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Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan has carefully calculated his ministry's mandatory budget cut this year. A number of infrastructure projects originally scheduled to break ground have been cancelled, including the 1,550-kilometer Trans-Papua rail project. "There is no urgency for this project right now," Jonan told Tempo at his office last Wednesday.

TRADITIONALLY, prices go up during Ramadan fasting month, especially for food. This year, Joko Widodo's government would like it to be different. "Every year, as we approach Idul Fitri, prices increase. (This time) we would like to have a discount," Jokowi said on the second day of fasting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

Adaro's Clarification

THE government seemed oblivious to a looming budget crisis as it continues to apply unrealistic assumptions in the draft revision of the 2016 state budget. Spurred by the highly ambitious growth target of 5.3 percent, the tax revenue target was set at Rp1.527 quadrillion-clearly a tall order given the sluggish domestic economy.

Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian was recently nominated as the sole candidate for the position of National Police chief. Last week, President Joko Widodo submitted Tito's name to the House of Representatives (DPR) as a replacement to the incumbent police chief, Gen. Badrodin Haiti, who will retire next month.

COME in, To," Gen. Badrodin Haiti told Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian. The current National Police chief invited in Tito who was waiting outside. Around midday last Thursday at his office, South Jakarta, Badrodin met with the sole candidate selected by President Joko Widodo to replace him. Badrodin, whom Tempo was then interviewing, greeted his future replacement warmly. "Well, here he is," Badrodin said.

THE House of Representatives (DPR) has helped ease the way for the Tobacco Bill to be included in the list of legislations to be enacted this year. The National Tobacco Control Commission quickly responded with a public service ad which essentially rejected the bill.

Frans Katihokang was in high spirits following the ruling at Pelawan District Court, Riau, on Thursday two weeks ago. As soon as the judge finished reading out the verdict, the Langgam Inti Hibrindo operations manager could be seen vigorously shaking the hands of his attorney and visitors.

FollOwing the highway going from Jerusalem to the Negev in southern Israel, I was reminded of the green landscape of Java's rice fields. Areas that were once desert show no trace of what we often read about in the scriptures. Extensive, fertile fields of wheat and potatoes dominate both sides of the road. These are interspersed with orchards of citrus fruits, pomegranates, cherries and avocados.

Once upon a time, back when I was at primary school, we were taught that verbs were 'doing words'. This was contrasted with nouns, which were called 'naming words'. The interesting thing, though, is how we think about 'doing', and how different languages put those concepts in their words.

His alias was 'Prapanca'. He depicted himself as a man the palace women disliked, someone uneasy with words, somewhat ugly. But he is the first writer of reportage in Indonesian history: the Desawarnana, which he completed in 1365, is a report on the travels of Hayam Wuruk, the king of Majapahit, to various territories of his realm.

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.