Prayers, thanksgiving and a traditional kethoprak performance marked the celebrations for the archbishop's half-century of priesthood. A tribute to local culture and a profound reflection on the mission of a pastor. The Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs was also present, along with hundreds of faithful.
The mass of mud and debris struck about thirty homes in Pasirlangu during the night. The disaster was caused by the collapse of a natural dam, raising questions about poor watercourse control measures and violations of land-use planning regulations. In recent days, Prabowo had revoked the forest exploitation licences of 28 companies after floods in northern Sumatra.
Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and an associate are under investigation for the management of additional quotas granted to Indonesia for the 2024 Hajj. They allegedly favoured special pilgrims at the expense of regular ones, causing estimated state losses of million. Assets have been seized and potential illicit flows are under investigation.
After decades of debate, Indonesia replaced the Dutch colonial-era criminal code. The government calls it “more humane, modern" for the country’s justice system, with alternatives to prison. Human rights groups and legal experts slam certain anti-democratic elements, like criminalising insulting the president and expanding police powers.
The Indonesian consortium that controls 60% of the route inaugurated two years ago recorded losses of over 0 million in 2024. This year, losses are expected to increase further. The project is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, but from the outset it appeared to be economically unsustainable. It is not the only case among the major railway projects in Southeast Asia. Nevertheless, Prabowo is intensifying his embrace of Beijing.
The floods meet all the criteria to be considered a catastrophe: millions of people affected, significant damage to property and infrastructure, and insufficient local capacity. But the central government is suspending its decision. The declaration is not just a formality, but responds to pre-established criteria. The provincial government of Aceh is evaluating a request for aid from the UN.
