India's Tata expands regional footprint via NatSteel buyout Martin Abbugao Agence France Presse/Singapore India's Tata Iron and Steel Company Ltd. took a strategic step to expand its Asian footprint with the announcement on Monday it will buy the Asia-Pacific steel operations of Singapore's NatSteel Ltd. The proposed deal involves Tata Steel taking over NatSteel Ltd.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, NatSteel Asia, for S$486.4 million (US$286.11 million).

Islamic reformism from within Muhamad Ali, Jakarta The New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof in his recent article, Islamic Reformism: Martyrs, Virgins and Grapes (Aug. 4), provides criticism of religious fundamentalism -- Christian, Jewish, but specifically Muslim fundamentalism -- and hoped that Islamic reformism could prevent the creation of future fundamentalists and therefore should be path taken by the Muslim world. But he does not say how Islamic reformism can be undertaken.

Sunparking and lost helmet From Bisnis Indonesia On Aug. 1, I visited ITC and Ambassador Mal in Kuningan, Jakarta, at 3:28 p.m.. I parked my motorcycle in the parking lot managed by Sunparking, leaving my locked helmet and jacket on my motorcycles as there were no lockers around. Though security personnel were registering incoming vehicles and checking the police numbers of outgoing ones, when I left the mall I found my helmet was gone.

In developing-country hospitals, an old, low-cost method works best Karl Wilson Agence France Press Manila Every day at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in central Manila, dozens of women can be found lying on the floor, their new-born babies wrapped in a pouch of cloth and strapped to their chest. Some 70-100 babies are born every day at the 700-bed maternity hospital, around 15 of them premature or with a low birth-weight.

Democracy and foreign interests From Bisnis Indonesia The Indonesian Military (TNI) bill does not lead to a TNI that conforms to principles of democracy, according to observers from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. To my knowledge, the principles of democracy in Indonesia have not yet been established. No descriptions have ever been made of the type of democracy suitable to Indonesia. Democracy remains one of the global issues used by liberal nations to liberalize the world.

Community against crime From Suara Karya The public will praise successful attempts by the police to seize criminals. However, these days community members prefer to catch crooks and punish them physically on the spot. A newspaper reported on the capture of three bandits by passengers in a holdup on a city bus in Jakarta. The suspects, including three fugitives, were caught after a passenger shouted for help, prompting people nearby to respond.

Luxurious cars in the city From Media Indonesia As a newcomer to Jakarta, I am proud of the city's successful development and the people's wealth. From the bus I witness so many luxurious cars queuing up in the street, a scene I could only watch on TV when I was in my hometown. What strikes me is that the bus drivers should steer carefully to avoid collision with the luxurious cars. One day, the city bus I took in hit a BMW on Jl. Sudirman.

TV Program: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 .TB.30" 1.00" TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 6:30 Talk Show 7:30 Music 8:30 Music: Asyik-Asyik 10:00 Showbiz 11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 12:00 p.m.

Time to stop climbing trees From Kompas Tree climbing contests in Jakarta to celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17 have always used the trunks of pinang (areca palm) trees measuring seven meters in length with a diameter of 20 centimeters. It takes over five years for the tree to grow to this size. In July every year, the trees are cut and their trunks sold on sidewalks around town, including in the Manggarai area of South Jakarta, to people preparing for the Independence Day commemorations.

Challenge of interfaith dialog in globalization era Benny Susetyo Jakarta Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia has said that the world is now seriously in need of establishing an interfaith dialog in the struggle for peace and justice, and should not remain in a state of continuous conflict that could lead to more acute differences.

Corruption eradication moves ahead From Koran Tempo The Megawati government's serious intention to eliminate corruption is indicated by the issuance of Presidential Decree No.59/2004 on the establishment of anticorruption courts. The introduction of this decree is very appropriate and strategic to prevent any further waste of public resources, as long as it has no political motive.

My name is misspelled With regard to a page 1 article in the Sunday, Aug. 15, edition of The Jakarta Post, titled Mega honors leading nationals, I would like to express my disappointment over the error made in the spelling of my name. As one of the recipients of the Bintang Mahaputra Utama award -- the country's second-highest state medal, in the eighth paragraph of the article, my name is printed as Winarsih Soedarbo, whereas it should have in fact been written Minarsih Soedarpo Sastrosatomo.

First smoking, next apartments? From Warta Kota Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's plan to issue a local regulation banning people from smoking in public places will surely be welcomed by most citizens in the capital as good health is indeed the right of everyone. Many smokers may feel they have the right to smoke anywhere they like, and some do not hesitate to puff out cigarette smoke in front of non-smokers.

Corruption eradication moves ahead From Koran Tempo The Megawati government's serious intention to eliminate corruption is indicated by the issuance of Presidential Decree No.59/2004 on the establishment of anticorruption courts. The introduction of this decree is very appropriate and strategic to prevent any further waste of public resources, as long as it has no political motive.

(EXPOBriefs ad column -- Wednesday, August 18, 2004) ============================================= Leadership Skills for Bankers Prof. D. Ghosh Roy MSc, CAIIB, DBM, CAIB, a professional banker for 28 years with experience of more than 500 workshops, will conduct a workshop in Jakarta titled "Leadership Skills for Bankers" for branch managers and other senior bankers, from Sept. 7 through Sept. 9, 2004.

First smoking, next apartments? From Warta Kota Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso's plan to issue a local regulation banning people from smoking in public places will surely be welcomed by most citizens in the capital as good health is indeed the right of everyone. Many smokers may feel they have the right to smoke anywhere they like, and some do not hesitate to puff out cigarette smoke in front of non-smokers.

Sunparking and lost helmet From Bisnis Indonesia On Aug. 1, I visited ITC and Ambassador Mal in Kuningan, Jakarta, at 3:28. I parked my motorcycle in the parking lot managed by Sunparking, leaving my locked helmet and jacket on my motorcycles as there were no lockers around. Though security personnel were registering incoming vehicles and checking the police numbers of outgoing ones, when I left the mall I found my helmet was gone.

Jusuf Kalla and the Chinese Ivan Wibowo Jakarta From the names on the two presidential tickets in the Sept. 20 election runoff -- Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi -- South Sulawesi businessman Kalla's is the most controversial for Chinese- Indonesians. Rumors have been circulating among those of Chinese descent of Kalla's anti-Chinese sentiment, despite his repeated denials.

Community against crime From Suara Karya The public will praise successful attempts by the police to seize criminals. However, these days community members prefer to catch crooks and punish them physically on the spot. A newspaper reported on the capture of three bandits by passengers in a holdup on a city bus in Jakarta. The suspects, including three fugitives, were caught after a passenger shouted for help, prompting people nearby to respond.