Indonesia is trying to become the world’s main food estate in the next five to 10 years, a minister said.
"If we work hard, in the next five to 10 years we can increase our food production and productivity," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa said here on Sunday.
Hatta Rajasa who was here to install members of the South Sulawesi provincial executive board of the National Mandate Party (PAN) of which he is chair said all regions in the country including South Sulawesi had the potential to give large contributions to the attainment of the target.
"When it comes to food, we have now contributed to the world’s need for palm oil. But we also have to work hard to become a supplier of staple food," he said.
The minister said at the opening of Agrinex International Expo last Friday that Indonesia must show its ability to become the world’s food estate. South Sulawesi was among the participants of the three-day expo.
Head of the Promotion and Investment Subsection at the South Sulawesi Provincial Investment Coordinating Board (BKMD) Devo Khadaffi said in a short message text that South Sulawesi displayed a number of its key processed farm commodities at the expo, including cocoa, seaweed, and coffee.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Yogyakarta to Host ASEAN High Officials Meetings
Yogyakarta is to host ASEAN high officials meetings to prepare a summit in Jakarta on May 7 and 8.
"Yogyakarta is seen as already set to host the meeting, to promote tourism in Yogyakarta," ASEAN cooperation director general of the Foreign Ministry Djauhari Oratmangun said here Sunday.
He said the Yogyakarta meeting is part of Indonesia’s position as ASEAN 2011 chairman and there are actually still more than 100 ASEAN heads of state and government, ministerial, senior officials, and working group meetings.
The meetings to prepare the 18th ASEAN Summit will be attended by all the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM), and Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC Council (SOCA) Meetings, and the Deputy Secretary General and ASEAN permanent representatives in Jakarta.
"Three main pillars will be taken up in the Yogyakarta meeting, namely politics and security, economy and social cultural sectors," he said.
The heads of SOM, SEOM, and SOCA, Djauhari said, will later discuss matters related to substantial preparations relating to the final documents of the 18th ASEAN Summit and the relevant logistic technical preparations.
"In the meetings the delegations are expected to give significant inputs to the ministers of the three pillars as the major purpose is to realize an ASEAN Community in 2015," he said.
For instance, he said, the blue print of commitment of each of the three countries relating to the three pillars that had been discussed. Djauhari hoped the meeting will run smoothly until the implementation of the ASEAN Summit and the heads of state from each of the ASEAN member countries could concentrate better on strategic issues in the next Summit.
On the sidelines of the various meetings an outreach programme will also be carried out in the form of the planing of trees by the senior officials and a general lecture at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) by the SOM leaders of Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.
"Yogyakarta is seen as already set to host the meeting, to promote tourism in Yogyakarta," ASEAN cooperation director general of the Foreign Ministry Djauhari Oratmangun said here Sunday.
He said the Yogyakarta meeting is part of Indonesia’s position as ASEAN 2011 chairman and there are actually still more than 100 ASEAN heads of state and government, ministerial, senior officials, and working group meetings.
The meetings to prepare the 18th ASEAN Summit will be attended by all the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM), and Senior Officials Committee for the ASCC Council (SOCA) Meetings, and the Deputy Secretary General and ASEAN permanent representatives in Jakarta.
"Three main pillars will be taken up in the Yogyakarta meeting, namely politics and security, economy and social cultural sectors," he said.
The heads of SOM, SEOM, and SOCA, Djauhari said, will later discuss matters related to substantial preparations relating to the final documents of the 18th ASEAN Summit and the relevant logistic technical preparations.
"In the meetings the delegations are expected to give significant inputs to the ministers of the three pillars as the major purpose is to realize an ASEAN Community in 2015," he said.
For instance, he said, the blue print of commitment of each of the three countries relating to the three pillars that had been discussed. Djauhari hoped the meeting will run smoothly until the implementation of the ASEAN Summit and the heads of state from each of the ASEAN member countries could concentrate better on strategic issues in the next Summit.
On the sidelines of the various meetings an outreach programme will also be carried out in the form of the planing of trees by the senior officials and a general lecture at the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) by the SOM leaders of Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Indonesia to Accelerate Formation of ASEAN Community
Indonesia is determined to speed up the formation of an ASEAN Community by 2015, Executive Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Dr. Rizal Sukma said.
He made the remarks at a discussion organized by the Indonesian Embassy in London in cooperation with The Henry Jackson Society, a political think thank based in London, Novan Ivanhoe Saleh, the embassy’s first secretary, said in a statement on Sunday.
The CSIS executive director was in London to attend an international conference on global conflict-future trends and challenges: towards 2030. The embassy took advantage of the event to speak of Indonesia’s strength in ASEAN in 2011.
At the discussion, Rizal spoke of the policies and agenda of Indonesia as the current ASEAN chair to lay foundations for ASEAN’s direction and position among regional communities in the world after 2015.
He said that the agenda included the accelerated implementation of all documents and declarations already agreed upon by 10 ASEAN member states, and ASEAN’s efforts to get actively involved in orchestrating regional development in Asia and the Pacific.
In addition, Indonesia was also trying to direct ASEAN to be always useful and relevant to other regional communities in the world after 2015, he said. The other concrete agenda Indonesia was pursuing during its current ASEAN chairmanship was improving the regional grouping’s performance and regional architectural capacity in the sphere of human rights.
Acting as a moderator at the discussion was John Spellar of the Labor Party, one-time minister of state for Northern Ireland and minister of transportation who is currently Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister. Participants of the discussion included members of parliament, diplomatic corps, political think thank, students and non-governmental organization activists.
He made the remarks at a discussion organized by the Indonesian Embassy in London in cooperation with The Henry Jackson Society, a political think thank based in London, Novan Ivanhoe Saleh, the embassy’s first secretary, said in a statement on Sunday.
The CSIS executive director was in London to attend an international conference on global conflict-future trends and challenges: towards 2030. The embassy took advantage of the event to speak of Indonesia’s strength in ASEAN in 2011.
At the discussion, Rizal spoke of the policies and agenda of Indonesia as the current ASEAN chair to lay foundations for ASEAN’s direction and position among regional communities in the world after 2015.
He said that the agenda included the accelerated implementation of all documents and declarations already agreed upon by 10 ASEAN member states, and ASEAN’s efforts to get actively involved in orchestrating regional development in Asia and the Pacific.
In addition, Indonesia was also trying to direct ASEAN to be always useful and relevant to other regional communities in the world after 2015, he said. The other concrete agenda Indonesia was pursuing during its current ASEAN chairmanship was improving the regional grouping’s performance and regional architectural capacity in the sphere of human rights.
Acting as a moderator at the discussion was John Spellar of the Labor Party, one-time minister of state for Northern Ireland and minister of transportation who is currently Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister. Participants of the discussion included members of parliament, diplomatic corps, political think thank, students and non-governmental organization activists.
How Seriously Drug Smuggling from Hong Kong Floods Indonesia
Customs personnel at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have managed to halt the smuggling of methyl amphetamine from Hong Kong by tightening the screening of incoming passengers at the arrival terminal.
Head of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s Customs law enforcement and investigation division Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said here Sunday that the efforts were made to anticipate trans-national drug trafficking.
"Every passenger who arrived from Hong Kong is thoroughly checked as part of efforts to stop trans-national drug trafficking," he said.
Last week, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s customs officers foiled a passenger from Hong Kong to smuggle 1,044 grams of methyl amphetamine, he said. The suspect only identified as YC, 42, was a Taiwanese who came to Jakarta by Cathay Pacific, flight CX-777.
The suspect told immigration personnel that the sabu package would be delivered to somebody at a West Jakarta hotel, he said. The airport’s customs officers found the contraband that the suspect hid in a bag that could easily be detected by X-ray.
Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said if his men failed to foil the smuggling, it would be sold to the Indonesian market at Rp1.1 billion. The suspect may face 15 years in jail plus a fine of Rp1.5 billion.
Indonesia is Asian countries being seriously threatened by drug smuggling syndicates. According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), there were 3.6 million drug users in Indonesia in 2008.
They came from various social and professional backgrounds, including artists, musicians, students, politicians, and even policemen. In protecting young Indonesians from the threat of drugs, the police keep monitoring and foiled the drug smugglers’ activities.
In connection with the BNN’s efforts to combat trans-national drug dealers, its agents caught a Nigerian man for drug trafficking on January 28, 2011.
The suspect was only identified as P alias Pr. The BNN agents also detained five Indonesians in a raid on January 28, BNN’s Deputy for Combating Drugs Tomi Sagiman said recently. The Indonesians were identified as RA,E, DW, AM and J, he said, adding that the suspects were allegedly involved in smuggling methyl amphetamine.
Head of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s Customs law enforcement and investigation division Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said here Sunday that the efforts were made to anticipate trans-national drug trafficking.
"Every passenger who arrived from Hong Kong is thoroughly checked as part of efforts to stop trans-national drug trafficking," he said.
Last week, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s customs officers foiled a passenger from Hong Kong to smuggle 1,044 grams of methyl amphetamine, he said. The suspect only identified as YC, 42, was a Taiwanese who came to Jakarta by Cathay Pacific, flight CX-777.
The suspect told immigration personnel that the sabu package would be delivered to somebody at a West Jakarta hotel, he said. The airport’s customs officers found the contraband that the suspect hid in a bag that could easily be detected by X-ray.
Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said if his men failed to foil the smuggling, it would be sold to the Indonesian market at Rp1.1 billion. The suspect may face 15 years in jail plus a fine of Rp1.5 billion.
Indonesia is Asian countries being seriously threatened by drug smuggling syndicates. According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), there were 3.6 million drug users in Indonesia in 2008.
They came from various social and professional backgrounds, including artists, musicians, students, politicians, and even policemen. In protecting young Indonesians from the threat of drugs, the police keep monitoring and foiled the drug smugglers’ activities.
In connection with the BNN’s efforts to combat trans-national drug dealers, its agents caught a Nigerian man for drug trafficking on January 28, 2011.
The suspect was only identified as P alias Pr. The BNN agents also detained five Indonesians in a raid on January 28, BNN’s Deputy for Combating Drugs Tomi Sagiman said recently. The Indonesians were identified as RA,E, DW, AM and J, he said, adding that the suspects were allegedly involved in smuggling methyl amphetamine.
Visitors to Borobudur Temple Not Deterred by Whirlwind
A whirlwind that hit Borobudur Temple in Magelang district, Central Java, on Saturday, did not discourage foreign and local tourists.
"The whirlwind has not stopped the activities of local residents and foreign tourists here," Head of Borobudur Temple’s tourism division Pujo Suwarno said here Sunday.
The whirlwind struck the area following heavy rainfall. There were no fatalities in the disaster though several thousands of visitors were visiting the temple on Saturday, he said.
The number of visitors was high enough in the aftermath of Mount Merapi’s cold lava floods that had repeatedly paralyzed roads between Yogyakarta and Magelang, he said. Despite the absence of human casualties, the whirlwind damaged a number of advertisement boards and a shop’s roof.
Over the past year, various parts of Indonesia have been hit by extremely bad weather, coupled with heavy rains and whirlwinds. On December 29, 2010, a whirlwind also hit Kancilan village, Kembang subdistrict, Jepara district, Central Java, causing damage to 49 houses and six stores.
The whirlwind also damaged a school building and a church, but there were no reports on fatalities, Head of the Kembang social welfare agency Nuri Wahyudi, said. On December 24, 2010, a whirlwind also struck Karangaji village in Kembang subdistrict, damaging 90 houses and a school building.
On December 26, 2010, a whirlwind hit Srobyong and Karanggandong villages in Kembang subdistrict. A total of 114 houses in the two villages were badly damaged.
Then on January 16, a whirlwind destroyed two houses and damaged 18 others in Cinta Puri village, Simpang Empat subdistrict, Banjar district, South Kalimantan.
On January 23, a whirlwind also damaged five houses and toppled tens of trees in Menthuk village, Mojosongo subdistrict, Boyolali district, Central Java. On February 19, a whirlwind also hit three villages in Trenggalek and Pacitan districts, East Java, damaging tens of houses and toppling a number of trees.
"The whirlwind has not stopped the activities of local residents and foreign tourists here," Head of Borobudur Temple’s tourism division Pujo Suwarno said here Sunday.
The whirlwind struck the area following heavy rainfall. There were no fatalities in the disaster though several thousands of visitors were visiting the temple on Saturday, he said.
The number of visitors was high enough in the aftermath of Mount Merapi’s cold lava floods that had repeatedly paralyzed roads between Yogyakarta and Magelang, he said. Despite the absence of human casualties, the whirlwind damaged a number of advertisement boards and a shop’s roof.
Over the past year, various parts of Indonesia have been hit by extremely bad weather, coupled with heavy rains and whirlwinds. On December 29, 2010, a whirlwind also hit Kancilan village, Kembang subdistrict, Jepara district, Central Java, causing damage to 49 houses and six stores.
The whirlwind also damaged a school building and a church, but there were no reports on fatalities, Head of the Kembang social welfare agency Nuri Wahyudi, said. On December 24, 2010, a whirlwind also struck Karangaji village in Kembang subdistrict, damaging 90 houses and a school building.
On December 26, 2010, a whirlwind hit Srobyong and Karanggandong villages in Kembang subdistrict. A total of 114 houses in the two villages were badly damaged.
Then on January 16, a whirlwind destroyed two houses and damaged 18 others in Cinta Puri village, Simpang Empat subdistrict, Banjar district, South Kalimantan.
On January 23, a whirlwind also damaged five houses and toppled tens of trees in Menthuk village, Mojosongo subdistrict, Boyolali district, Central Java. On February 19, a whirlwind also hit three villages in Trenggalek and Pacitan districts, East Java, damaging tens of houses and toppling a number of trees.
East Java's Workers Prefer to Stay in Tunisia
Most of migrant workers from East Java preferred staying in Tunisia to joining the government-sponsored temporary evacuation, a government official said.
"We cannot force them to return home. What we can do is only facilitating them," Head of East Java Province’s Workforce Transmigration and Population Division Hary Soegiri said here Sunday.
The Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Ministry had recorded that there were at least 300 Indonesian migrant workers in Libya. About 90 of them were from East Java, he said.
Due to the dangerous situation in Libya, they had been flown out of Libya to Tunisia. However, most of 90 Indonesian workers from East Java preferred staying in Tunisia to returning to Indonesia while waiting for the normalcy in Libya, he said.
"Most of them do not want to be evacuated to Indonesia. Instead, they choose to stay in Tunisia for the time being," he said.
They believed that Libya’s political turmoil and instability would not be too long. Therefore, they preferred staying in Tunisia instead of returning to Indonesia.
The Indonesian government had also confirmed that it could not force Indonesian citizens evacuated from Libya and currently sheltered in Tunisia to be repatriated.
Presidential spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said on March 2 that "the government cannot force them to do what is best for them. But at least, they have moved from the conflict area to a stable country."
Faizasyah said the government would in the end let them follow their conviction to stay in Tunisia and provide them with accommodations. The evacuation of Indonesian people from Libya and their being sheltered in Tunisia was a kind of protection from the Indonesian government because their daily needs and facilities would be met by the government.
"If they think they are safe in Tunisia, it is because of well-planned consideration and evaluation," he said.
At least 6,000 people had reportedly been killed in a civil war that broke in Libya following strong calls of the anti-government demonstrators for President Moammar Khadafi’s resignation. The political upheaval in Libya itself is believed to be part of the domino effect of pro-democracy movement in Egypt, which successfully toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
However, Moammar Khadafi himself had reiterated that he would not meet the anti-government demonstrators’ demand for his resignation. Instead, he had declared a firm stance in a recent address to the nation that he would remain in power.
"We cannot force them to return home. What we can do is only facilitating them," Head of East Java Province’s Workforce Transmigration and Population Division Hary Soegiri said here Sunday.
The Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Ministry had recorded that there were at least 300 Indonesian migrant workers in Libya. About 90 of them were from East Java, he said.
Due to the dangerous situation in Libya, they had been flown out of Libya to Tunisia. However, most of 90 Indonesian workers from East Java preferred staying in Tunisia to returning to Indonesia while waiting for the normalcy in Libya, he said.
"Most of them do not want to be evacuated to Indonesia. Instead, they choose to stay in Tunisia for the time being," he said.
They believed that Libya’s political turmoil and instability would not be too long. Therefore, they preferred staying in Tunisia instead of returning to Indonesia.
The Indonesian government had also confirmed that it could not force Indonesian citizens evacuated from Libya and currently sheltered in Tunisia to be repatriated.
Presidential spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said on March 2 that "the government cannot force them to do what is best for them. But at least, they have moved from the conflict area to a stable country."
Faizasyah said the government would in the end let them follow their conviction to stay in Tunisia and provide them with accommodations. The evacuation of Indonesian people from Libya and their being sheltered in Tunisia was a kind of protection from the Indonesian government because their daily needs and facilities would be met by the government.
"If they think they are safe in Tunisia, it is because of well-planned consideration and evaluation," he said.
At least 6,000 people had reportedly been killed in a civil war that broke in Libya following strong calls of the anti-government demonstrators for President Moammar Khadafi’s resignation. The political upheaval in Libya itself is believed to be part of the domino effect of pro-democracy movement in Egypt, which successfully toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
However, Moammar Khadafi himself had reiterated that he would not meet the anti-government demonstrators’ demand for his resignation. Instead, he had declared a firm stance in a recent address to the nation that he would remain in power.
Indonesia to Review Plan to Ban Exports of Low-Calorie Coal
Reuters A barge, transporting coal from Berau Coal, sails during an open-sea transhipment in Berau district in Indonesias East Kalimantan province August 17, 2010. The coal will be exported to Japan, China and other Asian countries, Berau Coals spokesman said on Tuesday. Indonesia is the worlds biggest thermal coal exporter. Picture taken August 17, 2010. Indonesia will review a plan to ban exports of coal with calorie content below 5,600 kilocalories a kilogram starting in 2014 in response to protests from coal miners, a government official said Tuesday. The government wants the low-grade coal to be processed to enhance the calorie content before it is exported, which would increase government income from coal royalties.
According to the plan, the government will invite private-sector companies to build coal processing plants in Indonesia--or it will build facilities itself if no investors can be found.
Bambang Gatot Ariyono, the director of mineral resources development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, told Dow Jones Newswires that it is unlikely any plants to process such coal will be ready by 2014.
Meanwhile, Priyo Pribadi Soemarno, executive director of the Indonesian Mining Association, said that the government recently indicated that implementation of the export ban will likely be pushed back to 2016.
Analysts said the planned export ban of such coal could substantially affect the global thermal coal market, as low-quality coal constitutes a significant portion of Indonesia's coal exports. The measure, if implemented, would deal the largest blow to India and China, as much of Indonesia's low-calorie coal is shipped to those countries.
According to the plan, the government will invite private-sector companies to build coal processing plants in Indonesia--or it will build facilities itself if no investors can be found.
Bambang Gatot Ariyono, the director of mineral resources development at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, told Dow Jones Newswires that it is unlikely any plants to process such coal will be ready by 2014.
Meanwhile, Priyo Pribadi Soemarno, executive director of the Indonesian Mining Association, said that the government recently indicated that implementation of the export ban will likely be pushed back to 2016.
Analysts said the planned export ban of such coal could substantially affect the global thermal coal market, as low-quality coal constitutes a significant portion of Indonesia's coal exports. The measure, if implemented, would deal the largest blow to India and China, as much of Indonesia's low-calorie coal is shipped to those countries.
Invisible Cloak Now in Sight
THE odds of having an 'invisibility cloak' hanging in the wardrobe in the future have just increased. Swinburne University scientists have shown for the first time the reversal of a theory on how light waves affect how we see things - known as the optical Doppler effect.
The Doppler effect describes the change in frequency of light as well as sound waves as an object moves: as a train approaches, for example, the light frequency increases from red wavelengths to blue. When the train passes, it decreases from blue to red.
Working with colleagues from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the Melbourne researchers were able to demonstrate the reversal of this effect. This makes the findings, published yesterday in the journal Nature Photonics after eight years of research, significant.
'This is the first time in the world that the inverse Doppler effect has been demonstrated in the optical region,' Min Gu, director of Swinburne's centre for micro-photonics, said.
'Normally when you have an object in front of you the light is shining out and some light will go to your eye,' Professor Gu said. 'But by directing the light away from the eye, the object becomes invisible.'
To conduct their experiment the team made an artificial nanostructured crystal out of silicone. The crystal, called a photonic crystal, was the target of a laser beam that behaved like a 'super prism' fragmenting the light.
'In our super prism, the dispersion of light was twice the magnitude of a standard Newton Prism,' he said. 'This large angle makes the prism's refractive index - a property that determines how fast light travels through it - change to negative.'
Professor Gu said that while proving it was possible to reverse the Doppler effect was a promising step for those sci-fi dreamers waiting for their very own magic cloak, a Harry Potter-style cloak was still a few decades away from becoming reality.
'It would take a long time to do,' he said. 'Physics says it is possible … but the problem is currently the nanotechnology only allows people to make a photonic crystal a few hundred micrometers [in size].'
The Doppler effect describes the change in frequency of light as well as sound waves as an object moves: as a train approaches, for example, the light frequency increases from red wavelengths to blue. When the train passes, it decreases from blue to red.
Working with colleagues from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the Melbourne researchers were able to demonstrate the reversal of this effect. This makes the findings, published yesterday in the journal Nature Photonics after eight years of research, significant.
'This is the first time in the world that the inverse Doppler effect has been demonstrated in the optical region,' Min Gu, director of Swinburne's centre for micro-photonics, said.
'Normally when you have an object in front of you the light is shining out and some light will go to your eye,' Professor Gu said. 'But by directing the light away from the eye, the object becomes invisible.'
To conduct their experiment the team made an artificial nanostructured crystal out of silicone. The crystal, called a photonic crystal, was the target of a laser beam that behaved like a 'super prism' fragmenting the light.
'In our super prism, the dispersion of light was twice the magnitude of a standard Newton Prism,' he said. 'This large angle makes the prism's refractive index - a property that determines how fast light travels through it - change to negative.'
Professor Gu said that while proving it was possible to reverse the Doppler effect was a promising step for those sci-fi dreamers waiting for their very own magic cloak, a Harry Potter-style cloak was still a few decades away from becoming reality.
'It would take a long time to do,' he said. 'Physics says it is possible … but the problem is currently the nanotechnology only allows people to make a photonic crystal a few hundred micrometers [in size].'
Number of Chineses to Bali Brushes Asides Number of Japaneses
China, brushing aside Japan, is now ranking second of the ten countries with the highest number of tourists to Bali.
"Japan which was second after Australia, is now third after China," head of the Bali center of statistics Ir Gede Suarsa said here.
A umber of 17,103 Chinese enjoyed the uniqueness of the natural beauty of the island paradise on January 2011, an increase of 53.99 percent to only 11,206 in December 2010. In 2010 the number of Chinese tourists coming to Bali dropped 4.48 percent compared to last years’ 1,206.151.
Most of them arrived by plane at Ngurah Rai straight from China, and only four arrived by yacht. Besides China also Australia was also top with 32.33 pct of the 44,412 increased to 58.770 people, Rusia 26.,03 pct from 124 pct to 11,499, and South Korea 1.82 pct from 10.252 to 0,439. Likewise Malaysians increased 39.95 pct from 7,336 to 10,267 , Singaporeans 121,43 pct from 3,113 to 6,893 and Americans 28.57 pct from 4,504 to 5,791.
"Japan which was second after Australia, is now third after China," head of the Bali center of statistics Ir Gede Suarsa said here.
A umber of 17,103 Chinese enjoyed the uniqueness of the natural beauty of the island paradise on January 2011, an increase of 53.99 percent to only 11,206 in December 2010. In 2010 the number of Chinese tourists coming to Bali dropped 4.48 percent compared to last years’ 1,206.151.
Most of them arrived by plane at Ngurah Rai straight from China, and only four arrived by yacht. Besides China also Australia was also top with 32.33 pct of the 44,412 increased to 58.770 people, Rusia 26.,03 pct from 124 pct to 11,499, and South Korea 1.82 pct from 10.252 to 0,439. Likewise Malaysians increased 39.95 pct from 7,336 to 10,267 , Singaporeans 121,43 pct from 3,113 to 6,893 and Americans 28.57 pct from 4,504 to 5,791.
Apple in Negotiations for Unlimited Music Downloads
Apple is in talks with record companies to give iTunes music buyers easier access to their songs on multiple devices, three people with knowledge of the plans said.
Apple is negotiating with music companies, including Vivendi SA (VIV)'s Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group (WMG) and EMI Group, said the people, who asked for anonymity because the talks are private. An agreement may be announced by midyear, two of the people said.
The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading amid rising popularity for internet services such as Pandora Media, which don't sell tracks and instead let users stream songs from the web, whatever the device.
A deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost, said the people. The service also would allow downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTunes account, they said. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the internet.
Download decline
Tom Neumayr, a spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, declined to comment, as did Amanda Collins, a spokeswoman at Warner Music in New York, and Liz Young at Sony Music. Peter Lofrumento, a spokesman for Universal Music, and Dylan Jones, a spokesman for EMI, didn't have an immediate comment.
Apple, which first began selling tracks through iTunes in 2003, became the top US music retailer in 2008, surpassing Wal-Mart Stores. iTunes accounted for 69 per cent of all digital downloads in the US as of September, according to research firm NPD Group.
An agreement about so-called re-download rights may be reached by midyear, though it could be later, one of the people said. Apple typically announces new features for iTunes and its lineup of iPod media players in September. Last year, it introduced the Ping social network for iTunes users.
Sales slump
Music companies are grappling with stalled growth in digital-download sales, raising concern that online purchases won't be enough to make up for declining sales of compact discs. Digital-track sales rose 1 per cent in 2010, while total album sales fell 12.7 per cent, according Nielsen SoundScan.
The new download policy is among several service changes Apple is exploring. The company also has weighed plans to overhaul its MobileMe service for storing pictures, videos and other content online this year, one of the people said.
Under one plan for MobileMe, the $119-a-year service would become free. Users could store photos, contacts, email and other content on Apple's servers, one person said. The content would be accessible through any wireless connection. The potential changes to MobileMe were previously reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Apple will be able to accommodate new services with its new $US1 billion data center in North Carolina. Chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer said at the company's annual shareholder meeting last month that the facility will be a hub for the iTunes and MobileMe services.
Apple is negotiating with music companies, including Vivendi SA (VIV)'s Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group (WMG) and EMI Group, said the people, who asked for anonymity because the talks are private. An agreement may be announced by midyear, two of the people said.
The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading amid rising popularity for internet services such as Pandora Media, which don't sell tracks and instead let users stream songs from the web, whatever the device.
A deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost, said the people. The service also would allow downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTunes account, they said. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the internet.
Download decline
Tom Neumayr, a spokesman for Cupertino, California-based Apple, declined to comment, as did Amanda Collins, a spokeswoman at Warner Music in New York, and Liz Young at Sony Music. Peter Lofrumento, a spokesman for Universal Music, and Dylan Jones, a spokesman for EMI, didn't have an immediate comment.
Apple, which first began selling tracks through iTunes in 2003, became the top US music retailer in 2008, surpassing Wal-Mart Stores. iTunes accounted for 69 per cent of all digital downloads in the US as of September, according to research firm NPD Group.
An agreement about so-called re-download rights may be reached by midyear, though it could be later, one of the people said. Apple typically announces new features for iTunes and its lineup of iPod media players in September. Last year, it introduced the Ping social network for iTunes users.
Sales slump
Music companies are grappling with stalled growth in digital-download sales, raising concern that online purchases won't be enough to make up for declining sales of compact discs. Digital-track sales rose 1 per cent in 2010, while total album sales fell 12.7 per cent, according Nielsen SoundScan.
The new download policy is among several service changes Apple is exploring. The company also has weighed plans to overhaul its MobileMe service for storing pictures, videos and other content online this year, one of the people said.
Under one plan for MobileMe, the $119-a-year service would become free. Users could store photos, contacts, email and other content on Apple's servers, one person said. The content would be accessible through any wireless connection. The potential changes to MobileMe were previously reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Apple will be able to accommodate new services with its new $US1 billion data center in North Carolina. Chief financial officer Peter Oppenheimer said at the company's annual shareholder meeting last month that the facility will be a hub for the iTunes and MobileMe services.
New Activity in Indonesia Called USAID IUWASH
In this Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011 photo, an orangutan with her baby plays with water at a release site in Tanjung Hanau, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. A half-century ago, more than three-quarters of Indonesia, a sprawling archipelagic nation spanning the width of the United States, was blanketed in plush tropical rainforest. But in the rush to supply the world with pulp, paper and, more recently palm oil, used in everything from lipstick and soap to "clean burning" fuel half those trees, have been cleared.
USAID today announced a new activity called the USAID Indonesia Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (USAID IUWASH) Project.The project builds on over 10 years of collaborative assistance with the Government of Indonesia in safe water and sanitation. IUWASH is a five-year, $33.7 million effort that will expand access to water and sanitation services to Indonesia’s urban poor, currently those people with the most limited access to these services.
The project will promote the goals of the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership by improving urban water and sanitation services thereby strengthening individual health.
The Comprehensive Partnership advances cooperation in a wide range of issues to sustain the environment, promote prosperity, strengthen democracy, enhance understanding and ensure security.
“The IUWASH project will provide an additional 2 million Indonesians with access to improved water supplies and decrease per unit costs paid by the poor by 20 percent,” explained USAID Mission Director Walter North.
The IUWASH project will also contribute to achieving safe water and sanitation targets that the Government of Indonesia has set as part of their United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
The project will promote the goals of the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership by improving urban water and sanitation services thereby strengthening individual health.
The Comprehensive Partnership advances cooperation in a wide range of issues to sustain the environment, promote prosperity, strengthen democracy, enhance understanding and ensure security.
“The IUWASH project will provide an additional 2 million Indonesians with access to improved water supplies and decrease per unit costs paid by the poor by 20 percent,” explained USAID Mission Director Walter North.
The IUWASH project will also contribute to achieving safe water and sanitation targets that the Government of Indonesia has set as part of their United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
Gaddafi Ready to Leave Libya
Muammar Gaddafi was reported last night to be ready to quit after 41 years in power. The dictator is said to have proposed a meeting of the Libyan parliament to agree a transition period to pave the way for him to step down, according to Al Jazeera, the Arab TV network.
His terms include immunity from criminal prosecution and a pile of cash. The rebel interim council, based in the eastern city of Benghazi, reportedly rejected the offer because such an ‘honourable’ exit would offend Gaddafi’s victims.
Gaddafi allegedly sent Jadallah Azzouz Talhi, a former prime minister, to meet the rebels to work out the fine print of a deal. The offer proposed that the dictator would hand over power to a committee formed by the General People’s Congress.
A source close to the rebel council said he had heard that ‘one formula being proposed by the other side would see Gaddafi hand power to the head of parliament and leave the country with a certain guaranteed sum of money’.
He added: ‘I was told that this issue of money is a serious obstacle from the national council’s point of view.’
But Essam Gheriani, a media officer for the council, said: ‘No such offer has been put to the council as far as I am aware.’
Talhi, a leading member of the ruling establishment in the 1980s, had earlier appealed to rebel leaders for dialogue in the clearest sign yet that Gaddafi may be ready to compromise with opponents challenging his grip on power.
The fact state television screened Talhi’s appeal indicated it was officially endorsed. But the council said there was no room for broad dialogue with Gaddafi and any talks must be on the basis that he quits.
Asked about Talhi’s address, rebel official Ahmed Jabreel said: ‘Talhi is a close acquaintance of mine and he is widely respected in Libya as a man who stood up to Gaddafi.
'But we have made it clear all along that any negotiations must be on the basis that Gaddafi will step down. There can be no other compromise.’
Two Arab newspapers – the London-based daily Asharq Al Awsat and the daily Al Bayan, based in the United Arab Emirates – had earlier yesterday carried reports that Gaddafi was looking for an escape route. One of Gaddafi’s sons, Saadi, warned Libya would descend into civil war if his father stepped down.
His terms include immunity from criminal prosecution and a pile of cash. The rebel interim council, based in the eastern city of Benghazi, reportedly rejected the offer because such an ‘honourable’ exit would offend Gaddafi’s victims.
Gaddafi allegedly sent Jadallah Azzouz Talhi, a former prime minister, to meet the rebels to work out the fine print of a deal. The offer proposed that the dictator would hand over power to a committee formed by the General People’s Congress.
A source close to the rebel council said he had heard that ‘one formula being proposed by the other side would see Gaddafi hand power to the head of parliament and leave the country with a certain guaranteed sum of money’.
He added: ‘I was told that this issue of money is a serious obstacle from the national council’s point of view.’
But Essam Gheriani, a media officer for the council, said: ‘No such offer has been put to the council as far as I am aware.’
Talhi, a leading member of the ruling establishment in the 1980s, had earlier appealed to rebel leaders for dialogue in the clearest sign yet that Gaddafi may be ready to compromise with opponents challenging his grip on power.
The fact state television screened Talhi’s appeal indicated it was officially endorsed. But the council said there was no room for broad dialogue with Gaddafi and any talks must be on the basis that he quits.
Asked about Talhi’s address, rebel official Ahmed Jabreel said: ‘Talhi is a close acquaintance of mine and he is widely respected in Libya as a man who stood up to Gaddafi.
'But we have made it clear all along that any negotiations must be on the basis that Gaddafi will step down. There can be no other compromise.’
Two Arab newspapers – the London-based daily Asharq Al Awsat and the daily Al Bayan, based in the United Arab Emirates – had earlier yesterday carried reports that Gaddafi was looking for an escape route. One of Gaddafi’s sons, Saadi, warned Libya would descend into civil war if his father stepped down.
Eye-to-Eye Meeting between SBY and Ical
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to meet Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie on Tuesday, the party’s vice chairman, Agung Laksono, said. "Yes, Pak Ical (as Aburizal is popularly called) and the president who is concurrently the coalition chairman will meet this afternoon," Agung said at the presidential palace compound on Tuesday morning.
The coordinating minister for people’s welfare explained that the meeting would be attended only by President Yudhoyono and Ical without the presence of other Golkar officials. Agung made no mention of a specific time of the meeting but asked if it would be held at 4 on Tuesday afternoon, he did not deny it.
Asked what was probably going to be discussed at the meeting, Agung said, "It certainly will not deviate from current issue related to government coalition and cabinet reshuffle but I know nothing about the real substance." Agung stated earlier on Monday that a cabinet reshuffle could be done if the political contracts agreement were no longer valid.
"It is the President’s prerogative to conduct reshuffle," Agung said on Monday.
In addition, he said there was no discussion yet in the coalition about the replacement of Aburizal Bakrie as chairman of the coalition’s joint secretariat. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa who is concurrently National Mandate Party (PAN) general chairman confirmed that President Yudhoyono was scheduled to meet with the chairman of all political parties.
Hatta said he had met with the president, but he could not make sure when the head of state would meet the leaders of the other parties. President Yudhoyono has earlier met with a number of political parties top officials alternately in the past few days at state hall at presidential palace complex.
The coordinating minister for people’s welfare explained that the meeting would be attended only by President Yudhoyono and Ical without the presence of other Golkar officials. Agung made no mention of a specific time of the meeting but asked if it would be held at 4 on Tuesday afternoon, he did not deny it.
Asked what was probably going to be discussed at the meeting, Agung said, "It certainly will not deviate from current issue related to government coalition and cabinet reshuffle but I know nothing about the real substance." Agung stated earlier on Monday that a cabinet reshuffle could be done if the political contracts agreement were no longer valid.
"It is the President’s prerogative to conduct reshuffle," Agung said on Monday.
In addition, he said there was no discussion yet in the coalition about the replacement of Aburizal Bakrie as chairman of the coalition’s joint secretariat. Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa who is concurrently National Mandate Party (PAN) general chairman confirmed that President Yudhoyono was scheduled to meet with the chairman of all political parties.
Hatta said he had met with the president, but he could not make sure when the head of state would meet the leaders of the other parties. President Yudhoyono has earlier met with a number of political parties top officials alternately in the past few days at state hall at presidential palace complex.
Bill Gates' Philanthropy Costs Him Richest-Man Title
Bill Gates didn't lose his title as the world's richest man last year; he gave it away by plowing billions into his charitable foundation, experts say.
Forbes will release its 2011 billionaires list on Wednesday and Gates, investor Warren Buffett and last year's richest man, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, will almost certainly be in the top three. The trio have topped the list for the past five years.
But it would be no contest if Microsoft co-founder Gates had not already given away more than a third of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health and development and US education.
"It wouldn't be a competition," said David Lincoln, director of global valuations at wealth research firm Wealth-X. "(Gates) would have a comfortable margin if he had never discovered philanthropy."
Lincoln said Gates was currently worth about $US49 billion ($48.4 billion), behind Slim, whose fortune he estimated at $US60 billion. Buffett, also a philanthropist, is now worth some $US47 billion.
But had Gates not given away any money, he would be worth $US88 billion, Lincoln said.
Gates and his wife Melinda have so far given $US28 billion to their foundation, the largest in the United States.
Forbes' 2010 billionaires list put Gates' fortune at $53 billion, but he was knocked into second spot by Slim's $53.5 billion, losing the crown for only the second time since 1995.
Slim has said businessmen do more good by creating jobs and wealth through investment, "not by being Santa Claus," and while he has still pledged several billion dollars to charity, his efforts have been a fraction of Gates' philanthropy.
Buffett, who Forbes ranked as the third richest man in the world last year with $47 billion, has also pledged almost all of his fortune to the Gates Foundation and has given $8 billion to the organization since 2006.
But Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc has fared better than Gates' Microsoft. Microsoft shares now trade about where they were a decade ago, while Berkshire shares have roughly doubled.
Since the end of 2009, Microsoft shares have fallen 16 percent, while Berkshire shares are up 29 percent. Slim's major companies, which include Mexico's former state telecoms monopoly Telmex, have also seen gains in their stock prices.
"Dramatic philanthropic influence"
Gates and Buffett have joined forces to encourage other billionaires to publicly pledge to give away at least 50 percent of their wealth during their lifetimes or upon their death as part of a campaign called The Giving Pledge.
Glen Macdonald, president of the Wealth and Giving Forum, said Gates' philanthropy had influenced the way other rich people in the United States approach their own philanthropy.
"Encouraging people and leading by example - there's no question that's going to have influence on people's giving patterns," said Macdonald. "They are going to give sooner and they are going to give in greater amounts."
But Macdonald, whose group has advised 600 wealthy US families on their philanthropy, disagrees with the public nature of The Giving Pledge, which requires billionaires to release a letter explaining their intentions.
So far 59 billionaires have joined The Giving Pledge, publishing their letter at www.givingpledge.org. The campaign does not accept any money nor tell people how to give away their wealth, it just asks for a moral commitment.
Paul Schervish, director of the Centre on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, said Gates' influence had been "dramatic" and likened philanthropy to a gem, saying Gates was "changing the facets by learning and teaching others."
"He would be the first to admit that he is not the origin of the movement, of all the ideas in the movement, for which he is a leader," Schervish said.
"One of the things we're dramatically finding is (many more) people beginning foundations and endowing them at higher levels while they are still alive," he said.
Forbes will release its 2011 billionaires list on Wednesday and Gates, investor Warren Buffett and last year's richest man, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, will almost certainly be in the top three. The trio have topped the list for the past five years.
But it would be no contest if Microsoft co-founder Gates had not already given away more than a third of his wealth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which focuses on global health and development and US education.
"It wouldn't be a competition," said David Lincoln, director of global valuations at wealth research firm Wealth-X. "(Gates) would have a comfortable margin if he had never discovered philanthropy."
Lincoln said Gates was currently worth about $US49 billion ($48.4 billion), behind Slim, whose fortune he estimated at $US60 billion. Buffett, also a philanthropist, is now worth some $US47 billion.
But had Gates not given away any money, he would be worth $US88 billion, Lincoln said.
Gates and his wife Melinda have so far given $US28 billion to their foundation, the largest in the United States.
Forbes' 2010 billionaires list put Gates' fortune at $53 billion, but he was knocked into second spot by Slim's $53.5 billion, losing the crown for only the second time since 1995.
Slim has said businessmen do more good by creating jobs and wealth through investment, "not by being Santa Claus," and while he has still pledged several billion dollars to charity, his efforts have been a fraction of Gates' philanthropy.
Buffett, who Forbes ranked as the third richest man in the world last year with $47 billion, has also pledged almost all of his fortune to the Gates Foundation and has given $8 billion to the organization since 2006.
But Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc has fared better than Gates' Microsoft. Microsoft shares now trade about where they were a decade ago, while Berkshire shares have roughly doubled.
Since the end of 2009, Microsoft shares have fallen 16 percent, while Berkshire shares are up 29 percent. Slim's major companies, which include Mexico's former state telecoms monopoly Telmex, have also seen gains in their stock prices.
"Dramatic philanthropic influence"
Gates and Buffett have joined forces to encourage other billionaires to publicly pledge to give away at least 50 percent of their wealth during their lifetimes or upon their death as part of a campaign called The Giving Pledge.
Glen Macdonald, president of the Wealth and Giving Forum, said Gates' philanthropy had influenced the way other rich people in the United States approach their own philanthropy.
"Encouraging people and leading by example - there's no question that's going to have influence on people's giving patterns," said Macdonald. "They are going to give sooner and they are going to give in greater amounts."
But Macdonald, whose group has advised 600 wealthy US families on their philanthropy, disagrees with the public nature of The Giving Pledge, which requires billionaires to release a letter explaining their intentions.
So far 59 billionaires have joined The Giving Pledge, publishing their letter at www.givingpledge.org. The campaign does not accept any money nor tell people how to give away their wealth, it just asks for a moral commitment.
Paul Schervish, director of the Centre on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, said Gates' influence had been "dramatic" and likened philanthropy to a gem, saying Gates was "changing the facets by learning and teaching others."
"He would be the first to admit that he is not the origin of the movement, of all the ideas in the movement, for which he is a leader," Schervish said.
"One of the things we're dramatically finding is (many more) people beginning foundations and endowing them at higher levels while they are still alive," he said.
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