Megawati keeps a tight lid on the Cabinet JAKARTA (JP): There was much speculation but few actual clues as to the lineup of the new Cabinet on Wednesday, a day before it is due to be announced, with even People's Consultative Assembly speaker Amien Rais failing to get peak at the draft of the new government.

Nauru excludes Irianese from SPF SYDNEY, Australia (DPA): Nauru, host nation for this year's Pacific Islands Forum gathering, on Wednesday threatened the solidarity of the 16-nation grouping by declaring it would refuse visas to independence-movement activists from Indonesian-ruled Irian Jaya who want to attend. Representatives from the ethnically Melanesian Indonesian province, also known as West Papua, attended last year's meeting in the Cook Islands to press their claims.

Bali expects to attract more Japanese tourists By I. Christianto DENPASAR (JP): Bali, Indonesia's leading tourist destination, expects to attract more tourists from Japan, which is considered a tourist market with both high potential and high spending power. Bali Tourism Office head I Gde Pitana said his office always conducted annual research on foreign visitors, enabling tourism industry members to improve their services based on the information received.

Indosat H1 net profit falls 15 percent in first half JAKARTA (JP): The publicly-listed state owned telecommunications company PT Indonesia Satellite Corp (Indosat) said on Wednesday its unaudited first-half net profit fell 15 percent to Rp 558.6 billion (US$59.7 million) from Rp 658 billion in the same period last year.

Property market remains stagnant, awaits recovery JAKARTA (JP): The country's property market would remain in the doldrums this year despite the current improvement in the macroeconomic indicators, but could rebound next year if the economic and political conditions continued to improve, consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said on Wednesday.

Vendor object to moving out JAKARTA (JP): More than 300 vendors in Kebon Jati market, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, complained to the city council on Wednesday about the plan of the city-owned market agency PD Pasar Jaya to temporarily move them to outside the Tanah Abang railway station.

Large trees become scarce, survey says JAKARTA (JP): Only 12 large trees, each measuring more than 5.4 meters in diameter, are left in Jakarta out of the capital's estimated 4.5 million trees, latest data from the city Parks Office has indicated. Results from a survey to identify Jakarta's largest trees, conducted by the city Parks Agency, show that a tree with a diameter of 17.5 meters can still be found in front of Bank BRI's offices on Jl. Oto Iskandardinata 72, East Jakarta.

No more rhetoric from Mega-Hamzah From Rakyat Merdeka Sooner or later the Mega-Hamzah Cabinet will be announced, and initially, positive support should be given to whoever is chosen and appointed as a new minister. A similar, initially positive response has been given by the market, as can be seen in the strengthening of rupiah against the U.S. dollar; a good start for the duo to be proud of.

Iwan Tirta delights batik enthusiasts in Jimbaran By Rita A. Widiadana JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): For the multitalented artist and designer Iwan Tirtaatmaja, popularly known by art lovers as Iwan Tirta, batik is more than just a piece of cloth. Batik embodies the culture and philosophy of Indonesian people. After more than 40 years of dedicated work, Iwan has earned a reputation among local and international art buffs as Indonesia's leading batik artist.

Stock quotations on JSX Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug 8, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,475 150 1,087,500 Adindo Foresta 100 0 60,000 AGIS 140 5 1,100,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 2,200 325 297,500 Alakasa 200 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 950 0 13,000 Alter Abadi 80 0 55,000 Alumindo Light 700 0 69,000 Andhi Chandra 2,025 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 200 0 0 Aneka Tambang 1,050 0 1,709,500 Apac...

Bali protects its tourist appeal DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Blue Lagoon and Suddenly Susan's star Brooke Shield just ended her two-week honeymoon with her new husband in a luxury villa in Bali. Veteran rock star David Bowie and his supermodel wife Iman are frequent visitors to this resort island, and have even reportedly built an exclusive residence in the area.

Large trees become scarce in Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Only 12 large trees, each measuring more than 5.4 meters in diameter, are left in Jakarta out of the capital's estimated 4.5 million trees, latest data from the city Parks Office has indicated. Results from a survey to identify Jakarta's largest trees, conducted by the city Parks Agency, show that a tree with a diameter of 17.5 meters can still be found in front of Bank BRI's offices on Jl. Oto Iskandardinata 72, East Jakarta.

Ad hoc tribunal start in October? JAKARTA (JP): The chief of the justices team preparing the establishment of an ad hoc human rights tribunal, Benjamin Mangkoedilaga, expects that they could start the court hearings in October this year.

Arroyo hails truce with rebels, asks neighbor to invest KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): President Gloria Arroyo on Wednesday welcomed the formal ceasefire pact with the Philippines' main Muslim guerrilla group and pledged to develop the poverty-struck south. Arroyo said she was happy to be in Kuala Lumpur to personally receive news of the peace accord signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the Malaysian capital on Tuesday.

Former MPR deputy speaker G.H. Mantik dies JAKARTA (JP): Former People's Consultative Assembly deputy speaker Gustaf Hendrik Mantik died here on Wednesday night at about 9:40 p.m. at the age of 73. There was no immediate information on the cause of death. Born in Bandung, West Java, Mantik distinguished himself as an Army officer which culminated in his being appointed as Jakarta Military Commander from 1973 to 1977.