Workshop inspires new ideas in stage design for local theater Christina Schott, Contributor, Yogyakarta A gray stonewall presents the writing Heroes. Beneath are hanging pictures: Soekarno, Kurt Cobain, Slank, Che Guevara and Munir, together with a newborn baby, a Japanese comic figure and a wayang kulit (shadow play) puppet. "Everybody can be a hero" is scribbled on a piece of paper among other definitions.

Schiavone to face Davenport in Bali Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali Top seed Lindsay Davenport was on cruise control in her Wismilak International semifinal on Saturday, with never-say-die Italian Francesca Schiavone beating the odds and reaching the final as well. The American, getting better with every match at the US$225,000 hard court tennis tournament, knew she would have to put the pressure on China's Na Li from the outset of their match.

New Japanese menu at Edogin Diners through the month of September at the Mulia Hotel, Senayan, should try out the new menu at the Edogin Japanese restaurant in the Mulia Hotel, Senayan. Featuring appetizers and salads, highlights include cold Kobe beef shabu-shabu with orange ponzu sauce, and grilled and smoked salmon salads with spicy mayonnaise.

U.S. lawmakers chide Indonesia on West Papua UNITED STATES: Thirty-five members of the U.S. Congress have called on Indonesia to lift travel restrictions to West Papua and halt the military buildup in the province where a rebellion has simmered for decades.

Govt gives green light for Cepu block Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government signed a contract on Saturday with state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina and U.S.-based energy giant ExxonMobil to develop the oil-rich Cepu block in another significant step toward ending the four-year dispute surrounding the block.

Top seeds face off in Bali Open beach volleyball final Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Sanur, Bali The Bali Open beach volleyball tournament has lived up to the script as the top two seeds -- both Brazilians -- marched to the final after they won their semifinal matches here on Saturday.

Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi to attend HK Disneyland opening SHANGHAI: Chinese A-list actresses Zhang Ziyi and Gong Li will be among the celebrities on hand at next week's opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday. Zhang and Gong, who both feature in the upcoming Memoirs of a Geisha, will join Hong Kong pop star Jacky Cheung, the park's chief promoter, on the red carpet at Monday's opening, Xinhua said.

Govt ready to bite fuel hike bullet: VP Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Vice President has said that government was ready to accept the political risks associated with the decision to increase fuel prices, reiterating that budgetary sustainability would come under even greater threat if they were not raised soon. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Saturday that fuel price hikes were necessary to avoid fiscal disaster amid soaring international oil prices.

Magic happens at Hong Kong Disneyland Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Hong Kong We were warned, but there was no way we could have been prepared for our sojourn to the Magic Kingdom.

"Big" Idol shows it's all about heart Kenny Santana, Contributor, Jakarta, qnoy2k@yahoo.com A new star was born just this August. After months of competing weekly to find the next musical talent, Michael Prabawa Mohede, 22, known as "Big Mike" to his friends, took the Indonesian Idol title beating out his closest competitor, Judika.

Flash Canadian dancers wow punters at BATS Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Clad in black, the opening act -- two women -- went on stage. Singer Hening breathed into the microphone and her friend, Ratna began playing the keyboard. The night was still young but there was a steady stream of people filling the club early to get the best seats.

Jakarta hotels offer more incentives to lure guests T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta Some have desk jobs, but for others work entails travel -- both domestic and international. Thanks to the optimum standards of service offered at many of the world's hotels, business travel can be a pleasurable experience. In Jakarta, business travelers are the main targets of hoteliers.

Susilo allays concerns of RI New Yorkers Kornelius Purba, The Jakarta Post, New York Everyone in the country may be waiting for the decision on the fuel hike -- so in New York, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono briefed the Indonesian community on Friday evening about the plan, in addition to results of his visit to the United States.

JP/2/israel Susilo confirms talks with Israel's Shalom NEW YORK: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono confirmed late on Friday an informal meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda and Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on the sidelines of the 2005 World Summit, as part of Indonesia's effort to help Palestinians achieve full independence. Israel and Indonesia have no formal diplomatic ties.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, September 18, 2005 Exhibitions * Balinese Wooden Sculpture Kayuning Kayu Essence of Wood, Hadiprana Gallery, Jl. Kemang Raya 30, South Jakarta (Tel. 7194715), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Sept. 25 * Peter van Dongen Cartoon Exhibition at Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069), until Sept. 30 * Painting Return to the Mainland by the New Zealand artist John Van Der Sterren, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Jl. H.R.

Ministry suspects new human bird flu case The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After recently confirming the country's fourth bird flu fatality, the Ministry of Health reported another suspected case on Saturday. MT, a seven-year-old girl, currently being treated at the Sulianti Saroso hospital in North Jakarta, tested positive on her blood test, but negative on the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, said Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari as quoted by news portal detik.com.

German stage designer Neumann finds inspiration on the streets of Yogya Christina Schott, Contributor, Yogyakarta Bert Neumann was born in 1960 in the East German town of Magdeburg, and is currently in Yogyakarta by support of the Goethe Institute Jakarta. With a background in stage design, Neumann's first contract was with the city theater of Potsdam. Finding the regulations there to be too strict, he struck out on his own as a freelancer.

In Bali, hotel industry enjoys rosier business Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Jimbaran As soon as you arrive at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, a number of staff of the Bali Intercontinental Resort are ready to greet you warmly, take care of your luggage and immigration papers and escort you to a cool, luxury airport lounge while waiting. Within a minute a Jaguar or luxury couch is waiting for you.

Beach therapy: Reaching Jakarta escape velocity Metro mad. Hey, what a wacky name. If anything though, it is an understatement. In Jakarta, just the journey down to the supermarket to purchase a shopping trolley full of instant noodles and prophylactics can be enough to turn one into a jabbering, batty, loonball. It is a jungle of money grubbing, urban paranoia out there.