Jakarta – Under the new president, the State Palace has apparently introduced stricter rules on punctuality, which on Thursday resulted in six House of Representatives being denied admission to the inauguration ceremony for new Cabinet members.

Ridwan Max Sijabat and Ivy Susanti, Jakarta – Indonesia has deemed the amnesty offered by the Malaysian government to illegal migrants ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday a good start to further enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is looking to mend ties between Jakarta and Canberra, which have been strained since Australia led a multinational peacekeeping force in East Timor in 1999.

Todung Mulya Lubis, Jakarta – Amid the still reverberating vow of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to eradicate corruption, we find ourselves confronting the bitter reality that Indonesia remains among the world's most corrupt countries.

Jakarta – The structure and makeup of the Indonesian United Cabinet of newly inaugurated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will not effect any substantial changes because its members are lacking in professionalism, integrity and ability.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto

The United States challenged newly elected Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to swifty implement judicial reforms and roll back fuel subsidies to regain confidence of foreign investors and spur growth.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – The Jakarta stock market tumbled on Thursday amid reservations from investors over the Cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, specifically the ministers dealing with money matters.

Some market analysts theorized that the team may be unwilling to push through badly needed economic reform programs.

President Susilo retired from active military service in 1999, but deep in his heart he remains a true soldier.

To the surprise of Cabinet ministers and invitees attending the induction ceremony on Thursday, Susilo suddenly ordered them to stand at ease.

For much of the past week, the nation has been so consumed by speculating about who President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will pick as his Cabinet ministers. The guessing game ended just before midnight on Wednesday with the announcement of the 35-strong Cabinet by President Susilo.

Aziz Tunny, Ambon – After a trial lasting three months, the Ambon District Court handed down jail terms on Thursday to three sympathizers of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) separatist movement after their conviction on treason charges.

Jakarta – The new coordinating minister for politics, law and security, retired Admiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto, says that all of the ministries which are under his coordination will be prioritising efforts to resolve prolonged conflicts in Indonesia such as Aceh and West Papua.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Almost all private sector broadcasters in the country are failing to comply with the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI)'s standards, which entered into effect late in August.

The following is President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's speech, which he delivered at the State Palace after his inauguration on Wednesday at the People's Consultative Assembly:

Matthew Moore, Jakarta – In a wide-ranging speech to the nation just hours after he had been sworn in as the sixth president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised to lead a government very different from that of his predecessor, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Indonesia remains one of the world's most corrupt nations, despite the current reform era that began after the 1998 fall of president Soeharto, indicates a report from the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) Indonesia.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Former president Megawati Soekarnoputri woke up as an ordinary citizen on Wednesday.

She spent her first day as former head of state with her grandchildren at her residence on Jl. Kebagusan in South Jakarta, an opportunity that eluded her during most of her three years and three months as president.

Matthew Moore – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had not even been sworn in as Indonesia's sixth president when the first demonstrators arrived at the parliament's gates.

They carried placards demanding corrupt businessmen be jailed, and while there was no venom in their demands for justice, their presence was another reminder that the people are growing impatient.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in as Indonesia's sixth president, promising to revive a precarious economy by personally leading a war on endemic graft while also tackling terrorism.

The Indonesian press has hailed the swearing in of the country's new president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and called on the nation to give him time to prove his mettle.

Jakarta – As the inauguration ceremony of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla was being broadcast throughout the archipelago, 75-year-old Mardiyem closed the two-and-a-half-page letter she had written in Javanese to the new administration: "The previous administrations have neglected us ...

Jakarta – After a long debate, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono finally announced his Cabinet lineup on Wednesday night.

Jakarta – Indonesia's newly-installed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono inducted his "United Indonesia Cabinet" ministers at the state palace here today.

The 36 ministers include Hassan Wirajuda, Hatta Radjasa, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Bachtiar Chamsyah who have served in the previous government of former President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Jakarta – Congratulatory messages from around the world poured in for Indonesia's new president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of his inauguration on Wednesday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's United Indonesia Cabinet is a mixture of old and new faces, comprising members of several political parties, as well as experienced professionals and retired military officers.

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu – Members of a Muslim youth organization on Wednesday attacked several pig farms in South Tatura they said were polluting the area as the police looked on.

About 20 pigs were slaughtered in the attack and farmers estimated total losses at Rp 75 million (US$7,978). No one was injured.

Jakarta – Indonesia's new defense minister said Thursday he plans to visit Washington to urge the resumption of military ties with his country – the world's biggest Muslim nation and a key ally in the global fight against terror.

Andi Hajramurni, Makassar – Police have arrested an man alleged to be behind recent communal violence in Mamasa, West Sulawesi, and have begun seizing firearms and traditional weapons from warring villagers.

Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves as of October 15, reached US$34.81 billion, rising by $91.90 million from the previous week, the central bank reported. "The hike was mainly caused by (higher) oil and gas revenue," it said in a media statement on Wednesday, largely due to the soaring international oil prices.

As Indonesia's new leadership team confronts the challenge of revitalising the country's moribund economy, concern is being expressed in some quarters about how the government plans to implement reform. Indonesia's ethnic Chinese are especially worried that they could be the victims of discriminatory economic policies.

While it offered little that was exceptional in this kind of address, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's inaugural speech gave us a picture of the concerns foremost in his mind.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accused former minister for the environment Nabiel Makarim of misleading the public in the Buyat Bay case on Wednesday by releasing a report that had not yet been approved by the team assigned to examine alleged mercury contamination there.

Adi Mawardi, Surabaya – Scores of students from a various groups in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya held actions at the State Grahadi Building on Wednesday October 20. They were calling for a government which is clean, free from corruption, collusion and nepotism along with one which will uphold the supremacy of law.

Medan – An economic observer from Indonesia's North Sumatra University, Jhon Tafbu Ritonga M.Ec, said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's (SBY) new government should keep its distance from international financial institutions. This included the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta – After a lengthy delay, the government inaugurated on Tuesday the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN), as mandated by Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection.

Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Soewandi installed 17 members of the BPKN for the period of 2004-2007.

Anthony Smith, Jakarta – One of the interesting photos from the recent Indonesian presidential election featured candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pausing for a day to sit for a doctoral-level examination in agricultural economics at the Bogor Institute for Agriculture.

Dana R. Dillon – One issue needs to stand out from all others for Indonesia's new president when he takes office today – terrorism. To be sure, it's far from the only problem that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will have to contend with – everything from corruption to the lack of foreign investment is also crying out for attention.

Jakarta – At the end of his tenure as minister of religious affairs, Said Agil Al Munawwar sparked controversy on Tuesday by banning any discussion of a draft revision of the Body of Islamic Law that was produced by a team under his ministry.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President of Indonesia
Istana Merdeka
Jakarta 10110 Indonesia

Dear Mr President,

Jakarta – President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is struggling to put together a Cabinet on the eve of his inauguration as various political forces lobby to have their say or secure seats at the Cabinet table for their own people.

Jakarta – President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to take office on Wednesday and before long he will have to start working and fulfilling the promises he and running-mate Jusuf Kalla made to the electorate during the election campaign.

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – The month between Indonesia's presidential vote and Wednesday's inauguration of the country's first directly elected president brings to mind the classic Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Saying good-bye is never easy, but it is especially difficult for President Megawati Soekarnoputri as she prepares to leave her childhood home, the Presidential Palace.

Dian Yuliastuti, Jakarta – Scores of students from a number of student and labour groups have demonstrated demanding that the new government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice-president Jusuf Kalla create a democratic government.

Rofiqi Hasan, Jakarta – Scores of students in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali, held a demonstration on Wednesday October 20 to coincide with the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice-president Jusuf Kalla.

Jakarta – A labor union is protesting the government's plan to close down fertilizer manufacturer PT Asean Aceh Fertilizer (AAF), calling for efforts to seek alternatives.

The Worker's Union of State-owned Enterprises Federation said it refused such a plan because the Aceh-based firm had made significant contributions to both the local and national economy.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Acting coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno advised the new government to put law enforcement and rights promotion, particularly in conflict-torn areas, at the top of its priority list.

Suwarjono, Jakarta – Journalists have returned to a "period of gloom" at the new presidential palace. The freedoms which were enjoyed during the presidencies of B.J. Habibie, Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) and Megawati Sukarnoputri are gone.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Some 300 members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) were told to check out of the Mulia Hotel on Tuesday after its leaders realized, belatedly, that there was no need after all for them to stay in the five-star hotel.

Indonesia's incoming President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, takes office tomorrow with a promise of "a beautiful era", including better relations with the West.

In a public, and unprecedented, gesture of goodwill, the Prime Minister, John Howard, will attend the inauguration ceremony in Jakarta.