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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Carey returns to ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

An ambulance is seen during medical evacuation from the besieged town of Douma, eastern Ghouta to Damascus, Syria December 26, 2017. Picture taken December 26, 2017.

NEW YORK — Mariah Carey is determined to have a better New Year’s Eve than in 2016 — she is returning to “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” after last year’s debacle.

The Grammy-winning singer’s live performance in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2016 was marked by problems. She was visibly upset and at points stopped singing, despite a pre-recorded track playing in the background. The performance went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Afterward, Carey posted a meme of herself on social media with the message “(expletive happens).” But it also led to a public spat between the best-selling singer and dick clark productions as to who was at fault, with Carey’s camp charging sabotage with technical glitches, including faulty ear piece, and dick clark productions denying the claims and charging she hadn’t rehearsed

enough. Now, both sides have kissed and made up.

“We can all agree that last year didn’t go exactly as planned and we are thrilled to move forward together to provide America with an incredible night of music and celebration on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018,” a joint statement released to The Associated Press said.

“See you in Times Square!”

Other performers already announced for the live Times Square performances include Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland.

Carey was the first live headline performer in Times Square for the longtime special in 2005, and that performance went seamlessly. (afp)

This file photo taken on December 31, 2016 shows Mariah Carey performing during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square in New York. The pop diva confirmed that she will return to Times Square in New York to ring in 2018, a year after she was humiliated by technical issues at the annual televised ball-drop.

ANGELA WEISS / AFP

Fifth Woman Accuses Danny Masterson of Rape

Danny Masterson and Bobette Riales in 2003.

IBP/net

LOS ANGELES - Declaring that she “stayed quiet long enough,” a fifth woman has come forward to say Danny Masterson raped her.

Bobette Riales wrote on Twitter Wednesday that the former “That ’70s Show” actor repeatedly assaulted her sexually. “All I seek is justice,” she wrote.

Riales and Masterson appear to have been in a relationship in 2003.

A previous accuser, Chrissie

Carnell-Bixler, wrote back to praise Riales for coming forward. “He will never do this to another human being ever again,” she wrote.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told the New York Daily News that it has been investigating Masterson, 41, for nearly a year. But, according to HuffPost, the investigation stalled despite what one law enforcement official said was “overwhelming” evidence against the actor.

The first four allegations originate from incidents in the early 2000s. At least three of the accusers, like Masterson, were Scientologists, HuffPost reported.

Masterson has denied the allegations.

Earlier this month, Netflix told HuffPost it had written Masterson out of its show “The Ranch,” and that he would not be returning “as a result of ongoing discussions.”

(IBP/net)

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Medical evacuations begin from Syria’s Eastern Ghouta -ICRC

REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh

GENEVA - Medical evacuations have begun from the Syrian rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta to Damascus, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria said early on Wednesday. Almost 400,000 people in Eastern Ghouta are besieged by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, and the United Nations has pleaded for his government to allow evacuation of around 500 patients, including children with cancer.

The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said four patients were taken to hospitals in Damascus, the first of 29 critical cases approved for medical evacuation, and the remainder would be evacuated over the coming days.

SAMS advocacy manager Mohamad Katoub said in a tweet that

five had been approved for the first group of evacuations, part of a deal on an exchange of detainees between Assad’s government and rebel group Jaish al-Islam. It was not clear why only four of the five had left.

The Syrian Red Crescent said the evacuations were the result of “long negotiations”. An ICRC

spokeswoman declined to give more details, citing the sensitivity of the operation.

On Sunday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was working with Russia, Assad’s ally, on the evacuations. Last week Jan Egeland, the United Nations humanitarian adviser for Syria, said 494 people were

on the priority list for medical evacuations.

“That number is going down, not because we are evacuating people but because they are dying,” he said. “We have tried now every single week for many months to get medical evacuations out, and food and other supplies in.” The United Nations has been waiting for months for the Syrian authorities to provide “facilitation letters” to allow the aid operation to get under way.

Forces loyal to Assad have carried out air raids on Eastern

Ghouta, while besieged rebels have fired mortars into neighbouring Damascus. “That has nothing to do with the right of evacuating, and obligation to evacuate civilians (and) wounded,” Egeland said. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Bali News

International

Activities

International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

15

Christmas and New Year holidays, traffic on toll road increases

IBP/Manik

Hundreds of residents participated in the mapeed tradition held in a series of pujawali (temple anniversary) at Dalem Gede Temple of Sukawati

Peed tradition of Sukawati maintains its fashion style

GIANYAR - Hundreds of residents participated in the mapeed tradition held in a series of pujawali (temple anniversary) at Dalem Gede Temple of Sukawati on Anggara Kliwon Tambir on Tuesday (Dec. 26). Aside from being a sacred activity, the tradition adorning every anniversary of trinity temples of Sukawati village is also held by maintaining Balinese customary fashion with the typical style of Sukawati village.

Hundreds of male and female residents walked in pair and dressed in Balinese makeup and fashion ranging from children, teenagers, housewives coalesced into PKK group to the elderly. They were enthusiastic to walk from Dalem Temple to Beji Cengcengan Temple of Sukawati village bordered with Guwang village.

Sacred value of this tradition lies in the purpose of mepeed namely picking up holy water at Taman Beji Temple.

Furthermore, this holy water will be used for ritual in the temple anniversary that lasted for four days until Friday (Dec. 29). “So during the pujawali, the mapeed procession is held every day in the afternoon,” said Chief of Sukawati customary village, I Nyoman Suwantha, on Tuesday.

Like the mepeed procession elsewhere, at Sukawati village it began with rows of lolentakan, umbrella, pasepan and other ritual paraphernalia, while male or

female residents in Balinese makeup and fashion were in the middle. In the rear, the participants of the mapeed were accompanied with baleganjur gamelan orchestra.

Different hamlets were involved in the four-day mapeed tradition. At Sukawati, there is a term known as krama penyatusan. “We have 12 hamlets which coalesced into 4 satusan (group), where on the first day was the turn of Tebuana, then Palak on the second day, Telabah on the third day and Gelumpang on the last day,” he explained.

Chief of customary village, I Nyoman Suwantha, affirmed that mepeed on every temple anniversary must always be held. In addition to maintaining the tradition, it also serves as cultural preservation.

He also always reminded his residents to maintain the makeup and fashion having become the typical styles of Sukawati. One is them is the use of rear kancut for adult women. “Balinese makeup and fashion style indeed have dynamic nature. In the past, they were dominated by modified style, but now we gradually start to improve,” he explained.

He also involved specifically the association of customary village apparatus spouse to provide coaching for residents that would participate in the mapeed.

They were asked to promote Balinese makeup and fashion with the simple style of Sukawati. “So, in terms of cost, it is affordable to all levels of society,” he added. (kmb35)

M A NG U P U R A - D u r i n g Christmas and New Year holidays, vehicle traffic passing through the Bali Mandara Toll Road began to increase. This condition can be said to start improving after the decrease occurred in October and November.

President Director of PT Jasamarga Bali Toll (JBT), Akhmad Tito Karim, confirmed on Tuesday (Dec. 26) that during October 2017 the traffic on Bali Mandara Toll Road decreased by 20 percent per day. This decrease is seen from the initial target of 53,000 vehicles per day, but only reached 43,000 vehicles per day. Meanwhile, in November it also decreased by 25 percent from the initial target of 53,000 vehicles per day and could only be realized as much as 38,000 vehicles per day.

Nevertheless, he said the condition has improved from December 22. The number of vehicles crossing the Bali Mandara Toll Road has begun to increase, even during the Christmas holidays. Last year, the number of vehicles crossing at

the end of the year reached 60,000 per day. For this year, the targets until the end of the year could surpass the last year’s target, at least reached the same amount. “Starting on December 22, there has been an increase. Hopefully, it will continue to increase until this yearend,” he hoped.

By this New Year, he begins to make preparations to deal with traffic spikes. One of them is by opening all the existing toll gates totally amounting to 20 toll gates.

Meanwhile, the ticket officers will also be added. “We will add the ticket officers. Other than from Jasa Marga, there are also from bank officers. Next, we will prepare e-toll card and top-up equipment at toll gates,” he said.

Previously, said Tito, his management has opened Christmas and New Year post to monitor traffic movement. Moreover, all the officers consisting of patrollers, ambulances, rescue, and crane vehicles will also be alerted. (kmb23)

The traffic in Bali Mandara Toll Road

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

 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

A PRECIOUS GOURMET GIFT “THE BÛCHE DE NOËL HIBIKI” AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT ANA INTERCONTINENTAL TOKYO

Looking for a unique gourmet indulgence to celebrate the holiday season? The world-class kitchen team at ANA InterContinental Tokyo has designed a limited edition series of ‘Bûche de Noël Hibiki’, packed with aromatic festive ingredients that are guaranteed to tantalise the taste buds.

ANA InterContinental Tokyo is now inviting guests and diners to place their advance orders for these decadent treats.

A Bûche de Noël – or yule log – is a chocolate roulade gâteau of French origin dating back to the 19th century. Nowadays, however, yule logs are defying convention and delighting the senses, becoming ever more refined and adventurous in terms of both creative design, decoration, and ingredients.

At ANA InterContinental Tokyo, Japanese aesthetics transform a traditional yule log into the Bûche de Noël Hibiki in the form of an edible whisky barrel generously infused with 120 cc of Suntory’s premium Hibiki 30 year old whisky. This rare and precious, award-winning Japanese whisky is a masterful blend of malt and grain whiskies matured at least 30 years in Suntory’s most treasured oak barrels.

The whisky-soaked, four-layer, chocolate sponge cake with praline nuts, has a mousseline centre of blended custard cream and traditional butter cream. The cake is

coated with marzipan and an outer covering of wood grain textured almond paste reminiscent of an oak whisky barrel complete with almond paste bilge hoops painted with silver pearl lustre-dust. The Bûche de Hibiki rests upon a butter cookie base.

This rich and extravagant set of ingredients, with the luscious buttery filling and alluring frosting, gives the cake a luxurious, moist yet firm texture, while the oak essences of the fine Hibiki whisky harmonise naturally with the chocolate elements and the almond paste. Exquisite woody aromas rise from the plate with the compelling taste of the Hibiki apparent in the very first bite, adding exceptional flavour and distinction to this creamy dream of a dessert.

Due to its bold infusion of whisky, the cake is not one for the kids but it’s the perfect grown-up way to top off Christmas Dinner or celebrate New Year’s Eve. Yet, the Bûche de Hibiki hasn’t only been created for the Festive Season. It is also a unique edible souvenir. Its quintessential Japanese ingredient and innovative decoration serving as a reminder for travellers of their visit to Tokyo. Exclusively created to impress and tantalise family, friends, and even work colleagues and clients, the Hibiki laced cake

will make any occasion special, delighting Dad on Father’s Day or any whisky lover on his or her birthday.

Please order your Bûche de Hibiki seven days in advance of your dinner reservation at ANA InterContinental Tokyo, and surprise your guests with this delicious

and sophisticated indulgence for dessert. Alternatively, visit the ‘Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux’ patisserie at the hotel, where it may be ordered – again, seven days in advance of your requirement. You will receive it packed to travel, sealed for freshness and ready to serve. The cakes are priced at

50,000 JPY each, inclusive of tax.

On a final note, ANA InterContinental Tokyo requests that guests and diners refrain from ordering for anyone who is legally underage. The high alcohol content also makes the cake unsuitable for those who are driving, or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Health

International

International

Girls’ early puberty tied to depression, behavior problems into adulthood

NEW YORK - Girls who go through puberty early could be more likely to experience depression and behavior problems that last into their 20s compared to peers who start menstruation later, a U.S. study suggests.

Researchers studied data on nearly 7,800 women who had their first menstrual cycle at an average age of 12. The women were interviewed four times, starting around age 16 and continuing until about age 28.

Girls who went through puberty earlier than most were more likely to become depressed, and their symptoms were also more severe in adolescence, the study found.

The younger the age at the first period, the stronger the association between early puberty and mental health problems; it was stronger for girls who started menstruation at age 8 than at age 10, for example.

With earlier puberty, girls were also more likely to have behavior issues that led to things like stealing, lying, breaking into buildings and selling drugs. The link lasted into young adulthood.

“Interestingly, the magnitude of the association between puberty and these psychological difficulties remains stable, meaning that puberty is as strongly associated with depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior during adulthood as it is during adolescence,” said lead study author Jane Mendle, a researcher at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

“This suggests that the psychological vulnerability of earlier puberty lingers longer than we previously

may have expected,” Mendle said by email. “It’s not simply a question of adolescent growing pains.”

Sweeping changes in biology, appearance, selfperception and emotion combine to make puberty one of the most pivotal phases of development during the life span, the researchers note in Pediatrics. Although puberty can be a challenging time for all adolescents, it can be a particularly vulnerable time for girls who physically mature ahead of their peers.

Because physical maturation is linked to changes in social roles and relationships, this has long been linked to difficulties coping with new changes and stressors in life as well as changes in the brain that can make youth exceptionally vulnerable to mental health and behavior difficulties.

Researchers examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative study that includes youth from a broad range of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The interviews examined in the current study were conducted in four waves from 1994 to 2008.

Questions focused on the timing of menstruation and also touched on symptoms of depression that the teens had experienced in the past week and the frequency of so-called anti-social behaviors like lying, stealing and dealing drugs.

Young women who experienced depression as adults may have been at risk because they were more likely to start experiencing these symptoms during adolescence and remained at risk over time, the study concludes. (rtr)

IBP/net

Girls who go through puberty early could be more likely to experience depression and behavior problems that last into their 20s compared to peers who start menstruation later, a U.S. study suggests.

One adult and two child patients suspected of diphtheria

IBP/net

People who left the house frequently at any of the ages examined were significantly more likely to live to the next age group.

DENPASAR — Three patients suspected to suffer diphtheria were taken to Sanglah Hospital. One of the three patients, NKSS, 30, from Karangasem, was taken to Sanglah Hospital on Sunday (Dec. 24).

Head of the Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya, said the three patients have the initials MDMP,1 year 7 months, a boy from Pemecutan, West Denpasar, NKSS, 30, a woman from Karangasem, and MDS, 4, a boy from Ubud, Gianyar.

“It is true they are suspects and require a laboratory examination.

Now, we are still waiting for the results within a few days,” he said on Monday (Dec. 25).

He explained that condition of patient MDMP from Denpasar has been getting better and the mem-

People who left the house frequently at any of the ages examined were significantly more likely to live to the next age group. For example, among people who left the house frequently, often or rarely at age 78, 71 percent, 67 percent and 43 percent, respectively, survived to age 85. Among people who left the house frequently, often or rarely at age 90, 64 percent, 56 percent and 38 percent, respectively, made it to 95.

At all ages, people who left home less frequently tended to be male, less educated and to have higher rates of loneliness, financial difficulties, poor health, fatigue, poor sleep, less physical activity, bladder and bowel problems, history of falling in the last year, fear of falling, visual and hearing impairments, chronic pain and frailty.

The link between leaving the house and longevity, however, remained after the researchers accounted for medical or mobility issues such as chronic pain, vision or hearing impairment, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and kidney disease.

“We included people who had mobility difficulties, so this isn’t just about people moving their legs up and down,” Jacobs said. “That’s quite exciting. There’s something about interacting with the world outside that helps.” (rtr)

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

branes have shrunk. After getting the results of lab examination, the patient was declared to be negative and allowed to go home.

Meanwhile, NKSS from Karangasem was scheduled to be provided with anti-diphtheria serum (ADS) on Tuesday. His agency will also come down to the field on Tuesday to conduct an epidemiological investigation by taking samples of people in contact with the suspect patients. “The physician treating MDSS namely Agus Somia reported that the patient is in stable condition,” he added.

Head of Public Relations Division of Sanglah Hospital, Dewa Ketut Kresna, added that MDMP and MDS came to Sanglah Hospital on December 22, while NKSS on December 24. (kmb42)

Leaving the house linked to longevity in older adults

FOR older people, getting out of the house regularly may contribute to a longer life - and the effect is independent of medical problems or mobility issues, according to new research from Israel.

For study participants in their 70s, 80s and 90s, the frequency with which they left the house predicted how likely they were to make it to the next age milestone, researchers report in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

“The simple act of getting out of the house every day propels people into engagement with the world,” said lead author Dr. Jeremy Jacobs of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem in a phone interview.

“We saw similar benefits that you’d expect from treating blood pressure or cholesterol with medicine,” Jacobs said. “Social factors are important in the process of aging.”

Jacobs and colleagues analyzed data on 3,375 adults at ages 70, 78, 85 and 90 who were participating in the Jerusalem Longitudinal Study.

Based on their responses to questions about how often they left the house, participants were grouped into three categories: frequently (six or seven days per week), often (two to five times per week) or rarely (once a week or less).

Bali News

IBP/kmb26

Some points are even deliberately taken advantage as a landfill by unscrupulous residents.

Garbage in TNBB forest threats conservation

NEGARA — Condition of mangrove forest in West Bali National Park (TNBB), especially on the border with the settlements in Gilimanuk, is apprehensive. Household garbage is scattered under the mangrove plants. This incident has happened for many times. Some points are even deliberately taken advantage as a landfill by unscrupulous residents.

Head of the Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya

IBP/kmb

As seen, several points at Gilimanuk and Sumbersari are often used as garbage disposal. Recently, on the roadside of Denpasar-Gilimanuk, precisely at Klatakan, a truck full of gypsum materials dumped on its debris on the roadside. Actually, the road section belongs to the TNBB area, and warning signs from disposing of garbage has been installed. “I saw it a few days ago, whereas there is a warning sign. Residue of gypsum is thrown there,” said Wira, a local resident.

Other than at Klatakan, the point often used for garbage disposal is in the mangrove forest bordering with Gilimanuk. “We have often reminded not to dispose of waste into mangrove forests because garbage container has been provided next to Gilimanuk terminal,” said a local officer on Sunday (Dec. 24).

However, unscrupulous residents often commit it secretly to avoid from being known by the officers and

choose to throw in the mangrove area. In addition to the roadside, the garbage is also much discarded in the mangrove forest area next to the Archaeological Museum. Thus, it can disrupt mangrove forests.

Previously, Division Head of TNBB Administrative Affairs, Wiryawan, admitted that high garbage volume also comes from Gilimanuk. This condition indirectly threatens the conservation area. Based on the data of 2017, the volume of garbage polluting the park area reached 11.1 tons. The data were obtained from the results of clean-up activities for 63 times by TNBB from February to October 2017. According to him, the garbage threatening the sustainability of this area originates from household waste of the surrounding villages and garbage carried by ocean currents and stranded on the beach area of TNBB. To anticipate the increasing volume of waste, he said the TNBB does cleanup activities as well as dissemination of environmental care to communities living around the park area. The park authority has also put up a signpost of appeal or prohibition from disposing of garbage at a number of points being prone to pile of garbage.

In 2018, the park authority will declare master plan activity of garbage control conducted by the waste control working group. (kmb26)

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Bali News

International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

International

13

South Korea says “comfort women” row with Japan unresolved despite 2015 deal

SEOUL - A 2015 deal with Japan over South Korean “comfort women” forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels failed to meet the victims’ needs, South Korea said on Wednesday, throwing ties into doubt as both countries seek to rein in North Korea.

IBP/kmb35

Tirta Empul tourist object in which until Tuesday was observed to be quiet.

Thousands of tourists back to visit Bali

Tirta Empul remains quiet

GIANYAR — A number of tourist destinations in Gianyar region have experienced an increase in tourist visits. However, this condition does not apply to Tirta Empul tourist object in which until Tuesday was observed to be quiet. Now, Gianyar Tourism Office is preparing various efforts to restore the confidence of tourists visiting the object of the springs located away from the disaster prone area (KRB) of Mount Agung, Karangasem.

Head of the Gianyar Tourism Office, A.A. Bagus Ari Brahmanta, said on Tuesday (Dec. 26) that some tourist objects such as Puseh Temple of Batuan to Ubud were closely watched to have received tourist visits. He said the increase in tourist visits by this yearend has reached 20 percent of normal days. “Now, it has entered high season, so it already increases even though it is not as busy as last year that could reach 70 percent,” he said.

This man familiarly addressed as Gung Ari also admitted that the increase has not happened to Tirta Empul tourist attraction. The object at Tampaksiring looked quiet.

“So far, there are only domestic tourist visits so it still looks very quiet,” he said.

Previously, this tourist attraction always occupied the highest rank among the dozens of other attractions managed by district government of Gianyar. However, the current visit per day only

reaches 200 people. “It dropped dramatically when compared to earlier on normal days where daily visitors to Tirta Empul could reach thousands,” he said.

Gung Ari estimated that such condition occurred as tourists may consider that Tirta Empul object is located on highlands and close to the area of Mount Agung, whereas the distance of this attraction from the active volcano reaches tens of kilometers. “Maybe, tourists have such

perception, so that until now the tourist visit is just enough to get to Goa Gajah. Previously, they also resumed their journey to Tirta Empul and Kintamani and even to Besakih Temple. But now they no longer do,” he explained.

Now, his office is still trying to deliver information that all tourist attractions in Gianyar are located far from disaster-prone area of Mount Agung. “We continuously submit information, but so far the destination is indeed connected to Tirta Empul, Kintamani and Besakih. So, now we are trying to direct them from Goa Gajah northward including this and Gunung Kawi as well,” he said.

When asked about occupancy

rate, this official from Ubud revealed that it remains around 2030 percent of the overall rooms of hotel, villa and home stay. Seeing the drop of tourist arrivals at Ngurah Rai Airport, Gung Ari said it is still difficult to reach 50 percent.

“Well, let’s pray. Hopefully, a few days before this yearend there is an increase again,” he said.

Amid the quiet condition of tourist visits to Tirta Empul tourist object, police officers that have set up security posts remain vigilant at the location. Chief of Tampaksiring Police, Made Tama, also regularly oversees the post.

“Though the tourist visit is quiet, we must ensure the security of the region,” he said. (kmb35)

Due to faster enlargement process, fish farmers prefer to Nile tilapia BANGLI — Several species of freshwater fish are potential to be cultivated in Lake Batur, Kintamani. Nevertheless, most fish farmers in local lake have long preferred to cultivate Nile tilapia. This happens because the cultivation process of this tilapia is faster than some other species of fish.

Chief of the Fisheries Cultivation Association (APP) of Bangli district, Ketut Wania, said on Tuesday (Dec. 26) that Lake Batur is potential for cultivation of several species of fish. Apart from Nile tilapia, catfish and shark catfish are also good to be developed in the lake. “Actually it is also good to be developed in the lake but farmers have long cultivated Nile tilapia,” he explained.

IBP/kmb

One of the reasons why fish farmers prefer to develop Nile tilapia is the enlargement process is quite fast.

According to Wania, one of the reasons why fish farmers prefer to develop Nile tilapia is the enlargement process is quite fast. To harvest, farmers only need 5-6 months to grow the fingerlings, while the longest is 7 months.

Meanwhile, other species of fish such as catfish, takes longer time namely about 10 months in order to be ready for harvest. “So, the process is longer,” he said.

As for the market demand for Nile tilapia, catfish and shark catfish, he said that so far they are almost the same. “Not long ago, we met with entrepreneurs where they delivered a variety of requests,” he said.

When asked about the current demand for Nile tilapia, he admitted to be pretty good.

Production of fish farmers in floating net cages (KJA) which had experienced over production some time ago due to a little market demand has now been absorbed. He added that the Nile tilapia produced by farmers in Lake Batur has not only been marketed in Bali but also to outside the region. (kmb40)

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha apologised for the controversial deal as a panel appointed by her in July to investigate the negotiations leading up to the agreement unveiled its results.

“I apologise for giving wounds of the heart to the victims, their families, civil society that support them and all other people because the agreement failed to sufficiently reflect a victim-oriented approach, which is the universal standard in resolving human rights issues,” Kang told a news conference.

Under the deal, endorsed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s predecessor and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan apologised to former comfort women and provided 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) to a fund to help them.

The two governments agreed the issue would be “irreversibly resolved” if both fulfilled their obligations.

But Moon has said the South Korean people did not accept the deal.

The investigation concluded that the dispute over the comfort women, a Japanese euphemism for the girls and women, many of them Korean, forced to work in wartime brothels, could not be “fundamentally resolved” because the victims’

demand for Japan’s legal compensation had not been met.

Tokyo says the matter of compensation for the women was settled under a 1965 treaty with Seoul.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the agreement that the issue had been resolved “finally and irreversibly” had been confirmed by both governments.

“It is extremely important that this agreement be steadily implemented,” Suga told a regular news conference before the report had been released.

“The government will continue tenaciously to urge the South Korean side at every opportunity to steadily implement this agreement.”

South Korea and Japan are key to international efforts to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes that it pursues in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The comfort women issue has been a regular cause for contention between Japan and neighbours China and North and South Korea since the war.

Japan colonised the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and during World War Two. (rtr)

REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool

Oh Tai-Kyu, head of a special task force for investigating the 2015 South Korea-Japan agreement over South Korea’s “comfort women” issue, speaks during a briefing on his investigation at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea December 27, 2017.

India says Pakistan mistreated visiting wife of convicted spy, seized her shoes

REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

Former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav’s mother Avanti (C) and wife, Chetankul arrive to meet him at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan December 25, 2017.

NEW DELHI - India denounced Pakistan on Tuesday over the treatment of the family of an Indian man sentenced to death for spying, saying they had been harassed during a visit, a charge Pakistan called “baseless”.

Among other things, the Indian government accused the Pakistani authorities of refusing to return the shoes of the visiting wife of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav after she turned them over to security for the visit.

Jadhav, a former officer in the Indian navy, was arrested in March 2016 in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, where there has been a long-running conflict between

security forces and separatists, and he was convicted of planning espionage and sabotage.

His wife and mother were allowed to see him behind a glass window on Monday, eight months after he was sentenced to death, but that gesture of goodwill appeared to have quickly descended into acrimony.

Ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours are in a deep chill and Jadhav’s case has added to long-running tensions, with each accusing the other of supporting cross-border violence.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said Jadhav’s family had been subjected to harassment when they arrived to see him.

“The Pakistani press was allowed on multiple occasions to approach family members closely, harass and hector them and hurl false and loaded accusations about (Shri) Jadhav,” Kumar said in a statement.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry rejected the accusations.

“The Indian baseless allegations and twists ... about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav, a convicted terrorist and spy, who has confessed to his crimes, are categorically rejected,” it said.

The Pakistani statement added that it had kept both Pakistani, Indian and international media “at a safe distance, as requested by India”. (rtr)

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International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Pesan, a Tasty Balinese Traditional Menu

Venezuelans scramble to survive as merchants demand dollars

CARACAS/CIUDAD GUAYANA - There was no way Jose Ramon Garcia, a food transporter in Venezuela, could afford new tires for his van at $350 each. Whether he opted to pay in U.S. currency or in the devalued local bolivar currency at the equivalent black market price, Garcia would have had to save up for years. Though used to expensive repairs, this one was too much and put him out of business. “Repairs cost an arm and a leg in Venezuela,” said the now-unemployed 42-yearold Garcia, who has a wife and two children to support in the southern city of Guayana.

Penglipuran, an Exotic Traditional Village in Bangli

IBP/net

“There’s no point keeping bolivars.” For a decade and a half, strict exchange controls have severely limited access to dollars. A black market in hard currency has spread in response, and as once-sky-high oil revenue runs dry, Venezuela’s economy is in free-fall.

The practice adopted by gourmet and design stores in Caracas over the last couple of years to charge in dollars to a select group of expatriates or Venezuelans with access to greenbacks is fast spreading.

Food sellers, dental and medical clinics, and others are starting to charge in dollars or their black market equivalent - putting many basic goods and services out of reach for a large number of Venezuelans.

According to the opposition-led National Assembly, November’s rise in prices topped academics’ traditional benchmark for hyperinflation of more than 50 percent a month - and could end the year at 2,000 percent.

The government has not published inflation data for more than a year.

“I can’t think in bolivars anymore, because you have to give a different price every hour,” said Yoselin Agu-

irre, 27, who makes and sells jewelry in the Paraguana peninsula and has recently pegged prices to the dollar.

“To survive, you have to dollarize.”

The socialist government of the late president Hugo Chavez in 2003 brought in the strict controls in order to curb capital flight, as the wealthy sought to move money out of Venezuela after a coup attempt and major oil strike the previous year. Oil revenue was initially able to bolster artificial exchange rates, though the black market grew and now is becoming unmanageable for the government.

TRIM THE TREE WITH BOLIVARS President Nicolas Maduro has maintained his predecessor’s policies on capital controls. Yet, the spread between the strongest official rate, of some 10 bolivars per dollar, and the black market rate, of around 110,000 per dollar, is now huge. While sellers see a shift to hard currency as necessary, buyers sometimes blame them for speculating.

Rafael Vetencourt, 55, a steel worker in Ciudad Guayana, needed a prostate operation priced at $250.

“We don’t earn in dollars. It’s abusive

to charge in dollars!” said Vetencourt, who had to decimate his savings to pay for the surgery. In just one year, Venezuela’s currency has weakened 97.5 per cent against the greenback, meaning $1,000 of local currency purchased then would be worth just $25 now.

Maduro blames black market rate-publishing websites such as DolarToday for inflating the numbers, part of an “economic war” he says is designed by the opposition and Washington to topple him.

On Venezuela’s borders with Brazil and Colombia, the prices of

imported oil, eggs and wheat flour vary daily in line with the black market price for bolivars. In an upscale Caracas market, cheese-filled arepas, the traditional breakfast made with corn flour, increased 65 percent in price in just two weeks, according to tracking by Reuters reporters. In the same period, a kilogram of ham jumped a whopping 171 percent.

The runaway prices have dampened Christmas celebrations, which this season were characterized by shortages of pine trees and toys, as well as meat, chicken and cornmeal for the preparation of typical dishes.

In one grim festive joke, a Christmas tree in Maracaibo, the country’s oil capital and second city, was decorated with virtually worthless low-denomination bolivar bills.

Most Venezuelans, earning just $5 a month at the black market rate, are nowhere near being able to save hard currency.

“How do I do it? I earn in bolivars and have no way to buy foreign currency,” said Cristina Centeno, a 31-year-old teacher who, like many, was seeking remote work online before Christmas in order to bring in some hard currency. (rtr)

KHARTOUM - Sudan is to devalue the Sudanese pound to 18 per dollar in January from the current 6.7, the finance minister said on Tuesday, after the IMF called for it to let the currency float freely to encourage foreign investment in the country.

Sudan is also set to reduce subsidies for much of its manufacturing sector, a senior governmental source said separately, as electricity prices have increased tenfold in the North African nation.

The International Monetary Fund urged Sudan earlier this month to let the pound float freely and to cut its energy and wheat subsidies to boost growth and investment. It said

Khartoum had a chance to improve its struggling economy after the United States lifted 20 years of sanctions in October.

The government has ruled out a market-determined exchange rate, however. The IMF last year agreed to loan Sudan’s neighbour Egypt $12 billion if it implemented similarly tough fiscal reforms.

Import-dependent Sudan has suffered both from the sanctions and from the secession of the south in 2011, when it lost three-quarters of its oil output, its main source of foreign currency.

The devaluation of the pound, which includes the customs exchange

rate - the rate used to calculate customs duties - is timed to take effect when the 2018 budget begins in the first week of January, Finance Minister Mohamed Othman Rukabi told Reuters. Traders said the black market rate jumped to 27 SDG per dollar from 25 SDG per dollar on Tuesday after the devaluation was announced.

“The whole budget for the new year is based on a an official rate of 18 SDG per dollar. We expect the results of this policy to be positive for the Sudanese economy,” he said.

The Sudanese pound has weakened sharply against the dollar since Washington the economic sanctions, encouraging traders to step up im-

ports and putting pressure on scarce hard currency. Businesses have been unable to get hold of the hard currency they need at the official pegged exchange rate of 6.7 pounds to the dollar, forcing them to resort to parallel markets where exchange rates are much less favourable.

Sudan announced emergency measures last month to stem the flow of scarce currency out of the banking system, after the pound fell to a record low of 27 against the dollar on the black market.

The country also imposed tight restrictions on imports of luxury goods, directing remaining liquidity toward “sectors that boost growth”, the

central bank said. A senior governmental source said on Tuesday that the cabinet had decided to remove all subsidies from the manufacturing sector apart from firms involved in the production of medication and ice. The cost of electricity has jumped tenfold for the industrial sector, the government said separately.

A union leader told Reuters he was worried that the devaluation of the currency and the electricity price hike would send inflation soaring. “We met the finance minister and asked him to adjust the budget so we won’t suffer from the hike” in the customs exchange rate, Amin Abbas said, without giving further details.(rtr)

Penglipuran tourism village is one of the prideful tourism villages owned by Bangli. Exotic natural beauty accompanied by strong customs makes the village in Bangli district indeed appropriate to be included in the itinerary of the traveling lovers. To reach the location, it only takes 1.5 hours from Denpasar. On arriving at the entrance, cool atmosphere of surrounding nature can have been felt. Left and right sides are decorated with green leaves of trees.

REUTERS/Marco Bello

A vendor weighs cheese for a customer at a street market in Caracas, Venezuela December 19, 2017. Picture taken December 19, 2017.

Sudan to devalue pound currency to 18 per dollar in January -minister

5

As soon as arriving at the location, the curiosity of its beauty will soon be relieved. Your eyes will be immediately drawn to the allure of the whole row of houses along with the angkul-angkul roofed with bamboo Wrapped in brown color with traditional image will not make visitors get bored. Existing anxiety due to daily bustles immediately vanishes and precisely regains the atmosphere of the1990s.

In addition to the exterior, the home yard of local people is also equipped with traditional building. Roof and walls are made of bamboo, while the floor is still made of earth. Nevertheless, it precisely becomes one of the photo objects for visitors. If you’re still curious about this unique village, simply come to the memorial monument located in the south. Right next to the memorial, visitors can also see the karang memadu. Polygamous husbands will be isolated in this area.

Operations Manager of Penglipuran attraction, Nengah Moneng, said not long ago that the high tourist visit to Penglipuran usually happens during holidays associated with religious feast like Christmas. Daily visits can reach 650 people. Domestic travelers are dominated by those from Bali and outside Bali. Then, foreign traveler is not so much, approximately 60 people.

“Tourist visit increased about 10 percent. Hopefully, in the future it can continue to increase,” said Moneng accompanied by his colleague, I Nengah Sudibia.

Aside from the layout of traditional settlement, visitors will also see the bamboo forests in the northern part of the village. Besides, some visitors are trying to taste the typical culinary products of Penglipuran, namely herbal drinks like loloh cemcem, loloh kunyit and klepon made of purple yam. To increase the number of visitors, a festi-

val is held coinciding with the holiday season where the current one is the third year. In addition to jazzing up, the village festival is also organized to evoke the culture, such as dance performances and the development of industrial sector and the SMEs into the wider realm.

Since 2015, the Penglipuran community has been concerned with the environmental arrangement. Telajakan or space between road section and people’s house compound is planted with various kinds of ornamental flowers. This will indirectly increase the beauty of the object and tourist visit to the village. “We also raised potential of the region through festival activities. It is also intended to increase the number of visits,” he said.

He added that the admission ticket to the Penglipuran village for domestic travelers is IDR 10,000 per person and foreign travelers IDR 30,000 per person. (kmb)

Pesan or pepes is a Balinese traditional menu that is quite tasty. This menu is also often called tum or anyang or in accordance with respective region. Shape of the package is also different where in general there are three shapes, namely longwise upward rectangle, while others may wrap it like wrapped rice and sideline longwise rectangle like a pillow. However, they all have the same ingredients and preparation.

For the Hindu communities on the Island of Gods, this pesan menu is also used as a means of offering presented to the ancestors. Yet this one is made simpler or smaller, so it can be easily put into the basket of the offerings. The pesan for offerings is very special as made from selected ingredient such as black chicken, multi-colored chicken and others in accordance with the type of offerings and the level of ceremony.

Well, the pesan menu commonly intended for consumption has larger size. Similarly, the pesan to be sold will have different shape where it is mostly longwise and sideways like pillow. The ingredient also varies. The one for sale is usually made from pork, chicken and fish.

Meanwhile, farmers in rural areas usually take advantage of the ingredients obtained from their paddy fields, such as fish, eels, frog, dragonflies and others.

Well, the pesan made from pork is the most easily encountered. This one is usually sold at restaurants and food stalls in rural and urban areas. Besides, it can also be obtained in traditional markets. If local communities organize a ceremony like wedding, pawukon-based birthday (otonan), cremation (ngaben) and others they will definitely make this type of pesan. This means the activities will involve community members in large numbers and this pesan menu will be served. Local community is very familiar with this menu.

Ingredient of this pesan menu is selected meat such as ham, skin and blood. The seasoning consists of onion, garlic, pepper and chili plus salt according to taste. Do not forget to add bay leaves to remove fishy smell ??as well as increase the delicious aroma. People in rural areas regularly mix the ingredients with other supplement such as banana heart and banana underground steam and others.

Its preparation is very simple. First of all, chop the meat to become smooth. While chopping, please be filled with blood so the meat turns red. The skin is boiled and then sliced thin and into small size. Seasoning of onion, garlic, and chili are sliced ??into small part. Then, the chopped meat is mixed together with seasoning well.

Add some salt according to your taste.

When having a little stock of meat, people usually mix with grated coconut to get more batter. Next, wrap the batter with banana leaves and affix each end of the wrap with bamboo spin. Each wrap is filled with a bay leaf to balance cholesterol. Then, steam them for about 20 minutes. Ultimately, take out and it’s ready to serve. (kmb)

Polygamy Area, Manifestation of Respect to Women How unique it is. Penglipuran village in Bangli district can be said as the only anti-polygamy village in Bali. The men at the local village are strictly forbidden from having more than one wife. If they insist on taking polygamy, they must be willing to be ostracized in a vacant land located in the south of local village, known as karang memadu or polygamy area.

The polygamy area is vacant land measuring approximately 9×21 meters. It is located in the southern

of people’s residence. Local residents consider it spiritually impure (leteh). As being impure, any fruits cultivated in the area like bananas cannot to be taken advantage as a means of ritual oblation, but should only be consumed.

A signboard reading ‘Polygamy Area’ is installed to mark this land and indeed made special by residents. Any residents daring to violate the rules set forth in the customary bylaw or awig-awig of

Penglipuran, they must consequently be willing to be ostracized and occupy the area with their wife. Not only that, they will also be subject to some other social sanctions. They are not allowed to cross the number of certain roads in the village area.

One of them is the main intersection at the village next to the local meeting hall. They are only allowed to exit through the road to the south of the polygamy area.

Headman of Penglipuran, Wayan

Supat, when met recently said that the prohibition from polygamy has been passed down from generation to generation. “People committing polygamy are not allowed to pass northwards to the village intersection or catus pata. It includes visiting the entire village temple of Penglipuran because they are considered in impure state,” he explained. In addition, the validity of the couple’s marriage will also never be approved by customary village.

He said the impact of social sanctions is severe enough so that until now the polygamy area remains vacant without any buildings. No people dare to occupy the area.

According to Supat, the existence of prohibition for men to have polygamy indicates that the ancestors of local communities very much respect to women from time immemorial. Indirectly the rules also educate men to be faithful to one partner only. (kmb)

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

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International

International

RLD

U.S. sanctions N.Korean missile experts, Russia offers to mediate WASHINGTON - The United States announced sanctions on two of North Korea’s most prominent officials behind its ballistic missile program on Tuesday, while Russia reiterated an offer to mediate to ease tension between Washington and Pyongyang.

stice, not a peace treaty.

The United States has said that all options, including military ones, are on the table in dealing with North Korea. It says it prefers a diplomatic solution, but that North Korea has given no indication it is willing to discuss denuclearization.

The new U.S. steps were the latest in a campaign aimed at forcing North Korea - which has defied years of multilateral and bilateral sanctions - to abandon a weapons program aimed at developing nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.

“Treasury is targeting leaders of North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate (North Korea) and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The move followed new United Nations sanctions announced last Friday in response to North Korea’s Nov. 29 test of an ICBM that Pyongyang said put all of the U.S. mainland within range of its nuclear weapons.

Those sanctions sought to further limit North Korea’s access to refined petroleum products and crude oil and its earnings from workers abroad.

North Korea declared the U.N. steps to be an act of war and tantamount to a complete economic blockade.

The standoff between the United States and North Korea has raised fears of a new conflict on the Korean peninsula, which has remained in a technical state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armi-

LEADING EXPERTS

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that landed close to Japan, in Seoul, South Korea, November 29, 2017.

11

Indonesian police maintain vigil against terror acts ahead of New Year

IBP/net

The U.S. Treasury named the targeted officials as Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol. It said Kim was reportedly a major figure in North Korea’s efforts to switch its missile program from liquid to solid fuel, while Ri was reported to be a key official in its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development.

The largely symbolic steps block any property or interests the two might have within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit any dealings by U.S. citizens with them.

With their ruling Workers Party, military and scientific credentials, the men are two of three top experts considered indispensable to North Korea’s rapidly developing weapons programs.

Photographs and television footage show that the men are clearly among North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s favourites. Their behaviour with him is sharply at variance with the obsequiousness of other senior aides, most of whom bow and hold their hands over their mouths when speaking to the young leader.

Ri is one of the most prominent aides, and likely represents the Workers Party on the missile program, experts say. (rtr)

Thursday, December 28, 2017

British tourist jailed for three years in Egypt after mistakenly confessing to smuggling drugs.

British woman sentenced in Egypt to 3 years in jail for smuggling painkillers

CAIRO - An Egyptian court sentenced a British woman to three years in prison on Tuesday for smuggling around 300 painkiller tablets into the country, in a ruling her defence team said she would appeal to have overturned or commuted.

Laura Plummer, a 33-year-old shop worker from Hull, was arrested in October after the Tramadol tablets were found in her suitcase.

Her family told British newspapers she bought the tablets for her Egyptian partner living in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

Plummer attended a hearing in her case on Monday, before Tuesday’s sentencing. The court also ruled that she must pay a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($5,600).

Tramadol is a legal, prescription medicine in Britain, but it is banned in Egypt. Plummer was arrested on arrival from Britain in October, and her detention was extended twice prior to her court appearance.

Plummer’s family said on Tuesday they were disgusted by the way the trial had been conducted.

“From day one, this has been a complete nightmare. Yesterday in the court she wasn’t even allowed her own interpreter. She had to get the court’s interpreter who was in-

terpreting the wrong answers,” her sister Jayne Synclair said, speaking on BBC television.

The family said Plummer had also been forced to sign Arabiclanguage documents which she did not understand.

“She’s on the verge of a mental breakdown ... It’s just horrendous,” her sister said.

Her lawyer said Plummer would appeal, seeking to reverse the verdict or get a commuted sentence, which is possible in the two months after sentencing. He added that she did not know Tramadol was banned in Egypt.

Speaking to the court on behalf of Plummer, the lawyer, said she had no criminal intent in bringing in the painkillers.

On Monday the lawyer, Mohamed Othman, told Reuters: “It is illogical that she was dealing in Tramadol. She had only 320 pills.

Even the plane ticket is almost double the price of those pills.”

A spokesman from Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We will continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family following the court ruling in Egypt, and our embassy is in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities.” (rtr)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Police will stay on alert by taking precautionary measures to tackle all forms of terror ahead of the New Year`s Eve celebrations despite officers having arrested some suspects, an official stated here, Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Pol. M. Iqbal, the police`s spokesperson, remarked that the people need to raise awareness among those residing in their neighborhood in order to prevent any terror acts that may occur after the Christmas and New Year`s Eve celebrations on Dec 31 and Jan 1.

“We (the police officers) are strong with the support of the people,” Iqbal stressed in Jakarta, Tuesday. Hence, he called on the people to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, including those residing in their neighborhood. The police spokesperson also urged all chiefs in residential areas to monitor the activities of members in their communities.

Iqbal further noted that Babinkamtibnas, or police officers assigned as advisors on security and public order in villages and sub-districts; the Babinsa, village supervisory officers; as well as the sub-district civil servants need to be more alert in monitoring the people. “(Strict supervision needs to be conducted) in order to identify the suspects as early as possible. We should not allow terrorists to dis-

guise themselves as our neighbors and hide near our homes,” he noted.

Hence, he called on the clerks, teachers, and parents to remain vigilant of their surroundings. In celebrating New Year`s Eve, the police`s spokesperson has called on the people to visit their families or offer prayers at home. He urged the people, who are holidaying, to not engage in excessive alcohol consumption or conduct illegal activities, as police officers will take action against anyone found violating the law.

On Dec 22, the National Police had launched the “great candle” operation in a bid to maintain public order and prevent any terror acts during the Christmas and New Year`s Eve celebrations.

In Yogyakarta, the police have deployed 1,700 personnel to secure the festivities. The police have also readied joint forces comprising military personnel, members of the public order agency (Satpol PP), and volunteers of some mass organizations.

Yogyakarta Police Chief Brig.

Gen. Pol. Ahmad Dofiri noted that the officers had secured some 352 churches in the province. Meanwhile, on a separate occasion, the National Police had also deployed more than 141 thousand officers, including 85 thousand police personnel and some 15 thousand military troops. (ant)

Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi/via REUTERS

An Indonesian bomb squad policeman holds a rifle as examines a church before Christmas mass prayer in Bandung, Indonesia, December 23, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.

Picture taken December 23, 2017.

Indonesian Police focus on securing tourism areas after Christmas

JAKARTA - Joint forces of the Indonesian National Police, military, and local security officers will focus on securing tourism areas after Christmas or ahead of the New Year`s Eve celebrations. “Our main mission now (after Christmas) is to secure tourism spots, ports, stations, airports, and shopping centers,” Brig.

Gen. Pol. M Iqbal, the spokesperson, noted in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Pol. M. Iqbal

IBP/net

He stated that police officers will work along with the military troops and people to anticipate all forms of terrors. Iqbal noted that some officers were currently deployed at tourism attractions, such as the Ragunan Zoo, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol theme park, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreational park in Jakarta.

“Our officers will be ready under any circumstances before and after the incidents occur,” Iqbal stressed.

Iqbal revealed that during the mass leave on Tuesday (Dec 26), the traffic in Jakarta was relatively clear, as most city residents were celebrating their holidays out of town in some provinces, such as West Java, Central Java, or East Java.

Hence, during Christmas and ahead of the New Year`s Eve, the police have forecast traffic jams on some routes in Nagreg, Cikopo, highways along the North Coastal Lines (Pantura), and the southern lines.

Vehicular traffic will start increasing on late Dec 26, but the peak will be witnessed on Jan 1 after the New Year`s celebrations. The police, military, and local security personnel have established coordination by outlining some strategies to divert traffic when congestion occurs.

On a separate occasion, Iqbal also stated that police officers will remain vigil by taking precautionary measures in order to secure the festivities. However, he called on the people to raise awareness among those residing in their neighborhood in order to halt any terror acts that may occur ahead of the New Year`s Eve. Earlier on Friday (Dec 22), the National Police had launched the “great candle” operation in a bid to maintain public order and prevent any terror acts during the Christmas and New Year`s Eve celebrations. The National Police had deployed more than 141 thousand officers, including some 85 thousand police personnel and 15 thousand military troops. (rtr)

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Destination

Thursday, December 28, 2017

International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

International

Isaiah Thomas wants you all to know he’s definitely not ‘salty about the trade’

Bali Elephant Camp a great place to ride Sumatran Elephant

MANGUPURA - “In 2004,working with the Government in aid of elephant conservation Bali Elephant Camp was established to help care for and promote the plight of Sumatran elephants. At the beginning, Bali Elephant Camp has 9 Sumatran elephants, who along with their ‘mahouts’ (careers) have become ambassadors for their brothers and sisters in Sumatra.” Said Mrs. IGAA. Inda Trimafo Yudha. Managing Director True Bali Experience.

Bali Elephant Camp in one of product under True Bali experience is Bali’s leading Balinese Owned Adventure Company I Gusti Agung Alit Yudha. An exciting and dynamic family business, was established in 1995 to provide locally owned and operated soft adventures with the highest international standards of safety, training and conservation.

“Bali Elephant Camp itself has been established since 2004 begin-

ning with nine Sumatran elephants, and now there are fifteen elephants with adult and some are still small, the oldest elephant is 24 years old female named Meri while the youngest aged is Saras 10 months aged.” Mrs. Inda added.

“In order to ensure that the elephants here remain healthy, we always provide two doctors who care for them, as well as a consultant who has international qualifications and standards. Meanwhile, from the needs of food for them we also provide grass plantation with an area of about ??20 hectares, by riding elephants will help us and other elephants in Sumatra by providing funds for food and land to make sure their natural habitat well protected.”

Inda hopefully.

Bali Elephant Camp is a great place to ride elephant in Bali Paradise This place located at the side of Ayung River, close to the Sangeh

monkey forest, Carangsari historic village, this place is situated between the rice paddies, jungle and the Ayung River and is one of the most natural places in Bali.

In Bali Elephant Camp the tourists will be invited to enjoy a lot of natural beauty that will be encountered on the way to natural rice paddies, quaint Balinese villages, temples and local markets. Bali elephant presents the surprise elephant attraction with full of fun.

After enjoying a scenic drive, be welcomed to Bali elephant trek (Bali Elephant Camp) with a refreshing welcome drink at the ‘Trunk’n’Mahout’ valley-view café.

Watch the elephants enjoy their morning or afternoon bath and then meet our Head Mahout to learn about the daily life of a Sumatran elephant as the elephants get saddled-up for the ‘Adventures trek.

If want to become friends with

REUTERS/Steve Christo

Yachts Black Jack and LDV Comanche compete at the start of the annual 630 nautical miles (1166 kilometres) Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Sydney Harbour.

a great Sumatran elephant, then try shorter Adventurer Trek, to get experience the beautiful landscape of the camp as well as venturing out trek along the edge of the valley, the views are incredible, may also get to see monkeys and tropical birds

in their natural habitat. Then look down at the raging Ayung River and discover how much fun riding an elephant can be, elephant will also show their pool as he wades through the water to cool off from the hot sun. (kmb)

Near collision at start of Sydney-Hobart yacht race

CLEVELAND - Isaiah Thomas is an honest dude. Ask him a question, he responds in real talk. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and he’ll answer any questions you might have about them, too. This is who he is. This, along with a heart that belies his 5-foot-9 frame, is what made him so likable on the Boston Celtics.

It’s also what’s gotten him into a bit of bind on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His narrative is an easy one to write. The last pick in the 2011 draft rose to All-NBA prominence out of nowhere in Boston and laid his body on the line for the Celtics, only to be discarded for the first pick of that same draft in a trade that pitted Kyrie Irving opposite LeBron James in the Eastern Conference.

Now, on the verge of returning from the injury that cost him much of Boston’s conference finals series against Cleveland, with Irving operating as an MVP candidate for the Celtics and James needing a wingman to alleviate his own herculean effort, Thomas could tip the scales in the Cavs’ favor again.

Oh, and did we mention Boston hosts Cleveland on Jan. 3, right around the time Thomas has targeted for his debut? Needless to say, he’s going to be asked plenty about the Celtics at every opportunity.

He’s expressed his love for Boston, while at the same time holding a grudge against Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge for trading him. And on Christmas Day, in a conversation with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, Thomas again detailed the complete range of emotions he felt after the deal.

“I was hurt,” he said in response to a question about Ainge citing his injury as one reason the Celtics traded him. (Ainge also answers questions with brutal honesty). “I was very hurt,” Thomas added, “because I gave them everything I had. I gave them too much, when I should’ve just sat out, especially with all the stuff I was going through. And when I say ‘going through,’ with my sister passing and things like that. You don’t do things like that, man, so that’s why it hurt. And it was a weird situation for him to say one of the reasons he traded me was because of my hip, because I hurt my hip on your time.”

Thomas said again he doesn’t plan to talk to Ainge anytime soon, and he doesn’t trust the Cavs, either. He then tripled down on his belief that he deserves a max contract this summer. This is the honesty and eternal optimism of Thomas that is so endearing. It’s also a little naive, since his “back up the Brinks truck” comments were just as big a factor in the Celtics’ willingness to trade him, inured or not.

Maybe on some level Thomas understands that playing until his hip gave out cost him quite a bit of money in 2018. This explains why, if he had to do it all over again, he said he wouldn’t have played for the C’s in last year’s playoffs — a run that began with the death of his sister Chyna and ended with the torn hip labrum. In between, Thomas and Boston forged a bond that could not be broken by a trade. (afp)

SYDNEY - Australian super-maxi Black Jack was first out of the Sydney Heads after two of the leading contenders for line honours almost collided at the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race on Tuesday.

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The Mark Bradford-helmed Black Jack, which took line honours in 2009 as Alfa Romeo, was one second ahead of LDV Comanche at the first mark and kept its slim lead as the boats rounded the Heads at the harbour entrance and headed south to Tasmania.

Wild Oats XI, seeking a ninth line honours title, was third, about a minute behind the leading pair, but managed to overhaul Comanche as they raced along the New South Wales coast.

The trio were within sight of each other about two hours after the race started at 1 p.m. (0300 GMT).

Thousands of boats provided

the perfect viewing positions for spectators as the 73rd edition of the 630-nautical mile bluewater classic got underway.

Despite the light conditions there was high drama shortly after the start when the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats tacked too closely to Jim Cooney’s Comanche and they almost collided.

Race organisers had predicted steady north-east winds of up to 20 knots as the 102 yachts headed down the New South Wales coast with the breezes freshening to 25 knots as they approached Bass Strait between the mainland and Tasmania.

InfoTrack, which is the fourth super-maxi in the fleet, set the race record of one day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds when they took line honours last year as Perpetual Loyal.

Skippered by 2012 Olympic Laser class champion and 2013 America’s Cup winner Tom Slingsby, InfoTrack was fifth overall about two hours after the start of the race.

Covering approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) of the Tasman Sea and notoriously treacherous Bass Strait, the gruelling annual race is Australia’s premier yachting event. (rtr)

Isaiah Thomas

IBP/net

8

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Sp rt Record-breaking Kane eclipses Messi, Lingard saves Man United

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane became Europe’s most lethal marksman of 2017 with a second hat-trick in four days to break a 22-year-old Premier League record as his side thumped Southampton 5-2 on Tuesday. Another young England striker was also among the goals as Jesse Lingard struck twice, the second in stoppage time, as Manchester United hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Burnley and deny the visitors a first win at Old Trafford since 1962.

Second-placed United’s second consecutive 2-2 draw left them 12 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City, who play Newcastle United on Wednesday. United’s result allowed Chelsea to close to within a point of Jose Mourinho’s side with a laboured 2-0 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Liverpool slipped below Tottenham for a few hours but reclaimed fourth spot in emphatic fashion in the late Boxing Day kickoff by hammering bottom club Swansea City 5-0. Roberto Firmino scored twice for Liverpool with Philippe Coutinho, Trent AlexanderArnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also on target for Juergen Klopp’s side.

REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Tottenham’s Harry Kane celebrates with the match ball after the match

There was no doubt who the spotlight was on though as England striker Kane eclipsed Alan Shearer’s record 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year, taking his tally to 39 in 2017.

He is also the Premier League’s leading scorer this season with 18, having won the Golden Boot for the past two seasons. Two close-range efforts and a superb dinked finish from fellow goalscorer Dele Alli’s pass took his tally in all competitions in the calendar year for club and country to 56, lifting him ahead of Lionel Messi who hit 54 for Barcelona and Argentina in the past 12 months.

Kane is the first player apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi to finish the year as top scorer in Europe since 2009. “I’m very proud of it. Messi and Ronaldo have dominated football for so long, they’re two of the world’s greatest players ever,” Kane said. “I said to the lads before the game to try and set me up and they all did that, so I’ll have to take them out to dinner or something.”

With runaway leaders Manchester City not in action it was a chance for United to close the gap to 10 points but they ended the day 12 behind as Burnley came close to a shock.

FURTHER AHEAD

Ashley Barnes gave Burnley a third-minute lead and the visitors went further ahead when Belgian midfielder Steven Defour curled a 36th-minute free kick past David De Gea. Mourinho put Lingard on in the second half in place of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, after missing a sitter, he reduced the arrears with a back-heel flick. Burnley hung on desperately but Lingard drove home the equaliser in stoppage time.

“We should have won, yes. I take satisfaction by the way the team played, by the way the team reacted, to try to recover from 2-0 down,” Mourinho said. Chelsea were uninspired at Stamford Bridge but Alvaro Morata and Spanish compatriot Marcos Alonso scored after the break to earn the win and move Chelsea to 42 points from 20 games.

Liverpool have 38 with Tottenham on 37 and Arsenal, who play at Crystal Palace on Thursday, on 34. A fierce relegation battle on the south coast led to Bournemouth snatching a point at the death with a 3-3 draw against West Ham United - Callum Wilson’s controversial goal denying the visitors a victory.

Wilson’s effort, after Marko Arnautovic’s two late goals had turned the game on its head to give West Ham a 3-2 lead, was initially disallowed for offside but was deemed legal by referee Bobby Madley. “The mistake was the referee went to the linesman. He knows he made a mistake, but we all make mistakes,” Arnautovic said. The result left Bournemouth third from bottom, a point and a place below West Ham. Watford snapped a four-game losing streak as they came back to beat Leicester City 2-1 thanks to an own goal by Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Huddersfield drew 1-1 at home to Stoke City and second-bottom West Bromwich Albion did little to ease their relegation fears with a 0-0 draw at home to Everton. (rtr)

9

Argentina coach Sampaoli sorry for insulting traffic cop BUENOS AIRES - Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has apologized for insulting a traffic officer who stopped him at a checkpoint.

Sampaoli belittled the officer over his pay grade, and said he was sorry in a statement on Tuesday. A witness videoed the incident on Sun-

day and posted it on social media. ”I totally regret what happened,” Sampaoli said. ”Anger, coming from a discussion in which I was wrong, made me say words that do not represent in any way my convictions or my beliefs.”

The coach was stopped after

attending his daughter’s wedding near Casilda, a city 360 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires. Sampaoli said he will apologize personally to the officer he insulted. The video shows Sampaoli yelling out of the car, accompanied by the traffic officer. ”You are mak-

ing me walk two blocks, idiot. You make 100 pesos ($5.50) a month,” the coach said.

Seven other people were with him in the car, which made the officer stop the vehicle. Casilda security secretary Federico Censi, who oversees the traffic divi-

sion, told a local radio Sampaoli called him to apologize for his behavior.

In the statement, Sampaoli said, ”Salaries do not represent the qualities or the value of any human being. I ask forgiveness to our society for this bad example.” (ap)

Lazio on course for 2nd trophy of season in Italian Cup

Bruce Udolf

IBP/net

Lawyer thought FIFA conviction was imminent

NEW YORK - An attorney says he knew the former South American soccer official he represents is innocent, but he expected a jury to convict him anyway. Bruce Udolf says the Brooklyn federal court jury asked a question about wire fraud Friday, convincing him it would convict Manuel Burga. Instead, the jury Tuesday exonerated the 60-year-old former president of Peru’s soccer federation in a case connected to the FIFA (FEE’-fuh) bribery scandal.

Udolf says the outcome left him wanting to do cartwheels outside court.

The attorney ran the Miami federal prosecutor’s public integrity unit for five years in the 1990s.

He says his one-man legal defense practice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, left him feeling he was up against Goliath and all the resources of the federal government.

Burga’s two co-defendants were convicted last week.

A former South American soccer official acquitted of corruption charges at a U.S. trial says he is finished with the sport and will go back to practicing law.

Manuel Burga, the 60-year-old former president of Peru’s soccer federation, wept when his acquittal was announced Tuesday in the FIFA bribery scandal. His two co-defendants were convicted last

week. After the verdict, he said: “God Bless America.”

Burga says he will go home and resume a career as a lawyer that had been largely left behind for the last 15 years during his career as a soccer executive. Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, and Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, were convicted Friday on most charges they faced. Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from marketing firms seeking commercial rights to big soccer tournaments.

A former South American soccer official has been acquitted of corruption charges at a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal, after two others were convicted last week. The jury on Friday had said it was deadlocked on the single racketeering conspiracy charge against Manuel Burga, of Peru.

The judge sent them home for the holiday weekend. Jurors reached a not-guilty verdict Tuesday shortly after deliberations resumed.

Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, and Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, were convicted Friday on most charges but acquitted on some lesser charges. The three had been arrested in 2015. Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from marketing firms seeking commercial rights to big soccer tournaments. (ap)

ROME - Lazio remained on course for its second trophy of the season after beating Fiorentina 1-0 on Tuesday to advance the Roman squad to the Italian Cup semifinals.

Captain Senad Lulic scored early on with an expert cut back and angled shot from inside the area.

Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha preserved the advantage by pushing wide a curling shot from Federico Chiesa

midway through the second half on Fiorentina’s only significant chance.

Coach Simone Inzaghi’s side already upset Juventus to win the Italian Super Cup in August and was runner-up to Juventus in last season’s Italian Cup. ”This is a competition we believe in,” Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo said. ”We want to play in another final.”

The match was the first of many in Italy this week as part of an experiment of playing during the holidays.

In the semifinals, Lazio will face Inter or AC Milan, who meet in a derby on Wednesday.

In the other quarterfinals next week, Napoli hosts Atalanta and Juventus meets Turin in another derby. (ap)

IBP/ap

Lazio’s Felipe Caicedo scores their first goal

REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

8

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Sp rt Record-breaking Kane eclipses Messi, Lingard saves Man United

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane became Europe’s most lethal marksman of 2017 with a second hat-trick in four days to break a 22-year-old Premier League record as his side thumped Southampton 5-2 on Tuesday. Another young England striker was also among the goals as Jesse Lingard struck twice, the second in stoppage time, as Manchester United hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Burnley and deny the visitors a first win at Old Trafford since 1962.

Second-placed United’s second consecutive 2-2 draw left them 12 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City, who play Newcastle United on Wednesday. United’s result allowed Chelsea to close to within a point of Jose Mourinho’s side with a laboured 2-0 home win over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Liverpool slipped below Tottenham for a few hours but reclaimed fourth spot in emphatic fashion in the late Boxing Day kickoff by hammering bottom club Swansea City 5-0. Roberto Firmino scored twice for Liverpool with Philippe Coutinho, Trent AlexanderArnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also on target for Juergen Klopp’s side.

REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

Tottenham’s Harry Kane celebrates with the match ball after the match

There was no doubt who the spotlight was on though as England striker Kane eclipsed Alan Shearer’s record 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year, taking his tally to 39 in 2017.

He is also the Premier League’s leading scorer this season with 18, having won the Golden Boot for the past two seasons. Two close-range efforts and a superb dinked finish from fellow goalscorer Dele Alli’s pass took his tally in all competitions in the calendar year for club and country to 56, lifting him ahead of Lionel Messi who hit 54 for Barcelona and Argentina in the past 12 months.

Kane is the first player apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi to finish the year as top scorer in Europe since 2009. “I’m very proud of it. Messi and Ronaldo have dominated football for so long, they’re two of the world’s greatest players ever,” Kane said. “I said to the lads before the game to try and set me up and they all did that, so I’ll have to take them out to dinner or something.”

With runaway leaders Manchester City not in action it was a chance for United to close the gap to 10 points but they ended the day 12 behind as Burnley came close to a shock.

FURTHER AHEAD

Ashley Barnes gave Burnley a third-minute lead and the visitors went further ahead when Belgian midfielder Steven Defour curled a 36th-minute free kick past David De Gea. Mourinho put Lingard on in the second half in place of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, after missing a sitter, he reduced the arrears with a back-heel flick. Burnley hung on desperately but Lingard drove home the equaliser in stoppage time.

“We should have won, yes. I take satisfaction by the way the team played, by the way the team reacted, to try to recover from 2-0 down,” Mourinho said. Chelsea were uninspired at Stamford Bridge but Alvaro Morata and Spanish compatriot Marcos Alonso scored after the break to earn the win and move Chelsea to 42 points from 20 games.

Liverpool have 38 with Tottenham on 37 and Arsenal, who play at Crystal Palace on Thursday, on 34. A fierce relegation battle on the south coast led to Bournemouth snatching a point at the death with a 3-3 draw against West Ham United - Callum Wilson’s controversial goal denying the visitors a victory.

Wilson’s effort, after Marko Arnautovic’s two late goals had turned the game on its head to give West Ham a 3-2 lead, was initially disallowed for offside but was deemed legal by referee Bobby Madley. “The mistake was the referee went to the linesman. He knows he made a mistake, but we all make mistakes,” Arnautovic said. The result left Bournemouth third from bottom, a point and a place below West Ham. Watford snapped a four-game losing streak as they came back to beat Leicester City 2-1 thanks to an own goal by Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Huddersfield drew 1-1 at home to Stoke City and second-bottom West Bromwich Albion did little to ease their relegation fears with a 0-0 draw at home to Everton. (rtr)

9

Argentina coach Sampaoli sorry for insulting traffic cop BUENOS AIRES - Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli has apologized for insulting a traffic officer who stopped him at a checkpoint.

Sampaoli belittled the officer over his pay grade, and said he was sorry in a statement on Tuesday. A witness videoed the incident on Sun-

day and posted it on social media. ”I totally regret what happened,” Sampaoli said. ”Anger, coming from a discussion in which I was wrong, made me say words that do not represent in any way my convictions or my beliefs.”

The coach was stopped after

attending his daughter’s wedding near Casilda, a city 360 kilometers (220 miles) northwest of Buenos Aires. Sampaoli said he will apologize personally to the officer he insulted. The video shows Sampaoli yelling out of the car, accompanied by the traffic officer. ”You are mak-

ing me walk two blocks, idiot. You make 100 pesos ($5.50) a month,” the coach said.

Seven other people were with him in the car, which made the officer stop the vehicle. Casilda security secretary Federico Censi, who oversees the traffic divi-

sion, told a local radio Sampaoli called him to apologize for his behavior.

In the statement, Sampaoli said, ”Salaries do not represent the qualities or the value of any human being. I ask forgiveness to our society for this bad example.” (ap)

Lazio on course for 2nd trophy of season in Italian Cup

Bruce Udolf

IBP/net

Lawyer thought FIFA conviction was imminent

NEW YORK - An attorney says he knew the former South American soccer official he represents is innocent, but he expected a jury to convict him anyway. Bruce Udolf says the Brooklyn federal court jury asked a question about wire fraud Friday, convincing him it would convict Manuel Burga. Instead, the jury Tuesday exonerated the 60-year-old former president of Peru’s soccer federation in a case connected to the FIFA (FEE’-fuh) bribery scandal.

Udolf says the outcome left him wanting to do cartwheels outside court.

The attorney ran the Miami federal prosecutor’s public integrity unit for five years in the 1990s.

He says his one-man legal defense practice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, left him feeling he was up against Goliath and all the resources of the federal government.

Burga’s two co-defendants were convicted last week.

A former South American soccer official acquitted of corruption charges at a U.S. trial says he is finished with the sport and will go back to practicing law.

Manuel Burga, the 60-year-old former president of Peru’s soccer federation, wept when his acquittal was announced Tuesday in the FIFA bribery scandal. His two co-defendants were convicted last

week. After the verdict, he said: “God Bless America.”

Burga says he will go home and resume a career as a lawyer that had been largely left behind for the last 15 years during his career as a soccer executive. Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, and Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, were convicted Friday on most charges they faced. Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from marketing firms seeking commercial rights to big soccer tournaments.

A former South American soccer official has been acquitted of corruption charges at a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal, after two others were convicted last week. The jury on Friday had said it was deadlocked on the single racketeering conspiracy charge against Manuel Burga, of Peru.

The judge sent them home for the holiday weekend. Jurors reached a not-guilty verdict Tuesday shortly after deliberations resumed.

Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, and Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, were convicted Friday on most charges but acquitted on some lesser charges. The three had been arrested in 2015. Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from marketing firms seeking commercial rights to big soccer tournaments. (ap)

ROME - Lazio remained on course for its second trophy of the season after beating Fiorentina 1-0 on Tuesday to advance the Roman squad to the Italian Cup semifinals.

Captain Senad Lulic scored early on with an expert cut back and angled shot from inside the area.

Goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha preserved the advantage by pushing wide a curling shot from Federico Chiesa

midway through the second half on Fiorentina’s only significant chance.

Coach Simone Inzaghi’s side already upset Juventus to win the Italian Super Cup in August and was runner-up to Juventus in last season’s Italian Cup. ”This is a competition we believe in,” Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo said. ”We want to play in another final.”

The match was the first of many in Italy this week as part of an experiment of playing during the holidays.

In the semifinals, Lazio will face Inter or AC Milan, who meet in a derby on Wednesday.

In the other quarterfinals next week, Napoli hosts Atalanta and Juventus meets Turin in another derby. (ap)

IBP/ap

Lazio’s Felipe Caicedo scores their first goal

REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

10

Destination

Thursday, December 28, 2017

International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

International

Isaiah Thomas wants you all to know he’s definitely not ‘salty about the trade’

Bali Elephant Camp a great place to ride Sumatran Elephant

MANGUPURA - “In 2004,working with the Government in aid of elephant conservation Bali Elephant Camp was established to help care for and promote the plight of Sumatran elephants. At the beginning, Bali Elephant Camp has 9 Sumatran elephants, who along with their ‘mahouts’ (careers) have become ambassadors for their brothers and sisters in Sumatra.” Said Mrs. IGAA. Inda Trimafo Yudha. Managing Director True Bali Experience.

Bali Elephant Camp in one of product under True Bali experience is Bali’s leading Balinese Owned Adventure Company I Gusti Agung Alit Yudha. An exciting and dynamic family business, was established in 1995 to provide locally owned and operated soft adventures with the highest international standards of safety, training and conservation.

“Bali Elephant Camp itself has been established since 2004 begin-

ning with nine Sumatran elephants, and now there are fifteen elephants with adult and some are still small, the oldest elephant is 24 years old female named Meri while the youngest aged is Saras 10 months aged.” Mrs. Inda added.

“In order to ensure that the elephants here remain healthy, we always provide two doctors who care for them, as well as a consultant who has international qualifications and standards. Meanwhile, from the needs of food for them we also provide grass plantation with an area of about ??20 hectares, by riding elephants will help us and other elephants in Sumatra by providing funds for food and land to make sure their natural habitat well protected.”

Inda hopefully.

Bali Elephant Camp is a great place to ride elephant in Bali Paradise This place located at the side of Ayung River, close to the Sangeh

monkey forest, Carangsari historic village, this place is situated between the rice paddies, jungle and the Ayung River and is one of the most natural places in Bali.

In Bali Elephant Camp the tourists will be invited to enjoy a lot of natural beauty that will be encountered on the way to natural rice paddies, quaint Balinese villages, temples and local markets. Bali elephant presents the surprise elephant attraction with full of fun.

After enjoying a scenic drive, be welcomed to Bali elephant trek (Bali Elephant Camp) with a refreshing welcome drink at the ‘Trunk’n’Mahout’ valley-view café.

Watch the elephants enjoy their morning or afternoon bath and then meet our Head Mahout to learn about the daily life of a Sumatran elephant as the elephants get saddled-up for the ‘Adventures trek.

If want to become friends with

REUTERS/Steve Christo

Yachts Black Jack and LDV Comanche compete at the start of the annual 630 nautical miles (1166 kilometres) Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Sydney Harbour.

a great Sumatran elephant, then try shorter Adventurer Trek, to get experience the beautiful landscape of the camp as well as venturing out trek along the edge of the valley, the views are incredible, may also get to see monkeys and tropical birds

in their natural habitat. Then look down at the raging Ayung River and discover how much fun riding an elephant can be, elephant will also show their pool as he wades through the water to cool off from the hot sun. (kmb)

Near collision at start of Sydney-Hobart yacht race

CLEVELAND - Isaiah Thomas is an honest dude. Ask him a question, he responds in real talk. He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and he’ll answer any questions you might have about them, too. This is who he is. This, along with a heart that belies his 5-foot-9 frame, is what made him so likable on the Boston Celtics.

It’s also what’s gotten him into a bit of bind on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His narrative is an easy one to write. The last pick in the 2011 draft rose to All-NBA prominence out of nowhere in Boston and laid his body on the line for the Celtics, only to be discarded for the first pick of that same draft in a trade that pitted Kyrie Irving opposite LeBron James in the Eastern Conference.

Now, on the verge of returning from the injury that cost him much of Boston’s conference finals series against Cleveland, with Irving operating as an MVP candidate for the Celtics and James needing a wingman to alleviate his own herculean effort, Thomas could tip the scales in the Cavs’ favor again.

Oh, and did we mention Boston hosts Cleveland on Jan. 3, right around the time Thomas has targeted for his debut? Needless to say, he’s going to be asked plenty about the Celtics at every opportunity.

He’s expressed his love for Boston, while at the same time holding a grudge against Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge for trading him. And on Christmas Day, in a conversation with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, Thomas again detailed the complete range of emotions he felt after the deal.

“I was hurt,” he said in response to a question about Ainge citing his injury as one reason the Celtics traded him. (Ainge also answers questions with brutal honesty). “I was very hurt,” Thomas added, “because I gave them everything I had. I gave them too much, when I should’ve just sat out, especially with all the stuff I was going through. And when I say ‘going through,’ with my sister passing and things like that. You don’t do things like that, man, so that’s why it hurt. And it was a weird situation for him to say one of the reasons he traded me was because of my hip, because I hurt my hip on your time.”

Thomas said again he doesn’t plan to talk to Ainge anytime soon, and he doesn’t trust the Cavs, either. He then tripled down on his belief that he deserves a max contract this summer. This is the honesty and eternal optimism of Thomas that is so endearing. It’s also a little naive, since his “back up the Brinks truck” comments were just as big a factor in the Celtics’ willingness to trade him, inured or not.

Maybe on some level Thomas understands that playing until his hip gave out cost him quite a bit of money in 2018. This explains why, if he had to do it all over again, he said he wouldn’t have played for the C’s in last year’s playoffs — a run that began with the death of his sister Chyna and ended with the torn hip labrum. In between, Thomas and Boston forged a bond that could not be broken by a trade. (afp)

SYDNEY - Australian super-maxi Black Jack was first out of the Sydney Heads after two of the leading contenders for line honours almost collided at the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race on Tuesday.

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The Mark Bradford-helmed Black Jack, which took line honours in 2009 as Alfa Romeo, was one second ahead of LDV Comanche at the first mark and kept its slim lead as the boats rounded the Heads at the harbour entrance and headed south to Tasmania.

Wild Oats XI, seeking a ninth line honours title, was third, about a minute behind the leading pair, but managed to overhaul Comanche as they raced along the New South Wales coast.

The trio were within sight of each other about two hours after the race started at 1 p.m. (0300 GMT).

Thousands of boats provided

the perfect viewing positions for spectators as the 73rd edition of the 630-nautical mile bluewater classic got underway.

Despite the light conditions there was high drama shortly after the start when the Mark Richards skippered Wild Oats tacked too closely to Jim Cooney’s Comanche and they almost collided.

Race organisers had predicted steady north-east winds of up to 20 knots as the 102 yachts headed down the New South Wales coast with the breezes freshening to 25 knots as they approached Bass Strait between the mainland and Tasmania.

InfoTrack, which is the fourth super-maxi in the fleet, set the race record of one day, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 20 seconds when they took line honours last year as Perpetual Loyal.

Skippered by 2012 Olympic Laser class champion and 2013 America’s Cup winner Tom Slingsby, InfoTrack was fifth overall about two hours after the start of the race.

Covering approximately 630 nautical miles (1,170 km) of the Tasman Sea and notoriously treacherous Bass Strait, the gruelling annual race is Australia’s premier yachting event. (rtr)

Isaiah Thomas

IBP/net

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International

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U.S. sanctions N.Korean missile experts, Russia offers to mediate WASHINGTON - The United States announced sanctions on two of North Korea’s most prominent officials behind its ballistic missile program on Tuesday, while Russia reiterated an offer to mediate to ease tension between Washington and Pyongyang.

stice, not a peace treaty.

The United States has said that all options, including military ones, are on the table in dealing with North Korea. It says it prefers a diplomatic solution, but that North Korea has given no indication it is willing to discuss denuclearization.

The new U.S. steps were the latest in a campaign aimed at forcing North Korea - which has defied years of multilateral and bilateral sanctions - to abandon a weapons program aimed at developing nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States.

“Treasury is targeting leaders of North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate (North Korea) and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The move followed new United Nations sanctions announced last Friday in response to North Korea’s Nov. 29 test of an ICBM that Pyongyang said put all of the U.S. mainland within range of its nuclear weapons.

Those sanctions sought to further limit North Korea’s access to refined petroleum products and crude oil and its earnings from workers abroad.

North Korea declared the U.N. steps to be an act of war and tantamount to a complete economic blockade.

The standoff between the United States and North Korea has raised fears of a new conflict on the Korean peninsula, which has remained in a technical state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armi-

LEADING EXPERTS

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that landed close to Japan, in Seoul, South Korea, November 29, 2017.

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Indonesian police maintain vigil against terror acts ahead of New Year

IBP/net

The U.S. Treasury named the targeted officials as Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol. It said Kim was reportedly a major figure in North Korea’s efforts to switch its missile program from liquid to solid fuel, while Ri was reported to be a key official in its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development.

The largely symbolic steps block any property or interests the two might have within U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit any dealings by U.S. citizens with them.

With their ruling Workers Party, military and scientific credentials, the men are two of three top experts considered indispensable to North Korea’s rapidly developing weapons programs.

Photographs and television footage show that the men are clearly among North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s favourites. Their behaviour with him is sharply at variance with the obsequiousness of other senior aides, most of whom bow and hold their hands over their mouths when speaking to the young leader.

Ri is one of the most prominent aides, and likely represents the Workers Party on the missile program, experts say. (rtr)

Thursday, December 28, 2017

British tourist jailed for three years in Egypt after mistakenly confessing to smuggling drugs.

British woman sentenced in Egypt to 3 years in jail for smuggling painkillers

CAIRO - An Egyptian court sentenced a British woman to three years in prison on Tuesday for smuggling around 300 painkiller tablets into the country, in a ruling her defence team said she would appeal to have overturned or commuted.

Laura Plummer, a 33-year-old shop worker from Hull, was arrested in October after the Tramadol tablets were found in her suitcase.

Her family told British newspapers she bought the tablets for her Egyptian partner living in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

Plummer attended a hearing in her case on Monday, before Tuesday’s sentencing. The court also ruled that she must pay a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($5,600).

Tramadol is a legal, prescription medicine in Britain, but it is banned in Egypt. Plummer was arrested on arrival from Britain in October, and her detention was extended twice prior to her court appearance.

Plummer’s family said on Tuesday they were disgusted by the way the trial had been conducted.

“From day one, this has been a complete nightmare. Yesterday in the court she wasn’t even allowed her own interpreter. She had to get the court’s interpreter who was in-

terpreting the wrong answers,” her sister Jayne Synclair said, speaking on BBC television.

The family said Plummer had also been forced to sign Arabiclanguage documents which she did not understand.

“She’s on the verge of a mental breakdown ... It’s just horrendous,” her sister said.

Her lawyer said Plummer would appeal, seeking to reverse the verdict or get a commuted sentence, which is possible in the two months after sentencing. He added that she did not know Tramadol was banned in Egypt.

Speaking to the court on behalf of Plummer, the lawyer, said she had no criminal intent in bringing in the painkillers.

On Monday the lawyer, Mohamed Othman, told Reuters: “It is illogical that she was dealing in Tramadol. She had only 320 pills.

Even the plane ticket is almost double the price of those pills.”

A spokesman from Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We will continue to provide assistance to Laura and her family following the court ruling in Egypt, and our embassy is in regular contact with the Egyptian authorities.” (rtr)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Police will stay on alert by taking precautionary measures to tackle all forms of terror ahead of the New Year`s Eve celebrations despite officers having arrested some suspects, an official stated here, Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Pol. M. Iqbal, the police`s spokesperson, remarked that the people need to raise awareness among those residing in their neighborhood in order to prevent any terror acts that may occur after the Christmas and New Year`s Eve celebrations on Dec 31 and Jan 1.

“We (the police officers) are strong with the support of the people,” Iqbal stressed in Jakarta, Tuesday. Hence, he called on the people to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, including those residing in their neighborhood. The police spokesperson also urged all chiefs in residential areas to monitor the activities of members in their communities.

Iqbal further noted that Babinkamtibnas, or police officers assigned as advisors on security and public order in villages and sub-districts; the Babinsa, village supervisory officers; as well as the sub-district civil servants need to be more alert in monitoring the people. “(Strict supervision needs to be conducted) in order to identify the suspects as early as possible. We should not allow terrorists to dis-

guise themselves as our neighbors and hide near our homes,” he noted.

Hence, he called on the clerks, teachers, and parents to remain vigilant of their surroundings. In celebrating New Year`s Eve, the police`s spokesperson has called on the people to visit their families or offer prayers at home. He urged the people, who are holidaying, to not engage in excessive alcohol consumption or conduct illegal activities, as police officers will take action against anyone found violating the law.

On Dec 22, the National Police had launched the “great candle” operation in a bid to maintain public order and prevent any terror acts during the Christmas and New Year`s Eve celebrations.

In Yogyakarta, the police have deployed 1,700 personnel to secure the festivities. The police have also readied joint forces comprising military personnel, members of the public order agency (Satpol PP), and volunteers of some mass organizations.

Yogyakarta Police Chief Brig.

Gen. Pol. Ahmad Dofiri noted that the officers had secured some 352 churches in the province. Meanwhile, on a separate occasion, the National Police had also deployed more than 141 thousand officers, including 85 thousand police personnel and some 15 thousand military troops. (ant)

Antara Foto/Raisan Al Farisi/via REUTERS

An Indonesian bomb squad policeman holds a rifle as examines a church before Christmas mass prayer in Bandung, Indonesia, December 23, 2017 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.

Picture taken December 23, 2017.

Indonesian Police focus on securing tourism areas after Christmas

JAKARTA - Joint forces of the Indonesian National Police, military, and local security officers will focus on securing tourism areas after Christmas or ahead of the New Year`s Eve celebrations. “Our main mission now (after Christmas) is to secure tourism spots, ports, stations, airports, and shopping centers,” Brig.

Gen. Pol. M Iqbal, the spokesperson, noted in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Pol. M. Iqbal

IBP/net

He stated that police officers will work along with the military troops and people to anticipate all forms of terrors. Iqbal noted that some officers were currently deployed at tourism attractions, such as the Ragunan Zoo, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol theme park, and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreational park in Jakarta.

“Our officers will be ready under any circumstances before and after the incidents occur,” Iqbal stressed.

Iqbal revealed that during the mass leave on Tuesday (Dec 26), the traffic in Jakarta was relatively clear, as most city residents were celebrating their holidays out of town in some provinces, such as West Java, Central Java, or East Java.

Hence, during Christmas and ahead of the New Year`s Eve, the police have forecast traffic jams on some routes in Nagreg, Cikopo, highways along the North Coastal Lines (Pantura), and the southern lines.

Vehicular traffic will start increasing on late Dec 26, but the peak will be witnessed on Jan 1 after the New Year`s celebrations. The police, military, and local security personnel have established coordination by outlining some strategies to divert traffic when congestion occurs.

On a separate occasion, Iqbal also stated that police officers will remain vigil by taking precautionary measures in order to secure the festivities. However, he called on the people to raise awareness among those residing in their neighborhood in order to halt any terror acts that may occur ahead of the New Year`s Eve. Earlier on Friday (Dec 22), the National Police had launched the “great candle” operation in a bid to maintain public order and prevent any terror acts during the Christmas and New Year`s Eve celebrations. The National Police had deployed more than 141 thousand officers, including some 85 thousand police personnel and 15 thousand military troops. (rtr)

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Thursday, December 28, 2017

Bali News

International

BUSINESS

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Pesan, a Tasty Balinese Traditional Menu

Venezuelans scramble to survive as merchants demand dollars

CARACAS/CIUDAD GUAYANA - There was no way Jose Ramon Garcia, a food transporter in Venezuela, could afford new tires for his van at $350 each. Whether he opted to pay in U.S. currency or in the devalued local bolivar currency at the equivalent black market price, Garcia would have had to save up for years. Though used to expensive repairs, this one was too much and put him out of business. “Repairs cost an arm and a leg in Venezuela,” said the now-unemployed 42-yearold Garcia, who has a wife and two children to support in the southern city of Guayana.

Penglipuran, an Exotic Traditional Village in Bangli

IBP/net

“There’s no point keeping bolivars.” For a decade and a half, strict exchange controls have severely limited access to dollars. A black market in hard currency has spread in response, and as once-sky-high oil revenue runs dry, Venezuela’s economy is in free-fall.

The practice adopted by gourmet and design stores in Caracas over the last couple of years to charge in dollars to a select group of expatriates or Venezuelans with access to greenbacks is fast spreading.

Food sellers, dental and medical clinics, and others are starting to charge in dollars or their black market equivalent - putting many basic goods and services out of reach for a large number of Venezuelans.

According to the opposition-led National Assembly, November’s rise in prices topped academics’ traditional benchmark for hyperinflation of more than 50 percent a month - and could end the year at 2,000 percent.

The government has not published inflation data for more than a year.

“I can’t think in bolivars anymore, because you have to give a different price every hour,” said Yoselin Agu-

irre, 27, who makes and sells jewelry in the Paraguana peninsula and has recently pegged prices to the dollar.

“To survive, you have to dollarize.”

The socialist government of the late president Hugo Chavez in 2003 brought in the strict controls in order to curb capital flight, as the wealthy sought to move money out of Venezuela after a coup attempt and major oil strike the previous year. Oil revenue was initially able to bolster artificial exchange rates, though the black market grew and now is becoming unmanageable for the government.

TRIM THE TREE WITH BOLIVARS President Nicolas Maduro has maintained his predecessor’s policies on capital controls. Yet, the spread between the strongest official rate, of some 10 bolivars per dollar, and the black market rate, of around 110,000 per dollar, is now huge. While sellers see a shift to hard currency as necessary, buyers sometimes blame them for speculating.

Rafael Vetencourt, 55, a steel worker in Ciudad Guayana, needed a prostate operation priced at $250.

“We don’t earn in dollars. It’s abusive

to charge in dollars!” said Vetencourt, who had to decimate his savings to pay for the surgery. In just one year, Venezuela’s currency has weakened 97.5 per cent against the greenback, meaning $1,000 of local currency purchased then would be worth just $25 now.

Maduro blames black market rate-publishing websites such as DolarToday for inflating the numbers, part of an “economic war” he says is designed by the opposition and Washington to topple him.

On Venezuela’s borders with Brazil and Colombia, the prices of

imported oil, eggs and wheat flour vary daily in line with the black market price for bolivars. In an upscale Caracas market, cheese-filled arepas, the traditional breakfast made with corn flour, increased 65 percent in price in just two weeks, according to tracking by Reuters reporters. In the same period, a kilogram of ham jumped a whopping 171 percent.

The runaway prices have dampened Christmas celebrations, which this season were characterized by shortages of pine trees and toys, as well as meat, chicken and cornmeal for the preparation of typical dishes.

In one grim festive joke, a Christmas tree in Maracaibo, the country’s oil capital and second city, was decorated with virtually worthless low-denomination bolivar bills.

Most Venezuelans, earning just $5 a month at the black market rate, are nowhere near being able to save hard currency.

“How do I do it? I earn in bolivars and have no way to buy foreign currency,” said Cristina Centeno, a 31-year-old teacher who, like many, was seeking remote work online before Christmas in order to bring in some hard currency. (rtr)

KHARTOUM - Sudan is to devalue the Sudanese pound to 18 per dollar in January from the current 6.7, the finance minister said on Tuesday, after the IMF called for it to let the currency float freely to encourage foreign investment in the country.

Sudan is also set to reduce subsidies for much of its manufacturing sector, a senior governmental source said separately, as electricity prices have increased tenfold in the North African nation.

The International Monetary Fund urged Sudan earlier this month to let the pound float freely and to cut its energy and wheat subsidies to boost growth and investment. It said

Khartoum had a chance to improve its struggling economy after the United States lifted 20 years of sanctions in October.

The government has ruled out a market-determined exchange rate, however. The IMF last year agreed to loan Sudan’s neighbour Egypt $12 billion if it implemented similarly tough fiscal reforms.

Import-dependent Sudan has suffered both from the sanctions and from the secession of the south in 2011, when it lost three-quarters of its oil output, its main source of foreign currency.

The devaluation of the pound, which includes the customs exchange

rate - the rate used to calculate customs duties - is timed to take effect when the 2018 budget begins in the first week of January, Finance Minister Mohamed Othman Rukabi told Reuters. Traders said the black market rate jumped to 27 SDG per dollar from 25 SDG per dollar on Tuesday after the devaluation was announced.

“The whole budget for the new year is based on a an official rate of 18 SDG per dollar. We expect the results of this policy to be positive for the Sudanese economy,” he said.

The Sudanese pound has weakened sharply against the dollar since Washington the economic sanctions, encouraging traders to step up im-

ports and putting pressure on scarce hard currency. Businesses have been unable to get hold of the hard currency they need at the official pegged exchange rate of 6.7 pounds to the dollar, forcing them to resort to parallel markets where exchange rates are much less favourable.

Sudan announced emergency measures last month to stem the flow of scarce currency out of the banking system, after the pound fell to a record low of 27 against the dollar on the black market.

The country also imposed tight restrictions on imports of luxury goods, directing remaining liquidity toward “sectors that boost growth”, the

central bank said. A senior governmental source said on Tuesday that the cabinet had decided to remove all subsidies from the manufacturing sector apart from firms involved in the production of medication and ice. The cost of electricity has jumped tenfold for the industrial sector, the government said separately.

A union leader told Reuters he was worried that the devaluation of the currency and the electricity price hike would send inflation soaring. “We met the finance minister and asked him to adjust the budget so we won’t suffer from the hike” in the customs exchange rate, Amin Abbas said, without giving further details.(rtr)

Penglipuran tourism village is one of the prideful tourism villages owned by Bangli. Exotic natural beauty accompanied by strong customs makes the village in Bangli district indeed appropriate to be included in the itinerary of the traveling lovers. To reach the location, it only takes 1.5 hours from Denpasar. On arriving at the entrance, cool atmosphere of surrounding nature can have been felt. Left and right sides are decorated with green leaves of trees.

REUTERS/Marco Bello

A vendor weighs cheese for a customer at a street market in Caracas, Venezuela December 19, 2017. Picture taken December 19, 2017.

Sudan to devalue pound currency to 18 per dollar in January -minister

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As soon as arriving at the location, the curiosity of its beauty will soon be relieved. Your eyes will be immediately drawn to the allure of the whole row of houses along with the angkul-angkul roofed with bamboo Wrapped in brown color with traditional image will not make visitors get bored. Existing anxiety due to daily bustles immediately vanishes and precisely regains the atmosphere of the1990s.

In addition to the exterior, the home yard of local people is also equipped with traditional building. Roof and walls are made of bamboo, while the floor is still made of earth. Nevertheless, it precisely becomes one of the photo objects for visitors. If you’re still curious about this unique village, simply come to the memorial monument located in the south. Right next to the memorial, visitors can also see the karang memadu. Polygamous husbands will be isolated in this area.

Operations Manager of Penglipuran attraction, Nengah Moneng, said not long ago that the high tourist visit to Penglipuran usually happens during holidays associated with religious feast like Christmas. Daily visits can reach 650 people. Domestic travelers are dominated by those from Bali and outside Bali. Then, foreign traveler is not so much, approximately 60 people.

“Tourist visit increased about 10 percent. Hopefully, in the future it can continue to increase,” said Moneng accompanied by his colleague, I Nengah Sudibia.

Aside from the layout of traditional settlement, visitors will also see the bamboo forests in the northern part of the village. Besides, some visitors are trying to taste the typical culinary products of Penglipuran, namely herbal drinks like loloh cemcem, loloh kunyit and klepon made of purple yam. To increase the number of visitors, a festi-

val is held coinciding with the holiday season where the current one is the third year. In addition to jazzing up, the village festival is also organized to evoke the culture, such as dance performances and the development of industrial sector and the SMEs into the wider realm.

Since 2015, the Penglipuran community has been concerned with the environmental arrangement. Telajakan or space between road section and people’s house compound is planted with various kinds of ornamental flowers. This will indirectly increase the beauty of the object and tourist visit to the village. “We also raised potential of the region through festival activities. It is also intended to increase the number of visits,” he said.

He added that the admission ticket to the Penglipuran village for domestic travelers is IDR 10,000 per person and foreign travelers IDR 30,000 per person. (kmb)

Pesan or pepes is a Balinese traditional menu that is quite tasty. This menu is also often called tum or anyang or in accordance with respective region. Shape of the package is also different where in general there are three shapes, namely longwise upward rectangle, while others may wrap it like wrapped rice and sideline longwise rectangle like a pillow. However, they all have the same ingredients and preparation.

For the Hindu communities on the Island of Gods, this pesan menu is also used as a means of offering presented to the ancestors. Yet this one is made simpler or smaller, so it can be easily put into the basket of the offerings. The pesan for offerings is very special as made from selected ingredient such as black chicken, multi-colored chicken and others in accordance with the type of offerings and the level of ceremony.

Well, the pesan menu commonly intended for consumption has larger size. Similarly, the pesan to be sold will have different shape where it is mostly longwise and sideways like pillow. The ingredient also varies. The one for sale is usually made from pork, chicken and fish.

Meanwhile, farmers in rural areas usually take advantage of the ingredients obtained from their paddy fields, such as fish, eels, frog, dragonflies and others.

Well, the pesan made from pork is the most easily encountered. This one is usually sold at restaurants and food stalls in rural and urban areas. Besides, it can also be obtained in traditional markets. If local communities organize a ceremony like wedding, pawukon-based birthday (otonan), cremation (ngaben) and others they will definitely make this type of pesan. This means the activities will involve community members in large numbers and this pesan menu will be served. Local community is very familiar with this menu.

Ingredient of this pesan menu is selected meat such as ham, skin and blood. The seasoning consists of onion, garlic, pepper and chili plus salt according to taste. Do not forget to add bay leaves to remove fishy smell ??as well as increase the delicious aroma. People in rural areas regularly mix the ingredients with other supplement such as banana heart and banana underground steam and others.

Its preparation is very simple. First of all, chop the meat to become smooth. While chopping, please be filled with blood so the meat turns red. The skin is boiled and then sliced thin and into small size. Seasoning of onion, garlic, and chili are sliced ??into small part. Then, the chopped meat is mixed together with seasoning well.

Add some salt according to your taste.

When having a little stock of meat, people usually mix with grated coconut to get more batter. Next, wrap the batter with banana leaves and affix each end of the wrap with bamboo spin. Each wrap is filled with a bay leaf to balance cholesterol. Then, steam them for about 20 minutes. Ultimately, take out and it’s ready to serve. (kmb)

Polygamy Area, Manifestation of Respect to Women How unique it is. Penglipuran village in Bangli district can be said as the only anti-polygamy village in Bali. The men at the local village are strictly forbidden from having more than one wife. If they insist on taking polygamy, they must be willing to be ostracized in a vacant land located in the south of local village, known as karang memadu or polygamy area.

The polygamy area is vacant land measuring approximately 9×21 meters. It is located in the southern

of people’s residence. Local residents consider it spiritually impure (leteh). As being impure, any fruits cultivated in the area like bananas cannot to be taken advantage as a means of ritual oblation, but should only be consumed.

A signboard reading ‘Polygamy Area’ is installed to mark this land and indeed made special by residents. Any residents daring to violate the rules set forth in the customary bylaw or awig-awig of

Penglipuran, they must consequently be willing to be ostracized and occupy the area with their wife. Not only that, they will also be subject to some other social sanctions. They are not allowed to cross the number of certain roads in the village area.

One of them is the main intersection at the village next to the local meeting hall. They are only allowed to exit through the road to the south of the polygamy area.

Headman of Penglipuran, Wayan

Supat, when met recently said that the prohibition from polygamy has been passed down from generation to generation. “People committing polygamy are not allowed to pass northwards to the village intersection or catus pata. It includes visiting the entire village temple of Penglipuran because they are considered in impure state,” he explained. In addition, the validity of the couple’s marriage will also never be approved by customary village.

He said the impact of social sanctions is severe enough so that until now the polygamy area remains vacant without any buildings. No people dare to occupy the area.

According to Supat, the existence of prohibition for men to have polygamy indicates that the ancestors of local communities very much respect to women from time immemorial. Indirectly the rules also educate men to be faithful to one partner only. (kmb)

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Bali News

International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

International

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South Korea says “comfort women” row with Japan unresolved despite 2015 deal

SEOUL - A 2015 deal with Japan over South Korean “comfort women” forced to work in Japan’s wartime military brothels failed to meet the victims’ needs, South Korea said on Wednesday, throwing ties into doubt as both countries seek to rein in North Korea.

IBP/kmb35

Tirta Empul tourist object in which until Tuesday was observed to be quiet.

Thousands of tourists back to visit Bali

Tirta Empul remains quiet

GIANYAR — A number of tourist destinations in Gianyar region have experienced an increase in tourist visits. However, this condition does not apply to Tirta Empul tourist object in which until Tuesday was observed to be quiet. Now, Gianyar Tourism Office is preparing various efforts to restore the confidence of tourists visiting the object of the springs located away from the disaster prone area (KRB) of Mount Agung, Karangasem.

Head of the Gianyar Tourism Office, A.A. Bagus Ari Brahmanta, said on Tuesday (Dec. 26) that some tourist objects such as Puseh Temple of Batuan to Ubud were closely watched to have received tourist visits. He said the increase in tourist visits by this yearend has reached 20 percent of normal days. “Now, it has entered high season, so it already increases even though it is not as busy as last year that could reach 70 percent,” he said.

This man familiarly addressed as Gung Ari also admitted that the increase has not happened to Tirta Empul tourist attraction. The object at Tampaksiring looked quiet.

“So far, there are only domestic tourist visits so it still looks very quiet,” he said.

Previously, this tourist attraction always occupied the highest rank among the dozens of other attractions managed by district government of Gianyar. However, the current visit per day only

reaches 200 people. “It dropped dramatically when compared to earlier on normal days where daily visitors to Tirta Empul could reach thousands,” he said.

Gung Ari estimated that such condition occurred as tourists may consider that Tirta Empul object is located on highlands and close to the area of Mount Agung, whereas the distance of this attraction from the active volcano reaches tens of kilometers. “Maybe, tourists have such

perception, so that until now the tourist visit is just enough to get to Goa Gajah. Previously, they also resumed their journey to Tirta Empul and Kintamani and even to Besakih Temple. But now they no longer do,” he explained.

Now, his office is still trying to deliver information that all tourist attractions in Gianyar are located far from disaster-prone area of Mount Agung. “We continuously submit information, but so far the destination is indeed connected to Tirta Empul, Kintamani and Besakih. So, now we are trying to direct them from Goa Gajah northward including this and Gunung Kawi as well,” he said.

When asked about occupancy

rate, this official from Ubud revealed that it remains around 2030 percent of the overall rooms of hotel, villa and home stay. Seeing the drop of tourist arrivals at Ngurah Rai Airport, Gung Ari said it is still difficult to reach 50 percent.

“Well, let’s pray. Hopefully, a few days before this yearend there is an increase again,” he said.

Amid the quiet condition of tourist visits to Tirta Empul tourist object, police officers that have set up security posts remain vigilant at the location. Chief of Tampaksiring Police, Made Tama, also regularly oversees the post.

“Though the tourist visit is quiet, we must ensure the security of the region,” he said. (kmb35)

Due to faster enlargement process, fish farmers prefer to Nile tilapia BANGLI — Several species of freshwater fish are potential to be cultivated in Lake Batur, Kintamani. Nevertheless, most fish farmers in local lake have long preferred to cultivate Nile tilapia. This happens because the cultivation process of this tilapia is faster than some other species of fish.

Chief of the Fisheries Cultivation Association (APP) of Bangli district, Ketut Wania, said on Tuesday (Dec. 26) that Lake Batur is potential for cultivation of several species of fish. Apart from Nile tilapia, catfish and shark catfish are also good to be developed in the lake. “Actually it is also good to be developed in the lake but farmers have long cultivated Nile tilapia,” he explained.

IBP/kmb

One of the reasons why fish farmers prefer to develop Nile tilapia is the enlargement process is quite fast.

According to Wania, one of the reasons why fish farmers prefer to develop Nile tilapia is the enlargement process is quite fast. To harvest, farmers only need 5-6 months to grow the fingerlings, while the longest is 7 months.

Meanwhile, other species of fish such as catfish, takes longer time namely about 10 months in order to be ready for harvest. “So, the process is longer,” he said.

As for the market demand for Nile tilapia, catfish and shark catfish, he said that so far they are almost the same. “Not long ago, we met with entrepreneurs where they delivered a variety of requests,” he said.

When asked about the current demand for Nile tilapia, he admitted to be pretty good.

Production of fish farmers in floating net cages (KJA) which had experienced over production some time ago due to a little market demand has now been absorbed. He added that the Nile tilapia produced by farmers in Lake Batur has not only been marketed in Bali but also to outside the region. (kmb40)

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha apologised for the controversial deal as a panel appointed by her in July to investigate the negotiations leading up to the agreement unveiled its results.

“I apologise for giving wounds of the heart to the victims, their families, civil society that support them and all other people because the agreement failed to sufficiently reflect a victim-oriented approach, which is the universal standard in resolving human rights issues,” Kang told a news conference.

Under the deal, endorsed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s predecessor and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan apologised to former comfort women and provided 1 billion yen ($8.8 million) to a fund to help them.

The two governments agreed the issue would be “irreversibly resolved” if both fulfilled their obligations.

But Moon has said the South Korean people did not accept the deal.

The investigation concluded that the dispute over the comfort women, a Japanese euphemism for the girls and women, many of them Korean, forced to work in wartime brothels, could not be “fundamentally resolved” because the victims’

demand for Japan’s legal compensation had not been met.

Tokyo says the matter of compensation for the women was settled under a 1965 treaty with Seoul.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the agreement that the issue had been resolved “finally and irreversibly” had been confirmed by both governments.

“It is extremely important that this agreement be steadily implemented,” Suga told a regular news conference before the report had been released.

“The government will continue tenaciously to urge the South Korean side at every opportunity to steadily implement this agreement.”

South Korea and Japan are key to international efforts to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes that it pursues in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. The comfort women issue has been a regular cause for contention between Japan and neighbours China and North and South Korea since the war.

Japan colonised the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945 and occupied parts of China before and during World War Two. (rtr)

REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool

Oh Tai-Kyu, head of a special task force for investigating the 2015 South Korea-Japan agreement over South Korea’s “comfort women” issue, speaks during a briefing on his investigation at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea December 27, 2017.

India says Pakistan mistreated visiting wife of convicted spy, seized her shoes

REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood

Former Indian navy officer Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav’s mother Avanti (C) and wife, Chetankul arrive to meet him at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan December 25, 2017.

NEW DELHI - India denounced Pakistan on Tuesday over the treatment of the family of an Indian man sentenced to death for spying, saying they had been harassed during a visit, a charge Pakistan called “baseless”.

Among other things, the Indian government accused the Pakistani authorities of refusing to return the shoes of the visiting wife of Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav after she turned them over to security for the visit.

Jadhav, a former officer in the Indian navy, was arrested in March 2016 in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan, where there has been a long-running conflict between

security forces and separatists, and he was convicted of planning espionage and sabotage.

His wife and mother were allowed to see him behind a glass window on Monday, eight months after he was sentenced to death, but that gesture of goodwill appeared to have quickly descended into acrimony.

Ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours are in a deep chill and Jadhav’s case has added to long-running tensions, with each accusing the other of supporting cross-border violence.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said Jadhav’s family had been subjected to harassment when they arrived to see him.

“The Pakistani press was allowed on multiple occasions to approach family members closely, harass and hector them and hurl false and loaded accusations about (Shri) Jadhav,” Kumar said in a statement.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry rejected the accusations.

“The Indian baseless allegations and twists ... about the visit of the wife and mother of Commander Jadhav, a convicted terrorist and spy, who has confessed to his crimes, are categorically rejected,” it said.

The Pakistani statement added that it had kept both Pakistani, Indian and international media “at a safe distance, as requested by India”. (rtr)

14

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Health

International

International

Girls’ early puberty tied to depression, behavior problems into adulthood

NEW YORK - Girls who go through puberty early could be more likely to experience depression and behavior problems that last into their 20s compared to peers who start menstruation later, a U.S. study suggests.

Researchers studied data on nearly 7,800 women who had their first menstrual cycle at an average age of 12. The women were interviewed four times, starting around age 16 and continuing until about age 28.

Girls who went through puberty earlier than most were more likely to become depressed, and their symptoms were also more severe in adolescence, the study found.

The younger the age at the first period, the stronger the association between early puberty and mental health problems; it was stronger for girls who started menstruation at age 8 than at age 10, for example.

With earlier puberty, girls were also more likely to have behavior issues that led to things like stealing, lying, breaking into buildings and selling drugs. The link lasted into young adulthood.

“Interestingly, the magnitude of the association between puberty and these psychological difficulties remains stable, meaning that puberty is as strongly associated with depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior during adulthood as it is during adolescence,” said lead study author Jane Mendle, a researcher at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

“This suggests that the psychological vulnerability of earlier puberty lingers longer than we previously

may have expected,” Mendle said by email. “It’s not simply a question of adolescent growing pains.”

Sweeping changes in biology, appearance, selfperception and emotion combine to make puberty one of the most pivotal phases of development during the life span, the researchers note in Pediatrics. Although puberty can be a challenging time for all adolescents, it can be a particularly vulnerable time for girls who physically mature ahead of their peers.

Because physical maturation is linked to changes in social roles and relationships, this has long been linked to difficulties coping with new changes and stressors in life as well as changes in the brain that can make youth exceptionally vulnerable to mental health and behavior difficulties.

Researchers examined data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a nationally representative study that includes youth from a broad range of racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The interviews examined in the current study were conducted in four waves from 1994 to 2008.

Questions focused on the timing of menstruation and also touched on symptoms of depression that the teens had experienced in the past week and the frequency of so-called anti-social behaviors like lying, stealing and dealing drugs.

Young women who experienced depression as adults may have been at risk because they were more likely to start experiencing these symptoms during adolescence and remained at risk over time, the study concludes. (rtr)

IBP/net

Girls who go through puberty early could be more likely to experience depression and behavior problems that last into their 20s compared to peers who start menstruation later, a U.S. study suggests.

One adult and two child patients suspected of diphtheria

IBP/net

People who left the house frequently at any of the ages examined were significantly more likely to live to the next age group.

DENPASAR — Three patients suspected to suffer diphtheria were taken to Sanglah Hospital. One of the three patients, NKSS, 30, from Karangasem, was taken to Sanglah Hospital on Sunday (Dec. 24).

Head of the Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya, said the three patients have the initials MDMP,1 year 7 months, a boy from Pemecutan, West Denpasar, NKSS, 30, a woman from Karangasem, and MDS, 4, a boy from Ubud, Gianyar.

“It is true they are suspects and require a laboratory examination.

Now, we are still waiting for the results within a few days,” he said on Monday (Dec. 25).

He explained that condition of patient MDMP from Denpasar has been getting better and the mem-

People who left the house frequently at any of the ages examined were significantly more likely to live to the next age group. For example, among people who left the house frequently, often or rarely at age 78, 71 percent, 67 percent and 43 percent, respectively, survived to age 85. Among people who left the house frequently, often or rarely at age 90, 64 percent, 56 percent and 38 percent, respectively, made it to 95.

At all ages, people who left home less frequently tended to be male, less educated and to have higher rates of loneliness, financial difficulties, poor health, fatigue, poor sleep, less physical activity, bladder and bowel problems, history of falling in the last year, fear of falling, visual and hearing impairments, chronic pain and frailty.

The link between leaving the house and longevity, however, remained after the researchers accounted for medical or mobility issues such as chronic pain, vision or hearing impairment, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and kidney disease.

“We included people who had mobility difficulties, so this isn’t just about people moving their legs up and down,” Jacobs said. “That’s quite exciting. There’s something about interacting with the world outside that helps.” (rtr)

3

Thursday, December 28, 2017

branes have shrunk. After getting the results of lab examination, the patient was declared to be negative and allowed to go home.

Meanwhile, NKSS from Karangasem was scheduled to be provided with anti-diphtheria serum (ADS) on Tuesday. His agency will also come down to the field on Tuesday to conduct an epidemiological investigation by taking samples of people in contact with the suspect patients. “The physician treating MDSS namely Agus Somia reported that the patient is in stable condition,” he added.

Head of Public Relations Division of Sanglah Hospital, Dewa Ketut Kresna, added that MDMP and MDS came to Sanglah Hospital on December 22, while NKSS on December 24. (kmb42)

Leaving the house linked to longevity in older adults

FOR older people, getting out of the house regularly may contribute to a longer life - and the effect is independent of medical problems or mobility issues, according to new research from Israel.

For study participants in their 70s, 80s and 90s, the frequency with which they left the house predicted how likely they were to make it to the next age milestone, researchers report in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

“The simple act of getting out of the house every day propels people into engagement with the world,” said lead author Dr. Jeremy Jacobs of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem in a phone interview.

“We saw similar benefits that you’d expect from treating blood pressure or cholesterol with medicine,” Jacobs said. “Social factors are important in the process of aging.”

Jacobs and colleagues analyzed data on 3,375 adults at ages 70, 78, 85 and 90 who were participating in the Jerusalem Longitudinal Study.

Based on their responses to questions about how often they left the house, participants were grouped into three categories: frequently (six or seven days per week), often (two to five times per week) or rarely (once a week or less).

Bali News

IBP/kmb26

Some points are even deliberately taken advantage as a landfill by unscrupulous residents.

Garbage in TNBB forest threats conservation

NEGARA — Condition of mangrove forest in West Bali National Park (TNBB), especially on the border with the settlements in Gilimanuk, is apprehensive. Household garbage is scattered under the mangrove plants. This incident has happened for many times. Some points are even deliberately taken advantage as a landfill by unscrupulous residents.

Head of the Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya

IBP/kmb

As seen, several points at Gilimanuk and Sumbersari are often used as garbage disposal. Recently, on the roadside of Denpasar-Gilimanuk, precisely at Klatakan, a truck full of gypsum materials dumped on its debris on the roadside. Actually, the road section belongs to the TNBB area, and warning signs from disposing of garbage has been installed. “I saw it a few days ago, whereas there is a warning sign. Residue of gypsum is thrown there,” said Wira, a local resident.

Other than at Klatakan, the point often used for garbage disposal is in the mangrove forest bordering with Gilimanuk. “We have often reminded not to dispose of waste into mangrove forests because garbage container has been provided next to Gilimanuk terminal,” said a local officer on Sunday (Dec. 24).

However, unscrupulous residents often commit it secretly to avoid from being known by the officers and

choose to throw in the mangrove area. In addition to the roadside, the garbage is also much discarded in the mangrove forest area next to the Archaeological Museum. Thus, it can disrupt mangrove forests.

Previously, Division Head of TNBB Administrative Affairs, Wiryawan, admitted that high garbage volume also comes from Gilimanuk. This condition indirectly threatens the conservation area. Based on the data of 2017, the volume of garbage polluting the park area reached 11.1 tons. The data were obtained from the results of clean-up activities for 63 times by TNBB from February to October 2017. According to him, the garbage threatening the sustainability of this area originates from household waste of the surrounding villages and garbage carried by ocean currents and stranded on the beach area of TNBB. To anticipate the increasing volume of waste, he said the TNBB does cleanup activities as well as dissemination of environmental care to communities living around the park area. The park authority has also put up a signpost of appeal or prohibition from disposing of garbage at a number of points being prone to pile of garbage.

In 2018, the park authority will declare master plan activity of garbage control conducted by the waste control working group. (kmb26)

2

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Bali News

International

Activities

International

Thursday, December 28, 2017

15

Christmas and New Year holidays, traffic on toll road increases

IBP/Manik

Hundreds of residents participated in the mapeed tradition held in a series of pujawali (temple anniversary) at Dalem Gede Temple of Sukawati

Peed tradition of Sukawati maintains its fashion style

GIANYAR - Hundreds of residents participated in the mapeed tradition held in a series of pujawali (temple anniversary) at Dalem Gede Temple of Sukawati on Anggara Kliwon Tambir on Tuesday (Dec. 26). Aside from being a sacred activity, the tradition adorning every anniversary of trinity temples of Sukawati village is also held by maintaining Balinese customary fashion with the typical style of Sukawati village.

Hundreds of male and female residents walked in pair and dressed in Balinese makeup and fashion ranging from children, teenagers, housewives coalesced into PKK group to the elderly. They were enthusiastic to walk from Dalem Temple to Beji Cengcengan Temple of Sukawati village bordered with Guwang village.

Sacred value of this tradition lies in the purpose of mepeed namely picking up holy water at Taman Beji Temple.

Furthermore, this holy water will be used for ritual in the temple anniversary that lasted for four days until Friday (Dec. 29). “So during the pujawali, the mapeed procession is held every day in the afternoon,” said Chief of Sukawati customary village, I Nyoman Suwantha, on Tuesday.

Like the mepeed procession elsewhere, at Sukawati village it began with rows of lolentakan, umbrella, pasepan and other ritual paraphernalia, while male or

female residents in Balinese makeup and fashion were in the middle. In the rear, the participants of the mapeed were accompanied with baleganjur gamelan orchestra.

Different hamlets were involved in the four-day mapeed tradition. At Sukawati, there is a term known as krama penyatusan. “We have 12 hamlets which coalesced into 4 satusan (group), where on the first day was the turn of Tebuana, then Palak on the second day, Telabah on the third day and Gelumpang on the last day,” he explained.

Chief of customary village, I Nyoman Suwantha, affirmed that mepeed on every temple anniversary must always be held. In addition to maintaining the tradition, it also serves as cultural preservation.

He also always reminded his residents to maintain the makeup and fashion having become the typical styles of Sukawati. One is them is the use of rear kancut for adult women. “Balinese makeup and fashion style indeed have dynamic nature. In the past, they were dominated by modified style, but now we gradually start to improve,” he explained.

He also involved specifically the association of customary village apparatus spouse to provide coaching for residents that would participate in the mapeed.

They were asked to promote Balinese makeup and fashion with the simple style of Sukawati. “So, in terms of cost, it is affordable to all levels of society,” he added. (kmb35)

M A NG U P U R A - D u r i n g Christmas and New Year holidays, vehicle traffic passing through the Bali Mandara Toll Road began to increase. This condition can be said to start improving after the decrease occurred in October and November.

President Director of PT Jasamarga Bali Toll (JBT), Akhmad Tito Karim, confirmed on Tuesday (Dec. 26) that during October 2017 the traffic on Bali Mandara Toll Road decreased by 20 percent per day. This decrease is seen from the initial target of 53,000 vehicles per day, but only reached 43,000 vehicles per day. Meanwhile, in November it also decreased by 25 percent from the initial target of 53,000 vehicles per day and could only be realized as much as 38,000 vehicles per day.

Nevertheless, he said the condition has improved from December 22. The number of vehicles crossing the Bali Mandara Toll Road has begun to increase, even during the Christmas holidays. Last year, the number of vehicles crossing at

the end of the year reached 60,000 per day. For this year, the targets until the end of the year could surpass the last year’s target, at least reached the same amount. “Starting on December 22, there has been an increase. Hopefully, it will continue to increase until this yearend,” he hoped.

By this New Year, he begins to make preparations to deal with traffic spikes. One of them is by opening all the existing toll gates totally amounting to 20 toll gates.

Meanwhile, the ticket officers will also be added. “We will add the ticket officers. Other than from Jasa Marga, there are also from bank officers. Next, we will prepare e-toll card and top-up equipment at toll gates,” he said.

Previously, said Tito, his management has opened Christmas and New Year post to monitor traffic movement. Moreover, all the officers consisting of patrollers, ambulances, rescue, and crane vehicles will also be alerted. (kmb23)

The traffic in Bali Mandara Toll Road

IBP/Yudi Karnaedi

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A PRECIOUS GOURMET GIFT “THE BÛCHE DE NOËL HIBIKI” AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT ANA INTERCONTINENTAL TOKYO

Looking for a unique gourmet indulgence to celebrate the holiday season? The world-class kitchen team at ANA InterContinental Tokyo has designed a limited edition series of ‘Bûche de Noël Hibiki’, packed with aromatic festive ingredients that are guaranteed to tantalise the taste buds.

ANA InterContinental Tokyo is now inviting guests and diners to place their advance orders for these decadent treats.

A Bûche de Noël – or yule log – is a chocolate roulade gâteau of French origin dating back to the 19th century. Nowadays, however, yule logs are defying convention and delighting the senses, becoming ever more refined and adventurous in terms of both creative design, decoration, and ingredients.

At ANA InterContinental Tokyo, Japanese aesthetics transform a traditional yule log into the Bûche de Noël Hibiki in the form of an edible whisky barrel generously infused with 120 cc of Suntory’s premium Hibiki 30 year old whisky. This rare and precious, award-winning Japanese whisky is a masterful blend of malt and grain whiskies matured at least 30 years in Suntory’s most treasured oak barrels.

The whisky-soaked, four-layer, chocolate sponge cake with praline nuts, has a mousseline centre of blended custard cream and traditional butter cream. The cake is

coated with marzipan and an outer covering of wood grain textured almond paste reminiscent of an oak whisky barrel complete with almond paste bilge hoops painted with silver pearl lustre-dust. The Bûche de Hibiki rests upon a butter cookie base.

This rich and extravagant set of ingredients, with the luscious buttery filling and alluring frosting, gives the cake a luxurious, moist yet firm texture, while the oak essences of the fine Hibiki whisky harmonise naturally with the chocolate elements and the almond paste. Exquisite woody aromas rise from the plate with the compelling taste of the Hibiki apparent in the very first bite, adding exceptional flavour and distinction to this creamy dream of a dessert.

Due to its bold infusion of whisky, the cake is not one for the kids but it’s the perfect grown-up way to top off Christmas Dinner or celebrate New Year’s Eve. Yet, the Bûche de Hibiki hasn’t only been created for the Festive Season. It is also a unique edible souvenir. Its quintessential Japanese ingredient and innovative decoration serving as a reminder for travellers of their visit to Tokyo. Exclusively created to impress and tantalise family, friends, and even work colleagues and clients, the Hibiki laced cake

will make any occasion special, delighting Dad on Father’s Day or any whisky lover on his or her birthday.

Please order your Bûche de Hibiki seven days in advance of your dinner reservation at ANA InterContinental Tokyo, and surprise your guests with this delicious

and sophisticated indulgence for dessert. Alternatively, visit the ‘Pierre Gagnaire Pains et Gateaux’ patisserie at the hotel, where it may be ordered – again, seven days in advance of your requirement. You will receive it packed to travel, sealed for freshness and ready to serve. The cakes are priced at

50,000 JPY each, inclusive of tax.

On a final note, ANA InterContinental Tokyo requests that guests and diners refrain from ordering for anyone who is legally underage. The high alcohol content also makes the cake unsuitable for those who are driving, or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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 18 10th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Thursday, December 28, 2017 e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Carey returns to ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

An ambulance is seen during medical evacuation from the besieged town of Douma, eastern Ghouta to Damascus, Syria December 26, 2017. Picture taken December 26, 2017.

NEW YORK — Mariah Carey is determined to have a better New Year’s Eve than in 2016 — she is returning to “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” after last year’s debacle.

The Grammy-winning singer’s live performance in Times Square on New Year’s Eve 2016 was marked by problems. She was visibly upset and at points stopped singing, despite a pre-recorded track playing in the background. The performance went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Afterward, Carey posted a meme of herself on social media with the message “(expletive happens).” But it also led to a public spat between the best-selling singer and dick clark productions as to who was at fault, with Carey’s camp charging sabotage with technical glitches, including faulty ear piece, and dick clark productions denying the claims and charging she hadn’t rehearsed

enough. Now, both sides have kissed and made up.

“We can all agree that last year didn’t go exactly as planned and we are thrilled to move forward together to provide America with an incredible night of music and celebration on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018,” a joint statement released to The Associated Press said.

“See you in Times Square!”

Other performers already announced for the live Times Square performances include Camila Cabello, Nick Jonas and Sugarland.

Carey was the first live headline performer in Times Square for the longtime special in 2005, and that performance went seamlessly. (afp)

This file photo taken on December 31, 2016 shows Mariah Carey performing during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square in New York. The pop diva confirmed that she will return to Times Square in New York to ring in 2018, a year after she was humiliated by technical issues at the annual televised ball-drop.

ANGELA WEISS / AFP

Fifth Woman Accuses Danny Masterson of Rape

Danny Masterson and Bobette Riales in 2003.

IBP/net

LOS ANGELES - Declaring that she “stayed quiet long enough,” a fifth woman has come forward to say Danny Masterson raped her.

Bobette Riales wrote on Twitter Wednesday that the former “That ’70s Show” actor repeatedly assaulted her sexually. “All I seek is justice,” she wrote.

Riales and Masterson appear to have been in a relationship in 2003.

A previous accuser, Chrissie

Carnell-Bixler, wrote back to praise Riales for coming forward. “He will never do this to another human being ever again,” she wrote.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office told the New York Daily News that it has been investigating Masterson, 41, for nearly a year. But, according to HuffPost, the investigation stalled despite what one law enforcement official said was “overwhelming” evidence against the actor.

The first four allegations originate from incidents in the early 2000s. At least three of the accusers, like Masterson, were Scientologists, HuffPost reported.

Masterson has denied the allegations.

Earlier this month, Netflix told HuffPost it had written Masterson out of its show “The Ranch,” and that he would not be returning “as a result of ongoing discussions.”

(IBP/net)

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Medical evacuations begin from Syria’s Eastern Ghouta -ICRC

REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh

GENEVA - Medical evacuations have begun from the Syrian rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta to Damascus, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Syria said early on Wednesday. Almost 400,000 people in Eastern Ghouta are besieged by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, and the United Nations has pleaded for his government to allow evacuation of around 500 patients, including children with cancer.

The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said four patients were taken to hospitals in Damascus, the first of 29 critical cases approved for medical evacuation, and the remainder would be evacuated over the coming days.

SAMS advocacy manager Mohamad Katoub said in a tweet that

five had been approved for the first group of evacuations, part of a deal on an exchange of detainees between Assad’s government and rebel group Jaish al-Islam. It was not clear why only four of the five had left.

The Syrian Red Crescent said the evacuations were the result of “long negotiations”. An ICRC

spokeswoman declined to give more details, citing the sensitivity of the operation.

On Sunday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was working with Russia, Assad’s ally, on the evacuations. Last week Jan Egeland, the United Nations humanitarian adviser for Syria, said 494 people were

on the priority list for medical evacuations.

“That number is going down, not because we are evacuating people but because they are dying,” he said. “We have tried now every single week for many months to get medical evacuations out, and food and other supplies in.” The United Nations has been waiting for months for the Syrian authorities to provide “facilitation letters” to allow the aid operation to get under way.

Forces loyal to Assad have carried out air raids on Eastern

Ghouta, while besieged rebels have fired mortars into neighbouring Damascus. “That has nothing to do with the right of evacuating, and obligation to evacuate civilians (and) wounded,” Egeland said. (rtr) 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.