I N T E R N A T I O N A L
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
16 Pages Number 52 9th year
Price: Rp 3.000,-
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
‘Kong: Skull Island’ Rules With Mighty $61 Million Debut
LOS ANGELES - “Kong: Skull Island” emerged victorious after a battle of the beasts that pitted the giant ape movie against the Wolverine’s last stand. Cresting a wave of good reviews, “Kong: Skull Island” topped the domestic box office, racking up a mighty $61 million. That handily beat estimates, which had “Kong: Skull Island” debuting to between $45 million and $50 million. King Kong’s roar didn’t totally drown out Wolverine’s berserker rage. In its second weekend, Fox’s “Logan” dropped 58% to $37.8 million, pushing its stateside total to $152.6 million. The R-rated comic book adventure is Hugh Jackman’s swan song as Wolverine after nearly two decades playing the X-Men team member. “Kong: Skull Island” gets bragging rights for topping expectations, but the film isn’t out of the woods yet. It cost a hefty $185 million to produce, which means that it will need to be a hit overseas if Legendary and Warner Bros., the studios behind the film, want to make a profit. On the domestic front, “Kong: Skull Island” is also staring down Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” a live-action fairy tale that is expected to premiere to as much as $120 million next weekend. That will likely suck up most
of the oxygen in the multiplexes, making it difficult for other films to keep drawing in big crowds. Legendary and Warner Bros. have grand ambitions for King Kong. The film is the second installment in a planned monster franchise. The first chapter, 2014’s “Godzilla,” opened to $93.2 million in the States before topping out at $529.1 million globally. The plan is for King Kong and Godzilla to meet in an epic showdown of primordial creatures at some point in the not-too-distant future. “The movie is pure fun and that’s translating into the box office,” said Jeff Goldstein, domestic distribution chief at Warner Bros. He went on to predict that the film would benefit from rolling spring breaks that will see more than 20% of the nation’s schoolchildren on vacation and looking for something to occupy their time. The opening weekend crowd for the film was 56% male and 35% under the age of 25. Imax showings accounted for $7.5 million worth of ticket sales. Because of its massive production and marketing costs, “Kong: Skull Island” will need to do roughly $500 million worldwide to be considered a success. To that end, the film debuted to $81.6 million in 65 foreign markets. A lot is riding on how the movie performs in China, the world’s second-largest film market. “Kong: Skull Island” opens in the Middle Kingdom in two weeks.
Obama books to be published worldwide, from Ireland to India
NEW YORK — The publishing of the upcoming books by Barack and Michelle Obama will be a global event. Penguin Random House announced Monday that it has lined up publishers from Ireland to South Africa for the two books, to be released by the Crown imprint in the U.S. and Canada. Titles and release dates have not been announced. The advance from Penguin Random House for the former president and first lady, whose popularity extends well beyond the U.S., is widely believed to be tens of millions of dollars. Penguin Random House acquired the books jointly last month. The publisher has Spanish-language editions planned for Spain, Mexico and several countries in South America. English editions will come out in the United Kingdom, Australia, India and elsewhere. Deals for other countries are still pending. (ap)
Set in the waning days of the Vietnam War, “Kong: Skull Island” exchanges embassy helicopter rescues for oversized primates looming large against a fog-encrusted jungle setting. Jordan Vogt-
Roberts, who made a splash with the Sundance favorite “Kings of Summer,” directed the picture, with Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brie Larson heading up an ensemble cast. Critics embraced the
e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
decision to give an “Apocalypse, Now” sheen to the oft-filmed story of King Kong, with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman hailing it as “a rousing and smartly crafted primordialbeastie spectacular.” (rtr)
AP Photo/Vincent Thian
North Korean flag flutters behind razor wire on top of a wall at North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, March 13, 2017. Malaysia’s Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said the government will give relatives of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged half brother two to three weeks to claim his body before deciding what to do with it.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Director of the movie Jordan Vogt-Roberts (R) poses with cast members Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson at the premiere of “Kong: Skull Island” in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 8, 2017.
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 10 Malaika Scret Jl. D.Poso No 68 11 Snack Shack Jl. D.Poso No. 50D 12 Warung Lokal Jl. D.Poso No. 39 13 Cokro Cafee Jl. D.Poso Sanur 14 T.J.Bar Jl. D.Poso Sanur 15 J & N Kebab Jl. D.Poso Sanur 16 Goanna Bar Jl. D.Poso Sanur 17 Batu Jimbar Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur
18 Ramayana Cafee 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
Malaysia says it will give Kim’s family time to claim body KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s health minister said Monday that the government will give relatives of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged half brother two to three weeks to claim his body before deciding what to do with it. Malaysian authorities say Kim Jong Nam died after two women smeared his face with the banned VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on Feb. 13, but North Korea — which is widely suspected to be behind the attack — rejects the findings. North Korea has demanded the body back from Day One and objected to Malaysia’s autopsy. Pyongyang also has refused to acknowledge that Kim Jong Nam was the victim and has referred to him as Kim Chol, the name on the passport Kim was carrying when he was attacked in a crowded airport terminal. On Friday, Malaysian police confirmed that Kim Chol and Kim
Jong Nam was the same person, but refused to say how they identified Kim. “Now with the positive identification of the body, we are told that he had a wife or wives and children,” Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam told reporters on Monday. “So we hope that those people will respond and come forward to claim the body. In the absence of that, then we will ad-
dress it as a government ... in trying to find how we are going to take the next step.” “I think after identification, we’ll give ourselves about two to three weeks to solve the problem,” he said. The body is being kept at a morgue at a Kuala Lumpur hospital. Since Kim’s death, relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated, with each expelling the other’s ambassador. Continued to page 6
News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http://globalfmbali.listen2myradio. com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.
2
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Visits to Pancasari Agro-tourism decrease after floods.
SINGARAJA — The flash floods that hit the region of Pancasari, Sukasada, not long ago not only disrupted local farmers fields but also caused the number of tourists who visit agri-tourism site sin the area to plummet. In order to prevent things from spiralling downwards, the district government is expected to accelerate the restauration of the environment. Agri-tourism operator, Gede Adi Mustika, said that the floods in December 2016 and mid-February made tourists reluctant to visit. During the holidays, Mustika would see 100 -200 visitors per day, whereas now he is lucky to see 10 or 20 a day. “ Agriculture has become topsy-turvy. Today, we only had 3 visitors” he said on Sunday (Mar. 12). The measures being taken to restore the environment need to be finalized as soon as possible said Mustika. This requires serious support from the government so that the reputation of Pancasari as an agriculture haven does not fade into memory. “Tourism is important to this area. We would like to see post disaster restoration accelerated. The central government should also be contacted” , he said. In addition to the attention to the environment, increasing the number of tourists who visit this region of fresh cool air also needs to have an attractive icon. The district government has been organizing a yearly art festival at Lake Bunyan for the last few years. However it does not appear to be very serious as the surrounding community has yet to feel an positive impact from this festival. “ In future, it needs to be further developped and an icon is needed to interest potential visitors” said Mustika. He added that the development of agricultural tourism is often spoken of by the district government and Pancasari is considered to be strategic place to do be developped. However, the implementation of this development needs to worked on with the cooperation of relevant agencies. “ Prior to the emergence of discussion about agri-tourism by the government, Pancasari already had agri-tourism sites”, he added. (kmb45)
Thai parliament discusses tourism issues
DENPASAR — Tourism in Thailand draws larger numbers of visitors than Bali tourism does. However the land of the white elephant is still looking to Bali to learn how to promote tourism. Members ot Thailand’s parliament even revealed that Thailand and Bali face similar issues in terms of traffic congestion and transportation-based online applications. “My arrival to Indonesia is aimed at improving ties with the government of Indonesia. I first made a visit to Bali’s local government and want to learn how to promote tourism as Bali is the most attractive destination for travellers”, said President of the National Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E Prof. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, during his visit to the Bali House of Representatives, on Sunday (Mar. 12). According to Wichitcholchai, Thailand and Bali have similar cultures. In addition, Bali also has many beautiful beaches. He added that he hopes that they can work on cooperating in the tourism sector. “We also have the same problems as Bali in the matter of transportation and traffic congestion because many unregistered vehicles are still taking unfair business advantages” he added in attendance along with nine other members of parliament (MP). Member of Commission II of the Bali House of Representatives, A.A. Ngurah Adhi Ardhana, said that Bali put has great hope in the development and advancement of tourism based on tradition and culture. Deputy Chairman of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nyoman Sugawa Korry, added that Bali has a very strong tradition so people respect and appreciate their culture. Bali is the biggest foreign exchange earner in the field of tourism. Chairman of the Bali House of Representatives, Nyoman Adi Wiryatama, said that Bali not only has problems with traffic congestion and online transportation, but has also been seeing a continued decline in the length of stay of visitors. “We have a problem with our tourism, especially regarding shorter lengths of stay, that are down to an average 3 days. Of course, we share this experience of how to make visitors linger longer”, he said. Wiryatama added that Bali really needs to learn from Thailand related to preparing tourism-supporting infrastructure. Thailand has managed to establish a good airport, seen though the city has the same problems.(kmb32)
Bali News
International
International
Bali optimistic about attracting more middle-eastern travelers
Meliá Hotels International has announced the opening of Sol House Bali Legian, a brand new lifestyle hotel catering directly to the a an emerging market of young, affluent party tourists who aspire to catered unique experiences. Located in Legian on the west coast of Bali, Sol House Bali Legian, with its modern design, lively atmosphere and beach club vibe, is the
DENPASAR —
The King of the Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud’s visit to Bali came to an end on Sunday (Mar. 12). Though the visit only lasted 9 days, the presence of the King has opened a golden opportunity for tourism in the Island of the Gods. The government of Bali si particularly optimistic about promoting tourism to Saudi Arabia. So far Bali has not been very successful at attracting visitors from the region of the Middle East. in promoting Bali to the Middle East, even though Saudi Arabia in particular is a potential market for Bali tourism. According to the Bali Tourism Office’s data, the number of visitors form the Saudi Arabia has been increasing over the last 5 years, though it is still not amongst the top ten countries that visit Bali. “There was an average 38.37 percent increase in the number of visitors form Saudia Arabia between 2010 and 2016 – from 2,860 Saudi tourists in 2012 to 10, 243 in 2016”, he explained. Saudi travellers, continued Cok Bagus, have strong purchasing power with an average expenditure of USD 1,800 compared to the global average which according to the UNWTO is USD 1, 200. Apart from their strong purchasing power, their average length of stay is also the highest at 10.08 days. “They commonly take
their holidays during the in the pilgrimage season and during their summer. The government of Bali plans to work more seriously in this potential market”, added Pemayun. When interviewed separately, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, Nengah Tamba, revealed his optimism about drawing in more visitors from the Middle East sayign that improvements to infrastructure are needed. Tamba also said that he believes that now that King Salman has visited that more visitors from that part of the world will be coming to Bali. “After King Salman returns home, there will be many stories. He and his entourage will campaign in his country and on social media. We need to set up a place with Middle Eastern culinary specialties and Arab speaking tour guides are also needed”, he said. (kmb32)
WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS EVERY SATURDAY Meditation class by Mangku Budi Dharma 14-16:30 Bona, Blahbatuh meet at Ubud Cocomarket at 13:00 Saturday Market Oldman’s Cafe Canggu, Batu Bolong Beach, pottery fresh produce, clothing Sand Beach Club and Restaurant, Sanur Every second Saturday Biasa Art Space, Jl. Raya Seminyak 24, Seminyak, Fresh produce, potted plants, meat pie, sshie, coffee and more. Every Saturday 9AM-2PM OrganIc Farmer’s Market Pizza Bagus (Jl. Pengosekan), Ubud EVERY SUNDAY Soul to soul spirituall dialogue Anand Ashram, Ubud Jl Sri Wedari KM 3 Mantra chanting 6-6:30pm Navaraha Arati 6:30-6:45pm Meditation, Satsang and celebration 6:45-8:30pm www.ubudashram.org SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud
Presidential Palace Photographer/Agus Suparto/Handout via REUTERS
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (R) watches as former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and her daughter Puan Maharani, a minister in his cabinet, take a selfie with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman (C) at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia March 2, 2017 in this photo taken by Presidential Palace Photographer.
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
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
15
Meliá Hotels International Opens Sol House Bali Legian
After King Salman’s visit
“Logically, if the king comes here, his people will also want to come to visit”, said Secretary of the Bali Tourism Office, Cokorda Bagus Pemayun, in Denpasar on Sunday (Mar. 12). According to Cok Bagus, King Salman’s decision to extend his holiday in Bali is especially positive as it shows that King Salman and his entourage really enjoyed and felt comfortable spending their holidays in Bali. Pemayun is confident that previous difficulties in promoting Bali tourism to the Middle East will be much more easily overcome now that King Salman has visited. “King Salman’s visit is like free promotion and can boost the image of Bali tourism in the eyes of the international community, particularly to potential tourists form the Middle East” ,he explained. Cok Bagus added that so far cultural background has been an obstacle
Activities
12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery
perfect choice for modern travellers looking for an unforgettable and exciting vacation. Sol House Bali Legian marks the first Sol House hotel in Asia and the seventh Meliá Hotels International property open in Indonesia, thus further strengthening Meliá’s already strong presence in the country. With 136 brand new rooms with modern design, interiors feature graffiti by local
street artist Quint, and enticing pool views. The New Cool spot in Bali’s most vibrant hub to play and unwind; world-famous DJs playing above the over-sized rooftop whirlpool, private sunset sessions over cocktails, laid-back island atmosphere, VIP live gigs and much more!Jl. Sriwijaya No.16, Legian, Kuta Bali | Ph: +62 361 475 2999 | www.sol-hotels.com
14
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Science
International
Scientists race to prevent wipeout of world’s coral reefs
SOUTH ARI ATOLL — There were startling colors here just a year ago, a dazzling array of life beneath the waves. Now this Maldivian reef is dead, killed by the stress of rising ocean temperatures. What’s left is a haunting expanse of gray, a scene repeated in reefs across the globe in what has fast become a full-blown ecological catastrophe. The world has lost roughly half its coral reefs in the last 30 years. Scientists are now scrambling to ensure that at least a fraction of these unique ecosystems survives beyond the next three decades. The health of the planet depends on it: Coral reefs support a quarter of all marine species, as well as half a billion people around the world. “This isn’t something that’s going to happen 100 years from now. We’re losing them right now,” said marine biologist Julia Baum of Canada’s University of Victoria. “We’re losing them really quickly, much more quickly than I think any of us ever could have imagined.” Even if the world could halt global warming now, scientists still expect that more than 90 percent of corals will die by 2050. Without drastic intervention, we risk losing them all. “To lose coral reefs is to fundamentally undermine the health of a very large proportion of the human race,” said Ruth Gates, director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Coral reefs produce some of the oxygen we breathe. Often described as underwater rainforests, they populate a tiny fraction of the ocean but provide habitats for one in four marine species. Reefs also form crucial barriers protecting coastlines from the full force of storms. They provide billions of dollars in revenue from tourism, fishing
and other commerce, and are used in medical research for cures to diseases including cancer, arthritis and bacterial or viral infections. “Whether you’re living in North America or Europe or Australia, you should be concerned,” said biologist Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, director of the Global Change Institute at Australia’s University of Queensland. “This is not just some distant dive destination, a holiday destination. This is the fabric of the ecosystem that supports us.” And that fabric is being torn apart.“You couldn’t be more dumb ... to erode the very thing that life depends on — the ecosystem — and hope that you’ll get away with it,” Hoegh-Guldberg said. Corals are invertebrates, living mostly in tropical waters. They secrete calcium carbonate to build protective skeletons that grow and take on impressive colors, thanks to a symbiotic relationship with algae that live in their tissues and provide them with energy. But corals are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and are suffering from rising ocean temperatures and acidification, as well as from overfishing, pollution, coastal development and agricultural runoff. A temperature change of just 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (1.8 to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) can force coral to expel the algae, leaving their white skeletons visible in a process known as “bleaching.”
Bleached coral can recover if the water cools, but if high temperatures persist for months, the coral will die. Eventually the reef will degrade, leaving fish without habitats and coastlines less protected from storm surges. The first global bleaching event occurred in 1998, when 16 percent of corals died. The problem spiraled dramatically in 2015-2016 amid an extended El Nino natural weather phenomenon that warmed Pacific waters near the equator and triggered the most widespread bleaching ever documented. This third global bleaching event, as it is known, continues today even after El Nino ended. Headlines have focused on damage to Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef, but other reefs have fared just as badly or worse across the world, from Japan to Hawaii to Florida. Around the islands of the Maldives, an idyllic Indian Ocean tourism destination, some 73 percent of surveyed reefs suffered bleaching between March and May 2016, according to the country’s Marine Research Center. “This bleaching episode seems to have impacted the entire Maldives, but the severity of bleaching varies” between reefs, according to local conditions, said Nizam Ibrahim, the center’s senior research officer. Worst hit have been areas in the central Pacific, where the Univer-
sity of Victoria’s Baum has been conducting research on Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, in the Republic of Kiribati. Warmer water temperatures lasted there for 10 months in 2015-2016, killing a staggering 90 percent of the reef. Baum had never seen anything like it. “As scientists, we were all on brand new territory,” Baum said, “as were the corals in terms of the thermal stress they were subjected to.” To make matters worse, scientists are predicting another wave of elevated ocean temperatures starting next month. “The models indicate that we will see the return of bleaching in the South Pacific soon, along with a possibility of bleaching in both the eastern and western parts of the Indian Ocean,” said Mark Eakin, coral reef specialist and coordinator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch, which uses satellites to monitor environmental conditions around reefs. It may not be as bad as last year, but could further stress “reefs that are still hurting from the last two years.” The speed of the destruction is what alarms scientists and conservationists, as damaged coral might not have time to recover before it is hit again by warmer temperatures. But some may have a chance. Last month, Hoegh-Guldberg helped launch an initiative called 50 Reefs, aiming to identify those reefs with the best chance of survival in warming oceans and raise public awareness. His project partner is Richard Vevers, who heads
the XL Caitlin Seaview Survey, which has been documenting coral reefs worldwide. “For the reefs that are least vulnerable to climate change, the key will be to protect them from all the other issues they are facing — pollution, overfishing, coastal development,” said Vevers, who founded The Ocean Agency, an Australian organization seeking new technologies to help mitigate some of the ocean’s greatest challenges. If the reefs remain healthy and resilient, “they can hopefully become the vital seed-centers that can repopulate surrounding reefs.” Nature itself is providing small glimmers of hope. Some of Kiritimati’s corals, for example, are showing tentative signs of a comeback. But scientists don’t want to leave it to chance, and are racing ahead with experiments they hope might stave off extinction. “We’ve lost 50 percent of the reefs, but that means we still have 50 percent left,” said Gates, who is working in Hawaii to breed corals that can better withstand increasing temperatures. “We definitely don’t want to get to the point where we don’t intervene until we have 2 percent left.” Going a step further, she is also trying to “train” corals to survive rising temperatures, exposing them to sub-lethal heat stress in the hope they can “somehow fix that in their memory” and survive similar stress in the future. “It’s probably time that we start thinking outside the box,” Gates said. “It’s sort of a no-win game if we do nothing.” (ap)
The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey via AP
This May 2016 photo released by The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey shows coral that has bleached white due to heat stress in the Maldives. Coral reefs, unique underwater ecosystems that sustain a quarter of the world’s marine species and half a billion people, are dying on an unprecedented scale. Scientists are racing to prevent a complete wipeout within decades.
Bali News
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
3
Patient suspected of having meningitis treated at Sanglah Hospital
DENPASAR - I Gusti Putu Sujana, 60, who is being treated in Mawar room #10 at Sanglah hospital has been there since Wednesday night and is suspspected of having meningitis. The patient has been known to consume lawar ( Balinese delicacy with ingredients that include raw pork) When Sujana’S son, who asked to remain anonymous was met at Sanglah Hospital on Sunday (Mar. 12), he said that his father indeed likes to eat lawar. IN fact Sujana had recently joined a customary ritual at a neighbour’s house where lawar was served. A week later Sujana became feverish, his neck became stiff and his white blood cell count dropped. “I was in a panic and didn’t know what else to think”, said the man from Pengayahan hamlet, Gubug, Tabanan. Sujana’s son clarified that he his father had eaten lawar in several places, including a food stall near his home, so he could not be sure which one might have transmitted meningitis to his fa-
ther. “Many stalls sell pork lawar and roasted suckling pig”, he added. What is more, apart from the many pork dish vendors in Pengayahan, many people in the area also breed pigs. “Raising a pig or two is practically synonymous with the name Balinese. These pigs however are not kept near the house”, he said. Previously, Sujana was being treated at Wisma Prasanti Hospital in Tabanan, where he was diagnosed with dengue fever. However when Sujana complained of a stiff neck the next day, he was rushed to Sanglah Hospital where he was suspected to be infected with meningitis. His blood samples have been taken to the lab to verify this suspicion but the results will only be available in 15 days. Nevertheless, Sujana has regained consciousness and his condition has improved. His son thinks that at least 4 other people in his village have also become infected with meningitis. A patient being treated adjacent to Sujana is also being treated for meningitis. (kmb42)
Not all pigs infected with meningitis suis streptococcus
DENPASAR — In 2017, a total of 20 cases of meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis meningitis bacterium were recorded in Bali. This is nothing new as such cases have occurred several times before. The last case of the bacterium in pigs being tranmited to people ws in Kubutambahan, Buleleng some 6 months ago and more recently in Sibang (Badung). However it has been confirmed that not all pigs in Bali are infected with streptococcus suis meningitis. “This infection can occur when people eat raw pork. For example, when people eat lawar ( Balinese delicacies) that contain raw pig blood and germs. Undercooked meat is also vulnerabel to infection”, said Head of the Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya, in Denpasar, on Friday (Mar. 10). Suarjaya urged people not to panic even though the mortality rate due to streptococcus suis meningitis is quite high. Those who do recover can be left with residual impairment such as deafness, as the bacteria attacks the nervous system. Although there have been 20 recorded cases, Suarjaya admitted that there may
be more unreported cases. The symptoms of streptococcus suis meningitis infection are similar to that of cikungunya and JE disease namely; fever, severe headache and stiff neck. Infection of cerebral membrane (meningitis) can even cause seizures. “We have performed epidemiologic observation, dissemination of information, education and health promotion. This is quite important because the pig population in Bali is very high. So, we suggest that people not to be overly concerned as certianly not all pigs are infected. We are also asking the public to only cosume pork that has been well cooked and to not consume any raw raw pork because of the pig being eaten is infected it can be transmitted to humans” he explained. Suarjaya also called on all health practioners in Bali to alert and educate people about the risks. Originally, meningitis suis streptococcus was found in pigs. Probably, it originated from feed that containing this bacteria. So far, most cases of streptococcus suis meningitis have been ofund in Sibang, Badung. (kmb32)
AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati
British national David Taylor, front, arrives for his verdict trial in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, March 13, 2017. Indonesian judges sentenced Taylor for six years and his Australian girlfriend Sara Connor for four years in prison for the murder of an Indonesian police officer in August, 2016.
Indonesia sentences Brit, Aussie to prison in cop’s death
BALI — A court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali on Monday sentenced a British man charged with attacking a traffic police officer and causing his death to six years in prison and his Australian girlfriend to four years. David Taylor, a dreadlocked DJ who adopted a more sober appearance for the trial, said he accepted the judge’s decision. During the trial, his girlfriend, Sara Connor, who faced the same charge, said she wasn’t an active participant in the attack. But the judges found that her role prevented the officer, Wayan Sudarsa, from defending himself. Prosecutors sought eight-year prison terms for Connor and Taylor, who were arrested last August in the death of Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on the beach outside the Pullman HOTEL IN the popular tourist area of Kuta.
They were charged with committing violence leading to death, which carries a maximum 12-year prison term under Indonesian law. Erwin Siregar, a lawyer for Connor, said an appeal was being considered. “It seems she doesn’t accept the sentence, but has not yet decided whether to appeal,” Siregar said. “My position is that we have to appeal. We will meet in next two or three days to decide.” The 34-year-old Taylor, who promoted himself as DJ Nutzo, admitted hitting the Indonesian man repeatedly with a cellphone, binoculars and a broken beer
bottle, leaving him face down and unconscious. But he said he didn’t realize Sudarsa would die. Connor, 46, and Taylor were drinking beer on the beach in the hours before the late-night incident. Taylor said he got into a fight with Sudarsa, who was on duty, after Connor realized she had lost her handbag and accused Sudarsa of being a fake police officer and stealing it. Bali, famous for its Hindu culture, lush interior and white sand beaches, is Indonesia’s highest-profile tourist island and a particular magnet for holiday makers from Australia. (ap)
4
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Bali News
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
International
Tight competition results in decreasing customers
BANGLI - Recently there has been an increase in the number of basket weavers in Kintamani, causing tighter competition. Artisans therefor need to be aware of market needs and more active in seeking out and maintaining their customer base. One basket artisan from Pengotan hamlet, Pengotan, Kintamani named Ni Ketut Porsi, said on Sunday (Mar. 12) that marketing competiton has become more difficult lately as more and more people have started selling baskets in the region. She has seen many of her customers turn to other baset makers. “In the past, I had many customers and made a lot of sales, mostly because my neighbour and I were the only artisans making baskets around here. Now there are many basket artisans in Pengotan”, she said. She has therefore seen a significant decline in the sales and now has to walk around with her baskets seeking out customers. “I have to bring my baskets to Songan village now. If I just wait for buyers here, it may take a long time to sell a basket. I do not make much profit as I sell a set of 10 baskets for IDR 10,000”, she explained. She sells her baskets all over Bangli and sometimes in Denpasar and Bading as well. However she cannot deliver to places outside of kintamani everyday as it depends on her orders. “My big baskets that are commonly sold in Kintamani are usually used to hold tomatoes, cabbage, tangerine et cetera. Meanwhile, the baskets that I sell in Denpasar are used as waste baskets. Unfortunately, most farmers in Kintamani experienced crop failure this year, following the recent natural disasters. This has also affected my sales”, she explained. (kmb41)
Anti-rabies serum: out of stock NEGARA - Even though there are still many cases of rabies infected dogs bitting humans, Bali has run out of antirabies serum (SAR) used for high risk cases. Since the last acquisition in September 2016, the serum for the dog bites on shoulders and upper areas (head) and the tips of feet and hands is currently not available. The serum is runnig low all over Indonesia. Head of the Jembrana Health Agency, I Putu Suasta, told reporters on Friday (Mar. 10) that present stocks will last for the next month, but the agency’s last stock expired on August 31, 2016, so the last four remining bottles are dubiouse in their efficacity. Actually the health agency had requested the procurement of SAR worth hundreds of millions of rupiah in the maneded budget for 2016, but since they did not get a supply of SAR, the funds were returned to the local treasury. This serum is used to treat victims of rabies bites with high risk factors: bites to ganglion. This year, the agency will allocate IDR 200 million to meet the demand for SAR as each bottle costs IDR 1.5 million. However, the problem is there are no SAR products available. This serum is different from the anti-rabies vaccine (VAR). SAR is produced by the injection the rabies virus into human body or horse’s body in order to look for the serum. Conversely, VAR is the inactivated rabies virus. Usually a bite victim deemd high risk will rewure four bottles of SAR to be cured. SAR should be administered on the same day that the victim has been bitten, or the next day at latest. Any later than that and SAR is not effective and the chance of a victim surviving is small. Right now the health agency is waiting for SAR distributors to get restocked. The punlic is therefor being asked to avoide contact with with rabiies carrier anumals. Any botes should be immediately washed five times using detergent and the victim should then be taken to a health cneter, clinic or hospitla immediately thereafter. (kmb26)
13
Western Australia shuns Hanson’s nationalists in state poll
REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
IBP/kmb31
The mediation process initiated by the Subdistrict of Karangasem appears to have failed as both villages still claim that Pasir Putih Beach falls within the boundaries of their territory.
Unsettled Boundary
Pasir Putih Beach disputed by Bugbug and Perasi
AMLAPURA - Settling the matter of the boundary between the villages of Bugbug and Pertima in Karangasem seems to be dragging on. The mediation process initiated by the Subdistrict of Karangasem appears to have failed as both villages still claim that Pasir Putih Beach falls within the boundaries of their territory. Subdistrict head of Karangasem, Cokorda Alit Surya Prabawa, when contacted recently said that during the mediation process only Bugbug village provided complete data regarding the boundaries of its territory while the village of Pertima did not provide complete data, making the mediation process lopsided. Currently, Only Perasi Customary village (Pertima village) and Bugbug Customary Village remain in conflict over boundaries. The neighbouring village of Timbrah has come to an accord with both Perasi and Bugbug. “At the subdistrict head office, we have only discussed the boundaries of the administrative village, but the issue of Pertima and Bugbug remains unresolved”, said Prabawa. Subdistrict Head Prabawa asserted that the point of contention is Pasir Putih Beach (AKA Virgin Beach) which has become a popular tourist destination. Both Bugbug and Perasiwant to claim the same boundary for
their customary and administrative villages. During the previous mediation process, it came to light that there is a temple located on Pasir Putih Beahc where residents of Perasai village go to pray. According to residents of Perasi village this is a basis for determining village boundaries. Pasir Putih Beach has been increasingly popular with both domestic and foreign tourists which has given rise to the question of territory. Karangasem’s subdistrict head office said that a case can be made for both villages to claim that the beach falls within their boundaries. However the issue related to the boundary between other villages such as Bugbug and Tenganan has been resolved. There are plans to followed up on the mediation process, but a specific schedule has not been set yet. So far, Pertima village has still not compiled the data that it needs to support its argument that the beach falls within
their territory. When the headmen from both villages are ready, mediation will resume. It is not enough to simply discuss the matter, said Prabawa, valid and accurate data is also needed. “Later, we will discuss the matter gradually we not not need to hurry to come up with a conclusion. The important thing is that all parties keep a level head. Bugbug village is already well prepared in terms of data. However if attempts at mediation reach a deadlock, then the matter will be resolved at the district level”, he said. Prabawa has asked that all the villages that do not agree with the boundaries, allocate a budget for the boundary settlement process form their respective village budgets (APBDes). Previously the village boundaries were determined by the central government, but some villages did not agree; Pertima with Subagan village; Karangasem with Tiyingtali village; as well as West Seraya with Tumbi village and Bug Bug with Perima. “Those villages that do not agree with the central govenrment decision are being requested to allocate their own funds for further discussions”, he said. (kmb31)
A cutout of South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye is displayed inside a mock jail in Seoul, South Korea, March 13, 2017.
S.Korea’s Park criticised over defiance, faces calls for investigation
SEOUL - Ousted South Korean leader Park Geun-hye faced criticism on Monday over a defiant vow that the truth of her impeachment would be revealed, with the main opposition party urging prosecutors to investigate her quickly. The Constitutional Court dismissed Park from office on Friday when it upheld a parliamentary impeachment vote over an influencepeddling scandal that has shaken the political and business elite. Park has denied any wrongdoing. Park left the Blue House presidential palace in Seoul on Sunday evening to return to her private home in the city as an ordinary citizen, stripped of her presidential immunity that has shielded her from prosecution. “Even at the moment she left, she refused to say a word to repent in front of the people, but said such and such about truth and declared nothing but disobedience,” Choo Mi-ae, head of the biggest opposition party, the Democratic Party, told a meeting on Monday. Park has not commented publicly since the court ruling, but a spokesman read out a statement from her after she returned to her home in the upmarket Gangnam district, in which she expressed regret at not being able to complete her term. “It will take time, but I believe the truth will be revealed,” Park
said through the spokesman. Many South Koreans have interpreted that as a protest against the Constitutional Court’s ruling. “It was very shocking and regrettable,” said Yoo Seong-min, a presidential candidate from the small, right-wing Bareun Party. “Protesting the constitutional court’s decision is a betrayal of the people and betrayal of the constitution.” South Korean shares rose to their highest in more than 20 months, as sentiment improved on hopes that Park’s dismissal would end uncertainty. The won rose about 1.1 percent. Moody’s Investors Service said Park’s impeachment was “credit positive” as it would allow a new president to focus on reforms to address “structural economic challenges amid growing domestic and external headwinds to growth”. A snap presidential election will be held by May 9. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party is the favourite in opinion polls. ‘SWIFT AND THOROUGH’ The impeachment has exposed divisions in a society in which
politics is still partly framed by Cold War rivalry. Park’s mostly liberal opponents gathered for rallies every weekend for months, while her conservative supporters also held demonstrations nearby. While no serious clashes between the two sides have erupted, three Park supporters died after angry clashes with police outside the court on Friday. Two were believed to have suffered heart attacks and the third died in an accident. Dozens of Park’s supporters milled about on the street outside her home on Monday, most carrying pictures of her or national flags. Police patrolled the area. Park spent the day at home, where some political supporters visited her. One visitor told media she was feeling under the weather. The Democratic Party’s Choo said Park should be treated as a suspect and cooperate with any investigation. “Prosecutors must find the truth and punish any crime through their swift and thorough investigation,” Choo said. Prosecutors accused Park of colluding with a friend, Choi Soonsil, to pressure big businesses into contributing to foundations set up to support her policy and allowing her to exert influence on state affairs. (rtr)
SYDNEY - The rapid resurgence of nationalist politics in Australia was abruptly halted on Saturday after Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party drew less than 5 percent of the vote and was set to win just one seat in a state poll. The election in mineral-rich Western Australia was won convincingly by the centre-left Labor party, leaving Hanson’s right wing, anti-immigration party trailing far behind. The vote was the first major test of popularity for Hanson since winning a place in the federal parliament last year, when she rode a wave of anti-establishment sentiment similar to that seen in the United States and Europe. With two-thirds of the votes counted the Australian Broadcasting Corporation forecast that One Nation would win one seat, confounding expectations that it could gain enough to influence legislation in the new state parliament. “This has certainly halted the sense of momentum building around One Nation that has been there since July last year,” said Associate Professor Haydon Manning, a political scientist at Flinders University. Before the vote, the governing Liberal party ditched its traditional allies to strike a deal with Hanson’s party to swap preferences - a measure in Australia’s voting system designed to help both parties increase their presence in the new parliament. The deal appears to have back-fired, with Hanson losing some of her anti-establishment fervour and the state Liberals putting off their centre-right base. Hanson, who is wary of foreign investment and wants to suspend Muslim immigration, said late on Saturday the deal was a mistake. “Doing the deal with the Libs has done damage to us, in all honesty,” she told Channel 7 as the election results became clear.
PRIVATISATIONS ON ICE The election result has ended plans for several asset sales that Labor campaigned against, including a proposal to sell a majority stake in the A$15 billion ($11.3 billion) Western Power electricity grid through a public float along with privatisation of the $1.5 billion Fremantle Port. Labor has won the vote decisively by an anticipated 40 seats to the Liberals 19, and will govern without needing a coalition partner. The result will also see mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton escape a state tax on their iron ore businesses proposed by the ruralcentric National Party, which fell short of obtaining the influence to force such a measure. Outgoing Liberal Premier Colin Barnett was the country’s longest serving political leader, having seen four changes of Prime Minister during his tenure. His federal counterpart, Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, rejected suggestions his own performance had contributed to the election defeat. “There is no evidence of federal factors playing a role there,” said Turnbull, who has fallen behind the federal Labor opposition in opinion polls. (rtr)
AAP/Rebecca Le May/via REUTERS
Australian Senator Pauline Hanson addresses a Pauline Hanson’s One Nation election function in Perth, Western Australia, March 11, 2017. Picture taken March 11, 2017.
12
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Bali News
International
BUSINESS
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
5
World Bank’s medicine for Thailand: more jobs, green protection BANGKOK - Thailand needs to rein in rapid depletion of its natural resources, create more and better jobs, and provide support to millions of the poorest if it is to achieve green growth that brings prosperity to all, the World Bank said on Monday. “We believe that when economic development benefits all groups in society, then that will by itself contribute to stability and social cohesion,” Ulrich Zachau, the bank’s director for Southeast Asia, told journalists at the launch of a report on getting Thailand’s economic growth back on track. Between 1986 and 2014, high growth reduced poverty in Thailand from 67 percent to 10.5 percent of its population, the report said. But the country has been troubled by unrest in the past decade. In 2014, a coup restored an uneasy peace. In that year, 7.1 million Thais, mostly outside Bangkok, were still living in poverty, with an additional 6.7 million at risk of falling back into it, the report said. Agricultural prices and job creation - two of the country’s growth engines in previous decades - have declined. Meanwhile, one-third of all 15-yearolds nationwide are functionally illiterate, the report said. The number rises to 47 percent in villages, underlining the inequality between the capital city and the rest of Thailand. The Southeast Asian nation of 66 million people is also experiencing a slowdown in job creation caused by a weak global economy and loss of its competitive edge. A decade ago, Thailand ranked above other Southeast Asian and upper-middle-income countries on
all dimensions measured in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. Today, other nations have caught up, the World Bank report said. DISASTER RISK Climate change and environmental degradation, meanwhile, are making Thailand more vulnerable to natural disasters, the World Bank report warned. The rate of depletion of Thailand’s natural resources - including forests, mangroves and coral reefs - has sped up in the last decade, the report showed. At 4.4 percent of gross national income, it is similar to other countries in the East Asia and Pacific region, but is almost double the rate in 2002 and three times the rate in the 1980s. Climate change is expected to bring more frequent coastal flooding to low-lying Thailand, with the biggest threat to Bangkok and central areas, the report said. Deforestation, caused mainly by illegal logging and smuggling, and poor planning for public infrastructure exacerbate flood risks, the report added. Severe floods in Bangkok in 2011 resulted in losses estimated at $46.5 billion. About 19,000 homes were destroyed and 2.5 million people displaced, World Bank figures showed. Saline intrusion from sea-level rise could also cause Thai coastal farms to be less productive, the report said. According to the Thai meteorological department, the country’s annual mean temperature rose by 1 degree Celsius from 1981 to 2007, and precipitation has suffered an overall decrease over the last 50 years, raising the risk of drought.(rtr)
REUTERS/Jorge Silva
A construction site is seen in central Bangkok, Thailand March 8, 2017. Picture taken March 8, 2017.
Kyodo News via AP
Saudi King Salman, right, meets with Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo, Monday, March 13, 2017. Salman arrived in Japan as part of a month-long Asian tour.
Saudi king visits Japan, seeks help on diversifying economy
TOKYO — King Salman and hundreds of business leaders from Saudi Arabia are in Japan for talks Monday mainly expected to focus on economic ties. The visit is the first by a Saudi king in 46 years, though Salman visited more recently as crown prince. Saudi Arabia is one of Japan’s biggest SUPPLIERS of crude oil, accounting for about a third of its total imports of oil from the Middle East. The kingdom is striving to diversify its economy away from its heavy reliance on oil exports, and Salman is on a month-long tour of Asia to advance his kingdom’s economic and business interests. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Monday that Japan is willing to provide support for the economic power in the Middle East. “We will discuss growth strategy, including our ‘Saudi Vision’ project,” he said, referring to Japanese collaboration with Vision 2030, a roadmap adopted by the
kingdom last year for its development and economic objectives. He did not confirm reports that the countries would agree to set up a special economic zone in Saudi Arabia. Salman met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and was to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later Monday. Reports say Japan plans to urge that Saudi Aramco, the state-run oil company that is being partially privatized, seek a share listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Separately, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and Japanese telecoms provider and energy company Softbank have joined forces in setting up a $25 billion private fund for technology investments. Trade
between the countries fell overall last year as oil prices dropped. Japan’s 2.1 trillion yen ($18.6 billion) in imports from Saudi Arabia in 2016, mostly oil and gas, dwarfed its exports of 546.3 billion yen ($4.8 billion). The delegation arrived late Sunday on about 10 aircraft. Officials said TOP HOTELSand car hire services would be busy handling the unusually large group during its four-day visit. Salman’s stop in Japan follows visits to Indonesia and Malaysia. He is due to travel on to Brunei, China and the Maldives. While seeking investment and help with Saudi industrialization and development of its services sector, Salman has also offered help. Earlier, he pledged $1 billion in development finance for Indonesia and closer cooperation for combating transnational crime such as human trafficking, terrorism and the drugs trade.(ap)
Berawa Beach Becomes Playground of Surfing Lovers
Berawa Beach in Canggu area has developed quite well because the surrounding locations are possible to be developed into tourist destination if managed properly. Many villas are growing like mushrooms in rainy season. Since the development of tourism industry in Bali is quite well, sometimes travelers are also looking for an alternative to Kuta and Legian, so that Canggu located next to them also gets the impact. More travelers in need of peace will enjoy natural atmosphere as well as stay in the Canggu area. Talking about coastal tourist attraction in Bali seems never-ending. Although the island is fairly small, it has numerous hidden pearls. Berawa Beach, for instance, located in the same coastline as Petitenget, Batubelig and Canggu, is located at Berawa hamlet, Canggu. Local high waves become an attractive place for surfers. It can be taken
approximately 20 minutes by car or motorcycle from Kuta and turn left on the road section to Tanah Lot. Lately, Berawa Beach sufficiently develops because the beach is actually not too far from the glamour of Kuta or Canggu tourist destination earlier known by travelers coming on holidays to Bali. Road access to Berawa Beach can pass
through Batubelig, but, and the best is through the access adjacent to the Villa Legong Keraton precisely located on the Berawa Beach. An interesting point offered by Berawa Beach is the extreme wave because it is located in the South of the Bali Island directly getting in touch with the Indian Ocean. For surfing lovers, here is
the right playground. Atmosphere of this coastal area is quieter and emptier of visitors. Local residents commonly spend time and relieve fatigue during holidays or weekends, so that travelers can more freely enjoy this beautiful nature. Ocean view on the Berawa Beach can adequately make every visitor feel at home. When wishing to enjoy the beauty of Berawa Beach maximally, simply stay for a few days in this area. There are many types of villa rentals, resorts and homestays. Superiority of Berawa Beach lies in the beautiful coast and
proximity to various tourist facilities, airport and tranquility. So, Berawa Beach is worth choosing as destination considering there are many objects around the Berawa Beach such as Tanah Lot, horseback safari, Canggu Club and pilgrimage destination on Seseh Beach. Apart from having good and enchanting waves, Berawa Beach also presents a beautiful natural scenery, especially during sunset time. The atmosphere is very quiet, giving better privacy than its neighboring beaches like Legian and Petitenget. (kmb)
Suluban Beach, a Place to Surf and Enjoy a Sunset View Foreign travelers happily mingle together on the surface of the clear and blue seawater. Every now and then they float for a moment, then emerge again, standing on their surfboards, moving in a snake like undulations following the flow of the waves as they move toward the coast. When the water recedes, they swim out ot sea again and obeserve the movement of the water. As the waves roll in they glide towards the shore. This is the daily spectacle that can be seen on Suluban Beach in
Pecatu Village. With its large challenging waves and white sandy beach, this is a true paradise playgournd for surfers. Suluban Beach is located a few kilometers north of Uluwatu, next to Bingin Beach and Labuhan Sait and visitors must pass through a rock cave before reaching the broad white sandy beach. Some tourism facilities such as restaurants, bars, surf equipment rental shops and surfboard repair shops are available here. The beach here is rather nar-
row, in contrast to Tanjung Benoa or Kuta, but it has nonetheless become a favored destination with foreign surfers for the large waves that break here. Fresh blue sea also makes this beach great for relaxing and enjoying the view. There is plenty of sun for those who enjoy sunbathing, but there is also a shaded area behind the rocks. In addition to being a great place for surfing and relaxing, Suluban Beach is also a great spot for enjoying a great view of the sunset. (kmb)
6
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
W
International
RLD
Turkey’s Erdogan says Netherlands acting like a “banana republic”
REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
German Chancellor and head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel (R) talks to Head of the Confederation of the German Employers’ Association (BDA) Ingo Kramer before a meeting at the International Trade Fair in Munich, Germany March 13, 2017.
Merkel meets Trump in clash of style and substance
BERLIN - She is controlled and cautious, a physicist from East Germany who takes her time making decisions and has never relished the attention that comes from being Europe’s most powerful leader. He is a wealthy real estate magnate from New York who shoots from the hip and enjoys the spotlight. It is hard to imagine two leaders more different, in style or substance, than Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and Donald Trump, the new president of the United States. For months, they have been engaged in an uneasy long-distance skirmish over policy and values. On Tuesday, they meet for the first time - a high-stakes encounter that will be watched by governments around the world for clues about the future of the transatlantic alliance, a partnership that has helped shape the global order since World War Two but which Trump is threatening to upend. “Do I think they are going to become good friends? Probably not. They are very different personalities,” said Charles Kupchan, who advised Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama on European policy as a member of the National Security Council. “But I do think they have a strong interest, both politically and strategically, in learning how to work together. It is arguably the most important meeting with a foreign leader of Trump’s presidency.” German officials say the detail-oriented Merkel, 62, has been preparing assiduously for her trip to Washington. (rtr)
Malaysia... From page 1
Last Tuesday, North Korea blocked all Malaysians from leaving the country until a “fair settlement” of the case was reached. Malaysia then barred North Koreans from exiting its soil. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Monday that negotiations with North Korea were taking place, but he did not give details. There are nine Malaysians in North Korea — three embassy staff members and their family members. Some 315 North Koreans are in Malaysia, according to Malaysian officials. Both countries have also scrapped visa-free travel for each other’s citizens. Although Malaysia has never directly accused North Korea of being behind the attack, many speculate that Pyongyang must
have orchestrated it. Experts say the VX nerve agent used to kill Kim was almost certainly produced in a sophisticated state weapons laboratory, and North Korea is widely believed to possess large quantities of chemical weapons. Four of the seven North Korean suspects being sought by Malaysia are believed to have left the country the day Kim was killed. Police say the other three suspects, including a North Korean diplomat, are believed to be in hiding at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The attack was caught on surveillance video that shows two women going up to Kim and apparently smearing something on his face. He was dead within 20 minutes, authorities say. Two women — one Indonesian, one Vietnamese — have been charged with murder but say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank.(ap)
ANKARA - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday the Netherlands was acting like a “banana republic” and should face sanctions for barring Turkish ministers from speaking in Rotterdam, fuelling a row over Ankara’s political campaigning abroad. Erdogan is looking to the large number of Turks living in Europe, especially in Germany and the Netherlands, to help secure victory next month in a referendum that would give the presidency sweeping new powers. In a speech in France, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described the Netherlands as the “capital of fascism” as it joined other European countries in stopping Turkish politicians holding rallies, due to fears that tensions in Turkey might spill over into their expatriate communities. The Dutch government barred Cavusoglu from flying to Rotterdam on Saturday and later stopped Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from entering the Turkish consulate there, before escorting her out of the country to Germany. Dutch police used dogs and water cannon on Sunday to disperse hundreds of protesters waving Turkish flags outside the consulate in Rotterdam. Some threw bottles and stones and several demonstrators were beaten by police with batons, a Reuters witness said. Mounted police of-
ficers charged the crowd. The Dutch government - set to lose about half its seats in elections this week, according to polls, as the anti-Islam party of Geert Wilders makes strong gains - said the visits were undesirable and it would not cooperate in their campaigning. “I call on all international organisations in Europe and elsewhere to impose sanctions on the Netherlands,” Erdogan said, after his prime minister earlier said Turkey would retaliate in the “harshest ways”, without specifying how. “Has Europe said anything? No. Why? Because they don’t bite each other. The Netherlands are acting like a banana republic,” Erdogan said in a speech in Kocaeli province, near Istanbul. “NAZISM WIDESPREAD IN WEST” A day earlier, Erdogan described the Netherlands as “Nazi remnants” and returned to the theme on Sunday by saying “Nazism is still widespread in the West” in what Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said were
inflammatory remarks. “We ended up in a totally unprecedented situation in which a NATO ally...with whom we have historic ties, strong trade relations, is acting in a totally unacceptable, irresponsible manner,” Rutter told reporters. Rather than the Netherlands apologising for refusing the Turkish ministers entry, Turkey’s president should apologize for comparing the Netherlands to fascists and Nazis, he said. The row risked spreading on Sunday as Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen proposed postponing a planned visit by Yildirim this month due to the dispute. The French foreign ministry urged calm and said there had been no reason to prohibit a meeting in France between Cavusoglu and a local Turkish association. Supporting Rutte’s decision to ban the visits, the Dutch government said there was a risk of Turkish political divisions flowing over into its own Turkish minority, which has both pro- and anti-Erdogan camps. (rtr)
International
Police still investigating nine suspected terrorists nabbed in Sulawesi JAKARTA - Police are still investigating the nine suspected terrorists nabbed last week by police in Toli Toli and Parigi, Central Sulawesi. “It is still being investigated to which groups the nine terrorist suspects belong,” head of the police public relations division Insp.Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said at the police headquarters here on Monday. Boy said the nine are still in the process of interrogation by police investigators. “We could not yet take a conclusion whether they belong to the Santoso group,” he said. Santoso led a gang of Islamic terrorists creating security problem for a long time in Central Sulawesi before he was shot dead by police last year. The nine suspects were piked up from separate places on Thursday and Friday last week. They were IRH alias AAN, from the village of Dangi, sub-district of Parigi Utara, regency of Parigi Moutong, AJ alias Jufri alias Abay, from the sub-district of Palu Selatan, MD alias D alias Kelo, from sub-district of Palu Selatan - all arrested on Thursday. The other six were nabbed on Friday including SMD alias SAM from Toli-toli, KIF from the city of Poso, SYN from the city of Poso, DWN alias ALI from the regency of Poso, IRS alias ICAN from the regency of Toli-Toli, and JEF from the regency of Lampung Selatan. The suspects told their investigators that they planned to explode bombs at police and military headquarters in the regency of ToliToli.(ant)
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
11
Kevin, Marcus new All England champions from Indonesia
LONDON - Underdog pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon have become Indonesia’s newest All England champions after beating Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen of China in the final 35-minute match on Sunday. Kevin and Marcus outshone the Chinese pair 21-19, 21-14 in the prestigious badminton tournament. “I still feel really nervous. This is our first win in such an event,” said Marcus after the match at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham as quoted by the Indonesian Badminton Association’s (PBSI) website, badmintonindonesia.org. The world number five pair reached the final after outclassing the world’s seventh-ranked duo Mads Conrad Petersen and Mads Pier Kolding of Denmark 21-12, 11-21, 21-16 in Saturday’s semifinals. Kevin and Marcus, the 2016 China Open winners, were the only Indonesian representatives in the All England semifinals after compatriots Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir were knocked out by seventh seeds Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock in the quarterfinals. Kevin and Marcus had become Indonesia’s sole hope of maintaining its tradition of winning at least one title in the prestigious All England since 2012 — though it missed out in the 2015 edition before Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto made amends in 2016 — after their compatriots fell throughout the super series tournament.(r)
Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (L) and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo celebrate victory in the men’s doubles final
Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic
Indonesia to boost its image in Japan: Envoy
Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan greets his supporters during a ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, March 11, 2017.
JAKARTA - Newly installed Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Arifin Tasrif plans to boost the countrys image, or the Wonderful Indonesia brand, in a bid to increase the number of Japanese foreign tourist arrivals in the country. “We will promote (tourism) several times along with the Ministry of Tourism as well as with the national carrier Garuda Indonesia to facilitate smoother transportation
from Japan to the tourist destinations,” Arifin stated here after being installed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace here on Monday. According to Arifin, typical Indonesian delicacies, as the tools for promoting culinary diplomacy, are also viewed to draw the interest of foreigners, especially the Japanese, who have a long-standing history with the country.
Additionally, Arifin will showcase the countrys investment potentials to Japan in order to develop the tourism sector in Indonesia. Moreover, Arifin shed light on various Japanese investments in infrastructure and energy projects in Indonesia. “The point is that the projects are very strategic for us,” he pointed out. On Monday, President Jokowi installed 17 new Indonesian ambassadors at the State Palace.(ant)
10
Destination
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
International
Marathon to a sprint: NBA regular season enters final month
CALIFORNIA - The marathon that is the NBA regular season is headed toward its final sprint. With less than a month remaining until the final night of the season on April 12, the races for MVP and Rookie of the Year are wide open, and there is seemingly no clear-cut favorite to win the championship.
Much was already settled by this time last season. Stephen Curry had long since wrapped up what became the first unanimous MVP award in NBA history, and Karl-Anthony Towns had left Kristaps Porzingis behind in the Rookie of the Year chase. There’s far more intrigue now in a season that began with what seemed a forgone conclusion, that Golden State and Cleveland would meet in the NBA Finals for the third straight year. And this time, the MVP race could be headed toward a narrow finish among the likes of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. Joel Embiid’s season-ending injury has put the rookie race up for grabs, with Philadelphia teammate Dario Saric and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon perhaps emerging as the best of the leftover candidates — unless voters believe Embiid did enough to win in just 31 games. Golden State was headed toward an eventual NBA record for wins last season; now the Warriors aren’t winning at all. Their threegame skid and Curry’s slump have left San Antonio just a half-game back for the NBA’s best record.
Makepung Buffalo Races in Bali 2017 NEGARA - Makepung is the name of a major grand prix in Jembrana, West Bali, which features racing buffalo races. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys riding the traditional wooden ploughs that are slightly modified for the competition. The racer buffaloes, called kerbau pepadu, compete in various open race circuits in assorted heats around the district of Melaya, leading up to the finals, or what has come to be known as the Jembrana Regent’s Cup, and the Governor’s Cup, held annually. Makepung is derived from the base word of kepung, meaning ‘chase’, similar to the expression ‘steeplechase’. Makepung is one of the unique traditions stemmed from the agrarian life scene of the island,
and is a widely enjoyed event in the regency of Jembrana, west Bali. The grand-scale events inspired from such a simple, traditional pastime preserves the unique traditions of this part of the island, as well as to promote tourism to this far flung western location. The competitions also provide positive impact on other local sectors such as agriculture and farming. The tradition has partly prevented the shift of land for farming use, and it has also encouraged the people to improve the quality of animal husbandry, raising winning buffaloes for the yearly events. There are approximately seven different circuits spread out in various locations throughout the district. The Sangyang Cerik circuit in the village of Tuwed, Melaya district is one of the main circuits. The other
dedicated fields-turned-circuits include Delod Berawah, Kaliakah, Pangkung Dalem, Merta Sari, Tuwed and Awen. On the eve of the finals, there is a gathering among the racing teams called sekaa makepung with the Jembrana regent, and the evening is as festive as the major racing day that follows, being filled with art performances and public entertainment. On race days, international visitors will also be equally amused by the ‘buffalo fashion shows’ that feature the bovines beautifully and carefully dressed up with ornaments from hoof to horn, in another segment of the ‘best-dressed’ competitions. The Makepung races usually commence early mornings at 07:30 with dozens of pairs of pepadu participating. Another hundred or so take part in the ‘fashion’ parade. The
Need Experience Waiter/ss with Good English.Send CV to Galaxy Sports Bar Jl.Dhyanapura No.9A Seminyak Phone:081236674950
Nike Villas Sanur Look for: Front Office Staff & Butler Qualifications;Male or Female Knowledge in Office Application and OTA System for Office Staff,Fluent in English,Can Drive is an Advantage.Send Your CV to info-b@nikevillas.com or Visit at Jalan Bumi Ayu No.19 Sanur
!Db CookHelper/Waiter-es, 1.8Jta+Mes/Makan/Tips.Top Busy Cafe Jimb,081246913601
B.BP.001.03.17.0001219
Need Waiter/Waitress,Cook,Cook Helper,DW Barman,Barista,kirim Lamaran ke La Monde Restauran Jl.Padma Utara No2 Legian Kuta
B.BP.154.03.17.0001128
Looking Waitress,Cashier,Cook Helper, Tlp:0361758075/081338957772
B.BP.145.03.17.0001194
B.BP.004.03.17.0001210
races last for five hours, with the buffaloes divided into three racing divisions. The dates for each year’s event vary. However, a rough estimate is that several heats take place monthly from July to November at the various circuit locations. All usually take place over the weekends on a Sunday morning. The tentative schedule for the 2017 Makepung buffalo races, based on the Jembrana government tourism office’s previous year’s dates are as follows: 1. Sunday, 16 July: Awen, Lelateng Circuits 2. Sunday, 30 July: Delodberawah Circuit 3. Sunday, 13 August: Kaliakah Circuit (Bupati Cup) 4. Sunday, 27 August: Mertasari Circuit 5. Sunday, 10 September: Pangkung Dalem Circuit
6. Sunday, 24 September: Delodberawah Circuit 7. Sunday, 8 October: Sanghyang Cerik Circuit 8. Sunday, 22 October: Mertasari Circuit 9. Sunday, 5 November: Awen Circuit 10. Sunday, 19 November: Delodberawah Circuit (Jembrana Cup - FINALS) The Makepung tradition of Jembrana inspired the creation of a Balinese dance of the same name in 1984. This dance is performed by seven to nine male and female participants, and depicts riders and the buffaloes themselves. One of the unique features of the dance is that it is accompanied by the Jegog bamboo orchestra which is also typical of the regency. (IBP/net)
B.BP.004.03.17.0001209
Looking for Pattern Maker:Female, Speak English & Computer.Send CV to:sari.oktora25@gmail.com
B.BP.001.03.17.0001220
New Villa in Ubud Looking for HK,FO,Rest Kitchen Send CV to purnaagus01@gmail.com
B.BP.001.03.17.0001187
Place Your Add Here
It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500 Eka : 081338519538
AP Photo/Darren Abate
Also still to be sorted out in the final month: INJURY ISSUES: Kevin Durant’s loss has left Golden State vulnerable and Kyle Lowry’s absence has Toronto reeling. Both could return near the end of the regular season, which could give their teams enough time to mount serious playoff runs. RACES FOR 8TH: Milwaukee has surged into playoff position in the Eastern Conference with six straight wins, with Miami and Chicago both within 1½ games of the Bucks’ lead for the eighth and last postseason spot. Denver occupies No. 8 in the West, with Portland, Dallas and Minnesota close behind. HOME-COURT HOPES: Toronto is clinging to a one-game lead over Atlanta for the No. 4 seed in the East and home-court advantage in the first round. Out West, Utah’s lead over the fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers also is one game. The only thing that seems settled is the race for the worst record. Brooklyn is eight games worse than anyone else, which will almost certainly give the Boston Celtics the best shot at the No. 1 overall pick, because they have the right to swap spots with Brooklyn. (AP)
San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson, left, attempts to shoot against Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 11, 2017, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 107-85.
Federer, Nadal stay on course for desert showdown
CALIFORNIA - Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal are on course for another showdown after winning their opening matches at the BNP Paribas Open in the California desert on Sunday. Less than two months after Federer claimed an 18th major title in a classic Australian Open final, the two great rivals could meet again, this time in the fourth round at Indian Wells. Both won in style on Sunday, with Spanish fifth seed Nadal pouncing on Guido Pella’s serve to break the Argentine five times en route to a 6-3 6-2 victory in sizzling afternoon heat on the stadium hard court. Federer enjoyed the relative cool of an evening match but was back in the locker room before working up a major sweat, easing to a 6-2 6-1 win over Frenchman Stephane Robert in front of an appreciative capacity crowd of around 16,000 spectators. “The beginning was difficult, just because I’ve never played him before so I’m not sure about his
patterns,” ninth seed Federer said in a courtside interview. “I was very happy I was able to loosen up and play good tennis. I started to serve really well, move around the court great.” While it was Federer’s first match against Robert, he is far more familiar with Nadal. They have met 35 times, with Nadal holding a 23-12 edge. Needing to win their respective third-round matches for a 36th meeting to happen, Nadal next faces 26th-seeded compatriot Fernando Verdasco, while Federer plays American 24th seed Steve Johnson. “For sure I saw the draw,” a relaxed Nadal said, adding that he was not really focused on Federer. “I go day-by-day. That’s my way, to focus on my next match. I played I think a solid match (today).” BIG TEST The path to the final on that side of the draw is littered with tricky obstacles, however, as second seed Novak Djokovic and in-form Aus-
tralian Nick Kyrgios lie in wait as potential future opponents. Djokovic, however, must next negotiate a dangerous third-round opponent in Argentine Juan Martin del Potro after the three-times defending champion advanced with an unconvincing 6-4 7-6(5) victory over Briton Kyle Edmund. “First match, already a big test,” the Serb said at a tournament where all the seeded players had firstround byes. “Throughout most of that second set, he was a better player. I got lucky to pull through in straight sets. Marin Cilic was the only topranked player to lose on Sunday, the Croatian sixth seed beaten 4-6 7-5 6-4 by American teenager Taylor Fritz. The tournament lost its top seed on Saturday when Andy Murray was upset 6-4 7-6(5) by Canadian Vasek Pospisil, who rushed the net whenever the opportunity arose and also feasted on the Scot’s second serve. Murray praised his conqueror, while at the same time lamented an
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Roger Federer (SUI) during his second round match against Stephane Robert (not pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. off night with his second serve. “I have never really practised playing against serve-and-volleyers in my career but when I have come up against them, it’s normally been a game style I have enjoyed playing
against,” Murray said. “It wasn’t so much the servevolley that was the problem. It was my own serve and not getting enough opportunities when he was serving.” (rtr)
8
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Sp rt Blatter ‘reckless’ to pay Platini $2M, new court ruling says
LAUSANNE — Sepp Blatter was “reckless” when he paid $2 million to Michel Platini in a transaction that led both to be banned from world soccer, according to a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. The former FIFA president also bypassed the body’s executive committee to extend Platini’s pension plan by four years — unlawfully adding more than $1 million to the former UEFA president’s retirement fund. Details of the hearing in August were revealed in a newly published 68-page verdict written by CAS judges to explain why they dismissed Blatter’s appeal to overturn a six-year ban in December. As an executive committee member since 2002, Platini was due a pension of 3 percent of his final FIFA stipend — $300,000 in 2015 when he was first banned — for each year of service. It would be paid annually for an equal number of years. By unilaterally supporting Platini’s request to start the plan in 1998, Blatter unlawfully created a pension fund for his former protege of $2.6 million in 2015 instead of $1.52 million, the judges noted. “The credit awarded to Mr. Platini therefore certainly amounted to a gift as he was not entitled to such credit,” the three judges said, concluding that a six-year ban for the now 81-year-old Blatter is “not disproportionate and, indeed, reasonable and fair.” “The standard of ethical conduct required under the FIFA code of ethics) should be and should be seen to be applied to the FIFA President as rigorously as if not
more rigorously than that applied to anyone else,” the CAS panel wrote. The full judgment confirms details never published by the FIFA ethics and appeals committees which previously judged Blatter, the long-time president, and Platini, his expected successor. Three separate judging panels agreed there was no verbal agreement or valid contract for Platini to receive backdated salary in 2011 for working as Blatter’s presidential adviser from 1998-2002. The soccer officials said they agreed Platini should get 1 million Swiss francs annually, but later signed a contract for 300,000 Swiss francs to ensure he did not earn more than FIFA’s then secretary general. Platini asked for 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) — not the 2.8 million Swiss francs he was allegedly owed, the court noted — in 2010 “upon learning of ‘golden parachutes’ received by (former senior FIFA officials) Mr. Urs Linsi and Mr. Jerome Champagne,” the CAS ruling said. “(Platini) went to see either the Secretary General or Finance Director of FIFA to say ‘you know
FIFA owes me money,’” the ruling said. By helping force Champagne out of FIFA as Blatter’s trusted international relations director, Platini indirectly earned the French former diplomat a seven-figure severance for his January 2010 exit. The ruling stated that Blatter testified to recalling his verbal deal with Platini, but had “forgotten that they had a written contract (in 1999).” “The Panel considers Mr. Blatter’s conduct in the matter as FIFA President reckless, or at least profoundly careless, as he approved the payment without checking the written contract, without asking his employees for the written contract to be checked or doing any verification whatsoever,” the judges said. Platini, who attended the hearing as a witness, also seemed not to check his contract before requesting money that was paid in 2011, when Blatter was campaigning to win re-election. “Mr. Platini said that he had not realized he had made a mistake about how much money was owed to him until the Swiss prosecutor showed him a copy of the August 1999 contract in September 2015,” the court said.(ap)
Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP, File
FILE - In this Thursday Aug. 25, 2016 file photo, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter arrives at the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, for his appeal on a six-year ban on football related activities in Lausanne, Switzerland.
9
Klopp praises match-winner Can for playing through pain Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has praised midfielder Emre Can’s resilience for playing through calf problems throughout the season after the German scored the winner in the Premier League victory over Burnley on Sunday. Can’s long distance strike on the hour completed a 2-1 comeback victory for the Merseyside club after fellow midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum had cancelled an early strike from Burnley’s Ashley Barnes. “He had a few problems with his
calf in the last few months which we couldn’t sort quickly enough because sometimes he had it and sometimes not,” Klopp told the reporters. “We had a lot of specialists look at it to try to find out. We couldn’t say ‘go on holiday for four weeks and see if it gets better’, we couldn’t do that. “It looks like we have found the solution now and he doesn’t have the problems any more.” The German international was partially responsible for Burnley’s opener, allowing visiting full-back
Matthew Lawton the space to cross for Barnes to score but Klopp opted to focus on Can’s positive performance in the second half. “In the first half, for their goal, he should have made the challenge before they made the cross,” Klopp added. “We have to react, and he reacted well second half.” LIVERPOOL who are fourth in the league, visit third-placed Manchester City on Sunday before hosting seventh-placed Everton in Merseyside derby on April 1.(rtr)
Reuters / Phil Noble
Liverpool’s Emre Can celebrates scoring their second goal
After win vs PSG, Barcelona loses Spanish league lead
AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File
FILE - A Tuesday Feb. 21, 2017 file photo of Monaco’s Radamel Falcao celebrating after scoring his side’s first goal during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Manchester City and Monaco at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.
Monaco needs another big Champions League comeback vs. City
PARIS — Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco squad would rather not just be remembered as this season’s great entertainers. Monaco showcased its forward play with a dazzling display against Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match. But the attacking football came at a cost as Monaco surrendered a 3-2 lead to trail 5-3 heading into Wednesday’s return leg. Les Monegasques will need top scorer Radamel Falcao and teen star Kylian Mbappe at their brilliant best to topple City. With both teams packed with attacking talent, and not renowned for solid defending, another goal feast could be on the cards at Stade Louis II. The odds are on City to advance, but Monaco has been in this position before. When it reached the final in 2004, Monaco overcame a 4-2 away loss to knock out Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Jardim is adamant his team can compete for four trophies this season, and the manager’s message is backed by the players. “We’ve got a good team and we want to show the rest of Europe,” Brazilian midfielder Fabinho said. That is also Manchester City’s aim. “When we play like we did against Monaco, we come close to the great teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern,” Munich, veteran City midfielder Yaya Toure said. “We cannot dream about anything yet because we still have a second leg to play. But if you ask the fans, they believe it.” Toure won the Champions League playing for Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, who is in his first season in charge of City. He believes Guardiola is building “something big” at City. “The fans feel it, everyone feels it,” the 33-year-old Toure said. “We are getting a winning mentality in Europe.” Meanwhile, things look fairly straightforward for Juventus on Tuesday and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, while Leicester will be hopeful of continuing its mini-revival since Claudio Ranieri was firing. All three clubs have home games. Juventus, the beaten finalist in 2015, leads Porto 2-0 from the first leg, Atletico faces Bayer Leverkusen with a 4-2 lead, and Leicester trails Sevilla 2-1 after scoring a precious away goal through revitalized striker Jamie Vardy. Leicester will be counting on Vardy again at home.(ap)
MADRID — Real Madrid saw Barcelona falter and then survived an awful mistake by goalkeeper Keylor Navas to regain the Spanish league lead on Sunday. Barcelona lost 2-1 at relegationthreatened Deportivo La Coruna in its first match after its amazing win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and Madrid took advantage with a come-frombehind 2-1 win over Real Betis, despite an own-goal by Navas. Cristiano Ronaldo equalized before halftime and Sergio Ramos netted an 81st-minute winner for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after Navas had pushed the ball into his own net while trying to regain control following a closerange shot. Navas made amends with a superb save two minutes into second-half injury time to se-
cure Madrid the victory and a two-point lead over Barcelona, whose 19-game unbeaten streak in the league ended in La Coruna. “It’s part of the game, everyone makes mistakes,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said of Navas. “In the end he saved us. The save he made has given us the three points.” Without some of the starters from the 6-1 victory over PSG in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, which reversed a 4-0 first-leg loss, Barcelona lacked the same intensity that it had at the Camp Nou. “We knew that they were coming off an intense game in the Champions League and I think it showed,” La Coruna midfielder Alex Bergantinos said. “I think you could notice their weariness from the match against PSG.” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique
didn’t start Rafinha, Samuel Umtiti and Neymar, who was decisive on Wednesday with two goals and two assists. Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic only entered Sunday’s match in the second half. “We struggled from the start,” Luis Enrique said. “There is no justification for the loss. We have to accept it and understand that there are still a lot of rounds left in the league.” The coach said he didn’t think his players had struggled to get back to reality following the PSG game. “Only those who went through what we went through this week can understand what it meant,” Luis Enrique said. “But we knew that nobody will make it easy for you and that it would be hard to win points here.” Striker Joselu opened the scoring for Deportivo in the 40th with
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, walks past Deportivo’s Raul Albentosa after losing 2-1 in a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Deportivo and Barcelona at the Riazor stadium in A Coruna, Spain, Sunday, March 12, 2017.
a close-range shot after Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano failed to clear a loose ball inside the area after a corner. Luis Suarez equalized less than a minute into the second half with a right-foot strike, but the hosts went ahead again in the 74th with a firm header by Bergantinos off
another corner. Bargantinos has only four career goals in the first division, with three of them coming against Barcelona. Deportivo, which had won only one of its last 10 matches, moved to 15th place with 27 points, eight clear of the relegation zone.(ap)
8
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Sp rt Blatter ‘reckless’ to pay Platini $2M, new court ruling says
LAUSANNE — Sepp Blatter was “reckless” when he paid $2 million to Michel Platini in a transaction that led both to be banned from world soccer, according to a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. The former FIFA president also bypassed the body’s executive committee to extend Platini’s pension plan by four years — unlawfully adding more than $1 million to the former UEFA president’s retirement fund. Details of the hearing in August were revealed in a newly published 68-page verdict written by CAS judges to explain why they dismissed Blatter’s appeal to overturn a six-year ban in December. As an executive committee member since 2002, Platini was due a pension of 3 percent of his final FIFA stipend — $300,000 in 2015 when he was first banned — for each year of service. It would be paid annually for an equal number of years. By unilaterally supporting Platini’s request to start the plan in 1998, Blatter unlawfully created a pension fund for his former protege of $2.6 million in 2015 instead of $1.52 million, the judges noted. “The credit awarded to Mr. Platini therefore certainly amounted to a gift as he was not entitled to such credit,” the three judges said, concluding that a six-year ban for the now 81-year-old Blatter is “not disproportionate and, indeed, reasonable and fair.” “The standard of ethical conduct required under the FIFA code of ethics) should be and should be seen to be applied to the FIFA President as rigorously as if not
more rigorously than that applied to anyone else,” the CAS panel wrote. The full judgment confirms details never published by the FIFA ethics and appeals committees which previously judged Blatter, the long-time president, and Platini, his expected successor. Three separate judging panels agreed there was no verbal agreement or valid contract for Platini to receive backdated salary in 2011 for working as Blatter’s presidential adviser from 1998-2002. The soccer officials said they agreed Platini should get 1 million Swiss francs annually, but later signed a contract for 300,000 Swiss francs to ensure he did not earn more than FIFA’s then secretary general. Platini asked for 2 million Swiss francs ($2 million) — not the 2.8 million Swiss francs he was allegedly owed, the court noted — in 2010 “upon learning of ‘golden parachutes’ received by (former senior FIFA officials) Mr. Urs Linsi and Mr. Jerome Champagne,” the CAS ruling said. “(Platini) went to see either the Secretary General or Finance Director of FIFA to say ‘you know
FIFA owes me money,’” the ruling said. By helping force Champagne out of FIFA as Blatter’s trusted international relations director, Platini indirectly earned the French former diplomat a seven-figure severance for his January 2010 exit. The ruling stated that Blatter testified to recalling his verbal deal with Platini, but had “forgotten that they had a written contract (in 1999).” “The Panel considers Mr. Blatter’s conduct in the matter as FIFA President reckless, or at least profoundly careless, as he approved the payment without checking the written contract, without asking his employees for the written contract to be checked or doing any verification whatsoever,” the judges said. Platini, who attended the hearing as a witness, also seemed not to check his contract before requesting money that was paid in 2011, when Blatter was campaigning to win re-election. “Mr. Platini said that he had not realized he had made a mistake about how much money was owed to him until the Swiss prosecutor showed him a copy of the August 1999 contract in September 2015,” the court said.(ap)
Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP, File
FILE - In this Thursday Aug. 25, 2016 file photo, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter arrives at the International Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, for his appeal on a six-year ban on football related activities in Lausanne, Switzerland.
9
Klopp praises match-winner Can for playing through pain Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has praised midfielder Emre Can’s resilience for playing through calf problems throughout the season after the German scored the winner in the Premier League victory over Burnley on Sunday. Can’s long distance strike on the hour completed a 2-1 comeback victory for the Merseyside club after fellow midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum had cancelled an early strike from Burnley’s Ashley Barnes. “He had a few problems with his
calf in the last few months which we couldn’t sort quickly enough because sometimes he had it and sometimes not,” Klopp told the reporters. “We had a lot of specialists look at it to try to find out. We couldn’t say ‘go on holiday for four weeks and see if it gets better’, we couldn’t do that. “It looks like we have found the solution now and he doesn’t have the problems any more.” The German international was partially responsible for Burnley’s opener, allowing visiting full-back
Matthew Lawton the space to cross for Barnes to score but Klopp opted to focus on Can’s positive performance in the second half. “In the first half, for their goal, he should have made the challenge before they made the cross,” Klopp added. “We have to react, and he reacted well second half.” LIVERPOOL who are fourth in the league, visit third-placed Manchester City on Sunday before hosting seventh-placed Everton in Merseyside derby on April 1.(rtr)
Reuters / Phil Noble
Liverpool’s Emre Can celebrates scoring their second goal
After win vs PSG, Barcelona loses Spanish league lead
AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File
FILE - A Tuesday Feb. 21, 2017 file photo of Monaco’s Radamel Falcao celebrating after scoring his side’s first goal during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Manchester City and Monaco at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England.
Monaco needs another big Champions League comeback vs. City
PARIS — Leonardo Jardim’s Monaco squad would rather not just be remembered as this season’s great entertainers. Monaco showcased its forward play with a dazzling display against Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 match. But the attacking football came at a cost as Monaco surrendered a 3-2 lead to trail 5-3 heading into Wednesday’s return leg. Les Monegasques will need top scorer Radamel Falcao and teen star Kylian Mbappe at their brilliant best to topple City. With both teams packed with attacking talent, and not renowned for solid defending, another goal feast could be on the cards at Stade Louis II. The odds are on City to advance, but Monaco has been in this position before. When it reached the final in 2004, Monaco overcame a 4-2 away loss to knock out Real Madrid in the quarterfinals. Jardim is adamant his team can compete for four trophies this season, and the manager’s message is backed by the players. “We’ve got a good team and we want to show the rest of Europe,” Brazilian midfielder Fabinho said. That is also Manchester City’s aim. “When we play like we did against Monaco, we come close to the great teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern,” Munich, veteran City midfielder Yaya Toure said. “We cannot dream about anything yet because we still have a second leg to play. But if you ask the fans, they believe it.” Toure won the Champions League playing for Barcelona under Pep Guardiola, who is in his first season in charge of City. He believes Guardiola is building “something big” at City. “The fans feel it, everyone feels it,” the 33-year-old Toure said. “We are getting a winning mentality in Europe.” Meanwhile, things look fairly straightforward for Juventus on Tuesday and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, while Leicester will be hopeful of continuing its mini-revival since Claudio Ranieri was firing. All three clubs have home games. Juventus, the beaten finalist in 2015, leads Porto 2-0 from the first leg, Atletico faces Bayer Leverkusen with a 4-2 lead, and Leicester trails Sevilla 2-1 after scoring a precious away goal through revitalized striker Jamie Vardy. Leicester will be counting on Vardy again at home.(ap)
MADRID — Real Madrid saw Barcelona falter and then survived an awful mistake by goalkeeper Keylor Navas to regain the Spanish league lead on Sunday. Barcelona lost 2-1 at relegationthreatened Deportivo La Coruna in its first match after its amazing win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and Madrid took advantage with a come-frombehind 2-1 win over Real Betis, despite an own-goal by Navas. Cristiano Ronaldo equalized before halftime and Sergio Ramos netted an 81st-minute winner for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after Navas had pushed the ball into his own net while trying to regain control following a closerange shot. Navas made amends with a superb save two minutes into second-half injury time to se-
cure Madrid the victory and a two-point lead over Barcelona, whose 19-game unbeaten streak in the league ended in La Coruna. “It’s part of the game, everyone makes mistakes,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said of Navas. “In the end he saved us. The save he made has given us the three points.” Without some of the starters from the 6-1 victory over PSG in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, which reversed a 4-0 first-leg loss, Barcelona lacked the same intensity that it had at the Camp Nou. “We knew that they were coming off an intense game in the Champions League and I think it showed,” La Coruna midfielder Alex Bergantinos said. “I think you could notice their weariness from the match against PSG.” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique
didn’t start Rafinha, Samuel Umtiti and Neymar, who was decisive on Wednesday with two goals and two assists. Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic only entered Sunday’s match in the second half. “We struggled from the start,” Luis Enrique said. “There is no justification for the loss. We have to accept it and understand that there are still a lot of rounds left in the league.” The coach said he didn’t think his players had struggled to get back to reality following the PSG game. “Only those who went through what we went through this week can understand what it meant,” Luis Enrique said. “But we knew that nobody will make it easy for you and that it would be hard to win points here.” Striker Joselu opened the scoring for Deportivo in the 40th with
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, left, walks past Deportivo’s Raul Albentosa after losing 2-1 in a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Deportivo and Barcelona at the Riazor stadium in A Coruna, Spain, Sunday, March 12, 2017.
a close-range shot after Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano failed to clear a loose ball inside the area after a corner. Luis Suarez equalized less than a minute into the second half with a right-foot strike, but the hosts went ahead again in the 74th with a firm header by Bergantinos off
another corner. Bargantinos has only four career goals in the first division, with three of them coming against Barcelona. Deportivo, which had won only one of its last 10 matches, moved to 15th place with 27 points, eight clear of the relegation zone.(ap)
10
Destination
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
International
Marathon to a sprint: NBA regular season enters final month
CALIFORNIA - The marathon that is the NBA regular season is headed toward its final sprint. With less than a month remaining until the final night of the season on April 12, the races for MVP and Rookie of the Year are wide open, and there is seemingly no clear-cut favorite to win the championship.
Much was already settled by this time last season. Stephen Curry had long since wrapped up what became the first unanimous MVP award in NBA history, and Karl-Anthony Towns had left Kristaps Porzingis behind in the Rookie of the Year chase. There’s far more intrigue now in a season that began with what seemed a forgone conclusion, that Golden State and Cleveland would meet in the NBA Finals for the third straight year. And this time, the MVP race could be headed toward a narrow finish among the likes of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James. Joel Embiid’s season-ending injury has put the rookie race up for grabs, with Philadelphia teammate Dario Saric and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon perhaps emerging as the best of the leftover candidates — unless voters believe Embiid did enough to win in just 31 games. Golden State was headed toward an eventual NBA record for wins last season; now the Warriors aren’t winning at all. Their threegame skid and Curry’s slump have left San Antonio just a half-game back for the NBA’s best record.
Makepung Buffalo Races in Bali 2017 NEGARA - Makepung is the name of a major grand prix in Jembrana, West Bali, which features racing buffalo races. Hundreds of pairs of buffaloes are teamed up together with their jockeys riding the traditional wooden ploughs that are slightly modified for the competition. The racer buffaloes, called kerbau pepadu, compete in various open race circuits in assorted heats around the district of Melaya, leading up to the finals, or what has come to be known as the Jembrana Regent’s Cup, and the Governor’s Cup, held annually. Makepung is derived from the base word of kepung, meaning ‘chase’, similar to the expression ‘steeplechase’. Makepung is one of the unique traditions stemmed from the agrarian life scene of the island,
and is a widely enjoyed event in the regency of Jembrana, west Bali. The grand-scale events inspired from such a simple, traditional pastime preserves the unique traditions of this part of the island, as well as to promote tourism to this far flung western location. The competitions also provide positive impact on other local sectors such as agriculture and farming. The tradition has partly prevented the shift of land for farming use, and it has also encouraged the people to improve the quality of animal husbandry, raising winning buffaloes for the yearly events. There are approximately seven different circuits spread out in various locations throughout the district. The Sangyang Cerik circuit in the village of Tuwed, Melaya district is one of the main circuits. The other
dedicated fields-turned-circuits include Delod Berawah, Kaliakah, Pangkung Dalem, Merta Sari, Tuwed and Awen. On the eve of the finals, there is a gathering among the racing teams called sekaa makepung with the Jembrana regent, and the evening is as festive as the major racing day that follows, being filled with art performances and public entertainment. On race days, international visitors will also be equally amused by the ‘buffalo fashion shows’ that feature the bovines beautifully and carefully dressed up with ornaments from hoof to horn, in another segment of the ‘best-dressed’ competitions. The Makepung races usually commence early mornings at 07:30 with dozens of pairs of pepadu participating. Another hundred or so take part in the ‘fashion’ parade. The
Need Experience Waiter/ss with Good English.Send CV to Galaxy Sports Bar Jl.Dhyanapura No.9A Seminyak Phone:081236674950
Nike Villas Sanur Look for: Front Office Staff & Butler Qualifications;Male or Female Knowledge in Office Application and OTA System for Office Staff,Fluent in English,Can Drive is an Advantage.Send Your CV to info-b@nikevillas.com or Visit at Jalan Bumi Ayu No.19 Sanur
!Db CookHelper/Waiter-es, 1.8Jta+Mes/Makan/Tips.Top Busy Cafe Jimb,081246913601
B.BP.001.03.17.0001219
Need Waiter/Waitress,Cook,Cook Helper,DW Barman,Barista,kirim Lamaran ke La Monde Restauran Jl.Padma Utara No2 Legian Kuta
B.BP.154.03.17.0001128
Looking Waitress,Cashier,Cook Helper, Tlp:0361758075/081338957772
B.BP.145.03.17.0001194
B.BP.004.03.17.0001210
races last for five hours, with the buffaloes divided into three racing divisions. The dates for each year’s event vary. However, a rough estimate is that several heats take place monthly from July to November at the various circuit locations. All usually take place over the weekends on a Sunday morning. The tentative schedule for the 2017 Makepung buffalo races, based on the Jembrana government tourism office’s previous year’s dates are as follows: 1. Sunday, 16 July: Awen, Lelateng Circuits 2. Sunday, 30 July: Delodberawah Circuit 3. Sunday, 13 August: Kaliakah Circuit (Bupati Cup) 4. Sunday, 27 August: Mertasari Circuit 5. Sunday, 10 September: Pangkung Dalem Circuit
6. Sunday, 24 September: Delodberawah Circuit 7. Sunday, 8 October: Sanghyang Cerik Circuit 8. Sunday, 22 October: Mertasari Circuit 9. Sunday, 5 November: Awen Circuit 10. Sunday, 19 November: Delodberawah Circuit (Jembrana Cup - FINALS) The Makepung tradition of Jembrana inspired the creation of a Balinese dance of the same name in 1984. This dance is performed by seven to nine male and female participants, and depicts riders and the buffaloes themselves. One of the unique features of the dance is that it is accompanied by the Jegog bamboo orchestra which is also typical of the regency. (IBP/net)
B.BP.004.03.17.0001209
Looking for Pattern Maker:Female, Speak English & Computer.Send CV to:sari.oktora25@gmail.com
B.BP.001.03.17.0001220
New Villa in Ubud Looking for HK,FO,Rest Kitchen Send CV to purnaagus01@gmail.com
B.BP.001.03.17.0001187
Place Your Add Here
It is for Job Vacancy, Property, Selling or Buying Please contact Gugiek : 08123840500 Eka : 081338519538
AP Photo/Darren Abate
Also still to be sorted out in the final month: INJURY ISSUES: Kevin Durant’s loss has left Golden State vulnerable and Kyle Lowry’s absence has Toronto reeling. Both could return near the end of the regular season, which could give their teams enough time to mount serious playoff runs. RACES FOR 8TH: Milwaukee has surged into playoff position in the Eastern Conference with six straight wins, with Miami and Chicago both within 1½ games of the Bucks’ lead for the eighth and last postseason spot. Denver occupies No. 8 in the West, with Portland, Dallas and Minnesota close behind. HOME-COURT HOPES: Toronto is clinging to a one-game lead over Atlanta for the No. 4 seed in the East and home-court advantage in the first round. Out West, Utah’s lead over the fifth-place Los Angeles Clippers also is one game. The only thing that seems settled is the race for the worst record. Brooklyn is eight games worse than anyone else, which will almost certainly give the Boston Celtics the best shot at the No. 1 overall pick, because they have the right to swap spots with Brooklyn. (AP)
San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson, left, attempts to shoot against Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, March 11, 2017, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 107-85.
Federer, Nadal stay on course for desert showdown
CALIFORNIA - Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal are on course for another showdown after winning their opening matches at the BNP Paribas Open in the California desert on Sunday. Less than two months after Federer claimed an 18th major title in a classic Australian Open final, the two great rivals could meet again, this time in the fourth round at Indian Wells. Both won in style on Sunday, with Spanish fifth seed Nadal pouncing on Guido Pella’s serve to break the Argentine five times en route to a 6-3 6-2 victory in sizzling afternoon heat on the stadium hard court. Federer enjoyed the relative cool of an evening match but was back in the locker room before working up a major sweat, easing to a 6-2 6-1 win over Frenchman Stephane Robert in front of an appreciative capacity crowd of around 16,000 spectators. “The beginning was difficult, just because I’ve never played him before so I’m not sure about his
patterns,” ninth seed Federer said in a courtside interview. “I was very happy I was able to loosen up and play good tennis. I started to serve really well, move around the court great.” While it was Federer’s first match against Robert, he is far more familiar with Nadal. They have met 35 times, with Nadal holding a 23-12 edge. Needing to win their respective third-round matches for a 36th meeting to happen, Nadal next faces 26th-seeded compatriot Fernando Verdasco, while Federer plays American 24th seed Steve Johnson. “For sure I saw the draw,” a relaxed Nadal said, adding that he was not really focused on Federer. “I go day-by-day. That’s my way, to focus on my next match. I played I think a solid match (today).” BIG TEST The path to the final on that side of the draw is littered with tricky obstacles, however, as second seed Novak Djokovic and in-form Aus-
tralian Nick Kyrgios lie in wait as potential future opponents. Djokovic, however, must next negotiate a dangerous third-round opponent in Argentine Juan Martin del Potro after the three-times defending champion advanced with an unconvincing 6-4 7-6(5) victory over Briton Kyle Edmund. “First match, already a big test,” the Serb said at a tournament where all the seeded players had firstround byes. “Throughout most of that second set, he was a better player. I got lucky to pull through in straight sets. Marin Cilic was the only topranked player to lose on Sunday, the Croatian sixth seed beaten 4-6 7-5 6-4 by American teenager Taylor Fritz. The tournament lost its top seed on Saturday when Andy Murray was upset 6-4 7-6(5) by Canadian Vasek Pospisil, who rushed the net whenever the opportunity arose and also feasted on the Scot’s second serve. Murray praised his conqueror, while at the same time lamented an
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Roger Federer (SUI) during his second round match against Stephane Robert (not pictured) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. off night with his second serve. “I have never really practised playing against serve-and-volleyers in my career but when I have come up against them, it’s normally been a game style I have enjoyed playing
against,” Murray said. “It wasn’t so much the servevolley that was the problem. It was my own serve and not getting enough opportunities when he was serving.” (rtr)
6
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
W
International
RLD
Turkey’s Erdogan says Netherlands acting like a “banana republic”
REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
German Chancellor and head of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Angela Merkel (R) talks to Head of the Confederation of the German Employers’ Association (BDA) Ingo Kramer before a meeting at the International Trade Fair in Munich, Germany March 13, 2017.
Merkel meets Trump in clash of style and substance
BERLIN - She is controlled and cautious, a physicist from East Germany who takes her time making decisions and has never relished the attention that comes from being Europe’s most powerful leader. He is a wealthy real estate magnate from New York who shoots from the hip and enjoys the spotlight. It is hard to imagine two leaders more different, in style or substance, than Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and Donald Trump, the new president of the United States. For months, they have been engaged in an uneasy long-distance skirmish over policy and values. On Tuesday, they meet for the first time - a high-stakes encounter that will be watched by governments around the world for clues about the future of the transatlantic alliance, a partnership that has helped shape the global order since World War Two but which Trump is threatening to upend. “Do I think they are going to become good friends? Probably not. They are very different personalities,” said Charles Kupchan, who advised Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama on European policy as a member of the National Security Council. “But I do think they have a strong interest, both politically and strategically, in learning how to work together. It is arguably the most important meeting with a foreign leader of Trump’s presidency.” German officials say the detail-oriented Merkel, 62, has been preparing assiduously for her trip to Washington. (rtr)
Malaysia... From page 1
Last Tuesday, North Korea blocked all Malaysians from leaving the country until a “fair settlement” of the case was reached. Malaysia then barred North Koreans from exiting its soil. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Monday that negotiations with North Korea were taking place, but he did not give details. There are nine Malaysians in North Korea — three embassy staff members and their family members. Some 315 North Koreans are in Malaysia, according to Malaysian officials. Both countries have also scrapped visa-free travel for each other’s citizens. Although Malaysia has never directly accused North Korea of being behind the attack, many speculate that Pyongyang must
have orchestrated it. Experts say the VX nerve agent used to kill Kim was almost certainly produced in a sophisticated state weapons laboratory, and North Korea is widely believed to possess large quantities of chemical weapons. Four of the seven North Korean suspects being sought by Malaysia are believed to have left the country the day Kim was killed. Police say the other three suspects, including a North Korean diplomat, are believed to be in hiding at the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The attack was caught on surveillance video that shows two women going up to Kim and apparently smearing something on his face. He was dead within 20 minutes, authorities say. Two women — one Indonesian, one Vietnamese — have been charged with murder but say they were duped into thinking they were playing a harmless prank.(ap)
ANKARA - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday the Netherlands was acting like a “banana republic” and should face sanctions for barring Turkish ministers from speaking in Rotterdam, fuelling a row over Ankara’s political campaigning abroad. Erdogan is looking to the large number of Turks living in Europe, especially in Germany and the Netherlands, to help secure victory next month in a referendum that would give the presidency sweeping new powers. In a speech in France, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described the Netherlands as the “capital of fascism” as it joined other European countries in stopping Turkish politicians holding rallies, due to fears that tensions in Turkey might spill over into their expatriate communities. The Dutch government barred Cavusoglu from flying to Rotterdam on Saturday and later stopped Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya from entering the Turkish consulate there, before escorting her out of the country to Germany. Dutch police used dogs and water cannon on Sunday to disperse hundreds of protesters waving Turkish flags outside the consulate in Rotterdam. Some threw bottles and stones and several demonstrators were beaten by police with batons, a Reuters witness said. Mounted police of-
ficers charged the crowd. The Dutch government - set to lose about half its seats in elections this week, according to polls, as the anti-Islam party of Geert Wilders makes strong gains - said the visits were undesirable and it would not cooperate in their campaigning. “I call on all international organisations in Europe and elsewhere to impose sanctions on the Netherlands,” Erdogan said, after his prime minister earlier said Turkey would retaliate in the “harshest ways”, without specifying how. “Has Europe said anything? No. Why? Because they don’t bite each other. The Netherlands are acting like a banana republic,” Erdogan said in a speech in Kocaeli province, near Istanbul. “NAZISM WIDESPREAD IN WEST” A day earlier, Erdogan described the Netherlands as “Nazi remnants” and returned to the theme on Sunday by saying “Nazism is still widespread in the West” in what Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said were
inflammatory remarks. “We ended up in a totally unprecedented situation in which a NATO ally...with whom we have historic ties, strong trade relations, is acting in a totally unacceptable, irresponsible manner,” Rutter told reporters. Rather than the Netherlands apologising for refusing the Turkish ministers entry, Turkey’s president should apologize for comparing the Netherlands to fascists and Nazis, he said. The row risked spreading on Sunday as Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen proposed postponing a planned visit by Yildirim this month due to the dispute. The French foreign ministry urged calm and said there had been no reason to prohibit a meeting in France between Cavusoglu and a local Turkish association. Supporting Rutte’s decision to ban the visits, the Dutch government said there was a risk of Turkish political divisions flowing over into its own Turkish minority, which has both pro- and anti-Erdogan camps. (rtr)
International
Police still investigating nine suspected terrorists nabbed in Sulawesi JAKARTA - Police are still investigating the nine suspected terrorists nabbed last week by police in Toli Toli and Parigi, Central Sulawesi. “It is still being investigated to which groups the nine terrorist suspects belong,” head of the police public relations division Insp.Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said at the police headquarters here on Monday. Boy said the nine are still in the process of interrogation by police investigators. “We could not yet take a conclusion whether they belong to the Santoso group,” he said. Santoso led a gang of Islamic terrorists creating security problem for a long time in Central Sulawesi before he was shot dead by police last year. The nine suspects were piked up from separate places on Thursday and Friday last week. They were IRH alias AAN, from the village of Dangi, sub-district of Parigi Utara, regency of Parigi Moutong, AJ alias Jufri alias Abay, from the sub-district of Palu Selatan, MD alias D alias Kelo, from sub-district of Palu Selatan - all arrested on Thursday. The other six were nabbed on Friday including SMD alias SAM from Toli-toli, KIF from the city of Poso, SYN from the city of Poso, DWN alias ALI from the regency of Poso, IRS alias ICAN from the regency of Toli-Toli, and JEF from the regency of Lampung Selatan. The suspects told their investigators that they planned to explode bombs at police and military headquarters in the regency of ToliToli.(ant)
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
11
Kevin, Marcus new All England champions from Indonesia
LONDON - Underdog pair Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and Marcus Fernaldi Gideon have become Indonesia’s newest All England champions after beating Li Junhui and Liu Yuchen of China in the final 35-minute match on Sunday. Kevin and Marcus outshone the Chinese pair 21-19, 21-14 in the prestigious badminton tournament. “I still feel really nervous. This is our first win in such an event,” said Marcus after the match at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham as quoted by the Indonesian Badminton Association’s (PBSI) website, badmintonindonesia.org. The world number five pair reached the final after outclassing the world’s seventh-ranked duo Mads Conrad Petersen and Mads Pier Kolding of Denmark 21-12, 11-21, 21-16 in Saturday’s semifinals. Kevin and Marcus, the 2016 China Open winners, were the only Indonesian representatives in the All England semifinals after compatriots Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir were knocked out by seventh seeds Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Adcock in the quarterfinals. Kevin and Marcus had become Indonesia’s sole hope of maintaining its tradition of winning at least one title in the prestigious All England since 2012 — though it missed out in the 2015 edition before Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto made amends in 2016 — after their compatriots fell throughout the super series tournament.(r)
Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon (L) and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo celebrate victory in the men’s doubles final
Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic
Indonesia to boost its image in Japan: Envoy
Kayhan Ozer/Presidential Palace/Handout via REUTERS
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan greets his supporters during a ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, March 11, 2017.
JAKARTA - Newly installed Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Arifin Tasrif plans to boost the countrys image, or the Wonderful Indonesia brand, in a bid to increase the number of Japanese foreign tourist arrivals in the country. “We will promote (tourism) several times along with the Ministry of Tourism as well as with the national carrier Garuda Indonesia to facilitate smoother transportation
from Japan to the tourist destinations,” Arifin stated here after being installed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the State Palace here on Monday. According to Arifin, typical Indonesian delicacies, as the tools for promoting culinary diplomacy, are also viewed to draw the interest of foreigners, especially the Japanese, who have a long-standing history with the country.
Additionally, Arifin will showcase the countrys investment potentials to Japan in order to develop the tourism sector in Indonesia. Moreover, Arifin shed light on various Japanese investments in infrastructure and energy projects in Indonesia. “The point is that the projects are very strategic for us,” he pointed out. On Monday, President Jokowi installed 17 new Indonesian ambassadors at the State Palace.(ant)
12
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Bali News
International
BUSINESS
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
5
World Bank’s medicine for Thailand: more jobs, green protection BANGKOK - Thailand needs to rein in rapid depletion of its natural resources, create more and better jobs, and provide support to millions of the poorest if it is to achieve green growth that brings prosperity to all, the World Bank said on Monday. “We believe that when economic development benefits all groups in society, then that will by itself contribute to stability and social cohesion,” Ulrich Zachau, the bank’s director for Southeast Asia, told journalists at the launch of a report on getting Thailand’s economic growth back on track. Between 1986 and 2014, high growth reduced poverty in Thailand from 67 percent to 10.5 percent of its population, the report said. But the country has been troubled by unrest in the past decade. In 2014, a coup restored an uneasy peace. In that year, 7.1 million Thais, mostly outside Bangkok, were still living in poverty, with an additional 6.7 million at risk of falling back into it, the report said. Agricultural prices and job creation - two of the country’s growth engines in previous decades - have declined. Meanwhile, one-third of all 15-yearolds nationwide are functionally illiterate, the report said. The number rises to 47 percent in villages, underlining the inequality between the capital city and the rest of Thailand. The Southeast Asian nation of 66 million people is also experiencing a slowdown in job creation caused by a weak global economy and loss of its competitive edge. A decade ago, Thailand ranked above other Southeast Asian and upper-middle-income countries on
all dimensions measured in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. Today, other nations have caught up, the World Bank report said. DISASTER RISK Climate change and environmental degradation, meanwhile, are making Thailand more vulnerable to natural disasters, the World Bank report warned. The rate of depletion of Thailand’s natural resources - including forests, mangroves and coral reefs - has sped up in the last decade, the report showed. At 4.4 percent of gross national income, it is similar to other countries in the East Asia and Pacific region, but is almost double the rate in 2002 and three times the rate in the 1980s. Climate change is expected to bring more frequent coastal flooding to low-lying Thailand, with the biggest threat to Bangkok and central areas, the report said. Deforestation, caused mainly by illegal logging and smuggling, and poor planning for public infrastructure exacerbate flood risks, the report added. Severe floods in Bangkok in 2011 resulted in losses estimated at $46.5 billion. About 19,000 homes were destroyed and 2.5 million people displaced, World Bank figures showed. Saline intrusion from sea-level rise could also cause Thai coastal farms to be less productive, the report said. According to the Thai meteorological department, the country’s annual mean temperature rose by 1 degree Celsius from 1981 to 2007, and precipitation has suffered an overall decrease over the last 50 years, raising the risk of drought.(rtr)
REUTERS/Jorge Silva
A construction site is seen in central Bangkok, Thailand March 8, 2017. Picture taken March 8, 2017.
Kyodo News via AP
Saudi King Salman, right, meets with Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo, Monday, March 13, 2017. Salman arrived in Japan as part of a month-long Asian tour.
Saudi king visits Japan, seeks help on diversifying economy
TOKYO — King Salman and hundreds of business leaders from Saudi Arabia are in Japan for talks Monday mainly expected to focus on economic ties. The visit is the first by a Saudi king in 46 years, though Salman visited more recently as crown prince. Saudi Arabia is one of Japan’s biggest SUPPLIERS of crude oil, accounting for about a third of its total imports of oil from the Middle East. The kingdom is striving to diversify its economy away from its heavy reliance on oil exports, and Salman is on a month-long tour of Asia to advance his kingdom’s economic and business interests. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Monday that Japan is willing to provide support for the economic power in the Middle East. “We will discuss growth strategy, including our ‘Saudi Vision’ project,” he said, referring to Japanese collaboration with Vision 2030, a roadmap adopted by the
kingdom last year for its development and economic objectives. He did not confirm reports that the countries would agree to set up a special economic zone in Saudi Arabia. Salman met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and was to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later Monday. Reports say Japan plans to urge that Saudi Aramco, the state-run oil company that is being partially privatized, seek a share listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Separately, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund and Japanese telecoms provider and energy company Softbank have joined forces in setting up a $25 billion private fund for technology investments. Trade
between the countries fell overall last year as oil prices dropped. Japan’s 2.1 trillion yen ($18.6 billion) in imports from Saudi Arabia in 2016, mostly oil and gas, dwarfed its exports of 546.3 billion yen ($4.8 billion). The delegation arrived late Sunday on about 10 aircraft. Officials said TOP HOTELSand car hire services would be busy handling the unusually large group during its four-day visit. Salman’s stop in Japan follows visits to Indonesia and Malaysia. He is due to travel on to Brunei, China and the Maldives. While seeking investment and help with Saudi industrialization and development of its services sector, Salman has also offered help. Earlier, he pledged $1 billion in development finance for Indonesia and closer cooperation for combating transnational crime such as human trafficking, terrorism and the drugs trade.(ap)
Berawa Beach Becomes Playground of Surfing Lovers
Berawa Beach in Canggu area has developed quite well because the surrounding locations are possible to be developed into tourist destination if managed properly. Many villas are growing like mushrooms in rainy season. Since the development of tourism industry in Bali is quite well, sometimes travelers are also looking for an alternative to Kuta and Legian, so that Canggu located next to them also gets the impact. More travelers in need of peace will enjoy natural atmosphere as well as stay in the Canggu area. Talking about coastal tourist attraction in Bali seems never-ending. Although the island is fairly small, it has numerous hidden pearls. Berawa Beach, for instance, located in the same coastline as Petitenget, Batubelig and Canggu, is located at Berawa hamlet, Canggu. Local high waves become an attractive place for surfers. It can be taken
approximately 20 minutes by car or motorcycle from Kuta and turn left on the road section to Tanah Lot. Lately, Berawa Beach sufficiently develops because the beach is actually not too far from the glamour of Kuta or Canggu tourist destination earlier known by travelers coming on holidays to Bali. Road access to Berawa Beach can pass
through Batubelig, but, and the best is through the access adjacent to the Villa Legong Keraton precisely located on the Berawa Beach. An interesting point offered by Berawa Beach is the extreme wave because it is located in the South of the Bali Island directly getting in touch with the Indian Ocean. For surfing lovers, here is
the right playground. Atmosphere of this coastal area is quieter and emptier of visitors. Local residents commonly spend time and relieve fatigue during holidays or weekends, so that travelers can more freely enjoy this beautiful nature. Ocean view on the Berawa Beach can adequately make every visitor feel at home. When wishing to enjoy the beauty of Berawa Beach maximally, simply stay for a few days in this area. There are many types of villa rentals, resorts and homestays. Superiority of Berawa Beach lies in the beautiful coast and
proximity to various tourist facilities, airport and tranquility. So, Berawa Beach is worth choosing as destination considering there are many objects around the Berawa Beach such as Tanah Lot, horseback safari, Canggu Club and pilgrimage destination on Seseh Beach. Apart from having good and enchanting waves, Berawa Beach also presents a beautiful natural scenery, especially during sunset time. The atmosphere is very quiet, giving better privacy than its neighboring beaches like Legian and Petitenget. (kmb)
Suluban Beach, a Place to Surf and Enjoy a Sunset View Foreign travelers happily mingle together on the surface of the clear and blue seawater. Every now and then they float for a moment, then emerge again, standing on their surfboards, moving in a snake like undulations following the flow of the waves as they move toward the coast. When the water recedes, they swim out ot sea again and obeserve the movement of the water. As the waves roll in they glide towards the shore. This is the daily spectacle that can be seen on Suluban Beach in
Pecatu Village. With its large challenging waves and white sandy beach, this is a true paradise playgournd for surfers. Suluban Beach is located a few kilometers north of Uluwatu, next to Bingin Beach and Labuhan Sait and visitors must pass through a rock cave before reaching the broad white sandy beach. Some tourism facilities such as restaurants, bars, surf equipment rental shops and surfboard repair shops are available here. The beach here is rather nar-
row, in contrast to Tanjung Benoa or Kuta, but it has nonetheless become a favored destination with foreign surfers for the large waves that break here. Fresh blue sea also makes this beach great for relaxing and enjoying the view. There is plenty of sun for those who enjoy sunbathing, but there is also a shaded area behind the rocks. In addition to being a great place for surfing and relaxing, Suluban Beach is also a great spot for enjoying a great view of the sunset. (kmb)
4
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Bali News
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
International
Tight competition results in decreasing customers
BANGLI - Recently there has been an increase in the number of basket weavers in Kintamani, causing tighter competition. Artisans therefor need to be aware of market needs and more active in seeking out and maintaining their customer base. One basket artisan from Pengotan hamlet, Pengotan, Kintamani named Ni Ketut Porsi, said on Sunday (Mar. 12) that marketing competiton has become more difficult lately as more and more people have started selling baskets in the region. She has seen many of her customers turn to other baset makers. “In the past, I had many customers and made a lot of sales, mostly because my neighbour and I were the only artisans making baskets around here. Now there are many basket artisans in Pengotan”, she said. She has therefore seen a significant decline in the sales and now has to walk around with her baskets seeking out customers. “I have to bring my baskets to Songan village now. If I just wait for buyers here, it may take a long time to sell a basket. I do not make much profit as I sell a set of 10 baskets for IDR 10,000”, she explained. She sells her baskets all over Bangli and sometimes in Denpasar and Bading as well. However she cannot deliver to places outside of kintamani everyday as it depends on her orders. “My big baskets that are commonly sold in Kintamani are usually used to hold tomatoes, cabbage, tangerine et cetera. Meanwhile, the baskets that I sell in Denpasar are used as waste baskets. Unfortunately, most farmers in Kintamani experienced crop failure this year, following the recent natural disasters. This has also affected my sales”, she explained. (kmb41)
Anti-rabies serum: out of stock NEGARA - Even though there are still many cases of rabies infected dogs bitting humans, Bali has run out of antirabies serum (SAR) used for high risk cases. Since the last acquisition in September 2016, the serum for the dog bites on shoulders and upper areas (head) and the tips of feet and hands is currently not available. The serum is runnig low all over Indonesia. Head of the Jembrana Health Agency, I Putu Suasta, told reporters on Friday (Mar. 10) that present stocks will last for the next month, but the agency’s last stock expired on August 31, 2016, so the last four remining bottles are dubiouse in their efficacity. Actually the health agency had requested the procurement of SAR worth hundreds of millions of rupiah in the maneded budget for 2016, but since they did not get a supply of SAR, the funds were returned to the local treasury. This serum is used to treat victims of rabies bites with high risk factors: bites to ganglion. This year, the agency will allocate IDR 200 million to meet the demand for SAR as each bottle costs IDR 1.5 million. However, the problem is there are no SAR products available. This serum is different from the anti-rabies vaccine (VAR). SAR is produced by the injection the rabies virus into human body or horse’s body in order to look for the serum. Conversely, VAR is the inactivated rabies virus. Usually a bite victim deemd high risk will rewure four bottles of SAR to be cured. SAR should be administered on the same day that the victim has been bitten, or the next day at latest. Any later than that and SAR is not effective and the chance of a victim surviving is small. Right now the health agency is waiting for SAR distributors to get restocked. The punlic is therefor being asked to avoide contact with with rabiies carrier anumals. Any botes should be immediately washed five times using detergent and the victim should then be taken to a health cneter, clinic or hospitla immediately thereafter. (kmb26)
13
Western Australia shuns Hanson’s nationalists in state poll
REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
IBP/kmb31
The mediation process initiated by the Subdistrict of Karangasem appears to have failed as both villages still claim that Pasir Putih Beach falls within the boundaries of their territory.
Unsettled Boundary
Pasir Putih Beach disputed by Bugbug and Perasi
AMLAPURA - Settling the matter of the boundary between the villages of Bugbug and Pertima in Karangasem seems to be dragging on. The mediation process initiated by the Subdistrict of Karangasem appears to have failed as both villages still claim that Pasir Putih Beach falls within the boundaries of their territory. Subdistrict head of Karangasem, Cokorda Alit Surya Prabawa, when contacted recently said that during the mediation process only Bugbug village provided complete data regarding the boundaries of its territory while the village of Pertima did not provide complete data, making the mediation process lopsided. Currently, Only Perasi Customary village (Pertima village) and Bugbug Customary Village remain in conflict over boundaries. The neighbouring village of Timbrah has come to an accord with both Perasi and Bugbug. “At the subdistrict head office, we have only discussed the boundaries of the administrative village, but the issue of Pertima and Bugbug remains unresolved”, said Prabawa. Subdistrict Head Prabawa asserted that the point of contention is Pasir Putih Beach (AKA Virgin Beach) which has become a popular tourist destination. Both Bugbug and Perasiwant to claim the same boundary for
their customary and administrative villages. During the previous mediation process, it came to light that there is a temple located on Pasir Putih Beahc where residents of Perasai village go to pray. According to residents of Perasi village this is a basis for determining village boundaries. Pasir Putih Beach has been increasingly popular with both domestic and foreign tourists which has given rise to the question of territory. Karangasem’s subdistrict head office said that a case can be made for both villages to claim that the beach falls within their boundaries. However the issue related to the boundary between other villages such as Bugbug and Tenganan has been resolved. There are plans to followed up on the mediation process, but a specific schedule has not been set yet. So far, Pertima village has still not compiled the data that it needs to support its argument that the beach falls within
their territory. When the headmen from both villages are ready, mediation will resume. It is not enough to simply discuss the matter, said Prabawa, valid and accurate data is also needed. “Later, we will discuss the matter gradually we not not need to hurry to come up with a conclusion. The important thing is that all parties keep a level head. Bugbug village is already well prepared in terms of data. However if attempts at mediation reach a deadlock, then the matter will be resolved at the district level”, he said. Prabawa has asked that all the villages that do not agree with the boundaries, allocate a budget for the boundary settlement process form their respective village budgets (APBDes). Previously the village boundaries were determined by the central government, but some villages did not agree; Pertima with Subagan village; Karangasem with Tiyingtali village; as well as West Seraya with Tumbi village and Bug Bug with Perima. “Those villages that do not agree with the central govenrment decision are being requested to allocate their own funds for further discussions”, he said. (kmb31)
A cutout of South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye is displayed inside a mock jail in Seoul, South Korea, March 13, 2017.
S.Korea’s Park criticised over defiance, faces calls for investigation
SEOUL - Ousted South Korean leader Park Geun-hye faced criticism on Monday over a defiant vow that the truth of her impeachment would be revealed, with the main opposition party urging prosecutors to investigate her quickly. The Constitutional Court dismissed Park from office on Friday when it upheld a parliamentary impeachment vote over an influencepeddling scandal that has shaken the political and business elite. Park has denied any wrongdoing. Park left the Blue House presidential palace in Seoul on Sunday evening to return to her private home in the city as an ordinary citizen, stripped of her presidential immunity that has shielded her from prosecution. “Even at the moment she left, she refused to say a word to repent in front of the people, but said such and such about truth and declared nothing but disobedience,” Choo Mi-ae, head of the biggest opposition party, the Democratic Party, told a meeting on Monday. Park has not commented publicly since the court ruling, but a spokesman read out a statement from her after she returned to her home in the upmarket Gangnam district, in which she expressed regret at not being able to complete her term. “It will take time, but I believe the truth will be revealed,” Park
said through the spokesman. Many South Koreans have interpreted that as a protest against the Constitutional Court’s ruling. “It was very shocking and regrettable,” said Yoo Seong-min, a presidential candidate from the small, right-wing Bareun Party. “Protesting the constitutional court’s decision is a betrayal of the people and betrayal of the constitution.” South Korean shares rose to their highest in more than 20 months, as sentiment improved on hopes that Park’s dismissal would end uncertainty. The won rose about 1.1 percent. Moody’s Investors Service said Park’s impeachment was “credit positive” as it would allow a new president to focus on reforms to address “structural economic challenges amid growing domestic and external headwinds to growth”. A snap presidential election will be held by May 9. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party is the favourite in opinion polls. ‘SWIFT AND THOROUGH’ The impeachment has exposed divisions in a society in which
politics is still partly framed by Cold War rivalry. Park’s mostly liberal opponents gathered for rallies every weekend for months, while her conservative supporters also held demonstrations nearby. While no serious clashes between the two sides have erupted, three Park supporters died after angry clashes with police outside the court on Friday. Two were believed to have suffered heart attacks and the third died in an accident. Dozens of Park’s supporters milled about on the street outside her home on Monday, most carrying pictures of her or national flags. Police patrolled the area. Park spent the day at home, where some political supporters visited her. One visitor told media she was feeling under the weather. The Democratic Party’s Choo said Park should be treated as a suspect and cooperate with any investigation. “Prosecutors must find the truth and punish any crime through their swift and thorough investigation,” Choo said. Prosecutors accused Park of colluding with a friend, Choi Soonsil, to pressure big businesses into contributing to foundations set up to support her policy and allowing her to exert influence on state affairs. (rtr)
SYDNEY - The rapid resurgence of nationalist politics in Australia was abruptly halted on Saturday after Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party drew less than 5 percent of the vote and was set to win just one seat in a state poll. The election in mineral-rich Western Australia was won convincingly by the centre-left Labor party, leaving Hanson’s right wing, anti-immigration party trailing far behind. The vote was the first major test of popularity for Hanson since winning a place in the federal parliament last year, when she rode a wave of anti-establishment sentiment similar to that seen in the United States and Europe. With two-thirds of the votes counted the Australian Broadcasting Corporation forecast that One Nation would win one seat, confounding expectations that it could gain enough to influence legislation in the new state parliament. “This has certainly halted the sense of momentum building around One Nation that has been there since July last year,” said Associate Professor Haydon Manning, a political scientist at Flinders University. Before the vote, the governing Liberal party ditched its traditional allies to strike a deal with Hanson’s party to swap preferences - a measure in Australia’s voting system designed to help both parties increase their presence in the new parliament. The deal appears to have back-fired, with Hanson losing some of her anti-establishment fervour and the state Liberals putting off their centre-right base. Hanson, who is wary of foreign investment and wants to suspend Muslim immigration, said late on Saturday the deal was a mistake. “Doing the deal with the Libs has done damage to us, in all honesty,” she told Channel 7 as the election results became clear.
PRIVATISATIONS ON ICE The election result has ended plans for several asset sales that Labor campaigned against, including a proposal to sell a majority stake in the A$15 billion ($11.3 billion) Western Power electricity grid through a public float along with privatisation of the $1.5 billion Fremantle Port. Labor has won the vote decisively by an anticipated 40 seats to the Liberals 19, and will govern without needing a coalition partner. The result will also see mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton escape a state tax on their iron ore businesses proposed by the ruralcentric National Party, which fell short of obtaining the influence to force such a measure. Outgoing Liberal Premier Colin Barnett was the country’s longest serving political leader, having seen four changes of Prime Minister during his tenure. His federal counterpart, Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, rejected suggestions his own performance had contributed to the election defeat. “There is no evidence of federal factors playing a role there,” said Turnbull, who has fallen behind the federal Labor opposition in opinion polls. (rtr)
AAP/Rebecca Le May/via REUTERS
Australian Senator Pauline Hanson addresses a Pauline Hanson’s One Nation election function in Perth, Western Australia, March 11, 2017. Picture taken March 11, 2017.
14
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Science
International
Scientists race to prevent wipeout of world’s coral reefs
SOUTH ARI ATOLL — There were startling colors here just a year ago, a dazzling array of life beneath the waves. Now this Maldivian reef is dead, killed by the stress of rising ocean temperatures. What’s left is a haunting expanse of gray, a scene repeated in reefs across the globe in what has fast become a full-blown ecological catastrophe. The world has lost roughly half its coral reefs in the last 30 years. Scientists are now scrambling to ensure that at least a fraction of these unique ecosystems survives beyond the next three decades. The health of the planet depends on it: Coral reefs support a quarter of all marine species, as well as half a billion people around the world. “This isn’t something that’s going to happen 100 years from now. We’re losing them right now,” said marine biologist Julia Baum of Canada’s University of Victoria. “We’re losing them really quickly, much more quickly than I think any of us ever could have imagined.” Even if the world could halt global warming now, scientists still expect that more than 90 percent of corals will die by 2050. Without drastic intervention, we risk losing them all. “To lose coral reefs is to fundamentally undermine the health of a very large proportion of the human race,” said Ruth Gates, director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Coral reefs produce some of the oxygen we breathe. Often described as underwater rainforests, they populate a tiny fraction of the ocean but provide habitats for one in four marine species. Reefs also form crucial barriers protecting coastlines from the full force of storms. They provide billions of dollars in revenue from tourism, fishing
and other commerce, and are used in medical research for cures to diseases including cancer, arthritis and bacterial or viral infections. “Whether you’re living in North America or Europe or Australia, you should be concerned,” said biologist Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, director of the Global Change Institute at Australia’s University of Queensland. “This is not just some distant dive destination, a holiday destination. This is the fabric of the ecosystem that supports us.” And that fabric is being torn apart.“You couldn’t be more dumb ... to erode the very thing that life depends on — the ecosystem — and hope that you’ll get away with it,” Hoegh-Guldberg said. Corals are invertebrates, living mostly in tropical waters. They secrete calcium carbonate to build protective skeletons that grow and take on impressive colors, thanks to a symbiotic relationship with algae that live in their tissues and provide them with energy. But corals are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, and are suffering from rising ocean temperatures and acidification, as well as from overfishing, pollution, coastal development and agricultural runoff. A temperature change of just 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (1.8 to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) can force coral to expel the algae, leaving their white skeletons visible in a process known as “bleaching.”
Bleached coral can recover if the water cools, but if high temperatures persist for months, the coral will die. Eventually the reef will degrade, leaving fish without habitats and coastlines less protected from storm surges. The first global bleaching event occurred in 1998, when 16 percent of corals died. The problem spiraled dramatically in 2015-2016 amid an extended El Nino natural weather phenomenon that warmed Pacific waters near the equator and triggered the most widespread bleaching ever documented. This third global bleaching event, as it is known, continues today even after El Nino ended. Headlines have focused on damage to Australia’s famed Great Barrier Reef, but other reefs have fared just as badly or worse across the world, from Japan to Hawaii to Florida. Around the islands of the Maldives, an idyllic Indian Ocean tourism destination, some 73 percent of surveyed reefs suffered bleaching between March and May 2016, according to the country’s Marine Research Center. “This bleaching episode seems to have impacted the entire Maldives, but the severity of bleaching varies” between reefs, according to local conditions, said Nizam Ibrahim, the center’s senior research officer. Worst hit have been areas in the central Pacific, where the Univer-
sity of Victoria’s Baum has been conducting research on Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, in the Republic of Kiribati. Warmer water temperatures lasted there for 10 months in 2015-2016, killing a staggering 90 percent of the reef. Baum had never seen anything like it. “As scientists, we were all on brand new territory,” Baum said, “as were the corals in terms of the thermal stress they were subjected to.” To make matters worse, scientists are predicting another wave of elevated ocean temperatures starting next month. “The models indicate that we will see the return of bleaching in the South Pacific soon, along with a possibility of bleaching in both the eastern and western parts of the Indian Ocean,” said Mark Eakin, coral reef specialist and coordinator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch, which uses satellites to monitor environmental conditions around reefs. It may not be as bad as last year, but could further stress “reefs that are still hurting from the last two years.” The speed of the destruction is what alarms scientists and conservationists, as damaged coral might not have time to recover before it is hit again by warmer temperatures. But some may have a chance. Last month, Hoegh-Guldberg helped launch an initiative called 50 Reefs, aiming to identify those reefs with the best chance of survival in warming oceans and raise public awareness. His project partner is Richard Vevers, who heads
the XL Caitlin Seaview Survey, which has been documenting coral reefs worldwide. “For the reefs that are least vulnerable to climate change, the key will be to protect them from all the other issues they are facing — pollution, overfishing, coastal development,” said Vevers, who founded The Ocean Agency, an Australian organization seeking new technologies to help mitigate some of the ocean’s greatest challenges. If the reefs remain healthy and resilient, “they can hopefully become the vital seed-centers that can repopulate surrounding reefs.” Nature itself is providing small glimmers of hope. Some of Kiritimati’s corals, for example, are showing tentative signs of a comeback. But scientists don’t want to leave it to chance, and are racing ahead with experiments they hope might stave off extinction. “We’ve lost 50 percent of the reefs, but that means we still have 50 percent left,” said Gates, who is working in Hawaii to breed corals that can better withstand increasing temperatures. “We definitely don’t want to get to the point where we don’t intervene until we have 2 percent left.” Going a step further, she is also trying to “train” corals to survive rising temperatures, exposing them to sub-lethal heat stress in the hope they can “somehow fix that in their memory” and survive similar stress in the future. “It’s probably time that we start thinking outside the box,” Gates said. “It’s sort of a no-win game if we do nothing.” (ap)
The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey via AP
This May 2016 photo released by The Ocean Agency/XL Catlin Seaview Survey shows coral that has bleached white due to heat stress in the Maldives. Coral reefs, unique underwater ecosystems that sustain a quarter of the world’s marine species and half a billion people, are dying on an unprecedented scale. Scientists are racing to prevent a complete wipeout within decades.
Bali News
International
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
3
Patient suspected of having meningitis treated at Sanglah Hospital
DENPASAR - I Gusti Putu Sujana, 60, who is being treated in Mawar room #10 at Sanglah hospital has been there since Wednesday night and is suspspected of having meningitis. The patient has been known to consume lawar ( Balinese delicacy with ingredients that include raw pork) When Sujana’S son, who asked to remain anonymous was met at Sanglah Hospital on Sunday (Mar. 12), he said that his father indeed likes to eat lawar. IN fact Sujana had recently joined a customary ritual at a neighbour’s house where lawar was served. A week later Sujana became feverish, his neck became stiff and his white blood cell count dropped. “I was in a panic and didn’t know what else to think”, said the man from Pengayahan hamlet, Gubug, Tabanan. Sujana’s son clarified that he his father had eaten lawar in several places, including a food stall near his home, so he could not be sure which one might have transmitted meningitis to his fa-
ther. “Many stalls sell pork lawar and roasted suckling pig”, he added. What is more, apart from the many pork dish vendors in Pengayahan, many people in the area also breed pigs. “Raising a pig or two is practically synonymous with the name Balinese. These pigs however are not kept near the house”, he said. Previously, Sujana was being treated at Wisma Prasanti Hospital in Tabanan, where he was diagnosed with dengue fever. However when Sujana complained of a stiff neck the next day, he was rushed to Sanglah Hospital where he was suspected to be infected with meningitis. His blood samples have been taken to the lab to verify this suspicion but the results will only be available in 15 days. Nevertheless, Sujana has regained consciousness and his condition has improved. His son thinks that at least 4 other people in his village have also become infected with meningitis. A patient being treated adjacent to Sujana is also being treated for meningitis. (kmb42)
Not all pigs infected with meningitis suis streptococcus
DENPASAR — In 2017, a total of 20 cases of meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis meningitis bacterium were recorded in Bali. This is nothing new as such cases have occurred several times before. The last case of the bacterium in pigs being tranmited to people ws in Kubutambahan, Buleleng some 6 months ago and more recently in Sibang (Badung). However it has been confirmed that not all pigs in Bali are infected with streptococcus suis meningitis. “This infection can occur when people eat raw pork. For example, when people eat lawar ( Balinese delicacies) that contain raw pig blood and germs. Undercooked meat is also vulnerabel to infection”, said Head of the Bali Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya, in Denpasar, on Friday (Mar. 10). Suarjaya urged people not to panic even though the mortality rate due to streptococcus suis meningitis is quite high. Those who do recover can be left with residual impairment such as deafness, as the bacteria attacks the nervous system. Although there have been 20 recorded cases, Suarjaya admitted that there may
be more unreported cases. The symptoms of streptococcus suis meningitis infection are similar to that of cikungunya and JE disease namely; fever, severe headache and stiff neck. Infection of cerebral membrane (meningitis) can even cause seizures. “We have performed epidemiologic observation, dissemination of information, education and health promotion. This is quite important because the pig population in Bali is very high. So, we suggest that people not to be overly concerned as certianly not all pigs are infected. We are also asking the public to only cosume pork that has been well cooked and to not consume any raw raw pork because of the pig being eaten is infected it can be transmitted to humans” he explained. Suarjaya also called on all health practioners in Bali to alert and educate people about the risks. Originally, meningitis suis streptococcus was found in pigs. Probably, it originated from feed that containing this bacteria. So far, most cases of streptococcus suis meningitis have been ofund in Sibang, Badung. (kmb32)
AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati
British national David Taylor, front, arrives for his verdict trial in Bali, Indonesia, Monday, March 13, 2017. Indonesian judges sentenced Taylor for six years and his Australian girlfriend Sara Connor for four years in prison for the murder of an Indonesian police officer in August, 2016.
Indonesia sentences Brit, Aussie to prison in cop’s death
BALI — A court on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali on Monday sentenced a British man charged with attacking a traffic police officer and causing his death to six years in prison and his Australian girlfriend to four years. David Taylor, a dreadlocked DJ who adopted a more sober appearance for the trial, said he accepted the judge’s decision. During the trial, his girlfriend, Sara Connor, who faced the same charge, said she wasn’t an active participant in the attack. But the judges found that her role prevented the officer, Wayan Sudarsa, from defending himself. Prosecutors sought eight-year prison terms for Connor and Taylor, who were arrested last August in the death of Sudarsa, whose bloodied body was found on the beach outside the Pullman HOTEL IN the popular tourist area of Kuta.
They were charged with committing violence leading to death, which carries a maximum 12-year prison term under Indonesian law. Erwin Siregar, a lawyer for Connor, said an appeal was being considered. “It seems she doesn’t accept the sentence, but has not yet decided whether to appeal,” Siregar said. “My position is that we have to appeal. We will meet in next two or three days to decide.” The 34-year-old Taylor, who promoted himself as DJ Nutzo, admitted hitting the Indonesian man repeatedly with a cellphone, binoculars and a broken beer
bottle, leaving him face down and unconscious. But he said he didn’t realize Sudarsa would die. Connor, 46, and Taylor were drinking beer on the beach in the hours before the late-night incident. Taylor said he got into a fight with Sudarsa, who was on duty, after Connor realized she had lost her handbag and accused Sudarsa of being a fake police officer and stealing it. Bali, famous for its Hindu culture, lush interior and white sand beaches, is Indonesia’s highest-profile tourist island and a particular magnet for holiday makers from Australia. (ap)
2
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Visits to Pancasari Agro-tourism decrease after floods.
SINGARAJA — The flash floods that hit the region of Pancasari, Sukasada, not long ago not only disrupted local farmers fields but also caused the number of tourists who visit agri-tourism site sin the area to plummet. In order to prevent things from spiralling downwards, the district government is expected to accelerate the restauration of the environment. Agri-tourism operator, Gede Adi Mustika, said that the floods in December 2016 and mid-February made tourists reluctant to visit. During the holidays, Mustika would see 100 -200 visitors per day, whereas now he is lucky to see 10 or 20 a day. “ Agriculture has become topsy-turvy. Today, we only had 3 visitors” he said on Sunday (Mar. 12). The measures being taken to restore the environment need to be finalized as soon as possible said Mustika. This requires serious support from the government so that the reputation of Pancasari as an agriculture haven does not fade into memory. “Tourism is important to this area. We would like to see post disaster restoration accelerated. The central government should also be contacted” , he said. In addition to the attention to the environment, increasing the number of tourists who visit this region of fresh cool air also needs to have an attractive icon. The district government has been organizing a yearly art festival at Lake Bunyan for the last few years. However it does not appear to be very serious as the surrounding community has yet to feel an positive impact from this festival. “ In future, it needs to be further developped and an icon is needed to interest potential visitors” said Mustika. He added that the development of agricultural tourism is often spoken of by the district government and Pancasari is considered to be strategic place to do be developped. However, the implementation of this development needs to worked on with the cooperation of relevant agencies. “ Prior to the emergence of discussion about agri-tourism by the government, Pancasari already had agri-tourism sites”, he added. (kmb45)
Thai parliament discusses tourism issues
DENPASAR — Tourism in Thailand draws larger numbers of visitors than Bali tourism does. However the land of the white elephant is still looking to Bali to learn how to promote tourism. Members ot Thailand’s parliament even revealed that Thailand and Bali face similar issues in terms of traffic congestion and transportation-based online applications. “My arrival to Indonesia is aimed at improving ties with the government of Indonesia. I first made a visit to Bali’s local government and want to learn how to promote tourism as Bali is the most attractive destination for travellers”, said President of the National Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E Prof. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, during his visit to the Bali House of Representatives, on Sunday (Mar. 12). According to Wichitcholchai, Thailand and Bali have similar cultures. In addition, Bali also has many beautiful beaches. He added that he hopes that they can work on cooperating in the tourism sector. “We also have the same problems as Bali in the matter of transportation and traffic congestion because many unregistered vehicles are still taking unfair business advantages” he added in attendance along with nine other members of parliament (MP). Member of Commission II of the Bali House of Representatives, A.A. Ngurah Adhi Ardhana, said that Bali put has great hope in the development and advancement of tourism based on tradition and culture. Deputy Chairman of the Bali House of Representatives, I Nyoman Sugawa Korry, added that Bali has a very strong tradition so people respect and appreciate their culture. Bali is the biggest foreign exchange earner in the field of tourism. Chairman of the Bali House of Representatives, Nyoman Adi Wiryatama, said that Bali not only has problems with traffic congestion and online transportation, but has also been seeing a continued decline in the length of stay of visitors. “We have a problem with our tourism, especially regarding shorter lengths of stay, that are down to an average 3 days. Of course, we share this experience of how to make visitors linger longer”, he said. Wiryatama added that Bali really needs to learn from Thailand related to preparing tourism-supporting infrastructure. Thailand has managed to establish a good airport, seen though the city has the same problems.(kmb32)
Bali News
International
International
Bali optimistic about attracting more middle-eastern travelers
Meliá Hotels International has announced the opening of Sol House Bali Legian, a brand new lifestyle hotel catering directly to the a an emerging market of young, affluent party tourists who aspire to catered unique experiences. Located in Legian on the west coast of Bali, Sol House Bali Legian, with its modern design, lively atmosphere and beach club vibe, is the
DENPASAR —
The King of the Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud’s visit to Bali came to an end on Sunday (Mar. 12). Though the visit only lasted 9 days, the presence of the King has opened a golden opportunity for tourism in the Island of the Gods. The government of Bali si particularly optimistic about promoting tourism to Saudi Arabia. So far Bali has not been very successful at attracting visitors from the region of the Middle East. in promoting Bali to the Middle East, even though Saudi Arabia in particular is a potential market for Bali tourism. According to the Bali Tourism Office’s data, the number of visitors form the Saudi Arabia has been increasing over the last 5 years, though it is still not amongst the top ten countries that visit Bali. “There was an average 38.37 percent increase in the number of visitors form Saudia Arabia between 2010 and 2016 – from 2,860 Saudi tourists in 2012 to 10, 243 in 2016”, he explained. Saudi travellers, continued Cok Bagus, have strong purchasing power with an average expenditure of USD 1,800 compared to the global average which according to the UNWTO is USD 1, 200. Apart from their strong purchasing power, their average length of stay is also the highest at 10.08 days. “They commonly take
their holidays during the in the pilgrimage season and during their summer. The government of Bali plans to work more seriously in this potential market”, added Pemayun. When interviewed separately, Chairman of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives, Nengah Tamba, revealed his optimism about drawing in more visitors from the Middle East sayign that improvements to infrastructure are needed. Tamba also said that he believes that now that King Salman has visited that more visitors from that part of the world will be coming to Bali. “After King Salman returns home, there will be many stories. He and his entourage will campaign in his country and on social media. We need to set up a place with Middle Eastern culinary specialties and Arab speaking tour guides are also needed”, he said. (kmb32)
WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS EVERY SATURDAY Meditation class by Mangku Budi Dharma 14-16:30 Bona, Blahbatuh meet at Ubud Cocomarket at 13:00 Saturday Market Oldman’s Cafe Canggu, Batu Bolong Beach, pottery fresh produce, clothing Sand Beach Club and Restaurant, Sanur Every second Saturday Biasa Art Space, Jl. Raya Seminyak 24, Seminyak, Fresh produce, potted plants, meat pie, sshie, coffee and more. Every Saturday 9AM-2PM OrganIc Farmer’s Market Pizza Bagus (Jl. Pengosekan), Ubud EVERY SUNDAY Soul to soul spirituall dialogue Anand Ashram, Ubud Jl Sri Wedari KM 3 Mantra chanting 6-6:30pm Navaraha Arati 6:30-6:45pm Meditation, Satsang and celebration 6:45-8:30pm www.ubudashram.org SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud
Presidential Palace Photographer/Agus Suparto/Handout via REUTERS
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (R) watches as former president Megawati Sukarnoputri and her daughter Puan Maharani, a minister in his cabinet, take a selfie with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman (C) at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia March 2, 2017 in this photo taken by Presidential Palace Photographer.
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
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
15
Meliá Hotels International Opens Sol House Bali Legian
After King Salman’s visit
“Logically, if the king comes here, his people will also want to come to visit”, said Secretary of the Bali Tourism Office, Cokorda Bagus Pemayun, in Denpasar on Sunday (Mar. 12). According to Cok Bagus, King Salman’s decision to extend his holiday in Bali is especially positive as it shows that King Salman and his entourage really enjoyed and felt comfortable spending their holidays in Bali. Pemayun is confident that previous difficulties in promoting Bali tourism to the Middle East will be much more easily overcome now that King Salman has visited. “King Salman’s visit is like free promotion and can boost the image of Bali tourism in the eyes of the international community, particularly to potential tourists form the Middle East” ,he explained. Cok Bagus added that so far cultural background has been an obstacle
Activities
12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery
perfect choice for modern travellers looking for an unforgettable and exciting vacation. Sol House Bali Legian marks the first Sol House hotel in Asia and the seventh Meliá Hotels International property open in Indonesia, thus further strengthening Meliá’s already strong presence in the country. With 136 brand new rooms with modern design, interiors feature graffiti by local
street artist Quint, and enticing pool views. The New Cool spot in Bali’s most vibrant hub to play and unwind; world-famous DJs playing above the over-sized rooftop whirlpool, private sunset sessions over cocktails, laid-back island atmosphere, VIP live gigs and much more!Jl. Sriwijaya No.16, Legian, Kuta Bali | Ph: +62 361 475 2999 | www.sol-hotels.com
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
16 Pages Number 52 9th year
Price: Rp 3.000,-
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
‘Kong: Skull Island’ Rules With Mighty $61 Million Debut
LOS ANGELES - “Kong: Skull Island” emerged victorious after a battle of the beasts that pitted the giant ape movie against the Wolverine’s last stand. Cresting a wave of good reviews, “Kong: Skull Island” topped the domestic box office, racking up a mighty $61 million. That handily beat estimates, which had “Kong: Skull Island” debuting to between $45 million and $50 million. King Kong’s roar didn’t totally drown out Wolverine’s berserker rage. In its second weekend, Fox’s “Logan” dropped 58% to $37.8 million, pushing its stateside total to $152.6 million. The R-rated comic book adventure is Hugh Jackman’s swan song as Wolverine after nearly two decades playing the X-Men team member. “Kong: Skull Island” gets bragging rights for topping expectations, but the film isn’t out of the woods yet. It cost a hefty $185 million to produce, which means that it will need to be a hit overseas if Legendary and Warner Bros., the studios behind the film, want to make a profit. On the domestic front, “Kong: Skull Island” is also staring down Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” a live-action fairy tale that is expected to premiere to as much as $120 million next weekend. That will likely suck up most
of the oxygen in the multiplexes, making it difficult for other films to keep drawing in big crowds. Legendary and Warner Bros. have grand ambitions for King Kong. The film is the second installment in a planned monster franchise. The first chapter, 2014’s “Godzilla,” opened to $93.2 million in the States before topping out at $529.1 million globally. The plan is for King Kong and Godzilla to meet in an epic showdown of primordial creatures at some point in the not-too-distant future. “The movie is pure fun and that’s translating into the box office,” said Jeff Goldstein, domestic distribution chief at Warner Bros. He went on to predict that the film would benefit from rolling spring breaks that will see more than 20% of the nation’s schoolchildren on vacation and looking for something to occupy their time. The opening weekend crowd for the film was 56% male and 35% under the age of 25. Imax showings accounted for $7.5 million worth of ticket sales. Because of its massive production and marketing costs, “Kong: Skull Island” will need to do roughly $500 million worldwide to be considered a success. To that end, the film debuted to $81.6 million in 65 foreign markets. A lot is riding on how the movie performs in China, the world’s second-largest film market. “Kong: Skull Island” opens in the Middle Kingdom in two weeks.
Obama books to be published worldwide, from Ireland to India
NEW YORK — The publishing of the upcoming books by Barack and Michelle Obama will be a global event. Penguin Random House announced Monday that it has lined up publishers from Ireland to South Africa for the two books, to be released by the Crown imprint in the U.S. and Canada. Titles and release dates have not been announced. The advance from Penguin Random House for the former president and first lady, whose popularity extends well beyond the U.S., is widely believed to be tens of millions of dollars. Penguin Random House acquired the books jointly last month. The publisher has Spanish-language editions planned for Spain, Mexico and several countries in South America. English editions will come out in the United Kingdom, Australia, India and elsewhere. Deals for other countries are still pending. (ap)
Set in the waning days of the Vietnam War, “Kong: Skull Island” exchanges embassy helicopter rescues for oversized primates looming large against a fog-encrusted jungle setting. Jordan Vogt-
Roberts, who made a splash with the Sundance favorite “Kings of Summer,” directed the picture, with Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brie Larson heading up an ensemble cast. Critics embraced the
e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
decision to give an “Apocalypse, Now” sheen to the oft-filmed story of King Kong, with Variety’s Owen Gleiberman hailing it as “a rousing and smartly crafted primordialbeastie spectacular.” (rtr)
AP Photo/Vincent Thian
North Korean flag flutters behind razor wire on top of a wall at North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, March 13, 2017. Malaysia’s Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam said the government will give relatives of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged half brother two to three weeks to claim his body before deciding what to do with it.
REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Director of the movie Jordan Vogt-Roberts (R) poses with cast members Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson at the premiere of “Kong: Skull Island” in Los Angeles, California, U.S. March 8, 2017.
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 10 Malaika Scret Jl. D.Poso No 68 11 Snack Shack Jl. D.Poso No. 50D 12 Warung Lokal Jl. D.Poso No. 39 13 Cokro Cafee Jl. D.Poso Sanur 14 T.J.Bar Jl. D.Poso Sanur 15 J & N Kebab Jl. D.Poso Sanur 16 Goanna Bar Jl. D.Poso Sanur 17 Batu Jimbar Jl. D.Tamblingan Sanur
18 Ramayana Cafee 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
Malaysia says it will give Kim’s family time to claim body KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s health minister said Monday that the government will give relatives of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s estranged half brother two to three weeks to claim his body before deciding what to do with it. Malaysian authorities say Kim Jong Nam died after two women smeared his face with the banned VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur’s airport on Feb. 13, but North Korea — which is widely suspected to be behind the attack — rejects the findings. North Korea has demanded the body back from Day One and objected to Malaysia’s autopsy. Pyongyang also has refused to acknowledge that Kim Jong Nam was the victim and has referred to him as Kim Chol, the name on the passport Kim was carrying when he was attacked in a crowded airport terminal. On Friday, Malaysian police confirmed that Kim Chol and Kim
Jong Nam was the same person, but refused to say how they identified Kim. “Now with the positive identification of the body, we are told that he had a wife or wives and children,” Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam told reporters on Monday. “So we hope that those people will respond and come forward to claim the body. In the absence of that, then we will ad-
dress it as a government ... in trying to find how we are going to take the next step.” “I think after identification, we’ll give ourselves about two to three weeks to solve the problem,” he said. The body is being kept at a morgue at a Kuala Lumpur hospital. Since Kim’s death, relations between the two countries have steadily deteriorated, with each expelling the other’s ambassador. Continued to page 6
News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http://globalfmbali.listen2myradio. com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.