This year's drought does not upset John Oktavianus. As chief of the Southwest Sumba agricultural service, he reaped the corn and rice during the grand harvest at the Kodi Balaghar Subdistrict in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) last week. The grand harvest also took place in the subdistricts of south, east and central Wewetan. Amazingly, the three-week long drought in January failed to reduce the productivity of the regency's agricultural centers.

TRANSPORTATION
Government Inaugurates Nine New Ports

Syarkawi Rauf did not hesitate in signing the letter addressed to President Joko Widodo, asking for the dissolution of the Indonesia Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP).

Two weeks ago, two youths with menacing looks approached as Tempo was busy interviewing an oil palm grower in Air Hitam Village, near Tesso Nilo National Park, Riau.

INDONESIA is a country with the largest economy in Southeast Asia, enjoying an annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.1 percent this year, according to the World Bank. It has slowed down since last year, but the country continues to grow. To entrepreneur Umar Lessy, who is deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI), Indonesia needs more entrepreneurs to ensure a sustainable economic growth.

Over the past year, the government has been aggressively pursuing negligent taxpayers. President Joko Widodo set a goal of Rp1.29 quadrillion for 2015, but the government was only able to collect Rp1.06 quadrillion. This year, the target has been increased to Rp1.55 quadrillion.

Direction of our Prison System

The Indonesian Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP) should offer the government a way to encourage large companies to abide by standards they agreed to apply. Moreover, the IPOP can be used to encourage other farmers to follow sustainable agriculture practices. Without these steps, the palm oil industry's efforts to become environmentally friendly will remain just an empty slogan.

PSSI Soon to Revoke Annulment

Mella Jaarsma recalls a day in July 1998 when, along with six other foreign visitors standing across the Agung State Palace in Yogyakarta's Malioboro area, she watched as a dish of frog legs was being fried in a big wok over a charcoal stove. Passersby stopped their strolling to watch the strange scene: seven foreigners watching their dish being cooked on the side of a street. The dish was then offered to the onlookers.

The outbreak of violence at Banceuy Penitentiary in Bandung, West Java two weeks ago deeply affected Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly. The incident might have appeared ordinary in the rough-and-tumble world inside Indonesian prisons, given that the death of inmate Undang Kosim triggered the violence. Nevertheless, it was the third of such incidents in 2016 alone.

There are more and more gods...

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.