Feature: RI RACING AGAINST TIME IN FIGHTING HIV/AIDS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug. 29, 2009 (ANTARA) - The relatives of Budi (not his real name) were shocked and felt despair when the doctor said that the 33-year old man was infected with HIV virus. His wife cried and almost could not believe that her quiet and loving husband has contracted the deadly disease.

        "My life is over, especially if he infects me and our one-year old son with HIV virus," 20-year old Juminten (not her real name), said while weeping. Budi and Juminten got married two years ago and led a happy family life particularly after the birth of their son a year ago. 

NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES POACH RI'S FISH by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2009 (ANTARA) - An official has warned that Indonesia`s marine wealth might disappear in the next five years if the country is not committed to stopping poaching mostly carried out by neighboring countries` fishermen.

The largest number of poachers in Indonesia`s waters were from Vietnam, followed by Thailand, China and Malaysia, Aji Sularso, director general of marine resources and fisheries supervision and control, said when when speaking at the Coordinating Forum on the handling of Fishery crimes, organized by the West Kalimantan authorities in Pontianak, on August 21, 2009.

News Focus : EL NINO'S IMPACT BECOMING MORE REAL by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug. 20, 2009 (ANTARA) - While people in other parts of Indonesia are sound asleep, South Sulawesi villagers have to queue in the dark of night to get clean water from natural springs. Residents of Mattirotasi and Lainungan villages in Watang Pulu sub district, Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) Didstrict, South Sulawesi Province, have been facing a water crisis due to the ongoing El-Nino-induced drought over the past one month. 

     "Every evening, these villagers have to queue to collect clean water in several water springs in the village, because at noon, there is no water in the springs," Amin, a local resident, said. In fact, the drought have affected the villages since the past four months, he said.

TEAM FORMED TO END CONTROVERSY OVER KOMODO TRANSFER PLAN by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug. 13, 2009 (ANTARA) - The forestry ministry has finally decided to set up a team of experts to study its plan to transfer 10 Komodo dragons from Flores to Bali, following a controversy on the plan.

         The formation of the team was recommended by a meeting of various stakeholders in the matter, chaired by Forestry Minister MS Kaban in Jakarta, on Wednesday (Aug 12).

Dermawan Akan Hadiahkan Rumah Gandhi untuk Pemerintah

        Jakarta, 12 Agustus 2009 Spektrum - Seorang dermawan berencana untuk membeli rumah di Johannesburg, Afrika Selatan, yang pernah didiami oleh Mahatma Gandhi selama lebih dari tiga tahun.
     Pradeep Bhavnani, seorang pengusaha India, berharap rumah yang ia akan hadiahkan kepada Pemerintah India tersebut dapat dilestarikan sebagai tempat bersejarah.

Intensified Hunt of Terrorists Leads to Successful Raids by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug. 8, 2009 (ANTARA) -  The Indonesian police's anti-terror unit  Densus-88  raided at least two locations on   Saturday (Aug. 8) in their intensified hunt of  terrorists, following the bomb blasts at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta last July 17, 2008.

          At least three terrorists were believed to have been killed, and one was reportedly arrested, in the raids in Jatiasih, Bekasi, West Java, and Temanggung District, Central Java, on Saturday morning.

RI TO SPEED UP CLEAN WATER SUPPLY PROGRAM by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug. 4, 2009 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has set itself the target of giving 80 percent of the country's urban population and 60 percent of the rural population access to clean water by 2015, up from only 40 percent and 20 percent respectively today.

         To achieve the target, Indonesia plans to speed up the installation of 10 million new water pipe connections by 2013. The plan would also help the country to meet the target in The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2015.