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Thursday, April 25, 2019

‘The Curse of La Llorona’ scares off competitors at box office

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Thursday, April 25, 2019

LOS ANGELES - “The Curse of La Llorona” reigned at the North American box office on its opening weekend, earning $26.3 million and outperforming expectations on a slow Easter weekend, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations said Monday.

IBP/net

Prince Memoir ‘The Beautiful Ones’ Coming Out in the Fall.

Prince memoir to be released in October

WASHINGTON - Prince’s unfinished memoir, “The Beautiful Ones,” will be released in October, its publisher announced Monday -- three years after the singer’s sudden death in April 2016. The “Kid from Minneapolis,” who died of an accidental fentanyl overdose aged 57, had announced a month before his death he would tell his story in his own words in a book originally set for release in 2017. Publisher Penguin Random House said the book -- now to be released on October 29 -- would contain previously unseen photos, scrapbooks and lyric sheets, as well as the memoir Prince had started to write. “This work is not just a tribute to Prince, but an original and energizing literary work, full of Prince’s ideas and vision, his voice and image, his undying gift to the world,” Penguin Random House said of the book, which will be published by its imprint Spiegel and Brau. The memoir will also feature an introduction by Dan Piepenbring, who collaborated with Prince on the book in the months before he died. Prince -- one of the most influential but elusive figures in music -- became an international sensation in the 1980s as he popularized the Minneapolis Sound of danceable funk, with 1984’s “Purple Rain” often described as one of the greatest albums of all time. Born Prince Rogers Nelson, he became famous in his later career for eccentricities that included changing his name to an unpronounceable “love symbol,” announcing his concerts at the last minute and refusing to let reporters take notes on -- let alone record -- encounters with him. (afp)

The Warner Bros. horror film, starring Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz and Patricia Velasquez, is based on the Mexican folklore about the Weeping Woman -- a mother who murdered her children and wanders the world looking for them, causing misfortune to those who come in contact with her. The movie, which has received negative reviews, is set in 1970s Los Angeles and follows a mother trying to protect her children from a ghost. In second place this weekend was Warner Bros.’ lighthearted superhero tale “Shazam!”, which took in $16.5 million after topping the box office for two straight weeks. It stars Asher Angel as Billy Baston, an unhappy foster kid who becomes a muscular and witty superhero (Zachary

Levi) when the secret word is pronounced. Disney’s new “Breakthrough” took in $11.3 million, considered a solid start for a faith-based movie. It

tells the story of a mother (Chrissy Metz) who refuses to abandon hope after her adopted son (Marcel Ruiz) falls into an icy lake and goes into a coma. NBA star Stephen Curry produced the film, his first such effort. Disney’s “Captain Marvel” placed fourth at $9.1 million, up a surprising two spots despite being in its seventh week in release. The blockbuster, now well past the $1 billion mark worldwide, stars Brie Larson as a former fighter pilot who gains superpowers and is plunged into a galactic conflict. And in fifth was Universal’s “Little,” at $8.3 million. The idea for the comedy -- which has a grown-up (Regina Hall) trapped in a 13-year-old version of her own body (Marsai Martin of “black-ish” fame) -- came from young Martin herself, who was inspired at age 10 when she saw the Tom Hanks hit “Big,” in which a child is trapped in his adult body. (afp)

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

Sleepless nights for Indonesia’s election ‘losers’

Political hopeful Yayat Abdurahman bet that he would be a winner among some 245,000 candidates in Indonesia’s huge election last week, but his dreams of public office are fading fast as the votes get tallied.

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images/AFP

Seychelle Gabriel attends the premiere of Warner Bros.’ “The Curse Of La Llorona” at the Egyptian Theatre on April 15, 2019 in Hollywood, California.

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Demy Sanjaya / AFP

Indonesian voters cast their ballots during a revote due to some discrepancies in Tangerang on April 24, 2019, one of some 800,000 polling booths nationwide that took part in the election on April 17.

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So the stressed-out candidate checked into an Islamic healing centre where a cleric prayed for his future and doused him in flower-infused water as part of traditional cleansing ritual. “At the beginning I was optimistic and feeling confident,” he said. “I thought ‘I have to win, I have to get the most votes’. But now I’m feeling more doubtful.” If Abdurahman loses when the world’s third-biggest democracy publishes official results next month, he won’t be alone. More than 200,000 candidates in Muslim majority Indonesia’s biggest-ever election will miss their goal, leaving many with no job and often huge campaign debts. “They are stressed out, they can’t sleep,” said Ujang Busthomi, head of the Islamic healing centre in West Java’s Cirebon city, where Abdurahman joined some

half a dozen candidates admitted for post-election treatment. “They have run out of money and don’t know how they’ll pay off their debts,” he added. - Wounded political warriors Hospitals nationwide have been gearing up for an expected influx of post-poll patients seeking treatment for stress, depression and other maladies -- an election-time staple in the Southeast Asian archipelago. Among them is a psychiatric hospital in Makassar on Sulawesi island that did a pre-election renovation to make way for wounded election warriors. “In the last legislative elections there were candidates put in hospital because they had psychiatric disorders or depression after they failed to get elected,” said Dadi hospital director Arman Bausat. “Every time there’s

an election, some candidates get hospitalised.” While politicians in other countries are also at risk of postelection anxiety, Indonesia’s system raises the odds. Hopefuls do not receive financial support from their parties and they have to fork out a down payment from their own pockets to run -- and often end up competing against both rivals and fellow party members who they may be close to, personally and politically. Even for the winners, victory in corruption-riddled Indonesia can mean resorting to taking bribes in order to pay off big campaign debts, observers said. Rasmi Sikati knows the bitter sting of political defeat. The 38-year-old cancelled her candidacy in this year’s polls after recalling the time, energy and money spent on an unsuccessful

run for a local legislative job in 2014. “The amount of money I had to spend wasn’t small -- it was millions of rupiah (thousands of dollars),” Sikati told AFP, using a pseudonym. “But that’s nothing compared to my self-esteem. I was embarrassed and hurt. That was the heaviest psychological burden.”

- ‘Still optimistic’ The likely losers this year include presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto, 67, whose repeated claims that he won last week’s polls defy strong evidence that he lost to incumbent Joko Widodo. While his refusal to concede defeat has seen the wealthy ex-general pilloried online, he doesn’t have much to worry about money-wise. But it is a different story for many of the record number of candidates vying for some 24,000 legislative jobs, from the presidency and parliament down to

local legislators. Many took out loans or sold assets to finance their run. Given the stakes, some candidates are holding out for the final results. Akhmad Batara Parenta, 40, isn’t ready to concede defeat, even though his party appears to have fallen short of the minimum parliamentary threshold, meaning he’ll almost certainly have no political job come May. “I’m still optimistic because not all the votes have been counted at this stage,” he said. The longshot candidate also offered some advice for scores of stressed-out compatriots. “They should stay calm because even if they lose, it’s okay.”(afp) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Bali News

International

BPBD Jembrana shuttles student having broken bone to attend exam

NEGARA - On Tuesday (Apr. 23), the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Jembrana helped pick up a student of SMPN 3 Negara junior high school on behalf of I Kadek Ngurah Yoga Ariawan suffering a broken bone at right thigh due to an accident a month ago. Even though Ngurah Yoga is sick, he is still enthusiastic about taking the second day of the Com-

puter-Based National Examination (UNBK). In order to be able to come to

school and attend the exam, he should be carried with stretcher by members of the BPBD Jembrana

IBP/kmb

Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Jembrana helped pick up a student of SMPN 3 Negara junior high school on behalf of I Kadek Ngurah Yoga Ariawan suffering a broken bone.

to attend the Mathematics examination. Principal of the SMPN 3 Negara, I Gusti Komang Arnawa, said he is quite moved and concerned about the enthusiasm of his student who, although being ill, still takes the exam. “He succeeded in passing the exam on the first day on Monday (Apr. 22). Due to his worrisome conditions, we asked for assistance from BPBD Jembrana to immediately get assistance,” he explained. According to him, on the first day his parents must rent a car and carried their son with the assistance of security guard and several teachers. However, on Tuesday to two days in the future he will be assisted by the BPBD,” he explained. Meanwhile, Ngurah Kade was carried by eight personnel of the BPBD Jembrana. They used two BPBD cars. The first car is used to transport Ngurah Kade, while another car transport BPBD personnel to help carry him. He was transported by eight personnel from the school yard to the top of the class. Ngurah Kade then sat down on the rear bench, on the left side of the class. He takes the school exam by being monitored directly by his mother, Gusti Ayu Komang Budiana. Arnawa said that for the UNBK, the number of examinees reached around 402 students, and Ngurah Kade sat in class 9I. Tuesday (Apr. 23) was the second day and third

session of computer-based national examination for Mathematics carried out from 14:00 until 16:00. Ngurah Kade admitted that he greatly idolizes I Kadek Agung Widnyana, Bali United’s mainstay midfielder. This student of SMPN 3 Negara is still eager to attend the UNBK on the second day, even though suffering leg thigh fracture due to an accident. He also aspires to be like Kadek Agung, but his leg thighs have not recovered yet or being installed with splint. He is still constrained by costs as his parents cannot afford to finance the operation. He admitted to have to continue his UNBK because he had to move up to the next level. It is also a standard so that he could continue his dream to become a football player. He claimed that he wanted to use Bali United’s uniform. However, he is now concentrating on the UNBK. He told that at first he fell down while having a promenade to the Soekarno Building on Jalan Sudirman, Negara, Jembrana, on Sunday with his younger sister. When returning home, he had an accident. It happened because there was a dog passing by, even though he already rode slowly. Head of the BPBD Jembrana, I Ketut Eko Susila AP, admitted that he is concerned about the incident that happened to Ngurah Kade. However, on the other hand, he saluted to the enthusiasm for not wanting to miss the national exam for the sake of an ideal. (120)

Behind half of the failed incumbent

They are considered not maximal to facilitate community SEVERAL incumbents predicted to fail to get elected again in this year’s simultaneous elections is quite surprising to many parties. The incumbents considered easier to win the competition are in reality not able to win against their rivals. In fact, the number is almost half of the total 30 seats in the Klungkung House of Representatives. Behind the reality, the Bali Democracy Committee (Kode) saw the incumbents who failed were considered not optimal in facilitating the community when they were members of the House. Bali Code’s Secretary, Made Kariada, when contacted on Tuesday (Apr. 23) said the incumbent

becoming a legislative candidate does not necessarily have a big chance to get elected again. Actually in voter psychology, it is the diligent candidates that are more accepted by the voters. Moreover, they diligently facilitate the community in accordance with their interests. “Being an incumbent, but never facilitating the community, of course will be rarely known to people. This makes newcomers also have a great opportunity. Moreover, they also have money,” said Kariada. This former Chairperson of the Klungkung Electoral Commission assessed that such situation made the approach to the community

as voters use a lot of economic approaches, rather than political approaches by contesting ideas in regional development. If using economic approach, then according to him later on the demands of the community will be the same. “When politics gives an opportunity to the people to vote, the political mechanism will follow people’s wishes. If the problem is economic and financial, then political process will be brought to political economic and financial processes, too. If this case happens, it’s only transaction,” he said. According to him, this is a form of failure in political education. The government with social assis-

tance grant policy also contributed greatly to the shifting of the current political paradigm. Substantial tasks of government institutions are generally not transformed into society. If acculturated with politics, it will become a societal economic politics. This will lead to the more serious transactional in the political process. “If the legal politics is put forward, it will change the perspective of society into policy politics,” he said. When wishing to get involved in politics, he stressed, of course people must master social affairs. However, lately the social situation has also shifted to transactional politics and the worst is becoming forced poli-

tics with written agreements. This increasingly shows political failure. Regarding the dominance of PDIP in each electoral achievement in the district and municipality in Bali, especially in Klungkung, according to him, this is the effect of simultaneous elections coinciding with the presidential election. He considered the PDIP’s policy in seeing the competence of its cadres is very good. Party management also looks pretty solid. Psychologically, PDIP is greatly benefited from national political conditions, especially the PDIP Bali. In addition, the parliamentary threshold of 4 percent also has a great influence on the success of PDIP nationally. (kmb31)

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Activities

International

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Cruisin’ The Reefs with Bali Hai Cruises

Your Bali holiday is about to get just a little bit more exciting with a cruise to one of Bali’s exquisite sister islands, Nusa Lembongan with Bali Hai Cruises. A guaranteed fun-filled day for everyone, your adventure at the sea begins the moment you leave your hotel in the morning. As a renowned marine

tourism company in Indonesia operating a range of evening and day cruises around Bali and Lembongan Island, Bali Hai Cruises would ensure that your experience kicks off without a hitch with a comfortable air-conditioned car ride to the jetty in Benoa harbour. Not your ordinary day cruise,

the Bali Hai Reef Cruise is filled to the brim with exciting activities for guests and families who want to dabble in some water sports including snorkeling, diving, swimming and banana-boating. Equipment is provided for your maximum enjoyment along with a purpose-built pontoon that lies between the most

beautiful corals. An experienced team of PADI Diving Instructors are on hand if you feel like diving, and for the young and the young-at-heart, enjoy the thrilling 35-metre water slide or simply soak up Lembongan’s majestic underwater world via the ship’s semi-submersible coral viewer and underwater viewing chamber. More exciting activities are available at extra charge – try the exciting 25-minutes Aquanaut submerged marine walk; what better way to get up close to Bali’s magnificent underwater world while being able to breathe freely? Or take to the skies and opt for parasailing instead! A new activity recently introduced is the Reef Restoration Program with Marrs Inc, where you could participate with the conservation of Bali’s underwater marine eco-system. When hungry, indulge in a mouthwatering international buffet served on board in air-conditioned comfort – lunch is included so tuck in to five delicious, hot main courses accompanied with vegetables, five types of fresh salads, fresh cut fruits, cheese, whole fruits, various

salty and sweet pastries and Balinese cakes, coffee and tea. Be sure to try the Sliced Smoked Marlin, Pork Satays, Chicken Curry, Beef Rendang and Sweet & Sour Fish to savour with steamed white rice and crackers. After lunch, relax in the cool comforts of the ship with a relaxing massage on-board and a manicure and pedicure. Let the live band on deck lull you into a state of peace and tranquility as you take in the mesmerizing view on your way back to the harbour. Bali Hai Cruises is one of Indonesia’s leading marine tourism companies with decades of experience and an excellent track record in operating a range of evening and day cruises. Running a fleet of various vessels, Bali Hai’s main office is located at Benoa Harbour in South Bali, located only 15 minutes from Seminyak, Kuta and Sanur. The company also provides pick-up and drop-off services to your hotel or accommodation for your ease and comfort so that you can arrive at Benoa Harbour right on time and arrive back safe and sound.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Health

International

Bali News

International

A fraying health safety net is failing to stop it

A nursing student delivers a flu shot.

IBP/net

Two-wave U.S. flu season is now the longest in a decade

analysis of new state health data. Almost half of those are outside the major population centers and typical STD hot spots of Kansas City, St. Louis and its adjacent county. Syphilis cases surged at least eightfold during that period in the rest of the state. At Choices Medical Services, Schrage has watched the caseload grow from five cases to 32 in the first quarter of 2019 alone compared with the same period last year. “I’ve not seen anything like it in my history of doing sexual health care,” she said. Back in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had a plan to eradicate the sexually transmitted disease that totaled over 35,000 cases nationwide that year. While syphilis can cause permanent neurological damage, blindness or even death, it is both treatable and curable. By focusing on the epicenters clustered primarily throughout the South, California and in major urban areas, the plan seemed within reach. Instead, U.S. cases topped 101,500 in 2017 and are continuing to rise along with other sexually transmitted diseases. Syphilis is back in part because of increasing drug use, but health officials are losing the fight because of a combination of cuts in national and state health funding and crumbling public health infrastructure. “It really is astounding to me that in the modern Western world we are dealing with the epidemic that was almost eradicated,” said Schrage. (net)

THREE months ago, this flu season was shaping up to be short and mild in the U.S. But a surprising second viral wave has made it the longest in 10 years. This flu season has been officially going for 21 weeks, according to reports collected through last week and released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That makes it among the longest seen since the government started tracking flu season duration more than 20 years ago. Some experts likened the unusual double waves to having two different flu seasons compressed, back-to-back, into one. “I don’t remember a season like this,” said Dr. Arnold Monto, a University of Michigan researcher who had been studying respiratory illnesses for more than 50 years. The previous longest recent flu season was 20 weeks, which oc-

curred in 2014-2015. Flu can cause a miserable, relatively mild illness in many people and a more severe illness in others. Young children and the elderly are at greatest risk from flu and its complications. Flu vaccinations are recommended annually for all but the very young. The current season began the week of Thanksgiving, a typical start time. At the beginning, most illnesses were caused by a flu strain that tends not to cause as many hospitalizations and which is more easily controlled by vaccines. But in mid-February, a nastier strain started causing more illnesses and driving up hospitalizations. Not helping matters: The harsher

bug is not well matched to the vaccine, said the CDC’s Lynnette Brammer, who oversees flu tracking. Still, this flu season is not nearly as bad as last winter’s 19-week season, the deadliest in at least four decades. An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last season. The CDC is estimating that flurelated deaths this season in the range of 35,000 to 55,000. More good news: Brammer said that although the virus is notoriously unpredictable, signs suggest this flu season should be over soon. “It’s on the verge” of being over, she said. “If nothing changes.” (afp)

IBP/net

Karolyn Schrage, executive director of the Choices Medical Services clinic in Joplin, Missouri says that pregnant women, young men and teens are part of the rapidly growing number of syphilis patients she sees.

Due to traffic complexity, taxi entering Jalan Legian asked to be evaluated

As syphilis invades rural America

WHEN Karolyn Schrage first heard about the “dominoes gang” in the health clinic she runs in Joplin, Mo., she assumed it had to do with pizza. Turns out it was a group of men in their 60s and 70s who held a standing game night — which included sex with one another. They showed up at her clinic infected with syphilis. That has become Schrage’s new normal. Pregnant women, young men and teens are all part of the rapidly growing number of syphilis patients coming to the Choices Medical Services clinic in the rural southwestern corner of the state. She can barely keep the antibiotic treatment for syphilis, penicillin G benzathine, stocked on her shelves. Public health officials say rural counties across the Midwest and West are becoming the new battleground. While syphilis is still concentrated in cities such as San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas, its continued spread into places like Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma creates a new set of challenges. Compared with urban hubs, rural populations tend to have less access to public health resources, less experience with syphilis and less willingness to address it because of socially conservative views toward homosexuality and nonmarital sex. In Missouri, the total number of syphilis patients has more than quadrupled since 2012 — jumping from 425 to 1,896 cases last year — according to a Kaiser Health News

Thursday, April 25, 2019

MANGUPURA — The traffic complexity on Jalan Legian continues to be a public conversation. Indeed, one of these factors triggering the complexity is large number of taxis operating in the area. Head of Bali Transportation Agency, Gde Wayan Samsi Gunarta, stated the taxi operating in the Kuta area, especially Jalan Legian, is related to the problem of the taxi need. He said the taxis are operating in the area because there is a demand. The problem will arise when there is oversupply, so it needs regulating. “As the name implies, when the taxi is called (contacted), it will come. If the queue is too long, it should be arranged,” he said when confirmed recently.

IBP/kmb38

Along with local fishermen, the institution spread 15,000 abalone seeds on Tuesday (Apr. 22).

To increase welfare of fishermen on Penimbangan Beach

According to him, when cars may enter particular road section, then inevitably taxis can also enter. Taxi operations, he added, actually already have its standard operating procedures (SOPs). But it will depend on the extent to which the taxi companies concerned can understand and adhere to these standards. “They must really understand the key to services. They should improve services, while we from the government strive for how they comply with the existing standards,” he concluded.

The studies on taxi operations, according to him, have been done a lot. But the current problem is whether or not all of them make improvements whether it is by the taxi company itself, or the authorities regulating the traffic. Meanwhile, Nyoman Graha Wicaksana, one of the Kuta figures, said that in connection with this matter, he suggested there must be a kind of evaluation such as through inspection or some kinds of inspection of taxis passing on Jalan Legian. “Please check the

taxis. As far as I know, their permits have expired. Bluebird, for instance, is okay, it will have a good standard. Now, the others need to be checked,” he said on Tuesday (Apr. 23). Nevertheless, the problem of complexity on Jalan Legian cannot necessarily involve taxi operations as the scapegoat. According to him, it is also influenced by the operation of one of the night entertainment venues on Jalan Legian which has exceeded the provision limit. (kmb23)

Thousands of abalone seeds stocked

SINGARAJA — The support to preserve marine biota on Penimbangan Beach, Baktiseraga village, Buleleng, is carried out by the Superior Shrimp and Oyster Production Center (BPIU2K) Karangasem. Along with local fishermen, the institution spread 15,000 abalone seeds on Tuesday (Apr. 22). Thousands of the abalone seeds are intended to improve the condition of Penimbangan marine biota and the welfare of fishermen because abalone seeds have high economic value. Chief of the Penimbangan Lestari Supervisory Community Group (Pokmaswas), Gede Wiadnyana, said the presence of the abalone on Penimbangan Beach is very much needed. Abalone also affects the development of coral. In addition, it also supports the running of the food chain at sea. The introduction of abalone seeds is not for the first time, but previously similar effort was made by Gondol Center for Marine Cultivation and Fisheries Research (BBRBLPP) on Penimbangan Beach. However, since it was hit by a storm and predatory attack, the efforts to spread abalones have not produced optimal results. The spread applied a different method. Abalone was spread about 100

meters from the beach in the depth of about 5 meters. Abalone was spread wildly in a radius of 20 square meters. “We have twice distributed the abalone seeds. The first has not succeeded optimally because of the massive attack of sea predators like puffer fish and tiger fish, so the nest is damaged. We once used a buoy because it was hit by storms last January so they were swept away. Now, we do the second stocking,” he said. Section Head of Facilities and Infrastructure of the BPIU2K Karangasem, Djoko Purwanto, said the abalone is stocked on Penimbangan Beach because the waters were once known as the location of abalone breeders. Over time, the population diminishes due to various factors. With the distribution of the abalone, the development of marine life in Penimbangan will be getting better. For this time, the BPIU2K Karangasem handed over 3-centimeter seeds. Seeds of this size are considered safe enough to avoid environmental disturbances and extreme weather. “We hope this stocking can provide a significant influence on the underwater environment and have an impact on the fishermen’s economy here,” he said. (kmb38)

The traffic complexity on Jalan Legian continues to be a public conversation.

IBP/kmb

Bali News

Thursday, April 25, 2019

International

Regent declares one day no rice movement is for health

BANGLI — Circular of Bangli Regent regarding the appeal of the one day no rice (a day without rice) movement reaped various responses from the public. Some responded positively to the appeal, but not a few also disagreed and considered the circulation to be excessive. Then, what is actually the purpose of the regent to issue the circular? When met amid the monitoring of the implementation of computer-based national exam (UNBK) at SMPN 3 Bangli junior high school last Monday, Regent of Bangli I Made Gianyar revealed that currently there are many people suffering from diseases due to excessive consumption of food sourced from rice. One of the diseases in question is diabetes. Since he is concerned about this, he also wants the people in Bangli district to start controlling their diet by reducing the consumption of rice-based foods. “Now, our problem is not about lack of food. But now many people are sick because they eat a lot. So, it needs regulation,” he explained. Instead of rice, the community, according to Gianyar, is now expected to be able to switch to consuming other foods such as corn, cassava and other tubers. As it is known, some of the food ingredients also contain high carbohydrates. By reducing rice consumption, other than being good for health, it also has a good impact on maintaining the stability of rice prices. “If the demand for rice is large, while rice supply is small, prices will rise. So let’s start reducing rice consumption now,” said Gianyar. According to the circular issued, this regent from Bunutin village,

Kintamani, hoped that one day movement to reduce rice consumption can be applied by the community at least one day a week. Gianyar said that at this time he has applied the one day no rice movement, even twice a week. As a substitute for rice, he also claimed that every day he boils cassava. Gianyar admitted it is indeed not easy to adapt people to reduce rice consumption. It needs education slowly and continuously. “Like the use of disposable plastic, yesterday I had to handle it myself. So, indeed for goodness there must be sacrifice. Where there is goodness without sacrifice?” he concluded. As is known, the circular about the one day no rice movement, namely the movement not to consume rice every Thursday was issued by the Regent of Bangli, I Made Gianyar, as of April 8, 2019. In the circular shown to the head of the Bangli agencies, the regent appeals to all of the regional agency ranks in the Bangli government to implement the one day no rice movement in order to maintain rice price stability and control the prices of staple goods in Bangli district. Besides, the one day no rice movement is implemented considering that Bangli district is not a rice producing region. (kmb40)

Regent of Bangli I Made Gianyar

IBP/kmb

Student Film Festival to prevent deviation of smartphone use

IBP/kmb35

Gianyar Student Film Festival (FFPG) held for the first time in the series of the 248th anniversary of Gianyar town.

GIANYAR — The world of cinema today is still filled with a lot of negative ones, especially for films about younger generation. Necessarily, it should be directed so as to better educate and build positive character. This effort was raised in the event of the Gianyar Student Film Festival (FFPG) held for the first time in the series of the 248th anniversary of Gianyar town. Commissioner of KPPAD Bali, Kadek Ariyasa, explained that FFPG is created as a positive and creative forum for children, especially students. It is to prevent violence against children due to irregularities in the use of smartphone functions. This festival takes the theme “Gianyar Student Smartphone Documentary Film/ Video Festival 2019.” Ariyasa explained that FFPG is held to suppress deviations in

smartphone use among students. The Film Festival initiated by the Gianyar Culture Agency is supported by the Community of Film Activists and Documentation, Listibya in the Field of Documentation and the Bali Child Protection Commission (KPPAD) in the field of Education and Culture. Participants can raise stories about cultural art of ancestral heritage considered to have a strong influence on the development of social life of the community. Interestingly, the film making is enough to use a smartphone with a simple and professional editing process. As the criteria, the maximum duration of the film is 15 minutes including bumpers, titles, credits and titles. Most importantly, the film does not contain any elements of promotion, racial violence, and pornography.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

International

The enthusiasm of junior high school, high school and vocational school students in Gianyar to make documentary films is quite high where this event can attract 54 teams to participate. Of that number, the jury consisting of Samsul Hadi (film activist), Gusti Made Ariadi and Kadek Ariyasa (KPPAD Commissioner) has recorded 18 finalists. They are 9 finalists of the junior high school and 9 high school or vocational school category. Kadek Ariyasa added the judging process is quite strict. It is carried out with the presentation as well as question and answer system. “Ultimately, the final stage of the judging got 9 finalists for Junior High School and High/Vocational School from a total of 54 student works of the FFPG 2019,” he explained. (kmb35)

‘Not your enemies’: Sri Lanka Muslims fear backlash after blasts COLOMBO - Mohamed Hasan has barely left his home in Colombo since a string of deadly blasts hit Sri Lanka on Sunday, afraid he could be attacked because he is Muslim. He has a job at a printing press, but the 41-year-old’s family have begged him to stay home. “They are worried that if I go out, will I be able to come back alive?” he told AFP outside the Jumma mosque in Dematagoda, where he had ventured briefly to pray. More than 350 people were killed in the carnage unleashed by the Easter attacks against churches and hotels, which have been claimed by the Islamic State group. The deaths have horrified Sri Lankans and been condemned by Muslim groups, but many in the community have been left feeling vulnerable. Zareena Begum, 60, said she had barely slept since the weekend. “I know people are angry at Muslims,” she said in tears outside the mosque. “Infants being carried in the arms of their mothers were killed. “I never imagined such hatred being there in the hearts of these people (who attacked). Hatred must not sow more hatred.” Wearing a black dress and white headscarf, Begum added: “We have been huddled at our homes. We are scared about going out.” - Longstanding tensions Sri Lanka’s population of 21 million is a patchwork of ethnicities and religions, dominated by the Sinhalese Buddhist majority. Muslims account for 10 percent of the population and are the second-largest minority after Hindus. Around seven percent of

Sri Lankans are Christians. Ethnic and religious tensions abound in the country, which suffered through a decades-long Tamil insurgency and more recently has seen outbreaks of sectarian violence. Muslims have been on the receiving end of sporadic violence and hate attacks since the civil war ended in 2009. Hardline Buddhist monks have led campaigns against the community, and in 2013 and 2018, Muslim businesses came under attack. Rumours were even spread that Sinhalese could become sterile if they wore underwear bought from Muslim shops, and that food sold by Muslims would cause infertility. In the wake of the attacks, Sri Lankan leaders including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have urged calm and solidarity. “The vast majority of Muslims condemn this and they are as angry as the Tamils and the Sinhalese about what happened,” he said Tuesday, calling for unity. But at the Jumma mosque there was an atmosphere of anxiety, and several worshippers said they hoped police would “take care of every citizen in such critical times”. Hilmy Ahamed, vice-president of the influential Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, said the community was braced for a backlash, with emotions running high. “Hundreds of people are being buried (so) there is going to be an emotional outburst and some of it could be justifiable,” said Ahamed. “We have asked the government... to ensure security is maintained. This (attack) has not been carried out by the Muslim community but by some fringe elements.”

Mohd RASFAN / AFP

In this photo taken on April 23, 2019, Sri Lankan security personnel stand guard around the house of one of the suspected suicide bombers in Colombo.

Tarek ABDEL HAMID / AFP

Egyptians pose for a picture with a newspaper front page and a poster of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi outside a school in the second city of Alexandria during voting in a referendum on constitutional amendments on the first day of the three-day poll, on April 20, 2019.

Egyptians overwhelmingly approve changes extending Sisi’s rule

CAIRO - Egyptian voters have overwhelmingly backed constitutional changes that could see President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s rule extended to 2030, the electoral board said Tuesday. National Election Authority head Lashin Ibrahim told a Cairo press conference that 88.83 percent voted “yes” in a referendum on the amendments, with 11.17 percent voting “no”. The three-day vote took place “in a democratic climate powered by freedom,” he added. Sisi took to Twitter shortly after the results were announced to thank his fellow citizens “who dazzled the world with their awareness of the challenges facing” Egypt. Around 27 million votes were cast in the Arab world’s most populous country, with a turnout rate of 44.33 percent. Rights groups have criticised the conditions surrounding the rushed vote, including the suppression of those opposing the sweeping changes that consolidate Sisi’s power. Egypt’s parliament, stacked with Sisi loyalists, voted in favour of the amendments last

week, giving voters just days to digest the changes to 20 articles. Other controversial amendments include boosting Sisi’s control over the judiciary and giving the military even greater influence in Egyptian political life. - No one near ‘throne’ Sisi has argued he needs longer to complete the job of restoring security and stability after the turmoil that followed the overthrow of veteran autocrat Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring of 2011. A vote in Sisi’s favour was expected but analysts worried about its consequences. Analyst Mai El-Sadany, legal director at the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), told AFP the amendments could have “long-term negative implications for Egypt”. The main amendment, which has set the nation abuzz, is the

near certainty that Sisi will run for another six years in office when his term ends in 2024. His current term was to end in 2022 but was retroactively updated with an extra two years. Riding a populist wave after militarily overthrowing Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, Sisi cruised to a presidential victory in 2014 and was re-elected with more than 97 percent of the vote in 2018. “What is coming is extremely bad...it gives the message that I am your God and no one will come near the throne as long as I’m in power,” said veteran Cairo University political scientist Hassan Nafaa. “How can a constitution be changed to tailor-fit one person?” he asked. Domestically and internationally, Sisi has presented himself as a bulwark against terrorism and a rock of political stability amid a region in turmoil. (afp)

International

Thursday, April 25, 2019

BUSINESS

Bali News

International

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Denpasar Ranked Third as Healthy Cities in Southeast Asia

Denpasar City returned to win multinational achievement by reaching the top three positions of Healthy Cities in Southeast Asia by the Travel Supermarket version. Denpasar came to be a Healthy City in Southeast Asia after the City of Chiang Mai and Pattaya. “Previously, Denpasar was included in the Top 10 Healthy Cities of the World, and now in Southeast Asia. We would like to thank all the elements in the city of Denpasar having contributed to create a healthy city of Denpasar,” said the Mayor of Denpasar, IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, on Sunday (Apr. 7).

AP Photo/Sait Serkan Gurbuz

Iran sanctions send oil prices, supply concerns higher

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference on Monday, April 22, 2019, at the Department of State in Washington.

NEW YORK — The Trump administration’s decision to impose sanctions on countries that buy Iranian oil is raising concerns about global crude supply and sending oil prices to their highest levels since October. Industry experts said Monday that the sanctions could potentially remove up to 1.2 million barrels of oil per day from international markets. But that number will likely be lower, depending on how countries respond and just how much oil Iran continues to export. President Donald Trump wants to eliminate all of Iran’s revenue from oil exports, money he says funds destabilizing activity in the Middle East and elsewhere.

The announcement primarily impacts Iranian oil importers including China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey. “It’s difficult to imagine all exports being cut off, especially since China is still a major buyer of Iranian crude oil,” said Jim Burkhard, vice president for oil markets at IHS Markit. “How China responds will go a long way to shape just how much Iranian exports are cut or not.” To make up for the Iranian losses,

Saudi Arabia may increase production that the country had recently trimmed, but it “is going to use up all the spare capacity that they have, or pretty darn close to it, and that is going to leave markets feeling tight,” said Shin Kim, head of supply and production analytics at S&P Global Platts. Oil prices rose more than 2% Monday, helping to lift some energy stocks. The price of gasoline in the U.S.

was already rising and the development could raise prices further. “We’ve seen that market tighten up considerably even before the Iranian news, and we’re also seeing a number of refining issues in the U.S.,” said Ryan Fitzmaurice, energy strategist at Rabobank. Rising oil — and gasoline — prices can squeeze consumers, whose spending accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic output. “They can take a bite out of consumers’ purchasing power,” said Scott Hoyt, senior director at Moody’s Analytics, where he follows consumer economics.

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina’s government is freezing the prices of 60 essential products and some services in a bid to tame spiraling inflation.

President Mauricio Macri announced Wednesday that the goods affected include flour, oil, rice and personal hygiene items. He also said prices for services such as tele-

phone plans will not be raised. Macri said in a video message that he is “convinced we are going to win the battle against inflation.”

The annual inflation rate in the South American country is nearly 50 percent — one of the world’s highest. Economists say the latest an-

But unless energy prices surge considerably higher, a lot faster, Hoyt said he doesn’t expect them to do much damage to the American economy. Employers are hiring, and the unemployment rate is near a five-decade low of 3.8%. Rising prices are “coming at a time when consumers are relatively well positioned to handle it,” he said. “Job growth is strong. Wage growth is healthy.” And prices at the pump aren’t even up much over the past year: The AAA reports that U.S. gasoline prices average $2.84 a gallon, compared to $2.76 a gallon a year ago.(ap)

nouncement appears to resemble the populist policies of former President Cristina Fernández, who led the country from 2007 to 2015.(ap)

Argentina to freeze prices of goods in bid to tame inflation

Mayor Rai Mantra said the predicate is inseparable from the commitment of the Denpasar city government in providing public facilities, friendly social facilities and maintaining their health. Public and social facilities are identically used by the community for fitness and sports. In addition, public lifestyle also contributing to maintaining cleanliness is an important element in realizing this Healthy City. Head of the Denpasar Health Agency, Luh Putu Sri Armini, accompanied by the Spokesperson of Denpasar Municipality, I Dewa Gede Rai, said that in determining this ranking the Travel Supermarket utilized various data sources such as Euromonitor International market research group, TripAdvisor,

Yelp, World Weather and Climate. Travel Supermarket also has several aspects of assessment as health benchmarks in a city. Some aspects of the assessment are the number of parks or green open spaces, gyms and fitness centers. In addition, Travel Supermarket assessed the number of spas, yoga studios and Pilates studios in the city. Food is also an important aspect of assessment in compiling a list of the 10 healthiest cities in the world. Regarding food, Travel Supermarket assessed how many healthy food stores and restaurants with vegan options in each city. Travel Supermarket then compared the data with the city area to find out the density per square kilometer. The analyst team also calculated the amount of sun exposure

Have you ever traveled to Nusa Penida? Once upon a time, try to have an excursion to this tiny island belonging to Klungkung district. Nusa Penida offers a variety of exotic natural sceneries, especially the Atuh Beach. The charm of the sea is very different, primarily the charm of the sea when enjoyed from the top of the cliff. Wow, it’s definitely different, beautiful, amazing and fun. Young people prefer to choose this beach to take pictures or selfie. The natural scenery offered at Nusa Penida is very interesting to enjoy. It attracts foreign tourists to visit. Moreover, lately domestic tourists and local people also begin to enjoy traveling on the island with the charm of the sea. Nusa Penida does offer many views of blue oceans with white sand from the height. Atuh Beach, located at Karang Dawa village, is one of the most frequently visited tourist attractions. To reach this beach, it requires a fairly long journey of about 1 hour from the port. Road access is quite good even though you have to pass a few sharp turns. “The location is very attractive, and almost everything is appealing as a place to take pictures,” said I Made Suardika, a visitor from Gianyar. Suardika said the scenery offered is

very typical. This will be an interesting memory after visiting the island. “I first set foot on Nusa Penida. I am amazed to see the natural scenery offered by Atuh Beach. At first, I am doubtful because the trip is quite far from the port. However, I am very satisfied with the beauty of the natural scenery that was given,” he said happily. The authenticity of nature is very well maintained, so this place is very interesting to visit. Some tourism facilities also began to be developed, such as the tourist accommodation and restaurant as a magnet for tourists to stay longer on this island. There is also a tree house located in the lower cliff area. This is also an interesting place to take photos with a view of small islands around it. Tourists call it Thousand Islands, Raja Lima or Molenteng Hill. Sulatri as the operator of the tree house explained that there are quite a lot of tourist visits to such unique tourism. Even local people don’t want to be left behind. To enter these two places, tourists are charged the usual admission ticket at IDR 5,000 per person. At this location, there is also a mini stall offering some snacks and coffee where you can enjoy it while having a fun break. “Local tourists usually visit at the end of the year,” she concluded. (kmb)

per year and the average price for staying at a hotel. Head of Public Relations of Dewa Rai said that Denpasar has a number of open spaces that residents can use for their activities.

They are good for yoga, sports and family recreation. Denpasar City has also arranged rivers, parks and issued Mayor Regulation No. 36/2018 to limit the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and shopping

centers. “This award is certainly not solely because of government work, but the most important thing is public participation in realizing Denpasar as a healthy city,” said Dewa Rai. (kmb)

Beautiful Atuh Beach in Nusa Penida

Thursday, April 25, 2019

International

RLD

Illegal logging in Brazil turns Amazon into a powder keg wearing shorts and a team shirt for Flamengo, one of Brazil’s most popular football clubs. “If the illegal extraction of wood continues, our warriors will take up their bows and arrows. There could be deaths,” he warns. In a letter to the local federal prosecutor’s office in February, the Arara said tribal elders were considering “getting justice for themselves,” including evoking an ancestral ritual of making a traditional flute “with the skulls of the invaders.” Hundreds of representatives of indigenous groups will convene in the nation’s capital Brasilia for three days starting Wednesday for their annual lobbying mission to defend their land rights. - Brazen looting -

The Arara lands are technically part of the municipality of Altamira, the largest in Brazil in terms of surface area -- bigger than Portugal -and home to about 110,000 people. Before illegal logging ramped up, local indigenous communities had already suffered -- in the name of modernization. The construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric mega-dam project on the Xingu River, which is

due to be finished this year and will be one of the biggest in the world, displaced dozens and disrupted the ecosystem. It was also in Altamira that Brazil’s military regime began constructing the Trans-Amazonian Highway in the 1970s -- it eventually left a scar of more than 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) across the Amazon. A plaque commemorating the highway’s inauguration stands beside a veritable monument to the current problem of deforestation: the huge stump of a Brazil nut tree, one of the biggest in the Amazon and a key source of income for the Arara. Tatji Arara points out the burned wreckage of a truck used to carry timber that was set on fire in February by scores of indigenous people. Just off the red-dirt highway, loggers have bored their way into the rainforest using heavy machinery. Destroying everything in their path, the brazen looters are in no hurry to remove the timber, leaving it to be collected another day. “When they are caught in the act, they say that these lands belong to no one, that the Indians are idiots, that they are lazy because they don’t want to plant soybeans,” says Tatji Arara. (afp)

Mauro Pimentel / AFP

Indigenous people prepare their boats at a improvised harbor used as access to indigenous lands that are only reachable by boat or plane in the Amazonian rainforest, in Altamira, Para state, Brazil on March 12, 2019.

Prabowo, ulemas hold discourse on election-linked issues

JAKARTA - Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Secretary General Ahmad Muzani confirmed a meeting held between presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and ulemas and national figures, Tuesday night, for discussing wide-ranging issues pertaining to the 2019 general election.

ALTAMIRA - A rifle resting on his shoulder, Tatji Arara looks despondent as he steps over the trunks of huge trees felled by timber traffickers in the heart of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, now the scene of numerous land conflicts. “Every day, we find new trees cut down. I’ve never seen anything like this,” laments the 41-year-old, a leader of the Arara indigenous people in the northern state of Para. He says illegal logging on Arara lands -- an area equivalent to 264,000 football fields -- has intensified since President Jair Bolsonaro came to power in January. Bolsonaro, a far-right champion of agribusiness, vowed during last year’s election campaign that he would not give up “one centimeter more” of land to indigenous communities in Brazil, home to around 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest. According to Para-based conservation group Imazon, deforestation in the Amazon increased 54 percent in January -- the first month Bolsonaro was in office -- as compared with a year earlier. Some 37 percent of the devastated areas are in Para. The Arara territory, where around 300 indigenous live, has been under government protection since 1991. But there are fears that could change under Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic. “Bolsonaro is poisoning the spirit of the people. Lots of people think he will take our land, but we won’t let him,” says Tatji Arara,

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Lars Hagberg / AFP

In this file photo taken on March 7, 2019 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives to speak to the media at the national press gallery in Ottawa, Ontario.

D’oh Canada! Trudeau to be featured in The Simpsons

OTTAWA - The Simpsons are returning to Canada in an upcoming episode that will air on Sunday for a storyline that will feature Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A spokeswoman for the prime minister told AFP that he had been invited to appear as himself on the show, but “respectfully declined their offer.” Instead, Canadian journalist Lucas Meyer, who does a pretty accurate Trudeau voice impersonation, was given the gig after sending the producers a video clip. Meyer told public broadcaster CBC it was a “quite surreal” opportunity. He said he appears as Trudeau in only two scenes, and one might have been cut. “It’s a handful of lines.” According to Canadian media, a subplot of the episode involves daughter Lisa Simpson being granted asylum in Canada during a family trip to Niagara Falls. Canadian-born Simpsons consulting producer Tim Long said the show would also touch on a political scandal plaguing Trudeau ahead of October elections, involving accusations of meddling in the prosecution of a corporate

engineering giant. “That may be one of those things that nobody in America is going to get,” Long told The Canadian Press. “It’s funny, though, because of course America got used to the idea that, ‘Well, Trudeau is great’ -- at least the liberal part of America has sort of got it in their head that, ‘Oh, he’s amazing and Canadians must love him’ -- and I think they’re shocked to learn that he’s in a little bit of trouble right now,” he said. A previous Simpsons visit to Canada in 2002 had created a huge splash, with political leaders issuing statements welcoming the fictional family and local broadcaster Global TV hosting a red-carpet pre-screening event. That 30-minute episode saw the family tour Toronto’s CN Tower and Homer seeking to get injured to take advantage of Canada’s public health system. In 2014, Trudeau’s predecessor Stephen Harper stopped following Homer on Twitter after local media reported that the animated family patriarch was on his Twitter list. (afp)

“The meeting’s attendees concurred that implementation of the 2019 election failed to match expectations in the face of several incidents of electoral fraud that had come to light,” Muzani remarked after the conclusion of the meeting that convened at Prabowo’s residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. The national figures and ulemas lamented the demise of polling station officers shouldering duties and tasks for the smooth implementation of the simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, he stated. Muzani noted that though the national figures and clerics extended heart-felt condolences over the demise of polling station officers, the death toll figure of 100 did flabbergast them. “This is indicative of the fact that the KPU (the General Elections Commission) failed to take precautionary measures while outlining the tasks of election officers owing to which so (many of) them died of overwork and exhaustion. Data shows several hundred yet being hospitalized,” he pointed out. Muzani revealed that the clerics and national figures had continued to accrue data and kept track of different types of electoral fraud by maintaining vote recapitulation forms C1. “The figures have a long following, with scores hailing from East Java, Central Java, Madura and Sumatra,” he noted. At the meeting, Prabowo called on national figures and ulemas to espouse the sovereignty of the public in this democratic nation, he remarked. He said the public had exercised its franchise by thronging polling stations on Apr 17, and that the people’s sovereignty must be upheld. “This is necessary as part of the endeavor to salvage the future of the nation and state. Nonetheless, every process must be carried out peacefully,” he noted. Indonesia organized simultaneous elections on April 17, 2019, for electing the president and members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), House of Representatives BAY ISMOYO / AFP (DPR), Provincial Legislative Council, and District/Munici- President candidate ex-general Prabowo Subianto (center-R) waves to his supporters before a presidenpal Legislative Council. (ant) tial election winning celebration in Jakarta, on April 24, 2019, that he claimed.

Bogor seeks KPU’s intervention over employee deaths during elections

BOGOR - Bogor Mayor Bima Arya sought the General Elections Commission’s (KPU’s) assistance in conducting reassessment of the implementation of simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections after two overworked residents died while shouldering responsibilities in manning polling stations. “The death toll of polling station committee members is high. This is an eye-opener for us to review the implementation model of the simultaneous elections. What are its repercussions on employee

health? This evaluation is deemed necessary,” he informed ANTARA here, Wednesday. Arya underscored the significance of setting an age limit while appointing people to manage polling station working committees as a precautionary measure against recurrence of such fatal incidents in future. Pointing to the fact that elderly individuals handled ballot booths, he suggested that reassessment should encompass roping in youngsters deemed physically capable and determined to run polling sta-

tion working committees. Arya extended condolences to the city residents dying of overwork or being hospitalized owing to exhaustion or meeting with traffic accidents in the midst of their hectic work schedules for the 2019 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections at their polling stations. “I have tried to pay a visit to each one of them. They have fallen sick after becoming fatigued. I will at once find out how many people are part of the real counting process. I request to not pressurize them. We do not want to witness

any other fatalities or victims,” he affirmed. In the meantime, Bogor City’s General Elections Commission Chairman Samsudin confirmed the deaths of two heads of polling station working committees owing to fatigue identified as Anwar Sofyan, head of the KPPS number 75 in Tegal Gundil Village; and Rasti, head of KPPS number 31 in Bondongan Village. “Six others are undergoing treatment in a hospital and at home after being overworked or having met with traffic accidents,” Samsudin

noted. KPU Commissioner Viryan Aziz informed journalists in Jakarta on Tuesday of the deaths of 119 polling station working committee members, and 548 others falling ill. The aforementioned people were managing different ballot booths across Indonesia’s 25 provinces. Furthermore, Commissioner of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) Fritz Edward Siregar confirmed that 33 Elections Supervisory Committee members too lost their lives while fulfilling electoral duties. (ant)

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Goa Garba

Destination

International

Thursday, April 25, 2019

International

‘I’m in a hole’, admits Zverev after Barcelona shock

A mystical historical site

GIANYAR - Goa Garba is located in Pejeng Kelod village, Tampaksiring about 3 km from central Ubud. It lies under the Pengukur-Ukuran Temple, above the Pakerisan River. It is built in the 12th century during the reign of King Jaya Pangus. Goa Garba is believed to be the meditation site of the giant Kebo Iwa, an ancient Balinese Hindu military leader. Kebo Iwa came here to meditate and acquire power when he aspired to be the military leader of the ancient kingdom of Bedahulu. He got the job and became so powerful that even the powerful prime minister of the kingdom, Ki Pasung Grigis, couldn’t defeat him. Upon entering the cave, visitors will find several large rocks. On one of these stones lies a footprint larger than that of an average adult. Locals believe it was the footprint of Kebo Iwa. There is a small area that where water, which comes from the nearby hot springs, can be seen dripping from the surface. Goa Garba is part of the Jaga Pengukur-Ukuran major temple, believed to have been built in 1116. Many people believe that the temple is where Kebo Iwa practiced his war skills, having had to go through a series of challenges before he obtained his physical and spiritual powers. During the training, he defeated his opponents, leaving their bodies on the ground. This is why the village was named Sawagunung. Sawa means dead bodies and gunung means mountain. This historical account of Kebo Iwa has resulted in Goa Garba becoming popular with people who want to gain physical and mental powers. There are two routes to enter Goa Garba. The first is entering the temple heading to the back yard and descending to reach the cave. The steps are made of natural stone, believed to have been put in place by Kebo Iwa. The second route is taken from the south and does not require visitors to enter the temple’s interior. There are two water springs, Petirtaan Telaga Waja, used to cleanse the temple during temple celebrations. On the way to the cave, there are several hollowed outsites, usually used for meditation. There are also old inscriptions with writings that are not fully understood even today. Many people find visiting Goa Garba to be a spiritually enlightening time. (IBP/net)

BARCELONA - Alexander Zverev has admitted he is at a loss to explain his dip Zverev a number match point 6-5beaten and then 3-0 lead the final-set tie-the in form afterspurned the world threeatwas by alucky loserinNicolas Jarry in break before going down 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7/5) to Jarry, ranked 81st in the world. second round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday. The German had taken a late wildcard in Barcelona in search of both matches and form after a string of surprise defeats. “I just play bad, it’s not a secret,” Zverev said afterwards. “The tennis was very low-level. Most of the points that I won were unforced errors by him. I’m in a hole and I don’t know how to get out of it.” Jarry had even lost in qualifying to Spain’s Marcel Granollers but, after being given a reprieve, knocked out the same opponent in the first round to set up a meeting with Zverev, longconsidered a future star of the men’s game. The Chilean upset both Marin Cilic in Shanghai and Dominic Thiem in Hamburg last year but this was the biggest victory of his career and another setback for Zverev, with just over a month to go before the start of the French Open. The 22-year-old beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic en route to winning the ATP Finals at the end of last year but has since struggled to

maintain momentum. He lost in the fourth round at the Australian Open in January and has now failed to win more than a single match for a fifth tournament in a row. Jarry, meanwhile, will face either Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov or veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the third round on Thursday, with Japan’s Kei Nishikori now the highest ranked seed left in the bottom half. Nishikori, Barcelona champion in 2014 and 2015, has also been out of form in recent weeks but recovered from a slow start to beat American Taylor Fritz 7-5, 6-2. The world number seven will be up against either Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime or Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri for a place in the quarterfinals. Top seed Rafael Nadal begins his bid to win the Barcelona Open for a record 12th time against Argentine Leonardo Mayer on Wednesday. (afp)

Germany’s Alexander Zverev hits a return to Italy’s Fabio Fognini during their Monte-Carlo ATP Masters Series tournament tennis match in Monaco on April 18, 2019.

Sixers crush Nets to advance

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Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Brooklyn Nets during Round One Game Five of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 23, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

LOS ANGELES - Joel Embiid led the Philadelphia 76ers into the NBA Eastern Conference playoff semi-finals on Tuesday with 23 points in a 122-120 blowout against the Brooklyn Nets. After an ill-tempered Game Four where Embiid was at the centre of a mass brawl, the Sixers ruthlessly dispatched Brooklyn to claim a 4-1 series victory at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers, who will now face the Toronto Raptors in the next round, were always in control after surging into a 17point lead at the end of the first quarter. They led 60-31 at half-time as Brooklyn’s challenge effectively collapsed. Embiid was again immense for Philadelphia, hauling in 13 rebounds to go with his points tally. Five other Philadelphia players made double figures, with Ben Simmons scoring 13 points and Tobias Harris 12. JJ Redick and James Ennis III added 11 apiece. Jonathon Simmons finished with 10 from the bench. Brooklyn’s season ended in a disappointing fashion, with point guard D’Angelo Russell having a woeful night after a dazzling season. Russell finished with eight points after making just three of 16 attempts from the field. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the Brooklyn scoring with 21 points from the bench in 15 minutes on court, but by that stage the game was effectively over with the Sixers sitting on a commanding lead. Caris LeVert finished with 18 points. (afp)

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Messi rested as win over Alaves edges Barca closer to the title

Barcelona will win La Liga on Wednesday if Atletico Madrid lose to Valencia after a 2-0 victory over Alaves gave them a 12-point lead at the top of the table. Lionel Messi started on the bench at Mendizorrotza on Tuesday in a move that made clear just how comfortable Barca are in this title race, its conclusion surely now only a matter of when rather than if. Should Atletico avoid defeat to Valencia at the Wanda Metropolitano, the Catalans will still be crowned champions on Saturday at the Camp Nou with a victory over Levante. They could even have it wrapped up before kick-off on Saturday if Atletico fail to take at least four points from Valencia and Real Valladolid, the latter whom they face a few hours earlier on Saturday. “It’s an incredibly valuable win,” coach Ernesto Valverde said. “In the end however much as people say the league is won, it has to be achieved on the field. “We are at the gates now, needing three points more with four games ahead. It is an immense joy to be in this position after so many months of work.” Real Madrid, who play their game in hand against Getafe on Thursday, sit 16 points adrift in third. Alaves stay eighth, their hopes of a Europa League spot fading fast. Messi came on as a substitute in the 61st minute shortly after his team had scored twice, Carles Alena guiding one into the corner before Luis Suarez, in Messi’s absence, took and dispatched a penalty. Valverde leaving out his captain and star player, presumably with an eye on next week’s Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, was a luxury Barcelona have earned and can afford. Liverpool, still jostling with Manchester City in the Premier League, are unlikely to feel the same sort of confidence when they face Huddersfield on Friday. “The idea at half-time was to play Leo because the result was not clear,” Valverde said. “But regarding the Golden Boot and that sort of thing, we are only focused on what we have to do to win. “Leo has a lot of individual challenges ahead but today it was time to rest.” Other players were preserved too. Jordi Alba, Clement Lenglet and Arthur Melo all began on the bench, allowing Samuel Umtiti more minutes as he recovers from a knee injury, while the struggling Philippe Coutinho started in a front three with Ousmane Dembele and Suarez. Alena, the 21-year-old Spaniard, scored his second La Liga goal and showed again why many believe he could be a key figure for Barcelona in the years to come. - Consistent Suarez -

PAU BARRENA / AFP

Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi dribbles the ball during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 20, 2019.

Suarez’s goal, meanwhile, was his 21st in the league and marks the fourth consecutive season in which he has passed the 20 mark for Barca. He might have scored earlier but shot straight at Fernando Pacheco when sent clear in the opening stages, while Coutinho followed up but his rebound was blocked. Sergi Roberto fired over from inside the area but it was his run down the right that created Alena’s opener in the 54th minute. After a neat exchange with Arturo Vidal, Sergi played inside, through the legs of Suarez and to the feet of Alena. He controlled and placed the ball coolly into the corner. Six minutes later, and one before the introduction of Messi, Suarez doubled the lead from the spot. Umtiti bundled in on the line and as VAR checked him for offside, Alaves’ Tomas Pina was shown to have handballed moments before. Suarez made no mistake. Messi hit the woodwork, his shot well saved by Pacheco, and Coutinho drove wide late on. Two was enough for the win and, possibly, the title. (afp)

Eriksen late show keeps Spurs on course for top four finish Mauricio Pochettino admitted his tired Tottenham stars are pushing themselves to their limits after Christian Eriksen’s superb late strike sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win over struggling Brighton on Tuesday. Pochettino’s third-placed side dominated from start to finish at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but a combination of brave Brighton defending and poor finishing kept the match in the balance until the 88th minute. Eriksen finally ended Brighton’s stubborn resistence with a sensational long-range drive that lifted Tottenham three points clear of fourth-placed Chelsea and four ahead of Arsenal in fifth. “The team are not as fresh as we wanted, not just legs, but minds, so we have to congratulate the players. I’m so proud of them,” said Pochettino. “Brighton were a really brave opponent. The most important thing is we believed, we didn’t give up.” Although Arsenal can close the gap to one point if they win at Wolves on Wednesday, this was a vital result in Spurs’ bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top four finish. Tottenham have now won all four games in all competitions at their plush new arena, scoring eight goals without reply. This was the most frustrating fixture at the £1 billion ($1.3 billion) ground as the hosts looked hamstrung without injured striker Harry Kane until Eriksen came to the rescue with his ninth goal of the season in all competitions. But Pochettino was delighted with the way his players kept plug-

ging away right to the end despite the draining effects of their hectic fixture list. “There were more than 20 attempts and the reward is massive,” he said. “It is three very important points and to be in a good position in the table.” Tottenham can take another step towards securing their topfour berth in Saturday’s crucial London derby against West Ham before focusing on the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Ajax next week. “We must be confident, the team are doing a fantastic effort after tough games against Manchester City,” Pochettino added. The finale was painful for Brighton, who have won only two of their last 15 league games and sit just one place and three points above the relegation zone. They have failed to score in their past seven games in all competitions and are in severe danger of being caught by third bottom Cardiff in the fight to avoid relegation. Defeats for Arsenal and Manchester United, combined with Chelsea’s draw against Burnley, had given Tottenham a welcome lift following their 1-0 loss at Manchester City on Saturday. - Knockout blow -

With Brighton defending deep, Lucas Moura nearly teed up Dele Alli with a low cross, but Lewis Dunk slid in to clear off the line at the last second. Pochettino’s decision to pick Fernando Llorente as his main striker forced Son Heung-min out to the flanks when the South Korean had been so deadly in a more

Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Tottenham Hotspur’s Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen (R) celebrates scoring during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 23, 2019. central role in recent weeks. The move left Tottenham a little short of pace and penetration as they laboured to break down Brighton. Spurs were denied by more lastditch Brighton defending when Alli deftly controlled a high ball in the six yard box and flicked goalwards, only to see Shane Duffy scramble it off the line. Duffy threatened at the other

end when his header forced Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris into action for the first time early in the second half. Danny Rose’s fierce 20-yarder was well saved by Mat Ryan, while Toby Alderweireld’s luck was out as well when the Tottenham defender’s low drive hit a post, rolling along the line and away to safety. Desperate for a breakthrough, Pochettino sent on much-maligned

striker Vincent Janssen for his first appearance in 20 months. Janssen didn’t make much of an impression, but Tottenham kept pressing and, with their 29th shot, Eriksen finally landed the knockout blow in the 88th minute. Setting his sights from 25 yards, the Denmark midfielder lashed a powerful strike with his left foot that beat Ryan at his near post and sparked wild celebrations. (afp)

Newcastle record signing Almiron in doubt for Copa America Paraguayan midfielder Miguel Almiron could be a doubt for his country’s Copa America campaign after Newcastle revealed he will miss their final three Premier League matches due to a hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old, bought for a reported club record fee of £20 million ($26 million) from MLS Cup winners Atlanta United in January, went off in the second half of the 3-1 win over Southampton last weekend.

“Miguel Almiron will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Southampton,” read a statement from Newcastle. “The club have already been in

communication with -- and will continue to liaise with -- the Paraguayan Football Association ahead of this summer’s Copa America, which the player could still feature in depending on his recovery.”

Almiron has just over a month to recover with the Copa America, hosted by Brazil, kicking off on June 14 and Paraguay’s opening game with 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar on June 16. (afp)

Richard Sellers/PA via AP

Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron lies on the pitch after a challenge against Southampton during their English Premier League soccer match at St James’ Park in Newcastle, England, Saturday April 20, 2019.