That brutal, hopeless and never-ending history probably started in a small Palestinian town 15 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv. Arabs call it al-Ludd (). The Jews now call it by its Biblical name Lod. It used to be known as Lydda.

ASSORTED cakes lay on the table for guests at the home of Mahfud Md at Sambilegi, a district of Yogyakarata, during Lebaran week. The host, looking relaxed and clad in the traditional Muslim attire befitting the festivities, entered the living room and sat down on a sofa.

Driving along the nondescript main road with its petrol-bottle stands, small clothes-retailers, motorcycle repair workshops, a sole beauty salon and several warung (food stall) selling the barest necessities, there seems to be nothing to recommend it.

Demokrasi, Indonesia in the 21st Century
Hamish McDonald, Black Inc, Victoria, Australia, 2014
320 pages,$ 29.99 in Australia

Singapore's parliament approved penalties of up to S$2 million for 'errant entities' that cause haze pollution in the city-state, part of its new Transboundary Haze Law which applies even to foreign companies with no presence or assets in Singapore.

Being art lovers, Antonio Casanova and his wife, Ana Gaspar, was understandably awed by the works of I Gusti Nyuman Lempad at the Neka Museum in Ubud, Bali. "We regard the work of Lempad like the art of maestro Pablo Picasso or Michaelangelo," said Casanova.

Indonesia is Canada's biggest export market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). To further strengthen the two countries' economic relations, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird visited his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, on Tuesday last week.

THE recent World Cup drew soccer fans from all over the world to Brazil, this year's host country. Many of the fans tuning in from across the globe watched the games in cafes and wore costumes and accessories proclaiming their allegiances.

The South Sulawesi government has been named host of the World Food Day on November 6-11. Hasanuddin Ibrahim, an official from the Agriculture Ministry's horticulture directorate-general, said World Food Day will be celebrated simultaneously with the national flora week and will take place at Maccini Sombala of Indonesia Building in Makassar.

THE government has once again implemented a confusing policy to limit the consumption of subsidized fuel. Instead of increasing prices, the government has decided to restrict sales of subsidized fuel at several locations, and is hoping that this will lead to a decline in consumption.

IN the news last month were revelations that police and military had overseen the systematic exploitation of Indonesian migrant workers passing through Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) blew the scandal wide open when it made a sudden inspection at the airport's Terminal 4, which is under the jurisdiction of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers (BNP2TKI). Two policemen and a soldier were among those arrested.

NET. Television's Response

Nearly 500 new students sat crosslegged at Manado's State Senior High School (SMAN) 7. It was the School Orientation Period (MOS), where new students are introduced. In front of them, Yudha Jatiwiyata Tunari demonstrated how to make compost. "The school makes a lot of compost from leaves because it has many trees," the 17-year-old student said. "The advantage is, we can make fertilizer every season, unlike people who make compost from fruit."

The deadline had passed. Yet the fate of the United Development Party (PPP) Congress, which should have been held this month, was still uncertain. Barlianta Harahap, chairman of the party's council of experts, had begun to feel restless. "I contacted several executives but there has been no explanation yet," he said on Thursday last week.

MINING
Freeport Resumes ore Exports

HAVING led an automative company during the political and economic turbulence of 1998 to 2000, Rini Mariani Soemarno, 56, is no stranger to crises. She reckons that particular experience will serve her well in her new job as chief of staff of the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla Transition Team. Formed by the president-elect himself, the team is tasked with preparing everything, including the inauguration ceremony scheduled for October 20.

This year, Indonesia and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. However, the ties between the two nations have existed much longer, predating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of India. These connections span social, cultural, religious, economic, and trade aspects. But do those close ties of the past have any bearing on the present relationship? Why is there no direct flight between the capitals of the two countries?

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Sandeep Chakravorty, shares his views on this matter at TEMPO TALKS.