Thursday, March 19, 2026

Indonesia's richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, dies at 86 - Mar 20, 2026

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Poland is now among the world's 20 largest economies. How did it happen?


Sree Vijaykumar A generation ago, Poland rationed sugar and flour while its citizens were paid one-tenth what West Germans earned. Today its economy has edged past Switzerland to become the world's 20th largest with over $1 trillion in annual output.

It's a historic leap from the post-communist ruins of 1989-90 to today's European growth champion that economists say has lessons on how to bring prosperity to ordinary people - and that the Trump administration says should be recognized by Poland's presence at a summit of the Group of 20 leading economies later this year.

The transformation is reflected in people like Joanna Kowalska, an engineer from Poznan, a town of half a million people midway between Berlin and Warsaw. She returned home after five years in the U.S.



Continued here




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Singapore
Indonesia's richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, dies at 86
Indonesia's richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, dies at 86
Indonesia's richest man, Michael Bambang Hartono, has died at the age of 86. Hartono, along with his brother, helped turn the Djarum cigarette company into one of the country's largest business empires and later became a controlling shareholder of Bank Central Asia, Indonesia's biggest private lender. Hartono and his brother Robert Budi Hartono grew their tobacco business into a conglomerate that includes banking, palm oil plantations and e-commerce. He was also a champion bridge player. The World Bridge Federation recognized his efforts in adding the card game to the Asian Games, where he won a bronze medal representing Indonesia in 2018.


Singapore
Vietnam's e-commerce last-mile war: Why Ninja Van and LEX bowed out
Vietnam's e-commerce last-mile war: Why Ninja Van and LEX bowed out
Next battleground is the race for parcel volumes outside giants like Shopee, TikTok Shop


Singapore
Less than 1% of food in S'pore comes from Middle East, but prices could still go up: Grace Fu
Less than 1% of food in S'pore comes from Middle East, but prices could still go up: Grace Fu
Singapore's food prices may increase due to logistical issues caused by the war in the Middle East and climate change impacts. Read more at straitstimes.com.


Singapore
Strong hiring demand for engineers, tech specialists in S'pore as newly created roles climb in 2025
Strong hiring demand for engineers, tech specialists in S'pore as newly created roles climb in 2025
Singapore sees strong hiring demand for engineers and tech specialists, with newly created roles climbing in 2025.


 
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Singapore
Amos Yee charged in S'pore court over 2016 NS enlistment offences after being deported from US
Amos Yee charged in S'pore court over 2016 NS enlistment offences after being deported from US
Amos Yee faces charges under the Enlistment Act in Singapore after being deported from the US. Read more at straitstimes.com.


Work
China to help Cuba with solar energy amid US oil blockade and total power outage
China to help Cuba with solar energy amid US oil blockade and total power outage
Beijing will 'intensify its support' to Havana after around 10.9 million people were left without power amid an ongoing energy crisis.


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The world's happiest countries for 2026 - and what they get right
The world's happiest countries for 2026 - and what they get right
From Nordic trust to Costa Rica's sense of community, residents explain what daily life looks like in the countries topping the 2026 World Happiness Report.


Work
Israel is rapidly killing Iran's top leaders. Experts warn the strategy could backfire
Israel is rapidly killing Iran's top leaders. Experts warn the strategy could backfire
It took out Hamas' top brass. The group still controls half of Gaza and has not laid down arms. As a strategy, targeted killing has rarely been employed against a state. While it may provide tangible achievements that leaders can brand as victories -- especially in wars with no clear endgame -- it rarely addresses the underlying grievances that propel conflicts.


 
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Exclusive: Iran attack wipes out 17% of Qatar's LNG capacity for up to five years, QatarEnergy CEO says
Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies ?to Europe and Asia, QatarEnergy's CEO told Reuters on Thursday.


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Black Cube, leaked tapes and corruption: Israeli spy firm crashes Slovenia's election
Black Cube, leaked tapes and corruption: Israeli spy firm crashes Slovenia's election
Foreign interference looms over the vote after accusations that a private intelligence company meddled in the campaign.


Editor's Note: The private jet that landed on a freezing December day was carrying Dan Zorella, CEO of Black Cube; Giora Eiland, former head of Israel's National Security Council; and two other men, according to the authorities, who allege they were engaged in "covert surveillance and wiretapping."

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Molecule in python blood could pave way for new obesity drugs, scientists say
Molecule in python blood could pave way for new obesity drugs, scientists say
Researchers find snake metabolite that suppresses appetite of obese mice 'without some of side-effects' of GLP-1 drugs


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New guidelines on cholesterol management: Experts explain the updates
New guidelines on cholesterol management: Experts explain the updates
The AHA and ACC have recently updated the guidelines for the management of high blood cholesterol. The changes emphasize earlier intervention through healthy lifestyle choices.


 
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Is Russian Fuel Headed for Cuba, Testing the U.S. Blockade?
Is Russian Fuel Headed for Cuba, Testing the U.S. Blockade?
A Russian oil tanker is being closely tracked to see if it will challenge the Trump administration's blockade on Cuba.


Work
Fear, defiance, and anger: Iranians describe life under bombardment
In messages to NPR, Tehran residents describe largely deserted streets roamed by paramilitary officials and vigilantes. They say security forces are banning gatherings for Nowruz, the Persian new year, this week.


Work
Denmark planned to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded, reports say
Denmark planned to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded, reports say
Denmark's public broadcaster reports that the US operation to seize Venezuela's leader sparked fears it would act against Greenland.


Work
Long Dismissed in Adult Health, the Thymus May Be Critical for Longevity and Cancer Treatment | Mass General Brigham
Long Dismissed in Adult Health, the Thymus May Be Critical for Longevity and Cancer Treatment | Mass General Brigham
Mass General Brigham researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze routine medical scans, uncovering how the thymus impacts aging, cardiovascular risk, cancer incidence, and response to immunotherapy.


Editor's Note: The thymus is a small organ in the chest that helps train T cells, priming the immune system to protect the body from infections and disease. For decades, doctors believed the organ was mostly inactive after puberty because it shrinks with age and produces fewer new T cells. As a result, its role in adult health has rarely been examined in large populations.

 
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Work
French aircraft carrier's location leaked by sailor using Strava on the ship deck
French aircraft carrier's location leaked by sailor using Strava on the ship deck
A French seaman's public fitness app revealed the exact location of a French aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean - a shocking security blunder amid rising tensions in the Middle East, a report found.


Work
It's called 'private credit' -- and it could lead to big trouble on Wall Street
The risky lending business has been booming -- but now its problems are becoming increasingly visible on Wall Street and beyond.


Work
Goldman Sachs is shaking up how it cuts low performers this spring
Goldman Sachs is shaking up how it cuts low performers this spring
Goldman Sachs is planning smaller batches of job cuts starting next month to give divisions more control over timing than past years, sources say.


Work
Meteorite hunters search Ohio for pieces of 7-ton space rock
Meteorite hunters search Ohio for pieces of 7-ton space rock
Meteorite hunters are combing Ohio for fragments of a space rock that streaked across the sky earlier this week. The meteoroid broke apart over Valley City on Tuesday, producing a sonic boom. The blast rattled buildings and alarmed residents who worried it could be an explosion. In Medina, one woman is hoping to authenticate a small, black stone she found near her garage the next day. A meteorite dealer and collector drove from his home in Connecticut to Ohio, where he found two fragments that might have come from the space rock.


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UAE says it dismantled 'terrorist network' funded by Iran and Hezbollah
United Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they had dismantled a "terrorist network" funded and operated by Lebanon's ?Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its members.


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The Iran war is threatening supply of a little-thought-of resource -- helium. What it means for markets
Supply allocations are being set by who needs the gas the most. Semiconductors are at the "top of the pecking order," said helium consultant Phil Kornbluth.


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U.S. prosecutors charge Super Micro Computer employees with smuggling Nvidia chips to China
The U.S. government has been trying to crack down on illegal shipments of top-tier Nvidia artificial intelligence chips to China.


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Why $4 gasoline is the tipping point for EVs
Why $4 gasoline is the tipping point for EVs
As fuel costs climb, the long-term math shifts toward EVs -- but consumer hesitation and infrastructure gaps could slow the transition.




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Canada's population shrank last year -- a first for the country, StatsCan says
Canada's population shrank last year -- a first for the country, StatsCan says
Canada's population dropped last year, marking the first time the country has seen an annual net decline in residents since Confederation.


Work
How Europe sleepwalked into yet another energy crisis
How Europe sleepwalked into yet another energy crisis
It is not the first time that there has been deep energy-linked frustration in the heart of Europe.


Editor's Note: "Just like the crisis after Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine. Different conflict. Same European divisions; same dilemmas over energy. We can't keep going round in these circles. Something's got to give." You'd be hard-pushed to find a policy-maker in Europe who didn't agree with that last statement.

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I asked AI to explain my mother to me. It translated her worldview
I asked AI to explain my mother to me. It translated her worldview
A chatbot won't fix your family drama, but it might help you hear what someone's really trying to say


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Exclusive: Tesla in talks with Chinese firms to buy $2.9 bln worth of solar equipment, sources say
Tesla is looking to buy equipment worth $2.9 billion for manufacturing solar panels and cells from Chinese suppliers including Suzhou Maxwell Technologies , two people familiar with the matter said, as CEO Elon Musk aims to add 100 gigawatts of solar capacity in the United States.




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Strait of Hormuz: Which ships are passing through?
Strait of Hormuz: Which ships are passing through?
Just under 100 ships have passed thorough the Strait of Hormuz since the start of March, according to data analysed by BBC Verify.


Work
Trump's mediators offer Hamas formal proposal to give up its weapons in Gaza
NPR has learned that mediators have quietly given Hamas a proposal to hand over all its weapons to ensure Gaza's reconstruction.


Work
Striking gambit: Erling Haaland invests in new world chess championship
Striking gambit: Erling Haaland invests in new world chess championship
Erling Haaland said of chess: 'There are clear similarities to football,' with his fellow Norwegian - and world chess No 1 Magnus Carlsen - likely to play


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Iran hangs three men, including 19-year-old wrestler, in first executions over January protests
Iran hangs three men, including 19-year-old wrestler, in first executions over January protests
Iran executed three men on Thursday who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January, with activists warning of the risk of a new surge in hangings as war rages with Israel and the United States.


Editor's Note: They were the first hangings Iran has carried out related to the nationwide demonstrations that were met with a brutal crackdown by the authorities. Rights groups said the trio, who included a teenager who had taken part in international wrestling competitions, were executed without a fair trial and had given confessions under torture.



Work
Jeff Bezos in Talks to Raise $100 Billion Fund to Transform Companies With A.I.
Jeff Bezos in Talks to Raise $100 Billion Fund to Transform Companies With A.I.
The new fund would operate alongside the Amazon founder's A.I. start-up, Project Prometheus.


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A private space company has a radical new plan to bag an asteroid - Ars Technica
A private space company has a radical new plan to bag an asteroid - Ars Technica
Company has previously tested its technology on the International Space Station.


Work
US to require $15,000 bond to visa recipients from 12 more countries
President Donald Trump's administration will require citizens from 50 countries to post bonds of $15,000 to apply for U.S. entry, a State Department official said on Wednesday.


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Figma's stock drops 11% in two days after Google releases 'vibe design' product
Figma's stock has been getting hammered on concerns about AI, and Google's new design product is adding to that anxiety.




Work
Poland is now among the world's 20 largest economies. How did it happen?
Poland is now among the world's 20 largest economies. How did it happen?
It's a historic leap from the post-communist ruins of 1989-90 to today's European growth champion.


Work
Crypto.com lays off 12% of workforce as latest company to cite AI in job cuts
CEO Kris Marszalek said the layoffs were in "roles that do not adapt in our new world" as the company integrates enterprise-wide AI.


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Democratic Backsliding Reaches Western Democracies, with U.S. Decline "Unprecedented" - V-Dem
Democratic Backsliding Reaches Western Democracies, with U.S. Decline
Nearly a quarter of the world's nations are going through democratic backsliding, or autocratization, in 2025, and six out of the ten new autocratizing countries identified in the 2026 Democracy Report are in Europe and North America. Among them are large and influential countries like Italy, the United Kingdom, and the USA, according to the report authored by a team led by Professor Staffan I Lindberg at the V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg.


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The internet ruined customer service. AI could save it. | Andreessen Horowitz
The internet ruined customer service. AI could save it. | Andreessen Horowitz
AI is transforming customer service by collapsing the cost of attention, enabling every business to deliver personalized, proactive, concierge-level experiences at scale while turning support into a core driver of customer loyalty and revenue growth.




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JPMorgan, Goldman offer hedge funds way to short private credit
JPMorgan, Goldman offer hedge funds way to short private credit
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are among investment banks offering hedge fund clients ways to bet against the $1.8 trillion private credit market, people with knowledge of the matter said.


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The U.S. weighs lifting Iranian oil sanctions to keep price in check
The U.S. weighs lifting Iranian oil sanctions to keep price in check
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that the U.S. may unsanction Iranian oil on the water.


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Pentagon: Anthropic's foreign workforce poses security risks
Pentagon: Anthropic's foreign workforce poses security risks
The Defense Department is raising red flags about a key element of the AI industry -- its reliance on global talent -- as it moves to dismiss Anthropic's lawsuit.


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Gerd Faltings, mathematician who proved the Mordell conjecture, wins the Abel Prize at age 71
Gerd Faltings, mathematician who proved the Mordell conjecture, wins the Abel Prize at age 71
This year's Abel Prize, an annual lifetime achievement award for mathematics that is bestowed by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and was modeled...




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The Onion's Exclusive Interview With Sam Altman
The Onion's Exclusive Interview With Sam Altman
While leading OpenAI, Sam Altman has weathered leaked internal memos, an attempt to oust him as CEO, and widespread skepticism about artificial intelligence's role in society. The Onion sat down with the entrepreneur to hear his vision for the technology's future. The Onion: Good morning, Sam. How are you doing today?Altman: Certainly! Here are some [...]


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Lexus launches ES EV with +300 mi range, undercuts rival prices
Lexus launches ES EV with +300 mi range, undercuts rival prices
The luxury electric sedan is more affordable than expected. Lexus launched the 2026 ES EV with over 300 miles of...


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Your next car might need 300 GB of RAM, and so will robots
Your next car might need 300 GB of RAM, and so will robots
Micron plans to cash in, after already growing revenue $10 billion in a single quarter


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In Mexico, Bread Is the Heart of Daily Life
In Mexico, Bread Is the Heart of Daily Life
Across the country, fresh bread isn't an indulgence, it's the standard, part of a centuries-old baking culture.




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OpenAI to create desktop super app, combining ChatGPT app, browser and Codex app
The new unified app aims to help OpenAI streamline the user experience.


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Google says it will let UK publishers opt out of AI overviews
Google says it will let UK publishers opt out of AI overviews
One search engine switch to rule them all in Google's response to UK competition watchdog




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