48,000 children can't go to school UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Around 48,000 graduates of local primary schools this year will be unable to continue their education because there are not enough junior high schools to accommodate them, Antara reported. Only 90,000 elementary school graduates can go on to junior high school, according to Amirrudin Maula, the head of the provincial education office.

National players enter Governor Cup JAKARTA (JP): About 20 national tennis players will warm up for the 14th National Games by entering the fifth Governor Cup championships, slated from July 29 to Aug. 4 at the Senayan tennis complex. Men's singles veterans Cahyono, Dede Suhendar and Yustedjo Tarik, and top national women's players Wukirasih, Mimma Chernovita and Marike Gunawan have been listed among the tournament's major participants.

Falling U.S. corn prices tempt SE Asian buyers SINGAPORE (Reuter): Indonesia and Malaysia may be tempted to snap up U.S. corn for late-year delivery if prices in Chicago continue to fall, regional traders said. Buyers from the two countries may decide to lock-up supplies because of concerns that hot weather predicted by longer-term forecasts for the U.S. Midwest may stunt pollinating corn crops in the region sparking a renewed price rally, traders said.

Mortgage facility needed to reduce investment risks JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia urgently needs to set up a secondary mortgage facility (SMF) to minimize funding risks in the property sector, which at present is solely financed by the short-term funds of financial institutions, a panel discussion concluded yesterday. "Long-term funds are increasingly needed to finance the construction of houses, for which there has been a growing demand.

Keep beaches clean, guides say MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Tourist guides on Lombok island said the tourist authorities should strive to clean the Senggigi beach if they want to draw more visitors to the area. "Unless they pay more attention to the security and sanitation aspects of Senggigi and other beaches in West Nusa Tenggara, we fear the number of tourists visiting the province will decline," Robby G. Anthonyzs, the chairman of the province's Association of Tourist Guides, told Antara.

Bakrie seeks $75m loan HONG KONG (Reuter): PT Bakrie Sumatera Plantation has mandated Credit Suisse to arrange a US$75 million financing facility, bankers said. The facility has two tranches. Tranche A is a US$65 million term loan and tranche B is a US$10 million revolver. Both tranches carry the same maturity and pricing. The facility has a maturity of three years extendible to five years. Pricing details are not available yet. The amount has been fully underwritten, bankers said.