Indonesian Youngster Blazing New Trail with Spanish Club
Arthur Irawan is on course to become the first Indonesian to compete in the Spanish top flight after signing with La Liga club Espanyol.
Espanyol announced the signing of the 18-year-old striker on Thursday night on its Web site without giving details other than stating that Arthur would play for the youth team.
“In an increasingly competitive football world, the search for young talent has crossed borders and training young players to become elite players of the future has become a key factor in the future of football development,” the club said in a statement.
“The latest addition to RCD Espanyol is Arthur Irawan, a young pearl of Indonesian football, a country to be discovered on a football level. … The challenge now is to see how the player will adapt to the needs and style of European elite football.”
Espanyol, a Barcelona-based club currently seventh in La Liga, said Arthur had also attracted the attention of English Premier League giant Manchester United. However, the youngster’s parents insisted that he complete his high-school education first.
Arthur, who was born in Jakarta, had a brief spell last year with English amateur club Lytham Town, which plays in the West Lancashire Football League.
He was part of the selection process for the Under-23 national team during former coach Alfred Riedl’s time in charge. Despite impressing during tryouts, though, Riedl said Arthur was too young to play for the country at the Southeast Asian Games.
Instead, he returned to England and went on trial with League One club Preston North End, which is also based in Lancashire.
Arthur is not the only Indonesian plying his trade for a European club. In July, three youngsters — defenders Yericho Christiantoko and Alfin Tuasalamony, and striker Yandi Sofyan Munawar — signed contracts to play for Belgian second-division club Cercle Sportif Vise.
Those three were members of Indonesia’s U-19 squad that had been playing in Uruguay’s youth league since 2008. However, they had an in with the club after it was purchased by the Indonesian conglomerate Bakrie Group, which also owns local club Pelita Jaya, Uruguayan side Indonesia S.A.D. and the defending Australian A-League champion Brisbane Roar.
The first Indonesian to play for a European club was striker Kurniawan Dwi Julianto, who spent one season with Swiss side FC Lucerne.
(written by Sandy Pramuji)
Photo: Courtesy of RCD Espanyol
News source: The Jakarta Globe
365Indonesia Hari 9 – Matahari Terbenam di Tulamben, Bali
Saatnya untuk menenangkan diri dan bersantai…
Setelah petualangan indah yang mendebarkan dan semangat tinggi, saatnya untuk bersantai sejenak. Saya memutuskan untuk mampir di pantai utara-timur Bali, Tulamben, sambil mempersiapkan perjalanan menarik untuk satu minggu berikutnya.
Menikmati matahari terbenam disini setelah menyelam dengan turis mancanegara yang penasaran di sekitar bangkai kapal Angkatan Darat Amerika Serikat adalah cara yang bagus untuk menyelesaikan minggu ini. Kecelakaan saat menyelam merupakan atraksi utama disini, Anda masih bisa menemukan hal yang menarik lainnya untuk dilakukan di Bali. Ini Bali yang dibicarakan.
Saya tidak cukup beruntung menemukan harta yang hilang di bangkai kapal…
Sangat direkomendasikan untuk divers, swimmers.
Salam
Mad
Kunjungi blog travel saya Mad Alkatiri untuk tempat keren lainnya dan follow saya @madalkatiri
Translated on Good News From Indonesia on MSN by Cindy Frishanti
RI wins its first gold medal SEA GAMES
Karawang, W Java (ANTARA News) – Eka Octavianus presented the first gold medal to Indonesia in the men`s 1000-m Cano I event in the 26h SEA Games` rowing competition here on Friday.
Eka managed to leave behind Myanmar`s Whin H Tikr and Vietnam`s Van long Tran. In the rowing event, Myanamar and Vietnam finally ranked in the second and third position respectively.
In the meantime, Indonesian rower Muhclis who was initially expected to present the first gold medal from the Men`s 1000 m kayak event failed to meet the expectation as he was defeated by Thailand`s Wichan Liatieng.
Muchlis had to be content with being ranked in third position.
On the first day of the rowing competition, five gold medals were at stake namely for the Kayak 1,2,3, Cano I and 1000-m men`s categories.(*)
RI beats Singapore 2-0 in soccer match
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesia`s national soccer team beat Singapore`s 2-0 in a 26th Sea Games Group A soccer match at the Bung Karno Sports Stadium here on Friday.
The first goal was made by Patrick Wanggai in the first minute and the second one by Titus Bonai in the 37th minute. With its Friday victory, Indonesia`s Young Garuda team had collected six points.
Playing under a scorching temperature, Indonesian soccer athletes under the direction of Rahmad Darmawan, directly launched a sharp attack in the first minute so that Patrik could make one goal in the first minute.
With a 1-0 score lead, the Indonesian team continued to pressure Singapore, yet Singapore also launched a fast attack. But in the 37th minute, Titus Bonai was able to outwit three Singapore`s back players and made another goal that raised Indonesia`s lead to 2-0 which remained unchanged until the end of the game.(*)
General Motors starts building assembly plant in Bekasi
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – PT General Motors (GM) Indonesia, an authorized GM car distributor, has started building an assembly plant in Bekasi, West Java, with a capacity of 40,000 units a year with an investment of US$150 million.
“We have conducted a ground breaking for the plant construction. This shows our seriousness in developing business in Indonesia,” the president director of GM Indonesia, Marcos Purty, said here on Friday.
Marcos said the plant stands on an area of 11 hectares. GM also plans to develop a 600 square meter garden to make the plant`s environment good.
“We appeal to all contractors to prioritize and implement safety regulations in the project,” he said.
He said the project is expected to finish in 2013. The plant will produce passenger cars to meet export and dometic demand and absorb 800 workers.
Marcos said the GM plant in Bekasi will join with the GM manufacturing facility in Rayong, Thailand. The plant will strengthen market penetration in Southeast Asia.
“The two facilities certainly will use local component supplies. We will also widen dealer networks in Thailand and Indonesia to spur sales,” he said.
GM is the US automotive giant and global car maker second only to Toyota. GM is now focussing on four brands namely Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac.
GM enters Indonesia through Chevrolet or better known as Chevy. This year`s sales of the brand reaches 5,000 units. (*)
“Kampung Halaman” receives award from Michele Obama
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Yogyakarta-based organization “Kampung Halaman”, which instructs youth on technical skills involved in video production and instructs young filmmakers, received the President`s Council National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award as the international representative.
First Lady Michelle Obama presented the award at a special White House ceremony, the US embassy said on its website, Saturday.
Through this year`s international honoree program, Youth Community Media Project, students in Indonesia created their own videos to raise awareness around issues like poverty, women?s rights, and the effects of natural disasters, the First Lady said in her remarks at the President`s Council on Arts and Humanities Youth Event.
“Every day, with every lesson you teach, you remind our young people that their story is part of the broader American story, and you show them how they, as artists, can challenge our assumptions and help us view our world in new and very unexpected ways. That is precisely what we are trying to do here at the White House, as well,” she said.
(F001/F001)
US Movie Studio to Remake Indonesian Action Thriller
Los Angeles. Screen Gems has acquired the remake rights for the Indonesian action movie “The Raid,” the studio announced on Wednesday.
The original film centers on an elite SWAT team that becomes trapped in a tenement run by a notorious drug lord. To escape, the men have to battle martial arts-trained killers and a militia armed with machetes and machine guns.
The movie was well-received at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions picked up US distribution rights to the original Indonesian film during the Cannes Film Festival.
The remake will be produced by XYZ Films, which produced the original film as well. Gareth Evans, the writer and director of the original film, will executive produce the project, but will not write or direct this new English language version.
The fight choreographers of the original film will also be involved with this remake, Screen Gems said.
Screen Gems’ president, Clint Culpepper, will oversee the project for the studio.
Reuters
taken from: The Jakarta Globe
UN official praises Indonesia’s Cultural Diversity
Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesia is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, unique cultures, and traditional arts that have to be maintained and preserved.
In a country of more than 300 ethnic groups, each with their own languages and dialects, Indonesia cannot be compared with any other country for its rich cultural diversity.
As an archipelago comprising more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world`s fourth most populous country.
Arief Rachman, a member of the Administrative Group of the International Bureau of Education (IBE) Council of UNESCO, said in Paris recently that Indonesia is a unique laboratory for the country`s cultural diversity.
He noted that Indonesia is made up of over 500 tribes who speak more than 700 ethnic languages spread over more than 17,000 islands that are made up of five major islands, including Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua.
In view of the fact that the Indonesian nation consists of so many different ethnic groups, local languages and local cultures,
UNESCO director general Irina Borkova praised the country for its capability to preserve its cultural diversity.
“I expressed my appreciation to Indonesia, a country with cultural diversity,” Irina Borkova recently said in Paris.
Therefore, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was invited by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to present his views on the development and preservation of the country`s cultural diversity.
“In UNESCO`s view, Indonesia had succeeded in maintaining the territorial integrity of its unitary republic (NKRI) and its national unity, although its population consisted of hundreds of different tribes with their own cultures and languages,” Arief said.
That is why he said UNESCO has invited President Yudhoyono to speak at a special UNESCO session to mark the 10th anniversary of its declaration on cultural diversity.
Arief said President Yudhoyono would share Indonesia`s experience in maintaining its cultural diversity for the sake of unity at the upcoming UNESCO General Assembly in Paris.
He added that Indonesia was chosen to deliver a key speech because UNESCO considered the country to be an example of cultural diversity that eventually became a source of the nation’s strength.
According to Arief, Indonesia, with its efforts to maintain its cultural diversity, could become an example of a nation that used its cultural diversity as a key, or main vehicle, to assist in the nation`s progress.
Arief said if even the international community respected the cultural diversity of Indonesia, then all parties within the country should also make every effort to preserve and develop it.
“Therefore, the state and nation, including people from all walks of life, should familiarize themselves with Indonesia`s strength and realize that Indonesia is a great country,” Arief said.
Arief noted that the role of government in developing and preserving the country`s multicultural life was also important, since it could also be used in its foreign diplomacy.
Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono, in his speech at the special session of the 36th UNESCO General Conference in Paris on Wednesday, said a new approach must be found to develop understanding of cultural diversity and differences.
The Indonesian head of state also called on all parties around the world to join Indonesia in creating a new approach to the development of multicultural life.
“The previous paradigm of `I and you` should now be changed to `we`,” the Indonesian president said.
President Yudhoyono said, with this new paradigm, differences of opinion could be reduced to promote a positive multicultural life that would eventually promote respect for human rights.
“I cannot deny that the world is not free from prejudices and other negative notions, but we must challenge it with unity and mutual respect,” he said.
Indonesia, he added, had experienced a number of problems relating to ethnic issues that ended in conflict, but through common efforts by all components of the nation, the awareness had grown that diversity was a national asset that could be used to advance life, and so conflicts could be settled.
“The experience later turned into a lesson and has turned Indonesia into one of the world`s largest democracies,” he said.
Further, an approach that accommodated local interests and respected local cultures helped settle problems, such as in Aceh and Poso, he said.
President Yudhoyono added that Indonesia was grateful that it was living in a diverse society and adhered to the principle of unity in diversity.
He hoped its experience in managing its multicultural life, made up of various ethnic groups and hundreds of different local languages, could contribute to the respect for cultural diversity that UNESCO has long advocated.
President Yudhoyono said, as current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), that Indonesia is supporting efforts to develop the understanding of different cultures among ASEAN member countries with regard to creating a region with cultural diversity and promoting the common welfare.
In his speech, the president also appreciated that UNESCO has helped Indonesia protect and develop its cultures, including its recognition of the country`s heritages, such as wayang (puppet), batik, kris, angklung, and its assistance for the maintenance of the Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
Meanwhile, presidential special staff for international relation Teuku Faizasyah said UNESCO`s invitation from President Yudhoyono to
to present his views was a sign of recognition from the international community of Indonesia`s cultural diversity.
“The participation of President Yudhoyono in the special session of the 36th UNESCO General Assembly is an opportunity for Indonesia
to enhance it active role as a bridge builder and solution maker through inter-cultural cooperation,” Faizasyah said.
According to him, the invitation to President Yudhoyono from UNESCO was a display of the appreciation of the UN body to the Indonesian government`s commitment to preserving and promoting its cultural diversity as living assets. (*)
365Indonesia Hari 3: Air Sebening Kristal di Pulau Kambing Tanjung Bira
Selamat pagi!
Yeah, saya terbang kembali ke arah timur, mendarat di ujung Sulawesi Selatan, Tanjung Bira. Kali ini saya pergi menikmati air segar dan sangat jernih luar biasa di Pulau Kambing. Sangat bersih dan segar sehingga saya berpikiran untuk hidup di bawah air, tapi saya bukan Spongebob. Dan karangnya sangat indah, sayangnya saya tidak membawa kamera tahan air. Saya harap gambar di atas bisa berfungsi sebagai teaser.
Seperti yang Anda lihat pada foto di atas, airnya berwarna kebiruan, sangat menenangkan! Sempurna untuk menyelam, snorkeling, berada di atas papan surfing Anda atau berpura-pura seakan Anda hidup di bawah air.
Dari Makassar ke Tanjung Bira dibutuhkan waktu sekitar 4 sampai 5 jam ditempuh dengan mobil. Kemudian Anda menumpang kapal feri ke Pulau Kambing. Ada banyak penerbangan dalam negeri yang melayani rute ke Makassar dari Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Medan dan bahkan Kuala Lumpur dan Singapura. Jadi, petualangan bawah air Anda tidak punya alasan untuk tidak terpenuhi.
Dan Anda tahu, Pulau Kambing hanyalah salah satu dari ribuan pulau indah lainnya di Indonesia. Jadi, tetap bersama 365Indonesia untuk mendapatkan info tentang surga bawah air lainnya!
Sangat direkomendasikan kepada para pecinta apa-saja-yang-bisa-dilakukan-di-dalam-air.
Salam,
Mad
Kunjungi blog travel saya, Mad Alkatiri untuk tempat keren yang lain dan follow saya @madalkatiri
Translated and rewritten for Good News From Indonesia on MSN by Cindy Frishanti
365Indonesia Hari 2: Air Terjun Sipiso Piso
Horas!
Padahari ke-2, saya terbang ke daerah timur pulau Sumatera, Kabupaten Karo, Medan, Sumatera Utara untuk melihat air terjun Sipiso Piso. Air terjun tertinggi di Indonesia ini terletak di sekitar kaldera Danau Toba.
Ada beberapa hal yang bisa Anda lakukan disini. Mengambil foto untuk foto profil Facebook Anda sangat wajib dilakukan saat Anda tiba di air terjun ini. Dan jika Anda ingin mencoba keberuntungan Anda dalam menangkap ikan dengan alat pancing yang Anda punya, ada beberapa tempat memancing bagus di sekitar Tongging.
Sekedar saran, sebaiknya Anda bersiap-siap untuk berkemah di udara terbuka. Hotel dan penginapan yang nyaman berada di Parapat dan Berastagi, dua kota terdekat yang juga popular sebagai tujuan wisata.
Air terjun Sipiso Piso mungkin bukan air terjun yang special jika berdiri sendiri. Tetapi melekat dengan Danau Toba dengan atraksi alam lainnya membuat tempat itu sebagai paduan yang luar biasa untuk petualangan di luar ruangan. Mulailah hari dengan sarapan (Anda tidak perlu melakukannya tetapi ini hal yang rutin saya lakukan), ambil beberapa foto dengan air terjun Sipiso Piso sebagai latar belakang, kemudian pergi menuruni bukit dengan tangga atau melalui rumput dan tanah dan berjalan berkeliling ke bawah air terjun dan menjadi basah. Ya basah, tapi kami sarankan jangan tepat di bawah air terjun.
Setelah perjalanan yang melelahkan ini, Anda bisa pergi ke desa Tongging untuk mendapatkan makan siang di tempat memancing. Anda memakan apa yang Anda dapatkan sambil menikmati pemandangan Danau Toba. Setelah selesai, Anda bisa kembali ke tempat dimana Anda mulai dan berbelanja beberapa cenderamata yang sangat khas untuk Anda sendiri dan semua teman Anda sambil menolong pariwisata local. Selanjutnya, terserah kepada Anda.
Sangat direkomendasikan kepada backpackers, pendaki, pecinta gunung dan mereka yang menyukai petualangan yang melelahkan.
Terima kasih sudah mengikuti petualangan kami di 365Indonesia!
Salam
Mad
Courtesy foto dan kredit: Mad (atas), IndonesiaTravel (tengah)
Cari tahu tenang Mad melalui blog travelnya Mad Alkatiri dan akun twitter @madalkatiri
Translated and rewritten for Good News From Indonesia on MSN by Cindy Frishanti
