First AIDS death reported in NTB MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The remains of I Gusti Dodi, a 21- year-old AIDS patient in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), was cremated by his family on Monday. He died two days earlier after being hospitalized for three days at the Mataram General Hospital. He was previously treated at a hospital in Singaraja, Bali, for a month. Doctor Soesbandoro, the director of the hospital in Mataram, confirmed the man died of AIDS-related complications.

1. ANTE -- 1 x 48 Peace threatens Angola's elusive giant antelope 2. KEHATI -- 1 x 52 KEHATI to educate businesspeople on green concerns 3. SEA -- 1 x 32 Trawl fishing threat to marine biodiversity: WWF

Why choosing CDMA technology Mahendra Gautama, Contributor, Jakarta Why should I choose CDMA-based telecommunications and cellphones? What are CDMA's features that may be far more superior than my current cellphone with the latest GSM technology? Among a number of questions, these two are frequently asked by potential customers of the telecommunications technology recently introduced in this country, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).

Tommy finds time to testify M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After seven no-shows citing a variety of reasons, convicted felon Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, testified on Monday at the Central Jakarta District Court in the extortion trial of Islamic boarding school head Abdullah Sidiq Muin.

Foreign life insurance firms gain popularity Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Although joint-venture life insurance companies have managed to increase their share of the local market, many are still experiencing losses, according to a survey. Investment and Banking Research Agency (Inbra) said in the survey's summary report, which was made available to The Jakarta Post on Monday, that the companies' market share had increased to 49.5 percent as of 2002, compared to 42.2 percent in 1999.

Eight people register as poll observers SEMARANG: Although the General Elections Commission (KPU) opened the registration process for poll observers in Central Java last month, only eight people have taken registration forms, a poll official said on Monday. Hasyim Asyari said the eight included representatives of the Communication Forum for Young Indonesian Lawyers, Social Foundation of Independent Workers and the KPU Watch. Of the eight, only one has returned the completed registration form.

Jakarta to get RI's first opera house Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta will have a brand-new opera house, the first in the country, when President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurates the Dome of Sarbini at the Plaza Semanggi compound in South Jakarta on Feb. 23.

Govt warns of a new dengue fever virus The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta The government has warned that a more virulent form of the dengue fever virus may be responsible for the current outbreak that has claimed at least 77 lives over the past month. The director of communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health, Umar Fahmi, said on Monday the new virus appeared to be a more virulent strain due to the faster spread of the disease and the larger number of deaths.

Discriminative tariff Indonesia emerged as a new player in the oleochemical industry in the late 1970s, and to date Indonesia has nine plants, two in Java with the rest located in Sumatra, with a total capacity around 630,000 mt per annum (mtpa), fatty acid (930,000 mtpa by the end of 2004) and 150,000 mtpa of fatty alcohol. The majority of fatty acid goes to overseas buyers in the form of stearic acid for toiletries, surfactants and plastic/rubber compounds.

1. DENGUE: 2 LINES, 20 COUNTS Govt warns of new dengue fever virus 2. KAMPAR: 2 LINES, 14 COUNTS Team starts inquiry into Kampar protests 3. DPR: 2 LINES, 21 COUNTS Base deposit premiums on bank risk: Association 4. WATER: 1 LINE, 32 COUNTS House to endorse controversial water bill

Witness says city market design changed M. Taufiqurrahman and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A witness testified on Monday in the trial between well-connected businessman Tomy Winata against Tempo magazine that the city administration strayed from its original plan to modestly renovate the Tanah Abang textile market after the fire on Feb. 19, but instead embarked on an ambitious plan to build an 18- story shopping center.

Rupiah ends up ahead of government local bond issue Dow Jones Jakarta Rupiah closed slightly stronger on Monday, likely on inflows into the local capital market, dealers said. The dollar closed at Rp 8,385, down slightly from its close on Friday at Rp 8,405. Dealers said foreign investors exchanged some of their dollars for rupiah, likely to buy government bonds that would be issued next week. The finance ministry said earlier in the day that it would auction Rp 2.5 trillion in bonds Feb.

Candy workers want fewer working days TANGERANG: About 1,000 workers of candy producer PT Super Worldwide Foodstuff Industry went on strike on Monday at the factory on Jl. Gatot Subroto Kilometer 6, to demand that the management grant them a five-day working week. "It's alright if we have to work on Saturday, but the management should pay us overtime and not include it in our monthly wages," one of the workers of Sugus candy producer, who requested anonymity, told The Jakarta Post.

PDI-P campaign again to rely on Megawati's fame Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The well-established Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is still relying on the strength of Megawati's name to get as many votes as possible to win the upcoming legislative and presidential elections.

KEHATI to educate businesspeople on green concerns Anis Hamidati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Environmentalists and businesspeople seem to have little in common, as their attitudes toward natural resources are based on different concerns. It is easy for activists to blame businesspeople for the destruction of the environment, while conversely, businesspeople are disdainful of the claims made by environmentalists.

IBRA to close books The government has rightly decided to conduct an independent audit on the assets to be left behind by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), which will end later this month its political mandate as one of the most important instruments in managing the economic crisis. The move would minimize legal problems and other complex issues related to asset valuation, which IBRA had grappled with right after its establishment in early February, 1998.

What's wrong with my visa? I have a complaint about an investigation made by the intelligence service of the police. They visited PT Factory, checking my colleague's and my business visas. My colleague's was OK, but mine had a problem, perhaps because I have a white skin. My colleague lives on the company premises and I at a hotel.

Three STPDN students get five months in jail Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java The Sumedang District Court handed down on Monday a verdict on three Institute of Public Administration (STPDN) students, who were charged with assaulting a younger student named Jurinata in 2001. Lorent Oktoberi Tahan, 23, San Grito, 23, and Hendrik, 23, all from Central Kalimantan province, were sentenced to five months in prison.

Govt asks for speedy endorsement of social security draft law A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Regardless of opposition from different groups, the government expects the House of Representatives to endorse the social security bill before the current term ends in August. The head of the government team assigned to draft the bill, Sulastomo, said the House was committed to the new social security bill. "We hope the bill will be approved before August, during the House's final session.

Tapping the growing CDMA handset market I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta Just like vendors of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), most of the tried-and-true Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) handset manufacturers continually introduce more advanced and smarter gadgets to win the hearts of their customers. Each player plans to combine various functions in one single device that is more user-friendly and advantageous, and embedded with high-tech, stylish touches.

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, February 17, 2003 Talk * Works of Georges Sand, CCF (French Cultural Center), Jl. Purnawarman 32 (Tel. 022 4212417), 2 p.m., Feb. 25. Films * Documentary Film Infiniment Courbe, CCF (French Cultural Center), Jl. Purnawarman 32 (Tel. 022 4212417), 2 p.m., Feb. 18. * Dance Film Screening organized by TARI Indonesia and British Council: Exodus - Wanita yang Berlari (Indonesian), My Sex Our Dance and Duets with Automobiles (English), Selasar Sunaryo Art Space, Jl.

Minister accused of defamation JAKARTA: An elected mayor of Padang in West Sumatra, Jasrial, reported on Monday the Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno to the National Police for alleged fraud, defamation, and unpleasant conduct. Lawyer Handra D. Hasan said in a statement on Monday that Jasrial and his running mate Khairul Indra were elected mayor and deputy mayor respectively by the Padang Municipal Legislature in March 2003.

BPPT to install solar panels in NTT ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: The Office of the State Minister for Research and Technology and the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) are developing solar panels to generate electricity along the border with East Timor. "Experts and technicians from BPPT are now installing solar panels in villages along the border," said a village development official, Marcus J. Mau, on Monday.

Duping the thieves From Warta Kota With bank customers still facing robbery everyday, I would like to suggest the following measures to reduce the risks. While hiring police guards, you should also prepare two bags of the same shape and color before going to the bank. The first is empty and reserved for the money to be collected and the second is filled with banknote-like paper sheets.