Edition Friday, february 23, 2018 | Internasional Bali Post

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

16 Pages Number 57 10th year

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

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Friday, February 23, 2018

‘Get a grip’ - Jennifer Lawrence offended over plunging dress furor LOS ANGELES - Jennifer Lawrence on Wednesday blasted a controversy over a photo of her wearing a plunging black dress outside on a cold London day as sexist, ridiculous and “not feminism.”

The Oscar-winning star, 27, said in a Facebook posting that she was also “extremely offended” by what she called the “utterly ridiculous” reaction on social and mainstream media to the photo, taken as part of promotions for her upcoming movie “Red Sparrow.”

The picture, taken outdoors on a bitter winter’s day in London earlier this week, showed a bareshouldered Lawrence wearing a black gown, while actor Jeremy Irons and three fellow cast members donned thick wool coats Many commentators saw the photo as a reflection of the pressure on women in Hollywood to look good, particularly given Lawrence’s previous outspoken criticism of the gender pay gap in the movie industry.

“True equality means either Jennifer Lawrence getting a coat,

or Jeremy Irons having to pose for a photo call in assless chaps,” tweeted London journalist Helen Lewis.

Australian journalist Stephanie Peatling remarked on Twitter that it was “cold enough that the bloke actors have to wear coats and scarves to their press call and yet poor Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a small amount of fabric some might call a dress.”

Lawrence, one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood, was having none of it.

“That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I’m going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf? I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice,” she wrote on Facebook.

“This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism,” she added.

“It’s creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people” “Red Sparrow,” a thriller in which Lawrence plays a Russian spy, opens worldwide next week. (rtr)

REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Actor Jennifer Lawrence arrives for the European premiere of “Red Sparrow” in London, Britain February 19, 2018.

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

Friday, February 23, 2018

Man throws grenade at U.S. embassy in Montenegro, then blows himself up

PODGORICA - An unidentified man threw an explosive device, probably a hand grenade, at the U.S. embassy building in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, around midnight before blowing himself up, the government said on Thursday.

REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Dua Lipa arrives at the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, February 21, 2018.

Dua Lipa, Stormzy take top honours at BRIT awards

No casualties were reported from the embassy which confirmed a small explosion near its compound. The U.S. State Department said checks were being carried out to ensure all staff were safe.

Policemen with submachine

guns and police vehicles were out on the streets near the embassy building on Thursday morning after the incident.

The government, in a tweet, said that about half an hour after midnight “an unknown person” had committed suicide with an

explosive device. “Immediately before, that person threw an explosive device from the intersection near the Sport Center into the U.S. embassy compound.”

The device was most probably a hand grenade, it said. Police were investigating and trying to

establish the person’s identification.

The embassy was closed for issuing visas on Thursday and it warned U.S. citizens to stay away until further notice.

“The U.S. embassy in Podgorica advises U.S. citizens there is an active security situation at the U.S. embassy in Podgorica,” it said on its website.

Montenegro is the smallest of

all former Yugoslav republics and became the 29th country to join NATO last May. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

LONDON - Singers Dua Lipa and Stormzy were the biggest winners at this year’s BRIT awards, Britain’s most high-profile pop music awards, taking two trophies each at an event that saw performances from some of music’s biggest acts.

Lipa was named best female solo artist and breakthrough act at the British Record Industry Trust (BRIT) awards, held in London on Wednesday, while rapper Stormzy won the British male solo artist prize and British album of the year for “Gang Signs & Prayer.”

Ed Sheeran took the global success award but lost in the three other categories in which he was nominated, while One Direction star Harry Styles won for video of the year by a British artist.

Foo Fighters took the prize for international group. U.S. rapper Kendrick Lamar was named best international male artist, with New Zealand singer Lorde taking the female solo artist honours.

The event featured performances from the likes of Sheeran, Lipa

and Lamar, who rapped on top of a glass cube containing a luxury car that was smashed up by a man wielding a bat.

Lamar’s act appeared to suffer from technical difficulties that muted periods of his performance, leading fans on social media to express their frustration.

Other artists went for grand scale. Justin Timberlake opened the show with a rendition of “Say Something” accompanied by a scores-strong choir dotted throughout the audience, while Dua Lipa was accompanied by dozens of dancers, also scattered throughout the arena.

Many of the stars in attendance wore white roses on the red carpet and during the show as a gesture of support for the Time’s Up and

#Metoo movements against sexual harassment and abuse and supporting women’s rights.

“It does make a difference,” Lipa told Reuters on the red carpet of the protest. “We are protesting in our own way and this how we’re going to make a difference.”

The show also saw Oasis front man Liam Gallagher perform “Live Forever” in a tribute to the victims of a suicide bombing attack on a venue hosting a concert by U.S. pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester in May 2017, which killed 22 people.

British media outlets reported that Gallagher had been added to the line-up at the last minute, to replace a planned tribute performance by Grande, who dropped out due to illness. (rtr)

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

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

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

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

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

Police guard the United States embassy building in Podgorica, Montenegro, February 22, 2018.

2

Bali News

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Congestion to airport complained

Toll road users advised to depart earlier

DENPASAR - A number of tourism players complained about the congestion happening to the road section to Ngurah Rai Airport. Moreover, it happens after the construction of underpass at the Ngurah Rai statue intersection followed by the traffic diversion to the Bali Mandara toll road. Such diversion is considered to fail as unable to smooth the traffic from and to the airport, including the traffic from and to Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Jimbaran and surrounding areas.

“Traffic diversion to toll road automatically results in the increase of vehicle density. At certain hours, the density has made no sense and tortured the public,” said a tourism entrepreneur, Kadek Adnyana, when confirmed on Wednesday (Feb. 21).

According to Adnyana, it takes 30 minutes to get into the toll road only. It does not include the time of queuing at toll booth which now imposes e-payment or electronic money.

There are also toll users that do not carry toll cards so they have to purchase on the spot. “The process takes at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, behind the user have lined the vehicles that will pass through the toll booth, which of course exacerbates the congestion,” he explained.

The government, added Adnyana, should be present to provide services. Similarly, PT. Jasamarga Bali Tol as the

operator must perform emergency measures considering earlier there was information about 30 French tourists left by the airline due to stuck amid toll congestion.

“They are very disappointed with the traffic that should be managed more wisely and better. One of the fastest options is to re-apply manual payment at toll booth until the underpass process is completed. Then, assign three attendants to collect cash payment at one booth entrance for faster services,” he explained.

He added that toll operator does not have to maintain payments with toll cards in emergency situations as what happens today. Besides, the toll road users are not ready with the new system. “This is for the sake of Bali’s tourism image, so that it will not even become worse,” he said. When separately interviewed, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nengah Tamba, said the congestion occurred in the airport area is the impact of underpass construction. Properly, the hotel and travel agencies must actively inform this condition to their guests.

“If necessary, every room should be equipped with a kind of notice where guests or tourists can read, so they can provide an early time if they want to return to their home country or other destination cities by flight,” explained this Democratic Party politician.

On the other hand, Tamba also asked the toll road officers to be responsive, especially when there are toll users that do not bring along their toll card or toll card needs topping up.

These kinds of users are potentially inhibiting the traffic. “If they indeed do not carry toll card or its balance runs out, the officers on duty should quickly find a solution. Later, Commission III will check it all, maybe tomorrow (Thursday) we will go down,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali Transportation Agency, IGA Sudarsana, said the congestion must be addressed wisely. Moreover, there is a construction of the underpass that when completed will be very useful for smooth traffic there.

One of the consequences of this time is indeed congestion.

To resolve the congestion, he claimed to have coordinated with police authority. But the number of vehicles is quite a lot and the situation is very crowded.

“To anticipate, we must depart early so that everything can go well. The companies working on the underpasses project are also time-targeted, while many police colleagues are deployed to help (streamline traffic—Ed),” he said.

Sudarsana admitted to disagree if the payment system in Bali Mandara toll is returned to manual. On the contrary, the public must have awareness to bring their toll card and make sure it contains sufficient balance when they are going to enter toll road considering the government has required the use of electronic money on the toll without any bargaining.

“As the risk, the presence of toll roads must be responded by purchasing toll cards voluntarily. No matter what the reason is, we should not step backward to use the manual payment,” he affirmed. (kmb32)

Activities

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

15

The Great Family Escape at The Sungu Resort & Spa

If you’re planning a family holiday in Ubud, then the award-winning The Sungu Resort & Spa is the perfect choice. This authentically Balinese resort located within lush and pristine settings, which recreates the intimacy of a traditional Balinese village, is now offering

a Family Package that will give you wonderful value-for-money complete with today’s modern-day luxuries while you enjoy a serene holiday in the heart of Bali’s cultural centre.

Priced at IDR 4,900,000 nett, this 3 days 2 nights stay package

includes a stay at the beautiful Duplex Villa Sungu - a breathtaking two-storey villa with designs inspired from the traditional Balinese Lumbung or Rice Barn - a 1-time 60-minute Children Painting Lesson, a 1-time Balinese traditional massage for 45

minutes, and so much more. While you’re there, do try your hand at Traditional Painting and Gamelan lessons and Palm Leaf creations or visit the Museum Rudana with your family.

So don’t miss out! Book your stay now at The Sungu Resort &

Spa for the most memorable family holiday in the artistic and cultural heartland of Ubud.The Sungu Resort & Spa | Jl. Penestanan, Ubud, Bali - 80571 | Ph: +62 361 975719 | info@ thesunguresort.com | www.thesunguresort.com

Unique cremation at Cempaga village, Without bade tower, corpse symbolized with bangun urip

CEMPAGA Village, Banjar subdistrict, is one of four villages belonging to Bali Aga or ancient village in Buleleng. As the Bali Aga village, this village occupying the highlands keeps the tradition inherited from their ancestors.

One of the traditions is a series of Ngaben or cremation ceremonies.

Cremation ceremony at Cempaga village can be considered unique because the procession and ritual paraphernalia are not the same as Ngaben in general.

Cempaga villagers have believed that cremation is performed without the use of bade tower burned in the grave area. However, cremation at this village only uses ritual paraphernalia known as bangun urip. In addition, the peak of cremation at Cempaga village is not done in the cemetery area, but in the village hall. Then, on the day of cremation, the ritual paraphernalia is only discarded in telutug (the edge of the village—Ed).

Practically, there is no burning of ritual paraphernalia in the ngaben at Cempaga village.

Mass cremation at Cempaga village this year involved 35 corpses from 15 clans. Peak of the cremation was held on Wednesday (Feb. 21) after holding mungkah and

mesehlawang at central intersection of local village (catus pata) on Tuesday (Feb. 20). In the evening, residents and parties involved in the mass cremation prepare the oblation until midnight by setting up bangun urip as a symbol of the corpses buried in the cemetery.

Bangun urip is made from white rice, delicacy of Balinese pork (black pig—Ed) and other important paraphernalia. The rice itself is put in the lowest order as the embodiment of the grave of a family member who has died.

Then, on the rice is placed various pork delicacies such as satay and other paraphernalia arranged in such a way. Having been accomplished, the bangun urip will look like a grave lined up on a pavilion that has been built far in advance by local residents. Every bangun urip is given a photo of the deceased signifying someone to be cremated. Family members and relatives including the invitees stand up in front of each bangun urip.

Chairman of Cempaga Village Cremation Committee, Made Juwika, said the cremation tradition with the bangun urip denoting a local ancestral heritage has not been affected by the development

and cremation ceremony in other regions in Bali. He said the bangun urip symbolizes the corpse buried in the cemetery. Commenced with mungkah ritual, the soul of the deceased will be given ceremony enthroned through the symbol of bangun urip itself.

Each participating family of the cremation ceremony should pay as much as IDR 3 million plus a Balinese pig.

“The uniqueness of cremation at our village lies in the oblations in use, the bangun urip and the ceremony entirely taking place in village hall. It is not necessary to go to cemetery and no need to do burning at all. After the peak of cremation, all the ritual paraphernalia including bangun urip and other means are thrown to the end of the village,” he explained.

Who officiates over the cremation? Juwika said the mass cremation at his village is not led by a Brahmin priest. However, all the ngaben processions are only done by a village healer or village priest. This uniqueness shows that cremation at Cempaga village is not the same as those in other areas in Bali. Though being different, he and other residents believe that the procession of the cremation is

meant to pray for the soul of the deceased so as to get a peaceful place before God and always give wellness to family or relatives left behind. “All the processions are led by village priest and it is meant to say prayers for the deceased and return their spirit to its origin. At the same time, it invokes blessing and safety for their children, grandchildren and relatives left behind,” he explained.

Menek pangkonan

Cempaga village still has other uniqueness related to the mass cremation procession. Before the peak of cremation ceremony, residents and cremation participants implementing the cremation ceremony carry out the tradition of Menek Pangkonan. This tradition is also a legacy of their ancestors remaining sustainable until these days.

According to headman of Cempaga, I Putu Suarja, the tradition of Menek Pangkonan has the meaning of banquet as well as the witness of important invitees and all the related residents in the implementation of mass cremation. Menek Pangkonan is manifested by eating rice, with pork side dishes, and lawar. All these facilities are placed on four

pavilions lined up. The highest platform is the place for temple priests, village apparatus, and invited government officials. The lower platform (angsagan) is for lower officials and the two other lower ones are for (serving delicacies and serving plates) ordinary residents. This tradition is not just for men, but also for women having the same turn.

“This is uniqueness cannot be found in other regions and all have meaningful symbols other than promoting togetherness and unity.

This is a witness and banquet for invitees that have prayed for the implementation of cremation at our village,” he explained.

Tradition of Menek Pangkonan begins with eating rice together with side dishes of pork processed into satay, lawar, tum and other servings. This food is usually a donation from the residents. If there is no donation, it will be prepared by cremation committee. All the participants enjoy the serving of rice and side dishes with gusto. Then, it is resumed with dinking palm wine, arrack and rice wine and followed by eating klepon fresh cakes and ending with pecanangan (cigarettes and betel nut). (mud)

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

Friday February 23 11:30-13:30 Balinese Culture 101”Death Rites with Bu Rucina Ballinger Hubbub:Ubud Cowering community space 88x Monkey Forest Road Ubud 10:00-11:30 Weekly Hatha Yoga with Ary Mocks Ubud Restaurant Puskesmas ubud II, gg damai Ubud 18:00-19:30 Ari Shakti Meditation on the Divine Mother Savage Loka Resort Penestanan, Gianyar 8:30-11:00 Bali Women in Business Genius Cafe- home to the Entrepreneur Beach Club Mertasari Beach Sanur 18:00-19:00 CFC 2017§18 PlayPlay Charity Performance CushCush Gallery

Jalan Teuku Umar Gang Rajawali no 1 A Denpasar Saturday February 24 16:00-19:00 Bali’s biggest clean up Beaches all over Bali oneislandonevoice.org 20:00-23:30 Lala Kono African Drumming and Dancing Bali Bohemia Jl. Night Bojog Nyuh Kuning Ubud 18:30-21:00 Ecstatic Dance & Nataraja Cosmic Sound Nataraja Bali Yoga Shala Jalan Dukuh Indah no 6060 Umalas 19:00-23:00 An Evening with DANI and Sandrayati Fay Rum Sanur Creative Hub Jalan Danau Poso no 51A Sanur 8:00-22:00 Pesta Wirausaha Bali 2018

Monument Bajra Sandhi Renon Denpasar 10:00-18:00 Shamanic Breathwork The Yoga Barn Jalan Raya Pengosekan Ubud 13:00-16:00 Wim Hof Methode Workshop Paradiso Ubud Jalan Gautama Selatan Ubud 10:00-11:30 Traditional Indonesian Dance #7 Tribes Jt Life Studio Jl. Subak Uma, Petulu lebah Ubud 15:00-21:00 Arts & Music: Kirael Expo Vision Villa Resort Jl. Masceti, Median Gianyar 16:00-19:00 Cobalt Learn to Surf & sunset session Jimbaran Beach Jl. Four Season Muaya Beach Jimbaran Kuta Selatan 16:00-19:00

CS Gathering” Discussion about Sustainable Tourism 9 Angels Jalan Suweta 32, Ubud Sunday February 25 19:30-22:30 Jazz Club with Astrid Sulaiman Casa Luna Ubud Jl. Raya Ubud 11:30-12:30 Weekly Tai Chi class Mocks Ubud Restaurant Puskemas Ubud ii, Gg. Damai Ubud 17:30-21:00 Sunday Twilight Smoked Duck Class Case Luna Cooking School with Janet DeNeef Jalan Bisma Ubud 14:00-17:00 Meditation & talks with Zero Mangku Budhidarma Sharna Dwipa Gianyar

14

Friday, February 23, 2018

Fashion

International

Bali News

International

Gucci’s Michele explores identities in rich, bold display

MILAN - Italian fashion house Gucci dazzled fans with a presentation featuring baby dragons, snakes and models carrying replica heads in their arms in a Milan catwalk show on Wednesday that explored the concepts of creativity and identity.

Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele framed his display -- one of the most sought after tickets in Milan’s fashion week - in a cold, sterile and claustrophobic space that replicated an operating theatre.

“Our job (as creatives) is a surgical job: cutting and assembling and experimenting on the operating table,” Michele told reporters after

what he said was an exhausting show.

He explained that he wanted to show that there was order, a “scientific clarity”, among all the confusion of a job like his.

The brand, the biggest in French luxury group Kering , has been revamped with a bold new style over the past two years under Michele, and recently branched into homeware.

The verve of Michele, director since January 2015, has been key to giving Gucci a strong new identity, and its bright, elaborate and geeky yet chic looks have expanded the brand’s following particularly among younger customers.

The collection, for the next fall/ winter season, was rich and ornate, coherent with the kind of elaborate and layered styles Michele has been sending down catwalks in recent seasons.

His designs echoed different ethnicities, cultures and social classes, combining elements such as Sikh turbans with south American patterns, everyday work clothes with college-inspired looks. Some models wore crystal, embellished head pieces and many wore coloured balaclavas.

Two young models carried a replica of their heads in their arms, representing the struggle of accepting one’s identity and “look-

ing after your head and thoughts”, Michele said.

Like many other collections, Michele’s approach suggests the notion that people don’t necessarily have to fit into pre-defined categories and that they are free to chose who they are.

A style note said the different designs embodied Gucci’s concept of “pluriverse” and drew inspiration from Donna Haraway’s ‘Cyborg Manifesto”, a 1984 essay rejecting the idea of rigid boundaries, particularly those separating humans from animals and from machines.

“Limiting fashion to something that only produces business is too

easy,” Michele said, noting that the industry is now more engaged in social issues, with “a greater conscience”.

Kering boss Francois-Henri Pinault said earlier this month Gucci could still notch up double-digit growth this year. Comparable sales in the last quarter of 2017 at Gucci rose nearly 43 percent, beating forecasts and most industry peers.

Milan Fashion week runs until Feb. 26. The Italian fashion capital will be the setting for just over 60 shows and over 90 presentations and designers like Italy’s Armani, Versace, Dolce&Gabbana will be showcasing their fall/winter collections. (rtr)

3

Friday, February 23, 2018

Besakih tourism disturbed by naughty guides

Culprits detected, Besakih village prepares sanctions

IBP/kmb31

The parking area is made quite spacious completed with a roof. It is capable of accommodating thousands of vehicles of all students from all grades.

SMAN 1 Rendang resolves parking issues

Customary land used with a charge of IDR 1,000

PARKING issues have always been complicated at schools, especially in high and vocational school level. Thousands of vehicles always fill the corner of the school yard every day. Thus, it results in chaotic impression. However, this issue does not appear at SMAN 1 Rendang high school. School yard looks beautiful and cool without any motorcycles parked carelessly.

Then, where do the students park their motorcycles?

SMAN 1 Rendang becomes the main choice for every junior high school graduate in Rendang subdistrict. The school is quite spacious with neat courtyards and gardens. From the entrance to the teachers’ room, the vehicles of both cars and motorcycles are assured to belong to the visiting guests.

Meanwhile, teachers park theirs in a small corner north of the teachers’ room building. So, where do the students park their vehicle?

Apparently behind the school there is an ample land where thousands of motorcycles are parked and arranged very neatly.

Principal of SMAN 1 Rendang, I Wayan Janiarta, said the school finally thought of a breakthrough after experiencing many parking problems. In addition to disturbing the impression of school due to chaotic parking, there are also problems to motorcycles of the students. Sometimes a helmet or a

part of motorcycle like the mirror or another is missing. So, an idea came to establish cooperation with the local customary village. “There is a vacant lot behind the school.

Instead of being empty, it is better to be utilized,” said Janiarta when met at school on Tuesday (Feb. 20).

He recalled the idea of his school was also welcomed by Rendang customary village. Thus, there is cooperation to utilize the land behind the Dalem Temple for the parking lot of all the students.

The parking area is made quite spacious completed with a roof.

It is capable of accommodating thousands of vehicles of all students from all grades. It is also set up per grade. “Here, there is a parking attendant who guards and manages the students when parking,” said Janiarta.

As a contribution, the students should only pay IDR 1,000 when parking. By that way, students and their parents are said to be very supportive. In addition to being safe from the bad guys, the students’ motorcycles are also safe from the sun or rain. In addition, the empty and unutilized land is able to produce even though not so much. “When there is a school activity, this location also becomes an option in case of rainy season.

It is not possible to organize an event in the school field,” explained Janiarta. (kmb31)

AMLAPURA - Operations Management of Besakih Attraction as an extension of the government-formed management board returns to be made dizzy by unscrupulous local guides. By exploiting the loopholes of existing surveillance system, they seek personal gain by ‘harassing’ visiting tourists.

Based on information from some travel agencies, local tour guides try to get additional income by forcing tourists to give tips. In addition, they force tourists to donate at the amount that does not make sense.

Fortunately, the operations management has known the condition and has prepared measures to sterilize Besakih from such harmful behavior.

Acting Operations Manager of Besakih Attraction, Mangku Ngawit, said on Tuesday (Feb. 20) that operations management with Besakih tour guide organization already detected the bad guys. This priest of Dukuh Sagening Temple of Besakih did not specify the number or initials of the bad guys. Obviously, he stated their behavior will be addressed at the Besakih customary village level and organizational level of the local guide.

“We in the operations management has no authority to impose sanction. It will be decided in the internal organization based on the statutes and bylaws. Chief of Besakih customary village along

Besakih temple

with the ranks will also be referring to the existing perarem (appendix to customary village bylaws),” he explained.

Mangku Ngawit acknowledged the act of the unscrupulous local guides is very disturbing. Therefore, on Tuesday afternoon after reporting to the Regent of Karangasem, IGA Mas Sumatri, Besakih customary village together with the operations management and tour guide organization held a meeting at the office of Besakih headman. The meeting also discussed about the sanctions to be imposed on the local guides involved. “We actually have a system to minimize such behavior. There are some check points to supervise the activities of local guides, but we admit the violation remains to exist,” he said.

Mangku Ngawit ensured that the issue will be seriously addressed because it is believed to have a negative impact on the tourist visit to Besakih. According to him, currently there are an average of 200 foreign tourists and 47 domestic tourists making a visit. The amount is admittedly far from normal condition where the average can reach 550 foreign tourists and 75 domestic tourists per day. Nevertheless, over days the visit rates continue to improve. “Tourist visit begins to be crowded and so does pilgrim’s activity, approaching to normal. We do not want the image of Besakih to be destroyed by the act of such few individuals,” he said. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

4

Bali News

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Cultural preservation of carpentry period at Gilimanuk Bay

PREHISTORIC Man Museum of Gilimanuk is one of the museums becoming the pride of Jembrana. Since the past three years, the museum having the collection of fossils and objects of Mongoloid Race civilization has been already renovated. Actually, most of the Gilimanuk village areas posing densely populated area still belong to the area of ancient sites.

Not a few objects and fossils are found in the yard and the streets of settlements at Gilimanuk.

Location of the museum is not far from the Shiva statue of Gilimanuk, between the vast expanse of grass and blend with Gilimanuk Bay. The expanse of grass at the edge of the bay becomes main site for the finding of fossils and sarcophagi. Based on the research, the outskirt of the Gilimanuk Bay was inhibited by Mongoloid human civilization in 195 BC to 425 AD. Today, visitors can also see the situation of excavation sites conducted by researchers in 2003.

Outside the main building of the three-story museum, there is a building used for showroom of site casting. In the center of the groundfloor building, there are holes made similar to an excavation. Around the building is also displayed some documentation when the museum began to be pioneered to research activities.

Meanwhile, the main building displays various fossils and ancient objects found on the Gilimanuk sites. More than 100 objects related to human life of Mongoloid race are on display in the museum. On the first floor, there is a human skeleton from children to adult as well as sarcophagus.

Head of the Archaeological Institute for Bali-NTB-NTT Region, I Gusti Made Suarbawa, when met on the sidelines of the activity at Gilimanuk some time ago said that Gilimanuk is a necropolis or fisherman’s settlement as well as the burial place of the population.

This society developed with civilization of carpentry period before getting influences from India. This man is familiar with bronze tools and jewelry (rings and bracelets), wood and stone. The objects such as pots and bracelets were found in the graves believed to be burial provisions.

Since it was officially opened in 1990, the three-story building just got refurbishment around 2015. The main building previously obsolete, including the casting and roof, has now been renovated without changing the original structure and architecture. From outside, the building reflects Balinese ornaments and only looks to have one floor.

However, when coming into the building, there are stairs connecting to the third floor. On the top floor, the museum exhibits some collection of kitchenware and jewelry such as dishes, corals, pottery and others.

In addition to being a place of cultural preservation and research, the museum is also often taken advantage as the center for cultural activities. The museum spreads across the area of five hectares, while the site area reaches ??20 hectares or half of the Gilimanuk area. For several times, residents around the museum accidentally found a number of ancient objects when digging. (olo)

IBP/olo

The museum having the collection of fossils and objects of Mongoloid Race civilization.

13

Bahrain rights activist jailed for five years for “insulting” tweets

DHAKA - B angladesh is racing to turn an uninhabited and muddy Bay of Bengal island into home for 100,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled a military crackdown in Myanmar, amid conflicting signals from top Bangladeshi officials about whether the refugees would end up being stranded there.

DUBAI - A Bahraini human rights activist was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for criticising Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Yemen and accusing Bahrain’s prison authorities of torture, his lawyer and fellow activists said.

The United States, which has a major naval base in the country, has expressed concern about the case of Nabeel Rajab, a leading figure in pro-democracy protests that swept Bahrain in 2011, who was already serving a two-year sentence over a news interview in which he said Bahrain tortured political prisoners.

The new convictions were for “insulting a neighbouring country” and “insulting national institutions” in comments posted on Twitter, activists said.

The Bahraini Embassy in London said the prosecution and Rajab’s defence team had had ample opportunity to present their cases.

“The trials for the cases were overseen by numerous observers, including representatives from foreign embassies and NGOs,” the embassy said in a statement.

“Bahrain continues to make it clear that both cases – or indeed any other criminal cases within Bahrain – do not relate to political views or political expression,” it added.

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, an activist with the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), said Bahraini courts were barring citizens from criticising the authorities.

“Instead of rewarding Nabeel

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Monday that putting Rohingya on the lowlying island would be a “temporary arrangement” to ease congestion at the camps in Cox’s Bazar, refuge for nearly 700,000 who have crossed from the north of Myanmar’s Rakhine state since the end of August last year.

However, one of her advisers told Reuters that, once there, they would only be able to leave the island if they wanted to go back to Myanmar or were selected for asylum by a third country.

“It’s not a concentration camp, but there may be some restrictions.

We are not giving them a Bangladeshi passport or ID card,” said H.T. Imam, adding that the island would have a police encampment with 40-50 armed personnel.

British and Chinese engineers are helping prepare the island to receive refugees before the onset of monsoon rains, which could bring disastrous flooding to ramshackle camps further south that now teem

Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab arrives for his appeal hearing at court in Manama, February 11, 2015.

REUTERS/Stringer

View of the island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh February 14, 2018. Picture taken February 14, 2018.

IBP/kmb35

To anticipate overcapacity, Padangtegal customary village, Ubud, established a new building to increase the central parking capacity.

Central parking capacity of Monkey Forest to be increased

GIANYAR — Tourist visits to Ubud tourist area are now increasing. This condition is visible from the full occupancy of Ubud Monkey Forest central parking. To anticipate overcapacity, Padangtegal customary village, Ubud, established a new building to increase the central parking capacity.

Chief of Padangtegal customary village, I Made Gandra, said on Wednesday (Feb. 21) that Monkey Forest central parking is currently always fully occupied by vehicles. Moreover, it is filled by around 700 to 800 cars per day. “So, the central parking lot has been fully occupied now.

If there is no central parking, probably the roads in Ubud lead to chaos,” he said.

He explained that Padangtegal is currently adding the central parking capacity by establishing a new building. The three-story building has a size of 76 x 47 meters. It will have a capacity of 500 cars. “This project has already begun. As scheduled, it will be worked on about three months, so our target this May can be been completed,” he said.

The building is fully funded

by Padangtegal customary vil-

lage. Later on, the central parking will have a capacity of 1,200 cars. “In the future, we are going to add more buildings, so this central parking will accommodate 1,500 cars,” he said.

With such a capacity, Ubud tourist area is certainly clean from illegal parking because the vehicles have been accommodated in the central parking area, including other parking lots. Meanwhile, the parking tariff remains IDR 2,000 for motorcycle, IDR 5,000 for cars and IDR 10,000 for buses.

“The tariff remains the same. In this case, we do not intend to look for profit from parking, but make Ubud more comfortable for tourists. So, the ??Ubud area is always crowded by tourists,” he said.

Gandra said that residents of Padangtegal have supported the discipline of illegal parking on the streets of Ubud. “In the vil-

lage has been clear. Our residents have no problems regarding the discipline of illegal parking and so do the employers,” he said.

Local residents have been obedient with perarem or appendix to customary village bylaws about the beauty of Padangtegal village area. He said the perarem has included the emptying of road section having been used for parking. “All the entrepreneurs in Ubud must also obey this perarem. This has also been agreed before giving permission,” he said.

He added that local pecalang has been deployed for several times to conduct supervision.

Since pecalang or customary security guard is self-supporting, it is not possible to conduct supervision every day on roads that becomes the responsibility of the state apparatus. (kmb35)

Floating Island: New home for Rohingya refugees emerges in Bay of Bengal with about 1 million Rohingya.

The rains could start as early as late April.

Hasina’s adviser, Imam, said the question of selecting Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar to move to the island was not finalised, but it could be decided by lottery or on a volunteer-basis.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement: “We would emphasise that any relocation plan involving refugees would need to be based on and implemented through voluntary and informed decisions.”

FRENETIC CONSTRUCTION Humanitarian agencies criticised the plan to bring Rohingya to the island when it was first proposed in 2015. Aid workers who spoke to Reuters said they remain seriously concerned that the silt island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot sustain livelihoods for thousands of people.

But work on the project has accelerated in recent months, accord-

ing to architectural plans and two letters from the Bangladesh navy to local government officials and contractors seen by Reuters.

A year ago, when Reuters journalists visited Bhasan Char - whose name means “floating island” there were no roads, buildings or people.

Returning on Feb. 14, they found hundreds of labourers carrying bricks and sand from ships on its muddy northwest shore. Satellite images now show roads and what appears to be a helipad.

Floating Island, which emerged from the silt only about 20 years ago, is about 30 km (21 miles) from the mainland. Flat and shapeshifting, it regularly floods during June-September. Pirates roam the nearby waters to kidnap fishermen for ransom, residents of nearby islands say.

The plans show metal-roofed, brick buildings raised on pylons and fitted with solar panels. There will be 1,440 blocks, each housing 16 families. (rtr)

Rajab for his brave and commendable exposure of human rights abuses and advocacy for peace, the authorities have chosen to punish the messenger.”

International rights groups denounced the ruling.

“They are basically trying to clamp down on every kind of dissent. They don’t seem to tolerate any criticism,” Hanan Salah, senior researcher on Bahrain for Human Rights Watch, told Reuters in Geneva.

Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa Heba Morayef, said: “It is absolutely outrageous that he (Rajab) be forced to spend a further five years in jail simply for daring to voice his opinions online.”

Bahrain has cracked down on perceived threats since Arab Spring protests in 2011 led mainly by majority Shi’ite Muslims, were quashed with help from Gulf Arab neighbours.

The Sunni Muslim-led monarchy has closed two main political groups - the Shi’ite Islamic alWefaq and the secular Waad -, revoked the citizenship of the top Shi’ite cleric and banned activists from travel and put some on trial.

Bahraini newspapers reported on Wednesday that parliament has passed a legislative amendment that would bar members of the two dissolved groups from competing in upcoming parliamentary election expected in October or in November. (rtr)

REUTERS/Hamad Mohammed/File Photo

12

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

BUSINESS Stocks fall, yields and dollar rise after Fed minutes

NEW YORK - The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit a four-year high, the dollar rose and stocks fell on Wednesday in a rocky session after the Federal Reserve at its latest policy meeting showed more confidence in the need to keep raising interest rates.

The Fed’s more upbeat take on inflation, as seen in the minutes of the Jan. 30-31 policy meeting released on Wednesday, will likely further cement expectations that new Fed chief Jerome Powell will lead his colleagues in raising rates next month.

“Members agreed that the strengthening in the near-term economic outlook increased the likelihood that a gradual upward trajectory of the federal funds rate would be appropriate,” the Fed said in the minutes.

Wall Street, which started the day positive, closed lower after bond yields surged.

In late trading, 10-year Treasury yields touched 2.957 percent, their highest level since January 2014.

They were last at 2.95 percent.

The U.S. 30-year bond yield hit 3.233 percent, its highest level since July 2015, before tipping back to 3.228 percent.

The Fed minutes lined up with market expectations for future rate hikes, said Michael Skordeles, U.S. macro strategist at Suntrust Advisory Services in Atlanta.

“The market view is that we’ll see one in March, one in July and likely something later in the year, November or December,” he said. The minutes “reassured that there won’t really be a whole lot of change despite having a regime change.”

The minutes also showed that both the voting members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee and the wider group of policymakers had upgraded their forecasts for the economy since December.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six other major currencies, dipped following the release of the minutes but then recovered. The index was last up 0.4 percent at a one-week high.

The dollar has been weighed down this year by concerns that Washington might pursue a weak-dollar strategy, and by the perceived erosion of its yield advantage as other countries start to scale back their easy-money strategies.

Confidence in the dollar has also been shaken by mounting worries over the U.S. budget deficit.

But the greenback finally appeared to be benefiting from rising U.S. bond yields, especially as the Treasury Department issues more debt in anticipation of increased federal spending and a higher deficit from last year’s tax overhaul. The euro edged 0.41 percent lower to $1.2286.

In Britain, an unexpected jump in the jobless rate weighed on the pound, helping to send sterling down 0.51 percent to $1.3924.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 166.97 points, or 0.67 percent, to 24,797.78, the S&P 500 lost 14.93 points, or 0.55 percent, to 2,701.33 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 16.08 points, or 0.22 percent, to 7,218.23. MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe shed 0.17 percent.

The Toronto Stock Exchange S&P/ TSX composite index , however, closed 0.55 percent higher, and the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.11 percent.

Oil prices pared losses in postsettlement activity after data from the American Petroleum Institute showed a surprise draw in U.S. crude inventories. Traders had been expecting a rise. U.S. crude fell 0.76 percent to $61.32 per barrel, and Brent was last at $65.10, down 0.23 percent on the day. (rtr)

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., February 21, 2018.

Bali News

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

5

Enhance Your Adrenaline at Pacific Bahari Bali

If you are water sport lovers, try to enjoy various attractions offered by PT Pacific Bahari Bali. It is located on Jalan Pratama No. 98 Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, about 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport. This water sports business established in 1994 has very complete marine activities.

REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY/File Photo

An employee of German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz installs the brand’s characteristic star on a Mercedes S-Class (S-Klasse) at a production line at the Mercedes Benz factory in Sindelfingen, Germany, January 24, 2018.

German business morale falls as managers’ near-term outlook clouds

BERLIN - German business confidence fell more than expected in February while remaining at a high level, a survey showed on Thursday, suggesting that Europe’s biggest economy is set for solid growth in the first quarter of this year. The Munich-based Ifo economic institute said its business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, fell to a 5-month low of 115.4 from 117.6 in January.

The February reading undershot expectations in a Reuters consensus forecast of analysts who had forecast a dip to 117.0. Ifo chief Clemens Fuest said companies were less satisfied with their current business situation, but the indicator still was at its second-highest level since 1991.

“This signals economic growth of 0.7 percent in the first quarter,” Fuest said. This compares with a quarterly growth rate of 0.6 percent in the final quarter of 2017. “After the euphoria of recent months, companies’ assessments of the business outlook for the months ahead were also far less optimistic,” Fuest said.

The drop in the headline figure was mainly caused by managers

scaling back their business expectations for the next six months, with the respective sub-index falling to the lowest level since April last year.

“The Ifo business climate index is a clear damper. Apparently, the combination of a stronger euro and rising (interest) rates is causing major concerns among chief executives”, Thomas Altmann from fund manager QC Partners said.

A sector breakdown of the Ifo figures showed the main drag came from manufacturing, where the mood among managers had hit a record high in the previous month.

Business sentiment also deteriorated in wholesaling, construction and retailing.

Ifo economist Klaus Wohl-

rabe said the fall in the business sentiment indicator did not mark the beginning of a fundamental shift for the German economy. “I would not yet speak of a change in the underlying trend, the German economy is still doing very well, but some of the steam has been let off,” Wohlrabe told Reuters.

He added that the coalition deal reached by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats had not been a cause for jubilation among managers.

The Ifo figures chimed with other sentiment surveys released earlier this week that showed growth in Germany’s private sector slowed in February while investor sentiment also deteriorated. (rtr)

IBP/Bud

The tourist is playing banana boat at Pacific Bahari Bali

At this location, you can boost your adrenaline by playing parasailing, banana boat, jet ski, flying fox, parasailing adventure, diving, seawalker, play boat and more. Among these activities, parasailing and seawalker seem the most preferred by tourists. “Tourists like best parasailing because they can fly while seeing the beauty of Tanjung Benoa area from the sea, and they can watch the activity of the community from the height,” said General Manager, Arna.

While by seawalker, tourists can see the diversity of fish at a depth of 7 meters. “All the activities are covered with insurance.

This is a part of our services to tourists,” said Arna while adding that PT Pacific Bahari Bali ever won an award for having the best equipment in Bali.

Operation hour of this company is every day from 08:30 to 16:00 local time. Do not be afraid about other facilities because this company also features a toilet, changing rooms, shower and other. A restaurant serving food and drinks as well as various snacks is also available and so are various fruits and seasonal fruits. Souvenirs of the Island of the Gods are available here.

Of course, as part of safety, before doing various activities, all tourists are given briefing first. “We also prepare a special vehicle to pick up tourists to their accommodation. This is our way of providing convenience for customers,” he added.

Other than foreign tourists, domestic tourists also like to enjoy marine water sport here, such as those from Jakarta, Surabaya, several city cities in Sumatra, Kalimantan and other regions in Indonesia.

PT Pacific Bahari Bali is also often used as a comparative study by similar companies from several cities in Indonesia.

“We also have frequent guests wishing to learn about the management of tourist attraction sent by the tourism office in their region. We are happy to share with them, so that we are often offered the chance to develop this tourism attraction in Aceh and Kalimantan,” he said. (IBP/bud)

Fantastic Adventure at Bayung Gede Tourism Village

Face of the off-roaders when exploring the charms of the Adventure Bayung Gede (ABG) looked happy and satisfied. Other than having more challenging routes, the natural scenery is also very beautiful and has a unique culture.

The community is friendly because it still preserves cultural heritage of the ancestors. This challenging tourist attraction is held by Tourism Awareness Group (POKDARWIS) of Bayung Gede village at Bayung Gede field, Kintamani, Bangli.

The Adventure Bayung Gede 2018 opened by the Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar, on Saturday (Feb. 3) was followed by offroader lover groups of Indonesia, especially those from the Island of the Gods. At least, there were 250 participants exploring the extreme, light extreme route and fun with family.

“This event is intended to promote tourism potential at Bayung Gede tourism village, so that it can increase tourist visit to Bayung Gede village. This event is also meant to explore and develop the existing tourism activities as well as for raising funds for the development of Bayung Gede tourism village,” said Chairman of the Committee, I Nyoman Genting.

Bayung Gede village has a beautiful nature as well as unique culture that cannot be found in other areas. Tradition and customary attires are very distinctive and the most unique is the cemetery known as setra ari-ari or cemetery of umbilical cord as the main attraction. These are developed, so that they are known as tourist attraction.

“Through this event, the public knows more about the Bayung Gede village,” he added.

Representative of Indonesian Motorcycle Association (IMI) Bali, I Ketut Tirta Yasa, appreciated to the ABG committee for giving location to the Bali off-roader lovers to channel their hobby. Besides, it is meant to enjoy the unique tourist area of ??Bayung Gede village having considerable potential especially for off-road aficionados.

“Of course, in accordance with the intention and purpose of implementing this activity, the off-roader can be an ambassador as well as promoter of Bayung Gede tourism village so that it is better known and can attract the interest of adventurists even those from outside Bali,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Regent Made Gianyar expressed his gratitude to the ABG committee because the spirit of the activity is to improve the tourism image of Bayung Gede

village. Regent Made Gianyar then told the committee to design a special tour for the lovers of antique and off-roader cars, so this will become an annual event with

more lively and more participants.

“This should be coordinated with the Bangli Tourism Office so that this activity can be synergized for mutual progress,” he said. (kmb)

6

Friday, February 23, 2018

W

International

RLD

U.S. students protest over gun laws, Trump considers arming teachers

WASHINGTON - Students galvanized by the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school confronted lawmakers on Wednesday with demands to restrict sales of assault rifles, while President Donald Trump suggested arming teachers as a way to stop more U.S. rampages.

The unprecedented lobbying effort by groups of teenagers and parents at the White House and at the Florida statehouse in Tallahassee played out as fellow students staged classroom walkouts and rallies in cities across the country.

Trump held an emotional, hour-long meeting with students who survived the Florida shooting and a parent whose child did not. He said arming teachers and other school staff could help prevent future mass shootings, voicing support for an idea backed by the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby.

The Republican president, who has championed gun rights and was endorsed by the NRA during the 2016 campaign, said he would move quickly to tighten background checks for gun buyers and would consider raising the age for buying certain types of guns.

The attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and educators were killed on Feb. 14 in the second-deadliest shooting at a U.S. public school, has revived the long-running U.S. debate over gun rights.

Investigators said the assault was carried out by 19-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student Nikolas Cruz, who purchased an AR-15-style assault weapon

nearly a year ago.

“Nikolas Cruz was able to purchase an assault rifle before he was able to buy a beer,” said Stoneman Douglas student Laurenzo Prado, referring to a Florida law that allows people as young as 18 to buy assault weapons.

“The laws of the country have failed,” he told reporters at the Florida state capital.

Lawmakers in Tallahassee said they would consider raising the age limit to 21, the same standard for handguns and alcohol, although the state Senate opted on Wednesday not to take up a gun control measure.

The U.S. Constitution protects the right of Americans to bear arms, a measure fiercely defended by Republicans. However, Trump has come under pressure to act.

Trump spoke at length during the televised White House “listening session”, attended by students, parents and people affected by other U.S. school shootings, about how armed teachers and security guards could frighten off potential shooters and prevent more deaths.

“If you had a teacher ... who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” he said, while acknowledging the proposal was controversial. Some of the meeting participants indicated support. Others were opposed.

Mark Barden, whose son was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, said his wife, Jackie, a teacher “will tell you that school teachers have more than enough responsibilities right now than to have to have the awesome responsibility of lethal force to take a life.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Parent Melissa Blank (L) and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting surviving students Jonathan Blank (2nd L) and Julia Cordover (2nd R) attend with other survivors and the families of victims a listening session held by U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss school safety and shootings, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 21, 2018.

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

11

Indonesian president puts off signing law protecting parliament

REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

School children take part in inter house sports event in Karmajiji, along Abuja’s airport road, Nigeria February 21, 2018.

Nigeria rescues 76 schoolgirls after Boko Haram attack, others missing

BAUCHI - The Nigerian military rescued 76 schoolgirls and recovered the bodies of two others on Wednesday, after the students went missing during a Boko Haram attack on a village, three parents, a resident and a local government official told Reuters.

“Everybody is celebrating their coming with songs and praises to God almighty,” said Babagana Umar, one of the parents whose daughter had disappeared. “The only sad news is that two girls were dead and no explanation.”

The rescued girls were returned to the village of Dapchi late on Wednesday evening, Umar and other residents said.

At least 13 students may still be missing, and Reuters was unable to determine how the two girls died.

Earlier on Wednesday, sources told Reuters that 91 people were unaccounted for after a roll-call at their school on Tuesday.

Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram attacked Dapchi in the northeastern state of Yobe on Monday evening.

Police and state officials said on Wednesday that there was no evidence that the girls had been abducted, though the Yobe govern-

ment later said in a statement that the military had rescued some of the students from Boko Haram.

Nigerian authorities often deny or downplay such incidents, including the Chibok girl kidnapping and more recent abductions, as well as the scale of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast.

Nigeria is still haunted by Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014. That case drew global attention to the nine-year insurgency, which has sparked what the United Nations has called one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched his foreign and defence ministers on Wednesday to Yobe to investigate the situation, said Information Minister Lai Mohammed, who was also headed there. He declined to confirm whether any of the students were missing.

Parents and witnesses who told Reuters of the missing students spoke on condition of anonymity because they said they had been warned by Nigerian security and government officials not to disclose the disappearance. (rtr)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo has delayed signing a draft law that would allow parliament to crack down on criticism aimed at its members or the legislature, suggesting it could undermine the quality of the country’s democracy.

Members of parliament have proposed modifying laws governing parliament to allow an internal ethics council to take legal action against any individual or group that insults the house or its members.

But Widodo, citing concern among the public, who widely see parliament as corrupt, said he had put off signing it.

“The draft is on my desk but I have not signed it yet. I understand the public’s concern about this issue. We all want the quality of our democracy to improve, not deteriorate,” Widodo said on Twitter late

on Wednesday. He did not say if he would sign it.

Rights groups and anti-corruption activists have criticised the proposed law, saying it could harm freedom of speech and slow a fight against endemic graft.

Surveys show that Indonesians have for years perceived parliament to be among the country’s most corrupt institutions. An anti-graft watchdog has said the majority of its investigations involve members of parliament.

Legislators say the law would protect them from “false allegations” of corruption and other criticism.

“It is important to differentiate between criticism and insult.

People should not make accusations without legal facts that they can be held accountable for,” said one member of the assembly, Firman Subagyo. (rtr)

Aji Santoso/via REUTERS

People take photos of a landslide in Brebes, Indonesia February 22, 2018, in this image obtained from social media.

Indonesia landslide on Java island kills 5, over a dozen missing

JAKARTA - A landslide on Indonesia’s heavily populated island of Java on Thursday killed at least five people and left more than 15 people missing, an official at the country’s disaster agency said.

Indonesian President Jokowi

IBP/net

The landslide, which struck a village in central Java, also injured 14 people, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster agency said in a statement.

Rescuers not yet been able to use heavy equipment to remove earth where victims might be trapped, officials said.

“Our team hasn’t arrived yet. A lot of roads have been cut off because of the landslide,” Noer Isrodin, an official from the country’s National Search and Rescue Agency, told Metro TV. The official said that two excavators were trying to reach the location.

Some of the injured were being treated in a community health centre, while a woman with broken bones was being treated in a regional hospital, said a local mayor.

Indonesia suffers regular landslides, particularly during the monsoon season, sometimes exacerbated by forest clearance. (rtr)

Minister Marsudi to meet Indonesian peacekeeping troops in Lebanon

JAKARTA - Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi is scheduled to depart for Lebanon to meet the Indonesian peacekeeping troops, the Garuda Contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Feb 25-26. “This will be an important visit to again demonstrate Indonesia`s commitment and support for peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon,” spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir noted during a

press briefing here on Thursday.

The last time an Indonesian minister had visited Lebanon to meet the peacekeeping force was in 2007, Nasir stated. Minister Marsudi`s visit was also aimed at highlighting the government`s commitment to supporting the UN`s role in promoting international security and peacekeeping.

Director of International Security and Disarmament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grata Endah Werdaningtyas remarked

that the visit to Lebanon will focus on two areas, with the first being to meet 850 personnel of the Mechanic Battalion Task Force on duty in Adchit Al Qusayr and then a visit to the Port of Beirut to meet three hundred personnel of the Indo Maritime Task Force.

Foreign Minister Marsudi will meet the Garuda Contingent and hold a dialog with the personnel to observe firsthand the challenges and obstacles faced by the peacekeepers.

In its contribution to the UN

peacekeeping mission, Indonesia is committed to deploying four thousand peacekeeping personnel. Werdaningtyas revealed that Indonesia has, since 2016, deployed 2,702 peacekeepers from the Indonesian Military and Police to nine UN peacekeeping missions. Of most of some 1,290 Indonesian peacekeepers, 48 were females and were deployed in UNIFIL, she pointed out.

The visit to Lebanon will also be Indonesia`s campaign to promote its efforts in global peacekeeping

since the country is eyeing a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 period. Indonesia is competing with Maldives for this seat for the Asia-Pacific Region.

The election for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council will be held in New York in June 2018. From Lebanon, Minister Marsudi will depart for Kabul, Afghanistan, to accompany Vice President Jusuf Kalla to attend the Kabul Peace Conference. (rtr)

10

Destination

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Berawa Beach Arts Festival, the art of developing Bali coastal area

MANGUPURA - Community of Tibubeneng village held an event entitled Berawa Beach Arts Festival. The festival featuring the theme ‘Pasisi Lango, Gate of Transition’ is held for four days (Feb. 22-25). “This festival is born from a society attempting to provide the opportunity and transformation and innovative creations with personal and communal expressions of language,” said the Head of North Kuta Subdistrict, A.A. Ngurah Arimbawa, at a press conference at LV8 Berawa, Sunday (Feb. 18).

Accompanied by headman of Tibubeneng, I Made Kamajaya, Artistic Director of Performing Arts, Gede Tilem Pastika and Curator of Fine Arts, Wayan Seriyoga Parta, he explained the coastal areas plays a big role in the tourism dynamics in Bali. As the gateway of Bali tourism, Badung has many exotic and famous beaches. Some areas have been well managed, but others are lacking especially those managed by community-based tourism like the Berawa Beach area.

To develop coastal areas as well as promote the potential of

Tibubeneng village, especially Berawa Beach, the festival combines various art activities. “Therefore, this festival presents a visual art and sculpture exhibition, innovative puppet performance, painting workshop, live sketch as well as mask and recycle art. Besides, there are cultural parade, musical collaboration, traditional culinary workshops and the making of lawar (seafood),” he said.

Director of Performing Arts, Gede Tilem Pastika, said the most unique art performance is the colossal kecak a cappella as involving 5,555 artists. This traditional art is presented in concert by taking instrumental format, not accompanying a dance. “Therefore, it needs the exploration chamber of kecak elements such as the sound types and the formulation of genuine mutual response. This kecak takes the materials from the wealth of the kecak of Ulapan Blahkiuh, Badung,” he added.

Processing of chorus cak sound elements is also unified with cak body elements by maximizing the sound color of the applause, chest

Looking Bar Manager,Bar Staff,Host /Hostess,Cashier,Cooks,Waiter/ ess,Stewards,Jl.Arjuna Legian Krm CV:info@hoipolloibali.com

Looking for Buttler Villa, High salary in area Seminyak Hub.(0361)4490319,CV to Email: asavillasproperty@gmail.com

Hotel Reservations Personnel needed in Jimbaran-Bali.Very Well Spoken And Written English is a must.Experience Work ing in the hospitality Industry is a plus.

Please send Cover letter and CV to hr@ lotus-hotel.com

Looking for Experienced Villa Garden maintenance,hard worker Good salary in area Seminyak Hub.(0361)4490319,CV to Email: asavillasproperty@gmail.com

B.BP.001.01.18.0001035

B.BP.001.01.18.0001103

Looking For Staff Cook Helper, Experience 1 Year.Sent CV to: warungdua88x@gmail.com/8475139

B.BP.001.01.18.0001190

B.BP.001.01.18.0000579

B.BP.001.01.18.0000578

Looking for Staff IT/Web,Good English,Good Salary in Dps Hub.(0361)4490319,CV to Email: asavillasproperty@gmail.com

B.BP.001.01.18.0000580

and thigh. Participants are a combination of representatives of vocational students and some high schools in Badung district. The dancers consist of men and women. “People also present their various artworks in a cultural arts parade at the opening of the festival by involving 13 customary hamlets at local village of Tibubeneng,” he explained.

Headman of Tibubeneng, I Made Kamajaya, said that in the matters of cuisines, this festival presents Food & Beverage Corner Session that tries to offer ‘Taste Sensation’ namely combining Balinese traditional drink with local fruits such as: java plum, cotton fruit, kaliasem, mirai, bekul, kepundung and others. There are also herbs like vanilla, cinnamon, eucalyptus, candlenut, ginger, lemongrass, and others. Not to mention, palm wine and arrack are also available as favorite drink to Balinese people.

These local ingredients will be mixed into a fusion-flavored drink, a combination of traditional drink and international drink to result in a cocktail. As a complementary to food, some Balinese snacks such

as laklak, satuh, bendu, uli, pisang rai and others will be presented.

“Tibubeneng people will present the Sea Food Festival with various seafood processed with Balinese spice-flavor sensation. A total of 13 hamlets will present their own food booth,” he added.

The program will provide an experience and knowledge of the narrative behind the food presentation, including their historical value.

There are also various competitions such as sand sculpture competition, dance to fishing contest. Bali micro and medium enterprises will be involved. Amid the festival, there will be a workshop entitled ‘Pasisi Lango: Coastal Area as a Milestone of Civilization.’

Meanwhile, the fine art curator, Wayan Seriyoga, said he will present the art works named Siteart Project. The works presented include painting, sculpture, art installation, video art, performance responding to indoor and outside. The art exhibition will be participated by dozens of national and international artists from Bali, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Batu, East Java.

Berawa Beach Arts Festival also features performing arts and music in the form of dance and musical composition to enhance the values ??of North Kuta coastal area. Do not miss the performance of Agus Teja (flute music) making collaboration with Balawan (guitar instrumental). (kmb)

B.BP.004.01.18.0001194

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying

B.BP.031.01.18.0000667

Need Waiter/Waitess,IT/Design, Bartender,Cook for Resto in Kuta. Send CV + Foto to Email: wikamitra@yahoo. com Phone/WA :089693670981

B.BP.001.01.18.0000157

Gutsy Gasser goes for glory, bags big air gold PYEONGCHANG - Anna Gasser stood at the top of the big air ramp on Thursday, caught in two minds ahead of her crucial final run. In the end, the Austrian snowboarder changed her planned trick and was rewarded with the first Olympic gold medal in the event.

Bukit Pandawa Golf Looking For Junior Accountant,Bachelor Degree in Accounting,min 2 yrs experience & able to joint immediately,completed CV to byboesono@gmail.com cc mwiriani@ baliragawisata.com Sales/Marketing,for HealthCare /Beauty Care, Experience, National Area,Apply to: versaindustries4@gmail. com

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500

Gasser, who finished 15th in the slopestyle event last week, put down a 96.00 with the final run of the day to snatch gold away from American Jamie Anderson.

The Austrian’s combined score of 185.00 from her two best runs relegated slopestyle champion Anderson into silver with a 177.25 total, while New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott took the bronze with a combined 157.50.

Gasser said deciding to go with something different for her third run had been key.

“I was standing up there and I knew I had the silver and I only could win and I was like, ‘No, I’m going to go full risk and if it works out then I deserve this medal,’” she said.

“Thankfully it worked out.”

The gold will go some way to making up for the Austrian’s disappointment in the slopestyle, where high winds prevented any of the riders from laying down two clean runs.

Gasser said the slopestyle should have been postponed and that Anderson was the only one who wanted it to go ahead.

The big air event is making its Olympic debut in Pyeongchang and sees snowboarders hurtle down a ramp standing at 49 metres with a maximum slope angle of 40 degrees and perform spins and tricks to impress the judges.

The women’s final was brought forward to Thursday as high winds are forecast for Friday, with the men’s final scheduled for Saturday.

Anderson, who became the first woman to win two snowboarding medals at a single Olympics, said she was happier to win the big air silver medal than she was defending the slopestyle title she had won in Sochi four years ago.

“It feels better because we have great conditions and everyone was able to ride their best, so it feels rewarding,” she said.

Sadowski-Synnott was another who took a risk with her final jump and while she could not pull it off perfectly, she was satisfied that she had given it a go.

“I’ve never done that trick before, but it’s the Olympics, so I wanted to do something crazy,” said the 16-year-old, who won New Zealand’s second ever Winter Olympics medal.

Barely two hours later, another 16-year-old New Zealander, Nico Porteous, won his country’s third when he took bronze in the ski halfpipe. (rtr) Gold medallist Anna Gasser of Austria holds a Soohorang Olympics plush mascot during the flower ceremony.

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Myhrer triumphs in slalom after Hirscher bombs out

PYEONGCHANG - Sweden’s Andre Myhrer won the men’s Olympic slalom on Thursday at the age of 35, keeping his head while others were losing theirs after both of the pre-race favourites destroyed their chances with uncharacteristic mistakes.

Skiing in his fourth Games and cheered on by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Myhrer won by 0.34 seconds from Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland and by 0.67 from Michael Matt of Austria.

“I took a medal in Vancouver (2010), a bronze, but I’ve always been dreaming about the gold medal and now it’s a reality and I’m totally blown away,” he said.

The contest had been thrown wide open after Austria’s Marcel Hirscher, the overwhelming favourite, bombed out in the morning run while chasing his third gold medal of the Games.

Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen was the first-run leader by 0.21 seconds and, racing immediately after Myhrer, had the chance to overhaul him. But he skiied out after just half a dozen turns of the deciding run.

“I’m not disappointed. Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all,” said the Norwegian, who after years of close rivalry with Hirscher must have wondered if his day had come at last.

Matt, brother of 2014 slalom

champion Mario, put in the fastest second run at 50.66 seconds, to move up nine places from 12th.

Zenhaeusern was only ninth in the morning but put in the secondfastest run of the afternoon. He then watched from the leader’s chair as the next six racers all failed to capitalise on their advantage from the morning race.

Then came Myhrer, beating his chest before bursting out of the start gate and carving his way cleanly and smoothly down the course.

His afternoon time was only the eighth fastest, but combined with his second place in the morning, was enough to win with a total time of one minute, 38.99 seconds. (rtr)

REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

Marcel Hirscher of Austria reacts.

8

Friday, February 23, 2018

Friday, February 23, 2018

Sp rt

Mourinho hails McTominay but questions club medics

REUTERS/Diego Vara

Gremio beat Independiente to take South American Supercup

Gremio players celebrate winning the penalty shootout.

SAO PAULO - Gremio keeper Marcelo Grohe saved the last of 10 penalty kicks to give his side the South American Supercup on Thursday after the final against Argentine club Independiente ended 0-0 after extra time.

Grohe saved from Martin Benitez after the previous nine kicks had been scored to give the Brazilian side the 5-4 win on penalties following 120 minutes of a tense encounter in Porto Alegre.

The two clubs drew the first leg 1-1 last week in Argentina. “I got down to save it but this was a victory for us all,” Grohe said. “This one writes our name in history.”

The Supercup is contested between the winners of South America’s two main club competitions, the

Copa Libertadores, won by Gremio, and the Copa Sudamericana, won by Independiente.

It was the second time Gremio have won the trophy and comes 22 years after their first triumph, which was also against Independiente.

Gremio had the best chances over the first 90 minutes with Everton coming close on two occasions and Martin Campana saving well from Luan.

The main talking point, however, was late in the first half when after a consultation with the video referee, the Paraguayan referee sent off Independiente defender Fernando Amorebieta for a bad challenge on Luan.

Independiente, however, hung on and could have scored twice in extra time but their forwards could not get touches on crosses driven across the face of the goal. (rtr)

SEVILLE - Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho praised youngster Scott McTominay for his performance in his side’s goalless Champions League draw at Sevilla on Wednesday but questioned the club’s medical staff after Ander Herrera was forced off injured.

Spanish midfielder Herrera made his first appearance in three weeks after returning from a hamstring injury as Mourinho left record signing Paul Pogba out of the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Yet the Portuguese coach was forced to call on the out-of-form France midfielder after 17 minutes when Herrera was forced off with what appeared to be another hamstring problem.

“I think it is a bad injury,” Mourinho told reporters after his side withstood frequent attacks from Vincenzo Montella’s adventurous yet wasteful side.

“He had a small injury that stopped him from playing the last couple of matches, but the medical department said he was 100 percent ready for last Saturday (against Huddersfield Town).

“We didn’t play him to give

him more time to work and more protection, but it looks like he was not fully fit.”

Pogba has not completed 90 minutes for over a month and Mourinho again faced questions from reporters about his relationship with the 89.1 million pounds ($124 million) signing after the draw with Sevilla.

The Portuguese, however, pointed to the steely display of 21-yearold McTominay, who was making his eighth competitive start for United and only his second in the Champions League.

“He had a fantastic performance, he looked a senior player, a player with great maturity, with tactical sense, with a sense of responsibility,” Mourinho said.

“He was good in possession, good in pressing. I think he looked like a man with dozens and dozens of matches in the Champions League when this was only his second.

“If I was one of you (reporters), I would ask if the Manchester United manager agrees that Scott McTominay had a fantastic performance, and my answer would be ‘yes’.” (rtr)

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Sevilla’s Sergio Escudero

Man Utd host Chelsea in battle to be best of the rest

LONDON - Manchester City’s 16-point lead atop the Premier League means the most intriguing battle looks to be who will finish as runners-up with Manchester United aiming to

keep their grip on second place when they host Chelsea on Sunday. Antonio Conte’s west London side have bounced back from two successive defeats to comfortably beat West

Bromwich Albion in the league and secure an impressive 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League last 16, first leg on Tuesday.

United, meanwhile, were held to a

goalless draw against Sevilla in Spain on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho’s side, who suffered defeat by Newcastle United in their previous league outing, could be third by the time they welcome his former club to Old Trafford on Sunday. Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool, only two points behind United, take on West Ham United on Saturday at Anfield having not lost at home in the league so far this season.

Chelsea can ill afford a poor result with the threat of finishing outside the Champions League qualifying places a real possibility for any of the sides immediately behind City.

Tottenham Hotspur, in fifth place and trailing Chelsea by a solitary point, travel to Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday. In a week that signals the 10-game countdown to the end of the season, jockeying for position intensifies significantly.

BASEMENT SCRAMBLE

Chelsea’s Willian celebrates scoring their first goal

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Panama company pleads guilty to bribing Costa Rican soccer official

NEW YORK - A Panama-based company on Wednesday pleaded guilty to bribing a Costa Rican soccer official and was ordered to pay a fine and restitution totaling $1.4 million, the latest penalty imposed in the U.S. prosecution of corruption in international soccer.

Mimo International Exports and Imports Inc entered its plea before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn. A shareholder, Moises Zebede, appeared in court to represent the company, along with its attorney, Barry Kingham.

Chen imposed the $500,000 restitution, which will be paid to the Costa Rican soccer federation, and the $900,000 fine immediately after accepting the guilty plea. She also said that the company would dissolve as part of a plea agreement.

According to a statement Kingham read in court, Mimo agreed in 2014 to pay $500,000 to Eduardo

Li, then head of the Costa Rican soccer federation, so that he would sign a deal for a U.S. apparel company to sponsor Costa Rica’s national team.

Mimo was seeking to pull out of a 2012 deal in which it had agreed to manufacture or import apparel from an Italian company that sponsored the team, while collecting a multimillion dollar termination fee, Kingham said. The U.S.company agreed to pay that fee, Kingham said.

Prosecutors said Li received more than $300,000 of the agreedupon bribe before he was arrested in May 2015 in Zurich, headquarters of the sport’s world governing body FIFA. Though the prosecutors did not name the U.S. company, the sponsorship deal matched the description of one announced in 2015 with Boston-based New Balance.

Prosecutors said shareholder Ze-

bede did not tell the U.S. company about the bribe, and told Li not to reveal it as well.

Li pleaded guilty in 2016. He was banned from soccer for life by FIFA in April 2017.

New Balance could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. It said at the time of Li’s guilty plea it did not tolerate corrupt activities and would cooperate with U.S. prosecutors if it was called to do so.

Two months ago, Juan Angel Napout, the former president of the South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL and Paraguay’s soccer federation, and Jose Maria Marin, former president of Brazil’s soccer federation, were convicted by a jury in Brooklyn federal court of taking bribes in exchange for the award of valuable marketing and media rights to international matches.

That can also be seen at the other end of the table where a margin of five points separates 10th from the relegation places. Bottom side West Bromwich Albion face Huddersfield

9

Town at the Hawthorns on Saturday looking to snap a run of three successive defeats. It is the first of two games that British media has said West Brom manager Alan Pardew has to save his job.

The weekend kicks off with Stoke City visiting fellow Midlands club Leicester City with both sides winless in three. Third-bottom Southampton could climb out of the relegation zone with a victory at Burnley, whose own run without a win stretches back 12 games to the middle of December.

Sean Dyche’s side have only picked up two points in the league so far this year, dampening their early-season surge. Elsewhere on Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion face fellow strugglers Swansea City while the late kickoff is a mid-table tussle between Watford and Everton at Vicarage Road.

Arsenal and Manchester City skip league action this weekend due to their League Cup final clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. They next play in the league on Thursday, March 1 when they, coincidentally, face each other at the Emirates. (rtr)

8

Friday, February 23, 2018

Friday, February 23, 2018

Sp rt

Mourinho hails McTominay but questions club medics

REUTERS/Diego Vara

Gremio beat Independiente to take South American Supercup

Gremio players celebrate winning the penalty shootout.

SAO PAULO - Gremio keeper Marcelo Grohe saved the last of 10 penalty kicks to give his side the South American Supercup on Thursday after the final against Argentine club Independiente ended 0-0 after extra time.

Grohe saved from Martin Benitez after the previous nine kicks had been scored to give the Brazilian side the 5-4 win on penalties following 120 minutes of a tense encounter in Porto Alegre.

The two clubs drew the first leg 1-1 last week in Argentina. “I got down to save it but this was a victory for us all,” Grohe said. “This one writes our name in history.”

The Supercup is contested between the winners of South America’s two main club competitions, the

Copa Libertadores, won by Gremio, and the Copa Sudamericana, won by Independiente.

It was the second time Gremio have won the trophy and comes 22 years after their first triumph, which was also against Independiente.

Gremio had the best chances over the first 90 minutes with Everton coming close on two occasions and Martin Campana saving well from Luan.

The main talking point, however, was late in the first half when after a consultation with the video referee, the Paraguayan referee sent off Independiente defender Fernando Amorebieta for a bad challenge on Luan.

Independiente, however, hung on and could have scored twice in extra time but their forwards could not get touches on crosses driven across the face of the goal. (rtr)

SEVILLE - Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho praised youngster Scott McTominay for his performance in his side’s goalless Champions League draw at Sevilla on Wednesday but questioned the club’s medical staff after Ander Herrera was forced off injured.

Spanish midfielder Herrera made his first appearance in three weeks after returning from a hamstring injury as Mourinho left record signing Paul Pogba out of the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Yet the Portuguese coach was forced to call on the out-of-form France midfielder after 17 minutes when Herrera was forced off with what appeared to be another hamstring problem.

“I think it is a bad injury,” Mourinho told reporters after his side withstood frequent attacks from Vincenzo Montella’s adventurous yet wasteful side.

“He had a small injury that stopped him from playing the last couple of matches, but the medical department said he was 100 percent ready for last Saturday (against Huddersfield Town).

“We didn’t play him to give

him more time to work and more protection, but it looks like he was not fully fit.”

Pogba has not completed 90 minutes for over a month and Mourinho again faced questions from reporters about his relationship with the 89.1 million pounds ($124 million) signing after the draw with Sevilla.

The Portuguese, however, pointed to the steely display of 21-yearold McTominay, who was making his eighth competitive start for United and only his second in the Champions League.

“He had a fantastic performance, he looked a senior player, a player with great maturity, with tactical sense, with a sense of responsibility,” Mourinho said.

“He was good in possession, good in pressing. I think he looked like a man with dozens and dozens of matches in the Champions League when this was only his second.

“If I was one of you (reporters), I would ask if the Manchester United manager agrees that Scott McTominay had a fantastic performance, and my answer would be ‘yes’.” (rtr)

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Manchester United’s Scott McTominay and Sevilla’s Sergio Escudero

Man Utd host Chelsea in battle to be best of the rest

LONDON - Manchester City’s 16-point lead atop the Premier League means the most intriguing battle looks to be who will finish as runners-up with Manchester United aiming to

keep their grip on second place when they host Chelsea on Sunday. Antonio Conte’s west London side have bounced back from two successive defeats to comfortably beat West

Bromwich Albion in the league and secure an impressive 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League last 16, first leg on Tuesday.

United, meanwhile, were held to a

goalless draw against Sevilla in Spain on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho’s side, who suffered defeat by Newcastle United in their previous league outing, could be third by the time they welcome his former club to Old Trafford on Sunday. Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool, only two points behind United, take on West Ham United on Saturday at Anfield having not lost at home in the league so far this season.

Chelsea can ill afford a poor result with the threat of finishing outside the Champions League qualifying places a real possibility for any of the sides immediately behind City.

Tottenham Hotspur, in fifth place and trailing Chelsea by a solitary point, travel to Crystal Palace earlier on Sunday. In a week that signals the 10-game countdown to the end of the season, jockeying for position intensifies significantly.

BASEMENT SCRAMBLE

Chelsea’s Willian celebrates scoring their first goal

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Panama company pleads guilty to bribing Costa Rican soccer official

NEW YORK - A Panama-based company on Wednesday pleaded guilty to bribing a Costa Rican soccer official and was ordered to pay a fine and restitution totaling $1.4 million, the latest penalty imposed in the U.S. prosecution of corruption in international soccer.

Mimo International Exports and Imports Inc entered its plea before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn. A shareholder, Moises Zebede, appeared in court to represent the company, along with its attorney, Barry Kingham.

Chen imposed the $500,000 restitution, which will be paid to the Costa Rican soccer federation, and the $900,000 fine immediately after accepting the guilty plea. She also said that the company would dissolve as part of a plea agreement.

According to a statement Kingham read in court, Mimo agreed in 2014 to pay $500,000 to Eduardo

Li, then head of the Costa Rican soccer federation, so that he would sign a deal for a U.S. apparel company to sponsor Costa Rica’s national team.

Mimo was seeking to pull out of a 2012 deal in which it had agreed to manufacture or import apparel from an Italian company that sponsored the team, while collecting a multimillion dollar termination fee, Kingham said. The U.S.company agreed to pay that fee, Kingham said.

Prosecutors said Li received more than $300,000 of the agreedupon bribe before he was arrested in May 2015 in Zurich, headquarters of the sport’s world governing body FIFA. Though the prosecutors did not name the U.S. company, the sponsorship deal matched the description of one announced in 2015 with Boston-based New Balance.

Prosecutors said shareholder Ze-

bede did not tell the U.S. company about the bribe, and told Li not to reveal it as well.

Li pleaded guilty in 2016. He was banned from soccer for life by FIFA in April 2017.

New Balance could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. It said at the time of Li’s guilty plea it did not tolerate corrupt activities and would cooperate with U.S. prosecutors if it was called to do so.

Two months ago, Juan Angel Napout, the former president of the South American soccer governing body CONMEBOL and Paraguay’s soccer federation, and Jose Maria Marin, former president of Brazil’s soccer federation, were convicted by a jury in Brooklyn federal court of taking bribes in exchange for the award of valuable marketing and media rights to international matches.

That can also be seen at the other end of the table where a margin of five points separates 10th from the relegation places. Bottom side West Bromwich Albion face Huddersfield

9

Town at the Hawthorns on Saturday looking to snap a run of three successive defeats. It is the first of two games that British media has said West Brom manager Alan Pardew has to save his job.

The weekend kicks off with Stoke City visiting fellow Midlands club Leicester City with both sides winless in three. Third-bottom Southampton could climb out of the relegation zone with a victory at Burnley, whose own run without a win stretches back 12 games to the middle of December.

Sean Dyche’s side have only picked up two points in the league so far this year, dampening their early-season surge. Elsewhere on Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion face fellow strugglers Swansea City while the late kickoff is a mid-table tussle between Watford and Everton at Vicarage Road.

Arsenal and Manchester City skip league action this weekend due to their League Cup final clash at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. They next play in the league on Thursday, March 1 when they, coincidentally, face each other at the Emirates. (rtr)

10

Destination

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Berawa Beach Arts Festival, the art of developing Bali coastal area

MANGUPURA - Community of Tibubeneng village held an event entitled Berawa Beach Arts Festival. The festival featuring the theme ‘Pasisi Lango, Gate of Transition’ is held for four days (Feb. 22-25). “This festival is born from a society attempting to provide the opportunity and transformation and innovative creations with personal and communal expressions of language,” said the Head of North Kuta Subdistrict, A.A. Ngurah Arimbawa, at a press conference at LV8 Berawa, Sunday (Feb. 18).

Accompanied by headman of Tibubeneng, I Made Kamajaya, Artistic Director of Performing Arts, Gede Tilem Pastika and Curator of Fine Arts, Wayan Seriyoga Parta, he explained the coastal areas plays a big role in the tourism dynamics in Bali. As the gateway of Bali tourism, Badung has many exotic and famous beaches. Some areas have been well managed, but others are lacking especially those managed by community-based tourism like the Berawa Beach area.

To develop coastal areas as well as promote the potential of

Tibubeneng village, especially Berawa Beach, the festival combines various art activities. “Therefore, this festival presents a visual art and sculpture exhibition, innovative puppet performance, painting workshop, live sketch as well as mask and recycle art. Besides, there are cultural parade, musical collaboration, traditional culinary workshops and the making of lawar (seafood),” he said.

Director of Performing Arts, Gede Tilem Pastika, said the most unique art performance is the colossal kecak a cappella as involving 5,555 artists. This traditional art is presented in concert by taking instrumental format, not accompanying a dance. “Therefore, it needs the exploration chamber of kecak elements such as the sound types and the formulation of genuine mutual response. This kecak takes the materials from the wealth of the kecak of Ulapan Blahkiuh, Badung,” he added.

Processing of chorus cak sound elements is also unified with cak body elements by maximizing the sound color of the applause, chest

Looking Bar Manager,Bar Staff,Host /Hostess,Cashier,Cooks,Waiter/ ess,Stewards,Jl.Arjuna Legian Krm CV:info@hoipolloibali.com

Looking for Buttler Villa, High salary in area Seminyak Hub.(0361)4490319,CV to Email: asavillasproperty@gmail.com

Hotel Reservations Personnel needed in Jimbaran-Bali.Very Well Spoken And Written English is a must.Experience Work ing in the hospitality Industry is a plus.

Please send Cover letter and CV to hr@ lotus-hotel.com

Looking for Experienced Villa Garden maintenance,hard worker Good salary in area Seminyak Hub.(0361)4490319,CV to Email: asavillasproperty@gmail.com

B.BP.001.01.18.0001035

B.BP.001.01.18.0001103

Looking For Staff Cook Helper, Experience 1 Year.Sent CV to: warungdua88x@gmail.com/8475139

B.BP.001.01.18.0001190

B.BP.001.01.18.0000579

B.BP.001.01.18.0000578

Looking for Staff IT/Web,Good English,Good Salary in Dps Hub.(0361)4490319,CV to Email: asavillasproperty@gmail.com

B.BP.001.01.18.0000580

and thigh. Participants are a combination of representatives of vocational students and some high schools in Badung district. The dancers consist of men and women. “People also present their various artworks in a cultural arts parade at the opening of the festival by involving 13 customary hamlets at local village of Tibubeneng,” he explained.

Headman of Tibubeneng, I Made Kamajaya, said that in the matters of cuisines, this festival presents Food & Beverage Corner Session that tries to offer ‘Taste Sensation’ namely combining Balinese traditional drink with local fruits such as: java plum, cotton fruit, kaliasem, mirai, bekul, kepundung and others. There are also herbs like vanilla, cinnamon, eucalyptus, candlenut, ginger, lemongrass, and others. Not to mention, palm wine and arrack are also available as favorite drink to Balinese people.

These local ingredients will be mixed into a fusion-flavored drink, a combination of traditional drink and international drink to result in a cocktail. As a complementary to food, some Balinese snacks such

as laklak, satuh, bendu, uli, pisang rai and others will be presented.

“Tibubeneng people will present the Sea Food Festival with various seafood processed with Balinese spice-flavor sensation. A total of 13 hamlets will present their own food booth,” he added.

The program will provide an experience and knowledge of the narrative behind the food presentation, including their historical value.

There are also various competitions such as sand sculpture competition, dance to fishing contest. Bali micro and medium enterprises will be involved. Amid the festival, there will be a workshop entitled ‘Pasisi Lango: Coastal Area as a Milestone of Civilization.’

Meanwhile, the fine art curator, Wayan Seriyoga, said he will present the art works named Siteart Project. The works presented include painting, sculpture, art installation, video art, performance responding to indoor and outside. The art exhibition will be participated by dozens of national and international artists from Bali, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Batu, East Java.

Berawa Beach Arts Festival also features performing arts and music in the form of dance and musical composition to enhance the values ??of North Kuta coastal area. Do not miss the performance of Agus Teja (flute music) making collaboration with Balawan (guitar instrumental). (kmb)

B.BP.004.01.18.0001194

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying

B.BP.031.01.18.0000667

Need Waiter/Waitess,IT/Design, Bartender,Cook for Resto in Kuta. Send CV + Foto to Email: wikamitra@yahoo. com Phone/WA :089693670981

B.BP.001.01.18.0000157

Gutsy Gasser goes for glory, bags big air gold PYEONGCHANG - Anna Gasser stood at the top of the big air ramp on Thursday, caught in two minds ahead of her crucial final run. In the end, the Austrian snowboarder changed her planned trick and was rewarded with the first Olympic gold medal in the event.

Bukit Pandawa Golf Looking For Junior Accountant,Bachelor Degree in Accounting,min 2 yrs experience & able to joint immediately,completed CV to byboesono@gmail.com cc mwiriani@ baliragawisata.com Sales/Marketing,for HealthCare /Beauty Care, Experience, National Area,Apply to: versaindustries4@gmail. com

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500

Gasser, who finished 15th in the slopestyle event last week, put down a 96.00 with the final run of the day to snatch gold away from American Jamie Anderson.

The Austrian’s combined score of 185.00 from her two best runs relegated slopestyle champion Anderson into silver with a 177.25 total, while New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott took the bronze with a combined 157.50.

Gasser said deciding to go with something different for her third run had been key.

“I was standing up there and I knew I had the silver and I only could win and I was like, ‘No, I’m going to go full risk and if it works out then I deserve this medal,’” she said.

“Thankfully it worked out.”

The gold will go some way to making up for the Austrian’s disappointment in the slopestyle, where high winds prevented any of the riders from laying down two clean runs.

Gasser said the slopestyle should have been postponed and that Anderson was the only one who wanted it to go ahead.

The big air event is making its Olympic debut in Pyeongchang and sees snowboarders hurtle down a ramp standing at 49 metres with a maximum slope angle of 40 degrees and perform spins and tricks to impress the judges.

The women’s final was brought forward to Thursday as high winds are forecast for Friday, with the men’s final scheduled for Saturday.

Anderson, who became the first woman to win two snowboarding medals at a single Olympics, said she was happier to win the big air silver medal than she was defending the slopestyle title she had won in Sochi four years ago.

“It feels better because we have great conditions and everyone was able to ride their best, so it feels rewarding,” she said.

Sadowski-Synnott was another who took a risk with her final jump and while she could not pull it off perfectly, she was satisfied that she had given it a go.

“I’ve never done that trick before, but it’s the Olympics, so I wanted to do something crazy,” said the 16-year-old, who won New Zealand’s second ever Winter Olympics medal.

Barely two hours later, another 16-year-old New Zealander, Nico Porteous, won his country’s third when he took bronze in the ski halfpipe. (rtr) Gold medallist Anna Gasser of Austria holds a Soohorang Olympics plush mascot during the flower ceremony.

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Myhrer triumphs in slalom after Hirscher bombs out

PYEONGCHANG - Sweden’s Andre Myhrer won the men’s Olympic slalom on Thursday at the age of 35, keeping his head while others were losing theirs after both of the pre-race favourites destroyed their chances with uncharacteristic mistakes.

Skiing in his fourth Games and cheered on by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Myhrer won by 0.34 seconds from Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland and by 0.67 from Michael Matt of Austria.

“I took a medal in Vancouver (2010), a bronze, but I’ve always been dreaming about the gold medal and now it’s a reality and I’m totally blown away,” he said.

The contest had been thrown wide open after Austria’s Marcel Hirscher, the overwhelming favourite, bombed out in the morning run while chasing his third gold medal of the Games.

Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen was the first-run leader by 0.21 seconds and, racing immediately after Myhrer, had the chance to overhaul him. But he skiied out after just half a dozen turns of the deciding run.

“I’m not disappointed. Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all,” said the Norwegian, who after years of close rivalry with Hirscher must have wondered if his day had come at last.

Matt, brother of 2014 slalom

champion Mario, put in the fastest second run at 50.66 seconds, to move up nine places from 12th.

Zenhaeusern was only ninth in the morning but put in the secondfastest run of the afternoon. He then watched from the leader’s chair as the next six racers all failed to capitalise on their advantage from the morning race.

Then came Myhrer, beating his chest before bursting out of the start gate and carving his way cleanly and smoothly down the course.

His afternoon time was only the eighth fastest, but combined with his second place in the morning, was enough to win with a total time of one minute, 38.99 seconds. (rtr)

REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler

Marcel Hirscher of Austria reacts.

6

Friday, February 23, 2018

W

International

RLD

U.S. students protest over gun laws, Trump considers arming teachers

WASHINGTON - Students galvanized by the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school confronted lawmakers on Wednesday with demands to restrict sales of assault rifles, while President Donald Trump suggested arming teachers as a way to stop more U.S. rampages.

The unprecedented lobbying effort by groups of teenagers and parents at the White House and at the Florida statehouse in Tallahassee played out as fellow students staged classroom walkouts and rallies in cities across the country.

Trump held an emotional, hour-long meeting with students who survived the Florida shooting and a parent whose child did not. He said arming teachers and other school staff could help prevent future mass shootings, voicing support for an idea backed by the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby.

The Republican president, who has championed gun rights and was endorsed by the NRA during the 2016 campaign, said he would move quickly to tighten background checks for gun buyers and would consider raising the age for buying certain types of guns.

The attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and educators were killed on Feb. 14 in the second-deadliest shooting at a U.S. public school, has revived the long-running U.S. debate over gun rights.

Investigators said the assault was carried out by 19-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student Nikolas Cruz, who purchased an AR-15-style assault weapon

nearly a year ago.

“Nikolas Cruz was able to purchase an assault rifle before he was able to buy a beer,” said Stoneman Douglas student Laurenzo Prado, referring to a Florida law that allows people as young as 18 to buy assault weapons.

“The laws of the country have failed,” he told reporters at the Florida state capital.

Lawmakers in Tallahassee said they would consider raising the age limit to 21, the same standard for handguns and alcohol, although the state Senate opted on Wednesday not to take up a gun control measure.

The U.S. Constitution protects the right of Americans to bear arms, a measure fiercely defended by Republicans. However, Trump has come under pressure to act.

Trump spoke at length during the televised White House “listening session”, attended by students, parents and people affected by other U.S. school shootings, about how armed teachers and security guards could frighten off potential shooters and prevent more deaths.

“If you had a teacher ... who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” he said, while acknowledging the proposal was controversial. Some of the meeting participants indicated support. Others were opposed.

Mark Barden, whose son was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut, said his wife, Jackie, a teacher “will tell you that school teachers have more than enough responsibilities right now than to have to have the awesome responsibility of lethal force to take a life.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Parent Melissa Blank (L) and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting surviving students Jonathan Blank (2nd L) and Julia Cordover (2nd R) attend with other survivors and the families of victims a listening session held by U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss school safety and shootings, at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 21, 2018.

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

11

Indonesian president puts off signing law protecting parliament

REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde

School children take part in inter house sports event in Karmajiji, along Abuja’s airport road, Nigeria February 21, 2018.

Nigeria rescues 76 schoolgirls after Boko Haram attack, others missing

BAUCHI - The Nigerian military rescued 76 schoolgirls and recovered the bodies of two others on Wednesday, after the students went missing during a Boko Haram attack on a village, three parents, a resident and a local government official told Reuters.

“Everybody is celebrating their coming with songs and praises to God almighty,” said Babagana Umar, one of the parents whose daughter had disappeared. “The only sad news is that two girls were dead and no explanation.”

The rescued girls were returned to the village of Dapchi late on Wednesday evening, Umar and other residents said.

At least 13 students may still be missing, and Reuters was unable to determine how the two girls died.

Earlier on Wednesday, sources told Reuters that 91 people were unaccounted for after a roll-call at their school on Tuesday.

Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram attacked Dapchi in the northeastern state of Yobe on Monday evening.

Police and state officials said on Wednesday that there was no evidence that the girls had been abducted, though the Yobe govern-

ment later said in a statement that the military had rescued some of the students from Boko Haram.

Nigerian authorities often deny or downplay such incidents, including the Chibok girl kidnapping and more recent abductions, as well as the scale of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast.

Nigeria is still haunted by Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 270 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in 2014. That case drew global attention to the nine-year insurgency, which has sparked what the United Nations has called one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched his foreign and defence ministers on Wednesday to Yobe to investigate the situation, said Information Minister Lai Mohammed, who was also headed there. He declined to confirm whether any of the students were missing.

Parents and witnesses who told Reuters of the missing students spoke on condition of anonymity because they said they had been warned by Nigerian security and government officials not to disclose the disappearance. (rtr)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo has delayed signing a draft law that would allow parliament to crack down on criticism aimed at its members or the legislature, suggesting it could undermine the quality of the country’s democracy.

Members of parliament have proposed modifying laws governing parliament to allow an internal ethics council to take legal action against any individual or group that insults the house or its members.

But Widodo, citing concern among the public, who widely see parliament as corrupt, said he had put off signing it.

“The draft is on my desk but I have not signed it yet. I understand the public’s concern about this issue. We all want the quality of our democracy to improve, not deteriorate,” Widodo said on Twitter late

on Wednesday. He did not say if he would sign it.

Rights groups and anti-corruption activists have criticised the proposed law, saying it could harm freedom of speech and slow a fight against endemic graft.

Surveys show that Indonesians have for years perceived parliament to be among the country’s most corrupt institutions. An anti-graft watchdog has said the majority of its investigations involve members of parliament.

Legislators say the law would protect them from “false allegations” of corruption and other criticism.

“It is important to differentiate between criticism and insult.

People should not make accusations without legal facts that they can be held accountable for,” said one member of the assembly, Firman Subagyo. (rtr)

Aji Santoso/via REUTERS

People take photos of a landslide in Brebes, Indonesia February 22, 2018, in this image obtained from social media.

Indonesia landslide on Java island kills 5, over a dozen missing

JAKARTA - A landslide on Indonesia’s heavily populated island of Java on Thursday killed at least five people and left more than 15 people missing, an official at the country’s disaster agency said.

Indonesian President Jokowi

IBP/net

The landslide, which struck a village in central Java, also injured 14 people, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster agency said in a statement.

Rescuers not yet been able to use heavy equipment to remove earth where victims might be trapped, officials said.

“Our team hasn’t arrived yet. A lot of roads have been cut off because of the landslide,” Noer Isrodin, an official from the country’s National Search and Rescue Agency, told Metro TV. The official said that two excavators were trying to reach the location.

Some of the injured were being treated in a community health centre, while a woman with broken bones was being treated in a regional hospital, said a local mayor.

Indonesia suffers regular landslides, particularly during the monsoon season, sometimes exacerbated by forest clearance. (rtr)

Minister Marsudi to meet Indonesian peacekeeping troops in Lebanon

JAKARTA - Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi is scheduled to depart for Lebanon to meet the Indonesian peacekeeping troops, the Garuda Contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Feb 25-26. “This will be an important visit to again demonstrate Indonesia`s commitment and support for peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon,” spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir noted during a

press briefing here on Thursday.

The last time an Indonesian minister had visited Lebanon to meet the peacekeeping force was in 2007, Nasir stated. Minister Marsudi`s visit was also aimed at highlighting the government`s commitment to supporting the UN`s role in promoting international security and peacekeeping.

Director of International Security and Disarmament of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Grata Endah Werdaningtyas remarked

that the visit to Lebanon will focus on two areas, with the first being to meet 850 personnel of the Mechanic Battalion Task Force on duty in Adchit Al Qusayr and then a visit to the Port of Beirut to meet three hundred personnel of the Indo Maritime Task Force.

Foreign Minister Marsudi will meet the Garuda Contingent and hold a dialog with the personnel to observe firsthand the challenges and obstacles faced by the peacekeepers.

In its contribution to the UN

peacekeeping mission, Indonesia is committed to deploying four thousand peacekeeping personnel. Werdaningtyas revealed that Indonesia has, since 2016, deployed 2,702 peacekeepers from the Indonesian Military and Police to nine UN peacekeeping missions. Of most of some 1,290 Indonesian peacekeepers, 48 were females and were deployed in UNIFIL, she pointed out.

The visit to Lebanon will also be Indonesia`s campaign to promote its efforts in global peacekeeping

since the country is eyeing a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 period. Indonesia is competing with Maldives for this seat for the Asia-Pacific Region.

The election for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council will be held in New York in June 2018. From Lebanon, Minister Marsudi will depart for Kabul, Afghanistan, to accompany Vice President Jusuf Kalla to attend the Kabul Peace Conference. (rtr)

12

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

BUSINESS Stocks fall, yields and dollar rise after Fed minutes

NEW YORK - The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit a four-year high, the dollar rose and stocks fell on Wednesday in a rocky session after the Federal Reserve at its latest policy meeting showed more confidence in the need to keep raising interest rates.

The Fed’s more upbeat take on inflation, as seen in the minutes of the Jan. 30-31 policy meeting released on Wednesday, will likely further cement expectations that new Fed chief Jerome Powell will lead his colleagues in raising rates next month.

“Members agreed that the strengthening in the near-term economic outlook increased the likelihood that a gradual upward trajectory of the federal funds rate would be appropriate,” the Fed said in the minutes.

Wall Street, which started the day positive, closed lower after bond yields surged.

In late trading, 10-year Treasury yields touched 2.957 percent, their highest level since January 2014.

They were last at 2.95 percent.

The U.S. 30-year bond yield hit 3.233 percent, its highest level since July 2015, before tipping back to 3.228 percent.

The Fed minutes lined up with market expectations for future rate hikes, said Michael Skordeles, U.S. macro strategist at Suntrust Advisory Services in Atlanta.

“The market view is that we’ll see one in March, one in July and likely something later in the year, November or December,” he said. The minutes “reassured that there won’t really be a whole lot of change despite having a regime change.”

The minutes also showed that both the voting members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee and the wider group of policymakers had upgraded their forecasts for the economy since December.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six other major currencies, dipped following the release of the minutes but then recovered. The index was last up 0.4 percent at a one-week high.

The dollar has been weighed down this year by concerns that Washington might pursue a weak-dollar strategy, and by the perceived erosion of its yield advantage as other countries start to scale back their easy-money strategies.

Confidence in the dollar has also been shaken by mounting worries over the U.S. budget deficit.

But the greenback finally appeared to be benefiting from rising U.S. bond yields, especially as the Treasury Department issues more debt in anticipation of increased federal spending and a higher deficit from last year’s tax overhaul. The euro edged 0.41 percent lower to $1.2286.

In Britain, an unexpected jump in the jobless rate weighed on the pound, helping to send sterling down 0.51 percent to $1.3924.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 166.97 points, or 0.67 percent, to 24,797.78, the S&P 500 lost 14.93 points, or 0.55 percent, to 2,701.33 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 16.08 points, or 0.22 percent, to 7,218.23. MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe shed 0.17 percent.

The Toronto Stock Exchange S&P/ TSX composite index , however, closed 0.55 percent higher, and the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.11 percent.

Oil prices pared losses in postsettlement activity after data from the American Petroleum Institute showed a surprise draw in U.S. crude inventories. Traders had been expecting a rise. U.S. crude fell 0.76 percent to $61.32 per barrel, and Brent was last at $65.10, down 0.23 percent on the day. (rtr)

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange shortly after the opening bell in New York, U.S., February 21, 2018.

Bali News

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

5

Enhance Your Adrenaline at Pacific Bahari Bali

If you are water sport lovers, try to enjoy various attractions offered by PT Pacific Bahari Bali. It is located on Jalan Pratama No. 98 Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua, about 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport. This water sports business established in 1994 has very complete marine activities.

REUTERS/Ralph Orlowski FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY/File Photo

An employee of German car manufacturer Mercedes Benz installs the brand’s characteristic star on a Mercedes S-Class (S-Klasse) at a production line at the Mercedes Benz factory in Sindelfingen, Germany, January 24, 2018.

German business morale falls as managers’ near-term outlook clouds

BERLIN - German business confidence fell more than expected in February while remaining at a high level, a survey showed on Thursday, suggesting that Europe’s biggest economy is set for solid growth in the first quarter of this year. The Munich-based Ifo economic institute said its business climate index, based on a monthly survey of some 7,000 firms, fell to a 5-month low of 115.4 from 117.6 in January.

The February reading undershot expectations in a Reuters consensus forecast of analysts who had forecast a dip to 117.0. Ifo chief Clemens Fuest said companies were less satisfied with their current business situation, but the indicator still was at its second-highest level since 1991.

“This signals economic growth of 0.7 percent in the first quarter,” Fuest said. This compares with a quarterly growth rate of 0.6 percent in the final quarter of 2017. “After the euphoria of recent months, companies’ assessments of the business outlook for the months ahead were also far less optimistic,” Fuest said.

The drop in the headline figure was mainly caused by managers

scaling back their business expectations for the next six months, with the respective sub-index falling to the lowest level since April last year.

“The Ifo business climate index is a clear damper. Apparently, the combination of a stronger euro and rising (interest) rates is causing major concerns among chief executives”, Thomas Altmann from fund manager QC Partners said.

A sector breakdown of the Ifo figures showed the main drag came from manufacturing, where the mood among managers had hit a record high in the previous month.

Business sentiment also deteriorated in wholesaling, construction and retailing.

Ifo economist Klaus Wohl-

rabe said the fall in the business sentiment indicator did not mark the beginning of a fundamental shift for the German economy. “I would not yet speak of a change in the underlying trend, the German economy is still doing very well, but some of the steam has been let off,” Wohlrabe told Reuters.

He added that the coalition deal reached by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats had not been a cause for jubilation among managers.

The Ifo figures chimed with other sentiment surveys released earlier this week that showed growth in Germany’s private sector slowed in February while investor sentiment also deteriorated. (rtr)

IBP/Bud

The tourist is playing banana boat at Pacific Bahari Bali

At this location, you can boost your adrenaline by playing parasailing, banana boat, jet ski, flying fox, parasailing adventure, diving, seawalker, play boat and more. Among these activities, parasailing and seawalker seem the most preferred by tourists. “Tourists like best parasailing because they can fly while seeing the beauty of Tanjung Benoa area from the sea, and they can watch the activity of the community from the height,” said General Manager, Arna.

While by seawalker, tourists can see the diversity of fish at a depth of 7 meters. “All the activities are covered with insurance.

This is a part of our services to tourists,” said Arna while adding that PT Pacific Bahari Bali ever won an award for having the best equipment in Bali.

Operation hour of this company is every day from 08:30 to 16:00 local time. Do not be afraid about other facilities because this company also features a toilet, changing rooms, shower and other. A restaurant serving food and drinks as well as various snacks is also available and so are various fruits and seasonal fruits. Souvenirs of the Island of the Gods are available here.

Of course, as part of safety, before doing various activities, all tourists are given briefing first. “We also prepare a special vehicle to pick up tourists to their accommodation. This is our way of providing convenience for customers,” he added.

Other than foreign tourists, domestic tourists also like to enjoy marine water sport here, such as those from Jakarta, Surabaya, several city cities in Sumatra, Kalimantan and other regions in Indonesia.

PT Pacific Bahari Bali is also often used as a comparative study by similar companies from several cities in Indonesia.

“We also have frequent guests wishing to learn about the management of tourist attraction sent by the tourism office in their region. We are happy to share with them, so that we are often offered the chance to develop this tourism attraction in Aceh and Kalimantan,” he said. (IBP/bud)

Fantastic Adventure at Bayung Gede Tourism Village

Face of the off-roaders when exploring the charms of the Adventure Bayung Gede (ABG) looked happy and satisfied. Other than having more challenging routes, the natural scenery is also very beautiful and has a unique culture.

The community is friendly because it still preserves cultural heritage of the ancestors. This challenging tourist attraction is held by Tourism Awareness Group (POKDARWIS) of Bayung Gede village at Bayung Gede field, Kintamani, Bangli.

The Adventure Bayung Gede 2018 opened by the Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar, on Saturday (Feb. 3) was followed by offroader lover groups of Indonesia, especially those from the Island of the Gods. At least, there were 250 participants exploring the extreme, light extreme route and fun with family.

“This event is intended to promote tourism potential at Bayung Gede tourism village, so that it can increase tourist visit to Bayung Gede village. This event is also meant to explore and develop the existing tourism activities as well as for raising funds for the development of Bayung Gede tourism village,” said Chairman of the Committee, I Nyoman Genting.

Bayung Gede village has a beautiful nature as well as unique culture that cannot be found in other areas. Tradition and customary attires are very distinctive and the most unique is the cemetery known as setra ari-ari or cemetery of umbilical cord as the main attraction. These are developed, so that they are known as tourist attraction.

“Through this event, the public knows more about the Bayung Gede village,” he added.

Representative of Indonesian Motorcycle Association (IMI) Bali, I Ketut Tirta Yasa, appreciated to the ABG committee for giving location to the Bali off-roader lovers to channel their hobby. Besides, it is meant to enjoy the unique tourist area of ??Bayung Gede village having considerable potential especially for off-road aficionados.

“Of course, in accordance with the intention and purpose of implementing this activity, the off-roader can be an ambassador as well as promoter of Bayung Gede tourism village so that it is better known and can attract the interest of adventurists even those from outside Bali,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Regent Made Gianyar expressed his gratitude to the ABG committee because the spirit of the activity is to improve the tourism image of Bayung Gede

village. Regent Made Gianyar then told the committee to design a special tour for the lovers of antique and off-roader cars, so this will become an annual event with

more lively and more participants.

“This should be coordinated with the Bangli Tourism Office so that this activity can be synergized for mutual progress,” he said. (kmb)

4

Bali News

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Cultural preservation of carpentry period at Gilimanuk Bay

PREHISTORIC Man Museum of Gilimanuk is one of the museums becoming the pride of Jembrana. Since the past three years, the museum having the collection of fossils and objects of Mongoloid Race civilization has been already renovated. Actually, most of the Gilimanuk village areas posing densely populated area still belong to the area of ancient sites.

Not a few objects and fossils are found in the yard and the streets of settlements at Gilimanuk.

Location of the museum is not far from the Shiva statue of Gilimanuk, between the vast expanse of grass and blend with Gilimanuk Bay. The expanse of grass at the edge of the bay becomes main site for the finding of fossils and sarcophagi. Based on the research, the outskirt of the Gilimanuk Bay was inhibited by Mongoloid human civilization in 195 BC to 425 AD. Today, visitors can also see the situation of excavation sites conducted by researchers in 2003.

Outside the main building of the three-story museum, there is a building used for showroom of site casting. In the center of the groundfloor building, there are holes made similar to an excavation. Around the building is also displayed some documentation when the museum began to be pioneered to research activities.

Meanwhile, the main building displays various fossils and ancient objects found on the Gilimanuk sites. More than 100 objects related to human life of Mongoloid race are on display in the museum. On the first floor, there is a human skeleton from children to adult as well as sarcophagus.

Head of the Archaeological Institute for Bali-NTB-NTT Region, I Gusti Made Suarbawa, when met on the sidelines of the activity at Gilimanuk some time ago said that Gilimanuk is a necropolis or fisherman’s settlement as well as the burial place of the population.

This society developed with civilization of carpentry period before getting influences from India. This man is familiar with bronze tools and jewelry (rings and bracelets), wood and stone. The objects such as pots and bracelets were found in the graves believed to be burial provisions.

Since it was officially opened in 1990, the three-story building just got refurbishment around 2015. The main building previously obsolete, including the casting and roof, has now been renovated without changing the original structure and architecture. From outside, the building reflects Balinese ornaments and only looks to have one floor.

However, when coming into the building, there are stairs connecting to the third floor. On the top floor, the museum exhibits some collection of kitchenware and jewelry such as dishes, corals, pottery and others.

In addition to being a place of cultural preservation and research, the museum is also often taken advantage as the center for cultural activities. The museum spreads across the area of five hectares, while the site area reaches ??20 hectares or half of the Gilimanuk area. For several times, residents around the museum accidentally found a number of ancient objects when digging. (olo)

IBP/olo

The museum having the collection of fossils and objects of Mongoloid Race civilization.

13

Bahrain rights activist jailed for five years for “insulting” tweets

DHAKA - B angladesh is racing to turn an uninhabited and muddy Bay of Bengal island into home for 100,000 Rohingya Muslims who have fled a military crackdown in Myanmar, amid conflicting signals from top Bangladeshi officials about whether the refugees would end up being stranded there.

DUBAI - A Bahraini human rights activist was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for criticising Saudi Arabia’s air strikes in Yemen and accusing Bahrain’s prison authorities of torture, his lawyer and fellow activists said.

The United States, which has a major naval base in the country, has expressed concern about the case of Nabeel Rajab, a leading figure in pro-democracy protests that swept Bahrain in 2011, who was already serving a two-year sentence over a news interview in which he said Bahrain tortured political prisoners.

The new convictions were for “insulting a neighbouring country” and “insulting national institutions” in comments posted on Twitter, activists said.

The Bahraini Embassy in London said the prosecution and Rajab’s defence team had had ample opportunity to present their cases.

“The trials for the cases were overseen by numerous observers, including representatives from foreign embassies and NGOs,” the embassy said in a statement.

“Bahrain continues to make it clear that both cases – or indeed any other criminal cases within Bahrain – do not relate to political views or political expression,” it added.

Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, an activist with the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD), said Bahraini courts were barring citizens from criticising the authorities.

“Instead of rewarding Nabeel

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Monday that putting Rohingya on the lowlying island would be a “temporary arrangement” to ease congestion at the camps in Cox’s Bazar, refuge for nearly 700,000 who have crossed from the north of Myanmar’s Rakhine state since the end of August last year.

However, one of her advisers told Reuters that, once there, they would only be able to leave the island if they wanted to go back to Myanmar or were selected for asylum by a third country.

“It’s not a concentration camp, but there may be some restrictions.

We are not giving them a Bangladeshi passport or ID card,” said H.T. Imam, adding that the island would have a police encampment with 40-50 armed personnel.

British and Chinese engineers are helping prepare the island to receive refugees before the onset of monsoon rains, which could bring disastrous flooding to ramshackle camps further south that now teem

Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab arrives for his appeal hearing at court in Manama, February 11, 2015.

REUTERS/Stringer

View of the island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh February 14, 2018. Picture taken February 14, 2018.

IBP/kmb35

To anticipate overcapacity, Padangtegal customary village, Ubud, established a new building to increase the central parking capacity.

Central parking capacity of Monkey Forest to be increased

GIANYAR — Tourist visits to Ubud tourist area are now increasing. This condition is visible from the full occupancy of Ubud Monkey Forest central parking. To anticipate overcapacity, Padangtegal customary village, Ubud, established a new building to increase the central parking capacity.

Chief of Padangtegal customary village, I Made Gandra, said on Wednesday (Feb. 21) that Monkey Forest central parking is currently always fully occupied by vehicles. Moreover, it is filled by around 700 to 800 cars per day. “So, the central parking lot has been fully occupied now.

If there is no central parking, probably the roads in Ubud lead to chaos,” he said.

He explained that Padangtegal is currently adding the central parking capacity by establishing a new building. The three-story building has a size of 76 x 47 meters. It will have a capacity of 500 cars. “This project has already begun. As scheduled, it will be worked on about three months, so our target this May can be been completed,” he said.

The building is fully funded

by Padangtegal customary vil-

lage. Later on, the central parking will have a capacity of 1,200 cars. “In the future, we are going to add more buildings, so this central parking will accommodate 1,500 cars,” he said.

With such a capacity, Ubud tourist area is certainly clean from illegal parking because the vehicles have been accommodated in the central parking area, including other parking lots. Meanwhile, the parking tariff remains IDR 2,000 for motorcycle, IDR 5,000 for cars and IDR 10,000 for buses.

“The tariff remains the same. In this case, we do not intend to look for profit from parking, but make Ubud more comfortable for tourists. So, the ??Ubud area is always crowded by tourists,” he said.

Gandra said that residents of Padangtegal have supported the discipline of illegal parking on the streets of Ubud. “In the vil-

lage has been clear. Our residents have no problems regarding the discipline of illegal parking and so do the employers,” he said.

Local residents have been obedient with perarem or appendix to customary village bylaws about the beauty of Padangtegal village area. He said the perarem has included the emptying of road section having been used for parking. “All the entrepreneurs in Ubud must also obey this perarem. This has also been agreed before giving permission,” he said.

He added that local pecalang has been deployed for several times to conduct supervision.

Since pecalang or customary security guard is self-supporting, it is not possible to conduct supervision every day on roads that becomes the responsibility of the state apparatus. (kmb35)

Floating Island: New home for Rohingya refugees emerges in Bay of Bengal with about 1 million Rohingya.

The rains could start as early as late April.

Hasina’s adviser, Imam, said the question of selecting Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar to move to the island was not finalised, but it could be decided by lottery or on a volunteer-basis.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement: “We would emphasise that any relocation plan involving refugees would need to be based on and implemented through voluntary and informed decisions.”

FRENETIC CONSTRUCTION Humanitarian agencies criticised the plan to bring Rohingya to the island when it was first proposed in 2015. Aid workers who spoke to Reuters said they remain seriously concerned that the silt island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot sustain livelihoods for thousands of people.

But work on the project has accelerated in recent months, accord-

ing to architectural plans and two letters from the Bangladesh navy to local government officials and contractors seen by Reuters.

A year ago, when Reuters journalists visited Bhasan Char - whose name means “floating island” there were no roads, buildings or people.

Returning on Feb. 14, they found hundreds of labourers carrying bricks and sand from ships on its muddy northwest shore. Satellite images now show roads and what appears to be a helipad.

Floating Island, which emerged from the silt only about 20 years ago, is about 30 km (21 miles) from the mainland. Flat and shapeshifting, it regularly floods during June-September. Pirates roam the nearby waters to kidnap fishermen for ransom, residents of nearby islands say.

The plans show metal-roofed, brick buildings raised on pylons and fitted with solar panels. There will be 1,440 blocks, each housing 16 families. (rtr)

Rajab for his brave and commendable exposure of human rights abuses and advocacy for peace, the authorities have chosen to punish the messenger.”

International rights groups denounced the ruling.

“They are basically trying to clamp down on every kind of dissent. They don’t seem to tolerate any criticism,” Hanan Salah, senior researcher on Bahrain for Human Rights Watch, told Reuters in Geneva.

Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa Heba Morayef, said: “It is absolutely outrageous that he (Rajab) be forced to spend a further five years in jail simply for daring to voice his opinions online.”

Bahrain has cracked down on perceived threats since Arab Spring protests in 2011 led mainly by majority Shi’ite Muslims, were quashed with help from Gulf Arab neighbours.

The Sunni Muslim-led monarchy has closed two main political groups - the Shi’ite Islamic alWefaq and the secular Waad -, revoked the citizenship of the top Shi’ite cleric and banned activists from travel and put some on trial.

Bahraini newspapers reported on Wednesday that parliament has passed a legislative amendment that would bar members of the two dissolved groups from competing in upcoming parliamentary election expected in October or in November. (rtr)

REUTERS/Hamad Mohammed/File Photo

14

Friday, February 23, 2018

Fashion

International

Bali News

International

Gucci’s Michele explores identities in rich, bold display

MILAN - Italian fashion house Gucci dazzled fans with a presentation featuring baby dragons, snakes and models carrying replica heads in their arms in a Milan catwalk show on Wednesday that explored the concepts of creativity and identity.

Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele framed his display -- one of the most sought after tickets in Milan’s fashion week - in a cold, sterile and claustrophobic space that replicated an operating theatre.

“Our job (as creatives) is a surgical job: cutting and assembling and experimenting on the operating table,” Michele told reporters after

what he said was an exhausting show.

He explained that he wanted to show that there was order, a “scientific clarity”, among all the confusion of a job like his.

The brand, the biggest in French luxury group Kering , has been revamped with a bold new style over the past two years under Michele, and recently branched into homeware.

The verve of Michele, director since January 2015, has been key to giving Gucci a strong new identity, and its bright, elaborate and geeky yet chic looks have expanded the brand’s following particularly among younger customers.

The collection, for the next fall/ winter season, was rich and ornate, coherent with the kind of elaborate and layered styles Michele has been sending down catwalks in recent seasons.

His designs echoed different ethnicities, cultures and social classes, combining elements such as Sikh turbans with south American patterns, everyday work clothes with college-inspired looks. Some models wore crystal, embellished head pieces and many wore coloured balaclavas.

Two young models carried a replica of their heads in their arms, representing the struggle of accepting one’s identity and “look-

ing after your head and thoughts”, Michele said.

Like many other collections, Michele’s approach suggests the notion that people don’t necessarily have to fit into pre-defined categories and that they are free to chose who they are.

A style note said the different designs embodied Gucci’s concept of “pluriverse” and drew inspiration from Donna Haraway’s ‘Cyborg Manifesto”, a 1984 essay rejecting the idea of rigid boundaries, particularly those separating humans from animals and from machines.

“Limiting fashion to something that only produces business is too

easy,” Michele said, noting that the industry is now more engaged in social issues, with “a greater conscience”.

Kering boss Francois-Henri Pinault said earlier this month Gucci could still notch up double-digit growth this year. Comparable sales in the last quarter of 2017 at Gucci rose nearly 43 percent, beating forecasts and most industry peers.

Milan Fashion week runs until Feb. 26. The Italian fashion capital will be the setting for just over 60 shows and over 90 presentations and designers like Italy’s Armani, Versace, Dolce&Gabbana will be showcasing their fall/winter collections. (rtr)

3

Friday, February 23, 2018

Besakih tourism disturbed by naughty guides

Culprits detected, Besakih village prepares sanctions

IBP/kmb31

The parking area is made quite spacious completed with a roof. It is capable of accommodating thousands of vehicles of all students from all grades.

SMAN 1 Rendang resolves parking issues

Customary land used with a charge of IDR 1,000

PARKING issues have always been complicated at schools, especially in high and vocational school level. Thousands of vehicles always fill the corner of the school yard every day. Thus, it results in chaotic impression. However, this issue does not appear at SMAN 1 Rendang high school. School yard looks beautiful and cool without any motorcycles parked carelessly.

Then, where do the students park their motorcycles?

SMAN 1 Rendang becomes the main choice for every junior high school graduate in Rendang subdistrict. The school is quite spacious with neat courtyards and gardens. From the entrance to the teachers’ room, the vehicles of both cars and motorcycles are assured to belong to the visiting guests.

Meanwhile, teachers park theirs in a small corner north of the teachers’ room building. So, where do the students park their vehicle?

Apparently behind the school there is an ample land where thousands of motorcycles are parked and arranged very neatly.

Principal of SMAN 1 Rendang, I Wayan Janiarta, said the school finally thought of a breakthrough after experiencing many parking problems. In addition to disturbing the impression of school due to chaotic parking, there are also problems to motorcycles of the students. Sometimes a helmet or a

part of motorcycle like the mirror or another is missing. So, an idea came to establish cooperation with the local customary village. “There is a vacant lot behind the school.

Instead of being empty, it is better to be utilized,” said Janiarta when met at school on Tuesday (Feb. 20).

He recalled the idea of his school was also welcomed by Rendang customary village. Thus, there is cooperation to utilize the land behind the Dalem Temple for the parking lot of all the students.

The parking area is made quite spacious completed with a roof.

It is capable of accommodating thousands of vehicles of all students from all grades. It is also set up per grade. “Here, there is a parking attendant who guards and manages the students when parking,” said Janiarta.

As a contribution, the students should only pay IDR 1,000 when parking. By that way, students and their parents are said to be very supportive. In addition to being safe from the bad guys, the students’ motorcycles are also safe from the sun or rain. In addition, the empty and unutilized land is able to produce even though not so much. “When there is a school activity, this location also becomes an option in case of rainy season.

It is not possible to organize an event in the school field,” explained Janiarta. (kmb31)

AMLAPURA - Operations Management of Besakih Attraction as an extension of the government-formed management board returns to be made dizzy by unscrupulous local guides. By exploiting the loopholes of existing surveillance system, they seek personal gain by ‘harassing’ visiting tourists.

Based on information from some travel agencies, local tour guides try to get additional income by forcing tourists to give tips. In addition, they force tourists to donate at the amount that does not make sense.

Fortunately, the operations management has known the condition and has prepared measures to sterilize Besakih from such harmful behavior.

Acting Operations Manager of Besakih Attraction, Mangku Ngawit, said on Tuesday (Feb. 20) that operations management with Besakih tour guide organization already detected the bad guys. This priest of Dukuh Sagening Temple of Besakih did not specify the number or initials of the bad guys. Obviously, he stated their behavior will be addressed at the Besakih customary village level and organizational level of the local guide.

“We in the operations management has no authority to impose sanction. It will be decided in the internal organization based on the statutes and bylaws. Chief of Besakih customary village along

Besakih temple

with the ranks will also be referring to the existing perarem (appendix to customary village bylaws),” he explained.

Mangku Ngawit acknowledged the act of the unscrupulous local guides is very disturbing. Therefore, on Tuesday afternoon after reporting to the Regent of Karangasem, IGA Mas Sumatri, Besakih customary village together with the operations management and tour guide organization held a meeting at the office of Besakih headman. The meeting also discussed about the sanctions to be imposed on the local guides involved. “We actually have a system to minimize such behavior. There are some check points to supervise the activities of local guides, but we admit the violation remains to exist,” he said.

Mangku Ngawit ensured that the issue will be seriously addressed because it is believed to have a negative impact on the tourist visit to Besakih. According to him, currently there are an average of 200 foreign tourists and 47 domestic tourists making a visit. The amount is admittedly far from normal condition where the average can reach 550 foreign tourists and 75 domestic tourists per day. Nevertheless, over days the visit rates continue to improve. “Tourist visit begins to be crowded and so does pilgrim’s activity, approaching to normal. We do not want the image of Besakih to be destroyed by the act of such few individuals,” he said. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

2

Bali News

Friday, February 23, 2018

International

Congestion to airport complained

Toll road users advised to depart earlier

DENPASAR - A number of tourism players complained about the congestion happening to the road section to Ngurah Rai Airport. Moreover, it happens after the construction of underpass at the Ngurah Rai statue intersection followed by the traffic diversion to the Bali Mandara toll road. Such diversion is considered to fail as unable to smooth the traffic from and to the airport, including the traffic from and to Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Jimbaran and surrounding areas.

“Traffic diversion to toll road automatically results in the increase of vehicle density. At certain hours, the density has made no sense and tortured the public,” said a tourism entrepreneur, Kadek Adnyana, when confirmed on Wednesday (Feb. 21).

According to Adnyana, it takes 30 minutes to get into the toll road only. It does not include the time of queuing at toll booth which now imposes e-payment or electronic money.

There are also toll users that do not carry toll cards so they have to purchase on the spot. “The process takes at least 5 minutes. Meanwhile, behind the user have lined the vehicles that will pass through the toll booth, which of course exacerbates the congestion,” he explained.

The government, added Adnyana, should be present to provide services. Similarly, PT. Jasamarga Bali Tol as the

operator must perform emergency measures considering earlier there was information about 30 French tourists left by the airline due to stuck amid toll congestion.

“They are very disappointed with the traffic that should be managed more wisely and better. One of the fastest options is to re-apply manual payment at toll booth until the underpass process is completed. Then, assign three attendants to collect cash payment at one booth entrance for faster services,” he explained.

He added that toll operator does not have to maintain payments with toll cards in emergency situations as what happens today. Besides, the toll road users are not ready with the new system. “This is for the sake of Bali’s tourism image, so that it will not even become worse,” he said. When separately interviewed, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nengah Tamba, said the congestion occurred in the airport area is the impact of underpass construction. Properly, the hotel and travel agencies must actively inform this condition to their guests.

“If necessary, every room should be equipped with a kind of notice where guests or tourists can read, so they can provide an early time if they want to return to their home country or other destination cities by flight,” explained this Democratic Party politician.

On the other hand, Tamba also asked the toll road officers to be responsive, especially when there are toll users that do not bring along their toll card or toll card needs topping up.

These kinds of users are potentially inhibiting the traffic. “If they indeed do not carry toll card or its balance runs out, the officers on duty should quickly find a solution. Later, Commission III will check it all, maybe tomorrow (Thursday) we will go down,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali Transportation Agency, IGA Sudarsana, said the congestion must be addressed wisely. Moreover, there is a construction of the underpass that when completed will be very useful for smooth traffic there.

One of the consequences of this time is indeed congestion.

To resolve the congestion, he claimed to have coordinated with police authority. But the number of vehicles is quite a lot and the situation is very crowded.

“To anticipate, we must depart early so that everything can go well. The companies working on the underpasses project are also time-targeted, while many police colleagues are deployed to help (streamline traffic—Ed),” he said.

Sudarsana admitted to disagree if the payment system in Bali Mandara toll is returned to manual. On the contrary, the public must have awareness to bring their toll card and make sure it contains sufficient balance when they are going to enter toll road considering the government has required the use of electronic money on the toll without any bargaining.

“As the risk, the presence of toll roads must be responded by purchasing toll cards voluntarily. No matter what the reason is, we should not step backward to use the manual payment,” he affirmed. (kmb32)

Activities

International

Friday, February 23, 2018

15

The Great Family Escape at The Sungu Resort & Spa

If you’re planning a family holiday in Ubud, then the award-winning The Sungu Resort & Spa is the perfect choice. This authentically Balinese resort located within lush and pristine settings, which recreates the intimacy of a traditional Balinese village, is now offering

a Family Package that will give you wonderful value-for-money complete with today’s modern-day luxuries while you enjoy a serene holiday in the heart of Bali’s cultural centre.

Priced at IDR 4,900,000 nett, this 3 days 2 nights stay package

includes a stay at the beautiful Duplex Villa Sungu - a breathtaking two-storey villa with designs inspired from the traditional Balinese Lumbung or Rice Barn - a 1-time 60-minute Children Painting Lesson, a 1-time Balinese traditional massage for 45

minutes, and so much more. While you’re there, do try your hand at Traditional Painting and Gamelan lessons and Palm Leaf creations or visit the Museum Rudana with your family.

So don’t miss out! Book your stay now at The Sungu Resort &

Spa for the most memorable family holiday in the artistic and cultural heartland of Ubud.The Sungu Resort & Spa | Jl. Penestanan, Ubud, Bali - 80571 | Ph: +62 361 975719 | info@ thesunguresort.com | www.thesunguresort.com

Unique cremation at Cempaga village, Without bade tower, corpse symbolized with bangun urip

CEMPAGA Village, Banjar subdistrict, is one of four villages belonging to Bali Aga or ancient village in Buleleng. As the Bali Aga village, this village occupying the highlands keeps the tradition inherited from their ancestors.

One of the traditions is a series of Ngaben or cremation ceremonies.

Cremation ceremony at Cempaga village can be considered unique because the procession and ritual paraphernalia are not the same as Ngaben in general.

Cempaga villagers have believed that cremation is performed without the use of bade tower burned in the grave area. However, cremation at this village only uses ritual paraphernalia known as bangun urip. In addition, the peak of cremation at Cempaga village is not done in the cemetery area, but in the village hall. Then, on the day of cremation, the ritual paraphernalia is only discarded in telutug (the edge of the village—Ed).

Practically, there is no burning of ritual paraphernalia in the ngaben at Cempaga village.

Mass cremation at Cempaga village this year involved 35 corpses from 15 clans. Peak of the cremation was held on Wednesday (Feb. 21) after holding mungkah and

mesehlawang at central intersection of local village (catus pata) on Tuesday (Feb. 20). In the evening, residents and parties involved in the mass cremation prepare the oblation until midnight by setting up bangun urip as a symbol of the corpses buried in the cemetery.

Bangun urip is made from white rice, delicacy of Balinese pork (black pig—Ed) and other important paraphernalia. The rice itself is put in the lowest order as the embodiment of the grave of a family member who has died.

Then, on the rice is placed various pork delicacies such as satay and other paraphernalia arranged in such a way. Having been accomplished, the bangun urip will look like a grave lined up on a pavilion that has been built far in advance by local residents. Every bangun urip is given a photo of the deceased signifying someone to be cremated. Family members and relatives including the invitees stand up in front of each bangun urip.

Chairman of Cempaga Village Cremation Committee, Made Juwika, said the cremation tradition with the bangun urip denoting a local ancestral heritage has not been affected by the development

and cremation ceremony in other regions in Bali. He said the bangun urip symbolizes the corpse buried in the cemetery. Commenced with mungkah ritual, the soul of the deceased will be given ceremony enthroned through the symbol of bangun urip itself.

Each participating family of the cremation ceremony should pay as much as IDR 3 million plus a Balinese pig.

“The uniqueness of cremation at our village lies in the oblations in use, the bangun urip and the ceremony entirely taking place in village hall. It is not necessary to go to cemetery and no need to do burning at all. After the peak of cremation, all the ritual paraphernalia including bangun urip and other means are thrown to the end of the village,” he explained.

Who officiates over the cremation? Juwika said the mass cremation at his village is not led by a Brahmin priest. However, all the ngaben processions are only done by a village healer or village priest. This uniqueness shows that cremation at Cempaga village is not the same as those in other areas in Bali. Though being different, he and other residents believe that the procession of the cremation is

meant to pray for the soul of the deceased so as to get a peaceful place before God and always give wellness to family or relatives left behind. “All the processions are led by village priest and it is meant to say prayers for the deceased and return their spirit to its origin. At the same time, it invokes blessing and safety for their children, grandchildren and relatives left behind,” he explained.

Menek pangkonan

Cempaga village still has other uniqueness related to the mass cremation procession. Before the peak of cremation ceremony, residents and cremation participants implementing the cremation ceremony carry out the tradition of Menek Pangkonan. This tradition is also a legacy of their ancestors remaining sustainable until these days.

According to headman of Cempaga, I Putu Suarja, the tradition of Menek Pangkonan has the meaning of banquet as well as the witness of important invitees and all the related residents in the implementation of mass cremation. Menek Pangkonan is manifested by eating rice, with pork side dishes, and lawar. All these facilities are placed on four

pavilions lined up. The highest platform is the place for temple priests, village apparatus, and invited government officials. The lower platform (angsagan) is for lower officials and the two other lower ones are for (serving delicacies and serving plates) ordinary residents. This tradition is not just for men, but also for women having the same turn.

“This is uniqueness cannot be found in other regions and all have meaningful symbols other than promoting togetherness and unity.

This is a witness and banquet for invitees that have prayed for the implementation of cremation at our village,” he explained.

Tradition of Menek Pangkonan begins with eating rice together with side dishes of pork processed into satay, lawar, tum and other servings. This food is usually a donation from the residents. If there is no donation, it will be prepared by cremation committee. All the participants enjoy the serving of rice and side dishes with gusto. Then, it is resumed with dinking palm wine, arrack and rice wine and followed by eating klepon fresh cakes and ending with pecanangan (cigarettes and betel nut). (mud)

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

Friday February 23 11:30-13:30 Balinese Culture 101”Death Rites with Bu Rucina Ballinger Hubbub:Ubud Cowering community space 88x Monkey Forest Road Ubud 10:00-11:30 Weekly Hatha Yoga with Ary Mocks Ubud Restaurant Puskesmas ubud II, gg damai Ubud 18:00-19:30 Ari Shakti Meditation on the Divine Mother Savage Loka Resort Penestanan, Gianyar 8:30-11:00 Bali Women in Business Genius Cafe- home to the Entrepreneur Beach Club Mertasari Beach Sanur 18:00-19:00 CFC 2017§18 PlayPlay Charity Performance CushCush Gallery

Jalan Teuku Umar Gang Rajawali no 1 A Denpasar Saturday February 24 16:00-19:00 Bali’s biggest clean up Beaches all over Bali oneislandonevoice.org 20:00-23:30 Lala Kono African Drumming and Dancing Bali Bohemia Jl. Night Bojog Nyuh Kuning Ubud 18:30-21:00 Ecstatic Dance & Nataraja Cosmic Sound Nataraja Bali Yoga Shala Jalan Dukuh Indah no 6060 Umalas 19:00-23:00 An Evening with DANI and Sandrayati Fay Rum Sanur Creative Hub Jalan Danau Poso no 51A Sanur 8:00-22:00 Pesta Wirausaha Bali 2018

Monument Bajra Sandhi Renon Denpasar 10:00-18:00 Shamanic Breathwork The Yoga Barn Jalan Raya Pengosekan Ubud 13:00-16:00 Wim Hof Methode Workshop Paradiso Ubud Jalan Gautama Selatan Ubud 10:00-11:30 Traditional Indonesian Dance #7 Tribes Jt Life Studio Jl. Subak Uma, Petulu lebah Ubud 15:00-21:00 Arts & Music: Kirael Expo Vision Villa Resort Jl. Masceti, Median Gianyar 16:00-19:00 Cobalt Learn to Surf & sunset session Jimbaran Beach Jl. Four Season Muaya Beach Jimbaran Kuta Selatan 16:00-19:00

CS Gathering” Discussion about Sustainable Tourism 9 Angels Jalan Suweta 32, Ubud Sunday February 25 19:30-22:30 Jazz Club with Astrid Sulaiman Casa Luna Ubud Jl. Raya Ubud 11:30-12:30 Weekly Tai Chi class Mocks Ubud Restaurant Puskemas Ubud ii, Gg. Damai Ubud 17:30-21:00 Sunday Twilight Smoked Duck Class Case Luna Cooking School with Janet DeNeef Jalan Bisma Ubud 14:00-17:00 Meditation & talks with Zero Mangku Budhidarma Sharna Dwipa Gianyar

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

16 Pages Number 57 10th year

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

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Friday, February 23, 2018

‘Get a grip’ - Jennifer Lawrence offended over plunging dress furor LOS ANGELES - Jennifer Lawrence on Wednesday blasted a controversy over a photo of her wearing a plunging black dress outside on a cold London day as sexist, ridiculous and “not feminism.”

The Oscar-winning star, 27, said in a Facebook posting that she was also “extremely offended” by what she called the “utterly ridiculous” reaction on social and mainstream media to the photo, taken as part of promotions for her upcoming movie “Red Sparrow.”

The picture, taken outdoors on a bitter winter’s day in London earlier this week, showed a bareshouldered Lawrence wearing a black gown, while actor Jeremy Irons and three fellow cast members donned thick wool coats Many commentators saw the photo as a reflection of the pressure on women in Hollywood to look good, particularly given Lawrence’s previous outspoken criticism of the gender pay gap in the movie industry.

“True equality means either Jennifer Lawrence getting a coat,

or Jeremy Irons having to pose for a photo call in assless chaps,” tweeted London journalist Helen Lewis.

Australian journalist Stephanie Peatling remarked on Twitter that it was “cold enough that the bloke actors have to wear coats and scarves to their press call and yet poor Jennifer Lawrence is wearing a small amount of fabric some might call a dress.”

Lawrence, one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood, was having none of it.

“That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I’m going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf? I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice,” she wrote on Facebook.

“This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism,” she added.

“It’s creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people” “Red Sparrow,” a thriller in which Lawrence plays a Russian spy, opens worldwide next week. (rtr)

REUTERS/Simon Dawson

Actor Jennifer Lawrence arrives for the European premiere of “Red Sparrow” in London, Britain February 19, 2018.

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

Friday, February 23, 2018

Man throws grenade at U.S. embassy in Montenegro, then blows himself up

PODGORICA - An unidentified man threw an explosive device, probably a hand grenade, at the U.S. embassy building in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, around midnight before blowing himself up, the government said on Thursday.

REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Dua Lipa arrives at the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, February 21, 2018.

Dua Lipa, Stormzy take top honours at BRIT awards

No casualties were reported from the embassy which confirmed a small explosion near its compound. The U.S. State Department said checks were being carried out to ensure all staff were safe.

Policemen with submachine

guns and police vehicles were out on the streets near the embassy building on Thursday morning after the incident.

The government, in a tweet, said that about half an hour after midnight “an unknown person” had committed suicide with an

explosive device. “Immediately before, that person threw an explosive device from the intersection near the Sport Center into the U.S. embassy compound.”

The device was most probably a hand grenade, it said. Police were investigating and trying to

establish the person’s identification.

The embassy was closed for issuing visas on Thursday and it warned U.S. citizens to stay away until further notice.

“The U.S. embassy in Podgorica advises U.S. citizens there is an active security situation at the U.S. embassy in Podgorica,” it said on its website.

Montenegro is the smallest of

all former Yugoslav republics and became the 29th country to join NATO last May. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

LONDON - Singers Dua Lipa and Stormzy were the biggest winners at this year’s BRIT awards, Britain’s most high-profile pop music awards, taking two trophies each at an event that saw performances from some of music’s biggest acts.

Lipa was named best female solo artist and breakthrough act at the British Record Industry Trust (BRIT) awards, held in London on Wednesday, while rapper Stormzy won the British male solo artist prize and British album of the year for “Gang Signs & Prayer.”

Ed Sheeran took the global success award but lost in the three other categories in which he was nominated, while One Direction star Harry Styles won for video of the year by a British artist.

Foo Fighters took the prize for international group. U.S. rapper Kendrick Lamar was named best international male artist, with New Zealand singer Lorde taking the female solo artist honours.

The event featured performances from the likes of Sheeran, Lipa

and Lamar, who rapped on top of a glass cube containing a luxury car that was smashed up by a man wielding a bat.

Lamar’s act appeared to suffer from technical difficulties that muted periods of his performance, leading fans on social media to express their frustration.

Other artists went for grand scale. Justin Timberlake opened the show with a rendition of “Say Something” accompanied by a scores-strong choir dotted throughout the audience, while Dua Lipa was accompanied by dozens of dancers, also scattered throughout the arena.

Many of the stars in attendance wore white roses on the red carpet and during the show as a gesture of support for the Time’s Up and

#Metoo movements against sexual harassment and abuse and supporting women’s rights.

“It does make a difference,” Lipa told Reuters on the red carpet of the protest. “We are protesting in our own way and this how we’re going to make a difference.”

The show also saw Oasis front man Liam Gallagher perform “Live Forever” in a tribute to the victims of a suicide bombing attack on a venue hosting a concert by U.S. pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester in May 2017, which killed 22 people.

British media outlets reported that Gallagher had been added to the line-up at the last minute, to replace a planned tribute performance by Grande, who dropped out due to illness. (rtr)

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

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

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

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

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

Police guard the United States embassy building in Podgorica, Montenegro, February 22, 2018.