Since time immemorial, enmity between 'the Dark side' and 'the Light' has been the stuff of legend; in the third century CE a Persian called the 'Prophet Mani' articulated it, and in the 20th and 21st centuries, Star Wars repeated it.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has a new captain: Agus Rahardjo. Together with his co-chairpersons-Basaria Panjaitan, Saut Situmorang, Alexander Marwata and Laode Muhammad Syarif-Agus, 59, was sworn in by President Joko Widodo on December 21, 2015, following his selection by the Law Committee of the House of Representatives (DPR). He got 44 votes, while Basaria got 9 votes and Saut one vote.

Skilled interviewers are like stand-up comics and jazz musicians because they must improvise and be malleable in order to solicit trust and confidence. Whatever the interviewee needs them to be, they become that person.

Saudi Arabia announced it had cut diplomatic relations with Iran on Sunday, January 3, following a protest at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran, which was triggered by the mass execution of 47 people, including Shia Muslim cleric, Nimr Al-Nimr. Al-Nimr was behind the anti-government protests in 2011.

Film director Livi Zheng sent the following message last month when she was about to meet Tempo for an interview. "I'm still on a shoot, running late. Is it possible to meet at 5:30pm?" It seems she was being interviewed by a Jakarta TV station. "It's for the new year," she explained later.

Sculptor Edhi Soenarso passed away in Jakarta on January 4, at the age of 83. The Empu Agenga title equal to professor in the field of sculpturebrings to mind his monumental public works: the Selamat Datang ('Welcome'), Pembebasan Irian Barat ('Liberation of West Irian') and Dirgantara ('Aerospace') monumental statues. These sculptures are now dwarfed by tall buildings and billboards in the capital.

Throughout the court hearing, Rasio Ridho Sani, director-general for the environment ministry's law enforcement, could be seen fidgeting restlessly. He would look at his cellphone for text messages. Occasionally, he would rise to talk to other visitors in the courtroom in the Palembang District Court. On that particular Wednesday a fortnight ago, the judge read out his ruling over the ministry's charges against Bumi Mekar Hijau company.

THE deep-rooted feud between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shia-dominant Iran is no trivial matter. It reached new heights when the Saudis executed Shia leader Sheikh Nimr Baqr al-Nimr early this year. The kingdom also severed diplomatic ties with Iran, which was restored 15 years ago after almost two decades of hostilities.

DJOKO Sasono chose to resign as director-general for land transportation at the transportation ministry because he had failed to anticipate the traffic jams during Maulid and Christmas holidays, which in conjunction with school holidays started on December 23, 2015. At the time, 2.6 million vehicles were stacked up on all toll roads and alternative routes. This figure is 14 percent higher compared to the Lebaran holidays.

Complaint for BRI

Indonesian martial arts or pencak silat recently caught the attention of the social and mainstream media following the appearance of some silat fighters in certain Hollywood films, like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, currently showing in local cinema halls. Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman are some of the silat fighters who have appeared in Indonesian as well as foreign films. In The Raid, directed by Gareth Evans, the three actors were equally impressive.

One by one on that last evening in October 2015, the amateur performers introduced themselves. Within a very short time, the audience at the Yogya Cultural Center began to feel thoroughly amused by what they were watching.

FOUR men stood by with Din Minimi in front of his house in Ladang Baro, Julok, East Aceh, on Wednesday last week. The 39-year-old man, born Nurdin Ismail, was also accompanied by two women and two children.

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.