The Statement of NIPC regarding the situation in Indonesia toward Christianity The Statement of National Indonesian Presbyterian Council (NIPC) on the Violence and Religious Intolerance in Indonesia Violence and intolerance have been the dominant pictures of Indonesian religious life lately. The last riot in Temanggung, Central Java, is a picture how the Indonesian government failed [...]

The Federal Government is the largest property owner in the United States. But some 14,000 of its properties sit unused and unneeded, costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year in operating and maintenance expenses. To cut down on this wasteful and inefficient spending, the Obama Administration has taken unprecedented steps to reduce this stock of unused [...]

Strike for higher wages in world’s most profitable mine set to become longest stoppage in Indonesian history. Union workers at Freeport Indonesia’s Grasberg copper mine said they could extend their strike by another month, which would make it the longest mining stoppage in the country’s history. The controversial Grasberg mine is the most profitable mine [...]

At least three people were killed and scores more trapped under the rubble of two hotels and a dozen other buildings when an earthquake hit eastern Turkey on Wednesday, less than three weeks after another quake killed 600 in the same area. The magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck 16 km (9 miles) south of the city of Van [...]

During its more than 100 years as one of China’s premier academic institutions, Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University has produced some notable alumni, ranging from former Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Qian Xuesen, an architect of China’s missile and space programs. Now, an even more famous student has joined the college’s ranks: Yao Ming, the retired [...]

When the Empire State Building was constructed in 1931, it stood 1,250 feet tall. The famous skyscraper was the world’s tallest building – and held that title for more than 40 years. Today the world’s tallest building is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It stretches more than 1,000 feet above the Empire State Building – [...]

Deep beneath the Capitol is a red-carpeted room that recently reverberated to the sound of Democrats and Republicans singing together, and then to their angry exchanges over how to fix the U.S. budget. Welcome to Congress’s “super committee” room. This is where a dozen lawmakers lock themselves away to try to strike a deal that, [...]

Move to boost defence budget by 35 per cent seen as bid to balance China’s growing military in Southeast Asia. The Indonesian government has said it will increase its defence budget by 35 per cent next year, in a step which is seen as helping to balance China’s growing military strength in the region. Indonesia [...]

Officials take action after hospital allegedly fails to treat a girl because her parents could not make advance payment. Indonesia’s health ministry has urged all hospitals to treat poor patients in an emergency, even if they cannot afford the treatment. The government action comes two weeks after a 10-month-old girl died in a hospital, and her [...]

LONDON,  - Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, was crowned the 2011 winner of the Miss World beauty pageant on Sunday at a glittering final ceremony in London. Wearing a pink dress with diamante studs that had a giant cascade of frills slashed below the waist, the 22-year-old gasped and threw her hands to her face as [...]

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Financial markets appear willing to give the United States something they offer fewer and fewer countries these days — time to get public finances in order. It remains to be seen how long investors will remain patient, but many are betting the respite will last until next year’s presidential elections at least. Such a reprieve [...]

CHINESE Premier Wen Jiabao has revealed how his family was ”constantly persecuted” during the darkest years of Chairman Mao’s rule, in a speech that may be a warning to the hardline faction within the Communist Party not to repeat the mistakes of history. The speech, delivered in front of students at Mr Wen’s alma mater, [...]

We had a deal of sorts from the eurozone leaders – but it was a terrible deal for Greece. Now it seems the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has flown back to Athens, and in the cold light of the day, realised he and his people had been sold down the river. Hence a referendum. [...]

Between January and June of 2011, the United States carried out more than 46,000 deportations of the parents of U.S.-citizen children, according to previously unreleased federal data obtained by Colorlines.com’s publisher, the Applied Research Center. The figures reflect a striking increase in the rate of removals of parents and raise serious concerns about the impact [...]

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  (Applause.)  All right.  Thank you so much, everybody.  Please, have a seat on this beautiful day.  It is good to see all these construction workers out.  (Applause.) Of all the industries hammered by the economic downturn, construction has been among the hardest hit.  Since the housing bubble burst, millions of construction [...]