VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

World leaders attending the G20 Summit pose for a group photo in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

VOInews, Rio De Janeiro : The escalating war in Ukraine and stalled UN climate negotiations dominated the final day of a G20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday (Nov 19), held in the shadow of Donald Trump's looming US presidency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping - the most powerful leader at the summit - repeated his warning of turbulent times ahead, warning his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a meeting of increasing "risks and challenges".

Macron told Russia ally Xi that the two shared "converging views" on seeing peace brought about in Ukraine, while also expressing concern about "bellicose and escalatory comments from Russia about its nuclear doctrine".

Xi has sought in vain, with Brazil, to get Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table but developments in the war are rapidly overtaking diplomacy.

President Joe Biden, at the G20 summit as a diminished figure given Trump's imminent arrival on the world scene, made a last-gasp major policy shift by allowing Ukraine to fire US-supplied long-range missiles into Russia.

Russia, which has warned it will respond if targeted by the weapons, said Tuesday Ukraine fired US ATACMS missiles into its border region.

Macron has called Biden's decision to free Ukraine's hand with US missiles "good". But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it would not follow suit and continued to hold out on giving sophisticated Taurus missiles to Kyiv.

The summit statement also had the leaders urging an end to conflict in the Middle East, where Israel is waging offensives in both Gaza and Lebanon. Israel and archenemy Iran have also exchanged fire.

The G20 called for "comprehensive" ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon//CNA-VOI

The Indonesian National Team (national team) won when they hosted Saudi Arabia in the 6th match of the 2026 World Cup Qualification, Tuesday (19/11). This result makes Indonesia rank 3rd in the standings - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Two goals from Marselino Ferdinan brought the Indonesian national team to beat Saudi Arabia with a score of 2-0 in the Group C match of the third round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the Asian zone, Tuesday.

The victory in the match held at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK) was Indonesia's first three points in the third round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the Asian zone.

Indonesia has now collected six points from six matches in Group C, only three points less than the minimum target set by PSSI for the "Garuda" squad in the qualifying phase.

In the match against Saudi Arabia, Marselino Ferdinan scored goals in the 32nd and 57th minutes. When he scored his first goal, the 20 year old footballer took advantage of a pass from Ragnar Oratmangoen.

Meanwhile, his second goal was the result of Marselino's ability to take advantage of a mistake in the Saudi Arabian defense.

Indonesia appeared to be pressing from the first minute in order to gain victory from the match.

Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo wants the Indonesian National Team to maintain the victory they achieved against the Saudi Arabian National Team when facing the next matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Asian zone.

"Hopefully (the victory against the Saudi Arabian national team) can be maintained for the next match, (I am) very optimistic (it can be maintained)," said Dito Ariotedjo as quoted on the official website of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Dito added that this victory was proof of the collaboration between diaspora players and other players who were born and raised in Indonesia.

"This collaboration resulted in two goals scored by Marselino, a young Indonesian," he said.

The Indonesian national team has played six of the 10 matches in the third qualifying round in their fight to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

In the four remaining matches that will take place in 2025, coach Shin Tae-yong's children will visit Australia on March 20, host Bahrain on March 25 and China on June 5, and visit Japan on June 10//Antara-VOI

Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid (second from the left) meets with U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago (second from the right) and U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir (third from the right) in Jakarta on Monday (November 19, 2024). ANTARA/HO-Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry

VOInews, Jakarta : Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid met with U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago to discuss strengthening cooperation in digital technology.

"This meeting is a strategic step in strengthening relations between Indonesia and the United States, particularly in the field of digital technology, which is a key driver of inclusivity and economic growth," Hafid said in a statement released by her ministry on Tuesday (November 19).

The meeting, which took place on Monday (November 18), was also attended by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir.

The discussion covered a range of topics, including AI development, smart cities, and strategies for creating an inclusive and equitable digital transformation in Indonesia, according to the statement.

Regarding smart cities, Hafid noted that 12 American companies are eager to cooperate on their development and are scheduled to visit Jakarta, Denpasar, and Nusantara.

She expressed hope that this growing interest from companies would lead to concrete investments and support the development of smart cities in Indonesia, particularly in the new capital, Nusantara.

"We greatly appreciate the support of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency in advancing digital infrastructure in Indonesia, including smart cities," Hafid said.

"The plan to increase connectivity and expand access to information technology is crucial to the success of this transformation," she explained.

To support digital transformation, the collaboration will also include a joint study focused on strengthening cybersecurity and advancing AI-based technology.

The minister emphasized the importance of adopting a responsible and inclusive approach to the implementation of AI in Indonesia, in line with principles of sustainability and ensuring positive impacts on the wider community.

"Through this partnership, we aim to ensure that AI not only drives innovation but also contributes to sustainable socioeconomic progress," Hafid added//Antara-VOI

An officer assists airplane passengers using the automatic gate for immigration checks at Terminal 3 of Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday (3/1/2024). (ANTARA FOTO/SULTHONY HASANUDDIN)

VOInews, Canada : The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections revealed the new design of the Indonesian passport, which features the Red and White flag, at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Symposium in Montreal, Canada.

The ministry's director of immigration cooperation, Anggiat Napitupulu, explained the features of the latest generation of electronic passports, which will not only function as travel documents but also represent Indonesian identity and culture.

"The new Indonesian passport is equipped with various sophisticated security features. So, the use of 33 traditional batik motifs printed with special technology is not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for security reasons," Napitupulu said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

At the forum attended by representatives of 193 ICAO member countries, he informed that the passport chip has been connected to a radio antenna to allow for safer storage of biometric data and the holder's digital signature.

"The biodata page made of polycarbonate also makes this passport more durable and difficult to counterfeit," he said.

In addition, he emphasized that the new design of the Indonesian passport is an effort by Immigration to strengthen travel documents.

"The use of a combination of security features, raw materials, and other latest techniques according to ICAO standards is a major concern to ensure that the passport can be protected while being used for international crossings while promoting Indonesian culture with its beautiful design," he said.

During the symposium, the technique of changing shape or morphing, which poses a threat to the security of international travel documents, was discussed.

"Morphing allows someone to combine the faces of two different people in a photo so that it can be used to forge identities. To anticipate this threat, countries in the world continue to develop more sophisticated security technologies and procedures, including Indonesia," Napitupulu informed.

The ICAO Symposium took place in Montreal, Canada, from November 13–15, 2024. The forum discussed current issues in managing traveler identities.

Indonesia joined the ICAO Public Key Directory (PKD) network in 2019. PKD is a central repository controlled by ICAO as a medium for authenticating travel documents for each registered country and as per the format of the travel document reader machine to ensure its validity.

ICAO PKD membership allows Indonesia to exchange information with other countries to verify the authenticity of travel documents and increase cooperation in combating transnational crimes involving document misuse.

"We have joined the ICAO PKD network. Thus, our passports have been registered in the international travel information system and thus, information regarding the travel document will be shared with all international crossings of ICAO members that have registered for PKD," he added//Antara-VOI