Mega wishes Jenkins happiness, good health Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri wished Charles Robert Jenkins and his family happiness before their departure for Japan on Sunday. In a meeting with Megawati at her private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, on Saturday, she expressed hope that Jenkins would receive better medical treatment in Japan. "I hope you have a very good stay in Tokyo. I also like Japanese and Korean food.

Lesbians find ways to make peace with their sexuality Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Oscar Wilde, himself imprisoned for a scandalous relationship with another man, once said that the only sin one would have committed was to have lived against one's nature. The words strike at the conscience of "Sarah", a 29-year-old young executive, for she has been denying her feelings for almost 15 years. "I used to deny to myself that a lesbian.

Gaddafi sets sights on Palace LONDON: Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi could buy promoted English premier league soccer club Crystal Palace, The Guardian newspaper reported on Saturday. It said Gaddafi, who owns a 7.5 percent stake in Italian club Juventus, has not made an offer yet but has shown interest in the small south London club that surprisingly won the promotion playoffs in May.

Fashion school's students show their stuff Emiria Wijayanti Contributor Jakarta Oriental themes, young, playful attire and a striking '60s comeback were the flavors of the night when ESMOD Jakarta presented its 8th annual Fashion Festival last week.

Sutiyoso named new PBSI chairman Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso won the chairmanship of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) on Saturday after contender Dahlan Iskan withdrew his bid just before the votes began during an extraordinary meeting here. Sutiyoso replaced outgoing chairman Chairul Tanjung for the 2004-2008 term with the challenging task ahead of raising Indonesia's badminton performance.

Location remains buyers' main consideration Apartments have become an important alternative as a place to live for many Indonesians, as indicated in the continued increase in apartment sales during the past few years. More than 40 new apartment projects have been built during the past two years, providing a total of 21,000 units, according to data issued by Procon property consulting company.

Tips: Shopping for studio apartment When you're looking for a studio apartment, some of the things that are merely important in other apartment searches become critical. What do you really need to think about? Space, light and color are going to be your most critical considerations. If you are thinking about buying one, practical tips written by apartment specialist Sandra Clockedile in property website apartment.about.com (below) can help you find your dream studio apartment.

Fashion school's students show creative force Emiria Wijayanti, Contributor, Jakarta Oriental themes, young, playful attire and a striking '60s comeback were the flavors of the night when ESMOD Jakarta presented its 8th annual Fashion Festival last week.

'I like down-to-earth tales' Comedian Butet Kartaredjasa never fails to amuse audiences, especially in his wickedly funny caricatures of former presidents Soeharto and Habibie. All jokes aside, however, Butet's rubber face and comical mannerisms sometimes make it difficult for him to be taken seriously, even when he wants to be. "Often when I'm angry with my children, they will think I'm acting and just leave me alone," Butet once told The Jakarta Post.

More locals choosing to live in apartments Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Apartment living is often looked upon as second best to living in one's own house. However, in a city of 10 million people, where traffic jams are a daily inconvenience, apartment living has become a growing trend among young couples, singles and families. Seven years after moving to an apartment, married couple Dony Irawan and Tara have no regrets.

Travellers' tales of meeting voters out and about Andre Vltchek and Rossie Indira, Contributors, Denpasar From the captain's bridge, Sumbawa Island was barely visible, blanketed by the heavy fog ahead. Behind us, Lombok had already disappeared. The only thing we could see clearly was a fleet of dolphins playing on both sides of the ferry. "Look", said the captain, "Why don't you just tell us who should we vote for... We have really no idea ..." That I couldn't do.

Puteh set to be replaced: Minister The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Jakarta Interim chief security minister Hari Sabarno confirmed on Saturday the government had made plans to replace Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh in order for him to face corruption investigations.

Seeing stars, maybe, at 'celebrity' fitness centers Elvera N. Makki, Contributor, Jakarta Perhaps it is a last-ditch but very savvy marketing gimmick to shape gym-weary you up in our popular culture-obsessed world. Several fitness centers have long soft sold the names of celebrities who joined their club ("What, Anjas works out here, too?"), and some celebrities have even parlayed their name value and good looks into fitness-related businesses.

Steps of solidarity Dance has always been a means to bring people together, its tacit messages bridging cultural divides of language and perception. And so it was at the Indonesian Dance Festival VII, where dancers from around the world came together at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki and Gedung Kesenian Jakarta to share their knowledge and express themselves over four days until Saturday.

TV Program: Sunday, July 18, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria 9:00 Music: Delta 10:00 Sports 11:00 Comedy 12:30 p.m. English for Fun 1:00 News: Berita Siang 2:00 Music 3:00 English News Service 4:30 Music 5:00 Cartoon: Robocon 6:30 Talk Show 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 7:30 TV Drama: Oh Ibu dan Ayah 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Class Music 10:00 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa 11:00 TV Drama: Cempala TPI 6:00 a.m.

A foreign view of RI, sans tears or fears Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne, Australia Semar's Cave, an Indonesian Journal John Mateer Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2004, Western Australia Paperback, 334 pp In the last decade, readers in Asian countries have come to view travel accounts with an increasingly critical eye.

Peaceful election brings fresh hope to landlords Agustina Wayansari/Hendarsyah Tarmizi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Major apartment complexes are gearing up for face-lifts and more aggressive sales campaigns to anticipate a surge in demand, following the nation's peaceful direct presidential election. Hotel Borobudur, which manages the Garden Wing apartments, is renovating its apartments to take the advantage of the more favorable market.

The ups and downs of apartment living Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Many of us are putting aside our misty dreams of the three- bedroom with the white picket fence, and instead taking a long, hard look at the reality of what apartments have to offer. In a streamlined, downsized world, apartments are at center stage. No need to worry about the hassle of cleaning all those cavernous rooms, mowing an endless expanse of green or fretting about the alkaline content of the pool.

Nurdin takes sick as police detain him P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Nurdin Halid was rushed to the hospital early on Saturday, hours after police detained him as a suspect in a sugar smuggling case, while the lawmaker's lawyers said their client would fight his arrest. Nurdin is being treated at the Sukanto Police Hospital in Kramatjati, East Jakarta, where he arrived at about at 3 a.m.

All together now at Surabaya's Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun Omar Prihandono Contributor Surabaya "OK, reserve 100 tables right in front of the music stage. Just stay cool, there'll be flocks of people coming to see him," Freddy Istanto said in a somewhat panicked voice to his assistants.

ICR offers riding package at Phillip Island GP circuit The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Australia-based International Circuit Riders has launched the world's first Grand Prix riding academy to teach the general public how to ride "like a championship racer".

Career diplomat tipped as U.S. envoy UNITED STATES: B. Lynn Pascoe, a deputy assistant secretary of state, has been chosen as the next U.S. ambassador to Indonesia. The announcement was made Friday in West Virginia, where President George W. Bush was on a campaign visit. The appointment requires Senate confirmation. Pascoe's current role is at the European and Eurasian Affairs bureau at the State Department, specializing in the Eastern Mediterranean, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Abilio first to serve jail time for 1999 East Timor mayhem Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former East Timor governor Abilio Soares began serving on Saturday a three-year prison term for his role in the 1999 violence in the former Indonesian province, becoming the first person to be jailed for the bloodshed.

Under a Bugis mast Claudine Frederik The Bugis schooner cut through calm waters without so much as a sound. Only its main sail creaked at regular intervals when it swayed slightly under pressure of a mild wind. It was a beautiful day, the sun was out and the sky shone azure blue with an electrifying brilliance that stung one's eyes. Ullie lowered her eyes and stopped peering at the blue expanse overhead. They had left Ambon yesterday afternoon.

Surabaya: All together now at Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun Omar Prihandono, Contributor, Surabaya "OK, reserve 100 tables right in front of the music stage. Just stay cool, there'll be flocks of people coming to see him," Freddy Istanto said in a somewhat panicked voice to his assistants.