The movie ‘Escape’ is making waves at the Korean box office, propelled by enthusiastic word-of-mouth and a gripping storyline. Starring Lee Je Hoon and Koo Kyo Hwan, this action-packed thriller has surged to the top, claiming the number one spot since July 8 with unwavering momentum. Recently, on July 12, the Korean Film Council announced a significant milestone for ‘Escape’: surpassing 1 million viewers in less than 10 days. This achievement underscores its growing popularity and widespread appeal among audiences. The film revolves around a compelling narrative – a North Korean sergeant’s daring quest to flee to South Korea, portrayed by Lee Je Hoon, and the relentless pursuit by a determined major, played by Koo Kyo Hwan. As tensions escalate and stakes heighten, ‘Escape’ impresses viewers with its intense action sequences and thought-provoking themes of survival and pursuit of freedom. Critics and moviegoers alike have praised the performances and the film’s ability to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
GRSE Partners with Startups in Profit-Sharing Deals for Shipbuilding Innovations, India
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) will enter profit-sharing deals with startups it incubates during the product development stage. The Kolkata-based public sector company, part of the Ministry of Defence, has allocated funds from its research budget to support these initiatives aligning with India’s self-reliant policy.
GRSE Chairman and Managing Director, Commodore P R Hari, Indian Navy (Retd), revealed that a significant portion of the company’s R&D budget has been dedicated to fostering startups focused on shipbuilding innovations. This move is part of GRSE’s efforts to nurture early-stage companies and support them in developing products and services for in-house use, which can later be commercialized.
Hari emphasized that GRSE’s terms for these commercial relationships are flexible, aiming to benefit from the intellectual property created through these collaborations. In 2023, two startups were selected under the first edition of the GRSE Accelerated Innovation Nurturing Scheme (GAINS), focusing on AI-based material code generation and robotic ship exterior painting. GRSE has fully funded these startups to develop viable prototypes by December 2024 and mid-2025, respectively. Encouraged by the response of 51 applications, GRSE has launched GAINS-2024, focusing on AI, Renewable Energy, and Efficiency Enhancement themes. This initiative aligns with India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ policy, highlighting the role of startups in national development. GRSE noted a 33% revenue growth to Rs 3,400 crore in the 2023-24 fiscal.
Australian Army Private and Husband Denied Bail for Espionage Charges in Brisbane Court
An Australian army private and her husband accused of spying for Russia were denied bail Friday on the first charges against suspected operatives under Australia’s sweeping espionage laws enacted in 2018.
Kira Korolev, 40, and her husband Igor Korolev, 62, are Russian-born Australian citizens and hold Russian passports. They did not appear in person and were represented by lawyers in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on a charge each of preparing for an espionage offense.
They did not enter pleas and will appear next in a federal court on Sept. 20.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw had earlier told reporters the couple allegedly worked together to access Australian Defense Force material that related to Australia’s national security interests.
We allege they sought that information with the intention of providing it to Russian authorities. Whether that information was handed over remains a key focus of our investigation. Kershaw said.
Police arrested the Korolevs at their Brisbane home Thursday. She is an Australian Defense Force information systems technician, and her husband is a self-employed laborer. They moved to Australia more than a decade ago. The woman became an Australian citizen in 2016 and her husband in 2020.
Police allege the woman secretly traveled to Russia in 2023 while on extended leave from the Australian military. The husband allegedly accessed the woman’s work account from their Brisbane home and sent requested classified information to her in Russia.
Mike Burgess, secretary-general of security at the Australian Security Intelligence Organization secret service, declined to say how authorities were tipped off. But the Defense Department’s security awareness allowed us to intervene early and control the operation, Burgess said.
The charge against each defendant carries a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if either is convicted. If sufficient evidence was found that the information had been shared with Russia, the charges could be upgraded and the potential maximum prison terms upon conviction would be 25 years or life.
The Russian Embassy in Australia did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’s request for comment on Friday.
Russia last year accused Australia of Russophobic hysteria for canceling the lease on land where Moscow wanted to build its new embassy. The Australian government judged the site to be a security risk because it was too close to Parliament House.
Burgess warned foreign spies that when we can support a prosecution, we will support a prosecution.
While the couple are the first to be charged under the espionage section of the 2018 laws, two Australians have been charged with foreign interference offenses under the same raft of reforms that were criticized by China.
Melbourne businessman, community leader, and Vietnamese refugee Di Sanh Duong were convicted in December last year of covertly working for the Chinese Communist Party.
The 68-year-old was sentenced in February to 2 years and 9 months in prison on a conviction of planning to commit an act of foreign interference. He had denied the charge.
Sydney businessman Alexander Csergo was released on bail last month after being held in custody since his arrest in April last last year. The 56-year-old has pleaded not guilty to a charge of recklessly supporting a Chinese intelligence agency and is awaiting a trial date.
Former OpenAI Employee Warns of AI Safety Risks in New Podcast
Former OpenAI employee William Saunders raised concerns about the company’s approach to AI development, likening it to the ill-fated Titanic. In a recent podcast, Saunders highlighted the importance of prioritizing customer safety in the creation of artificial intelligence. He emphasized the need for OpenAI to focus on building lifeboats for its technology to address potential risks. Saunders pointed out the transformative impact of AI globally but stressed the importance of adequate safety measures in its development. In response to these concerns, former OpenAI experts have established alternative AI firms to prioritize safety in their creations. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the need for responsible AI development practices to prevent potential disasters.
SoftBank Acquires Graphcore in Major AI Chip Deal, Japan
Japan’s SoftBank Group has acquired British artificial intelligence chipmaker Graphcore, putting an end to the uncertainty surrounding the company’s future. Valued at $2.77 billion by the end of last year, Graphcore has struggled to secure the necessary investment to compete in the AI chip market dominated by the likes of Nvidia. With SoftBank’s backing, Graphcore aims to level the playing field and expand its global reach. Nigel Toon, Graphcore’s CEO, expressed optimism about the deal and emphasized the significant resources it would provide. The acquisition marks a new chapter for Graphcore, positioning the company to enhance its technology and compete with industry giants.
Innovate Africa Fund Launches $2.5M Support Fund for African Startups, Nigeria
Innovate Africa, a new angel investor, has launched a $2.5m fund to support early-stage founders in funding life-changing ideas.
Co-founded by Kristin Wilson and Christian Idiodi, the fund aims to support up to 20 startups in its first year, solving complex problems, such as insecurity, unemployment, and poverty with purpose-driven technology.
The angel investor said in a statement on Wednesday that the goal was to facilitate the infrastructure that enables founders to unlock growth through audacious problem-solving, supported by access to a comprehensive ecosystem of resources.
They stated that with a mission to empower startups to thrive in Africa’s ever-evolving tech landscape, Innovate Africa Fund would provide insight-driven capital to help founders accelerate their journey from Minimum Viable Product to Product-Market Fit.
Managing Partner of Innovate Africa, Kristin Wilson, stated, Having witnessed the struggles that early-stage African founders face up close, we know that brilliant ideas often lack the resources they need to truly thrive.
Wilson explained that it was not just about funding but also about deep expertise and strong connections. The investment strategy aims to break the cycle of innovators being at the mercy of those with too much leverage and too little knowledge.
The co-founder of Innovate Africa, Christian Idiodi, said that through the Innovate ecosystem, it could connect its portfolio companies with seasoned operators and advisors, both in Africa and globally, to ensure they get the expertise they need.
Innovate Africa Fund is part of an ecosystem of companies working together to empower Africa with meaningful technology.
With an average investment of $50,000, the venture fund offers a comprehensive support package designed to propel promising startups toward success.
The robust suite of critical advisory resources includes expert guidance in finance, governance, public relations, and strategy, ensuring a solid foundation for growth.
Through its Product Leadership Accelerator, the fund delivers crucial product development support, helping startups refine their offerings and achieve product-market fit. It also facilitates talent resourcing via an extensive partner network, connecting startups with skilled professionals across various domains, the statement highlighted.
It noted that the fund’s portfolio strategy encompassed first cheque funding, a refined product operating model, valuable networks and partnerships, assistance with revenue model iterations, and a comprehensive operations and governance advisory.
This holistic approach aims to accelerate startups’ paths to success providing them with the tools, resources, and connections needed to navigate early-stage challenges and achieve sustainable growth, it added.
Climate Policies vs. Reality in India: The Harsh Truth of Renewable Energy Failure
During his debate with former President Donald Trump, President Joe Biden claimed: The only existential threat to humanity is climate change. What if I told you that it is not climate change but climate policies that are the real existential threat to billions across our planet?
The allure of a green utopia masks the harsh realities of providing affordable and reliable electricity. Americans could soon wake up to a dystopian future if the proposed Net Zero and Build Back Better initiatives — both aimed at an illogical proliferation of unreliable renewables and a clamp down on dependable fossil fuels — are implemented.
Nowhere is this better reflected than in remote regions of India where solar panels — believed to provide clean and green energy — ultimately resulted in being used to construct cattle sheds.
The transformation of Dharnai in the state of Bihar into a solar village was marked by great enthusiasm and high expectations. Villagers were told the solar micro-grid would provide reliable electricity for agriculture, social activities and daily living. The promise engendered a naïve trust in a technology that has failed repeatedly around the world.
The news of this Greenpeace initiative quickly spread as international news media showcased it as a success story for renewable energy in a third world country. CNN International’s Connect the World said Dharnai’s micro-grid provided a continuous supply of electricity. For an unaware viewer sitting in, say, rural Kentucky, solar energy would have appeared to be making great strides as a dependable energy source.
But the Dharnai system would end up on the long list of grand solar failures.
As soon as we got solar power connections, there were also warnings to not use high power electrical appliances like television, refrigerator, motor and others, said a villager. These conditions are not there if you use thermal power. Then what is the use of such a power? The solar energy tariff was also higher compared to thermal power.
A village shopkeeper said: But after three years, the batteries were exhausted and it was never repaired. … No one uses solar power anymore here. Hopefully, the solar panels will last longer as shelter for cows.
Eventually, the village was connected to the main grid, which provided fully reliable coal-powered electricity at a third of the price of the solar power.
Dharnai is not an isolated case. Several other large-scale solar projects in rural India have had a similar fate. Writing for the publication Mongabay, Mainsh Kumar said: Once (grid) electricity reaches unelectrified villages, the infrastructure and funds used in installation of such off-grid plants could prove futile.
While green nonprofits and liberal mainstream media have the embarrassment of a ballyhooed solar project being converted to cattle shed, conventional energy sources like coal continue to power India’s more than 1.3 billion people and the industries their economies depend on. India saw a record jump in electricity demand this year, partly due to increased use of air conditioning units and other electrical appliances as more of the population achieved the financial wherewithal to afford them. During power shortages, coal often has come to the rescue. India allows its coal plants to increase coal stockpiles and import additional fuel without restrictions.
India will add more than 15 gigawatts in the year ending March 2025 (the most in nine years) and aims to add a total of 90 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity by 2032.
Energy reality is inescapable in a growing economy like India’s, and only sources such as coal, oil and natural gas can meet the demand. Fossil fuels can be counted on to supply the energy necessary for modern life, and green sources cannot.
India’s stance is to put economic growth ahead of any climate-based agenda to reduce the use of fossil fuels. This was reaffirmed when the country refused to set an earlier target for its net zero commitment, delaying it until 2070.
The story of Dharnai serves as a cautionary tale for the implementation of renewable energy projects in rural India, where pragmatism is the official choice over pie in the sky.
Sister Leonora Juliani, OSF, dies at 95 in Assisi House on her birthday, US
Sister Leonora Juliani, OSF, (formerly Sister Marie Rita), died in Assisi House on her 95 birthday, July 10, 2024. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 71 years. Sister Leonora was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she was a member of St. Mary the Eternal Parish and a graduate of Hallahan High School. She entered the congregation in 1950 and professed her first vows in 1953. She earned a bachelor’s in education from Mount St. Mary University and ministered primarily in education.
Sister Leonora ministered for 41 years in the Diocese of Wilmington, where she taught at Immaculate Conception School in Elkton and St. Paul School in Wilmington. She also served as principal at St. Anthony School, Wilmington for three years. In 1980, she began serving as the librarian at Corpus Christi School in Elsmere/Wilmington, where she worked until 2009.
In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Sister Leonora ministered for 14 years in education, teaching at several Baltimore area schools including: Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, St. Paul School, Saints Philp & James School, St. Joseph School, and St. Elizabeth School. She also spent two years in the Washington, DC, diocese at St. Bernadette School in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Sister Leonora ministered for 15 years in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where she served the congregation as a volunteer in the archives and in local house ministry at Our Lady of Angels Convent. In 2021, she moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.
All services will be held in Assisi House on Wednesday, July 17, and will be livestreamed. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by viewing. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 A.M. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. Sister Leonora is survived by her sisters, Rosemarie Flemming and Lucy Roley, her nieces and nephews, and by her Franciscan family. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.
Scientists Unveil Alzheimer’s Disease At Molecular Level, UK
In a world-first achievement, scientists are giving us a peek into the human brain — revealing what exactly Alzheimer’s disease looks like at a molecular level. This breakthrough study, published in the journal Nature, could pave the way to better understand and potentially treat this devastating condition.
Imagine zooming in on a brain cell so closely that you can see individual proteins — the building blocks of life. That’s exactly what researchers at the University of Leeds and their collaborators have accomplished. They used cutting-edge technology to observe the tiniest structures within an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain, giving us an unprecedented look at the disease’s molecular landscape.
This first glimpse of the structure of molecules inside the human brain offers further clues to what happens to proteins in Alzheimer’s disease but also sets out an experimental approach that can be applied to better understand a broad range of other devastating neurological diseases, explains Dr. Rene Frank, the study’s lead author and an associate professor at the University of Leeds’s School of Biology, in a media release.
The researchers focused on two proteins that play a starring role in Alzheimer’s: β-amyloid and tau. These troublemakers are well-known to scientists, but seeing them in their natural habitat in the brain is a game-changer.
β-amyloid forms sticky plaques outside brain cells, while tau creates abnormal filaments inside cells. Both of these protein problems are thought to interfere with how brain cells communicate, leading to memory loss, confusion, and brain cell death among Alzheimer’s patients.
The researchers used cryo-electron tomography guided by fluorescence microscopy to make this discovery. In simpler terms, it’s like a super-powerful 3D microscope that can work at extremely cold temperatures, preserving the delicate structures of brain tissue. This allowed the U.K. team to create detailed 3D maps of the brain at a molecular level. To put the scale into perspective, the proteins they observed are about a million times smaller than a grain of rice.
This study is part of a broader shift in how scientists approach structural biology. For decades, researchers have studied proteins in isolation, building up a vast catalog of molecular structures. However, proteins don’t exist in isolation in our bodies — they work together in complex networks.
By studying proteins directly within brain tissue, scientists can observe how these molecules interact and influence each other, especially in diseased states. This approach could lead to new targets for drugs and diagnostic tools, potentially revolutionizing how we approach Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.
The implications of this research extend far beyond Alzheimer’s research. The techniques developed here could be applied to study a wide range of brain diseases, offering new perspectives on conditions that have long puzzled medical science.
As the world population ages, understanding and treating dementia becomes increasingly crucial. In the United States, Alzheimer’s affects roughly seven million people, and that number may triple within the next 30 years. This research brings hope for better treatments and perhaps even prevention strategies in the future.
Chang Returns as Highest-Paid CPBL Player: Ready for Debut, Taiwan
Baseball player Yu Chang yesterday signed with the Fubon Guardians, securing the title of the highest-paid player in the CPBL. Chang’s NT$92.5 million contract over three-and-a-half years marks a significant milestone in his career. The 28-year-old athlete, previously in the MLB, is set to make his debut in Taiwan’s major league baseball today. Chang expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter, highlighting the passion and energy he feels in Taiwan’s baseball scene compared to his time overseas. Despite facing injuries earlier this year, Chang is eager to bring his best game to the field and make an impact in the CPBL. His return to Taiwan signifies a homecoming for the talented player and a new beginning in his baseball journey.
