Today's Top 3 News: Is the LGBT Community Causing Surge in HIV/AIDS?

Tempo English has compiled its top three news highlights for Friday, July 17, 2026, addressing viral misinformation and significant national developments. The compilation includes a fact-check on the causes of HIV/AIDS surges, an update on the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) budget, and an investigation into claims of a global blackout.

The first highlight directly confronts a wave of misinformation linking the rise in HIV/AIDS cases to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Social media posts have falsely attributed the surge to this group, citing data and regional examples to bolster their claims. Fact-checkers have rigorously debunked these narratives, emphasizing that the LGBT community is not the cause of the increase in HIV/AIDS cases.

Secondly, the report addresses the proposed budget increase for the IKN project. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa responded to the Nusantara Capital City Authority's request for an additional Rp2.7 trillion to fund the project's third phase. Sadewa indicated that the official proposal had not yet been received and that he lacked specific details, suggesting the request was still navigating bureaucratic channels.

Finally, the compilation tackles a viral claim about a nine-day global power outage scheduled to begin on July 18, 2026. Posts circulating on Facebook and Instagram have warned of this impending blackout. The fact-check presented in the article refutes these claims, confirming that there is no credible information to support the existence of such a widespread and prolonged power outage.