Cinemas Face Threat of US Movie Boycott

Cinemas Face Threat of US Movie Boycott
Elisabeth Oktofani | February 18, 2011
Cinema screens across the country may soon have little to show except local movies if a new threat by American film producers to boycott exports to Indonesia is carried out.

The warning has come from the Motion Picture Association,*the international counterpart of the Motion Picture Association of America,*which has apparently been angered by a proposed levy slapped on imported films.

Freelance film reviewer Bobby Batara told the Jakarta Globe that Frank Rittman, MPA’s vice president for the Asia Pacific, aired the warning after a preview screening for journalists on Thursday of the Oscar-nominated US film “Black Swan.”

Bobby, who attended the event, said Rittman had complained about a new tax that would soon be applied by Indonesia’s customs office.

Rittman was quoted by a number of journalists at the screening as saying that the new government regulation on film importation could force big American studios to stop sending movies to Indonesian cinemas.

MPA representatives could not be reached for confirmation.

Titis Sapto Raharjo, editor in chief of Flick Online Magazine, a film review site, was also at the screening and said the rumor was that the government planned to impose a levy of 43 cents per meter of film imported.

Government officials involved in the matter declined to confirm the figure, saying only that talks were still ongoing.

Syamsul Lussa, a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said he did not want to comment because the levy had not been finalized yet. “We will discuss it with the tax and customs directorate as there is a high demand for imported films in Indonesia,” he told the Globe.

Bambang Permadi Brodjonegoro, head of fiscal policy at the Ministry of Finance, said the details had not been finalized because negotiations with the MPA were still ongoing.

“I can’t provide any details until it has been discussed at the fiscal policy body. Please wait until next week,” he said in a message to the Globe. “It’s better to wait until after we have met with [officials from] customs and duties.”

Titis criticized the MPA for bringing up the issue before talks had been completed. “This is an internal discussion between the government and the MPA,” he said. “Therefore, it is very important that Frank not bring this case up to the public.”

Nauval Yazid, manager of the annual Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest), said if the threat were carried out, it would deal a significant blow to cinemas and filmgoers across the country.

“Stopping film exports to Indonesia would affect many people,” he said. “Besides, the Indonesian film industry is grappling with piracy, which cannot be stopped. It’s very important that the MPA discuss and resolve this problem with customs.”

Members of the MPA include some of the biggest studios in the United States, including Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Indonesia’s film industry has suffered a downturn in recent years. In 2009, six local films sold more than a million tickets each at the box office. In 2010, only one movie broke the million mark.

Last year, 81 Indonesian films had cinema releases, slightly down from 83 films in 2009, although a significant decline from 91 big-screen releases in 2008

Car bomb explosion in Afghanistan, 5 killed

A bomb struck terror in Afghanistan. As many as 5 people were killed including the police, and 14 others injured in a car bombing in Khost, eastern Afghanistan.

"The attacker used a car to attack the police in the town of Khost," said local police chief, Abdul Hakim Eshaqzai, as quoted by AFP on Friday (18/02/2011).

Of the 5 deaths, 1 ofof whom police . Meanwhile, injured including 2 policemen, 2 women, and 10 other adult males.

Eshaqzai added, "These are terrorist acts committed by enemies of the people and government of Afghanistan."

The phrase 'the enemy' was referring to the Taliban, who also became opponents internasiinal troops in Afghanistan since 2001.

Khost province, which borders Pakistan, believed to be the basis of the Islamic extremist group. In that area, as many as 140 thousand foreign soldiers deployed to fight the Taliban and maintain the stability of the region until 2014.

Cikeusik clash, 6 Citizens Ahmadiyya Died

Six members of the Ahmadiyya religious pilgrims died following a clash with villagers Umbulan, District Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Sunday (02/06/2011) morning.

"What I see there are six people who died, and all of the Ahmadiyya Community," said Lukman, Cikeusik community leaders Sunday.

Lukmah explained, all the victims died of unknown identity because it has no identity card, but all from outside the area and members of the Ahmadiyya Community.

In that event, a resident of the Village Umbulan, Sarta, suffered severe wounds in his right arm by a sharp weapon. "Sarta nearly severed right arm was slashed by a member of the Ahmadiyya Community," said Lukman.

Lukman explained that citizens actually do not intend to commit violence and only want the head of the Ahmadiyya Community in Cikeusik Parman disband.

"People want Ahmadiyah disband because it was declared heretical by the Indonesian Ulema Council, but the request was ignored by them," he said.

According to Lukman, on Saturday night, dozens of members of the Ahmadiyya Community of Bogor City Cikeusik arrived in two vehicles with four-wheel ride and stay at home Parman.

Sunday morning, about one thousand citizens of different regions of Sub Cibaliung, Cikeusik Pandeglang and Lebak District Malingping Parman went home.

When the masses arrive, dozens of the Ahmadiyya Community in Parman house was ready and they carry different kinds of sharp weapons, such as samurai, machetes and spears.

A moment later, said Lukman, a member of Jamaat Amhadiyah Sarta slashed his right arm up to breaking point.

"Pembacokan this is what sparked the clashes. Residents angry look Sarta right arm nearly cut off," said Lukman. [Ant]

Wealth Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak

Wealth Hosni Mubarak, according to confidential reports, the wife of President Hosni Mubarak has been a member of the millionaires club since th 2000. President Hosni Mubarak has led Egypt for more than 30 years. Old master the country's pyramid, a number of people have accused him of hoarding wealth in some countries.

INSANE! Wealth President Hosni Mubarak's Rp 360 trillion over 30 years of Ruling
Algeria Daily, Alkhabar, like to be reloaded by JP News, reported that Hosni Mubarak's family fortune at U.S. $ 40 billion or around Rp360 trillion. Wealth is spread across several accounts and properties in the United States, Switzerland, Britain, and Germany.

Suzanne, wife of Mubarak, according to confidential reports have become millionaires club member since 2000. In addition to accounts, Suzanne owns property in the center of major cities in Europe, like London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Paris, and Dubai. Lady wealth is estimated at U.S. $ 3-5 billion.

Mubarak's first child, Alaa Mubarak who chose a career in banking, has a property worth U.S. $ 8 billion dollars, including property in Los Angeles, Washington, and New York where he owns real estate worth U.S. $ 2.1 billion on the outskirts of Manhattan. He also reportedly had two cruise ships worth 60 million euros.

According to newspaper sources, Mubarak's second son, Gamal Mubarak, has a wealth of up to U.S. $ 17 billion. In addition to having an account, secretary general of the ruling party, the Democratic National Party, also has a number of properties that are spread not only in Egypt.

As for Mubarak himself who is the son of farmers, with a personal fortune of U.S. $ 10 billion. Most of their funds in American banks, Switzerland, and England.

Since coming to power in 1981, Mubarak is able to make North African countries are stable. The secret, he established good relations with Western countries and Israel. But behind the stability, corruption, poverty and violence by the state thrives.

Mubarak was born 1928 in the village-el-Meselha Kahel. He graduated from the Military Academy in 1949. After the Arab-Israeli war, Mubarak gained promotion to Head of the Egyptian Air Force, this is the first door he came into the circle of political elites.

Known as a loyal aide Mubarak Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. He was appointed Vice President by Anwar Sadat in 1975. Since then he played a critical role, building relationships with western countries. In 1981, Sadat was killed, Mubarak rose to number one in Egypt.

Genius Indonesian Students Aged 9 Years

March Boedihardjo, one of many young achievers Indonesian of Chinese descent born in 1998 in Hong Kong. March Boediharjo and his family are people of Indonesia who live in Hong Kong. And when in 2005, March and his family migrated to the United Kingdom, when his older brother, Horatio Boediharjo who was then 14 years old get a scholarship at Oxford University, the PhD program, and make it become one of the youngest students at the university.

Both offspring are indeed menunujukan Boediharjo more talent in the field of mathematics, his father had been since childhood mathematics to introduce these two children, even when eating anything that they are talking about math. March completing secondary school in England when he and his family to accompany her brother was educated in England. Remarkably, he entered the accelerated class, so it only takes two years of high school-level education. The result, he got two A's for maths and B for statistics. He also managed to penetrate the Advanced Extension Awards (AEA), a test that can only be followed by ten per cent of students who ranked top A-level. He graduated with honors satisfactory.

In the history of the AEA, AEA only a quarter of participants who can receive that status. He also get 8 GCSEs in the same time as when he follows the A-level exams in England. After that, he was enrolled in the Baptist Hong Kong (HKBU), March in fact been applied to several other universities in Hong Kong. Among them are the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. But, unfortunately, the universities were not given an answer, I'm the father March. Actually, March wanted to follow his older brother who was 14 years of continuing education at Oxford University in England, but unfortunately their families do not have enough money, waluapun father was a businessman living in England because the cost was very expensive and finally March and his parents had to go back to Hong Kong again to leave her sister who was studying in Oxford.

He listed himself as the youngest student at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). In his first year he was criticized that the lessons taught are too easy. He got a B + and A-in almost all math exams that make it into the Dean's list, namely an award for students who have a GPA of 3:00 to 3:49 with no value under C. March also will have a bachelor's of science philosophy of mathematics as well as master mathematics. Because of its merits, the college is preparing a special curriculum for him with a completion period of five years ie by 2010. He also criticized that he did not have good impression on fellow college.

"They did not respond (in the lecture hall.) They just listen and not interact with each other, "he said.

The boy told his colleagues at previous school "wants to play", unlike the college student.

When asked about how to adapt to the environment and new people, March showed that he was never worried about dealing with classmates who older than him. "When I was in Oxford, all my classmates over the age of 18 years and we often discussed mathematics tasks ,''his story.

A BBC correspondent in Hong Kong, England Vaudine mewawancarinya never a moment and he said that the March Tian Boedihardjo no different from other boys aged 9 years, he still has the typical antics of children and March also claimed that in addition to his hobby of eating and learn all of his math book, he was also very pleased to play chess, monopoly, and lego.

The lesson we can take

I always thought that math was difficult probably the same goes with you, I often get a value below 7 on my math test, but after I read the story of a Tian Boediahrjo, the term nothing is impossible to suppose we would try and keep the focus that was true. Maybe this time I do not try and focus so much failure to me. But I will try to succeed and build yourself from all the failures I've ever experienced. Because "I can" and "we can". Let us perform for it the name of Indonesia in the eyes of the world.

"When we think that mathematics is difficult and many people give up if it is not able to find a way to solve a problem, Indonesian boy genius is just not thinking like that, he always thought of mathematics is an exciting challenge to be resolved for her."
andisiboro is offline

Adjie Massaid poisoned Nurdin's Men

Fuel Messages: Adjie Massaid poisoned Nurdin's Men Banjarmasinpost.co.id


BANJARMASINPOST.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The family of the deceased Adjie Massaid claimed the corpse would not ask Democrats to autopsied.
This comes following the circulation of messages in the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) which says that Adjie was poisoned while playing futsal by Nurdin Halid's men on the island of Bintan PSSI congress next March.
"No, we would not have an autopsy," said Sister Cousin Adjie Massaid, Chandra Rajasyah, when found on the TPU Jeruk Purut, South Jakarta, on Saturday (05/02/2011).
According to Chandra the family itself has mengikhlaskan Massaid Adjie trip into the lap of the Divine.
"We're sincere, I have, already do not want to have anything more," jelasnya.Tidak only that, Chandra was also explained that the party requesting keluaga mass media is no longer preach the sloping top causes of death Adjie Massaid.
"It was not developed more news like that, we are sincere," he said. Previously, Members of Parliament, Democratic Party, Adjie Massaid reportedly deliberately poisoned, so dead. The news was widely circulated message Blackberry Messenger.
In a written message that Adjie reportedly poisoned by political groups who membekingi Nurdin Halid in PSSI at break playing Futsal, Friday (02/04/2011) yesterday (Adjie dies at dawn one morning, 5 hours later).
This is related to the existence of PSSI congress in March. The news circulating, secretly Adjie Massaid is prepared to replace ketum PSSI Nurdin Halid.
Although Congress intentionally held on the resort island of Bintan's ketum this political group, but had a lot of clubs 'will' to defect and support in times when the last Adjie.
With a fit body Adjie, and a healthy lifestyle, you do not think he hit his usual heart disease? Spread the word to another, let's dismantle decay Nurdin Halid and dirty politics in this country

World's longest bridge

Longest bridge in the world has finally been completed - spent four years

It connects the city of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province with districts Huangdao and 26.4 miles long - 174 times the length of London's Tower Bridge over the river Thames.

Two separate teams have been building tip different from Qingdao Haiwan Bridgesejakin 2006 .


£ 5.5billion structure was finally completed on Monday when the engineers combine 2 parts into one end.