VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Russia and China on Wednesday vetoed a U.S. push for the United Nations Security Council to act on the Israel-Hamas conflict by calling for pauses in fighting to allow humanitarian aid access, the protection of civilians and a stop to arming Hamas and other militants in the Gaza Strip.

The United States put forward a draft resolution on Saturday as global outcry grew over a worsening humanitarian crisis and mounting civilian death toll in Gaza. It made the move just days after it vetoed a humanitarian focused draft from Brazil, arguing more time was needed for U.S.-led diplomacy.

The initial U.S. text shocked many diplomats with its bluntness in stating Israel has a right to defend itself and demanding Iran stop exporting arms to militant groups. It did not include a call for humanitarian pauses for aid access. But it largely toned down the final text that was put to the vote.

"We did listen to all of you," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the 15-member council after the double veto, which she described as disappointing. "Though today’s vote was a setback, we must not be deterred."

It was a rare move by the United States to suggest Security Council action. Washington has traditionally shielded its ally Israel at the world body.

Ten members voted for the U.S. text, while the United Arab Emirates voted no and Brazil and Mozambique abstained.

"The draft does not reflect the world's strongest calls for a ceasefire, an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue," China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council after the vote. "At this moment, ceasefire is not just a diplomatic term. It means the life and death of many civilians."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire.

'OBLIGATION TO ACT'

In the wake of the Security Council deadlock, the 193-member U.N. General Assembly will vote on Friday on a draft resolution put forward by Arab states that calls for a ceasefire. No country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Resolutions are non-binding, but carry political weight.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,400 people. Israel has struck Gaza from the air, imposed a siege on the enclave of 2.3 million people and is preparing a ground invasion. Palestinian authorities say more than 6,500 have been killed.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accuses the U.S. of putting up a draft resolution that represented Security Council authorization of a ground offensive in Gaza by Israel "while thousands of Palestinian children will continue to die."

After the double veto, the Security Council then voted on a rival Russian-drafted text that called for a humanitarian ceasefire and withdrawal of Israel's order for civilians in Gaza to relocate south ahead of a ground assault.

Russia failed to the get minimum amount of support needed, winning only four votes. A resolution needs at least nine votes and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to be adopted.

It was Russia's second attempt at a resolution. Only five council members voted in favor of a Russian text on Oct. 16.

The elected 10 members of the Security Council now plan to work on a new draft resolution, Malta's U.N. Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said.

"This crisis is also gripped by a growing risk of a regional spill over. This demands our undivided attention," she said. "We have the duty and the obligation to act." (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Israeli ground forces operated within the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, attacking multiple Hamas targets before withdrawing, the military said in a statement on what Israel's Army Radio described as the biggest incursion of the current war.

Video of the overnight action issued by the military showed armoured vehicles proceeding through a sandy border zone. A bulldozer is seen levelling part of a raised bank, tanks fire shells, and explosions are seen near or amid a row of damaged buildings.

The military statement posted online said the incursion was carried out "in preparation for the next stages of combat", a possible reference to the large-scale invasion that Israeli leaders have threatened as part of the war to destroy Hamas.

"The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory," the military statement added.

Israel began localised ground incursions on Sunday as the war, triggered by an Oct 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas gunmen, entered its third week. Israel's Army Radio described Thursday's incursion as the biggest yet.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas in Gaza. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia is committed to achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and net zero emission targets by 2050 or sooner.

"In the long run, there are opportunities for the development of solar and geothermal power facilities," advisor to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Ego Syahrial, noted in a statement received here on Thursday.

Syahrial made the statement at the Just Energy Transition Conference, themed "Pathways to a Prosperous Indonesia - Powered by Renewable Energy," held by the European Union Delegation (EUD) to Indonesia on October 24-25 in Jakarta.

The conference brought together various stakeholders in the energy sector, ranging from the government, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.

Syahrial noted that Indonesia also seeks to accelerate energy transition by developing hydropower, nuclear, and green hydrogen facilities along with the total phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2058.

Deputy for Maritime Affairs and Natural Resources of the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas), Vivi Yulaswati, stated that a green economy and net zero policies are important in realizing Indonesia's long-term development plan.

"Green financing, such as carbon tax and carbon pricing, will be the main instruments in the implementation (of net zero programs)," she remarked.

Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation of the ESDM Ministry, Yudho Dwinanda Priaadi, stated that Indonesia seeks to optimize coverage of renewable energy through the super grid project.

The super grid development aims to integrate the electricity grid throughout the islands in Indonesia.

He remarked that Indonesia is also able to supply electricity to remote islands by converting diesel power plants to environmentally friendly hybrid batteries.

EU Ambassador to Indonesia, Denis Chaibi, revealed that the European team has confirmed a €2.4 billion-worth commitment for the Just Energy Transition Partnership in Indonesia. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (MenKopUKM) Minister Teten Masduki on Thursday met with a South African business delegation seeking to explore cooperation with Indonesia on developing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"Indonesia and South Africa can cooperate in plenty of potential aspects, such as supply chain, marketing, transfer of research and technology, and the strengthening of export policy strategies," Minister Masduki explained in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister observed that South Africa is a very promising market for the Indonesian manufacturing industry.

He also noted that the value of Indonesian exports to South Africa reached US$1 million in 2022, with the goods shipped comprising several highly promising products, such as palm oil-based commodities, soaps, coffee, motorized vehicles, pipes, sauces, paper, and rubber goods.

To bolster exports, the ministry's SMESCO Indonesia has built a hub at a strategic location in Nusa Dua, Bali province, in the hopes of providing entrepreneurs and investors with a center for innovation and collaboration, he informed.

"To ensure the sustainable success and growth of MSMEs, it is important for us to support them by providing the required resources," he said.

He then expressed the hope that Indonesia and South Africa would be able to identify new cooperation opportunities that are focused on helping MSME players develop their businesses.

"Hopefully, in the future, both countries will cooperate in developing supply chain infrastructure, or in other matters, to empower MSMEs, so they can boost the national economy of the two countries," he said.

Meanwhile, the leader of the South African delegation, Sipho Shoba, said that his party wanted to capture a detailed picture of the wholesale sector in Indonesia.

Shoba, an official with the South African Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority, informed that the delegates also aimed to identify common problems faced by MSMEs, while obtaining information on how Indonesia supports its MSME players.

In addition, the delegation sought to find applicable alternative solutions to problems faced by actors in the wholesale and retail sector, Shoba added. (Antaranews)