No matter where he is posted, Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso always seems to be in the news, as he is doing in his current position as head of the National Narcotics Board (BNN). Barely four months on the job, his statement on drug offenders has led to contentious and prolonged public polemic. He floated the idea of a special prison for those convicted of drug dealing and drug use to be located on an island surrounded by crocodile-infested waters. "I'm serious. This is not a joke," he said.

A new, cube-shaped structure appeared almost instantaneously outside the Jakarta Theater at the Taman Ismail Marzuki on December 7. The wall-less structure is built from scaffolding shrouded in a transparent layer of galvanized wire and black agricultural shade cloth. Its design creates a theatrical effect and stirs curiosity, as visitors outside can only catch obscured glimpses inside.

Soundscapes Ensemble Modern
Conductor: Franck Ollu
Composers: Ris Banbos, M. Arham Aryadi, Joko Winarno, Taufik A. Adam, Gema Swaratyagita, I Dewa Ketut Alit, Stevie Jonathan Sutanto, and Gatot Danar Sulistyanto

Edi Tri Haryantoro fixed his gaze at a brick-walled ditch at a depth of three meters from the ground surface. Knee-deep water filled the ditch. "This is undoubtedly an ancient irrigation system," the senior archeologist from Mojokerto's cultural preservation center told Tempo on the spot at Urangagung village in Sidoarjo, East Java, late last November.

When the perpetrators of the December 2 shooting that killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, were found to be American Muslim couple Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik, Donald Trump jumped into action, immediately using the incident to ratchet up campaign rhetoric. He called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on."

The bill entitled Tindak Pidana Penyelenggara Peradilan (Criminal Offense in Court Affairs) circulated among limited circles of the House of Representatives (DPR) legislation board members. "Not everybody received (the document)," said United Development Party (PPP) politician Arsul Sani Tuesday last week. Arsul is one of the DPR members who got hold of the draft.

TWO words sprung came to mind when Tempo English visited Jovi at the Center for Conservation of Natural Resources in Minas-Siak, Riau, two weeks ago: 'scary' and 'handsome'.

TRADING
E-Commerce Transactions Grow Five-fold

He Yafei has been a lifelong diplomat with China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as a deputy foreign minister before being transferred to Geneva in 2010 as ambassador to the United Nations. He is now the deputy director of the overseas Chinese affairs office and has been advocating for China's economic integration initiative: One Belt One Road (OBOR).

Life is not a framed map. But it seems that people easily forget this, when history becomes a finished storyprior to conquest.

The plan of American Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to ban all Muslims from entering the United States as a way of preventing terrorist attacks is not just stupid: it's senseless and dangerous. A number of violent attacks on Muslim communities in the United States recently may be the result of Trump's hatred campaign.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has been implicated in the 'Papa wants shares' scandal. Two weeks ago, the former presidential chief of staff's name was heard at the House of Representative's (DPR) ethics council (MKD) 66 times when a recorded discussion between DPR Speaker Setya Novanto, oil tycoon Muhammad Reza Chalid and Freeport Indonesia CEO Maroef Sjamsoeddin was played.

Trains Travel Longer

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.