August 21, 2025 | 06:43 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tempo English compiled the top 3 news on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Here are the highlights: Here Are the Countries Accepting QRIS Payment System; Indonesian Police Seize 4,000 "Happy Five" Pills Smuggled from Malaysia; and Bekasi Earthquake Sounds Alarm on Jatiluhur Dam Safety as Retrofitting Overdue.
The following is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today:
1. Here Are the Countries Accepting QRIS Payment System
THE Quick Response Indonesian Standard (QRIS), a payment system which utilized QR codes, can now be used in Japan, coinciding with the 80th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia on Sunday, August 17, 2025. This program is the result of collaboration between Bank Indonesia, the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) of Japan, the Payment Japan Association (PJA), Netstars, and several financial institutions.
With this move, Japan becomes the first country outside of ASEAN to accept QRIS payments, following its previous implementation in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. In the initial stage, Indonesian citizens can transact at 35 merchants in Japan simply by scanning JPQR Global through a domestic payment application.
2. Indonesian Police Seize 4,000 "Happy Five" Pills Smuggled from Malaysia
The Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) seized about 4,000 pills of happy five drugs from two drug dealers who reportedly got them from Malaysia.
The Director of Narcotics Crime at Bareskrim, Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, said the police have named the two drug dealers, Faizhul and Rahmiyana, as suspects. "The suspects were involved in transporting the happy five narcotics from Malaysia to Medan," said Eko in his statement on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
Eko explained that Faizhul transported the drugs by sea. He also prepared the packaging in a bag and delivered them to Medan. Thousands of Happy Five tablets were intended for distribution to Aceh. "This is a Malaysia-Medan-Aceh drug ring," Eko said.
3. Bekasi Earthquake Sounds Alarm on Jatiluhur Dam Safety as Retrofitting Overdue
The earthquake that hit Bekasi on Wednesday night, August 20, 2025, has raised concerns about the safety at the Jatiluhur Dam. Victor Rembeth, a pastor from the Commission for Disaster Risk Reduction of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), believes that the strategic dam, which is over half a century old, is at risk if not reinforced.
"When it comes to infrastructure, the most at risk is indeed the Jatiluhur Dam. I have never heard of any retrofitting being done there, yet it's over 50 years old. Strategic dams like this should have been reinforced," Victor said when contacted on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
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These 12 Countries Prohibit Smoking in Public Areas
1 jam lalu
Twelve countries worldwide have tightened smoking regulations in public places.
Unpad Professor Dismisses Fears of Major Earthquake from Lembang Fault
6 jam lalu
"I am one of those who do not believe that the current increase in Lembang Fault activity will result in a major earthquake," says Unpad Professor.
Here Are the Countries Accepting QRIS Payment System
7 jam lalu
In addition to Indonesia, QRIS can now be used in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan.
Indonesian Police Seize 4,000 "Happy Five" Pills Smuggled from Malaysia
7 jam lalu
The evidence seized consists of 4,000 Happy Five pills, packaged in 40 bundles inside a bag. Happy five is a hard drug known for its sedative effects.
Bekasi Earthquake Sounds Alarm on Jatiluhur Dam Safety as Retrofitting Overdue
8 jam lalu
The earthquake that hit Bekasi on Wednesday night, August 20, 2025, has raised concerns about the safety at the Jatiluhur Dam.
BPBD Records Dozens of Houses Damaged by Bekasi Earthquake
8 jam lalu
The West Java Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that dozens of houses were damaged in Karawang due to a 4.9 magnitude earthquake in Bekasi.
Bekasi Earthquake: BMKG Records 13 Aftershocks in Bekasi and Karawang
9 jam lalu
A 4.7-magnitude tectonic earthquake struck Bekasi and Karawang on Wednesday evening, August 20, 2025, followed by dozens of aftershocks.
Buildings Damaged by Bekasi Earthquake, Especially in Karawang, BNPB Reports
11 jam lalu
A 4.9 Magnitude earthquake hit Bekasi and its surrounding areas in Indonesia causing damages to several buildings, especially in Karawang.
Bekasi Earthquake: Whoosh High-Speed Train Cancels Several Trips and Issues Refunds
11 jam lalu
Whoosh high-speed train journeys canceled after a 4.9 magnitude earthquake occurred at 7:55 PM WIB in Bekasi Regency on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
BNPB Deploys Team After M4.9 Earthquake Jolts Bekasi, Jakarta
19 jam lalu
BNPB deploys a team to monitor the condition after a 4.9-magnitude earthquake shook the Bekasi, Jakarta, and Purwakarta areas tonight.
