ON WORLD RHINO DAY, EFFORTS TO BOOST RHINO CONSERVATION INTENSIFY By Fardah

   Jakarta, Sept 27, 2013 (Antara) - World Rhino Day 2013 was celebrated on September 22 in many countries, including Indonesia, with demands made for putting an end to the poaching of the rhinoceros, which are currently on the brink of extinction.

        The theme of this year's World Rhino Day was "Five Rhino Species Forever," aimed at raising awareness about the plight of five threatened rhino species.

NEW REDD+ AGENCY ESTABLISHED, TO HELP IMPROVE FOREST MANAGEMENT By Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 20, 2013 (Antara) - To demonstrate its commitment towards reducing gas emissions, the Indonesian government has recently established a new agency to implement the "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation Plus" (REDD+) programme.

 
The REDD+ Managing Agency has been set up based on the Presidential Regulation No. 62 Year 2013 on Managing Agency for the Reduction of Emission from Deforestation and Degradation of Forest and Peatlands, which was signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on August 31, 2013.

INDONESIA STRIVES TO BECOME WORLD'S LARGEST SUPPLIER OF PEARLS by Fardah

  Jakarta, Sept 13, 2013 (Antara) - Indonesia will once again hold the Indonesia Pearls Festival (IPF) in Jakarta from October 2 to 6, 2013, to promote the country's potential as one of the largest suppliers of pearls in the world.

        The international festival will be the third and jointly organised by Indonesia¿s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (MMAF) and the Indonesian Cultured Pearls Association (Asbumi).

         This year, the festival's theme is "Hidden Treasure of Papua." Papua is Indonesia's eastern most island that also produces pearls of good quality.

MILLIONS OF INDONESIANS TO BE COVERED UNDER MEDICAL INSURANCE by Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 4, 2013 (Antara) - As part of its commitment to universal medical coverage for its citizens, Indonesia is investing billions of dollars in social health insurance system, to be managed by Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) from January 2014.

        "The system will be implemented by 2014. Under this system, poor people cannot be rejected by hospitals when they seek medical treatment," said Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono.