| Really Hammering A USD650,000 Lamborghini Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PDT An angry Lamborghini owner has vented his frustration with the Italian brand by employing a team of sledgehammer-wielding men to destroy his car.
The Chinese businessman was reportedly upset his circa $650,000 Gallardo supercar still wasn't up to scratch following a service at an authorised mechanic - so he decided to have it smashed to pieces in protest.
The publicity stunt saw nine men wearing blue suits and hardhats take to the car with sledgehammers, punching holes in its carbon-fibre bonnet before climbing on top of the car to leverage better down-force on the glass.
Local journalists, photographers and news crews appear to have been tipped off, ensuring wide-spread publicity of the spectacle.
The very public display of abhorrence took place in a public square in Qingdao in Shangdong Province, China.
Interestingly, it occurred on World Consumer Rights day. One thing's for sure - this disgruntled consumer's voice has been heard.
source : kompas.com |
| Get out of Tokyo Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:52 AM PDT Plans are being drawn up to evacuate every British national in Japan amid mounting fears of a nuclear catastrophe. Thousands of Britons were last night warned to leave Tokyo and all other areas under threat of radiation poisoning.
The advice – echoed by other countries around the world – followed a meeting of the Cabinet's emergency Cobra committee to discuss the meltdown-threatened Fukushima nuclear plant.
It heightened suspicions that the crisis at the plant – already ranked the second-worst nuclear disaster after Chernobyl – is worse than the Japanese authorities have publicly let on. Yesterday 'last-ditch' efforts were continuing at Fukushima to prevent a catastrophe with a Japanese army helicopter dumping water onto troubled nuclear reactor.
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter began dumping seawater on the damaged reactor of Unit 3 at the Fukushima complex at 9.48am local time, said defense ministry spokeswoman Kazumi Toyama. The aircraft dumped at least four loads on the reactor, though much of the water appeared to be dispersed in the air.
The dumping was intended both to help cool the reactor and to replenish water in a pool holding spent fuel rods, Toyama said. The plant's owner, Tokyo Electric Power Co., said earlier that the pool was nearly empty, which might cause the rods to overheat.
Last night an official at Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that radiation levels at the plant had fallen steadily over the past 12 hours. However, ministers were due to hold further talks last night on whether an immediate evacuation from Japan should be considered.
About 17,000 British nationals are thought to be in the country, mostly in Tokyo. Last night's Foreign Office warning stopped short of ordering them to leave the country – a diplomatic gesture which will be welcomed by the Japanese government.
But officials conceded that in reality most Britons will have few options but to leave Japan if they want to heed the advice. Thousands of Japanese citizens are already fleeing Tokyo for the south.
Officials yesterday insisted there was no significant risk to human health in Tokyo, which is less than 140 miles south of Fukushima.
But Europe's energy chief Guenther Oettinger warned the huge plant was 'effectively out of control' – sparking fears of a meltdown, which could send a radioactive cloud into the atmosphere.
He warned of 'further catastrophic events, which could pose a threat to the lives of people on the island'. Mr Oettinger predicted the dire situation could take a further turn for the worse 'within hours'.
The Japanese public was also unconvinced by its government's reassurances. The mayor of Minimisoma, which is 12 miles from the Fukushima plant, said: 'We weren't told when the first reactor exploded, we only heard about it on television. The government doesn't tell us anything. We are isolated. They're leaving us to die.'
The Foreign Office insisted there was 'no real human health issue' outside the 20-mile exclusion zone surrounding the plant.
But it warned that panic caused by the crisis meant there were 'potential disruptions to the supply of goods, transport, communications, power and other infrastructure' in Tokyo.
Officials confirmed that contingency plans were being drawn up for an airlift of British nationals if the crisis worsens. Talks have already been held with airlines about laying on extra flights.
The warning came as the Japanese authorities made increasingly desperate attempts to contain the crisis at the Fukushima plant.
Helicopters deployed to dump water on the plant were pulled out amid concerns about soaring radiation levels.
Officials were considering using water cannon – normally used to control riots – in a desperate bid to cool the overheating reactors, which have suffered a series of explosions.
Yesterday a further fire broke out, two more reactors were reported to be overheating and concerns were growing about two pools used to store spent radioactive fuel. If a reactor overheats – and its casing is breached – dangerous radioactive material could be blown for miles. Several countries advised their citizens to evacuate.
France, one of the world's leading users of nuclear energy, said its citizens should get out Japan. Industry Minister Eric Besson said: 'Let's not beat about the bush. They have visibly lost essential control. That is our analysis, even if it's not what they are saying.'
French Environment Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet described the crisis as 'catastrophic' and said the latest information 'does not lead to optimism'.
There are 2,000 French still in the Tokyo area. Australia also urged its citizens to consider leaving Tokyo and the quake-affected areas.
And the U.S. advised all Americans living within 50 miles of Fukishima to evacuate or take shelter indoors.
Russia said the crisis was moving towards a grim conclusion. Sergei Kiriyenko, who presides over the bulk of the country's nuclear facilities, declared: 'Unfortunately, the situation is developing under the worst scenario.'
Explosions rocked the site on Saturday and Monday when hydrogen gas – released to ease pressure inside the sealed cores – ignited at reactors 1 and 3. On Monday hydrogen blasts hit reactor 2 and reactor 4, damaging its roof.
Experts believe that the reactor 2 blast cracked the 80-inch steel and concrete containment unit surrounding the radioactive core – triggering a radiation leak.
Last night temperatures were rising out of control in reactors 5 and 6. Scientists are also concerned about falling water levels in two tanks used to store and cool spent fuel rods.
Water in at least one of the pools is boiling. If its rods are exposed to the air they could overheat, releasing radioactive material into the air.
Steam rose from the pool alongside reactor 3 yesterday. Nuclear experts said the solutions being proposed to prevent leaks were 'last-ditch efforts'.
But they added that if temperatures inside the reactors are kept down, the plant could be safe within a week.
The chief of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Gregory Jaczko, warned that all the cooling water had gone from one of the spent fuel pools.
That would mean there is nothing to stop the fuel rods getting hotter and ultimately melting down and if the outer shell of the rods ignite with enough force, it could propel the radioactive fuel inside over a wide area.
'I hope my information is wrong,' said Jaczko. 'It's a terrible tragedy for Japan.'
Japan's nuclear safety agency and Tokyo Electric Power, which operates the complex, denied the claim and utility spokesman Hajime Motojuku said the 'condition is stable' at Unit 4.
Earlier, however, another utility spokesman contradicted that by saying the officials' greatest concerns were the spent fuel pools, which lack the protective shells that reactors have.
'We haven't been able to get any of the latest data at any spent fuel pools,' said Masahisa Otsuki.
'We don't have the latest water levels, temperatures, none of the latest information for any of the four reactors.'
source : kompas.com |
| Indonesia's Export to Mideast Almost Double in 2010 Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:44 AM PDT JAKARTA - Indonesia's non-oil/non-gas exports to the Middle East almost doubled to US$6.5 billion in 2010 from US$3.4 billion in 2005, a Trade Ministry official said.
The exports hit a record high of US$7.2 billion in 2008, Director General of International Trade Cooperation at the Trade Ministry Gusmardi Bustami said at a discussion organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for the Middle East Committee here on Wednesday.
Indonesia's non-oil/non-gas exports to the Middle East mostly went to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Iran, he said. Non-oil/non-gas exports to United Arab Emirates rose from US$1.2 billion in 2009 to US$1.4 billion in 2010, Saudi Arabia from US$956.2 million to US$1.2 billion, Turkey from US$678.4 million to US$1 billion, Egypt from US$708.8 million to US$855.7 million and Iran from US$506.9 million to US$639.3 million.
"We need to eye other countries to expand the market for our commodities," he said.
Indonesia's exports to the Middle East mainly consisted of crude palm oil, paper, textiles, rubber, electronic appliances and motor vehicles. Tanza D.J.U Warganegara, sales director of Sinarmas Pulp and Paper Products for the Middle East, Africa, India and Oceania, said the Middle East was also potential market for other Indonesian products such as furniture, tires, food and beverages.
source : kompas.com |
| Disaster to Influence Indonesia's Tuna and Shrimp Exports Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:43 AM PDT JAKARTA - The powerful earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11, 2011 is predicted to influence Indonesia's tuna and shrimp exports to the country, Secretary General to the Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Gellwynn Jusuf said here on Thursday.
However he admitted that up till now the exports of the two commodities was not yet showing a significant decrease. Besides, he added, Indonesia still had other export destinations such as European Union, the United States and China.
Earlier, several importers from Japan were reportedly asked fish exporters in North Sumatra to suspend the shipment of tuna and shrimps after the powerful earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.
"Japanese importers have asked Indonesian fish exporters to suspend shipping in April 2011 due to the natural disasters that hit their country," official from North Sumatra's Trade Office Fitra Kurnia said.
Meanwhile, East Java's Chairman of the Association of Entrepreneurs in Fisheries Processing and Marketing (APSI) Johan Suryadharma expressed concern that the Indonesia's shrimp export to Japan might experience a decrease after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
"Up till now the condition in Japan is still uncertain. But we kept trying to contact our clients such as those from the shipping lines business which have been serving the shipment of our commodities to Japan," he said.
According to Johan, the predicted decrease might happen to the number of shrimp and fish exports, but the demand of the products remained unchanged.
source : kompas.com |
| Elephant population in Bengkulu increases Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:33 AM PDT Bengkulu, Sumatra - The population of wild elephants at the Elephant Training Center (PLG) in Seblat, North Bengkulu, Sumatra , has increased from 50 to 70 over the last two years.
During the first trimester of 2011, eight new baby elephants were born in the 6,800-ha forest area, Anom Zamora, head of the Bengkulu Natural Resources Conservation Agency , said here Thursday.
Most of the wild elephants used to live outside the Seblat PLG and to disturb oil palm plantations.
After being herded into the Seblat PLG with the help of trained elephants, the wild elephants seemed to feel comfortable as there was a lot of food and no poachers at the PLG, Anom said.
"We have also assigned tens of forestry police to guard the PLG forest area and the wild elephants in order to prevent them from going out of the area because the PLG forest is surrounded by oilpalm plantations," he said.
The Seblat PLG was projected to become a conservation forest, he said.
Besides wild elephants, the PLG is also inhabited by thousands of species of reptiles, butterflies, protected birds, and white siamang monkeys.
Bengkulu Province has around 200 elephants found among other things in Bukit Barisan forest and the Seblat PLG. |
| Japan disaster dead, missing pass 13.000: police Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:32 AM PDT Tokyo - The official number of dead and missing after a devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened Japan`s northeast coast has passed 13,000, police said Thursday, but reports hinted at a much higher toll.
The number of confirmed dead from Friday`s twin disasters stood at 5,178, while the official number of missing remained at 8,606, the national police agency said in its latest update.
A total of 2,285 people were injured in the disaster.
But reports continued to come in which indicated that the final toll could be much higher.
The mayor of the coastal town of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture said late Wednesday that the number of missing there was likely to hit 10,000, Kyodo News reported.
On Saturday, public broadcaster NHK reported that around 10,000 people were unaccounted for in the port town of Minamisanriku in the same prefecture.
Amid a mass rescue effort there were grim updates indicating severe loss of life along the battered east coast of Honshu island, where the monster waves destroyed or damaged more than 55,380 homes and other buildings.
source : antaranews.com |
| RI, Australian sign anti-drug trafficking MoU Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:30 AM PDT Jakarta - Indonesian and Australian government signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement between Australian and Indonesian law enforcement agencies to tackle transnational drug trafficking.
The MoU to fight drug trafficking was signed in Jakarta today between the Australian Federal Police and the Indonesia National Narcotics Board, according to the Australian embassy`s press release received here, Thursday.
"This agreement complements existing arrangements between our two nations designed to help us crack down on transnational drug trafficking in our region," said Australian Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O`Connor in his visit to Indonesia, here Thursday.
This Memorandum of Understanding reinforces anti-drug trafficking capabilities between the two countries and builds on the good work that is already being done to stop drug trafficking, Minister O`Connor said.
The MoU was signed by AFP Commissioner Tony Negus and Head of the Indonesian National Narcotics Board, known as Badan Narkotika Nasional (BNN), Gories Mere.
The new agreement builds on an existing agreement between the two governments on Combating Transnational Crime and Developing Police Cooperation, signed in late 2008.
"As one of our nearest neighbors, it is important that Australia has a close and productive relationship with Indonesia when it comes to law enforcement," said Minister O`Connor.
"The Gillard Government fully supports the partnership between Australian and Indonesian law enforcement agencies and looks forward to seeing the shared benefits of this continued co-operation," he said.
source : antanews.com |
| Indonesia to produce 1,000 rockets Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:29 AM PDT Jakarta - Indonesia plans to make 1,000 R122 rockets to support its defense system, defense minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Thursday.
"Cooperation will be made with the Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) and the ministry`s research and development agency. We have agreed to produce 1,000 rockets," he said.
The minister said when witnessing the signing of the memorandum of understanding with his ministry and BPPT that the decision was taken based upon the results of tests that were considered successful recently.
Rocket R122 had a cruising range of 15 kilometers and it could be used for an artillery ammunition as multiple launchers, he said.
"We can use it as multiple launchers. It is a lot. It can be used for our artillery weapons," he said.
Purnomo said the project would be carried out in 2012 and completed in 2014. Besides making rockets the government also plans to develop a "remote pilot vehicle" and an "area vehicle" to support the country`s defense equipment.
He said the cooperation on defense technology and assessment between the ministry of defense and BPPT could empower domestic arms industry.
source : antaranews.com |
| Yudhoyono asks RI embassy to plan anticipatory measures for radiation Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:28 AM PDT Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo to prepare anticipatory measures in case the Japanese government extends its danger zone.
"I have asked for assessment to be continuously updated and evacuation plans made like when evacuating people during Merapi eruptions," he said at a cabinet meeting here on Thursday.
He said he kept monitoring the development in Japan including the imposition of a danger zone of 50 kilometer radius from the nuclear power plants in Fukushima.
"If the zone is extended to 100 kilometers we must evacuate up to 4,000 nationals. So prepare a contingency plan. Keep managing it," he said.
While on the one hand Indonesia is concentrating on the security of its nationals and preparing their evacuation he said Indonesia was ready to help Japan in case of an emergency.
"Besides that we would also help Japan like what it had done to us (when we experienced natural disasters)," he said.
The meeting was attended by Vice President Boediono and all members of the cabinet as well as the chief of the national police, the commander of the defense forces, the attorney general and other officials concerned.
The meeting that day discussed government working plans and 2012 indicate budget ceiling.
source : antaranews |
| Taiwan to set up emergency text message broadcasting system Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:27 AM PDT Taipei - The government will set up an emergency text message broadcasting system to alert residents in disaster-affected areas, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah said Wednesday.
Jiang said he will ask telecommunications operators for assistance to disseminate real-time information quickly on any pending disaster via text message to alert people to danger.
The initiative is patterned after the Japanese government`s usage of the same method to alert residents in Tokyo of a looming disaster prior to the arrival of a powerful earthquake centered off the northeastern coast of its main island Honshu on March 11.
Rescue efforts after a disaster are usually difficult and their effect limited, Jiang said, and he therefore believed that people should be given enough knowledge and use their sound judgment to adopt the best strategy to protect themselves in emergencies.
Jiang, in his capacity as the deputy chairman of the National Disasters Prevention and Protection Commission, was reporting on contingency measures in case of an earthquake, fire, tsunami or nuclear accident at a legislative committee meeting.
Speaking on the same occasion, Coast Guard Administration Minister Wang Ginn-wang worried that the time to cope with a tsunami was very short and said he will invite related agencies for a meeting March 21 to discuss substantive strategies and procedures concerning sea rescue operations.
The legislative committee invited them to deliver briefings on the government`s contingency measures in the wake of last Friday`s magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan.
source : antara news.com |
| Libya: Gaddafi forces bomb rebel-held Benghazi Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:22 AM PDT Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi have launched their first bombing raids on the main rebel-held city of Benghazi.
BBC correspondents in the city heard the sound of low-flying aircraft and explosions on the outskirts of the second city, which has a population of a million..
Reports say the targets included the city's airport at Benina.
A UN Security Council vote on action in Libya could be held later on Thursday.
Western countries want a no-fly zone to halt the advance of government forces.
The AFP news agency quotes a rebel spokesman as saying two of the planes attacking Benghazi were shot down.
Col Gaddafi's forces are reported to have seized positions from around rebel-held town of Ajdabiya, a key objective before launching a ground assault on Benghazi.
The Red Cross has announced that it is withdrawing from Benghazi because of the deteriorating security situation in the city.
'All necessary measures'
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the latest draft United Nations resolution on Libya called for "all necessary measures short of an occupation force" to protect civilians under threat of attack.
"The resolution that is under discussion today includes demands for an immediate ceasefire, a complete end to violence, a ban on all flights in Libyan air space with the exception of humanitarian flights," he told MPs.
Following the toppling of the long-time leaders of neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt earlier this year, Libyan protesters started to demand that Col Gaddafi step down after 42 years of autocratic rule.
They quickly seized much of eastern Libya, but in recent days pro-Gaddafi forces have retaken several towns.
source : bbc.co.uk |
| Japan crisis: Germany to speed up nuclear energy exit Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:20 AM PDT German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced a "measured exit" from nuclear power in response to the crisis affecting four reactors in Japan.
Defending the temporary closure of Germany's seven oldest reactors, she said the Japanese disaster meant it could no longer be "business as usual".
Mrs Merkel told parliament that the goal was "to reach the age of renewable energy as soon as possible".
She urged Germans to show the Japanese people they were not alone.
She said the two countries had 150 years of diplomatic relations and called on Germans to donate money. "This is help between friends," she said.
Although she stressed that Germany's nuclear plants were among the world's safest, she said that "when, in Japan, the apparently impossible becomes possible and the absolutely unlikely reality, then the situation changes".
Heckled by her opponents, she said the future of energy policy would be carefully considered in the next three months, adding that changing to renewable energy would require a broad consensus.
Chancellor Merkel has come under fire from opposition politicians as well as the nuclear industry for her abrupt change of stance on atomic energy and she was jeered as she addressed the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) on Thursday.
Last year, her government extended the life of Germany's 17 nuclear power plants by 12 years but suspended the decision for three months in the wake of the Japanese crisis. The decision to shut down seven of the oldest reactors temporarily soon followed.
The Isar-1 reactor in Bavaria is set to go offline shortly, followed by Neckarwestheim, a reactor that has been the focus of large protests in Baden-Wuerttemberg, where Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats face a tight election battle on 27 March.
The leader of the opposition SPD Sigmar Gabriel accused the chancellor of electioneering and of bypassing democratic debate over Germany's atomic energy.
"You only involved the Bundestag pro forma and didn't involve the Bundesrat [upper house] at all. You had already arranged everything with the gentlemen from the nuclear industry," he said.
source : bbc.co.uk |
| Cholesterol drugs could cut clots Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:19 AM PDT Drugs which can regulate levels of cholesterol in the blood may also reduce the risk of dangerous clots, say scientists.
Blood clots can result in stroke or heart attack.
Researchers, writing in the journal Blood, reduced the size and stability of blood clots in mice and said the discovery could lead to new drugs.
The British Heart Foundation said it was an exciting discovery which could result in more effective treatments.
Around 32,000 people in the UK die after developing a blood clot.
The team at the University of Reading was investigating how clots form and say they were surprised to find that protein, LXR, was involved.
LXR is already known to control levels of cholesterol and drug companies have been targeting it for new treatments.
The researchers found that drugs which affect LXR reduced the size and stability of growing clots in experiments on mice.
Professor Jon Gibbins, from the University of Reading, said: "It's really quite exciting really, it could be quite an important discovery."
"While blood clotting is essential to prevent bleeding, inappropriate clotting within the circulation, known as thrombosis, is the trigger for heart attacks and strokes - which kill more people in the UK each year than any other disease.
"This study paves the way for new and more effective medicines to prevent thrombosis."
Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Both anti-clotting and cholesterol lowering drugs are vital in reducing the chance of a heart attack or stroke in high-risk patients, but are not always effective and don't suit all patients because of the risk of side-effects.
"This exciting discovery shows that drugs which lower cholesterol through targeting LXR protein can also reduce harmful blood clotting - potentially opening up paths towards new, more effective treatments."
source : bbc.co.uk |
| Gene therapy 'treats' Parkinson's disease Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:17 AM PDT Treating Parkinson's disease with gene therapy has been shown to be successful in clinical trials for the first time, say US researchers.
The illness causes uncontrolled shaking, stiffness and slow movement as part of the brain dies.
 The small study in The Lancet Neurology used a virus to add genes to brain cells, which resulted in reduced symptoms for half of patients.
Parkinson's UK welcomed the study, but said further research was needed.
The disease affects 120,000 people in the UK, mostly in the over-50s.
There is no cure, although drugs and deep brain stimulation have been shown to reduce symptoms.
Gene treatment
Patients with Parkinson's have reduced levels of a chemical - GABA - in part of the brain known as the subthalamic nucleus.
The researchers created a virus which "infects" cells with a gene to increasing GABA production.
In the trial, 22 patients had the virus injected into their brains while 23 patients had "sham surgery", to make them think they had the virus injected.
Their motor function was then scored over six months.
Patients who had gene therapy showed a 23.1% improvement in their motor score, those with sham surgery improved by 12.7%.
The report's authors say this "offers a novel alternative to conventional pharmacological or surgical treatment" and that it "shows the promise of gene therapy for other neurological disorders."
Professor Nicholas Mazarakis, who is a specialist in gene therapy at Imperial College London, told the BBC that the positive result was "very encouraging."
He added: "This result should be taken with some caution though, as it constitutes a rather small mean improvement, only 10.4%, in the clinical rating scale motor scores between those patients receiving the gene therapy and the placebo group."
In addition the absence of significant improvements in other secondary outcome measures such as dyskinesia and quality of life between the two groups, warrants further long-term evaluation of this treatment in more patients."
There have been concerns about the safety of gene therapy. In 1999, Jesse Gelsinger died during a trial in the US and there were cases of leukaemia after treatment in France.
The authors say this procedure is safe.
Dr Michelle Gardner, research development manager at Parkinson's UK, said: "This research shows the promise of gene therapy for neurological conditions like Parkinson's, but further research is still needed.
"We still don't know for how long the benefits of this treatment may last, or whether there may be long-term problems due to introducing viruses into the brain.
"In addition, any new treatment must be shown to be more effective than those currently available for Parkinson's, which this treatment has not yet been shown to do."
source : bbc.co.uk |
| Twitter boss on application snubTwitter boss on application snub Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:15 AM PDT Twitter founder Biz Stone has rejected suggestions that the site is shunning developers in order to make money.He told BBC News that attempts to dissuade companies from writing Twitter client applications were about improving the user experience. Twitter has come under fire for suggesting that it did not want developers creating software which replicates its own interface. Critics claimed the dispute was about ensuring users view adverts its site. Since Twitter's creation, scores of third-party applications have appeared that allow users to write, read and respond to tweets. However, in a recent blog posting, Twitter's coding chief Ryan Sarver suggested that companies should consider stopping making such software. The move was condemned by developers who feel they are partly responsible for Twitter's success and are concerned about how they will make money in the future. But Mr Stone insisted that the company's focus is about providing a consistent experience for the user, no matter how they access the service. "Historically the best way to do that is not necessarily to create or recreate apps that could be confusing or do the things we are already doing," he said. "Developers extend our ability to help users, and our end goal is to serve users. Part of that goal can by helped by giving developers opportunities to create new, interesting and innovative ways to help them get more value out of Twitter." Too many appsAs an example of the confusion that he believes exists, Mr Stone pointed to the number of Twitter apps available for the iPhone. They include Twittelator, Twitterific, TweetDeck, Echofon, Tweetcaster, La Twit, Tweetaholic, TweetList, TweetBird and TweetBoard. Mr Stone explained that since Twitter had brought out its own official clients the number of users had skyrocketed. However, research carried-out by media analytics firm Sysomos suggests that third-party applications are still widely used. The company looked at 25 million tweets, sent on the day that Twitter unveiled its new policy. It found that 42% were sent from unofficial apps. "The question for developers is to ask themselves is how they can best serve the users," said Mr Stone. "By another app that pretty much does the same thing as Twitter? Or by creating new and innovative ways to get value out of Twitter that we are not necessarily doing ourselves," he said. New policyIn the blog posting that sparked the controversy, Ryan Sarver wrote: "Developers ask us if they should build client apps that mimic or reproduce the mainstream Twitter consumer client experience. The answer is no." He suggested that they should look to build other services that complement the Twitter experience such as mining data to help with brand management, customer relations and enterprise solutions. While existing applications are fine for the moment, Mr Sarver said they would be closely policed. Learning curve Developers vented their fury on Twitter's discussion board and various blogs calling the decision everything from appalling to chilling. RSS pioneer Dave Winer told technology blog GigaOm.com that the new roadmap for developers underscored the need for them to look at building new businesses directly on the internet instead of on other services where the owner is too active. "The Internet remains the best place to develop because it is the Platform With No Platform Vendor. Every generation of developers learns this for themselves," he said. Mr Stone said while he understood the frustration and concern emanating from the developer community, Twitter had to do what is best for its users. "There are going to be some growing pains but I think the most important thing we can do is communicate as best we can, even if it is bad news people don't want to hear or we are not comfortable saying. "It is important because people can get the clarity they need," he said. source : bbc.co.uk |
| Rio Ferdinand could miss Man Utd run-in Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:13 AM PDT Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand could miss the rest of the season because of a calf injury.
The England captain suffered the injury in the warm-up ahead of the Premier League defeat by Wolves on 5 February.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "We aren't looking at this as a short-term situation - we will be lucky to get Rio back for some part of the season."
United have suffered further bad news with defender John O'Shea ruled out for five weeks with a hamstring injury.
Skipper Nemanja Vidic is already missing for the Premier League game against Bolton on Saturday with a calf injury, leaving only four fit defenders available for selection - Fabio, Chris Smalling, Wes Brown and Patrice Evra.
"Vidic won't make it - he is showing good recovery for this week and should be OK after the international break but not enough for Saturday," added Ferguson.
The United manager also confirmed he expects Rafael to be out for "two to three weeks" after the right-back limped off having replaced John O'Shea in the 2-1 win over Marseille in the last 16 Champions League second leg draw at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Ferguson conceded he may now be forced to take a risk with the fitness of Jonny Evans, who has not featured since standing in for Ferdinand against Wolves, after the Northern Ireland international collected an ankle injury in training shortly afterwards.
"It has been a bad spell for us," added Ferguson.
"Only a few weeks ago we had every defender fit and things were looking great. It has all just fallen apart in the last week or so. Hopefully Jonny Evans may be fit for Saturday, even if it is a bit of a risk."
"He has trained all week but he has been out for such a long time."
Ferdinand's absence will intensify the debate about who will take over the England captaincy ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales on 26 March.
Vice-captain Steven Gerrard is already out of the game after undergoing groin surgery, which is set to rule the Liverpool midfielder out for a month.
Chelsea centre-back and former England captain John Terry played the whole match against the Danes and, although he had to watch on as the captaincy was shared around, there is speculation Capello wants to make him the skipper again.
Terry was stripped of the armband in February 2010 after allegations surrounding his personal life.
source : bbc.co.uk |
| New Job Vacancy in Mott MacDonald Administrator Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:42 AM PDT P.T. Mott MacDonald Indonesia is part of Mott MacDonald Group, US$1.5 billion turnover business spans 120 countries with 14,000 staff working in all sectors from transport, energy, buildings, water and the environment to health and education, industry and communications.
Due to an expanding national and regional energy workload, we would like to invite you to be part of our dynamic company to fill in the following position:
ADMINISTRATOR Requirements: a. Male / Female b. Holding Bachelor Degree, preferable majoring in economic / administration with min GPA 3.00 c. Having min.1 year experience in administration and accounting / finance d. Having brevert A & B certificate e. Must be proficient in English Language f. Immediatelly available to work
Job description : The incumbent will be responsible : To make financial reporting (including invoice arrangement) For administration task (filling, document, invoice, etc)
For further information please check our web: www.mottmac.com
Please send your complete CV, not later than 2 weeks after the posting date to: ptminhrd@gmail.com
(Max 300 kb) Only short listed candidates will be invited further recruitment process. |
| New Job Vacancy in XL Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:42 AM PDT  PT XL Axiata Tbk. ('XL') was established on 8 October 1989, under the name PT Grahametropolitan Lestari. Its main business was in trading and general services.
Six years later, XL took an important step by setting up a partnership with Rajawali Group -a shareholder of PT Grahametropolitan Lestari - and three foreign investors (NYNEX, AIF and Mitsui). Its name was changed to PT Excelcomindo Pratama, with the provisioning of basic telephony services as its core business.
XL commenced commercial operations in 1996, primarily covering Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya areas. This made XL the first private company in Indonesia to provide cellular mobile telephony services.
XL is now leading the industry as a cellular telecommunications provider with extensive coverage throughout Indonesia. It provides services for retail customers and offers business solutions for corporate customers, including voice, data and other value-added mobile telecommunications services. XL operates its network with GSM 900/DCS 1800 and IMT-2000/3G technologies. XL also holds a Closed Regular Network License, Internet Service Provider (ISP) License, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) License, and Internet Interconnection Services License (NAP).
Dealership Management - MDS Channel Development (Jakarta Raya) Responsibilities:
* Building scale, commitment to XL dealer traditional to selling MDS, as well as expand XL MDS presence in traditional outlet - retail outlet * Increase dealer and outlet advocacies & visibility for blackberry, broadband, and mobile internet through sales planning to fulfill market demand * Dealer & Retail productivity performance as well as commission and KPI * Supporting bundling activities from non traditional project / program to be effective in retail/outlet level
Requirements:
* Hold S1, Economy, Management, Marketing * Min 3 year experience * Good skill in Microsoft office & English * Good knowledge of channel distribution or dealership management * Preferably from FMCG or Telecommunication industry * Good knowledge of marketing
Supervisor Premium Service (Jakarta Raya) Responsibilities:
* Manage, organize and supervise day to day operations through monitoring and controlling agent activities in serving the customer and analysis the report * Maintain existing customer to avoid churning to other competitors and retain churned potential turning customer through proposing premium added values * Providing information need by premium services representative in order to do their job properly * Regular couching counseling and feedback for premium services reps to improve their performance * Maintain and controlling database monitoring premium
Requirements:
* Hold S1 Degree * Min 3 year experience * Good skill in Microsoft office * Good knowledge of call center activity * Good leadership
Project Support Coordinator (Jakarta Raya) Responsibilities:
* To monitor project and customer service process from pre implementation until closing completely, starting from distributing quotation from sales support to project, document handling and monitoring system. * Budget control
Requirements:
* S1 Engineering - Telecommunication * Min 3 year experience * Preferably from Telecommunication industry * Good Knowledge of site acquisition, Finance, Legal * Good knowledge of programming asp/php/sql * Good knowledge of business process, SAP (Finance & Budgeting)
Specialist Capacity Planner (Jakarta Raya) Responsibilities:
* To Monitor all capacity planning VS Realization production (starter pack) * To Calculate required number to support production * Make sure billing capacity to support starter pack production and to calculate vendor capacity for packaging production * Balancing available capacity versus market demand * Mitigate the risk and propose action item if capacity is under required to avoid shortage / revenue drop.
Requirements:
* S1, Engineering / Industrial Engineering / Management * 4 year experience * Preferably from Telecommunication / FMCG industry * Preferably has experience in supply or logistic * Good knowledge of project management * Proficient in distribution system
Account Manager (Jakarta Raya) Responsibilities:
* Achieving target enterprise sales target through developing effective sell tactic and strategy to earn additional revenue * Maintain current customer and their recurring revenue through developing effective account strategy in each individual account * Developing and sell new product and bundling product through exploring customer need and developing solution using new product or bundling product * Develop and maintain reseller and partner for sales through selecting coaching evaluating and maintain reseller/partner
Requirements:
* Hold S1, Any Major * Experience min 1 year from any background * Good knowledge of telecommunication * Having communication skill * Self motivation * Good knowledge and experience of account management * Having selling skill
For further information please check our web: www.xl.co.id
Successful candidate will work in a result oriented and dynamic environment. Should you interested please apply below link: |
| New Job Vacancy in Bank Muamalat Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:42 AM PDT  Nearly two decades after its birth, Bank Muamalat now provides services to over 2.5 million customers through a network of over 3000 outlets spread across all 33 provinces in Indonesia. As we grow, we continuously strive to improve our infrastructures, as well as the quality of our human capital. To ensure our sustainable growth, we are seeking vigorous, brilliant, and dynamic talent who has the enthusiasm to grow with us as an officer by joining:
Muamalat Officer Development Program (MODP) - West Java, Central Java, and JabotabekserRequirements - Minimum Bachelor degree (S1) from any discipline, with GPA minimum 2,75 (for state university graduate) and 3,00 (for private university graduate)
- Fresh graduate or applicants with working experience maximum of 2 years are welcome
- Maximum age 27 years old
- Good knowledge of Basic Islamic Comprehension
- Passionate about growth of Sharia Banking
- Proficient in written and spoken English
- Computer literate (min MS Office)
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Highly motivated, proactive, full of initiative, disciplined, able to work in a team, and able to work efficiently and cooperatively within a team environment
- No family relationship with Bank Muamalat employees and Board of Directors
- Willing to be placed all around Indonesia especially at West Java, Central Java, and Jabotabekser. Originated from those areas is preferred.
- Placement upon graduation of the program will be at your origin area.
If you are convinced you have all the requirements, please send your comprehensive CV to email below. Please write MODP - your origin (i.e MODP-Bandung, MODP-Jakarta) on the email subject. Send your comprehensive CV, along with copies of ID Card (KTP/SIM), latest 4x6cm photograph, copy of the legalized graduation certificate (ijazah) & transcript. These documents shall be received by 19 March 2011 at the latest. |
| New Job Vacancy in Malaysia Airlines Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:41 AM PDT Malaysia Airlines System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines (abbreviated MAS), is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its secondary hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Selangor.
Malaysia Airlines has built up a strong brand name in the aviation industry for service and safety,[6] coupled with numerous awards from international bodies such as Skytrax. Malaysia Airlines is accredited by International Air Transport Association with IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) for its operational safety practices.
Malaysia Airlines is one of the seven airlines to be ranked as a 5-star airline by the indepedent research consultancy firm Skytrax. Malaysia Airlines is also listed among Skytrax's Quality Approved Airlines.
COPORATE SALES EXECUTIVE
JOB SUMMARY
* Responsible for acquiring new corporate clients and monitoring performance overall * Responsible for handling and servicing corporate clients and corporate agents * Responsible for developing and executing marketing activities * Responsible for providing necessary report for District Sales Manager
QUALIFICATION & EXPERIENCE
* Bachelor Degree or equivalent * Excellent in English, oral & written * Excellent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) * Excellent communication skill * Minimum working experience of 5 years
PREFERABLY
* Understand Airlines business and proficient with supported system (MIDT, PAXIS, BSP process) * Experience in sales and marketing field * Strong relationship with Multinational Company
MUST HAVE
* GOOD PERSONALITY AND ABLE TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY
If you are interested, please send your application with comprehensive CV, recent photograph and copy of academic transcript not later than 25 March 2011 to the following :
Mr Roslan Ismail Area Manager Indonesia 14th fl, World Trade Centre Jl. Jend Sudirman Kav 29-31 Jakarta 12920 Email : ine@malaysiaairlines.com |
| New Job Vacancy in International SOS Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:41 AM PDT International SOS is the world's leading provider of medical assistance, international healthcare, security services and outsourced customer care. The company was founded in Indonesia in 1984 and now employs over 4,000 people worldwide, with offices in over 65 countries. The company is aiming to accelerate the growth of the business across Indonesia.
Account Manager We require new Account Manager to help us service our current customers and grow our business with them. In this challenging role you will develop pertnerships with current customers, understand their changing needs and help them find International SOS solutions to address their company issues. Account Management experience in the Mining, Oil & Gas Sector and Finance, Business services or Insurance sector is an advantage.
Key Responsibilities: - Maintain and cross-sell to an existing portfolio of clients by making regular face to face client visits - Solve client service delivery issues and maximize customer satisfaction - Identify new business opportunities in an already established portfolio of clients - Exceed set business mix sales targets in respect of product offering - Continually demonstrate the value of International SOS and strive to improve utilisation - Weekly and monthly reporting of progress in respect of monthly sales targets - Establish marketing plans and actively manage progress towards achievement of goals in respect of customer retention, acquisition, and sales by product - Good understanding of International SOS product offering and how best to apply products in respect of solutions required by clients - Prepare and deliver presentations and proposals to clients that are consistent with company pricing and guidelines
Key Skills / Qualities: - Good English and Bahasa Indonesia language skills - Minimum 3 years working experience in sales for - Some experience in managing customer relationships, especially dealing with Expatriate clients - Good personal presentation and numeracy skills - able to handle multiple tasks and stress - Ability to drive sales and account management with little supervision - Naturally seek new business opportunities on an ongoing basis - Must work well in a team as well as able to effectively deliver results individually - Must be able to deliver presentations to clients and have a customer focused service approach - Possess good networking with manufacturing, construction adn energy companies in Indonesia - Proven track record of sales as a definite advantage
Only qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Please explain in your CV how your qualifications meet the Key Skills/Qualities mentioned above.
PT. Asih Eka Abadi (International SOS) E-mail : hrdsos_recruitment@internationalsos.com
To learn more about us please visit to http://www.internationalsos.com |
| New Job Vacancy in Prudential Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:41 AM PDT Established in 1995, PT Prudential Life Assurance (Prudential Indonesia) is a subsidiary of Prudential plc, a leading international financial services group from the United Kingdom that has more than £245 billion (Rp 4,115 trillion) of assets under management (as at 30 June 2009). Combining Prudential's global experience in life insurance for more than 160 years with knowledge of local customs and businesses, Prudential Indonesia is committed to develop its business in Indonesia.
As at 30 June 2009, Prudential Indonesia has 7 sales offices (in Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Bandung, Batam, Denpasar and Semarang) and 183 agency offices (throughout many parts of Indonesia including, Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Batam and Bali). Prudential Indonesia has a network of more than 75,000 agents, serving more than 800,000 customers.
Payroll Officer Work Location: Jakarta
Requirements:
* Bachelor degree from a reputable University majoring in Accounting, Industrial Engineering, Informatics Engineering, Informatics Management or Taxation * Min. 2 years in handling payroll in company with no. of staff >500 * Having knowledge of PPH 21 and Jamsostek * Meticulous and detail oriented person * Honest, loyal and able to work under tight timeline * Good communication in English
Send a complete resume in English, together with recent photograph before March 28, 2011 to: career@prudential.co.id |
| New Job Vacancy in Cardig Air Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PDT  Cardig Air is a cargo airline in Indonesia, based at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta. It operates cargo services within Indonesia and across Asia on a scheduled, contract and charter basis. Cardig Air leases two Boeing 737-300F aircraft which had been converted to freighters, both aircraft arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on 20 October 2008. Cardig Air officially began its operating activities in January 2009.
Cardig Air currently has scheduled flights to Jakarta, Singapore, Balikpapan, and Padang. In addition, Cardig Air has charter flights to various domestic and regional destinations. Cardig Air is listed in category 2 by Indonesian Civil Aviation Authority for airline safety quality
We are looking for a dynamic, skilled and professional persons to join our energetic team, and now we are offering a great opportunity for the following positions.
SALES EXECUTIVE Requirement
* College or university graduate * Minimum 5 years sales experiences; (Experiences in Airlines or Cargo Agencies is highly sought) * Ability to be creative in selling skills * Proficient in spoken and written English language is a MUST * Proficient in operating computer, specially Office (XL, MsWord, and Power Point) * Young, preferably below 35 years of age * Dynamic, and ready to take up Challenge, can work under pressure
HR SENIOR OFFICER (HR) Requirement
* Male/ Female with age 23– 35 years old * Minimum Bachelor Degree from any background preferred coming from Psychology/Management/HR Management/Industrial Engineer * Minimum 3 years experience in handling HR. * Strong interpersonal skills with excellent verbal and written communication skill both in Bahasa and English * Dynamic, and ready to take up Challenge, can work under pressure * Computer literature – Ms Officer , especially Excel,, Word, Power Point – is a MUST * Having Knowledge in all human resources spectrum, such as hr strategic, performance management, compensation benefit, recruitment and learning development, industrial relation and labor regulation
Please send your CV, recent photograph (max.100 KB) including your current and expected salary within 3 weeks after this Adv. Put the position code on email subject to :
recruitment@cardigair.com and Tina.melinda@cardigair.com
Please write the position on the subject email. Only Short-listed candidates will be notified |
| New Job Vacancy in First Asia Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PDT First Asia Consultants is a management consulting company with a range of services in Human Resources. Our services consist of Psychological Evaluation Program, Assessment Center, Human Resources System Development, Executive Search and Selection, and Outsourcing. We have clients from various industries such as banking, retail, consumer goods, oil & gas, transportation, media, etc.
Our Client is a Retail Stationery Company for 18 years with more than 500 employees. Currently they have 24 respective business outlets throughout Indonesia, and still need the best talented people to fulfill its team in West Jakarta area as :
Secretary (SEC-JS0311) (Jakarta Raya - West Jakarta) Requirements:
* D3 Degree in any major with min. 1 year of secretarial experience, or fresh graduates majoring Secretary * Female * Age max. 25 years old, single * Computer literate & fluent in English
Public Relation (JS0311) (Jakarta Raya) Requirements:
* Female/Male, max. 28 years old * Bachelor degree from Public Relation/Marketing Management/Communication * Good knowledge concept of Client's relations. * Good personality, leadership skill, creative thinking, service mind character and accurate. * Preferable fluent of English oral and written * Ability to understand and work fast * Ability to create and develop new ideas * Able to work as a team
Brand Executive (BE-JS0311) (Jakarta Raya) Requirements:
* Female, age max 28 years old * Bachelor Degree (S1) in any discipline * 1-2 years working experiences in same field * Having experiences related with event in promotion is a point plus * Good analytical skill, pro active, outgoing, well organized * Pleasant, friendly, helpful, communicative * Cooperative, team work, honest, practical, integrity * Preferable have been involved in any marketing projects, Good command in English both in oral and written * Having own vehicle
For further information please check our web: www.firstasiaconsultants.com
Rush your comprehensive resume with recent photograph and put the position code (BE-JS0311) at e-mail subject to : cv.hrd@utama.co.id |
| New Job Vacancy in CordLife Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PDT CordLife Indonesia collects, processes and stores cord blood stem cells, which may later become potential source material for life saving treatments. Headquartered in Singapore, Cordlife Indonesia been providing quality and reliable service to our customers in different countries throughout the region since our incorporation in May 2001.
Cordlife Indonesia laboratory in Singapore where Cordlife stores your cord blood units is the first and only AABB* accredited private cord blood banking facility in South and Southeast Asia. Cordlife Indonesia are also licensed by the Ministry of Health in Singapore.
As a company with strong values and integrity, Cordlife set high standards for processing and storing cord blood stem cells. Cordlife Indonesia banking activities have always been focused around umbilical cord blood stem cells. With stem cell research and development progressing rapidly, this is expected to expand to include other sources of adult stem cells, such as adipose tissue and mesenchymal stem cells. Cordlife Indonesia already begun preliminary studies
Cordlife are a well-established and rapidly expanding biotechnology firm. Be part of our team, embark in a challenging career and GROW with us!
HR Executive (Jakarta) Requirements:
* Female * Min S1 with 2 – 3 years experience in the same position * Familiar with ISO 9001 : 2008 * Good Communication skill and able to work independently
Sales Executive (Jakarta, Medan, Bandung, Semarang) Requirements:
* Min S1 with 2 years of direct selling experience * Medical representative and insurance background are welcome * Good Communication skill and able to work independently and team oriented * Presentable and pleasant personality * Have own vehicle.
Telesales (Jakarta) Requirements:
* Min D3 / S1 with 2 years experience in the same position * Female and Max 35 years old
Marketing Manager (Jakarta) Requirements:
* Male or Female * Min S1 / S2 with 3 years experience in the same position * Excellent Communication skill in English * Leadership and interpersonal skills * Familiar with Healthcare and Service Business
Please Submit your resume to :
PT Cordlife Indonesia hrm@cordlife.com |
At BII, we offer equal job opportunities to all of our staff, no matter what their career ambitions might be. We take pleasure and pride in seeing our people achieve their personal targets through hard work.
