Edition Thursday,January 25, 2018 | Internasional Bali Post

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

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

16 Pages Number 37 10th year

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Thursday, January 25, 2018

‘Wonder Woman’ stumbles, ‘Get Out’ surprises at Oscar nominations

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Thursday, January 25, 2018

LOS ANGELES - “Wonder Woman” failed to conquer Oscar voters on Tuesday despite riding to one of the biggest box office hits of 2017 on a wave of female empowerment, making it one of the biggest snubs for Hollywood’s highest honors.

The Warner Bros. movie, featuring Gal Gadot as the sword-wielding Wonder Woman, was the first standalone female superhero film since 2005 and earned some $825 million globally, making its filmmaker Patty Jenkins, 46, the highest-grossing female director in Hollywood.

But at Tuesday’s Oscar nominations, Jenkins was left off the director’s race and the film was snubbed in the best picture category, despite nods for other movies about women and made by women.

Instead, it was Guillermo del Toro’s surreal fantasy romance “The Shape of Water” that led the Oscar nominations with 13 nods.

Speaking to Reuters, del Toro said that despite the omission of “Wonder Woman” at the Oscars, the impact of the film was “undeniable.”

“Not only did (‘Wonder Woman’)

break this archaic notion that this grand superhero-sized myth was done for ‘the boys,’ but it delivered it at a level of excellency that is a high watermark,” the filmmaker said.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has traditionally disdained big action and superhero movies in favor of smaller art-house fare, like last year’s Oscar champion “Moonlight” and this year’s dark comedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” which landed seven nods.

Since 1990, only the 2003 fantasy epic “Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King” snapped that trend to win the top Oscar honor.

Sci-fi movie “Avatar,” still the biggest box office movie of all time, received a best picture nomination in 2010 but lost out to “The Hurt Locker.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Actress Gal Gadot receives the 2018 #See Her award for her performance in “Wonder Woman.”

In Davos, Cate Blanchett jokes about playing Melania Trump

Cate Blanchett

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

DAVOS - Actress Cate Blanchett, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, drew laughs when she jokingly speculated about playing First Lady Melania Trump on screen, saying she would not approach such a role from a “Free Melania” point of view.

The comment came during a serious discussion about refugees, in which Blanchett, a goodwill ambassador for the UN’s refugee agency, condemned what she said was a lack of political leadership in addressing the refugee problem, without mentioning President Don-

ald Trump by name.

“When I’m playing a character I think you have to present people warts and all,” she said in an onstage interview with New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof, who has written extensively about refugees.

“If I was playing Melania Trump -- not that I would probably be cast in that role -- I wouldn’t be necessarily coming from the place of ‘Free Melania’,” she continued to chuckles in the audience.

“I’d be trying to understand the situation so that you could then throw that back at an audience

and say: ‘What’s her position as a woman? What does she think?

What’s it like being married to -you know’.”

Blanchett was honoured by the WEF on Monday, along with singer Elton John and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, for raising awareness about human rights.

At the panel on Tuesday, her voice broke as she described meeting a Syrian refugee family in Jordan that had been forced to flee their country under gunfire, with the father jettisoning suitcases so he could carry his children across the border. (rtr)

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Flood which happened in Legian area on Tuesday

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

Overflowing water of Tukad Mati floods Legian and Seminyak

MANGUPURA - Due to heavy rains on Monday (Jan. 22), floods began to hit a number of areas in Badung and Denpasar. As happened in Badung district, the areas inundated with water were Legian and Seminyak. Both areas become the victims of floods due to overflowing water of Tukad Mati channel. Moreover, this condition still got inundated until Tuesday (Jan. 23).

In addition to making people’s house inundated, the floods also caused traffic in a number of roads to be paralyzed as in Seminyak area like Jalan Kunti II, Jalan Yudistira, around the office of headman, BPBD office, and the most severe condition was in Seminyak.

When met on Tuesday (Jan. 23), headman of Seminyak, Kadek Oka Parmadi, said that last Monday, the rainfall was very high. Moreover, due to quite heavy rain, the Tukad Mati was not able to accommodate the volume of rainwater. “If seeing the water, it is coming from the north,” he said.

When the incident occurred, he immediately conducted a monitoring to the location with civilian guard and community protection. In addition to monitoring the affected residents, he also helped evacuate travelers trapped in floods. As is known, puddles on the road reached the height of half of a motorcycle’s body. “We know that tourists are also trapped in floods when riding motorcycle.

On that account, we evacuate them to a safe point and deliver to their destination,” he said.

Meanwhile, headman of Legian, Made Madia Suryanatha, explained that in the Legian area, floods also hit

Jalan Dewi Sri, around LC Legian, Jalan Pandawa, Jalan Sri Rejeki and Jalan Nakula. The flood was known to start emerge since 04:00 local time.

Then, at its peak the flood reached a height of one meter. To prevent road users from getting trapped in puddles, police were forced to divert traffic. Besides, PLN had to extinguish the electricity at some points. “Customary market is also temporarily closed due to the condition of the puddles. Meanwhile, some residents are evacuated to get out of their house,” said Madia.

According to one of the Legian community leaders, Nyoman Rutha

Ady, the flood hitting the Legian area is quite large. He said the flood is a five-year cycle that repeats again. Admittedly, it is caused by the reduced catchment area and increasingly rampant settlement areas.

Division Head of Natural Resources at the Badung Public Works and Housing Agency (PUPR), A.A. Gde Dalem, admitted the condition.

According to him, the floods on Jalan Dewi Sri and surrounding roads did happen in 2010. Then, due to the waste and sediment in the estuary, floods re-occrred in 2013. On that account, in 2015 began to build a long storage at the estuary of Tukad Mati.

It was then proved to be effective for several years to eliminate floods.

“This time the floods re-emerged due to the high water discharge from the

upstream and the pumps installed cannot accommodate the water due to overflowing Tukad Mati,” said Dalem when confirmed.

As a follow up, in the future of this arrangement should be continued to reduce floods. He said the previous arrangement was indeed the initial stage. “We have coordinated this with related agencies. Further, the arrangement will be done by Bali-Penida River Agency,” he explained. (kmb23) 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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Thursday, January 25, 2018

Bali News

International

International

CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE EARTH DOG AT INTERCONTINENTAL BALI RESORT

On trial of drug cases

Australian tourist claims to have psychiatric disorder

DENPASAR —An Australian tourist arrested by customs and excise officers in the allegation of drug case, defendant Baker Joshua James, 32, started to be on trial in Denpasar District Court on Tuesday (Jan. 23). After the indictment was read by prosecutor Paulus Agung, the defendant accompanied by his legal counsel Pande Putu Maya Arsanti confessed that he was suffering from a psychiatric disorder. So, the panel of judges led by I Gede Ginarsa asked the defendant to attach the evidences and later on should be delivered in the plead.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor explained the defendant was arrested by the customs and excise officers of Ngurah Rai Airport on October 8, 2017 around 11:30, after the Thai Lion Air with flight number SL 258 of BangkokDenpasar route landed at the International Arrival Terminal of Ngurah Rai Airport. Customs and excise officers on duty checked with X-Ray. In the bag of the defendant was found Double Cherry tobacco containing 36.42 grams gross of marijuana or 28.02 grams net as well as three strips and 10 diazepam tablets hidden in cigarette package and 7 diazepam tablets hidden in the shoe.

In this case, the prosecutor from the Bali Prosecutor’s Office charged the defendant with layered articles namely Article 113 paragraph 1, Article 111 paragraph 1 and Article 127 of point (a) of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 35/2009 on Narcotics and Article 61 paragraph 1 sub-paragraph (a) and Article 62 of Law No.5/1997 on Psychotropic.

On the charge, Joshua’s legal advisor, Maya Arsanti, said the defendant suffered a psychiatric disorder, namely bipolar and excessive anxiety. Then, if a person has psychiatric disorders, the concerned person cannot be processed legally.(kmb37)

Causing tense, Heavy rain accompanied by lightning results in power off AMLAPURA —Heavy rain on Monday night (Jan. 22) until Tuesday morning (Jan. 23) caused a tense atmosphere. It happened because the heavy rains continuously taking place throughout the day was accompanied with flashes of lightning rumbling throughout the night. Moreover, the lightning strike snatched PLN’s infrastructure causing long-term power cuts.

One of the damages to PLN’s infrastructure occurred along the road section of Bugbug village, Timbrah to Asak, Karangasem subdistrict.

Lightning strikes caused the 4GW conductor to break off, resulting in power outages. Normalization process was done that night, but because it rained heavily all night until the morning, the normalization process was hampered. “The recovery process is still going on until the morning,” said Chief of PLN for Karangasem Region, Putu Surya Atmaja, on Tuesday (Jan. 23).

After the recovery process, the electricity had returned to normal at midnight. However, to ensure the safety, in the morning was repaired again so that the normalization process is really good. “Please do accept our apologies for the inconvenience. The impact of weather is the most difficult to anticipate,” he said.

The rain with lightning flashes was recognized to make local residents fall in tense atmosphere. They did not dare to leave their house because the lightning strike was felt very close. A resident living around the location of lightning strikes at Pertima village claimed that since the first lightning, people immediately closed the door and turned off television.

Moreover, the Android mobile phone signal was immediately disabled, so as not to trigger a lightning attack. “At that night, the thunderbolt seemed right above the roof of the house. In fact, the point of cable damage of PLN struck by lightning was not far from home,” said one of the Pertima residents, Ketut Indra Kusuma.

Surya Atmaja admitted the extreme weather happened all over Bali.

At night on January 22, there were 15 reports on damages to electricity network due to heavy rain accompanied with lightning. Similar lightning also occurred in other areas. The rain accompanied with lightning also caused similar damage to some areas in Karangasem, such as Candidasa, Ulakan, Manggis, Antiga, Tenganan, Bungaya and surrounding areasy. (kmb31)

A tourist is evacuated from Legian area due to the flood.

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

Tourists in Seminyak and Legian evacuated

MANGUPURA —Dozens of tourists and residents living and staying in Seminyak and Legian had to be evacuated because both areas were hit by floods on Tuesday (Jan. 23). The evacuation along the channel of Tukad Mati was done by the officers of the Badung Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and Bali SAR Agency conducted until 11:10 local time.

Head of the BPBD Badung, Nyoman Wijaya, said that his agency prepared four rubber boats to evacuate residents and foreign tourists in the area. “We cooperate with Bali SAR (Basarnas) to evacuate to the home of flood victims’ family so that people are more comfortable while waiting for the water to recede,” said Nyoman Wijaya accompanied by Division Head of Logistics and Emergency of the BPBD Badung, Ni Nyoman Ermy Setiari.

According to him, heavy rain flushing Badung district soaked the tourist kampong of Kuta. Related to the number of residents and tourists evacuated are currently still recorded. “Currently, we are still doing evacuation process. Based on the data we collect, there are no casualties. Obviously, there are dozens of residents in the area around the Tukad Mati

(Mati River),” he explained.

Apart from the South Kuta area, the disaster due to heavy rain also occurred in the area of North Kuta. Based on the data compiled, there are three points of landslide area and the evacuation has been done. To evacuate, his agency was assisted by the Badung Public Works and Housing Agency.

“In the Northern area, there was a landslide disaster. To clean up the avalanches that piled up the road at Buangga hamlet, Getasan, we are assisted by Public Works and Housing Agency,” he said.

Based on the National Weather Service (BBMKG) for Region III Denpasar, the weather of Bali area on January 23-25 is forecast to be generally cloudy and there is potential to rain moderately. Air temperature ranges from 23oCelcius to 31oCelcius.

The wind blows from the North-West at a speed of 8 - 36 km per hour. Sea wave height in the waters of North Bali ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 meters, in the southern waters of Bali (0.75-3.0 meters), in the waters of the Bali Strait (0.5-3.0 meters) and in the Lombok Strait waters (0.5-3.0 meters).

This condition happens because Bali Region has entered the rainy season, where the peak of rainy season normally occurred during the period of January to February. The wet air mass remains to be concentrated on the surface layer up to 200 mb layer. This condition supports the formation of rain clouds over the area of Bali. There is a low pressure in the Indonesian Ocean in the south of Java (1002 hPa) extending to Northern Australia (1000 hPa). (kmb27)

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

Chinese New Year as known as Spring Festival is the festival for families to come together and wish each other peace and prosperity. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck.

2018, the Chinese Year of the Earth dog is an opportunity for the Dog to consolidate his achievements and to renew his motivation. It is a time to put our common sense to work, as well as our experience. In the Dog year, the key to succeed is to stay still, there is no relying on instincts, it is a time to rely on the facts and reality. There are very important points to keep in mind for the incoming year. It is a time to focus on everything that has been created on years before, it is a year to build and improve.

Exquisite service at InterContinental Bali Resort’s restaurant is waiting for all the guest in this Chinese New Year. Our Chinese New Year celebrations will be held on 13th - 15th February 2018 at 7pm at the Main Pool Deck, when you will have the opportunity to launch a Flying Lantern as a symbol of good luck. As you release all of your worries and problems away, make a wish and marvel at the beauty of the many fire lanterns floating silently into the night sky over Jimbaran Bay. Our Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner will take place from 7pm onwards in Jimbaran Gardens. Featuring dishes that are believed to bring health, wealth and happiness for the coming 12 months. This sumptuous feast begins with ‘crab and corn scallion egg drop soup’ served with ‘mantaou’ – a steamed wheat bread from North China, which is always found on Chinese New Year dinner tables. This is followed by traditional salads and appetisers – including ‘chili-marinated Chinese cabbage salad’ and ‘century eggs and lapcion sausage’ plus a wide selection of delicious hot dishes, and a live station presenting fresh egg noodles and kway teow – representative of long life – together with Jimbaran seafood, sliced chicken, beef, pork and a selection of condiments. Hot dishes include ‘steamed red snapper with oyster mushroom sauce’ – the fish is representative of togetherness and abundance – as well as ‘honey and sesame ginger chicken’, symbolising prosperity and completeness. Assorted dim sum include wongko, gyozza and siomay complemented by condiments such as sweet chilli, chilli sauce, Hoi sin sauce and plum sauce.

Guests at the Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner will be entertained by a performance of the Chinese Lion Dance incorporating the acrobatic martial art movements of Wushu. Accompanied by the music of beating drums, clashing cymbals, and resounding gongs, this vibrant, exciting dance expresses joy and happiness. The lion is used to summon luck and good fortune; he is an auspicious animal and a symbol of protection. It is also believed that the noise from the drums, the face of the lion, and the way in which the lion dances scares away bad or evil spirits.

The Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner is priced at Rp 550,000 ++ per person. The event is complimentary for children under seven years of age when dining with their parents. All prices are subject to 10% service charge & 11% government tax. Terms and conditions apply.

Activities

Thursday, January 25, 2018

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Health

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Air pollution tied to preterm births in China

BEIJING - Chinese mothers who are exposed to higher levels of air pollution during pregnancy may be more likely to deliver preterm infants than women who live where the air is cleaner, a recent study suggests.

Researchers examined data on more than 1.3 million healthy singleton pregnancies from 30 provinces in mainland China in 2013 and 2014. Almost 105,000 of the babies, or 8 percent, were born before 37 weeks’ gestation, making them premature arrivals.

To see how air quality may have influenced the risk of a preterm delivery, researchers used mothers’ home addresses to estimate their exposure to an extremely small type of fine particulate matter known as PM 1, a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets smaller than 1 micrometer in diameter that’s found in traffic exhaust and can include dust, dirt, soot, and smoke.

Over their entire pregnancies, half of the women in the study were exposed to average PM 1 levels of 46 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3). For each 10 ug/m3 increase in PM 1 exposure, women had a 9 percent higher risk of a preterm delivery.

“We’ve long known that air pollution contributes to preterm birth,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an environmental medicine researcher at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“What’s novel in this study is the careful examination of smaller particles which are more readily inhaled,” Trasande said by email.

Much of the previous research linking air pollution to preterm births has focused on what’s known as PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter that’s smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, Xu Ma of the National Research Institute for Family Planning in Beijing and

colleagues note in JAMA Pediatrics.

The current study offers fresh evidence of the harmful effects of PM 1, which makes up about 80 percent of PM 2.5. Compared to larger particles, PM 1 has a higher surface area to mass ratio and can reach alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, Ma and colleagues write.

Ma didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Women living in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei regions, the Yangtze River delta, the Sichuan Basin, and the Pearl River delta were exposed to PM 1 levels greater than 52.7 ug/m3 over their entire pregnancy, the study found.

For every 10 ug/m3 increase in PM 1 exposure levels throughout their pregnancy, women were 20 percent more likely to have very preterm births, with babies arriving between 28 and 31 weeks gestation, and 29 percent more likely to have extremely premature babies, with infants delivered between 20 and 27 weeks.

Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks, and babies born after 37 weeks are considered full term.

In the weeks immediately after birth, preemies often have difficulty breathing and digesting food. They can also encounter longer-term challenges such as impaired vision, hearing and cognitive skills, as well as social and behavioral problems.

One limitation of the study is its reliance on satellite data to estimate mothers’ exposure to air pollution, a method that might not always reflect women’s actual exposure because it can’t account for the quality of air indoors, at work, or during commutes.

Still, pregnant women should take precautions to limit their exposure to air pollution, whether by reducing their time outdoors during high-traffic hours or wearing an air filtration mask, advised Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah, an environmental health researcher at Boston University Medical Campus who wasn’t involved in the study. (rtr)

Beijing is one of the cities with the worst air quality.

IBP/net

Bali News

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

3

Percentage of poverty in seven districts higher than province

Denpasar indicates sharp increase

DENPASAR — Percentage of poverty rate in nine regencies / city is somewhat varied. Only two regions still have poverty rate far below the Bali province, namely Denpasar city and Badung district. In the meantime, the other seven districts are recorded to have higher rate, although most have decreased when compared to last year.

IBP/net

People who suffer from sleep disturbances in midlife or as they age may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment than people who usually get plenty of uninterrupted rest.

Middle age sleep problems tied to cognitive decline down the line

STOCKHOLM - People who suffer from sleep disturbances in midlife or as they age may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment than people who usually get plenty of uninterrupted rest, new research suggests.

Researchers examined data from four studies of the link between sleep and cognitive function, including two studies that followed almost 3,400 people for more than two decades, starting when they were in their 50s. In these two cohorts, people who suffered from nightmares and insomnia in middle age were more likely to experience cognitive impairment in old age than people who slept just fine earlier on.

When researchers examined these two studies as well as two others that started following people in their 70s and 80s, they found that insomnia and general sleep problems later in life were also associated with cognitive problems.

“While sleep disturbances are an important risk factor for cognitive decline, the good news is that it is a modifiable risk factor,” said lead study author Shireen Sindi of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and Imperial College London.

“We can all have occasional sleeping difficulties, either due to high stress levels, caffeine or alcohol consumption or due to jet lag,” Sindi said by email. “However, if a person experiences sleep disturbances on a chronic basis such as

difficulties falling asleep, waking up during the middle of the night, waking up too early in the morning, or suffering from poor sleep quality, it is important to seek help from a health professional.”

Even though sleep deprivation and difficulties with getting a good night’s rest have long been linked to cognitive problems over time, less has been known about what precise type of sleep issues might impact brain function, researchers note in Sleep Medicine.

For the current study, researchers pooled data from four smaller studies of people in the general population in Sweden.

After just three to 11 years, sleep disturbances including insomnia were associated with lower scores on tests of cognitive function, the study found.

When people had nightmares in middle age, this was associated with poor cognition later in life after 21 to 31 years of follow-up, the study also found.

This association, however, was partially explained by other factors that can impact both sleep quality and brain function - such as smoking, drinking and exercise habits as well as mental health issues. One limitation of the study is that sleep problems were reported by participants, not measured objectively by researchers or doctors. Researchers also lacked data on certain risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and cognitive decline. (rtr)

Based on the data of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Bali, the Badung district has the lowest poverty rate namely 2.06 percent or 13,163 people. Then, it is followed by Denpasar city at 2.27 percent or 20,702 people.

According to the Head of BPS Bali, Adi Nugroho, the decrease of poverty rate in Badung will be more severe. It is required the creativity being out of the box to overcome it. Just like Denpasar, Badung is an attractive region to migrants.

“Such attraction can draw urbanization and encourage migration, so that if anybody goes down or up in terms of social status, it will be immediately replaced by new migrants whose social status beneath it. This is one of the difficulties to shift poverty rate whose level has been very low,” he said.

Especially for Denpasar, continued Adi Nugroho, there is a disturbing indication on the low poverty rate in the provincial capital. He also observed there is indication of pretty sharp increase. The increase in poverty rate also appears in Jembrana, Gianyar and Bangli. In Jembrana, for example, the current poverty rate is 5.38 percent from 5.33 percent. Actually, there has been a drastic decline from 2015 to 2016. Today, Jembrana needs a program to reduce poverty as well as reduce the depth and equalize the poverty itself. Then, Gianyar has 22,419 poor people or 4.46 percent and Bangli has 5.23 percent or 11,756 people.

Meanwhile, four other districts showed a decrease in poverty.

Percentage of poverty in these four districts with the three other districts is equally higher than the provincial average. Klungkung district recorded the most praise. Although the percentage of poverty is the second highest after Karangasem, the number of poor people is the least when compared to all districts / city.

“Klungkung has now 6.29 percent or 11,147 people, a relatively high percentage. However, Klungkung has strong indication to have strong decline from previously 6.35 percent. Hopefully, this is also an indication that Klungkung has found a formula to seek the reduction of poor people,” he explained.

Adi Nugroho added that Buleleng is also almost similar to Klungkung. However, the number of poor people in Buleleng is the largest in Bali namely 37,481 people. Actually, in terms of percentage of 5.74 percent, it has decreased from before. The poverty rate of Karangasem also implies a decline of 27,023 people or 6.55 percent. Similarly, Tabanan showed a decrease from 5.0 percent to 4.92 percent or 21,656 people. (kmb32)

IBP/olo

The increase in poverty rate also appears in Jembrana, Gianyar and Bangli. In Jembrana, for example, the current poverty rate is 5.38 percent from 5.33 percent.

Related to escaped detainee trial

Christian changes lawyer, judge gives a week

Christian Beasley

IBP/kmb

DENPASAR — After escaping from Kerobokan Prison and arrested in Lombok by police, Christian Beasley from the United States should face a trial again in the Denpasar District Court on Monday (Jan. 22).

However, the trial with the agenda of witness examination was not continued because the defendant Christian Beasley dismissed his lawyer Edward and Hari Purwanto.

Beasley submitted a letter of state-

ment to the panel of judges led by Ida Ayu Nyoman Adnya Dewi that principally wanted to change his lawyer.

Through his interpreter, Beasley conveyed the wish. However, when asked by the judge who will be the lawyer that will be with him, Beasley claimed not to have yet.

The judge then gave a week to the defendant getting involved in the drug case to look for an alternate lawyer.

“The trial has run for a long time. You run away. We give you a week to prepare a lawyer,” said the judge.

If within a week there is no alternate lawyer, the judge will continue the trial. If you do not get a lawyer in a week, we will appoint a lawyer.

Please be informed it is free,” said the judge asking for his interpreter to pass the message. The trial was closed and continued next week. (kmb37)

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Bali News

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

13

South Korea rejects ‘Pyongyang Olympics’ criticism

SEOUL - The South Korean government rejected criticism on Tuesday that next month’s Winter Olympics had been hijacked by North Korea, saying the Games will help defuse tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes.

Flooded roads in severe condition happened on Jalan Teuku Umar Barat, Denpasar and Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta.

IBP/eka

Heavy rain

Traffic police prevent motorists from being dragged by floods

DENPASAR — Heavy rain taking place for long on Monday (Jan. 22) was prone to traffic accidents and motorists could get dragged by floods. It happened because the drains could not accommodate the rainwater overflowing onto the street. Consequently, the inundated roads were closed to prevent from claiming casualties. Flooded roads in severe condition happened on Jalan Teuku Umar Barat, Denpasar and Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta.

Director of Traffic Affairs of Bali Police, Anak Agung Made Sudana and Deputy Director of Traffic Affairs, Sangkan Bonaparte Silalahi, deployed personnel of highway patrol to minimize the casualties caused

by floods. It considered the high enough puddles occurred at the intersection of Sunset Road-Jalan Nakula.

The river water even overflowed onto the road because the drainage was not able to accommodate the swift

capacity of water.

“To prevent the loss of life and materials, we close several lanes and direct the vehicles not to pass through the road,” said Anak Agung Sudana on Tuesday (Jan. 23).

He deployed 30 personnel to prevent the occurrence of victims from being dragged by floods. “I also order Chief of Sub-Directorate of Traffic Engineering to contact relevant officers to immediately handle the flood quickly. While waiting, we clean up the manhole from the garbage and used the makeshift tools,” he said.

Meanwhile, handling the puddles on Jalan Teuku Umar Barat is easier because the flood is not too high and

DENPASAR — The unemployment rate in Bali is the lowest in Indonesia, namely at 1.48 percent.

However, this does not guarantee that the population is free from poverty. Currently, Bali still has 4.14 percent of the poor or about 176,480 people. Ironically, 70.25 percent of the poor have actually

been working.

“For the conditions of March 2017, in fact 70 percent of the poor people of Bali region have been working. Nevertheless, they remain poor,” said the Head of BPS Bali, Adi Nugroho, in the Evaluation Working Meeting of Bali Development Program for Semester II/2017

at Wiswa Sabha, Bali governor office, on Tuesday (Jan. 23).

According to Adi Nugroho, the percentage of poor people having worked is actually declining when compared to March 2016 reaching 95.13 percent. Consequently, the number of poor people that do not work in 2017 rose to 29.75 percent compared to 2016 amounts to 4.87 percent. In addition, the composition of the poor is also filled by diploma graduates and scholars.

“In fact, among the population categorized to be poor in Bali, 4.03 percent of them are certified college graduates and 4.58 percent others hold scholar degree,” he explained.

Adi Nugroho added that residents with low diploma such as primary school can be accommodated in the work field. That is why the open unemployment rate for elementary school education is less than 1 percent. It is lower when

compared to the percentage of unemployed college graduates.

“22.96 percent of those having been working are found to be semi-underemployed as having very little working hours. There is a potential that has not be utilized among them. In addition, those remaining to be really unemployed have not got a job,” he added.

On the other hand, continued Adi Nugroho, poverty rate in Bali actually tends to decline in the past four years. The figure of 4.14 percent is actually very small for poverty in one region. Therefore, the decrease of poverty rate will be more sloping. However, he found that not all poor people receive assistance or programs raised by central and regional government.

The distribution of rice for the poor, for instance, is only enjoyed by 12 percent of the poor according to data in August 2017. In urban areas, the percentage is even lower at 7.08

can be pursued by making water disposal to other locations.

In the meantime, Bonaparte broke down traffic jams by implementing engineering efforts and traffic management. “We appeal to motorists to never desperate to pass through the flood because it is dangerous. If not dragged by water, the motorcycle can stop. It’s better to find out another alternative or wait until the water recedes,” he said. (kmb32)

70.25 percent of the poor in Bali has been working

IBP/kmb

The unemployment rate in Bali is the lowest in Indonesia, namely at 1.48 percent.

percent. Actually, one-third of the income of the poor is depleted to purchase rice.

“Then, the poor people receiving the assistance in the form of Prosperous Family Card amount to 17.98 percent. Similarly, the Family Hope Program (PKH) is received by less than 1 percent and People’s Business Credit is only received by 4.45 percent,” he added.

Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, underscored that 70 percent of the poor have been working.

According to him, quality of the work pursued by the poor in is not correct so that it does not generate enough money.

“Actually, they have been working, but remain poor. I see people working to break stones in Karangasem from the morning till evening. They work really hard, but the results are a little. It means they do not work smartly,” he said. (kmb32)

Some opposition politicians and conservatives in South Korea have criticised North Korea’s participation in the Games to be held in the South Korean alpine resort of Pyeongchang, dubbing them the “Pyongyang Olympics”.

“Just one month ago, acute tensions gripped the Korean peninsula, South Korean presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun told a news conference, referring to a crisis over North Korea’s efforts to develop nucleartipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.

“We’re confident that the Olympics will be a stepping stone to bring peace to the REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Korean peninsula, to Northeast Asia and the The Olympic rings are pictured at the Alpensia resort for the upcoming 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in world,” he said.

The two Koreas held the their first formal Pyeongchang, South Korea, January 23, 2018. talks in nearly two years this month and the South agreed to help arrange for the North liberal president, Moon Jae-in, is also under nearby that may be used to fly in the South what he called Kim’s effort to “hijack” the pressure over its offer to send athletes to a Korean skiers, who are not expected to attend Games with a propaganda campaign, a White to join the Games.

Some specific plans, including for a joint North Korean ski resort for joint training. the Games. Moon’s approval rating has fallen to House official said.

President Donald Trump and top advisers women’s ice hockey team and marching Experts say the move risks giving Kim’s a four-month low at 66 percent, a poll showed under a united flag, have proven controver- heavily sanctioned government legitimacy on Monday, due to a backlash over the decision have publicly welcomed the intra-Korean regarding the combined ice hockey team. talks, but U.S. officials have warned that sial, with conservatives and younger South and some much-needed cash.

Seoul officials are on a three-day trip to the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who will Pyongyang might be trying to drive a wedge Koreans upset that North Korean leader Kim North starting on Tuesday to inspect the resort’s represent the United States at the Olympics, between Washington and its South Korean Jong Un is stealing the spotlight.

The administration of South Korea’s facilities and the newly built Kalma Airport said on Tuesday he would seek to counter ally. (rtr)

Turkey kills at least 260 Kurdish, Islamic State fighters in Syria offensive -military

ANKARA - Turkey has killed at least 260 Syrian Kurdish fighters and Islamic State militants in its fourday-old offensive into the Kurdishdominated Afrin region of northwest

Syria, the Turkish military said on Tuesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to raise concerns with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone

REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018.

call expected on Wednesday about Ankara’s offensive against U.S.backed Kurdish YPG forces in Afrin, a senior U.S. official said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced disquiet, a few hours after Turkey’s foreign minister said it wanted to avoid any clash with U.S., Russian or Syrian government forces during its offensive but would do whatever necessary for its security.

The air and ground operation has opened a new front in Syria’s multisided civil war and could threaten U.S. plans to stabilise and rebuild a large area of northeast Syria - beyond President Bashar al-Assad’s control - where Washington helped a force dominated by the YPG to drive out Islamic State militants.

The United States and Russia both have military forces in Syria backing opposing sides and have called for restraint on the part of Ankara’s “Operation Olive Branch” to crush the YPG in the Afrin region near Turkey’s southern border.

A senior Trump administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said Ankara had sent “conflicting signals” about the scope of the offensive.

“We would urge them to limit the incursion as much as possible,” the official said, who said the phone call would happen soon. Another official - as well as Turkey’s foreign minister - said Erdogan and Trump planned to speak on Wednesday.

A statement by Macron’s office said: “Taking into account Turkey’s security imperatives, the president expressed to his Turkish counterpart his concerns following the military intervention launched on Saturday in Afrin.”

Erdogan told Macron on Tuesday Turkey was taking all measures to prevent civilian casualties in the Afrin operation, sources at the presidential palace said. The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact on the issue.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had also discussed Turkey’s

military operation Erdogan by phone and that Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty had to be respected.

A Kremlin statement said both men stressed the importance of continuing their two countries’ joint work to try to find a peaceful resolution to Syria’s crisis. Russia has been Assad’s most powerful ally against rebels and militants in Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Ankara’s demand that Washington stop supporting the YPG. Ankara has said the operation will be swift, but Erdogan’s spokesman signalled an open-ended cross-border campaign, saying it would end only when some 3.5 million Syrian refugees now living in Turkey could safely return home.

The United States hopes to use the YPG’s control in northern Syria to give it the diplomatic muscle it needs to revive U.N.-led talks in Geneva on a deal that would end Syria’s civil war. (rtr)

12

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

BUSINESS

Bali News

International

Foreign Tourists Learn to Plait Ketupat

Well, it is really fun and indeed absorbing! Traveling in Denpasar city through Heritage City Tour program can bring in unique experience. Every destination you visit reveals a long, classic and full of messages. Moreover, there are programs taking visitors to have a closer look at and learn Balinese culture that will certainly enrich travel experience on the Island of the Gods. This unique experience must be inherent throughout the ages because it is instilled with sincere sense bringing about ethics as well as a sense of brotherhood.

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Board nominee Marvin Goodfriend on Tuesday defended his past focus on inflation, saying that while earlier warnings about runaway prices were “absolutely” proved wrong, it was the Fed’s credibility in controlling inflation that has allowed unemployment to fall so low. In contrast to warnings that low interest rates might lead to a dangerous breakout of inflation, Goodfriend said he felt current Fed policy “is more or less on the right path going forward....We should get to 2 percent (inflation) in a year or so” with unemployment at a 17-year low.

REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Marvin Goodfriend, nominee to join the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, arrives for a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. January 23, 2018. long-run inflation...to drive unemployment down,” Goodfriend said. “Our goal is to get unemployment down to the natural rate.

Therefore I am supportive of a long-run inflation target…That has worked…and I will stand by that.”

TEMPERED VIEWS Goodfriend, if approved, would join the Fed at a time of transition to a new chair as Jerome Powell prepares to take over, and with several open seats to fill. In the past he has been highly critical of the central bank, calling for clearer, congressionally set limits

on what the Fed can do in a crisis, and a more transparent set of rules to govern policy.

He reiterated some of those stands at his hearing, saying that use of a “reference rule” might improve how the Fed operates, and arguing that the Fed’s third round of quantitative easing was “not called for.”

But he also tempered some of his views.

He agreed the economy was better off now than it would have been if policymakers had followed his call to raise rates early in the recovery. Despite his theoretical explorations of the possible advantages of negative interest rates, he said he had no intention as

a policymaker of pursuing some of those ideas, like taxing cash holdings to get people to spend money. Still, his track record left some Democrats wary.

“These wrong predictions are not outliers...They have been part of your overall approach,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. The difference between the current 4.1 percent unemployment rate, and the levels at which Goodfriend was warning about inflation, is “millions and millions of jobs...American families are very lucky you were not on the Fed board and I think it would be a mistake to put you on the Fed board now.” (rtr)

Beijing, like Shanghai, keeps 2018 economic growth target at about 6.5 pct BEIJING - Beijing’s municipal government said on Wednesday that it will keep its 2018 economic growth target at around 6.5 percent, on par with the objective that Shanghai has set for itself this year.

The targets for the two wealthy mega-cities are in line with the national goal, which policy sources previously told Reuters will be kept steady at around 6.5 percent as the

central government shifts its focus to quality from high growth.

Premier Li Keqiang said this week that the “three tough battles” for China’s economy are reducing poverty, controlling pollution and curtailing risks. Shanghai and Beijing, which are not part of any province, together accounted for 7 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

5

Heritage City Tour

Fed nominee Goodfriend: Current Fed policy “more or less” on right course

Goodfriend, a Carnegie Mellon economics professor chosen by President Donald Trump to join the Fed, faced sharp questions from Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee about remarks made in the wake of the 2007 to 2009 financial crisis in which he warned Fed efforts to drive unemployment even below levels as high as 7 percent might cause prices to spike.

Goodfriend was not alone in raising such concerns at the time, and by 2015 was worried that the Fed had done too little to boost inflation, and cautioned against raising rates too fast.

But as recently as last year he called the Fed’s dual unemployment and inflation goals “incoherent,” a remark that caused Democrats to ask him if he had made a “confirmation conversion” in accepting the Fed’s employment goals to win their support.

“I regret the word ‘incoherent,’” Goodfriend said. “I totally support” the Fed’s twin aim of keeping unemployment as low as is consistent with a steady inflation rate targeted at 2 percent.

He said it was the Fed’s ability to anchor inflation at a low level that allowed it, when crisis hit, to keep interest rates near zero for an extended time and engage in a massive bondbuying program without generating the inflation he had earlier warned about.

“It is critically important to anchor

Thursday, January 25, 2018

The two cities are often magnets for both government and private investors, and in recent years, property speculators. While Shanghai remains synonymous with profitdriven entrepreneurship, Beijing is developing a reputation as a hub for technology start-ups.

Shanghai’s economy grew 6.9 percent last year to 3 trillion yuan ($469 billion), with services ac-

counting for 69 percent of its economy. Beijing expanded 6.7 percent to 2.8 trillion yuan, with its high tech and strategic new industries surging more than 10 percent. China’s GDP grew 6.9 percent to 82.71 trillion yuan in value terms.

Shanghai and Beijing - among the world’s most populous cities - saw rare declines in population last year, data released late last week showed,

as authorities clamped down on what they call an “urban disease”.

Migrant workers were evicted and industries relocated, amid anxiety over dwindling resources to support huge populations and spreading urban sprawl. Beijing’s population fell 0.1 percent, or 22,000, to 21.7 million, while Shanghai’s declined by 13,700 to 24.18 million. (rtr)

Look at the number of foreign tourists participating in the activities that take advantage of the activities of Heritage City Tour at Jero Kuta Palace and Belaluan hamlet area as the part of the Denpasar City Tour on Tuesday (Jan. 10).

Dozens of tourists enjoyed a variety of cultural attractions usually done by Balinese people. By boarding a gig, the traditional means of transportation in Denpasar they look around the existing objects, such as temples, palaces and traditional markets. heritage city tour After arriving at Jero Kuta Palace and Belaluan hamlet, the tourists are served with various art attractions such as dance, gamelan music to mejejahitan (offering preparation).

They do not only see, but also take the opportunity to learn to dance, have majejahitan (making canang oblation), plait ketupat (rice bag) and make penjor. “This has been running continuously in the Denpasar City Tour program,” said Kadek Jango Pramartha, a cartoonist of Denpasar from Belaluan Sadmertha hamlet posing the activity coordinator.

For this year, explained Jango, it is followed by 18 students from the University of Western Australia (UWA) with the program entitled ‘Bali Studio Visa 2270’ as an activity to know more about Bali taking place on January 8-18, 2018.

“Previously, the foreign tourists get the opportunity to attend training and introduction to the activities at Sadmerta hamlet, such as painting, dancing, playing gamelan to activities with the involvement of local youth club,” he said.

Similar activities are also done at Jero Kuta Palace, Denpasar. However, it is begun with a melukat (purificatory rite) at Padang Galak followed by a cartoon presentation, learning to make offering at Jero Kuta Palace and saying prayers together at Maospahit Temple. “These Australian tourists would like to know more closely about the object of the Denpasar City Tour. They observe and study the architecture of the existing buildings and witness the people’s activities,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Denpasar Tourism Office, Dezire Mulyani, said the Denpasar City Tour area continues to be developed by Mayor Rai Mantra and Deputy Mayor Jaya Negara where one of them in the establishment of Denpasar Art Space as an art exhibition venue that can be enjoyed by foreign tourists. Visitors can look around the city tour objects highlighting the architecture of temple, palace and market.

“Implementation of the tourism program in Denpasar City is inseparable from the participation of the whole community in terms of conservation activities, and strengthening the culture, infrastructure, sanitation, social, security and order to education,” she explained. (kmb)

Sesarin Canang, from Folded Betel Leaf to Banknotes

Sesarin canang as an expression of people’s gratitude to God is often found in canang (oblation) offered by people when saying prayers.

Nowadays, most people use banknotes placed on the canang sari.

Sesari in the form of banknotes are rampantly used recently. When viewed from the development of times, the money used keeps changing in line with the times. At the same time, sesari also follows the development of times. Sesari or canang sari is not only offered while going to temple, many other religious activities also use sesari. Like the activity of nunas baos (consulting to medium), sesari is also used.

Ni Madé Gerot, 70, a traditional healer (Balian) at Besakih, Rendang, Karangasem, when met

some time ago, told that pursuant to her experience during ngayah (paying devotional work), the use of banknotes as a sesari has begun since several years ago.

She added that according to explanation of her senior figure, before using banknotes as sesari, there were several types of money used as sesari. Before the use of banknotes, sesari of canang used folded betel leaf completed with lime, tobacco, gambier, and betel nut.

“Formerly, the folded betel leaf was used as sesarin canang, symbolizing a prostration of the community. Although currently using banknotes, the use of folded betel leaf can still be found in several places,” she said.

He told that according to the

story of her senior figure, before using banknotes as we find today people used perforated coin. In 1963, the sesari in use included ringgit, rupiah (silver), as well as other coins of several denominations applied at that time.

After that, the use of perforated coin began and lasts until now and the use of banknotes also develops.

“Using rupiah money as sesari is indeed legitimate. However, the most important is the sincerity of people,” she explained.

She hoped and reminded that as devotees both as people doing devotional services and general public, sesari is an offering. Actually, the money used sesari is perforated coin. It is the symbol of Shiva Sunya meaning sincerity. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

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Thursday, January 25, 2018

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International

RLD

Kentucky school shooting kills 2, wounds 13, teen arrested

BENTON - A 15-year-old boy opened fire with a handgun just before classes started at his high school in rural western Kentucky on Tuesday, killing two fellow students and wounding 13 other youths before he was arrested, the state’s governor and police said.

The shooter, who has not been officially identified, entered a common area at Marshall County High School in Benton shortly before 8 a.m. (1400 GMT), pulled out a pistol and began firing at students, witnesses told Kentucky media.

The suspect will be charged with two counts of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder, the Kentucky State Police said. Police have not released a motive for the shooting but said they believed the gunman acted alone.

The bloodshed at the school of nearly 1,150 students in a small farming town was the latest outbreak of gun violence that has become a regular occurrence at schools and college campuses across the United States over the past several years.

The students killed were Bailey Hope, a 15-year-old girl, and Preston Cope, a 15-year-old boy, state police said. Five of the victims were in critical condition, police said, but hospital officials said they expected all those wounded in the incident to survive.

“I see this guy draw from his side and he pulls out a pistol. I didn’t even know what was going on. And then it registered. About the time it registered, this guy was sitting here pulling the trigger into all of us,” student Bryson Conkwright told TV station WKRN. “I can hear the gunshots. He was shooting in our group,” said Conkwright, showing where a bullet grazed his hand.

Kentucky State Police previously reported that 14 people were shot, including the two who died, but changed that number to 15 late on Tuesday. Apart

from those who were shot, five other people were also injured in the chaos, police said. All 20 of the victims were between 14 and 18 years old.

At least one hospitalized student suffered a broken jaw from falling and being trampled while trying to escape, Marshall County prosecutor Jeff Edwards said in a phone interview.

Edwards toured the school, from which he, his wife and their children all graduated, describing signs of the scramble to flee from the gunfire.

Backpacks, cellphones and clothes were strewn in the main area where the shooting occurred, he said.

“When it happened, apparently everyone left everything laying,” Edwards said. “It made it real, seeing the disarray.”

A WOUNDED COMMUNITY The school serves Marshall County, which has a population of about 31,000, and the shooting hit the community hard. Churches held vigils on Tuesday night, including the First Christian Church in Benton, where about 150 people gathered for prayers for the victims.

“I don’t know how to start healing myself and I don’t know how the students will be able to heal because they will have to be in that school every day,” said Alexandra Smith, a former student at the school who attended the church vigil.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin’s voice choked with emotion and he paused to collect himself at a news conference earlier on Tuesday where he spoke of the shooting.

“There’s no good answer for it,” Bevin said.

Bevin said the suspect was apprehended at the school “in a non-violent” manner but did not elaborate.

Students followed training they had recently received from state police in how to respond to such incidents, authorities said, crediting police for arriving on the scene quickly and apprehending the suspect. (rtr)

REUTERS/Harrison McClary TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Police investigators are seen at the scene of a shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, U.S., January 23, 2018.

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

11

LRT projects expected to spread to other cities

REUTERS/Marco Bello

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a rally to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of Venezuelan dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez’s regime in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2018.

Venezuelan President Maduro set to run for re-election in 2018 vote

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro looked sure to stand for re-election in a presidential vote due by the end of April where the ruling Socialists hope to trump a squabbling opposition despite an economic crisis and foreign sanctions.

The unpopular leader, whom foes decry as a dictator who has wrecked the OPEC member’s economy, said he would run if the ruling Socialist Party asked him, even as Venezuelans reel from empty shelves and the world’s fastest inflation.

“I’m ready to be a candidate,” he told reporters during a rally on Tuesday of cheering red-shirted supporters.

The 55-year-old former bus driver and union leader, who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013, benefits from a formidable political machinery, a compliant national election board, and a core of support from poor Venezuelans reliant on food handouts.

Critics from opposition politicians to Western powers doubt authorities will allow a free and fair vote, given the barring of some opposition figures from running plus abuse of state resources in campaigning.

Some fear outright fraud.

“These are not elections, it’s a military occupation with a fraudulent election board,” said hardline opposition activist Maria Corina Machado, referring to the armed forces’ major role in government and the board’s past pro-Maduro stance.

Announcing the presidential poll would be held by the end of April, the pro-government Constituent Assembly superbody legislature said another election in Venezuela was further evidence of its democratic credentials despite a recent

raft of international sanctions.

The United States, Canada, and the European Union have all taken measures against Venezuela’s government over rights and corruption allegations, hurting the government’s image and spooking banks from working with Caracas.

Maduro blasted the European Union for imposing “grotesque” sanctions this week on seven senior Venezuelan officials, including a travel ban and an asset freeze, and took aim at Spain’s conservative prime minister.

“Mariano Rajoy, get on all fours, my friend, because the people are going to slap you,” Maduro said, flanked by cabinet members and wife Cilia Flores, whom he refers to as the “First Combatant.”

Should the presidential vote be perceived as fraudulent, further foreign sanctions could come, including from U.S. President Donald Trump who has made opposition to Maduro a prominent feature of his foreign policy.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday she did not think it would be a good idea for Maduro to run for re-election. And a 14-member regional group that includes Canada, Mexico and Peru said an election held under the present conditions would lack legitimacy.

“We demand that presidential elections be held with adequate lead time,” the so-called Lima Group said in a joint statement, adding that all political actors and independent international observers must be allowed to take part.

Mexico pulled out of mediating government-opposition talks in the Dominican Republic, saying the sudden announcement of a presidential poll without guarantees was incompatible with the negotiations. (rtr)

JAKARTA - The government is expediting the development of Light Rail Transit (LRT) projects in Jakarta and Palembang hoping they would be finished and operational before the 18th Asian Games in the two cities next August. However, the development of LRTs in the Capital City of Jakarta and the South Sumatra Provincial Capital of Palembang is being carried out not only to welcome the Asian Games but also expected to serve as a trigger for the development of the same transportation system in other cities in Indonesia.

“Actually, building (LRT) is not just because of the Asian Games. It is only a trigger. The construction of LRT in Palembang (and in Jakarta) is an example of mass transportation in urban areas,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated in a written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Traffic gridlocks are a big problem in big cities like those in Jakarta and other big cities in the country. The present of LRT system is therefore expected to offer alternative transportation system which is effective and efficient for urban people.

Moreover, to advance this transportation system the lifestyle of urban commuters like motorcyclists should be changed and switched to using trains. “LRT is a new technology.

How do we attract motorcycle users to use LRT?” It should have a new concept that gives an appeal to people wanting to use LRT, thereby changing lifestyles,” Minister Sumadi pointed out.

The existence of LRT is also expected to become a solution to the problem of traffic congestion in urban areas, as well as to increase the mobility and the income of the people. According to Sumadi, LRT is feasible to be built in a city with a population of at least two million people. The minister cited Palembang as an example of the pilot cities for development. It is a city which is able to anticipate a planned mass transition system. The LRT is an example of the latest mass transportation not yet found in other cities. “This is a leap for Palembang as a bigger metropolis,” said Sumadi.

According to him, the government`s Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is evidence of its commitment to carrying out development in Indonesia. “The LRT is expected to serve as an inspiration, or an example of planned mass transportation modes for other areas,” Sumadi said. The LRT development now in Palembang has reached 78 percent with a total length of 23.4 kilometers across 13 stations.

The stations are Opi Station,

Jakabaring Station, Bestari-Polresta Governor Station, Ampera Bridge Integrated Station, Cinde Market Station, Dishub Kominfo South Sumatera Station, Palembang Icon Station and Daewangan Demang Lebar Station. The Palembang LRT project is expected to be finished before the 18th Asian Games kicks off.

“The LRT is expected to be operational in June 2018. I have come here to assure the preparations for the operation. We have assigned an integrator consultant to integrate all functions and interests here. This project is a new one in Indonesia,” Minister Sumadi. The minister called on stakeholders to coordinate with regard to the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) so that the urban management would function well and generate income to the city.

“I ask the Directorate General of Railways and the team to prepare well on how the passengers, feeders, and TOD generation work, because we want LRT Palembang to be an example for a city development,” he stated. “By the end of February, the train will arrive, and we will start commissioning from March to May. After that, we hope that in June, it would be 100 percent operational, with all stations and with three points of trip generations, namely Jakabaring, Airport, and Lippo.

In the meantime, there are two LRT lines being developed in Jakarta, namely the Jabodetabek LRT (Jakarta and its satellite towns of Bogor, Depok, Tengareang and Bekasi LRT) and the Jakarta LRT. The Jabodetabek LRT will depart from Bogor, Bekasi, Cawang, Kuningan and terminate at Sudirman Station, while the Jakarta LRT will depart from Kelapa Gading, Rawamangun, Manggarai and also terminate at Sudirman Station.

According to Maritme Affairs Coordinating Minister Binsar Pandjaitan, the Jabodetabek LRT will be on trials in April 2019. “We want that in April 2019 trials are carried out. It would be operational in October 2019,” Pandjaitan said during the signing of the contract for the procurement of the LRT trains worth Rp3.9 trillion on Thursday last week (Jan 18).

The development of LRT in Jakarta and Palembang is a trigger for the development of the same transportation system in Indonesia.

In the future, the government plans to build LRT in the next four cities of Bandung, Makassar, Surabaya, and Medan. “The four cities are the priority for LRT to be built. Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan already have feasibility studies,” he explained. (ant)

REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis (L) shakes hands with Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo during his visit to the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia January 23, 2018.

Mattis sees Indonesian forces drink snake blood, roll in glass

JAKARTA - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis saw Indonesian troops drink snake blood, roll in glass, break bricks with their heads, walk on fire, and more, in a rare military demonstration on Wednesday meant to show the unique skills of Indonesia’s military. Pentagon chiefs are accustomed to seeing foreign forces carry out more routine military demonstrations during foreign travel and, ahead of Wednesday’s event, the press traveling with Mattis was expecting a hostage rescue drill.

The ceremony at Indonesia’s armed forces headquarters was far more theatrical, however, even featuring a blindfolded soldier shoot out a balloon held between the legs of one of his colleagues. At least one shot missed, although no one appeared injured. To the sounds of beating drums, the Indonesian soldiers performed a series of gripping martial arts techniques, breaking what appeared to be concrete bricks with their heads. They also smashed stacks of burning blocks with their hands.

Wearing a hood to blind him, one knife-wielding Indonesian soldier slashed away at a cucumber sticking out of his colleague’s mouth, coming just inches from striking his nose with the long blade.

Perhaps the highlight was a

demonstration involving live snakes, which Indonesian forces brought out in bags and scattered on the ground, just feet from where Mattis was standing. That included a King Cobra, which widened its neck as it if were going to attack. The soldiers then cut off the snake heads and fed the snake blood to each other, as the crowd looked on. At least one Indonesian soldier bit a snake in half.

At the end of the demonstration, to the tune of the movie “Mission Impossible,” the Indonesian forces carried out a hostage rescue operation, deploying stealthily from helicopters - with police dogs. The dogs intercepted the gunman. “As you can see, the dogs bit the terrorist,” the narrator concluded.

Mattis appeared to enjoy the demonstration, which came at

the end of a three-day visit to Indonesia, and spoke about how the Indonesian forces were smart to wear the snakes down before trying to handle them. “The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them?

The way they were whipping them around – a snake gets tired very quickly,” he told reporters as he flew to Vietnam.

Indonesian forces are active in jungle conditions and do have to deal with snakes at times. The demonstration also showed the intensity of the training of Indonesian forces, Mattis said. “ Yo u c o u l d i m a g i n e h o w much training went into each individual there, that they were able to do that,” he said. “When you watch a force do that, many small things, perfectly, you can imagine that they can also put the bigger things together.” (rtr)

10

Destination

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Chung becomes South Korea’s first grand slam semi-finalist Pod Chocolate Factory, Coming with Chocolate with Various Flavors

MANGUPURA - Bali has become a magnet of Indonesia in international tourism. Every day domestic and foreign tourists visit the island to witness a variety of natural beauty, indigenous customs, culture and distinctive way of life owned by Balinese community.

In addition to offering natural

beauty, indigenous customs, culture and people’s way of life, Bali also presents a variety of other tourist attractions such as religious tourism, cuisines, shopping delight, culture and ecotourism or environmental tourism.

Lately, environmental tourism has become a trend. It does not

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just sell the products yielded, but also invites consumers to know and get involved directly in the manufacture of the quite unique products because it is able to attract tourists to come and enjoy the environment-based attractions.

“The potential of eco-tourism in Bali is very high because Bali

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has many repeated guests, so the chances are quite large considering that tourists coming to Bali is more than once, especially those with family. They want to enjoy something new and get the value of education. Surely, this can become a new potential of destination.

One of them is chocolate processing on behalf of Pod Chocolate Factory. It is targeting local and foreign tourists through environmental tourism concept. We offer an ecotourism concept through factory integrated with outlet and tourism located at Bali Elephant Camp, Petang subdistrict, Badung,” said the owner and young entrepreneur, IGAA Inda Trimafo Yudha.

“Pod Chocolate Factory was founded in 2010. Here, visitors will be served with chocolate tour, where visitors will be invited to visit and see the process of making chocolate and short learning on the

making of chocolate. Besides, they can make their own chocolate and be taken home,” said IGAA Inda Trimafo Yudha, the owner of Pod Chocolate.

“All the raw materials used are local products of Bali obtained through cooperation with cacao farmer cooperatives in Bali. Otherwise, if the materials happen to be unavailable, we look to other regions in Indonesia,” she explained.

She added that to make the product clearly identified and always be looked for, it is necessary to have distinction and characteristics.

These are the capital to compete and armed with this we must certainly do innovation. Here, we produce chocolate with a variety of flavors such as the flavor of salad, pineapple, ginger, cloves to chili in addition to sweet chocolate in general. (kmb)

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying

Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500

REUTERS/Issei Kato

Chung Hyeon of South Korea hits a shot against Tennys Sandgren of the U.S.

MELBOURNE - Chung Hyeon’s trailblazing run through the Australian Open continued on Wednesday as the South Korean tossed American Tennys Sandgren aside 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 to become his nation’s first grand slam semi-finalist.

Bespectacled like Clark Kent but playing like Superman at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, world number 58 Chung became the lowest ranked player into the last four at Melbourne Park since Marat Safin in 2004.

The 21-year-old wobbled when serving out the match, squandering a 40-0 lead and seeing a total of five match points disappear into a cloudless sky as world number 97 Sandgren battled gamely.

But his raw power ultimately

prevailed, a blazing forehand into the corner causing a scrambling Sandgren to push his desperate retrieve well past the baseline.

“I don’t know, in the last game at 40-0, I thought it was time to do a ceremony or something like that,” Chung told Jim Courier in the on-court interview.

“After the deuce break point, no ceremony, just keep focused.”

Chung will meet the winner of

Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych for a place in the final, and will be full of confidence after another hugely impressive display in his break-out grand slam.

He showed great composure to come back from a break down in the second set, after Sandgren belatedly found some energy after a heavy-legged opening set.

Chung, who became the east Asian nation’s first grand slam

quarter-finalist by toppling sixtimes champion Novak Djokovic in the previous round, acknowledged thrilled South Korean fans draped in flags in the terraces and the TV audience back home.

“To all my fans, friends back in Korea. I’m not done yet. See you on Friday,” the muscular tyro said on court as his delighted parents beamed in the players’ box. (rtr)

Hirscher wins again, snowballs aimed at Kristoffersen

SCHLADMING - Local favourite Marcel Hirscher edged out Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen at the World Cup slalom in Schladming on Tuesday after his great rival had snowballs thrown at him.

Hirscher, who will chase an elusive first Olympic gold medal at Pyeongchang next month, equalled Hermann Maier’s total of 54 World Cup wins as he claimed his sixth slalom victory this season and moved closer to a seventh successive overall title.

Maier, known as the Herminator, is regarded as one of the greatest skiers of all time. Only Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark, with 86 victories, has won more World Cup races.

Replays showed that at least two snowballs were thrown at Kristoffersen during his second run, one appearing to hit him.

The Norwegian, who did not appear to lose time, gesticulated angrily at the finish line before watching Hirscher, who already had a lead of 0.20 seconds from the first run, charge down to win by 0.39 seconds.

Kristoffersen told Hirscher what had happened as the pair shook hands and the Austrian, looking surprised, replied, “Oh really?, I’m sorry.”

“It’s really a lack of respect... a race in Schladming is like a home race for me so it’s not cool,” Kristoffersen told Austrian broadcaster ORF. The floodlight race, in front of a large flag-waving crowd, had something of the atmosphere of a football match, especially when Hirscher crossed the finish line.

American Mikaela Shiffrin, the top women’s skier, said the incident

was dangerous.

“I don’t care who you are, who you cheer for, what your nationality, or what your reason. Throwing snowballs or any other kind of obstruction AT racers WHILE they are skiing to throw them off is not only disgusting, but dangerous,” she said on Twitter.

“Marcel... can handle himself without anyone throwing snowballs at his competition.”

It was Kristoffersen’s eighth second place of the season, with six of those behind Hirscher.

The roles were briefly reversed in Sunday’s slalom at Kitzbuehel when Kristoffersen claimed his first World Cup win of the season, with Hirscher second.

“This rivalry with Hirscher is really fun,” said Kristoffersen, who lives in Austria. “He is the second best skier of all time.”

Hirscher leads the overall standings with 1154 points, a lead of 174 over Kristoffersen. Norwegian Ak-

sel Lund Svindal, a speed specialist who did not race on Tuesday, is third with 666. (rtr)

REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Marcel Hirscher of Austria celebrates at the finish line.

8

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Sp rt

Saha backs Lukaku to be more consistent next season MUMBAI - Romelu Lukaku has the ability to rip apart defences but the Belgian marksman may need a year under his belt at Manchester United to be more consistent, the Premier League club’s former striker Louis Saha has told Reuters. The 24-yearold joined United for 75 million pounds ($105.24 million) on a fiveyear contract last July after scoring 25 league goals in 37 matches in the last campaign for Everton.

His prolific form garnered interest from several leading sides in Europe, including former club Chelsea, where he previously worked under United manager Jose Mourinho. Lukaku made a stellar start to life at the Manchester club, scoring 11 times in his first 10 games but the goals have since dried up for the Belgian international.

“He started well, we can see that he has got more in him,” Saha, who scored 42 goals during his four-andhalf year spell at United, said in an interview. “We want to see him rip apart some defenders because he can do it.

“Physically he’s so strong. I will say that he can do more but that’s easy to say. Sometimes Lukaku might not be

helped with Mourinho’s style of play.

“I wish next season maybe, with one year under his belt, he’ll be even more consistent.” Mourinho let Lukaku go at Chelsea but the Portuguese has continued to back his striker since their reunion, saying the Belgian offers more on the pitch than just goals.

But with the arrival of Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal this week, United have more attacking options and a further lack of goals could relegate Lukaku to the bench.

Saha, who has also played in the Premier League for Everton, Fulham, Sunderland and Tottenham, hoped Sanchez could emulate Dutchman Robin van Persie, who left Arsenal for a successful spell at the Manchester club in 2012.

UNPLAYABLE SANCHEZ Van Persie ended up as United’s highest scorer in his debut campaign at Old Trafford and helped guide the club to their 20th league title. “His speed, he has no fear. It’s impossible to mark those kind of players. He can play right, left, in the middle, play behind defenders... it’s unplayable,”

Saha said of Sanchez.

“When these players get players around them as well with desire to win titles... he can do amazing things at United. “If you remember Van Persie, who also came from Arsenal and destroyed the Premier League by himself in the first season. He killed it, we hope Sanchez will do the same.”

The 39-year-old Saha was speaking in Mumbai as part of Gulf Oil’s fan-building campaign for United’s supporters, who were invited to a live screening of the Premier League away fixture at Burnley on Saturday.

United have struggled to compete for the title since the departure of long-term manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, but Saha feels they are a muchimproved side under Mourinho.

“They are consistent and look like a team who want to attack more than it used to,” Saha said, with United now 12 points behind leader Manchester City after 24 league matches. “Fans are happy, confidence is growing and the fear factor is back. “We need to get closer to City, they have been very consistent. I think it’s a good season, we will talk about it more in May.”(rtr)

Ireland manager O’Neill extends deal until 2020 Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne scores their third goal

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Man City survive late fightback to reach League Cup final

BRISTOL - Manchester City reached the League Cup final, shattering second-tier Bristol City’s hopes of a remarkable upset, as the Premier League leaders survived a late fightback to win 3-2 on Tuesday and clinch the tie 5-3 on aggregate. City appeared to be cruising when goals from Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero either side of halftime put them three goals up overall, after a 2-1 win in the first leg, before their plucky opponents dragged themselves back into the game.

Marlon Pack reduced the arrears for the hosts past the hour and Aden Flint scored deep into stoppage time to make it 2-2 on the night, leaving them one goal short of forcing extra time.

There was time for one more goal, but sadly for the second-tier side, it was scored by the visitors’ Kevin De Bruyne in the sixth minute of added time, leaving Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side to face Arsenal or Chelsea in the final on Feb. 25. “We are so happy

9

to be in the final. We played amazing in the first half,” Spaniard Guardiola said after reaching his first final with the club.

“After we lost control, maybe it will be good for us... to learn that anything can happen and you have to play for 90 minutes.” If there was a hint of complacency about Manchester City in the first leg, it seemed to have been drummed out of them by kickoff on Tuesday as they tightened the screw from the first minute.

They barely gave the hosts a kick in the first half, hitting the woodwork from an Aguero cross and seeing a John Stones header drift just wide before Sane gave them the lead.

RIFLED SHOT Bristol City failed to clear their lines and the ponderous defending was punished by Bernardo Silva, who nipped in to steal the ball and feed Sane, whose rifled shot across goal was deflected into

the net. Aguero doubled the lead on the night four minutes after the break with a pin-point finish from De Bruyne’s perfect pass to end a lethal counter attack from the visitors.

There appeared no way back for the hosts until Pack guided a superb header back across goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into the corner of the net in the 64th minute.

That lifted the crowd but did little to change the momentum of the contest until three minutes into stoppage time when centre back Flint finished from close range off Bobby Reid’s header across goal, sending Ashton Gate wild with hope. Yet the faint trace of belief

among the home fans was wiped out when Sane cut the ball back for De Bruyne to slam home.

“We came close to a draw today. They are a top, top side, probably the best side I’ve seen live,” said Bristol City boss Lee Johnson, whose team are fifth in the Championship and pushing for promotion to the Premier League.

“They have so many players that are intricate and have class on the ball and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say, ‘They are a better side than us’.”

The second semi-final, second leg is on Wednesday when Arsenal host Chelsea following a 0-0 draw in the first game.(rtr)

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has signed a contract extension through to 2020, the country’s Football Association (FAI) said on Tuesday, ending speculation he could return to the club game.

O’Neill was linked with the Stoke City job when Mark Hughes was sacked this month, but rejected the chance to return to Premier League management, according to British media reports.

“Martin O’Neill has signed a contract extension to remain on as Ireland manager until 2020!,” the FAI announced on its official Twitter feed.

The 65-year-old O’Neill, who replaced Italian Giovanni Trapattoni as Ireland manager in 2013, will continue to be assisted by ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, after the FAI said his backroom team had also extended their deals.

O’Neill, whose side reached the 2016 European Championship finals in France but failed to book a spot at this year’s World Cup, will be in charge for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.(rtr)

REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their third goal

8

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Sp rt

Saha backs Lukaku to be more consistent next season MUMBAI - Romelu Lukaku has the ability to rip apart defences but the Belgian marksman may need a year under his belt at Manchester United to be more consistent, the Premier League club’s former striker Louis Saha has told Reuters. The 24-yearold joined United for 75 million pounds ($105.24 million) on a fiveyear contract last July after scoring 25 league goals in 37 matches in the last campaign for Everton.

His prolific form garnered interest from several leading sides in Europe, including former club Chelsea, where he previously worked under United manager Jose Mourinho. Lukaku made a stellar start to life at the Manchester club, scoring 11 times in his first 10 games but the goals have since dried up for the Belgian international.

“He started well, we can see that he has got more in him,” Saha, who scored 42 goals during his four-andhalf year spell at United, said in an interview. “We want to see him rip apart some defenders because he can do it.

“Physically he’s so strong. I will say that he can do more but that’s easy to say. Sometimes Lukaku might not be

helped with Mourinho’s style of play.

“I wish next season maybe, with one year under his belt, he’ll be even more consistent.” Mourinho let Lukaku go at Chelsea but the Portuguese has continued to back his striker since their reunion, saying the Belgian offers more on the pitch than just goals.

But with the arrival of Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal this week, United have more attacking options and a further lack of goals could relegate Lukaku to the bench.

Saha, who has also played in the Premier League for Everton, Fulham, Sunderland and Tottenham, hoped Sanchez could emulate Dutchman Robin van Persie, who left Arsenal for a successful spell at the Manchester club in 2012.

UNPLAYABLE SANCHEZ Van Persie ended up as United’s highest scorer in his debut campaign at Old Trafford and helped guide the club to their 20th league title. “His speed, he has no fear. It’s impossible to mark those kind of players. He can play right, left, in the middle, play behind defenders... it’s unplayable,”

Saha said of Sanchez.

“When these players get players around them as well with desire to win titles... he can do amazing things at United. “If you remember Van Persie, who also came from Arsenal and destroyed the Premier League by himself in the first season. He killed it, we hope Sanchez will do the same.”

The 39-year-old Saha was speaking in Mumbai as part of Gulf Oil’s fan-building campaign for United’s supporters, who were invited to a live screening of the Premier League away fixture at Burnley on Saturday.

United have struggled to compete for the title since the departure of long-term manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, but Saha feels they are a muchimproved side under Mourinho.

“They are consistent and look like a team who want to attack more than it used to,” Saha said, with United now 12 points behind leader Manchester City after 24 league matches. “Fans are happy, confidence is growing and the fear factor is back. “We need to get closer to City, they have been very consistent. I think it’s a good season, we will talk about it more in May.”(rtr)

Ireland manager O’Neill extends deal until 2020 Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne scores their third goal

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Man City survive late fightback to reach League Cup final

BRISTOL - Manchester City reached the League Cup final, shattering second-tier Bristol City’s hopes of a remarkable upset, as the Premier League leaders survived a late fightback to win 3-2 on Tuesday and clinch the tie 5-3 on aggregate. City appeared to be cruising when goals from Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero either side of halftime put them three goals up overall, after a 2-1 win in the first leg, before their plucky opponents dragged themselves back into the game.

Marlon Pack reduced the arrears for the hosts past the hour and Aden Flint scored deep into stoppage time to make it 2-2 on the night, leaving them one goal short of forcing extra time.

There was time for one more goal, but sadly for the second-tier side, it was scored by the visitors’ Kevin De Bruyne in the sixth minute of added time, leaving Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side to face Arsenal or Chelsea in the final on Feb. 25. “We are so happy

9

to be in the final. We played amazing in the first half,” Spaniard Guardiola said after reaching his first final with the club.

“After we lost control, maybe it will be good for us... to learn that anything can happen and you have to play for 90 minutes.” If there was a hint of complacency about Manchester City in the first leg, it seemed to have been drummed out of them by kickoff on Tuesday as they tightened the screw from the first minute.

They barely gave the hosts a kick in the first half, hitting the woodwork from an Aguero cross and seeing a John Stones header drift just wide before Sane gave them the lead.

RIFLED SHOT Bristol City failed to clear their lines and the ponderous defending was punished by Bernardo Silva, who nipped in to steal the ball and feed Sane, whose rifled shot across goal was deflected into

the net. Aguero doubled the lead on the night four minutes after the break with a pin-point finish from De Bruyne’s perfect pass to end a lethal counter attack from the visitors.

There appeared no way back for the hosts until Pack guided a superb header back across goalkeeper Claudio Bravo into the corner of the net in the 64th minute.

That lifted the crowd but did little to change the momentum of the contest until three minutes into stoppage time when centre back Flint finished from close range off Bobby Reid’s header across goal, sending Ashton Gate wild with hope. Yet the faint trace of belief

among the home fans was wiped out when Sane cut the ball back for De Bruyne to slam home.

“We came close to a draw today. They are a top, top side, probably the best side I’ve seen live,” said Bristol City boss Lee Johnson, whose team are fifth in the Championship and pushing for promotion to the Premier League.

“They have so many players that are intricate and have class on the ball and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say, ‘They are a better side than us’.”

The second semi-final, second leg is on Wednesday when Arsenal host Chelsea following a 0-0 draw in the first game.(rtr)

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has signed a contract extension through to 2020, the country’s Football Association (FAI) said on Tuesday, ending speculation he could return to the club game.

O’Neill was linked with the Stoke City job when Mark Hughes was sacked this month, but rejected the chance to return to Premier League management, according to British media reports.

“Martin O’Neill has signed a contract extension to remain on as Ireland manager until 2020!,” the FAI announced on its official Twitter feed.

The 65-year-old O’Neill, who replaced Italian Giovanni Trapattoni as Ireland manager in 2013, will continue to be assisted by ex-Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, after the FAI said his backroom team had also extended their deals.

O’Neill, whose side reached the 2016 European Championship finals in France but failed to book a spot at this year’s World Cup, will be in charge for the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.(rtr)

REUTERS/Andrew Yates

Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their third goal

10

Destination

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Chung becomes South Korea’s first grand slam semi-finalist Pod Chocolate Factory, Coming with Chocolate with Various Flavors

MANGUPURA - Bali has become a magnet of Indonesia in international tourism. Every day domestic and foreign tourists visit the island to witness a variety of natural beauty, indigenous customs, culture and distinctive way of life owned by Balinese community.

In addition to offering natural

beauty, indigenous customs, culture and people’s way of life, Bali also presents a variety of other tourist attractions such as religious tourism, cuisines, shopping delight, culture and ecotourism or environmental tourism.

Lately, environmental tourism has become a trend. It does not

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

Sales/Marketing,for HealthCare /Beauty Care, Experience, National Area,Apply to: versaindustries4@gmail.com

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

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B.BP.004.01.18.0000182

just sell the products yielded, but also invites consumers to know and get involved directly in the manufacture of the quite unique products because it is able to attract tourists to come and enjoy the environment-based attractions.

“The potential of eco-tourism in Bali is very high because Bali

Urgent! LePirate Beach Club Nusa Ceningan,Looking for Waiter Staff(2 Needed),Housekeeping Staff(Must Have Skill in Driving Car(SIM A)),Good Salary,Accomodations&Transport, BPJS,Ready to Work.Age Max 30 years,Min Exp2years.Send CV to hrd@lepirate.com,0361-8452780

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has many repeated guests, so the chances are quite large considering that tourists coming to Bali is more than once, especially those with family. They want to enjoy something new and get the value of education. Surely, this can become a new potential of destination.

One of them is chocolate processing on behalf of Pod Chocolate Factory. It is targeting local and foreign tourists through environmental tourism concept. We offer an ecotourism concept through factory integrated with outlet and tourism located at Bali Elephant Camp, Petang subdistrict, Badung,” said the owner and young entrepreneur, IGAA Inda Trimafo Yudha.

“Pod Chocolate Factory was founded in 2010. Here, visitors will be served with chocolate tour, where visitors will be invited to visit and see the process of making chocolate and short learning on the

making of chocolate. Besides, they can make their own chocolate and be taken home,” said IGAA Inda Trimafo Yudha, the owner of Pod Chocolate.

“All the raw materials used are local products of Bali obtained through cooperation with cacao farmer cooperatives in Bali. Otherwise, if the materials happen to be unavailable, we look to other regions in Indonesia,” she explained.

She added that to make the product clearly identified and always be looked for, it is necessary to have distinction and characteristics.

These are the capital to compete and armed with this we must certainly do innovation. Here, we produce chocolate with a variety of flavors such as the flavor of salad, pineapple, ginger, cloves to chili in addition to sweet chocolate in general. (kmb)

Place Your Add Here

It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying

Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500

REUTERS/Issei Kato

Chung Hyeon of South Korea hits a shot against Tennys Sandgren of the U.S.

MELBOURNE - Chung Hyeon’s trailblazing run through the Australian Open continued on Wednesday as the South Korean tossed American Tennys Sandgren aside 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 to become his nation’s first grand slam semi-finalist.

Bespectacled like Clark Kent but playing like Superman at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, world number 58 Chung became the lowest ranked player into the last four at Melbourne Park since Marat Safin in 2004.

The 21-year-old wobbled when serving out the match, squandering a 40-0 lead and seeing a total of five match points disappear into a cloudless sky as world number 97 Sandgren battled gamely.

But his raw power ultimately

prevailed, a blazing forehand into the corner causing a scrambling Sandgren to push his desperate retrieve well past the baseline.

“I don’t know, in the last game at 40-0, I thought it was time to do a ceremony or something like that,” Chung told Jim Courier in the on-court interview.

“After the deuce break point, no ceremony, just keep focused.”

Chung will meet the winner of

Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych for a place in the final, and will be full of confidence after another hugely impressive display in his break-out grand slam.

He showed great composure to come back from a break down in the second set, after Sandgren belatedly found some energy after a heavy-legged opening set.

Chung, who became the east Asian nation’s first grand slam

quarter-finalist by toppling sixtimes champion Novak Djokovic in the previous round, acknowledged thrilled South Korean fans draped in flags in the terraces and the TV audience back home.

“To all my fans, friends back in Korea. I’m not done yet. See you on Friday,” the muscular tyro said on court as his delighted parents beamed in the players’ box. (rtr)

Hirscher wins again, snowballs aimed at Kristoffersen

SCHLADMING - Local favourite Marcel Hirscher edged out Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen at the World Cup slalom in Schladming on Tuesday after his great rival had snowballs thrown at him.

Hirscher, who will chase an elusive first Olympic gold medal at Pyeongchang next month, equalled Hermann Maier’s total of 54 World Cup wins as he claimed his sixth slalom victory this season and moved closer to a seventh successive overall title.

Maier, known as the Herminator, is regarded as one of the greatest skiers of all time. Only Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark, with 86 victories, has won more World Cup races.

Replays showed that at least two snowballs were thrown at Kristoffersen during his second run, one appearing to hit him.

The Norwegian, who did not appear to lose time, gesticulated angrily at the finish line before watching Hirscher, who already had a lead of 0.20 seconds from the first run, charge down to win by 0.39 seconds.

Kristoffersen told Hirscher what had happened as the pair shook hands and the Austrian, looking surprised, replied, “Oh really?, I’m sorry.”

“It’s really a lack of respect... a race in Schladming is like a home race for me so it’s not cool,” Kristoffersen told Austrian broadcaster ORF. The floodlight race, in front of a large flag-waving crowd, had something of the atmosphere of a football match, especially when Hirscher crossed the finish line.

American Mikaela Shiffrin, the top women’s skier, said the incident

was dangerous.

“I don’t care who you are, who you cheer for, what your nationality, or what your reason. Throwing snowballs or any other kind of obstruction AT racers WHILE they are skiing to throw them off is not only disgusting, but dangerous,” she said on Twitter.

“Marcel... can handle himself without anyone throwing snowballs at his competition.”

It was Kristoffersen’s eighth second place of the season, with six of those behind Hirscher.

The roles were briefly reversed in Sunday’s slalom at Kitzbuehel when Kristoffersen claimed his first World Cup win of the season, with Hirscher second.

“This rivalry with Hirscher is really fun,” said Kristoffersen, who lives in Austria. “He is the second best skier of all time.”

Hirscher leads the overall standings with 1154 points, a lead of 174 over Kristoffersen. Norwegian Ak-

sel Lund Svindal, a speed specialist who did not race on Tuesday, is third with 666. (rtr)

REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Marcel Hirscher of Austria celebrates at the finish line.

6

Thursday, January 25, 2018

W

International

RLD

Kentucky school shooting kills 2, wounds 13, teen arrested

BENTON - A 15-year-old boy opened fire with a handgun just before classes started at his high school in rural western Kentucky on Tuesday, killing two fellow students and wounding 13 other youths before he was arrested, the state’s governor and police said.

The shooter, who has not been officially identified, entered a common area at Marshall County High School in Benton shortly before 8 a.m. (1400 GMT), pulled out a pistol and began firing at students, witnesses told Kentucky media.

The suspect will be charged with two counts of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder, the Kentucky State Police said. Police have not released a motive for the shooting but said they believed the gunman acted alone.

The bloodshed at the school of nearly 1,150 students in a small farming town was the latest outbreak of gun violence that has become a regular occurrence at schools and college campuses across the United States over the past several years.

The students killed were Bailey Hope, a 15-year-old girl, and Preston Cope, a 15-year-old boy, state police said. Five of the victims were in critical condition, police said, but hospital officials said they expected all those wounded in the incident to survive.

“I see this guy draw from his side and he pulls out a pistol. I didn’t even know what was going on. And then it registered. About the time it registered, this guy was sitting here pulling the trigger into all of us,” student Bryson Conkwright told TV station WKRN. “I can hear the gunshots. He was shooting in our group,” said Conkwright, showing where a bullet grazed his hand.

Kentucky State Police previously reported that 14 people were shot, including the two who died, but changed that number to 15 late on Tuesday. Apart

from those who were shot, five other people were also injured in the chaos, police said. All 20 of the victims were between 14 and 18 years old.

At least one hospitalized student suffered a broken jaw from falling and being trampled while trying to escape, Marshall County prosecutor Jeff Edwards said in a phone interview.

Edwards toured the school, from which he, his wife and their children all graduated, describing signs of the scramble to flee from the gunfire.

Backpacks, cellphones and clothes were strewn in the main area where the shooting occurred, he said.

“When it happened, apparently everyone left everything laying,” Edwards said. “It made it real, seeing the disarray.”

A WOUNDED COMMUNITY The school serves Marshall County, which has a population of about 31,000, and the shooting hit the community hard. Churches held vigils on Tuesday night, including the First Christian Church in Benton, where about 150 people gathered for prayers for the victims.

“I don’t know how to start healing myself and I don’t know how the students will be able to heal because they will have to be in that school every day,” said Alexandra Smith, a former student at the school who attended the church vigil.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin’s voice choked with emotion and he paused to collect himself at a news conference earlier on Tuesday where he spoke of the shooting.

“There’s no good answer for it,” Bevin said.

Bevin said the suspect was apprehended at the school “in a non-violent” manner but did not elaborate.

Students followed training they had recently received from state police in how to respond to such incidents, authorities said, crediting police for arriving on the scene quickly and apprehending the suspect. (rtr)

REUTERS/Harrison McClary TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Police investigators are seen at the scene of a shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, U.S., January 23, 2018.

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

11

LRT projects expected to spread to other cities

REUTERS/Marco Bello

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a rally to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of Venezuelan dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez’s regime in Caracas, Venezuela January 23, 2018.

Venezuelan President Maduro set to run for re-election in 2018 vote

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro looked sure to stand for re-election in a presidential vote due by the end of April where the ruling Socialists hope to trump a squabbling opposition despite an economic crisis and foreign sanctions.

The unpopular leader, whom foes decry as a dictator who has wrecked the OPEC member’s economy, said he would run if the ruling Socialist Party asked him, even as Venezuelans reel from empty shelves and the world’s fastest inflation.

“I’m ready to be a candidate,” he told reporters during a rally on Tuesday of cheering red-shirted supporters.

The 55-year-old former bus driver and union leader, who succeeded Hugo Chavez in 2013, benefits from a formidable political machinery, a compliant national election board, and a core of support from poor Venezuelans reliant on food handouts.

Critics from opposition politicians to Western powers doubt authorities will allow a free and fair vote, given the barring of some opposition figures from running plus abuse of state resources in campaigning.

Some fear outright fraud.

“These are not elections, it’s a military occupation with a fraudulent election board,” said hardline opposition activist Maria Corina Machado, referring to the armed forces’ major role in government and the board’s past pro-Maduro stance.

Announcing the presidential poll would be held by the end of April, the pro-government Constituent Assembly superbody legislature said another election in Venezuela was further evidence of its democratic credentials despite a recent

raft of international sanctions.

The United States, Canada, and the European Union have all taken measures against Venezuela’s government over rights and corruption allegations, hurting the government’s image and spooking banks from working with Caracas.

Maduro blasted the European Union for imposing “grotesque” sanctions this week on seven senior Venezuelan officials, including a travel ban and an asset freeze, and took aim at Spain’s conservative prime minister.

“Mariano Rajoy, get on all fours, my friend, because the people are going to slap you,” Maduro said, flanked by cabinet members and wife Cilia Flores, whom he refers to as the “First Combatant.”

Should the presidential vote be perceived as fraudulent, further foreign sanctions could come, including from U.S. President Donald Trump who has made opposition to Maduro a prominent feature of his foreign policy.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday she did not think it would be a good idea for Maduro to run for re-election. And a 14-member regional group that includes Canada, Mexico and Peru said an election held under the present conditions would lack legitimacy.

“We demand that presidential elections be held with adequate lead time,” the so-called Lima Group said in a joint statement, adding that all political actors and independent international observers must be allowed to take part.

Mexico pulled out of mediating government-opposition talks in the Dominican Republic, saying the sudden announcement of a presidential poll without guarantees was incompatible with the negotiations. (rtr)

JAKARTA - The government is expediting the development of Light Rail Transit (LRT) projects in Jakarta and Palembang hoping they would be finished and operational before the 18th Asian Games in the two cities next August. However, the development of LRTs in the Capital City of Jakarta and the South Sumatra Provincial Capital of Palembang is being carried out not only to welcome the Asian Games but also expected to serve as a trigger for the development of the same transportation system in other cities in Indonesia.

“Actually, building (LRT) is not just because of the Asian Games. It is only a trigger. The construction of LRT in Palembang (and in Jakarta) is an example of mass transportation in urban areas,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated in a written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Traffic gridlocks are a big problem in big cities like those in Jakarta and other big cities in the country. The present of LRT system is therefore expected to offer alternative transportation system which is effective and efficient for urban people.

Moreover, to advance this transportation system the lifestyle of urban commuters like motorcyclists should be changed and switched to using trains. “LRT is a new technology.

How do we attract motorcycle users to use LRT?” It should have a new concept that gives an appeal to people wanting to use LRT, thereby changing lifestyles,” Minister Sumadi pointed out.

The existence of LRT is also expected to become a solution to the problem of traffic congestion in urban areas, as well as to increase the mobility and the income of the people. According to Sumadi, LRT is feasible to be built in a city with a population of at least two million people. The minister cited Palembang as an example of the pilot cities for development. It is a city which is able to anticipate a planned mass transition system. The LRT is an example of the latest mass transportation not yet found in other cities. “This is a leap for Palembang as a bigger metropolis,” said Sumadi.

According to him, the government`s Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is evidence of its commitment to carrying out development in Indonesia. “The LRT is expected to serve as an inspiration, or an example of planned mass transportation modes for other areas,” Sumadi said. The LRT development now in Palembang has reached 78 percent with a total length of 23.4 kilometers across 13 stations.

The stations are Opi Station,

Jakabaring Station, Bestari-Polresta Governor Station, Ampera Bridge Integrated Station, Cinde Market Station, Dishub Kominfo South Sumatera Station, Palembang Icon Station and Daewangan Demang Lebar Station. The Palembang LRT project is expected to be finished before the 18th Asian Games kicks off.

“The LRT is expected to be operational in June 2018. I have come here to assure the preparations for the operation. We have assigned an integrator consultant to integrate all functions and interests here. This project is a new one in Indonesia,” Minister Sumadi. The minister called on stakeholders to coordinate with regard to the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) so that the urban management would function well and generate income to the city.

“I ask the Directorate General of Railways and the team to prepare well on how the passengers, feeders, and TOD generation work, because we want LRT Palembang to be an example for a city development,” he stated. “By the end of February, the train will arrive, and we will start commissioning from March to May. After that, we hope that in June, it would be 100 percent operational, with all stations and with three points of trip generations, namely Jakabaring, Airport, and Lippo.

In the meantime, there are two LRT lines being developed in Jakarta, namely the Jabodetabek LRT (Jakarta and its satellite towns of Bogor, Depok, Tengareang and Bekasi LRT) and the Jakarta LRT. The Jabodetabek LRT will depart from Bogor, Bekasi, Cawang, Kuningan and terminate at Sudirman Station, while the Jakarta LRT will depart from Kelapa Gading, Rawamangun, Manggarai and also terminate at Sudirman Station.

According to Maritme Affairs Coordinating Minister Binsar Pandjaitan, the Jabodetabek LRT will be on trials in April 2019. “We want that in April 2019 trials are carried out. It would be operational in October 2019,” Pandjaitan said during the signing of the contract for the procurement of the LRT trains worth Rp3.9 trillion on Thursday last week (Jan 18).

The development of LRT in Jakarta and Palembang is a trigger for the development of the same transportation system in Indonesia.

In the future, the government plans to build LRT in the next four cities of Bandung, Makassar, Surabaya, and Medan. “The four cities are the priority for LRT to be built. Surabaya, Bandung, and Medan already have feasibility studies,” he explained. (ant)

REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis (L) shakes hands with Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo during his visit to the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia January 23, 2018.

Mattis sees Indonesian forces drink snake blood, roll in glass

JAKARTA - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis saw Indonesian troops drink snake blood, roll in glass, break bricks with their heads, walk on fire, and more, in a rare military demonstration on Wednesday meant to show the unique skills of Indonesia’s military. Pentagon chiefs are accustomed to seeing foreign forces carry out more routine military demonstrations during foreign travel and, ahead of Wednesday’s event, the press traveling with Mattis was expecting a hostage rescue drill.

The ceremony at Indonesia’s armed forces headquarters was far more theatrical, however, even featuring a blindfolded soldier shoot out a balloon held between the legs of one of his colleagues. At least one shot missed, although no one appeared injured. To the sounds of beating drums, the Indonesian soldiers performed a series of gripping martial arts techniques, breaking what appeared to be concrete bricks with their heads. They also smashed stacks of burning blocks with their hands.

Wearing a hood to blind him, one knife-wielding Indonesian soldier slashed away at a cucumber sticking out of his colleague’s mouth, coming just inches from striking his nose with the long blade.

Perhaps the highlight was a

demonstration involving live snakes, which Indonesian forces brought out in bags and scattered on the ground, just feet from where Mattis was standing. That included a King Cobra, which widened its neck as it if were going to attack. The soldiers then cut off the snake heads and fed the snake blood to each other, as the crowd looked on. At least one Indonesian soldier bit a snake in half.

At the end of the demonstration, to the tune of the movie “Mission Impossible,” the Indonesian forces carried out a hostage rescue operation, deploying stealthily from helicopters - with police dogs. The dogs intercepted the gunman. “As you can see, the dogs bit the terrorist,” the narrator concluded.

Mattis appeared to enjoy the demonstration, which came at

the end of a three-day visit to Indonesia, and spoke about how the Indonesian forces were smart to wear the snakes down before trying to handle them. “The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them?

The way they were whipping them around – a snake gets tired very quickly,” he told reporters as he flew to Vietnam.

Indonesian forces are active in jungle conditions and do have to deal with snakes at times. The demonstration also showed the intensity of the training of Indonesian forces, Mattis said. “ Yo u c o u l d i m a g i n e h o w much training went into each individual there, that they were able to do that,” he said. “When you watch a force do that, many small things, perfectly, you can imagine that they can also put the bigger things together.” (rtr)

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International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

BUSINESS

Bali News

International

Foreign Tourists Learn to Plait Ketupat

Well, it is really fun and indeed absorbing! Traveling in Denpasar city through Heritage City Tour program can bring in unique experience. Every destination you visit reveals a long, classic and full of messages. Moreover, there are programs taking visitors to have a closer look at and learn Balinese culture that will certainly enrich travel experience on the Island of the Gods. This unique experience must be inherent throughout the ages because it is instilled with sincere sense bringing about ethics as well as a sense of brotherhood.

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Board nominee Marvin Goodfriend on Tuesday defended his past focus on inflation, saying that while earlier warnings about runaway prices were “absolutely” proved wrong, it was the Fed’s credibility in controlling inflation that has allowed unemployment to fall so low. In contrast to warnings that low interest rates might lead to a dangerous breakout of inflation, Goodfriend said he felt current Fed policy “is more or less on the right path going forward....We should get to 2 percent (inflation) in a year or so” with unemployment at a 17-year low.

REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

Marvin Goodfriend, nominee to join the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, arrives for a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. January 23, 2018. long-run inflation...to drive unemployment down,” Goodfriend said. “Our goal is to get unemployment down to the natural rate.

Therefore I am supportive of a long-run inflation target…That has worked…and I will stand by that.”

TEMPERED VIEWS Goodfriend, if approved, would join the Fed at a time of transition to a new chair as Jerome Powell prepares to take over, and with several open seats to fill. In the past he has been highly critical of the central bank, calling for clearer, congressionally set limits

on what the Fed can do in a crisis, and a more transparent set of rules to govern policy.

He reiterated some of those stands at his hearing, saying that use of a “reference rule” might improve how the Fed operates, and arguing that the Fed’s third round of quantitative easing was “not called for.”

But he also tempered some of his views.

He agreed the economy was better off now than it would have been if policymakers had followed his call to raise rates early in the recovery. Despite his theoretical explorations of the possible advantages of negative interest rates, he said he had no intention as

a policymaker of pursuing some of those ideas, like taxing cash holdings to get people to spend money. Still, his track record left some Democrats wary.

“These wrong predictions are not outliers...They have been part of your overall approach,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. The difference between the current 4.1 percent unemployment rate, and the levels at which Goodfriend was warning about inflation, is “millions and millions of jobs...American families are very lucky you were not on the Fed board and I think it would be a mistake to put you on the Fed board now.” (rtr)

Beijing, like Shanghai, keeps 2018 economic growth target at about 6.5 pct BEIJING - Beijing’s municipal government said on Wednesday that it will keep its 2018 economic growth target at around 6.5 percent, on par with the objective that Shanghai has set for itself this year.

The targets for the two wealthy mega-cities are in line with the national goal, which policy sources previously told Reuters will be kept steady at around 6.5 percent as the

central government shifts its focus to quality from high growth.

Premier Li Keqiang said this week that the “three tough battles” for China’s economy are reducing poverty, controlling pollution and curtailing risks. Shanghai and Beijing, which are not part of any province, together accounted for 7 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

5

Heritage City Tour

Fed nominee Goodfriend: Current Fed policy “more or less” on right course

Goodfriend, a Carnegie Mellon economics professor chosen by President Donald Trump to join the Fed, faced sharp questions from Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee about remarks made in the wake of the 2007 to 2009 financial crisis in which he warned Fed efforts to drive unemployment even below levels as high as 7 percent might cause prices to spike.

Goodfriend was not alone in raising such concerns at the time, and by 2015 was worried that the Fed had done too little to boost inflation, and cautioned against raising rates too fast.

But as recently as last year he called the Fed’s dual unemployment and inflation goals “incoherent,” a remark that caused Democrats to ask him if he had made a “confirmation conversion” in accepting the Fed’s employment goals to win their support.

“I regret the word ‘incoherent,’” Goodfriend said. “I totally support” the Fed’s twin aim of keeping unemployment as low as is consistent with a steady inflation rate targeted at 2 percent.

He said it was the Fed’s ability to anchor inflation at a low level that allowed it, when crisis hit, to keep interest rates near zero for an extended time and engage in a massive bondbuying program without generating the inflation he had earlier warned about.

“It is critically important to anchor

Thursday, January 25, 2018

The two cities are often magnets for both government and private investors, and in recent years, property speculators. While Shanghai remains synonymous with profitdriven entrepreneurship, Beijing is developing a reputation as a hub for technology start-ups.

Shanghai’s economy grew 6.9 percent last year to 3 trillion yuan ($469 billion), with services ac-

counting for 69 percent of its economy. Beijing expanded 6.7 percent to 2.8 trillion yuan, with its high tech and strategic new industries surging more than 10 percent. China’s GDP grew 6.9 percent to 82.71 trillion yuan in value terms.

Shanghai and Beijing - among the world’s most populous cities - saw rare declines in population last year, data released late last week showed,

as authorities clamped down on what they call an “urban disease”.

Migrant workers were evicted and industries relocated, amid anxiety over dwindling resources to support huge populations and spreading urban sprawl. Beijing’s population fell 0.1 percent, or 22,000, to 21.7 million, while Shanghai’s declined by 13,700 to 24.18 million. (rtr)

Look at the number of foreign tourists participating in the activities that take advantage of the activities of Heritage City Tour at Jero Kuta Palace and Belaluan hamlet area as the part of the Denpasar City Tour on Tuesday (Jan. 10).

Dozens of tourists enjoyed a variety of cultural attractions usually done by Balinese people. By boarding a gig, the traditional means of transportation in Denpasar they look around the existing objects, such as temples, palaces and traditional markets. heritage city tour After arriving at Jero Kuta Palace and Belaluan hamlet, the tourists are served with various art attractions such as dance, gamelan music to mejejahitan (offering preparation).

They do not only see, but also take the opportunity to learn to dance, have majejahitan (making canang oblation), plait ketupat (rice bag) and make penjor. “This has been running continuously in the Denpasar City Tour program,” said Kadek Jango Pramartha, a cartoonist of Denpasar from Belaluan Sadmertha hamlet posing the activity coordinator.

For this year, explained Jango, it is followed by 18 students from the University of Western Australia (UWA) with the program entitled ‘Bali Studio Visa 2270’ as an activity to know more about Bali taking place on January 8-18, 2018.

“Previously, the foreign tourists get the opportunity to attend training and introduction to the activities at Sadmerta hamlet, such as painting, dancing, playing gamelan to activities with the involvement of local youth club,” he said.

Similar activities are also done at Jero Kuta Palace, Denpasar. However, it is begun with a melukat (purificatory rite) at Padang Galak followed by a cartoon presentation, learning to make offering at Jero Kuta Palace and saying prayers together at Maospahit Temple. “These Australian tourists would like to know more closely about the object of the Denpasar City Tour. They observe and study the architecture of the existing buildings and witness the people’s activities,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Denpasar Tourism Office, Dezire Mulyani, said the Denpasar City Tour area continues to be developed by Mayor Rai Mantra and Deputy Mayor Jaya Negara where one of them in the establishment of Denpasar Art Space as an art exhibition venue that can be enjoyed by foreign tourists. Visitors can look around the city tour objects highlighting the architecture of temple, palace and market.

“Implementation of the tourism program in Denpasar City is inseparable from the participation of the whole community in terms of conservation activities, and strengthening the culture, infrastructure, sanitation, social, security and order to education,” she explained. (kmb)

Sesarin Canang, from Folded Betel Leaf to Banknotes

Sesarin canang as an expression of people’s gratitude to God is often found in canang (oblation) offered by people when saying prayers.

Nowadays, most people use banknotes placed on the canang sari.

Sesari in the form of banknotes are rampantly used recently. When viewed from the development of times, the money used keeps changing in line with the times. At the same time, sesari also follows the development of times. Sesari or canang sari is not only offered while going to temple, many other religious activities also use sesari. Like the activity of nunas baos (consulting to medium), sesari is also used.

Ni Madé Gerot, 70, a traditional healer (Balian) at Besakih, Rendang, Karangasem, when met

some time ago, told that pursuant to her experience during ngayah (paying devotional work), the use of banknotes as a sesari has begun since several years ago.

She added that according to explanation of her senior figure, before using banknotes as sesari, there were several types of money used as sesari. Before the use of banknotes, sesari of canang used folded betel leaf completed with lime, tobacco, gambier, and betel nut.

“Formerly, the folded betel leaf was used as sesarin canang, symbolizing a prostration of the community. Although currently using banknotes, the use of folded betel leaf can still be found in several places,” she said.

He told that according to the

story of her senior figure, before using banknotes as we find today people used perforated coin. In 1963, the sesari in use included ringgit, rupiah (silver), as well as other coins of several denominations applied at that time.

After that, the use of perforated coin began and lasts until now and the use of banknotes also develops.

“Using rupiah money as sesari is indeed legitimate. However, the most important is the sincerity of people,” she explained.

She hoped and reminded that as devotees both as people doing devotional services and general public, sesari is an offering. Actually, the money used sesari is perforated coin. It is the symbol of Shiva Sunya meaning sincerity. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

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Bali News

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

13

South Korea rejects ‘Pyongyang Olympics’ criticism

SEOUL - The South Korean government rejected criticism on Tuesday that next month’s Winter Olympics had been hijacked by North Korea, saying the Games will help defuse tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes.

Flooded roads in severe condition happened on Jalan Teuku Umar Barat, Denpasar and Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta.

IBP/eka

Heavy rain

Traffic police prevent motorists from being dragged by floods

DENPASAR — Heavy rain taking place for long on Monday (Jan. 22) was prone to traffic accidents and motorists could get dragged by floods. It happened because the drains could not accommodate the rainwater overflowing onto the street. Consequently, the inundated roads were closed to prevent from claiming casualties. Flooded roads in severe condition happened on Jalan Teuku Umar Barat, Denpasar and Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta.

Director of Traffic Affairs of Bali Police, Anak Agung Made Sudana and Deputy Director of Traffic Affairs, Sangkan Bonaparte Silalahi, deployed personnel of highway patrol to minimize the casualties caused

by floods. It considered the high enough puddles occurred at the intersection of Sunset Road-Jalan Nakula.

The river water even overflowed onto the road because the drainage was not able to accommodate the swift

capacity of water.

“To prevent the loss of life and materials, we close several lanes and direct the vehicles not to pass through the road,” said Anak Agung Sudana on Tuesday (Jan. 23).

He deployed 30 personnel to prevent the occurrence of victims from being dragged by floods. “I also order Chief of Sub-Directorate of Traffic Engineering to contact relevant officers to immediately handle the flood quickly. While waiting, we clean up the manhole from the garbage and used the makeshift tools,” he said.

Meanwhile, handling the puddles on Jalan Teuku Umar Barat is easier because the flood is not too high and

DENPASAR — The unemployment rate in Bali is the lowest in Indonesia, namely at 1.48 percent.

However, this does not guarantee that the population is free from poverty. Currently, Bali still has 4.14 percent of the poor or about 176,480 people. Ironically, 70.25 percent of the poor have actually

been working.

“For the conditions of March 2017, in fact 70 percent of the poor people of Bali region have been working. Nevertheless, they remain poor,” said the Head of BPS Bali, Adi Nugroho, in the Evaluation Working Meeting of Bali Development Program for Semester II/2017

at Wiswa Sabha, Bali governor office, on Tuesday (Jan. 23).

According to Adi Nugroho, the percentage of poor people having worked is actually declining when compared to March 2016 reaching 95.13 percent. Consequently, the number of poor people that do not work in 2017 rose to 29.75 percent compared to 2016 amounts to 4.87 percent. In addition, the composition of the poor is also filled by diploma graduates and scholars.

“In fact, among the population categorized to be poor in Bali, 4.03 percent of them are certified college graduates and 4.58 percent others hold scholar degree,” he explained.

Adi Nugroho added that residents with low diploma such as primary school can be accommodated in the work field. That is why the open unemployment rate for elementary school education is less than 1 percent. It is lower when

compared to the percentage of unemployed college graduates.

“22.96 percent of those having been working are found to be semi-underemployed as having very little working hours. There is a potential that has not be utilized among them. In addition, those remaining to be really unemployed have not got a job,” he added.

On the other hand, continued Adi Nugroho, poverty rate in Bali actually tends to decline in the past four years. The figure of 4.14 percent is actually very small for poverty in one region. Therefore, the decrease of poverty rate will be more sloping. However, he found that not all poor people receive assistance or programs raised by central and regional government.

The distribution of rice for the poor, for instance, is only enjoyed by 12 percent of the poor according to data in August 2017. In urban areas, the percentage is even lower at 7.08

can be pursued by making water disposal to other locations.

In the meantime, Bonaparte broke down traffic jams by implementing engineering efforts and traffic management. “We appeal to motorists to never desperate to pass through the flood because it is dangerous. If not dragged by water, the motorcycle can stop. It’s better to find out another alternative or wait until the water recedes,” he said. (kmb32)

70.25 percent of the poor in Bali has been working

IBP/kmb

The unemployment rate in Bali is the lowest in Indonesia, namely at 1.48 percent.

percent. Actually, one-third of the income of the poor is depleted to purchase rice.

“Then, the poor people receiving the assistance in the form of Prosperous Family Card amount to 17.98 percent. Similarly, the Family Hope Program (PKH) is received by less than 1 percent and People’s Business Credit is only received by 4.45 percent,” he added.

Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, underscored that 70 percent of the poor have been working.

According to him, quality of the work pursued by the poor in is not correct so that it does not generate enough money.

“Actually, they have been working, but remain poor. I see people working to break stones in Karangasem from the morning till evening. They work really hard, but the results are a little. It means they do not work smartly,” he said. (kmb32)

Some opposition politicians and conservatives in South Korea have criticised North Korea’s participation in the Games to be held in the South Korean alpine resort of Pyeongchang, dubbing them the “Pyongyang Olympics”.

“Just one month ago, acute tensions gripped the Korean peninsula, South Korean presidential spokesman Park Soo-hyun told a news conference, referring to a crisis over North Korea’s efforts to develop nucleartipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.

“We’re confident that the Olympics will be a stepping stone to bring peace to the REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Korean peninsula, to Northeast Asia and the The Olympic rings are pictured at the Alpensia resort for the upcoming 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in world,” he said.

The two Koreas held the their first formal Pyeongchang, South Korea, January 23, 2018. talks in nearly two years this month and the South agreed to help arrange for the North liberal president, Moon Jae-in, is also under nearby that may be used to fly in the South what he called Kim’s effort to “hijack” the pressure over its offer to send athletes to a Korean skiers, who are not expected to attend Games with a propaganda campaign, a White to join the Games.

Some specific plans, including for a joint North Korean ski resort for joint training. the Games. Moon’s approval rating has fallen to House official said.

President Donald Trump and top advisers women’s ice hockey team and marching Experts say the move risks giving Kim’s a four-month low at 66 percent, a poll showed under a united flag, have proven controver- heavily sanctioned government legitimacy on Monday, due to a backlash over the decision have publicly welcomed the intra-Korean regarding the combined ice hockey team. talks, but U.S. officials have warned that sial, with conservatives and younger South and some much-needed cash.

Seoul officials are on a three-day trip to the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, who will Pyongyang might be trying to drive a wedge Koreans upset that North Korean leader Kim North starting on Tuesday to inspect the resort’s represent the United States at the Olympics, between Washington and its South Korean Jong Un is stealing the spotlight.

The administration of South Korea’s facilities and the newly built Kalma Airport said on Tuesday he would seek to counter ally. (rtr)

Turkey kills at least 260 Kurdish, Islamic State fighters in Syria offensive -military

ANKARA - Turkey has killed at least 260 Syrian Kurdish fighters and Islamic State militants in its fourday-old offensive into the Kurdishdominated Afrin region of northwest

Syria, the Turkish military said on Tuesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump plans to raise concerns with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in a phone

REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Turkish forces are seen near Mount Barsaya, northeast of Afrin, Syria January 23, 2018.

call expected on Wednesday about Ankara’s offensive against U.S.backed Kurdish YPG forces in Afrin, a senior U.S. official said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also voiced disquiet, a few hours after Turkey’s foreign minister said it wanted to avoid any clash with U.S., Russian or Syrian government forces during its offensive but would do whatever necessary for its security.

The air and ground operation has opened a new front in Syria’s multisided civil war and could threaten U.S. plans to stabilise and rebuild a large area of northeast Syria - beyond President Bashar al-Assad’s control - where Washington helped a force dominated by the YPG to drive out Islamic State militants.

The United States and Russia both have military forces in Syria backing opposing sides and have called for restraint on the part of Ankara’s “Operation Olive Branch” to crush the YPG in the Afrin region near Turkey’s southern border.

A senior Trump administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said Ankara had sent “conflicting signals” about the scope of the offensive.

“We would urge them to limit the incursion as much as possible,” the official said, who said the phone call would happen soon. Another official - as well as Turkey’s foreign minister - said Erdogan and Trump planned to speak on Wednesday.

A statement by Macron’s office said: “Taking into account Turkey’s security imperatives, the president expressed to his Turkish counterpart his concerns following the military intervention launched on Saturday in Afrin.”

Erdogan told Macron on Tuesday Turkey was taking all measures to prevent civilian casualties in the Afrin operation, sources at the presidential palace said. The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact on the issue.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin had also discussed Turkey’s

military operation Erdogan by phone and that Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty had to be respected.

A Kremlin statement said both men stressed the importance of continuing their two countries’ joint work to try to find a peaceful resolution to Syria’s crisis. Russia has been Assad’s most powerful ally against rebels and militants in Syria.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated Ankara’s demand that Washington stop supporting the YPG. Ankara has said the operation will be swift, but Erdogan’s spokesman signalled an open-ended cross-border campaign, saying it would end only when some 3.5 million Syrian refugees now living in Turkey could safely return home.

The United States hopes to use the YPG’s control in northern Syria to give it the diplomatic muscle it needs to revive U.N.-led talks in Geneva on a deal that would end Syria’s civil war. (rtr)

14

Health

Thursday, January 25, 2018

International

Air pollution tied to preterm births in China

BEIJING - Chinese mothers who are exposed to higher levels of air pollution during pregnancy may be more likely to deliver preterm infants than women who live where the air is cleaner, a recent study suggests.

Researchers examined data on more than 1.3 million healthy singleton pregnancies from 30 provinces in mainland China in 2013 and 2014. Almost 105,000 of the babies, or 8 percent, were born before 37 weeks’ gestation, making them premature arrivals.

To see how air quality may have influenced the risk of a preterm delivery, researchers used mothers’ home addresses to estimate their exposure to an extremely small type of fine particulate matter known as PM 1, a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets smaller than 1 micrometer in diameter that’s found in traffic exhaust and can include dust, dirt, soot, and smoke.

Over their entire pregnancies, half of the women in the study were exposed to average PM 1 levels of 46 micrograms per cubic meter of air (ug/m3). For each 10 ug/m3 increase in PM 1 exposure, women had a 9 percent higher risk of a preterm delivery.

“We’ve long known that air pollution contributes to preterm birth,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an environmental medicine researcher at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“What’s novel in this study is the careful examination of smaller particles which are more readily inhaled,” Trasande said by email.

Much of the previous research linking air pollution to preterm births has focused on what’s known as PM 2.5, or fine particulate matter that’s smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, Xu Ma of the National Research Institute for Family Planning in Beijing and

colleagues note in JAMA Pediatrics.

The current study offers fresh evidence of the harmful effects of PM 1, which makes up about 80 percent of PM 2.5. Compared to larger particles, PM 1 has a higher surface area to mass ratio and can reach alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, Ma and colleagues write.

Ma didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Women living in the Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei regions, the Yangtze River delta, the Sichuan Basin, and the Pearl River delta were exposed to PM 1 levels greater than 52.7 ug/m3 over their entire pregnancy, the study found.

For every 10 ug/m3 increase in PM 1 exposure levels throughout their pregnancy, women were 20 percent more likely to have very preterm births, with babies arriving between 28 and 31 weeks gestation, and 29 percent more likely to have extremely premature babies, with infants delivered between 20 and 27 weeks.

Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks, and babies born after 37 weeks are considered full term.

In the weeks immediately after birth, preemies often have difficulty breathing and digesting food. They can also encounter longer-term challenges such as impaired vision, hearing and cognitive skills, as well as social and behavioral problems.

One limitation of the study is its reliance on satellite data to estimate mothers’ exposure to air pollution, a method that might not always reflect women’s actual exposure because it can’t account for the quality of air indoors, at work, or during commutes.

Still, pregnant women should take precautions to limit their exposure to air pollution, whether by reducing their time outdoors during high-traffic hours or wearing an air filtration mask, advised Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah, an environmental health researcher at Boston University Medical Campus who wasn’t involved in the study. (rtr)

Beijing is one of the cities with the worst air quality.

IBP/net

Bali News

International

Thursday, January 25, 2018

3

Percentage of poverty in seven districts higher than province

Denpasar indicates sharp increase

DENPASAR — Percentage of poverty rate in nine regencies / city is somewhat varied. Only two regions still have poverty rate far below the Bali province, namely Denpasar city and Badung district. In the meantime, the other seven districts are recorded to have higher rate, although most have decreased when compared to last year.

IBP/net

People who suffer from sleep disturbances in midlife or as they age may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment than people who usually get plenty of uninterrupted rest.

Middle age sleep problems tied to cognitive decline down the line

STOCKHOLM - People who suffer from sleep disturbances in midlife or as they age may be more likely to develop cognitive impairment than people who usually get plenty of uninterrupted rest, new research suggests.

Researchers examined data from four studies of the link between sleep and cognitive function, including two studies that followed almost 3,400 people for more than two decades, starting when they were in their 50s. In these two cohorts, people who suffered from nightmares and insomnia in middle age were more likely to experience cognitive impairment in old age than people who slept just fine earlier on.

When researchers examined these two studies as well as two others that started following people in their 70s and 80s, they found that insomnia and general sleep problems later in life were also associated with cognitive problems.

“While sleep disturbances are an important risk factor for cognitive decline, the good news is that it is a modifiable risk factor,” said lead study author Shireen Sindi of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and Imperial College London.

“We can all have occasional sleeping difficulties, either due to high stress levels, caffeine or alcohol consumption or due to jet lag,” Sindi said by email. “However, if a person experiences sleep disturbances on a chronic basis such as

difficulties falling asleep, waking up during the middle of the night, waking up too early in the morning, or suffering from poor sleep quality, it is important to seek help from a health professional.”

Even though sleep deprivation and difficulties with getting a good night’s rest have long been linked to cognitive problems over time, less has been known about what precise type of sleep issues might impact brain function, researchers note in Sleep Medicine.

For the current study, researchers pooled data from four smaller studies of people in the general population in Sweden.

After just three to 11 years, sleep disturbances including insomnia were associated with lower scores on tests of cognitive function, the study found.

When people had nightmares in middle age, this was associated with poor cognition later in life after 21 to 31 years of follow-up, the study also found.

This association, however, was partially explained by other factors that can impact both sleep quality and brain function - such as smoking, drinking and exercise habits as well as mental health issues. One limitation of the study is that sleep problems were reported by participants, not measured objectively by researchers or doctors. Researchers also lacked data on certain risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and cognitive decline. (rtr)

Based on the data of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Bali, the Badung district has the lowest poverty rate namely 2.06 percent or 13,163 people. Then, it is followed by Denpasar city at 2.27 percent or 20,702 people.

According to the Head of BPS Bali, Adi Nugroho, the decrease of poverty rate in Badung will be more severe. It is required the creativity being out of the box to overcome it. Just like Denpasar, Badung is an attractive region to migrants.

“Such attraction can draw urbanization and encourage migration, so that if anybody goes down or up in terms of social status, it will be immediately replaced by new migrants whose social status beneath it. This is one of the difficulties to shift poverty rate whose level has been very low,” he said.

Especially for Denpasar, continued Adi Nugroho, there is a disturbing indication on the low poverty rate in the provincial capital. He also observed there is indication of pretty sharp increase. The increase in poverty rate also appears in Jembrana, Gianyar and Bangli. In Jembrana, for example, the current poverty rate is 5.38 percent from 5.33 percent. Actually, there has been a drastic decline from 2015 to 2016. Today, Jembrana needs a program to reduce poverty as well as reduce the depth and equalize the poverty itself. Then, Gianyar has 22,419 poor people or 4.46 percent and Bangli has 5.23 percent or 11,756 people.

Meanwhile, four other districts showed a decrease in poverty.

Percentage of poverty in these four districts with the three other districts is equally higher than the provincial average. Klungkung district recorded the most praise. Although the percentage of poverty is the second highest after Karangasem, the number of poor people is the least when compared to all districts / city.

“Klungkung has now 6.29 percent or 11,147 people, a relatively high percentage. However, Klungkung has strong indication to have strong decline from previously 6.35 percent. Hopefully, this is also an indication that Klungkung has found a formula to seek the reduction of poor people,” he explained.

Adi Nugroho added that Buleleng is also almost similar to Klungkung. However, the number of poor people in Buleleng is the largest in Bali namely 37,481 people. Actually, in terms of percentage of 5.74 percent, it has decreased from before. The poverty rate of Karangasem also implies a decline of 27,023 people or 6.55 percent. Similarly, Tabanan showed a decrease from 5.0 percent to 4.92 percent or 21,656 people. (kmb32)

IBP/olo

The increase in poverty rate also appears in Jembrana, Gianyar and Bangli. In Jembrana, for example, the current poverty rate is 5.38 percent from 5.33 percent.

Related to escaped detainee trial

Christian changes lawyer, judge gives a week

Christian Beasley

IBP/kmb

DENPASAR — After escaping from Kerobokan Prison and arrested in Lombok by police, Christian Beasley from the United States should face a trial again in the Denpasar District Court on Monday (Jan. 22).

However, the trial with the agenda of witness examination was not continued because the defendant Christian Beasley dismissed his lawyer Edward and Hari Purwanto.

Beasley submitted a letter of state-

ment to the panel of judges led by Ida Ayu Nyoman Adnya Dewi that principally wanted to change his lawyer.

Through his interpreter, Beasley conveyed the wish. However, when asked by the judge who will be the lawyer that will be with him, Beasley claimed not to have yet.

The judge then gave a week to the defendant getting involved in the drug case to look for an alternate lawyer.

“The trial has run for a long time. You run away. We give you a week to prepare a lawyer,” said the judge.

If within a week there is no alternate lawyer, the judge will continue the trial. If you do not get a lawyer in a week, we will appoint a lawyer.

Please be informed it is free,” said the judge asking for his interpreter to pass the message. The trial was closed and continued next week. (kmb37)

2

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Bali News

International

International

CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE EARTH DOG AT INTERCONTINENTAL BALI RESORT

On trial of drug cases

Australian tourist claims to have psychiatric disorder

DENPASAR —An Australian tourist arrested by customs and excise officers in the allegation of drug case, defendant Baker Joshua James, 32, started to be on trial in Denpasar District Court on Tuesday (Jan. 23). After the indictment was read by prosecutor Paulus Agung, the defendant accompanied by his legal counsel Pande Putu Maya Arsanti confessed that he was suffering from a psychiatric disorder. So, the panel of judges led by I Gede Ginarsa asked the defendant to attach the evidences and later on should be delivered in the plead.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor explained the defendant was arrested by the customs and excise officers of Ngurah Rai Airport on October 8, 2017 around 11:30, after the Thai Lion Air with flight number SL 258 of BangkokDenpasar route landed at the International Arrival Terminal of Ngurah Rai Airport. Customs and excise officers on duty checked with X-Ray. In the bag of the defendant was found Double Cherry tobacco containing 36.42 grams gross of marijuana or 28.02 grams net as well as three strips and 10 diazepam tablets hidden in cigarette package and 7 diazepam tablets hidden in the shoe.

In this case, the prosecutor from the Bali Prosecutor’s Office charged the defendant with layered articles namely Article 113 paragraph 1, Article 111 paragraph 1 and Article 127 of point (a) of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 35/2009 on Narcotics and Article 61 paragraph 1 sub-paragraph (a) and Article 62 of Law No.5/1997 on Psychotropic.

On the charge, Joshua’s legal advisor, Maya Arsanti, said the defendant suffered a psychiatric disorder, namely bipolar and excessive anxiety. Then, if a person has psychiatric disorders, the concerned person cannot be processed legally.(kmb37)

Causing tense, Heavy rain accompanied by lightning results in power off AMLAPURA —Heavy rain on Monday night (Jan. 22) until Tuesday morning (Jan. 23) caused a tense atmosphere. It happened because the heavy rains continuously taking place throughout the day was accompanied with flashes of lightning rumbling throughout the night. Moreover, the lightning strike snatched PLN’s infrastructure causing long-term power cuts.

One of the damages to PLN’s infrastructure occurred along the road section of Bugbug village, Timbrah to Asak, Karangasem subdistrict.

Lightning strikes caused the 4GW conductor to break off, resulting in power outages. Normalization process was done that night, but because it rained heavily all night until the morning, the normalization process was hampered. “The recovery process is still going on until the morning,” said Chief of PLN for Karangasem Region, Putu Surya Atmaja, on Tuesday (Jan. 23).

After the recovery process, the electricity had returned to normal at midnight. However, to ensure the safety, in the morning was repaired again so that the normalization process is really good. “Please do accept our apologies for the inconvenience. The impact of weather is the most difficult to anticipate,” he said.

The rain with lightning flashes was recognized to make local residents fall in tense atmosphere. They did not dare to leave their house because the lightning strike was felt very close. A resident living around the location of lightning strikes at Pertima village claimed that since the first lightning, people immediately closed the door and turned off television.

Moreover, the Android mobile phone signal was immediately disabled, so as not to trigger a lightning attack. “At that night, the thunderbolt seemed right above the roof of the house. In fact, the point of cable damage of PLN struck by lightning was not far from home,” said one of the Pertima residents, Ketut Indra Kusuma.

Surya Atmaja admitted the extreme weather happened all over Bali.

At night on January 22, there were 15 reports on damages to electricity network due to heavy rain accompanied with lightning. Similar lightning also occurred in other areas. The rain accompanied with lightning also caused similar damage to some areas in Karangasem, such as Candidasa, Ulakan, Manggis, Antiga, Tenganan, Bungaya and surrounding areasy. (kmb31)

A tourist is evacuated from Legian area due to the flood.

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

Tourists in Seminyak and Legian evacuated

MANGUPURA —Dozens of tourists and residents living and staying in Seminyak and Legian had to be evacuated because both areas were hit by floods on Tuesday (Jan. 23). The evacuation along the channel of Tukad Mati was done by the officers of the Badung Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and Bali SAR Agency conducted until 11:10 local time.

Head of the BPBD Badung, Nyoman Wijaya, said that his agency prepared four rubber boats to evacuate residents and foreign tourists in the area. “We cooperate with Bali SAR (Basarnas) to evacuate to the home of flood victims’ family so that people are more comfortable while waiting for the water to recede,” said Nyoman Wijaya accompanied by Division Head of Logistics and Emergency of the BPBD Badung, Ni Nyoman Ermy Setiari.

According to him, heavy rain flushing Badung district soaked the tourist kampong of Kuta. Related to the number of residents and tourists evacuated are currently still recorded. “Currently, we are still doing evacuation process. Based on the data we collect, there are no casualties. Obviously, there are dozens of residents in the area around the Tukad Mati

(Mati River),” he explained.

Apart from the South Kuta area, the disaster due to heavy rain also occurred in the area of North Kuta. Based on the data compiled, there are three points of landslide area and the evacuation has been done. To evacuate, his agency was assisted by the Badung Public Works and Housing Agency.

“In the Northern area, there was a landslide disaster. To clean up the avalanches that piled up the road at Buangga hamlet, Getasan, we are assisted by Public Works and Housing Agency,” he said.

Based on the National Weather Service (BBMKG) for Region III Denpasar, the weather of Bali area on January 23-25 is forecast to be generally cloudy and there is potential to rain moderately. Air temperature ranges from 23oCelcius to 31oCelcius.

The wind blows from the North-West at a speed of 8 - 36 km per hour. Sea wave height in the waters of North Bali ranges from 0.5 to 2.0 meters, in the southern waters of Bali (0.75-3.0 meters), in the waters of the Bali Strait (0.5-3.0 meters) and in the Lombok Strait waters (0.5-3.0 meters).

This condition happens because Bali Region has entered the rainy season, where the peak of rainy season normally occurred during the period of January to February. The wet air mass remains to be concentrated on the surface layer up to 200 mb layer. This condition supports the formation of rain clouds over the area of Bali. There is a low pressure in the Indonesian Ocean in the south of Java (1002 hPa) extending to Northern Australia (1000 hPa). (kmb27)

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

Chinese New Year as known as Spring Festival is the festival for families to come together and wish each other peace and prosperity. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck.

2018, the Chinese Year of the Earth dog is an opportunity for the Dog to consolidate his achievements and to renew his motivation. It is a time to put our common sense to work, as well as our experience. In the Dog year, the key to succeed is to stay still, there is no relying on instincts, it is a time to rely on the facts and reality. There are very important points to keep in mind for the incoming year. It is a time to focus on everything that has been created on years before, it is a year to build and improve.

Exquisite service at InterContinental Bali Resort’s restaurant is waiting for all the guest in this Chinese New Year. Our Chinese New Year celebrations will be held on 13th - 15th February 2018 at 7pm at the Main Pool Deck, when you will have the opportunity to launch a Flying Lantern as a symbol of good luck. As you release all of your worries and problems away, make a wish and marvel at the beauty of the many fire lanterns floating silently into the night sky over Jimbaran Bay. Our Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner will take place from 7pm onwards in Jimbaran Gardens. Featuring dishes that are believed to bring health, wealth and happiness for the coming 12 months. This sumptuous feast begins with ‘crab and corn scallion egg drop soup’ served with ‘mantaou’ – a steamed wheat bread from North China, which is always found on Chinese New Year dinner tables. This is followed by traditional salads and appetisers – including ‘chili-marinated Chinese cabbage salad’ and ‘century eggs and lapcion sausage’ plus a wide selection of delicious hot dishes, and a live station presenting fresh egg noodles and kway teow – representative of long life – together with Jimbaran seafood, sliced chicken, beef, pork and a selection of condiments. Hot dishes include ‘steamed red snapper with oyster mushroom sauce’ – the fish is representative of togetherness and abundance – as well as ‘honey and sesame ginger chicken’, symbolising prosperity and completeness. Assorted dim sum include wongko, gyozza and siomay complemented by condiments such as sweet chilli, chilli sauce, Hoi sin sauce and plum sauce.

Guests at the Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner will be entertained by a performance of the Chinese Lion Dance incorporating the acrobatic martial art movements of Wushu. Accompanied by the music of beating drums, clashing cymbals, and resounding gongs, this vibrant, exciting dance expresses joy and happiness. The lion is used to summon luck and good fortune; he is an auspicious animal and a symbol of protection. It is also believed that the noise from the drums, the face of the lion, and the way in which the lion dances scares away bad or evil spirits.

The Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner is priced at Rp 550,000 ++ per person. The event is complimentary for children under seven years of age when dining with their parents. All prices are subject to 10% service charge & 11% government tax. Terms and conditions apply.

Activities

Thursday, January 25, 2018

15

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

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

16 Pages Number 37 10th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Thursday, January 25, 2018

‘Wonder Woman’ stumbles, ‘Get Out’ surprises at Oscar nominations

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

Thursday, January 25, 2018

LOS ANGELES - “Wonder Woman” failed to conquer Oscar voters on Tuesday despite riding to one of the biggest box office hits of 2017 on a wave of female empowerment, making it one of the biggest snubs for Hollywood’s highest honors.

The Warner Bros. movie, featuring Gal Gadot as the sword-wielding Wonder Woman, was the first standalone female superhero film since 2005 and earned some $825 million globally, making its filmmaker Patty Jenkins, 46, the highest-grossing female director in Hollywood.

But at Tuesday’s Oscar nominations, Jenkins was left off the director’s race and the film was snubbed in the best picture category, despite nods for other movies about women and made by women.

Instead, it was Guillermo del Toro’s surreal fantasy romance “The Shape of Water” that led the Oscar nominations with 13 nods.

Speaking to Reuters, del Toro said that despite the omission of “Wonder Woman” at the Oscars, the impact of the film was “undeniable.”

“Not only did (‘Wonder Woman’)

break this archaic notion that this grand superhero-sized myth was done for ‘the boys,’ but it delivered it at a level of excellency that is a high watermark,” the filmmaker said.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has traditionally disdained big action and superhero movies in favor of smaller art-house fare, like last year’s Oscar champion “Moonlight” and this year’s dark comedy “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” which landed seven nods.

Since 1990, only the 2003 fantasy epic “Lord of the Rings; The Return of the King” snapped that trend to win the top Oscar honor.

Sci-fi movie “Avatar,” still the biggest box office movie of all time, received a best picture nomination in 2010 but lost out to “The Hurt Locker.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Actress Gal Gadot receives the 2018 #See Her award for her performance in “Wonder Woman.”

In Davos, Cate Blanchett jokes about playing Melania Trump

Cate Blanchett

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

DAVOS - Actress Cate Blanchett, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, drew laughs when she jokingly speculated about playing First Lady Melania Trump on screen, saying she would not approach such a role from a “Free Melania” point of view.

The comment came during a serious discussion about refugees, in which Blanchett, a goodwill ambassador for the UN’s refugee agency, condemned what she said was a lack of political leadership in addressing the refugee problem, without mentioning President Don-

ald Trump by name.

“When I’m playing a character I think you have to present people warts and all,” she said in an onstage interview with New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof, who has written extensively about refugees.

“If I was playing Melania Trump -- not that I would probably be cast in that role -- I wouldn’t be necessarily coming from the place of ‘Free Melania’,” she continued to chuckles in the audience.

“I’d be trying to understand the situation so that you could then throw that back at an audience

and say: ‘What’s her position as a woman? What does she think?

What’s it like being married to -you know’.”

Blanchett was honoured by the WEF on Monday, along with singer Elton John and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, for raising awareness about human rights.

At the panel on Tuesday, her voice broke as she described meeting a Syrian refugee family in Jordan that had been forced to flee their country under gunfire, with the father jettisoning suitcases so he could carry his children across the border. (rtr)

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Flood which happened in Legian area on Tuesday

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

Overflowing water of Tukad Mati floods Legian and Seminyak

MANGUPURA - Due to heavy rains on Monday (Jan. 22), floods began to hit a number of areas in Badung and Denpasar. As happened in Badung district, the areas inundated with water were Legian and Seminyak. Both areas become the victims of floods due to overflowing water of Tukad Mati channel. Moreover, this condition still got inundated until Tuesday (Jan. 23).

In addition to making people’s house inundated, the floods also caused traffic in a number of roads to be paralyzed as in Seminyak area like Jalan Kunti II, Jalan Yudistira, around the office of headman, BPBD office, and the most severe condition was in Seminyak.

When met on Tuesday (Jan. 23), headman of Seminyak, Kadek Oka Parmadi, said that last Monday, the rainfall was very high. Moreover, due to quite heavy rain, the Tukad Mati was not able to accommodate the volume of rainwater. “If seeing the water, it is coming from the north,” he said.

When the incident occurred, he immediately conducted a monitoring to the location with civilian guard and community protection. In addition to monitoring the affected residents, he also helped evacuate travelers trapped in floods. As is known, puddles on the road reached the height of half of a motorcycle’s body. “We know that tourists are also trapped in floods when riding motorcycle.

On that account, we evacuate them to a safe point and deliver to their destination,” he said.

Meanwhile, headman of Legian, Made Madia Suryanatha, explained that in the Legian area, floods also hit

Jalan Dewi Sri, around LC Legian, Jalan Pandawa, Jalan Sri Rejeki and Jalan Nakula. The flood was known to start emerge since 04:00 local time.

Then, at its peak the flood reached a height of one meter. To prevent road users from getting trapped in puddles, police were forced to divert traffic. Besides, PLN had to extinguish the electricity at some points. “Customary market is also temporarily closed due to the condition of the puddles. Meanwhile, some residents are evacuated to get out of their house,” said Madia.

According to one of the Legian community leaders, Nyoman Rutha

Ady, the flood hitting the Legian area is quite large. He said the flood is a five-year cycle that repeats again. Admittedly, it is caused by the reduced catchment area and increasingly rampant settlement areas.

Division Head of Natural Resources at the Badung Public Works and Housing Agency (PUPR), A.A. Gde Dalem, admitted the condition.

According to him, the floods on Jalan Dewi Sri and surrounding roads did happen in 2010. Then, due to the waste and sediment in the estuary, floods re-occrred in 2013. On that account, in 2015 began to build a long storage at the estuary of Tukad Mati.

It was then proved to be effective for several years to eliminate floods.

“This time the floods re-emerged due to the high water discharge from the

upstream and the pumps installed cannot accommodate the water due to overflowing Tukad Mati,” said Dalem when confirmed.

As a follow up, in the future of this arrangement should be continued to reduce floods. He said the previous arrangement was indeed the initial stage. “We have coordinated this with related agencies. Further, the arrangement will be done by Bali-Penida River Agency,” he explained. (kmb23) 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.