Nana Rukmana, Indramayu – More than 11,500 voters from the Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding school boycotted the presidential election revote on Sunday, but committee officials declared the poll results valid, while observers called for a criminal investigation into the matter.

A bomb has rocked the offices of Indonesia's election commission, delaying the announcement of the winner of this month's presidential poll.

Jakarta – A final tally of most votes in Indonesia's presidential election has confirmed ex-general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the winner, the election authority said yesterday, a day before the official results were to be announced.

Sisira Jayasuriya and Chris Manning, Canberra – The recent announcement by the Investment Coordinating Board Chairman that foreign direct investment (FDI) was down by one-third in the first half of 2004 is hardly news these days (The Jakarta Post, July 15).

Wahyuana, Bekasi – The stench along the Kalimalang River that runs beside a road linking Bekasi and Jakarta had long been overlooked by residents and motorists until the Bekasi environmental management agency found hazardous levels of toxic substances in the river.

Jakarta – Controversy over Newmont's operations, sparked by allegations from non-governmental organizations that the firm polluted waters in North Sulawesi, has dealt another blow to the nation's mining industry and hurt investment in the sector, an official and expert said on Sunday.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Several members of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) network are still planning to launch terror attacks in various parts of the country despite the arrest of some of their leaders, a senior police officer said.

JI is listed by the United Nations as an organization that is linked to the Al Qaeda terrorist group.

Matthew Moore – Just an "advisory opinion" is how Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has for three days been playing down Friday's stunning decision by Indonesia's highest court upholding an appeal by one of the Bali bombers.

Matthew Moore, Jakarta – The trial tomorrow of the alleged financier of the Bali bombings will be the first case affected by Friday's landmark decision disallowing the law used to prosecute the bombers.

The lawyer representing Idris, the alleged money man, said the Constitutional Court decision meant prosecutors may have to abandon the case.

A. Junaidi, Jakarta – A group of non-governmental organizations demanded on Saturday that the Attorney General's Office resume its investigation into Sjamsul Nursalim, saying the President's order to stop the legal process against the business tycoon violated the Anticorruption Law.

Jon Afrizal and Indra Harsaputra, Jambi/Surabaya – The celebration of National Children's Day on Friday, may be already over, but there is work to be done, for people of all walks of life in the country, especially the government on issues that need to be addressed immediately.

Luhur Hertanto, Jakarta – The level of golput(1) in the first round of the presidential elections was higher in comparison with the legislative elections. In comparison with international standards however, the level of golput in Indonesia is still small.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – Lobbying among politicians has intensified in the past few days, with vice presidential candidate Siswono Yudohusodo and several Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clerics being the latest group of people to meet President Megawati Soekarnoputri at her official residence on Jl. Teuku Umar here on Friday.

Damar Harsanto, Jakarta – Jakarta could be a "smoke-free city" soon as the Sutiyoso administration is planning to ban all cigarette smoking in public places.

Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The Parliament Watchdog joined the opposition to the amended bill on the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Friday, calling on the House of Representatives not to push for a deliberation due to time constraints.

Fitri Wulandari, Jakarta – A group of legislators suspect that some of their colleagues have been bribed into approving the governmental regulation in lieu of law which allows open pit mining in protected forest areas.

Jakarta, Kompas – A number of non-government organisations (NGOs) and students from the pro-democracy movement have rejected the planned deliberation of the draft law on the Indonesian National Armed Forces (RUU TNI) by the People's Representative Assembly (DPR).

Jakarta – Presidential front runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and running mate Jusuf Kalla have begun their search for coalition partners even though they had insisted just days ago that any political alliance would be made only after the September 20 run-off.

Olivier Roy, Project Syndicate – Many believe that religious revival and political radicalism among Muslims who reside in the West reflects the traditions and conflicts of the Middle East or the wider Muslim world.

Makassar/Pelembang/Pekanbaru/Samarinda – Prosecutors are unearthing more evidence of endemic corruption in provincial administrations involving potential losses to the state of billions of rupiah, with dozens of local councillors and government officials allegedly involved.

Suherdjoko and Slamet Susanto, Semarang/Yogyakarta – The dry season has started in Central Java and Yogyakarta, leading to critical water shortages and serious damage to rice crops, officials say.

Matthew Moore, Mark Forbes – The Bali bombers may be set free after a ruling from Indonesia's Constitutional Court that the terrorism law used to convict them is illegal.

Margo Kingston – G'day. I'e just heard the news that Indonesia's top appeal court has ruled the conviction of a Bali bomber unconstitutional because he was convicted under retrospective criminal laws in breach of Indonesia's constitution. This could be another Howard scandal in the making.

Canberra – An Indonesian court's ruling that the country's anti-terror laws can't be applied retroactively does not necessarily mean those already convicted in the Bali bombings will be set free, the Australian government said Friday.

Dadan Kuswaraharja, Jakarta – Worker and environment activists demonstrated at the PT Newmont Mining Group Jakarta office following the exposure of pollution in the Gulf of Buyat which has cased Minamata sickness. They were demanding that Newmont take responsibility.

Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) decided on Wednesday that perforated ballot papers in the July 5 polls could be disposed of only after a president is installed on October 5.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – With the presidency appearing to slip through its fingers, Golkar Party is proposing a permanent coalition among parties that control the most seats in the House of Representatives to ensure a strong and effective government.

Tiarma Siboro and Ruslan Sangadji, Jakarta/Palu – Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) called for the withdrawal of reinforcement troops and police personnel from Central Sulawesi on Wednesday for their failure to stop renewed attacks in Poso and Palu.

Jakarta – A military analyst and a legislator called on lawmakers on Wednesday to delay the deliberation of the Indonesian Military (TNI) bill, as the draft was flawed.

P.C. Naommy, Jakarta – A non-governmental organization has alleged that smuggling and trading in endangered bird species continue unabated, despite legislation that prohibits the illegal activities.

Syofiardi Bachyul and Slamet Susanto, Padang/Yogyakarta – The theft of eggs of three protected turtle species in West Sumatra is threatening the very existence of the turtles, researcher Harfiandri Damanhuri has warned.

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – The Ministry of Forestry will issue new regulations to establish strict conditions for firms operating in protected forests, in a bid to minimize environmental destruction.

Jakarta – Mr Jusuf Kalla, front runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's running mate, said his camp was not worried about the manoeuvres of political leaders to form coalitions.

He asserted that meeting voters at the grassroots level was of more strategic value than talking to politicians who claim to have a huge support base.

James Wong Wing On – Indonesia, Malaysia's giant neighbour to the south, is more than a frequent source of haze, illegal migrants, maids and terrorists.

Jakarta – Although the government has yet to issue regulations on the gas sector, private firms have started building a network for gas distribution, showing great confidence in the future prospects for the business.

Tony Hotland, Jakarta – Aside from solving the existing problems that hamper investment, the government could also provide tax incentives for both local and foreign investors to lure them into investing their money here, a top businessman has suggested.

United States officials are debating when they might be able to resume military aid to Indonesia now that the US Department of Justice has indicted an alleged separatist for the murder of two Americans in Papua province in August 2002.

P.C. Naommy and M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – Non-governmental organizations grouped in the Coalition Against Debt (KAU) called for the establishment of an independent body to audit World Bank loans to the country to determine whether or not they must be repaid in full.

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – Even a vicious dry-season rainstorm that lasted nearly 24 hours couldn't dampen spirits among Bali tourists and the island's hospitality industry. Nearly two years after bombs killed more than 200 people in the main resort area of Kuta Beach, foreigners are streaming back to Bali.

During the first round of this year's Indonesian Presidential election campaign, presidential candidates demonstrated their singing prowess to the public. The campaign was characterised by the use of artistic performance. It was also distinguished by a lack of violence that has marred previous Indonesian polls.

Presenter/Interviewer: Claudette Werden

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has denied pressuring 274,000 employees of state plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) XII to vote for President Megawati Sukarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the July 5 presidential election.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – For three years, former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has not made any attempt to mend his relationship with Megawati Soekarnoputri after she replaced her as president in July 2001.

Palu – Central Sulawesi remained calm on Monday, a day after masked gunmen killed a Christian minister in Palu, as Christian and Muslim leaders condemned the attack and urged their laity to shun revenge.

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) is planning to start discussing the revised bill on the Indonesian Military (TNI) during the recess period that will end on August 14.

Surabaya – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s presidential campaign team in East Java province has denied intimidating 274,000 workers of state plantation company PT Perkebunan Nusantara (PTPN) XII in an attempt to get them to vote for Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi in the July 5 election.

Robert Go, Jakarta – Several election workers have admitted to tampering with poll results, in yet another scandal to hit Indonesia's first direct presidential vote on July 5.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) said yesterday that it has fired seven local officials from West Kalimantan province for vote tampering.

Jon Afrizal, Jambi – About 1,300 people from the Kubu tribe living in Bukit Duabelas National Park, Jambi, are being marginalized as a result of serious damage to the protected forest.

The need to earn a living has forced some members of the tribe to participate in illegal logging, which has contributed greatly to rapid deforestation in the park.

Bill Guerin, Jakarta – With interest rates at a record low, and plenty of cheap credit floating around, it is hardly surprising that there is substantial optimism in the Indonesian automobile industry.

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Although law enforcers have stepped up a gear in their corruption investigations involving lawmaker Nurdin Halid and Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh, skepticism remains widespread that the cases are merely political commodities ahead of the runoff presidential election.

Andreas Harsono, Jakarta – When Artine Utomo, the chief executive of "Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia" or "TPI" invited former general Susilio Bambang Yudhoyono to a show hosted by her TV station, little did she realise that his popularity would leave an impressionable mark on her.