Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – US President Donald Trump's 19 percent tariffs on Indonesian goods officially kicked in on Thursday, just after the clock struck midnight in Washington.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian immigration officials are investigating two Israeli nationals, reportedly former members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), for allegedly managing a series of luxury villas in Bali.

Immigration and Correctional Affairs Minister Agus Andrianto confirmed on Wednesday that an investigation is underway, with a team already deployed on site.

The raising of the One Piece manga series flag ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day on August 17 has caught public attention. The flag of the Japanese manga series about pirates, known as the Jolly Roger, is being raised in homes and vehicles in various regions.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Strategic Intelligence Agency of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (BAIS TNI) has captured a personnel from the Police's Special Detachment for Counterterrorism (Densus 88) named Briptu FF on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Amnesty International criticized the Indonesian government's stance on the display of the One Piece flag as a potentially divisive act. The phenomenon of displaying the flag depicting a skull from the Japanese anime series became widespread on social media ahead of the 80th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has assured that Indonesia's food production is currently secure and robust. He attributed this stability to the smooth transition of power from former President Joko Widodo to his administration.

The Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Amirsyah Sanusi Tambunan, stated that the use of "sound horeg," an excessively loud music system, could be considered haram, or forbidden, if it causes mafsadat, or harm. Amirsyah's comment was made in response to the death of a resident in Lumajang, East Java, who was watching a sound horeg performance.

Hendrik Yaputra, Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto warned that Indonesia is being exploited by economic actors who prioritize profit over public welfare.

Speaking at a full cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 5, 2025, he claimed these groups deliberately keep the population poor.

Singapore – Indonesia has become the first country in Southeast Asia to deploy a tactical ballistic missile system that will enhance its short-range battlefield capabilities, based on sightings by military enthusiasts in East Kalimantan.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The former CEO of state-owned construction firm Hutama Karya, Bintang Perbowo, was detained on Wednesday as a suspect in a corruption case linked to the Trans-Sumatra toll road project, which allegedly caused Rp 205 billion ($12.5 million) in state losses.

By Lin Ching-yin, Wu Hsin-yun and Wu Kuan-hsien, Taipei (CNA) – Taipei-based conglomerate Walsin Lihwa Corp. was accused Wednesday of causing severe pollution and human rights violations at its factories in Indonesia by local environmental groups and workers.

Anne Barker and Natasya Salim – More than 20 years after Australia banned all forms of asbestos, the deadly legacy still lingers.

It is in the walls and roofs of homes, schools and countless other buildings, as well as the lungs of the thousands of Australians who still die every year from exposure they never saw coming.

Duncan Graham – Happy birthday, monster neighbour. Er, do we know you? We're strangers here – our proper place is mid-Atlantic, 'twixt the Old World and the New. However, we're trying hard to cope by promoting trade and investment, while ignoring endemic corruption and avoiding deep involvement.

The hoisting of One Piece flag has become a public spotlight here in Indonesia. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia's independence on August 17, the flag of the Japanese anime series about pirates has been flying from houses to vehicles in various regions.

The lawsuit filed by a lawyer from Makassar, Komardin, against several officials of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) regarding the alleged fake diploma of former President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the Sleman District Court has been deemed invalid.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – The Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) evacuated a male orangutan named Sugiman after receiving a report from residents of Mendawai Seberang Village in Arut Selatan District, Kotawaringin Barat Regency, Central Kalimantan, on July 30, 2025.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Wednesday firmly defended the credibility of the country's second-quarter GDP data, dismissing public skepticism and affirming the government's full confidence in the national statistics agency.

Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has reported three alleged violations in the procurement of catering for the 2025 hajj pilgrims to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). ICW researcher, Wana Alamsyah, stated that the alleged corruption is estimated to have caused a state loss of Rp 306 billion.

At a Full Cabinet Meeting held at the Presidential Office in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, President Prabowo Subianto asked journalists to leave during a discussion about the 2026 State Budget Draft. The media were initially allowed to cover the meeting while Prabowo delivered his opening remarks and guidance.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's decision to pardon Thomas Lembong and Hasto Kristiyanto in their high-profile graft cases has sounded alarms over political interference in the judiciary and sparked renewed scrutiny over his administration's commitment to anticorruption.

Sylviana Hamdani, Jakarta – At a glance, kebaya may appear delicate, with its sheer fabric adorned with intricate lacework. But beneath its graceful silhouette lies a legacy of quiet power, a symbol of cultural pride and the enduring strength of Indonesian women throughout history.

Chappy Hakim, Jakarta – As Indonesia nears its 80th year of independence, the nation should reflect on its maturity as a sovereign and democratic state.

The phenomenon of raising the One Piece flag with the iconic skull and straw hat emblem from the widely popular anime series is increasingly widespread in Indonesia leading up to the 80th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day. The black flag with the smiling skull and straw hat is the symbol of the fictional pirate group led by the main character of the anime.

Jakarta – The drop in Indonesia's poverty rate to yet another historic low should be cause for celebration, but nobody feels in the mood.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently engaged in back-to-back talks with the military top brass of the world's biggest economic superpowers: China and the US.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) has raised doubts over the credibility of Indonesia's second-quarter economic growth figure, calling the 5.12 percent year-on-year expansion released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) an "anomaly" that does not reflect the real economy.

Cut Mery, Jakarta – An employee of the Banda Aceh City Government has been arrested by the Indonesian National Police's Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) Anti-Terror Unit for alleged links to a terrorist network.

Didik Fibrianto, Julianus Palermo, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesians continue to hoist One Piece's Jolly Roger flag during public celebrations ahead of the country's 80th Independence Day on Aug. 17, defying mounting pressure from local authorities and concerns over its perceived anti-government symbolism.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto has rejected suggestions that Indonesians' purchasing power is in decline, following the country's stronger-than-expected economic growth in the second quarter of 2025.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – One of the activists behind the One Piece flag installations, Kharik Anhar, said several specific locations had been targeted for displaying the pirate anime flags.

He plans to put up the flags in the lead-up to Indonesia's 80th Independence Day, particularly in neglected areas such as damaged roads, rundown schools, and underdeveloped regions.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi announced that the launch of Indonesia's new history book might be postponed. The initial launch was scheduled for August 2025.

"There is a possibility of postponement," Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The practice of returning political favors is becoming more apparent through the appointment of dozens of deputy ministers as commissioners of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). This is a serious symptom of the worsening of governance in the President Prabowo Subianto era.

Antara, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has no objection to communities hoisting the One Piece flag as a form of creative expression, according to State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi. He made the statement at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

"As a form of creative expression, it's fine. We have no issue with it," Prasetyo said.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has issued Presidential Regulation Number 81 of 2025 concerning Special Allowances for Specialist Doctors, Subspecialist Doctors, Specialist Dentists, and Subspecialist Dentists Serving in Underdeveloped, Border, and Island Regions (DTPK).

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The All-Indonesia Student Executive Board, or BEM SI, is concerned about the government's decision to pardon Hasto Kristiyanto and Tom Lembong, fearing it is part of the effort to weaken Prabowo's administration opposition.

Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Edy Can, Jakarta – The phenomenon of the installation of the One Piece flag, which has been widespread of late, is reminiscent of the story of Indonesia's 4th President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur. He once took steps that were considered brave and different in responding to the raising of flags other than the red-and-white national flag.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The President of the Student Senate of the State Islamic University of Ar-Raniry, Teuku Raja Aulia Habibi, rejected the plan to establish a Territorial Battalion by the Indonesian National Army (TNI) in Aceh.

Makassar – Makassar State University (UNM) students held an action by raising the One Piece flag ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day.

On behalf of the people of West Papua, I condemn the arrest of the 42 ULMWP representatives last week by the Indonesian police. Indonesia has proven once again that fundamental human rights do not exist in West Papua.

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has announced that the usage of its Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) has reached 57 million users by the first half of 2025.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Spokesperson for the National Command of the West Papuan National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, has called for a rejection of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebration.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Drone Emprit, Indonesia's social media monitoring and analytics platform, conducted a study on online interactions related to the raising of the One Piece flag, which drew attention ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day on August 17.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Nine private sugar importers indicted in a corruption case plan to request that the Attorney General drop the charges following the abolition granted to former Trade Minister Tom Lembong.

Their legal representatives revealed the plan ahead of the trial at the Corruption Court on Tuesday, August 5, 2025.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Herman Khaeron, a member of Indonesia's House of Representatives from the Democratic Party faction, criticized the recent display of the One Piece pirate flag ahead of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day celebrations, calling it unethical. He said the fictional Jolly Roger symbol does not align with nationalist values.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced that Indonesia's economy grew by 5.12 percent year on year in the second quarter of 2025, but Nailul Huda, Director of the Digital Economy Center at the Institute for Economic and Legal Studies (Celios), argued that the data contained several anomalies that raised questions.

Syifa Alifa, Jakarta – The Jakarta Provincial Government will be offering a special fare of Rp80 for all public transportation in Greater Jakarta in celebration of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day on August 17, 2025.

Jakarta – The dreams of tens of thousands of low-ranking Indonesian Army soldiers to have a home of their own could turn to dust. Although installments for housing are deducted from their salaries every month, they still have not received homes. This recurring problem shows that there has been no significant change in the management of soldiers housing savings funds.

Ricky Juliansyah, Depok – A derailment on the Bogor-Jakarta Kota Commuter Line forced many passengers to find alternative transportation, with many switching to private vehicles. The incident involved train No. 1189, which derailed at Jakarta Kota Station this morning.

Jakarta – Indonesian Automotive Industry Association Gaikindo recently reported a decline in commercial vehicle sales, including trucks – a drop that the group attributed to the current economic conditions.

Gaikindo's Secretary-General Kukuh Kumara said Monday that the fluctuations in commercial vehicle sales were closely related to national project activities.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, explained the purpose of the purchase of 48 Kaan fighter jets from Turkiye by the Ministry of Defense is not intended for war. He referred to Indonesia as a large country with more than 300 million people, which requires a strong defense, including completing the armament and combat equipment.