Edition : Monday, February 26, 2018 | Internasional Bali Post

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Monday, February 26, 2018

Oprah Winfrey says ‘definitely not’ running for U.S. president

Ed Sheeran

REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Ed Sheeran searches for new lines in movie “Songwriter” BERLIN - British singer Ed Sheeran said on Friday that the hardest part of songwriting was coming up with lines that had never been written before as a new documentary detailing his creative process premiered at Berlin’s international film festival.

The movie “Songwriter” was directed by Sheeran’s cousin, Murray Cummings, and follows the Grammy winner as he travels around the United States and England writing songs on his laptop, jamming in a garden and recording in the studio.

The intimate portrait of Sheeran, who was the most-streamed artist on music service Spotify globally in 2017, includes footage of him belting out songs while crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, returning to high school to see his music teacher and talking to his father about his songs.

“I think the most difficult thing to do with writing a song is finding a phrase that you haven’t heard before because there’s always a song that’s going to be like: ‘I love you baby like crazy, I miss you maybe’,” Sheeran told a news conference. He said he had learned not to push himself if he was struggling to write and did not believe writer’s block existed.

“What I do when I can’t write a

song is I just put the guitar down and go and do something else for about a couple of weeks and then come back and then I’ll be able to write a song,” the 27-year-old said.

“So the way that my mind is now is, I will be able to write songs forever - they probably will start being about pretty mundane things because my life is getting more and more calm.”

Sheeran said he liked the documentary because it showed a song being written from start to finish, rather than just an album being recorded.

“I like that Murray found a niche that hasn’t really been done before.

It’s quite difficult to find something that hasn’t been done in a music movie,” Sheeran said.

Sheeran, who said he planned to make a film next year in which he would play something other than himself, listed “Goodfellas”, “Cool Runnings” and “Love Actually” as his favourite movies.

Cummings told Reuters the documentary would give fans an insight into Sheeran off-stage.

“When he’s on his own he’s kind of very like relaxed and chilled and stuff. So I think they’re going to see that’s what he’s like because this film just kind of shows what I see every day,” Cummings said. (rtr)

LOS ANGELES - Oprah Winfrey put to rest any lingering questions about a potential 2020 bid for the presidency, declaring on a late-night talk show on Thursday that she was “definitely not running.”

The media mogul, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, was emphatic in her response to host Kimmel’s question about whether she would run.

“Where do I look into the camera? I am definitely not running for president,” Winfrey said over cries of “no” from the studio audience.

Last month, Winfrey fans lit up Twitter with calls for her to run for president in 2020 against U.S. President

Donald Trump after she gave an inspiring speech at the Golden Globe awards show in support of those who have exposed sexual misconduct. “ Yo u n o w , you give a speech and then you sit down a n d you

have surprisingly started to run for president,” Winfrey told Kimmel, calling it “a humbling thing to have people think that you can run the country.”

She acknowledged, though, having thought about it.

“I am the kind of person who tries to listen to signs. I think, well am I supposed to run the country?

I don’t think so.”

Known by millions on firstname basis, Winfrey first rose to fame as the host of a television talk show, using it to build a media empire that spans magazine publishing, movie and television production, cable TV and satellite radio. Born into poverty, she is now one of the world’s wealthiest women and been nominated for two Academy Awards. She has long been associated with Democratic Party causes and fundraising.

Trump has several times said he hoped he would face Winfrey as an opponent in the 2020 presidential race.

On Sunday night, he blasted her over a segment on CBS’ “60 Minutes” program in which she led a panel of 14 Republican, Democrat and Independent voters from Grand Rapids, Michigan in a wide ranging discussion about Trump’s first year in office.

Trump tweeted: “Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes.

The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!” (rtr)

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Monday, February 26, 2018

China’s President Xi Jinping is seen on a screen during the closing ceremony.

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

China sets stage for Xi to stay in office indefinitely

BEIJING - China’s ruling Communist Party on Sunday set the stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, with a proposal to remove a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in office.

Since taking office more than five years ago, Xi has overseen a radical shake-up of the party, including taking down top leaders once thought untouchable as part of his popular war on deep-rooted corruption.

Sunday’s announcement, carried by state news agency Xinhua, gave few details. It said the proposal had been made by the party’s Central Committee, the largest of its elite ruling bodies. The proposal also covers the vice president position.

Xi, 64, is currently required by

China’s constitution to step down as president after two five-year terms. Nearing the end of his first term, he will be formally elected to a second at the annual meeting of China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament opening on March 5.

There is no limit on his tenure as the party and military chief, though a maximum 10-year term is the norm. He began his second term as head of the party and military in October at the end of a party congress held once every five years.

Zhang Lifan, a historian and po-

litical commentator, said the news was not unexpected, and it was hard to predict exactly how long Xi could stay on in power.

“In theory he could serve longer than Mugabe but in reality, no one is sure exactly what will happen,” Zhang said, referring to Zimbabwe’s former president whose four decades in office ended in November, after the army and his former political allies moved to force him out.

Though positive remarks filled the comments section under the pages of main state media outlets

like the People’s Daily, the move was not welcomed by everyone on China’s Twitter-like Weibo service, “If two terms are not enough, then they can write in a third term, but there needs to be a limit. Getting rid of it is not good!,” wrote one Weibo user.

EMPEROR XI Constitutional reform needs to be approved by parliament, which is stacked with members chosen for their loyalty to the party - meaning the reform will not be blocked.

There has been persistent speculation that Xi wants to stay on in office past the customary two five-

year terms.

The October party congress ended without appointing a clear eventual successor for Xi. However, the role of party chief is more senior than that of president.

At some point, Xi could be given a party position that also enables him to stay on as long as he likes.

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

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Monday, February 26, 2018

Bali News

International

Sapu leger rite held to boost Balinese human resources

CEREMONies and their paraphernalia are means to refine the minds and characters of adherents in the way of Hinduism. The Dwijendra Foundation therefor held a sapu leger ceremony for students born on Wuku Wayang to coincide with Tumpek Wayang on Saturday (Feb. 24). A total of 70 kindergarten, elementary, junior high and vocational school students from the Dwijendra Foundation Denpasar underwent the sapu leger exorcism rite.

Some 63 of the students were born the week of Tumpek Wayng and seven of the students were born exactly on Tumpek Wayang.

The ritual was officiated over by Ida Pedanda Istri Gede Simpangan Manuaba from Griya Simpangan, Buduk. While the apu leger purificatory rite (pelukatan) was organized by puppeteer Ida Bagus Ngurah Raharja. The essence of this sapu leger can only be performed by specially qualified puppeteer and forms part of the sapu leger procession.

It is said that Lord Shiva summoned Sang Hyang Kala to gobble babies and children born on Wuku Wayang because those born on this wuku (seven-day week in pawukon calendar) are temperamental. However, the children born in this day who have a tendency to

be especially temperamental can be saved from being gobbled by Sanghyang Kala by the puppeteer presenting special offerings. The sapu leger ceremony thus also serves to soften the character of children born on Wuku Wayang.

The Dwijendra Foundation sponsored the mass sapu leger ceremony as a way to help balance Balinese society in its entirety. “This is the first time we have held such a ceremony but we plan to do it every two years”, said Chairman of the Dwijendra Foundation, Dr. M.S. Chandra Jaya.

The Dwijendra Foundation holds this ceremony in oder to to refine the minds of and build positive character for students born in Wuku Wayang and is also a way to lessen the burden of the parents, said Jaya adding that it is a way to allow these children to become excellent human resources for Bali.

Jaya, explained that children born on Wuku Wayang indeed tend to have special characteristics and should not be allowed to run wild, especially amid the increasing influence of information technology. Schools he said have a duty to create human resources who are self-reliant for the future of Bali. The foundations therefor is taking the time to perform the sapu leger ceremony. Graduates of Dwijendra are expected to become superior, virtuous human resources for Bali that have good character. (025)

IBP/Sueca

Students of Dwijendra undergoing a sapu leger ceremony led by puppeteer Ida Bagus Baskara from Griya Buduk.

Activities

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

15

Atlas Pearls Gives Back

A Reading Corner For Kukusan Island

IBP/net

Job fair provides 1,112 vacancies

High demand for vocational and high school graduates D E N PA S A R - A l t h o u g h Bali;s unemployment rate is the lowest in Indonesia at just 1. 48 percent, the Bali Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Agency is looking to bring the unemployment rate down even further by holding their annual job fair on February 27-28.

Head of the Bali Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources, Ni Luh Made Wiratmi, recently confirmed that a total of 15 companies will participate in the job fair offering approximately 1,112 vacancies. These jobs are intended for graduates of high school, vocational school, bachelors, diploma 3 and diploma 1 and even some for graduates of junior high school.

“Hopefully, all the job vacancies can be filled in accordance with the expectations of the applicants and their competences”, she said.

Wiratmi added that the job fair held by the government in collaboration with the private sector is one way of reducing Bali;s unemployment rate. This job fair to be held in the office of the Bali Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources is a mini job fair paid for through the budget of the central government.

“The budget is from the central government’s de-concentration funds. The fair will be held over two days and aims to absorb 100 percent of the non-working labour force in all the available vacancies”, she explained.

According to data from the Manpower and Energy and Min-

eral Resources Agency, companies participating in the fair are engaged in the following sectors: retail, education, outsourcing, distributor, banking, hospitality, paint industry, financing and credit. Vocational and high school graduates are in the highest demand primarily by retail companies, outsourcing and banks.

The Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Agency through the Industry and Tourism Vocational Training Institute also opened a training program for prospective workers.

There are four programs offered: competency-based training programs, community-based training programs, mobile training programs, and third-party cooperative training. Duration of the training depends on the type of vocational and skill level and range from 240 hours of training (1.5 months) to 960 hours of training (6 months) plus on the job training in industry.

Training in tourism includes Food and Beverage Division (kitchen and pastry, restaurant and bar, and engineering) and Room Division (housekeeping / laundry). For industrial skill, it consists of electricity (cooling technique, dynamo roll, lighting installation), electronics (radio and audio, television, mobile phone), automotive (motorcycle), commercial administration (office administration / secretary), various vocations (sewing) and agriculture (processing). (kmb32)

 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

In Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia where one of Atlas Pearls’ farms is located, the Atlas Pearls CSR team is actively giving back to the community and the sea via several projects at hand namely in Labuan Bajo, Pungu Island and Kukusan Village.

The team provides community support, distribution of children’s reading books, teach English and plant mangrove trees. Soon, the team will embark on refurbishing

a reef around Pungu Kecil island.

One of these on-going projects includes building a Reading Corner or a Library for local primary schools in the area. One such successful project is now completed - thanks to the team at Atlas Pearls, now the children at MIS Al Hidayah Primary School on Kukusan Island will have access to over 100 books. Atlas Pearls built a comfortable and cozy Reading Corner for the children with accessible shelves

for the books. With time, aged or damaged books will be replaced with newer versions and new books will continuously be added to the collection. The books will also be sent to primary schools in other locations where Atlas Pearls operate such as Alor Farm and Alyui Farm.

Atlas Pearls nurtures, creates and retails high-quality pearls and pearl products, which, through their formation, are inextricably linked to the well-being of surrounding

communities and environments in its North Bali farm, the farm of Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo in Flores and Alor, Lembata.

Atlas Pearls prides itself on helping nature create the perfect gems, the South Sea Pearls of Indonesia.

Atlas Pearls care for your pearls from the breeding of oysters at its North Bali farm, the farms of Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo, Alor and Lembata where these oysters meticulously make the pearls, to the necklaces,

rings and earrings sold at Place Vendome in Paris, New York, London and the world’s greatest jewellers.

Come see the collections at the Atlas Pearl’s showrooms, choose your unique pearl and let it sing to your heart. Available to view at the Seminyak urban store of Atlas Pearls, Jl. Raya Seminyak no.73, Seminyak. For bookings and inquiries, please contact Atlas Pearls at retailmarketing@cipindo.com or call +62 361 732 769.

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Monday, February 26, 2018

Traveling

International

Bali News

International

Pancake week festival

MINSK - Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic feast which can be compared to a carnival. There is no specific date for it on the calendar. The holiday begins exactly eight weeks before Easter and lasts for a week. Each day of Maslenitsa has its own name: Monday – The Welcoming. On this day Lady Maslenitsa is welcomed, fairs organized, places for folk celebrations prepared and Maslenitsa effigy is made Tuesday – The Playing. People start visiting each other, engage in games, outdoor fun activities, sleigh riding. Single girls do fortune telling Wednesday – The Sweet Tooth Day. Sons-in-law visit their mothers-in-law for a pancake treat Thursday – The

Revelry/The Wide Thursday, the day when the so-called Wide Maslenitsa starts. People make and eat bliny (thin pancakes or crepes), dance and enjoy outdoor activities. In old times that was also a day for fist-fighting tournaments Friday – The Mother-in-Law’s Eve. Sons-inlaw invite their mothers-in-law for dinner. The invitation must be made in person Saturday – The Sister-in-Law’s Gathering. Young wives invite their husband’s relatives to give them presents Sunday – The Forgiveness Day. The Maslenitsa effigy is carried around the village and is burnt in a bonfire at sunset.

Relatives and friends ask each other for forgiveness.

A lot of cafes will offer pancakes during Maslenitsa. Usually pancakes in Belarus are made of only four ingredients: milk, flour, butter and eggs. Dough is always fresh and no frozen products are used.

The variety of pancake fillings is unbelievable. Among the novelties in Belarus is ‘Beef-pancake’ which consists of a yummy pork chop, melted Cheddar, onions, dill pickles and a special sauce.

The prices for pancakes usually start from about $1.

During Maslenitsa it’s also usual to eat potato pancakes, which are called draniki, lunches and different beverages varying from beer to milkshakes and coffee cocktails. The variety of

pancake fillings is unbelievable.

Among the novelties in Belarus is ‘Beef-pancake’ which consists of a yummy pork chop, melted

Monday, February 26, 2018

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Cheddar, onions, dill pickles and a special sauce. The prices for pancakes usually start from about $1. (net)

IBP/net

Residents of Kesimpar flee to refuge

Worried about farming as volcano still ‘boils’

Amlapura - Volcanic ash on the slopes of Mount Agung has been swept away by rainwater allowing the vegetation to grow green again. And, since the alert level for Mount Agung has been lowered, communities living at the foot of the volcano have been able to cultivate their fields again. Residents of Kesimpar hamlet, Besakih, Rendang however are not so fortunate as their village is still affected by volcanic activity and flooding and are therefore still living in evacuation.

Currently, 398 people or about 125 families from Kesimpar are still being provided refuge at the Rendang evacuation post at the Rendang Agriculture Office.

Despite being eager to return home and get back to their regular activities, there is concern about eh still active volcano. “The first problem is that the road is badly damaged and secondly if there is another eruptions many farmers are worried about suffering great losses” explained I Ketut Wijaya Mataram, subdistrict facilitator of the development and empowerment program (P3MD) of Karangasem who was accompanying evacuees on Saturday night (Feb. 24).

Previously, many residents of

Kesimpar who evacuated to the Rendang post were insisting that they be allowed to go home, arguing that the few people who wanted to stay in evacuation were only interested in getting free food there.

However after holding a meeting at the Rendang Agricultural Office, attended by leaders from the subdistrict of Rendang leadership council and Subdivision Head of Volcanic Mitigation for Eastern Region of the PVMBG, Devi Kamil Syahbana, on Thursday night (Feb. 22), an better understanding of the situation was reached.

Wijaya Mataram said the Center for Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has confirmed that volcanic activity is

still affecting the region of Kesimpar, located within a 5 km radius of the crater of Mount Agung. The PVMBG, explained Wijaya Mataram, is not strict about the recommendation of a 4km radius danger zone. If for example Kesimpar has the potential to become cut off due to damaged roads or if people are still feeling traumatized, it is perfectly acceptable to remain in the evacuation post. “I meet with Nengah Sama the hamlet chief of Kesimpar almost everyday and in fact this is the condition of Kesimpar at present. Yes the land can be farmed but people are still traumatized”, explained Wijaya Mataram.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also expressed their compassion for the residents of Kesimpar. During his visit to the Rendang Evacuation Post on Friday night (Feb. 23), Deputy Recovery for the BNPB, Taufik Kartiko, said it is perfectly normal for the people of Kesimpar to be haunted by anxiety and that he will therefore be coordinating with the ranks of the BNPB to provide

additional support.

This support, he said includes food security assistance such as rice for the pour for the next three months at least or until the marigold gardens and vegetable crops have ben harvested. However before such assistance can be provided to the villagers the road to Kesimpar hamlet needs to be repaired. At the very least emergency repairs need to be done as the road has been badly damaged by floods over the last few months, he added.

Some residents of Kesimpar who had insisted on going home, ended up returning to the evacuation post. 40 year-old I Wayan Gede Darmika for example, had returned home on Tuesday (Feb. 20), but subsequently rushed back to the evacuation post after hearing a roar from the mountain. “Indeed, the mountain is calmer than it was but it is still “boiling”. I rushed here in such a panic that I left my wallet at home”, he admitted.

Darmika said he did not dare cultivate his land just yet out of fear that Mount Agung will erupt again.

Even when the volcano does gradually return to normal, he said he is still not sure how he will cultivate his fields as he has been living in evacuation for the last six months and his money has run out.

Hamlet chief of Kesimpar, Nengah Sama, said his people are still confused about what do to.

Although there is a great desire to go home there is also a lot of fear. “Currently Kesimpar can only be reached through Pokcabe (western road— Ed) as the passage to Yeh Kori (eastern road) is badly damaged.

The Pokcabe path is also prone to flooding because it is located next to the river channel”, he said.

Last Saturday, Sama led his hamlet in making offerings at the evacuation post. The piodalan or temple anniversary of the Dalem Temple of Kesimpar is on Wednesday (Feb. 28) s they are making preparation at eh evacuation post.

“We’ll slaughter a pig tomorrow here a the evacuation post, so that when we go home to the temple we will only have to perform the ceremony itself”, he said. (117)

So far, Bali has no ‘child-worthy’ cities

DENPASAR - According to a number of determining criteria “child worthy” cities that those that are safest for children to live in free of violence. Bali has yet to have any of it’s cities declared to be fully “child-worthy’ although Denpasar and Gianyar have been categorized

as “excellent” in this regard.

Commissioner of the Bali Regional Protection of Women and Children (KPPAD), Ni Luh Gede Yastini, explained that based on cerain indicators of violence against children, cities can fall into one of of four categories from ok

to best (pratama -okay), (madya -good), (nindya -excellent) (utama -best imaginable). Currently, Denpasar and Gianyar are rated nindya (excellent) while Badung was downgraded from nindya to madya (good) last year.

A few districts have been rated

madya and pratama while others do not even qualify as “ok”.. “Only after being rated as utama or best imaginable, are cities named as ‘child worthy’, she explained.

Yastini explained that the most important way to reduce violence against children is to strengthen the

family. The KPPAD is therefore asking the government to create a family empowerment program.

“We need to recognize that the resilience of families is becoming currently becoming weaker”, she added. (kmb42)

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Bali News

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Enigma: Looking at life through women’s eyes gender politics or social commentary ?

‘Peace Games’ are no game-changer for South Koreans

Women have had a dominant role in art throughout the ages, both as creators of beautiful objects and as objects of beautiful creations. Women indeed embody a kind of enigma as givers of life but also for males as “the other”. Indeed the fact that women are so often the object or subject of men’s paintings is in itself a kind of enigma. Is it because of the natural beauty of a woman’s body that women are so intriguing? or is it because of the enigmatic, unnamable impact they have on the lives of male artists ?, is it simply because for male artists women are “the other” and as such are intrinsically intriguing?, or are their more nefarious reasons underlying this tendency?

Both the topic of the preponderance of men in the formal art world as well as the public male gaze upon woman are indeed topics fraught with many issues worth exploring. However the exhibition

currently on display at Artotel Sanur entitled: Enigma: Looking at Life Through Women’s Eyes which features paintings of women by male artists does not refer to these topics directly, though natu-

Art work by Sindu Putra on display at Artotel

IBP/kmb

rally these and other related issues naturally comes to mind.

In fact, this intriguing title refers to the fact that all the artists presented noticed that in their own unique ways, find themselves time and again drawn to featuring women in their paintings and asked themselves what it was about women that they found so inspiring. Though the meaning of the title of the exhibition does beg the question of how men can see through women’s eyes, the perhaps deliberately vague phrase in fact refers to these artists choice of women in society as the theme of the story they tell in their paintings.

As curator of the show Cata Odata’s Ratna Odata explaines: “When we were asked to put a show together, we actually had to delay the opening date because we were having trouble finding a theme that related to the current works of all five artists. One day as we were all discussing the matter, we suddenly noticed that all of their paintings featured women’s eyes and when asked why this was, none of the artists had a clear answer. It was indeed an enigma to them”.

As it turns out each of the artist has a unique take on the image and story of the women in their paintings, none of which were the purely aesthetic aspects of women. For artist Sindu Putra, it was the idea of the image of Balinese women in particular that was interesting to him. Exploring how a kind of mythologized image of Balinese women as mysterious and exotic has been used for the last century to create an a seducing illusion of some imagined passed is still used today, he created 3 hyper realistic paintings of old photographs that appear to have been crumpled.

In contrast though related in theme, artist Djunaidi Kenyut created a series of brutish renditions of

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REUTERS/Panumas Sanguanwong

Pro-democracy activists wearing masks mock Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as Pinocchio during a protest against junta at a university in Bangkok, Thailand, February 24, 2018.

Art work by Djunaidi Kenyut on display at Artotel Balinese women carrying various types of baskets on their heads.

Each baskets is plastered with a shred of lace fabric commonly used for traditional blouses worn for ceremonies in Bali. The women seen only from the waste up hardly have any shape at all apart from the melon round breasts drawn in thick brush strokes. There is something playful yet also disruptive about these paintings both visually and in the interpretations they beckon.

More disruptive or disturbing still are the series of small paintings

by Imam Suchayo who uses small, intricate yet non fluid lines to create semi-abstract fields that include many figures in each frame. These figures are not clearly distinct one from another and yet they all allude to haunting disruptions to the status quo. Indeed as the artist himself explained that he drew his inspiration from the “fringes of female spaces”.

In rather start contrast to these somewhat monstrous images, artist Awan Yozeffani presents almost cartoon story book images inspired by his daughter’s imagination and request to her father to have a drawing of a dog and a little girl.

One of the images that emerged is of a small girl with her dog and a flower pot floating on a fragment of a comet in outer space. Despite its simplicity, the image is strong

IBP/kmb

yet light, dark yet playful and hints at the mysterious inner world of children in general. His other two paintings though somewhat less light hearted are painted in the same style and all are open to a number of different readings.

By far the largest waiting of the exhibition covering the entire back wall of the space, presents a large fat women in the foreground set against a background made up of equally flabby female nude figures that appear to be floating one on top of the other in a kind of amorphous blob. This enigmatic painting by Anas Etan brings to mind many aspects of femininity and indeed hints at the female form being used as an object in itself in the public sphere.

The exhibition has already stirred much heated debate about art, women and related topics amongst artists, feminists and others who have felt touched by the theme of the show. The fact that there has been such a strong reaction to the the title of the exhibition perhaps says more about the current state of affairs than it does about the exhibition itself, but that of course is up to each viewer to decide for themselves. Cana Odata’s Enigma: Looking at Life Through Women’s Eyes will be on display at Artotel, Sanur jl, Kusuma Sari No. 1, Sanur, until April 15th, 2018. (kmb)

Thai activists in Pinocchio masks call junta leader ‘liar’

BANGKOK - Hundreds of pro-democracy activists in Thailand wore cartoon masks portraying the country’s junta leader with a long nose on Saturday, calling him a “liar” for delaying a general election promised this year.

The junta has promised and postponed elections several times since it came to power following a coup in 2014, with the latest date set for November. The militaryappointed legislature changed the election law last month, signalling another delay to early 2019.

That sparked a series of antijunta, pro-election protests that have gained momentum in recent weeks with gatherings taking place in several provinces across Thailand.

On Saturday, around 300 activists congregated at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, wearing and distributing paper masks resembling Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to Pinocchio.

One of them, Sirawith Seritiwat, said the mask was called Yuth-nocchio - a reference to the infamous fictional character whose nose gets longer every time he lies.

“Enough with the lies. Time’s

up for dictatorship. It’s the people’s time now. We must vote this year,” Sirawith told the crowd.

Activists also held up three fingers, which they said symbolised their demands in the slogan: “Elections must take place this year.

Down with dictatorship. Long live democracy.”

Around 100 police officers were deployed at the university but they did not interfere with the event.

Officials have so far not commented on the latest spate of protests, but last week a spokesman for the junta said it was not concerned by the protests and would rely on the police to maintain peace and order.

Prayuth said earlier this week young activists should focus on their studies and “not think they have to change the country.”

Protests are planned for every Saturday in March and May in Bangkok and other provinces,

with a large gathering between May 19-22 to mark the four-year anniversary of the coup.

“We urge everyone in the country to come out and join us,” said Rangsiman Rome, another activist in Bangkok.

“It’s time to take back our future.

Prayuth and Prawit must go,” he added, referring to another junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan.

Watana Muangsook, a member of the Puea Thai party which has won every election in the last decade, also came to Saturday’s gathering “to show support” to the activists.

“People have the right to demand elections,” Wattana said.

The junta lodged a lawsuit last week against seven activists for inciting unrest and 43 protesters for illegal gathering after a protest last month at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok that also involved hundreds of activists. (rtr)

GANGNEUNG - South Korea’s self-styled “Peace Games” have been a sporting success but public reaction suggests it may have failed its bigger test -- to generate the support its president needs to make bold moves to improve ties with old enemy North Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been using the Games, which end on Sunday, to help galvanise the public behind his risky policy of re-engagement with the North, an approach that in the past has ended ultimately in disappointment.

A government official voiced surprise at how young South Koreans, seen among Moon’s core supporters, declined to embrace some of his peace push, which featured a joint women’s ice hockey team made up of players from South and North.

“When Seoul pursued rapprochement with Pyongyang in the early 2000s, most people were hopeful and by and large behind the government. After a decade of up and downs, we just don’t have that anymore,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“It won’t be easy to seek a fundamental change if that means going against public opinion,” the official added.

The failure of the peace message to resonate among young South Koreans was conspicuous at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, especially when North Korea’s cheerleading squad turned up at some of the events to wave unity flags and chant “We are one!”.

“I and frankly most of my friends don’t feel that we are the same people,” university student Lee Seung-hyun, 20, said after watching the cheerleaders as they swayed to old Korean folk tunes, in between K-pop tunes playing over loudspeakers.

“I am turned off when North Korean cheerleaders chant ‘We are one!’ That feels like forcing a sense of unity that isn’t really there.”

Opinion polls showed the public warming to the joint women’s ice hockey team after an initial backlash, but that too appears to have made no lasting impact.

A Gallup Korea opinion poll released on Friday, in the final days of the Games, showed a still divided public, with about 50 percent of respondents supporting the team.

“Let’s be realistic. These are minor developments that lack substance,” James Kim, a research fellow at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said of Moon’s unity symbolism.

“Ultimately, without a major breakthrough between now and the closing ceremony, the situation before and after the Olympics is basically unchanged.” (rtr)

The Presidential Blue House/Handout via REUTERS

South Korean President Moon Jae-In and Ivanka Trump attend a dinner at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, February 23, 2018.

12

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

Entil, a Tempting Tiny Serving

New NAFTA talks aim to clear pathway to toughest issues

MEXICO CITY - Mexico and Canada aim to finish reworking less contentious chapters of the NAFTA trade deal with the United States in new talks beginning on Sunday, hoping to clear the path for a breakthrough on the toughest issues before upcoming elections.

In six months, negotiators have ground out progress on the technical details of a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement, but made little advance on the most radical demands made by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ranging from demands for major changes to automotive content rules and dispute resolution mechanisms, to imposing a clause that could automatically kill NAFTA after five years, the chief stumbling blocks laid by the White House look unlikely to be removed in the latest Mexico City round, officials say.

But if the three negotiating teams manage to iron out remaining differences on areas of broader consensus, officials hope the political leaders will turn their attention to brokering a compromise on the trickiest U.S. proposals.

“I think there’s going to be major progress on the technical issues and major obstacles on the critical issues,” Bosco de la Vega, head of Mexican farm lobby the National Agricultural Council, said of the talks running until March 5.

Once agreement is reached on technical chapters such as stateowned enterprises, barriers to trade and e-commerce, about 10 percent of the modernized accord would eventually be left over for political leaders to work out, de la Vega estimated.

Mexico hopes to build on the previous round of talks in Montreal, when Canada floated what it called “creative” solutions to the U.S. demands.

“We will address and deepen the discussion on Canada’s proposals,” a Mexican official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Canada countered U.S. demands for a higher auto content requirement with a proposal to include expenses for engineering, research and development and other highvalue work in the total.

Under NAFTA, at least 62.5 percent of the net cost of a passenger car or light truck must originate in the region to avoid tariffs. Trump wants the threshold raised to 85 percent.

“You can’t have a successful

Unique Attraction at Sangeh Monkey Forest for Pre-wedding

REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo

Flags are pictured during the fifth round of NAFTA talks involving the United States, Mexico and Canada, in Mexico City, Mexico, November 19, 2017. negotiation if there’s no change to the rules of origin,” said the Mexican official, adding, “it won’t be 85 percent. We’re not sure what the number is going to be.”

Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo has said his negotiating team aims to present a

proposal on rules of origin, though he has not provided details.

Any final agreement would need to be reached between Trump and auto sector bosses in the United States who oversee the NAFTA region, an industry source close to the process said.

Rules of origin are due to be discussed during the first three days of this round of talks. The North American auto industry has so far pushed back against Trump’s demands, arguing it would damage competitiveness and regional supply chains. (rtr)

China exports barely any fuel to North Korea in Jan - customs BEIJING - China exported barely any fuel to North Korea in January, data showed on Satur-

Monday, February 26, 2018

day, deepening months-long cuts in trade with its isolated neighbour amid growing tensions over

IBP/net

China exported barely any fuel to North Korea in January, data showed on Saturday, deepening months-long cuts in trade with its isolated neighbour amid growing tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programme.

Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programme.

Official data from the General Administration of Customs showed a fourth straight month of no diesel, gasoline or fuel oil shipments. China has traditionally been the main source of North Korea’s fuel.

The only oil product sent to North Korea was 201 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The export breakdown by product comes after data on Friday showed trade with North Korea fell to the lowest level in dollar terms on records going back to June 2014.

China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and sole major ally, though overall trade has fallen in recent months as the United Nations stepped up sanctions, banning imports of some

major commodities and seafood in September and capping annual oil product shipments in December.

China imported no iron ore, coal or lead from North Korea last month, according to the customs data, in line with those latest curbs, aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its weapons programme.

Cereal trade also slowed, with exports of rice totalling 180 tonnes to North Korea, down 4.3 percent from a year ago. It did not export any corn.

The pace of that slowdown in business has accelerated in recent months with exports of petroleum and some grains almost grinding to a halt in November and December.

The data release came after the Trump administration on Friday imposed its largest package of

sanctions against North Korea in a bid to increase pressure on Pyongyang for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

In a speech on Thursday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said that the penalties are having an impact because North Korea now has less money to spend on its ballistic missile tests.

Last year, North Korea conducted dozens of missile launches and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of U.N. resolutions as it pursues its goal of developing a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the United States.

China has repeatedly said it is fully enforcing all resolutions against North Korea, despite suspicion in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that loopholes still exist. (rtr)

Tourist making a visit to Sangeh Monkey Forest will get additional attraction. Aside from enjoying a cool forest atmosphere with monkeys as its inhabitants, they can also witness the cultural attractions of Bali in the form of people with pre-wedding photos. “There is additional entertainment at Sangeh Monkey Forest. We are very happy to know the preparation of Balinese who will get married,” said Sulistyani, a tourist from Surabaya, Sunday (Feb. 18).

Indeed, at that time the tourist attraction located at Sangeh village, Abiansemal, Badung sub-district, was flooded with pre-wedding photo activities. Almost every corner was taken advantage by photographers as a background of their photo object.

Many backgrounds are available namely the forest, temple, statue, archway completed with ancient carvings to the awesomeness of the banyan tree in the forest area. “All places at Sangeh Monkey Forest are good for taking pictures. Most importantly, photographers must be smart to choose the location,” said Manggus, a photographer photographing his customers.

Amid the photo activities of pro-

spective brides, visitors were amazed by a Chinese couple who also did a pre-wedding photo shooting. However, this foreign couple was not to prepare for marriage, but a celebration-like photo session made every 10 years.

Courtyard of the tourist attraction, gates, statues and temples were also taken advantage for the background of their photos.

According to one of his companions who happened to be a Balinese, Sangeh Monkey Forest was chosen because it remains natural. Moreover, many people are choosing it for pre-wedding photos. “Sangeh Monkey Forest is chosen by this couple after looking at the internet, so they also choose to take

pictures. In addition to this object, the shooting is also done on Sanur Beach and Art Center,” he explained.

Operations Manager of Sangeh Monkey Forest, I Made Sumohon, said that starting early February 2018 there are indeed many brides and bridegrooms that do pre-wedding photos at this attraction. They come from different regions of Bali. Moreover, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the pre-wedding photo shooting increased sharply. “This pre-wedding photo is seasonal event. Within a day there can be 10 – 15 pre-wedding photo shootings. However, at particular times it can reach 30 couples,” he added. (kmb)

Virgin Beach Looks ‘Like a Virgin’

Awesome overlay of white sand along 300 meters really makes comfortable and the eyes are convenient to see. Blue and calm seawater is really familiar to greet tourists.

Some of them are sunbathing and lounging on the beach lounger while enjoying a bottle of beer and other snacks. It’s really nice and fun to spend the day on Virgin Beach. It beautiful nature looks like a virgin on the Virgin Beach.

It is not far from Denpasar and other tourist spots in Bali. For instance, from Kuta, Nusa Dua, Ubud

or other, it is about 1.5 hours’ drive east of Denpasar. Traffic congestion rarely occurs on this road section.

Throughout the journey, some tourist attractions such as Kertagosa Klungkung, Lake Yeh Malet, Goa Lawah or Candi Dasa can also be visited.

Virgin Beach is located in a bay flanked by two hills, namely the Bukit Perasi and Bukit Asah.

When heading for the location, visitors will be faced with rather ascending road section, and then descending one. From here, visi-

tors can ‘smell’ the flavor and beauty of the beach. “We indeed have a very attractive beach,” said Regent of Karangasem, Mas Sumatri.

In addition to Virgin Beach, there is Candidasa having gone worldwide earlier. The other beaches needing to be considered are Jemeluk, Tulamben and Amed.

“These beaches must be visited when spending holidays in Bali,” said the regent. What are you waiting for? Let’s explore the wonder of Karangasem District! (kmb)

5

Have you ever tasted entil? This Balinese traditional serving resembles lontong and looks simple, but has a tempting flavor.

It is flat of four rectangular like a pillow and has a green color because it is wrapped in bamboo leaves (telengidi). It offers very distinctive aroma, so that it can arouse the appetite. Eat entil is enough with chili (Balinese complete seasoning and shrimp paste condiment). However, it will be better when enjoyed with urap vegetables.

Entil is wrapped with bamboo leaves that can make entil taste more delicious. Green color of bamboo leaves seep into the rice when cooked, resulting in a greenish color. Indeed, the making of this serving takes a long time, especially when boiling. The longer boils this entil, the longer it will last and not quickly turn stale.

Entil is famous in the area of Pupuan, while it is also made at Tengkudak, Penebel, Tabanan district. Moreover, this simple traditional food can be easily found in traditional stalls at villages.

It also often becomes a menu of culinary events in the festival held by the government of Tabanan. At Tanah Lot Kreatifood Festival, for instance, this menu is favored by visitors.

The serving includes a pack of entil, and then it is sprinkled with coconut sauce and fried condiment. Alternatively, it can be mixed with Balinese urap vegetable with sprouts, sliced ??spinach and cuts of long beans mixed with spices. For old people or those having no strong teeth, this entil is usually mixed with gravy and seasoning. “We used to make entil for sale,” said Ni Nyoman Sutiani, 63, the entil maker from Denuma hamlet, Tengkudak, Penebel.

Sutiani admitted the profession to make entil has been pursued since childhood. Initially, she helped her parents and then became the next heir. “Entil has existed for a long time and no one knows for sure when and where it started. We make this entil from generation to generation until now. Entil remains to have a lot of demand,” said Sutiani.

According to Sutiani, entil is usually presented on particular days, such as Nyepi or Day of Silence where the Hindus perform catur brata penyepian or four abstinences where people will not turn or light fire, not work, not travel and not enjoy any entertainment, so food stock is needed. On that account, entil is chosen because it is durable and not easily stale. “Now, entil is widely sold in traditional markets and stalls, like what I do,” she said.

Entil is made from rice and grated coconut and then wrapped in bamboo leaves tied with rope. In the past, people used bamboo or coconut bark ropes, but now many people prefer to use plastic ropes. Meanwhile, the seasoning in use includes base genep (complete seasoning), such as onion, garlic, chili, ginger, turmeric, aromatic ginger, galangal and other spices. It is also coupled with grated coconut to make urap seasoning.

How to make it? First of all, soak rice for overnight. The rice is then put on a leaf then wrap with bamboo leaves and tied with bamboo string. In single bond, it is made up of two folds of bamboo leaves in which have contained rice. After that, it is boiled for about 3 hours or more. Prepare seasoning started by grounding until the seasoning turning smooth. Mix with grated coconut. A portion of this seasoning is allocated to make fried condiment. Ultimately, it is ready to be served. (kmb)

6

Monday, February 26, 2018

W

RLD

U.N. Security Council demands truce as air strikes batter Syria’s Ghouta BEIRUT - The U.N. Security Council on Saturday demanded a 30-day truce across Syria as rescuers in the country’s eastern Ghouta region said bombing had not let up long enough for them to count bodies during one of the bloodiest air assaults of the seven-year war.

Shortly after the unanimous vote by the 15-member council, warplanes struck a town in eastern Ghouta, the last rebel enclave near Syria’s capital, an emergency service and a war monitoring group said. Warplanes have pounded the region for seven straight days while residents holed up in basements.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres appealed on Wednesday for an immediate end to “war activities” in eastern Ghouta, where nearly 400,000 people have lived under government siege since 2013, without enough food or medicine.

While Syrian ally Russia supported the adoption of the U.N. resolution, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia cast doubt on its feasibility.

Previous ceasefire deals on the ground have had a poor record of ending fighting in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s military has gained the upper hand.

“What is necessary is for the demands of the Security Council to be underpinned by concrete on the ground agreements,” Nebenzia told the council after the vote. He later told reporters it was unrealistic to expect an immediate ceasefire and that the parties had to be encouraged to work for it.

After several days of delay and last-minute negotiations to win the support of Russia, the council adopted the resolution - drafted by Sweden and Kuwait - demanding hostilities cease for 30-days “without delay” to allow aid access and medical evacuations.

“We accept that it might take a number of hours before it can all be fully implemented ... we just

China...

From page 1 Xi is currently the party’s general secretary, but not chairman. China’s first three leaders after the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949 all carried the title party chairman -Mao Zedong, Hua Guofeng and then Hu Yaobang. It has not been used since.

“Whether Xi ends up being Party Chairman or just remains Party Secretary doesn’t really matter. What matters is whether he holds onto power,” said Zhang Ming, a professor of political science at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

International

Florida students take on NRA, set eyes on midterm elections

Members of the United Nations Security Council vote for ceasefire to Syrian bombing in eastern Ghouta, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, U.S., February 24, 2018.

FLORIDA - In the week since 17 of David Hogg’s classmates and teachers were gunned down in Florida, he and his fellow high schoolers have launched a movement that reshaped the gun control debate almost overnight and may influence the U.S. midterm elections.

Staring boldly into TV cameras, Hogg and other students who survived the Feb. 14 Parkland school massacre, have demanded lawmakers restrict gun sales and are targeting politicians funded by the pro-gun National Rifle Association (NRA) lobby.

They have taken to social media to urge peers to hold a National School Walkout on March 14 and converge on Washington 10 days later for the “March For Our Lives.”

Plunging into a debate that has long polarized the United States between those defending gun ownership as a constitutional right and those demanding measures to stop mass shootings, the students are now focusing on the November elections.

“We get out there and make sure everybody knows how much money their politician took from the NRA,” Hogg said.

They want to influence not only those casting their first ballot this year, but all voters, to make choices along gun-rights lines.

The students seem to have made more progress in a few days than years of anti-gun advocacy that has stumbled on opposition from congressional Republicans who fiercely defend their constitutional rights to own guns.

The students’ movement is forcing donors to cut funding to the NRA and pressuring lawmakers to stop taking money from the politically influential gun rights group.

The teenage activists themselves are collecting millions of dollars from celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, enjoy pro-bono advertising from people in Hollywood and organizational know-how from groups including the Women’s March.

What may be different about the Parkland students is their almost instantaneous mobilization and the power of social media, where their passionate speeches have gone viral, experts said.

“It’s this perfect storm of young people whose authority to speak cannot be denied because their friends were just murdered, have control of social media, the ability to speak to mass media, have celebrity support and organizational infrastructure,” said Sasha Costanza-Chock, an associate professor of civic media at MIT. Democrats have rushed to support the teenagers, hoping the movement can help them in the midterm elections by boosting historically-low turnout among young Democratic voters.

“We need to embrace this movement,” said Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau. “It very well may be that the solution to gun violence in this country is a generational solution instead of a partisan one. This might be the generation that finally breaks through on this issue.”

Republicans, on the other hand, warned that it was unclear whether the students would gain momentum beyond Florida, where they pushed Republican Governor Rick Scott to propose tighter gun laws on Friday.

“I would be cautious to recognize any national trend based on one week in which passions have been high,” said Republican strategist Rory Cooper.

The NRA did not respond to a request for comment. In recent days, NRA officials have lashed out at gun control advocates, arguing that Democratic elites are politicizing the Parkland rampage to erode gun rights.

Showing their support for the students, dozens of U.S. colleges and universities - including at least three Ivy League schools - have said their application processes will not consider disciplinary action taken against high schoolers who protest last week’s killings in Florida. (rtr)

almost spiritual, connotations.

Mao, for example, was referred to as “lingxiu”, but Xi’s two immediate predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, were not.

In a Sunday commentary on its WeChat account, state television said: “The people love the people’s ‘lingxiu’!”, above a picture of Xi being greeted by an adoring crowd in Sichuan province earlier this month.

The move to lift the presidential term limits is not unexpected. The party has been laying the groundwork for Xi not to have to go.

One of Xi’s closest political allies, former top graft buster Wang Qishan,

stepped down from the party’s Standing Committee - the seven-man body that runs China - in October.

Aged 69, Wang had reached the age at which top officials tend to retire. But he has been chosen as a parliament delegate this year and is likely to become vice president, sources with ties to the leadership and diplomats say.

The move is significant because if Wang does not retire, that would set a precedent for Xi to stay on in power too after he reaches what is normally considered retirement age.

The Central Committee also proposed other changes to the country’s

constitution, including inserting “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” into the constitution, referring to Xi’s rather wordy guiding political thought that is already in the party constitution.

The constitution will further ensure that party control over the country is not in any doubt, too, strengthening existing clauses about the leading role of the Communist Party in China. “The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” Xinhua cited one of the proposed new clauses as saying. (rtr)

have to keep the pressure up, implementation is key now,” Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told Reuters.

Russia did not want to specify when a truce would start, so a proposal for the truce to begin 72 hours after adoption was watered-down to demand it start “without delay.” Further talks on Saturday added a demand for all parties to “engage immediately to ensure full and comprehensive implementation.”

“As they dragged out the negotiation, the bombs from Assad’s fighter jets continued to fall. In the three days it took us to adopt this resolution, how many mothers lost their kids to the bombing and shelling?” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the council.

“We are deeply skeptical that the (Syrian) regime will comply,” Haley said. (rtr)

“Titles don’t matter as much in China as they do in the West. Here what matters is whether you are the emperor,” he added. “In China, ordinary people already consider Xi Jinping to be the emperor.”

EYES ON VICE PRESIDENT

Mao, the founder of Communist China and still held in god-like awe by many Chinese, died while still Communist Party chairman in 1976, having never retired.

State media has also increasingly been using the term “lingxiu” to refer to Xi, which means “leader”. Distinct from the standard usage of “lingdao” for leader, “lingxiu” evokes grander,

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

11

Lembata govt initiates development of new tourist destinations in five areas

KUPANG - Lembata District Government in East Nusa Tenggara province has initiated the development of new tourist destinations in five areas; namely districts of Lembata, Belu, Timor Tengah Utara, and Alor and city of Kupang.

“Lembata has initiated the cooperation of the five areas to form new tourist destinations in the north-south region of East Nusa Tenggara province,” Deputy Head of Lembata District, Thomas Ola Langoday, said when contacted by ANTARA News from Kupang on Saturday.

Langoday, who was the former Dean of Economics Faculty of Widya Mandira University of Kupang, stated that the local governments fully supported the development of marine and terrestrial tourism in the eastern part of East Nusa Tenggara province.

The western part of the province has featured tourist destinations, including Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, and in Flores Island.

“Therefore, we try to develop marine tourism in the eastern part of the province as a new tourist attraction, as the region has diverse tourism potential in the sea and the land,” he noted.

He stated that Alor district has a global marine park, and Lembata district offers both mountain and underwater tours.

The districts of Belu and Timor Tengah Utara have cross-border tours bordering Timor Leste on Timor Island.

“Kupang city, which has complete facilities and infrastructure, can also be a hub,” he remarked.

Langoday explained that the local government was ready to budget the procurement of Pinisi Shipbuilding in 2019 to support the new tourist destinations.

“Pinisi ship will be used to transport tourists to visit the new tourist destinations,” he added.

He ensured to encourage an adequate budgeting every year for the gradual development of tourism as a leading sector to support the regional economy in future.

In addition, he also expected support from the provincial and central governments for the construction of supporting infrastructure and transportation.

“For example, we need flight services from Labuan Bajo to Lembata at affordable rates, so that the flow of tourists can spread to various regions,” he remarked. (ant)

IBP/ant

Police Chief Gen Pol Tito Karnavian (fifth right) along with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani (center) and other officials showed evidence of narcotics type of shabu at Port Sekupang, Batam, Riau Islands, Friday (23/2). The combined team of Customs and Excise along with Bareskrim Police Headquarters succeeded in foiling the smuggling of weighing 1,622 tons and four Chinese crew members in Anambas waters, Riau Islands.

Smuggling of drugs has reached alarming level: House speaker

JAKARTA - Attempts to smuggle large quantities of drugs repeatedly into the country had reached an unprecedented level, House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo stated.

IBP/ant

Photo illustration. Pledang (whaling boat) The Mikael sailed the Savu Sea from the shore of Lamalera, Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara.

“I urge the police to thoroughly investigate the syndicates of drug networks operating in Indonesia,” Soesatyo noted in a written statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

Soesatyo made the statement in response to the attempt to smuggle in three tons of meth aboard a Taiwanese-flagged fishing boat from Myanmar in the waters of the Riau Islands of Sumatra.

This attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of meth was thwarted by the Riau Islands Customs Team.

Soesatyo also lauded the Riau Islands Customs Team that had successfully foiled the efforts to smuggle three tons of meth, locally known as sabu-sabu.

The House Speaker said the Chinese intelligence had provided information to the National Narcotics Agency on the attempt to smuggle meth into Indonesia.

According to the information, some five tons of meth worth Rp10 trillion was to be smuggled into Indonesia.

The first attempt to smuggle one ton of the illegal drug was earlier foiled in the waters of Batam, Riau Island Province. The second consignment of 1.6 tons was also seized in the waters of Batam last week, and

the third catch of three tons was confiscated on Friday (Feb 23) in the waters of Batam Island.

Soesatyo called on the police to take legal action, not only against the crew members who served only as couriers but also against drug lords.

“Legal action must be taken not only against the crew members but also against those behind the syndicate,” Soesatyo emphasized.

Earlier, a Singapore-flagged ship, allegedly carrying 1.6 tons of methamphetamine, was seized by Indonesia`s customs officers in Anambas waters of Riau Islands.

The vessel, with four Chinese crews, carried the illegal drugs in 81 sacks, with each sack containing 20 kilograms of meth, Antara reported here on Tuesday.

The ship was detained near Sekupang Port.

The police are yet to provide further information on the arrest, while Riau Islands police chief Inspector General Didid W did not comment.

Besides that, the Indonesian navy has also stated that it had seized a fishing vessel carrying one ton of crystal methamphetamine off Batam waters early this month.

The drugs were smuggled in 41 rice sacks, and the boat MV Sunrise Glory, which was flying a Singapore flag, was operated by Taiwanese crew members.

Authorities suspect the vessel of also being a `phantom ship, which likely uses many names, including Sun De Man 66. (ant)

10

Destination

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Vietnam F1 race looks likely, says Ecclestone

LONDON - A Formula One race in Vietnam could be on the calendar by 2020, according to the sport’s former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Fantastic adventure at Bayung Gede tourism village BANGLI - Face of the offroaders when exploring the charms of the Adventure Bayung Gede (ABG) looked happy and satisfied.

Other than having more challenging routes, the natural scenery is also very beautiful and has a unique culture. The community is friendly because it still preserves cultural heritage of the ancestors.

This challenging tourist attraction is held by Tourism Awareness Group (POKDARWIS) of Bayung Gede village at Bayung Gede field, Kintamani, Bangli.

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

family.

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

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

“Through this event, the public

knows more about the Bayung Gede village,” he added.

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

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

Meanwhile, Regent Made Gianyar expressed his gratitude to the ABG committee because the

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spirit of the activity is to improve the tourism image of Bayung Gede village. Regent Made Gianyar then told the committee to design a special tour for the lovers of antique and off-roader cars, so this

will become an annual event with more lively and more participants.

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

“I think you’re going to get a race in Vietnam,” the 87-year-old told reporters invited to his private offices in central London to talk about various issues ahead of the new season starting next month.

The billionaire Briton, who was moved aside into an undefined ‘emeritus’ role in January last year after U.S.-based Liberty Media took over, said a street race in Hanoi looked likely.

Ecclestone, who remains employed by Formula One on a multi-million pound salary, said the Vietnamese government was willing to pay a significant amount to promote the South-East Asian country by hosting a grand prix.

“They haven’t made a contract yet as far as I know. But if they have, it’s at least two years away isn’t it?,” he said.

The Malaysian Grand Prix dropped off the calendar after last year’s race but Formula One bosses have talked about expanding in China.

There have also been talks with Thailand, which came to nothing, but Vietnam is already an important emerging market for some of the sport’s global sponsors such as Dutch brewer Heineken.

Ecclestone told Reuters last year that he had talks with the Vietnamese while he was running Formula One but decided, despite the money on offer, against taking the sport there because he felt there were enough races in that part of the world.

He also recalled Liberty’s criticism subsequent to their takeover of his decision to go to Azerbaijan, a country without a racing history but willing to pay handsomely and whose race was rated the most exciting of last season.

The Briton warned, however, that uncertainty over the sport’s future was

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something any local promoter should consider.

The current agreements between teams and Formula One mostly expire at the end of 2020, with glamour team Ferrari already threatening to leave if they do not like the direction things are headed.

There is also plenty of debate about what

kind of engine to use after 2020, with the current V6 turbo hybrids criticised as too expensive, complicated and quiet.

While some see Ferrari’s threats as empty ones, with Formula One central to their image and history, Ecclestone repeated his view that the president Sergio Marchionne was to be taken seriously. (rtr)

Japan’s Takagi surges to mass start gold

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Nana Takagi of Japan celebrates after winning the race.

GANGNEUNG - Japanese speed skater Nana Takagi unleashed a late surge of explosive speed to pass Dutchwoman Irene Schouten on the inside of the final corner and claim an Olympic gold medal in the women’s mass start at the Gangneung Oval on Saturday.

South Korean Kim Bo-reum slipped into the channel created

by Takagi to win the silver medal 0.12 seconds behind the Japanese as Schouten settled for bronze.

Takagi, who won gold in the women’s team pursuit earlier this week, now has an individual Olympic title to add to her collection.

The 25-year-old celebrated by pumping her fists and waving to the crowd before making a lap of the stadium with the Japanese flag fluttering above her head.

“I’m feeling very good,” Takagi told reporters. “Only lost focus on two laps, then I showed good acceleration. Then with 100 metres –- go. I’m very happy. I focus on

team pursuit and mass start.”

The race made its Olympic debut in South Korea and was given a touch of celebrity by the presence of Ivanka Trump, daughter of the U.S. President.

It was a tactical encounter, with 16 skaters simultaneously vying for an advantage on the track.

None of the trio who finished on the podium tried to win any of the three intermediate sprints, preferring instead to stay well back in the peloton and save their legs for the final push for a medal.

The first three to finish the race earn 60, 40 and 20 points respectively, while the top three skaters in each of the intermediate sprints earn five, three and one points to decide the classification places.

With two laps to go in the 16lap race, the pack began to pick up speed, rapidly reeling in early pace-setter Saskia Alusalu of Estonia, who finished in fourth place after winning all three intermediate

sprints.

Schouten had the lead going into the final corner but the Dutch skater misjudged her line slightly and was forced wide coming out, and Takagi stormed up the inside channel to capitalise on the mistake.

She crossed the line in a flurry of effort, her arms and legs pumping furiously to hold off Kim by a narrow margin.

Kim was crestfallen after finishing second. She made a deep bow to the crowd and took a lap around the track waving her country’s flag.

Kim and her team mate in the women’s team pursuit, Park Jiwoo, faced calls for them to be banned from the national team after they appeared to blame a team mate for their failure to reach the women’s team pursuit semi-finals this week.

“Because of me, it became controversial and I felt so sorry to everybody and so I bowed before the crowd,” Kim said. (rtr)

8

Monday, February 26, 2018

Monday, February 26, 2018

Sp rt Suarez hits hat-trick as Barca trounce Girona, ‘BBC’ back on air for Real BARCELONA - Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez combined to devastating effect to hammer Girona 6-1 on Saturday as they went 10 points clear at the top of La Liga and set a club record of 32 games unbeaten in the league.

Visiting striker Portu gave Girona a surprise lead in the third minute of their first league game at the Nou Camp.

However, Suarez quickly levelled down the other end, while two goals from Messi and another from the Uruguayan saw Barca march into a 4-1 lead at halftime. Barca’s record signing Coutinho had set up Suarez’s second goal and then struck for the first time in La Liga with a spectacular longdistance shot from well outside of the area in the 66th minute.

Suarez completed a hat-trick in the 76th, tapping in a cut-back from Ousmane Dembele.

Earlier on Saturday, Real Madrid’s ‘BBC’ strikeforce hit back with a vengeance when Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all scored in a 4-0 win at home to Alaves, a fifth successive win in all competitions for Zinedine Zidane’s side. Barca lead the standings on 65 points, 10 clear of Atletico Madrid who visit Sevilla on Sunday and 14 ahead of champions Real.

Ernesto Valverde’s side also surpassed the club’s longest run without a defeat in the league, which had stood since April 2011 when Pep Guardiola was in charge of the Catalans.

Valverde has favoured a 4-4-2 formation for most of the seaREUTERS/Sergio Perez son but after his side had struggled to a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates scoring the Champions League on Tuesday the coach opted for an ultratheir sixth goal and completing his hat trick attacking 4-3-3 against Girona, with Dembele often joining the

South American trio to create a ruthless four-man attack.

“It was a resounding victory. We were very good and we were able to find a lot of space, in the end it was a question of time,” said Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“It was a tough night. Our tactics worked well in the third minute but then we woke up the beast,” added Girona coach Pablo Machin. “We were nervous from the start and they were very sharp. Messi is always the one who makes the difference and he was especially good tonight.”

CLEVER BACKHEEL

Ronaldo put Real ahead on the stroke of halftime, taking advantage of a clever backheel from Benzema and before celebrating the goal he pointed to his maligned French team mate, who had been subjected to plenty of criticism from the home fans in recent weeks. Benzema was also the catalyst for Real’s second goal which came under a minute into the second half, with the striker winning the ball back in midfield and tearing towards goal, slipping it into Bale’s path for the Wales international to slot it inside the near post.

Ronaldo struck Real’s third goal of the day and his 299th in La Liga in the 61st minute, meeting a cutback from in-form winger Lucas Vazquez first time and sending it under the reach of former Real goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.

Ronaldo then surrendered the opportunity to score a hat-trick by offering Benzema penalty-taking duties after Bale was brought down, and the Frenchman made no mistake, converting from the spot in the 89th minute.

“I’m very happy with Ronaldo’s gesture,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said. “This is a team game and it was a wonderful gesture.

Karim played very well and he deserved to score as he contributed so much in our build-up play.” (rtr)

Inter go third in Italy with 2-0 win over Benevento

MILAN - Second-half goals from central defenders Milan Skriniar and Andrea Ranocchia gave Inter Milan a 2-0 home win over bottom team Benevento on Saturday and boosted their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League group stage.

In the day’s early fixture Bologna beat Genoa 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Mattia Destro and Cesar Falletti.

Three times European champions Inter, who last won the continent’s elite club competition in 2010, provisionally moved two places up to third despite an unimpressive performance which drew occasional jeers from the home

crowd at the San Siro.

Benevento looked the more adventurous side in the first half and their striker Massimo Coda forced a fine save from Inter keeper Samir Handanovic after Ivan Perisic headed wide of the far post at the other end.

Coda blazed another shot over the bar on the hour before Skriniar broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, powering a header past Christian Puggioni after the keeper got a hand to it but could not keep it out.

Ranocchia made it 2-0 three minutes later with a diving header which gave Puggioni no chance after right back Joao Cancelo swung in an inviting free kick from his flank.

The result, only Inter’s second league win in their last 11 games, eased the pressure off coach Luciano Spalletti ahead of next weekend’s city derby with AC Milan and the subsequent clash with current leaders Napoli on March 11.

Close range tap-ins from Destro and Falletti allowed Bologna to beat Genoa in their mid-table clash.

In Sunday’s standout fixtures, second-placed champions Juventus are at home to Atalanta while fourth-placed AS Roma entertain AC Milan in the capital.

Napoli, who are a point ahead of Juventus in their two-horse title race, are away to struggling Cagliari on Monday. (rtr)

REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates

Salah scores again as Liverpool thrash West Ham

Mohamed Salah was inevitably on the scoresheet as Liverpool took full advantage of the inactivity of their top-four rivals to thrash West Ham United 4-1 at Anfield and provisionally move into second in the Premier League.

With leaders Manchester City facing Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday, when Manchester United host Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace in the league, Juergen Klopp’s free scorers topped 100 goals for the season in their 40th match.

Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also netted in another Liverpool goalrush that moved them 15 points behind Pep Guardiola’s City. At the bottom of the

table, the future of West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew looks increasingly bleak after their 2-1 defeat at home to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town.

Swansea City crashed 4-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Newcastle United. Liverpool’s win was not quite as routine as the scoreline suggested with West Ham occasionally threatening on another nerve-tingling Anfield afternoon although David Moyes’ long wait for a first win at the ground continues.

Salah scored for the sixth successive game in all competitions and his goal took him level with Harry Kane at the top of the Pre-

mier League scoring charts with 23 this season.

But Can was equally influential in Liverpool’s win, heading the opener and laying on a superb through pass for Firmino to score Liverpool’s third before Mane chipped in with a fourth goal in two games.

“It is difficult to be top, Manchester City are too far away, but of course we want to finish second,” said the German, whose six league goals represent the best haul of his Liverpool career which could be in its final season as his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

PRESSURE ON PARDEW

Elsewhere, West Brom’s defeat

will add to the pressure on manager Pardew whose side are now seven points off safety. Rajiv van La Parra and Steve Mounie scored for Huddersfield, whose win moved them three points up the table, one point ahead of Newcastle. Rafa Benitez’s side looked to be guaranteed back-to-back victories for the first time since September after Dwight Gayle ended his recent goal drought by scoring twice before the interval.

Yet Adam Smith and former Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling completed an astonishing comeback by one of the league’s neversay-die specialists. “It’s another point that nudges us towards where we want to be -- every one could be vital at the end of the season,” said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Swansea also scored late at Brighton but Lewis Dunk’s own goal proved academic with the home side already 3-0 up. Dutchman Juergen Locadia’s goal on his Premier League debut completed the rout as Swansea dropped back into the relegation zone, just ahead

9

of Stoke City, who drew 1-1 with Leicester City.

It would have been better for Paul Lambert’s side had keeper Jack Butland not parried the ball into his own net when under no obvious pressure, a howler made all the more embarrassing by the presence of former Stoke, Leicester and England legend Peter Shilton in the stands.

Manager Lambert refused to criticise his keeper, whom he described as “the best in Britain” although such an obvious howler will do little to help Butland secure the England jersey for the World Cup. At Turf Moor, Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini scored a 90thminute equaliser as the visitors secured a nerve-jangling 1-1 draw at Burnley, who still await their first win of the year.

Everton remained in ninth place but still only seven points above the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at Watford who moved up to 10th in a tangled bottom half. Troy Deeney scored Watford’s late winner at Vicarage Road. (rtr)

8

Monday, February 26, 2018

Monday, February 26, 2018

Sp rt Suarez hits hat-trick as Barca trounce Girona, ‘BBC’ back on air for Real BARCELONA - Barcelona forwards Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez combined to devastating effect to hammer Girona 6-1 on Saturday as they went 10 points clear at the top of La Liga and set a club record of 32 games unbeaten in the league.

Visiting striker Portu gave Girona a surprise lead in the third minute of their first league game at the Nou Camp.

However, Suarez quickly levelled down the other end, while two goals from Messi and another from the Uruguayan saw Barca march into a 4-1 lead at halftime. Barca’s record signing Coutinho had set up Suarez’s second goal and then struck for the first time in La Liga with a spectacular longdistance shot from well outside of the area in the 66th minute.

Suarez completed a hat-trick in the 76th, tapping in a cut-back from Ousmane Dembele.

Earlier on Saturday, Real Madrid’s ‘BBC’ strikeforce hit back with a vengeance when Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all scored in a 4-0 win at home to Alaves, a fifth successive win in all competitions for Zinedine Zidane’s side. Barca lead the standings on 65 points, 10 clear of Atletico Madrid who visit Sevilla on Sunday and 14 ahead of champions Real.

Ernesto Valverde’s side also surpassed the club’s longest run without a defeat in the league, which had stood since April 2011 when Pep Guardiola was in charge of the Catalans.

Valverde has favoured a 4-4-2 formation for most of the seaREUTERS/Sergio Perez son but after his side had struggled to a 1-1 draw at Chelsea in Barcelona’s Luis Suarez celebrates scoring the Champions League on Tuesday the coach opted for an ultratheir sixth goal and completing his hat trick attacking 4-3-3 against Girona, with Dembele often joining the

South American trio to create a ruthless four-man attack.

“It was a resounding victory. We were very good and we were able to find a lot of space, in the end it was a question of time,” said Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets.

“It was a tough night. Our tactics worked well in the third minute but then we woke up the beast,” added Girona coach Pablo Machin. “We were nervous from the start and they were very sharp. Messi is always the one who makes the difference and he was especially good tonight.”

CLEVER BACKHEEL

Ronaldo put Real ahead on the stroke of halftime, taking advantage of a clever backheel from Benzema and before celebrating the goal he pointed to his maligned French team mate, who had been subjected to plenty of criticism from the home fans in recent weeks. Benzema was also the catalyst for Real’s second goal which came under a minute into the second half, with the striker winning the ball back in midfield and tearing towards goal, slipping it into Bale’s path for the Wales international to slot it inside the near post.

Ronaldo struck Real’s third goal of the day and his 299th in La Liga in the 61st minute, meeting a cutback from in-form winger Lucas Vazquez first time and sending it under the reach of former Real goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco.

Ronaldo then surrendered the opportunity to score a hat-trick by offering Benzema penalty-taking duties after Bale was brought down, and the Frenchman made no mistake, converting from the spot in the 89th minute.

“I’m very happy with Ronaldo’s gesture,” Real coach Zinedine Zidane said. “This is a team game and it was a wonderful gesture.

Karim played very well and he deserved to score as he contributed so much in our build-up play.” (rtr)

Inter go third in Italy with 2-0 win over Benevento

MILAN - Second-half goals from central defenders Milan Skriniar and Andrea Ranocchia gave Inter Milan a 2-0 home win over bottom team Benevento on Saturday and boosted their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League group stage.

In the day’s early fixture Bologna beat Genoa 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Mattia Destro and Cesar Falletti.

Three times European champions Inter, who last won the continent’s elite club competition in 2010, provisionally moved two places up to third despite an unimpressive performance which drew occasional jeers from the home

crowd at the San Siro.

Benevento looked the more adventurous side in the first half and their striker Massimo Coda forced a fine save from Inter keeper Samir Handanovic after Ivan Perisic headed wide of the far post at the other end.

Coda blazed another shot over the bar on the hour before Skriniar broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, powering a header past Christian Puggioni after the keeper got a hand to it but could not keep it out.

Ranocchia made it 2-0 three minutes later with a diving header which gave Puggioni no chance after right back Joao Cancelo swung in an inviting free kick from his flank.

The result, only Inter’s second league win in their last 11 games, eased the pressure off coach Luciano Spalletti ahead of next weekend’s city derby with AC Milan and the subsequent clash with current leaders Napoli on March 11.

Close range tap-ins from Destro and Falletti allowed Bologna to beat Genoa in their mid-table clash.

In Sunday’s standout fixtures, second-placed champions Juventus are at home to Atalanta while fourth-placed AS Roma entertain AC Milan in the capital.

Napoli, who are a point ahead of Juventus in their two-horse title race, are away to struggling Cagliari on Monday. (rtr)

REUTERS/Massimo Pinca

Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar celebrates scoring their first goal with team mates

Salah scores again as Liverpool thrash West Ham

Mohamed Salah was inevitably on the scoresheet as Liverpool took full advantage of the inactivity of their top-four rivals to thrash West Ham United 4-1 at Anfield and provisionally move into second in the Premier League.

With leaders Manchester City facing Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday, when Manchester United host Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur travel to Crystal Palace in the league, Juergen Klopp’s free scorers topped 100 goals for the season in their 40th match.

Emre Can, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane also netted in another Liverpool goalrush that moved them 15 points behind Pep Guardiola’s City. At the bottom of the

table, the future of West Bromwich Albion manager Alan Pardew looks increasingly bleak after their 2-1 defeat at home to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town.

Swansea City crashed 4-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Newcastle United. Liverpool’s win was not quite as routine as the scoreline suggested with West Ham occasionally threatening on another nerve-tingling Anfield afternoon although David Moyes’ long wait for a first win at the ground continues.

Salah scored for the sixth successive game in all competitions and his goal took him level with Harry Kane at the top of the Pre-

mier League scoring charts with 23 this season.

But Can was equally influential in Liverpool’s win, heading the opener and laying on a superb through pass for Firmino to score Liverpool’s third before Mane chipped in with a fourth goal in two games.

“It is difficult to be top, Manchester City are too far away, but of course we want to finish second,” said the German, whose six league goals represent the best haul of his Liverpool career which could be in its final season as his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

PRESSURE ON PARDEW

Elsewhere, West Brom’s defeat

will add to the pressure on manager Pardew whose side are now seven points off safety. Rajiv van La Parra and Steve Mounie scored for Huddersfield, whose win moved them three points up the table, one point ahead of Newcastle. Rafa Benitez’s side looked to be guaranteed back-to-back victories for the first time since September after Dwight Gayle ended his recent goal drought by scoring twice before the interval.

Yet Adam Smith and former Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling completed an astonishing comeback by one of the league’s neversay-die specialists. “It’s another point that nudges us towards where we want to be -- every one could be vital at the end of the season,” said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.

Swansea also scored late at Brighton but Lewis Dunk’s own goal proved academic with the home side already 3-0 up. Dutchman Juergen Locadia’s goal on his Premier League debut completed the rout as Swansea dropped back into the relegation zone, just ahead

9

of Stoke City, who drew 1-1 with Leicester City.

It would have been better for Paul Lambert’s side had keeper Jack Butland not parried the ball into his own net when under no obvious pressure, a howler made all the more embarrassing by the presence of former Stoke, Leicester and England legend Peter Shilton in the stands.

Manager Lambert refused to criticise his keeper, whom he described as “the best in Britain” although such an obvious howler will do little to help Butland secure the England jersey for the World Cup. At Turf Moor, Southampton’s Manolo Gabbiadini scored a 90thminute equaliser as the visitors secured a nerve-jangling 1-1 draw at Burnley, who still await their first win of the year.

Everton remained in ninth place but still only seven points above the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at Watford who moved up to 10th in a tangled bottom half. Troy Deeney scored Watford’s late winner at Vicarage Road. (rtr)

10

Destination

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Vietnam F1 race looks likely, says Ecclestone

LONDON - A Formula One race in Vietnam could be on the calendar by 2020, according to the sport’s former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Fantastic adventure at Bayung Gede tourism village BANGLI - Face of the offroaders when exploring the charms of the Adventure Bayung Gede (ABG) looked happy and satisfied.

Other than having more challenging routes, the natural scenery is also very beautiful and has a unique culture. The community is friendly because it still preserves cultural heritage of the ancestors.

This challenging tourist attraction is held by Tourism Awareness Group (POKDARWIS) of Bayung Gede village at Bayung Gede field, Kintamani, Bangli.

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

family.

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

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

“Through this event, the public

knows more about the Bayung Gede village,” he added.

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

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

Meanwhile, Regent Made Gianyar expressed his gratitude to the ABG committee because the

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spirit of the activity is to improve the tourism image of Bayung Gede village. Regent Made Gianyar then told the committee to design a special tour for the lovers of antique and off-roader cars, so this

will become an annual event with more lively and more participants.

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

“I think you’re going to get a race in Vietnam,” the 87-year-old told reporters invited to his private offices in central London to talk about various issues ahead of the new season starting next month.

The billionaire Briton, who was moved aside into an undefined ‘emeritus’ role in January last year after U.S.-based Liberty Media took over, said a street race in Hanoi looked likely.

Ecclestone, who remains employed by Formula One on a multi-million pound salary, said the Vietnamese government was willing to pay a significant amount to promote the South-East Asian country by hosting a grand prix.

“They haven’t made a contract yet as far as I know. But if they have, it’s at least two years away isn’t it?,” he said.

The Malaysian Grand Prix dropped off the calendar after last year’s race but Formula One bosses have talked about expanding in China.

There have also been talks with Thailand, which came to nothing, but Vietnam is already an important emerging market for some of the sport’s global sponsors such as Dutch brewer Heineken.

Ecclestone told Reuters last year that he had talks with the Vietnamese while he was running Formula One but decided, despite the money on offer, against taking the sport there because he felt there were enough races in that part of the world.

He also recalled Liberty’s criticism subsequent to their takeover of his decision to go to Azerbaijan, a country without a racing history but willing to pay handsomely and whose race was rated the most exciting of last season.

The Briton warned, however, that uncertainty over the sport’s future was

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something any local promoter should consider.

The current agreements between teams and Formula One mostly expire at the end of 2020, with glamour team Ferrari already threatening to leave if they do not like the direction things are headed.

There is also plenty of debate about what

kind of engine to use after 2020, with the current V6 turbo hybrids criticised as too expensive, complicated and quiet.

While some see Ferrari’s threats as empty ones, with Formula One central to their image and history, Ecclestone repeated his view that the president Sergio Marchionne was to be taken seriously. (rtr)

Japan’s Takagi surges to mass start gold

B.BP.004.01.18.0001194

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Nana Takagi of Japan celebrates after winning the race.

GANGNEUNG - Japanese speed skater Nana Takagi unleashed a late surge of explosive speed to pass Dutchwoman Irene Schouten on the inside of the final corner and claim an Olympic gold medal in the women’s mass start at the Gangneung Oval on Saturday.

South Korean Kim Bo-reum slipped into the channel created

by Takagi to win the silver medal 0.12 seconds behind the Japanese as Schouten settled for bronze.

Takagi, who won gold in the women’s team pursuit earlier this week, now has an individual Olympic title to add to her collection.

The 25-year-old celebrated by pumping her fists and waving to the crowd before making a lap of the stadium with the Japanese flag fluttering above her head.

“I’m feeling very good,” Takagi told reporters. “Only lost focus on two laps, then I showed good acceleration. Then with 100 metres –- go. I’m very happy. I focus on

team pursuit and mass start.”

The race made its Olympic debut in South Korea and was given a touch of celebrity by the presence of Ivanka Trump, daughter of the U.S. President.

It was a tactical encounter, with 16 skaters simultaneously vying for an advantage on the track.

None of the trio who finished on the podium tried to win any of the three intermediate sprints, preferring instead to stay well back in the peloton and save their legs for the final push for a medal.

The first three to finish the race earn 60, 40 and 20 points respectively, while the top three skaters in each of the intermediate sprints earn five, three and one points to decide the classification places.

With two laps to go in the 16lap race, the pack began to pick up speed, rapidly reeling in early pace-setter Saskia Alusalu of Estonia, who finished in fourth place after winning all three intermediate

sprints.

Schouten had the lead going into the final corner but the Dutch skater misjudged her line slightly and was forced wide coming out, and Takagi stormed up the inside channel to capitalise on the mistake.

She crossed the line in a flurry of effort, her arms and legs pumping furiously to hold off Kim by a narrow margin.

Kim was crestfallen after finishing second. She made a deep bow to the crowd and took a lap around the track waving her country’s flag.

Kim and her team mate in the women’s team pursuit, Park Jiwoo, faced calls for them to be banned from the national team after they appeared to blame a team mate for their failure to reach the women’s team pursuit semi-finals this week.

“Because of me, it became controversial and I felt so sorry to everybody and so I bowed before the crowd,” Kim said. (rtr)

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Monday, February 26, 2018

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U.N. Security Council demands truce as air strikes batter Syria’s Ghouta BEIRUT - The U.N. Security Council on Saturday demanded a 30-day truce across Syria as rescuers in the country’s eastern Ghouta region said bombing had not let up long enough for them to count bodies during one of the bloodiest air assaults of the seven-year war.

Shortly after the unanimous vote by the 15-member council, warplanes struck a town in eastern Ghouta, the last rebel enclave near Syria’s capital, an emergency service and a war monitoring group said. Warplanes have pounded the region for seven straight days while residents holed up in basements.

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres appealed on Wednesday for an immediate end to “war activities” in eastern Ghouta, where nearly 400,000 people have lived under government siege since 2013, without enough food or medicine.

While Syrian ally Russia supported the adoption of the U.N. resolution, Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia cast doubt on its feasibility.

Previous ceasefire deals on the ground have had a poor record of ending fighting in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s military has gained the upper hand.

“What is necessary is for the demands of the Security Council to be underpinned by concrete on the ground agreements,” Nebenzia told the council after the vote. He later told reporters it was unrealistic to expect an immediate ceasefire and that the parties had to be encouraged to work for it.

After several days of delay and last-minute negotiations to win the support of Russia, the council adopted the resolution - drafted by Sweden and Kuwait - demanding hostilities cease for 30-days “without delay” to allow aid access and medical evacuations.

“We accept that it might take a number of hours before it can all be fully implemented ... we just

China...

From page 1 Xi is currently the party’s general secretary, but not chairman. China’s first three leaders after the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949 all carried the title party chairman -Mao Zedong, Hua Guofeng and then Hu Yaobang. It has not been used since.

“Whether Xi ends up being Party Chairman or just remains Party Secretary doesn’t really matter. What matters is whether he holds onto power,” said Zhang Ming, a professor of political science at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

International

Florida students take on NRA, set eyes on midterm elections

Members of the United Nations Security Council vote for ceasefire to Syrian bombing in eastern Ghouta, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, U.S., February 24, 2018.

FLORIDA - In the week since 17 of David Hogg’s classmates and teachers were gunned down in Florida, he and his fellow high schoolers have launched a movement that reshaped the gun control debate almost overnight and may influence the U.S. midterm elections.

Staring boldly into TV cameras, Hogg and other students who survived the Feb. 14 Parkland school massacre, have demanded lawmakers restrict gun sales and are targeting politicians funded by the pro-gun National Rifle Association (NRA) lobby.

They have taken to social media to urge peers to hold a National School Walkout on March 14 and converge on Washington 10 days later for the “March For Our Lives.”

Plunging into a debate that has long polarized the United States between those defending gun ownership as a constitutional right and those demanding measures to stop mass shootings, the students are now focusing on the November elections.

“We get out there and make sure everybody knows how much money their politician took from the NRA,” Hogg said.

They want to influence not only those casting their first ballot this year, but all voters, to make choices along gun-rights lines.

The students seem to have made more progress in a few days than years of anti-gun advocacy that has stumbled on opposition from congressional Republicans who fiercely defend their constitutional rights to own guns.

The students’ movement is forcing donors to cut funding to the NRA and pressuring lawmakers to stop taking money from the politically influential gun rights group.

The teenage activists themselves are collecting millions of dollars from celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney, enjoy pro-bono advertising from people in Hollywood and organizational know-how from groups including the Women’s March.

What may be different about the Parkland students is their almost instantaneous mobilization and the power of social media, where their passionate speeches have gone viral, experts said.

“It’s this perfect storm of young people whose authority to speak cannot be denied because their friends were just murdered, have control of social media, the ability to speak to mass media, have celebrity support and organizational infrastructure,” said Sasha Costanza-Chock, an associate professor of civic media at MIT. Democrats have rushed to support the teenagers, hoping the movement can help them in the midterm elections by boosting historically-low turnout among young Democratic voters.

“We need to embrace this movement,” said Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau. “It very well may be that the solution to gun violence in this country is a generational solution instead of a partisan one. This might be the generation that finally breaks through on this issue.”

Republicans, on the other hand, warned that it was unclear whether the students would gain momentum beyond Florida, where they pushed Republican Governor Rick Scott to propose tighter gun laws on Friday.

“I would be cautious to recognize any national trend based on one week in which passions have been high,” said Republican strategist Rory Cooper.

The NRA did not respond to a request for comment. In recent days, NRA officials have lashed out at gun control advocates, arguing that Democratic elites are politicizing the Parkland rampage to erode gun rights.

Showing their support for the students, dozens of U.S. colleges and universities - including at least three Ivy League schools - have said their application processes will not consider disciplinary action taken against high schoolers who protest last week’s killings in Florida. (rtr)

almost spiritual, connotations.

Mao, for example, was referred to as “lingxiu”, but Xi’s two immediate predecessors, Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, were not.

In a Sunday commentary on its WeChat account, state television said: “The people love the people’s ‘lingxiu’!”, above a picture of Xi being greeted by an adoring crowd in Sichuan province earlier this month.

The move to lift the presidential term limits is not unexpected. The party has been laying the groundwork for Xi not to have to go.

One of Xi’s closest political allies, former top graft buster Wang Qishan,

stepped down from the party’s Standing Committee - the seven-man body that runs China - in October.

Aged 69, Wang had reached the age at which top officials tend to retire. But he has been chosen as a parliament delegate this year and is likely to become vice president, sources with ties to the leadership and diplomats say.

The move is significant because if Wang does not retire, that would set a precedent for Xi to stay on in power too after he reaches what is normally considered retirement age.

The Central Committee also proposed other changes to the country’s

constitution, including inserting “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” into the constitution, referring to Xi’s rather wordy guiding political thought that is already in the party constitution.

The constitution will further ensure that party control over the country is not in any doubt, too, strengthening existing clauses about the leading role of the Communist Party in China. “The leadership of the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” Xinhua cited one of the proposed new clauses as saying. (rtr)

have to keep the pressure up, implementation is key now,” Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told Reuters.

Russia did not want to specify when a truce would start, so a proposal for the truce to begin 72 hours after adoption was watered-down to demand it start “without delay.” Further talks on Saturday added a demand for all parties to “engage immediately to ensure full and comprehensive implementation.”

“As they dragged out the negotiation, the bombs from Assad’s fighter jets continued to fall. In the three days it took us to adopt this resolution, how many mothers lost their kids to the bombing and shelling?” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the council.

“We are deeply skeptical that the (Syrian) regime will comply,” Haley said. (rtr)

“Titles don’t matter as much in China as they do in the West. Here what matters is whether you are the emperor,” he added. “In China, ordinary people already consider Xi Jinping to be the emperor.”

EYES ON VICE PRESIDENT

Mao, the founder of Communist China and still held in god-like awe by many Chinese, died while still Communist Party chairman in 1976, having never retired.

State media has also increasingly been using the term “lingxiu” to refer to Xi, which means “leader”. Distinct from the standard usage of “lingdao” for leader, “lingxiu” evokes grander,

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

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Lembata govt initiates development of new tourist destinations in five areas

KUPANG - Lembata District Government in East Nusa Tenggara province has initiated the development of new tourist destinations in five areas; namely districts of Lembata, Belu, Timor Tengah Utara, and Alor and city of Kupang.

“Lembata has initiated the cooperation of the five areas to form new tourist destinations in the north-south region of East Nusa Tenggara province,” Deputy Head of Lembata District, Thomas Ola Langoday, said when contacted by ANTARA News from Kupang on Saturday.

Langoday, who was the former Dean of Economics Faculty of Widya Mandira University of Kupang, stated that the local governments fully supported the development of marine and terrestrial tourism in the eastern part of East Nusa Tenggara province.

The western part of the province has featured tourist destinations, including Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai district, and in Flores Island.

“Therefore, we try to develop marine tourism in the eastern part of the province as a new tourist attraction, as the region has diverse tourism potential in the sea and the land,” he noted.

He stated that Alor district has a global marine park, and Lembata district offers both mountain and underwater tours.

The districts of Belu and Timor Tengah Utara have cross-border tours bordering Timor Leste on Timor Island.

“Kupang city, which has complete facilities and infrastructure, can also be a hub,” he remarked.

Langoday explained that the local government was ready to budget the procurement of Pinisi Shipbuilding in 2019 to support the new tourist destinations.

“Pinisi ship will be used to transport tourists to visit the new tourist destinations,” he added.

He ensured to encourage an adequate budgeting every year for the gradual development of tourism as a leading sector to support the regional economy in future.

In addition, he also expected support from the provincial and central governments for the construction of supporting infrastructure and transportation.

“For example, we need flight services from Labuan Bajo to Lembata at affordable rates, so that the flow of tourists can spread to various regions,” he remarked. (ant)

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Police Chief Gen Pol Tito Karnavian (fifth right) along with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani (center) and other officials showed evidence of narcotics type of shabu at Port Sekupang, Batam, Riau Islands, Friday (23/2). The combined team of Customs and Excise along with Bareskrim Police Headquarters succeeded in foiling the smuggling of weighing 1,622 tons and four Chinese crew members in Anambas waters, Riau Islands.

Smuggling of drugs has reached alarming level: House speaker

JAKARTA - Attempts to smuggle large quantities of drugs repeatedly into the country had reached an unprecedented level, House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo stated.

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Photo illustration. Pledang (whaling boat) The Mikael sailed the Savu Sea from the shore of Lamalera, Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara.

“I urge the police to thoroughly investigate the syndicates of drug networks operating in Indonesia,” Soesatyo noted in a written statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

Soesatyo made the statement in response to the attempt to smuggle in three tons of meth aboard a Taiwanese-flagged fishing boat from Myanmar in the waters of the Riau Islands of Sumatra.

This attempt to smuggle a huge quantity of meth was thwarted by the Riau Islands Customs Team.

Soesatyo also lauded the Riau Islands Customs Team that had successfully foiled the efforts to smuggle three tons of meth, locally known as sabu-sabu.

The House Speaker said the Chinese intelligence had provided information to the National Narcotics Agency on the attempt to smuggle meth into Indonesia.

According to the information, some five tons of meth worth Rp10 trillion was to be smuggled into Indonesia.

The first attempt to smuggle one ton of the illegal drug was earlier foiled in the waters of Batam, Riau Island Province. The second consignment of 1.6 tons was also seized in the waters of Batam last week, and

the third catch of three tons was confiscated on Friday (Feb 23) in the waters of Batam Island.

Soesatyo called on the police to take legal action, not only against the crew members who served only as couriers but also against drug lords.

“Legal action must be taken not only against the crew members but also against those behind the syndicate,” Soesatyo emphasized.

Earlier, a Singapore-flagged ship, allegedly carrying 1.6 tons of methamphetamine, was seized by Indonesia`s customs officers in Anambas waters of Riau Islands.

The vessel, with four Chinese crews, carried the illegal drugs in 81 sacks, with each sack containing 20 kilograms of meth, Antara reported here on Tuesday.

The ship was detained near Sekupang Port.

The police are yet to provide further information on the arrest, while Riau Islands police chief Inspector General Didid W did not comment.

Besides that, the Indonesian navy has also stated that it had seized a fishing vessel carrying one ton of crystal methamphetamine off Batam waters early this month.

The drugs were smuggled in 41 rice sacks, and the boat MV Sunrise Glory, which was flying a Singapore flag, was operated by Taiwanese crew members.

Authorities suspect the vessel of also being a `phantom ship, which likely uses many names, including Sun De Man 66. (ant)

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International

Monday, February 26, 2018

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

Entil, a Tempting Tiny Serving

New NAFTA talks aim to clear pathway to toughest issues

MEXICO CITY - Mexico and Canada aim to finish reworking less contentious chapters of the NAFTA trade deal with the United States in new talks beginning on Sunday, hoping to clear the path for a breakthrough on the toughest issues before upcoming elections.

In six months, negotiators have ground out progress on the technical details of a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement, but made little advance on the most radical demands made by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ranging from demands for major changes to automotive content rules and dispute resolution mechanisms, to imposing a clause that could automatically kill NAFTA after five years, the chief stumbling blocks laid by the White House look unlikely to be removed in the latest Mexico City round, officials say.

But if the three negotiating teams manage to iron out remaining differences on areas of broader consensus, officials hope the political leaders will turn their attention to brokering a compromise on the trickiest U.S. proposals.

“I think there’s going to be major progress on the technical issues and major obstacles on the critical issues,” Bosco de la Vega, head of Mexican farm lobby the National Agricultural Council, said of the talks running until March 5.

Once agreement is reached on technical chapters such as stateowned enterprises, barriers to trade and e-commerce, about 10 percent of the modernized accord would eventually be left over for political leaders to work out, de la Vega estimated.

Mexico hopes to build on the previous round of talks in Montreal, when Canada floated what it called “creative” solutions to the U.S. demands.

“We will address and deepen the discussion on Canada’s proposals,” a Mexican official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Canada countered U.S. demands for a higher auto content requirement with a proposal to include expenses for engineering, research and development and other highvalue work in the total.

Under NAFTA, at least 62.5 percent of the net cost of a passenger car or light truck must originate in the region to avoid tariffs. Trump wants the threshold raised to 85 percent.

“You can’t have a successful

Unique Attraction at Sangeh Monkey Forest for Pre-wedding

REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/File Photo

Flags are pictured during the fifth round of NAFTA talks involving the United States, Mexico and Canada, in Mexico City, Mexico, November 19, 2017. negotiation if there’s no change to the rules of origin,” said the Mexican official, adding, “it won’t be 85 percent. We’re not sure what the number is going to be.”

Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo has said his negotiating team aims to present a

proposal on rules of origin, though he has not provided details.

Any final agreement would need to be reached between Trump and auto sector bosses in the United States who oversee the NAFTA region, an industry source close to the process said.

Rules of origin are due to be discussed during the first three days of this round of talks. The North American auto industry has so far pushed back against Trump’s demands, arguing it would damage competitiveness and regional supply chains. (rtr)

China exports barely any fuel to North Korea in Jan - customs BEIJING - China exported barely any fuel to North Korea in January, data showed on Satur-

Monday, February 26, 2018

day, deepening months-long cuts in trade with its isolated neighbour amid growing tensions over

IBP/net

China exported barely any fuel to North Korea in January, data showed on Saturday, deepening months-long cuts in trade with its isolated neighbour amid growing tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programme.

Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programme.

Official data from the General Administration of Customs showed a fourth straight month of no diesel, gasoline or fuel oil shipments. China has traditionally been the main source of North Korea’s fuel.

The only oil product sent to North Korea was 201 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The export breakdown by product comes after data on Friday showed trade with North Korea fell to the lowest level in dollar terms on records going back to June 2014.

China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and sole major ally, though overall trade has fallen in recent months as the United Nations stepped up sanctions, banning imports of some

major commodities and seafood in September and capping annual oil product shipments in December.

China imported no iron ore, coal or lead from North Korea last month, according to the customs data, in line with those latest curbs, aimed at persuading Pyongyang to abandon its weapons programme.

Cereal trade also slowed, with exports of rice totalling 180 tonnes to North Korea, down 4.3 percent from a year ago. It did not export any corn.

The pace of that slowdown in business has accelerated in recent months with exports of petroleum and some grains almost grinding to a halt in November and December.

The data release came after the Trump administration on Friday imposed its largest package of

sanctions against North Korea in a bid to increase pressure on Pyongyang for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

In a speech on Thursday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said that the penalties are having an impact because North Korea now has less money to spend on its ballistic missile tests.

Last year, North Korea conducted dozens of missile launches and its sixth and largest nuclear test in defiance of U.N. resolutions as it pursues its goal of developing a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the United States.

China has repeatedly said it is fully enforcing all resolutions against North Korea, despite suspicion in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that loopholes still exist. (rtr)

Tourist making a visit to Sangeh Monkey Forest will get additional attraction. Aside from enjoying a cool forest atmosphere with monkeys as its inhabitants, they can also witness the cultural attractions of Bali in the form of people with pre-wedding photos. “There is additional entertainment at Sangeh Monkey Forest. We are very happy to know the preparation of Balinese who will get married,” said Sulistyani, a tourist from Surabaya, Sunday (Feb. 18).

Indeed, at that time the tourist attraction located at Sangeh village, Abiansemal, Badung sub-district, was flooded with pre-wedding photo activities. Almost every corner was taken advantage by photographers as a background of their photo object.

Many backgrounds are available namely the forest, temple, statue, archway completed with ancient carvings to the awesomeness of the banyan tree in the forest area. “All places at Sangeh Monkey Forest are good for taking pictures. Most importantly, photographers must be smart to choose the location,” said Manggus, a photographer photographing his customers.

Amid the photo activities of pro-

spective brides, visitors were amazed by a Chinese couple who also did a pre-wedding photo shooting. However, this foreign couple was not to prepare for marriage, but a celebration-like photo session made every 10 years.

Courtyard of the tourist attraction, gates, statues and temples were also taken advantage for the background of their photos.

According to one of his companions who happened to be a Balinese, Sangeh Monkey Forest was chosen because it remains natural. Moreover, many people are choosing it for pre-wedding photos. “Sangeh Monkey Forest is chosen by this couple after looking at the internet, so they also choose to take

pictures. In addition to this object, the shooting is also done on Sanur Beach and Art Center,” he explained.

Operations Manager of Sangeh Monkey Forest, I Made Sumohon, said that starting early February 2018 there are indeed many brides and bridegrooms that do pre-wedding photos at this attraction. They come from different regions of Bali. Moreover, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the pre-wedding photo shooting increased sharply. “This pre-wedding photo is seasonal event. Within a day there can be 10 – 15 pre-wedding photo shootings. However, at particular times it can reach 30 couples,” he added. (kmb)

Virgin Beach Looks ‘Like a Virgin’

Awesome overlay of white sand along 300 meters really makes comfortable and the eyes are convenient to see. Blue and calm seawater is really familiar to greet tourists.

Some of them are sunbathing and lounging on the beach lounger while enjoying a bottle of beer and other snacks. It’s really nice and fun to spend the day on Virgin Beach. It beautiful nature looks like a virgin on the Virgin Beach.

It is not far from Denpasar and other tourist spots in Bali. For instance, from Kuta, Nusa Dua, Ubud

or other, it is about 1.5 hours’ drive east of Denpasar. Traffic congestion rarely occurs on this road section.

Throughout the journey, some tourist attractions such as Kertagosa Klungkung, Lake Yeh Malet, Goa Lawah or Candi Dasa can also be visited.

Virgin Beach is located in a bay flanked by two hills, namely the Bukit Perasi and Bukit Asah.

When heading for the location, visitors will be faced with rather ascending road section, and then descending one. From here, visi-

tors can ‘smell’ the flavor and beauty of the beach. “We indeed have a very attractive beach,” said Regent of Karangasem, Mas Sumatri.

In addition to Virgin Beach, there is Candidasa having gone worldwide earlier. The other beaches needing to be considered are Jemeluk, Tulamben and Amed.

“These beaches must be visited when spending holidays in Bali,” said the regent. What are you waiting for? Let’s explore the wonder of Karangasem District! (kmb)

5

Have you ever tasted entil? This Balinese traditional serving resembles lontong and looks simple, but has a tempting flavor.

It is flat of four rectangular like a pillow and has a green color because it is wrapped in bamboo leaves (telengidi). It offers very distinctive aroma, so that it can arouse the appetite. Eat entil is enough with chili (Balinese complete seasoning and shrimp paste condiment). However, it will be better when enjoyed with urap vegetables.

Entil is wrapped with bamboo leaves that can make entil taste more delicious. Green color of bamboo leaves seep into the rice when cooked, resulting in a greenish color. Indeed, the making of this serving takes a long time, especially when boiling. The longer boils this entil, the longer it will last and not quickly turn stale.

Entil is famous in the area of Pupuan, while it is also made at Tengkudak, Penebel, Tabanan district. Moreover, this simple traditional food can be easily found in traditional stalls at villages.

It also often becomes a menu of culinary events in the festival held by the government of Tabanan. At Tanah Lot Kreatifood Festival, for instance, this menu is favored by visitors.

The serving includes a pack of entil, and then it is sprinkled with coconut sauce and fried condiment. Alternatively, it can be mixed with Balinese urap vegetable with sprouts, sliced ??spinach and cuts of long beans mixed with spices. For old people or those having no strong teeth, this entil is usually mixed with gravy and seasoning. “We used to make entil for sale,” said Ni Nyoman Sutiani, 63, the entil maker from Denuma hamlet, Tengkudak, Penebel.

Sutiani admitted the profession to make entil has been pursued since childhood. Initially, she helped her parents and then became the next heir. “Entil has existed for a long time and no one knows for sure when and where it started. We make this entil from generation to generation until now. Entil remains to have a lot of demand,” said Sutiani.

According to Sutiani, entil is usually presented on particular days, such as Nyepi or Day of Silence where the Hindus perform catur brata penyepian or four abstinences where people will not turn or light fire, not work, not travel and not enjoy any entertainment, so food stock is needed. On that account, entil is chosen because it is durable and not easily stale. “Now, entil is widely sold in traditional markets and stalls, like what I do,” she said.

Entil is made from rice and grated coconut and then wrapped in bamboo leaves tied with rope. In the past, people used bamboo or coconut bark ropes, but now many people prefer to use plastic ropes. Meanwhile, the seasoning in use includes base genep (complete seasoning), such as onion, garlic, chili, ginger, turmeric, aromatic ginger, galangal and other spices. It is also coupled with grated coconut to make urap seasoning.

How to make it? First of all, soak rice for overnight. The rice is then put on a leaf then wrap with bamboo leaves and tied with bamboo string. In single bond, it is made up of two folds of bamboo leaves in which have contained rice. After that, it is boiled for about 3 hours or more. Prepare seasoning started by grounding until the seasoning turning smooth. Mix with grated coconut. A portion of this seasoning is allocated to make fried condiment. Ultimately, it is ready to be served. (kmb)

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Bali News

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

International

Enigma: Looking at life through women’s eyes gender politics or social commentary ?

‘Peace Games’ are no game-changer for South Koreans

Women have had a dominant role in art throughout the ages, both as creators of beautiful objects and as objects of beautiful creations. Women indeed embody a kind of enigma as givers of life but also for males as “the other”. Indeed the fact that women are so often the object or subject of men’s paintings is in itself a kind of enigma. Is it because of the natural beauty of a woman’s body that women are so intriguing? or is it because of the enigmatic, unnamable impact they have on the lives of male artists ?, is it simply because for male artists women are “the other” and as such are intrinsically intriguing?, or are their more nefarious reasons underlying this tendency?

Both the topic of the preponderance of men in the formal art world as well as the public male gaze upon woman are indeed topics fraught with many issues worth exploring. However the exhibition

currently on display at Artotel Sanur entitled: Enigma: Looking at Life Through Women’s Eyes which features paintings of women by male artists does not refer to these topics directly, though natu-

Art work by Sindu Putra on display at Artotel

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rally these and other related issues naturally comes to mind.

In fact, this intriguing title refers to the fact that all the artists presented noticed that in their own unique ways, find themselves time and again drawn to featuring women in their paintings and asked themselves what it was about women that they found so inspiring. Though the meaning of the title of the exhibition does beg the question of how men can see through women’s eyes, the perhaps deliberately vague phrase in fact refers to these artists choice of women in society as the theme of the story they tell in their paintings.

As curator of the show Cata Odata’s Ratna Odata explaines: “When we were asked to put a show together, we actually had to delay the opening date because we were having trouble finding a theme that related to the current works of all five artists. One day as we were all discussing the matter, we suddenly noticed that all of their paintings featured women’s eyes and when asked why this was, none of the artists had a clear answer. It was indeed an enigma to them”.

As it turns out each of the artist has a unique take on the image and story of the women in their paintings, none of which were the purely aesthetic aspects of women. For artist Sindu Putra, it was the idea of the image of Balinese women in particular that was interesting to him. Exploring how a kind of mythologized image of Balinese women as mysterious and exotic has been used for the last century to create an a seducing illusion of some imagined passed is still used today, he created 3 hyper realistic paintings of old photographs that appear to have been crumpled.

In contrast though related in theme, artist Djunaidi Kenyut created a series of brutish renditions of

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REUTERS/Panumas Sanguanwong

Pro-democracy activists wearing masks mock Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as Pinocchio during a protest against junta at a university in Bangkok, Thailand, February 24, 2018.

Art work by Djunaidi Kenyut on display at Artotel Balinese women carrying various types of baskets on their heads.

Each baskets is plastered with a shred of lace fabric commonly used for traditional blouses worn for ceremonies in Bali. The women seen only from the waste up hardly have any shape at all apart from the melon round breasts drawn in thick brush strokes. There is something playful yet also disruptive about these paintings both visually and in the interpretations they beckon.

More disruptive or disturbing still are the series of small paintings

by Imam Suchayo who uses small, intricate yet non fluid lines to create semi-abstract fields that include many figures in each frame. These figures are not clearly distinct one from another and yet they all allude to haunting disruptions to the status quo. Indeed as the artist himself explained that he drew his inspiration from the “fringes of female spaces”.

In rather start contrast to these somewhat monstrous images, artist Awan Yozeffani presents almost cartoon story book images inspired by his daughter’s imagination and request to her father to have a drawing of a dog and a little girl.

One of the images that emerged is of a small girl with her dog and a flower pot floating on a fragment of a comet in outer space. Despite its simplicity, the image is strong

IBP/kmb

yet light, dark yet playful and hints at the mysterious inner world of children in general. His other two paintings though somewhat less light hearted are painted in the same style and all are open to a number of different readings.

By far the largest waiting of the exhibition covering the entire back wall of the space, presents a large fat women in the foreground set against a background made up of equally flabby female nude figures that appear to be floating one on top of the other in a kind of amorphous blob. This enigmatic painting by Anas Etan brings to mind many aspects of femininity and indeed hints at the female form being used as an object in itself in the public sphere.

The exhibition has already stirred much heated debate about art, women and related topics amongst artists, feminists and others who have felt touched by the theme of the show. The fact that there has been such a strong reaction to the the title of the exhibition perhaps says more about the current state of affairs than it does about the exhibition itself, but that of course is up to each viewer to decide for themselves. Cana Odata’s Enigma: Looking at Life Through Women’s Eyes will be on display at Artotel, Sanur jl, Kusuma Sari No. 1, Sanur, until April 15th, 2018. (kmb)

Thai activists in Pinocchio masks call junta leader ‘liar’

BANGKOK - Hundreds of pro-democracy activists in Thailand wore cartoon masks portraying the country’s junta leader with a long nose on Saturday, calling him a “liar” for delaying a general election promised this year.

The junta has promised and postponed elections several times since it came to power following a coup in 2014, with the latest date set for November. The militaryappointed legislature changed the election law last month, signalling another delay to early 2019.

That sparked a series of antijunta, pro-election protests that have gained momentum in recent weeks with gatherings taking place in several provinces across Thailand.

On Saturday, around 300 activists congregated at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, wearing and distributing paper masks resembling Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to Pinocchio.

One of them, Sirawith Seritiwat, said the mask was called Yuth-nocchio - a reference to the infamous fictional character whose nose gets longer every time he lies.

“Enough with the lies. Time’s

up for dictatorship. It’s the people’s time now. We must vote this year,” Sirawith told the crowd.

Activists also held up three fingers, which they said symbolised their demands in the slogan: “Elections must take place this year.

Down with dictatorship. Long live democracy.”

Around 100 police officers were deployed at the university but they did not interfere with the event.

Officials have so far not commented on the latest spate of protests, but last week a spokesman for the junta said it was not concerned by the protests and would rely on the police to maintain peace and order.

Prayuth said earlier this week young activists should focus on their studies and “not think they have to change the country.”

Protests are planned for every Saturday in March and May in Bangkok and other provinces,

with a large gathering between May 19-22 to mark the four-year anniversary of the coup.

“We urge everyone in the country to come out and join us,” said Rangsiman Rome, another activist in Bangkok.

“It’s time to take back our future.

Prayuth and Prawit must go,” he added, referring to another junta leader Prawit Wongsuwan.

Watana Muangsook, a member of the Puea Thai party which has won every election in the last decade, also came to Saturday’s gathering “to show support” to the activists.

“People have the right to demand elections,” Wattana said.

The junta lodged a lawsuit last week against seven activists for inciting unrest and 43 protesters for illegal gathering after a protest last month at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok that also involved hundreds of activists. (rtr)

GANGNEUNG - South Korea’s self-styled “Peace Games” have been a sporting success but public reaction suggests it may have failed its bigger test -- to generate the support its president needs to make bold moves to improve ties with old enemy North Korea.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been using the Games, which end on Sunday, to help galvanise the public behind his risky policy of re-engagement with the North, an approach that in the past has ended ultimately in disappointment.

A government official voiced surprise at how young South Koreans, seen among Moon’s core supporters, declined to embrace some of his peace push, which featured a joint women’s ice hockey team made up of players from South and North.

“When Seoul pursued rapprochement with Pyongyang in the early 2000s, most people were hopeful and by and large behind the government. After a decade of up and downs, we just don’t have that anymore,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

“It won’t be easy to seek a fundamental change if that means going against public opinion,” the official added.

The failure of the peace message to resonate among young South Koreans was conspicuous at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, especially when North Korea’s cheerleading squad turned up at some of the events to wave unity flags and chant “We are one!”.

“I and frankly most of my friends don’t feel that we are the same people,” university student Lee Seung-hyun, 20, said after watching the cheerleaders as they swayed to old Korean folk tunes, in between K-pop tunes playing over loudspeakers.

“I am turned off when North Korean cheerleaders chant ‘We are one!’ That feels like forcing a sense of unity that isn’t really there.”

Opinion polls showed the public warming to the joint women’s ice hockey team after an initial backlash, but that too appears to have made no lasting impact.

A Gallup Korea opinion poll released on Friday, in the final days of the Games, showed a still divided public, with about 50 percent of respondents supporting the team.

“Let’s be realistic. These are minor developments that lack substance,” James Kim, a research fellow at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said of Moon’s unity symbolism.

“Ultimately, without a major breakthrough between now and the closing ceremony, the situation before and after the Olympics is basically unchanged.” (rtr)

The Presidential Blue House/Handout via REUTERS

South Korean President Moon Jae-In and Ivanka Trump attend a dinner at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, February 23, 2018.

14

Monday, February 26, 2018

Traveling

International

Bali News

International

Pancake week festival

MINSK - Maslenitsa is an ancient Slavic feast which can be compared to a carnival. There is no specific date for it on the calendar. The holiday begins exactly eight weeks before Easter and lasts for a week. Each day of Maslenitsa has its own name: Monday – The Welcoming. On this day Lady Maslenitsa is welcomed, fairs organized, places for folk celebrations prepared and Maslenitsa effigy is made Tuesday – The Playing. People start visiting each other, engage in games, outdoor fun activities, sleigh riding. Single girls do fortune telling Wednesday – The Sweet Tooth Day. Sons-in-law visit their mothers-in-law for a pancake treat Thursday – The

Revelry/The Wide Thursday, the day when the so-called Wide Maslenitsa starts. People make and eat bliny (thin pancakes or crepes), dance and enjoy outdoor activities. In old times that was also a day for fist-fighting tournaments Friday – The Mother-in-Law’s Eve. Sons-inlaw invite their mothers-in-law for dinner. The invitation must be made in person Saturday – The Sister-in-Law’s Gathering. Young wives invite their husband’s relatives to give them presents Sunday – The Forgiveness Day. The Maslenitsa effigy is carried around the village and is burnt in a bonfire at sunset.

Relatives and friends ask each other for forgiveness.

A lot of cafes will offer pancakes during Maslenitsa. Usually pancakes in Belarus are made of only four ingredients: milk, flour, butter and eggs. Dough is always fresh and no frozen products are used.

The variety of pancake fillings is unbelievable. Among the novelties in Belarus is ‘Beef-pancake’ which consists of a yummy pork chop, melted Cheddar, onions, dill pickles and a special sauce.

The prices for pancakes usually start from about $1.

During Maslenitsa it’s also usual to eat potato pancakes, which are called draniki, lunches and different beverages varying from beer to milkshakes and coffee cocktails. The variety of

pancake fillings is unbelievable.

Among the novelties in Belarus is ‘Beef-pancake’ which consists of a yummy pork chop, melted

Monday, February 26, 2018

3

Cheddar, onions, dill pickles and a special sauce. The prices for pancakes usually start from about $1. (net)

IBP/net

Residents of Kesimpar flee to refuge

Worried about farming as volcano still ‘boils’

Amlapura - Volcanic ash on the slopes of Mount Agung has been swept away by rainwater allowing the vegetation to grow green again. And, since the alert level for Mount Agung has been lowered, communities living at the foot of the volcano have been able to cultivate their fields again. Residents of Kesimpar hamlet, Besakih, Rendang however are not so fortunate as their village is still affected by volcanic activity and flooding and are therefore still living in evacuation.

Currently, 398 people or about 125 families from Kesimpar are still being provided refuge at the Rendang evacuation post at the Rendang Agriculture Office.

Despite being eager to return home and get back to their regular activities, there is concern about eh still active volcano. “The first problem is that the road is badly damaged and secondly if there is another eruptions many farmers are worried about suffering great losses” explained I Ketut Wijaya Mataram, subdistrict facilitator of the development and empowerment program (P3MD) of Karangasem who was accompanying evacuees on Saturday night (Feb. 24).

Previously, many residents of

Kesimpar who evacuated to the Rendang post were insisting that they be allowed to go home, arguing that the few people who wanted to stay in evacuation were only interested in getting free food there.

However after holding a meeting at the Rendang Agricultural Office, attended by leaders from the subdistrict of Rendang leadership council and Subdivision Head of Volcanic Mitigation for Eastern Region of the PVMBG, Devi Kamil Syahbana, on Thursday night (Feb. 22), an better understanding of the situation was reached.

Wijaya Mataram said the Center for Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) has confirmed that volcanic activity is

still affecting the region of Kesimpar, located within a 5 km radius of the crater of Mount Agung. The PVMBG, explained Wijaya Mataram, is not strict about the recommendation of a 4km radius danger zone. If for example Kesimpar has the potential to become cut off due to damaged roads or if people are still feeling traumatized, it is perfectly acceptable to remain in the evacuation post. “I meet with Nengah Sama the hamlet chief of Kesimpar almost everyday and in fact this is the condition of Kesimpar at present. Yes the land can be farmed but people are still traumatized”, explained Wijaya Mataram.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) also expressed their compassion for the residents of Kesimpar. During his visit to the Rendang Evacuation Post on Friday night (Feb. 23), Deputy Recovery for the BNPB, Taufik Kartiko, said it is perfectly normal for the people of Kesimpar to be haunted by anxiety and that he will therefore be coordinating with the ranks of the BNPB to provide

additional support.

This support, he said includes food security assistance such as rice for the pour for the next three months at least or until the marigold gardens and vegetable crops have ben harvested. However before such assistance can be provided to the villagers the road to Kesimpar hamlet needs to be repaired. At the very least emergency repairs need to be done as the road has been badly damaged by floods over the last few months, he added.

Some residents of Kesimpar who had insisted on going home, ended up returning to the evacuation post. 40 year-old I Wayan Gede Darmika for example, had returned home on Tuesday (Feb. 20), but subsequently rushed back to the evacuation post after hearing a roar from the mountain. “Indeed, the mountain is calmer than it was but it is still “boiling”. I rushed here in such a panic that I left my wallet at home”, he admitted.

Darmika said he did not dare cultivate his land just yet out of fear that Mount Agung will erupt again.

Even when the volcano does gradually return to normal, he said he is still not sure how he will cultivate his fields as he has been living in evacuation for the last six months and his money has run out.

Hamlet chief of Kesimpar, Nengah Sama, said his people are still confused about what do to.

Although there is a great desire to go home there is also a lot of fear. “Currently Kesimpar can only be reached through Pokcabe (western road— Ed) as the passage to Yeh Kori (eastern road) is badly damaged.

The Pokcabe path is also prone to flooding because it is located next to the river channel”, he said.

Last Saturday, Sama led his hamlet in making offerings at the evacuation post. The piodalan or temple anniversary of the Dalem Temple of Kesimpar is on Wednesday (Feb. 28) s they are making preparation at eh evacuation post.

“We’ll slaughter a pig tomorrow here a the evacuation post, so that when we go home to the temple we will only have to perform the ceremony itself”, he said. (117)

So far, Bali has no ‘child-worthy’ cities

DENPASAR - According to a number of determining criteria “child worthy” cities that those that are safest for children to live in free of violence. Bali has yet to have any of it’s cities declared to be fully “child-worthy’ although Denpasar and Gianyar have been categorized

as “excellent” in this regard.

Commissioner of the Bali Regional Protection of Women and Children (KPPAD), Ni Luh Gede Yastini, explained that based on cerain indicators of violence against children, cities can fall into one of of four categories from ok

to best (pratama -okay), (madya -good), (nindya -excellent) (utama -best imaginable). Currently, Denpasar and Gianyar are rated nindya (excellent) while Badung was downgraded from nindya to madya (good) last year.

A few districts have been rated

madya and pratama while others do not even qualify as “ok”.. “Only after being rated as utama or best imaginable, are cities named as ‘child worthy’, she explained.

Yastini explained that the most important way to reduce violence against children is to strengthen the

family. The KPPAD is therefore asking the government to create a family empowerment program.

“We need to recognize that the resilience of families is becoming currently becoming weaker”, she added. (kmb42)

2

Monday, February 26, 2018

Bali News

International

Sapu leger rite held to boost Balinese human resources

CEREMONies and their paraphernalia are means to refine the minds and characters of adherents in the way of Hinduism. The Dwijendra Foundation therefor held a sapu leger ceremony for students born on Wuku Wayang to coincide with Tumpek Wayang on Saturday (Feb. 24). A total of 70 kindergarten, elementary, junior high and vocational school students from the Dwijendra Foundation Denpasar underwent the sapu leger exorcism rite.

Some 63 of the students were born the week of Tumpek Wayng and seven of the students were born exactly on Tumpek Wayang.

The ritual was officiated over by Ida Pedanda Istri Gede Simpangan Manuaba from Griya Simpangan, Buduk. While the apu leger purificatory rite (pelukatan) was organized by puppeteer Ida Bagus Ngurah Raharja. The essence of this sapu leger can only be performed by specially qualified puppeteer and forms part of the sapu leger procession.

It is said that Lord Shiva summoned Sang Hyang Kala to gobble babies and children born on Wuku Wayang because those born on this wuku (seven-day week in pawukon calendar) are temperamental. However, the children born in this day who have a tendency to

be especially temperamental can be saved from being gobbled by Sanghyang Kala by the puppeteer presenting special offerings. The sapu leger ceremony thus also serves to soften the character of children born on Wuku Wayang.

The Dwijendra Foundation sponsored the mass sapu leger ceremony as a way to help balance Balinese society in its entirety. “This is the first time we have held such a ceremony but we plan to do it every two years”, said Chairman of the Dwijendra Foundation, Dr. M.S. Chandra Jaya.

The Dwijendra Foundation holds this ceremony in oder to to refine the minds of and build positive character for students born in Wuku Wayang and is also a way to lessen the burden of the parents, said Jaya adding that it is a way to allow these children to become excellent human resources for Bali.

Jaya, explained that children born on Wuku Wayang indeed tend to have special characteristics and should not be allowed to run wild, especially amid the increasing influence of information technology. Schools he said have a duty to create human resources who are self-reliant for the future of Bali. The foundations therefor is taking the time to perform the sapu leger ceremony. Graduates of Dwijendra are expected to become superior, virtuous human resources for Bali that have good character. (025)

IBP/Sueca

Students of Dwijendra undergoing a sapu leger ceremony led by puppeteer Ida Bagus Baskara from Griya Buduk.

Activities

International

Monday, February 26, 2018

15

Atlas Pearls Gives Back

A Reading Corner For Kukusan Island

IBP/net

Job fair provides 1,112 vacancies

High demand for vocational and high school graduates D E N PA S A R - A l t h o u g h Bali;s unemployment rate is the lowest in Indonesia at just 1. 48 percent, the Bali Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Agency is looking to bring the unemployment rate down even further by holding their annual job fair on February 27-28.

Head of the Bali Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources, Ni Luh Made Wiratmi, recently confirmed that a total of 15 companies will participate in the job fair offering approximately 1,112 vacancies. These jobs are intended for graduates of high school, vocational school, bachelors, diploma 3 and diploma 1 and even some for graduates of junior high school.

“Hopefully, all the job vacancies can be filled in accordance with the expectations of the applicants and their competences”, she said.

Wiratmi added that the job fair held by the government in collaboration with the private sector is one way of reducing Bali;s unemployment rate. This job fair to be held in the office of the Bali Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources is a mini job fair paid for through the budget of the central government.

“The budget is from the central government’s de-concentration funds. The fair will be held over two days and aims to absorb 100 percent of the non-working labour force in all the available vacancies”, she explained.

According to data from the Manpower and Energy and Min-

eral Resources Agency, companies participating in the fair are engaged in the following sectors: retail, education, outsourcing, distributor, banking, hospitality, paint industry, financing and credit. Vocational and high school graduates are in the highest demand primarily by retail companies, outsourcing and banks.

The Manpower and Energy and Mineral Resources Agency through the Industry and Tourism Vocational Training Institute also opened a training program for prospective workers.

There are four programs offered: competency-based training programs, community-based training programs, mobile training programs, and third-party cooperative training. Duration of the training depends on the type of vocational and skill level and range from 240 hours of training (1.5 months) to 960 hours of training (6 months) plus on the job training in industry.

Training in tourism includes Food and Beverage Division (kitchen and pastry, restaurant and bar, and engineering) and Room Division (housekeeping / laundry). For industrial skill, it consists of electricity (cooling technique, dynamo roll, lighting installation), electronics (radio and audio, television, mobile phone), automotive (motorcycle), commercial administration (office administration / secretary), various vocations (sewing) and agriculture (processing). (kmb32)

 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

In Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia where one of Atlas Pearls’ farms is located, the Atlas Pearls CSR team is actively giving back to the community and the sea via several projects at hand namely in Labuan Bajo, Pungu Island and Kukusan Village.

The team provides community support, distribution of children’s reading books, teach English and plant mangrove trees. Soon, the team will embark on refurbishing

a reef around Pungu Kecil island.

One of these on-going projects includes building a Reading Corner or a Library for local primary schools in the area. One such successful project is now completed - thanks to the team at Atlas Pearls, now the children at MIS Al Hidayah Primary School on Kukusan Island will have access to over 100 books. Atlas Pearls built a comfortable and cozy Reading Corner for the children with accessible shelves

for the books. With time, aged or damaged books will be replaced with newer versions and new books will continuously be added to the collection. The books will also be sent to primary schools in other locations where Atlas Pearls operate such as Alor Farm and Alyui Farm.

Atlas Pearls nurtures, creates and retails high-quality pearls and pearl products, which, through their formation, are inextricably linked to the well-being of surrounding

communities and environments in its North Bali farm, the farm of Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo in Flores and Alor, Lembata.

Atlas Pearls prides itself on helping nature create the perfect gems, the South Sea Pearls of Indonesia.

Atlas Pearls care for your pearls from the breeding of oysters at its North Bali farm, the farms of Raja Ampat, Labuan Bajo, Alor and Lembata where these oysters meticulously make the pearls, to the necklaces,

rings and earrings sold at Place Vendome in Paris, New York, London and the world’s greatest jewellers.

Come see the collections at the Atlas Pearl’s showrooms, choose your unique pearl and let it sing to your heart. Available to view at the Seminyak urban store of Atlas Pearls, Jl. Raya Seminyak no.73, Seminyak. For bookings and inquiries, please contact Atlas Pearls at retailmarketing@cipindo.com or call +62 361 732 769.

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 58 10th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Monday, February 26, 2018

Oprah Winfrey says ‘definitely not’ running for U.S. president

Ed Sheeran

REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Ed Sheeran searches for new lines in movie “Songwriter” BERLIN - British singer Ed Sheeran said on Friday that the hardest part of songwriting was coming up with lines that had never been written before as a new documentary detailing his creative process premiered at Berlin’s international film festival.

The movie “Songwriter” was directed by Sheeran’s cousin, Murray Cummings, and follows the Grammy winner as he travels around the United States and England writing songs on his laptop, jamming in a garden and recording in the studio.

The intimate portrait of Sheeran, who was the most-streamed artist on music service Spotify globally in 2017, includes footage of him belting out songs while crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Mary 2, returning to high school to see his music teacher and talking to his father about his songs.

“I think the most difficult thing to do with writing a song is finding a phrase that you haven’t heard before because there’s always a song that’s going to be like: ‘I love you baby like crazy, I miss you maybe’,” Sheeran told a news conference. He said he had learned not to push himself if he was struggling to write and did not believe writer’s block existed.

“What I do when I can’t write a

song is I just put the guitar down and go and do something else for about a couple of weeks and then come back and then I’ll be able to write a song,” the 27-year-old said.

“So the way that my mind is now is, I will be able to write songs forever - they probably will start being about pretty mundane things because my life is getting more and more calm.”

Sheeran said he liked the documentary because it showed a song being written from start to finish, rather than just an album being recorded.

“I like that Murray found a niche that hasn’t really been done before.

It’s quite difficult to find something that hasn’t been done in a music movie,” Sheeran said.

Sheeran, who said he planned to make a film next year in which he would play something other than himself, listed “Goodfellas”, “Cool Runnings” and “Love Actually” as his favourite movies.

Cummings told Reuters the documentary would give fans an insight into Sheeran off-stage.

“When he’s on his own he’s kind of very like relaxed and chilled and stuff. So I think they’re going to see that’s what he’s like because this film just kind of shows what I see every day,” Cummings said. (rtr)

LOS ANGELES - Oprah Winfrey put to rest any lingering questions about a potential 2020 bid for the presidency, declaring on a late-night talk show on Thursday that she was “definitely not running.”

The media mogul, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, was emphatic in her response to host Kimmel’s question about whether she would run.

“Where do I look into the camera? I am definitely not running for president,” Winfrey said over cries of “no” from the studio audience.

Last month, Winfrey fans lit up Twitter with calls for her to run for president in 2020 against U.S. President

Donald Trump after she gave an inspiring speech at the Golden Globe awards show in support of those who have exposed sexual misconduct. “ Yo u n o w , you give a speech and then you sit down a n d you

have surprisingly started to run for president,” Winfrey told Kimmel, calling it “a humbling thing to have people think that you can run the country.”

She acknowledged, though, having thought about it.

“I am the kind of person who tries to listen to signs. I think, well am I supposed to run the country?

I don’t think so.”

Known by millions on firstname basis, Winfrey first rose to fame as the host of a television talk show, using it to build a media empire that spans magazine publishing, movie and television production, cable TV and satellite radio. Born into poverty, she is now one of the world’s wealthiest women and been nominated for two Academy Awards. She has long been associated with Democratic Party causes and fundraising.

Trump has several times said he hoped he would face Winfrey as an opponent in the 2020 presidential race.

On Sunday night, he blasted her over a segment on CBS’ “60 Minutes” program in which she led a panel of 14 Republican, Democrat and Independent voters from Grand Rapids, Michigan in a wide ranging discussion about Trump’s first year in office.

Trump tweeted: “Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes.

The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!” (rtr)

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Monday, February 26, 2018

China’s President Xi Jinping is seen on a screen during the closing ceremony.

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

China sets stage for Xi to stay in office indefinitely

BEIJING - China’s ruling Communist Party on Sunday set the stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, with a proposal to remove a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in office.

Since taking office more than five years ago, Xi has overseen a radical shake-up of the party, including taking down top leaders once thought untouchable as part of his popular war on deep-rooted corruption.

Sunday’s announcement, carried by state news agency Xinhua, gave few details. It said the proposal had been made by the party’s Central Committee, the largest of its elite ruling bodies. The proposal also covers the vice president position.

Xi, 64, is currently required by

China’s constitution to step down as president after two five-year terms. Nearing the end of his first term, he will be formally elected to a second at the annual meeting of China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament opening on March 5.

There is no limit on his tenure as the party and military chief, though a maximum 10-year term is the norm. He began his second term as head of the party and military in October at the end of a party congress held once every five years.

Zhang Lifan, a historian and po-

litical commentator, said the news was not unexpected, and it was hard to predict exactly how long Xi could stay on in power.

“In theory he could serve longer than Mugabe but in reality, no one is sure exactly what will happen,” Zhang said, referring to Zimbabwe’s former president whose four decades in office ended in November, after the army and his former political allies moved to force him out.

Though positive remarks filled the comments section under the pages of main state media outlets

like the People’s Daily, the move was not welcomed by everyone on China’s Twitter-like Weibo service, “If two terms are not enough, then they can write in a third term, but there needs to be a limit. Getting rid of it is not good!,” wrote one Weibo user.

EMPEROR XI Constitutional reform needs to be approved by parliament, which is stacked with members chosen for their loyalty to the party - meaning the reform will not be blocked.

There has been persistent speculation that Xi wants to stay on in office past the customary two five-

year terms.

The October party congress ended without appointing a clear eventual successor for Xi. However, the role of party chief is more senior than that of president.

At some point, Xi could be given a party position that also enables him to stay on as long as he likes.

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