Malaysian palmoil ends flat KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's palm oil futures closed mostly flat on Thursday as players waited for fresh direction, traders said. "The market tried to hold because players believe the 800 ringgit support level will stay. There's also persistent talk that China will enter the market to buy more oil," said one trader in Kuala Lumpur.

Asian currencies mostly down; central bank fears ease pain SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Most Asian currencies suffered a relapse late Thursday as the Japanese yen's recent reprieve proved to be short-lived, dealers said. But talk of central bank intervention kept a rein on some of the currencies' losses, in particular the Singapore dollar and the New Taiwan dollar, dealers said.

Thales wins RI air contract LE BOURGET, France (AFX): Thales said it signed the first phase of a contract worth 50 million euros to supply defense systems to Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) jets destined for the Indonesian air force. The first phase of the contract involves installing its Airborne Maritime Situation Control System (Amascos) in three IAe CN235-220 jets, Thales said in a statement.

U.S. Dollar Rates June.21 Latest Previous %Change Yen 124.15-25 123.75-85 +0.32 Euro* 0.8554-59 0.8546-50 +0.09 Sterling 1.4094-01 1.3969-73 +0.89 Swiss Franc 1.7777-82 1.7857-67 -0.45 Canadian Dollar* 1.5288-98 1.5330-40 -0.27 Australian Dollar* 0.5175-80 0.5189-94 -0.27 New Zealand Dollar 0.4129-36 0.4129-36 0.00 Deutsche Mark 2.2848-62 2.2875-86 -0.12 Czech Koruna 39.828-58 39.870-00 -0.11 Hungary Forint 286.39-79 288.07-50 -0.58 Danish Krone 8.7113-53 8.7290-40 -0.20 Norwegian Krone...

Christian urged to resolve coach dispute with Taufik JAKARTA (JP): Sangkuriang Graha Sarana (SGS) manager Lutfi Hamid urged the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) training director, Christian Hadinata, to discuss, in person, with world number two shuttler Taufik Hidayat about coach Mulyo Handoyo, whose contract was terminated on June 15. "I call on Christian to speak in person with Taufik on the matter.

Minister plays down impact of fuel price hike JAKARTA (JP): New Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah played down the impact of the fuel price hike despite mass media reports describing significant price increases of many commodities throughout the country.

Legal battle over biotech products kicks off JAKARTA (JP): The start of what will likely be a long and arduous legal battle on genetically modified seeds began on Thursday when the State Administrative Court began hearing a suit filed by 72 non-governmental organizations seeking the striking down of Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 107/2001 allowing the use of the controversial products.

Message from the Ambassador Today, the Philippines celebrates the 103rd anniversary of the proclamation of its independence. It is an occasion for every Filipino to look back with pride on our past. For in struggles against colonizers and foreign aggressors, in the fight against tyranny and injustice at home, in face of periods of great trial and uncertainty, Filipinos have eventually emerged triumphant. Our love for freedom and democracy has ensured this.

Sulawesi governors back special session MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Governors of all provinces in Sulawesi have voiced their support for the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in August as a constitutional solution to the nation's protracted crisis. The statement was issued on Tuesday evening following a closed-door meeting of the All-Sulawesi Governors' Regional Forum (FRGS).

Aiming for Market Leadership in Information Technology Services The information technology (IT) industry in the Philippines has been going through remarkable progress and growth in recent years. In the hardware sector, the Philippines' semiconductor and electronics industries have been growing at the rate of 30 percent to 40 percent per annum since 1993.

Director Deocampo at center stage for Philippine film fest By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Tall, slim and boyish at 42, Nick Deocampo does not look like someone all too ready to rattle the moral conventions which define society. But the independent filmmaker has made his art a mission to delve beneath the veneer of decorum which governs our lives, putting at center stage the human flotsam and jetsam who are so often swept aside for the good of the grand picture.

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership Philippine-Indonesian relations are characterized by a genuine sense of brotherhood borne out of centuries of close and vibrant interaction as neighbors. In precolonial times, trade, commerce and transmigration flourished between our peoples. Intermarriages and alliances solidified these cross-cultural and economic links. Over the centuries, the movement of peoples, goods and ideas between the two archipelagos intensified.

Legislators cause a stir over new washing machine privileges JAKARTA (JP): While most people in the country are enraged over the soaring prices of commodities, House of Representatives legislators have their attention fixed on expensive washing machines they claim to be one of their standard perks. Starting several weeks ago, brand new washing machines worth Rp 6 million (US$540) each have been sent by couriers to the official residences of the legislators in Kalibata area, South Jakarta.

Cellular phone robber shot dead JAKARTA (JP): A cellular phone robber was shot dead in front of Senen shopping center on Jl. Senen Raya in Central Jakarta while attempting to escape arrest on Thursday morning. Central Jakarta police chief of detectives Comr. Angesta Romano Yoyol said Yanto Tanjung, 25, a resident of Jl. Abdul Ghani, Cempaka Putih district of Central Jakarta grabbed a cellular phone hanging from the hip of Doni Djohar, 27, a resident of Jl.

Investors online with JSX JAKARTA (JP): Foreign investors will soon be able to trade online through the Jakarta Stock Exchange following a deal on Wednesday between banking group DBS Group Holding Ltd. (DBS) and online financial service firm TD Waterhouse Groups Inc. The two companies agreed to enter a joint venture for the establishment of a regional online financial service company that would include the Indonesian stock market.

Cipto complains of less space for the dead JAKARTA (JP): The corpses of the four people killed in last month's bomb blast that leveled the Iskandar Muda Acehnese dormitory here are still being kept in the morgue of the Cipto Mangunkusumo Public Hospital. They are still being stored at the morgue, pending city police' approval to allow their burial, head of the morgue Mardiono told The Jakarta Post early this week.