It is said that Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko intended to take over leadership of the Democrat Party. He is suspected of involving Muhammad Nazaruddin, a former corruption case convict, to lobby regional party officials. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is monitoring the counter-offensive measures against Moeldoko.

The government issued permits to import raw sugar for the refined sugar industry in order to cover demand. This policy, however, is deemed insufficient to solve supply shortage for high-quality raw material suffered by a number of food and beverage companies.

The Myanmar military once again took over power via a military coup. The public fight back with a deafening cacophony in a show of defiance.

The construction of smelter and nickel mines in Central Weda, North Maluku, threatens the population of protected endemic birds. The lush primary forests in mining concession areas are still full of large trees. This coverage is a collaborative work of Tempo and the Pasopati Project 2020 fellowship.

The traditional arts sector has been one of the most battered industry by the pandemic adversely affecting those who depend on stage performances for their livelihoods. Many traditional artists in rural areas have no choice but to turn into farmers, traders or online taxi drivers as they cannot rely only on government assistance to sustain themselves.

Yopie Hidayat (Contributor)

Semarang State University writes a right of reply to the article A University Car for Mr. Minister in Tempo, February 1, 2021 edition. 

Cartoon: Yuyun Nurrachman

Workers renovating Sarinah building last year found a relief from Sukarno’s era, 3 x 12 meters in size, hidden in the building’s electrical room. The relief depicts the atmosphere of the old market: women in traditional kebaya strolling the market and men in conical hats carrying wares. Records of the relief could not be found, leading to speculation from enthusiasts and experts regarding the origin of the relief and how it was abandoned in the building's generator room. Was the relief deliberately hidden by the New Order because it was deemed 'leftist' or did someone decide the depictions of the relief did not fit with the more modernized Sarinah? 

Tempo interviewed children of famous artists from the 1960s to explore the possibilities of who made the relief. Tempo also interviewed the minister of manpower during the New Order era, Abdul Latief, who was an employee at Sarinah at the beginning of its establishment.

The purchase by the Sukanto Tanoto business group of an office building worth trillions of rupiah in Germany has prompted many questions. The proceeds from natural resources exploitation should be returned to Indonesia.

The ondel-ondel, which people say used to be part of high-class ceremony in old Jayakarta, is nowadays part of the life of the impoverished, who know they are not in the limelight.

A fisherman paddles his boat through a sea of dead fish on the shores of Lake Maninjau, Nagari Bayur, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, Friday, February 5. Local fishery and food security office recorded that at least 15 tons of fish in floating net cages (KJA) were found dead in the last four days due to strong winds hitting the area. ANTARA/Iggoy el Fitra

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.