Engraved on a 15-meter-high stone pillar are 14 eternal edicts. Carved in the 2nd century BCE, the edicts were made by Piyadasi or Devanampiyadasi, the king who ruled the area that now forms most of India.

OWNERS of warung makan (small eateries) are hopeful they can remain open during the month of Ramadhan, because Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin in his Twitter account recently tweeted that such establishments should not be forced to close shop just to honor those who fast. He stated that those who are not obliged to fast must also be respected.

To include tempe (fermented soy bean cake) in the menu of renowned European restaurants was a challenge for Ari Munandar, the executive chef of the restaurants at the Hilton Prague Old Town, a five-star hotel in the capital city of the Czech Republic.

In a major victory for conservationists, Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL), Indonesia's second-largest pulp and paper producer, has vowed to stop logging Indonesia's forests.

President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has appointed a special envoy, ambassador Eddy Pratomo, for the establishment of a fixed maritime border between Indonesia and Malaysia. The appointment follows up on bilateral meetings held between President Jokowi and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak from January 25-28 and February 5-7.

At the morgue at Denpasar's Sanglah General Hospital, an officer gazes at Hamidah, who is waiting to identify the body of her missing child. "Are you sure you're ready?" the officer asked her last Friday. She nods.

THE testimony of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan should be the door for the KPK to open evidence of criminalization of its leaders and investigation. Without this one step, the criminalization against the KPK will continue to end up as mere presumptions.

When Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai security forces drove away boats filled with hundreds of ethnic Rohingya fleeing their home country of Myanmar, citizens of Simpang Tiga village in East Aceh accepted them with open arms.

Failed Bank Mandiri Transaction

THE 'guardian' of Jaam Island, part of a conservation zone where shark hunting is banned, lives in South Misool District, Raja Ampat Regency. His name is Andi Dharmawan, but he is better known by his nickname, Cagi, or Oom (uncle) Cagi. His skin is tawny from long hours in the sun, and he speaks with booming erudition.

The House of Representatives (DPR) has demanded Rp11.2 trillion in the 2016 State Budget (APBN) to be used as an 'aspiration fund', amounting to Rp20 billion per lawmaker. Secretary-general of the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency, Yenny Sucipto, fears the money will be recklessly spent by lawmakers. "The House is now processing a regulation to support the budget," said Yenny on Wednesday last week.

MINING
Freeport Operation Extended for 20 Years

For the last two weeks, the unintended consequences of two central banks' policy measures are starting to raise concern. One far away in the US, which remains an uneasy waiting game and one closer to home, which became effective this month.

THE sound of the fretless bass guitar breaks the silence at Engels Caf in Berlin. Tomi Simatupang, alone and in a black T-shirt, begins gently singing the lyrics of a certain folk song.

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.