Edition Wednesday, January 30, 2019 | International Bali Post

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Black Panther wins top Screen Actors Guild award ahead of Oscars

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

CALIFORNIA - Black Panther has triumphed at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, picking up the ceremony’s top prize for best film cast.

A superhero box-office smash featuring a predominantly black cast, the Marvel film has been hailed as a turning point in cinema and could make history if it repeats the win at the Oscars next month.

In a powerful acceptance speech alongside co-stars including Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, Chadwick Boseman told how “all of us up here know what it’s like to be told there is not a place for you to be featured even though you are young, gifted and black”.

He also spoke about the film’s effect on the industry, saying the cast knew they had “something special that we wanted to give the world”.

Black Panther beat BlacKkKlansman, Crazy Rich Asians,

Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born to win the prize at the SAG ceremony, which is seen as a possible indicator of how the Academy Awards could pan out.

Following on from wins at the Golden Globes earlier this month, Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, and Glenn Close, who stars in The Wife, were named best film actor and actress, while Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor gong for Green Book.

Emily Blunt was the surprise winner of the best supporting actress award, for horror film A Quiet Place, over The Favourite stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, as well as Margot Robbie, for Mary Queen Of Scots, and Amy Adams, for Vice. (net)

The cast of Black Panther won the top gong at the SAG Awards.

IBP/net

James Charles: Popular YouTuber brings Birmingham city centre to a standstill BIRMINGHAM - A YouTuber with more than 13 million online fans is believed to have brought Birmingham city centre to a standstill after visiting a shopping centre.

American beauty guru James Charles, 19, was visiting the city to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Morphe Cosmetics.

Around 8,000 fans flocked to the Bull Ring to catch a glimpse of the popular makeup artist, who has 13.7m subscribers on YouTube.

Videos on social media show he was greeted by four floors of screaming supporters during his 30-second appearance inside the shopping centre.

However there was heavy traffic congestion in parts of the city centre from 3pm until 7.30pm. Motorists trying to leave car parks were stuck and some even opted to abandon their vehicles overnight. Charles, who is also a model, shared a clip of the huge crowds at the shopping centre, writing: “I can’t believe this is my life”.

He also said it was the biggest meet-and-greet session he had ever done.

“There were 8,000 sisters [fans] at the mall. We keep breaking records every single time,” he said. “I will literally never forget today.”

The internet personality also met 250 fans who were randomly selected through a ballot.

Extra police officers were brought in and escalators stopped to due to the volume of people waiting to see Charles. (afp)

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WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP

In this photograph taken on January 16, 2019, Afghan charcoal vendors warm up around a fire amid heavy smog conditions in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. Kabul residents have long run the gauntlet of suicide attacks and bombs. This winter, however, they face another deadly threat: air pollution. For weeks a thick layer of toxic smog has blanketed the sprawling city as cold air traps pollution caused by people burning coal, wood, car tyres and even garbage to stay warm.

Kabul chokes on dirty air as temperatures plunge

Kabul residents have long run the gauntlet of suicide attacks and bombs. This winter, however, they face another deadly threat: air pollution.

For weeks a thick layer of toxic smog has blanketed the sprawling city as cold air traps pollution caused by people burning coal, wood, car tyres and even garbage to stay warm.

The choking contamination peaks in evenings and early mornings when temperatures plunge below zero.

Dangerous particulate matter, including toxins like sulphate and black carbon, hang in the air like a thick curtain, reducing

visibility and making breathing difficult.

Residents complain the air is getting worse -- a view supported by doctors who report a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses.

“In previous years 30 to 40 percent of our patients were suffering from acute respiratory infections, but this year it has jumped to 70 or 80 percent,” said Akbar Iqbal, a doctor in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Indira Gandhi children’s hospital in Kabul.

“I believe the cold and pollution are the main causes.” A seasonal lack of rain and snow in Kabul, coupled with a fast-growing population, fume-belching vehicles, and proliferation of diesel-fuelled generators, are contributing to the deteriorating air quality.

A former official at the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) described this winter’s pollution as “deadly”.

“This can cause stunting and mental development problems in children as well as miscarriages and can lead to many forms of cancer,” said Abdul Hadi Zhemen, who

until recently was the spokesman for NEPA. Kabul’s air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe levels on any given day in winter. Recently the city of five million people has ranked among the most polluted in the world, according to the AirVisual network.

The air quality index reading is often above 300, while at night it can top 600. Recent snow and rain offered some respite, but readings still remain well above the WHO’s limits. Any reading over 100 is considered unhealthy.

Long-term exposure to air pol-

lution can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory illnesses, WHO said.

Authorities have turned to media to educate people on air pollution and encourage the use of face masks, even though they often provide poor protection.

Continued to page 6

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

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

DLHK Badung prepares a joint waste management site

This condition is also compounded by the arrival of garbage from the beach in a fantastic volume. Moreover, the DLHK is forced to let the drifting garbage accumulate in a number of existing stop over points. In addition, for the garbage in South Kuta, the problem of distance also often makes the garbage transport services reluctant to take it to the landfill and dispose of the garbage in the nearest illegal landfill To get around the problem of garbage transportation, especially in the South Kuta area, the DLHK Badung offers the establishment of a Joint Waste Management Site (TPSB) in the area of Benoa village, South Kuta. The land belonging to the customary village of Bualu and Kampial located near cemetery is proposed to be a temporary disposal site based

on zero waste or without waste. This happens because the land is still very representative and possible to be managed.

“This is an innovation of the DLHK together with customary villages and headman. We just facilitate and hope this will become a district-based joint landfill with zero waste,” said the Head of the Badung DLHK, I Putu Eka Merthawan, when asked for his confirmation on Sunday (Jan. 27).

His agency already organized a meeting with related residents in the Benoa village office recently. From the meeting, he stated that this joint landfill will be managed independently and become a pilot project in Indonesia. The land is indeed located next to the cemetery of Bualu and Kampial, spreading across the area of 6 hectares. He said the land location is very representative because it is far from residential areas.

But Eka Merthawan stated that of the 6 hectares of land, only 1.5 hectares is needed. In which one hectare will be taken advantage for temporary disposal site together in cooperation with third parties, while the remaining area will be contracted, the company will establish a DLHK fleet base for South Kuta region. “So, this

temporary disposal site will use land of the local customary village while the buildings, equipment and operators are from third parties being able to manage waste into a zero waste manner.

If approved, this will be explored in the future,” he concluded.

For this reason, the Bualu and Kampial customary villages are expected to discuss in advance about their income later.

In addition, the effort must be supported by the existence of pararem and formal agreements from the headman and village apparatus. He hoped there should be a written agreement this early February between the two related customary villages. If running smoothly, it will take two weeks of consolidation with the third party, within 6 months the joint temporary disposal site will be able to operate optimally.

While waiting for the process, for the time being he suggested the land to be used as a Waste Collection Site. This is taken as an emergency measure for handling waste in the Bualu, Kampial and Peminge areas. Hopefully, there is no accumulation of garbage at some points which can cause a negative image for the South Kuta tourism area. (kmb23)

Nepal learns from Bali to attract travelers

MANGUPURA - With the increasing number of Bali tourist visits each year, Nepal begins to learn from Bali in increasing its tourist arrivals. For instance, a number of its travel agencies consulted to the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) recently.

According to the Deputy Secretary of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB), Luh Suciari, her board warmly welcomed the measure of cooperation carried out by Nepal in the tourism promotion. According to her, in general, the culture of Bali and Nepal has something in com-

mon. However, the tour package in Nepal has a specificity namely targeting adventure circles because the tour package developed is a mountainous region.

In contrast, Bali has all, stated Suciari, starting from the beaches to mountains “Of course, we will support the activities like this, Nepal wants cooperation in tourism.

Similarly, we hope there will be a return, namely Nepalese tourists visiting Bali as well,” she said.

She explained that based on the data of the BTB, tourist visits from Nepal are not specifically specified.

However, tourists from the country are combined in the data on tourist visits from India which are currently in third place under Australia and China. Likewise, she hoped the measure can support tourists from Nepal to visit Bali, too.

Meanwhile, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Mani Raj Lamichanne, said the tourism promotion program is very important for Nepal. Bali as a destination for the world’s tourism certainly has a good impact on the progress of tourism in Nepal itself. He considered that tourists

Activities

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

15

A Romantic and Sweet Stay on Valentine’s Day at Sense Hotel Groups

Suwung Landfill often problematic

MANGUPURA - Garbage disposal to the Suwung landfill is often problematic. Thus, it makes the Badung Environment and Sanitation Agency (DLHK) think twice because the garbage truck cannot enter to dispose of garbage.

International

visiting Bali come from all over the world. With this promotion, it is expected to increase tourist visit to the country.

He explained that Indonesia is also one of the supporting tourists for Nepal. Where, the data held in 2018 indicated that tourist arrival from Indonesia to Nepal reached 7,639 out of a total of 1,173,072 tourists. “We also learn from Bali in promoting tourism. Hopefully, more and more tourists travel to Nepal, especially from Indonesia in the future,” he hoped.

Seeing the good relations of

Nepal with Indonesia and Malaysia, there has been direct flight cooperation to Nepal. Among them are the Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Airlines, and Nepal Airlines serving direct routes to Nepal. Thus, it makes it easier for tourists wishing to visit the top destinations in Nepal. It has many good and well-known destinations in the world including the Golden Triangle of Nepal, the birthplace of Buddhism, the Pagoda, the Stupa, the very green Enchantment of the City of Phokara, and so on. (kmb23)

 Founder : K.Nadha,  General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra  Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra.

Bangli: Swasrina, Buleleng: Mudiarta, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Eka Parananda, Klungkung: Bagiarta. 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

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The rate varies for each hotel. To indulge in the romantic time, this package is available at IDR 880.000 net at Sense Sunset Hotel Seminyak, at IDR 2.003.000 net at Sense Seminyak Boutique Hotel and at IDR 2.403.000 net at Sense Lagoon Canggu Beach Hotel. “To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we particularly offers Valentine’s Day Package to ensure each couple has an opportunity to share an unforgettable moment in the month of love.”, said Kadek Sriyanti, Assistant Director of Sales of Sense Hotel Groups.

For reservations and more information, please contact +62 81 868 1054 or pr@ sensegroups.com.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Technology

International

Bali News

International

S. Korea’s first airborne fight against ‘Chinese’ pollution fails

SEOUL - An attempt by South Korea to create artificial rain to tackle air pollution many blame on neighbouring China has failed, the government said Monday, as it struggles to address what has become an urgent public concern.

Many South Koreans blamed China when pollution surged for three days earlier this month, and on Friday the Korea Meterological Administration (KMA) sent an aircraft to seed clouds with silver iodide in the hope of promoting rain.

The intention was for the rain to douse airborne particles and pollutants known as “fine dust” in South Korea.

However, an initial analysis of the experiment has been disappointing, KMA said in a preliminary report issued Monday.

While a weak, misty rain was detected for several minutes, the agency said, “there was no observation of significant precipitation”.

“Aside from its success or failure, the test was an opportunity to accumulate the necessary technology for a faster commercialisation of cloud seeding,” it added.

A full report is expected to be released later next month.

Air quality in South Korea is generally better than in China, which is more frequently affected by choking bouts of filthy air.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week advised his officials to handle the issue as a “natural disaster” as he urged cooperation with Beijing, addressing “great public concerns about fine dust coming from China”.

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Beijing is also trying to tackle the scourge, which causes widespread public anger, and a recent study found urban levels of PM2.5 -- the tiny airborne particles considered most harmful to health -- had been cut by almost a third on average over four years.

But they remain far above World Health Organization norms, and pollution levels in Korea sometimes spike as the prevailing winds blow PM2.5 particulates across the sea between the two countries.

China, which according to the International Energy Agency uses coal to generate around three quarters of its energy, is regarded as the world’s biggest polluter.

Last year, South Korea shut down five ageing coal-fired power plants in a bid to improve its air quality. (afp)

IBP/kmb38

The journalists coalesced into the Buleleng Journalist Community (KJB) took action to refuse the remission in the area of the Singa Ambararaja monument in front of the Buleleng regent’s office.

KJB rejects remission of prisoner killing journalist

SINGARAJA — The action to reject President Joko Widodo’s decision to approve the provision of punishment reduction (remission) for specific prisoner having murdered journalist continues to roll out.

YONHAP / AFP

This picture taken on January 24, 2019 shows a man looking at an aircraft from the Korea Meterological Administration (KMA) ready to disperse silver iodide, a compound believed to cause rain to fall, in a hanger at Gimpo airport in Seoul.

Fitness trackers ‘overestimate’ calorie burning

LONDON - Popular brands of fitness trackers can overestimate the number of calories burned while walking by more than 50%, tests have found.

Researchers at Aberystwyth University found all products - ranging from £20 to £80 in price - were inaccurate during walking and running tests.

Dr Rhys Thatcher said devices had an “inherent tendency” to over-measure.

Fitbit said its product was based on “extensive research”, but others said theirs were “not medical devices”.

The tests measured the amount of oxygen a volunteer used during ten minute walking and running sessions on a treadmill, before comparing it to the various fitness trackers.

The Fitbit Charge 2, which is the best selling fitness tracker on the market, was very accurate in testing calories burned while running, underestimating by 4%. But when measuring

walking, it overestimated by more than 50%.

Cheaper devices - the Letscom HR and the Letsfit - underestimated the number of calories burned while running by 33% and 40% respectively.

But both were far more accurate in the walking test. The Letscom overestimated by 15.7% while the Letsfit was only 2% above the official measurement.

“If you want to know the exact number of calories that you are burning during an exercise session then it doesn’t matter which device you use, you have to interpret the data with some caution,” Dr Thatcher told BBC X-Ray. He added the inaccuracies were not important if they were being used as a motivational tool or to track progress. Fitbit said it was confident about the performance of its product.

Letscom and Letsfit said their devices depend on data such as height and stride for accuracy and are not scientific devices, giving only estimations. (net)

IBP/net

Popular brands of fitness trackers can overestimate the number of calories burned while walking by more than 50%, tests have found.

Last Sunday (Jan. 27), the journalists coalesced into the Buleleng Journalist Community (KJB) took action to refuse the remission in the area of the Singa Ambararaja monument in front of the Buleleng regent’s office. Such an action was graced with theatrical performances and the reading of poem entitled Letter for Father and Important News as a protest

against the remission decision for I Nyoman Susrama, the convicted murderer of the journalist AA Gde Bagus Narendra Prabangsa.

Head of the KJB Buleleng, I Ketut Wiratmaja, said the peaceful action is an expression of journalists’ disappointment over the issuance of the Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 29/2018 concerning Provision of Remission for Changes from Lifelong Prisoners to Temporary Crimes. In the presidential decree, I Nyoman Susrama received remissions from life imprisonment to a 20-year imprisonment.

According to Wiratamaja, the presidential decree has hurt the sense of justice for the families of the victim, as well as

journalists in Indonesia. Moreover, the murder case of Prabangsa was the only one in the press whose roots have been revealed. “It’s the same as slowdown of press freedom in Indonesia. We urge President Jokowi to revoke the remission of the convicted I Nyoman Susrama,” he said.

In addition to holding a peaceful protest, media workers in North Bali also read out three points of statement. First, journalists in Buleleng are concerned about the remission received by I Nyoman Susrama. Second, urging President Joko Widodo to revoke the remission of convicted I Nyoman Susrama. Third, asking the government to enforce the law firmly and fairly. (kmb38)

Innovation of processing waste into valued handicrafts BANGLI — SMPN 2 Tembuku junior high school is one of two schools in Bangli that won the prestigious national award as the Adiwiyata School. The success in winning the award is inseparable from a number of innovations having been carried out by the school located at Peninjoan village, Tembuku. One of them is processing plastic waste into handicraft products having economic value.

Headmaster of the SMPN 2 Tembuku, I Made Degdeg, stated on Sunday (Jan. 27) the innovation of processing plastic waste into handicraft was initiated in 2016. To start the innovation, the school sent several teachers to attend training.

Results of the training were then implemented in schools with the students during the skills lesson.

As long as the innovation was carried out, many handicrafts made from plastic waste were successfully created. They are bags, ritual bowl, sokasi basket for ceremonies, handicraft items and other household necessities. The raw material for plastic waste processed into handicrafts is the waste generated from school canteen and student’s house. “We have special classroom for skills,” said the headmaster.

Other than being displayed at school, the handicraft products of plastic waste made by the students of SMPN 2 Tembuku are once

exhibited at the Kapten Mudita Square, facilitated by the Bangli Environment Agency. In the exhibition, Degdeg said that plastic waste craft products of his students are selling well. “At that time, it can sell for more than IDR 3 million,” he said.

Until now, there are still a lot of enthusiasts of the plastic waste handicraft made by his students.

Not infrequently, the students get some orders to make handicrafts from local residents. “This waste processing innovation has indeed become one of the points of our school to succeed in reaching the National Adiwyata,” he said.

In addition to processing plastic

waste into handicrafts having economic value, the other innovations made by the SMPN 2 Tembuku is processing school garden products, especially family medicinal plants, into herbal drink or loloh.

Degdeg hoped the innovations having been carried out by his school can be replicated by other schools. “Hopefully, in the future all the schools in Bangli can become eco-friendly adiwiyata schools,” he hoped. (kmb40) Headmaster of the SMPN 2 Tembuku, I Made Degdeg.

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Bali News

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

Balingkang Kintamani Festival

packaged and promoted properly, something big will happen. More and more Chinese tourists will come to Bangli,” he explained.

Full support for the holding of the Balingkang Kintamani Festival is also conveyed by Chairperson of PHRI Bangli, Ketut Mardjana. According to him, the festival held by the Bali provincial government is a very appropriate and effective effort to draw the interest of Chinese tourists to visit Bali having previously dropped. With the implementation of the festival, it is hoped to result in a tremendous impact on the level of Chinese tourist visits in the future. “PHRI Bangli provides full support for the organization of the festival,” he explained.

Separately, the Head of the Bangli Tourism and Culture Office, Wayan Adnyana, said the Balingkang Kintamani Festival will be held on February 6 in front of the Ulundanu Batur Temple, Kintamani. It will be filled with a cultural parade and fragmentary show on Jayapangus-Kang Cing Wie’s romance for approximately two hours starting at 10:00 local time. In addition to enhancing the image of Bali tourism in the eyes of Chinese tourists, this festival is held to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

“So far, Kintamani is only known for the beautiful panorama of Mount Batur and its natural attractions. More than that, Kintamani also has cultural and spiritual tourism,” added Adnyana. (kmb40)

Deputy Regent of Bangli, Sang Nyoman Sedana Arta.

IBP/kmb

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Sea of white: ‘Hundreds of thousands’ of fish dead in Australia

3,000 Chinese tourists ensured to visit Kintamani

BANGLI - Approximately 3,000 Chinese tourists are expected to visit Kintamani to watch the Balingkang Kintamani Festival next February. The festival scheduled to be held at Batur village, Kintamani, will feature a parade of acculturation of Chinese and Balinese culture.

The plan to implement the Balingkang Kintamani Festival is revealed by Deputy Regent of Bangli, Sang Nyoman Sedana Arta, when attending the work meeting of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bangli Chapter, in Kintamani on Friday (Jan. 25). Sedana Arta said the Balingkang Kintamani Festival is held for the first time in Kintamani. In the festival, the culture to be displayed will bring up the love story of King Jayapangus and Princess from China, Kang Cing Wie, who is still legendary. He ensured that during the festival, Kintamani will be flooded with three thousand Chinese tourists.

“So far, along the history of Bangli tourism, it has never been attended by thousands of Chinese tourists at once,” he said.

According to him, the event is a good opportunity for Bangli to promote tourism it has. On that account, the moment must be utilized as well as possible by all parties.

Sedana Arta also hoped that all components, especially those engaged in tourism in Bangli district, will support and succeed in organizing the festival. “If this can be

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

SYDNEY - Hundreds of thousands” of fish have died in drought-stricken Australia in the last few days and more mass deaths are likely to occur, the authorities warned Tuesday.

IBP/kmb

If the land area meets the requirements, a sugar factory is planned to be built in Bali.

Bali to build sugar cane factory

Continuity of raw materials needs to think about

DENPASAR - Bali will develop sugar cane farming in Buleleng. If the land area requirements are met, a sugar factory will be built in Bali. However, construction of the sugar factory needs to think about the continuity of raw material supply in order not to become a new problem for Bali.

Division Head of Plantation at the Bali Food, Plantation and Horticulture Agency, Lanang Aryawan, said he had just finished planting 1,200 hectares of sugarcane in 2018 in Singaraja. In 2019, 2,000 hectares will be cultivated. Thus, the total land area amounts to 3,200 hectares in 2019.

If the land area meets the requirements, a sugar factory is planned to be built in Bali. “As planned, the reconnaissance and feasibility study will be held in the middle of this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, sugar cane plants having been planted in 2018 are said to have grown well. If it does not grow, it must be replanted so as not to hollow. Later on, the results will be taken to the Asem Bagus Factory according to the cooperation agreement with the PTPN XI Surabaya.

In the process of planting sugarcane, in the past period he had difficulty in the procurement of sugarcane seedlings because of limited supply while the need in Java is very high.

So, the target for planting is delayed from the target of planting completion in August-September. “This year, we have anticipated so that last year’s problem will not happen again,” he said.

This year, he prepared 300-400 hectares of land for prospective seedlings in 2019. So, it is enough for the needs of Bali. “We have prepared around 400 hectares of land for sugarcane seedlings. Actually, we just need 200 hectares for seedlings but have prepared 400 ha,” he added.

Chairperson of the Indonesia Farmers Association (HKTI), Prof.

Supartha, said the land in Bali is narrow, as having been cultivated for other plants such as rice, corn, soybeans, onions and chili. So, it is not possible to develop sugar cane fields for sugar industry. “The industry must be sufficient in terms of raw materials. This is the characteristic of industry. Don’t be playful if we’ve already known the spirit of the machine, the spirit of the industry. The industry is related to long process of raw materials so that it must connect from A to B, B to C, C to D. On that account, the industrial principles must be understood,” he said.

In the sugar industry, regular raw materials are needed. So the land area must be a consideration of industrial development. “However, if raw materials are not enough, the land is not enough, don’t make new problems,” he joked.

Almost all lands in Bali are used for other crops. So, the presence of sugar cane will replace the other plants or shift other plants. “If there are more plants shifting them coming with better results, it is good. But if otherwise, how about it?” he said.

In addition, this program must have an appointment or agreement with the farmers. The agreement with farmers means that farmers are invited to join in supporting the factory and the life of farmers are guaranteed by meeting their daily needs.

The government hoped with the construction of sugar cane factory, the price of sugar in Bali will be cheaper. But according to him, the price of sugar is a national framework. So, with the area of sugar cane in Bali, it is less likely to affect the price of sugar cane to be cheaper. By lowering prices, it will pressure sugar cane producers.

If the price of sugar cane is cheap, the farmers will be affected. “Farmers will be definitely suppressed and the price is low bargained. As a result, farmers are depressed. If Bali follows such a concept, Bali farmers having been better than other regions will follow the lower income farmers,” he said. (kmb40)

Locals around the Darling River were confronted with a sea of white, as dead fish carpeted the waters near the southeastern Outback town of Menindee.

Just weeks after up to a million were killed -- with scientists pointing to low water and oxygen levels as well as possibly toxic algae -- another mass death occurred in the key agricultural region. Inspectors from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries have visited the site and said they found that “hundreds of thousands of fish have died”.

“Further fish deaths in the Darling River are anticipated as a significant number of fish have been observed under stress,” the department said in a statement.

Some 700 kilos (1,543 pounds) of dead fish were removed from the river Monday, with similar amounts expected to be collected Tuesday, it added.

The Darling River is part of the MurrayDarling River system that stretches thousands of kilometres across several states.

Fisheries officials were also investigating reports of another fish kill further south in the Murrumbidgee River, which flows into the Murray-Darling system.

With temperatures expected to rise and no rain forecast, there remained a “high risk of further fish kills over the coming days and week”, officials said. While the federal government has blamed the deaths on a severe drought, experts and locals say they stem from the systemic depletion and pollution of the river.

The inspectors added that the latest bout of kills were likely linked to “critically low levels of dissolved oxygen” caused by a sharp drop in temperatures after an extended period of hot weather. New South Wales

ROBERT GREGORY / AFP

This handout photograph taken and received from Robert Gregory on January 29, 2019 shows scores of dead fish floating on the Darling river in Menindee.

Regional Water Minister Niall Blair, who visited Menindee Tuesday, told national broadcaster ABC his government was out of options, with installing aerators in rivers only a “band-aid solution”.

Six aerators were installed along parts of the Darling River to give surviving fish localised oxygenated water.

“It’s not a case of not being able to spend money on something, there just isn’t any

other alternative that anyone has offered up,” Blair said.

“The only thing that will really change these conditions at the moment is fresh water coming through the system and there is just no possibility of that at the moment.”

Australia’s eastern inland regions have been hit by a prolonged drought, with extreme heatwaves in recent weeks exacerbating conditions. The late arrival of the mon-

soon season in northern Australia has also contributed to heatwaves in some regions.

The wet season eventually kicked off in mid-January, with record-breaking floods hitting the tropical top end of the vast continent, cutting communities off and stranding farmers in recent days.

Queensland’s major Daintree River rose to 12.60 metres (41 feet) -- a level not seen in over a century -- over the weekend. (afp)

‘French Spiderman’ arrested after scaling Manila skyscraper

TED ALJIBE / AFP

French urban free-climber Alain Robert, popularly known as the “French Spiderman”, is pictured on the side of the 47storey GT Tower in Manila’s financial district of Makati on January 29, 2019.

MANILA - French urban freeclimber Alain Robert was arrested on Tuesday, police said, after he scaled one of Manila’s tallest towers in his latest high-risk ascent.

The 56-year old adventurer dubbed the “French spiderman” climbed the 47-storey GT Tower without safety equipment, leaving watchers on the ground staring in amazement.

“This is my path, this is my way of living. It is as important to me as eating, sleeping. I need that. It keeps me alive,” he told reporters after completing the climb.

Police were less enthusiastic

about the stunt and took him into custody as soon as he reached the ground after the roughly two-hour climb up and down the building.

He was being held on a charge of public disturbance and was awaiting a decision from prosecutors on bail. Robert has scaled more than 100 structures without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for “most buildings climbed unassisted” according to Guinness World Records.

His successes include many of the world’s tallest skyscrapers and iconic buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House,

the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai -- where he used suction devices and a safety rope as it has no hand or footholds.

However in June he was foiled when he attempted to ascend a Seoul skyscraper, getting more than half way up the 123-storey Lotte World Tower before security forced him to abort.

Robert has suffered several severe falls while climbing and estimates his accidents have left him 66 percent disabled. He has been arrested numerous times for his exploits. (afp)

12

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

BUSINESS Eurozone loan growth picks up in December

Lending to the private sector in the eurozone picked up pace in December, official data showed Monday, suggesting little effect from the withdrawal of a key pillar of central bank stimulus last month.

Borrowing among eurozone firms and households grew 3.4 percent year-on-year in December, European Central Bank figures showed after adjusting for some purely financial transactions. The pace of growth added 0.1 percentage point compared with November.

Looking in more detail at the data, loans to both households and non-financial firms grew as quickly in December as the previous month, at 3.3 and 4.0 percent.

But growth in credit to insurance companies and pension funds jumped more than 10 percentage points, to 18.4 percent.

The figures suggested little impact on the real economy last month as the European Central Bank finally wound down mass purchases of government and corporate bonds, known as “quantitative easing”.

Over more than three years the Frankfurt institution bought more than 2.6 trillion euros ($3.0 trillion) of government and corporate bonds, aiming to pump cash through the financial system to stoke growth and inflation.

But while the scheme has succeeded in warding off deflation -- a harmful spiral of falling prices and activity -- price growth has fallen back from the ECB’s target of just below 2.0 percent.

Looking ahead, indicators and forecasts point to economic expansion in the 19-nation eurozone falling back further from the boom year of 2017.

The IMF last week predicted growth of 1.6 percent this year, compared with 1.8 percent in 2018 and 2.3 percent the previous year. (afp)

Bali News

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Ngelawang Procession at Temple, What Does It Mean?

5

Ngelawang barong becomes a routine phenomenon during Galungan and Kuningan celebrations. This traditional show is usually done on the streets, especially in front of people’s house compound.

However, different tradition is showed by the ngelawang procession held by Puakan customary village, Taro, Tegallalang, Gianyar. At this village thousands of residents attend the ngelawang procession coinciding with Umanis Galungan, Thursday (Dec. 27).

AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

A Swiss national flag waves in the wind on this year’s last day of the World Economic Forum annual meeting, in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019.

Aging societies seen posing risks to economy

DAVOS - Aging populations threaten to slow economic growth in the world’s advanced economies and destabilize the banking system, the head of Japan’s central bank told an annual gathering of elites in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

But Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said there were benefits, too: Faced with labor shortages as workers age and retire, employers are increasingly willing to hire women and to invest in labor-saving technology.

Thanks to a low birth rate, Japan’s population peaked in 2010. Kuroda said the shortage of workers hobbles economic growth. Slow growth pushes interest rates down and tempts banks to make riskier loans in a search for higher returns, “potentially making the financial system less stable.”

In response to the labor crunch, Japanese firms have been hiring more women. Earlier

at the Davos summit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe boasted that a record 67 percent of Japanese women either work or are looking for work, compared to just over 57 percent in the United States. Japanese firms have also aggressively invested in robotics and other forms of automation, raising productivity that feeds economic growth.

True, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde interjected, but “you can’t replace the entire Japanese population with robots.”

World Bank chief Kristalina Georgieva urged the global elites to take a simple step to

understand the urgency of combating climate change: “Get the picture of your children, your grandchildren in front of you.”

Speaking on the last day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Georgieva warned that the potential “cost in terms of suffering is unmeasurable” if the world can’t control a rise in temperatures.

She dismissed the idea that cutting emissions would hurt the economy, citing a study that found a rapid rise in temperatures could slash global economic output by 25 percent.

Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, said: “Rising temperatures will wipe out whole segments of economies.”

The “new climate economy,” by contrast, would create 65 million jobs, Georgieva said. (ap)

Implementation of the Ngelawang tradition also known as ngelungang was followed by thousands of residents, concentrated at Puakan village. Ngelawang at this village is carried out every six months by walking from one village to another, almost followed by the entire customary villagers located in the northern territory of Ubud. Centered at this village, all the sanctified effigies or tapakan Ida Bhatara comprising Barong and Rangda are given special ceremonies in two locations, namely the Puseh and Bale Agung temple of the customary village.

Local temple priest, I Wayan Tagil Kumara Nata, explained the tradition begins with a ceremony at Puseh Temple and continues at Bale Agung Temple. At Puseh Temple the sanctified effigies face east or towards the shrines, aiming at coming before the deities to invoke divine power.

In addition, said Tagil Kumara Nata, the ngelawang procession is

also carried out as a form of repelling negative things or neutralizing the negative influences of the universe. “This tradition is to ask for salvation, especially for natural harmony,” he said.

After the procession at Puseh

Temple, all the sanctified effigies are accompanied by residents heading for the Bale Agung Temple and continued by dropping in at each temple of the customary village passed through. Due to long distance, not infrequently this

procession can last until midnight.

“To go back to each customary village, they take a long time to late night,” he said.

Nevertheless, it does not dampen vivacity of the people. The tradition held on the day after Galungan

is still running every six months.

Meanwhile, especially for customary villages experiencing cuntaka or obstacles due family’s death, they will usually choose another day adjusted to the situation and decision of the local custom. (kmb)

Enjoy the Freshness of Butterfly Pea Tea In this era, people are chasing after healthy food and drinks. So, it is not wrong if a refreshing healthy menu concept is widely offered by many restaurants, food stall and other places. Moreover, hotels have started from the beginning, especially the accommodations having yoga, meditation and other spiritual activities.

For instance, Tulsi Restaurant at the Om Ham Retreat Ubud offers a healthy drink called Butterfly Pea Tea. This kind of drink can provide freshness because it applies ingredients from natural herbs. If the Butterfly Pea Tea has a purple color, it is the result of the ingredient used namely the butterfly pea.

Butterfly pea is a flower commonly offered for the ritual ceremony by Hindu communities

on the Island of the Gods. Other than being healthy, this kind of drink is quite interesting to enjoy.

This drink is made from various natural ingredients, such as lemongrass, ginger, cloves and star anise. “The basic ingredients of this drink is rich in spices, and the drink itself has the efficacy to maintain body health,” said a staff of Tulsi Restaurant, Devi, not long ago.

This Butterfly Pea Tea drink has many benefits for body health like relieving sore throat, smooth digestive system, especially in the stomach. It feels cool and doesn’t disappoint even though it’s made from spices and unsweetened. “We only process it in a combination with ingredients in appropriate dosage, so this drink is very delicious

to enjoy,” she explained.

This drink is very easy to make.

At first, various raw materials are collected and then cleansed and boiled. After boiling, the flowers are put into the main substance to give color to the drink. This butterfly pea has a blue effect. To get typical flavor, add kaffir lime so that the color becomes purple. If you want sweetness, you can add honey.

Every tourist coming to Tulsi Restaurant is always presented with the Butterfly Pea Tea as a welcome drink. Optionally, guest can also order it specifically. Drinks with natural ingredients can nourish the body and be free of side effects.

“Tourists of health lover mostly order this type of drink,” concluded Devi. (kmb)

6

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

W

International

RLD

‘Goooal!’: Brazil mother narrates games for blind son

SAO PAULO - A passionate Brazilian football fan has drawn nationwide attention for narrating her local team’s soccer matches live to her blind and autistic son.

Silvia Grecco and her son Nickollas, 12, have become minor celebrities for the Sao Paulo team Palmeiras after the

mother was spotted on TV last year narrating one of their matches from the stands.

“I describe details: this player is wearing short sleeves, the color of their football boots, hair color,” Grecco, 56, told AFP during a recent game between Palmeiras and Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto.

Nickollas jumped up and down with friends at the right

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

INDONESIAN INDONESIAN

- Neymar to the rescue -

IBP/net

Brazil Mother Narrates Games For Visually Impaired Son.

Four dead, 195 injured in Havana tornado

HAVANA - A rare and powerful tornado has devastated sections of Havana, killing four people and injuring 195, as it overturned cars, uprooted trees and destroyed dozens of homes.

A shaken resident, recalling a night of terror, said she clutched her daughter and crouched down in her kitchen as the tornado came roaring in Sunday night.

“It was as if rocks were falling -it was hail -- and I felt things beginning to fall. It lifted my entire roof and took everything away,” said a sobbing Canaima Hernandez, 36.

Hernandez’s Havana neighborhood, Regla, was one of the hardest

Kabul...

From page 1

“On the most polluted days we advise people to stay indoors... when the pollution level is at its

hit by the tornado, which state media said was comparable in strength to the most powerful hurricanes.

Residents picked their way through overturned vehicles, collapsed walls, overturned lampposts and uprooted trees.

Cuban President Miguel DiazCanel, who confirmed the latest toll on Monday, toured the city’s darkened streets visiting emergency crews, wrote on Twitter that damage was “severe.”

In the city’s Luyano neighborhood, storm debris -- including

parts of a balcony ripped off an old building -- blocked the streets.

As emergency sirens blared across the city, firefighters and ambulances rushed about on rescue missions, their flashing lights illuminating blacked out areas.

Diaz-Canel said that several emergency teams were working hard to restore power to those areas.

At the Hijas de Galicia maternity hospital, staff were forced to evacuate the building due to storm damage.

The tornado, spawned by a powerful storm that originated in the Gulf of Mexico, hit western Cuba

with winds of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour.

“Islanders are used to these warnings, but they did not suspect the magnitude of what was approaching,” said Granma, the Communist Party daily.

People described the tornado as having “the sound of a jet engine,” and reported feeling changes in the environmental pressure when it arrived, Armando Caymares with the Institute of Meteorology said.

The tornado “caught me in the street, in the car with my wife and children,” actor Luis “Panfilo” Silva wrote on his social media

highest,” said Mohammad Kazem Homayoun, NEPA’s chief for Kabul.

In a country where most people are illiterate and healthcare is limited, the information

is unlikely to help many. Doctors are also falling victim to the toxic air.

Sohrab Noori, head of the ICU at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital -where the number of admissions

for respiratory-related problems has increased -- said he had developed a “winter cough” for the first time.

“I think it’s an allergic reaction to the air pollution,” Noori said as

- Night of terror -

account.

“I had to dodge fallen trees, flooded areas and strong winds until I managed to get home. We experienced great fear,” he wrote.

Francisco Sotolongo said it was a good thing the tornado’s impact only lasted seconds, “because if it lasted a minute there would be nothing left here.”

High winds sent seawater surging over the city’s famed Malecon esplanade and several meters into the city.

The western provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa and Mayabeque also were affected by the storm. (afp)

he walked past patients hooked up to oxygen cylinders.

“If it (air pollution) continues in the long term, in two to three months we might have a big health crisis.” (afp)

ELECTION 2019

First Lady in Banyuwangi grows hydroponic plants with PAUD children

moments during the match, in unison with the thousands of other enraptured fans wearing the club’s dark green shirts.

“My narrating is something of my emotions. I’m not a professional,” said Grecco. “Everything I see and feel, I tell him, even when I need to curse the referee!”

It is not the first time disabled fans have caused a social media sensation simply by following the sports they love.

During the 2018 World Cup in Russia a video of a Colombian fan narrating a match against Poland to his deaf friend using hand movements went viral.

A Brazilian interpreter then showcased a similar technique with a group of deaf fans in Sao Paulo.

The Grecco mother and son have been featured on various Brazilian TV programs, and even visited a Palmeiras training session.

The boy’s father and sister however support other teams -- so to avoid family divisions his die hard Palmeiras fan mother came up with a scheme.

She resorted to the skills of none other than the boy’s idol, PSG star Neymar, when they met at an event.

“Neymar lifted him on his shoulders and he passed his hand through Neymar’s hair, it was a big moment! So I asked Neymar what team he used to support as a child, and he said he was a Palmeiras fan!

“So I said ‘Do you see, Nickollas? Your mother, your player ... I think your team should be Palmeiras!’”

A local businessman recently hosted the duo and some of Nickollas’ friends for the season opening match in a stadium box at the Allianz Park in Sao Paulo.

One little boy with Down Syndrome, who wore huge earphones and the national football jersey, threw his arms in a trusting hug around every stranger.

Another, with autism, wildly rocked to the live DJ music.

But when the match started all attention was on the football pitch, with Grecco narrating throughout.

They weren’t disappointed. Palmeiras won 1-0. (afp)

11

BANYUWANGI - First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and Second Lady Mufidah Jusuf Kalla undertook a visit to Banyuwangi, East Java, to grow hydroponic plants, among other things.

AP Photo/Yam G-Jun

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, left, is escorted by police as she leaves the Court of Appeal after a court hearing in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Aisyah jointly accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader, won an appeal to obtain witness statements given to police as part of her defense. But prosecutors say they will challenge the court’s ruling in the nation’s top court.

Upon arrival at the Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi District, they were greeted by East Java Governor Soekarwo and Commander of the Regional Military Command V/Brawijaya Major General Arip Rahman.

They visited early childhood education (PAUD) Muslimat Khodijah 157 at Rogojampi that accom-

modates some 50 children.

Iriana and Mufidah took part in an exercise and planted hydroponic plants along with the children as well as washed their hands.

They later presented school stationary and meal equipment to the children. Their other agenda in Banyuwangi included an anti-narcotic campaign and a visit to a small- and medium-scale industry center.

Members of the entourage of the First Lady comprised wives of ministers and high-ranking officials grouped in the Solidarity Action Organization of the Working Cabinet Era.(ant)

Kim Jong Nam murder trial adjourned again until March

The trial of two women accused of murdering the North Korean leader’s half-brother was adjourned Monday until March, and the case will now drag on until at least mid-2019.

Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam have been on trial since October 2017, accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam by smearing the nerve agent VX on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport.

The brazen assassination in February 2017 shocked the world, but the women have denied murder, saying they believed they were taking part in a prank and were tricked

by North Korean agents.

Proceedings in the trial of the women, both in their 20s, have moved slowly due to the large number of witnesses and infrequent hearings. There have been no hearings since August, when the prosecution finished presenting its case.

The latest hold-up has been caused by an appeal from the defence, which is urging prosecutors to make key witness statements

available. The prosecution argues the statements should not be made public.

With the appeal still ongoing, a series of hearings scheduled for this week were cancelled, and the trial will now resume on March 11 with Huong’s defence.

New information given out by the High Court in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, showed hearings set until July 31, with the final verdict likely to come only after that date.

During the first months of the trial, the court saw CCTV footage of the accused attacking the relative of the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, and prosecutors argued it was a well-planned hit.

South Korea has accused the North of ordering the assassination, an allegation denied by Pyongyang.

Under current laws, the women will be handed a death sentence if convicted of murder. Malaysia’s new government has vowed to abolish the death penalty, but parliament still needs to back the change. (afp)

IBP/kmb

10

Destination

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

Kvitova hails end to Grand Slam issues at Australian Open

Buleleng Ex Harbour

SINGARAJA - It is situated on the northern coast in Singaraja. In the old days when Singaraja was the capital of Nusa Tenggara Province Singaraja was an important shipping centre. The decision to move the capital of Bali from the

north to the south of Bali, after Nusa Tenggara was divided into three provinces, made Buleleng Harbour less important. The decline of Buleleng Harbour was made complete with the development of the way seaport in Celu-

kan Bawang, approximately 40 kilometres west of Singaraja.

Although not in use any more, there are still many old warehouses in the harbor district that date back to the Dutch colonial times. Before the opening of the international airport Ngurah Rai at Denpasar/ Kuta in the 1970’s, Singaraja was the main entrance port for tourists to Bali, where cruise ships with adventurous tourists used to land regularly. In addition to the Dutch heritage there are remnants of Chinese and Muslim influence. The descendants of the Chinese, Arab and Bugis settlers still live in the harbor distict in areas nicknamed Kampong Arab and Kampong Bugis.

In the area of Buleleng Ex Harbour, we can find a beautifu Chinese temple (klenteng) named Ling Gwan Kion. This temple is one of the few Chinese temples on Bali. It can be accessed via a bridge over a lotus pond and it has magnificent golden Buddha statues.

The temple was founded in the year 1873 and has been renovated several times, the last one in 2004. In this temple, we can try to read our fate or future by prying to budha and take the stick which will tell us about our fate.

History The history of North Bali traces back a few thousand years, to times when the area was already occasionally visited by sailors and merchants originating from among others the Persian Gulf, India and China.

The earliest settlements of North Bali date from around 400 BC, as shown by excavations in the Singaraja area at the villages of Julah and Sembiran. These first settlers lived from hunting, fishing and, in the wet season, the cultivation of rice.

Around the beginning of the Christian aera, Buddhist merchants from India and China started to establish trade posts along the

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coast of North Bali. Even nowadays a concentration of Chinese Buddhist traders and shop keepers can be found in the harbor district of Singaraja, living peacefully together with Muslim and Hindu neighbors, which is a unique situation compared to other areas of wonderful Bali’s population. Here, close to the ocean, you will also find a Chinese temple (a klenteng) with a lotus pond, colorful shrines and some beautiful golden Buddha statues.

The actual city of Singaraja was founded on March 30, 1604 by Raja Anak Agung Pandji Sakti with the building of the Royal Palace, the Puri Agung Buleleng.

Since the Dutch started to control Bali in 1848, Singaraja with its perfect harbor for their ships became the administrative center of Bali. However in 1958, thirteen years after the proclamation of Independence of Indonesia, the Indonesians moved the administrative center to Denpasar. (IBP/net)

Ron Hoskins / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers on January 28, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Curry sizzles as Warriors rout Pacers

PRAGUE - Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova hailed the end of her Grand Slam bad luck -- and of a two-year transition following a knife attack that almost ended her career.

Having played only two Grand Slam quarter-finals since her Wimbledon triumph in 2014, Kvitova joked last year that she might as well quit playing at the top four events.

This year’s Australian Open offered a different picture of the left-handed Czech who did not lose a single set on her way to the final in which she lost to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in three sets on Saturday.

“I’m glad it was only a joke, that it didn’t happen,” the 28-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2011, told reporters in Prague.

“I guess it’s a compensation for last year which wasn’t the best when it comes to Grand Slams,” added Kvitova, who in 2018 reached the last-32 phase at the French and US Open, bowing out of the Australian Open and Wimbledon at the first hurdle.

“I wasn’t too happy after the loss but now the positive things prevail,” said the new world number two.

“I felt very well throughout those three weeks I played in Australia.”

Kvitova started the year poorly at Brisbane where she lost in the last 16, but she took the top honours at Sydney a week later -- at a

tournament where she initially was not expecting to play.

- ‘Chequered flag’ Besides the on-court battles, Kvitova is fighting memories of an attack at her Czech home by a knife-wielding burglar in December 2016, which left deep scars on her left hand.

She identified the man and is willing to give her testimony in court in early February on the condition she does not meet the suspect.

“Petra takes this as an inevitable thing. She knows it’s necessary to put an end to the whole affair,” her spokesman Karel Tejkal told reporters. Kvitova herself declined to speak about the attack that required a complicated surgery and saw her sink from sixth to sixteenth in the world.

“Such questions make me a bit angry but I can’t do anything about it. But it will be over some day.”

“I guess this trophy is a chequered flag on those two years,” Kvitova said, looking at the silver plate she won at Melbourne.

One of those to ask her was former world number one Jim Courier -- on court, following her quarterfinal win against the home crowd’s favourite Ashleigh Barty.

“I suppose he didn’t want to make me cry -- but he did,” Kvitova said.

“The interview was pretty tough -- but he’s a nice guy.” (afp)

LOS ANGELES - Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 26 points on another milestone night on Monday, leading the NBA champion Warriors in a 132-100 rout of the Indiana Pacers.

The Warriors stretched the longest winning streak in the league this season to 11 as they wrapped up a five-game road trip in style in Indianapolis.

Curry connected on 10 of 13 shots from the field, including six three-pointers and became the first player in NBA history to make 200 three-pointers in seven successive seasons.

He did most of the damage in the first half, when his 23 points included eight straight to break a 16-16 tie midway through the first quarter -- a burst that put the Warriors on their way.

“Just a really good way to finish it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of the convincing end to the road trip. “I was a little worried about this game. Everybody’s anxious to get home, but we’ve finished off the trip the right way.

“We’re in a groove, we’re in a good place. We’ve just got to keep going.”

DeMarcus Cousins added 22 points for the Warriors, shaking off a scary fall in the first quarter.

Cousins, playing just his fifth game for the Warriors after missing almost an entire year after a torn Achilles tendon, went down hard after Indiana’s Myles Turner fouled him in transition in the first quarter.

“I wasn’t actually hurt, I was more spooked from the fall,” said Cousins, who was slow to rise but stayed in the game.

Kevin Durant added 16 points for the Warriors, who let “banged up” Draymond Green sit out for a bit of rest.

Turner scored led the Pacers with 16 points, but Indiana dropped their second straight since losing guard Victor Oladipo to a seasonending knee injury.

In Boston, the absence of Kyrie Irving was no problem for the Celtics as Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart scored 21 points apiece to

lead the Celtics to a 112-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Aron Baynes added 16 points, Marcus Morris scored 15 and Al Horford and Terry Rozier chipped in 14 each for the Celtics, whose 16 blocked shots were a franchise record.

Irving sat out with a sore left hip -- possibly the result of a fall in Saturday’s loss to the Warriors.

“I don’t think it’ll be anything long-term,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said before the game.

“We’ll see after tonight how he feels tomorrow.”

Stevens said it wasn’t a tough decision to have Irving sit out a seventh game this season, even with a minor injury, as the team looks to preserve the long-term health of the All-Star point guard.

“Especially with a guy that we were going to sit him eight to 12 games anyway, so when he does have nicks and bruises, it makes sense to sit.” (afp)

Greg Wood / AFP

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova hits a return against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during the women’s singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019.

8

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Robben mulling Tokyo move after Bayern exit: reports

Superstar Dutch winger Arjen Robben is lining up a move to J-League outfit FC Tokyo after he leaves Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, local media reported on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old has already confirmed he is leaving Bayern at the end of the season after a glittering career that saw him win seven Bundesliga titles and nearly 100 caps for the Netherlands.

If confirmed, it would be the latest high-profile transfer to the Japanese league, after Spanish World Cup winner Andres Iniesta and German striker Lukas Podolski joined Vissel Kobe.

Iniesta’s World Cup winning teammate Fernando Torres is also playing at J-League rival Sagan Tosu.

The Sports Nippon daily said there was a “rapidly emerging” chance of Robben playing in Japan next season. “Robben’s family, who are believed to have a big say (in his decision), seem positive about coming to Japan,” it said.

“Several Japanese clubs are interested but FC Tokyo are close to clinching his signature,” the paper quoted anonymous sources as saying.

A spokesperson for the club declined to comment when contacted by AFP. The 35-year-old, in his prime considered one of the world’s best wingers, told German football magazine Kicker last month he had no plans beyond the end of this season.

“That’s not entirely clear, perhaps I will stop playing -- it’s about waiting and seeing what possibilities there are,” he said.

“If offers come in, I’ll really consider them 100 percent and if it’s something nice, I’ll play on, but if no ideal offers come, then that could be it.

“I have three children and they also must be happy... The family plays a very important role in every decision of mine.”

After spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid, Robben joined Bayern in 2009 and spent nearly a decade with the Bavarian giants. His winning goal in the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley sealed a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund.

The fleet-footed, injury-prone veteran has won 19 trophies with Bayern and was named Bundesliga player of the year after his first season in Germany. FC Tokyo finished sixth in the J-League last year. (afp)

This file photo taken on June 9, 2017 shows Arjen Robben of the Netherlands celebrating after scoring during the World Cup 2018 qualification football match between the Netherlands and Luxembourg in Rotterdam. Dutch superstar winger Arjen Robben is lining up a move to J-League outfit FC Tokyo after he leaves Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, local media reported on January 29, 2019.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

9

Man City to take extra care over Mendy return, says Guardiola Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second senior goal for Chelsea should have been a moment to savour for the club’s academy which has nurtured a prodigious talent since the age of eight.

However, instead the 18-year-old’s clinical finish against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday could have been his parting gift to Stamford Bridge with Hudson-Odoi reportedly keen to force through a move to Bayern Munich before Thursday’s transfer deadline. Despite the club’s success in youth competitions and the millions made in transfer fees from selling sought-after young talents, retired former captain John Terry remains the last Chelsea academy graduate to become a first-team regular.

Frustrated at his lack of opportunities, Hudson-Odoi handed in a transfer request over the weekend in an attempt to secure a move to the Bundesliga champions, who have publicly expressed their interest in the England under-19 international.

“What I can say is clear. Chelsea have to make him stay,” said defender Antonio Rudiger. “It will be a pity if this young talent leaves us. He decides his future but Chelsea need to give him a new contract.”

The Premier League club are desperate to extend HudsonOdoi’s current deal beyond 2020 and reportedly willing to match an £85,000 ($112,000) a week offer from Bayern to do so.

However, minutes on the field, not money, appears to be the player’s prerogative as he hopes to follow the trail blazed by Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund.

While Chelsea are reinforcing their front line with the loan capture of 31-year-old Gonzalo Higuain and Christian Pulisic, who will join from Dortmund next season, Bayern are looking for replacements to the ageing Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed just 61 minutes of Premier League action this season despite impressing in pre-season.

It is an issue that has confronted many other Chelsea youngsters before him. Maurizio Sarri is just the latest manager working under the demand for instant results during the 16 years of Roman Abramovich’s ownership of the club. The Italian has therefore understandably favoured the experience of Willian and Pedro Rodriguez during his early months in charge, while Hudson-Odoi has been left to wait.

There is a danger, though, that in seeking ready-made replacements in the transfer market, the club is overlooking the talent within its own ranks.

Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic did not come through the youth set-up but were bought as young players with the potential to develop into first-teamers. In each case, they had to move on to get the experience that ultimately helped them grow into the players they are now.

And at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night, Chelsea will be reminded of the ability of Nathan Ake, the Bournemouth centre-back who had to leave Stamford Bridge to get regular football and who is now linked with a return to his former club.

Andreas Christensen and Ethan Ampadu both stood out against Sheffield Wednesday, but both will know that they are likely to return to the fringes.

Christensen, 22, who enjoyed an extended run in the side under Antonio Conte, has already expressed his frustration and desire to move earlier this season.

And as Eden Hazard was played out of position as an unsuccessful short-term fix to a shortage of reliable striking options in recent weeks, Tammy Abraham has been allowed to continue to score goals freely during his loan spell at Aston Villa. The fear for the Londoners is that if Hudson-Odoi moves on and comes anywhere close to matching Sancho’s success, other youngsters will follow the winger’s example and decide their interests are best served by moving elsewhere. (afp)

Pep Guardiola will monitor Benjamin Mendy’s return to regular first-team football with Manchester City closely as he attempts to ensure that the France full-back suffers no repeat of his persistent injury problems.

Mendy has endured a frustrating 18 months playing for Guardiola’s side, with a knee injury ruling him out of virtually all of last season.

This campaign has been scarcely better, with different knee problems limiting him to 11 starts in all competitions to date.

His latest, minor, setback came last week when the 24-year-old returned after more than two months on the sidelines as a substitute late in the League Cup semi-final win over Burton.

Mendy suffered swelling to his knee after his 30-minute run-out, prompting his manager to leave him out of the weekend FA Cup win over Burnley, and Guardiola will again take a cautious approach when he names his side to play at Newcastle in the Premier League on Tuesday.

“With this kind of injury, when you come back immediately to the real competition always you have to keep the balance,” he said.

“I think it will happen in the next month,” he added. “We have to have him fit and good but we demand a lot of his knee. He’s going to stop a little bit, three or four days.

“Football is not just physical, run up and down, it’s what you have to do, read the situations. He was out for a long time, he has got to go stepby-step, not game, game, game -- or, after that, he will not survive.”

With City still active on four fronts, the City manager is clearly playing the long game with his extrovert leftback, which means his chances of being used for the weekend meeting with Arsenal also look remote.

for.

“The players know it -- we spoke about it, they know that there is no margin for error. Before, 85, 87, 89 points you could be champions -- now you have to be over 90 points,” he said.

Captain Vincent Kompany’s long-standing injury problems continue at City, with the Belgian limited to just six league starts this season.

With the 32-year-old out of contract in the summer, speculation has

mounted over whether Kompany will be offered a new deal, although Guardiola would like to see him remain at the club in some capacity.

“He has something special to represent the club in the best way,” said the City boss.

“He is very special in many ways, in personality. What he has done especially, on and off the pitch. He can speak five, six, seven languages and he communicates quite well and we need him.” (afp)

- No room for error -

Guardiola has conceded that his team may not be able to lose another game -- or even drop a point -- for the remainder of this season if they are to overhaul leaders Liverpool and their four-point advantage at the top of the table.

City could still break their own Premier League record of 100 points, were they to win every one of their remaining 15 games. The Blues could finish with a maximum 101 points, while Jurgen Klopp’s side have a maximum 105 to play

Paul ELLIS / AFP

Manchester City’s French defender Benjamin Mendy climbs over and advertising hoarding to give a young fan his shirt following the English League Cup second leg semi-final football match between Burton Albion and Manchester City at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton-upon-Trent, central England on January 23, 2019. Manchester City won the match 1-0.

8

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Robben mulling Tokyo move after Bayern exit: reports

Superstar Dutch winger Arjen Robben is lining up a move to J-League outfit FC Tokyo after he leaves Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, local media reported on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old has already confirmed he is leaving Bayern at the end of the season after a glittering career that saw him win seven Bundesliga titles and nearly 100 caps for the Netherlands.

If confirmed, it would be the latest high-profile transfer to the Japanese league, after Spanish World Cup winner Andres Iniesta and German striker Lukas Podolski joined Vissel Kobe.

Iniesta’s World Cup winning teammate Fernando Torres is also playing at J-League rival Sagan Tosu.

The Sports Nippon daily said there was a “rapidly emerging” chance of Robben playing in Japan next season. “Robben’s family, who are believed to have a big say (in his decision), seem positive about coming to Japan,” it said.

“Several Japanese clubs are interested but FC Tokyo are close to clinching his signature,” the paper quoted anonymous sources as saying.

A spokesperson for the club declined to comment when contacted by AFP. The 35-year-old, in his prime considered one of the world’s best wingers, told German football magazine Kicker last month he had no plans beyond the end of this season.

“That’s not entirely clear, perhaps I will stop playing -- it’s about waiting and seeing what possibilities there are,” he said.

“If offers come in, I’ll really consider them 100 percent and if it’s something nice, I’ll play on, but if no ideal offers come, then that could be it.

“I have three children and they also must be happy... The family plays a very important role in every decision of mine.”

After spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid, Robben joined Bayern in 2009 and spent nearly a decade with the Bavarian giants. His winning goal in the 2013 Champions League final at Wembley sealed a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund.

The fleet-footed, injury-prone veteran has won 19 trophies with Bayern and was named Bundesliga player of the year after his first season in Germany. FC Tokyo finished sixth in the J-League last year. (afp)

This file photo taken on June 9, 2017 shows Arjen Robben of the Netherlands celebrating after scoring during the World Cup 2018 qualification football match between the Netherlands and Luxembourg in Rotterdam. Dutch superstar winger Arjen Robben is lining up a move to J-League outfit FC Tokyo after he leaves Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, local media reported on January 29, 2019.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

9

Man City to take extra care over Mendy return, says Guardiola Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second senior goal for Chelsea should have been a moment to savour for the club’s academy which has nurtured a prodigious talent since the age of eight.

However, instead the 18-year-old’s clinical finish against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday could have been his parting gift to Stamford Bridge with Hudson-Odoi reportedly keen to force through a move to Bayern Munich before Thursday’s transfer deadline. Despite the club’s success in youth competitions and the millions made in transfer fees from selling sought-after young talents, retired former captain John Terry remains the last Chelsea academy graduate to become a first-team regular.

Frustrated at his lack of opportunities, Hudson-Odoi handed in a transfer request over the weekend in an attempt to secure a move to the Bundesliga champions, who have publicly expressed their interest in the England under-19 international.

“What I can say is clear. Chelsea have to make him stay,” said defender Antonio Rudiger. “It will be a pity if this young talent leaves us. He decides his future but Chelsea need to give him a new contract.”

The Premier League club are desperate to extend HudsonOdoi’s current deal beyond 2020 and reportedly willing to match an £85,000 ($112,000) a week offer from Bayern to do so.

However, minutes on the field, not money, appears to be the player’s prerogative as he hopes to follow the trail blazed by Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund.

While Chelsea are reinforcing their front line with the loan capture of 31-year-old Gonzalo Higuain and Christian Pulisic, who will join from Dortmund next season, Bayern are looking for replacements to the ageing Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed just 61 minutes of Premier League action this season despite impressing in pre-season.

It is an issue that has confronted many other Chelsea youngsters before him. Maurizio Sarri is just the latest manager working under the demand for instant results during the 16 years of Roman Abramovich’s ownership of the club. The Italian has therefore understandably favoured the experience of Willian and Pedro Rodriguez during his early months in charge, while Hudson-Odoi has been left to wait.

There is a danger, though, that in seeking ready-made replacements in the transfer market, the club is overlooking the talent within its own ranks.

Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic did not come through the youth set-up but were bought as young players with the potential to develop into first-teamers. In each case, they had to move on to get the experience that ultimately helped them grow into the players they are now.

And at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday night, Chelsea will be reminded of the ability of Nathan Ake, the Bournemouth centre-back who had to leave Stamford Bridge to get regular football and who is now linked with a return to his former club.

Andreas Christensen and Ethan Ampadu both stood out against Sheffield Wednesday, but both will know that they are likely to return to the fringes.

Christensen, 22, who enjoyed an extended run in the side under Antonio Conte, has already expressed his frustration and desire to move earlier this season.

And as Eden Hazard was played out of position as an unsuccessful short-term fix to a shortage of reliable striking options in recent weeks, Tammy Abraham has been allowed to continue to score goals freely during his loan spell at Aston Villa. The fear for the Londoners is that if Hudson-Odoi moves on and comes anywhere close to matching Sancho’s success, other youngsters will follow the winger’s example and decide their interests are best served by moving elsewhere. (afp)

Pep Guardiola will monitor Benjamin Mendy’s return to regular first-team football with Manchester City closely as he attempts to ensure that the France full-back suffers no repeat of his persistent injury problems.

Mendy has endured a frustrating 18 months playing for Guardiola’s side, with a knee injury ruling him out of virtually all of last season.

This campaign has been scarcely better, with different knee problems limiting him to 11 starts in all competitions to date.

His latest, minor, setback came last week when the 24-year-old returned after more than two months on the sidelines as a substitute late in the League Cup semi-final win over Burton.

Mendy suffered swelling to his knee after his 30-minute run-out, prompting his manager to leave him out of the weekend FA Cup win over Burnley, and Guardiola will again take a cautious approach when he names his side to play at Newcastle in the Premier League on Tuesday.

“With this kind of injury, when you come back immediately to the real competition always you have to keep the balance,” he said.

“I think it will happen in the next month,” he added. “We have to have him fit and good but we demand a lot of his knee. He’s going to stop a little bit, three or four days.

“Football is not just physical, run up and down, it’s what you have to do, read the situations. He was out for a long time, he has got to go stepby-step, not game, game, game -- or, after that, he will not survive.”

With City still active on four fronts, the City manager is clearly playing the long game with his extrovert leftback, which means his chances of being used for the weekend meeting with Arsenal also look remote.

for.

“The players know it -- we spoke about it, they know that there is no margin for error. Before, 85, 87, 89 points you could be champions -- now you have to be over 90 points,” he said.

Captain Vincent Kompany’s long-standing injury problems continue at City, with the Belgian limited to just six league starts this season.

With the 32-year-old out of contract in the summer, speculation has

mounted over whether Kompany will be offered a new deal, although Guardiola would like to see him remain at the club in some capacity.

“He has something special to represent the club in the best way,” said the City boss.

“He is very special in many ways, in personality. What he has done especially, on and off the pitch. He can speak five, six, seven languages and he communicates quite well and we need him.” (afp)

- No room for error -

Guardiola has conceded that his team may not be able to lose another game -- or even drop a point -- for the remainder of this season if they are to overhaul leaders Liverpool and their four-point advantage at the top of the table.

City could still break their own Premier League record of 100 points, were they to win every one of their remaining 15 games. The Blues could finish with a maximum 101 points, while Jurgen Klopp’s side have a maximum 105 to play

Paul ELLIS / AFP

Manchester City’s French defender Benjamin Mendy climbs over and advertising hoarding to give a young fan his shirt following the English League Cup second leg semi-final football match between Burton Albion and Manchester City at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton-upon-Trent, central England on January 23, 2019. Manchester City won the match 1-0.

10

Destination

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

Kvitova hails end to Grand Slam issues at Australian Open

Buleleng Ex Harbour

SINGARAJA - It is situated on the northern coast in Singaraja. In the old days when Singaraja was the capital of Nusa Tenggara Province Singaraja was an important shipping centre. The decision to move the capital of Bali from the

north to the south of Bali, after Nusa Tenggara was divided into three provinces, made Buleleng Harbour less important. The decline of Buleleng Harbour was made complete with the development of the way seaport in Celu-

kan Bawang, approximately 40 kilometres west of Singaraja.

Although not in use any more, there are still many old warehouses in the harbor district that date back to the Dutch colonial times. Before the opening of the international airport Ngurah Rai at Denpasar/ Kuta in the 1970’s, Singaraja was the main entrance port for tourists to Bali, where cruise ships with adventurous tourists used to land regularly. In addition to the Dutch heritage there are remnants of Chinese and Muslim influence. The descendants of the Chinese, Arab and Bugis settlers still live in the harbor distict in areas nicknamed Kampong Arab and Kampong Bugis.

In the area of Buleleng Ex Harbour, we can find a beautifu Chinese temple (klenteng) named Ling Gwan Kion. This temple is one of the few Chinese temples on Bali. It can be accessed via a bridge over a lotus pond and it has magnificent golden Buddha statues.

The temple was founded in the year 1873 and has been renovated several times, the last one in 2004. In this temple, we can try to read our fate or future by prying to budha and take the stick which will tell us about our fate.

History The history of North Bali traces back a few thousand years, to times when the area was already occasionally visited by sailors and merchants originating from among others the Persian Gulf, India and China.

The earliest settlements of North Bali date from around 400 BC, as shown by excavations in the Singaraja area at the villages of Julah and Sembiran. These first settlers lived from hunting, fishing and, in the wet season, the cultivation of rice.

Around the beginning of the Christian aera, Buddhist merchants from India and China started to establish trade posts along the

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coast of North Bali. Even nowadays a concentration of Chinese Buddhist traders and shop keepers can be found in the harbor district of Singaraja, living peacefully together with Muslim and Hindu neighbors, which is a unique situation compared to other areas of wonderful Bali’s population. Here, close to the ocean, you will also find a Chinese temple (a klenteng) with a lotus pond, colorful shrines and some beautiful golden Buddha statues.

The actual city of Singaraja was founded on March 30, 1604 by Raja Anak Agung Pandji Sakti with the building of the Royal Palace, the Puri Agung Buleleng.

Since the Dutch started to control Bali in 1848, Singaraja with its perfect harbor for their ships became the administrative center of Bali. However in 1958, thirteen years after the proclamation of Independence of Indonesia, the Indonesians moved the administrative center to Denpasar. (IBP/net)

Ron Hoskins / NBAE / Getty Images / AFP

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers on January 28, 2019 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Curry sizzles as Warriors rout Pacers

PRAGUE - Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova hailed the end of her Grand Slam bad luck -- and of a two-year transition following a knife attack that almost ended her career.

Having played only two Grand Slam quarter-finals since her Wimbledon triumph in 2014, Kvitova joked last year that she might as well quit playing at the top four events.

This year’s Australian Open offered a different picture of the left-handed Czech who did not lose a single set on her way to the final in which she lost to Japan’s Naomi Osaka in three sets on Saturday.

“I’m glad it was only a joke, that it didn’t happen,” the 28-year-old, who also won Wimbledon in 2011, told reporters in Prague.

“I guess it’s a compensation for last year which wasn’t the best when it comes to Grand Slams,” added Kvitova, who in 2018 reached the last-32 phase at the French and US Open, bowing out of the Australian Open and Wimbledon at the first hurdle.

“I wasn’t too happy after the loss but now the positive things prevail,” said the new world number two.

“I felt very well throughout those three weeks I played in Australia.”

Kvitova started the year poorly at Brisbane where she lost in the last 16, but she took the top honours at Sydney a week later -- at a

tournament where she initially was not expecting to play.

- ‘Chequered flag’ Besides the on-court battles, Kvitova is fighting memories of an attack at her Czech home by a knife-wielding burglar in December 2016, which left deep scars on her left hand.

She identified the man and is willing to give her testimony in court in early February on the condition she does not meet the suspect.

“Petra takes this as an inevitable thing. She knows it’s necessary to put an end to the whole affair,” her spokesman Karel Tejkal told reporters. Kvitova herself declined to speak about the attack that required a complicated surgery and saw her sink from sixth to sixteenth in the world.

“Such questions make me a bit angry but I can’t do anything about it. But it will be over some day.”

“I guess this trophy is a chequered flag on those two years,” Kvitova said, looking at the silver plate she won at Melbourne.

One of those to ask her was former world number one Jim Courier -- on court, following her quarterfinal win against the home crowd’s favourite Ashleigh Barty.

“I suppose he didn’t want to make me cry -- but he did,” Kvitova said.

“The interview was pretty tough -- but he’s a nice guy.” (afp)

LOS ANGELES - Golden State star Stephen Curry scored 26 points on another milestone night on Monday, leading the NBA champion Warriors in a 132-100 rout of the Indiana Pacers.

The Warriors stretched the longest winning streak in the league this season to 11 as they wrapped up a five-game road trip in style in Indianapolis.

Curry connected on 10 of 13 shots from the field, including six three-pointers and became the first player in NBA history to make 200 three-pointers in seven successive seasons.

He did most of the damage in the first half, when his 23 points included eight straight to break a 16-16 tie midway through the first quarter -- a burst that put the Warriors on their way.

“Just a really good way to finish it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of the convincing end to the road trip. “I was a little worried about this game. Everybody’s anxious to get home, but we’ve finished off the trip the right way.

“We’re in a groove, we’re in a good place. We’ve just got to keep going.”

DeMarcus Cousins added 22 points for the Warriors, shaking off a scary fall in the first quarter.

Cousins, playing just his fifth game for the Warriors after missing almost an entire year after a torn Achilles tendon, went down hard after Indiana’s Myles Turner fouled him in transition in the first quarter.

“I wasn’t actually hurt, I was more spooked from the fall,” said Cousins, who was slow to rise but stayed in the game.

Kevin Durant added 16 points for the Warriors, who let “banged up” Draymond Green sit out for a bit of rest.

Turner scored led the Pacers with 16 points, but Indiana dropped their second straight since losing guard Victor Oladipo to a seasonending knee injury.

In Boston, the absence of Kyrie Irving was no problem for the Celtics as Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart scored 21 points apiece to

lead the Celtics to a 112-104 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Aron Baynes added 16 points, Marcus Morris scored 15 and Al Horford and Terry Rozier chipped in 14 each for the Celtics, whose 16 blocked shots were a franchise record.

Irving sat out with a sore left hip -- possibly the result of a fall in Saturday’s loss to the Warriors.

“I don’t think it’ll be anything long-term,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said before the game.

“We’ll see after tonight how he feels tomorrow.”

Stevens said it wasn’t a tough decision to have Irving sit out a seventh game this season, even with a minor injury, as the team looks to preserve the long-term health of the All-Star point guard.

“Especially with a guy that we were going to sit him eight to 12 games anyway, so when he does have nicks and bruises, it makes sense to sit.” (afp)

Greg Wood / AFP

Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova hits a return against Japan’s Naomi Osaka during the women’s singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2019.

6

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

W

International

RLD

‘Goooal!’: Brazil mother narrates games for blind son

SAO PAULO - A passionate Brazilian football fan has drawn nationwide attention for narrating her local team’s soccer matches live to her blind and autistic son.

Silvia Grecco and her son Nickollas, 12, have become minor celebrities for the Sao Paulo team Palmeiras after the

mother was spotted on TV last year narrating one of their matches from the stands.

“I describe details: this player is wearing short sleeves, the color of their football boots, hair color,” Grecco, 56, told AFP during a recent game between Palmeiras and Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto.

Nickollas jumped up and down with friends at the right

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

INDONESIAN INDONESIAN

- Neymar to the rescue -

IBP/net

Brazil Mother Narrates Games For Visually Impaired Son.

Four dead, 195 injured in Havana tornado

HAVANA - A rare and powerful tornado has devastated sections of Havana, killing four people and injuring 195, as it overturned cars, uprooted trees and destroyed dozens of homes.

A shaken resident, recalling a night of terror, said she clutched her daughter and crouched down in her kitchen as the tornado came roaring in Sunday night.

“It was as if rocks were falling -it was hail -- and I felt things beginning to fall. It lifted my entire roof and took everything away,” said a sobbing Canaima Hernandez, 36.

Hernandez’s Havana neighborhood, Regla, was one of the hardest

Kabul...

From page 1

“On the most polluted days we advise people to stay indoors... when the pollution level is at its

hit by the tornado, which state media said was comparable in strength to the most powerful hurricanes.

Residents picked their way through overturned vehicles, collapsed walls, overturned lampposts and uprooted trees.

Cuban President Miguel DiazCanel, who confirmed the latest toll on Monday, toured the city’s darkened streets visiting emergency crews, wrote on Twitter that damage was “severe.”

In the city’s Luyano neighborhood, storm debris -- including

parts of a balcony ripped off an old building -- blocked the streets.

As emergency sirens blared across the city, firefighters and ambulances rushed about on rescue missions, their flashing lights illuminating blacked out areas.

Diaz-Canel said that several emergency teams were working hard to restore power to those areas.

At the Hijas de Galicia maternity hospital, staff were forced to evacuate the building due to storm damage.

The tornado, spawned by a powerful storm that originated in the Gulf of Mexico, hit western Cuba

with winds of up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour.

“Islanders are used to these warnings, but they did not suspect the magnitude of what was approaching,” said Granma, the Communist Party daily.

People described the tornado as having “the sound of a jet engine,” and reported feeling changes in the environmental pressure when it arrived, Armando Caymares with the Institute of Meteorology said.

The tornado “caught me in the street, in the car with my wife and children,” actor Luis “Panfilo” Silva wrote on his social media

highest,” said Mohammad Kazem Homayoun, NEPA’s chief for Kabul.

In a country where most people are illiterate and healthcare is limited, the information

is unlikely to help many. Doctors are also falling victim to the toxic air.

Sohrab Noori, head of the ICU at Wazir Akbar Khan hospital -where the number of admissions

for respiratory-related problems has increased -- said he had developed a “winter cough” for the first time.

“I think it’s an allergic reaction to the air pollution,” Noori said as

- Night of terror -

account.

“I had to dodge fallen trees, flooded areas and strong winds until I managed to get home. We experienced great fear,” he wrote.

Francisco Sotolongo said it was a good thing the tornado’s impact only lasted seconds, “because if it lasted a minute there would be nothing left here.”

High winds sent seawater surging over the city’s famed Malecon esplanade and several meters into the city.

The western provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa and Mayabeque also were affected by the storm. (afp)

he walked past patients hooked up to oxygen cylinders.

“If it (air pollution) continues in the long term, in two to three months we might have a big health crisis.” (afp)

ELECTION 2019

First Lady in Banyuwangi grows hydroponic plants with PAUD children

moments during the match, in unison with the thousands of other enraptured fans wearing the club’s dark green shirts.

“My narrating is something of my emotions. I’m not a professional,” said Grecco. “Everything I see and feel, I tell him, even when I need to curse the referee!”

It is not the first time disabled fans have caused a social media sensation simply by following the sports they love.

During the 2018 World Cup in Russia a video of a Colombian fan narrating a match against Poland to his deaf friend using hand movements went viral.

A Brazilian interpreter then showcased a similar technique with a group of deaf fans in Sao Paulo.

The Grecco mother and son have been featured on various Brazilian TV programs, and even visited a Palmeiras training session.

The boy’s father and sister however support other teams -- so to avoid family divisions his die hard Palmeiras fan mother came up with a scheme.

She resorted to the skills of none other than the boy’s idol, PSG star Neymar, when they met at an event.

“Neymar lifted him on his shoulders and he passed his hand through Neymar’s hair, it was a big moment! So I asked Neymar what team he used to support as a child, and he said he was a Palmeiras fan!

“So I said ‘Do you see, Nickollas? Your mother, your player ... I think your team should be Palmeiras!’”

A local businessman recently hosted the duo and some of Nickollas’ friends for the season opening match in a stadium box at the Allianz Park in Sao Paulo.

One little boy with Down Syndrome, who wore huge earphones and the national football jersey, threw his arms in a trusting hug around every stranger.

Another, with autism, wildly rocked to the live DJ music.

But when the match started all attention was on the football pitch, with Grecco narrating throughout.

They weren’t disappointed. Palmeiras won 1-0. (afp)

11

BANYUWANGI - First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and Second Lady Mufidah Jusuf Kalla undertook a visit to Banyuwangi, East Java, to grow hydroponic plants, among other things.

AP Photo/Yam G-Jun

Indonesian Siti Aisyah, left, is escorted by police as she leaves the Court of Appeal after a court hearing in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Aisyah jointly accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea’s leader, won an appeal to obtain witness statements given to police as part of her defense. But prosecutors say they will challenge the court’s ruling in the nation’s top court.

Upon arrival at the Blimbingsari Airport in Banyuwangi District, they were greeted by East Java Governor Soekarwo and Commander of the Regional Military Command V/Brawijaya Major General Arip Rahman.

They visited early childhood education (PAUD) Muslimat Khodijah 157 at Rogojampi that accom-

modates some 50 children.

Iriana and Mufidah took part in an exercise and planted hydroponic plants along with the children as well as washed their hands.

They later presented school stationary and meal equipment to the children. Their other agenda in Banyuwangi included an anti-narcotic campaign and a visit to a small- and medium-scale industry center.

Members of the entourage of the First Lady comprised wives of ministers and high-ranking officials grouped in the Solidarity Action Organization of the Working Cabinet Era.(ant)

Kim Jong Nam murder trial adjourned again until March

The trial of two women accused of murdering the North Korean leader’s half-brother was adjourned Monday until March, and the case will now drag on until at least mid-2019.

Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam have been on trial since October 2017, accused of murdering Kim Jong Nam by smearing the nerve agent VX on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport.

The brazen assassination in February 2017 shocked the world, but the women have denied murder, saying they believed they were taking part in a prank and were tricked

by North Korean agents.

Proceedings in the trial of the women, both in their 20s, have moved slowly due to the large number of witnesses and infrequent hearings. There have been no hearings since August, when the prosecution finished presenting its case.

The latest hold-up has been caused by an appeal from the defence, which is urging prosecutors to make key witness statements

available. The prosecution argues the statements should not be made public.

With the appeal still ongoing, a series of hearings scheduled for this week were cancelled, and the trial will now resume on March 11 with Huong’s defence.

New information given out by the High Court in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, showed hearings set until July 31, with the final verdict likely to come only after that date.

During the first months of the trial, the court saw CCTV footage of the accused attacking the relative of the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un, and prosecutors argued it was a well-planned hit.

South Korea has accused the North of ordering the assassination, an allegation denied by Pyongyang.

Under current laws, the women will be handed a death sentence if convicted of murder. Malaysia’s new government has vowed to abolish the death penalty, but parliament still needs to back the change. (afp)

IBP/kmb

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International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

BUSINESS Eurozone loan growth picks up in December

Lending to the private sector in the eurozone picked up pace in December, official data showed Monday, suggesting little effect from the withdrawal of a key pillar of central bank stimulus last month.

Borrowing among eurozone firms and households grew 3.4 percent year-on-year in December, European Central Bank figures showed after adjusting for some purely financial transactions. The pace of growth added 0.1 percentage point compared with November.

Looking in more detail at the data, loans to both households and non-financial firms grew as quickly in December as the previous month, at 3.3 and 4.0 percent.

But growth in credit to insurance companies and pension funds jumped more than 10 percentage points, to 18.4 percent.

The figures suggested little impact on the real economy last month as the European Central Bank finally wound down mass purchases of government and corporate bonds, known as “quantitative easing”.

Over more than three years the Frankfurt institution bought more than 2.6 trillion euros ($3.0 trillion) of government and corporate bonds, aiming to pump cash through the financial system to stoke growth and inflation.

But while the scheme has succeeded in warding off deflation -- a harmful spiral of falling prices and activity -- price growth has fallen back from the ECB’s target of just below 2.0 percent.

Looking ahead, indicators and forecasts point to economic expansion in the 19-nation eurozone falling back further from the boom year of 2017.

The IMF last week predicted growth of 1.6 percent this year, compared with 1.8 percent in 2018 and 2.3 percent the previous year. (afp)

Bali News

International

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Ngelawang Procession at Temple, What Does It Mean?

5

Ngelawang barong becomes a routine phenomenon during Galungan and Kuningan celebrations. This traditional show is usually done on the streets, especially in front of people’s house compound.

However, different tradition is showed by the ngelawang procession held by Puakan customary village, Taro, Tegallalang, Gianyar. At this village thousands of residents attend the ngelawang procession coinciding with Umanis Galungan, Thursday (Dec. 27).

AP Photo/Markus Schreiber

A Swiss national flag waves in the wind on this year’s last day of the World Economic Forum annual meeting, in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 25, 2019.

Aging societies seen posing risks to economy

DAVOS - Aging populations threaten to slow economic growth in the world’s advanced economies and destabilize the banking system, the head of Japan’s central bank told an annual gathering of elites in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

But Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said there were benefits, too: Faced with labor shortages as workers age and retire, employers are increasingly willing to hire women and to invest in labor-saving technology.

Thanks to a low birth rate, Japan’s population peaked in 2010. Kuroda said the shortage of workers hobbles economic growth. Slow growth pushes interest rates down and tempts banks to make riskier loans in a search for higher returns, “potentially making the financial system less stable.”

In response to the labor crunch, Japanese firms have been hiring more women. Earlier

at the Davos summit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe boasted that a record 67 percent of Japanese women either work or are looking for work, compared to just over 57 percent in the United States. Japanese firms have also aggressively invested in robotics and other forms of automation, raising productivity that feeds economic growth.

True, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde interjected, but “you can’t replace the entire Japanese population with robots.”

World Bank chief Kristalina Georgieva urged the global elites to take a simple step to

understand the urgency of combating climate change: “Get the picture of your children, your grandchildren in front of you.”

Speaking on the last day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Georgieva warned that the potential “cost in terms of suffering is unmeasurable” if the world can’t control a rise in temperatures.

She dismissed the idea that cutting emissions would hurt the economy, citing a study that found a rapid rise in temperatures could slash global economic output by 25 percent.

Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, said: “Rising temperatures will wipe out whole segments of economies.”

The “new climate economy,” by contrast, would create 65 million jobs, Georgieva said. (ap)

Implementation of the Ngelawang tradition also known as ngelungang was followed by thousands of residents, concentrated at Puakan village. Ngelawang at this village is carried out every six months by walking from one village to another, almost followed by the entire customary villagers located in the northern territory of Ubud. Centered at this village, all the sanctified effigies or tapakan Ida Bhatara comprising Barong and Rangda are given special ceremonies in two locations, namely the Puseh and Bale Agung temple of the customary village.

Local temple priest, I Wayan Tagil Kumara Nata, explained the tradition begins with a ceremony at Puseh Temple and continues at Bale Agung Temple. At Puseh Temple the sanctified effigies face east or towards the shrines, aiming at coming before the deities to invoke divine power.

In addition, said Tagil Kumara Nata, the ngelawang procession is

also carried out as a form of repelling negative things or neutralizing the negative influences of the universe. “This tradition is to ask for salvation, especially for natural harmony,” he said.

After the procession at Puseh

Temple, all the sanctified effigies are accompanied by residents heading for the Bale Agung Temple and continued by dropping in at each temple of the customary village passed through. Due to long distance, not infrequently this

procession can last until midnight.

“To go back to each customary village, they take a long time to late night,” he said.

Nevertheless, it does not dampen vivacity of the people. The tradition held on the day after Galungan

is still running every six months.

Meanwhile, especially for customary villages experiencing cuntaka or obstacles due family’s death, they will usually choose another day adjusted to the situation and decision of the local custom. (kmb)

Enjoy the Freshness of Butterfly Pea Tea In this era, people are chasing after healthy food and drinks. So, it is not wrong if a refreshing healthy menu concept is widely offered by many restaurants, food stall and other places. Moreover, hotels have started from the beginning, especially the accommodations having yoga, meditation and other spiritual activities.

For instance, Tulsi Restaurant at the Om Ham Retreat Ubud offers a healthy drink called Butterfly Pea Tea. This kind of drink can provide freshness because it applies ingredients from natural herbs. If the Butterfly Pea Tea has a purple color, it is the result of the ingredient used namely the butterfly pea.

Butterfly pea is a flower commonly offered for the ritual ceremony by Hindu communities

on the Island of the Gods. Other than being healthy, this kind of drink is quite interesting to enjoy.

This drink is made from various natural ingredients, such as lemongrass, ginger, cloves and star anise. “The basic ingredients of this drink is rich in spices, and the drink itself has the efficacy to maintain body health,” said a staff of Tulsi Restaurant, Devi, not long ago.

This Butterfly Pea Tea drink has many benefits for body health like relieving sore throat, smooth digestive system, especially in the stomach. It feels cool and doesn’t disappoint even though it’s made from spices and unsweetened. “We only process it in a combination with ingredients in appropriate dosage, so this drink is very delicious

to enjoy,” she explained.

This drink is very easy to make.

At first, various raw materials are collected and then cleansed and boiled. After boiling, the flowers are put into the main substance to give color to the drink. This butterfly pea has a blue effect. To get typical flavor, add kaffir lime so that the color becomes purple. If you want sweetness, you can add honey.

Every tourist coming to Tulsi Restaurant is always presented with the Butterfly Pea Tea as a welcome drink. Optionally, guest can also order it specifically. Drinks with natural ingredients can nourish the body and be free of side effects.

“Tourists of health lover mostly order this type of drink,” concluded Devi. (kmb)

4

Bali News

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

Balingkang Kintamani Festival

packaged and promoted properly, something big will happen. More and more Chinese tourists will come to Bangli,” he explained.

Full support for the holding of the Balingkang Kintamani Festival is also conveyed by Chairperson of PHRI Bangli, Ketut Mardjana. According to him, the festival held by the Bali provincial government is a very appropriate and effective effort to draw the interest of Chinese tourists to visit Bali having previously dropped. With the implementation of the festival, it is hoped to result in a tremendous impact on the level of Chinese tourist visits in the future. “PHRI Bangli provides full support for the organization of the festival,” he explained.

Separately, the Head of the Bangli Tourism and Culture Office, Wayan Adnyana, said the Balingkang Kintamani Festival will be held on February 6 in front of the Ulundanu Batur Temple, Kintamani. It will be filled with a cultural parade and fragmentary show on Jayapangus-Kang Cing Wie’s romance for approximately two hours starting at 10:00 local time. In addition to enhancing the image of Bali tourism in the eyes of Chinese tourists, this festival is held to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

“So far, Kintamani is only known for the beautiful panorama of Mount Batur and its natural attractions. More than that, Kintamani also has cultural and spiritual tourism,” added Adnyana. (kmb40)

Deputy Regent of Bangli, Sang Nyoman Sedana Arta.

IBP/kmb

13

Sea of white: ‘Hundreds of thousands’ of fish dead in Australia

3,000 Chinese tourists ensured to visit Kintamani

BANGLI - Approximately 3,000 Chinese tourists are expected to visit Kintamani to watch the Balingkang Kintamani Festival next February. The festival scheduled to be held at Batur village, Kintamani, will feature a parade of acculturation of Chinese and Balinese culture.

The plan to implement the Balingkang Kintamani Festival is revealed by Deputy Regent of Bangli, Sang Nyoman Sedana Arta, when attending the work meeting of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bangli Chapter, in Kintamani on Friday (Jan. 25). Sedana Arta said the Balingkang Kintamani Festival is held for the first time in Kintamani. In the festival, the culture to be displayed will bring up the love story of King Jayapangus and Princess from China, Kang Cing Wie, who is still legendary. He ensured that during the festival, Kintamani will be flooded with three thousand Chinese tourists.

“So far, along the history of Bangli tourism, it has never been attended by thousands of Chinese tourists at once,” he said.

According to him, the event is a good opportunity for Bangli to promote tourism it has. On that account, the moment must be utilized as well as possible by all parties.

Sedana Arta also hoped that all components, especially those engaged in tourism in Bangli district, will support and succeed in organizing the festival. “If this can be

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

SYDNEY - Hundreds of thousands” of fish have died in drought-stricken Australia in the last few days and more mass deaths are likely to occur, the authorities warned Tuesday.

IBP/kmb

If the land area meets the requirements, a sugar factory is planned to be built in Bali.

Bali to build sugar cane factory

Continuity of raw materials needs to think about

DENPASAR - Bali will develop sugar cane farming in Buleleng. If the land area requirements are met, a sugar factory will be built in Bali. However, construction of the sugar factory needs to think about the continuity of raw material supply in order not to become a new problem for Bali.

Division Head of Plantation at the Bali Food, Plantation and Horticulture Agency, Lanang Aryawan, said he had just finished planting 1,200 hectares of sugarcane in 2018 in Singaraja. In 2019, 2,000 hectares will be cultivated. Thus, the total land area amounts to 3,200 hectares in 2019.

If the land area meets the requirements, a sugar factory is planned to be built in Bali. “As planned, the reconnaissance and feasibility study will be held in the middle of this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, sugar cane plants having been planted in 2018 are said to have grown well. If it does not grow, it must be replanted so as not to hollow. Later on, the results will be taken to the Asem Bagus Factory according to the cooperation agreement with the PTPN XI Surabaya.

In the process of planting sugarcane, in the past period he had difficulty in the procurement of sugarcane seedlings because of limited supply while the need in Java is very high.

So, the target for planting is delayed from the target of planting completion in August-September. “This year, we have anticipated so that last year’s problem will not happen again,” he said.

This year, he prepared 300-400 hectares of land for prospective seedlings in 2019. So, it is enough for the needs of Bali. “We have prepared around 400 hectares of land for sugarcane seedlings. Actually, we just need 200 hectares for seedlings but have prepared 400 ha,” he added.

Chairperson of the Indonesia Farmers Association (HKTI), Prof.

Supartha, said the land in Bali is narrow, as having been cultivated for other plants such as rice, corn, soybeans, onions and chili. So, it is not possible to develop sugar cane fields for sugar industry. “The industry must be sufficient in terms of raw materials. This is the characteristic of industry. Don’t be playful if we’ve already known the spirit of the machine, the spirit of the industry. The industry is related to long process of raw materials so that it must connect from A to B, B to C, C to D. On that account, the industrial principles must be understood,” he said.

In the sugar industry, regular raw materials are needed. So the land area must be a consideration of industrial development. “However, if raw materials are not enough, the land is not enough, don’t make new problems,” he joked.

Almost all lands in Bali are used for other crops. So, the presence of sugar cane will replace the other plants or shift other plants. “If there are more plants shifting them coming with better results, it is good. But if otherwise, how about it?” he said.

In addition, this program must have an appointment or agreement with the farmers. The agreement with farmers means that farmers are invited to join in supporting the factory and the life of farmers are guaranteed by meeting their daily needs.

The government hoped with the construction of sugar cane factory, the price of sugar in Bali will be cheaper. But according to him, the price of sugar is a national framework. So, with the area of sugar cane in Bali, it is less likely to affect the price of sugar cane to be cheaper. By lowering prices, it will pressure sugar cane producers.

If the price of sugar cane is cheap, the farmers will be affected. “Farmers will be definitely suppressed and the price is low bargained. As a result, farmers are depressed. If Bali follows such a concept, Bali farmers having been better than other regions will follow the lower income farmers,” he said. (kmb40)

Locals around the Darling River were confronted with a sea of white, as dead fish carpeted the waters near the southeastern Outback town of Menindee.

Just weeks after up to a million were killed -- with scientists pointing to low water and oxygen levels as well as possibly toxic algae -- another mass death occurred in the key agricultural region. Inspectors from the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries have visited the site and said they found that “hundreds of thousands of fish have died”.

“Further fish deaths in the Darling River are anticipated as a significant number of fish have been observed under stress,” the department said in a statement.

Some 700 kilos (1,543 pounds) of dead fish were removed from the river Monday, with similar amounts expected to be collected Tuesday, it added.

The Darling River is part of the MurrayDarling River system that stretches thousands of kilometres across several states.

Fisheries officials were also investigating reports of another fish kill further south in the Murrumbidgee River, which flows into the Murray-Darling system.

With temperatures expected to rise and no rain forecast, there remained a “high risk of further fish kills over the coming days and week”, officials said. While the federal government has blamed the deaths on a severe drought, experts and locals say they stem from the systemic depletion and pollution of the river.

The inspectors added that the latest bout of kills were likely linked to “critically low levels of dissolved oxygen” caused by a sharp drop in temperatures after an extended period of hot weather. New South Wales

ROBERT GREGORY / AFP

This handout photograph taken and received from Robert Gregory on January 29, 2019 shows scores of dead fish floating on the Darling river in Menindee.

Regional Water Minister Niall Blair, who visited Menindee Tuesday, told national broadcaster ABC his government was out of options, with installing aerators in rivers only a “band-aid solution”.

Six aerators were installed along parts of the Darling River to give surviving fish localised oxygenated water.

“It’s not a case of not being able to spend money on something, there just isn’t any

other alternative that anyone has offered up,” Blair said.

“The only thing that will really change these conditions at the moment is fresh water coming through the system and there is just no possibility of that at the moment.”

Australia’s eastern inland regions have been hit by a prolonged drought, with extreme heatwaves in recent weeks exacerbating conditions. The late arrival of the mon-

soon season in northern Australia has also contributed to heatwaves in some regions.

The wet season eventually kicked off in mid-January, with record-breaking floods hitting the tropical top end of the vast continent, cutting communities off and stranding farmers in recent days.

Queensland’s major Daintree River rose to 12.60 metres (41 feet) -- a level not seen in over a century -- over the weekend. (afp)

‘French Spiderman’ arrested after scaling Manila skyscraper

TED ALJIBE / AFP

French urban free-climber Alain Robert, popularly known as the “French Spiderman”, is pictured on the side of the 47storey GT Tower in Manila’s financial district of Makati on January 29, 2019.

MANILA - French urban freeclimber Alain Robert was arrested on Tuesday, police said, after he scaled one of Manila’s tallest towers in his latest high-risk ascent.

The 56-year old adventurer dubbed the “French spiderman” climbed the 47-storey GT Tower without safety equipment, leaving watchers on the ground staring in amazement.

“This is my path, this is my way of living. It is as important to me as eating, sleeping. I need that. It keeps me alive,” he told reporters after completing the climb.

Police were less enthusiastic

about the stunt and took him into custody as soon as he reached the ground after the roughly two-hour climb up and down the building.

He was being held on a charge of public disturbance and was awaiting a decision from prosecutors on bail. Robert has scaled more than 100 structures without ropes or other safety equipment, setting a record for “most buildings climbed unassisted” according to Guinness World Records.

His successes include many of the world’s tallest skyscrapers and iconic buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House,

the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai -- where he used suction devices and a safety rope as it has no hand or footholds.

However in June he was foiled when he attempted to ascend a Seoul skyscraper, getting more than half way up the 123-storey Lotte World Tower before security forced him to abort.

Robert has suffered several severe falls while climbing and estimates his accidents have left him 66 percent disabled. He has been arrested numerous times for his exploits. (afp)

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Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Technology

International

Bali News

International

S. Korea’s first airborne fight against ‘Chinese’ pollution fails

SEOUL - An attempt by South Korea to create artificial rain to tackle air pollution many blame on neighbouring China has failed, the government said Monday, as it struggles to address what has become an urgent public concern.

Many South Koreans blamed China when pollution surged for three days earlier this month, and on Friday the Korea Meterological Administration (KMA) sent an aircraft to seed clouds with silver iodide in the hope of promoting rain.

The intention was for the rain to douse airborne particles and pollutants known as “fine dust” in South Korea.

However, an initial analysis of the experiment has been disappointing, KMA said in a preliminary report issued Monday.

While a weak, misty rain was detected for several minutes, the agency said, “there was no observation of significant precipitation”.

“Aside from its success or failure, the test was an opportunity to accumulate the necessary technology for a faster commercialisation of cloud seeding,” it added.

A full report is expected to be released later next month.

Air quality in South Korea is generally better than in China, which is more frequently affected by choking bouts of filthy air.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week advised his officials to handle the issue as a “natural disaster” as he urged cooperation with Beijing, addressing “great public concerns about fine dust coming from China”.

3

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Beijing is also trying to tackle the scourge, which causes widespread public anger, and a recent study found urban levels of PM2.5 -- the tiny airborne particles considered most harmful to health -- had been cut by almost a third on average over four years.

But they remain far above World Health Organization norms, and pollution levels in Korea sometimes spike as the prevailing winds blow PM2.5 particulates across the sea between the two countries.

China, which according to the International Energy Agency uses coal to generate around three quarters of its energy, is regarded as the world’s biggest polluter.

Last year, South Korea shut down five ageing coal-fired power plants in a bid to improve its air quality. (afp)

IBP/kmb38

The journalists coalesced into the Buleleng Journalist Community (KJB) took action to refuse the remission in the area of the Singa Ambararaja monument in front of the Buleleng regent’s office.

KJB rejects remission of prisoner killing journalist

SINGARAJA — The action to reject President Joko Widodo’s decision to approve the provision of punishment reduction (remission) for specific prisoner having murdered journalist continues to roll out.

YONHAP / AFP

This picture taken on January 24, 2019 shows a man looking at an aircraft from the Korea Meterological Administration (KMA) ready to disperse silver iodide, a compound believed to cause rain to fall, in a hanger at Gimpo airport in Seoul.

Fitness trackers ‘overestimate’ calorie burning

LONDON - Popular brands of fitness trackers can overestimate the number of calories burned while walking by more than 50%, tests have found.

Researchers at Aberystwyth University found all products - ranging from £20 to £80 in price - were inaccurate during walking and running tests.

Dr Rhys Thatcher said devices had an “inherent tendency” to over-measure.

Fitbit said its product was based on “extensive research”, but others said theirs were “not medical devices”.

The tests measured the amount of oxygen a volunteer used during ten minute walking and running sessions on a treadmill, before comparing it to the various fitness trackers.

The Fitbit Charge 2, which is the best selling fitness tracker on the market, was very accurate in testing calories burned while running, underestimating by 4%. But when measuring

walking, it overestimated by more than 50%.

Cheaper devices - the Letscom HR and the Letsfit - underestimated the number of calories burned while running by 33% and 40% respectively.

But both were far more accurate in the walking test. The Letscom overestimated by 15.7% while the Letsfit was only 2% above the official measurement.

“If you want to know the exact number of calories that you are burning during an exercise session then it doesn’t matter which device you use, you have to interpret the data with some caution,” Dr Thatcher told BBC X-Ray. He added the inaccuracies were not important if they were being used as a motivational tool or to track progress. Fitbit said it was confident about the performance of its product.

Letscom and Letsfit said their devices depend on data such as height and stride for accuracy and are not scientific devices, giving only estimations. (net)

IBP/net

Popular brands of fitness trackers can overestimate the number of calories burned while walking by more than 50%, tests have found.

Last Sunday (Jan. 27), the journalists coalesced into the Buleleng Journalist Community (KJB) took action to refuse the remission in the area of the Singa Ambararaja monument in front of the Buleleng regent’s office. Such an action was graced with theatrical performances and the reading of poem entitled Letter for Father and Important News as a protest

against the remission decision for I Nyoman Susrama, the convicted murderer of the journalist AA Gde Bagus Narendra Prabangsa.

Head of the KJB Buleleng, I Ketut Wiratmaja, said the peaceful action is an expression of journalists’ disappointment over the issuance of the Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 29/2018 concerning Provision of Remission for Changes from Lifelong Prisoners to Temporary Crimes. In the presidential decree, I Nyoman Susrama received remissions from life imprisonment to a 20-year imprisonment.

According to Wiratamaja, the presidential decree has hurt the sense of justice for the families of the victim, as well as

journalists in Indonesia. Moreover, the murder case of Prabangsa was the only one in the press whose roots have been revealed. “It’s the same as slowdown of press freedom in Indonesia. We urge President Jokowi to revoke the remission of the convicted I Nyoman Susrama,” he said.

In addition to holding a peaceful protest, media workers in North Bali also read out three points of statement. First, journalists in Buleleng are concerned about the remission received by I Nyoman Susrama. Second, urging President Joko Widodo to revoke the remission of convicted I Nyoman Susrama. Third, asking the government to enforce the law firmly and fairly. (kmb38)

Innovation of processing waste into valued handicrafts BANGLI — SMPN 2 Tembuku junior high school is one of two schools in Bangli that won the prestigious national award as the Adiwiyata School. The success in winning the award is inseparable from a number of innovations having been carried out by the school located at Peninjoan village, Tembuku. One of them is processing plastic waste into handicraft products having economic value.

Headmaster of the SMPN 2 Tembuku, I Made Degdeg, stated on Sunday (Jan. 27) the innovation of processing plastic waste into handicraft was initiated in 2016. To start the innovation, the school sent several teachers to attend training.

Results of the training were then implemented in schools with the students during the skills lesson.

As long as the innovation was carried out, many handicrafts made from plastic waste were successfully created. They are bags, ritual bowl, sokasi basket for ceremonies, handicraft items and other household necessities. The raw material for plastic waste processed into handicrafts is the waste generated from school canteen and student’s house. “We have special classroom for skills,” said the headmaster.

Other than being displayed at school, the handicraft products of plastic waste made by the students of SMPN 2 Tembuku are once

exhibited at the Kapten Mudita Square, facilitated by the Bangli Environment Agency. In the exhibition, Degdeg said that plastic waste craft products of his students are selling well. “At that time, it can sell for more than IDR 3 million,” he said.

Until now, there are still a lot of enthusiasts of the plastic waste handicraft made by his students.

Not infrequently, the students get some orders to make handicrafts from local residents. “This waste processing innovation has indeed become one of the points of our school to succeed in reaching the National Adiwyata,” he said.

In addition to processing plastic

waste into handicrafts having economic value, the other innovations made by the SMPN 2 Tembuku is processing school garden products, especially family medicinal plants, into herbal drink or loloh.

Degdeg hoped the innovations having been carried out by his school can be replicated by other schools. “Hopefully, in the future all the schools in Bangli can become eco-friendly adiwiyata schools,” he hoped. (kmb40) Headmaster of the SMPN 2 Tembuku, I Made Degdeg.

2

Bali News

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

International

DLHK Badung prepares a joint waste management site

This condition is also compounded by the arrival of garbage from the beach in a fantastic volume. Moreover, the DLHK is forced to let the drifting garbage accumulate in a number of existing stop over points. In addition, for the garbage in South Kuta, the problem of distance also often makes the garbage transport services reluctant to take it to the landfill and dispose of the garbage in the nearest illegal landfill To get around the problem of garbage transportation, especially in the South Kuta area, the DLHK Badung offers the establishment of a Joint Waste Management Site (TPSB) in the area of Benoa village, South Kuta. The land belonging to the customary village of Bualu and Kampial located near cemetery is proposed to be a temporary disposal site based

on zero waste or without waste. This happens because the land is still very representative and possible to be managed.

“This is an innovation of the DLHK together with customary villages and headman. We just facilitate and hope this will become a district-based joint landfill with zero waste,” said the Head of the Badung DLHK, I Putu Eka Merthawan, when asked for his confirmation on Sunday (Jan. 27).

His agency already organized a meeting with related residents in the Benoa village office recently. From the meeting, he stated that this joint landfill will be managed independently and become a pilot project in Indonesia. The land is indeed located next to the cemetery of Bualu and Kampial, spreading across the area of 6 hectares. He said the land location is very representative because it is far from residential areas.

But Eka Merthawan stated that of the 6 hectares of land, only 1.5 hectares is needed. In which one hectare will be taken advantage for temporary disposal site together in cooperation with third parties, while the remaining area will be contracted, the company will establish a DLHK fleet base for South Kuta region. “So, this

temporary disposal site will use land of the local customary village while the buildings, equipment and operators are from third parties being able to manage waste into a zero waste manner.

If approved, this will be explored in the future,” he concluded.

For this reason, the Bualu and Kampial customary villages are expected to discuss in advance about their income later.

In addition, the effort must be supported by the existence of pararem and formal agreements from the headman and village apparatus. He hoped there should be a written agreement this early February between the two related customary villages. If running smoothly, it will take two weeks of consolidation with the third party, within 6 months the joint temporary disposal site will be able to operate optimally.

While waiting for the process, for the time being he suggested the land to be used as a Waste Collection Site. This is taken as an emergency measure for handling waste in the Bualu, Kampial and Peminge areas. Hopefully, there is no accumulation of garbage at some points which can cause a negative image for the South Kuta tourism area. (kmb23)

Nepal learns from Bali to attract travelers

MANGUPURA - With the increasing number of Bali tourist visits each year, Nepal begins to learn from Bali in increasing its tourist arrivals. For instance, a number of its travel agencies consulted to the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) recently.

According to the Deputy Secretary of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB), Luh Suciari, her board warmly welcomed the measure of cooperation carried out by Nepal in the tourism promotion. According to her, in general, the culture of Bali and Nepal has something in com-

mon. However, the tour package in Nepal has a specificity namely targeting adventure circles because the tour package developed is a mountainous region.

In contrast, Bali has all, stated Suciari, starting from the beaches to mountains “Of course, we will support the activities like this, Nepal wants cooperation in tourism.

Similarly, we hope there will be a return, namely Nepalese tourists visiting Bali as well,” she said.

She explained that based on the data of the BTB, tourist visits from Nepal are not specifically specified.

However, tourists from the country are combined in the data on tourist visits from India which are currently in third place under Australia and China. Likewise, she hoped the measure can support tourists from Nepal to visit Bali, too.

Meanwhile, Director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Mani Raj Lamichanne, said the tourism promotion program is very important for Nepal. Bali as a destination for the world’s tourism certainly has a good impact on the progress of tourism in Nepal itself. He considered that tourists

Activities

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

15

A Romantic and Sweet Stay on Valentine’s Day at Sense Hotel Groups

Suwung Landfill often problematic

MANGUPURA - Garbage disposal to the Suwung landfill is often problematic. Thus, it makes the Badung Environment and Sanitation Agency (DLHK) think twice because the garbage truck cannot enter to dispose of garbage.

International

visiting Bali come from all over the world. With this promotion, it is expected to increase tourist visit to the country.

He explained that Indonesia is also one of the supporting tourists for Nepal. Where, the data held in 2018 indicated that tourist arrival from Indonesia to Nepal reached 7,639 out of a total of 1,173,072 tourists. “We also learn from Bali in promoting tourism. Hopefully, more and more tourists travel to Nepal, especially from Indonesia in the future,” he hoped.

Seeing the good relations of

Nepal with Indonesia and Malaysia, there has been direct flight cooperation to Nepal. Among them are the Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Airlines, and Nepal Airlines serving direct routes to Nepal. Thus, it makes it easier for tourists wishing to visit the top destinations in Nepal. It has many good and well-known destinations in the world including the Golden Triangle of Nepal, the birthplace of Buddhism, the Pagoda, the Stupa, the very green Enchantment of the City of Phokara, and so on. (kmb23)

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Love is in the air! There is no better place than Bali to celebrate the month of love. Sense Sunset Hotel Seminyak, Sense Seminyak Boutique Hotel and Sense Lagoon Canggu Beach present Valentine’s Day Package for 2 days 1 night, starting from 14 February to 15 February 2019. To provide memorable experience for all couples, guests can impress their loved ones with a full board package including one night stay, an intimate romantic dinner for 2 persons on 14 February 2019, SPA treatment and honeymoon decoration in the room.

Couples settle in for a romantic night for two. Start the evening with a decadent “A La Carte” dinner for two with wine and sweets, followed by a night in one of this city’s comfy and romantic rooms. In the morning, relish in the breakfast for two.

The rate varies for each hotel. To indulge in the romantic time, this package is available at IDR 880.000 net at Sense Sunset Hotel Seminyak, at IDR 2.003.000 net at Sense Seminyak Boutique Hotel and at IDR 2.403.000 net at Sense Lagoon Canggu Beach Hotel. “To celebrate Valentine’s Day, we particularly offers Valentine’s Day Package to ensure each couple has an opportunity to share an unforgettable moment in the month of love.”, said Kadek Sriyanti, Assistant Director of Sales of Sense Hotel Groups.

For reservations and more information, please contact +62 81 868 1054 or pr@ sensegroups.com.

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

16 Pages Number 28 11th year

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

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Black Panther wins top Screen Actors Guild award ahead of Oscars

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

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

CALIFORNIA - Black Panther has triumphed at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, picking up the ceremony’s top prize for best film cast.

A superhero box-office smash featuring a predominantly black cast, the Marvel film has been hailed as a turning point in cinema and could make history if it repeats the win at the Oscars next month.

In a powerful acceptance speech alongside co-stars including Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira, Chadwick Boseman told how “all of us up here know what it’s like to be told there is not a place for you to be featured even though you are young, gifted and black”.

He also spoke about the film’s effect on the industry, saying the cast knew they had “something special that we wanted to give the world”.

Black Panther beat BlacKkKlansman, Crazy Rich Asians,

Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born to win the prize at the SAG ceremony, which is seen as a possible indicator of how the Academy Awards could pan out.

Following on from wins at the Golden Globes earlier this month, Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek, and Glenn Close, who stars in The Wife, were named best film actor and actress, while Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor gong for Green Book.

Emily Blunt was the surprise winner of the best supporting actress award, for horror film A Quiet Place, over The Favourite stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz, as well as Margot Robbie, for Mary Queen Of Scots, and Amy Adams, for Vice. (net)

The cast of Black Panther won the top gong at the SAG Awards.

IBP/net

James Charles: Popular YouTuber brings Birmingham city centre to a standstill BIRMINGHAM - A YouTuber with more than 13 million online fans is believed to have brought Birmingham city centre to a standstill after visiting a shopping centre.

American beauty guru James Charles, 19, was visiting the city to cut the ribbon for the grand opening of Morphe Cosmetics.

Around 8,000 fans flocked to the Bull Ring to catch a glimpse of the popular makeup artist, who has 13.7m subscribers on YouTube.

Videos on social media show he was greeted by four floors of screaming supporters during his 30-second appearance inside the shopping centre.

However there was heavy traffic congestion in parts of the city centre from 3pm until 7.30pm. Motorists trying to leave car parks were stuck and some even opted to abandon their vehicles overnight. Charles, who is also a model, shared a clip of the huge crowds at the shopping centre, writing: “I can’t believe this is my life”.

He also said it was the biggest meet-and-greet session he had ever done.

“There were 8,000 sisters [fans] at the mall. We keep breaking records every single time,” he said. “I will literally never forget today.”

The internet personality also met 250 fans who were randomly selected through a ballot.

Extra police officers were brought in and escalators stopped to due to the volume of people waiting to see Charles. (afp)

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WAKIL KOHSAR / AFP

In this photograph taken on January 16, 2019, Afghan charcoal vendors warm up around a fire amid heavy smog conditions in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. Kabul residents have long run the gauntlet of suicide attacks and bombs. This winter, however, they face another deadly threat: air pollution. For weeks a thick layer of toxic smog has blanketed the sprawling city as cold air traps pollution caused by people burning coal, wood, car tyres and even garbage to stay warm.

Kabul chokes on dirty air as temperatures plunge

Kabul residents have long run the gauntlet of suicide attacks and bombs. This winter, however, they face another deadly threat: air pollution.

For weeks a thick layer of toxic smog has blanketed the sprawling city as cold air traps pollution caused by people burning coal, wood, car tyres and even garbage to stay warm.

The choking contamination peaks in evenings and early mornings when temperatures plunge below zero.

Dangerous particulate matter, including toxins like sulphate and black carbon, hang in the air like a thick curtain, reducing

visibility and making breathing difficult.

Residents complain the air is getting worse -- a view supported by doctors who report a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses.

“In previous years 30 to 40 percent of our patients were suffering from acute respiratory infections, but this year it has jumped to 70 or 80 percent,” said Akbar Iqbal, a doctor in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Indira Gandhi children’s hospital in Kabul.

“I believe the cold and pollution are the main causes.” A seasonal lack of rain and snow in Kabul, coupled with a fast-growing population, fume-belching vehicles, and proliferation of diesel-fuelled generators, are contributing to the deteriorating air quality.

A former official at the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) described this winter’s pollution as “deadly”.

“This can cause stunting and mental development problems in children as well as miscarriages and can lead to many forms of cancer,” said Abdul Hadi Zhemen, who

until recently was the spokesman for NEPA. Kabul’s air pollution exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe levels on any given day in winter. Recently the city of five million people has ranked among the most polluted in the world, according to the AirVisual network.

The air quality index reading is often above 300, while at night it can top 600. Recent snow and rain offered some respite, but readings still remain well above the WHO’s limits. Any reading over 100 is considered unhealthy.

Long-term exposure to air pol-

lution can cause strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory illnesses, WHO said.

Authorities have turned to media to educate people on air pollution and encourage the use of face masks, even though they often provide poor protection.

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