AMBON GEARS UP FOR ANNUAL YACHT RACE By Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 28 (ANTARA) - Early on Tuesday morning, Ambon Mayor Richard Louhenapessy and the residents of Negeri Amahusu flocked to the city`s harbor in Amahusu village in Maluku province to greet the skipper and 12 crew members of the `Australian Maid' yacht.
      The `Australian Maid' captained by Lisa Jane Chamberlain was the first yacht to cross the finish line of the Darwin-Ambon Yacht Race (DAYR) on Tuesday at 7:37:15 a.m. local time.
     Lisa Chamberline, the winner of the race, expressed her happiness at being able to cross the finish line first.

VIOLENCE AGAINST SHIITE MUSLIMS IN SAMPANG CONDEMNED By Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 27 (ANTARA) - Various parties including NGOs, politicians, ministers and the president have condemned the latest violence against minority Shiite Muslims on Madura Island, East Java Province.
     A mob of hard-line Muslims attacked Shiite community and set their houses on fires in Nangkernang, Karanggayam village, Omben sub- district, Sampang regency, on Sunday, killing two Shiites and injured scores of others.

2013 BUDGET TARGETS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH By Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 25, 2012 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently revealed while presenting the draft state budget of 2013, that the proposed infrastructure spending for next year has been raised to Rp194 trillion or US $20 billion, up from the expenditure target of Rp169 trillion set for 2012.
     "We need to support national efforts aimed at accelerating infrastructure development, which will ensure sustainable growth," the head of state had said during his annual address on the draft state budget before Parliament on August 16.

CASUALTIES DURING 2012'S IDUL FITRI EXODUS RISE By Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 24, 2012 (ANTARA) - Latest data from the Indonesian police has revealed that the number of deaths resulting from accidents that took place during the Idul Fitri exodus this year has increased compared with the number of casualties in the same period last year.
     Some 689 people have been killed in as many as 3,927 traffic accidents that occurred between August     11 and August 21, during which time more than 10 million holiday travelers headed home and later returned after celebrating the festival with their families and friends in their hometowns.

FIRST DAY ATTENDANCE AT WORK IN SPOTLIGHT AFTER IDUL FITRI HOLIDAYS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 24 (ANTARA) - As Idul Fitri holidays ended, civil servants were expected to show up at work throughout Indonesia on Thursday (Aug 23) or face sanctions if they extended their holidays without prior notice.

      This year, Indonesian Muslims celebrated Idul Fitri, the largest and most important Muslim holiday that marks the completion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, on Aug 19 and 20.

INDONESIA TO OFFER HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO ROHINGYAS By Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 17, 2012 (ANTARA) - After expressing concern for and solidarity with the Rohingya ethnic minority, Indonesia will now offer concrete assistance to the community, which has become a victim of discrimination and violence in Myanmar`s Rakhine province.
     In his state of the nation address to the Parliament on Thursday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reiterated Indonesia`s commitment towards solving the problems of the Rohingya Muslims.

HOMEWARD-BOUND TRAVELERS URGED TO TAKE SAFETY-FIRST APPROACH By Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 16, 2012 (ANTARA) - The police have placing ads along the highways, which read "Give Priority to Safety: Your Family Is Waiting For You at Home", to remind motorbikers and car drivers to drive carefully and abide by the traffic regulations.
     The ads campaign is very relevant given the fact that Indonesia`s roads are prone to traffic accidents due to reckless drivers and traffic congestion. 

REMITTANCES FROM MIGRANTS SOFTEN GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS BLOW By Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug 9, 2012 (ANTARA) - A huge banner reading, "Welcome Foreign Exchange Heroes," has been put up in the arrival lounge of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, to welcome Indonesian migrant workers, which mostly include young women from rural areas who work overseas as domestic helpers.
     With annual remittances totaling around US $6 billion, migrant workers have become the second largest contributor to Indonesia`s foreign exchange reserves.

SOEKARNO-HATTA EXPANSION TO BOOST INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: PRESIDENT By Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 3, 2012 (ANTARA) - A major-scale expansion project of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia`s main international airport and the 12th busiest airport in the world was inaugurated by President Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by among others Vice President Boediono.  The renovation, which is expected to be completed in 2014, should help increase the airport`s passenger as well as flight capacities significantly. Construction work has already begun at Terminal 3, which is expected to raise annual passenger capacity to 25 million from 4 million.