With a 1.49 percent annual growth rate, Indonesia's current population of more than 250 million is expected to surpass that of the United States by 2043, possibly becoming the third most populous country after China and India. Despite a national family planning program in place since 1967, Indonesia continues to struggle with various sociocultural constraints that prevent it from becoming more effective and efficient. Such issues emerged during the recent International Conference on Family Planning in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Irendra Radjawali, 39, came to a coffee shop in Central Jakarta wearing a blue t-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. "I'm not a suit-and-tie type of person," said Radja, as he is known by family and friends, apologizing for his informal clothing. He looked energetic despite having flown to Jakarta that morning from Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Radja explained that he had just spent four days in Kalimantan to operate drones used to assist in spatial mapping in the area.

President Joko Widodo made his first state visit to Timor-Leste on Tuesday, January 26, in a bid to strengthen relations between Indonesia and its former East Timor province. The President discussed ways to enhance cooperation with his Timorese counterpart, President Taur Matan Ruak and Prime Minister Maria de Araujo. He also offered Indonesia as Timor-Leste's main partner in development.

A ramshackle red boat with green stripes owned by Pak Ujang, a fisherman from Situ Ciburuy, Bandung, West Java, was on display at the Southeast Asia Forum at Art Stage Singapore held on January 21-24 at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center in Singapore. The boat, a testament to the Ciburuy lake vicinity's struggle with environmental degradation, had been sunk years back. It was brought to the exhibition by visual artist Aliansyah Chaniago.

When the government tried to lower prices of local beef by providing ships to transport cattle, it showed a lack of knowledge on how markets function. The use of these ships may well reduce transportation costs, but this quick fix is not a long-term solution to the problem of high domestic beef prices.

NATIONAL Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Sutiyoso has requested expanded powers to arrest individuals suspected of terrorist ties. In previous yearsin particular when Sutiyoso was governor of Jakartasuch authority was on the books, and was frequently invoked in the wake of terrorist attacks.

Poverty, Cause of Terrorism

Profits in the Shell

The South Jakarta District Court turned down the pretrial motion that Richard Joost Lino, CEO of state-owned seaport management company Pelabuhan II, filed in protest of his suspect status in the quay container crane (QCC) case. "We can't grant the pretrial hearing," said Udjiati, who issued her verdict last Tuesday.

TRANSPORTATION
Government Rejects High-Speed Rail Guarantee

On Tuesday night three weeks ago, the normally empty field in Kedungbanteng village was packed with some 200 villagers. M. Fauzi, head of a local neighborhood organization in the town of Sidoarjo in East Java, said the crowd had gathered around 12 tumpeng (rice cone served with various dishes) to give thanks.

Tear gas filled Ricardo Pattikassy's room on Friday two weeks ago. A Joint Task Force team from the Jakarta Police had fired five tear gas cans to force Ricardo alias Rico to exit the home of his in-laws on Jalan Nakula, Central Jakarta.

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.