HE was once a minister and vice president in previous cabinets, so Jusuf Kalla can be considered a veteran executive with substantial flying time. His long experience has been his asset. But his 70 years of age is often seen as the weak point in the new government which needs to move with full speed, if he and Joko Widodo win the presidential race.

How can one pass judgment, when there is no one left who has not sinned? When the measurement of what is and what is not sin trades places? When the dirty and the pure become sheer possibility-and increasingly, people do not know what will happen with history?

NO changes could be seen at the office of Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. The dominant color was ivory white, with a smattering of dark brown. Framed calligraphy paintings were displayed on the right and left walls. "I am so rarely in my office, how can I have time to change the decor?" asked Lukman rhetorically. Three weeks ago, he replaced Suryadharma Ali, who has been indicted over the haj funds corruption case.

Armin Wertz*

Two state gas companies were suddenly competing to win over Mohamad Djajadi, CEO of Kawasan Industri Wijayakusuma in Semarang, Central Java. Djajadi was sweet-talked by a representative of the State Gas Company (PGN) to get him to purchase gas for companies in the industrial area. "They contacted me at the end of May," he told Tempo last week.

In an 11-minute video, a group of young men with their faces covered in balaclavas could be seen holding assault rifles. They stared nonchalantly into the camera. One of them was wearing a t-shirt with the words "Indonesian Army" written on the chest. The men were former Indonesian soldiers, some business people and students.

The Agriculture Ministry's tangerines and sub-tropical fruits research center has provided 200 varieties of tangerine seeds. These quality and disease-free tangerines are the result of sophisticated cultivation of local tangerines, and an attempt to halt the onslaught of imported fruit. "Local fruits are fresher, unlike imported fruits which are stored for months and even a year," researcher Harwanto said.

Having led Muhammadiyah's youth organization for the past two decades, Hajriyanto Thohari has become a magnet for young members of the Muslim organization, one of Indonesia's largest. The official residence of the deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has also become a favorite haunt for young people. Practically once a month, the speaker hosts a gathering to discuss trending issues including the upcoming presidential election.

THE recruitment of Indonesian citizens by the militias of the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) for the jihad in Iraq and Syria must be stopped. The fact that there are groups of people attracted by the ideas of ISIS and who support the sending of civilian fighters to the conflict in the Middle East should give the government serious cause for concern.

TWO weeks ago the Surabaya government officially closed the red light districts of Dolly and Jarak, located in the city's Putat Jaya district. "If they continue to open, the law will take over," Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said.

Karaoke Centers Flourishing in Sidoarjo

The Kalumpang site in West Sulawesi has been around for the past six decades. In 1951, Dutch archeologist, Pieter Vincent van Stein-Callenfels first presented the results of his research at the East Asia Prehistoric Congress in Manila, the Philippines. He had been studying the banks of the Karama River since 1933.

Throughout her trial, Susi Tur Andayani seemed unmoved. Never did she appear down or stressed out, even as the judge read out her sentence last week. Throughout her trial, the woman accused of helping fix regional head election dispute cases mostly just sat relaxed in her chair while fiddling her fingers.

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.