians, according to Afghan officials, although this has not been independently verified.

Interviewed from Afghanistan, McMaster said the United States had a more reliable Afghan partner than before but at the same time had reduced the degree and scope of its effort in that country.

“Our enemy sensed that and they have redoubled their efforts and it’s time for us, alongside our Afghan partners, to respond,” he said.

Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, had asked U.S. officials, including some in the Treasury and Commerce departments, to work together to integrate the various political, diplomatic, military and economic responses available, McMaster said.

“We’ll give him those options. And we’ll be prepared to execute whatever decision he makes,” he said.

McMaster met President Ashraf Ghani and other senior Afghan officials to discuss bilateral ties, security, counter- terrorism, reforms, and development, according to a palace statement.

McMaster praised anti-corruption efforts and assured Ghani that the United States would continue to support and cooperate with Afghanistan on a number of issues, according to the palace.

Ghani told McMaster that “terrorism is a serious issue for the security of the world and the region” and if serious steps are not taken it would affect “generations” of people, according to the statement.

Illicit drugs and corruption also top the list of threats to Afghanistan’s security, Ghani told the visiting officials.

The Afghan government refers to both the Taliban and Islamic State as terrorists. Afghan forces have struggled to contain Taliban insurgents since most international troops were withdrawn in 2014, leaving them to fight largely alone.

At the peak in 2011, the United States had more than 100,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Nearly 9,000 U.S. troops remain there to train and advise Afghan forces, provide close air support to soldiers on the ground and form a separate counter-terrorism unit that targets Islamic State, al Qaeda and other militant networks.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has said he needs “several thousand” more troops to help the Afghans take on a resurgent Taliban and battle other insurgents, but no official plan has been announced. (rtr)

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Indonesia police thwart plan by hardline Muslims to guard poll stations JAKARTA - Indonesian police on Monday blocked plans by hardline Islamist groups to guard polling booths during Wednesday’s vote for Jakarta governor, citing the potential for clashes in an election that has stoked religious tensions. A coalition of hardline Islamic groups said late last week it would deploy at least 100 monitors at each polling station in the Indonesian capital city of 10 million people.

“Any mobilisation of masses that is aimed at physical or psychological intimidation, especially at polling stations, is prohibited,” the city police said in a joint statement with the elections commission. Around 66,000 police and military personnel will be deployed on voting day, police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said.

“We are increasing our presence at polling stations as well, so please trust that the state apparatus will remain neutral and safeguard the election,” he added.

Surveys have shown the race tightening to a statistical dead heat, with incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian, closing in on rival Anies Baswedan, a former education minister.

Jakarta has towering influence on national politics as both the capital and financial centre, contributing nearly 15 percent of Indonesia’s gross domestic product. The greater Jakarta population of around 25 million people makes it one of the

world’s biggest mega-cities.

BLASPHEMY CHARGE Purnama is standing trial on blasphemy charges stemming from the divisive campaign that also featured mass rallies led by Islamist hardliners and alleged plots to overthrow President Joko Widodo, who is popularly known as Jokowi. The charges stem from an edited video circulated last September suggesting Purnama had mocked a verse in the Koran used by his opponents to argue that Muslims should not vote for a person holding different religious beliefs.

It brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets in several mass demonstrations before Purnama was put on trial for blasphemy.

He faces up to four years in prison and possible disqualification if he does win the election. Prosecutors are expected to recommend a sentence at a hearing the day after the election. A verdict is due next month.

The vast majority of Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate form

of Islam and religious freedom and diversity is enshrined in the state ideology. But hardline Islamist groups, most of which favour Islamic sharia law, have established a stronger foothold in recent years.

Purnama, Jakarta’s first ethnic Chinese and Christian leader, took over the Jakarta governorship from Widodo after he became president in the 2014 general election. His rival, Baswedan, has appeared publicly - twice - with the leadership of one of the main organisers of the anti-Purnama protests, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

“We believe that because Jakarta and Indonesia is majority-Muslim, it should be led by a Muslim,” said Novel Bamukmin, head of the Jakarta chapter of the FPI. “While our ultimate call is for full sharia, our hope is that the winner will at least introduce policies that are aligned with Islam.” Baswedan’s running mate, Sandiaga Uno, denies the pair intends to implement sharia law in Jakarta and said their appearances

REUTERS/Beawiharta

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

National Security Adviser Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster

11

(L-R) Candidates running in Jakarta governor election Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Jakarta military chief Jaswandi, Jakarta Police chief Mochammad Iriawan, and a candidate for deputy governor Sandiaga Uno, hold hand during Peace Declaration ceremony for Wednesday election in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 17, 2017.

at the FPI rallies were “a way to start a dialogue”.

But they do encourage a more conservative culture for the city with religious entertainment venues that are “sharia-compliant” and which “shy

away from alcohol”, Uno said.

“That would be the type of policy that I want to attract investors to put money into, to create tourist destinations for sharia-compliant or religiousrelated tourism,” he said.(rtr)

10

Destination

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

International

Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (TCEC)

DENPASAR - Serangan Island is located in south Denpasar, connected to the mainland by a small road. Once a breeding ground for sea turtles, which were a traditional commodity among the Balinese in the distant past, now has an education and conservation site set out to breed and protect the species. The Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (TCEC) serves as a hatchery, nursery and sanctuary for sea turtles that are accidentally caught by fishermen in the near waters and around the island. This educational centre is open for the public and is great for kids who wish to see and get to know about these creatures up close. A shelter houses several pools where turtles are kept according to age and size, and species, and are supervised by a team who also provide information and are happy to show you around the pens. Next door is a small stall selling snacks and refreshments, as well as turtleinspired shirts and merchandise.

The TCEC is doing both those things plus the important job of educating both the local community and schoolkids to help end the turtle trade and support conservation. Turtle meat (and eggs) has long being consumed in Bali, and is still used in certain religious rituals, by employing and educating locals they hope this will be past tense.

Serangan Island is no longer an “island”, land has been reclaimed and now it’s just a bump on the coastline (ahhh, we remember the days when you could only go by boat...), and the area is somewhat developed, but local turtles still

think its a good place to lay their eggs (mostly between July and October), the centre collects the eggs from the busy tourist beaches, and raises the hatchling until they are ready to start the big journey into the ocean alone, know in turtle conservation speak as “the lost years”.

The centre keeps the young turtles for one month to give them a little bit of an edge, and holds back any runts or sickly hatchlings until they are a bit stronger (whether they should be released as soon as they are hatched, is cause for debate in turtle conservation circles but TCEC follows advice from The Turtle Hospital, Florida USA), and this gives you (yes you, dear reader) the opportunity to “adopt a turtle”.

Sorry you can’t take one home, but for 150,000 rupiah you can take part in their release into the sea.

Release programs run when they have hatchlings (obviously) usually

Famous Surf Looking for SPG FO Put in Seminyak & Canggu 085792395717

Urgent need Waiter/s/HK/Cook for Hotel in Brunei send CV to E:putudeddyparyana@yahoo.com

Looking for SPG Good English Good Appearance,Energic.P:0851 00050706/E: hrd@buddhawear.com

Looking Steward,Waiter/es Wrng Okinawa Jln.Mertasari Kuta (087861574939)

B.BP.154.04.17.0000992

B.BP.001.04.17.0000888

B.BP.001.04.17.0000959

B.BP.001.04.17.0000879

between the months of July and October, generally mornings from 09:00-10:00 and afternoons 15:0017:00. If you are keen to take part in this programme, call first to check there are some babies to adopt.

The centre is still well worth visiting even if you don’t take part in the release. The turtle species that prefer this dot in the ocean are olive riddley, and hatchlings are predominately this species, but several other sick and injured adult turtles of various species are cared for in the tanks here. When we visited there were green sea turtles, hawksbill, and a species we’d never encountered before, the strangelooking forest softshell turtle.

Some had been bought in by fishermen, caught in nets with chunks of shell or flippers missing, and some had been intercepted by the police from illegal trade. They are nursed until well enough to fend for themselves in the wild

then released. At the centre tourists can see the hatchery, basically a shaded sandpit with the clutches of eggs buried, marked with a small netted enclosure—not much to see unless you are lucky enough to see some hatchlings crawl out of the sand, and several large tanks for the cute growing hatchlings and rescue turtles.

You can’t touch or pick up the turtles, but you may see them being fed a diet of seaweed or seagrass (jellyfish, the preference of some breeds are difficult to come by).

The tanks are clean with plenty of water—scrubbed out every week or more often if needed. There’s also a small enclosure for tortoises.

Staff speak good English and are happy to explain and answer any questions you may have. An education room runs the school programme, so if you have a bunch of kids in tow (school excursion?) the session lasts about an hour.

The centre runs on donations only, there’s no entry fee (we added 50,000 rupiah to the box) or you can pick up a turtle souvenir. The centre trains locals to produce cute turtle crafts made from easily found materials such as coconut husks, broken shells and even plastic as an economic alternative to the turtle trade.

Unlike some turtle “con”-servation centres in Bali, which are doing nothing towards the environment except lining their own pockets (be aware we heard there is one of these near TCEC—make sure you’re at the right place), the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre deserves your support.

Don’t expect anything flashy at TCEC, its business is conservation, not entertainment.

We think it’s a terrific excursion if you’re in the Sanur or Kuta area, and kids will love it too. Several local warungs line Serangan’s beaches and offer a pleasant break for lunch. Combine with a trip to the (somewhat unkept) Mangrove Information Centre for a half day excursion.

How to get there

You’ll need your own transport or a taxi or ojek (organise the return trip) to reach here. It’s roughly a 15 minute drive from Sanur and closer to 30 minutes from Kuta or Seminyak. You could cycle from Sanur in about half an hour. A local check point to Serangan Island charges 4,000 rupiah for cars and 2,000 rupiah for motorbikes entry fee. (IBP/net)

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

International

Thomas plays for Celtics a day after sister’s death

BOSTON - Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas made an emotional return to the court on Sunday, a day after his sister Chyna had been killed in a car crash.

With the words ‘Chyna, R.I.P Lil Sis’ written on his green left shoe, and the date of her death on the right, Thomas was in tears on the bench ahead of their playoff game against Chicago and during a moment of silence before the national anthem.

The two-times NBA All Star gathered himself once he took the court and received vocal support from the capacity 18,000-plus crowd at TD Garden in Boston.

Thomas almost lifted the Eastern Conference top seeds to victory with two late baskets in their best-of-seven first-round series opener against the Bulls, but the visitors survived to draw first blood, 106-102.

Thomas, who top-scored for the Celtics with 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor, did not talk to the media after the game but team mate Avery Bradley said the players were proud of their grieving guard.

“I know tonight he was playing

for his sister, playing for his family.

We appreciate that as team mates,” Bradley told reporters.

“We just need to continue to fight for him ... Isaiah to me is like family.

We grew up in the same area.”

Center Al Horford admitted it had been a difficult situation.

“We’re never going to make excuses but this is hard, this was difficult,” he said. “I felt our guys, we really dealt with it the right way but Isaiah’s the one who I felt dealt with it best. We knew he was hurting.”

Boston coach Brad Stevens let Thomas decide whether to play on Sunday, and said that would also be the case for Tuesday’s Game Two. “Whatever he needs to do he needs to do,” Stevens told reporters. “I’m not going to ask him or make him make those decisions (tonight). Those have got to come in his own time and then we will adjust accordingly.”

Stevens said he was proud of the way Thomas had performed, and how his team mates had supported him.

“He’s an amazing player, amazing player. He somehow plays like that ...

You couldn’t help but be inspired by his play.” (rtr)

HOUSTON - American Steve Johnson literally limped to a 6-4 4-6 7-5(5) victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the final of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston on Sunday.

Johnson, suffering a cramp in his left leg, could hardly move at times late in the third set, hobbling on some points and not even chasing down balls on others.

But the world number 29 prevailed in the final set tiebreak, clinching the win with a forehand

groundstroke down the line for his second ATP victory.

Johnson said he was simply worn down after flying back from a Davis Cup tie in Australia earlier in the week.

“My body has just physically run out of gas after this week,” he said on the ATP website.

“Coming in from Australia kind of put me behind the eight ball and then the nerves of trying to close out the final, a lot of factors go into cramping. I was very fortunate to get out of that.” (rtr)

Jet-lagged Johnson limps to Houston clay court victory

Brett Coomer/ Houston Chronicle via AP

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500 / Eka : 081338519538

Steve Johnson hits a backhand against Thomaz Bellucci during final set of the championship singles match of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship tennis tournament at River Oaks Country Club on Sunday, April 16, 2017, in Houston.

Johnson defeated Bellucci, of Brazil, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5), to take the title.

AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, April 16, 2017.

Vettel victories could force a Mercedes rethink

MANAMA - Formula One world champions Mercedes have indicated they may increasingly have to favour Lewis Hamilton over new team mate Valtteri Bottas to counter the threat posed

by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

In practice, that is likely to mean the reluctant imposition of more of the so-called ‘team orders’ used in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

“We don’t like that, at all,” team boss Toto Wolff told reporters after Bottas twice obeyed radio instructions to let the faster Hamilton through to chase eventual winner and championship leader Vettel.

“It’s not what we have done in the last couple of years but the situation is different now so it needs a proper analysis of what it means and where we are.”

Mercedes have never had a designated number one driver, and Wolff said the desire was to give both equal opportunity at the start of the race.

The team won all but two races last season but are no longer dominant in a championship that has for the past three years been an internal battle.

Vettel has now won two of three races and is seven points clear of Hamilton.

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel’s 2007 champion team mate who has yet to stand on the podium this season and not been on pole since 2008, slipped 34

points behind -- half as many as the German.

Bottas, who joined Mercedes in January as replacement for now-retired world champion Nico Rosberg, is 23 adrift of his team mate.

Wolff said the situation at Ferrari had to be taken into consideration.

“That is the interesting question that we need to analyse at the moment and I don’t want to pre-empt what the consequence will be, or if there will be a consequence,” he added.

The disparity between the current Mercedes pairing is more marked than before, with Bottas yet to win a race and Hamilton surpassed only by Michael Schumacher in the all-time lists with 54 victories.

Bahrain was Bottas’s first career pole position, whereas Hamilton has 63 and could sail past Schumacher’s record of 68 later in the year.

The Finn is also still settling into his new surroundings, whereas Hamilton has been there since 2013 and is the sport’s biggest personality.

Hamilton had been on pole for six races in a row until Bottas broke the sequence in Bahrain and Wolff said Mercedes appeared to be still slightly ahead of Ferrari on single lap pace.

“In the race it’s pretty evenly matched I would say.

So I think that’s going to be a close one for the next couple of races.” (rtr)

8

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Sp rt As Chelsea wobble can Spurs surge to Premier League title?

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Bayern’s Thomas Mueller, left, misses to score against Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, right, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 15, 2017.

Bayern faces tough task to beat Real Madrid at Bernabeu

MADRID — If Bayern Munich is to have any chance of a sixth straight semifinal appearance in the Champions League it will have to do something that only one team has achieved this season — defeat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Winning in Madrid is no easy task and even a 1-0 victory on Tuesday will not be enough after a 2-1 first-leg, quarterfinal loss in Munich.

Celta Vigo’s 2-1 win in the Copa del Rey in January gave Madrid it’s only loss in 23 games at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, where Zinedine Zidane’s team has won 15 times and drawn five. In the Champions League, the defending European champions haven’t lost at home in 12 consecutive matches, winning nine of the last 10.

Bayern has only managed two wins in 12 matches against Madrid at the Bernabeu. “We’ll go there and try to turn the tide,” Bayern defender Philipp Lahm said. “It won’t be easy, we’re the underdogs. But we’ll have a chance to win in Madrid.”

Madrid had most of its regular starters available for the loss to Celta in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, when it couldn’t come back after conceding two goals on counterattacks in the second half. Madrid was eventually eliminated 4-3 on aggregate after

a 2-2 draw in Vigo.

Madrid is trying to become the first team to defend the title since the competition’s new format was created in 1992-93. Madrid defeated city rival Atletico Madrid in the final both in 2014 and 2016. “It’ll be a great game,” said Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, who led Madrid to the 2014 title. “We believe in ourselves and we’ll give it everything.”

Only two teams have reversed a first-leg home loss in Champions League history — when Inter Milan eliminated Bayern in 2010-11 and Ajax got past Panathinaikos in 199596. Bayern had been the dominant home team in the Champions League until last week’s loss ended its run of 16 consecutive home wins in the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals for Madrid in the come-frombehind win in the first leg, becoming

the first player to reach 100 goals in European competition. He is three short of the 100th-goal mark in the Champions League. The Portuguese forward was among the Madrid players rested by Zidane in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Sporting Gijon in the Spanish league, a result that kept Los Blancos ahead of Barcelona in the standings.

Madrid forward Gareth Bale remains doubtful for Tuesday’s game with a right leg injury, along with defenders Pepe and Raphael Varane.

Robert Lewandowski, who is recovering from a right shoulder injury that ruled him out of the first leg, should be available for Bayern. The Poland striker has scored 38 goals across all competitions this season.

“I’m doing well,” Lewandowski said on Sunday. Bayern teammates Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng also have been nursing injuries, while Javi Martinez is suspended.(ap)

MANCHESTER - A four point lead with six games to go. Is the PREMIER LEAGUE title race now back on, after so many had assumed Chelsea had the championship in the bag?

The fixture list suggests that Chelsea should still be able to finish above challengers Tottenham Hotspur. But strange things can happen when the pressure reaches it’s greatest intensity and there was certainly something strange about Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manager Antonio Conte certainly struck an unusual tone when addressing the media after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to MANCHESTER UNITED, the club’s second defeat in four games. “They showed more desire, more ambition, more motivation. It is very simple but in this case the fault is of the coach. It means the coach was not able to transfer the right concentration, desire, ambition to win this game,” he said.

Perhaps that was a rare example of a manager taking responsibility for a loss but it could also have been a clever way of admonishing his team for their lack of desire in a game where they failed to produce a single shot on goal. Why would his players need to be motivated by him at this crucial stage in the season?

Then there were Conte’s comments about Saturday’s FA CUP semi-final which pits the two London title rivals against each other. “It won’t be easy because I think Tottenham now is the best team and they are in good form and they have a lot of enthusiasm. They are feeling the possibility to write the history and it is important to know this,” he said.

So, according to Conte, we have a CHELSEA side lacking motivation and a Tottenham team that are the best in the country and with a chance of glory.

Add in Conte’s reminder of how this season should be seen in the context of Chelsea’s poor campaign last year and the impression is left of a manager trying to lower expectations just when they are at their highest. Certainly Chelsea don’t look like ending the season in peak form and Tottenham are indeed playing some exhilarating and highly effective football.

French match ends at halftime after fans attack Lyon players PARIS — For the second time in a week, a high-level football match on French soil was marred by crowd violence. The latest incidents on Sunday in Corsica during a domestic league game between Bastia and Lyon — which was abandoned at halftime — raised questions about security in French venues.

The game was stopped for good after fans from the Corsican side twice invaded the pitch to attack opposition players. After kickoff was delayed by 55 minutes, the match was abandoned when more trouble erupted at

the interval with the score at 0-0.

Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was calmly walking off the field — after referee Amaury Delerue whistled the end of the first half — when he was confronted by a man. Lopes pushed him back as clashes erupted between home fans and Lyon players.

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, who was rested for the game, took to Twitter to express his anger. “Pfff, shameful!!”

Lacazette wrote. “Nonsense!!!!”

Speaking to L’Equipe TV, junior minister for sports Thierry Braillard condemned “unaccept-

able actions that will need to be sanctioned equally to their seriousness” and lamented a “bad day for French sports.”

The first pitch invasion took place about 15 minutes before the end of the warmup at Armand Cesari stadium when supporters from the Bastia 1905 group of fans came on the field and jostled with Lyon players, including Memphis Depay and Mathieu Gorgelin.

Players from both teams went back to their changing rooms before calm was restored. None of the players involved in the two brawls appeared to be injured.

FIXTURES LIST But a glance at the fixtures list should ease, if not totally dispel, any nerves afflicting the Stamford Bridge faithful. Four of Chelsea’s six remaining games are at home, where they have lost just two of 15 games this season. Two of those games are against relegation candidates in Middlesbrough and Sunderland while the others are against beatable mid-table teams in SOUTHAMPTON and Watford.

However, the two away games will be more testing -- EVERTON have won eight straight games at home and are brimming with confidence. West Bromwich Albion are eighth and certainly no pushovers at the Hawthornes.

Tottenham have just two home games remaining and they are against a United team that are unbeaten in 22 matches and a North London derby against ARSENAL, who may be struggling but would love nothing more than to kill their rivals’ title hopes.

But Tottenham have a momentum that Chelsea have lost having won their last 12 home games and their manager Mauricio Pochettino certainly isn’t worrying about a lack of motivation and desire.

A Spurs surge to the title certainly isn’t out of the question but as United manager Jose Mourinho put it, when asked about his former club, CHELSEA remain favourites. “I think they are in the position where everybody wants to be,” he said. “It is better to be in Chelsea position than Tottenham position. That is for sure.”(rtr)

Reuters / Robert Pratta Livepic

Lyon’s Jeremy Morel celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine

9

The game was abandoned in accordance with French authorities’ guidance following the urgent meeting that took place before the start. The French league said in a statement that, after the first trouble, it had been decided that the match could go ahead but would be stopped if another incident happened.

It was the second time this week that a Lyon game was marred by violence. Lyon is facing likely sanctions from UEFA after crowd disorder delayed its Europa League home quarterfinal against Besiktas midweek. Incidents inside Lyon’s stadium - which will host the final of the tournament next season - followed fighting among French and Turkish fans earlier in the city on Thursday. About 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, Lyon fans spilled onto the field for their own safety after fireworks were set off and missiles thrown from an upper section of the stadium housing Besiktas supporters. The game finally began 45 minutes late after police

intervened in the stands. The French league said it would investigate the Bastia incidents and urged the club to ban the fans responsible.

“The French league is asking Bastia to take all necessary measures in order to issue stadium bans against those responsible for these acts,” the league said. “And more generally to take all measures required to guarantee the security of matches played in its stadium.” In a statement issued a couple of hours after the match was abandoned, Bastia “firmly condemned” the violence and said it would attend a disciplinary committee at the French league on Thursday.

Last-placed Bastia, which has struggled the whole season, risks seeing its slim hopes of staying in the top flight hit by heavy sanctions, possibly including points deduction.

Lyon is fourth, some 19 points behind third-placed Nice, and can’t secure a top-3 finish. Monaco tops the standings with a three-point lead over Paris Saint-Germain.(ap)

8

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Sp rt As Chelsea wobble can Spurs surge to Premier League title?

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Bayern’s Thomas Mueller, left, misses to score against Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno, right, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich in Leverkusen, Germany, Saturday, April 15, 2017.

Bayern faces tough task to beat Real Madrid at Bernabeu

MADRID — If Bayern Munich is to have any chance of a sixth straight semifinal appearance in the Champions League it will have to do something that only one team has achieved this season — defeat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Winning in Madrid is no easy task and even a 1-0 victory on Tuesday will not be enough after a 2-1 first-leg, quarterfinal loss in Munich.

Celta Vigo’s 2-1 win in the Copa del Rey in January gave Madrid it’s only loss in 23 games at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, where Zinedine Zidane’s team has won 15 times and drawn five. In the Champions League, the defending European champions haven’t lost at home in 12 consecutive matches, winning nine of the last 10.

Bayern has only managed two wins in 12 matches against Madrid at the Bernabeu. “We’ll go there and try to turn the tide,” Bayern defender Philipp Lahm said. “It won’t be easy, we’re the underdogs. But we’ll have a chance to win in Madrid.”

Madrid had most of its regular starters available for the loss to Celta in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, when it couldn’t come back after conceding two goals on counterattacks in the second half. Madrid was eventually eliminated 4-3 on aggregate after

a 2-2 draw in Vigo.

Madrid is trying to become the first team to defend the title since the competition’s new format was created in 1992-93. Madrid defeated city rival Atletico Madrid in the final both in 2014 and 2016. “It’ll be a great game,” said Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, who led Madrid to the 2014 title. “We believe in ourselves and we’ll give it everything.”

Only two teams have reversed a first-leg home loss in Champions League history — when Inter Milan eliminated Bayern in 2010-11 and Ajax got past Panathinaikos in 199596. Bayern had been the dominant home team in the Champions League until last week’s loss ended its run of 16 consecutive home wins in the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored both goals for Madrid in the come-frombehind win in the first leg, becoming

the first player to reach 100 goals in European competition. He is three short of the 100th-goal mark in the Champions League. The Portuguese forward was among the Madrid players rested by Zidane in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Sporting Gijon in the Spanish league, a result that kept Los Blancos ahead of Barcelona in the standings.

Madrid forward Gareth Bale remains doubtful for Tuesday’s game with a right leg injury, along with defenders Pepe and Raphael Varane.

Robert Lewandowski, who is recovering from a right shoulder injury that ruled him out of the first leg, should be available for Bayern. The Poland striker has scored 38 goals across all competitions this season.

“I’m doing well,” Lewandowski said on Sunday. Bayern teammates Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng also have been nursing injuries, while Javi Martinez is suspended.(ap)

MANCHESTER - A four point lead with six games to go. Is the PREMIER LEAGUE title race now back on, after so many had assumed Chelsea had the championship in the bag?

The fixture list suggests that Chelsea should still be able to finish above challengers Tottenham Hotspur. But strange things can happen when the pressure reaches it’s greatest intensity and there was certainly something strange about Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manager Antonio Conte certainly struck an unusual tone when addressing the media after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to MANCHESTER UNITED, the club’s second defeat in four games. “They showed more desire, more ambition, more motivation. It is very simple but in this case the fault is of the coach. It means the coach was not able to transfer the right concentration, desire, ambition to win this game,” he said.

Perhaps that was a rare example of a manager taking responsibility for a loss but it could also have been a clever way of admonishing his team for their lack of desire in a game where they failed to produce a single shot on goal. Why would his players need to be motivated by him at this crucial stage in the season?

Then there were Conte’s comments about Saturday’s FA CUP semi-final which pits the two London title rivals against each other. “It won’t be easy because I think Tottenham now is the best team and they are in good form and they have a lot of enthusiasm. They are feeling the possibility to write the history and it is important to know this,” he said.

So, according to Conte, we have a CHELSEA side lacking motivation and a Tottenham team that are the best in the country and with a chance of glory.

Add in Conte’s reminder of how this season should be seen in the context of Chelsea’s poor campaign last year and the impression is left of a manager trying to lower expectations just when they are at their highest. Certainly Chelsea don’t look like ending the season in peak form and Tottenham are indeed playing some exhilarating and highly effective football.

French match ends at halftime after fans attack Lyon players PARIS — For the second time in a week, a high-level football match on French soil was marred by crowd violence. The latest incidents on Sunday in Corsica during a domestic league game between Bastia and Lyon — which was abandoned at halftime — raised questions about security in French venues.

The game was stopped for good after fans from the Corsican side twice invaded the pitch to attack opposition players. After kickoff was delayed by 55 minutes, the match was abandoned when more trouble erupted at

the interval with the score at 0-0.

Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes was calmly walking off the field — after referee Amaury Delerue whistled the end of the first half — when he was confronted by a man. Lopes pushed him back as clashes erupted between home fans and Lyon players.

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette, who was rested for the game, took to Twitter to express his anger. “Pfff, shameful!!”

Lacazette wrote. “Nonsense!!!!”

Speaking to L’Equipe TV, junior minister for sports Thierry Braillard condemned “unaccept-

able actions that will need to be sanctioned equally to their seriousness” and lamented a “bad day for French sports.”

The first pitch invasion took place about 15 minutes before the end of the warmup at Armand Cesari stadium when supporters from the Bastia 1905 group of fans came on the field and jostled with Lyon players, including Memphis Depay and Mathieu Gorgelin.

Players from both teams went back to their changing rooms before calm was restored. None of the players involved in the two brawls appeared to be injured.

FIXTURES LIST But a glance at the fixtures list should ease, if not totally dispel, any nerves afflicting the Stamford Bridge faithful. Four of Chelsea’s six remaining games are at home, where they have lost just two of 15 games this season. Two of those games are against relegation candidates in Middlesbrough and Sunderland while the others are against beatable mid-table teams in SOUTHAMPTON and Watford.

However, the two away games will be more testing -- EVERTON have won eight straight games at home and are brimming with confidence. West Bromwich Albion are eighth and certainly no pushovers at the Hawthornes.

Tottenham have just two home games remaining and they are against a United team that are unbeaten in 22 matches and a North London derby against ARSENAL, who may be struggling but would love nothing more than to kill their rivals’ title hopes.

But Tottenham have a momentum that Chelsea have lost having won their last 12 home games and their manager Mauricio Pochettino certainly isn’t worrying about a lack of motivation and desire.

A Spurs surge to the title certainly isn’t out of the question but as United manager Jose Mourinho put it, when asked about his former club, CHELSEA remain favourites. “I think they are in the position where everybody wants to be,” he said. “It is better to be in Chelsea position than Tottenham position. That is for sure.”(rtr)

Reuters / Robert Pratta Livepic

Lyon’s Jeremy Morel celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine

9

The game was abandoned in accordance with French authorities’ guidance following the urgent meeting that took place before the start. The French league said in a statement that, after the first trouble, it had been decided that the match could go ahead but would be stopped if another incident happened.

It was the second time this week that a Lyon game was marred by violence. Lyon is facing likely sanctions from UEFA after crowd disorder delayed its Europa League home quarterfinal against Besiktas midweek. Incidents inside Lyon’s stadium - which will host the final of the tournament next season - followed fighting among French and Turkish fans earlier in the city on Thursday. About 20 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, Lyon fans spilled onto the field for their own safety after fireworks were set off and missiles thrown from an upper section of the stadium housing Besiktas supporters. The game finally began 45 minutes late after police

intervened in the stands. The French league said it would investigate the Bastia incidents and urged the club to ban the fans responsible.

“The French league is asking Bastia to take all necessary measures in order to issue stadium bans against those responsible for these acts,” the league said. “And more generally to take all measures required to guarantee the security of matches played in its stadium.” In a statement issued a couple of hours after the match was abandoned, Bastia “firmly condemned” the violence and said it would attend a disciplinary committee at the French league on Thursday.

Last-placed Bastia, which has struggled the whole season, risks seeing its slim hopes of staying in the top flight hit by heavy sanctions, possibly including points deduction.

Lyon is fourth, some 19 points behind third-placed Nice, and can’t secure a top-3 finish. Monaco tops the standings with a three-point lead over Paris Saint-Germain.(ap)

10

Destination

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

International

Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (TCEC)

DENPASAR - Serangan Island is located in south Denpasar, connected to the mainland by a small road. Once a breeding ground for sea turtles, which were a traditional commodity among the Balinese in the distant past, now has an education and conservation site set out to breed and protect the species. The Turtle Conservation and Education Centre (TCEC) serves as a hatchery, nursery and sanctuary for sea turtles that are accidentally caught by fishermen in the near waters and around the island. This educational centre is open for the public and is great for kids who wish to see and get to know about these creatures up close. A shelter houses several pools where turtles are kept according to age and size, and species, and are supervised by a team who also provide information and are happy to show you around the pens. Next door is a small stall selling snacks and refreshments, as well as turtleinspired shirts and merchandise.

The TCEC is doing both those things plus the important job of educating both the local community and schoolkids to help end the turtle trade and support conservation. Turtle meat (and eggs) has long being consumed in Bali, and is still used in certain religious rituals, by employing and educating locals they hope this will be past tense.

Serangan Island is no longer an “island”, land has been reclaimed and now it’s just a bump on the coastline (ahhh, we remember the days when you could only go by boat...), and the area is somewhat developed, but local turtles still

think its a good place to lay their eggs (mostly between July and October), the centre collects the eggs from the busy tourist beaches, and raises the hatchling until they are ready to start the big journey into the ocean alone, know in turtle conservation speak as “the lost years”.

The centre keeps the young turtles for one month to give them a little bit of an edge, and holds back any runts or sickly hatchlings until they are a bit stronger (whether they should be released as soon as they are hatched, is cause for debate in turtle conservation circles but TCEC follows advice from The Turtle Hospital, Florida USA), and this gives you (yes you, dear reader) the opportunity to “adopt a turtle”.

Sorry you can’t take one home, but for 150,000 rupiah you can take part in their release into the sea.

Release programs run when they have hatchlings (obviously) usually

Famous Surf Looking for SPG FO Put in Seminyak & Canggu 085792395717

Urgent need Waiter/s/HK/Cook for Hotel in Brunei send CV to E:putudeddyparyana@yahoo.com

Looking for SPG Good English Good Appearance,Energic.P:0851 00050706/E: hrd@buddhawear.com

Looking Steward,Waiter/es Wrng Okinawa Jln.Mertasari Kuta (087861574939)

B.BP.154.04.17.0000992

B.BP.001.04.17.0000888

B.BP.001.04.17.0000959

B.BP.001.04.17.0000879

between the months of July and October, generally mornings from 09:00-10:00 and afternoons 15:0017:00. If you are keen to take part in this programme, call first to check there are some babies to adopt.

The centre is still well worth visiting even if you don’t take part in the release. The turtle species that prefer this dot in the ocean are olive riddley, and hatchlings are predominately this species, but several other sick and injured adult turtles of various species are cared for in the tanks here. When we visited there were green sea turtles, hawksbill, and a species we’d never encountered before, the strangelooking forest softshell turtle.

Some had been bought in by fishermen, caught in nets with chunks of shell or flippers missing, and some had been intercepted by the police from illegal trade. They are nursed until well enough to fend for themselves in the wild

then released. At the centre tourists can see the hatchery, basically a shaded sandpit with the clutches of eggs buried, marked with a small netted enclosure—not much to see unless you are lucky enough to see some hatchlings crawl out of the sand, and several large tanks for the cute growing hatchlings and rescue turtles.

You can’t touch or pick up the turtles, but you may see them being fed a diet of seaweed or seagrass (jellyfish, the preference of some breeds are difficult to come by).

The tanks are clean with plenty of water—scrubbed out every week or more often if needed. There’s also a small enclosure for tortoises.

Staff speak good English and are happy to explain and answer any questions you may have. An education room runs the school programme, so if you have a bunch of kids in tow (school excursion?) the session lasts about an hour.

The centre runs on donations only, there’s no entry fee (we added 50,000 rupiah to the box) or you can pick up a turtle souvenir. The centre trains locals to produce cute turtle crafts made from easily found materials such as coconut husks, broken shells and even plastic as an economic alternative to the turtle trade.

Unlike some turtle “con”-servation centres in Bali, which are doing nothing towards the environment except lining their own pockets (be aware we heard there is one of these near TCEC—make sure you’re at the right place), the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre deserves your support.

Don’t expect anything flashy at TCEC, its business is conservation, not entertainment.

We think it’s a terrific excursion if you’re in the Sanur or Kuta area, and kids will love it too. Several local warungs line Serangan’s beaches and offer a pleasant break for lunch. Combine with a trip to the (somewhat unkept) Mangrove Information Centre for a half day excursion.

How to get there

You’ll need your own transport or a taxi or ojek (organise the return trip) to reach here. It’s roughly a 15 minute drive from Sanur and closer to 30 minutes from Kuta or Seminyak. You could cycle from Sanur in about half an hour. A local check point to Serangan Island charges 4,000 rupiah for cars and 2,000 rupiah for motorbikes entry fee. (IBP/net)

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

International

Thomas plays for Celtics a day after sister’s death

BOSTON - Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas made an emotional return to the court on Sunday, a day after his sister Chyna had been killed in a car crash.

With the words ‘Chyna, R.I.P Lil Sis’ written on his green left shoe, and the date of her death on the right, Thomas was in tears on the bench ahead of their playoff game against Chicago and during a moment of silence before the national anthem.

The two-times NBA All Star gathered himself once he took the court and received vocal support from the capacity 18,000-plus crowd at TD Garden in Boston.

Thomas almost lifted the Eastern Conference top seeds to victory with two late baskets in their best-of-seven first-round series opener against the Bulls, but the visitors survived to draw first blood, 106-102.

Thomas, who top-scored for the Celtics with 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor, did not talk to the media after the game but team mate Avery Bradley said the players were proud of their grieving guard.

“I know tonight he was playing

for his sister, playing for his family.

We appreciate that as team mates,” Bradley told reporters.

“We just need to continue to fight for him ... Isaiah to me is like family.

We grew up in the same area.”

Center Al Horford admitted it had been a difficult situation.

“We’re never going to make excuses but this is hard, this was difficult,” he said. “I felt our guys, we really dealt with it the right way but Isaiah’s the one who I felt dealt with it best. We knew he was hurting.”

Boston coach Brad Stevens let Thomas decide whether to play on Sunday, and said that would also be the case for Tuesday’s Game Two. “Whatever he needs to do he needs to do,” Stevens told reporters. “I’m not going to ask him or make him make those decisions (tonight). Those have got to come in his own time and then we will adjust accordingly.”

Stevens said he was proud of the way Thomas had performed, and how his team mates had supported him.

“He’s an amazing player, amazing player. He somehow plays like that ...

You couldn’t help but be inspired by his play.” (rtr)

HOUSTON - American Steve Johnson literally limped to a 6-4 4-6 7-5(5) victory over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the final of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston on Sunday.

Johnson, suffering a cramp in his left leg, could hardly move at times late in the third set, hobbling on some points and not even chasing down balls on others.

But the world number 29 prevailed in the final set tiebreak, clinching the win with a forehand

groundstroke down the line for his second ATP victory.

Johnson said he was simply worn down after flying back from a Davis Cup tie in Australia earlier in the week.

“My body has just physically run out of gas after this week,” he said on the ATP website.

“Coming in from Australia kind of put me behind the eight ball and then the nerves of trying to close out the final, a lot of factors go into cramping. I was very fortunate to get out of that.” (rtr)

Jet-lagged Johnson limps to Houston clay court victory

Brett Coomer/ Houston Chronicle via AP

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500 / Eka : 081338519538

Steve Johnson hits a backhand against Thomaz Bellucci during final set of the championship singles match of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship tennis tournament at River Oaks Country Club on Sunday, April 16, 2017, in Houston.

Johnson defeated Bellucci, of Brazil, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (5), to take the title.

AP Photo/Luca Bruno

Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Formula One Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, April 16, 2017.

Vettel victories could force a Mercedes rethink

MANAMA - Formula One world champions Mercedes have indicated they may increasingly have to favour Lewis Hamilton over new team mate Valtteri Bottas to counter the threat posed

by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

In practice, that is likely to mean the reluctant imposition of more of the so-called ‘team orders’ used in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

“We don’t like that, at all,” team boss Toto Wolff told reporters after Bottas twice obeyed radio instructions to let the faster Hamilton through to chase eventual winner and championship leader Vettel.

“It’s not what we have done in the last couple of years but the situation is different now so it needs a proper analysis of what it means and where we are.”

Mercedes have never had a designated number one driver, and Wolff said the desire was to give both equal opportunity at the start of the race.

The team won all but two races last season but are no longer dominant in a championship that has for the past three years been an internal battle.

Vettel has now won two of three races and is seven points clear of Hamilton.

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel’s 2007 champion team mate who has yet to stand on the podium this season and not been on pole since 2008, slipped 34

points behind -- half as many as the German.

Bottas, who joined Mercedes in January as replacement for now-retired world champion Nico Rosberg, is 23 adrift of his team mate.

Wolff said the situation at Ferrari had to be taken into consideration.

“That is the interesting question that we need to analyse at the moment and I don’t want to pre-empt what the consequence will be, or if there will be a consequence,” he added.

The disparity between the current Mercedes pairing is more marked than before, with Bottas yet to win a race and Hamilton surpassed only by Michael Schumacher in the all-time lists with 54 victories.

Bahrain was Bottas’s first career pole position, whereas Hamilton has 63 and could sail past Schumacher’s record of 68 later in the year.

The Finn is also still settling into his new surroundings, whereas Hamilton has been there since 2013 and is the sport’s biggest personality.

Hamilton had been on pole for six races in a row until Bottas broke the sequence in Bahrain and Wolff said Mercedes appeared to be still slightly ahead of Ferrari on single lap pace.

“In the race it’s pretty evenly matched I would say.

So I think that’s going to be a close one for the next couple of races.” (rtr)

6

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

W

RLD

REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

Jean-Luc Melenchon of the French far left Parti de Gauche and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, attends a political rally in Toulouse, Southwestern France, April 16, 2017.

Far-left veteran Melenchon draws big crowd as French election enters final straight

TOULOUSE - Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon drew tens of thousands to a rally on Sunday, aiming to maintain momentum that has pushed the one-time outsider into contention in the French presidential election, with the first round of voting a week away.

Opinion polls show the top four candidates - centrist Emmanuel Macron, far-right leader Marine Le Pen, conservative Francois Fillon and Melenchon - within touching distance of each other before the April 23 first round after a surge by Melenchon in the last few weeks.

The polls tip Macron to beat National Front leader Le Pen in a runoff between the two leading candidates on May 7.

The outside possibility of a second-round showdown between Le Pen and Melenchon, both of whom propose a referendum on France’s membership of the European Union if their attempts to overhaul the bloc fail, has raised concern among some investors after last year’s shock British vote to leave the bloc.

Melenchon has pledged sharply higher government spending and would impose a 90 percent tax on top earners and take France out

of NATO. Le Pen has promised a crackdown on illegal immigration and wants to scrap the euro.

“We represent a France of beauty and generosity, that starts each new day mindful of our motto - liberty, equality and fraternity,” Melenchon told the Toulouse rally. His team said 70,000 turned up while local police put the number at 40,000.

Outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande told a French television programme broadcast on Sunday that he would personally feel “guilty” if Le Pen became president, bringing a far right party to power in France.

Front-runner Macron, a former economy minister and investment banker who has attempted to break the mould of French politics by launching a new centrist party, opted for a lower-profile visit in the Paris area on Sunday to people with difficulties finding housing.

Fillon, who is being investigated by magistrates on suspicion of embezzling state funds, held meetings with Catholic voters on Saturday but had no rally on Sunday, while all four leading candidates are set to hold large rallies on Monday.

The elections take place with France on heightened security alert following a spate of attacks by Islamist militants since January 2015 that have killed more than 230 people.

Asked by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper if authorities feared an attack timed to coincide with the election, Interior Minister Matthias Fekl replied: “No threat is being ruled out.”

Anti-fascists held a demonstration in Paris on Sunday, and Fekl said authorities were aware of the risk of violent street protests by opponents of the National Front if Le Pen got through to the second round. (rtr)

International

In Afghanistan, Trump aide promises coordinated response to enemies KABUL - U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser met Afghan officials in Kabul on Sunday and said the new administration was weighing diplomatic, military and economic responses to its Taliban and Islamic State enemies in Afghanistan.

The adviser, H.R. McMaster, was making the first high-level visit by a Trump official. He spoke to ABC News’ “This Week” program in the United States.

On Thursday, the U.S. military dropped a GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, one of the largest conventional weapons ever used in combat, during an operation against Islamic State militants in eastern Afghanistan.

While military officials said the strike was based solely on tactical needs, it led to speculation that Trump’s defense advisers are planning to escalate the war against militants in Afghanistan.

The strike was estimated to have killed nearly 100 militants and no civilians, according to Afghan officials, although this has not been independently verified.

Interviewed from Afghanistan, McMaster said the United States had a more reliable Afghan partner than before but at the same time had reduced the degree and scope of its effort in that country.

“Our enemy sensed that and they have redoubled their efforts and it’s time for us, alongside our Afghan partners, to respond,” he said.

Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, had asked U.S. officials, including some in the Treasury and Commerce departments, to work together to integrate the various political, diplomatic, military and economic responses available, McMaster said.

“We’ll give him those options. And we’ll be prepared to execute whatever decision he makes,” he said.

McMaster met President Ashraf Ghani and other senior Afghan officials to discuss bilateral ties, security, counter- terrorism, reforms, and development, according to a palace statement.

McMaster praised anti-corruption efforts and assured Ghani that the United States would continue to support and cooperate with Afghanistan on a number of issues, according to the palace.

Ghani told McMaster that “terrorism is a serious issue for the security of the world and the region” and if serious steps are not taken it would affect “generations” of people, according to the statement.

Illicit drugs and corruption also top the list of threats to Afghanistan’s security, Ghani told the visiting officials.

The Afghan government refers to both the Taliban and Islamic State as terrorists. Afghan forces have struggled to contain Taliban insurgents since most international troops were withdrawn in 2014, leaving them to fight largely alone.

At the peak in 2011, the United States had more than 100,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan.

Nearly 9,000 U.S. troops remain there to train and advise Afghan forces, provide close air support to soldiers on the ground and form a separate counter-terrorism unit that targets Islamic State, al Qaeda and other militant networks.

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has said he needs “several thousand” more troops to help the Afghans take on a resurgent Taliban and battle other insurgents, but no official plan has been announced. (rtr)

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Indonesia police thwart plan by hardline Muslims to guard poll stations JAKARTA - Indonesian police on Monday blocked plans by hardline Islamist groups to guard polling booths during Wednesday’s vote for Jakarta governor, citing the potential for clashes in an election that has stoked religious tensions. A coalition of hardline Islamic groups said late last week it would deploy at least 100 monitors at each polling station in the Indonesian capital city of 10 million people.

“Any mobilisation of masses that is aimed at physical or psychological intimidation, especially at polling stations, is prohibited,” the city police said in a joint statement with the elections commission. Around 66,000 police and military personnel will be deployed on voting day, police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said.

“We are increasing our presence at polling stations as well, so please trust that the state apparatus will remain neutral and safeguard the election,” he added.

Surveys have shown the race tightening to a statistical dead heat, with incumbent Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese Christian, closing in on rival Anies Baswedan, a former education minister.

Jakarta has towering influence on national politics as both the capital and financial centre, contributing nearly 15 percent of Indonesia’s gross domestic product. The greater Jakarta population of around 25 million people makes it one of the

world’s biggest mega-cities.

BLASPHEMY CHARGE Purnama is standing trial on blasphemy charges stemming from the divisive campaign that also featured mass rallies led by Islamist hardliners and alleged plots to overthrow President Joko Widodo, who is popularly known as Jokowi. The charges stem from an edited video circulated last September suggesting Purnama had mocked a verse in the Koran used by his opponents to argue that Muslims should not vote for a person holding different religious beliefs.

It brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets in several mass demonstrations before Purnama was put on trial for blasphemy.

He faces up to four years in prison and possible disqualification if he does win the election. Prosecutors are expected to recommend a sentence at a hearing the day after the election. A verdict is due next month.

The vast majority of Indonesian Muslims practice a moderate form

of Islam and religious freedom and diversity is enshrined in the state ideology. But hardline Islamist groups, most of which favour Islamic sharia law, have established a stronger foothold in recent years.

Purnama, Jakarta’s first ethnic Chinese and Christian leader, took over the Jakarta governorship from Widodo after he became president in the 2014 general election. His rival, Baswedan, has appeared publicly - twice - with the leadership of one of the main organisers of the anti-Purnama protests, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

“We believe that because Jakarta and Indonesia is majority-Muslim, it should be led by a Muslim,” said Novel Bamukmin, head of the Jakarta chapter of the FPI. “While our ultimate call is for full sharia, our hope is that the winner will at least introduce policies that are aligned with Islam.” Baswedan’s running mate, Sandiaga Uno, denies the pair intends to implement sharia law in Jakarta and said their appearances

REUTERS/Beawiharta

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

National Security Adviser Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster

11

(L-R) Candidates running in Jakarta governor election Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Jakarta military chief Jaswandi, Jakarta Police chief Mochammad Iriawan, and a candidate for deputy governor Sandiaga Uno, hold hand during Peace Declaration ceremony for Wednesday election in Jakarta, Indonesia, April 17, 2017.

at the FPI rallies were “a way to start a dialogue”.

But they do encourage a more conservative culture for the city with religious entertainment venues that are “sharia-compliant” and which “shy

away from alcohol”, Uno said.

“That would be the type of policy that I want to attract investors to put money into, to create tourist destinations for sharia-compliant or religiousrelated tourism,” he said.(rtr)

12

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

BUSINESS

China Daily/via REUTERS

Steel, stimulus drive China’s strongest economic growth since 2015 crack down on debt risks, China’s total social financing, a broad measure of credit and liquidity in the economy, reached a record 6.93 trillion yuan ($1 trillion) in the first quarter -- roughly equivalent to the size of Mexico’s economy. At the same time, spending by the central and local governments rose 21 percent from a year earlier.

That helped goose the pace of growth in the first quarter well above the government’s 2017 target of around 6.5 percent, and pipped economists’ forecasts of 6.8 percent yearon-year.

Such a strong bolt from the gate could see Beijing once again meet its annual growth target, even if activity starts to fade later in the year, as many analysts widely expect. “Main indicators were better than expected...which laid a good foundation for achieving the full-year growth goals,” statistics spokesman Mao Shengyong said at a news conference.

SAME OLD GROWTH DRIVERS?

Once again, China’s policymakers leaned on infrastructure and real estate INVESTMENT to drive expansion in the first quarter.

Growth in both areas has accelerated from last year and helped

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

5

Sacred Wayang Wong Dance of Tejakula Set Four Centuries Ago

Staff work on an assembly line at a factory in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, April 17, 2017.

BEIJING - China’s economy expanded faster than expected in the first quarter as higher government infrastructure spending and a gravitydefying property boom helped boost industrial output by the most in over two years. Growth of 6.9 percent was the fastest in six quarters, with forecast-beating March investment, retail sales and exports all suggesting the economy may carry solid momentum into spring.

But most analysts say the first quarter may be as good as it gets for China this year, and worry Beijing is still relying too heavily on stimulus and “old economy” growth drivers, primarily the steel industry and a property market that is showing signs of overheating.

“The Chinese government has a tendency to rely on infrastructure development to sustain growth in the long term,” economists at ANZ said in a note.

“The question we need to ask is whether this investment-led model is sustainable as the authorities have trouble taming credit. We need to watch closely whether China’s top leadership will send a stronger signal to tighten monetary policy shortly.”

Even as top officials vowed to

Bali News

International

offset slightly weaker growth in the services sector. “Faster growth in industrial output is the primary factor in the first quarter surprise, and due mostly to higher value-added growth related to supply-side consolidation in heavy industry,” said Brian Jackson, China economist at IHS Global Insight.

Real estate INVESTMENT also remained robust in the first quarter, expanding by 9.1 percent on-year, and the pace of new construction quickened despite intensifying government measures to cool soaring prices.

Most analysts agree the heated property market poses the single biggest risk to China’s economic growth, but predict the cumulative weight of property curbs will eventually temper activity, not produce an outright crash.

“Sales have started falling, which means tightening measures are starting to take effect,” said Shen Jianguang, an analyst at Mizuho Securities in Hong Kong, noting that will start to drag on both the services and construction sectors. More than two dozen cities announced new or additional property cooling measures in March and early April, after curbs late last year appeared to have little lasting effect.

Buoyed by a near 12 percent increase in housing starts, China produced a record amount of steel in March, Reuters data showed, though analysts say warning signs are flashing.

Rising inventory levels and recent falls in steel prices suggest output has been growing faster than China’s actual demand, raising worries of a glut later in the year, which could heighten trade tensions with the U.S. and its other major trading partners.

INCOME GROWTH PICKS UP

There were also positive signs on the consumer front in Monday’s data dump. After slowing for five quarters, disposable income growth picked up to 7.0 percent in the first quarter, the fastest since the end of 2015. March retail sales rebounded 10.9 percent onyear as consumers shelled out more for home appliances, furniture and decorations for new homes.

Auto sales also showed signs of recovering after weakening in the first two months of the year after the government reduced subsidies on small cars.

Analysts are closely watching for signs that consumption is accounting for a greater share of China’s econ-

omy, which would not only make growth more resilient and broader based but also reduce the need for more debt-fuelled stimulus and reliance on “smokestack” industries.

Though policymakers have pledged repeatedly to push reforms to head off financial risks and asset bubbles, the government is seeking to keep the economy on an even keel ahead of a major leadership transition in later this year. China’s central bank has gingerly shifted to a tightening policy bias in recent months, and is using more targeted measures to contain risks in the financial system, after years of ultra-loose settings.

It has bumped up interest rates on money market instruments and special short- and medium-term loans several times already this year and further modest increases are expected, especially if U.S. rates continue to rise.

“I think China should be directing the economy to slow down its growth in the long term...but on the contrary, growth is accelerating,” said Hidenobu Tokuda, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute in Tokyo.

“This is good for now but it makes it difficult to see how China’s economic slowdown will land in the future. Uncertainties remain high.” (rtr)

Wayang Wong sacred dance that only exists at Tejakula village, Tejakula subdistrict, was presented at Maksan Temple of local village on Thursday (Apr. 6).

The location is chosen because the masks of wayang wong characters are kept at local temple. They are even believed to have been four centuries old.

The players performing the Ramayana storyline start staging the first episode of the Bala Kanda in the Ramayana epic. In this staging, the storyline presented by the players is entitled “Sander Sita.” It tells about the duke Marica disguising as a golden deer to attract the attention of Sita. When seeing the deer, Sita then asked Rama to chase it. Rama went away from Sita and tried to shoot the disguising deer. Marica cleverly cried out for help, and his voice was similar to Rama’s. Again, Sita asked Laksmana to look for Rama as being told to be facing difficulties. When Laksmana followed Rama, Sita was abducted by Ravana. By and large, when featuring the storyline of kanda (book—Ed) starting from the first through the seventh, it will take approximately 4.5 years to 5 years.

Chairman of the Tejakukus Foundation, Gede Komang, amid the staging told that as sacred dance it is mandatory to be performed as devotional services or ngayah at the Maksan Temple of Tejakula.

As usual, the performance is done twice every year precisely on Wraspati Dungulan or the day after

Galungan. Since it is sacred, the wayang wong must still perform the episodes of Ramayana epic sequentially. “It has become the tasks of the players of wayang wong to perform devotional services at the temple because the masks are stored at this Maksan temple,” said Komang Gede when met Friday afternoon.

READ Pura Luhur Besi Kalung According to him, although it is classified into sacred dance, currently this wayang wong is also staged as entertainment art. For several times, the figures of wayang wong characters are presented in the art collaborations. However, the masks staged in the entertainment are not the sacred ones as those stored at Maksan Temple, but the imitations that are kept by the foundation.

Based on the existing references, wayang wong is known as sacred art. This art first appeared at Tejakula village about four centuries ago. From the location of its emergence at Tejakula, this art then spread to several regions in Bali.

Although having been widespread, its taksu (divine vibration) never disappears and is kept sacred until now. Wayang wong even becomes one of the nine dances included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Besides, the wayang wong dance is also recognized as one of the intangible cultural heritage objects in 2015. (kmb)

Want to Take Selfie with Long-Tailed Macaque?

Come to Sangeh Tourist Attractions IBP/kmb

Like previous holidays, Sangeh nature tourist object becomes an excellent destination to domestic travelers. Their presence on the long holiday weekend reached thousands of people.

Moreover, from nine o’clock in the morning, dozens of travelers coming with motorcycles and cars looked to enter the tourist attraction located on Jalan Raya Sangeh, Abiansemal, Badung. “Until midday, there have been 3,000 visitors. The visitors are still dominated by domestic travelers,” said Operations Manager of Sangeh nature tourism, Made Sumohon.

IBP/kmb

According to him, a number of buses carrying hundreds of domestic travelers fully occupied the parking area. They came from various regions such as Central Java, Surabaya, Semarang and some others. “Here, the coming visitors are still mostly domestic and local travelers and only few percent of them is foreigner.

They are usually from America and Europe. However, the presence of road access to Bedugul also affects the increasing number of tourist visit,” he explained.

He admitted that arrangement of the Sangeh tourist attraction has been very nice with a spacious parking area. Revenue from the admission tickets is allocated for the maintenance of sanitation and care of the monkeys around Sangeh. “In the past, there had been unsafe impression because the monkeys often bit visitors.

However, currently there is no longer such impression because a special officer is appointed to be responsible

for visitor’s safety,” he said.

He explained that Sangeh has become a well known natural tourist attraction from the past. The destination relies on wildlife and the forest as the attraction to be visited. It has a total area of ??13.969 hectares, in the north it borders with paddy fields, in the west with Yeh Penet River as well as in the south and east with Batusari hamlet. The forest is overgrown by around 6,443 nutmeg trees and approximately 27 other tree species such as quickstick, albizia, devil tree, banyan tree and there are also 22 species of shrubs such as fever nut and shoebutton ardisia spreading across the area of 10.8 hectares.

READ Taman Sari Market This forest is inhabited by animals including two types of mammals (monkeys and ferrets), eight bird species such as Java sparrow and turtledoves, three types of arthropods such as snakes and two kinds of amphibians.

“Well, the gray and long-tailed macaque becomes the primary tourist attraction to visit Sangeh,” he said.

According to him, this attraction also has four temples, namely the Bukitsari located in westernmost of the forest, Melanting Temple amid the forest, Tirta Temple in front of the forest and Anyar Temple in front of the entrance to the forest. All these temples are VENERATED by Sangeh customary village, except for the Anyar Temple venerated by Batusari hamlet. To preserve wildlife and the forests, people build a cage for isolation if there are naughty or sick monkeys. There is also a laboratory to treat the sick monkeys. (kmb)

4

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Bali News

International

Local visitors flock Penimbangan Beach

SINGARAJA - Virtually all the tourist areas in Buleleng were thronged by local visitors on the day after Kuningan (Apr. 16). This situation made the turnover of tourist objects to street vendors increase two times from usual days.

One of the tourist areas crowded by visitors on the day of the end of the holiday was Penimbangan Beach at Baktiseraga. Visitors have crowded the beach located close to Singaraja town from Saturday (Apr. 15). On average, visitors took a sea bath and partially sat relaxingly while enjoying the serene sea view. Due to crowded visitors, the beach became top-full with visitors ranging from children to the elderly.

On Sunday (Apr. 16), visitors have crowded the beach formerly used as location for turtle egg breeding.

Aside from taking a bath, many visitors also brought along their children to see the view of coral reef or see dolphin attraction in the natural habitat. To enjoy the view of coral reef garden or dolphin attraction, visitors hired a motorized boat operated by local fisherman.

Kadek Wisata, one of the marine tourism activists on Penimbangan Beach, said that visitors during feast holiday show significant increase compared to

ordinary days. No wonder, the ‘golden’ opportunity could not be released as such. The soaring visitors made dozens of canoe boards and equipment out of the lease. Moreover, he admitted that many visitors did not get canoe board because it has been out of lease.

On average, one canoe board is rented at IDR 10,000 to IDR 15,000 per unit for an hour.

On the other hand, the man familiarly addressed as Kadekan admitted trying to provide services for visitors by offering fair tariff and maintaining environmental sanitation to make it remain clean. This happens because Penimbangan Beach so far still faces waste-related problem of marine debris accumulating in the coastal land. “When entering holiday or Sunday, visitors will surely be crowded, so that the sales also increase. To make visitors comfortable, I always maintain good services and clean up marine debris even though without the help of the government,” he explained.

In addition to Penimbangan Beach, similar atmosphere also occurred at Banjar hot spring at Banjar village. At this object, foreign travelers mingled with local ones to bathe in the pool with warm water temperature. (kmb38)

IBP/kmb38

On average, visitors took a sea bath and partially sat relaxingly while enjoying the serene sea view.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

International

13

Violence spikes in Indian Kashmir after videos inflame tension

IBP/kmb23

Passengers can enjoy various entertainments such as acoustic and face painting.

Easter holiday, flight at Ngurah Rai Airport increases

MANGUPURA - Easter as well as weekend holiday are indeed a moment to fill in the holiday. This moment is used not only for a vacation in Bali, but also in other regions. Moreover, two days before the Easter holiday, the number of flight at Ngurah Rai airport experienced a sharp spike.

This can be seen from the data released by public relations of the Angkasa Pura I, Ngurah Rai Airport, on Saturday (Apr. 15).

On April 12, the arrival flight at Ngurah Rai Airport amounted to 199, while the departure flight amounted to 214. However, the flight returned to normal the day before Easter, namely on April 13. The number of arrival flight reached 196 and departure flight reached 197. Likewise on Easter (Apr. 14), the condition remained normal with 189 arrival flights and 187 departure flights.

“Passengers that come out of Bali mostly happen on day two before Easter holiday. We estimate that on this Sunday, the flight will experience a surge again,” said Legal Section Head and Public Relations of Ngurah Rai International Airport, Arie Ahsanurrohim, on Saturday (Apr. 15).

To provide an interesting experience for passengers on the Easter celebration, a different atmosphere was presented again at the Ngurah Rai Airport. This time, the Easter celebration being identical to eggs and rabbits seemed to enliven every corner of the airport in the form of hanging ornaments. Easter is indeed always synonymous with eggs and rabbits. Based on European tradition in the Middle Age,

the eggs are symbols of new life while rabbits are symbol of fertility. Until now, Christians often use these two ornaments to enliven Easter celebrations.

At Ngurah Rai Airport, the management of Angkasa Pura I conjured up the terminal with decoration of Easter nuances. With the theme “The Joy of Easter” passengers will be brought into a warm and pleasant Easter atmosphere.

Peak of this celebration takes place for two days, namely on April 1516, 2017. Located in domestic and international departure lounge, passengers can enjoy various entertainments such as acoustic and face painting. To enliven the atmosphere, Bunny Angel walks to greet passengers.

For passengers that like selfie, they can take advantage of their spare time to take pictures at the diorama of the Easter Bunny Tree House. This diorama is formed to resemble a tree house filled with funny playing rabbits in combination with Easter eggs of various colors. It is very beautiful and interesting to be used as a photo background.

Another attraction drawing the attention of passengers is the Mask Dance and Cendrawasih Dance used to greet passengers in the departure lounge. “We fully realize that waiting for the boarding call would be more fun if filled with activities. So, we bring entertainment and some games to fill in spare time. Hopefully, the decorations and games we serve can replace the spirit of Easter celebration even though they are at the airport,” said added. (kmb23)

SRINAGAR - Militants have stepped up attacks in contested Indian-ruled Kashmir, including raids on the homes of police officers, amid a spike in violence after the army allegedly tied a man to the front of a jeep as a human shield.

Police have filed a case against an army unit after soldiers in the Himalayan region were accused of seizing a 24-year old shawl weaver on April 9, before strapping him to the front of their vehicle and parading him through villages.

A video of the episode widely circulated on social media exemplifies for many viewers the human rights abuses allegedly committed

by Indian security forces battling to contain a separatist insurgency now in its 28th year.

Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the video’s authenticity was being ascertained, adding, “Action will be taken against those found guilty of misconduct.”

Police fired tear gas on Monday to scatter students in the region’s main city of Srinagar, the latest outbreak of protests since demonstrations last week after a botched by-election in which at least eight people were killed.

Some colleges were forced to close.

Over the weekend two more videos circulated on social media showing workers of the ruling political party in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir renouncing mainstream politics, one of them beside a man wielding a gun.

Another video, allegedly showing the killing of a 17-year old by paramilitary officers during the April 9 by-election, has also stirred anger. Reuters could not confirm the veracity of the videos.

The clashes in Kashmir, a region divided between India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both, come

ahead of the hot summer months, when protests surge.

India accuses Pakistan of backing separatist fighters - a charge Islamabad denies. Kashmir witnessed deadly protests after a well-known separatist militant was killed last year.

Violence has declined since the early 2000s, when thousands died each year, but disillusionment and anger against Indian rule is widespread, and the separatist revolt is now largely homegrown.

HUMAN SHIELD

Soldiers picked up the shawl weaver, Farooq Ahmad Dar, near the home of a relative after he voted, he told media. “Look at the fate of the stone-pelter,” a soldier is heard saying over a loudspeaker in the video while Dar is tied to the vehicle.

“This is a phenomenon that has been going on for the last 27 years,” Khurram Parvez, a leading Kashmiri human rights activist jailed last year, told Reuters.

“This is not the first human shield case. What is different now is that this case has been documented, thanks to social media.”

Dar’s treatment was “unlawful and unacceptable” rights group Amnesty International said in a statement.

Police have registered a case against the local army unit, state chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, urging security forces to exercise restraint.

The state’s police chief on Sunday told officers to avoid visiting their own homes in South Kashmir, after militants stormed the houses of at least four officers.

Militants also shot dead a lawyer affiliated with an opposition party and a former counter-insurgency commander, police said. A worker of the ruling party was killed late on Saturday. (rtr)

REUTERS/Danish Ismail

A Kashmiri student throws back a tear-gas canister fired by Indian police during a protest in Srinagar April 17, 2017.

Lim Heon-jeong/Yonhap via REUTERS

South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye looks out from a vehicle as she leaves her private house in Seoul, South Korea March 30, 2017.

S.Korea charges ousted leader Park and Lotte chief with bribery

SEOUL - South Korean prosecutors on Monday charged ousted president Park Geunhye and Lotte Group chairman Shin Dong-bin with bribery in the latest twist to a corruption scandal that rocked the country for months.

Prosecutors charged Shin without detaining him.

The retail giant Lotte, with interests ranging from hotels and retail to food and chemicals, becomes the second conglomerate mired in the political scandal after Jay Y. Lee, the chief of the biggest, Samsung Group, was arrested suspected of bribing Park and her friend, Choi Soon-sil.

Lee, Park and Choi are being held at detention centres.

Lotte, South Korea’s fifth-biggest conglomerate, is grappling with the Chinese shutdown of dozens of its stores in China, after it agreed to provide land for the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system outside Seoul.

South Korea, which accuses China or discriminating against some South Korean companies working in China, and the United States say the sole purpose of THAAD

is to guard against North Korean missiles. China says its powerful radar can penetrate its territory and undermine its security and spoke out against it again on Monday.

Lotte’s chief Shin is also on a separate graft trial involving family members charged with embezzlement and breach of trust.

Prosecutors accused Park of colluding with Choi to receive 7 billion won ($6.16 million) from Lotte for favours, they said in a statement. Park was also charged with abuse of power and coercion by pressuring big businesses to contribute funds to non-profit foundations, the prosecutors said.

Park is also charged with taking bribes worth about 29.8 billion won from Samsung scion Lee in exchange for supporting his succession, according to the prosecutors’ statement.

Lotte denied allegations that it made improper deals with Park, or those linked to her, for favours, but said it would explain itself at court to resolve suspicions.

“We find the decision on the indictment regrettable,” Lotte Group said in a statement.

Park, Lee, Choi and Samsung Group have also denied wrongdoing. (rtr)

14

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Science

International

Bali News

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

3

Hydrogen in Saturn moon’s ice plumes may support microbial life

REUTERS/Hannah McKay

A man holds an ‘Ooho’ plastic-less water container in London, Britain, April 12, 2017.

UK-based start-up hopes to cut plastic waste with innovative water balls

MASSACHUSETTS - Ice plumes shooting into space from Saturn’s ocean-bearing moon Enceladus contain hydrogen from hydrothermal vents, an environment that some scientists believe led to the rise of life on Earth, research published on Thursday showed.

The discovery makes Enceladus the only place beyond Earth where scientists have found direct evidence of a possible energy source for life, according to the findings in the journal Science.

Similar conditions, in which hot rocks meet ocean water, may have been the cradle for the appearance of microbial life on Earth more than 4 billion years ago.

“If correct, this observation has fundamental implications for the possibility of life on Enceladus,” geochemist Jeffrey Seewald, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, wrote in a related commentary in Science.

The discovery was made using NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which in September will end a 13-year mission exploring Saturn and its entourage of 62 known moons.

The detection of molecular hydrogen occurred in October 2015 during Cassini’s last pass through Enceladus’ plumes, when it skimmed 30 miles (49 km) above the moon’s southern pole taking samples.

In 2005, Cassini discovered Enceladus’s geysers, which shoot hundreds of miles into space. Some of the material falls back onto the surface as a fresh coat of ice, while much of the rest gathers into a halo of ice dust that feeds one of Saturn’s rings.

A decade later, scientists measuring the moon’s slightly wobbly orbit around Saturn determined it holds a vast ocean buried 19- to 25 miles (30- to 40 km) beneath its icy shell.

The ocean is believed to be the geysers’ source.

Several moons orbiting Jupiter and Saturn are known to contain underground oceans, but Enceladus is the only one where scientists have found proof of an energy source for life.

“We’re moving towards Enceladus’s ocean being habitable, but we’re not making any claims at this point about it being inhabited,” lead author Hunter Waite, with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, said in an interview.

“The next time we go back ... you’re going to take something that not only picks up on the habitability story, but it starts looking for evidence for life.” (rtr)

the solution for all the applications that plastic bottles have, but definitely for short term consumption it could be a solution,” Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez, the founder of Skipping Rocks Lab, told Reuters.

In a trial near London Bridge on Wednesday, the innovative balls drew a mixture of surprise, amusement and delight among those who sampled them.

London’s city assembly said Ooho was a step forward.

“It could be part of the solution but not the only solution. You also need to be able to refill bottles at railway stations for example,” said Leonie Cooper, the Chair of the assembly’s environment committee.

Skipping Rocks, who spent three years developing Ooho,

said they produce up to 2,000 balls a day but hope to increase that figure, extend the shelf-life of the product and improve the resistance of the membranes.

The company aims to target, among other consumers, marathon runners, who will be able to dispose of the Oohos mid-race without concerns about the environment. It is also considering encapsulating alcohol for a whole new market.

“People see these small round bubbles and they just think ‘shots’.

So that’s definitely something we’re looking at,” said Skipping Rocks Lab Chief Operating Officer Lise Honsinger.

“We have encapsulated alcohol, we want to perfect it, and then hopefully this will be the Jaegerbomb of the future.” (rtr)

Umanis Kuningan

IBP/kmb40

Hot spring at Toya Bungkah thronged by visitors BANGLI - Kintamani remains to become an option for people to fill in their holidays. It is evident from the number of travelers making a visit to the cool-aired destination. As the day after Kuningan or Umanis Kuningan on Sunday (Apr. 16), a number of recreational areas in Kintamani were thronged by visitors. One of them is the hot spring bath at Toya Bungkah region.

As seen on Sunday, tourist visit to Toya Bungkah hot spring in Kintamani began to be crowded from the morning. They mostly consisted of local travelers. In addition to enjoying the warmth of soaking in bathing

LONDON - Small transparent spheres filled with natural or flavoured water could help provide a solution to London’s plastic waste problem, according to the start-up company based in the British capital that manufactures them.

With many cities around the world struggling to dispose of vast numbers of used plastic water bottles, the biodegradable ‘Ooho balls’ have begun quenching the thirst of consumers at special events in San Francisco and London.

The balls, which resemble large bubbles, have a jelly-like membrane made of plant and seaweed extracts.

The company, Skipping Rocks Lab, says the membranes decompose after four to six weeks if not consumed.

A report published by the London municipal authorities on Thursday said more than 4,000 plastic bottles had been removed from the River Thames in a one month period last year, demonstrating the scale of the waste problem.

“We think Ooho, may not be

In addition to enjoying the warmth of soaking in bathing pool, the arrival of visitors to Toya Bungkah is also meant to directly enjoy natural scenery of Lake Batur.

pool, the arrival of visitors to Toya Bungkah is also meant to directly enjoy natural scenery of Lake Batur.

Marketing Director of Toya Devasya, Onik Dianita, acknowledged that during holidays such as

Umanis Galungan and Kuningan, tourist visit increased significantly.

She mentioned the average tourist visit reached about 500-1,000 people per day. However, on weekend and holidays like yesterday, the visit

could reach 1,500-2,000 people.

“Today most of the visitors are the locals,” she said.

In the meantime, in addition to the hot spring at Toya Bungkah, the other tourist attraction crowdedly visited by travelers included the Penelokan and Terunyan tourism village.

Division Head of Tourist Object Development at the Bangli Tourism and Culture Agency, Wayan

Bona, said that the increasing number of tourist visit to several attractions or recreation sites in Kintamani regularly occur during holidays such as Galungan and Kuningan. He added that tourist visit to Terunyan is in reasonable number reaching hundreds of people. “Although the lake water overflows and soaks some homes at Terunyan, the tourist visit remains crowded,” said Bona. (kmb40)

PDAM installation to be impacted by Ngurah Rai underpass project

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Handout via REUTERS

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft is shown diving through the plume of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, in 2015, in this photo illustration.

MANGUPURA - Construction of the underpass at Ngurah Rai statue intersection, Tuban, Kuta subdistrict, will certainly affect the installation of municipal waterworks (PDAM) in the area.

Technical Director of PDAM Tirta Mangutama, Wayan Suyasa, said at the location there is a flow of the PDAM’s main pipe running to South Kuta.

“At the location (Ngurah Rai intersection—Ed) sit six main pipes. The pipes run to South Kuta area, and we estimate the underpass construction will afflict to the pipes,” said Wayan

Suyasa when confirmed on Sunday (Apr. 16).

He claimed not to dare take anticipatory measures because he does not yet know about the exact illustrations of the underpass development planned to be financed by the national state budget.

“We have not been able to ascertain whether there is a cutting of the pipeline because so far there is no official layout drawing. Nevertheless, we will immediately coordinate with related parties, so that we can prepare the measures to be taken

later,” he said.

According to him, customers who utilize the PDAM services must know about the slight disruption possibility in the flow of the PDAM Tirta Mangutama, so that they can acknowledge. “It is better to tell customers from the beginning,” he said.

Nevertheless, his management will prepare a tank truck to serve the customers’ water needs later on. Even if possible, it could be assisted by the fire department.

Construction of the underpass at Ngurah Rai statue intersection at Tuban is estimated to

cost up to IDR 260 billion. If the plan can be run as schedule, the project should have run in the middle of 2017, so that in 2018 the project will have been completed.

Besides, the central government is still reviewing to widen the road at the Udayana University intersection, South Kuta subdistrict. It is considering that the path from Denpasar to Nusa Dua area is often crowded at the intersection.

Previously, the commitmentmaking officer (PPK) of the National Road Authority (BBPJN) VIII, Nyoman Yasmara, explained

that the underpass construction at the Ngurah Rai statue intersection will be worked on this year. It is expected to have been completed in 2018. As planned, the infrastructural project will have the length of 600 meters and the traffic width of 14 meters. The median will be 0.5 meter and sidewalk (0.75 meter) both in the right and left sides, while the free space height is about 5.2 meters.

Central government, according to Yasmara, will also design the road widening at the Udayana University intersection, South Kuta subdistrict. (kmb27)

2

International

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

COVER STORY

Five-day school application constrained by double shifts MANGUPURA —

The plan to reduce students’ learning activities at elementary, junior and senior high schools and equivalents aimed at improving the growth rate of domestic tourism raises question marks. It happens because a number of schools impose double shifts or have morning and afternoon classes.

Head of the Badung Education Agency, Ketut Widia Astika, welcomed the implementation of the five-day school or SaturdaySunday holiday. “However, in Badung there are still a number of schools applying morning and afternoon classes. This becomes an obstacle,” said Widia Astika, not long ago.

According to him, schools that apply morning and afternoon classes will get disrupted by the system.

“If the schools having not classes in the morning and afternoon, the obstacles may not be seen with the application of full day system because we just need to direct our teachers to remain at school for eight hours,” he said.

According to him, the implementation of Saturday-Sunday school holidays will cause activi-

ties at school to increase from six hours to eight hours. “So, students and teachers will be at school for eight hours with various activities,” he explained. One of the activities strengthened is the character education because it becomes one of the priorities.

“Students do not just study in classroom but also get selfdevelopment that can be done at school. By that way, children will not be getting saturated for being at school during eight hours,” he said.

In addition, teachers do not lack for activities at school, and there are no longer teaching and learning activities outside school hours.

“In principle, Badung welcomes it delightedly, but it cannot immediately be implemented. It can have an impact on the students of

the morning and afternoon class,” he added.

In the meantime, for schools applying morning and afternoon classes need to think in the future.

If applying the Saturday-Sunday school holidays, students must be limited or the classroom can be added. “They (the morning and afternoon classes) are what we think.

Probably, new students should be limited,” he concluded.

As published previously, the minister of education and culture planed to apply a SaturdaySunday holiday. By applying five-day school, parents can optimally spend their time with family. They will take their children to travel in Indonesia that is very rich in tourist destination, so that domestic tourist visit can be increased. (kmb27)

Genggong at the edge of extinction NEGARA — In addition to preret traditional musical instrument, genggong (jaw’s harp) also almost comes to extinction. This art developing at Penyaringan village is just deeply involved today by a handful of players. Over time, this bamboo musical instrument is increasingly marginalized by popular modern instruments.

The narrowness of space to show off and limited regeneration are two triggers of the traditional musical instruments causing them to be less developed. Only at certain moments, such as Jembrana Cultural Parade, this art is performed. Just few people of the current generation that are interested in playing this wind-generated instrument. One of them is a group of residents having profession as farmers at Penyaringan hamlet, Penyaringan. They claim to pursue this traditional music since they were in elementary school.

Currently, they are coalesced into genggong troupe.

According to some residents at Penyaringan, not all people can play this kind of musical instrument. In addition to having strong breath, people must also have an instinct to find out appropriate tone as expected. The rhythm of this instrument is followed by the jegog gamelan music. “Ideally there are ten people, including the players accompanying the flute and kletuk (rhythm marker). But currently, they continue to decrease and only one remains,” said Gede Sumarwan, one of the genggong players some time ago.

The elders told that this musical instrument with distinctive sound is originated from an agrarian society mimicking the sound of frogs in paddy fields. So, farmers then make a tool from palm midrib or bamboo perforated in such a way so that can produce sound.

Then, the bamboo is pulled by a rope. The result of combining the bamboo or palm section with the opening of the mouth creates a loud sound resembling the sound of frogs in the fields. In front of the bamboo or palm sits a coconut shell with the function of closing the mouth of the player. The power to play this instrument lies in the finger that pulls the string and the mouth. Not infrequently, beginners can experience cramp. On average, the troupe can play the jaw’s harp up to 30 minutes.

This art evolves at Penyaringan and is often performed in manusha yajna ritual and welcoming guests. The material used to make a loud sound is not haphazard. Usually it is taken from the bamboo’s part often having friction with other bamboo.

“Some people can still make this jaw’s harp, but most of them have been old. If there is no successor, it will probably go extinct,” he added.

These artists of traditional musical instrument hoped there is a concern from the local government so that the culture of agrarian society will not get marginalized and go to the edge of extinction. (olo)

The Genggong Intsrument

Activities

International

IBP/olo

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

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

15

Trekking at Bindu Tourism Village, Feel the Authentic Bali Do you want to try trekking the track of Bindu tourism village?

Evidently, the tourism village located at Bindu hamlet, Mekar Buana, Abiansemal, Badung, has more than one trekking route. Moreover, this new

route is more beautiful, challenging and very unique. On that account, choosing this new route really needs guts, so that it can feel the real atmosphere of Bali There are six German travelers

EVERY MONDAY Movie Monday19:00-21:00 Genius Cafe- Home to the entrepreneur Beach CLub Mertasari Beach (Next to Mercure), Sanur EVERY TUESDAY Ecstatic contact dance: Transformative journey Paradiso Ubud, Jalan Goutama Selatan, Ubud 100k includes dinner EVERY WEDNESDAY DEep Dive Dance Guided improvised movement 19:00-21:00 Paradiso Ubud Jalan Goutama Selatan, Ubud 100k EVERY THURSDAY African Drums with Catur SAng Klang Wijaya 16:00-18:00 Experience the healing power of drumming, all levels welcome

BY DONATION SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

having tried this new trekking route.

They are married couples consisting of Mr. And Mrs. Mayer, Mr. and Mrs. Muller and Mr. And Mrs. Ziegler. The travelers having profession as entrepreneurs and workers really enjoyed the trekking tourist attraction. “The track is really challenging so that we are quite impressed. We will continue to think of this memory until arriving at home,” said Mrs. Brigitte.

They were staying at Perani Pangi Villas located at Bindu tourism village. Indeed they are eager to walk around the village. “I’ve visited other villages in Bali, but this Bindu village is the most unique. Beautiful nature is rich in local plants. Local people are friendly and have seriousness in preserving their culture as well as clean environment,” added Mrs. Brigitte.

Atmosphere of Bindu village is also very unique. It was felt when exploring the new route continuously developed by the local tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) as the operator of the trekking tourist attraction. “I’ve tried other trekking villages, but this is the most memorable. Everything is available and complete here, so that I

can experience the real Bali at Bindu village,” she said seriously.

During the trip, they encountered various rare plants, fruits, rice crops, corn, garden balsam and marigold that they have never imagined before.

Besides, they very much enjoy traditional bamboo bridge. “We pass over a very unique traditional bridge. It’s afraid but slightly courageous,” said Mr. Ziegler.

On the way, they also found various kinds of animal such as birds, rats, lizards, dragonflies, chickens, dogs and others. They were surprised to see a snake. “At first, I am afraid to see a snake, but it does not matter. We really feel close to the rich environment with its inhabitants and the plants,” said this friendly man.

They were also impressed with the shower formerly used to be a bathing place by local people before development of toilet at people’s home. They were happy when crossing the embankment of paddy fields with intriguing grasses and felt magical aura during the procession of melukat or purificatory rite with

prayascita offering and wearing tridatu (white, red and black) thread to clean physically and psychically.

“I really feel something different because it turns out on my birthday I get a purificatory rite,” said Mr. Andreas.

Before doing the blessing at Tanah Hyang Balinese Healing Center, the six travelers were served with young coconut drink. They had a look at various types of herbal medicinal plants and the process of paddy plants from planting to harvesting. “Really, we finally know about the process of cooking rice from husked rice. Previously, we just hear about it,” he concluded.

After that, they looked around Balinese house applying what the so-called kosala-kosali (Balinese geomancy). They did not only feel comfortable in the house, but also felt different vibrations. After that, they enjoyed Balinese traditional menus, such as lawar, meat with gravy, shredded meat, fried condiment, pepes and others. While enjoying the meals, they are entertained with traditional rindik music. (bud)

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

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

16 Pages Number 72 9th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/File Photo

Prince Harry

Britain’s Prince Harry sought counselling more than a decade after mother’s death

LONDON - Britain’s Prince Harry sought counselling in his late twenties to help deal with the grief of losing his mother more than a decade earlier, he told the Telegraph newspaper.

Harry, whose mother Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 when he was just 12, said he had come “very close to a complete breakdown” on several occasions after shutting down his emotions, impacting both his work and his personal life.

“My way of dealing with it was sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help? It’s only going to make you sad, it’s not going to bring her back,” he said in an interview published on Monday.

“So from an emotional side, I was like ‘right, don’t ever let your emotions be part of anything’.”

He said his older brother Prince William had encouraged him to seek help and he had been to see “a shrink” several times. He also took up boxing to help

deal with aggression after feeling he was “on the verge of punching someone”. “(I) started to have a few conversations and actually all of a sudden, all of this grief that I have never processed started to come to the forefront and I was like, there is actually a lot of stuff here that I need to deal with,” he said, adding that he had experienced two years of “total chaos”.

The princes’ mother Diana was married to heir-to-thethrone Prince Charles between 1981 and 1996, when the couple divorced. She was killed when the car she was in crashed while being chased by paparazzi on motorbikes.

Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, described at times facing anxiety during royal engagements but said he was now in a “good place”.

He served in the British Army for 10 years, including two stints in Afghanistan, and now works with several charities including supporting wounded soldiers.

Along with William and William’s wife Catherine, he also set up a mental health charity. (rtr)

‘Fate of the Furious’ Debuts to Hefty $100.2 Million LOS ANGELES - “The Fate of the Furious” is roaring to a recordsetting global debut over the weekend even as domestic audiences showed less enthusiasm for the latest installment in Universal’s long-running “Fast and Furious” series.

Final numbers have yet to be released, but based on earlier estimates, the action-thriller is poised to set a new worldwide high-water mark. It is expected to pass the previous record of $529 million set by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” If that happens, a large part of the credit will to China, where “The Fate of the Furious” has already racked up a massive $135 million in its first two days of release. It is worth noting that Chinese theaters only give studios about 25% of ticket sales, roughly half of what they receive in most major territories.

Domestically, there are indications that a franchise centered on muscle cars and physics-defying stunts, has crested. “The Fate of the Furious” took in an estimated $100.2 million, an impressive result, but a steep drop off from “Furious 7’s” $147.2 million kick-off.

Heading into the weekend, most analysts expected the film would roar past the $100 million mark, instead of inch over the line.

There are important reasons

for the fall off. “Furious 7” served as a memorial of sorts to Paul Walker, the franchise star whose 2013 death in a car accident shattered his co-stars and many fans.

This time, there wasn’t the same emotional resonance. “The Fate of the Furious” continues the franchise without Walker, adding in series newcomers such as Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren.

Then there was the off-screen drama. This film had to contend with reports of off-screen tension between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson that undermined one of the franchise’s key selling points -- that these films are celebrations of family and brotherhood. Both stars steered clear of each other at the picture’s New York premiere and Diesel’s attempt to brush aside the reports of a beef between the actors left something to be desired.

Reviews were also weaker. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich labeled the film the worst of the series, while the Los Angeles Times’ Justin Chang argued the franchise had jumped the shark, or in this case, the nuclear submarine. That’s not to say there weren’t some loud advocates. Variety’s Owen Glieberman, for instance, praised the picture as a “dazzling action spectacle.” Audiences agreed, handing “The Fate of the Furious” an A CinemaScore. (rtr)

10 Malaika Scret 11 Snack Shack 12 Warung Lokal 13 Cokro Cafee 14 T.J.Bar 15 J & N Kebab 16 Goanna Bar 17 Batu Jimbar 18 Ramayana Cafee

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

AP Photo/Petros Karadjias

A man sales flags with Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk near the Eminonou mosque in Istanbul, Monday, April 17, 2017. Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party has called on the country’s electoral board to cancel Sunday’s referendum that approved a proposal to grant sweeping powers to the nation’s president.

European leaders respond cautiously to Turkey vote

BERLIN - Germany said on Monday the close result in Turkey’s referendum on expanding Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers was a big responsibility for him to bear and showed how divided Turkish society was. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel also said Turkish authorities needed to address concerns about the content and procedure of Sunday’s referendum raised by a panel of European legal experts.

Matt Kennedy/Universal Pictures via AP

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, seated left, and Nathalie Emmanuel, seated right, and Tyrese Gibson, standing from left, Scott Eastwood, Dwayne Johnson and Michelle Rodriguez in “The Fate of the Furious.”

You can find International Bali Post at: 1 Kuta Beach Club Jl. Bakung Sari Kuta 2 Wen Dys Kuta the Coffe Bear Jl. Pantai Kuta 3 Seminyak Paradiso Bali Hotel Jl. Camplung Tanduk 4 Ramayana Resort&Spa Jl. Bakung Sari Kuta 5 The Lokha Legian Resort&Spa Jl. Padma Legian Kuta 6 66 Corner Live Sport Emtertaiment Jl. Doble Six/Werkudara 23 7 Leghawa Grill Jl. D.Tamblingan No. 51 8 Retno Barr dan Restoran Jl. D.Tamblingan No.126 A Sanur 9 Elkomedor Jl. D.Tamblingan 140

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

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

19 Smirnof Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 20 Legwa Hotel Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 21 Nu Laser Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 22 Ganesa Book Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 23 All For Daiving Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 24 Barocca Jl.Petitenget 17 DKerobokan 25 Lantern Jl.Petitenget 17E Kerobokan 26 Shearlock Jl.Petitenget 17C Kerobokan Klod 27 Cafe Degan Jl.Petitenget 9 Kerobokan Klod

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

Erdogan declared a narrow victory in the vote, which marked the biggest overhaul of modern Turkish politics.

Opponents said it was marred by irregularities and they would challenge the result.

Merkel and Gabriel, whose country has about 3 million residents of Turkish background, said they noted the preliminary result showing a victory for the “Yes” camp. Official results are expected within 12 days. “The German government ... respects the right of Turkish citizens to decide on their own constitutional order,” they said in a statement.

“The tight referendum result shows how deeply divided Turkish society is and that means a big responsibility

for the Turkish leadership and for President Erdogan personally.”

They expected Ankara to have a “respectful dialogue” with all parts of Turkish society and its political spectrum after a tough campaign.

German integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz warned against criticising Turks living in Germany across the board over how they voted, telling regional newspaper Saarbruecker Zeitung that only around 14 percent of all German Turks living in Germany had voted “Yes” and added that most migrants had not voted.

German integration commissioner Aydan Ozoguz warned against criticising Turks living in Germany over how they voted, telling regional

newspaper Saarbruecker Zeitung that only around 14 percent of all German Turks living in Germany had voted “yes” and added that most migrants had not voted.

EU TALKS

Germany’s comments were echoed in France, where President Francois Hollande said: “It’s up to the Turks and them alone to decide on how they organise their political institutions, but the published results show that Turkish society is divided about the planned deep reforms.”

On Sunday, the European Commission said Turkey should seek a broad national consensus on constitutional amendments, given the narrow “Yes” majority and the extent of their impact. In March, the Venice Commission, a panel of legal experts at the Council of Europe, said the proposed changes to the constitution on which Turks voted, namely boosting Erdogan’s power, represented a “dangerous step backwards” for democracy.

Merkel and Gabriel pointed to the

Commission’s reservations and said that, as a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE security and human rights watchdog and an EU accession candidate, Turkey should quickly address those concerns.

“Political discussions about that need to take place as quickly as possible, both at the bilateral level and between the European institutions and Turkey,” Merkel and Gabriel said.

In a separate statement, France’s Foreign Ministry called on the Turkish government to respect the European Convention on Human Rights and its ban on the death penalty. Erdogan told supporters on Sunday that Turkey could hold another referendum on reinstating the death penalty. Such a move would spell the end of Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union. Austria, which has repeatedly called for halting membership talks, called once more for them to stop.

“We can’t just go back to the daily routine after the Turkey referendum.

We finally need some honesty in the

relationship between the EU and Turkey,” said Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, adding the bloc should instead work on a “partnership agreement”.

During the campaign, Erdogan repeatedly attacked European countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, accusing them of “Nazi-like” tactics for banning his ministers from speaking to rallies of Turkish voters abroad.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek told Reuters on Monday he expected the “noise” between Ankara and Europe should die down after the European elections cycle.

The French vote for a new president begins next Sunday. Germany votes in September. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.