Edisi 31 March 2017 | Internasional Bali Post

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

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

16 Pages Number 63 9th year

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Friday, March 31, 2017

Book: Angelina Jolie was drugtested for ‘Tomb Raider’

NEW YORK — To help shed her early reputation, Angelina Jolie agreed to be drug tested during production of 2001’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” according to a new book.

The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday released an excerpt from an upcoming biography of the former studio head Sherry Lansing, “Leading Lady.” Lansing stepped down as Paramount Pictures chairman and chief executive in 2005.

When casting the then 24-year-old Jolie for “Lara Croft,” Lansing had concerns about Jolie’s stability. This was

shortly before the actress wed Billy Bob Thornton.

Then-Paramount production president John Goldwyn said the studio had Jolie undergo random drug tests. Director Simon West recounts that Jolie, eager for the part and to prove herself, said she would do anything — including daily drug tests — to “prove that I’m worthy.” (ap)

Timberlake follows Swift as F1 Austin crowd-puller LONDON - Singer Justin Timberlake has been confirmed as the headline act at this year’s U.S. Formula One Grand Prix as organisers seek to build on the crowd-pulling success of Taylor Swift’s appearance at the 2016 race.

Timberlake, whose Oscar-nominated song ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ won him a 10th Grammy Award, will appear on stage on Saturday Oct. 21 at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas (COTA) after qualifying. Last year’s race ended a trend of declining audiences and drew a record crowd of 269,000 with Swift’s first concert of the year watched by some 80,000 people.

“Last year did what we hoped it would do, which is not only enhance an already great event but also give us the chance to expose a lot of new people to the sport,”

COTA chairman Bobby Epstein told Reuters. “And it worked. “I think where we saw a big change was in the average number of tickets sold per transaction, which told me that families were buying.

And so I think we’ll see that continue.”

The 2017 F1 season, which began in Melbourne last weekend, is the first with the sport being run by American company Liberty Media, which took control of Formula One in January.

Liberty replaced CVC Capital Partners as the sport’s commercial rights holders, with Chase Carey ousting 86-year-old Bernie Ecclestone as commercial supremo. F1 has long struggled to get a foothold in the American market, so hopes are high thatTimberlake’s performance can build on last year’s successful race weekend.

Bad weather hit the track’s revenues significantly in 2015, with Saturday’s final practice taking place behind closed doors due to flooded conditions and qualifying moved to the Sunday. Epstein said COTA would refund 105 percent of the value of any three-day reserved seat ticket purchased by July 4 if more than two inches of rain falls in the 24-hour period before the start of the race. In addition, the ticket would still be good for the race. (rtr) Recording artist Justin Timberlake accepts the award for Song of the Year during the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California U.S., March 5, 2017.

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Friday, March 31, 2017

For Ivanka Trump, rising profile comes with backlash WASHINGTON — She has a West Wing office, facetime with world leaders and unrivaled access to the president.

And as Ivanka Trump’s White House role grows, so does the backlash.

Ivanka Trump, a first daughter with first-in-recent-history influence, has become fodder in a heated national conversation about gender politics and ideological beliefs.

While she has won fans for her interest in advancing women, critics have questioned her qualifications, her power, her politics and her ethics. Trump showed Wednesday she is sensitive to some of the discussion.

After weeks of resisting a formal role in her father’s White House, she said she would become a federal employee, although an unpaid one. The decision was aimed at quieting ethics experts who noted her informal role allowed her to avoid filing financial disclosure forms and other transparency requirements.

In a statement announcing the decision, Trump said she had “heard the concerns” of critics and was working with the

White House to address “the unprecedented nature of my role.”

She previously planned to work out of a West Wing office in a more informal capacity, while voluntarily following ethics rules.

Asked about the criticism of her White House work, Trump acknowledged in a statement to the Associated Press that she “wouldn’t be here in Washington if my father wasn’t elected president.” But she added, “I want to add positive and meaningful value and people will be able to judge with time if I’ve been successful in that goal.”

It is difficult to find first family members who have raised similar levels of public fascination and broad debate, particularly among political women.

Some of the toughest knocks, although not all, are coming from liberals who think Ivanka Trump has done too little to temper the president’s conservative agenda.

Trump has seized on a set of typically progressive issues, notably family leave and child care, leading many to assume she did not share her father’s nationalistic politics.

Since her father took office, she has staged several events relating

to women and workforce development, but avoided all public comment on her father’s travel ban, border wall, proposed budget cuts or the rollback in climate-change regulations.

“For every woman who held out hope that maybe Trump isn’t going to be so bad, or that she’d be able to curtail the worst of his impulses, it hasn’t happened,” said novelist Jennifer Weiner.

That view was captured in a “Saturday Night Live” send-up that featured her in an advertisement for a perfume called “Complicit.” A voiceover called it “the fragrance for the woman who can stop all this ... but won’t.”

Ivanka Trump’s defenders argue that the first daughter is being held to an unfairly high standard. Carrie Lukas, managing director of the conservative Independent Women’s Network, said “a lot of this criticism of her overlooks that she is a pretty accomplished woman in her own right.”

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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Friday, March 31, 2017

Bali News

International

Ogoh-ogoh parade leaves dozen tons of trash

MANGUPURA - Ogoh-ogoh or papier mâché demon parade held at the night of Pengrupukan by Kuta customary village on Monday (Mar. 27) left tens of tons of trash. The trash is predominantly derived from visitors including travelers that witnessed the art event.

Head of the Badung Environment and Sanitation Agency (DLHK), Putu Eka Marthawan, said that his agency deployed 250 janitors and gardeners to overcome trash scattered about. “Most (trash—Ed) happened to the location of the Kuta customary village ogoh-ogoh competition because the audience, both foreign and domestic travelers, as well as local communities thronged the location,” said Eka Marthawan on Wednesday (Mar. 29).

According to him, the trash of offerings collected at the tourist village reached 15 tons and five other tons are inorganic waste. Therefore, his agency deployed full team because all areas, especially in the park area, were heavily guarded, and after the ogoh-ogoh parade all the team members moved quickly.

The Ogoh-ogoh parade geld in Tohpati.

“It is dominated by the waste of offerings nearly reaching 15 tons and 5 other tons are inorganic, so that it totally amounts to 20 tons or the equivalent of five trucks. The trash originates from Kuta customary village and surrounding areas,” he explained.

His agency recorded that the total trash generated after the tawur ceremony at each catus pata (central intersection) in Badung reached 75 tons. Meanwhile, the total waste handled by the agency team from Petang subdistrict to South Kuta subdistrict reached 75 tons of offering waste and 50 tons of inorganic waste.

“This waste is collected from Tawur to Pengrupukan celebration. From our records, the volume of inorganic waste reaches 50 tons,” he said.

Eka Merthawan admitted that the team of DLHK Badung worked hard to resolve the waste problem because the number of teams is not comparable to the waste collected. “With a total of field staff amounting to 900 people, almost all of them should work overtime until 03:00. It is the way we do sacrifice,” he concluded. (kmb27)

IBP/wawan

Activities

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

15

A Week of Ceremonies - Galungan & Kuningan

If March was all about the Nyepi celebrations when the whole island shuts down for a day, April sees quite the opposite with plenty of gaiety and excitement for the Galungan and Kuningan festivals.

After Nyepi, these are the two biggest celebrations for the Balinese with preparations and ceremonies taking place weeks in advance.

If you are in Bali during this time, then you’re in for a treat as you will get to witness some of the most captivating Balinese cultural

processions and ceremonies. It’s also fascinating to know that the Galungan marks the victory of good versus evil, and also the time when the ancestral spirits come down to visit Earth. Celebrations continue for a 10-day period until Kuningan day, which marks the day the ancestral spirits return to heaven.

Penampahan Galungan 4 April 2017

Penampahan means “slaughter”

WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS

Lukta Gni Tradition

IBP/Dewa Farend

Lukat Gni

To maintain balance and purity of macrocosm and microcosm

SEMARAPURA - Residents of Satria Kawan Palace, Paksebali village, Dawan, organized the lukat gni or flame war tradition. This tradition is carried out through generations every year falling on new moon of the Balinese ninth month or at the night of Pengrupukan or the day before celebration of Nyepi, Monday (Mar. 27).

Lukat gni also called flame war is derived from two words, namely lukat and gni. Lukat or melukat means cleansing of all impurities and the unseen while gni means fire. Lukat gni can be interpreted as a tradition of cleansing or purifying the microcosm and macrocosm from any kind of impurities by means of fire. This tradition is also aimed at maintaining balance of nature and humans to result in harmony in the implementation of the catur bratha penyepian or five abstinences.

This lukat gni tradition begins with a joint worship at temples or family temple to invoke safety and smoothness for the implementation of lukat gni. Dozens of youths that take part in this activity are then heading for the catus pata or central intersection of the village to carry out the tradition. Here, the participants further slammed the fire of tied danyuh (dried coconut leaves) onto each opponent. No injuries are seen despite being hit by fire. Moreover, there is no resentment among the participants. The atmosphere is

getting festive with the accompaniment of baleganjur orchestra.

Spiritual figure of Satria Kawan Palace, Mangku A.A. Gde Anom Merta, said that flame war is a heritage tradition of Satria Kawan Palace. “As younger generations, we must continue and preserve the traditions having been passed down by the elders here. This tradition has actually existed since around hundreds of years ago,” he said after the implementation of the lukat gni on Monday (Mar. 27).

According to him, the lukat gni often known as flame war is one of the purificatory rites carried out to purify the macrocosm and microcosm. Implementation of this annual tradition is expected to be able to neutralize negative effects and create harmony in ourselves and the balance of the universe.

“Through this lukat gni, we will create harmony and balance of the universe,” he said.

A participant of lukat gni, A.A. Gde Baskara Diningrat, said that he took this tradition to preserve the heritage. Armed with selfconfidence, he said, the heat of the fire afflicting to the body will not be felt. Every fire is believed to eliminate all the impurities inside.

“With the confidence I have, the more exposed to the fire, the more impurities will be missing from our body,” said Baskara who participates regularly in this tradition every year. (dwa)

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

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

in Balinese and it is the final day of preparations before the actual Galungan day (see below). Preparations usually begin 25 days before the big day and on this last day, adults are kept extremely busy with the making of “penjor”, “banten”, offerings and the slaughter of pigs and chickens, which are later used in traditional Balinese dishes such as lawar, babi guling and satay.

Children usually look forward to this day, as the atmosphere in every home is similar to that of a big family party.

Hari Raya Galungan 5 April 2017

The climax of the Galungan holiday celebrations, the second most important Balinese holiday after “Nyepi” will see most

Balinese returning to their ancestral homes to make offerings to God and their ancestors who came back to rest at this time in the family temple. Prayers and giving of offerings continue at the village temple as well as homes of neighbouring families who are closely affiliated to the family.

Umanis Galungan 6 April 2017

The day after Galungan is seen as a holiday and is spend visiting friends, family and even a fun outing like an excursion to the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still wearing their ‘Sunday bests’ as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.

Kuningan Day 15 April 2017

Kuningan is derived from the word “kuning”, meaning yellow. The Balinese believe that on this day, their ancestors return to heaven after visiting earth for theGalungan celebrations. As a symbol of gratitude, they make offerings of yellow rice placed in bowls made of coconut leaves. The bowls are decorated with figures of shadow puppets, which represent angels that bring joy and wealth to earth.

In some villages, Barongs can be seen going from house-to-house followed by children playing traditional Balinese musical instruments.

Let’s celebrate the victory of good over evil in Bali. Feel the festive spirit of the ceremonies by enjoying every ceremonies of Galungan & Kuningan.

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Friday, March 31, 2017

Fashion

International

Bali News

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

3

Some disaster victims celebrate Nyepi in refuge

BANGLI - Nyepi Day falling on Tuesday (Mar. 28) was used by most people as a moment to hold family gatherings at home.

However, it was differently taken advantage by a number of residents of Bantas hamlet, Songan, Kintamani, denoting the victims of landslide disaster. Due to being homeless, they are forced to celebrate Nyepi at the refugee camp having been occupied since last February.

Seoul Fashion Week Street Style is really, really good

SEOUL - If you think New York, London, Milan, and Paris are the only cities with amazing street style, you’re sorely missing out. Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Berlin are just some of the other global fashion weeks we’ve highlighted before, but

now we’re turning our attention to yet another worthy destination you might not be following as closely: Seoul Fashion Week.

Photographer Hongje Ahn’s Instagram is chock-full of amazing street style from the event,

which began on Monday and ends on Saturday, April 1. He captured an adorable pair of sisters, Korean model and actress Jini Lee wearing a cute midi skirt–and–ankle boots combo, and plenty of other street style stars. (IBP/net)

Kendall Jenner and Paris Jackson match outfits for the flea market YOU might have heard that Paris Jackson is well on her way to being the next It model—she’s already been signed by IMG Models (the same agency as Bella and Gigi Hadid), and she has landed the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. So it might not come as a surprise that she’s starting to spend time with one of the industry’s other buzziest models, Kendall Jenner.

The duo was spotted shopping at a Los Angeles flea market this week, where they went with coordinating outfits: green long-sleeve tops, jeans, and classic sneakers. While Jenner’s high-waisted, straight-leg jeans gave off a more polished vibe, Michael Jackson’s daughter opted for an edgier look with a ripped boyfriend iteration.

Whose outfit is more your style? (IBP/net)

One of them is Gede Arta. He revealed that this year’s Nyepi was differently celebrated from the previous year. Last year, he could celebrate Nyepi with family at home at Bantas hamlet, but yesterday’s Nyepi was forced to be celebrated in refugee camp with family.

“It’s awfully sad because the last year’s Ngerupuk was celebrated with family and I usually pay homage to ancestor together with family at home.

But, yesterday I just could say prayers at refugee camp,” he said on Wednesday (Mar. 29). Gede Arta mentioned that among dozens of residents who evacuated to village meeting hall, only five of them celebrated Nyepi in refugee camp on Tuesday. The five victims consisted of himself, two children, his wife and one of his brothers.

In the meantime, the other refugees, said Arta, celebrated Nyepi at their home at Bantas hamlet, while the remaining celebrated at the home of their respective relative.

Since there is no certainty when the refugees will be relocated, Arta said that celebration of Galungan and Kuningan remaining around the corner will probably also be celebrated in the refugee camp. “As there is no house to be occupied, I will be forced to celebrate the holiday here,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the stock of logistics for disaster victims, Arta said it has run out since the past ten days. He and other residents at the refugee camp are currently forced to meet daily needs by using private money provided by donators. “Hopefully, the government could immediately relocate us,” he hoped. (kmb40)

The refugees of Songan disaster

IBP/Dayu Rina

Hotel occupancy rate on Nyepi increases

DENPASAR - Hotel occupancy rate on Nyepi and the first three months at the beginning of the year increased. In Nusa Dua, Kuta and Sanur, the hotel occupancy rate averagely reached 50 percent.

“It increased when compared to last year’s Nyepi holiday approximately reaching 2 percent to 5 percent,” said Chairman of the

NEGARA - At least 22 inmates of Negara Prison received remission of Nyepi Day on Wednesday (Mar. 28). Reduction of their confinement period is provided for the inmates of common criminal who celebrate Nyepi. In the remission,

Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, on Wednesday (Mar. 29). The existence of local travelers that wanted to vacation at hotels also boosted the occupancy of about 2 percent to 3 percent.

Chairman of the Bali Hotel Association (BHA), Ricky Putra, also admitted such an increase. This GM

of The Royal Santrian Nusa Dua revealed that the occupancy reached 45 percent to 50 percent. “There is an average increase in the range of 3-5 percent,” he added.

The increase was also supported by domestic guests of 2 percent to 5 percent. “Besides, there are some foreign journalists that would like to cover the Nyepi celebration in Bali,” he added. All the hotels and

guests are encouraged to comply with all the rules in order to participate in making the sacred festival in Bali successful.

Although some travelers are stated to go out of Bali during the Nyepi, in reality many travelers were eager to see in person the implementation of Nyepi in Bali.

“There is no special package on Nyepi because we urge all hotels

22 inmates get Nyepi remission

there are no inmates directly free.

Meanwhile, those of specific crime such as corruption inmates do not get remission.

Inmate Service Subdivision Head of Negara Prison, I Nyoman Tulus Sedeng, told reporters that

the remission is granted to the inmates that celebrate Nyepi Day. He added the remission is given to prisoners who have qualified for the criteria. Remission for the 22 inmates varies. A total of 15 inmates got one-month remission;

six inmates got 15-day remission; and another inmate got one-month and 15-day remission. Overall, the inmates receiving the remission of Nyepi belong to common criminal.

In the meantime, a total of ten in-

to keep the rules related to the penyepian or Nyepi celebration,” he said.

So, in one quarter there was an increase in the hotel occupancy rate in Bali, especially the members of the BHA. During the first quarter, the hotel occupancy rate reached the range of 50 -55 percent and it is predicted to increase next April. (kmb42)

mates currently serving a sentence of corruption cases do not get any remission. According to him, the remission is regularly provided at certain occasions such as the anniversary of the Independence Day to religious feast days. (kmb26)

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Bali News

Friday, March 31, 2017

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

International

Nyepi atmosphere grooved by spiritual travelers

Court decides whether to arrest ousted South Korean president Park

DENPASAR — Nyepi atmosphere is grooved by spiritual followers.

Foreign travelers much respect to Balinese tradition. Many travelers who had stayed during Nyepi in previous year will come again in the following year.

“Nyepi is the only unique feast in the world. Airport can be closed, nature becomes quiet and air pollution reduces. Travelers, mainly spiritual aspirants, really like the atmosphere because they can have better concentration in meditation,” said Manager of Puri Saron, Gusti Kade Sutawa, on Sunday (Mar. 26).

Tourist arrivals related to Nyepi celebration in general tends to show off an increase. “So, the tourist visit continues

to rise,” he affirmed.

In the future, the tourism to be developed according to the UNWTO is the eco-friendly tourism. Nyepi provides real contribution to the environment, namely the reduction of air pollution et cetera.

He also received many comments from tourists. “If Nyepi can be celebrated around the world, the pollution can be reduced very significantly,” he added. (kmb42)

Wandering on Nyepi

Two Indonesians and three foreigners secured

MANGUPURA - Abiansemal police received the delivery of two Indonesians and three foreigners during the celebration of Nyepi on Tuesday (Mar. 28). The three foreigners from Germany are Deubel Mareike, 19, Schmer Schneider, 19, and Schotzhold Jan-Erik, 19. They were secured by pecalang (customary security guard) of Kutaraga village, Bongkasa, I Made Ribut, 45, when they were in the area of Tohpati hamlet, Abiansemal.

Meanwhile, Yueren, 19, from Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, was secured by pecalang when riding a motorcycle that crossed Darmasaba area, Abiansemal. In the meantime, Fathul, 16, was secured by pecalang when walked in front of the Pandawa junior high school, Abiansemal.

Chief of Abiansemal Police, I Nyoman Weca, said on Wednesday (Mar. 29) that the three foreigners were escorted to police station by pecalang and staff of the Amazon Rafting, I Made Dedik, 32.

According to Made Dedik, the German travelers arrived in Bali on Monday afternoon (Mar. 27) and wanted to vacation in Ubud, Gianyar. At that time, they hired a taxi from Ngurah Rai Airport to Ubud. But upon arrival near the area of Tohpati hamlet, they were asked to get off by taxi driver as the taxi could not get through because the ogoh-ogoh started to be paraded and they were absorbed in watching the ogoh-ogoh at Tohpati hamlet, Bongkasa, until midnight.

“After watching ogoh-ogoh, they could not continue their journey to Ubud as there was no public transport. Finally, they slept in the area of the Amazon Rafting,” he said.

To anticipate undesirable things, the three foreigners were taken to the Abiansemal police station.

“As planned, they will be picked up by staff of the Amazon Rafting today. On Nyepi they could not go anywhere and slept at the police station,” he said.

Yueren, 19, from Atambua, Kupang, NTT, was secured by pecalang of Tegal customary village,

Darmasaba and handed over to Abiansemal police station. Other than Yueren, police also secured her Jupiter Z with license plate DK 5428 IC. She was escorted to police station by using pecalang patrol car escorted by two pecalang guards and rural police of Darmasaba village.

Pursuant to the results of interrogation, Yueren claimed to live in the area of Jimbaran, South Kuta. On the Pengerupukan Day she stayed at her cousin’s house, Stef, who lives in the area of Kapal, Mengwi.

On Pengerupukan Day, he watched ogoh-ogoh parade at Kapal and claimed not to know that March 28 was the Nyepi Day. Furthermore, on Nyepi at 06:30, she was out by riding a motorcycle and wanted to buy credits. Since the situation was quiet, she went straight toward Darmasaba. On arrival in the area of Tegal hamlet, Darmasaba, she was stopped by pecalang and reported to rural-commissioned police (Bhabinkamtibmas) of Darmasaba, Wayan Suwika. Furthermore, this woman from NTT was then taken to police station.

On the same day at 11:15, pecalang guard of Dauh Yeh Cani village, Abiansemal, dropped Fathul, 16, to Abiansemal police station. From his description, he was excluded from his workplace and boarding house in the area of Penarungan.

Meanwhile, as recognition of his boarding neighbors, Fathul has no identity card and cannot read.

Therefore, he was told to return home to Java and it has been explained that on that day was Nyepi so that people should not come out. However, Fathul still went out on foot and when arrived in front of SMA Pendawa he was directly secured by pecalang guard.

“The man claimed to qualify for the examination at Gilimanuk after paying as much as IDR 30,000.

However, we are still further developing his testimony,” said Weca. (kmb36)

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REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

A general view of Bukit Jalil immigration detention center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 28, 2017. Picture taken March 28.

Nyepi Day in the center of Denpasar

IBP/wawan

Along a series of Nyepi, Homestay occupancy in Ubud reaches 70 percent GIANYAR - Nyepi celebration to welcome the Caka New Year 1939 has an impact on the increase in occupancy rate of the homestay around Ubud, reaching the range of 70 percent. Total occupancy is certainly higher than usual days only reaching the range of 30-40 percent.

“Of approximately 1,500 rooms of homestay in Ubud, about 70 percent of them have been occupied during the course of the Nyepi celebration,” said Chairman of the Ubud Home Stay Association (UHSA), I.B. Wiryawan, on Wednesday (Mar. 29).

According to I.B. Wiryawan, the celebration of Nyepi is indeed able to attract travelers to come to Bali. Moreover, the series of Nyepi becomes the only one and has got world’s appreciation. “If there are people going out, probably they cannot enjoy the serenity of the Nyepi atmosphere,” he said.

He explained that 70 percent of travelers are predominantly European citizens that wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of Nyepi, especially the atmosphere of homestay in Ubud. “Indeed they are dominated by Europeans, but there are partially guests from Australia and Asia. They are wishing to gain experience of Nyepi in Ubud,” he said.

Besides, Chairman of the UHSA also submitted complaints of

homestay entrepreneurs who have difficulty to fulfill the current occupancy to 100 percent. Actually, all this time homestay is always echoed as one of the attractions of tourism village. “This condition occurs because the competition is indeed getting tougher, where the accommodation such as hotels and hostel are getting rampant, without restriction and decisive action from the government,” he complained.

He expressed that the most hazardous of these conditions is the price competition among homestay, hostel, villas and hotels. Moreover, a number of homestay entrepreneurs have to cut room rates for the sake of room occupancy. “If the occupancy can reach up to 50 percent, it is very good because on normal days the homestay can only reach 30 percent,” he said.

Seeing this condition, he asked for the attention of the government that all this time it has been disseminating sustainable tourism.

Unfortunately, it committed impunity to the accommodation development seeming without control that can threaten the sustainability of tourism in Bali.

“Sustainable tourism does not necessarily mean that people are free to do anything, but must be clearly and decisively which one is allowed and not allowed,” he said. (kmb35)

More than 100 die in Malaysian immigration detention camps in 2 years

KUALA LUMPUR - More than one hundred foreigners died in the past two years in Malaysia’s immigration detention centres from various diseases and unknown causes, according to documents from the government–funded National Human Rights Commission reviewed by Reuters. The toll, which has not been previously disclosed, is based on Malaysian immigration department data provided to the commission, which is known by its Malay acronym Suhakam.

There were 83 deaths in 2015, and at least 35 in 2016 up to Dec. 20.

It is unclear whether the death rate is higher than in neighbouring countries. Government officials in Indonesia and Thailand told Reuters they do not disclose such numbers.

The rate is higher than in major industrialized nations such as the United States, which in the last financial year recorded 10 deaths in its immigration detention system, which has many more detainees than Malaysia’s. More than half of the 118 dead are from Myanmar, the source for tens of thousands of refugees coming to Malaysia, including Rohingya Muslims escaping persecution

by Myanmar’s authorities and its majority Buddhist population. The

number of Rohingya fatalities in the camps is unknown.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been a harsh critic of the Myanmar government and its defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a crackdown in October by Myanmar’s security forces led many Rohingya to flee across its borders amid multiple allegations of mass killings and gang rapes by troops. He has called for foreign intervention to stop the “genocide” in Myanmar.

Najib’s office did not return calls seeking comment. “The numbers are too many and are shocking and it calls for the overhaul of the system,” said Jerald Joseph, one of

eight commissioners at Suhakam, which was established by theMalaysian parliament through an act in 1999 and is due to publicly announce the numbers next week in its annual report on human rights issues in Malaysia. He described conditions at the centers, some of which he has visited, as “appalling” and said the deaths should be investigated as a criminal matter.

The illnesses that led to some of the deaths may have been caused or exacerbated by poor sanitation and food, physical abuse and a lack of medical attention, said Joseph, who was speaking on behalf of the commission. (rtr)

SEOUL - A South Korean court began deliberating on Thursday whether to arrest ousted president Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office in a corruption scandal involving charges she solicited bribes from the country’s largest conglomerate. Park could become South Korea’s third former leader to be jailed for wrongdoing. She is accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to contribute to foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.

The 65-year-old appeared expressionless as she arrived at the Seoul Central District Court at 10:20 a.m. (0120 GMT) to plead her case that she should not be arrested while prosecutors investigate the scandal that has ensnared South Korea’s political and business elite. Park, South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office, argues that she does not pose a flight risk and will not try to tamper with evidence. She and Choi have both denied any wrongdoing.

A judge will study evidence and hear arguments from prosecutors and Park’s lawyers before deciding whether an arrest warrant should be issued. If Park is arrested, prosecutors will then have up to 20 days to file formal charges against her and put her on trial. Park emerged from her private home and quickly stepped into a car before she was driven to the court in a motorcade. Police and security personnel blocked her supporters from spilling into the street to stop her car as it left her house in Seoul’s upmarket Gangnam neighbourhood. Prosecutors said on Monday Park was accused of soliciting companies for money and infringing upon the freedom of corporate management by using her power as the president. Park was questioned for 14 hours by prosecutors last week.

She could face more than 10 years in jail if convicted of receiving bribes from bosses of big conglomerates, including Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee, in return for favours. Lee, who denies charges that he provided bribes in return for favours for Samsung, and Choi are already in detention and are on trial separately. If she is arrested, Park will likely be given a bigger cell than other inmates in a Seoul detention facility but be subject to the same rules on everything from meals to room inspections, former prosecution and correctional officials have said. (rtr)

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye leaves her private house in Seoul, South Korea, March 30, 2017.

Thousands told to evacuate Australian town as ex-cyclone brings flood fears

SYDNEY - Authorities ordered the evacuation of large parts of a major town of more than 25,000 people in eastern Australia on Thursday as a storm system generated by a powerful cyclone that pummelled the northeast two days ago swept down the coast with heavy rain. Cyclone Debbie hit as a category four storm in the north of tropical Queensland

state on Tuesday, smashing tourist resorts, bringing down power lines, flattening canefields and shutting down coal mines.

“This severe weather system that began with Cyclone Debbie and is tracking down the coast is causing havoc across our state,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters in the state capital, Bris-

bane. The cyclone was downgraded to a tropical low on Wednesday but it was driving squalls with torrential rain across a 1,200-km (745-mile) stretch of Australia’s east coast, swelling rivers and prompting widespread flood warnings.

In Lismore in the north of neighbouring New South Wales state, the State Emergency Service told

residents to leave because weather forecasts predicted the town’s worst flood in nearly 20 years. The rural hub in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is home to at least 25,000 people. Further north, Queensland’s government closed more than 2,000 schools as sustained heavy rainfall brought flash floods to the Gold Coast tourist area

and Mackay further north.

In the cyclone-hit tropical north, the poor weather has slowed what was expected to be a lengthy clean-up operation. Military helicopters, ferries and planes brought hundreds of holidaymakers stranded on resort islands in the storm’s path to the mainland, where tens of thousands more people were still without power. (rtr)

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International

Friday, March 31, 2017

BUSINESS A member of the Public Health Surveillance Agency inspects beef at a supermarket after the Chilean government suspended all meat and poultry imports from Brazil, in Santiago, Chile March 23, 2017.

Oil up after data, dollar gains as Brexit materializes

NEW YORK - Stocks edged up on Wall Street on Wednesday, not enough to lift a global equities index, while crude futures hit a week high after a smaller-thanexpected build in U.S. inventories.

The euro slipped after Reuters reported European Central Bank policymakers are wary of making any new change to their policy message in April.

Weighing on the euro and pound, Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain’s divorce from the European Union, a decision pitching her country into the unknown. On Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament backed a bid to hold an independence referendum that could break up the UK, adding another layer of uncertainty for investors.

Gains in the energy sector, up more than 1 percent, kept the S&P 500 afloat, while none of the other ten sectors moved more than a half a percent up or down.

Wall Street rose on Tuesday, with the Dow snapping an eight-day losing streak after a jump in consumer data boosted hopes in a stronger U.S. economy. On Wednesday, contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes jumped to a 10-month high in February.

“The big talk of the day is (Britain’s) official request to leave the EU, which we think is likely to be a counter balance for the markets for many days to come,” wrote in a note Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial in New York.

“We see (U.S.) oil prices moving towards the $50 range as being the markets driving force of the day.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 67.89 points, or 0.33 percent, to 20,633.61, the S&P 500 lost 1.65 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,356.92 and the Nasdaq Composite added 5.01 points, or 0.09 percent, to 5,880.15. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.35 percent, while MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe fell 0.19 percent.

Emerging market stocks rose 0.09 percent.

Overnight, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.42 percent while Japan’s Nikkei closed up less than 0.1 percent.

GREENBACK GAINS FURTHER The dollar index gained 0.37 percent with the euro down 0.55 percent to $1.0752.

Sterling hit a one-week low of 1.2378 earlier, and was last trading at $1.2407, down 0.33 percent.

“Sterling will be incredibly sensitive to (Brexit) negotiations and will offer a clear gauge of how things are panning out. We could see it move lower still if negotiations take a sour turn - $1.10 is feasible,” said Neil Wilson, senior markets analyst at ETX Capital.

Benchmark U.S. Treasury yields fell. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit a session high at 2.427 percent, higher than Tuesday’s. Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 6/32 in price to yield 2.3891 percent.

Oil prices rose after U.S. gasoline stockpiles dropped sharply last week, while crude inventories grew less than anticipated. U.S. crude last rose 1.9 percent to $49.28 a barrel and Brent traded at $52.23, up 1.8 percent on the day. Spot gold rose 0.0 percent to $1,251.59 an ounce. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3 percent to $1,251.30 an ounce.

Bali News

International

AMLAPURA — All this time, Rendang subdistrict is known for being the location of the Besakih, the mother temple of Bali. However, only few people know that Besakih area also has extraordinarily natural potential. One of them is the overlay of edelweiss on the ridge of Mount Agung. Known as perennial flower, it will be launched

by Regent of Karangasem, IGA Mas Sumatri, to become the new icon of Karangasem.

“Edelweiss belongs to special flowers because it can only grow in cold temperature areas such as Rendang. Edelweiss can be packed into souvenirs, just like Zamzam water from Mecca,” she said on several occasions. Locally known as kasna flower, the edelweiss is also called perennial flower. This flower can grow well at the altitudes of above 1,000 meters above sea level.

Regent Mas Sumatri said that the presence of edelweiss is worth becoming the icon of Karangasem because it can only grow in the area of Mount Agung. All this time, the flower having various myths is used as a complementary to ritual oblation, primarily by the people of the Rendang and Selat subdistrict. In the future, the edelweiss will only become souvenirs for travelers, but its growing regions on the ridge of Mount Agung can also become a tourist destination.

Regent Mas Sumatri said the existence of edelweiss can be mutually support the regional tourism development program of Besakih. The establishment of Besakih management board is expected to accommodate the existing potentials including a potential of the edelweiss itself. “With the Besakih Temple, Karangasem becomes the upstream of Bali. Travelers making a visit to Bali consider it incomplete without visiting Besakih. Then, visiting Besakih will not be perfect without bringing home the gift of edelweiss,” said the regent.

Meanwhile, the overlay of edelweiss on the ridge of Mount Agung so far can only be enjoyed by mountain climbers. One of the mountaineers or nature lovers, Andi Husaen, 43, recognized that many climbers want to climb Mount Agung due to the existence of the edelweiss that can only be seen between April and August.

“Edelweiss will spread fragrance in the morning. It is becoming one of the attractions for climbers of Mount Agung,” he said. (117)

EU official urges independent controls over Brazil meat industry

Brazil’s police say in court documents bribes were paid to cover up serious health violations by some meat companies, including the sale of rotten and salmonella-contaminated products.

Their probe, dubbed “Operation Weak Flesh,” led some of Brazil’s biggest export markets to ban its meats.

The European Union is among the markets that suspended imports from 21 meat packing plants that are under investigation in Brazil, which is the world’s largest beef and poultry exporter. EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis said in an interview that its restrictions and stepped-up checks on Brazilian meat imports may not be removed anytime soon.

“The situation of meat imports from Brazil will remain under these reinforced checks until Brazil answers our questions and after our forthcoming audit team visits Brazil,” Andriukaitis told Reuters.

“The situation will be much clearer in a few weeks or months. The main message to Brazil is that this issue is not closed. It is about health and quality,” he said.

While he said it was not up to the EU to say what inspection system a coun-

try should have, Andriukaitis urged Brazil’s government to introduce more transparent rules that avoid publicprivate conflicts of interest.

“The official control system must be independent and not under the influence of politicians and other actors.

We must guarantee independence of the Brazilian official control system,” he said.

Brazil’s federal food inspectors currently report to the agriculture ministry and the system has come under fire for having politically appointed supervisors.

Andriukaitis said the EU could announce more measures related to Brazilian imports after its Agriculture Council meets on Monday and Tuesday. He declined to be more specific.

Hours after he spoke, President Michel Temer and Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi announced new rules for the meat processing industry, which they said were stricter and clearer.

The highest fine for food sanitary violations rose dramatically to 500,000 reais ($160,250) from 15,000 reais previously. Maggi said the rule changes would eliminate the need for inspectors to interpret antiquated laws that were 65 years old.

Brazil’s Federal Police have accused more than 100 people, mostly inspectors, of taking bribes in exchange for allowing the sale of rancid meat products, falsifying export documents or failing to inspect meatpacking plants at all.

Prosecutors have yet to present charges and the police allegations have not been proven.

Government officials have sought to downplay the impact of the probe. But an industry group said on Tuesday that beef exports alone fell over 40 percent in terms of both volume and revenue in March 20-26 from the prior week, as a number of countries imposed temporary bans.

The police investigation into irregularities in Brazil’s meat industry, one of the few robust sectors in an economy locked in its worst recession on record, was made public on March 17.

Hong Kong on Tuesday removed one of the last blanket bans on Brazilian meat imports after it said it was satisfied by explanations from Brazilian officials. That followed China’s removal of its restrictions last weekend.

Together, the two Asian nations bought about one-third of Brazil’s $14 billion in meat exports last year.

The EU ranks as the No. 2 importer of Brazilian meats, just behind Hong Kong and before China, buying $1.7 billion in frozen and fresh beef, chicken, pork and other meat products last year. (rtr)

5

Regent to launch edelweiss as icon of Karangasem

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo

BRASILIA - Brazil needs independent controls over its meat industry, a top EU health official said on Wednesday, as he wrapped up a visit to the country rocked by an anticorruption investigation centering on bribery of its food-sanitation inspectors.

Friday, March 31, 2017

Development of Bali sustainable school

Students learn and preserve Balinese culture

SMPN 1 Amlapura junior high school is the only school bearing the title of Bali sustainable school in Karangasem. As the Bali sustainable school, certainly it has advantages on offer compared to other schools. Here, students can get to know and learn to preserve tradition and culture.

This school has been consistently running the program since designated as Bali sustainable school in 2006. At that time, the discourse at issue was related to the threat of fading knowledge of students about the matter of their tradition and culture amid the development of modern era.

Principal of the SMPN 1 Amlapura, I Komang Suweca, when met in his office not long ago said that Bali sustainable school has been implemented in many school activities. Every third and fourth week, prior to learning activity, teachers and

students attend meditation program.

With the meditation, mind and heart will become calm and peaceful, so that it is very good in managing emotions to continuously become more mature in the association at school.

In addition, in the first and second lesson, all students participate in special activities in their respective classroom. This activity is related to preservation of Balinese tradition and culture. Seventh grade joins majejahitan or offering preparation activities; eighth grade joins dance class; and ninth grade joins the dharma gita (song of dharma) activities. “Students are very enthusiastic about joining the program because it is the advantage of this school that cannot be obtained from other schools. This special program only runs in the first and second lesson hours. In the third lesson hour, students will follow the regular timetable,” said Deputy Principal of

Studentship Affairs of the SMPN 1 Amlapura, Wayan Putra, when accompanying the principal.

Bali sustainable school is a form of holistic learning. In other words, this learning approach focuses on understanding the information and links it to other topics. Thus, it can build a framework of knowledge as desired. Through this holistic concept, the learning process attempts to incorporate all the elements of values needed by students in the face of the growing age. The holistically and systematically designed curricula are expected to build and develop the potential and character of the students. In addition, the students are encouraged to continuously care for the environment and develop skills in social life because it involves students in real activity.

In addition to the various programs mentioned above, the Bali sustainable school can also be im-

plemented in various competitions every semester. After participating in the activities of Bali sustainable school at third and fourth weeks, the students then participate in the competition among the classes such as in the competition of majejahitan, dancing and dharma gita. Moreover, there are other categories of competition such as ngelawar (preparing lawar delicacy), arranging pajegan oblation, plaiting green coconut leaf wall or klangsah and sengkuwi (caru paraphernalia made of plaited coconut leaf). These competitions serve as evaluation of the program. At the same time, it is also meant to introduce the very diverse Balinese cultures that must be learned early on by students. Thus, they can more easily participate in socio-religious activities amid the society when it must be implemented in daily life.

“This Bali sustainable school

makes students’ character more refined and they will more diligently help their parents at home,” said OSIS coach staff of the SMPN 1 Amlapura, I Nyoman Diasa.

These become the advantages of the SMPN 1 Amlapura. Although it consistently applies the concept of Bali sustainable school, SMPN 1 Amlapura is still able to maintain the performance of the school in the district and provincial level. On that account, SMPN 1 Amlapura remains to be assessed as one of the top schools in Karangasem.

According to one of the English language teachers, I Gusti Putu Semadi, the Bali sustainable school has become the identity of the SMPN 1 Amlapura. Thus, the school authority will also consistently deliver the right knowledge related to Balinese traditions and culture in order to still preserve Bali. (gik)

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Friday, March 31, 2017

W

RLD

‘No turning back’: PM May triggers ‘historic’ Brexit

LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain’s divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, declaring there was no turning back and ushering in a tortuous exit process that will test the bloc’s cohesion and pitch her country into the unknown. In one of the most significant steps by a British leader since World War Two, May notified EU Council President Donald Tusk in a hand-delivered letter that Britain would quit the club it joined in 1973.

“The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union,” May told parliament nine months after Britain shocked investors and world leaders by unexpectedly voting to quit the bloc. “This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back.”

The prime minister, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the political turmoil that followed the referendum vote, now has two years to negotiate the terms of the divorce before it comes into effect in late March 2019. May, 60, has one of the toughest jobs of any recent British prime minister: holding Britain together in the face of renewed Scottish independence demands, while conducting arduous talks with 27 other EU states on finance, trade, security and other complex issues.

The outcome of the negotiations will shape the future of Britain’s $2.6 trillion economy, the world’s fifth biggest, and determine whether London can keep its place as one of the top two global financial centres.

For the EU, already reeling from successive crises over debt and refugees, the loss of Britain is the biggest blow yet to 60 years of efforts to forge European unity in the wake of two world wars. Its leaders say they do not want to punish Britain. But with nationalist, antiEU parties on the rise across Europe, they cannot afford to give London generous terms that might encourage

other member states to break away.

BREXIT DEAL?

May’s notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty was handdelivered to Tusk in Brussels by Tim Barrow, Britain’s permanent representative to the EU, on the top floor of the new Europa Building in Brussels. That moment formally set the clock ticking on Britain’s two-year exit process. Sterling, which has lost 25 cents against the dollar since the June 23 referendum, jumped to $1.25.

May signed the six-page Brexit letter on Tuesday night, pictured alone at the cabinet table beneath a clock, a British flag and an oil painting of Britain’s first prime minister, Robert Walpole.

Her letter sought to set a positive tone for the talks though it admitted that the task of extracting the UK from the EU was momentous and that reaching comprehensive agreements within two years would be a challenge. May wants to negotiate Britain’s divorce and the future trading relationship with the EU within the two-year period, though EU officials say that will be hard. “We believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU,” May told Tusk in her letter, adding that London wanted an ambitious free trade agreement with the EU. “If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement the default position is that we would have to trade on World Trade Organisation terms,” she said. May’s most powerful European interlocutor, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, promised to take a “fair and constructive” approach to Brexit talks, but said Britain could negotiate its new relationship only after it untangles existing EU commitments. “We must deal with many rights and obligations that have been linked to membership. Only then, later, can we talk about our future relationship.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

People drink beer at a Pro-Brexit event to celebrate the invoking of Article 50 after Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May triggered the process by which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, in London, Britain March 29, 2017.

International

Federal judge in Hawaii extends court order blocking Trump travel ban

HONOLULU - A federal judge in Hawaii indefinitely extended on Wednesday an order blocking enforcement of President Donald Trump’s revised ban on travel to the United States from six predominantly Muslim countries.

U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson turned an earlier temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the state of Hawaii challenging Trump’s travel directive as unconstitutional religious discrimination. Trump signed the new ban on March 6 in a bid to overcome legal problems with a January executive order that caused chaos at airports and sparked mass protests before a Washington judge stopped its enforcement in February. Trump has said the travel ban is needed for national security.

In its challenge to the travel ban, Hawaii claims its state universities would be harmed by the order because they would have trouble recruiting students and faculty. It also says the island state’s economy would be hit by a decline in tourism. The court papers cite reports that travel to the

United States “took a nosedive” after Trump’s actions. The state was joined by a new plaintiff named Ismail Elshikh, an American citizen from Egypt who is an imam at the Muslim Association of Hawaii and whose mother-in-law lives in Syria, according to the lawsuit.

Hawaii and other opponents of the ban claim that the motivation behind it is based on religion and Trump’s election campaign promise of “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” “The court will not crawl into a corner, pull the shutters closed, and pretend it has not seen what it has,” Watson wrote on Wednesday.

Watson wrote that his decision to grant the preliminary injunction was based on the likelihood that the state would succeed in proving that the travel ban violated the U.S. Constitution’s religious freedom protection.

Trump has vowed to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is currently split 4-4 between liberals and conservatives with the president’s pick - appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch still awaiting confirmation. (rtr)

For Ivanka Trump...

support from Republican lawmakers.

Critics note she remained silent about the White House-backed health care legislation, which would have blocked federal payments for a year to Planned Parenthood and could have reduced access to maternity and pediatric care. As that bill unraveled last week, she was on vacation in Aspen with her family.

“Ivanka Trump is a woman, who happens to be a mom, who works,” said Juliet Williams, a professor of gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Still, some more liberal women have offered support. Trump was praised last month by Anne Marie Slaughter, who five years ago wrote a popular essay in The Atlantic magazine on why she left a job in the State Department to spend more time with her family. She took to Twitter to defend Trump against criticism of the childcare policy offered during the campaign. Slaughter tweeted that if Trump “could actually get something like this through, it would be real & important progress.”

And the first daughter is winning people over. Dyan Gibbens, owner of Trumball Unmanned, which provides data services to the energy industry, came away from two White House meetings impressed with Trump.

“She’s composed, she’s confident, she’s well spoken, she’s well-educated, which are all the traits we want our daughters to have,” Gibbens said.

“Give her a chance.” (ap)

From page 1

Trump, a 35-year-old mother of three, previously held executive roles at the Trump Organization and running her self-named lifestyle brand that offers clothing and jewelry. She relinquished those positions to come to Washington, though she retains ownership of her brand.

Trump’s influence in the White House has cemented quickly. Alongside husband Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, she has become almost a fixture in the building.

She has at times hosted events similar to those held by past first ladies: This week she welcomed female entrepreneurs to the White House, spoke to girls about STEM education and announced an official trip to Germany.

But she’s also sat in on meetings with foreign leaders, including a recent session with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. While her influence in the tumultuous White House remains opaque, she is very close to her father, who joined her at a round table this week and praised her work on women’s economic issues. Noting an invitation for Ivanka Trump to attend a summit in Berlin, the president said she will be “working on similar issues with Chancellor Merkel.”

Ivanka Trump’s promise to advocate for pro-family proposals has been met with some skepticism. She has limited political experience and scant

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

11

Indonesia’s KPK, AGO & Police ink cooperation agreement on eradicating corruption JAKARTA - The Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney Generals Office (AGO), and the National Police have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation for eradicating corruption.

“This MoU is the renewal of our old agreement signed in 2016, which will expire soon, so it must be renewed today. The new MoU will be valid until March 2019,” KPK Chief Agus Rahardjo stated at the National Police Headquarters here on Wednesday.

As part of the MoU, if any of the agencies conducts a search of the office of the other party and seizes anything, it must inform the leadership of the other side.

The MoU also stipulates that the three sides will cooperate to conduct educational and training courses related to corruption eradication.

One of the matters that sets the new MoU apart from the old one is the issuance of an electronic notification to start investigation, or e-SPDP, Rahardjo remarked.

“Looking ahead, the SPDP will be issued online, so the KPK, National Police, and AGO will have the same information and data related to

Chief of the Indonesian National Police Gen. Tito Karnavian (left), Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Agus Rahardjo (middle) and the Attorney General M. Prasatyo (right) giving a press conference about the Memorandum of Understanding on law enforcement in criminal offenses corruption, Jakarta, Wednesday (March 29th 2017).

JAKARTA - Indonesia is potential to break into the ranks of worlds largest gastronomy countries with a number of supporting factors it has, an expert has said.

“Very likely with its varieties of fauna and flora in addition to its cultures and culinary,” Chairman of the Indonesian Gastronomy Academy (AGI) Vita Datau Mesakh said here on Wednesday.

Vita said gastronomy, an art and practice of cooking and eating good food, is closely related to area or place, identity and culture.

“We can see gastronomy from the view point of food & landscape.

With that point of view we would get social, cultural, political, economic or historical descriptions through food,” she said.

Lately, fast growth has been recorded in the number of tourists and intensity in promoting tourist destinations and their food identities for commercial and tourism interests.

“Selling and promoting all types of food will need creativity such as

in the processing and marketing of food products. In this context, tourism especially gastronomy tourism is an effective trigger,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya opened the second National Gastronomy Dialog and Wakatobi Culinary Promotion at the Sapta Pesona building of the Tourism Ministry here.

“We could replicate the U.S. method of creating and commercializing something such as digitalization. U.S. way of working in an ecosystem is by inventing digital start up,” Arief said.

He said he was convinced Indonesia could win in global competition in creative industry given the fact that the country has been able to maintain its position in the 21st in various cultural events in the world.

He said Indonesia has cultural values that could be commercialized including in culinary. Unfortunately until now Indonesia has nothing to show off as it has no courage and determination to de-

the handling of corruption cases,” he noted.

As part of the old MoU, the exchange of information related to the investigation of cases among the three institutions was carried out manually.

He said three officials have been appointed to function as liaison of-

ficials to implement the MoU. The three appointees are the director for the development of networks among commissions and agencies at the KPK, the chief of the legal and foreign relations bureau at the AGO, and the chief of the legal aid bureau at the National Police. (ant)

ANTARA/Ubaidillah

Indonesia potential to become world`s largest gastronomy country

termine including in culinary.

“Indonesia has no national food.

Vietnam has pho, Thailand has tom yam, and South Korea has kimchi.

Each country has something to show off . We have a lot but we have no courage to decide and determine one. Therefore, I decide to determine soto. Hopefully it is accepted. Soto has great variety . We hope it is identical with Indonesia,” Arief Yahya said.

Arief Yahya welcomed the second National Gastronomy Dialog and Wakatobi Culinary Promotion ceremonies aimed at boosting Indonesias culinary tourism industry.

Arief said gastronomy has important role in tourism industry as tourists spend much for foods and drinks beside for flight tickets, hotels and souvenirs.

He said culinary is an major factor to determine success or failure in attracting tourists, citing Batam relies on culinary festivals to attract cross-border tourists from Singapore and Malaysia. (ant)

10

Friday, March 31, 2017

Destination

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

International

Nadal beats Sock in Miami quarters, Nishikori out

MIAMI - Rafa Nadal moved into the Miami Open semi-finals with a straight sets win over American Jack Sock on Wednesday, while second seed Kei Nishikori was sent packing after going down 6-4 6-2 to unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini.

Nadal staved off four break points to avoid going down a double-break early in the second set, a pivotal game that set the stage for his 6-2 6-3 victory on the Crandon Park hardcourt.

Nadal’s poise and shotmaking came to the fore when 13th seed Sock threatened to take a stranglehold on the second set.

“That was the key of the second set, two-love (down), 15-40,” Nadal said in a courtside interview. “With three-zero a player like Jack, you’ll probably be thinking third set.

“It was a double positive thing. I saved that game and got the break back (in the next game). The match was much closer than the result says.”

Nadal could face his long-time nemesis Federer in the final, with the Swiss, who has a Thursday quarter-final against Tomas Berdych, on the other side of the draw.

Federer and Nadal have met twice this year, with Federer winning both times, in a memorable five-set final at the Australian Open and in a one-sided straight-sets fourth-round thumping at Indian Wells two weeks ago. But Nadal is not looking ahead to Federer, because his semi-final opponent Fognini presents a potential banana skin. Nadal has a 7-3 career record but is mindful he lost to the Italian in a five-set thriller on the U.S. Open hardcourt in 2015.

“It’s like a dream maybe,” said the 29-year-old Fognini after becoming the first unseeded player in 10 years to make the Miami semis.

“This is a big, big tournament for me. I’m happy about my performance.

I’m just trying to be focused on my game and do my best.” (rtr)

Neka Art Museum GIANYAR - Neka Art Museum is an art gallery and museum established by Balinese art lover Wayan Suteja Neka. The museum was built in 1976 and inaugurated by then Ministry of Culture & Education in 1982. Inside Neka Art Museum are collections of paintings and sculptures displayed through six different buildings in a Balinese-style garden compound.

The museum is located on Jalan Raya Campuhan, in the village of Kedewatan, northwest of the main Ubud centre.

The six buildings that house the expansive collections of paintings, sculptures and traditional Balinese keris daggers - this latter being a personal pursuit by the founder, who also happens to be a generation of the Balinese pande clan of smiths

- are designed using traditional Balinese architecture and layout.

The first building houses variations in Balinese paintings, and consists of four exhibits. Exhibit A displays Balinese paintings, from the classical Kamasan-style wayang paintings depicting the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics as well as Javanese and Balinese myths and legends. Exhibits B and C of Neka Art Museum display paintings with western influences which developed in the 1920s in Ubud, and later became known as Ubudstyle paintings. This influence was brought on by German artist Walter Spies and Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet, who both introduced their subtle techniques in lighting, shadows, perspectives and subject anatomy. Through exhibit D, there

are Batuan-style paintings hailing from the village. The second building is referred to as the Arie Smit pavilion, after the Dutch-born Indonesian painter who resides in Bali, Adrianus Wilhelmus (Arie) Smit. The art pavilion was set up in admiration of the artist by Neka for his role in developing arts in Ubud. The pavilion consists of two floors, the first displaying the works of young artists from the ‘Young Artists Movement’ that Smit help generate in 1960 – the likes of Nyoman Cekra, Ketut Soki and several others in contemporary, expressionistic and abstract styles. The second floor features the works of Arie Smit in various themes and painting styles that depict Balinese community life and imaginative renderings of Bali’s nature scenes.

The third building houses photographic exhibits. Here, visitors will find archive collections of black-and-white photos especially those taken by American Robert Koke (one of the earliest expatriates in Bali), dating back to the 1930s. The fourth building is the Lempad pavilion, named in honour late Balinese sculptor and architect, Gusti Nyoman Lempad. Lempad is best known for his unique Balinese painting styles. His themes range from epics to local legends and rural Balinese village life. The fifth building houses contemporary and

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hits a forehand against Jack Sock, of the United States, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Key Biscayne, Fla. modern artworks from Indonesian artists through five exhibits. The sixth building features a combination of Western and Eastern styles.

This two-storey building is dedicated to the works of famous Indonesian and International artists.

The first floor features the works of acclaimed Indonesian artists, the likes of Affandi, Soedjono, Srihadi Soedarsono, Widayat, Nasyah Djamin, Bagong Kussudiardjo, Ahmad Sadali and Abas Alibasyah. The second floor features international artists such as Antonio Blanco, Rudolf Bonnet, Miguel Covarrubias, and others. Besides the six main art buildings, Neka Art Museum also features the founder’s own passion through his traditional keris dagger collection. Here Neka keeps his cherished 272 curved daggers that he has collected throughout half century of his lifetime. These elaborately decorated daggers are genuine samples made by master smiths of the past and all are laid

out in order behind glass displays.

A visit to the Neka Art Museum is both a journey to the past, as well as an educational tour that enlightens the visitor with information on techniques and the history of the development of art in Bali. Visitors might also meet up with the founder himself, who, as a member of the Pande clan of Balinese smiths himself, will passionately show and explain to guests the process of creating a keris dagger and his affinity with the living legend, Arie Smit.

The museum features modern supporting facilities: Spacious meeting halls, tropical gardens, a refreshment store, restrooms, and ample parking space make for an enjoyable day at the museum. Also in Ubud are the Neka Gallery on the Jalan Raya Ubud main road, and the Agung Rai Museum of Art in Peliatan, which are some of Bali’s largest and most important.

(IBP/net)

AP Photo/Mario Houben

Not just another triple-double as Westbrook notches record

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets center Nene Hilario (42) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center.

HOUSTON - Russell Westbrook recorded the highest scoring triple-double in NBA history Wednesday night, totaling 57 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a come-from-behind, 114-106 overtime road victory over the Orlando Magic.

For Westbrook, it was just another day at work as he compiled his fourth consecutive triple-double and his 38th of the season, leaving him three shy of the NBA record held by NBA legend Oscar Robertson. The 57 points were one short of his career high.

“You just got to want it more than other people,” Westbrook said. “I don’t think about getting tired. I just keep going and going.

I don’t think about it. I just think about making the next play, mak-

ing winning basketball plays. I’m blessed.”

The Thunder (43-31) have won eight of the last 10 games. Westbrook scored 16 points in the fourth quarter Monday when Oklahoma City erased a 13-point deficit in the final 3:31 to win in Dallas.

He scored 19 points in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime Wednesday when the Thunder erased another 13-point fourth quarter deficit.

“Russell was spectacular coming down the stretch and the way he closed the game,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Overall, it’s just incredible what he’s doing now.

He played an exceptional second half again. He just has an incredible competitive spirit.”

“That (Westbrook’s performance) was one of the best,” Magic

coach Frank Vogel said. “It’s tough to rank those over the years, but it’s right up there with the best. Give him credit.”

Westbrook hit 21 of 40 shots and six of 15 3-pointers. He made nine of 11 free throws.

He led a late rally by scoring 19 points in the final six minutes of regulation, hitting a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. Westbrook scored seven points in overtime.

Until Westbrook’s 3-pointer, the Magic led the entire second half.

The Magic led by as many as 21 points in third quarter.

“I was just looking at the scoreboard, taking it one possession at a time,” Westbrook said. “I don’t take this game for granted. I just try to come out each and every night and compete at a high level.” (rtr)

8

Friday, March 31, 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017

Sp rt Bluesy Ben Arfa frustrated at Paris Saint-Germain

PARIS — For Hatem Ben Arfa, signing with Paris SaintGermain was supposed to be the end of a long and tortuous road back to the limelight. But less than a year after landing at France’s biggest club, Ben Arfa has the blues. Frustrated by his lack of playing time, the former France winger has made it clear he could look for another destination if his personal situation does not improve.

“Arriving in a big club, I expected when I joined Paris that it would be difficult. But I did not think it would be as complicated as it is,” the much-traveled Ben Arfa said in a video posted on social networks.

In the footage , Ben Arfa is seen walking alone on a bridge over a canal. He has lost his charming smile, wears a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, and reflects on his substitute role with the French champions. “Today I’m not accepting my situation,” the 30-year-old Ben Arfa said.

After a chaotic stint in the Premier League, the former golden child of French soccer revived his languishing career with Nice last season, scoring 17 league goals for the Riviera side. His excellent showings earned him a move to

PSG after club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi made his purchase a priority. But for Ben Arfa, the dream move quickly turned into a bitter experience as he failed to win the confidence of PSG coach Unai Emery.

Ben Arfa has played only 643 minutes in 23 league appearances after starting only five matches.

He was left out of both Champions League games against Barcelona and has not started in a big match this season.

Emery is not giving many explanations for his little use of Ben Arfa, but he criticized his work rate earlier this season.

“I am not asking for anything here, not game time or a specific role, it’s just that I want to be given my chance,” Ben Arfa said. “I want to feel that there is competition in

this team. I am a competitor and I am a champion. In my head, I love to win and it’s difficult to accept being a substitute.”

A member of the “Generation 87,” a group of promising players born in 1987 that included Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri, Ben Arfa has struggled to live up to expectations after he left Lyon in 2008. Following two seasons in Marseille, he joined Newcastle, where a heavy tackle from Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong left him with a leg broken in two places, a serious injury that put him on the sidelines for almost a year.

Ben Arfa, a creative player with dazzling dribbling skills, was loved by the Magpie fans but his relationship with coach Alan Pardew became strain and the Northern club sent him on loan to Hull, where he played eight matches. His goals with Nice ultimately placed him back under the spotlight but were not enough to earn him a spot in the France team that reached the European Championship final last year.

Ben Arfa’s latest comments came only days before PSG takes on Monaco in Saturday’s League Cup final, and his message to Emery could not have been clearer.

“It is easier to accept being on the bench when you know that it will be temporary or that it could change,” Ben Arfa said. “Otherwise, it is like a punishment. If I am given a chance and I do not play well, I will leave. I will understand. But I need to be given that chance.” (ap)

FILE - In this Sept.9, 2016 file photo, PSG’s Hatem Ben Arfa controls the ball during a French League One soccer match ParisSaint-Germain against Saint-Etienne at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.

Frustrated by his lack of playing time, the former France winger has made clear he could look for another destination during the summer if his personal situation does not improve.

World Cup qualifying woes for Argentina after ban for Messi World Cup qualifying started badly for Argentina, and now it’s getting a whole lot worse.

Argentina sits fifth in South American qualifying, the same position it occupied two matches ago. But a closer look at the team’s performance, especially without its banned star Lionel Messi, reveals that the country’s campaign for the 2018 tournament in Russia could be in jeopardy.

Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat in Bolivia, combined with other results from the 14th round of matches, has left the 2014 finalists in a continental playoff position - against a team from Oceania. However, the two goals scored against Edgardo Bauza’s side in La Paz pale in comparison to the setback delivered

by FIFA just hours before kickoff, with the four-match ban handed out to Messi.

FIFA took action after Messi insulted a linesman during the team’s 1-0 victory against Chile on Thursday - a game in which FIFA’s five-time world player of the year scored the winning goal.

With only four qualifiers left to play, the stakes are high for the

Argentine soccer federation, which has announced it will appeal FIFA’s verdict in the hope that Messi might make an early return from suspension. Meanwhile, Bauza is preparing to tough it out.

“We are only thinking about the future,” said the coach, who is under growing pressure to step aside after eight matches in charge, which have produced three losses, three wins and two draws. “We know that it will be a fight and we will keep fighting.”

However, it will be a battle without the team’s captain and top goal scorer. History and statistics show that Argentina’s fortunes are closely tied to Messi’s: the team has won only once in eight matches played in qualifying without the Barcelona star.

“It is impossible to replace Messi,” said Cesar Luis Menotti, Argentina’s World Cup winning coach in 1978. “You can change your tactics, but Messi can’t be replaced. It would be like replacing (Diego) Maradona”.

Along with Messi, Bauza also had to cope with other absentees for the match in Bolivia. Striker Gon-

zalo Higuain and midfielder Javier Mascherano were both suspended, while forward Paulo Dybala failed to recover from injury. Striker Sergio Aguero only appeared for the second half. Bauza also highlighted the problem raised by the timing of FIFA’s verdict, saying “it is strange” that Messi’s ban was decided so quickly. “We’re surprised by how little time we were given to present our position,” he said.

With or without Messi, all is not lost for a team that has played at every World Cup after the 1970 tournament in Mexico. Although sixth-place Ecuador is only two points behind in the standings, fourth-place Chile and third-place Uruguay are just one point above.

Colombia is also within range, just two points ahead, in second place, behind already-qualified Brazil.

Argentina’s next qualifier will be in August against Uruguay, which has lost its last two matches - against Brazil (4-1) and Peru (2-1). Afterward, Bauza’s team faces Venezuela and Peru, with Messi currently expected to return for the last match of the qualifying campaign, against Ecuador. If

Argentina needs inspiration for the long months ahead, it could always look to its old rival, Brazil.

The Selecao made a humiliating first-round exit from the Copa America in 2016 and had been struggling in World Cup qualifying with Dunga in charge. However, the arrival of new coach Tite turned around both the performances and results, with Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Paraguay making Brazil the first team to qualify for Russia after an 8-game winning

Odd-looking Ronaldo bust steals the show at airport ceremony

FUNCHAL — Cristiano Ronaldo has an airport named after him, but it was his odd-looking statue that attracted attention in Wednesday’s ceremony honoring the Portugal star in his hometown.

The player’s bronze bust, which was unveiled to much fanfare by Portugal’s president and prime minister on the island of Madeira, hardly does the handsome footballer justice.

It squashes his eyes close together, and the cheeky raisedeyebrow smile more resembles a leer. The face is also unusually chubby, in contrast to Ronaldo’s chiseled looks.

Dozens of guests and hundreds of fans were at the unveiling of

the bust in Ronaldo’s native Madeira Islands. It was part of an official ceremony to rename the local airport as Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo also attended the ceremony, but did not show any signs of being bothered by the odd look of his newly unveiled bust.

The bust’s sculptor, Madeira native Emanuel Santos, said it took him 15 days to create the statue. He said he presented the project to local officials when it was about half done and received the go-ahead to continue with his work.

“It’s always a great honor to work on project like that,” Santos told local television channel RTP. “I still haven’t had the chance to

personally talk to (Ronaldo), but I’ll try to reach out to him to know his feedback.”

Ozil, Sanchez want to stay at Arsenal, says Wenger

AP Photo/Michel Euler, File

streak. Bringing back the good times was just what Messi’s Barcelona teammate Neymar had wanted from Brazil’s game in Sao Paulo.

“I remember, when I was younger, I loved to watch the Brazil games with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho — they were my idols,” Neymar said. “Now we’re doing it again, and I’m very happy for that.”

Whether Argentina can also restore its fortunes, without Messi, remains to be seen. (ap)

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

Argentina’s Ever Banega falls during a 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Bolivia in La Paz, Bolivia, on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

9

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes midfielder Mesut Ozil and striker Alexis Sanchez are keen on extending their contracts beyond the end of next season with the Premier League club.

Ozil and Sanchez are holding out for a huge increase in their salary, according to British media reports, while Wenger has previously said that contract talks are on hold until the end of the season.

Sanchez, who has indicated he would like to see out his contract, is the club’s top scorer with 22 goals this season. “I personally believe both of them want to stay. I hope the club will find an agreement with them,” Wenger told reporters on Thursday.

Calls for Wenger to end his 20-year role have grown louder after Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League in the last-16 for a seventh straight season and lost four of their last five league matches to slide down to sixth. Wenger is keen to extend his stay, according to British media reports, but said his future at the club is far from certain.

“I am very clear in my mind. Do I stay two more years? My commitment will be the same. It does not influence my attitude,” Wenger added. “It’s a subject that is not sorted completely.”

Wenger also rejected suggestions that the uncertainty surrounding his future was causing instability at the club and impacting results.

“No, we won’t look for excuses. Results are not what we want. Priority is what happens on the pitch,” he said, while backing the introduction of video technology to review decisions in the sport.

Midfielder Santi Cazorla, who was initially expected to return early this year, will not play again

this season as the 32-year-old Spaniard has failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained in October last year, Wenger confirmed.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who limped off during Arsenal’s loss at West Bromwich Albion this month, is expected to miss the next two games with calf injury. Striker Lucas Perez will also sit out Sunday’s match against third-placed Manchester City with a thigh problem.

Wenger hinted Arsenal will be active in the next transfer window. “We have a strong foundation but the team needs to be strengthened,” he added. (rtr)

Reuters / Paul Hackett

Arsenal’s Theo Walcott celebrates scoring their first goal with Mesut Ozil.

Ronaldo’s full-body statue outside his museum in Funchal also does not do a very good de-

piction of the Real Madrid star, although it better resembles the player. (ap)

AP Photo/Armando Franca

Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, left, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, 2nd left and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo stand next to a bust of the player at the Madeira international airport outside Funchal, the capital of Madeira island, Portugal, Wednesday March 29, 2017.

8

Friday, March 31, 2017

Friday, March 31, 2017

Sp rt Bluesy Ben Arfa frustrated at Paris Saint-Germain

PARIS — For Hatem Ben Arfa, signing with Paris SaintGermain was supposed to be the end of a long and tortuous road back to the limelight. But less than a year after landing at France’s biggest club, Ben Arfa has the blues. Frustrated by his lack of playing time, the former France winger has made it clear he could look for another destination if his personal situation does not improve.

“Arriving in a big club, I expected when I joined Paris that it would be difficult. But I did not think it would be as complicated as it is,” the much-traveled Ben Arfa said in a video posted on social networks.

In the footage , Ben Arfa is seen walking alone on a bridge over a canal. He has lost his charming smile, wears a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, and reflects on his substitute role with the French champions. “Today I’m not accepting my situation,” the 30-year-old Ben Arfa said.

After a chaotic stint in the Premier League, the former golden child of French soccer revived his languishing career with Nice last season, scoring 17 league goals for the Riviera side. His excellent showings earned him a move to

PSG after club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi made his purchase a priority. But for Ben Arfa, the dream move quickly turned into a bitter experience as he failed to win the confidence of PSG coach Unai Emery.

Ben Arfa has played only 643 minutes in 23 league appearances after starting only five matches.

He was left out of both Champions League games against Barcelona and has not started in a big match this season.

Emery is not giving many explanations for his little use of Ben Arfa, but he criticized his work rate earlier this season.

“I am not asking for anything here, not game time or a specific role, it’s just that I want to be given my chance,” Ben Arfa said. “I want to feel that there is competition in

this team. I am a competitor and I am a champion. In my head, I love to win and it’s difficult to accept being a substitute.”

A member of the “Generation 87,” a group of promising players born in 1987 that included Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri, Ben Arfa has struggled to live up to expectations after he left Lyon in 2008. Following two seasons in Marseille, he joined Newcastle, where a heavy tackle from Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong left him with a leg broken in two places, a serious injury that put him on the sidelines for almost a year.

Ben Arfa, a creative player with dazzling dribbling skills, was loved by the Magpie fans but his relationship with coach Alan Pardew became strain and the Northern club sent him on loan to Hull, where he played eight matches. His goals with Nice ultimately placed him back under the spotlight but were not enough to earn him a spot in the France team that reached the European Championship final last year.

Ben Arfa’s latest comments came only days before PSG takes on Monaco in Saturday’s League Cup final, and his message to Emery could not have been clearer.

“It is easier to accept being on the bench when you know that it will be temporary or that it could change,” Ben Arfa said. “Otherwise, it is like a punishment. If I am given a chance and I do not play well, I will leave. I will understand. But I need to be given that chance.” (ap)

FILE - In this Sept.9, 2016 file photo, PSG’s Hatem Ben Arfa controls the ball during a French League One soccer match ParisSaint-Germain against Saint-Etienne at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.

Frustrated by his lack of playing time, the former France winger has made clear he could look for another destination during the summer if his personal situation does not improve.

World Cup qualifying woes for Argentina after ban for Messi World Cup qualifying started badly for Argentina, and now it’s getting a whole lot worse.

Argentina sits fifth in South American qualifying, the same position it occupied two matches ago. But a closer look at the team’s performance, especially without its banned star Lionel Messi, reveals that the country’s campaign for the 2018 tournament in Russia could be in jeopardy.

Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat in Bolivia, combined with other results from the 14th round of matches, has left the 2014 finalists in a continental playoff position - against a team from Oceania. However, the two goals scored against Edgardo Bauza’s side in La Paz pale in comparison to the setback delivered

by FIFA just hours before kickoff, with the four-match ban handed out to Messi.

FIFA took action after Messi insulted a linesman during the team’s 1-0 victory against Chile on Thursday - a game in which FIFA’s five-time world player of the year scored the winning goal.

With only four qualifiers left to play, the stakes are high for the

Argentine soccer federation, which has announced it will appeal FIFA’s verdict in the hope that Messi might make an early return from suspension. Meanwhile, Bauza is preparing to tough it out.

“We are only thinking about the future,” said the coach, who is under growing pressure to step aside after eight matches in charge, which have produced three losses, three wins and two draws. “We know that it will be a fight and we will keep fighting.”

However, it will be a battle without the team’s captain and top goal scorer. History and statistics show that Argentina’s fortunes are closely tied to Messi’s: the team has won only once in eight matches played in qualifying without the Barcelona star.

“It is impossible to replace Messi,” said Cesar Luis Menotti, Argentina’s World Cup winning coach in 1978. “You can change your tactics, but Messi can’t be replaced. It would be like replacing (Diego) Maradona”.

Along with Messi, Bauza also had to cope with other absentees for the match in Bolivia. Striker Gon-

zalo Higuain and midfielder Javier Mascherano were both suspended, while forward Paulo Dybala failed to recover from injury. Striker Sergio Aguero only appeared for the second half. Bauza also highlighted the problem raised by the timing of FIFA’s verdict, saying “it is strange” that Messi’s ban was decided so quickly. “We’re surprised by how little time we were given to present our position,” he said.

With or without Messi, all is not lost for a team that has played at every World Cup after the 1970 tournament in Mexico. Although sixth-place Ecuador is only two points behind in the standings, fourth-place Chile and third-place Uruguay are just one point above.

Colombia is also within range, just two points ahead, in second place, behind already-qualified Brazil.

Argentina’s next qualifier will be in August against Uruguay, which has lost its last two matches - against Brazil (4-1) and Peru (2-1). Afterward, Bauza’s team faces Venezuela and Peru, with Messi currently expected to return for the last match of the qualifying campaign, against Ecuador. If

Argentina needs inspiration for the long months ahead, it could always look to its old rival, Brazil.

The Selecao made a humiliating first-round exit from the Copa America in 2016 and had been struggling in World Cup qualifying with Dunga in charge. However, the arrival of new coach Tite turned around both the performances and results, with Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Paraguay making Brazil the first team to qualify for Russia after an 8-game winning

Odd-looking Ronaldo bust steals the show at airport ceremony

FUNCHAL — Cristiano Ronaldo has an airport named after him, but it was his odd-looking statue that attracted attention in Wednesday’s ceremony honoring the Portugal star in his hometown.

The player’s bronze bust, which was unveiled to much fanfare by Portugal’s president and prime minister on the island of Madeira, hardly does the handsome footballer justice.

It squashes his eyes close together, and the cheeky raisedeyebrow smile more resembles a leer. The face is also unusually chubby, in contrast to Ronaldo’s chiseled looks.

Dozens of guests and hundreds of fans were at the unveiling of

the bust in Ronaldo’s native Madeira Islands. It was part of an official ceremony to rename the local airport as Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo also attended the ceremony, but did not show any signs of being bothered by the odd look of his newly unveiled bust.

The bust’s sculptor, Madeira native Emanuel Santos, said it took him 15 days to create the statue. He said he presented the project to local officials when it was about half done and received the go-ahead to continue with his work.

“It’s always a great honor to work on project like that,” Santos told local television channel RTP. “I still haven’t had the chance to

personally talk to (Ronaldo), but I’ll try to reach out to him to know his feedback.”

Ozil, Sanchez want to stay at Arsenal, says Wenger

AP Photo/Michel Euler, File

streak. Bringing back the good times was just what Messi’s Barcelona teammate Neymar had wanted from Brazil’s game in Sao Paulo.

“I remember, when I was younger, I loved to watch the Brazil games with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho — they were my idols,” Neymar said. “Now we’re doing it again, and I’m very happy for that.”

Whether Argentina can also restore its fortunes, without Messi, remains to be seen. (ap)

AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano

Argentina’s Ever Banega falls during a 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match against Bolivia in La Paz, Bolivia, on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.

9

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes midfielder Mesut Ozil and striker Alexis Sanchez are keen on extending their contracts beyond the end of next season with the Premier League club.

Ozil and Sanchez are holding out for a huge increase in their salary, according to British media reports, while Wenger has previously said that contract talks are on hold until the end of the season.

Sanchez, who has indicated he would like to see out his contract, is the club’s top scorer with 22 goals this season. “I personally believe both of them want to stay. I hope the club will find an agreement with them,” Wenger told reporters on Thursday.

Calls for Wenger to end his 20-year role have grown louder after Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League in the last-16 for a seventh straight season and lost four of their last five league matches to slide down to sixth. Wenger is keen to extend his stay, according to British media reports, but said his future at the club is far from certain.

“I am very clear in my mind. Do I stay two more years? My commitment will be the same. It does not influence my attitude,” Wenger added. “It’s a subject that is not sorted completely.”

Wenger also rejected suggestions that the uncertainty surrounding his future was causing instability at the club and impacting results.

“No, we won’t look for excuses. Results are not what we want. Priority is what happens on the pitch,” he said, while backing the introduction of video technology to review decisions in the sport.

Midfielder Santi Cazorla, who was initially expected to return early this year, will not play again

this season as the 32-year-old Spaniard has failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained in October last year, Wenger confirmed.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who limped off during Arsenal’s loss at West Bromwich Albion this month, is expected to miss the next two games with calf injury. Striker Lucas Perez will also sit out Sunday’s match against third-placed Manchester City with a thigh problem.

Wenger hinted Arsenal will be active in the next transfer window. “We have a strong foundation but the team needs to be strengthened,” he added. (rtr)

Reuters / Paul Hackett

Arsenal’s Theo Walcott celebrates scoring their first goal with Mesut Ozil.

Ronaldo’s full-body statue outside his museum in Funchal also does not do a very good de-

piction of the Real Madrid star, although it better resembles the player. (ap)

AP Photo/Armando Franca

Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, left, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa, 2nd left and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo stand next to a bust of the player at the Madeira international airport outside Funchal, the capital of Madeira island, Portugal, Wednesday March 29, 2017.

10

Friday, March 31, 2017

Destination

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

International

Nadal beats Sock in Miami quarters, Nishikori out

MIAMI - Rafa Nadal moved into the Miami Open semi-finals with a straight sets win over American Jack Sock on Wednesday, while second seed Kei Nishikori was sent packing after going down 6-4 6-2 to unseeded Italian Fabio Fognini.

Nadal staved off four break points to avoid going down a double-break early in the second set, a pivotal game that set the stage for his 6-2 6-3 victory on the Crandon Park hardcourt.

Nadal’s poise and shotmaking came to the fore when 13th seed Sock threatened to take a stranglehold on the second set.

“That was the key of the second set, two-love (down), 15-40,” Nadal said in a courtside interview. “With three-zero a player like Jack, you’ll probably be thinking third set.

“It was a double positive thing. I saved that game and got the break back (in the next game). The match was much closer than the result says.”

Nadal could face his long-time nemesis Federer in the final, with the Swiss, who has a Thursday quarter-final against Tomas Berdych, on the other side of the draw.

Federer and Nadal have met twice this year, with Federer winning both times, in a memorable five-set final at the Australian Open and in a one-sided straight-sets fourth-round thumping at Indian Wells two weeks ago. But Nadal is not looking ahead to Federer, because his semi-final opponent Fognini presents a potential banana skin. Nadal has a 7-3 career record but is mindful he lost to the Italian in a five-set thriller on the U.S. Open hardcourt in 2015.

“It’s like a dream maybe,” said the 29-year-old Fognini after becoming the first unseeded player in 10 years to make the Miami semis.

“This is a big, big tournament for me. I’m happy about my performance.

I’m just trying to be focused on my game and do my best.” (rtr)

Neka Art Museum GIANYAR - Neka Art Museum is an art gallery and museum established by Balinese art lover Wayan Suteja Neka. The museum was built in 1976 and inaugurated by then Ministry of Culture & Education in 1982. Inside Neka Art Museum are collections of paintings and sculptures displayed through six different buildings in a Balinese-style garden compound.

The museum is located on Jalan Raya Campuhan, in the village of Kedewatan, northwest of the main Ubud centre.

The six buildings that house the expansive collections of paintings, sculptures and traditional Balinese keris daggers - this latter being a personal pursuit by the founder, who also happens to be a generation of the Balinese pande clan of smiths

- are designed using traditional Balinese architecture and layout.

The first building houses variations in Balinese paintings, and consists of four exhibits. Exhibit A displays Balinese paintings, from the classical Kamasan-style wayang paintings depicting the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics as well as Javanese and Balinese myths and legends. Exhibits B and C of Neka Art Museum display paintings with western influences which developed in the 1920s in Ubud, and later became known as Ubudstyle paintings. This influence was brought on by German artist Walter Spies and Dutch painter Rudolf Bonnet, who both introduced their subtle techniques in lighting, shadows, perspectives and subject anatomy. Through exhibit D, there

are Batuan-style paintings hailing from the village. The second building is referred to as the Arie Smit pavilion, after the Dutch-born Indonesian painter who resides in Bali, Adrianus Wilhelmus (Arie) Smit. The art pavilion was set up in admiration of the artist by Neka for his role in developing arts in Ubud. The pavilion consists of two floors, the first displaying the works of young artists from the ‘Young Artists Movement’ that Smit help generate in 1960 – the likes of Nyoman Cekra, Ketut Soki and several others in contemporary, expressionistic and abstract styles. The second floor features the works of Arie Smit in various themes and painting styles that depict Balinese community life and imaginative renderings of Bali’s nature scenes.

The third building houses photographic exhibits. Here, visitors will find archive collections of black-and-white photos especially those taken by American Robert Koke (one of the earliest expatriates in Bali), dating back to the 1930s. The fourth building is the Lempad pavilion, named in honour late Balinese sculptor and architect, Gusti Nyoman Lempad. Lempad is best known for his unique Balinese painting styles. His themes range from epics to local legends and rural Balinese village life. The fifth building houses contemporary and

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hits a forehand against Jack Sock, of the United States, during a quarterfinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in Key Biscayne, Fla. modern artworks from Indonesian artists through five exhibits. The sixth building features a combination of Western and Eastern styles.

This two-storey building is dedicated to the works of famous Indonesian and International artists.

The first floor features the works of acclaimed Indonesian artists, the likes of Affandi, Soedjono, Srihadi Soedarsono, Widayat, Nasyah Djamin, Bagong Kussudiardjo, Ahmad Sadali and Abas Alibasyah. The second floor features international artists such as Antonio Blanco, Rudolf Bonnet, Miguel Covarrubias, and others. Besides the six main art buildings, Neka Art Museum also features the founder’s own passion through his traditional keris dagger collection. Here Neka keeps his cherished 272 curved daggers that he has collected throughout half century of his lifetime. These elaborately decorated daggers are genuine samples made by master smiths of the past and all are laid

out in order behind glass displays.

A visit to the Neka Art Museum is both a journey to the past, as well as an educational tour that enlightens the visitor with information on techniques and the history of the development of art in Bali. Visitors might also meet up with the founder himself, who, as a member of the Pande clan of Balinese smiths himself, will passionately show and explain to guests the process of creating a keris dagger and his affinity with the living legend, Arie Smit.

The museum features modern supporting facilities: Spacious meeting halls, tropical gardens, a refreshment store, restrooms, and ample parking space make for an enjoyable day at the museum. Also in Ubud are the Neka Gallery on the Jalan Raya Ubud main road, and the Agung Rai Museum of Art in Peliatan, which are some of Bali’s largest and most important.

(IBP/net)

AP Photo/Mario Houben

Not just another triple-double as Westbrook notches record

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the ball as Houston Rockets center Nene Hilario (42) defends during the third quarter at Toyota Center.

HOUSTON - Russell Westbrook recorded the highest scoring triple-double in NBA history Wednesday night, totaling 57 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a come-from-behind, 114-106 overtime road victory over the Orlando Magic.

For Westbrook, it was just another day at work as he compiled his fourth consecutive triple-double and his 38th of the season, leaving him three shy of the NBA record held by NBA legend Oscar Robertson. The 57 points were one short of his career high.

“You just got to want it more than other people,” Westbrook said. “I don’t think about getting tired. I just keep going and going.

I don’t think about it. I just think about making the next play, mak-

ing winning basketball plays. I’m blessed.”

The Thunder (43-31) have won eight of the last 10 games. Westbrook scored 16 points in the fourth quarter Monday when Oklahoma City erased a 13-point deficit in the final 3:31 to win in Dallas.

He scored 19 points in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime Wednesday when the Thunder erased another 13-point fourth quarter deficit.

“Russell was spectacular coming down the stretch and the way he closed the game,” Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. “Overall, it’s just incredible what he’s doing now.

He played an exceptional second half again. He just has an incredible competitive spirit.”

“That (Westbrook’s performance) was one of the best,” Magic

coach Frank Vogel said. “It’s tough to rank those over the years, but it’s right up there with the best. Give him credit.”

Westbrook hit 21 of 40 shots and six of 15 3-pointers. He made nine of 11 free throws.

He led a late rally by scoring 19 points in the final six minutes of regulation, hitting a 3-pointer with seven seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. Westbrook scored seven points in overtime.

Until Westbrook’s 3-pointer, the Magic led the entire second half.

The Magic led by as many as 21 points in third quarter.

“I was just looking at the scoreboard, taking it one possession at a time,” Westbrook said. “I don’t take this game for granted. I just try to come out each and every night and compete at a high level.” (rtr)

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Friday, March 31, 2017

W

RLD

‘No turning back’: PM May triggers ‘historic’ Brexit

LONDON - Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain’s divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, declaring there was no turning back and ushering in a tortuous exit process that will test the bloc’s cohesion and pitch her country into the unknown. In one of the most significant steps by a British leader since World War Two, May notified EU Council President Donald Tusk in a hand-delivered letter that Britain would quit the club it joined in 1973.

“The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union,” May told parliament nine months after Britain shocked investors and world leaders by unexpectedly voting to quit the bloc. “This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back.”

The prime minister, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the political turmoil that followed the referendum vote, now has two years to negotiate the terms of the divorce before it comes into effect in late March 2019. May, 60, has one of the toughest jobs of any recent British prime minister: holding Britain together in the face of renewed Scottish independence demands, while conducting arduous talks with 27 other EU states on finance, trade, security and other complex issues.

The outcome of the negotiations will shape the future of Britain’s $2.6 trillion economy, the world’s fifth biggest, and determine whether London can keep its place as one of the top two global financial centres.

For the EU, already reeling from successive crises over debt and refugees, the loss of Britain is the biggest blow yet to 60 years of efforts to forge European unity in the wake of two world wars. Its leaders say they do not want to punish Britain. But with nationalist, antiEU parties on the rise across Europe, they cannot afford to give London generous terms that might encourage

other member states to break away.

BREXIT DEAL?

May’s notice of the UK’s intention to leave the bloc under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty was handdelivered to Tusk in Brussels by Tim Barrow, Britain’s permanent representative to the EU, on the top floor of the new Europa Building in Brussels. That moment formally set the clock ticking on Britain’s two-year exit process. Sterling, which has lost 25 cents against the dollar since the June 23 referendum, jumped to $1.25.

May signed the six-page Brexit letter on Tuesday night, pictured alone at the cabinet table beneath a clock, a British flag and an oil painting of Britain’s first prime minister, Robert Walpole.

Her letter sought to set a positive tone for the talks though it admitted that the task of extracting the UK from the EU was momentous and that reaching comprehensive agreements within two years would be a challenge. May wants to negotiate Britain’s divorce and the future trading relationship with the EU within the two-year period, though EU officials say that will be hard. “We believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the EU,” May told Tusk in her letter, adding that London wanted an ambitious free trade agreement with the EU. “If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement the default position is that we would have to trade on World Trade Organisation terms,” she said. May’s most powerful European interlocutor, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, promised to take a “fair and constructive” approach to Brexit talks, but said Britain could negotiate its new relationship only after it untangles existing EU commitments. “We must deal with many rights and obligations that have been linked to membership. Only then, later, can we talk about our future relationship.” (rtr)

REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

People drink beer at a Pro-Brexit event to celebrate the invoking of Article 50 after Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May triggered the process by which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, in London, Britain March 29, 2017.

International

Federal judge in Hawaii extends court order blocking Trump travel ban

HONOLULU - A federal judge in Hawaii indefinitely extended on Wednesday an order blocking enforcement of President Donald Trump’s revised ban on travel to the United States from six predominantly Muslim countries.

U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson turned an earlier temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by the state of Hawaii challenging Trump’s travel directive as unconstitutional religious discrimination. Trump signed the new ban on March 6 in a bid to overcome legal problems with a January executive order that caused chaos at airports and sparked mass protests before a Washington judge stopped its enforcement in February. Trump has said the travel ban is needed for national security.

In its challenge to the travel ban, Hawaii claims its state universities would be harmed by the order because they would have trouble recruiting students and faculty. It also says the island state’s economy would be hit by a decline in tourism. The court papers cite reports that travel to the

United States “took a nosedive” after Trump’s actions. The state was joined by a new plaintiff named Ismail Elshikh, an American citizen from Egypt who is an imam at the Muslim Association of Hawaii and whose mother-in-law lives in Syria, according to the lawsuit.

Hawaii and other opponents of the ban claim that the motivation behind it is based on religion and Trump’s election campaign promise of “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” “The court will not crawl into a corner, pull the shutters closed, and pretend it has not seen what it has,” Watson wrote on Wednesday.

Watson wrote that his decision to grant the preliminary injunction was based on the likelihood that the state would succeed in proving that the travel ban violated the U.S. Constitution’s religious freedom protection.

Trump has vowed to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is currently split 4-4 between liberals and conservatives with the president’s pick - appeals court judge Neil Gorsuch still awaiting confirmation. (rtr)

For Ivanka Trump...

support from Republican lawmakers.

Critics note she remained silent about the White House-backed health care legislation, which would have blocked federal payments for a year to Planned Parenthood and could have reduced access to maternity and pediatric care. As that bill unraveled last week, she was on vacation in Aspen with her family.

“Ivanka Trump is a woman, who happens to be a mom, who works,” said Juliet Williams, a professor of gender studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Still, some more liberal women have offered support. Trump was praised last month by Anne Marie Slaughter, who five years ago wrote a popular essay in The Atlantic magazine on why she left a job in the State Department to spend more time with her family. She took to Twitter to defend Trump against criticism of the childcare policy offered during the campaign. Slaughter tweeted that if Trump “could actually get something like this through, it would be real & important progress.”

And the first daughter is winning people over. Dyan Gibbens, owner of Trumball Unmanned, which provides data services to the energy industry, came away from two White House meetings impressed with Trump.

“She’s composed, she’s confident, she’s well spoken, she’s well-educated, which are all the traits we want our daughters to have,” Gibbens said.

“Give her a chance.” (ap)

From page 1

Trump, a 35-year-old mother of three, previously held executive roles at the Trump Organization and running her self-named lifestyle brand that offers clothing and jewelry. She relinquished those positions to come to Washington, though she retains ownership of her brand.

Trump’s influence in the White House has cemented quickly. Alongside husband Jared Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, she has become almost a fixture in the building.

She has at times hosted events similar to those held by past first ladies: This week she welcomed female entrepreneurs to the White House, spoke to girls about STEM education and announced an official trip to Germany.

But she’s also sat in on meetings with foreign leaders, including a recent session with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. While her influence in the tumultuous White House remains opaque, she is very close to her father, who joined her at a round table this week and praised her work on women’s economic issues. Noting an invitation for Ivanka Trump to attend a summit in Berlin, the president said she will be “working on similar issues with Chancellor Merkel.”

Ivanka Trump’s promise to advocate for pro-family proposals has been met with some skepticism. She has limited political experience and scant

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

11

Indonesia’s KPK, AGO & Police ink cooperation agreement on eradicating corruption JAKARTA - The Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney Generals Office (AGO), and the National Police have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation for eradicating corruption.

“This MoU is the renewal of our old agreement signed in 2016, which will expire soon, so it must be renewed today. The new MoU will be valid until March 2019,” KPK Chief Agus Rahardjo stated at the National Police Headquarters here on Wednesday.

As part of the MoU, if any of the agencies conducts a search of the office of the other party and seizes anything, it must inform the leadership of the other side.

The MoU also stipulates that the three sides will cooperate to conduct educational and training courses related to corruption eradication.

One of the matters that sets the new MoU apart from the old one is the issuance of an electronic notification to start investigation, or e-SPDP, Rahardjo remarked.

“Looking ahead, the SPDP will be issued online, so the KPK, National Police, and AGO will have the same information and data related to

Chief of the Indonesian National Police Gen. Tito Karnavian (left), Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Agus Rahardjo (middle) and the Attorney General M. Prasatyo (right) giving a press conference about the Memorandum of Understanding on law enforcement in criminal offenses corruption, Jakarta, Wednesday (March 29th 2017).

JAKARTA - Indonesia is potential to break into the ranks of worlds largest gastronomy countries with a number of supporting factors it has, an expert has said.

“Very likely with its varieties of fauna and flora in addition to its cultures and culinary,” Chairman of the Indonesian Gastronomy Academy (AGI) Vita Datau Mesakh said here on Wednesday.

Vita said gastronomy, an art and practice of cooking and eating good food, is closely related to area or place, identity and culture.

“We can see gastronomy from the view point of food & landscape.

With that point of view we would get social, cultural, political, economic or historical descriptions through food,” she said.

Lately, fast growth has been recorded in the number of tourists and intensity in promoting tourist destinations and their food identities for commercial and tourism interests.

“Selling and promoting all types of food will need creativity such as

in the processing and marketing of food products. In this context, tourism especially gastronomy tourism is an effective trigger,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya opened the second National Gastronomy Dialog and Wakatobi Culinary Promotion at the Sapta Pesona building of the Tourism Ministry here.

“We could replicate the U.S. method of creating and commercializing something such as digitalization. U.S. way of working in an ecosystem is by inventing digital start up,” Arief said.

He said he was convinced Indonesia could win in global competition in creative industry given the fact that the country has been able to maintain its position in the 21st in various cultural events in the world.

He said Indonesia has cultural values that could be commercialized including in culinary. Unfortunately until now Indonesia has nothing to show off as it has no courage and determination to de-

the handling of corruption cases,” he noted.

As part of the old MoU, the exchange of information related to the investigation of cases among the three institutions was carried out manually.

He said three officials have been appointed to function as liaison of-

ficials to implement the MoU. The three appointees are the director for the development of networks among commissions and agencies at the KPK, the chief of the legal and foreign relations bureau at the AGO, and the chief of the legal aid bureau at the National Police. (ant)

ANTARA/Ubaidillah

Indonesia potential to become world`s largest gastronomy country

termine including in culinary.

“Indonesia has no national food.

Vietnam has pho, Thailand has tom yam, and South Korea has kimchi.

Each country has something to show off . We have a lot but we have no courage to decide and determine one. Therefore, I decide to determine soto. Hopefully it is accepted. Soto has great variety . We hope it is identical with Indonesia,” Arief Yahya said.

Arief Yahya welcomed the second National Gastronomy Dialog and Wakatobi Culinary Promotion ceremonies aimed at boosting Indonesias culinary tourism industry.

Arief said gastronomy has important role in tourism industry as tourists spend much for foods and drinks beside for flight tickets, hotels and souvenirs.

He said culinary is an major factor to determine success or failure in attracting tourists, citing Batam relies on culinary festivals to attract cross-border tourists from Singapore and Malaysia. (ant)

12

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

BUSINESS A member of the Public Health Surveillance Agency inspects beef at a supermarket after the Chilean government suspended all meat and poultry imports from Brazil, in Santiago, Chile March 23, 2017.

Oil up after data, dollar gains as Brexit materializes

NEW YORK - Stocks edged up on Wall Street on Wednesday, not enough to lift a global equities index, while crude futures hit a week high after a smaller-thanexpected build in U.S. inventories.

The euro slipped after Reuters reported European Central Bank policymakers are wary of making any new change to their policy message in April.

Weighing on the euro and pound, Prime Minister Theresa May formally began Britain’s divorce from the European Union, a decision pitching her country into the unknown. On Tuesday, the Scottish Parliament backed a bid to hold an independence referendum that could break up the UK, adding another layer of uncertainty for investors.

Gains in the energy sector, up more than 1 percent, kept the S&P 500 afloat, while none of the other ten sectors moved more than a half a percent up or down.

Wall Street rose on Tuesday, with the Dow snapping an eight-day losing streak after a jump in consumer data boosted hopes in a stronger U.S. economy. On Wednesday, contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes jumped to a 10-month high in February.

“The big talk of the day is (Britain’s) official request to leave the EU, which we think is likely to be a counter balance for the markets for many days to come,” wrote in a note Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at First Standard Financial in New York.

“We see (U.S.) oil prices moving towards the $50 range as being the markets driving force of the day.”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 67.89 points, or 0.33 percent, to 20,633.61, the S&P 500 lost 1.65 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,356.92 and the Nasdaq Composite added 5.01 points, or 0.09 percent, to 5,880.15. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.35 percent, while MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe fell 0.19 percent.

Emerging market stocks rose 0.09 percent.

Overnight, MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.42 percent while Japan’s Nikkei closed up less than 0.1 percent.

GREENBACK GAINS FURTHER The dollar index gained 0.37 percent with the euro down 0.55 percent to $1.0752.

Sterling hit a one-week low of 1.2378 earlier, and was last trading at $1.2407, down 0.33 percent.

“Sterling will be incredibly sensitive to (Brexit) negotiations and will offer a clear gauge of how things are panning out. We could see it move lower still if negotiations take a sour turn - $1.10 is feasible,” said Neil Wilson, senior markets analyst at ETX Capital.

Benchmark U.S. Treasury yields fell. The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit a session high at 2.427 percent, higher than Tuesday’s. Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 6/32 in price to yield 2.3891 percent.

Oil prices rose after U.S. gasoline stockpiles dropped sharply last week, while crude inventories grew less than anticipated. U.S. crude last rose 1.9 percent to $49.28 a barrel and Brent traded at $52.23, up 1.8 percent on the day. Spot gold rose 0.0 percent to $1,251.59 an ounce. U.S. gold futures fell 0.3 percent to $1,251.30 an ounce.

Bali News

International

AMLAPURA — All this time, Rendang subdistrict is known for being the location of the Besakih, the mother temple of Bali. However, only few people know that Besakih area also has extraordinarily natural potential. One of them is the overlay of edelweiss on the ridge of Mount Agung. Known as perennial flower, it will be launched

by Regent of Karangasem, IGA Mas Sumatri, to become the new icon of Karangasem.

“Edelweiss belongs to special flowers because it can only grow in cold temperature areas such as Rendang. Edelweiss can be packed into souvenirs, just like Zamzam water from Mecca,” she said on several occasions. Locally known as kasna flower, the edelweiss is also called perennial flower. This flower can grow well at the altitudes of above 1,000 meters above sea level.

Regent Mas Sumatri said that the presence of edelweiss is worth becoming the icon of Karangasem because it can only grow in the area of Mount Agung. All this time, the flower having various myths is used as a complementary to ritual oblation, primarily by the people of the Rendang and Selat subdistrict. In the future, the edelweiss will only become souvenirs for travelers, but its growing regions on the ridge of Mount Agung can also become a tourist destination.

Regent Mas Sumatri said the existence of edelweiss can be mutually support the regional tourism development program of Besakih. The establishment of Besakih management board is expected to accommodate the existing potentials including a potential of the edelweiss itself. “With the Besakih Temple, Karangasem becomes the upstream of Bali. Travelers making a visit to Bali consider it incomplete without visiting Besakih. Then, visiting Besakih will not be perfect without bringing home the gift of edelweiss,” said the regent.

Meanwhile, the overlay of edelweiss on the ridge of Mount Agung so far can only be enjoyed by mountain climbers. One of the mountaineers or nature lovers, Andi Husaen, 43, recognized that many climbers want to climb Mount Agung due to the existence of the edelweiss that can only be seen between April and August.

“Edelweiss will spread fragrance in the morning. It is becoming one of the attractions for climbers of Mount Agung,” he said. (117)

EU official urges independent controls over Brazil meat industry

Brazil’s police say in court documents bribes were paid to cover up serious health violations by some meat companies, including the sale of rotten and salmonella-contaminated products.

Their probe, dubbed “Operation Weak Flesh,” led some of Brazil’s biggest export markets to ban its meats.

The European Union is among the markets that suspended imports from 21 meat packing plants that are under investigation in Brazil, which is the world’s largest beef and poultry exporter. EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis said in an interview that its restrictions and stepped-up checks on Brazilian meat imports may not be removed anytime soon.

“The situation of meat imports from Brazil will remain under these reinforced checks until Brazil answers our questions and after our forthcoming audit team visits Brazil,” Andriukaitis told Reuters.

“The situation will be much clearer in a few weeks or months. The main message to Brazil is that this issue is not closed. It is about health and quality,” he said.

While he said it was not up to the EU to say what inspection system a coun-

try should have, Andriukaitis urged Brazil’s government to introduce more transparent rules that avoid publicprivate conflicts of interest.

“The official control system must be independent and not under the influence of politicians and other actors.

We must guarantee independence of the Brazilian official control system,” he said.

Brazil’s federal food inspectors currently report to the agriculture ministry and the system has come under fire for having politically appointed supervisors.

Andriukaitis said the EU could announce more measures related to Brazilian imports after its Agriculture Council meets on Monday and Tuesday. He declined to be more specific.

Hours after he spoke, President Michel Temer and Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi announced new rules for the meat processing industry, which they said were stricter and clearer.

The highest fine for food sanitary violations rose dramatically to 500,000 reais ($160,250) from 15,000 reais previously. Maggi said the rule changes would eliminate the need for inspectors to interpret antiquated laws that were 65 years old.

Brazil’s Federal Police have accused more than 100 people, mostly inspectors, of taking bribes in exchange for allowing the sale of rancid meat products, falsifying export documents or failing to inspect meatpacking plants at all.

Prosecutors have yet to present charges and the police allegations have not been proven.

Government officials have sought to downplay the impact of the probe. But an industry group said on Tuesday that beef exports alone fell over 40 percent in terms of both volume and revenue in March 20-26 from the prior week, as a number of countries imposed temporary bans.

The police investigation into irregularities in Brazil’s meat industry, one of the few robust sectors in an economy locked in its worst recession on record, was made public on March 17.

Hong Kong on Tuesday removed one of the last blanket bans on Brazilian meat imports after it said it was satisfied by explanations from Brazilian officials. That followed China’s removal of its restrictions last weekend.

Together, the two Asian nations bought about one-third of Brazil’s $14 billion in meat exports last year.

The EU ranks as the No. 2 importer of Brazilian meats, just behind Hong Kong and before China, buying $1.7 billion in frozen and fresh beef, chicken, pork and other meat products last year. (rtr)

5

Regent to launch edelweiss as icon of Karangasem

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo

BRASILIA - Brazil needs independent controls over its meat industry, a top EU health official said on Wednesday, as he wrapped up a visit to the country rocked by an anticorruption investigation centering on bribery of its food-sanitation inspectors.

Friday, March 31, 2017

Development of Bali sustainable school

Students learn and preserve Balinese culture

SMPN 1 Amlapura junior high school is the only school bearing the title of Bali sustainable school in Karangasem. As the Bali sustainable school, certainly it has advantages on offer compared to other schools. Here, students can get to know and learn to preserve tradition and culture.

This school has been consistently running the program since designated as Bali sustainable school in 2006. At that time, the discourse at issue was related to the threat of fading knowledge of students about the matter of their tradition and culture amid the development of modern era.

Principal of the SMPN 1 Amlapura, I Komang Suweca, when met in his office not long ago said that Bali sustainable school has been implemented in many school activities. Every third and fourth week, prior to learning activity, teachers and

students attend meditation program.

With the meditation, mind and heart will become calm and peaceful, so that it is very good in managing emotions to continuously become more mature in the association at school.

In addition, in the first and second lesson, all students participate in special activities in their respective classroom. This activity is related to preservation of Balinese tradition and culture. Seventh grade joins majejahitan or offering preparation activities; eighth grade joins dance class; and ninth grade joins the dharma gita (song of dharma) activities. “Students are very enthusiastic about joining the program because it is the advantage of this school that cannot be obtained from other schools. This special program only runs in the first and second lesson hours. In the third lesson hour, students will follow the regular timetable,” said Deputy Principal of

Studentship Affairs of the SMPN 1 Amlapura, Wayan Putra, when accompanying the principal.

Bali sustainable school is a form of holistic learning. In other words, this learning approach focuses on understanding the information and links it to other topics. Thus, it can build a framework of knowledge as desired. Through this holistic concept, the learning process attempts to incorporate all the elements of values needed by students in the face of the growing age. The holistically and systematically designed curricula are expected to build and develop the potential and character of the students. In addition, the students are encouraged to continuously care for the environment and develop skills in social life because it involves students in real activity.

In addition to the various programs mentioned above, the Bali sustainable school can also be im-

plemented in various competitions every semester. After participating in the activities of Bali sustainable school at third and fourth weeks, the students then participate in the competition among the classes such as in the competition of majejahitan, dancing and dharma gita. Moreover, there are other categories of competition such as ngelawar (preparing lawar delicacy), arranging pajegan oblation, plaiting green coconut leaf wall or klangsah and sengkuwi (caru paraphernalia made of plaited coconut leaf). These competitions serve as evaluation of the program. At the same time, it is also meant to introduce the very diverse Balinese cultures that must be learned early on by students. Thus, they can more easily participate in socio-religious activities amid the society when it must be implemented in daily life.

“This Bali sustainable school

makes students’ character more refined and they will more diligently help their parents at home,” said OSIS coach staff of the SMPN 1 Amlapura, I Nyoman Diasa.

These become the advantages of the SMPN 1 Amlapura. Although it consistently applies the concept of Bali sustainable school, SMPN 1 Amlapura is still able to maintain the performance of the school in the district and provincial level. On that account, SMPN 1 Amlapura remains to be assessed as one of the top schools in Karangasem.

According to one of the English language teachers, I Gusti Putu Semadi, the Bali sustainable school has become the identity of the SMPN 1 Amlapura. Thus, the school authority will also consistently deliver the right knowledge related to Balinese traditions and culture in order to still preserve Bali. (gik)

4

Bali News

Friday, March 31, 2017

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

International

Nyepi atmosphere grooved by spiritual travelers

Court decides whether to arrest ousted South Korean president Park

DENPASAR — Nyepi atmosphere is grooved by spiritual followers.

Foreign travelers much respect to Balinese tradition. Many travelers who had stayed during Nyepi in previous year will come again in the following year.

“Nyepi is the only unique feast in the world. Airport can be closed, nature becomes quiet and air pollution reduces. Travelers, mainly spiritual aspirants, really like the atmosphere because they can have better concentration in meditation,” said Manager of Puri Saron, Gusti Kade Sutawa, on Sunday (Mar. 26).

Tourist arrivals related to Nyepi celebration in general tends to show off an increase. “So, the tourist visit continues

to rise,” he affirmed.

In the future, the tourism to be developed according to the UNWTO is the eco-friendly tourism. Nyepi provides real contribution to the environment, namely the reduction of air pollution et cetera.

He also received many comments from tourists. “If Nyepi can be celebrated around the world, the pollution can be reduced very significantly,” he added. (kmb42)

Wandering on Nyepi

Two Indonesians and three foreigners secured

MANGUPURA - Abiansemal police received the delivery of two Indonesians and three foreigners during the celebration of Nyepi on Tuesday (Mar. 28). The three foreigners from Germany are Deubel Mareike, 19, Schmer Schneider, 19, and Schotzhold Jan-Erik, 19. They were secured by pecalang (customary security guard) of Kutaraga village, Bongkasa, I Made Ribut, 45, when they were in the area of Tohpati hamlet, Abiansemal.

Meanwhile, Yueren, 19, from Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, was secured by pecalang when riding a motorcycle that crossed Darmasaba area, Abiansemal. In the meantime, Fathul, 16, was secured by pecalang when walked in front of the Pandawa junior high school, Abiansemal.

Chief of Abiansemal Police, I Nyoman Weca, said on Wednesday (Mar. 29) that the three foreigners were escorted to police station by pecalang and staff of the Amazon Rafting, I Made Dedik, 32.

According to Made Dedik, the German travelers arrived in Bali on Monday afternoon (Mar. 27) and wanted to vacation in Ubud, Gianyar. At that time, they hired a taxi from Ngurah Rai Airport to Ubud. But upon arrival near the area of Tohpati hamlet, they were asked to get off by taxi driver as the taxi could not get through because the ogoh-ogoh started to be paraded and they were absorbed in watching the ogoh-ogoh at Tohpati hamlet, Bongkasa, until midnight.

“After watching ogoh-ogoh, they could not continue their journey to Ubud as there was no public transport. Finally, they slept in the area of the Amazon Rafting,” he said.

To anticipate undesirable things, the three foreigners were taken to the Abiansemal police station.

“As planned, they will be picked up by staff of the Amazon Rafting today. On Nyepi they could not go anywhere and slept at the police station,” he said.

Yueren, 19, from Atambua, Kupang, NTT, was secured by pecalang of Tegal customary village,

Darmasaba and handed over to Abiansemal police station. Other than Yueren, police also secured her Jupiter Z with license plate DK 5428 IC. She was escorted to police station by using pecalang patrol car escorted by two pecalang guards and rural police of Darmasaba village.

Pursuant to the results of interrogation, Yueren claimed to live in the area of Jimbaran, South Kuta. On the Pengerupukan Day she stayed at her cousin’s house, Stef, who lives in the area of Kapal, Mengwi.

On Pengerupukan Day, he watched ogoh-ogoh parade at Kapal and claimed not to know that March 28 was the Nyepi Day. Furthermore, on Nyepi at 06:30, she was out by riding a motorcycle and wanted to buy credits. Since the situation was quiet, she went straight toward Darmasaba. On arrival in the area of Tegal hamlet, Darmasaba, she was stopped by pecalang and reported to rural-commissioned police (Bhabinkamtibmas) of Darmasaba, Wayan Suwika. Furthermore, this woman from NTT was then taken to police station.

On the same day at 11:15, pecalang guard of Dauh Yeh Cani village, Abiansemal, dropped Fathul, 16, to Abiansemal police station. From his description, he was excluded from his workplace and boarding house in the area of Penarungan.

Meanwhile, as recognition of his boarding neighbors, Fathul has no identity card and cannot read.

Therefore, he was told to return home to Java and it has been explained that on that day was Nyepi so that people should not come out. However, Fathul still went out on foot and when arrived in front of SMA Pendawa he was directly secured by pecalang guard.

“The man claimed to qualify for the examination at Gilimanuk after paying as much as IDR 30,000.

However, we are still further developing his testimony,” said Weca. (kmb36)

13

REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin

A general view of Bukit Jalil immigration detention center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 28, 2017. Picture taken March 28.

Nyepi Day in the center of Denpasar

IBP/wawan

Along a series of Nyepi, Homestay occupancy in Ubud reaches 70 percent GIANYAR - Nyepi celebration to welcome the Caka New Year 1939 has an impact on the increase in occupancy rate of the homestay around Ubud, reaching the range of 70 percent. Total occupancy is certainly higher than usual days only reaching the range of 30-40 percent.

“Of approximately 1,500 rooms of homestay in Ubud, about 70 percent of them have been occupied during the course of the Nyepi celebration,” said Chairman of the Ubud Home Stay Association (UHSA), I.B. Wiryawan, on Wednesday (Mar. 29).

According to I.B. Wiryawan, the celebration of Nyepi is indeed able to attract travelers to come to Bali. Moreover, the series of Nyepi becomes the only one and has got world’s appreciation. “If there are people going out, probably they cannot enjoy the serenity of the Nyepi atmosphere,” he said.

He explained that 70 percent of travelers are predominantly European citizens that wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of Nyepi, especially the atmosphere of homestay in Ubud. “Indeed they are dominated by Europeans, but there are partially guests from Australia and Asia. They are wishing to gain experience of Nyepi in Ubud,” he said.

Besides, Chairman of the UHSA also submitted complaints of

homestay entrepreneurs who have difficulty to fulfill the current occupancy to 100 percent. Actually, all this time homestay is always echoed as one of the attractions of tourism village. “This condition occurs because the competition is indeed getting tougher, where the accommodation such as hotels and hostel are getting rampant, without restriction and decisive action from the government,” he complained.

He expressed that the most hazardous of these conditions is the price competition among homestay, hostel, villas and hotels. Moreover, a number of homestay entrepreneurs have to cut room rates for the sake of room occupancy. “If the occupancy can reach up to 50 percent, it is very good because on normal days the homestay can only reach 30 percent,” he said.

Seeing this condition, he asked for the attention of the government that all this time it has been disseminating sustainable tourism.

Unfortunately, it committed impunity to the accommodation development seeming without control that can threaten the sustainability of tourism in Bali.

“Sustainable tourism does not necessarily mean that people are free to do anything, but must be clearly and decisively which one is allowed and not allowed,” he said. (kmb35)

More than 100 die in Malaysian immigration detention camps in 2 years

KUALA LUMPUR - More than one hundred foreigners died in the past two years in Malaysia’s immigration detention centres from various diseases and unknown causes, according to documents from the government–funded National Human Rights Commission reviewed by Reuters. The toll, which has not been previously disclosed, is based on Malaysian immigration department data provided to the commission, which is known by its Malay acronym Suhakam.

There were 83 deaths in 2015, and at least 35 in 2016 up to Dec. 20.

It is unclear whether the death rate is higher than in neighbouring countries. Government officials in Indonesia and Thailand told Reuters they do not disclose such numbers.

The rate is higher than in major industrialized nations such as the United States, which in the last financial year recorded 10 deaths in its immigration detention system, which has many more detainees than Malaysia’s. More than half of the 118 dead are from Myanmar, the source for tens of thousands of refugees coming to Malaysia, including Rohingya Muslims escaping persecution

by Myanmar’s authorities and its majority Buddhist population. The

number of Rohingya fatalities in the camps is unknown.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been a harsh critic of the Myanmar government and its defacto leader Aung San Suu Kyi after a crackdown in October by Myanmar’s security forces led many Rohingya to flee across its borders amid multiple allegations of mass killings and gang rapes by troops. He has called for foreign intervention to stop the “genocide” in Myanmar.

Najib’s office did not return calls seeking comment. “The numbers are too many and are shocking and it calls for the overhaul of the system,” said Jerald Joseph, one of

eight commissioners at Suhakam, which was established by theMalaysian parliament through an act in 1999 and is due to publicly announce the numbers next week in its annual report on human rights issues in Malaysia. He described conditions at the centers, some of which he has visited, as “appalling” and said the deaths should be investigated as a criminal matter.

The illnesses that led to some of the deaths may have been caused or exacerbated by poor sanitation and food, physical abuse and a lack of medical attention, said Joseph, who was speaking on behalf of the commission. (rtr)

SEOUL - A South Korean court began deliberating on Thursday whether to arrest ousted president Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office in a corruption scandal involving charges she solicited bribes from the country’s largest conglomerate. Park could become South Korea’s third former leader to be jailed for wrongdoing. She is accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to contribute to foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.

The 65-year-old appeared expressionless as she arrived at the Seoul Central District Court at 10:20 a.m. (0120 GMT) to plead her case that she should not be arrested while prosecutors investigate the scandal that has ensnared South Korea’s political and business elite. Park, South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office, argues that she does not pose a flight risk and will not try to tamper with evidence. She and Choi have both denied any wrongdoing.

A judge will study evidence and hear arguments from prosecutors and Park’s lawyers before deciding whether an arrest warrant should be issued. If Park is arrested, prosecutors will then have up to 20 days to file formal charges against her and put her on trial. Park emerged from her private home and quickly stepped into a car before she was driven to the court in a motorcade. Police and security personnel blocked her supporters from spilling into the street to stop her car as it left her house in Seoul’s upmarket Gangnam neighbourhood. Prosecutors said on Monday Park was accused of soliciting companies for money and infringing upon the freedom of corporate management by using her power as the president. Park was questioned for 14 hours by prosecutors last week.

She could face more than 10 years in jail if convicted of receiving bribes from bosses of big conglomerates, including Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee, in return for favours. Lee, who denies charges that he provided bribes in return for favours for Samsung, and Choi are already in detention and are on trial separately. If she is arrested, Park will likely be given a bigger cell than other inmates in a Seoul detention facility but be subject to the same rules on everything from meals to room inspections, former prosecution and correctional officials have said. (rtr)

REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye leaves her private house in Seoul, South Korea, March 30, 2017.

Thousands told to evacuate Australian town as ex-cyclone brings flood fears

SYDNEY - Authorities ordered the evacuation of large parts of a major town of more than 25,000 people in eastern Australia on Thursday as a storm system generated by a powerful cyclone that pummelled the northeast two days ago swept down the coast with heavy rain. Cyclone Debbie hit as a category four storm in the north of tropical Queensland

state on Tuesday, smashing tourist resorts, bringing down power lines, flattening canefields and shutting down coal mines.

“This severe weather system that began with Cyclone Debbie and is tracking down the coast is causing havoc across our state,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters in the state capital, Bris-

bane. The cyclone was downgraded to a tropical low on Wednesday but it was driving squalls with torrential rain across a 1,200-km (745-mile) stretch of Australia’s east coast, swelling rivers and prompting widespread flood warnings.

In Lismore in the north of neighbouring New South Wales state, the State Emergency Service told

residents to leave because weather forecasts predicted the town’s worst flood in nearly 20 years. The rural hub in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales is home to at least 25,000 people. Further north, Queensland’s government closed more than 2,000 schools as sustained heavy rainfall brought flash floods to the Gold Coast tourist area

and Mackay further north.

In the cyclone-hit tropical north, the poor weather has slowed what was expected to be a lengthy clean-up operation. Military helicopters, ferries and planes brought hundreds of holidaymakers stranded on resort islands in the storm’s path to the mainland, where tens of thousands more people were still without power. (rtr)

14

Friday, March 31, 2017

Fashion

International

Bali News

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

3

Some disaster victims celebrate Nyepi in refuge

BANGLI - Nyepi Day falling on Tuesday (Mar. 28) was used by most people as a moment to hold family gatherings at home.

However, it was differently taken advantage by a number of residents of Bantas hamlet, Songan, Kintamani, denoting the victims of landslide disaster. Due to being homeless, they are forced to celebrate Nyepi at the refugee camp having been occupied since last February.

Seoul Fashion Week Street Style is really, really good

SEOUL - If you think New York, London, Milan, and Paris are the only cities with amazing street style, you’re sorely missing out. Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Berlin are just some of the other global fashion weeks we’ve highlighted before, but

now we’re turning our attention to yet another worthy destination you might not be following as closely: Seoul Fashion Week.

Photographer Hongje Ahn’s Instagram is chock-full of amazing street style from the event,

which began on Monday and ends on Saturday, April 1. He captured an adorable pair of sisters, Korean model and actress Jini Lee wearing a cute midi skirt–and–ankle boots combo, and plenty of other street style stars. (IBP/net)

Kendall Jenner and Paris Jackson match outfits for the flea market YOU might have heard that Paris Jackson is well on her way to being the next It model—she’s already been signed by IMG Models (the same agency as Bella and Gigi Hadid), and she has landed the cover of Harper’s Bazaar. So it might not come as a surprise that she’s starting to spend time with one of the industry’s other buzziest models, Kendall Jenner.

The duo was spotted shopping at a Los Angeles flea market this week, where they went with coordinating outfits: green long-sleeve tops, jeans, and classic sneakers. While Jenner’s high-waisted, straight-leg jeans gave off a more polished vibe, Michael Jackson’s daughter opted for an edgier look with a ripped boyfriend iteration.

Whose outfit is more your style? (IBP/net)

One of them is Gede Arta. He revealed that this year’s Nyepi was differently celebrated from the previous year. Last year, he could celebrate Nyepi with family at home at Bantas hamlet, but yesterday’s Nyepi was forced to be celebrated in refugee camp with family.

“It’s awfully sad because the last year’s Ngerupuk was celebrated with family and I usually pay homage to ancestor together with family at home.

But, yesterday I just could say prayers at refugee camp,” he said on Wednesday (Mar. 29). Gede Arta mentioned that among dozens of residents who evacuated to village meeting hall, only five of them celebrated Nyepi in refugee camp on Tuesday. The five victims consisted of himself, two children, his wife and one of his brothers.

In the meantime, the other refugees, said Arta, celebrated Nyepi at their home at Bantas hamlet, while the remaining celebrated at the home of their respective relative.

Since there is no certainty when the refugees will be relocated, Arta said that celebration of Galungan and Kuningan remaining around the corner will probably also be celebrated in the refugee camp. “As there is no house to be occupied, I will be forced to celebrate the holiday here,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the stock of logistics for disaster victims, Arta said it has run out since the past ten days. He and other residents at the refugee camp are currently forced to meet daily needs by using private money provided by donators. “Hopefully, the government could immediately relocate us,” he hoped. (kmb40)

The refugees of Songan disaster

IBP/Dayu Rina

Hotel occupancy rate on Nyepi increases

DENPASAR - Hotel occupancy rate on Nyepi and the first three months at the beginning of the year increased. In Nusa Dua, Kuta and Sanur, the hotel occupancy rate averagely reached 50 percent.

“It increased when compared to last year’s Nyepi holiday approximately reaching 2 percent to 5 percent,” said Chairman of the

NEGARA - At least 22 inmates of Negara Prison received remission of Nyepi Day on Wednesday (Mar. 28). Reduction of their confinement period is provided for the inmates of common criminal who celebrate Nyepi. In the remission,

Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, on Wednesday (Mar. 29). The existence of local travelers that wanted to vacation at hotels also boosted the occupancy of about 2 percent to 3 percent.

Chairman of the Bali Hotel Association (BHA), Ricky Putra, also admitted such an increase. This GM

of The Royal Santrian Nusa Dua revealed that the occupancy reached 45 percent to 50 percent. “There is an average increase in the range of 3-5 percent,” he added.

The increase was also supported by domestic guests of 2 percent to 5 percent. “Besides, there are some foreign journalists that would like to cover the Nyepi celebration in Bali,” he added. All the hotels and

guests are encouraged to comply with all the rules in order to participate in making the sacred festival in Bali successful.

Although some travelers are stated to go out of Bali during the Nyepi, in reality many travelers were eager to see in person the implementation of Nyepi in Bali.

“There is no special package on Nyepi because we urge all hotels

22 inmates get Nyepi remission

there are no inmates directly free.

Meanwhile, those of specific crime such as corruption inmates do not get remission.

Inmate Service Subdivision Head of Negara Prison, I Nyoman Tulus Sedeng, told reporters that

the remission is granted to the inmates that celebrate Nyepi Day. He added the remission is given to prisoners who have qualified for the criteria. Remission for the 22 inmates varies. A total of 15 inmates got one-month remission;

six inmates got 15-day remission; and another inmate got one-month and 15-day remission. Overall, the inmates receiving the remission of Nyepi belong to common criminal.

In the meantime, a total of ten in-

to keep the rules related to the penyepian or Nyepi celebration,” he said.

So, in one quarter there was an increase in the hotel occupancy rate in Bali, especially the members of the BHA. During the first quarter, the hotel occupancy rate reached the range of 50 -55 percent and it is predicted to increase next April. (kmb42)

mates currently serving a sentence of corruption cases do not get any remission. According to him, the remission is regularly provided at certain occasions such as the anniversary of the Independence Day to religious feast days. (kmb26)

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Friday, March 31, 2017

Bali News

International

Ogoh-ogoh parade leaves dozen tons of trash

MANGUPURA - Ogoh-ogoh or papier mâché demon parade held at the night of Pengrupukan by Kuta customary village on Monday (Mar. 27) left tens of tons of trash. The trash is predominantly derived from visitors including travelers that witnessed the art event.

Head of the Badung Environment and Sanitation Agency (DLHK), Putu Eka Marthawan, said that his agency deployed 250 janitors and gardeners to overcome trash scattered about. “Most (trash—Ed) happened to the location of the Kuta customary village ogoh-ogoh competition because the audience, both foreign and domestic travelers, as well as local communities thronged the location,” said Eka Marthawan on Wednesday (Mar. 29).

According to him, the trash of offerings collected at the tourist village reached 15 tons and five other tons are inorganic waste. Therefore, his agency deployed full team because all areas, especially in the park area, were heavily guarded, and after the ogoh-ogoh parade all the team members moved quickly.

The Ogoh-ogoh parade geld in Tohpati.

“It is dominated by the waste of offerings nearly reaching 15 tons and 5 other tons are inorganic, so that it totally amounts to 20 tons or the equivalent of five trucks. The trash originates from Kuta customary village and surrounding areas,” he explained.

His agency recorded that the total trash generated after the tawur ceremony at each catus pata (central intersection) in Badung reached 75 tons. Meanwhile, the total waste handled by the agency team from Petang subdistrict to South Kuta subdistrict reached 75 tons of offering waste and 50 tons of inorganic waste.

“This waste is collected from Tawur to Pengrupukan celebration. From our records, the volume of inorganic waste reaches 50 tons,” he said.

Eka Merthawan admitted that the team of DLHK Badung worked hard to resolve the waste problem because the number of teams is not comparable to the waste collected. “With a total of field staff amounting to 900 people, almost all of them should work overtime until 03:00. It is the way we do sacrifice,” he concluded. (kmb27)

IBP/wawan

Activities

International

Friday, March 31, 2017

15

A Week of Ceremonies - Galungan & Kuningan

If March was all about the Nyepi celebrations when the whole island shuts down for a day, April sees quite the opposite with plenty of gaiety and excitement for the Galungan and Kuningan festivals.

After Nyepi, these are the two biggest celebrations for the Balinese with preparations and ceremonies taking place weeks in advance.

If you are in Bali during this time, then you’re in for a treat as you will get to witness some of the most captivating Balinese cultural

processions and ceremonies. It’s also fascinating to know that the Galungan marks the victory of good versus evil, and also the time when the ancestral spirits come down to visit Earth. Celebrations continue for a 10-day period until Kuningan day, which marks the day the ancestral spirits return to heaven.

Penampahan Galungan 4 April 2017

Penampahan means “slaughter”

WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS

Lukta Gni Tradition

IBP/Dewa Farend

Lukat Gni

To maintain balance and purity of macrocosm and microcosm

SEMARAPURA - Residents of Satria Kawan Palace, Paksebali village, Dawan, organized the lukat gni or flame war tradition. This tradition is carried out through generations every year falling on new moon of the Balinese ninth month or at the night of Pengrupukan or the day before celebration of Nyepi, Monday (Mar. 27).

Lukat gni also called flame war is derived from two words, namely lukat and gni. Lukat or melukat means cleansing of all impurities and the unseen while gni means fire. Lukat gni can be interpreted as a tradition of cleansing or purifying the microcosm and macrocosm from any kind of impurities by means of fire. This tradition is also aimed at maintaining balance of nature and humans to result in harmony in the implementation of the catur bratha penyepian or five abstinences.

This lukat gni tradition begins with a joint worship at temples or family temple to invoke safety and smoothness for the implementation of lukat gni. Dozens of youths that take part in this activity are then heading for the catus pata or central intersection of the village to carry out the tradition. Here, the participants further slammed the fire of tied danyuh (dried coconut leaves) onto each opponent. No injuries are seen despite being hit by fire. Moreover, there is no resentment among the participants. The atmosphere is

getting festive with the accompaniment of baleganjur orchestra.

Spiritual figure of Satria Kawan Palace, Mangku A.A. Gde Anom Merta, said that flame war is a heritage tradition of Satria Kawan Palace. “As younger generations, we must continue and preserve the traditions having been passed down by the elders here. This tradition has actually existed since around hundreds of years ago,” he said after the implementation of the lukat gni on Monday (Mar. 27).

According to him, the lukat gni often known as flame war is one of the purificatory rites carried out to purify the macrocosm and microcosm. Implementation of this annual tradition is expected to be able to neutralize negative effects and create harmony in ourselves and the balance of the universe.

“Through this lukat gni, we will create harmony and balance of the universe,” he said.

A participant of lukat gni, A.A. Gde Baskara Diningrat, said that he took this tradition to preserve the heritage. Armed with selfconfidence, he said, the heat of the fire afflicting to the body will not be felt. Every fire is believed to eliminate all the impurities inside.

“With the confidence I have, the more exposed to the fire, the more impurities will be missing from our body,” said Baskara who participates regularly in this tradition every year. (dwa)

 Founder : K.Nadha,  General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra  Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Sugiartha, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Suasrina, Buleleng: Dewa kusuma, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Dewa Farendra. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto.  Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post

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

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

in Balinese and it is the final day of preparations before the actual Galungan day (see below). Preparations usually begin 25 days before the big day and on this last day, adults are kept extremely busy with the making of “penjor”, “banten”, offerings and the slaughter of pigs and chickens, which are later used in traditional Balinese dishes such as lawar, babi guling and satay.

Children usually look forward to this day, as the atmosphere in every home is similar to that of a big family party.

Hari Raya Galungan 5 April 2017

The climax of the Galungan holiday celebrations, the second most important Balinese holiday after “Nyepi” will see most

Balinese returning to their ancestral homes to make offerings to God and their ancestors who came back to rest at this time in the family temple. Prayers and giving of offerings continue at the village temple as well as homes of neighbouring families who are closely affiliated to the family.

Umanis Galungan 6 April 2017

The day after Galungan is seen as a holiday and is spend visiting friends, family and even a fun outing like an excursion to the mountains for a picnic. Everyone is still wearing their ‘Sunday bests’ as they take to the streets to enjoy the festive spirit that Galungan brings to Bali.

Kuningan Day 15 April 2017

Kuningan is derived from the word “kuning”, meaning yellow. The Balinese believe that on this day, their ancestors return to heaven after visiting earth for theGalungan celebrations. As a symbol of gratitude, they make offerings of yellow rice placed in bowls made of coconut leaves. The bowls are decorated with figures of shadow puppets, which represent angels that bring joy and wealth to earth.

In some villages, Barongs can be seen going from house-to-house followed by children playing traditional Balinese musical instruments.

Let’s celebrate the victory of good over evil in Bali. Feel the festive spirit of the ceremonies by enjoying every ceremonies of Galungan & Kuningan.

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

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

16 Pages Number 63 9th year

Price: Rp 3.000,-

Friday, March 31, 2017

Book: Angelina Jolie was drugtested for ‘Tomb Raider’

NEW YORK — To help shed her early reputation, Angelina Jolie agreed to be drug tested during production of 2001’s “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” according to a new book.

The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday released an excerpt from an upcoming biography of the former studio head Sherry Lansing, “Leading Lady.” Lansing stepped down as Paramount Pictures chairman and chief executive in 2005.

When casting the then 24-year-old Jolie for “Lara Croft,” Lansing had concerns about Jolie’s stability. This was

shortly before the actress wed Billy Bob Thornton.

Then-Paramount production president John Goldwyn said the studio had Jolie undergo random drug tests. Director Simon West recounts that Jolie, eager for the part and to prove herself, said she would do anything — including daily drug tests — to “prove that I’m worthy.” (ap)

Timberlake follows Swift as F1 Austin crowd-puller LONDON - Singer Justin Timberlake has been confirmed as the headline act at this year’s U.S. Formula One Grand Prix as organisers seek to build on the crowd-pulling success of Taylor Swift’s appearance at the 2016 race.

Timberlake, whose Oscar-nominated song ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ won him a 10th Grammy Award, will appear on stage on Saturday Oct. 21 at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas (COTA) after qualifying. Last year’s race ended a trend of declining audiences and drew a record crowd of 269,000 with Swift’s first concert of the year watched by some 80,000 people.

“Last year did what we hoped it would do, which is not only enhance an already great event but also give us the chance to expose a lot of new people to the sport,”

COTA chairman Bobby Epstein told Reuters. “And it worked. “I think where we saw a big change was in the average number of tickets sold per transaction, which told me that families were buying.

And so I think we’ll see that continue.”

The 2017 F1 season, which began in Melbourne last weekend, is the first with the sport being run by American company Liberty Media, which took control of Formula One in January.

Liberty replaced CVC Capital Partners as the sport’s commercial rights holders, with Chase Carey ousting 86-year-old Bernie Ecclestone as commercial supremo. F1 has long struggled to get a foothold in the American market, so hopes are high thatTimberlake’s performance can build on last year’s successful race weekend.

Bad weather hit the track’s revenues significantly in 2015, with Saturday’s final practice taking place behind closed doors due to flooded conditions and qualifying moved to the Sunday. Epstein said COTA would refund 105 percent of the value of any three-day reserved seat ticket purchased by July 4 if more than two inches of rain falls in the 24-hour period before the start of the race. In addition, the ticket would still be good for the race. (rtr) Recording artist Justin Timberlake accepts the award for Song of the Year during the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California U.S., March 5, 2017.

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Friday, March 31, 2017

For Ivanka Trump, rising profile comes with backlash WASHINGTON — She has a West Wing office, facetime with world leaders and unrivaled access to the president.

And as Ivanka Trump’s White House role grows, so does the backlash.

Ivanka Trump, a first daughter with first-in-recent-history influence, has become fodder in a heated national conversation about gender politics and ideological beliefs.

While she has won fans for her interest in advancing women, critics have questioned her qualifications, her power, her politics and her ethics. Trump showed Wednesday she is sensitive to some of the discussion.

After weeks of resisting a formal role in her father’s White House, she said she would become a federal employee, although an unpaid one. The decision was aimed at quieting ethics experts who noted her informal role allowed her to avoid filing financial disclosure forms and other transparency requirements.

In a statement announcing the decision, Trump said she had “heard the concerns” of critics and was working with the

White House to address “the unprecedented nature of my role.”

She previously planned to work out of a West Wing office in a more informal capacity, while voluntarily following ethics rules.

Asked about the criticism of her White House work, Trump acknowledged in a statement to the Associated Press that she “wouldn’t be here in Washington if my father wasn’t elected president.” But she added, “I want to add positive and meaningful value and people will be able to judge with time if I’ve been successful in that goal.”

It is difficult to find first family members who have raised similar levels of public fascination and broad debate, particularly among political women.

Some of the toughest knocks, although not all, are coming from liberals who think Ivanka Trump has done too little to temper the president’s conservative agenda.

Trump has seized on a set of typically progressive issues, notably family leave and child care, leading many to assume she did not share her father’s nationalistic politics.

Since her father took office, she has staged several events relating

to women and workforce development, but avoided all public comment on her father’s travel ban, border wall, proposed budget cuts or the rollback in climate-change regulations.

“For every woman who held out hope that maybe Trump isn’t going to be so bad, or that she’d be able to curtail the worst of his impulses, it hasn’t happened,” said novelist Jennifer Weiner.

That view was captured in a “Saturday Night Live” send-up that featured her in an advertisement for a perfume called “Complicit.” A voiceover called it “the fragrance for the woman who can stop all this ... but won’t.”

Ivanka Trump’s defenders argue that the first daughter is being held to an unfairly high standard. Carrie Lukas, managing director of the conservative Independent Women’s Network, said “a lot of this criticism of her overlooks that she is a pretty accomplished woman in her own right.”

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