Edisi 24 Februari 2015 | International Bali Post

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

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Entertainment

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Harris wins praise as Oscars host HOLLYWOOD - Neil Patrick Harris won kudos Sunday for his debut outing as Oscars host, mocking the gala’s lack of racial diversity and stripping down to his Y-fronts in a nod to “Birdman.”

John Shearer/Invision/AP

“Today we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest. Sorry, brightest,” the 41-year-old comic quipped as the three-and-a-half-hour gala, telecast worldwide, got under way.

The deliberate slip of the tongue acknowledged the striking absence of nonwhite performers among this year’s crop of Academy Award nominees.

Clearly relishing his Oscar duties, Harris went on to spoof Michael Keaton’s underwear scene in “Birdman” -- which went on to win best picture -- appearing on stage in white briefs, black socks and nothing else. “Benedict Cumberbatch,” he said in another joke later in the evening, introducing the best-actor nominee for “The Imitation Game.”

“It’s not only the most awesome name in

show business, it’s also the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce Ben Affleck.”

When “Citizenfour” won best documentary, Harris couldn’t help making a play on words, saying intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden “could not be here tonight for some treason.”

But not all Harris’s gags worked.

His bid to compare the box-office success of “American Sniper” to Oprah Winfrey’s fortune fell flat, even if the talkshow diva took it in stride. On Twitter, he acknowledged the support of his gag writers toiling behind the scenes.

“I’m super appreciative for the group of writers we hired for my #Oscars content.

If only they could write everything I say

WEATHER FORECAST Dps

23 - 32

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

always. #proud,” he tweeted.

Among those praising Harris was Seth MacFarlane, whose 2013 turn as Oscars host was judged by many to be a shade too edgy for prime time.

“Fantastic as usual. There’s nothing this man can’t do brilliantly,” the “Family Guy” creator said on his Twitter feed.

“First impressions suggest Harris is the right guy for what can admittedly be a rather thankless job,” blogged Variety television critic Brian Lowry as the awards ceremony was still under way.

It may have been Harris’s first time hosting the Academy Awards -- and the first openly gay man to do so -- but he is an old hand when it comes to fulfilling emcee duties.

The New Mexico native is a four-time host of Broadway’s Tony awards and twice hosted television’s Emmy primetime awards. (afp)

Families of 3 missing UK girls urge ‘Please come home!’

La Liga will be decided on final day, predicts Ancelotti

North Korea bars foreigners from Pyongyang marathon

Page 6

Page 8

Page 13 Oscars Winners

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ stays on top Blanchett leaving Sydney LOS ANGELES — “Fifty Shades of Grey” didn’t relinquish control of the box office. Universal’s erotic drama starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan earned $23.2 million at No. 1 in its second weekend at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The adaptation of E.L. James’ bestselling novel earned an additional $68.1 million overseas.

Despite the victory, director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” plummeted a steep 73 percent from its record-breaking $85 million three-day debut over President’s Day weekend.

“There was a pent-up demand and excitement for ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ last weekend, so this was its destiny after it broke the box-office record for the biggest opening in February and didn’t have the added bonus of a holiday weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office firm Rentrak.

The action spy film “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and the family friendly “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” similarly maintained their respective No. 2 and No. 3 spots at the box office in their second weekend.

Fox’s “Kingsman” nabbed $17.5 million, while Paramount’s “SpongeBob” soaked up another $15.5 million.

A trio of newcomers failed to crack the top three. Disney’s cross-country racing tale “McFarland, USA” starring Kevin Costner launched at No. 4 with $11.3 million. Lionsgate’s high school comedy “The DUFF” debuted at No. 5 with $11 million. Paramount’s wacky sequel “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” opened at No. 7 with $5.8 million.

A few Oscar contenders received a boost at the box office ahead of Sunday’s 87th annual Academy Awards.

“American Sniper,” which is up for six awards, including best picture and best actor for Bradley Cooper, racked up another $9.6 million at No. 6 in its ninth weekend of release.

“The Imitation Game,” nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best actor for Benedict Cumberbatch and best supporting actress for Keira Knightley, came in at No. 9 with $2.5 million in its 13th weekend. “Still Alice,” which features best actress front runner Julianne Moore, earned $2.2 million after expanding to 765 theaters in its sixth weekend. (ap)

to move to the US

SYDNEY - Australian Oscar winner Cate Blanchett plans to leave her Sydney home and move to the United States where her artistic director husband Andrew Upton will pursue freelance writing opportunities, a report said Monday.

The in-demand actress, who won Oscars for her roles in “The Aviator” and Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine”, will make the move later this year.

“It was a very hard decision,” Upton, the artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“But the deciding factor was that our children are still of an age where they can be mobile without disrupting their education too much.

“We spent nine years living in England and we loved it. But now we’d like to try America.

They have terrific (opportunities in) television there and Cate has a very strong film career there, too, obviously.”

Blanchett started out as a theatre actress in Sydney, where she won critical and popular acclaim with a string of successes for the Sydney Theatre Company.

She was also joint artistic director with Upton of the company from 2008 to 2012 and is patron of the Australian Film Institute.

Upton said he wanted to return to writing while in the United States.

“I want to get back into the freelance writing lifestyle, which I have been missing,” he said.

“I am interested in writing for television and film, as well as theatre.” (afp)

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Actor Michael Keaton (L) and director Alejandro Inarritu accept the Oscar for best picture for his film “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virture of Ignorance)”during the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015.

Best picture: “Birdman” Best director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “Birdman” Best actor: Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything” Best actress: Julianne Moore, “Still Alice” Best supporting actor: J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash” Best supporting actress: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood” Best original screenplay: “Birdman” Best adapted screenplay: “The Imitation Game” Best foreign language film: “Ida” (Poland) Best animated film: “Big Hero 6” Best documentary feature: “Citizenfour” Best cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Birdman” Best original song: “Glory” (from “Selma”) Best original soundtrack: Alexandre Desplat, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best costume design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best make-up / hairstyling: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best production design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best documentary short subject: “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Best live action short film: “The Phone Call” Best animated short film: “Feast” Best film editing: “Whiplash” Best sound mixing: “Whiplash” Best sound editing: “American Sniper” Best visual effects: “Interstellar”

‘Birdman’ soars to Oscars glory

HOLLYWOOD - Dark comedy “Birdman” soared to Oscars glory on Sunday, taking four Academy Awards including best picture and best director honors on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The film, a satire about a washedup superhero film actor battling to revive his career on Broadway, was a grand triumph for Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who himself won three of the four golden statuettes.

Stylist crime caper “The Grand Budapest Hotel” also won four Oscars, several in technical categories, while jazz drumming drama “Whiplash” scored three, including best supporting actor for veteran actor J.K. Simmons.

Best actor went to Britain’s Eddie Redmayne as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory

of Everything,” while veteran Julianne Moore took best actress as a professor suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease in “Still Alice.”

Inarritu, the second Mexican in a row to take the best director Oscar after Alfonso Cuaron won last year for “Gravity,” dedicated his award to his fellow countrymen.

Talking about Mexican immigrants into the United States, he said: “I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect as the ones who came before and built this incredible immigrant nation.”

Coming-of-age drama “Boy-

hood,” which had been going headto-head for the best picture race, perhaps suffered the biggest disappointment, with only one Oscar on six nominations -- best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette.

Disney’s “Big Hero 6” was named best animated feature, while Poland’s “Ida” took the best foreign language film prize.

Host Neil Patrick Harris launched the three-and-a-half hour show with a song and dance routine about the movie industry itself -- including a joke about the lack of any non-white actors in the four acting categories.

“Tonight, we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest ... sorry, brightest,” he said, earning laughs from the star-studded audience at the Dolby Theatre. Arquette hit a political

note in accepting her prize, giving a shoutout to “every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation.

“We have fought for everybody’s equal rights. It is our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America,” she said.

The biggest standing ovation of the night honored “Selma,” about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The film, while nominated for best picture, controversially failed to secure nods for British actor David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay. In the end, it won for best original song for the rousing “Glory” -- and the A-list audience rose to their feet after John Legend and Common performed the song.

“We live in the most incarcer-

ated country in the world,” Legend said as he accepted his Oscar.

“There are more black men under correctional control today than there were under slavery in 1850.”

A star-studded cast of presenters took the stage on Sunday, including Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy, Liam Neeson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey.

Continued on page 6 News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http://radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

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International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Bali News

Tribal tattoo found on the corpse of foreign citizen

DENPASAR - The body of a foreign citizen was discovered on Uluwatu Beach, South Kuta, on Sunday (Feb. 22) and was immediately taken to the mortuary of Sanglah Hospital and examined.

Results of the external examination revealed that the body (labeled code 012) was an adult male foreign citizen “wearing cream-colored Billabong surf shorts and a plaid shirt” explained the local officer.

Thee victim’s right arm was tattooed with a tribal motif, his abdomen was black and his hands and legs were covered with abrasions including an open wound on the palm of his right hand, “Allegedly these

wounds were caused by stripping on a rock or some such object” added the officer. It was estimated that the victim had drowned approximately twelve hours before being found. (kmb42)

International

Flood hits Bali

Governor said nature is angry

DENPASAR – Governor of Bali Made Pastika spoke out about the flooding that occurred over the last few days in Bali and particularly Denpasar. According to the governor, the flooding was caused by the lack of public awareness regarding nature, and also by rainfall, which was indeed very heavy.

“Nature is angry because we have have been haphazardly cutting down trees, polluting, litttering , not wanting to plant tress nor pay attention to the sanitation of city gutters,” he said in Denpasar, on Sunday (Feb. 22).

Pastika perceived that few people want to clear garbage from the gutters that is clogging the drains. He also called on people to, at the very least not throw garbage into a drains or rivers. Such a

littering can lead to flooding.

“Garbage piling up in gutters can cause clogging and lead to flooding.

For this reason, I appeal to the people not to litter. Other than causing a dirty enviroenment, it also contributes to flooding,” he said.

The Governor also invited all levels of society, ranging from Bali’s provincial to county, municipal,village and hamlets level officials to be more concerned about nature. When flooding happens, people should not complain but should rather think about what has clogged the drain.

“Let’s allow for green open spaces and comply with the existing rules if we want nature to be friendly towards us,” he said. (kmb32)

Losses from disaster estimated to be in the billions of rupiahs BANGLI - Material losses due to strong winds that hit almost all parts of Bangli on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) have begun to be calculated by the Bangli Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD). Although the figures are not exact, losses due to the damage to dozens of houses and temples is estimated to be substancial. “Yesterday, wind storm is estimated to have caused billions of Rupiah in damages,” said Head of the BPBD Bangli, Wayan Karmawan, when asked for his confirmation, on Sunday (Feb. 22).

According to Karmawan, estimated losses include damage to houses and public facilities throughout Bangli. He said that the afternoon storm severely damaged at least 50 buildings, including homes, schools, sacred buildings and public facilities. The most severe damage hit three villages in Kintamani, namely Subaya village, Kutuh village and Kubu Salya hamlet at Sukawana village. The three villages were hit by the brunt of the typhoon, with two families having to be evacuated because their homes were destroyed and could no longer be occupied.

The BPBD is still collecting

data in order to come up with more precise figures regarding the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon. “Today, we will continue our efforts to deal with the disaster as well as collect date,” he added.

In Bangli subdistrict, the strong winds caused a banyan tree at Tamanbali to fall and topple over six stalls in the vicinity. The incident also caused a traffic-jam at the Bangli-Gianyar road section.

In Tamanbali, a falling tree hit a house at Sidawa hamlet, and a temple at Uma Anyar village.

At Sidembunut hamlet, Cempaga village, a tree toppled over a house. A shrine in the middle courtyard of Kehen Temple, was also damaged by a falling tree.

Meanwhile, in Susut subdistrict, tress fell at the junction of Demulih, at the route of Tanggahan Peken-Kayuambua and at Manuk hamlet that caused traffic jam in each of these areas. In addition, at Tanggahan hamlet, Demulih village, the house of a local resident was severely damaged by a fallen tree. At Serokadan hamlet, Apuan village the shrine of a resident was toppled over by tree. At Demulih-Sala, a fallen tree caused a traffic-jam. Then,

at Penglumbaran village, a fallen tree toppled over a resident breaking his leg as ascertained after being rushed to hospital.

In Tembuku subdistrict, a tree at Nyanglan Kaja hamlet, Bangbang village, collapsed and caused traffic jams on the BangbangKlungkung road section. In addi-

tion, a falling tree also hit a temple at Yangapi village causing severe damaged.

In Kintamani subdistrict, a fallen tree incident occurred at Sekardadi village resulting in traffic jams. Three villages, namely; Subaya village, Kubu Salya village and Sukawana village were also hit

Activities

Inna Grand Bali Beach

SANUR - Inna Grand Bali Beach is situated on the long white sandy beach of Sanur, Bali’s most popular area and shaded by coconut palm, from the luxurious ten-storey central tower building, the highest in Bali, landscaped tropical garden and cottages spread out over 45 hectares land.

Originally opened on 1 November 1966, re-launched, after major upgrading, on 4 October 1993. INNA Grand Bali Beach is the most complete resort complex in Bali, featuring state-of-the-art visitor facilities, but also numerous artistic amenities that bring to life the cultural excellence of the Balinese people and their many talented neighbors.

Accommodation

Inna Grand Bali Beach offers a good value and genuine hospitality.

The east facing location provides guests with the best opportunity to see magical Bali sunrise. 523 room in 3 types of accommodation; 100 cottages, 197 rooms of 4 blocks two storey buildings and 226 rooms of a ten storey Tower Wing, including a Presidential Suite and spacious suites.

All rooms have individually controllable air conditioning, humidity control, private bath/shower, satellite TV, fridge/mini bar, hair dyer, tea & coffee making facility, in-house movie channel, international direct dial telephones, bathrobes, balcony or terrace. Tower Wing rooms also have in room safes and card key door locks.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Profile

Ni Nyoman Pujiarini

Start from curiosity

The high interest made Ni Nyoman Pujarini become herbal spa producer. Currently, she has three spas. All of the spas still cooperate with hotels in Ubud and Kuta area. The product called Sari Herb. The materials are special herbs as well as the therapist always give delicate touch and positive aura.

The quality is very good and it can make the blood circulation better and help postbirth process. The product is already wrapped in a round cloth. The purpose is to make it easier for the therapist to use the special massage technique.

The woman who was born on May 21st 1978, was unfamiliar with the natural product not to mention the word spa even she is living in ubud, a well developed village of tourism.

Because her strong will, she wanted to study more about it. “I know spa from Japanese tourist. He brought a package of spa from thailand and I can smell herb from it. It was amazing experince,” Puji said.

Even tough she didn’t have knowlegde about herbs, she search for the right herbs all around Bali. Puji also read many books to find information about it. “I have the faith that Bali has more herbs than Thailand,” she added.

Then, she carry out experiments to find the perfect combination. Puji believed that spa industry in Bali will develop more in the future. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

Balinese Temple Ceremony

by typhoons causing a number of houses to be severely damaged.

Emergency and Logistics Section Head of the BPBD Bangli, Ketut Agus Sutapa, said that other than damaging homes and public facilities, high wind also damaged electrical grids at some points around the island. (ina)

IBP/Sosiawan

Material losses due to strong winds that hit almost all parts of Bangli on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) have begun to be calculated by the Bangli Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

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Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Science

International

Antarctica: Mystery continent holds key to mankind’s future

DECEPTION ISLAND, Antarctica — Earth’s past, present and future come together here on the northern peninsula of Antarctica, the wildest, most desolate and mysterious of its continents.

Clues to answering humanity’s most basic questions are locked in this continental freezer the size of the United States and half of Canada: Where did we come from? Are we alone in the universe? What’s the fate of our warming planet?

The first explorers set foot in Antarctica 194 years ago hunting 19th century riches of whale and seal oil and fur, turning tides red with blood.

Since then, the fist-shaped continent has proven a treasure chest for scientists trying to determine everything from the creation of the cosmos to how high seas will rise with global warming.

“It’s a window out to the universe and in time,” said Kelly Falkner, polar program chief for the U.S. National Science Foundation.

For a dozen days in January, in the middle of the chilly Antarctic summer, The Associated Press followed scientists from different fields searching for alien-like creatures, hints of pollution trapped in ancient ice, leftovers from the Big Bang, biological quirks that potentially could lead to better medical treatments, and perhaps most of all, signs of unstoppable melting. The journey on a Chilean navy ship along the South Shetland islands and vulnerable Antarctic Peninsula, which juts off the continent like a broken pinky finger, logged 833 miles (1,340 kilometers) and allowing the AP team a firsthand look at part of this vital continent.

Antarctica conjures up images of quiet mountains and white plateaus,

Indonesia expects Russia to implement visafree arrangement

Bali News

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

3

KUTA - The Indonesian government expects Russia to give Indonesians visa-free facilities on a reciprocal basis to ease peopleto-people connectivity between two countries, particularly through the tourism sector.

AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

In this Jan. 27, 2015 photo, penguins walk on the shore of Bahia Almirantazgo in Antarctica. Earth’s past, present and future come together here on the northern peninsula of Antarctica, the wildest, most desolate and mysterious of its continents. but the coldest, driest and remotest continent is far from dormant. About 98 percent of it is covered by ice, and that ice is constantly moving. Temperatures can range from above zero in the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula to the unbearable frozen lands near the South Pole. As an active volcano, Deception Island is a pot of extreme conditions. There are spots where the sea boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius), while in others it can be freezing at below 32 (0 degrees Celsius). And while the sun rarely shines on the long, dark Antarctic winters, nighttime never seems to fall on summer days.

While tourists come to Antarctica for its beauty and remoteness, scientists are all business. What they

find could affect the lives of people thousands of miles away; if experts are right, and the West Antarctic ice sheet has started melting irreversibly, what happens here will determine if cities such as Miami, New York, New Orleans, Guangzhou, Mumbai, London and Osaka will have to regularly battle flooding from rising seas.

Antarctica “is big and it’s changing and it affects the rest of the planet and we can’t afford to ignore what’s going on down there,” said David Vaughan, science director of the British Antarctic Survey.

Often, scientists find something other than what they were looking for. Last year researchers calculated that ice on the western side of the continent was melting faster than

expected. Last month, scientists researching vital geology in that melting were looking a half mile under the ice in pitch dark and found a surprise: fish a half foot (15 centimeters) long and shrimp-like creatures swimming by their cameras.

Geologists are entranced by Antarctica’s secrets. On a recent scientific expedition led by Chile’s Antarctic Institute, Richard Spikings, a research geologist at the University of Geneva, wielded a large hammer to collect rock samples in the South Shetlands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Curious members of a penguin colony on Cape Legoupil watched as he pounded on slabs of black granite and diorite rising out of the southern ocean. By the end of the two-week

trip, his colleagues had jokingly begun calling him “Thor.”

“To understand many aspects in the diversity of animals and plants it’s important to understand when continents disassembled,” Spikings said. “So we’re also learning about the real antiquity of the Earth and how (continents) were configured together a billion years ago, half a billion years ago, 300 million years ago,” he said, adding that the insights will help him understand Antarctica’s key role in the jigsaw of ancient super continents. With names like Rodinia, Gondwana and Pangaea, scientists believe they were significant landmasses in Earth’s history and were periodically joined together through the movement of plates. (ap)

As animals evolve, they grow larger WASHINGTON - As animals evolve they tend to get larger over time, researchers concluded in a sweeping study released Friday that tracked thousands of creatures over a half-billion-year period.

The mean body size of marine animals, for example, increased 150-fold over the past 542 million years, according to the study published in the US journal Science.

“That’s the size difference between a sea urchin that is about two inches (five centimeters) long versus one that is nearly a foot (30 cm) long,” said Noel Heim, a post-doctoral researcher at a lab at Stanford

International

University’s School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences.

“This may not seem like a lot, but it represents a big jump.”

Body-size increases have occurred since animals first appeared in the fossil record, some 550 million years ago, according to the study.

“We’ve known for some time now that the largest organisms alive today are larger than the largest organisms that were alive when life originated or even when animals first evolved,” said Jonathan Payne, a paleobiologist at the same Stanford school who

led the research.

But it was not known if the average size of animals had changed over time and whether this reflected an evolutionary trend in body size, he added.

The phenomenon does not apply to all animal lineages, but it was particularly evident in those that were the largest and most diverse in the early evolutionary record, according to the researchers.

“For reasons that we don’t completely understand, the classes with large body size appear to be the ones that over time have become differentially more di-

verse,” Payne said.

The computer-modelled research reinforces the so-called Cope rule, named after the 19thcentury paleontologist who determined that biological lineages tended to evolve to larger sizes over time.

Edward Cope observed that mammals like horses grew larger over generations.

Scientists had previously tried to verify Cope’s theory in other groups of animals but the findings were mixed. Corals and dinosaurs seemed to confirm the theory, but birds and insects did not.

As a result, some scientists questioned whether or not the trend in terrestrial animals was a true evolutionary phenomenon.

Payne’s team set about to conduct the most comprehensive-ever test of Cope’s theory, compiling a database of more than 17,000 groups, or genera, of marine animals including arthropods and mollusks spanning the last 542 million years.

“Nearly 75 percent of all of marine genera in the fossil record and nearly 60 percent of all the animal genera that ever lived are included in our dataset,” Heim said. (afp)

“Free visa negotiation is underway by considering the aspects of reciprocity, advantages and security,” said Foreign Affairs Ministry’s acting director of Central and East Europe Directory Ibnu Hadi recently.

In terms of visa-free arrangement on a reciprocal basis, Hadi mentioned that Russia had implemented it with Thailand, “Then why don’t they do the same with Indonesia?”

Since early January 2015, Indonesia has officially waived visa requirements for visitors from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia wishing to travel to the country.

Hadi said Russia is among the countries which have the potential to become one of the major markets for the Indonesian tourism.

According to data from the Tourism Ministry, Russia is one of the top twenty sources of tourist arrivals in Indonesia.

In 2013, a total of 93,622 Russian nationals visited Indonesia, and in 2014 the number decreased to 88,775.

The decrease, Hadi said, was caused by some factors, such as no direct flight from Indonesia to Russia and the sluggish Russian economy which caused Rubel currency to

depreciate against the US dollar.

The Russian honorary consular based in Denpasar, Bali, Chairul Nuku Hamka, explained that almost 72 thousand Russian tourists visited Bali Island in 2014.

“On average about four to five thousand Russian tourists visit Bali per month,” he said.

In 2015, the Indonesian government plans to cooperate with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia in implementing visa-free arrangement on a reciprocal basis.

The government has set itself the target of raising the number of tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2019 through the visa-free arrangement.

However, Ibnu Hadi said not all states used reciprocity in implementing free visa policy and Australia is one of the examples.

Nationally, Indonesia recorded 9,435,411 tourist arrivals in 2014, up 7.2 percent from 8,802,129 recorded in 2013.

Promoting tourism abroad is part of Indonesian representatives’ economic diplomatic efforts, as proclaimed by President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is currently providing visas on arrival for tourists from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. (ant)

DENPASAR - The Bali provincial chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has urged the government to require all companies in Bali to become KADIN members.

“If a company is not registered as a member of KADIN it is not allowed to follow the government’s project tender,” chairman of Bali provincial KADIN chapter Gde Sumarjaya Linggih said on Sunday.

It refers to law no. 1 of 1987 on the Chamber of Commerce, as well

as Presidential Decree No. 17 of 2010 on Approval of Amendment to the Articles of Association and Bylaws (AD/ART) Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides that the three economic actors both state-owned or public enterprises, cooperatives, and the private sectors must become a member of KADIN with the obligation to register at the districts/cities of KADIN chapter.

“We realize that the three economic actors are the biggest tax contributors in Indonesia,” he stated. (ant)

All companies should become Kadin members

REUTERS/Zul Edoardo

Michael Chan (C), brother of Australian death row prisoner Andrew Chan, leaves Kerobokan Prison with a member of his family after visiting his brother in Denpasar, on the Indonesian island of Bali February 17, 2015.

Australians on death row ask Indonesia to let them live DENPASAR - Two Australians on death row appealed to Indonesian president Joko Widodo on Sunday to let them live so they can continue helping fellow prisoners in a rehabilitation programme, their brothers said.

The kin of drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan made a statement to the media after visiting the pair in Kerobokan prison on Bali island.

“We see and hear many prisoners doing courses go on to jobs and better lives. Our brothers’ great wishes for the President is to allow them to continue this help, to rebuild the lives of many more Indonesians for many more years to come,” Michael Chan told reporters outside the prison.

The statement comes after Indonesia authorities delayed their execution by up to a month, backtracking on an earlier pledge to put the two men before the firing squad by the end of February.

Australia’s government has voiced strong opposition to the planned executions.

“Our brothers are very grateful for the support and kindness shown to them by so many people, and we are amazed at their strength and resilience during this stressful time,”

Michael Chan said.

“As they reflect on their past they are also thankful to the Indonesian government, the prison officials and many volunteers that have allowed them to create a holistic rehabilitation programme that is now the envy of most prisons worldwide,” he added.

Chan and Sukumaran, who have been on death row since 2006, claim they have themselves been rehabilitated. But Widodo, who has vowed a tough approach to ending what he has called Indonesia’s “drug emergency”, rejected their appeals for clemency.

“Myu and Andrew love Indonesia, they have a great respect for the Indonesian people and its culture, and it was through the support of the Indonesian justice system that they were able to help set up many programmes that have helped a lot of Indonesians and has also helped better themselves, and they are very grateful for that”, said Chinthu Sukumaran.

Widodo, a vocal supporter of capital punishment, in January authorized the execution of six convicted drug smugglers including five foreigners.

Chan and Sukumaran are

among seven foreigners -- including citizens from France, Ghana, Brazil and Nigeria -- who have lost their appeals for presidential clemency, the final hope of avoiding the firing squad. (afp)

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Bali News

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

International

International

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Lose in competition with other traditional markets

RLD

Manggis Market remains deserted AMLAPURA - Conversion of the Manggis Art Market into Manggis Public Market does not change the market condition and it remains deserted of visitors. The existence of Ulakan traditional market and Manggis traditional market become a serious rival to Manggis Market that has changed its status to a public market.

A total of 80 traders who previously occupied the stalls in the market building in front of the cemetery of Manggis customary village gradually reduced. Actually, the demand of traders to sell at the lower courtyard of the market had been approved by the management of the market.

Associated with the condition of Manggis Market, the Head of

Karangasem Industry and Trade Agency, I Gusti Ngurah Suarta, revealed that his party was trying to make a night market. The existence of Manggis Market could not compete against the Ulakan traditional markets located nearby. The change of the art market into public market selling basic needs of society was still unable to attract buyers.

In order not to make the exis-

Gianyar ensures not to use Buvanest and Kalnex GIANYAR - The issues on the patients in Jakarta suspected of dying due to injection of anesthetic drugs such as Kalnex and Buvanest immediately drew public concerns.

Similarly, the government already ascertained not to use the drugs produced by Kalbe temporarily.

The Head of Gianyar Health Agency, Ida Ayu Cahyani, said on Sunday (Feb. 22) that to anticipate the recurrence of similar cases, the drug like Kalnex and Buvanest had no longer been in use because they were still under investigation of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) related to the cases of patients that died not long ago. “I have instructed to all hospitals in Gianyar not to use these two drugs (Buvanest and Kalnex—Ed),” she affirmed.

She said that after hearing the news regarding the incident, her party immediately monitored the use of drugs produced by Kalbe throughout the public and private hospitals in Gianyar. “Having been checked in Gianyar and outside, in fact not all hospitals use them,” she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Sanjiwani Hospital Gianyar, Ida Komang Upeksa, when asked for his confirmation via phone said the Sanjiwani Hospital had long no longer used the two types of drugs because his party did not subscribe to Kalbe manufacturer. “At Sanjiwani Hospital we have no longer used them for a long time. Nowadays, according to anesthesia doctors, all hospitals in Gianyar no longer use these kinds of drugs,” he said. (kmb35)

tence of the market opened at the end of December 2013 continuously redundant, his party planned to reorganize a night market considering the competition of night market in the region was minimal. Besides, his party also planned to create a night entertainment to attract the interest of people in the surrounding area to visit the Manggis Market. “We are also working with the Manggis customary village in terms of management. Meanwhile, the matter of deserted visitors will be attempted to be resolved by the implementation of night market,” he explained, Sunday (Feb 22).

The change from Manggis Art Market to public market was intended to increase the number of market visits because so far the Tanah Ampo Harbor had not been operated to bring in tourists. After changing it into public market, the market remained to face the same fate, no visitors. Previously, Ngurah Suarta claimed to have conducted a variety of ways, including moving traders to lower courtyard in order to be easily accessed. Unfortunately, the interest of buyers in visiting the market was still minimal.

Related to the condition of Manggis market, a member of

Commission II of the Karangasem House, Wayan Sunarta, said that people would prefer to shop at Ulakan Market which had been so familiar to buy basic necessities since long time ago. In order to be able to attract the interest of visitors to the Manggis Market, his party would soon hold a meeting to find a solution.

“The Manggis Market is close to Ulakan Market established earlier.

In Manggis, there is also another traditional market. Thus, it is necessary to find a solution to attract public interest,” he concluded. (dwa) AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2014 file photo, passengers wait for their luggage upon arrival at the Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, before closing its door for foreign visitors to visit the country in fear of the Ebola virus.

Agricultural sector is one of the sectors remaining to be relied upon by Bangli all this time. It is able to provide income for the vast majority of Bangli.

North Korea bars foreigners from Pyongyang marathon TOKYO — Tightening the screws even further on travel to their already isolated country, North Korean authorities have barred foreigners from one of the year’s most popular tourist events — the annual Pyongyang marathon — because of ongoing concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus, travel agencies said Monday.

IBP/Sosiawan

Land conversion threatens food security

BANGLI - Agricultural sector is one of the sectors remaining to be relied upon by Bangli all this time. It is able to provide income for the vast majority of Bangli. Besides, the sector also has great potential to serve as a trigger for the economic recovery of the community. Behind the positive value owned by the agricultural sector, the agricultural land experiences land conversion from paddy field to non-paddy field.

Currently the paddy field in Bangli County begins to narrow. The land previously producing foodstuffs has now been converted into something else. In some places can be seen dozens of hectares of wetland that have been dredged. Moreover, it is located in strategic area, like roadside. The dredging is increasingly unavoidable.

Subak Selati at Bunutin village, Bangli, one of the fairly extensive subak areas at roadside, with paddy field area of approximately 3,500

square meters begins to decrease as has been dredged. As observation in the field, it was discovered two locations of paddy field being dredged and both fields were located at roadside. According to headman of Bunutin, Ida I Dewa Made Rai Adnyana, the dredged wetland was indeed located at two locations. However, he explained more paddy fields were located in the north. “The land is unproductive and belongs to customary village,” he said.

Furthermore, Adnyana said the land dredged would be used for village square. So far, any implementation of religious ceremonies such as mass cremation, local villagers was still constrained to get a more spacious location. On that account, it was necessary to be made a village square for the venue of religious ceremony. “We are going to use the land as public field or market. Probably it will also be used to establish a preschool education,” he explained.

On the other hand, related to the land located in the south, his party claimed not to know about the land designation. “Meanwhile, I do not know about the designation of the land located in the south,” he added. Other than in Bangli subdistrict, the land conversion would probably happen in three other subdistricts, namely the Susut, Tembuku and Kintamani.

Until now, the paddy field area in Bangli County reaches 2,910 hectares. This figure is still relatively small compared to the amount of rice consumption. It is also recorded if the Bangli County still lacks for 193 tons of rice, requiring Bangli County to bring in rice from other counties to cover the shortage. Proliferation of wetland dredging allows Bangli County to lack for rice in the future.

Reduction in the productive agricultural land has resulted in the loss of agricultural products permanently that enables to threaten the food security in Bangli County. (sos)

While no cases of Ebola have been reported anywhere near North Korea, the country shut its doors on foreign tourists in October with some of the strictest Ebola regulations in the world. North Korean media have suggested Ebola was created by the U.S. military as a biological weapon.

Nick Bonner, co-founder of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, said he did not think the decision reflected any deeper problems in the North’s secretive and often enigmatic government, though the news comes amid reports leader Kim Jong Un has called for increased combat readiness and, at a meeting of senior party and military leaders, described tensions on the peninsula as graver than ever before.

North Korea has been under increasing pressure from the U.N. over its human rights record and is facing new sanctions from Washington over its alleged involvement in the massive hack attack on Sony Pictures in December. Joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea

that the North says are a provocation will also begin soon.

Bonner said more than 400 foreign runners had signed up with his agency alone for the event, which is to be held April 12. He said he was informed by officials on Monday that the race — billed as one of the most exotic marathon locales on Earth — would be open only to local runners. Another agency specializing in North Korea travel, Young Pioneer Tours, also confirmed on its website that it was cancelling its tours for the event.

Bonner, speaking with The Associated Press by phone from Beijing, said he remains hopeful the Ebola restrictions will be lifted by the end of next month. Even if they are, however, the restrictions apparently made it too difficult for marathon organizers to be ready in time to deal with the influx of foreign runners, who were allotted 500 slots.

Last year’s race through the streets of Pyongyang, including a 10-kilometer (6-mile) competition and a half marathon along with

the full course, was opened up to foreign recreational runners for the first time and was a big success.

Elite runners from around the world are usually brought in for the main event. Bonner said they apparently won’t be allowed in this year.

K n o w n o ff i c i a l l y a s t h e Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, the race is sanctioned as a bronze-label event by the International Association of Athletics Federations and has been held annually for 27 years. It is held in conjunction with a series of sporting competitions, arts festivals and cultural events marking the birthday of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung, on April 15.

Since the Ebola measures were announced last October, visas for nonessential travel have been halted and, regardless of country or region of origin, all foreigners allowed in are technically subject to quarantine under medical observation for 21 days.

That includes diplomats and international aid workers, though they are allowed to stay in their residences or diplomatic compounds. Even senior North Korean officials returning from trips abroad have been quarantined. The restrictions have been a disaster for travel agents. (ap)

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

13

Japan’s farm minister resigns amid political funds questions

TOKYO — Japan’s agriculture minister stepped down Monday following questions over political funding contributions, the latest in a series of such resignations. Koya Nishikawa resigned as head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries saying he wanted to avoid disruptions to parliamentary proceedings.

Questions arose over an alleged 1 million yen ($8,400) donation to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party chapter headed by Nishikawa from a company run by a sugar manufacturers association that had received government subsidies. “No matter how much I explain the situation, if people don’t understand they don’t understand,” Nishikawa told reporters. “There is absolutely no conflict with the law, but people can still use this to tarnish my image.”

Nishikawa and other government officials said earlier that he had returned the money. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that he had resisted, but in the end accepted Nishikawa’s resignation.

“He was determined to quit, and I have to respect his wishes. I think it’s really regrettable,” Abe said. He said he was asking lawmaker Yoshimasa Hayashi, who preceded Nishikawa as farm minister before a Cabinet reshuffle in September, to resume the post.

Abe praised Nishikawa for working on agricultural reforms and Japan’s efforts toward forming a pan-Pacific trade pact, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Japan’s protection of its sugar industry is one of five sensitive areas in negotiations with the U.S. toward the trade agreement.

Political funding scandals are a chronic problem in Japanese politics and questions over Nishikawa’s situation surfaced last fall. Two other ministers in the Cabinet that Abe formed in his September reshuffle quit over funding allegations. But he kept on most of the other ministers, including Nishikawa, in the Cabinet he announced following a general election in December.

Opposition questioning over such issues in the parliament tends to slow work on the body’s main priority, pushing through the annual budget before the fiscal year starts on April 1. (ap)

AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File

FILE- In this Sept. 3, 2014 file photo, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koya Nishikawa speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo.

12

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

BUSINESS

Asian markets mostly higher on Greek debt deal TOKYO - Asian stocks broadly rose Monday as investors cheered a tentative deal to extend Greece’s bailout, giving Athens a last-minute lifeline to pay its bills and avoid a damaging default.

Tokyo led the charge with the benchmark Nikkei adding to a 15year high as it rose 0.73 percent, or 134.62 points, to finish at 18,466.92.

Sydney added 0.45 percent, or 26.46 points, to 5,908.0, and Seoul closed 0.35 percent, or 6.94 points, higher at 1,968.39.

Hong Kong crawled out of negative territory with the Hang Seng up 0.02 percent in late trade. Exchanges in Taiwan and mainland China are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Asian shares picked up on a strong lead from Wall Street which surged to fresh records Friday after Greece was granted a provisional four-month debt bailout extension, easing worries over its future in the eurozone. European finance ministers gave Athens until Monday to present proposals that would con-

vince its creditors to keep its loan lifeline open.

“Discussions over Greece have been tipping toward the EU compromising, so the market consensus is that the worst-case scenario will be avoided,” Shoji Hirakawa, chief equity strategist at Okasan Securities in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.

“It’s difficult to maintain a short position.”

But Australia & New Zealand Banking Group warned that the bailout extension offered only a “small window of reprieve”.

“Continued geopolitical ructions with Russia over the Ukraine, as well as the unrest in the Middle East, means there are many issues that will continue to hold sway in political discussions, distracting politicians from economic policy,” it added. (afp)

Japan’s ANA joins bid to rescue bankrupt Skymark Airlines

TOKYO - Japan’s All Nippon Airways on Monday announced plans to help turn around bankrupt Skymark Airlines, reportedly joining a string of other firms offering a lifeline to the struggling carrier.

Skymark, Japan’s third-largest airline, filed for bankruptcy protection in late January in the face of potentially massive penalties over a cancelled $2.2 billion jet order with Airbus.

“This morning, we submitted documents to show our intention to participate in the sponsorship (of Skymark), but we can’t comment further now,” said a spokeswoman for ANA Holdings, the airline’s parent company.

Japanese media reported the rescue plan would include codesharing and joint procurement of fuel, while Kyodo News agency said Tokyo-based investment fund Integral has decided to extend a 9.0 billion yen ($76 million) loan to Skymark.

Some 20 other firms have so far

applied to back Skymark’s rehabilitation, including leasing firm Orix and major travel agency H.I.S., Kyodo said.

Skymark plans to draw up its final list of sponsors this month and will present its rehabilitation plan to Tokyo District Court by May 29, it added.

Skymark confirmed last month that it was in talks with ANA and Japan Airlines about code-sharing -when airlines jointly operate a flight route -- as well as with domestic and overseas funds over a possible investment deal.

Shares in Skymark tumbled 12.82 percent to close at 34.0 yen.

The stock, which has fluctuated wildly since the bankruptcy announcement, is being delisted from the Tokyo exchange next week.

Skymark’s efforts to turn itself around failed as it struggled against tough competition in the sector, while its woes deepened after the deal with Airbus collapsed in the summer. (afp)

In this Nov. 21, 2007 file photo, Vehicles travel along Highway 225 near Shell Oil Company’s Deer Park refinery and petrochemical facility in Deer Park, Texas.

Three weeks into a United Steelworkers union walkout at 11 refineries around the country, including Shell’s Deer Park facility, the impact on the prices of gasoline, diesel and other fuels is barely discernable.

International

Bali News

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

5

Preserving buffalo race as cultural heritage

NEGARA - Determination of makepung or buffalo race as cultural heritage does not necessarily draw the attention of the government to maintain it. All this time, only Jembrana government intensively strives so as the events like buffalo race can be scheduled annually up to two times. Meanwhile, the provincial government and the ministry have not been paying attention to the event longed for by buffalo race troupes.

IBP/File Photo

Determination of makepung or buffalo race as cultural heritage does not necessarily draw the attention of the government to maintain it. All this time, only Jembrana government intensively strives so as the events like buffalo race can be scheduled annually up to two times.

Buffalo race perpetrators are very hopeful where the determination of buffalo race as cultural heritage can also arouse the attention of the Bali provincial government and the ministry. “All this time, it is only Jembrana County that intensely maintains the tradition either through Regent Cup event or repair to the circuit. We certainly hope the attention of provincial government by re-organizing the Governor Cup,” said Made Mara, buffalo race troupe coordinator of Jembrana, Sunday (Feb. 22). Representative of the buffalo race troupe had actually expressed its aspiration in the recent visit of the governor.

But from year to year, the hope had never been realized. “In terms of cost calculation, our troupe is minus. But with the vivacity to maintain the cultural heritage, the cost is number two. This vivacity must become one of the concerns for the leaders in Bali. Although it is just an event,” said Mara. All this time, more attentions were given by the Jembrana government either by organizing the annual event or providing circuit repair.

According to him, the assistance of circuit repair was very important because it was the venue where the buffalo race troupe competed. Of the six circuits in Jembrana, two of which had been in good condition and could be used in various weather conditions such as those located at Delod Berawah, Mendoyo (East Ijogading) and Tuwed, Melaya (West Ijogading). (olo)

AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File

Refinery workers strike spreads to biggest US location The first nationwide oil refinery strike in more than 30 years was poised to expand this weekend in a labor dispute that may start having more of an impact on the price consumers pay for gasoline.

The United Steelworkers union said Saturday that workers at the largest refinery in the U.S., the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, started their strike at midnight Friday. Employees at two other refineries and a chemical plant in Louisiana planned to strike at the end of Saturday.

The union said in a statement that it expanded the strike that started Feb. 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to “meaningfully address” safety issues through good-faith bargaining. The union also wants to discuss staffing levels and is seeking limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in doing daily maintenance work.

The union started negotiating a new contract Jan. 21 with

Shell Oil Co., which is serving as the lead company in national bargaining talks.

Shell spokesman Ray Fisher said in an email that his company was “extremely disappointed” with the latest development.

“We believe this move sets the wrong tone for both parties to move forward and reach an agreement,” Fisher wrote. “We remain committed to continued safe operations and productive negotiations.”

United Steelworkers represents about 30,000 workers at refineries, terminals, petrochemical plants and pipelines across the U.S. The strike started with about 3,800 workers at nine refineries and then expanded to include locations in Indiana and Ohio.

This latest expansion adds another 1,350 workers to the strike.

The workers who were to begin striking Saturday at midnight work at Motiva refineries in Convent and Norco, Louisiana, and a Shell Chemical plant in Norco.

The Port Arthur site is a joint venture between Shell and Saudi Refining Inc. It produces more

than 600,000 barrels per day.

Oil companies and energy experts have said that improved plant technology and strikecontingency plans should ease the blow to production from these strikes. But economists say pockets of the country served by refineries targeted in these strikes have likely already seen some impact to gas prices.

That includes California, which depends more on in-state refineries for its fuel, said Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy economist at the University of California, Davis.

“The price of gasoline didn’t soar in California, but it went up a little bit after the strike,” she said.

She added that the labor dispute’s influence on price may grow as refineries finish the maintenance work they typically do at this time of year and start preparing to increase gasoline production.

“The longer it goes on, then the more likely it is going to influence gas prices,” she said. (ap)

Government requested to help promote WanayuBangunliman trekking path GIANYAR - Equalization of tourism pie to a number of regions in Gianyar got a response from villages having the potential to be developed into a new alternative tourist destination. As carried out through collaboration of Buruan village and Bedulu village, Blahbatuh, they build a trekking tour at Wanayu – Bangunliman route. The potential of trekking path developed needs promotion assistance from Gianyar government.

A group of foreign visitors from France, Germany and several European countries has had time to come and enjoy the trekking tours having been opened since a few years ago. The path with the length of 1.5 km and a width of 1.5 meters has been paved.

Stretch of verdant paddy field, plantations and farms owned by residents as well as the relic of antiquities at Kedangan Temple has become the potential trekking tourism.

In addition to tracking, the path is also appropriate to be made into cycling route.

However, the obstacle encountered was the presence of plastic waste in the irrigation channel along the trekking path.

“The plastic waste was once highlighted by participants,” said the headman I Gusti Ngurah Ariawan.

On Sunday, a total of 15 teenagers with

red T-shirt reading Giri Anyar while carrying a plastic bag looked to go down into the gutter of almost knee deep. They were children belonging to the members of an art troupe directed by the headman of Buruan, I Gusti Ngurah Ariawan. Through the garbage collection action, they could amass a total of 30 plastic bags of plastic waste conducted along the area of trekking path.

According to Ariawan, Buruan village had made cooperation with Bedulu village since some time ago by opening a nature tourist attraction, such as trekking path.

The attraction opened was not a competitor, but even a distribution of tourism pie having been opened in Bali, especially in Gianyar.

In the matter of Wanayu–Bangunliman trekking tourism development, the local government through the Tourism Agency already knew in line with the village tourism development program. However, the obstacle encountered was the shortage of promotion by county government on the existence of the tourist attraction. At least, local government and the staff should come down to make site inspection first so that they could have a closer look at the trekking tourism developed by society. (dar)

IBP/Agung Dharmada

Students cleaned the Wanayu - Bangunliman trekking path located at Gianyar Regency.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

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RLD

AP Photo/Metropolitan Police

This is three image combo of stills taken from CCTV issued by the Metropolitan Police in London on Monday Feb. 22, 2015, Kadiza Sultana,16, left, Shamima Begum,15, centre and and 15-year-old Amira Abase going through security at Gatwick airport, before they caught their flight to Turkey on Tuesday Feb 17, 2015.

Families of 3 missing UK girls urge ‘Please come home!’

LONDON — The families of three missing British schoolgirls believed to have fled to Syria to join the Islamic State extremist group have issued emotional public appeals urging them to come home, as police said Monday they were still searching for them in Turkey. The girls, all 15 to 16 years old and said to be “straight-A students” from the same east London school, disappeared from home Tuesday without leaving any messages. Authorities said they boarded a plane to Istanbul.

The relatives of Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, both 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16, broke down in tears as they spoke of their shock and fear in televised interviews on British media.

“We miss you. We cannot stop crying,” said Abase Hussen, Amira’s father, clutching a teddy bear Amira gave to her mother on Mother’s Day. “Please think twice. Don’t go to Syria.”

The case has captured wide attention in Britain, where authorities have

warned that the threat is growing from Britons travelling to Syria to fight with Islamic State militants. Officials say at least 500 people have left for Syria, and police say there is a growing trend of young girls and women interested in joining the group.

Authorities have been criticized after it emerged that, before the girls disappeared, Begum had had online contact with a fourth girl who left for Syria in 2013 to become a “jihadi bride” — to marry a militant fighter.

All the families said there were no signs that the girls were interested in extremism or of what they were planning.

Scotland Yard said its officers were working closely with Turkish authorities in their investigation. Begum’s elder sister, Renu, said Shamima was a “sensible girl.”

“She’s a clever girl, but she’s only young. And young minds can easily be swayed,” she said. “You’re our baby.

We just want you home.” (ap)

Egypt postpones retrial of 2 Al-Jazeera English journalists CAIRO — The retrial of two AlJazeera English journalists who face terror-related charges in a case widely criticized by human rights organizations and media groups has been postponed to March 8. The decision Monday comes after a brief hearing for acting bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed. They were freed earlier this month to await trial, though they’ve had to check in with police each day.

The two, arrested in December 2013, face charges accusing them of being part of a terrorist group and airing falsified footage intended to damage Egyptian national security. Satellite

news network Al-Jazeera is based in Qatar, which was the main backer of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, of which toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi belonged.

Since Morsi’s ouster, Egypt has been cracking down heavily on his supporters, and the journalists were accused of being mouthpieces for the Brotherhood.

Al-Jazeera and the journalists have denied the allegations, saying they were simply reporting the news.

Another colleague arrested with them, Australian Peter Greste, was deported to Australia on Feb. 1 under a new law allowing foreigners accused of crimes to be deported. Fahmy, a dual

Egyptian-Canadian national, dropped his Egyptian citizenship after he said Egyptian security officials told him it was the only way he would benefit from the new law.

Egypt’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest appeals court, ordered the retrial, saying the initial proceedings were marred by violations of the defendants’ rights. Fahmy received a seven-year prison sentence, while Mohammed received a 10-year sentence. Eleven other defendants in the case — mostly students accused of being Brotherhood members — previously were ordered released without bail. (ap)

International

Phased Iran-US nuclear deal taking shape GENEVA — The United States and Iran are shaping the contours of a deal that would initially freeze Tehran’s nuclear program but would allow it to slowly ramp up activities that could be used to make nuclear arms over the last years of the agreement’s duration.

Officials from some of the six-power talks with Iran said details still needed to be agreed on, with U.S. and Iranian officials meeting Monday for the third straight day ahead of an end-of-March deadline for a framework agreement.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined the negotiations after arriving Sunday.

A breakthrough was not expected before Kerry returns to Washington later Monday. But Western officials familiar with the talks cited long-awaited progress on some elements that would have to go into a comprehensive deal. They described the discussions as a moving target, however, meaning changes in any one area would have repercussions for other parts of the negotiation.

The idea would be to reward Iran for good behavior over the last years of any agreement, by gradually lifting constraints on its uranium enrichment program imposed as part of a deal that would also would slowly ease sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran says it does not want nuclear arms and needs enrichment only for energy, medical and scientific purposes, but the U.S. fears Tehran could re-engineer the program to its other potential use — producing the fissile core of a nuclear weapon.

The U.S. initially sought restrictions lasting for up to 20 years; Iran had pushed for less than a decade. Iran could be allowed to operate significantly more centrifuges than the U.S. administration first demanded, though at lower capacity than they currently run. Several officials spoke of 6,500 centrifuges as a potential point of compromise.

If the sides agree on 15 years, for instance, the strict controls could be in place for 10 years with gradual lifting over five. Possible easing of the controls could see Iran increasing the number of enriching centrifuges back toward the 10,000 or so it now has operating, and increasing the level of enrichment while keeping it well below levels approaching weapons-grade.

The officials represent different countries among the six world powers negotiating with Iran — the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the negotiations.

The U.N. nuclear agency would have responsibility for monitoring, and any deal would depend more on technical safeguards than Iranian goodwill to ensure compliance. (ap)

Birdman...

From page 1 Among the funniest moments of the night was when Harris appeared on stage naked except for his underwear, at the end of a backstage skit mimicking a scene from “Birdman.”

John Travolta also got his come-uppance for flubbing singer Idina Menzel’s name at last year’s show as he introduced her to sing “Let It Go,” the Oscar-winning song from “Frozen”.

Harris took a dig at Travolta, joking that Benedict Cumberbatch is how the Pulp Fiction star would pronounce Ben Affleck. Menzel then introduced him as “Glom Gazingo”.

“I deserve that,” Travolta said.

Lady Gaga almost brought the house down with a soaring medley of songs from the classic “The Sound of Music” to mark its 50th anniversary -- before welcoming actress Julie Andrews onto the stage. (afp)

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

INDONESIA Government to go ahead with death penalty JAKARTA - The Indonesian government will go ahead with the implementation of death penalty on major drug offenders, despite protests from the governments of Australia and Brazil, Vice President Jusuf M. Kalla stated.

“We have reiterated many times that we have the sovereignty and will carry out the executions. Remember that the death penalty is based on a court verdict and is not a presidential instruction,” Kalla noted on Monday.

He understands if a country lodges a strong protest over the execution of its citizen. Indonesia also protested when its citizens were about to be executed in other countries, he said.

However, he was of the viewpoint that the diplomatic incident, in which Brazil delayed the acceptance of credentials of Indonesia’s designated ambassador, was unnecessary.

“The executions will be held at the right time,” he noted.

Taking a firm stance against drug deal-

ers in January, the government of President Joko Widodo recently executed six convicted drug dealers on death row.

Besides one of its own citizens, the convicts were from Malawi, Nigeria, Vietnam, Brazil, and the Netherlands. The executions prompted Brazil and the Netherlands to recall their ambassadors in protest.

The government will soon execute 11 other convicts sentenced to death, including nine drug convicts, two of whom are Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Australia.

The two Australians were members of the “Bali Nine” drug ring, a group of drug traffickers who were arrested on April 17, 2005, in Bali while attempting to smuggle out 8.3 kilograms of heroin worth Rp40 billion to Australia.

Recently, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested the action of the Government of Brazil to abruptly postpone the presentation of credentials by the Ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil Toto Riyanto, after being formally invited to present the credentials at a ceremony in the Presidential Palace of Brazil at 9.00 a.m. (Brazilian time), February 20, 2015.

“The manner in which the foreign minister of Brazil suddenly informed the postponement of the presentation of credentials by the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil, when the ambassador-designate was already at the palace, is unacceptable to Indonesia,” according to a statement on the ministry’s official website on Saturday. (ant)

11

President inaugurates special tourism zone

PANDEGELANG - President Joko Widodo inaugurated the special economy zone (KEK) for tourism in Tanjung Lesung, Panimbang Sub-District, Banten, on Monday, an official source informed.

During the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the industrial estate developer, Jababeka-BWJ and the investors.

The Tanjung Lesung tourism region, which is built in the coastal tourism area, is based on the water city tourism master design in 2020, similar to the one in Venice, Italy.

Tanjung Lesung is one of the popular tourism areas in Banten, besides the Carita Beach and other coastal tourism locations.

Tanjung Lesung also has the Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) located on the westernmost tip of Java, where Mount Krakatoa is also located.

The KEK for tourism covers an area of 1.3 thousand hectares, which will have various tourism infrastructure and facilities, including hotels, tourism vocational schools, and others. (ant)

Government declares emergency status due to Riau fires JAKARTA - The government has declared a state of emergency to prevent and handle forest fires in Riau Province, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

“The step is aimed to anticipate forest and field fires in 2015,” Chief of Public Relations and Information Center of the agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated on Sunday.

According to Sutopo, Riau Province bears the brunt of forest fires every year. Based on the hotspot data for the 20062014 period, forest fires occurred twice every year in Riau between February to April and June to October.

The disaster continues unabated every year, despite the government having recognized the modus operandi and purpose of starting forest fires and having established regulations to prevent them.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has sought assistance from the BNPB to take emergency steps after the potential spread of hotspots and fires in Bengkalis District of Riau Province.

“The first effort is that we will carry out cloud-seeding

operations in the near future,” Sutopo affirmed.

The agency will also support the construction of canal partitions in peat land areas to prevent the fires from spreading to wider areas.

The agency will also deploy a patrol helicopter to monitor the areas and conduct water bombing for a period of three months.

Sutopo stated that the BNPB will also deploy several personnel from the central and regional agencies to extinguish the fires.

The agency noted that forest and land fires occurring in Riau Province between February and April 2014 caused economic losses worth more than Rp20 trillion.

The haze disaster triggered by the fires disrupted around 30 percent of economic activities and led to monetary losses in Riau.

The BNPB had spent around Rp164 billion, or one-third of its budget, to deal with the fires nationally.

The fires also damaged the environment as more than 21.9 thousand hectares of forest and plantation areas were gutted by the fires. (ant)

ANTARA FOTO/Rony Muharrman

The government has declared a state of emergency to prevent and handle forest fires in Riau Province, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

10

Destination

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Sports

International

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

7

Rosberg says best lap was not impressive Nico Rosberg insists he was not too impressed with his performance in Formula 1 testing on Sunday that appeared to send an ominous message about the pace of Mercedes. The German produced a best effort of 1m24.321s on medium tyres, which was just 0.254 seconds slower than Romain Grosjean’s fastest time of the day on super softs.

But with there being up to two seconds per lap difference in the performance of the super soft and the medium, it showed that Mercedes could have gone much quicker if it had tried the softer tyre compounds. Although Rosberg’s lap has been highlighted as the first indication of how far ahead Mercedes could be, Rosberg was not too blown away by the performance.

When asked about the “impressive” pace on mediums, Rosberg said: “If you say so! Not according AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Echo Beach

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, left, and Iman Shumpert, right, celebrate J.R. Smith’s reverse dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, in New York. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 101-83.

IBP/kmb

CANGGU - Echo Beach is one of famous surfing spot in Bali. It offers the big and powerfull wave that really good for surfing lover. The beatiful panomara of this beach showing the coastel beach with white sand from Seminyak Beach to the west untill Echo Beach. Uniquely, the situation is not crowded as other beaches, it makes the place favorited by mostly foreigners to en-

joy surfing and explore the amazing wave.

Moreover, it is a romantic beach to see the beauty of sunset.

Echo beach is located in Canggu Village, Kerobokan Subdistrict, Badung Regency. To go to this beach, the touris can use motorcyle. It only spends 35 menutes from Airfort Ngurah Rai or 25 menutes from capital city Denpasar. This beach is very strategic surf-

ing points where the location only 5 km from Kuta Beach. Beside that, it is very close with other famous surfing sport like Berawa Beach, Batu Bolong Beach and Pererenan Beach.

The beach that exhibit the panorama to the Indian Ocean indeed visited by foreigner. The surfers much love this place because of the situation support.

This place is very easy to reach because the road is good. There are also some restaurants in front of the beach. To come here better use motorcycle because the parking area in not to big, it is only IDR 2000 for farking. If the tourists want stay for some days, there are hotel around that area. So, the surfers can enjoy the stunning panorama of sunset and many opportunities for surf adventures.

Cavs crush Knicks 101-83 as Smith, Shumpert return to NY

NEW YORK — LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each scored 18 points, and J.R. Smith had 17 and hooked up with Iman Shumpert for a dazzling dunk in their return to New York as the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Knicks 101-83 on Sunday. James moved past Allen Iverson into 22nd place on the career scoring list, and added seven rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Love finished with 16 points and 16 boards, combining with James and Irving to outscore the inept Knicks in the first half.

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Cleveland won for the 16th time in 18 games and got good performances from Smith and Shumpert, who were acquired by the Cavs on Jan. 5 and have helped solidify a team that was still below .500 shortly after the trade. The Cavaliers are 35-22 and have been untouchable since returning from the All-Star break, hammering Washington by 38 on Friday night and leading this one by 30.

Shumpert came off the bench for four points, five rebounds and seven assists, one of them when Smith jumped to catch his lob pass and slammed it down with his back to the basket. The two guards hugged, and Smith jumped into James’ arms heading back to the bench. Rodney Stuckey scored 30

points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors 104-98.

The Warriors played without injured guard Stephen Curry for the first time this season. Klay Thompson scored 39 points for Golden State. The Lakers’ Jeremy Lin had a season-high 25 points as Los Angeles ended a seven-game losing streak with a 118-111 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics.

Wesley Johnson added a seasonhigh 22 and Nick Young finished with 19 points, helping the Lakers win for only the second time in their last 18 games. The other victory came in double overtime at home against Chicago on Jan. 29. They haven’t won a game in regulation since Jan. 9, when they beat Or-

lando 101-84 at Staples Center.

Isaiah Thomas, making his Celtics debut after Thursday’s trade from Phoenix, scored 21 points in 25 minutes before he was ejected with 5:03 left in regulation and Boston trailing 91-87.

In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook had 21 points and a careerhigh 17 assists as the Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 119-94 without Kevin Durant. Durant was out after a procedure Sunday to replace a screw that was causing soreness in his surgically repaired right foot.

The reigning NBA MVP is expected to return this season.

In other games, Marc Gasol scored 21 points as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 98-92, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Charlotte Hornets 92-81, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 97-86, the Detroit Pistons downed the Washington Wizards 106-89 and the Orlando Magic were 103-98 winners over the Philadelphia 76ers.(ap)

to our numbers, not so much when looking at times from other days.

“But we are getting there. Yes we are confident and we think we have a good car.”

Rosberg said the final day of testing had in fact been one of bigger frustration because of the tricky weather conditions.

“Today was really a difficult day because it was windy on track,” he explained. “Seldom have I had a day where it was so difficult to understand the car.

“Every run was different, from corner to corner, depending on where the wind was coming from.

“It made testing extremely difficult. I was still able to learn a few things with the team, but all in all not the best of days.

“But it was a good end to the test, no major problems on the car.

We got some good running, decent lap times - so positives.”

Sharapova less fixated on top spot but eager to beat Serena MEXICO CITY - Regaining the world’s top ranking in women’s tennis is less important to five-times grand slam winner Maria Sharapova than it was when she was younger, but the Russian is eager to beat dominant player Serena Williams. Williams beat Sharapova, who is ranked number two, to claim her 19th grand slam singles title in the Australian Open final last month.

Sharapova, who first earned the top spot as an 18-year-old in 2005, has not beaten Williams since 2004.

“I wouldn’t say it’s as much of a priority as when I was younger,” Sharapova told Reuters on Sunday in a telephone interview from the resort town of Acapulco ahead of the annual Mexico Open.

“She is definitely an opponent that I have had a lot of trouble playing against in the last 10 years and someone that I would love to beat,” She said. “I love facing her and I love that challenge. I’m definitely not shy of competing against her.”

Sharapova, who will be playing in the Mexico Open for the first time, is the favorite to win against Italian Sara Errani, ranked 16th and America’s 20th ranked Madison Keys in this week’s matches in Acapulco.

“It’s quite a tough deal. There are a lot of girls that have had big wins, even some that are not seeded, so I look forward to tough competition and of course being the number one seed,” Sharapova said. (rtr)

REUTERS/Mateusz Skwarczek/Agencja Gazeta

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates a point against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their Fed Cup World Group quarterfinal tennis match between Poland and Russia at Tauron arena in Krakow February 8, 2015.

8

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Sp rt

La Liga will be decided on final day, predicts Ancelotti we could put some distance between ourselves and Barca,” added the Italian. “With this attitude we will win a lot of games. We have an advantage but this league will be decided on the final day.”

Ancelotti, who is looking to improve on Real’s third-placed finish in La Liga last term, said he had been surprised by Barca’s stumble against seventh-placed Malaga, which ended the Catalan giants’ 11-match winning streak in all competitions. Real’s Spain playmaker Isco, who has been on fine form in recent weeks, sounded a note of caution.

Real have two tough La Liga games at home to Villarreal and away at Athletic Bilbao before they take a 2-0 lead over Schalke into the Champions

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

PARIS — Up-and-coming attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir scored the winner as Lyon beat Nantes 1-0 to restore its two-point lead over defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the French league on Sunday.

Fekir, who has been in superb form this season, lifted Lyon to its first win in four games after the seven-time champions struggled in the absence of Alexandre Lacazette. The league’s top scorer made a convincing return from a hamstring injury against Nantes after missing three games but it was Fekir who stole the spotlight in a match of few chances for both sides.

“It’s a relief because it was a difficult match against a well-organized Nantes team that left only a few spaces,” Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said.

“It was important to win before three consecutive away matches against difficult teams. We’ll now after that spell if we can still annoy Paris and stay on the podium.”

Lyon travels to Lille next weekend before trips to Montpellier and Marseille, which missed the chance to level on points with PSG after being held to a 2-2 draw at fifth-placed Saint-Etienne. Marcelo Bielsa’s side slipped to third in the standings, two points behind PSG. Fekir first threatened with a long range free kick in the 40th minute that hit the bar before Lacazette came close of scoring his 22nd goal, firing his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Fekir had more luck when Nantes

League last 16, second leg at the Bernabeu on March 10. The La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Barca is on March 22.

“There are a lot of matches left,” Isco told reporters. “Malaga did us a favour and we couldn’t let this chance slip.” (rtr)

captain Olivier Veigneau helped the ball into his own net in the 67th minute while trying to stop him from rounding keeper Remy Riou at the end of a swift combination ignited by playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. The 21year-old Fekir won a penalty in added time when he was fouled in the area but Maxime Gonalons sent his effort from the spot wide.

In a match putting together the two teams with the most titles in French football, Max-Alain Gradel put SaintEtienne in front from the penalty spot in the 50th minute. Substitute striker Michy Batshuayi leveled in the 64th minute from close range and added another one three minutes later when he beat ‘keeper Lionel Ruffier from Romain Alessandrini’s low cross with a neat finish.

But Marseille failed to hold onto its lead and conceded a third straight draw as Mevlut Erding headed home the equalizer in added time following a scramble in the area.

Elsewhere, goals from Morgan Sanson and Kevin Berigaud secured a 2-0 win for Montpellier at in-form Guingamp that lifted the southern club to seventh place in the standings, while Reims was held to a goalless draw by last-placed Metz.

Montpellier, the 2012 champion, ended the hosts’ seven-match unbeaten run with an inspired attacking display and solid defending while Guingamp looked tired after playing Dynamo Kiev midweek in the Europa

AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani

Lyon’s Yoann Gourcuff, right, is tackled by Nantes’ Issa Cissokho, left, during their French League One soccer match in Lyon, central France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

League. Sanson put Montpellier ahead after two minutes with a 20-meter strike at the conclusion of a fine collective move.

Montpellier controlled the remainder of the half but Guingamp keeper

manager Jose Mourinho after his midfield player escaped injury.

The 26-year-old Serbian international rushed at Barnes and pushed him to the ground but he was defended by his manager.

“Football is about emotions and clearly Nemanja Matic had a reason to lose his emotions,” Mourinho said. “What are the consequences of his push? Nothing. The consequence for Matic

from the tackle? It could have been the end of his career.”

Chelsea must submit their appeal to the FA by 1300 GMT on Tuesday. Unless it succeeds, Matic will miss Sunday’s League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.

He will also be banned for Premier League matches against West Ham United and Southampton. (rtr)

SAO PAULO — A Brazilian player was taken to a hospital for an anti-rabies shot after being bitten by a police dog during a match. The incident happened in the second half of a first-division game between Democrata and Tupi on Sunday in the Minas Gerais state regional championship.

Democrata striker Joao Paulo was bit on his left arm after run-

Jonas Lossl made three decisive saves to keep the hosts in the match. Lossl was powerless in the 55th minute though, with Berigaud slotting home with a shot under the keeper after being set up by Anthony Mounier.

PSG beat Toulouse 3-1 on Saturday with two goals from Adrien Rabiot and a third from Thiago Silva for the defending champions, while Wissam Ben Yedder netted for relegationthreatened Toulouse. (ap)

Man City aim to break new ground by beating Barca

AP Photo/Alberto Saiz

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo,from Portugal, celebrates after scoring against Elche during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Manuel Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

Chelsea to appeal against Matic Brazilian player bitten by red card v Burnley - Sky police dog during match LONDON - Chelsea are to appeal against the red card shown to Nemanja Matic during Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Burnley, according to Sky Sports. Matic was sent off in the 70th minute at Stamford Bridge for his violent reaction to a studsup challenge from Burnley’s Ashley Barnes.

“A criminal tackle. Matic is a very lucky guy,” said Chelsea

9

Lyon moves back to top in French league

MADRID - Real Madrid may have extended their lead over second-placed Barcelona at the top of La Liga to four points on Sunday but coach Carlo Ancelotti still expects the title to be decided on the final day of the campaign. Real took full advantage of Barca’s 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga on Saturday and their 2-0 success at Elche lifted them to 60 points with 14 games left, with Barca on 56, three ahead of third-placed champions Atletico Madrid.

La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo struck again for Real after Wednesday’s effort at Schalke 04 in the Champions League, suggesting the Portugal captain’s brief goal drought is over, and Ancelotti’s side have gone three straight games without conceding a goal.

Ronaldo has 29 goals in Spain’s top flight, three ahead of great rival Lionel Messi of Barca, who drew a blank on Saturday after hitting top form since the turn of the year.

“This means that the team is defending well and neither today nor on Wednesday did we allow the opponent many chances,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“It was a key game because of what happened (on Saturday) and so

International

ning out of bounds and falling too close to a police officer’s dog behind one of the goals. The dog was on a leash but the officer was not able to pull it back in time to avoid the attack.

Joao Paulo returned to the match after doctors wrapped his arm in bandages, but the team said he was taken to a hospital immediately after the game to receive the anti-rabies vaccine. (ap)

Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic

David Silva celebrates after scoring the fifth goal for Manchester City

LONDON - Manchester City have been on a steep learning curve in the Champions League but Tuesday’s last 16 first-leg clash with fourtimes European kings Barcelona offers a chance to show they are now serious contenders. Last season’s exit at the identical stage also against Barca, 4-1 on aggregate, revealed City’s shortcomings in a squad good enough to win the Premier League but still lacking authority and discipline against Europe’s very best.

A year later, however, and City are approaching the tie with growing optimism, even if they will be missing midfield talisman Yaya Toure at the Etihad on Tuesday as he completes a three-match suspension for his red card against CSKA Moscow. After finding their creative edge blunted in recent months, City’s attacking flair returned with a vengeance as they crushed Newcastle United 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.

In contrast, Barca’s lethal-looking frontline misfired badly at the weekend as their 11-match unbeaten run

ended in a surprise 1-0 defeat by a well-drilled Malaga side.

City’s run to the last 16 a year ago was their best effort in the competition after two successive failures to survive the group stage and they will be buoyed by the way they sneaked into the knockout round this time, beating Bayern Munich and AS Roma. Both of those victories were recorded without Toure.

BARCA RESPECT

On-loan midfielder Frank Lampard, a veteran of many battles with Barca from his Chelsea days, says that while the Catalans must be respected, City have the weapons to out-gun Barcelona and reach the last eight for the first time. “You can admire and respect them so long as that doesn’t transmit into giving them too much space to do what they do best,” said Lampard, who was in the Chelsea side that beat Barca in the semis on the way to their 2012 Champions League triumph.

“I played against Barcelona

when they were at their very best four or five years ago and they were absolutely flying -- in truth, there’s not much you can do when they play like that -- but we have players who can hurt them, too.” In Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri, Manuel Pellegrini’s City side can score goals but keeping Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez quiet, as well as having 11 men on the pitch unlike last season, will be the key.

Messi scored in both legs last term and has recently been in scintillating form again, even if he was subdued against Malaga. Barca defender Gerard Pique says City’s natural propensity to attack could play into his side’s hands as they seek an eighth successive place in the quarter-finals.

“City are a team that is more attack-minded and that will help us as it will be a more open game,” he said. “We need to put (Malaga) behind us because on Tuesday we face the most important game of the year.” (rtr)

8

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Sp rt

La Liga will be decided on final day, predicts Ancelotti we could put some distance between ourselves and Barca,” added the Italian. “With this attitude we will win a lot of games. We have an advantage but this league will be decided on the final day.”

Ancelotti, who is looking to improve on Real’s third-placed finish in La Liga last term, said he had been surprised by Barca’s stumble against seventh-placed Malaga, which ended the Catalan giants’ 11-match winning streak in all competitions. Real’s Spain playmaker Isco, who has been on fine form in recent weeks, sounded a note of caution.

Real have two tough La Liga games at home to Villarreal and away at Athletic Bilbao before they take a 2-0 lead over Schalke into the Champions

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

PARIS — Up-and-coming attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir scored the winner as Lyon beat Nantes 1-0 to restore its two-point lead over defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the French league on Sunday.

Fekir, who has been in superb form this season, lifted Lyon to its first win in four games after the seven-time champions struggled in the absence of Alexandre Lacazette. The league’s top scorer made a convincing return from a hamstring injury against Nantes after missing three games but it was Fekir who stole the spotlight in a match of few chances for both sides.

“It’s a relief because it was a difficult match against a well-organized Nantes team that left only a few spaces,” Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said.

“It was important to win before three consecutive away matches against difficult teams. We’ll now after that spell if we can still annoy Paris and stay on the podium.”

Lyon travels to Lille next weekend before trips to Montpellier and Marseille, which missed the chance to level on points with PSG after being held to a 2-2 draw at fifth-placed Saint-Etienne. Marcelo Bielsa’s side slipped to third in the standings, two points behind PSG. Fekir first threatened with a long range free kick in the 40th minute that hit the bar before Lacazette came close of scoring his 22nd goal, firing his shot wide from the edge of the box.

Fekir had more luck when Nantes

League last 16, second leg at the Bernabeu on March 10. The La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Barca is on March 22.

“There are a lot of matches left,” Isco told reporters. “Malaga did us a favour and we couldn’t let this chance slip.” (rtr)

captain Olivier Veigneau helped the ball into his own net in the 67th minute while trying to stop him from rounding keeper Remy Riou at the end of a swift combination ignited by playmaker Yoann Gourcuff. The 21year-old Fekir won a penalty in added time when he was fouled in the area but Maxime Gonalons sent his effort from the spot wide.

In a match putting together the two teams with the most titles in French football, Max-Alain Gradel put SaintEtienne in front from the penalty spot in the 50th minute. Substitute striker Michy Batshuayi leveled in the 64th minute from close range and added another one three minutes later when he beat ‘keeper Lionel Ruffier from Romain Alessandrini’s low cross with a neat finish.

But Marseille failed to hold onto its lead and conceded a third straight draw as Mevlut Erding headed home the equalizer in added time following a scramble in the area.

Elsewhere, goals from Morgan Sanson and Kevin Berigaud secured a 2-0 win for Montpellier at in-form Guingamp that lifted the southern club to seventh place in the standings, while Reims was held to a goalless draw by last-placed Metz.

Montpellier, the 2012 champion, ended the hosts’ seven-match unbeaten run with an inspired attacking display and solid defending while Guingamp looked tired after playing Dynamo Kiev midweek in the Europa

AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani

Lyon’s Yoann Gourcuff, right, is tackled by Nantes’ Issa Cissokho, left, during their French League One soccer match in Lyon, central France, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

League. Sanson put Montpellier ahead after two minutes with a 20-meter strike at the conclusion of a fine collective move.

Montpellier controlled the remainder of the half but Guingamp keeper

manager Jose Mourinho after his midfield player escaped injury.

The 26-year-old Serbian international rushed at Barnes and pushed him to the ground but he was defended by his manager.

“Football is about emotions and clearly Nemanja Matic had a reason to lose his emotions,” Mourinho said. “What are the consequences of his push? Nothing. The consequence for Matic

from the tackle? It could have been the end of his career.”

Chelsea must submit their appeal to the FA by 1300 GMT on Tuesday. Unless it succeeds, Matic will miss Sunday’s League Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.

He will also be banned for Premier League matches against West Ham United and Southampton. (rtr)

SAO PAULO — A Brazilian player was taken to a hospital for an anti-rabies shot after being bitten by a police dog during a match. The incident happened in the second half of a first-division game between Democrata and Tupi on Sunday in the Minas Gerais state regional championship.

Democrata striker Joao Paulo was bit on his left arm after run-

Jonas Lossl made three decisive saves to keep the hosts in the match. Lossl was powerless in the 55th minute though, with Berigaud slotting home with a shot under the keeper after being set up by Anthony Mounier.

PSG beat Toulouse 3-1 on Saturday with two goals from Adrien Rabiot and a third from Thiago Silva for the defending champions, while Wissam Ben Yedder netted for relegationthreatened Toulouse. (ap)

Man City aim to break new ground by beating Barca

AP Photo/Alberto Saiz

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo,from Portugal, celebrates after scoring against Elche during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Manuel Martinez Valero stadium in Elche, Spain, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.

Chelsea to appeal against Matic Brazilian player bitten by red card v Burnley - Sky police dog during match LONDON - Chelsea are to appeal against the red card shown to Nemanja Matic during Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Burnley, according to Sky Sports. Matic was sent off in the 70th minute at Stamford Bridge for his violent reaction to a studsup challenge from Burnley’s Ashley Barnes.

“A criminal tackle. Matic is a very lucky guy,” said Chelsea

9

Lyon moves back to top in French league

MADRID - Real Madrid may have extended their lead over second-placed Barcelona at the top of La Liga to four points on Sunday but coach Carlo Ancelotti still expects the title to be decided on the final day of the campaign. Real took full advantage of Barca’s 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga on Saturday and their 2-0 success at Elche lifted them to 60 points with 14 games left, with Barca on 56, three ahead of third-placed champions Atletico Madrid.

La Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo struck again for Real after Wednesday’s effort at Schalke 04 in the Champions League, suggesting the Portugal captain’s brief goal drought is over, and Ancelotti’s side have gone three straight games without conceding a goal.

Ronaldo has 29 goals in Spain’s top flight, three ahead of great rival Lionel Messi of Barca, who drew a blank on Saturday after hitting top form since the turn of the year.

“This means that the team is defending well and neither today nor on Wednesday did we allow the opponent many chances,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“It was a key game because of what happened (on Saturday) and so

International

ning out of bounds and falling too close to a police officer’s dog behind one of the goals. The dog was on a leash but the officer was not able to pull it back in time to avoid the attack.

Joao Paulo returned to the match after doctors wrapped his arm in bandages, but the team said he was taken to a hospital immediately after the game to receive the anti-rabies vaccine. (ap)

Reuters / Phil Noble Livepic

David Silva celebrates after scoring the fifth goal for Manchester City

LONDON - Manchester City have been on a steep learning curve in the Champions League but Tuesday’s last 16 first-leg clash with fourtimes European kings Barcelona offers a chance to show they are now serious contenders. Last season’s exit at the identical stage also against Barca, 4-1 on aggregate, revealed City’s shortcomings in a squad good enough to win the Premier League but still lacking authority and discipline against Europe’s very best.

A year later, however, and City are approaching the tie with growing optimism, even if they will be missing midfield talisman Yaya Toure at the Etihad on Tuesday as he completes a three-match suspension for his red card against CSKA Moscow. After finding their creative edge blunted in recent months, City’s attacking flair returned with a vengeance as they crushed Newcastle United 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.

In contrast, Barca’s lethal-looking frontline misfired badly at the weekend as their 11-match unbeaten run

ended in a surprise 1-0 defeat by a well-drilled Malaga side.

City’s run to the last 16 a year ago was their best effort in the competition after two successive failures to survive the group stage and they will be buoyed by the way they sneaked into the knockout round this time, beating Bayern Munich and AS Roma. Both of those victories were recorded without Toure.

BARCA RESPECT

On-loan midfielder Frank Lampard, a veteran of many battles with Barca from his Chelsea days, says that while the Catalans must be respected, City have the weapons to out-gun Barcelona and reach the last eight for the first time. “You can admire and respect them so long as that doesn’t transmit into giving them too much space to do what they do best,” said Lampard, who was in the Chelsea side that beat Barca in the semis on the way to their 2012 Champions League triumph.

“I played against Barcelona

when they were at their very best four or five years ago and they were absolutely flying -- in truth, there’s not much you can do when they play like that -- but we have players who can hurt them, too.” In Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri, Manuel Pellegrini’s City side can score goals but keeping Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez quiet, as well as having 11 men on the pitch unlike last season, will be the key.

Messi scored in both legs last term and has recently been in scintillating form again, even if he was subdued against Malaga. Barca defender Gerard Pique says City’s natural propensity to attack could play into his side’s hands as they seek an eighth successive place in the quarter-finals.

“City are a team that is more attack-minded and that will help us as it will be a more open game,” he said. “We need to put (Malaga) behind us because on Tuesday we face the most important game of the year.” (rtr)

10

Destination

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Sports

International

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

7

Rosberg says best lap was not impressive Nico Rosberg insists he was not too impressed with his performance in Formula 1 testing on Sunday that appeared to send an ominous message about the pace of Mercedes. The German produced a best effort of 1m24.321s on medium tyres, which was just 0.254 seconds slower than Romain Grosjean’s fastest time of the day on super softs.

But with there being up to two seconds per lap difference in the performance of the super soft and the medium, it showed that Mercedes could have gone much quicker if it had tried the softer tyre compounds. Although Rosberg’s lap has been highlighted as the first indication of how far ahead Mercedes could be, Rosberg was not too blown away by the performance.

When asked about the “impressive” pace on mediums, Rosberg said: “If you say so! Not according AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Echo Beach

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, left, and Iman Shumpert, right, celebrate J.R. Smith’s reverse dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, in New York. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 101-83.

IBP/kmb

CANGGU - Echo Beach is one of famous surfing spot in Bali. It offers the big and powerfull wave that really good for surfing lover. The beatiful panomara of this beach showing the coastel beach with white sand from Seminyak Beach to the west untill Echo Beach. Uniquely, the situation is not crowded as other beaches, it makes the place favorited by mostly foreigners to en-

joy surfing and explore the amazing wave.

Moreover, it is a romantic beach to see the beauty of sunset.

Echo beach is located in Canggu Village, Kerobokan Subdistrict, Badung Regency. To go to this beach, the touris can use motorcyle. It only spends 35 menutes from Airfort Ngurah Rai or 25 menutes from capital city Denpasar. This beach is very strategic surf-

ing points where the location only 5 km from Kuta Beach. Beside that, it is very close with other famous surfing sport like Berawa Beach, Batu Bolong Beach and Pererenan Beach.

The beach that exhibit the panorama to the Indian Ocean indeed visited by foreigner. The surfers much love this place because of the situation support.

This place is very easy to reach because the road is good. There are also some restaurants in front of the beach. To come here better use motorcycle because the parking area in not to big, it is only IDR 2000 for farking. If the tourists want stay for some days, there are hotel around that area. So, the surfers can enjoy the stunning panorama of sunset and many opportunities for surf adventures.

Cavs crush Knicks 101-83 as Smith, Shumpert return to NY

NEW YORK — LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each scored 18 points, and J.R. Smith had 17 and hooked up with Iman Shumpert for a dazzling dunk in their return to New York as the Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Knicks 101-83 on Sunday. James moved past Allen Iverson into 22nd place on the career scoring list, and added seven rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Love finished with 16 points and 16 boards, combining with James and Irving to outscore the inept Knicks in the first half.

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Cleveland won for the 16th time in 18 games and got good performances from Smith and Shumpert, who were acquired by the Cavs on Jan. 5 and have helped solidify a team that was still below .500 shortly after the trade. The Cavaliers are 35-22 and have been untouchable since returning from the All-Star break, hammering Washington by 38 on Friday night and leading this one by 30.

Shumpert came off the bench for four points, five rebounds and seven assists, one of them when Smith jumped to catch his lob pass and slammed it down with his back to the basket. The two guards hugged, and Smith jumped into James’ arms heading back to the bench. Rodney Stuckey scored 30

points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors 104-98.

The Warriors played without injured guard Stephen Curry for the first time this season. Klay Thompson scored 39 points for Golden State. The Lakers’ Jeremy Lin had a season-high 25 points as Los Angeles ended a seven-game losing streak with a 118-111 overtime victory over the Boston Celtics.

Wesley Johnson added a seasonhigh 22 and Nick Young finished with 19 points, helping the Lakers win for only the second time in their last 18 games. The other victory came in double overtime at home against Chicago on Jan. 29. They haven’t won a game in regulation since Jan. 9, when they beat Or-

lando 101-84 at Staples Center.

Isaiah Thomas, making his Celtics debut after Thursday’s trade from Phoenix, scored 21 points in 25 minutes before he was ejected with 5:03 left in regulation and Boston trailing 91-87.

In Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook had 21 points and a careerhigh 17 assists as the Thunder beat the Denver Nuggets 119-94 without Kevin Durant. Durant was out after a procedure Sunday to replace a screw that was causing soreness in his surgically repaired right foot.

The reigning NBA MVP is expected to return this season.

In other games, Marc Gasol scored 21 points as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 98-92, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Charlotte Hornets 92-81, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 97-86, the Detroit Pistons downed the Washington Wizards 106-89 and the Orlando Magic were 103-98 winners over the Philadelphia 76ers.(ap)

to our numbers, not so much when looking at times from other days.

“But we are getting there. Yes we are confident and we think we have a good car.”

Rosberg said the final day of testing had in fact been one of bigger frustration because of the tricky weather conditions.

“Today was really a difficult day because it was windy on track,” he explained. “Seldom have I had a day where it was so difficult to understand the car.

“Every run was different, from corner to corner, depending on where the wind was coming from.

“It made testing extremely difficult. I was still able to learn a few things with the team, but all in all not the best of days.

“But it was a good end to the test, no major problems on the car.

We got some good running, decent lap times - so positives.”

Sharapova less fixated on top spot but eager to beat Serena MEXICO CITY - Regaining the world’s top ranking in women’s tennis is less important to five-times grand slam winner Maria Sharapova than it was when she was younger, but the Russian is eager to beat dominant player Serena Williams. Williams beat Sharapova, who is ranked number two, to claim her 19th grand slam singles title in the Australian Open final last month.

Sharapova, who first earned the top spot as an 18-year-old in 2005, has not beaten Williams since 2004.

“I wouldn’t say it’s as much of a priority as when I was younger,” Sharapova told Reuters on Sunday in a telephone interview from the resort town of Acapulco ahead of the annual Mexico Open.

“She is definitely an opponent that I have had a lot of trouble playing against in the last 10 years and someone that I would love to beat,” She said. “I love facing her and I love that challenge. I’m definitely not shy of competing against her.”

Sharapova, who will be playing in the Mexico Open for the first time, is the favorite to win against Italian Sara Errani, ranked 16th and America’s 20th ranked Madison Keys in this week’s matches in Acapulco.

“It’s quite a tough deal. There are a lot of girls that have had big wins, even some that are not seeded, so I look forward to tough competition and of course being the number one seed,” Sharapova said. (rtr)

REUTERS/Mateusz Skwarczek/Agencja Gazeta

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates a point against Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their Fed Cup World Group quarterfinal tennis match between Poland and Russia at Tauron arena in Krakow February 8, 2015.

6

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

W

RLD

AP Photo/Metropolitan Police

This is three image combo of stills taken from CCTV issued by the Metropolitan Police in London on Monday Feb. 22, 2015, Kadiza Sultana,16, left, Shamima Begum,15, centre and and 15-year-old Amira Abase going through security at Gatwick airport, before they caught their flight to Turkey on Tuesday Feb 17, 2015.

Families of 3 missing UK girls urge ‘Please come home!’

LONDON — The families of three missing British schoolgirls believed to have fled to Syria to join the Islamic State extremist group have issued emotional public appeals urging them to come home, as police said Monday they were still searching for them in Turkey. The girls, all 15 to 16 years old and said to be “straight-A students” from the same east London school, disappeared from home Tuesday without leaving any messages. Authorities said they boarded a plane to Istanbul.

The relatives of Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, both 15, and Kadiza Sultana, 16, broke down in tears as they spoke of their shock and fear in televised interviews on British media.

“We miss you. We cannot stop crying,” said Abase Hussen, Amira’s father, clutching a teddy bear Amira gave to her mother on Mother’s Day. “Please think twice. Don’t go to Syria.”

The case has captured wide attention in Britain, where authorities have

warned that the threat is growing from Britons travelling to Syria to fight with Islamic State militants. Officials say at least 500 people have left for Syria, and police say there is a growing trend of young girls and women interested in joining the group.

Authorities have been criticized after it emerged that, before the girls disappeared, Begum had had online contact with a fourth girl who left for Syria in 2013 to become a “jihadi bride” — to marry a militant fighter.

All the families said there were no signs that the girls were interested in extremism or of what they were planning.

Scotland Yard said its officers were working closely with Turkish authorities in their investigation. Begum’s elder sister, Renu, said Shamima was a “sensible girl.”

“She’s a clever girl, but she’s only young. And young minds can easily be swayed,” she said. “You’re our baby.

We just want you home.” (ap)

Egypt postpones retrial of 2 Al-Jazeera English journalists CAIRO — The retrial of two AlJazeera English journalists who face terror-related charges in a case widely criticized by human rights organizations and media groups has been postponed to March 8. The decision Monday comes after a brief hearing for acting bureau chief Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed. They were freed earlier this month to await trial, though they’ve had to check in with police each day.

The two, arrested in December 2013, face charges accusing them of being part of a terrorist group and airing falsified footage intended to damage Egyptian national security. Satellite

news network Al-Jazeera is based in Qatar, which was the main backer of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, of which toppled Islamist President Mohammed Morsi belonged.

Since Morsi’s ouster, Egypt has been cracking down heavily on his supporters, and the journalists were accused of being mouthpieces for the Brotherhood.

Al-Jazeera and the journalists have denied the allegations, saying they were simply reporting the news.

Another colleague arrested with them, Australian Peter Greste, was deported to Australia on Feb. 1 under a new law allowing foreigners accused of crimes to be deported. Fahmy, a dual

Egyptian-Canadian national, dropped his Egyptian citizenship after he said Egyptian security officials told him it was the only way he would benefit from the new law.

Egypt’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest appeals court, ordered the retrial, saying the initial proceedings were marred by violations of the defendants’ rights. Fahmy received a seven-year prison sentence, while Mohammed received a 10-year sentence. Eleven other defendants in the case — mostly students accused of being Brotherhood members — previously were ordered released without bail. (ap)

International

Phased Iran-US nuclear deal taking shape GENEVA — The United States and Iran are shaping the contours of a deal that would initially freeze Tehran’s nuclear program but would allow it to slowly ramp up activities that could be used to make nuclear arms over the last years of the agreement’s duration.

Officials from some of the six-power talks with Iran said details still needed to be agreed on, with U.S. and Iranian officials meeting Monday for the third straight day ahead of an end-of-March deadline for a framework agreement.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joined the negotiations after arriving Sunday.

A breakthrough was not expected before Kerry returns to Washington later Monday. But Western officials familiar with the talks cited long-awaited progress on some elements that would have to go into a comprehensive deal. They described the discussions as a moving target, however, meaning changes in any one area would have repercussions for other parts of the negotiation.

The idea would be to reward Iran for good behavior over the last years of any agreement, by gradually lifting constraints on its uranium enrichment program imposed as part of a deal that would also would slowly ease sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran says it does not want nuclear arms and needs enrichment only for energy, medical and scientific purposes, but the U.S. fears Tehran could re-engineer the program to its other potential use — producing the fissile core of a nuclear weapon.

The U.S. initially sought restrictions lasting for up to 20 years; Iran had pushed for less than a decade. Iran could be allowed to operate significantly more centrifuges than the U.S. administration first demanded, though at lower capacity than they currently run. Several officials spoke of 6,500 centrifuges as a potential point of compromise.

If the sides agree on 15 years, for instance, the strict controls could be in place for 10 years with gradual lifting over five. Possible easing of the controls could see Iran increasing the number of enriching centrifuges back toward the 10,000 or so it now has operating, and increasing the level of enrichment while keeping it well below levels approaching weapons-grade.

The officials represent different countries among the six world powers negotiating with Iran — the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the negotiations.

The U.N. nuclear agency would have responsibility for monitoring, and any deal would depend more on technical safeguards than Iranian goodwill to ensure compliance. (ap)

Birdman...

From page 1 Among the funniest moments of the night was when Harris appeared on stage naked except for his underwear, at the end of a backstage skit mimicking a scene from “Birdman.”

John Travolta also got his come-uppance for flubbing singer Idina Menzel’s name at last year’s show as he introduced her to sing “Let It Go,” the Oscar-winning song from “Frozen”.

Harris took a dig at Travolta, joking that Benedict Cumberbatch is how the Pulp Fiction star would pronounce Ben Affleck. Menzel then introduced him as “Glom Gazingo”.

“I deserve that,” Travolta said.

Lady Gaga almost brought the house down with a soaring medley of songs from the classic “The Sound of Music” to mark its 50th anniversary -- before welcoming actress Julie Andrews onto the stage. (afp)

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

INDONESIA Government to go ahead with death penalty JAKARTA - The Indonesian government will go ahead with the implementation of death penalty on major drug offenders, despite protests from the governments of Australia and Brazil, Vice President Jusuf M. Kalla stated.

“We have reiterated many times that we have the sovereignty and will carry out the executions. Remember that the death penalty is based on a court verdict and is not a presidential instruction,” Kalla noted on Monday.

He understands if a country lodges a strong protest over the execution of its citizen. Indonesia also protested when its citizens were about to be executed in other countries, he said.

However, he was of the viewpoint that the diplomatic incident, in which Brazil delayed the acceptance of credentials of Indonesia’s designated ambassador, was unnecessary.

“The executions will be held at the right time,” he noted.

Taking a firm stance against drug deal-

ers in January, the government of President Joko Widodo recently executed six convicted drug dealers on death row.

Besides one of its own citizens, the convicts were from Malawi, Nigeria, Vietnam, Brazil, and the Netherlands. The executions prompted Brazil and the Netherlands to recall their ambassadors in protest.

The government will soon execute 11 other convicts sentenced to death, including nine drug convicts, two of whom are Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Australia.

The two Australians were members of the “Bali Nine” drug ring, a group of drug traffickers who were arrested on April 17, 2005, in Bali while attempting to smuggle out 8.3 kilograms of heroin worth Rp40 billion to Australia.

Recently, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protested the action of the Government of Brazil to abruptly postpone the presentation of credentials by the Ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil Toto Riyanto, after being formally invited to present the credentials at a ceremony in the Presidential Palace of Brazil at 9.00 a.m. (Brazilian time), February 20, 2015.

“The manner in which the foreign minister of Brazil suddenly informed the postponement of the presentation of credentials by the ambassador-designate of Indonesia to Brazil, when the ambassador-designate was already at the palace, is unacceptable to Indonesia,” according to a statement on the ministry’s official website on Saturday. (ant)

11

President inaugurates special tourism zone

PANDEGELANG - President Joko Widodo inaugurated the special economy zone (KEK) for tourism in Tanjung Lesung, Panimbang Sub-District, Banten, on Monday, an official source informed.

During the event, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the industrial estate developer, Jababeka-BWJ and the investors.

The Tanjung Lesung tourism region, which is built in the coastal tourism area, is based on the water city tourism master design in 2020, similar to the one in Venice, Italy.

Tanjung Lesung is one of the popular tourism areas in Banten, besides the Carita Beach and other coastal tourism locations.

Tanjung Lesung also has the Ujung Kulon National Park (TNUK) located on the westernmost tip of Java, where Mount Krakatoa is also located.

The KEK for tourism covers an area of 1.3 thousand hectares, which will have various tourism infrastructure and facilities, including hotels, tourism vocational schools, and others. (ant)

Government declares emergency status due to Riau fires JAKARTA - The government has declared a state of emergency to prevent and handle forest fires in Riau Province, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

“The step is aimed to anticipate forest and field fires in 2015,” Chief of Public Relations and Information Center of the agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho stated on Sunday.

According to Sutopo, Riau Province bears the brunt of forest fires every year. Based on the hotspot data for the 20062014 period, forest fires occurred twice every year in Riau between February to April and June to October.

The disaster continues unabated every year, despite the government having recognized the modus operandi and purpose of starting forest fires and having established regulations to prevent them.

Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has sought assistance from the BNPB to take emergency steps after the potential spread of hotspots and fires in Bengkalis District of Riau Province.

“The first effort is that we will carry out cloud-seeding

operations in the near future,” Sutopo affirmed.

The agency will also support the construction of canal partitions in peat land areas to prevent the fires from spreading to wider areas.

The agency will also deploy a patrol helicopter to monitor the areas and conduct water bombing for a period of three months.

Sutopo stated that the BNPB will also deploy several personnel from the central and regional agencies to extinguish the fires.

The agency noted that forest and land fires occurring in Riau Province between February and April 2014 caused economic losses worth more than Rp20 trillion.

The haze disaster triggered by the fires disrupted around 30 percent of economic activities and led to monetary losses in Riau.

The BNPB had spent around Rp164 billion, or one-third of its budget, to deal with the fires nationally.

The fires also damaged the environment as more than 21.9 thousand hectares of forest and plantation areas were gutted by the fires. (ant)

ANTARA FOTO/Rony Muharrman

The government has declared a state of emergency to prevent and handle forest fires in Riau Province, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

12

International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

BUSINESS

Asian markets mostly higher on Greek debt deal TOKYO - Asian stocks broadly rose Monday as investors cheered a tentative deal to extend Greece’s bailout, giving Athens a last-minute lifeline to pay its bills and avoid a damaging default.

Tokyo led the charge with the benchmark Nikkei adding to a 15year high as it rose 0.73 percent, or 134.62 points, to finish at 18,466.92.

Sydney added 0.45 percent, or 26.46 points, to 5,908.0, and Seoul closed 0.35 percent, or 6.94 points, higher at 1,968.39.

Hong Kong crawled out of negative territory with the Hang Seng up 0.02 percent in late trade. Exchanges in Taiwan and mainland China are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Asian shares picked up on a strong lead from Wall Street which surged to fresh records Friday after Greece was granted a provisional four-month debt bailout extension, easing worries over its future in the eurozone. European finance ministers gave Athens until Monday to present proposals that would con-

vince its creditors to keep its loan lifeline open.

“Discussions over Greece have been tipping toward the EU compromising, so the market consensus is that the worst-case scenario will be avoided,” Shoji Hirakawa, chief equity strategist at Okasan Securities in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.

“It’s difficult to maintain a short position.”

But Australia & New Zealand Banking Group warned that the bailout extension offered only a “small window of reprieve”.

“Continued geopolitical ructions with Russia over the Ukraine, as well as the unrest in the Middle East, means there are many issues that will continue to hold sway in political discussions, distracting politicians from economic policy,” it added. (afp)

Japan’s ANA joins bid to rescue bankrupt Skymark Airlines

TOKYO - Japan’s All Nippon Airways on Monday announced plans to help turn around bankrupt Skymark Airlines, reportedly joining a string of other firms offering a lifeline to the struggling carrier.

Skymark, Japan’s third-largest airline, filed for bankruptcy protection in late January in the face of potentially massive penalties over a cancelled $2.2 billion jet order with Airbus.

“This morning, we submitted documents to show our intention to participate in the sponsorship (of Skymark), but we can’t comment further now,” said a spokeswoman for ANA Holdings, the airline’s parent company.

Japanese media reported the rescue plan would include codesharing and joint procurement of fuel, while Kyodo News agency said Tokyo-based investment fund Integral has decided to extend a 9.0 billion yen ($76 million) loan to Skymark.

Some 20 other firms have so far

applied to back Skymark’s rehabilitation, including leasing firm Orix and major travel agency H.I.S., Kyodo said.

Skymark plans to draw up its final list of sponsors this month and will present its rehabilitation plan to Tokyo District Court by May 29, it added.

Skymark confirmed last month that it was in talks with ANA and Japan Airlines about code-sharing -when airlines jointly operate a flight route -- as well as with domestic and overseas funds over a possible investment deal.

Shares in Skymark tumbled 12.82 percent to close at 34.0 yen.

The stock, which has fluctuated wildly since the bankruptcy announcement, is being delisted from the Tokyo exchange next week.

Skymark’s efforts to turn itself around failed as it struggled against tough competition in the sector, while its woes deepened after the deal with Airbus collapsed in the summer. (afp)

In this Nov. 21, 2007 file photo, Vehicles travel along Highway 225 near Shell Oil Company’s Deer Park refinery and petrochemical facility in Deer Park, Texas.

Three weeks into a United Steelworkers union walkout at 11 refineries around the country, including Shell’s Deer Park facility, the impact on the prices of gasoline, diesel and other fuels is barely discernable.

International

Bali News

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

5

Preserving buffalo race as cultural heritage

NEGARA - Determination of makepung or buffalo race as cultural heritage does not necessarily draw the attention of the government to maintain it. All this time, only Jembrana government intensively strives so as the events like buffalo race can be scheduled annually up to two times. Meanwhile, the provincial government and the ministry have not been paying attention to the event longed for by buffalo race troupes.

IBP/File Photo

Determination of makepung or buffalo race as cultural heritage does not necessarily draw the attention of the government to maintain it. All this time, only Jembrana government intensively strives so as the events like buffalo race can be scheduled annually up to two times.

Buffalo race perpetrators are very hopeful where the determination of buffalo race as cultural heritage can also arouse the attention of the Bali provincial government and the ministry. “All this time, it is only Jembrana County that intensely maintains the tradition either through Regent Cup event or repair to the circuit. We certainly hope the attention of provincial government by re-organizing the Governor Cup,” said Made Mara, buffalo race troupe coordinator of Jembrana, Sunday (Feb. 22). Representative of the buffalo race troupe had actually expressed its aspiration in the recent visit of the governor.

But from year to year, the hope had never been realized. “In terms of cost calculation, our troupe is minus. But with the vivacity to maintain the cultural heritage, the cost is number two. This vivacity must become one of the concerns for the leaders in Bali. Although it is just an event,” said Mara. All this time, more attentions were given by the Jembrana government either by organizing the annual event or providing circuit repair.

According to him, the assistance of circuit repair was very important because it was the venue where the buffalo race troupe competed. Of the six circuits in Jembrana, two of which had been in good condition and could be used in various weather conditions such as those located at Delod Berawah, Mendoyo (East Ijogading) and Tuwed, Melaya (West Ijogading). (olo)

AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File

Refinery workers strike spreads to biggest US location The first nationwide oil refinery strike in more than 30 years was poised to expand this weekend in a labor dispute that may start having more of an impact on the price consumers pay for gasoline.

The United Steelworkers union said Saturday that workers at the largest refinery in the U.S., the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, started their strike at midnight Friday. Employees at two other refineries and a chemical plant in Louisiana planned to strike at the end of Saturday.

The union said in a statement that it expanded the strike that started Feb. 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to “meaningfully address” safety issues through good-faith bargaining. The union also wants to discuss staffing levels and is seeking limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in doing daily maintenance work.

The union started negotiating a new contract Jan. 21 with

Shell Oil Co., which is serving as the lead company in national bargaining talks.

Shell spokesman Ray Fisher said in an email that his company was “extremely disappointed” with the latest development.

“We believe this move sets the wrong tone for both parties to move forward and reach an agreement,” Fisher wrote. “We remain committed to continued safe operations and productive negotiations.”

United Steelworkers represents about 30,000 workers at refineries, terminals, petrochemical plants and pipelines across the U.S. The strike started with about 3,800 workers at nine refineries and then expanded to include locations in Indiana and Ohio.

This latest expansion adds another 1,350 workers to the strike.

The workers who were to begin striking Saturday at midnight work at Motiva refineries in Convent and Norco, Louisiana, and a Shell Chemical plant in Norco.

The Port Arthur site is a joint venture between Shell and Saudi Refining Inc. It produces more

than 600,000 barrels per day.

Oil companies and energy experts have said that improved plant technology and strikecontingency plans should ease the blow to production from these strikes. But economists say pockets of the country served by refineries targeted in these strikes have likely already seen some impact to gas prices.

That includes California, which depends more on in-state refineries for its fuel, said Amy Myers Jaffe, an energy economist at the University of California, Davis.

“The price of gasoline didn’t soar in California, but it went up a little bit after the strike,” she said.

She added that the labor dispute’s influence on price may grow as refineries finish the maintenance work they typically do at this time of year and start preparing to increase gasoline production.

“The longer it goes on, then the more likely it is going to influence gas prices,” she said. (ap)

Government requested to help promote WanayuBangunliman trekking path GIANYAR - Equalization of tourism pie to a number of regions in Gianyar got a response from villages having the potential to be developed into a new alternative tourist destination. As carried out through collaboration of Buruan village and Bedulu village, Blahbatuh, they build a trekking tour at Wanayu – Bangunliman route. The potential of trekking path developed needs promotion assistance from Gianyar government.

A group of foreign visitors from France, Germany and several European countries has had time to come and enjoy the trekking tours having been opened since a few years ago. The path with the length of 1.5 km and a width of 1.5 meters has been paved.

Stretch of verdant paddy field, plantations and farms owned by residents as well as the relic of antiquities at Kedangan Temple has become the potential trekking tourism.

In addition to tracking, the path is also appropriate to be made into cycling route.

However, the obstacle encountered was the presence of plastic waste in the irrigation channel along the trekking path.

“The plastic waste was once highlighted by participants,” said the headman I Gusti Ngurah Ariawan.

On Sunday, a total of 15 teenagers with

red T-shirt reading Giri Anyar while carrying a plastic bag looked to go down into the gutter of almost knee deep. They were children belonging to the members of an art troupe directed by the headman of Buruan, I Gusti Ngurah Ariawan. Through the garbage collection action, they could amass a total of 30 plastic bags of plastic waste conducted along the area of trekking path.

According to Ariawan, Buruan village had made cooperation with Bedulu village since some time ago by opening a nature tourist attraction, such as trekking path.

The attraction opened was not a competitor, but even a distribution of tourism pie having been opened in Bali, especially in Gianyar.

In the matter of Wanayu–Bangunliman trekking tourism development, the local government through the Tourism Agency already knew in line with the village tourism development program. However, the obstacle encountered was the shortage of promotion by county government on the existence of the tourist attraction. At least, local government and the staff should come down to make site inspection first so that they could have a closer look at the trekking tourism developed by society. (dar)

IBP/Agung Dharmada

Students cleaned the Wanayu - Bangunliman trekking path located at Gianyar Regency.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

International

International

W

Lose in competition with other traditional markets

RLD

Manggis Market remains deserted AMLAPURA - Conversion of the Manggis Art Market into Manggis Public Market does not change the market condition and it remains deserted of visitors. The existence of Ulakan traditional market and Manggis traditional market become a serious rival to Manggis Market that has changed its status to a public market.

A total of 80 traders who previously occupied the stalls in the market building in front of the cemetery of Manggis customary village gradually reduced. Actually, the demand of traders to sell at the lower courtyard of the market had been approved by the management of the market.

Associated with the condition of Manggis Market, the Head of

Karangasem Industry and Trade Agency, I Gusti Ngurah Suarta, revealed that his party was trying to make a night market. The existence of Manggis Market could not compete against the Ulakan traditional markets located nearby. The change of the art market into public market selling basic needs of society was still unable to attract buyers.

In order not to make the exis-

Gianyar ensures not to use Buvanest and Kalnex GIANYAR - The issues on the patients in Jakarta suspected of dying due to injection of anesthetic drugs such as Kalnex and Buvanest immediately drew public concerns.

Similarly, the government already ascertained not to use the drugs produced by Kalbe temporarily.

The Head of Gianyar Health Agency, Ida Ayu Cahyani, said on Sunday (Feb. 22) that to anticipate the recurrence of similar cases, the drug like Kalnex and Buvanest had no longer been in use because they were still under investigation of the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) related to the cases of patients that died not long ago. “I have instructed to all hospitals in Gianyar not to use these two drugs (Buvanest and Kalnex—Ed),” she affirmed.

She said that after hearing the news regarding the incident, her party immediately monitored the use of drugs produced by Kalbe throughout the public and private hospitals in Gianyar. “Having been checked in Gianyar and outside, in fact not all hospitals use them,” she said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Sanjiwani Hospital Gianyar, Ida Komang Upeksa, when asked for his confirmation via phone said the Sanjiwani Hospital had long no longer used the two types of drugs because his party did not subscribe to Kalbe manufacturer. “At Sanjiwani Hospital we have no longer used them for a long time. Nowadays, according to anesthesia doctors, all hospitals in Gianyar no longer use these kinds of drugs,” he said. (kmb35)

tence of the market opened at the end of December 2013 continuously redundant, his party planned to reorganize a night market considering the competition of night market in the region was minimal. Besides, his party also planned to create a night entertainment to attract the interest of people in the surrounding area to visit the Manggis Market. “We are also working with the Manggis customary village in terms of management. Meanwhile, the matter of deserted visitors will be attempted to be resolved by the implementation of night market,” he explained, Sunday (Feb 22).

The change from Manggis Art Market to public market was intended to increase the number of market visits because so far the Tanah Ampo Harbor had not been operated to bring in tourists. After changing it into public market, the market remained to face the same fate, no visitors. Previously, Ngurah Suarta claimed to have conducted a variety of ways, including moving traders to lower courtyard in order to be easily accessed. Unfortunately, the interest of buyers in visiting the market was still minimal.

Related to the condition of Manggis market, a member of

Commission II of the Karangasem House, Wayan Sunarta, said that people would prefer to shop at Ulakan Market which had been so familiar to buy basic necessities since long time ago. In order to be able to attract the interest of visitors to the Manggis Market, his party would soon hold a meeting to find a solution.

“The Manggis Market is close to Ulakan Market established earlier.

In Manggis, there is also another traditional market. Thus, it is necessary to find a solution to attract public interest,” he concluded. (dwa) AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File

FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2014 file photo, passengers wait for their luggage upon arrival at the Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, before closing its door for foreign visitors to visit the country in fear of the Ebola virus.

Agricultural sector is one of the sectors remaining to be relied upon by Bangli all this time. It is able to provide income for the vast majority of Bangli.

North Korea bars foreigners from Pyongyang marathon TOKYO — Tightening the screws even further on travel to their already isolated country, North Korean authorities have barred foreigners from one of the year’s most popular tourist events — the annual Pyongyang marathon — because of ongoing concerns over the spread of the Ebola virus, travel agencies said Monday.

IBP/Sosiawan

Land conversion threatens food security

BANGLI - Agricultural sector is one of the sectors remaining to be relied upon by Bangli all this time. It is able to provide income for the vast majority of Bangli. Besides, the sector also has great potential to serve as a trigger for the economic recovery of the community. Behind the positive value owned by the agricultural sector, the agricultural land experiences land conversion from paddy field to non-paddy field.

Currently the paddy field in Bangli County begins to narrow. The land previously producing foodstuffs has now been converted into something else. In some places can be seen dozens of hectares of wetland that have been dredged. Moreover, it is located in strategic area, like roadside. The dredging is increasingly unavoidable.

Subak Selati at Bunutin village, Bangli, one of the fairly extensive subak areas at roadside, with paddy field area of approximately 3,500

square meters begins to decrease as has been dredged. As observation in the field, it was discovered two locations of paddy field being dredged and both fields were located at roadside. According to headman of Bunutin, Ida I Dewa Made Rai Adnyana, the dredged wetland was indeed located at two locations. However, he explained more paddy fields were located in the north. “The land is unproductive and belongs to customary village,” he said.

Furthermore, Adnyana said the land dredged would be used for village square. So far, any implementation of religious ceremonies such as mass cremation, local villagers was still constrained to get a more spacious location. On that account, it was necessary to be made a village square for the venue of religious ceremony. “We are going to use the land as public field or market. Probably it will also be used to establish a preschool education,” he explained.

On the other hand, related to the land located in the south, his party claimed not to know about the land designation. “Meanwhile, I do not know about the designation of the land located in the south,” he added. Other than in Bangli subdistrict, the land conversion would probably happen in three other subdistricts, namely the Susut, Tembuku and Kintamani.

Until now, the paddy field area in Bangli County reaches 2,910 hectares. This figure is still relatively small compared to the amount of rice consumption. It is also recorded if the Bangli County still lacks for 193 tons of rice, requiring Bangli County to bring in rice from other counties to cover the shortage. Proliferation of wetland dredging allows Bangli County to lack for rice in the future.

Reduction in the productive agricultural land has resulted in the loss of agricultural products permanently that enables to threaten the food security in Bangli County. (sos)

While no cases of Ebola have been reported anywhere near North Korea, the country shut its doors on foreign tourists in October with some of the strictest Ebola regulations in the world. North Korean media have suggested Ebola was created by the U.S. military as a biological weapon.

Nick Bonner, co-founder of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, said he did not think the decision reflected any deeper problems in the North’s secretive and often enigmatic government, though the news comes amid reports leader Kim Jong Un has called for increased combat readiness and, at a meeting of senior party and military leaders, described tensions on the peninsula as graver than ever before.

North Korea has been under increasing pressure from the U.N. over its human rights record and is facing new sanctions from Washington over its alleged involvement in the massive hack attack on Sony Pictures in December. Joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea

that the North says are a provocation will also begin soon.

Bonner said more than 400 foreign runners had signed up with his agency alone for the event, which is to be held April 12. He said he was informed by officials on Monday that the race — billed as one of the most exotic marathon locales on Earth — would be open only to local runners. Another agency specializing in North Korea travel, Young Pioneer Tours, also confirmed on its website that it was cancelling its tours for the event.

Bonner, speaking with The Associated Press by phone from Beijing, said he remains hopeful the Ebola restrictions will be lifted by the end of next month. Even if they are, however, the restrictions apparently made it too difficult for marathon organizers to be ready in time to deal with the influx of foreign runners, who were allotted 500 slots.

Last year’s race through the streets of Pyongyang, including a 10-kilometer (6-mile) competition and a half marathon along with

the full course, was opened up to foreign recreational runners for the first time and was a big success.

Elite runners from around the world are usually brought in for the main event. Bonner said they apparently won’t be allowed in this year.

K n o w n o ff i c i a l l y a s t h e Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, the race is sanctioned as a bronze-label event by the International Association of Athletics Federations and has been held annually for 27 years. It is held in conjunction with a series of sporting competitions, arts festivals and cultural events marking the birthday of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung, on April 15.

Since the Ebola measures were announced last October, visas for nonessential travel have been halted and, regardless of country or region of origin, all foreigners allowed in are technically subject to quarantine under medical observation for 21 days.

That includes diplomats and international aid workers, though they are allowed to stay in their residences or diplomatic compounds. Even senior North Korean officials returning from trips abroad have been quarantined. The restrictions have been a disaster for travel agents. (ap)

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

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Japan’s farm minister resigns amid political funds questions

TOKYO — Japan’s agriculture minister stepped down Monday following questions over political funding contributions, the latest in a series of such resignations. Koya Nishikawa resigned as head of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries saying he wanted to avoid disruptions to parliamentary proceedings.

Questions arose over an alleged 1 million yen ($8,400) donation to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party chapter headed by Nishikawa from a company run by a sugar manufacturers association that had received government subsidies. “No matter how much I explain the situation, if people don’t understand they don’t understand,” Nishikawa told reporters. “There is absolutely no conflict with the law, but people can still use this to tarnish my image.”

Nishikawa and other government officials said earlier that he had returned the money. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters that he had resisted, but in the end accepted Nishikawa’s resignation.

“He was determined to quit, and I have to respect his wishes. I think it’s really regrettable,” Abe said. He said he was asking lawmaker Yoshimasa Hayashi, who preceded Nishikawa as farm minister before a Cabinet reshuffle in September, to resume the post.

Abe praised Nishikawa for working on agricultural reforms and Japan’s efforts toward forming a pan-Pacific trade pact, called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Japan’s protection of its sugar industry is one of five sensitive areas in negotiations with the U.S. toward the trade agreement.

Political funding scandals are a chronic problem in Japanese politics and questions over Nishikawa’s situation surfaced last fall. Two other ministers in the Cabinet that Abe formed in his September reshuffle quit over funding allegations. But he kept on most of the other ministers, including Nishikawa, in the Cabinet he announced following a general election in December.

Opposition questioning over such issues in the parliament tends to slow work on the body’s main priority, pushing through the annual budget before the fiscal year starts on April 1. (ap)

AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File

FILE- In this Sept. 3, 2014 file photo, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koya Nishikawa speaks during a press conference at the prime minister’s official residence in Tokyo.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Science

International

Antarctica: Mystery continent holds key to mankind’s future

DECEPTION ISLAND, Antarctica — Earth’s past, present and future come together here on the northern peninsula of Antarctica, the wildest, most desolate and mysterious of its continents.

Clues to answering humanity’s most basic questions are locked in this continental freezer the size of the United States and half of Canada: Where did we come from? Are we alone in the universe? What’s the fate of our warming planet?

The first explorers set foot in Antarctica 194 years ago hunting 19th century riches of whale and seal oil and fur, turning tides red with blood.

Since then, the fist-shaped continent has proven a treasure chest for scientists trying to determine everything from the creation of the cosmos to how high seas will rise with global warming.

“It’s a window out to the universe and in time,” said Kelly Falkner, polar program chief for the U.S. National Science Foundation.

For a dozen days in January, in the middle of the chilly Antarctic summer, The Associated Press followed scientists from different fields searching for alien-like creatures, hints of pollution trapped in ancient ice, leftovers from the Big Bang, biological quirks that potentially could lead to better medical treatments, and perhaps most of all, signs of unstoppable melting. The journey on a Chilean navy ship along the South Shetland islands and vulnerable Antarctic Peninsula, which juts off the continent like a broken pinky finger, logged 833 miles (1,340 kilometers) and allowing the AP team a firsthand look at part of this vital continent.

Antarctica conjures up images of quiet mountains and white plateaus,

Indonesia expects Russia to implement visafree arrangement

Bali News

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

3

KUTA - The Indonesian government expects Russia to give Indonesians visa-free facilities on a reciprocal basis to ease peopleto-people connectivity between two countries, particularly through the tourism sector.

AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

In this Jan. 27, 2015 photo, penguins walk on the shore of Bahia Almirantazgo in Antarctica. Earth’s past, present and future come together here on the northern peninsula of Antarctica, the wildest, most desolate and mysterious of its continents. but the coldest, driest and remotest continent is far from dormant. About 98 percent of it is covered by ice, and that ice is constantly moving. Temperatures can range from above zero in the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula to the unbearable frozen lands near the South Pole. As an active volcano, Deception Island is a pot of extreme conditions. There are spots where the sea boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius), while in others it can be freezing at below 32 (0 degrees Celsius). And while the sun rarely shines on the long, dark Antarctic winters, nighttime never seems to fall on summer days.

While tourists come to Antarctica for its beauty and remoteness, scientists are all business. What they

find could affect the lives of people thousands of miles away; if experts are right, and the West Antarctic ice sheet has started melting irreversibly, what happens here will determine if cities such as Miami, New York, New Orleans, Guangzhou, Mumbai, London and Osaka will have to regularly battle flooding from rising seas.

Antarctica “is big and it’s changing and it affects the rest of the planet and we can’t afford to ignore what’s going on down there,” said David Vaughan, science director of the British Antarctic Survey.

Often, scientists find something other than what they were looking for. Last year researchers calculated that ice on the western side of the continent was melting faster than

expected. Last month, scientists researching vital geology in that melting were looking a half mile under the ice in pitch dark and found a surprise: fish a half foot (15 centimeters) long and shrimp-like creatures swimming by their cameras.

Geologists are entranced by Antarctica’s secrets. On a recent scientific expedition led by Chile’s Antarctic Institute, Richard Spikings, a research geologist at the University of Geneva, wielded a large hammer to collect rock samples in the South Shetlands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Curious members of a penguin colony on Cape Legoupil watched as he pounded on slabs of black granite and diorite rising out of the southern ocean. By the end of the two-week

trip, his colleagues had jokingly begun calling him “Thor.”

“To understand many aspects in the diversity of animals and plants it’s important to understand when continents disassembled,” Spikings said. “So we’re also learning about the real antiquity of the Earth and how (continents) were configured together a billion years ago, half a billion years ago, 300 million years ago,” he said, adding that the insights will help him understand Antarctica’s key role in the jigsaw of ancient super continents. With names like Rodinia, Gondwana and Pangaea, scientists believe they were significant landmasses in Earth’s history and were periodically joined together through the movement of plates. (ap)

As animals evolve, they grow larger WASHINGTON - As animals evolve they tend to get larger over time, researchers concluded in a sweeping study released Friday that tracked thousands of creatures over a half-billion-year period.

The mean body size of marine animals, for example, increased 150-fold over the past 542 million years, according to the study published in the US journal Science.

“That’s the size difference between a sea urchin that is about two inches (five centimeters) long versus one that is nearly a foot (30 cm) long,” said Noel Heim, a post-doctoral researcher at a lab at Stanford

International

University’s School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences.

“This may not seem like a lot, but it represents a big jump.”

Body-size increases have occurred since animals first appeared in the fossil record, some 550 million years ago, according to the study.

“We’ve known for some time now that the largest organisms alive today are larger than the largest organisms that were alive when life originated or even when animals first evolved,” said Jonathan Payne, a paleobiologist at the same Stanford school who

led the research.

But it was not known if the average size of animals had changed over time and whether this reflected an evolutionary trend in body size, he added.

The phenomenon does not apply to all animal lineages, but it was particularly evident in those that were the largest and most diverse in the early evolutionary record, according to the researchers.

“For reasons that we don’t completely understand, the classes with large body size appear to be the ones that over time have become differentially more di-

verse,” Payne said.

The computer-modelled research reinforces the so-called Cope rule, named after the 19thcentury paleontologist who determined that biological lineages tended to evolve to larger sizes over time.

Edward Cope observed that mammals like horses grew larger over generations.

Scientists had previously tried to verify Cope’s theory in other groups of animals but the findings were mixed. Corals and dinosaurs seemed to confirm the theory, but birds and insects did not.

As a result, some scientists questioned whether or not the trend in terrestrial animals was a true evolutionary phenomenon.

Payne’s team set about to conduct the most comprehensive-ever test of Cope’s theory, compiling a database of more than 17,000 groups, or genera, of marine animals including arthropods and mollusks spanning the last 542 million years.

“Nearly 75 percent of all of marine genera in the fossil record and nearly 60 percent of all the animal genera that ever lived are included in our dataset,” Heim said. (afp)

“Free visa negotiation is underway by considering the aspects of reciprocity, advantages and security,” said Foreign Affairs Ministry’s acting director of Central and East Europe Directory Ibnu Hadi recently.

In terms of visa-free arrangement on a reciprocal basis, Hadi mentioned that Russia had implemented it with Thailand, “Then why don’t they do the same with Indonesia?”

Since early January 2015, Indonesia has officially waived visa requirements for visitors from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia wishing to travel to the country.

Hadi said Russia is among the countries which have the potential to become one of the major markets for the Indonesian tourism.

According to data from the Tourism Ministry, Russia is one of the top twenty sources of tourist arrivals in Indonesia.

In 2013, a total of 93,622 Russian nationals visited Indonesia, and in 2014 the number decreased to 88,775.

The decrease, Hadi said, was caused by some factors, such as no direct flight from Indonesia to Russia and the sluggish Russian economy which caused Rubel currency to

depreciate against the US dollar.

The Russian honorary consular based in Denpasar, Bali, Chairul Nuku Hamka, explained that almost 72 thousand Russian tourists visited Bali Island in 2014.

“On average about four to five thousand Russian tourists visit Bali per month,” he said.

In 2015, the Indonesian government plans to cooperate with Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia in implementing visa-free arrangement on a reciprocal basis.

The government has set itself the target of raising the number of tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2019 through the visa-free arrangement.

However, Ibnu Hadi said not all states used reciprocity in implementing free visa policy and Australia is one of the examples.

Nationally, Indonesia recorded 9,435,411 tourist arrivals in 2014, up 7.2 percent from 8,802,129 recorded in 2013.

Promoting tourism abroad is part of Indonesian representatives’ economic diplomatic efforts, as proclaimed by President Joko Widodo.

Indonesia is currently providing visas on arrival for tourists from Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia. (ant)

DENPASAR - The Bali provincial chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has urged the government to require all companies in Bali to become KADIN members.

“If a company is not registered as a member of KADIN it is not allowed to follow the government’s project tender,” chairman of Bali provincial KADIN chapter Gde Sumarjaya Linggih said on Sunday.

It refers to law no. 1 of 1987 on the Chamber of Commerce, as well

as Presidential Decree No. 17 of 2010 on Approval of Amendment to the Articles of Association and Bylaws (AD/ART) Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides that the three economic actors both state-owned or public enterprises, cooperatives, and the private sectors must become a member of KADIN with the obligation to register at the districts/cities of KADIN chapter.

“We realize that the three economic actors are the biggest tax contributors in Indonesia,” he stated. (ant)

All companies should become Kadin members

REUTERS/Zul Edoardo

Michael Chan (C), brother of Australian death row prisoner Andrew Chan, leaves Kerobokan Prison with a member of his family after visiting his brother in Denpasar, on the Indonesian island of Bali February 17, 2015.

Australians on death row ask Indonesia to let them live DENPASAR - Two Australians on death row appealed to Indonesian president Joko Widodo on Sunday to let them live so they can continue helping fellow prisoners in a rehabilitation programme, their brothers said.

The kin of drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan made a statement to the media after visiting the pair in Kerobokan prison on Bali island.

“We see and hear many prisoners doing courses go on to jobs and better lives. Our brothers’ great wishes for the President is to allow them to continue this help, to rebuild the lives of many more Indonesians for many more years to come,” Michael Chan told reporters outside the prison.

The statement comes after Indonesia authorities delayed their execution by up to a month, backtracking on an earlier pledge to put the two men before the firing squad by the end of February.

Australia’s government has voiced strong opposition to the planned executions.

“Our brothers are very grateful for the support and kindness shown to them by so many people, and we are amazed at their strength and resilience during this stressful time,”

Michael Chan said.

“As they reflect on their past they are also thankful to the Indonesian government, the prison officials and many volunteers that have allowed them to create a holistic rehabilitation programme that is now the envy of most prisons worldwide,” he added.

Chan and Sukumaran, who have been on death row since 2006, claim they have themselves been rehabilitated. But Widodo, who has vowed a tough approach to ending what he has called Indonesia’s “drug emergency”, rejected their appeals for clemency.

“Myu and Andrew love Indonesia, they have a great respect for the Indonesian people and its culture, and it was through the support of the Indonesian justice system that they were able to help set up many programmes that have helped a lot of Indonesians and has also helped better themselves, and they are very grateful for that”, said Chinthu Sukumaran.

Widodo, a vocal supporter of capital punishment, in January authorized the execution of six convicted drug smugglers including five foreigners.

Chan and Sukumaran are

among seven foreigners -- including citizens from France, Ghana, Brazil and Nigeria -- who have lost their appeals for presidential clemency, the final hope of avoiding the firing squad. (afp)

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International

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Bali News

Tribal tattoo found on the corpse of foreign citizen

DENPASAR - The body of a foreign citizen was discovered on Uluwatu Beach, South Kuta, on Sunday (Feb. 22) and was immediately taken to the mortuary of Sanglah Hospital and examined.

Results of the external examination revealed that the body (labeled code 012) was an adult male foreign citizen “wearing cream-colored Billabong surf shorts and a plaid shirt” explained the local officer.

Thee victim’s right arm was tattooed with a tribal motif, his abdomen was black and his hands and legs were covered with abrasions including an open wound on the palm of his right hand, “Allegedly these

wounds were caused by stripping on a rock or some such object” added the officer. It was estimated that the victim had drowned approximately twelve hours before being found. (kmb42)

International

Flood hits Bali

Governor said nature is angry

DENPASAR – Governor of Bali Made Pastika spoke out about the flooding that occurred over the last few days in Bali and particularly Denpasar. According to the governor, the flooding was caused by the lack of public awareness regarding nature, and also by rainfall, which was indeed very heavy.

“Nature is angry because we have have been haphazardly cutting down trees, polluting, litttering , not wanting to plant tress nor pay attention to the sanitation of city gutters,” he said in Denpasar, on Sunday (Feb. 22).

Pastika perceived that few people want to clear garbage from the gutters that is clogging the drains. He also called on people to, at the very least not throw garbage into a drains or rivers. Such a

littering can lead to flooding.

“Garbage piling up in gutters can cause clogging and lead to flooding.

For this reason, I appeal to the people not to litter. Other than causing a dirty enviroenment, it also contributes to flooding,” he said.

The Governor also invited all levels of society, ranging from Bali’s provincial to county, municipal,village and hamlets level officials to be more concerned about nature. When flooding happens, people should not complain but should rather think about what has clogged the drain.

“Let’s allow for green open spaces and comply with the existing rules if we want nature to be friendly towards us,” he said. (kmb32)

Losses from disaster estimated to be in the billions of rupiahs BANGLI - Material losses due to strong winds that hit almost all parts of Bangli on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) have begun to be calculated by the Bangli Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD). Although the figures are not exact, losses due to the damage to dozens of houses and temples is estimated to be substancial. “Yesterday, wind storm is estimated to have caused billions of Rupiah in damages,” said Head of the BPBD Bangli, Wayan Karmawan, when asked for his confirmation, on Sunday (Feb. 22).

According to Karmawan, estimated losses include damage to houses and public facilities throughout Bangli. He said that the afternoon storm severely damaged at least 50 buildings, including homes, schools, sacred buildings and public facilities. The most severe damage hit three villages in Kintamani, namely Subaya village, Kutuh village and Kubu Salya hamlet at Sukawana village. The three villages were hit by the brunt of the typhoon, with two families having to be evacuated because their homes were destroyed and could no longer be occupied.

The BPBD is still collecting

data in order to come up with more precise figures regarding the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon. “Today, we will continue our efforts to deal with the disaster as well as collect date,” he added.

In Bangli subdistrict, the strong winds caused a banyan tree at Tamanbali to fall and topple over six stalls in the vicinity. The incident also caused a traffic-jam at the Bangli-Gianyar road section.

In Tamanbali, a falling tree hit a house at Sidawa hamlet, and a temple at Uma Anyar village.

At Sidembunut hamlet, Cempaga village, a tree toppled over a house. A shrine in the middle courtyard of Kehen Temple, was also damaged by a falling tree.

Meanwhile, in Susut subdistrict, tress fell at the junction of Demulih, at the route of Tanggahan Peken-Kayuambua and at Manuk hamlet that caused traffic jam in each of these areas. In addition, at Tanggahan hamlet, Demulih village, the house of a local resident was severely damaged by a fallen tree. At Serokadan hamlet, Apuan village the shrine of a resident was toppled over by tree. At Demulih-Sala, a fallen tree caused a traffic-jam. Then,

at Penglumbaran village, a fallen tree toppled over a resident breaking his leg as ascertained after being rushed to hospital.

In Tembuku subdistrict, a tree at Nyanglan Kaja hamlet, Bangbang village, collapsed and caused traffic jams on the BangbangKlungkung road section. In addi-

tion, a falling tree also hit a temple at Yangapi village causing severe damaged.

In Kintamani subdistrict, a fallen tree incident occurred at Sekardadi village resulting in traffic jams. Three villages, namely; Subaya village, Kubu Salya village and Sukawana village were also hit

Activities

Inna Grand Bali Beach

SANUR - Inna Grand Bali Beach is situated on the long white sandy beach of Sanur, Bali’s most popular area and shaded by coconut palm, from the luxurious ten-storey central tower building, the highest in Bali, landscaped tropical garden and cottages spread out over 45 hectares land.

Originally opened on 1 November 1966, re-launched, after major upgrading, on 4 October 1993. INNA Grand Bali Beach is the most complete resort complex in Bali, featuring state-of-the-art visitor facilities, but also numerous artistic amenities that bring to life the cultural excellence of the Balinese people and their many talented neighbors.

Accommodation

Inna Grand Bali Beach offers a good value and genuine hospitality.

The east facing location provides guests with the best opportunity to see magical Bali sunrise. 523 room in 3 types of accommodation; 100 cottages, 197 rooms of 4 blocks two storey buildings and 226 rooms of a ten storey Tower Wing, including a Presidential Suite and spacious suites.

All rooms have individually controllable air conditioning, humidity control, private bath/shower, satellite TV, fridge/mini bar, hair dyer, tea & coffee making facility, in-house movie channel, international direct dial telephones, bathrobes, balcony or terrace. Tower Wing rooms also have in room safes and card key door locks.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Profile

Ni Nyoman Pujiarini

Start from curiosity

The high interest made Ni Nyoman Pujarini become herbal spa producer. Currently, she has three spas. All of the spas still cooperate with hotels in Ubud and Kuta area. The product called Sari Herb. The materials are special herbs as well as the therapist always give delicate touch and positive aura.

The quality is very good and it can make the blood circulation better and help postbirth process. The product is already wrapped in a round cloth. The purpose is to make it easier for the therapist to use the special massage technique.

The woman who was born on May 21st 1978, was unfamiliar with the natural product not to mention the word spa even she is living in ubud, a well developed village of tourism.

Because her strong will, she wanted to study more about it. “I know spa from Japanese tourist. He brought a package of spa from thailand and I can smell herb from it. It was amazing experince,” Puji said.

Even tough she didn’t have knowlegde about herbs, she search for the right herbs all around Bali. Puji also read many books to find information about it. “I have the faith that Bali has more herbs than Thailand,” she added.

Then, she carry out experiments to find the perfect combination. Puji believed that spa industry in Bali will develop more in the future. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

Balinese Temple Ceremony

by typhoons causing a number of houses to be severely damaged.

Emergency and Logistics Section Head of the BPBD Bangli, Ketut Agus Sutapa, said that other than damaging homes and public facilities, high wind also damaged electrical grids at some points around the island. (ina)

IBP/Sosiawan

Material losses due to strong winds that hit almost all parts of Bangli on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) have begun to be calculated by the Bangli Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

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15

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Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land.

Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Entertainment

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Harris wins praise as Oscars host HOLLYWOOD - Neil Patrick Harris won kudos Sunday for his debut outing as Oscars host, mocking the gala’s lack of racial diversity and stripping down to his Y-fronts in a nod to “Birdman.”

John Shearer/Invision/AP

“Today we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest. Sorry, brightest,” the 41-year-old comic quipped as the three-and-a-half-hour gala, telecast worldwide, got under way.

The deliberate slip of the tongue acknowledged the striking absence of nonwhite performers among this year’s crop of Academy Award nominees.

Clearly relishing his Oscar duties, Harris went on to spoof Michael Keaton’s underwear scene in “Birdman” -- which went on to win best picture -- appearing on stage in white briefs, black socks and nothing else. “Benedict Cumberbatch,” he said in another joke later in the evening, introducing the best-actor nominee for “The Imitation Game.”

“It’s not only the most awesome name in

show business, it’s also the sound you get when you ask John Travolta to pronounce Ben Affleck.”

When “Citizenfour” won best documentary, Harris couldn’t help making a play on words, saying intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden “could not be here tonight for some treason.”

But not all Harris’s gags worked.

His bid to compare the box-office success of “American Sniper” to Oprah Winfrey’s fortune fell flat, even if the talkshow diva took it in stride. On Twitter, he acknowledged the support of his gag writers toiling behind the scenes.

“I’m super appreciative for the group of writers we hired for my #Oscars content.

If only they could write everything I say

WEATHER FORECAST Dps

23 - 32

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

always. #proud,” he tweeted.

Among those praising Harris was Seth MacFarlane, whose 2013 turn as Oscars host was judged by many to be a shade too edgy for prime time.

“Fantastic as usual. There’s nothing this man can’t do brilliantly,” the “Family Guy” creator said on his Twitter feed.

“First impressions suggest Harris is the right guy for what can admittedly be a rather thankless job,” blogged Variety television critic Brian Lowry as the awards ceremony was still under way.

It may have been Harris’s first time hosting the Academy Awards -- and the first openly gay man to do so -- but he is an old hand when it comes to fulfilling emcee duties.

The New Mexico native is a four-time host of Broadway’s Tony awards and twice hosted television’s Emmy primetime awards. (afp)

Families of 3 missing UK girls urge ‘Please come home!’

La Liga will be decided on final day, predicts Ancelotti

North Korea bars foreigners from Pyongyang marathon

Page 6

Page 8

Page 13 Oscars Winners

‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ stays on top Blanchett leaving Sydney LOS ANGELES — “Fifty Shades of Grey” didn’t relinquish control of the box office. Universal’s erotic drama starring Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan earned $23.2 million at No. 1 in its second weekend at the box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The adaptation of E.L. James’ bestselling novel earned an additional $68.1 million overseas.

Despite the victory, director Sam Taylor-Johnson’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” plummeted a steep 73 percent from its record-breaking $85 million three-day debut over President’s Day weekend.

“There was a pent-up demand and excitement for ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ last weekend, so this was its destiny after it broke the box-office record for the biggest opening in February and didn’t have the added bonus of a holiday weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office firm Rentrak.

The action spy film “Kingsman: The Secret Service” and the family friendly “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” similarly maintained their respective No. 2 and No. 3 spots at the box office in their second weekend.

Fox’s “Kingsman” nabbed $17.5 million, while Paramount’s “SpongeBob” soaked up another $15.5 million.

A trio of newcomers failed to crack the top three. Disney’s cross-country racing tale “McFarland, USA” starring Kevin Costner launched at No. 4 with $11.3 million. Lionsgate’s high school comedy “The DUFF” debuted at No. 5 with $11 million. Paramount’s wacky sequel “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” opened at No. 7 with $5.8 million.

A few Oscar contenders received a boost at the box office ahead of Sunday’s 87th annual Academy Awards.

“American Sniper,” which is up for six awards, including best picture and best actor for Bradley Cooper, racked up another $9.6 million at No. 6 in its ninth weekend of release.

“The Imitation Game,” nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best actor for Benedict Cumberbatch and best supporting actress for Keira Knightley, came in at No. 9 with $2.5 million in its 13th weekend. “Still Alice,” which features best actress front runner Julianne Moore, earned $2.2 million after expanding to 765 theaters in its sixth weekend. (ap)

to move to the US

SYDNEY - Australian Oscar winner Cate Blanchett plans to leave her Sydney home and move to the United States where her artistic director husband Andrew Upton will pursue freelance writing opportunities, a report said Monday.

The in-demand actress, who won Oscars for her roles in “The Aviator” and Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine”, will make the move later this year.

“It was a very hard decision,” Upton, the artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“But the deciding factor was that our children are still of an age where they can be mobile without disrupting their education too much.

“We spent nine years living in England and we loved it. But now we’d like to try America.

They have terrific (opportunities in) television there and Cate has a very strong film career there, too, obviously.”

Blanchett started out as a theatre actress in Sydney, where she won critical and popular acclaim with a string of successes for the Sydney Theatre Company.

She was also joint artistic director with Upton of the company from 2008 to 2012 and is patron of the Australian Film Institute.

Upton said he wanted to return to writing while in the United States.

“I want to get back into the freelance writing lifestyle, which I have been missing,” he said.

“I am interested in writing for television and film, as well as theatre.” (afp)

REUTERS/Mike Blake

Actor Michael Keaton (L) and director Alejandro Inarritu accept the Oscar for best picture for his film “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virture of Ignorance)”during the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015.

Best picture: “Birdman” Best director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, “Birdman” Best actor: Eddie Redmayne, “The Theory of Everything” Best actress: Julianne Moore, “Still Alice” Best supporting actor: J.K. Simmons, “Whiplash” Best supporting actress: Patricia Arquette, “Boyhood” Best original screenplay: “Birdman” Best adapted screenplay: “The Imitation Game” Best foreign language film: “Ida” (Poland) Best animated film: “Big Hero 6” Best documentary feature: “Citizenfour” Best cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki, “Birdman” Best original song: “Glory” (from “Selma”) Best original soundtrack: Alexandre Desplat, “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best costume design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best make-up / hairstyling: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best production design: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Best documentary short subject: “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” Best live action short film: “The Phone Call” Best animated short film: “Feast” Best film editing: “Whiplash” Best sound mixing: “Whiplash” Best sound editing: “American Sniper” Best visual effects: “Interstellar”

‘Birdman’ soars to Oscars glory

HOLLYWOOD - Dark comedy “Birdman” soared to Oscars glory on Sunday, taking four Academy Awards including best picture and best director honors on Hollywood’s biggest night.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The film, a satire about a washedup superhero film actor battling to revive his career on Broadway, was a grand triumph for Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who himself won three of the four golden statuettes.

Stylist crime caper “The Grand Budapest Hotel” also won four Oscars, several in technical categories, while jazz drumming drama “Whiplash” scored three, including best supporting actor for veteran actor J.K. Simmons.

Best actor went to Britain’s Eddie Redmayne as astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in “The Theory

of Everything,” while veteran Julianne Moore took best actress as a professor suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease in “Still Alice.”

Inarritu, the second Mexican in a row to take the best director Oscar after Alfonso Cuaron won last year for “Gravity,” dedicated his award to his fellow countrymen.

Talking about Mexican immigrants into the United States, he said: “I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and respect as the ones who came before and built this incredible immigrant nation.”

Coming-of-age drama “Boy-

hood,” which had been going headto-head for the best picture race, perhaps suffered the biggest disappointment, with only one Oscar on six nominations -- best supporting actress for Patricia Arquette.

Disney’s “Big Hero 6” was named best animated feature, while Poland’s “Ida” took the best foreign language film prize.

Host Neil Patrick Harris launched the three-and-a-half hour show with a song and dance routine about the movie industry itself -- including a joke about the lack of any non-white actors in the four acting categories.

“Tonight, we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest ... sorry, brightest,” he said, earning laughs from the star-studded audience at the Dolby Theatre. Arquette hit a political

note in accepting her prize, giving a shoutout to “every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation.

“We have fought for everybody’s equal rights. It is our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America,” she said.

The biggest standing ovation of the night honored “Selma,” about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The film, while nominated for best picture, controversially failed to secure nods for British actor David Oyelowo and director Ava DuVernay. In the end, it won for best original song for the rousing “Glory” -- and the A-list audience rose to their feet after John Legend and Common performed the song.

“We live in the most incarcer-

ated country in the world,” Legend said as he accepted his Oscar.

“There are more black men under correctional control today than there were under slavery in 1850.”

A star-studded cast of presenters took the stage on Sunday, including Ben Affleck, Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman, Eddie Murphy, Liam Neeson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey.

Continued on page 6 News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http://radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.