The word 'Islam' is touted almost daily with anger, fear or reverence. At the same time, suicide bombs explode and destroy, beheadings take place in front of television cameras, girls are kidnapped and historic edifices are blown up. So what does the word mean actually?

Aircraft manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia has made known its disappointment at the government's plan to purchase an Agusta Westland AW101 helicopter, manufactured by British company Westland Helicopters jointly with Agusta from Italy. Ordered by the Indonesian Air Force, the plan became a hot topic public debate when it was reported that it was to become President Joko Widodo's mode of transportation when he goes on his blusukan, or unscheduled inspection trips, around the country.

As the Swedish minister for strategic development and Nordic cooperation, Kristina Persson feels it is important to identify future challenges and assist other institutions to devise policies in response to those challenges. She has had more than 40 years of experience in the public sector. She spent the late 1970s in the Swedish Trade Union Confederation before moving to the Council of Nordic Trade Unions in 1982.

The sound of gamelan traditional Javanese ensemble music reverberates lightly through the main room of the Ethnological Museum in Leiden. Upon entering, visitors encounter glass cabinets filled with objects like the kebaya encim (long-sleeved blouses) and handmade batiks blending Javanese-Chinese-European motifs.

Title: A Shooting Star and Other Stories
Author: M. Iksaka Banu
Translator: Tjandra Kerton
Publisher: Lontar Foundation (BTW Books)

THE rain that began to fall in Mojokerto regency, East Java, forced Dwi Heru Kendoyo to rack his brain. The Mojokerto General Elections Commission (KPU) secretary had think up a way to keep the election materials set to be distributed throughout the regency dry. The vote was just a few days away.

Tax Director-General Sigit Priadi Pramudito recently resigned, but the problem of taxes did not end there. He was indeed seen to have failed in reaching the tax targets set for this year, but his replacement, whoever it is, is bound to have as difficult a time in achieving those targets.

LAST week, the House of Representatives (DPR) ethics council finally brought House Speaker Setya Novanto's alleged transgression to trial. In addition to the testimony of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, the court also listened to a recording of a discussion between Setya, oil entrepreneur Muhammad Reza Chalid and Freeport Indonesia CEO Maroef Sjamsoeddin.

A Positive Commotion

TO promote organic farming these past three years, Putro Santoso Kurniawan has been managing the 100-member Association of Indonesian Farmers' Cooperatives in Bogor, West Java. Through these cooperatives, farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers. "This is our way of ensuring that the prices of organic products remain accessible to the farmers," said 40-year-old Putro, a graduate of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture. He claims the limited production at the moment and the long supply chain have made organic products expensive to consumers. "This process benefits the distributors," said Putro, but discourages buyers. As a result, farmers become discouraged and in the end, many choose to go back to using chemical-based fertilizers.

Over 10 percent of the 1,800-hectare Samboja Lestari forest preserve in East Kalimantan has been lost to forest fires over the last several months.

INTERNATIONAL
Renminbi Becomes World Currency

As we approach the end of 2015, it is becoming clearer that next year's global economic outlook will change. This will naturally result in business strategy adjustments, both in the real sector as well as investment portfolios in the financial sector.

Events at three locations thousands of kilometers apart seem to underline how close Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is to Vice President Jusuf Kalla. The two important figures accompanied President Joko Widodo at the opening of the Consultation of the Maluku People at the Ambon Islamic Center two weeks ago. Kalla opened the event while Luhut was a speaker.

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.