Monsoon forecast to end next month JAKARTA (JP): The National Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has predicted that the rainy season will end next month. The head of the agency, Sri Diharto, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the rainy season would peak this month in Jakarta and most parts of Indonesia. "Due to the continuation of the effects from the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to end in June, rain will likely continue to fall sporadically.

Spotlight Photo A: Megawati JP/leo MEET THE AMBASSADOR: U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton Roy greets Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party. She held a post Idul Fitri gathering at her residence on Monday last week.

Tunky urges PT Timor to review its business JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo has urged PT Timor Putra Nasional to assess whether its business is still commercially feasible. Tunky said yesterday he has called on the car import company, which until last month had received tax and duty exemptions from the government, to consolidate its project due to the sluggish economy.

KL and S'pore start anew KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia and Singapore sought yesterday to bury old rivalries, agreeing to cooperate in the rescue of the region's reeling economies. Speaking at the end of a visit by Singaporean Premier Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad also said that Malaysia would not cut off the island-republic's water supply. "The two prime ministers ...

Team given go ahead to probe sticker system JAKARTA (JP): The city municipality has established a special team to conduct an in-depth study of the proposed sticker system, which is to replace the current three-in-one traffic regulation. Gubernatorial Decree No. 115/1998 dated Feb. 9 -- but made available to the media Monday -- sets out the team's objectives.

Habibie only needs Armed Forces' nod JAKARTA (JP): B.J. Habibie only needs the Armed Forces' nod to make his vice presidential nomination a forgone conclusion after the country's 27 governors lined up behind him yesterday. The regional leaders' endorsement means that Habibie, the state minister of research and technology, has secured the backing of four of the five factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).