National

The manpower ministry recently deported 18 foreigners who had been working in Indonesia illegally while intensifying its watch over the possible influx of foreign workers under the Asean-China Free Trade agreement, a spokesman said.

US President Barack Obama`s agenda during his visit to Indonesia will be unchanged although the schedule of the visit has been altered, presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said here on Monday.

The House of Representatives (DPR) has given the green light to the government`s intention to go ahead with its plan to build nuclear power plants (PLTNs).

Under a newly enacted fiscal law, alcoholic beverages will no longer be subject to luxury good sales tax effective next April 1, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani announced here Monday.

Police General Bambang Hendarso Danuri has appealed to various parties in Aceh from clerics to village heads to give information in case they know about the 14 alleged terrorists now being pursued by police.

Foreign Ambassadors in Jakarta acknowledged that the culture of the people in Aceh province did not support terrorism.

The United States has hinted it will lift a 12-year-old ban on training soldiers of the Indonesian Army`s special elite force (Kopassus), Indonesian military chief Gen Djoko Santoso said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked for inputs from ministers concerned to respond to the House of Representatives` (DPR) letter regarding the Bank Century inquiry committee`s recommendations, a minister said.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Deputy Chief Haryono Umar said the commission had so far not found any strong evidence in the Century Bank case that would justify a further investigation.

Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali conveyed greetings to Hindus in the country on the occasion of their Seclusion Day and the commencement of the Caka New Year 1932 on Tuesday.