Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Reports of misuse and alleged corruption of state funds by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) last week were perhaps the clearest indication that the die-hard practice of graft could now be called a die-hard institution.

Jambi – The fires that burned between 1,000 and 2,000 hectares of the Berbak National Park in Jambi in the past month posed a real threat to many bird species in the area.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – With only four days to go before the House of Representatives ends its five-year term at the end of this month, it appears most likely that it will be unable to finish deliberating the controversial Indonesian Military (TNI) bill.

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – Cyclists cruised their way past joggers and pedestrians strolling leisurely along the quiet Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin in the fresh morning air. Here and there, groups of children played soccer, while their parents got in a bit of exercise.

Devi Asmarani – As the early vote counts began to pour in last Monday, President Megawati Sukarnoputri slipped away from guests at her private residence in the South Jakarta suburb of Kebagusan. Saying she was unwell, she retired to her room – presumably to watch in private the rising fortunes of rival Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Satish Mishra, Jakarta – As Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono starts on his final preparation to take over the reins of – ower, it is worth remembering what most observers and pundits were saying about the implications of the presidential elections on Indonesia's daily life and development prospect less few days ago.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said on Friday that it had decided to form two teams to probe disappearances during the New Order era.

Eugene Low, Washington – Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may be the preferred choice of officials in Washington to be the next Indonesian president, but Indonesia watchers in the US do not expect an immediate improvement in bilateral relations.

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who will likely be sworn in on October 20, was encouraged on Friday by local businesspeople to crack the whip against thieving government bureaucrats so companies could produce their goods at lower prices for the domestic and international markets.

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – President Megawati Soekarnoputri has not only been beaten by her rival in the September 20 election in terms of votes. Former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also beat her in terms of campaign funds with Rp 50 billion at his disposal compared to Megawati's Rp 17 billion.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri is now trying to reconcile with her party's veteran members who had been sidelined as she is apparently coming to grips with her imminent ouster by the people.

Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – As many observers had predicted, presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla would win a landslide victory in the city, collecting 69.21 percent of the votes.

Sari P. Setiogi and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – The United States Embassy has criticized the Indonesian police for detaining without charge several executives of P.T. Newmont Minahasa Raya, a mining company with its headquarters in Denver, in the US.

Dewi Santoso, Jakarta – More women's groups demanded on Friday that the House of Representatives delay the endorsement of the migrant workers' protection bill as it did not include protection of undocumented workers, who make up the bulk of Indonesians employed overseas.

If politics were reality TV, democracy would mean electing the most-popular idols on TV shows through a cellular phone short message service (SMS).

For those who love watching reality shows there is nothing wrong with sending SMS messages to vote for their idols – indeed in this country's it's a burgeoning craze.

Some analysts are describing the election as the end of the transition period from the overthrow of Suharto to a normalised process of politics. But, if the election is a victory for the Reformasi movement, how to explain the central role of politicians from the Suharto era? This issue was debated at the annual Indonesia Update at the Australian National University in Canberra.

The people of Indonesia this week voted for change ... as retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono maintained a clear lead in the country's first direct presidential election. The people's choice faces one of the most challenging jobs in Asia – to help Indonesia realise something near its potential.

Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – In her first public statement since her loss in Monday's election became apparent, President Megawati Sukarnoputri yesterday apologised to the country's highest legislative body for her administration's shortcomings.

Jakarta – Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is almost certain to emerge the winner of the country's first direct presidential polls, has begun to unveil plans for his first 100 days in power. His focus: hot spots across the archipelago and dialogues with the common people.

Jakarta – As Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi head toward a crushing defeat, signs of cracks in the so-termed Nationhood Coalition are becoming more and more apparent.

Jakarta – The ability of Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is poised to become the country's sixth president, will be sorely tested when he comes to grips with the country's fuel subsidy policy.

Indonesia's outgoing President Megawati Sukarnoputri has addressed the nation's highest Assembly, the MPR, detailing her achievements over three years in office. Mrs Megawati has refused to concede her loss until official results from Monday's election.

Conn Hallinan – Behind a recent, highly controversial indictment by the US Department of Justice, the administration of President George W Bush is maneuvering to revive military ties with the Indonesian armed forces (TNI, for Tentara Nasional Indonesia), one of the world's most oppressive institutions.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Walking one or two days to vote is not usual for the people of Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.

Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – About 120 polling station guards in Jayapura, Papua, have seized three ballot boxes to protest what they claim is the authorities' failure to pay them for their work in Monday's presidential election.

As the vote count rolls on it has become clear that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla are going to win in a landslide and lead the nation for the next five years. The results are showing a stunning defeat for the incumbent President, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandarlampung – Following a green light from the Central government, Lampung Prosecutor's Office will soon question 69 councillors from Lampung provincial council for their alleged roles in the Rp 19.5 billion (US$2 million) graft case.

Donggala – Hundreds of residents staged a protest in front of the – ffice of General Elections Commission (KPU) in Central Sulawesi, demanding that KPU officials in the province annul the installation of a local councillor.

Max Lane – In a move criticised by Indonesian human rights organisations, interim home affairs minister Hari Sabarno announced on September 15 that officers of the National Intelligence Body (BIN), a civilian agency reporting directly to the president, would be given powers of arrest. Under Indonesian law at the moment, only police officers can make arrests.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – With their five-year term ending in roughly a week, members of the House of Representatives are rushing to finish deliberations of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and regional autonomy bills.

Kevin Bogardus, Washington – Former Sen. Bob Dole, the Kansas Republican who ran for President in 1996, is known for his dry wit and television commercials after 45 years of public service. What he is not known for is his work as a powerful lobbyist in the nation's capital for Indonesia.

Matthew Moore, Indonesia – Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met his supporters yesterday in the first discussions on the shape of his new government following his landslide win in Monday's election.

Patrick Walters – Early on Monday evening, Indonesia's next leader sat down in a comfortable armchair beneath the large pendopo, or open-air pavilion, inside the family compound at Cikeas, west Java, to view the election results on a large television screen.

Sari P. Setiogi, Jakarta – After almost four months of hectic political activities as the running mate of presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri, Hasyim Muzadi will return to the top post in the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) on Wednesday.

Sian Powell, Jakarta – As the votes in Indonesia's first direct presidential election were tallied yesterday, President Megawati Sukarnoputri remained tight-lipped over her resounding defeat.

Former general, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono remains on track for a landslide victory in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. After an election campaign characterised more by personalities than politics, the challenges facing Indonesia's first democratically-chosen leader are substantial.

Presenter/Interviewer: Sen Lam

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will sit out its final session from September 23 through September 27, during which it will hear and comment upon the accountability report of President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Jakarta – The city was quiet as a whisper on Monday, with no jams on the streets, most shops closed and even air traffic reduced, as 38 flights to and from Soekarno-Hatta airport were delayed. Meanwhile, all the action was taking place at polling stations, with Jakartans turning out in droves to vote.

Jane Perlez, Jakarta – Indonesia's next president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, moved swiftly up the military ranks during the authoritarian rule of Gen. Suharto and then played a back-seat role in the undoing of that government.

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – Indonesia's first direct presidential election has ended with a Bambang and a whimper. Surveys of results announced at the more than 500,000 polling stations give former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono more than 60% of the vote in Monday's runoff election against President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Official results won't be released until early next month.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The Golkar Party dismissed on Monday nine key Golkar members for defying the executive board's order to support presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi in Monday's election runoff.

Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta – A lack of effective regulations governing the standards of electronic goods in the country is hurting the industry at a time when ASEAN is set to liberalize the sector by 2007, according to an industry leader.

Michael J. Webdell, Jakarta – Nike, Samsung, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Sony: These are just a few brands popular to people across the world. In shopping malls from Jakarta to London, and New York to Seoul, they are symbols of a lifestyle consumers pay premium to be part of.

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – Waves of optimisms greeted the trouble-free runoff vote on Monday, with experts hailing the smooth process as a powerful starting point towards the much-needed revival of investor confidence in the economy.

Slobodan Lekic – The retired four-star general heading for victory in Indonesia's presidential elections, may use his background to succeed where the country's post-dictator Suharto politicians have so far failed, bringing the powerful military brass under civilian control.

Reporter: Peter Lloyd

Manjit Bhatia – In Indonesia's July 5 direct presidential poll – the country's first since the corrupt Suharto dictatorship's downfall in 1998 – contender Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono thumped incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri into second place. Yudhoyono won 33.58% of the popular vote, Megawati 26.29% and ex-general Wiranto 22.21%.

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Hundreds of shrimp farmers who manage some 2,000 hectares of shrimp ponds along the northern coast of Tangerang regency complained of industrial waste in Cisadane River destroyed their shrimp farms.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – A survey by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP) found at least 1,000 orangutans in North Sumatra and Aceh provinces are disappearing each year due to poaching and loss of habitat.

Soothing and strong with a Mr. Clean image, US-trained former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to win Monday's run-off poll in Indonesia and become the country's next president.