Suasana terkini jelang shalat Id di Masjid Istiqlal Jakarta

Umat Islam sudah memadati kawasan Masjid Istiqlal Jakarta sejak sekitar pukul 5 pagi, hari Sabtu, 22/04/2023, untuk melaksanakan shalat Idul Fitri 1444 Hijriyah.

Masjid Istiqlal dipadati jemaah yang hendak menunaikan Salat Id pagi ini. Jemaah nampak tertib mengantre masuk area Masjid Istiqlal.

Hari Sabtu, 22/04/2023, pukul 06.18 WIB, sejumlah penjual alas salat lalu lalang menawarkan dagangannya. Pun pedagang kantong kresek.

Sementara itu jemaah yang datang terlihat bersama keluarganya. Jemaah juga mengabadikan momen jelang Salat Id di Istiqlal dengan berfoto dan merekam video

Tampak di sekitar area Masjid Istiqlal kini petugas kepolisian dan TNI melakukan penjagaan. Sejumlah kendaraan taktis pun terlihat parkir di sekeliling Masjid Istiqlal.

Dari gerbang utama, mereka harus berjalan ke kanan sampai menemukan tenda merah putih.

Di tempat tersebut, jemaah harus antre dan memasukkan tas ke alat detector yang sudah disiapkan Paspampres bersama tim dari Masjid Istiqlal.

Barulah setelah itu, jemaah yang sudah wudhu diperkenankan naik melewati pintu Al-Fattah yang berada tak jauh dari pintu detector.

Barulah setelah itu, jemaah yang sudah wudhu diperkenankan naik melewati pintu Al-Fattah yang berada tak jauh dari pintu detector.

Sementara mereka yang belum berwudhu, dipersilakan mengambil wudhu melewati pintu Al-Qudus, yang berada di sisi kanan pintu Al-Fattah.

Setelah itu, jemaah menempati saf salat yang telah disediakan.

Ada beberapa tempat di Masjid Istiqlal yang bisa dipakai untuk melaksanakan salat Id.

Di antaranya, gedung utama yang dibagi dua bagian. Sebelah kanan untuk jemaah laki-laki hingga selasar masjid dan sebelah kiri digunakan untuk jemaah perempuan hingga selasar masjid.

Tak hanya itu, jemaah juga bisa menempati area lantai dua hingga lima apabila di gedung utama tak mencukupi.

Salah satu jemaah, Fatma (43) bahkan rela menginap sejak kemarin demi bisa melaksanakan salat Id di Masjid Istiqlal.

Menurutnya, keindahan langit-langit Masjid Istiqlal serta kumandang takbir yang kerap didengarnya lewat televisi menjadi motivasinya melaksanakan salat Id di masjid terbesar se-Asia Tenggara itu.

"Dari rumah pukul 15.00 WIB kemarin, menginap di sini. Milih salat di sini karena menarik tempatnya, mewah, aku selalu lihat di TV aja walau rumah dekat. Jadi penasaran, semangat aja gitu," ujar Fatma saat ditemui di gedung utama Masjid Istiqlal, Sabtu.

Terlebih, kata Fatma, Idul Fitri adalah momen kemenangan bagi umat muslim setelah melaksanakan puasa Ramadan satu bulan penuh.

"Alhamdulillah senang. Terima kasih sama Allah sudah dikasih kesempatan salat Id di sini, saya juga tadi mandangin langit itu (Masjid Istiqlal) Ya Allah, mudah-mudahan tahun depan bisa ke sini lagi," ucap Fatma berkaca-kaca.

Untuk diketahui, Istiqlal akan melaksanakan salat Id tepat pada pukul 07.00 WIB.

Wakil Presiden Indonesia, Ma'ruf Amin dikabarkan hadir dan melaksanakan salat di masjid tersebut.

Sementara yang akan menjadi imam adalah Ustaz Ahmad Muzakir dan khatibnya merupakan Rektor UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saefudin Jahar.

Saudi crown prince, Russian president speak in phone call

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. (SPA/AFP/File Photos)

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the telephone conversation, the Russian President congratulated the crown prince on Eid Al-Fitr.

The two sides also reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Russia and ways of developing them in various fields and discussed several issues of common interest.

The two expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between the two countries to bring stability to the global oil market, a Kremlin statement said, adding  Putin and the prince “also forged close business relations.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shared their mutual satisfaction with oil prices in a phone call on Friday, as they agreed to advance cooperation in an energy partnership that has irked Washington

"The conversation proceeded in a friendly manner, was constructive and informative. With this in mind, it was agreed to build up contacts in specific areas of cooperation," the Kremlin said.

The call comes weeks after Riyadh corralled members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) to enact a "voluntary" cut in crude production of nearly 1.2 million barrels a day.

The surprise move blindsided both Washington and market speculators who had bet on oil prices falling amid concerns about the health of global economy. The International Energy Agency warned that the cut would worsen a global oil deficit, driving inflation higher.

The price of benchmark West Texas Intermediate is at just below $79, down from over $118 last May.

Saudi Arabia's decision to restrict supply has also been described by analysts as a win for Putin, who needs strong oil prices to support his war in Ukraine. Saudi Arabia, like Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, has rebuffed Washington's pleas to isolate the Kremlin, offering Moscow a financial and diplomatic lifeline.

Coordination between Saudi Arabia and Moscow on oil prices is all the more remarkable considering the two countries engaged in a bitter price war just a few years ago that saw crude prices briefly touch below $0 per barrel.

In March 2020, with crude prices already under pressure as result of the coronavirus pandemic, Putin held a phone call with Mohammed bin Salman to discuss production. MEE revealed how the call degenerated into a shouting match.

"The conversation was very personal. They shouted at each other. Putin refused the ultimatum and the call ended badly," a Saudi official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told MEE at the time.

Following the spat, Riyadh decided to flood the market with oil. The move prompted then US President Donald Trump to intervene, along with western countries, to eventually convince Saudi Arabia and Russia to slash production and support prices.

Saudi-US fault lines

More recently, oil production has emerged as one of the many fault lines in the Biden administration's ties to Riyadh.

In addition to working with Russia on the global oil market, Mohammed Bin Salman has agreed to reestablish relations with Iran in a deal brokered by China and is seeking to rehabilitate Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

While Russia may benefit from some of these initiatives, Damascus is a key Russian ally in the region and the Kremlin is close to Tehran and Beijing, the global oil market highlights how Riyadh's own self-interest is propelling ties. Some analysts also see potential pitfalls ahead in the relationship.

Gulf states have traded places with Russia in the global energy trade, with Riyadh redirecting sales to Europe, while Moscow muscles in on their traditional customers in Asia with cut-rate prices.

"Europe is yesterday's oil market. It's rushing to get off fossil fuels as quickly as possible," Jim Krane, an energy expert and fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, told MEE last year.

"Saudi Arabia doesn't want to be losing market share in the big growth markets of Asia and trading them for stagnant to declining European markets," Krane said.

But production cuts keep both Riyadh and the Kremlin happy.

Saudi Arabia is using its windfall in oil revenues to pursue mega-projects like the futuristic city of Neom and a new airline, which are designed to diversify its economy away from a reliance on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, higher prices help to boost Russia's war chest.

Russian air defenses intercept three US-made HIMARS rockets in Ukraine operation

© Russian Defence Ministry Press Office/TASS

Russian air defense forces intercepted three rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Friday.

"During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities intercepted three rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. In addition, they destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Opytnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Reshetilovskoye in the Zaporozhye Region and Kakhovka in the Kherson Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces neutralize four Ukrainian subversive groups in Kupyansk area

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Kupyansk area and neutralized four enemy subversive groups over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, operational/tactical and army aviation aircraft and artillery of the western battlegroup struck enemy units. The activity of four Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups was thwarted," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot near Kislovka, the general said.

The strikes eliminated "over 60 Ukrainian personnel, an armored combat vehicle, three motor vehicles, a D-20 howitzer and an Akatsiya motorized artillery gun," Konashenkov reported.

Russian forces eliminate over 55 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area

Russian combat aircraft and artillery struck Ukrainian army units in the Krasny Liman area, destroying over 55 enemy troops in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, assault and army aviation aircraft and artillery from the battlegroup Center struck the Ukrainian army units in areas near the settlements of Chervonopopovka and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Grigorovka and Serebryanka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

The strikes "destroyed over 55 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks, a D-20 howitzer and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery gun" in that area in the past 24 hours, the general specified.

Russian forces destroy over 300 Ukrainian troops in Donetsk advance

Russian forces destroyed over 300 Ukrainian troops in their advance in the Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"As many as 310 Ukrainian personnel, four armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, a Grad multiple rocket launcher, a Msta-B howitzer and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery gun were destroyed [in the Donetsk direction] in the past 24 hours," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminate 90 Ukrainian troops in southern Donetsk, Zaporozhye areas

Russian forces eliminated roughly 90 Ukrainian troops in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye areas over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

In the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems from the battlegroup East inflicted damage on the enemy units in areas near the settlements of Ugledar and Prechistovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Chervonoye in the Zaporozhye Region, the spokesman specified.

"The enemy’s losses in those directions in the past 24 hours totaled as many as 90 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three pickup trucks and a Msta-B howitzer," the general reported.

Russian forces destroy 10 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area

Russian combat aircraft and artillery struck Ukrainian army units in the Kherson area, destroying ten enemy troops over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kherson direction, air and artillery strikes destroyed ten Ukrainian personnel and two motor vehicles," the spokesman said.

Russian forces wipe out two Ukrainian ammo depots in Zaporozhye area

Russian forces destroyed two Ukrainian ammunition depots in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In areas near the settlements of Gulyaipole and Poltavka in the Zaporozhye Region, two ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army’s 65th mechanized and 44th artillery brigades were destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian army’s fuel depot in DPR

Russian forces destroyed a fuel depot of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the settlement of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a depot storing fuel for Ukrainian military hardware was obliterated," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian group of forces struck 94 Ukrainian artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 135 areas, the general said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 411 Ukrainian warplanes, 228 helicopters, 3,782 unmanned aerial vehicles, 415 surface-to-air missile systems, 8,773 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,091 multiple rocket launchers, 4,633 field artillery guns and mortars and 9,650 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Russia's Special Military Operation in Ukraine: How It is Progressing

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince perform Eid Al-Fitr prayers

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman performs Eid Al-Fitr prayers at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. (SPA)

Jeddah - Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended Eid Al-Fitr prayers on Friday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

King Salman performed the prayers with dignitaries at Jeddah’s Al-Salam Palace, while the crown prince joined worshippers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Earlier, the king conveyed Eid wishes to Arab and Muslim nations around the world on Twitter, sending hopes of prosperity and stability.

#خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين يؤدي صلاة #عيد_الفطر في قصر السلام بجدة.#واس pic.twitter.com/xddDFZHvf6

— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) April 21, 2023

“May Allah accept from all of us the fasting of Ramadan month, the prayers, and good deeds. May Allah return to all of us Eid, as our country, the Arab and Muslim nations, and all the countries of the world enjoy security, peace, and tranquility,” he tweeted.

أهنئكم بعيد الفطر، بعد أن بلغنا سبحانه وتعالى شهر رمضان المبارك، ومنَّ علينا بصيامه وقيامه، داعين المولى أن يتقبل منا ومنكم صالح الأعمال.
أعاد الله علينا هذا العيد وبلادنا وأمتنا العربية والإسلامية والعالم أجمع بخير وسلام.
وكل عام وأنتم بخير.

— سلمان بن عبدالعزيز (@KingSalman) April 21, 2023

On Thursday, King Salman offered a speech on the eve of Eid Al-Fitr delivered by the Minister of Media, Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari.

He said the Kingdom had the honor of serving Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan.

“Sensing the sacred duty and fulfilling this honorable responsibility, we exert every effort and provide thought and money, and we continue day and night, since the foundation of the state by the founder, the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, through his sons, the kings. We are proud and honored to continue the mission and will always remain on that path.”

He added, “Millions of Umrah performers were able to perform Umrah rituals during Ramadan this year, thanks to Allah the Almighty's uncountable blessings. This would not have been possible without the grace of Allah and the tireless efforts of numerous government sectors to serve Umrah performers and enable them to perform Umrah with ease and comfort.”

سمو #ولي_العهد يؤدي صلاة #عيد_الفطر مع جموع المصلين في المسجد الحرام.#واس pic.twitter.com/C2OtIsLxF3

— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) April 21, 2023

During the Eid sermon, Sheikh Saleh noted that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince, has made the service of the Two Holy Mosques as a slogan that is not preceded by any other slogan, and made an effort that cannot be competed with.

After the prayer, the Crown Prince met and welcomed the princes, sheikhs, scholars, and senior officials. both civilian and military, who congratulated him on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. They also had breakfast with the Crown Prince.

Saudis serve up breakfast feast to get the Eid holiday off to a perfect start

There are many popular Eid Al-Fitr traditions among the people of Saudi Arabia. Some like to hand out sweets to children, for example, while others exchange gifts. One of the most common is for families to get together on Eid morning for a special breakfast.

This is no normal morning snack, it is a veritable feast many families enjoy together after returning from the early-morning Eid prayers. In some places, such as Hail in northern Saudi Arabia, families share their Eid breakfast with neighbors, either by inviting them into their homes or joining together for an outdoor street party, complete with seasonal decorations and carpets, for which each family prepares food to share.

In the Kingdom’s central region, and some other areas, families typically cook mufattah, a traditional meat dish reserved for special occasions such as weddings or the Eid holiday. Although only eaten once or twice a year, it is highly popular in Saudi Arabia and usually made with lamb.

Asim Alotaibi, the owner of Asim’s farm, a butcher’s shop in the Alnarjis neighborhood of northern Riyadh, said: “The animal itself should be clean and healthy. At our farm, we feed our animals grass and barley. The animal can either be young or old; therefore the taste of the meat differs according to the age of the animal.

“The most important thing to me is the quality of meat, and you won’t fully know how good of a quality your product is unless you fed the animal yourself, you managed the process of feeding the animal, and know exactly what your animal is eating.”

Alotaibi said his shop specializes in locally reared lamb and wild camel meat. He owns his own farm in the desert outside of Riyadh, where he said it is important the animals, especially camels, are able to roam free and graze naturally.

This style of organic, free range farming has its challenges, however. Alotaibi told Arab News that it means livestock is more vulnerable to theft, for example, and on one occasion he lost 120 sheep to thieves while his business was preparing delivery orders for a large number of customers a week or two before Eid.

When asked what people should look for when buying meat, Alotaibi said that the way it has been prepared and stored is no less important that the initial quality of the meat itself. Often, people look for what they think is the freshest meat at their local grocery store without paying any attention to how it has been stored, he added.

Khalil Mohammed, a butcher at a supermarket in northern Riyadh, explained how he ensures meat remains at its best.

“We first wash the meat immediately after we skin the lamb,” he said. “Then we wrap the meat in a white cloth. After that, the meat must be stored in refrigerators in cool temperatures ranging from 0 to 5 degrees Celsius.”

He said that storage temperature is key to ensuring the quality of the meat remains high. The lower the temperature, the better the chance it will remain fresh and flavorful for longer.

In terms of the quality of the meat itself, Mohammed said that “the ratio of meat to fat matters,” along with the quality of veterinary care the animals receive.

“The animal must be examined by the veterinarian before it is slaughtered, to ensure it is healthy,” he explained.

Eid Al-Fitr, which begins on Friday in Saudi Arabia, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the start of three days of celebrations and family gatherings.

Pope Francis, Ronaldo lose Twitter verified blue status, others keep it

Twitter on Thursday began removing legacy blue checkmarks from user profiles, with famous people including Pope Francis, Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) co-founder Bill Gates and Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo losing their verified status.

Under Elon Musk's ownership, Twitter has changed how it hands out the coveted blue checkmarks, previously given to noted individuals, journalists, executives, politicians and establishments after verifying their identities. They served as a mark of authenticity.

Musk said in November that Twitter will begin charging $8 per month for the badge in an effort to launch more revenue streams beyond advertising. The company later offered checkmarks in other colors - gold for businesses and a gray for government and multilateral organizations and officials.

The pope, who lost the blue tick on Thursday, was later given the gray verification checkmark by Twitter.

The Vatican, which was taken by surprise, said in a statement that it was aware that Twitter was making changes but noted that the pope had more than 53 million followers on his @Pontifex accounts in various languages.

"While awaiting to know the platform's new policies, the Holy See hopes they will include certification of the authenticity of the accounts," it said.

Some personalities such as basketball star LeBron James and author Stephen King still had their blue checkmarks, apparently courtesy of Musk himself.

Some personalities such as basketball star LeBron James and author Stephen King still had their blue checkmarks, apparently courtesy of Musk himself.

"The Shining" author King, who has previously called Musk a terrible fit for Twitter, tweeted: "My Twitter account says I've subscribed to Twitter Blue. I haven't. My Twitter account says I've given a phone number. I haven't."

Musk tweeted back to him: "You're welcome namaste," with a hands folded emoji.

The Verge reported that James, who has previously said he would not pay for verification, had not paid to keep the checkmark.

Musk tweeted separately: "I'm paying for a few personally." and later tweeted "Just Shatner, LeBron and King," referring to Star Trek actor William Shatner, who had last month complained about being forced to pay to keep his blue checkmark.

Among those losing their badges were former U.S. President Donald Trump and reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

Twitter on Friday also dropped the "government-funded" label from the accounts of U.S.-based National Public Radio (NPR), British Broadcasting Corp and public broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Pope Francis gestures as he attends the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 19, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

It dropped the "China state-affiliated media" tag on the accounts of Xinhua News as well as of journalists associated with government-backed publications.

NPR stopped posting content on its 52 official Twitter feeds after the social networking company labeled it "state-affiliated media" and later "government-funded media".

CBC also paused its activities on Twitter and sparred with Musk over the platform's definition of "government-funded".