Development

• Antara News reports Indonesia initiating steps to establish Bali as a global financial hub, capitalizing on its status as Southeast Asia's largest economy with over 280 million people and GDP exceeding US$1.4 trillion. • The initiative counters global slowdowns, trade wars, and investment competition by fostering financial services, fintech, and sustainable investment in the tourism-rich island. • Key measures include regulatory reforms, tax incentives, and infrastructure upgrades to attract international capital and position Bali as a rival to Singapore and Hong Kong.

• Shield AI, headquartered in San Diego and founded in 2015, secured $1.5 billion in its Series G funding round in March 2026, bringing total funding to $2.5 billion. • The investment supports advancements in AI-driven autonomous systems for defense applications, enhancing national security capabilities. • This massive round underscores surging investor confidence in US defense tech startups amid rising geopolitical tensions.

• Pemerintah Indonesia dan Pemerintah Singapura menandatangani kerja sama untuk memperkuat pembangunan kepemudaan kedua negara di Jakarta. • Kerja sama ini bertujuan menyiapkan generasi pemimpin yang berdaya saing di kancah global melalui program bersama. • Inisiatif ini mendukung agenda ASEAN dalam pengembangan sumber daya muda untuk menghadapi tantangan regional.

• NASA announced nuclear rocket development as part of this week's major science news, signaling advancement in propulsion technology for future space missions. • The announcement was featured in Live Science's weekly roundup of the latest scientific developments, alongside research on space reproduction challenges and insights into cannabis effects on appetite. • Nuclear propulsion systems represent a significant technological leap that could enable faster deep-space exploration and reduce mission duration for long-distance space travel.

Christian Democrat Päivi Räsänen, who was fined €1,800, was supported by conservative US group Alliance Defending FreedomA Finnish member of parliament has been found guilty by the supreme court of inciting hatred after claiming that homosexuality is a “developmental disorder”, in a conviction that prompted criticism from far-right government ministers.Päivi Räsänen, of the Christian Democrats, made the claims in a pamphlet first published in 2004 and reproduced on the website of the Luther Foundation Finland and the Finnish Evangelical Mission Diocese in 2007. Continue reading...

• The National Academies of Sciences hosts Space Science Week 2026 from March 23-27, gathering leaders in planetary protection, astrophysics, Earth science, and space applications. • Annual event explores cutting-edge developments and future directions across space science disciplines. • Occurring in the U.S., it highlights ongoing advancements relevant to national space priorities and research funding.

• Elon Musk stated Tesla and SpaceX AI will continue large Nvidia chip purchases even as Tesla advances its AI5 chip, optimized for edge compute in Optimus and Robotaxi. • Tesla's Terafab AI chip manufacturing facility is set to launch within seven days from March 14, potentially by March 21. • Musk praised Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, noting AI5's efficiency in half-reticle format could halve fab needs, with AI6 potentially matching dual AI5.