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 30 10th year
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Japanese pop group chants cryptocurrency choruses TOKYO - A Japanese pop group hopped on the bitcoin bandwagon on Friday, dedicating themselves to singing and dancing about the cryptocurrencies that have taken the world by storm, and especially their homeland. In their debut, the eight “Virtual Currency Girls”, or Kasotsuka Shojo in Japanese, cavorted in maid costumes with frilly skirts and fullface professional wrestling-style masks with fuzzy pom-pom ears, extolling the virtues of decentralised digital currencies such as bitcoin. “They’re so convenient you kind of have to wonder why we didn’t have them before,” said Rara Naruse, 18, the group’s leader. “We want everyone to learn more about them.” Each group member adopted the guise of a different cryptocurrency, offering a brief self-introduction to 20 fans gathered at the venue in downtown Tokyo. Then they launched into “The Moon, Cryptocurrencies and Me”, a stirring anthem incorporating lines such as “Be careful about
your password! Don’t use the same one!” to warn against the dangers of trading cryptocurrency, and also more obscure ones, in English, such as “Hot day, forget myself, go to the moon.” Naruse emphasized on the group’s website that it is not out to promote investment, but rather to teach people about cryptocurrencies in an entertaining way. The maid costumes aimed to raise the group’s popularity with the use of a globally recognisable “uniform,” she added. Naturally, all merchandise sold at the venue is paid for in bitcoin, as are concert tickets and the members’ salaries. “I know absolutely nothing about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but I want to make sure I have some on hand for further concerts and to buy merchandise,” said fan Kensaku Nagao, 46. Japan and South Korea are home to some of the bigger digital exchanges, with investors piling in as growth in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies soared last year, provoking regulators’ concerns. (rtr)
REUTERS
Members of Japan’s idol group “Virtual Currency Girls”.
Cast member Dwayne Johnson attends a news conference promoting his new film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” in Beijing, China, January 4, 2018.
‘Jumanji’ Dominates MLK Weekend, ‘The Post’ Leads Newcomers REUTERS/Jason Lee
LOS ANGELES - Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is dominating the North American box office to easily win the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with about $33.4 million at 3,849 sites, estimates showed Sunday. Fox’s “The Post” is leading the rest of the pack handily and topped forecasts with $22.2 million at 2,819 locations for FridayMonday after expanding from 36 sites. The opening of Lionsgate’s Liam Neeson’s thriller “The Commuter” also topped expectations in third place with $16 million at 2,892 venues. The fifth weekend of DisneyLucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” with $14.7 million at 3,090 sites is fourth and Fox’s fourth weekend of “The Greatest Showman” with $14.5 million at 2,938 screens takes fifth place at the holiday box office. Warner. Bros.’ launch of family comedy “Paddington 2” was battling for sixth place with Uni-
versal’s second weekend of “Insidious: The Last Chapter” with about $14.1 million each. Sony’s launch of action-thriller “Proud Mary” came in eighth with $12 million at 2,125 sites followed by Universal’s fourth weekend of “Pitch Perfect” with $6.7 million at 2,505 sites and Focus Features’ eighth weekend of “Darkest Hour” with $5.7 million at 1,693 venues. Overall business was solid rather than spectacular with a fourday total in the $190 million range, according to comScore. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which will finish the holiday with nearly $290 million in 29 days, now ranks as the eighth highest grosser released in 2017. “’Jumanji’ has in essence hit
the reset button and is now behaving more like a film in its second weekend rather than its fourth,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with comScore. “In the wake of a startling late run ascension to the number one spot, ‘Jumanji’ continues to energize the early 2018 box office marketplace while this weekend taking on a host of wide release newcomers.” Disney noted Sunday that “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” had reached a worldwide total of $1.264 billion, topping Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” ($1.263 billion) and Universal’s “The Fate of the Furious” ($1.236 billion) to become the top global release of 2017 and the tenth-highest global release of all time. (rtr)
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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Workers and security examine the damage after a mezzanine floor collapsed at the Indonesia Stock Exchange building in Jakarta, Indonesia January 15, 2018 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.
Scores injured as Indonesia stock exchange building lobby floor collapses
JAKARTA - A mezzanine floor overlooking the main lobby of the Indonesian Stock Exchange building collapsed on Monday, injuring scores of people, many of them students, under slabs of concrete and other debris. The high-rise building, constructed in the late 1990s, is part of a twotower complex in the heart of the financial district and houses dozens of other offices including the World Bank. It was the target of a car bombing by Islamist militants in September 2000. Police ruled out a bomb as a cause of Monday’s collapse. They said more than 70 people had been injured, but no deaths had been reported. Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan visited the site and said the city will “audit the building”, which was last inspected by authorities in May. “I have conveyed to the building’s management that the audit of the construction should start tonight so that the activities of the
stock exchange are not disturbed,” Baswedan told reporters. Safety standards are often loosely enforced in Indonesia. Last year, a fire that ripped through a fireworks factory on the outskirts of Jakarta killed around 50 people in one of the country’s worst industrial accidents. A police investigation found multiple safety violations. Many of the injured were university students who were on the mezzanine floor when it collapsed.
“There was a rumbling noise but it wasn’t an explosion. It was like something had fallen, and suddenly the floor we were standing on fell away,” said student Alfita, 20, who uses one name. She escaped with light bruises. Dramatic CCTV footage aired on television showed a floor shearing away in a matter of seconds under the students. Reuters could not immediately authenticate the video. “Slabs of concrete started to
fall, there was lots of dust. Water pipes had burst,” said Megha Kapoor, who works in the building and was in the lobby at the time. Police cordoned off the complex as people fled the building and the more seriously injured were taken away by stretcher. Triana Tambunan, business development manager at MRCC Siloam hospital, one of the hospitals near the building, said 30 people had been admitted so far. Victims were being treated at four hospitals. “The bone fractures may be serious. We need to carry out further evaluations,” she said, adding there were at least three suspected fractures.
Stock exchange president director Tito Sulistio said the exchange would pay for the treatment of the visiting students. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she hoped the collapse would not affect investor confidence in the tropical Southeast Asian archipelago. The exchange resumed business in the afternoon as per schedule. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Bali News
International
3,167 residents remain in evacuation in Rendang
Entering peak of rainy season
Public appeal to beware of strong winds
MANGUPURA —Bali is currently entering the peak of the rainy season. In the next three days there I the potential for moderate to heavy rain in the daytime in Cenral Bali, East Bali and West Bali. Night rains are likely to occur in southern Bali. When contacted on Sunday (Jan. 14), the forecaster on duty of the National Weather Service (BBMKG) for Region III Denpasar, Lia, said wind conditions have increased over the past several days, but have been brief. .“The wind spreeds vary. On average, they blow at about 30-40 km / hour for a few minutes”, she said. She explained, that the short burst of high winds are normal especially during the rainy season. People are however being asked to to be aware of the potential for heavy rains, strong winds and lightening. “Normally, the current wind conditions are in the range of 5-20 km per hour. This can however suddenly change as winds suddenly increase followed by rain – or not”, she explained. Responding to these conditions, the BBMKG for Region III Denpasar has issued an appeal to to the public to remain aware of the potential for sudden strong winds that last for a short period of time. On Sunday afternoon (Jan. 14) around 14:30, strong winds that lasted for a few minutes caused stall vendors on Jalan Batu Mejan, Echo Beach to have their merchandise flown about by the wind. In addition to wind, Lia said that there has also been an increase in sea waves in the waters of southern Bali with waves reaching as high as 3.5 meters. “This has been happening for the last two days”, she added. (kmb23)
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The Dokar in Denpasar
To support Heritage City Tour
Free decorated gig ride continues
DENPASAR —The Denpasar Heritage City Tour’s ornamented ‘gig’ ride has been welcomed by residents of Denpasar. The ‘gig’ is a traditional means of transportation that the Municipality of Denpasar is using to cater to tourists. Since the ‘gig tour’ was officially launched in October 2017, foreign tourists and even local residents of Denpasar have been enjoying the gig as a way to visit the city. . Seeing the enthusiasm that the gig ride has elicited from both tourists and local people, the Municipality of Denpasar through the Denpasar Tourism Office decided to provide free gig rides throughout 2018 on Saturdays and Sundays at 09:00 – 15:00. Mayor of Denpasar, Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, said that the ornamental ‘gig’ has a been a real breakthrough in drawing tourists. “I think it is the right thing to do. We still have traditional means of transporta-
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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B Hotel and Spa offer unfogetable
After dangerous radius reduced to 6 km
AMLAPURA —After the dangerous radius for Mount Agung was reduced by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) from 10 km to 6 km, thousands of people have returned home from their refuge in the subdistrict of Rendang. There are however still thousands of people who are still living in evacuation posts scateres across several villages. Subdistrict head of Rendang, I Wayan Mastra, said on Sunday (Jan. 14) that following the PVMBG ‘s recommendation to reduce the dangerous radius from 10 km to 6 km few days ago, quite a lot of people returned to their homes located outside of the 6 km zone. Of the 7,000 or so people who were evacuated to 5 villages in Rendang most have returned home but there are also many who remain in evacuation posts. “They consist of 167 evacuees in Pempatan village, 82 in Menanga village, 1,716 in Rendang 993 in Nongan village and 209 in Pesanan village. So the total number of the evacuees now in Rendang subdistrict is 3,167 people”, he said. Mastra explained that everyone who returned home did so because they considered it safe to go back to their village. The camp officers did not compel anyone to leave, though people from villages within the 6 km radius have been advised to remain in evacuation as there is still the possibility of a risk for their villages. “They indeed went home on their own, transporting their luggage using their own car or that of a relative and some people even went home on motorcycle”, he said Mastra added that the number of evacuees is likely to decrease. Many people whose villages are located with the 6 kilometer radius that is considered dangerous will remain in the refuge as they are afraid to return home given that Mount Agung is still active and an eruption could happen again at any time. “For the time being (Sunday—Ed), there are no reports of of other people returning home, but we cannot say for sure what will happen tomorrow. It is possible that more people from areas outside of the 6 km radius will return home if they feel it safe to do so. We are still facilitating everyone who remains in the evacuation posts”, added Mastra. (kmb41)
Activities
International
tion that need to be preserved. Gig coachmen who had been out of work are excited to do their job again. We are supporting this profession”, he explained. Similar opinion was also conveyed by Deputy Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, who said: “Through this program, coachmen can do their job again as they did long ago, so I really appreciate that about this program. Also visiting Denpasar by gig makes a holiday really nice”, he said. Head of the Denpasar Tourism
Office, Dezire Mulyani, said she will carry on this program as an innovative development of tourism in Denpasar. “On Saturdays and Sundays, the ornamental gig will grace Denpasar with free rides”. Hopefully tourists and others will take advantage of it”, she said. The Denpasar Heritage City Tour offers a tour of destinations that include the temple, palace and market as well as performances such as traditional dance, gamelan and mejejahitan (preparation of offerings). (kmb12)
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
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Science
International
Chinese ‘rainbow dinosaur’ had iridescent feathers like hummingbirds
WASHINGTON - There’s not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There’s an iridescent dinosaur. Scientists on Monday announced the discovery of a crow-sized, bird-like dinosaur with colorful feathers from northeastern China that lived 161 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. They named it Caihong, the Mandarin word for rainbow. Microscopic structures in the exquisitely preserved, nearly complete fossil unearthed in Hebei Province indicated that it boasted iridescent feathers, particularly on its head, neck and chest, with colors that shimmered and shifted in the light, like those of hummingbirds. The discovery “suggests a more colorful Jurassic World than we previously imagined,” said evolutionary biologist Chad Eliason of the Field Museum in Chicago, one of the researchers in the study published in the journal Nature Communications. Using powerful microscopes, t h e scientists detected
within the feathers the remnants of organelles called melanosomes responsible for pigmentation. Their shape determines the color. Caihong’s feathers had pancake-shaped melanosomes similar to those of hummingbirds with iridescent feathers. Much of its body had dark feathers, but ribbon-like iridescent feathers covered its head and neck. While it possessed many bird-like characteristics, the researchers doubted it could actually get airborne. Its plumage could have attracted mates while also providing insulation. Caihong was a two-legged predator with a Velociraptor-like skull and sharp teeth, probably hunting small mammals and lizards. It had crests above its eyes that looked like bony eyebrows.
Many dinosaurs possessed feathers. Birds evolved from small feathered dinosaurs near the end of the Jurassic Period. Caihong had fuzzy feathers and pennaceous ones, those that look like writing quills. It is the earliest-known creature with asymmetrical feathers, a trait used by birds to steer when flying. Caihong’s were on its tail, suggesting tail feathers, not arm feathers, were first utilized for aerodynamic locomotion. “It is extremely similar to some early birds such as Archaeopteryx,” said paleontologist Xing Xu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, referring to the earliest-known bird, which lived 150 million years ago. “Its forelimbs were configured like wings. To be honest, I am not sure what function the feathers have, and I don’t think that you can completely exclude the possibility that the feathers helped the animal to get in the air.” (rtr)
An illustration of a reconstruction of the iridescent dinosaur which had rainbow feathers, named Caihong juji, unearthed in China, is shown in this October 31, 2016 photo released on Jan. 15, 2018.
Bali News
International
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Tegenungan waterfall still overflowing
Tourists banned from visiting
IBP/net
A total of 31 small satellites were launched into space on Friday. More than half of the micro and nano satellites were for the Unites States, and the remainder India, Canada, Finland, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
India sends its 100th satellite into space to watch borders
NEW DELHI - India launched its 100th satellite on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to project the country as a global low-cost provider of services in space. A total of 31 small satellites were launched into space on Friday. More than half of the micro and nano satellites were for the Unites States, and the remainder India, Canada, Finland, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom. “The launch of the 100th satellite by @ isro signifies both its glorious achievements and also the bright future of India’s space programme,” Modi said on Twitter. India’s space programme has a budget of around $4 billion and Modi’s government hopes the latest launches will improve its prospects of winning a larger share of the more than $300 billion global space industry. Modi’s government has been promoting a domestic space programme as a demonstration of low-cost technology and last February launched 104 satellites in a single mission, most of them for foreign customers. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) used its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40), part of an advanced remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2 series or “eye in the sky”, for the Friday launch from Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state at 9.28 a.m. (3:58 GMT). The rocket weighs about 1,323 kgs, said a senior official at state-run ISRO, who did not wish to be named. India will use its latest satellites for better border surveillance and obtaining high resolution images of the earth. “PSLV-C40 is a highly sophisticated surveillance tool to keep an eye on Indian borders and will help the government track progress of infrastructure projects,” said Pallava Bagla, a science writer and co-author of “Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey to Mars.” Two scientists at ISRO said images collected by the satellites will be used by the Indian security agencies to track military activities in neighbouring Pakistan, China, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Nepal. (rtr)
GIANYAR — Tegenungan waterfalls in Kemenuh village, Sukawati, were still overflowing as of Friday (Jan 12). The management of the site have therefore have therefor banned tourist from going down to the 30 meter-high waterfalls so visitors have to be content to view the waterfalls from the perch some distance away. Chief operator of Tegenungan waterfall, I Gusti Made Raka, said on Friday (Jan. 12) that ongoing heavy rains are to blame for the closure of the site as the flooding river can be dangerous. After just a few hours of heavy rain, he said the river floods over. “There has been flooding on and off for the last month. If there is heavy rain up north the river is sure to flood even if there is not rain here”, he said. Even though visitors cannot go down to the foot of the Tegunungan waterfalls, Raka explained that the site is still open to visitors. “There are both foreign and domestic visitors everyday”, he said. Raka explained that visitors are however restricted to viewing the waterfalls from above. “We consider it dangerous to go down to the river, but people can still enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area:, he explained. Apart from the strong currents of the river, the area around the waterfalls are also dangerous now as heavy rains mean that the land around the falls can be quite unstable. “During a rainy season like, the land around the waterfalls because very unstable. We are just trying to prevent unwanted things from happening”, he said. The biggest flooding, said Raka, occurred on Saturday and Sunday (Jan 6-7), when the volume of water in waterfalls increased many times over. The extremely large volume of water caused a number of tourism facilities to be washed away by the river current. “In all the years we have been managing these falls, there has never been such a big flood”, he said. The water also washed away several stalls south of the waterfall attraction. “Total losses form the flooding amount to the tens of millions of rupiah”, explained Raka. (kmb35)
Penglipuran village, one of tourism villages in Bangli.
IBP/kmb
Tourism villages in Bangli seem to run separately
BANGLI — The existence of tourism villages in Bangli seems to run on their own. This condition is inseparable from the lack of support given by district government of Bangli in the development of tourism villages. This was said by Chairman of the Bangli House of Representatives, Ngakan Kutha Parwata, on Sunday (Jan. 14).
IBP/kmb35
Tegenungan waterfalls in Kemenuh village, Sukawati, were still overflowing.
Kutha Parwata mentioned there are 26 tourism villages in Bangli. He considered the tourism villages in Bangli are not running optimally. Only a few villages are developing. According to him, this happens because the support of Bangli district in terms of facilities and infrastructural development is minimal. “Now, there is impression if the tourism villages are running independently,” he said. He said the potential in the tourism village arising from the bottom should be addressed by relevant agencies. This politician from Bangbang village mentioned that in developing the tourism village, one of the supports that can be given by district government is in the form of infrastructural improvement. To support the tourism village,
the existence of regional agencies in the district government of Bangli must make a synergy. It cannot be handled by single agency namely the tourism and culture agency. For example, to improve road infrastructure, it must be handled by the Public Works Agency while the landscaping must be assisted by the Environment Agency. He admitted that his institution strongly supports the existence of tourism village in Bangli as proved by proposing the budget allocation for the formation of tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) in 2017. Through the Pokdarwis, tourism villages have been given training. In the meantime, the Division Head of Object Development of the Bangli Tourism and Culture Agency, Wayan Bona, when
confirmed last Sunday said that related to the existence of the tourism village, the district government of Bangli has facilitated by providing legal instrument that the village concerned has the status as tourism village. Meanwhile, the development is carried out by the respective tourism village. According to regent regulation related to tourism village, he said, the construction of supporting facilities for the development of tourism village can use the village allocation fund (ADD) owned by each village. “Associated with the assets, we have difficulties. Moreover, this asset must be clear. To be safe, the village is free to build its own as long as it has the status of tourism village,” said Bona. (kmb40)
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Bali News
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Surviving with pandanus bags and bamboo products
DENPASAR — Since 1970, most of the residents of Belega village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, have bamboo furniture business. For nearly three decades, the village is triumphing over its bamboo products. Every day the shops along Jalan Raya Belega are visited by foreign tourists happening to pass by. There are always shops stopped in by container trucks to transport handicraft items.
It is the main route frequently passed when guests go to various areas in Bali. Unfortunately, after the construction of bypass road, the path is rarely passed again. Coupled with the Bali bombing incident, the art shops around the area are increasingly slumped. Visitors rarely dropped in the art shops. This condition also happens to the art shop belonging to the parents of Ni Kadek Ana Yuliani. Her parents’ art shop formerly became the target of guests because of their furniture products. Various products made from bamboo, pandanus and coconut shell are in line at the art shops. The products include food and drink container, glass of coconut shell, keben (plaited basket), ritual paraphernalia, lamp shade, garden lights, torch, chopsticks, tissue box, lamp holder as well as spoon of rice. By understanding the market demand, Ana continues her parents’ business by opening a new art shop. Pandanus bags and cotton bags are the flagship products. In addition to bamboo product, she also makes typical craft products from dried
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Hawaii says lack of adequate fail-safe measures led to false missile alert
HONOLULU - Human error and a lack of adequate fail-safe measures during a civil defense warning drill led to the false missile alert that stirred panic across Hawaii over the weekend, a state emergency management agency spokesman acknowledged on Sunday.
Since 1970, most of the residents of Belega village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, have bamboo furniture business. pandanus leaves of Belega village. She attempts not to leave the village characteristic. Marketing strategy by opening an art shop is not the main option. When starting the business in 2015, she starts from online. As if she could read the market trend, Ana’s product becomes well known. Until 2017, the online sales system seemed to rule the product marketing. However, after nearly three years of operation, Ana finally opened an off-line art shop.
IBP/kmb
It is done to strengthen the trust of her customers that she is a serious business player. “Now, Ana has owned an art shop, so the existing customers are more confident,” she said. Previously, with the online shop she could sell up to 10 packages of products. By opening art shop, she almost delivers some orders every day plus direct purchase to her art shop. She selects pandan bag to be a superior product because it is
unique and more eco-friendly. Thus, she just needs to bring the designs, materials and sizes to the craftsman around her home. According to her, the number of craftsmen today has reduced unlike in the 1990s. Many craftsmen already changed professions into employees and security guards. It happens because bamboo products are no longer in demand. Nevertheless, Ana does not want to leave out the craft. She is confident that her creative products can
be the economic backbone. Surely, these days her products are more in demand in the local markets and even in the circle of young people. Being an employee does not stop her from doing her creativity. Amid her office work, Ana still meets customer orders. Ultimately, she decided to stop working and focus on entrepreneurship. At the age of 26, Ana wants to become a young entrepreneur who creates job opportunities for other people around her. (kmb40)
NEGARA — Waste disposal to the beach remains to be easily found on the coast of Jembrana as in a number of business premises located on the beach at Yeh Kuning village, Jembrana and Cupel village in Negara subdistrict. A number of sewer pipes serving to dispose of waste are extended directly to the beach. Ironically, the sewer pipelines are located on the beach coincidently used as location to float cremation ashes and melasti purificatory rite. As seen on Yeh Kuning Beach, Jembrana subdistrict, the disposal pipe leading to the beach causes a coastal dam due to the wastewater disposal. As observation made last week, two medium-sized pipes
were exuding turbid and smelly water. In the vicinity of the beach near Segara Yeh Kuning Temple is often visited by local people and taken advantage as the place of nganyut or floating cremation ashes. However, amid this dark sandy beach is split by the basin becoming the drain formed by the drainage pipe to the beach. The suspected waste water is dense and smelly. Incidentally, in that afternoon, the water was flowing with a pretty striking smell. The pipe sticks out from a high-fenced building on the beach. According to residents encountered, the pipeline is suspected to be a drainage channel from shrimp ponds on the beach. The water only comes
out of the pipe in certain moment, especially after shrimp harvest. Indeed this condition has been often complained by surrounding residents, especially those who perform activities at the locations as the odor generated is quite stinging especially during disposal. In addition to Yeh Kuning Beach, a similar condition also appears at Cupel village. The water channel connected to the beach comes from shrimp farming business. Head of the Jembrana Environment Agency, I Ketut Kariadi Erawan, when asked for his confirmation via phone was not responded. When contacted again via short message was not answered, either. (kmb20)
Elaborating on the origins of Saturday’s false alarm, which went uncorrected for nearly 40 minutes, spokesman Richard Rapoza said the employee who mistakenly sent the missile alert “has been temporarily reassigned” to other duties. Rapoza said an internal investigation of the blunder would be completed by week’s end and that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency welcomed outside review by the Federal Communications Commission, which has jurisdiction over wireless U.S. alert systems. Rapoza also said that no further drills of the emergency alert system would be conducted until
new measures were put in place to reduce the chance of future false alarms and to swiftly withdraw any warnings sent in error. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said on Sunday that the agency’s probe of the incident so far suggested “reasonable safeguards or process controls” were lacking, a point that Rapoza said officials at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency did not dispute. The error occurred when, in the midst of a drill during a shift change at the agency, an employee made the wrong selection from a “drop-down” computer menu, choosing to activate a missile launch warning instead of the op-
tion for generating an internal test alert, Rapoza said. The employee, believing the correct selection had been made, then went ahead and clicked “yes” when the system’s computer prompt asked whether to proceed, Rapoza said. Governor David Ige initially said on Saturday that “an employee pushed the wrong button.” The resulting message, issued amid heightened international strains over North Korea’s development of ballistic nuclear weapons, stated: “EMERGENCY ALERT BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” (rtr)
Waste disposal on the beach rampant
IBP/olo
Waste disposal to the beach remains to be easily found on the coast of Jembrana as in a number of business premises located on the beach at Yeh Kuning village, Jembrana and Cupel village in Negara subdistrict.
Instagram/@sighpoutshrug/via REUTERS
An electronic sign reads “There is no threat” in Oahu, Hawaii, U.S., after a false emergency alert that said a ballistic missile was headed for Hawaii, in this January 13, 2018 photo obtained from social media.
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REUTERS
Migrant walks past the fence which secures the approach to the city from migrants trying to reach Britain, in Calais, France, September 21, 2016.
France expects UK to pay up, take more refugees to keep border - official
PARIS - France expects Britain to agree to take more asylum seekers and pay more for border security in order to maintain a frontier on the French side of the Channel, a French government official said. Britain’s border was extended into France under a 2003 bilateral treaty known as the Le Touquet accord. But a migration crisis and the Brexit vote to leave the European Union have made the arrangement an increasing source of friction. The deal will be on the table on Thursday when President Emmanuel Macron holds talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May at a AngloFrench summit in southern England. Asked if concrete announcements are expected at the talks, the source said: “Yes. But is it all finalised? Absolutely not.” France’s Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, who has taken the lead on talks, was quoted by the Le Parisen newspaper on Sunday saying he hoped an “additional protocol” to supplement the Le Touquet accord could be agreed upon. His comments indicated Macron has dropped a campaign promise to renegotiate the Le Touquet accord in full. “We’re still negotiating. There is back and forth. Nothing is locked in yet. The British have shaken on nothing but there’s a lot of pressure on them,” said the official familiar with Collomb’s thinking. If no deal can be struck, France could tear up the Le Touquet accord and the two countries would have to reinstate borders on each side of the English Channel, the source said, adding that this was not in the interest of either side. “Our understanding is that they will pay more. The question is how much and for what,” said the source, adding that the two sides are in daily contact ahead of the summit. “We have let them know of our
needs and a figure, we’re talking tens of millions of euros.” Some pro-Brexit lawmakers from Britain’s ruling Conservative party have branded suggestions London pay more as “absurd”. A spokesman for the British Home Office (interior ministry) said: “We work closely with the French authorities at all levels to reduce migrant pressures and target criminal gangs involved in people trafficking, both in northern France and further afield.” DETENTION CENTRE, REPATRIATIONS Macron will travel to Britain two days after visiting the northern port city of Calais, the final stopping point for migrants striving to cross the English Channel. Calais has borne the brunt of the migration crisis in France and at its peak up to 10,000 migrants squatted in a sprawling camp dubbed “The Jungle”, before former president Francois Hollande sent in bulldozers. Paris has complained that it shoulders too much of the financial burden and handles more than its share of asylum cases, while Macron said in 2016 before becoming president that there would be no migrants in Calais if the accord unravelled. Britain had paid 140 million euros ($171 million) in the past three years towards border and security infrastructure, but that this needed to be increased in the future, the official, who declined to be named, told Reuters. Other options included Britain co-financing a detention centre for illegal migrants, organising repatriation flights and assisting with expulsions, the source said. France is also asking for legal provisions to ensure Britain accepts more refugees, the official said, adding that it could take more unaccompanied minors under the terms of EU rules. (rtr)
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International
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
BUSINESS
TOKYO - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda offered a positive view on the economy and inflation on Monday, sending the yen to a four-month high against the dollar on simmering speculation it may exit its ultra-loose monetary policy earlier than expected. Financial markets ignored Kuroda’s reminder that the BOJ will maintain its massive stimulus in a sign of how nervous investors have become on when it might follow the footsteps of other central banks in dialing back crisis-mode stimulus. the government are also making more positive comments about escaping deflation. Policymakers are gradually changing their tone.” Kuroda also said a moderate economic expansion now under way will help accelerate inflation toward the BOJ’s 2 percent target, signalling its desire to maintain the status quo on monetary policy for the time being. RECOVERY BROADENING In the quarterly report, the BOJ raised its assessment for three of Japan’s nine regional economies and maintained its rosy view for the remaining six regions. The central bank said two regions were seeing their economies “expanding,” the first time it has used such an upbeat assessment for as many regions since April 2007. Shinichi Uchida, head of the BOJ’s Nagoya branch in central Japan, said conditions for wage increases were falling into place as firms face intensifying labour shortages. “We’re seeing some positive moves toward an end to deflation,” Uchida told a news conference, adding that companies were benefitting from robust domestic and overseas demand.
REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
A man stands in front of an entrance of a shopping mall nearby the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo, Japan January 15, 2018. Japan’s economy grew an annualised 2.5 percent in JulySeptember to mark a seventh straight quarter of growth thanks to robust exports and capital expenditure. Core consumer prices in November rose 0.9 percent from a year earlier, far from the BOJ’s 2 percent target but posting the 11th straight month of gains, offering policymakers some hope firms are finally starting to raise prices on brightening prospects. Japan’s economy minister
raised eyebrows last week when he talked up the government’s progress in reflating the economy and suggested it is possible to declare an end to deflation before consumer prices reach the BOJ’s inflation target. Given the rising cost of prolonged easing, such as the hit to bank profits from ultra-low interest rates, the BOJ has been sending subtle yet intentional hints it could edge away from crisis-mode policy earlier than
expected. But a small cut to its regular bond purchases last week pushed global yields and the yen higher, underscoring the challenge the BOJ faces in communicating its policy intentions. “Japan’s financial system remains stable and monetary conditions are very accommodative,” Kuroda said in the speech, holding off from repeating recent warnings about the rising cost of ultra-easy policy. (rtr)
Scotland sees big hit to its economy with no UK Brexit deal
EDINBURGH - Scotland will suffer an 8.5 percent hit to the size of its economy by 2030 if Britain leaves the European Union with no trade deal, the Scottish regional government said as it upped its calls for Britain to stay in the EU’s single market. Business investment in Scotland could fall by up to 10.2 percent, compared with continued membership of the EU, in the event of no Brexit deal, the devolved Scottish
government said in an economic impact assessment published on Monday. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who campaigned hard against Brexit, said Britain remaining in the EU’s single market, if not the bloc itself, was now the best realistic option. But it would still hurt Scotland. “If Brexit is to proceed then staying in the single market is the only option that makes sense,” she
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
5
The spiritual in Art
BOJ Kuroda’s optimism on economy, price outlook sends yen to 4-month high
The BOJ also offered its most optimistic view on regional areas of Japan in nearly a decade in a quarterly report, underscoring its conviction a broadening recovery will help accelerate inflation to its ambitious 2 percent target. Kuroda said in a speech to BOJ regional branch managers that core consumer inflation was “moving around 1 percent,” a slight change from three months ago when he said core consumer prices were around zero. “The economy is expected to continue expanding moderately,” he added, reiterating his optimism on prospects for a sustained recovery. The comments sent the dollar falling as low as 110.58 yen , as some traders bought the yen on expectations the BOJ could dial back stimulus earlier than expected - a view that heightened after a slight cut in its debt purchases last week. “Kuroda’s change in language merely reflects recent price gains, but people have become sensitive to even the subtlest difference since the BOJ cut bond purchases,” said Shuji Tonouchi, senior market economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. “Members of
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told reporters. Staying in the single market as a member of the European Economic Area would mean Scotland’s economy would be 2.7 percent smaller by 2030 than it would be if Brexit did not happen at all, Sturgeon said. “None of these options are as good as staying within the EU,” she said. Scotland’s economy represents less than a tenth of Britain’s economy as a whole.
Voters in Scotland voted to remain in the EU in the June 2016 Brexit referendum. But UK voters overall backed leaving. Monday’s report said the only credible outcome of the Brexit negotiations between Brussels and London due to take place this year was for Britain to be a member of the EEA. However, Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out Britain becoming part of the EEA which
would involve continued unrestricted freedom of movement of workers from the EU into Britain, something May has vowed to end. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has also said Britain should leave the single market. But Sturgeon said she believed his position could be changed if there was enough opposition from within Labour. (rtr)
B to B exhibition at Komaneka Gallery
Bali is well known for its wealth of arts that, until about a hundred years ago were only ever produced in the context of the spiritual practices of Balinese Hindus. Today there is a flourishing art scene outside of this context that tends however to be overlooked, with attention more often going to “traditional style paintings” or the semi-mass produced art created for the tourist market. Contemporary Balinese art is sometimes dismissed as lacking conceptual depth as critical theory is seldom used as a direct reference and with aesthetics playing such a dominant role. Upon closer investigation however one may find immeasurable depth to these paintings and an implicit understanding of contemporary issues – both political and aesthetic that are perhaps hard to read by those accustomed to the visual lexicon of western art that has increasing moved away from the spiritual in art. Spiritual can be defined as viewing things from the perspective of the awareness of extremely long cycles of time, the inclusive nature of the universe and the interconnection of all things. So art that is created with a spiritual basis may still address contemporary issues, however it will do so from a broader perspective. The B to B exhibition currently on at Komaneka Gallery in Ubud, brings to light some of the differences as well as similarities in art works produced based on mental constructs versus art works produced from a more intuitive approach. This exhibition is the second time that these 5 artists form Bali ( Nyoman Diwarupa, Ketut Suasana “Kabul”, Nyoman Sujana “Kenyem”, Putu Bonuz SUdiana, Wayan Suastama) and 5 artists from Batu, East Java( Rifai’i, Bambang BP, Isa Ansory, Heri Catur Prasetya, Suwandi Waeng) hold a group exhibition together. As writer S. Susanto says of the exhibition “Bali and Java have a long history of cultural exchange and this exhibition bears witness to the ongoing exchange of ideas and aesthetics between the people of these two places. There is a ongoing dialogue between the artists of these two places, sharing ideas, and forms while maintaining distinct characteristics”. One of the reasons that Balinese culture remains so distinctive is that the basic values that inform its visual manifestations are firmly maintained. These values are intimately tied to the spiritual practices of the Balinese and the arts that play such an important role in these practices. With so many people sharing an agreed meaning to even the smallest of gestures, shapes and colors, a visual lexicon is available to artists here in a way that is seldom found elsewhere.
So while to the outside observer this visual lexicon may appear to be simply ornamental with repetitive iterations of the same content without any reference to current issues, closer investigation may reveal a much deeper understanding. Art in Java shares many of these qualities; however there tends to be increasing attention given to more globally understood means of communication. Art is essentially a feeling based medium -regardless of the form or message being conveyed. By using a different lexicon - one that lean heavily on intricacy, does not mean that concept has been neglected in favour of craftsmanship. It simply means that craftsmanship is being used not just as ornament, but also as a sophisticated language in itself. If I use my logical analytical mind to read the painting by Javanese artist Suwandi Waeng entitled The First Leaf that depicts plastic waste rendered in a hyperrealist style but utilized to depict an abstract composition, from the perspective of a more globally understood visual-conceptual language, I am moved by the beauty of the concept as well as the aesthetic beauty of the painting. Aesthetically the painting is pleasing with a balanced composition and rich colors composed in such a way that evokes natural forms, like a bird or crashing waves. The mental dissonance created by beauty being contrasted with what I know to be plastic garbage invites me to ponder the issue of plastic waste. The tension between hyper-realism and abstraction also opens a space for further questions about the role of art itself. I would thus call this a very good painting. If however I read this same painting from a perspective that prioritizes aesthetic beauty as a manifestation of the creative force of life and try to read into the spiritual meaning of the gestures shapes and colors, from the culturally agreed upon meaning that these hold in Bali, I may find myself slightly disappointed or at a loss of connection with deeper feelings or spiritual context. Without placing such a high value on logical concepts, an art work that leans more heavily on concept than on feelings could be called good but not great, because
Painting by Balinese artist in B to B exhibition at Komaneka Gallery, Ubud its aesthetic power falls slightly short without the support of the analytic, logical implications. Similarly if I look at the painting entitled Agung Mountain by Balinese artist Ketut Suasana “Kabul”, which depicts smoke coming out of the active Mount Agung volcano rendered in an impressionist style with striking red lines running across the canvas quite literally as a seismograph would across the telling sheet of paper used to measured seismic activity, I may find that the painting lacks power. If the message of the painting is read as being a sense of urgency about the current eruption of this great mountain without reading any further then this painting could be called good but not great. Whereas if I read the painting through a lens that prioritizes beauty as a representation of spiritual harmony and the visual lexicon of gestures shapes and colors used by the
Balinese, another message is made known to me through the art work. In Balances cosmology, the three colors back white and red represent the fundamental building blocks of all creation -the binary forces of black and white as the matrix upon which the red of life may emerge. It is only because this background matrix (in this case represented by the form of mountain and sea as symbols of the cycle of water) remains stable despite their fluctuations, that the red of life which we may perceive as dangerous can become manifest. This message speaks more to the fundamental elements that make up the intricate balance of the natural world, and perhaps something about how the seismographic lines representing human understanding may seem striking but are in fact momentary and in stark contrast to the overall harmony of nature. Alot of contemporary art the
IBP/kmb
world over is primarily focused on addressing current issues such as environmental destruction, social injustice, consumerism, identity politics and the like, however a broader or spiritual vision is often neglected. Creating art from a spiritual basis does not mean ignoring what currently is but rather considering what currently is in light of what always is. The B to B exhibition is of particular interest because all the art works on display express something about contemporary issues without neglecting aesthetics, relevance and spirituality. Apart from the differences in approach that each individual artist uses it is also interesting to see the overall similarities as well as the particular differences of these artists in their approach to moth method and content. B to B will be showing at Komaneka Gallery on Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud until January 23. (kmb)
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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International
RLD
International
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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Trump says ‘I’m not a racist,’ keeps door open for DACA deal WEST PALM BEACH - U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on Sunday “I’m not a racist” in response to reports that he had described immigrants from Haiti and African countries as coming from “shithole countries.”
REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the meeting of the Palestinian Central Council in the West Bank city of Ramallah January 14, 2018.
Peace efforts can only resume under international mediation -Abbas
RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday he would only accept a broad, internationallybacked panel to broker any peace talks with Israel, but did not rule out a U.S. role in such a panel. The Palestinians are seething at U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition last month of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Abbas told a meeting of senior Palestinian officials in a speech that the move had disqualified the United States as a peacemaker. Israel says it would welcome the United States as a mediator but a U.S. bid to revive negotiations, led by Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has so far shown no progress. Talks have been frozen since 2014. Trump has said that achieving an agreement would be the “deal of the century” but Abbas was scathing on Sunday, saying: “The deal of the century is actually the slap of the century, and we will return it.” “We do not accept the United States as a mediator between us and Israel,” Abbas said. “Let it be an international committee formed at an international conference comprising four or five (countries or parties). But the United States alone? No.” Abbas’s comments were made at the start of a two-day meeting in Ramallah of the Palestinian Central Council, the Palestinians’ highest decision-making body, where 95 delegates will debate future strategy. (rtr)
Trump also said he was “ready, willing and able” to reach a deal to protect illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children from being deported but that he did not believe Democrats wanted an agreement. He tweeted earlier on Sunday that the existing program would “probably” be discontinued. The debate over immigration policy became increasingly acrimonious after it was reported on Thursday that the Republican president used the word “shithole” to describe Haiti and African countries in a private meeting with lawmakers. The comments led to harsh recriminations from Democrats and Republicans alike, with some critics accusing Trump of racism, even as bipartisan talks continued in the U.S. Congress to seek a bipartisan compromise to salvage the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Asked by a reporter in Florida whether he was a racist, Trump said: “No. I’m not a racist. I’m the least racist person you have ever interviewed.” Trump has threatened to end DACA, but he seemed to keep the door open for a deal when he told reporters before dinner on Sunday night: “We’re ready, willing and able to make a deal on DACA, but
I don’t think the Democrats want to make a deal…. The Democrats are the ones that aren’t going to make a deal.” Efforts to extend the program are further complicated because it could make a funding bill to avert a government shutdown due Friday more difficult. “DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our military,” Trump said earlier on Twitter. CONTROVERSY SIMMERS A U.S. judge ruled last Tuesday that DACA should remain in effect until legal challenges brought in multiple courts are resolved. “I hope that we are actually going to work on fixing DACA,” said Representative Mia Love on CNN’s “State of the Union” program on Sunday. “We cannot let this derail us.” Love, whose parents are from Haiti, had criticized Trump for his remarks and called on him to apologize. Trump denied making the disparaging remarks on Friday, although U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, who was in the White House meeting, said the president had used the term. One participant at the meeting on Sunday denied
that Trump used the term and another said he did not recall Trump making such comments. Asked on Sunday whether his inflammatory remarks made it harder to get a DACA deal, Trump said: “Did you see what various senators in the room say about my comments? They weren’t bad.” Lawmakers hope to reach an immigration deal before Jan. 19, when Congress must pass a funding bill or the government will shut down. Some Democrats insist that the DACA question be addressed by then. Lawmakers are trying to combine some form of relief for DACA immigrants along with enhanced border security, including a wall along the Mexican border, sought by Trump. The president’s inflammatory comments left lawmakers struggling to find a path forward. “I hope we can move beyond that. What was reported was unacceptable. But what we have to do is not let that define this moment,” said Republican Senator Cory Gardner on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program. Republican Senator David Perdue, who was at the same White House meeting and had said he did not recall whether Trump made the comment, was more explicit on Sunday. He called the new stories a “gross misrepresentation.” (rtr)
Bambang Soesatyo
Indonesia to swear in new parliament speaker after huge graft case
IBP/net
JAKARTA - Indonesia’s parliament will swear in Bambang Soesatyo as its new speaker on Monday, his party said, a critic of President Joko Widodo’s government who was appointed after the previous speaker was indicted in a $170 million graft scandal. Soesatyo is a long-time member of Golkar, the second-largest party in Widodo’s coalition and which controls leadership of the house. Golkar appointed Soesatyo to replace previous speaker Setya Novanto, who was forced to resign late last year. Analysts say Soesatyo’s appointment could mean tougher negotiations in parliament for Widodo’s government as it tries to push through reforms in the last year of his term before legislative and presidential elections in 2019. “Jokowi may not have full control over the house like he did with the previous speaker,” said Endy Bayuni, senior editor at The Jakarta Post newspaper. Jokowi is the
president’s widely used nickname. “Politicians switch loyalty depending on where the wind blows, but Soesatyo’s support is not automatic. Jokowi has to ensure that Golkar remains loyal to him,” Bayuni said. Despite Golkar being part of the ruling coalition, Soesatyo has previously criticised the president’s handling of the economy, highlighting bureaucratic inefficiency and
slow budget disbursement. He also criticised Widodo’s appointment of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a former World Bank director, saying it showed that Widodo’s government was vulnerable to foreign influences. “Soesatyo knows the party’s position as a supporter of Jokowi,” said Golkar deputy secretary general Muhamad Sarmuji. “Even though he has been critical, it has
only been because of his desire to contribute to the government’s success.” Soesatyo, a former businessman and journalist, would be sworn in during a plenary session later on Monday, Sarmuji said. The new speaker could not be reached immediately for comment. Golkar had also come under pressure to elect a speaker to clean up the party’s image and improve the standing of parliament, long regarded by Indonesians as riddled with entrenched corruption. Previous speaker Novanto is accused of orchestrating a scheme to plunder $173 million from a government contract to introduce a national
electronic identity card - almost 40 percent of the project’s entire budget. Novanto has denied wrongdoing in a case that has shocked Indonesians who are already used to large corruption scandals. Some see Soesatyo’s appointment as a missed opportunity for institutional reform. Soesatyo previously served on the parliamentary commission for legal affairs, where he lobbied for the popular anti-corruption agency’s powers to be restricted. “(The appointment) continues the ... strong position of politicians with webs of influence to fill in leadership positions in parliament,” said Tobias Basuki, a Jakarta-based political analyst.(rtr)
Indonesia Asian Games preparations gets OCA approval
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy arrive for dinner at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 14, 2018.
Indonesia’s preparations for this year’s Asian Games received a thumbs-up from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Monday following a two-day inspection of facilities for the first staging of the event across two cities. The OCA Coordination Committee visited the Sumatran city
of Palembang on Saturday and then the capital Jakarta, which last hosted the Games in 1962, a day later. “We have discussed in detail the progress of the 18th Asian Games and we are very satisfied with what we have seen in both Palembang and Jakarta,”
Coordination Committee chairman Tsunekazu Takeda said in a statement. “We have emphasised that we are in operational and implementation mode and that the planning phase is over,” the Japanese Olympic Committee president added.
Around 10,000 athletes from the OCA’s 45 member nations are expected to compete across 40 sports at the Aug. 18-Sept. 2 Games. The Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang, which hosted the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2011, will host 11 of the sports.
The newly refurbished Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta will host, among others, the opening and closing ceremonies. Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno promised the visiting committee an efficient transport management plan during the Games.(rtr)
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Destination
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Joshua faces Parker in heavyweight unification bout in March
LONDON - Britain’s Anthony Joshua will put his perfect 20-fight, 20-knock-out record on the line when he takes on New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in a world heavyweight unification bout in Cardiff, Wales on March 31.
Nyoman Gunarsa Museum
SEMARAPURA - Nyoman Gunarsa Museum, referred to locally as Museum Seni Lukis Klasik, is the namesake private gallery of the late Balinese maestro, Nyoman Gunarsa. The art museum was established in 1990 and houses a collection of his classical and contemporary Balinese artworks, ranging from paintings, sculptures and antique items. The museum features 3 floors, 2 of which are the main galleries displaying in-house artwork and the other is reserved for local and international guest artists’ exhibits. The museum is 3 kilometres west of Semarapura, the capital of the Klungkung regency.
Britain’s Prince Harry poses for a photograph with world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua as he guest edits the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, in London, Britain December 27, 2017.
What to See Nyoman Gunarsa Museum’s ‘classical’ collection displays 250 paintings that were created over a span of 15 years, and here you’ll also find a range of traditional Balinese statues, ‘wayang’ shadow puppets, and an assortment of ‘kris’ daggers, most of which are historical artefacts of the Gelgel royal court that ruled Klungkung in the 16th century. Meanwhile, inside the ‘modern’ department you’ll find most of the maestro’s own masterpieces. The museum has a laidback ambiance here and you can amble around freely. You can even step into one of the maestro’s studio areas where he used to create his masterpieces. Besides admiring the art pieces within each of the galleries, the architectural features of the Nyoman Gunarsa Museum’s exteriors itself are also worth appreciating. Check out the palatial gate in front of the guest artists’ exhibit area designed by the late maestro himself. There’s also a bookstore with mainly art-related publications, as well as a souvenir shop, small café and a spacious tropical garden. (net)
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Joshua holds the WBA and IBF versions of the crown while Parker is the WBO champion and unbeaten in 24 contests, with 18 knockouts. Following weeks of negotiations, the 28-year-old Joshua confirmed the fight was on in a video posted on his official Twitter account. “These fights aren’t easy because there’s a lot on the line so respect to team Parker for taking the challenge. And you know me, I love this game,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, training camp is under way and before you know it, March 31st will be upon us.” The winner of the fight will take a step towards becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. American Deontay Wilder holds the fourth belt in the heavyweight division. (rtr)
MELBOURNE - Swiss Belinda Bencic sent an early shockwave through the Australian Open on Monday by toppling last year’s finalist Venus Williams on an opening day of carnage for American tennis. With defending champion and new mum Serena absent, 20-year-old Bencic’s brilliant 6-3 7-5 win under the Rod Laver Arena roof ensured there would not be a Williams sister in the second round of the tournament for the first time in over 20 years. It also continued a bleak day for the United States, with three of their
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four women’s semi-finalists from Flushing Meadows last year falling at the first hurdle. U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens tumbled in three sets against China’s plucky Zhang Shuai, before 10th seed Coco Vandeweghe was sent packing in two by Hungary’s Timea Babos. For former world number seven Bencic, victory was another step on an impressive comeback trail from a wrist surgery that saw her tumble out of the top 300 last year before her return in September. It was also a matter of felling a seventimes grand slam-winning idol, having never won a set against her in four previous matches. “I think (before) I had a little bit too much respect, played a little bit careful and safe,” Bencic, who was a toddler when Venus won her first grand slam at Wimbledon in 2000, told reporters. “This time, I really tried to come out and, you know, hit it big. Also tactically be smart on the court.” Now ranked 78th, Bencic teamed up with Roger Federer to win the Hopm a n C u p f o r Switzerland in the lead-up and was thrilled to have the defending champion’s parents watching from her players’ box as she worked over Williams in less than two hours.
Federer’s parents are used to seeing wins and Bencic did not disappoint, playing the 37-year-old American to perfection. CLEAN HITTING Soaking up the fifth seed’s firepower, she counter-punched brilliantly to seal the match with a pair of rasping forehand winners. It had started as a slow-burning contest of short, sharp rallies but burst into life when Williams’s serve crumbled in the seventh game. The American fought desperately to level but Bencic saved five break points before rain halted play for some 15 minutes to allow the roof to close. Upon resumption, Bencic laced a huge backhand down the line to finally consolidate, before breaking Williams to love and closing out the set with a crosscourt backhand. Venus battled to keep touch in an enthralling second set but the clean hitting and younger legs of Bencic carried away the match in the 12th game. Bencic advances to meet the winner of the first round encounter between Swede Johanna Larsson and Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum as she continues her ascent into the upper echelons of the women’s game. Williams, meanwhile, may have plenty of American company on the plane home, with men’s 16th seed John Isner also sent packing, upset in four sets by unfancied local Matthew Ebden. Crestfallen, Williams’s post-match news conference wrapped up quickly, with short responses and a sombre monotone. (rtr)
8
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Sp rt Liverpool end Man City’s unbeaten run in seven-goal thriller
Giggs set to be named Wales manager - report
Liverpool scored three times in nine minutes on the way to a dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester City on Sunday which ended the Premier League leaders’ unbeaten start to the season. Liverpool struck after less than 10 minutes when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain surged forward from midfield to collect a neat layoff from Roberto Firmino and send a low shot past City keeper Ederson. Leroy Sane equalised shortly before the interval, but Liverpool blew City away after halftime with Firmino chipping Ederson to restore the home side’s lead and Sadio Mane striking from the edge of the box. Egypt international Mohamed Salah looked to have completed the rout when he collected Ederson’s clearance and sent the ball sailing back over the stranded keeper’s head, but City substitute Bernardo Silva grabbed one back and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan prodded home in stoppagetime. City’s first league defeat in 23 games this season left them 15 points clear at the top, ahead of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. “Congratulations to Liverpool for the victory,” City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports. “The game was in our hands at 1-1 but our finishing was not good and then it went suddenly to 4-1. You have to live this kind of situation in the season. “The reality is we lose the game, we have a week to recover and prepare for the Newcastle game. All credit to
the opponent, we know how difficult it is against a Juergen Klopp team, so aggressive, at Anfield too. We did a good performance apart from a few minutes.” Against the runaway leaders and without Brazilian Philippe Coutinho following his big-money move to Barcelona, Liverpool started strongly and their high pressing game was vindicated when Oxlade-Chamberlain surged forward and finished brilliantly. DESERVED EQUALISER In an entertaining match which produced chances at both ends, City began to assert themselves before a deserved equaliser. Kyle Walker’s brilliant pass beat Joe Gomez and Sane, having controlled the ball superbly with his chest, fizzed a shot past Loris Karius’s weak attempted save at his near post. The game continued at the same frantic pace after the break with chances for both sides before Liverpool, in one of the most irresistible attacking displays of the season,
scored three times in nine blistering minutes. Firmino lifted a deft finish over Ederson to restore their lead before Mane - just seconds after curling a shot against the post - unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner with his left foot. With Anfield in raptures and the visitors looking shell-shocked, Ederson’s attempted clearance only found Salah who controlled the ball before clipping it over the Brazilian from long range. Late goals from substitute Silva and Gundogan exposed Liverpool’s defensive fraility without the injured Virgil van Dijk and set up a tense final few minutes, but City’s revival came too late. Klopp was delighted with his team’s reaction to the departure of Coutinho. “He’s probably jumping in his new living room in Barcelona and will be happy about the win tonight,” the German said. “Of course, for us, it’s important to show we can play without him and we did it, so that’s a very important statement, absolutely.”(rtr)
Referee Tony Chapron
IBP/net
Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their third goal with Andrew Robertson
Barcelona emerge from summer of gloom to shine again
Barcelona’s Luis Suarez scores their third goal
MADRID - After producing a sensational comeback from two goals down to beat Real Sociedad 4-2 on Sunday, Barcelona sit nine points clear at the top of La Liga and everything in their garden looks rosy again. Back in August, after a humiliating 5-1 defeat by Real Madrid over two legs in the Spanish Super Cup, that situation was unthinkable. The Catalans had lost Brazilian forward Neymar to Paris St Germain and failed to sign their top summer target Philippe Coutinho. The former Liverpool playmaker is now a Barcelona player, however, and on the field things have improved massively. Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona are unbeaten in 29 games, although at two goals down against Sociedad at Anoeta, a ground where they had not won in La Liga since 2007, it seemed their streak
would end. “It’s been years since we won here in the league and it looked familiar when we fell behind but we were able to react,” midfielder Sergio Busquets said. “We have been at an excellent level and some of our rivals have slipped up, some more than others. We’re unbeaten and we’ve won at some tough grounds. After the Super Cup and what was said afterwards, we’ve been able to kick on and move forward.” Barcelona have become a side who can win in different ways, with the stunning football produced in the 5-0 win over Celta Vigo in the King’s Cup on Thursday replaced by something more pragmatic at Sociedad. Paulinho’s presence in the team facilitates that, with his energy and power helping Barcelona become more of a force in midfield and he has added goals too.
9
The Brazilian scored the first of the team’s four strikes in San Sebastian, taking him to eight league goals for the campaign. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has four. Barcelona’s archrivals are fourth, 19 points behind, and now they are more concerned about second-placed Atletico and Valencia in third. “It doesn’t interest me how Madrid are doing,” full back Jordi Alba said. “We can’t rule out those that are ahead of them.” Although both Atletico and Valencia have strengthened in the current transfer window, Barcelona have too with Coutinho’s arrival and Ousmane Dembele’s return to fitness. It would be no surprise if Valverde’s side grew stronger in the weeks to come and their sights are firmly set on wresting back the title.(rtr)
French referee provisionally suspended for kicking out at player PARIS - Referee Tony Chapron has been provisionally suspended after he appeared to kick out at Nantes player Diego Carlos in Sunday’s French Ligue 1 game against Paris St Germain. During stoppage-time, Chapron bumped into Carlos and fell over with TV footage showing him swinging his leg towards the running defender’s shins. “The technical direction of refereeing and the federal commission of refereeing have de-
cided on the withdrawal of Tony Chapron, who had been appointed for Wednesday’s Ligue 1 game between Angers and Troyes, until further notice,” the French federation said in a statement on Monday. Chapron will also be summoned before the league’s disciplinary committee. A few seconds after the incident, Chapron gave Carlos a yellow card, which resulted in the player being sent off as he had also been booked in the first half.
“I know that refereeing is tough, but the referee sometimes need to put himself into question,” Nantes forward Valentin Rongier said. “If we do something like this, we get a 10-game suspension.” Nantes president Waldemar Kita told L’Equipe: “It’s a joke. I got 20 SMS from all over the world telling me that this referee is a joke. What do you want me to tell you? If I talk too much, I’ll be summoned by an ethics committee.”(rtr)
LONDON - Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs is poised to be named as Wales manager, the BBC reported on Sunday. The Football Association of Wales is holding a news conference on Monday at which the 44-year-old Giggs is expected to be unveiled as the successor to Chris Coleman who quit the job in November to take charge of Sunderland. Giggs won 64 caps between 1991 and 2007 but was unpopular with some Wales fans for missing many internationals, especially friendlies. He ended his glittering 23-year playing career in 2014 and managed Manchester United in a caretaker role for four games at the end of the 2013-14 season after David Moyes was sacked. Giggs was Louis van Gaal’s assistant at Old Trafford for the following two seasons before leaving United in 2016 after Jose Mourinho was appointed as manager. Coleman led Wales to the Euro 2016 semifinals but they failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup.(rtr)
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Sp rt Liverpool end Man City’s unbeaten run in seven-goal thriller
Giggs set to be named Wales manager - report
Liverpool scored three times in nine minutes on the way to a dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester City on Sunday which ended the Premier League leaders’ unbeaten start to the season. Liverpool struck after less than 10 minutes when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain surged forward from midfield to collect a neat layoff from Roberto Firmino and send a low shot past City keeper Ederson. Leroy Sane equalised shortly before the interval, but Liverpool blew City away after halftime with Firmino chipping Ederson to restore the home side’s lead and Sadio Mane striking from the edge of the box. Egypt international Mohamed Salah looked to have completed the rout when he collected Ederson’s clearance and sent the ball sailing back over the stranded keeper’s head, but City substitute Bernardo Silva grabbed one back and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan prodded home in stoppagetime. City’s first league defeat in 23 games this season left them 15 points clear at the top, ahead of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. “Congratulations to Liverpool for the victory,” City manager Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports. “The game was in our hands at 1-1 but our finishing was not good and then it went suddenly to 4-1. You have to live this kind of situation in the season. “The reality is we lose the game, we have a week to recover and prepare for the Newcastle game. All credit to
the opponent, we know how difficult it is against a Juergen Klopp team, so aggressive, at Anfield too. We did a good performance apart from a few minutes.” Against the runaway leaders and without Brazilian Philippe Coutinho following his big-money move to Barcelona, Liverpool started strongly and their high pressing game was vindicated when Oxlade-Chamberlain surged forward and finished brilliantly. DESERVED EQUALISER In an entertaining match which produced chances at both ends, City began to assert themselves before a deserved equaliser. Kyle Walker’s brilliant pass beat Joe Gomez and Sane, having controlled the ball superbly with his chest, fizzed a shot past Loris Karius’s weak attempted save at his near post. The game continued at the same frantic pace after the break with chances for both sides before Liverpool, in one of the most irresistible attacking displays of the season,
scored three times in nine blistering minutes. Firmino lifted a deft finish over Ederson to restore their lead before Mane - just seconds after curling a shot against the post - unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner with his left foot. With Anfield in raptures and the visitors looking shell-shocked, Ederson’s attempted clearance only found Salah who controlled the ball before clipping it over the Brazilian from long range. Late goals from substitute Silva and Gundogan exposed Liverpool’s defensive fraility without the injured Virgil van Dijk and set up a tense final few minutes, but City’s revival came too late. Klopp was delighted with his team’s reaction to the departure of Coutinho. “He’s probably jumping in his new living room in Barcelona and will be happy about the win tonight,” the German said. “Of course, for us, it’s important to show we can play without him and we did it, so that’s a very important statement, absolutely.”(rtr)
Referee Tony Chapron
IBP/net
Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their third goal with Andrew Robertson
Barcelona emerge from summer of gloom to shine again
Barcelona’s Luis Suarez scores their third goal
MADRID - After producing a sensational comeback from two goals down to beat Real Sociedad 4-2 on Sunday, Barcelona sit nine points clear at the top of La Liga and everything in their garden looks rosy again. Back in August, after a humiliating 5-1 defeat by Real Madrid over two legs in the Spanish Super Cup, that situation was unthinkable. The Catalans had lost Brazilian forward Neymar to Paris St Germain and failed to sign their top summer target Philippe Coutinho. The former Liverpool playmaker is now a Barcelona player, however, and on the field things have improved massively. Ernesto Valverde’s Barcelona are unbeaten in 29 games, although at two goals down against Sociedad at Anoeta, a ground where they had not won in La Liga since 2007, it seemed their streak
would end. “It’s been years since we won here in the league and it looked familiar when we fell behind but we were able to react,” midfielder Sergio Busquets said. “We have been at an excellent level and some of our rivals have slipped up, some more than others. We’re unbeaten and we’ve won at some tough grounds. After the Super Cup and what was said afterwards, we’ve been able to kick on and move forward.” Barcelona have become a side who can win in different ways, with the stunning football produced in the 5-0 win over Celta Vigo in the King’s Cup on Thursday replaced by something more pragmatic at Sociedad. Paulinho’s presence in the team facilitates that, with his energy and power helping Barcelona become more of a force in midfield and he has added goals too.
9
The Brazilian scored the first of the team’s four strikes in San Sebastian, taking him to eight league goals for the campaign. Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has four. Barcelona’s archrivals are fourth, 19 points behind, and now they are more concerned about second-placed Atletico and Valencia in third. “It doesn’t interest me how Madrid are doing,” full back Jordi Alba said. “We can’t rule out those that are ahead of them.” Although both Atletico and Valencia have strengthened in the current transfer window, Barcelona have too with Coutinho’s arrival and Ousmane Dembele’s return to fitness. It would be no surprise if Valverde’s side grew stronger in the weeks to come and their sights are firmly set on wresting back the title.(rtr)
French referee provisionally suspended for kicking out at player PARIS - Referee Tony Chapron has been provisionally suspended after he appeared to kick out at Nantes player Diego Carlos in Sunday’s French Ligue 1 game against Paris St Germain. During stoppage-time, Chapron bumped into Carlos and fell over with TV footage showing him swinging his leg towards the running defender’s shins. “The technical direction of refereeing and the federal commission of refereeing have de-
cided on the withdrawal of Tony Chapron, who had been appointed for Wednesday’s Ligue 1 game between Angers and Troyes, until further notice,” the French federation said in a statement on Monday. Chapron will also be summoned before the league’s disciplinary committee. A few seconds after the incident, Chapron gave Carlos a yellow card, which resulted in the player being sent off as he had also been booked in the first half.
“I know that refereeing is tough, but the referee sometimes need to put himself into question,” Nantes forward Valentin Rongier said. “If we do something like this, we get a 10-game suspension.” Nantes president Waldemar Kita told L’Equipe: “It’s a joke. I got 20 SMS from all over the world telling me that this referee is a joke. What do you want me to tell you? If I talk too much, I’ll be summoned by an ethics committee.”(rtr)
LONDON - Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs is poised to be named as Wales manager, the BBC reported on Sunday. The Football Association of Wales is holding a news conference on Monday at which the 44-year-old Giggs is expected to be unveiled as the successor to Chris Coleman who quit the job in November to take charge of Sunderland. Giggs won 64 caps between 1991 and 2007 but was unpopular with some Wales fans for missing many internationals, especially friendlies. He ended his glittering 23-year playing career in 2014 and managed Manchester United in a caretaker role for four games at the end of the 2013-14 season after David Moyes was sacked. Giggs was Louis van Gaal’s assistant at Old Trafford for the following two seasons before leaving United in 2016 after Jose Mourinho was appointed as manager. Coleman led Wales to the Euro 2016 semifinals but they failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup.(rtr)
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Joshua faces Parker in heavyweight unification bout in March
LONDON - Britain’s Anthony Joshua will put his perfect 20-fight, 20-knock-out record on the line when he takes on New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in a world heavyweight unification bout in Cardiff, Wales on March 31.
Nyoman Gunarsa Museum
SEMARAPURA - Nyoman Gunarsa Museum, referred to locally as Museum Seni Lukis Klasik, is the namesake private gallery of the late Balinese maestro, Nyoman Gunarsa. The art museum was established in 1990 and houses a collection of his classical and contemporary Balinese artworks, ranging from paintings, sculptures and antique items. The museum features 3 floors, 2 of which are the main galleries displaying in-house artwork and the other is reserved for local and international guest artists’ exhibits. The museum is 3 kilometres west of Semarapura, the capital of the Klungkung regency.
Britain’s Prince Harry poses for a photograph with world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua as he guest edits the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, in London, Britain December 27, 2017.
What to See Nyoman Gunarsa Museum’s ‘classical’ collection displays 250 paintings that were created over a span of 15 years, and here you’ll also find a range of traditional Balinese statues, ‘wayang’ shadow puppets, and an assortment of ‘kris’ daggers, most of which are historical artefacts of the Gelgel royal court that ruled Klungkung in the 16th century. Meanwhile, inside the ‘modern’ department you’ll find most of the maestro’s own masterpieces. The museum has a laidback ambiance here and you can amble around freely. You can even step into one of the maestro’s studio areas where he used to create his masterpieces. Besides admiring the art pieces within each of the galleries, the architectural features of the Nyoman Gunarsa Museum’s exteriors itself are also worth appreciating. Check out the palatial gate in front of the guest artists’ exhibit area designed by the late maestro himself. There’s also a bookstore with mainly art-related publications, as well as a souvenir shop, small café and a spacious tropical garden. (net)
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Joshua holds the WBA and IBF versions of the crown while Parker is the WBO champion and unbeaten in 24 contests, with 18 knockouts. Following weeks of negotiations, the 28-year-old Joshua confirmed the fight was on in a video posted on his official Twitter account. “These fights aren’t easy because there’s a lot on the line so respect to team Parker for taking the challenge. And you know me, I love this game,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it, training camp is under way and before you know it, March 31st will be upon us.” The winner of the fight will take a step towards becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. American Deontay Wilder holds the fourth belt in the heavyweight division. (rtr)
MELBOURNE - Swiss Belinda Bencic sent an early shockwave through the Australian Open on Monday by toppling last year’s finalist Venus Williams on an opening day of carnage for American tennis. With defending champion and new mum Serena absent, 20-year-old Bencic’s brilliant 6-3 7-5 win under the Rod Laver Arena roof ensured there would not be a Williams sister in the second round of the tournament for the first time in over 20 years. It also continued a bleak day for the United States, with three of their
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four women’s semi-finalists from Flushing Meadows last year falling at the first hurdle. U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens tumbled in three sets against China’s plucky Zhang Shuai, before 10th seed Coco Vandeweghe was sent packing in two by Hungary’s Timea Babos. For former world number seven Bencic, victory was another step on an impressive comeback trail from a wrist surgery that saw her tumble out of the top 300 last year before her return in September. It was also a matter of felling a seventimes grand slam-winning idol, having never won a set against her in four previous matches. “I think (before) I had a little bit too much respect, played a little bit careful and safe,” Bencic, who was a toddler when Venus won her first grand slam at Wimbledon in 2000, told reporters. “This time, I really tried to come out and, you know, hit it big. Also tactically be smart on the court.” Now ranked 78th, Bencic teamed up with Roger Federer to win the Hopm a n C u p f o r Switzerland in the lead-up and was thrilled to have the defending champion’s parents watching from her players’ box as she worked over Williams in less than two hours.
Federer’s parents are used to seeing wins and Bencic did not disappoint, playing the 37-year-old American to perfection. CLEAN HITTING Soaking up the fifth seed’s firepower, she counter-punched brilliantly to seal the match with a pair of rasping forehand winners. It had started as a slow-burning contest of short, sharp rallies but burst into life when Williams’s serve crumbled in the seventh game. The American fought desperately to level but Bencic saved five break points before rain halted play for some 15 minutes to allow the roof to close. Upon resumption, Bencic laced a huge backhand down the line to finally consolidate, before breaking Williams to love and closing out the set with a crosscourt backhand. Venus battled to keep touch in an enthralling second set but the clean hitting and younger legs of Bencic carried away the match in the 12th game. Bencic advances to meet the winner of the first round encounter between Swede Johanna Larsson and Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum as she continues her ascent into the upper echelons of the women’s game. Williams, meanwhile, may have plenty of American company on the plane home, with men’s 16th seed John Isner also sent packing, upset in four sets by unfancied local Matthew Ebden. Crestfallen, Williams’s post-match news conference wrapped up quickly, with short responses and a sombre monotone. (rtr)
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Trump says ‘I’m not a racist,’ keeps door open for DACA deal WEST PALM BEACH - U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on Sunday “I’m not a racist” in response to reports that he had described immigrants from Haiti and African countries as coming from “shithole countries.”
REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the meeting of the Palestinian Central Council in the West Bank city of Ramallah January 14, 2018.
Peace efforts can only resume under international mediation -Abbas
RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday he would only accept a broad, internationallybacked panel to broker any peace talks with Israel, but did not rule out a U.S. role in such a panel. The Palestinians are seething at U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition last month of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and Abbas told a meeting of senior Palestinian officials in a speech that the move had disqualified the United States as a peacemaker. Israel says it would welcome the United States as a mediator but a U.S. bid to revive negotiations, led by Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has so far shown no progress. Talks have been frozen since 2014. Trump has said that achieving an agreement would be the “deal of the century” but Abbas was scathing on Sunday, saying: “The deal of the century is actually the slap of the century, and we will return it.” “We do not accept the United States as a mediator between us and Israel,” Abbas said. “Let it be an international committee formed at an international conference comprising four or five (countries or parties). But the United States alone? No.” Abbas’s comments were made at the start of a two-day meeting in Ramallah of the Palestinian Central Council, the Palestinians’ highest decision-making body, where 95 delegates will debate future strategy. (rtr)
Trump also said he was “ready, willing and able” to reach a deal to protect illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children from being deported but that he did not believe Democrats wanted an agreement. He tweeted earlier on Sunday that the existing program would “probably” be discontinued. The debate over immigration policy became increasingly acrimonious after it was reported on Thursday that the Republican president used the word “shithole” to describe Haiti and African countries in a private meeting with lawmakers. The comments led to harsh recriminations from Democrats and Republicans alike, with some critics accusing Trump of racism, even as bipartisan talks continued in the U.S. Congress to seek a bipartisan compromise to salvage the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Asked by a reporter in Florida whether he was a racist, Trump said: “No. I’m not a racist. I’m the least racist person you have ever interviewed.” Trump has threatened to end DACA, but he seemed to keep the door open for a deal when he told reporters before dinner on Sunday night: “We’re ready, willing and able to make a deal on DACA, but
I don’t think the Democrats want to make a deal…. The Democrats are the ones that aren’t going to make a deal.” Efforts to extend the program are further complicated because it could make a funding bill to avert a government shutdown due Friday more difficult. “DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our military,” Trump said earlier on Twitter. CONTROVERSY SIMMERS A U.S. judge ruled last Tuesday that DACA should remain in effect until legal challenges brought in multiple courts are resolved. “I hope that we are actually going to work on fixing DACA,” said Representative Mia Love on CNN’s “State of the Union” program on Sunday. “We cannot let this derail us.” Love, whose parents are from Haiti, had criticized Trump for his remarks and called on him to apologize. Trump denied making the disparaging remarks on Friday, although U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, who was in the White House meeting, said the president had used the term. One participant at the meeting on Sunday denied
that Trump used the term and another said he did not recall Trump making such comments. Asked on Sunday whether his inflammatory remarks made it harder to get a DACA deal, Trump said: “Did you see what various senators in the room say about my comments? They weren’t bad.” Lawmakers hope to reach an immigration deal before Jan. 19, when Congress must pass a funding bill or the government will shut down. Some Democrats insist that the DACA question be addressed by then. Lawmakers are trying to combine some form of relief for DACA immigrants along with enhanced border security, including a wall along the Mexican border, sought by Trump. The president’s inflammatory comments left lawmakers struggling to find a path forward. “I hope we can move beyond that. What was reported was unacceptable. But what we have to do is not let that define this moment,” said Republican Senator Cory Gardner on CBS’s “Face the Nation” program. Republican Senator David Perdue, who was at the same White House meeting and had said he did not recall whether Trump made the comment, was more explicit on Sunday. He called the new stories a “gross misrepresentation.” (rtr)
Bambang Soesatyo
Indonesia to swear in new parliament speaker after huge graft case
IBP/net
JAKARTA - Indonesia’s parliament will swear in Bambang Soesatyo as its new speaker on Monday, his party said, a critic of President Joko Widodo’s government who was appointed after the previous speaker was indicted in a $170 million graft scandal. Soesatyo is a long-time member of Golkar, the second-largest party in Widodo’s coalition and which controls leadership of the house. Golkar appointed Soesatyo to replace previous speaker Setya Novanto, who was forced to resign late last year. Analysts say Soesatyo’s appointment could mean tougher negotiations in parliament for Widodo’s government as it tries to push through reforms in the last year of his term before legislative and presidential elections in 2019. “Jokowi may not have full control over the house like he did with the previous speaker,” said Endy Bayuni, senior editor at The Jakarta Post newspaper. Jokowi is the
president’s widely used nickname. “Politicians switch loyalty depending on where the wind blows, but Soesatyo’s support is not automatic. Jokowi has to ensure that Golkar remains loyal to him,” Bayuni said. Despite Golkar being part of the ruling coalition, Soesatyo has previously criticised the president’s handling of the economy, highlighting bureaucratic inefficiency and
slow budget disbursement. He also criticised Widodo’s appointment of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a former World Bank director, saying it showed that Widodo’s government was vulnerable to foreign influences. “Soesatyo knows the party’s position as a supporter of Jokowi,” said Golkar deputy secretary general Muhamad Sarmuji. “Even though he has been critical, it has
only been because of his desire to contribute to the government’s success.” Soesatyo, a former businessman and journalist, would be sworn in during a plenary session later on Monday, Sarmuji said. The new speaker could not be reached immediately for comment. Golkar had also come under pressure to elect a speaker to clean up the party’s image and improve the standing of parliament, long regarded by Indonesians as riddled with entrenched corruption. Previous speaker Novanto is accused of orchestrating a scheme to plunder $173 million from a government contract to introduce a national
electronic identity card - almost 40 percent of the project’s entire budget. Novanto has denied wrongdoing in a case that has shocked Indonesians who are already used to large corruption scandals. Some see Soesatyo’s appointment as a missed opportunity for institutional reform. Soesatyo previously served on the parliamentary commission for legal affairs, where he lobbied for the popular anti-corruption agency’s powers to be restricted. “(The appointment) continues the ... strong position of politicians with webs of influence to fill in leadership positions in parliament,” said Tobias Basuki, a Jakarta-based political analyst.(rtr)
Indonesia Asian Games preparations gets OCA approval
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy arrive for dinner at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., January 14, 2018.
Indonesia’s preparations for this year’s Asian Games received a thumbs-up from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on Monday following a two-day inspection of facilities for the first staging of the event across two cities. The OCA Coordination Committee visited the Sumatran city
of Palembang on Saturday and then the capital Jakarta, which last hosted the Games in 1962, a day later. “We have discussed in detail the progress of the 18th Asian Games and we are very satisfied with what we have seen in both Palembang and Jakarta,”
Coordination Committee chairman Tsunekazu Takeda said in a statement. “We have emphasised that we are in operational and implementation mode and that the planning phase is over,” the Japanese Olympic Committee president added.
Around 10,000 athletes from the OCA’s 45 member nations are expected to compete across 40 sports at the Aug. 18-Sept. 2 Games. The Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang, which hosted the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2011, will host 11 of the sports.
The newly refurbished Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta will host, among others, the opening and closing ceremonies. Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno promised the visiting committee an efficient transport management plan during the Games.(rtr)
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International
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
BUSINESS
TOKYO - Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda offered a positive view on the economy and inflation on Monday, sending the yen to a four-month high against the dollar on simmering speculation it may exit its ultra-loose monetary policy earlier than expected. Financial markets ignored Kuroda’s reminder that the BOJ will maintain its massive stimulus in a sign of how nervous investors have become on when it might follow the footsteps of other central banks in dialing back crisis-mode stimulus. the government are also making more positive comments about escaping deflation. Policymakers are gradually changing their tone.” Kuroda also said a moderate economic expansion now under way will help accelerate inflation toward the BOJ’s 2 percent target, signalling its desire to maintain the status quo on monetary policy for the time being. RECOVERY BROADENING In the quarterly report, the BOJ raised its assessment for three of Japan’s nine regional economies and maintained its rosy view for the remaining six regions. The central bank said two regions were seeing their economies “expanding,” the first time it has used such an upbeat assessment for as many regions since April 2007. Shinichi Uchida, head of the BOJ’s Nagoya branch in central Japan, said conditions for wage increases were falling into place as firms face intensifying labour shortages. “We’re seeing some positive moves toward an end to deflation,” Uchida told a news conference, adding that companies were benefitting from robust domestic and overseas demand.
REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
A man stands in front of an entrance of a shopping mall nearby the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo, Japan January 15, 2018. Japan’s economy grew an annualised 2.5 percent in JulySeptember to mark a seventh straight quarter of growth thanks to robust exports and capital expenditure. Core consumer prices in November rose 0.9 percent from a year earlier, far from the BOJ’s 2 percent target but posting the 11th straight month of gains, offering policymakers some hope firms are finally starting to raise prices on brightening prospects. Japan’s economy minister
raised eyebrows last week when he talked up the government’s progress in reflating the economy and suggested it is possible to declare an end to deflation before consumer prices reach the BOJ’s inflation target. Given the rising cost of prolonged easing, such as the hit to bank profits from ultra-low interest rates, the BOJ has been sending subtle yet intentional hints it could edge away from crisis-mode policy earlier than
expected. But a small cut to its regular bond purchases last week pushed global yields and the yen higher, underscoring the challenge the BOJ faces in communicating its policy intentions. “Japan’s financial system remains stable and monetary conditions are very accommodative,” Kuroda said in the speech, holding off from repeating recent warnings about the rising cost of ultra-easy policy. (rtr)
Scotland sees big hit to its economy with no UK Brexit deal
EDINBURGH - Scotland will suffer an 8.5 percent hit to the size of its economy by 2030 if Britain leaves the European Union with no trade deal, the Scottish regional government said as it upped its calls for Britain to stay in the EU’s single market. Business investment in Scotland could fall by up to 10.2 percent, compared with continued membership of the EU, in the event of no Brexit deal, the devolved Scottish
government said in an economic impact assessment published on Monday. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who campaigned hard against Brexit, said Britain remaining in the EU’s single market, if not the bloc itself, was now the best realistic option. But it would still hurt Scotland. “If Brexit is to proceed then staying in the single market is the only option that makes sense,” she
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
5
The spiritual in Art
BOJ Kuroda’s optimism on economy, price outlook sends yen to 4-month high
The BOJ also offered its most optimistic view on regional areas of Japan in nearly a decade in a quarterly report, underscoring its conviction a broadening recovery will help accelerate inflation to its ambitious 2 percent target. Kuroda said in a speech to BOJ regional branch managers that core consumer inflation was “moving around 1 percent,” a slight change from three months ago when he said core consumer prices were around zero. “The economy is expected to continue expanding moderately,” he added, reiterating his optimism on prospects for a sustained recovery. The comments sent the dollar falling as low as 110.58 yen , as some traders bought the yen on expectations the BOJ could dial back stimulus earlier than expected - a view that heightened after a slight cut in its debt purchases last week. “Kuroda’s change in language merely reflects recent price gains, but people have become sensitive to even the subtlest difference since the BOJ cut bond purchases,” said Shuji Tonouchi, senior market economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities. “Members of
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told reporters. Staying in the single market as a member of the European Economic Area would mean Scotland’s economy would be 2.7 percent smaller by 2030 than it would be if Brexit did not happen at all, Sturgeon said. “None of these options are as good as staying within the EU,” she said. Scotland’s economy represents less than a tenth of Britain’s economy as a whole.
Voters in Scotland voted to remain in the EU in the June 2016 Brexit referendum. But UK voters overall backed leaving. Monday’s report said the only credible outcome of the Brexit negotiations between Brussels and London due to take place this year was for Britain to be a member of the EEA. However, Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out Britain becoming part of the EEA which
would involve continued unrestricted freedom of movement of workers from the EU into Britain, something May has vowed to end. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has also said Britain should leave the single market. But Sturgeon said she believed his position could be changed if there was enough opposition from within Labour. (rtr)
B to B exhibition at Komaneka Gallery
Bali is well known for its wealth of arts that, until about a hundred years ago were only ever produced in the context of the spiritual practices of Balinese Hindus. Today there is a flourishing art scene outside of this context that tends however to be overlooked, with attention more often going to “traditional style paintings” or the semi-mass produced art created for the tourist market. Contemporary Balinese art is sometimes dismissed as lacking conceptual depth as critical theory is seldom used as a direct reference and with aesthetics playing such a dominant role. Upon closer investigation however one may find immeasurable depth to these paintings and an implicit understanding of contemporary issues – both political and aesthetic that are perhaps hard to read by those accustomed to the visual lexicon of western art that has increasing moved away from the spiritual in art. Spiritual can be defined as viewing things from the perspective of the awareness of extremely long cycles of time, the inclusive nature of the universe and the interconnection of all things. So art that is created with a spiritual basis may still address contemporary issues, however it will do so from a broader perspective. The B to B exhibition currently on at Komaneka Gallery in Ubud, brings to light some of the differences as well as similarities in art works produced based on mental constructs versus art works produced from a more intuitive approach. This exhibition is the second time that these 5 artists form Bali ( Nyoman Diwarupa, Ketut Suasana “Kabul”, Nyoman Sujana “Kenyem”, Putu Bonuz SUdiana, Wayan Suastama) and 5 artists from Batu, East Java( Rifai’i, Bambang BP, Isa Ansory, Heri Catur Prasetya, Suwandi Waeng) hold a group exhibition together. As writer S. Susanto says of the exhibition “Bali and Java have a long history of cultural exchange and this exhibition bears witness to the ongoing exchange of ideas and aesthetics between the people of these two places. There is a ongoing dialogue between the artists of these two places, sharing ideas, and forms while maintaining distinct characteristics”. One of the reasons that Balinese culture remains so distinctive is that the basic values that inform its visual manifestations are firmly maintained. These values are intimately tied to the spiritual practices of the Balinese and the arts that play such an important role in these practices. With so many people sharing an agreed meaning to even the smallest of gestures, shapes and colors, a visual lexicon is available to artists here in a way that is seldom found elsewhere.
So while to the outside observer this visual lexicon may appear to be simply ornamental with repetitive iterations of the same content without any reference to current issues, closer investigation may reveal a much deeper understanding. Art in Java shares many of these qualities; however there tends to be increasing attention given to more globally understood means of communication. Art is essentially a feeling based medium -regardless of the form or message being conveyed. By using a different lexicon - one that lean heavily on intricacy, does not mean that concept has been neglected in favour of craftsmanship. It simply means that craftsmanship is being used not just as ornament, but also as a sophisticated language in itself. If I use my logical analytical mind to read the painting by Javanese artist Suwandi Waeng entitled The First Leaf that depicts plastic waste rendered in a hyperrealist style but utilized to depict an abstract composition, from the perspective of a more globally understood visual-conceptual language, I am moved by the beauty of the concept as well as the aesthetic beauty of the painting. Aesthetically the painting is pleasing with a balanced composition and rich colors composed in such a way that evokes natural forms, like a bird or crashing waves. The mental dissonance created by beauty being contrasted with what I know to be plastic garbage invites me to ponder the issue of plastic waste. The tension between hyper-realism and abstraction also opens a space for further questions about the role of art itself. I would thus call this a very good painting. If however I read this same painting from a perspective that prioritizes aesthetic beauty as a manifestation of the creative force of life and try to read into the spiritual meaning of the gestures shapes and colors, from the culturally agreed upon meaning that these hold in Bali, I may find myself slightly disappointed or at a loss of connection with deeper feelings or spiritual context. Without placing such a high value on logical concepts, an art work that leans more heavily on concept than on feelings could be called good but not great, because
Painting by Balinese artist in B to B exhibition at Komaneka Gallery, Ubud its aesthetic power falls slightly short without the support of the analytic, logical implications. Similarly if I look at the painting entitled Agung Mountain by Balinese artist Ketut Suasana “Kabul”, which depicts smoke coming out of the active Mount Agung volcano rendered in an impressionist style with striking red lines running across the canvas quite literally as a seismograph would across the telling sheet of paper used to measured seismic activity, I may find that the painting lacks power. If the message of the painting is read as being a sense of urgency about the current eruption of this great mountain without reading any further then this painting could be called good but not great. Whereas if I read the painting through a lens that prioritizes beauty as a representation of spiritual harmony and the visual lexicon of gestures shapes and colors used by the
Balinese, another message is made known to me through the art work. In Balances cosmology, the three colors back white and red represent the fundamental building blocks of all creation -the binary forces of black and white as the matrix upon which the red of life may emerge. It is only because this background matrix (in this case represented by the form of mountain and sea as symbols of the cycle of water) remains stable despite their fluctuations, that the red of life which we may perceive as dangerous can become manifest. This message speaks more to the fundamental elements that make up the intricate balance of the natural world, and perhaps something about how the seismographic lines representing human understanding may seem striking but are in fact momentary and in stark contrast to the overall harmony of nature. Alot of contemporary art the
IBP/kmb
world over is primarily focused on addressing current issues such as environmental destruction, social injustice, consumerism, identity politics and the like, however a broader or spiritual vision is often neglected. Creating art from a spiritual basis does not mean ignoring what currently is but rather considering what currently is in light of what always is. The B to B exhibition is of particular interest because all the art works on display express something about contemporary issues without neglecting aesthetics, relevance and spirituality. Apart from the differences in approach that each individual artist uses it is also interesting to see the overall similarities as well as the particular differences of these artists in their approach to moth method and content. B to B will be showing at Komaneka Gallery on Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud until January 23. (kmb)
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Bali News
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Surviving with pandanus bags and bamboo products
DENPASAR — Since 1970, most of the residents of Belega village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, have bamboo furniture business. For nearly three decades, the village is triumphing over its bamboo products. Every day the shops along Jalan Raya Belega are visited by foreign tourists happening to pass by. There are always shops stopped in by container trucks to transport handicraft items.
It is the main route frequently passed when guests go to various areas in Bali. Unfortunately, after the construction of bypass road, the path is rarely passed again. Coupled with the Bali bombing incident, the art shops around the area are increasingly slumped. Visitors rarely dropped in the art shops. This condition also happens to the art shop belonging to the parents of Ni Kadek Ana Yuliani. Her parents’ art shop formerly became the target of guests because of their furniture products. Various products made from bamboo, pandanus and coconut shell are in line at the art shops. The products include food and drink container, glass of coconut shell, keben (plaited basket), ritual paraphernalia, lamp shade, garden lights, torch, chopsticks, tissue box, lamp holder as well as spoon of rice. By understanding the market demand, Ana continues her parents’ business by opening a new art shop. Pandanus bags and cotton bags are the flagship products. In addition to bamboo product, she also makes typical craft products from dried
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
International
Hawaii says lack of adequate fail-safe measures led to false missile alert
HONOLULU - Human error and a lack of adequate fail-safe measures during a civil defense warning drill led to the false missile alert that stirred panic across Hawaii over the weekend, a state emergency management agency spokesman acknowledged on Sunday.
Since 1970, most of the residents of Belega village, Blahbatuh, Gianyar, have bamboo furniture business. pandanus leaves of Belega village. She attempts not to leave the village characteristic. Marketing strategy by opening an art shop is not the main option. When starting the business in 2015, she starts from online. As if she could read the market trend, Ana’s product becomes well known. Until 2017, the online sales system seemed to rule the product marketing. However, after nearly three years of operation, Ana finally opened an off-line art shop.
IBP/kmb
It is done to strengthen the trust of her customers that she is a serious business player. “Now, Ana has owned an art shop, so the existing customers are more confident,” she said. Previously, with the online shop she could sell up to 10 packages of products. By opening art shop, she almost delivers some orders every day plus direct purchase to her art shop. She selects pandan bag to be a superior product because it is
unique and more eco-friendly. Thus, she just needs to bring the designs, materials and sizes to the craftsman around her home. According to her, the number of craftsmen today has reduced unlike in the 1990s. Many craftsmen already changed professions into employees and security guards. It happens because bamboo products are no longer in demand. Nevertheless, Ana does not want to leave out the craft. She is confident that her creative products can
be the economic backbone. Surely, these days her products are more in demand in the local markets and even in the circle of young people. Being an employee does not stop her from doing her creativity. Amid her office work, Ana still meets customer orders. Ultimately, she decided to stop working and focus on entrepreneurship. At the age of 26, Ana wants to become a young entrepreneur who creates job opportunities for other people around her. (kmb40)
NEGARA — Waste disposal to the beach remains to be easily found on the coast of Jembrana as in a number of business premises located on the beach at Yeh Kuning village, Jembrana and Cupel village in Negara subdistrict. A number of sewer pipes serving to dispose of waste are extended directly to the beach. Ironically, the sewer pipelines are located on the beach coincidently used as location to float cremation ashes and melasti purificatory rite. As seen on Yeh Kuning Beach, Jembrana subdistrict, the disposal pipe leading to the beach causes a coastal dam due to the wastewater disposal. As observation made last week, two medium-sized pipes
were exuding turbid and smelly water. In the vicinity of the beach near Segara Yeh Kuning Temple is often visited by local people and taken advantage as the place of nganyut or floating cremation ashes. However, amid this dark sandy beach is split by the basin becoming the drain formed by the drainage pipe to the beach. The suspected waste water is dense and smelly. Incidentally, in that afternoon, the water was flowing with a pretty striking smell. The pipe sticks out from a high-fenced building on the beach. According to residents encountered, the pipeline is suspected to be a drainage channel from shrimp ponds on the beach. The water only comes
out of the pipe in certain moment, especially after shrimp harvest. Indeed this condition has been often complained by surrounding residents, especially those who perform activities at the locations as the odor generated is quite stinging especially during disposal. In addition to Yeh Kuning Beach, a similar condition also appears at Cupel village. The water channel connected to the beach comes from shrimp farming business. Head of the Jembrana Environment Agency, I Ketut Kariadi Erawan, when asked for his confirmation via phone was not responded. When contacted again via short message was not answered, either. (kmb20)
Elaborating on the origins of Saturday’s false alarm, which went uncorrected for nearly 40 minutes, spokesman Richard Rapoza said the employee who mistakenly sent the missile alert “has been temporarily reassigned” to other duties. Rapoza said an internal investigation of the blunder would be completed by week’s end and that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency welcomed outside review by the Federal Communications Commission, which has jurisdiction over wireless U.S. alert systems. Rapoza also said that no further drills of the emergency alert system would be conducted until
new measures were put in place to reduce the chance of future false alarms and to swiftly withdraw any warnings sent in error. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said on Sunday that the agency’s probe of the incident so far suggested “reasonable safeguards or process controls” were lacking, a point that Rapoza said officials at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency did not dispute. The error occurred when, in the midst of a drill during a shift change at the agency, an employee made the wrong selection from a “drop-down” computer menu, choosing to activate a missile launch warning instead of the op-
tion for generating an internal test alert, Rapoza said. The employee, believing the correct selection had been made, then went ahead and clicked “yes” when the system’s computer prompt asked whether to proceed, Rapoza said. Governor David Ige initially said on Saturday that “an employee pushed the wrong button.” The resulting message, issued amid heightened international strains over North Korea’s development of ballistic nuclear weapons, stated: “EMERGENCY ALERT BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” (rtr)
Waste disposal on the beach rampant
IBP/olo
Waste disposal to the beach remains to be easily found on the coast of Jembrana as in a number of business premises located on the beach at Yeh Kuning village, Jembrana and Cupel village in Negara subdistrict.
Instagram/@sighpoutshrug/via REUTERS
An electronic sign reads “There is no threat” in Oahu, Hawaii, U.S., after a false emergency alert that said a ballistic missile was headed for Hawaii, in this January 13, 2018 photo obtained from social media.
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REUTERS
Migrant walks past the fence which secures the approach to the city from migrants trying to reach Britain, in Calais, France, September 21, 2016.
France expects UK to pay up, take more refugees to keep border - official
PARIS - France expects Britain to agree to take more asylum seekers and pay more for border security in order to maintain a frontier on the French side of the Channel, a French government official said. Britain’s border was extended into France under a 2003 bilateral treaty known as the Le Touquet accord. But a migration crisis and the Brexit vote to leave the European Union have made the arrangement an increasing source of friction. The deal will be on the table on Thursday when President Emmanuel Macron holds talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May at a AngloFrench summit in southern England. Asked if concrete announcements are expected at the talks, the source said: “Yes. But is it all finalised? Absolutely not.” France’s Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, who has taken the lead on talks, was quoted by the Le Parisen newspaper on Sunday saying he hoped an “additional protocol” to supplement the Le Touquet accord could be agreed upon. His comments indicated Macron has dropped a campaign promise to renegotiate the Le Touquet accord in full. “We’re still negotiating. There is back and forth. Nothing is locked in yet. The British have shaken on nothing but there’s a lot of pressure on them,” said the official familiar with Collomb’s thinking. If no deal can be struck, France could tear up the Le Touquet accord and the two countries would have to reinstate borders on each side of the English Channel, the source said, adding that this was not in the interest of either side. “Our understanding is that they will pay more. The question is how much and for what,” said the source, adding that the two sides are in daily contact ahead of the summit. “We have let them know of our
needs and a figure, we’re talking tens of millions of euros.” Some pro-Brexit lawmakers from Britain’s ruling Conservative party have branded suggestions London pay more as “absurd”. A spokesman for the British Home Office (interior ministry) said: “We work closely with the French authorities at all levels to reduce migrant pressures and target criminal gangs involved in people trafficking, both in northern France and further afield.” DETENTION CENTRE, REPATRIATIONS Macron will travel to Britain two days after visiting the northern port city of Calais, the final stopping point for migrants striving to cross the English Channel. Calais has borne the brunt of the migration crisis in France and at its peak up to 10,000 migrants squatted in a sprawling camp dubbed “The Jungle”, before former president Francois Hollande sent in bulldozers. Paris has complained that it shoulders too much of the financial burden and handles more than its share of asylum cases, while Macron said in 2016 before becoming president that there would be no migrants in Calais if the accord unravelled. Britain had paid 140 million euros ($171 million) in the past three years towards border and security infrastructure, but that this needed to be increased in the future, the official, who declined to be named, told Reuters. Other options included Britain co-financing a detention centre for illegal migrants, organising repatriation flights and assisting with expulsions, the source said. France is also asking for legal provisions to ensure Britain accepts more refugees, the official said, adding that it could take more unaccompanied minors under the terms of EU rules. (rtr)
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Science
International
Chinese ‘rainbow dinosaur’ had iridescent feathers like hummingbirds
WASHINGTON - There’s not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There’s an iridescent dinosaur. Scientists on Monday announced the discovery of a crow-sized, bird-like dinosaur with colorful feathers from northeastern China that lived 161 million years ago during the Jurassic Period. They named it Caihong, the Mandarin word for rainbow. Microscopic structures in the exquisitely preserved, nearly complete fossil unearthed in Hebei Province indicated that it boasted iridescent feathers, particularly on its head, neck and chest, with colors that shimmered and shifted in the light, like those of hummingbirds. The discovery “suggests a more colorful Jurassic World than we previously imagined,” said evolutionary biologist Chad Eliason of the Field Museum in Chicago, one of the researchers in the study published in the journal Nature Communications. Using powerful microscopes, t h e scientists detected
within the feathers the remnants of organelles called melanosomes responsible for pigmentation. Their shape determines the color. Caihong’s feathers had pancake-shaped melanosomes similar to those of hummingbirds with iridescent feathers. Much of its body had dark feathers, but ribbon-like iridescent feathers covered its head and neck. While it possessed many bird-like characteristics, the researchers doubted it could actually get airborne. Its plumage could have attracted mates while also providing insulation. Caihong was a two-legged predator with a Velociraptor-like skull and sharp teeth, probably hunting small mammals and lizards. It had crests above its eyes that looked like bony eyebrows.
Many dinosaurs possessed feathers. Birds evolved from small feathered dinosaurs near the end of the Jurassic Period. Caihong had fuzzy feathers and pennaceous ones, those that look like writing quills. It is the earliest-known creature with asymmetrical feathers, a trait used by birds to steer when flying. Caihong’s were on its tail, suggesting tail feathers, not arm feathers, were first utilized for aerodynamic locomotion. “It is extremely similar to some early birds such as Archaeopteryx,” said paleontologist Xing Xu of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, referring to the earliest-known bird, which lived 150 million years ago. “Its forelimbs were configured like wings. To be honest, I am not sure what function the feathers have, and I don’t think that you can completely exclude the possibility that the feathers helped the animal to get in the air.” (rtr)
An illustration of a reconstruction of the iridescent dinosaur which had rainbow feathers, named Caihong juji, unearthed in China, is shown in this October 31, 2016 photo released on Jan. 15, 2018.
Bali News
International
3
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Tegenungan waterfall still overflowing
Tourists banned from visiting
IBP/net
A total of 31 small satellites were launched into space on Friday. More than half of the micro and nano satellites were for the Unites States, and the remainder India, Canada, Finland, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
India sends its 100th satellite into space to watch borders
NEW DELHI - India launched its 100th satellite on Friday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to project the country as a global low-cost provider of services in space. A total of 31 small satellites were launched into space on Friday. More than half of the micro and nano satellites were for the Unites States, and the remainder India, Canada, Finland, France, South Korea and the United Kingdom. “The launch of the 100th satellite by @ isro signifies both its glorious achievements and also the bright future of India’s space programme,” Modi said on Twitter. India’s space programme has a budget of around $4 billion and Modi’s government hopes the latest launches will improve its prospects of winning a larger share of the more than $300 billion global space industry. Modi’s government has been promoting a domestic space programme as a demonstration of low-cost technology and last February launched 104 satellites in a single mission, most of them for foreign customers. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) used its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C40), part of an advanced remote sensing satellite Cartosat-2 series or “eye in the sky”, for the Friday launch from Sriharikota in southern Andhra Pradesh state at 9.28 a.m. (3:58 GMT). The rocket weighs about 1,323 kgs, said a senior official at state-run ISRO, who did not wish to be named. India will use its latest satellites for better border surveillance and obtaining high resolution images of the earth. “PSLV-C40 is a highly sophisticated surveillance tool to keep an eye on Indian borders and will help the government track progress of infrastructure projects,” said Pallava Bagla, a science writer and co-author of “Reaching for the Stars: India’s Journey to Mars.” Two scientists at ISRO said images collected by the satellites will be used by the Indian security agencies to track military activities in neighbouring Pakistan, China, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Nepal. (rtr)
GIANYAR — Tegenungan waterfalls in Kemenuh village, Sukawati, were still overflowing as of Friday (Jan 12). The management of the site have therefore have therefor banned tourist from going down to the 30 meter-high waterfalls so visitors have to be content to view the waterfalls from the perch some distance away. Chief operator of Tegenungan waterfall, I Gusti Made Raka, said on Friday (Jan. 12) that ongoing heavy rains are to blame for the closure of the site as the flooding river can be dangerous. After just a few hours of heavy rain, he said the river floods over. “There has been flooding on and off for the last month. If there is heavy rain up north the river is sure to flood even if there is not rain here”, he said. Even though visitors cannot go down to the foot of the Tegunungan waterfalls, Raka explained that the site is still open to visitors. “There are both foreign and domestic visitors everyday”, he said. Raka explained that visitors are however restricted to viewing the waterfalls from above. “We consider it dangerous to go down to the river, but people can still enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area:, he explained. Apart from the strong currents of the river, the area around the waterfalls are also dangerous now as heavy rains mean that the land around the falls can be quite unstable. “During a rainy season like, the land around the waterfalls because very unstable. We are just trying to prevent unwanted things from happening”, he said. The biggest flooding, said Raka, occurred on Saturday and Sunday (Jan 6-7), when the volume of water in waterfalls increased many times over. The extremely large volume of water caused a number of tourism facilities to be washed away by the river current. “In all the years we have been managing these falls, there has never been such a big flood”, he said. The water also washed away several stalls south of the waterfall attraction. “Total losses form the flooding amount to the tens of millions of rupiah”, explained Raka. (kmb35)
Penglipuran village, one of tourism villages in Bangli.
IBP/kmb
Tourism villages in Bangli seem to run separately
BANGLI — The existence of tourism villages in Bangli seems to run on their own. This condition is inseparable from the lack of support given by district government of Bangli in the development of tourism villages. This was said by Chairman of the Bangli House of Representatives, Ngakan Kutha Parwata, on Sunday (Jan. 14).
IBP/kmb35
Tegenungan waterfalls in Kemenuh village, Sukawati, were still overflowing.
Kutha Parwata mentioned there are 26 tourism villages in Bangli. He considered the tourism villages in Bangli are not running optimally. Only a few villages are developing. According to him, this happens because the support of Bangli district in terms of facilities and infrastructural development is minimal. “Now, there is impression if the tourism villages are running independently,” he said. He said the potential in the tourism village arising from the bottom should be addressed by relevant agencies. This politician from Bangbang village mentioned that in developing the tourism village, one of the supports that can be given by district government is in the form of infrastructural improvement. To support the tourism village,
the existence of regional agencies in the district government of Bangli must make a synergy. It cannot be handled by single agency namely the tourism and culture agency. For example, to improve road infrastructure, it must be handled by the Public Works Agency while the landscaping must be assisted by the Environment Agency. He admitted that his institution strongly supports the existence of tourism village in Bangli as proved by proposing the budget allocation for the formation of tourism awareness group (Pokdarwis) in 2017. Through the Pokdarwis, tourism villages have been given training. In the meantime, the Division Head of Object Development of the Bangli Tourism and Culture Agency, Wayan Bona, when
confirmed last Sunday said that related to the existence of the tourism village, the district government of Bangli has facilitated by providing legal instrument that the village concerned has the status as tourism village. Meanwhile, the development is carried out by the respective tourism village. According to regent regulation related to tourism village, he said, the construction of supporting facilities for the development of tourism village can use the village allocation fund (ADD) owned by each village. “Associated with the assets, we have difficulties. Moreover, this asset must be clear. To be safe, the village is free to build its own as long as it has the status of tourism village,” said Bona. (kmb40)
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Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Bali News
International
3,167 residents remain in evacuation in Rendang
Entering peak of rainy season
Public appeal to beware of strong winds
MANGUPURA —Bali is currently entering the peak of the rainy season. In the next three days there I the potential for moderate to heavy rain in the daytime in Cenral Bali, East Bali and West Bali. Night rains are likely to occur in southern Bali. When contacted on Sunday (Jan. 14), the forecaster on duty of the National Weather Service (BBMKG) for Region III Denpasar, Lia, said wind conditions have increased over the past several days, but have been brief. .“The wind spreeds vary. On average, they blow at about 30-40 km / hour for a few minutes”, she said. She explained, that the short burst of high winds are normal especially during the rainy season. People are however being asked to to be aware of the potential for heavy rains, strong winds and lightening. “Normally, the current wind conditions are in the range of 5-20 km per hour. This can however suddenly change as winds suddenly increase followed by rain – or not”, she explained. Responding to these conditions, the BBMKG for Region III Denpasar has issued an appeal to to the public to remain aware of the potential for sudden strong winds that last for a short period of time. On Sunday afternoon (Jan. 14) around 14:30, strong winds that lasted for a few minutes caused stall vendors on Jalan Batu Mejan, Echo Beach to have their merchandise flown about by the wind. In addition to wind, Lia said that there has also been an increase in sea waves in the waters of southern Bali with waves reaching as high as 3.5 meters. “This has been happening for the last two days”, she added. (kmb23)
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The Dokar in Denpasar
To support Heritage City Tour
Free decorated gig ride continues
DENPASAR —The Denpasar Heritage City Tour’s ornamented ‘gig’ ride has been welcomed by residents of Denpasar. The ‘gig’ is a traditional means of transportation that the Municipality of Denpasar is using to cater to tourists. Since the ‘gig tour’ was officially launched in October 2017, foreign tourists and even local residents of Denpasar have been enjoying the gig as a way to visit the city. . Seeing the enthusiasm that the gig ride has elicited from both tourists and local people, the Municipality of Denpasar through the Denpasar Tourism Office decided to provide free gig rides throughout 2018 on Saturdays and Sundays at 09:00 – 15:00. Mayor of Denpasar, Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, said that the ornamental ‘gig’ has a been a real breakthrough in drawing tourists. “I think it is the right thing to do. We still have traditional means of transporta-
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
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B Hotel and Spa offer unfogetable
After dangerous radius reduced to 6 km
AMLAPURA —After the dangerous radius for Mount Agung was reduced by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) from 10 km to 6 km, thousands of people have returned home from their refuge in the subdistrict of Rendang. There are however still thousands of people who are still living in evacuation posts scateres across several villages. Subdistrict head of Rendang, I Wayan Mastra, said on Sunday (Jan. 14) that following the PVMBG ‘s recommendation to reduce the dangerous radius from 10 km to 6 km few days ago, quite a lot of people returned to their homes located outside of the 6 km zone. Of the 7,000 or so people who were evacuated to 5 villages in Rendang most have returned home but there are also many who remain in evacuation posts. “They consist of 167 evacuees in Pempatan village, 82 in Menanga village, 1,716 in Rendang 993 in Nongan village and 209 in Pesanan village. So the total number of the evacuees now in Rendang subdistrict is 3,167 people”, he said. Mastra explained that everyone who returned home did so because they considered it safe to go back to their village. The camp officers did not compel anyone to leave, though people from villages within the 6 km radius have been advised to remain in evacuation as there is still the possibility of a risk for their villages. “They indeed went home on their own, transporting their luggage using their own car or that of a relative and some people even went home on motorcycle”, he said Mastra added that the number of evacuees is likely to decrease. Many people whose villages are located with the 6 kilometer radius that is considered dangerous will remain in the refuge as they are afraid to return home given that Mount Agung is still active and an eruption could happen again at any time. “For the time being (Sunday—Ed), there are no reports of of other people returning home, but we cannot say for sure what will happen tomorrow. It is possible that more people from areas outside of the 6 km radius will return home if they feel it safe to do so. We are still facilitating everyone who remains in the evacuation posts”, added Mastra. (kmb41)
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tion that need to be preserved. Gig coachmen who had been out of work are excited to do their job again. We are supporting this profession”, he explained. Similar opinion was also conveyed by Deputy Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, who said: “Through this program, coachmen can do their job again as they did long ago, so I really appreciate that about this program. Also visiting Denpasar by gig makes a holiday really nice”, he said. Head of the Denpasar Tourism
Office, Dezire Mulyani, said she will carry on this program as an innovative development of tourism in Denpasar. “On Saturdays and Sundays, the ornamental gig will grace Denpasar with free rides”. Hopefully tourists and others will take advantage of it”, she said. The Denpasar Heritage City Tour offers a tour of destinations that include the temple, palace and market as well as performances such as traditional dance, gamelan and mejejahitan (preparation of offerings). (kmb12)
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
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Japanese pop group chants cryptocurrency choruses TOKYO - A Japanese pop group hopped on the bitcoin bandwagon on Friday, dedicating themselves to singing and dancing about the cryptocurrencies that have taken the world by storm, and especially their homeland. In their debut, the eight “Virtual Currency Girls”, or Kasotsuka Shojo in Japanese, cavorted in maid costumes with frilly skirts and fullface professional wrestling-style masks with fuzzy pom-pom ears, extolling the virtues of decentralised digital currencies such as bitcoin. “They’re so convenient you kind of have to wonder why we didn’t have them before,” said Rara Naruse, 18, the group’s leader. “We want everyone to learn more about them.” Each group member adopted the guise of a different cryptocurrency, offering a brief self-introduction to 20 fans gathered at the venue in downtown Tokyo. Then they launched into “The Moon, Cryptocurrencies and Me”, a stirring anthem incorporating lines such as “Be careful about
your password! Don’t use the same one!” to warn against the dangers of trading cryptocurrency, and also more obscure ones, in English, such as “Hot day, forget myself, go to the moon.” Naruse emphasized on the group’s website that it is not out to promote investment, but rather to teach people about cryptocurrencies in an entertaining way. The maid costumes aimed to raise the group’s popularity with the use of a globally recognisable “uniform,” she added. Naturally, all merchandise sold at the venue is paid for in bitcoin, as are concert tickets and the members’ salaries. “I know absolutely nothing about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but I want to make sure I have some on hand for further concerts and to buy merchandise,” said fan Kensaku Nagao, 46. Japan and South Korea are home to some of the bigger digital exchanges, with investors piling in as growth in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies soared last year, provoking regulators’ concerns. (rtr)
REUTERS
Members of Japan’s idol group “Virtual Currency Girls”.
Cast member Dwayne Johnson attends a news conference promoting his new film “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” in Beijing, China, January 4, 2018.
‘Jumanji’ Dominates MLK Weekend, ‘The Post’ Leads Newcomers REUTERS/Jason Lee
LOS ANGELES - Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is dominating the North American box office to easily win the four-day Martin Luther King Jr. weekend with about $33.4 million at 3,849 sites, estimates showed Sunday. Fox’s “The Post” is leading the rest of the pack handily and topped forecasts with $22.2 million at 2,819 locations for FridayMonday after expanding from 36 sites. The opening of Lionsgate’s Liam Neeson’s thriller “The Commuter” also topped expectations in third place with $16 million at 2,892 venues. The fifth weekend of DisneyLucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” with $14.7 million at 3,090 sites is fourth and Fox’s fourth weekend of “The Greatest Showman” with $14.5 million at 2,938 screens takes fifth place at the holiday box office. Warner. Bros.’ launch of family comedy “Paddington 2” was battling for sixth place with Uni-
versal’s second weekend of “Insidious: The Last Chapter” with about $14.1 million each. Sony’s launch of action-thriller “Proud Mary” came in eighth with $12 million at 2,125 sites followed by Universal’s fourth weekend of “Pitch Perfect” with $6.7 million at 2,505 sites and Focus Features’ eighth weekend of “Darkest Hour” with $5.7 million at 1,693 venues. Overall business was solid rather than spectacular with a fourday total in the $190 million range, according to comScore. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” which will finish the holiday with nearly $290 million in 29 days, now ranks as the eighth highest grosser released in 2017. “’Jumanji’ has in essence hit
the reset button and is now behaving more like a film in its second weekend rather than its fourth,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst with comScore. “In the wake of a startling late run ascension to the number one spot, ‘Jumanji’ continues to energize the early 2018 box office marketplace while this weekend taking on a host of wide release newcomers.” Disney noted Sunday that “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” had reached a worldwide total of $1.264 billion, topping Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” ($1.263 billion) and Universal’s “The Fate of the Furious” ($1.236 billion) to become the top global release of 2017 and the tenth-highest global release of all time. (rtr)
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Antara Foto/Elo via REUTERS
Workers and security examine the damage after a mezzanine floor collapsed at the Indonesia Stock Exchange building in Jakarta, Indonesia January 15, 2018 in this photo taken by Antara Foto.
Scores injured as Indonesia stock exchange building lobby floor collapses
JAKARTA - A mezzanine floor overlooking the main lobby of the Indonesian Stock Exchange building collapsed on Monday, injuring scores of people, many of them students, under slabs of concrete and other debris. The high-rise building, constructed in the late 1990s, is part of a twotower complex in the heart of the financial district and houses dozens of other offices including the World Bank. It was the target of a car bombing by Islamist militants in September 2000. Police ruled out a bomb as a cause of Monday’s collapse. They said more than 70 people had been injured, but no deaths had been reported. Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan visited the site and said the city will “audit the building”, which was last inspected by authorities in May. “I have conveyed to the building’s management that the audit of the construction should start tonight so that the activities of the
stock exchange are not disturbed,” Baswedan told reporters. Safety standards are often loosely enforced in Indonesia. Last year, a fire that ripped through a fireworks factory on the outskirts of Jakarta killed around 50 people in one of the country’s worst industrial accidents. A police investigation found multiple safety violations. Many of the injured were university students who were on the mezzanine floor when it collapsed.
“There was a rumbling noise but it wasn’t an explosion. It was like something had fallen, and suddenly the floor we were standing on fell away,” said student Alfita, 20, who uses one name. She escaped with light bruises. Dramatic CCTV footage aired on television showed a floor shearing away in a matter of seconds under the students. Reuters could not immediately authenticate the video. “Slabs of concrete started to
fall, there was lots of dust. Water pipes had burst,” said Megha Kapoor, who works in the building and was in the lobby at the time. Police cordoned off the complex as people fled the building and the more seriously injured were taken away by stretcher. Triana Tambunan, business development manager at MRCC Siloam hospital, one of the hospitals near the building, said 30 people had been admitted so far. Victims were being treated at four hospitals. “The bone fractures may be serious. We need to carry out further evaluations,” she said, adding there were at least three suspected fractures.
Stock exchange president director Tito Sulistio said the exchange would pay for the treatment of the visiting students. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she hoped the collapse would not affect investor confidence in the tropical Southeast Asian archipelago. The exchange resumed business in the afternoon as per schedule. (rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http:// globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http:// radioglobalfmbali.com and http:// ustream.tv/channel/global-fm-bali.