World surfing champ ousted JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Jye Gofton from Australia failed to make it to the semifinal of the world surfing championship at Sorake in Nias, off northern Sumatra, on Friday.Gofton was thrown off one of Sorake's waves, which can be up to four-meters high.

Translating themes into stamp designs in IndonesiaBy Lila Fitri Aly JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian word perangko (stamp) is derived from the Latin word franco, a receipt for payment of the mailing cost of a letter.

Maria suffers first loss JAKARTA (JP): Breaking the time limit, Maria Lucia, Indonesia's 1991 Asian Junior Chess Champion, was declared the loser by international judge Mukmin Panggabean in a game against Georgian grandmaster Nana Alexandria in their first duel in Surabaya on Friday.

Indonesia -- a seafaring nation Arung Samudera 95: Sail Indonesia & International Fleet Review Indonesian Navy Headquarters PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1995 233 pp JAKARTA (JP): The history of Indonesia is rich in nautical events.

'The Penny Black' in stamp history JAKARTA (JP): Stamps were first issued in Great Britain on May 6, 1840. The first two British stamps issued are known as "The Penny Black" and each had a value of 2 pence.

Honggo puts Asmat motifs in his clay worksBy Imran Rusli JAKARTA (JP): "Crazy ceramics!" cried a group of female students, pointing to a ceramic displayed at the handicraft center of Pasaraya Big and Beautiful in Blok M, South Jakarta."Really crazy," they raved.

Roosseno dies of diabetes at 88 R. Roosseno, the Indonesian doyen of engineering and minister during the Old Order administration of the late president Sukarno, died of diabetes here yesterday. He was 88.

Local firms told to use fair for promotion JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno officially opened yesterday the 29th Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, with a call to local companies to use the fair as arena to promote their products.

Stamp collecting as a popular hobby JAKARTA (JP): Stamp collecting could be the most popular hobby in the world. The young and old, and the rich and poor from all corners of the world enjoy collecting stamps.Stamp collectors are called philatelists.

Night buses, pleaseFrom NeracaOnce again, I would like to put my plight about night buses before the transportation authorities. How nice it would be if night transportation was reestablished, since many private enterprises are running bus services today.

Three records shattered at regional athletics meet JAKARTA (JP): Three records were broken on the first day of the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) schools track and field championship at the Senayan Madya stadium here yesterday.

Labor unrest might hit investment in VietnamBy Hoang Ngoc Nguyen An increasing number of strikes in Vietnam is causing the government concern. Vietnam's socialist regime is founded on the working class in which the workers are supposed to be both employer and employees of their factories.

ASEAN must take a more proactive approachBy Bilson Kurus If ASEAN does not take a more proactive approach to international affairs, it faces a difficult future. If there is to be a concise phrase which would arguably serve both as a critique of and a challenge for ASEAN as it heads towards the 21st...

Dissenters will not be dismissed: PDI JAKARTA (JP): The challenged executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) softened its stance yesterday, saying it would not immediately dismiss a group of dissenters pushing for a fresh chairman election.

National jumpers told to become achievers JAKARTA (JP): Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman urged national skydivers to improve the country's achievements in international events."We hope our skydivers can do the same as our shuttlers who achieved world ranking," Hayono told...

Toll fees PT Citramarga Nusaphala Persada -- the company which is building the newly extended Tomang-Tanjung Priok-Ancol-Pluit toll road -- has proposed a toll fee hike, despite the fact that it was already raised by Rp 500 in October last year.

Parachuting: Adventure in the skyBy Primastuti Handayani and Thalia Kamarga BOGOR, West Java (JP): Centuries ago, our predecessors dreamed of being able to fly like birds. Now, because of modern technology people can travel by airplane.

Lee says Suu Kyi must 'face realities' SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew urged the Myanmarese opposition in remarks published here yesterday to "face the realities of life" and accept the army's role in governing their country.

Lombok to host roller skate meet JAKARTA (JP): About 700 rollerskaters are expected to participate in the National Roller Skating Championships in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on June 30.Chairman of the organizing committee Robby G Anthony SZ said that State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports...

Hashimoto keeps leed in JLPGA FUJIOKA, Japan (AFP): Overnight leader Aiko Hashimoto played steady golf to stretch her lead to three strokes after the third round in the US$460,000 Twin Lakes Open women's golf tournament yesterday.