Indonesia

Today's headlines: For the USCIRF, Afghanistan under the Taliban is experiencing a "continual and significant” decline in religious freedom. Indonesia and Japan want to eliminate trade barriers and strengthen bilateral trade. Israeli fighter jets hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Vietnam is going after Falun Gong members.

Two places of worship in Malang were the targets. Police dismiss claims that the planned attack was linked to Francis’s upcoming apostolic trip to Asia-Pacific. Three people were arrested, including one man known as "Hok" suspected of affiliation with the extremist group Daulah Islamiyah. Explosive materials used to make the "Mother of Satan" bomb were confiscated.

After the Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah accepts President Joko Widodo’s proposal for religious organisations to run mining projects. Indonesia’s Catholic Church rejected the offer outright, but critical voices have also emerged in Indonesia’s Islamic organisations.

India has a very good bid after the Games in Los Angeles and Brisbane, but things could change when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) elects a new president in 2025. Meanwhile, cricket is back as an Olympic sports in 2028. Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto travels to Paris to push his country's bid.

Outgoing President Joko Widodo signed a decree to this effect. Yet, despite government efforts, foreign investors are reluctant to get involved in the project. Widodo’s successor Prabowo does not seem keen on prioritising the new capital. The transfer of the first administrative offices, scheduled for this month, has been postponed.

A Sacred Heart missionary of Dutch origin, he died at the age of 88. In Indonesia since 1968, as director of the Ethics Centre at the University of Jakarta he made an important contribution to the country in the reflection on social ethics, also training young scholars.

Head of State Widodo also intervened in the affair, with a public criticism of the actions of members of the moderate Muslim organisation. Leader Nu apologised for ‘the incident’ and called the choice of ‘timing and manner’ ‘inappropriate’. The country's leadership confirmed its support for the Palestinian cause.

Holding weddings by the sea, amid the grandeur of nature and cultural artefacts, has been gaining ground for some time now. Bishop Silvester San cites an exhortation issued by the country’s bishops in 2015, saying that the ritual of marriage must be celebrated in a place of worship. The wedding industry has flourished around organising celebrations.

By the end of the year, two priests and three nuns from Italy, India and Myanmar will set up a new outpost in the Diocese of Tanjung Selor, Indonesian Borneo, together with other congregations established elsewhere in the world inspired by PIME’s charism. For the Institute’s Superior General, Fr Brambillasca, this is “a project to renew in everyone the desire to leave for the mission.”

The head of the group, active from 2019 to 2023, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Poachers are thought to have killed 26 animals, a very high number according to local animal rights activists. Some people believe that rhino horn has aphrodisiac properties.

The detailed schedule of the trip the pontiff will make from 2 to 13 September in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore has been released. The pope will deliver 16 speeches and homilies in the longest journey of his pontificate. In addition to four capitals, he will visit the mission in Vanimo. In Dili the Mass will be held on an esplanade in front of the ocean.

In a sudden and surprise vote, the Ethics Committee voted to end the term of office of Hasyim Asy'ari accused of molesting an (Indonesian) woman operative in The Hague. A number of serious ethical issues were raised against him. In a controversial decision, he had authorised the outgoing president's son to run in the last election by forcing the age limit.