Bali: Bali to develop 100 villages as tourist sites
The provincial administration will gradually develop 100 villages across its territory as rural tourist sites, locally known as desa wisata, to help eliminate poverty and spread economic benefits across the island.
I Ketut Astra, head of research and development at Bali Tourism Agency, said that the agency had been overseeing the program and some pilot program villages and was now conducting a feasibility study to select the most appropriate villages for a new, more focused approach. ...
The Jakarta Post
Poland: Warsaw Ghetto survivor attends movie premiere
A Jewish man who as a boy escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland has attended the world premiere in Warsaw of a film based on his experiences.
Run, Boy, Run (Biegnij, Chłopcze, Biegnij) was shot by Oscar-winning German director Pepe Danquart, and the premiere was held in the Polish capital’s new Museum of the History of Polish Jews. ...
The News
Alaska: Endangered Species Act turns 40
Last month, the Endangered Species Act turned 40 to much fanfare and publicity. But not everyone is celebrating.
Four decades ago, President Richard Nixon sealed the deal with the aim of protecting and saving threatened and endangered plants and animals.
To its credit, it has done just that. Of the 2,000 or so species that have been listed, just 10 species have gone extinct. ...
The Arctic Sounder
Iceland: Icelanders Continue to Deregister from National Church
One thousand and thirty-seven people left the Icelandic Church in the period October 1 to December 31, 2013. At the same time, 100 people joined the Church meaning that a total of 936 more people left the church than joined in the period. Out of those who left the church 242 joined independent church organizations instead. ...
Iceland Review
UAE : UAE a guiding light against corruption, shows survey
The massive improvement in the UAE’s perception as a largely corruption-free country didn’t come about overnight -- 10 years ago the UAE was ranked at No. 37 in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2003, lagging its GCC peers Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
The UAE’s zero-tolerance approach to crimes of corruption and bribery has paid rich dividends with the country being ranked as the least corrupt Arab country in the annual Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International. ...
Khaleej Times
Scotland: Plot to kidnap Queen Victoria at Balmoral revealed
Armed insurrectionists threatened to kidnap Queen Victoria while she was in residence at Balmoral, according to official papers finally published after almost 150 years.
Previously classified documents reveal that Cabinet ministers and Scotland Yard feared Irish republicans would abduct the monarch at her Highland retreat. ...
The Scotsman
Sweden: Swedes tackle snow for ‘no pants’ subway ride
Scores of Stockholmers bared their legs on Sunday for the annual ‘No Pants Subway Ride’, taking on the below-freezing temperatures in the hopes of raising a smile from fellow commuters.
If you saw a few more knobbly knees than usual on the tube this weekend, fear not, you were probably caught up in the annual ‘No Pants Subway Ride’ where passengers ditch their trousers in the name of fun. ...
The Local
*Image of Bali via Shutterstock.
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