Edition Wednesday, December 27, 2017 | International Bali Post

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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Netflix aims to make ’Bright’ a living room blockbuster

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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

LOS ANGELES - Netflix Inc’s new movie “Bright” features the key ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster: an A-list actor, an experienced director, and special effects that light up the screen during shootouts and car chases. Very few cinemas, however, will be showing the fantasy thriller starring Will Smith when it debuts on Friday. Netflix will instead release the movie to the company’s 109 million streaming customers around the world to watch at home.

Although Netflix has released smaller, less expensive original films this way, “Bright” is more of a gamble. The movie, set in Los Angeles in a world where orcs, elves and other fantastic creatures co-exist with humans, cost more than $90 million to make, and it is the kind of rich, cinematic action movie traditionally generally considered best on the giant screen.

At the red-carpet premiere for “Bright” in Los Angeles, its star said he wondered how audiences would react to seeing the film on televisions or mobile devices.

“There’s an emotional overwhelming that happens when you watch something in a movie theater with 400 people, right?”

Smith said. He noted the film had production values as high as any of his other big movies, but asked: “Does it penetrate in the same way?”

Netflix argues that today’s internet-ready TVs and surround sound systems can provide a the-

ater-quality experience at home.

The company encourages filmmakers to consider using video technology called high dynamic range, which brightens images and makes details stand out, and the latest sound from Dolby Laboratories Inc. Both were used in “Bright.”

At a new production space and offices in Hollywood, Netflix employs a color scientist and other technical experts to help filmmakers incorporate innovations. The company began promoting “Bright” on the streaming service back in March, much earlier than usual.

Utilizing its extensive data about viewer tastes, it began showing movie trailers at that time to targeted subscribers. The promotions go only to customers who Netflix considers likely to enjoy the film based on their viewing history, Chris Jaffe, vice president of user interface innovation, told reporters earlier this month. The company’s computer algorithm

IBP/rtr

Bright is one of Netflix’s biggest gambits yet – a big-budget, fantasy thriller, with a major star (Will Smith), and now plans to release it in cinemas. looks at more than 100 factors to identify those subscribers, he said.

“Bright” will also be released initially in two theaters in the United States and 10 in Britain.

Most major chains have refused to show Netflix movies because of the company’s practice of releasing films at the same time online and

in theaters. Movies from traditional studios typically run exclusively in cinemas for about three months. It will be difficult to gauge if “Bright” is a hit, because Netflix does not disclose viewership data.

While the filmmakers might have liked a wider run in theaters for “Bright,” they were impressed

by Netflix’s ability to release the film simultaneously in homes around the world, producer Bryan Unkeless said. “Bright” will be subtitled in 26 languages and dubbed in nine of them. “The global scope that Netflix offers was a huge plus for us,” Unkeless said. (rtr) Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik via REUTERS

Facebook, Universal Music strike multi-year licensing deal

Facebook Inc and Universal Music Group on Thursday announced a global agreement that will enable users to upload videos featuring music from Universal’s library across the social media network as well as Instagram and Oculus. Through the agreement, which is Facebook’s first with a major record label, the social

media company will no longer have to require users to take down videos featuring music from Universal’s catalog due to copyright infringement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Facebook’s deal with Universal Music Group comes as the world’s largest social media site is making a

big push into video to keep users on its site and attract advertisers.

Earlier this year it launched its Watch video service, which features shows from the likes of Buzzfeed, Discovery Communications as well as some sports like Major League Baseball.

The partnership comes days after

Bloomberg reported that YouTube had signed a long-term agreement with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. (https:// bloom.bg/2yYCYPs) The licensing deal could help Facebook better compete with Alphabet Inc’s YouTube since music videos are the most popular category

on the site, said Brian Wieser, an analyst at Pivotal Research. “With this deal, Facebook has licensed content from the biggest player in the biggest genre of video on YouTube,” he said. The multi-year agreement with Universal will be expanded to include Facebook Messenger, Universal said. (rtr)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and governor of Tula region Alexei Dyumin take part in a gala match of the Night Hockey league at an ice rink in Red Square in Moscow, Russia December 22, 2017. Picture taken December 22, 2017.

Putin critic Navalny barred from Russian presidential election

MOSCOW - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred on Monday from running in next year’s presidential election after officials ruled he was ineligible to take part due to a suspended prison sentence he says was trumped up. The decision by the central election commission was widely expected as election officials had repeatedly declared Navalny would be ineligible to run. Twelve members of the 13-member commission voted to bar Navalny. One member abstained, citing a possible conflict of interest.

Navalny, 41, who polls show would struggle to beat incumbent Vladimir Putin in the March election, said he would appeal and called on his supporters to boycott the election and campaign

against it being held. “We knew this could happen, and so we have a straight-forward, clear plan,” Navalny said in a pre-recorded video released immediately after the decision.

“We announce a boycott of the election. The process in which we are called to participate is not a real election. It will feature only Putin and the candidates which he has personally selected.” Navalny said

he would use his campaign headquarters across Russia to support the boycott and monitor turnout on voting day, March 18.

Polls show Putin, 65, who has dominated Russia’s political landscape for the last 17 years, is on course to be comfortably re-elected, making him eligible to serve another six years until 2024, when he turns 72.

Allies laud Putin as a father-ofthe-nation figure who has restored

national pride and expanded Moscow’s global clout with interventions in Syria and Ukraine.

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

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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Bali News

International

Activities

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

15

On Christmas and New Year holiday

Ngurah Rai Airport filled with passengers

MANGUPURA — On Christmas and New Year holidays, Ngurah Rai Airport began to be crowded with passengers. Moreover, after the opening of the Christmas and New Year integrated hospitality desk on Monday (Dec. 18) until day one before Christmas or Sunday (Dec. 24), the number of passengers was recorded to reach 371,664 people by a total of 2,811 flights.

Legal Section Head of Ngurah Rai Airport, Arie Ahsanurrohim, said on Monday (Dec. 25), the data on day one before Christmas indicated the number of passengers arriving at Ngurah Rai Airport has increased.

Then, the number of domestic passengers showed an increase of 0.3 percent on the same day from 17,378 last year to 17,383 this year. However, the departures decreased -9.96 percent on the same day from 14,273 last year to 12,852 this year. The number of domestic flight arrivals increased by 11.82 percent on the same day from 110 flights in 2016 to 123 flights this year.

“In the meantime, the departure of flight this year also showed an increase, from 116 flights last year to 125 flights this year on the same day, with an increase of 7.76 percent,” he concluded.

For international flights, the arrival increased by 8.22 percent on the same day from 73 flights last year to 79 flights this year. Likewise, the departure also increased by 14.86 percent from 74 flights last year to 85 flights this year. Although the number of flights increased, there was a decrease in the number of passengers. Arrival passengers decreased by -2.15 percent on the same day from 14,588 passengers last year to 14,274 passengers this year. Likewise, the departure also showed a decrease in passengers by -1.40 percent on the same day from 9,042 passengers last year to

8,915 passengers this year.

The total flight traffic on day one before Christmas reached 412 and showed an increase of 10.46 percent compared to last year reaching 373 flights. Meanwhile, the number of passengers on day one before Christmas showed a decrease of -3.36 percent, from 55,281 passengers last year to 53,424 passengers this year.

Regarding the extra flight, there were seven arrival flights and seven departure flights.

In order to enliven the Christmas, Ngurah Rai Airport presents ‘Snowy Christmas.’ For this purpose, the management of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) changed the decoration of terminal with various Christmasthemed decorations. Decoration of the terminals with Christmas nuance including hanging decorations in the form of snowflakes, a series of pine spruce completed with bells to Christmas tree ornaments have been installed and enjoyed by passengers since early December. “On this celebration, we feature the concept of white Christmas on Tropical Island. There is large diorama of a snowy snowman and this becomes an interesting photo spot for passengers,” said Arie.

Peak of Christmas celebration at Ngurah Rai Airport was held on December 24-25, 2017. The passengers that would depart can enjoy a variety of exciting entertainment such as Saxophone Acoustic Band, choir group, magic games, facial painting and Santa & Santa Girl in action.

To complement the Snowy Christmas activities, passengers could also interact directly by participating in the interesting games such as Snowy Basketball as well as Play with Snowman. “We have been presenting thematic event consistently since 2013. This year, we especially dedicate to support the government programs in improving tourism,” he added. (kmb23)

IBP/kmb23

On Christmas and New Year holidays, Ngurah Rai Airport began to be crowded with passengers.

IBP/olo

Domestic tourist arrivals from Java to Bali through KetapangGilimanuk Harbor have showed an increase since the past week.

Domestic tourist visit on the rise

NEGARA — Domestic tourist arrivals from Java to Bali through Ketapang-Gilimanuk Harbor have showed an increase since the past week. As observation on this weekend, the vehicles from outside Bali coming into Bali also began to experience a surge.

From the production data of Christmas Transportation 2017 and New Year 2018, day one before the celebration or December 24 until December 25 from Ketapang to Gilimanuk Harbor, the vessels operating reached 33 units or rose 6 percent from 2016 that were only 31 units. The number of passengers amounted to 31,100 people or rose by 1 percent from last year reaching 30,894 people.

The number of motorcycles reached 2,240 units or downed 2 percent from last year that reached 2,288 units, car reached 4,669 units or increased by 4 percent from last year reaching 4,486 units.

Meanwhile, the number of passengers having been crossed from Ketapang Harbor from day seven until day one before the celebration amounted to 189,672 people or dropped 8 percent compared to last year reaching 206,159 people, 12,938 cars that fell by 22 percent from last year reaching 16,532 units and 30,129 units of car with a decrease of 4 percent from last year reaching 31,432 units.

Business Manager of Gilimanuk Harbor, Heru Wahyono, when asked for his confirmation said there has been an increase in passengers coming into Bali since entering school holidays. According to him, when compared to normal days, there has been an increase.

On normal days, there are averagely 18,000 passengers per day crossing from Ketapang Harbor to Gilimanuk Harbor.

According to him, the increase mostly occurs in private cars and

buses. Until now, the traffic remains smooth and there is no accumulation and queue in Ketapang.

However, the queue is predicted to happen in the backflow later on.

In the meantime, the data of ASDP indicate the number of passengers departing through Gilimanuk Harbor from day seven until day one before the celebration reached 177,804 people or fell 0.2 percent compared to last year reaching 178,175 people, 14,085 motorcycles or an increase of 7 percent from last year reaching 13,777 units and 27,764 cars or dropped 0.1 percent from last year reaching 27,797 units.

Tightened

To anticipate unwanted things, the ranks of Jembrana Police have increased the number of personnel deployed at the entrance of western Bali from Saturday (Dec. 23).

By and large, they only assign 30 personnel but now more than 100 personnel each day including the deployment of long-barreled armed forces from Detachment C Mobile Brigade of Bali Police.

Chief of Jembrana Police, Priyanto Priyo Hutomo, said that security upgrades at Gilimanuk Harbor are conducted in order to more thoroughly supervise the traffic of vehicles, people and goods entering Bali as well as those coming out of Bali. This is to anticipate the entry of hazardous substances such as drugs and explosives that can disrupt the security during Christmas and New Year holidays in Bali.

He also added that tightening of the security both at entry and exit gates of Bali is expected to prevent the escape of criminals and hazardous materials such as explosives that can disrupt the security when residents are celebrating Christmas and New Year holidays. (kmb26)

 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

Desa Visesa Ubud Is Bali Leading Green Resort 2017/18

Desa Visesa Ubud was named Bali Leading Green Resort by the ITTA Foundation at the Bali Tourism Awards 2017/18. This year’s award featured an extraordinary list of travel brands across the Indonesian tourism industry with outstanding quality and creativity of entries. The winners were voted online with 51,000++ votes from 15 countries. Organized by the ITTA Foundation since 2015,

Bali Tourism Awards celebrates the achievements of the entire tourism and hospitality industry in Bali. Located in a scenic area said to have a unique holistic energy, Visesa Ubud is a sanctuary exuding stillness and balance, a sacred place where traditional Balinese ceremonies and daily life are still very much celebrated.

Visesa Ubud boasts 106 villas and suites and exudes the many charms and healing ambient of Ubud from

its generous 6.5-hectare site.

Desa Visesa Ubud is a culturally inspired property designed to capture the essence of a Balinese village and satisfy curiosity about daily life on the island. The resort provides a unique opportunity to connect with a wealth of Balinese rituals and heritage. Honoring past traditions, Visesa offers a brand new level of luxury with soul.

Located in a scenic area said

to have a unique holistic energy, Visesa Ubud is a resort of choice for meditation, spiritual retreats and healing senses. Privileged sanctuary exuding stillness and balance, Visesa is a sacred place where traditional Balinese ceremonies and real daily life are celebrated.

Offerings and prayers converging towards the resort majestic temple pervade the entire property with an atmosphere of spiritual harmony.

The 66 villas and 40 suites of the Visesa Ubud radiate the charm and soothing ambience of the surrounding countryside. On a generous 6.5 hectare site with rice fields on the room doorsteps, the resort aims at retaining Ubud reputation as a privileged place to reboot mind, spirit and body for an entire new generation of Bali visitors.Banjar Bentuyung Sakti, Jalan Suweta, Ubud Bali | Ph: +62 361 209 1788 | www.visesaubud.com

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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Technology

International

Bali News

International

3

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Emergency response revoked

Parliament asks govt to still help refugees

REUTERS/Boom Supersonic Handout via REUTERS

An artist’s impression shows Boom’s 55-seat supersonic aircraft (below) and Boom’s XB-1 supersonic demonstrator in this undated handout obtained by Reuters December 4, 2017.

Sonic boom or bust?

Dreams of super-fast jet travel revival face headwinds

Supersonic passenger travel, which died out with the Concorde’s demise in 2003, will make a comeback by the mid-2020s if three entrepreneurial U.S.-based companies can make jets quiet and efficient enough to win over buyers and fliers.

Fifteen years ago, Boeing Co cancelled plans to build the near-supersonic Sonic Cruiser, the last big attempt by a major manufacturer to speed up commercial travel.

Now Japan Airlines Co Ltd and Virgin Group are backing one of the three U.S. supersonic projects, Denver-based Boom Technology Inc, which plans a 55-seat all business class jet.

Lockheed Martin Corp is partnering with Aerion Corp to develop smaller supersonic business jets, with Spike Aerospace Inc also targeting the private jet market given many see the super-rich as the likeliest early adopters of supersonic travel.

Concorde was developed in the 1960s, meaning this is hardly a new technology. But the programme was government-backed, with only 14 jets ever delivered to then-government owned British Airways and Air France. Other airline orders evaporated as the purchase price soared and they were eventually retired as maintenance costs rose and passenger revenue fell.

New players are relying on venture capital funding models.

“This is more about engines and economics than it is about airframes,” Richard Aboulafia, the vice president of analysis at aerospace research firm Teal Group, said of the challenges of a supersonic revival.

To make the project economics stack up the engines need to be far more fuel efficient and less noisy than those used by Concorde or fighter jets.

That has proven tough to engineer, especially at higher speeds like the Concorde’s Mach 2, which halved the travel time from London to New York to 3.5 hours.

‘REALISTIC PROJECT’

Engine manufacturers and jet makers have spent decades improving fuel efficiency, expanding range and reducing noise.

But to get up to mach speed, a supersonic jet requires an engine core more like those on the commercial jets of the 1970s and 1980s which noisily gobble more air and fuel.

“A large fraction of the benefits we have in efficiency and noise reduction we are going to lose as soon as we have to go back to that sort of architecture,” said Daniel EdgingtonMitchell, an aerospace engineering lecturer at Melbourne’s Monash University.

Aerion, the most advanced of the proposed supersonic jet projects, is working with GE Aviation to develop an engine based on a core used in F-16 fighters and Boeing 737s that was developed in the 1970s, a GE spokesman said.

In a sign of the challenges involved using an older engine core rather than spending $1 billion-plus to engineer a new one, Aerion has reduced the jet’s planned speed from Mach 1.6 to 1.4.

Today’s top business jets fly at around Mach 0.9 and commercial jets at Mach 0.85.

Jeff Miller, Aerion’s head of marketing, said the speed had fallen to meet noise standards and due to temperature limits involved with adapting an existing engine core.

Aerion, chaired by billionaire businessman Robert Bass, plans for the 12-seat, $120 million jet to make its first test flight in 2023, with entry into service in 2025.

“Aerion has researched the problems since 2003 and therefore reached the highest degree of realism,” Leeham Co analyst Bjorn Fehrm said, comparing it to the loftier supersonic ambitions of Boom and Spike. “If one wants to go faster, a suitable core is harder to find.”

FASTER IS BETTER

Boom wants a $200 million jet capable of Mach 2.2 and Spike aims for a $100 million jet at Mach 1.6, down from an earlier Mach 1.8.

Both want their jets to enter service in 2023, two years earlier than Aerion.

Several industry sources said those timelines appeared unrealistic because the companies have yet to select engines and

will face testing and certification challenges.

Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said the company was examining an adaptation of an existing engine as well as a clean-sheet option, with more to say next year. Spike CEO Vik Kachoria said his company was in talks with two engine suppliers. Both are working on smaller demonstrator aircraft with different engines designed to prove the concept is achievable within their proposed timeframes.

Engine maker Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC said it was interested in supersonic work. United Technologies Corp’s Pratt & Whitney division said it was “not currently” working with Boom and did not respond to a question on Spike, while GE did not provide comment on either project.

Scholl said airlines need a speed of at least Mach 2 to make the supersonic business case stake up because that would shave one day off a trans-Atlantic itinerary and two days off transPacific trips. For now, only over-water itineraries are under consideration due to widespread bans on civilian supersonic flights over land.

“Faster speeds not only are better for passengers, they are better for airlines, who get to turn the plane around and fly more segments in the same day, possibly even with the same crew,” Scholl said.

Japan Airlines and Virgin Group, which declined to comment, have a combined 30 options over Boom jets, with three other as-yet-unnamed customers signed on for another 46.

Former British Airways chief Concorde pilot Mike Bannister said the biggest hurdle for Boom was to develop jets at a price that would stack up for airlines, or early orders would evaporate as they had with Concorde.

“The technical challenges, whilst great, are surmountable,” said Bannister, who was the captain of the last-ever commercial Concorde flight and has advised Boom’s team.

“It is an absolute delight to be able to see on the horizon the prospect of another supersonic airliner, particularly for my family because my daughter who is 24 is a commercial pilot. I would love to see my daughter flying it.” (rtr)

DENPASAR — The emergency response status of Mount Agung disaster has been revoked. However, the rights of refugees from disasterprone areas (KRB) should still be given. Aside from the matter of rice and side dishes, the ease for health treatment and the opportunity to continue their school should still be given.

“So, their rights may not get disturbed. The status is revoked but refugees still get their rights from the government,” said Chairman of Commission IV of the Bali House of Representatives, Nyoman Parta, when asked for his confirmation on Saturday (Dec. 23).

Similar opinion was submitted by a member of Commission I of the Bali House of Representatives from Karangasem electoral district, I Nyoman Oka Antara. The assistance to the Mount Agung refugees must continuously be given though the emergency response status has been revoked considering that Mount Agung remains at level IV or warning so that it is impossible for refugees to return home. Besides, they are not able to work maximally as in normal circumstances.

“The assistance remains to be provided until the alert level is back to normal. On the other hand, the president’s policy (revoking emergency response status—Ed) is very good. Thus, foreign guests are no longer afraid to go to Bali.

It means if the tourism is normal, automatically the economy of Bali is not paralyzed,” added this PDI-P politician.

According to Oka Antara, probably there will be more ‘victims’ if the president does not issue a policy to revoke the emergency response status considering the majority of Balinese people are working in tourism sector. If tourists do not dare to come to Bali because of emergency disaster response status, the layoff will happen everywhere.

“They can lose their jobs, the unemployment will increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nengah Tamba, said the government needs to think about short-, mid- and longterm plans related to the refugee handlings because no one can make sure how long the eruption of Mount Agung will last. When president decides to revoke the emergency response status of the disaster, surely the risk has also been considered.

“If president has stated so, we cannot do anything. Of course, president has considered the risk.

Now, do not just think about logistics issues (clothing and food—Ed), the most important thing is how to

recover the refugee mentality,” said this Democratic politician.

After getting a funding worth IDR 100 billion from central government, Tamba requested that the funds will not only be used for tourism promotion purposes but also for coping with the losses that may be experienced by tourists if the airport is closed again. According to him, tourists should be given good services when to be diverted to alternative harbor or airport.

“Yesterday, there was an incident where tourists were dropped off as such at Gilimanuk with three big suitcases in tired conditions.

They had to carry the suitcase to a ferry. This is a small thing, but has something to do with humanity. We should think about this. Other than giving discounts, they must also be provided with good treatment while on the journey,” explained this politician from Jembrana.

Tamba added that tourism promotion is not only done in the country. However, it must also involve travel journalists around the world or large travel agencies. They can be invited to come to Bali to see the real condition of Mount Agung.

Though the eruption happens, it can still become a tourist attraction when viewed from a safe radius. In addition, Bali also needs to think about the international cruise ship harbor as an alternative route for tourist who comes by sea other than by air.

As previously reported, the emergency response status of Mount Agung has been revoked according to the result of limited working meeting of president, vice president, and his ministers in Werdhapura, Sanur, on Friday night (Dec. 22). However, Mount Agung remains in warning alert level (level IV). This policy is taken to show off to the world that Bali is safe and ready to receive foreign tourists. Bali is even disbursed with fund worth IDR 100 billion for tourism promotion on a large scale for a quarter. (kmb32)

Nyoman Parta

IBP/kmb

IBP/kmb

Large-sized Trans Sarbagita bus with capacity of 55 passengers will soon be changed into medium-sized bus with 35 passengers.

Trans Sarbagita buses reduced to ten units from January 1

DENPASAR — Large-sized Trans Sarbagita bus with capacity of 55 passengers will soon be changed into medium-sized bus with 35 passengers. The number will be reduced as well from 25 units to 10 units only. This policy is scheduled to come into force as of January 1, 2018.

“The buses are now in the office. Police plate, registration and roadworthy certificate have been issued and all the Trans Sarbagita buses will be replaced with 10 units of new buses,” said the Head of the Bali Transportation Agency, IGA Sudarsana, when confirmed on Monday (Dec. 25).

Currently, added Sudarsana, there are 15 units of large-sized buses operated in Corridor II serving Batu Bulan - Nusa Dua route. Furthermore, all the buses will be replaced with five units of medium-sized bus.

Then, in Corridor I serving Denpasar City-GWK route having operated 10 units of medium-sized bus will be

replaced with five units of new buses of the same size.

This efficiency effort is estimated to save the budget worth up to IDR 11 billion from the previous ones of IDR 17 billion. “Later on, the corridor I will be temporarily served to Udayana, while for the route to GWK in 2018 will be temporarily stopped while the studies are being done,” he added.

Sudarsana added the buses will be operated from 06:00 until 20:00 Local Time, while at this time, they remain to depart at 05:00 and end at 21:00 Local Time.

When separately confirmed, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, I.B. Gede Udiyana, said that ideally Trans Sarbagita operation is timely, safe, convenient and cheap. Therefore, he agreed with the evaluation results from the Transportation Agency as long as the routes to be served should be clear, too.

“Whatever to be decided by the transportation agency must pass through an in-depth study, the evaluation may not even result in problems,” he said. (kmb32)

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Bali News

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Passenger increase occurs on December 16-24

DENPASAR — Based on the air traffic statistics of the Ngurah Rai International Airport, there was a surge of passengers. From December 18 to December 24, 2017, international passenger arrivals are moving up starting from 10,605 people, 12,346 people, 12,385 people, 13,679 people, 12,346 people, 15,000 people and 14,274 people.

Although the Mount Agung erupted again on Sunday (Dec. 24), the international flight arrived at the Ngurah Rai Airport was quite a lot amounting to 79 flights, while the number of arrival passengers reached 14,274 passengers. The number of domestic arrivals from December 18 to December 24, 2017 also moved up. They amounted to 12,614 people, 14,132 people, 15,366 people, 15,117 people, 17,122 people, 17,978 people and 17,383 people.

The number of international flight arrivals increased by 8.22 percent from last year (2016) only reaching 73 flights while the number of passengers decreased 2.15 percent compared to the previous year reaching 14,588. In the meantime, the number of domestic arrival flights increased by 11.82 percent compared to last year reaching 110 flights. Domestic passengers rose 0.03 percent compared to last year reaching 17,378 people.

Significant increase in traffic began to be seen on December 16 that reached 11,986 passengers. Meanwhile, earlier on December 15, the arrival of passengers only reached 5,976 people. The visit was dominated by Australian citizens.

Head of the Bali Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD), Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, said that although the number of domestic arrivals is more than international ones, they are not necessarily all tourists. “Even if they are tourists, they probably do not stay at hotel,” he said on Monday (Dec. 25). Conversely, the domestic visits using overland transportation modes are not recorded yet.

Head of the Bali Tourism Office, A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra, said that foreign tourist visit reaching around 14,000 people is a remarkable increase since the closing of the airport on November 27, 2017. The amount of 14,000 more does not even include Chinese airlines that have not flown yet to Bali.

Before the eruption of Mount Agung, the average arrival of foreign tourists to Bali approximately reached 15,000. “So, this is a great increase regarding the arrival of foreign tourists to Bali,” he said. In the meantime, the most foreign citizens making a visit to Bali cannot be ascertained. “The data by country of origin can only be known at the end of the month,” he added. (kmb42)

A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra

IBP/kmb

13

Smoke rises from a burning building in Jecheon, South Korea, December 21, 2017.

IBP/kmb

The tug of war in mud organized at East Duda village, Selat, went smoothly even though the village belongs to disaster-prone area (KRB) located within 11 km from the peak of Mount Agung.

Mount Agung erupts, tug of war in mud continues

AMLAPURA - Mount Agung spewed volcanic ashes again begun with eruption on Sunday (Dec. 24) around 10:05. Similar to previous eruptions, the eruption did not affect the activities of Karangasem community. The tug of war in mud organized at East Duda village, Selat, went smoothly even though the village belongs to disaster-prone area (KRB) located within 11 km from the peak of Mount Agung.

Such tug of war in mud is a regular activity in East Duda village.

The competition is held at Subak Pesangkan paddy field, on the edge of Jalan Gajah Mada, a new bypass road in East Duda. This year’s contest is also filled with a pillow fight contest in the mud held in as series of celebrating the anniversary of East Duda village.

The eruption spewing bursts of volcanic ashes as high as 3,000 meters virtually did not affect the course of the contest. Conversely, the residents thronging the venue precisely even seriously immortalized such rare moment with their camera phone. After that, this year’s contest inaugurated by Regent of Karangasem, IGA Mas Sumatri, still continued. Though being hit by drizzles at that early morning, it did not discourage participants to win.

Mas Sumatri appreciated to the spirit showed by residents of the East Duda even though they are in a concerned condition. According to her, the tug of war in mud attrac-

tion is also evidence that Bali and Karangasem are still safe to be visited. The prone and warning areas are those located within the radius of 10 km. “At the same time, this activity proves that Karangasem is still safe, so it remains worth visiting,” she said Mas Sumatri hoped the residents in the safe radius can do their activities as usual. Meanwhile, those in the red zone should follow the government’s appeal to evacuate.

“We have prepared logistics and other standard needs,” she said.

The tug of war in mud contest was followed 18 male and female teams from nine hamlets across East Duda. “The tug of war contest has been held for several times. The anniversary of our village falls on July 27, but we celebrate it at the end of the year when starting our planting season,” said headman of East Duda, I Gede Pawana.

Pawana said that his village belongs to KRB I. At the first warning alert status, East Duda residents already fled to Paksebali, Klung-

kung. However, currently they do not evacuate because the village is outside the radius of 10 km.

This chief of Mount Agung Security Brotherhood stated the current contest is very special.

Other than happening amid the shadow of Mount Agung eruption, the contest was also attended

by Regent of Karangasem, Mas Sumatri and CEO of Bank BNI for Bali, NTB and NTT Region, Putu B. Kresna. This event is also special as it becomes a campaign that Karangasem is safe.

Meanwhile, Division Head of Easter Region Volcano, Devy Kamil Syahbana, admitted that Mount Agung erupted on Saturday at 10:05. The eruption lasted for 115 seconds. In addition, it was also followed by tremor with amplitude of 1-4 mm and dominance of 1 mm. In the meantime, all day long on Monday, the information from Magma-VAR stated there is just a blast. Mount Agung remains in level IV (warning) with a radius of 8 - 10 km. (kmb)

Yonhap via REUTERS

Building owner, manager arrested in South Korean fire that killed 29

SEOUL - South Korean police have arrested the owner and the manager of a building where 29 people died in a fire last week, accusing the pair of multiple safety lapses, including blocked exits and malfunctioning sprinkler systems.

On Thursday, a fire ripped through an eight-story high-rise in the small city of Jecheon. At least 20 of the victims were women who were overcome by toxic fumes in a secondfloor sauna.

Jecheon police have only identified the owner by his last name of Lee, and the manager by his last name of Kim. Both men are in custody in Jecheon after being arrested on Sunday, police announced on Tuesday.

Lee faces two charges of violating fire safety regulations and committing involuntary homicide by professional negligence, while Kim

also faces the involuntary homicide charge.

If convicted of involuntary homicide, Lee and Kim could face up to five years in prison or 20 million won ($16,000) in fines.

“The sprinkler system on the building’s first floor did not work properly when the fire erupted,” a police detective, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak on an ongoing investigation, told Reuters. “If the sprinkler system worked, the fire probably would not have spread as fast as it did.”

Police said on Tuesday that Lee has retained a lawyer but declined

to name the lawyer or firm. Police said Kim has not yet hired a lawyer.

Photos released by the Yonhap news agency showed a smokestained stairwell and a fire exit filled with shelves and supplies on the second floor, where most of the deaths occurred.

“The emergency exit on the building’s second floor was blocked by iron shelves and other miscellaneous items,” the detective confirmed.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the conflagration.

According to police, both Kim and Lee had denied reports they were trying to remove ice on the ceiling

of the first floor, where the fire appeared to have originated, but later changed their statements after police confronted them with evidence.

The Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday that Lee had at one point told police he did not alert the women in the sauna because they were undressed, however, the police detective told Reuters he could not confirm that as investigations were ongoing.

Anger mounted over the weekend at reports of shoddy construction, broken doors, blocked roads and other problems that may have contributed to the deaths.

A number of cars parked along the narrow roads around the building impeded the ability of firefighters to reach the fire, an official with the

Jecheon fire department told Reuters, but noted that none of the parked vehicles appeared to have violated parking rules.

“Although vehicles can park there legally, it was quite difficult for fire trucks to go through to get to the scene, because the road was too narrow,” said the fire official, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak publicly.

Visiting the scene on Friday, President Moon Jae-in promised a full investigation.

“The government as a whole will thoroughly probe this accident’s cause and process of response, and although after the fact, the investigation and measures will be such that, at least, there will not be lingering deep sorrow,” he said. (rtr)

Vietnam escapes damage after typhoon takes heavy toll in Philippines HANOI - A storm that battered the Philippines killing more than 230 people in floods and landslides lost its power on Tuesday as it passed over Vietnam where hundreds of thousands had taken cover.

Vietnam, like the Philippines, is regularly battered by typhoons that form over the warm waters of the Pacific and barrel westwards

into land.

The storm entered Vietnamese water but weakened to a tropical depression and did not cause any casualties, the disaster prevention committee said.

The government had ordered that oil rigs and vessels be protected and it warned that about 62,000 fishing boats should not venture out to sea. (rtr)

Reuters/Erik De Castro

The remains of a passenger boat capsized during a typhoon last month is pictured overlooking passenger boats near the shore after all ferry service were cancelled, a day after a Philippine vessel was capsized because of bad weather in Infanta, Quezon in the Philippines, December 22, 2017.

12

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

BUSINESS Japan’s record FY2018 budget puts fiscal discipline in doubt

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet endorsed a record $860 billion budget for fiscal 2018 on Friday, opting to keep the economy on a sustained recovery with aggressive monetary stimulus and putting fiscal reforms on the back burner again. The general-account budget spending for the next fiscal year starting April will total 97.7 trillion yen ($860 billion), the biggest amount ever and slightly more than this year’s initial plan to spend 97.5 trillion yen, the Ministry of Finance said.

The budget - a record high for the sixth year - got a boost from snowballing welfare spending to respond to a fast-ageing population and a record military outlay amid regional tensions related to North Korea. The demands strain the heaviest public debt burden in the industrialised world. Failure to curb budget spending has cast doubt on Abe’s will to back fiscal reform. His administration is counting on growth to boost tax revenue and reduce new borrowing, and on the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) lowrate policy to curb the high cost of servicing mammoth public debt.

“Abe’s fiscal reform relies heavily on economic recovery and optimistic tax revenue estimates,” said Masaki Kuwahara, senior economist at Nomura Securities.

“I don’t see a strong determination to resolve public debt from this budget.”

Tax revenue for 2018/19 is estimated at 59.1 trillion yen, the highest since fiscal year 1991 during the asset bubble era, assuming the government’s rosy projections for real 1.8 percent and nominal 2.5 percent growth next fiscal year.

Hefty tax revenue allows for

reductions in new bond issuance to 33.7 trillion yen, bringing the debt dependency ratio to 34.5 percent - way higher than other advanced peers.

The government will spend 23.3 trillion yen for debt-servicing - roughly a quarter of the overall budget - even as it keeps assumed interest rates at a record low of 1.1 percent due to the central bank’s negative rate policy.

GROWTH, FISCAL REFORM Finance Minister Taro Aso said this budget should help revive the economy and achieve fiscal reform at the same time, with some spending focused on boosting productivity and investing in human capital.

While some economists say the budget won’t have much impact on near-term growth, others see the spending plan as unsustainable.

“There’s a risk the economy may decelerate in coming years, which is a source of concern as that would dent tax revenue,” said Takuya Hoshino, economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

On top of next year’s budget, Abe’s cabinet approved on Friday an extra budget for this fiscal year,

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

A mannequin is displayed in a shop window of a department store at a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan August 21, 2017. with additional spending of 2.7 trillion yen and extra bond issuance of 1.2 trillion yen, underlining his expansionary fiscal stance.

To strengthen Japan’s fiscal structure, analysts urge Abe to streamline welfare spending. They call for a credible fiscal plan, as Abe has shelved the 2020/21 budgetbalancing goal, with a pledge to

Bitcoin rises 10 pct, recovers from last week’s brutal selloff SINGAPORE/TOKYO - Bitcoin extended its recovery in holiday-thinned trading on Tuesday, rising 10 percent to be up more than a third from last week’s lows of below $12,000.

Bitcoin, the world’s biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, fell nearly 30 percent at one stage

on Friday to $11,159.93 and, despite a late recovery, had its worst week since 2013. At 0445 GMT on Tuesday, it was quoted around $15,049 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange.

The digital currency had risen around twentyfold since the start of the year, climbing from less

than $1,000 to as high as $19,666 on Dec. 17 on Bitstamp and to over $20,000 on other exchanges. But it has posted heavy declines since.

While bitcoin investors and analysts believe the decline in its value was a natural correction after a heady run-up in prices, there have been further warnings

create a social welfare system for all generations.

Social security spending, the budget’s biggest item, will rise 500 billion yen to a record 33 trillion yen next fiscal year, in line with the government’s mid-term fiscal plan to limit rises in welfare outlays to 500 billion yen a year.

“Without a credible fiscal plan,

Japan will lose market confidence in the medium to long term,” said Hidenori Suezawa, financial market and fiscal analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities. “It’s time to shift towards fiscal consolidation before the BOJ exits stimulus. Japan should be able to assure markets that it can manage debt without relying on the BOJ,” he said. (rtr)

from market regulators and central banks.

“There is no right current price which would reflect the right current valuation,” said Andrei Popescu, Singapore-based co-founder of COSS, which describes itself as a platform that encompasses all features of a digital economy based on cryptocurrency.

“Taking profit is right, while buying into a long term projection is also right. You don’t have to be right in this market, just less wrong than the rest,” Popescu said.

Shmuel Hauser, the chairman of the Israel Securities Authority, said on Monday he will propose regulation to ban companies based

on bitcoin and other digital currencies from trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Singapore’s central bank last week issued a warning against investment in cryptocurrencies, saying it considers the recent surge in their prices to be driven by speculation and that the risk of a sharp fall in prices is high.

Prices of rival cryptocurrencies, which slid along with bitcoin last week, have also recovered, with Ethereum, the second-biggest cryptocurrency by market size, quoted around $771, up from Sunday’s low of $689 but still far from highs around $900 hit last week. (rtr)

Bali News

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

5

Traditional Games, an Application of Hindu Teachings

Traditional games look very simple. They always dwell on nature and get very close to the habits existing in the local social environment. This type of game seems to have no limit because almost all places can be used as a playground. This ancient game has many benefits such as learning sportsmanship, honesty, discipline and respect.

These values ??thrive because they always make dissemination to friends in the environment becoming their natural playground.

Accepting defeat and recognizing the opponent’s victory in the game is an example of a sportsmanlike attitude. In addition to training physical endurance, the traditional games are also to hone the intelligence because when playing the children must be able to set the strategy.

Rector of the State Hindu Dharma Institute (IHDN) Denpasar, Prof.

Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said that traditional games in Bali can become a medium for dissemination.

In the games, they will always invite others as a reflection of cooperation. “In the game, there is a lesson for mutual respect and apologies if something goes wrong and rewards when someone wins,” he said.

IGN-Sudiana The games also have very positive influence because it forces the children to be creative as they also demand higher creativity. Such activity can also increase self-confidence because there are elements to train communication. Children as players of the game become more confident and democratic. “When determining a leader or punishment for the offending child, they do by agreement,” added Sudiana.

Besides, said this Chairman of Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali, traditional

games are also part of the application of Hindu teachings such as philosophy (tattva), karmic law, tat tvam asi (You are that (God)) and Tri Kaya Parisudha. “When viewed from an educational perspective, people learn from nature.

Meanwhile, if learning from cultural theories, people learn from others and the environment,” he explained.

When playing, they always make others happy, in addition to make them happy. In Sundaram’s teachings meaning beauty it will be able to make others happy and peaceful. It is also the teaching of yadnya (sincere sacrifice). Peacefulness makes them not quarrel, fight but strengthen friendship.

Moreover, the teachings of Karmic law limit them from doing arbitrarily. They realize if doing wrong and doing not good, they will get punishment from friends according to mutual agreement. Therefore a child will not dare to hurt his friend.

Because, if he is hurt will also feel the same. It is in accordance with the teaching of tat tvam asi.

The real application of Hinduism is the Tri Kaya Parisuda teaching, meaning think good, say good and do goodness. After performing the games, they uphold the values ??of honesty, though not told before. “It happens due to the influence of creative culture of children’s minds, especially through religious teaching,” he added.

IBP/kmb

According to Prof. Sudiana, traditional games in Bali are inspired by the teachings of Hinduism interpreted innocently by children.

The games can be inspired by ritual activities, and so can the games into activity. For example, a ritual activity of sesuwunan (sanctified effigies) can then become a game such as in the mebarong-barongan (barong-

like game), and mengunying-ngunyingan. On the contrary, a game can become a ritual procession, like the making of barong bangkung (boar) that can become sesuwunan because it passes through trance process.

Nevertheless, playing traditional games is not a form of offering, but an activity to fulfill the desire to interact with other children, relieve

stress and saturation as well as grow creativity. More importantly, children can learn in their own environment. “Children of the past made the natural surroundings into a medium of their game. Certainly it is from the results of their creativity, not consumptive like many children do in the current era,” he explained. (kmb)

Forty Types of Medicine Prepared at Tamba Waras Temple

Various strange and mystical incidents occurred at this temple.

However, not all people have the capability of experiencing them.

Probably, only ‘selected’ people can experience this spiritual sensation.

The Tamba Waras Temple or commonly known as the Tambo Waras holds its pujawali or festival every six months namely on Buda Umanis Perangbakat. At that time, many pilgrims come here to say prayers.

Nowadays, they are not only coming from Bali but also from outside Bali.

It is surely meant to invoke safety. There are two types of medicine

provided here, one medicine to be drunk and another to be scrubbed at location of the pain. Actually, there are approximately 40 types of medicine made in this temple area.

Location of the medicine making is called Bale Asep in the form of kitchen. One of the medicines produced at this temple is juuk linglang.

There is a mythical story accompanying the making of this medicine. It is said that in 2005, when an ngenteg linggih ritual was held, there was an offering maker who encountered a juwuk linglang or tangerine. It was then halved, strangely it exuded fire.

This tangerine was then mixed with some elements of fruit, herbs and oils.

Besides, there is a medicine known as manik sekecap made from honey bees. The honey is not taken from anywhere but from the chamber shrine where the bees make their nests. Likewise, there is lungsir pancawarna or multicolored sea snail. People who suffer from diseases of the eye, this medicine can be invoked at the Batu Coblong spring shrine. Another shrine is called swine shrine where people can invoke medicine for their livestock. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

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International

RLD

Liberians head to the polls in historic, delayed election

MONROVIA - Liberia went to the polls on Tuesday for a presidential election that voters hope will mark the country’s first democratic transfer of power in over seven decades, despite it being tarnished by allegations of fraud.

Former world footballer of the year George Weah is squaring up against vice president Joseph Boakai, with both men promising a break with a heritage of poverty and corruption in a country where most citizens have no reliable electricity or clean drinking water.

They are bidding to succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a run-off vote delayed for over a month after Boakai and third-placed Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party alleged widespread fraud in October’s first-round vote, a challenge that the Supreme Court rejected this month.

There were no early reports of violence as voting proceeded under sunny skies in the capital Monrovia, with polling stations opening at 0800 GMT and election agents telling Reuters first indications pointed to a lower turnout than in the first round.

“It is great day for Liberia - a test day for democracy,” said Boakai after casting his vote in Paynesville. “We will accept the results provided they meet all the standards.”

Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year rule cemented peace in the West African country after civil war ended in 2003, and

brought in much needed aid.

But critics, including much of the country’s youth, say her administration was marred by corruption and that she did little to raise most Liberians out of dire poverty.

Liberia was also racked by the Ebola crisis, which killed thousands in the country between 2014 and 2016, while a drop in iron ore prices since 2014 has dented export revenues.

Tuesday’s poll follows a month of political tensions fuelled by claims that the first-round poll was rigged in Weah’s favour.

Weah, world footballer of the year in 1995, won with 38 percent versus Boakai’s 29 percent.

“I voted George Weah because I believe that he will do better for me and my country. I want change,” said Miama Kamara, a 32-year-old businesswoman, before casting her ballot in the capital.

Boakai’s ruling Unity Party had accused Johnson Sirleaf, who is herself a member of the party, of interfering in the October vote by holding private meetings with election magistrates.

Boakai has found it harder to convince voters that he will bring change, given that he worked alongside Johnson Sirleaf for 12 years. Weah, by contrast, has won the hearts of mostly young Liberians through his star performances for Europe’s biggest football teams in the 1990s. (rtr)

REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

Former Liberian warlord and head of the National Union for Democratic Progress Prince Johnson, who supports George Weah, former soccer player and presidential candidate of Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), delivers a speech during the CDC presidential campaign rally at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, Liberia, December 23, 2017.

Putin critic...

From page 1

Navalny says Putin’s support is exaggerated and artificially maintained by a biased state media and an unfair system. He says he could defeat him in a fair election, an assertion Putin’s supporters have said is laughable.

‘DO THE RIGHT THING’

Before the commission voted, Navalny, dressed in a dark suit, had demanded he be allowed to take part in the election delivering a speech that angered election officials. In one heated exchange,

he said Russian voters’ faith in the system hung in the balance.

“If you do not allow me to run, you are taking a decision against millions of people who are demanding that Navalny take part,” he said, referring to himself in the first person.

“You are not robots, you are living, breathing human beings you are an independent body ... for once in your lives, do the right thing,” he said.

His supporters clapped him, but officials were unmoved. Boris Ebzeev, one of the officials, said: “We’re talking about the law and abiding by the law.” Ebzeev said there could not be “the slightest doubt” that Navalny was ineligible

to run, a reference to Russia’s constitution that bars him running because of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case.

Navalny has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and says the case is politically motivated.

There had been some speculation prior to the decision among the opposition that Navalny might be allowed to run in order to inject more interest into what looks like a predictable contest amid Kremlin fears that apathetic voters might not bother to vote.

Navalny has been jailed three times this year and charged with breaking the law by repeatedly organising public meetings and rallies. (rtr)

REUTERS/Christian Shepherd/File Photo

Xu Xiaoshun, the father of activism blogger Wu Gan, who was detained in what is known as the “709” crackdown, poses for a picture in a restaurant in Jiangsu province, China June 12, 2017.

China hands down harshest sentence yet in crackdown on activists BEIJING - China sentenced a prominent rights activist to eight years in jail for subversion on Tuesday, his lawyer said, the harshest sentence passed in a government crackdown on activism that began more than two years ago.

In a separate case, a rights lawyer avoided criminal punishment despite being found guilty of inciting subversion, because he admitted his crimes, the Chinese court trying him said.

Wu Gan, a blogger better known by his online name “Super Vulgar Butcher”, plans to appeal against the eight-year sentence handed down by the Tianjin Municipality’s No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, his lawyer, Yan Xin, told Reuters.

The harshness of the sentence prompted the German embassy in Beijing to issue a statement expressing disappointment.

Wu regularly championed sensitive cases of government abuses of power, both online and in street protests. He was detained in May 2015 and charged with subversion.

The activist criticised China’s political system online and used performance art to create disturbances, as well as insulting people and spreading false information, according to a statement from the court posted on its website.

“He carried out a string of criminal actions to subvert state power and overthrow the socialist system and seriously harmed state security and social stability,” the court said.

Before his arrest, Wu used his platform to cast doubt on the official version of events in an incident in early May 2015, in which a police officer shot a petitioner in a train station in northern Heilongjiang province.

Wu’s refusal to bow to pressure or admit guilt likely explains his harsh sentence, said Kit Chan, Hong Kong-based director of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern

Group.

“Wu Gan is being punished for his non-conformity,” she said.

His sentence is the most severe in what rights groups have called an unprecedented attack on China’s rights activists and lawyers, known as the 709 crackdown, which began in full force on July 9, 2015.

The hardline approach to rights activism has shown no sign of softening as Chinese President Xi Jinping enters his second five-year term in office.

In the other case concluded on Tuesday, rights lawyer Xie Yang received no punishment after being found guilty of inciting subversion and disrupting court order, the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court said on social media.

The court released a video of the proceedings, in which Xie said he accepted the outcome and would not appeal. He also thanked authorities and said he will be a law-abiding citizen.

Xie had worked on numerous cases deemed sensitive by Chinese authorities, such as defending supporters of Hong Kong’s prodemocracy protests. In May, he confessed to the charges against him in what rights groups called a scripted “sham” trial.

In January, Xie’s wife and lawyer released detailed accounts of torture suffered by Xie at the hands of the authorities, which were widely reported on in the international media.

Chinese state media branded those reports “fake news” and said the accounts were concocted as a means of gaining attention. Xie’s lawyer told Reuters he stands by the account.

“In both cases these have been serious concerns about violations of due process of law,” the German embassy in Beijing said in a statement. (rtr)

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

11

President extends Christmas greetings to Christians

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) extended Christmas greetings to all Indonesian Christians celebrating the festive occasion. “To all Christians in Indonesia, I wish a Merry Christmas,” Jokowi stated on his Twitter account @jokowi as reported by ANTARA on Monday. Jokowi pointed out that the varied diversity of the country is one of God`s blessings on Indonesian people.

President Jokowi has promoted peace and tolerance to uphold Indonesia`s unity in diversity. Meanwhile, several Christians celebrating Christmas in Jakarta expressed hope that the ethnic, religious, cultural, and linguistic wealth of Indonesia would bring peace and unity.

Febry, a member of the congregation of the Cathedral Church in Jakarta, expressed hope that Indonesia would be able to avoid issues that pose a threat to the country`s unity. He said the people should uphold the values of mutual respect and tolerance to ensure a peaceful existence.

Rina, another congregation member of the Cathedral Church, was optimistic that the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or unity in diversity, would be applied in daily life and would also help to realize peace among the people. Moreover, Father Albertus Hani Rudi Hartoko has invited congregations of the Cathedral Church to respect Indonesia`s diversity. He said the people should view Indonesia`s diversity as the grace of God. (ant)

Airport train to operate from Jakarta today JAKARTA - An Airport Train will start operation from Jakarta towards the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Cengkareng, Banten, on Tuesday morning (Dec 26) at 03:47 a.m. local time, with one-trip fare promotion of Rp30thousand.

“The trip trial will start tomorrow (Tuesday), and it is the beginning of commercial operation,” according to President Director of the state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, Edi Sukmoro, here on Monday.

Edi also stated that the Rp30 thousand promo fare price will be during the testing phase, with the community expected to give input for full operation in January 2018.

The airport train will start from Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station in Jakarta and head to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, which is about 30 kilometers away. Edi further noted that the fare price will be Rp70 thousand starting from Jan 2, 2018. The airport train consists of six trains per circuit that can accommodate 272 passengers and 42 trips.

The Airport train will be directly connected to the Skytrain, which will connect to Terminal 1, 2, and 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, and the tickets can be bought at the station.

Meanwhile, the departure schedule of Soekarno-Hatta Airport train starts at 03:40 a.m. at the Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station up to Soekarno-Hatta and at 06:10 a.m. to 11:10 p.m. (ant)

Antara Foto/Novrian Arby/ via REUTERS

A man holds a candle at a mass prayer during Christmas Eve at a church in Bandung, Indonesia, December 24, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Picture taken December 24, 2017.

Indonesian bishops call for peace in Christmas message

JAKARTA - The Conference of Indonesian Bishops (KWI) has called on all Christians to maintain peace during Christmas 2017.

“We long for an Earth, which is full of peace, and human beings, among whom the spirit of brotherhood grows stronger. This Christmas offers the momentum to renew personal or common life together,” Mgr Ingatius Suharyo, the KWI chairman, noted at the Cathedral Church, here, Monday.

The call for peace is based on the current condition

in the community, as many people are harboring concerns over the recent threat to Indonesia`s unity due to stiff political competition, those using all means possible, including those running counter to the Pancasila state ideology, according to Suharyo.

“Our country`s wish to create peace and prosperity has become difficult to realize,” he pointed out.

Religions have called on the people to maintain peace with fellow faith followers and all creatures created by God, he remarked.

Hence, Suharyo has called on all Christians to learn to accept differences and be grateful for it. (ant)

10

Destination

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Ferrari could lead others out of F1, warns Marchionne

Babakan Hamlet of Sukawati has a myriad of puppeteers

GIANYAR - Babakan hamlet in Sukawati, Gianyar, is known for having many puppeteers and this hamlet located adjacent to the Sukawati Art Market is also famous as being home to many art maestros.

Wayan Wija is one puppeteer whose name is familiar to art lovers from his distinct telling fhte storu of Tantri.

Wayan Nartha and Nyoman Granyam are two other well known pupeterrs from Bebakan hamlet.

Granyam became famous after President Soekarna invited him to stage a puppet show at the Ubud Palace in 1962. There are many other puppeteers from this hamlet who are well known in the area and in many other parts of Bali and beyond.

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I Ketut Sudiana, who is a descendant of a Nyoman Nartha, explained that Babakan is famous as a puppet art village. From time immemorial puppeteers have thrived here. Currently there are approximately 20 third generation puppeteers in Babakan hamlet who perform various types of puppet shows. “Babakan Sukawati became a center of art during the kingdom era”, he said.

The people of Babakan have remained highly creative developing all manner of traditional puppets with Wayan Madra being a famous example. Many foreign scholars come to Babakan to research Balinese puppets, explained this lecturer from the Faculty of Performing Arts, ISI Denpasar.

Babakan village is also famous for silver handicrafts, drawing many buyers. The late Wayan Sobrat was a famous bade tower (used to haul body in cremation ceremony) and lion artist and his skills have been passed down to his children who still make these beautiful sculptures.

Most interestingly, the Babakan community is still diligent in preserving their palm-leaf manuscripts as a source of inspiration for their performing arts. The legacy of the palm-leaf manuscript is also varied. “The manuscripts are a very useful reference for puppeteers for the story material in puppet performances. Sometimes specific stories are requested so

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they must be prepared carefully”, said Sudiana.

Today, there are many young creative puppeteer, explained this winner of the Bali Little Puppeteer 1983, because the arte environment of the hamlet is conducive to creativity. He hiself became a puppeteer because he was encouraged by his family, like when he had to perform in the Bali Little Puppeteer Festival to represent Gianyar district. In the competition held by Cultural Development and Advisory Council (Listibya), this Gianyarborn man on March 29, 1970 won first place. From then on, he became a famous child puppeteer who received many requests to perform.

At Sukawati village, there are

many puppeteers with different specific skills. Puppeteers must pay attention to rhetoric, the dialogue of the puppets when arguing and dancing technique of the puppets is also very important. There are many young puppeteers today even outside of Sukawati who are enticed by the many arts including in this one art form.

In addition to actively performing and making puppets, Sudiana also teaches in the Puppetry Department of the Faculty of Performing Arts at the Indonesia Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar. “In the past, most puppet craftsmen were also a puppeteers. Today, many art lovers also become craftsmen of puppets”, he concluded. (kmb)

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Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the 3rd quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Pacers’ Oladipo showing the promise he once projected

Ferrari could lead other Formula One teams into an alternative championship if the sport becomes too much like the U.S.-based NASCAR series but hope it does not come to that, chairman Sergio Marchionne has said. Speaking to reporters at the Italian team’s pre-Christmas lunch in Maranello, the Fiat Chrysler chief executive said his previous threats to take Ferrari out of the sport after 2020 should not be taken lightly.

He also announced a Feb. 22 launch date for the team’s 2018 car and said Ferrari should be challenging for the title after finishing runners-up to Mercedes this year.

Marchionne said Liberty Media, the U.S.-based company which took over Formula One in January and sidelined former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, was learning the ropes.

He took issue, however, with the approach taken by former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, the Formula One managing director who won titles with his own Brawn GP in 2009 before serving as Mercedes F1 team boss. “The thing that most annoys me is that there is an experienced man like Ross Brawn there who is looking for ways that go against the DNA of Formula One,” the Gazzetta dello Sport website quoted Marchionne as saying.

“Making cars all the same with simpler and cheaper engines is like NASCAR, it doesn’t interest us,” he added. “We need to find a balanced solution for the future that satisfies everyone and I think we will do it in time. “Otherwise Ferrari will leave. If they (sceptics) think we are bluffing, they are playing with fire.”

Most of the Formula One teams have contracts that expire at the end of 2020 and Marchionne said Ferrari would be able to walk away. “I think that Ferrari has the strength to drag others as well to an alternative championship,” he added. There have been similar threats in the past from Ferrari, before Marchionne’s time, without any of them coming to anything.

Marchionne is a very different character to former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, however, and Ecclestone told Reuters in November that he did not consider it an empty threat.

The Gazzetta quoted Marchionne as also saying Maserati could follow Alfa Romeo back into Formula One in some capacity, but not yet, while Fiat Chrysler (FCA) would have a presence in some form in the Formula E electric series. Alfa Romeo, part of the FCA stable, have teamed up with Swiss-based Sauber as title partners for 2018. (rtr)

Benefiting from an off-season trade, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo is finally becoming the franchise player he was projected to be. The 2013 top-two draft choice had been seen as ancillary to the deal when Indiana sent cornerstone Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But Oladipo appears focused on proving his worth in a new lead role with the Pacers.

“I was already motivated before (the trade to Indiana), Oladipo told Reuters following a recent win over Atlanta.

“Then (the trade) just happened.

It might have added on a little bit but I was already motivated.” The fifth-year player has translated his motivation into career-best production as he averages 25.3 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting, which includes 42.5 percent from three-point range.

He adds five rebounds and nearly two steals a night. The Pacers, who were expected to fall off a cliff in the absence of George, are holding steady at 1914, the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference. Oladipo has been particularly devastating in

the month of December, erupting for scoring binges that included a 47-point night in a win against Denver.

Always known for his slashing athleticism and versatile defense, Oladipo has found a shooting comfort back in Indiana where he starred as a college player.

“He’s come into the season with confidence, and I think to prove himself,” said Pacers coach Nate McMillan who has enjoyed extensive film sessions with his new guard.

“There was a lot of conversation out there that the Pacers didn’t get enough in (trading away George). I think he’s proven to the league that he has talent.” The Orlando Magic were intrigued by Oladipo’s talent

when they drafted him as the second overall pick in the 2013 draft. After three solid but not spectacular seasons with the Magic, Oladipo was shipped to the Thunder. Playing alongside ball-dominant superstar Russell Westbrook, Oladipo had the role of unsung sidekick.

So when the Pacers landed Oladipo, expectations were low.

He is proving otherwise and appears headed for his first ever All Star appearance.

“We felt like he had potential and he’s showing that he did,” McMillan said. “He’s playing with confidence. And when you have that kind of ability and play with that kind of confidence, good things are going to happen for you.”(rtr)

REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj/Pool

German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Scuderia Ferrari arrives for a pit stop.

8

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

9

Sp rt

Messi deals with Madrid yet again as Barcelona look impregnable MADRID - Leo Messi ended the clásico in a state of undress again but it was Real Madrid who had been stripped bare. At the very end of the last Madrid-Barça, Messi stood to the left of the goal at the north end of the Santiago Bernabéu, shirt off and held up for all to see; at the very end of the latest Madrid-Barça, exactly eight months later and a little over eight metres away, he lay on the grass to the right of the goal at the north end of the Santiago Bernabéu, boot off and abandoned, unseen at first. Then, as now, Barcelona had just scored the third, only now he had given it instead of getting it: another visit, another victory, and maybe this time a title too. If then there was hope, ultimately unfulfilled, this time there is expectation.

A gigantic banner had welcomed the players on to the pitch dreaming of a “White Christmas” but those celebrating it were mostly wearing red and blue. Messi was wearing red and blue and, it was now revealed, white. In the last minute, he ran at Marcelo.

The challenge saw him lose his boot but not his balance and, dashing to the line, sports sock exposed, the Brazilian tumbling behind him, he pulled it back for Vidal, slipping to the floor as he went. As Vidal’s shot squirmed under Keylor Navas and over the line, he got up and ran to the scorer, leaping into his arms. Camera shutters clicked and when their pictures were developed handy circles superimposed over his sock showed everyone what they had missed. Ivan Rakitic arrived with the boot and as they broke Sergio Busquets drew near and, grinning, had a word in his ear.

Merry Christmas, perhaps? The goal ended the game, and maybe the league. Barcelona had just beaten Madrid 3-0; for the first time in their history they had taken three points at the Bernabéu for a third season in a row, aggregate score 10-2. The most successful year in Real Madrid’s history – their fifth title, the Club World Cup, was briefly offered to supporters before the game – closed with them all but handing back the league they won in May. “It hurts,” Zinedine Zidane said. “But,” he insisted, “Madrid never surrender, no matter what. People can think the league is over but I don’t think so and the opposition

coach doesn’t think so either.”

Ernesto Valverde didn’t – or he didn’t say so, anyway – yet as Zidane suspected, almost everyone else did and not without reason. High in the north stand, a few hundred Barcelona fans waved and sang “Goodbye to the league, goodbye.” A chant of “Campeones” followed. Elsewhere in the stadium, they streamed for the exits, making their way out into the sunshine in silence.

What noise there was came in the form of whistles. Soon Barcelona’s players were boarding planes at Barajas, heading home happy for their holidays. Valverde insisted “we’re not even at halfway yet”, but his team are already winter champions – an honorary ‘title’ handed to the team top at halfway when 19 games have been played and everyone has faced everyone once – and, as Marca’s front page put it, “virtually summer champions too”.

“Barcelona have gone,” AS’s cover said. Mundo Deportivo called it “Bestial”, a 14 making up the I and the A to indicate the points gap between the two sides. Sport called them the “future champions”, its front page going for a simple: “Merry Christmas!”

Victory also took Barcelona nine points clear of Atlético and 11 points ahead of Valencia, both of whom were beaten this weekend.

“It’s difficult,” Marcelo conceded. Sergio Ramos admitted: “We have to be realistic, it’s very complicated.” Even if Madrid win their game in hand – against Leganés in February – and every other game too, Barcelona would still have to lose four times for them to win the league. So far this season, they have not lost one.

The last time Barcelona were beaten was the last time they came here. It was the Spanish Super Cup and it was August.

Neymar had just gone, and mentally they looked gone too. Gerard Piqué ended that game sitting on the bench verbally “shitting on the bitch” and muttering: “these guys are leading us a dance”; he ended this one heading up the pitch, looking for a goal of his own. That was him forcing the last corner. By then, Barcelona dominated entirely, having slowly taken control as if by stealth, and he felt superior; back in August he had admitted that for the first time in nine years he felt “inferior” to Madrid. Since that night, Barcelona have played 25 games, 17 in the league, and have not lost, a resurrection quietly led by their new manager, who has guided them from crisis to the top of the table, unbeaten at Valencia, Atlético and Madrid, virtual champions at Christmas. (rtr)

Advocaat to coach Sparta Rotterdam

REUTERS/Sergio Perez

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal

AMSTERDAM - Dick Advocaat is making a sentimental return to his former club Sparta Rotterdam as they battle against relegation from the Dutch top flight.

Advocaat, who stepped down as Netherlands coach last month, signed a contract on Monday to take over until the end of the season at Sparta, who sit joint bottom of the standings.

The 70-year-old played at Sparta for two seasons in the 1980s and his return was demanded by supporters after the team suffered five successive losses.

Alex Pastoor was fired after a 7-0 defeat by local rivals and champions Feyenoord on Dec. 17.

Advocaat stepped down as Netherlands coach in November after the team’s failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Advocaat has also managed the national teams of Russia, Belgium, Serbia, United Arab Emirates and South Korea as well as European clubs including Rangers, Sunderland, PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahce. (rtr)

IBP/net

Steven Gerrard: ‘I’m definitely feeling it LIVERPOOL - It took Steven Gerrard five months to accept the end of his time at LA Galaxy was also the conclusion of his 19-year career as a professional footballer.

The void will never be filled completely but the addiction continues and must be satisfied. That is why, despite feeling he has aged considerably during six months in charge of Liverpool Under-18s, nothing has doused his ambition to descend into “the madness” of top-level management.

The cravings clearly remain in the 37-year-old as he laments the absence of training from his Christmas Day routine. “I actually miss it,” he says, sipping an orange juice on a miserable December day at Liverpool’s academy in Kirkby. “It only used to be an hour and I only like Christmas Eve anyway. The rest is too long. I’d hate it if there was no football now for a few weeks.”

What is also clear is that Gerrard’s appointment as under-18s manager came without privileges.

The job is not about Liverpool indulging their illustrious former captain but, with Jürgen Klopp’s instruction, ensuring he has the best possible grounding before returning to the spotlight as a manager, wherever that may be. It has been a challenging, rewarding introduction.

“I’m definitely feeling it,” Gerrard says. “I’ve aged about two years in six months. Jürgen’s advice when I came back was: ‘I only want you to shadow for a short time because you need to have a couple of years of making mistakes, of

picking your own team, of deciding tactics. You need to find your philosophy, a way of playing, you need to deal with individual problems, you need to praise individuals, help individuals, you need to feel disappointment and setbacks and then after a couple of years you’ll know if this gig is for you.’ He painted a real picture of how it is.

“For the last five months I’ve felt all the highs and lows and experienced all the daily stuff that managers deal with, albeit at youth-team level. It will definitely prepare me for wherever I end up.

It is not scaring me or putting me off. I know the further I go there is more scrutiny, more attention, more opinions, more criticism, more praise. I get all that. For me it was important to get a taste of it away from the cameras and experience all these things before you go into the madness.”

The latest chapter in Gerrard’s Liverpool career consumes him, just like the one before. He works six days a week at the academy – “I had to show the players my work ethic was right and get their trust,” he explains – and the demands have been an eye-opening experience.

Top of that list is, he says: “The hours you have to put in.”

Gerrard explains: “As a player I could switch off when the game was done. That is very difficult as a coach. That has been the main difference. Now after a game I’m thinking what went well, what didn’t go well, what individuals do I need to work on this week, who do I need to praise, who do I need to speak to, who’s been naughty at

school? Having to handle that side of it has been very different for me, not that I was an angel at school, but we have a guy here, Phil Roscoe, who works on the education and welfare side of things and he is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I would be lost if I didn’t have Phil’s help and support. The staff have been a huge help.

For the last five months I’ve felt all the highs and lows and experienced all the daily stuff managers deal with “There is a lot more to it than you think when you’re a player. I have more respect for coaches and managers now even though as a player I always respected the ones I worked with. I didn’t realise how much was involved in their roles until I tried it myself.”

Gerrard also manages the under19s in the Uefa Youth League where, in both matches against Spartak Moscow this season, he had to deal with Liverpool players being racially abused; Bobby Adekanye in Moscow, Rhian Brewster in the return at Prenton Park. “I’ve had experience in my playing career of team-mates being subjected to that abuse,” he says, “but when it is your player and you are leading the team it is a real eye-opener and a learning experience. I care for these kids, they are playing for my club, they are playing for my team. I need to show them support and I will do.”

What Liverpool’s former midfielder does not show players is footage of himself in action. Gerrard is acutely aware of the pitfalls that can await top players who turn

to management and discover, to their detriment, that the next generation are not up to their own exalted standards. He therefore made a conscious decision to separate Gerrard the Champions Leaguewinning captain from Gerrard the fledgling coach.

“I never bring up my playing days and I never bring up footage of when I was involved,” he says. “If I want to show them something tactically I’ll always use Liverpool’s first team now or

someone else’s first team now. I don’t think it’s right to say: ‘Look at this’ and I’m running around.

Don’t get me wrong, if there’s something blatantly obvious that happened to me – good or bad – and I thought it’d benefit them, then I’m not going to hide it from them. But I just don’t think it’s right to be saying: ‘Look at what I done and look what we did’.

My career as a player is gone. It’s about what’s happening tomorrow, not yesterday.”(ap)

8

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

9

Sp rt

Messi deals with Madrid yet again as Barcelona look impregnable MADRID - Leo Messi ended the clásico in a state of undress again but it was Real Madrid who had been stripped bare. At the very end of the last Madrid-Barça, Messi stood to the left of the goal at the north end of the Santiago Bernabéu, shirt off and held up for all to see; at the very end of the latest Madrid-Barça, exactly eight months later and a little over eight metres away, he lay on the grass to the right of the goal at the north end of the Santiago Bernabéu, boot off and abandoned, unseen at first. Then, as now, Barcelona had just scored the third, only now he had given it instead of getting it: another visit, another victory, and maybe this time a title too. If then there was hope, ultimately unfulfilled, this time there is expectation.

A gigantic banner had welcomed the players on to the pitch dreaming of a “White Christmas” but those celebrating it were mostly wearing red and blue. Messi was wearing red and blue and, it was now revealed, white. In the last minute, he ran at Marcelo.

The challenge saw him lose his boot but not his balance and, dashing to the line, sports sock exposed, the Brazilian tumbling behind him, he pulled it back for Vidal, slipping to the floor as he went. As Vidal’s shot squirmed under Keylor Navas and over the line, he got up and ran to the scorer, leaping into his arms. Camera shutters clicked and when their pictures were developed handy circles superimposed over his sock showed everyone what they had missed. Ivan Rakitic arrived with the boot and as they broke Sergio Busquets drew near and, grinning, had a word in his ear.

Merry Christmas, perhaps? The goal ended the game, and maybe the league. Barcelona had just beaten Madrid 3-0; for the first time in their history they had taken three points at the Bernabéu for a third season in a row, aggregate score 10-2. The most successful year in Real Madrid’s history – their fifth title, the Club World Cup, was briefly offered to supporters before the game – closed with them all but handing back the league they won in May. “It hurts,” Zinedine Zidane said. “But,” he insisted, “Madrid never surrender, no matter what. People can think the league is over but I don’t think so and the opposition

coach doesn’t think so either.”

Ernesto Valverde didn’t – or he didn’t say so, anyway – yet as Zidane suspected, almost everyone else did and not without reason. High in the north stand, a few hundred Barcelona fans waved and sang “Goodbye to the league, goodbye.” A chant of “Campeones” followed. Elsewhere in the stadium, they streamed for the exits, making their way out into the sunshine in silence.

What noise there was came in the form of whistles. Soon Barcelona’s players were boarding planes at Barajas, heading home happy for their holidays. Valverde insisted “we’re not even at halfway yet”, but his team are already winter champions – an honorary ‘title’ handed to the team top at halfway when 19 games have been played and everyone has faced everyone once – and, as Marca’s front page put it, “virtually summer champions too”.

“Barcelona have gone,” AS’s cover said. Mundo Deportivo called it “Bestial”, a 14 making up the I and the A to indicate the points gap between the two sides. Sport called them the “future champions”, its front page going for a simple: “Merry Christmas!”

Victory also took Barcelona nine points clear of Atlético and 11 points ahead of Valencia, both of whom were beaten this weekend.

“It’s difficult,” Marcelo conceded. Sergio Ramos admitted: “We have to be realistic, it’s very complicated.” Even if Madrid win their game in hand – against Leganés in February – and every other game too, Barcelona would still have to lose four times for them to win the league. So far this season, they have not lost one.

The last time Barcelona were beaten was the last time they came here. It was the Spanish Super Cup and it was August.

Neymar had just gone, and mentally they looked gone too. Gerard Piqué ended that game sitting on the bench verbally “shitting on the bitch” and muttering: “these guys are leading us a dance”; he ended this one heading up the pitch, looking for a goal of his own. That was him forcing the last corner. By then, Barcelona dominated entirely, having slowly taken control as if by stealth, and he felt superior; back in August he had admitted that for the first time in nine years he felt “inferior” to Madrid. Since that night, Barcelona have played 25 games, 17 in the league, and have not lost, a resurrection quietly led by their new manager, who has guided them from crisis to the top of the table, unbeaten at Valencia, Atlético and Madrid, virtual champions at Christmas. (rtr)

Advocaat to coach Sparta Rotterdam

REUTERS/Sergio Perez

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal

AMSTERDAM - Dick Advocaat is making a sentimental return to his former club Sparta Rotterdam as they battle against relegation from the Dutch top flight.

Advocaat, who stepped down as Netherlands coach last month, signed a contract on Monday to take over until the end of the season at Sparta, who sit joint bottom of the standings.

The 70-year-old played at Sparta for two seasons in the 1980s and his return was demanded by supporters after the team suffered five successive losses.

Alex Pastoor was fired after a 7-0 defeat by local rivals and champions Feyenoord on Dec. 17.

Advocaat stepped down as Netherlands coach in November after the team’s failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Advocaat has also managed the national teams of Russia, Belgium, Serbia, United Arab Emirates and South Korea as well as European clubs including Rangers, Sunderland, PSV Eindhoven and Fenerbahce. (rtr)

IBP/net

Steven Gerrard: ‘I’m definitely feeling it LIVERPOOL - It took Steven Gerrard five months to accept the end of his time at LA Galaxy was also the conclusion of his 19-year career as a professional footballer.

The void will never be filled completely but the addiction continues and must be satisfied. That is why, despite feeling he has aged considerably during six months in charge of Liverpool Under-18s, nothing has doused his ambition to descend into “the madness” of top-level management.

The cravings clearly remain in the 37-year-old as he laments the absence of training from his Christmas Day routine. “I actually miss it,” he says, sipping an orange juice on a miserable December day at Liverpool’s academy in Kirkby. “It only used to be an hour and I only like Christmas Eve anyway. The rest is too long. I’d hate it if there was no football now for a few weeks.”

What is also clear is that Gerrard’s appointment as under-18s manager came without privileges.

The job is not about Liverpool indulging their illustrious former captain but, with Jürgen Klopp’s instruction, ensuring he has the best possible grounding before returning to the spotlight as a manager, wherever that may be. It has been a challenging, rewarding introduction.

“I’m definitely feeling it,” Gerrard says. “I’ve aged about two years in six months. Jürgen’s advice when I came back was: ‘I only want you to shadow for a short time because you need to have a couple of years of making mistakes, of

picking your own team, of deciding tactics. You need to find your philosophy, a way of playing, you need to deal with individual problems, you need to praise individuals, help individuals, you need to feel disappointment and setbacks and then after a couple of years you’ll know if this gig is for you.’ He painted a real picture of how it is.

“For the last five months I’ve felt all the highs and lows and experienced all the daily stuff that managers deal with, albeit at youth-team level. It will definitely prepare me for wherever I end up.

It is not scaring me or putting me off. I know the further I go there is more scrutiny, more attention, more opinions, more criticism, more praise. I get all that. For me it was important to get a taste of it away from the cameras and experience all these things before you go into the madness.”

The latest chapter in Gerrard’s Liverpool career consumes him, just like the one before. He works six days a week at the academy – “I had to show the players my work ethic was right and get their trust,” he explains – and the demands have been an eye-opening experience.

Top of that list is, he says: “The hours you have to put in.”

Gerrard explains: “As a player I could switch off when the game was done. That is very difficult as a coach. That has been the main difference. Now after a game I’m thinking what went well, what didn’t go well, what individuals do I need to work on this week, who do I need to praise, who do I need to speak to, who’s been naughty at

school? Having to handle that side of it has been very different for me, not that I was an angel at school, but we have a guy here, Phil Roscoe, who works on the education and welfare side of things and he is brilliant, absolutely brilliant. I would be lost if I didn’t have Phil’s help and support. The staff have been a huge help.

For the last five months I’ve felt all the highs and lows and experienced all the daily stuff managers deal with “There is a lot more to it than you think when you’re a player. I have more respect for coaches and managers now even though as a player I always respected the ones I worked with. I didn’t realise how much was involved in their roles until I tried it myself.”

Gerrard also manages the under19s in the Uefa Youth League where, in both matches against Spartak Moscow this season, he had to deal with Liverpool players being racially abused; Bobby Adekanye in Moscow, Rhian Brewster in the return at Prenton Park. “I’ve had experience in my playing career of team-mates being subjected to that abuse,” he says, “but when it is your player and you are leading the team it is a real eye-opener and a learning experience. I care for these kids, they are playing for my club, they are playing for my team. I need to show them support and I will do.”

What Liverpool’s former midfielder does not show players is footage of himself in action. Gerrard is acutely aware of the pitfalls that can await top players who turn

to management and discover, to their detriment, that the next generation are not up to their own exalted standards. He therefore made a conscious decision to separate Gerrard the Champions Leaguewinning captain from Gerrard the fledgling coach.

“I never bring up my playing days and I never bring up footage of when I was involved,” he says. “If I want to show them something tactically I’ll always use Liverpool’s first team now or

someone else’s first team now. I don’t think it’s right to say: ‘Look at this’ and I’m running around.

Don’t get me wrong, if there’s something blatantly obvious that happened to me – good or bad – and I thought it’d benefit them, then I’m not going to hide it from them. But I just don’t think it’s right to be saying: ‘Look at what I done and look what we did’.

My career as a player is gone. It’s about what’s happening tomorrow, not yesterday.”(ap)

10

Destination

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Ferrari could lead others out of F1, warns Marchionne

Babakan Hamlet of Sukawati has a myriad of puppeteers

GIANYAR - Babakan hamlet in Sukawati, Gianyar, is known for having many puppeteers and this hamlet located adjacent to the Sukawati Art Market is also famous as being home to many art maestros.

Wayan Wija is one puppeteer whose name is familiar to art lovers from his distinct telling fhte storu of Tantri.

Wayan Nartha and Nyoman Granyam are two other well known pupeterrs from Bebakan hamlet.

Granyam became famous after President Soekarna invited him to stage a puppet show at the Ubud Palace in 1962. There are many other puppeteers from this hamlet who are well known in the area and in many other parts of Bali and beyond.

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B.BP.101.11.17.0000414

I Ketut Sudiana, who is a descendant of a Nyoman Nartha, explained that Babakan is famous as a puppet art village. From time immemorial puppeteers have thrived here. Currently there are approximately 20 third generation puppeteers in Babakan hamlet who perform various types of puppet shows. “Babakan Sukawati became a center of art during the kingdom era”, he said.

The people of Babakan have remained highly creative developing all manner of traditional puppets with Wayan Madra being a famous example. Many foreign scholars come to Babakan to research Balinese puppets, explained this lecturer from the Faculty of Performing Arts, ISI Denpasar.

Babakan village is also famous for silver handicrafts, drawing many buyers. The late Wayan Sobrat was a famous bade tower (used to haul body in cremation ceremony) and lion artist and his skills have been passed down to his children who still make these beautiful sculptures.

Most interestingly, the Babakan community is still diligent in preserving their palm-leaf manuscripts as a source of inspiration for their performing arts. The legacy of the palm-leaf manuscript is also varied. “The manuscripts are a very useful reference for puppeteers for the story material in puppet performances. Sometimes specific stories are requested so

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they must be prepared carefully”, said Sudiana.

Today, there are many young creative puppeteer, explained this winner of the Bali Little Puppeteer 1983, because the arte environment of the hamlet is conducive to creativity. He hiself became a puppeteer because he was encouraged by his family, like when he had to perform in the Bali Little Puppeteer Festival to represent Gianyar district. In the competition held by Cultural Development and Advisory Council (Listibya), this Gianyarborn man on March 29, 1970 won first place. From then on, he became a famous child puppeteer who received many requests to perform.

At Sukawati village, there are

many puppeteers with different specific skills. Puppeteers must pay attention to rhetoric, the dialogue of the puppets when arguing and dancing technique of the puppets is also very important. There are many young puppeteers today even outside of Sukawati who are enticed by the many arts including in this one art form.

In addition to actively performing and making puppets, Sudiana also teaches in the Puppetry Department of the Faculty of Performing Arts at the Indonesia Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar. “In the past, most puppet craftsmen were also a puppeteers. Today, many art lovers also become craftsmen of puppets”, he concluded. (kmb)

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Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo (4) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during the 3rd quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Pacers’ Oladipo showing the promise he once projected

Ferrari could lead other Formula One teams into an alternative championship if the sport becomes too much like the U.S.-based NASCAR series but hope it does not come to that, chairman Sergio Marchionne has said. Speaking to reporters at the Italian team’s pre-Christmas lunch in Maranello, the Fiat Chrysler chief executive said his previous threats to take Ferrari out of the sport after 2020 should not be taken lightly.

He also announced a Feb. 22 launch date for the team’s 2018 car and said Ferrari should be challenging for the title after finishing runners-up to Mercedes this year.

Marchionne said Liberty Media, the U.S.-based company which took over Formula One in January and sidelined former commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, was learning the ropes.

He took issue, however, with the approach taken by former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, the Formula One managing director who won titles with his own Brawn GP in 2009 before serving as Mercedes F1 team boss. “The thing that most annoys me is that there is an experienced man like Ross Brawn there who is looking for ways that go against the DNA of Formula One,” the Gazzetta dello Sport website quoted Marchionne as saying.

“Making cars all the same with simpler and cheaper engines is like NASCAR, it doesn’t interest us,” he added. “We need to find a balanced solution for the future that satisfies everyone and I think we will do it in time. “Otherwise Ferrari will leave. If they (sceptics) think we are bluffing, they are playing with fire.”

Most of the Formula One teams have contracts that expire at the end of 2020 and Marchionne said Ferrari would be able to walk away. “I think that Ferrari has the strength to drag others as well to an alternative championship,” he added. There have been similar threats in the past from Ferrari, before Marchionne’s time, without any of them coming to anything.

Marchionne is a very different character to former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, however, and Ecclestone told Reuters in November that he did not consider it an empty threat.

The Gazzetta quoted Marchionne as also saying Maserati could follow Alfa Romeo back into Formula One in some capacity, but not yet, while Fiat Chrysler (FCA) would have a presence in some form in the Formula E electric series. Alfa Romeo, part of the FCA stable, have teamed up with Swiss-based Sauber as title partners for 2018. (rtr)

Benefiting from an off-season trade, Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo is finally becoming the franchise player he was projected to be. The 2013 top-two draft choice had been seen as ancillary to the deal when Indiana sent cornerstone Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But Oladipo appears focused on proving his worth in a new lead role with the Pacers.

“I was already motivated before (the trade to Indiana), Oladipo told Reuters following a recent win over Atlanta.

“Then (the trade) just happened.

It might have added on a little bit but I was already motivated.” The fifth-year player has translated his motivation into career-best production as he averages 25.3 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting, which includes 42.5 percent from three-point range.

He adds five rebounds and nearly two steals a night. The Pacers, who were expected to fall off a cliff in the absence of George, are holding steady at 1914, the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference. Oladipo has been particularly devastating in

the month of December, erupting for scoring binges that included a 47-point night in a win against Denver.

Always known for his slashing athleticism and versatile defense, Oladipo has found a shooting comfort back in Indiana where he starred as a college player.

“He’s come into the season with confidence, and I think to prove himself,” said Pacers coach Nate McMillan who has enjoyed extensive film sessions with his new guard.

“There was a lot of conversation out there that the Pacers didn’t get enough in (trading away George). I think he’s proven to the league that he has talent.” The Orlando Magic were intrigued by Oladipo’s talent

when they drafted him as the second overall pick in the 2013 draft. After three solid but not spectacular seasons with the Magic, Oladipo was shipped to the Thunder. Playing alongside ball-dominant superstar Russell Westbrook, Oladipo had the role of unsung sidekick.

So when the Pacers landed Oladipo, expectations were low.

He is proving otherwise and appears headed for his first ever All Star appearance.

“We felt like he had potential and he’s showing that he did,” McMillan said. “He’s playing with confidence. And when you have that kind of ability and play with that kind of confidence, good things are going to happen for you.”(rtr)

REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj/Pool

German Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Scuderia Ferrari arrives for a pit stop.

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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

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International

RLD

Liberians head to the polls in historic, delayed election

MONROVIA - Liberia went to the polls on Tuesday for a presidential election that voters hope will mark the country’s first democratic transfer of power in over seven decades, despite it being tarnished by allegations of fraud.

Former world footballer of the year George Weah is squaring up against vice president Joseph Boakai, with both men promising a break with a heritage of poverty and corruption in a country where most citizens have no reliable electricity or clean drinking water.

They are bidding to succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a run-off vote delayed for over a month after Boakai and third-placed Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party alleged widespread fraud in October’s first-round vote, a challenge that the Supreme Court rejected this month.

There were no early reports of violence as voting proceeded under sunny skies in the capital Monrovia, with polling stations opening at 0800 GMT and election agents telling Reuters first indications pointed to a lower turnout than in the first round.

“It is great day for Liberia - a test day for democracy,” said Boakai after casting his vote in Paynesville. “We will accept the results provided they meet all the standards.”

Johnson Sirleaf’s 12-year rule cemented peace in the West African country after civil war ended in 2003, and

brought in much needed aid.

But critics, including much of the country’s youth, say her administration was marred by corruption and that she did little to raise most Liberians out of dire poverty.

Liberia was also racked by the Ebola crisis, which killed thousands in the country between 2014 and 2016, while a drop in iron ore prices since 2014 has dented export revenues.

Tuesday’s poll follows a month of political tensions fuelled by claims that the first-round poll was rigged in Weah’s favour.

Weah, world footballer of the year in 1995, won with 38 percent versus Boakai’s 29 percent.

“I voted George Weah because I believe that he will do better for me and my country. I want change,” said Miama Kamara, a 32-year-old businesswoman, before casting her ballot in the capital.

Boakai’s ruling Unity Party had accused Johnson Sirleaf, who is herself a member of the party, of interfering in the October vote by holding private meetings with election magistrates.

Boakai has found it harder to convince voters that he will bring change, given that he worked alongside Johnson Sirleaf for 12 years. Weah, by contrast, has won the hearts of mostly young Liberians through his star performances for Europe’s biggest football teams in the 1990s. (rtr)

REUTERS/Thierry Gouegnon

Former Liberian warlord and head of the National Union for Democratic Progress Prince Johnson, who supports George Weah, former soccer player and presidential candidate of Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), delivers a speech during the CDC presidential campaign rally at Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, Liberia, December 23, 2017.

Putin critic...

From page 1

Navalny says Putin’s support is exaggerated and artificially maintained by a biased state media and an unfair system. He says he could defeat him in a fair election, an assertion Putin’s supporters have said is laughable.

‘DO THE RIGHT THING’

Before the commission voted, Navalny, dressed in a dark suit, had demanded he be allowed to take part in the election delivering a speech that angered election officials. In one heated exchange,

he said Russian voters’ faith in the system hung in the balance.

“If you do not allow me to run, you are taking a decision against millions of people who are demanding that Navalny take part,” he said, referring to himself in the first person.

“You are not robots, you are living, breathing human beings you are an independent body ... for once in your lives, do the right thing,” he said.

His supporters clapped him, but officials were unmoved. Boris Ebzeev, one of the officials, said: “We’re talking about the law and abiding by the law.” Ebzeev said there could not be “the slightest doubt” that Navalny was ineligible

to run, a reference to Russia’s constitution that bars him running because of his suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case.

Navalny has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and says the case is politically motivated.

There had been some speculation prior to the decision among the opposition that Navalny might be allowed to run in order to inject more interest into what looks like a predictable contest amid Kremlin fears that apathetic voters might not bother to vote.

Navalny has been jailed three times this year and charged with breaking the law by repeatedly organising public meetings and rallies. (rtr)

REUTERS/Christian Shepherd/File Photo

Xu Xiaoshun, the father of activism blogger Wu Gan, who was detained in what is known as the “709” crackdown, poses for a picture in a restaurant in Jiangsu province, China June 12, 2017.

China hands down harshest sentence yet in crackdown on activists BEIJING - China sentenced a prominent rights activist to eight years in jail for subversion on Tuesday, his lawyer said, the harshest sentence passed in a government crackdown on activism that began more than two years ago.

In a separate case, a rights lawyer avoided criminal punishment despite being found guilty of inciting subversion, because he admitted his crimes, the Chinese court trying him said.

Wu Gan, a blogger better known by his online name “Super Vulgar Butcher”, plans to appeal against the eight-year sentence handed down by the Tianjin Municipality’s No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, his lawyer, Yan Xin, told Reuters.

The harshness of the sentence prompted the German embassy in Beijing to issue a statement expressing disappointment.

Wu regularly championed sensitive cases of government abuses of power, both online and in street protests. He was detained in May 2015 and charged with subversion.

The activist criticised China’s political system online and used performance art to create disturbances, as well as insulting people and spreading false information, according to a statement from the court posted on its website.

“He carried out a string of criminal actions to subvert state power and overthrow the socialist system and seriously harmed state security and social stability,” the court said.

Before his arrest, Wu used his platform to cast doubt on the official version of events in an incident in early May 2015, in which a police officer shot a petitioner in a train station in northern Heilongjiang province.

Wu’s refusal to bow to pressure or admit guilt likely explains his harsh sentence, said Kit Chan, Hong Kong-based director of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern

Group.

“Wu Gan is being punished for his non-conformity,” she said.

His sentence is the most severe in what rights groups have called an unprecedented attack on China’s rights activists and lawyers, known as the 709 crackdown, which began in full force on July 9, 2015.

The hardline approach to rights activism has shown no sign of softening as Chinese President Xi Jinping enters his second five-year term in office.

In the other case concluded on Tuesday, rights lawyer Xie Yang received no punishment after being found guilty of inciting subversion and disrupting court order, the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court said on social media.

The court released a video of the proceedings, in which Xie said he accepted the outcome and would not appeal. He also thanked authorities and said he will be a law-abiding citizen.

Xie had worked on numerous cases deemed sensitive by Chinese authorities, such as defending supporters of Hong Kong’s prodemocracy protests. In May, he confessed to the charges against him in what rights groups called a scripted “sham” trial.

In January, Xie’s wife and lawyer released detailed accounts of torture suffered by Xie at the hands of the authorities, which were widely reported on in the international media.

Chinese state media branded those reports “fake news” and said the accounts were concocted as a means of gaining attention. Xie’s lawyer told Reuters he stands by the account.

“In both cases these have been serious concerns about violations of due process of law,” the German embassy in Beijing said in a statement. (rtr)

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

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President extends Christmas greetings to Christians

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) extended Christmas greetings to all Indonesian Christians celebrating the festive occasion. “To all Christians in Indonesia, I wish a Merry Christmas,” Jokowi stated on his Twitter account @jokowi as reported by ANTARA on Monday. Jokowi pointed out that the varied diversity of the country is one of God`s blessings on Indonesian people.

President Jokowi has promoted peace and tolerance to uphold Indonesia`s unity in diversity. Meanwhile, several Christians celebrating Christmas in Jakarta expressed hope that the ethnic, religious, cultural, and linguistic wealth of Indonesia would bring peace and unity.

Febry, a member of the congregation of the Cathedral Church in Jakarta, expressed hope that Indonesia would be able to avoid issues that pose a threat to the country`s unity. He said the people should uphold the values of mutual respect and tolerance to ensure a peaceful existence.

Rina, another congregation member of the Cathedral Church, was optimistic that the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or unity in diversity, would be applied in daily life and would also help to realize peace among the people. Moreover, Father Albertus Hani Rudi Hartoko has invited congregations of the Cathedral Church to respect Indonesia`s diversity. He said the people should view Indonesia`s diversity as the grace of God. (ant)

Airport train to operate from Jakarta today JAKARTA - An Airport Train will start operation from Jakarta towards the Soekarno-Hatta international airport in Cengkareng, Banten, on Tuesday morning (Dec 26) at 03:47 a.m. local time, with one-trip fare promotion of Rp30thousand.

“The trip trial will start tomorrow (Tuesday), and it is the beginning of commercial operation,” according to President Director of the state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia, Edi Sukmoro, here on Monday.

Edi also stated that the Rp30 thousand promo fare price will be during the testing phase, with the community expected to give input for full operation in January 2018.

The airport train will start from Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station in Jakarta and head to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport, which is about 30 kilometers away. Edi further noted that the fare price will be Rp70 thousand starting from Jan 2, 2018. The airport train consists of six trains per circuit that can accommodate 272 passengers and 42 trips.

The Airport train will be directly connected to the Skytrain, which will connect to Terminal 1, 2, and 3 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, and the tickets can be bought at the station.

Meanwhile, the departure schedule of Soekarno-Hatta Airport train starts at 03:40 a.m. at the Sudirman Baru (BNI City) station up to Soekarno-Hatta and at 06:10 a.m. to 11:10 p.m. (ant)

Antara Foto/Novrian Arby/ via REUTERS

A man holds a candle at a mass prayer during Christmas Eve at a church in Bandung, Indonesia, December 24, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Picture taken December 24, 2017.

Indonesian bishops call for peace in Christmas message

JAKARTA - The Conference of Indonesian Bishops (KWI) has called on all Christians to maintain peace during Christmas 2017.

“We long for an Earth, which is full of peace, and human beings, among whom the spirit of brotherhood grows stronger. This Christmas offers the momentum to renew personal or common life together,” Mgr Ingatius Suharyo, the KWI chairman, noted at the Cathedral Church, here, Monday.

The call for peace is based on the current condition

in the community, as many people are harboring concerns over the recent threat to Indonesia`s unity due to stiff political competition, those using all means possible, including those running counter to the Pancasila state ideology, according to Suharyo.

“Our country`s wish to create peace and prosperity has become difficult to realize,” he pointed out.

Religions have called on the people to maintain peace with fellow faith followers and all creatures created by God, he remarked.

Hence, Suharyo has called on all Christians to learn to accept differences and be grateful for it. (ant)

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International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

BUSINESS Japan’s record FY2018 budget puts fiscal discipline in doubt

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet endorsed a record $860 billion budget for fiscal 2018 on Friday, opting to keep the economy on a sustained recovery with aggressive monetary stimulus and putting fiscal reforms on the back burner again. The general-account budget spending for the next fiscal year starting April will total 97.7 trillion yen ($860 billion), the biggest amount ever and slightly more than this year’s initial plan to spend 97.5 trillion yen, the Ministry of Finance said.

The budget - a record high for the sixth year - got a boost from snowballing welfare spending to respond to a fast-ageing population and a record military outlay amid regional tensions related to North Korea. The demands strain the heaviest public debt burden in the industrialised world. Failure to curb budget spending has cast doubt on Abe’s will to back fiscal reform. His administration is counting on growth to boost tax revenue and reduce new borrowing, and on the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) lowrate policy to curb the high cost of servicing mammoth public debt.

“Abe’s fiscal reform relies heavily on economic recovery and optimistic tax revenue estimates,” said Masaki Kuwahara, senior economist at Nomura Securities.

“I don’t see a strong determination to resolve public debt from this budget.”

Tax revenue for 2018/19 is estimated at 59.1 trillion yen, the highest since fiscal year 1991 during the asset bubble era, assuming the government’s rosy projections for real 1.8 percent and nominal 2.5 percent growth next fiscal year.

Hefty tax revenue allows for

reductions in new bond issuance to 33.7 trillion yen, bringing the debt dependency ratio to 34.5 percent - way higher than other advanced peers.

The government will spend 23.3 trillion yen for debt-servicing - roughly a quarter of the overall budget - even as it keeps assumed interest rates at a record low of 1.1 percent due to the central bank’s negative rate policy.

GROWTH, FISCAL REFORM Finance Minister Taro Aso said this budget should help revive the economy and achieve fiscal reform at the same time, with some spending focused on boosting productivity and investing in human capital.

While some economists say the budget won’t have much impact on near-term growth, others see the spending plan as unsustainable.

“There’s a risk the economy may decelerate in coming years, which is a source of concern as that would dent tax revenue,” said Takuya Hoshino, economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

On top of next year’s budget, Abe’s cabinet approved on Friday an extra budget for this fiscal year,

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

A mannequin is displayed in a shop window of a department store at a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan August 21, 2017. with additional spending of 2.7 trillion yen and extra bond issuance of 1.2 trillion yen, underlining his expansionary fiscal stance.

To strengthen Japan’s fiscal structure, analysts urge Abe to streamline welfare spending. They call for a credible fiscal plan, as Abe has shelved the 2020/21 budgetbalancing goal, with a pledge to

Bitcoin rises 10 pct, recovers from last week’s brutal selloff SINGAPORE/TOKYO - Bitcoin extended its recovery in holiday-thinned trading on Tuesday, rising 10 percent to be up more than a third from last week’s lows of below $12,000.

Bitcoin, the world’s biggest and best-known cryptocurrency, fell nearly 30 percent at one stage

on Friday to $11,159.93 and, despite a late recovery, had its worst week since 2013. At 0445 GMT on Tuesday, it was quoted around $15,049 on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange.

The digital currency had risen around twentyfold since the start of the year, climbing from less

than $1,000 to as high as $19,666 on Dec. 17 on Bitstamp and to over $20,000 on other exchanges. But it has posted heavy declines since.

While bitcoin investors and analysts believe the decline in its value was a natural correction after a heady run-up in prices, there have been further warnings

create a social welfare system for all generations.

Social security spending, the budget’s biggest item, will rise 500 billion yen to a record 33 trillion yen next fiscal year, in line with the government’s mid-term fiscal plan to limit rises in welfare outlays to 500 billion yen a year.

“Without a credible fiscal plan,

Japan will lose market confidence in the medium to long term,” said Hidenori Suezawa, financial market and fiscal analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities. “It’s time to shift towards fiscal consolidation before the BOJ exits stimulus. Japan should be able to assure markets that it can manage debt without relying on the BOJ,” he said. (rtr)

from market regulators and central banks.

“There is no right current price which would reflect the right current valuation,” said Andrei Popescu, Singapore-based co-founder of COSS, which describes itself as a platform that encompasses all features of a digital economy based on cryptocurrency.

“Taking profit is right, while buying into a long term projection is also right. You don’t have to be right in this market, just less wrong than the rest,” Popescu said.

Shmuel Hauser, the chairman of the Israel Securities Authority, said on Monday he will propose regulation to ban companies based

on bitcoin and other digital currencies from trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Singapore’s central bank last week issued a warning against investment in cryptocurrencies, saying it considers the recent surge in their prices to be driven by speculation and that the risk of a sharp fall in prices is high.

Prices of rival cryptocurrencies, which slid along with bitcoin last week, have also recovered, with Ethereum, the second-biggest cryptocurrency by market size, quoted around $771, up from Sunday’s low of $689 but still far from highs around $900 hit last week. (rtr)

Bali News

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

5

Traditional Games, an Application of Hindu Teachings

Traditional games look very simple. They always dwell on nature and get very close to the habits existing in the local social environment. This type of game seems to have no limit because almost all places can be used as a playground. This ancient game has many benefits such as learning sportsmanship, honesty, discipline and respect.

These values ??thrive because they always make dissemination to friends in the environment becoming their natural playground.

Accepting defeat and recognizing the opponent’s victory in the game is an example of a sportsmanlike attitude. In addition to training physical endurance, the traditional games are also to hone the intelligence because when playing the children must be able to set the strategy.

Rector of the State Hindu Dharma Institute (IHDN) Denpasar, Prof.

Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said that traditional games in Bali can become a medium for dissemination.

In the games, they will always invite others as a reflection of cooperation. “In the game, there is a lesson for mutual respect and apologies if something goes wrong and rewards when someone wins,” he said.

IGN-Sudiana The games also have very positive influence because it forces the children to be creative as they also demand higher creativity. Such activity can also increase self-confidence because there are elements to train communication. Children as players of the game become more confident and democratic. “When determining a leader or punishment for the offending child, they do by agreement,” added Sudiana.

Besides, said this Chairman of Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali, traditional

games are also part of the application of Hindu teachings such as philosophy (tattva), karmic law, tat tvam asi (You are that (God)) and Tri Kaya Parisudha. “When viewed from an educational perspective, people learn from nature.

Meanwhile, if learning from cultural theories, people learn from others and the environment,” he explained.

When playing, they always make others happy, in addition to make them happy. In Sundaram’s teachings meaning beauty it will be able to make others happy and peaceful. It is also the teaching of yadnya (sincere sacrifice). Peacefulness makes them not quarrel, fight but strengthen friendship.

Moreover, the teachings of Karmic law limit them from doing arbitrarily. They realize if doing wrong and doing not good, they will get punishment from friends according to mutual agreement. Therefore a child will not dare to hurt his friend.

Because, if he is hurt will also feel the same. It is in accordance with the teaching of tat tvam asi.

The real application of Hinduism is the Tri Kaya Parisuda teaching, meaning think good, say good and do goodness. After performing the games, they uphold the values ??of honesty, though not told before. “It happens due to the influence of creative culture of children’s minds, especially through religious teaching,” he added.

IBP/kmb

According to Prof. Sudiana, traditional games in Bali are inspired by the teachings of Hinduism interpreted innocently by children.

The games can be inspired by ritual activities, and so can the games into activity. For example, a ritual activity of sesuwunan (sanctified effigies) can then become a game such as in the mebarong-barongan (barong-

like game), and mengunying-ngunyingan. On the contrary, a game can become a ritual procession, like the making of barong bangkung (boar) that can become sesuwunan because it passes through trance process.

Nevertheless, playing traditional games is not a form of offering, but an activity to fulfill the desire to interact with other children, relieve

stress and saturation as well as grow creativity. More importantly, children can learn in their own environment. “Children of the past made the natural surroundings into a medium of their game. Certainly it is from the results of their creativity, not consumptive like many children do in the current era,” he explained. (kmb)

Forty Types of Medicine Prepared at Tamba Waras Temple

Various strange and mystical incidents occurred at this temple.

However, not all people have the capability of experiencing them.

Probably, only ‘selected’ people can experience this spiritual sensation.

The Tamba Waras Temple or commonly known as the Tambo Waras holds its pujawali or festival every six months namely on Buda Umanis Perangbakat. At that time, many pilgrims come here to say prayers.

Nowadays, they are not only coming from Bali but also from outside Bali.

It is surely meant to invoke safety. There are two types of medicine

provided here, one medicine to be drunk and another to be scrubbed at location of the pain. Actually, there are approximately 40 types of medicine made in this temple area.

Location of the medicine making is called Bale Asep in the form of kitchen. One of the medicines produced at this temple is juuk linglang.

There is a mythical story accompanying the making of this medicine. It is said that in 2005, when an ngenteg linggih ritual was held, there was an offering maker who encountered a juwuk linglang or tangerine. It was then halved, strangely it exuded fire.

This tangerine was then mixed with some elements of fruit, herbs and oils.

Besides, there is a medicine known as manik sekecap made from honey bees. The honey is not taken from anywhere but from the chamber shrine where the bees make their nests. Likewise, there is lungsir pancawarna or multicolored sea snail. People who suffer from diseases of the eye, this medicine can be invoked at the Batu Coblong spring shrine. Another shrine is called swine shrine where people can invoke medicine for their livestock. (kmb)

IBP/kmb

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Bali News

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

International

Passenger increase occurs on December 16-24

DENPASAR — Based on the air traffic statistics of the Ngurah Rai International Airport, there was a surge of passengers. From December 18 to December 24, 2017, international passenger arrivals are moving up starting from 10,605 people, 12,346 people, 12,385 people, 13,679 people, 12,346 people, 15,000 people and 14,274 people.

Although the Mount Agung erupted again on Sunday (Dec. 24), the international flight arrived at the Ngurah Rai Airport was quite a lot amounting to 79 flights, while the number of arrival passengers reached 14,274 passengers. The number of domestic arrivals from December 18 to December 24, 2017 also moved up. They amounted to 12,614 people, 14,132 people, 15,366 people, 15,117 people, 17,122 people, 17,978 people and 17,383 people.

The number of international flight arrivals increased by 8.22 percent from last year (2016) only reaching 73 flights while the number of passengers decreased 2.15 percent compared to the previous year reaching 14,588. In the meantime, the number of domestic arrival flights increased by 11.82 percent compared to last year reaching 110 flights. Domestic passengers rose 0.03 percent compared to last year reaching 17,378 people.

Significant increase in traffic began to be seen on December 16 that reached 11,986 passengers. Meanwhile, earlier on December 15, the arrival of passengers only reached 5,976 people. The visit was dominated by Australian citizens.

Head of the Bali Tourism Promotion Board (BPPD), Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, said that although the number of domestic arrivals is more than international ones, they are not necessarily all tourists. “Even if they are tourists, they probably do not stay at hotel,” he said on Monday (Dec. 25). Conversely, the domestic visits using overland transportation modes are not recorded yet.

Head of the Bali Tourism Office, A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra, said that foreign tourist visit reaching around 14,000 people is a remarkable increase since the closing of the airport on November 27, 2017. The amount of 14,000 more does not even include Chinese airlines that have not flown yet to Bali.

Before the eruption of Mount Agung, the average arrival of foreign tourists to Bali approximately reached 15,000. “So, this is a great increase regarding the arrival of foreign tourists to Bali,” he said. In the meantime, the most foreign citizens making a visit to Bali cannot be ascertained. “The data by country of origin can only be known at the end of the month,” he added. (kmb42)

A.A. Gede Yuniartha Putra

IBP/kmb

13

Smoke rises from a burning building in Jecheon, South Korea, December 21, 2017.

IBP/kmb

The tug of war in mud organized at East Duda village, Selat, went smoothly even though the village belongs to disaster-prone area (KRB) located within 11 km from the peak of Mount Agung.

Mount Agung erupts, tug of war in mud continues

AMLAPURA - Mount Agung spewed volcanic ashes again begun with eruption on Sunday (Dec. 24) around 10:05. Similar to previous eruptions, the eruption did not affect the activities of Karangasem community. The tug of war in mud organized at East Duda village, Selat, went smoothly even though the village belongs to disaster-prone area (KRB) located within 11 km from the peak of Mount Agung.

Such tug of war in mud is a regular activity in East Duda village.

The competition is held at Subak Pesangkan paddy field, on the edge of Jalan Gajah Mada, a new bypass road in East Duda. This year’s contest is also filled with a pillow fight contest in the mud held in as series of celebrating the anniversary of East Duda village.

The eruption spewing bursts of volcanic ashes as high as 3,000 meters virtually did not affect the course of the contest. Conversely, the residents thronging the venue precisely even seriously immortalized such rare moment with their camera phone. After that, this year’s contest inaugurated by Regent of Karangasem, IGA Mas Sumatri, still continued. Though being hit by drizzles at that early morning, it did not discourage participants to win.

Mas Sumatri appreciated to the spirit showed by residents of the East Duda even though they are in a concerned condition. According to her, the tug of war in mud attrac-

tion is also evidence that Bali and Karangasem are still safe to be visited. The prone and warning areas are those located within the radius of 10 km. “At the same time, this activity proves that Karangasem is still safe, so it remains worth visiting,” she said Mas Sumatri hoped the residents in the safe radius can do their activities as usual. Meanwhile, those in the red zone should follow the government’s appeal to evacuate.

“We have prepared logistics and other standard needs,” she said.

The tug of war in mud contest was followed 18 male and female teams from nine hamlets across East Duda. “The tug of war contest has been held for several times. The anniversary of our village falls on July 27, but we celebrate it at the end of the year when starting our planting season,” said headman of East Duda, I Gede Pawana.

Pawana said that his village belongs to KRB I. At the first warning alert status, East Duda residents already fled to Paksebali, Klung-

kung. However, currently they do not evacuate because the village is outside the radius of 10 km.

This chief of Mount Agung Security Brotherhood stated the current contest is very special.

Other than happening amid the shadow of Mount Agung eruption, the contest was also attended

by Regent of Karangasem, Mas Sumatri and CEO of Bank BNI for Bali, NTB and NTT Region, Putu B. Kresna. This event is also special as it becomes a campaign that Karangasem is safe.

Meanwhile, Division Head of Easter Region Volcano, Devy Kamil Syahbana, admitted that Mount Agung erupted on Saturday at 10:05. The eruption lasted for 115 seconds. In addition, it was also followed by tremor with amplitude of 1-4 mm and dominance of 1 mm. In the meantime, all day long on Monday, the information from Magma-VAR stated there is just a blast. Mount Agung remains in level IV (warning) with a radius of 8 - 10 km. (kmb)

Yonhap via REUTERS

Building owner, manager arrested in South Korean fire that killed 29

SEOUL - South Korean police have arrested the owner and the manager of a building where 29 people died in a fire last week, accusing the pair of multiple safety lapses, including blocked exits and malfunctioning sprinkler systems.

On Thursday, a fire ripped through an eight-story high-rise in the small city of Jecheon. At least 20 of the victims were women who were overcome by toxic fumes in a secondfloor sauna.

Jecheon police have only identified the owner by his last name of Lee, and the manager by his last name of Kim. Both men are in custody in Jecheon after being arrested on Sunday, police announced on Tuesday.

Lee faces two charges of violating fire safety regulations and committing involuntary homicide by professional negligence, while Kim

also faces the involuntary homicide charge.

If convicted of involuntary homicide, Lee and Kim could face up to five years in prison or 20 million won ($16,000) in fines.

“The sprinkler system on the building’s first floor did not work properly when the fire erupted,” a police detective, who asked not to be named as he was not authorized to speak on an ongoing investigation, told Reuters. “If the sprinkler system worked, the fire probably would not have spread as fast as it did.”

Police said on Tuesday that Lee has retained a lawyer but declined

to name the lawyer or firm. Police said Kim has not yet hired a lawyer.

Photos released by the Yonhap news agency showed a smokestained stairwell and a fire exit filled with shelves and supplies on the second floor, where most of the deaths occurred.

“The emergency exit on the building’s second floor was blocked by iron shelves and other miscellaneous items,” the detective confirmed.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the conflagration.

According to police, both Kim and Lee had denied reports they were trying to remove ice on the ceiling

of the first floor, where the fire appeared to have originated, but later changed their statements after police confronted them with evidence.

The Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper reported on Tuesday that Lee had at one point told police he did not alert the women in the sauna because they were undressed, however, the police detective told Reuters he could not confirm that as investigations were ongoing.

Anger mounted over the weekend at reports of shoddy construction, broken doors, blocked roads and other problems that may have contributed to the deaths.

A number of cars parked along the narrow roads around the building impeded the ability of firefighters to reach the fire, an official with the

Jecheon fire department told Reuters, but noted that none of the parked vehicles appeared to have violated parking rules.

“Although vehicles can park there legally, it was quite difficult for fire trucks to go through to get to the scene, because the road was too narrow,” said the fire official, who declined to be named as he was not authorised to speak publicly.

Visiting the scene on Friday, President Moon Jae-in promised a full investigation.

“The government as a whole will thoroughly probe this accident’s cause and process of response, and although after the fact, the investigation and measures will be such that, at least, there will not be lingering deep sorrow,” he said. (rtr)

Vietnam escapes damage after typhoon takes heavy toll in Philippines HANOI - A storm that battered the Philippines killing more than 230 people in floods and landslides lost its power on Tuesday as it passed over Vietnam where hundreds of thousands had taken cover.

Vietnam, like the Philippines, is regularly battered by typhoons that form over the warm waters of the Pacific and barrel westwards

into land.

The storm entered Vietnamese water but weakened to a tropical depression and did not cause any casualties, the disaster prevention committee said.

The government had ordered that oil rigs and vessels be protected and it warned that about 62,000 fishing boats should not venture out to sea. (rtr)

Reuters/Erik De Castro

The remains of a passenger boat capsized during a typhoon last month is pictured overlooking passenger boats near the shore after all ferry service were cancelled, a day after a Philippine vessel was capsized because of bad weather in Infanta, Quezon in the Philippines, December 22, 2017.

14

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Technology

International

Bali News

International

3

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Emergency response revoked

Parliament asks govt to still help refugees

REUTERS/Boom Supersonic Handout via REUTERS

An artist’s impression shows Boom’s 55-seat supersonic aircraft (below) and Boom’s XB-1 supersonic demonstrator in this undated handout obtained by Reuters December 4, 2017.

Sonic boom or bust?

Dreams of super-fast jet travel revival face headwinds

Supersonic passenger travel, which died out with the Concorde’s demise in 2003, will make a comeback by the mid-2020s if three entrepreneurial U.S.-based companies can make jets quiet and efficient enough to win over buyers and fliers.

Fifteen years ago, Boeing Co cancelled plans to build the near-supersonic Sonic Cruiser, the last big attempt by a major manufacturer to speed up commercial travel.

Now Japan Airlines Co Ltd and Virgin Group are backing one of the three U.S. supersonic projects, Denver-based Boom Technology Inc, which plans a 55-seat all business class jet.

Lockheed Martin Corp is partnering with Aerion Corp to develop smaller supersonic business jets, with Spike Aerospace Inc also targeting the private jet market given many see the super-rich as the likeliest early adopters of supersonic travel.

Concorde was developed in the 1960s, meaning this is hardly a new technology. But the programme was government-backed, with only 14 jets ever delivered to then-government owned British Airways and Air France. Other airline orders evaporated as the purchase price soared and they were eventually retired as maintenance costs rose and passenger revenue fell.

New players are relying on venture capital funding models.

“This is more about engines and economics than it is about airframes,” Richard Aboulafia, the vice president of analysis at aerospace research firm Teal Group, said of the challenges of a supersonic revival.

To make the project economics stack up the engines need to be far more fuel efficient and less noisy than those used by Concorde or fighter jets.

That has proven tough to engineer, especially at higher speeds like the Concorde’s Mach 2, which halved the travel time from London to New York to 3.5 hours.

‘REALISTIC PROJECT’

Engine manufacturers and jet makers have spent decades improving fuel efficiency, expanding range and reducing noise.

But to get up to mach speed, a supersonic jet requires an engine core more like those on the commercial jets of the 1970s and 1980s which noisily gobble more air and fuel.

“A large fraction of the benefits we have in efficiency and noise reduction we are going to lose as soon as we have to go back to that sort of architecture,” said Daniel EdgingtonMitchell, an aerospace engineering lecturer at Melbourne’s Monash University.

Aerion, the most advanced of the proposed supersonic jet projects, is working with GE Aviation to develop an engine based on a core used in F-16 fighters and Boeing 737s that was developed in the 1970s, a GE spokesman said.

In a sign of the challenges involved using an older engine core rather than spending $1 billion-plus to engineer a new one, Aerion has reduced the jet’s planned speed from Mach 1.6 to 1.4.

Today’s top business jets fly at around Mach 0.9 and commercial jets at Mach 0.85.

Jeff Miller, Aerion’s head of marketing, said the speed had fallen to meet noise standards and due to temperature limits involved with adapting an existing engine core.

Aerion, chaired by billionaire businessman Robert Bass, plans for the 12-seat, $120 million jet to make its first test flight in 2023, with entry into service in 2025.

“Aerion has researched the problems since 2003 and therefore reached the highest degree of realism,” Leeham Co analyst Bjorn Fehrm said, comparing it to the loftier supersonic ambitions of Boom and Spike. “If one wants to go faster, a suitable core is harder to find.”

FASTER IS BETTER

Boom wants a $200 million jet capable of Mach 2.2 and Spike aims for a $100 million jet at Mach 1.6, down from an earlier Mach 1.8.

Both want their jets to enter service in 2023, two years earlier than Aerion.

Several industry sources said those timelines appeared unrealistic because the companies have yet to select engines and

will face testing and certification challenges.

Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said the company was examining an adaptation of an existing engine as well as a clean-sheet option, with more to say next year. Spike CEO Vik Kachoria said his company was in talks with two engine suppliers. Both are working on smaller demonstrator aircraft with different engines designed to prove the concept is achievable within their proposed timeframes.

Engine maker Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC said it was interested in supersonic work. United Technologies Corp’s Pratt & Whitney division said it was “not currently” working with Boom and did not respond to a question on Spike, while GE did not provide comment on either project.

Scholl said airlines need a speed of at least Mach 2 to make the supersonic business case stake up because that would shave one day off a trans-Atlantic itinerary and two days off transPacific trips. For now, only over-water itineraries are under consideration due to widespread bans on civilian supersonic flights over land.

“Faster speeds not only are better for passengers, they are better for airlines, who get to turn the plane around and fly more segments in the same day, possibly even with the same crew,” Scholl said.

Japan Airlines and Virgin Group, which declined to comment, have a combined 30 options over Boom jets, with three other as-yet-unnamed customers signed on for another 46.

Former British Airways chief Concorde pilot Mike Bannister said the biggest hurdle for Boom was to develop jets at a price that would stack up for airlines, or early orders would evaporate as they had with Concorde.

“The technical challenges, whilst great, are surmountable,” said Bannister, who was the captain of the last-ever commercial Concorde flight and has advised Boom’s team.

“It is an absolute delight to be able to see on the horizon the prospect of another supersonic airliner, particularly for my family because my daughter who is 24 is a commercial pilot. I would love to see my daughter flying it.” (rtr)

DENPASAR — The emergency response status of Mount Agung disaster has been revoked. However, the rights of refugees from disasterprone areas (KRB) should still be given. Aside from the matter of rice and side dishes, the ease for health treatment and the opportunity to continue their school should still be given.

“So, their rights may not get disturbed. The status is revoked but refugees still get their rights from the government,” said Chairman of Commission IV of the Bali House of Representatives, Nyoman Parta, when asked for his confirmation on Saturday (Dec. 23).

Similar opinion was submitted by a member of Commission I of the Bali House of Representatives from Karangasem electoral district, I Nyoman Oka Antara. The assistance to the Mount Agung refugees must continuously be given though the emergency response status has been revoked considering that Mount Agung remains at level IV or warning so that it is impossible for refugees to return home. Besides, they are not able to work maximally as in normal circumstances.

“The assistance remains to be provided until the alert level is back to normal. On the other hand, the president’s policy (revoking emergency response status—Ed) is very good. Thus, foreign guests are no longer afraid to go to Bali.

It means if the tourism is normal, automatically the economy of Bali is not paralyzed,” added this PDI-P politician.

According to Oka Antara, probably there will be more ‘victims’ if the president does not issue a policy to revoke the emergency response status considering the majority of Balinese people are working in tourism sector. If tourists do not dare to come to Bali because of emergency disaster response status, the layoff will happen everywhere.

“They can lose their jobs, the unemployment will increase,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nengah Tamba, said the government needs to think about short-, mid- and longterm plans related to the refugee handlings because no one can make sure how long the eruption of Mount Agung will last. When president decides to revoke the emergency response status of the disaster, surely the risk has also been considered.

“If president has stated so, we cannot do anything. Of course, president has considered the risk.

Now, do not just think about logistics issues (clothing and food—Ed), the most important thing is how to

recover the refugee mentality,” said this Democratic politician.

After getting a funding worth IDR 100 billion from central government, Tamba requested that the funds will not only be used for tourism promotion purposes but also for coping with the losses that may be experienced by tourists if the airport is closed again. According to him, tourists should be given good services when to be diverted to alternative harbor or airport.

“Yesterday, there was an incident where tourists were dropped off as such at Gilimanuk with three big suitcases in tired conditions.

They had to carry the suitcase to a ferry. This is a small thing, but has something to do with humanity. We should think about this. Other than giving discounts, they must also be provided with good treatment while on the journey,” explained this politician from Jembrana.

Tamba added that tourism promotion is not only done in the country. However, it must also involve travel journalists around the world or large travel agencies. They can be invited to come to Bali to see the real condition of Mount Agung.

Though the eruption happens, it can still become a tourist attraction when viewed from a safe radius. In addition, Bali also needs to think about the international cruise ship harbor as an alternative route for tourist who comes by sea other than by air.

As previously reported, the emergency response status of Mount Agung has been revoked according to the result of limited working meeting of president, vice president, and his ministers in Werdhapura, Sanur, on Friday night (Dec. 22). However, Mount Agung remains in warning alert level (level IV). This policy is taken to show off to the world that Bali is safe and ready to receive foreign tourists. Bali is even disbursed with fund worth IDR 100 billion for tourism promotion on a large scale for a quarter. (kmb32)

Nyoman Parta

IBP/kmb

IBP/kmb

Large-sized Trans Sarbagita bus with capacity of 55 passengers will soon be changed into medium-sized bus with 35 passengers.

Trans Sarbagita buses reduced to ten units from January 1

DENPASAR — Large-sized Trans Sarbagita bus with capacity of 55 passengers will soon be changed into medium-sized bus with 35 passengers. The number will be reduced as well from 25 units to 10 units only. This policy is scheduled to come into force as of January 1, 2018.

“The buses are now in the office. Police plate, registration and roadworthy certificate have been issued and all the Trans Sarbagita buses will be replaced with 10 units of new buses,” said the Head of the Bali Transportation Agency, IGA Sudarsana, when confirmed on Monday (Dec. 25).

Currently, added Sudarsana, there are 15 units of large-sized buses operated in Corridor II serving Batu Bulan - Nusa Dua route. Furthermore, all the buses will be replaced with five units of medium-sized bus.

Then, in Corridor I serving Denpasar City-GWK route having operated 10 units of medium-sized bus will be

replaced with five units of new buses of the same size.

This efficiency effort is estimated to save the budget worth up to IDR 11 billion from the previous ones of IDR 17 billion. “Later on, the corridor I will be temporarily served to Udayana, while for the route to GWK in 2018 will be temporarily stopped while the studies are being done,” he added.

Sudarsana added the buses will be operated from 06:00 until 20:00 Local Time, while at this time, they remain to depart at 05:00 and end at 21:00 Local Time.

When separately confirmed, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, I.B. Gede Udiyana, said that ideally Trans Sarbagita operation is timely, safe, convenient and cheap. Therefore, he agreed with the evaluation results from the Transportation Agency as long as the routes to be served should be clear, too.

“Whatever to be decided by the transportation agency must pass through an in-depth study, the evaluation may not even result in problems,” he said. (kmb32)

2

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Bali News

International

Activities

International

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

15

On Christmas and New Year holiday

Ngurah Rai Airport filled with passengers

MANGUPURA — On Christmas and New Year holidays, Ngurah Rai Airport began to be crowded with passengers. Moreover, after the opening of the Christmas and New Year integrated hospitality desk on Monday (Dec. 18) until day one before Christmas or Sunday (Dec. 24), the number of passengers was recorded to reach 371,664 people by a total of 2,811 flights.

Legal Section Head of Ngurah Rai Airport, Arie Ahsanurrohim, said on Monday (Dec. 25), the data on day one before Christmas indicated the number of passengers arriving at Ngurah Rai Airport has increased.

Then, the number of domestic passengers showed an increase of 0.3 percent on the same day from 17,378 last year to 17,383 this year. However, the departures decreased -9.96 percent on the same day from 14,273 last year to 12,852 this year. The number of domestic flight arrivals increased by 11.82 percent on the same day from 110 flights in 2016 to 123 flights this year.

“In the meantime, the departure of flight this year also showed an increase, from 116 flights last year to 125 flights this year on the same day, with an increase of 7.76 percent,” he concluded.

For international flights, the arrival increased by 8.22 percent on the same day from 73 flights last year to 79 flights this year. Likewise, the departure also increased by 14.86 percent from 74 flights last year to 85 flights this year. Although the number of flights increased, there was a decrease in the number of passengers. Arrival passengers decreased by -2.15 percent on the same day from 14,588 passengers last year to 14,274 passengers this year. Likewise, the departure also showed a decrease in passengers by -1.40 percent on the same day from 9,042 passengers last year to

8,915 passengers this year.

The total flight traffic on day one before Christmas reached 412 and showed an increase of 10.46 percent compared to last year reaching 373 flights. Meanwhile, the number of passengers on day one before Christmas showed a decrease of -3.36 percent, from 55,281 passengers last year to 53,424 passengers this year.

Regarding the extra flight, there were seven arrival flights and seven departure flights.

In order to enliven the Christmas, Ngurah Rai Airport presents ‘Snowy Christmas.’ For this purpose, the management of PT Angkasa Pura I (Persero) changed the decoration of terminal with various Christmasthemed decorations. Decoration of the terminals with Christmas nuance including hanging decorations in the form of snowflakes, a series of pine spruce completed with bells to Christmas tree ornaments have been installed and enjoyed by passengers since early December. “On this celebration, we feature the concept of white Christmas on Tropical Island. There is large diorama of a snowy snowman and this becomes an interesting photo spot for passengers,” said Arie.

Peak of Christmas celebration at Ngurah Rai Airport was held on December 24-25, 2017. The passengers that would depart can enjoy a variety of exciting entertainment such as Saxophone Acoustic Band, choir group, magic games, facial painting and Santa & Santa Girl in action.

To complement the Snowy Christmas activities, passengers could also interact directly by participating in the interesting games such as Snowy Basketball as well as Play with Snowman. “We have been presenting thematic event consistently since 2013. This year, we especially dedicate to support the government programs in improving tourism,” he added. (kmb23)

IBP/kmb23

On Christmas and New Year holidays, Ngurah Rai Airport began to be crowded with passengers.

IBP/olo

Domestic tourist arrivals from Java to Bali through KetapangGilimanuk Harbor have showed an increase since the past week.

Domestic tourist visit on the rise

NEGARA — Domestic tourist arrivals from Java to Bali through Ketapang-Gilimanuk Harbor have showed an increase since the past week. As observation on this weekend, the vehicles from outside Bali coming into Bali also began to experience a surge.

From the production data of Christmas Transportation 2017 and New Year 2018, day one before the celebration or December 24 until December 25 from Ketapang to Gilimanuk Harbor, the vessels operating reached 33 units or rose 6 percent from 2016 that were only 31 units. The number of passengers amounted to 31,100 people or rose by 1 percent from last year reaching 30,894 people.

The number of motorcycles reached 2,240 units or downed 2 percent from last year that reached 2,288 units, car reached 4,669 units or increased by 4 percent from last year reaching 4,486 units.

Meanwhile, the number of passengers having been crossed from Ketapang Harbor from day seven until day one before the celebration amounted to 189,672 people or dropped 8 percent compared to last year reaching 206,159 people, 12,938 cars that fell by 22 percent from last year reaching 16,532 units and 30,129 units of car with a decrease of 4 percent from last year reaching 31,432 units.

Business Manager of Gilimanuk Harbor, Heru Wahyono, when asked for his confirmation said there has been an increase in passengers coming into Bali since entering school holidays. According to him, when compared to normal days, there has been an increase.

On normal days, there are averagely 18,000 passengers per day crossing from Ketapang Harbor to Gilimanuk Harbor.

According to him, the increase mostly occurs in private cars and

buses. Until now, the traffic remains smooth and there is no accumulation and queue in Ketapang.

However, the queue is predicted to happen in the backflow later on.

In the meantime, the data of ASDP indicate the number of passengers departing through Gilimanuk Harbor from day seven until day one before the celebration reached 177,804 people or fell 0.2 percent compared to last year reaching 178,175 people, 14,085 motorcycles or an increase of 7 percent from last year reaching 13,777 units and 27,764 cars or dropped 0.1 percent from last year reaching 27,797 units.

Tightened

To anticipate unwanted things, the ranks of Jembrana Police have increased the number of personnel deployed at the entrance of western Bali from Saturday (Dec. 23).

By and large, they only assign 30 personnel but now more than 100 personnel each day including the deployment of long-barreled armed forces from Detachment C Mobile Brigade of Bali Police.

Chief of Jembrana Police, Priyanto Priyo Hutomo, said that security upgrades at Gilimanuk Harbor are conducted in order to more thoroughly supervise the traffic of vehicles, people and goods entering Bali as well as those coming out of Bali. This is to anticipate the entry of hazardous substances such as drugs and explosives that can disrupt the security during Christmas and New Year holidays in Bali.

He also added that tightening of the security both at entry and exit gates of Bali is expected to prevent the escape of criminals and hazardous materials such as explosives that can disrupt the security when residents are celebrating Christmas and New Year holidays. (kmb26)

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Desa Visesa Ubud Is Bali Leading Green Resort 2017/18

Desa Visesa Ubud was named Bali Leading Green Resort by the ITTA Foundation at the Bali Tourism Awards 2017/18. This year’s award featured an extraordinary list of travel brands across the Indonesian tourism industry with outstanding quality and creativity of entries. The winners were voted online with 51,000++ votes from 15 countries. Organized by the ITTA Foundation since 2015,

Bali Tourism Awards celebrates the achievements of the entire tourism and hospitality industry in Bali. Located in a scenic area said to have a unique holistic energy, Visesa Ubud is a sanctuary exuding stillness and balance, a sacred place where traditional Balinese ceremonies and daily life are still very much celebrated.

Visesa Ubud boasts 106 villas and suites and exudes the many charms and healing ambient of Ubud from

its generous 6.5-hectare site.

Desa Visesa Ubud is a culturally inspired property designed to capture the essence of a Balinese village and satisfy curiosity about daily life on the island. The resort provides a unique opportunity to connect with a wealth of Balinese rituals and heritage. Honoring past traditions, Visesa offers a brand new level of luxury with soul.

Located in a scenic area said

to have a unique holistic energy, Visesa Ubud is a resort of choice for meditation, spiritual retreats and healing senses. Privileged sanctuary exuding stillness and balance, Visesa is a sacred place where traditional Balinese ceremonies and real daily life are celebrated.

Offerings and prayers converging towards the resort majestic temple pervade the entire property with an atmosphere of spiritual harmony.

The 66 villas and 40 suites of the Visesa Ubud radiate the charm and soothing ambience of the surrounding countryside. On a generous 6.5 hectare site with rice fields on the room doorsteps, the resort aims at retaining Ubud reputation as a privileged place to reboot mind, spirit and body for an entire new generation of Bali visitors.Banjar Bentuyung Sakti, Jalan Suweta, Ubud Bali | Ph: +62 361 209 1788 | www.visesaubud.com

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 17 10th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Netflix aims to make ’Bright’ a living room blockbuster

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

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

LOS ANGELES - Netflix Inc’s new movie “Bright” features the key ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster: an A-list actor, an experienced director, and special effects that light up the screen during shootouts and car chases. Very few cinemas, however, will be showing the fantasy thriller starring Will Smith when it debuts on Friday. Netflix will instead release the movie to the company’s 109 million streaming customers around the world to watch at home.

Although Netflix has released smaller, less expensive original films this way, “Bright” is more of a gamble. The movie, set in Los Angeles in a world where orcs, elves and other fantastic creatures co-exist with humans, cost more than $90 million to make, and it is the kind of rich, cinematic action movie traditionally generally considered best on the giant screen.

At the red-carpet premiere for “Bright” in Los Angeles, its star said he wondered how audiences would react to seeing the film on televisions or mobile devices.

“There’s an emotional overwhelming that happens when you watch something in a movie theater with 400 people, right?”

Smith said. He noted the film had production values as high as any of his other big movies, but asked: “Does it penetrate in the same way?”

Netflix argues that today’s internet-ready TVs and surround sound systems can provide a the-

ater-quality experience at home.

The company encourages filmmakers to consider using video technology called high dynamic range, which brightens images and makes details stand out, and the latest sound from Dolby Laboratories Inc. Both were used in “Bright.”

At a new production space and offices in Hollywood, Netflix employs a color scientist and other technical experts to help filmmakers incorporate innovations. The company began promoting “Bright” on the streaming service back in March, much earlier than usual.

Utilizing its extensive data about viewer tastes, it began showing movie trailers at that time to targeted subscribers. The promotions go only to customers who Netflix considers likely to enjoy the film based on their viewing history, Chris Jaffe, vice president of user interface innovation, told reporters earlier this month. The company’s computer algorithm

IBP/rtr

Bright is one of Netflix’s biggest gambits yet – a big-budget, fantasy thriller, with a major star (Will Smith), and now plans to release it in cinemas. looks at more than 100 factors to identify those subscribers, he said.

“Bright” will also be released initially in two theaters in the United States and 10 in Britain.

Most major chains have refused to show Netflix movies because of the company’s practice of releasing films at the same time online and

in theaters. Movies from traditional studios typically run exclusively in cinemas for about three months. It will be difficult to gauge if “Bright” is a hit, because Netflix does not disclose viewership data.

While the filmmakers might have liked a wider run in theaters for “Bright,” they were impressed

by Netflix’s ability to release the film simultaneously in homes around the world, producer Bryan Unkeless said. “Bright” will be subtitled in 26 languages and dubbed in nine of them. “The global scope that Netflix offers was a huge plus for us,” Unkeless said. (rtr) Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Sputnik via REUTERS

Facebook, Universal Music strike multi-year licensing deal

Facebook Inc and Universal Music Group on Thursday announced a global agreement that will enable users to upload videos featuring music from Universal’s library across the social media network as well as Instagram and Oculus. Through the agreement, which is Facebook’s first with a major record label, the social

media company will no longer have to require users to take down videos featuring music from Universal’s catalog due to copyright infringement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Facebook’s deal with Universal Music Group comes as the world’s largest social media site is making a

big push into video to keep users on its site and attract advertisers.

Earlier this year it launched its Watch video service, which features shows from the likes of Buzzfeed, Discovery Communications as well as some sports like Major League Baseball.

The partnership comes days after

Bloomberg reported that YouTube had signed a long-term agreement with Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. (https:// bloom.bg/2yYCYPs) The licensing deal could help Facebook better compete with Alphabet Inc’s YouTube since music videos are the most popular category

on the site, said Brian Wieser, an analyst at Pivotal Research. “With this deal, Facebook has licensed content from the biggest player in the biggest genre of video on YouTube,” he said. The multi-year agreement with Universal will be expanded to include Facebook Messenger, Universal said. (rtr)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and governor of Tula region Alexei Dyumin take part in a gala match of the Night Hockey league at an ice rink in Red Square in Moscow, Russia December 22, 2017. Picture taken December 22, 2017.

Putin critic Navalny barred from Russian presidential election

MOSCOW - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred on Monday from running in next year’s presidential election after officials ruled he was ineligible to take part due to a suspended prison sentence he says was trumped up. The decision by the central election commission was widely expected as election officials had repeatedly declared Navalny would be ineligible to run. Twelve members of the 13-member commission voted to bar Navalny. One member abstained, citing a possible conflict of interest.

Navalny, 41, who polls show would struggle to beat incumbent Vladimir Putin in the March election, said he would appeal and called on his supporters to boycott the election and campaign

against it being held. “We knew this could happen, and so we have a straight-forward, clear plan,” Navalny said in a pre-recorded video released immediately after the decision.

“We announce a boycott of the election. The process in which we are called to participate is not a real election. It will feature only Putin and the candidates which he has personally selected.” Navalny said

he would use his campaign headquarters across Russia to support the boycott and monitor turnout on voting day, March 18.

Polls show Putin, 65, who has dominated Russia’s political landscape for the last 17 years, is on course to be comfortably re-elected, making him eligible to serve another six years until 2024, when he turns 72.

Allies laud Putin as a father-ofthe-nation figure who has restored

national pride and expanded Moscow’s global clout with interventions in Syria and Ukraine.

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