Last year was a rollercoaster ride for the stock market. In 2011, the Dow Jones Industrial Average raced to a high of 12,810 in April before skidding to 10,404 in October. Then, in the final three months of the year, the Dow surged more than Rick Santorum on the campaign trail – adding a record 1,304 points, or almost 12%.
Now it looks like we may be in for more of the same. Market guru David Rosenberg makes a persuasive case to his private clients that 2012 bears a striking — one might even say eerie — resemblance to 2011. “Just about everything is mapping out last year’s manic behavior,” writes Rosenberg, chief economist and strategist for investment manager Gluskin Sheff & Associates in Toronto.
(LIST: Top 10 Scared Stock Traders)
Rosenberg is a guy worth listening to: The former chief economist for North America at Bank of America-Merrill Lynch was named the most accurate forecaster by MSNBC and economist of the year by Fortune magazine in 2011. I’ve been reading his highly influential daily email, “Breakfast with Dave,” for years. Here are some of the most compelling reasons to think 2012 could be 2011 redux:
Extraordinary levels of central bank support: In 2011, the stock market was living off the “fumes” from a special Federal Reserve Treasury bond-buying program, known as QE2. Some of the money the Fed released into the economy ended up in the stock market. Similarly, in 2012, the European Central Bank lent gobs of money to the banks at yearend in its own special lending program (dubbed LTRO), fueling markets so far as well. Why is that problem? When the flood of money from the central bank spending spree ends, the stock market is likely to falter, just as it did last year.
(MORE: Is This Stock Market Rally For Real?)
Dow Transports are starting to sputter: Most people keep an eye on the Dow Jones Industrials. But those in the know also keep an eye on other Dow indexes like the Transports as an economic bellwether. It includes companies like Fedex, whose fates are closely tied to the health of the economy. Last year the Transports weakened before the broader stock market. Shades of 2011: The DJIA just embraced 13,000, but the Transports are down 4%.
Treasury bond yields are ultra-low: Then, as now, the 10-year note remains stubbornly below 2%, another indication investors are betting on a weak economy. Indeed, in his testimony before Congress yesterday, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said growth would be modest, hampered by the depressed housing market and turmoil in Europe. Modest growth does not typically translate into improving corporate earnings—or an exuberant stock market.
Stock volume is low: Both in 2011 and 2012 the trading volume in stocks has been thin, which means that not all that many people are saying, yes!, we love the market. When volume is thin, prices swing much more wildly, giving the market a rollercoaster feel.
(MORE: Warren Buffett on Succession, Stock Buybacks, and Why He Doesn’t Like Gold)
Oil prices are gaining: Early in 2011 the jobless picture began to improve only to get slapped with higher gas prices and political uncertainty. Sound familiar?
Confidence is suspiciously high: Ready for another encounter with déjà vu? In February 2012, the Conference Board measure of consumer confidence measure unexpectedly jumped to 70.8 from 61.5 in January. Ditto February 2011: The survey unexpectedly shot up to 72 from 64.8. If that isn’t uncanny enough, Rosenberg notes that bulls now outnumber bears two-to-one. Last year the bull-bear ratio was nearly identical early in the year and presaged the market peak. When bears finally outnumbered bulls in October, the market bottomed. Beware the wisdom of the crowds.
Markets, of course, never shoot up without some pullbacks. But if investors are expecting a smoother ride for stocks in 2012 the signposts Rosenberg is training his lights on are saying not so fast! A ticket to the stock market this year might feel like a ride on the Coney Island Cyclone. Get ready for some heady highs and stomach churning dips.
MORE: For Chinese Advertisers, Nostalgia is Their New Secret Weapon
Read more: http://business.time.com/2012/03/02/stock-market-deja-vu-why-it-feels-like-2011-all-over-again/#ixzz1oCIyAZ27
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Unemployment Paradox: Why the Conventional Wisdom About Job Seekers Is Wrong Read more: http://business.time.com/2012/03/02/the-unemployment-paradox-could-a-better-economy-make-jobless-rates-worse/#ixzz1oCICfwvS
American labor force participation — that is, the percentage of working-age persons who are employed or are looking for a job – has been down since the financial crisis in 2008, putting us on par with Europe, as I noted last year in my cover story on economic mobility. That’s been a big hit to the idea of America as a land of opportunity. Labor force participation in the U.S. now stands at only 63%. Lots of investors and economists believe that’s because so many job seekers out there during the Great Recession and the jobless recovery grew frustrated and gave up looking.
Remember that official unemployment rate calculations count people who are looking for work — but not those who have given up and stopped looking — as unemployed. As a result, when people give up looking for work, it can have the counter-intuitive effect of making the unemployment rate look better. And theoretically, the reverse can also be true — but here’s where the conventional wisdom goes astray: Now that the economy is truly expanding once again, many observers are predicting that formerly discouraged workers will flood back into the labor market and reverse the decline in unemployment that we’ve seen over the last few months.
(MORE: Why Manufacturing Can’t Solve The Jobs Problem)
Not so, says the macro-economic team at Barclays. They ran models showing that demographics, and especially retirement amongst baby boomers, has played a larger role in pushing the labor participation rate down than other factors have. “Only about a third of the drop in the labor force participation rate is accounted for by those who say they want a job, and only about 15% by those who want a job and are also of prime working age – i.e., between 25-54,” says the report issued Thursday. What’s more, historically, re-entrants into the labor force haven’t really played much of a role in changing the unemployment numbers.
(MORE: Like Microbreweries Before Them, Mini-distilleries are Sweeping the Nation)
That’s good news for President Obama, who needs the unemployment number to keep ticking down in order to ensure victory in November. What I wonder about, though, is this: If, as many economists predict, inflation rises, and if entitlements are eventually cut, how many of those 55 and older Americans will decide that they have to go back to work, whether they want a job or not.
I do think employment dynamics are changing in ways that are extremely hard to predict right now, thanks to a push for entitlement reform, a trend towards in-sourcing, and the increasing lifespan of people in wealthy countries. But I basically buy the Barclays idea that in the short term, at least, the idea of a surging labor force of formerly frustrated job seekers is an “urban legend.”
MORE: How a Fear of Foreigners Is Gripping Europe When Its Economy Needs Them Most
Read more: http://business.time.com/2012/03/02/the-unemployment-paradox-could-a-better-economy-make-jobless-rates-worse/#ixzz1oCIKSYmd
Remember that official unemployment rate calculations count people who are looking for work — but not those who have given up and stopped looking — as unemployed. As a result, when people give up looking for work, it can have the counter-intuitive effect of making the unemployment rate look better. And theoretically, the reverse can also be true — but here’s where the conventional wisdom goes astray: Now that the economy is truly expanding once again, many observers are predicting that formerly discouraged workers will flood back into the labor market and reverse the decline in unemployment that we’ve seen over the last few months.
(MORE: Why Manufacturing Can’t Solve The Jobs Problem)
Not so, says the macro-economic team at Barclays. They ran models showing that demographics, and especially retirement amongst baby boomers, has played a larger role in pushing the labor participation rate down than other factors have. “Only about a third of the drop in the labor force participation rate is accounted for by those who say they want a job, and only about 15% by those who want a job and are also of prime working age – i.e., between 25-54,” says the report issued Thursday. What’s more, historically, re-entrants into the labor force haven’t really played much of a role in changing the unemployment numbers.
(MORE: Like Microbreweries Before Them, Mini-distilleries are Sweeping the Nation)
That’s good news for President Obama, who needs the unemployment number to keep ticking down in order to ensure victory in November. What I wonder about, though, is this: If, as many economists predict, inflation rises, and if entitlements are eventually cut, how many of those 55 and older Americans will decide that they have to go back to work, whether they want a job or not.
I do think employment dynamics are changing in ways that are extremely hard to predict right now, thanks to a push for entitlement reform, a trend towards in-sourcing, and the increasing lifespan of people in wealthy countries. But I basically buy the Barclays idea that in the short term, at least, the idea of a surging labor force of formerly frustrated job seekers is an “urban legend.”
MORE: How a Fear of Foreigners Is Gripping Europe When Its Economy Needs Them Most
Read more: http://business.time.com/2012/03/02/the-unemployment-paradox-could-a-better-economy-make-jobless-rates-worse/#ixzz1oCIKSYmd
Mitch Daniels: Indiana Tornadoes As Serious As I've Seen As Governor
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels on Saturday morning toured the devastation unleashed by a swarm of tornadoes that killed 14 people in his state.
He spoke to CNN after viewing the wreckage in the town of Henryville.
"We're not unfamiliar with Mother Nature's wrath out here in Indiana," Daniels said. "This is about as serious as we've seen in the years that I've been in this job."
He spoke to CNN after viewing the wreckage in the town of Henryville.
"We're not unfamiliar with Mother Nature's wrath out here in Indiana," Daniels said. "This is about as serious as we've seen in the years that I've been in this job."
Newt To TPM: Never Mind Rush's Apology, How About Barack Obama's To Afghanistan?
TPM caught up with Newt Gingrich after a speech at Bowling Green University in Ohio and asked about Rush Limbaugh's apology to Sandra Fluke.
"I'm not paying attention," he responded.
Asked whether he thought he felt Limbaugh misspoke, Gingrich turned the question on President Obama.
"I'm not paying attention," he repeated."I'm paying attention to the president apologizing to people who killed Americans."
The line was a reference to Obama's apology to Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan for the burning of Korans by US troops, which he said was necessary to calm deadly violence against American troops that erupted over the incident.
"I'm not paying attention," he responded.
Asked whether he thought he felt Limbaugh misspoke, Gingrich turned the question on President Obama.
"I'm not paying attention," he repeated."I'm paying attention to the president apologizing to people who killed Americans."
The line was a reference to Obama's apology to Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan for the burning of Korans by US troops, which he said was necessary to calm deadly violence against American troops that erupted over the incident.
Romney Camp Says Santorum’s Ohio ‘Delegate Debacle’ Shows Major Problems
Mitt Romney may be running into trouble putting away Rick Santorum, but at least he’s running a fully functional campaign. That’s the argument his surrogates in Ohio made on Saturday at least, pointing to Santorum’s basic difficulties getting his delegates on the ballot as proof he’d wilt against President Obama’s elite re-election team.
According to Romney’s national counsel, Ben Ginsberg, Santorum’s ability to field a full delegate slate in competitive states ia “a true test, especially for Republican primary voters to look at, whether a candidate is ready for primetime.”
“What’s evident from what’s going to happen on Super Tuesday and beyond is that Rick Santourm flunks that test,” Ginsberg said in a conference call with reporters.
While several polls have shown Santorum leading Romney in Ohio, he failed to submit the necessary paperwork in three congressional districts needed to compete for their delegates, putting him at a serious disadvantage to Romney from the start. He also, like Newt Gingrich, failed to qualify for the ballot in Virginia entirely. All told, the Romney campaign estimates 16% of all Super Tuesday delegates are already out of play for Santorum. There may be some legal recourse for Santorum if he wants to try to claim those missing Ohio delegates later, but it will be complex and difficult.
“In the Fall, we know whoever the Republican nominee is will be going against one of the best, well-oiled political machines,” Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann, a Romney supporter in Ohio, told reporters. “This kind of ball drop at this stage of the campaign shows he’s not ready for primetime.”
Update: A spokesman for Santorum, Hogan Gidley, responded to TPM that the Romney campaign’s attack on their professionalism reflected an elitist effort to undermine their more grassroots campaign:
“The Romney campaign is just throwing another temper tantrum because they’re a little confused and frustrated as to why they can’t buy this election. I’m sure they thought that with all their Establishment friends and all the Establishment money and with the handpicked Establishment candidate, this campaign would really be a coronation for Mitt Romney. But they’ve just never understood that this election is not about who has the most money - or who has the most infrastructure. It’s about electing a President who inspires and believes in the American people instead of the government control. And on the biggest issues in this election, Mitt Romney sided with Barack Obama, and we just learned today, he actually encouraged Barack Obama to use Romney’s Massachusetts model for the government take over of healthcare. When a grassroots conservative Tea Party candidate like Rick Santorum threatens the Establishment with true conservatism and actual reform minded policies the Establishment resorts to namecalling and tearing down others.”
According to Romney’s national counsel, Ben Ginsberg, Santorum’s ability to field a full delegate slate in competitive states ia “a true test, especially for Republican primary voters to look at, whether a candidate is ready for primetime.”
“What’s evident from what’s going to happen on Super Tuesday and beyond is that Rick Santourm flunks that test,” Ginsberg said in a conference call with reporters.
While several polls have shown Santorum leading Romney in Ohio, he failed to submit the necessary paperwork in three congressional districts needed to compete for their delegates, putting him at a serious disadvantage to Romney from the start. He also, like Newt Gingrich, failed to qualify for the ballot in Virginia entirely. All told, the Romney campaign estimates 16% of all Super Tuesday delegates are already out of play for Santorum. There may be some legal recourse for Santorum if he wants to try to claim those missing Ohio delegates later, but it will be complex and difficult.
“In the Fall, we know whoever the Republican nominee is will be going against one of the best, well-oiled political machines,” Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann, a Romney supporter in Ohio, told reporters. “This kind of ball drop at this stage of the campaign shows he’s not ready for primetime.”
Update: A spokesman for Santorum, Hogan Gidley, responded to TPM that the Romney campaign’s attack on their professionalism reflected an elitist effort to undermine their more grassroots campaign:
“The Romney campaign is just throwing another temper tantrum because they’re a little confused and frustrated as to why they can’t buy this election. I’m sure they thought that with all their Establishment friends and all the Establishment money and with the handpicked Establishment candidate, this campaign would really be a coronation for Mitt Romney. But they’ve just never understood that this election is not about who has the most money - or who has the most infrastructure. It’s about electing a President who inspires and believes in the American people instead of the government control. And on the biggest issues in this election, Mitt Romney sided with Barack Obama, and we just learned today, he actually encouraged Barack Obama to use Romney’s Massachusetts model for the government take over of healthcare. When a grassroots conservative Tea Party candidate like Rick Santorum threatens the Establishment with true conservatism and actual reform minded policies the Establishment resorts to namecalling and tearing down others.”
Romney Takes Washington Ahead Of Super Tuesday
Mitt Romney picked up another win Saturday night in Washington state, taking 36 percent of the vote with 77 percent of precincts reporting. The win gives Romney some much-needed momentum heading into a critical Super Tuesday contest.
The victory capped a week in which the former Massachusetts governor also won Arizona and a close contest in Michigan. It also provided the Romney camp a jolt of positive news after the candidate slipped up in an interview with a local Ohio reporter and was forced to spend multiple days clarifying his position on a controversial measure to limit birth control coverage.
“I’m heartened to have won the Washington caucuses, and I thank the voters for their support,” Romney said in a written statement shortly after the win. “Every day that passes with Barack Obama in the White House is a day in which America’s recovery from the economic crisis is delayed.”
At stake in Washington are 43 delegates, but the caucuses had no affect on their selection. That will be determined by other GOP events in the coming weeks.
Still, he results were a disappointment for Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who had staked his hopes on winning Washington and ended up competing for second place with about 25 percent, narrowly edging former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Paul has not won any states to date.
Paul was the only candidate to appear in Washington on Saturday, while the others focused their campaigns on Tuesday’s big event. He aggressively organized and recruited supporters in the lead up to the caucuses, hoping a win in Washington could propel him to the front of the pack nipping at Romney’s heels.
Saturday’s voting proved to be a big event for the Washington GOP. With some counting still to go, the party had already tallied the votes of more than 40,000 caucus goers. That put turnout far ahead of 2008 Republican caucuses, which saw about 12,000 people participate.
The boost appeared to cause problems in at least one part of the state, where it was reported that some 1,500 people were turned away from the caucuses on Saturday morning.
The victory capped a week in which the former Massachusetts governor also won Arizona and a close contest in Michigan. It also provided the Romney camp a jolt of positive news after the candidate slipped up in an interview with a local Ohio reporter and was forced to spend multiple days clarifying his position on a controversial measure to limit birth control coverage.
“I’m heartened to have won the Washington caucuses, and I thank the voters for their support,” Romney said in a written statement shortly after the win. “Every day that passes with Barack Obama in the White House is a day in which America’s recovery from the economic crisis is delayed.”
At stake in Washington are 43 delegates, but the caucuses had no affect on their selection. That will be determined by other GOP events in the coming weeks.
Still, he results were a disappointment for Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who had staked his hopes on winning Washington and ended up competing for second place with about 25 percent, narrowly edging former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Paul has not won any states to date.
Paul was the only candidate to appear in Washington on Saturday, while the others focused their campaigns on Tuesday’s big event. He aggressively organized and recruited supporters in the lead up to the caucuses, hoping a win in Washington could propel him to the front of the pack nipping at Romney’s heels.
Saturday’s voting proved to be a big event for the Washington GOP. With some counting still to go, the party had already tallied the votes of more than 40,000 caucus goers. That put turnout far ahead of 2008 Republican caucuses, which saw about 12,000 people participate.
The boost appeared to cause problems in at least one part of the state, where it was reported that some 1,500 people were turned away from the caucuses on Saturday morning.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Indonesia Stock Market Opens Higher
Most Asian markets today were on the rise following supportive cues from Wall Street.
Indonesia's stock market rebounded on Friday as positive sentiments helped share prices to climb.
The composite index opened higher at 3,962.91, following a rise in pre-opening prices of 3.968,27.
An analyst fro PT Equator Securities, Gina Novrina Nasution, said most Asian markets today were on the rise following supportive cues from Wall Street.
"The positive sentiments from the US and Asian markets today cause the domestic market to improve," she told VIVAnews, March 2.
Gina recommends take on shares of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGAS), PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk (LSIP), PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI), PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BBRI), and PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BBCA).
Indonesia's stock market rebounded on Friday as positive sentiments helped share prices to climb.
The composite index opened higher at 3,962.91, following a rise in pre-opening prices of 3.968,27.
An analyst fro PT Equator Securities, Gina Novrina Nasution, said most Asian markets today were on the rise following supportive cues from Wall Street.
"The positive sentiments from the US and Asian markets today cause the domestic market to improve," she told VIVAnews, March 2.
Gina recommends take on shares of PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk (PGAS), PT PP London Sumatra Indonesia Tbk (LSIP), PT Bank Mandiri Tbk (BMRI), PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia Tbk (BBRI), and PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BBCA).
Dhana Denies Cooperation with Six Companies
“It is still too early to declare whether there is any crime or not.”
Dhana Widyatmika’s attorney denied all stories published by the media on his client. The attorney said that it is still too early to assess any criminal element in this case.
The attorney also denied Dhana’s cooperation with the companies he handled while he was working in the Directorate General of Taxes.
“It is still too early to declare whether there is any crime or not,” said Attorney Daniel Afredo while assisting Dhana in the AGO office, Friday, March 2.
Daniel said Dhana has various sources of income.
Dhana was only transferred from the Directorate General of Taxes to Jakarta Tax Office for a month. Dhana’s wife, DA, is an employee of the Directorate General of Taxes.
Daniel continued that the AGO has confiscated several of his client’s assets, including his showroom. Meanwhile, the showroom’s director has also been questioned.
When asked about the news on the six companies that Dhana watched over, Daniel could supply answer in details.
“We have no idea about it yet,” said Daniel.
Dhana Widyatmika’s attorney denied all stories published by the media on his client. The attorney said that it is still too early to assess any criminal element in this case.
The attorney also denied Dhana’s cooperation with the companies he handled while he was working in the Directorate General of Taxes.
“It is still too early to declare whether there is any crime or not,” said Attorney Daniel Afredo while assisting Dhana in the AGO office, Friday, March 2.
Daniel said Dhana has various sources of income.
Dhana was only transferred from the Directorate General of Taxes to Jakarta Tax Office for a month. Dhana’s wife, DA, is an employee of the Directorate General of Taxes.
Daniel continued that the AGO has confiscated several of his client’s assets, including his showroom. Meanwhile, the showroom’s director has also been questioned.
When asked about the news on the six companies that Dhana watched over, Daniel could supply answer in details.
“We have no idea about it yet,” said Daniel.
Govt Should Set Minimum CNG Price Disparity
“Countries that have implemented CNG best set [the disparity] at around 60 percent.”
CNG Association of Indonesia said the Indonesian government should set the minimum price disparity between compressed natural gas (CNG) and premium at 60 percent.
“Countries that have implemented CNG best set [the disparity] at around 60 percent,” said Secretary General of CNG Association of Indonesia, Danny Praditya, on Thursday, March 1.
He said 30 CNG private companies in Indonesia are now in operation. Nonetheless, prices and infrastructure have been the problems in developing CNG in the nation.
“The government must really make calculation on the economic price of CNG,” he explained.
If the price of premium fuel is raised to Rp6,000 per liter, it is not going to reach the 60 percent disparity with the CNG’s price. However, the effort could be the first step toward CNG conversion.
He cited the use of CNG in Thailand, that was developed within 5 years. Around 250 thousand vehicles are now using CNG and the country is equipped with 500 CNG stations with a variety of incentives and monitoring.
CNG Association of Indonesia said the Indonesian government should set the minimum price disparity between compressed natural gas (CNG) and premium at 60 percent.
“Countries that have implemented CNG best set [the disparity] at around 60 percent,” said Secretary General of CNG Association of Indonesia, Danny Praditya, on Thursday, March 1.
He said 30 CNG private companies in Indonesia are now in operation. Nonetheless, prices and infrastructure have been the problems in developing CNG in the nation.
“The government must really make calculation on the economic price of CNG,” he explained.
If the price of premium fuel is raised to Rp6,000 per liter, it is not going to reach the 60 percent disparity with the CNG’s price. However, the effort could be the first step toward CNG conversion.
He cited the use of CNG in Thailand, that was developed within 5 years. Around 250 thousand vehicles are now using CNG and the country is equipped with 500 CNG stations with a variety of incentives and monitoring.
Australian Facing Death Penalty in Bali
Another drug smuggler was again foiled by the Customs at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali on Tuesday, Feb 28. An Australian man named Edward Norman Myatt (55) was arrested when he was detected to have the possession of around 72 capsules (71 capsules containing hashish of 113 grams, and 1 capsule containing meth powder of 7 grams) in his stomach. The total weight is 120 grams.
The price of hashish in the market is around Rp600 thousand. Meanwhile, 1 capsule of 7 grams meth powder is Rp2.5 million per gram. Edward is part of an international narcotic network.
Head of Ngurah Rai’s Customs Supervision & Service, I Made Wijaya, said Edward was caught on Tuesday afternoon at around 2 PM shortly after he arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar. The construction worker had just arrived from Bangkok, Thailand. “He carried several bags,” said Made Wijaya, Friday, March 2.
Several officers immediately raised their suspicion towards Edward, who looked nervous. He even tried to avoid the body scanner at the international arrival terminal.
When Edward passed the scanner, bizarre items kept in his stomach appeared on the screen. Further test proved the items to be illegal drugs. “There are approximately 72 capsules inside the suspect’s body,” he said.
Edward was then brought to BMC Hospital in Kuta to confirm the contents of the capsules through X-ray examination and also to remove the capsules from his stomach.
“All capsules were removed within four days. The capsules went out with his feces. He was given natural drinks such as milk and papaya juice,” explained Wijaya.
“The suspect is charged under Article 112 Law No.35/2009 on Narcotics with the maximum sentence of death penalty,” said Wijaya.
The price of hashish in the market is around Rp600 thousand. Meanwhile, 1 capsule of 7 grams meth powder is Rp2.5 million per gram. Edward is part of an international narcotic network.
Head of Ngurah Rai’s Customs Supervision & Service, I Made Wijaya, said Edward was caught on Tuesday afternoon at around 2 PM shortly after he arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar. The construction worker had just arrived from Bangkok, Thailand. “He carried several bags,” said Made Wijaya, Friday, March 2.
Several officers immediately raised their suspicion towards Edward, who looked nervous. He even tried to avoid the body scanner at the international arrival terminal.
When Edward passed the scanner, bizarre items kept in his stomach appeared on the screen. Further test proved the items to be illegal drugs. “There are approximately 72 capsules inside the suspect’s body,” he said.
Edward was then brought to BMC Hospital in Kuta to confirm the contents of the capsules through X-ray examination and also to remove the capsules from his stomach.
“All capsules were removed within four days. The capsules went out with his feces. He was given natural drinks such as milk and papaya juice,” explained Wijaya.
“The suspect is charged under Article 112 Law No.35/2009 on Narcotics with the maximum sentence of death penalty,” said Wijaya.
Electricity Rate Suggested to Rise in Phases
“Fuel price rise is already a burden, not to mention the increase in electricity rate.”
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, said that the new electricity rate should be set phases.
“Fuel price rise is already a burden, not to mention the increase in electricity rate,” said Jero in Jakarta today, March 2.
This year’s Revision of State Budget Draft (RAPBN) will specify gradual pricing of electricity rate, which will be set in 3 stages.
“I have yet to take notice about it on the Revised Draft of State Budget. Maybe it will be raised by 3 percen in each stage,” he said.
The government will also redraft the Indonesian oil lifting assumption from 950 thousand barrels per day to 930 thousand barrels per day in the Revised Draft of State Budget.
For the Indonesian oil price (Indonesia Crude Price/ICP), the government will raise the ICP assumption from US$90 per barrel to US$105 per barrel.
“Actually, it’s already US$112 per barrel in February. My assumption is US$90 per barrel. If anyone said there is no need to raise the price, well, we can’t,” he said.
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, said that the new electricity rate should be set phases.
“Fuel price rise is already a burden, not to mention the increase in electricity rate,” said Jero in Jakarta today, March 2.
This year’s Revision of State Budget Draft (RAPBN) will specify gradual pricing of electricity rate, which will be set in 3 stages.
“I have yet to take notice about it on the Revised Draft of State Budget. Maybe it will be raised by 3 percen in each stage,” he said.
The government will also redraft the Indonesian oil lifting assumption from 950 thousand barrels per day to 930 thousand barrels per day in the Revised Draft of State Budget.
For the Indonesian oil price (Indonesia Crude Price/ICP), the government will raise the ICP assumption from US$90 per barrel to US$105 per barrel.
“Actually, it’s already US$112 per barrel in February. My assumption is US$90 per barrel. If anyone said there is no need to raise the price, well, we can’t,” he said.
Another Animal Dies in Indonesia Surabaya Zoo
From 2006 to 2010, the number of dead animals in Surabaya Zoo was 1,919.
After previously found unconscious and resuscitated, the Surabaya Zoo’s (KBS) giraffe finally passed away.
Kliwon, the 25-year old giraffe, was listed as the only African giraffe male (giraffa camelopardalis) in KBS.
“He died last night, precisely at 9 PM. We will conduct autopsy later. It’s to confirm the cause of death,” said Surabaya Zoo spokesperson, Anthan Warsito, Friday, March 2.
The autopsy will take place in the Surabaya Zoo. A number of people from the medical team will examine all its organs.
Warsito said that the zoo is devastated by Kliwon’s death. With its demise, the zoo has lost its giraffe collection.
This is not the first time the zoo has lost its animal collection. Earlier, animals had died one by one in this zoo. The last one was in late January when a boar was found dead. The Javanese boar was found dead with the signs of cyanide poisoning in its stomach, heart and lungs.
Before that, a komodo was also found dead. Within the past five years, from 2006 to 2010, the number of dead animals in Surabaya Zoo was 1,919; meanwhile the number of newborn was 1,089.
The animals’ sudden death is allegedly a result of the zoo’s dual management. The Natural Resource Conservation Center (BKSDA) in East Java said it may evacuate the zoo’s animals. The Center considered that the deaths are caused by 2 factors: indifference, and the poor condition of the animals’ food and cages.
After previously found unconscious and resuscitated, the Surabaya Zoo’s (KBS) giraffe finally passed away.
Kliwon, the 25-year old giraffe, was listed as the only African giraffe male (giraffa camelopardalis) in KBS.
“He died last night, precisely at 9 PM. We will conduct autopsy later. It’s to confirm the cause of death,” said Surabaya Zoo spokesperson, Anthan Warsito, Friday, March 2.
The autopsy will take place in the Surabaya Zoo. A number of people from the medical team will examine all its organs.
Warsito said that the zoo is devastated by Kliwon’s death. With its demise, the zoo has lost its giraffe collection.
This is not the first time the zoo has lost its animal collection. Earlier, animals had died one by one in this zoo. The last one was in late January when a boar was found dead. The Javanese boar was found dead with the signs of cyanide poisoning in its stomach, heart and lungs.
Before that, a komodo was also found dead. Within the past five years, from 2006 to 2010, the number of dead animals in Surabaya Zoo was 1,919; meanwhile the number of newborn was 1,089.
The animals’ sudden death is allegedly a result of the zoo’s dual management. The Natural Resource Conservation Center (BKSDA) in East Java said it may evacuate the zoo’s animals. The Center considered that the deaths are caused by 2 factors: indifference, and the poor condition of the animals’ food and cages.
Chris John Fights Japanese Challenger
WBA Fly-weight Super Champion Chris John is to face Japanese boxer Shoji Kimora in a title fight at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore on May 5, a spokesman of his promotor said.
Chris’s opponent is 34 years old and has an orthodox boxing style, Fathan Rangkuti, media and promotion officer of Mahkota Promotions, said here Tuesday. At the same time and venue, IBO Asia Pacific fly-weight champion Daud Yordan would be fighting Philippine boxer Ramie Laput, he said.
"Daud’s opponent is 33 years old and also has an orthodox boxing style. He descended to bantam weight," Fathan said.
The contracts on Chris John’s and Daud Yordan’s matches had already been signed and what they now had to do was preparing themselves for the upcoming fights, he said. "Late February Chris John will leave for Australia to train at Herry’s Gym in Perth under supervision of his trainer Craig Christian."
When in the ring with Shoji Kimora, Chris John who is nicknamed The Dragon would be defending his title for the 16th time.
Chris’s opponent is 34 years old and has an orthodox boxing style, Fathan Rangkuti, media and promotion officer of Mahkota Promotions, said here Tuesday. At the same time and venue, IBO Asia Pacific fly-weight champion Daud Yordan would be fighting Philippine boxer Ramie Laput, he said.
"Daud’s opponent is 33 years old and also has an orthodox boxing style. He descended to bantam weight," Fathan said.
The contracts on Chris John’s and Daud Yordan’s matches had already been signed and what they now had to do was preparing themselves for the upcoming fights, he said. "Late February Chris John will leave for Australia to train at Herry’s Gym in Perth under supervision of his trainer Craig Christian."
When in the ring with Shoji Kimora, Chris John who is nicknamed The Dragon would be defending his title for the 16th time.
Astra International Splits Shares
Publicly listed diversified group PT Astra International Tbk (ASII) is planning to split the nominal value of its shares under a 1:10 ratio.
The proposal for stock split would be brought to an extraordinary meeting of the company’s shareholders in April or May for approval, Astra International Corporate Secretary Gita Tiffany Boer said during a public expose here on Tuesday. By splitting the shares, retail investors could afford to buy them and the company could increase the liquidity of its shares in the stock exchange, he said.
Last year, Astra International posted a net profit of Rp17.8 trillion, up 24 percent from Rp14.4 trillion the year before. The company plans to set aside part of its profit last year to pay a dividend of Rp1,380 per share.
PT Astra International currently controls 53.8 percent of the country’s automobile market. In the January-November 2011 period Astra International sold 438,111 units, more than a half of domestic car sales which reached 813,856 units, making it the country’s biggest retailer.
The proposal for stock split would be brought to an extraordinary meeting of the company’s shareholders in April or May for approval, Astra International Corporate Secretary Gita Tiffany Boer said during a public expose here on Tuesday. By splitting the shares, retail investors could afford to buy them and the company could increase the liquidity of its shares in the stock exchange, he said.
Last year, Astra International posted a net profit of Rp17.8 trillion, up 24 percent from Rp14.4 trillion the year before. The company plans to set aside part of its profit last year to pay a dividend of Rp1,380 per share.
PT Astra International currently controls 53.8 percent of the country’s automobile market. In the January-November 2011 period Astra International sold 438,111 units, more than a half of domestic car sales which reached 813,856 units, making it the country’s biggest retailer.
Indonesia, Algeria Agree to Strengthen Investment Cooperation
The Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and the Algerian National Investment Development Agency (ANDA) have signed a much-awaited Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the investment sector.
"The MoU between the two investment coordinating agencies is the fruit of a longstanding process they have explored since a few years ago," Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Indonesian to Algeria Ahmad Niam Salim said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
The MoU was expected to enhance bilateral cooperation in economic and investment fields in support of the two nations’ welfare, he said. "Thank God, the MoU could be signed after a long process. This is the first MoU during my term of office as an extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Indonesian to Algeria and I hope this MoU will be followed by other MoUs."
The MoU was signed by BKPM Deputy Chief Achmad Kurniadi and ANDI Secretary General Khoiar Djouada on the sidelines of an expert meeting forum between the two countries at Mitsaq Hotel, Algeria, on Monday. Also present at the signing ceremony were Indonesian Ambassador to Algeria Ahmad Niam Salim, and head of the Indonesian delegation Roni P. Yulianto who is also the foreign ministry’s director for the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Algerian side was represented by director for Asia at the foreign ministry Naceur Boucherit and a number of ANDI officials. Achmad Kurnia expressed hope the MoU would soon be followed up on by taking practical steps to mutually explore the possibility of business and investment cooperation in a more real way.
"This MoU is good news for Indonesian businessmen wishing to expand their businesses in Algeria. We hope that the two agencies will follow up on the MoU by taking technical steps in the investment field."
"The MoU between the two investment coordinating agencies is the fruit of a longstanding process they have explored since a few years ago," Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Indonesian to Algeria Ahmad Niam Salim said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
The MoU was expected to enhance bilateral cooperation in economic and investment fields in support of the two nations’ welfare, he said. "Thank God, the MoU could be signed after a long process. This is the first MoU during my term of office as an extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Indonesian to Algeria and I hope this MoU will be followed by other MoUs."
The MoU was signed by BKPM Deputy Chief Achmad Kurniadi and ANDI Secretary General Khoiar Djouada on the sidelines of an expert meeting forum between the two countries at Mitsaq Hotel, Algeria, on Monday. Also present at the signing ceremony were Indonesian Ambassador to Algeria Ahmad Niam Salim, and head of the Indonesian delegation Roni P. Yulianto who is also the foreign ministry’s director for the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Algerian side was represented by director for Asia at the foreign ministry Naceur Boucherit and a number of ANDI officials. Achmad Kurnia expressed hope the MoU would soon be followed up on by taking practical steps to mutually explore the possibility of business and investment cooperation in a more real way.
"This MoU is good news for Indonesian businessmen wishing to expand their businesses in Algeria. We hope that the two agencies will follow up on the MoU by taking technical steps in the investment field."
You CAN Live Forever...
Forget expensive lotions and potions – the key to becoming immortal could be found in flatworms, scientists say. The worms, which live in lakes and ponds, hold the remarkable ability to regenerate time and time again – effectively living forever.
If one is cut in half, the head portion grows a tail and the tail portion grows a head. Cut it into 20 pieces and 20 new worms, each an exact copy of the first, are created.
This has been exploited by Nottingham University scientists who have created a colony of more than 20,000 worms, all from one original, whose bodies and organs do not appear to age.
They are confident a single worm which did not divide would live forever – unless it catches an infection or another illness. Researcher Dr Aziz Aboobaker said: ‘In my opinion, they are immortal.’
It is hoped that the research will help develop treatments that allow humans to stay fit and healthy long into old age. The experiments focused on Schmidtea mediterranea, a relative of an African parasite which can be found under stones and rocks in British ponds.
The flatworm has a simple brain – or concentration of nerve cells – in its head, which can be regenerated by stem cells found elsewhere in the body. In contrast, an earthworm would die if cut in two.
One strain of Schmidtea mediterranea reproduces without sex, simply by splitting itself in half and creating two copies, growing new muscles, skin, guts and even an entire brain in the process.
To speed up nature, the scientists cut the worms with a razor blade. Dr Aboobaker said: ‘You take one and wait until it is seven to ten days old and you cut it. The tail grows into a new head and the head grows into a new tail. A big one can be cut into ten to 20 pieces.’
By doing this for four years, they have generated around 20,000 copies of one original worm. The longest survived around a year before succumbing to infection. Most worms live just a few days.
Key to the flatworms’ immortality are telomeres – tiny biological clocks that cap the ends of chromosomes. Normally, they get shorter with time, stopping cells from dividing and renewing and causing the body to age.
But in the flatworm, the telomeres stay intact, allowing cells to divide many times and stopping ageing in its tracks. Dr Aboobaker and colleague Dr Thomas Tan have pinpointed the gene that allows them to do this, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.
The researchers said: ‘The next goals for us are to understand the mechanisms in more detail and understand more about how you evolve an immortal animal.’
Knowing more about how the worms safely do this could help stem cell scientists achieve their Holy Grail – the growth of new hearts, livers or brain cells in a dish. It could also speed the development of drugs that stave off many of the diseases of old age.
Douglas Kell, of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, which part-funded the study, said: ‘This research contributes to our fundamental understanding of some of the processes involved in ageing and build strong foundations for improving health and potentially longevity in other organisms, including humans.’
If one is cut in half, the head portion grows a tail and the tail portion grows a head. Cut it into 20 pieces and 20 new worms, each an exact copy of the first, are created.
This has been exploited by Nottingham University scientists who have created a colony of more than 20,000 worms, all from one original, whose bodies and organs do not appear to age.
They are confident a single worm which did not divide would live forever – unless it catches an infection or another illness. Researcher Dr Aziz Aboobaker said: ‘In my opinion, they are immortal.’
It is hoped that the research will help develop treatments that allow humans to stay fit and healthy long into old age. The experiments focused on Schmidtea mediterranea, a relative of an African parasite which can be found under stones and rocks in British ponds.
The flatworm has a simple brain – or concentration of nerve cells – in its head, which can be regenerated by stem cells found elsewhere in the body. In contrast, an earthworm would die if cut in two.
One strain of Schmidtea mediterranea reproduces without sex, simply by splitting itself in half and creating two copies, growing new muscles, skin, guts and even an entire brain in the process.
To speed up nature, the scientists cut the worms with a razor blade. Dr Aboobaker said: ‘You take one and wait until it is seven to ten days old and you cut it. The tail grows into a new head and the head grows into a new tail. A big one can be cut into ten to 20 pieces.’
By doing this for four years, they have generated around 20,000 copies of one original worm. The longest survived around a year before succumbing to infection. Most worms live just a few days.
Key to the flatworms’ immortality are telomeres – tiny biological clocks that cap the ends of chromosomes. Normally, they get shorter with time, stopping cells from dividing and renewing and causing the body to age.
But in the flatworm, the telomeres stay intact, allowing cells to divide many times and stopping ageing in its tracks. Dr Aboobaker and colleague Dr Thomas Tan have pinpointed the gene that allows them to do this, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.
The researchers said: ‘The next goals for us are to understand the mechanisms in more detail and understand more about how you evolve an immortal animal.’
Knowing more about how the worms safely do this could help stem cell scientists achieve their Holy Grail – the growth of new hearts, livers or brain cells in a dish. It could also speed the development of drugs that stave off many of the diseases of old age.
Douglas Kell, of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, which part-funded the study, said: ‘This research contributes to our fundamental understanding of some of the processes involved in ageing and build strong foundations for improving health and potentially longevity in other organisms, including humans.’
Iran to Hold Culture Week in Jakarta
The Iranian embassy in Jakarta is to stage an Iranian culture week on March 7-13, the country’s top diplomat said.
"We will hold this program to acquaint the Indonesian public with the culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mahmoud Farazandeh said here Tuesday.
The event would be opened at the National Museum and also include the screening of Iranian films at the Usmar Ismail building. He said now was the right time to show Iranian films as one such film titled "A Separation" had won acclaim at the 84th Academy Awards festival in the foreign films category.
Farazandeh said Iran’s cinematography had recently elicited praise from the world as it had produced quality films based on fresh ideas and free from sex scenes. "Indonesia-Iran relations date back to thousands of years ago as proven by the discovery of an ancient grave stone bearing an inscription in the Persian language."
In the literary field, especially in Malay literature, there also was Iranian influence as about 400 Persian words had become part of Bahasa Indonesia part of which were still being used today, he said. Indonesian poets such as Sanusi Pane and Amir Hamzah had turned out works with strong Persian cultural influences.
"The Iranian revolution was a cultural revolution and we want to spread it throughout the world," he said. Apart from the cultural week, there would also be seminars on Iran at a number of universities in Jakarta, the ambassador said.
Indonesia and Iran had in the past also engaged in cultural exchanges such as an Indonesian culture week in Iran and an Iranian calligraphy exhibition in Jakarta, Farazandeh said.
"We will hold this program to acquaint the Indonesian public with the culture of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Mahmoud Farazandeh said here Tuesday.
The event would be opened at the National Museum and also include the screening of Iranian films at the Usmar Ismail building. He said now was the right time to show Iranian films as one such film titled "A Separation" had won acclaim at the 84th Academy Awards festival in the foreign films category.
Farazandeh said Iran’s cinematography had recently elicited praise from the world as it had produced quality films based on fresh ideas and free from sex scenes. "Indonesia-Iran relations date back to thousands of years ago as proven by the discovery of an ancient grave stone bearing an inscription in the Persian language."
In the literary field, especially in Malay literature, there also was Iranian influence as about 400 Persian words had become part of Bahasa Indonesia part of which were still being used today, he said. Indonesian poets such as Sanusi Pane and Amir Hamzah had turned out works with strong Persian cultural influences.
"The Iranian revolution was a cultural revolution and we want to spread it throughout the world," he said. Apart from the cultural week, there would also be seminars on Iran at a number of universities in Jakarta, the ambassador said.
Indonesia and Iran had in the past also engaged in cultural exchanges such as an Indonesian culture week in Iran and an Iranian calligraphy exhibition in Jakarta, Farazandeh said.
Nasa Identifies New Asteroid Threat Which 'Could Hit Earth'
It is 460ft wide and soaring through space - on a possible collision course with Earth. Nasa has identified a new asteroid threat to our planet and calculated that it could potentially impact on February 5th 2040.
The 2011 AG5 has already attracted the concern of the UN Action Team on near-Earth objects, which has begun discussing ways to divert it. They have put the odds of it hitting us at one in 625, though that could change nearer the time.
Were the rock to land on a city it could cause millions of deaths, although mankind would live through it. The asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was nine miles wide, compared to 460ft for the 2011 AG5.
Scientists have not yet been able to work out much more about it than its size as they have only been able to observe it for half its orbit. But between 2013 and 2016 they will be able to monitor from the ground and will make a more detailed assessment.
In 2023 the rock will make a ‘keyhole pass’ of Earth, which is an area it passes through on the orbit before it would hit Earth. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, this will will be within a mere 0.02 astronomical units of our planet, or 1.86 million miles.
According to NASA, amongst the ways of deflecting it are putting a probe onto the rock and using the extra gravity the craft generates to steer the asteroid away over millions of light years.
Another option would be sending a probe into it so the impact would have the same effect. Nuclear weapons have also been discussed, but this would create a shower of rocks instead of just one.
There are roughly 19,000 such 'mid-sized' asteroids within 120 million miles of Earth, according to Nasa's latest sky-scans. Mid-sized refers to asteroids in a size range between 330 and 3,300 feet wide, which could destroy a city-sized area were they to hit Earth.
NASA's latest scan used the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE and took two infrared scans of the entire celestial sky in a series of infrared photos between January 2010 and February 2011.
Much of the world’s attention on asteroids has been on the Aphophis asteroid, which is the size of two and a half football fields and is predicted to pass close to Earth in 2036. If the forecasts are true it will come within 18,300 miles of Earth’s surface and will be visible from most of Europe, Africa and Asia
In recent years it has not just been asteroids that have threatened Earth - falling satellites have also caused problems too. In October Germany's Roentgen satellite X-Ray telescope entered a 12,500mph death dive and split up into around 30 huge chunks when it was deliberated crash landed.
Experts however had no idea where it landed and could only say somewhere South of Berlin and North of Wellington in New Zealand. The odds of being hit by one of the pieces was put at 2,000 to one, more likely than getting a hole in one in golf, though no injuries were reported.
The 2011 AG5 has already attracted the concern of the UN Action Team on near-Earth objects, which has begun discussing ways to divert it. They have put the odds of it hitting us at one in 625, though that could change nearer the time.
Were the rock to land on a city it could cause millions of deaths, although mankind would live through it. The asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago was nine miles wide, compared to 460ft for the 2011 AG5.
Scientists have not yet been able to work out much more about it than its size as they have only been able to observe it for half its orbit. But between 2013 and 2016 they will be able to monitor from the ground and will make a more detailed assessment.
In 2023 the rock will make a ‘keyhole pass’ of Earth, which is an area it passes through on the orbit before it would hit Earth. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, this will will be within a mere 0.02 astronomical units of our planet, or 1.86 million miles.
According to NASA, amongst the ways of deflecting it are putting a probe onto the rock and using the extra gravity the craft generates to steer the asteroid away over millions of light years.
Another option would be sending a probe into it so the impact would have the same effect. Nuclear weapons have also been discussed, but this would create a shower of rocks instead of just one.
There are roughly 19,000 such 'mid-sized' asteroids within 120 million miles of Earth, according to Nasa's latest sky-scans. Mid-sized refers to asteroids in a size range between 330 and 3,300 feet wide, which could destroy a city-sized area were they to hit Earth.
NASA's latest scan used the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE and took two infrared scans of the entire celestial sky in a series of infrared photos between January 2010 and February 2011.
Much of the world’s attention on asteroids has been on the Aphophis asteroid, which is the size of two and a half football fields and is predicted to pass close to Earth in 2036. If the forecasts are true it will come within 18,300 miles of Earth’s surface and will be visible from most of Europe, Africa and Asia
In recent years it has not just been asteroids that have threatened Earth - falling satellites have also caused problems too. In October Germany's Roentgen satellite X-Ray telescope entered a 12,500mph death dive and split up into around 30 huge chunks when it was deliberated crash landed.
Experts however had no idea where it landed and could only say somewhere South of Berlin and North of Wellington in New Zealand. The odds of being hit by one of the pieces was put at 2,000 to one, more likely than getting a hole in one in golf, though no injuries were reported.
Spirited Traveller Fruity Cocktail Infusions in Jakarta
Welcome to Jakarta, also known as the “Big Durian.” Although you’re unlikely to find the notoriously stinky durian in many drinks in the Indonesian capital, expect refreshing cocktails that make the most of other tropical fruits, such as mango, lychee, even the cantaloupe-like rockmelon.
“Over the past few years, Jakarta has seen a boom in its drinking culture, especially among young people,” says Hanny Wahyuni of The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan.
While a cold beer, particularly Bintang, is the classic unwind after a long work week, the growing number of bars across Jakarta also do a brisk business in spirits. Local cocktail menus reveal a sweet-tooth for candy flavoured vodka martinis, rum or cachaca cocktails dosed with kafir lime or tropical fruits.
Ritz Carlton’s 8 Lounge (http://bit.ly/n9xtJy) has an entire drinks menu section dedicated to Mojito variations; another to Caipirinha concoctions. Wahyuni’s drink-stop recommendations for business travellers include Cork & Screw (http://www.corknscrew.biz/), a restaurant and bar located inside a wine shop, and Potato Head (http://ptthead.com/jakarta/) at Pacific Place Mall.
The latter serves Western-style comfort food accompanied by cocktails such as the Pistachio Rockmelon Martini (vodka, melon liqueur and fresh rockmelon, topped with pistachio foam). He also notes newcomer Otel Lobby (http://otellobby.com/), a gastropub in the Annex Building of Epicentrum Kuningan.
At the end of the day, Wahyuni likes Social House (http://socialhouse.asia/) at Harvey Nichols in Grand Indonesia Mall.During the day, the space serves tea to office workers, but in the evening the windows fold back to invite cooling evening breezes and panoramic views of the Jakarta skyline.
The same team that runs Social House also owns the VIP-happy Dragonfly (http://www.ismaya.com/dragonfly/), where celebrities mix with expats and execs to dance all night, fuelled by rum cocktails. Loewy (http://www.loewyjakarta.com/) in Mega Kuningan, near The Ritz-Carlton, also gets a nod from Wahyuni.
The bistro-style restaurant offers a menu of (exclusively vodka) martinis and the city’s largest selection of single malt whiskeys. Once you’ve sampled your way through these bars, you’re ready for Bir Pletok, Jakarta’s iconic restorative libation.
RECIPE: BIR PLETOK
Courtesy of Hanny Wahyuni, The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta. This non-alcoholic herbal libation is said to ward off a host of ills, from flu to high cholesterol. Dating back to the colonial period, the drink is indeed named after beer - few locals could afford the beer drunk by Dutch colonists, and opted to brew their own “bir” using local herbs and spices.
As for the word “pletok”, depending on who you ask, it either mimics the sound of cardamom pods cracking open in boiling water, or it’s the sound made when shaking together all the ingredients: “Pletok, pletok, pletok.”
2 litres water
350 grams ginger, peeled and sliced
6 pieces clove
1 piece cinnamon Bark, about 5 centimetres long
3 cardamom (cardamom) pods
5 stalks lemongrass
25 grams secang wood (a plant native to Indonesia )
1/2 nutmeg
500 grams white sugar
Salt
3 pandan leaves
5 lime leaves
In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the remaining ingredients, lower the heat, and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid into a jar and allow to cool, then cap tightly. Discard solids.
Although bir pletok can be drunk hot, most people prefer to drink it served refreshingly cold. Keeps for one week, refrigerated.
“Over the past few years, Jakarta has seen a boom in its drinking culture, especially among young people,” says Hanny Wahyuni of The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, Mega Kuningan.
While a cold beer, particularly Bintang, is the classic unwind after a long work week, the growing number of bars across Jakarta also do a brisk business in spirits. Local cocktail menus reveal a sweet-tooth for candy flavoured vodka martinis, rum or cachaca cocktails dosed with kafir lime or tropical fruits.
Ritz Carlton’s 8 Lounge (http://bit.ly/n9xtJy) has an entire drinks menu section dedicated to Mojito variations; another to Caipirinha concoctions. Wahyuni’s drink-stop recommendations for business travellers include Cork & Screw (http://www.corknscrew.biz/), a restaurant and bar located inside a wine shop, and Potato Head (http://ptthead.com/jakarta/) at Pacific Place Mall.
The latter serves Western-style comfort food accompanied by cocktails such as the Pistachio Rockmelon Martini (vodka, melon liqueur and fresh rockmelon, topped with pistachio foam). He also notes newcomer Otel Lobby (http://otellobby.com/), a gastropub in the Annex Building of Epicentrum Kuningan.
At the end of the day, Wahyuni likes Social House (http://socialhouse.asia/) at Harvey Nichols in Grand Indonesia Mall.During the day, the space serves tea to office workers, but in the evening the windows fold back to invite cooling evening breezes and panoramic views of the Jakarta skyline.
The same team that runs Social House also owns the VIP-happy Dragonfly (http://www.ismaya.com/dragonfly/), where celebrities mix with expats and execs to dance all night, fuelled by rum cocktails. Loewy (http://www.loewyjakarta.com/) in Mega Kuningan, near The Ritz-Carlton, also gets a nod from Wahyuni.
The bistro-style restaurant offers a menu of (exclusively vodka) martinis and the city’s largest selection of single malt whiskeys. Once you’ve sampled your way through these bars, you’re ready for Bir Pletok, Jakarta’s iconic restorative libation.
RECIPE: BIR PLETOK
Courtesy of Hanny Wahyuni, The Ritz-Carlton Jakarta. This non-alcoholic herbal libation is said to ward off a host of ills, from flu to high cholesterol. Dating back to the colonial period, the drink is indeed named after beer - few locals could afford the beer drunk by Dutch colonists, and opted to brew their own “bir” using local herbs and spices.
As for the word “pletok”, depending on who you ask, it either mimics the sound of cardamom pods cracking open in boiling water, or it’s the sound made when shaking together all the ingredients: “Pletok, pletok, pletok.”
2 litres water
350 grams ginger, peeled and sliced
6 pieces clove
1 piece cinnamon Bark, about 5 centimetres long
3 cardamom (cardamom) pods
5 stalks lemongrass
25 grams secang wood (a plant native to Indonesia )
1/2 nutmeg
500 grams white sugar
Salt
3 pandan leaves
5 lime leaves
In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the remaining ingredients, lower the heat, and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid into a jar and allow to cool, then cap tightly. Discard solids.
Although bir pletok can be drunk hot, most people prefer to drink it served refreshingly cold. Keeps for one week, refrigerated.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Indonesia's Govt Allows Importation of 500,000 Tons of Salt
The government has decided to allow the importation of 500,000 tons of
salt to meet domestic consumers’ demand until salt farmers’ harvest
time, a senior trade official said.
"We will allow the importation of 500,000 tons to meet domestic need for 3.5 months and to form a stockpile. This has been agreed on by all government agencies concerned." Deddy Saleh, director general of international trade at the trade ministry, said here Friday.
The decision was taken based on a consensus among the marine and fisheries ministry, the industry ministry, the trade ministry and the economic affairs coordinating ministry, he said.
The government would later name the companies that could conduct the importing process based on their performance in previous imports and absorbing farmers’ salt. Deddy had earlier said the government would allow salt imports before domestic salt farmers entered their harvest season this year.
The government would see to it that imports would cease at least one month before the start of the grand salt harvest in 2012. The harvest season normally begins in July but the grand harvest happens in August.
The decision to allow salt imports was made as the existing consumer salt stockpile as per late December 2011 totaled 306,000 tons which was not enough to meet demand until salt harvest time because consumption averaged 120,000 tons per month.
Deddy said the marine and fisheries ministry had initially opposed the idea of importing salt but changed its mind after obtaining the calculation of the existing consumer salt stockpile. Marine and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo eventually acknowledged that salt imports were needed to prevent a shortage before the domestic salt harvest season arrived.
"But after two or three months, when domestic salt has become available, we will stop the imports."
"We will allow the importation of 500,000 tons to meet domestic need for 3.5 months and to form a stockpile. This has been agreed on by all government agencies concerned." Deddy Saleh, director general of international trade at the trade ministry, said here Friday.
The decision was taken based on a consensus among the marine and fisheries ministry, the industry ministry, the trade ministry and the economic affairs coordinating ministry, he said.
The government would later name the companies that could conduct the importing process based on their performance in previous imports and absorbing farmers’ salt. Deddy had earlier said the government would allow salt imports before domestic salt farmers entered their harvest season this year.
The government would see to it that imports would cease at least one month before the start of the grand salt harvest in 2012. The harvest season normally begins in July but the grand harvest happens in August.
The decision to allow salt imports was made as the existing consumer salt stockpile as per late December 2011 totaled 306,000 tons which was not enough to meet demand until salt harvest time because consumption averaged 120,000 tons per month.
Deddy said the marine and fisheries ministry had initially opposed the idea of importing salt but changed its mind after obtaining the calculation of the existing consumer salt stockpile. Marine and Fisheries Minister Sharif Cicip Sutardjo eventually acknowledged that salt imports were needed to prevent a shortage before the domestic salt harvest season arrived.
"But after two or three months, when domestic salt has become available, we will stop the imports."
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