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
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Entertainment
Friday, December 19, 2014
Green Day, Reed, Starr into rock hall NEW YORK — The punk trio Green Day, poet of the New York underground Lou Reed and “Lean on Me” singer Bill Withers will lead a new class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. The hall announced Tuesday that it will also welcome Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, who famously sang about loving rock ‘n’ roll, and make Ringo Starr the fourth ex-Beatle enshrined as an individual. Besides Reed, the class includes other posthumous inductees Paul Butterfield and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The 30th annual induction ceremony will be held at Cleveland, Ohio’s Public Hall next April 18. Public tickets go on sale Thursday. Green Day made it in the group’s first year of eligibility. The Bay Area band led by Billie Joe Armstrong made the 1990s slackers anthem “Dookie” and hit a peak with the politicallythemed concept disc “American Idiot” a decade later. Armstrong also starred in a Broadway musical based on “American Idiot.” Reed, who died in October 2013 following complications from a liver transplant, is already in the hall as a member of the Velvet Underground. He was at his best exploring the underside of his home city, in the hit “Walk on the Wild Side” and fierce crack-era album “New York.” Withers brought a jazz and funk touch to 1970s era singersongwriter material like “Ain’t No Sunshine,” ‘’Use Me” and “Just the Two of Us.” He hasn’t released new music in nearly three decades. Jett emerged from the allfemale punk-era pioneers the Runaways to lead a band of men with punchy hits, none bigger than the declaration “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” “I’m still collecting my thoughts, but the feeling is surreal. I’ve always focused on making music for the art of it, and its ability to reach others,”
Jett said in a written statement. “I am truly honored that my music has been recognized by the great rock and roll community that voted me in.” The Paul Butterfield Blues Band married blues and rock during the 1960s, led by its leader’s harmonica and the lead guitar of Mike Bloomfield. Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was a 1980s prodigy for his work with band Double Trouble on songs like “Pride and Joy” and “Texas
The “5’’ Royales will be inducted in the early influence category. The former gospel group recorded the original version of “Dedicated to the One I Love,” which became a hit later for the Shirelles and the Mamas & the Papas. Inductees are chosen by a vote of more than 700 artists, historians and music industry representatives. An artist needed to have first released material no later than 1989. The Rock Hall of Fame, which is based in Cleveland, will open a new exhibit dedicated to the 2015 inductees. (ap)
Flood.” Like hero Jimi Hendrix his life was cut short, dying in a 1990 plane crash. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is being given a special award for musical excellence. He anchored the Beatles’ sound and had a productive solo career, even beating his former mates to the top of the charts. He continues to record and tour with a revolving All-Starr Band. The Beatles are already in the hall, as are John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison as solo artists.
WEATHER FORECAST 23 - 32 Dps
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Australian leader: Siege may have been preventable
Liverpool getting back to their best, says Rodgers
Cubans hope for better future with US-Havana deal
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Triggered by low season and room growth
Hotel occupancy rate in Bali slumps
MANGUPURA - The arrival of foreign travelers early December, according to tourism players especially those getting involved in hospitality, is still sluggish. They still restraint from spending holidays to the Island of the Gods until the middle of this month, other than caused by the uncontrolled growth in the number of hotel rooms.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
IBP/Net
Timberlake, Biel expecting first child
“Earlier this month (Dec—Ed) is low season, so that travelers still refrain from coming to Bali. By and large, their arrival will jump on the second or third week before Christmas and New Year holidays,” said Secretary General of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter, Ferry Markus, in Kuta. According to him, the low tourist arrivals could be seen from the
average occupancy rate or occupancy of rooms in Bali amounting to less than 50 percent. “I estimate the room occupancy rate in Bali is now averagely less than 50 percent for star hotels. Probably, for hotels in Badung are higher than that number, but averagely they are still low,” he said. Even though it was unlike in previous years, Ferry Markus predicted that tourist arrivals to
Bali to celebrate the end of the year would surge. The drop of room occupancy rate every year was triggered by the uncontrolled growth of hotel rooms. “Our forecast for Bali in general, there will be definitely a surge at that time (yearend celebration—Ed), although it will not happen like a couple of years ago because too many hotel rooms are available. In the past, we
scrambled because many travelers came, while hotel rooms was still limited. On the contrary, the current number of hotel room is a lot compared to the incoming travelers,” he said. Such conditions, admitted Ferry Markus, had an impact on the price of hotel room, where entrepreneurs could not raise the price during peak season. “In the past, there was a price increase during high season, commonly known as high season surcharge. Now, it is difficult to raise the price due to tight competition among many hotels. Similarly, many new ho-
tels emerge, so that it is difficult to raise the room rate, let alone approach the normal price. Even, many discounted rates are widely offered today,” he complained. He argued that to increase occupancy rates, the number of travelers coming to Bali should be increased. “The key is how to bring in more travelers continuously so that the existing rooms can be filled. The moratorium is too far because many hotels have been heavily established,” he said.
Continued on page 6
NEW YORK - Heartthrob couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are expecting their first child, Timberlake’s former bandmate says.
Jason DeCrow/ Invision/AP, File
In this Sunday, April 7, 2013, file photo, Billy Joe Armstrong performs during a Green Day concert at the Barclays Center, in New York.
Joey Fatone, who performed with Timberlake in the b o y band ‘NSync, confirmed Biel’s long-rumored pregnancy in an interview to be released Wednesday. “He told me a while ago, and I kept my mouth shut,” Fatone told In Touch Weekly. “Jessica is awesome, and Justin is a
kid at heart,” he was quoted as telling the magazine. Timberlake, 33, made his start as a child television star before joining ‘NSync. He more recently has become one of the music industry’s most popular solo singers and has starred in movies including the Facebook-themed drama “The Social Network.” Timberlake in 2012 married Biel, 32, who has found success both on television and in film. (afp)
ANTARA FOTO/Fikri Yusuf
Tourists surfing at Balangan Beach, Badung Regency, Bali Island recently. The arrival of foreign travelers early December, according to tourism players especially those getting involved in hospitality, is still sluggish.
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International
Friday, December 19, 2014
Bali News
International
Activities
Friday, December 19, 2014
15
IBP/Courtesry of Archipelago International
Segara Temple at Tinga-Tinga eroded by sea waves
SINGARAJA - The area of Segara Temple at Tinga-Tinga customary village, Gerokgak, is now in alarming condition. The temple area is now eroded by severe abrasion. Even, a courtyard shrine has collapsed as the foundation was eroded by ferocious waves. For this condition, through the village official, residents already requested assistance to government in order to deal with the severely abraded beach. As information gathered in the field, severe abrasion had taken place since a few years ago. Initially, the waves eroded the shoreline bordering with the eastern side of compound wall of the Animal Quarantine Office at Celukan Bawang. From the east end, the abrasion continued to worsen and broke down the compound wall of the Animal Quarantine Office. Not only that, the brunt of the waves each year continued to erode the shoreline so that it threatened the area of Segara Temple of Tinga-Tinga. A courtyard shrine of the local temple was already swept away by tidal waves eroding the foundation. Customary villages becoming the supporting devotees of the local temple were anxious before the piodalan or temple anniversary because the temple area was eroded, so that the area was not enough to prepare the ritual paraphernalia of the anniversary. Since the coastal damage had not long been handled, the residents got
the opportunity to deliver their aspirations when the Buleleng Regent Putu Agus Suradnyana with his team carried out a working visit 2014 to Gerokgak subdistrict, Saturday (Dec 13). Through face-to-face dialogue, the residents of Tinga-Tinga represented by the headman, I Putu Suardipa, said that following the damage to the beach in the area, residents had repeatedly reported the condition to relevant agency in Buleleng County. To that end, residents requested the local government to help deal the damage. Unfortunately, the hope of residents seemed fruitless because the help of local government never came. At that time, the Buleleng Public Works Agency had come to the site. But the officers just made a survey and measured the length of abraded shoreline. After the survey and measurement, the officers of the Public Works never came to provide information related to the follow-up of the abrasion handling. “Our residents are expecting the lo-
Favehotel wins awards
JAKARTA – Last week, Archipelago International announced that its prevailing favehotel brand received an award at Venue Magazine’s 7th Indonesia MICE Awards. On Thursday, 11 December 2014 at The Kasablanka Hall & Convention Centre in Jakarta, Venue Magazine awarded favehotel as The Most Popular Budget Hotel in Indonesia.
The abrasion is threatening the Segara Temple in Tinga-Tinga, Buleleng Regency cal government to help because the damage to beaches in our area is very serious and now the temple has been threatened. Without immediate repair, we worry the temple area will also be eroded by sea waves,” he said. Meanwhile, the Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana, when responding to the abrasion issue at Tinga-Tinga village stated that in
general the handling of damage in Northern Bali coast still relied on the funding from the state budget through the Bali-Penida River Agency (BWS). It happened because the ability of local government to address coastal damage was still hampered by funding in regional budget. Since still relying on the funding from central government, local government could
IBP/Mudiarta
not fully allocate a budget to deal with the damage. “We’ll discuss it again, and in particular I will invite the headman to discuss about the coastal damage and look for the solution. We will try to make an effort to address the coastal damage in many ways in order to get the financial support,” he affirmed. (kmb38)
Budgeted IDR 600 million
Semarapura Festival expected not to leave debts
SEMARAPURA - After the implementation of festival in Nusa Penida, Klungkung plans to hold similar event in the mainland Klungkung. The Klungkung Culture and Tourism Agency ensures the Semarapura Festival will be held next April. A total of IDR 600 million has been allocated in the regional budget 2015. Armed with bad experience in the Nusa Penida Festival, the Klungkung Culture and Tourism Agency hopes the Semarapura Festival will leave no debt. The Head of Klungkung Culture and Tourism Agency, Wayan Sujana,
recently said that other than planning weaknesses at that time, the Nusa Penida Festival, according to him, also brought in quite a positive impact on tourism development in Klungkung, especially Nusa Penida. As a result, the Regent of Klungkung, Nyoman Suwirta, was inspired to organize similar event next year. The scope would be narrowed, especially for the potential of the art and culture. As planned, the Semarapura Festival would be centered in front of the Klungkung Grand Palace for three days. Where the peak of the activity would fall on the Puputan Klungkung Day on April 28, 2015 and be coupled
with the Gathering of Archipelagic Kings. “The festival is more effective than large-scale promotion held overseas. In addition, it is better for conservation efforts,” said the official from Karangasem. From the experience in the Nusa Penida Festival, he claimed there was an increase in tourism visits from July (when the activity was held) amounting to 15,000 foreign travelers to Nusa Penida, so that increased to 21,000 foreign travelers in August. When asked about the technical activities and what would be presented, Sujana said
it would be discussed again in a joint meeting with the parties concerned. Obviously, the Semarapura Festival activities would be packed more comprehensively, so that it would not leave any debt that could become a new problem after the activity completed. As had been known, the Nusa Penida Festival was successful enough to draw the interest of travelers in Bali. However, after the activities the committee of local government aided by private sector was made confused as leaving a debt of approximately IDR 215 million, while in the main
Venue Magazine is a leading business magazine that presents up to date content and reviews, as well as innovative findings regarding the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions & Events). Each year, the Indonesia MICE Awards play a huge part in showcasing the best of the best within the industry. The objective of the Indonesia MICE Awards is to awaken, encourage, and
reward outstanding MICE stakeholders to continue to take part and promote the MICE industry in Indonesia. All of the awards, including favehotel’s Most Popular Budget Hotel in Indonesia award, were decided upon by Venue Magazine’s readers through a social media polling system, alongside a judging panel. Since launching in 2009, favehotel has been at the forefront of the budget hotel sector, redefining the industry’s
standards for select service hotels. Imaginative design and mid-market features such as high quality bedding, complimentary high-speed internet access and LCD / LED televisions have awarded the chain with a number of accolades, namely for their user-friendly website that offers instant easy bookings and best rate guarantees for internet savvy customers. “We are extremely proud of our
Enjoy long stay at Santika Kuta
Mr and Mrs. Stillman is an Australian who visited Bali to spend holiday. In this time, they choose Santika Kuta as their home stay for two weeks. “We are staying at Deluxe room. Here, we get very good service from Hotel Santika Kuta Bali. Our holiday is also very com-
plete because we are accompanied by our family,” they said. When spending holiday in Bali, they are not only enjoy the hotel facilities but also walk around some tourist object. “This is not our first to Bali, we love this. About the hotel, we like the staff. They are very
attentive, friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is very relaxing and all facilities that we need such as swimming pool and breakfast at restaurant over all are perfect. Keep up the good work for the staff. We will definitely come back on over next vacation,” Stillman delivered. (btn)
regional budget 2014 the Culture and Tourism Agency allocated approximately IDR 600 million. Implementation of the Nusa Penida itself spent more than IDR 1 billion. Although there were some sponsors, the committee could not cover the remaining debt. However, Sujana asserted the remaining debt could have been paid off at last with the help of some other sponsors. However, lately there was an issue if the remaining debt surpassing the budget allocated was alleged to have been bailed out by fictitious grants although the issue was finally denied. (kmb31)
Founder : K.Nadha, General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Suasrina, Buleleng: Dewa kusuma, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bagiarta. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. 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
IBP/BTN File Photo
favehotel brand, once again being recognized for its achievements in the hospitality industry. It pushes us to strive for even greater things whilst at the same time, proving that our hard working staff and continuous training really pays off in providing the ultimate service for our guests. Winning this award and gaining the recognition as a top budget hotel brand will undoubtedly position favehotel as an even greater leader within the hospitality industry in Indonesia.” Said Mr. Norbert Vas, VP Sales & Marketing of Archipelago International. (r)
Balinese Temple Ceremony Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc. The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion. The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines. In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Fashion
International
2014 was big on flesh nudity, leading to a court battle over fines (since overturned) and temporarily derailing her career. Jackson’s split-second slip included a now-quaint nipple shield under the piece of leather Justin Timberlake ripped off her outfit, either accidentally or on purpose. Today, flaunting one’s pasties is downright passe. Just ask Cyrus, who rocked a pair as she performed at Paper magazine’s Break the Internet party during Art Basel Miami Beach in celebration of its nakey jaunt with Kardashian. Fashion darling Alexander Wang did his part in Year of the Flesh. He previewed his new Denim x Alexander line on Instagram with a fully nude but strategically posed model chilling in an easy chair,
Friday, December 19, 2014
BPBD urges community to be vigilant DENPASAR - The Weather Services (BMKG) for Region III Denpasar predicted the peak of rainy season would take place in January and February 2015. As usual, on the peak of rainy season the potential hazards occurred would also be higher such as floods, landslides, fallen trees, tornados, high sea waves and others.
jeans pulled below the knee. In Siriano’s case, he was looking to evoke the massive glass sculptures of controversial Australian sculptor Sergio Redegalli. His core customer is more society lady than nipple-baring It girl, but he said in a recent interview the delicate sheer crystal top with pants to match is the most popular of his designs borrowed by stylists for clients and photo projects — often with a lining added. “Now, you see people are celebrating the body. It’s different. Very different,” he said. “I went there more as an inspirational fantasy, but we’ve had pretty much every publication pull that look for editorial shoots. It’s been done in art for so long and fashion is a form of art.” (afp) Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File
In this June 2, 2014 file photo, fashion Icon Award honoree Rihanna poses with her award at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall in New York.
Responding to the threat of disaster, the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has instructed the ranks and relevant agencies to deploy personnel and equipment. “To face the threat of disasters in rainy season, the BPBD Bali has agreed to a 24-hour standby both for personnel and equipment. We expect the county and municipal BPBD and related agencies to also improve their disaster preparedness and response,” said the Chief of BPBD Bali, Dewa Made Indra, when met at his office, Monday (Dec 15). He added the BPBD Bali had made coordination with relevant agencies at provincial level such as the Health, Social Services, Public Works Agency, National SAR Agency and the other related agencies to respond to and anticipate the potential for disaster in this rainy season. His party expected the Public Works Agency to pay attention to condition of roads and drains so that it would not kindle flood during heavy rains as well as the readiness
of heavy equipment. The county and municipal Sanitation and Landscaping Agency (DKP) were expected to soon do the trimming of roadside shade trees so as not to fall and endanger road users. Meanwhile, the Health Agency was expected to alert medical personnel and medical equipment to treat victims. Preparedness of the Social Services was also asked related to logistical assistance. “Our preparedness will play an important role in the face of the coming disaster,” he said. The BPBD Bali also urged people to continuously raise their awareness of the potential for disaster. “We do hope that all the people in Bali to be alert to the threat of monsoon-related disasters such as floods, landslides, fallen trees, high winds, tidal waves and others,” he said. Balinese people living at those points, said Indra, should be vigilant against the signs of nature. For example, people whose home was located on hillside should always be vigilant. When rainfall increased
IBP/Suryawan
The Weather Services (BMKG) for Region III Denpasar predicted the peak of rainy season would take place in January and February 2015. As usual, on the peak of rainy season the potential hazards occurred would also be higher such as floods, landslides, fallen trees, tornados, high sea waves and others. in intensity and took place for long time, they should go to a safer place. Then, people living in the banks of river should guard against flash floods. Coastal communities and
fishermen were advised not to go to sea when strong winds and high waves at sea happened. Likewise, people were also expected to be vigilant while at open space to
Galungan holiday shortened
Civil servants of Bali province complain
John Shearer/Invision/AP
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Singer Taylor Swift performs at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in London, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.
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Rainy season, disasters threaten
NEW YORK — Skin was definitely in, but was 2014 all about the big, bold booty or a sheer reveal up top? On runways, Marc Jacobs sent up-and-comer Kendall Jenner out during February’s New York Fashion Week with nipples clearly visible under a taupe knit top. Christian Siriano closed his show in September with ice blue crystals on a barely there trouser set, nipples on display. Look no further than awards shows, music videos and magazine covers for fuller rears, compliments of Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj, along with Jenner’s big sis Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s style icon of the year. Rihanna showed off every inch top to bottom when she collected the award, but curvy newcomer Meghan Trainor said it best in the rear department with her breakout, Grammy nominated hit: “All About that Bass.” Where would Instagram be without booty? Well, nipples gained ground in pilfered nude celebrity selfies, RiRi’s bare, pierced assets on the cover of French magazine Lui and among proud “Free the Nipple” activists, including Scout Willis and Miley Cyrus, who challenged Instagram’s ban. Scout and others flashed and pranced topless in public from New York to Moscow. A film by Lina Esco of the same name turned into a hashtag. As for the bass, Kardashian loves showing off hers and signed on to help Paper magazine with another body-baring declaration, #breaktheinternet. She did it with the pop of a Champagne cork that arched a stream of bubbly over her head into a glass resting nicely on her derriere for the cover. But she also advanced the cause of the nipple when she went fullfrontal on the magazine’s inside pages, followed soon after by a topless Madonna in Interview. Why did Kardashian do it? She said on the Australian TV show “The Project” that she loved working with famed photographer JeanPaul Goude on the Paper shoot and considered it an “art project.” “It taught me to do what you want to do. Everyone should do what they’re comfortable with, and I’m never one to preach but I felt really positive and really good about myself. I love the photos. I did it for me,” she told host Rove McManus. Alas, McManus wasn’t able to repeat the glass-balancing trick. “You don’t have as big a butt as I do,” Kardashian noted after she attempted to show him how it’s done. Backside or bare female breast — either way, it seemed light years from 2004. That’s when the live Super Bowl halftime show on CBS turned into Nipplegate for Janet Jackson, taking over chatter about
Bali News
International
Kendall Jenner arrives at the 42nd annual American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Los Angeles.
DENPASAR - Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, instructing his staff that Galungan holiday this time was only one day (on Wednesday as peak of the Galungan) reaped a protest and frustration among civil servants in the Bali provincial government. On the previous Galungan, civil servants of provincial government got a chance of optional holiday for three days from Tuesday (penampahan Galungan), Wednesday (peak of Galungan) and Thursday (Umanis Galungan). But this time, the Galungan holiday was shortened to one day. “We are disappointed with the instruction of the governor. So, we cannot celebrate Galungan solemnly. Apparently we should rush to pray,” said one of the civil servants in the Bali parliamentary secretariat, recently. Another civil servant also said that he was disappointed because it was the first time of
his Galungan holiday was shortened to one day. By all means, it was very detrimental especially for civil servants who lived far or had to return to home village on the holiday. The policy was also based on the previously issued Circular of the Bali Governor dated November 25, 2013 related to national holidays, joint leave and the dispensation of the Hindu sacred festival in Bali 2014. In the circular was mentioned that December 16, 17 and 18 were Galungan holidays. But in fact, the civil servants of Bali province were only given one-day holiday. “It means to have shortened our rights. Unfortunately, we could not resist,” said the civil servant. According to him, on Tuesday (Dec 16) and Thursday (Dec 18) the Inspectorate and the Regional Employment Agency (BKD) of Bali would enforce the gubernatorial circular to conduct unannounced inspection to the
agency offices within the Bali government in order to ensure there would be no civil servants in violation against the instruction. “It means an excessive policy for us. Our feast seems to be pursued,” said the civil servant. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Bali House, Nyoman Adi Wiryatama, claimed to understand the policy of the Bali Governor cutting off the holiday considering Galungan and Kuningan coincided with the end of the year approaching the completion of yearend financial report so that the work of government s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e d . “ We can acknowledge because it is indeed the end of the year. We expect the civil servants can understand and work as usual,” said the PDI-P politician from Tabanan. For the next Galungan he hoped there would be no reduction like this year because
it would not fall at the end of fis cal year. “H opefu lly, th e next Galungan holiday can be returned to normal holidays,” said the former Regent of Tabanan when met after a one-day seminar discussing about in the Law on Village Government in the parliamentary house. Earlier, the Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika, said the Galungan holiday policy was enacted for one day on December 17 because the Galungan celebration was coinciding with the end of the year where it was time to complete the yearend financial report. Moreover, so far there were still many unfinished tasks. With the shortening of Galungan holiday for two days, it was expected the workload could be completed properly on time before the expiry of the fiscal year 2014. “We have had a lot of holidays. So, let us work and complete the unfinished works,” said Pastika. (kmb29)
avoid lightning. In November, two Balinese people died as struck by lightning in Jembrana. “When all people are alert there will be no victims,” he said. (wid)
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Bali News
International
Rainy season, roof tile production slumps 90 percent TABANAN - Evidently rainy season is not always bringing in a blessing as experienced by roof tile artisans at Pejaten. Of course, when entering rainy season their tile production declined by 90 percent. In addition to requiring a long time to dry out their tile, craftsmen also get difficulties in obtaining raw materials.
The roof tile producer is drying his product.
IBP/Wira Sanjiwani
One of the roof tile craftsmen at Pejaten experiencing the effect of rainy season was Nyoman Sutika. He admitted that since the rainy season, his tile production declined by 90 percent. Even, due to the uncertainty about when the roof tile could dry out and be ready for sale, his party was forced to reject the purchase order of roof tile. Tile production in dry season and rainy season was very much different. Normally, in dry season, he could produce at least 3,000 pieces of roof tile and 1,000 pieces of connecting tile each day that could be completed within twice drying in dry season. From the making, drying to burning maximally took a week. However, during rainy season, all the processes could take place once a month so that it caused the tile production dropped dramatically. “When drying up, they may not be in contact with water. When exposed to any small amount of water, it will be easily broken,” he said. On that account, he should dry his roof tile carefully in rainy season. If impossible, he was forced to aerate the roof tiles under shady place. In addition to the drying process taking a long time, the other constraint faced by Sutika was the raw material of clay. According to him, slippery terrain made it difficult to take raw materials. This condition caused difficulty in obtaining raw materials from clay suppliers. “If it is hard to get, the price of raw material will surely go up,” he said. Rising price of the raw material definitely had an impact on the rising of production cost which ultimately led to the increase in the tile price. But according to Sutika, the rising
price of roof tile produced in Bali was not significant. “Normally, it cost IDR 1,000 each. At rainy season, it maximally reaches IDR 1,100,” he said. With the increase of IDR 100, according to him, it was not comparable to the amount of production so that the tile producers could not reach break-even point. On the other hand, as a craftsman with limited capital, he could not stock tiles and raw materials during dry season in order to fulfill the orders in rainy season. “To stock tile and raw materials during dry season in order to meet the demand in rainy season needs large capital,” he said. For this reason, Sutika was forced to reject some tile orders because he could not fulfill. Price increase of roof tile during rainy season, according to Sutika, was not much. The artisans did not dare to damage the tile market due to tight competition against the products from outside such as from Java. Sutika explained that Java tiles were very expensive and could reach 3,000 per piece as they were stronger. “When trampled, the Java tile will not break down. It can be strong because the clay in use is different and cannot be found in Bali,” said Sutika. Consumers of Java tile were usually from the upper middle class. As being strong, the Java tile could only be used in the buildings constructed with strong material. Meanwhile, Bali roof tile was lighter and could be used in the buildings made from standard materials. “Bali tile is also durable or can last a lifetime as long as it is not slammed or fall,” said Sutika. (kmb24)
Government facilitates fund to salt farmers
SINGARAJA - Aside from having the fishing and aquaculture potential, Buleleng also has the potential of traditional salt farming (PUGAR). To optimize this business, central government through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) facilitated the distribution of financial aid. The attention of central government was given considering the relatively large potential owned by traditional salt farming in Northern Bali and the success of farmers to develop pyramid salt. It was revealed by the Secretariat of PUGAR 2014, the Directorate
of Coastal Community Empowerment and Enterprise Development (Ditjen-KP3K) Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, M. Rusli Wattiheluw, in the presentation and facilitation of the PUGAR program in the meeting room of the Buleleng Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, Singaraja, Monday (Dec 15). Furthermore, Rusli said that Buleleng was a region in Bali being rich in quality salt-producing business in Indonesia. Moreover, Buleleng had a superior salt production in the form of pyramid salt which had been able to penetrate foreign markets. To optimize the PUGAR
management, central government tried to continuously empower the salt farmer groups including in Buleleng. This empowerment was focused on helping the capital problems. So far, the capital issue had been a constraint that had not been resolved well. “Hopefully, the facilitation of government could be accompanied with an agreement between the salt farmers and banking and cooperative sector,” he said. Meanwhile, the Resources Division Head of Bali Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency, Made Sudarsana, said that salt farmers in Buleleng were reminded to maintain
consistency of their production. The help of funding by banking and cooperative sector was expected to optimize the development of PUGAR in Buleleng. Sudarsana added that in the future the salt farmers could develop their business and become independent in terms of capital. In addition, by increasing the quality of salt and processing system they would be able to overcome the problems. Similar opinion was revealed by the Head of Buleleng Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Nyoman Sutrisna, that salt farmers in Buleleng could maintain the quality
and quantity of production. One of which, it could be realized by the use the warehousing system during rainy season. So far, according to Sutrisna, salt farmers in the region often experienced a decline in production during rainy season. Meanwhile, in 2014, the Buleleng Fisheries and Maritime Affairs already applied the geo-membrane technology for the making of salt in Buleleng. As planned, the application of the technology would be tested in 2015. With the new technology, salt farmers would be able to improve the quality and quantity of their salt production. (kmb38)
Friday, December 19, 2014
International
Key elements of US policy shift toward Cuba WASHINGTON — The U.S. and Cuba will begin taking steps to restore full diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in more than half a century. Here are the key elements of changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba, some of which President Barack Obama announced at the White House on Wednesday.
- Establishing diplomatic relations
Obama has instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba on re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba; ties were cut off in January 1961. This step includes re-opening a U.S. Embassy in the capital Havana and carrying out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments as part of the normalization process. - Expanding travel to Cuba
Easing travel under general licenses for 12 existing categories of travel to Cuba, as authorized by U.S. law. They are: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation or transmission of information or information materials; and certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines. Tourist travel remains banned. - Remittances
The amount of money anyone in the U.S. will be allowed to send to Cuban nationals, except certain government or communist party officials, will increase from $500 to $2,000 per quarter, or every three months. Early in his presidency, Obama allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans and removed a $1,200 annual cap on remittances. - Cuban Cigars
Licensed American travelers to Cuba can return home with up to $400 of merchandise, including tobacco and alcohol products worth no more than $100 combined. Any Cuban cigars brought back to the U.S. must be for personal use, not for resale.
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Cubans hope for better future with US-Havana deal
HAVANA — Cubans cheered the surprise announcement that their country will restore relations with the United States, hopeful they’ll soon see expanded trade and new economic vibrancy even though the 53-year-old economic embargo remains in place for the time being. “This opens a better future for us,” said Milagros Diaz, 34. “We have really needed something like this because the situation has been bad and the people very discouraged.” Bells tolled in celebration and teachers halted lessons midday as President Raul Castro told his country Wednesday that Cuba would renew relations with Washington after more than a half-century of hostility. Wearing his military uniform with its five-star insignia, the 83-year-old leader said the two countries would work to resolve their differences “without renouncing a single one of our principles.” Havana residents gathered around television sets in homes, schools and businesses to hear the historic national broadcast, which coincided with a statement by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington. Uniformed schoolchildren burst into applause at the news. At the University of San Geronimo in the capital’s historic center, the announcement drew ringing from the bell tower. Throughout the capital, there was a sense of
euphoria as word spread. “For the Cuban people, I think this is like a shot of oxygen, a wish-cometrue, because with this, we have overcome our differences,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a 32-year-old IT specialist. “It is an advance that will open the road to a better future for the two countries.” Fidel and Raul Castro led the 1959 rebellion that toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. The U.S. initially recognized the new government but broke relations in 1961 after Cuba veered sharply to the left and nationalized U.S.owned businesses. As Cuba turned toward the Soviet Union, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo in 1962. Particularly since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Cubans have confronted severe shortages of oil, food and consumer goods, forcing them to ration everything from beans to powdered milk.
The Cuban government blames most of its economic travails on the embargo, while Washington has traditionally blamed Cuba’s Communist economic policies. In his address, Castro called on Washington to end its trade embargo which, he said, “has caused enormous human and economic damage.” Ramon Roman, 62, said he hoped to see Cuba welcome more tourists. “It would be a tremendous economic injection, both in terms of money and in new energy and would be a boost for average people who need it,” he said. Victoria Serrano, a lab worker, said she hoped to see an influx of new goods because life in Cuba has been “really very difficult.” “In particular,” she said, “I hope we’ll see an improvement in food — that there is trade in this with the United States, which is so close. Right now, even an onion has become a luxury.”(ap)
- Financial transactions
U.S. institutions will be allowed to open accounts at Cuban financial institutions to help process authorized transactions. U.S. credit and debit cards will be accepted in Cuba. - Increasing Cubans’ access
Authorize the commercial export of certain items that will help increase the Cuban people’s ability to communicate with people in the U.S. and around the world. This will include the commercial sale of certain consumer communications devices, related software, applications, hardware, services and items to establish and update communications-related systems. Cuba has one of the lowest Internet penetration rates in the world, the White House said in a fact sheet. The cost of telecommunications on the island also is prohibitively expensive and the services offered are extremely limited. - Reviewing Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism
Kerry will immediately launch a review and report back to Obama within six months. Cuba was added to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1982. - Economic Embargo
Obama does not have the authority to fully lift the long-standing U.S. economic embargo on Cuba; only Congress can do that. In his announcement, Obama said he was doing what he can as president to update U.S. policy toward Cuba, and that he looked forward to a future “honest and serious” debate with lawmakers about overturning the embargo. Capitol Hill is divided over U.S. policy toward Cuba.(ap)
AP Photo/Desmond Boylan
People walk past a billboard showing “The Cuban Five” that reads in Spanish “End the injustice. Freedom now.” in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.
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International
Friday, December 19, 2014
BUSINESS
Consulate General of Japan holds flower show
Invite Kaoruko Sugimoto, a famous flower artist
EU summit to discuss crisis-hit Russia, economic plan
BRUSSELS - EU leaders on Thursday will discuss tense relations with Russia and punishing sanctions imposed over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine at a summit led for the first time by Poland’s Kremlin-wary former premier Donald Tusk. Leaders will also back a huge 315-billion-euro ($380billion) investment plan unveiled last month by new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker -although hard cash is expected to be lacking to help kickstart Europe’s economy. “The Russian economic situation will be in everyone’s minds,” a European diplomat said, after a month that has seen Russia spend heavily to stop the collapse of the ruble triggered by falling oil prices and sanctions imposed by Brussels and Washington. Tusk -- who on December 1 took up his duties as president of the European Council grouping the 28 EU member states -- has set aside talks on a “strategy” for Moscow, several European sources said. No new sanctions will be decided at the summit in Brussels as the EU “is not in a hardening mindset,” one diplomat said, while another added: “We don’t want to provoke Putin too much.” “We must pursue the political work,” a French source said. On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a conference call with presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, agreeing that peace talks to end months of bloody rebellion in the east of the ex-Soviet republic should resume “as soon as possible”. The EU leaders, who want to tread a line between firmness and dialogue with Moscow, must reflect on how to follow up on the heavy sanctions agreed over the summer after the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. “Everybody agrees that the sanctions have an impact but that they are not an end in themselves,” a European source said, stressing that Russia has not changed its policy one bit on Ukraine. Western powers have repeatedly accused Russia of stoking the Ukraine crisis, which has killed at least 4,700 people and displaced close to one million, by supplying weapons and troops to the rebels -- Moscow denies this. Tusk said: “The crisis in Ukraine remains a serious concern.... It is therefore important that we come out of this meeting with a clear political
Bali News
International
message.” The EU, which has already spent $1.6 billion on rescuing effectively bankrupt Ukraine, will reiterate that it is ready to do more, but only in return for reforms. Also on the table will be Juncker ’s investment plan to revive the bloc’s stalling economy, a plan that seems to have pitted Brussels against European governments. On the eve of the summit, the head of the EU’s executive branch urged EU leaders to open their wallets and add to the seed money that will be put in place over the next few months to launch the investment plan. But the 28 member states are far from stepping up. They first want to know how the plan will work, what the projects will be and what the return will be for their country at a time when their budgets are already strained. If all the subjects are wrapped up, the meeting could end Thursday evening, a first for European summits which often stretched late into a second night at the height of the eurozone debt crisis. (afp)
DENPASAR - A Japanese flower artist who has taken part in various international activities, Ms. Kaoruko Sugimoto, visited Bali. On the visit of Kaoruko Sugimoto in Bali, Consulate General of Japan held a Flower Show including seminar, Ikebana Show and demonstration of Yureru Buke (Sway Bouquet) by Ms. Kaoruko, Monday (Dec 15), at the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Denpasar.
AP Photo/Michael Probst, File
In a Monday, Nov.17, 2014 file photo, the new headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, is shown. A closelywatched survey shows German business confidence rose in November, putting an end to six consecutive months of declines.
German business confidence up for 2nd month
BERLIN — A closely watched survey shows that business confidence in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has risen for the second month in a row as managers’ outlook for the next six months brightens. The Ifo institute said Thursday its monthly confidence index rose to 105.5 points from 104.7 in November. The increase was in line with economists’ expectations. Ifo says managers’ outlook for the
It was begun with a seminar explaining about the art of flower arrangement denoting an expression of emotion and soul through flower arrangements. Meanwhile, the swaying bouquet becoming a special demonstration on the day posed an adaptation to one’s breath. “One who brings Yureru Buke will look beautiful and happy,” she said in the seminar. In the meantime, the Consulate General of Japan in Bali, Mr. Kazuo Shibata, explained the purpose of the event. He said the Flower Show aimed to introduce the florist Kaoruko Sugimoto. “And this is a rare opportunity,”
he said Monday (Dec 15). Kaoruko Sugimoto is an artist having a typical characteristic of flower arrangement by combining western culture and Japanese traditional culture. He continued that flower was a symbol of peace that could make life colorful and flower was an object that could heal the soul. “Through flowers are introduced the principle of uniting the countries in the world,” he added. Kaoruko Sugimoto is a famous flower artist among female youths who wanted to bring a series of her artificial bouquet on their happy moment such as in the wedding ceremony. (may)
coming six months improved while their assessment of the current situation was unchanged. Recent data have showed a promising increase in German factory orders, though the country’s central bank has cautioned that it expects only modest economic growth over the winter. Earlier this week, a separate survey of investor confidence rose sharply thanks at least in part to falling oil prices and a weaker euro. (ap)
US Fed slashes inflation forecast for 2015
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve has sharply cut its forecast for inflation next year, saying it will remain far below its 2 percent target through 2015. The Fed said Wednesday that it now expects inflation to fall to between 1 percent and 1.6 percent in 2015, down from a previous forecast in September of 1.6 percent to 1.9 percent. The downgrade reflects plummeting oil and gas prices.
The Fed kept its 2016 inflation forecast of 1.7 percent to 2 percent. Policymakers also boosted their forecasts for economic growth this year to as much as 2.4 percent, up from a previous estimate of 2 percent to 2.2 percent. That reflects strong growth of 4.3 percent from April through September, the healthiest pace in a decade. The Fed updated its economic forecasts after a two-day policy meeting.
The Fed has made a much smaller cut in its forecast for core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy categories. It foresees core prices rising between 1.5 percent and 1.8 percent next year, down slightly from 1.6 percent to 1.9 percent in its September projections. The lower inflation forecast gives the Fed room to keep its benchmark interest rate at its record-low level of nearly zero. Fed policymakers said in a statement
that they “can be patient” on the timing of any rate increase. Most economists expect the Fed to start raising rates in mid-2015. The increase in its 2014 growth forecast is the Fed’s first upgrade in 12 months, since it boosted its 2013 outlook. The Fed has steadily lowered its projections for this year since June 2013, when it forecast growth of about 3.25 percent. (ap)
IBP/Eka Adhiyasa
A Japanese flower artist who has taken part in various international activities, Ms. Kaoruko Sugimoto, visited Bali. On the visit of Kaoruko Sugimoto in Bali, Consulate General of Japan held a Flower Show including seminar.
Friday, December 19, 2014
5
The renowned Legong of Peliatan
Popularity of the Legong Dance of Peliatan village, Ubud subdistrict, Gianyar, occurred in the 1920s remains to last to date. The community of Peliatan village becoming the main supporter persistently maintains the distinctiveness of the art. So, it is natural if endless flows of foreign travelers come to the international village just to witness the unique dance. Peliatan village has become the center for the performance of Legong art. Even, almost every night the art is presented to entertain travelers with different kind of dances, venues and supporting art troupes. Peliatan customary village, Ubud, has about six Legong troupes that almost all of them compete to maintain its uniqueness. One of them is the classical Legong of Gunung Sari troupe of Peliatan. Supported by around 52 dancers and gamelan players, it has been accustomed to doing regular performances every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Ancak Saji Stage, Peliatan Palace Ubud. The performance includes the Pendet, Legong Kraton, Baris, Kebyar Terompong and Oleg Tamulilingan Dance. Meanwhile, at the end of the show emerge the Rangda and Barong Dance. Jero Mangku Alit Pande Made Nesa, the secretary of the art troupe, said that performance of all the dances remained to preserve the original style of Peliatan village. The type of presentation was always equal to the one presented at temple in devotional works. “We did not dare to reduce, cut or add the parts of the dance. What just show the authenticity inherited from the past,” he said. Specialty of the Legong Peliatan, explained Jero Mangku Pande, seemed a means to introduce more about the Peliatan village, Ubud. The Legong was trained by Gusti Niang Sengog and then continued by her pupil, Gusti Ayu Raka. “She has taught tirelessly the peculiarities of Legong Peliatan,” said the Ubud-born man in 1955. According to Jero Mangku Pande, the story related to the founding of Gunung Sari Classical Legong troupe originated from mebarong-barongan or barong dance activities. The barong troupe made a street show at local villages. Not only that, his party had also established a troupe of male arja operetta with the support from sympathizers. In the long run, the classical art continued to grow, so that it was almost never empty of getting show requests.
After that, in 1926 the barong troupe supported by 25 artists then established the Gong Kebyar Gunung Sari gamelan troupe of Peliatan at Kajanan Palace of Peliatan. Serving as the initiator was AA Mandera, Gusti Kompyang Pangkung, Made Bees, Pande Made Gerondong, Pande Made Ganut and friends. To be able to exercise regularly, the troupe still borrowed gamelan instrument at the palace. Due to their seriousness, in 1930 the gamelan troupe was often believed to participate in a competition involving some counties. Since it could won the first place, then in 1931 it was appointed an ambassador to Europe by presenting Legong, Janger and Cak Dance. It was said the voyage took for six months by vessel. Furthermore, the troupe purchased its own gamelan set where each member should set aside their money from
their show fee. “A farmer who was cutting grass at the Gunung Sari Temple discovered a cymbal. This gamelan instrument was then used as jejaton (capital) to create a gamelan in Pande Asem, Tiyingan village, Klungkung,” told a former employee of the Gianyar Education Agency. After that, popularity of the Gong Kebyar Gunung Sari gamelan troupe was heard to various countries. So, it was entrusted to be the ambassador of the art to London (1932); France (1952); and won the first place at the British Embassy (1953) so that it had the honor to raise red-and-white flag at the UN Building. In 1962, it made a performance in Situbondo, East Java; performance in four cities of Australia (1971); autobiographical performance in BBC London (1968); Mexico (1981); Los Angeles (1996); and returned to Europe (1998).
IBP/File Photo
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Friday, December 19, 2014
W
RLD
AP Photo/Rob Griffith
Two candle tributes with photos of siege victims Tori Johnson left, and Katrina Dawson are seen at a temporary memorial site close to the Lindt cafe in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, where people continue to stream past to leave floral tributes on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014.
Australian leader: Siege may have been preventable
SYDNEY — Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe may have been preventable, as the chorus of critics demanding to know why the gunman was out on bail despite facing a string of violent charges grew louder. Man Haron Monis, a 50-yearold Iranian-born, self-styled cleric with a lengthy criminal history, burst into a downtown Sydney cafe on Monday wielding a shotgun, taking 17 people hostage. The siege ended 16 hours later when police stormed into the cafe to free the captives, two of whom were killed in a barrage of gunfire, along with Monis. “This has been a horrific wake-up call,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Macquarie Radio. “This was an atrocity — it may well have been a preventable atrocity, and that’s why this swift and thorough review is so important.” Abbott has ordered a sweeping government review of the siege and the events leading up to it, including why Monis was out on bail and how he obtained a shotgun despite the country’s tough gun laws.
Court documents detail Monis’ long history with the law. In 2011, Noleen Hayson Pal — his ex-partner and mother of their two sons — told police Monis had threatened her life. He was subsequently charged with stalking and intimidation intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm. Pal testified in January 2012 that Monis said to her, “If I don’t get to see the boys more than I am seeing them now, I’ll make sure you pay for it — even if it means I have to shoot you.” Pal said she feared he would carry through on his threat, noting that he’d once told her he had a gun license. She said he grew increasingly paranoid when “he started getting more into his Islamic activities,” insisting on drawing the blinds and shutting all the doors when he visited her house. She also accused him of
slapping their eldest son in the face. “He’s always saying to me that people are watching, people are hearing our conversations,” she testified. Monis was ultimately found not guilty of the charge. A year later, Pal was stabbed to death and set on fire. Police charged Monis’ thenpartner, Amirah Droudis, with Pal’s murder, and charged Monis as an accessory. Both were out on bail on the charges when Monis launched his siege on the cafe. He was also facing 40 charges of sexual assault, and had been granted bail on those charges as well. Monis was convicted and sentenced last year to 300 hours of community service for sending what a judge called “grossly offensive” letters to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009.(ap)
International
Greek PM Samaras falls short in first round presidential vote ATHENS - Greek lawmakers failed to elect a new president in a first round of voting on Wednesday, leaving Prime Minister Antonis Samaras still looking for as many as 20 votes from independents and small parties to avoid snap national elections early next year. With two more rounds still to come, a win for the government had not been expected on Wednesday but the result was below many expectations, just meeting the minimum threshold officials had seen as adequate before the vote. Of the 300 members of parliament, 160 voted in favour of the government’s candidate Stavros Dimas with 135 against and five absent, short of the 200-vote supermajority needed to elect a president in the first round. Greek media had speculated the government could win between 161 and 167 votes but only five opposition deputies sided with the 155 members of the ruling coalition and a number of votes the government had been hoping for failed to materialise. The head of state is a largely ceremonial post but failure to elect a president with a three-fifths majority in parliament triggers early elections. Polls suggest they would be won by the leftist Syriza party, which promises to renegotiate the international bailout accord Greece still needs to keep its finances afloat. A stony-faced Samaras said he hoped parliament would elect a president in the two remaining rounds of voting on Dec. 23 and Dec. 29 and avoid an early national election that would have to be held by early February if it does not. “Conditions are difficult, Greek lawmakers are aware that the country cannot afford adventures,” he told re-
porters as he left the chamber. A buoyant Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said the government’s “strategy of fear” had collapsed. “Democracy cannot be blackmailed,” he told reporters. A second round of voting will be held on Dec. 23 and a possible final round on Dec. 29, when the threshold needed for victory falls to 180. Costas Panagopoulos, a political analyst who heads the ALCO polling institute, said the result pointed to a period of intense backroom horsetrading between the government and independent deputies. “It will be inextricably linked to a political deal, which does not only include trying to get a vote in favour but also other issues, such as probably a timetable for elections or even another candidate,” he said. Syriza has been ahead of the government in opinion polls for months but its lead has shrunk in recent days as the showdown in parliament has neared, bringing the prospect of weeks of instability. Polls suggest that most Greek voters, weary after years of austerity, do not want early elections just as their battered economy is showing signs of revival. Greece’s euro zone partners fear a victory by the anti-bailout party could trigger trouble in the currency bloc, although it is political fallout rather than financial that is foremost on their minds. The final result of the parliamentary vote will depend on 24 independent lawmakers as well as possible rebels among the small Democratic Left party, which quit the ruling coalition last year and now has 10 deputies, and the right-wing Independent Greeks party which has 12.(rtr)
Hotel... From page 1 Meanwhile, the Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, Panusunan Siregar, explained the arrival of foreign travelers to Bali in October 2014 reached 341,651 people, where foreign travelers coming through the airport amounted to 339,200 people, while through seaport amounted to 2,451 people. “The number of foreign travelers coming to Bali during that period increased by 28.17 percent compared to October 2013. By nationality, most travelers coming to Bali were from Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea with the respective percentage of 26.59 percent, 15.54 percent, 6.55 percent, 5.90 percent and 4.44 percent,” he explained. He presented that cumulative figure (during January to October) of foreign travelers coming to Bali reached 3,122,392 people. During that period, the country of origin of travel-
ers coming to Bali from the highest to the lowest rank were Australia, China, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore, with the respective percentage of 26.03 percent, 15.98 percent, 5.65 percent, 5.64 percent and 4.49 percent. “Though traveler increased, the occupancy rate of star hotel in October 2014 reached an average of 62.83 percent, down 1.04 points compared to the last month’s room occupancy rate. The average length of stay at star hotel in Bali reached 3.29 days, down 0.15 point compared to the average length of stay attained last month,” he said. He added the room occupancy rate of non-star hotel reached an average of 33.14 percent in October that also showed a decline by 0.43 point from last month. The average length of stay reached 2.66 days, down 0.11 points compared to the average length of stay attained last month. (kmb27)
International
Friday, December 19, 2014
11
INDONESIA Uphill battle to tackle shark fishing TANJUNG LUAR - Sharks are hauled ashore every day at a busy market on the central Indonesian island of Lombok, the hub of a booming trade that provides a livelihood for local fishermen but is increasingly alarming environmentalists. Now a Singaporean is luring the fishermen away from Tanjung Luar market, where an array of other sea creatures including manta rays and moray eels are also sold, by offering them jobs as local guides for the growing number of tourists visiting the island. “The whole dream is that there’s enough tourists coming, not on a daily basis because the corals would be affected, but maybe on a weekly basis,” said Kathy Xu, a former teacher who gave up her job to focus on the project. “Hopefully I can engage more fishermen to do this.” But Xu recognises that she faces an uphill battle to tackle a lucrative industry, which is fuelled by demand for fins, particularly from China, and has transformed the vast Indonesian
archipelago into the world’s biggest shark fishery. On a recent visit by AFP to Tanjung Luar, 10 sharks were laid out on the dirty tiled floor before being auctioned off, but an environmental group said on a busy day up to 300 are brought to the market. “Sometimes there are so many sharks we can’t fit them all in here,” Ismail, a businessmen who finances local shark fishermen and goes by one name, told AFP. So far Xu has persuaded a handful of fishermen to work with tourists, mostly from Singapore, taking them snorkelling on beautiful coral reefs and to secluded white-sand beaches, on average twice a month. She also takes visitors to the market to raise awareness about the impact of shark-fishing in Indonesia, where
110,000 tonnes are caught a year, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. During a recent tour, 25 Singaporean students aged 13 to 15 watched women transfer fish from colourful baskets into buckets, workers sharpen their machetes and porters haul sharks hung over their shoulders. “Normally you find out these problems from picture books, saying killing sharks for their fins is bad, but they don’t really go further than that and you don’t really think about it anyway,” said 14-year-old Ray Chua. Despite Xu’s efforts, hunting sharks remains a better option for many local fishermen. “We get much more money from hunting sharks than taking tourists to swim. On a lucky day, I can get 10 times more for catching sharks,” said
Sulaiman, who goes by one name. While the fins are sold on to China and other countries where they are considered a delicacy, the rest of the shark is sliced up and its meat and skin made into meatball soup and snacks that have become part of the local diet. There has even been a recent trend towards eating shark pups, which are being sold in major grocery chains on the main island of Java, said shark protection campaigner Riyanni Djangkaru. Conservationists have long been raising the alarm about shark-fishing in Indonesia, and point to signs that populations have been declining around Tanjung Luar and across the whole archipelago, which consists of over 17,000 islands. The Lombok market is one of the few where sharks are openly landed. In other parts of country, fishermen hunt sharks in the open sea, slicing off their fins and dumping them back in the water to die.
However, protection groups point out that careless fishing by tuna trawlers is the biggest killer of sharks. Far more of the creatures die when they are accidentally caught in trawlers’ nets in places such as Bali, central Sulawesi island and in the south of Java, than by fishing, they say. They say the responsibility to protect the creatures should lie with the government. Only one species of shark, the whale shark, currently enjoys full protection in Indonesia and the few regulations that exist are not properly enforced, they say. At the moment, it is left to conservationists and others such as Xu to help the world’s oldest predator. And while she recognises that her effort alone will not be enough, the Singaporean is happy to do what she can. “The more I dived the more I got to see the sharks and they just grew on me,” she said. “It is just too beautiful, and I don’t want my grandchildren to not get this experience.”
A decade of Aceh’s tsunami
New families give survivors chance of second life
BANDA ACEH - Rusli Abdul Rahman and Fardhiah had been neighbours for years when the Asian tsunami devastated their small community in Indonesia’s Aceh, killing both their spouses and their eight children. But they found a second chance at happiness by remarrying each other and having a son -- one of the many new families formed in the aftermath of a natural disaster that killed tens of thousands a decade ago. Fardhiah, 50, who goes by one name and now lives in a house surrounded by photos of her lost relatives, said she grieved for months after the tsunami but then realised: “I must start a new life. “Perhaps God saved me so that I could be useful to other people.” The tsunami ripped apart the tightly woven social fabric in Aceh province, killing husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and forcing survivors together in ways that would have previously seemed unimaginable. Almost 170,000 people were killed in Indonesia, the vast majority in Aceh, when waves up to 35 metres (115 feet) high flattened coastal communities following a monster undersea earthquake off Sumatra island. In total, about 220,000 people were killed in countries around the Indian Ocean when the quake and tsunami
hit on December 26, 2004. Muhammad Zubedy Koteng, who worked with UNICEF on child protection in Aceh after the tsunami, said that forming new families was an effective way for many to “cure their trauma” and help them “deal with their loneliness and overcome the sorrow of losing their loved ones”. Some, such as labourer Syukri, helped youngsters left orphaned by the disaster. While wandering desperately round shelters looking for his missing brother, he spotted an abandoned baby boy lying in the undergrowth. “I saw him lying in the bushes, with a swollen stomach and head, and scabs on his body,” the 45-year-old, who goes by one name, told AFP. He took him in and a decade later, the boy remains part of Syukri’s family with his other children and wife. But his case also illustrates how the trauma of the past can still come back to haunt people -- it was only during a recent interview with AFP that Syukri revealed to his son that he was adopted. “I have kept this a secret because I was afraid he might feel disappointed, but it’s time he knows the truth,” he said, as the youngster broke down in a flood of tears on hearing the news. Other cases show that forming new families is not always straightforward,
and they risk being torn apart if survivors somehow manage to find relatives who were thought to have been killed. Raudhatul Jannah was swept away by the tsunami aged just four and was given up for dead by her family. But in August, she was spotted
walking through a village by her uncle, and reunited with her parents. While her birth parents were delighted, the development meant that an elderly woman who had been raising her for the past decade was suddenly left without her adopted daughter.
For most however, new additions to the family were welcome in the dark days after the tsunami when tens of thousands were forced into overcrowded shelters for months, often years, and had to rely on handouts from international aid agencies. (afp)
AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana
Christmas decorations are displayed at a shopping mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014.
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Friday, December 19, 2014
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Friday, December 19, 2014
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Spanish women shine in dark year for men
Gua Lawah
MADRID - In a year when the men’s soccer and basketball teams flopped on the biggest stage and Rafa Nadal’s season was wrecked by injury and illness, it was the women who helped protect Spain’s reputation as a nation of sporting excellence. The standout performers were swimmer Mireia Belmonte, who set two world records at the short course world championships in Doha this month, and badminton player Carolina Marin, who pulled off a huge upset to beat Chinese world number one Li Xuerui and win the women’s singles title at the world championships in Copenhagen in August. Their achievements were recognised at Monday’s annual awards presented by As sports daily, along with the rhythmic gymnastics team, who successfully defended their world title in the five clubs category in Izmir, Turkey in September. Spaniards have been spoiled by success over the past decade, with the men’s soccer team claiming consecutive European titles, with a debut World Cup in between, and Nadal rising to the top of the tennis rankings and bludgeoning his way to a record nine French Open crowns. It came as a massive shock when Spain failed to progress beyond the group stage at the soccer World Cup finals in Brazil, while the basketball team, who had home court advantage and were expected to at least make the final in Madrid, were eliminated by France in the last eight of the World Cup. Nadal did win at Roland Gar-
ros but was unable to compete for most of the year and announced in October he would miss the season-ending World Tour Finals because of appendicitis. Belmonte and Marin each name Nadal as an inspiration, citing his never-say-die attitude and athletic prowess. Like Nadal, Marin is a left-hander and when she collapsed onto her back on the court after stunning Li it was almost a carbon copy of one of Nadal’s triumphant celebrations. “It is a tremendous honour to be compared to him because Nadal is my idol,” Marin said in an interview with As. “It could be that they compare us because we have the same competitive nature, we never give a ball up for dead, or in my case a shuttlecock,” added the 21-year-old from Huelva. “It’s true that women are bringing a lot of success to Spanish sport at the moment and hopefully that will continue.” Belmonte set two world records on the opening day in Doha and on both occasions defeated favourite Katinka Hosszu, voted best female swimmer of the year for 2014. Belmonte became the first woman to go under two minutes in the 200 metres butterfly and later beat Hosszu again and broke the Hungarian’s world record in the 400 metres individual medley. “Spanish women are in a great moment,” Belmonte, who is from Badalona in Catalonia, told As. “My coach sometimes tells me that women are more disciplined,” added the 24-year-old. “I don’t know about that but I am very pleased that we women are achieving such success.” (rtr)
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Grizzlies beat Spurs in triple overtime
SAN ANTONIO — Memphis prevailed in a triple-overtime classic at San Antonio on Wednesday, blowing a 23-point lead before recovering to eke out a 117-116 victory over the NBA champions, a day after ending Golden State’s 16-game winning streak. The Grizzlies moved within half a game of the Warriors for the overall league lead and moved 4-1/2 games ahead of the Spurs, a Southwest Division rival.
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Elsewhere, Portland pulled away late to defeat Milwaukee, Atlanta cruised to a big win at Cleveland to extend its strong form run, and Toronto opened a nine-game lead in the Atlantic Division by beating nearest rival Brooklyn. Memphis’ Marc Gasol scored 26 points, including a banked-in 3-pointer as regulation expired, while Zach Randolph had 21 points and 21 rebounds in the Grizzlies’ sixth straight victory. Danny Green scored 25 points, and Tim Duncan had 23 points and 16 rebounds for San Antonio. His jumper rattled in to force the third OT, but he finished just 5 for 15 on free throws. Manu Ginobili added 21 points, but shot an airball on a 3-pointer in the final seconds for the Spurs. Portland pulled away in the
fourth quarter to down Milwaukee 104-97, with both teams reeling from injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points and 15 rebounds while Damian Lillard added 29 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who lost starting center Robin Lopez to a broken hand on Monday. Brandon Knight had 24 points for the Bucks, who were without Jabari Parker. The heralded rookie will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered on Monday. Atlanta made it 11 wins from 12 with a 127-98 victory at Cleveland, dominating the second half of the match after being down 12 points during the second quarter. Reserve guard Shelvin Mack scored a career-high 24 points for the Hawks, having averaged 3.8
points per game for the season. He made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc. LeBron James scored 21 points for Cleveland, but didn’t play in the fourth quarter with the result beyond the hosts. Toronto used a big fourth quarter to overrun Brooklyn 105-89. Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 12 assists while Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors in the first meeting of the teams since the Nets won in the first round of playoffs last season. Mason Plumlee had a career-high 23 points for Brooklyn, which went 5-of-13 in both field-goal and free-throw attempts in the fourth. Toronto reached 20 wins before Christmas for the first time in its 20-year history. (ap)
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Liverpool getting back to their best, says Rodgers BOURNEMOUTH - Liverpool are showing signs of reproducing their scintillating form of last season after a 3-1 win at Bournemouth in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, manager Brendan Rodgers said. Having struggled to recapture the form that propelled them to second place in the Premier League last season, Rodgers’ side set up a semi-final against league leaders Chelsea with an impressive performance. Two goals from Raheem Sterling either side of a Lazar Markovic strike gave Liverpool victory against in-form Championship (second-tier) leaders Bournemouth. It was an encouraging display for the Anfield boss, whose team have endured an early Champions League exit and are 11th in the league having accrued their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League after 16 games. “We’re starting to see signs of getting back to where we were,” Rodgers told a news conference. “We know there is a way to go but
this was a tough game coming here so for us to come and dominate like we did, and score the goals that we did, was very pleasing.” Bournemouth came into the game on a 12-match unbeaten run and have exceeded all expectations this season, topping their league to become contenders for promotion to the Premier League. The south-coast club knocked out West Bromwich Albion in the previous round and some had predicted a shock against a Liverpool side who were beaten 3-0 at bitter rivals Manchester United
on Sunday. “It was an outstanding performance. Even though the result wasn’t ideal at Old Trafford I’d seen moments in our game that was good and we created a lot of chances,” Rodgers said. “I think slowly we’re getting there. There are a lot of new players adapting. I’m looking to find solutions to make us more creative, because we haven’t been that. I thought tonight was more like what we produced (last season).” Liverpool, who last won the League Cup in 2012, are aiming to win the trophy for the ninth time
a loss from party-pooping over the Middle East’s first World Cup. “They will be ready to have a very good team, a competitive team.” Given Qatar’s small size and lack of football pedigree, Bravo’s bravura would sound like folly if not for one game-changer: money. The oil-andgas rich nation that pokes into the Persian Gulf has mounds of it. Funneled into the state-of-the-art Aspire training academy that Bravo oversees in Doha, Qatar’s showcase capital, the wealth is helping to make the embryonic nucleus of what will be
the 2022 home team more formidable than population numbers would suggest. “It’s thrilling,” Bravo said in an Associated Press interview. “There’s always an underdog story, the little guy trying to punch above their weight story, and I think people will get behind it.” Qatar qualifies automatically as host. It could be the only Middle East representative if its neighbors stumble in qualifying, as in 2010, when no team from the region went to South Africa. A strong host performance can make a World Cup memorable:
Friday, December 19, 2014
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PSG advances to League Cup quarterfinals PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain rallied from a goal down for a labored 3-1 win at second-division Ajaccio on Wednesday as the holders reached the quarterfinals of the League Cup, while Lille and Monaco advanced on penalties. Despite a run of two successive defeats, PSG coach Laurent Blanc fielded a B-side for the trip to Corsica, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta all being rested. PSG’s unbeaten season ended at Barcelona in the Champions League and it slipped to a first French league defeat at Guingamp last weekend. On Wednesday, the team struggled to create chances and exposed itself to counter-attacks in the first half, with the hosts taking the lead in the 27th
REUTERS/Andrew Winning
Raheem Sterling of Liverpool celebrates scoring against Bournemouth during their English League Cup quarter-final soccer match at Goldsands Stadium in Bournemouth, southwest England, December 17, 2014.
French victory at home in 1998 and South Korea’s wild ride to the semis of the 2002 tournament it co-hosted with Japan. So pressure is on. “The players know what an opportunity this is,” Hassan al-Thawadi, Qatar’s chief World Cup organizer, told the AP. “I’m sure they won’t disappoint.” Aspire is a source of such confidence. It trains local kids and others unearthed by a mammoth international scouting program — dubbed “Football Dreams” — that screens hundreds of thousands of teenagers
minute when Johan Cavalli converted a penalty after Mouaad Madri was fouled by Serge Aurier. Blanc’s side improved after the interval and Edinson Cavani leveled in the 55th from Lucas’s assist before Aurier made amends for his mishap by giving PSG the lead with a header 10 minutes from time. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck completed the win by steering the ball home four minutes later from Lucas’ cross. Monaco goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg saved Jordan Ferri’s shot from the spot during the penalty shootout to send his team through against Lyon, after the teams were deadlocked at 1-1. Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, who missed a penalty in extra time, put the
Principality’s side ahead in the 97th minute with a 16-meter strike before Alexandre Lacazette leveled for Lyon from Yoann Gourcuff’s cutback. Lille came out on top of its match against Bordeaux with a 6-5 win on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Saint-Etienne keeper Stephane Ruffier put on a show-stopping performance at Lorient with several decisive saves and midfielder Romain Hamouma scored the winner in a 1-0 win for Les Verts. Guingamp posted a fifth straight win in all competitions, advancing with a 2-0 win at Arles-Avignon courtesy of goals from Christophe Mandanne and Claudio Beauvue, while Sylvain Armand scored the winner as Rennes defeated Creteil 1-0. (ap)
Dortmund held to 2-2 draw by Wolfsburg
and Rodgers is relishing the prospect of facing Chelsea, who have only been beaten once in all competitions this season. “If you’re going to win the tournament, and that is our objective, you have to beat the best teams,” he said. “It’s over two legs and we’ll really relish that opportunity.” (rtr)
Qatar: Building team to spring surprise in 2022
DOHA, Qatar — It’s a cold, hard fact of football: Countries with tiny populations don’t generally beat big ones with deep wells of talented players. So how embarrassing might the score be when Qatar — smallest host in World Cup history, with just 282,750 citizens — plays the opening game of its 2022 tournament against, for example, titans Brazil or Germany? At best 5-0? At worst 10-0, even 30-0? “Impossible, impossible,” said Ivan Bravo, the former Real Madrid administrator working to prevent such
International
from 16 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The reach and size of that talent-search and Qatar’s history of recruiting overseas athletes to represent it internationally led to suspicions it could naturalize foreign footballers in bulk for the World Cup, although Bravo insisted that isn’t the plan. He said Qatar’s ambition for 2022 is not only to field a team of Qataris but to also have “seven, eight, nine, 10” Aspire-trained recruits from Football Dreams playing for other nations. (ap)
FRANKFURT — Borussia Dortmund conceded a late goal and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Wednesday. Naldo scored in the 85th minute for Wolfsburg, which is now 11 points behind Bayern Munich in second place. Ciro Immobile had given Dortmund a 2-1 lead in the 76th but Dortmund failed to hold on for a badly
needed win and remained in the danger zone. “You can draw against Wolfsburg, they are a very good team,” Dortmund’s coach Juergen Klopp said. Borussia Moenchengladbach beat 10-man Werder Bremen 4-1 to take third place on goal difference over Bayer Leverkusen, which won 1-0 at Hoffenheim thanks to a goal from Stefan Kiessling in the 79th. Schalke beat Paderborn 2-1 while the thriller of the night saw Eintracht Frankfurt overcome a 3-0 deficit and Alexander Meier score two goals in injury time for a 4-4 draw against Hertha Berlin. Bayern beat Freiburg 2-0 on
Tuesday to remain undefeated this season. Dortmund led twice but still could not get the win. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring in the eighth minute, connecting with a pinpoint cross from Immobile. Kevin De Bruyne equalized when he fired a free kick under the wrong-footed Mitch Langerak in the 29th minute. Luiz Gustavo lost the ball before Immobile restored Dortmund’s lead,
only to see Naldo score with a header unchallenged after a free kick. “I can’t say anything against our performance, we played very well and tried everything, but Wolfsburg is good,” said Klopp, whose team is 16th — a relegation playoff place. Moenchengladbach dominated against bottom-place Bremen, which lost Luca Cardiola in the 66th after two bookings within three minutes. (ap)
AP Photo/Frank Augstein
Dortmund’s Ciro Immobile from Italy jumps over an advertising board to celebrate with supporters after scoring during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.
AP Photo/Christophe Ena
San Lorenzo’s Mauro Matos celebrates after scoring during the semi final soccer match between Auckland City FC and San Lorenzo at the Club World Cup soccer tournament in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.
San Lorenzo to play Real Madrid for Club World Cup MARRAKECH, Morocco — Real Madrid’s opponents in the Club World Cup final will be San Lorenzo after the South American champions ended a storybook run by amateur side Auckland City with a labored 2-1 semifinal win on Wednesday. Madrid will be heavily favored to win its first Club World Cup on Saturday after San Lorenzo, Pope Francis’ favorite team, needed extra time to overcome Auckland’s semi-pros and amateurs who fit football around day jobs. Given their meager resources, it could have been the ultimate David vs. Goliath story had the Oceania champions advanced to face the world’s richest team. The only resemblance between Auckland and Madrid are their white shirts. The New Zealand squad that traveled to Morocco includes a truck driver, a cleaner, a couple of laborers, students, a lawyer, a kitchen salesman, a brewery worker and paid players who double as school football coaches.
And, for a while, it looked like an upset could have been on the cards when Angel Berlanga’s second-half goal — beautifully placed from the acutest of angles — cancelled out Pablo Barrientos’ first-half strike for San Lorenzo. Instead, substitute Mauro Matos netted San Lorenzo’s winner after three minutes of extra time. But Auckland won both respect and self-respect. “Being semiprofessional doesn’t mean they’re not a good team,” Barrientos said. “They were at a very high level.” Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx said the manner of his team’s defeat felt like “a big, big win. “We are the moral winners by a mile tonight,” he said. “We will remember this for a long time.” The 18,458 crowd in the Grand Stade de Marrakech — about half the size of that for Madrid’s 4-0 semifinal victory Tuesday against Cruz Azul — included a large San Lorenzo contingent that sang boisterously to the tune of “Bad Moon Rising.” (ap)
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Liverpool getting back to their best, says Rodgers BOURNEMOUTH - Liverpool are showing signs of reproducing their scintillating form of last season after a 3-1 win at Bournemouth in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, manager Brendan Rodgers said. Having struggled to recapture the form that propelled them to second place in the Premier League last season, Rodgers’ side set up a semi-final against league leaders Chelsea with an impressive performance. Two goals from Raheem Sterling either side of a Lazar Markovic strike gave Liverpool victory against in-form Championship (second-tier) leaders Bournemouth. It was an encouraging display for the Anfield boss, whose team have endured an early Champions League exit and are 11th in the league having accrued their lowest ever points tally in the Premier League after 16 games. “We’re starting to see signs of getting back to where we were,” Rodgers told a news conference. “We know there is a way to go but
this was a tough game coming here so for us to come and dominate like we did, and score the goals that we did, was very pleasing.” Bournemouth came into the game on a 12-match unbeaten run and have exceeded all expectations this season, topping their league to become contenders for promotion to the Premier League. The south-coast club knocked out West Bromwich Albion in the previous round and some had predicted a shock against a Liverpool side who were beaten 3-0 at bitter rivals Manchester United
on Sunday. “It was an outstanding performance. Even though the result wasn’t ideal at Old Trafford I’d seen moments in our game that was good and we created a lot of chances,” Rodgers said. “I think slowly we’re getting there. There are a lot of new players adapting. I’m looking to find solutions to make us more creative, because we haven’t been that. I thought tonight was more like what we produced (last season).” Liverpool, who last won the League Cup in 2012, are aiming to win the trophy for the ninth time
a loss from party-pooping over the Middle East’s first World Cup. “They will be ready to have a very good team, a competitive team.” Given Qatar’s small size and lack of football pedigree, Bravo’s bravura would sound like folly if not for one game-changer: money. The oil-andgas rich nation that pokes into the Persian Gulf has mounds of it. Funneled into the state-of-the-art Aspire training academy that Bravo oversees in Doha, Qatar’s showcase capital, the wealth is helping to make the embryonic nucleus of what will be
the 2022 home team more formidable than population numbers would suggest. “It’s thrilling,” Bravo said in an Associated Press interview. “There’s always an underdog story, the little guy trying to punch above their weight story, and I think people will get behind it.” Qatar qualifies automatically as host. It could be the only Middle East representative if its neighbors stumble in qualifying, as in 2010, when no team from the region went to South Africa. A strong host performance can make a World Cup memorable:
Friday, December 19, 2014
9
PSG advances to League Cup quarterfinals PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain rallied from a goal down for a labored 3-1 win at second-division Ajaccio on Wednesday as the holders reached the quarterfinals of the League Cup, while Lille and Monaco advanced on penalties. Despite a run of two successive defeats, PSG coach Laurent Blanc fielded a B-side for the trip to Corsica, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta all being rested. PSG’s unbeaten season ended at Barcelona in the Champions League and it slipped to a first French league defeat at Guingamp last weekend. On Wednesday, the team struggled to create chances and exposed itself to counter-attacks in the first half, with the hosts taking the lead in the 27th
REUTERS/Andrew Winning
Raheem Sterling of Liverpool celebrates scoring against Bournemouth during their English League Cup quarter-final soccer match at Goldsands Stadium in Bournemouth, southwest England, December 17, 2014.
French victory at home in 1998 and South Korea’s wild ride to the semis of the 2002 tournament it co-hosted with Japan. So pressure is on. “The players know what an opportunity this is,” Hassan al-Thawadi, Qatar’s chief World Cup organizer, told the AP. “I’m sure they won’t disappoint.” Aspire is a source of such confidence. It trains local kids and others unearthed by a mammoth international scouting program — dubbed “Football Dreams” — that screens hundreds of thousands of teenagers
minute when Johan Cavalli converted a penalty after Mouaad Madri was fouled by Serge Aurier. Blanc’s side improved after the interval and Edinson Cavani leveled in the 55th from Lucas’s assist before Aurier made amends for his mishap by giving PSG the lead with a header 10 minutes from time. Jean-Christophe Bahebeck completed the win by steering the ball home four minutes later from Lucas’ cross. Monaco goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg saved Jordan Ferri’s shot from the spot during the penalty shootout to send his team through against Lyon, after the teams were deadlocked at 1-1. Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, who missed a penalty in extra time, put the
Principality’s side ahead in the 97th minute with a 16-meter strike before Alexandre Lacazette leveled for Lyon from Yoann Gourcuff’s cutback. Lille came out on top of its match against Bordeaux with a 6-5 win on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Saint-Etienne keeper Stephane Ruffier put on a show-stopping performance at Lorient with several decisive saves and midfielder Romain Hamouma scored the winner in a 1-0 win for Les Verts. Guingamp posted a fifth straight win in all competitions, advancing with a 2-0 win at Arles-Avignon courtesy of goals from Christophe Mandanne and Claudio Beauvue, while Sylvain Armand scored the winner as Rennes defeated Creteil 1-0. (ap)
Dortmund held to 2-2 draw by Wolfsburg
and Rodgers is relishing the prospect of facing Chelsea, who have only been beaten once in all competitions this season. “If you’re going to win the tournament, and that is our objective, you have to beat the best teams,” he said. “It’s over two legs and we’ll really relish that opportunity.” (rtr)
Qatar: Building team to spring surprise in 2022
DOHA, Qatar — It’s a cold, hard fact of football: Countries with tiny populations don’t generally beat big ones with deep wells of talented players. So how embarrassing might the score be when Qatar — smallest host in World Cup history, with just 282,750 citizens — plays the opening game of its 2022 tournament against, for example, titans Brazil or Germany? At best 5-0? At worst 10-0, even 30-0? “Impossible, impossible,” said Ivan Bravo, the former Real Madrid administrator working to prevent such
International
from 16 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The reach and size of that talent-search and Qatar’s history of recruiting overseas athletes to represent it internationally led to suspicions it could naturalize foreign footballers in bulk for the World Cup, although Bravo insisted that isn’t the plan. He said Qatar’s ambition for 2022 is not only to field a team of Qataris but to also have “seven, eight, nine, 10” Aspire-trained recruits from Football Dreams playing for other nations. (ap)
FRANKFURT — Borussia Dortmund conceded a late goal and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Wednesday. Naldo scored in the 85th minute for Wolfsburg, which is now 11 points behind Bayern Munich in second place. Ciro Immobile had given Dortmund a 2-1 lead in the 76th but Dortmund failed to hold on for a badly
needed win and remained in the danger zone. “You can draw against Wolfsburg, they are a very good team,” Dortmund’s coach Juergen Klopp said. Borussia Moenchengladbach beat 10-man Werder Bremen 4-1 to take third place on goal difference over Bayer Leverkusen, which won 1-0 at Hoffenheim thanks to a goal from Stefan Kiessling in the 79th. Schalke beat Paderborn 2-1 while the thriller of the night saw Eintracht Frankfurt overcome a 3-0 deficit and Alexander Meier score two goals in injury time for a 4-4 draw against Hertha Berlin. Bayern beat Freiburg 2-0 on
Tuesday to remain undefeated this season. Dortmund led twice but still could not get the win. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring in the eighth minute, connecting with a pinpoint cross from Immobile. Kevin De Bruyne equalized when he fired a free kick under the wrong-footed Mitch Langerak in the 29th minute. Luiz Gustavo lost the ball before Immobile restored Dortmund’s lead,
only to see Naldo score with a header unchallenged after a free kick. “I can’t say anything against our performance, we played very well and tried everything, but Wolfsburg is good,” said Klopp, whose team is 16th — a relegation playoff place. Moenchengladbach dominated against bottom-place Bremen, which lost Luca Cardiola in the 66th after two bookings within three minutes. (ap)
AP Photo/Frank Augstein
Dortmund’s Ciro Immobile from Italy jumps over an advertising board to celebrate with supporters after scoring during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.
AP Photo/Christophe Ena
San Lorenzo’s Mauro Matos celebrates after scoring during the semi final soccer match between Auckland City FC and San Lorenzo at the Club World Cup soccer tournament in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.
San Lorenzo to play Real Madrid for Club World Cup MARRAKECH, Morocco — Real Madrid’s opponents in the Club World Cup final will be San Lorenzo after the South American champions ended a storybook run by amateur side Auckland City with a labored 2-1 semifinal win on Wednesday. Madrid will be heavily favored to win its first Club World Cup on Saturday after San Lorenzo, Pope Francis’ favorite team, needed extra time to overcome Auckland’s semi-pros and amateurs who fit football around day jobs. Given their meager resources, it could have been the ultimate David vs. Goliath story had the Oceania champions advanced to face the world’s richest team. The only resemblance between Auckland and Madrid are their white shirts. The New Zealand squad that traveled to Morocco includes a truck driver, a cleaner, a couple of laborers, students, a lawyer, a kitchen salesman, a brewery worker and paid players who double as school football coaches.
And, for a while, it looked like an upset could have been on the cards when Angel Berlanga’s second-half goal — beautifully placed from the acutest of angles — cancelled out Pablo Barrientos’ first-half strike for San Lorenzo. Instead, substitute Mauro Matos netted San Lorenzo’s winner after three minutes of extra time. But Auckland won both respect and self-respect. “Being semiprofessional doesn’t mean they’re not a good team,” Barrientos said. “They were at a very high level.” Auckland coach Ramon Tribulietx said the manner of his team’s defeat felt like “a big, big win. “We are the moral winners by a mile tonight,” he said. “We will remember this for a long time.” The 18,458 crowd in the Grand Stade de Marrakech — about half the size of that for Madrid’s 4-0 semifinal victory Tuesday against Cruz Azul — included a large San Lorenzo contingent that sang boisterously to the tune of “Bad Moon Rising.” (ap)
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Destination
Friday, December 19, 2014
International
Sports
International
Friday, December 19, 2014
7
Spanish women shine in dark year for men
Gua Lawah
MADRID - In a year when the men’s soccer and basketball teams flopped on the biggest stage and Rafa Nadal’s season was wrecked by injury and illness, it was the women who helped protect Spain’s reputation as a nation of sporting excellence. The standout performers were swimmer Mireia Belmonte, who set two world records at the short course world championships in Doha this month, and badminton player Carolina Marin, who pulled off a huge upset to beat Chinese world number one Li Xuerui and win the women’s singles title at the world championships in Copenhagen in August. Their achievements were recognised at Monday’s annual awards presented by As sports daily, along with the rhythmic gymnastics team, who successfully defended their world title in the five clubs category in Izmir, Turkey in September. Spaniards have been spoiled by success over the past decade, with the men’s soccer team claiming consecutive European titles, with a debut World Cup in between, and Nadal rising to the top of the tennis rankings and bludgeoning his way to a record nine French Open crowns. It came as a massive shock when Spain failed to progress beyond the group stage at the soccer World Cup finals in Brazil, while the basketball team, who had home court advantage and were expected to at least make the final in Madrid, were eliminated by France in the last eight of the World Cup. Nadal did win at Roland Gar-
ros but was unable to compete for most of the year and announced in October he would miss the season-ending World Tour Finals because of appendicitis. Belmonte and Marin each name Nadal as an inspiration, citing his never-say-die attitude and athletic prowess. Like Nadal, Marin is a left-hander and when she collapsed onto her back on the court after stunning Li it was almost a carbon copy of one of Nadal’s triumphant celebrations. “It is a tremendous honour to be compared to him because Nadal is my idol,” Marin said in an interview with As. “It could be that they compare us because we have the same competitive nature, we never give a ball up for dead, or in my case a shuttlecock,” added the 21-year-old from Huelva. “It’s true that women are bringing a lot of success to Spanish sport at the moment and hopefully that will continue.” Belmonte set two world records on the opening day in Doha and on both occasions defeated favourite Katinka Hosszu, voted best female swimmer of the year for 2014. Belmonte became the first woman to go under two minutes in the 200 metres butterfly and later beat Hosszu again and broke the Hungarian’s world record in the 400 metres individual medley. “Spanish women are in a great moment,” Belmonte, who is from Badalona in Catalonia, told As. “My coach sometimes tells me that women are more disciplined,” added the 24-year-old. “I don’t know about that but I am very pleased that we women are achieving such success.” (rtr)
SEMARAPURA - Gua Lawah or Bat Cave is one of favorite places of interest in Bali. This cave is located in Pasinggahan countryside, Dawan sub district, Klungkung Regency, east part of Bali and about 1.5 hours from Denpasar. There is a nature cave dwelt by thousands of bat located at north side of Gua Lawah Temple. This cave is opposite the beautiful beach with black sand along the coastal area.
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Grizzlies beat Spurs in triple overtime
SAN ANTONIO — Memphis prevailed in a triple-overtime classic at San Antonio on Wednesday, blowing a 23-point lead before recovering to eke out a 117-116 victory over the NBA champions, a day after ending Golden State’s 16-game winning streak. The Grizzlies moved within half a game of the Warriors for the overall league lead and moved 4-1/2 games ahead of the Spurs, a Southwest Division rival.
IBP/File Photo
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Memphis Grizzlies center Kosta Koufos, right, shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Tiago Splitter, of Brazil, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, in San Antonio. Memphis won 117-116 in triple overtime.
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Elsewhere, Portland pulled away late to defeat Milwaukee, Atlanta cruised to a big win at Cleveland to extend its strong form run, and Toronto opened a nine-game lead in the Atlantic Division by beating nearest rival Brooklyn. Memphis’ Marc Gasol scored 26 points, including a banked-in 3-pointer as regulation expired, while Zach Randolph had 21 points and 21 rebounds in the Grizzlies’ sixth straight victory. Danny Green scored 25 points, and Tim Duncan had 23 points and 16 rebounds for San Antonio. His jumper rattled in to force the third OT, but he finished just 5 for 15 on free throws. Manu Ginobili added 21 points, but shot an airball on a 3-pointer in the final seconds for the Spurs. Portland pulled away in the
fourth quarter to down Milwaukee 104-97, with both teams reeling from injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points and 15 rebounds while Damian Lillard added 29 points and seven assists for the Blazers, who lost starting center Robin Lopez to a broken hand on Monday. Brandon Knight had 24 points for the Bucks, who were without Jabari Parker. The heralded rookie will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered on Monday. Atlanta made it 11 wins from 12 with a 127-98 victory at Cleveland, dominating the second half of the match after being down 12 points during the second quarter. Reserve guard Shelvin Mack scored a career-high 24 points for the Hawks, having averaged 3.8
points per game for the season. He made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc. LeBron James scored 21 points for Cleveland, but didn’t play in the fourth quarter with the result beyond the hosts. Toronto used a big fourth quarter to overrun Brooklyn 105-89. Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 12 assists while Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors in the first meeting of the teams since the Nets won in the first round of playoffs last season. Mason Plumlee had a career-high 23 points for Brooklyn, which went 5-of-13 in both field-goal and free-throw attempts in the fourth. Toronto reached 20 wins before Christmas for the first time in its 20-year history. (ap)
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Friday, December 19, 2014
W
RLD
AP Photo/Rob Griffith
Two candle tributes with photos of siege victims Tori Johnson left, and Katrina Dawson are seen at a temporary memorial site close to the Lindt cafe in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, where people continue to stream past to leave floral tributes on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014.
Australian leader: Siege may have been preventable
SYDNEY — Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that a deadly siege in a Sydney cafe may have been preventable, as the chorus of critics demanding to know why the gunman was out on bail despite facing a string of violent charges grew louder. Man Haron Monis, a 50-yearold Iranian-born, self-styled cleric with a lengthy criminal history, burst into a downtown Sydney cafe on Monday wielding a shotgun, taking 17 people hostage. The siege ended 16 hours later when police stormed into the cafe to free the captives, two of whom were killed in a barrage of gunfire, along with Monis. “This has been a horrific wake-up call,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Macquarie Radio. “This was an atrocity — it may well have been a preventable atrocity, and that’s why this swift and thorough review is so important.” Abbott has ordered a sweeping government review of the siege and the events leading up to it, including why Monis was out on bail and how he obtained a shotgun despite the country’s tough gun laws.
Court documents detail Monis’ long history with the law. In 2011, Noleen Hayson Pal — his ex-partner and mother of their two sons — told police Monis had threatened her life. He was subsequently charged with stalking and intimidation intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm. Pal testified in January 2012 that Monis said to her, “If I don’t get to see the boys more than I am seeing them now, I’ll make sure you pay for it — even if it means I have to shoot you.” Pal said she feared he would carry through on his threat, noting that he’d once told her he had a gun license. She said he grew increasingly paranoid when “he started getting more into his Islamic activities,” insisting on drawing the blinds and shutting all the doors when he visited her house. She also accused him of
slapping their eldest son in the face. “He’s always saying to me that people are watching, people are hearing our conversations,” she testified. Monis was ultimately found not guilty of the charge. A year later, Pal was stabbed to death and set on fire. Police charged Monis’ thenpartner, Amirah Droudis, with Pal’s murder, and charged Monis as an accessory. Both were out on bail on the charges when Monis launched his siege on the cafe. He was also facing 40 charges of sexual assault, and had been granted bail on those charges as well. Monis was convicted and sentenced last year to 300 hours of community service for sending what a judge called “grossly offensive” letters to families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009.(ap)
International
Greek PM Samaras falls short in first round presidential vote ATHENS - Greek lawmakers failed to elect a new president in a first round of voting on Wednesday, leaving Prime Minister Antonis Samaras still looking for as many as 20 votes from independents and small parties to avoid snap national elections early next year. With two more rounds still to come, a win for the government had not been expected on Wednesday but the result was below many expectations, just meeting the minimum threshold officials had seen as adequate before the vote. Of the 300 members of parliament, 160 voted in favour of the government’s candidate Stavros Dimas with 135 against and five absent, short of the 200-vote supermajority needed to elect a president in the first round. Greek media had speculated the government could win between 161 and 167 votes but only five opposition deputies sided with the 155 members of the ruling coalition and a number of votes the government had been hoping for failed to materialise. The head of state is a largely ceremonial post but failure to elect a president with a three-fifths majority in parliament triggers early elections. Polls suggest they would be won by the leftist Syriza party, which promises to renegotiate the international bailout accord Greece still needs to keep its finances afloat. A stony-faced Samaras said he hoped parliament would elect a president in the two remaining rounds of voting on Dec. 23 and Dec. 29 and avoid an early national election that would have to be held by early February if it does not. “Conditions are difficult, Greek lawmakers are aware that the country cannot afford adventures,” he told re-
porters as he left the chamber. A buoyant Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said the government’s “strategy of fear” had collapsed. “Democracy cannot be blackmailed,” he told reporters. A second round of voting will be held on Dec. 23 and a possible final round on Dec. 29, when the threshold needed for victory falls to 180. Costas Panagopoulos, a political analyst who heads the ALCO polling institute, said the result pointed to a period of intense backroom horsetrading between the government and independent deputies. “It will be inextricably linked to a political deal, which does not only include trying to get a vote in favour but also other issues, such as probably a timetable for elections or even another candidate,” he said. Syriza has been ahead of the government in opinion polls for months but its lead has shrunk in recent days as the showdown in parliament has neared, bringing the prospect of weeks of instability. Polls suggest that most Greek voters, weary after years of austerity, do not want early elections just as their battered economy is showing signs of revival. Greece’s euro zone partners fear a victory by the anti-bailout party could trigger trouble in the currency bloc, although it is political fallout rather than financial that is foremost on their minds. The final result of the parliamentary vote will depend on 24 independent lawmakers as well as possible rebels among the small Democratic Left party, which quit the ruling coalition last year and now has 10 deputies, and the right-wing Independent Greeks party which has 12.(rtr)
Hotel... From page 1 Meanwhile, the Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of Bali, Panusunan Siregar, explained the arrival of foreign travelers to Bali in October 2014 reached 341,651 people, where foreign travelers coming through the airport amounted to 339,200 people, while through seaport amounted to 2,451 people. “The number of foreign travelers coming to Bali during that period increased by 28.17 percent compared to October 2013. By nationality, most travelers coming to Bali were from Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea with the respective percentage of 26.59 percent, 15.54 percent, 6.55 percent, 5.90 percent and 4.44 percent,” he explained. He presented that cumulative figure (during January to October) of foreign travelers coming to Bali reached 3,122,392 people. During that period, the country of origin of travel-
ers coming to Bali from the highest to the lowest rank were Australia, China, Malaysia, Japan and Singapore, with the respective percentage of 26.03 percent, 15.98 percent, 5.65 percent, 5.64 percent and 4.49 percent. “Though traveler increased, the occupancy rate of star hotel in October 2014 reached an average of 62.83 percent, down 1.04 points compared to the last month’s room occupancy rate. The average length of stay at star hotel in Bali reached 3.29 days, down 0.15 point compared to the average length of stay attained last month,” he said. He added the room occupancy rate of non-star hotel reached an average of 33.14 percent in October that also showed a decline by 0.43 point from last month. The average length of stay reached 2.66 days, down 0.11 points compared to the average length of stay attained last month. (kmb27)
International
Friday, December 19, 2014
11
INDONESIA Uphill battle to tackle shark fishing TANJUNG LUAR - Sharks are hauled ashore every day at a busy market on the central Indonesian island of Lombok, the hub of a booming trade that provides a livelihood for local fishermen but is increasingly alarming environmentalists. Now a Singaporean is luring the fishermen away from Tanjung Luar market, where an array of other sea creatures including manta rays and moray eels are also sold, by offering them jobs as local guides for the growing number of tourists visiting the island. “The whole dream is that there’s enough tourists coming, not on a daily basis because the corals would be affected, but maybe on a weekly basis,” said Kathy Xu, a former teacher who gave up her job to focus on the project. “Hopefully I can engage more fishermen to do this.” But Xu recognises that she faces an uphill battle to tackle a lucrative industry, which is fuelled by demand for fins, particularly from China, and has transformed the vast Indonesian
archipelago into the world’s biggest shark fishery. On a recent visit by AFP to Tanjung Luar, 10 sharks were laid out on the dirty tiled floor before being auctioned off, but an environmental group said on a busy day up to 300 are brought to the market. “Sometimes there are so many sharks we can’t fit them all in here,” Ismail, a businessmen who finances local shark fishermen and goes by one name, told AFP. So far Xu has persuaded a handful of fishermen to work with tourists, mostly from Singapore, taking them snorkelling on beautiful coral reefs and to secluded white-sand beaches, on average twice a month. She also takes visitors to the market to raise awareness about the impact of shark-fishing in Indonesia, where
110,000 tonnes are caught a year, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. During a recent tour, 25 Singaporean students aged 13 to 15 watched women transfer fish from colourful baskets into buckets, workers sharpen their machetes and porters haul sharks hung over their shoulders. “Normally you find out these problems from picture books, saying killing sharks for their fins is bad, but they don’t really go further than that and you don’t really think about it anyway,” said 14-year-old Ray Chua. Despite Xu’s efforts, hunting sharks remains a better option for many local fishermen. “We get much more money from hunting sharks than taking tourists to swim. On a lucky day, I can get 10 times more for catching sharks,” said
Sulaiman, who goes by one name. While the fins are sold on to China and other countries where they are considered a delicacy, the rest of the shark is sliced up and its meat and skin made into meatball soup and snacks that have become part of the local diet. There has even been a recent trend towards eating shark pups, which are being sold in major grocery chains on the main island of Java, said shark protection campaigner Riyanni Djangkaru. Conservationists have long been raising the alarm about shark-fishing in Indonesia, and point to signs that populations have been declining around Tanjung Luar and across the whole archipelago, which consists of over 17,000 islands. The Lombok market is one of the few where sharks are openly landed. In other parts of country, fishermen hunt sharks in the open sea, slicing off their fins and dumping them back in the water to die.
However, protection groups point out that careless fishing by tuna trawlers is the biggest killer of sharks. Far more of the creatures die when they are accidentally caught in trawlers’ nets in places such as Bali, central Sulawesi island and in the south of Java, than by fishing, they say. They say the responsibility to protect the creatures should lie with the government. Only one species of shark, the whale shark, currently enjoys full protection in Indonesia and the few regulations that exist are not properly enforced, they say. At the moment, it is left to conservationists and others such as Xu to help the world’s oldest predator. And while she recognises that her effort alone will not be enough, the Singaporean is happy to do what she can. “The more I dived the more I got to see the sharks and they just grew on me,” she said. “It is just too beautiful, and I don’t want my grandchildren to not get this experience.”
A decade of Aceh’s tsunami
New families give survivors chance of second life
BANDA ACEH - Rusli Abdul Rahman and Fardhiah had been neighbours for years when the Asian tsunami devastated their small community in Indonesia’s Aceh, killing both their spouses and their eight children. But they found a second chance at happiness by remarrying each other and having a son -- one of the many new families formed in the aftermath of a natural disaster that killed tens of thousands a decade ago. Fardhiah, 50, who goes by one name and now lives in a house surrounded by photos of her lost relatives, said she grieved for months after the tsunami but then realised: “I must start a new life. “Perhaps God saved me so that I could be useful to other people.” The tsunami ripped apart the tightly woven social fabric in Aceh province, killing husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and forcing survivors together in ways that would have previously seemed unimaginable. Almost 170,000 people were killed in Indonesia, the vast majority in Aceh, when waves up to 35 metres (115 feet) high flattened coastal communities following a monster undersea earthquake off Sumatra island. In total, about 220,000 people were killed in countries around the Indian Ocean when the quake and tsunami
hit on December 26, 2004. Muhammad Zubedy Koteng, who worked with UNICEF on child protection in Aceh after the tsunami, said that forming new families was an effective way for many to “cure their trauma” and help them “deal with their loneliness and overcome the sorrow of losing their loved ones”. Some, such as labourer Syukri, helped youngsters left orphaned by the disaster. While wandering desperately round shelters looking for his missing brother, he spotted an abandoned baby boy lying in the undergrowth. “I saw him lying in the bushes, with a swollen stomach and head, and scabs on his body,” the 45-year-old, who goes by one name, told AFP. He took him in and a decade later, the boy remains part of Syukri’s family with his other children and wife. But his case also illustrates how the trauma of the past can still come back to haunt people -- it was only during a recent interview with AFP that Syukri revealed to his son that he was adopted. “I have kept this a secret because I was afraid he might feel disappointed, but it’s time he knows the truth,” he said, as the youngster broke down in a flood of tears on hearing the news. Other cases show that forming new families is not always straightforward,
and they risk being torn apart if survivors somehow manage to find relatives who were thought to have been killed. Raudhatul Jannah was swept away by the tsunami aged just four and was given up for dead by her family. But in August, she was spotted
walking through a village by her uncle, and reunited with her parents. While her birth parents were delighted, the development meant that an elderly woman who had been raising her for the past decade was suddenly left without her adopted daughter.
For most however, new additions to the family were welcome in the dark days after the tsunami when tens of thousands were forced into overcrowded shelters for months, often years, and had to rely on handouts from international aid agencies. (afp)
AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana
Christmas decorations are displayed at a shopping mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014.
12
International
Friday, December 19, 2014
BUSINESS
Consulate General of Japan holds flower show
Invite Kaoruko Sugimoto, a famous flower artist
EU summit to discuss crisis-hit Russia, economic plan
BRUSSELS - EU leaders on Thursday will discuss tense relations with Russia and punishing sanctions imposed over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine at a summit led for the first time by Poland’s Kremlin-wary former premier Donald Tusk. Leaders will also back a huge 315-billion-euro ($380billion) investment plan unveiled last month by new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker -although hard cash is expected to be lacking to help kickstart Europe’s economy. “The Russian economic situation will be in everyone’s minds,” a European diplomat said, after a month that has seen Russia spend heavily to stop the collapse of the ruble triggered by falling oil prices and sanctions imposed by Brussels and Washington. Tusk -- who on December 1 took up his duties as president of the European Council grouping the 28 EU member states -- has set aside talks on a “strategy” for Moscow, several European sources said. No new sanctions will be decided at the summit in Brussels as the EU “is not in a hardening mindset,” one diplomat said, while another added: “We don’t want to provoke Putin too much.” “We must pursue the political work,” a French source said. On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande and
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a conference call with presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, agreeing that peace talks to end months of bloody rebellion in the east of the ex-Soviet republic should resume “as soon as possible”. The EU leaders, who want to tread a line between firmness and dialogue with Moscow, must reflect on how to follow up on the heavy sanctions agreed over the summer after the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. “Everybody agrees that the sanctions have an impact but that they are not an end in themselves,” a European source said, stressing that Russia has not changed its policy one bit on Ukraine. Western powers have repeatedly accused Russia of stoking the Ukraine crisis, which has killed at least 4,700 people and displaced close to one million, by supplying weapons and troops to the rebels -- Moscow denies this. Tusk said: “The crisis in Ukraine remains a serious concern.... It is therefore important that we come out of this meeting with a clear political
Bali News
International
message.” The EU, which has already spent $1.6 billion on rescuing effectively bankrupt Ukraine, will reiterate that it is ready to do more, but only in return for reforms. Also on the table will be Juncker ’s investment plan to revive the bloc’s stalling economy, a plan that seems to have pitted Brussels against European governments. On the eve of the summit, the head of the EU’s executive branch urged EU leaders to open their wallets and add to the seed money that will be put in place over the next few months to launch the investment plan. But the 28 member states are far from stepping up. They first want to know how the plan will work, what the projects will be and what the return will be for their country at a time when their budgets are already strained. If all the subjects are wrapped up, the meeting could end Thursday evening, a first for European summits which often stretched late into a second night at the height of the eurozone debt crisis. (afp)
DENPASAR - A Japanese flower artist who has taken part in various international activities, Ms. Kaoruko Sugimoto, visited Bali. On the visit of Kaoruko Sugimoto in Bali, Consulate General of Japan held a Flower Show including seminar, Ikebana Show and demonstration of Yureru Buke (Sway Bouquet) by Ms. Kaoruko, Monday (Dec 15), at the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Denpasar.
AP Photo/Michael Probst, File
In a Monday, Nov.17, 2014 file photo, the new headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany, is shown. A closelywatched survey shows German business confidence rose in November, putting an end to six consecutive months of declines.
German business confidence up for 2nd month
BERLIN — A closely watched survey shows that business confidence in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, has risen for the second month in a row as managers’ outlook for the next six months brightens. The Ifo institute said Thursday its monthly confidence index rose to 105.5 points from 104.7 in November. The increase was in line with economists’ expectations. Ifo says managers’ outlook for the
It was begun with a seminar explaining about the art of flower arrangement denoting an expression of emotion and soul through flower arrangements. Meanwhile, the swaying bouquet becoming a special demonstration on the day posed an adaptation to one’s breath. “One who brings Yureru Buke will look beautiful and happy,” she said in the seminar. In the meantime, the Consulate General of Japan in Bali, Mr. Kazuo Shibata, explained the purpose of the event. He said the Flower Show aimed to introduce the florist Kaoruko Sugimoto. “And this is a rare opportunity,”
he said Monday (Dec 15). Kaoruko Sugimoto is an artist having a typical characteristic of flower arrangement by combining western culture and Japanese traditional culture. He continued that flower was a symbol of peace that could make life colorful and flower was an object that could heal the soul. “Through flowers are introduced the principle of uniting the countries in the world,” he added. Kaoruko Sugimoto is a famous flower artist among female youths who wanted to bring a series of her artificial bouquet on their happy moment such as in the wedding ceremony. (may)
coming six months improved while their assessment of the current situation was unchanged. Recent data have showed a promising increase in German factory orders, though the country’s central bank has cautioned that it expects only modest economic growth over the winter. Earlier this week, a separate survey of investor confidence rose sharply thanks at least in part to falling oil prices and a weaker euro. (ap)
US Fed slashes inflation forecast for 2015
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve has sharply cut its forecast for inflation next year, saying it will remain far below its 2 percent target through 2015. The Fed said Wednesday that it now expects inflation to fall to between 1 percent and 1.6 percent in 2015, down from a previous forecast in September of 1.6 percent to 1.9 percent. The downgrade reflects plummeting oil and gas prices.
The Fed kept its 2016 inflation forecast of 1.7 percent to 2 percent. Policymakers also boosted their forecasts for economic growth this year to as much as 2.4 percent, up from a previous estimate of 2 percent to 2.2 percent. That reflects strong growth of 4.3 percent from April through September, the healthiest pace in a decade. The Fed updated its economic forecasts after a two-day policy meeting.
The Fed has made a much smaller cut in its forecast for core inflation, which excludes the volatile food and energy categories. It foresees core prices rising between 1.5 percent and 1.8 percent next year, down slightly from 1.6 percent to 1.9 percent in its September projections. The lower inflation forecast gives the Fed room to keep its benchmark interest rate at its record-low level of nearly zero. Fed policymakers said in a statement
that they “can be patient” on the timing of any rate increase. Most economists expect the Fed to start raising rates in mid-2015. The increase in its 2014 growth forecast is the Fed’s first upgrade in 12 months, since it boosted its 2013 outlook. The Fed has steadily lowered its projections for this year since June 2013, when it forecast growth of about 3.25 percent. (ap)
IBP/Eka Adhiyasa
A Japanese flower artist who has taken part in various international activities, Ms. Kaoruko Sugimoto, visited Bali. On the visit of Kaoruko Sugimoto in Bali, Consulate General of Japan held a Flower Show including seminar.
Friday, December 19, 2014
5
The renowned Legong of Peliatan
Popularity of the Legong Dance of Peliatan village, Ubud subdistrict, Gianyar, occurred in the 1920s remains to last to date. The community of Peliatan village becoming the main supporter persistently maintains the distinctiveness of the art. So, it is natural if endless flows of foreign travelers come to the international village just to witness the unique dance. Peliatan village has become the center for the performance of Legong art. Even, almost every night the art is presented to entertain travelers with different kind of dances, venues and supporting art troupes. Peliatan customary village, Ubud, has about six Legong troupes that almost all of them compete to maintain its uniqueness. One of them is the classical Legong of Gunung Sari troupe of Peliatan. Supported by around 52 dancers and gamelan players, it has been accustomed to doing regular performances every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Ancak Saji Stage, Peliatan Palace Ubud. The performance includes the Pendet, Legong Kraton, Baris, Kebyar Terompong and Oleg Tamulilingan Dance. Meanwhile, at the end of the show emerge the Rangda and Barong Dance. Jero Mangku Alit Pande Made Nesa, the secretary of the art troupe, said that performance of all the dances remained to preserve the original style of Peliatan village. The type of presentation was always equal to the one presented at temple in devotional works. “We did not dare to reduce, cut or add the parts of the dance. What just show the authenticity inherited from the past,” he said. Specialty of the Legong Peliatan, explained Jero Mangku Pande, seemed a means to introduce more about the Peliatan village, Ubud. The Legong was trained by Gusti Niang Sengog and then continued by her pupil, Gusti Ayu Raka. “She has taught tirelessly the peculiarities of Legong Peliatan,” said the Ubud-born man in 1955. According to Jero Mangku Pande, the story related to the founding of Gunung Sari Classical Legong troupe originated from mebarong-barongan or barong dance activities. The barong troupe made a street show at local villages. Not only that, his party had also established a troupe of male arja operetta with the support from sympathizers. In the long run, the classical art continued to grow, so that it was almost never empty of getting show requests.
After that, in 1926 the barong troupe supported by 25 artists then established the Gong Kebyar Gunung Sari gamelan troupe of Peliatan at Kajanan Palace of Peliatan. Serving as the initiator was AA Mandera, Gusti Kompyang Pangkung, Made Bees, Pande Made Gerondong, Pande Made Ganut and friends. To be able to exercise regularly, the troupe still borrowed gamelan instrument at the palace. Due to their seriousness, in 1930 the gamelan troupe was often believed to participate in a competition involving some counties. Since it could won the first place, then in 1931 it was appointed an ambassador to Europe by presenting Legong, Janger and Cak Dance. It was said the voyage took for six months by vessel. Furthermore, the troupe purchased its own gamelan set where each member should set aside their money from
their show fee. “A farmer who was cutting grass at the Gunung Sari Temple discovered a cymbal. This gamelan instrument was then used as jejaton (capital) to create a gamelan in Pande Asem, Tiyingan village, Klungkung,” told a former employee of the Gianyar Education Agency. After that, popularity of the Gong Kebyar Gunung Sari gamelan troupe was heard to various countries. So, it was entrusted to be the ambassador of the art to London (1932); France (1952); and won the first place at the British Embassy (1953) so that it had the honor to raise red-and-white flag at the UN Building. In 1962, it made a performance in Situbondo, East Java; performance in four cities of Australia (1971); autobiographical performance in BBC London (1968); Mexico (1981); Los Angeles (1996); and returned to Europe (1998).
IBP/File Photo
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Bali News
International
Rainy season, roof tile production slumps 90 percent TABANAN - Evidently rainy season is not always bringing in a blessing as experienced by roof tile artisans at Pejaten. Of course, when entering rainy season their tile production declined by 90 percent. In addition to requiring a long time to dry out their tile, craftsmen also get difficulties in obtaining raw materials.
The roof tile producer is drying his product.
IBP/Wira Sanjiwani
One of the roof tile craftsmen at Pejaten experiencing the effect of rainy season was Nyoman Sutika. He admitted that since the rainy season, his tile production declined by 90 percent. Even, due to the uncertainty about when the roof tile could dry out and be ready for sale, his party was forced to reject the purchase order of roof tile. Tile production in dry season and rainy season was very much different. Normally, in dry season, he could produce at least 3,000 pieces of roof tile and 1,000 pieces of connecting tile each day that could be completed within twice drying in dry season. From the making, drying to burning maximally took a week. However, during rainy season, all the processes could take place once a month so that it caused the tile production dropped dramatically. “When drying up, they may not be in contact with water. When exposed to any small amount of water, it will be easily broken,” he said. On that account, he should dry his roof tile carefully in rainy season. If impossible, he was forced to aerate the roof tiles under shady place. In addition to the drying process taking a long time, the other constraint faced by Sutika was the raw material of clay. According to him, slippery terrain made it difficult to take raw materials. This condition caused difficulty in obtaining raw materials from clay suppliers. “If it is hard to get, the price of raw material will surely go up,” he said. Rising price of the raw material definitely had an impact on the rising of production cost which ultimately led to the increase in the tile price. But according to Sutika, the rising
price of roof tile produced in Bali was not significant. “Normally, it cost IDR 1,000 each. At rainy season, it maximally reaches IDR 1,100,” he said. With the increase of IDR 100, according to him, it was not comparable to the amount of production so that the tile producers could not reach break-even point. On the other hand, as a craftsman with limited capital, he could not stock tiles and raw materials during dry season in order to fulfill the orders in rainy season. “To stock tile and raw materials during dry season in order to meet the demand in rainy season needs large capital,” he said. For this reason, Sutika was forced to reject some tile orders because he could not fulfill. Price increase of roof tile during rainy season, according to Sutika, was not much. The artisans did not dare to damage the tile market due to tight competition against the products from outside such as from Java. Sutika explained that Java tiles were very expensive and could reach 3,000 per piece as they were stronger. “When trampled, the Java tile will not break down. It can be strong because the clay in use is different and cannot be found in Bali,” said Sutika. Consumers of Java tile were usually from the upper middle class. As being strong, the Java tile could only be used in the buildings constructed with strong material. Meanwhile, Bali roof tile was lighter and could be used in the buildings made from standard materials. “Bali tile is also durable or can last a lifetime as long as it is not slammed or fall,” said Sutika. (kmb24)
Government facilitates fund to salt farmers
SINGARAJA - Aside from having the fishing and aquaculture potential, Buleleng also has the potential of traditional salt farming (PUGAR). To optimize this business, central government through the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) facilitated the distribution of financial aid. The attention of central government was given considering the relatively large potential owned by traditional salt farming in Northern Bali and the success of farmers to develop pyramid salt. It was revealed by the Secretariat of PUGAR 2014, the Directorate
of Coastal Community Empowerment and Enterprise Development (Ditjen-KP3K) Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, M. Rusli Wattiheluw, in the presentation and facilitation of the PUGAR program in the meeting room of the Buleleng Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Office, Singaraja, Monday (Dec 15). Furthermore, Rusli said that Buleleng was a region in Bali being rich in quality salt-producing business in Indonesia. Moreover, Buleleng had a superior salt production in the form of pyramid salt which had been able to penetrate foreign markets. To optimize the PUGAR
management, central government tried to continuously empower the salt farmer groups including in Buleleng. This empowerment was focused on helping the capital problems. So far, the capital issue had been a constraint that had not been resolved well. “Hopefully, the facilitation of government could be accompanied with an agreement between the salt farmers and banking and cooperative sector,” he said. Meanwhile, the Resources Division Head of Bali Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency, Made Sudarsana, said that salt farmers in Buleleng were reminded to maintain
consistency of their production. The help of funding by banking and cooperative sector was expected to optimize the development of PUGAR in Buleleng. Sudarsana added that in the future the salt farmers could develop their business and become independent in terms of capital. In addition, by increasing the quality of salt and processing system they would be able to overcome the problems. Similar opinion was revealed by the Head of Buleleng Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Nyoman Sutrisna, that salt farmers in Buleleng could maintain the quality
and quantity of production. One of which, it could be realized by the use the warehousing system during rainy season. So far, according to Sutrisna, salt farmers in the region often experienced a decline in production during rainy season. Meanwhile, in 2014, the Buleleng Fisheries and Maritime Affairs already applied the geo-membrane technology for the making of salt in Buleleng. As planned, the application of the technology would be tested in 2015. With the new technology, salt farmers would be able to improve the quality and quantity of their salt production. (kmb38)
Friday, December 19, 2014
International
Key elements of US policy shift toward Cuba WASHINGTON — The U.S. and Cuba will begin taking steps to restore full diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in more than half a century. Here are the key elements of changes to U.S. policy toward Cuba, some of which President Barack Obama announced at the White House on Wednesday.
- Establishing diplomatic relations
Obama has instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba on re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba; ties were cut off in January 1961. This step includes re-opening a U.S. Embassy in the capital Havana and carrying out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments as part of the normalization process. - Expanding travel to Cuba
Easing travel under general licenses for 12 existing categories of travel to Cuba, as authorized by U.S. law. They are: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation or transmission of information or information materials; and certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing regulations and guidelines. Tourist travel remains banned. - Remittances
The amount of money anyone in the U.S. will be allowed to send to Cuban nationals, except certain government or communist party officials, will increase from $500 to $2,000 per quarter, or every three months. Early in his presidency, Obama allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans and removed a $1,200 annual cap on remittances. - Cuban Cigars
Licensed American travelers to Cuba can return home with up to $400 of merchandise, including tobacco and alcohol products worth no more than $100 combined. Any Cuban cigars brought back to the U.S. must be for personal use, not for resale.
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Cubans hope for better future with US-Havana deal
HAVANA — Cubans cheered the surprise announcement that their country will restore relations with the United States, hopeful they’ll soon see expanded trade and new economic vibrancy even though the 53-year-old economic embargo remains in place for the time being. “This opens a better future for us,” said Milagros Diaz, 34. “We have really needed something like this because the situation has been bad and the people very discouraged.” Bells tolled in celebration and teachers halted lessons midday as President Raul Castro told his country Wednesday that Cuba would renew relations with Washington after more than a half-century of hostility. Wearing his military uniform with its five-star insignia, the 83-year-old leader said the two countries would work to resolve their differences “without renouncing a single one of our principles.” Havana residents gathered around television sets in homes, schools and businesses to hear the historic national broadcast, which coincided with a statement by U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington. Uniformed schoolchildren burst into applause at the news. At the University of San Geronimo in the capital’s historic center, the announcement drew ringing from the bell tower. Throughout the capital, there was a sense of
euphoria as word spread. “For the Cuban people, I think this is like a shot of oxygen, a wish-cometrue, because with this, we have overcome our differences,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a 32-year-old IT specialist. “It is an advance that will open the road to a better future for the two countries.” Fidel and Raul Castro led the 1959 rebellion that toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. The U.S. initially recognized the new government but broke relations in 1961 after Cuba veered sharply to the left and nationalized U.S.owned businesses. As Cuba turned toward the Soviet Union, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo in 1962. Particularly since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Cubans have confronted severe shortages of oil, food and consumer goods, forcing them to ration everything from beans to powdered milk.
The Cuban government blames most of its economic travails on the embargo, while Washington has traditionally blamed Cuba’s Communist economic policies. In his address, Castro called on Washington to end its trade embargo which, he said, “has caused enormous human and economic damage.” Ramon Roman, 62, said he hoped to see Cuba welcome more tourists. “It would be a tremendous economic injection, both in terms of money and in new energy and would be a boost for average people who need it,” he said. Victoria Serrano, a lab worker, said she hoped to see an influx of new goods because life in Cuba has been “really very difficult.” “In particular,” she said, “I hope we’ll see an improvement in food — that there is trade in this with the United States, which is so close. Right now, even an onion has become a luxury.”(ap)
- Financial transactions
U.S. institutions will be allowed to open accounts at Cuban financial institutions to help process authorized transactions. U.S. credit and debit cards will be accepted in Cuba. - Increasing Cubans’ access
Authorize the commercial export of certain items that will help increase the Cuban people’s ability to communicate with people in the U.S. and around the world. This will include the commercial sale of certain consumer communications devices, related software, applications, hardware, services and items to establish and update communications-related systems. Cuba has one of the lowest Internet penetration rates in the world, the White House said in a fact sheet. The cost of telecommunications on the island also is prohibitively expensive and the services offered are extremely limited. - Reviewing Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism
Kerry will immediately launch a review and report back to Obama within six months. Cuba was added to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism in 1982. - Economic Embargo
Obama does not have the authority to fully lift the long-standing U.S. economic embargo on Cuba; only Congress can do that. In his announcement, Obama said he was doing what he can as president to update U.S. policy toward Cuba, and that he looked forward to a future “honest and serious” debate with lawmakers about overturning the embargo. Capitol Hill is divided over U.S. policy toward Cuba.(ap)
AP Photo/Desmond Boylan
People walk past a billboard showing “The Cuban Five” that reads in Spanish “End the injustice. Freedom now.” in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014.
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Fashion
International
2014 was big on flesh nudity, leading to a court battle over fines (since overturned) and temporarily derailing her career. Jackson’s split-second slip included a now-quaint nipple shield under the piece of leather Justin Timberlake ripped off her outfit, either accidentally or on purpose. Today, flaunting one’s pasties is downright passe. Just ask Cyrus, who rocked a pair as she performed at Paper magazine’s Break the Internet party during Art Basel Miami Beach in celebration of its nakey jaunt with Kardashian. Fashion darling Alexander Wang did his part in Year of the Flesh. He previewed his new Denim x Alexander line on Instagram with a fully nude but strategically posed model chilling in an easy chair,
Friday, December 19, 2014
BPBD urges community to be vigilant DENPASAR - The Weather Services (BMKG) for Region III Denpasar predicted the peak of rainy season would take place in January and February 2015. As usual, on the peak of rainy season the potential hazards occurred would also be higher such as floods, landslides, fallen trees, tornados, high sea waves and others.
jeans pulled below the knee. In Siriano’s case, he was looking to evoke the massive glass sculptures of controversial Australian sculptor Sergio Redegalli. His core customer is more society lady than nipple-baring It girl, but he said in a recent interview the delicate sheer crystal top with pants to match is the most popular of his designs borrowed by stylists for clients and photo projects — often with a lining added. “Now, you see people are celebrating the body. It’s different. Very different,” he said. “I went there more as an inspirational fantasy, but we’ve had pretty much every publication pull that look for editorial shoots. It’s been done in art for so long and fashion is a form of art.” (afp) Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File
In this June 2, 2014 file photo, fashion Icon Award honoree Rihanna poses with her award at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall in New York.
Responding to the threat of disaster, the Bali Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has instructed the ranks and relevant agencies to deploy personnel and equipment. “To face the threat of disasters in rainy season, the BPBD Bali has agreed to a 24-hour standby both for personnel and equipment. We expect the county and municipal BPBD and related agencies to also improve their disaster preparedness and response,” said the Chief of BPBD Bali, Dewa Made Indra, when met at his office, Monday (Dec 15). He added the BPBD Bali had made coordination with relevant agencies at provincial level such as the Health, Social Services, Public Works Agency, National SAR Agency and the other related agencies to respond to and anticipate the potential for disaster in this rainy season. His party expected the Public Works Agency to pay attention to condition of roads and drains so that it would not kindle flood during heavy rains as well as the readiness
of heavy equipment. The county and municipal Sanitation and Landscaping Agency (DKP) were expected to soon do the trimming of roadside shade trees so as not to fall and endanger road users. Meanwhile, the Health Agency was expected to alert medical personnel and medical equipment to treat victims. Preparedness of the Social Services was also asked related to logistical assistance. “Our preparedness will play an important role in the face of the coming disaster,” he said. The BPBD Bali also urged people to continuously raise their awareness of the potential for disaster. “We do hope that all the people in Bali to be alert to the threat of monsoon-related disasters such as floods, landslides, fallen trees, high winds, tidal waves and others,” he said. Balinese people living at those points, said Indra, should be vigilant against the signs of nature. For example, people whose home was located on hillside should always be vigilant. When rainfall increased
IBP/Suryawan
The Weather Services (BMKG) for Region III Denpasar predicted the peak of rainy season would take place in January and February 2015. As usual, on the peak of rainy season the potential hazards occurred would also be higher such as floods, landslides, fallen trees, tornados, high sea waves and others. in intensity and took place for long time, they should go to a safer place. Then, people living in the banks of river should guard against flash floods. Coastal communities and
fishermen were advised not to go to sea when strong winds and high waves at sea happened. Likewise, people were also expected to be vigilant while at open space to
Galungan holiday shortened
Civil servants of Bali province complain
John Shearer/Invision/AP
Joel Ryan/Invision/AP
Singer Taylor Swift performs at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in London, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014.
3
Rainy season, disasters threaten
NEW YORK — Skin was definitely in, but was 2014 all about the big, bold booty or a sheer reveal up top? On runways, Marc Jacobs sent up-and-comer Kendall Jenner out during February’s New York Fashion Week with nipples clearly visible under a taupe knit top. Christian Siriano closed his show in September with ice blue crystals on a barely there trouser set, nipples on display. Look no further than awards shows, music videos and magazine covers for fuller rears, compliments of Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj, along with Jenner’s big sis Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s style icon of the year. Rihanna showed off every inch top to bottom when she collected the award, but curvy newcomer Meghan Trainor said it best in the rear department with her breakout, Grammy nominated hit: “All About that Bass.” Where would Instagram be without booty? Well, nipples gained ground in pilfered nude celebrity selfies, RiRi’s bare, pierced assets on the cover of French magazine Lui and among proud “Free the Nipple” activists, including Scout Willis and Miley Cyrus, who challenged Instagram’s ban. Scout and others flashed and pranced topless in public from New York to Moscow. A film by Lina Esco of the same name turned into a hashtag. As for the bass, Kardashian loves showing off hers and signed on to help Paper magazine with another body-baring declaration, #breaktheinternet. She did it with the pop of a Champagne cork that arched a stream of bubbly over her head into a glass resting nicely on her derriere for the cover. But she also advanced the cause of the nipple when she went fullfrontal on the magazine’s inside pages, followed soon after by a topless Madonna in Interview. Why did Kardashian do it? She said on the Australian TV show “The Project” that she loved working with famed photographer JeanPaul Goude on the Paper shoot and considered it an “art project.” “It taught me to do what you want to do. Everyone should do what they’re comfortable with, and I’m never one to preach but I felt really positive and really good about myself. I love the photos. I did it for me,” she told host Rove McManus. Alas, McManus wasn’t able to repeat the glass-balancing trick. “You don’t have as big a butt as I do,” Kardashian noted after she attempted to show him how it’s done. Backside or bare female breast — either way, it seemed light years from 2004. That’s when the live Super Bowl halftime show on CBS turned into Nipplegate for Janet Jackson, taking over chatter about
Bali News
International
Kendall Jenner arrives at the 42nd annual American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, in Los Angeles.
DENPASAR - Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, instructing his staff that Galungan holiday this time was only one day (on Wednesday as peak of the Galungan) reaped a protest and frustration among civil servants in the Bali provincial government. On the previous Galungan, civil servants of provincial government got a chance of optional holiday for three days from Tuesday (penampahan Galungan), Wednesday (peak of Galungan) and Thursday (Umanis Galungan). But this time, the Galungan holiday was shortened to one day. “We are disappointed with the instruction of the governor. So, we cannot celebrate Galungan solemnly. Apparently we should rush to pray,” said one of the civil servants in the Bali parliamentary secretariat, recently. Another civil servant also said that he was disappointed because it was the first time of
his Galungan holiday was shortened to one day. By all means, it was very detrimental especially for civil servants who lived far or had to return to home village on the holiday. The policy was also based on the previously issued Circular of the Bali Governor dated November 25, 2013 related to national holidays, joint leave and the dispensation of the Hindu sacred festival in Bali 2014. In the circular was mentioned that December 16, 17 and 18 were Galungan holidays. But in fact, the civil servants of Bali province were only given one-day holiday. “It means to have shortened our rights. Unfortunately, we could not resist,” said the civil servant. According to him, on Tuesday (Dec 16) and Thursday (Dec 18) the Inspectorate and the Regional Employment Agency (BKD) of Bali would enforce the gubernatorial circular to conduct unannounced inspection to the
agency offices within the Bali government in order to ensure there would be no civil servants in violation against the instruction. “It means an excessive policy for us. Our feast seems to be pursued,” said the civil servant. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Bali House, Nyoman Adi Wiryatama, claimed to understand the policy of the Bali Governor cutting off the holiday considering Galungan and Kuningan coincided with the end of the year approaching the completion of yearend financial report so that the work of government s h o u l d b e e n c o u r a g e d . “ We can acknowledge because it is indeed the end of the year. We expect the civil servants can understand and work as usual,” said the PDI-P politician from Tabanan. For the next Galungan he hoped there would be no reduction like this year because
it would not fall at the end of fis cal year. “H opefu lly, th e next Galungan holiday can be returned to normal holidays,” said the former Regent of Tabanan when met after a one-day seminar discussing about in the Law on Village Government in the parliamentary house. Earlier, the Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika, said the Galungan holiday policy was enacted for one day on December 17 because the Galungan celebration was coinciding with the end of the year where it was time to complete the yearend financial report. Moreover, so far there were still many unfinished tasks. With the shortening of Galungan holiday for two days, it was expected the workload could be completed properly on time before the expiry of the fiscal year 2014. “We have had a lot of holidays. So, let us work and complete the unfinished works,” said Pastika. (kmb29)
avoid lightning. In November, two Balinese people died as struck by lightning in Jembrana. “When all people are alert there will be no victims,” he said. (wid)
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International
Friday, December 19, 2014
Bali News
International
Activities
Friday, December 19, 2014
15
IBP/Courtesry of Archipelago International
Segara Temple at Tinga-Tinga eroded by sea waves
SINGARAJA - The area of Segara Temple at Tinga-Tinga customary village, Gerokgak, is now in alarming condition. The temple area is now eroded by severe abrasion. Even, a courtyard shrine has collapsed as the foundation was eroded by ferocious waves. For this condition, through the village official, residents already requested assistance to government in order to deal with the severely abraded beach. As information gathered in the field, severe abrasion had taken place since a few years ago. Initially, the waves eroded the shoreline bordering with the eastern side of compound wall of the Animal Quarantine Office at Celukan Bawang. From the east end, the abrasion continued to worsen and broke down the compound wall of the Animal Quarantine Office. Not only that, the brunt of the waves each year continued to erode the shoreline so that it threatened the area of Segara Temple of Tinga-Tinga. A courtyard shrine of the local temple was already swept away by tidal waves eroding the foundation. Customary villages becoming the supporting devotees of the local temple were anxious before the piodalan or temple anniversary because the temple area was eroded, so that the area was not enough to prepare the ritual paraphernalia of the anniversary. Since the coastal damage had not long been handled, the residents got
the opportunity to deliver their aspirations when the Buleleng Regent Putu Agus Suradnyana with his team carried out a working visit 2014 to Gerokgak subdistrict, Saturday (Dec 13). Through face-to-face dialogue, the residents of Tinga-Tinga represented by the headman, I Putu Suardipa, said that following the damage to the beach in the area, residents had repeatedly reported the condition to relevant agency in Buleleng County. To that end, residents requested the local government to help deal the damage. Unfortunately, the hope of residents seemed fruitless because the help of local government never came. At that time, the Buleleng Public Works Agency had come to the site. But the officers just made a survey and measured the length of abraded shoreline. After the survey and measurement, the officers of the Public Works never came to provide information related to the follow-up of the abrasion handling. “Our residents are expecting the lo-
Favehotel wins awards
JAKARTA – Last week, Archipelago International announced that its prevailing favehotel brand received an award at Venue Magazine’s 7th Indonesia MICE Awards. On Thursday, 11 December 2014 at The Kasablanka Hall & Convention Centre in Jakarta, Venue Magazine awarded favehotel as The Most Popular Budget Hotel in Indonesia.
The abrasion is threatening the Segara Temple in Tinga-Tinga, Buleleng Regency cal government to help because the damage to beaches in our area is very serious and now the temple has been threatened. Without immediate repair, we worry the temple area will also be eroded by sea waves,” he said. Meanwhile, the Regent of Buleleng, Putu Agus Suradnyana, when responding to the abrasion issue at Tinga-Tinga village stated that in
general the handling of damage in Northern Bali coast still relied on the funding from the state budget through the Bali-Penida River Agency (BWS). It happened because the ability of local government to address coastal damage was still hampered by funding in regional budget. Since still relying on the funding from central government, local government could
IBP/Mudiarta
not fully allocate a budget to deal with the damage. “We’ll discuss it again, and in particular I will invite the headman to discuss about the coastal damage and look for the solution. We will try to make an effort to address the coastal damage in many ways in order to get the financial support,” he affirmed. (kmb38)
Budgeted IDR 600 million
Semarapura Festival expected not to leave debts
SEMARAPURA - After the implementation of festival in Nusa Penida, Klungkung plans to hold similar event in the mainland Klungkung. The Klungkung Culture and Tourism Agency ensures the Semarapura Festival will be held next April. A total of IDR 600 million has been allocated in the regional budget 2015. Armed with bad experience in the Nusa Penida Festival, the Klungkung Culture and Tourism Agency hopes the Semarapura Festival will leave no debt. The Head of Klungkung Culture and Tourism Agency, Wayan Sujana,
recently said that other than planning weaknesses at that time, the Nusa Penida Festival, according to him, also brought in quite a positive impact on tourism development in Klungkung, especially Nusa Penida. As a result, the Regent of Klungkung, Nyoman Suwirta, was inspired to organize similar event next year. The scope would be narrowed, especially for the potential of the art and culture. As planned, the Semarapura Festival would be centered in front of the Klungkung Grand Palace for three days. Where the peak of the activity would fall on the Puputan Klungkung Day on April 28, 2015 and be coupled
with the Gathering of Archipelagic Kings. “The festival is more effective than large-scale promotion held overseas. In addition, it is better for conservation efforts,” said the official from Karangasem. From the experience in the Nusa Penida Festival, he claimed there was an increase in tourism visits from July (when the activity was held) amounting to 15,000 foreign travelers to Nusa Penida, so that increased to 21,000 foreign travelers in August. When asked about the technical activities and what would be presented, Sujana said
it would be discussed again in a joint meeting with the parties concerned. Obviously, the Semarapura Festival activities would be packed more comprehensively, so that it would not leave any debt that could become a new problem after the activity completed. As had been known, the Nusa Penida Festival was successful enough to draw the interest of travelers in Bali. However, after the activities the committee of local government aided by private sector was made confused as leaving a debt of approximately IDR 215 million, while in the main
Venue Magazine is a leading business magazine that presents up to date content and reviews, as well as innovative findings regarding the MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions & Events). Each year, the Indonesia MICE Awards play a huge part in showcasing the best of the best within the industry. The objective of the Indonesia MICE Awards is to awaken, encourage, and
reward outstanding MICE stakeholders to continue to take part and promote the MICE industry in Indonesia. All of the awards, including favehotel’s Most Popular Budget Hotel in Indonesia award, were decided upon by Venue Magazine’s readers through a social media polling system, alongside a judging panel. Since launching in 2009, favehotel has been at the forefront of the budget hotel sector, redefining the industry’s
standards for select service hotels. Imaginative design and mid-market features such as high quality bedding, complimentary high-speed internet access and LCD / LED televisions have awarded the chain with a number of accolades, namely for their user-friendly website that offers instant easy bookings and best rate guarantees for internet savvy customers. “We are extremely proud of our
Enjoy long stay at Santika Kuta
Mr and Mrs. Stillman is an Australian who visited Bali to spend holiday. In this time, they choose Santika Kuta as their home stay for two weeks. “We are staying at Deluxe room. Here, we get very good service from Hotel Santika Kuta Bali. Our holiday is also very com-
plete because we are accompanied by our family,” they said. When spending holiday in Bali, they are not only enjoy the hotel facilities but also walk around some tourist object. “This is not our first to Bali, we love this. About the hotel, we like the staff. They are very
attentive, friendly and helpful. The atmosphere is very relaxing and all facilities that we need such as swimming pool and breakfast at restaurant over all are perfect. Keep up the good work for the staff. We will definitely come back on over next vacation,” Stillman delivered. (btn)
regional budget 2014 the Culture and Tourism Agency allocated approximately IDR 600 million. Implementation of the Nusa Penida itself spent more than IDR 1 billion. Although there were some sponsors, the committee could not cover the remaining debt. However, Sujana asserted the remaining debt could have been paid off at last with the help of some other sponsors. However, lately there was an issue if the remaining debt surpassing the budget allocated was alleged to have been bailed out by fictitious grants although the issue was finally denied. (kmb31)
Founder : K.Nadha, General Manager :Palgunadi Chief Editor: Diah Dewi Juniarti Editors: Gugiek Savindra,Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Daniel Fajry, Mawa, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Yudi Winanto Denpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subrata, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Suasrina, Buleleng: Dewa kusuma, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bagiarta. Jakarta: Nikson, Hardianto, Ade Irawan. NTB: Agus Talino, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. 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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favehotel brand, once again being recognized for its achievements in the hospitality industry. It pushes us to strive for even greater things whilst at the same time, proving that our hard working staff and continuous training really pays off in providing the ultimate service for our guests. Winning this award and gaining the recognition as a top budget hotel brand will undoubtedly position favehotel as an even greater leader within the hospitality industry in Indonesia.” Said Mr. Norbert Vas, VP Sales & Marketing of Archipelago International. (r)
Balinese Temple Ceremony Every Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc. The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion. The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines. In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbulumbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Green Day, Reed, Starr into rock hall NEW YORK — The punk trio Green Day, poet of the New York underground Lou Reed and “Lean on Me” singer Bill Withers will lead a new class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. The hall announced Tuesday that it will also welcome Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, who famously sang about loving rock ‘n’ roll, and make Ringo Starr the fourth ex-Beatle enshrined as an individual. Besides Reed, the class includes other posthumous inductees Paul Butterfield and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The 30th annual induction ceremony will be held at Cleveland, Ohio’s Public Hall next April 18. Public tickets go on sale Thursday. Green Day made it in the group’s first year of eligibility. The Bay Area band led by Billie Joe Armstrong made the 1990s slackers anthem “Dookie” and hit a peak with the politicallythemed concept disc “American Idiot” a decade later. Armstrong also starred in a Broadway musical based on “American Idiot.” Reed, who died in October 2013 following complications from a liver transplant, is already in the hall as a member of the Velvet Underground. He was at his best exploring the underside of his home city, in the hit “Walk on the Wild Side” and fierce crack-era album “New York.” Withers brought a jazz and funk touch to 1970s era singersongwriter material like “Ain’t No Sunshine,” ‘’Use Me” and “Just the Two of Us.” He hasn’t released new music in nearly three decades. Jett emerged from the allfemale punk-era pioneers the Runaways to lead a band of men with punchy hits, none bigger than the declaration “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” “I’m still collecting my thoughts, but the feeling is surreal. I’ve always focused on making music for the art of it, and its ability to reach others,”
Jett said in a written statement. “I am truly honored that my music has been recognized by the great rock and roll community that voted me in.” The Paul Butterfield Blues Band married blues and rock during the 1960s, led by its leader’s harmonica and the lead guitar of Mike Bloomfield. Blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was a 1980s prodigy for his work with band Double Trouble on songs like “Pride and Joy” and “Texas
The “5’’ Royales will be inducted in the early influence category. The former gospel group recorded the original version of “Dedicated to the One I Love,” which became a hit later for the Shirelles and the Mamas & the Papas. Inductees are chosen by a vote of more than 700 artists, historians and music industry representatives. An artist needed to have first released material no later than 1989. The Rock Hall of Fame, which is based in Cleveland, will open a new exhibit dedicated to the 2015 inductees. (ap)
Flood.” Like hero Jimi Hendrix his life was cut short, dying in a 1990 plane crash. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is being given a special award for musical excellence. He anchored the Beatles’ sound and had a productive solo career, even beating his former mates to the top of the charts. He continues to record and tour with a revolving All-Starr Band. The Beatles are already in the hall, as are John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison as solo artists.
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Friday, December 19, 2014
Australian leader: Siege may have been preventable
Liverpool getting back to their best, says Rodgers
Cubans hope for better future with US-Havana deal
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Triggered by low season and room growth
Hotel occupancy rate in Bali slumps
MANGUPURA - The arrival of foreign travelers early December, according to tourism players especially those getting involved in hospitality, is still sluggish. They still restraint from spending holidays to the Island of the Gods until the middle of this month, other than caused by the uncontrolled growth in the number of hotel rooms.
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
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Timberlake, Biel expecting first child
“Earlier this month (Dec—Ed) is low season, so that travelers still refrain from coming to Bali. By and large, their arrival will jump on the second or third week before Christmas and New Year holidays,” said Secretary General of the Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of Bali Chapter, Ferry Markus, in Kuta. According to him, the low tourist arrivals could be seen from the
average occupancy rate or occupancy of rooms in Bali amounting to less than 50 percent. “I estimate the room occupancy rate in Bali is now averagely less than 50 percent for star hotels. Probably, for hotels in Badung are higher than that number, but averagely they are still low,” he said. Even though it was unlike in previous years, Ferry Markus predicted that tourist arrivals to
Bali to celebrate the end of the year would surge. The drop of room occupancy rate every year was triggered by the uncontrolled growth of hotel rooms. “Our forecast for Bali in general, there will be definitely a surge at that time (yearend celebration—Ed), although it will not happen like a couple of years ago because too many hotel rooms are available. In the past, we
scrambled because many travelers came, while hotel rooms was still limited. On the contrary, the current number of hotel room is a lot compared to the incoming travelers,” he said. Such conditions, admitted Ferry Markus, had an impact on the price of hotel room, where entrepreneurs could not raise the price during peak season. “In the past, there was a price increase during high season, commonly known as high season surcharge. Now, it is difficult to raise the price due to tight competition among many hotels. Similarly, many new ho-
tels emerge, so that it is difficult to raise the room rate, let alone approach the normal price. Even, many discounted rates are widely offered today,” he complained. He argued that to increase occupancy rates, the number of travelers coming to Bali should be increased. “The key is how to bring in more travelers continuously so that the existing rooms can be filled. The moratorium is too far because many hotels have been heavily established,” he said.
Continued on page 6
NEW YORK - Heartthrob couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel are expecting their first child, Timberlake’s former bandmate says.
Jason DeCrow/ Invision/AP, File
In this Sunday, April 7, 2013, file photo, Billy Joe Armstrong performs during a Green Day concert at the Barclays Center, in New York.
Joey Fatone, who performed with Timberlake in the b o y band ‘NSync, confirmed Biel’s long-rumored pregnancy in an interview to be released Wednesday. “He told me a while ago, and I kept my mouth shut,” Fatone told In Touch Weekly. “Jessica is awesome, and Justin is a
kid at heart,” he was quoted as telling the magazine. Timberlake, 33, made his start as a child television star before joining ‘NSync. He more recently has become one of the music industry’s most popular solo singers and has starred in movies including the Facebook-themed drama “The Social Network.” Timberlake in 2012 married Biel, 32, who has found success both on television and in film. (afp)
ANTARA FOTO/Fikri Yusuf
Tourists surfing at Balangan Beach, Badung Regency, Bali Island recently. The arrival of foreign travelers early December, according to tourism players especially those getting involved in hospitality, is still sluggish.