VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference inside a UNRWA school, at Al-Wehdat camp for Palestinian refugees, in Amman, Jordan Mar 25, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Alaa Al-Sukhni) - 

VOInews, Jordan : United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Sunday (Apr 14) issued a reminder that acts of reprisal involving the use of force are barred under international law after Iran's attack on Israel, while the US warned the Security Council it would work to hold Tehran accountable at the UN.

Guterres, speaking to a meeting of the UN Security Council, told member states that the UN charter bars the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state as he condemned Iran's attack on Israel and warned against further escalation.

Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles on Saturday in its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation.

The attack was in response to a suspected Israeli strike on Iran's embassy compound in Syria on Apr 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran's regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.

"The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate," Guterres told the meeting, which was called after Iran's attack.

Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called on the 15 member body to unequivocally condemn Iran's attack, as he said the Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran's actions go unanswered.

"In the coming days, and in consultation with other member states, the United States will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable here at the United Nations," he said, without specifying what action the US would take.

"Let me be clear: if Iran or its proxies take actions against the United States or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible," he said, adding that the US took note of Guterres' remarks and that Washington's actions have been defensive.

Tehran, which had vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on Apr 1 that killed seven of its officers, said its strike was punishment for "Israeli crimes". Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, requested the council hold the meeting in a letter on Saturday to the council's president.

"The Iranian attack is a serious threat to global peace and security and I expect the Council to use every means to take concrete action against Iran," Erdan wrote in a post on X.

Guterres on Sunday also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after more than six months of fighting, the unconditional release of all hostages and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza as it faces famine.

"Regional, and indeed global, peace and security are being undermined by the hour. Neither the region nor the world can afford more war," he said//CNA-VOI

UN Security council (Photo : Archive) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Indonesia expressed its deep concern over the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and urged Iran and Israel to exercise restraint following the former's missile attack on Israel on Saturday (April 13).

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry also urged the United Nations Security Council to promptly respond to the conflict escalation to prevent it from spilling over in the Middle Eastern region.

"Indonesia urges the UN Security Council to act immediately to de-escalate tensions and continue working towards lasting peace in the Middle East," according to the ministry's statement published on its social media on Sunday (April 14) evening.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council should take action to end the illegal occupation of Palestine and various violations of international law committed by Israel, the ministry said.

Indonesia also emphasized that a just settlement of the Palestinian issue through the realization of the two-state solution will be the key to maintaining regional stability.

Renewed hostility between Iran and Israel was triggered by an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1.

The attack killed at least seven officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two important generals. Iran accused Israel of being responsible for the fatal attack.

In response, Iran carried out a retaliatory strike by launching ballistic missiles and drones at Israel on Saturday evening.

Israeli authority claimed the attack had been successfully repelled. One Israeli airbase was damaged by the attack, albeit only minor damage being incurred.

As per Israeli request, the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Sunday (April 14) local time.

In its letter to the UN Security Council president, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, urged the UN to "unequivocally condemn Iran for the grave violations" and immediately declare IRGC as a terrorist organization.

This is despite the fact that for the last six months, Israel has sternly criticized the United Nations and flouted UN resolutions calling the country to cease its hostilities//Antara - VOI

Chairperson of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) Marciano Norman in ANTARA's podcast in Jakarta, Thursday (March 14, 2024). (ANTARA/FAJAR SATRIYO) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Chairperson of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) Marciano Norman expressed optimism that Indonesian athletes will perform better in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, scheduled to be held from July 26 to August 11.

He underlined that KONI and the community, especially sports fans, support the Indonesian contingent.

"Of course, we hope and believe that the performances of Indonesian athletes will be able to make surprising achievements," he said in a statement issued on the KONI website that ANTARA accessed here on Sunday.

In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Indonesia grabbed one gold, one silver, and three silver medals.

Norman expressed appreciation for the efforts that have been made by athletes and sports associations to qualify for the prestigious multi-sport event.

"To all Indonesian athletes and coaches who have worked hard to secure tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics, I express my gratitude, highest appreciation, and respect," the KONI chairperson remarked.

Earlier, Chairman of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari stated that the number of Indonesian athletes qualifying for the Paris Olympics can increase, as the qualification competitions are still underway for several sports until June 2024.

The KOI will set a medal target for the 2024 Paris Olympics after all qualification matches end in June 2024.

"After all sports undergo qualification, we will sit along with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to determine the medal target at the Olympics," he remarked//Antara-VOI

Some prospective passengers wait at the Bakauheni Port in Lampung, to cross to the Merak Port, Banten, on April 14, 2024. ANTARA/Aloysius Lewokeda - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the return flow on the third day after Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijri from Sumatra Island to Java Island had not shown a significant increase in passengers or vehicles.

"With the relaxation carried out yesterday, today (the return flow) is relatively flat," he told reporters at the Bakauheni Port here on Sunday.

Minister Sumadi on Sunday visited the Bakauheni Port in Lampung in order to monitor the Eid return flow condition.

At the location, he was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Head of the National Police Traffic Corps Inspector General Aan Suhanan, President Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry Ira Puspadewi, and several officials.

He said the relaxation in the form of making ticket invalid for the first 24 hours which is being enforced on April 11-21, 2024 has significantly reduced the return flow density.

He said the number of ferries can still accommodate the numbers of travelers in the return flow from Sumatra to Java.

On that occasion, Sumadi praised the Lampung Regional Police that has implemented the red-green-yellow mechanism for handling return flow.

The red return flow condition means that it is very dense so that many ferries must be operated quickly from Bakauheni Port to Merak Port.

"So the ferries must go directly from here (Bakauheni Port) to there (Merak Port), unload the passengers, and return again from there without loading," he said.

To anticipate the surge in passengers at Bakauheni Port, his side operates Lampung's Panjang Port for ferry crossings to Ciwandan Port in Banten, he said.

He hoped that travelers can take advantage of Panjang Port to get crossed to Java Island//Antara-VOI