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Muslims around the World

  The Economist magazine has identified five reasons why these elections are crucial for the country. Indonesia has the potential to become one of the most influential countries in Asia, but its current president, Joko Widodo, has followed a tradition of non-alignment in foreign policy and closed policies.

The Candidates

The third largest democracy in the world will vote on February 14 to choose a new leader. According to opinion polls, the preferred candidate is former General Prabowo Subianto, who has a troubling record in human rights. The other two candidates, Anis Baswedan and Ganjar Prano, are trailing behind him.

First Reason: Space

Indonesia is a massive country with thousands of islands. If you were to draw a map of the country, it would stretch from Ireland to Turkmenistan! This vast size has encouraged the growth of digital services, and the capital city, Jakarta, has become a hub for new technology companies in Southeast Asia. Almost four-fifths of Indonesians own smartphones, connecting the country like never before.

Second Reason: Infrastructure and Demographics

The current president, Jokowi, has been known for his focus on infrastructure development. He has built airports, ports, dams, and hundreds of kilometers of toll roads. Indonesia's demographics also play a crucial role. With a population of about 276 million people, it is the fourth largest country in the world. A quarter of the population is under the age of 15, making it a huge consumer market.

Third Reason: Strong Economy

Indonesia has been one of the best-performing economies in the world. Although the promised 7% annual economic growth was not achieved, it is still the sixth largest emerging market in terms of GDP. Its GDP per capita is higher than that of India and Vietnam. If Indonesia continues on this path, it could become one of the top 10 largest economies in the world.

Fourth Reason: Green Goods

Indonesia's economy heavily relies on commodities. It is a major producer of nickel, which is used in electric car batteries. In fact, Indonesia's nickel production surpasses that of the rest of the world. The country has the potential to become the fourth largest producer of green goods, such as renewable energy, by 2030. It aims to manufacture electric vehicle batteries with a capacity equivalent to global production in 2020.

Fifth Reason: Great Power Competition

Due to its location, size, and resources, Indonesia is becoming a major arena for great power competitions. Both America and China are investing in the country. However, the next Indonesian president may face challenges if tensions between China and America escalate. Additionally, policies that benefit certain sectors, like the energy industry, may have unintended consequences in other areas.

These elections are crucial for Indonesia's future. The country has the potential to become a major player in Asia and the world. The outcome of the elections will shape its path forward.

Source: Economist

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Israeli Soldiers Killed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad

On the 129th day of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, both Hamas and Islamic Jihad, announced their successful attacks on Israeli soldiers. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, claimed to have killed 10 Israeli soldiers at close range. Meanwhile, the Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of Islamic Jihad, ambushed an Israeli force, resulting in casualties. Israel also admitted to the killing of one of its battalion commanders.

Concerns for Civilians in Rafah

Amnesty International expressed worry about the situation in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. They warned of a potential genocide, as civilians have no safe place to escape from Israeli bombings. The International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim Khan, also expressed concern about the bombing and the possibility of an Israeli ground incursion into Rafah.

American Position

The White House stated that it does not support a general ceasefire in Gaza at the moment. They believe that the crisis will only end when Hamas releases all Israeli hostages. However, they emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and having a well-planned military operation in Rafah, urging Israel to exercise caution when pursuing Hamas.

Israeli Losses

The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades reported that they killed 10 Israeli occupation soldiers in the Abasan al-Kabira area. They also successfully detonated an anti-personnel device, causing casualties among the Israeli forces. The Israeli army confirmed the death of two soldiers and the injury of nine others in battles in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli media sources also confirmed that the Palestinian resistance ambushed the occupation army, resulting in the deaths of more than 11 soldiers.

The Issue of Prisoners

Hamas leader Osama Hamdan denied the Israeli claim of freeing two prisoners from the Shaboura camp in Rafah. He stated that the prisoners were actually in the possession of a civilian family, and the resistance's account of the incident should be awaited. CNN reported that the rescue operation of two hostages in Rafah may have led to the deaths of about 100 Palestinians, which raised concerns in the United States. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades announced the killing of three Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, and they will reveal more details once the fate of the remaining wounded is clear.

Egypt and Israel

Extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized Egypt's opposition to Israel's plan for a large-scale ground operation in Rafah. He blamed Egypt for arming Hamas and called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ignore American pressure and not send a delegation to Cairo for talks on a prisoner exchange deal. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry responded by reaffirming Egypt's commitment to the peace agreement and condemning Smotrich's statements.

Qatari Involvement

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, discussed the latest developments in Gaza with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. They talked about efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and end the division among Palestinians. The Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also discussed the situation in Gaza with the Iranian Foreign Minister, emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire.

Developments in the West Bank

In the West Bank, a 16-year-old boy named Muhammad Tariq Abu Sneina was martyred inside a prison due to injuries sustained from Israeli bullets in Jerusalem. Israeli forces continue to carry out raids in various cities of the West Bank. The occupation forces arrested the boy on Sunday, accusing him of attempting a stabbing attack. Several Palestinians were injured, and others were arrested during these raids and incursions.

The occupation forces stormed multiple areas, including the village of Madama, south of Nablus, resulting in clashes with Palestinian youths. Settlers also attacked the village of Asira al-Qibliya, burning cars and property and injuring two Palestinians with gunfire.

Confrontations in South Lebanon

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah reported the killing of two of its members in clashes with the Israeli occupation army in southern Lebanon. This brings the total number of Hezbollah casualties to 190 since October 8, 2023. Additionally, four people were killed and others injured in Israeli raids on two homes in the towns of Tayr Harfa and Maroun al-Ras, according to the Civil Defense in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah targeted Israeli radar sites, barracks, and a building with guided missiles, achieving direct hits. An Israeli drone also targeted a car near Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital, injuring a local Hezbollah official.

Israeli Security Breach

An Israeli reserve officer was recently arrested and charged with espionage and impersonation after a major security breach. The officer had unauthorized access to military bases for weeks, gathering highly sensitive information, including troop deployments, which he shared with military and civilian personnel. The chaos in the Southern Command of the Israeli occupation army during the early days of the war on Gaza was revealed.

British Sanctions on Extremist Settlers

The British Foreign Office imposed sanctions on four extremist Israeli settlers for their involvement in violence and human rights violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The ministry cited an increase in violence by extremist settlers in the past year. These sanctions include financial restrictions and a travel ban on the individuals. The United States had previously imposed similar sanctions on four Israelis.

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir criticized Britain's decision, considering it a moral confusion without a legal basis.

Source: Al Jazeera

Israeli Soldiers Brave Danger to Retrieve Palestinian Funds

Last week, the Israeli army took control of 200 million shekels (around $54.3 million) from the Bank of Palestine in Gaza City, according to Israeli newspaper Maariv. The soldiers risked their lives to extract the money, which was meant to be sent to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.

Why Did the Israeli Army Take Such a Risk?

The Israeli army officials questioned why soldiers would put themselves in danger to retrieve money that was destined for the Palestinian Authority. However, an Israeli army spokesperson explained that the operation was carried out to prevent the funds from reaching Hamas, a decision made at the political level.

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza has resulted in devastating consequences. According to Palestinian authorities, the conflict has caused the loss of 28,176 lives and left 67,784 people injured, with a majority being children and women. Additionally, thousands of Palestinians are missing, and the destruction has led to a severe humanitarian crisis. The United Nations reports that food, water, and medicine are scarce, and over two million Palestinians, which is more than 85% of the population, have been displaced.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A new poll conducted by Ipsos in cooperation with ABC News reveals that a whopping 86% of Americans believe that Biden, who is 81 years old, is too old to be president again. That's a big number!

Out of this 86%, 59% of Americans think both Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is the most likely Republican candidate, are too old. On the other hand, 27% believe that only Biden is older.

Interestingly, 62% of Americans also think that Trump, who is 77 years old, is too old to serve as president.

Different Views

Now, here's where things get interesting. The poll shows that Democrats and Republicans have different opinions about their candidates' ages.

Among Democrats, a whopping 73% believe that Biden is too old to be president. However, only 35% of Republicans think that Trump is too old to assume the presidency.

Independents, who don't belong to any political party, also have concerns about the candidates' ages. A staggering 91% of independents think Biden is too old, and 71% say the same about Trump.

Increasing Concerns

Since September, worries about the candidates' ages have been growing. In a previous poll conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, 74% of Americans thought Biden was too old for another term, while 49% felt the same about Trump.

It's worth noting that President Biden is the oldest president the United States has ever had, and he will turn 81 next November. That's quite impressive!

Looking Ahead

As of now, Trump is considered the most likely Republican candidate to face Biden in the upcoming presidential elections. The United States is eagerly waiting for the crucial date in November, but there is also some fear and anticipation surrounding these elections. Many observers believe that this election is different from previous ones and carries various risks.

Israel's Aggressions

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) recently reported that Israel has taken control of an aid shipment that could have helped one million people. The shipment, which was supposed to be delivered to the port of Ashdod, was seized by Israeli authorities. This is a big problem because UNRWA relies on these supplies to provide assistance to those in need.

Challenges Faced by UNRWA

UNRWA is facing increasing difficulties in carrying out its work due to administrative obstacles imposed by Israel. The agency operates in a hostile environment where decisions made by Israeli authorities are starting to impact its ability to function effectively.

Contractor's Decision

One of the contractors responsible for providing administrative services at the port of Ashdod informed UNRWA that they could no longer work with the agency. This decision was made under orders from Israeli authorities. As a result, a shipment from Turkey containing essential supplies like flour, chickpeas, sugar, and cooking oil is now stuck at the port. These supplies would have been enough to meet the needs of over a million people for a whole month.

No Comment from Turkish Authorities

So far, there has been no response from the Turkish authorities regarding Israel's detention of the aid shipment they sent. It is unclear how this situation will be resolved and when the supplies will reach those who need them.

Israeli Ministry of Finance's Response

The Israeli Ministry of Finance has not provided any comments on the matter. They have stated that the issue is being handled by the government's legal advisor. It remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address this situation.

Efforts to Stop UNRWA's Work

The Constitution and Judiciary Committee in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, has approved a draft law to halt UNRWA's work in occupied Jerusalem. This decision adds to the challenges faced by the agency and raises concerns about the future of their operations in the region.

Accusations and Funding Cuts

UNRWA has also faced accusations from Israel that some of its employees were involved in an attack. As a result, several countries have decided to cut funding for the agency. This is a significant blow to UNRWA's efforts to provide life-saving assistance in the besieged Strip, where people are already struggling to receive sufficient aid.

Source: Agencies