If there is one icon that marks our times, it is the hand phone. The Indonesian word for it is perfect: 'telepon genggam' or 'clutched phone'. We can clutch it any time, anywhere, but it, too, can hold us in its clutches any time, anywhere. Whenever someone sits alone in a corner, or together with a friend in a caf, on a crowded bus or attends a village meeting, out comes the HP from the pocket, eyes scan the messages on the narrow screen, and attention is momentarily diverted. More often than not, conversation stops.

The conflict inside the Golkar Party appears to be reaching its final stages. The party, which for some time has been polarized by two factions, finally seems to be heading towards a reconciliation. The national leadership meeting (rapimnas) held at the end of January agreed that an extraordinary national convention should be held to elect new leaders. The convention is expected to end the dispute between Agung Laksono, elected chairman according to the Ancol national convention, and Aburizal Bakrie, elected by the Bali national convention.

UNTIL three years ago, a forest in Uganda called Zika was largely unknown. Even the indigenous people of Uganda were confused when asked about the forest's location. However, today the name is widely mentioned due to the spread of the Zika virus.

Following up on the Conference of the Parties 21 (COP21) held in Paris last November, the environment and forestry ministry, in collaboration with the Norwegian government and the United Nations Development Programme, held the Climate Festival. The festival was themed "Prevent two more degrees Celsius for the welfare of the people and future generations."

President Joko Widodo welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Presidential Palace on Monday to discuss cooperation in water management, renewable energy and education.

Malaysian Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has declared there was no sufficient evidence to indict Prime Minister Najib Razak over allegations of receiving illicit money worth US$681 million. He said the funds in Najib's personal account were donations from the Saudi royal family and that some of them had already been paid back.

It took only five minutes for Tri Wagiyati to decide which knitted pieces to work on last Wednesday afternoon. The hands of the 38-year-old woman deftly unfurled the knit fabric pieces and crocheted them so that it began to resemble a bag.

The Zika virus is causing a stir around the world. Health Minister Nila Moeloek has issued a travel advisory on Latin American countries. The government recommends that Indonesians, especially women, refrain from unnecessary travel to nations affected by the Zika outbreak. Brazil, Bolivia, Puerto Rico and Suriname are on the watch list.

THE Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has declared the Gerakan Fajar Nusantara (Gafatar) organization to be one that has 'strayed from the right path'. The Council considers the movement initiated by Ahmad Musadeq to have deviated from Islam because its teachings combine elements of Islam, Christianity and Judaism and interprets the Quran differently.

BRI's Response

Conservation is one of the best ways to keep history alive. Yet, many historical sites and ancient artifacts in Indonesia are badly preserved and neglected. Historical sites and museums conservation director at the education and culture ministry, Harry Widianto, claims that the government is doing its best to conserve these sites and artifacts. Among other things, it has restored, conserved and improved an inventory system. The government has also appointed experts to tend to historical buildings.

Bangka Regent Tarmizi will not budge from his position that driving Ahmadis out of his region is key to restoring peace and stability. He also refused to take responsibility for their safety if they failed to do so. "We have asked them nicely to relocate," he said last Wednesday.

Four workers carefully piled several boxes tagged 'breakable goods' at a Ratania Khatulistiwa company warehouse in Surabaya, East Java, last Thursday. Over in another corner,a similar stack of boxes was already piled high.

TRANSPORTATION
New Suramadu Toll Rates This Month

The rupiah continues to perform better than expected, hovering steady just below Rp14,000 per US dollar. The rupiah and US dollar interest rate movements, which a month ago moved in opposite directions, has yet to adversely impact the rupiah. In fact, there is enough confidence that if inflation, at its current 4.1 percent level, can be maintained, it could lead to the possibility of a second 25 basis point cut in Bank Indonesia's benchmark interest rate.

The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project continues to spark controversy. Although President Joko Widodo never made promises about it during his presidential campaign, the project appears on the list of national strategic projects this year. Since the beginning, the government is adamant no state guarantee will be provided.

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.