VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 said that on October 29, 2020, there were 3,985 patients recovering from the COVID-19 disease, bringing it to 329,778 people. 

Based on data compiled until Thursday (29/10) at 12.00 WIB, confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 were also recorded to have increased to 3,565 to 404,048 cases. Meanwhile, the death toll was recorded to have increased by 89 people to 13,701 people. 

Based on the distribution of the number of cases, DKI Jakarta recorded the highest number of recovered patients, namely 1,078 people, with positive cases 713 people and cases died 14 people. 

Then, West Sumatra reported 550 new recovered cases with 335 positive cases and 9 deaths, West Java 492 people recovered with 459 positive people and no people died, East Kalimantan 275 new recovered cases with 208 positive people and 5 people died. 

Next, East Java recorded 254 recovered cases with 268 confirmed positive and 16 cases died, Central Java 230 people recovered with 369 positive people, and 9 people died, while Riau recorded 221 people recovered with 260 positive cases and 6 people reported dying from COVID-19. 

Meanwhile, there are 6 provinces that reported new cases under 10 and 3 provinces that today reported no additional cases, namely North Maluku, West Sulawesi, and Gorontalo. 

The COVID-19 Task Force also recorded 68,888 suspected cases in 502 districts/cities spread across 34 provinces in the country. 

Meanwhile, 34,317 specimens that have been examined this Thursday, using both real-time PCR ("polymerase chain reaction") and molecular rapid test (TCM) the cumulative specimens became 4,463,884 specimens. (Antaranews)

UN Calls For Mutual Respect For Amid Islamic Cartoon Conflict

The UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos calls on the world to respect each other of religions and faiths, to foster a culture of brotherhood and peace.

In a statement, Moratinos said he was following with deep concern the growing tensions and instances of intolerance fueled by the French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo which published satirical caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad.

"The seditious caricature has also provoked acts of violence against innocent civilians, who were attacked because of their religion, belief or ethnicity," Moratinos said.

He underlined that contempt for religion and sacred religious symbols provokes hatred and violent extremism, leading to polarization and fragmentation of society.

Freedom of expression must be exercised in a way that fully respects the religious beliefs and principles of all religions, he said.

"Acts of violence cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," said Moratinos.

Earlier this month, French President Emmanuel Macron described Islam as a "religion in crisis" and announced plans for tougher laws to tackle "Islamic separatism" in France.

Tensions have escalated after the case of the beheading of a high school teacher, Samuel Paty, on October 16 in a Paris suburb after he showed him a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in one of his classes about freedom of expression.

The attacker, Abdullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old man from Chechnya, was then shot dead by police. Macron paid tribute to Paty, and the cartoon released by Charlie Hebdo was also projected on buildings in several cities.

The French president defended the caricature, saying France "will not stop our cartoons". The remarks sparked outrage across the Muslim world.

In addition to condemnation from several countries including Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan, there have been calls to boycott products, protests and French attacks on French websites. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Palace, West Java, Thursday (29/10) received a visit from the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

This is Pompeo's second visit to Indonesia after being appointed US Secretary of State by President Donald Trump. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, after accompanying the President, said that this visit has an important meaning for the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the US, given the Covid-19 pandemic that is still hitting the world.

Several issues have become a discussion between the two countries, including the economic and defense sectors. The president wanted to increase defense cooperation with the US and US to understand the interests of developing countries and Muslim countries. 

In addition, the president also said that Indonesia wanted America to understand Southeast Asia and to create peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

Meanwhile, from the United States, according to Retno Marsudi, Mike Pompeo expressed his commitment to continue the strategic comprehensive partnership with Indonesia. Indonesia is considered to have an important role in the region. 

From Secretary Pompeo's side, he said he was certainly pleased to return to Indonesia and conveyed his strong commitment to continuing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Indonesia, including in the economic sector and US would encourage more US businessmen to conduct economic engagement with Indonesia.

The United States considers Indonesia to play a special role in the region. Indonesia is an anchor for ASEAN. Therefore, with this big role in Indonesia, America really wants to establish a better relationship with Indonesia.

Retno Marsudi further said that the United States expressed appreciation to Indonesia for its role in Afghanistan. According to him, the United States and Indonesia together with several countries continue to work together to bring peace to Afghanistan. (VOI)

The Secretary of State of the United States Mike Pompeo has made Indonesia an example of a harmonious life in religion, as he condemns extremism and violence in the name of certain beliefs.

"Really, there is no reason to say that Islam cannot coexist peacefully with Christians or Buddhists. We all know that coexistence in peace and mutual respect is possible," Pompeo said during a joint dialogue with the Ansor Youth Movement in Jakarta, Thursday.

"Indonesia, since the 1998 Reformation, has provided a positive example to the world of how different aspects, different ethnic groups, as well as different ideologies can live together peacefully," said Pompeo.

He added that harmony amid differences of belief would be difficult for those who twisted Islamic teachings to justify their violent behavior - in this case, ISIS calls an example.

In the event which was hosted by Head of the Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) Executive Board Yahya Cholil Staquf and attended by a number of interfaith figures, Pompeo praised the two largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia, NU, and Muhammadiyah, for their role in creating religious freedom.

"Groups such as NU and Muhammadiyah represent tens of millions of Indonesian Muslims who believe in a growing tradition of tolerance and democracy," said the US Secretary of State.

Regarding religious freedom, Pompeo called for more religious figures to speak out and oppose discrimination and oppression of anyone whose rights to life, including their religious rights, are violated.

For this reason, he called Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, China, as a matter of violations of human rights related to religious freedom.

Pompeo made an official visit to Asian countries, October 25-30. He has visited India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, then carried out an agenda for one day in Indonesia.

In Indonesia, Pompeo started the visit by holding a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, then meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Finally, he attended the GP Ansor religious dialogue. Afterward, Pompeo is scheduled to make the first stop in Vietnam - for a visit not originally included in this itinerary - on Thursday and Friday (30/10) tomorrow, before returning to the US. (Antaranews)