Alexandra Retno Wulan, Jakarta Foreign Policy magazine just released its 2009 Failed States Index (FSI) in its July/August edition. Unsurprisingly, Indonesia is still listed in the second “worst” category - titled the “in-danger” list. It might be true that this period of time has been a very fragile period for states throughout the globe. The virulent global financial crisis, natural disasters and government collapses, the most ubiquitous features.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Health Ministry informed that the governemnt is proposing to raise the maximum stake of foreign investment in local hospitals from 49 percent to 65 percent. Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said on Wednesday after casting her vote near her residence in Jakarta that the government had initially proposed to raise the cap to 69 percent then reduced to 67 percent.

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Bank Indonesia said on Wednesday the amount of money in domestic economy during the presidential election period rose 18 percent from a month earlier. Bank Indonesia however said the rise could not be linked solely to the election while the Finance Ministry said the election posed influence to the money supply.

The business community welcomed quick-count poll figures suggesting that incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had easily won a second term without a runoff. But those interviewed also said they would expect the president to honor his campaign promises and act faster on a number of economic issues. Multiple polls have shown Yudhoyono and running-mate Boediono breaching the 51 percent vote threshold needed to prevail without a second round of voting.

Belt Collins has opened its sixth office in Asia with its newest in Indonesia. The Honolulu-based planning, design and consulting firm opened a new office in Bali, with nine employees. The office is working on projects including the Sawangan Bali Resort, Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana and The Regent Hotel & Residences.

The Riau Islands provincial administration is to build airstrips in Bintan and Anambas regencies to open access to the two isolated regions, the governor has said. Governor Ismeth Abdullah said the airstrips, to be built in Tambelan Island (Bintan) and Jemaja Island (Anambas), would also play an important role in maintaining the security of the outermost islands that directly borders other countries. “Fish thefts have occurred in the regions.

Seoul (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - South Korea's leading synthetic fiber maker Kolon Industries Inc. (KSE:002020) said Tuesday that it will invest 13.5 billion won (US$10.6 million) to expand its epoxy plant in the southeastern area of the country by the first half of 2010. The expansion is expected to raise Kolon Industries' annual production capacity of epoxy for electronic materials to 24,000 tons from the current 12,000 tons, Kolon said in a statement.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati hopes investment will grow seven percent to support the economy so that it could grow four percent this year. "If growth is still quite strong we hope investment in the second quarter and in the second semester could grow higher than in the first quarter which was recorded at 3.5 percent," she said here on Wednesday.

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) M. Wahid Supriyadi said while the trade relations between the two countries in 2008 increased 44 percent to 2.18 billion US dollars, the matter is still no picture of the true potentials of the two nations.