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![Policemen stand guard outside Pesantren Darus Sholihin in Puger Kulon, Jember, East Java on September 11th after it was attacked by a rival Muslim group that damaged facilities inside. Several motorcycles were set on fire and a local man was killed in the violence. [AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/28/130928_YENNY_ID_SUNNISHIA-150_100.jpg)
Leaders of rival groups pledge to restore peace after riot leaves one dead in East Java town.
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![The staff of a school for pregnant teenagers meets inside a prayer room at a hostel for students in Jasin, Malaysia on September 17th, 2010. Malacca state started the school in response to a rising number of abandoned infants. On August 19th, Malaysia's National Service Training Programmeme announced mandatory pregnancy tests for trainees. [Saeed KHAN/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/27/130927_GRACE_MY_PREGNANCY-150_100.jpg)
2013-09-27
A spate of pregnancies among girls enrolled in the programme has sparked debate in a country where many consider premarital sex a taboo topic.
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![Indonesian counterterror troops take part in a simulated hostage rescue during the closing of a counterterrorism exercise at Indonesia Peace and Security Center (IPSC) in Sentul, Bogor on September 13th. Special forces from 18 countries participated in the week-long exercise. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/26/130926_ISMIRA_ID_COUNTERTERRORISM-150_100.jpg)
The threat of extremist violence is resulting in greater unity among nations in the region when it comes to ensuring security, as a recent joint exercise demonstrates.
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![In this July 18th handout photo, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency assists passengers rescued from an overturned boat in Tanjung Sedili, Johor in southern Malaysia. Once again, Malaysian forces have joined with Indonesia's for exercises to patrol their porous border. [AFP/Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency]](/shared/images/2013/09/25/130925-OKKY_MY_PATROLCOOPERATION-150_100.jpg)
A shared commitment by Indonesia and Malaysia to combat smuggling and trafficking continues with the two nations' 19th joint patrol.
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![A bride and groom sit together amid gorgeous decorations in Siglie, Aceh on August 23rd. Wedding traditions from all over the province are on exhibit during Aceh Culture Week (PKA) in Banda Aceh from September 20th-29th. [Nurdin Hasan/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/24/130924_NURDIN_ID_PKA1-150_100.jpg)
Officials hope Aceh Culture Week will help draw more visitors to the province and preserve its diverse traditions for future generations.
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![The World Muslimah 2013 finals were held at the Balai Sarbini concert hall in Jakarta on Wednesday (September 18th) [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/21/130921_YENNY_ID_MWMUSLIMAH_VG-150_100.jpg)
Timed to coincide with Bali's controversial hosting of Miss World, a rival event aims to promote an Islam-friendly approach to beauty pageants.
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![Anti-terror troops enter a building during a counterterrorism exercise at the Indonesia Peace and Security Center (IPSC) in Sentul, Bogor, on September 13th. The military is set to take a more active role in combating terrorism in Indonesia. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/20/130920_ANDHIKA_ID_MILITARY-150_100.jpg)
A new accord between the Indonesian counterterrorism agency and the armed forces has raised eyebrows in a country that only recently embraced democracy. But supporters say Indonesia requires new strategies to deal with the shadowy jihadist threat.
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![Students at the King's School in Pattani Town take language classes with native Malay and English speakers. The courses are being offered by Salam Dari Pattani, a local NGO. [Somchai Huasaikul/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/19/130919_STEPHEN_TH_ENGLISH-150_100.jpg)
As Thailand prepares for the upcoming regional economic bloc, experts debate how to better promote the learning of languages – particularly English and Standard Malay – among local students.
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![During a May protest, a Shia woman holds a photo showing followers of Ahmadiyah locked inside their mosque in Bekasi. Indonesian authorities say they will not bow to demands for a ban on the sect. [Adek Berry/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/18/130918_YENNY_ID_AHMADIYAH-150_100.jpg)
The government refuses to kowtow to hardliners who have been calling for a ban on the Ahmadiyah sect.
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![A fire truck travels amid heavily damaged buildings in the Syrian town of Deir Ezzor on September 10th. The latest report from the Foreign Ministry noted that 8,960 Indonesian workers have fled the country due to the worsening conflict. [Amhad Aboud/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/17/130917_OKKY_ID_SYRIA_VG1-150_100.jpg)
The brutal civil war in Syria has forced Indonesia to evacuate thousands of its citizens working in the conflict zone.
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![Painting and calligraphy on the walls of Perak Cave near Ipoh, 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur, are a big draw for visitors. Some people say minerals in Ipoh's water makes food grown and prepared there especially tasty. [Grace Chen/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/16/130916_GRACE_MY_IPOH_CAVE-150_100.jpg)
limestone hills, silky flat rice chicken noodles and heritage buildings.
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![Sudirman Abdul Talib, 31, a victim of the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing, believes some terrorists do not understand the impact of their actions. [Elizabeth Oktofani/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/14/130914_FANI_ID_DERADICALISATION_VG-150_100.jpg)
Those who have suffered at the hands of violent extremists believe some recruits will be moved to repent once they understand how terrorism destroys lives.
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![Indonesian wushu athlete and 2011 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Susyana Tjhan performs at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Day celebration at the organisation's Secretariat building in Jakarta on August 28th.[Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/13/130913_ISMIRA_ID_ASEAN_VG-150_100.jpg)
At 46, the regional bloc celebrates its growing digital community and the release of its landmark human rights declaration in ten languages.
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![Police transport illegal weapons seized at a training camp in Aceh. The guns were presented as evidence during the trial of Abu Bakar Bashir, a cleric convicted of fomenting terrorism, in March 2011. Police are cracking down on illegal firearms following a rash of shootings targeting security forces. [Romeo Gacad/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/09/12/130912_OKKY_ID_FIREARMS_VG-150_100.jpg)
The National Police ask the public to help purge illegal guns from society, after a series of drive-by shootings.
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![Pilgrims from the Deep South board the first direct flight from Narathiwat Airport to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj. Local Muslims are excited they will no longer have to spend time and money to travel to far-off airports to fly to Jeddah. [Rapee Mama/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/11/130911_RAPEE_TH_HAJJ-150_100.jpg)
For the first time, local residents can fly directly from Narathiwat to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.
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![Thanks to diversity-minded confectioners, mooncakes, a traditional Chinese festive delicacy has found a new audience in Southeast Asia since 2009 after the Muslim Eid-ul-Fitri and Chinese Mid-Autumn Lantern festivals coincided. [Grace Chen/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/10/130910-GRACE_MY_MOONCAKES-150_100.jpg)
2013-09-10
Originating in 2009, when Eid-ul-Fitri coincided with the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival, halal versions of the traditional pastry help cross the religious divide.
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![Rescue workers assist a migrant at a wharf in Cidaun, West Java, on July 24th after the boat he was on sank. Indonesia convened a conference with representatives from Australia -- a primary destination for asylum seekers -- and other countries in the region to discuss the growing problem. [AFP Photo]](/shared/images/2013/09/09/130909_ANDHIKA_HUMANTRAFFICKING_VG1-150_100.jpg)
The archipelago is widely used as a transit hub, and its expansive territory makes it difficult to stem the rising flow. Officials say a regional approach is needed.
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![Miss World 2013 contestants (left to right) Kirtis Malone ( British Virgin Islands), Penina Maree Paeu (Samoa), Eva Dombrovska (Latvia) and Jacqueline Steenbeek (The Netherlands) pose during a photo session Wednesday (September 4th) in Bali. [AFP/Miss World]](/shared/images/2013/09/07/130907-YENNY_ID_MISSWORLD2-150_100.jpg)
Organisers of Miss World 2013 have decided to scrap the traditional bikini contest and showcase Indonesian-style beachwear instead. Hardline groups, however, remain unappeased.
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![Buses wait for passengers at Giwangan bus terminal in Yogyakarta on August 13th. Each day, hundreds of night buses transport passengers from Yogyakarta to Jakarta. People returning to the city after Idul Fitri often bring relatives or friends who want to find a job in the capital. But there are more jobseekers than jobs, officials say. [Yudah Prakoso/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/06/130906_YUDAH_ID_URBANIZATION_VG-150_100.jpg)
2013-09-06
Jakarta's population swells, post Idul Fitri
The capital expects to add tens of thousands of people from various places in Indonesia who are seeking work and a better life.
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![Somchai Nilsri gives the thumbs-up after his victory in the final round of Thailand's Got Talent. The 29-year-old singer-songwriter stirred the nation with a tune he penned himself, recalling more harmonious times in his native Deep South. [Somchai Huasaikul/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/09/05/130905-SOMCHAI_TH_SOMCHAI-150_100.jpg)
Singer-songwriter hopes to help restore harmony to region.
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![An East Jakarta teenager balances as he makes his way to the end of a betel nut palm tree bridge placed across the Kalimalang River. In this cherished local tradition, held during Independence Day celebrations, participants are given a chance to cross the bridge and collect gifts placed at its end. [Zahara Tiba/Khabar].](/shared/images/2013/09/02/130827_ZAHARA_ID_JALANPINANG2-150_100.jpg)
Riverside game brings excitement on Independence Day
After a lengthy absence, a cherished tradition returned this year to the neighbourhood alongside East Jakarta's Kalimalang River.
![Presidential and vice presidential candidates (front, left to right) Jusuf Kalla, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa sing the national anthem at a July 1st event in Jakarta. They were there to report their wealth, as required ahead of the July 9th presidential election. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]](/shared/images/2014/07/04/140704_ALISHA_ID_ELECTIONSECURITY-100_67.jpg)
![A passenger waits May 2nd at the immigration counter in the new terminal at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA2). Iranians entering Malaysia can no longer obtain visas upon arrival. [Manan Vatsyayana/AFP]](/shared/images/2014/07/03/140703-GRACE_VOA_MY-100_67.jpg)
![Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (left) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) candidate Joko Widodo debate in Jakarta on June 22nd. [Rome Gacad/AFP]](/shared/images/2014/07/02/140626_ID_ADITYA_ELECTION_VG1-100_67.jpg)
