VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its efforts to combat hunger and improve conditions for peace in areas affected by conflict.

The Rome-based organization says it helps some 97 million people in about 88 countries each year, and that one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat.

“The need for international solidarity and multilateral cooperation is more conspicuous than ever,” Berit Reiss-Andersen, chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, told a news conference.

The WFP is a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, with the COVID-19 outbreak further boosting its relevance, she said.

“The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to a strong upsurge in the number of victims of hunger in the world,” the Nobel committee said in its citation.

“Until the day we have a medical vaccine, food is the best vaccine against chaos ...

“There is an estimate within the World Food Programme that... there will be 265 million starving people within a year, so this is also a call to the international community not to under-fund the World Food Programme.”

The World Food Programme said this was “a proud moment ... nothing short of a feat”.

The prize is worth 10 million Swedish crowns, or around $1.1 million, and will be presented in Oslo on Dec. 10.

The Task Force for Handling COVID-19 said that until October 9, 2020, patients recovering from the COVID-19 disease had increased to 3,607 people, to 247,667 people.

Based on data collected up to Friday at 12.00 WIB, confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 were recorded to have increased to 4,094 to 324,658 cases.

Meanwhile, the death toll was recorded to have increased by 97 people to 11,677 people.

Based on the distribution of the number of cases, DKI Jakarta recorded the highest number of recovered patients, namely 850 people with 943 positive cases and one death case.

Then, West Java reported 563 new recovered cases with 504 positive cases and two people died, East Java 306 people recovered with 310 positive people and 20 people died, Central Java 210 new recovered cases with 412 positive people and 10 people died.

Next, East Kalimantan recorded 182 cases recovered with 135 confirmed positive and 10 cases died, West Sumatra 167 people recovered with 295 people positive and four people died, while North Sumatra recorded 164 people recovered with 95 positive cases and two people reported dying from COVID-19.

There are two provinces that reported new cases under 10, and even four provinces that today reported no additional cases, namely Riau Islands, Lampung, North Maluku, and Maluku.

Then, the COVID-19 Task Force also recorded 149,114 suspected cases in 500 districts/cities spread across 34 provinces throughout Indonesia.

Meanwhile, 44,700 specimens have been examined this Friday, using both real-time PCR ("polymerase chain reaction") and molecular rapid test (TCM), so that the cumulative total number of specimens that have been examined is 3,683,808 specimens. (Antaranews)

Indonesia leads the group of Heads of Representatives of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Canberra to hold OIC Day for the first time.

"Through this event, we want to increase public understanding in Australia about the OIC as an organization, and the OIC HoM Group in Canberra. The OIC is a collective voice of the Muslim world to safeguard and protect the interests of the Ummah, promote international peace and harmony among various communities in the world," Ambassador H.E.Y. Kristiarto S. Legowo said at the commemoration of the first OIC Day in Australia.

The reception which was held at Balai Kartini, the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, on October 7, 2020, began with an opening speech from the host, H.E. Y. Kristiarto S. Legowo, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia and also Chairman of the Group, who raised the role of the OIC as the second largest international organization in the world after the United Nations to promote peace and harmony in international relations.

"The OIC HoM Group in Canberra, which was founded in 2015 aims to increase understanding of Islam in the wider Australian society and strengthen cooperation between OIC member countries and Australia," said Ambassador Legowo.

Guest of Honor for the event, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Harinder Sidhu, who is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), welcomed the OIC's contribution to efforts to achieve lasting peace and emphasized its relevance to the multicultural character of Australian society.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sidhu reiterated Australia's commitment to tackling violence based on religion and belief by referring to the Human Rights Council Resolution on 19 January 2015.

"Combating intolerance, negative stereotypes and stigmatization, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against people based on religion and belief," he said.

The OIC Day reception was held in collaboration with 24 Representatives of OIC member countries in Canberra from 57 OIC member countries. Among the invited guests who attended were representatives from the Australian Government, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) State Government, the Diplomatic Corps, Academics, Think Tank, and journalists.

The OIC Day Reception is the first joint OIC event by the Group in Canberra to commemorate the 51st Anniversary of the OIC, which was established on 25 September 1969. (RRI)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said the populist economic system in Indonesia could be strong and competitive if we supported it by two main pillars, namely empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthening of Islamic social funds.

"The populist economy in this country will be strong and competitive if it is supported by two main pillars. These two pillars must get the attention of all groups," said Ma'ruf Amin virtually from Jakarta, Friday.

The first pillar, namely the empowerment of MSMEs, can be a gateway for the realization of economic justice and fair distribution of development outcomes in Indonesia, said Ma'ruf. In addition, MSMEs are an economic sector that is mostly found among people in the regions.

"The first pillar is the movement to empower micro, small and medium enterprises as a sector that reaches the most people. In addition, most of the Nahdlatul Ulama residents are also engaged in the MSME sector," he said.

The second pillar, continued Ma'ruf, is a philanthropic movement or generosity including zakat, infaq, alms, and waqf, which are a form of Islamic social funds.

The potential for social funds among NU is large because as the largest Islamic organization in Indonesia, NU has nahdliyin up to 100 million people, said Ma'ruf. Therefore, the awareness to give charity for Muslims must continue to encourage productive MSMEs and national economic recovery.

"If we continue to raise awareness of zakat, alms, and waqf, then use it as productive capital for millions of active MSMEs in cities and villages, then this will be a differentiating factor for national economic development," he said.

Ma'ruf Amin also encouraged the role of the NU Amil Zakat Institute or NUcare-LAZISNU to socialize and inviting people to give charity through these types of Islamic social funds.

"LAZISNU has started a good job in mobilizing NU residents through the Infaq Box Movement or NU KOIN which has been evenly distributed everywhere," he said.

On that occasion, Ma'ruf Amin appreciated the role of nahdliyin entrepreneurs in supporting the development of the Islamic economy as a fresh stream of economic development in Indonesia, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"As Vice President, as a member of the NU extended family and as the Chief Executive of the KNEKS, I am thrilled with HPN's support to join in the development of the Islamic economy as a new stream of economic development in Indonesia," he said. (Antaranews)