Edisi 27 February 2017 | Internasional Bali Post

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

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

16 Pages Number 41 9th year

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Monday, February 27, 2017

‘Batman v Superman,’ ‘Hillary’s America’ win Razzie ‘worst’ films

LOS ANGELES - Even the Razzie Awards are getting political.

A documentary criticizing U.S. Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton tied on Saturday with superhero ensemble “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” on a list of the year’s worst achievements in film, winning four Razzies apiece.

The annual tongue-in-cheek Razzie awards, which serve as an antidote to Hollywood’s Oscars ceremony, named Dinesh D’Souza’s “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party” as the worst film of 2016.

D’Souza, a conservative commentator and best-selling author, was named worst actor for narrating his documentary and worst

director alongside Bruce Schooley.

Worst actress went to the person who portrayed Clinton in the film.

“Hillary’s America” took in a modest $13 million at the North American box office last year.

The Razzies, or Golden Raspberry awards, follow a Hollywood awards season marked by outspoken speeches and protests against the policies and behavior of U.S.

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Malaysia rolls out red carpet as Saudi king kicks off Asia tour

KUALA LUMPUR/DUBAI - Malaysia welcomed Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Sunday for the start of a rare, month-long Asian tour, where the monarch will build ties and seek to draw more investments to the oil-rich gulf nation.

President Donald Trump. The season culminates with Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.

“Batman v Superman” also won four Razzies, including worst screen combo for “Ben Affleck & His BFF (Baddest Foe Forever) Henry Cavill” and worst “remake, rip-off or sequel.”

The annual Razzie Redeemer Award went to veteran actordirector Mel Gibson. Gibson has been welcomed back into the folds of Hollywood with his war drama “Hacksaw Ridge” a decade after a drunken anti-Semitic rant made him an outcast. (rtr)

The visit is the first by a Saudi king to Malaysia in more than a decade, as the Arab nation courts Asian investors for the sale of a 5 percent stake in state firm Aramco in 2018, expected to be the world’s biggest IPO. Malaysian state television on Sunday showed live footage of the octogenarian king descending from his plane on an escalator flown in with his delegation. He was received

by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak before being whisked away in a heavily guarded convoy for a state ceremony at Malaysia’s parliament grounds. The leader was greeted in parliament with a 21-gun salute, local media reported.

King Salman also plans to visit Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, China, the Maldives and Jordan “to meet with the leaders of those countries to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern,” a royal court statement carried on Saudi Arabia’s

This image released

by Warner Bros.

Pictures shows Ben Affleck, left, and Henry Cavill in a scene from, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

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AP Photo/Vincent Thian

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, center, inspects an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Salman is on four-day official visit to Malaysia.

state media SPA reported.

Government sources with knowledge of the visit said a 600strong delegation will accompany the king on his four-day visit to Malaysia, where cooperation on energy developments will be on the agenda.

State oil firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Saudi Aramco will sign an agreement on Tuesday to collaborate in Malaysia’s Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project, a boost for the Southeast Asian economy which has been reeling under weak global oil prices.

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.

2

Bali News

Monday, February 27, 2017

International

Bali to be threatened by water crisis

DAMAGE of forest, watersheds and others in the upstream region so far gets very minimal attention. Actually, the water resources are formed in the upstream region. In other words, the upstream region serves as reservoir where the water will be collected and stored. Nothing is wrong if then there is a warning that Bali will experience a water crisis in 2034.

“We just hurry after disaster occurs,” said Chief of the PPLH of Udayana University, Dr. I Made Sudarma. If the upstream region is damaged, added Sudarma, no water can be flowed in dry season. Likewise when it rains, water will

overflow in vain and even causes flood devastating the environment before the water finally returns to the sea. Actually, nature has given human water for free. However, human even thinks to make raw water from seawater with reverse osmosis technology.

“We are always thinking on technology, technology and technology. Actually, nature has been providing cheap technology so that we just need to preserve it,” he explained.

According to Sudarma, various sectors should have to start contributing to water survival. Likewise, the parties concerned with the problem in upstream region should begin to measure, monitor and even make the printout of the results of the water conservation efforts having been done.

IBP/file

The children must walk many kilometers juts to get water in Karanagsem. The similar water crisis coudl happen in other regencies in Bali.

“All this time, we never check whether the greening carried out by various parties has been able to increase the flow of water,” he added.

A lecturer of Agriculture and Climatology at the Udayana University, Dr. Ni Luh Kartini, said that surface water has been already deficit since 2009. However, only a few people fuss it because most of them use ground water. Unfortunately, the massive suction of ground water is also detrimental to Bali in the future.

“If the groundwater is taken continuously, there will be some possibilities. Firstly, it will result in subsidence.

Secondly, the seawater will come in to fill in the lakes, and thirdly, the spring will also get sucked. So, it will have great impact on the surface water when getting sucked and the surface water will not be able to rise to the surface. Its volume continues to shrink,” she explained.

Kartini added that Bali indeed has four lakes that supply clean water to all districts and municipality. However, the water quality of the lake today is not good. Almost all the lakes are experiencing erosion or silting. “Similarly, there is no waste treatment. For example, the water of Lake Buyan is murky so that it is impossible to be taken advantage for drinking water and the biota is gone,” she said.

Secretary of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, Ketut Kariyasa Adnyana, said there should be regulation clearly stipulating certain capacity that is not allowed to use again the underground water. But more importantly, Bali must make a blueprint so that the development will not become over capacity with limited natural resources.

“We should start how to save water resources, especially in the upstream region such as in lakes and rivers. Then, it must also be created a technology to keep the surface water such as rivers so as not to get wasted,” he said.

Kariyasa added that water must be used wisely. Therefore, the government needs to give more attention to rescue headwaters, especially the lakes that supply clean water. This PDI-P politician gave an example that Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan have been overgrown by many pistias as well as there are silting and conversion of vegetation.

“Conversion of vegetation from cash crops such as coffee to cabbage and mustard currently results in sedimentation and landslides. There should be a protection. To prevent the land conversion, there should be subsidy from the government, dredging and maintenance of the lakes,” he affirmed. (kmb32)

Optimism of Bali amid competition against 10-New Bali

DENPASAR - Bali remains to build optimism as a tourist destination in the world that is still counted even though central government is currently preparing a number of destinations in Indonesia labeled as 10-New Bali. The Island of the Gods is ready to compete by more intensifying promotion and improving the destinations at hand.

Similarly, it is also created new destinations by targeting 100 tourism villages until 2018.

“When talking about tourism, we must be optimistic. Responding to the new program of central government named as the 10-New Bali, surely Bali may not keep silent.

With the presence of the 10-New Bali, we should be more active,” said the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra, in a special interview with the

Indonesia Network, Bali Post and BaliTV in Denpasar.

According to Yuniartha, tourist arrival to Bali in 2017 is targeted to reach 5.5 million. This target increased from last year coming to 4.4 million which eventually reached 4.9 million in 2016. His agency always makes coordination meeting with the district and municipal tourism office to increase destinations and promotion.

“Though Bali has been well known, it is inseparable from promotions. One of them is through information technology as it has been done by the ministry of tourism aside from aggressively promoting ‘Bali and Beyond’ overseas,” he explained.

Yuniartha added that Indonesian government cannot release the name of Bali because the

island has been well known around the globe. That is why the development of new destinations other than Bali still uses the term 10-New Bali. Inevitably, it is Bali that actually has the real tourist attraction. “Just like a kite, the kite is Bali, while the tail is the other regions,” he added.

In the face of competition against the 10-New Bali, Yuniartha admitted to develop environment-based tourism. It is done by opening tourism village considered to have great appeal.

The activities in the environment at tourism village are sold as attraction for travelers.

“Like in paddy field environment, we can make the attraction of planting or harvesting rice. Then, in plantations, we will take advantage of the coffee picking activities as

the attraction. In building a tourism village, we will highlight the culture at the village,” he explained.

Yuniartha explained that so far there are 67 tourism villages nurtured as new destinations.

His office targeted a total of 100 villages that could be developed until 2018. The presence of tourism village is also expected to alleviate poverty, reduce urbanization and promote economic growth at villages.

“These tourism villages are featured in the district/municipality to evenly distribute travelers so that they are not only focused on South Bali and congestion does not only happen here (South Bali—Ed).

However, we also synergize with public works agency in the matter of road infrastructure development,” he explained.

Infrastructural issues, added Yuniartha, currently become an obstacle amid the rising target of tourist visit every year. In 2019, central government even targets 20 million tourist arrivals to Indonesia where 40 percent of it is contributed by Bali. In the meantime, Bali is only supported by an international airport with single runway.

“The development of airport in North Bali and Denpasar-Singaraja toll road should be realized in the framework of tourist arrival distribution. The increase in travelers cannot only be attempted by government, but also by the involvement of stakeholders and community. We hope that people can maintain security because they will not be traveling to conflict areas,” he said. (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

Activities

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

15

Superstar Signature

The Queen of Oxtail Soup and The King of Burger Every property should be have either 1 or 2 the best food or beverage as their signature.

Likewise with the hotel located on Sunset Road, the Fame Hotel Sunset Road, Kuta - Bali create Oxtail

Soup and Burger as The Queen and The King. So called because the taste of processed oxtail this one is very rich in spices complete with savory spicy Balinese certainly

WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS EVERY SATURDAY Meditation class by Mangku Budi Dharma 14-16:30 Bona, Blahbatuh meet at Ubud Cocomarket at 13:00 Saturday Market Oldman’s Cafe Canggu, Batu Bolong Beach, pottery fresh produce, clothing Sand Beach Club and Restaurant, Sanur Every second Saturday Biasa Art Space, Jl. Raya Seminyak 24, Seminyak, Fresh produce, potted plants, meat pie, sshie, coffee and more.

Every Saturday 9AM-2PM OrganIc Farmer’s Market Pizza Bagus (Jl. Pengosekan), Ubud EVERY SUNDAY Soul to soul spirituall dialogue Anand Ashram, Ubud Jl Sri Wedari KM 3 Mantra chanting 6-6:30pm Navaraha Arati 6:30-6:45pm Meditation, Satsang and celebration 6:45-8:30pm www.ubudashram.org SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

spoil the tongue. Uniquely, Fame-ous People, will find the Queen Oxtail Soup is served in yellow with Sambal Ijo as a te condiment.

The another “must try” me is The King of Burger. Unlike the burger in general, Fame Hotel

Sunset Road, Kuta - Bali offers juicy and crunchy flavor in every bite of meat covered with melted mozzarella cheese, guaranteed will make Fame-ous People forget the diet schedule.

Enjoy a blend of foods and beverages that interest Popcorn

Restaurant. With the Mad Yummy Discount, Fame-ous People can enjoy 25% cut off from every food and beverage consume.

Stay Famous People !!!

About Fame Hotel Sunset Road, Kuta – Bali Fame

Hotel Sunset Road, Kuta - Bali is a 2 star hotel managed by Parador Hotels & Resorts, is located at Jalan Sunset Road No. 9, Legian, Kuta - Bali. Has a concept of music and movies is situated in a strategic location in the center of Legian. Consisting of 90 rooms and equipped with a restaurant, two meeting rooms, a kids corner and pool, this hotel presents a different experience stay for guests.

Nostalgic feel very strong felt in every floor of the hotel from the ‘80s up to 2000 that has the tagline “Stay Famous” is. Services like a “superstar / celebrity” will be felt by the guests

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Traveling

International

Bali News

International

IBP/file

Oldest Rio party kicks off as Carnival in Brazil hits full stride

SAO PAULO - Rio de Janeiro’s famed Carnival bacchanalia hit full stride on Saturday, as hundreds of thousands roared into the streets for one of the city’s oldest and by far its biggest “bloco” street party, the Bola Preta.

The Bola Preta, or “Black Ball,” gathering routinely draws upward of 1 million people to Rio’s historic center, where revelers dressed in black and white lustily sing traditional Carnival anthems, including

the occasional breaking out into Rio’s theme, “Cidade Maravilhosa,” or the Marvelous City.

Things are not feeling so fabulous around Rio of late: crime is sharply up since the city hosted the Olympics last August and the state is suffering an intense fiscal crisis, remains deeply indebted and can barely maintain basic services like police, hospitals and schools.

Despite all that, the annual party, as always, must go on - vi-

vaciously.

In Salvador, the capital of the northeastern state of Bahia, which each year competes with Rio for bragging rights as having held the wildest Carnival party, music legends Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso sang to an enormous crowd in the city’s center, celebrating 50 years of the Tropacalia musical movement they formed.

The songs of both famed artists, now in their 70s, poked and

prodded at the nation’s military dictatorship that lasted between 1964 and 1985.

São Paulo, Brazil’s business capital, also hit its Carnival stride as scores of street parties clogged traffic and sent drunken and costumed revelers into streets, adding to an acumen that has been in growing in recent years. Over 38 parties should hit the city’s streets on Saturday.

Sao Paulo’s “official” carnival

parades - where bedazzled samba dancers and ornate floats make their way down an avenue, competing for the crown of Carnival champion, went into the early morning hours Saturday.

Rio’s far more famous parades, which draw tens of millions of TV spectators across Brazil and whose competition is as fiercely fought as any soccer match, do not begin until Sunday night and will continue the next day. (rtr)

It is better protecting the environment than repairing the damage. For example, repairing environmental damage caused by quarrying activities can be addressed by reforestation.

Illegal quarrying activities

Dig arbitrarily by ignoring environmental damage

DENPASAR - Quarrying activities always result in environmental issues because they often violate quarrying threshold. It is violated by quarrying entrepreneurs that have and have not owned permit.

Nevertheless, it does not necessarily mean that quarrying activities cannot be done. It’s okay as long as it is accompanied with provisions that must be met by all the quarrying entrepreneurs.

“For example, there are provisions on the depth and so forth.

In other words, it is not done arbitrarily, like right now as if the activities are done wildly. Even though they have owned a permit, they simply dig without taking into account the long-term damage to the environment,” said Chairman of the Regional Bylaw Draft Special Committee on the Protection and Environmental Management (PPLH) of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nyoman Adnyana, in Denpasar, on Wednesday (Feb. 22).

According to Adnyana, it is better protecting the environment than repairing the damage. For example, repairing environmental damage caused by quarrying activities can be addressed by reforestation.

Replanting trees in the former quarrying areas is considered to require a very large cost.

“Most quarrying activities leave problems, so that environmental damage will have an impact on the disruption of ecosystem. It is better to keep the existing one because the cost of forestation to recover is large,” said this member of Commission I. Adnyana cautioned that people do not dabble in the quarrying activities without permit. Moreover, there is an example of illegal quarrying activity at Kelating, Tabanan, claiming a casualty. If the activity has permit, there will be increments where allowed and disallowed to do quarrying activities. In other words, there have been stipulations in terms of safety, pollution and destruction that must be obeyed.

“Without having a permit, the

quarrying activities can be stopped.

It can be stopped by the province and police, it’s a criminal offense of environment,” said this PDI-P politician. He added the authority regarding the quarrying activity currently lies in the province.

However, the authority under the Law No.23/2014 cannot have been followed up with regional bylaw (Perda) because there has been no government regulation.

Another problem is that the levy of quarrying activity remains to be a district authority in accordance with Law No. 28/2009. “So, the government regulation on the authority should be soon issued and the Law No. 28 must also be updated,” he concluded.

In the meantime, Chief of the Bali Municipal Police, Made Sukadana, claimed to have stopped the unlicensed quarrying activities. As the case in Tabanan that claimed casualty, his institution has assigned a team to make coordination with the local municipal police officers.

“It has been stopped. By degrees, we will monitor it and summon again and then further operation must be equipped with a permit. This permit should get a recommendation from the regent.

Everything should refer to the spatial plan whether the area is intended for quarrying activities or not,” he affirmed.

Related to quarrying activities in Karangasem, Sukadana admitted to have conducted a study with local government. In essence, the Regulation Bylaw of Karangasem No. 17/2012 on regional spatial plan regulating that quarrying activities can only be carried out at the altitude of maximally 500 meters above sea level should be amended.

“He must revise first the regional bylaw related to the area allocated for quarrying activities. Then, the issues on the depth and height of the quarrying activities therein mentioned at 500 meters above sea level should be reviewed,” he said. (kmb32)

Monday, February 27, 2017

3

To anticipate damage, location of coral reef to be zoned

SINGARAJA - Potential of coral reef in the sea of Buleleng, particularly in Lovina, is great enough. However, behind it the vandalism acts still happen. To anticipate, the district government will assign the area to zones. It is also considered important to support the tourism sector.

A fishery extension officer (PPL) of Buleleng, Nyoman Kandra, revealed that the potential of coral reef in the sea of Buleleng from west to east region is quite large. In the area of Lovina, for instance, there are three points, namely at Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Segara Temple at Celuk Buluh. Each area spreads across of about five hectares. “The potential of coral reef in this area is quite large. It is not inferior to Pemuteran,” he said, not long ago.

Behind it, he added, the marine park frequently undergoes damages. One of the causes is fishing activity that uses non-eco-friendly equipment. Some pieces also get damaged due to stepped on. “So far, the damage remains to happen because of being trampled by fishermen when looking for fish,” he explained.

To anticipate, the district government plans to create an activity zone. Location of the coral reef will be fitted with a sign so as not to be entered by fishermen. This plan had already been coordinated with the environment agency. “As planned, it will be divided into zones.

No fishing activities will be allowed at the location of

coral reef as it will be conserved,” said Kandra.

Coral reef is not only important to keep marine ecosystem but also capable of supporting the tourism sector. Therefore, coastal communities are asked to participate in terms of preservation. “Supervision is also necessary to be done chiefly to those working in the tourism sector. This coral reef will be able to attract travelers,” he added.

In the meantime, group leader of the Catur Bhakti Karya Segara fishermen of Kalibukbuk, Putu Budista, stated that conservation of coral reef has been done long ago by society and the government. However, it is considered to have not been running optimally. Conservation plan coupled with determination of activity zone is considered to be highly appropriate measure to support the tourism sector. “We strongly support the plan and it is required a zoning,” he said.

According to him, the coral reef of Lovina is not inferior to Pemuteran. Later on, it can be used to support the dolphin attraction having become the main icon. “Now, some guests take snorkeling. If the zoning has been stipulated, it can become more crowded. More and more visitors will come to see dolphin attraction,” he said.

He added the potential of nature also needs to be continuously promoted so that it can be better developed. “Most visitors know it after getting information from friends. Relevant agencies should promote this.

Lovina has strategic location so that many visitors will get interested,” he said. (kmb45)

IBP/kmb

The potential of coral reef in the sea of Buleleng from west to east region is quite large. In the area of Lovina, for instance, there are three points.

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Monday, February 27, 2017

Bali News

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

International

Low interest rates stimulate investment DENPASAR - Low interest rates have a postive impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly because low rates stimulate investment. Having the economy grow more than 6 percent per year, requires considerable investment fromthe private sector. At the micro level, low interest rates can boost the efficiency of SMEs and are needed to improve the cometitiveness of SMEs both locally and globally.

Economic obserer Prof. DR. I Wayan Ramantha said on Thursday (Feb 23), that the economy of Indonesia, including Bali is expected to improve as a reslt of low intersts rates which help MSMEs. He added however that low interest rates also bring some challenges. “Currently, low interst rates on loans are only leant out by bigger banks in the form of people’s business credit (KUR) that are subsidised by the government. Smaller banks on the other hand, have no way of accessing KUR subsidies and so they cannot compete with the bigger banks”, he explained.

On that account, according to Ramantha an appropirate formula should be established by a path or link to access these subsidies so that this policy does not have a negative impact on the banking sector.

Inflation is the ongoing rise in prices. However there would be no inflation if people’s purchasing power increases cocomitently.

There should be no correlation between low interest rates and inflation of illegal investment. Ramanha explained that low interest rates do not lead to illegal investments if society is educated about the matter. When people put their savings in the bank, they are not doing so simply to invest. IN the case of Bali, most investement in fact occurs in real life exchanges, so when people put money in the bank it is in fact with the intention of keeping it there for safekeeping.

“Theoretically, people use their income either to consume or to invest. So if they are not speding it then they are investing it. So when when people put money in the bank it is not to earn income fomr interest alone. There is no direct corelation with illegal investment”, he said. in the form of interest alone, so there is no correlation with illegal investment,” he said.

Head of the Advisory Council of the Indonesia Association of Pest Control Companies, Dr. Gde Weda Arjawa, says that low interest rates could benefit employers but due to the weak economy many employers are reluctant to take loans especialy loans with low financing. “They are afraid of not being able to pay back the loans”, he said.

Local entrepreneurs are still waiting until the economy improves before borrowing money from the bank. In 2017, Indonesia’s economy has started to improve so we are seeign more employers taking out large loans.

There can be a negative impact when employers take as much credit as they can wihtout careful planning, making it hard to pay back the loans. What is worse is that there are indications that some businesss people are taking low interest loans for consumptive purposes instead of using the capital to develop their businesses. (kmb42)

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Wary of Trump unpredictability, China ramps up naval abilities

REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo

Francois Fillon, a former French prime minister, member of The Republicans political party and 2017 presidential candidate of the French centre-right, attends a political rally in Chasseneuildu-Poitou near Poitiers, France February 9, 2017.

IBP/eka

The distinctive Gajah Mina statue is meant to serve as a tourist attraction, especially for foreign visitors.

Gajah Mina is an elephant-headed fish from Hindu mythology that is often found in the adorment of temple coumpund walls.

Coastal village tourist destination

Pererenan Beach has new icon: Gajah Mina

PERERENAN Beach, located at Pererenan village, Mengwi, Badung spread along some 2 kilometers, was previously unkown to tourists exept a few surfing enthusiasts. Pererenan villages authorities working with the LPM have made some imporvement to the beach including errecting a Gajah Mina statue on the beach.

The distinctive Gajah Mina statue is meant to serve as a tourist attraction, especially for foreign visitors. Gajah Mina is an elephant-headed fish from Hindu mythology that is often found in the adorment of temple coumpund walls. Chief of LPM Pererenan, Putu Wiyadnyana, said that tthey hope that the iconic sculpture will contribute to more tourists visiting the area. The construction of the statue that was finished a few months ago was funded by the 2016 village budget (APBDes). Since the new icon was unveiled, many travellers have come to take pictures here at sunset.

Like many other tourist attractions, the number of tourists who visit this beach that is located between Echo Beach and Seseh Beach, fluctuates depending ont the time of year. On public holidays, it is mostly domestic visitors who come to Pererenan Beach, while visitors from Australia, Europe and Asia visit when the waves are good for surfing. A number of

leading brands have also hosted several internatinoal kite surfing competitions here. As is the case with neighbouring beaches, Pererenan beach is a popular destination for kite surfers. There are also two companies that offer horse back riding tours along the beach and in nearby rice paddy fields.

Local customary village authorities charge IDR 3,000 for cars and IDR 2,00 for motorcycles to park by the beach.

The local LPM has plans to fix the road that leads to the beach and to have public toilets put in that will be decorated with mermaids statues. There are also plans to build stalls for vendors, enlarge the parking lot and create a venue for holding customary rituals that will be arranged by the customary village.

The arrangement of the beach area has been ongoign intensively since 2015 and have yielded good results with approximately 90 t0 150 people visiting the

beach daily.

A number of other attractions in Pererenan village have also been worked on in order to support this area that is seeing more and more visitors. For instance, the local river has been restored a s a hbaitat for shrimp and a breeding site has been established to reintroduce the magpie robin. These efforts were undertaken by Pererenan Gumi Lestrai (PGL), a community eco-system preservation group.

Acting head of Pererenan village I Ketut Gede Sasmita, said that there are other community efforts in his village too. As farming is the dominant activity of this village, they are working on creating a running path through their paddy fields as a way to attract visitors.

Like the other coastal areas, they are also trying to maitain the profession of fishermen. There are 30 active fishermen at Pererenan village who are coalesced into the Windu Segara fishermen group.

To accommodate the interests of fishermen, the village cooperates with a number of villas so that these fishermen can take part in offering services to the tourists who stay there as a supplement to their income. (eka)

French judge takes over probe into Fillon “fake jobs” scandal

PARIS - French presidential challenger Francois Fillon will face a full judicial inquiry into allegations he paid family members for fake parliamentary jobs after the country’s financial prosecutor said she was appointing a magistrate to lead a deeper probe.

The escalation is another blow to the conservative candidate whose status as favourite to win the presidency has faded since the “Penelopegate” affair - named after Fillon’s wife - first surfaced a month ago. But it may not stop him from standing in April-May vote.

By involving a magistrate in what had so far been a preliminary probe led by police, the prosecutor is putting more resources into the investigation.

The inquiry will examine possible misuse of public funds and a lack of full and proper disclosure, according to the prosecutor’s statement that was issued as Fillon took to the stage at a campaign rally near Paris.

The judge can decide to drop the case, place the 62-year-old former prime minister under formal investigation, or send the case to trial.

It was not clear, however, if the inquiry could be concluded before the two-round election, scheduled for April 23 and May 7, but the

French judicial process would not typically wrap up such a case in the nine weeks between now and the poll. Under French law, if Fillon were to win the presidential race the investigation would be suspended during his time in office.

Fillon has denied any wrongdoing and says his wife was paid hundreds of thousands of euros for genuine work as his parliamentary assistant, though he has acknowledged giving her the work was an error of judgement.

INVESTORS CONCERNED

BY ELECTION Fillon made no reference to the prosecutor’s decision at his rally, at which his supporters cried out “Fillon, President!”.

Fillon has pledged to stay in the race come what may, after saying for weeks that he would step down if he were put under formal investigation.

“You are my companions, and with you at my side I can feel

your energy that will give me the strength to win,” Fillon told the rally.

Nevertheless, the issue has unnerved investors who fear Fillon’s campaign woes have handed the anti-euro, anti-immigration Marine Le Pen of the National Front a higher chance of winning the presidency.

Opinion polls show Le Pen leading a fragmented field in the first round but then losing to independent centrist Emmanuel Macron in a second round run-off. Macron has been favourite to win the presidency since the Fillon scandal broke on Jan. 25.

Fillon - who has long cultivated an image of probity and criticised people for taking government handouts - has been heckled for weeks by protesters at campaign outings.

Macron got a boost on Friday when German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was ready to meet him. Le Pen, however, was roundly criticised by the French mainstream political establishment after she refused to attend a summons for questioning by police over allegations that she made illegal EU payments to her staff. (rtr)

BEIJING - The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China’s upcoming defence budget as Beijing seeks to check U.S. dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe.

China’s navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.

Now, with President Donald Trump promising a U.S. shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy.

“It’s opportunity in crisis,” said a Beijing-based Asian diplomat, of China’s recent naval moves. “China fears Trump will turn on them eventually as he’s so unpredictable and it’s getting ready.”

Beijing does not give a breakdown for how much it spends on the navy, and the overall official defence spending figures it gives 954.35 billion yuan ($139 billion) for 2016 - likely understates its investment, according to diplomats.

China unveils the defence budget for this year at next month’s annual meeting of parliament, a closely watched figure around the region and in Washington, for clues to China’s intentions.

China surprised last year with its lowest increase in six years, 7.6 percent, the first single-digit rise since 2010, following a nearly unbroken two-decade run of double-digit jumps.

“Certainly, the PLA Navy has really been the beneficiary of a lot of this new spending in the past 15 years,” said Richard Bitzinger, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Military Transformations Programme at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“We don’t how much they spend on the navy, but simply extrapolating from the quantity and the quality of things that are coming out of their shipyards, it’s pretty amazing.”

RAPID DEVELOPMENT The Chinese navy, once generally limited to coastal operations, has developed rapidly under President Xi Jinping’s ambitious military modernisation.

It commissioned 18 ships in 2016, including missile destroyers, corvettes and guided missile frigates, according to state media.

Barely a week goes by without an announcement of some new piece of equipment, including an electronic reconnaissance ship put into service in January.

Still, the PLA Navy significantly lags the United States, which operates 10 aircraft carriers to China’s one, the Soviet-era Liaoning.

Xu Guangyu, a retired major general in the People’s Liberation Army now senior adviser to the government-run China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said China was keenly aware of the U.S. ability to project power at sea. (rtr)

REUTERS/Mo Xiaoliang/File Photo

J-15 fighters from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier conduct a drill in an area of South China Sea, January 2, 2017.

Picture taken January 2, 2017.

12

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

BUSINESS Euro zone economy: real recovery or another Sirens’ song?

LONDON - Over the years, euro zone economic growth has been a bit like the Sirens in Homer’s Odyssey: singing a song of promise, only to end up pulling you onto the rocks.

Will it be different this time?

The strong growth registered in numerous data releases and surveys at the beginning of this year has surprised many.

One eye-opening example was the release of flash purchasing managers indices for France, Germany and the euro zone on Feb 21.

Of nine indexes, eight registered growth and six did so at a higher level than any economist polled by Reuters had imagined.

Not surprisingly, economists and policy-makers are now looking for firm proof that the euro zone’s apparent rebound this year is sustainable, as well as noting a variety of potentially destructive economic and political hazards ahead. There has not been, they say, a specific inflexion point at which it can be said that the euro zone has recovered and is off on a growth tear. Rather it has been a slow simmer.

“The euro zone has been recovering steadily for three years now, helped by monetary policy stimulus, an end to fiscal austerity and a healthier financial sector,” said James McCann, OECD economist at Standard Life Investments. “(It’s) a steady recovery which has been trundling on.”

The numbers confirm this. The European Commission notes that real GDP in the euro zone has grown for 15 consecutive quarters - a sign of steady improvement.

But putting aside some of the latest data, it has been steady rather than spectacular. Economic growth is still running at only around 1.6 percent annually, and most forecasters - from economists polled by Reuters to the Commission itself, reckon it will be about the same this year. So the question is whether the recent data has turned this on its head. Even before considering whether Greece’s debt problems will come back to bite the euro zone, there are two main strands: inflation and elections.

OF POLITICS AND INFLATION While the repetition of posi-

REUTERS/Michaela Rehle/File Photo

People look at traditional ginger breads on sale at the famous Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 28, 2012. tive January and February data in the month ahead - for example, German industrial orders soaring again - would fuel the euro zone takeoff story, inflation may hold the key. “The risk of disappointment is that higher headline inflation decelerates real income growth and consumption,” said Paul MortimerLee, global head of market economics at BNP Paribas.

The preliminary reading of February euro zone inflation, to be reported on Wednesday, is expected to come in at 2.0 percent year-onyear, rising to the European Central Bank’s target on the back of monetary stimulus and economic growth.

While far from hyper, such a level has not been seen for four

years, and there has been a strong inverse path taken between inflation and retail sales over the last five years. In other words, rising prices can hurt consumer spending, which in turn drives economies.

Unemployment during the financial crisis accounts for some of the dive in retail sales seen on and off since 2008. But joblessness, though improved, is still twice that of, say, the United States. So if euro zone inflation were to overshoot in the coming year, it may well stifle the very growth that engendered it.

Economists, however, also see a growth killer in the bloc’s politics.

Many have long argued that the euro zone cannot compete as a leading economy without substantial structural reform - particularly in

the number two and three economies after Germany.

“It comes down to France and Italy stepping up a gear,” said Florian Hense, European economist at Berenberg private bank. But it is exactly in those two countries where politics is threatening to delay or derail the type of pro-growth structural reforms advocated by the European Central Bank and many private sector economists.

In Italy, the chances of an election this year have diminished, but the political turmoil surrounding the resignation of prime minister Matteo Renzi is likely to set back major reforms until an election takes place.

It is France, however, that is seen providing the biggest risk. Two of

the top three candidates are viewed as economic reformists, but they are up against Marine Le Pen, the farright National Front candidate whose pledge to put France’s EU membership to a referendum could de-stabilise the region’s economy for years.

Le Pen is not supposed to win, according to polls. But neither was U.S. President Donald Trump or those in Britain wanting to leave the Europe Union. “If a rising France joins a still strong Germany at the core of Europe, the economic and political outlook for the euro zone as a whole could improve considerably,” Berenberg economists told clients. “(But) a President Le Pen would spell the end of reform hopes for France and the EU for the next five years.”(rtr)

Bali News

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

Blangsinga Waterfall, an Exotic Attraction in Gianyar

5

Blangsinga waterfall at Blahbatuh, Gianyar, can become your alternative destination other than beaches. This nature tourism becomes a favorite tourist spot visited by domestic and foreign travelers. Other than water recreation, visitors can also watch the beauty of rainbow and feel the atmosphere of Petanu River.

The waterfall has the height of about 12.5 meters. The water flows swiftly and becomes a very pretty place to take pictures. For those who like spiritual atmosphere, it is perfectly appropriate destination because around the Petanu River sits some places sanctified by local residents. So, do not be surprised when every morning many travelers do meditation or yoga at this location.

Blangsinga waterfall has been equipped with amenities such as a spacious parking lot, gazebo to unwind, toilet, canteen and a concrete pathway to get to the river bed.

The cool and peaceful atmosphere for the whole trip is entertained by the melodious sounds of birds. To enjoy the beauty and natural water features, visitors must buy a ticket for IDR 10,000 (adult) and IDR 5,000 (children).

Blangsinga waterfall has three strategic and unique locations. The first part is located at the edge of the river with ‘stone water’ namely the spring coming out from chunks of boulder. Local people believe it has healing quality for sprains and fractures. “Cows, pigs or other livestock experiencing fractures are usually invoked ‘medicine’ at this shower,” said I Ketut Sudarpa, one of the management officers.

This river is also taken advantage by housewives who have just given birth to a baby because it is believed to give peace to their baby. Large and small rocks are naturally lined. This location is commonly used by visitors to play with rocks by piling them from large to small, like temples.

In the meantime, in the middle of part the atmosphere becomes more challenging. Visitors can sit on chunks of the local cliff while enjoying the waterfall flowing to the bottom of the river. Travelers choose this location to take pictures as being very close to waterfall

and cliff. Beautiful scenery is also taken advantage by photographer as a pre-wedding photo session. It can be creatively combined with a variety of supporting facilities, such as umbrella and other tools.

Besides, teens or young couples choose this place for a casual chat because it is very beautiful. From this area, visitors can also see the beauty of rainbow from the mouth of the cave around 10:00 and in the afternoon around 16:00 seen from beneath the cave.

The third strategic location lies in the bottom of the river, namely the main waterfall.

Visitors can feel the power of water falling from a height. Sometimes they also rejoice while taking bath, splashing or just washing their legs. Here, visitors can take pictures or

selfie. “This location is also good for location of pre-wedding photo session,” said Sudarpa while pointing out a unique location to take pictures.

Travelers from Europe, Australia and Asia mostly prefer this location. They mingle with domestic travelers from Surabaya, Jakarta, Kalimantan and Flores. Together with children, relatives and friends, they play with rocks, feel the coolness of water and walk on the bamboo bridge. “On a normal day, more visitors are foreigners. But on national holidays, they will be usually dominated by domestic travelers,” he said.

Sudarpa added that the location of Blangsinga waterfall was formerly renowned as a place to play bungee jumping. This

object is managed by Blangsinga customary village, but its operation is entrusted to 11 professionals consisting of local villagers.

“The waterfall was initially favored by cycling travelers, now it has been well-known and crowded,” he explained.

Formerly, it was named Srogsogan waterfall. Over the time, after visited by many visitors it is better known as Blangsinga waterfall. Based on the agreement of Blangsinga village residents and management, it was then made walkway heading for the riverbed.

It is financed by village treasury and ticket sales. Then, the income of managing this object is also allocated for rural development, such as ceremonies and physical development. (kmb)

Preserving Spinning Top Tradition at Tamblingan

IBP/kmb

Playing spinning top tradition seems to be rarely known to children today. They are more interested in the modern games through their smartphone.

Nevertheless, this tradition remains to be preserved in the area of ??the four customary village of Dalem Tamblingan including the Munduk, Umajero, Gesing and Gobleg. “Spinning top game is routinely held in the four customary village of Dalem Tamblingan.

This tradition has been inherited from generation to generation,” said the nine-team leader of the four customary villages of Dalem Tamblingan, Jro Putu

Ardana.

He said that the making of spinning top requires expertise. The wood commonly used includes the orange jasmine, sapodilla, tamarind, lychee and rosewood. Generally, the wood chosen has quite smooth fiber so as to be easy to be shaped. “At this time residents are not fanatic with the wood used. Most importantly, the fiber is soft and the wood is hard.

Now, it is not difficult because the wood material can be affixed with special glue. Well, in the past people often utilized intact wood,” he said. (kmb)

6

Monday, February 27, 2017

W

RLD

Drunken driver injures 28 at New Orleans Mardi Gras parade

NEW ORLEANS - A pickup truck driven by a man who appeared to be “highly intoxicated” plowed into a crowd of spectators watching the main Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Saturday, sending more than 20 people to the hospital, police said.

The truck, traveling along the side of the street open to traffic along the Mid-City parade route, struck three other vehicles, including a dump truck, before veering onto the median where a crowd of people stood watching the procession, according to New Orleans police.

Five people were being treated at hospital trauma centers, and an investigation is ongoing, police said.

Police immediately apprehended the pickup driver, who according to eyewitnesses interviewed by Fox television affiliate WVEU-TV appeared disheveled, glassy-eyed and under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu in a statement referred to the suspect as a “drunk driver.”

Video footage from the scene showed pandemonium immediately following the early evening inci-

dent, but the Krewe of Endymion parade, the largest and most popular of numerous Mardi Gras season parades in New Orleans, continued with little or no interruption.

A total of 28 people were injured, 21 of whom were taken to local hospitals, including one police officer.

Seven others who were hurt declined transport, Police Chief Michael Harrison told a news conference.

Local media reports said 12 people were initially listed as critically injured.

Harrison said police believed the motorist who was arrested was “highly intoxicated” and was being questioned at the police department’s drunken-driving office.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Orleans said its agents were “coordinating with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to determine whether a federal violation has occurred.”

The Endymion parade incident was not the only one to mar Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans on Saturday. Earlier in the day, someone’s gun went off accidentally in a portable toilet along the route of another, smaller parade, leaving one person wounded, police said. (rtr)

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Monday, February 27, 2017

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a dinner at Trump International Hotel in Washington, U.S., February 25, 2017.

Trump decides to skip White House press dinner WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would not attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, a high-profile event that draws celebrities, politicians and journalists.

“I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!”, Trump wrote on Twitter.

On the campaign trail and in the White House, Trump has had a strained relationship with the press, calling journalists “the enemy of the people” and frequently criticizing outlets and individual reporters whose coverage he does not like.

The reporters’ group said it would go ahead with its April 29 dinner despite Trump’s absence. The Washington event typically draws movie stars, politicians and business leaders to hear a humorous speech by the sitting president.

The dinner “has been and will continue to be a celebration of the First Amendment and the important role played by an independent news media in a healthy republic,” said Jeff Mason, a Reuters White House

correspondent who heads the association this year.

Ronald Reagan was the last president to sit out the event after he was shot in 1981.

Some news outlets such as Bloomberg News and the New Yorker have said they will not host the lavish after-parties that have been a fixture of past events. On Friday, the White House excluded several major U.S. news organizations, including some it has criticized, from an off-camera briefing held by the White House press secretary.

Reporters for CNN, The New York Times, Politico, The Los Angeles Times and BuzzFeed were not allowed into the session in the office of press secretary Sean Spicer, a decision that drew strong protests.

The event occasionally makes news: in 2011, President Barack Obama delivered a scathing evisceration of Trump, joking that the mogul, who sat stone-faced in the audience, would move on from questioning Obama’s citizenship to figuring out “did we fake the moon landing.”

Critics say the event encourages journalists to cozy up to politicians they should cover aggressively. (rtr)

Malaysia...

Malaysia is expected to create thousands of jobs and we are proud that Malaysian firms have been chosen to undertake projects at some of the most prestigious locations in Saudi Arabia,” Najib said in a statement on Friday.

Besides travelling with his own private escalator, King Salman has also flown in two personal cars.

His entourage has also completely booked out three luxury HOTELS INKuala Lumpur for the duration of the visit.

After Malaysia, the King is expected to travel to Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia from March 1-9 with an even larger entourage of 1,500 people, followed by a trip to Japan from March 12 to 14, officials in those countries said.

King Salman is expected to spend the last two weeks of March on holiday in the Maldives, according to a Maldives diplomat. Local newspaper Mihaaru reported that three resorts have been reserved for his stay. (rtr)

From page 1

A vehicle is seen crashed along the Endymion parade route at Orleans and Carollton during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana U.S., February 25, 2017.

International

International

Relations between the two countries have been in the spotlight over the last two years after Saudi Arabia was dragged into a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB, founded

by Najib.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing in the money-laundering case which is now being investigated by several countries including the U.S, Switzerland and Singapore.

A Malaysian government inquiry found that nearly $700 million transferred to the Prime Minister’s bank account in 2013 was a donation from the Saudi royal family and most of it was returned.

The last time a Saudi king visited Malaysia was in 2006, when King Abdullah, King Salman’s half-brother and predecessor, flew in with a 300-member delegation.

“Saudi Arabian investment in

REUTERS/David Moir/Pool

Peter Cosgrove (2nd L), Governor-General of Australia and his wife Lynne Cosgrove (L) chat with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, February 26, 2017.

AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

Students with painted bodies perform a skit during a demonstration against the U.S. mining giant FreeportMcMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Dozens of students staged the protest demanding the New Orleans-based mining company close its mine in Papua province saying that it siphons of the region’s wealth and gives it little in return.

11

Australia, Indonesia restore full military ties, see progress on trade

SYDNEY - Australia and Indonesia said on Sunday that full military ties between the two countries had been restored, after Indonesia’s military suspended cooperation in January because of “insulting” teaching material found at an Australian base. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made the announcement alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who arrived in Australia on Saturday for his first visit as president.

“President Widodo and I have agreed to full restoration of defence cooperation, training exchanges and activities,” Turnbull said at a news conference in Sydney.

Widodo’s visit to Australia comes less than two months after military ties were suspended, an event that sparked a minor diplomatic spat and led to an apology from Australia’s army chief in February. Military cooperation between the two countries has ranged from joint training and counterterrorism cooperation to border protection.

The “insulting” material suggested that Indonesia’s Papua province should be independent and mocked the nation’s state ideology.

Indonesia and Australia have a history of patchy ties, but both leaders were keen on Sunday to emphasise their commitment to a strong relationship.

“That robust relationship can be established when both countries have respect for each other’s territorial integrity, non-interference into the domestic affairs of each other and the ability to develop a mutually beneficial partnership,” Widodo said.

While the primary focus of the visit was on security and economic issues, including the finalisation of a

bilateral free trade deal by the end of the year, talks touched on tourism, cyber security and social links.

Widodo met Australian business leaders on Saturday, telling them that investor confidence in Indonesia was strong and reassuring them that Indonesia was a stable country in which to do business.

Following one-on-one talks, Turnbull said tariffs would be cut for Australian sugar and Indonesian pesticides and herbicides. He also praised changes to the export rules for live Australian cattle. Two-way trade between Australia and Indonesia was worth $15.3 billion in 2015-16, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Widodo said he was confident that a free trade deal would be finalised this year.

“I have conveyed to Prime Minister Turnbull some of the key issues,” he said. “First, is the removal of barriers to trade, tariffs and non-tariffs for Indonesian products such as Indonesia’s paper and palm oil.”

Widodo told The Australian newspaper this week he would like to see joint patrols with Australia in the South China Sea if they did not further inflame tensions with China. China - which claims almost the entire sea region - irked Indonesia last year by saying the two countries had “overlapping claims” to waters close to them, an area Indonesia calls the Natuna Sea. The leaders stopped short of announcing joint patrols on Sunday, but stressed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance to international law. “As maritime nations and trading nations, Australia and Indonesia are natural partners with common interests,” Turnbull said.

Collaboration on counterterrorism, especially the return of foreign fighters from the Syrian and Iraq conflict zone, would continue, Turnbull said. (rtr)

10

Monday, February 27, 2017

Destination

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

International

Journalists use their mobile phones to photograph McLaren’s new MCL32 Formula One car at its launch in Woking, Britain, February 24, 2017.

Bigger budget McLaren aim for title sponsor in 2018 REUTERS/Alan Baldwin

Batur Natural Hot Springs (Toya Bungkah)

BANGLI - Toya Bungkah village, at the base of Gunung Batur, offers a number of geothermally heated springs — a relaxing way to loosen those tired muscles after climbing the volcano.

Before, Batur Natural Hot Spring Kintamani Bali was a simply public bathing for the surrounding villagers. It was believed that the hot spring water originated from Mount Batur contains supranatural and medical benefits for any illness. Not until few years ago, the Batur Village persisted to attain better standards due to Kintamani tourism demands.

Today, its popularity derived from several modern and beautiful hot spring pools that are ready to pamper any visitors. With its by-the-lake pools, a fun weekend getaway or any day-visit can be guaranteed. Enjoy the healing water with its sources located right at the edge of Lake Batur with friends and family.

Batur Natural Hot spring is the only one healing spa in Bali and just 2 hours from Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar. the location in the Lake Batur and Mount Batur areas of Desa Pekraman Batur, Toya Bungkah, Kintamani.

LONDON - McLaren will enjoy a bigger budget this season but a long-awaited title sponsor for the Formula One team will have to wait until 2018, newly-appointed executive director Zak Brown said on Friday.

Whether you’re coming to play, relax or make Batur Natural Hot Springs your home, you’ll be won over our friendly small-town atmosphere. Clean air, magnificent scenery and views of the Lake Batur, Mt.Batur and Mt.Abang.

You’ll find many suggestions of activities, services and promos on this website. For a wonderful weekend getaway or a beautiful place to live, you’ll discover something special in Batur Natural Hot Springs, Bangli City.

Spring water in the area is clear and without any sulphuric odour and locals claim all sorts of healing properties from the mineralrich waters. Water temperatures range from lukewarm to slightly hotter, though there are no scalding-hot pools, and most are generally warmer in the early morning. Even though

several hot springs have the word “natural” in their name, don’t expect a natural environment, as all here are comprised of tiled pools.

Getting there is a bumpy ride down to the crater, but at the bottom you are welcomed to these soothing springs with pools. The Batur Natural Hot Springs is run by the local community, and has mountain treks and adventure tours on offer. There are mineral pools with temperatures of up to 40 degrees centigrade, and a lakeside pier where you can take in the majestic beauty of the lake with the peaks of Batur and Abang as backdrop. There’s also Resto Desa Sari Ulam onsite, serving local cuisine and freshwater fish grills. Entry fees are USD 10 (IDR 150,000) which includes drinks, lockers, showers, towel and unlimited use of the pools. (IBP/net)

Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat holds a 50 percent stake in the team while Saudi-born businessman Mansour Ojjeh and recently ousted former boss Ron Dennis each have 25 percent.

Brown said Ojjeh and Bahrain’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa had increased the budget in certain areas as the team, who last won a race in 2012, push to return to the top.

The former world champions, who have Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne as drivers, also stand to get more in prize revenue after finishing sixth last year. They were ninth in 2015.

“We have very wealthy owners

who want to win. They are not going to let budget get in the way of us progressing up the field,” Brown told reporters at the launch of the team’s new-look orange and black MCL32 car.

“The partners that we do have make healthy contributions, Honda’s obviously a fantastic and big contributor to our racing team... and we have lots of other revenue streams inside McLaren Technology Group,” added the American.

“So budget-wise we’re healthy.”

The search for a title sponsor, which Brown has identified as a necessity, will take time however.

The American has introduced a number of big sponsors to the sport

and McLaren in his previous job as head of CSM Sport&Entertainment and its JMI motorsport arm.

“No miracles were going to happen in 2017. Most companies, any big decisions they are making are taken by October, November, December at the latest,” he said.

“2018 is when we need to deliver a title partner. I already feel that pressure because it takes a year.

So I am counting down the days.

“I haven’t really seen any new sponsor announcements on any car, including those that have won the championship for three years in a row,” added Brown, alluding to Mercedes.

Brown saw a brighter future under Formula One’s new owners Liberty Media, saying that McLaren was now a good story and so too was the glamour sport.

The season starts in Melbourne on March 26. (rtr)

Raonic overcomes Del Potro in Florida, meets Sock in final

FLORIDA - World number four Milos Raonic of Canada overcame a battling Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 7-6(6) on Saturday to set up a Delray Beach Open final against American Jack Sock.

Sock defeated compatriot Donald Young 6-4 7-6(2) to reach his second ATP World Tour final of the season but the 24-year-old world number 21 will have to produce his very best to stand any chance against Raonic’s powerful serve.

The Canadian produced 17 blistering aces in the win over Del Potro, taking early control of the contest in Florida when he broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set after the Argentine went long on a backhand.

Raonic held serve comfortably to win the first set 6-3 but he faced a sterner test in the second set with Del Potro delivering some quality forehand winners.

The 26-year-old Raonic, runner-up at Wimbledon last year, broke to go 6-5 up in the second, only for Del Potro to break back immediately with a superb two-handed return down the line.

Raonic had earlier double-faulted at 30-15 when he was within two points of the match.

The Canadian double-faulted again in the tiebreaker, this time at 5-4 up, but he held firm and won the contest with a trademark ace.

Raonic has beaten Sock eight times in 10 meetings but the American prevailed in their most recent match at the Shanghai Masters in October. (rtr)

Randy Vazquez/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

Milos Raonic returns a ball during the Delray Beach Open at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017.

Kipsang misses world record in Tokyo Marathon win

TOKYO - Wilson Kipsang of Kenya missed out on the world record but ran the fastest time ever on Japanese soil to win the Tokyo Marathon in two hours, three minutes and 58 seconds on Sunday.

The 34-year-old was looking to better compatriot Dennis Kimetto’s mark of 2:02.57 and wrest back the world record he lost in 2014

but was unable to take sufficient advantage of a new course design.

“Today I was really feeling good and the course was very nice,” Kipsang said after receiving the trophy.

“I really enjoyed it and I was going for a world record but I think it was a little bit windy and that’s why I couldn’t run that time.”

All six of the world record times

recognised by the IAAF have been set at the Berlin marathon, including Kipsang’s at the 2013 version.

Kipsang had said he would be aiming for a mark of 2:02.50 and, running at the front of the field behind a phalanx of blue-shirted East African pacemakers, was on course for it at the 10, 15 kilometre and halfway marks. At the 30 kilometre

mark, only compatriot Dickson Chumba was still with him and 10 kilometres later, he was on his own but slightly off the world record pace.

Gideon Kipketer (2:05.51) passed Chumba (2:06.25) on the final few kilometres to finish second in a Kenyan podium sweep.

The previous best time in Japan was Tsegaye Kebede’s 2:05.18 at

Fukuoka in 2009, while Mizuki Noguchi’s Osaka mark of 2:21.18 had stood for the women since 2003. Sarah Chepchirchir ended that reign as Kenya also took the spoils in the women’s race in 2:19.47, the 32-year-old leading home Ethiopians Birhane Dibaba (2:21.19) and Amane Gobena (2:23.09). (rtr)

8

Monday, February 27, 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Sp rt Irrepressible Lukaku reaches Everton landmark

LONDON - Romelu Lukaku became EVERTON’S joint highest Premier League scorer on Saturday and the powerful striker is showing no signs of slowing down as he leads his team’s bid to qualify for European competition. The 23-year-old Belgian has now scored 60 league goals for the Merseyside club, level with Duncan Ferguson, and was instrumental in Everton’s 2-0 win over Sunderland.

“It’s been a good journey. Duncan and I work really hard, first with Roberto Martinez and now with Ronald Koeman. They helped me to improve my game and I’m grateful to them, because without them, I wouldn’t have got this far,” Lukaku, who has played 129 games for the club, told reporters.

Lukaku, who is also this season’s joint highest PREMIER LEAGUE scorer with 17 goals, is leading in-form Everton’s pursuit of a European place as they sit seventh in the table, unbeaten in nine league games.

“I think it’s really important. It has to be the next

step for the club. It’s down to us to improve and hopefully get into Europe,” Lukaku said.

It was a sentiment echoed by manager Koeman who said his side need to keep chasing MANCHESTER UNITED who are four points above them in sixth.

“There is a gap between us and the teams above us but there are still 12 games to go. You need to continue and get the momentum,” the Dutchman told the BBC. “The team behind us are West Brom and they are in good form, but in two weeks, we play West Brom at home. The team are strong and we have a lot of clean sheets and that makes for a lot of points.”

Former EVERTON boss David Moyes endured a harrowing return to Goodison Park - where he managed for 11 years - and said there was an obvious gulf in class with his bottom-of-the-table side. “You’re got to remember the quality of EVERTON, where they are and what they’re trying to achieve,” the 53year-old said.

“There is a gulf in quality, but the players are giving everything they’ve got. If we’re getting let down anywhere, we don’t quite have the quality.” (rtr)

Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their second goal

Reuters / Andrew Yates

9

Bayern destroy Hamburg 8-0 with Lewandowski hat-trick

IBP/rtr

Inspirational captain Iborra fires Sevilla to derby win

SEVILLE - Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra came off the bench to lead his side to a second-half comeback at fierce local rivals Real Betis on Saturday, assisting and scoring in a 2-1 win to provisionally take Jorge Sampaoli’s side joint-top of La Liga.

The visitors looked to be suffering a hangover from their Champions League win over LEICESTER CITY on Wednesday as they were outrun in the first half by Betis, who took a deserved lead in the 36th minute from a free kick by Riza Durmisi.

Sampaoli made a double substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Iborra and striker Wissam Ben Yedder, and it was Iborra who set up the equaliser for Gabriel Mercado in the 56th minute, allowing the Argentine defender to stab the ball in from close range.

Sevilla then found the winner in the 76th minute. Steven Nzonzi headed Samir Nasri’s free kick on for Iborra to knock into the top corner and seal Sevilla’s fourth successive win in all competitions.

They are now second in the standings, level on 52 points with leaders Real Madrid, who have two games in hand and visit Villarreal on Sunday. Champions Barcelona are third on 51 points and play their game in hand of Sevilla at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Roared on by 42,000 supporters who had waited 11 years since their last home win over their neigh-

bours, Betis dominated the first half and Sevilla barely got a sniff of the ball. Betis had a total of 12 attempts in the first half, more than Sevilla have conceded in any game this season, although it took a set piece to break the deadlock.

Nzonzi gave away the foul and Durmisi whipped the ball through the ineffective Sevilla wall and inside the near post.

“Betis dominated us in every aspect in the first half in the second we had to change things radically because if we had kept on as we were it would have been impossible to turn things around,” Sampaoli told a news conference.

“But we had a great response in the second half, we dominated and created a lot of chances. The thing that makes me happiest about today is being level with Real Madrid at the top of the table, so I’m doubly happy.”

Earlier on Saturday Valencia could not build on the momentum of their surprise win over Real Madrid in midweek and were beaten 2-1 at Alaves despite taking the lead in the second half.

Youngster Carlos Soler put the visitors ahead in the 70th minute before Ibai Gomez levelled and Aleksandar Katai struck the winner four minutes from time.

Leganes picked up a first win since November by thrashing Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 to provisionally move five points clear of the relegation zone. (rtr)

BERLIN - Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as the Bundesliga leaders mercilessly obliterated Hamburg SV 8-0 on Saturday as coach Carlo Ancelotti celebrated his 1,000th game as manager. The win kept Bayern five points clear at the top as they again inflicted on their opponents their heaviest league defeat.

The Pole, who has netted 19 times in the Bundesliga this season, struck twice in the first half and SLOTTED in his third goal in the 54th minute after Arturo Vidal had put the hosts ahead in the 17th. Strugglers Hamburg had been confident they would not be the punch bags of past matches between the sides, having also lost 8-0 in Munich two years ago, and they had been unbeaten in their last three games.

But they looked shell-shocked as they conceded another goal

by David Alaba in the 56th and substitute Kingsley Coman scored twice more within five minutes a little later.

Arjen Robben struck on the break as Hamburg again capitulated

to the Bundesliga champions and current leaders. “A perfect day, a perfect game,” said Ancelotti. “The team played an outstanding game and I could not be happier.”

“I told my players before the game that I wanted a good match for my anniversary. I never thought it would be that good. I hope we show the same attitude in our next game.” Bayern never gave Hamburg a chance, making amends for their last-gasp 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin last week.

They had 75 percent possession in the first half alone and could have added to their tally with Lewandowski also hitting the woodwork.

“I think we did not win a single one-on-one throughout the entire first half,” Hamburg keeper Rene Adler said. “It’s just intolerable.”

Second-placed RB Leipzig stayed five points off the pace after beating Cologne 3-1 to climb up to 48 points.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his goal drought after 471 minutes to score twice as Borussia Dortmund tightened their hold

on third place with a 3-0 victory at Freiburg. Dortmund are on 40 points, three ahead of Hoffenheim who play Schalke 04 on Sunday.

objectives, and that new aim will be tested in its next two matches against Fiorentina and Inter but he was more cautious after Saturday’s victory.

“Winning at a place like this allows you to dream big,” Gasperini said. “If, after 25 matches, you’re fourth and you’ve beaten Napoli at the San Paolo, you’re allowed to believe in yourself.”

An estimated 5,000 fans greeted Atalanta at Bergamo Airport, welcoming the team home with flares, fireworks, and singing “We’re going to win the league.” Napoli players and coach Maurizio Sarri did not speak to the media.

Atalanta’s achievement is even more impressive given that it relies mainly on young, homegrown talent.

Caldara, who was signed by Juventus last month but loaned back to Atalanta until 2018, is only 22, while Andrea Petagna, Andrea

frog their opponents into fifth place.

Eintracht, two points behind in sixth, had Haris Seferovic sent off for elbowing an opponent. (rtr)

Andreas Gebert/dpa via AP

Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scores during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

Atalanta can aim for Champs League after beating Napoli 2-0

The bar has been raised at Atalanta. Not only is the provincial squad dreaming of a place in Europe but it has the Champions League within its sights after winning at Napoli 2-0 on Saturday to move to within three points of the third-placed side in Serie A. Defender Mattia Caldara again stole the show with a goal in each half. Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie was sent off moments before Caldara’s second, following two bookings in quick succession.

It ended Napoli’s run of 14 league matches without defeat. Inter Milan can move back level with Atalanta with a win over second-placed Roma on Sunday. Victory would make the race for a place in Europe’s elite club competition wide open.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted last week that a win against Napoli would change his side’s

Hertha Berlin beat 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 with goals from Vedad Ibisevic and Vladimir Darida in the second half to leap-

Conti and Alberto Grassi are the same age or younger. They all came through the youth ranks together at the Bergamo-based club.

Petagna scored in a 1-0 win over Napoli this season, but since October Napoli had lost only one match, at Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Napoli hit the crossbar twice in the first half, and Atalanta reached halftime 1-0 up after a corner bounced through to Caldara and he nodded it in.

Atalanta chances of a second appeared to diminish when Kessie was sent off. But Caldara doubled his tally three minutes later, volleying Leonardo Spinazzola’s dinked cross into the bottom left corner.

Napoli fought to get back into the match and Jose Callejon should have done better but headed wide from point-blank range. (ap)

8

Monday, February 27, 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Sp rt Irrepressible Lukaku reaches Everton landmark

LONDON - Romelu Lukaku became EVERTON’S joint highest Premier League scorer on Saturday and the powerful striker is showing no signs of slowing down as he leads his team’s bid to qualify for European competition. The 23-year-old Belgian has now scored 60 league goals for the Merseyside club, level with Duncan Ferguson, and was instrumental in Everton’s 2-0 win over Sunderland.

“It’s been a good journey. Duncan and I work really hard, first with Roberto Martinez and now with Ronald Koeman. They helped me to improve my game and I’m grateful to them, because without them, I wouldn’t have got this far,” Lukaku, who has played 129 games for the club, told reporters.

Lukaku, who is also this season’s joint highest PREMIER LEAGUE scorer with 17 goals, is leading in-form Everton’s pursuit of a European place as they sit seventh in the table, unbeaten in nine league games.

“I think it’s really important. It has to be the next

step for the club. It’s down to us to improve and hopefully get into Europe,” Lukaku said.

It was a sentiment echoed by manager Koeman who said his side need to keep chasing MANCHESTER UNITED who are four points above them in sixth.

“There is a gap between us and the teams above us but there are still 12 games to go. You need to continue and get the momentum,” the Dutchman told the BBC. “The team behind us are West Brom and they are in good form, but in two weeks, we play West Brom at home. The team are strong and we have a lot of clean sheets and that makes for a lot of points.”

Former EVERTON boss David Moyes endured a harrowing return to Goodison Park - where he managed for 11 years - and said there was an obvious gulf in class with his bottom-of-the-table side. “You’re got to remember the quality of EVERTON, where they are and what they’re trying to achieve,” the 53year-old said.

“There is a gulf in quality, but the players are giving everything they’ve got. If we’re getting let down anywhere, we don’t quite have the quality.” (rtr)

Everton’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their second goal

Reuters / Andrew Yates

9

Bayern destroy Hamburg 8-0 with Lewandowski hat-trick

IBP/rtr

Inspirational captain Iborra fires Sevilla to derby win

SEVILLE - Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra came off the bench to lead his side to a second-half comeback at fierce local rivals Real Betis on Saturday, assisting and scoring in a 2-1 win to provisionally take Jorge Sampaoli’s side joint-top of La Liga.

The visitors looked to be suffering a hangover from their Champions League win over LEICESTER CITY on Wednesday as they were outrun in the first half by Betis, who took a deserved lead in the 36th minute from a free kick by Riza Durmisi.

Sampaoli made a double substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Iborra and striker Wissam Ben Yedder, and it was Iborra who set up the equaliser for Gabriel Mercado in the 56th minute, allowing the Argentine defender to stab the ball in from close range.

Sevilla then found the winner in the 76th minute. Steven Nzonzi headed Samir Nasri’s free kick on for Iborra to knock into the top corner and seal Sevilla’s fourth successive win in all competitions.

They are now second in the standings, level on 52 points with leaders Real Madrid, who have two games in hand and visit Villarreal on Sunday. Champions Barcelona are third on 51 points and play their game in hand of Sevilla at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Roared on by 42,000 supporters who had waited 11 years since their last home win over their neigh-

bours, Betis dominated the first half and Sevilla barely got a sniff of the ball. Betis had a total of 12 attempts in the first half, more than Sevilla have conceded in any game this season, although it took a set piece to break the deadlock.

Nzonzi gave away the foul and Durmisi whipped the ball through the ineffective Sevilla wall and inside the near post.

“Betis dominated us in every aspect in the first half in the second we had to change things radically because if we had kept on as we were it would have been impossible to turn things around,” Sampaoli told a news conference.

“But we had a great response in the second half, we dominated and created a lot of chances. The thing that makes me happiest about today is being level with Real Madrid at the top of the table, so I’m doubly happy.”

Earlier on Saturday Valencia could not build on the momentum of their surprise win over Real Madrid in midweek and were beaten 2-1 at Alaves despite taking the lead in the second half.

Youngster Carlos Soler put the visitors ahead in the 70th minute before Ibai Gomez levelled and Aleksandar Katai struck the winner four minutes from time.

Leganes picked up a first win since November by thrashing Deportivo La Coruna 4-0 to provisionally move five points clear of the relegation zone. (rtr)

BERLIN - Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick as the Bundesliga leaders mercilessly obliterated Hamburg SV 8-0 on Saturday as coach Carlo Ancelotti celebrated his 1,000th game as manager. The win kept Bayern five points clear at the top as they again inflicted on their opponents their heaviest league defeat.

The Pole, who has netted 19 times in the Bundesliga this season, struck twice in the first half and SLOTTED in his third goal in the 54th minute after Arturo Vidal had put the hosts ahead in the 17th. Strugglers Hamburg had been confident they would not be the punch bags of past matches between the sides, having also lost 8-0 in Munich two years ago, and they had been unbeaten in their last three games.

But they looked shell-shocked as they conceded another goal

by David Alaba in the 56th and substitute Kingsley Coman scored twice more within five minutes a little later.

Arjen Robben struck on the break as Hamburg again capitulated

to the Bundesliga champions and current leaders. “A perfect day, a perfect game,” said Ancelotti. “The team played an outstanding game and I could not be happier.”

“I told my players before the game that I wanted a good match for my anniversary. I never thought it would be that good. I hope we show the same attitude in our next game.” Bayern never gave Hamburg a chance, making amends for their last-gasp 1-1 draw at Hertha Berlin last week.

They had 75 percent possession in the first half alone and could have added to their tally with Lewandowski also hitting the woodwork.

“I think we did not win a single one-on-one throughout the entire first half,” Hamburg keeper Rene Adler said. “It’s just intolerable.”

Second-placed RB Leipzig stayed five points off the pace after beating Cologne 3-1 to climb up to 48 points.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his goal drought after 471 minutes to score twice as Borussia Dortmund tightened their hold

on third place with a 3-0 victory at Freiburg. Dortmund are on 40 points, three ahead of Hoffenheim who play Schalke 04 on Sunday.

objectives, and that new aim will be tested in its next two matches against Fiorentina and Inter but he was more cautious after Saturday’s victory.

“Winning at a place like this allows you to dream big,” Gasperini said. “If, after 25 matches, you’re fourth and you’ve beaten Napoli at the San Paolo, you’re allowed to believe in yourself.”

An estimated 5,000 fans greeted Atalanta at Bergamo Airport, welcoming the team home with flares, fireworks, and singing “We’re going to win the league.” Napoli players and coach Maurizio Sarri did not speak to the media.

Atalanta’s achievement is even more impressive given that it relies mainly on young, homegrown talent.

Caldara, who was signed by Juventus last month but loaned back to Atalanta until 2018, is only 22, while Andrea Petagna, Andrea

frog their opponents into fifth place.

Eintracht, two points behind in sixth, had Haris Seferovic sent off for elbowing an opponent. (rtr)

Andreas Gebert/dpa via AP

Munich’s Robert Lewandowski scores during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Hamburger SV in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.

Atalanta can aim for Champs League after beating Napoli 2-0

The bar has been raised at Atalanta. Not only is the provincial squad dreaming of a place in Europe but it has the Champions League within its sights after winning at Napoli 2-0 on Saturday to move to within three points of the third-placed side in Serie A. Defender Mattia Caldara again stole the show with a goal in each half. Atalanta midfielder Franck Kessie was sent off moments before Caldara’s second, following two bookings in quick succession.

It ended Napoli’s run of 14 league matches without defeat. Inter Milan can move back level with Atalanta with a win over second-placed Roma on Sunday. Victory would make the race for a place in Europe’s elite club competition wide open.

Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted last week that a win against Napoli would change his side’s

Hertha Berlin beat 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 with goals from Vedad Ibisevic and Vladimir Darida in the second half to leap-

Conti and Alberto Grassi are the same age or younger. They all came through the youth ranks together at the Bergamo-based club.

Petagna scored in a 1-0 win over Napoli this season, but since October Napoli had lost only one match, at Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Napoli hit the crossbar twice in the first half, and Atalanta reached halftime 1-0 up after a corner bounced through to Caldara and he nodded it in.

Atalanta chances of a second appeared to diminish when Kessie was sent off. But Caldara doubled his tally three minutes later, volleying Leonardo Spinazzola’s dinked cross into the bottom left corner.

Napoli fought to get back into the match and Jose Callejon should have done better but headed wide from point-blank range. (ap)

10

Monday, February 27, 2017

Destination

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

International

Journalists use their mobile phones to photograph McLaren’s new MCL32 Formula One car at its launch in Woking, Britain, February 24, 2017.

Bigger budget McLaren aim for title sponsor in 2018 REUTERS/Alan Baldwin

Batur Natural Hot Springs (Toya Bungkah)

BANGLI - Toya Bungkah village, at the base of Gunung Batur, offers a number of geothermally heated springs — a relaxing way to loosen those tired muscles after climbing the volcano.

Before, Batur Natural Hot Spring Kintamani Bali was a simply public bathing for the surrounding villagers. It was believed that the hot spring water originated from Mount Batur contains supranatural and medical benefits for any illness. Not until few years ago, the Batur Village persisted to attain better standards due to Kintamani tourism demands.

Today, its popularity derived from several modern and beautiful hot spring pools that are ready to pamper any visitors. With its by-the-lake pools, a fun weekend getaway or any day-visit can be guaranteed. Enjoy the healing water with its sources located right at the edge of Lake Batur with friends and family.

Batur Natural Hot spring is the only one healing spa in Bali and just 2 hours from Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar. the location in the Lake Batur and Mount Batur areas of Desa Pekraman Batur, Toya Bungkah, Kintamani.

LONDON - McLaren will enjoy a bigger budget this season but a long-awaited title sponsor for the Formula One team will have to wait until 2018, newly-appointed executive director Zak Brown said on Friday.

Whether you’re coming to play, relax or make Batur Natural Hot Springs your home, you’ll be won over our friendly small-town atmosphere. Clean air, magnificent scenery and views of the Lake Batur, Mt.Batur and Mt.Abang.

You’ll find many suggestions of activities, services and promos on this website. For a wonderful weekend getaway or a beautiful place to live, you’ll discover something special in Batur Natural Hot Springs, Bangli City.

Spring water in the area is clear and without any sulphuric odour and locals claim all sorts of healing properties from the mineralrich waters. Water temperatures range from lukewarm to slightly hotter, though there are no scalding-hot pools, and most are generally warmer in the early morning. Even though

several hot springs have the word “natural” in their name, don’t expect a natural environment, as all here are comprised of tiled pools.

Getting there is a bumpy ride down to the crater, but at the bottom you are welcomed to these soothing springs with pools. The Batur Natural Hot Springs is run by the local community, and has mountain treks and adventure tours on offer. There are mineral pools with temperatures of up to 40 degrees centigrade, and a lakeside pier where you can take in the majestic beauty of the lake with the peaks of Batur and Abang as backdrop. There’s also Resto Desa Sari Ulam onsite, serving local cuisine and freshwater fish grills. Entry fees are USD 10 (IDR 150,000) which includes drinks, lockers, showers, towel and unlimited use of the pools. (IBP/net)

Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat holds a 50 percent stake in the team while Saudi-born businessman Mansour Ojjeh and recently ousted former boss Ron Dennis each have 25 percent.

Brown said Ojjeh and Bahrain’s Sheikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa had increased the budget in certain areas as the team, who last won a race in 2012, push to return to the top.

The former world champions, who have Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Belgian rookie Stoffel Vandoorne as drivers, also stand to get more in prize revenue after finishing sixth last year. They were ninth in 2015.

“We have very wealthy owners

who want to win. They are not going to let budget get in the way of us progressing up the field,” Brown told reporters at the launch of the team’s new-look orange and black MCL32 car.

“The partners that we do have make healthy contributions, Honda’s obviously a fantastic and big contributor to our racing team... and we have lots of other revenue streams inside McLaren Technology Group,” added the American.

“So budget-wise we’re healthy.”

The search for a title sponsor, which Brown has identified as a necessity, will take time however.

The American has introduced a number of big sponsors to the sport

and McLaren in his previous job as head of CSM Sport&Entertainment and its JMI motorsport arm.

“No miracles were going to happen in 2017. Most companies, any big decisions they are making are taken by October, November, December at the latest,” he said.

“2018 is when we need to deliver a title partner. I already feel that pressure because it takes a year.

So I am counting down the days.

“I haven’t really seen any new sponsor announcements on any car, including those that have won the championship for three years in a row,” added Brown, alluding to Mercedes.

Brown saw a brighter future under Formula One’s new owners Liberty Media, saying that McLaren was now a good story and so too was the glamour sport.

The season starts in Melbourne on March 26. (rtr)

Raonic overcomes Del Potro in Florida, meets Sock in final

FLORIDA - World number four Milos Raonic of Canada overcame a battling Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 7-6(6) on Saturday to set up a Delray Beach Open final against American Jack Sock.

Sock defeated compatriot Donald Young 6-4 7-6(2) to reach his second ATP World Tour final of the season but the 24-year-old world number 21 will have to produce his very best to stand any chance against Raonic’s powerful serve.

The Canadian produced 17 blistering aces in the win over Del Potro, taking early control of the contest in Florida when he broke for a 4-2 lead in the first set after the Argentine went long on a backhand.

Raonic held serve comfortably to win the first set 6-3 but he faced a sterner test in the second set with Del Potro delivering some quality forehand winners.

The 26-year-old Raonic, runner-up at Wimbledon last year, broke to go 6-5 up in the second, only for Del Potro to break back immediately with a superb two-handed return down the line.

Raonic had earlier double-faulted at 30-15 when he was within two points of the match.

The Canadian double-faulted again in the tiebreaker, this time at 5-4 up, but he held firm and won the contest with a trademark ace.

Raonic has beaten Sock eight times in 10 meetings but the American prevailed in their most recent match at the Shanghai Masters in October. (rtr)

Randy Vazquez/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

Milos Raonic returns a ball during the Delray Beach Open at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017.

Kipsang misses world record in Tokyo Marathon win

TOKYO - Wilson Kipsang of Kenya missed out on the world record but ran the fastest time ever on Japanese soil to win the Tokyo Marathon in two hours, three minutes and 58 seconds on Sunday.

The 34-year-old was looking to better compatriot Dennis Kimetto’s mark of 2:02.57 and wrest back the world record he lost in 2014

but was unable to take sufficient advantage of a new course design.

“Today I was really feeling good and the course was very nice,” Kipsang said after receiving the trophy.

“I really enjoyed it and I was going for a world record but I think it was a little bit windy and that’s why I couldn’t run that time.”

All six of the world record times

recognised by the IAAF have been set at the Berlin marathon, including Kipsang’s at the 2013 version.

Kipsang had said he would be aiming for a mark of 2:02.50 and, running at the front of the field behind a phalanx of blue-shirted East African pacemakers, was on course for it at the 10, 15 kilometre and halfway marks. At the 30 kilometre

mark, only compatriot Dickson Chumba was still with him and 10 kilometres later, he was on his own but slightly off the world record pace.

Gideon Kipketer (2:05.51) passed Chumba (2:06.25) on the final few kilometres to finish second in a Kenyan podium sweep.

The previous best time in Japan was Tsegaye Kebede’s 2:05.18 at

Fukuoka in 2009, while Mizuki Noguchi’s Osaka mark of 2:21.18 had stood for the women since 2003. Sarah Chepchirchir ended that reign as Kenya also took the spoils in the women’s race in 2:19.47, the 32-year-old leading home Ethiopians Birhane Dibaba (2:21.19) and Amane Gobena (2:23.09). (rtr)

6

Monday, February 27, 2017

W

RLD

Drunken driver injures 28 at New Orleans Mardi Gras parade

NEW ORLEANS - A pickup truck driven by a man who appeared to be “highly intoxicated” plowed into a crowd of spectators watching the main Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans on Saturday, sending more than 20 people to the hospital, police said.

The truck, traveling along the side of the street open to traffic along the Mid-City parade route, struck three other vehicles, including a dump truck, before veering onto the median where a crowd of people stood watching the procession, according to New Orleans police.

Five people were being treated at hospital trauma centers, and an investigation is ongoing, police said.

Police immediately apprehended the pickup driver, who according to eyewitnesses interviewed by Fox television affiliate WVEU-TV appeared disheveled, glassy-eyed and under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu in a statement referred to the suspect as a “drunk driver.”

Video footage from the scene showed pandemonium immediately following the early evening inci-

dent, but the Krewe of Endymion parade, the largest and most popular of numerous Mardi Gras season parades in New Orleans, continued with little or no interruption.

A total of 28 people were injured, 21 of whom were taken to local hospitals, including one police officer.

Seven others who were hurt declined transport, Police Chief Michael Harrison told a news conference.

Local media reports said 12 people were initially listed as critically injured.

Harrison said police believed the motorist who was arrested was “highly intoxicated” and was being questioned at the police department’s drunken-driving office.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Orleans said its agents were “coordinating with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to determine whether a federal violation has occurred.”

The Endymion parade incident was not the only one to mar Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans on Saturday. Earlier in the day, someone’s gun went off accidentally in a portable toilet along the route of another, smaller parade, leaving one person wounded, police said. (rtr)

REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Monday, February 27, 2017

REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. President Donald Trump leaves after a dinner at Trump International Hotel in Washington, U.S., February 25, 2017.

Trump decides to skip White House press dinner WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would not attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, a high-profile event that draws celebrities, politicians and journalists.

“I will not be attending the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner this year. Please wish everyone well and have a great evening!”, Trump wrote on Twitter.

On the campaign trail and in the White House, Trump has had a strained relationship with the press, calling journalists “the enemy of the people” and frequently criticizing outlets and individual reporters whose coverage he does not like.

The reporters’ group said it would go ahead with its April 29 dinner despite Trump’s absence. The Washington event typically draws movie stars, politicians and business leaders to hear a humorous speech by the sitting president.

The dinner “has been and will continue to be a celebration of the First Amendment and the important role played by an independent news media in a healthy republic,” said Jeff Mason, a Reuters White House

correspondent who heads the association this year.

Ronald Reagan was the last president to sit out the event after he was shot in 1981.

Some news outlets such as Bloomberg News and the New Yorker have said they will not host the lavish after-parties that have been a fixture of past events. On Friday, the White House excluded several major U.S. news organizations, including some it has criticized, from an off-camera briefing held by the White House press secretary.

Reporters for CNN, The New York Times, Politico, The Los Angeles Times and BuzzFeed were not allowed into the session in the office of press secretary Sean Spicer, a decision that drew strong protests.

The event occasionally makes news: in 2011, President Barack Obama delivered a scathing evisceration of Trump, joking that the mogul, who sat stone-faced in the audience, would move on from questioning Obama’s citizenship to figuring out “did we fake the moon landing.”

Critics say the event encourages journalists to cozy up to politicians they should cover aggressively. (rtr)

Malaysia...

Malaysia is expected to create thousands of jobs and we are proud that Malaysian firms have been chosen to undertake projects at some of the most prestigious locations in Saudi Arabia,” Najib said in a statement on Friday.

Besides travelling with his own private escalator, King Salman has also flown in two personal cars.

His entourage has also completely booked out three luxury HOTELS INKuala Lumpur for the duration of the visit.

After Malaysia, the King is expected to travel to Jakarta and Bali in Indonesia from March 1-9 with an even larger entourage of 1,500 people, followed by a trip to Japan from March 12 to 14, officials in those countries said.

King Salman is expected to spend the last two weeks of March on holiday in the Maldives, according to a Maldives diplomat. Local newspaper Mihaaru reported that three resorts have been reserved for his stay. (rtr)

From page 1

A vehicle is seen crashed along the Endymion parade route at Orleans and Carollton during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana U.S., February 25, 2017.

International

International

Relations between the two countries have been in the spotlight over the last two years after Saudi Arabia was dragged into a multi-billion dollar corruption scandal at Malaysian state fund 1MDB, founded

by Najib.

Najib has denied any wrongdoing in the money-laundering case which is now being investigated by several countries including the U.S, Switzerland and Singapore.

A Malaysian government inquiry found that nearly $700 million transferred to the Prime Minister’s bank account in 2013 was a donation from the Saudi royal family and most of it was returned.

The last time a Saudi king visited Malaysia was in 2006, when King Abdullah, King Salman’s half-brother and predecessor, flew in with a 300-member delegation.

“Saudi Arabian investment in

REUTERS/David Moir/Pool

Peter Cosgrove (2nd L), Governor-General of Australia and his wife Lynne Cosgrove (L) chat with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, February 26, 2017.

AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim

Students with painted bodies perform a skit during a demonstration against the U.S. mining giant FreeportMcMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. Dozens of students staged the protest demanding the New Orleans-based mining company close its mine in Papua province saying that it siphons of the region’s wealth and gives it little in return.

11

Australia, Indonesia restore full military ties, see progress on trade

SYDNEY - Australia and Indonesia said on Sunday that full military ties between the two countries had been restored, after Indonesia’s military suspended cooperation in January because of “insulting” teaching material found at an Australian base. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made the announcement alongside Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who arrived in Australia on Saturday for his first visit as president.

“President Widodo and I have agreed to full restoration of defence cooperation, training exchanges and activities,” Turnbull said at a news conference in Sydney.

Widodo’s visit to Australia comes less than two months after military ties were suspended, an event that sparked a minor diplomatic spat and led to an apology from Australia’s army chief in February. Military cooperation between the two countries has ranged from joint training and counterterrorism cooperation to border protection.

The “insulting” material suggested that Indonesia’s Papua province should be independent and mocked the nation’s state ideology.

Indonesia and Australia have a history of patchy ties, but both leaders were keen on Sunday to emphasise their commitment to a strong relationship.

“That robust relationship can be established when both countries have respect for each other’s territorial integrity, non-interference into the domestic affairs of each other and the ability to develop a mutually beneficial partnership,” Widodo said.

While the primary focus of the visit was on security and economic issues, including the finalisation of a

bilateral free trade deal by the end of the year, talks touched on tourism, cyber security and social links.

Widodo met Australian business leaders on Saturday, telling them that investor confidence in Indonesia was strong and reassuring them that Indonesia was a stable country in which to do business.

Following one-on-one talks, Turnbull said tariffs would be cut for Australian sugar and Indonesian pesticides and herbicides. He also praised changes to the export rules for live Australian cattle. Two-way trade between Australia and Indonesia was worth $15.3 billion in 2015-16, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Widodo said he was confident that a free trade deal would be finalised this year.

“I have conveyed to Prime Minister Turnbull some of the key issues,” he said. “First, is the removal of barriers to trade, tariffs and non-tariffs for Indonesian products such as Indonesia’s paper and palm oil.”

Widodo told The Australian newspaper this week he would like to see joint patrols with Australia in the South China Sea if they did not further inflame tensions with China. China - which claims almost the entire sea region - irked Indonesia last year by saying the two countries had “overlapping claims” to waters close to them, an area Indonesia calls the Natuna Sea. The leaders stopped short of announcing joint patrols on Sunday, but stressed the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance to international law. “As maritime nations and trading nations, Australia and Indonesia are natural partners with common interests,” Turnbull said.

Collaboration on counterterrorism, especially the return of foreign fighters from the Syrian and Iraq conflict zone, would continue, Turnbull said. (rtr)

12

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

BUSINESS Euro zone economy: real recovery or another Sirens’ song?

LONDON - Over the years, euro zone economic growth has been a bit like the Sirens in Homer’s Odyssey: singing a song of promise, only to end up pulling you onto the rocks.

Will it be different this time?

The strong growth registered in numerous data releases and surveys at the beginning of this year has surprised many.

One eye-opening example was the release of flash purchasing managers indices for France, Germany and the euro zone on Feb 21.

Of nine indexes, eight registered growth and six did so at a higher level than any economist polled by Reuters had imagined.

Not surprisingly, economists and policy-makers are now looking for firm proof that the euro zone’s apparent rebound this year is sustainable, as well as noting a variety of potentially destructive economic and political hazards ahead. There has not been, they say, a specific inflexion point at which it can be said that the euro zone has recovered and is off on a growth tear. Rather it has been a slow simmer.

“The euro zone has been recovering steadily for three years now, helped by monetary policy stimulus, an end to fiscal austerity and a healthier financial sector,” said James McCann, OECD economist at Standard Life Investments. “(It’s) a steady recovery which has been trundling on.”

The numbers confirm this. The European Commission notes that real GDP in the euro zone has grown for 15 consecutive quarters - a sign of steady improvement.

But putting aside some of the latest data, it has been steady rather than spectacular. Economic growth is still running at only around 1.6 percent annually, and most forecasters - from economists polled by Reuters to the Commission itself, reckon it will be about the same this year. So the question is whether the recent data has turned this on its head. Even before considering whether Greece’s debt problems will come back to bite the euro zone, there are two main strands: inflation and elections.

OF POLITICS AND INFLATION While the repetition of posi-

REUTERS/Michaela Rehle/File Photo

People look at traditional ginger breads on sale at the famous Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany September 28, 2012. tive January and February data in the month ahead - for example, German industrial orders soaring again - would fuel the euro zone takeoff story, inflation may hold the key. “The risk of disappointment is that higher headline inflation decelerates real income growth and consumption,” said Paul MortimerLee, global head of market economics at BNP Paribas.

The preliminary reading of February euro zone inflation, to be reported on Wednesday, is expected to come in at 2.0 percent year-onyear, rising to the European Central Bank’s target on the back of monetary stimulus and economic growth.

While far from hyper, such a level has not been seen for four

years, and there has been a strong inverse path taken between inflation and retail sales over the last five years. In other words, rising prices can hurt consumer spending, which in turn drives economies.

Unemployment during the financial crisis accounts for some of the dive in retail sales seen on and off since 2008. But joblessness, though improved, is still twice that of, say, the United States. So if euro zone inflation were to overshoot in the coming year, it may well stifle the very growth that engendered it.

Economists, however, also see a growth killer in the bloc’s politics.

Many have long argued that the euro zone cannot compete as a leading economy without substantial structural reform - particularly in

the number two and three economies after Germany.

“It comes down to France and Italy stepping up a gear,” said Florian Hense, European economist at Berenberg private bank. But it is exactly in those two countries where politics is threatening to delay or derail the type of pro-growth structural reforms advocated by the European Central Bank and many private sector economists.

In Italy, the chances of an election this year have diminished, but the political turmoil surrounding the resignation of prime minister Matteo Renzi is likely to set back major reforms until an election takes place.

It is France, however, that is seen providing the biggest risk. Two of

the top three candidates are viewed as economic reformists, but they are up against Marine Le Pen, the farright National Front candidate whose pledge to put France’s EU membership to a referendum could de-stabilise the region’s economy for years.

Le Pen is not supposed to win, according to polls. But neither was U.S. President Donald Trump or those in Britain wanting to leave the Europe Union. “If a rising France joins a still strong Germany at the core of Europe, the economic and political outlook for the euro zone as a whole could improve considerably,” Berenberg economists told clients. “(But) a President Le Pen would spell the end of reform hopes for France and the EU for the next five years.”(rtr)

Bali News

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

Blangsinga Waterfall, an Exotic Attraction in Gianyar

5

Blangsinga waterfall at Blahbatuh, Gianyar, can become your alternative destination other than beaches. This nature tourism becomes a favorite tourist spot visited by domestic and foreign travelers. Other than water recreation, visitors can also watch the beauty of rainbow and feel the atmosphere of Petanu River.

The waterfall has the height of about 12.5 meters. The water flows swiftly and becomes a very pretty place to take pictures. For those who like spiritual atmosphere, it is perfectly appropriate destination because around the Petanu River sits some places sanctified by local residents. So, do not be surprised when every morning many travelers do meditation or yoga at this location.

Blangsinga waterfall has been equipped with amenities such as a spacious parking lot, gazebo to unwind, toilet, canteen and a concrete pathway to get to the river bed.

The cool and peaceful atmosphere for the whole trip is entertained by the melodious sounds of birds. To enjoy the beauty and natural water features, visitors must buy a ticket for IDR 10,000 (adult) and IDR 5,000 (children).

Blangsinga waterfall has three strategic and unique locations. The first part is located at the edge of the river with ‘stone water’ namely the spring coming out from chunks of boulder. Local people believe it has healing quality for sprains and fractures. “Cows, pigs or other livestock experiencing fractures are usually invoked ‘medicine’ at this shower,” said I Ketut Sudarpa, one of the management officers.

This river is also taken advantage by housewives who have just given birth to a baby because it is believed to give peace to their baby. Large and small rocks are naturally lined. This location is commonly used by visitors to play with rocks by piling them from large to small, like temples.

In the meantime, in the middle of part the atmosphere becomes more challenging. Visitors can sit on chunks of the local cliff while enjoying the waterfall flowing to the bottom of the river. Travelers choose this location to take pictures as being very close to waterfall

and cliff. Beautiful scenery is also taken advantage by photographer as a pre-wedding photo session. It can be creatively combined with a variety of supporting facilities, such as umbrella and other tools.

Besides, teens or young couples choose this place for a casual chat because it is very beautiful. From this area, visitors can also see the beauty of rainbow from the mouth of the cave around 10:00 and in the afternoon around 16:00 seen from beneath the cave.

The third strategic location lies in the bottom of the river, namely the main waterfall.

Visitors can feel the power of water falling from a height. Sometimes they also rejoice while taking bath, splashing or just washing their legs. Here, visitors can take pictures or

selfie. “This location is also good for location of pre-wedding photo session,” said Sudarpa while pointing out a unique location to take pictures.

Travelers from Europe, Australia and Asia mostly prefer this location. They mingle with domestic travelers from Surabaya, Jakarta, Kalimantan and Flores. Together with children, relatives and friends, they play with rocks, feel the coolness of water and walk on the bamboo bridge. “On a normal day, more visitors are foreigners. But on national holidays, they will be usually dominated by domestic travelers,” he said.

Sudarpa added that the location of Blangsinga waterfall was formerly renowned as a place to play bungee jumping. This

object is managed by Blangsinga customary village, but its operation is entrusted to 11 professionals consisting of local villagers.

“The waterfall was initially favored by cycling travelers, now it has been well-known and crowded,” he explained.

Formerly, it was named Srogsogan waterfall. Over the time, after visited by many visitors it is better known as Blangsinga waterfall. Based on the agreement of Blangsinga village residents and management, it was then made walkway heading for the riverbed.

It is financed by village treasury and ticket sales. Then, the income of managing this object is also allocated for rural development, such as ceremonies and physical development. (kmb)

Preserving Spinning Top Tradition at Tamblingan

IBP/kmb

Playing spinning top tradition seems to be rarely known to children today. They are more interested in the modern games through their smartphone.

Nevertheless, this tradition remains to be preserved in the area of ??the four customary village of Dalem Tamblingan including the Munduk, Umajero, Gesing and Gobleg. “Spinning top game is routinely held in the four customary village of Dalem Tamblingan.

This tradition has been inherited from generation to generation,” said the nine-team leader of the four customary villages of Dalem Tamblingan, Jro Putu

Ardana.

He said that the making of spinning top requires expertise. The wood commonly used includes the orange jasmine, sapodilla, tamarind, lychee and rosewood. Generally, the wood chosen has quite smooth fiber so as to be easy to be shaped. “At this time residents are not fanatic with the wood used. Most importantly, the fiber is soft and the wood is hard.

Now, it is not difficult because the wood material can be affixed with special glue. Well, in the past people often utilized intact wood,” he said. (kmb)

4

Monday, February 27, 2017

Bali News

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

International

Low interest rates stimulate investment DENPASAR - Low interest rates have a postive impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly because low rates stimulate investment. Having the economy grow more than 6 percent per year, requires considerable investment fromthe private sector. At the micro level, low interest rates can boost the efficiency of SMEs and are needed to improve the cometitiveness of SMEs both locally and globally.

Economic obserer Prof. DR. I Wayan Ramantha said on Thursday (Feb 23), that the economy of Indonesia, including Bali is expected to improve as a reslt of low intersts rates which help MSMEs. He added however that low interest rates also bring some challenges. “Currently, low interst rates on loans are only leant out by bigger banks in the form of people’s business credit (KUR) that are subsidised by the government. Smaller banks on the other hand, have no way of accessing KUR subsidies and so they cannot compete with the bigger banks”, he explained.

On that account, according to Ramantha an appropirate formula should be established by a path or link to access these subsidies so that this policy does not have a negative impact on the banking sector.

Inflation is the ongoing rise in prices. However there would be no inflation if people’s purchasing power increases cocomitently.

There should be no correlation between low interest rates and inflation of illegal investment. Ramanha explained that low interest rates do not lead to illegal investments if society is educated about the matter. When people put their savings in the bank, they are not doing so simply to invest. IN the case of Bali, most investement in fact occurs in real life exchanges, so when people put money in the bank it is in fact with the intention of keeping it there for safekeeping.

“Theoretically, people use their income either to consume or to invest. So if they are not speding it then they are investing it. So when when people put money in the bank it is not to earn income fomr interest alone. There is no direct corelation with illegal investment”, he said. in the form of interest alone, so there is no correlation with illegal investment,” he said.

Head of the Advisory Council of the Indonesia Association of Pest Control Companies, Dr. Gde Weda Arjawa, says that low interest rates could benefit employers but due to the weak economy many employers are reluctant to take loans especialy loans with low financing. “They are afraid of not being able to pay back the loans”, he said.

Local entrepreneurs are still waiting until the economy improves before borrowing money from the bank. In 2017, Indonesia’s economy has started to improve so we are seeign more employers taking out large loans.

There can be a negative impact when employers take as much credit as they can wihtout careful planning, making it hard to pay back the loans. What is worse is that there are indications that some businesss people are taking low interest loans for consumptive purposes instead of using the capital to develop their businesses. (kmb42)

13

Wary of Trump unpredictability, China ramps up naval abilities

REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo

Francois Fillon, a former French prime minister, member of The Republicans political party and 2017 presidential candidate of the French centre-right, attends a political rally in Chasseneuildu-Poitou near Poitiers, France February 9, 2017.

IBP/eka

The distinctive Gajah Mina statue is meant to serve as a tourist attraction, especially for foreign visitors.

Gajah Mina is an elephant-headed fish from Hindu mythology that is often found in the adorment of temple coumpund walls.

Coastal village tourist destination

Pererenan Beach has new icon: Gajah Mina

PERERENAN Beach, located at Pererenan village, Mengwi, Badung spread along some 2 kilometers, was previously unkown to tourists exept a few surfing enthusiasts. Pererenan villages authorities working with the LPM have made some imporvement to the beach including errecting a Gajah Mina statue on the beach.

The distinctive Gajah Mina statue is meant to serve as a tourist attraction, especially for foreign visitors. Gajah Mina is an elephant-headed fish from Hindu mythology that is often found in the adorment of temple coumpund walls. Chief of LPM Pererenan, Putu Wiyadnyana, said that tthey hope that the iconic sculpture will contribute to more tourists visiting the area. The construction of the statue that was finished a few months ago was funded by the 2016 village budget (APBDes). Since the new icon was unveiled, many travellers have come to take pictures here at sunset.

Like many other tourist attractions, the number of tourists who visit this beach that is located between Echo Beach and Seseh Beach, fluctuates depending ont the time of year. On public holidays, it is mostly domestic visitors who come to Pererenan Beach, while visitors from Australia, Europe and Asia visit when the waves are good for surfing. A number of

leading brands have also hosted several internatinoal kite surfing competitions here. As is the case with neighbouring beaches, Pererenan beach is a popular destination for kite surfers. There are also two companies that offer horse back riding tours along the beach and in nearby rice paddy fields.

Local customary village authorities charge IDR 3,000 for cars and IDR 2,00 for motorcycles to park by the beach.

The local LPM has plans to fix the road that leads to the beach and to have public toilets put in that will be decorated with mermaids statues. There are also plans to build stalls for vendors, enlarge the parking lot and create a venue for holding customary rituals that will be arranged by the customary village.

The arrangement of the beach area has been ongoign intensively since 2015 and have yielded good results with approximately 90 t0 150 people visiting the

beach daily.

A number of other attractions in Pererenan village have also been worked on in order to support this area that is seeing more and more visitors. For instance, the local river has been restored a s a hbaitat for shrimp and a breeding site has been established to reintroduce the magpie robin. These efforts were undertaken by Pererenan Gumi Lestrai (PGL), a community eco-system preservation group.

Acting head of Pererenan village I Ketut Gede Sasmita, said that there are other community efforts in his village too. As farming is the dominant activity of this village, they are working on creating a running path through their paddy fields as a way to attract visitors.

Like the other coastal areas, they are also trying to maitain the profession of fishermen. There are 30 active fishermen at Pererenan village who are coalesced into the Windu Segara fishermen group.

To accommodate the interests of fishermen, the village cooperates with a number of villas so that these fishermen can take part in offering services to the tourists who stay there as a supplement to their income. (eka)

French judge takes over probe into Fillon “fake jobs” scandal

PARIS - French presidential challenger Francois Fillon will face a full judicial inquiry into allegations he paid family members for fake parliamentary jobs after the country’s financial prosecutor said she was appointing a magistrate to lead a deeper probe.

The escalation is another blow to the conservative candidate whose status as favourite to win the presidency has faded since the “Penelopegate” affair - named after Fillon’s wife - first surfaced a month ago. But it may not stop him from standing in April-May vote.

By involving a magistrate in what had so far been a preliminary probe led by police, the prosecutor is putting more resources into the investigation.

The inquiry will examine possible misuse of public funds and a lack of full and proper disclosure, according to the prosecutor’s statement that was issued as Fillon took to the stage at a campaign rally near Paris.

The judge can decide to drop the case, place the 62-year-old former prime minister under formal investigation, or send the case to trial.

It was not clear, however, if the inquiry could be concluded before the two-round election, scheduled for April 23 and May 7, but the

French judicial process would not typically wrap up such a case in the nine weeks between now and the poll. Under French law, if Fillon were to win the presidential race the investigation would be suspended during his time in office.

Fillon has denied any wrongdoing and says his wife was paid hundreds of thousands of euros for genuine work as his parliamentary assistant, though he has acknowledged giving her the work was an error of judgement.

INVESTORS CONCERNED

BY ELECTION Fillon made no reference to the prosecutor’s decision at his rally, at which his supporters cried out “Fillon, President!”.

Fillon has pledged to stay in the race come what may, after saying for weeks that he would step down if he were put under formal investigation.

“You are my companions, and with you at my side I can feel

your energy that will give me the strength to win,” Fillon told the rally.

Nevertheless, the issue has unnerved investors who fear Fillon’s campaign woes have handed the anti-euro, anti-immigration Marine Le Pen of the National Front a higher chance of winning the presidency.

Opinion polls show Le Pen leading a fragmented field in the first round but then losing to independent centrist Emmanuel Macron in a second round run-off. Macron has been favourite to win the presidency since the Fillon scandal broke on Jan. 25.

Fillon - who has long cultivated an image of probity and criticised people for taking government handouts - has been heckled for weeks by protesters at campaign outings.

Macron got a boost on Friday when German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was ready to meet him. Le Pen, however, was roundly criticised by the French mainstream political establishment after she refused to attend a summons for questioning by police over allegations that she made illegal EU payments to her staff. (rtr)

BEIJING - The PLA Navy is likely to secure significant new funding in China’s upcoming defence budget as Beijing seeks to check U.S. dominance of the high seas and step up its own projection of power around the globe.

China’s navy has been taking an increasingly prominent role in recent months, with a rising star admiral taking command, its first aircraft carrier sailing around self-ruled Taiwan and new Chinese warships popping up in far-flung places.

Now, with President Donald Trump promising a U.S. shipbuilding spree and unnerving Beijing with his unpredictable approach on hot button issues including Taiwan and the South and East China Seas, China is pushing to narrow the gap with the U.S. Navy.

“It’s opportunity in crisis,” said a Beijing-based Asian diplomat, of China’s recent naval moves. “China fears Trump will turn on them eventually as he’s so unpredictable and it’s getting ready.”

Beijing does not give a breakdown for how much it spends on the navy, and the overall official defence spending figures it gives 954.35 billion yuan ($139 billion) for 2016 - likely understates its investment, according to diplomats.

China unveils the defence budget for this year at next month’s annual meeting of parliament, a closely watched figure around the region and in Washington, for clues to China’s intentions.

China surprised last year with its lowest increase in six years, 7.6 percent, the first single-digit rise since 2010, following a nearly unbroken two-decade run of double-digit jumps.

“Certainly, the PLA Navy has really been the beneficiary of a lot of this new spending in the past 15 years,” said Richard Bitzinger, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Military Transformations Programme at the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“We don’t how much they spend on the navy, but simply extrapolating from the quantity and the quality of things that are coming out of their shipyards, it’s pretty amazing.”

RAPID DEVELOPMENT The Chinese navy, once generally limited to coastal operations, has developed rapidly under President Xi Jinping’s ambitious military modernisation.

It commissioned 18 ships in 2016, including missile destroyers, corvettes and guided missile frigates, according to state media.

Barely a week goes by without an announcement of some new piece of equipment, including an electronic reconnaissance ship put into service in January.

Still, the PLA Navy significantly lags the United States, which operates 10 aircraft carriers to China’s one, the Soviet-era Liaoning.

Xu Guangyu, a retired major general in the People’s Liberation Army now senior adviser to the government-run China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, said China was keenly aware of the U.S. ability to project power at sea. (rtr)

REUTERS/Mo Xiaoliang/File Photo

J-15 fighters from China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier conduct a drill in an area of South China Sea, January 2, 2017.

Picture taken January 2, 2017.

14

Monday, February 27, 2017

Traveling

International

Bali News

International

IBP/file

Oldest Rio party kicks off as Carnival in Brazil hits full stride

SAO PAULO - Rio de Janeiro’s famed Carnival bacchanalia hit full stride on Saturday, as hundreds of thousands roared into the streets for one of the city’s oldest and by far its biggest “bloco” street party, the Bola Preta.

The Bola Preta, or “Black Ball,” gathering routinely draws upward of 1 million people to Rio’s historic center, where revelers dressed in black and white lustily sing traditional Carnival anthems, including

the occasional breaking out into Rio’s theme, “Cidade Maravilhosa,” or the Marvelous City.

Things are not feeling so fabulous around Rio of late: crime is sharply up since the city hosted the Olympics last August and the state is suffering an intense fiscal crisis, remains deeply indebted and can barely maintain basic services like police, hospitals and schools.

Despite all that, the annual party, as always, must go on - vi-

vaciously.

In Salvador, the capital of the northeastern state of Bahia, which each year competes with Rio for bragging rights as having held the wildest Carnival party, music legends Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso sang to an enormous crowd in the city’s center, celebrating 50 years of the Tropacalia musical movement they formed.

The songs of both famed artists, now in their 70s, poked and

prodded at the nation’s military dictatorship that lasted between 1964 and 1985.

São Paulo, Brazil’s business capital, also hit its Carnival stride as scores of street parties clogged traffic and sent drunken and costumed revelers into streets, adding to an acumen that has been in growing in recent years. Over 38 parties should hit the city’s streets on Saturday.

Sao Paulo’s “official” carnival

parades - where bedazzled samba dancers and ornate floats make their way down an avenue, competing for the crown of Carnival champion, went into the early morning hours Saturday.

Rio’s far more famous parades, which draw tens of millions of TV spectators across Brazil and whose competition is as fiercely fought as any soccer match, do not begin until Sunday night and will continue the next day. (rtr)

It is better protecting the environment than repairing the damage. For example, repairing environmental damage caused by quarrying activities can be addressed by reforestation.

Illegal quarrying activities

Dig arbitrarily by ignoring environmental damage

DENPASAR - Quarrying activities always result in environmental issues because they often violate quarrying threshold. It is violated by quarrying entrepreneurs that have and have not owned permit.

Nevertheless, it does not necessarily mean that quarrying activities cannot be done. It’s okay as long as it is accompanied with provisions that must be met by all the quarrying entrepreneurs.

“For example, there are provisions on the depth and so forth.

In other words, it is not done arbitrarily, like right now as if the activities are done wildly. Even though they have owned a permit, they simply dig without taking into account the long-term damage to the environment,” said Chairman of the Regional Bylaw Draft Special Committee on the Protection and Environmental Management (PPLH) of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nyoman Adnyana, in Denpasar, on Wednesday (Feb. 22).

According to Adnyana, it is better protecting the environment than repairing the damage. For example, repairing environmental damage caused by quarrying activities can be addressed by reforestation.

Replanting trees in the former quarrying areas is considered to require a very large cost.

“Most quarrying activities leave problems, so that environmental damage will have an impact on the disruption of ecosystem. It is better to keep the existing one because the cost of forestation to recover is large,” said this member of Commission I. Adnyana cautioned that people do not dabble in the quarrying activities without permit. Moreover, there is an example of illegal quarrying activity at Kelating, Tabanan, claiming a casualty. If the activity has permit, there will be increments where allowed and disallowed to do quarrying activities. In other words, there have been stipulations in terms of safety, pollution and destruction that must be obeyed.

“Without having a permit, the

quarrying activities can be stopped.

It can be stopped by the province and police, it’s a criminal offense of environment,” said this PDI-P politician. He added the authority regarding the quarrying activity currently lies in the province.

However, the authority under the Law No.23/2014 cannot have been followed up with regional bylaw (Perda) because there has been no government regulation.

Another problem is that the levy of quarrying activity remains to be a district authority in accordance with Law No. 28/2009. “So, the government regulation on the authority should be soon issued and the Law No. 28 must also be updated,” he concluded.

In the meantime, Chief of the Bali Municipal Police, Made Sukadana, claimed to have stopped the unlicensed quarrying activities. As the case in Tabanan that claimed casualty, his institution has assigned a team to make coordination with the local municipal police officers.

“It has been stopped. By degrees, we will monitor it and summon again and then further operation must be equipped with a permit. This permit should get a recommendation from the regent.

Everything should refer to the spatial plan whether the area is intended for quarrying activities or not,” he affirmed.

Related to quarrying activities in Karangasem, Sukadana admitted to have conducted a study with local government. In essence, the Regulation Bylaw of Karangasem No. 17/2012 on regional spatial plan regulating that quarrying activities can only be carried out at the altitude of maximally 500 meters above sea level should be amended.

“He must revise first the regional bylaw related to the area allocated for quarrying activities. Then, the issues on the depth and height of the quarrying activities therein mentioned at 500 meters above sea level should be reviewed,” he said. (kmb32)

Monday, February 27, 2017

3

To anticipate damage, location of coral reef to be zoned

SINGARAJA - Potential of coral reef in the sea of Buleleng, particularly in Lovina, is great enough. However, behind it the vandalism acts still happen. To anticipate, the district government will assign the area to zones. It is also considered important to support the tourism sector.

A fishery extension officer (PPL) of Buleleng, Nyoman Kandra, revealed that the potential of coral reef in the sea of Buleleng from west to east region is quite large. In the area of Lovina, for instance, there are three points, namely at Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Segara Temple at Celuk Buluh. Each area spreads across of about five hectares. “The potential of coral reef in this area is quite large. It is not inferior to Pemuteran,” he said, not long ago.

Behind it, he added, the marine park frequently undergoes damages. One of the causes is fishing activity that uses non-eco-friendly equipment. Some pieces also get damaged due to stepped on. “So far, the damage remains to happen because of being trampled by fishermen when looking for fish,” he explained.

To anticipate, the district government plans to create an activity zone. Location of the coral reef will be fitted with a sign so as not to be entered by fishermen. This plan had already been coordinated with the environment agency. “As planned, it will be divided into zones.

No fishing activities will be allowed at the location of

coral reef as it will be conserved,” said Kandra.

Coral reef is not only important to keep marine ecosystem but also capable of supporting the tourism sector. Therefore, coastal communities are asked to participate in terms of preservation. “Supervision is also necessary to be done chiefly to those working in the tourism sector. This coral reef will be able to attract travelers,” he added.

In the meantime, group leader of the Catur Bhakti Karya Segara fishermen of Kalibukbuk, Putu Budista, stated that conservation of coral reef has been done long ago by society and the government. However, it is considered to have not been running optimally. Conservation plan coupled with determination of activity zone is considered to be highly appropriate measure to support the tourism sector. “We strongly support the plan and it is required a zoning,” he said.

According to him, the coral reef of Lovina is not inferior to Pemuteran. Later on, it can be used to support the dolphin attraction having become the main icon. “Now, some guests take snorkeling. If the zoning has been stipulated, it can become more crowded. More and more visitors will come to see dolphin attraction,” he said.

He added the potential of nature also needs to be continuously promoted so that it can be better developed. “Most visitors know it after getting information from friends. Relevant agencies should promote this.

Lovina has strategic location so that many visitors will get interested,” he said. (kmb45)

IBP/kmb

The potential of coral reef in the sea of Buleleng from west to east region is quite large. In the area of Lovina, for instance, there are three points.

2

Bali News

Monday, February 27, 2017

International

Bali to be threatened by water crisis

DAMAGE of forest, watersheds and others in the upstream region so far gets very minimal attention. Actually, the water resources are formed in the upstream region. In other words, the upstream region serves as reservoir where the water will be collected and stored. Nothing is wrong if then there is a warning that Bali will experience a water crisis in 2034.

“We just hurry after disaster occurs,” said Chief of the PPLH of Udayana University, Dr. I Made Sudarma. If the upstream region is damaged, added Sudarma, no water can be flowed in dry season. Likewise when it rains, water will

overflow in vain and even causes flood devastating the environment before the water finally returns to the sea. Actually, nature has given human water for free. However, human even thinks to make raw water from seawater with reverse osmosis technology.

“We are always thinking on technology, technology and technology. Actually, nature has been providing cheap technology so that we just need to preserve it,” he explained.

According to Sudarma, various sectors should have to start contributing to water survival. Likewise, the parties concerned with the problem in upstream region should begin to measure, monitor and even make the printout of the results of the water conservation efforts having been done.

IBP/file

The children must walk many kilometers juts to get water in Karanagsem. The similar water crisis coudl happen in other regencies in Bali.

“All this time, we never check whether the greening carried out by various parties has been able to increase the flow of water,” he added.

A lecturer of Agriculture and Climatology at the Udayana University, Dr. Ni Luh Kartini, said that surface water has been already deficit since 2009. However, only a few people fuss it because most of them use ground water. Unfortunately, the massive suction of ground water is also detrimental to Bali in the future.

“If the groundwater is taken continuously, there will be some possibilities. Firstly, it will result in subsidence.

Secondly, the seawater will come in to fill in the lakes, and thirdly, the spring will also get sucked. So, it will have great impact on the surface water when getting sucked and the surface water will not be able to rise to the surface. Its volume continues to shrink,” she explained.

Kartini added that Bali indeed has four lakes that supply clean water to all districts and municipality. However, the water quality of the lake today is not good. Almost all the lakes are experiencing erosion or silting. “Similarly, there is no waste treatment. For example, the water of Lake Buyan is murky so that it is impossible to be taken advantage for drinking water and the biota is gone,” she said.

Secretary of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, Ketut Kariyasa Adnyana, said there should be regulation clearly stipulating certain capacity that is not allowed to use again the underground water. But more importantly, Bali must make a blueprint so that the development will not become over capacity with limited natural resources.

“We should start how to save water resources, especially in the upstream region such as in lakes and rivers. Then, it must also be created a technology to keep the surface water such as rivers so as not to get wasted,” he said.

Kariyasa added that water must be used wisely. Therefore, the government needs to give more attention to rescue headwaters, especially the lakes that supply clean water. This PDI-P politician gave an example that Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan have been overgrown by many pistias as well as there are silting and conversion of vegetation.

“Conversion of vegetation from cash crops such as coffee to cabbage and mustard currently results in sedimentation and landslides. There should be a protection. To prevent the land conversion, there should be subsidy from the government, dredging and maintenance of the lakes,” he affirmed. (kmb32)

Optimism of Bali amid competition against 10-New Bali

DENPASAR - Bali remains to build optimism as a tourist destination in the world that is still counted even though central government is currently preparing a number of destinations in Indonesia labeled as 10-New Bali. The Island of the Gods is ready to compete by more intensifying promotion and improving the destinations at hand.

Similarly, it is also created new destinations by targeting 100 tourism villages until 2018.

“When talking about tourism, we must be optimistic. Responding to the new program of central government named as the 10-New Bali, surely Bali may not keep silent.

With the presence of the 10-New Bali, we should be more active,” said the Head of the Bali Tourism Office, A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra, in a special interview with the

Indonesia Network, Bali Post and BaliTV in Denpasar.

According to Yuniartha, tourist arrival to Bali in 2017 is targeted to reach 5.5 million. This target increased from last year coming to 4.4 million which eventually reached 4.9 million in 2016. His agency always makes coordination meeting with the district and municipal tourism office to increase destinations and promotion.

“Though Bali has been well known, it is inseparable from promotions. One of them is through information technology as it has been done by the ministry of tourism aside from aggressively promoting ‘Bali and Beyond’ overseas,” he explained.

Yuniartha added that Indonesian government cannot release the name of Bali because the

island has been well known around the globe. That is why the development of new destinations other than Bali still uses the term 10-New Bali. Inevitably, it is Bali that actually has the real tourist attraction. “Just like a kite, the kite is Bali, while the tail is the other regions,” he added.

In the face of competition against the 10-New Bali, Yuniartha admitted to develop environment-based tourism. It is done by opening tourism village considered to have great appeal.

The activities in the environment at tourism village are sold as attraction for travelers.

“Like in paddy field environment, we can make the attraction of planting or harvesting rice. Then, in plantations, we will take advantage of the coffee picking activities as

the attraction. In building a tourism village, we will highlight the culture at the village,” he explained.

Yuniartha explained that so far there are 67 tourism villages nurtured as new destinations.

His office targeted a total of 100 villages that could be developed until 2018. The presence of tourism village is also expected to alleviate poverty, reduce urbanization and promote economic growth at villages.

“These tourism villages are featured in the district/municipality to evenly distribute travelers so that they are not only focused on South Bali and congestion does not only happen here (South Bali—Ed).

However, we also synergize with public works agency in the matter of road infrastructure development,” he explained.

Infrastructural issues, added Yuniartha, currently become an obstacle amid the rising target of tourist visit every year. In 2019, central government even targets 20 million tourist arrivals to Indonesia where 40 percent of it is contributed by Bali. In the meantime, Bali is only supported by an international airport with single runway.

“The development of airport in North Bali and Denpasar-Singaraja toll road should be realized in the framework of tourist arrival distribution. The increase in travelers cannot only be attempted by government, but also by the involvement of stakeholders and community. We hope that people can maintain security because they will not be traveling to conflict areas,” he said. (kmb32)

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Activities

International

Monday, February 27, 2017

15

Superstar Signature

The Queen of Oxtail Soup and The King of Burger Every property should be have either 1 or 2 the best food or beverage as their signature.

Likewise with the hotel located on Sunset Road, the Fame Hotel Sunset Road, Kuta - Bali create Oxtail

Soup and Burger as The Queen and The King. So called because the taste of processed oxtail this one is very rich in spices complete with savory spicy Balinese certainly

WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS EVERY SATURDAY Meditation class by Mangku Budi Dharma 14-16:30 Bona, Blahbatuh meet at Ubud Cocomarket at 13:00 Saturday Market Oldman’s Cafe Canggu, Batu Bolong Beach, pottery fresh produce, clothing Sand Beach Club and Restaurant, Sanur Every second Saturday Biasa Art Space, Jl. Raya Seminyak 24, Seminyak, Fresh produce, potted plants, meat pie, sshie, coffee and more.

Every Saturday 9AM-2PM OrganIc Farmer’s Market Pizza Bagus (Jl. Pengosekan), Ubud EVERY SUNDAY Soul to soul spirituall dialogue Anand Ashram, Ubud Jl Sri Wedari KM 3 Mantra chanting 6-6:30pm Navaraha Arati 6:30-6:45pm Meditation, Satsang and celebration 6:45-8:30pm www.ubudashram.org SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

spoil the tongue. Uniquely, Fame-ous People, will find the Queen Oxtail Soup is served in yellow with Sambal Ijo as a te condiment.

The another “must try” me is The King of Burger. Unlike the burger in general, Fame Hotel

Sunset Road, Kuta - Bali offers juicy and crunchy flavor in every bite of meat covered with melted mozzarella cheese, guaranteed will make Fame-ous People forget the diet schedule.

Enjoy a blend of foods and beverages that interest Popcorn

Restaurant. With the Mad Yummy Discount, Fame-ous People can enjoy 25% cut off from every food and beverage consume.

Stay Famous People !!!

About Fame Hotel Sunset Road, Kuta – Bali Fame

Hotel Sunset Road, Kuta - Bali is a 2 star hotel managed by Parador Hotels & Resorts, is located at Jalan Sunset Road No. 9, Legian, Kuta - Bali. Has a concept of music and movies is situated in a strategic location in the center of Legian. Consisting of 90 rooms and equipped with a restaurant, two meeting rooms, a kids corner and pool, this hotel presents a different experience stay for guests.

Nostalgic feel very strong felt in every floor of the hotel from the ‘80s up to 2000 that has the tagline “Stay Famous” is. Services like a “superstar / celebrity” will be felt by the guests

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 41 9th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Monday, February 27, 2017

‘Batman v Superman,’ ‘Hillary’s America’ win Razzie ‘worst’ films

LOS ANGELES - Even the Razzie Awards are getting political.

A documentary criticizing U.S. Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton tied on Saturday with superhero ensemble “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” on a list of the year’s worst achievements in film, winning four Razzies apiece.

The annual tongue-in-cheek Razzie awards, which serve as an antidote to Hollywood’s Oscars ceremony, named Dinesh D’Souza’s “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party” as the worst film of 2016.

D’Souza, a conservative commentator and best-selling author, was named worst actor for narrating his documentary and worst

director alongside Bruce Schooley.

Worst actress went to the person who portrayed Clinton in the film.

“Hillary’s America” took in a modest $13 million at the North American box office last year.

The Razzies, or Golden Raspberry awards, follow a Hollywood awards season marked by outspoken speeches and protests against the policies and behavior of U.S.

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

Monday, February 27, 2017

Malaysia rolls out red carpet as Saudi king kicks off Asia tour

KUALA LUMPUR/DUBAI - Malaysia welcomed Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Sunday for the start of a rare, month-long Asian tour, where the monarch will build ties and seek to draw more investments to the oil-rich gulf nation.

President Donald Trump. The season culminates with Sunday’s Oscars ceremony.

“Batman v Superman” also won four Razzies, including worst screen combo for “Ben Affleck & His BFF (Baddest Foe Forever) Henry Cavill” and worst “remake, rip-off or sequel.”

The annual Razzie Redeemer Award went to veteran actordirector Mel Gibson. Gibson has been welcomed back into the folds of Hollywood with his war drama “Hacksaw Ridge” a decade after a drunken anti-Semitic rant made him an outcast. (rtr)

The visit is the first by a Saudi king to Malaysia in more than a decade, as the Arab nation courts Asian investors for the sale of a 5 percent stake in state firm Aramco in 2018, expected to be the world’s biggest IPO. Malaysian state television on Sunday showed live footage of the octogenarian king descending from his plane on an escalator flown in with his delegation. He was received

by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak before being whisked away in a heavily guarded convoy for a state ceremony at Malaysia’s parliament grounds. The leader was greeted in parliament with a 21-gun salute, local media reported.

King Salman also plans to visit Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, China, the Maldives and Jordan “to meet with the leaders of those countries to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern,” a royal court statement carried on Saudi Arabia’s

This image released

by Warner Bros.

Pictures shows Ben Affleck, left, and Henry Cavill in a scene from, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

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AP Photo/Vincent Thian

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, center, inspects an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Salman is on four-day official visit to Malaysia.

state media SPA reported.

Government sources with knowledge of the visit said a 600strong delegation will accompany the king on his four-day visit to Malaysia, where cooperation on energy developments will be on the agenda.

State oil firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Saudi Aramco will sign an agreement on Tuesday to collaborate in Malaysia’s Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project, a boost for the Southeast Asian economy which has been reeling under weak global oil prices.

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.