I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
In new book, Ivanka Trump gets serious about women at work
WASHINGTON — Ivanka Trump’s first foray into selfhelp writing came in 2009 with “The Trump Card,” a breezy compilation of workplace advice, stories about her dealmaker dad and a hefty dose of celebrity namedropping. But in her second book, released Tuesday, Trump has gone from sassy to serious. “Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success” offers earnest advice for women on advancing in the workplace, balancing family and professional life and seeking personal fulfilment. She
is donating the proceeds to charity and has opted not to do any publicity to avoid any suggestion that she is improperly using her White House platform. It’s natural that Ivanka Trump’s thinking would evolve. Now 35, she is married and has had three children since she wrote the first
book. She has also embraced advocacy for women, first at her fashion brand and now at the White House as an unpaid adviser. She stepped away from executive roles at the Trump Organization and her fashion brand before joining her father ’s administration, though she still owns the brand, which has prompted criticism from ethics experts that she could profit from her rising profile. (ap)
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
White House defends Trump invitation to Duterte despite human rights criticism
WASHINGTON - The White House on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s decision to invite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Washington, saying his cooperation was needed to counter North Korea, even as the administration faced human rights criticism for its overture to Manila.
Ivanka Trump s
Trump issued the invitation on Saturday night in what the White House said was a “very friendly” phone conversation with Duterte, who is accused by international human rights groups of supporting a campaign of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines. “There is nothing right now facing this country and facing the region that is a bigger threat than what’s happening in North Korea,” White House chief of staff Reince Priebus told ABC’s “This Week” during a weekend in which Trump sought to firm up support in Southeast Asia to help rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. North Korea suggested on Monday it would continue its nuclear weapons tests, saying it will bolster its force “to the maximum” in a “consecutive and successive way at any moment” in the face of what it calls U.S. aggression and hysteria. Priebus insisted the outreach to Duterte “doesn’t mean that human rights don’t matter, but what it does mean is that the issues facing us developing out of North Korea are so
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File
The Met Gala: Rihanna encased in petals NEW YORK — The color red made a dramatic show Monday night in the grand parade of fashion at the Met Gala, including co-chair Katy Perry’s look, as did glittery gold and blue feathers on the back of Blake Lively. But many of the evening’s highlights were courtesy of luminaries who channeled honoree Rei Kawakubo, including Rihanna encased in fluttery petal-like pieces by the Japanese designer. Rihanna gestured to the crowd from the carpet in her Commes des Garcons look with stagey pink on her cheeks. Her look was two pieces and a sliver of stomach peeked out from the freewheeling design. Perry wore a veiled dress created just for her by John Galliano, while Pharrell’s wife, Helen Lasichanh, wore one of Kawakubo’s avant-garde, bulbous and armless jumpsuits. Lively’s movie star gown with the feathered train was Versace. While some of the celebs from the worlds of film, TV, fashion, sports and music were inspired by Kawakubo, others made a splash in more classic looks, including Jennifer Lopez Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Rihanna attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit in 1950s elegance, a baby blue Valentino gown gala celebrating the opening of the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art by Pierpaolo Piccioli. Perry wore a silver head piece and black of the In-Between exhibition on Monday, May 1, 2017, in New York.
accents around the eyes with an embroidered wool coat layered over a red tulle and silk chiffon dress, her sleeves elongated in a nod to Kawakubo, all by Maison Margiela Artisanal. Music mogul Diddy, meanwhile, laid down on the carpet to watch girlfriend Cassie pose in a black gown with a huge, spikey train she wore with large, glittery ear cuffs. He wore an embellished cape in a spider web design that carried over to his Rick Owens tuxedo. “It took a half-hour to get ready. We dress like this on the weekends,” he joked. Speaking of the weekend, Selena and her date — The Weeknd — smooched on the carpet in a classic white, delicately embellished gown from Coach designer Stuart Vevers. Madonna went for green camo from Moschino, Tracee Ellis Ross in royal blue Comme des Garcons and Kim Kardashian West — without husband Kanye West — in understated, long-sleeve white from Vivienne Westwood. Nicki Minaj, in a black bustier romper with a huge black-and-red cape from H&M, is a pro when it comes to arrivals. “I stood up in the van the whole way,” she said of her trip to the Met in her larger-than-life ensemble. (ap)
10 Malaika Scret 11 Snack Shack 12 Warung Lokal 13 Cokro Cafee 14 T.J.Bar 15 J & N Kebab 16 Goanna Bar 17 Batu Jimbar 18 Ramayana Cafee
Jl. D.Poso No 68 Jl. D.Poso No. 50D Jl. D.Poso No. 39 Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur Jl. D.Tamblingan
19 Smirnof Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 20 Legwa Hotel Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 21 Nu Laser Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 22 Ganesa Book Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 23 All For Daiving Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 24 Barocca Jl.Petitenget 17 DKerobokan 25 Lantern Jl.Petitenget 17E Kerobokan 26 Shearlock Jl.Petitenget 17C Kerobokan Klod 27 Cafe Degan Jl.Petitenget 9 Kerobokan Klod
28 Kopi Made Jl. Raya Puputan No. 106 Dps 29 Dimsum Manan Jl. Raya Niti Mandala Renon No 148 30 Furama Jl. Raya Niti Mandala No. 148 Renon 31 Warung Subah Renon Jl. Mohamad Yamin No.18 32 Ayam Betutu khas Gilimanuk Jl. Merdeka No.88 Renon 33 Bali Bakery Jl. Hayam Wuruk 184 Denpasar
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Philippine presidents
Approval ratings* of past Philippine presidents compared to incumbent president, Rodrigo Duterte.
Corazon Aquino 1986-1992
You can find International Bali Post at: 1 Kuta Beach Club Jl. Bakung Sari Kuta 2 Wen Dys Kuta the Coffe Bear Jl. Pantai Kuta 3 Seminyak Paradiso Bali Hotel Jl. Camplung Tanduk 4 Ramayana Resort&Spa Jl. Bakung Sari Kuta 5 The Lokha Legian Resort&Spa Jl. Padma Legian Kuta 6 66 Corner Live Sport Emtertaiment Jl. Doble Six/Werkudara 23 7 Leghawa Grill Jl. D.Tamblingan No. 51 8 Retno Barr dan Restoran Jl. D.Tamblingan No.126 A Sanur 9 Elkomedor Jl. D.Tamblingan 140
serious that we need cooperation at some level with as many partners in the area as we can get to make sure we have our ducks in a row.” Since he came to power last year, Duterte has often sniped at Washington, his country’s longtime ally, has sought to mend relations with China and spoken of improving ties with Russia. Asked on Monday about his invitation from Trump, he was non-committal, telling reporters: “I’m tied up. “I cannot make any definite promise. I am supposed to go to Russia and go to Israel,” he said, referring to already scheduled visits. Foreign Ministry spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said that once a formal letter of invitation came it would be accepted.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reviews members of the Russian Navy before touring Russian Navy guided missile cruiser Varyag, docked during a goodwill visit, at Pier 15, South Harbor, Metro Manila, Philippines April 21, 2017.
Joseph Estrada 1998-2001
Gloria MacapagalArroyo 2001-2010
Benigno Aquino III 2010-2016
Rodrigo Duterte 2016-present
+80
+80
+60
+60
+40
+40
+20
+20
0
0
-20
-20
-40
-40
-60
REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Fidel Ramos 1992-1998
'90
'95
'00
'05
'10
'15
*Net satisfaction ratings = Percent of satisfied minus percent of dissatisfied correctly rounded. March 2017 survey has a sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (area in Luzon outside Mega Manila), Visayas and Mindanao. Sample size is 1,200 (300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Source: Social Weather Stations surveys C. Inton, 18/04/2017
-60
2
Bali News
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Trade sector absorbs most work forces DENPASAR - Employment absorption in Denpasar throughout 2016 showed that trade business sector absorbed the most work forces. This sector was able to absorb work force as much as 42.33 percent, far above the other sectors. In fact, the sector was able to reduce unemployment rate in the past five years.
IBP/Cubit
The ceramics industry is one of the handicrafts that absorbs many workers.
agency planned to create a forum consisting of the education and training institutes (LPK) in Denpasar. In the meantime, graduates of vocational schools must hold certificate of competence according to the skills acquired at school. By this way, they will be ready to get involved in the job market, so that it will be able to reduce the work force having not been absorbed in Denpasar. Another effort remaining to be attempted in this Chinese year of the fire rooster is to organize a job fair. This activity aims to bring together job seekers and the employers. This annual event is also expected to open job opportunities for more than 10,000 job seekers in Denpasar. Anom Suradi added that from the experience so far the job fair activities are very effective to reduce the number of unemployment in Denpasar. Every time organizing the job fair, at least 25 percent of job seekers can get absorbed. It is effective enough to reduce unemployment in Denpasar, he said. He recognized that of the 10,000 work forces, they are not entirely having a yellow card (jobseeker card). “Only 40 percent of them are looking for yellow card, whereas this card is very important when looking for job opportunities and become one of the requirements to apply for a job,” he said. (kmb12)
This was confirmed by Deputy Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, in the plenary session of the Denpasar House of Representatives with the agenda of delivering the accountability report of Denpasar mayor for fiscal year 2016 on Monday (Apr. 17). Jaya Negara asserted that the other sectors also absorbing a lot of work forces consist of services that reached 22.75 percent and industry (12.66 percent) and other sectors (22.26 percent). Meanwhile, the open unemployment rate (TPT) decreased when compared to 2010 reaching 6.57 percent and in 2015 reaching 3.54 percent. However, this is still above the average of the province reaching only 1.99 percent, said Jaya Negara. Previously, Denpasar manpower agency predicted that job opportunities this year will be held by tourism sector. This new sector having become a trend such as yoga trainer is also quite potential to absorb work force in 2017. Head of the Denpasar Social and Manpower Agency, IGA Anom Suradi, who Table of Labor met on the sidelines Description Amount Percentage of the inauguration Working Age Population 668,230 of civil servants in Labor Force 485,724 the Denpasar muWorking 468,515 nicipality, recently Unemployment 17,209 revealed that the Non-Labor Force 182,506 working program Labor Force Participation Rate (LFBR) 72.69 will be focused on Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) 3.54 certification of the workers in DenpasSource: Central Statistics Agency of Denpasar, 2016 ar. Moreover, his
Tabanan labor dominates handicraft and tourism sector Foreigner only seven persons
TABANAN - Small industry or handicraft is a mainstay commodity for Tabanan district in addition to being the center for agriculture. It is not wrong if the opportunity of industrial sector is taken over by local people. Based on the data of the Tabanan manpower agency, at least 70 percent of the local workforce in this Bali’s rice barn region reaching 6,889 people is engaged in the in-
dustry or handicraft sector as well as tourism sector. “They are dominated by local workers, while foreign workers only amount to 7 people,” explained the Head of the Tabanan Manpower Agency, Putu Santika, when contacted on Monday (May 1). He said that industrial or handicraft sector in Tabanan remains to have a high potential to absorb labor force. For example, it can be absorbed by
ceramic and iron craft industry. He added that the Tabanan district is the largest center of iron craft in the Bali region. Moreover, it is supported by Bali as the largest tourist destination in Indonesia so that iron or metal handicraft products are growing very rapidly and even spread across the rural areas. “In addition to the industry, tourism sector is also engaged by local people,” he said.
This official from Gubug village also admitted that until now Tabanan remains to have unemployment but the number has started to decline. “There are 204 jobseekers, but 106 of them have been recruited,” he said. Amid the competition for job positions due to incessant migrant population, Santika assessed the local labor of Tabanan is not inferior. This is also evidenced by the
decline in the number of unemployment due to incessant training activities organized. As of December 2016, there were only 9,947 people that attended training. Most of them are of high school graduates that do not continue their education. Meanwhile, college or university graduates are rarely participating in the training organized by manpower agency because they have owned their own skill. (kmb28)
Founder : K.Nadha, General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Gugiek Savindra Editors:Agus Toni, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Sueca, Sugiartha, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Suasrina, Buleleng: Dewa kusuma, Gianyar: Manik Astajaya, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Dewa Farendra. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publisher: PT Bali Post
Activities
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
15
Rebooting the Mind and Body in Bali’s Highlands
There’s something definitely different about the Central Balinese community of Ubud, a place revered by 9th Century Hindu priests who paused there to meditate and reflect at Campuan – the sacred juncture of two rivers. Equally renowned for its wide range of endemic medicinal herbs and plants and its overall healing atmosphere, Ubud fittingly derives it names from the term Ubad – meaning medicine in ancient Balinese. Set in the cool highlands of Bali, 200-meters above sea level, and just 30-minutes from the main seaside tourist areas to the south - Ubud has its own distinct mojo that has long proven irresistible to natives and visitors alike. In the early 1930s, a cousin of an American President sharing the same surname, André Roosevelt, released a film made on the Island titled GoonaGoona that is credited with starting a worldwide craze for all things Balinese. That craze for Bali style and culture continues to this day as a record number of visitors continue to come to re-discover that “Old Black Magic” of Bali celebrated in film and song. The lure of Bali has long drawn the world’s glitterati to Bali’s shores. Among the artists and famous of an earlier era who paused in Ubud are numbered Walter Spies, Ketut Tantri (Muriel Stuart Walker), Willem Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Arie Smit, Charlie Chaplin, Noel Conrad, Barbara Hutton, H.G. Wells, Vicki Baum and Colin McPhee. In more recent times, a survey of an Ubud restaurant or coffee shop could have revealed Barack Obama, Julia Roberts, Mick Jagger, Barbara Streisand, Donna Karyn or any of a number of
music and film industry stars casually sipping a latte. Following on from the natural magnetism of the area that still colors daily life, the 106 villas and suites of the Visesa Ubud exudes the many charms and healing ambient of Ubud from its generous 6.5-hectare site. Only 2.2 kilometers from Ubud’s city center and a further 100-meter higher at 300-meters above sea level, the Resort seeks to retain Ubud’s reputation as a place to reboot the mind, spirit and body for an entire new generation of Bali visitors. To the Balinese, art is simple perfection in the execution of everyday activities – the essence of which is, in turn, presented as a humble offering to the Gods. Accordingly, on an Island where remarkably talented dancers, carvers, musicians, painters and women making intricate temple offerings see themselves as unremarkable students, farmers, shopkeepers and housewives – the Visesa strives to celebrate Balinese art and culture in the same understated way. Service and duties are undertaken with a grace born from a shared understanding that the God’s demand nothing less than mindfulness in all things. This mindfulness and attention to detail can be seen in every corner of the Resort. Guest standing in the Resort’s lobby can be forgiven being mesmerized by a lobby façade hand-carved from volcanic sandstone; a sacred lionlike barong standing at the lobby’s center who is “fed” with offerings on a daily basis; and an extensive gallery of collectable art derived from the many schools-of-art that emanate from this part of Bali. At
its core, the Visesa Ubud is about refreshing the mind and body by making each guest feel like he or she has been reborn as a member of a traditional Balinese community. At the Visesa strangers are quickly made friends by team member who take turns leading guests on tours that reveal the many hidden treasure of life on the “Island of the Gods.” The Visesa Ubud is first and foremost about caring and sharing, the same traits encountered by anyone who has been privileged to be welcomed as a guest into any Balinese household. Where else but in Bali can a guest be invited to participate in a traditional “melukat” blessing ceremony; invited to bathe at a sacred purifying spring; join a
bimonthly Kajen Kliwon ceremony at a community temple; consult with an in-house traditional Balian healer; get massaged into blissful relaxation in a candlelit cave; be dressed in Royal Balinese garments for the holiday photo of a lifetime; receive a facial and neck massage while you sitting submerged at the edge of a swimming pool; or join a tour of the Resort and the surrounding villages while riding on an antique bicycle? Expect to be overwhelmed with attention and growing familial affection when staying at the Visesa Resort – referred to as “Desa Visesa” or “the Village of Visesa” by those living in the surrounding community. Listen with rapt attention as your waiter
hand grinds and shares a recipe for a delicious “sambal” while you enjoy a rice-paddy side meal at “Warung Sawah.” Be invited on a garden tour by the Resort’s Chef who will explain a treasure-trove of herbs and spices growing in a space he calls his “living kitchen.” Join the in giggles and local gossip as you sit in a garden pavilion with local women preparing a towering “gebongan” offering of fruits and flowers for a coming festival. Limber up at a Balinese dance lesson or a daily yoga session. And, trade smiles, waves and shouted greetings with the locals during a leisurely walking tour of a local village. Enjoying pride-of-place at the Visesa Ubud is its large and working permaculture garden that champions sustainability by growing organic produce that guests can enjoy in “Warung Tani” – a dining area surrounded by the Resort’s farming gardens. As a permaculture project, the Resort’s gardens represent a skillful combination and rotation of plants that naturally repel pests without the use of herbicides and pesticides, and promotes crop rotations that naturally maintain the rich fertility of the Balinese soil. No less important to the success of the Resort’s permaculture gardens is strict adherence to the Balinese Calendar that dictates the most auspicious dates for both the planting and harvesting of each agricultural crop.For further information please contact Desa Visesa Ubud, Suweta Street Banjar Bentuyung Sakti, Ubud. Phone: +62361 2091788, email:info@visesabud.com and website www.visesaubud.com
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Technology
International
Hackers exploited Word flaw for months while Microsoft investigated
REUTERS/Edgar Su
Graymatics employees pretend to fight as they record footage to be used to “train” their software to watch and filter internet videos for violence, at their office in Singapore April 27, 2017.
Tech firms race to spot video violence
SINGAPORE - Companies from Singapore to Finland are racing to improve artificial intelligence so software can automatically spot and block videos of grisly murders and mayhem before they go viral on social media.
None, so far, claim to have cracked the problem completely. A Thai man who broadcast himself killing his 11-month-old daughter in a live video on Facebook this week, was the latest in a string of violent crimes shown live on the social media company. The incidents have prompted questions about how Facebook’s reporting system works and how violent content can be flagged faster. A dozen or more companies are wrestling with the problem, those in the industry say. Google - which faces similar problems with its YouTube service - and Facebook are working on their own solutions. Most are focusing on deep learning: a type of artificial intelligence that makes use of computerised neural networks. It is an approach that David Lissmyr, founder of Paris-based image and video analysis company Sightengine, says goes back to efforts in the 1950s to mimic the way neurons work and interact in the brain. Teaching computers to learn with deep layers of artificial neurons has really only taken off in the past few years, said Matt Zeiler, founder and CEO of New York-based Clarifai, another video analysis company. It’s only been relatively recently that there has been enough computing power and data available for teaching these systems, enabling “exponential leaps in the accuracy and efficacy of machine learning”, Zeiler said.
SAN FRANCISCO - To understand why it is so difficult to defend computers from even moderately capable hackers, consider the case of the security flaw officially known as CVE-2017-0199. The bug was unusually dangerous but of a common genre: it was in Microsoft software, could allow a hacker to seize control of a personal computer with little trace, and was fixed April 11 in Microsoft’s regular monthly security update. But it had traveled a rocky, ninemonth journey from discovery to resolution, which cyber security experts say is an unusually long time. Google’s security researchers, for example, give vendors just 90 days’ warning before publishing flaws they find. Microsoft Corp declined to say how long it usually takes to patch a flaw. While Microsoft investigated, hackers found the flaw and ma-
nipulated the software to spy on unknown Russian speakers, possibly in Ukraine. And a group of thieves used it to bolster their efforts to steal from millions of online bank accounts in Australia and other countries. Those conclusions and other details emerged from interviews with researchers at cyber security firms who studied the events and analyzed versions of the attack code. Microsoft confirmed the sequence of events. The tale began last July, when Ryan Hanson, a 2010 Idaho State University graduate and consultant at boutique security firm Optiv Inc in Boise, found a weakness in the way that Microsoft Word processes documents from another format. That allowed him to insert a link to a malicious program that would take control of a computer. (rtr)
FEEDING IMAGES
The teaching system begins with images fed through the computer’s neural layers, which then “learn” to identify a street sign, say, or a violent scene in a video. Violent acts might include hacking actions, or blood, says Abhijit Shanbhag, CEO of Singaporebased Graymatics. If his engineers can’t find a suitable scene, they film it themselves in the office. Zeiler says Clarifai’s algorithms can also recognise objects in a video that could be precursors to violence -- a knife or gun, for instance. But there are limits. One is the software is only as good as the examples it is trained on. When someone decides to hang a child from a building, it’s not necessarily something the software has been programmed to watch for. “As people get more innovative about such gruesome activity, the system needs to be trained on that,” said Shanbhag, whose company filters video and image content on behalf of several social media clients in Asia and elsewhere. Another limitation is that violence can be subjective. A fast-moving scene with lots of gore should be easy enough to spot, says Junle Wang, head of R&D at France-based PicPurify. But the company is still working on identifying violent scenes that don’t involve blood or weapons. Psychological torture, too, is hard to spot, says his colleague, CEO Yann Mareschal. And then there’s content that could be deemed offensive without being intrinsically violent -- an ISIS flag, for example -- says Graymatics’s Shanbhag. That could require the system to be tweaked depending on the client. (rtr)
Bali News
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
3
Lake Tamblingan overflows, Gubug Temple submerged SINGARAJA - Overflowing water does not only take place in Lake Buyan. Similar condition also happens to Lake Tamblingan, Munduk village, Banjar. The condition having lasted for one month soaks the Gubug Temple and the area usually taken advantage as the venue of the Twin Lakes Festival implementation. Based on field observation on Monday (May 1), the lake water has soaked the temple foundation with a height of about one meter. A number of trees planted in the area usually used as the venue of the Twin Lakes Festival also experiences similar condition. However, the phenomenon having lasted for five years becomes an attraction to residents as a fishing ground. One of the villagers, Nyoman Oka, said that the overflowing water of the lake has been going on since about two months ago. However, it has just soaked the temple since about a month. “It’s been happening from a month ago,” said this man while netting fish. If compared to the condition of few years ago, the current volume of lake water is still less and so is the flooded area. “In the past, this area was entirely soaked. The temple will also be affected, but the current condition is not worse yet,” he said. Meanwhile, chief of Tamblingan hamlet, I Wayan Sarika, said that condition of Gubug Temple is still quite good when being submerged and so far there are no damages yet. “Now, the submerged part is just the pedestal, has not yet reached inside the area. But, there is no damages yet,” he said. In such condition, he continued, when there is worship at the temple, the pilgrims are temporarily transported by boat. “Since the water is high enough, the visit to temple will be transported by a boat. Fortunately, the distance is very close,” he said. (kmb45)
IBP/kmb45
The condition having lasted for one month soaks the Gubug Temple and the area usually taken advantage as the venue of the Twin Lakes Festival implementation.
North Badung tax office canvasses untaxed villas
Geo-tagging targets 38,000 taxpayers
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A Microsoft logo is seen a day after Microsoft Corp’s $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn Corp, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on June 14, 2016.
MANGUPURA - Tax potential of the tourism industry in North Badung region remains very large. Moreover, many villa accommodations have not been taxed (have no taxpayer identity number). To that end, this year the tax office services (KPP) Pratama of North Badung will perform data collection and search of villas in the area of North Badung. “We will record the number of villas in Badung through villa canvassing as well as mapping out the locations by using geo tagging. This taxpayer canvassing refers to the Regulation of Directorate General of Tax No. PER-35 / PJ / 2013 on tax extensification procedures,”
said the Head of the KPP Pratama of North Badung, Guntur Wijaya Edi, on Friday (Apr. 28). He said that canvassing target of taxpayers by using geo-tagging application 2017 the KPP Pratama of North Badung launched on Friday (Apr. 28) amounted to 38,000 taxpayers. With these data, the agency also targeted to get prospective new tax payers. “We are targeting the addition of 2,000 new taxpayers,” he said. Meanwhile, the villa canvassing program will be focused in the area of North Kuta subdistrict. According to Guntur, the region has the highest potential of accommodation. Of the four subdistricts under the KPP Pratama of North Badung
working area, the contribution of revenue in the region of North Kuta reached 50 percent. “All this time, there are still many accommodation businesses having been operating and receiving income to reaping profits but have not paid taxes. Surely, this injures the sense of justice. They run business in Badung, but do not want to pay taxes. Meanwhile, the licensed businesses must perform their obligations including paying taxes,” he said. From the data of the Badung tourism office in 2016, there were 1,049 licensed hotels in Badung. They consist of 155 star hotels, 849 non-star hotels and 45 condotels.
Then, cottages amount to 1,212 units and 43 rental homes. Ultimately, the total room of the hotel, cottage and rental houses reached 67,719 rooms. Until the end of this April, the KPP Pratama of North Badung is categorized into the region with high taxpayer compliance. So far, the recorded taxpayers having submitted annual tax returns have reached 92.7 percent. Actually, the percentage of SPT submission in Bali only amounts to 66 percent. “We continue to establish communication with taxpayers through proactive pattern,” he said. He revealed that many villa owners in Badung are foreigners but on behalf of local residents
(nominee). It is evident from the participation of foreign taxpayers in the tax amnesty program having ended on March 31. “Many foreign taxpayers participated in the tax amnesty for their assets and businesses in Badung. Therefore, we now want to record and trace the existing villas,” he explained. Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tax Consultant (IKPI) Bali, Kadek Agus Ardika, on that opportunity appreciated to what has been done by the KPP Pratama of North Badung. “Our clients are not afraid to pay taxes, but there must be education and approach so that they feel comfortable in submitting taxes,” he said. (kmb23)
4
Bali News
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Quality standard fulfilled
China still rejects mangosteen of Indonesia
Japan wrestles over smoking ban as Olympics loom
TABANAN - Some time ago the government gave signal that the export of mangosteen can go directly to China. Certainly, this becomes a good indication for farmers and exporters. With direct shipping to China, the shipping cost can be reduced and the price at the farmer level can be better. However, in order to get directly to China farmers must comply with the established quality standards. Currently, although it has met the quality standards, the mangosteen from Indonesia is still refused to enter directly to China. In order to enter this country, Indonesia’s mangosteen must transit first to third countries such as Malaysia. A farmer who is also mangosteen exporter from Pupuan subdistrict, Jero Putu Tesan, said the blocking of mangosteen by China has actually happened since 2013. It makes mangosteen exports to China have to go through a third country in order to get into China. As a result, the sales chain of local mangosteen becomes longer, so that the quality of local mangosteen becomes less good. Objection of Chinese government to receive Indonesia’s mangosteen is based on the absence of quality standards such as registration of plantation on mangosteen plants. Responding to this objection, Pupuan mangosteen farmers,
according to Jero Putu Tesan, have followed up with the registration as well as quality improvement. However, even though this standard has been met, the Chinese government still insists on banning Indonesia’s mangosteen trade to enter directly into the country. With this problem, as a farmer he hoped that the Indonesian government through the quarantine office and the ministry of agriculture continuously finds common ground with the Chinese government so that the export of mangosteen can be made directly to China as previously. Moreover, absorption of mangosteen to China is large enough reaching 5,0006,000 tons per harvest season. The price is also much higher when compared to that of local market where the maximum price at local market is just around IDR 20,000IDR 22,000 per kg, but the price of mangosteen in Chinese market
can reach IDR 40,000 per kg with unlimited demand. Regarding this issue, the Division Head of the Tabanan Agricultural Infrastructure and Facility at the Tabanan Agriculture Agency, Nyoman Wiadnyana, on Monday (May 1) added that the government has given positive signal that mangosteen from Indonesia can be sent directly to China if the quality standard has been fulfilled. However, the reality is just the opposite. Wiadnyana himself admitted that he did not know about the exact problem whether the quality standard to be met by farmers is still inadequate in the perspective of Chinese government or there are still any other problems. To that end, it is still needed coordination with central government, in this case the ministry of agriculture, to know exactly what the problem is. He continued that mangosteen
REUTERS/KCNA handout via Reuters/File Photo & REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo
A combination photo shows a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) handout of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un released on May 10, 2016, and Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump posing for a photo after an interview with Reuters in his office in Trump Tower, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016.
IBP/file
Although it has met the quality standards, the mangosteen from Indonesia is still refused to enter directly to China. production of Pupuan is not maximal because of the current extreme weather. “So, the number remains a little to meet the needs of exports. Hopefully, this problem can be
resolved so that when mangosteen production in the upcoming harvest season is abundant, farmers can export directly to China,” he explained. (kmb24)
Preserve Kamasan puppet
Dozens of painters demonstrate how to paint
SEMARAPURA - The wayang or puppet painters showcased their typical painting techniques of Kamasan village in Bale Kambang, Kerta Gosa Park, on Monday (May
1). The painters coalesced into the Sekar Harum group showed off their talents and skills ranging from painting to coloring the typical puppet painting of Kamasan village
IBP/dwa
Amid the efforts of district government to realize Kamasan tourism village, this painting will be used as a spearhead to attract travelers to Kamasan village.
on canvas and various other media in front of visitors to Kerta Gosa Park. A number of foreign travelers happening to visit Kerta Gosa also enthusiastically observed the painters in action. Other than introducing how to paint Kamasan-style puppet, the action was also done to enliven the 109th celebration of Puputan Klungkung and 25th anniversary of Semarapura town. Sekar Harum group leader, Nyoman Arcana, said that his group of 25 people are senior painters having aged 45 years and over. They have long struggled in the Kamasan puppet-style painting, engaging in this profession as a livelihood. This group has been recognized by the government of Klungkung to participate in introducing how to paint Kamasan puppet style every day in Kerta Gosa Park. “Every day, our group members in turn show off how to paint puppet. However, this time is meant to enliven the festival. The whole group members paint together at this loca-
tion,” said Nyoman Arcana. He added that typical puppet painting of Kamasan village has existed since Ida Dalem Waturenggong era. Initial idea of this painting was intended to make sacrifice through the making of decorative ceremonies such as kober ider-ider, ulon-ulon, and tedung, fan et cetera. The stories depicted contain philosophical values of Hinduism and Balinese culture. On that account, puppet painting of Kamasan style is a cultural heritage that still looks intact until now. In order to continuously survive in modern times, the puppet painting should keep innovating by using various media such as fans, umbrellas, eggs, wallets and sokasi (bamboo food basket) so as to have commercial value. “Every day, we engage in the classical puppet painting of Kamasan style. We are teaching our children and grandchildren to paint puppet so that this painting will not go extinct because no one still pursues,” said Nyoman Arcana.
Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, who attended the event, even had nostalgia about his youth who learned to paint Kamasan style puppet because he had lived at Kamasan village at Tarca’s home for two years. Moreover, all the group members can still be recognized one by one by this regent from Nusa Ceningan. “I used to learn and can paint Kamasan-style puppet, but now we’ve forgotten,” said Regent Suwirta. He convinced the painters that Kamasan-style paintings must be sustainable. The regeneration process should continue to be done so that the characteristic of this painting will not go extinct. Amid the efforts of district government to realize Kamasan tourism village, this painting will be used as a spearhead to attract travelers to Kamasan village. “Kamasan puppet painting having been famous so that we will make it into the spearhead of the Kamasan tourism village,” said Regent Suwirta optimistically. (dwa)
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N.Korea says US bomber flights push peninsula to brink of nuclear war
SEOUL - North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of pushing the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war after a pair of strategic U.S. bombers flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces in another show of strength. The two supersonic B-1B Lancer bombers were deployed amid rising tensions over North Korea’s dogged pursuit of its nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of United Nations sanctions and pressure from the United States. The flight of the two bombers on Monday came as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the right circumstances, and as his CIA director landed in South Korea for talks. South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a briefing in Seoul that Monday’s joint drill was conducted to deter provocations by the North and to test readiness against another potential nuclear test. The U.S. air force said in a statement the bombers had flown
from Guam to conduct training exercises with the South Korean and Japanese air forces. North Korea said the bombers conducted “a nuclear bomb dropping drill against major objects” in its territory at a time when Trump and “other U.S. warmongers are crying out for making a preemptive nuclear strike” on the North. “The reckless military provocation is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war,” the North’s official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high for weeks, driven by concerns that the North might conduct its sixth nuclear test in defiance of pressure from the United States and Pyongyang’s sole major ally, China.
China’s Global Times, a statebacked tabloid that does not necessarily reflect national policy, said in an editorial late on Monday the United States should not rely on China alone to pressure Pyongyang into giving up its nuclear ambitions. April could prove a “turning point”, the paper said, but “Washington ... must also continue to exert its own efforts on the issue”. It was widely feared North Korea could conduct its sixth nuclear test on or around April 15 to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the North’s founding leader, Kim Il Sung, or on April 25 to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People’s Army. The North has conducted such tests or missile launches to mark significant events in the past. Instead, North Korea conducted an annual military parade, featuring a display of missiles, on April 15 and then a large, live-fire artillery drill 10 days later. (rtr)
TOKYO - Tokyo risks being one of the unhealthiest Olympic Games hosts in years, as an anti-smoking law exposes deep rifts over tobacco tax revenue, personal freedom and the dangers of passive smoking, which kills thousands of Japanese each year. There is pressure on the Japanese capital ahead of the 2020 Summer Games, including from the International Olympics Committee (IOC), to follow Rio de Janeiro and other recent Olympic venues in banning smoking in all public places to create a healthy sporting environment. But an initial proposal for a blanket ban on smoking indoors across Japan was opposed by pro-smoking politicians, restaurateurs and Japan Tobacco, which is one-third government-owned and paid the state $700 million in dividends in 2015. The health ministry scaled back its plan, to allow smoking indoors in spaces around 30 square metres (323 square feet) as long as adequate ventilation is installed. But opponents say this will still hurt Japan’s many eateries, restrict individual freedom, and dent tobacco tax revenues - which topped 2 trillion yen ($18 billion) in 2014-15. Natsuko Takami, who runs a Tokyo pub that is small enough to allow smoking under the revised bill, fears losing money as she can’t afford new ventilation, and could be fined 500,000 yen if a customer lit up. The smoker could be fined 300,000 yen. “I think people would stop coming,” she said, adding that being able to smoke and drink helps reserved Japanese open up. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) health committee, whose support is essential to introducing the bill in parliament, won’t meet ministry officials, saying the revised bill is too strict. The committee chair, Naomi Tokashiki, acknowledges there should be a law that protects against second-hand smoke, but says Japan’s cultural emphasis on good manners and sensitivity to others should suffice. “I believe Japanese people really are considerate of others,” she said. “It’s more important for us to trust people than enact a really repressive law.” Not so, say health authorities, pointing to 15,000 deaths a year from second-hand smoke, mostly women and children. “It’s not a question of manners, we’re looking at the impact on health,” said a ministry official involved in crafting the bill who declined to be named due to the issue’s sensitivity. “We’ve basically allowed people their independence, but the situation hasn’t changed,” he said. “Something more is needed.” It now seems unlikely the law will be put to a vote in the current parliamentary session, which ends on June 18. (rtr)
REUTERS/Issei Kato
A man smokes at an ‘izakaya’ restaurant or pub in Tokyo, Japan March 15, 2017. Picture taken March 15, 2017.
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International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
BUSINESS Hollywood writers reach tentative deal with studios, averting strike
Hollywood writers said they reached a tentative deal with representatives of movie and television studios on a new contract early on Tuesday, averting a strike that could have blacked out talk shows and soap operas. The sides agreed provisions to make up for shorter TV seasons - an issue since the advent of streaming services - and a 15-percent increase in pay television residuals, according to a memo to writers on the Writers Guild of America website. Guild members would together earn $130 million more over the lifespan of the new deal, negotiators said in the memo, without specifying the time period. “That result, and that resolve, is a testament to you, your courage, and your faith in us as your representatives,” they wrote. Members still need to agree to the settlement. The 9,000-member Guild had said it was prepared to call for a stoppage and for picketing of the big TV and movie studios as early as Tuesday if no deal was reached by midnight on Monday.
The focus of the talks has been the revolution in the television industry since the arrival of streaming services including Netflix and Amazon, and a resulting sharp decline in the typical number of episodes in a season of scripted comedy or drama, to around 10 from 22. The Guild says its members, who are paid per episode, have suffered an average 23-percent drop in earnings in the past three years. Royalties for shows sold on DVDs, streaming platforms and cable TV were also at issue, along with funding for the Guild’s health plan. The Guild was negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents entertainment giants Comcast Corp, Walt Disney Co, CBS Corp , Viacom Inc, Time Warner Inc and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.
If a strike had been called, audiences would have seen the first impact on late-night talk shows, which use teams of writers to pen
topical jokes. The last WGA strike in 2007/8 went on for 100 days. TV networks broadcast re-runs and more reality
shows, while the cost to the California economy was estimated at $2.1 billion, according to the Milken Institute.(rtr)
IMF delays Mongolia bailout due to banking requirements for foreign firms ULAANBAATAR - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has postponed a $5.5 billion bailout for Mongolia because of a measure included in the country’s
2017 budget that forces foreign firms to bank with domestic institutions, the IMF’s country representative said. Mongolia’s economy has slid
REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A coal-burning power plant can be seen behind a factory in the city of Baotou, in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region October 31, 2010.
into a crisis caused by heavy foreign debt, a collapse in its currency and a slowdown in growth in its biggest trading partner, China. The IMF board had been expected to approve a rescue package at a meeting on April 28. “The Board discussion was postponed,” said Neil Saker, the IMF’s Mongolia country representative, in emailed comments, adding that they needed to examine the details of a new measure covering foreign exchange transactions by investors. The IMF announced in February a $440 million Extended Fund Facility that Mongolia can draw on for three years, in addition to $3 billion from Japan and South Korea and a three-year extension to a 15 billion yuan ($2.18 billion) swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China. In the 2017 budget approved in the early hours of the morning on April 14, legislators introduced tax changes that would allow it to meet conditions set by the IMF.
But it also included a clause seeking to “improve” investment agreements with foreign partners, forcing firms such as miner Oyu Tolgoi LLC, jointly owned by Mongolia and Rio Tinto , to do all their banking with Mongolian institutions in a bid to bolster foreign currency reserves. “We need a bit more time to understand the nature and the specifics of the measure, and whether the macroeconomic framework of the program remains valid,” said Saker. Mongolia’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond for comment. According to a report in local news portal News.mn on Tuesday, the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) will support the removal of the controversial clause. A spokesman for the party declined to comment, but any move would require the consent of parliament. “The parliament must now ap-
prove the agreement without that clause and have the programme discussed again by the IMF executive board,” said Dale Choi, analyst with the Altan Bumba Financial Group based in Ulaanbaatar. “It could take another two to three weeks.” The MPP has been anxious to show it is ready to reach deals with foreign firms following a catastrophic collapse of inward investment, caused in part by disputes with overseas partners like Rio Tinto. The previous government became embroiled in a dispute with Rio Tinto over rising development costs and allegations of unpaid tax at Oyu Tolgoi, delaying the expansion of one of the world’s biggest copper mines for two years. Mongolian bonds have not so far been affected by the delay, traders said. Bonds due 2024 were trading steadily at 111/111.75 cents on the dollar. This $600 million bond was issued at 101.243 in March in an exchange offer.(rtr)
Bali News
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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The BBDF Coral Reef Conservation through Ecotourism
The normally quiet town of Buleleng on the northern coast of will come alive when the highly anticipated annual Buleleng Bali Dive Festival (BBDF) is staged at the Pemuteran Village. Among divers, Pemuteran is known worldwide for its uniquely inspiring underwater temple, which is acreative artwork involving coal reef revitalization. Once a barren underwater ocean landscape devastated by destructive fishing, bleaching and sedimentation, the reefs at Pemuteran Village have now been totally transformed and are the world’s largest and most successful reef restoration program, alive with underwater creatures. The result from collective efforts done by the local community, Pemuteran Bay now glows with bright colorful corals, schools of fish, and counting over 70 separate stunning Bio-rock reefs. The community is proud that their efforts at coral reef conservation that were done purely with local resources have proven to be a national success that has even garnered international recognition in the form of many national and international awards – namely the prestigious PATA Gold Award, the
Equator Prize and the Millennium G20 Award. Local hotels and dive shops led by Taman Sari Resort, Amertha Villas and Bali Diving Academy have all been involved in the restoration project by supporting community environmental education and management initiatives to promote ecotourism, making Pemuteran economically sustainable for the local community. The BBDF is aimed to both spread the need and benefits of global awareness on reef conservation at the same time promote Pemuteran and Buleleng’s art and culture internationally. Divers from around the world are invited to witness firsthand the beauty of marine life that Buleleng has to offer and participate in, and learn-
Pristine Beauty of Bunutin Waterfalls
There are many charming waterfalls in Bangli including the yellow waterfalls at Tamanbali village and Cepung River waterfalls at Tembuku village, and Bunutin waterfalls. As the name implies, Bunutin waterfalls are located in Bunutin village, Kintamani and a roadside sign directs visitors to the location of the falls, which are however some way from the road, so visitors should be ready for a bit of a hike. In fact, there is no actual path to the falls, so visitors have to pass through 300 meters of tangerine orchards. The fatigue endured by visitors is well paid off when they reach the falls and experience the pristine beauty of the setting. The crystal clear water and lush vegetation are sure to make all visitors want to linger. However, visitors wanting to swim in the pool at the base of the waterfalls should proceed with caution as they is quicksand that could be hazardous if stepped into. Headman of Bunutin, Made Subrata, said that people have been visiting Bunutin waterfall despite the lack of path leading to it. “It is a little challenging to get there and the way is steep”, he said. Subrata said that there are plans to create a proper pathway to the waterfalls and that he hopes that relevant agencies will help promote the location so that more visitors can come and enjoy this spot and contribute to the welfare of the surrounding community. (kmb)
ing about the many conservation programs in the area. The festival will feature an Underwater Art Parade, Reef Check Monitoring, Underwater Photography Competition, Live Painting, Underwater Expo, Kids & Students Reef, Culinary Bazaar, Performing Art Stage, Bio-rock Reef Conservation Workshop
and the prestigious release of the Bedawang Nala statue the 2016 BBDF icon. This year the Bedawang Nala was chosen as the festival’s icon since it symbolizes Mother Earth and universal balance and harmony. The statue which is created from Bio-rock coral was masterfully crafted by a team of artists and
Bio-rock specialists and will be placed on the sea floor, close to last year’s BBDF icon, the Gadjah Mina which represents the guardian of the sea. Many arts and performances will be showcased at this impressive event including the Pemuteran Community Heritage Celebration of Gebug Ende.(kmb)
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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RLD
After month of protests, Venezuela’s Maduro triggers shakeup of powers
CARACAS - Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday the creation of a new popular assembly with the ability to re-write the constitution, which foes decried as a power-grab to stifle weeks of antigovernment unrest.
“I don’t want a civil war,” Maduro told a May Day rally of supporters in downtown Caracas while elsewhere across the city security forces fired tear gas at youths hurling stones and petrol bombs after opposition marches were blocked. Maduro, 54, has triggered an article of the constitution that creates a super-body known as a “constituent assembly.” It can dissolve public powers and call general elections, echoing a previous assembly created by his predecessor Hugo Chavez in 1999 soon after he won office in the South American OPEC nation. “I convoke the original constituent power to achieve the peace needed by the Republic, defeat the fascist coup, and let the sovereign people impose peace, harmony and true national dialogue,” Maduro told red-shirted supporters. Only half of the 500-member assembly, or less, would be elected and political parties would not participate, he said. Opponents fear Maduro would stuff the assembly with supporters and manipulate the elected seats by giving extra weight to pro-government workers and unions. They said it was another attempt to sideline the current opposition-led National Assembly and potentially avoid elections amid a bruising recession and protests that have led to 29 deaths in the last month. The opposition had been demanding general elections to try and end the socialists’ 18-year rule. A grave-faced National Assembly President Julio Borges on Monday evening called on Venezuelans to rebel, potentially portending bigger protests. “This is a scam to deceive the Venezuelan people with a mechanism that is nothing more than a coup,” Borges said, urging Venezuelans to block streets early on Tuesday and hold another march on Wednesday. Opposition supporters on Monday night were also banging empty pots and pans from their windows in
White House... From page 1
The invitation for Duterte to the visit White House at an unspecified date appeared to be the latest example of the affinity Trump has shown for some foreign leaders with shaky human rights or autocratic reputations. For instance, he expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 presidential campaign, hosted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah alSisi at the White House and has had warm words for Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom Trump is pressing to do more to rein in its ally and
a traditional Latin American form of protest. Since anti-Maduro unrest began in early April, more than 400 people have been injured and hundreds more arrested. While Maduro alleges a U.S.-backed coup plot, foes say he has wrecked the economy and become a tyrant. Tulane University sociologist David Smilde said Maduro’s announcement was a “pretty clever” move to dodge conventional elections which could both appeal to government hardliners and ease international pressure on him. “It is sufficiently complex and ambiguous that it might freeze some countries in the international community who think this might be a concession to the opposition, or represents an autonomous political process and should be respected,” he said. “It is a transparent attempt on the part of the government to skirt elections it knows it will lose,” he added. (rtr)
REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
An armoured riot police car is seen on fire during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela May 1, 2017.
neighbor, North Korea. On Sunday, Trump also extended a White House invitation to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former general who heads a military government that took power in a 2014 coup. Prayuth’s administration had strained relations with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama. “Celebrating a man who boasts of killing his own citizens and inviting him to the White House, while remaining silent on his disgusting human rights record, sends a terrifying message,” said John Sifton, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “By effectively endorsing Duterte’s murderous ‘war on drugs’, Trump has made himself morally complicit in
future killings,” he said. A Trump administration official insisted, however, that the invitation was not a reward to Duterte or an endorsement of his policies but a decision that engagement with the Philippines was better than withdrawal which could “intensify bad behavior” by Duterte. “It’s not a ‘thank you’,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s a meeting.” The official denied a New York Times report citing administration officials saying the State Department and the National Security Council were caught off-guard by the invitation to Duterte and were expected to object internally. “We were not surprised. The guys who prepared
International
Hamas softens stance on Israel, drops Muslim Brotherhood link
GAZA - The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Monday dropped its longstanding call for Israel’s destruction, but said it still rejected the country’s right to exist and backs “armed struggle” against it. In a policy document presented in Doha by its leader Khaled Meshaal, Hamas also said it would end its association with the Muslim Brotherhood, a move apparently aimed at improving ties with Gulf Arab states and Egypt, which view the Brotherhood as a terrorist group. Israel responded to the announcement by accusing Hamas of trying to “fool the world”, while the group’s main Palestinian political rival, the Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas, also reacted coolly to the policy shift. The publication of the policy document comes two days before Abbas is due to visit Washington, and days after President Donald Trump told Reuters he may travel to Israel this month and sees no reason why there should not be peace between Israel and the Palestinians. “We don’t want to dilute our principles but we want to be open. We hope this (document) will mark a change in the stance of European states towards us,” Meshaal told reporters. Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, said in the document it agreed to a transitional Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, when Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a war with Arab states. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. “Hamas advocates the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders without recognising Israel or ceding any rights,” said Meshaal, in a shift that brings Hamas more into line with the position of Fatah. “TERROR TUNNELS”
Israel said the document aimed to deceive the world that Hamas was for the call were unified on this,” the official said. ‘ON THE SAME PAGE’ ON NORTH KOREA
Priebus made clear that North Korea was the top priority. “If we don’t have all of our folks together — whether they’re good folks, bad folks, people we wish would do better in their country, doesn’t matter, we’ve got to be on the same page” on North Korea, Priebus said. But taking a swipe at Trump for his invitation to Duterte, Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy tweeted: “We are watching in real time as the American human rights bully pulpit disintegrates into ash.”
becoming more moderate. “Hamas is attempting to fool the world but it will not succeed,” said David Keyes, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “They dig terror tunnels and have launched thousands upon thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians. This is the real Hamas.” Founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned Egyptian Islamist movement, Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2007 and has carried out hundreds of armed attacks in Israel and in Israelioccupied territories. Many Western countries classify Hamas as a terrorist group over its failure to renounce violence, recognise Israel’s right to exist and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements. Meshaal said Hamas’s fight was not against Judaism as a religion but against what he called “aggressor Zionists”. Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasme upbraided Hamas for taking decades to join Fatah in accepting a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, a position Hamas used to criticise Fatah for. “Hamas’s new document is identical to that taken by Fatah in 1988. Hamas is required to make an apology to Fatah after 30 years of accusing us of treason for that policy,” Qawasme said. It remained unclear whether the document replaces Hamas’s 1988 charter, which calls for Israel’s destruction. Meshaal said the document would “guide Hamas’s daily political activity”. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority has engaged in peace talks with Israel on the basis of seeking a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, although the last, U.S.-mediated round collapsed three years ago. There was no immediate comment on Monday from Egypt and Gulf Arab states to the Hamas document. (rtr) Thousands of Filipinos have been killed since Duterte unleashed his fierce anti-drugs campaign nearly 10 months ago. Police say they have killed only in self-defense, and the deaths of other drug dealers and users was down to vigilantes or narcotics gangs silencing potential witnesses. Human rights groups say official accounts are implausible and accuse Duterte of backing campaign of systematic extrajudicial killings by police. The government denies that. Duterte was infuriated by the Obama administration’s expressions of concern about extrajudicial killings after he took office last year and threatened to sever the long-standing U.S. defense alliance. (rtr)
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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Jokowi seeks optimization of migrant workers` protection
JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo met Hong Kong Chief Executive Keung Chun-Ying here on Monday to discuss the optimization of Indonesian migrant workers protection in Hong Kong. In the meeting at the Drawing Room in the Government House, they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong. “I hailed the MoU to strengthen the protection of Indonesian migrant workers,” he stated. He noted that some 172,826 Indonesians were cur-
rently living in Hong Kong and who have contributed to the economy of the administrative region. He thanked the Hong Kong leader
who had so far protected his citizens. “I thank you for all your efforts in protecting the Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong. I believe you will continue to give attention and protection to our citizens,” he told the Hong Kong chief executive. Chun-Ying said that Indonesia was Hong Kongs important partner and so he hoped the relations could be deepened further to not only include the relations between the governments and between the businesses but also between the people. He stated that trade and investment would also be sectors that need to be further developed in view of Hong Kongs position as a hub which is linked to China and the world. He expressed Hong Kong governments commitment to step up its attention and protection to Indonesian migrant workers. “Workers from Indonesia are part of our community,” he reiterated.
Widodo said that with regard to trade and investment, Hong Kong was Indonesias fourth biggest foreign investor at present. Hong Kongs investment in Indonesia is recorded at US$2.25 billion in 2016, twice the value in 2015, which was recorded at $691.2 million. “The Indonesian government will continue to improve the business climate, and in view of that, I hope you would encourage your business sector to invest in the infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including outside Java,” he remarked. The value of trade between Indonesia and Hong Kong increased from $3.87 billion in 2015 to $3.91 billion in 2016. President Jokowi, as he is also called, hoped the establishment of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta would contribute to increase trade transactions and investment between Indonesia and Hong Kong, including investment from
Hong Kongs creative industrial sector. “I also hailed the achievement of ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement, which will be signed by economic ministers of ASEAN and Hong Kong in the second semester this year,” he revealed. Jokowi also hailed the signing of a MoU on culture. “I am convinced the deal to strengthen the cooperation in arts and culture, increase mutual understanding in friendly relations between our countries,” he noted. After witnessing the signing of a joint statement on cooperation in manpower between foreign minister Retno Marsudi and Hong Kongs Labor Secretary, Jokowi also witnessed the signing of a MoU in the field of culture by education and culture minister Muhadjir Effendy and Hong Kongs secretary for home affairs. Jokowi was flanked by Marsudi, Effendy, and cabinet secretary Pramono Anung at the meeting. (ant)
Low literacy rate contributes to spread of hoax: expert
JAKARTA - The low level of literacy has led several people to believe in hoax or fake news, Chief Editor of Trans Media Titin Rosmasari, a speaker at the World Press Freedom Day event, stated here, Monday. “Todays generation prefers to use their gadgets rather than reading books,” she stated at a seminar held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Jakarta ahead of International Press Freedom Day commemorated annually on May 3. She said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCOs) records in 2012 estimated that Indonesias literacy level had reached merely 0.001, indicating that out of every thousand people, only one individual had actively read books. Another survey conducted by pollster Nielsen had cited that most people in the country spend four hours and 42 minutes browsing on the computer, three hours and 33 minutes surfing on their smartphones, and two hours and 51 minutes on checking or updating their status on social media. “Apparently, most people today have a lot of spare time to read and share hoax news,” she remarked while adding that in several cases, the fake news phenomenon had been persistently spread by some prominent figures due to the lack of verification of the original sources. Apart from the low level of reading, a lack of trust in the mainstream media remains a challenge in the fight against fake news. Hence, the media should maintain public trust by working in accordance with the journalists ethics code, she emphasized. During the event, she lauded the Communication
and Information Ministrys efforts to halt the circulation of fake news by blocking objectionable websites, including those offering gambling facilities, spreading hate speeches, and engaging in fraudulent acts. Vice President Jusuf Kalla had earlier also initiated an antihoax journalist network, she added. On a different occasion, Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara said the fake news phenomenon has triggered public unrest globally. The ministry had earlier noted that fake news tends to spread on social media rather than through mainstream media, as the latter has a responsibility to “cover both sides,” while the former does not follow this principle. Rudiantara further stated that fake news could create a vicious circle, as the mainstream media sometimes carelessly publishes articles or television channels broadcast text by quoting unverified issues. With regard to the issue, this years World Press Freedom Day commemoration has not only called on journalists but also students and other communities to fight against the circulation of fake news by being critical while reading any article or watching a news coverage. The event being held at the JCC on May 1-4 will feature some workshops, seminars, and conferences. “The programs are designed to raise awareness on the importance of free and fact-based journalism in promoting peace and justice and supporting efficiency, accountability, and inclusiveness of institutions in line with the 16th United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” UNESCO stated on its official website. (ant)
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Destination
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Joshua-Fury fight ‘miles away’, says Hearn CALIFORNIA - A showdown between IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is “miles away” as the former champion is yet to regain his physical form and boxing license, promoter Eddie Hearn has said.
MANGUPURA - Kuta Beachwalk is a fresh addition to Kuta’s leisure alternatives. Occupying 3.7 hectares of land and a 250-meter street side near the end of Jalan Pantai Kuta, this striking complex houses numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities boasting international brands and franchises. The Beachwalk is a first for Bali, sporting a unique design that is to some extent a major departure from the typical mall. A two-storey underground parking space for up to a thousand vehicles makes up for this position on one of Bali’s most packed streets. It aims to become a leading destination, and has received a steady
flow of local and international visitors since its opening mid 2012. Beachwalk complements the fourstar Harris Resort Kuta Beach next door and the upcoming five-star Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort. Kuta Beachwalk is an easy stroll from the beach, and stepping into its foyer is a retreat from the coastal heat. Its main building architecture, large ponds and running water features imitate the curves of a paddy field. Even though a tad bit synthetic, its wide central atrium does provide natural airflow, ample shades and real gardens. What’s more, the team behind the project applied eco-friendly measures in its sustainable design, including
minimum air-conditioning in open spaces and a special rainwater collection system. Dining at Kuta Beachwalk Kuta Beachwalk is a great place to go ravenous, choose from a large variety of cosy outlets including the Eat & Eat Food Court that serves Indonesian classic dishes, conveniently located at the second floor’s centre alongside a children’s play facility. Seminyak’s renowned Bali Deli has opened an outlet here, as well as Ku De Ta with its Sienna Cafe. The Kitchenette serves galettes, crepes and salads, and Luna Negra offers delicious Italian cuisine. For Families Envisioned as a family and weekend destination, Kuta Beachwalk boasts a dedicated kids’ play centre called the Miniapolis Bali. Among the fun features, include the Play Zone, the Amazing Walk, Water Play, and a day-care facility called Cheeky Monkey. These are sure to provide parents a good timeout they need. Other attrac-
Sardine Restaurant Looking for Hostess,Waitress, Security Must Speak English Mail:sardine@sardinebali.com Jl.Petitenget 21 Telp.733617
B.BP.141.05.17.0000116
Bendega Villas 9 bed rooms luxury villas is looking for Chef and Butler. Please send your CV to harsana@bendegavillas.com
B.BP.004.04.17.0001770
Coco Group looking for: Accounting Supervisor Asst.HR Manager Legal Manager Civil Engineering Staff Store Supervisor SPG/SPB Send email at hrm@cocogroupbali.com
B.BP.803.05.17.0000051
Villa at Seminyak looking for
tions include a Cloth Museum by renowned Indonesian batik, ikat and heritage textile producer Bin House; an open stage featuring exciting musical fountain shows as well as scheduled dance performances. Other highlights International visitors will find familiarity with the new restaurant franchises, while locals will enjoy additional choices to that available elsewhere. Fixed tenants include the new XXI Cineplex, which answers the high anticipation for
more quality cinemas on the island. SATU and Moeda are multi-brand boutiques featuring collections from Bali-based designers worth checking out. Other services and facilities available at Kuta Beachwalk include a valet service and concierge, banks and moneychangers, a supermarket and salons. If the boutique price tags keep your wallet at bay, you can always mingle and admire the complex’s airy spaces with high views over Kuta’s beach and sunsets, and the nice tropical gardens, ponds and fountains. (IBP/net)
Receptionist and Security (Male). CV email to : surya@kutaville.com
B.BP.004.04.17.0001816
Avail.daily,monthly,yearly Rental Private Vila @Nusa Dua Private Pool, 2&3 Bdrm,WIFI F.Furnish. call 081834100
B.BP.004.04.17.0001865
Looking Receptionist&SpaTherapis Reborn spa,Jl.SunsetA1 P:766744
B.BP.001.04.17.0001664
Place Your Add Here
It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500 / Eka : 081338519538
Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge
Anthony Joshua takes a selfie video after the fight
Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko after 11 rounds on Saturday to win three of the four heavyweight titles that belonged to Fury, who relinquished all of his titles in 2015 after his license was suspended pending investigation for doping and medical issues. The heavyweight rivals have been talking about a match-up since last week when they exchanged barbs on Twitter and Fury challenged Joshua after his victory at Wembley, saying he “can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back.” Hearn, who is planning Joshua’s schedule, said that Fury still had a lot of hurdles to clear before a fight could be arranged. “We are desperate for that fight because AJ thinks he wins comfortably, it is a great fight and it is the biggest fight out there,” Hearn told talkSPORT. “But we can only concentrate on AJ’s career and guiding him.” “He (Fury) is miles away from fighting. He is in a terrible physical way at the moment. He doesn’t have a licence, he needs to go back to the (British Boxing) board, and he is under investigation for (an alleged) failed (doping) test. “There is no one that wants to see him back more than me, but it is miles away. He is not the next fight because he won’t be ready in time.” Joshua, who extended his unbeaten run to 19 fights, could face Klitschko in a rematch or challenge either Deontay Wilder (WBC Champion) or Joseph Parker (WBO Champion) for his next match. (rtr)
Celtics look like top seed; Warriors rested for surging Jazz
BOSTON — For the first time this postseason, there is a calm beginning to settle over the Boston Celtics. The top-seeded Celtics struggled to find their footing at the outset of their first-round series with Chicago after their leader Isaiah Thomas’ sister was killed in a car accident. But after four straight wins to finish off the Bulls and overcoming a slow start and lost tooth by Thomas to earn a double-digit win over the Wizards in the opener of the East semifinals, Boston now resembles the team it looked like at the end of regular season. It plays Washington in Game 2 on Tuesday night. In the night’s other game, Golden State, the West’s top seed, is playing on eight days’ rest as it opens its semifinal matchup with Utah. The Jazz are coming off a
Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Before Game 1 of the BostonWashington series, Celtics coach Brad Stevens was asked about the lack of deep playoff experience for a team that hadn’t made it out of the first round the past two seasons. He acknowledged that while experience “certainly is a talking point” when comparing the rosters of the two teams, “there’s a lot of power in having some naiveté, too.” His team’s production seems to be underlining that assessment. Following his game-high 33point effort on Sunday, Thomas now has three 30-point games this postseason after just one in his previous 10 playoff games. What’s more, offseason acquisition Al Horford also is producing at the level the Celtics hoped he would after being slowed by injury
in the regular season. He’s coming off 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in Game 1, when he recorded his second double-double of the postseason. He has had at least 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in a career-high three straight playoff games. “I would say probably the last couple weeks of the season is when I felt like I started to get in some sort of a rhythm,” Horford said. “Some guys can go right in and just do their thing, and others it takes a little more time before you’re fully comfortable with the system and what’s expected.” Washington could have a tougher time containing Horford in Game 2. The status of forward Markieff Morris is up the air after he landed awkwardly on Horford’s foot and sprained his ankle early in Game 1. (ap)
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File
In this Dec. 8, 2016, file photo, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) battle for a rebound in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City. Golden State and Utah begin their best-of-seven NBA second round playoff series on Tuesday, May 2.
8
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Sp rt
Magical Can goal boosts Liverpool’s top-four push Liverpool’s Emre Can produced a goal of stunning brilliance to earn a crucial 1-0 victory at Watford on Monday that boosts the Reds’ push for a top-four finish in the Premier League. A game that had been meandering along amid much mediocrity came to life on the stroke of halftime when Can’s extraordinary overhead scissors kick from Lucas’s chipped through ball rocketed into the top corner. The strike, hailed by the club’s former defender Jamie Carragher as “one of the great Liverpool goals”, illuminated a dull first-half which had just been enlivened by substitute Adam Lallana’s dipping volley for the visitors that struck the bar. An uninspired Watford side laboured for an equaliser after the break but still came agonisingly close when Sebastian Prodl smashed a left-foot shot against the bar for the Hornets in the 94th minute. The victory strengthened Liverpool’s hold on third place with 69 points, three points clear of fourth-placed Manchester City and four ahead of Manchester United,
Free-scoring Monaco face Juventus wall
PARIS - Monaco have scored plenty of goals this season and boast one of European soccer’s most exciting newcomers in striker Kylian Mbappe but that might not be enough to break down the defensive wall of Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals. Mbappe, 18, has scored 18 goals in his last 18 competitive games, including three in the 6-3 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the last eight. The pacy forward provides a symbol for the rise of a fine counter-attacking team featuring other dangerous players such as Colombian marksman Radamel Falcao. It takes more than that, however, to impress Juventus, the tightest defence in Europe’s top club competition with just two goals conceded in this campaign. “Even Barcelona could not score in two games against them so it will be complicated for us”, Monaco’s Poland defender Kamil Glik said ahead of Wednesday first leg in the principality. The Italian champions, who advanced to the last four with an aggregate 3-0 win over Barca, were held to a 2-2 draw at Atalanta in a rare defensive mix-up in Serie A on Friday. Their pedigree and record for being impregnable when it matters, however, suggest Juventus should be regarded as the favourites. “Monaco have technical and tactical qualities as well as talented young players,” Juventus coach Mas-
9
similiano Allegri said. “They do not have the same history as Juventus but that does not mean it will be easy for us to make it to the final”, he added. While Allegri can rely on a fully-fit squad, his Monaco counterpart Leonardo Jardim, criticised for fielding a B-team in a 5-0 French Cup semi-final thrashing by Paris St Germain last week, has a defensive worry with midfield dynamo Tiemoue Bakayoko doubtful due to a broken nose. Monaco have shone in Europe and at home this season and their domestic title hopes received a welcome boost when a nervous PSG side lost 3-1 at Nice on Sunday, leaving the club from the French Riviera three points clear at the top with a game in hand. Juventus, meanwhile, are closing in on a record sixth straight Serie A title and can turn to their European history for inspiration, having won the showcase club competition twice, in 1985 and 1996. Monaco, by contrast, reached the Champions League final only once, in 2004, losing 3-0 to a Porto side coached by Jose Mourinho after a great run featuring wins over Real Madrid and Chelsea. The sides have faced each other twice before on the Champions League stage with Juventus winning both ties, in the 1998 semi-finals and the 2015 quarters. Juventus have never been eliminated by a French team in 11 previous meetings in European club competitions. (rtr)
Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe in action.
REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
English Premier League Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 34 26 3 5 72 29 81 2 Tottenham Hotspur 34 23 8 3 71 22 77 3 Liverpool 35 20 9 6 71 42 69 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Manchester City 34 19 9 6 65 37 66 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Manchester United 34 17 14 3 51 25 65 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Arsenal 33 18 6 9 64 42 60 7 Everton 35 16 10 9 60 40 58 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------8 West Bromwich Albion 34 12 8 14 39 43 44 9 Southampton 33 11 8 14 39 44 41 10 Bournemouth 35 11 8 16 50 63 41 11 Leicester City 34 11 7 16 42 54 40 12 Stoke City 35 10 10 15 37 50 40 13 Watford 34 11 7 16 37 55 40 14 Burnley 35 11 6 18 35 49 39 15 West Ham United 35 10 9 16 44 59 39 16 Crystal Palace 35 11 5 19 46 56 38 17 Hull City 35 9 7 19 36 67 34 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------18 Swansea City 35 9 5 21 40 69 32 19 Middlesbrough 35 5 13 17 26 45 28 R20 Sunderland 34 5 6 23 26 60 21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------R - Relegated 1-3: Champions League / EC I 4: Champions League preliminary round 5: Europa League 6-7: Europa League preliminary round 18-20: Relegation
who are fifth. The two Manchester sides, though, have a game in hand over their Merseyside rivals in the tense race for Champions league qualifying places. “I have never scored a goal like that - maybe when I was younger. That is the best goal I’ve ever scored,” the exultant Can told Sky Sports. “I saw the space and I ran behind and my first thought was that I wanted to head it, then I didn’t think too much. “Everything is now in our hands. If we win the (last) three games we are in the Champions League. We are confident. If we perform how we can perform then we can do it.” The goal from the German international was unquestionably one of the best seen in the Premier League in 2016-17 but what felt most remarkable about it was that it materialised after such an undistinguished performance from Juergen Klopp’s team.
INSPIRED MOMENT
When Liverpool lost playmaker Philippe Coutinho to a leg injury
suffered after a fourth minute challenge, there was little cohesion or punch in their approach. Then, from seemingly nowhere, the Brazilian’s replacement Lallana uncorked a moment of inspiration five minutes before the break. From goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes’ punched clearance, England international Lallana blasted his first-time 20-metre volley against the underside of the bar. It was just the hors d’oeuvre, though. In stoppage time in the first half, Lucas, whose only contribution hitherto had been to get booked for a terrible dive, floated his through ball into the area where Can set himself for a moment of acrobatic wonder. With no element of fluke, he twisted his body in mid-air to hook the ball flush on his right foot past a bewildered Gomes and sparked huge celebrations on the Liverpool bench. “This bicycle (kick) was pretty special, really wonderful,” Klopp said. It looked like a settler for Liverpool, who have so often blown victory opportunities against the
Euro 2024 bidders told human rights of ‘utmost importance’ ZURICH - Euro 2024 hosting candidates Germany and Turkey have been told that they must meet specific criteria for human and labour rights and anti-corruption measures for their bids to be considered. “The protection of human rights and labour rights is of the utmost importance for UEFA,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement published by the European soccer body. “It was imperative for us to introduce specific articles on the respect and protection of human rights in the bidding requirements for all of our competitions. “From now on, bidding nations will have to adhere strictly to these articles in the framework of the organisation of all our tournaments and finals.” UEFA said that the criteria were based on United Nations principles on business and human rights and other UN conventions. “Furthermore,
criteria regarding compliance and anti-corruption measures have also been included as requirements,” UEFA said. The German and Turkish football federations, the only candidates to host the event, were given detailed explanations of the requirements at a UEFA event last Thursday, UEFA said. The two FAs have until April 2018 to submit their bid dossiers and UEFA will choose the hosts the following September. Turkey has never hosted a major senior football tournament while West Germany hosted the 1974 World Cup and 1988 European championship and a re-united Germany the 2006 World Cup. Turkey unsuccessfully bid to host the Euro 2008 with Greece and the 2012 and 2016 tournaments on its own. It had also intended to bid for Euro 2020 before UEFA decided to spread the tournament around 13 cities across Europe. (rtr)
league’s lesser sides this season while excelling against their fellow top-six contenders. Yet though Lallana came close to scoring on the break, and substitute Daniel Sturridge forced a wonderful late save from Gomes
in the dying seconds, Liverpool’s failure to close out the game almost cost them. In the last of four extra minutes, they failed to clear their lines and Prodl lashed his shot against the bar with Watford’s final attack. (rtr)
Liverpool’s Emre Can scores their first goal
Reuters / Toby Melville
8
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Sp rt
Magical Can goal boosts Liverpool’s top-four push Liverpool’s Emre Can produced a goal of stunning brilliance to earn a crucial 1-0 victory at Watford on Monday that boosts the Reds’ push for a top-four finish in the Premier League. A game that had been meandering along amid much mediocrity came to life on the stroke of halftime when Can’s extraordinary overhead scissors kick from Lucas’s chipped through ball rocketed into the top corner. The strike, hailed by the club’s former defender Jamie Carragher as “one of the great Liverpool goals”, illuminated a dull first-half which had just been enlivened by substitute Adam Lallana’s dipping volley for the visitors that struck the bar. An uninspired Watford side laboured for an equaliser after the break but still came agonisingly close when Sebastian Prodl smashed a left-foot shot against the bar for the Hornets in the 94th minute. The victory strengthened Liverpool’s hold on third place with 69 points, three points clear of fourth-placed Manchester City and four ahead of Manchester United,
Free-scoring Monaco face Juventus wall
PARIS - Monaco have scored plenty of goals this season and boast one of European soccer’s most exciting newcomers in striker Kylian Mbappe but that might not be enough to break down the defensive wall of Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals. Mbappe, 18, has scored 18 goals in his last 18 competitive games, including three in the 6-3 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the last eight. The pacy forward provides a symbol for the rise of a fine counter-attacking team featuring other dangerous players such as Colombian marksman Radamel Falcao. It takes more than that, however, to impress Juventus, the tightest defence in Europe’s top club competition with just two goals conceded in this campaign. “Even Barcelona could not score in two games against them so it will be complicated for us”, Monaco’s Poland defender Kamil Glik said ahead of Wednesday first leg in the principality. The Italian champions, who advanced to the last four with an aggregate 3-0 win over Barca, were held to a 2-2 draw at Atalanta in a rare defensive mix-up in Serie A on Friday. Their pedigree and record for being impregnable when it matters, however, suggest Juventus should be regarded as the favourites. “Monaco have technical and tactical qualities as well as talented young players,” Juventus coach Mas-
9
similiano Allegri said. “They do not have the same history as Juventus but that does not mean it will be easy for us to make it to the final”, he added. While Allegri can rely on a fully-fit squad, his Monaco counterpart Leonardo Jardim, criticised for fielding a B-team in a 5-0 French Cup semi-final thrashing by Paris St Germain last week, has a defensive worry with midfield dynamo Tiemoue Bakayoko doubtful due to a broken nose. Monaco have shone in Europe and at home this season and their domestic title hopes received a welcome boost when a nervous PSG side lost 3-1 at Nice on Sunday, leaving the club from the French Riviera three points clear at the top with a game in hand. Juventus, meanwhile, are closing in on a record sixth straight Serie A title and can turn to their European history for inspiration, having won the showcase club competition twice, in 1985 and 1996. Monaco, by contrast, reached the Champions League final only once, in 2004, losing 3-0 to a Porto side coached by Jose Mourinho after a great run featuring wins over Real Madrid and Chelsea. The sides have faced each other twice before on the Champions League stage with Juventus winning both ties, in the 1998 semi-finals and the 2015 quarters. Juventus have never been eliminated by a French team in 11 previous meetings in European club competitions. (rtr)
Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe in action.
REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
English Premier League Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 34 26 3 5 72 29 81 2 Tottenham Hotspur 34 23 8 3 71 22 77 3 Liverpool 35 20 9 6 71 42 69 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------4 Manchester City 34 19 9 6 65 37 66 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Manchester United 34 17 14 3 51 25 65 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------6 Arsenal 33 18 6 9 64 42 60 7 Everton 35 16 10 9 60 40 58 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------8 West Bromwich Albion 34 12 8 14 39 43 44 9 Southampton 33 11 8 14 39 44 41 10 Bournemouth 35 11 8 16 50 63 41 11 Leicester City 34 11 7 16 42 54 40 12 Stoke City 35 10 10 15 37 50 40 13 Watford 34 11 7 16 37 55 40 14 Burnley 35 11 6 18 35 49 39 15 West Ham United 35 10 9 16 44 59 39 16 Crystal Palace 35 11 5 19 46 56 38 17 Hull City 35 9 7 19 36 67 34 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------18 Swansea City 35 9 5 21 40 69 32 19 Middlesbrough 35 5 13 17 26 45 28 R20 Sunderland 34 5 6 23 26 60 21 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------R - Relegated 1-3: Champions League / EC I 4: Champions League preliminary round 5: Europa League 6-7: Europa League preliminary round 18-20: Relegation
who are fifth. The two Manchester sides, though, have a game in hand over their Merseyside rivals in the tense race for Champions league qualifying places. “I have never scored a goal like that - maybe when I was younger. That is the best goal I’ve ever scored,” the exultant Can told Sky Sports. “I saw the space and I ran behind and my first thought was that I wanted to head it, then I didn’t think too much. “Everything is now in our hands. If we win the (last) three games we are in the Champions League. We are confident. If we perform how we can perform then we can do it.” The goal from the German international was unquestionably one of the best seen in the Premier League in 2016-17 but what felt most remarkable about it was that it materialised after such an undistinguished performance from Juergen Klopp’s team.
INSPIRED MOMENT
When Liverpool lost playmaker Philippe Coutinho to a leg injury
suffered after a fourth minute challenge, there was little cohesion or punch in their approach. Then, from seemingly nowhere, the Brazilian’s replacement Lallana uncorked a moment of inspiration five minutes before the break. From goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes’ punched clearance, England international Lallana blasted his first-time 20-metre volley against the underside of the bar. It was just the hors d’oeuvre, though. In stoppage time in the first half, Lucas, whose only contribution hitherto had been to get booked for a terrible dive, floated his through ball into the area where Can set himself for a moment of acrobatic wonder. With no element of fluke, he twisted his body in mid-air to hook the ball flush on his right foot past a bewildered Gomes and sparked huge celebrations on the Liverpool bench. “This bicycle (kick) was pretty special, really wonderful,” Klopp said. It looked like a settler for Liverpool, who have so often blown victory opportunities against the
Euro 2024 bidders told human rights of ‘utmost importance’ ZURICH - Euro 2024 hosting candidates Germany and Turkey have been told that they must meet specific criteria for human and labour rights and anti-corruption measures for their bids to be considered. “The protection of human rights and labour rights is of the utmost importance for UEFA,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement published by the European soccer body. “It was imperative for us to introduce specific articles on the respect and protection of human rights in the bidding requirements for all of our competitions. “From now on, bidding nations will have to adhere strictly to these articles in the framework of the organisation of all our tournaments and finals.” UEFA said that the criteria were based on United Nations principles on business and human rights and other UN conventions. “Furthermore,
criteria regarding compliance and anti-corruption measures have also been included as requirements,” UEFA said. The German and Turkish football federations, the only candidates to host the event, were given detailed explanations of the requirements at a UEFA event last Thursday, UEFA said. The two FAs have until April 2018 to submit their bid dossiers and UEFA will choose the hosts the following September. Turkey has never hosted a major senior football tournament while West Germany hosted the 1974 World Cup and 1988 European championship and a re-united Germany the 2006 World Cup. Turkey unsuccessfully bid to host the Euro 2008 with Greece and the 2012 and 2016 tournaments on its own. It had also intended to bid for Euro 2020 before UEFA decided to spread the tournament around 13 cities across Europe. (rtr)
league’s lesser sides this season while excelling against their fellow top-six contenders. Yet though Lallana came close to scoring on the break, and substitute Daniel Sturridge forced a wonderful late save from Gomes
in the dying seconds, Liverpool’s failure to close out the game almost cost them. In the last of four extra minutes, they failed to clear their lines and Prodl lashed his shot against the bar with Watford’s final attack. (rtr)
Liverpool’s Emre Can scores their first goal
Reuters / Toby Melville
10
Destination
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Joshua-Fury fight ‘miles away’, says Hearn CALIFORNIA - A showdown between IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is “miles away” as the former champion is yet to regain his physical form and boxing license, promoter Eddie Hearn has said.
MANGUPURA - Kuta Beachwalk is a fresh addition to Kuta’s leisure alternatives. Occupying 3.7 hectares of land and a 250-meter street side near the end of Jalan Pantai Kuta, this striking complex houses numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment facilities boasting international brands and franchises. The Beachwalk is a first for Bali, sporting a unique design that is to some extent a major departure from the typical mall. A two-storey underground parking space for up to a thousand vehicles makes up for this position on one of Bali’s most packed streets. It aims to become a leading destination, and has received a steady
flow of local and international visitors since its opening mid 2012. Beachwalk complements the fourstar Harris Resort Kuta Beach next door and the upcoming five-star Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort. Kuta Beachwalk is an easy stroll from the beach, and stepping into its foyer is a retreat from the coastal heat. Its main building architecture, large ponds and running water features imitate the curves of a paddy field. Even though a tad bit synthetic, its wide central atrium does provide natural airflow, ample shades and real gardens. What’s more, the team behind the project applied eco-friendly measures in its sustainable design, including
minimum air-conditioning in open spaces and a special rainwater collection system. Dining at Kuta Beachwalk Kuta Beachwalk is a great place to go ravenous, choose from a large variety of cosy outlets including the Eat & Eat Food Court that serves Indonesian classic dishes, conveniently located at the second floor’s centre alongside a children’s play facility. Seminyak’s renowned Bali Deli has opened an outlet here, as well as Ku De Ta with its Sienna Cafe. The Kitchenette serves galettes, crepes and salads, and Luna Negra offers delicious Italian cuisine. For Families Envisioned as a family and weekend destination, Kuta Beachwalk boasts a dedicated kids’ play centre called the Miniapolis Bali. Among the fun features, include the Play Zone, the Amazing Walk, Water Play, and a day-care facility called Cheeky Monkey. These are sure to provide parents a good timeout they need. Other attrac-
Sardine Restaurant Looking for Hostess,Waitress, Security Must Speak English Mail:sardine@sardinebali.com Jl.Petitenget 21 Telp.733617
B.BP.141.05.17.0000116
Bendega Villas 9 bed rooms luxury villas is looking for Chef and Butler. Please send your CV to harsana@bendegavillas.com
B.BP.004.04.17.0001770
Coco Group looking for: Accounting Supervisor Asst.HR Manager Legal Manager Civil Engineering Staff Store Supervisor SPG/SPB Send email at hrm@cocogroupbali.com
B.BP.803.05.17.0000051
Villa at Seminyak looking for
tions include a Cloth Museum by renowned Indonesian batik, ikat and heritage textile producer Bin House; an open stage featuring exciting musical fountain shows as well as scheduled dance performances. Other highlights International visitors will find familiarity with the new restaurant franchises, while locals will enjoy additional choices to that available elsewhere. Fixed tenants include the new XXI Cineplex, which answers the high anticipation for
more quality cinemas on the island. SATU and Moeda are multi-brand boutiques featuring collections from Bali-based designers worth checking out. Other services and facilities available at Kuta Beachwalk include a valet service and concierge, banks and moneychangers, a supermarket and salons. If the boutique price tags keep your wallet at bay, you can always mingle and admire the complex’s airy spaces with high views over Kuta’s beach and sunsets, and the nice tropical gardens, ponds and fountains. (IBP/net)
Receptionist and Security (Male). CV email to : surya@kutaville.com
B.BP.004.04.17.0001816
Avail.daily,monthly,yearly Rental Private Vila @Nusa Dua Private Pool, 2&3 Bdrm,WIFI F.Furnish. call 081834100
B.BP.004.04.17.0001865
Looking Receptionist&SpaTherapis Reborn spa,Jl.SunsetA1 P:766744
B.BP.001.04.17.0001664
Place Your Add Here
It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500 / Eka : 081338519538
Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge
Anthony Joshua takes a selfie video after the fight
Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko after 11 rounds on Saturday to win three of the four heavyweight titles that belonged to Fury, who relinquished all of his titles in 2015 after his license was suspended pending investigation for doping and medical issues. The heavyweight rivals have been talking about a match-up since last week when they exchanged barbs on Twitter and Fury challenged Joshua after his victory at Wembley, saying he “can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back.” Hearn, who is planning Joshua’s schedule, said that Fury still had a lot of hurdles to clear before a fight could be arranged. “We are desperate for that fight because AJ thinks he wins comfortably, it is a great fight and it is the biggest fight out there,” Hearn told talkSPORT. “But we can only concentrate on AJ’s career and guiding him.” “He (Fury) is miles away from fighting. He is in a terrible physical way at the moment. He doesn’t have a licence, he needs to go back to the (British Boxing) board, and he is under investigation for (an alleged) failed (doping) test. “There is no one that wants to see him back more than me, but it is miles away. He is not the next fight because he won’t be ready in time.” Joshua, who extended his unbeaten run to 19 fights, could face Klitschko in a rematch or challenge either Deontay Wilder (WBC Champion) or Joseph Parker (WBO Champion) for his next match. (rtr)
Celtics look like top seed; Warriors rested for surging Jazz
BOSTON — For the first time this postseason, there is a calm beginning to settle over the Boston Celtics. The top-seeded Celtics struggled to find their footing at the outset of their first-round series with Chicago after their leader Isaiah Thomas’ sister was killed in a car accident. But after four straight wins to finish off the Bulls and overcoming a slow start and lost tooth by Thomas to earn a double-digit win over the Wizards in the opener of the East semifinals, Boston now resembles the team it looked like at the end of regular season. It plays Washington in Game 2 on Tuesday night. In the night’s other game, Golden State, the West’s top seed, is playing on eight days’ rest as it opens its semifinal matchup with Utah. The Jazz are coming off a
Game 7 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. Before Game 1 of the BostonWashington series, Celtics coach Brad Stevens was asked about the lack of deep playoff experience for a team that hadn’t made it out of the first round the past two seasons. He acknowledged that while experience “certainly is a talking point” when comparing the rosters of the two teams, “there’s a lot of power in having some naiveté, too.” His team’s production seems to be underlining that assessment. Following his game-high 33point effort on Sunday, Thomas now has three 30-point games this postseason after just one in his previous 10 playoff games. What’s more, offseason acquisition Al Horford also is producing at the level the Celtics hoped he would after being slowed by injury
in the regular season. He’s coming off 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in Game 1, when he recorded his second double-double of the postseason. He has had at least 12 points, five rebounds and five assists in a career-high three straight playoff games. “I would say probably the last couple weeks of the season is when I felt like I started to get in some sort of a rhythm,” Horford said. “Some guys can go right in and just do their thing, and others it takes a little more time before you’re fully comfortable with the system and what’s expected.” Washington could have a tougher time containing Horford in Game 2. The status of forward Markieff Morris is up the air after he landed awkwardly on Horford’s foot and sprained his ankle early in Game 1. (ap)
AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File
In this Dec. 8, 2016, file photo, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) battle for a rebound in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Salt Lake City. Golden State and Utah begin their best-of-seven NBA second round playoff series on Tuesday, May 2.
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After month of protests, Venezuela’s Maduro triggers shakeup of powers
CARACAS - Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolas Maduro announced on Monday the creation of a new popular assembly with the ability to re-write the constitution, which foes decried as a power-grab to stifle weeks of antigovernment unrest.
“I don’t want a civil war,” Maduro told a May Day rally of supporters in downtown Caracas while elsewhere across the city security forces fired tear gas at youths hurling stones and petrol bombs after opposition marches were blocked. Maduro, 54, has triggered an article of the constitution that creates a super-body known as a “constituent assembly.” It can dissolve public powers and call general elections, echoing a previous assembly created by his predecessor Hugo Chavez in 1999 soon after he won office in the South American OPEC nation. “I convoke the original constituent power to achieve the peace needed by the Republic, defeat the fascist coup, and let the sovereign people impose peace, harmony and true national dialogue,” Maduro told red-shirted supporters. Only half of the 500-member assembly, or less, would be elected and political parties would not participate, he said. Opponents fear Maduro would stuff the assembly with supporters and manipulate the elected seats by giving extra weight to pro-government workers and unions. They said it was another attempt to sideline the current opposition-led National Assembly and potentially avoid elections amid a bruising recession and protests that have led to 29 deaths in the last month. The opposition had been demanding general elections to try and end the socialists’ 18-year rule. A grave-faced National Assembly President Julio Borges on Monday evening called on Venezuelans to rebel, potentially portending bigger protests. “This is a scam to deceive the Venezuelan people with a mechanism that is nothing more than a coup,” Borges said, urging Venezuelans to block streets early on Tuesday and hold another march on Wednesday. Opposition supporters on Monday night were also banging empty pots and pans from their windows in
White House... From page 1
The invitation for Duterte to the visit White House at an unspecified date appeared to be the latest example of the affinity Trump has shown for some foreign leaders with shaky human rights or autocratic reputations. For instance, he expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2016 presidential campaign, hosted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah alSisi at the White House and has had warm words for Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom Trump is pressing to do more to rein in its ally and
a traditional Latin American form of protest. Since anti-Maduro unrest began in early April, more than 400 people have been injured and hundreds more arrested. While Maduro alleges a U.S.-backed coup plot, foes say he has wrecked the economy and become a tyrant. Tulane University sociologist David Smilde said Maduro’s announcement was a “pretty clever” move to dodge conventional elections which could both appeal to government hardliners and ease international pressure on him. “It is sufficiently complex and ambiguous that it might freeze some countries in the international community who think this might be a concession to the opposition, or represents an autonomous political process and should be respected,” he said. “It is a transparent attempt on the part of the government to skirt elections it knows it will lose,” he added. (rtr)
REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
An armoured riot police car is seen on fire during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela May 1, 2017.
neighbor, North Korea. On Sunday, Trump also extended a White House invitation to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former general who heads a military government that took power in a 2014 coup. Prayuth’s administration had strained relations with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama. “Celebrating a man who boasts of killing his own citizens and inviting him to the White House, while remaining silent on his disgusting human rights record, sends a terrifying message,” said John Sifton, the Asia director of Human Rights Watch. “By effectively endorsing Duterte’s murderous ‘war on drugs’, Trump has made himself morally complicit in
future killings,” he said. A Trump administration official insisted, however, that the invitation was not a reward to Duterte or an endorsement of his policies but a decision that engagement with the Philippines was better than withdrawal which could “intensify bad behavior” by Duterte. “It’s not a ‘thank you’,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s a meeting.” The official denied a New York Times report citing administration officials saying the State Department and the National Security Council were caught off-guard by the invitation to Duterte and were expected to object internally. “We were not surprised. The guys who prepared
International
Hamas softens stance on Israel, drops Muslim Brotherhood link
GAZA - The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Monday dropped its longstanding call for Israel’s destruction, but said it still rejected the country’s right to exist and backs “armed struggle” against it. In a policy document presented in Doha by its leader Khaled Meshaal, Hamas also said it would end its association with the Muslim Brotherhood, a move apparently aimed at improving ties with Gulf Arab states and Egypt, which view the Brotherhood as a terrorist group. Israel responded to the announcement by accusing Hamas of trying to “fool the world”, while the group’s main Palestinian political rival, the Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas, also reacted coolly to the policy shift. The publication of the policy document comes two days before Abbas is due to visit Washington, and days after President Donald Trump told Reuters he may travel to Israel this month and sees no reason why there should not be peace between Israel and the Palestinians. “We don’t want to dilute our principles but we want to be open. We hope this (document) will mark a change in the stance of European states towards us,” Meshaal told reporters. Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, said in the document it agreed to a transitional Palestinian state within the borders of 1967, when Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in a war with Arab states. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. “Hamas advocates the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders without recognising Israel or ceding any rights,” said Meshaal, in a shift that brings Hamas more into line with the position of Fatah. “TERROR TUNNELS”
Israel said the document aimed to deceive the world that Hamas was for the call were unified on this,” the official said. ‘ON THE SAME PAGE’ ON NORTH KOREA
Priebus made clear that North Korea was the top priority. “If we don’t have all of our folks together — whether they’re good folks, bad folks, people we wish would do better in their country, doesn’t matter, we’ve got to be on the same page” on North Korea, Priebus said. But taking a swipe at Trump for his invitation to Duterte, Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy tweeted: “We are watching in real time as the American human rights bully pulpit disintegrates into ash.”
becoming more moderate. “Hamas is attempting to fool the world but it will not succeed,” said David Keyes, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “They dig terror tunnels and have launched thousands upon thousands of missiles at Israeli civilians. This is the real Hamas.” Founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, the banned Egyptian Islamist movement, Hamas has fought three wars with Israel since 2007 and has carried out hundreds of armed attacks in Israel and in Israelioccupied territories. Many Western countries classify Hamas as a terrorist group over its failure to renounce violence, recognise Israel’s right to exist and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace agreements. Meshaal said Hamas’s fight was not against Judaism as a religion but against what he called “aggressor Zionists”. Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasme upbraided Hamas for taking decades to join Fatah in accepting a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, a position Hamas used to criticise Fatah for. “Hamas’s new document is identical to that taken by Fatah in 1988. Hamas is required to make an apology to Fatah after 30 years of accusing us of treason for that policy,” Qawasme said. It remained unclear whether the document replaces Hamas’s 1988 charter, which calls for Israel’s destruction. Meshaal said the document would “guide Hamas’s daily political activity”. Abbas’s Palestinian Authority has engaged in peace talks with Israel on the basis of seeking a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, although the last, U.S.-mediated round collapsed three years ago. There was no immediate comment on Monday from Egypt and Gulf Arab states to the Hamas document. (rtr) Thousands of Filipinos have been killed since Duterte unleashed his fierce anti-drugs campaign nearly 10 months ago. Police say they have killed only in self-defense, and the deaths of other drug dealers and users was down to vigilantes or narcotics gangs silencing potential witnesses. Human rights groups say official accounts are implausible and accuse Duterte of backing campaign of systematic extrajudicial killings by police. The government denies that. Duterte was infuriated by the Obama administration’s expressions of concern about extrajudicial killings after he took office last year and threatened to sever the long-standing U.S. defense alliance. (rtr)
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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Jokowi seeks optimization of migrant workers` protection
JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo met Hong Kong Chief Executive Keung Chun-Ying here on Monday to discuss the optimization of Indonesian migrant workers protection in Hong Kong. In the meeting at the Drawing Room in the Government House, they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong. “I hailed the MoU to strengthen the protection of Indonesian migrant workers,” he stated. He noted that some 172,826 Indonesians were cur-
rently living in Hong Kong and who have contributed to the economy of the administrative region. He thanked the Hong Kong leader
who had so far protected his citizens. “I thank you for all your efforts in protecting the Indonesian citizens in Hong Kong. I believe you will continue to give attention and protection to our citizens,” he told the Hong Kong chief executive. Chun-Ying said that Indonesia was Hong Kongs important partner and so he hoped the relations could be deepened further to not only include the relations between the governments and between the businesses but also between the people. He stated that trade and investment would also be sectors that need to be further developed in view of Hong Kongs position as a hub which is linked to China and the world. He expressed Hong Kong governments commitment to step up its attention and protection to Indonesian migrant workers. “Workers from Indonesia are part of our community,” he reiterated.
Widodo said that with regard to trade and investment, Hong Kong was Indonesias fourth biggest foreign investor at present. Hong Kongs investment in Indonesia is recorded at US$2.25 billion in 2016, twice the value in 2015, which was recorded at $691.2 million. “The Indonesian government will continue to improve the business climate, and in view of that, I hope you would encourage your business sector to invest in the infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including outside Java,” he remarked. The value of trade between Indonesia and Hong Kong increased from $3.87 billion in 2015 to $3.91 billion in 2016. President Jokowi, as he is also called, hoped the establishment of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta would contribute to increase trade transactions and investment between Indonesia and Hong Kong, including investment from
Hong Kongs creative industrial sector. “I also hailed the achievement of ASEAN-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement, which will be signed by economic ministers of ASEAN and Hong Kong in the second semester this year,” he revealed. Jokowi also hailed the signing of a MoU on culture. “I am convinced the deal to strengthen the cooperation in arts and culture, increase mutual understanding in friendly relations between our countries,” he noted. After witnessing the signing of a joint statement on cooperation in manpower between foreign minister Retno Marsudi and Hong Kongs Labor Secretary, Jokowi also witnessed the signing of a MoU in the field of culture by education and culture minister Muhadjir Effendy and Hong Kongs secretary for home affairs. Jokowi was flanked by Marsudi, Effendy, and cabinet secretary Pramono Anung at the meeting. (ant)
Low literacy rate contributes to spread of hoax: expert
JAKARTA - The low level of literacy has led several people to believe in hoax or fake news, Chief Editor of Trans Media Titin Rosmasari, a speaker at the World Press Freedom Day event, stated here, Monday. “Todays generation prefers to use their gadgets rather than reading books,” she stated at a seminar held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) in Jakarta ahead of International Press Freedom Day commemorated annually on May 3. She said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCOs) records in 2012 estimated that Indonesias literacy level had reached merely 0.001, indicating that out of every thousand people, only one individual had actively read books. Another survey conducted by pollster Nielsen had cited that most people in the country spend four hours and 42 minutes browsing on the computer, three hours and 33 minutes surfing on their smartphones, and two hours and 51 minutes on checking or updating their status on social media. “Apparently, most people today have a lot of spare time to read and share hoax news,” she remarked while adding that in several cases, the fake news phenomenon had been persistently spread by some prominent figures due to the lack of verification of the original sources. Apart from the low level of reading, a lack of trust in the mainstream media remains a challenge in the fight against fake news. Hence, the media should maintain public trust by working in accordance with the journalists ethics code, she emphasized. During the event, she lauded the Communication
and Information Ministrys efforts to halt the circulation of fake news by blocking objectionable websites, including those offering gambling facilities, spreading hate speeches, and engaging in fraudulent acts. Vice President Jusuf Kalla had earlier also initiated an antihoax journalist network, she added. On a different occasion, Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara said the fake news phenomenon has triggered public unrest globally. The ministry had earlier noted that fake news tends to spread on social media rather than through mainstream media, as the latter has a responsibility to “cover both sides,” while the former does not follow this principle. Rudiantara further stated that fake news could create a vicious circle, as the mainstream media sometimes carelessly publishes articles or television channels broadcast text by quoting unverified issues. With regard to the issue, this years World Press Freedom Day commemoration has not only called on journalists but also students and other communities to fight against the circulation of fake news by being critical while reading any article or watching a news coverage. The event being held at the JCC on May 1-4 will feature some workshops, seminars, and conferences. “The programs are designed to raise awareness on the importance of free and fact-based journalism in promoting peace and justice and supporting efficiency, accountability, and inclusiveness of institutions in line with the 16th United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” UNESCO stated on its official website. (ant)
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International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
BUSINESS Hollywood writers reach tentative deal with studios, averting strike
Hollywood writers said they reached a tentative deal with representatives of movie and television studios on a new contract early on Tuesday, averting a strike that could have blacked out talk shows and soap operas. The sides agreed provisions to make up for shorter TV seasons - an issue since the advent of streaming services - and a 15-percent increase in pay television residuals, according to a memo to writers on the Writers Guild of America website. Guild members would together earn $130 million more over the lifespan of the new deal, negotiators said in the memo, without specifying the time period. “That result, and that resolve, is a testament to you, your courage, and your faith in us as your representatives,” they wrote. Members still need to agree to the settlement. The 9,000-member Guild had said it was prepared to call for a stoppage and for picketing of the big TV and movie studios as early as Tuesday if no deal was reached by midnight on Monday.
The focus of the talks has been the revolution in the television industry since the arrival of streaming services including Netflix and Amazon, and a resulting sharp decline in the typical number of episodes in a season of scripted comedy or drama, to around 10 from 22. The Guild says its members, who are paid per episode, have suffered an average 23-percent drop in earnings in the past three years. Royalties for shows sold on DVDs, streaming platforms and cable TV were also at issue, along with funding for the Guild’s health plan. The Guild was negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents entertainment giants Comcast Corp, Walt Disney Co, CBS Corp , Viacom Inc, Time Warner Inc and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc.
If a strike had been called, audiences would have seen the first impact on late-night talk shows, which use teams of writers to pen
topical jokes. The last WGA strike in 2007/8 went on for 100 days. TV networks broadcast re-runs and more reality
shows, while the cost to the California economy was estimated at $2.1 billion, according to the Milken Institute.(rtr)
IMF delays Mongolia bailout due to banking requirements for foreign firms ULAANBAATAR - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has postponed a $5.5 billion bailout for Mongolia because of a measure included in the country’s
2017 budget that forces foreign firms to bank with domestic institutions, the IMF’s country representative said. Mongolia’s economy has slid
REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A coal-burning power plant can be seen behind a factory in the city of Baotou, in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region October 31, 2010.
into a crisis caused by heavy foreign debt, a collapse in its currency and a slowdown in growth in its biggest trading partner, China. The IMF board had been expected to approve a rescue package at a meeting on April 28. “The Board discussion was postponed,” said Neil Saker, the IMF’s Mongolia country representative, in emailed comments, adding that they needed to examine the details of a new measure covering foreign exchange transactions by investors. The IMF announced in February a $440 million Extended Fund Facility that Mongolia can draw on for three years, in addition to $3 billion from Japan and South Korea and a three-year extension to a 15 billion yuan ($2.18 billion) swap agreement with the People’s Bank of China. In the 2017 budget approved in the early hours of the morning on April 14, legislators introduced tax changes that would allow it to meet conditions set by the IMF.
But it also included a clause seeking to “improve” investment agreements with foreign partners, forcing firms such as miner Oyu Tolgoi LLC, jointly owned by Mongolia and Rio Tinto , to do all their banking with Mongolian institutions in a bid to bolster foreign currency reserves. “We need a bit more time to understand the nature and the specifics of the measure, and whether the macroeconomic framework of the program remains valid,” said Saker. Mongolia’s Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond for comment. According to a report in local news portal News.mn on Tuesday, the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) will support the removal of the controversial clause. A spokesman for the party declined to comment, but any move would require the consent of parliament. “The parliament must now ap-
prove the agreement without that clause and have the programme discussed again by the IMF executive board,” said Dale Choi, analyst with the Altan Bumba Financial Group based in Ulaanbaatar. “It could take another two to three weeks.” The MPP has been anxious to show it is ready to reach deals with foreign firms following a catastrophic collapse of inward investment, caused in part by disputes with overseas partners like Rio Tinto. The previous government became embroiled in a dispute with Rio Tinto over rising development costs and allegations of unpaid tax at Oyu Tolgoi, delaying the expansion of one of the world’s biggest copper mines for two years. Mongolian bonds have not so far been affected by the delay, traders said. Bonds due 2024 were trading steadily at 111/111.75 cents on the dollar. This $600 million bond was issued at 101.243 in March in an exchange offer.(rtr)
Bali News
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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The BBDF Coral Reef Conservation through Ecotourism
The normally quiet town of Buleleng on the northern coast of will come alive when the highly anticipated annual Buleleng Bali Dive Festival (BBDF) is staged at the Pemuteran Village. Among divers, Pemuteran is known worldwide for its uniquely inspiring underwater temple, which is acreative artwork involving coal reef revitalization. Once a barren underwater ocean landscape devastated by destructive fishing, bleaching and sedimentation, the reefs at Pemuteran Village have now been totally transformed and are the world’s largest and most successful reef restoration program, alive with underwater creatures. The result from collective efforts done by the local community, Pemuteran Bay now glows with bright colorful corals, schools of fish, and counting over 70 separate stunning Bio-rock reefs. The community is proud that their efforts at coral reef conservation that were done purely with local resources have proven to be a national success that has even garnered international recognition in the form of many national and international awards – namely the prestigious PATA Gold Award, the
Equator Prize and the Millennium G20 Award. Local hotels and dive shops led by Taman Sari Resort, Amertha Villas and Bali Diving Academy have all been involved in the restoration project by supporting community environmental education and management initiatives to promote ecotourism, making Pemuteran economically sustainable for the local community. The BBDF is aimed to both spread the need and benefits of global awareness on reef conservation at the same time promote Pemuteran and Buleleng’s art and culture internationally. Divers from around the world are invited to witness firsthand the beauty of marine life that Buleleng has to offer and participate in, and learn-
Pristine Beauty of Bunutin Waterfalls
There are many charming waterfalls in Bangli including the yellow waterfalls at Tamanbali village and Cepung River waterfalls at Tembuku village, and Bunutin waterfalls. As the name implies, Bunutin waterfalls are located in Bunutin village, Kintamani and a roadside sign directs visitors to the location of the falls, which are however some way from the road, so visitors should be ready for a bit of a hike. In fact, there is no actual path to the falls, so visitors have to pass through 300 meters of tangerine orchards. The fatigue endured by visitors is well paid off when they reach the falls and experience the pristine beauty of the setting. The crystal clear water and lush vegetation are sure to make all visitors want to linger. However, visitors wanting to swim in the pool at the base of the waterfalls should proceed with caution as they is quicksand that could be hazardous if stepped into. Headman of Bunutin, Made Subrata, said that people have been visiting Bunutin waterfall despite the lack of path leading to it. “It is a little challenging to get there and the way is steep”, he said. Subrata said that there are plans to create a proper pathway to the waterfalls and that he hopes that relevant agencies will help promote the location so that more visitors can come and enjoy this spot and contribute to the welfare of the surrounding community. (kmb)
ing about the many conservation programs in the area. The festival will feature an Underwater Art Parade, Reef Check Monitoring, Underwater Photography Competition, Live Painting, Underwater Expo, Kids & Students Reef, Culinary Bazaar, Performing Art Stage, Bio-rock Reef Conservation Workshop
and the prestigious release of the Bedawang Nala statue the 2016 BBDF icon. This year the Bedawang Nala was chosen as the festival’s icon since it symbolizes Mother Earth and universal balance and harmony. The statue which is created from Bio-rock coral was masterfully crafted by a team of artists and
Bio-rock specialists and will be placed on the sea floor, close to last year’s BBDF icon, the Gadjah Mina which represents the guardian of the sea. Many arts and performances will be showcased at this impressive event including the Pemuteran Community Heritage Celebration of Gebug Ende.(kmb)
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Bali News
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Quality standard fulfilled
China still rejects mangosteen of Indonesia
Japan wrestles over smoking ban as Olympics loom
TABANAN - Some time ago the government gave signal that the export of mangosteen can go directly to China. Certainly, this becomes a good indication for farmers and exporters. With direct shipping to China, the shipping cost can be reduced and the price at the farmer level can be better. However, in order to get directly to China farmers must comply with the established quality standards. Currently, although it has met the quality standards, the mangosteen from Indonesia is still refused to enter directly to China. In order to enter this country, Indonesia’s mangosteen must transit first to third countries such as Malaysia. A farmer who is also mangosteen exporter from Pupuan subdistrict, Jero Putu Tesan, said the blocking of mangosteen by China has actually happened since 2013. It makes mangosteen exports to China have to go through a third country in order to get into China. As a result, the sales chain of local mangosteen becomes longer, so that the quality of local mangosteen becomes less good. Objection of Chinese government to receive Indonesia’s mangosteen is based on the absence of quality standards such as registration of plantation on mangosteen plants. Responding to this objection, Pupuan mangosteen farmers,
according to Jero Putu Tesan, have followed up with the registration as well as quality improvement. However, even though this standard has been met, the Chinese government still insists on banning Indonesia’s mangosteen trade to enter directly into the country. With this problem, as a farmer he hoped that the Indonesian government through the quarantine office and the ministry of agriculture continuously finds common ground with the Chinese government so that the export of mangosteen can be made directly to China as previously. Moreover, absorption of mangosteen to China is large enough reaching 5,0006,000 tons per harvest season. The price is also much higher when compared to that of local market where the maximum price at local market is just around IDR 20,000IDR 22,000 per kg, but the price of mangosteen in Chinese market
can reach IDR 40,000 per kg with unlimited demand. Regarding this issue, the Division Head of the Tabanan Agricultural Infrastructure and Facility at the Tabanan Agriculture Agency, Nyoman Wiadnyana, on Monday (May 1) added that the government has given positive signal that mangosteen from Indonesia can be sent directly to China if the quality standard has been fulfilled. However, the reality is just the opposite. Wiadnyana himself admitted that he did not know about the exact problem whether the quality standard to be met by farmers is still inadequate in the perspective of Chinese government or there are still any other problems. To that end, it is still needed coordination with central government, in this case the ministry of agriculture, to know exactly what the problem is. He continued that mangosteen
REUTERS/KCNA handout via Reuters/File Photo & REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File Photo
A combination photo shows a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) handout of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un released on May 10, 2016, and Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump posing for a photo after an interview with Reuters in his office in Trump Tower, in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016.
IBP/file
Although it has met the quality standards, the mangosteen from Indonesia is still refused to enter directly to China. production of Pupuan is not maximal because of the current extreme weather. “So, the number remains a little to meet the needs of exports. Hopefully, this problem can be
resolved so that when mangosteen production in the upcoming harvest season is abundant, farmers can export directly to China,” he explained. (kmb24)
Preserve Kamasan puppet
Dozens of painters demonstrate how to paint
SEMARAPURA - The wayang or puppet painters showcased their typical painting techniques of Kamasan village in Bale Kambang, Kerta Gosa Park, on Monday (May
1). The painters coalesced into the Sekar Harum group showed off their talents and skills ranging from painting to coloring the typical puppet painting of Kamasan village
IBP/dwa
Amid the efforts of district government to realize Kamasan tourism village, this painting will be used as a spearhead to attract travelers to Kamasan village.
on canvas and various other media in front of visitors to Kerta Gosa Park. A number of foreign travelers happening to visit Kerta Gosa also enthusiastically observed the painters in action. Other than introducing how to paint Kamasan-style puppet, the action was also done to enliven the 109th celebration of Puputan Klungkung and 25th anniversary of Semarapura town. Sekar Harum group leader, Nyoman Arcana, said that his group of 25 people are senior painters having aged 45 years and over. They have long struggled in the Kamasan puppet-style painting, engaging in this profession as a livelihood. This group has been recognized by the government of Klungkung to participate in introducing how to paint Kamasan puppet style every day in Kerta Gosa Park. “Every day, our group members in turn show off how to paint puppet. However, this time is meant to enliven the festival. The whole group members paint together at this loca-
tion,” said Nyoman Arcana. He added that typical puppet painting of Kamasan village has existed since Ida Dalem Waturenggong era. Initial idea of this painting was intended to make sacrifice through the making of decorative ceremonies such as kober ider-ider, ulon-ulon, and tedung, fan et cetera. The stories depicted contain philosophical values of Hinduism and Balinese culture. On that account, puppet painting of Kamasan style is a cultural heritage that still looks intact until now. In order to continuously survive in modern times, the puppet painting should keep innovating by using various media such as fans, umbrellas, eggs, wallets and sokasi (bamboo food basket) so as to have commercial value. “Every day, we engage in the classical puppet painting of Kamasan style. We are teaching our children and grandchildren to paint puppet so that this painting will not go extinct because no one still pursues,” said Nyoman Arcana.
Regent of Klungkung, I Nyoman Suwirta, who attended the event, even had nostalgia about his youth who learned to paint Kamasan style puppet because he had lived at Kamasan village at Tarca’s home for two years. Moreover, all the group members can still be recognized one by one by this regent from Nusa Ceningan. “I used to learn and can paint Kamasan-style puppet, but now we’ve forgotten,” said Regent Suwirta. He convinced the painters that Kamasan-style paintings must be sustainable. The regeneration process should continue to be done so that the characteristic of this painting will not go extinct. Amid the efforts of district government to realize Kamasan tourism village, this painting will be used as a spearhead to attract travelers to Kamasan village. “Kamasan puppet painting having been famous so that we will make it into the spearhead of the Kamasan tourism village,” said Regent Suwirta optimistically. (dwa)
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N.Korea says US bomber flights push peninsula to brink of nuclear war
SEOUL - North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of pushing the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war after a pair of strategic U.S. bombers flew training drills with the South Korean and Japanese air forces in another show of strength. The two supersonic B-1B Lancer bombers were deployed amid rising tensions over North Korea’s dogged pursuit of its nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of United Nations sanctions and pressure from the United States. The flight of the two bombers on Monday came as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the right circumstances, and as his CIA director landed in South Korea for talks. South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a briefing in Seoul that Monday’s joint drill was conducted to deter provocations by the North and to test readiness against another potential nuclear test. The U.S. air force said in a statement the bombers had flown
from Guam to conduct training exercises with the South Korean and Japanese air forces. North Korea said the bombers conducted “a nuclear bomb dropping drill against major objects” in its territory at a time when Trump and “other U.S. warmongers are crying out for making a preemptive nuclear strike” on the North. “The reckless military provocation is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war,” the North’s official KCNA news agency said on Tuesday. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been high for weeks, driven by concerns that the North might conduct its sixth nuclear test in defiance of pressure from the United States and Pyongyang’s sole major ally, China.
China’s Global Times, a statebacked tabloid that does not necessarily reflect national policy, said in an editorial late on Monday the United States should not rely on China alone to pressure Pyongyang into giving up its nuclear ambitions. April could prove a “turning point”, the paper said, but “Washington ... must also continue to exert its own efforts on the issue”. It was widely feared North Korea could conduct its sixth nuclear test on or around April 15 to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the North’s founding leader, Kim Il Sung, or on April 25 to coincide with the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People’s Army. The North has conducted such tests or missile launches to mark significant events in the past. Instead, North Korea conducted an annual military parade, featuring a display of missiles, on April 15 and then a large, live-fire artillery drill 10 days later. (rtr)
TOKYO - Tokyo risks being one of the unhealthiest Olympic Games hosts in years, as an anti-smoking law exposes deep rifts over tobacco tax revenue, personal freedom and the dangers of passive smoking, which kills thousands of Japanese each year. There is pressure on the Japanese capital ahead of the 2020 Summer Games, including from the International Olympics Committee (IOC), to follow Rio de Janeiro and other recent Olympic venues in banning smoking in all public places to create a healthy sporting environment. But an initial proposal for a blanket ban on smoking indoors across Japan was opposed by pro-smoking politicians, restaurateurs and Japan Tobacco, which is one-third government-owned and paid the state $700 million in dividends in 2015. The health ministry scaled back its plan, to allow smoking indoors in spaces around 30 square metres (323 square feet) as long as adequate ventilation is installed. But opponents say this will still hurt Japan’s many eateries, restrict individual freedom, and dent tobacco tax revenues - which topped 2 trillion yen ($18 billion) in 2014-15. Natsuko Takami, who runs a Tokyo pub that is small enough to allow smoking under the revised bill, fears losing money as she can’t afford new ventilation, and could be fined 500,000 yen if a customer lit up. The smoker could be fined 300,000 yen. “I think people would stop coming,” she said, adding that being able to smoke and drink helps reserved Japanese open up. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) health committee, whose support is essential to introducing the bill in parliament, won’t meet ministry officials, saying the revised bill is too strict. The committee chair, Naomi Tokashiki, acknowledges there should be a law that protects against second-hand smoke, but says Japan’s cultural emphasis on good manners and sensitivity to others should suffice. “I believe Japanese people really are considerate of others,” she said. “It’s more important for us to trust people than enact a really repressive law.” Not so, say health authorities, pointing to 15,000 deaths a year from second-hand smoke, mostly women and children. “It’s not a question of manners, we’re looking at the impact on health,” said a ministry official involved in crafting the bill who declined to be named due to the issue’s sensitivity. “We’ve basically allowed people their independence, but the situation hasn’t changed,” he said. “Something more is needed.” It now seems unlikely the law will be put to a vote in the current parliamentary session, which ends on June 18. (rtr)
REUTERS/Issei Kato
A man smokes at an ‘izakaya’ restaurant or pub in Tokyo, Japan March 15, 2017. Picture taken March 15, 2017.
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Technology
International
Hackers exploited Word flaw for months while Microsoft investigated
REUTERS/Edgar Su
Graymatics employees pretend to fight as they record footage to be used to “train” their software to watch and filter internet videos for violence, at their office in Singapore April 27, 2017.
Tech firms race to spot video violence
SINGAPORE - Companies from Singapore to Finland are racing to improve artificial intelligence so software can automatically spot and block videos of grisly murders and mayhem before they go viral on social media.
None, so far, claim to have cracked the problem completely. A Thai man who broadcast himself killing his 11-month-old daughter in a live video on Facebook this week, was the latest in a string of violent crimes shown live on the social media company. The incidents have prompted questions about how Facebook’s reporting system works and how violent content can be flagged faster. A dozen or more companies are wrestling with the problem, those in the industry say. Google - which faces similar problems with its YouTube service - and Facebook are working on their own solutions. Most are focusing on deep learning: a type of artificial intelligence that makes use of computerised neural networks. It is an approach that David Lissmyr, founder of Paris-based image and video analysis company Sightengine, says goes back to efforts in the 1950s to mimic the way neurons work and interact in the brain. Teaching computers to learn with deep layers of artificial neurons has really only taken off in the past few years, said Matt Zeiler, founder and CEO of New York-based Clarifai, another video analysis company. It’s only been relatively recently that there has been enough computing power and data available for teaching these systems, enabling “exponential leaps in the accuracy and efficacy of machine learning”, Zeiler said.
SAN FRANCISCO - To understand why it is so difficult to defend computers from even moderately capable hackers, consider the case of the security flaw officially known as CVE-2017-0199. The bug was unusually dangerous but of a common genre: it was in Microsoft software, could allow a hacker to seize control of a personal computer with little trace, and was fixed April 11 in Microsoft’s regular monthly security update. But it had traveled a rocky, ninemonth journey from discovery to resolution, which cyber security experts say is an unusually long time. Google’s security researchers, for example, give vendors just 90 days’ warning before publishing flaws they find. Microsoft Corp declined to say how long it usually takes to patch a flaw. While Microsoft investigated, hackers found the flaw and ma-
nipulated the software to spy on unknown Russian speakers, possibly in Ukraine. And a group of thieves used it to bolster their efforts to steal from millions of online bank accounts in Australia and other countries. Those conclusions and other details emerged from interviews with researchers at cyber security firms who studied the events and analyzed versions of the attack code. Microsoft confirmed the sequence of events. The tale began last July, when Ryan Hanson, a 2010 Idaho State University graduate and consultant at boutique security firm Optiv Inc in Boise, found a weakness in the way that Microsoft Word processes documents from another format. That allowed him to insert a link to a malicious program that would take control of a computer. (rtr)
FEEDING IMAGES
The teaching system begins with images fed through the computer’s neural layers, which then “learn” to identify a street sign, say, or a violent scene in a video. Violent acts might include hacking actions, or blood, says Abhijit Shanbhag, CEO of Singaporebased Graymatics. If his engineers can’t find a suitable scene, they film it themselves in the office. Zeiler says Clarifai’s algorithms can also recognise objects in a video that could be precursors to violence -- a knife or gun, for instance. But there are limits. One is the software is only as good as the examples it is trained on. When someone decides to hang a child from a building, it’s not necessarily something the software has been programmed to watch for. “As people get more innovative about such gruesome activity, the system needs to be trained on that,” said Shanbhag, whose company filters video and image content on behalf of several social media clients in Asia and elsewhere. Another limitation is that violence can be subjective. A fast-moving scene with lots of gore should be easy enough to spot, says Junle Wang, head of R&D at France-based PicPurify. But the company is still working on identifying violent scenes that don’t involve blood or weapons. Psychological torture, too, is hard to spot, says his colleague, CEO Yann Mareschal. And then there’s content that could be deemed offensive without being intrinsically violent -- an ISIS flag, for example -- says Graymatics’s Shanbhag. That could require the system to be tweaked depending on the client. (rtr)
Bali News
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
3
Lake Tamblingan overflows, Gubug Temple submerged SINGARAJA - Overflowing water does not only take place in Lake Buyan. Similar condition also happens to Lake Tamblingan, Munduk village, Banjar. The condition having lasted for one month soaks the Gubug Temple and the area usually taken advantage as the venue of the Twin Lakes Festival implementation. Based on field observation on Monday (May 1), the lake water has soaked the temple foundation with a height of about one meter. A number of trees planted in the area usually used as the venue of the Twin Lakes Festival also experiences similar condition. However, the phenomenon having lasted for five years becomes an attraction to residents as a fishing ground. One of the villagers, Nyoman Oka, said that the overflowing water of the lake has been going on since about two months ago. However, it has just soaked the temple since about a month. “It’s been happening from a month ago,” said this man while netting fish. If compared to the condition of few years ago, the current volume of lake water is still less and so is the flooded area. “In the past, this area was entirely soaked. The temple will also be affected, but the current condition is not worse yet,” he said. Meanwhile, chief of Tamblingan hamlet, I Wayan Sarika, said that condition of Gubug Temple is still quite good when being submerged and so far there are no damages yet. “Now, the submerged part is just the pedestal, has not yet reached inside the area. But, there is no damages yet,” he said. In such condition, he continued, when there is worship at the temple, the pilgrims are temporarily transported by boat. “Since the water is high enough, the visit to temple will be transported by a boat. Fortunately, the distance is very close,” he said. (kmb45)
IBP/kmb45
The condition having lasted for one month soaks the Gubug Temple and the area usually taken advantage as the venue of the Twin Lakes Festival implementation.
North Badung tax office canvasses untaxed villas
Geo-tagging targets 38,000 taxpayers
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A Microsoft logo is seen a day after Microsoft Corp’s $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn Corp, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on June 14, 2016.
MANGUPURA - Tax potential of the tourism industry in North Badung region remains very large. Moreover, many villa accommodations have not been taxed (have no taxpayer identity number). To that end, this year the tax office services (KPP) Pratama of North Badung will perform data collection and search of villas in the area of North Badung. “We will record the number of villas in Badung through villa canvassing as well as mapping out the locations by using geo tagging. This taxpayer canvassing refers to the Regulation of Directorate General of Tax No. PER-35 / PJ / 2013 on tax extensification procedures,”
said the Head of the KPP Pratama of North Badung, Guntur Wijaya Edi, on Friday (Apr. 28). He said that canvassing target of taxpayers by using geo-tagging application 2017 the KPP Pratama of North Badung launched on Friday (Apr. 28) amounted to 38,000 taxpayers. With these data, the agency also targeted to get prospective new tax payers. “We are targeting the addition of 2,000 new taxpayers,” he said. Meanwhile, the villa canvassing program will be focused in the area of North Kuta subdistrict. According to Guntur, the region has the highest potential of accommodation. Of the four subdistricts under the KPP Pratama of North Badung
working area, the contribution of revenue in the region of North Kuta reached 50 percent. “All this time, there are still many accommodation businesses having been operating and receiving income to reaping profits but have not paid taxes. Surely, this injures the sense of justice. They run business in Badung, but do not want to pay taxes. Meanwhile, the licensed businesses must perform their obligations including paying taxes,” he said. From the data of the Badung tourism office in 2016, there were 1,049 licensed hotels in Badung. They consist of 155 star hotels, 849 non-star hotels and 45 condotels.
Then, cottages amount to 1,212 units and 43 rental homes. Ultimately, the total room of the hotel, cottage and rental houses reached 67,719 rooms. Until the end of this April, the KPP Pratama of North Badung is categorized into the region with high taxpayer compliance. So far, the recorded taxpayers having submitted annual tax returns have reached 92.7 percent. Actually, the percentage of SPT submission in Bali only amounts to 66 percent. “We continue to establish communication with taxpayers through proactive pattern,” he said. He revealed that many villa owners in Badung are foreigners but on behalf of local residents
(nominee). It is evident from the participation of foreign taxpayers in the tax amnesty program having ended on March 31. “Many foreign taxpayers participated in the tax amnesty for their assets and businesses in Badung. Therefore, we now want to record and trace the existing villas,” he explained. Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tax Consultant (IKPI) Bali, Kadek Agus Ardika, on that opportunity appreciated to what has been done by the KPP Pratama of North Badung. “Our clients are not afraid to pay taxes, but there must be education and approach so that they feel comfortable in submitting taxes,” he said. (kmb23)
2
Bali News
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
International
Trade sector absorbs most work forces DENPASAR - Employment absorption in Denpasar throughout 2016 showed that trade business sector absorbed the most work forces. This sector was able to absorb work force as much as 42.33 percent, far above the other sectors. In fact, the sector was able to reduce unemployment rate in the past five years.
IBP/Cubit
The ceramics industry is one of the handicrafts that absorbs many workers.
agency planned to create a forum consisting of the education and training institutes (LPK) in Denpasar. In the meantime, graduates of vocational schools must hold certificate of competence according to the skills acquired at school. By this way, they will be ready to get involved in the job market, so that it will be able to reduce the work force having not been absorbed in Denpasar. Another effort remaining to be attempted in this Chinese year of the fire rooster is to organize a job fair. This activity aims to bring together job seekers and the employers. This annual event is also expected to open job opportunities for more than 10,000 job seekers in Denpasar. Anom Suradi added that from the experience so far the job fair activities are very effective to reduce the number of unemployment in Denpasar. Every time organizing the job fair, at least 25 percent of job seekers can get absorbed. It is effective enough to reduce unemployment in Denpasar, he said. He recognized that of the 10,000 work forces, they are not entirely having a yellow card (jobseeker card). “Only 40 percent of them are looking for yellow card, whereas this card is very important when looking for job opportunities and become one of the requirements to apply for a job,” he said. (kmb12)
This was confirmed by Deputy Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, in the plenary session of the Denpasar House of Representatives with the agenda of delivering the accountability report of Denpasar mayor for fiscal year 2016 on Monday (Apr. 17). Jaya Negara asserted that the other sectors also absorbing a lot of work forces consist of services that reached 22.75 percent and industry (12.66 percent) and other sectors (22.26 percent). Meanwhile, the open unemployment rate (TPT) decreased when compared to 2010 reaching 6.57 percent and in 2015 reaching 3.54 percent. However, this is still above the average of the province reaching only 1.99 percent, said Jaya Negara. Previously, Denpasar manpower agency predicted that job opportunities this year will be held by tourism sector. This new sector having become a trend such as yoga trainer is also quite potential to absorb work force in 2017. Head of the Denpasar Social and Manpower Agency, IGA Anom Suradi, who Table of Labor met on the sidelines Description Amount Percentage of the inauguration Working Age Population 668,230 of civil servants in Labor Force 485,724 the Denpasar muWorking 468,515 nicipality, recently Unemployment 17,209 revealed that the Non-Labor Force 182,506 working program Labor Force Participation Rate (LFBR) 72.69 will be focused on Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) 3.54 certification of the workers in DenpasSource: Central Statistics Agency of Denpasar, 2016 ar. Moreover, his
Tabanan labor dominates handicraft and tourism sector Foreigner only seven persons
TABANAN - Small industry or handicraft is a mainstay commodity for Tabanan district in addition to being the center for agriculture. It is not wrong if the opportunity of industrial sector is taken over by local people. Based on the data of the Tabanan manpower agency, at least 70 percent of the local workforce in this Bali’s rice barn region reaching 6,889 people is engaged in the in-
dustry or handicraft sector as well as tourism sector. “They are dominated by local workers, while foreign workers only amount to 7 people,” explained the Head of the Tabanan Manpower Agency, Putu Santika, when contacted on Monday (May 1). He said that industrial or handicraft sector in Tabanan remains to have a high potential to absorb labor force. For example, it can be absorbed by
ceramic and iron craft industry. He added that the Tabanan district is the largest center of iron craft in the Bali region. Moreover, it is supported by Bali as the largest tourist destination in Indonesia so that iron or metal handicraft products are growing very rapidly and even spread across the rural areas. “In addition to the industry, tourism sector is also engaged by local people,” he said.
This official from Gubug village also admitted that until now Tabanan remains to have unemployment but the number has started to decline. “There are 204 jobseekers, but 106 of them have been recruited,” he said. Amid the competition for job positions due to incessant migrant population, Santika assessed the local labor of Tabanan is not inferior. This is also evidenced by the
decline in the number of unemployment due to incessant training activities organized. As of December 2016, there were only 9,947 people that attended training. Most of them are of high school graduates that do not continue their education. Meanwhile, college or university graduates are rarely participating in the training organized by manpower agency because they have owned their own skill. (kmb28)
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Activities
International
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
15
Rebooting the Mind and Body in Bali’s Highlands
There’s something definitely different about the Central Balinese community of Ubud, a place revered by 9th Century Hindu priests who paused there to meditate and reflect at Campuan – the sacred juncture of two rivers. Equally renowned for its wide range of endemic medicinal herbs and plants and its overall healing atmosphere, Ubud fittingly derives it names from the term Ubad – meaning medicine in ancient Balinese. Set in the cool highlands of Bali, 200-meters above sea level, and just 30-minutes from the main seaside tourist areas to the south - Ubud has its own distinct mojo that has long proven irresistible to natives and visitors alike. In the early 1930s, a cousin of an American President sharing the same surname, André Roosevelt, released a film made on the Island titled GoonaGoona that is credited with starting a worldwide craze for all things Balinese. That craze for Bali style and culture continues to this day as a record number of visitors continue to come to re-discover that “Old Black Magic” of Bali celebrated in film and song. The lure of Bali has long drawn the world’s glitterati to Bali’s shores. Among the artists and famous of an earlier era who paused in Ubud are numbered Walter Spies, Ketut Tantri (Muriel Stuart Walker), Willem Hofker, Rudolf Bonnet, Arie Smit, Charlie Chaplin, Noel Conrad, Barbara Hutton, H.G. Wells, Vicki Baum and Colin McPhee. In more recent times, a survey of an Ubud restaurant or coffee shop could have revealed Barack Obama, Julia Roberts, Mick Jagger, Barbara Streisand, Donna Karyn or any of a number of
music and film industry stars casually sipping a latte. Following on from the natural magnetism of the area that still colors daily life, the 106 villas and suites of the Visesa Ubud exudes the many charms and healing ambient of Ubud from its generous 6.5-hectare site. Only 2.2 kilometers from Ubud’s city center and a further 100-meter higher at 300-meters above sea level, the Resort seeks to retain Ubud’s reputation as a place to reboot the mind, spirit and body for an entire new generation of Bali visitors. To the Balinese, art is simple perfection in the execution of everyday activities – the essence of which is, in turn, presented as a humble offering to the Gods. Accordingly, on an Island where remarkably talented dancers, carvers, musicians, painters and women making intricate temple offerings see themselves as unremarkable students, farmers, shopkeepers and housewives – the Visesa strives to celebrate Balinese art and culture in the same understated way. Service and duties are undertaken with a grace born from a shared understanding that the God’s demand nothing less than mindfulness in all things. This mindfulness and attention to detail can be seen in every corner of the Resort. Guest standing in the Resort’s lobby can be forgiven being mesmerized by a lobby façade hand-carved from volcanic sandstone; a sacred lionlike barong standing at the lobby’s center who is “fed” with offerings on a daily basis; and an extensive gallery of collectable art derived from the many schools-of-art that emanate from this part of Bali. At
its core, the Visesa Ubud is about refreshing the mind and body by making each guest feel like he or she has been reborn as a member of a traditional Balinese community. At the Visesa strangers are quickly made friends by team member who take turns leading guests on tours that reveal the many hidden treasure of life on the “Island of the Gods.” The Visesa Ubud is first and foremost about caring and sharing, the same traits encountered by anyone who has been privileged to be welcomed as a guest into any Balinese household. Where else but in Bali can a guest be invited to participate in a traditional “melukat” blessing ceremony; invited to bathe at a sacred purifying spring; join a
bimonthly Kajen Kliwon ceremony at a community temple; consult with an in-house traditional Balian healer; get massaged into blissful relaxation in a candlelit cave; be dressed in Royal Balinese garments for the holiday photo of a lifetime; receive a facial and neck massage while you sitting submerged at the edge of a swimming pool; or join a tour of the Resort and the surrounding villages while riding on an antique bicycle? Expect to be overwhelmed with attention and growing familial affection when staying at the Visesa Resort – referred to as “Desa Visesa” or “the Village of Visesa” by those living in the surrounding community. Listen with rapt attention as your waiter
hand grinds and shares a recipe for a delicious “sambal” while you enjoy a rice-paddy side meal at “Warung Sawah.” Be invited on a garden tour by the Resort’s Chef who will explain a treasure-trove of herbs and spices growing in a space he calls his “living kitchen.” Join the in giggles and local gossip as you sit in a garden pavilion with local women preparing a towering “gebongan” offering of fruits and flowers for a coming festival. Limber up at a Balinese dance lesson or a daily yoga session. And, trade smiles, waves and shouted greetings with the locals during a leisurely walking tour of a local village. Enjoying pride-of-place at the Visesa Ubud is its large and working permaculture garden that champions sustainability by growing organic produce that guests can enjoy in “Warung Tani” – a dining area surrounded by the Resort’s farming gardens. As a permaculture project, the Resort’s gardens represent a skillful combination and rotation of plants that naturally repel pests without the use of herbicides and pesticides, and promotes crop rotations that naturally maintain the rich fertility of the Balinese soil. No less important to the success of the Resort’s permaculture gardens is strict adherence to the Balinese Calendar that dictates the most auspicious dates for both the planting and harvesting of each agricultural crop.For further information please contact Desa Visesa Ubud, Suweta Street Banjar Bentuyung Sakti, Ubud. Phone: +62361 2091788, email:info@visesabud.com and website www.visesaubud.com
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
In new book, Ivanka Trump gets serious about women at work
WASHINGTON — Ivanka Trump’s first foray into selfhelp writing came in 2009 with “The Trump Card,” a breezy compilation of workplace advice, stories about her dealmaker dad and a hefty dose of celebrity namedropping. But in her second book, released Tuesday, Trump has gone from sassy to serious. “Women Who Work: Rewriting the Rules for Success” offers earnest advice for women on advancing in the workplace, balancing family and professional life and seeking personal fulfilment. She
is donating the proceeds to charity and has opted not to do any publicity to avoid any suggestion that she is improperly using her White House platform. It’s natural that Ivanka Trump’s thinking would evolve. Now 35, she is married and has had three children since she wrote the first
book. She has also embraced advocacy for women, first at her fashion brand and now at the White House as an unpaid adviser. She stepped away from executive roles at the Trump Organization and her fashion brand before joining her father ’s administration, though she still owns the brand, which has prompted criticism from ethics experts that she could profit from her rising profile. (ap)
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
White House defends Trump invitation to Duterte despite human rights criticism
WASHINGTON - The White House on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s decision to invite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to Washington, saying his cooperation was needed to counter North Korea, even as the administration faced human rights criticism for its overture to Manila.
Ivanka Trump s
Trump issued the invitation on Saturday night in what the White House said was a “very friendly” phone conversation with Duterte, who is accused by international human rights groups of supporting a campaign of extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines. “There is nothing right now facing this country and facing the region that is a bigger threat than what’s happening in North Korea,” White House chief of staff Reince Priebus told ABC’s “This Week” during a weekend in which Trump sought to firm up support in Southeast Asia to help rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. North Korea suggested on Monday it would continue its nuclear weapons tests, saying it will bolster its force “to the maximum” in a “consecutive and successive way at any moment” in the face of what it calls U.S. aggression and hysteria. Priebus insisted the outreach to Duterte “doesn’t mean that human rights don’t matter, but what it does mean is that the issues facing us developing out of North Korea are so
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File
The Met Gala: Rihanna encased in petals NEW YORK — The color red made a dramatic show Monday night in the grand parade of fashion at the Met Gala, including co-chair Katy Perry’s look, as did glittery gold and blue feathers on the back of Blake Lively. But many of the evening’s highlights were courtesy of luminaries who channeled honoree Rei Kawakubo, including Rihanna encased in fluttery petal-like pieces by the Japanese designer. Rihanna gestured to the crowd from the carpet in her Commes des Garcons look with stagey pink on her cheeks. Her look was two pieces and a sliver of stomach peeked out from the freewheeling design. Perry wore a veiled dress created just for her by John Galliano, while Pharrell’s wife, Helen Lasichanh, wore one of Kawakubo’s avant-garde, bulbous and armless jumpsuits. Lively’s movie star gown with the feathered train was Versace. While some of the celebs from the worlds of film, TV, fashion, sports and music were inspired by Kawakubo, others made a splash in more classic looks, including Jennifer Lopez Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP Rihanna attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute benefit in 1950s elegance, a baby blue Valentino gown gala celebrating the opening of the Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art by Pierpaolo Piccioli. Perry wore a silver head piece and black of the In-Between exhibition on Monday, May 1, 2017, in New York.
accents around the eyes with an embroidered wool coat layered over a red tulle and silk chiffon dress, her sleeves elongated in a nod to Kawakubo, all by Maison Margiela Artisanal. Music mogul Diddy, meanwhile, laid down on the carpet to watch girlfriend Cassie pose in a black gown with a huge, spikey train she wore with large, glittery ear cuffs. He wore an embellished cape in a spider web design that carried over to his Rick Owens tuxedo. “It took a half-hour to get ready. We dress like this on the weekends,” he joked. Speaking of the weekend, Selena and her date — The Weeknd — smooched on the carpet in a classic white, delicately embellished gown from Coach designer Stuart Vevers. Madonna went for green camo from Moschino, Tracee Ellis Ross in royal blue Comme des Garcons and Kim Kardashian West — without husband Kanye West — in understated, long-sleeve white from Vivienne Westwood. Nicki Minaj, in a black bustier romper with a huge black-and-red cape from H&M, is a pro when it comes to arrivals. “I stood up in the van the whole way,” she said of her trip to the Met in her larger-than-life ensemble. (ap)
10 Malaika Scret 11 Snack Shack 12 Warung Lokal 13 Cokro Cafee 14 T.J.Bar 15 J & N Kebab 16 Goanna Bar 17 Batu Jimbar 18 Ramayana Cafee
Jl. D.Poso No 68 Jl. D.Poso No. 50D Jl. D.Poso No. 39 Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Poso Sanur Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur Jl. D.Tamblingan
19 Smirnof Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 20 Legwa Hotel Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 21 Nu Laser Cafee Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 22 Ganesa Book Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 23 All For Daiving Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur 24 Barocca Jl.Petitenget 17 DKerobokan 25 Lantern Jl.Petitenget 17E Kerobokan 26 Shearlock Jl.Petitenget 17C Kerobokan Klod 27 Cafe Degan Jl.Petitenget 9 Kerobokan Klod
28 Kopi Made Jl. Raya Puputan No. 106 Dps 29 Dimsum Manan Jl. Raya Niti Mandala Renon No 148 30 Furama Jl. Raya Niti Mandala No. 148 Renon 31 Warung Subah Renon Jl. Mohamad Yamin No.18 32 Ayam Betutu khas Gilimanuk Jl. Merdeka No.88 Renon 33 Bali Bakery Jl. Hayam Wuruk 184 Denpasar
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Philippine presidents
Approval ratings* of past Philippine presidents compared to incumbent president, Rodrigo Duterte.
Corazon Aquino 1986-1992
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serious that we need cooperation at some level with as many partners in the area as we can get to make sure we have our ducks in a row.” Since he came to power last year, Duterte has often sniped at Washington, his country’s longtime ally, has sought to mend relations with China and spoken of improving ties with Russia. Asked on Monday about his invitation from Trump, he was non-committal, telling reporters: “I’m tied up. “I cannot make any definite promise. I am supposed to go to Russia and go to Israel,” he said, referring to already scheduled visits. Foreign Ministry spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said that once a formal letter of invitation came it would be accepted.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte reviews members of the Russian Navy before touring Russian Navy guided missile cruiser Varyag, docked during a goodwill visit, at Pier 15, South Harbor, Metro Manila, Philippines April 21, 2017.
Joseph Estrada 1998-2001
Gloria MacapagalArroyo 2001-2010
Benigno Aquino III 2010-2016
Rodrigo Duterte 2016-present
+80
+80
+60
+60
+40
+40
+20
+20
0
0
-20
-20
-40
-40
-60
REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco
Fidel Ramos 1992-1998
'90
'95
'00
'05
'10
'15
*Net satisfaction ratings = Percent of satisfied minus percent of dissatisfied correctly rounded. March 2017 survey has a sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (area in Luzon outside Mega Manila), Visayas and Mindanao. Sample size is 1,200 (300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao). Source: Social Weather Stations surveys C. Inton, 18/04/2017
-60