Zlatan Ibrahimovic hails 'incredible' manager linked with Manchester United job

 Michael Carricks second stint as Manchester United head coach has started well, but Ineos still plan to wait until the summer before naming a permanent manager.

When the Briton stepped in as Manchester United head coach for the second time, he knew it would not be an easy run of fixtures, but he has handled it better than most could have hoped.

Following the Manchester derby win, Arsenal were next on the schedule. The Red Devils came through again with a 3-2 victory, giving them six points from two matches against title-chasing teams.

Carrick is not getting ahead of himself. He knows there is still a long way to go if he wants the role full-time. But these early results have certainly put him in the frame against some world-class names, such as Carlo Ancelotti.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic praises Carlo Ancelotti as manager is tied to Manchester United

Carrick has done an outstanding job, and whether he lands the position permanently or not, United fans will remember him fondly, especially with Champions League qualification looking increasingly likely.

If the Briton does not get the permanent role, it is difficult to argue against bringing in a manager with the experience of Ancelotti.

Ancelotti is widely respected in the football world and has been mentioned as someone Ineos might be considering for the summer.

Speaking on Slaven Bilic’s Arena Sport podcast, Zlatan Ibrahimovic praised him as a head coach.

“Ancelotti is a manager. Old school, but he’s good,” the Swede said.

“Like a father, a friend, everything. No one had a problem with him. If you didn’t play, you still didn’t have a problem.

“Everyone was satisfied because there were no problems. He had that feeling of wanting to be good with everyone. I asked him: ‘How do you do it?’

“We had this situation on the right wing. Two players played one match. Then the next match, half and half. ‘How do you control that?’ I asked. ‘It’s easy, Ibra,’ he said. “So what do you tell them?”

“’To one player I say he’s the best in the team, then I go to the other and say the same thing.’

“At one training session I touch him like this (poked him in the shoulder). He looks at me and says, ‘Who told you, you can touch me like that?’ I was shocked. I say: ‘Carlo?’ He says: ‘Relax. I’m joking.’

I tell him: ‘Carlo, don’t Scare me.’

“He shocked me, because that’s not him. That’s how good he was. Incredible.”

Michael Carrick’s results put pressure on Ineos’ summer plans

Carrick has made a strong case to stay in charge beyond the summer, even if the club’s original plan was to look for a big-name manager like Ancelotti or Thomas Tuchel.

There has also been talk of Carrick having the right backroom team around him, with Steve Holland playing a key role in providing structure and experience. That is one thing that sets this situation apart from the one Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found himself in.

Keeping Solskjaer was not a bad call either. In terms of results and performances, he delivered more than most managers since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down.

Carrick still needs to show consistency over a longer stretch before any decisions are made, but his start has certainly put him in contention.

With recent finishes of 8th and 15th, United are not in a position to overlook a coach who is clearly getting more out of this squad.

Ineos have time until May to make their call. Based on what we have seen so far, though, Carrick is building quite the case.

Mark Carney mesmerised Davos. But his words aren’t fooling everyone

 Mark Carney’s approval rating has soared to record highs after a Davos speech in which he confronted Donald Trump and urged allies to unite against authoritarianism.

The Canadian prime minister’s popularity surged in the wake of his address to the World Economic Forum that called on “middle powers” to rally together against bullying by the United States.

The speech also resonated among leaders in Europe, where Mr Carney received praise for his blunt assessment of global power politics.

A poll released on Monday by the Angus Reid Institute, a Canadian research group, found that Mr Carney’s approval rating had jumped eight points to 60 per cent – his highest figure since being elected prime minister in March.

The US president’s popularity, meanwhile, slumped to 38 per cent, tied for the lowest rating he has received in his second term, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Mr Carney came to power unexpectedly last year by offering an alternative to Canada’s mainstream Right, which had grown close to Mr Trump.

In the Swiss Alps last week, the former Bank of England governor railed against “great powers” using economic integration as “weapons”. He warned of the danger for mid-sized countries that “integration becomes the source of your subordination”.

“The middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu,” he said.

His words, widely interpreted as a rallying cry against Mr Trump, enchanted much of the Davos elite, who praised him for his unsparing recognition of the new reality in a way most European leaders had not.

On Tuesday, a defiant Mr Carney said he told Mr Trump that he stood by his remarks. “To be absolutely clear, and I said this to the president: ‘I meant what I said in Davos.’”

A week on, the “Carney Doctrine” was still ricocheting through Brussels.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, told a European Defence summit on Wednesday that Mr Carney “hit the nail on its head”, urging Europe to “act with urgency” by acknowledging the “tectonic shift” away from Cold War-era world order.

An EU diplomat said his words were “received very positively across the board ... his analysis may not be new, but that is what we needed to hear”, they told The Telegraph.

Amid the US threatening to take Greenland and its uncertain commitment to Nato, Mr Carney “has shown a strong openness to Europe that we should face common challenges together”.

Another EU diplomat, however, cautioned that his declaration of partial independence from American-led order is far from a blueprint for Europe.

“It’s one thing to say Pax Americana is over, but on a professional level, it’s poppycock … As a politician you should not just pinpoint a problem but set out the way forward. His analysis is correct, but what’s next?”

First, he is having to face the White House’s retribution.

It came swiftly. Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, encouraged Alberta’s secessionist movement, telling the oil-rich province to “come on down” to America, while Mr Trump revoked his invitation for Mr Carney to join his Board of Peace to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.

Mr Trump also threatened Canada with 100 per cent tariffs if it pursued a trade deal with China, warning its growing economic cooperation with Beijing was “systematically destroying” itself.

Mr Carney had visited Beijing before Davos, signing a deal to reduce tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and Canadian agricultural projects, breaking step with US policy.

Mr Carney, in his comments on Tuesday, said he is merely diversifying Canada’s trade abroad. “Canada was the first country to understand the change in US trade policy that he initiated, and we’re responding to that.”

But just like Sir Keir Starmer as he embarks on his four-day visit, the Canadian leader will have to navigate the difficulty of managing relations between two rival superpowers.

The Prime Minister on Wednesday somewhat rejected Mr Carney’s call for middle powers to band together, insisting his “common sense” British approach would work, as he attempts to build bridges with Washington, Brussels and Beijing at the same time.

The US will also launch a formal review this year of the North American trade treaty (USMCA) – last negotiated in 2018. The Trump administration is expected to push for further concessions from Canada.

On the home front, Mr Carney faces major hurdles ahead. While he remains more popular than his Conservative Party rival, Pierre Poilievre, polls show that the Liberals only have a narrow lead.

It is also harder for Mr Carney to pursue his agenda when he leads a minority government.

“Canada understands it has to forge its own path on a number of different fronts. Carney’s declarative, elbows-up moment at Davos is something that Canadians appreciated,” said Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute.

“But there are major domestic challenges,” she added.

Canadians are grappling with rising costs and expensive housing, feeling the symptoms of US tariffs on steel, car and aluminium industries and unsettled by the repeated US threats towards their sovereignty.

Mr Carney’s movement towards closer ties with Beijing was also met with caution, concern and suspicion. “But Canadians are internalising the fact that in the absence of a long-relied-upon, cooperative economic relationship with the US, Canada has to find other nations to do business with,” Ms Kurl added.

“As long as Trump remains the main protagonist in Canadian domestic politics ... Canadians will favour a leader who is willing to stand up to him”.

Roland Paris, professor of internal affairs at the University of Ottawa, said: “For now, Mark Carney is the right man at the right moment. There is an understanding in Canada that simply trying to placate Trump is not a sufficient strategy.”

Indonesia's ATM networks shrink as digital banking surges

 Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK) expects the number of automated teller machines (ATM) to continue declining, driven by the rapid adoption of digital banking services and cashless payment systems.

OJK’s Chief Banking Supervisor Dian Ediana Rae said in Jakarta on Monday that decisions to reduce ATM networks remain business considerations for banks, but changing customer behavior linked to financial technology is accelerating the shift away from physical infrastructure.

According to OJK’s latest banking surveillance report, the number of ATMs, cash deposit machines, and cash recycling machines stood at 89,774 units in the third quarter of 2025, down from 91,173 units in the same period a year earlier.

The data indicate a net reduction of nearly 1,400 machines over the 12-month period.

Rae said digital platforms now enable customers to access banking services at any time and from any location, reducing reliance on physical infrastructure.

The growing convenience of mobile and online transactions, along with the increasing use of non-cash payments, has made cash withdrawals less essential for many customers.

Banks are also seeking greater operational efficiency by strengthening digital services, reducing infrastructure costs, and streamlining business processes.

Rae said these steps not only help improve bank profitability but also support Indonesia’s transition toward a cashless society.

“Non-cash payment systems make economic transactions more efficient and have the potential to encourage broader economic activity,” he said.

The trend highlights a broader transformation in Indonesia’s financial sector, where digital adoption is reshaping banking services and accelerating the country’s move toward a more modern, cashless economy, Rae added.

High-tech transfer boost health quick wins' progress: ministry

 The Health Ministry stated that high-technology transfer supports national efforts towards medical equipment resilience, as well as boosts progress in two quick win programs, namely Free Health Checkup (CKG) and the upgrading of 66 regional hospitals.

The ministry's director for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Lucia Rizka Andalusia, said here on Monday that the high technology transfer initiative among Philips, Graha Teknomedika, and Panasonic Healthcare Indonesia aligns with the health transformation agenda and quick win programs.

Under the initiative, Philips’ ultrasound devices and patient monitors are included in the technology transfer. Andalusia said that by 2026, the government aims for the participation of 130 million people in CKG, a program aimed at catastrophic diseases prevention and care.

"Of course, the success of the free health screening must be supported by adequate diagnostic facilities at every primary healthcare. One of which is ultrasound equipment," she said.

Furthermore, another important presidential quick win agenda is to improve the capability and competency of 66 regional hospitals, from grade D to grade C. She highlighted the importance of the upgrade in providing treatment for prioritized diseases, which include cancer, heart disease, neural disorders, as well as urology and nephrology diseases.

To achieve the goal, it requires a significant boost in infrastructure and facilities, particularly through the local production of advanced medical devices, she said, adding that local manufacturing helps ensure the availability of more effective diagnostic tools at an affordable price.

"As we advance toward our national goals Indonesia Emas 2045, the Ministry of Health views the growth of the medical device industry not merely as a business expansion, but as a critical driver for Indonesia's transition into a high technology innovation-based economy," she added.

She expected that the partnership can inspire other manufacturers and investors to localize their production in Indonesia, further driving the growth of the high technology medical devices industry.

"Last but not least, by establishing this partnership, we are contributing to a more stable and reliable healthcare ecosystem in Indonesia," Andalusia noted.

On the same occasion, President Director of Philips APAC Stephanie Sievers stated that they combined the company’s global-tier innovation with local expertise to deliver solutions that will make a positive impact on healthcare in Indonesia.

"Local manufacturing allows us to shorten delivery times, strengthen supply resilience, and build up local medical device capabilities. Most importantly, this serves the needs of patients across the nation," Sievers said.

She said that their ultrasound product offers features such as high resolution, real-time imaging, and AI-enabled tools allowing for broad clinical applications, including cardiology and women's health.

Whereas their patient monitor product is trusted globally for its accuracy, intelligent alarms, advanced analytics, and system integration within hospital systems, she added.

President Director of Philips Indonesia Astri Ramayanti Dharmawan expressed hope that her company’s initiative can support the national health transformation agenda while strengthening the domestic industry by creating employment through local manufacturing.

Indonesia holds health screening in over 200,000 schools nationwide

 The Ministry of Health has implemented the Free Health Screening program, known locally as CKG, in 202,284 schools, madrasahs (Islamic school), and pesantrens (Islamic boarding school) across Indonesia, reaching 71 percent of the target.

Director General of Primary and Community Health at the ministry, Maria Endang Sumiwi, said here on Friday that the program has so far covered around 25 million students, or 49 percent of the target, across 38 provinces.

"One in five school-age children and adolescents has blood pressure above the normal range. While the normal level is 120/80, we found many who already have hypertension or pre-hypertension," she said, outlining the health problems found in the screening.

According to Sumiwi, this condition increases the risk of more serious health problems later in life. She emphasized the need to reduce excessive salt intake, particularly from processed foods and snacks, as a preventive measure.

The screening also found that a significant number of children are overweight or obese, affecting about seven out of every 100 children.

“The combination of high blood pressure, overnutrition, and obesity significantly increases the risk of developing chronic diseases in the future,” she said.

Sumiwi noted that the ministry also identified ear-related health issues in 26 out of every 100 children, ranging from infections to hearing loss, which can affect their overall quality of life.

She added that one in four teenagers was found to have anemia. To address this issue, she stressed the importance of a balanced diet and said iron supplementation is necessary, particularly for teenage girls, to improve iron levels.

In addition, she said 47 percent of school-age children and adolescents experience dental problems, including cavities caused by poor brushing habits and excessive sugar consumption. She recommended regular dental check-ups every six months.

The Indonesian government launched the CKG program on February 10, 2025, as part of efforts to improve the overall health quality of the population.

With a target of reaching the entire population of around 280 million people, the health screening initiative is among the largest health programs in the world and is based on the principle of leaving no one behind.

Health screening services initially began at community health centers (puskesmas), for the general public, before expanding to schools on August 4, 2025, to directly reach students.

Indonesia launches national research and innovation roadmap

  The National Research and Innovation Agency, or BRIN, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, has launched the National Research and Innovation Roadmap to serve as a guiding framework for researchers and universities.

BRIN Head Arif Satria said in Jakarta on Friday that the agency cannot work alone in supporting research and addressing regional challenges, underscoring the crucial role of universities.

“The rectors who lead state universities are key pillars in advancing research in Indonesia. BRIN cannot work alone. We must collaborate because we need a unified research umbrella,” he said.

Satria explained that the roadmap outlines eight priority agendas, food sovereignty, energy sovereignty, water security and sustainable environmental development, health sovereignty, strengthening strategic industries, strengthening social and community resilience, aerospace development, and nuclear energy development.

“This is a breakthrough to strengthen research so it can be carried out more efficiently, effectively, and with clear objectives,” he said.

He expressed hope that BRIN’s research facilities in various regions can be further strengthened through collaboration with universities, thereby supporting regional development and helping resolve local challenges.

Satria also emphasized BRIN’s role in anticipating future technological developments, noting that research planning must project technologies expected to emerge between 2035 and 2050.

“This is to ensure that we do not fall behind other countries. We can prepare early and project these technologies effectively,” he said.

As part of efforts to strengthen research, the Indonesian government has increased the research funding ceiling to Rp12 trillion, or about US$713 million, in 2026 from Rp8 trillion previously.

President Prabowo Subianto has also called on universities to prioritize research that supports food and energy self-sufficiency, industrialization, and downstreaming programs.

Moment Pep Guardiola reacts to Manchester City’s derby loss

 Watch the moment Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola reacts to the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United in the highly anticipated derby.

“The better team won,” Guardiola said.

“They had something we didn’t have. We always talk about the energy we need. We had that energy three or four days ago at Newcastle,” he added.

“Even in the three games we drew we played extremely good in many departments but today no.”

Iran 'cutting off internet' as Islamic Republic blames Trump for death of pro-democracy protesters

 Iran is planning on permanently breaking from the global internet, allowing only a select few vetted individuals to have access online, according to Iranian digital rights activists.

The Islamic Republic's proposals come as it blamed Donald Trump for the death of pro-democracy protesters, which has seen over 2,400 people killed, according to rights groups.

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, described the US President as a "criminal" for inflicting casualties, damage and slander on the Iranian people during the protests.

Iranian media quoted him saying: "The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the U.S. President personally became involved... We will not drag the country into war, but we will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished."

According to a report from Filterwatch, a group monitoring Iran's internet situation: "A confidential plan is underway to turn international internet access into a 'governmental privilege'.

"State media and Government spokespersons have already signalled that this is a permanent shift, warning that unrestricted access will not return after 2026."

Leader of Filterwatch, Amir Rashidi, said under the current plans, Iranians who have passed security clearance or Government checks would have access to a filtered version of the global internet.

All other nationals will only be able to access a domestic internet, being cut off from the wider world.

Iran's ongoing internet outage started on January 8 after nearly two weeks of escalating anti-regime protests.

A small amount of information has come out of the country since the blackout, with a Government spokesman telling Iranian media the internet shutdown will last until at least Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 20.

Mr Rashidi said: "It looks like (authorities) are happy with the current level of internet connectivity, and they believe this kind of shutdown helped them to control the situation."

A former US State Department official who specialised in internet censorship described Iran's control over the internet as "plausible and terrifying".

They said: "It's not out of the question that they're going to do it, but seeing these situations unfold, the economic impact and the cultural impact will be really massive. And they may overplay their hand."

Iran's ongoing shutdown is a 16-year effort in the making, as it tries to get a foothold on the public's internet access, allowing only a select few to use it unrestricted, a move known as whitelisting.

The practice is made possible by high-capacity middleboxes, which are devices that attach to network cables and monitor or manipulate internet traffic.

The systems are available now, which have the power to spy on individual users, block websites and some VPN tools.

"Basically, there's this censorship equipment that is sitting on every network, and the Government can prevent connections going in both directions," they said.

Iran has been moving towards a national internet since 2009, following authorities briefly shutting it down during large-scale protests after the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Researchers at Outline Foundation and Project Ainita said: "They literally just pulled the plug without thinking. They had never done it before.

"And it basically threw the entire internet, and it really damaged a lot of things on their end as well."

The former US State Department official stated Iran's recent disclosures about its ability to control the internet are significant and surpass those of several other authoritarian regimes that might seek to implement similar measures.

But it remains to be seen if Iran can create a new, permanent online world.

"The digital rights community is right to raise the alarm. But the impacts of this will be really severe for Iranian authorities, who will bear responsibility for that harm to their economy," the official said.

Gov't to take action against misuse of Hajj fund

 Hajj and Umrah Affairs Minister Mochammad Irfan Yusuf said his ministry would take firm action against any violations or misuse of budget funds in the organization of the Hajj pilgrimage, both in Indonesia and in Saudi Arabia.

“I have emphasized to the teams being deployed that there must be no intention to gain even one rupiah from our work, whether in Indonesia or in Saudi Arabia,” Yusuf said in Jakarta on Wednesday during the handover of the 2026 Hajj operational budget.

The minister stressed that all Hajj pilgrims’ funds must be spent strictly according to need and managed in an accountable and transparent manner to ensure the benefit and welfare of the pilgrims.

“These funds must be used based on real needs, so that this year and in the years ahead the management of Hajj funds is truly accountable. Our main orientation is the interests and welfare of the pilgrims,” he said.

Yusuf noted that the annual circulation of Hajj funds is substantial, reaching around Rp18 trillion, or about US$1 billion, and therefore requires responsibility that goes beyond administrative compliance to include moral and spiritual accountability.

To strengthen oversight, the minister said two directorates within the ministry have law enforcement authority, namely the Inspectorate General and the Directorate General of Control of Hajj and Umrah Organization.

He added that funds entrusted by the ummah must be managed properly and carefully to maintain public trust in the organization of the Hajj pilgrimage.

“The management of the ummah’s funds must be carried out in the best and most orderly manner possible,” Yusuf said.

Finance Minister confident rupiah to strengthen within two weeks

 Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said he is confident the rupiah will rebound against the US dollar within the next two weeks.

“There is no need to panic. The rupiah will strengthen in the next two weeks,” Sadewa told reporters 

He said he is still awaiting input from Bank Indonesia, the monetary authority responsible for maintaining rupiah stability.

At the same time, Sadewa said the government continues to improve national economic performance to support higher growth. He expressed optimism that Indonesia’s economy could expand by six percent in 2026.

“The economic fundamentals will continue to improve. There is no reason for people to be afraid to hold rupiah. Foreign investors have also entered, as reflected in our capital market. If managed properly, restoring the rupiah is not too difficult,” he said.

The rupiah strengthened at the opening of trading in Jakarta on Wednesday, gaining seven points, or 0.04 percent, to Rp16,870 per US dollar from Rp16,877 previously.

Permata Bank chief economist Josua Pardede said the rupiah could face pressure amid US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on countries trading with Iran.

“This announcement has raised trade tensions between the United States and China, especially as China is a major importer of Iranian oil,” he told ANTARA.

Quoting Anadolu, Trump announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on countries that continue trading with Iran, stressing that the decision is final and will be implemented soon, although further details have yet to be disclosed.

Additional sentiment came from US inflation data for December 2025, which showed headline inflation steady at 2.7 percent year on year, in line with expectations. Core inflation was unchanged at 2.6 percent year on year, below the market forecast of 2.7 percent.

Through certifications, RI ensures fish exports meet global standards

 The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has ensured that Indonesian fishery products can be accepted in global markets by maintaining quality standards through the Fish Products Quality and Safety Certificate (SMKHP).

Head of the ministry’s Marine and Fishery Products Quality Control and Monitoring Agency, Ishartini, said on Friday that the certificate serves as official proof that exported products meet the quality requirements set by destination countries.

She emphasized that the SMKHP demonstrates compliance with international sanitation, hygiene, and food safety standards throughout the production process.

"Thus meeting an appropriate level of food protection in that country, enabling easy penetration of their market," she said.

As an example, Ishartini cited a recent case in which 20 containers of frozen shrimp from Surabaya were temporarily held at a port in the United States.

After the exporter presented the required quality certificate issued by the Surabaya I Quality Control Unit and confirmed by the ministry, the containers were cleared and allowed to enter the market.

She added that the SMKHP can now be obtained more easily, as the government provides online processing through the Siap Mutu application, which is integrated with the Indonesia National Single Window (INSW).

The ministry’s 46 quality control units across Indonesia are ready to assist exporters in obtaining the certificate, ensuring fast and efficient issuance, she pointed out.

"This is proof of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry's commitment to supporting Indonesia's fisheries products in the global market," she said.

A representative from the exporter company, Clorinda, confirmed the experience, saying the company's 20 containers of frozen food were halted at the US's Chicago port.

"The US Food and Drug Administration sent an email notifying us, through a customs broker, saying that there was incomplete documentation," they recalled.

After the quality certification document was shown, all the containers were allowed further transport.

The Surabaya I Quality Control Unit noted that the export shipment, totaling 263 thousand tonnes with a value of Rp63.4 billion (around US$3.8 million), was ultimately able to be distributed overseas owing to the certificate.

Govt designates marine conservation area in West Wetar waters, Maluku

  Indonesia has designated more than 325,000 hectares of West Wetar waters in Southwest Maluku District, Maluku Province, as a protected marine area aimed at preserving biodiversity and sustaining coastal communities.

The Director of Ecosystem Conservation at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Firdaus Agung, stated in a statement on Friday that the designation is part of the government’s commitment to protecting high-value marine ecosystems in eastern Indonesia.

“The park in the West Wetar waters consists of a core zone covering 2,726.42 hectares, a limited-use zone covering 322,408.07 hectares, and other use zones covering 103.53 hectares. This zoning arrangement serves as the basis for measured conservation area management based on ecosystem protection,” he explained.

According to him, the designation of this marine conservation area was made through the Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Number 89 of 2025, dated December 31, 2025.

The area, named the West Wetar Marine Park, is the newest marine conservation area in Maluku Province, with a total area of 325,238.02 hectares, encompassing two management units: the waters of West Wetar and the waters south of Wetar Island.

The designation process was led by the Maluku Provincial Marine Affairs and Fisheries Office, with assistance from Konservasi Indonesia (KI) through a series of processes that began in 2022.

This assistance included a Marine Rapid Assessment, the development of zoning and management plans, and consultations with stakeholders at the village, district, and provincial levels.

In the same statement, Konservasi Indonesia’s Marine Ecology Manager, Jimy Kalther, explained that the waters of West Wetar are part of a broader ecological system, including a movement corridor for marine megafauna.

“This area not only serves as a local habitat, but also as part of the movement route for marine megafauna. Therefore, its management must be based on science to ensure the protection of its ecological function,” he pointed out.

The Marine Rapid Assessment also identified two important fish spawning locations: in Ustutun Village, Lirang Island, as a spawning area for imperator fish (Monotaxis grandoculis) and in Telemar Village as a spawning area for a species of snapper (Macolor macularis).

Furthermore, the area also contains an atoll with excellent coral reef cover.

“The park in the Western Wetar waters was established to protect coral reefs, including atolls, seagrass beds, and mangroves, while also maintaining the migration routes of marine mammals such as whale sharks, sperm whales, and pygmy blue whales,” Kalther noted.

Minister ties education reform to natural resource sovereignty

 Indonesia’s Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti has warned that the nation’s vast natural wealth will remain untapped without a significant upgrade in human capital, urging students to master skills necessary for national economic sovereignty.

Speaking Thursday at a school in West Java, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education addressed a critical paradox in Southeast Asia’s largest economy: while Indonesia is rich in minerals and biodiversity, its human resources often lack the specialized knowledge required to transform these raw assets into high-value national welfare.

“Many natural resources cannot be utilized because we lack the necessary knowledge and skills,” Mu'ti told students at State Junior High School 1 Tarogong Kaler in Garut.

“Without early preparation, the opportunities bestowed by our natural wealth may never be fully realized.”

The Minister’s remarks come as Indonesia pushes for a "downstreaming" economic policy, which seeks to process raw materials domestically rather than exporting them.

This shift requires a workforce that is not only academically proficient but also technically skilled and resilient.

To foster this transformation, Mu'ti introduced a holistic approach to student development.

“With knowledge, everything becomes easier; with art, everything becomes beautiful; and with good character, everything becomes noble,” Mu'ti concluded, framing education as the essential bridge between Indonesia’s current status and its goal of becoming an advanced global power.

Health Ministry reports sharp drop in MBG food poisoning cases

  Indonesia’s Ministry of Health reported a sharp decline in food poisoning cases linked to the government’s "Free Nutritious Meals" (MBG) program, with incidents dropping to just 12 cases in December 2025 as safety protocols tightened.

Deputy Health Minister Benjamin Paulus Octavianus revealed on Thursday that the program, which previously saw thousands of monthly incidents during its early stages, has recorded zero cases over the past 19 days.

"We are grateful that throughout December 2025, there were only 12 incidents. Previously, the figures were in the thousands—three thousand, two thousand, then one thousand—so it is getting better every day," Octavianus told reporters in Jakarta.

The decline is being credited to more rigorous oversight by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN)

To reach a "zero incident" target, the Ministry of Health is strictly monitoring and updating a registry of service kitchens that hold mandatory Sanitation Hygiene Certificates (SLHS).

Beyond safety, the government is shifting its focus toward specialized nutritional interventions.

Officials are now working to identify beneficiaries with specific food allergies while maintaining standard meal portions.

The ultimate goal of the program is to improve national health outcomes, particularly by reducing the prevalence of stunting—a condition of impaired growth and development due to poor nutrition—among Indonesian children.

Launched on January 6, 2025, by President Prabowo Subianto, the free meals program is one of the world's most ambitious social welfare projects.

It aims to provide daily nutrition to 82.9 million people, including students from preschool to high school, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers.

By the end of 2025, the BGN had established 19,188 specialized kitchens across the archipelago, serving approximately 55.1 million people.

The government expects to reach its full target of nearly 83 million beneficiaries by February 2026.

Minister urges digital supervision on children to curb violence

  Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi emphasized the importance of parental supervision over children’s use of gadgets, social media, and online games to prevent violence, whether children become perpetrators or victims.

“Content containing elements of violence can affect a child’s psychological condition if it is not properly supervised,” Fauzi said on Friday, responding to a case in which a child fatally assaulted her mother in Medan City, North Sumatra.

She stressed that parenting patterns involving both fathers and mothers play a crucial role in shaping a child’s character and emotional control through affectionate care and effective communication.

Fauzi also warned against stigmatizing or labeling children negatively, noting that children can also be victims of inadequate parenting.

“Therefore, it is important not to give stigma or negative labels to children, because they may be victims of insufficient parenting practices,” she said.

The ministry, she added, has coordinated with various parties, including the Medan City Police, the North Sumatra Provincial Office for Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection and Family Planning, as well as psychologists, to provide assistance in handling the case.

“The handling of cases involving children must truly prioritize the best interests of the child. From the beginning, the ministry has continued to provide assistance and cross-sector coordination with the police, local governments, and relevant service units,” Fauzi said

She emphasized that the assistance aims to ensure that every stage of the legal process complies with Law No. 11 of 2012 on the Juvenile Criminal Justice System.

“We continue to ensure that children’s rights are fulfilled in legal, psychological, social, and educational aspects,” Fauzi added.

Gunung Wayang remains protected under village forest program: Ministry

 The Ministry of Forestry has confirmed that the Gunung Wayang area in Bandung District, West Java, remains a protected forest and is currently managed as a village forest under the Social Forestry program.

Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at the ministry Krisdianto said on Friday that Ministerial Decree No. 10629 of 2025, dated November 11, 2025, does not constitute a new permit but represents an administrative transition from a forestry partnership scheme to village forest management.

In Indonesia, social forestry is a national program aimed at granting local and indigenous communities legal access to manage state-owned forest areas.

“The approval for village forest management does not transfer land ownership or alter the area’s status. It remains a protected forest under state control and is not transferred to any party. Community management access under the village forest scheme is limited and monitored by the state,” he said.

Krisdianto also emphasized strict prohibitions on land conversion, commercial logging, and land trading. Any activities that undermine the forest’s protective function are prohibited and may be subject to sanctions, including permit revocation.

Regarding proposals to designate Gunung Wayang as a West Java Great Forest Park, he said the process is still underway and is awaiting a technical assessment scheduled for 2026.

“The village forest decree does not cancel or obstruct the Great Forest Park proposal and will be adjusted based on recommendations from the integrated technical team,” he said.

Previously, the West Java provincial government announced plans to designate three forest areas as great forest parks, namely Sanggabuana, Gunung Cikuray, and Gunung Wayang.

Gov't outlines scenarios in emergency response period curriculum

  Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti has outlined several curriculum scenarios or phases to be implemented during the emergency response period in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

For the first phase, covering months zero to three of the emergency response period, Mu’ti said schools that do not require major repairs will apply a simplified curriculum focusing on essential competencies such as literacy, numeracy, health and safety, psychosocial support, and disaster mitigation.

"Learning methods are adaptive, flexible. And then, psychosocial support is integrated with learning activities, with simple assessments," Mu'ti said here on Tuesday.

He explained that the main focus of this phase is to ensure students are able to attend school and feel safe and comfortable.

The second scenario, which will be applied during months three to 12 of the emergency response period, emphasizes adaptability to crisis conditions by integrating disaster mitigation into relevant subjects.

This scenario is intended for schools that require a longer period of reconstruction, the minister said. Under this phase, the curriculum prioritizes the recovery of learning activities, flexible learning arrangements, and differentiated instruction.

"The schedule is adjusted to the condition of the students, who may still be in the shelter, implementation of blended or hybrid learning where possible, and grouping based on students' progress," he elaborated.

He noted that there is a portfolio-based assessment system during the transitional period, and remedials are hosted regularly to help heavily-affected students catch up. There is also socio-emotional monitoring for students, he added.

The third scenario, covering a period of one to three years, is designed for areas where schools have been completely destroyed and require full reconstruction that may take more than a year.

“Therefore, learning will be carried out through the permanent integration of disaster education, strengthening the quality of learning, and resilience-based inclusive education, as well as a monitoring and evaluation system for emergency education,” he elaborated.

Govt allocates budget for rebuilding disaster-affected Sumatra

 Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the government has allocated funding to rebuild disaster-affected areas in Sumatra.

“In addition, to utilize the 2026 state budget for rebuilding disaster-affected areas, the estimated funding requirement is around Rp51 trillion, although earlier estimates suggested it could reach nearly Rp60 trillion,” Purbaya said during a coordination meeting of the Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force with ministries, agencies, and affected regional leaders, as followed online in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He added that funds have already been allocated through budget reallocation, while the government will later assess how the disbursement will be distributed across ministries, agencies, and other state institutions.

He said he would wait for input from the task force or the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in accordance with the president’s directives.

“In principle, if there is a task force or BNPB acting under the president’s directive, we are ready. Funds for Aceh and other disaster-affected areas have been prepared and will not be reallocated,” he said.

Purbaya also emphasized that funding for disaster response, including post-disaster recovery efforts in Sumatra, is sufficient and does not require reallocating the budget for the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG).

He noted that the government has prepared a total disaster response budget of Rp60 trillion.

According to him, the actual funding needs currently proposed for post-flood recovery in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra amount to around Rp51 trillion.

With the available budget, Purbaya stressed that the government remains committed to implementing the MBG program as planned.

He added that there is no policy to disrupt or shift the MBG budget, as disaster financing needs have already been accommodated within existing budget allocations.