JAKARTA BRACING FOR POTENTIAL MAJOR FLOODS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct 31, 2011 (ANTARA) - Jakarta is bracing for the possibility of floods happening in early 2012 on the same scale as the 2002 and 2007 deluges which were described as the biggest ever floods that had hit the capital city in terms of size and casualties.
      With a population of around 10 million Jakarta is basically prone to annual flooding in every rainy season due among other things to poor drainage system and lack of water catchment areas. Besides, Jakarta lies in a lowland with 43 lakes and 13 rivers.

ASEAN MOVES CLOSER TO ADOPTION OF COMMON VISA by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 31, 2011 (ANTARA) - The 19th ASEAN Summit to be held in Bali on November 17-19, 2011, is expected to discuss among other things the proposed common ASEAN visa system as part of the ASEAN connectivity plan.
       ASEAN foreign ministers at their 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Bali recently agreed to study further the common visa proposal, Widya Rahmanto, an official of the foreign ministry`s ASEAN cooperation directorate general, said in Jakarta on October 27, 2011.

E JAVA BEEFS UP IMMUNIZATION TO FIGHT DIPHTHERIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 28, 2011 (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Soekarwo on October 7, 2011, declared an extraordinary situation (KLB) for diphtheria in all parts of the province where 352 diphtheria cases with 11 deaths have been reported over the past 10 months.
        Head of the East Java Health Office Mudjib Afan said in Surabaya, recently, that a total of 333 children aged between two and 14 years old, have been infected with diphtheria in the province, up from 303 children last year.

INDONESIA GREETS ASEAN PEOPLE THROUGH ASEAN FAIR by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - Do you want to see cultural , culinary and creative products of the ten ASEAN member countries? Just visit the ongoing ASEAN Fair 2011 and one can satisfy one`s curiosity without actually having to travel to those countries.
        The ASEAN Fair 2011 featuring music and food festivals, theatrical performances, and book and handicrafts expos, was officially kicked off by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at Nusa Dua, Bali, on October 24.

POLICE DEPLOY MORE PERSONNEL TO DEFUSE TENSIONS IN PAPUA by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - Following a series of shooting incidents in Papua Province that killed several people, including Mulia Sector Police Chief Adjunct Commissioner Domminggus Awes, the Police Headquarters in Jakarta have deployed a number of officers in the country`s eastern-most province to defuse escalating tensions there.
       Two unidentified men snatched Dominggus Awes` pistol and used it to shoot him to death at Mulia airport in Puncak Jaya on Monday (Oct 24).

GOVT ADMITS HOLLYWOOD FILMS CAN HELP PROMOTE TOURISM by Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 24, 2011 (ANTARA) - "Eat, Pray and Love", a film version of Elizabeth Gilbert`s best selling memoirs "Eat Pray Love", starring superstar Julia Robert, has been effective in promoting Bali, known as the "Island of the Gods".
       The film tells the story of Liz Gilbert and her year-long journey to Italy, India and Indonesia as she seeks to find balance and fulfillment in her life following the breakdown of her marriage.