iPad holdouts can now buy the first version for more than 30 per cent cheaper as Apple slashes its prices and existing owners jump on eBay to offload in preparation for the iPad 2.
Apple Australia has confirmed that those who bought an iPad 1 within 14 calendar days of the iPad 2 announcement are entitled to a refund of the difference between the price paid and the current selling price.
But existing owners who are planning to trade in for an iPad 2 would have done well to sell their iPad before the successor's launch on Thursday last week, as second-hand prices on eBay are crashing fast. A search for iPad in the computer category of eBay.com.au reveals over 600 listings, excluding accessories.
Apple has slashed prices on all existing iPad models by up to $210 and is offering refurbished models for even less. Apple's 16GB, 32GB and 64GB iPad Wi-Fi models have been reduced to $449 (from $629), $579 (from $759) and $689 (from $879), respectively.
For those who want an iPad WiFi + 3G model, prices for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models have dropped to $598 (from $799), $729 ($928) and $839 ($1049), respectively.
Apple is also selling refurbished models that are second-hand but include a new battery and outer shell and come with a one-year warranty. If you want a refurbished iPad you can knock up to about $80 off the price of a new model, which some bloggers have said is not a big enough discount to entice people to buy a used product.
Online gadget-buyer Gazelle, which takes second-hand gadgets off people's hands and then sells them on eBay, said that, within an hour after the iPad 2 was announced, it had bought more than 2000 used iPads.
The company pays the seller a certain amount depending on the condition of the product and other factors such as whether the seller still has the relevant cables and charger.
A similar company, NextWorth, said in the three days following the iPad 2 launch it received almost three times the number of iPads it had been sent in the whole of February.
The iPad 2 will go on sale in Australia from March 25. Prices have yet to be announced but Telstra has already said it will carry the new model. The new iPad 2 is lighter (590 grams versus 680 grams) and thinner (from 13.4mm to 8.8mm) than its predecessor and boasts significant upgrades such as a new A5 dual-core processor, more internal memory, faster graphics and dual front and rear-facing cameras.
Senin, 07 Maret 2011
SBY Urged to Reshuffle Cabinet Soon
Observers called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to reshuffle his cabinet ministers immediately amid a discourse on the stance of two government coalition members, the Golkar Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
Golkar and PKS supported a recent tax mafia inquiry motion which was rejected by the alliance under the leadership of the ruling Democrat Party (PD).
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last week that political parties in the government coalition that had not met their commitments could no longer remain in the alliance, a clear reference to the Golkar and PKS parties which were viewed to have taken steps violating their commitments.
Observers are of the opinion that if the president intends to revamp his cabinet, he had better carry it out immediately in order not to miss the momentum. After all, the president now only has 3.5 years left to carry out his mandate.
"If he is willing to reshuffle his cabinet, now is the time because it only has 3.5 years left. It will be too late if he waits for one or two more years," political observer Katjung Marijan of the Airlangga University (Unair) said on Monday.
He said if the president did not carry out a cabinet revamp he would continue to face the same problem which so far had been created by his coalition partners. Moreover, the idea of a cabinet reshuffle existed for a long time and if it continued to be raised it would disturb the government in carrying out its development programs optimally.
Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Tjahjo Kumolo said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had better reshuffle his cabinet ministers soon.
"PDIP only reminds (the president of the cabinet revamp) because if it is delayed it will miss the momentum," he said at the parliament building on Monday.
Katjung Marijan concurred with Tjahjo’s opinion saying that a cabinet shake-up followed by the coalition’s restructuring is needed to ensure the government stability so that it would work more effectively.
According to Katjung, a cabinet reshuffle should be made a momentum to renew its commitment and improve coordination among political parties supporting the alliance, two things which so far were proven to be weak.
"Ideally, a coalition must be in one home, under one roof and have one door. What happens so far is that each of the coalition members has its own home and door so that a common policy is not created," Katjung said.
He said it should be acknowledged that Yudhoyono’s coalition now was still confined to power-sharing, not a coalition built to achieve a common goal. Fragmentation within the coalition, where each political party has its own interest, could not be avoided, much more coordination was weak.
"Commitment and coordination must be improved which could be done by excluding political parties which so far did not fulfill their commitments," he said.
Political observer Yunarto Wijaya of Charta Politika said now is the correct momentum for Yudhoyono to reduce the number of parties in the government coalition so that his administration would run effectively.
"The large size of the coalition has proven to be ineffective and put shackles on the government so that the administration over the past one and a half years was not effective as it was shackled by the interest of political parties," Yunarto said.
Yunarto said he hoped Yudhoyono would use the momentum to down size the cabinet posture so that it would become more professional by including elements which were free from interests that shackle the cabinet.
He said the change in the composition of the coalition by excluding those considered to have violated their commitment and include others in the cabinet would not have a significant impact on the government’s performance.
"Letting one party go but asking another one to come in to replace it to maintain the coalition strength is only a mirage," he said.
He said that by asking other political parties like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and Gerindra (the Greater Indonesia Movement Party ) to replace the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) the president would face difficulties in giving incentives to a loyal party or in taking ministers from the professional circle.
"The president has the logic that if A is excluded from the coalition, B must be included in the alliance to maintain strength. But this will automatically reduce the room for him to provide reward for loyal parties or to take ministers from professionals to support his government," he said.
PDIP and Gerindra are so far not included in the government coalition. According to Yudhoyono, the political parties who have joined the coalition are the Golkar Party, PKS, National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and the (ruling) Democrat Party (PD). These parties have signed 11-point agreements which would serve as rules of the game in the coalition.
Owing to the fact that certain coalition members are viewed to have violated their commitments, while calls and discourse on possible reshuffle, the president is now about to revamp his cabinet. However, analyst believed that a reshuffle should not be based on a political reason but on the performance of a minister.
"A reshuffle should be carried out if the president considers the performance of his ministers to be bad. This is very important. If the cabinet is reshuffled for political reasons, I think it is not appropriate," Maswadi Rauf of the University of Indonsia (UI) said.
He said if the cabinet was revamped because of political reasons, it would affect the government’s performance. It would likely disturb and reduce the performance of ministers. A presidential aide said a cabinet reshuffle would be based on performance consideration.
"It is not a discourse. It is real and is going to be discussed soon. So if a reshuffle really happens later, the basis for it will be an evaluation of ministers’ performance," Heru Lelono, the president’s special aide for information, said.
Golkar and PKS supported a recent tax mafia inquiry motion which was rejected by the alliance under the leadership of the ruling Democrat Party (PD).
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last week that political parties in the government coalition that had not met their commitments could no longer remain in the alliance, a clear reference to the Golkar and PKS parties which were viewed to have taken steps violating their commitments.
Observers are of the opinion that if the president intends to revamp his cabinet, he had better carry it out immediately in order not to miss the momentum. After all, the president now only has 3.5 years left to carry out his mandate.
"If he is willing to reshuffle his cabinet, now is the time because it only has 3.5 years left. It will be too late if he waits for one or two more years," political observer Katjung Marijan of the Airlangga University (Unair) said on Monday.
He said if the president did not carry out a cabinet revamp he would continue to face the same problem which so far had been created by his coalition partners. Moreover, the idea of a cabinet reshuffle existed for a long time and if it continued to be raised it would disturb the government in carrying out its development programs optimally.
Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Tjahjo Kumolo said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had better reshuffle his cabinet ministers soon.
"PDIP only reminds (the president of the cabinet revamp) because if it is delayed it will miss the momentum," he said at the parliament building on Monday.
Katjung Marijan concurred with Tjahjo’s opinion saying that a cabinet shake-up followed by the coalition’s restructuring is needed to ensure the government stability so that it would work more effectively.
According to Katjung, a cabinet reshuffle should be made a momentum to renew its commitment and improve coordination among political parties supporting the alliance, two things which so far were proven to be weak.
"Ideally, a coalition must be in one home, under one roof and have one door. What happens so far is that each of the coalition members has its own home and door so that a common policy is not created," Katjung said.
He said it should be acknowledged that Yudhoyono’s coalition now was still confined to power-sharing, not a coalition built to achieve a common goal. Fragmentation within the coalition, where each political party has its own interest, could not be avoided, much more coordination was weak.
"Commitment and coordination must be improved which could be done by excluding political parties which so far did not fulfill their commitments," he said.
Political observer Yunarto Wijaya of Charta Politika said now is the correct momentum for Yudhoyono to reduce the number of parties in the government coalition so that his administration would run effectively.
"The large size of the coalition has proven to be ineffective and put shackles on the government so that the administration over the past one and a half years was not effective as it was shackled by the interest of political parties," Yunarto said.
Yunarto said he hoped Yudhoyono would use the momentum to down size the cabinet posture so that it would become more professional by including elements which were free from interests that shackle the cabinet.
He said the change in the composition of the coalition by excluding those considered to have violated their commitment and include others in the cabinet would not have a significant impact on the government’s performance.
"Letting one party go but asking another one to come in to replace it to maintain the coalition strength is only a mirage," he said.
He said that by asking other political parties like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and Gerindra (the Greater Indonesia Movement Party ) to replace the Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) the president would face difficulties in giving incentives to a loyal party or in taking ministers from the professional circle.
"The president has the logic that if A is excluded from the coalition, B must be included in the alliance to maintain strength. But this will automatically reduce the room for him to provide reward for loyal parties or to take ministers from professionals to support his government," he said.
PDIP and Gerindra are so far not included in the government coalition. According to Yudhoyono, the political parties who have joined the coalition are the Golkar Party, PKS, National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB) and the (ruling) Democrat Party (PD). These parties have signed 11-point agreements which would serve as rules of the game in the coalition.
Owing to the fact that certain coalition members are viewed to have violated their commitments, while calls and discourse on possible reshuffle, the president is now about to revamp his cabinet. However, analyst believed that a reshuffle should not be based on a political reason but on the performance of a minister.
"A reshuffle should be carried out if the president considers the performance of his ministers to be bad. This is very important. If the cabinet is reshuffled for political reasons, I think it is not appropriate," Maswadi Rauf of the University of Indonsia (UI) said.
He said if the cabinet was revamped because of political reasons, it would affect the government’s performance. It would likely disturb and reduce the performance of ministers. A presidential aide said a cabinet reshuffle would be based on performance consideration.
"It is not a discourse. It is real and is going to be discussed soon. So if a reshuffle really happens later, the basis for it will be an evaluation of ministers’ performance," Heru Lelono, the president’s special aide for information, said.
Pakistani Plane Forced to Land in Indonesia
Officials say two Indonesian fighter jets have forced a Pakistani passenger plane to land after entering Indonesian air space without authorization. A spokesman for Pakistan International Airlines says the aircraft is chartered by U.N. peacekeepers in East Timor and might have strayed off course due to bad weather.
Local air force chief Agus Supriatna said the Boeing 737-300 with 54 people aboard landed Monday at the Sultan Hasanuddin airport in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. He said it would be allowed to leave after arranging necessary documents.
PIA spokesman Tajwar Mashood said that the Pakistani Embassy in Indonesia has been informed and is taking action.
Local air force chief Agus Supriatna said the Boeing 737-300 with 54 people aboard landed Monday at the Sultan Hasanuddin airport in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. He said it would be allowed to leave after arranging necessary documents.
PIA spokesman Tajwar Mashood said that the Pakistani Embassy in Indonesia has been informed and is taking action.
Danish, French Arrested on Drug Charges in Bali
Indonesian police on the resort island of Bali say they arrested a Danish woman who allegedly swallowed 23 capsules of hashish and a second suspect identified as a 38-year-old French.
Colonel Mulyadi said Monday that the 37-year-old Dane was taken to the hospital last week soon after arriving at the Bali airport. He said doctors found 218 grams of hashish in 23 capsules in her stomach.
Mulyadi said the woman led them to the second suspect he identified as a Frenchwoman who allegedly carried 2.01 grams of hashish. The predominantly Muslim nation of 237 million people has extremely strict drug laws and traffickers are regularly sentenced to death.
Colonel Mulyadi said Monday that the 37-year-old Dane was taken to the hospital last week soon after arriving at the Bali airport. He said doctors found 218 grams of hashish in 23 capsules in her stomach.
Mulyadi said the woman led them to the second suspect he identified as a Frenchwoman who allegedly carried 2.01 grams of hashish. The predominantly Muslim nation of 237 million people has extremely strict drug laws and traffickers are regularly sentenced to death.
Indonesia Landslide Slows Access to Freeport Mine
A landslide has shut a tunnel that links Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.’s mine with the nearby village in Indonesia’s province of Papua. No one was injured in the landslide, which happened Saturday.
PT. Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdani Sirait said Monday that production at the world’s largest gold and copper mine continues normally despite the landslide. Some miners were brought to work by helicopter, until bad weather grounded the choppers.
Sirait said the landslide would not affect shipments to buyers since materials travel to the port by pipeline. Freeport-McMoRan, whose operations also include copper mines in Arizona and New Mexico and molybdenum mining operations in Colorado, is the world’s largest publicly traded copper company.
PT. Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdani Sirait said Monday that production at the world’s largest gold and copper mine continues normally despite the landslide. Some miners were brought to work by helicopter, until bad weather grounded the choppers.
Sirait said the landslide would not affect shipments to buyers since materials travel to the port by pipeline. Freeport-McMoRan, whose operations also include copper mines in Arizona and New Mexico and molybdenum mining operations in Colorado, is the world’s largest publicly traded copper company.
BMW Rewinds X3 Prices as Rivals Stack up
Second-generation SUV to fight off Audi, Volvo and Land Rover with increased equipment, more efficient engines and lower prices. BMW has cut the price of most models in its new X3 range in response to growing pressure from luxury SUV rivals.
The entry level diesel model in the new X3 line-up remains the same price as the previous model, while prices have dropped for the higher-spec petrol and diesel models. At the same time, equipment levels have increased, there are more powerful engines and fuel efficiency has improved.
The X3, which for some time had the compact luxury SUV market to itself, faced dwindling sales last year as the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 ate into its market share. The pressure has increased recently with updates for Land Rover's Freelander2 range and a new addition to the Volvo XC60 lineup.
The all-new X3 xDrive20d will kick off the all-new model range at $62,200 (plus on-road costs). The 20d is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine as seen in the existing model, though it's now mated to the brand's new 8-speed automatic transmission, as with all X3 models.
The engine has been tweaked for more power (135kW) and increased torque (380Nm). Fuel consumption has dropped to an impressive 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres - making it the most efficient SUV in its segment - while CO2 emissions are also down (147g/km). Helping save fuel is BMW's stop-start technology - standard for diesel models.
The entry-level 20d adds standard equipment such as a 6.5-inch colour screen hooked up to BMW's iDrive media system with iPhone integration, and a reversing camera. The company says it is the only car in its segment to offer the potentially life-saving technology as standard.
It's a significant turnaround for a company that traditionally has an extensive options list for all models.
The mid-range offering is the petrol-powered xDrive28i which replaces the outgoing 30i. Despite a lower number in its name, the 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged model actually produces more power and torque (190kW/310Nm) and offers better performance - it can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds, identical to a VW Golf GTI. It also uses less fuel (9.0L/100km), and at $71,900 it's $3400 cheaper than its predecessor.
The extra $9700 spend over the 20d adds leather upholstery, electric seats with driver's seat memory, twin exhausts and 18-inch wheels. The range-topping model is the xDrive30d, due here about June.
It borrows its engine from the X5, a new turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel producing 190kW of power and 560Nm of torque. The 30d is priced at $74,900, and adds a chrome trim finish and automatic tailgate operation over the 28i. Pricing is down $2500 over the existing range-topper, and BMW expects sales of the top model to increase steadily.
Size-wise the new X3 is longer, wider, taller and lighter than its predecessor - it is just 4cm shorter than the original version of its bigger brother, the X5 (it now measures 4648mm long, 1881mm wide and 1661mm high), and boot space is up to a class-leading 550 litres (seats in place - 1600L with the 20/40/20 seats folded). BMW says the reason for enlarging the X3 was to further differentiate it from its new X1 baby sibling, while still staying small enough for buyers to split it from the larger X5.
BMW is offering its M Sport package (with colour-coded body add-ons and sportier 19-inch wheels) on all models, priced at $4800 for the 20d, $4100 for the 28i and $3000 for the 30d.
In a first for SUVs in this segment, there will also be an optional adaptive suspension system as seen in the 5-Series (with Normal, Sport and Sport+ settings). BMW hasn't confirmed pricing for the adaptive suspension but it is expected to be about $7000.
The entry level diesel model in the new X3 line-up remains the same price as the previous model, while prices have dropped for the higher-spec petrol and diesel models. At the same time, equipment levels have increased, there are more powerful engines and fuel efficiency has improved.
The X3, which for some time had the compact luxury SUV market to itself, faced dwindling sales last year as the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 ate into its market share. The pressure has increased recently with updates for Land Rover's Freelander2 range and a new addition to the Volvo XC60 lineup.
The all-new X3 xDrive20d will kick off the all-new model range at $62,200 (plus on-road costs). The 20d is powered by the same 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine as seen in the existing model, though it's now mated to the brand's new 8-speed automatic transmission, as with all X3 models.
The engine has been tweaked for more power (135kW) and increased torque (380Nm). Fuel consumption has dropped to an impressive 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres - making it the most efficient SUV in its segment - while CO2 emissions are also down (147g/km). Helping save fuel is BMW's stop-start technology - standard for diesel models.
The entry-level 20d adds standard equipment such as a 6.5-inch colour screen hooked up to BMW's iDrive media system with iPhone integration, and a reversing camera. The company says it is the only car in its segment to offer the potentially life-saving technology as standard.
It's a significant turnaround for a company that traditionally has an extensive options list for all models.
The mid-range offering is the petrol-powered xDrive28i which replaces the outgoing 30i. Despite a lower number in its name, the 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbocharged model actually produces more power and torque (190kW/310Nm) and offers better performance - it can complete the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.9 seconds, identical to a VW Golf GTI. It also uses less fuel (9.0L/100km), and at $71,900 it's $3400 cheaper than its predecessor.
The extra $9700 spend over the 20d adds leather upholstery, electric seats with driver's seat memory, twin exhausts and 18-inch wheels. The range-topping model is the xDrive30d, due here about June.
It borrows its engine from the X5, a new turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel producing 190kW of power and 560Nm of torque. The 30d is priced at $74,900, and adds a chrome trim finish and automatic tailgate operation over the 28i. Pricing is down $2500 over the existing range-topper, and BMW expects sales of the top model to increase steadily.
Size-wise the new X3 is longer, wider, taller and lighter than its predecessor - it is just 4cm shorter than the original version of its bigger brother, the X5 (it now measures 4648mm long, 1881mm wide and 1661mm high), and boot space is up to a class-leading 550 litres (seats in place - 1600L with the 20/40/20 seats folded). BMW says the reason for enlarging the X3 was to further differentiate it from its new X1 baby sibling, while still staying small enough for buyers to split it from the larger X5.
BMW is offering its M Sport package (with colour-coded body add-ons and sportier 19-inch wheels) on all models, priced at $4800 for the 20d, $4100 for the 28i and $3000 for the 30d.
In a first for SUVs in this segment, there will also be an optional adaptive suspension system as seen in the 5-Series (with Normal, Sport and Sport+ settings). BMW hasn't confirmed pricing for the adaptive suspension but it is expected to be about $7000.
"Jen Aniston's Sex Tape"
Jennifer Aniston has created the ultimate viral video - complete with dozens of adorable puppies, dancing babies and a fat man crying at a rainbow. And if that weren't enough to set the internet alight, it also featured plenty of shots of Aniston tossing around her blonde hair and pouting into the camera.
The video, jokingly marketed as 'Jen Aniston's Sex Tape', advertises Smart Water, a brand that the actress has promoted previously. The video starts with a tousle haired, chubby cheeked child lip syncing to the song Like A G6.
Before long Aniston appears, dressed in tight trousers and a vest top. She replaces the child and is soon surrounded by a crush of golden retriever puppies, similar to those featured in Britian's popular Andrex adverts.
A talking parrot features next, before a few computer generated babies appear and start dirty dancing. Next a fan man arrives and starts crying at a double rainbow, only to be comforted by Aniston.
A grinning team of internet geeks then discuss how she could increase the appeal of the video. Aniston is then approached by a ginger haired man who tells her he's been in love with her 'like forever'.
She kicks him in the groin. 'Sorry,' she says. 'I've just been told that's worth about a 100,000 hits.'
Moments later a slow motion sequence starts as Aniston flicks her golden hair around to the famous intro to Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street.
After attempting to drink seductively from a bottle of smart water she bursts out laughing. The video ends with the team deciding on a name for the video - 'Jen Aniston's Sex Tape', suggests one.
'I love it', she says.
The video, jokingly marketed as 'Jen Aniston's Sex Tape', advertises Smart Water, a brand that the actress has promoted previously. The video starts with a tousle haired, chubby cheeked child lip syncing to the song Like A G6.
Before long Aniston appears, dressed in tight trousers and a vest top. She replaces the child and is soon surrounded by a crush of golden retriever puppies, similar to those featured in Britian's popular Andrex adverts.
A talking parrot features next, before a few computer generated babies appear and start dirty dancing. Next a fan man arrives and starts crying at a double rainbow, only to be comforted by Aniston.
A grinning team of internet geeks then discuss how she could increase the appeal of the video. Aniston is then approached by a ginger haired man who tells her he's been in love with her 'like forever'.
She kicks him in the groin. 'Sorry,' she says. 'I've just been told that's worth about a 100,000 hits.'
Moments later a slow motion sequence starts as Aniston flicks her golden hair around to the famous intro to Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street.
After attempting to drink seductively from a bottle of smart water she bursts out laughing. The video ends with the team deciding on a name for the video - 'Jen Aniston's Sex Tape', suggests one.
'I love it', she says.
Indonesia's Special Forces again Exercise with Australia's SAS
The Indonesian Army’s Special Force’s Anti-Terror Unit 81 again conducts a joint exercise with Australia’s special force SAS in Perth, Australia, special force Kopassus spokesman Lt Col Thevi A Zebua said here on Monday.
The exercise code-named "Dawn Kookabura" was aimed at increasing relations between the two countries’ militaries especially anti-terror units, he said.
"The anti-terror unit sends 31 personnel led by chief of the anti-terror unit 81, Lt Col Taufik Shobri," he said.
He stated materials for the exercise included diffusion of explosives, handling of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and maritime security.
"Before conducting the joint exercise the personnel from Anti-Terror Unit 81 have already carried out pre-training so that they were more ready to participate in the joint exercise," he said.
The joint exercise would last until March 19. "During the exercise Kopassus commander will visit the venue on March 15-17," he said.
The Kopassus and SAS joint exercise program had been halted following the East Timor incident with allegations of human rights violations by the Indonesian military (TNI) in 1999.
The exercise code-named "Dawn Kookabura" was aimed at increasing relations between the two countries’ militaries especially anti-terror units, he said.
"The anti-terror unit sends 31 personnel led by chief of the anti-terror unit 81, Lt Col Taufik Shobri," he said.
He stated materials for the exercise included diffusion of explosives, handling of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and maritime security.
"Before conducting the joint exercise the personnel from Anti-Terror Unit 81 have already carried out pre-training so that they were more ready to participate in the joint exercise," he said.
The joint exercise would last until March 19. "During the exercise Kopassus commander will visit the venue on March 15-17," he said.
The Kopassus and SAS joint exercise program had been halted following the East Timor incident with allegations of human rights violations by the Indonesian military (TNI) in 1999.
What Makes Ahmadiyah Wrong?
AP Indonesian Muslims display a defaced poster of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the prophet of Ahmadiyah, during a protest demanding the Muslim sect to be banned, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. Ahmadiyah, believed to have 200,000 followers in Indonesia, is considered deviant by most Muslims and banned in many Islamic countries because of its belief that Muhammad was not the final prophet. Writings on the poster say: "Ban Ahmadiyah." For people who happen to be members of the Ahmadiyah community, everything seems to be going wrong lately. In fact they could be compared to people stranded on an island on the point of being swallowed by a merciless ocean. What has put them in this precarious situation?"Resorting to violence in settling problems related to Ahmadiyah, in any forms, is something intolerable. In Islam, there’s no tenet whatsoever justifying the use of violence," said Umar Shihab, chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) at an international seminar themed "Islam, Peace and Justice" here last Saturday.
The one-day seminar was jointly held by the central board of of Muhammadiyah, the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilizations.
Shihab regretted the acts of violence against followers of Ahmadiyah in some places in Indonesia during recent months, saying that the perpetrators of those abhorrrnt acts had only been individuals claiming to represent Islam.
"The violence perpetrated by those individuals who claimed they were defending Islam, contradicts Islamic teachings and degraded the image of Islam in the eyes of the world," Shihab said.
Shihab, nevertheless, emphasized that Ahmadiyah was a deviant sect because its teachings mention another prophet after Mohammad. "This is wrong and not Islamic," he said, hoping that the followers of Ahmadiyah would soon realize their belief was a deviation and must therefore be deserted.
The MUI chairman advised the government to take real concrete steps to settle the problems regarding Ahmadiyah, like providing enlightenment on true Islam. "Muslims are required to unite with Allah, likewise among human beings," said Shihab.
Three members of Ahmadiyah were killed on the island of Java on February 5,2011 when more than 1,000 people wielding rocks, machetes, swords and spears stormed the house of an Ahmadiyya leader in the sub-district of Cikeusik, Banten province.
A fresh wave of anti-Ahmadiyah sctions since then emerged in many places in Indonesia and came to a climax in the enactment of local laws prohibiting the Ahmadiyah community from conducting their religious activities in East Java and Central Java last week.
Amnesty International on February 23 urged the Indonesian government to meet its commitment to protecting the right to freedom of religion in the face of calls from radical groups to outlaw a religious minority.
"The Indonesian government must state, clearly and publicly, that it will protect the rights of all Indonesian citizens, regardless of their religion - and that includes the rights of the Ahmadiyah community," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director.
The United States embassy in Jakarta Saturday on March 5 issued a statement saying that recent violence against minority communities and new local regulations restricting religious freedom are damaging Indonesia`s international reputation as a democracy with a tradition of tolerance and a commitment to protecting the freedoms of all its citizens.
"As a friend of Indonesia, and as a partner in the G-20 and other international organizations, we support the overwhelming majority of Indonesians who abhor religious violence and support tolerance. Laws should protect citizens from violence rather than restrict their rights," the US embassy says without mentioning the word Ahmadiyah.
Different understanding
Erni Budiwanti in her research titled "Pluralism Collapses: A Study of the Jama?ah Ahmadiyah Indonesia and its Persecution," and publicized by the Research Centre for Regional Resources, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (PSDR-LIPI) and Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, May 2009, spotlights the underlying causes for resistance for the Ahmadiyah by the mainstream Muslims.
The multiple faces of Indonesian Muslims, marked by various interpretative meanings on sacred texts are divided along the line of radicalism, conservatism, moderation, and liberalism. Islamic mass organizations represent the multiple characteristics of Indonesian Muslims, she says. Divergent comprehension on scriptural texts could create a situation where they are contested and become the source of conflicting thoughts.
In other words, no unitary or monolithic understanding upon verses and hadith has potentially brought the believers in a circumstance where convergent thoughts and interpretations are challenged and disputed against one another and eventually brought them into ideological clashes.
One instance is the verse stating laa nabiya ba’da (there is no other Prophet after Muhammad). This verse, to most Indonesian Muslims clarifies the finality of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning that there cannot be another God’s messenger after him since he is believed to be the last.
Consequently, those who claim that Mirza Gulam Ahmad (MGA), is the promised advent of prophet Isa as the Ahmadiyah followers mostly believe, have instigated tension between them and those claiming Muhammad as the seal of all prophets.
Budiwanti also notes on the Ahmadis’ belief system based on their own understanding which is starkly different from the view held by outsiders. Referring to the explanation of the JAI Leader of the NTB Province (Mubaligh Wilayah), H. Saeful Uyun, the focal point of Ahmadiyah belief lays the claim that MGA is nabi zili (a shadowy manifestation of the real prophet).
The word zili literally means a silhouette, and this marks that MGA is a prophet in the allegorical sense as he explained like - when we see ourselves on the mirror, the picture that reflects on the glass is not us. It is a reflection of the real one standing in front of the mirror.
So the Ahmadis see MGA as a prophet in metaphorical sense, like the reflected body on the mirror, said Uyun was quoted as saying by Budiwanti. As a prophet in metaphorical sense he is acting as the silhouette of the final prophet. This means that the main role of MGA does not at all replace Muhammad as the final messenger, but rather passing on Muhammad’s teachings to the generation during and after his life.
As the silhouette of the final prophet, he does not bring new Syariah. Instead, he carries on Islamic teachings brought by Muhammad, according to Uyun. The above view has basically offended the outsiders’ fundamental belief who comprise of the majority of mainstream Sunnite Muslims confessing the finality of Prophet Muhammad.
Any group claiming prophethood after him is therefore conceived to be against and offending the Sunnite mainstream Muslims’ belief. The recognition of the MGA’s prophethood had made some of them to perceive that Ahmadis treat MGA as the 26th prophet, while some others judge that the Ahmadis have substituted Muhammad with MGA.
The latter perception has further led them to allegedly view that Ahmadiyah members have also changed the content of the second verse of syahadat i.e. instead of Muhammdarasullulah they utter MGA rasulullah. The thing that mostly stunt the majority of mainstream Muslims is the fact that Ahmadis treat MGA simultaneously as the Masih Mau’ud (promised Second Advent of Isa or the Al-Masih), the Mahdi Mau’ud (promised Messiah).
The one-day seminar was jointly held by the central board of of Muhammadiyah, the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamic Culture and Relations Organization and the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilizations.
Shihab regretted the acts of violence against followers of Ahmadiyah in some places in Indonesia during recent months, saying that the perpetrators of those abhorrrnt acts had only been individuals claiming to represent Islam.
"The violence perpetrated by those individuals who claimed they were defending Islam, contradicts Islamic teachings and degraded the image of Islam in the eyes of the world," Shihab said.
Shihab, nevertheless, emphasized that Ahmadiyah was a deviant sect because its teachings mention another prophet after Mohammad. "This is wrong and not Islamic," he said, hoping that the followers of Ahmadiyah would soon realize their belief was a deviation and must therefore be deserted.
The MUI chairman advised the government to take real concrete steps to settle the problems regarding Ahmadiyah, like providing enlightenment on true Islam. "Muslims are required to unite with Allah, likewise among human beings," said Shihab.
Three members of Ahmadiyah were killed on the island of Java on February 5,2011 when more than 1,000 people wielding rocks, machetes, swords and spears stormed the house of an Ahmadiyya leader in the sub-district of Cikeusik, Banten province.
A fresh wave of anti-Ahmadiyah sctions since then emerged in many places in Indonesia and came to a climax in the enactment of local laws prohibiting the Ahmadiyah community from conducting their religious activities in East Java and Central Java last week.
Amnesty International on February 23 urged the Indonesian government to meet its commitment to protecting the right to freedom of religion in the face of calls from radical groups to outlaw a religious minority.
"The Indonesian government must state, clearly and publicly, that it will protect the rights of all Indonesian citizens, regardless of their religion - and that includes the rights of the Ahmadiyah community," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director.
The United States embassy in Jakarta Saturday on March 5 issued a statement saying that recent violence against minority communities and new local regulations restricting religious freedom are damaging Indonesia`s international reputation as a democracy with a tradition of tolerance and a commitment to protecting the freedoms of all its citizens.
"As a friend of Indonesia, and as a partner in the G-20 and other international organizations, we support the overwhelming majority of Indonesians who abhor religious violence and support tolerance. Laws should protect citizens from violence rather than restrict their rights," the US embassy says without mentioning the word Ahmadiyah.
Different understanding
Erni Budiwanti in her research titled "Pluralism Collapses: A Study of the Jama?ah Ahmadiyah Indonesia and its Persecution," and publicized by the Research Centre for Regional Resources, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (PSDR-LIPI) and Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, May 2009, spotlights the underlying causes for resistance for the Ahmadiyah by the mainstream Muslims.
The multiple faces of Indonesian Muslims, marked by various interpretative meanings on sacred texts are divided along the line of radicalism, conservatism, moderation, and liberalism. Islamic mass organizations represent the multiple characteristics of Indonesian Muslims, she says. Divergent comprehension on scriptural texts could create a situation where they are contested and become the source of conflicting thoughts.
In other words, no unitary or monolithic understanding upon verses and hadith has potentially brought the believers in a circumstance where convergent thoughts and interpretations are challenged and disputed against one another and eventually brought them into ideological clashes.
One instance is the verse stating laa nabiya ba’da (there is no other Prophet after Muhammad). This verse, to most Indonesian Muslims clarifies the finality of the Prophet Muhammad, meaning that there cannot be another God’s messenger after him since he is believed to be the last.
Consequently, those who claim that Mirza Gulam Ahmad (MGA), is the promised advent of prophet Isa as the Ahmadiyah followers mostly believe, have instigated tension between them and those claiming Muhammad as the seal of all prophets.
Budiwanti also notes on the Ahmadis’ belief system based on their own understanding which is starkly different from the view held by outsiders. Referring to the explanation of the JAI Leader of the NTB Province (Mubaligh Wilayah), H. Saeful Uyun, the focal point of Ahmadiyah belief lays the claim that MGA is nabi zili (a shadowy manifestation of the real prophet).
The word zili literally means a silhouette, and this marks that MGA is a prophet in the allegorical sense as he explained like - when we see ourselves on the mirror, the picture that reflects on the glass is not us. It is a reflection of the real one standing in front of the mirror.
So the Ahmadis see MGA as a prophet in metaphorical sense, like the reflected body on the mirror, said Uyun was quoted as saying by Budiwanti. As a prophet in metaphorical sense he is acting as the silhouette of the final prophet. This means that the main role of MGA does not at all replace Muhammad as the final messenger, but rather passing on Muhammad’s teachings to the generation during and after his life.
As the silhouette of the final prophet, he does not bring new Syariah. Instead, he carries on Islamic teachings brought by Muhammad, according to Uyun. The above view has basically offended the outsiders’ fundamental belief who comprise of the majority of mainstream Sunnite Muslims confessing the finality of Prophet Muhammad.
Any group claiming prophethood after him is therefore conceived to be against and offending the Sunnite mainstream Muslims’ belief. The recognition of the MGA’s prophethood had made some of them to perceive that Ahmadis treat MGA as the 26th prophet, while some others judge that the Ahmadis have substituted Muhammad with MGA.
The latter perception has further led them to allegedly view that Ahmadiyah members have also changed the content of the second verse of syahadat i.e. instead of Muhammdarasullulah they utter MGA rasulullah. The thing that mostly stunt the majority of mainstream Muslims is the fact that Ahmadis treat MGA simultaneously as the Masih Mau’ud (promised Second Advent of Isa or the Al-Masih), the Mahdi Mau’ud (promised Messiah).
How Much Pertamina Needs to Increase Pertamax Production
State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina needs Rp25 trillion in funds to raise its non-subsidized gasoline Pertamax production by 87.3 thousand a barrel per day or 7.91 million kiloliters per year in 2017.
Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan said at hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission VII here on Monday Pertamax production from the company’s refineries currently stood at 0.45 million kiloliters per year.
"We plan to increase the Pertamax production to 8.36 million kiloliters in 2017," she said.
The plan to raise the Pertamax production is in line with the government’s plan to limit the use of subsidized fuels expected to increase Pertamax consumption. The plan is scheduled to be implemented in and around Jakarta starting in April 2011 and in Java and Bali in July 2011.
Karen said Pertamina would use the Rp25 trillion in funds to raise the Pertamax production of its three refineries, namely Refinery Unit III in Balongan, West Java, Refinery Unit IV in Cilacap, Central Java, and Refinery Unit V in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
She said the Refinery Unit III was expected to increase its Pertamax production by 2.3 thousand barrel per day starting in the third quarter of 2013. The Pertamax production of the Refinery Unit IV was projected to increase by 62 thousand barrels a day starting in May 2014, she said.
"Meanwhile, the Pertamax production of the Refinery Unit V is expected to increase by 23 thousand barrels a day starting from the first quarter of 2017," she said.
She said the gasoline production of the company’s refineries this year was projected to reach 11.1 million kiloliters consisting of 0.46 million kiloliters of Pertama and 10.64 million kiloliters of subsidized gasoline Premium. But in 2017 the Pertamax production would increase to 8.36 million kiloliters and Premium production would fall to 4.78 million kiloliters.
The company had set a target of Pertamax and Premium imports for this year at 4.23 million kiloliters and 10.28 million kiloliters each, she said. In 2011, the Pertamax production of the company’s refineries was expected to reach 0.46 million kiloliters and Premium 10.58 million kiloliters.
Pertamina President Director Karen Agustiawan said at hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission VII here on Monday Pertamax production from the company’s refineries currently stood at 0.45 million kiloliters per year.
"We plan to increase the Pertamax production to 8.36 million kiloliters in 2017," she said.
The plan to raise the Pertamax production is in line with the government’s plan to limit the use of subsidized fuels expected to increase Pertamax consumption. The plan is scheduled to be implemented in and around Jakarta starting in April 2011 and in Java and Bali in July 2011.
Karen said Pertamina would use the Rp25 trillion in funds to raise the Pertamax production of its three refineries, namely Refinery Unit III in Balongan, West Java, Refinery Unit IV in Cilacap, Central Java, and Refinery Unit V in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
She said the Refinery Unit III was expected to increase its Pertamax production by 2.3 thousand barrel per day starting in the third quarter of 2013. The Pertamax production of the Refinery Unit IV was projected to increase by 62 thousand barrels a day starting in May 2014, she said.
"Meanwhile, the Pertamax production of the Refinery Unit V is expected to increase by 23 thousand barrels a day starting from the first quarter of 2017," she said.
She said the gasoline production of the company’s refineries this year was projected to reach 11.1 million kiloliters consisting of 0.46 million kiloliters of Pertama and 10.64 million kiloliters of subsidized gasoline Premium. But in 2017 the Pertamax production would increase to 8.36 million kiloliters and Premium production would fall to 4.78 million kiloliters.
The company had set a target of Pertamax and Premium imports for this year at 4.23 million kiloliters and 10.28 million kiloliters each, she said. In 2011, the Pertamax production of the company’s refineries was expected to reach 0.46 million kiloliters and Premium 10.58 million kiloliters.
SBY Orders Sharpened Watch over Rising World Oil Prices
Reuters A PT Pertamina worker opens a gauge near crude oil tanks on Bunyu island, Indonesias East Kalimantan province February 8, 2011. Indonesian state energy firm Pertamina plans to spend USD1 billion in 2011 for acquisitions of oil and gas blocks, as the country seeks to boost declining production. Pertamina has said it expects crude and condensate production of 132,000 barrels per day for this year, up just 1 percent from last year, though the former OPEC member country has often missed production targets because of declining output at ageing fields. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa to keep a watchful eye on rising world oil prices. Hatta told the press after a meeting at the presidential office here Monday, the President had also asked him to monitor the implications of the rising crude prices on the prices of other commodities. "We have been asked to really control domestic inflation and maintain price stability. That is what we must do," he said.
In order to prevent the increasing world oil prices from affecting the subsidy budget, Hatta said, Indonesia’s crude oil production must be increased so as to reduce the need for imported oil. Apart from that energy use must also be economized and energy use diversified.
Hatta said if the world crude price continued to rise, the government would in the second semester of this year discuss with the House of Representatives the possibility of increasing the fuel oil subsidy budget.
"If the assumed Indonesian Crude Price surpasses US$80 per barrel, there must also be an effort to economize the budget. The hike would possibly result in increasing the deficit and therefore we must increase the budget for subsidy," he said.
"They are still mere assumptions.The reality is not like that yet. So we must see the development and what would change in the world. Macro-changes would only be done in the second semester. What is important for us is maintaining the stability of prices, fuel oil supply and stability of food prices," he said.
As a result of political crisis in Lybia, the world price of crude has increased by US$18 per barrel in the past two weeks in New York market. The Brent price released on Friday, March 4, was recorded at US$115.97 per barrle or up US$1.18 from two days earlier. The world crude price hike is feared to increase the country’s oil subsidy budget and the prices of some food commodities.
In order to prevent the increasing world oil prices from affecting the subsidy budget, Hatta said, Indonesia’s crude oil production must be increased so as to reduce the need for imported oil. Apart from that energy use must also be economized and energy use diversified.
Hatta said if the world crude price continued to rise, the government would in the second semester of this year discuss with the House of Representatives the possibility of increasing the fuel oil subsidy budget.
"If the assumed Indonesian Crude Price surpasses US$80 per barrel, there must also be an effort to economize the budget. The hike would possibly result in increasing the deficit and therefore we must increase the budget for subsidy," he said.
"They are still mere assumptions.The reality is not like that yet. So we must see the development and what would change in the world. Macro-changes would only be done in the second semester. What is important for us is maintaining the stability of prices, fuel oil supply and stability of food prices," he said.
As a result of political crisis in Lybia, the world price of crude has increased by US$18 per barrel in the past two weeks in New York market. The Brent price released on Friday, March 4, was recorded at US$115.97 per barrle or up US$1.18 from two days earlier. The world crude price hike is feared to increase the country’s oil subsidy budget and the prices of some food commodities.
Sexism is Dead
It may come as a surprise to those who feel they’ve hit the glass ceiling or heard one too many blonde jokes. Most women do not believe that Britain is a sexist place, a poll has revealed.
Fewer than four in ten say they have experienced derogatory remarks or behaviour because of their gender. And the majority of men and women think both sexes are equally capable of handling challenging and traditionally male tasks, such as making a safe emergency landing in an aeroplane.
The results of the survey, carried out for a group of charities and pressure groups, suggest that most women are far more concerned with solving day-to-day practical problems in their lives than fighting a battle for equality.
Nearly two-thirds of women say their biggest concern is balancing work and family life. Only one in 20 feels the greatest problem facing them is sexism at work – though three times as many men believe this is women’s major challenge. Only one in five women describes herself as a feminist – and three out of four say they definitely would not use the label.
The poll was carried out to mark today’s International Women’s Day by a group including poverty campaign organisation ActionAid, domestic violence campaigners Women’s Aid, feminist pressure group the Fawcett Society, and political freedom campaigners Amnesty International.
It followed figures published to mark the same occasion by the Government’s Office for National Statistics, which showed that men and women now have an equal chance of making it to the top ranks of managers and officials in business and the public sector. But Amnesty International’s UK director Kate Allen said the findings still showed a ‘worrying’ gap between men and women.
She added: ‘Unless attempts are made to change such attitudes in every section of society, some women will always be treated as second-class citizens.
‘Amnesty International has found from its work that it is these negative views which in the most extreme instances can lead to abusive behaviour towards women and a basic denial of women’s rights.’
The poll of 1,028 participants, carried out by Ipsos Mori, found that 47 per cent of women did not believe men and women are treated equally in Britain. However, 34 per cent said treatment is equal.
Some 38 per cent of women said they had personally experienced ‘sexist remarks or sexist behaviour’, including physical contact. The figure rose to 60 per cent among women under 30.
However, 15 per cent of men said they had also been on the receiving end of sexist behaviour. Only 6 per cent of women said the greatest challenge facing women in Britain was sexism at work. The survey also asked whether a woman would be as good as a man at refereeing a World Cup final.
The question, posed not long after presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray resigned from Sky TV because of their controversial remarks about a female linesman, revealed that 41 per cent of men and 49 per cent of women thought a woman referee would perform the job as well as a man could.
Fewer than four in ten say they have experienced derogatory remarks or behaviour because of their gender. And the majority of men and women think both sexes are equally capable of handling challenging and traditionally male tasks, such as making a safe emergency landing in an aeroplane.
The results of the survey, carried out for a group of charities and pressure groups, suggest that most women are far more concerned with solving day-to-day practical problems in their lives than fighting a battle for equality.
Nearly two-thirds of women say their biggest concern is balancing work and family life. Only one in 20 feels the greatest problem facing them is sexism at work – though three times as many men believe this is women’s major challenge. Only one in five women describes herself as a feminist – and three out of four say they definitely would not use the label.
The poll was carried out to mark today’s International Women’s Day by a group including poverty campaign organisation ActionAid, domestic violence campaigners Women’s Aid, feminist pressure group the Fawcett Society, and political freedom campaigners Amnesty International.
It followed figures published to mark the same occasion by the Government’s Office for National Statistics, which showed that men and women now have an equal chance of making it to the top ranks of managers and officials in business and the public sector. But Amnesty International’s UK director Kate Allen said the findings still showed a ‘worrying’ gap between men and women.
She added: ‘Unless attempts are made to change such attitudes in every section of society, some women will always be treated as second-class citizens.
‘Amnesty International has found from its work that it is these negative views which in the most extreme instances can lead to abusive behaviour towards women and a basic denial of women’s rights.’
The poll of 1,028 participants, carried out by Ipsos Mori, found that 47 per cent of women did not believe men and women are treated equally in Britain. However, 34 per cent said treatment is equal.
Some 38 per cent of women said they had personally experienced ‘sexist remarks or sexist behaviour’, including physical contact. The figure rose to 60 per cent among women under 30.
However, 15 per cent of men said they had also been on the receiving end of sexist behaviour. Only 6 per cent of women said the greatest challenge facing women in Britain was sexism at work. The survey also asked whether a woman would be as good as a man at refereeing a World Cup final.
The question, posed not long after presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray resigned from Sky TV because of their controversial remarks about a female linesman, revealed that 41 per cent of men and 49 per cent of women thought a woman referee would perform the job as well as a man could.
Dunkin' Brands Brews in Indonesia and Other Asian Countries
Buildings are reflected in a newly opened Dunkin Donuts cafe window in Moscow, Russia, on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. Dunkin Donuts has returned to Russia after an 11-year absence with plans to open as much as 20 outlets in Moscow this year. The U.S.-based chain operates more than 15,000 Dunkin Donuts and Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops in 44 countries. Baskin-Robbins operates in 143 locations in Russia. The parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops plans to expand further in Asia, with thousands of new outlets in China in coming years and ambitions to open its first stores in Vietnam within 18 months.The moves come as the company, Dunkin' Brands Inc., sees a steady economic recovery in markets where it operates and amid further appreciation in Asia's currencies, which should boost the spending power of the region's consumers.
“You'd have to think it's natural for some of these fast-growing economies to have appreciating currencies“ as more companies invest their money in Asia, said Dunkin' Brands Chief Executive Nigel Travis in an interview.
The Canton, Mass., company -- owned by a consortium of private-equity firms including Bain Capital, Carlyle Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners -- has long had an international footprint. About 3,000 of its 9,700 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants, for example, are outside of the U.S. All its stores are franchised.
But a large percentage of its Asian stores are located in a handful of countries -- including South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan -- with minimal presence in some of the region's fastest-growing markets like China and India.
That is in part because the company focused some of its earlier growth on markets with closer ties to American culture, including places with a sizeable U.S. military presence. Dunkin' Donuts had about three-dozen locations in China at the end of 2010.
Despite the opportunities for growth in Asia, retail-food operations face significant risks, in large part because of the rising commodity costs squeezing margins. The costs of wheat and other grains, for instance, are at their highest levels since 2008, while prices for coffee -- another Dunkin' staple -- have also soared over the past year.
China remains the company's top international target in the long run, with ambitions to eventually open thousands of stores there. But it may take a while to fully ramp up, Mr. Travis said, because the company is trying to focus on a few cities, including Shanghai, before expanding more aggressively elsewhere.
It has followed a similar strategy as in the U.S., where Dunkin' Donuts has a large presence in certain places such as the Northeast but little or no presence in some major markets like California.
“I'm nervous about going all over China and then finding out we have issues,“ he said.
In India, the company recently reached a deal with Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. -- a New Delhi-based food-services company that also is a major franchisee for U.S.-based Domino's Pizza Inc. -- to develop and operate more than 500 Dunkin' Donuts outlets over the next 15 years.
Other markets with room for growth include Indonesia and Thailand. Vietnam is one of the most attractive markets in which the company doesn't currently operate, Mr. Travis said. The company is looking for partners there and hopes to begin adding outlets within 18 months. “It's a mini-China,“ he said of Vietnam.
The moves also come as other companies are looking to expand their own presence in Asia, intensifying the competition at a time when some economists fear higher inflation will curb consumer spending, at least in the short run.
Earlier this year, for instance, Starbucks Corp. unveiled an alliance with India's Tata Coffee Ltd. to source and roast coffee beans in a step aimed at paving the way for the U.S. chain to expand there.
But in many markets, local street vendors and other smaller outlets continue to play a dominant role, and consumers don't yet earn enough to pay for drinks and snacks from air-conditioned restaurants.
“You'd have to think it's natural for some of these fast-growing economies to have appreciating currencies“ as more companies invest their money in Asia, said Dunkin' Brands Chief Executive Nigel Travis in an interview.
The Canton, Mass., company -- owned by a consortium of private-equity firms including Bain Capital, Carlyle Group and Thomas H. Lee Partners -- has long had an international footprint. About 3,000 of its 9,700 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants, for example, are outside of the U.S. All its stores are franchised.
But a large percentage of its Asian stores are located in a handful of countries -- including South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan -- with minimal presence in some of the region's fastest-growing markets like China and India.
That is in part because the company focused some of its earlier growth on markets with closer ties to American culture, including places with a sizeable U.S. military presence. Dunkin' Donuts had about three-dozen locations in China at the end of 2010.
Despite the opportunities for growth in Asia, retail-food operations face significant risks, in large part because of the rising commodity costs squeezing margins. The costs of wheat and other grains, for instance, are at their highest levels since 2008, while prices for coffee -- another Dunkin' staple -- have also soared over the past year.
China remains the company's top international target in the long run, with ambitions to eventually open thousands of stores there. But it may take a while to fully ramp up, Mr. Travis said, because the company is trying to focus on a few cities, including Shanghai, before expanding more aggressively elsewhere.
It has followed a similar strategy as in the U.S., where Dunkin' Donuts has a large presence in certain places such as the Northeast but little or no presence in some major markets like California.
“I'm nervous about going all over China and then finding out we have issues,“ he said.
In India, the company recently reached a deal with Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. -- a New Delhi-based food-services company that also is a major franchisee for U.S.-based Domino's Pizza Inc. -- to develop and operate more than 500 Dunkin' Donuts outlets over the next 15 years.
Other markets with room for growth include Indonesia and Thailand. Vietnam is one of the most attractive markets in which the company doesn't currently operate, Mr. Travis said. The company is looking for partners there and hopes to begin adding outlets within 18 months. “It's a mini-China,“ he said of Vietnam.
The moves also come as other companies are looking to expand their own presence in Asia, intensifying the competition at a time when some economists fear higher inflation will curb consumer spending, at least in the short run.
Earlier this year, for instance, Starbucks Corp. unveiled an alliance with India's Tata Coffee Ltd. to source and roast coffee beans in a step aimed at paving the way for the U.S. chain to expand there.
But in many markets, local street vendors and other smaller outlets continue to play a dominant role, and consumers don't yet earn enough to pay for drinks and snacks from air-conditioned restaurants.
Minggu, 06 Maret 2011
Is Egypt The First Domino to Fall?
After almost a month of protests and people living in the streets, rocks being thrown, blood being spilled, and many injured, Egyptian President Mubarak finally resigns. There was partying and cheers from the streets all night. The people had spoken and the people had won. The basis of any democracy is a government for the people and by the people.
Go back to the 2009 Iranian elections, where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reelected, but not without a controversial victory. Much like Egypt but under different circumstances, people flooded the streets in protest, claiming that the vote was fixed and that voter fraud was the reason why Ahmadinejad was thrust back into office.
Unfortunately there was also bloodshed and deaths. The Iranian ruling party tried to cover up their handling of this situation by not allowing the news media or cameras into the area. What they didn't factor in was the Internet age of Twitter and the social network. Their atrocities were seen all over the world from cell phones and computers. It was called the "Twitter Revolution", but unfortunately it ended in the people being run off the streets and back into their homes by the force of the Iranian military.
Now we come back to today, and right after the Egyptian conflict, the Iranian people are back in the streets and they are wanting a change. Will they succeed this time? We will just have to wait and see what comes from all this, but one thing is for sure, Iran's president, Ahmadinejad, can't keep blaming the U.S. for all its internal problems. At some point he is going to have to step up to the plate and admit that his people don't want him or his way of ruling the country.
Are we starting to see a domino effect with these uprisings? Are there more Islamic countries that are in danger of this exact kind of reaction from its people?
I am a businessman and I use the Internet to market my business . The Internet has been a tremendous tool for companies all across the globe and now we are seeing new things that the Internet has a function for. If it wasn't for the Internet, these people in these very closed and restricted countries would never have an opportunity to hear the truth and see what is really going on in the world. The Internet has given them the ability to access the news from anywhere around the world, and this is a good thing.
These corrupt governments, who want to force their ways and views down the people throats, have always used the cloak of secrecy, trying to keep or shade the truth from the people and use this lack of knowledge to control and manipulate everyone and promote their agendas. This was true of Hitler and every other evil dictator that has been drunk with power, and control.
Freedom can never be controlled and locked up in a prison, it always will find a way to escape, and many think that this is just the beginning. Other oppressed people will join the cry for freedom and like Egypt and Iran, be running through the streets in an effort to reclaim their nation and their lives.
I think with all that is going on right now, we are seeing a very different side of these regimes. They claim freedom and fairness, but pictures and the voice of truth show a different story and their escape of responsibility by pointing their accusing fingers at America, and others, for all their short comings, is wearing very thin. The whole world is seeing what they are really made up of.
Is this a good thing? It all depends on who takes the reins of power and control next. The Islamic Brotherhood was involved in the Egyptian protests and wants to be involved in the next ruling party. This group is the world's oldest and largest Islamic political group and calls itself conservative and non-violent. It condemns terrorism and the 911 attacks, but others say it is a terrorist organization with ties to Al-Queda.
Is Egypt the first domino to fall in this long line of dominoes? Only time will tell, but like it or not, the world is watching.
Go back to the 2009 Iranian elections, where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reelected, but not without a controversial victory. Much like Egypt but under different circumstances, people flooded the streets in protest, claiming that the vote was fixed and that voter fraud was the reason why Ahmadinejad was thrust back into office.
Unfortunately there was also bloodshed and deaths. The Iranian ruling party tried to cover up their handling of this situation by not allowing the news media or cameras into the area. What they didn't factor in was the Internet age of Twitter and the social network. Their atrocities were seen all over the world from cell phones and computers. It was called the "Twitter Revolution", but unfortunately it ended in the people being run off the streets and back into their homes by the force of the Iranian military.
Now we come back to today, and right after the Egyptian conflict, the Iranian people are back in the streets and they are wanting a change. Will they succeed this time? We will just have to wait and see what comes from all this, but one thing is for sure, Iran's president, Ahmadinejad, can't keep blaming the U.S. for all its internal problems. At some point he is going to have to step up to the plate and admit that his people don't want him or his way of ruling the country.
Are we starting to see a domino effect with these uprisings? Are there more Islamic countries that are in danger of this exact kind of reaction from its people?
I am a businessman and I use the Internet to market my business . The Internet has been a tremendous tool for companies all across the globe and now we are seeing new things that the Internet has a function for. If it wasn't for the Internet, these people in these very closed and restricted countries would never have an opportunity to hear the truth and see what is really going on in the world. The Internet has given them the ability to access the news from anywhere around the world, and this is a good thing.
These corrupt governments, who want to force their ways and views down the people throats, have always used the cloak of secrecy, trying to keep or shade the truth from the people and use this lack of knowledge to control and manipulate everyone and promote their agendas. This was true of Hitler and every other evil dictator that has been drunk with power, and control.
Freedom can never be controlled and locked up in a prison, it always will find a way to escape, and many think that this is just the beginning. Other oppressed people will join the cry for freedom and like Egypt and Iran, be running through the streets in an effort to reclaim their nation and their lives.
I think with all that is going on right now, we are seeing a very different side of these regimes. They claim freedom and fairness, but pictures and the voice of truth show a different story and their escape of responsibility by pointing their accusing fingers at America, and others, for all their short comings, is wearing very thin. The whole world is seeing what they are really made up of.
Is this a good thing? It all depends on who takes the reins of power and control next. The Islamic Brotherhood was involved in the Egyptian protests and wants to be involved in the next ruling party. This group is the world's oldest and largest Islamic political group and calls itself conservative and non-violent. It condemns terrorism and the 911 attacks, but others say it is a terrorist organization with ties to Al-Queda.
Is Egypt the first domino to fall in this long line of dominoes? Only time will tell, but like it or not, the world is watching.
When A Shellacking Isn't Enough
Yesterday I blogged about the rumored Obama budget that did nothing more than freeze the current budget for 5 years. At a time when the bloat in the federal budget has destroyed our position in the “global” economy, Obama doesn’t seem to have heard the message from the election that a serious reduction in federal spending, not a freeze, was the only way to get control of our budget.
Today the President went on the road to Baltimore to tout his new budget; to a middle-school. Huh?
The rumors are now replaced by facts, and those facts are far scarier than the rumors. Mr. Obama’s supposedly pared down budget calls for $3.73 trillion in spending, a $1.1 trillion deficit next year, $1 trillion in supposed spending cuts and tax increases, including a 5 year freeze on non-security discretionary spending. And what do we get for all this bogus fiscal restraint? You’re gonna laugh…I promise: the deficit will stabilize at about 3% of GDP in 2017! Stabilize…not shrink. That means it will continue to grow for another 6 years!
Wake up Tea Party! Mr. Obama didn’t hear you!
Let’s dig a little deeper. On the tax front, Mr. Obama has proposed a one-two punch of massive tax increases. First he wants to remove the deduction for home interest payments. Imagine how good that’ll be for the real estate market! He’ll raise the death-tax from 35% to 45%. Just a year ago we had no death-tax, then it came back this year and he’s already looking to increase it by more than 25%! Then all the President’s number assume the Bush tax cut expires in 2012. Can you see where this is heading?
On the spending front, Mr. Obama proposes not reductions, but significant increases in the areas of infrastructure (you know, more of those shovel-ready projects) and education. The spending is all fueled by the tax increases, so don’t expect any reduction in the debt. In fact, if you’re to believe the administrations own numbers, this budget will increase the national debt by over 7.2 trillion dollars! Is this man deaf? All the talk about reductions in spending, and the Education department alone gets a 35% increase over 2008 levels! There is not a single cut in this entire budget. What a farce!
The Democrats are quick to pull out the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) whenever convenient to them, but today they were not very convenient. According to the CBO, this budget doesn’t only fail to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars over the next decade, it in fact increases it by over a half trillion dollars. Let’s see if the liberal media brings up that inconvenient truth!
I implore conservatives and independents, all over the country, to come out into the streets and proclaim, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!” Nothing that took place in November has gotten through to this man or his cadre of tax and spend liberals. Is his goal to drive us into bankruptcy?
This budget could be the last step to devaluing our currency to third-world status. Congratulations Jimmy Carter Obama, I think you’ve hit the trifecta!
Today the President went on the road to Baltimore to tout his new budget; to a middle-school. Huh?
The rumors are now replaced by facts, and those facts are far scarier than the rumors. Mr. Obama’s supposedly pared down budget calls for $3.73 trillion in spending, a $1.1 trillion deficit next year, $1 trillion in supposed spending cuts and tax increases, including a 5 year freeze on non-security discretionary spending. And what do we get for all this bogus fiscal restraint? You’re gonna laugh…I promise: the deficit will stabilize at about 3% of GDP in 2017! Stabilize…not shrink. That means it will continue to grow for another 6 years!
Wake up Tea Party! Mr. Obama didn’t hear you!
Let’s dig a little deeper. On the tax front, Mr. Obama has proposed a one-two punch of massive tax increases. First he wants to remove the deduction for home interest payments. Imagine how good that’ll be for the real estate market! He’ll raise the death-tax from 35% to 45%. Just a year ago we had no death-tax, then it came back this year and he’s already looking to increase it by more than 25%! Then all the President’s number assume the Bush tax cut expires in 2012. Can you see where this is heading?
On the spending front, Mr. Obama proposes not reductions, but significant increases in the areas of infrastructure (you know, more of those shovel-ready projects) and education. The spending is all fueled by the tax increases, so don’t expect any reduction in the debt. In fact, if you’re to believe the administrations own numbers, this budget will increase the national debt by over 7.2 trillion dollars! Is this man deaf? All the talk about reductions in spending, and the Education department alone gets a 35% increase over 2008 levels! There is not a single cut in this entire budget. What a farce!
The Democrats are quick to pull out the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) whenever convenient to them, but today they were not very convenient. According to the CBO, this budget doesn’t only fail to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars over the next decade, it in fact increases it by over a half trillion dollars. Let’s see if the liberal media brings up that inconvenient truth!
I implore conservatives and independents, all over the country, to come out into the streets and proclaim, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!” Nothing that took place in November has gotten through to this man or his cadre of tax and spend liberals. Is his goal to drive us into bankruptcy?
This budget could be the last step to devaluing our currency to third-world status. Congratulations Jimmy Carter Obama, I think you’ve hit the trifecta!
Immigration Amnesty Law - Green Card
The very last time there was a law that several regarded as amnesty was initially in 2000. On December 21, 2000, President Clinton signed The Legal Immigration and Household Equity Act of 2000 (Existence Act) into law. This law, typically known as the Lifestyle Act or 245(i), permitted specific persons who had an immigrant visa immediately accessible but entered without having inspection (without having documents) or otherwise violated their status and thus are ineligible to apply for adjustment of status within the United States, to apply if they pay a $1,000 penalty.
"If a whole new amnesty law is passed that's the same because the outdated law, what will be the criteria?"
To be eligible under the previous amnesty law, you have to happen to be:
1. The named beneficiary of the Form I-130 immigrant visa petition ("Petition for Alien Relative"), or Form I-140 immigrant visa petition ("Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker"), or Form I-360 ["Petition for an Amerasian Widow(er), or Unique Immigrant], or Form I-526 ("Petition for an Alien Entrepreneur") or
2. The named beneficiary of an application for labor certification filed together with the Department of Labor (DOL) and
3. Been physically present within the United States in the course of a specific timeframe.
"Was there a due date for submitting under the outdated amnesty law?
Yes. You must have filed during a very quick window of chance. All petitions and applications needed to be effectively filed and approvable when filed.
"Was there a penalty or good for applying under the amnesty law?"
Yes. all of us who filed for https://www.usaimmigrationsupport.com/application-center/adjustment-of-status-form-i-485.html using Area 245(i) needed to pay a $1,000 penalty fee.
"Were there other unique specifications?"
On the list of primary needs was proving the applicant was physically present within the U.S. in the course of certain intervals of time. Therefore, in anticipation of the new amnesty law, you must gather documentation to demonstrate your physical presence in the U.S. Such documentation might include, but isn't restricted to, State driver's license; State identification card; hospital report; school transcript; Revenue tax records; home tax records; religious records; utility charges; rental receipts; bank statements; employment records; and so on.
"Can I travel outside the us?"
If you are while in the nation without having documentation or otherwise out of status, travelling out of the us will set off an unlawful presence bar which might probably result in denial of any long term https://www.usaimmigrationsupport.com/ application. Under current law, anyone who has been while in the U.S. illegally for a year or even more and then leaves, is barred from returning for 10 years.
"If a whole new amnesty law is passed that's the same because the outdated law, what will be the criteria?"
To be eligible under the previous amnesty law, you have to happen to be:
1. The named beneficiary of the Form I-130 immigrant visa petition ("Petition for Alien Relative"), or Form I-140 immigrant visa petition ("Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker"), or Form I-360 ["Petition for an Amerasian Widow(er), or Unique Immigrant], or Form I-526 ("Petition for an Alien Entrepreneur") or
2. The named beneficiary of an application for labor certification filed together with the Department of Labor (DOL) and
3. Been physically present within the United States in the course of a specific timeframe.
"Was there a due date for submitting under the outdated amnesty law?
Yes. You must have filed during a very quick window of chance. All petitions and applications needed to be effectively filed and approvable when filed.
"Was there a penalty or good for applying under the amnesty law?"
Yes. all of us who filed for https://www.usaimmigrationsupport.com/application-center/adjustment-of-status-form-i-485.html using Area 245(i) needed to pay a $1,000 penalty fee.
"Were there other unique specifications?"
On the list of primary needs was proving the applicant was physically present within the U.S. in the course of certain intervals of time. Therefore, in anticipation of the new amnesty law, you must gather documentation to demonstrate your physical presence in the U.S. Such documentation might include, but isn't restricted to, State driver's license; State identification card; hospital report; school transcript; Revenue tax records; home tax records; religious records; utility charges; rental receipts; bank statements; employment records; and so on.
"Can I travel outside the us?"
If you are while in the nation without having documentation or otherwise out of status, travelling out of the us will set off an unlawful presence bar which might probably result in denial of any long term https://www.usaimmigrationsupport.com/ application. Under current law, anyone who has been while in the U.S. illegally for a year or even more and then leaves, is barred from returning for 10 years.
Visitors to Borobudur Temple Not Deterred by Whirlwind
AP Indonesian workers clear volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Merapi covering the Borobudur temple in Magelang, Indonesia, Friday, Nov. 12, 2010. Hot ash poured more slowly from an Indonesian volcano Friday, but experts warned Mount Merapi could still erupt again as villagers reported that even rare leopards living near the crater have begun to evacuate. "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.
Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Use a Blow-Dryer
How do you make your crowning glory—that is your hair—look more amazing than it already is? A tip from experts in the field, a.k.a. celebrities and their stylists says that blow-drying can be a girl’s ultimate secret weapon to keep her locks looking sensational.
Here are the top three reasons why you should become BFF with your blow dryer.
1. Wet isn’t hot
Most girls who are always on-the-go use blow-dryers not to style their hair. They do it simply because they don’t want to go out of the house with damp hair. Excess water from bathing dripping on their shirts is a nasty sight—not to mention unhygienic. Remember a common fact, bacteria thrive in wet environments!
2. Style power
What they say is true. Blow-drying dries out the shine in your hair. However, it is still a good way to keep your stubborn hair tamed. When done correctly, it’ll not only keep you from facing the whole world with wet hair but it will give you the brilliant style that you are yearning for. You can choose from straight, curly, or wavy.
3. Celebrity looks
We look up to celebrities because of their high sense of fashion and fabulous hair and make-up that they wear EVERYDAY! Unless you want to be tagged as a plain and boring girl, who wears the same, simple hair-do for all of eternity, look up head-turning hair styles. Achieve them using no less than your new BFF.
Now that you know the importance of using a blow-dryer in your everyday life, get to work.
Of course, each style will require an entirely different way of doing it. Some may be tacky. According to experts, to achieve mastery in the craft, one thing always works—practice, practice, practice!
Who knew a mundane task such as drying your hair also requires a handful techniques and mastery? Learn it and see how it’ll work wonders for you and your looks.
Here are the top three reasons why you should become BFF with your blow dryer.
1. Wet isn’t hot
Most girls who are always on-the-go use blow-dryers not to style their hair. They do it simply because they don’t want to go out of the house with damp hair. Excess water from bathing dripping on their shirts is a nasty sight—not to mention unhygienic. Remember a common fact, bacteria thrive in wet environments!
2. Style power
What they say is true. Blow-drying dries out the shine in your hair. However, it is still a good way to keep your stubborn hair tamed. When done correctly, it’ll not only keep you from facing the whole world with wet hair but it will give you the brilliant style that you are yearning for. You can choose from straight, curly, or wavy.
3. Celebrity looks
We look up to celebrities because of their high sense of fashion and fabulous hair and make-up that they wear EVERYDAY! Unless you want to be tagged as a plain and boring girl, who wears the same, simple hair-do for all of eternity, look up head-turning hair styles. Achieve them using no less than your new BFF.
Now that you know the importance of using a blow-dryer in your everyday life, get to work.
Of course, each style will require an entirely different way of doing it. Some may be tacky. According to experts, to achieve mastery in the craft, one thing always works—practice, practice, practice!
Who knew a mundane task such as drying your hair also requires a handful techniques and mastery? Learn it and see how it’ll work wonders for you and your looks.
How Seriously Drug Smuggling from Hong Kong Floods Indonesia
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.
Team Building to transform staff engagement and Reduce Conflict
Team Building to transform staff engagement and Reduce Conflict
REAL Appreciative Team Building Activities To Transform Office Teamwork
REAL Appreciative team building is the new rage for smart business. Gone are the company days filled with silly games, people used to call "team building activities".
The smart companies are now looking for sustainable results, beyond team game event and motivational talks, that they know don't last.
Here are some tips to transform your team building from average to great results.
Appreciative Inquiry in Team Building.
The Appreciative Inquiry based approach supports the trend towards a more positive focus on strengths and what is working - rather than the old style problem solving approach.
RESILIENCE is also becoming a major need in companies today as competition increases globally. REAL leadership is required to guide, empower and inspire teams to greater performance in a sustainable way.
But, in the past, most leaders and managers have had no simple way of getting these effectively into their organisations. From our past Appreciative team building experience, we have distilled our wisdom gained into a few simple steps.
Make sure you incorporate your steps into your next team building events and provide a positive focus in your next team building activities facilitations.
Cheat Sheet for Smart Team Building Events.
1. Make sure that the entire group is involved, from all levels, and make it clear that negativity will not be entertained.
2. Make it clear to everyone upfront that the focus and discussions will aim to build on strengths, past positive experience, what is ALREADY working in the team, and what else can be done to enhance this.
3. Make it safe for participation by everyone. Set ground agreements of what attitudes, comments and inputs will be allowed in the team building process – avoid naming, blaming and shaming!
4. Set up a "Trust-Levels" scale on the wall and invite people to mark their present team trust scores on the wall and to move them during the day. Talk about what impacts and influences trust levels, and what can be done to improve them.
5. Set up talking-circles and get people to talk about positive past experiences around leadership, team building, and what they want more of at work.
6. Get groups to agree and document what they will agree to STOP, START and CONTINUE back in the team workplace.
7. Make the learning fun, experiential and encourage participation and input from every person.
8. Teach teams about RESILIENCE or AQ (Adversity Intelligence) and how they can individually and as a team enhance their self talk and resilience levels.
9. To remove titles, position labels, and seniority advantages, each person takes on a new Identity /name of their ideal role model.
10. Incorporate “archetypes” like Lover, Warrior, Magician, Sovereign intro the roles and use them to allow multi-perception position inputs. Eg my lover says”... or my warrior says...”.
11. Document and display stop start continues and regularly discuss how you are maintaining the agreements.
12. If a consensus arises about what needs to be done to improve some area....take visible action to rectify and improve it ASAP and keep on providing feedback. Regular and clear communication is important.
Often the biggest challenge with staff and team building in the workplace is there is a lot of “TALK” from leadership and management, but very little “WALK”. It is a grave mistake to ask for input and then not act on it.
It doesn’t take long for people to see that you don’t value their input, and thereafter just disengage Trust is Bust....again!
Too many leaders think happy staff are more productive – this is not always true. Resilient, challenged, engaged and happy staff deliver exceptional results in a sustainable manner.
By bringing the positive, focus on more of what is working, approach of Appreciative Inquiry Team Building ideas, leaders can transform their culture from a destructive, politically hostile environment to a great place to work.
But remember it takes time to rebuild trust. It take time for the people to see that you are really walking your talk. It takes tile to change old habits and entrenched cultures.
Through regular Ai based teamwork building activities you can begin to create a CultureShift from negative to more positive. This brings more available energy into your teams and the workplace.
Through Appreciative Inquiry positive approach to building teamwork, you can transform your results...faster than any old way of doing team building games and motivational talks.
So next time you are looking for a team building idea choose appreciative team building and Transformation to create a sustainable, positive working culture.
REAL Appreciative team building is the new rage for smart business. Gone are the company days filled with silly games, people used to call "team building activities".
The smart companies are now looking for sustainable results, beyond team game event and motivational talks, that they know don't last.
Here are some tips to transform your team building from average to great results.
Appreciative Inquiry in Team Building.
The Appreciative Inquiry based approach supports the trend towards a more positive focus on strengths and what is working - rather than the old style problem solving approach.
RESILIENCE is also becoming a major need in companies today as competition increases globally. REAL leadership is required to guide, empower and inspire teams to greater performance in a sustainable way.
But, in the past, most leaders and managers have had no simple way of getting these effectively into their organisations. From our past Appreciative team building experience, we have distilled our wisdom gained into a few simple steps.
Make sure you incorporate your steps into your next team building events and provide a positive focus in your next team building activities facilitations.
Cheat Sheet for Smart Team Building Events.
1. Make sure that the entire group is involved, from all levels, and make it clear that negativity will not be entertained.
2. Make it clear to everyone upfront that the focus and discussions will aim to build on strengths, past positive experience, what is ALREADY working in the team, and what else can be done to enhance this.
3. Make it safe for participation by everyone. Set ground agreements of what attitudes, comments and inputs will be allowed in the team building process – avoid naming, blaming and shaming!
4. Set up a "Trust-Levels" scale on the wall and invite people to mark their present team trust scores on the wall and to move them during the day. Talk about what impacts and influences trust levels, and what can be done to improve them.
5. Set up talking-circles and get people to talk about positive past experiences around leadership, team building, and what they want more of at work.
6. Get groups to agree and document what they will agree to STOP, START and CONTINUE back in the team workplace.
7. Make the learning fun, experiential and encourage participation and input from every person.
8. Teach teams about RESILIENCE or AQ (Adversity Intelligence) and how they can individually and as a team enhance their self talk and resilience levels.
9. To remove titles, position labels, and seniority advantages, each person takes on a new Identity /name of their ideal role model.
10. Incorporate “archetypes” like Lover, Warrior, Magician, Sovereign intro the roles and use them to allow multi-perception position inputs. Eg my lover says”... or my warrior says...”.
11. Document and display stop start continues and regularly discuss how you are maintaining the agreements.
12. If a consensus arises about what needs to be done to improve some area....take visible action to rectify and improve it ASAP and keep on providing feedback. Regular and clear communication is important.
Often the biggest challenge with staff and team building in the workplace is there is a lot of “TALK” from leadership and management, but very little “WALK”. It is a grave mistake to ask for input and then not act on it.
It doesn’t take long for people to see that you don’t value their input, and thereafter just disengage Trust is Bust....again!
Too many leaders think happy staff are more productive – this is not always true. Resilient, challenged, engaged and happy staff deliver exceptional results in a sustainable manner.
By bringing the positive, focus on more of what is working, approach of Appreciative Inquiry Team Building ideas, leaders can transform their culture from a destructive, politically hostile environment to a great place to work.
But remember it takes time to rebuild trust. It take time for the people to see that you are really walking your talk. It takes tile to change old habits and entrenched cultures.
Through regular Ai based teamwork building activities you can begin to create a CultureShift from negative to more positive. This brings more available energy into your teams and the workplace.
Through Appreciative Inquiry positive approach to building teamwork, you can transform your results...faster than any old way of doing team building games and motivational talks.
So next time you are looking for a team building idea choose appreciative team building and Transformation to create a sustainable, positive working culture.
Important Things to Remember When Applying for a Home Loan Modification
Important Things to Remember When Applying for a Home Loan Modification
If you are having difficulties in paying your monthly mortgage obligations, then a home loan modification program is the right one for you. A lot of people today are relying on home loans in order to buy their homes, but due to several economic circumstances, a lot of people are having problems with paying off their mortgage. Most of them are even in the brink of losing their property.
Fortunately, there are a lot of methods that will allow you to fix your mortgage and one of this is home loan modification. This method is rapidly becoming popular because it offers a lot of benefits that will help you clear off your mortgage or make the payment terms easier for you. Everyone can apply for a home loan modification program, but you should understand that there are certain rules that are considered before your application is approved.
Your debt to income ratio is one of the most important factors that should be considered when modifying your mortgage. Your monthly payment should not be lower than your debt to income ratio or the 31% of your gross monthly income. You should also provide all the information regarding the sources of your income, because this will determine the outcome of the new mortgage terms.
If you are having problems when applying for a home loan modification program, I would suggest that you seek professional help. There are a lot of companies who are offering their services which will help people like you to fix their finances. You can find several companies by searching the Internet. You can also ask them for free online quotes that will help you determine whether you are eligible for a home loan modification or not.
You can also approach a home loan attorney if you want to clear off your debt. They will be asking you a few questions regarding your financial status, and they will be giving you suggestions after a few days. You should also take note that the whole process of applying for a home loan modification can take up to 30-90 days, and during this period, you need to pay your monthly bills properly in order to increase your chances of getting the modification program.
Fortunately, there are a lot of methods that will allow you to fix your mortgage and one of this is home loan modification. This method is rapidly becoming popular because it offers a lot of benefits that will help you clear off your mortgage or make the payment terms easier for you. Everyone can apply for a home loan modification program, but you should understand that there are certain rules that are considered before your application is approved.
Your debt to income ratio is one of the most important factors that should be considered when modifying your mortgage. Your monthly payment should not be lower than your debt to income ratio or the 31% of your gross monthly income. You should also provide all the information regarding the sources of your income, because this will determine the outcome of the new mortgage terms.
If you are having problems when applying for a home loan modification program, I would suggest that you seek professional help. There are a lot of companies who are offering their services which will help people like you to fix their finances. You can find several companies by searching the Internet. You can also ask them for free online quotes that will help you determine whether you are eligible for a home loan modification or not.
You can also approach a home loan attorney if you want to clear off your debt. They will be asking you a few questions regarding your financial status, and they will be giving you suggestions after a few days. You should also take note that the whole process of applying for a home loan modification can take up to 30-90 days, and during this period, you need to pay your monthly bills properly in order to increase your chances of getting the modification program.
Easy Can Be Difficult If Without Caution
Easy Can Be Difficult If Without Caution
Easy Can Be Difficult If Without Caution
Inflation, deflation, devaluation and recession have all been signs of economic and financial crisis. Historically, the world experienced financial crisis in the past decades-world market had its downfall, America was in recession. Yet, the world managed to rise up and face these challenges. In recent years, America and the world have been facing these problems once again. It might not be as it was in the past but these times have been difficult economically and financially.
World economic and financial struggle affect each and every individual. People in different parts of the world have been experiencing these problems too. In America, people are having a hard time looking for jobs and meet their needs. An ordinary American is in the brink of losing his house, his car, or in some cases having difficulties paying his own electric and phone bills, or even paying for the medicines. It is during times like these that people resort to financial institutions like banks, companies, etc., to pay their debts. Resorting to loans may take some time particularly in the approval process. Some consider one's credit history while others do not. It is for this reason that many people resort to fast and easy loan alternatives. One of the most popular among these alternatives is car title loans.
Car title loans have been popular among individuals who are in desperate and immediate need of cash to pay for their bills, medical expenses and other necessary purchases. It is most often availed of for emergency purposes such as those mentioned. They choose this alternative because of its easy and efficient processing. Since their need is immediate, they need a way to get money in easiest and fastest means possible. http://www.cartitleloans.net/ only require the borrower to offer his car title for the loan. Car titles serve as collateral in car title loans.
Since it is quick and easy, people are more inclined to avail this loan instead of choosing other cash alternatives. Then again, "easy" comes with a price. Car title loan is known to impose higher rates of interes, but this is ith just cause. Comparing the efficiency and quickness in the application process between car title loans and the other choices, the former is definitely the fastest way. In this case, a person who will be repaying the loan need to be focused and determined to save up for his monthly due; otherwise, the more a person could not pay on time, the higher the interest gets. He will lose his car and at the same time incur more debts. Putting a positive spin to this, any one with a car title loan acquired may be able to imporove more his self-discipline and determination to meet his commitments - which in this case is to pay off his monthly dues.
Easy may not always be the right choice, that is true. However, Car title loans are really easy, quick and with a price, but with the proper discipline and focus can be very advatageous especially in emergency situations. In view of this, other alternatives may also be chosen. Hence, it is important that we know the options, compare and decide. Car title loans may not be for everyone, but with the proper perspective, it could be right for you.
Inflation, deflation, devaluation and recession have all been signs of economic and financial crisis. Historically, the world experienced financial crisis in the past decades-world market had its downfall, America was in recession. Yet, the world managed to rise up and face these challenges. In recent years, America and the world have been facing these problems once again. It might not be as it was in the past but these times have been difficult economically and financially.
World economic and financial struggle affect each and every individual. People in different parts of the world have been experiencing these problems too. In America, people are having a hard time looking for jobs and meet their needs. An ordinary American is in the brink of losing his house, his car, or in some cases having difficulties paying his own electric and phone bills, or even paying for the medicines. It is during times like these that people resort to financial institutions like banks, companies, etc., to pay their debts. Resorting to loans may take some time particularly in the approval process. Some consider one's credit history while others do not. It is for this reason that many people resort to fast and easy loan alternatives. One of the most popular among these alternatives is car title loans.
Car title loans have been popular among individuals who are in desperate and immediate need of cash to pay for their bills, medical expenses and other necessary purchases. It is most often availed of for emergency purposes such as those mentioned. They choose this alternative because of its easy and efficient processing. Since their need is immediate, they need a way to get money in easiest and fastest means possible. http://www.cartitleloans.net/ only require the borrower to offer his car title for the loan. Car titles serve as collateral in car title loans.
Since it is quick and easy, people are more inclined to avail this loan instead of choosing other cash alternatives. Then again, "easy" comes with a price. Car title loan is known to impose higher rates of interes, but this is ith just cause. Comparing the efficiency and quickness in the application process between car title loans and the other choices, the former is definitely the fastest way. In this case, a person who will be repaying the loan need to be focused and determined to save up for his monthly due; otherwise, the more a person could not pay on time, the higher the interest gets. He will lose his car and at the same time incur more debts. Putting a positive spin to this, any one with a car title loan acquired may be able to imporove more his self-discipline and determination to meet his commitments - which in this case is to pay off his monthly dues.
Easy may not always be the right choice, that is true. However, Car title loans are really easy, quick and with a price, but with the proper discipline and focus can be very advatageous especially in emergency situations. In view of this, other alternatives may also be chosen. Hence, it is important that we know the options, compare and decide. Car title loans may not be for everyone, but with the proper perspective, it could be right for you.
Options for Investing in Real Estate Victoria Properties
Options for Investing in Real Estate Victoria Properties
There are a lot of people nowadays who are looking for a way they can invest their money. These people know how important it is for them to put their hard earned money on a property Melbourne that they can just pay every year. This is because there are several people who do not use their money for an investment. Instead, they end up spending all of their hard earned income on things they do not really need. With this, they end up regretting where they spent their money.
If you are looking for a real estate Victoria property that you should be buying, the first thing you need is to determine what type of property you are interested in. This is because there are several types of real estate properties that you can look at before you decide which one you should be buying. Here are some of the common real estate properties that are available:
• Office Buildings- Even if you do not have an office or a company of your own, you can still invest your money in an office space. The good thing about this is that you can always offer this property for lease to different companies who are looking for an office space. Just make sure that you get a location where it is most feasible for businesses to operate in. When you do this, companies will be fighting over your property.
• Warehouse and Industrial Buildings- You can also look at different warehouse and industrial property Melbourne that you can invest in. Just like office spaces, this investment will garner you several companies that are looking for a place where they can store their things. Since you have a warehouse space, you can use this to your advantage and offer it for lease.
• Mobile Home Parks- You can also invest your money in a mobile home park. This will allow you to get a group of families who are vacationing in your area with the use of mobile homes. Since they will need to look for a place where they can park for the night, you can offer your property for them at a daily or hourly rate. This will give you profit.
• Apartment Complex- If you have money to spare, you can put up an apartment complex near your home. This is a good idea for real estate Victoria as you can offer these apartments to be leased out by vacationers and those who do not own a home yet.
Whichever decision you make, you need to decide which one will bring in the most profit to you. With this, you will be able to benefit from the money you are spending in investing for your real estate property.
If you are looking for a real estate Victoria property that you should be buying, the first thing you need is to determine what type of property you are interested in. This is because there are several types of real estate properties that you can look at before you decide which one you should be buying. Here are some of the common real estate properties that are available:
• Office Buildings- Even if you do not have an office or a company of your own, you can still invest your money in an office space. The good thing about this is that you can always offer this property for lease to different companies who are looking for an office space. Just make sure that you get a location where it is most feasible for businesses to operate in. When you do this, companies will be fighting over your property.
• Warehouse and Industrial Buildings- You can also look at different warehouse and industrial property Melbourne that you can invest in. Just like office spaces, this investment will garner you several companies that are looking for a place where they can store their things. Since you have a warehouse space, you can use this to your advantage and offer it for lease.
• Mobile Home Parks- You can also invest your money in a mobile home park. This will allow you to get a group of families who are vacationing in your area with the use of mobile homes. Since they will need to look for a place where they can park for the night, you can offer your property for them at a daily or hourly rate. This will give you profit.
• Apartment Complex- If you have money to spare, you can put up an apartment complex near your home. This is a good idea for real estate Victoria as you can offer these apartments to be leased out by vacationers and those who do not own a home yet.
Whichever decision you make, you need to decide which one will bring in the most profit to you. With this, you will be able to benefit from the money you are spending in investing for your real estate property.
Outsource Payroll Sydney Outsourcing Payroll Processing System
Outsource Payroll Sydney Outsourcing Payroll Processing System
What is a payroll system? The payroll system is significant software utilized by businesses of any kind. Some were a certain way to ensure your current payroll is performed in due time and in conformity with all taxing regulators. Tax regulations and charges continuously modified in recent times, new tax credits, termination of previous credits and rate modifications can all influence the result of your payroll.
In case your organization is not in conformity with the new tax rates, either federal or restricted, you could possibly encounter charges from demanding specialist, or even the worse are obligated to pay back income taxes. The workers might find that they poorly paid their income tax when the time arrives and they are obligated to repay huge amount they won't pay for. Your workers hold the organization accountable for any misappropriations regarding their income taxes; of course no business vendors want to face lawsuit.
Payroll processing systems are easy to utilize, reasonably priced and complies with the existing tax laws. These programs could be developed to estimate taxes and reductions for a particular region. These systems have elaborate listings that can be changed for duty requirements and modifications in the regulation. These systems could be developed to estimate taxes and reductions for a particular region. Many methods offer an internet database that can be seen pertaining to changes for you to duty requirements and changes in the law.
These programs could also profit the vendor to analyze the levy they'll pay to the government quarterly. Being unable to present the right taxes every quarter is one of the reasons in which companies result in great challenge with Internal Profits Support. Outsourcing payroll services can also be done. A lot of companies like Payroll Sydney focus on supplying payroll systems to other companies. If you're not necessarily willing to set up and utilize something like this in your own business, you may think organization to offer the service executed.
You can get a lot of benefits from outsourcing your payroll processing system. Utilizing this type of service from Outsource payroll Sydney can ensure you that you have the modern existing tax regulations on diverse taxing specialists.
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