A beloved tradition, dating back to the sixth century, unites Acehnese from all backgrounds in a spirit of gratitude.
Conservationists say better stewardship of Bali's natural assets will not only save species but help sustain the tourist economy and the jobs it provides.
Authorities warn of a dangerous trend that has migrated from Afghanistan to Solo to Poso.
The Ramadan truce in Thailand's Deep South is shaken again as two female teachers – both of them Muslim – die in an apparent insurgent bombing.
Concerns are high following the escape of four terrorists affiliated with a cell that has carried out killings and bank robberies. The men are likely to reconnect with their former associates in order to carry out more attacks, authorities warn.
Disrespectful behaviour by a spokesman for the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) shows the vigilante group's true colours, Muslim leaders say.
This year, Ramadan is a time of both faith and fandom for footballers in Jakarta, as the English Premier League teams come to town.
Many are hopeful that the 40-day truce during Ramadan agreed upon by the Thai government and the BRN will be a harbinger of long-term peace.
For the second year in a row, Jakarta sent observers to southern Philippines as part of an international contingent monitoring ceasefire between the rebels and government troops.
A first-of-its-kind initiative launched by a Malaysian benefactor is teaching Deep South girls important lessons about teamwork and confidence through sport.
Through their films, the students battle perceptions that pesantrens promote terrorism, and forcefully demonstrate that santris can be creative in making films, not in "assembling bombs".
On its anniversary, Jakarta sent a message of unity as it welcomes everyone to be part of its unique character.
Young volunteers from Malaysia and Thailand are doing their best to help children orphaned by violence in the Deep South receive proper education.
TVRI is widely criticised for airing footage of a Hizbut Tahrir leader rejecting democracy, religious freedom and nationalism.
A former bomb-maker and weapons smuggler is now an ambassador of peace.
The annual fires negatively impacted its neighbours, but this year, Jakarta has won praise for its swift response.
Month-long outreach helps thousands of addicts and helps prevent more societal problems.
From steamed pizza to spa experiences, the annual exposition offered plenty of halal options and demonstrated Thailand's vigorous presence in the global halal market.
Assembled Muslim leaders "plead with one and all" to ensure a peaceful Holy Month
Local religious and political leaders say the proposed laws are right for Acehnese society, but some are raising human rights concerns, objecting to what they describe as a form of torture and discriminatory.
Indonesia calls for co-operation in securing and settling the region's multiple, complex borders.
Bali has a leading role in the emerging international Hindu community, which has embraced interfaith unity as a cardinal principle.
Insurgent violence has prevented the troubled southern provinces of Thailand from reaping the full economic benefit of the rubber trade. A planned new industrial park could help change that.
The government says it will follow through on a pledge of trimming car prices, which is expected to inject fresh momentum into the economy and create more employment opportunities for the local people.
Don't allow homecoming extremists to import their brand of jihad from Syria, cleric warns.
![Muhammad Ali, a butcher (left), serves a buyer in Ulee Kareng market, a suburb of Banda Aceh on July 8th. Makmeugang is an Acehnese tradition which will last for two days to welcome Ramadan, Idul Fitri, and Idul Adha. [Nurdin Hasan/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/31/130731_PE_SEA_NURDIN4_RAMADAN-150_100.jpg)
![Visitors release sea turtle hatchlings at Kuta Beach on June 22nd as part of the Bali Big Eco Weekend. The event was aimed at raising awareness about the need to keep beaches clean, both in order to protect wildlife and to attract tourists vital to the economy. [Photo Courtesy of Garuda Indonesia]](/shared/images/2013/07/29/130729_ZAHARA_ID_TURTLES-150_100.jpg)
![Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency Ansyaad Mbai addresses journalists in Solo, Central Java, on June 26th. Ansyaad warned citizens about a new development regarding the use of liquid bombs by terrorists in the region. [M. Wismabrata/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/27/130727_YENNY_ID_LIQUIDBOMB_VG-150_100.jpg)
![Local people react to the car bombing that killed two Phitak Witthaya Kumung School teachers Wednesday (July 24th) in Chanae, Narathiwat. In a statement, school director Sommai Jehwae said students adored the teachers and cried when they heard the news. "Nobody thought that there could be an attack like this, especially during the holy month of Ramadan," Jehwae said. [Rapee Mama/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/26/130726_RAPEE_TH_TEACHERBOMBED1-150_100.jpg)
![Prisoners are seen through a window of Tanjung Gusta Penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra on July 12th, following riots and a fire the night before. Five people died and more than 200 prisoners escaped, including four terrorists whose whereabouts are still unknown. [Atar/AFP].](/shared/images/2013/07/25/130725_OKKY_ID_TANJUNGGUSTA_VG-150_100.jpg)
![Members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) hold a rally in Jakarta in August 2009 to warn night club owners to close their businesses during Ramadan. FPI spokesman Munarman was roundly criticised for throwing water at a university professor while the two were debating Ramadan raids on a live talk show on June 28th. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/07/24/130724_OKKY_ID_TALKSHOW-150_100.jpg)
![Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny signs a fan's jersey after an open training at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium on July 13th. Arsenal visited Jakarta as its first stop of their preseason tour to Asia. [Zahara Tiba/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/22/130722_ZAHARA_ID_FOOTBALL1-150_100.jpg)
![Paramilitary ranger Thop Chaipol is taken to the hospital after suffering minor injuries in a roadside attack by militants in Yala on Wednesday (July 17th). Sporadic attacks have continued in the Deep South despite a 40-day truce during Ramadan was negotiated between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN). [Ahmad Ramansiriwong/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/20/130720_STEPHEN_TH_RAMADAN-150_100.jpg)
![Indonesian Ambassador to Manila Yohanes Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo (left) and Teresita Deles (second from left), Philippine presidential adviser on the peace process, welcome the first Indonesian contingent to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila on July 1st, 2012. Indonesia sent a second, replacement team earlier this month. [Jay Directo/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/07/19/130719_ANDHIKA_ID_MILF-150_100.jpg)
![Students at the Prachanukroh 40 School will be participating in the Under-15 ASEAN Cricket Championships in October. [Somchai Huasaikul/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/18/130718_STEPHEN_TH_CRICKET-150_100.jpg)
![Pesantren Sabilul Hasanah students Rizki Astari and Susi Yutika Sari (in hijab) pose with their trophy at Erasmus Huis, Jakarta on June 21st after winning first place in the Santri Film Festival 2013. [Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/17/130717_ISMIRA_ID_SANTRI1_VG-150_100.jpg)
![Hundreds of thousands of Jakartans thronged Thamrin and Sudirman Streets on June 22nd for Youth Night, part of the 468th anniversary of Indonesia's oldest city. [Ratna Puspita/Khabar].](/shared/images/2013/07/15/130627_RATNAOKKY_ID_JAKARTA_VG-150_100.jpg)
![Fadlee Seng, 14, a student at the Sutthisat Witthaya School, is grateful that the Deep South Woman Association for Peace and students from the International Islamic University Malaysia are helping him receive a free education. [Stephen Fein/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/13/130709_STEPHEN_TH_ORPHANS-150_100.jpg)
![A man cleans the national symbol Garuda Pancasila on a roof in Jakarta in October 2012. It carries a shield representing Pancasila (five principles, including unity and democracy) and the national motto (unity in diversity). National broadcaster TVRI pledged to uphold Pancasila after its recent broadcast of a Hizbut Tahrir meeting drew outrage. [Bay Ismoyo/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/07/12/130712_FANI_ID_TVRI-150_100.jpg)
![Ali Fauzi (centre) talks to fellow worshippers in the Baitul Muttaqin mosque in Tenggulun, West Java on November 7th, 2008. [Adek Berry/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/07/11/130711_ANDHIKA_ID_ALIFAUZI-150_100.jpg)
![Smoke from forest fires blankets a road in Dumai, Riau on June 26th. As unhealthy levels of haze from the Riau fires hit Singapore and parts of Malaysia, Indonesia used artificial rain to control them. [M.Rida/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/10/130710_YENNY_ID_HAZE_VG1-150_100.jpg)
![Police display one tonne of marijuana, valued at $237,000, seized during an operation in Jakarta on March 13th. In partnership with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Jakarta Police offered free rehab to drug addicts during the month of June. [Adek Berry/AFP]](/shared/images/2013/07/09/130709_OKKY_ID_DRUGREHAB_VG-150_100.jpg)
![Daree Sa-ah displays a box of Dadih pudding from Malaysia at the fifth annual Phuket Andaman Halal for Tourism 2013. He came to stock up on products he knew would be authentically halal. [Somchai Huasaikul/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/08/130708_STEPHEN_TH_HALAL-150_100.jpg)
![Muslim peace protesters march in Yala's Raman District on July 4th, calling for a stop to violence in Thailand's Deep South as the Holy Month of Ramadan approaches. [Ahmad Ramansiriwong/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/06/130706_RAPEE_TH_RAMADAN1-150_100.jpg)
![An Acehnese girl is caned after being found guilty of kissing in public, a serious violation under Sharia law. The punishment was carried out in front of the Al-Munawarrah Mosque in Jantho City, on the outskirts of Banda Aceh, on December 10th, 2010. [Nurdin Hasan/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/04/130705-NURDIN_ID_ACEH-150_100.jpg)
![Asep Karsidi, head of the Geospatial Information Agency of Indonesia, speaks on maritime boundaries and co-operation during a regional co-ordinating meeting on April 16th-17th in Jakarta. [Yudah Prakoso/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/04/130704_YUDAH1_ID_MARITIM_VG-150_100.jpg)
![Jero Wacik (centre, in brown), a priest from Gianyar, Bali, greets other participants at the second World Hindu Summit at the Bali Arts Centre in Denpasar on June 14th. As many as 500 Hindu leaders from around the globe attended the summit. [Ni Komang Erviani/Khabar].](/shared/images/2013/07/03/130703_ERVIANI_ID_WORLDHINDUSUMMIT-150_100.jpg)
![Aminar Rashid Salleh of Perodua said car manufacturers will have to maximize efficiency without compromising quality to meet the government's goal of lower car prices. [Grace Chen/Khabar]](/shared/images/2013/07/01/130701_GRACE_MY_AUTOS-150_100.jpg)
![Iranians sit on a boat at Denspar's Benoa port on May 12th, 2013. They were among 95 asylum seekers from Iran arrested by Indonesian marine police while sailing through nearby Badung strait. [Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP]](/shared/images/2014/02/15/140215_ANDHIKA_SAMUEL_IRANIAN_VISA_VG1-100_67.jpg)
![Indonesia's Election Supervisory Committee (Bawaslu) opens a Jakarta forum involving religious leaders January 22nd. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]](/shared/images/2014/02/14/140214_YENNY_MUSLIM_VOTING_VG1-100_67.jpg)
![Imlek Festival goers in Solo celebrate the Chinese New Year. The festival went from January 23rd through January 29th. [Yenny Herawati/Khabar]](/shared/images/2014/02/13/140205_YENNY_ID_IMLEX_VG1-100_67.jpg)
![Opposition forces prepare to storm the headquarters of the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters in Aleppo, Syria on January 7th. Indonesian jihadists are among 8,000 foreigners fighting in the Syrian civil war. [Medo Halab/AFP]](/shared/images/2014/02/12/140203_ISMIRA_OKKY_ID_SYRIAN_JIHADIST_RETURNED_VG1-100_67.jpg)
![Typhoon Haiyan survivors prepare to board Australian and US C-130 aircraft departing storm-ravaged Tacloban on November 18th. [Photo courtesy of US Marines]](/shared/images/2013/11/26/131126-FORUM_TYPHOON2PE1_PP-270_180.jpg)