China to groom 50 firms for global list Agence France Presse, Beijing China plans to groom 50 companies to become among the world's top 500 multinationals within the next 12 years, state media reported on Friday. Officials want to achieve this ambitious objective via a "go- out" strategy that encourages local companies to invest more abroad, the China Daily said. But some state-employed economists think the government is not doing enough yet to implement this strategy, according to the paper.

Outlook for postwar Iraq: Diplomatic rifts Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre For Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id As U.S.-led troops tightened their grip in and around Baghdad, political leaders in several countries, including key parts of the coalition forces, have already begun to reposition themselves for the next phase of the drama.

Navy sinks Thai fishing boat JAKARTA: The Indonesian Navy sank a Thai fishing boat and arrested 11 of its crew members off the eastern coast of Sumatra island, officers said on Friday. Lt. Col. Teguh Wahyono, a spokesman for the Navy's Western Fleet, said a patrol vessel arrested the crew after they were caught fishing illegally in the waters off Riau province on Sumatra island on Tuesday. It then fired on the vessel, the Minabakti, and sank it. "They stole a lot of fish there," Wahyono said.

LBH offices allowed to raise funds JAKARTA: Legal Aid Institute (LBH) offices across the country will continue to provide pro bono services as their parent organization, the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), has decided to allow them to raise funds following its financial difficulties. "We have agreed to let the LBH offices raise funds themselves as we can't play a central role any longer," Wirawan of LBH Bandung, who presided over the YLBHI national meeting, said on Friday.

New envoys presents credentials JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri received credential letters from the nonresident ambassadors of Guinea and Ethiopia on Friday. New Ethiopian Ambassador to Indonesia Koang Tutiam Dung is stationed in Tokyo, while the Guinean Ambassador to Indonesia Mamadou Toure resides in Kuala Lumpur. The ceremony took place at Merdeka Palace and was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.

`Why should we be panicking about SARS?' The government said that there had been a number of suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) cases here, but none of them had been confirmed. Many people, however, told The Jakarta Post that they remain in the dark about the disease and complain about the lack of clear information from the government. Warta, 26, is bajaj (three-wheeled vehicle) driver who lives in Pulogadung, East Jakarta with his fellow drivers.

Granny on trial for maid abuse SINGAPORE: A 68-year-old grandmother on trial for maid abuse in Singapore has been accused of forcing an Indonesian domestic servant to eat human feces, among other offenses, a report said on Friday. Wong Mei Lin faces 10 counts of abusing her son's 26-year-old Indonesian maid, Lestari Riyanto, shortly after she started working for the man in July 2001, the Straits Times said.

Manila recalls peace monitors to Banda Aceh The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The lack of a security guarantee has prompted the Philippines to consider temporarily to recall its peace monitors from field operations in the strife-torn Indonesian province of Aceh. Filipino Foreign Secretary Blas Ople said their diplomats were working with the Indonesian government and the Geneva-based Henry Dunant Centre (HDC) to ensure the safety of the eight Filipino monitors.

Govt to set reference price for white pepper Adianto P. Simamora The Jakarta Post Jakarta The Ministry of Industry and Trade will set a base price for white pepper in a bid to help stabilize the current dwindling price of the commodity on the domestic market, a senior official said on Friday. "Minister Rini M.

Cataracts blind 200,000 people SURABAYA: At least 200,000 people in East Java have lost their eyesight due to cataracts, making it imperative to provide extensive eye disease prevention and treatment throughout the province, a senior health official said. Dr. Adi Wirachman, head of East Java's Public Health Center for Eye Care (BKMM), said in Surabaya on Thursday his institution was actively engaged in the prevention and treatment of eye disorders among the middle and lower classes.