THE JAKARTA POST (25-03-2011)

Number of foreigners leaving Japan soars 8-fold

An immigration official says more than 161,000 foreigners have left Japan since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered an unfolding nuclear crisis.

Nigerian man arrested at airport for drug smuggling

Customs and excise officers at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have again foiled a smuggling attempt, seizing 1,540 grams of crystal methamphetamine worth Rp 2.3 billion (US$264,500) from Cameroon at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Police look into explosion near Puspitek Serpong

An explosion on Friday morning was allegedly caused by a device hidden beneath a waterway in front of the entrance gate of the Serpong Science and Technology Development and Research Institute (Puspitek) on Jl. Raya Puspitek, Setu district, South Tangerang.

Bank employee arrested for stealing from customers’ accounts

A private bank official was apprehended for stealing money from customers accounts. The suspect reportedly stole Rp 17 billion (US$1.95 million).

Japan PM calls situation at nuclear plant 'grave'

Japan's prime minister says the situation at the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant remains "grave and serious."

UN says up to 1M displaced by Ivory Coast unrest

The UN refugee agency says up to 1 million people have fled their homes in and around the Ivory Coast capital Abidjan because of violent post-election unrest.

Police made 1,166 arrests in 14-day operation

The Jakarta Police arrested 1,166 criminal suspects during the 2011 Berantas Jaya operation conducted from March 7 to March 20.

Finance Ministry gives Gayus tax records to police

The Finance Ministry has given 29 tax payer documents that former tax officer and graft convict Gayus H. Tambunan handled during his career to the police on Friday.

Raging truck

Portugal crisis plagues EU summit

Portugal's financial woes deepened Friday, frustrating European Union efforts to draw a line under their government debt crisis with new measures agreed at a summit in Brussels.

Police issue travel ban on tax consultant suspected of corruption

The National Police crimes unit has issued a travel ban on tax consultant Robert Santonius after naming him a suspect in the corruption case involving former tax officer and graft convict Gayus H. Tambunan.

Police: Susno still a member of our ranks

The National Police police said Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji remains a member of the force and will stay so until all available legal processes at his disposal have been exhausted.

Brazilian plastic surgeon says operated on Gadhafi

It was well past midnight when the Brazilian surgeon says he was escorted deep inside a bunker in the Libyan capital.

Explosion kills one in Surabaya market

An explosion rocked a market in Surabaya, East Java, killing one person and causing serious injuries on Friday.

Tax consultant named suspect in Gayus corruption case

The National Police detective unit has named another suspect in the tax graft case of Gayus H. Tambunan. The latest suspect, Roberto Santonius, allegedly channeled funds amounting Rp 925 million (US$106,400) to Gayus.

RI nominated for int'l environmental award due to Aceh contribution

Indonesia has been nominated for the 2011 Future Policy Award, an environmental award granted by Germany-based World Future Council Foundation (WCF), for the forestry moratorium issued by the Aceh administration.

Bank Mandiri, Garuda offer discounts

Indonesia's largest lender by assets, state-owned Bank Mandiri, has joined hands with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to offer free tickets for international travel to certain destinations.

Evaluation of FTA with China possible: Hatta

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa does not rule out the possibility that ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) will be evaluated if unfair trade practices such as dumping are found.

Digging graves

Environmental activists stage a protest at the National Police headquarters demanding the government prevent iron sand mining in conservations zones, and for police to take stern actions against illegal miners. (Antara/Fanny Octavianus)

Garuda plans to reduce flights to Tokyo

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has decided to reduce the frequency of its daily flights to Tokyo's Narita Airport from two to one, after seeing profits earned from these services shrink 10 percent in March.

Japan reactor nuclear core may have breached

Japanese nuclar safety officials said Friday that they suspect that the reactor core at one unit of the troubled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant may have breached, raising the possibility of more severe contamination to the environment.

Love is in the air

Florists display merchandise at Kolpajung Market in Pamekasan, East Java, on Friday. Sellers say the sales of flowers quadrupled this month as demand for wedding flowers increased along with a local belief that tying the knot in the fourth month of the Islamic calendar will bring good luck. (Antara/Saiful Bahri)

Style Icon: Joseph Saryuf

Shape and sell

Police to introduce traffic cameras, fine reckless drivers

Jakarta Police Traffic Directorate on Friday announced plans to introduce the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (E-TLE) system in April.

Police deploy officers to prevent komodo thefts

At least 10 police officers have been deployed to Komodo and Rinca Islands in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, after earlier report of a komodo dragon being stolen from Surabaya Zoo.

US foreign aid faces cuts as China's reach grows

US efforts to counter China's growing influence in the developing world are a likely casualty of the budget battles dominating Washington's politics,as chunks of the foreign aid program face the ax.

Australia offers 400 scholarships to E. Nusa Tenggara

The Australian government is offering up to 400 postgraduate scholarships exclusively to residents of the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara.

Grand Prix

Fashionable, Funky and Fifty

The Journey Back

‘My mother told me to never depend on anyone else’

Saving Face

Toddler dead after hit by police car

A 4-year-old boy died instantly after being hit by a car being driven by a police officer in Pemali, Bangka-Belitung, on Thursday.

More than 20 dead from 6.8-magnitude Myanmar quake

More than 20 people are believed dead after a strong earthquake in northeastern Myanmar. The magnitude-6.8 quake shook buildings as far away as the Thai capital Bangkok on Thursday night.

The Second Coming

Mirror, Mirror on The Mall

Fountains of Youth

Adaro aims to double coal production

Coal producer PT Adaro Indonesia is planning to soon boost its production capacity to 80 million tons annually, almost double the 42.19 millions tons it produced throughout 2010.

More than 10,000 dead from Japan disaster

Japan's police agency says the death toll from the earthquake and tsunami two weeks ago has topped 10,000.

Regional broadcasting watchdog bans ‘Udin’

The Regional chapter of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID) has forbidden the broadcasting of the song “Udin Sedunia” (Udin all over the world) because it was considered offensive toward other people whose shared the name Udin.

Protection

7 dead as cement truck crashes into market

A cement mixer on Friday crashed into an open-air traditional market in Brebes, Central Java, while trying to avoid colliding with a public minibus, killing seven people, most of whom were vegetable vendors.

Japan asks for support in recovery, identification of tsunami victims

The Japanese government says it hopes Indonesia will send a team to help in the recovery and identification of dead tsunami victims in Japan.

RI enjoys Rp 18.5 trillion surplus in 2011 budget as of February

Indonesia enjoyed an Rp 18.5 trillion (approximately US$2.1 billion) surplus in its 2011 state budget as of February, a result of unexpected extra revenues from several sectors, the government says.

President to inaugurate new karate training center in Bekasi

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled on Friday to inaugurate a new Dojo Kushin Ryu Karate-Indonesia training center in the Jakarta satellite city of Bekasi.

NATO takes command of part of Libya operation

NATO agreed late Thursday to take over part of the military operations against Libya - enforcement of the no-fly zone - after days of hard bargaining among its members. But the toughest and most controversial portion of the operation - attacks on the ground - will continue to be led by the U.S., which has been anxious to give up the lead role.

Japan faces its next chore: cleaning up

Where do you even start?