Eight months after the Sumatra disasters, many survivors still seek justice amid reports of delayed aid distribution and slow recovery progress, while the government refutes a citizen lawsuit accusing it of poorly handling one of the country’s worst ecological disasters in years.

Like many indigenous settlements across the archipelago, Kasepuhan Cipta Mulya is dominated by wooden buildings, valued for their naturally cool interiors and earthquake resilience but highly susceptible to fire. Combined with strong winds during the current dry season, the flames spread through the village within minutes.

More than 5,000 hotspots were detected as of July 29, a sharp increase compared to previous El Niño years in 2015, 2019 and 2023, BMKG official Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan said in an online briefing. The provinces of West Kalimantan, South Papua and Riau recorded the most hotspots.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the recent rise in mob justice reflected the state's failure to provide adequate public security, urging police to step up crime prevention and public protection.

The government is stepping up preparations for the peak of a strong El Niño this year, as drought continues to spread through parts of the country, including Central Java.

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has shut nearly 900 kitchens for the free nutritious meals program and dismissed hundreds of employees in its first sweeping governance overhaul under newly appointed agency head Sudaryono, amid declining public confidence in the program.

Since the start of the year, at least eight deaths involving intern and resident doctors have been reported across Indonesia, raising concerns over the health risks and pressures faced by young medical professionals.

President Prabowo Subianto has inaugurated the new governor and deputy governor for the newly formed University of the Republic of Indonesia (URI) despite a lack of clarity and information about the institution.

National Children’s Day has renewed calls for stronger child protection, as rights advocates warn that existing systems have failed to keep pace with increasingly challenging forms of violence against children.

Six of 10 surveyed Generation-Zers in Indonesia said they have used artificial intelligence platforms to confide about personal issues and discuss sensitive topics such as mental health, a recent survey has found.

A string of mob attacks targeting transgender women in Bogor, West Java, has sparked outrage among civil society groups, which blame a presidential regulation classifying LGBTQ culture as a national threat for justifying harassment and violence against the queer community.

As students return to school for the 2026/2027 academic year that started on July 13, state elementary schools in several regions have reported low enrollment. Some have enrolled as few as three new pupils, while others have no new pupils at all.

Food prices are climbing again as the government's free nutritious meal program resumes nationwide, squeezing household budgets and traders' profits alike, in what analysts say underscores long-standing structural weaknesses in Indonesia's food supply chain.

Poor environmental and social conditions may drive up TB transmission in high-burden Asian countries, while climate change-driven disasters can also potentially disrupt testing and treatment, health experts said.

Nearly 300 regional administrations have received administrative sanctions from the Environment Ministry for operating their landfills using an open dumping approach, leaving the garbage unprocessed.

Despite supporting United Nations’ resolutions pertaining to state responsibility on climate change, Indonesia  has shown a weak commitment to protecting vulnerable communities in its existing and upcoming climate legislations, according to environmental groups.

The local disaster agency reported at least 331 people suffered from acute respiratory infections following intense exposure to toxic fumes from waste burned in the past 10 days.

A presidential regulation classifying "LGBTQ culture” as a nonmilitary threat has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, who warn it could provide legal and political justification for further criminalizing the vulnerable minority, while lawmakers and religious groups defend the policy as necessary to “safeguard” national resilience.

The use of military-related language such as ‘siap!’ (ready) among civilians in formal and casual settings has been common at a time when the military is expanding its role into civilian affairs across the country.

More regions across Indonesia are facing worsening water shortages as the El Niño-driven dry season intensifies, with authorities warning that prolonged below-normal rainfall could deepen the crisis in the coming months.

The most protected conservation areas in Indonesia face dangers that threaten their tree cover.

How a national park in Central Kalimantan vanishes in plain sight  

President Prabowo Subianto’s crediting of military and police for roles in the food sector may undermine food sufficiency goals and civilian authority, critics say.

The shallow coastal waters of the Raja Ampat archipelago in Southwest Papua are home to the population of the shark (Hemiscyllium freycineti), one of 10 known “walking shark” species discovered worldwide, six of which are mainly found in eastern Indonesian waters.

The detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus in wild birds on mainland Australia has raised concerns across the Asia-Pacific, with experts urging Indonesia to strengthen surveillance and biosecurity to prevent cross-border transmission.

As investigations continue into an alleged extortion case involving former deputy immigration minister Silmy Karim, mixed-marriage families expressed hopes for real improvement in Indonesia’s immigration system.

Indonesia’s experience offers important lessons on the value of partnership, innovation and long-term investment, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the UN Development Program (UNDP) Kanni Wignaraja said.

The discovery of a West Java woman in critical condition after years of alleged confinement and abuse has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for stronger protections against gender-based violence.

A Singapore-based think-tank assessing transboundary haze from forest fires issued a rare “code red” warning on Wednesday, flagging a risk for severe regional haze between August and September and urging Indonesia to step up mitigation efforts ahead of the warming El Nino weather phenomenon.

The involvement of elementary school students in a rally supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s free nutritious meal program in Batam, Riau Islands, has prompted criticism from child protection advocates and education observers, who say the mobilization risks exploiting minors.