Muslim students reject Megawati JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Muslim students in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, took to the streets on Monday voicing their rejection of Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidential bid. The demonstration took place at about the same time that hundreds of locals gathered in Medan, North Sumatra, to express their support of the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) by compiling thumb prints in blood.

Ministers to fix ASEAN's image MANILA (AFP): Southeast Asian foreign ministers are to draw up a vision of a "united and solid" ASEAN during their meeting in Singapore later this month, a senior Philippine diplomat said on Monday. The move follows attacks on the 32-year-old organization's performance in the face of serious challenges such as the Asian financial crisis and the dispute over South China Sea territories, where four ASEAN members are rival claimants.

RI, Norway form business council JAKARTA (JP): The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta announced on Monday Indonesian and Norwegian firms had formed the Indonesian-Norway Business Council (INBC) to promote trade between the two countries. The embassy said in a statement the council would provide a forum for businessmen from both countries to discuss and exchange views on business conditions, both domestic and international, which affect their businesses.

Expert sees quick recovery in prime condominium market JAKARTA (JP): A property consultancy firm predicted on Monday demand for prime condominiums in Jakarta would recover sooner than expected given the country's continuing economic improvement. PT Procon Indah/Jones Lang LaSalle said buyers' confidence had begun to recover at the end of the second quarter of 1999 following improvements in the country's economy, the strengthening of the rupiah and the peaceful general election.