Alan Shearer noticed something very concerning about Liverpool's latest los

 Alan Shearer says that Liverpool provided nothing in attack during the team's 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Shearer, the Premier League's all-time leading scorer, highlighted Virgil Van Dijk's post-match comments, where the Reds' skipper acknowledged they were shipping too many soft goals, with Shearer suggesting those remarks would be worrying.

On 'The Rest Is Football' podcast, Gary Lineker posed the question to his co-pundits: "Can someone try and explain what the hell has happened to Liverpool? It's baffling, isn't it? It just shows you as well how important confidence is in football.

"Last season, it was all going well, and they hardly lose a game; they're playing some great football, and then suddenly, a couple of new players come in, and they don't quite gel. They're trying to find their feet, and then the results go against you.

"All of a sudden, you're scrambling to find a result, and the head plays an important part in football. You look at their squad, and you go, 'Why is this happening?' Momentum shift, or the belief, football is crazy at times."

Shearer replied: "I mean, they had a couple of chances in the first 25 minutes or so, Liverpool, but they didn't take them. You can see them sort of shrink when Forest got that first goal. It was like, 'Come on then, what have you got?'

"They offered nothing. You'd be slightly concerned at Virgil's comments after the game when he was talking about his players and the lack of reaction or lack of fight, whatever.

"We always say that we see the best players - it's very easy when things are going well for you, full of confidence, winning games and battering teams every single week. Alright, but you see your big, proper characters when it's not going well for you.

"When you're losing games, and those players are still prepared to get on the ball and not be afraid to make mistakes."

Micah Richards praised Forest for its display, but suggested that the tragic passing of Diogo Jota has undoubtedly contributed to Liverpool's difficulties this campaign.

He said: "You talk about environments, the death of Jota has to have played a part in what's going on this season. It must have because it doesn't feel right. Half of the players are probably still grieving.

"Imagine having a teammate you become like family members with. Sadly, I lost my uncle just last week as well... When there's a death, you start overthinking. Could I have done this? Could I have done that better?

"Your relationships in the dressing room; it has to have had an effect. I don't care what anyone says. This isn't me making excuses for Liverpool, but it's the human side. Football isn't just about technical ability and physical output. It's about the mental side as well, and what they're going through at the moment is showing on the pitch. It has to have had an effect."

Trump’s Marathon Briefing Derails After Cameras Catch Marco Rubio Struggling to Breathe While the Room Visibly Suffers

 Donald Trump‘s big briefing lasted over three hours, but it only took a few minutes for the internet to zoom in on the row of guests next to him who looked like they were praying for fresh air — or for the meeting to end.

The longest on-camera appearance of Trump’s second term was meant to show the president and his cabinet flexing his influence over everything from the oceans to overseas economies.

Instead, it became the backdrop after single viral photos showed guests who looked unsure whether it was the air in the room or the president’s unique stench that made it hard to breathe.

The talking points of the August meeting bounced from East Coast whale conservation to the severity of the West Coast wildfires in Los Angeles. But what still grabs the internet by the collar months later was one frozen moment of Secretary of State Marco Rubio appearing to cup his hand over his nose — a picture that has exploded into a fresh round of jokes about the president’s long-rumored hygiene issues.

The meme economy went into overdrive, bypassing MAGA politics entirely and diving straight into the messy, comedic speculation that Trump himself has never been able to shake.

One person tweeted, “Trump is laughing at his fart, and poor Rubio is waiting for the stench to clear. RFK can’t smell a thing because of the white stuff in his nose.”

Another replied, “The price you pay for being next to Trump.”

A Facebook post from the time had people who went for the direct hit as many agreed: “Rubio’s face said it all.”

“Marco looks like he can smell something bad. Looks like a rotting vat of fat rolled up on a chair,” one wrote, while someone else added, “Rubio is getting a whiff of the stench.”

A sarcastic comment read, “Hey, Rubio, ‘Ohhhh that smell, cant ya smell that smell? Ohhhh that smell, that smell that surrounds you?'”

The stench may have been recognized by others as people online claimed Robert F. Kennedy and the entire row looked “queasy.” But Rubio’s reaction stood out amongst others, as many suggest he was straight-up overwhelmed by whatever scent they believed Trump was giving off.

Another person insisted Rubio wasn’t confused at all: “Rubio is trying to keep from gagging. Doesn’t anyone on his staff tell him to change his Depends? Apparently he smells bad and can’t smell himself.”

These reactions all lean into the long-running, completely unverified joke that the president has a smell problem — a rumor that’s stubbornly lingered online for years, earning Trump the nickname “Diaper Don” in certain corners of the internet.

The suspicion about his possible funk has only grown because of what they view as a pattern of awkward visual moments with foreign leaders.

Multiple photos show dignitaries leaning back ever so slightly or stiffening their faces when Trump steps in for a handshake.

One example often cited is the clip of Trump looking irritated as he waited for China’s Xi Jinping, who took his time stepping forward. The hesitation was brief, but social media said it was enough. Xi’s blank expression as he finally approached became another moment people twisted into the punchline that “Trump must have stunk.”

The same kind of commentary flared up again when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with him in Egypt, after cameras caught her expression shifting mid-greeting.

Then came the Nov. 10 Oval Office moment that sent conspiracy hunters spinning. President Trump presented Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa with a bottle of Victory 47 cologne — his own signature fragrance named after the election that made him the 47th U.S. president.

He even sprayed it on al-Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani himself.

Online comedians immediately tied the gesture back to the rumor mill, suggesting he was trying to get ahead of the narrative by ensuring “they won’t smell Him” during the meeting. Given how long the hygiene jokes have floated around, the timing made the moment too rich for the internet to ignore.

But some people think the Rubio photo has less to do with odors and more to do with exhaustion from being connected to Trump.

One Facebook user summed up the overall sentiment with a relatable punch: “Marco Rubio’s face = all of us after three hours of Trump’s ‘very substantial’ rambling.”

And months later, it seems like he is still not in the groove of his position as head of the State Department.

The former Florida senator has been facing political backlash after reports surfaced that he allegedly told a bipartisan group of lawmakers that a proposed Ukraine peace plan pushed by the administration was actually a Russian “wish list.”

When the backlash hit, Rubio publicly implied the senators had it wrong — a reversal that only deepened the perception that he’s in over his head, according to Esquire.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota added fuel to the fire, saying, “This administration was not responsible for this release in its current form,” and adding that “it looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with

Whether Rubio was shielding himself from an unpleasant scent or simply drowning in the political chaos surrounding him, that single still image has outshone everything said during the three-hour session.

For many viewers, his body language said far more than any policy point — a perfect snapshot of someone quietly waiting for the surrounding “stench to clear.”

Space Force awards secret contracts for Trump’s Golden Dome

 U.S. Space Force has awarded multiple small contracts to companies to help develop prototypes for a crucial but unproven technology that will be used in President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” defense system, according to a report.

The contracts, each under $9 million, are to develop space-based interceptors – a weapons system that would rely on a series of low-orbiting satellites that could track down an incoming intercontinental ballistic missile and intercept it before it strikes.

Space Force did not provide any details about which companies the contracts were awarded to. Because the contracts are for a relatively small amount, the agency is not required to disclose detailed information, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

In a statement, obtained by Bloomberg, Space Force said the contractors weren’t disclosed because they are “protected by enhanced security measures.”

“The selection process was robust and thorough,” Space Force said in the statement, adding that it is looking to “lead a fast-paced effort in partnership with industry to develop, demonstrate and deliver prototype interceptors.”

The Independent has asked Space Force for comment.

The announcement appears to be one of the first major steps from the Pentagon as it seeks to develop Trump’s “Golden Dome.”

In May, Trump announced his plans for a “Golden Dome,” claiming it would be a “cutting-edge” operation missile defense system to protect the U.S. from missile attacks.

The “Golden Dome” appeared to take a page from Israel’s “Iron Dome” – a similar air defense system that operates only from the ground, as well as former President Ronald Reagan’s proposed “Star Wars” program.

“We have certain areas of missiles and certain missile defense, but there's no system,” Trump told reporters in May. “We just have some very capable weapons that hopefully we never have to use, but we have some very capable weapons now,”

Trump estimated the “Golden Dome” would be fully operational by January 2029.

However, experts have cautioned about the military’s ability to implement space-based interceptors. Doing so would be extremely costly and experimental because it would require launching hundreds of weapons into space.

“Despite decades of support from influential policymakers, the resources required to deploy space-based interceptors would be better spent on other layers of US missile defense,” Thomas G. Roberts, an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote in a 2018 article for the Bulletin of the Atomic Sciences.

In addition to the awarded contracts, Space Force also plans to ask for proposals related to space-based interceptors' ability to conduct kinetic midcourse missile defense, according to a recently posted pre-solicitation.

Kinetic missile defense is the act of using energy from an object in motion to intercept another object. Midcourse interceptions utilize the strategy of intercepting long-range missiles in the middle of their course, making them easier to target. However, the downside to a kinetic midcourse missile defense system is that it may be unable to distinguish a missile from other debris.

The upcoming request for proposals will be posted in early December.

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BNPB ensures emergency support after Mt. Semeru eruption

  The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has pledged full support for emergency response and environmental recovery efforts following the eruption of Mount Semeru in Lumajang District, East Java.

BNPB Deputy for Systems and Strategy Raditya Jati said here on Friday that current emergency measures focus on clearing ash and mud that are blocking access and disrupting residents’ activities.

Meeting basic needs and providing services for evacuees also remain government priorities.

BNPB is providing logistical management and equipment to accelerate field operations.

The assistance includes the shipment of food supplies, evacuation gear, and tools to support area clean-up.

Jati confirmed that the Lumajang-Malang route via Gladak Perak has reopened after joint teams completed volcanic ash removal.

“The reopening of this access is important to ease congestion that occurred due to the road closure following the eruption,” he noted.

According to the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mount Semeru erupted on Wednesday (November 19) at 4 p.m. local time, producing an ash column that rose about 2,000 meters above the summit.

The eruption generated hot clouds that traveled up to seven kilometers from the peak, with dense gray ash blowing toward the north and northwest.

Seismogram readings from the Lumajang volcano monitoring post recorded a maximum amplitude of 40 millimeters and a duration of around 16 minutes and 40 seconds.

While eruptive activity ended at 6:11 p.m. local time, local authorities and the Geological Agency have maintained Level IV, or “Warning,” to anticipate potential follow-up volcanic activity.

The warning status also serves as the basis for the Lumajang district government’s declaration of an active disaster emergency, valid until November 26.

Scientists Found Pyramids Bigger Than Giza On Mars

 The barren red deserts of Mars might not be as lifeless as they seem. A growing number of researchers are pointing to strange geometric formations captured in NASA images as potential evidence of an ancient civilization. In fact, some of these findings have been published in the Journal of Space Exploration, , where the argument is simple: the shapes are just too neat, too geometric, to be random.

The Strange Keyhole

One of the best-known features is the keyhole formation, sitting high up in Libya Montes. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped a photo of it in 2011, and the odd structure quickly drew attention— with a wedge-like base topped with a round dome.

For George J. Haas, founder of The Cydonia Institute, the design was impossible to ignore. He’s been looking at Mars for more than 30 years and says its symmetry is “exquisite.” To his eyes, the keyhole looks like ancient burial sites in Japan known as the Kofun Tombs. In 2016, Haas and his colleagues wrote in a research paper that this feature was too precise to be chalked up to chance. Mainstream scientists disagree, calling it a trick of the brain. Still, Haas insists, “you don’t have to be a geologist to know the difference between a rock and a sculpture.”

A Parrot In The Martian Dust

Back in 2002, another curious shape appeared in an image of theArgyre Basin. Researcher Wilmer Faust thought it looked like a bird and passed it on to Haas, who immediately saw what became known as the parrot geoglyph. With an eye, beak, wing, and even feathers, the outline was so detailed that Haas counted “22 points of anatomical correctness.”

To test the idea, five veterinarians — including an avian specialist — reviewed the image and agreed the form matched real bird anatomy. On Earth, geoglyphs like the famous Nazca lines in Peru often depict animals, but Haas argues that none come close to the fine details of this Martian version. Scientists, on the other hand, suggest the parrot is just another case of pareidolia — our tendency to see faces and animals where none exist.

Pyramids And A Lost City

The list of anomalies doesn’t end there. In 1972, NASA’s Mariner 9 spacecraft photographed the Sagan pyramids in the Elysium region. These triangular structures rise more than 3,200 feet and span nearly 10,000 feet across. They even caught the eye of Carl Sagan, who guessed that strong winds and sandstorms could have shaped them. But even he admitted scientists would need to see them up close to be sure.

Haas notes that natural pyramids tend to be cone-like rather than sharp-edged. He even compares them to a rare three-sided pyramid at Area 51 in Nevada, built for weapons testing. That similarity, he says, is another clue that Mars might once have been home to builders.

A Bizarre ‘Starburst’ On Mars

In the Nepenthes Mensae region, a rugged plateau hides another oddity: the starburst structure. With five arms spreading out like a starfish and a mound in the middle, it caught Haas’ attention right away. He compared it to the star forts of Europe, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. One in particular, Fort Henry in Tennessee, looks uncannily similar, right down to its truncated points.

Mainstream scientists keep reminding people that erosion, landslides, and volcanic activity can explain many of these shapes. Yet Haas is convinced that Mars holds something bigger.

As he told DailyMail, “Mars is just going to be a treasure trove of technology and all kinds of information.” WithSpaceXeyeing uncrewed missions to the Red Planet as soon as 2026 — and crewed ones by 2029 — humanity might soon get the chance to find out whether these strange landmarks are geological quirks or the last traces of Martian life.

US accuses Israeli youths of ‘terrorism’ after Christians attacked

 The US ambassador to Israel has described recent Israeli violence in the West Bank as “terrorism” after a Christian town was attacked.

Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Jewish expansion in the occupied territory, denounced “thugs” who had “come there to create havoc”.

The rare rebuke by a senior Trump administration official followed days of rolling violence in the West Bank, triggered in part by the Israeli security forces’ unusual decision to demolish a number of illegal outposts near Hebron. Israel has also stepped up air strikes in Gaza, having said its troops came under fire in the south of the enclave on Wednesday.

Given a particularly violent olive-harvest season in the West Bank in recent weeks, some Israeli politicians have said that the state had lost control.

Masked youths appeared to respond by torching Palestinian homes and vehicles, including in Jab’a, a village near Bethlehem.

Taybeh, a prominent Palestinian Christian town, has also been attacked, prompting the intervention by Mr Huckabee, an ordained evangelical pastor.

Speaking to News Nation, he said: “Israelis can carry out terrorism as well. But most of these people are not actual settlers who live there,” he said.

“This is a very small number, mostly of youth, angry and disaffected. These are thugs. Many of them don’t even live in Judea and Samaria. They come into there to create havoc,” he added, referring to the West Bank by its biblical name.

Many security analysts disagree that the perpetrators come from outside the West Bank.

Instead, they point to a growing split between the mainstream settler community, who prefer to work with Israeli security personnel to improve their foothold in the territory, and an ultra-violent splinter group who are prepared to be violent towards the Israel Defense Forces and police if they try to stop them from attacking Palestinians.

Mr Huckabee is arguably the most pro-Israeli ambassador the United States has sent to the country and he rarely voices criticism. However, earlier this year, he called for police to take action following another attack on Taybeh.

Some arrests have been made this week, but as yet no charges have been brought.

On Tuesday, an Israeli citizen was killed and three others were injured following a car-ramming and stabbing attack carried out by two Palestinian assailants at the Gush Etzion Junction in the West Bank.

Donald Trump began his second term by lifting US sanctions on various settler ringleaders who had been identified as orchestrating violence towards Palestinians.

Activists accused him of giving the green light to increased attacks this year.

However, Mr Trump has disappointed the settler community by telling Israel not to annex the territory, fearing it would derail his peacebuilding efforts with Arab countries.

In a potential threat to his Gaza deal, Qatar strongly condemned Israel’s air strikes in the Strip on Wednesday, which reportedly killed at least 25 people.

Further Israeli strikes took place in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis early on Thursday, killing five people, hospital officials told the Associated Press.

The strikes have been some of the deadliest since a US-brokered ceasefire took effect in October.

They took place after Israel said its troops came under fire near Khan Younis on Wednesday.

RI Govt calls for broader support to strengthen early education

  Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education called for wider support from the government, academics, parents, businesses, and local communities to strengthen early childhood education (ECE), which it says is essential to building a high-quality education system.

Nia Nurhasanah, the ministry’s director of ECE, said the national vision of “Quality Education for All” serves as a key foundation for Indonesia’s 2045 Golden Indonesia agenda, with early childhood learning at the center of long-term national development.

“Quality education must be inclusive, adaptive, and participatory. ECE is the starting point for a child’s learning journey and the foundation of nation-building,” she said here Saturday.

Nurhasanah explained that quality ECE must be holistic and integrative, combining education, health, nutrition, nurturing, and protection to ensure every child receives services that are friendly, relevant, and meaningful.

The government is currently exploring an extension of compulsory education from 12 to 13 years, which would include one mandatory year of preschool. Nurhasanah said there are three strategies to achieve this goal: expanding access, improving quality, and strengthening governance.

“The key to the success of all priority programs of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is universal participation,” she emphasized.

Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem, a professor at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, underscored the urgency of investing in early childhood development. She noted that more than 80 percent of a child’s competence growth takes place before age six.

She added that investment in ECE yields the highest financial rate of return— seven percent to 10 percent annually—citing Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman.

“ECE is a window of opportunity that will close. We are investing directly in the brains of children who will become the future leaders of Golden Indonesia 2045,” she said.

Indonesia destroys 5.7 tons of radioactive shrimp following U.S. alert

 Indonesia’s Cesium-137 Task Force has incinerated 5.7 tons of shrimp contaminated with radioactive material, following a report from U.S. authorities that triggered an urgent safety response.

The shrimp, packed in 494 boxes across two containers, tested positive for Cesium-137 (Cs-137) contamination on their outer packaging.

The Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency (Bapeten) conducted the tests, revealing radiation levels of 10.8 becquerels (Bq) per kilogram—well below the 100 Bq/kg threshold considered safe for environmental release.

Despite the low readings, the contaminated shrimp were destroyed in line with recommendations from Bapeten and the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin).

“As instructed by Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, this process must follow the precautionary principle,” said Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control Rasio Ridho Sani here, Saturday.

The shrimp were incinerated at 800–900°C using a facility equipped with advanced air emission controls and continuous monitoring systems.

The resulting ash was solidified in HDPE containers and disposed of in a Class 1 hazardous waste landfill operated by PT PPLI/DOWA.

“This destruction followed strict radiation and environmental safety protocols,” Sani emphasized.

The operation was supervised by Bapeten, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Barantin, and the Ministry of Environment.

Sani added that decontamination efforts in the Cikande area—where the shrimp originated—are ongoing and being carried out intensively by the task force.

Soccer-Ederson says he felt unhappy at Manchester City

 Brazil goalkeeper Ederson said he had already attempted to leave Manchester City the season before last, with unhappiness at the Premier League club weighing on him after struggling with injuries.

At a press conference ahead of Saturday's international friendly against Senegal, the 32-year-old spoke about his close-season transfer to Fenerbahce, having joined the Turkish club in a deal worth around 12 million pounds ($16.11 million) after eight trophy-laden years in Manchester. 

Ederson lifted 18 trophies at City following his 2017 move from Portuguese side Benfica — a haul that included six Premier League titles and one Champions League crown. He has also won the Premier League Golden Glove award three times.

"In the season before that, I had already tried to leave, but it didn't work out. I think that influenced my performance during the season a little. I had five injuries and wasn't at my best," Ederson told reporters on Wednesday.

"That affected me a little. It was a decision I had already made with my family to talk to the club about leaving if they agreed. I needed this change. There's no point in being at a giant, successful club if you're not happy.

"It would have continued to affect me in the same way. It's good to have new challenges in your life, in your career... With this change, I'm breathing football again, feeling the atmosphere at the games in Turkey, which is crazy. I'm very happy with this new challenge, eager to win."

Brazil will maintain their remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the World Cup, having secured qualification for the 2026 tournament in June with a 1-0 win over Paraguay.

Three things we learned from Serbia win as England showcase depth

 England beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley to keep their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying intact.

All of the Three Lions’ substitutes gave the added vitality that Thomas Tuchel will have hoped for after his side initially led 1-0 through Bukayo Saka’s excellent first-half volley.

On came the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze as England produced a strong finish, with Foden assisting Eze’s marvellous late goal in England's first of two dead-rubber qualifiers this week.

A much-changed Serbia team playing their first match under new head coach Veljko Paunovic certainly made them work for it, but the hosts deserved all three points.

Bellingham and Foden impress on return

So much of the talk surrounding this England squad has centred on the returns of Bellingham and Foden after Tuchel contentiously chose to keep last month’s group largely the same as September.

While the head coach showed faith with his autumn stars and started Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers at No10, both did appear off the bench and were bright and effective.

Bellingham played one outstanding long pass into the feet of Eze, and late in the game had a nice marauding run forward in which he played in Eze, who so nearly doubled England’s lead.

Tuchel chose not to select another No9 besides Harry Kane this month and was always planning to try Foden in the false nine position.

Foden functioned well there, twisting and turning out of trouble and even coming close to scoring his fifth England goal as his header from a Jordan Henderson cross flashed just wide. Tuchel should repeat the experiment against Albania on Sunday.

Foden’s powerful running after a through ball from Bellingham was critical to England’s second goal, with the Manchester City man driving forward purposefully and then setting up Eze’s stunner.

Saka proves star of the show

There is something about Saka playing for England at Wembley that just seems to click. He seems to be at his most threatening for his country when playing at home.

So it proved again, as the Arsenal winger scored at Wembley for the second game in a row.

Last month he scored a stunning, curled effort when cutting on to his left foot against Wales — a goal almost identical to the one he netted against Ukraine in 2023.

Against Serbia, this time his finish was a side-foot volley, guided into the far-left corner at a time in the game when quality in the final third had been in considerably short supply.

His celebration was a knee slide with his arms out, the 24-year-old fully aware that he had scored a sensational goal and now surely is ahead of Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke in Tuchel’s thinking on the right wing.

England switch it up

A noticeable theme of England’s performance was the number of times they decided to go long.

Serbia held a robust shape and kept their hosts at bay for long periods. When England were in need of speeding up the tempo and forcing the issue, it was often the favoured play of debutant left-back Nico O’Reilly and particularly Chelsea captain Reece James to pick out long switches from one flank to the other.

England did not get every one right and did occasionally overhit their passes, but for the most part it was an effective tool to break into the final third and clearly a tactical move from Tuchel.

It will be interesting to see how much England choose to play long from one wing to the other when they face Albania in Tirana in their final qualifier on Sunday. The variety shown in their attacks against Serbia certainly boded well.

Minister Zon pushes to disseminate Indonesian's UNESCO language status

 Culture Minister Fadli Zon highlighted the need to disseminate and popularize the status of the Indonesian language as one of the official languages of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"(Indonesian language) has been the 10th official language of UNESCO. I believe this needs to be disseminated," Zon stated at the National Museum here

The minister said that the Indonesian language registered over 300 million speakers in various countries throughout the world.

He added, "Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor Leste, and Brunei are united by their lingua franca, the Indonesian or Malay language," referring to Malay, which has high mutual intelligibility with Indonesian.

The Indonesian language was recognized as the 10th official language of UNESCO on November 20, 2023, following the unanimous adoption of Resolution 42 C/28 during the 42nd Session of the UNESCO General Conference.

Meanwhile, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti spoke in Indonesian before the UNESCO assembly for the first time while delivering his remarks during the 43rd Session of the General Conference on Tuesday (November 4).

Outlining a series of education policies under President Prabowo Subianto, Mu'ti emphasized Indonesia’s belief that solutions to global challenges lie not only in power or economics, but also in enlightened human beings through education, science, and culture, as well as open communication and information.

"These fundamental values affirm Indonesia’s stance that education is a basic right of every child and that no one should be left behind,” he stated.

Mu'ti said the Indonesian government has launched the Quality Education for All policy as part of the 1945 Constitution’s mandate and President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision and also initiated the Universal Movement to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

Among its key programs are the implementation of deep learning approaches promoting mindful, meaningful, and joyful education and the introduction of artificial intelligence, coding, and character education.

He also reported that school participation rates for children aged 7-12 and 13-15 have reached 99.19 percent and 96.17 percent, respectively.

Prabowo vows safe, open climate for foreign investment

  President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to welcoming both domestic and foreign investment, pledging to maintain a safe, secure, and business-friendly environment for investors.

“We must support foreign investment and share the benefits together,” Prabowo said while inaugurating the Lotte Chemical Indonesia petrochemical plant in Cilegon, Banten, 

He said the steady inflow of foreign capital reflects global confidence in Indonesia’s economic prospects, citing Lotte’s multibillion-dollar project as proof that the country is seen as a trusted and stable investment destination.

“Investments like this are the result of years of effort from many stakeholders. We must protect them and ensure every investor feels secure and appreciated,” Prabowo said.

“They trust us, they bring benefits to us, and we must guarantee their safety,” he added.

The president emphasized that legal certainty and strong law enforcement are key to sustaining investor confidence. “Upholding the rule of law builds trust,” he said.

The newly launched Lotte Chemical Indonesia New Ethylene (LINE) plant, built with an investment of about US$4 billion, spans 107.8 hectares—or 1.08 million square meters—and is projected to produce 1,000 kilotons of ethylene annually.

The facility is also designed to manufacture 520 kilotons of propylene, 350 kilotons of polypropylene, 140 kilotons of butadiene, and 400 kilotons of benzene, toluene, and xylene per year. Tens of thousands of workers are expected to be employed at the site.

The Cilegon plant is Lotte Chemical’s fifth of its kind, following facilities in South Korea, Mexico, the United States, and Malaysia. It is also Indonesia’s first naphtha cracker plant in three decades.

Indonesia allocates up to 15,000 ha for Palestine's food program

  Indonesia has allocated up to 15,000 hectares of land in North Kalimantan for Palestine's sustainable food, livestock, and agro-industry investment, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced.

"For us, helping Palestine is not just about food, but about humanity,” Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said in a written statement on Saturday.

He reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to building humanitarian-oriented food cooperation for the Palestinian people, with support demonstrated through investment and sustainable agricultural development.

"Our brothers and sisters there have the right to a decent life, including the right to food," Sulaiman said.

He added that he had met with Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair Al-Shun to discuss the initiative. As an initial step, Indonesia is offering 10,000–15,000 hectares of investment land for Palestine in North Kalimantan.

The land will be developed into an integrated area for food crops, livestock, and agro-industry, involving state-owned enterprises, private companies, and regional partners in Southeast Asia and other friendly nations.

"Palestine is an important part of this initiative," Sulaiman said.

He emphasized that Indonesia will continue to support Palestine through horticultural development, technology transfer, and agricultural training.

"Indonesia stands with Palestine not only diplomatically, but also through concrete cooperation in the food sector. This is a down-to-earth form of support," he stated.

Palestinian Ambassador Zuhair Al-Shun expressed appreciation for Indonesia's commitment, describing the cooperation as a new milestone that strengthens bilateral solidarity and cross-sector collaboration.

Zuhair said the visit of the Palestinian investment technical team to Indonesia might be postponed due to the security situation in Palestine but assured continued coordination and readiness to implement the project when conditions allow.

He also expressed deep gratitude for Indonesia’s consistent support.

"I have great respect for this country because I know how hard Indonesia works for us. I've been here for eight years. If I'm no longer in office, I won't leave this country. That's my promise," Zuhair said.

The Indonesia–Palestine cooperation also covers the exchange of sustainable agricultural technologies, including water-efficient irrigation, desert farming, climate-resilient seeds, and digital-based and hydroponic systems.

In human resource development, Indonesia will expand training quotas for young Palestinian farmers and officials, including internships on integrated agricultural sites in Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

As a follow-up, both countries plan to form a Joint Working Committee in early 2026 to finalize the action plan and ensure timely implementation of the agreed initiatives.

Campus-Industry collaboration opens market access for research

  Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto said stronger collaboration between universities and industries is crucial to expand market access for domestic research products and reduce reliance on imports.

“Research outcomes must advance to the industrial stage and reach the market so they can replace imported goods,” Yuliarto said during a visit to Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java, 

He cited Brawijaya University as one of the institutions ready to accelerate research commercialization. Among its products nearing market readiness are the Pamugas Firewall — a locally developed cybersecurity system — and Boumi, a beauty product made from corn fibers.

Yuliarto said that for research products to compete in the market, they must be supported by strong business planning, including market studies and demand analysis.

“This process will be strengthened through memorandums of understanding with industry partners,” he added.

Brawijaya University Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Professor Unti Ludigdo, said the university has partnered with 13 companies across sectors ranging from beauty and health to telecommunications to boost the commercialization of research outputs.

One partnership involves developing the Pamugas Firewall with a telecom firm to enhance Indonesia’s digital security infrastructure.

“Our firewall is designed to help reinforce national cybersecurity,” Ludigdo said.

The university has also collaborated with a beauty company to distribute Boumi and partnered with amusement park operators to promote the product.

Ludigdo said these partnerships reflect the minister’s directive for universities to produce research with tangible benefits for society, not just academic value.

“The Minister has encouraged universities to deliver impactful outcomes through broader industrial collaboration,” he said.

Yuliarto added that downstreaming innovation through university-industry partnerships will strengthen Indonesia’s national innovation ecosystem and help drive economic transformation based on research and technology.

“Take us to the South”: North Korean POWs beg for defection after fighting for Russia

 Two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting for Russia have voiced their wish to defect to South Korea, a defector aid group told AFP on Sunday, according to News.ro.

The rare case sheds light on Pyongyang’s secretive military cooperation with Moscow, which has reportedly deployed thousands of North Korean troops to support its campaign in Ukraine.

Growing deployments

South Korean and Western intelligence agencies estimate that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia in 2024, primarily to the Kursk region, to bolster the Kremlin’s war effort.

In January, Seoul confirmed the capture of two such soldiers by Ukrainian forces. One reportedly told a visiting South Korean lawmaker in February that he hoped to live a “normal life” in the South.

Plea on camera

Their request was repeated during an interview for an upcoming documentary, according to Jang Se-yul, director of Gyeore-eol Nation United, an organization that assists North Korean defectors. “At the end of the interview, the two asked the producer to take them to the South,” Jang told AFP.

The conversation took place on October 28 in Kyiv at a confidential location where the pair are detained. “They begged the interviewer to promise to come back for them,” Jang added.

Awaiting release

Although the footage of the meeting has not yet been made public, Jang said it is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Photos shared by his group show one of the men reading letters from fellow defectors now living in South Korea.

Under South Korea’s constitution, all Koreans—including those in the North—are considered citizens.

Seoul maintains that this provision extends to North Korean prisoners of war held in Ukraine.

Fatal consequences

South Korean intelligence reports suggest Pyongyang ordered its soldiers to commit suicide rather than risk capture.

“Sending them back to North Korea would be tantamount to a death sentence,” said lawmaker Yu Yong-weon, who met with the two prisoners earlier this year.

North Korea acknowledged in April that it had sent troops to Russia, admitting that some had been killed in combat.

Seoul’s intelligence services estimate that roughly 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died so far.

Forward ready to join Liverpool first-team

 Liverpool's forward options are wearing thin right now.

Even after signing Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike in the summer, Arne Slot doesn't have the depth he would like in the forward department right now.

Especially with the former injured and there still being an unclear timeline on when he would return. It means that at this moment in time the only natural forward fit enough to play in this Liverpool squad is Ekitike.

Federico Chiesa can play there, but he's more of a second-forward or a winger. Florian Wirtz has been used there, too. But that is not his position.

At a time like this, most Liverpool head coaches would call on their academy.

However, Liverpool can't even do that at the moment.

Jayden Danns, who may be the back-up in a situation like this is out injured and it's unlikely he's going to play for Liverpool until the end of the year.

Another young forward out injured is Will Wright. He has some first-team experience having made his debut in a friendly against Athletic Bilbao.

However, again he's out injured and he's not expected to return to action until later this month, or possibly as late as December.

There is another forward, less spoken about, who could be ready to come in and join the first-team.

At a time of crisis, the best players always step-up and make their moments count. This is exactly what Keyrol Figueroa has done at U21 level.

After having a great pre-season with new head coach Rob Page, Figueroa found himself on the bench with the U21s at the start of the season with Wright and Danns preferred ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, since both have been injured and ruled out, Figueroa has come into the team and he's made his moments count.

He scored a hat-trick in the mini-derby against Everton and then followed that up with a brace against Middlesbrough.

It means he now has seven goals in eight games in the Premier League 2 for the club's U21 side and he's now one of the top-scorers in the league.

In total he's averaging a goal every 66 minutes in the competition which is a really impressive return.

Only 19-years-old, Figueroa has been a highly rated prospect for a while. He made his debut as a 15-year-old for the U18s and he's been unlucky with injuries and opportunities over the last few years.

But now, he's taking his chances, and he's showing the kind of form that makes him ready to join and be called up to Slot's first team.

Indonesian student wins top prize in IAEA infographic design contest

  Indonesian student Antonius Fajar Adinegoro won first place in the Infographic Design Contest organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"I created this infographic so that the public and medical personnel can understand how medical physicists play a quick and safe role in a nuclear emergency," said Adinegoro, a student at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the University of Indonesia, 

He said he was drawn to the competition because it combined his interests in medical physics and visual communication. The challenge, he added, was to make a highly technical topic easy to understand.

Adinegoro developed the infographic independently, drawing on both his academic studies and clinical practice. Before starting the design, he conducted in-depth research, consulting IAEA official guidelines and technical references to ensure the content was accurate yet accessible.

"The entire process took about three days, from research and concept development to finalizing the design," he said.

The competition, which attracted hundreds of participants from around the world, recognized Adinegoro for his infographic titled "Guidelines for Medical Physicists in Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies."

The work highlights the role of medical physicists in assessing radiation exposure and guiding patient decontamination in nuclear and radiological emergencies.

From the hundreds of entries, Adinegoro was selected as one of five top international winners before being announced as the grand prize recipient.

As a reward, winners will be invited to the 2025 Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where their work will also be showcased at the international forum.

The IAEA held the online infographic competition from July 16 to August 31 to raise public awareness about EPR — preparedness and response to nuclear and radiological emergencies — through clear and engaging visual communication.

Entries were judged on message clarity, visual quality, originality, technical accuracy, and effectiveness in conveying the EPR concept.

The contest is part of the International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies: Building the Future in an Evolving World, scheduled for December 1–4 in Riyadh.

Indonesia confirms ready to host the RCEP Secretariat

 The Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs affirmed its readiness to host the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Secretariat in Jakarta, aiming to strengthen RCEP's institutional framework and enhance regional economic cooperation.

“The establishment of the RCEP Secretariat is crucial for strengthening coordination, increasing transparency, and ensuring the relevance of RCEP cooperation,” said Susiwijono Moegiarso, the Secretary of the coordinating ministry, regarding the 5th RCEP Leaders' Summit, in an official statement in Jakarta

RCEP has 15 member countries: 10 ASEAN member states and 5 ASEAN partner countries (China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand).

In addition, four economies have submitted accession applications to become new members of the RCEP: Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Chile.

The 5th RCEP Leaders' Summit was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The discussion focused on two crucial agenda items to determine the strategic direction of RCEP implementation amid regional and global economic dynamics.

The meeting also discussed the Joint Leaders’ Statement on RCEP, which reflects a commitment to upholding WTO rules and the principles of open, transparent, fair, and rules-based international trade, to ensure certainty, predictability, and non-discrimination.

The RCEP leaders agreed to officially adopt the Leaders’ Statement, which affirms the joint commitment of member countries to strengthen the multilateral trading system by upholding WTO principles and rules.

“The leaders agreed to keep the RCEP market open, free, and rules-based by reducing trade barriers and strengthening trade and investment facilitation,” Moegiarso said.

“The leaders also emphasized the importance of the full implementation of the RCEP Agreement, along with domestic reforms to promote strong and resilient growth,” he added.

Furthermore, RCEP is said to be committed to ensuring continued full support for ASEAN centrality.

To realize these goals, the leaders agreed on concrete steps forward, including the full and effective implementation of the RCEP Agreement, promoting the accession process for strategic partners, and strengthening the institutional framework through the establishment of the RCEP Secretariat.

To ensure the agreement remains relevant and adaptive to global economic dynamics, efforts are also underway to prepare the General Review of RCEP, targeted to commence in 2027.

Indonesia is said to play a crucial role as Country Coordinator in RCEP, a trade agreement representing 28.6 percent of the world’s population and 28 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).