Eleven ships owned by Arabikatama Khatulistiwa Fishing Industry (AKFI) sat tied to a dock in Ambon City, Maluku, on Saturday two weeks ago. For more than a year, those ships have sat idle, unable to return to sea. A shortage in raw materials has caused the nearby fish processing factory to discontinue operation as well.

The heated debate pitting two powerful ministries on whether the LNG (liquified natural gas) plant of the US$15 billion Masela offshore gas project should be built offshore as a floating LNG facility or built onshore several hundred kilometers away on either Aru or Tanimbar island has finally subsided. Recently, President Jokowi finally decided to side with Coordinating Maritime Minister Rizal Ramli, who argued for an onshore LNG plant as it would have a broader 'multiplier' impact on the region's local economy.

A verification meeting at the Central Jakarta Commercial Court last Tuesday morning did not provide the relief Said Reza Pahlevy was hoping for.

In June, the United Kingdom (UK) will hold a referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union (EU). A few years ago, it was Greece that faced the same dilemma. Although there are different reasons behind these two countries wanting to leave the EU, one underlying similarity is the loss of a degree of sovereignty.

DWIMAWAN Heru Santoso had hardly a moment to breathe last week. As Jasa Marga's assistant vice president of corporate communication, he was put in charge of preparing meetings ahead of the the rollout of a new e-toll card. "The last of these meetings will be held tomorrow," he told Tempo last week.

The tumbling of oil prices has rippled through the world economy in varying and unexpected ways. The same holds for its impact at home. Here, the government's oil revenue has shrunk and with the sluggish economy, tax revenue continues to fall below government targets. As a result, the government is reassessing its 2016 budget and is reluctantly forced to reduce its spending. Furthermore, not only is government revenue down, but the alternative funding source of issuing government bonds or borrowing is reaching its limits. The country's debt service ratio is already at 56 percent and the budget deficit to GDP is getting close to the legally mandated 3 percent. Given the lukewarm relationship with the House of Representatives, tweaking the debt limit is a step the government, understandably, wants to avoid.