Pope Francis calls for climate action during visit to Southeast Asia’s largest mosque

Special Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar pose for a photo following an inter-religious gathering at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Sept. 5, 2024. (AFP)
Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar pose for a photo following an inter-religious gathering at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Sept. 5, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 05 September 2024
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Pope Francis calls for climate action during visit to Southeast Asia’s largest mosque

Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Istiqlal Mosque Nasaruddin Umar pose for a photo following an inter-religious gathering.
  • Francis is the first pontiff to visit Indonesia in 35 years, after Pope John Paul II in 1989
  • Papal visit concludes on Thursday with Mass for about 70,000 people in Jakarta

JAKARTA: Pope Francis and Indonesia’s religious leaders called for joint international action to address climate change and global conflicts on Thursday, as the pontiff visited the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. 

Francis, who is in Indonesia on the first part of his four-nation tour of Asia, was at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta with representatives of Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism. 

The pope and the mosque’s Grand Imam, Nasaruddin Umar, signed “The Istiqlal Declaration,” a joint call highlighting “two serious crises” in the world: dehumanization and climate change.

“Religious values should be directed toward promoting a culture of respect, dignity, compassion, reconciliation and fraternal solidarity in order to overcome both dehumanization and environmental destruction,” the declaration read. 

Indonesia’s other religious representatives were present at the ceremony, but did not co-sign the document, though they are listed as having “accompanied” it by organizers. 

The declaration ended with a call for “decisive action” to protect the environment and its resources, adding that human exploitation was to blame for the climate crisis. 

“By adhering to (the declaration),we take on the responsibility to address the serious and sometimes dramatic crises that threaten the future of humanity such as wars and conflicts … and the environmental crisis, which is an obstacle to the growth and coexistence of peoples,” Francis said. 

The pope’s visit to Istiqlal was rich with symbolic meaning. Shortly after arriving, he and Umar stood at the ground-level entrance of the “Tunnel of Friendship,” an underground tunnel that connects the mosque compound with the neighboring Catholic cathedral.

Umar said that the mosque, which was designed by Christian architect Friedrich Silaban, was “not just a house of worship for Muslims, but also a great house for humanity.” 

Indonesia is home to the world’s biggest population of Muslims, with around 87 percent of its 270 million people professing Islam, while its Catholic community comprises about 3 percent. 

“Istiqlal Mosque has always called for tolerance and religious moderation,” said Bukhori Sail Attahiry, the mosque’s head of worship. 

“This is not merely about the visit of Pope Francis, as the visit also carries a lot of deeper meaning on how we build our religious life here in Indonesia. My hope is that this gathering will be able to inspire Indonesians and people across the globe that a harmonious coexistence must be nurtured and fought for, so that we can respect and understand each other.”

Francis’ visit to Indonesia concludes later on Thursday with a Mass in Jakarta’s main stadium that is expected to draw about 70,000 people. 

Anastasya, a 25-year-old Indonesian Catholic, was among those who waited to catch a glimpse of the pope in front of Istiqlal early on Thursday, as she did not have a ticket to attend the stadium celebration. 

“I’m very excited because the pope’s visit may be a once-in-a-lifetime event for us here in Indonesia,” she told Arab News. 

Francis is the first pope to visit Indonesia in 35 years. The last pontiff to visit the country was Pope John Paul II in 1989, after Pope Paul VI in 1970. 

On Friday, Francis heads to Papua New Guinea on the second leg of his Asia trip, which will also cover East Timor and Singapore. 


Indonesia’s Prabowo courts largest party for coalition, meets candidates for govt posts

Indonesia’s Prabowo courts largest party for coalition, meets candidates for govt posts
Updated 20 sec ago
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Indonesia’s Prabowo courts largest party for coalition, meets candidates for govt posts

Indonesia’s Prabowo courts largest party for coalition, meets candidates for govt posts
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s incoming president Prabowo Subianto met candidates for senior government posts for a second day on Tuesday, as he seeks to bring the country’s biggest political party into his already dominant parliamentary coalition.
If Prabowo can reach a deal with Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) there would be no opposition parties in parliament, an unprecedented situation since Indonesia began holding direct presidential elections in 2004.
Prabowo, who will be sworn in as president on Oct. 20, summoned over 40 people on Monday who said they had been asked to join the next government, including current finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
On Tuesday, Prabowo summoned dozens of potential deputy ministers, his top aide Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said.
While no lawmakers from the PDI-P had arrived at his house by early afternoon, Prabowo’s party officials have said that he plans to meet PDI-P chief Megawati Sukarnoputri to discuss a possible political alliance.
The timing of a meeting is unclear.
The absence of any opposition in the parliament would mean that an eight-party alliance could ensure smooth passage of Prabowo’s legislative agenda, but it would likely heighten fears about a lack of meaningful checks on Prabowo’s power in a country with a history of authoritarian rule.
Seven of the eight parties in parliament have already joined Prabowo’s coalition, securing him a parliamentary majority.
PDI-P, which won the most seats in the February election, had nominated Prabowo’s predecessor, President Joko Widodo, for president in 2014. But the relationship soured over Widodo’s tacit support for the president-elect during his campaign run.
Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice president.
In his second five-year term, Widodo was also supported by most parties in parliament, with only two opposing parties.
Widodo leaves office facing criticism he has tried to change laws to benefit his family, and co-opt state bodies to control his opponents. He denies any impropriety, and has said democracy was thriving and he respects the country’s institutions.
Analysts say they fear what they see as that democratic backsliding may continue under Prabowo, a member of the old elite that previously ruled Indonesia. Prabowo is an ex-special forces commander who was dismissed from the military amid speculation of human rights abuses, assertions he has denied.
In March, Prabowo described democracy as tiring, costly and messy, and said there was room for improvement.

Greek, Turkish foreign ministers to meet on Nov. 8, sources say

Greek, Turkish foreign ministers to meet on Nov. 8, sources say
Updated 13 min 22 sec ago
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Greek, Turkish foreign ministers to meet on Nov. 8, sources say

Greek, Turkish foreign ministers to meet on Nov. 8, sources say

ATHENS: Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will meet his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan in Athens on Nov. 8 to discuss bilateral issues including the demarcation of an exclusive economic zone, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.
Greece and Turkiye, NATO allies but historic foes, have been at odds for decades over matters ranging from airspace to maritime jurisdiction in the eastern Mediterranean, energy resources and ethnically split Cyprus.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said last week he believed relations with Greece were improving and that the Gerapetritis-Fidan meeting was aimed at finding solutions to issues such as maritime zones and airspace.
The foreign ministers have been tasked with exploring whether conditions were favorable to initiate talks on the demarcation of the continental shelf and economic zone, Gerapetritis said last month.
An agreement on where their maritime zones begin and end is important for determining rights over possible gas reserves and power infrastructure schemes.
A high-level cooperation council, at which the countries will assess progress, is expected to take place in Ankara in January.
Separately, the leaders of estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriots were expected to meet informally with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Tuesday.
Cyprus was split decades ago in a Turkish invasion after a brief Greek-inspired coup, and preceded by years of sporadic violence between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Reunification talks collapsed in mid-2017 and have been at a stalemate since.


Kenya court to rule on bid to stop deputy president’s ouster

Kenya court to rule on bid to stop deputy president’s ouster
Updated 20 min 26 sec ago
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Kenya court to rule on bid to stop deputy president’s ouster

Kenya court to rule on bid to stop deputy president’s ouster
  • In a historic move last week, the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges including corruption

NAIROBI: A Kenyan court is due to rule Tuesday on a last-ditch case seeking to stop a Senate debate and vote on the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a historic move last week, the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, voted overwhelmingly to impeach Gachagua on 11 charges including corruption.
The 59-year-old has denied all allegations and will continue to serve in his role until the Senate decides whether to approve his removal.
Gachagua filed the court challenge to stop the upper house’s proceedings set for Wednesday and Thursday, arguing that his impeachment had been unfair and fast-tracked.
High Court judge Enock Chacha Mwita will rule on the case at 2:30 p.m. (1130 GMT).
It is one of more than two dozen court cases that have been filed against the impeachment, the first of its kind against a deputy president since the possibility was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution.
On Monday, the Chief Justice Martha Koome empanelled a three-judge bench to hear and determine a case consolidating six of the petitions.
Gachagua, a powerful businessman from Kenya’s biggest tribe, the Kikuyu, weathered previous corruption scandals to become deputy leader as President William Ruto’s running mate in a closely fought election in August 2022.
But in recent weeks, he has complained of being sidelined by the president and had been accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests that broke out in June.
Gachagua, who is accused of threatening a judge among his impeachment charges, on Sunday said he pinned his hopes on the judiciary.
“I am a believer in the independence of the judiciary. I am certain that the courts will exercise judicial authority and protect and uphold the constitution and the will of the people,” he told a church service in central Kenya.
Ruto has not commented publicly on the impeachment.
The ouster will require the support of at least two-thirds of senators to pass.


Russian strike kills one, wounds 16 in south Ukraine

Russian strike kills one, wounds 16 in south Ukraine
Updated 15 October 2024
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Russian strike kills one, wounds 16 in south Ukraine

Russian strike kills one, wounds 16 in south Ukraine

KYIV: A Russian missile strike overnight killed a woman and wounded 16 people in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine, where Moscow has ramped up aerial attacks, authorities said Tuesday.
Images distributed by first responders showed several buildings engulfed in flames and firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.
“Last night the enemy attacked Mykolaiv. A woman was killed,” emergency services said, adding that 16 people were injured.
Mykolaiv had an estimated pre-war population of just under half a million people and was subjected to heavy bombardment when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian forces pushed back Russian troops from the region in the autumn of 2022.
However Russian forces have continued to strike the riverside town near the Black Sea coast and over recent weeks stepped up fatal aerial attacks on the nearby port city of Odesa, damaging civilian vessels and port facilities.
The Ukrainian air force meanwhile said it had downed 12 out of 17 Iranian-designed attack drones launched by Russia at Ukraine overnight, including over the Mykolaiv region.


Indian foreign minister to visit arch-rival Pakistan

Indian foreign minister to visit arch-rival Pakistan
Updated 15 October 2024
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Indian foreign minister to visit arch-rival Pakistan

Indian foreign minister to visit arch-rival Pakistan
  • Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will travel to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit
  • Both sides have said no bilateral talks are planned, and Jaishankar’s visit would strictly follow the summit schedule

NEW DELHI: India’s foreign minister flies to Pakistan for a summit on Tuesday, the first visit by New Delhi’s top envoy to its arch-rival neighbor in nearly a decade.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will travel to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit to “represent India at the meeting,” the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Both sides have said no bilateral talks are planned, and Jaishankar’s visit would strictly follow the SCO schedule.
The two nuclear-armed nations are bitter adversaries, having fought multiple wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 following British colonial rule.
The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus — with 16 more countries affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners.”
The SCO is sometimes touted as an alternative to the Western-dominated NATO military alliance.
“India remains actively engaged in the SCO format,” India’s foreign ministry said.
While the SCO has a mandate to discuss security, the Islamabad summit is due to focus on trade, humanitarian and cultural issues.
The last time an Indian foreign minister visited Pakistan was in 2015 when Sushma Swaraj attended a conference on Afghanistan.
The same year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore to meet his then-counterpart Nawaz Sharif, sparking hopes of a thaw in relations with Pakistan.
But relations plummeted in 2019 when Modi’s government revoked the limited autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir — which led Pakistan to suspend bilateral trade and downgrade diplomatic ties with New Delhi.
The Himalayan region, home to a long-running and deadly insurgency against Indian rule, is divided between the two countries and claimed by both in full.
Pakistan’s former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was in India’s Goa in 2023 — also a rare visit — for an SCO meeting where he and Jaishankar were involved in a verbal spat.
The two did not hold a one-on-one meeting.