I N T E R N A T I O N A L
16 Pages Number 118 11th year
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
Price: Rp 3.000,-
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Tightrope virtuoso Philippe Petit still defying gravity as he nears 70 NEW YORK - Weeks from his 70th birthday, and a few decades from his famous high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, French tightrope artist Philippe Petit continues to defy gravity. It’s been a few minutes since Petit wrapped up his show on this sunny Saturday afternoon but his mind is still up there. Several people draw near, but the red-haired artist appears not to see them. He has come down off the wire but not out of his trance. “My close friends, they say when you come back down after a walk, you’re like a zombie, like an alien. “You’re still on the wire,” he said after the walk earlier this month above the roof of the Glass House -- a house-turned-museum in New Canaan, Connecticut, designed exactly 70 years ago by
famed architect Philip Johnson. With a tight physique but a supple way of moving, Petit says age hasn’t dented his abilities. He still trains three hours a day, six days a week. “I think I can do what I was doing when I was 18 years old,” he said after the ceremony to mark the Glass House’s 70th birthday. “I think I’m actually more in possession of my talent as a wire walker today at 70 years old than I was as a little kid,” he added. “I have nothing to prove anymore.” American by adoption, he decided to stay permanently in the United States after his famed walk at the World Trade Center in New York in 1974 -- 1,300 feet (400 meters) above the ground. He still feels the call of the wire just as deeply. “I always feel excited,” he said. “Like a kid. I am impatient to start.” (afp)
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP
A revolver believed to be the gun Dutch 19th century painter Vincent Van Gogh would have used to kill himself on 27 July 1890 is on public display at Paris’ Drouot auction house on June 19, 2019 before it goes under the hammer.
Gun ‘Van Gogh killed himself with’ to go under hammer
PARIS - The revolver with which Vincent van Gogh is believed to have shot himself is to go under the hammer Wednesday at a Paris auction house.
Angela Weiss / AFP
French high wire artist Philippe Petit performs an aerial walk to launch the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Philip Johnson’s Glass House at their summer party on June 9, 2019 in New Canaan.
e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.
Billed as “the most famous weapon in the history of art”, the seven mm Lefaucheux revolver is expected to fetch up to 60,000 euros ($67,000). Van Gogh experts believe that he shot himself with the revolver near the village of Auvers-sur-Oise north of Paris, where he spent the last few months of his life in 1890. Discovered by a farmer in 1965 in the same field where the troubled Dutch painter is thought to have
fatally wounded himself, the gun has already been exhibited at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. While Art Auction, who are selling the gun, say there is no way of being absolutely certain that it is the fatal weapon, tests showed it had been in the ground for 75 years, which would fit. The Dutch artist had borrowed the gun from the owner of the inn in the village where he was staying.
You can find International Bali Post at:
He died 36 hours later after staggering wounded back to the auberge in the dark. It was not his first dramatic act of self-harm. Two years earlier in 1888, he cut off his ear before offering it to a woman in a brothel in Arles in the south of France. While most art historians agree that Van Gogh killed himself, that assumption has been questioned in recent years, with some researchers claiming that the fatal shot may have been fired accidentally by two local boys playing with the weapon in the field. (afp)
Eric Feferberg / AFP
In this file photo taken on June 15, 1999 ethnic Albanian population of Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, celebrate the withdrawal of the Serbian forces. Twenty years ago on June 12, 2019,
Population of Earth to reach 9.7 billion in 2050: UN
The world population is expected to climb to 9.7 billion in 2050 from 7.7 billion today, with the population of sub-Saharan Africa doubling, a United Nations report released Monday said. The population could then grow to 11 billion by 2100, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’s “World Population Prospects” report. The study paints a picture of a future in which a handful of countries see their populaces surge as life expectancy lengthens while the global growth rate
slows amid declining fertility rates. By 2050, more than half of the world’s population growth will be concentrated in just nine countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt and the United States. Meanwhile the world’s mostpopulous country China will see
its population drop by 2.2 percent, or around 31.4 million, between 2019 and 2050. All told, 27 countries or territories have experienced a reduction of at least one percent in the size of their populations since 2010 due to low levels of fertility. The report also says deaths are outpacing new births in Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine, but that population loss will be offset by an inflow of migrants.
The overall global fertility rate, which declined from 3.2 births per-woman in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019, is expected to fall further to 2.2 in 2050. That’s close to the minimum of 2.1 births needed to ensure the replacement of generations and avoid long-term population decline in the absence of migration, according to the United Nations. The report also projects growing life expectancy generally, including in poor countries where it is now seven years less than the global
average. Global average life expectancy should reach 77.1 years in 2050 against 72.6 years currently, the report says. In 1990, the average life expectancy was 64.2 years. (afp) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.
2
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali News
International
Jokowi invites grandson Jan Ethes for Bali Arts Festival parade DENPASAR - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) took his grandson Jan Ethes Sri Narendra to watch the 41st Bali Art Festival (PKB) parade in 2019 in front of the Bali People’s Struggle Monument, Denpasar, Bali, on Saturday.
IBP/Eka Adhyasa
Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Raka’s wife, Selvie Ananda, First Lady Iriana, Jokowi’s daughter Kahiyang Ayu, and her husband Bobby Nasution were also present at the event. The president and government officials, such as Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, on arrival, were accompanied by 100 pendet dancers and huge lines. In his report, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster remarked that the PKB was an attempt to ground Pancasila in Bali. “In the midst of the political dynamics, there is art that can unite us again. Through the PKB, we develop a spirit of unity and diversity of the nation,” Koster stated. The 41st PKB highlighted the notable narrative of Bayu, as the fourth element of Panca Maha Bhuta, which mirrors energy that is vital to human life, for which its existence should be guarded and empowered. Bayu was formulated as a core theme, specifically “Bayu Pramana: Glorifying Wind Resources.” The theme was aimed at implementing Bali’s development vision for the 2018-2023 period, which is “Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali.” By and large, the parade’s concept was based on the idea of excavation, development, and preservation. As the core of the claim, it is obligatory to display the uniqueness of each region’s culture as well as the colossal art work related to wind elements. The material for the parade delivered by the district or city comprised a signboard and a district or city emblem made of environment-friendly materials. There were also a total of 10 youngsters dressed in the costumes representing their respective regions, 20 troops depicting typical regencies or cities, typical gamelan of the district or city, 100 people presenting colossal plots representing the theme of Bayu Pramana, and 100 people presenting colossal plots derived from cultural traditions typical of each district and city. (ant)
Only four districts and municipality participate in flute making contest DENPASAR - The Bali Arts Festival (BAF) event was filled with a contest for making Balinese flute instruments in Ayodya Stage, Bali Art Center, on Monday (Jun. 17). Unfortunately, not all districts / municipality in Bali sent participants to take part in the contest. During the contest, the committee also found there were some participants carrying half-finished flutes. The flute was immediately taken by the committee because participants had to make flutes from zero. “Actually, every district / munici-
pality can send 1 to 5 people. However, at this time the participants only came from Denpasar, Badung, Bangli and Tabanan district,” said the Jury Coordinator, I Gusti Ketut Sudana. According to Sudana, each participant is required to make three types of flutes of different sizes within two hours. They are small flute or drip flute, medium flute, and large flute. Meanwhile, the assessment criteria include the materials in use namely reeds or jajang bamboo, the quality of bamboo, workmanship
techniques, arrangement of finger holes especially the accuracy of the distance between holes, harmony of the tones, and sound quality produced by the flute. “Among the three flutes, there are flutes using two kinds of tetekep, namely deng and dang. Tetekep, for example, if the 6 holes are blown, the active tone is called deng. In the medium size, if all holes are closed will produce dang, and the smallest one is deng. They have one octave,” explained the lecturer at Classi-
cal Gamelan Music Department (Karawitan) of the ISI Denpasar. Sudana added the flute is one of the important instruments in gong kebyar gamelan set. From his observations, all this time flute craftsmen have had a lack of understanding on the scales so that the sequence of notes is not appropriate when the flute is played. The most decisive sound source is the sweet hole, namely the small downward hole next to the strap of the flute. Through this contest, it is also
expected to be able to maintain the existence of Balinese flute craftsmen. In the future, the contest is not only limited to making flutes but also including how to play the flute. “Technically, playing the flute is very difficult because the flute players are quite rare,” he added. Meanwhile, for bamboo raw materials, continued Sudana, can still be easily found as growing quite a lot in several districts such as Tabanan, Bangli, and even Karangasem. (kmb32)
Founder : K.Nadha, General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Swasrina, Buleleng: Mudiarta, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Eka Parananda, Klungkung: Bagiarta. 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
Activities
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
15
Race for Water Odyssey officially welcomed to Bali by Vice Governor Mr Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati
The Race for Water Odyssey ambassador vessel was officially welcomed today in Bali by institutions, partners and the media for the first time ever in its five-year global tour. The vessel, which is the world’s largest solar powered catamaran, is going around the world to raise awareness on the impact of plastic waste on the marine environment and propose local solutions to this global problem. This unique catamaran which arrived in Bali on Tuesday 4th of
June and it , hosted the official welcome press conference on board attended by Mr Marco Simeoni, The Race for Water Foundation president;, Mr Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, Vice Governor of Bali;, Mr Michael Cottier, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland in Indonesia;, Mr Gerhard L. Nutz, Honorary Swiss Consul;, Mr Gunter Pauli, Foundation Board Member and author of the Blue Economy; and Mrs Cynthia Hardy, Co-founder of the Green School in Bali.
All speakers at the conference highlighted the importance of collaboration to tackle the complex and growing issue of plastic waste and pollution in the area. Created in 2010, the Swiss Foundation Race for Water fights to prevent the plastic pollution of the oceans. The mission is to take action on the ground by providing sustainable industrial technological solutions. Through the 2017-2021 Odyssey, the ambassador vessel travels the globe’s seas to review the impact of plastic on the marine
environment, to alert as many people as possible to this scourge and to offer solutions to combat it. It is a comprehensive programme rolled out at every stopover to assist the coastal towns and the different islands visited to take action locally against this global problem. The Race for Water Foundation’s ambassador vessel is unique; propelled solely by renewable energies thanks to its solar panels, its traction kite and its chain of hydrogen production and storage. A working showcase for energy tran-
sition whilst underway, the vessel transforms into a fabulous platform to host workshops and local school visits when in harbour. Setting sail from Lorient, southwest BrittanyFrance, on 9 April 2017 for a 5-year circumnavigation of the globe, the Race for Water vessel arrived in Bali for the 18th stopover. The vessel will depart for Jakarta on Thursday 13th of June where it is expected to arrive on the 19th for the second stop of this two-month stay in Indonesia.
14
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Technology
I, Chatbot: Getting your news from a talkative automaton
PARIS - “Do you ever lie to your friends?,” Jam asks, popping up in a private message box at the bottom of your screen.
If it seems like a personal question, don’t worry -- Jam isn’t a person, but a chatbot, eager for a bubbly conversation about the news, environment, pop culture and more. This particular cryptic query leads to Jam telling the story of Romain Gary, a French author who deceived the literary world by writing under a pseudonym. Jam is one of a new generation of sophisticated chatbots that mimic how real people write in messages and on social media to inform their readers, rather than the traditional dry question-and-answer format. The French “chatbot media” startup launched three years ago and now has exchanges with 150,000 people every day, most of them young. Jam communicates via Facebook Messenger and adopts a talkative, casual tone, like a friend telling an anecdote, peppering its banter with plenty of smiley-face emojis, pop-culture gifs and links to viral content. It chats about the news -- particularly clickfriendly, shareable stories -- or asks about broad subjects, such as your favourite band. Once you settle on a subject, it offers up information -- for example if you’re discussing a movie it will link to the trailer. You can type in responses, but it works best if you simply click on one of several possible automatic answers, which of course include your own appropriately cool emojis. “Given the possibilities of this technology, the ‘bot’ must lead the conversation, not the other way around, otherwise it gets limited very quickly,” says Jam co-founder Marjolaine Grondin. - Old-school media gets chatty -
She is hoping to find a successful business model in news as traditional media outlets struggle with the transition to online, with internet giants siphoning off advertising revenue. Chatbots have come a long away since embarrassing blunders committed by Tay, a Microsoft chatbot launched in 2016 and quickly grounded after being gamed by some internet users to post racist and misogynous tweets and to praise Adolf Hitler. Jam has been turning a profit since September, carrying out surveys for brands keen to access the anonymous data of its young database. Old-school news organisations, meanwhile, are also experimenting with chatbots as a different way to connect with and inform their audiences. Grant Heinrich, the bot development producer for BBC News Labs, said they recently used a chatbot to give a five-day crash course covering Brexit. “We had a high completion rate with a very small amount to do each day, it didn’t waste your time, didn’t try to be super cute,” he said. “We’ve seen markedly better results for bots that ask the audience their opinion rather than getting the audience to ask questions,” he said, giving the example of a question that asked whether the reader
Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP
This file photo taken on February 28, 2019 shows the “Jam” chat bot displayed on a smartphone and a binary code displayed by a tablet in Paris.
thought 15, 20 or 30 percent of people are alcoholic. He added that readers who accessed the BBC’s daily newsletter via the chatbot clicked on links about 12 times more than those who received it by email. - ‘I wanted the bot to be proud of me’ -
Emily Withrow, the director of the bot studio at the business news website Quartz, says that the main mistake many media organisations make is thinking of chatbots as a way to attract a new audience to their existing website, rather than as “its own medium”. “It requires its own style of writing, so we have a dedicated team of writers and editors who produce this content just for our bot and app every day, we’re not taking news articles and putting it in the bot, (or vice and versa),” she says. “What we would like to do is use machine learning to get smarter about patterns and content that we don’t even necessarily know about and to better deliver content to users without them having to put in a lot of effort.” Withrow says Quartz has stopped experimenting with Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa because people didn’t want to listen to robotic voices -- it seems, for the moment at least, that it’s easier to communicate in a believably human manner via text. She noted that users of chatbots appeared “willing to open themselves to technology, to form a relationship and feelings about something that they know is not human.” “People say ‘I know it’s silly, I know it’s not actually a person, but I wanted the bot to feel proud of me, I’m really looking forward to talking to it’.” (afp)
International
Bali News
International
- New discoveries -
Several moon rocks are on display at the Johnson Space Center, where they attract hundreds of thousands of
visitors every year. President Richard Nixon also gave moon rocks from Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 to all of the nations of the world -- 135, at the time -- as a token of US goodwill. But most of the moon rocks are kept at NASA’s Lunar Sample Laboratory in Houston. Another cache of samples is stored at White Sands, New Mexico. “They’re kept in sealed sample containers in a secure vault that’s capable of surviving hurricanes and many other natural disasters,” Lawrence said. Lunar samples are being handed out this year to scientists around the country for further study to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. “We’re very careful,” Lawrence said. “These are the most precious materials on Earth and they go through a rigorous process when scientists request a sample.” And while the samples have been in NASA hands for five decades, new discoveries are still being made. “The rocks haven’t changed but our ability to analyze them has in terms of laboratory equipment,” Lawrence said. Among the recent discoveries? Evidence of water. “We’re not talking about lots of water,” Lawrence said. “But it’s there and we didn’t really appreciate it during the Apollo era.” Lawrence said he is excited about the possibility of sending astronauts back to the Moon, a goal President Donald Trump has set for 2024. “The (Apollo) astronauts only directly explored an area that’s roughly the size of a large suburban shopping mall,” Lawrence said. “There’s a lot of places on the Moon that we haven’t yet explored.” “Six missions to the Moon transformed our understanding of the universe,” he said. “Imagine what happens when we’re going there for weeks or months at a time. It’s going to be pretty spectacular.” (afp)
HO / NASA / AFP
In this December 10, 1972, image obtained from NASA, astronaut Harrison Schmitt collects lunar rock samples at the TaurusLittrow landing site on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission.
3
So far, backflow remains crowded
Apollo moon rocks help transform understanding of the universe
HOUSTON - Moon rocks look rather nondescript -- they are often gray in color -- but for NASA planetary scientist Samuel Lawrence, they are the “most precious materials on Earth.” What is certain is that the lunar samples first gathered by Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong nearly 50 years ago have helped transform our understanding of the cosmos. Apollo astronauts collected 842 pounds (382 kilograms) of rocks and soil during their six missions to the Moon between 1969 and 1972 and brought it all back to Earth. “The Moon is the Rosetta Stone of the solar system,” Lawrence, who works at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in an interview with AFP. “It’s the cornerstone of planetary science.” “People don’t fully appreciate just how important studying the Apollo samples was for understanding the solar system and the universe around us,” he said. “Many of the discoveries that we’ve made in planetary science, not just on the Moon, but on Mercury, on Mars, on some of the asteroids, directly relate to some of the results that we obtained during the Apollo missions.” Studying Apollo rocks has given scientists an understanding of how the Moon was created, roughly at the same time as Earth some 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago. Debris spent the next several hundred million years coalescing in Earth orbit into the Moon we have today, explained Lawrence. “We learned that the interior structure of the Moon is like the Earth,” he said. “It has a crust, it has a mantle and it has a core.” And while life evolved on Earth, “the Moon is lifeless,” he said.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
NEGARA - Until now, the backflow at Gilimanuk Harbor remains crowded. Each loading and unloading ship in Gilimanuk Harbor is on average full of vehicles, especially motorbikes and private cars mixed with buses and trucks. Queues also occur at checkpoint 2 of the harbor exit checking documents of vehicle and goods.
IBP/kmb31
This adverse weather condition also makes seaweed farmers fail to harvest.
Bad weather, seaweed farmers fail to harvest
SEMARAPURA — Bad weather and tidal waves accompanied with strong winds do not only disrupt crossing activities. This adverse weather condition also makes seaweed farmers fail to harvest. As a result, this situation makes farmers replant, and strengthen the construction of cultivation areas, so that their seaweed will not be carried away. One of the seaweed farmers, Wayan Suarbawa, said on Monday (Jun. 17) that a lot of his seaweed supposed to be ready for harvest finally failed to harvest. It happened because the tidal waves continued to occur in the past three days since June 13. “My seaweed area is 45 days old. Usually, it should have been harvested. Actually we are about to going down to harvest, but the tidal waves already hit,” said Suarbawa. A terrible wave made the seaweed area of 1,000 square meters unable to be harvested. In the area, farmers have installed rope. Every 100 square meters farmers usually install one hundred ropes. So, when there was a terrible wave, about 1,000 ropes were immediately washed away. Of that number, the worst impact due to the wave brunt happened to 175 ropes with cattoni seaweed whereas all the seaweeds have been ready for harvest. As consequence, he suffered great losses of around IDR 3 million. In addition to losing seaweed being ready for harvest, and damages to seaweed of only 15 days old, the tidal waves also disrupted the surrounding seaweed seeds. “If the seaweed is ready for harvest, it must be washed away as we don’t install nets around them. Luckily, the construction is not destroyed by waves and it remains to look strong,” he said. Head of the Klungkung Food
Security and Fisheries Service, Wayan Durma, said the situation experienced by farmers is a commonplace. Natural factors have indeed been avoided. However, the seaweed washed away, he said, could return when carried back by the waves. Although the weather has also hindered the efforts to develop seaweed, he remained optimistic about the efforts being made. Dissemination continues to be carried out to community groups, such as at Ped, Suana village and even in Lembongan. It is meant to revive seaweed cultivation as a buffer activity, in addition to tourism remaining volatile. After the farmers have got back the excitement, he conveyed another technical problem namely the lack of drying sites. “As solution, seaweed buyers having contacted us said they dare to buy seaweed in wet conditions. Previously, buyers only wanted to buy the dry ones. Certainly it makes the intention of farmers to cultivate seaweed higher,” he said. Just like in Lembongan, said Durma, according to the data received from headman of Lembongan there are around 200 people wishing to get involved in the seaweed cultivation again. “We will meet again with the farmers to establish a farmer group because we are unlikely to provide individual assistance. This also makes us easier for supervision and guidance including in Nusa Gede,” he explained. The majority of people wishing to return to seaweed cultivation are mostly of the elderly because the remaining productive residents prefer to get involved in tourism sector seeing the results considered to be higher. Moreover, the seaweed has only just re-developed after being eroded by the glamour of tourism sector. (kmb31)
Chief of Gilimanuk Marine Area Police, Nyoman Subawa, stated on Monday (Jun. 17) the backflow still looked crowded. However, the document examination remained to be carried out. Amid the remaining crowded backflow, the identity card checks in Gilimanuk often missed. Position of the identity card checkpoint inside the terminal is quite difficult for the officers to monitor passengers having just left the harbor. Indeed, there are officers directing vehicles or passengers
to enter into the identity card checkpoint. However, many vehicles do not want to enter the terminal, especially motorbikes, freight cars and private cars so the officers could not do much. With the passing of the vehicles, the drivers and the passengers of the private vehicles as well as drivers and passengers of goods vehicle did not pass through the identity card checkpoint. Likewise, many other migrants walking away missed the identity checks by crossing the
Shiva Park area or through the hallway for passengers heading for the ticket booths. Head of the Jembrana Municipal Police, IGN Rai Budhi, when asked for his confirmation said the identity card check against residents entering Bali is a fixed procedure applied to anyone riding public transportation or carrying a private vehicle or motorcycle. His agency will convey to the officers that all vehicles and walking passengers are directed to the identity card checkpoint. (kmb)
IBP/wit
Each loading and unloading ship in Gilimanuk Harbor is on average full of vehicles, especially motorbikes and private cars mixed with buses and trucks.
4
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali News
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
International
Making a visit to Belimbing ‘green gem’ village BELIMBING village is located in Pupuan subdistrict, Tabanan. To get to this village, you will take approximately two hours from the city of Denpasar or more than fifteen minutes from the town of Tabanan. This village is called Belimbing because of the geography of Belimbing village like ‘star fruit.’ Some sides are cut by rivers and the land conditions are sloping so that farmers must make terraces to be able to grow crops. This is the uniqueness owned by this village. Paddy field area at the village reaches 360 hectares so that it is dubbed as a green gem. More than this, Belimbing village also has the Mekori Temple surrounded by 18 hectares of tropical forest along with its monkey population. With this attraction, Belimbing then becomes a tourism village which has now begun to attract tourists to visit. Other than because of having traditional sap and producing palm sugar, Belimbing village is included in the program of Nikosake area (sap, coffee, snakefruit and coconut) currently being aggressively encouraged by the Tabanan district government. Head of the BPD of Belimbing village, I Made Sumertadana, said on Sunday (Jun. 16) that the Belimbing village already pioneered the tourism village since 2009. For ten years the village officials worked together to prepare facilities, promote and prepare human resources to manage the tourism village. Gradually, Belimbing village began to be known to the public as one of the promising tourist destinations, especially for tourists desiring adventure to pristine nature. At present, tourist visits to Belimbing village reach 50 to 70 people per day. This number was acknowledged by Sumertadana to have decreased when compared to the previous months. “This may happen due to the influence of recent election and the eruption
China warns US against opening Mideast ‘Pandora’s box’
STR / AFP
This photo taken on June 17, 2019, shows Indian children suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) at the government-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur district in the eastern state of Bihar.
Paddy field area at the village reaches 360 hectares so that it is dubbed as a green gem. of Mount Agung. Usually the average visit reaches 100 to 150 people per day,” he said. To be able to increase tourist visits to Belimbing, the village authority is going to build a new tourist attraction in the form of selfie spots located at Suradadi hamlet financed with village fund through BUMDES. Construction of the selfie spot currently becoming a trend is planned to begin the construction this June. Other than the new attraction being planned to be built, for tourists desiring to enjoy the natural beauty, the operator offers some tour packages at affordable prices. According to Sumertadana, the tour packages
can now be enjoyed at Belimbing village such as trekking. It is available for short, medium and long routes. To be able to enjoy this pathway, there are tour guide services offered by local residents. Besides, there are also residents directly preparing food for tourists participating in the trekking package. The tour packages on offer are strolling in rice field, trekking package, cycling package to attractions such as coconut tree climbing and rooster pre-fighting attractions. Additionally, Belimbing village has another attraction, namely waterfall. Currently, only two waterfalls can be offered as tourist attractions, namely the Selingsing Benben
IBP/san
and Selingsing Sade. Another potential to be explored is the package of making palm sugar. Through this attraction, tourists can experience the process of making palm sugar from the taping directly to the making of palm sugar. To take part in this process, tourists must stay overnight; from here a homestay will also be developed. The Nikosake program is expected to support the development of tourism villages at Belimbing shored up by other villages within the Nikosake region so that later on the Tabanan tourist area is not only known in the North and South Tabanan but also in West Tabanan that is no less interesting. (san)
Border Park on Yeh Malet Beach has no cleaning officers
IBP/kmb
The park on Yeh Malet Beach, Manggis, precisely at the Klungkung-Karangasem border until now remains to have no janitor.
AMLAPURA - The park on Yeh Malet Beach, Manggis, precisely at the KlungkungKarangasem border until now remains to have no janitor. As a result of this condition, the beach becomes less well-maintained because there is a lot of scattered garbage disturbing the scenery. Head of the Karangasem Environment Agency (DLH), I Nyoman Tari, said on Monday (Jun. 17) that until now there has been no officer to maintain the cleanliness of the place. He added that to prepare the cleaning staff is the authority of the Tourism Office. “So far, there is no cleaning service. It remains the authority of related agency,”
he said. According to Tari, he has the authority in terms of cleanliness. Obviously, DLH has provided one garbage bin. It is in accordance with the request of the head of the local area. Such an effort was attempted to make the merchants and visitors dispose of garbage in the place prepared and not litter because it can cause the location slum. For the time being, he had asked the merchants selling at the locations to routinely carry out clean-up activities at least once a week. “We hope that visitors equally do not throw away any garbage so that it makes the area full of garbage,” hoped Tari. (kmb41)
13
Anger in India as lychee-linked brain fever kills 103 children
PATNA - Angry protests erupted in one of India’s poorest states Tuesday over the deaths of more than 100 children from a mysterious brain fever potentially linked to lychees. So far this month 103 children, mostly under 10 and malnourished, have died from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the Muzaffarpur area of the eastern state of Bihar. The toll may rise with dozens more children undergoing treatment in packed hospital wards, where television pictures showed several children to a bed. On Tuesday, dozens of people gathered outside the main hospital in Muzaffarpur to accuse local authorities of acting too slowly and of not caring. The state’s health minister came in for particular flak after asking reporters about the score in India’s cricket match against Pakistan on Sunday during a news conference on the crisis. “Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey seems more worried about cricket score than the death of children,” tweeted Randeep Surjewala of the opposition Congress party. Rabri Devi, another opposition figure, called the deaths “coldblooded murder”. “Children are dying because of a lack of medicines and treatment,”
she tweeted. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was due Tuesday to visit the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College, where most of the children have died. Media have been barred from entering the facility and the families of sick children asked not to crowd the premises. - Outbreaks occur annually AES sets in rapidly and is characterised by plummeting blood sugar, high fever, convulsions and paralysis. Its causes include viruses, bacteria and toxins transmitted in different ways. Outbreaks have occurred annually during summer months in the same districts since 1995, typically coinciding with the lychee season. Apart from 2014 when a record 150 children died, the annual death toll is usually much lower. Several years ago US researchers said the brain disease could be linked to a toxic substance found in lychees, the tropical fruit. They also said more study was needed to uncover the cause of the illness, known locally as Chamki Bukhar, which is fatal in a third
of cases. The National Human Rights Commission has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government -- as well as Kumar’s state authorities -- to say if there had been a “possible flaw” in implementation of vaccination and awareness programmes. An editorial in the Hindu newspaper Tuesday said the deaths could have “easily been prevented with some foresight and early care”. It said in 2014 an Indo-US expert team had saved 74 percent of sick children through a simple medical intervention. “It is appalling that this year the government failed to raise awareness on this strategy.” Bihar is one of India’s poorest states and home to almost 100 million people. It has also been hit by a heatwave in recent weeks with temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). Most of the children affected by the brain fever belong to poor families who struggle to get even a square meal and often gorge themselves on the free-growing lychees on an empty stomach. (afp)
BEIJING - China on Tuesday warned against opening a “Pandora’s box” in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also urged Tehran to not abandon the nuclear agreement “so easily” after Iran said it would exceed its uranium stockpile limit if world powers fail to fulfil their commitments under the agreement in 10 days. The United States ratcheted up pressure on Iran Monday, announcing the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East and producing new photographs it said showed Tehran was behind an attack on a tanker ship in the Gulf of Oman last week. “We call on all parties to remain rational and restrained, not to take any actions to provoke the escalation of tension in the region, and not to open a Pandora’s box,” Wang told reporters in Beijing during a joint press conference with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. “In particular, the United States should change its practice of extreme pressure,” Wang said. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since the US quit the nuclear deal and with Washington blacklisting Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. Wang urged Iran to “make prudent decisions” and not “so easily abandon” the deal that aims to keep Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in check. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced on May 8 that Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium
and heavy water agreed under the deal, a move he said was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal. Tehran on Monday followed through with a 10-day countdown for world powers to fulfil their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has threatened to go even further in scaling down nuclear commitments by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal -Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil. The US responded to the ultimatum by urging the international community not to give in to Iranian “nuclear extortion”, while the UN and European states called for cool heads. “China’s determination to safeguard the comprehensive agreement has not changed,” Wang said. “We are willing to work with all parties to continue to make efforts for the full and effective implementation of the agreement.” Wang said China has also “worked closely” with all parties to reconstruct the Arak heavy water reactor at a nuclear plant in the southwest of Tehran. On Syria, Wang told his visiting counterpart that China “firmly supports Syria’s economic reconstruction” and its efforts to “combat terrorism”. Beijing has in the past teamed up with Moscow to veto any UN proposals to sanction the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “China has always advocated that the Syrian issue should be resolved through political means,” Wang said. (afp)
FRED DUFOUR / POOL / AFP
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to journalists after a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem at Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2019.
12
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali News
International
BUSINESS
DENPASAR - Bali Vice Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati harbors aspirations of the province bagging the title of “The Island of Flower” as it is the host of the International Flower Competition (IFC). “We laud this event and are optimistic of it becoming an annual agenda. We are upbeat that the event, started in Bali, would spread across the world,” the Bali vice governor remarked while receiving IFC Chairperson Nir Peretz here, Friday. The vice governor, also known as Cok Ace, expressed hope that the IFC would encourage Balinese people to beautify and maintain their yards by planting varied ornamental plants. “Flowers are an intrinsic part of the lives of Balinese people. Flowers are a mainstay in religious cultures and rituals. Through this competition, we are optimistic that someday, Bali will also be known as The Island of Flower,” he noted. In the meantime, IFC Committee Chair Nir Peretz believes that the event he initiated was different than the usual flower competition. The IFC in Bali is a competition focusing on home gardens and yards wherein participants get an opportunity to showcase their creativity. Peretz revealed that this idea origi-
India on Sunday imposed higher tariffs on 28 items imported from the US, in retaliation to Washington’s recent withdrawal of trade privileges for New Delhi.
SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP
Players of Bali United junior wait in front of the club house of Bali United in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on June 17, 2019 Bali United soared on its stock market debut in Jakarta on June 17, marking the first time that a Southeast Asian football club has gone public.
An Indian street vendor arranges vegetables on his cart in New Delhi on June 13, 2019. been raised to 70 percent from 30 percent currently. The trade row is likely to be taken up when Trump and Modi meet at the G20 summit on June 28-29 in Osaka.
It is also likely to figure during talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is set to visit India later this month. US goods and services trade with India stood at an estimated $142.1 billion in 2018.
Laurène Becquart / AFP
The US trade deficit with India was $24.2 billion, according to official data. Washington is already engaged in a fullblown trade war with India’s regional rival China. (ap)
Pfizer acquires Array Biopharma, valued at $11.4 billion US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Monday announced the acquisition of Array BioPharma, a biotechnology firm that specializes in cancer drugs, the latest in a long list of biotech mergers in recent years. In a statement, Pfizer said it offered $48 per share in cash for Array, putting an $11.4 billion value on the company. “The board of directors of both companies have approved the merger,” Pfizer said. The proposed acquisition “sets the stage to create a potentially industry-leading franchise for colorectal cancer alongside Pfizer’s
existing expertise in breast and prostate cancers,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said. Array’s portfolio includes two drugs, Braftovi (encorafenib) and Mektovi (binimetinib), that when combined are effective in treating BRAF-mutant melanoma. The combination of the two drugs was authorized in September by the European Commission, several months after the US Federal Drug Administration gave its approval. Besides melanomas, BRAF mutations occur in up to 15 percent of colorectal cancers, Pfizer said.
The transaction shows how big pharmaceutical companies are looking to biotech acquisitions for growth, often buying them for astronomical sums. In early January, Bristol-Myers-Squibb acquired Celgene in a $74 billion mega merger. Last year, Sanofi scooped up Bioverativ, which specializes in hemophilia treatments, for $11.6 billion and forked out $3.9 billion euros from Ablynx of Belgium. Novartis for its part picked up AveXis, which specializes in rare genetic maladies, for $8.7 billion. (afp)
5
Bali should be named the Island of Flower: Vice Governor
From apples to almonds, India hikes tariffs on US goods
The increased duties apply to products including almonds, apples and walnuts, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said. India would “implement the imposition of retaliatory duties on 28 specified goods originating in or exported from (the) USA”, it said in a notification. The list initially included 29 goods but artemia, a kind of shrimp, has been removed from the list. India is the number two market of California almonds and Washington apples. The trade tensions come despite efforts from Washington to boost ties with India as a counterweight to China, and assertions made by both US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about their good relationship. The stage for the row was set last year after Washington refused to exempt India from higher steel and aluminium tariffs, in keeping with Trump’s decision to act against countries with which it has a large trade deficit. India responded by saying it would raise import taxes on a slew of US goods. But it delayed raising tariffs several times, hoping for negotiation to tackle the sticky trade issue. However Trump’s decision this month to strip New Delhi of its preferential trade status appears to have prompted the latest Indian move. According to the new tariffs, import duty on walnut has been hiked to 120 percent from 30 percent and on chickpeas and lentils it has
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali Utd scores in stock market first for SE Asian club
nated from his concern over most home gardens and yards in Bali not being properly maintained and organized, including not growing several flowers, thereby lending a barren look. Hence, Peretz, also the owner of Hanging Garden Bali Hotel, took the initiative to hold a home yard arrangement competition to encourage the concept of well-maintained home gardens. This competition is open to the people, who can register on the website since the start of the year. He pointed to the high level of public enthusiasm over this event, taking into account no less than 200 participants registering for this competition. “The participants just have to upload pictures of their home garden before and after the arrangement. We can see several creative ideas in managing the yards using recycled materials,” Peretz revealed. The committee will then review the gardens and select the top 10 that will be announced at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar on June 29, 2019. Peretz is optimistic of the competition having a positive impact on Bali as a tourist destination. “We are setting out to achieve the three objectives of beautifying Bali, reducing plastic waste, and restoring the bee population,” Peretz stated. (ant)
41st Bali Art Festival Wednesday, 19th June 2019 Time : 11.00 MIT Location : Angsoka Stage Program : Cildrens Traditional Playing “Rare Angon”, by Artists Group of Kalingga, the Banjar of Teba Jimbaran, South Kuta subdistrict. Representing Badung Regency Time : 17.00 MIT Location : Madya Mandala Stage Program : Joged Bumbung Dance, by the Joged Group of Dharma Laksana, the Banjar of Sente, Pikat village, Dawan subdistrict, representing Klungkung Regency Time : 19.00 MIT Location : Ayodya Stage Program : Parade of Arja Dance Drama, by Citta Usadi Arts Group,the Banjar of Gunung, Mengwitani village, Mengwi subdistrict, representing Badung Regency
Bali United soared on its stock market debut in Jakarta Monday, marking the first time that a Southeast Asian football club has gone public. The listing puts the team among top clubs Manchester United, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund which have also previously offered their shares.
Time : 19.30 MIT Location : in front of Kriya Hall Program : Contest of Parwa Puppet Shadow Play for children, by P. Luk Jiner Arts Group, representing Jembrana Regency
The Bali side’s parent company jumped nearly 70 percent Monday after an initial public offering that raised a modest 350 billion rupiah ($25 million). About one-third of team owner PT Bali Bintang Sejahtera Tbk was sold at 175 rupiah per share. Its ticker is BOLA, or ball in Indonesian. Some new shareholders were die-hard fans of Bali United, which
Time : 19.30 MIT Location : Ardha Candra Amphitheatre Program : Contest on Balaganjur music for Youths : - the Arts Group of Manik Bang, Penyaringan village, representing Jembrana Regency - the Arts Community of Wasesa Ananta, Karangasem subdistrict, representing Karangasem Regency - the Arts Group of Ganeswara, Pemaron village, Buleleng subdistrict, representing Buleleng Regency - The Arts Group Bala Nawa Sanga, Blahbatuh Village,. Blahbatuh subdistrict, representative of Gianyar Regency
is in second spot in Indonesia’s top flight Liga 1, officials said. “The Bali United brand will become more positive as a professional club with massive support from fans,” said Iwan Budianto, acting chairman of Indonesian Football Association (PSSI). “PSSI will always support and hope that there will be another clubs that will follow Bali
United’s move,” he added. While it has a low international profile, Indonesia has attracted some foreign talent in the past, including former Chelsea star Michael Essien and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Didier Zokora. But the league has been tarnished by a host of problems, including match fixing scandals and deadly hooliganism. (afp)
6
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
W
International
RLD
International
11
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Courts, cannabis, corruption: Albania struggles against old demons
TIRANA - With an ex-minister on trial for drug trafficking, an opposition leader suspected of money laundering and hundreds of judges probed over graft, Albania is wrestling against a corruption plague threatening its EU membership hopes.
The government insists that no other EU hopeful has undertaken such sweeping efforts to tackle graft and organised crime in order to join the bloc and the European Union has noted significant progress. But the decision is down to the EU’s member states and there are fears they may hesitate as political infighting clouds the anti-corruption campaign. The NATO member nation on the fringes of Europe has been under strong pressure from Brussels, particularly over organised crime. The EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini applauded Albania’s “impressive results” in fighting drug crime when she recommended opening accession talks for the Balkan state in May. But the European Commission also noted that while Albania’s once flourishing cannabis farms appear nearly rooted out, “corruption is prevalent in many areas”. “Efforts need to continue, in particular by tackling money laundering and confiscating assets stemming from crimes and other unjustified wealth,” it added. The Balkan state’s efforts will be under the spotlight again on Wednesday, when a high profile trial opens for Saimir Tahiri, a former Interior Minister and political ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama. In late 2017, he became a suspect in a cannabis smuggling case after his name appeared in wiretaps of a drug trafficker and distant cousin in Italy. - ‘A mountain of mud’ -
The issue has become a political flashpoint. Rama has defended his former minister, saying in November that “a mountain of mud was thrown at him based solely on the slander of a few criminals”. Tahiri’s lawyer has also accused prosecutors of lacking evidence and only pursuing the case for “political” reasons. But the opposition has portrayed Tahiri as evidence of an administration it alleges is enmeshed in criminal links. Rama, who has been in power since 2013, has strongly denied the opposition’s accusations that he and his Socialist party have used “crime money” to buy elections. For months opposition supporters have been holding weekly protests against Rama, hurling firecrackers at government buildings and clashing with Tirana police. But on Monday the opposition leader Lulzim Basha was himself summoned by courts on suspicion of money laundering and illegal spending during a 2017 political campaign. Now he is accusing the authorities of a “political trial” and “intimidation”. (afp)
VERO / AFP
Indonesian villagers examine victims of a ferry accident in Dungkek, East Java on June 18, 2019. At least 15 people have died after a passenger ferry sank off the Indonesian island of Java, police said Tuesday, the latest maritime accident to hit the archipelago nation.
Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP
Protesters clash with police during an anti-government protest called by the opposition in Tirana on June 8, 2019.
Venezuela receives second shipment of Red Cross aid
YURI CORTEZ / AFPA
Worker unloads generators received as part of humanitarian aid through the Venezuelan Red Cross in Caracas, Venezuela on June 17, 2019.
CARACAS - Venezuela Monday received a second shipment of Red Cross humanitarian aid, including 24 tonnes of medical supplies and generators provided by Panama, intended for hospitals to help address the country’s acute health crisis. In a statement, the Venezuelan Red Cross said it had received “medicines, medical supplies and power generators” that will be distributed in hospitals across the country, which is experiencing the worst crisis in its recent history. Six trucks moved the supplies to a Red Cross warehouse in Caracas, an AFP journalist confirmed. The shipment seeks to mitigate
a severe shortage of drugs and hospital supplies in Venezuela, which has suffered more than four years of recession and hyper-inflation marked by shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine. The United Nations says a quarter of its 30 million population is in urgent need of aid. The oil-rich South American nation has suffered the collapse of its vital crude production and runaway inflation that the IMF projects at 10 million percent this year. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro authorized entry of the first Red Cross shipment in April after signing an agreement with the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), in the middle of a power struggle with opposition leader Juan Guaido. The Red Cross said it sent the second shipment from its logistics center in Panama to the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Guaido, speaker of the National Assembly and recognized as Venezuela’s president by more than 50 countries, in February tried unsuccessfully to enter with donations from the United States, which Maduro denounced as a prelude to a US-led invasion. The ICRC has warned that humanitarian aid will not solve the crisis-wracked country’s problems. (afp)
Death toll in Indonesia ferry sinking rises to 18
The death toll from an Indonesian ferry sinking has risen to 18, authorities said Tuesday, the latest maritime accident to hit the archipelago nation.
The overloaded passenger boat was carrying more than 60 people when it overturned Monday in rough seas near Madura island, off Java’s north coast. Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said 18 people had died, including several children, with 39 survivors.
A fleet of rescue vessels, a plane and local fishing boats are searching the waters for at least four others still missing, authorities said. But local reports have suggested that there could be more victims who were not listed on the official manifest. “It’s suspected that the boat was overloaded,” East Java Police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera said. “The boat was hit by a large wave, overturned and sank.” The 10-metre (32 foot) long traditional vessel was found by fishermen shortly after it was swamped, he added.
Marine accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands, where many use ferries and other boats to travel despite poor safety standards. More than 160 people died when a passenger ferry sunk into the depths of one of the world’s deepest lakes on Sumatra island last year. In 2009, over 300 people are estimated to have drowned when a ferry sank between the islands of Sulawesi and Borneo. (afp)
BKPM projects double-digit investment growth in 2019
JAKARTA - Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) Head Thomas T. Lembong has forecast that Indonesia’s domestic and foreign investment would record double-digit growth, or over 10 percent, by the end of 2019. “My forecast is that domestic and foreign investment growth in 2019 will return to double digits,” Lembong, or popularly known as Tom, claimed here on Tuesday.
The BKPM head was optimistic that foreign investment would show a positive trend in the face of the trade war waging between the United States and China that had compelled industries to relocate their plants from China to other nations. Tom pointed out that investors had come to the realization to diversify the location for their plants and not be centered in one
particular country. “There is a trend among investors to diversify the location of the factories. Do not overly focus on one specific region. That would be risky,” he emphasized. He acknowledged that some nations did encounter challenges in maintaining political and macroeconomic stability, and some currencies had experienced a depreciation of as low as 50 percent.
Tom noted that Indonesia’s relative macroeconomic and political stability would work in its favor to attract investment. “There are no significant blunders, high market volatility, and fluctuation. We are in a stable condition and rational amid this global uncertainty and turmoil arising from time to time,” Lembong reiterated. Indonesia has incentivized to attract investment, including through
the provision of tax holiday, tax allowance, and super deductible tax. In 2019, the BKPM has outlined a target to record a total investment of Rp792.3 trillion, to rise from Rp721.3 trillion in 2018. A positive post-election scenario is forecast to boost investment that had been overshadowed by the investors’ wait-and-watch stance prior to the election, Tom stated. (ant)
10
Destination
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
International
Let’s go East to Lebih Beach GIANYAR - Well known for its beaches, also dubbed as one of the top beach destinations in the world, Bali is never boring. An island surrounded by the ocean, there is always something to offer for a relaxing and refreshing holiday. Some are already popular, even legendary like Kuta or Seminyak, and now Pandawa. Others challenge your physic due to its hidden locations, and there are many others that are still waiting to be found and explored. Some other beaches have different characters with black sands as we will find at the East Side of Bali. Most of them can be reached within a few minutes from the main road Jalan By Pass Ida Bagus Mantra connecting South Bali with Eastern Part of Karangasem. A long road in Bali for everyone who is in the mood for a long drive accompanied by a long playlist of road trip themed songs. One drive to the east is the best option in Bali for a short break holiday but still near to the beach. It is a trip where travellers will meet locals more often, and experience a slower pace of living. Along the main road, there are many signs pointing to beaches which you may give a go. Wherever you are heading, from or to Karangasem, those beaches are nice ‘rest area’ to stop by. For seafood lovers, make a
visit to Lebih Beach is something not to be missed. Getting the name simply because the beach is located inside the area of Lebih Village, this beautiful black sand beach has been recommended by many curious travellers as a gem for seafood lovers. Fresh Catches As a fishing village, the seafood is supper yummy. Some locals who open beachside warungs offers many choices of seafood dishes to taste, such as fish soup, fish egg soup, sate lilit ikan (fish satay), fish meatballs, and grilled fish, to name some. The special is that those fish are cooked using traditional bumbus, making differences in taste with other locations. The benefit of its location, a bit far from tourist spot, is each guest will have a more relaxing time as it is usually not as crowded as popular spot like Jimbaran. And, the sellers are not in rush on preparing the dishes, which result in better taste. Probably one important thing to consider, the prices are affordable, or, at least, WAY cheaper. Laidback Vibe Lebih Beach is a good spot for simply taking a break for a day and enjoy life doing nothing. If you visit here in the afternoon, a
bottle of beer is the perfect companion. Take a stroll along the shore, you can walk on the soft black sands on low tide, see the local people activities, or watch the crashing big waves from your seat. Experienced surfer might be interested to play with the waves, but it is not recommended for a
beginner. Rumah Luwih You may take the laidback atmosphere and feel to a heightened level by spending some nights at Rumah Luwih, located near Lebih Beach. Boasting a colonial style, you may feel being taken
to the emerging era of Bali tourism, where everything is serene. Beach is just within the walk, and you can visit anytime. It is a wonderful feeling and experience to be able to experience a bit of past glory while at the same time modern conveniences are within a touch button. (net)
THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP
Alexander Zverev
Zverev negotiates ‘tricky’ first-round tie in Halle
HALLE WESFALEN - German star Alexander Zverev said he needed more practice on grass after beating Dutchman Robin Haase 6-4, 7-5 to reach the second round of the ATP tournament in Halle on Monday. Second seed Zverev came back from 5-2 down in the second set to record his first grass court victory of the season, following an early exit in Stuttgart last week.
“The start of the grass season is always a bit tricky. You need practice to get used to the conditions,” said Zverev. World number five Zverev, who
won the ATP Finals in London last year, is among the favourites in Halle alongside nine-time winner Roger Federer Federer faces Australia’s John Millman in his first-round game on Tuesday, while Zverev can now prepare for a second-round clash with American Steve Johnson, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3
earlier in the day. “Steve is someone who has a very good serve and is very good on grass. There are no easy matches here,” said Zverev. Third seed Karen Khachanov is also in the second round after beating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert
sprung a minor surprise as he beat veteran compatriot Gael Monfils 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. Elsewhere, Moldova’s Radu Albot came from behind to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 over Australia’s Matthew Ebden and Portugal’s Joao Sousa recorded a 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. (afp)
Sagan takes overall Tour de Suisse lead with stage three win
Place Your Add Here
It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500
PARIS - Former three-time world champion Peter Sagan took the overall lead of the Tour de Suisse by powering to victory at the end of stage three on Monday. The 29-year-old Slovak’s show of force over the final 300 metres continues his superb run of results in Switzerland, where he has a record 17 stage wins, and at least one every year since 2011. He took the yellow jersey 10 seconds ahead of previous leader in Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen who failed to make the top ten in the run over rolling terrain to the medieval
town of Murten. Last year’s Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas remains in eighth place in the general leaderboard but trails Sagan by 28 seconds. “It was a very fast run-in and a frantic final kilometre because everyone wanted to be in front for the final bend,” Sagan said. “When it came, I was in the first places and was able to go on and win it,” he added. The breakaway’s biggest lead of three minutes over the peloton came with 130 kilometres to go
and was cut down to 15 seconds with 10km left. It was caught with 6km to go by a mass group of riders which included Sagan. Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb pushed ahead with 300m remaining but was overtaken by Sagan. Italian Elia Viviani finished in second place, followed by Degenkolb. Tuesday’s fourth stage heads 163.9km south from Murten along Lake Biel and over two short but sharp mountain ascents before a daredevil descent to the village of Arlesheim. (afp)
IBP/net
Former three-time world champion Peter Sagan took the overall lead of the Tour de Suisse by powering to victory at the end of stage three on Monday.
8
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
9
Vargas at the double as Chile rout Japan
Eduardo Vargas scored twice as Chile launched the defense of their Copa America crown with an emphatic 4-0 defeat of Japan in Sao Paulo on Monday. Vargas, who plays for Mexico club Tigres UANL, netted twice in the second half as Chile gradually overpowered a skillful but limited Japan, who are playing in the South American showpiece as one of two invited teams from Asia. Erick Pulgar had opened the scoring for Chile in the first half before Vargas doubled the 2015 and 2016 champions’ advantage with a deflected second-half strike. Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez then took his Chilean record goals tally to 42 after diving to head home in the 82nd minute before Vargas scored the pick of the goals moments later with a deft lob over Japan goalkeeper Keisuke Osako. The win saw Chile join Uruguay at the top of Group C, level on points and goal difference. “The important thing is that we move on now with humility,” said Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda. “This win doesn’t suddenly make us a dream team, just as we weren’t the disaster that our critics were saying we were before.” The scoreline was harsh on Japan, who had carved out several promising chances but were let down by poor finishing from young striker Ayase Ueda. “We deserved to score a goal,” said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu. “The difference was that they were clinical and took their chances. We’re sad to lose but proud that we really took it to them.” Japan had started confidently, dominating territory and possession albeit without threatening the Chile goal. Their best early chance came after nine minutes when Shoya Nakajima let fly after bursting forward only to see his shot saved by Chile goalkeeper Gabriel Arias.
As the first half wore on, Chile looked increasingly more threatening, and Sanchez sounded the alarm in the Japanese defense in the 35th minute when his low shot flashed just wide. Sanchez then almost played in Charles Aranguiz but the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder took too long to get his shot away, allowing Japan to deflect behind from a corner. - Chile dominant -
Aranguiz made amends, though, in the 41st minute by delivering the set piece which gave Chile the lead. A whipped corner from the right caused havoc in the Japanese area, and Bologna midfielder Pulgar leapt high above Yuta Nakayama to head home. The goal reflected Chile’s dominance, but Japan were given a glorious opportunity to equalize just before half-time. Chile coughed up possession inside their own half and Gaku Shibasaki released Ueda on goal. The 20-year-old Ueda was unable to make the chance count, though, rounding Arias but failing to find the empty net with his shot from a tight angle. The half closed with Chile threatening to add to their lead, Sanchez’s header from close range saved by Osako. Chile picked up where they left off as the second half got under way, stroking the ball around confidently to deny Japan possession. In the 54th minute the Chileans doubled their lead. A fluent build-up saw Mauricio Isla go clear down the right and he squared for Vargas, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Takehiro Tomiyasu on its way into the net. Once again, though, a Chilean goal was followed by
a golden Japan opportunity which they again squandered. Shibasaki’s fine cross picked out an unmarked Ueda at the back post but the youngster’s composure again deserted him, hooking his shot wide with Arias and the Chile goal at his mercy. Ueda missed another chance in the 69th minute but Chile slammed the door shut on hopes of a revival when Sanchez headed in Aranguiz’s cross on 82 minutes before Vargas made it 4-0 a minute later. (afp)
THOMAS SAMSON / AFP
Norway’s forward Isabell Herlovsen celebrates after scoring a goal during the France 2019 Women’s World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and Norway, on June 17, 2019, at the Auguste-Delaune Stadium in Reims, eastern France.
Chile’s Eduardo Vargas(L) celebrates with teammate Chile’s Mauricio Isla after scoring during a Copa America football tournament Group C match between Chile and Japan at the Cicero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium, also known as Morumbi, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 17, 2019.
Ex-UEFA chief Platini arrested in 2022 World Cup probe In this file photo taken on December 10, 2010 UEFA president Michel Platini of France looks on during a press conference after the UEFA organisation’s executive committee meeting in Prague. Ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini was arrested on June 18, 2019 in connection with a probe into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a source close to the investigation said.
Ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini was arrested Tuesday in connection with a probe into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a source close to the investigation said. The French football legend elected to lead European football’s governing body in 2007 was taken into custody by French anticorruption police investigating the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to the gas-rich Gulf state. Qatar was named to host the World Cup in a decision that triggered controversy over its suitability amid allegations of corruption. Platini, 63, led UEFA until 2015 when he was banned from football for four years for ethics violations
including receiving a two-million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, $2 million) payment from the disgraced former head of FIFA Sepp Blatter. Qatar has been accused of buying votes in its bid to stage the World Cup and a subsequent report by US independent investigator Michael Garcia unearthed an array of suspect financial dealings, many linked to Sandro Rosell, the ex-Barcelona president who served as a consultant for Qatar. Platini, a triple Ballon d’Or winner, was expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in 2016 before his fall from grace. He has been battling to clear his name ever since. (afp)
Norway join China, Spain in World Cup last 16 as France and Germany top groups N o r way w e n t through to the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup alongside China and Spain on Monday after beating South Korea 2-1, while France and Germany topped their groups with wins over Nigeria and South Africa. Caroline Graham Hansen gave Norway an early lead from the spot after Cho So-hyun was judged to have grabbed Maria Thorisdottir in the third minute, before winning the decisive second penalty shortly after the break when she was chopped down by Kang Chae-rim. The Barcelona attacker had to watch while she received treatment on the sidelines as Isabell Herlovsen just squeezed home Norway’s second to secure the points from a nervy encounter and seal second place in Group A, despite Yeo Min-
ji’s poked finish 12 minutes from time. They also survived a late scare from the impressive Koreans, who are nonetheless out after finishing bottom with no points, when Min-ji headed a fraction wide in stoppage time. In the next round Martin Sjogren’s side will take on one of Italy, Brazil or Australia, who go into the last round of group matches in Group C on Tuesday with first place and a potential two further last 16 places up for grabs. Outsiders Italy need just a point against Brazil to top the group while the Australians can snatch second place if they beat point-less bottom side Jamaica and the Brazilians -- in second level on three points with the Aussies -- fail to win. France meanwhile will take on one of the four best third-placed finishers following their 1-0 win, but face the prospect of tackling defending champions the USA in the quarter-finals should the Americans as expected top Group F and win their subsequent last 16 tie. The French needed a point to take first place in the group but Renard gave them all three from the spot at the second attempt, after Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was judged to have
encroached for Renard’s first effort, which hit the post. Germany meanwhile ensured they missed the Americans in the next round after they topped Group B with a perfect nine points following a comprehensive 4-0 win over South Africa earlier on Monday. It could instead be Spain, who qualify for the next round in second place behind the Germans after a goalless draw with also-through China, to play the world’s best team. - Stalemate -
Both the Spaniards and former runners-up China knew a point in Le Havre would take them through to the knockout phase from Group B, and they transpired to play out a stalemate. Spain did threaten to take all three points late on, but China goalkeeper Peng Shimeng made key saves in the last 10 minutes, getting down low to keep out a Patri Guijarro strike and then reaching to tip over a Jennifer Hermoso effort. China finshed behind Spain on goal difference but will progress as one of the best third-place finishers. Former world champions Ger-
many had no trouble dispensing with South Africa in Montpellier, as the Banyana Banyana go home from their first World Cup without a point. Leupolz was left unmarked to head in the opening goal from six yards out in the 14th minute at the Stade de la Mosson, and Sara Daebritz fired in the second 15 mintes later before captain Alexandra Popp emphatically headed home Giulia Gwinn’s cross to seal the points five minutes before the break. Lina Magull got the fourth goal from close range just before the hour mark, and South Africa then tried in vain to grab a consolation, with Janine van Wyk firing just over from long range and Thembi Kgatlana being denied by goalkeeper Almuth Schult after going clean through. Germany go into a last-16 tie on Saturday in Grenoble against an as yet unknown third-place finisher from another group. Spain will play in Reims on June 24 against either the United States or Sweden, while China must wait to find out which group winner they will come up against. (afp)
8
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
9
Vargas at the double as Chile rout Japan
Eduardo Vargas scored twice as Chile launched the defense of their Copa America crown with an emphatic 4-0 defeat of Japan in Sao Paulo on Monday. Vargas, who plays for Mexico club Tigres UANL, netted twice in the second half as Chile gradually overpowered a skillful but limited Japan, who are playing in the South American showpiece as one of two invited teams from Asia. Erick Pulgar had opened the scoring for Chile in the first half before Vargas doubled the 2015 and 2016 champions’ advantage with a deflected second-half strike. Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez then took his Chilean record goals tally to 42 after diving to head home in the 82nd minute before Vargas scored the pick of the goals moments later with a deft lob over Japan goalkeeper Keisuke Osako. The win saw Chile join Uruguay at the top of Group C, level on points and goal difference. “The important thing is that we move on now with humility,” said Chile coach Reinaldo Rueda. “This win doesn’t suddenly make us a dream team, just as we weren’t the disaster that our critics were saying we were before.” The scoreline was harsh on Japan, who had carved out several promising chances but were let down by poor finishing from young striker Ayase Ueda. “We deserved to score a goal,” said Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu. “The difference was that they were clinical and took their chances. We’re sad to lose but proud that we really took it to them.” Japan had started confidently, dominating territory and possession albeit without threatening the Chile goal. Their best early chance came after nine minutes when Shoya Nakajima let fly after bursting forward only to see his shot saved by Chile goalkeeper Gabriel Arias.
As the first half wore on, Chile looked increasingly more threatening, and Sanchez sounded the alarm in the Japanese defense in the 35th minute when his low shot flashed just wide. Sanchez then almost played in Charles Aranguiz but the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder took too long to get his shot away, allowing Japan to deflect behind from a corner. - Chile dominant -
Aranguiz made amends, though, in the 41st minute by delivering the set piece which gave Chile the lead. A whipped corner from the right caused havoc in the Japanese area, and Bologna midfielder Pulgar leapt high above Yuta Nakayama to head home. The goal reflected Chile’s dominance, but Japan were given a glorious opportunity to equalize just before half-time. Chile coughed up possession inside their own half and Gaku Shibasaki released Ueda on goal. The 20-year-old Ueda was unable to make the chance count, though, rounding Arias but failing to find the empty net with his shot from a tight angle. The half closed with Chile threatening to add to their lead, Sanchez’s header from close range saved by Osako. Chile picked up where they left off as the second half got under way, stroking the ball around confidently to deny Japan possession. In the 54th minute the Chileans doubled their lead. A fluent build-up saw Mauricio Isla go clear down the right and he squared for Vargas, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Takehiro Tomiyasu on its way into the net. Once again, though, a Chilean goal was followed by
a golden Japan opportunity which they again squandered. Shibasaki’s fine cross picked out an unmarked Ueda at the back post but the youngster’s composure again deserted him, hooking his shot wide with Arias and the Chile goal at his mercy. Ueda missed another chance in the 69th minute but Chile slammed the door shut on hopes of a revival when Sanchez headed in Aranguiz’s cross on 82 minutes before Vargas made it 4-0 a minute later. (afp)
THOMAS SAMSON / AFP
Norway’s forward Isabell Herlovsen celebrates after scoring a goal during the France 2019 Women’s World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and Norway, on June 17, 2019, at the Auguste-Delaune Stadium in Reims, eastern France.
Chile’s Eduardo Vargas(L) celebrates with teammate Chile’s Mauricio Isla after scoring during a Copa America football tournament Group C match between Chile and Japan at the Cicero Pompeu de Toledo Stadium, also known as Morumbi, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 17, 2019.
Ex-UEFA chief Platini arrested in 2022 World Cup probe In this file photo taken on December 10, 2010 UEFA president Michel Platini of France looks on during a press conference after the UEFA organisation’s executive committee meeting in Prague. Ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini was arrested on June 18, 2019 in connection with a probe into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a source close to the investigation said.
Ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini was arrested Tuesday in connection with a probe into the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, a source close to the investigation said. The French football legend elected to lead European football’s governing body in 2007 was taken into custody by French anticorruption police investigating the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to the gas-rich Gulf state. Qatar was named to host the World Cup in a decision that triggered controversy over its suitability amid allegations of corruption. Platini, 63, led UEFA until 2015 when he was banned from football for four years for ethics violations
including receiving a two-million Swiss francs (1.8 million euros, $2 million) payment from the disgraced former head of FIFA Sepp Blatter. Qatar has been accused of buying votes in its bid to stage the World Cup and a subsequent report by US independent investigator Michael Garcia unearthed an array of suspect financial dealings, many linked to Sandro Rosell, the ex-Barcelona president who served as a consultant for Qatar. Platini, a triple Ballon d’Or winner, was expected to succeed Blatter as FIFA president in 2016 before his fall from grace. He has been battling to clear his name ever since. (afp)
Norway join China, Spain in World Cup last 16 as France and Germany top groups N o r way w e n t through to the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup alongside China and Spain on Monday after beating South Korea 2-1, while France and Germany topped their groups with wins over Nigeria and South Africa. Caroline Graham Hansen gave Norway an early lead from the spot after Cho So-hyun was judged to have grabbed Maria Thorisdottir in the third minute, before winning the decisive second penalty shortly after the break when she was chopped down by Kang Chae-rim. The Barcelona attacker had to watch while she received treatment on the sidelines as Isabell Herlovsen just squeezed home Norway’s second to secure the points from a nervy encounter and seal second place in Group A, despite Yeo Min-
ji’s poked finish 12 minutes from time. They also survived a late scare from the impressive Koreans, who are nonetheless out after finishing bottom with no points, when Min-ji headed a fraction wide in stoppage time. In the next round Martin Sjogren’s side will take on one of Italy, Brazil or Australia, who go into the last round of group matches in Group C on Tuesday with first place and a potential two further last 16 places up for grabs. Outsiders Italy need just a point against Brazil to top the group while the Australians can snatch second place if they beat point-less bottom side Jamaica and the Brazilians -- in second level on three points with the Aussies -- fail to win. France meanwhile will take on one of the four best third-placed finishers following their 1-0 win, but face the prospect of tackling defending champions the USA in the quarter-finals should the Americans as expected top Group F and win their subsequent last 16 tie. The French needed a point to take first place in the group but Renard gave them all three from the spot at the second attempt, after Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was judged to have
encroached for Renard’s first effort, which hit the post. Germany meanwhile ensured they missed the Americans in the next round after they topped Group B with a perfect nine points following a comprehensive 4-0 win over South Africa earlier on Monday. It could instead be Spain, who qualify for the next round in second place behind the Germans after a goalless draw with also-through China, to play the world’s best team. - Stalemate -
Both the Spaniards and former runners-up China knew a point in Le Havre would take them through to the knockout phase from Group B, and they transpired to play out a stalemate. Spain did threaten to take all three points late on, but China goalkeeper Peng Shimeng made key saves in the last 10 minutes, getting down low to keep out a Patri Guijarro strike and then reaching to tip over a Jennifer Hermoso effort. China finshed behind Spain on goal difference but will progress as one of the best third-place finishers. Former world champions Ger-
many had no trouble dispensing with South Africa in Montpellier, as the Banyana Banyana go home from their first World Cup without a point. Leupolz was left unmarked to head in the opening goal from six yards out in the 14th minute at the Stade de la Mosson, and Sara Daebritz fired in the second 15 mintes later before captain Alexandra Popp emphatically headed home Giulia Gwinn’s cross to seal the points five minutes before the break. Lina Magull got the fourth goal from close range just before the hour mark, and South Africa then tried in vain to grab a consolation, with Janine van Wyk firing just over from long range and Thembi Kgatlana being denied by goalkeeper Almuth Schult after going clean through. Germany go into a last-16 tie on Saturday in Grenoble against an as yet unknown third-place finisher from another group. Spain will play in Reims on June 24 against either the United States or Sweden, while China must wait to find out which group winner they will come up against. (afp)
10
Destination
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
International
Let’s go East to Lebih Beach GIANYAR - Well known for its beaches, also dubbed as one of the top beach destinations in the world, Bali is never boring. An island surrounded by the ocean, there is always something to offer for a relaxing and refreshing holiday. Some are already popular, even legendary like Kuta or Seminyak, and now Pandawa. Others challenge your physic due to its hidden locations, and there are many others that are still waiting to be found and explored. Some other beaches have different characters with black sands as we will find at the East Side of Bali. Most of them can be reached within a few minutes from the main road Jalan By Pass Ida Bagus Mantra connecting South Bali with Eastern Part of Karangasem. A long road in Bali for everyone who is in the mood for a long drive accompanied by a long playlist of road trip themed songs. One drive to the east is the best option in Bali for a short break holiday but still near to the beach. It is a trip where travellers will meet locals more often, and experience a slower pace of living. Along the main road, there are many signs pointing to beaches which you may give a go. Wherever you are heading, from or to Karangasem, those beaches are nice ‘rest area’ to stop by. For seafood lovers, make a
visit to Lebih Beach is something not to be missed. Getting the name simply because the beach is located inside the area of Lebih Village, this beautiful black sand beach has been recommended by many curious travellers as a gem for seafood lovers. Fresh Catches As a fishing village, the seafood is supper yummy. Some locals who open beachside warungs offers many choices of seafood dishes to taste, such as fish soup, fish egg soup, sate lilit ikan (fish satay), fish meatballs, and grilled fish, to name some. The special is that those fish are cooked using traditional bumbus, making differences in taste with other locations. The benefit of its location, a bit far from tourist spot, is each guest will have a more relaxing time as it is usually not as crowded as popular spot like Jimbaran. And, the sellers are not in rush on preparing the dishes, which result in better taste. Probably one important thing to consider, the prices are affordable, or, at least, WAY cheaper. Laidback Vibe Lebih Beach is a good spot for simply taking a break for a day and enjoy life doing nothing. If you visit here in the afternoon, a
bottle of beer is the perfect companion. Take a stroll along the shore, you can walk on the soft black sands on low tide, see the local people activities, or watch the crashing big waves from your seat. Experienced surfer might be interested to play with the waves, but it is not recommended for a
beginner. Rumah Luwih You may take the laidback atmosphere and feel to a heightened level by spending some nights at Rumah Luwih, located near Lebih Beach. Boasting a colonial style, you may feel being taken
to the emerging era of Bali tourism, where everything is serene. Beach is just within the walk, and you can visit anytime. It is a wonderful feeling and experience to be able to experience a bit of past glory while at the same time modern conveniences are within a touch button. (net)
THOMAS KIENZLE / AFP
Alexander Zverev
Zverev negotiates ‘tricky’ first-round tie in Halle
HALLE WESFALEN - German star Alexander Zverev said he needed more practice on grass after beating Dutchman Robin Haase 6-4, 7-5 to reach the second round of the ATP tournament in Halle on Monday. Second seed Zverev came back from 5-2 down in the second set to record his first grass court victory of the season, following an early exit in Stuttgart last week.
“The start of the grass season is always a bit tricky. You need practice to get used to the conditions,” said Zverev. World number five Zverev, who
won the ATP Finals in London last year, is among the favourites in Halle alongside nine-time winner Roger Federer Federer faces Australia’s John Millman in his first-round game on Tuesday, while Zverev can now prepare for a second-round clash with American Steve Johnson, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-3
earlier in the day. “Steve is someone who has a very good serve and is very good on grass. There are no easy matches here,” said Zverev. Third seed Karen Khachanov is also in the second round after beating Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-4. France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert
sprung a minor surprise as he beat veteran compatriot Gael Monfils 7-6 (8/6), 6-4. Elsewhere, Moldova’s Radu Albot came from behind to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 over Australia’s Matthew Ebden and Portugal’s Joao Sousa recorded a 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 win over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. (afp)
Sagan takes overall Tour de Suisse lead with stage three win
Place Your Add Here
It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500
PARIS - Former three-time world champion Peter Sagan took the overall lead of the Tour de Suisse by powering to victory at the end of stage three on Monday. The 29-year-old Slovak’s show of force over the final 300 metres continues his superb run of results in Switzerland, where he has a record 17 stage wins, and at least one every year since 2011. He took the yellow jersey 10 seconds ahead of previous leader in Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen who failed to make the top ten in the run over rolling terrain to the medieval
town of Murten. Last year’s Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas remains in eighth place in the general leaderboard but trails Sagan by 28 seconds. “It was a very fast run-in and a frantic final kilometre because everyone wanted to be in front for the final bend,” Sagan said. “When it came, I was in the first places and was able to go on and win it,” he added. The breakaway’s biggest lead of three minutes over the peloton came with 130 kilometres to go
and was cut down to 15 seconds with 10km left. It was caught with 6km to go by a mass group of riders which included Sagan. Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb pushed ahead with 300m remaining but was overtaken by Sagan. Italian Elia Viviani finished in second place, followed by Degenkolb. Tuesday’s fourth stage heads 163.9km south from Murten along Lake Biel and over two short but sharp mountain ascents before a daredevil descent to the village of Arlesheim. (afp)
IBP/net
Former three-time world champion Peter Sagan took the overall lead of the Tour de Suisse by powering to victory at the end of stage three on Monday.
6
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
W
International
RLD
International
11
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Courts, cannabis, corruption: Albania struggles against old demons
TIRANA - With an ex-minister on trial for drug trafficking, an opposition leader suspected of money laundering and hundreds of judges probed over graft, Albania is wrestling against a corruption plague threatening its EU membership hopes.
The government insists that no other EU hopeful has undertaken such sweeping efforts to tackle graft and organised crime in order to join the bloc and the European Union has noted significant progress. But the decision is down to the EU’s member states and there are fears they may hesitate as political infighting clouds the anti-corruption campaign. The NATO member nation on the fringes of Europe has been under strong pressure from Brussels, particularly over organised crime. The EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini applauded Albania’s “impressive results” in fighting drug crime when she recommended opening accession talks for the Balkan state in May. But the European Commission also noted that while Albania’s once flourishing cannabis farms appear nearly rooted out, “corruption is prevalent in many areas”. “Efforts need to continue, in particular by tackling money laundering and confiscating assets stemming from crimes and other unjustified wealth,” it added. The Balkan state’s efforts will be under the spotlight again on Wednesday, when a high profile trial opens for Saimir Tahiri, a former Interior Minister and political ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama. In late 2017, he became a suspect in a cannabis smuggling case after his name appeared in wiretaps of a drug trafficker and distant cousin in Italy. - ‘A mountain of mud’ -
The issue has become a political flashpoint. Rama has defended his former minister, saying in November that “a mountain of mud was thrown at him based solely on the slander of a few criminals”. Tahiri’s lawyer has also accused prosecutors of lacking evidence and only pursuing the case for “political” reasons. But the opposition has portrayed Tahiri as evidence of an administration it alleges is enmeshed in criminal links. Rama, who has been in power since 2013, has strongly denied the opposition’s accusations that he and his Socialist party have used “crime money” to buy elections. For months opposition supporters have been holding weekly protests against Rama, hurling firecrackers at government buildings and clashing with Tirana police. But on Monday the opposition leader Lulzim Basha was himself summoned by courts on suspicion of money laundering and illegal spending during a 2017 political campaign. Now he is accusing the authorities of a “political trial” and “intimidation”. (afp)
VERO / AFP
Indonesian villagers examine victims of a ferry accident in Dungkek, East Java on June 18, 2019. At least 15 people have died after a passenger ferry sank off the Indonesian island of Java, police said Tuesday, the latest maritime accident to hit the archipelago nation.
Gent SHKULLAKU / AFP
Protesters clash with police during an anti-government protest called by the opposition in Tirana on June 8, 2019.
Venezuela receives second shipment of Red Cross aid
YURI CORTEZ / AFPA
Worker unloads generators received as part of humanitarian aid through the Venezuelan Red Cross in Caracas, Venezuela on June 17, 2019.
CARACAS - Venezuela Monday received a second shipment of Red Cross humanitarian aid, including 24 tonnes of medical supplies and generators provided by Panama, intended for hospitals to help address the country’s acute health crisis. In a statement, the Venezuelan Red Cross said it had received “medicines, medical supplies and power generators” that will be distributed in hospitals across the country, which is experiencing the worst crisis in its recent history. Six trucks moved the supplies to a Red Cross warehouse in Caracas, an AFP journalist confirmed. The shipment seeks to mitigate
a severe shortage of drugs and hospital supplies in Venezuela, which has suffered more than four years of recession and hyper-inflation marked by shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine. The United Nations says a quarter of its 30 million population is in urgent need of aid. The oil-rich South American nation has suffered the collapse of its vital crude production and runaway inflation that the IMF projects at 10 million percent this year. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro authorized entry of the first Red Cross shipment in April after signing an agreement with the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), in the middle of a power struggle with opposition leader Juan Guaido. The Red Cross said it sent the second shipment from its logistics center in Panama to the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Guaido, speaker of the National Assembly and recognized as Venezuela’s president by more than 50 countries, in February tried unsuccessfully to enter with donations from the United States, which Maduro denounced as a prelude to a US-led invasion. The ICRC has warned that humanitarian aid will not solve the crisis-wracked country’s problems. (afp)
Death toll in Indonesia ferry sinking rises to 18
The death toll from an Indonesian ferry sinking has risen to 18, authorities said Tuesday, the latest maritime accident to hit the archipelago nation.
The overloaded passenger boat was carrying more than 60 people when it overturned Monday in rough seas near Madura island, off Java’s north coast. Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said 18 people had died, including several children, with 39 survivors.
A fleet of rescue vessels, a plane and local fishing boats are searching the waters for at least four others still missing, authorities said. But local reports have suggested that there could be more victims who were not listed on the official manifest. “It’s suspected that the boat was overloaded,” East Java Police spokesman Frans Barung Mangera said. “The boat was hit by a large wave, overturned and sank.” The 10-metre (32 foot) long traditional vessel was found by fishermen shortly after it was swamped, he added.
Marine accidents are common in Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands, where many use ferries and other boats to travel despite poor safety standards. More than 160 people died when a passenger ferry sunk into the depths of one of the world’s deepest lakes on Sumatra island last year. In 2009, over 300 people are estimated to have drowned when a ferry sank between the islands of Sulawesi and Borneo. (afp)
BKPM projects double-digit investment growth in 2019
JAKARTA - Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM) Head Thomas T. Lembong has forecast that Indonesia’s domestic and foreign investment would record double-digit growth, or over 10 percent, by the end of 2019. “My forecast is that domestic and foreign investment growth in 2019 will return to double digits,” Lembong, or popularly known as Tom, claimed here on Tuesday.
The BKPM head was optimistic that foreign investment would show a positive trend in the face of the trade war waging between the United States and China that had compelled industries to relocate their plants from China to other nations. Tom pointed out that investors had come to the realization to diversify the location for their plants and not be centered in one
particular country. “There is a trend among investors to diversify the location of the factories. Do not overly focus on one specific region. That would be risky,” he emphasized. He acknowledged that some nations did encounter challenges in maintaining political and macroeconomic stability, and some currencies had experienced a depreciation of as low as 50 percent.
Tom noted that Indonesia’s relative macroeconomic and political stability would work in its favor to attract investment. “There are no significant blunders, high market volatility, and fluctuation. We are in a stable condition and rational amid this global uncertainty and turmoil arising from time to time,” Lembong reiterated. Indonesia has incentivized to attract investment, including through
the provision of tax holiday, tax allowance, and super deductible tax. In 2019, the BKPM has outlined a target to record a total investment of Rp792.3 trillion, to rise from Rp721.3 trillion in 2018. A positive post-election scenario is forecast to boost investment that had been overshadowed by the investors’ wait-and-watch stance prior to the election, Tom stated. (ant)
12
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali News
International
BUSINESS
DENPASAR - Bali Vice Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati harbors aspirations of the province bagging the title of “The Island of Flower” as it is the host of the International Flower Competition (IFC). “We laud this event and are optimistic of it becoming an annual agenda. We are upbeat that the event, started in Bali, would spread across the world,” the Bali vice governor remarked while receiving IFC Chairperson Nir Peretz here, Friday. The vice governor, also known as Cok Ace, expressed hope that the IFC would encourage Balinese people to beautify and maintain their yards by planting varied ornamental plants. “Flowers are an intrinsic part of the lives of Balinese people. Flowers are a mainstay in religious cultures and rituals. Through this competition, we are optimistic that someday, Bali will also be known as The Island of Flower,” he noted. In the meantime, IFC Committee Chair Nir Peretz believes that the event he initiated was different than the usual flower competition. The IFC in Bali is a competition focusing on home gardens and yards wherein participants get an opportunity to showcase their creativity. Peretz revealed that this idea origi-
India on Sunday imposed higher tariffs on 28 items imported from the US, in retaliation to Washington’s recent withdrawal of trade privileges for New Delhi.
SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP
Players of Bali United junior wait in front of the club house of Bali United in Denpasar, on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on June 17, 2019 Bali United soared on its stock market debut in Jakarta on June 17, marking the first time that a Southeast Asian football club has gone public.
An Indian street vendor arranges vegetables on his cart in New Delhi on June 13, 2019. been raised to 70 percent from 30 percent currently. The trade row is likely to be taken up when Trump and Modi meet at the G20 summit on June 28-29 in Osaka.
It is also likely to figure during talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is set to visit India later this month. US goods and services trade with India stood at an estimated $142.1 billion in 2018.
Laurène Becquart / AFP
The US trade deficit with India was $24.2 billion, according to official data. Washington is already engaged in a fullblown trade war with India’s regional rival China. (ap)
Pfizer acquires Array Biopharma, valued at $11.4 billion US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer on Monday announced the acquisition of Array BioPharma, a biotechnology firm that specializes in cancer drugs, the latest in a long list of biotech mergers in recent years. In a statement, Pfizer said it offered $48 per share in cash for Array, putting an $11.4 billion value on the company. “The board of directors of both companies have approved the merger,” Pfizer said. The proposed acquisition “sets the stage to create a potentially industry-leading franchise for colorectal cancer alongside Pfizer’s
existing expertise in breast and prostate cancers,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said. Array’s portfolio includes two drugs, Braftovi (encorafenib) and Mektovi (binimetinib), that when combined are effective in treating BRAF-mutant melanoma. The combination of the two drugs was authorized in September by the European Commission, several months after the US Federal Drug Administration gave its approval. Besides melanomas, BRAF mutations occur in up to 15 percent of colorectal cancers, Pfizer said.
The transaction shows how big pharmaceutical companies are looking to biotech acquisitions for growth, often buying them for astronomical sums. In early January, Bristol-Myers-Squibb acquired Celgene in a $74 billion mega merger. Last year, Sanofi scooped up Bioverativ, which specializes in hemophilia treatments, for $11.6 billion and forked out $3.9 billion euros from Ablynx of Belgium. Novartis for its part picked up AveXis, which specializes in rare genetic maladies, for $8.7 billion. (afp)
5
Bali should be named the Island of Flower: Vice Governor
From apples to almonds, India hikes tariffs on US goods
The increased duties apply to products including almonds, apples and walnuts, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs said. India would “implement the imposition of retaliatory duties on 28 specified goods originating in or exported from (the) USA”, it said in a notification. The list initially included 29 goods but artemia, a kind of shrimp, has been removed from the list. India is the number two market of California almonds and Washington apples. The trade tensions come despite efforts from Washington to boost ties with India as a counterweight to China, and assertions made by both US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about their good relationship. The stage for the row was set last year after Washington refused to exempt India from higher steel and aluminium tariffs, in keeping with Trump’s decision to act against countries with which it has a large trade deficit. India responded by saying it would raise import taxes on a slew of US goods. But it delayed raising tariffs several times, hoping for negotiation to tackle the sticky trade issue. However Trump’s decision this month to strip New Delhi of its preferential trade status appears to have prompted the latest Indian move. According to the new tariffs, import duty on walnut has been hiked to 120 percent from 30 percent and on chickpeas and lentils it has
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali Utd scores in stock market first for SE Asian club
nated from his concern over most home gardens and yards in Bali not being properly maintained and organized, including not growing several flowers, thereby lending a barren look. Hence, Peretz, also the owner of Hanging Garden Bali Hotel, took the initiative to hold a home yard arrangement competition to encourage the concept of well-maintained home gardens. This competition is open to the people, who can register on the website since the start of the year. He pointed to the high level of public enthusiasm over this event, taking into account no less than 200 participants registering for this competition. “The participants just have to upload pictures of their home garden before and after the arrangement. We can see several creative ideas in managing the yards using recycled materials,” Peretz revealed. The committee will then review the gardens and select the top 10 that will be announced at the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar on June 29, 2019. Peretz is optimistic of the competition having a positive impact on Bali as a tourist destination. “We are setting out to achieve the three objectives of beautifying Bali, reducing plastic waste, and restoring the bee population,” Peretz stated. (ant)
41st Bali Art Festival Wednesday, 19th June 2019 Time : 11.00 MIT Location : Angsoka Stage Program : Cildrens Traditional Playing “Rare Angon”, by Artists Group of Kalingga, the Banjar of Teba Jimbaran, South Kuta subdistrict. Representing Badung Regency Time : 17.00 MIT Location : Madya Mandala Stage Program : Joged Bumbung Dance, by the Joged Group of Dharma Laksana, the Banjar of Sente, Pikat village, Dawan subdistrict, representing Klungkung Regency Time : 19.00 MIT Location : Ayodya Stage Program : Parade of Arja Dance Drama, by Citta Usadi Arts Group,the Banjar of Gunung, Mengwitani village, Mengwi subdistrict, representing Badung Regency
Bali United soared on its stock market debut in Jakarta Monday, marking the first time that a Southeast Asian football club has gone public. The listing puts the team among top clubs Manchester United, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund which have also previously offered their shares.
Time : 19.30 MIT Location : in front of Kriya Hall Program : Contest of Parwa Puppet Shadow Play for children, by P. Luk Jiner Arts Group, representing Jembrana Regency
The Bali side’s parent company jumped nearly 70 percent Monday after an initial public offering that raised a modest 350 billion rupiah ($25 million). About one-third of team owner PT Bali Bintang Sejahtera Tbk was sold at 175 rupiah per share. Its ticker is BOLA, or ball in Indonesian. Some new shareholders were die-hard fans of Bali United, which
Time : 19.30 MIT Location : Ardha Candra Amphitheatre Program : Contest on Balaganjur music for Youths : - the Arts Group of Manik Bang, Penyaringan village, representing Jembrana Regency - the Arts Community of Wasesa Ananta, Karangasem subdistrict, representing Karangasem Regency - the Arts Group of Ganeswara, Pemaron village, Buleleng subdistrict, representing Buleleng Regency - The Arts Group Bala Nawa Sanga, Blahbatuh Village,. Blahbatuh subdistrict, representative of Gianyar Regency
is in second spot in Indonesia’s top flight Liga 1, officials said. “The Bali United brand will become more positive as a professional club with massive support from fans,” said Iwan Budianto, acting chairman of Indonesian Football Association (PSSI). “PSSI will always support and hope that there will be another clubs that will follow Bali
United’s move,” he added. While it has a low international profile, Indonesia has attracted some foreign talent in the past, including former Chelsea star Michael Essien and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Didier Zokora. But the league has been tarnished by a host of problems, including match fixing scandals and deadly hooliganism. (afp)
4
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali News
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
International
Making a visit to Belimbing ‘green gem’ village BELIMBING village is located in Pupuan subdistrict, Tabanan. To get to this village, you will take approximately two hours from the city of Denpasar or more than fifteen minutes from the town of Tabanan. This village is called Belimbing because of the geography of Belimbing village like ‘star fruit.’ Some sides are cut by rivers and the land conditions are sloping so that farmers must make terraces to be able to grow crops. This is the uniqueness owned by this village. Paddy field area at the village reaches 360 hectares so that it is dubbed as a green gem. More than this, Belimbing village also has the Mekori Temple surrounded by 18 hectares of tropical forest along with its monkey population. With this attraction, Belimbing then becomes a tourism village which has now begun to attract tourists to visit. Other than because of having traditional sap and producing palm sugar, Belimbing village is included in the program of Nikosake area (sap, coffee, snakefruit and coconut) currently being aggressively encouraged by the Tabanan district government. Head of the BPD of Belimbing village, I Made Sumertadana, said on Sunday (Jun. 16) that the Belimbing village already pioneered the tourism village since 2009. For ten years the village officials worked together to prepare facilities, promote and prepare human resources to manage the tourism village. Gradually, Belimbing village began to be known to the public as one of the promising tourist destinations, especially for tourists desiring adventure to pristine nature. At present, tourist visits to Belimbing village reach 50 to 70 people per day. This number was acknowledged by Sumertadana to have decreased when compared to the previous months. “This may happen due to the influence of recent election and the eruption
China warns US against opening Mideast ‘Pandora’s box’
STR / AFP
This photo taken on June 17, 2019, shows Indian children suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) at the government-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital in Muzaffarpur district in the eastern state of Bihar.
Paddy field area at the village reaches 360 hectares so that it is dubbed as a green gem. of Mount Agung. Usually the average visit reaches 100 to 150 people per day,” he said. To be able to increase tourist visits to Belimbing, the village authority is going to build a new tourist attraction in the form of selfie spots located at Suradadi hamlet financed with village fund through BUMDES. Construction of the selfie spot currently becoming a trend is planned to begin the construction this June. Other than the new attraction being planned to be built, for tourists desiring to enjoy the natural beauty, the operator offers some tour packages at affordable prices. According to Sumertadana, the tour packages
can now be enjoyed at Belimbing village such as trekking. It is available for short, medium and long routes. To be able to enjoy this pathway, there are tour guide services offered by local residents. Besides, there are also residents directly preparing food for tourists participating in the trekking package. The tour packages on offer are strolling in rice field, trekking package, cycling package to attractions such as coconut tree climbing and rooster pre-fighting attractions. Additionally, Belimbing village has another attraction, namely waterfall. Currently, only two waterfalls can be offered as tourist attractions, namely the Selingsing Benben
IBP/san
and Selingsing Sade. Another potential to be explored is the package of making palm sugar. Through this attraction, tourists can experience the process of making palm sugar from the taping directly to the making of palm sugar. To take part in this process, tourists must stay overnight; from here a homestay will also be developed. The Nikosake program is expected to support the development of tourism villages at Belimbing shored up by other villages within the Nikosake region so that later on the Tabanan tourist area is not only known in the North and South Tabanan but also in West Tabanan that is no less interesting. (san)
Border Park on Yeh Malet Beach has no cleaning officers
IBP/kmb
The park on Yeh Malet Beach, Manggis, precisely at the Klungkung-Karangasem border until now remains to have no janitor.
AMLAPURA - The park on Yeh Malet Beach, Manggis, precisely at the KlungkungKarangasem border until now remains to have no janitor. As a result of this condition, the beach becomes less well-maintained because there is a lot of scattered garbage disturbing the scenery. Head of the Karangasem Environment Agency (DLH), I Nyoman Tari, said on Monday (Jun. 17) that until now there has been no officer to maintain the cleanliness of the place. He added that to prepare the cleaning staff is the authority of the Tourism Office. “So far, there is no cleaning service. It remains the authority of related agency,”
he said. According to Tari, he has the authority in terms of cleanliness. Obviously, DLH has provided one garbage bin. It is in accordance with the request of the head of the local area. Such an effort was attempted to make the merchants and visitors dispose of garbage in the place prepared and not litter because it can cause the location slum. For the time being, he had asked the merchants selling at the locations to routinely carry out clean-up activities at least once a week. “We hope that visitors equally do not throw away any garbage so that it makes the area full of garbage,” hoped Tari. (kmb41)
13
Anger in India as lychee-linked brain fever kills 103 children
PATNA - Angry protests erupted in one of India’s poorest states Tuesday over the deaths of more than 100 children from a mysterious brain fever potentially linked to lychees. So far this month 103 children, mostly under 10 and malnourished, have died from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the Muzaffarpur area of the eastern state of Bihar. The toll may rise with dozens more children undergoing treatment in packed hospital wards, where television pictures showed several children to a bed. On Tuesday, dozens of people gathered outside the main hospital in Muzaffarpur to accuse local authorities of acting too slowly and of not caring. The state’s health minister came in for particular flak after asking reporters about the score in India’s cricket match against Pakistan on Sunday during a news conference on the crisis. “Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey seems more worried about cricket score than the death of children,” tweeted Randeep Surjewala of the opposition Congress party. Rabri Devi, another opposition figure, called the deaths “coldblooded murder”. “Children are dying because of a lack of medicines and treatment,”
she tweeted. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was due Tuesday to visit the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College, where most of the children have died. Media have been barred from entering the facility and the families of sick children asked not to crowd the premises. - Outbreaks occur annually AES sets in rapidly and is characterised by plummeting blood sugar, high fever, convulsions and paralysis. Its causes include viruses, bacteria and toxins transmitted in different ways. Outbreaks have occurred annually during summer months in the same districts since 1995, typically coinciding with the lychee season. Apart from 2014 when a record 150 children died, the annual death toll is usually much lower. Several years ago US researchers said the brain disease could be linked to a toxic substance found in lychees, the tropical fruit. They also said more study was needed to uncover the cause of the illness, known locally as Chamki Bukhar, which is fatal in a third
of cases. The National Human Rights Commission has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government -- as well as Kumar’s state authorities -- to say if there had been a “possible flaw” in implementation of vaccination and awareness programmes. An editorial in the Hindu newspaper Tuesday said the deaths could have “easily been prevented with some foresight and early care”. It said in 2014 an Indo-US expert team had saved 74 percent of sick children through a simple medical intervention. “It is appalling that this year the government failed to raise awareness on this strategy.” Bihar is one of India’s poorest states and home to almost 100 million people. It has also been hit by a heatwave in recent weeks with temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit). Most of the children affected by the brain fever belong to poor families who struggle to get even a square meal and often gorge themselves on the free-growing lychees on an empty stomach. (afp)
BEIJING - China on Tuesday warned against opening a “Pandora’s box” in the Middle East after the United States announced the deployment of 1,000 additional troops to the region amid escalating tensions with Iran. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also urged Tehran to not abandon the nuclear agreement “so easily” after Iran said it would exceed its uranium stockpile limit if world powers fail to fulfil their commitments under the agreement in 10 days. The United States ratcheted up pressure on Iran Monday, announcing the deployment of additional troops to the Middle East and producing new photographs it said showed Tehran was behind an attack on a tanker ship in the Gulf of Oman last week. “We call on all parties to remain rational and restrained, not to take any actions to provoke the escalation of tension in the region, and not to open a Pandora’s box,” Wang told reporters in Beijing during a joint press conference with visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. “In particular, the United States should change its practice of extreme pressure,” Wang said. Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated ever since the US quit the nuclear deal and with Washington blacklisting Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. Wang urged Iran to “make prudent decisions” and not “so easily abandon” the deal that aims to keep Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in check. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced on May 8 that Iran would stop observing restrictions on its stocks of enriched uranium
and heavy water agreed under the deal, a move he said was in retaliation for the unilateral US withdrawal. Tehran on Monday followed through with a 10-day countdown for world powers to fulfil their commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran has threatened to go even further in scaling down nuclear commitments by July 8 unless remaining partners to the deal -Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it circumvent US sanctions and especially enable it to sell its oil. The US responded to the ultimatum by urging the international community not to give in to Iranian “nuclear extortion”, while the UN and European states called for cool heads. “China’s determination to safeguard the comprehensive agreement has not changed,” Wang said. “We are willing to work with all parties to continue to make efforts for the full and effective implementation of the agreement.” Wang said China has also “worked closely” with all parties to reconstruct the Arak heavy water reactor at a nuclear plant in the southwest of Tehran. On Syria, Wang told his visiting counterpart that China “firmly supports Syria’s economic reconstruction” and its efforts to “combat terrorism”. Beijing has in the past teamed up with Moscow to veto any UN proposals to sanction the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. “China has always advocated that the Syrian issue should be resolved through political means,” Wang said. (afp)
FRED DUFOUR / POOL / AFP
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to journalists after a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem at Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing on June 18, 2019.
14
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Technology
I, Chatbot: Getting your news from a talkative automaton
PARIS - “Do you ever lie to your friends?,” Jam asks, popping up in a private message box at the bottom of your screen.
If it seems like a personal question, don’t worry -- Jam isn’t a person, but a chatbot, eager for a bubbly conversation about the news, environment, pop culture and more. This particular cryptic query leads to Jam telling the story of Romain Gary, a French author who deceived the literary world by writing under a pseudonym. Jam is one of a new generation of sophisticated chatbots that mimic how real people write in messages and on social media to inform their readers, rather than the traditional dry question-and-answer format. The French “chatbot media” startup launched three years ago and now has exchanges with 150,000 people every day, most of them young. Jam communicates via Facebook Messenger and adopts a talkative, casual tone, like a friend telling an anecdote, peppering its banter with plenty of smiley-face emojis, pop-culture gifs and links to viral content. It chats about the news -- particularly clickfriendly, shareable stories -- or asks about broad subjects, such as your favourite band. Once you settle on a subject, it offers up information -- for example if you’re discussing a movie it will link to the trailer. You can type in responses, but it works best if you simply click on one of several possible automatic answers, which of course include your own appropriately cool emojis. “Given the possibilities of this technology, the ‘bot’ must lead the conversation, not the other way around, otherwise it gets limited very quickly,” says Jam co-founder Marjolaine Grondin. - Old-school media gets chatty -
She is hoping to find a successful business model in news as traditional media outlets struggle with the transition to online, with internet giants siphoning off advertising revenue. Chatbots have come a long away since embarrassing blunders committed by Tay, a Microsoft chatbot launched in 2016 and quickly grounded after being gamed by some internet users to post racist and misogynous tweets and to praise Adolf Hitler. Jam has been turning a profit since September, carrying out surveys for brands keen to access the anonymous data of its young database. Old-school news organisations, meanwhile, are also experimenting with chatbots as a different way to connect with and inform their audiences. Grant Heinrich, the bot development producer for BBC News Labs, said they recently used a chatbot to give a five-day crash course covering Brexit. “We had a high completion rate with a very small amount to do each day, it didn’t waste your time, didn’t try to be super cute,” he said. “We’ve seen markedly better results for bots that ask the audience their opinion rather than getting the audience to ask questions,” he said, giving the example of a question that asked whether the reader
Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP
This file photo taken on February 28, 2019 shows the “Jam” chat bot displayed on a smartphone and a binary code displayed by a tablet in Paris.
thought 15, 20 or 30 percent of people are alcoholic. He added that readers who accessed the BBC’s daily newsletter via the chatbot clicked on links about 12 times more than those who received it by email. - ‘I wanted the bot to be proud of me’ -
Emily Withrow, the director of the bot studio at the business news website Quartz, says that the main mistake many media organisations make is thinking of chatbots as a way to attract a new audience to their existing website, rather than as “its own medium”. “It requires its own style of writing, so we have a dedicated team of writers and editors who produce this content just for our bot and app every day, we’re not taking news articles and putting it in the bot, (or vice and versa),” she says. “What we would like to do is use machine learning to get smarter about patterns and content that we don’t even necessarily know about and to better deliver content to users without them having to put in a lot of effort.” Withrow says Quartz has stopped experimenting with Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa because people didn’t want to listen to robotic voices -- it seems, for the moment at least, that it’s easier to communicate in a believably human manner via text. She noted that users of chatbots appeared “willing to open themselves to technology, to form a relationship and feelings about something that they know is not human.” “People say ‘I know it’s silly, I know it’s not actually a person, but I wanted the bot to feel proud of me, I’m really looking forward to talking to it’.” (afp)
International
Bali News
International
- New discoveries -
Several moon rocks are on display at the Johnson Space Center, where they attract hundreds of thousands of
visitors every year. President Richard Nixon also gave moon rocks from Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 to all of the nations of the world -- 135, at the time -- as a token of US goodwill. But most of the moon rocks are kept at NASA’s Lunar Sample Laboratory in Houston. Another cache of samples is stored at White Sands, New Mexico. “They’re kept in sealed sample containers in a secure vault that’s capable of surviving hurricanes and many other natural disasters,” Lawrence said. Lunar samples are being handed out this year to scientists around the country for further study to mark the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. “We’re very careful,” Lawrence said. “These are the most precious materials on Earth and they go through a rigorous process when scientists request a sample.” And while the samples have been in NASA hands for five decades, new discoveries are still being made. “The rocks haven’t changed but our ability to analyze them has in terms of laboratory equipment,” Lawrence said. Among the recent discoveries? Evidence of water. “We’re not talking about lots of water,” Lawrence said. “But it’s there and we didn’t really appreciate it during the Apollo era.” Lawrence said he is excited about the possibility of sending astronauts back to the Moon, a goal President Donald Trump has set for 2024. “The (Apollo) astronauts only directly explored an area that’s roughly the size of a large suburban shopping mall,” Lawrence said. “There’s a lot of places on the Moon that we haven’t yet explored.” “Six missions to the Moon transformed our understanding of the universe,” he said. “Imagine what happens when we’re going there for weeks or months at a time. It’s going to be pretty spectacular.” (afp)
HO / NASA / AFP
In this December 10, 1972, image obtained from NASA, astronaut Harrison Schmitt collects lunar rock samples at the TaurusLittrow landing site on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission.
3
So far, backflow remains crowded
Apollo moon rocks help transform understanding of the universe
HOUSTON - Moon rocks look rather nondescript -- they are often gray in color -- but for NASA planetary scientist Samuel Lawrence, they are the “most precious materials on Earth.” What is certain is that the lunar samples first gathered by Apollo 11’s Neil Armstrong nearly 50 years ago have helped transform our understanding of the cosmos. Apollo astronauts collected 842 pounds (382 kilograms) of rocks and soil during their six missions to the Moon between 1969 and 1972 and brought it all back to Earth. “The Moon is the Rosetta Stone of the solar system,” Lawrence, who works at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in an interview with AFP. “It’s the cornerstone of planetary science.” “People don’t fully appreciate just how important studying the Apollo samples was for understanding the solar system and the universe around us,” he said. “Many of the discoveries that we’ve made in planetary science, not just on the Moon, but on Mercury, on Mars, on some of the asteroids, directly relate to some of the results that we obtained during the Apollo missions.” Studying Apollo rocks has given scientists an understanding of how the Moon was created, roughly at the same time as Earth some 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago. Debris spent the next several hundred million years coalescing in Earth orbit into the Moon we have today, explained Lawrence. “We learned that the interior structure of the Moon is like the Earth,” he said. “It has a crust, it has a mantle and it has a core.” And while life evolved on Earth, “the Moon is lifeless,” he said.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
NEGARA - Until now, the backflow at Gilimanuk Harbor remains crowded. Each loading and unloading ship in Gilimanuk Harbor is on average full of vehicles, especially motorbikes and private cars mixed with buses and trucks. Queues also occur at checkpoint 2 of the harbor exit checking documents of vehicle and goods.
IBP/kmb31
This adverse weather condition also makes seaweed farmers fail to harvest.
Bad weather, seaweed farmers fail to harvest
SEMARAPURA — Bad weather and tidal waves accompanied with strong winds do not only disrupt crossing activities. This adverse weather condition also makes seaweed farmers fail to harvest. As a result, this situation makes farmers replant, and strengthen the construction of cultivation areas, so that their seaweed will not be carried away. One of the seaweed farmers, Wayan Suarbawa, said on Monday (Jun. 17) that a lot of his seaweed supposed to be ready for harvest finally failed to harvest. It happened because the tidal waves continued to occur in the past three days since June 13. “My seaweed area is 45 days old. Usually, it should have been harvested. Actually we are about to going down to harvest, but the tidal waves already hit,” said Suarbawa. A terrible wave made the seaweed area of 1,000 square meters unable to be harvested. In the area, farmers have installed rope. Every 100 square meters farmers usually install one hundred ropes. So, when there was a terrible wave, about 1,000 ropes were immediately washed away. Of that number, the worst impact due to the wave brunt happened to 175 ropes with cattoni seaweed whereas all the seaweeds have been ready for harvest. As consequence, he suffered great losses of around IDR 3 million. In addition to losing seaweed being ready for harvest, and damages to seaweed of only 15 days old, the tidal waves also disrupted the surrounding seaweed seeds. “If the seaweed is ready for harvest, it must be washed away as we don’t install nets around them. Luckily, the construction is not destroyed by waves and it remains to look strong,” he said. Head of the Klungkung Food
Security and Fisheries Service, Wayan Durma, said the situation experienced by farmers is a commonplace. Natural factors have indeed been avoided. However, the seaweed washed away, he said, could return when carried back by the waves. Although the weather has also hindered the efforts to develop seaweed, he remained optimistic about the efforts being made. Dissemination continues to be carried out to community groups, such as at Ped, Suana village and even in Lembongan. It is meant to revive seaweed cultivation as a buffer activity, in addition to tourism remaining volatile. After the farmers have got back the excitement, he conveyed another technical problem namely the lack of drying sites. “As solution, seaweed buyers having contacted us said they dare to buy seaweed in wet conditions. Previously, buyers only wanted to buy the dry ones. Certainly it makes the intention of farmers to cultivate seaweed higher,” he said. Just like in Lembongan, said Durma, according to the data received from headman of Lembongan there are around 200 people wishing to get involved in the seaweed cultivation again. “We will meet again with the farmers to establish a farmer group because we are unlikely to provide individual assistance. This also makes us easier for supervision and guidance including in Nusa Gede,” he explained. The majority of people wishing to return to seaweed cultivation are mostly of the elderly because the remaining productive residents prefer to get involved in tourism sector seeing the results considered to be higher. Moreover, the seaweed has only just re-developed after being eroded by the glamour of tourism sector. (kmb31)
Chief of Gilimanuk Marine Area Police, Nyoman Subawa, stated on Monday (Jun. 17) the backflow still looked crowded. However, the document examination remained to be carried out. Amid the remaining crowded backflow, the identity card checks in Gilimanuk often missed. Position of the identity card checkpoint inside the terminal is quite difficult for the officers to monitor passengers having just left the harbor. Indeed, there are officers directing vehicles or passengers
to enter into the identity card checkpoint. However, many vehicles do not want to enter the terminal, especially motorbikes, freight cars and private cars so the officers could not do much. With the passing of the vehicles, the drivers and the passengers of the private vehicles as well as drivers and passengers of goods vehicle did not pass through the identity card checkpoint. Likewise, many other migrants walking away missed the identity checks by crossing the
Shiva Park area or through the hallway for passengers heading for the ticket booths. Head of the Jembrana Municipal Police, IGN Rai Budhi, when asked for his confirmation said the identity card check against residents entering Bali is a fixed procedure applied to anyone riding public transportation or carrying a private vehicle or motorcycle. His agency will convey to the officers that all vehicles and walking passengers are directed to the identity card checkpoint. (kmb)
IBP/wit
Each loading and unloading ship in Gilimanuk Harbor is on average full of vehicles, especially motorbikes and private cars mixed with buses and trucks.
2
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Bali News
International
Jokowi invites grandson Jan Ethes for Bali Arts Festival parade DENPASAR - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) took his grandson Jan Ethes Sri Narendra to watch the 41st Bali Art Festival (PKB) parade in 2019 in front of the Bali People’s Struggle Monument, Denpasar, Bali, on Saturday.
IBP/Eka Adhyasa
Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Raka’s wife, Selvie Ananda, First Lady Iriana, Jokowi’s daughter Kahiyang Ayu, and her husband Bobby Nasution were also present at the event. The president and government officials, such as Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, on arrival, were accompanied by 100 pendet dancers and huge lines. In his report, Bali Governor I Wayan Koster remarked that the PKB was an attempt to ground Pancasila in Bali. “In the midst of the political dynamics, there is art that can unite us again. Through the PKB, we develop a spirit of unity and diversity of the nation,” Koster stated. The 41st PKB highlighted the notable narrative of Bayu, as the fourth element of Panca Maha Bhuta, which mirrors energy that is vital to human life, for which its existence should be guarded and empowered. Bayu was formulated as a core theme, specifically “Bayu Pramana: Glorifying Wind Resources.” The theme was aimed at implementing Bali’s development vision for the 2018-2023 period, which is “Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali.” By and large, the parade’s concept was based on the idea of excavation, development, and preservation. As the core of the claim, it is obligatory to display the uniqueness of each region’s culture as well as the colossal art work related to wind elements. The material for the parade delivered by the district or city comprised a signboard and a district or city emblem made of environment-friendly materials. There were also a total of 10 youngsters dressed in the costumes representing their respective regions, 20 troops depicting typical regencies or cities, typical gamelan of the district or city, 100 people presenting colossal plots representing the theme of Bayu Pramana, and 100 people presenting colossal plots derived from cultural traditions typical of each district and city. (ant)
Only four districts and municipality participate in flute making contest DENPASAR - The Bali Arts Festival (BAF) event was filled with a contest for making Balinese flute instruments in Ayodya Stage, Bali Art Center, on Monday (Jun. 17). Unfortunately, not all districts / municipality in Bali sent participants to take part in the contest. During the contest, the committee also found there were some participants carrying half-finished flutes. The flute was immediately taken by the committee because participants had to make flutes from zero. “Actually, every district / munici-
pality can send 1 to 5 people. However, at this time the participants only came from Denpasar, Badung, Bangli and Tabanan district,” said the Jury Coordinator, I Gusti Ketut Sudana. According to Sudana, each participant is required to make three types of flutes of different sizes within two hours. They are small flute or drip flute, medium flute, and large flute. Meanwhile, the assessment criteria include the materials in use namely reeds or jajang bamboo, the quality of bamboo, workmanship
techniques, arrangement of finger holes especially the accuracy of the distance between holes, harmony of the tones, and sound quality produced by the flute. “Among the three flutes, there are flutes using two kinds of tetekep, namely deng and dang. Tetekep, for example, if the 6 holes are blown, the active tone is called deng. In the medium size, if all holes are closed will produce dang, and the smallest one is deng. They have one octave,” explained the lecturer at Classi-
cal Gamelan Music Department (Karawitan) of the ISI Denpasar. Sudana added the flute is one of the important instruments in gong kebyar gamelan set. From his observations, all this time flute craftsmen have had a lack of understanding on the scales so that the sequence of notes is not appropriate when the flute is played. The most decisive sound source is the sweet hole, namely the small downward hole next to the strap of the flute. Through this contest, it is also
expected to be able to maintain the existence of Balinese flute craftsmen. In the future, the contest is not only limited to making flutes but also including how to play the flute. “Technically, playing the flute is very difficult because the flute players are quite rare,” he added. Meanwhile, for bamboo raw materials, continued Sudana, can still be easily found as growing quite a lot in several districts such as Tabanan, Bangli, and even Karangasem. (kmb32)
Founder : K.Nadha, General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Swasrina, Buleleng: Mudiarta, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Eka Parananda, Klungkung: Bagiarta. 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
Activities
International
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
15
Race for Water Odyssey officially welcomed to Bali by Vice Governor Mr Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati
The Race for Water Odyssey ambassador vessel was officially welcomed today in Bali by institutions, partners and the media for the first time ever in its five-year global tour. The vessel, which is the world’s largest solar powered catamaran, is going around the world to raise awareness on the impact of plastic waste on the marine environment and propose local solutions to this global problem. This unique catamaran which arrived in Bali on Tuesday 4th of
June and it , hosted the official welcome press conference on board attended by Mr Marco Simeoni, The Race for Water Foundation president;, Mr Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, Vice Governor of Bali;, Mr Michael Cottier, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland in Indonesia;, Mr Gerhard L. Nutz, Honorary Swiss Consul;, Mr Gunter Pauli, Foundation Board Member and author of the Blue Economy; and Mrs Cynthia Hardy, Co-founder of the Green School in Bali.
All speakers at the conference highlighted the importance of collaboration to tackle the complex and growing issue of plastic waste and pollution in the area. Created in 2010, the Swiss Foundation Race for Water fights to prevent the plastic pollution of the oceans. The mission is to take action on the ground by providing sustainable industrial technological solutions. Through the 2017-2021 Odyssey, the ambassador vessel travels the globe’s seas to review the impact of plastic on the marine
environment, to alert as many people as possible to this scourge and to offer solutions to combat it. It is a comprehensive programme rolled out at every stopover to assist the coastal towns and the different islands visited to take action locally against this global problem. The Race for Water Foundation’s ambassador vessel is unique; propelled solely by renewable energies thanks to its solar panels, its traction kite and its chain of hydrogen production and storage. A working showcase for energy tran-
sition whilst underway, the vessel transforms into a fabulous platform to host workshops and local school visits when in harbour. Setting sail from Lorient, southwest BrittanyFrance, on 9 April 2017 for a 5-year circumnavigation of the globe, the Race for Water vessel arrived in Bali for the 18th stopover. The vessel will depart for Jakarta on Thursday 13th of June where it is expected to arrive on the 19th for the second stop of this two-month stay in Indonesia.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
16 Pages Number 118 11th year
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
Price: Rp 3.000,-
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Tightrope virtuoso Philippe Petit still defying gravity as he nears 70 NEW YORK - Weeks from his 70th birthday, and a few decades from his famous high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, French tightrope artist Philippe Petit continues to defy gravity. It’s been a few minutes since Petit wrapped up his show on this sunny Saturday afternoon but his mind is still up there. Several people draw near, but the red-haired artist appears not to see them. He has come down off the wire but not out of his trance. “My close friends, they say when you come back down after a walk, you’re like a zombie, like an alien. “You’re still on the wire,” he said after the walk earlier this month above the roof of the Glass House -- a house-turned-museum in New Canaan, Connecticut, designed exactly 70 years ago by
famed architect Philip Johnson. With a tight physique but a supple way of moving, Petit says age hasn’t dented his abilities. He still trains three hours a day, six days a week. “I think I can do what I was doing when I was 18 years old,” he said after the ceremony to mark the Glass House’s 70th birthday. “I think I’m actually more in possession of my talent as a wire walker today at 70 years old than I was as a little kid,” he added. “I have nothing to prove anymore.” American by adoption, he decided to stay permanently in the United States after his famed walk at the World Trade Center in New York in 1974 -- 1,300 feet (400 meters) above the ground. He still feels the call of the wire just as deeply. “I always feel excited,” he said. “Like a kid. I am impatient to start.” (afp)
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP
A revolver believed to be the gun Dutch 19th century painter Vincent Van Gogh would have used to kill himself on 27 July 1890 is on public display at Paris’ Drouot auction house on June 19, 2019 before it goes under the hammer.
Gun ‘Van Gogh killed himself with’ to go under hammer
PARIS - The revolver with which Vincent van Gogh is believed to have shot himself is to go under the hammer Wednesday at a Paris auction house.
Angela Weiss / AFP
French high wire artist Philippe Petit performs an aerial walk to launch the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Philip Johnson’s Glass House at their summer party on June 9, 2019 in New Canaan.
e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.
Billed as “the most famous weapon in the history of art”, the seven mm Lefaucheux revolver is expected to fetch up to 60,000 euros ($67,000). Van Gogh experts believe that he shot himself with the revolver near the village of Auvers-sur-Oise north of Paris, where he spent the last few months of his life in 1890. Discovered by a farmer in 1965 in the same field where the troubled Dutch painter is thought to have
fatally wounded himself, the gun has already been exhibited at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. While Art Auction, who are selling the gun, say there is no way of being absolutely certain that it is the fatal weapon, tests showed it had been in the ground for 75 years, which would fit. The Dutch artist had borrowed the gun from the owner of the inn in the village where he was staying.
You can find International Bali Post at:
He died 36 hours later after staggering wounded back to the auberge in the dark. It was not his first dramatic act of self-harm. Two years earlier in 1888, he cut off his ear before offering it to a woman in a brothel in Arles in the south of France. While most art historians agree that Van Gogh killed himself, that assumption has been questioned in recent years, with some researchers claiming that the fatal shot may have been fired accidentally by two local boys playing with the weapon in the field. (afp)
Eric Feferberg / AFP
In this file photo taken on June 15, 1999 ethnic Albanian population of Mitrovica, northern Kosovo, celebrate the withdrawal of the Serbian forces. Twenty years ago on June 12, 2019,
Population of Earth to reach 9.7 billion in 2050: UN
The world population is expected to climb to 9.7 billion in 2050 from 7.7 billion today, with the population of sub-Saharan Africa doubling, a United Nations report released Monday said. The population could then grow to 11 billion by 2100, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs’s “World Population Prospects” report. The study paints a picture of a future in which a handful of countries see their populaces surge as life expectancy lengthens while the global growth rate
slows amid declining fertility rates. By 2050, more than half of the world’s population growth will be concentrated in just nine countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Egypt and the United States. Meanwhile the world’s mostpopulous country China will see
its population drop by 2.2 percent, or around 31.4 million, between 2019 and 2050. All told, 27 countries or territories have experienced a reduction of at least one percent in the size of their populations since 2010 due to low levels of fertility. The report also says deaths are outpacing new births in Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine, but that population loss will be offset by an inflow of migrants.
The overall global fertility rate, which declined from 3.2 births per-woman in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019, is expected to fall further to 2.2 in 2050. That’s close to the minimum of 2.1 births needed to ensure the replacement of generations and avoid long-term population decline in the absence of migration, according to the United Nations. The report also projects growing life expectancy generally, including in poor countries where it is now seven years less than the global
average. Global average life expectancy should reach 77.1 years in 2050 against 72.6 years currently, the report says. In 1990, the average life expectancy was 64.2 years. (afp) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.