Manuela to be flown to Italy A 5-year-old girl who was taken to Singapore for treatment after being critically wounded in the Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta will be flown home to Italy, authorities said on Saturday. The Italian government will send a military plane to pick up Elisabeth Manuela Banbin Musu on Monday to take her to Verona, said Laura Siano, an Italian Embassy attache.

Mega appeals for women's release Ian Timberlake, Agence France-Presse/Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri appealed on Saturday for the release of two Indonesian women held hostage in Iraq as their captors demanded Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir be freed in return. "They went to Iraq to make a living and support their families," Megawati said in a statement broadcast on the Al- Jazeera satellite television channel.

Focus on academic skills causes stress among preschoolers T.Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta The five-year-old girl pouted and shouted: "I don't want to go to school. I am tired." As her mother stared at her, the girl took back her words and said that she was just kidding. Eny, the mother, sighed in relief, but she understands why her daughter acted like that. "Tomorrow, she is having an oral English test.

TV Program: Sunday, October 3, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Children Show 9:00 Music: Delta 10:30 Sports: Antar Gelanggang 11:00 English for Fun 12:30 p.m. Music 1:00 News: Berita Siang 2:00 Music 3:00 English News Service 4:30 Zooming 5:00 Robocon 6:30 Talk Show: Obrolan Wong Cilik 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 7:30 Music 8:00 Italian League (Live) 10:00 Music 10:30 News: Dunia Dalam Berita TPI 5:30 a.m.

Ba'asyir appeals for hostages' release Lely T. Djuhari Associated Press/Jakarta Jailed cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir said on Saturday he did not want to be freed in exchange for the release of two Indonesian women taken hostage in Iraq, as their captors have reportedly demanded. The report of the kidnappers' demand could not immediately be confirmed. However, Ba'asyir urged the militants to release the two women, who have been identified as Rosidah binti Anom and Rafikan binti Aming, "immediately".

Arts Summit Indonesia: Much lacking in first visual arts exhibition Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta The opening of the fourth Art Summit Indonesia on Sept. 11 in the open air of Galeri Nasional Indonesia kindled high expectations for the visual arts exhibition, which was included for the first time in the international summit. Unfortunately, it failed to deliver.

Gender expert Musdah speaks within reason Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post,Jakarta Siti Musdah Mulia has raised the ire of many for her boldness in criticizing some aspects of Islam considered sacred. Take, for instance, her views on the jilbab (head covering), which she herself wears, but says is an entirely personal decision, with no directive demanding it.

Ratna targets a political stigma that lives on Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Anak-anak Kegelapan (Children of Darkness) (from the original stage play) Satu Merah Panggung, Pustaka Pencerahan and Yayasan TIFA September 2004 169 pp History repeats itself: It is the message playwright Ratna Sarumpaet wants to convey in her six-scene play Anak-anak Kegelapan (Children of the Darkness) -- now published in book form -- for the new leadership in the country.

Tourism group holds fun walk INDONESIA: The Indonesian Tourism Society's (MPI) Jakarta chapter is inviting the public to participate in a mass walk on Sunday, to commemorate World Tourism Day, which fell on Sept. 27. The walk will start from City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan at 6:30 a.m. Participants will walk along Jl. Thamrin, encircling the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and finish up at the Office of the State Minister of Tourism and Culture on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.

Susilo to ask ministers to sign contracts The Jakarta Post, Bogor, Jakarta Prospective president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Saturday he would require all ministerial candidates to sign contracts spelling out their commitment to state duties. "I will summon more than one candidate (for a Cabinet position) and ask them to draw up a contract on their commitment.

Manuela set to be flown to Italy A five-year-old girl who was taken to Singapore for treatment after being critically wounded in the Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta will be flown home to Italy, authorities said on Saturday. The Italian government will send a military plane to pick up Elisabeth Manuela Banbin Musu on Monday to take her to Verona, said Laura Siano, an Italian Embassy attache.

Choosing excellent preschools for your kids Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Early childhood education programs provided by preschools and kindergartens undoubtedly offer an opportunity for children to develop their full potential. Studies have consistently indicated that starting children in early education programs will improve their independence, self- confidence and language development, in addition to the improvement of social skills and interest in learning.

Indie band Seringai are boys who wanna have fun Hera Diani The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Indie rock quartet Seringai acknowledges that their signature heavy metal inflected sound will have trouble finding its place in a market dominated by sugar-coated candy pop and dull love songs. For it was why they went indie in the first place. Guitarist Ricardo, meanwhile, holds to the theory that Indonesians are more susceptible to major keys rather than minor ones.

Indie band Seringai are boys who just wanna have fun Hera Diani , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indie rock quartet Seringai acknowledge that their signature heavy metal inflected sound will have trouble finding its place in a market dominated by sugar-coated candy pop and dull love songs. For it was why they went indie in the first place. Guitarist Ricardo, meanwhile, holds to the theory that Indonesians are more "susceptible" to major keys rather than minor ones.

Fuming Akbar sends PPP packing M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Infuriated by the United Development Party's (PPP) move to nominate its own candidate for the House of Representatives speakership post, Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung said on Saturday the Muslim-based party was out of a coalition he leads.

A wide range of language instruction As a metropolitan city, Jakarta is home to people of various nationalities from around the world. Foreigners come to the country not only to enjoy its natural beauty or to explore the rich arts and culture. They also work and live here. Recent data shows that there are about 36,000 expatriates registered as working in the capital. Numerous facilities are available to cater to the needs of expatriates.

Susilo to ask ministers to sign contracts The Jakarta Post Bogor/Jakarta Prospective president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Saturday he would require all ministerial candidates to sign contracts spelling out their commitment to state duties. "I will summon more than one candidate (for a Cabinet position) and ask them to draw up a contract on their commitment.

Fresh from the studio, onto the stage The latest, most cutting edge creations in contemporary performing arts have been brought to town for the ongoing Art Summit Indonesia. Entering its final week, the international festival presents inspiring artistic creativity to relish, as well showcasing cultural interaction among representatives from the 14 nations taking part in the month-long event.

Rich look to Indonesia for exotic pets Eric Unmacht, Deutsche Presse-Agentur/Jakarta Among the honking cabs and towering skyscrapers of New York City is likely the last place someone would look to find a Komodo Dragon, the giant lizard that devours live goats, deer and wild boars in its native island home in Indonesia.

Biyan's young at heart collection no youth quake Hera Diani , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The usual fashion queries about the latest collection from Biyan Wanaatmadja's teenage line (X) S.M.L. can be answered in two parts. Yes, Biyan has yet to lose his knack in creating a line of youth-oriented clothes that is trendy and modern, yet filled with intricate details that remain very Asian -- the designer's major strength.

Gypsy queens: Sebastian takes a cruise to fashion hot spots Sherry Samtani, Contributor, Jakarta Last Thursday, the creme de la creme of society was out and about at Hotel Mulia Senayan in Central Jakarta for a firsthand look at local fashion at its best. Behind all the hype was Sebastian Gunawan, dubbed the best designer of 2003 by Indonesian Tatler society magazine and simply accorded the title "king of fashion" by many other publications.

Factions vying for speakership M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Foot-dragging among political factions in the People's Consultative Assembly over the mechanism for selecting its leaders prompted the law-making body on Saturday to extend its session until Monday.

Gender expert Siti a force to be reasoned with Hera Diani The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Siti Musdah Mulia has raised the ire of many for her boldness in criticizing some aspects of Islam considered sacred. Take, for instance, her views on the jilbab (head covering), which she herself wears. "Jilbab is a fashion statement. There has never been any directive stating it is an obligation," the 45-year-old gender and religion expert told The Jakarta Post.