InsyaAllah NU dan Muhammadiyah Ramadhan Tahun Ini Tak Berbeda

Tim rukyatul hilal PC NU melakukan pemantauan "rukyatul hilal" di Balai Rukyat Bukit Condrodipo, Gresik, Jawa Timur, Kamis (14/6). Berdasarkan sidang isbat yang digelar di Kantor Kementerian Agama, Pemerintah menetapkan 1 Ramadan 1439 Hijriah jatuh pada Jumat, 15 Juni 2018. - ANTARA/Zabur Karuru

Alhamdulillah Ramadhan 1444 Hijriah sebentar lagi tiba. Tak ada salahnya mempersiapkan diri sejak sekarang. Misalnya mengetahui jadwal imsakiyah dan buka puasa Ramadhan 2023 di seluruh daerah Indonesia.

Hari puasa pertama Ramadhan 1444 Hijriah diperkirakan jatuh pada 23 Maret 2023. Prediksi tersebut sesuai dengan perhitungan dari penanggalan Kelender Islam Global. Akan tetapi, ketetapan awal Bulan Ramadhan biasanya akan dipastikan setelah Kementerian Agama Menggelar Sidang Isbat.

Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) memperkirakan awal puasa atau 1 Ramadhan 1444 Hijriah serentak.

Peneliti Astronomi dan Astrofisika BRIN Thomas Djamaluddin mengatakan, posisi Bulan baru atau ijtimak akan terjadi pada hari Rabu, 22/3/2023, pukul 00.23 WIB.

Profesor Riset Astronomi dan Astrofisika BRIN, Thomas Djamaluddin, menjelaskan kesamaan itu bisa terjadi apabila saat maghrib 22 Maret 2023 di Indonesia posisi bulan sudah memenuhi kriteria baru MABIMS, dengan tinggi minimal 3 derajat dan elongasi 6,4 derajat [3-6,4] (wilayah arsir hijau pada gambar atas) dan sudah memenuhi kriteria Wujudul Hilal [WH] (antara arsir putih pada gambar bawah). "Jadi seragam versi [3-6,4] dan [WH] bahwa 1 Ramadhan 1444 pada 23 Maret 2023," kata Thomas seperti dilansir situs resmi BRIN. MABIMS adalah singkatan dari Menteri Agama Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, dan Singapura.

Menurut Thomas, pada hari Selasa, 21/03/2023, posisi Bulan di Indonesia masih di bawah ufuk dan belum terjadi ijtimak. Ijtimak atau bulan baru sendiri baru terjadi pada hari Rabu, 22/3/2023, pukul 00.23 WIB. Garis tanggal wujudul hilal terjadi di Samudera Atlantik pada 21 Maret, jadi pada saat maghrib 22 Maret 2023 di Indonesia telah memenuhi kriteria wujudul hilal yang dipedomani Muhammadiyah.

Oleh karenanya, lanjut Thomas, Muhammadiyah mengumumkan awal Ramadhan 1444 jatuh 23 Maret 2023. Muhammadiyah sendiri dalam siaran persnya menyebut pada Selasa (21/3/2023), ijtimak jelang Ramadhan 1444 H belum terjadi. Ijtimak baru terjadi esok harinya, yakni pada Rabu (22/3/2023) pukul 00.25 WIB.

Tinggi bulan saat matahari terbenam di Yogyakarta pada waktu tersebut menunjukkan hilal sudah wujud. Begitu juga di seluruh wilayah Indonesia pada saat matahari terbenam, bulan sudah berada di atas ufuk.

Dengan demikian, hal ini telah memenuhi kriteria wujudul hilal yang menjadi pedoman Muhammadiyah.

Diprediksi pada hari Selasa, 21/03/2023, posisi Bulan di Indonesia belum terjadi ijtimak atau masih di bawah ufuk.

Sebelumnya, Muhammadiyah menetapkan 1 Ramadhan 1444 Hijriah jatuh 23 Maret.

Sementara Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1444 H atau 1 Syawal jatuh pada Jumat, 21 April 2023.

Ini sesuai dengan surat edarah yang diputuskan Majelis Tarjih dan Tajdid Pengurus Pusat (PP) Muhammadiyah.

Surat edaran ditandatangani oleh Wakil Ketua Majelis Tarjih dan Tarjdid PP Muhammadiyah, Oman Faturohman beserta Sekretarisnya, Mohammad Mas'udi.

"Umur bulan Syakban 1444 H 30 hari dan tanggal 1 Ramadan 1444 H jatuh pada hari Kamis Pon 23 Maret 2023 M," tulis edaran, pada hari Selasa, 31/01/2023.

PP Muhammadiyah juga menetapkan awal Zulhijah 1444 H.

1 Zulhijah 1444 H jatuh pada hari Senin Legi, 19 Juni 2023 M.

Kemudian, Hari Arafah (9 Zulhijah) jatuh pada 27 Juni 2023 dan Hari Raya Idul Adha (10 Zulhijah) jatuh pada 28 Juni 2023 mendatang.

Warga Muhammadiyah pun bisa memulai awal puasa pada Kamis 23 Maret 2023 dan menjalani salat Tarawih perdana pada Rabu 22 Maret 2023.

Hari Raya Idul Fitri

Selama ini perbedaan terkait penentuan awal Ramadan dan Hari Raya masih sering diperdebatkan hingga saat ini. Perbedaan muncul bukan dikarenakan metode hisab (perhitungan) dan rukyat (pengamatan) tetapi karena perbedaan kriteria. Kriteria Wujudul Hilal digunakan Muhammadiyah sedangkan kriteria Imkan Rukyat (visibilitas hilal) digunakan oleh NU dan beberapa ormas lain.

"Penentuan awal bulan memerlukan kriteria agar bisa disepakati bersama," ujar Thomas. Menurutnya, rukyat memerlukan verifikasi kriteria untuk menghindari kemungkinan rukyat keliru. "Hisab tidak bisa menentukan masuknya awal bulan tanpa adanya kriteria. Sehingga kriteria menjadi dasar pembuatan kalender berbasis hisab yang dapat digunakan dalam prakiraan rukyat," ungkapnya.

Di sisi lain, Thomas menyebut ada kemungkinan kesamaan awal Ramadan, namun juga adanya potensi perbedaan terkait Idul Fitri 1444. Hal ini disebabkan karena pada saat maghrib 20 April 2023, ada potensi di Indonesia posisi bulan belum memenuhi kriteria baru MABIMS, yaitu tinggi minimal 3 derajat dan elongasi 6,4 derajat [3-6,4].

Namun sudah memenuhi kriteria wujudul hilal [WH] yang ditunjukkan pada antara arsir putih dan arsip merah pada gambar bawah. Jadi ada potensi perbedaan: Versi [3-6,4] 1 Syawal 1444 pada 22 April 2023, tetapi versi [WH] 1 Syawal 1444 pada 21 April 2023.

Thomas menjelaskan sebab utama terjadinya perbedaan penentuan awal Ramadan, Idul Fitri, dan Idul Adha yang terus berulang karena belum disepakatinya kriteria awal bulan hijriyah. Prasyarat utama untuk terwujudnya unifikasi kalender hijriyah, harus ada otoritas tunggal. Otoritas tunggal akan menentukan kriteria dan batas tanggalnya yang dapat diikuti bersama.

Sedangkan kondisi saat ini, otoritas tunggal mungkin bisa diwujudkan dulu di tingkat nasional atau regional. Penentuan ini mengacu pada batas wilayah sebagai satu wilayah hukum (wilayatul hukmi) sesuai batas kedaulatan negara. "Kriteria diupayakan untuk disepakati Bersama," ujar Thomas Djamaluddin.

Umat Hindu gelar upacara Melasti jelang Hari Raya Nyepi

Siluet Umat Hindu saat membawa benda sakral dalam upacara Melasti di Pantai Padang Galak, Denpasar, Bali, Sabtu (18/3/2023). Upacara yang bertujuan menyucikan diri dan alam tersebut merupakan rangkaian dari Hari Raya Nyepi Tahun Baru Saka 1945 yang jatuh pada Rabu (22/3). ANTARA FOTO/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo/nym

Setiap daerah di Indonesia memiliki kearifan lokal dengan ciri khasnya masing-masing. Seperti halnya Bali yang begitu kental dengan tradisi dan budayanya. Pada tahun ini, tepatnya Rabu (22/3) pekan depan, umat Hindu akan merayakan hari suci Nyepi tahun Saka 1945.

Tahun Saka atau Hari Nyepi bagi umat Hindu, identik dengan pelaksanaan Catur Brata Penyepian sebagai sebuah momentum untuk introspeksi atas hal-hal yang telah dilalui selama setahun ke belakang serta memulai kembali kehidupan ke depannya dengan hati yang bersih.

Menjelang Hari Nyepi, dua hingga empat hari sebelumnya, umat Hindu secara serentak akan melakukan ritual penyucian diri dan lingkungannya ke pusat-pusat tirta amerta (air suci) yang dikenal dengan nama upacara melasti.

Melasti merupakan suatu upacara yang dilakukan oleh umat Hindu guna menyucikan atau membersihkan jagat (Bumi), menyucikan bhuana agung (alam semesta) beserta isinya sebelum dilaksanakannya tawur kesanga pada hari Pengerupukan yaitu sehari sebelum Nyepi.

Siluet Umat Hindu saat membawa benda sakral dalam upacara Melasti di Pantai Padang Galak, Denpasar, Bali, Sabtu (18/3/2023). Upacara yang bertujuan menyucikan diri dan alam tersebut merupakan rangkaian dari Hari Raya Nyepi Tahun Baru Saka 1945 yang jatuh pada Rabu (22/3). ANTARA FOTO/Nyoman Hendra Wibowo/nym

Melasti berasal dari dua kata yaitu mala dan asti. Mala itu artinya kotoran, sedangkan asti memiliki arti membuang. Yang kemudian dapat dijelaskan secara sederhana bahwa melasti itu membuang segala kekotoran agar menjadi bersih dan suci kembali.

Kata melasti juga sering disebut mekiis (melis). Dalam agama Hindu, lambang pembersihan adalah lis yang biasanya digunakan oleh umat Hindu pada saat acara keagamaan untuk melakukan pembersihan. Sehingga dapat diartikan bahwa melis/mekiis/melasti itu merupakan pembersihan atau penyucian.

Secara sastra, yaitu dalam Lontar Sunarigama, upacara melasti dilaksanakan empat atau tiga hari sebelum hari suci Nyepi. Namun ada juga beberapa wilayah yang melaksanakan upacara melasti dua hari sebelum Nyepi.

Menurut seorang pemerhati tradisi dan budaya Bali, I Nyoman Suwija, hal tersebut mungkin saja terjadi karena adanya desa kala patra. Yang dapat dijabarkan bahwa desa itu desa, kala itu waktu, dan patra itu keadaan. Jadi, mungkin saja desa yang bersangkutan memiliki sebuah alasan khusus sehingga tidak memungkinkan melakukan melasti empat atau tiga hari sebelum Nyepi.

Di balik perbedaan waktu upacara melasti tersebut, tujuan utama dari melasti itu tetap sama yakni pembersihan atau penyucian jagat (bumi) menjelang hari suci Nyepi.

Sejatinya, pelaksanaan upacara melasti bertujuan untuk meningkatkan rasa bhakti kepada Tuhan agar senantiasa diberikan kekuatan, menghanyutkan segala penderitaan masyarakat, menghilangkan kotoran yang ada dalam diri, serta kerusakan alam semesta.

“Secara filosofis, melasti merupakan kegiatan menyucikan bhuana agung dan bhuana alit. Termasuk membersihkan dan menyucikan pratima atau yang lainnya yang berada di semua pura. Disucikan ke pusat-pusat tirta amerta suci, yaitu di antaranya ke laut karena laut merupakan sumber tirta amerta,” kata Nyoman Suwija.

Jika diartikan secara sederhana, upacara melasti secara filosofis memiliki arti atau makna yaitu nunas (meminta) tirta amerta, penyucian bhuana agung (alam semesta) dan bhuana alit dalam menyambut tahun baru saka, tepatnya pada tanggal satu sasih kadasa yaitu hari raya Nyepi.

Prosesi upacara melasti

Menggelar upacara keagamaan tentunya terdapat beberapa tahapan di dalamnya.

Proses upacara melasti diawali dengan kegiatan mereresik (membersihkan alam) baik itu di pura maupun di sanggah/merajan (tempat sembahyang di rumah bagi umat Hindu).

Dilanjutkan dengan menghias pratima-pratima yang berada di pura masing-masing banjar agar pada saat diiring menuju tempat pemelastian nampak bersih dan cantik.

Setelah upacara menghias selesai, umat Hindu akan mengiring atau mengusung pratima tersebut ke bale agung (pura desa) yang terdapat pada desa pakraman masing-masing.

Sesuai waktu yang telah disepakati oleh warga desa untuk melakukan melasti, umat Hindu akan berkumpul di Pura Bale Agung. Diawali dengan melakukan persembahyangan bersama, kemudian pratima maupun sesuhunan yang diyakini sebagai istana Tuhan Yang Maha Esa diiring atau diusung menuju pantai/laut/segara untuk melaksanakan upacara melasti.

“Sebelum upacara melasti, pratima (arca) yang terdapat di pura dihias dengan begitu apik agar terlihat lebih cantik dan bagus ketika diring oleh umat Hindu menuju ke pantai untuk melaksanakan upacara mesucian (melasti),” ungkap pemerhati tradisi dan budaya Bali, I Nyoman Suwija.

Tepat pada hari melasti, masyarakat hindu mengusung pratima tersebut ke pantai dan menaruhnya menghadap ke arah laut. Kemudian diikuti oleh umat Hindu duduk di belakang pratima dan menghadap ke arah pantai.

Pratima yang sudah diletakkan menghadap pantai kemudian dipersembahkan sesajen (banten) dengan sebagaimana mestinya yang dipimpin oleh pemangku atau sulinggih.

Seusai menghaturkan sesajen tersebut, dilanjutkan dengan mengambil air laut untuk disucikan yang akan diring ke pura desa masing-masing desa pakraman nantinya.

Upacara menghaturkan sesajen dan nunas tirta di laut telah usai dilakukan, kemudian dilanjutkan dengan acara persembahyangan bersama. Lalu para pemangku akan menyiratkan (membagikan) air suci untuk diminum sebanyak tiga kali dan memberikan bija (beras yang dibasahi oleh air suci) untuk diletakkan pada dahi setiap umat Hindu yang datang.

Dengan berakhirnya acara nunas tirta dan bija setelah persembahyangan, maka berakhir pula upacara pemelastian yang dilakukan oleh umat Hindu di pantai.

“Biasanya terdapat beberapa perwakilan dari tiap banjar mengusung pratima-pratima yang ada, menyucikan ke pantai/segara dengan menghaturkan sesajen meminta pengelukadan, peleburan, sekaligus nunas (meminta) tirta amerta sanjiwani. Setelah upacara pembersihan dan nunas tirta amerta dilakukan, pratima diiring dan malingga kembali di bale agung,” ungkap Nyoman Suwija yang juga berprofesi sebagai dosen di Universitas PGRI Mahadewa Indonesia.

Seusai upacara melasti, biasanya umat Hindu di desa masing-masing datang (medek tangkil) ke Pura Desa (Bale Agung) untuk menghaturkan bhakti meminta penyucian diri.

Dua hari setelah upacara melasti yaitu tepatnya pada hari pengerupukan, pratima yang malingga di Bale Agung diusung kembali ke pura masing-masing banjar oleh umat Hindu.

Prosesi dari melasti itu sendiri merupakan mengiring Ida Bhatara mesucian sekaligus nunas (meminta) tirta amerta ke pantai, dan dilanjutkan dengan menghaturkan sembah bhakti meminta atau memohon pembersihan diri dalam menyambut tahun baru saka yaitu hari raya Nyepi.

Di sisi lain, upacara melasti dianggap sebagai salah satu momen unik menjelang perayaan hari suci Nyepi. Umat hindu beramai-ramai menuju ke pantai dengan mengusung pratima menggunakan pakaian putih yang terlihat begitu elok dipandang.

Ada yang menggunakan transportasi untuk menuju ke pantai dan ada juga yang berjalan kaki dari desanya hingga sampai ke pantai untuk melaksanakan melasti.

Upacara melasti ini menjadi sebuah pemandangan yang begitu menarik bagi wisatawan ketika melihat keramaian dan rasa antusias umat Hindu melakukan ritual tersebut dengan tujuan pemuliaan alam Bali beserta isinya.

Credit Suisse faces crucial weekend with its future in balance

A view of the Credit Suisse office in Singapore March 16, 2023. REUTERS/Caroline Chia

Credit Suisse Group AG headed into a make-or-break weekend after some rivals grew cautious in their dealings with the struggling Swiss lender, and its regulators urged it to pursue a deal with UBS AG.

Credit Suisse Chief Financial Officer Dixit Joshi and his teams will hold meetings over the weekend to assess strategic scenarios for the bank, people with knowledge of the matter said on Friday.

Swiss regulators are encouraging UBS and Credit Suisse to merge, one source with knowledge of the matter said, but added that both banks did not want to do so. The regulators do not have the power to force the merger, the person said.

The boards of UBS and Credit Suisse were also expected to separately meet over the weekend, the Financial Times said.

Credit Suisse shares jumped 9% in aftermarket trading following the FT report. Credit Suisse and UBS declined to comment on the report.

Credit Suisse, a 167-year-old bank, is the biggest name ensnared by market turmoil unleashed by the collapse of U.S. lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank over the past week, forcing it to tap $54 billion in central bank funding.

In the latest sign of its mounting troubles, at least four major banks, including Societe Generale SA and Deutsche Bank AG, have put restrictions on their trades involving the Swiss lender or its securities, according to five sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

“Credit Suisse is a very special case,” said Frédérique Carrier, head of investment strategy at RBC Wealth Management. “The Swiss central bank stepping in was a necessary step to calm the flames, but it might not be sufficient to restore confidence in Credit Suisse, so there’s talk about more measures.”

The frantic efforts to shore up Credit Suisse come as policy-makers including the European Central Bank and U.S. President Joe Biden have sought to reassure investors and depositors that the global banking system is safe. But fears of broader troubles in the sector persist.

Already this week, big U.S. banks had to swoop in with a $30 billion lifeline for smaller lender First Republic, while U.S. banks altogether sought a record $153 billion in emergency liquidity from the Federal Reserve in recent days.

That surpassed a previous high set during the most acute phase of the financial crisis some 15 years ago.

This reflected “funding and liquidity strains on banks, driven by weakening depositor confidence,” said ratings agency Moody’s, which this week downgraded its outlook on the U.S. banking system to negative.

In Washington, focus turned to greater oversight to ensure that banks – and their executives – are held accountable.

Biden – who earlier this week promised Americans that their deposits are safe – on Friday called on Congress to give regulators greater power over the banking sector, including leveraging higher fines, clawing back funds and barring officials from failed banks, a White House statement said.

A group of Democratic U.S. lawmakers also asked regulators and the Justice Department for a probe into the role of Goldman Sachs in the collapse of SVB, the office of U.S. Representative Adam Schiff said on Friday.

MARKET TROUBLES LINGER

Banking stocks globally have been battered since Silicon Valley Bank collapsed, raising questions about other weaknesses in the wider financial system.

Shares in Credit Suisse, Switzerland’s second-largest bank, closed down 8% on Friday, with Morningstar Direct saying Credit Suisse had seen more than $450 million in net outflows from its U.S. and European managed funds from March 13 to 15.

Analysts, investors and bankers think the loan facility from the Swiss central bank – which made it the first major global bank to take up an emergency lifeline since the 2008 financial crisis – only bought it time to work out what to do next.

Increased financial volatility and uncertainty about Credit Suisse’s future may cloud Switzerland’s economic outlook, but the liquidity support provided to the bank is unlikely to impact the country’s public finances, DBRS Morningstar wrote in a note to investors.

U.S. regional bank shares were fell sharply on Friday and the S&P Banks index tumbled 4.6%, bringing its decline over the past two weeks to 21.5%, its worst two-week calendar loss since the COVID-19 pandemic shook markets in March 2020.

First Republic Bank ended Friday down 32.8%, bringing its loss over the last 10 sessions to more than 80%.

While support from some of the biggest names in U.S. banking prevented its collapse this week, investors were startled by First Republic’s late disclosures on its cash position and just how much emergency liquidity it needed.

“It appears that maybe the damage has been done to the brand reputation of First Republic. (It) is a shame because it was a high quality, well run bank,” said John Petrides, portfolio manager at Tocqueville Asset Management.

Earlier on Friday, SVB Financial Group said it had filed for a court-supervised reorganization, days after its former banking unit SVB was taken over by U.S. regulators.

Regulators have asked banks interested in buying SVB and Signature Bank to submit bids by Friday, people familiar with the matter have said. U.S. regulators are willing to consider having the government backstop losses at SVB and Signature Bank if it helps push through a sale, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people briefed on the matter.

Authorities have repeatedly tried to emphasize that the current turmoil is different than the global financial crisis 15 years ago as banks are better capitalized and funds more easily available – but their assurances have often fallen on deaf ears.

In an unusual move, the ECB held an ad hoc supervisory board meeting, its second this week, to discuss the stresses and volatility in the banking sector.

The supervisors were told deposits were stable across the euro zone and exposure to Credit Suisse was immaterial, a source familiar with the meeting’s content told Reuters media.

President Putin says Crimea’s reunification with Russia was historic event

©Mikhail Metzel/POOL/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin took the opportunity on Friday to congratulate all citizens of Russia with the upcoming anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia, calling it a historic event.

"I want to congratulate the citizens of Crimea, Sevastopol and all citizens of our country with the Day of Crimea’s Reunification with Russia," Putin said, opening a session on the socio-economic development of Crimea and Sevastopol.

March 16, 2023 marks nine years since the Crimean referendum, where the majority of citizens of Crimea and Sevastopol voted in favor of reunification with Russia.

After Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich was ousted in a coup in February 2014, mass protests erupted in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. On March 11, 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council and Sevastopol City Council adopted a declaration of independence.

On March 15, 2014, the Crimean authorities held a referendum on reuniting with Russia. Most voters supported the idea (96.77% in Crimea and 95.6% in the city of Sevastopol), with turnout reaching 80%.

On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the treaty on Crimea’s reunification with Russia. Ukraine, the United States and the European Union refused to recognize Crimea’s independence and its decision to reunite with Russia.

Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow to be business-like, without 'protocol stuff' — official

Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to Russia is a state one, in order to underscore its importance, but, in essence, it will be purely business-like, without any "protocol stuff," Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters Friday, answering a question from TASS.

"The peculiarity of this state visit is that there will be no additional complicating protocol stuff; the most important thing is negotiations, negotiations and more negotiations," the official said, adding that the "visit is called a state one in order to underscore its importance, while it will be purely business-like."

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin
©Alexandr Demyanchuk/TASS

"It was agreed this way, because the visit takes place immediately after many domestic events in Beijing - the reelection of the Chairman, as well as a number of other ones - we agreed that we will limit ourselves to a visit to Moscow," Ushakov said, answering a question on why Xi Jinping will not visit several other cities, which is usually the case during state visits.

"It was agreed upon in advance," the official said.

"The exchange of presents is indeed included," Ushakov said, adding that the presents will be "not too expensive, but symbolic." He refrained from revealing what present has been prepared from the Russian side. When asked if the Chinese leader will visit the newly-constructed Big Circle Line of the Moscow Metro, Ushakov pointed out that the Russian President said earlier that metro construction has reached a high level and is worthy of showing to Chinese colleagues.

"I do not know, maybe some of them [members of the delegation] will probably go down in the metro, but this has not been planned for the Chairman," the official said.

He added that the "practical preparation of the visit has begun immediately after the re-election of Xi Jinping." Xi Jinping was re-elected for the third five-year term as the President of the People's Republic of China earlier in March; earlier in October, 2022, Xi Jinping was also re-elected as the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

According to the diplomatic protocol, the state visit status is the highest class of foreign visits and it is rarely used. Usually, such visits imply a number of additional protocol events and meetings.

Putin, Xi Jinping to discuss most important issues tete-a-tete on March 20 — aide

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping will have a tete-a-tete conversation in the Kremlin on March 20, and the Kremlin pays particular attention to this meeting, because the most important issues will be reviewed there, Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters Friday.

"After noon of March 20, Putin and Xi Jinping will have a tete-a-tete meeting, will have a dinner together," the official said.

"We pay great attention to this informal closed meeting, because the most important, key, sensitive issues regarding relations between the two countries, including affairs on international arena, will be discussed there," Ushakov said.

He noted that the visit will begin "with the first meeting [of the two leaders], which is extremely important for both sides, because it provides an opportunity to discuss the most sensitive issues that are on our cooperation agenda in a completely trusting, open format."

"We plan that the two leaders will say a couple of words before reporters first, which will be followed by a closed conversation and a closed lunch," Ushakov said.

US Stance on ICC Arrest Warrant for Putin Reminds of ‘Schizophrenia,’ Russian Embassy Says

©Sputnik / POOL / Go to the mediabank

US support of the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin is "reminiscent of sluggish schizophrenia," the Russian Embassy in the United States says.

On Friday, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin as well as Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on the grounds of alleged "unlawful deportation" of Ukrainian children to Russia. US President Joe Biden said on Friday that the arrest warrant is "justified."

"Allowing unacceptable remarks about the Russian leader, the U.S. authorities deliberately keep silent about their own atrocities in Iraq, Yugoslavia, Libya and Vietnam. Moreover, in an attempt to protect its citizens from international prosecution by all available means, the United States even takes odious measures.

For example, unprecedented economic sanctions that were imposed on the leadership of the Court, including ex-Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, who initiated an investigation into U.S. atrocities in Afghanistan. What independence and impartiality can we talk about?" the Russian embassy said commenting on the US reaction.

The embassy emphasized that Washington supports the "unprecedented legal bacchanalia" unleashed by the ICC in order to protect its own geopolitical interests, despite the fact that neither the US, nor Russia, recognize the court's jurisdiction.

"Such a position is reminiscent of sluggish schizophrenia. Today, all American officials in unison repeated that the ICC is not a decree for the United States. However, a strategic interest to annoy Russia as much as possible outweighs," the Russian embassy said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the ICC warrants to arrest Putin and Lvova-Belova are legally null and void as Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute and has no obligations under it, nor does it cooperate with the ICC.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly stated that Russia is not a party to the ICC and its jurisdiction is not recognized by Moscow, so any of its decisions against the country are null from the legal point of view.

You have no power here: What the ICC ‘arrest warrant’ means for Putin

The Pre-trial Chamber issued an “arrest warrant” for Putin and Lvova-Belova, accusing them of personal and command responsibility for what they described as “unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine.” The accusations appear to be based on the Kiev government’s interpretation of Russian efforts to evacuate civilians away from frontline areas that the Ukrainian military has targeted, often with NATO-supplied weapons.

In legal terms, nothing whatsoever. Though Russia was one of the signatories to the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding document, it never ratified the treaty and officially withdrew from it in 2016. Whatever the court claims or does is null and void in Russia, both Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed on Friday.

While 123 states have signed the Rome Statute, 41 have not – including China, India, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Besides Russia, Israel, Sudan and the US have also withdrawn their signatures. The US Congress even passed a law in 2002 prohibiting any cooperation with the court and authorizing “all means necessary and appropriate” to release any American – or national of an allied country – from the Hague, by military force if necessary.

What was the Russian reaction?

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the ICC announcement as “outrageous and unacceptable.” Senator Andrey Klishas, from the ruling United Russia party, said the ICC just put itself on the road to self-destruction. Former president and deputy chair of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev compared the “warrant” to toilet paper. Crimean Senator Sergei Tsekov said the ICC decision demonstrates that Western-created institutions have become “worthless and insignificant.” Lvova-Belova sarcastically thanked the “international community” for appreciating her work to help rescue children from the zone of combat operations.

From 2014 to the start of military operation 4,374 residents killed in Donbass — Ombudsman

Darya Morozova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Donetsk People's Republic
©Valentin Sprinchak/TASS

Ukraine's aggression in Donbas resulted in the death of 4,374 residents from July 2014 to February 24, 2022, and nearly 8,000 were injured. Such data Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Daria Morozova cites in her report to the UN Security Council.

"From the beginning of the conflict and as of February 24, 2022, as a result of armed aggression by Ukraine on the territory of the DPR, 4,374 people, including 91 children, have been killed," according to the document published on the Ombudsman’s website on Saturday. "Almost 8,000 civilians received injuries of various degrees of severity, including 323 children, at least 27 of them acquired a disability."

On Friday, the UN Security Council voted on Friday against the speech of the DPR Ombudsman at a meeting on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Four countries (Russia, Brazil, Ghana and China) spoke in support of Morozova's speech during the procedural vote, eight (Albania, the UK, Malta, USA, France, Switzerland, Ecuador and Japan) opposed. Three countries (Gabon, Mozambique, UAE) abstained.

Dinkes Kota Bogor Sebut Tidak Berstatus KLB Campak Meski Ada 143 Sampel Uji Lab Positif

Dinas Kesehatan Kota Bogor, Jawa Barat menyatakan bahwa daerahnya tidak dalam status kejadian luar biasa (KLB) Campak Rubella karena meskipun terdapat 143 sampel hasil uji laboratorium dinyatakan positif. Namun, dikaji secara epidemiologi, tidak memiliki hubungan secara orang, tempat, dan waktu.

Hal ini menanggapi kabar yang beredar bahwa Kota Bogor masuk ke dalam daftar KLB Campak Rubella.

“Jadi dapat disimpulkan, bahwa Kota Bogor tidak masuk ke dalam kategori KLB,” kata Kepala Dinas Kesehatan Kota Bogor Sri Nowo Retno, pada hari Jumat, 17/03/2023.

Retno menerangkan kriteria penetapan KLB Campak Rubella adalah ada lima atau lebih kasus suspek campak-rubella dalam waktu empat minggu berturut-turut dan ada hubungan epidemiologi.

KLB akan dinyatakan berhenti apabila tidak ditemukan kasus baru dalam waktu dua kali masa inkubasi atau rata-rata satu bulan setelah kasus terakhir. Sementara itu, KLB Campak pasti minimal dua hasil laboratorium positif IgM campak dan ada hubungan epidemiologi.

Seiring dengan semakin baiknya sistem surveilans Campak Rubella di Kota Bogor melalui penemuan kasus, tatalaksana kasus yang berasal dari Puskesmas dan rumah sakit, maka situasi di tahun 2023 sampai dengan tanggal pelaporan di akhir Februari 2023, Kota Bogor telah mengirimkan 292 sampel kasus suspek campak ke Laboratorium Bio Farma Bandung.

Dengan rincian, 143 sampel positif campak, 3 positif rubella, 74 sampel negatif, 72 sampel masih pending laboratorium. Adapun dari 143 sampel Positif Campak, terdapat 12 sampel yang merupakan warga Kabupaten Bogor.

Berdasarkan analisa sebaran data menurut tempat, maka kasus positif campak tersebar di 43 dari 68 kelurahan di Kota Bogor, dimana terdapat 4 kelurahan dengan lebih dari lima kasus positif campak yaitu Kelurahan Mulyaharja 17 kasus, Kelurahan Sindang Barang 13 kasus, Kelurahan Empang 7 kasus dan Kel kelurahanPasir Jaya 7 kasus.

Bekasi dan Bogor Tertinggi Kasus KLB Campak di Jawa Barat, Gejalanya Ada Ruam dan Panas

Namun, kata Retno, jika data tersebut dikaji secara epidemiologi, maka kasus positif di Kota Bogor tidak memiliki hubungan secara orang, tempat dan waktu, sehingga dapat disimpulkan, bahwa Kota Bogor tidak masuk ke dalam kategori KLB.

Kasus Campak di Jawa Barat tertinggi di tiga daerah yakni Kabupaten Bogor, Kota Bogor, dan Kota Bekasi. Kasus campak paling banyak diderita oleh anak-anak.

“Kasus paling banyak pada kalangan anak-anak,” kata Ketua Tim Kerja Surveilens dan Imunisasi Dinas Kesehatan Jawa Barat, Dewi Ambarwati, pada hari Kamis, 16/03/2023.

Berdasarkan data Dinas Kesehatan Provinsi Jawa Barat, per Februari 2023, temuan kasus positif campak di Kabupaten Bogor sebanyak 215 orang, Kota Bogor 138 orang, dan Kota Bekasi 100 kasus.

Dewi menjelaskan, penyakit campak yang menular itu berhubungan dengan perpindahan orang. Penularan virusnya melalui percikan droplet saat seseorang yang terinfeksi batuk atau bersin.

Dalam kurun Januari dan Februari 2023, kasus KLB campak mengalami peningkatan dengan sebaran ada di 13 kota dan kabupaten di Jawa Barat.

Pada Januari 2023, jumlah suspek campak sebanyak 985 orang, 289 orang di antaranya terkonfirmasi positif. Semantara pada Februari 2023, temuan kasus suspek campak menjadi 2.307 dengan konfirmasi positif 800 orang.

Penyakit Campak

Campak adalah penyakit menular yang disebabkan oleh infeksi Morbillivirus, salah satu virus dari famili Paramyxovirus.

Secara umum, gejala campak dapat berupa demam, batuk pilek, mata berair, lalu disertai timbulnya bintik-bintik kemerahan di kulit. Biasanya muncul 2 sampai 4 hari setelah dari gejala awal.

Campak ini disebabkan oleh virus campak dan penularannya melalui droplet, percikan ludah saat batuk, bersin, bicara, atau melalui cairan hidung. Campak ini salah satu penyakit yang sangat menular.

Pencegahan campak hanya bisa diperoleh dari imunisasi sehingga imunisasi sesuai jadwalnya harus dilakukan supaya anak-anak terhindar dari campak.