Jazz duo Tuck & Patti make beautiful music on and off stage ____________________________________________________________ Singapore hummed to the beat of jazz last weekend during the first Singapore International Jazz Festival.

Summitplast to open third plastic factory next month JAKARTA (JP) : Publicly listed plastic component producer PT Summitplast Interbenua will commence next month the operation of its third factory at its industrial compound in the Lippo Cikarang industrial estate in West Java.

Where to go in Jakarta: Friday, May 25, 2001Exhibitions * Advertising Postcards, Gallery RPC, Jl. Suryo 8 Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, until May 31. * Modern Indonesian Literature, Galeri Lontar, Jl. Utan Kayu 68H, East Jakarta (Phone: 8573388), May 31.

Astra to hedge 20% of debts as 1Q losses surge JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed auto manufacturer PT Astra International plans to hedge up to 20 percent of its US$800 million in debts, as the rupiah sent its first quarter net loss to Rp 515 billion (about $45.

The military and politics Indonesians can sigh a deep breath of relief; the threat of a direct confrontation between the embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid on one side and the military, or TNI, and the House of Representatives on the other has been averted -- for now.

Attitude is not everything at Neu Diva bar JAKARTA (JP): Don't be fooled by the name. No self-respecting diva would be caught dead in the Neu Diva bar, plunking her well- toned fanny down on the ratty couch and resting her immaculately clad feet on the cracked and stained concrete floor.

Garuda to resume flights to Fukuoka in July JAKARTA (JP): National flagship carrier PT Garuda Indonesia will resume its international flights to Fukuoka early in July to take advantage of the growing demand for travel to this Japanese city.

Back to basics in monetary policy This is the first of two articles on monetary policy by Tubagus Feridhanusetyawan, senior economist and head of economic affairs at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta.

Indonesia's corn import ban to benefit U.S., Thai producers SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): U.S. corn producers are expected to carve a bigger market share in Indonesia's corn market following the country's ban on imports from Argentina and China, industry participants said.

Charity concert a celebration of Verdi's greatnessBy Y. Bintang Prakarsa JAKARTA (JP): In observance of the centenary anniversary of the death of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), the Mines and Energy Society Bimasena will hold a concert presenting the composer's celebrated operatic pieces.

Sinar Mas ready to swap assets pledged to IBRA JAKARTA (JP): The Sinar Mas Group said on Wednesday it was willing to replace assets pledged as collateral to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), if the asset pledge violated capital market regulations.

Govt economic policies The Jakarta Post's comment about our country's problems and the government's economic team's performance in an editorial titled Bitter medicine on May 17, contains a number of factual errors.

Govt economic policies The Jakarta Post's comment about our country's problems and the government's economic team's performance in an editorial titled Bitter medicine on May 17, contains a number of factual errors.

JP/10/caption JP/Alex LumiAUTOMOTIVE MEETING: Publicly listed PT Astra International president Theodore P. Rachmat (center) talks to vice president Budi Setiadharma (right), as chief commissioner A.R. Ramly looks on.

OPEC to maintain current output VIENNA (AFP): OPEC is unlikely to increase oil output next month despite a resurgence of prices, but could hold another special meeting to review the situation if they continue to soar, its head said on Wednesday.

Swiss group to own 74.5% of Semen Cibinong JAKARTA (JP): The Swiss-based cement group Holcim Ltd., formerly known as Holderbank Financiere Glaris Ltd., plans to raise its stake to 74.5 percent in publicly listed cement producer PT Semen Cibinong, as part of the latter's debt restructuring deal.