Today's Top Stories

For more dynamic photos and in-depth coverage of today's leading stories click here Friday, 18 May 2012 TOP NEWS 1. Promoter: Lady Gaga Show Must (and Might) Go on After National Police refused to issue a permit for Lady Gaga's Jakarta concert following pressure from Indonesia's hard-line Islamist organizations, the concert's promoter is still optimistic that the show will go on as planned. Camelia Pasandaran | 9:18 AM May 16, 2012 2. Police Threaten to Disperse Lady Gaga's Jakarta Concert The Jakarta Police said on Thursday that they would shut down Lady Gaga's concert in the capital originally scheduled for June 3 if the promoter insists on going on with the event. Zaki Pawas | 7:27 PM May 17, 2012 3. Hardliners in Bekasi Throw Stones at Ascension Day Service A mob of Islamic hard-liners threw stones and bags of urine at the HKBP Filadelphia congreagation in Bekasi at an Ascension Day service on Thursday. Police tried to stop the mob of some 300 people, but were also attacked, according to reports. Camelia Pasandaran | 2:24 PM May 17, 2012 4. Papua Ojek Driver Shot Dead An unknown person shot dead a motorcycle taxi driver identified as Arkilaus Refwutu in Mulia, the restive capital of the Papua district of Puncak Jaya, on Thursday, police said. | 4:44 PM May 17, 2012 5. Indonesian Police Close Website Hacked by Terror Suspects A Malaysian website that was hacked and plundered by Indonesian terrorists to finance their activities has been shut down, an investigator from the police's antiterror unit said on Thursday. Farouk Arnaz | 3:56 PM May 17, 2012 STORIES YOU JUST CAN'T MISS 1. Australian Hairdresser Faces Death Penalty in Bali for Drug Smuggling Denpasar. A 54-year-old Australian hairdresser is facing the death penalty as Indonesian prosecutors accused him on Thursday of attempting to smuggle just over a kilogram of narcotics into Bali. Made Arya Kencana | 1:12 PM May 17, 2012 2. Money Problems Downscale Plans for Indonesia Football Academies Limited funding is forcing the Indonesian Football Association to halve the number of its planned football academies for young players, an executive with the organization said on Wednesday. Wimbo Satwiko | 8:12 PM May 17, 2012 3. Comedy Is Not for The Faint-Hearted It's been widely believed that comedy can be used as a tool of social critics and the practice is not really new because even in the New Order era, Warkop DKI and Bagito, two national comedy greats, had used humor to tease on political issues. The rise of local stand-up comedy scene promises the chance to repeat that feat although the slapstick comedy that has been more popular means there's a hill to climb. Pangeran Siahaan | 10:06 AM May 17, 2012 4. Student Apologizes After Spreading Fake Pictures of Sukhoi Victims The Indonesian man named suspect on Tuesday for spreading falsified pictures of supposedly victims of the crashed Sukhoi Superjet 100 publicly apologized on Wednesday, saying he did not know the pictures were fake. Farouk Arnaz | 2:50 PM May 17, 2012 5. In Indonesia's Reform Era, House Still Far From 'Angelic' Marzuki Darusman can still remember what the House of Representatives was like before the tumultuous events of 1998 that led to the downfall of former President Suharto. Anita Rachman | 9:37 PM May 17, 2012 Advertisement In Today's Newspaper Police Chief Denies Bowing To Pressure on Gaga Gig National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo has denied bowing to the demands of Muslim hard-liners in deciding to not issue a permit for a Lady Gaga concert. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto has also denied that the Jakarta Police bowed to pressure from Muslim fundamentalists. Police say the decision not to issue the permit was made after considering input from interest groups, and out of fear the concert could have disrupted security in the capital. Read about it in today's Jakarta Globe or subscribe to receive the paper every day. Contact Us Citra Graha Building 11th Floor, Suite 1102 Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto Kav. 35-36 Jakarta 12950 | Indonesia Phone: +62 21 29957500 | Fax: +62 21 5200072 Follow us online for the latest breaking news every day: Facebook: thejakartaglobe Twitter: @thejakartaglobe You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up to receive daily top stories from thejakartaglobe.com. privacy policy | not interested anymore? unsubscribe instantly.